Getting to know the village{open}

[Yomoko]

(OOC: this thread is open to all and is encouraged for anyone to join )

Iwagakure, the hidden shinobi village hidden in Stone country. A village foreign to the shinobi from water country. It was funny... he was from the village of water went to the village of clouds and now is in the village of land. It was comical to the mercenary shinobi. Another comical thought was that he still hadn't been debriefed by anyone for his suppose mission that he was to be given in return for the services they were offering him. He figured it would be some type of assassination S-rank mission but so far he hadn't heard a peep. Maybe they had forgotten about him. Kane could careless, it only made his life that much easier.

One thing that the nearly six foot man thought as he stood in the center of a road in the main area was where his travelling companion had gone off to. That blasted woman had disappeared yet again... I swear this whole trip has been a waste of my time. There were so many things that I could have been doing. So many things that I could be helping Onamuji or even Akechi with. This is getting bothersome that she keeps leaving me as she does when I'm suppose to be keeping her safe. Kane thought to himself. He was getting frustrated with the Haku woman. He appreciated the help she had given him, however she was making his life very tasking.

He looked around the village as he was dead square in the middle of the village's. The time was a few hours past noon and the sun was shining on the village as if it was blessed by the Gods itself. Such a religious village... and from what I can tell by the nature inhabited by the village, it agrees. Very religious and spiritual. Such a different feeling then when I left my village... Frozen in a feeling of death.

Kane wore a black robe covering his whole body, only showing from his neck and above. The robe was unmarked to any village and he wore no headband to show whom he belonged to. His ANBU escort was on top of one of the buildings watching him afar, making sure he didn't cause any mischief or none came to him either. He continued to stand there as people went around him. The crowded area had started to die down as people were making their way back to their homes for their children to be getting home from the academy. What a village indeed...

[topic entered]
[faceless Stone ANBU NPC topic entered and hidden somewhere watching]

mft
WC: 421

 

[Kaen]

Yes i'd like two rice buns please. Sabaku said to the shop keep. After receiving his order and paying the fine man, Sabaku exited the shop. A long day of training always made him hungry. Taking a bite out of one delicious treats he waltzed down the street. About now was the time everything was settling down and everyone was making their way home to probably enjoy some good quality family time. Sabaku would be doing the same but as a ninja family, his parents usually weren't home. Sabaku understood the dutys they had to perform as Iwa Shinobi and tried not to let their absence bother him to much. Besides, there was plenty of fun things to to and places to explore, people to talk to and friends to make.

For example, this guy up here. Standing right in the middle of the street looking around blindly unsure of where he is going. I should lend a hand... Sabaku thought to himself. As he begun to walk towards this new figure he halted in his tracks. Is...is that an anbu assassin?! Quickly ducking down an ally and peering around the corner, he tried to get a better look. Yea that was an anbu alright...it was difficult to make out but since having an interest in the Guardians he started to pick up on these things. Sabaku contemplated on whether he should warn the man, perhaps he was a villain and deserved to be slayed...or maybe it was all a big misunderstanding about coming into the village...Sabaku decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and see if he could help him one way or another.

Quickly throwing together a scenario to help dissipate the situation he came out from the ally and quickly walked towards the man. Walking beside him he almost to loudly announced himself. HEY! There you are...Uncle Kibarashi! I've been looking all over for you, lets go find my parents so you can catch up with your sister....my mom! His distraction tactics were....horrible to say the least and was almost comical. Grabbing the mans arm he attempted to lead him down the road in hopes that the anbu would believe this tale and go away.

[OOC- Topic entered]

 

[Chikara]

[legend="[size=4]To reunite, it feels so good.[/size]"]It wasn’t like she had anything better to do at the time, watching down from the roof of buildings within Maruishi. It was her home after all, where she was born and raised within the Kogane Clan’s walls. Maruishi was the rich village adjacent to Iwagakure but it was still a part of the village. Sometimes she wondered why Maruishi was considered a part of Iwa but at the same time considered separate. The same went for Arcadia, her other half. Kyoi was a native to that strange village, and her being Chi’s true mother meant she was a part of that village as well. The two seemed like polar opposites, so she often found herself wondering what that made her. A mutt perhaps?
Whatever the case, her job lied in protecting everyone innocent within Iwa territory, regardless of their village ties. That even meant foreigners assuming they weren’t causing any trouble. She could sense the ANBU standing on a building across from her, she smelled the person’s chakra pretty easily from their height above the crowds of people. It was the only other chakra signature besides her own, and it didn’t take long to find where he was perched. Her tracking abilities were probably some of the most keen in the village, but that didn’t help her understand why the ANBU was there hiding in the first place. Of course, she thought, maybe he was up on the buildings for the same reason she was. He was watching something in particular, however. She looked down into the crowds for unfamiliar chakra signatures and what she found was one all too familiar.
"Sabaku?" The last time she had seen him was during the exam, before the lights went out. When they came back on there was so much going on she didn’t have time to notice Sabaku was missing. It wasn’t until later when it was too late, and no one told her anything about what had befallen him. Being auto ranked up meant she was busy trying to prove she deserved it, and hadn’t had time to look for or think about him. Now, as she stood there going about her business she sees him casually walking through the streets? "What’s up with this twat? What’s he doing out here like this?" Then he approached a man, an unfamiliar chakra signature whom he seemed to know. Could it be he left the village and came back with this stranger? She couldn’t make out what they were saying from on top of the building, her only option was to approach the two.
"Baaaakaaaaaa-chhaaaaaan!" She yelled with the fury of a flame goddess’s daughter. She approached the two without her gloves drawn, she didn’t want to provoke a fight that may not be needed. She wore the same skin tight suit she wore years ago, a phoenix covering her chest. In addition, she had the Iwagakure symbol added to the waistline since she couldn’t wear a traditional headband what with her bursting into flames and whatnot on a regular basis. "You have some explaining to do!" Now she completely ignored the other man, not noticing the fact he wore no symbols but had a surprising chakra signature to not belong to any village. Regardless, her MO right now was to find out just what the friggle fraggle happened to Sabaku.[/legend][legend="[size=4]OOC;559|MFT|TOPIC ENTERED, YO.[/size]"][/legend]

 

[Yomoko]

The ANBU assigned to watching Kane didn't make a move or a notion that he recognized anyone had noticed him. He wasn't there to play hide and seek, he was there to make sure nothing went wrong. He watched as the kid pulled Kane's arm in whatever attempt he was trying to do. A misdirection or something he assumed and then watched another ANBU join the two however she didn't seem interested in Kane at the moment and so the ANBU with the bear mask didn't make a move or a noise. Simply stood there, watching them all.

Kane on the other hand was blindsided by the boy as his arm was taken and beginning to move forward. A distraction tactic and then he noticed where the boy was looking, at his escort. Kane stood firm and such wasn't moved by the boy's efforts. The Mercenary simply looked down at him and spoke "That man you see up there is watching me. I'd advise you to stop though I appreciate your efforts." A small polite smile was on Kane's face. Kane liked children, for some odd reason. He hated adults though. Annoying know it all's because they thought their life experiences mattered. How wrong they were and how naïve they were to think so. Which was kind of hypocritical sense he himself was almost thirty years old, reaching the end of most shinobi's prime, many didn't live to see thirty years old.

Speaking of adults, a woman came up, someone younger than Kane thought from the looks of her, and started talking to the arm pulling child. Kane decided to stay quiet on this matter. This wasn't his village nor his jurisdiction. The S-class Mercenary stood there with his mouth shut. Merely listening to the conversation the two would have.

 

[Kaen]

The stranger evidentally knew that he was being watched....even more reason to help him. Perhaps he knew that he was in danger and was waiting for the opportune moment to make his escape. Sabaku was very perplexed about the situation, seeing as he didn't fully understand the situation he probably shouldn't be taking any actions at all... But he couldn't help it, it was in his nature to help those around him whether they were liked or not. If upon further inspection he discovered that he was evil then he would have to deal with that when he came to that bridge. For now he acted with haste, I'm sorry sir but i think you may be in dang--- His sentence fell short, you know that feeling you get when something scary happens... that shiver down your spine that gives you goosebumps....this was the complete opposite of this. It was as if his nerves were set fire and lava was being poured into his spinal column.

He had felt this chakra before, though for him it was only about a month. But to the world around him it had been 3 years since the incident. This chakra could only belong to one person... Chi... There was a surge of feelings that welled up inside Sabaku. He was both frightened and had an overwhelming sense of joy to be in the presence of the one... Sabaku would never forget that day, though the rejection was fierce, it still couldn't deter Sabaku's feelings. Just her name in his head brought back those memorys, his sensory memory shouted cherrys.

As he was snapped back to reality he was met with the fury of a thousand suns, evidentally he needed to explain the situation, though he thought that someone would have said something to his friends. The next few minutes composed of Sabaku basically cowering beneath the now even more powerful Chi and here fiery gaze. He explained how that he had an unknown starch allergy that was tied with dehydration and anxiety that cause him to black out at the dinner and hit his head very badly. They were able to save him with a combination of surgery and medical jutsu, thought that damage had been done. And for that he had spent the last 3 years in a coma and had only recently awoke and went into recovery.

But aside from all that, it's so nice to see you Chi, did you guys pass the exam? Nobody had told him much of his friends, he was mostly to busy with training and recovering what strength and skill he had lost in the last 3 years spent dormant. Sabaku wished he could go back in time and not get hurt, so much time lost he was almost sure that chi had moved on and surely would be taken by somebody... Either way he would still try and win her over somehow, though the success rate of that seemed rather bleak now. Perhaps it would be better to bide his time and see just Chi was doing in her life.

[OOC WC: 518 MFT]

 

[Chikara]

[legend="[size=4]To reunite, it feels so good.[/size]"]Chi still didn't particularly acknowledge the other man whose arm Sabaku was gripping. She noticed it but was too involved with the appearance of the boy that she hadn't seen in years. However the thought of who this man was did cross her mind. Was he his uncle? His father? His older gay lover? It wouldn't surprise her if the latter were true, perhaps that's why he hadn't talked to her. The real reason was stranger, however. She didn't quite understand.
"You hit your head and you were out for three years?" She paused for a moment, no expression on her face. In fact, she hadn't had any expression this whole time even when she first yelled at his punk ass. None in her voice, none in her face, she was completely apathetic. Sabaku wouldn't be fazed by it, she was the same when he went into a coma. The only difference was the few emotions she was starting to show more recently. The guardian exam caused a change in her to begin, though it was very gradual. "That doesn't make any sense! Did you somehow deliberately slam your head against something before blacking out? How could you black out and just hit your head so hard you went into a coma? Everyone in that room blacked out because of the shit in the soup and none of us were knocked into a coma. C'mon, Baka-chan, you're a Shinobi…" She leaned in to whisper into his ear.
"Don't ever tell anyone that happened to you, it will make you seem weaker than you actually are." After that she would lean back and finally take a more obvious notice of the other man. "Who dat? His chakra smells different. I haven't smelled him around here before." The strange Guardian would lean in to take a good sniff of him. She smelled so much chakra, it was worrisome. Who was this stranger with so much chakra? Surely if he was one of theirs she would recognize his chakra. She didn't particularly care, he didn't make any advances when Sabaku bothered him so he didn't seem evil. Then again, there was the ANBU on the rooftop. Before Sabaku could say her real name to the man Chi went to give him a good swat across the face. Not too powerful of a swat, he did just get out of a coma.
"I am the guardian of fire, you may call me Phoenix. Who might you be?" She spoke to the man, essentially answering the question Chi wouldn't give him a chance to ask. She was a guardian now, it made sense for her to keep her real identity a secret from strangers. Especially strangers with ANBU watching him. She didn't show any emotion, even if she weren't the way she had become there would be no emotion. She wasn't scared, just concerned in a way. She'll feel better if she finds out who this man is, though for all she knew he was some super high up ranked rogue-nin who was here to blow everything up. She may have had a strange fetish for fire and explosions but not when it endangers the lives of innocent civilians. That just won't do.[/legend][legend="[size=4]OOC;543[/size]"][/legend]

 

[Kaen]

Guardian of Fire huh? Sabaku thought to himself. He knew that as anbu, people should never know your true name. He immediately felt regret for saying her name aloud, he should have assumed that she had passed the exam. This was Chi after all... He would also take into consideration about his story, perhaps he should keep it a close secret. This wasn't information he wanted enemies to know. Chi inquired about the guy he was tugging on, with her being anbu maybe she could help. Leaning in close to attempt to whisper, I think this man is in danger, I spotted an anbu following him and I thought maybe I could help... As he spoke these words he felt dumber and dumber, who was he to intervene with the work of the Guardians? Though kind hearted as he was, law was law and he shouldn't impede it.

Sabaku released the mans arm and retreated a few steps. He was unsure of what he should do now, for all he knew he was already in trouble for helping a possible fugitive. On the other hand if he backed down he could be letting an innocent man die. Wait.... Did Chi just say smell? She could smell peoples chakra? That made him very curious as to what his chakra smelled like... Brushing the passing thought along he tried to keep the charade going, after all... he made a decision and he should see it through. I uh...this is my...Uncle, he is in town visiting my mom...Isn't that right Uncle Kiba? He said trying to clue the man in on his attempt to help him. Surely the man knew he was in danger. Sadly this is really what Sabaku thought, just an innocent young man trying to do the right thing even with little information. Poor poor Sabaku, he might as well learn the hard way that not everything is what it appears to be.

Then he thought of something....If Chi is a Guardian...then her presence might deter the watcher. He came up with an impromptu plan and tried to run with it. Phoenix? Might you like to accompany us for a ways? It's been so long I thought maybe you would like to catch up while we walk? Sabaku could only help that either she might fall for the plan or see it as what it was and just go with it. On the other hand she could see the situation in the way it truly was unlike Sabaku could. Sabaku would then gesture for them to start walking down the street. What have I gotten myself into this time...

 

[Yomoko]

Just as the woman stopped talking and the child attempted to talk he was shushed by the woman who introduced herself as the guardian of fire named Pheonix. An interesting name but it suited her. He nodded and then the boy started acting weird again before Kane could reply to her. Trying to tell the woman that he was related to him. The efforts were nice and refreshing especially coming from an innocent child not knowing the ways of the real world just yet. Oh how Naive this boy is. Trying to help in a situation where in fact, no danger was present at all. He allowed the charade to play on for a moment longer and then once the boy was finally done with his act. Kane spoke to set it all straight.

"You haven't smelt me before because I'm not native to this village Phoenix-san. My name is Masutaa Kane. I'm a Mercenary, originally from the now frozen village of Kirigakure. Just call me Kane though. The ANBU sitting up top of the building with the white bear ANBU mask was assigned to me when I was allowed entrance to this village by Ryujin Koyoko-san. Nice woman and very helpful as well. The ANBU here has been escorting me around. Making sure I don't cause any trouble and none cause any with me I'm assuming. Regardless, he's been very helpful. Now that the whole misunderstanding with the ANBU follower is out of the way, why don't you guys tell me about your village a bit. I've been here for a few days now, maybe even a week if memory serves me right, and I've gotten that this village is a bit more religious than others. I find it very intriguing and I'm curious as to how it effects your politics. Obviously anything that is secret don't tell me but there must be a basic underlining that could be explained."

A polite smile was on his face as the mercenary talked with an honest tone. He had no reason to lie. He was under constant supervision while in this village and now was standing in front of a second ANBU and a child who was still learning about the world and didn't need to be any more confused than he seemed to already be. Unfortunately for him though, not everything was as clear as black and white, good or evil. There was a big blob in the center the color of gray. The evil type that did good things and the good type that did evil things. Necessary killings, while killing is bad, some people had to die for things to move forward or on the opposite saving a bad persons life to extract more information out of him to later save someone else. There was no right or wrong, good or evil. There was only the Necessary or Un-necessary and the explanation and opinions that followed the choices made. Kane had learned that the hard way. Being nearly thirty years old does that to you though. You learn to live with the choices, the good.... and the bad ones. One day, the child here would have to learn the difference too. Kane just hoped it wouldn't be on his behalf.

 

[Ryu Hime]

There was suddenly a commotion coming from a nearby ally and in the ally one would see a gathering of people with expressions of joy and anger. They were all huddled around a large circle drawn in chalk and in the center was Fumika. This academy student is a gypsy and the way she makes her money is through entertainment. However her talent was in the art of taming animal and had many critters under her command. So with this talent she figured a way to raise and train her pets at the same time. What was she doing you asked well… “Nyan-chan is the winner!” With this was announcement there a mix of cheers and angry shoots. In the circle was a cat with a paw on top of an unconscious bird. The feline head was held high as it bathes in its victory. The bird was then removed from the circle. “It is time for the next battle. Who will be Nyan’s next opponent?” As if on cue a scorpion walks into the ring snapping its pincers wildly. “Looks like Sasori is ready take away Nyan’s nine lives, but Nyan doesn’t looked phased.” Fumika pulls out a wooden box and yells, “Who do you think will win? Place your bets!” That’s right Fumika was holding fights, thus allowing her pets to train their skills and make a little money on the side.
[Randomly enters topic]

 

[Chikara]

[legend="[size=4]To reunite, it feels so good.[/size]"]Chi was still unsure of why Sabaku was trying to help this stranger. He was such a strange lad, she figured it was just in his nature to be kind to people. His explanation made her feel better about who he was, it didn't seem to her that someone would lie about something like that. At any rate, with an ANBU watching him she didn't have anything to really worry about. For now she decided to stay only because Sabaku was there. She also didn't think he would be able to explain the question he had, and after he asked she felt slightly obligated to remain and help him learn whatever she can explain.
"I was born and raised in Maruishi, we don't follow the old gods much compared to Iwagakurians. In fact I feel like my clan worships themselves more than they do any god, they're kind of full of themselves because of our history. A history not many people really know about…" She paused to think about it, she knew her family was important. They were descended from the first Tsuchikage, it only made sense they would be an important family. Though it seemed not many people realized this fact, she learned about this from Souji which was a part of a different clan.
"It's strange being a guardian with that fact, the guardians are deeply rooted with the five gods. The ANBU are not. I've never been religious myself but I have my reasons for joining the guardians and not…." She stopped, hearing a ruckus coming from a nearby ally. It sounded like animals fighting. She didn't say anything more, she just walked off without a word. She went to the entrance the ally to get a look at what was happening. "I… I can't even. You can have all of my whats if you can explain what's going on here." A circle with animals fighting and a young girl taking bets. It was like a cockfight but with random animals and little kids. She spoke to the one with the wooden box, but before she could answer Chi remembered what she was doing before. She could get distracted so easily.[/legend][legend="[size=4]OOC; 364[/size]"][/legend]

 

[Kaen]

The amount of stupidity that Sabaku felt was neigh unbearable. After the man explained everything Sabaku would release the arm and step back a few. It seems Sabaku just made a little trouble for this fellow. Chi and Kane stroked up a conversation so he would have to give his apologies at a later time. It was true that Sabaku knew little about the religion of Iwa, even being a natural born citizen. His parents were one of the "New" age type of people and didn't really follow the old ways. As Chi gave an explanation to Kane's question, Sabaku kept strides with them as they walked. It was then that they came across a strange grouping. It seemed they were hosting animal fights of some sort, normally Sabaku would abstain from fights like this but he was curious. As they approached the group he walked past the others, and threw his hand on the ground. [Contract summoning] I will be your next challenger! Sabaku said with giddiness filling his chest. This was the first time he had used his contract, he wondered what type of character this monkey would be... Huh? Wadda ya want? Uttered the newcomer. It was a howler monkey, standing no more then a few feet tall. It appeared scratching his junk...what a foul creature he was turning out to be. Come on now I don't got all day, wadda be doin here? he said now moving to pick bugs from his rear end region. I uh... were gonna duel this cat lady person....if you don't mind mr.... Meiwaku! Now lets get this over with noobie, i'm hungry and need to take a shit so lets go... Oh well....ok then. So how about it cat lady? Do you accept my challenge?


[OOC sorry for the delay, work stuff had me working graveyard crap]

 

[Yomoko]

Kane listened to the explanation given by the ANBU known as Phoenix. Her explanation was simple yet it was eye opening. Kane wasn't even sure how easily it would be to throw this whole village into a civil war. Throwing people with the old ways set into their bones against the people of the new ways or self centered. All too easily would it be to make the village crumble in just a wink of an eye and just a smile on a face. These people are too careless.... This isn't even worth taking over. Why would Onamuji-san want to even cleanse this place... there isn't a point when they would end up killing themselves anyway. I believe its time I take my leave.

Kane smiled and bowed his head politely as he spoke "Thank you for the insight ANBU-san. Sense this is getting to be more of a jurisdiction period..." He motioned to the animal fight they had come up upon in an alley. "I believe it will be best for me to take my leave. Last thing I need is any issue to come up while I'm around. I'm rather fond of the village. I don't want to have any ill will between us. I bid you all a good day and stay safe."

He backed away slowly and with a quick one handed handseal his whole body turned to shadows on the ground and then disappeared into the day. Off to the next one wherever that may be, he didn't know quite yet. He hoped something interesting was happening. Maybe he'd find Koa....

[topic left unless stopped somehow]

WC: 266
MFT

 

[Ryu Hime]

The fight begins and a woman pulls Fumika away and seemed to want to discuss something. Her friend up right challenged her and called her… Cat Lady? True she owns a cat but only the one with many other pets along with it. The other pets are present; hell the cat is fighting a scorpion right now. Why would somebody define her by the one pet? And he was challenging her with a… Contract Animal? Oh hell no, that is not going to fly. “Sir, sir the match has already started and this is a match between regular pets.” The feline in the ring has its back arched and fur stand on end. As the cat lets out a hiss the fur fly out towards the scorpion like a shower of senbon. A strange symbol appears under the arachnid and the scorpion becomes protected by the cat’s attack with a mystical barrier. “Okay mostly regular pets, but that does not change the fact the match already started.” This monkey the boy summoned seems to not want to be here. With any luck the beast would get bored and leave before the match is over.

There was a flash of light coming from behind Fumika and suddenly there was a white haired girl peeking from behind the gypsy. The girl looked to be some sort of demon. She had pointed ears and bat like wings. Her skin was as white as snow and her eyes were the color of freshly drawn blood. “I can fight with the monkey, if you want that is.” Her voice was soft and gentle. A delicate creature as her did not seem fit for battle. Fumika sighs as her plan, to wait it out to see if the monkey stayed, fell to pieces. Fumika gives a nod and the pale girl walks out in front of the boy and his summon. “Would you do the honor of combat with me, if you really want to that is?” The girl seemed so very shy to be asking such a question. Was this some sort of deception or was she really that week?

 

[Chikara]

[legend="[size=4]To reunite, it feels so good.[/size]"]Chi still wasn’t sure what was going on. She took notice of the mercenary Kane taking his leave, his reasoning was sound. He seemed like a good man, but someone she wanted to keep a tab on just in case. She hadn't heard of the incident at Kiri yet, the whole frozen thing seemed to pass right by her. She didn’t give it another thought, but his departure seemed to spark a question in her. She didn’t have time to ask about it, by the time it crossed her mind he was gone. She let out a soft hum as the lost question receded back into her mind for a later time.
"Sabaku, put your monkey away…" She covered her face with her hands as Sabaku proceeded to make a fool of himself. At least it felt that way to her, she didn't think about having fun. He just wanted to join in on this strange activity, but Chi was more concerned with wasting time with this ridiculousness. The girl didn't seem to want to have her cat battle against his monkey summon either, but there was another girl who appeared who seemed perfectly okay with fighting the monkey. It just got stranger, and Chi couldn't understand what they were doing. She was a guardian, a protector of peace and she wondered if that meant peace of mind. She felt like this wasn't a good place to hold a fight, even a girl against a monkey, but Sabaku was her friend.
"I shall take my leave, Sabaku. I will speak to you another day when things aren't as… Smelly."[/legend][legend="[size=4]OOC; 264|MFT|Topic left unless stopped[/size]"][/legend]