Let me in! (Requesting Entry)

[Takaki Saeko]

"It's funny," said Masao. "Those sticks actually gave me cancer. And yet I still return to them. Kind of like how oxygen is a catalyst for the decay of your body over time. And yet you still need it to survive," he said, taking one of the jounin's offered cigarettes. He looked at it and sniffed the end.

"Hand rolled. No filter. Sublime." He nodded to Satou in appreciation and proceeded to allow the man to light the end for him - a bygone expression of politeness that few followed these days. Well, mainly because cigarettes were less popular in general. Masao inhaled deeply, letting the acrid smoke sear his lungs with the extra kick of a hand-roll. It was almost enough to make him cough.

"There's always work for shinobi these days. We have a war going on next door, a bitter, conniving Council of Nobles that enjoys eating itself to death, and of course, a new treaty with Mist. But it seems that someone put a note in your file claiming you to be...unstable. I should like to see if that assessment was justified at all. Come by the office sometime. Don't worry, I won't brush you or anything," he said, winking at the man. "Thanks for the cigarette. Keep your headset on for now - we might have need of your services soon. I still don't trust the jaundiced one. Now, time for me to be social."

With that, he nodded again to his brother in arms and went off to greet Haruka and the Donut with measured cheer.

"Of course, Shima-sensei, I would be honored to visit you at the estate, on one condition of course - that you allow me to do some of the cooking," he said, chuckling as he expertly took her offered hand and kissed it. As he watched her trail off, he nodded coolly to his Spymaster.

"You had better not let that one slip through your fingers, otouto-kun. Someone else might also appreciate such beauty," he murmured. "Now, let's be off to make sure that Hayata-sama doesn't over-season the Lobster for our guests, shall we?" he asked, smiling sardonically.

[TL with Nuts]

 

[Shiruko Makoto]

Unsettled? No. Tatsuya was perpetually easygoing, impossible to scare. Irritated, maybe a little. Insulted, definitely.

Besides, if you didn't want people to be hostile, why would you go to every effort to treat them with hostility? No, this was a level of paranoia that he didn't like, beyond simple caution and into outright rudeness. Maybe they weren't actually raised with manners in Cloud, and Natsu was an outlier. Hm. Well, he'd have time to find out, he supposed.

If he were in this position, would he be reacting the same way as the Cloud nin? No, he felt he wouldn't. He probably wouldn't even call for assistance, in fact--a single ninja on their home turf, particularly a high ranking one, ought to not be threatened by a few foreigners.

Still, he had the sense to shut up when Hoshikata told him to. It was no use openly antagonizing people this...paranoid. If this was what it took to run a shinobi village, then he was rather glad they were shot of Mist before it ran down the same path. He'd honestly be glad to live in a country without one.

And it would be better to follow his companions' leads on this one. Still smiling slightly, he stepped jauntily into the village after them, as if brushing off any offense or slight. Really, he was only here to have a bit of relatively innocent fun, depending on how innocent you felt hitting on anyone who caught his eye was. If he had another part to play in this, it certainly wasn't one he was aware of yet.

But if anyone thought they could intimidate him...well. That just wasn't something possible.

[Topic Left, Village Entered]

 

[Akako]

For all the Cloudies were, supposedly, a welcoming committee, they were very rude to their guests. What was the point in meeting up with them if they didn’t even pretend to be pleasant? It was very ill mannered behaviour but she supposed they did not have the same sort of privilege growing up in a cultured environment like a clansmen of the Shoukyou and the Isaki would have.

The twins would not act the same of course, knowing they were better than them. They would act as the best guest any village would have the pleasure of having outside of their occasional witty, clever, harmless mischief which any sane person with a sense of humour should be able to appreciate. They meant no actual harm to the people of Cloud unless given reason to which, for all their sake’s, better not happen. They were here for a friendly visit and for some rest and relaxation from a long trek, is all. It wasn’t as if they were here to overthrow their government, pillage and steal their women and children and what not.

They were not impressed or intimidated by the Cloud shinobi and kunoichi at all and made it clear as such with the bored looks on their faces. Akihiko too showed just a hint of disappointment when the Cloud kunoichi would refuse to be their guide. But, oh well, no big lost. Without another word, they followed their elder brother into the village hoping their hospitality would get better than this.

• OutOfCharacter | Topic Left, Village Entered, Marked for Training at 252 Words

 

[Ketsueki Satou]

The light wafts of smoke trailing about him was a sense of euphoria in a way. He seemed calm on the outside, but inside he was ready to tare through flesh bone and sinew. Inside the demon squealed with joy as it looked through Satou's eyes, his pupils slit, the glow of blood lust was unmistakable. "I am in control of my power, but I struggle with another entity within me. I promise though, he won't cause any problems for this village. In fact..." A deep grin as his cigarette rolled to one corner of his mouth. "We can be quite useful friends when you need us." It was getting easier to blend the two voices together, Satou's, and some strange dark thick voice in the background of his.

He then made some simple gestures."Was probably that weird doctor of ours. He thought I was insane when he first met me, he knows about the demon, but I think he wants to play it off as insanity, he's probably afraid of what I might become if I did lose control. But I think things will turn out alright. I'm making progress. " He tapped one ear where his headset was hiding under his hair. "All ears...I'll stop by later sometime, boss." He bowed and was off back into the village. He had some things to prepare. A last meal, so to speak.

(TL, in dem villages and shiz)

 

[Hameru Ren]

Responsibility is a nightmare? Natsu wondered at Masao's words. Of course it is. Natsu concluded. The Spymaster had steadily been given more and more responsibility ever since he had assumed the mantle. He was Captain after all, just like Zaku. While his companion ruled over the Death Watch however, his was the Military Intelligence Service to control. Did his Aniki have such little trust in him that the Sennin felt the need to state the obvious lesson? Likely not, for Natsu was handed the responsibility after all. Well, shared with Zaku anyway.

Natsu returned Zaku's observant look. The younger man seemed slightly uncomfortable. Was it the responsibility? The news that Natsu was officially recognized as runner-up for Sennin before Zaku? It could be many a thing. Regardless, the Death Watch Captain had the professionalism to keep it to himself and make himself scarce before the situation could further complicate. Natsu mentally noted to stop by the man's office soon though. It had been quite a while since they had properly spoken with each other anyway.

Hoshikata and family quickly entered the Village. A good thing to do, Natsu couldn't help but think. There were plenty of Kumo-Nin gathered at the Gates, more than normally. And the Spymaster would hate nothing more but to strain the relations between the two parties before he'd discovered Hoshikata's exact reasons for visiting. After all, that man never spoke one word without subtly hinting at twelve more. Besides, the Isaki and Shoukyou members no doubt could use some recovery from the trip. Kumo would appear to be a dreadful host if they'd be held up much longer.

Looking at the company pass by Masao, Natsu quickly returned his attention to Haruka as she spoke up. "I will make time as quickly as I can. Thank you." He replied with a smile, before his Sempai joined them. Watching the duo interact, his nervous tic resurfaced as he arched an eyebrow. What exactly was going on between these two? Had his Aniki not made veiled attempts at encouraging to pursue Haruka in a more romantically direction? Certainly, Natsu had not shown it. For all his diplomatic skill the woman's mind still held too many questions for him. But had he missed his chance already?

Apparently not. Or rather, not yet. Masao's words spelled little good for Natsu however. If the Jonin indeed had to try and put a ring on it, he'd have to be quick. And going to work rushed with little preparation was not how the man had ever planned it. Perhaps his Aniki could teach him? The elder man certainly had handled himself very smoothly just before. Then again, could Natsu truly stand up against such odds? Perhaps it would be less embarrassing to seek out Tatsuya. The ex-Kiri seemed quite adept at the love game as well and likely could teach the blonde all about it.. Decisions, decisions. "Of course, Aniki."

[Topic Left]

 

[Daigo]

Daisuke stood idle while everyone else engaged in conversation and simply held up his passport when instructed to do so. He sat back as if he was watching a play and acted the part as he pulled out a snack to eat while watching. It was strange yet interesting how people conversed when they believed they weren't being specifcally observed. Perhaps it played into socail roles to which everyone is subjected. Certain conversationing were only had with certain people. Certain behaviors were only displayed around certain people. A wife who wasn't likely to discuss in detail with her child, the wild night she had with another man. A daughter who would never discuss with her father, the recreational drugs she used after sneaking out of the house at 3am.

One person consumed mutliple roles which made it so interesting for Daisuke. The same people, regardless of how they might appear, might behave differently when they were alone. A cloud shinobi is more than just a ninja aligned with a country. He or she is a potential parent, a sibling, a friend, a costomer, an employee, a guard, a teacher, a student, a member of society, a potential threat. Everyone capable of great things good or bad despite what an individual or group may preach to be. That's what was so interesting. Again, people watching, he enjoyed very much. Without hesitation, he picked up his belongings and entered the village as quickly as he could. He did so because there were even more people to watch inside and special visitors were the most interesting to observe from afar.

[Topic left]
[village entered]

 

[Suzuki Setsu]

Tama had been spacing out for awhile trying to figure out who this boy the younger shinobi was referencing, when she realized that the whole group had entered the village. With a very embarrassed look on her face, Tama quickly slipped in behind the group before the gates were shut. After which she hurriedly disappeared into the crowds, returning to her home. She did not want to be seen after having spaced out like that so badly.

[Topic left, Village entered]