X is put into a bamboo cage and drag through the forest, they moved away from the castle. Nearby from where the team was massacred, the sight of a village can be seen in the distance. X looks at the village, before turning to one of the ninja "so where are you taking me?" X grins, acting like this isn't a prison cage or maybe he was just used to being in prison. "We will take you to our leader for questioning" a ninja said sitting on top of the cage, "care to give spoilers?" X looks up. "What the Hebi clan plans to do" the ninja yawns, "the who?" X asked. "Stop playing dumb and shut up" another ninja hits the cage, X shrugs in return and waits patiently. They get to the village in no time, it was located in the middle of a field of sand and stone, with little grass in sight. behind the gates there were already people waiting and looking at what the ninjas have brought. "Snake scum" a villager threw an apple at the cage, X catches it and took a bite, seeming to enjoy it. The ninja stops in front of a building bigger then the other houses, located in the center of the village. A man comes out from inside and approaches one of the ninja, whispering for a while before turning around and leaving, the ninja the signals his team to bring the cage to a hut located beside the center building. X is left in the hut still locked up in the cage, "you will wait here, our lord is still busy" a ninja said before leaving the hut, X sits there in the silent.
X laying down on the bed that they provided, looking at the ceiling of the hut. He start to think about the other teamates, their face flashing before his mind, X shakes it off. He thinks to himself, *they were weak, no way they would have survived either way*, as he thought about this. From the entrance of the hut enters a young man, he has light brown hair tied up into a top knot behind his head, and a white yukata. "Uhm, excuse me" he spoke softly, feeling a bit nervous. X sat up and looks at him, "is this a sacrifice thing?" X said jokingly. The young man's eyes go shock "No no, I'm here to ask you if you need anything" the young man walks towards the cage. "Meaning?" X looks at the young man confused. "If you need water, food, or a change of clothes" the young man listed off, X thought to himself that this was already a better service then the old prison. "What's your name?" X grins at the boy, "Suna nikobu" The young man answered. "Suna, can you get me water?" X said to him. Suna noded and went out and came back shortly with a kettle and cup. "Here you go, anything else?" Suna handed the kettle and cup through the bars "thanks, that's all" X pour a glass and drank it. "May i ask you a question?" Suna looked back before leaving, "why did you join the Hebi clan?" His eyes stayed at X. "I'm not in whatever the Hebi clan is" X said still pouring another cup, "what? You're not?" Suna looked surprised "then why are you here?" X turns to look at the bly "do you know that beyond a couple hundred km in each direction you will exit this land?" Suna tilts his head "Huh?" X grins in return "I was right, all of you have not realized that your land has been transportation to another world" Suna walks back infront of the cage "what are you saying" X thinks for a bit "look kid, i got no idea how to explain it to you as well, cause i don't get how it happen too. But just so you know this forest your village is in has already been transported into another earth." X explain in detail "I came from outside this domain and here we are" suna looks lost
After some time trying to explain it to him, "okay, i think i got it" X looks tired after explaining everthing to a kid. "So you do not know anything of this land?" Suna asked and X nods. "Can you actually tell me what is going on here?" X sits down on the bed with another cup of water. "This place used to be ruled under one emperor but he sadly passed away, and then the two sons fought for the throne, which split the people in half, in the end the older brother won and took the throne, and commanded that his own brother and the people behind him all get executed for treason. That older brother is juhebi muzuya, the leader of the hebi clan. And our leader is the younger brother, nahishi muzuya of the ishi clan. The ishi clan had no choice but to flee the capital and here we are now." Suna told all it is about the clan's history. X smiles "anything else?" Suna nods "the daughter of nahishi was kidnaped and taken by juhebi, she is now imprisoned in the castle and force to be juhebi's wife." Suna eyes look down. X sees this and ask "you knew her?" Suna noded again "she was a close friend, we always played when we were young. I just can't imagine how much dread she must be going through" suna eyes start to water. X bonks his head from inside the cage, suna jolts in pain "what was that for" X shakes his head "if you care so much, why not go after her and take her back" suna looks down "I wish i could, but I'm weak and different from the other villager" X looks at the boy "different?" Suna looks up to answer but then got interrupted when a ninja enters the hut "oi, sandboy get going" suna jolts and start to walk out. X just looks at the boy then turn to the ninja, "the lord is ready for you" the ninja said.
X is taken to the center building, inside there was a crowd of people watching. X gets put in the center, his hand were tied with metal and he was put onto his knees. In front of him stood a man, long gray hair and a especially long mustache and beard, he takes a seat and looks down onto X. X grins as they both stare. A ninja spoke out loud "we caught him near the village and we killed his team my lord." As the ninja was announcing to the lord, X stood up from where he kneeled and broke the metal restraining his arm with ease. All the ninja presence became alerted and surround him, X showed his hands up as to signal wait "relax, i wasn't feeling comfortable. I want to talk" X smirked at the lord, "go ahead, talk" lord nahishi spoke to X. "I'm not from the hebi clan or even this land, you may not believe me but i come from outside of this domain, i don't want to explain it in more detail" X sighs a bit "your land has been transported to my earth and i entered here to learn on how and why." The lord looks at X, a ninja spoke out "he is speaking nonsense, my lord" X cut him off "quiet" turning to the lord again as he stares at him. The lord looks back and spoke "i believe you, in fact i know what you speak of and i know the information you speak." X looks and grins "But there is something i need you to do" The lord says before X cuts off again "your daughter" the lord eyes open wide "yes, my daughter was captured and i want you to get her back. You are strong yes, i think you are capable of this" X grin in returns "consider it done, and you better keep your promise old man or your daughter will fall in front of you before you even get to hold her" A ninja steps forwards but the lords hand stops him "i will keep my promise" he said. X then turns around but before he could leave a voice shouted out "wait" suna steps forward "let me come with him, my lord" suna bows on the ground begging, X grins at the sight. "I want to save Hoseki, even if I'm weak" The lord looks at the boy "very well, you may go. I thank you for your willingness" suna looks up at the lord and bows again before running out the building, cathing up to X who has already walked out. "Wait, let me get my stuff first" suna shouted, X just waves and kept walking.
Suna runs back to his home, taking a sword mounted on the wall, a bag, before exiting he turn around to look at a necklace on a table, grabbing it then gunning out the house. A distance away from the village gate, Suna caught up to X who never stopped walking to wait for him. Out of breath "I'm coming with you" suna said looking determine despite his breathlessness, X chuckles "never said i cared if you did or not" suna smiled in return. The two started walking away from the village. They walked in the direction of the castle which never seem to get closer, as the sun set they stoped in the middle of the forest to rest. Suna makes a fire out of leaves and sat near it, X lays on the ground. "How far away is this castle?" X groans "it's atleast a week away" suna said while maintaining the fire. "If i knew it was that far, i should have just threatened that old man with all the people's life. That's what i get for changing a leaf" X looks irritated. He looks up at the sky "You said something about being different, what do you mean?" X asked suna, suna looks down "you know how in the ishi clan, every ninja has the ability to control earth by will. Everyone has it, escept for me." Suna looks down "you mean you don't have it?" X looks up to him from where he lay, "no, i have something different. I control sand instead" suna let's out a weak chuckle, X closes his eyes "doesn't sound half bad" suna looks conflicted "it's not powerful like throwing boulders or rocks" X shakes his head "hey, atleast it's unique to you. So fuck feeling sad about it and feel happy that you're not the same lame old ninja" suna looks at X and smiles "that's true, huh?" X chuckles "yea, kid. Be strong your own way" suna eyes widen from what X said and he nods "yea, that would be cool" X nods "very cool". X then turn his body "alright, I'm getting some zzz" he doze off instantly. Suna looks up into the nigth sky and drifts off as well.
In his sleep, suna dreams of playing around with hoseki in the village, running around, having the time of their life. They sat in a meadow of flower as hoseki pick up a flower and smiles at it, showing it to suna. Suna looks at her smiling face, feeling happy and warm, suddenly the expression in hoseki's face turn to one of fear as hand take her from behind, suna reaching out to her as hoseki is taken by force, the final look of her face with tears and despair as she reaches out to suna, her scream echoing in his ears. Suna wakes up from his dream, he hears the same scream and sat up looking around. The scream coming from nearby, he turns to X who is still deep asleep, shaking him to no avail. Gritting his teeth, he took his sword and ran towards the sound, sneaking through the trees he sees a couple of man, bandits, walking along the dirt path. In one of their arms is a girl tied up and struggling to break free, "let me go, you bastards" her screams can be heard. Suna takes a step forward but then hesitatate, remembering his ability and how weak he is, he shakes it off and grit his teeth, his eyes determined to help.
The bandits kept walking, "man, does she not shut up?" One said to the other covering his ears, another laughs "it's their natural instinct, nothing we can do but beat it till she shuts up, but the boss said don't ruin the merchandise" The girl kept grunting and struggling on his shoulder. Suddenly the front man stop on his track, "why did you stop?" The other looks at him then infront of them to see A young man standing their with his blade on one hand. "Oi boy, beat it before we do it for you" one said. Suddenly sand from one side of the young man lift from the ground and take the shape of a ball, the young man lifts his hand towards the bandits, the balls shoots off and hits the front bandits stomach. But the ball just burst into sand and had no effect, the bandit looked down and laughed "was that supposed to hurt?" They all laughed. Suna grits his teeth and hold his blade tighter, he then charged towards the bandit, the front man seeing this cracks his neck before walking forward and taking a swing of his blade as suna approaches. Suna swing his hand up and sand splash on the bandits face, blinding him. Suna then swings his blade and hit the bandits arm, a cut scratching the bandit. The man jumps back, trying to clean his eyes, while swinging the blade blindy. Suna take the chance and push his blade through the man's head, killing him.
The three other bandits looks surprised and ready their weapons, one of them dropping the girl beside him. Two runs at suna, the first blade coming down gets block by suna's blade but the other bandit send a kick that hits his stomach which sends suna flying back on the ground. "Now you done it kid, you ain't getting away alive" the bandit said as they stood their, suna slowly standing up and holding his stomach. He grabs the blade tightly, he then charged at them while screaming in anger, his blade came down on one but gets blocked, as he kept swinging on one of the them the other comes down with their blade, suna dodges it barely and jumps back, another blade coming down on him and he blocks it but is pushes onto his knees. The both are pushing each other's blade, suna struggling a bit swing his hand up pushing the bandits blade up, while also spraying sand from below him like a wall, the force pushes him up and he falls down on his back. Suna looked surprised by this but that was cut shorts as the other bandit start attacking him, suna blocks all the blade attacks for his life. He send another sand spray into the bandits eyes but the bandit tilts his head, using this to push suna back with his leg.
Suna falls again, the bandit gets on top, his blade pushing down on suna's as suna tries to push it away from him, "can't use your hand to throw sand anymore" the bandit laughs, "you're weak boy, don't try to be a hero" suna grits his teeth in anger, screaming as he pushes all his strength on his blade. But this makes him slip his grip and the blade goes flying to the side. The bandit smiles as he pulls back his sword for the final hit. Suna looking at the bandit first with despair but that changed to anger. *why am i so weak?, why can't i save anybody? I want to he stronger, i want to beat bad people that hurt others, i want to save people.* suna thinks in his mind, the bandit swings his blade down, and all Suna can think as he screams in his head *I WANT TO STAY ALIVE*. The sound of the blade hits the floor, suna opens his eyes to see the bandits confused face. The blade has pass through him but there was no blood, no cut, no pain. Suddenly suna realized the part of his body which was about to get hit by the blade has turned to sand and moved away from the blade. Suna then turn entirely into sand, as his body disintegrate piece by piece into grains of sand. The bandit looking in disbelief is now looking down on the floor where the boy was, he turn around seeing the sand flying in the wind and finally the boy reappearing behind him as his body reformed, he could anticipate what was coming, but the shock of what he just saw left him limp and the blade which was thrown to the side has now cut him in the neck. The bandits head falls to the side.
The two bandit looks in surprised at what just happen, a nobody has taken the life of two of their own. The one that was thrown to the floor gets up and ready his blade, charging at suna with a grunt, his blade cutting down on suna but it passes through him. While this is happen the girl is trying to crawl away from the bandit, but the bandit takes notice and picks her up "why you, stop causing problems" he said while wrapping his arm around her neck and keeping her close, she bites down on his hand which makes him scream out in pain and drops her. Suna disappear and appears again above the man pushing him down onto the ground, the bandit looks scared for his life, suna hesitated as he hold his blade high, the bandit takes this chance to swing his blade through suna's head which just passes through him. Suna seeing that there's no point in showing mercy swings the killing blow, the bandit lays dead. Suna breaths heavily from being tired and worn out, he turns toward the last bandit and his eyes widen.
The girl falls onto the ground after bitting the bandits hand, the bandit blinded by pain and anger, starts to swing his blade back and ready to kill the girl. Suna sees this and start to rush towards her, changing his body to sand to go faster but as he does his body just passes through the man and he falls on the other side, turning quickly to try and save the girl. But it was to late, the bandit swings down the blade, the girl turning her body away and closes her eyes, "NOOOO" Suna screamed as he reaches his hand. The bandit's body stops in place, a hand appears on the man's face holding him in place. The girl opens her eyes slowly as she sees beside her a pair of legs, she turn to look up to see a man holding onto the bandit face and stopping him. Suna looks at X as he stops the bandit, feeling a sense of shock yet relief. X grins at the bandit "morning" he says before crushing the man's head in his hand. The blood splater everywhere, the girl sees this yet doesn't feel afraid, she sat speechless on the ground. X wipes his hand with the bandits clothing before pushing the body down to the ground, then walks over to suna, "you did great" X smiled. Suna looked up at him and smiled in return "i beat them, but" his eyes turn down again "i wasn't fast enough to save her" X shakes his head "you done well enough, that was a great fight kid" X puts his hand out, suna take it and gets up. "Now you can collect your prize" X whisper to him as a tease, suna face goes red but glares back at ren "don't say it like that".
They both approached the girl who has now gotten up from the ground, "hey, are you okay?" Suna asked as he walked towards her, before even getting an answer the girl hugged him tightly, "thanks for saving me, hero" the girl said with a happy tone. Suna was shoked and blushed from the hug, but was even more shocked with what he saw. The girl leans back from the hug, standing infront of suna with a smile on her face. With a closer look now, suna noticed her black hair, wearing a black with prin stripes on the arm crop top and black shorts but he also noticed another feature, two cat ears poking out from her head and a cat tail from her behind. Suna looks at her face as her striking pink cat eyes look back at him. "You were awesome, you took your blade and went like this, and then threw sand, and than Became sand." She jumps up and down, imitaitng his movements in the battle all with a huge smile. Suna is taken a back by so many things at once, that he falls and faints.