Chronicles of Ryoushin: The Weight of Light and Darkness

Fading Light

Warning: Implication of Physical Abuse

Do you ever feel like the world is pressing down on your shoulders? For me, it all began on a rain-soaked afternoon, where shadows loomed larger than the clouds above. The sky wept heavily, each droplet carrying the weight of my despair. It constantly felt as though the world was my enemy, isolating me in a storm. The rain, relentless and cold, mirrored the turmoil inside me—reminding me of the challenges I faced at home.

I can remember that day vividly. As a young boy, I stood frozen in the hallway, peering timidly through a cracked door. My heart raced, a drum echoing in my ears, as I listened to my parents engaged in a heated argument just inside. The words cut through the air, heavy with tension.

"He needs to be strong! Training is not pointless, Emi! He'll be ready for the world!" My father, Hayashi, roared, his voice sharp and commanding.

But my mother's voice, tinged with desperation, fought back. "He's just a child, Hayashi! He shouldn't come home bruised and beaten! He deserves a childhood, too!"

As I stood there, I felt like a rope caught in a tug-of-war, stretched thin between their opposing forces. My father saw strength as the only path forward, while my mother wanted to shield me from the pain that gripped our home. I wanted to scream, to tell them I was right there, but the words stuck in my throat.

Then, through the gap in the door, our eyes met. My mother knelt down, her expression a mix of sadness and resolve. She leaned against the door for support, as if the weight of her love could hold her together in that moment. "Ryoushin, you are stronger than you think. Remember, it's okay to seek your own path..."

Her words washed over me like a soft breeze in the storm, igniting a flicker of hope within my chest. I struggled to visualize her face clearly—vague recollections of warmth lingered, but fear obscured my memories.

With trembling hands, she placed a bracelet into my palm, its engraved message whispering promises of light in a world shrouded in darkness. "Always follow the path of light," it read. This bracelet became my guiding light in times of trouble, symbolizing her unwavering hope and love. As I gripped it tightly, I felt a surge of warmth radiating from it, a promise that I could find my way even in a world demanding so much.

But then, like a candle snuffed out too soon, that moment shattered. I watched as she turned away, taking one last look over her shoulder. "Wherever I go, Ryoushin, I will always stay by your side. Trust in yourself." Her voice trailed off, leaving a haunting echo in the air as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone with my father.

The storm outside intensified, matching the chaos in my heart. I kneeled there, drenched and defeated, feeling as if the world was closing in on me. Hayashi loomed above, casting a long shadow that engulfed my entire being. "You are the one who will bring great change to this clan! Get up! You have no choice but to be the one who is prophesied! If you can't rise to that, then you'll wish you were!"

His words pierced through my resolve. "You won't be as feeble as she is!" he declared, his voice booming like thunder. I felt my spirit waver under his unforgiving gaze.

In that storm, I confronted the harsh reality of my life. The rain mingled with my tears as I clutched that bracelet tightly in my fist. My mother's warmth faded into a memory, and with a sinking feeling, I realized I could no longer recall her name, her voice, or her face. I had severed the last ties to a love that once brought me joy.

Hayashi was all I knew now, but I could never acknowledge him as my father. It was only me in this storm—no support, no help, only me and my hatred for a world that demanded so much while giving so little.

That day, I made an oath, a promise forged in pain: I would never allow myself to be broken again, no matter the cost.

Present Day

My name is Ryoushin Omokage, and this is my story. It's a story shaped by shadows and struggle, but now it's time to see how it unfolds alongside others. Today marks the beginning of the next chapter the one where I finally realize I might be doomed.

As I sit in the academy classroom, Iruka-sensei's voice cuts through the dull buzz of the room, bringing everything into sharp focus.

"Now, finally!" he announces, glancing down at the last few names on the clipboard. "Squad 2: Ryoushin Omokage, Kaworu Kojiki, Kiyoshi Kuzuna!"

I lean back in my seat, crossing my arms and taking a short breath. I narrow my eyes, my gaze shifting up to where Kaworu and Kiyoshi sit. So, these two are supposed to be my teammates?

Kaworu Kojiki. I know him well enough. His clan is relatively close to the Omokage Clan; our families have shared history and crossed paths more times than I can count. I've seen him around at clan gatherings—always with a book or some scroll in his hand, always calm. He's intelligent, there's no denying that. There's a sharpness to his mind that even I respect, and his abilities with that Codex of his have earned him quite a bit of recognition. But there's one problem: he's a pacifist.

I glance at him now, seeing that bright smile stretch across his face. Kaworu leans forward, his hands placed lightly on the desk, looking every bit the picture of optimism.

"I can't wait to work together, everyone!" he says aloud, his voice warm and open.

His smile is genuine, and he looks like he actually believes it'll all work out. But I've watched him spar; he dodges and deflects, wears his opponent out instead of taking the opportunity to strike. It's frustrating to see someone with that much potential waste it. In a real fight, a moment's hesitation can cost you everything. And Kaworu's idealistic approach feels like a liability. I don't have time to babysit someone who's more interested in finding a way around a fight than actually winning it.

I turn my gaze to the other one—Kiyoshi Kuzuna. Now, he's a mystery. There's something off about him, something I can't quite put my finger on. I've noticed how he sleeps in strange places around the academy: under staircases, in storage rooms, even behind the training dummies. It didn't take long for me to piece it together. He's been doing some kind of secret training, judging by the new bruises and the tiredness that clings to him like a shadow.

There's more to him than meets the eye. When we practice setting traps or using paper tags, he's almost unnaturally adept—like he's been doing it for years. But when it comes to anything involving direct chakra use, he's a complete mess. His chakra control is terrible, almost as if he's intentionally failing. It's too consistent to be a coincidence. He holds back, like he's learning to do things for the first time or hiding what he's truly capable of. It makes me skeptical. What's he hiding, and why?

Kiyoshi shifts slightly in his seat, his gaze dropping to his hands. He fidgets with the edge of his sleeve, his voice barely audible when he finally speaks.

"I hope we can all get along..." he murmurs, the words hesitant and fragile, as if they might crumble if spoken any louder.

There's something in his eyes when he finally looks up—something wary, as if he's always waiting for the other shoe to drop. He wears a faint smile, but I can see the weight behind it. Is it fear? Guilt? What are you running from, Kiyoshi?

The atmosphere feels almost charged with the weight of unspoken thoughts, and I'm left wondering whether this squad will be a stepping stone to greatness or a burden I'll have to drag along. Either way, I won't let anything hold me back.

I glance at Kaworu and Kiyoshi one last time before turning my gaze back to the front, where Iruka is dismissing the class to lunch. The bracelet that would have been on my wrist was gone but I still could feel it as if it was, as if my mother's words are trying to remind me of something. Always follow the path of light. But I've already decided—I'll carve my own path, light or darkness be damned.

For better or worse, this is where our story begins.