Open Meeting a man's worst enemy....

[Tamashi Seto]

Mid Evening

With the sun setting in full view, they didn't have much time now. Luckily, they were making good time, with his apprentice in higher spirits than earlier when they were confronted by a Roen. He had mostly forgotten about their skirmish with the beast, but for Kei, It was another story. He could see it in his eyes that he was still worried about the gashes imbued into his back. He ignored the glances when he could. He had stopped the bleeding so he didn't understand why his apprentice was so concerned. Sure, his claw gash ridden black wasn't bandaged, but he hadn't exactly expected to run into a rare, apex beast. In their walking, now beyond Gosha, the clan's kunoichi village, they were walking down the finely crafted cobblestone highway that would lead them to his home. As before, the highway was surrounded on both sides by lines of massive, chakra infused tree's, shrubs and other vegetation. He could still hear the occasional chirping of birds up above them, reminding him of his Chidori, of the similar sound it makes. Along the way, he had tried "enlightening" Kei with the wisdom he had acquired from his numerous interactions with a man's most dangerous enemy, women, yet, no matter how hard he tried, he was beginning to wonder If he was making progress with the young Genin, who seemed to have a thick skull. Eventually, he couldn't help himself but sigh slightly with his eyes closing. At the end of the day, Kei, well, wasn't him. He was rather, normal compared to how he had been raised. He supposed there was a blessing in certain ways, but cursed in others. After all, he had been blessed with his soul mate at birth, somebody he could connect with on a higher plane that wasn't related by blood. It was something he wouldn't trade the world for. If anything, he let the world burn If It meant keeping her safe. He knew deep down, those were dangerous thoughts. Still, most women weren't like his proper wife to be, and he knew had to educate Kei before it was too late, for being on the receiving end of a woman's wrath was far worse than any jutsu he encounter on the battlefield, especially If he was going to survive tonight. He almost sweated at the thought. How the blood hell was he gonna keep his Genin safe with that Loli Kitsune running around, and starting her shenanigans. Momentarily, the worst of her fears surfaced in his mind. The last thing either one of them needed was Kei becoming a father. At such a thought, he made a small, quiet pout before his eyes flashed open, revealing the dull colored, black roof of his clan's shiro. They were super close now, like probably only ten or twenty minutes away by foot.

Tamashi Seto
"Listen Kei, there are.....things I need to tell you before we arrive at my clan's keep. Best prepare for the ensuing chaos tonight.....Trust me when I say the Roen will be the least of your concerns~"

He tried making a sympathetic smile but he was sure Kei could see past it with his pathetic attempt, even as he tried laughing it off with a soft laugh. He wasn't exactly lying, he only hope his willpower would be greater than before. It would only be a matter of time before they reached the Hirayamajiro castle in the distance, that held their fates in it's hands. Of course, Kei could just save himself by running away. Who was he kidding? Kei was too adventurous, and frankly, too young to know any better. With a subtle shrug, he looked down, the Roen cuts of meat were doing fine with what remains of his dark blue haori. Good, cause he was hungry enough now to eat a horse. That said, that WAS the haori Izumai had crafted for him. He had no idea how she react, even care. Best he didn't think about the chaos for the time being, If only to save his sanity for a bit longer...​

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei had grown accustomed to the fact that his mentor wouldn’t do anything about his injuries until they arrived at their destination. He swallowed his concerns, instead taking in their surroundings to ease his mind.

The towering trees lining the path were familiar - he recognized them from their venture to the training grounds. They felt alive in a way normal trees didn’t, their chakra-infused wood humming faintly beneath his fingertips as he brushed them in passing. The sensation sent a pleasant tingle up his arm, and he smiled to himself, imagining that the trees were greeting him in return.

Then, as if unable to contain the energy bubbling inside him, Kei dashed ahead, his laughter as light as the evening breeze rustling through the leaves. The world around him was alive - glowing foliage swayed gently, the distant castle loomed in the fading sunlight, and the cobblestone path beneath his feet felt like a road leading to endless possibilities.

Kirame flitted beside him, the tiny firefly squid pulsing softly with bioluminescent light, a small star against the deepening twilight. Kei tilted his head back, drinking in the sight of the golden rays of sunset filtering through the canopy, each beam flickering and shifting like liquid gold. It was beautiful - like something straight out of Komi’s stories.

“Kirame, look at this place! It’s amazing, isn’t it?” he murmured in awe. The little squid blinked at him, pulsing lights in response, as if sharing in Kei’s wonder.

Kei veered off the path slightly, weaving between the trees, trailing his fingers over rough bark and brushing past shrubs that released the scent of fresh earth and crisp leaves. He wanted to take it all in, to savor every detail. The hum of nature surrounded him, the distant chirping of birds, the soft whisper of the wind, the rhythmic pulse of chakra in the land itself.

In his excitement, he nearly forgot Seto trailing behind him, at least until his mentor’s voice called out to rein him in.

Kei glanced back with a grin but didn’t slow. The castle was close now, its silhouette sharp against the darkening sky. A new place, a new adventure - it was all too much to resist. He wanted to see everything.

MFT
WC: 376

Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts

 

[Tamashi Seto]

(OOC: Sorry if this is short, I ended up damaging one of my fingers that makes it hard to type since I can't put any pressure on it.)

When Kei ran off, venturing off into the near tree line, his arm reached out, as If to grab him, despite knowing the Genin was far out of his reach. When it finally came to him several seconds later, he lowered his arm in defeat. He than found himself sighing, knowing full well there was little chance in reeling in him now. As his mother past mentor used to say about him, "Boys will be boys" and Kei was no exception, being eerie similar to himself at his age.
He eventually faulted, choosing to allow his apprentice this sober moment of curiosity and adventure, for later, was probably going to be something straight of one of his nightmares. The path would continue for several more minutes, the two of them taking their time, as evident by Kei continuing his shenanigans before the sight captivated him. Once they broke through the forest, reaching the end of the cobblestone road they had followed for quite some time, they now stood at a enormous clearing. In the center however, sat a monstrous, almost ominous, military complex that was the Tamashi Clan's keep, a highly compact, highly fortified, Hirayamajiro castle, that, depending on the individual, could be mistaken as a prison or even something far more sinister. Despite being surrounded by a lust forest, it did little for the sprawling castle complex with it's dull colors of beige, grey and black, along with it's upward sloops and it's pronounced eaves, which did nothing to welcome guests. Being several hundred years old by this point, It was clear newer additions had been added, such as a more modern looking, imposing, rectangular tower with slits just big enough for Jutsu to be fired from, which stood as a stark contrast to the much older buildings that surrounded it. As If it couldn't get any worse, both he and Kei could see the steep staircase that lead to the outer gate house, and to his knowledge only, a large, open kill area for intruders. There was also the numerous, long flights of stairs they would have to traverse up to get to the shiro itself. It was a good thing both he, and Kei were in shape, with the energy to boast.​

Standing there, It took only mere seconds before his Sharingan picked up on the numerous targets stationed on the battlements, standing near the main gates, which sat adjacent to the outer gate house. Ignoring the massive banners of his clan's insigne on the walls, depicting a dark turquoise-green flame, he could make out the menacing warriors that made up the Destroyers, the elite shinobi killers of his clan, warriors who stood as a steep reminder to the enemies of this land, that some of the fiercest warriors in all of the country stood here, read to instill fear into anyone who was stupid enough to challenge the land of lightning or his home. Even now, despite how powerful he had become, a slight shiver ran down his spine at the prospect of fighting these samurai warriors donned in all black, the ones who were infamous for their demonic looking, face hiding masks. Luckily for him, and by extension, Kei, they were on his side, and by the time he thought to do something to ensure they weren't seen as hostiles, they had already gone ahead and identified him, before opening the keep's mighty castle, granting them entry. In response, he looked towards with a somewhat serious expression. "No running off now ya hear? At least not until they know your harmless. Trust me, you don't wanna get on their bad side~" He joked, but deep down, he knew what the worst the Destroyers could do to him, and frankly, that scared him. It was a fate far worse than death, well, unless you were a psychopath that is. Luckily, he knew Kei had enough brain power to know when to behave....

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei stood frozen for a moment, his breath catching as he took in the sight before him. The fortress loomed over them like a sleeping beast, its stone walls stretching high into the sky, dark banners hanging across the walls like silent sentinels. The colors were muted, the architecture imposing, each carefully placed stone a testament to its age and history.

His fingers twitched at his sides as his wide-eyed gaze swept over the battlements, where shadowed figures stood watch like statues. They were perfectly still, their presence heavy, their eyes hidden beneath the masks and helmets they wore. Kei had no idea who they were or what kind of people lived behind these walls, but something about them set his instincts on edge. They didn’t move like shinobi he had seen - there was no playful lightness in their stance, no flicker of mischief or camaraderie. These people were different. Hardened.

The air itself seemed thick with something unfamiliar, something weighty. The energy here was oppressive, pressing against his skin like an invisible force. Even the silence felt dangerous, like the hush before a storm.

A soft flicker of blue light caught the edge of his vision before vanishing into the strands of his hair. Kirame. His tiny firefly squid companion had buried himself deep into the mess of dark strands, his bioluminescent glow fading as he sought the safety of hiding. Kei resisted the urge to reach up and comfort him - if Kirame was spooked, then maybe his instincts weren’t wrong.

Seto’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Kei blinked, glancing at his mentor with a furrowed brow. Know I’m harmless? That wording unsettled him. Seto rarely spoke so cautiously, and the tension in his voice only made Kei more aware of how serious this place was. He didn’t know much about Seto’s past, let alone his clan, but the way his mentor carried himself now - Seto wasn't usually this tense - made one thing clear. These people weren’t the type to take risks. Or show mercy.

His usual bravado faltered for the first time. He let out a nervous chuckle, forcing a lopsided grin onto his face. “I’ll behave.” His voice was quieter than usual, lacking its normal playful spark.

Falling into step beside Seto, Kei kept his gaze down, resisting the urge to let his curiosity wander. There was so much he wanted to take in - the towering gates, the strange banners, the warriors standing like ghosts in the distance - but something told him that now wasn’t the time to ask questions.

Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts

 

[Tamashi Seto]

He raised a eyebrow at Kei, his eyes tilting towards his nervous frame down below. He said nothing, nor did he have to on the matter. While there was no trouble up ahead, there was no reason for trouble. There would be plenty of that later, but right now? There was little, If any logical reason to annoy, or worse, anger the elite warriors of his clan. If the worst came to be, like he had originally envisioned when he returned home from his exile, he was doubtful, even now, that he could take them all down, each one a hardened warrior of their own making, something Kei had picked up on, making him grateful over the matter. He gave his apprentice a gentle nudge before he began making his way towards the first flight of stairs that lead up to the outer gatehouse and the massive gates that had been opened to grant them entry. He kept his grip on his torn haori, now reduced to little more than cloth, and tied together to hold their dinner in place.He was serious on the outside for Kei's sake, who was clearly nervous, scared, amongst other things he usually was, but on the inside, he was quite frankly, relaxed. His home was standing right in front of him. There was no danger, so he couldn't wait to kick back and relax for the rest of the day, well, after he got bandaged up. He just wanted to eat and live a little after a long day of training and battling, and he was sure Kei was no different.

Upon making it all the way up the steep flight of stairs, he avoided the many eyes of the destroyers, the situation not bothering him. He made his way past the massive gates and walked under the archway of the gatehouse before arriving in a medium sized, square courtyard that was surrounded on all sides by battlements. If they were "normal" intruders, this would be a "kill zone" for the troops stationed above to let loose on the enemy. It was a effective, If not bloody strategy for the defends in a siege. It didn't work on normal shinobi obviously since the original barrier system was no longer in place, having not been operational since before he was born. He made sure to keep one eye on Kei but kept himself moving. There was more walking to do, and frankly, there wasn't anything worth exploring here but some of the faded concrete that was never replaced, though, knowing his luck, Kei would find a piece of concrete with dried blood, and panic on the inside, maybe even give him a little trauma. He was still untested, having yet to kill a man, drawing their blood. Killing a beast was not the same. Regardless, he didn't want to Kei experience that yet.

Thus in his goal to make it to the keep up ahead, he again walked through the courtyard without stopping, not wanting to give a Kei a moment. At the end, and walking through another gateway, revealed two pathways, both surrounded by more battlements. The one leading right swung around the base of the complex, to the more important facilities, such as the foundry and distillery. There was also the old, shiro gatehouse as well, something his father wanted replaced. Much to his and Shizu's distain, much of the original iteration was gone, replaced by modern architecture. He understood the why, but apart of him was disappointed his father carried little for the more traditional architecture of the past. Oh well. He kept moving, taking the left path that led up directly to the gate house portion of the keep. They soon enough another flight of steps. At least these ones weren't steep, just long. Their elevation followed the hill they were built upon in a organic fashion. As he made it half way up the flight of stairs, his eyes picked on a target on the battlement above them. Looking from the edges of his eyes, he found...

Inari staring down at them from the top of the battlement, it's piercing blue eyes studying them, as If they were peering into their souls. It as an all too familiar occurrence for him, but that didn't mean he had gotten used to it. It was hard to believe still, that this Kami spirit, with it's lithe frame, managed to dragged his mangled behind to safety when he consider himself dead. Still, he did owe the Kami his life, even If It led him to himself being "enslaved" to that loli. Inari being here however, was no great surprise to him. Being Izumai's companion, Inari often acted as her eyes and ears, and her living here, didn't change that. The Destroyers certainly didn't mind, given his entire clan venerated Kami spirits. It was a elegant beast, with its silky fur and it's celestial markings lingers on it's body, though he never admit that, not wanting to stroke that loli's already massive ego. He was sure Kei thought differently. Given the fact he was probably going to probe him with a million questions, he decided not to look back at Kei and keep on walking up the stairs. Soon enough, before he could even reach the top of the stairs, Inari had already snuck away, disappearing from view after it leaped down on the other side of the battlements, no doubt to tell the Loli of his arrival. He removed the thought from his mind.

After arriving at the top, they found themselves before the enormous metal gates, their massive size enough to make anyone hesitate. He didn't however. He walked upto the right door, and pressed his right arm up against it's cold, metallic exterior. By applying all the strength he could muster, the door slowly crept open until a wave of heat suddenly came at him, catching him off guard, causing him to close his eyes momentarily. He kept the door open long enough for Kei to enter before following suit, letting the massive door close on it's own. There was usually guards posted outside. It was strange but It was no concern for him at the moment. Once inside, he and Kei were welcomed to the opulent guest hall, which stood as a complete contradictory to the exterior, sporting intricate woodwork that meticulously donned painted of scenes of historical events in the clan, a massive, rectangular pit of fire that sat at the center of the room that would warm guests up, three furusama sliding doors, one imbued into each wall that led elsewhere. As per tradition, the floor was adorned in large, tatami like floor mats, and spread all about the chamber, were numerous chairs and a few, small tables. He glanced around the room. It was empty, leaving the room to themselves. It was, again, weird, but not unusual. He still didn't really care in that moment. All that did matter was relaxing...​

 

[Hayashi Kei]

Kei followed Seto up the stairs, his nerves beginning to melt away as Seto remained a steady sense of calm before him. His wide eyes darted around, taking in every detail of the fortress. The heavy gates, the weathered stone, the towering battlements - this place felt ancient, like it had stories carved into every inch of it. He wanted to ask about all of it, but before he could, his gaze snapped upward.

There, perched above them, was a creature unlike anything he’d ever seen.

Kei nearly tripped over his own feet, breath catching as he stared. The spirit’s silky fur shimmered under the light, celestial markings tracing its body like something straight out of a legend. Its piercing blue eyes locked onto them, sharp and knowing, sending a shiver down Kei’s spine - but not in fear. No, this was incredible.

His mouth immediately ran ahead of his brain. "Whoa! Seto, look! Is that a Kami spirit? Or maybe a Kitsune... Can it read minds? Can it talk? Oh - does it breathe fire? Or does it work with genjutsu? Wait, wait - what’s it doing here? Is it, like, your clan’s guardian or something? Do they all have one?"

Seto didn’t even glance back.

Kei pouted but kept bouncing on his heels, watching as Inari disappeared over the battlements. “Aw, it left…” he mumbled, clearly disappointed. Still, the encounter had filled him with even more energy. As they made their way up the remaining steps and through a large set of doors, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The warmth of the guest hall washed over him, and his awe only grew. The intricate carvings, the painted history, the massive fire pit - Kei didn't know what he wanted to explore first.

“This place is amazing!” he whispered, eyes shining. He looked to Seto for permission to run off before actually moving, deciding to start with the paintings on the walls. He was sure they held stories, just like the picture books Komi would make.

Kei Speech
Kei Thoughts