Another Day (Open)

Salzem grabbed his hat off it's hook before going out into the Uchiha district where he lived. He set his hat over his head, a familiar shade covering his face so that nothing more than his large, innocent yellow eyes could be seen through the veil of darkness. His blue, baggy over coat fluttered in the wind behind him as he closed the door. He kept telling himself that he needed a smaller jacket, one that wasn't a size too big, but he either forgot or didn't have the money for it at the time. Between food costs and those older kids who stole his money, Salzem didn't have much on hand to use for his own comforts. The clan provided for his house, thankfully, or else he'd be homeless, subject to endless torment.

Salzem left his house that early morning for a few reasons. First on his to-do list was to head on over to the hospital to help in any way he could. Although he didn't have any real medical training or talent, he could always shuffle supplies around wherever they needed them. He liked to help in any way he could. On his way out the door, his foot caught on the stopper, causing him to topple over and fall, landing heavily on his front. Salzem got up slowly, dusting off his jacket and adjusting his hat before looking around. No one in sight, thank the Hokage. He closed his house door before shuffling in the direction of Konoha hospital, an invisible, hopeful smile on his face.

Mason had been out early that morning, mostly to watch around the village, and make sure no trouble was happening. He was on his roof edge, struggling to do pull ups, there was no real danger he could jump back up if he fell off. He got tired of working out and pulled himself up for the last time. He would sit on the edge looking at the village, when he spotted someone coming from their house in his district. He didn't know many Uchiha members, and wanted to learn a few names around his clan. He put his silky shirt back on with the Uchiha crest on the front and back, he already had his shorts and sandals on.

Mason would push himself off his roof, walking a little bit towards the hospital, he wondered where an Uchiha would go this early in the morning. He would be right behind him and would say "Where are you going this early in the morning?" He knew that would sound weird but he was curious.

Salzem fell backwards in surprise as someone landed next to him, catching him off guard. Salzem looked up, Yellow glowing eyes falling upon the visitor. He was massive, at least 6 foot 3 if not taller. He had substantial bulk to mix with his height, making him much more intimidating than the boys who beat him up regularly. He had on a t-shirt, an incredibly smooth one from what Salzem could make out, with cargo pants and sandals. His left arm was wrapped in linen, but for what purpose, the little kid couldn't make out. Was he hurt? It looked like he had been at some point with that long scar along his face and near his nose. The man had large-er eyes and messy black hair. It didn't look like he meant him any harm, unlike all the others. At first, he suspected that he was bullied so hard because he was a jinchuuriki but he soon learned that wasn't the case. People just liked to vent and with someone as small and helpless as Salzem around, they had a target. He peered at the man from where he lay on the ground, frightened that he meant him harm. Salzem got to his feet slowly, warily, ready to run if necessary. He knew he probably didn't have a hope if this man lashed out at him, but something within other than the tailed beast encouraged him to keep trying.

Anyway, Salzem looked up at the man for a second, shade from his hat blocking all from sight except for the glow of his yellow eyes.

"Uhm....." he looked in the direction of the hospital. "I'm going to help!" He said with a tone between shy and enthusiastic. "Are you going there too?" Salzem was hopeful that this man wasn't the sort to pick on him.

Mason had just now got a better look at the person who came from a little ways away, he had on a baggy jacket thing, and a hat. Another unusual trait he saw about him, was his yellow eyes. Mason answered his question in an voice almost as smooth as his shirt felt "No, I just wanted to get to know my clansmen better, and I saw you came from the Uchiha district so I assume your an Uchiha. I'd like to know your name. My name is Mason Uchiha, clan head of the Uchiha clan, by the way." Mason noticed that the boy seemed to be shy, only recently was Mason able to break his shyness, and that was after he proposed to his love. Mason yawned, he was used to more sleep, he loved to sleep, but he was trying to break that habit as well.

Salzem was actually quite surprised that the clan head would come and talk to him of all people. So shocked was he that he paused for a moment too long and actually forgot how to breath. He stared at the head of his clan, Mason before snapping out of his surprise to respond. He shook his head vigorously to erase the remains of his shock while holding onto his hat with both of his hands. He couldn't afford losing it.

"M-my name i-is Salzem..." He announced himself, voice trembling slightly from the awe of even being in the clan leader's presence. "It's a g-great honor to finally m-meet you in person, sir." He addressed the man with respect not just because he deserved it, but because Salzem saw the leader as his idol. Now, that may not seem like he was unique in any way in that regard, but unlike most other kids who try to impress their idols, Salzem didn't. This didn't mean he didn't think Mason was worthy of the extra effort, but it was that he didn't think he had too. Salzem liked to believe that good people, honest people, they didn't require a sample of your worth to know if you're worthy.

Mason could hear the shyness in his voice, Mason used to be exactly like Salzem, except without the hat. "Salzem, thank you for the introduction, but I would appreciate it if you just treated me like a normal person. I don't want anything special just keep it real with me please." That was the only part of being the clan head he didn't like, he liked that people treated him well, but he just wanted to be treated like a normal person. "I'd like to get to know you Salzem, your interesting to me, tell me about yourself." Mason said hoping it'd build his confidence, and would stop his shyness to be recognized.

"Oh... Okay..." Salzem almost whispered upon hearing Mason's request for him not to show the kind of respect he was due. His idol was full of so many surprises, it made his brain hurt. Regardless, Salzem motioned toward the hospital, hoping Mason would follow him there so they could continue their conversation. It was at this point that his very idol stated that he had interested him. SALZEM OF ALL PEOPLE was interesting to the CLAN LEADER!? He stopped dead in his tracks and went stiff, nearly falling over on his face twice that day. Salzem was being observed by the clan leader and, with only a few moments of face-to-shadow interaction, he was interested in him...? Salzem didn't know what to say but he sure knew what he felt. He was shocked, deadpanned, frozen. He almost didn't believe what Mason was saying. Sure, those may just be words to the man, but to Salzem, it was as if he was guaranteed a place in paradise once he died. It was all he could do to pull the fragments of himself together to form an answer.

"Uh....." Salzem began strongly. "I.... I'm just an a-average person like everyone else...." He paused. "W-well... that's not e-exactly true... I'm the 7 tails jinchuuriki and... um.... I live alone... No relatives of any kind..." Salzem stuttered, pulling out whatever information about himself that could be vaguely interesting. "I'm just t-trying to get by from day-to-day, sir- I mean M-mason..."

Mason followed him as they went towards the hospital, Mason had a slight smile on his face. He realized he might have put to much on young Salzem, but Mason was surprised when Salzem said he was the 7tails jinchuriki. Mason had always wanted to fight and train someone that great, knowing he'd never be that good. He jumped on the opportunity "I would like to know if you'd like to be my apprentice, you are extremely qualified, and I would be proud to call someone who has your potential my apprentice." Mason would say in a smooth voice with a smile on his face.

"I... You.... want... me..." Salzem was on the very bare edge of collapsing from disbelief at what he was hearing. On top of that, he said that he'd be proud to have him. PROUD! MASON UCHIHA! PROUD TO HAVE SALZEM AS HIS APPRENTICE! IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! Salzem took a step back involuntarily, just processing what his idol had just said to him. His yellow eyes glowed with both disbelief and joy beyond measure. He had half-a-mind to just run up to the man and hug him with all his might, but this was the leader of his Clan! Surely there was some kind of protocol he had to follow. He grinned wider than he ever had before in his life as the processing came full circle.

"It would be m-my honor, Mason..." Salzem barely spoke. It was as if he had forgotten how to walk, how to move and that he barely knew how to speak. This was what other Uchiha trained years for. They devoted their lives to their craft and Salzem was simply chosen for seemingly nothing out of nowhere! He didn't know what else to say. He didn't even know if he could say anything more. Beneath his massive hat, Salzem felt his head grow light, hollow like a balloon. He felt as if he could fall unconsciousness right here due to the sheer magnitude of what was going on here. In an instant, the goofy wide (and unseen) smile fell into a determined look and his body filled with strength he didn't even know he had. Without even consulting his brain, he spoke.

"When do we start?"

Mason looked at Salzem and thought he might fall over, so he placed a hand on his shoulder in order to keep him up if he falls. He could see the look of pure joy on his face, saying in an rather nice voice "Now, whenever you want. I have nothing to do for today. But I have a mission tomorrow."

"W-We can start now!" Salzem almost shouted as soon as Mason was finished speaking. He was so excited, he almost forgot his manners. He toned himself down rather quickly, trying and almost failing to put a lid on the seemingly endless butterflies floating in his stomach. He was going to train with THE Mason! THE MASON! Salzem nearly passed out again at the sheer thought. Instead of heading straight to the hospital like he originally planned, Salzem made a turn and instead lead them to the Uchiha training grounds. The hospital could use his help tomorrow. On their way, Salzem held onto his hat tightly with both his hands, fearful it would suddenly fly off and reveal his face. Salzem didn't have any real facial deformities of anything of that gruesome nature, but he was self conscious of his appearance a little bit, hence the large hat and baggy clothes not revealing his appearance much. He knew in his heart that the Mason, his Idol, wouldn't judge him by what he wore of how he looked. He Just knew it and yet... he kept a tight hold on his hat and he didn't let go. 'Twas not long before they reached the grounds, small circular arenas of sand used for Academy-style matches and occasionally, genin. But now, it wasn't just those! He was going to be taught here by the leader of his clan! He could barely contain himself when they got there. He was all flavors of eager to get started.

(Think I'm gonna exit here and start up a new topic whenever Mason gets back :3)

EXIT

(WC: 1541)

(Claiming 6 stats and 1541 word count toward thunder)

Approved!