A New Day's Dawn [OPEN NO-KILL]

Yawning, a head clad in black hair running most of the way down a muscular back rose from a pile of pillows. Scars littered the face that showed itself. An x-shape crossed Okami's left cheek, with a slash across the right side of his mouth, with a parralel one down his nose and a bridge across the two. He had had these scars since he was 17, and he had to live every day with the failure they symbolized. Since that day, he had busted his ass to get to where he was, but the memories of his first team of Genin still haunted him.

Slipping on a black short-sleeved, high collared shirt with his clan's crest on the back, he quickly brushed his teeth and threw his hair in a ponytail, looking at the armor he had found in the tomb of his ancestor. The man had been infamous, and had given the Uchiha an awful name, but Okami was proud to be in his direct line. It was a strong family, even if he was the rightful heir to its corpse. The few who remained after its slaughter centuries ago were scattered, including the members who had survived from the Main Branch. Okami digressed, however, letting silvery-gray eyes fall from the ancient armor and garb emblazoned with the Uchiha crest. The expedition to retrieve it was expensive, and he hadn't even retrieved much more than the armor and a couple of vases, including his ancestor's urn, which sat on the mantle of his home emblazoned with his Sharingan.

Walking out the front door, he breathed in a lungful of fresh air, the trees of Morigakure staining the breath with the scent of the forest and flowers. Today was a good day to be alive.

Walking down his expansive porch, he noted the size of his house in the back of his head. Since the Kage's husband was the current head of the clan, the other Uchiha was treated very well in the Village. His house was proof of that; Built into the side of a massive Rowan tree, it wasn't quite a mansion. Rather, it was a large house with all the bells and whistles that he could ever want. As a Jounin, he had enough pay to cover all of his expenses plus some left over.

Striding down the path, the man greeted his fellow ninja and civilians alike, knowing that they were what he fought for. Them, the scattered remains of his clan, and his friends. It was all he could do to work his butt off in order to do so. Maybe he'd take a stroll down to the market?

Walking into the market, he decided to go look at the weapons shop. Maybe they'd have something there he'd be interested in. His katana was of incredibly fine make, but he needed a bit more after recent events. Perhaps another place? Walking to the shop where he'd gotten the original was fruitless, as it turned out that he had gotten the best of the bunch.

He heard tale of a smith on the outskirts of town, one that could forge miracles. He decided maybe he'd pay him a visit about a sword. Walking that direction, he discovered a stall selling bento boxes full of unagi, his favorite. Buying one quickly, he wolfed it down, savoring the delectable meat. It was broiled, soft enough that it melted in your mouth but didn't fall apart when you picked it up with chopsticks. Perfect.

Once he finished his lunch, he made his way over to the bladesmith's hut. It was a little outside town, but not too much. Talking to the elderly man, he found that he was actually looking to make one more blade. Once he had made his final creation, he would retire peacefully and move into the countryside. All he needed was the bones of a dragon to create it. The carbon from the bones would be used to forge the blade, and imbue it with the power of fire. The man pointed out to Okami where he would find such a thing as a dragon, since what appeared to be a nest was just nearby...

Returning a week later, Okami dropped three massive ribs on the table in the blacksmith's hut. Sitting down, he groaned due to the injuries sustained during the fight. It had taken him three days to find the place, one day to get there, and two days to get back. The smith whistled as he heard the tale, and Okami mentioned that he had had the dragon's head stuffed and it was hung in the entryway of his home. He also had a very, VERY nice blue dragonhide coat now, too. It was for formal occasions, however, so he hadn't brought it to show the man. Taking the bones in his hands, the bladesmith stared at them in wonder. Taking Okami's hands, he told him he would make for him the finest blade possibly created by human hands.

Walking down the road later that day, Okami noticed something was off. The man was forging his blade, having started as soon as he had walked out the door. His house was in order. So, what was it? His lack of interest in relationships lately? That could be it, but he didn't fancy taking a walk down to the Red Lantern District. It would be in horrible taste, and he respected women more than that. Besides, being one of the highest ranking shinobi in town, word had gotten around last time he had gone there for a mission. It was embarrassing, to say the least. At least Temaki hadn't teased him about it. That would have been agonizing.

No, he would wait for the right woman to come around. Perhaps one day, but obviously not today. So, without further ado, he shut down his wandering train of thought and went grocery shopping.