Requesting Entry Four Knocks [Seeking Entry]

A large metallic dome came into view, sunlight glanced off its exterior in dull flashes where the surface caught just right.

Sunagakure, one of the major governing shinobi villages of the Wind Country. Hidden in the sand, perhaps, but its bulwark was impossible to miss.

The hairs along Yuuto’s neck rose. He felt watched.

It was only instinct, faint but persistent, and it made sense. Sand shinobi were second to none; they would have seen him long before he ever crossed into their line of sight.

Not that he was attempting to hide.

With his current appearance, subtlety was no longer an option.

The cloak helped, but it could only do so much. Bone traced along his face, extra eyes remained half-lidded, and his four arms were kept close to his sides. His stomach ... that thing was kept carefully concealed. There was no reason to scar someone with it unnecessarily.

Certain now that he had entered Suna’s territory, Yuuto came to a halt.

His personal adjustments were complete. With a practiced flick of his hands, the wooden frames behind him stirred, raising their own hands to their heads as their cloaks were lowered in unison.




Two puppets stood revealed.

One bore blue, divoted plates, its frame reinforced and balanced. The other was adorned in red plating, crowned with a single horn that curved forward like a challenge. These were his most complete works, treasures shaped from layered myths, ones with meticulous craft placed into them. A seed of belief if you will.

Yuuto secured a massive summoning scroll to the back of the blue puppet, tightening the bindings with care.

A hint of satisfaction crossed his expression.

They looked… normal.

At least more normal than he did.

He resumed his pace, eager to reach the city proper. Despite his altered constitution, he felt the weight of fatigue pressing in.

A room, solitude, time to recompose himself. Those were priorities. Yet the closer he drew to the gates, the more something felt wrong.

Metal and stone bore signs of wear: scuffed surfaces, mismatched repairs, newer materials standing out against older construction if one knew where to look.

Sections had crumbled and been replaced hastily, the seams still visible.

Reconstruction and recent at that. But this felt like scars .... damage.

His guard rose a fraction.

Has there been a battle here? He thought to himself.

He hoped they would not mistake him for another aggressor if tensions were still raw. Had this been old Kumogakure, his head would already be on the ground.

The accursed were not always welcome.

The restoration work on the Bulwark's outer sensors had taken most of the afternoon.

Shin knelt beside one of the repaired junction boxes, running diagnostic chakra through the detection grid. The attack had left more damage than initially apparent—entire sections of their early warning systems had been compromised, blind spots that made him deeply uncomfortable.

Five days.

It had been two days since Suna had bled. They had so much to do before his plans were needed to be in effect. People were still concerned and it was noticeable in the village, as the wounds were still fresh. Not just in the metal and stone, but in the way people moved through the village now. Quicker. More watchful. Afraid.

He couldn't blame them.

The diagnostic seal pulsed green beneath his fingertips. Functional. Finally. Shin allowed himself a breath of relief that died the moment the newly repaired sensor screamed to life.

Movement. Approaching from the northwest.

His hand went to his weapon instinctively, heart rate spiking before discipline reasserted itself. The summoned twin blades buzzed in the palm of his hand, hidden but ready.

Breathe. Assess.

The readout was... wrong. Multiple heat signatures but the movement pattern suggested a single individual. Unusual chakra flow. And those shapes—

Shin's eyes narrowed as he enhanced his vision, focusing on the approaching figure.

Four arms. Bone protrusions. Multiple puppets in tow.

His jaw tightened.

Another one.

The visitor moved openly, made no attempt at stealth, but after what Suna had just endured, that meant very little. The bold approach could just as easily be confidence as it could be threat assessment.

Shin's mind raced through protocols. Sound the alarm? Mobilize a response team? But if this was a legitimate visitor, overreacting would create an incident. If it wasn't...

The figure drew closer, and Shin could see the damage more clearly now. The misshapen body, the unnatural modifications. His stomach turned slightly. Whatever had been done to this person—or whatever they'd done to themselves—it was extensive.

The puppets were masterwork, he could tell even from this distance. That spoke to skill, to resources, to Sunagakure training if the style was what he thought it was.

But it also spoke to capability. To danger.

Shin pressed his hands into his seals for the Mind Thread Jutsu, keeping his voice level despite the anxiety creeping up his spine. `Gate control, this is Chikamatsu Shin. I have visual on an incoming visitor. Probable puppet user, multiple constructs, physical abnormalities. Requesting backup to standby position but do not engage unless I signal.`

He didn't wait for confirmation before moving to intercept, positioning himself in the visitor's path but maintaining distance. Strategic distance. His fingers already threading chakra strings to the emergency mechanisms embedded in the gate structure itself.

When he spoke, his voice carried across the sand, measured but unmistakably cautious.

"That's far enough."

Shin stood with deliberate stillness, though every muscle in his body was coiled tight. His eyes tracked the puppets, the extra arms, the concealed mass at the visitor's midsection. Cataloging threats. Calculating response times.

"State your name and business in Sunagakure."

A pause. His hands remained calm but ready.

"And forgive the reception, but given recent events, we're taking extra precautions with all arrivals."

His tone was professional, but there was an edge beneath it. A wariness born from watching his home burn two days ago. From pulling bodies from rubble. From knowing that their defenses had failed once already.

He would not let it happen again.

Something stung Yuuto, like a prick on the nape of his neck, the sudden

He felt the presences of multiple people moving about.

The sand shinobi were definitely onto him.

Guess it was option B after all...

Their sensors and gate guards did not move in. This was too organized to be a regular response.

Suddenly the largest signature he had felt since coming here appeared.

A man with a regal aura appeared before him. He appeared on the young side that or he had a prince-like charm, an air of nobility.

Yuuto noticed none approached with the man, yet they were poised and waiting, hiding in the shadows.

He surveyed the walls, looking at the top of the wall, partially ignoring the man before him.

It wasn't out of rudeness, simply that he needed to make sure that if he was attacked he could respond properly. Besides, his split vision made it easier to multi-task.

"That's far enough."

The man's voice cut the air. His tone was curt, dry, straight to the point. Not that Yuuto minded, but either this guy had a stick up his you-know-where normally or he was wary of him.

Not that Yuuto could blame him, he looked like something out of a horror book.

The accursed sighed, then complied. He dug his heels into the ground and waited. He could see the stranger looking him over, he looked like he was ready to explode at any moment.

Next, the shinobi asked him for his name and business, he even kindly offered that their caution wasn't personal...

"My name is Masaru Yuuto..." he said cautiously. He had abandoned Cloud during a time of strife, after the death of Hayate Shin. He then abandoned Leaf as well, leaving after stirring chaos unintentionally.

"My business?" He pondered for a moment, letting the question linger. He slowly moved through his mind recounting the facts.

Truth be told, he didn't even know what Year it was. He had been trapped in the Abyss, far beyond the reaches of mortal hands.

He had no large funds, he had no militia at his back, he didn't have alliances, influence, resources to craft. Yuuto was a bum now, for lack of better words.

Without much further though he blurted out an answer to the guard, "I am here to rebuild. To forge a new path."

The answer was simple, but mildly crtptic. It's not that he meant to be but it was what he truly felt.

However, he was not so unaware of the vibe that he'd leave the response on such an odd note.

"My apologies, my Clan's origin is in the Wind Country. Nomads from the Expanse, a few have served your village." His words were metered, weighed with truth.

"The Masaru Clan? Clan of monster hunters? Any information you have would be helpful."

Yuuto waited patiently, he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble it was clear their hostility wasn't aimed at him. Although he was still on guard too, underneath his cloak with one of his arms he clutched one of the treasures,



The Puppet weapon Tenrai, the heavenly lightning. A simple puppet blade that had some small compartments and tubing for the normal puppet armaments. However the inner wrappings were lined with summoning seals to bring out more of his puppet weaponry. An armament that while crude in design, evoked Yuuto's combat style.

Either way he wouldn't hold this puppet artifact threateningly just very tightly, under his cloak, in the instance that he was attacked.

[Hello!]

Kureji would be casually walking around and see people rushing around, with Glowy Dude taking charge. He thought, what the hell. Maybe he can squeeze some yen out of him for doing a job here and there. Hands in his pockets, he would walk into the fray of things.

He had his guitar on his back, and anyone that appreciates art of puppetry would realize that the guitar was so much more than just a musical instrument. "Wassup peeps." He heard a little bit of what was going on. Glowy dude giving... He cocked his head to the side and scratched his head... A rather interesting individual a very short, one sentence rundown of problems have found its way to Sand.

The individual in question had an interesting body. Not that Kureji was interested in, but rather that he screamed different! Much more different than Kureji himself. He smiled that could be shown on the cover of Shinobi Today magazines as he would say, "Damn, you look cool. You must be a badass!" He said it as a compliment.

(entering with permission from both)

"Masaru Yuuto."

Shin repeated the name quietly, committing it to memory. His eyes never stopped moving—tracking the puppets, the concealed arms, the way the visitor's posture shifted ever so slightly when he clutched something beneath his cloak.

The Kazekage's expression remained neutral, but internally he was processing. Masaru Clan. Monster hunters. Wind Country nomads. The words felt familiar, like something he'd read in the Oracle archives, but recent events had his mind too scattered to pull up specifics immediately.

"Rebuild. Forge a new path." Shin's tone was measured, neither accepting nor rejecting. "Interesting timing for such aspirations."

His gaze flicked briefly to Kureji's arrival—the rocker's casual energy a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air. Under different circumstances, Shin might have appreciated the levity. Today, it just meant one more variable to track.

"The Masaru Clan..." Shin acknowledged, his voice softening fractionally. "I'll admit my knowledge of your specific lineage is limited. Monster hunters from the Expanse..."

He paused, considering.

"You arrive at our gates bearing the modifications of something... transformed. Carrying masterwork puppets. Speaking of rebuilding in a village that's literally doing just that after an attack a few days ago." His chakra threads remained ready, invisible but primed. "You can understand why this presents a rather complicated picture for me to assess."

Shin's posture shifted slightly, still defensive but marginally less aggressive.

"I'm Chikamatsu Shin, Twelfth Kazekage of Sunagakure. If your intentions are genuine, Masaru Yuuto, then we can discuss your entry properly. But I need more than cryptic statements about forging paths. What exactly are you seeking to rebuild? And why here, why now?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And I'll need you to show me what you're holding beneath that cloak. Slowly."

The man repeated Yuuto's name, scrying his mind for any connection to it. The Hollowed Puppeteer waited patiently.

He took time to process the information, Yuuto expected as much but this procedure felt odd.. highly guarded, traces of lingering hostility filled the air. There was something deeper here.

"Interesting timing for such aspirations."

Heh, what a hardass. Yuuto thought to himself.

He opened his mouth to respond but then his attention diverted.

Another presence entered the field.

He crooked his neck, setting his vision past the man before him.

Another person, with something on their back. Yuuto waited, watching with silence his eyes sharpening. More people ... what the hell?

The air around Yuuto shifted, a brief flicker of corrupted chakra rushed through him. Signaling that he was on edge until the new stranger spoke.

"Wassup peeps." he said. Brash, rude or unaware, carrying a 'contraption' that wanted to cosplay as a guitar. Or maybe it was the other way around?

Yuuto watched the man look around, he was hardly able to keep focus, the energy of a child addled with ADHD.

Was this guy another oddball?

"Damn, you look cool. You must be a badass!" The man shouted.

"Pfft."

Yuuto fought to hold back his chuckle.

It was confirmed this guy was a weirdo.

Call it boyish charm.

---

Unfortunately it seemed like the guard found no amusement. He'd resume his posture but shoot Kureji a quick thumbs up with three out of his four hands. Approving of the odd rocker's comment.

The man continued assessing Yuuto's reasoning.

He reported that he did not know much about the Masaru Clan, it was a long shot anyways. Who knows if the Clan even stayed in the Wind Country any longer.

Yuuto stayed silent, the man may have responded however a metered pause followed.

He began by listing the facts. Yuuto, who was now modified beyond normal standards, was carrying masterwork puppets (thank you) and was speaking of rebuilding after the village was just attacked.

Now there was the little tidbit of information he had been missing. Sunagakure had been attacked. He hadn't heard rumors or murmurs, but the state of their gates made more sense now.

Yuuto was no pushover, furthermore he was not one to be so passive ... in the past. Though his nature hand't changed he had more room for restraint now. He could understand their suspicion.

Finally the man dropped the true hammer, he, was the 12tth Kazekage Chikamatsu Shin. It had been a long time since Yuuto had interacted with a Kage, to think his first experience since getting here would be just that and at the gates to boot.

Yuuto wasn't too keen on sharing his personal details with just anyone but right now he had no allies, no resources and no knowledge of the world's current affairs. In order to grow, he'd have to extend them an olive branch.

At the tail end the Kage had noticed him gripping Tenrai, the puppet artifact.

"Tch. As a mercenary, I'm normally not one to just put it all out there... but considering your circumstances... I will comply as best as I can..."

He paused for a moment before opening his mouth again. This time his words would come out more chilled and sharpened.

"I simply ask you restrain your judgement until I finish." After all he didn't want them getting any bright ideas. It was better to show than tell.

First Yuutto would raise his concealed hand, showing Tenrai.

"Tenrai. An artifact I created to assist me with defenses and casting certain techniques in conjunction with my Puppet armament."

He focused chakra into his palm. The chakra was chilling, ominous, accursed. It was not the power befit of someone purely human.

Nearly invisible lines of chakra formed and dissipated as if melding with reality itself. Yuuto's style of puppeteering, planting the tenants of belief within his technique, a token of Genjutsu philosophy that he studied.

"As you can see I am a Puppeteer, though unconventional, I created my own style of Puppet Jutsu, where belief outweighs the probability." He would not elaborate further.

The armament lifed into the air and floated to the Kazekage. Stopping stationary until he would take it. (If not then he'd send his artifact to Kureji next).

While that happened Kusanagi, the red horned puppet, bent down and unraveled a portion of the giant summoning scroll on his back. Then Kagami would approach Yuuto and hold its arms out, awaitng its creator.

Yuuto then tore off the cloak concealing his body and placed it on Kagami's arms. He'd then take off the cloth concealing his waist revealing... that thing.

In full view he could no longer hide the horror that he was now. Like a Yokai in flesh.

"This is the result of the Chimera Technique gone awry. For decades I wielded this without repercussions.... Be careful of what you eat."

Memories flashed, the criminal he tore apart and consumed directly through his "mouth". He shuddered, more so at the fact this wasn't revolting.

"I am here to rebuild my allegiances, seek my Clan, assistance for this predicament. Resources... ultimately to perfect my craft."

He'd release more of his cursed chakra, seeping onto the portion of the open summoning scroll.

The scroll responded with a hum of chakra and then a puff of smoke billowed out.




Multiple Puppets appeared in addition to Kagami and Kusanagi. He didn't need to show the entirety of his collection. Just enough to get the point across.

"In addition to my list of tasks, I'm hunting a few things down. No need to concern yourself with them if I can find my Clan or some information broker here, it'll be more than enough."

He didn't want to trouble the Kazekage with his personal contrivances. He'd find that Human Puppet eventually, until then he had to focus on regaining his former glory... no surpassing it.

All he could do was wait now, the Kazekage would have to decide if this was enough.

Kureji would listen as the man would tell them about who he is, or rather.... A little backstory. Kureji would nod and wait until the man was finished. Such an individual who had four arms, a second mouth, and a whole array of puppets along with what feels like cursed chakra.

If Shin doesn't take the puppet armament, the Kureji would, or if Shin passes it to Kureji he would take it. Even from looking at it from a distance, Kureji couldn't help but marvel at the design. If it ended up in his possession, Kureji would gingerly and carefully give it back to the man. He would nod and say, "That is pretty fascinating. Perhaps if you're up for it, we can talk about trade secrets at a later point?" Since Kureji was now closer to the man, as he had given back the item to him, the man would probably notice that the guitar strapped to his back served as both a musical instrument and a puppet weapon, as there were some very fine details that would give puppet vibes. There was also an aura about Kureji, rather chaotic, due to his own powers as a Chaos Witch, but also something older than that.

Shin would probably know, considering he had done the digging into Kureji's past and found out that he is someone from a mental institution that never really got the help and then just turned to be a ninja instead. As for the body of the man as a whole, the four arms and extra mouth. That really didn't bother him all that much. In his time, he's done some crazy things. Like this body, if he counts the fact that he bent reality to change it, would be his like... fifth or sixth body? He has lost count over the years. Spiritually, he is twenty-six years old and he managed to change this body to reflect his age. It wouldn't be too wild for him to see someone like the man before him right now.

"Assisstance for this predicament ya say? Well I ain't really tied to this Village. Just got one matter of a deal I made with em that I gotta deal with, but if you wnat some help, I gotchu. I also know the occasional forbidden jutsu here and there." Kureji figured that if Shin really did his digging, he would know that Kureji is the foster son of Akkuma. Ah yes, dear ole dad. He had taught Kureji a thing or two about the forbidden arts before he threw him into time stasis. Over the years, after he had broken out of it, he found other forbidden texts and gave it a good read here and there to really learn. His own specialty is that of transferring souls from one body to another. He knew about body preservation and even made his own homunculi once. She is somewhere in the Village but he hasn't found her yet. It was the only regret he has really...

He shook the thought out of his head as he would smile at the man before him. He would gesture to the man's puppets, "Mind if I take a closer look at your puppets? You really do seem to be a master of the arts! I got my own puppet weapons if you want to see them as well." He would offer to hand his guitar over to the man but he would make no step to the man's puppets unless he is given permission to do so.

The Kazekage watched carefully as Yuuto complied, his analytical mind cataloging every detail. When Tenrai floated toward him, Shin reached out and took the artifact, turning it over in his hands with the practiced eye of someone who understood puppet craftsmanship.

The work was... exceptional. Even at a glance, he could see the precision, the innovation in the design. The integration of summoning seals within the wrappings was particularly clever. Shin's fingers traced along the compartments, recognizing the philosophy behind the construction even if the execution was unfamiliar.

"Impressive work," he said quietly, genuine appreciation threading through his guarded tone. As the son of a Journeyman from the Chikamatsu Clan—the originators of Puppet Jutsu in Sunagakure—Shin could acknowledge mastery when he saw it, even if his own path had diverged from that particular art.

He passed the artifact to Kureji, allowing the rocker to examine it before it returned to its owner.

When Yuuto revealed his full form, Shin's expression remained carefully neutral. He'd seen horrors in the past few days that would haunt him for years. A man bearing the consequences of forbidden jutsu was hardly the most disturbing sight he'd witnessed recently.

What mattered was intent. And Yuuto's explanation, while unsettling, had the ring of truth to it.

The puppets that materialized were magnificent. Each one bore the hallmarks of a master craftsman, and Shin found himself mentally comparing them to the legendary works of his own clan's history.

He took a measured breath, his decision crystallizing.

"Very well, Masaru Yuuto. I will grant you entry to Sunagakure," Shin said, his voice taking on the formal tone of the Kazekage. "However, understand this clearly... any reports of unwanted behavior, any disturbances, any hint of threat to my people, and the entirety of Suna's ANBU forces will be on you faster than you can blink."

He raised his hand, chakra gathering as he performed a sequence of hand seals. Paper materialized from seemingly nowhere, folding and restructuring itself mid-air. Simultaneously, ink bled into existence, flowing across the paper's surface in intricate patterns, official seals, registration marks, and spaces for identification.

Within moments, a temporary passport had been created through his Paper and Ink Ninjutsu.

"You are restricted to the civilian zones of the upper level only," Shin continued, extending the passport toward Yuuto. "I need you to inscribe your chakra print onto this passport. We will keep records of it at the gate so that we can locate you while you are in our village's zones. Once you leave Sunagakure's territory, this passport will automatically burn."

He met Yuuto's eyes... or rather, the multitude of them.

"I hope to find you to be an ally, Masaru Yuuto. And if you are in need of coin..." A slight pause. "You can come to the Kazekage Tower. We can discuss mercenary work. Sunagakure has... many needs at the moment."

That was an understatement. The village was still bleeding from wounds both visible and hidden. If this puppet master proved trustworthy, his skills could be invaluable.

Shin turned to leave, his business concluded, but paused mid-step. Without looking back, he spoke over his shoulder, his voice dropping to a tone that carried unmistakable warning.

"And Kureji, should I receive any reports of incidents involving you and our visitor, your recuperation at the Omni Prime Medical Facility under your father's direct supervision will be... extensive. "

With that, the Twelfth Kazekage departed, leaving the gate behind him.

[Topic Left, Entry Granted]

Yuuto watched as the young man approached him. He didn't really seem to have... manners, in the traditional sense. In the way that he interjected himself so naturally and approached without fear or hesitation. Despite that brash nature, he seemed like a genuine soul, he just had a carefree air around him. He took back Tenrai and nodded in approval.

"Oh? I noticed the home of puppeteering is rife with fans. Do you play or is it just for show?"

Kureji spoke up in Yuuto's defense and even offered to assist him with his situation... Yuuto simply listened. He wasn't sure how to put it into words, but he didn't hate his situation. It was foreign and a bit off putting for some but ultimately... he felt better than he had in years.

"Thank you truly. Sunagakure is better than I thought, you know true tender love and care when you see it. Feel free to take a look."

Yuuto would take the guitar from Kureji and examine it, strumming a little not that he knew how to do so very well.

He turned his attention to the Kazekage who spoke up. He granted Yuuto entry to Sunagakure. He presented his rule, that had the man caused any disturbance at all he would be hunted down by the Anbu.

It took everything in Yuuto not to laugh. So much so that his 2nd mouth contorted showing the discomfort of someone trying not to break.

It wasn't that the statement itself was funny, it's just that being on the other end of the sword was always comedy. In his younger days he may have replied obnoxiously, I blink fast, or something to that effect.

Yuuto watched as Shin weaved handseals effortlessly, coordinating multiple advanced elements in unison. Paper appeared out of thin air, ink bled into existence. He created a document of some sort, paperwork?

Shin went over the rules with Yuuto, that he was only allowed in the upper levels. He took he passport and imprinted his chakra as instructed, though it would be ominous, corrupted. However they were used to this, it was nice not dealing with squeamish ones.

He tucked the Passport into his waistband for now this would be safe enough. He spoke to him again. Offering him work, money to suit his needs? This guy was alright.

"I'll definitely be seeing you soon then lord Kazekage, be sure to take your time. Safety is key." With that he'd watch the Kazekage take his leave and making a comment on the way out. The man's name was Kureji, he was someone the Kazekage knew intimately. The laced threat was more than apparent.

He looked at the oddball watching him observe the puppets. His puppets were stationary. He didn't arm them to attack, on top of that he still had adjustments to make. The regalia were still in their intermediate stages afterall.

He approached Kureji and handed him his guitar. "Thank you, the craftsmanship s genius, do you use Sound Jutsu by chance?" He wasn't sure if this was practical or if this was just for pleasure.

Yuuto would unleash a wave of chakra and reseal the extra puppets. The red and blue ones would resume following their master, Kagami (the blue one) handing back the cloak to Yuuto and Kusanagi re-strapped the Giant Scroll o its back. Yuuto would readjust the cloak hiding his stomach as best as he could, butt tthe wrappings wouldn't hold. He shrugged leaving it open, at this point it was what it was.

"I'll be seeing you Kureji. Probably sooner than later..." He started to walk away and turned back. "Threads of fate and all that jazz." He'd wait for a moment to see if Kureji would follow before continuing to what seemed to be the gates.

[Topic Left / Entering Village]
[MFT]

"I don't really have a home. Unless you count the endless road and whatnot." Kureji would say. Sand hasn't been his home for about eight years. "I play for the show. I rock out for a livin. But I'm also a freelance ninja to do some work here and there."

With the man's permission, Kureji would walk over and marvel at each and every puppet. It was possibly even more advanced than his own puppetry. And the eye for detail! This man must have shown much love for these weapons. The rockstar was actually a little bit jealous. There is a lot of puppets that he has made, in most recent times, he has made them into musical instruments. But there were few that come close to these.

Upon Shin talking about his father, Kureji would scoff and blow raspberries before putting his hands in his pockets, "Yeah, not gonna happen. I'd rather throw up." He waited as the Kazekage would leave before turning his attention to the other man. He would take the guitar back from him, happy that he was careful with such a design he has made. "More like audial genjutsu. Or any genjutsu. But I could shred the chords too."

Then the man gave his farewell, "Yeah, see ya...." Shit, what was his name again? Then again, Kureji doesn't think that he was around or paying attention when a name was mentioned. He would strap his guitar to his back as he would follow suit and make his way back to the village and to the local inn that he has been staying in.

(topic left)