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Ninpocho Chronicles

Ninpocho Chronicles is a fantasy-ish setting storyline, set in an alternate universe World of Ninjas, where the Naruto and Boruto series take place. This means that none of the canon characters exists, or existed here.

Each ninja starts from the bottom and start their training as an Academy Student. From there they develop abilities akin to that of demigods as they grow in age and experience.

Along the way they gain new friends (or enemies), take on jobs and complete contracts and missions for their respective villages where their training and skill will be tested to their limits.

The sky is the limit as the blank page you see before you can be filled with countless of adventures with your character in the game.

This is Ninpocho Chronicles.

Current Ninpocho Time:

Kill Time

Takahashi Aki

Takahashi Aki

Faithful Ninja
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Masashi Mako stalked about. She hadn't heard from Tommy or Koga since the incident at the bar. She was led to believe that both of them were dead or on the way to be dying. Word though couldn't be counted on. Surprisingly though word had not really spread about her grandson's status. Word about his friends though? Well that was something entirely different.

The search for was for one named Roku. Sousuke spoke highly of him, but from what she had personally heard the boy was ... well it was very different from what Sousuke spoke. The word debauchery came to mind when she heard what the streets had to say. Word had that Roku and his brother had tricked Sousuke into going to a strip club for a 'mission' as it were. The veteran mentally was shaking her head. Pigs. Yes. Worse than Sagasu Shinji probably. The one armed veteran carried with her a letter for Roku that was meant for him when he woke up from that coma, but was it? No. Some moron forgot to leave it there. It detailed some of the things that happened to Roku over the time period of his coma.

Finding Roku in a good part of town wasn't easy, and thus Mako took to the worse parts of town. Worse it was indeed. The veteran was met by a few brawler, petty thugs, but she handled them appropriately. Even with one arm she was still more of a match for the most of them. Save for the one that surprised her with a nasty right hook to the face. Mako's lower lip was bleeding as she had cut it in the process. She returned the favour in kind by reducing said attacker to a crying snivelling fetal position. No doubt he was going to be seeing a flaming skeleton in his dreams whipping at him with a cat-o-nine tails made of snakes. Oh yes. Mako had an image for herself in her genjutsus. It was not a pretty one.

"If I were a debauched young man who wanted to attract girls with my long lovely locks where would I be?" Mako wondered out loud to herself. She surveyed her settings. It was a run down area. "Maybe if I were to appear forty-five years younger maybe I could draw him out like a moth to the flame..." Mako took to the shadows and took to some one hand seals. Afterwards she emerged as a pretty red head. Her eyes flickered back and forth. She had use of her right arm again, which was always unsettling considering in her real body she was missing her arm from up past the elbow. Come out come out where ever you are... I have news for you, of the grimmest sort!
 


It wasn't often, at least now a days, that a beautiful woman would suddenly emerge on the streets. In a time when the Desert Crown was being run by thugs, criminals and monsters, to see such a pure creature would assuredly cause quite the commotion. If Kasha's eyes have been laid upon this figure it would mean that someone much more unruly has also spotted this 'desert rose'. Leaping down from a roof top perch the masked figure would land a good distance away from the female, making sure to keep distance if she happened to have defensive training. Didn't need the female, one that he was coming to help, attack him out of instincts. Also didn't need to just walk into a trap of a random beautiful woman.

"Hello there, ma'am."

The masked figure would come more into the light, allowing his full attire be seen. Surely the sight of him would seem strange. White mask, red cloak, solid black full body clothing that seemed to be a modified version of Sunan ANBU body armor and a katana attached to his hip. It would be very interesting for someone to make an assessment on this figure, so he was curious as to how this female would react.

"I am The Kasha, and I have been roaming this area cleaning up the filth. I am afraid you may be in danger if you do not find an appropriate place to find refuge. The seem to be especially savage to women..."

His mask head would turn side to side in an attempt to scan the surrounding area. Never could be too sure with the current state of affairs.



 
"Why hello there." A grin came across Mako's younger looking self. Like her grandson her mind was quick to come to terms with her surroundings. The fact she was not attacked first and foremost suggested that this person before her was more likely friend than foe. Secondly his garb was that of an anbu, or at least it tried to be an anbu. A sheep in wolf's clothing? That remains to be seen. She balled up her fist only to let it go, and then she did so once again. Funny that the transform jutsu gave her that feeling. It was all a trick in her mind, but at least it didn't give away the fact that in reality she was missing her arm.

With the appearance set in her mind, something that was different from most Anbu she listened to him speak. The Kasha? Interesting choice of words. He was not numbered, he was singular. Perhaps he was a rogue Anbu, or perhaps he did not think to classify himself amongst their numbers. "I'm looking for someone ... for a mutual friend. He lives down here in these parts. He was discharged from the hospital very recently. I'm here to drag him back... more importantly I've a letter to give to him." Mako spoke somewhat revealing her purpose. She hadn't dropped any names, and that would be the sticking part to this. A grin though a small one would appear across her face. "Your mask, it's cute." She would simply say, "In a creepy darker sort of way..." A scraping sound came from the side. Mako's military training kicked into effect. Her eyes narrowed and shifted to the side. Her hands tensed up. From the shadows emerged three thugs. "Leave us." She instructed in an incredibly harsh tone. The first of the three didn't heed her words as he marched forward. Mako placed her index finger on her forehead. This was annoying. "Leave." She said a second time. The striding didn't stop. Mako would merely rub her temple and open her eyes. The thug stopped moving and stood there frozen.

The other two thugs merely stood there staring at the one frozen by a simple genjutsu Mako had casted. "Your call 'The Kasha', these men here clearly of lesser intentions and inability to listen to simply words. Really you'd think they would have listened the first time."
 


His luck was improving, this female was not a part of a vicious rogue group, or at least was not as quick to establish that allegiance as the last female he encountered in the crown, the enigma Fuu. She did seem to tense up a bit and it must have take her a little to release the stress, gripping her first more than once. Seemed that there was a strong fighting spirit within this one. The female then mentioned that she was looking for someone, someone who had just been released from the hospital. The coincidence that she was looking for a male and that Roku himself was recently released from the hospital was not something he could take lightly. The probability this person was looking for him was incredibly high, which now put the question of who they were back under scrutiny. If she was with the Cabal and had learned of his identity this soon the situation would prove to be dire, but there was another question he had;

She has a note for me? Well that is if she was looking for me in the first place.

"You are in search of someone? With the current state of disarray it would seem that locating people has become a very perilous thing."

Before he could continue on more, the woman's attention would be caught by the appearance of three men lurking in the shadows. She gave them a warning, which of course went unheeded, and then quickly dispatched them without much effort. The frozen nature, the lack of anything visual, it seemed that this was the work of a rather annoying trick that Roku himself did not have a lot of talent in; genjutsu.

"Seems you are very skilled, I guess they are learning their lesson this time; when a lady asks... and all that fun stuff. So who is it we are needing to find for you?"
 
Mako turned her attention back to 'The Kasha'. He didn't scare easily. That was good enough. The whole things about cloaks and masks was that most of them were gone the moment you had your back turned to them. It was a rather annoying little feature most of them had to be honest. "Well. Some people are worth looking for..." Especially when the they've been out of commission, and it's my grandson keeping tabs on you.<i></i> Mako paused for a moment. She thought about taking out the envelop and flashing the seal of her grandson, but decided not to. It was far too public here, and who knew what eyes were about. The next natural query would come up, who she was looking for.

"I've never met the man, but I've been told on good authority he has lovely locks of hair..." Yes. Sousuke had made note of the hair. He made fumbling attempts on researching the relationship between females and the fondness for long hair on men. Really it wasn't all that hard. Some men just looked good with long hair. Unfortunately Sousuke had made some sort of experiment out of it. Mako herself didn't really like long hair. In war time it was something to grab and tug at. Something for some sicko to do during the ... deeper and intimate moments of war. Hair and being a prisoner of war did not go hand in hand. Mako herself had shaved her own head from time to time. Saved her from certain pleasantries down the road, but during times of peace she had let her hair grow out. "His name is Roku." She would add a moment later. "I heard that he used to frequent the Purple Ribbon? That was until this fiasco occurred. I would have checked there, but I don't think that part of town is safe for little sweet me." Mako would allow a small smile to grace her face. Her transformed body was somewhat smaller than her own frame, and thus the smile felt quite tight.
 


And it then quickly went from being apparent to being stated; he was the one she was looking for. She had a note for Roku and from the description it was not very clear who it might have been from but the reference to his locks made it seem feminine.

Well that is a positive, a lady looking for me. Hopefully with the best intentions.

Then the second half of her description listed a location that immediately drew a connection for him; Sousuke. Out of all the people, and granted with some working memory loss, that he could relate to that location were himself, his brother and Sousuke. This person, whoever she was, was an associated of the Steward-Kage.

That dumbass... knowing him he did not describe them as lovely locks in an effort to be sarcastic but out of a literal description. I need to work with him on that silly shit.

"I agree, that area would not be the best to venture off on our own, however, we should probably exit the open area we are currently in. We gained the attention of three, and while they seemed to be subdued, there is no reason to remain in plain sight and await for more shenanigans. I wish to help you in your search, and while I had behind a mask I can promise you I am someone you can place your faith in."

It was time to go somewhere private to have a chat with this mystery woman.

MFT - 250
 
(I... may have forgotten how long time can pass in between things.)

Well. This 'the Kasha' had a head on his shoulders. Most refreshing. Maybe some of the youth of today had a fighting chance, or at least Mako had thought. Inwardly Mako was making a face at the senario offered. Yes. Men with masks being ... dependable. Yes. It's also men with masks who make the worst murderers going. Men with masks had two things going for them. The first being that they could hide behind the mask and ultimately protect not only their identity but those who they were close to. The second thing was that with a mask, and one's identity in tact one could ultimately go on a crazed killing spree and not be held to it.

Well. Mako was a woman who had a gambling addiction of sorts. She always liked her cards... and while she liked to think she was quite good at gambling, it did happen on occasion where she would end up losing. Mako would make a gesture of sorts with her "I hope you will keep me safe." Right so. it was time to take a gamble. Whether or not this was a good one remained to be seen. Even with a bad hand, one could always tell a good bluff. Mako had somewhat revealed her hand with her genjutsu skills, but she had yet to reveal her whole hand. Still though, she had time to reveal a straight flush or a full house. It just depended upon several things. There was her apartment she could go to, but that was far too revealing. "Know any place where we can pop by?" She would inquire seeing as how ... well, Tommy's was a no go considering he was on the receiving end of a raid stick by the leader of the Cabal.
 


There was still some questions, but there was also the assumption that she was a messenger of that dumb ass Kage. Either way, this female appeared to be strong enough to cause him troubles whether he wanted her to or not. So instead of trying to run his own risk, it seemed far easier to take her somewhere and see if this would be a matter that could truly be handled by words.

"Yes, I think I could find us some place to have a chat."

I mean, ultimately, that is what he wanted regardless. Get out of the line of sight from all the baddies that might be slugging around and have a chat with a lovely lady. That is the perfect night, right? Scanning around his bit, Kasha would take off in a full sprint. His hope was that this female, based on her skill with what seemed to be genjutsu or a kinetic jutsu, that she could also back it up on the physical end. His sprint would take him to an alley way that he would quickly begin to zig zag across the walls of the buildings, bouncing from one all to the other until finally making it to the roof tops. From there he would continue his mad dash across the roofs until finally reaching a sudden halt. Upon his stop his right leg would immediately hike up into the air and then quickly snap downward, ripping a hole into the roof. The masked figure would descend down into the opening and pause for a moment.

The pause was to get his baring and to scout what building he might have entered. It seemed that he had found himself a rather decent sized bed and breakfast location, with his current location being the attic storage for the various linens and other pleasantries.

Well if this get's sexy I guess I unconsciously picked the best building.

He now awaited for the female to join him before they could begin their conversation. If need be, they had roughly three floors, with a possible basement level, to work with in order to further conceal their current location.

MFT - 359
 
Keeping up with 'the Kasha' was child's play for Mako. Zigs and zags about. Such was youth and in youth one could do all sorts of tricks. If pushed Mako was certain she could maybe get past him, but after all she had to be led by him. Suddenly though he would make a quick turn and go through the ceiling of one of the many roof tops they were running about. As they made their entry point Mako would pause for a moment. "Excuse me for a moment." With her false hand she would find the letter for Roku. "Now then..." She would pull the letter out from his true hand. Damn. She was getting used to having this false hand too quickly, "This here ... is the Steward's seal." Her voice would change greatly to her usual self. A huskier older voice. She threw the letter at the Kasash quickly enough like it was a card of sorts. "Get that to Roku, and tell him it's a little love note of sorts." The shadows seem to collect and swirl for a moment allowing the transformer jutsu to melt away horrifically revealing the weathered Veteran. Missing arm, military coat, eyepatch, all the signs of a woman who had been to hell and back twice. "I'm the emotionally incompetent boy's grandmother. For a man who seems inept at emotions, he seems to care quite a bit about people of ... questionable character." Mako shook her head. "Who knows. Maybe I'm talking to Roku, maybe you're his brother, maybe you're a friend, or maybe you're the dark haired girl Sousuke was trying to get him hitched with. What matters is that you get that into his hands. It'll explain quite a bit over the last few months. I just hope to the gods that he's not lying dead in some gutter. It'd break my poor grandson's heart." The last bit was said with some venom and certainly some sarcasm.

Mako searched her pockets for her smokes, once she found them she took out the packet. She shook it for a moment and thought about lighting one up. She hesitated though. "Hrmph. He'd tell me not to do this in a public place right now, but law and order seem to be absent at the time." Her facial expression soured though as if a sour memory came to mind. "Always concerned my grandson is, tells me not to drink or smoke so much. Always wants to get ahead." It came out as a rant of sorts.
 


As the female caught up to him there would be a single thought that would cross his mind...

I never asked what the hell her name was!?

Soon she would come dropping down from the roof, it was rather quick follow up. She clearly was able to match his pace. It seemed that there was indeed some more to this woman than meets the eye. That would literally become true as she spoke, with a deeper voice, and her body began to change. The end of a transformation jutsu ushered in a new, probably original, appearance of the female. She was older, beaten, broken, and yet gave off this presence, this aura, of intimidation. She then began to divulge who she was and what the purpose of the letter was for. She seemed to have a very colorful view of him, it took a lot of his strength to hold back his laughter. This moment was just too fun to keep hiding behind his mask.

"You don't need to worry about Roku..."

His hands would remove the mask from his face revealing a youthful face, a devious grin and some pretty green eyes. His trademark golden locks would still be concealed due to the rest of his ANBU attire, but a couple of strands would be present under the black fabric.

"Hello, grandmother of the idiot genius. My name is Roku and it is a pleasure to meet you..."

Damn, still don't know her name!

He would bow after introducing himself and then extend his hand outward to receive the letter.

"So the goofball wrote me a love letter... do you..."

His tone would turn a bit more serious.

"Granny, do you know if there has been any word about him since this madness started?"

He may have some colorful names for the Steward-Kage, but he was concerned for his friend.

"And don't worry about about the smoking thing, Granny. The Stew-Kage is a bit of a prude when it comes to enjoying life's little joys."

MFT - 336
 
So. Roku took to the mask? Well. That was certainly one way of hiding yourself, and protecting the ones you love while you go kick the crap out of the filth that plagued the streets. "Well, we can say one thing for certain pup, my grandson isn't a liar. I would bet money you have lovely locks, and you probably look after your hair better than his girlfriend does. She's dedicated to her work though, so I suppose I'll let that slide." Mako raised an eyebrow as she was greatly amused by the turn of events. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the hair she could see. Damn. Keeping hair like that during wartime was certainly a problem. "Word of advice son, don't let your hair fall out, people will exploit that weakness because it hurts like hell to have your hair pulled on. Babies do it, and it's hell, but full grown people doing it? Even worse." Mako would placed his cigarette behind her ear which looked like it had been chewed on at one point.

"Masashi Mako, Seventh Division Hell's Halberd." She didn't salute or anything. That was more of a formality for the younger pups to do. The fresh recruits who had yet to be put through the meat grinder. "I'm probably certain you're thinking to yourself, this old bitch is the Steward's Grandmother? All I have to say to say is oh hell yes." She paused for a moment and rolled her eyes. "Life is a sick joke you know? So you might as well just have a seat and drink it in like a good brandy." Mako gave Roku a hard stare when she heard him call granny, "Truth be told Goldie Locks, that's something hard pressed to have an answer for. I figure he's dead and hasn't been accounted for, dead and vaporized, or trapped and dying a slow painful death." She spoke bluntly. "I figures though if he isn't one of those he's playing a game of metaphorical chess, trying to figure out how to handle this the best way he can. He's not the loud reckless type, but you already know that. He figures out the rules, and then plays by them. There's that saying, the game might be lame, but learning to play it saves us the pain. Geeze, that sounds so terrible, whoever thought of that needs to be shot. Repeatedly in the head probably."
My good Roku,

If you are reading this, then presumably you have awaken from your coma. I am very glad of this. I may even smile.

Prior to your deplorable comatose state you have been in, you lacked documentation in the form of a healthcare directive, or a power of attorney for personal care. It usually falls upon a relative to make the decision to pull the plug or not, in the absence of such an individual I elected myself to that position. As cold and as calculating as I may be I am not devoid of the realization of our friendship, but more importantly the sanctity of life. You have been resuscitated thirteen times, and with each occasion I was counseled that it was getting harder and harder for you. I was further counseled that it may have been more humane to have the plug pulled and to stop these heroic methods of preserving your life, suffice to say that the doctors were wrong given that you are reading this.

I have made an effort to visit you at least once a week, granted once or twice I may not have been able to do so given my own injuries. I think at one point we may have shared a room together.

I look forward to our next engagement, which I hope will be sooner rather later.

I trust that I still remain your good friend,
Sousuke.


P.S. Things have become quite interesting in my life. I will inform you of these details once we meet up.
Click to expand...
 


She made reference to something that he felt like would be the most ground shaking news he could ever possible comprehend; Sousuke's girlfriend.

"Sousuke's girlfriend!? Wait, what!? Is he showing... emotions, and stuff to a girl? A female right... female human? He didn't build her did he?"

Too many questions, too many thoughts, all of this was just too much to comprehend. The lightheartedness would fade momentarily as Mako began her introduction. She was a vet, seemingly holding a strong military position even though her family is well seated within the political power of the country. It made sense, ninja village placed political value in different areas than a civilian based village. Her strength was probably immense. Maybe he would spar with her when they weren't in a world of chaos? She then began to explain, harshly, what all may be happening, or had happened, to her grandson. There was a look growing anger, even more than his look of irritation from the utterance of "Goldie Locks", at how callously she could talk about the potential of her dead grandson. The face would subside, he did not understand how she truly felt about this matter. It was her blood after all.

"Yea, I am sure he is playing the 'game' but what 'rules' were given to him. So far, with some of the markings around the area, it seems they've given special instructions to shinobi about how to handle this situation. The idiot is alive, he is too damn smart to die with a mess like this on his hands."

Taking the letter he would open it up and begin to read. His range of emotions began to fluctuate. At first, from the tone of Sousuke, it was easy to visualize the dumb ass saying this out loud to him. Then the content of the note would change, and with it's change so would the expression of Roku.

Thirteen times... I have died thirteen times...

His face, stone and growing pale, would continue to read until finally uttering out a questions.

"Miss Mako, have you read this note?"

He knew the note was in the proper envelope so it did not appear it had been opened prior. He just needed to make sure she didn't know this tid bit about him, for whatever reason. He had no rationale to hid this, he just knew he didn't want people to know.

I am living on borrowed time...

His eyes looked down at his body and then back to the paper.

How much longer until my fourteenth death... why am I still alive...

 
"Is she real? Sometimes I wonder that myself. Well. It wasn't common knowledge by Sousuke's birthday is around the holidays... so this year's party was bigger now that the cat got out of the bag." Mako began explaining. "They pulled a stunt on my grandson with some mistletoe... so he kissed a girl in public. Granted she wasn't someone random... he's been to her house maybe once or twice. Her brother though is scum." Harsh? Maybe. What was her brother's name? Shingo? Shinji? Shinji sounded right. The Veteran played with her unlit cigarette, she weaved it through her fingers. "So yeah. He kissed her in public, it was one of those strange displays that he played quite well. Kissed her forehead he did, and she in turn kissed his knuckles. Probably having a hard time picturing that aren't you?"

Roku had alot of faith in her grandson. Sposing he was alive, and certainly it was somewhat refreshing to hear this ... optimism of sorts. "Probably. We'll see what happens in a few days, but we gotta keep ourselves alive here and now. Keep those thugs on the street under control. I tried collecting a few things for him should he show up, but I was visited by Kaito, the man running the show." Mako leaned against a wall. He was a veteran, like herself, and he certainly had a dangerous head on those shoulders. While Mako kicked back for a moment, Roku went over the letter. He asked her if she had read it. "Can't say that I have, but you look like you've seen a ghost. Wanna talk about it son? I'm here to listen, and I'm here to make sure keep it together. This is gonna be a long campaign... I've won wars in six days, but I don't think we're gonna get off that easy. "
 


Granny began to further explain the woman situation with her grandson and how there was some sort of public display, awkward at that, made. He heard the words but it was as if they were begin told to him while he was under water. It was muffled, his thoughts were focused on one thing; his life. What could have caused him to meet death, let alone meet it several times before finally coming back to life. And on that matter, what was it that was done to finally sustain his life? Was it his own persistence or was it something done by doctors? If it was done by doctors, was it something that altered him? Too many questions. He now had a new reason for obtaining Sousuke; he needed answers.

His eyes locked with Granny's and he smiled as he pulled his mask back up to his face.

"Yea, there is no need to worry. Just some embarrassing info your grandson didn't have the ability to articulate in a 'normal' manner, sort of like a confession of love I think."

Making a joke of the situation helped diffuse it, and there was no reason to further go into the matter if it wasn't necessary. Knowing something like this would cause a veteran to view him as a potential risk in battle. His mind had to appear calm. Appear calm.

"I started to imagine that this wouldn't be something that would end soon, rather annoying little mess I woke up in. Granny-sama, what is your plan of action next?"

There was a genuine interest.

"I know you said you didn't really have an idea on Sousuke's condition, but do you by chance happen to know what he was doing before this all started?"

Had to start his search somewhere.

MFT - 298
 
Roku was an amusing lad. He had some charm about him, as he joked about with her. "Mainly the plan right now is to reclaim the streets. The prison scum were released which complicates things. We need to get things under control. Either bury the scum or we need to try and get the prison back up and running. I'd sooner we just bury the scum. I'm certain some of the scum would want to turn a new leaf in their lives, and they can live. Mistakes happen. The others?" Mako made a gesture with her thumb running across her neck. "You catch my drift?" The veteran lowered her hand after making the gesture. It was quite probable that her opinion wasn't going to be publically popular.

Roku next inquired about what her grandson was up to. "Well. Sousuke was tracking down some murder who was involved in a penta vicious slaying. He's been mum about it because I think he personally wanted to handle it because the Anbu proved to be inept at tracking this down." She paused for a moment. "He's been working on it for some time. I don't know if he put his hands on something that took him out of Suna, or if the murderer figured out Sousuke was on his trail and fled. Either way he was being responsible about the matter and handling it with the utmost care." Her eye narrowed as if something had hit her. "It was pretty grim business. His ward was kidnapped, and I think he linked it up to these murders. Okibi and I don't like each other, but I know Sousuke took in quite seriously to ... get back at those who had hurt her." Mako snorted. "If something were to happen to him, would you avenge him? Not that I'm asking, just inquiring. Lots to be said about those who avenge the fallen... or for the matter those who keep the living ... well ... alive. Saying it and doing it is another matter entirely. You don't really know people until they're on the edge of a knife. Sousuke plays it cool, or merely doesn't know how to react. I've seen that kid with broken legs, with a broken arm, and with forty stitches keeping his insides from falling out. All the time just being calm about it. Pretty unnatural, but such is to be expected with a sundered soul." Mako's good eye shifted to Roku. How good of a friend was this boy? Better yet, was he a spiritualist?
 


Granny was just as vulgar as him, it was further proof that someone of his ilk could survive in this modern, underground, world. She was very comforting, even with her blunt speaking and coarse ideas. She seemed very keen on killing the bad guys, something Roku had done, and while he had felt guilt over the matter her opinion seemed to alleviate some of that internal conflict.

Still it was a rather curious thing. He had now met the grandmother and the father of Sousuke, and both of them seemed to carry with them a spark of charisma. It was very easy to see how they could rally people around them, how they could maintain the mantle of this village. Yet, Sousuke was different. His own uniqueness made him endearing, his purity gave him his charisma, but he was drastically different from the two previous generations of his bloodline that Roku had met. Why was that? Was it the mother? Was it some sort of illness? Something was there... but this was not the time for that.

"I guess we shall clean up the trash then, malady!"

Figured it would be nice to break away from calling her 'granny'. She seemed very certain on her policy of removing some of the criminals running a muck, and honestly he could not disagree. Life was a precious gift and these sad beings had squandered that gift. Deep down, in the depths of Roku there was an emotional wall that was starting to crack because of the news he learned within the letter; the way he viewed these criminals now only furthered the fracturing within him.

She then began to explain what Sousuke had been up to, letting it be known that he was out of the village searching for someone. The name 'Okibi' seemed very familiar. There was an image forming within his mind, but it was not his priority. Instead, his focus went to Granny's question.

"If something happened to your grandson, to Sousuke, I would burn this world to ashes to bring vengeance to him."

Stern words, right?

"Not because he is the Steward-Kage, not because his family line has significance in this village-country, but because he was my friend. My last memory was with him and my brother, in my mind he is a brother. Anyone who harms my family will not rest peacefully."

His words grew cold. His face grew pale. The fracture within him did not grow but it was clearly influenced by the feelings associated with his word. What if Sousuke died? What if Saemon died?

"He apparently needs me..."

His hand held up the note in a clenched grip. Sousuke fought to keep him alive for a reason, right?

"So if my need is to punish those who are plaguing him, then I will do so until this body of mine finally gives out."

There was some emphasis on the word 'finally'. He was then taken back a bit by the final remark of Mako. At first the words didn't sink in as he thought of his own broken bones he had throughout his young life. But as he processed the words the more and more emphasis would appear on the finals words of "a sundered soul".

"Sundered soul? I've never heard of that figure of speech before, Granny-chan."


There was something about those words, something that made him feel like they weren't a figure of speech but an actual observation. If that was the case what could that possibly mean? There is no way someone's soul is split, it had to be some olden day saying...

Right?

MFT - 487
 
Mako smirked when she heard Roku attempt to bring class to the table. "Malady eh? Haha. That is what they used to call me. I suspect though you really meant to call say milady, but that shit doesn't roll well with me. I'm no lady, but I am certainly a malady unto my foes." It was always good to poke fun at the rookie, but not to demoralize them, but to build bonds. "Seriously though don't refer to me as a lady. Ladies may look nice, but they're not useful. Not to me at least. Seriously I'll be dead and cold before you see me wearing a backless sapphire dress." Mako snorted. "But yes, we need to clean up the trash. Lot of dangerous people out there... like Magentica. "

Mako next listen to Roku speak of avenging Sousuke if anything were to happen. More surprisingly he thought of Sousuke as a brother. It seemed that while her grandson wasn't the most social or charismatic individual, it would seem he could call loyalties to him in one manner or another. He wasn't outspoken. He didn't call upon duress to make others serve. He was merely himself. Yes. Usually being one's self was enough to call attention of others. It was when someone tried to act outside of their norm that push people away. When Roku put an emphasis on the word finally, Mako rose an eyebrow. That was somewhat concerning. Was there something in that letter that had put Roku off that much? Sousuke usually told people bad news in person, but ... there was always a first for everything. "There'll be quite a bit of them out there, so your finally might have a way to go."

The urge to light up a cigarette came up again, and once again Mako had to resist that urge. She placed the cigarette behind her ear left ear which looked like it had been chewed upon some time ago. The response to her reveal about her grandson, was a curious one. Unlike Sousuke, Roku didn't seem to take things as literally. "There's a reason behind that. Those with a broken, fragmented, severed, sundered soul usually don't live long. Sousuke is one of the few who ... have lived past the life expectancy. Judori played it off as him having a disability being autism, but I guess to an extent he could have been right anways." Her expression sobered. "You're not a spiritualist... so you wouldn't see it. Kind of a good thing too, considering the amount of crap Judori has had to put up with some from individuals with such gifts. They wanted to experiment on the boy when he was young, but Judori wouldn't have it."
 


It seemed his pronunciation of 'milady' had caused him to misspeak and give the impression he was referring to Granny as a sickness...well, hell, maybe that was his intention all along? His eyes would watch her attempt to clarify the sundered soul statement. The more she talked on the subject, the more she explained, the more he became consumed with differing thoughts. As she continued talking Roku's gaze would avert from her.

So he is living past his expiration date as well? His soul, his body, they seem to be broken. Is that why he relies on those stupid things he builds? No, no he doesn't need them for every day uses, so that probably isn't the case. Does he feel a connection to those empty toys of his is? Does he seem himself as that hollow.

His eyes would narrow back on Granny Mako.

His family has struggled with keeping this hidden, are they ashamed of him? Do they even understand him or see him as a burden? He was the successor to the Steward title and took it up, why do I not feel like that in-and-of itself abdicates them from this mess? How do they connect to his condition? Why won't people let broken people die in this family...

His thoughts verged down further, and further the darker path that had been created since reading that note. His eyes would turn back to Mako.

"Huh, never crossed my mind that someone's soul could be broken."

His tone sounded normal, his face reflected the status quo, but within there was much conflict.

"Well I suppose we should begin the process of finding the little jackass. I mean it's getting pretty late, and I know old people are those 'Early to bed, early to rise' types."
 
Mako laughed at Roku's remark of how he didn't know people souls could be sick, or broken. "I've seen alot of nasty stuff in my day. I've seen souls literally torn from bodies in all sorts of ways. Some of them gruesome. Some of them less. It's not something you can really watch, and go back to being all normal about. Hell, it's probably the reason why I like my brandy so much." Mako admitted. Was she an alcoholic? Probably. Would she admit it. Sure. Would she do something about it? No. Moments like these were sobering and tiresome. "Don't ever tell him if we find him or see him, but I am fairly proud of my grandson. For all his shortcomings, he does go the distance in solving problems. He's not a people person, he tries to be, but I doubt he'll never truly succeed..." She paused, "But that is why he has friends like you. I'm sure Judori in one way or another said something along the lines of to look after Sousuke, and he'll look after you. Granted he may have left that last part out, but you'd find out in time Sousuke is very reciprocal of relationships."

Roku probably had a lot of chew on. "I might be a little over sixty, but I ain't one of those types. I will haunt my daughter from beyond the grave should I ever find myself in one of those old folks homes. Mother Suna. Even the thought of the place puts me off." Mako rubbed the bottom of her chin with the palm of her hand. "The night is young. I'm sure there is some trash we can go take out. Gotta lessen the number of thugs out there, or at least get them under control. This old bitch isn't dead yet. I've still got plenty of ass to kick." Mako's eye shifted back to Roku. "Whaddya say Goldie Locks?"
 


The entirety of this moment, the information he had been given, made it seems like an eternity had passed before him. In actuality, this was just a few moments of talking. A casual chat. Within that brief encounter, however, his world had been flipped on a few occasions. His life had been lost multiple times following whatever accident claimed him. Sousuke was the driving force keeping him alive after each death, something he would have to eventually learn to cope with or continue to let it eat away at his sanity, and friendship. There was also the uncovering of Sousuke's odd nature; his soul was not whole. Something happened to him. Something had made him broken, or someone. At this time there was no need to wallow. There was not point in letting this all engulf him. No, he had other things that needed to be done.

He would nod to Mako, placing his mask back on once more.

"I believe taking out some of this built up tension on some miserable piece of trash sounds very appetizing."

The Kasha would bow slightly and extend his arms out as his face turned towards Mako.

"Ladies first, Granny-chan."

And that is what he wanted to do at this time. He wanted to unleash all of his fear, his anxiety, his frustration, his confusion and his uncertainty upon the first set of unsuspecting thugs he happened to come across. While his mind was a mess, his fist were focused. Crushing someone, or someones, was what the doctor was ordering him. Would it fully satisfy his emotional unrest? No, but it would feel joyous at the time. All he needed was a moment of release. Maybe drinking would be the easier choice?

MFT - 289 words
 
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