Open Smoko!

[Kiko]

The sun shone its happy afternoon beams of warming light onto the peaceful village teeming with its normal afternoon activities, the sounds of a merchant yelling at his uncooperative oxen and the gentle laughter of some nearby Shinobi obviously on a break by the redness in their noses and cheeks. A thousand other sounds moved upwards to the supernatural ears of the armoured Shinobi telling him that the Myakashi's return had not interrupted the calm of the village.

Somehow though the only sounds Yong could focus on were his heartbeat and the sound of his own boots as they crunched softly along the gravel path as he made his way to the top of the Hokage Monument, the faces of the Shadows of Leaf standing as if in silent judgement of the decadence of the village they watched over with their stony blind gaze...

Slowing to a stop he moved to the centre of the lookout above the monument now out of sight beneath him. His armour clinked and stretched audibly as he moved into a kneeling position, his body and his expressionless masked face now pointing in the direction of the closest ocean to the south-east, and the deep waters beyond.

Yong's hands moved to rest on his folded knees, unarmoured palms facing upwards and resting one upon the other. Now that he had reached his destination his heart boomed like a drum of war in his chest, he could feel his heartrate increasing as the sounds of both the path behind him and the village far below were now left behind...

How quickly the Hokage had allowed the darkness of the past into the heart of his village, Migoya meant to move for peace, if only temporarily. What was more, now Migoya and he were to dine with an enemy once sworn to blood and pain... He was not questioning the logic or the tactical benifits of moving Konoha against the greater threats boiling within the great deserts to the west. No, he would support his leader even if it meant his death and the metaphor was almost poetic: Who better to protect the Shadow than the Darkness itself...

The kneeling Shinobi exhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes, his mind offering a silent prayer in the direction of the oceans deep and dark waters. His chest would rise and fall with each deep breath, his kneeling form silhouetted by the bright afternoon sun. He could feel the temperature of his armour increase as it was bathed in the suns both destructive and life giving rays. Yong reached his hand up to his face, slowly removing the concealing mask and lowering it to its latch on his hip him as he finished his prayer.

A warm smile came over his face as he stood once more. He moved to the safety rail that had been added to the top of the monument, a new addition since his time in Konoha. Removing a cigarette from some concealed pouch or holster and placing it between his lips. The tip flaired into burning life as he inhaled the warm smoke deeply into his lungs, the tobacco quickly entering his bloodstream. The Sage exhaled slowly, letting the smoke drift away with the almost imperceptible afternoon breeze as he leaned his forearms on the sturdy guard rail in front of him.

Soon he would have to make his way to the home of the Hokage for a dinner at a table he had not right to eat at... Perhaps it was a trap? Perhaps the great Takeshi truly wished to hear Migoya out? What was Migoya willing to risk?

But those were questions that would be answered once night fell onto the world and they dined and spoke their words with the Hokage. War or Peace... Well the big questions could wait, for now he would just finish his cigarette and let the afternoon pass on beneath him.

 

[Nara Shizukesa]

Nobu walked in the sun of the day, it was so strange still to walk a working man of the village, for now, the secrets and the doors hiding his life way stayed shut, he was still after all a businessman and reputation and deeds shone brightly into the day, rumors helped spread that word quickly, but with Asuka vanishing that had really thrown a spanner in the works for the Dark Sage, he sighed to himself as he wandered, not really paying much attention to anyone or anything, instead, he just decided to get on with his day and try and piece together this mess.

Grabbing the smoke from his pocket, the silver flip lighter came out with ease, as he flicked the top open and dragged his thumb against the wheel causing the spark from the flint to light the wick, bringing the cigarette towards the flame he inhaled lighting the smoke before allowing his body to register the nicotine that was now entering his system, finding himself at the top of the Hokage mountain, his eyes focused on a figure that was there. For such a sunny day it seemed that everything was so quiet, even he had to admit that he did need to make sure he knew who he was talking to. He made his way over to the man.

"Well for such a beautiful place, I see no issue polluting it really with some much-deserved smoke, that being said it is deserted considering the two people up here no wonder that no one else wants to be around."

He took another few drags of the smoke looking the man up and down he pondered who the stranger was, but for him, everyone was still a stranger, that is why he created the casino life was a gamble, and the game of betting on the table was exactly the same, even right now he was rolling the dice on how the man would react. As he leaned on the railings watching the man for the slightest facial expression or simple movement or gesture, after all, it was about reading people, and he had become good enough at it with his travel experience.

"I guess that is life though, people always rush around, finding the need to be elsewhere and never taking a second for themselves, well that is what the normal people tell themselves, a routine, an order to everything it's a load of shit, people just need a way to keep themselves focused on everything else but not their own little problems."

He turned his back against the railings leaning on them, his head shifting to focus on the man as a small smirk crossed his lips, after all, he reminded him of someone he had recently met on an adventure, what an adventure that had been as well.

"The name is Yamanaka Nobu, head of the Gekido Clan, and who am I talking to? By the way, your clothes, the manner you act going from experience and like me.....an outsider?"


[Topic Entered]
[MFT - 508]

 

[Kiko]

And then he was not alone.

The man's appearance told a well orchestrated narativ, one of a successful businessman, sharply tailored suit, immaculately groomed and ready for the business of businessing... The man's aura told a different story however as his dark power lay barley concealed beneath the outward appearance. The man's words seemed pleasant enough, small talk meant to break the silence.

Yong gave the man a well practiced smile, it would almost look genuine though it probably wouldn't feel it.

"It is a wonderful view..."

Yong's response lacked the grace of the strangers words, he had always struggled with small talk. Thankfully the other man moved the conversation forward, key words in his small speech stood out the the armoured shinobi, so the man considered himself above the 'normal' population, so quick to condemn the social mechanisms of the world they both lived in, and to a stranger...

Yong thought for a moment, could this be a not so subtle tail from the Hokage? No his words seemed to freely given, too obvious, perhaps just a Shinobi confident in his place in the world... Perhaps another agent of Akkuma come to make contact with the Myakashi? Yong knew that the Sage of Sand had agents within the walls of Konoha but he had no details beyond that veigue information.

"All just a load of shit..."

Yong nodded subtly as if in agreement with the man's words before dragging deeply from his cigarette, his gaze moving back over the village below them, watching the hive of activity amongst the 'normal' people.

It did not take long though for the man to once more fill the silence, this time moving beyond initial small talk and into introductions. As the man said his name a cog of memory fell in to place within Yong's discombobulated mind.

"You do not take the name of your clan Yamanaka Nobu?"

The reference to his clothing placing him as an outsider made the Shinobi chuckle slightly, his travel worn and battle scared armour was worn almost out of habit rather than the protective properties it offered, still it must have looked out of place amongst the mostly civilian population of Konoha. In truth though, the armour had been made withing these very walls so many years before and any familiar with the BINGO book of the Leaf Shinobi would have seen its likeness before.

"Outsider... Yes... It is nice to meet you Yamanaka Nobu, head of the Gekido Clan."

Yong gave a small nod, as formal a bow as one would ever receive from the road weary Shinobi.

"Yong..."

He paused to exhale smoke before continuing.

"Forgive me that was rude and you have been so polite... when you arrived my mind was in a thousand pieces and all of them far from here... Let me try again if you would be so kind."

Yong now turned to the man fully for the first time since his arrival, a more genuine smile crossing his face for a moment before he began to speak, a mental shift seeming to come over the man as he did so.

"My name is Myakashi Yong, Sennin of Yamigakure. If you are familiar with the BINGO book of this village then I thank you for not heeding to its demands... I assure you the Hokage has granted parley and now I find myself with a rare afternoon free before the business of the evening."

Yong would chuckle to himself, a dinner with the Hokage! How absurd! The Hokage was either desperate or it was a trap, Yong hoped it would be the second of the two...

Yong would lean in closer to the man, lowering the volume of his voice as if to indicate that the words were for Nobu alone despite their obvious solitude.

"...And truth be told I find myself more in envy of their busy minds than I do for yours, when a mind is idle it tends to move towards dark thoughts and suspicions."

Yong pointed vaguely towards the bustling village with his cigarette.

"A war echos on the horizon and they worry that they may miss their favourite tv show... A Hokage is missing and they worry that their next shipment may be delayed... Why do they not cry in fear? No... I envy their naievity... More than I dare to admit..."

Yong let the sentence drift away like the smoke from his cigarette, taking another deep drag before turning once more, a look of concern coming over the older man's face as he looked into Nobu's eyes with a focused gaze.

"And what of you young Nobu? How does your heart fare? I have heard your tale on the wind... of Lady Asuka's disappearance after the attack... And of your previous engagement... I do not mean to hurt you with these questions but with her gone... Why do you yet remain? Has the Will of Fire tamed your freedom or do you have hope that she will return to you if you linger..."

 

[Nara Shizukesa]

Nobu listened to the man as it seemed the two had a lot in common, though the mention of a bingo book made him laugh slightly as he was all too familiar with it, and what it stood for in this village, after all, he was supposed to be in it, things had changed too much but here he was on top of the rock having a smoke with another one of this kind in his views, as he allowed the smoke to end he casually flicked it from the top of the rock watching it on its way down, exhaling the smoke from his lungs before deciding to speak.

"Well we are cast from that same shadow, wanting to be free and yet confined to death for it, life has a strange way of trying to hold down those that want that freedom, want to see a world that has justice for all, and that doesn't have those at the top standing on the shoulders of those they have beaten down. I was once in that book, yet Asuka changed that....now she is gone......."

He looked up at the sky for a few moments as his knuckles tightened around the rail as he leaned against it, it seemed that with the vanishing of Asuka his plans had changed, his whole life had changed because she had vanished. How was that fair, it wasn't but that was for him to think about, he had to protect the clan and that was his duty the Gekido Clan would survive even if the world burned around it, as he smiled back at Yong he tilted his head slightly to express his respect for the rank of Sennin of Yamigakure.

"My heart fare? Well truth be told, this whole matter has been brushed aside, hidden from the world and no-one knows anything regarding it, plans have been ruined and just as she seemed to finally be understanding me, its weird when people get close they often run."

He sighed as he drew out another smoke from his pocket and light it, before taking it to his lips, breathing in the smoke he laughed slightly as he turned his attention back to the man, listening to the question on why he remained, he knew this type, it reminded him of his visit to Sand and the encounter he had back then as he listened.

"You remind me of Akkuma, the way you always try to get information, but I have learned information gained often comes with a price, and like the Casino owner I am, a bet and price is a fair deal, so what do you say, I will share this with you, and in return, you answer a question?"

He allowed the pause to linger for a few seconds, after all, equal exchange was the best world order, and even he had come to understand and respect that, he wouldn't have it any other way, as he let the next few words come out between just the two of them in nothing more than a whisper.

"I am not tamed, I stand for what I always did, freedom, and justice to those guilty that have gone free, true justice for a world that have Kage allowing themselves to make the rules, so why stay, simple I have a Casino outside in Creater City and I have a bar inside the village walls, people often go so idle that they do not see who is walking beside them, allowing me to do my work in the shadows, changing small things until it rolls into a big thing. Isn't that the fair way to live. However my payment in return, why are you back here, and really?"

 

[Kiko]

Nobu spoke of them being cast from the same shadow. There seemed to be a familiarity quickly forming in the leaf-nin's words towards Yong.

Though his gaze would stay looking over the village beneath them Yong's eyes would narrow in response to Nobu as the Shinobi continued to talk. He spoke of desired justice, equality for all, how he had once been hunted by Konoha, how Asuka had forgiven him and how she herself was now owhere to be found.

Yong would look down at the man's knuckles turned white as the gripped the handrail tightly. It showed the individuals frustration at the situation. Then, so casually he responded to the enquiry on his mental state with the dissapearence of his fiancee... He spoke as if the whole thing had been a business transaction, the casualness leaving a bad taste in the back of Yong's mouth.

"Did you have no love at all? A marriage of political advantage..."

That was when the man said the words that made the armoured Shinobi chuckle slightly, saying that he reminded Nobu of the very same Akkuma that had sent them to the village of Konoha, to make contact with Asuka and fuel the flames of war by whatever means necessary.

"I am 'back here' because Myakashi Migoya is 'back here'..."

He gave the man another smile before drawing on his cigarette once more, forcing an artificial pause in the conversation as he then exhaled the still warm smoke before continuing. Yong looked at the younger man to see if there was any frustration shown towards Yong's shallow answer. To his credit though, even if he felt frustrated Nobu did not show it, simply replacing his consumed cigarette with a new one. Yong gave an ironic chuckle before speaking again.

"Chain smoking will kill you you know... Ok, the truth of the matter... We had no knowledge of the Fith's dissapearence until Uchiha Takeshi arrived at the gates with a title which did not belong to him..."

Yong took another deep draw of his cigarette, watching the smoke slowly coil away on the gentle breeze.

"I am unsure of a timeline but sometime before Asuka's dissapearence she had made contact with one of our agents here in Konoha. The Agent had left Asuka with a symbolic token of our clans support and a promis of return (truth).

After reporting of the interaction, this agent has since been incapacitated after an encounter with multiple Shinobi from the Village hidden in the Clouds (truth) and will need some time to recover.

With the Agent unable to make contact themselves, and such an esteemed client as the Lady Asuka, the Shadow of Yamigakuri could not resist his curiosity or the temptation to entwine himself within Konoha once more...

I am here to make sure he doesn't die for that curiosity."

Despite the seriousness of his words Yong's smile would remain on his face, his calloused hands quickly rolling another cigarette from the pouch retrieved from his hip.

"In truth I had not expected the two of us to make it past the gates... At least not without a fight. Instead we were welcomed withing as if a long lost child returning home late from play! Has Konoha really changed so much in these long years that that would welcome such as us?"

Yong lit the newly rolled cigarette before looking at Nobu with a new focus and seriousness.

"If we are speaking the truth some more... You do not feel to be an agent of Konoha despite the colour you fly... But you also seem like someone who knows... Things...

Why does Konoha not appear prepared for war as the other great nations do? And what do you know of Akkuma's part in it all?"

 

[Nara Shizukesa]

Nobu listened to the man speaking it seemed a smoking friend would be what he had achieved today as he listened to the reply he decided to let the man speak first before he would reply after all questions asked were better answered before the conversation moved on. Even he knew this one as he listened to the man talk about chain smoking he laughed slightly even at the words that a new Hokage had been selected, it seemed that everything was still catching people by surprise and changing, he wondered how much of the world he would have missed out on and wondered just what the future really held for them all.

"I started to feel for her but in the beginning, it was exactly that, all for the political gain, but here we are. And I don't think I have met a person named Migoya forgive me, people come and go they may have not made it into the casino yet or you may just be here visiting the village which explains why I have not managed to meet you both."

Pausing slightly he pondered the talk about Asuka, it did make him wonder just how many deals she had been making with others. Though he brushed it out of his mind without too much thought as he listened to the talk that had been taking place.

"Things have changed, it seems that Takeshi has been reinstated to Hokage, and with the changes and Asuka went it does mean that plans have to change after all this place has changed a lot as well, but I wonder if that change is just a front, for now, the future will tell if the words being spoken by those in charge are true or not. Of course, I do wonder myself what has changed, as it seemed that the village is a lot more open than it used to be."

He smiled for the last part, as he drew again from the cigarette, and looked out over the village, pondering the question with his mind as always, thinking on the reply for a few moments before going back to the man.

"Simple really, I am not an agent of Konoha, I do my own work, and I look after my clan, nothing more and nothing less, I get to know people from the ones that lie, cheat or try to hide the truth, I am a dealer of secrets, words, and spies, that is why I run Casinos and we are outcasts like yourself I guess, the truth is something not everyone can stomach, and some people rather shun you for it than actually try to learn from it."

"Honestly, Konoha doesn't seem to be wanting a war from what I can understand, they suffered an attack which is why I came into the village, to learn information, but from what I can see they are just standing in more of a defensive stance while actively seeking trade and being an open country. As for Akkuma, I only met the man once in Sand, he promised me the opportunity, but I have since learned about what I needed on my own, he seems.... interesting, what do you know of him?"

[MFT:538]

 

[Kiko]

When the man said he had no knowledge of Migoya, Yong looked puzzled for a moment. The man's statement had seemed sincere.

"If you wish to learn of Migoya I would suggest turning to page two of the Konoha Bingo Book..."

The man's words told Yong so much, the state of Konoha and Nobu's own position within it, and the latent desire for peace that Yong knew oh to well would be shattered as it always had.

He let the man finish talking before responding, his eyes focusing on the man once more.

"The truth is subjective... I think the attack on Konoha was definitely orchestrated by this man Akkuma... And the damage only two of his agents caused, it showed us of the Myakashi Clan that Konoha, with its 'defensive stance', Konoha is not up to the task of protecting itself... I can only imagine how much information Akkuma gained from the attack."

Yong took a drag on his cigarette, giving Nobu a moment to digest his words.

"You probably know more of him personally than I if you have made his acquaintance... But of his designs, of this 'war' of his... I know he is dangerous."

Ash fall freely from his now neglected cigarette as he looked over the village once more thinking carefully on his next words before he continued.

"His people seem to think of him as some sort of God, a Shinigami with a righteous cause... He is making zealots not soldiers Nobu and this is what scares me for when a man believes his to be a higher calling that is when a man is most dangerous..."

Yong let out a small sigh, looking at the quickly dwindling cherry of his finished cigarette, it's orange glow quickly fading to the grey of ashes left by its heat.

"Konoha needs to defend itself, that is true, but will defence be enough? With echos of his war coming from Moon... From Lightning... From Fire... If Konoha fails to act now I fear by the time they do it will be too late..."

He gave the man a look of concern.

"Asuka may have seen this too, perhaps this is why she sought us out? To take action before the flames of conflict roar into an unstoppable inferno... To do for Konoha what it cannot do for itself... I also wonder if Takeshi's path of placid defence will not cost Konoha in the long run? Perhaps that was the purpose of the attack on Konoha... Remove Asuka from power and return the position to a Hokage who turns their gaze from his war..."

Yong looked at the man still though his eyes seeming to be looking deeper into Nobu's soul than before, the man would feel the difference.

"You freely admit you are not their man to a complete stranger but answer me this, if the Hokage once more chooses a path of inaction would you sit idol and let the fires of war creep closer to all you hold as yours? Or would you take up arms to defend that which does not wish to defend itself? War is coming whether Konoha wants it or not..."

 

[Nara Shizukesa]

Nobu finished with the smoke, no point in going for another one he knew that much, as he leaned on the bar that kept people safe from the edge of the Hokage rock he gazed out towards the village below as he knew full well for a few seconds that this man would only be really giving him information that he wanted to hear. As he smiled slightly he listened to the words once more.

"Akkuma really does think that there is no point in peace doesn't he, shame as peace and profit can sometimes go hand in hand, though not with the line of work I do, that is what it is and always will be, from what I understood of the attack probably not much information, I mean the Hokage has changed since then makes it well..... let's say his intel would be weakened at best by this."

He paused slightly as he listened to the aspect of considering himself a God, though the thought of zealots instead of soldiers was something interesting, but even so he knew that every now and then people did wake up to the real world and just how bleak it could be.

"I mean zealots do go down harder than normal people, push harder in a fight, but at the end of the day if they do what they think is right for the wrong reasons could cause more issues in the future. But people will do what they want and what they see as needed and damaged the rest of the world for the consequences"

He spoke the truth for every time he had seen it, it has always ended in disaster for those that thought the way they had chosen to live was the right one.

"Maybe Asuka did, maybe Asuka didn't I mean, who knows really what goes on in the mind of Takeshi, all I know is that the future is changing, things are changing for Leaf, defenses have been bolstered and preparations are always being made to make sure the future is a stronger one. But if War is on the way, I do wonder who will be the person that strikes first after all that is really the truth behind the matter."

He stood back up and stretched slightly as he allowed himself to turn back towards the rock itself, looking at the flat area in front of him as he gazed around.

"You mistake this Hokage for Asuka I think, Konoha will fight if war is really coming, after all self-preservation is what every village does best, Sand, Rain, and Leaf all of them care about one thing, Survival."

[MFT: 444]

 

[Kiko]

Yong nodded slowly and Nobu spoke, so much information was being divulged to a total stranger that the ghost of suspicion began to form in the armoured Shinobi's already clouded mind. Was this Nobu a plant sent by the leadership of Konoha to play the roll of friendly stranger? Was he one of the agents of Akkuma he had been told were still present within the walls on Konoha?

"You are right, people will always do what they want and damn the consequences..."

Yong scanned the area casually though he was sure the perceptive Nobu would sense the subtle shift in demeanor. The area was still totally deserted, the fact becoming now somewhat suspicious as Nobu continued to talk. A genuine chuckle escaping his own throat brought him out of his somber reverie as he responded to Nobu's musing of who would make the first move.

"What do you mean who will strike first? His agents have already penetrated deep within Konoha and took your Sennin's heart from her chest! That sounds like he has made the first move and now Konoha is simply waiting for him to make his next move with confused naivety."

His sentence was followed by another shift in demeanor, his eyes looking into Nobu's with a fierce focus, Nobu would feel himself being judged.

"Your words intrigue me Yamanaka Nobu... Head of the Gekido Clan... But I must know two things that now plague me. Number one, have you told your villages leaders what you know? The knowledge contained within your brain may be far more valuable to the defence of this village than you know. And secondly, what was it that Akkuma could offer you?"

 

[Nara Shizukesa]

Nobu listened to the reply to his conversation, it had been a fun one that he had that much was true, and he knew full well that the conversation was coming to an end. It was something that he knew from a lot of other times as he allowed himself to match the eyes of Yong, it seemed that the two of them had got enough information out of each other unless there was any more to give, he did wonder just how much more conversation could be given between the two of them. A smile never left his lips as he had a conversation with the man.

"If this is true, then I feel that Leaf does not know all the information, to be honest with you, after all, I think they are still trying to find out who made the attack so that is something they probably do need to hear about, I am just trying to figure out how my business stands in honestly. After all what village leaders, and outcasts that I am I answer to the clan and no one else. I get away with the things I do simply because I was engaged to Asuka but I do not even know where that stands, so I gain the information from you, but like anyone in my position an outcast, information isn't shared it traded after all."

He sighed slightly as he considered the last question after all that is how everyone even these two had become connected, it seemed that Akkuma was always trying to get his strings into place, to play the puppet master on multiple fronts, but that could sometimes be a downfall for some if not played carefully. It did seem like he was overstretching but a deal was still an offer that he wanted, even if it had not come to fruition.

"A bar, casino, or hotel in every village, a network to the words, secrets, and information from everywhere to allow me to know everything and have safe houses in most places, a place for those travelers that have no-where to call home. Not bad life to own a few businesses around the place wouldn't you say?"

 

[Kiko]

"Konoha knows nothing... This fact is painfully obvious now."

Nobu's words did not sound like deception but the fact that the words were true did more to discredit the Leaf Shinobi than it did endear Yong to his viewpoint. Commerce before life, business before survival, truly the corruption of the village was complete.

As if to echo the soul of Konoha, Nobu's sin was Greed. Yong chuckled quietly, a tinge of irony not lost on the armoured Shinobi. His focused gaze looked once more over the village sprawling away beneath them, the massive gates stood out, clearly visible even at this distance. His hand moved to the mask at his hip, a small audible click was heard as an unseen mechanism released the finely crafted metal from its lock. His hand moved upwards, arm outstretched in front of him and the mask held at his arms full extension, face pointed towards him whilst simultaneously obscuring the Phoenix Gates behind its ominous visage.

"A man who could give you that world now moves against your home and you hold your tongue... Trade your secrets... Gambled with time..."

Yong turned to the other man, his face passive and his eyes serious.

"You should have told them what you found in the desert Yamanaka Nobu... Perhaps you could have made a difference..."

The armoured mask clicked into place over his face, as he turned towards Nobu. His voice now slightly distorted by the sophisticated technology of his ANBU mask... The mask of his father.

"Perhaps you could have saved them from us..."

Ooc: calling b-mod

 

[Metsu]

Battle Moderator Opening Post and Guidelines​
Your bmod request has been picked up by myself, as such please read the below carefully as it will state the rules that the fight will follow and the expectation of both combatants for this mod.

Send, in a PM on NC, not discord, your actions, and all your battle information: Stats, class, abilities, jutsu, items, weapons, etc. When sending this information, I would prefer it if you can hyperlink your information. This greatly decreases the time it takes for a moderator to mod as we do have the link straight away instead of searching around. Do NOT just send a link to your profile, you will be asked to send the above information again. Rolls are completed in Discord -> Private Bmod-rolling or bmod-rolling UBR rules do apply: meaning you have 48 hours to post and send actions.

Please be clear on your actions and conditionals, remember to include everything relevant to the round. Hyperlinked Justu name | Rank use | Special action If this fight has multiple combatants, you will need to specify who are your allies and who are your enemies in your opening actions. Please remember that if your actions are unclear, or you haven't specified targets where appropriate, this will leave us having to either do guesswork or randomizing targets. So be careful and be sure with the actions you send in.

Let's have a fun fight, please remember that any questions about the round when posted can be directed to me via discord or via a conversation on the site. I will be slow, and probably be able to do the mod once a week.​

 

[Metsu]

Yong Wins, Nobu has lost as per Takeshi's surrender via Discord

Spoiler

 

[Kiko]

It was over... Without a sound... Without a witness... It was over...

Blood rapidly began to pool around the headless body of Yamanaka Nobu now slumped ungracefully in the place where he had stood moments before, the wide eyed head had rolled to a slow stop a few feet away from the neck it had been recently so fond of.

The Dark Chakra surrounding the Armoured Shinobi faded quickly as he sheathed the strange sword he had used for the killing blow. His breathing calmed as the adrenaline of the moment began to subside. Yong walked slowly to the head, retrieving a small scroll from his belt-pouch as he did so. He knelt, unfurling the scroll along the blood soaked ground and quickly locating the scroll-seal he desired.

"...Release..."

With a small puff of smoke a finely crafted, though undecorated and unvarnished wooden box materialised. Yong lifted the lid, a small metal chain stopping it at a 90⁰ angle. His hand reached in, withdrawing from the box a coarse hessian cloth with a clearly burnt on Myakashi symbol and a strange metal stud through its corner. Yong moved to the body of the slain Shinobi, kneeling beside him Yong dragged the hessian cloth across the quickly spreading pool of blood. The red stain of life quickly spread across the hessian, he held it in place a moment more before turning back to the unremarkable box. He placed the now grimly dripping, course cloth back into the box before closed the lid with a quiet click.

"...Seal..."

Another small puff of smoke and the box disappeared into the sealing-scroll taking his proof of the kill with it. His unarmoured hands quickly rolled the scroll before placing it back in his pelt pouch.

Pausing long enough to roll a cigarette Yong allowed himself to muse for a moment...

The sun still shone its happy afternoon beams of warming light onto the village below. A thousand other sounds still moved upwards to him. Yamanaka Nobu, head of the Gakido Clan was dead... He wondered if Konoha would even notice before they were gone...

He lit the cigarette and walked away, he had a dinner party to get to.

Spoiler: OOC

Nobu Force Killed.
Snapshot used.
Feel free to join the topic after Yong is gone to investigate.
Topic Left.

Edit: changed taking head to taking snapshot and blood sample with Takeshi's permission.

 

[Seijin]

Sighing, Umashi walked about the Hokage Rock inspecting the craftsmanship as well as he could. So far, his vacation to Konoha was mostly boring with a few highlights sprinkled throughout. Having sent off the letter to Kumo, he was busy waiting for a reply but at the rate that one wasn't being received, he was just as sure that they had forgotten about him. The onus was now on Umashi to either make the most of his vacation or to expire from the boredom that was his current predicament. Dressed in semi-formal attire, once he had been made out by Takeshi, Umashi saw no point in hiding the fact that he was who he was. His robes though not overly gaudy, still identified him as the Nidaime Hokage, which, thankfully, didn't draw as much of a crowd as one might have assumed. Mostly out of a sense of protection, he opted for clearly identifying who he was just in case things went sideways, which ironically just so happened to be the case when he rounded a corner. There, at a spot that was supposed to be especially prized for its picturesque views, was a strewn body surrounded by a no longer spreading pool of blood. His instincts kicking into high gear, Umashi took one step, and then another, as he quickly surmised that while somewhat fresh, that the murderer would have no doubt been long gone. He didn't recognize the person lying there, but somebody would. Fishing out a headset from his robes, he turned to what he hoped was still the general channel for calling in the ANBU and requested help.

OOC: Calling in the ANBU or whoever else could represent Konoha with this.

 

[Toshi]

The call was a go for the emerald eyed boy. There was a call serving as a symbol for the boy to be dismissed. The AiT Hopeful slid his mask over his face, concealing his identity. The mask resembles that of a bird, blue painting gave the mask a particular design. He wore a green shroud, the

The boy appeared on the scene. His sudden appearance would come with a breeze from the wind. As it fluttered on it's way the AiT would be looking at the face of the one decapitated. He moved his fingers, over to the eyelids, making sure both of them were closed. Behind his mask, the lad wore a bland look.

"Murdered in cold blood." The detective didn't really understand that saying, but it seemed fitting to the investigation. He put his fingers in the blood left behind, taking a sniff. He wouldn't gain much information from this, but he knew one talented in such arts could identify the body from such a clue. The boy stood up, looking towards the one on the scene. His attire seemed to signify he was of a high rank.

The boy took a bow, knowing this was the one that sent the call. "At your service."

 

[Keiji]

Keiji's ANBU Mask and attire​

I full formal black clad ANBU attire and white Raven Masked fell from high place and stood, in front of Umashi, to the side from where the boy placed himself in his bow.
"We'll take things from here." with a cold glance through the mask he assessed Umashi's attire. "Nidaime" He gave a small, but formal bow of respect, but left it there, having briefly looked through the records of his ascension and departure from the position knowing well while he is to be respected for he was, the current worldly affairs puts him in a special position. "While I understand why you might know of our frequencies, I'm glad we still monitor the one you used. Thank you."

Turning a glance to the AiT, recognizing the mask and attire, giving him a slight nod, turning to the scene with him and proceeded to quietly give orders "Good job getting here. Check for his muscle tenseness and the freshness of the wounds, they'll give a good time estimate, no need to check his identity. I know this man. Next check chakra signatures on him, his own should still be on him, with a slight hint of another if the opponent used any chakra based attacks or buffers. Then check any surrounding damage to the scene of the crime, might indication of weapon used and where he'd leave from here."

His eyes scanned the surrounding scene, and figured where the attack had come from, from beneath the mask, his Byukugan activated giving him a clear look at the chakra veins and their fainted hue on the body of Nobu. Seeing clear where he had concentrated his energies, comparing that to the wounds, he must have underestimated his opponent or tried to protect the wrong area on his body. A sorrowful affair. He had looked forward to what Nobu would have accomplished under his watch and hoped the future with him under the wings of village itself again might have seen his spread wider and better than most.

"Such potential wasted by a single swing of a blade he thought to himself.

 

[Toshi]

As quickly as the masked boy appeared, another shadow now stood before the two. With the new shadow's given command, the boy moved back over to the body. He now only wondered if the body would be destroyed. He knelt beside the body, taking two fingers and giving various points on the deceased body quick jabs, checking for any muscle or nerve reflexes. "It seems as though he was relaxed before his death. He either didn't see it coming or didn't fight against it.' He smoothed his hands over the body, checking for battle scars, but found none. It seemed there was no struggle before the death blow.

He looked to see if the killer left any kind of calling card. The smell and freshness of the blood told him that the murder occured less than 72 hours ago. The only traffic the boy had seen at the gates within the last week were the two men he took a snapshot of before they left. He became suspicious of them as they left the village in a hurry, and this incident scene was only days old. If the ANBU had checked the visitors before they left, they would probably have half of the answers they were looking for already. The chakra signature of the Captain was there, but was fading away. Thinking of the visitors, it looked as though he had a lead.

It wasn't hard to tell that he died from a clean slice of a blade. Only the blood left at the scene gave the area a faint dreadful feeling. He would present his findings to his ANBU representative.

He would return with his findings after investigating the body of Nobu. "There were no signs of struggle. No wounds, scars, or cuts indicating a struggle before death. He was decapitated by a fine blade. There seems to be no leads as for who to point a finger at, but..." The AiT activated the snapshot he stored from the village gates.

Snapshot

Forced Exit - Sweet Konoha... bah bah baaaah

There were few sounds at this time of the night, just the sounds of the leaves blowing in the wind, the creaking of the trees, and the inane chatter of shinobi guarding the gates. It had been a sunny day filled with adventure, but now the sun had set, creating darkness that cast itself like...

ninpocho.com

He replayed everything he saw, looking at the chakra signature of the two that left in a hurry. The emerald eyed boy identified the two individuals.

"I saw that two leave not too long before I was called over here. This is the only gate traffic I've seen recently." Bringing the recording to a cease, he wondered the next steps to take. "Sir, I'll move on your orders." The boy have a slight bow.

 

[Keiji]

As the AiT was doing his last examinations and he started giving his quiet report, Keiji had prepared a scroll for transferring the dead corpse of Nobu. Cleaners would come and make sure the area is returned to it's rightful place. This had happened before their meeting in the Hokage's mansion.
Listening to the report as the he placed the transfer parchment on the body the last vestiges of chakra seeped out of the body and made it disappear. "Chakra is an astounding thing" he commented to himself.

Watching the snapshot, recognizing those in it clearly. The suspicion and intuition the AiT showed was great. While he didn't immediately agree with the assertion that those they had a meeting with were the culprit, the timing of it seemed odd at best, why wouldn't anyone have noticed it before the meeting then? Maybe they could have confronted Yong about it, and gotten the answers right then and there, but that might have risked souring any attempts to a decent conversation and meal.. The taste in his mouth soured, while the stomach ache he felt at home might not have been worth it in the end. Either way, intuition aside, he had to bring this report further to the Hokage and hear his call and decision on this matter..

with scroll in hand, he held his hand on the shoulder of the Toshi, and with a quiet, but warm and thankful tone in his voice said "Good job, I'm glad to have you on the force. Come with me. We'll need to bring this further."

He turned around to Umashi and gave another curt nod in his direction and then made his way away expecting Toshi to follow suit in an almost running pace.

[Thread Left]
[Continued here: https://ninpocho.com/threads/report-keep-friends-close-enemies-closer.66414/ ]

 

[Toshi]

The boy observed a technique that seemed to require a massive amount of wisdom. It would be a while, but the spiritual aspect of life led him to believe that the life one lived would lead them to becoming either a Shinobi that is wise, or one that is still learning. The AiT found himself in the latter seat, but he would take the adventure to become a wise Shinobi. No need for bronze or silver, just wisdom.

The Yuki gave a bow to the one in the formal clothing. The headset call was much appreciated. A gentle breeze would come through, his shroud fluttering behind him as he vanished.

He was steps behind the more experienced shadow. It seemed that they would get right down to business on solving this case. He wondered what kind of matters would ensue? He began to gather his thoughts. Something that would benefit the village and it's rebuilding. The constant attacks on the village has the civilians on the spooks. The scene at the Hokage Rock would be no different. If anyone else had stumbled upon the scene, things could have went differently.

[ Topic Left ]