Private I Fear No Man....But That Machine Scares Me.

[Otani Ryuichi]

The sound of busy feet, calling vendors, and sizzling street grills were like a chorus to Ryuichi's ears as they walk through the Susukino district. Memories flood in of ninjas met here, good times shared among comrades, and general outings for entertainment and food. And today was no different as Ryuichi was bound towards a meeting place that they had not given details about.

Off to the side, away from the district's normal chaos, sat an alleyway lit by neon lights. Walking inside and walking a few feet was all it would take for Ryuichi to find a surprisingly still open service. 'MR. GROOVY'S KARAOKE SHACK!' sat there in all of its glory, with a half-working neon sign and a door that shows its age with faded paint and a worn out lower half, no doubt becoming drafty in the process.

Ryuichi walks inside and holds up a hand to the employee at the front desk. "One room, three people please." They ask with a small grin.

Now all that was left was to wait for Aya and Eiji.

 

[Keigo Oen]

There was a time for many things under the light of the moon. Many of those things could be illegal. However, for Eiji... that was not the case. Long nights of drinking and having many of the commoners in Kumo swoon over him because of his skin color. Being someone that wasnt seen as much as he was in the region. However, in the outer parts of the village there were a slew of tanner skinned people. It didnt help him in the ANBU though, especially when he was trying to be covert.

At any pace, Eiji frequented this part of the town, many people already knew him but, alas, he was the one who stayed and kept Kumogakure safe for the most part, while his comrades left on their missions. He wasnt mad... just a bit miffed, but then again he was the first to break connections with them for the time being. He needed to learn more about the Goddesses power. He was able to utilize nearly all of it without blacking out and succumbing to the sheer amount of power they wielded within him. His body couldnt take it, or rather his body could but his mind would be engulfed and unable to act on his own accord with them at the helm...

"...Karaoke? Seesh..."

Eiji would state walking through the threshold, wearing his normal attire, as he'd just gotten off a shift at the gate, and collecting any information on Junko as he would try, but maybe Aya would know something that could help him... With the Raikage wanting the info there was something definitely going on with that. Thusly, he managed to be able to work himself into a cushioned seat with Kitsune, maybe it would help him increase his status... Though he was still reeling from that meeting they had...

"Oi... Ryu-chan. How are you?", he'd state after the desk led him to the room where Ryu was settled. Waving as he still had his weapons attached to his side, he was granted this because of his status in the village as one of the only Fully Active Jounin in the village. Known not for his anger... but only for his want to keep the peace many didnt even notice his weaponry on him. Though, as he entered into the room he would take off his utility belt and armored top only to set it in the corner. After which, he would sit down near Ryu, looking them up and down, trying to understand what was going through his mind while looking... Hm, interesting.

 

[Sukuna Kiyo]

Aya would be the last to arrive, she wasn't late, or at least that's what she wanted to believe. She was dressed in her normal uniform, if you could call it that. Her hair was braided, different from her usual pig tails. she also was wearing Kumo blue as her main color.

Coming into the building she showed she had no weapons on her, mostly because she did not use weapons, her fists were her weapons, but the staff wouldn't know that. Aya had never been to a karaoke bar before, and she hoped there would be no singing, music wasn't something she was really into anymore. Truth be told, it'd been a really long time since she had heard music. Out in the wilds, music was something that just didn't happen.

So much had happen to the other two, they had grown. She felt like nothing has happened with her, she'd been just training in the plant realm. She didn't even have her contract partner anymore, which she was still sore about.

Aya came into the room after Eiji and Ryu was already all settled in, she noticed the gear in the corner, she thought they didn't let weapons in? Maybe one of them got a free pass.

"Heya, hope you guys didn't get started without me." She stated, then she sit next to them. It'd been too long since they had just hung out, she still had a lot to do though, and those questions would stay in the back of her mind. It wasn't something she could just forget about for the time being, well she could, but she didn't know how.

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

Casually sitting in the appointed room, Ryuichi doffs their signature black and white cloak to reveal a much more breezy and open turtle neck shirt. A plain black, with what appears to be a small four-pointed star over their left pectoral.

No gear was seen on Ryu, outside of what the duo would remember as "Chakra Receivers.". Small black cylindrical protrusions jutting from along their arms in a straight line, each with moderate scarring around their bases. Anyone adept at sensing or seeing chakra would see bounds of it within these small pseudo-piercings, and Eiji has experienced how dangerous they can be when weaponized first hand.

When the beforementioned Endo enters, Ryu raises one hand while bringing their hair back into a bun to keep it out of the way, revealing one more chakra receiver on the back of their neck. "Yo, Eiji." They say, followed by Aya's entrance shortly after. "Aya. Yo."

Then, with everybody now here, Ryu looks their team mates (or Ex-Team mates. Not sure by now.) over head to toe. "You've both grown and changed so much. And here I am with nothing but some red eyes and longer hair." They jokingly grin with a shrug.

"What sounds good? I'm getting a plate of fried dried squid, and a sushi platter. Maybe some booze...not like I can get drunk anymore."
Their voice, despite remaining cheerful, hid a hint of....not truly sadness, but perhaps longing? The desire to grow and change as a person, only to be stuck in one place in time as all those around you aren't.

Despite this, Ryun was simply glad to be back after so long.

 

[Keigo Oen]

Thoughts would begin to plague him as he would sigh as Aya would enter... thinking to himself that maybe this would be the last night that he would see them. Aya, and Ryu... They were his foundation. They helped him when he had no one. Not even his own clan to back him. That changed alot for him. Two people that he would always be able to hold close, but now he had to go alone. Instead of staying in the safe wall around him after those long year.

Looking at them both, he would smile, warmly, unlike any smile that he'd given to either of them before. He was not quite at peace but he knew this mission he would take away from Cloud could take his life. and Thus was the life of a shinobi. He could hardly stomach the ideas that poured into his brain but he was at least understanding of everything that he would have to do.

"You dont look half bad Ryu... You think you havent changed but you've grown into your body more. So thats something. The long hair suits you as well." nodding before huffing out. "Oi. Yeah. Order whatever, I'll pay. My treat. And what do you mean you cant get drunk? Thats no fun. Getting Drunk is the fun part of drinking. Seeing how much you can drink before you reach wits end is the part of drinking someone under the table." he'd speak with a gruffness within him. The man had drunk alot... even as a kid. Smoked alittle too. Though, only blue lotus flower tobacco. Or something of the sort. Without the additives of course.

"Though, same with Aya, in terms of looks. She's always looked like a grown woman. Which is why I've always been quite protective of the gal when it came to the sleezeballs around here." frowning a bit when talking about the sleezes, he didnt like how some men were when it came to Aya, and women who were beautiful, or even passable. He would make sure to do everything in his power to stop guys like that from winning anything...

Alas, maybe he'd gotten a bit passionate... but those damned thoughts again were plaguing him. This would be the last time he saw them... something was off.