Kanly: A Formal Vendetta Requesting: (CABAL)

[Toraono Kuro]

Toraono Kuro was a great many things in his time but cautious was rarely one of them as he personally delivered his letter of Vendetta to the palace of the Daimyo. He had come alone and unarmed save for his natural weapons which exuded from his body/bodies at will. Fully prepared to face the Jashinist Lord and whatever remained of his Sovereign forces which weren't currently in Sunagakure causing problems of no small refute. Staged and ready at different points of Sora were Kuro's avatars except Kyojin whom remained at the dojo as gate guard and last ditch summoner in case of treachery which was always expected. There was no reason to be as they had been and bomb, destroy, assassinate, murder, and cause havoc. No Kuro was far too pragmatic to cause others to suffer for the actions of their leaders. No Kuro planned to settle this personally. It seemed the last oracle had been far too correct about Kuro and how he responded to problems.


Making sure he showed up in human form, Akuma Kuro stood at six feet, two inches, weighing in at two hundred and sixty pounds. Kuro’s silver gray mane of hair was wrapped in a traditional fashion concealed beneath his dunewalker hood although his face showed clearly. With a twenty one inch neck Kuro’s runic terran marking showed vibrantly despite his dark skin. Violet eyes peered from a chocolate brow to look upon the messenger cheerfully despite the contents of his letter. He wore a black fighting belt around his thirty six inch waist. The belt allowed this version of Kuro to carry a set of pouches containing healing items, shuriken, and summoning seals. Akuma Kuro wore his battle pouch upon his right hip. Adjacent his pouch Kuro wore a specialized medical kit, and last but not least Kuro wore his leg sheath on the interior of his hakama just atop his fighting gi shorts with his medicated ointment and extra summon scrolls. A convenient cut in the silk cloth of his left hakama pants leg allowed Kuro full access to his specialized gear without showing exactly where it was till he motioned to grab it. With his wraps forming a reinforced set of guards and pads for his forearms and shins Kuro still somehow managed to reveal that his flesh was covered the runic terran markings on both his arms and legs.


Once the message was delivered it would read as follows:

Daimyo Ishii,

It is with honor and sincerity that I write & present this letter to inform you of my decision to invoke Kanly for the transgressions of your forces led by your son Shouki upon my people, the ancients stolen from their stasis and used in experiments to create soldiers known as Sovereign, and your insistence upon the plundering and destruction of knowledge that would have been kindly shared if you had but the simple-mindedness to ask. My position as Lord of The Toraono Clan and noble by marriage allow me the right to a blood challenge to correct these grievances. I hereby officially invoke KANLY and demand satisfaction. If you choose to disregard this decree I will come for you personally but seeing as you are the leader of your conglomerate I understand if you might feel that you are not responsible for the actions of those in your service. However I am not of mind to accept such a weak excuse.

Your children outside of Shouki are not subject to Kanly or the blood feud that I invoke, they will remain innocent unless either chooses to invoke their own Kanly.

These are the terms:
Single battle
With Simple weapons, no firearms
No Traps, no tricks, open area

You may have as many witnesses as you like
You may choose the place of combat
Any outside interference will be met with immediate warfare and all the force I can bring to bare

As I said, I have endured your subjects and their actions. I've learned many things in my time, including what makes a hostile life. Just the sense of relief I feel in writing this letter confirms that my call upon Kanly is the right move. Thank you for the learning experience.

Sincerely,

Toraono Kuro of House Toraono

P.S. If you send your forces out to greet me, know that I will show them no mercy and their deaths or injuries will not be a declaration of war but a fault of improper leadership. A copy of my Vendettta has been filed with the bureau of Sora as well.

WC: 750
MFT

 

[Sand Council]

Ichi​

The Palace itself was situated at the center of the city and took up a great deal of real estate there-in as the perimeter was set to firmly keep the populace well outside of arm's reach from the fortress-like home of the Daimyo of Wind Country. Various sword-wearing guards patrolled from place to place on the grounds with two standing outside the gates that met the courier and struck up a conversation with him presumably about the letter he was trying to deliver directly to the Palace doors. As Kuro attempted to observe the exchange from the shadows however a loathsome presence would fall across him.

"What shall I do with this musclebound clown I've found bumming around my playground?" Croaked a voice from behind Kuro, one that was both ugly and beautiful at the same time. Conflicting aspects clashed against each other with each syllable making his words near sweet to hear but leaving behind a bitter sensation upon the sense that might leave one wishing to never hear the speaker say another word again. "Arrogance abound, he thinks he can throw his weight around. I think I'd prefer our compound not become a battleground but I must admit that to that idea I am coming 'round. I suppose, as they say, in for a penny in for a pound."

Tall and lithe, Ichi leaned against a wall some few feet away from Kuro as he mused out loud to himself. The bandages wrapped around his form like an embalmed corpse shifted and crinkled with each movement of his jawline as he crowed about in almost a lyrical way. Undoubtedly Kuro would take notice of the silk and leather wrapped man that had strangely appeared without much warning and as he did Ichi would give him a smile which, while certainly not welcoming in any way due to the macabre appearance of the strange man, seemed at least genuine in it's intent. Dressed in a casual black and red yukata that was loose over the bandages which covered him from head to toe, Ichi cut a clearly recognizable figure despite lacking in the department of physical size next to the statuesque Kuro. Giving Kuro a deep bow with a dramatic flourish, Ichi would crane his neck and look back up at Kuro with one of his eyes closed and his almost maniac grin still upon his face.

"Which is to say; the Daimyo bids thee welcome to his city of Sora, Toraono Kuro. You are expected at the palace."

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro would turn and face Ichi formally and bow in return before handing over his letter of Kanly. With formal proceedings despite being considered a clown Kuro did not mind. Kanly was an ancient tradition and Kuro knew very well that the Daimyo could easily refuse or refute it but an audience was an audience and words would be exchanged before blows. Thus was this also part of the gladiator heritage from which Kuro descended from as well. It paid to keep multiple letters at hand.

"A clown indeed, despite your bandaged appearance saying much to the identity of a true clown... I greet you formally as Toraono Kuro of House Toraono registering formal vendetta. I thank you for taking the time to allow me to meet the Daimyo. I do not choose your compound as a place of battle either that is up to your Daimyo should he accept my Vendetta. I know not your name or rank if you have one so how would you prefer to be addressed? Also shall you lead the way into the palace or will another? I am quite content to wait outside for a response from either a messenger or the Daimyo himself as one cannot rush such matters?"


With contact made Kyojin Kuro left the dojo to head for the last known location of Rioshi where a cryptic letter would be left for her purview guaranteeing that she knew of Kuro's actions and his promise to uphold her protection as well as that of her remaining people. Her faith in him would be rewarded one way or another.

Spoiler

ooc: Topic named: A letter to the secretary

 

[Sand Council]

Ichi​

Ichi rose slowly from his bow as Kuro spoke, apparently listening though he was impossible to read for the fact that any of the subtle details of his countenance were shrouded behind the milky white of the bandages wrapped about his face. Sliding his right arm out of the sleeve of his yukata, Ichi rested it on the seam where the bottom of the sleeve met the body of the article of clothing while his hand and fingers dangled out from the front of it. He wore no visible weapons upon his person but given the nature of the Sovereign agents being in many ways living weapons it simply was not a safe assertion that he was unarmed. In fact, Ichi remained entirely an enigma to Sunagakure for there were no listings anyplace of where he came from or who he had been before he was Ichi of the Sovereign Academy. As far as the records were concerned for as there had been a Sovereign Academy there had been an Ichi.

"I already have your name, Toraono Kuro. Courtesy is a matter between men of equal stature, something you and I are certainly not." Remarked Ichi through his insufferably smug smirk as Kuro asked about his identity. "If you look to claim my name then you'll need to give me something else of acclaim or else I'll tell you nothing further which would be a shame for you at this stage in the game."

A man obsessed with the importance of both words and their meanings, Ichi would not give any information about himself without a trade. They were of course still enemies and for someone who whole-heartedly believed in the idea of words possessing inherent value and power names ranked high on the list of words which were most powerful. It was why he was who he was and not someone else.

"Alas I'll admit that I have been given the dullest of mission and that is to deliver you unto your rendition. So if you have no further conditions then let us get underway without further intermission"

Ichi made no threatening move towards Kuro as he spoke but he did step forward and slowly make his way past the sennin, his arm still resting in the sleeve of his yutaka and clearly completely at ease as he walked past Kuro's outstretched offer of a letter without paying it any mind. If Kuro had correspondence that he wished to grant then he would apparently need to save it for the Daimyo who was, apparently, expecting his attendance at the palace in a short time given that Ichi had been dispatched to collect him.

Or so he claimed, anyway.

Stopping a few footsteps past Kuro, Ichi would stop and turn only slightly enough so that Kuro could see his face once more as his head rolled a bit to the side in an unhinged manner.

"After me, detainee."

Though Ichi made no attempt to physically restrain Kuro it was clear from his words, even if he used them in a bizarre fashion, that he considered Kuro his prisoner for the time being. And why would he not? Despite all the information that Sunagakure possessed about the forces of the Daimyo and the Sovereign Academy they had so many more questions. More questions than answers, really. There was no telling what sort of horrors Kuro might face in the Palace of the Glorious Immortal but there was certainly one way to find out. Ichi waited a few paces ahead of where Kuro stood, expecting the Sunagakurian sennin to fall in line behind him as though the statement that he was expected by the Daimyo was enough of a reason to follow along.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Kuro would have laughed were he not here on a formal account for the Daimyo no less and he was already considered an enemy of the state when it was Suna and his home that had been attacked not the Daimyo or his people. Hidden cache's of slumbering Ancients kept from the war and annihilation by rangers also raided for his 'academy' and now although he was doing his best to be civil this irritating bandaged being was doing his utmost best to bring out the worst in Kuro. It would not come to pass a Kuro was altogether used to sleights of honor and malcontent. Even some of the very people he protected and a fellow sennin hated him or at the very least disliked him for whatever reasoning came to their minds so it would be no different here. Yet ever since the founding of the diamond maelstrom they had been at war, a war they had not even known they were in. Simply put this would not do. "Well enough, as YOUR detainee, I do have one more condition or two… Take me to the final resting place of a warrior I respected his name was Saiga. I am certain you will know where it is since you were sent on such a dull mission of escorting me. That means you are at the very least as strong or stronger than I am believed to be and with that in mind capable of basic courtesies and the like. So from one monster to another allow me to see his grave or his remains before I greet your leader. It is customary to visit the graves or the sites of the fallen before a meeting such as this occurs. If you have any objections you have but to say so. Although if this condition is refused I will take grave offense. I have already stated I am not here to fight in YOUR compound. However… I will if you make it absolutely necessary. <i></i> ((Kuro would check his clothing for excess dust while speaking intent on following through with all the rights and procedures for formal Kanly)) . I would hate to be tired from sparring with you before meeting the Daimyo as I do not wish to come across as a barbarian despite my nomadic features and lineage. You can do that without assistance I am certain… right? ….Mr. Band-Aid?” <i></i>

Kuro would turn his back on the bandaged being as he waited for him to reply while his avatars positioned themselves in case of actions unbecoming of his ESCORT. It did pay to have a second enhanced set of eyes and ears.


MFT
WC: 420

 

[Sand Council]

Ichi​

If Kuro's tepid verbal jabs were eliciting a response from Ichi, it was impossible to tell from the way his face were bandaged. He continued to wear the same crooked, almost maniac grin that he had from the moment that they had first met and beyond that there was just no way to tell anything else about him from his appearance.

"Take offense if you wish you boorish, brackish blowfish." Ichi wheezed, his shoulders rolling in a shrug of indifference towards Kuro's request before his mocking grin split his facial features once more. "But my command was not to accompany you on some fool's errand to see to the corpse of a dead man that no one will mourn but you, it was to see you to your appointment with the Daimyo and he waits for no man."

And in that moment, Ichi changed from the almost impish, mischievous demeanor of one of deadly presence. The skin-crawling malfeasance sharpened into a metaphorical razor's edge and from one heartbeat to another he had gone from insulting and irreverent to menacing. Whether Kuro would pick up on such a change was up to him but the change in his bearing meant only one thing; Ichi was hoping that Kuro was going to put up a fight and force him into a confrontation. Had the Daimyo given him orders not to fight otherwise? It was a fair conclusion given that Ichi had not engaged Kuro with a surprise attack from his original vantage point.

"And so the decision is yours." He commanded, his eyes growing slim to thin slits of threatening red. "Would you prefer to walk or be dragged to your appointment?"

 

[Toraono Kuro]

"Look here you bandaged buffoon. Whether you like it or not you are trapped with me not the other way around and though you may know these lands and their very essence I have been as civil as can be given the situation and what has been done to my kin. Now, if you are feeling froggy then leap and let it be known I gave you fair warning. Step to me once again with any further killing intent and I will show you how far the rabbit hole goes nameless bastard or do you have some way of knowing exactly what I will do to you should you push the issue. There will be no more verbal jabs, no more circumspect... I told you I would keep your barracks area pristine and I will even if I have to mop up your remains from it. Although I must thank you for verifying what I suspected. He was a far better being than the crap that ran down your mother's legs that should have made you but needless to say with the knowledge he is truly gone I have yet another reason to speak with your Daimyo. SO lead the way or get buried next to Saiga in an unmarked grave. Since I don't have a name for you the epitath left in the mud will read --Here lies a bandaged smartass snook-- Don't start any further games with me because I will finish them... and end you along with them... ARE WE CLEAR?"<i></i> Ichi may or may not know that Kuro was a master of both mind and body meaning he did not need to use his physical body to exert the force needed to kill. Should Ichi press further he would find his body incapable of movement as Kuro would gesture with his left pinky grasping the bandaged one with his kinesis in a distinct moment to prove his point.


WC: 323
MFT

 

[Miroku Akkuma]

(Voided Sorry Thought I did that)

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

(Void post)

 

[Sand Council]

[Akkuma and Satou have been relocated to another thread due to timeline concerns. This thread is a solo-dance, I'm afraid.]

Ichi​

As Kuro began to rant at Ichi, the menace faded from him and was replaced with the body language of someone who clearly had better places to be than where he was and better things to do than what he was engaged in. There was fire and thunder in the threats that Kuro issued but it would become rapidly clear that Ichi was unfazed by them. Raising his right hand to look down at his wrist at a watch that wasn't there in a mocking gesture of time being wasted, Ichi shrugged his shoulders and waited for Kuro's monologue to come to an end.

"It is pronounced 'epitaph' you great culture-less cat-man." Was all Ichi would offer to Kuro in response to his rage. Kuro had indicated for Ichi to lead the way and so he intended to do so but not before getting one last verbal jab in before turning away from the Sand Sennin and advancing away from the place where he'd uncovered Kuro not far from the gates of the Palace of the Glorious Immortal.

It would not take them long to arrive at the tremendous steel gates of the Daimyo's home. Opulent and imperial, they stood as the first obstacle to anyone looking to infiltrate the Palace along with the sizable palace fences that surrounded the grounds. At least twenty or so feet high, each side of the barred fences would be patrolled by a member of the Daimyo's standing army at all hours of the day to inspect for intruders and the like-- always in partnered pairs. Today however the only part that was relevant for Kuro was the front gate which stood several feet higher than the standard perimeter fencing and was manned by a number of men all dressed in sharp black and red matching uniforms, each with a singular blade hanging at their waist on the side opposite their dominant hand. The way their uniforms fit made it clear enough that they were not simply for appearance but also outfitted with some form of protection underneath but it was impossible to say exactly how much or what type of material was used to reinforce their uniform.

As Kuro and Ichi approached the gate, a number of soldiers would appear there from various places on the grounds reinforcing the statement that Ichi had made earlier on: Kuro was expected. The city of Sora was constantly under the supervision of the Daimyo's vast military forces and very little escaped their notice. Even though his military forces which were of a more mundane nature as compared to the Sovereign were mostly incapable of the chakra-based feats of power that shinobi were known for they were still some of the most highly trained and specialized soldiers on the planet and that made them dangerous for even men and women like shinobi. A small crowd of soldiers gathered behind the gate as Ichi came to a stop before it and one of them, his uniform decorated with a number of symbols and medals that might lead someone of the more observant nature to believe him to be a ranking officer on station, approached the two with his eyes warily fixated on Kuro. A number of the other soldiers casually placed their hands where they would be able to quickly reach for their swords if things deteriorated.

"Let us through." Commanded Ichi before the officer approaching him could even speak which took the obviously nervous officer a bit aback before he quickly recovered himself and motioned to the others to signal for the gate to open and sure enough moments later the gargantuan steel bars of the gates began to swing inward forcing the crowd of soldiers to reposition themselves. Looking back at Kuro, Ichi flashed him one last mocking grin. "Excuse me if this sounds cliche but this is your last chance to run away my dear little stray."

 

[Toraono Kuro]

"Thank you for the warning but I have nothing to run from, although I do like the uniforms your palace troop have. They are very snazzy and thank you for the correction on Epitaph. I do try to stay up to date on my vocabulary. You would make a good editor if you weren't such a snarky, bandaged hard-case." Kuro reached out with the sight of his Summoner whom sat calmly outside the palace using the byakugan to survey the general area. Kuro's Sharingan side meditated on the opposite side of the palace area maintaining surveillance to see if more reinforcements were coming or if there were significant people leaving the area signifying more than your average ambush. There were no significant movements of people or chakra or ancient reminiscent essences on the outside. Sometimes it really pays to have multiple existences. Kyojin Kuro carefully drew a map of the area and the significant security points in his immediate areas to combine with input from the other three forms of Kuro stationed strategically around the area. Hashigaki Kuro also listened for significant movements or emergencies that could distract the general populace from any ongoings at the palace itself. The security for the Daimyo was top notch unlike the dojo and the village but the village had long been unprepared for all out war. A war that Kuro wished to avoid by a very personal, overly publicized, legal assault that would allow Sora to not have to endure what Sunagakure had been going through for years. Letters of Kanly, its terms and why it was occurring were delivered to all the major facets of communication to be opened the moment Kuro actually entered the palace. Information about the Daimyo's nearly 50 year assault on Wind Country's recognized military/emergency force. The assassination of leaders, the terrorist attacks on the village, the kidnapping and enslavement of children for the sovereign academy were all revealed. Whether the people of Sora believed or cared was not the issue. It was only necessary that they be notified as to WHY their leader was to be challenged to whatever form of combat in retribution for all the losses suffered. Kuro was confident he could win but even if he could not he would find some weakness in the Daimyo and his minions and keep up the effort without harming the local population. Kuro would not repeat the actions of the Daimyo and their people. He would however level the palace if he had to so long as no civilians were involved. His military men were forfeit as they could act in the Daimyo's name by their oaths so he had no concern for them. They knew what they signed up for. A satisfied smile would appear upon Kuro's face as stage one of Kanly was begun, Notification of target, the public officials, and the media. "Please... lead the way... I am rather anxious to meet your leader face to face."<i></i>

Summoner Kuro stationed himself to the North prepared to summon his tiger contract allies. Hashigaki Kuro prepared to deliver a play by play reflection of what was occurring with Kuro and his meeting with the Daimyo to local media. Sharingan Kuro kept up his meditation in preparation for any unrealized threats of which Kuro was certain there were plenty.

Late Edit:

Akkuma Kuro would stop in his tracks and look around as it seemed this was as far as he could go at the moment with his personal vendetta. Kuro would place his sealed formal letter of Kanly at Ichi's feet then face away from the bandaged Sovereign so that the rage upon his face could not be witnessed. "Well... lt seems you were right... I regret to inform you that I must leave before I get to meet your leader face to face. Deliver the letter to him or not it does not matter I have filed an official notice of Kanly with Sora's records so that it is known that I have a personal non political vendetta. I hope to return under better circumstances. Good day to you Sovereign, tell your Lord he has a beautiful home and his military have truly wonderful uniforms."<i></i>

With a surge of devil chakra and clap of air pressure from the void left by where he once stood Akkuma Kuro would disappear.

Topic Left with all bodies presented in this thread...​

<i></i>