Storming the Complex [Roku]

[Sand Council]

Fuu​

Everything was just as anticipated, the native Sunans grew restless and the governing forces became weak from this war within. Suna could not muster the resources and the morale of those loyal to this hidden village was greatly diminished. What a dilemma Sunagakure was in: her records indicated that there was an 85% chance that everyone in this city would die before the end of the week. Her records of the events and the final days of the city would be forever preserved, that was her duty and her station.

The Diamond District, home to the most wealthy men and women in Sunagakure, would be the next target for not the Cabal but rather desperate civilians and looters with ambition. The Grand Palais was rotted to the core and they relished the chaos the Cabal has wrought onto this community. The supplies offered through legal means would have been depleted the first day as panic set in, the next people took what they lacked and it was always the impoverished who suffered first. Evidence has shown a migration of bottom-feeders to Sietch Zensunna over the past forty-eight hours. The middle-class would have little to offer but their defenses would likely be little more than a door with a deadbolt, easy picking for the above-average degenerate. Some had greater ambition and the skill to pull it off, specifically a trio of bandits that had piqued the Oracle's interest. It was not their remedial skill with a blade or their clumsy manipulation of chakra that caught her eye, it was rather their path and with what or more specifically whom they would likely intersect.

These bandits were self-proclaimed members of the Cabal, a fallacy only reinforced by their domineering size and power in comparison to the average civilian. They has no actual allegiances with the group but they armed themselves with blades and they shown a propensity towards chakra manipulations to bolster their combat, while their efforts were elementary in application, for the untrained and the unprepared the effects of their skills was devastating. Defense for the denizens of Sunagakure was limited to a handful of loyalists as well as a vigilante avenger. Her notes concluded that the later would become a variable in the events about to unfold before her. These men were raucous and their avarice led them to the largest compound in Sunagakure: the Aburabuta complex. The trio left a trail of bodies in their wake, their greed was only matched by their violence. All of the perquisites were there to support the mask hero's profile according to her preliminary assessment. If her hypothesis was correct, Kasha would be there.

This 'Cabal' was made up by a trio of brothers: Haito, Kon and Seito of the Takama family. It is noted that the Takama clan is an essentially irrelevant family that has generationaly occupied low-level roles in the underbelly of the Grand Palais as enforcers. They were strong, her assessment already determined their strength in relation to others and it was her estimate that each of them was nearly as strong as a Jounin-ranked shinobi. Combined the three had an excellent sense of teamwork which made them a formidable force. Her eye spotted a metallic string dangle from one of their pockets, "...ninja wire"<i></i> she muttered as she added this to her notes.

Her records indicated that the 'Cabal' group has a series of actions they would perform in order:

• 1. They would break down the front door.
  2. They would attack the household defender, be it a dog, a man or a series of traps. They would disable or kill their obstruction without remorse.
  3. They would seek the master of the house and kill him.
  4. They would take the stores and wares of the household as their own and repeat this process on their next target.

<i></i>

It was almost a chore to watch them when her mental faculties could be used for greater things but variables in this situation demanded her attention. This was not the average house, something that they already knew as evidenced by the shining stand of ninja wire they never carried in the past. What else did they have on them? Their worn attire was not dissimilar to their norm. The photo-realistic sketches of the men depicted the almost unnoticeable bulges under their clothes where they kept their hidden weapons all of which had been previously revealed: an ax, a rapier and brass knuckles. Their path had changes as well, they were not heading for the front door, they separated and each took their own entrance. She leaned forward and started to scrawl detailed updates in fine script on the "Cabal's" dedicated chapter. The speed upon which they moved, the distribution of weight on their feet and even their dominant hand was listed. Everything was the same except for the variants as listed. She took a thoughtful post and waited for the events of the day to unfold.

 

[Raizo]

Another night, another pile of garbage to clean up. Roku, donned in his Kashu attire, would find himself perched atop the large Aburabuta compound. It seemed his hunch was correct; the ones known as the 'Cabal' were finally making their move on the large estate. The group had already diced up a nice trail on their way to this location, each attempt getting more violent and the target getting larger. This target was their jackpot. This complex could feed, pay, cloth, and house them for months if they chose. Most of their targets before this were smaller by comparison so it would be difficult to make assumptions on what their end goal was, but it was clear they wanted this house. The figures, while calling themselves the Cabal, did not carry any distinction that they were actual members of the main instigators. They did the dirty work themselves, that was clearly a far cry from the MO of the primary antagonist of this current story. Their brashness to use the title of the well known terrorist of the Sands was either their simple minded attempt to illicit more fear or they might have some connection to the primary group. Nothing could be clearly assumed, even though Roku had a pretty good guess. Still, garbage was garbage and it was time for him to do some cleaning.

The masked figure peered down as the group made their approach and began to take separate paths towards the complex.

They usually bum rush the front door. Are they concerned about how fortified this complex might be? Makes sense.

The Kasha had not been factoring in that his prey would be cautious with this next target. His hopes was that they would be blinded by their greed and rush in fool-hearty. Instead they did something even more advantageous for him; split up. Making a series of hand seals a dark brown pool would form next to the masked vigilante and slowly begin to bubble up, taking the form of another Kasha. The creator would look at his creation and walk over to the ledge, seeing the isolated Seito, and point down. It was time to pick off one.

The mud clone would go darting downwards from atop of the compound and land, purposely, a couple of feet before the lone member of the Takama clan. The figure would then raise its hand out in front of itself, as if to warn Seito not to proceed further. It's goal was to goad the individual to attack him.

Back at the top of the complex, Kasha would unsheath his blade and hope up to the ledge. Soon he would make his move as long as the scenario played out in his favor.

There were only two factors he did not account for;

1. If the three brothers had means of communicating with one another, like a headset or telepathy.

2. What the family inside might have been doing to prepare for intruders--there was a chance he could get caught up in the crossfire of these citizens' own defense... that would be a strange first.

MFT - 516

 

[Sand Council]

Fuu​

Right on schedule, the masked vigilante Kasha. Sitting on her perch she leaned forward with charcoal stick in hand, without looking at the tome that would perhaps one day be her magnum opus she started to make a sketch of the terrain. It appeared inconspicuous in terms of potential peril, small trimmed shrubs best suited for temperate coastal climates dotted the landscape, somehow able to survive in these subterranean conditions. A bed of sod colored the floor. Did these ornaments have meaning or were they nothing more than displays of awesome wealth? The estate was another point of interest for the woman, a rare unexpected find was worth more to her than thousands of pages of statistics and records. It was a large, almost foreign-seeming estate, certainly not a home in an arid region such as central Wind Country and further not something expected in a subterranean community.

Where there is one there is now two...

****

Haito and Kon made their way to their respective entrances. Almost entirely silent, Haito placed a layer of heavy adhesive over a window that dried with impressive speed before he then punched it open. All that could be heard was a subdued thud that would probably do unnoticed by anyone unaware of the vandals activities. The window, shards an all, was peeled away from the frame in a singular spectacular piece. Kon made his way to a door, in most situations a thief would either pick the lock or break down the door, considering his partner's attempt at stealth she wondered what his methods would be. He pulled out a tiny key and placed it in the door. Strange that someone would break into their own home, it was unlikely that any of them were invited guests. Her intuition would prove as it usually did, correct. He slid the key into the keyhole and bumped it with the butt of his ax before immediately turning they key to its side. "Bump Key," she muttered to herself out loud as she scrawled a picture of a bump key into her notes. A bump key is a key specifically made for entering doors for which one does not have a key already, the teeth are filed down to the lowest possible applicable point so that the key can fit under the last pin. No reputable locksmith would make such a tool and she had no record of them using such a key in the past. The door swung open without incident and Kon slunk inside.

****

Seito was about to employ another method of entry, he pulled out a rapier from under his layers of roughly woven cloth. The blade was thinner than she had recalled, he slid it easily between the door and its frame. He had no time to demonstrate his newly acquired skill, a pseudo-Kasha had made its presence known. Seito wordlessly withdrew his blade from the door. He made no verbal threat or announcement as he wordlessly lunged for the masked vigilante's clone, unaware that the actual Kasha was still lurking.

Note: Kon and Haito have entered the house. Seito is about to fight Kasha's mud clone.

 

[Raizo]

He was tired. This was becoming a chore; the killing, the sneaking and the observing. More and more rats seemed to crawl out of the mess created by the ones he truly wished to meet, the real Cabal. But this group was becoming a threat in and of themselves. They were benefactors of this chaos, and deep within his soul he felt the urge to purge these little miscreants out of necessity. Having seen the three of them very briefly he was able to utilize his ANBU honed chakra sensing ability to figure out the different concentrations in the area. It seemed that two of the masses had made their way closer to the building, possibly already making it in doors. He would not to check that out, but first he needed to lower their numbers.

His blade, aptly named Yurushi (forgiveness), was already draw as his gaze continued to peer over the ledge. Much to his dismay, the figure he clone had been sent to stalk had done what was expected, attack. There was a mental sigh that would go off in Roku's head as he was getting too good at predicting the silliness of these types.

Idiot...

And with that he would drop off the side of the rooftop and raise the blade above his head as he continued his descent. Meanwhile, the clone would merely continue to stand there with its arm outstretched, openly taking the attack without even flinching. Its purpose was to draw in the opponent. Right before the rapier could connected with the clone it would erupt in a mass of dark, sticky mud. The mud would splatter all over the poor Seito as its purpose was to confuse and confine the poor evil doer.

While the mud attacked before Seito, above Seito would be the Kasha, primed for his introduction. There would be no words as the blade swung in ten successive strikes. Each strike was aimed at either a section of the body to cause massive amounts of damage or to just flat out cause death. The technique was known simply as Kill Driver, and the intent behind it was simple; killing.

As the blade cut across the body of Seito for the tenth time, Kasha would land upon the ground just as quietly as he had dismounted the roof. His eyes would remain on Seito to see if this figure would prove to be tougher than Roku had expected, but if everything went according to plan then there would be one less player in this game.



MFT - 425

 

[Sand Council]

Fuu​

It was a run of the mill vandal. Kasha annihilated Seito with a single taijutsu attack. Fuu scribbled a note in her book, the corners of her mouth had tugged downward. She did not expect much but she was hoping for something unexpected. The house was like a fortress, the other two criminals seemed to break into the mansion with relative ease. It was the Aburabuta Complex, her notes indicated that the owner was not only an extremely wealthy socialite but also a narcissist with no known friends besides a Doctor Akira Saito. Considered a competent fighter due to a documented history of formal martial arts training as well as swordplay, his parentage is only known on paper as it is claimed that he is the sole heir of the infamous Aburabuta fortune. Defenses were expected, but she had seen no evidence of security measures beyond a locked door. Her brows raised as her brain reached a conclusion: Saiyaman Kasha was in trouble. Finally, things were about to get interesting. In a single motion, Fuu abandoned her perch and landed on the sod-covered Aburabuta lawn. She was making no effort to conceal her presence, nobody was after a simple spectator.

"Vigilante Kasha, again in pursuit of the villains in a city plunged into Anarchy,"</B><i></i> name, vocation and purpose announced as if in greeting. <B>"Before you continue your pursuit of these delinquents, I must ask you before..."

Her question was cut short by a blood chilling scream. The door despite the premature removal of the rapier from the frame, shook open. There were no lights on inside the complex, only great cavernous walls and priceless paintings adorning the walls. It was deathly still beyond the threshold, then a second scream resonated through the hall from the deepest parts of the massive homestead. Fuu's ears twitched, it was not the master of the house that let out that cry but a woman both times. Her records had no record of a woman residing there. "Help me please!" Escaped from an unknown part of the household.

"--If you could see that this is a trap," Fuu quickly concluded her query from a moment earlier. She needed to have all of the variables in place to accurately predict the outcome of this experiment. What she said could be a lie to discern Kasha's response or it could be the truth. Were there signs that things were not right or was everything just going according to plan so well that it would serve as an anomaly. She moved her arm across the threshold as to momentarily halt his entry before she added her question of interest. "Are you looking to be a mysterious hero forever shielded by your mask OR are you just looking to win at any cost." Her hold on the door was insubstantial, it was not intended to stop him. In fact, she expected him to barrel past her announcing something short and potentially heroic or cryptic depending on his demeanor as he dashed foolhardily to save a damsel in distress.

The woman let out another scream, the clink of blades and a baritone laughter pervaded the halls. "Get off of me!" She cried out, the sounds of a struggle followed by a scream cut short.

 

[Raizo]

The brief moment, the slashing of his prey, happened in an instant but felt like an eternity (hah...cuz I suck at posting -_-, sorry). Was this the monotony of his new life? Did he, in actuality, die on that hospital bed and this was the price he was paying in the afterlife, continuously living this hellish existence over and over again? No, no there was no way that could have been it. He was alive, which deep down was probably the more terrifying realization.

The body would drop to the ground. The mud from his clone would lay splattered about and would not even attempt to pull itself back together. There was no longer a reason for it. It was reassuring that things happened to go his way this easily.

Is it getting easier to do this crap...

The mental question would linger for a bit as Kasha adjusted himself and turned his attention back to the complex. It was time to go after the two remaining thirds, and his hope was that the length of the complex would allow him to continue to meet these individuals one at a time until this matter was resolved. That is, this was all on his mind until suddenly, and unexpectedly, a figure would appear and cause him to question this matter.

"Good evening..."

Before he could get his formal greeting out, Fuu had already stated her string of facts and then quickly began to ask a question. Before she could finish a scream would echo out from the compound. The voice was female and was not out of the ordinary for this sort of situation, bad guys tend to elicit negative reactions. Fuu's finishing of the question, actually stating what was on her mind, was what caught Roku off guard.

This... a trap...

It was clearly not something that was immediately on his mind, but also something very plausible. She then proceed with further probing at the masked man. What was his true intentions, or more so, had they changed?

"Milady."

He finally was able to finish his greeting, minutes later it felt like.

"This a trap? Hmmm, now that would prove to be a very alarming change of pace."

She had warned him in their first encounter about being more careful, which was followed by him feeling the results of his recklessness. Was this another moment of insight, or was this a part of her game to mess with him. He still did not truly understand Fuu's stance in this whole situation, or what her connection was to those that created this madness. However, upon looking at this once more there was reason to not dismiss her question. This, even he had thought, felt a little too easy. Another scream, sounds of struggle, and further action inside would echo forth towards his ears.

"My intentions have remained what they were when you first asked me; I want to end this madness and I want to end those that created it."

There was also the pursuit of his friend, Sousuke, the search for his brother and the emotional turmoil of his recently discovered hospital woes, but that was not things he wanted to place out in the open. Things about him had changed, his mindset on how he would achieve his goals had been altered, but to him the end result still remained.

"I don't care about being a hero and I do wish to 'win'... and I accept that however I choose to go about that will come with costs. There are some costs that must be paid and others that I wish to avoid as I continue down this road."

He reset his grip on the hilt of his blade.

"This might very well be a trap, the voice of that woman could be staged in order to draw me in, but deep down there is something inside of me telling me to go in there. Even if there is no one to save... I don't really think a 'hero' would have that sort of thought. A hero is rushing in with intentions of saving, even if it were a trap. I, on the other hand, and not as focused on the saving of a single life."

Honestly, his purpose didn't require him to save everyone, nor had he up to this point. His goal was information and his actions sought vengeance; he failed to realize those two forces working in contradiction at this point.

"Even in the event of a trap there could still be innocent lives on the line in there, there is no need to kill them, whether with action or inaction, if it can be avoided. Also, if this was a trap, then that might mean someone with a brain is running the show. Someone with a brain, that isn't a fan of my work, might have connections to the Cabal. That knowledge could bring me closer to go inside... I can't let that opportunity slip by, righ?"

The final comment could be interpreted as a rhetorical question or as Kasha looking for validation in his own belief at this time. Belief in either of those would be correct. His mind was slipping into doubt, that would be dangerous.

"You, Fuu, are an observant individual. What would you do in this situation?"

Never hurt to ask.


MFT - 886 words

 

[Sand Council]

Fuu​

"My intentions have remained what they were when you first asked me; I want to end this madness and I want to end those that created it."

"You realize that your efforts are illogical," Fuu responded. This was not the first time that they had crossed paths, and their interactions have not only remained civil despite their divergent alliances but here she was seeking him out. "You well know that I am among the Cabal Ranks you so despise and you have yet to try to subdue me or extract information from me."</B><i></i> This was not an act of defiance, it was yet another observation of the masked vigilante. Perhaps he did not want to take her on because she posed no immediate threat or perhaps it was because he relished the heat of battle and that he would come only to arms when she did as well.

"This might very well be a trap, the voice of that woman could be staged in order to draw me in, but deep down there is something inside of me telling me to go in there. Even if there is no one to save... I don't really think a 'hero' would have that sort of thought. A hero is rushing in with intentions of saving, even if it were a trap. I, on the other hand, and not as focused on the saving of a single life."<i></i>

She did not believe him, there would be no purpose in rushing into a building to save nobody and it was implausible that he would rush into a trap knowing that there was nobody to save without a rescuer's intent. "Your PRIDE is what will compel you to enter this home, not your concern nor your love for fellow man... Your identity is only concealed because the image of a vigilante is more advantageous to counter the collateral damage of your identity so you take a new one along with a moniker, but it is recognition your crave. But none will come in your death."</B><i></i> It almost sounded as if she cared, she did but not in a romantic sense. "You are of no use to me dead." Her requirements of him were not self-sacrificing nor directly self-serving, she had a higher calling to a greater Order than many of her peers, degenerates and vandals the lot of them but their utility was exploited by the Diamyo.

"Even in the event of a trap there could still be innocent lives on the line in there, there is no need to kill them, whether with action or inaction, if it can be avoided. Also, if this was a trap, then that might mean someone with a brain is running the show. Someone with a brain, that isn't a fan of my work, might have connections to the Cabal. That knowledge could bring me closer to go inside... I can't let that opportunity slip by, righ?"</SIZE><i></i>

So this was about getting to know about the Cabal in a convoluted way. Nobody knows the actual extent of the Cabal, how far up the chain of command their efforts go. <B>"Do as your ambition compels you... I have interfered enough," she conceded. The Cabal was not beyond those doors, they were searching and making a mess of the community as ordered by Akio. This event was too manufactured to be the efforts of any of her cohorts less a few but it favored neither of their styles.

<SIZE size="95">"You, Fuu, are an observant individual. What would you do in this situation?"

"When you are at the home of another, it is best to assume that all things done and all that is of holding on a master's property would be under the purview and authority of the master until proven otherwise. Do you honestly believe that a man with such a vast estate would have such lackluster security?"<i></i>She explained. The brawn of the Anarchist Unit enjoyed making a show of their work, sociopaths and not highly functional ones at that. Even they had a place in the grand scheme of things, just as she did as the archivist of Sunagakure's last days and the trials of Suna's final heros. <B>"I'd walk away, but I know you won't... The Cabal serves only as an excuse for you to act," she explained. She enjoyed his demonstration of heroism, bravery and his dedication to serving his pride under the veil of altruism.

"You realize you do not have to play the romantic nonpareil, you could leave these ruins and your friends behind. You seem to relish the fight more than the cause, because I am... have been...and will continue to remain standing, and we both know that it is not some misplaced protocol of enemy engagement or misplaced affections for a middle-aged woman," this was it. The devil's choice - every option she offered him was the wrong answer but every one was a perfect option as well. He could enter that house, save that woman if there was one in distress. He could try to fight Fuu, the mysterious intellectual that has been been pursuing the mystery hero in hopes that he could extract something from her. He could try to leave Sunagakure and all that is and was to do with the shinobi village behind, perhaps the Cabal would accept him as one of them even. He could do nothing, preserve himself so that he could fight the good fight another day. So many choices... but there was one thing to note, in all of this time the screaming had STOPPED.

 

[Raizo]

She echoed his words and then interjected her thoughts. She was observant, this was what he knew of her and that was one thing that she seemed to hold very true to. She was Cabal, she has made no qualms about that fact, but in both of their encounters she never made a move against him. At first Roku thought it might have just been a precautionary move, then he just assumed that was not her task, but now, after further conversation, he really wasn't sure why she chose not to act. She said her response on the matter, she was just here to observe, and yet, he was unsure if he truly believe that.

Her words, unsure of their true intentions, rang true for him. The resonated with some of the doubts, some of the thoughts, that he felt himself. It would be simple to leave this area, it would be simple to give up on those he was trying to protect, which was never the entirety of the village, and deep down he did relish the fight more than the cause. Hell, her acknowledgment of him at both their meetings, even just his moniker, was something that brought some twisted pride to him. It was good to be noticed. Had he always craved recognition like that before his accident?

There were two things about her responses, outside of the nuggets to ponder on, that caused him to reflect on this woman once more. First, she was right in that she was Cabal and he never made a move on her but in the same boat, she was Cabal and never made a move on him. If anything their two encounters had been fairly cordial. The second thing she said that caught his attention was that his death had no value to her. What was he needed for and what was her goal, that he could help serve. His actions were very openly against the Cabal, so did that mean she had other objectives outside of her group?

"I like you. You are a good sounding board."
The screams within went suddenly silent. Never a good sign, whether it was a trap or not. His frame would shift forward towards the door.

"Whether my personal cause is right or wrong, whether this is a trap or not, whether my value to you is wasted in this moment... I have to go in that building. I have to kick someones ass and save whoever might be there, or kick someones ass for those that were lost because of this madness. This image, this character, is merely about the message. Don't mess with Suna. So come along, draw me or write about me in as pretty manner possible, and enjoy the show."

He thought about going a more noble message, and some of that seeped in, but she wasn't blind to his bullshit. So why not just go with more of the true Roku, even if he was in his Kasha attire. With a heave and a grunt, he would make his way through the door that the decease villain had opened for him. It was time to see just what was awaiting him.

MFT -

 

[Sand Council]

Fuu<i></i>​

"I like you. You are a good sounding board... Whether my personal cause is right or wrong, whether this is a trap or not, whether my value to you is wasted in this moment... I have to go in that building. I have to kick someones ass and save whoever might be there, or kick someones ass for those that were lost because of this madness. This image, this character, is merely about the message. Don't mess with Suna. So come along, draw me or write about me in as pretty manner possible, and enjoy the show."

He was fulfilling the prejudices she prewrit. She frowned, he was an ostentatious youth. He was going to go inside, at the risk of his life yet again, knowing fully that it was a trap. She had never bore false witness in any of their encounters for a reason, to lie would alter the integrity of her reports. She let out a disappointed sigh. Her participation might be a variable and if it was, it was an important one. He has demonstrated a need to be noticed. A compulsion to maintain arbitrary standards of morality as dictated by an unverified source. "I already know this outcome," </B><i></i> she added with a blasé tone. She checked her watch and brushed her powder white tresses from her face. "I do not have the time to witness the encounter I am afraid, you are going to enter in some dramatic fashion-"<i></i>

He was gone. He did not give her a chance to finish her dissertation.

Inside:

The Aburabuta Complex was a massive estate, four stories of splendor obscured by the shadows. The floors were made of wood, something that could be discerned by the muffled clap of Roku's feet as he made his way to where the cries had come from. There was a great stairwell in the center that would have led him to the stories above but the threat was on the bottom floor. There was only a single light on, at the end of a long corridor through a door that was left only slightly ajar. The silhouette of a pair of samurai's set on short pedestals guarded the room.

The room was nothing more than a study, but far from a humble enclosure. Thick verdant carpet underfoot and intricate wall coverings of hardwood carved set the backdrop to a gregarious space. If Roku was a man about getting everyone's attention, he met his doppelganger in Mister Aburabuta. When someone owns an estate as such, they do so to command a response from others. To have the largest, biggest, best, most expensive... it is rarely out of necessity or for the benefit of quality, it is to have what nobody else can to demonstrate your status and power above others. Hirotomi was such a man.

Someone was inside, a man dressed better than most. His suit was black, his shirt was grey and he wore no tie, his shirt was not starched. His long dark hair was pulled back from his face, less a few unruly strands that fell over his face. He was sitting cross-legged in an overstuffed leather chair, the arms riveted with brass nails. "Welcome Kasha, I am glad you have finally graced me with your presence," the well-dressed man announced in greeting. He was not going to stand, that would be a sign of greater respect than he was willing to offer although he did spend some time locating this Kasha and setting up a series of circumstances to lead him to his vast estate.

"I am sure that you are already aware as my reputation often precedes me, I am Aburabuta Hirotomi... Yes, of THAT family." His thin lips twitched upward as he partook of the goblet in his right hand. "Good help is terribly hard to find..."<i></i> he feigned complaint as he rested the goblet on the table next to him. The stained glass lampshade reflected off the cut crystal goblet to shower the space in brilliant light. <B>"Without further adieu, my time is valuable after all... Enough with these social pleasantries, it is time to talk business."

*Clap* *Clap*​

 

[Raizo]

Cautiously, but with some urgency, the masked man would make his way into the building. The final words of Fuu would echo in the back of his mind. Had he disappointed her? Was that a good or bad thing, he didn't have time to find out. If she knew him, and she was as good as she was, she knew this was going to be what he chose. It didn't matter who this fight was for, it didn't matter who he saved or who he fought in this encounter, what matter was doing what he felt was right. Someone so hellbent on only seeing logical choices would never understand the world of emotions. As ANBU, however, it might have been a better test to not enter this house. Maybe his emotions were too tied into his decision making...

His foot steps were not silenced, something that bugged him more than his uncertainty of Fuu's words. The flooring, wood, make his presence known and would make this matter something completely different than what he was expecting. Even in the event of a trap he felt confident in his ability to use the shadows to assist him. Being simply heard was enough to have another trained shinobi track him. There wasn't a point in hiding now. So without hesitation he would make his way into the large study, seeing the two guards and the seated gentleman.

The man before him gave off the aura of what many pictured a denizen of the Desert Crown; regal, full of himself, and serpentine. His face was the kind that Roku had seen on others; people that used people and only cared about their best interest. This trap, or whatever it was, seemed to be perpetuated by this man. He wanted to meet Kasha, there was some relief in that, but the reason for why he wanted the meeting would greatly determine the next course of action. Within his mind he had an idea of how to handle the samurai, a tradition he believed to only be in books, if worse came to worse, but there was still the two other burglars he originally came after. The picture right now stood at him having to defeat five individuals should this be a death trap, but what if it weren't? What if he did only want to discuss business with him?

"Aburabuta-sama."

It would be best to keep stoking his ego. Address him formally with the emphasis on his family name.

"I had not realized families were still within the Crown, otherwise my assistance would have been sooner."

Don't drag this on and test his patience, he doesn't care what I have to say, yet.

"How may I be of your service?"

Give him nothing to raise suspicion, allow him to feel he is respected. Treat him like you would any actual survivor you found in this mess. He could still be merely trying to survive... or... he could be looking to take advantage of this chaos.

There were threats, only rumors he had heard within the dark underworld of the underground village, of other entities not showing favor for the shinobi village, their power and their influence. He had to be ready for anything.

MFT -

 

[Sand Council]

Aburabuta Hirotomi​

"Aburabuta-sama."

He tipped his hat in response to the due recognition. Samurai was a proper adage in a way, a distinguished nobleman more than capable of self-defense if it would ever come it it but why should a man of his stature sully his hands. It was be an unforgivable trespass.

"I had not realized families were still within the Crown, otherwise my assistance would have been sooner."

"No worries my dear... Kasha, was it? Interesting name choice, a corpse-eating cat demon, right?" He let out a laugh only the wealthy could muster, something almost forced for the mask of congeniality. He was a rather educated man, he got the best schooling money could boy. Nothing was too good for the heir of an empire, even if it was to a realm that threatened to implode in a hour's time. The moniker was amusing, but there was little time for idle chatter when time was of the essence.

"How may I be of your service?"

With a pair of claps, a servant carried over a silver covered dish that glistened like the morning sun despite the somewhat dreary setting. The Cabal had went out of their way to make things troublesome, his stores of carmot were never supposed to be used for house lighting but here it was glowing in the dark, illuminating his gloriously large household. A pristine white gloved hand lifted the lid and revealed a severed head, a macabre display that might have come to a shock when Kasha realized who the head once belonged to: Haito, the man that broke into his home. "I hold no allegiance to these vandals, but I do appreciate the part they unwittingly played in bringing you to my doorstep," he explained with a sparkle in his eye.

It was strange, in fact it made no sense. Weren't they the lure for a bigger fish such as Kasha. Was it this man that screamed like a woman? His shrill cries ended so abruptly when his head was liberated from the rest of his body in what would appear to be a clean single slice if that theory were to hold true. Haito had not been dead long, his face ashen and drained of color still, the blood on the bed of lettuce had yet to fully congeal. "Hoodlums and anarchists have been running amuck in our streets for too long,"</B><i></i> Hirotomi announced, a level of gravity in his voice that was perhaps feigned concern. "I loathe the notion of allying myself with such degenerates, but your presence was paramount,"<i></i> he explained. He laced his fingers together and popped his knuckles in a drawn out motion that allowed each to click and crack in slight disharmony.

The server wordlessly placed the severed plated head at Kasha's feet. "Consider this a gift from me to you," Hirotomi stated. It seemed almost barbaric to offer tribute in the form of severed heads, but when in Rome... "I am a celebrated philanthropist and businessman in this region. Sunagakure is within my purview, the one place the Seven Lords of Soons have no grasp. I fear that has changed over these past few days,"<i></i> he confided with a sigh. In Soons Haven, the fiscal capital of Wind Country, ruled essentially by the Seven Merchant Lords. "I fear that have played a hand in the chaos our home is experiencing and I will need your help to set things right." The corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly into what could be interpreted as a smile but his face was stiff, almost frozen.

He took a moment's pause to ensure the fact that Kasha understood the words he had been told. He was soon to be hired muscle after all, he was not buying a man that could think but if he could that could prove both useful and troublesome in the future. "The village is about to blow, rumor has it soon but I have no way of knowing how soon or if this information is simply being used to place me in harm's way. I am seeking an escort out of the village..."<i></i> His request was a lie in a way, he had no need for an escort. The severed head told a different tale. He was not incapable, if he was the man who delivered the clean killing blow but if he was not then he was a man with sufficient means to find passage to freedom. What could he possibly want with a righteous vigilante such as Kasha? The answer was simple: not to get out of Sand, he was trying to get Kasha out of Sunagakure. "You will find that my means are more than sufficient to compensate your efforts,"<i></i> he added as he pulled an emerald the size of a child's fist from his pocket. <B>"Besides, with my means you can do more good than you ever could on the pittance of a wage you can still receive as a shinobi."

He was laying out only part of his hand, he needed to see if the fish would bite. In the next few minutes this meeting would be over, he would be out that door and out of the village a short time thereafter. The only question is, who besides is lawyer, a few decent servants and possibly some muscle if he consents?

 

[Raizo]

It seems his polite etiquette had won him favor with his current host. The man before him was powerful, seemed to be one of the few to pick up the reference of his costume persona, and had a few more tricks up his sleeve. While he stood listening, a servant would appear and present the severed head of one of the criminals he had been stalking. His eyes, hidden behind the mask, would immediately snap back up towards Hirotomi. This man was growing more and more darker as the moments passed. It was now clear that some of what Fuu said, even if off slightly, was pretty spot on; this was a trap but in a much different connotation. He didn't, at least right now, want to kill Kasha, he wanted to use him.

At that point the head would be placed at his feet. Kasha would once more take his eyes off of the wealthy man before him and gaze upon the severed head.

A gift...

Over the course of this campaign, Kasha, no Roku, had grown more bitter, more angry towards those that would so easily throw away their life. As he marched down this new path he found it much easier to kill, to kill for his own cause. It was a very hypocritical view to take on the world, but it was what he could rationalize in this mess. Was this dead head before him much in the same vein of what he had been doing. Was this man before him similar in thought? No, no this was not done out of fear or retribution. This death was merely done because it could be. This was different, this had to be the distinction that separated him from those who would do evil deeds.

When the next piece of information dropped, Kasha was taken back. The notion that the ruling political party of the country's capital had a hand in the current situation of Sunagakure caused the steel gaze from behind the mask to falter. If there was any truth to that, any that could be found, it could me a civil war within the Land of Wind that would bring about blood shed on both sides. This place, not just the village, would be torn apart. Hirotomi was not finished, however, as he proceeded to explain why he was looking for Kasha.

He needs me to help escort him?

The focus of his sight would shift to the guards he saw just within this room, the head, the servant and then back to Hirotomi.

The number of people I know of hasn't changed. The loss of one criminal and the appearance of one servant. It should be assumed there are more within this compound. How many more... I won't get that answer before I have to give him a response.

The bombs within the village wasn't news but the indication of knowing when they might detonate was. He had to pry, even if it meant this was about to go south.

"My apologies once more, Aburabuta-sama, but if the bombs are about to be activated I need to assist this village as quickly as possible."

How to navigate from that rough starting point.

"Would it be out of line for me to suggest that your current guards possess the power to help get you out of the village?"

His right hand would unfold down towards the severed head to draw attention to this gift he had received. It was clear indication that someone within this compound could provide some sort of competent muscle. Now he needed to hit a hook at just the right angle, not to vague but pointed enough that it was clear.

"Once I have done my diligence in deactivating the bombs I can meet with you, or an associate to ensure you are kept within safety, to then proceed to the matter with those who have played a hand in this matter."

If the Seven played a role in this disaster he, even at the cost of his own life, would make sure they paid some price for such an action. It would ultimately lead him into the hands of darkness, the devil before him was no better than those who sat in the capital, but was it a worthy cause to sully himself to such a position. It wouldn't matter if his host did not appreciate his current amendments to the deal, but the fact he wanted the ANBU to go with him was enough to try and pull some leverage from the situation. If he wasn't needed then there was no point to go this far.

"Is that acceptable terms?"

Much in his conversation with Fuu, he admitted there was some self centered gain to his current role playing; he enjoyed the battle, he enjoyed some of the recognition his persona had gained and he enjoyed taking out his frustration openly and without recourse. He did not attempt to completely shy away from that, but he did have morals. He, ever since the beginning, was doing this for his friend and family member. The could simply be interpreted that his desire to save Sousoke outweighed his desire to save the village, but that would be incorrect. Saving Sousuke while sacrificing the village would break his friend, someone with a fractured soul, and would be worse than letting his friend die. Saving Sousuke meant he had to save the village, as much as his singular self could.


MFT - 916

 

[Sand Council]

Aburabuta Hirotomi​

A barbaric peace offering, a simple ritual for elementary such as a shinobi. He was half-expecting a polite decline, he was hoping for such a rejection. He had no desire to show Kasha anything more in his hand than he had to. This was a dangerous game initiated by the businessman. An undeniable opportunity to destroy his rivals in a single fatal swoop if he played this right. The Merchant Lords were guilty of many sins, not that he needed a righteous intent to help him sleep at night. His imported silk sheets and downy pillows worked just fine.

Hirotomi let out a sigh. "I am so sorry to hear that, the head is yours." He feigned displeasure and faked a forced smile to obscure his joy. "And also, avoid that white-haired woman that is lurking about my property... she is a dangerous member of the Cabal." A mixture of truth and lie, the faces of the Cabal were rather well-known. He actually had no reason to fear her, he did not know her connections or her actual ties to the Cabal but the passage of information, any information served multiple purposes. He could be a traitor to Sand, his Sand. Hirotomi was a true patriot. He loved this hole in the ground, he wanted to protect his home as any good capitalist would secure their investments.

"I will be going now," Hirotomi announced as his glass clicked on the top of his table. The crimson fluid only partly consumed, he was no glutton or drunkard, his waste was worth a week's salary for most shinobi. He was going to leave, the masked vigilante was not going to follow and that was good. His desire to save the village would only bolster his profits and when he fails to save every last man woman and child despite his best efforts he would turn to him and he would be a tool to fight his enemies. He could count on the phantom's resourcefulness, he would survive this ordeal. "Lock up when you are done," Hirotomi said in departure with a smile as he flicked a gloved hand to motion his servant and three others camouflaged about the room to make their presence known as they followed Hirotomi out the door.

[Hirotomi Attempts to Leave Topic]​

Fuu​

If Hirotomi left the home he would pass by a silent witness to a true villain. The crows feet at the corner of the woman's eyes gre deeper as she started to sketch the image of the man with blinding speed. His posture. His steady, calculated gait. His tiny eyes and thin lips pressed together taking with him an air of superiority. "Aburabuta Hirotomi, illegitimate son and proclaimed heir of the Aburabuta fortune. You do realize that your probability of success is 8%"

Without breaking stride Hirotomi retorted, "No my dear... You miscalculated, I am walking away and the only blood spilled is on my hands, or rather the tail of my coat and soles of my shoes." She had miscalculated, she expected him to crash into that mansion with a blade readied to slice through the first man he encountered on his righteous path to hell. He was a fool, but not the fool she expected. A man of the sword often dies by the sword because his blade was all he knew.

They talked... This was no good. She was not to intervene in these final days, she was there as an Oracle and her duty was to the Order alone. She completed her sketch as Aburabuta walked away, his indifferent expression penciled in as she clapped her book closed. Time was limited, she would have to leave now as well. The bombs were everywhere and she needed to find a safe place to ride out these explosions. The delay was a mistake if they wanted to kill Sunagakure. There were so many gaps in the plan, it made no sense. She looked down at her wrist, 15 minutes remained. It was barely enough time to make it to the tunnel but that would not be a choice for her, she heard the broadcast, the path would be clogged as civilians tried to funnel through. The bakery was full of enemies leaving only the ruins.

She needed to get out of here.

 

[Raizo]

This was not what he was expecting and at the same time not out of the realm of possibilities. The man had expressed an interest and then upon not receiving a full return on that affection, seems to lose all interest in Kasha. This was the second time within the past few moments he had went from being someone of interest to one person to disappointing them shortly there after. What a cruel world, well actually the rest of what was going on was pretty cruel, so his focus could not worry about the mounting disappointment. Bombs, Sousuke, strange announcement, time was just running out.

Hirotomi had left without much regard for what all was taking place around, which meant that the other criminal was probably dead. There was no longer a point in being here. This moment, not just to Fuu and Hirotomi, but to Kasha as well, could be summed up as a waste of time. Well, if he chose to be spiteful that would be the best way to rationalize this experience, but there was some good nuggets of information brought out from it. Everything uncovered, however, was just wrapped up in further mystery but he had some things to attend to if he happened to survive all this madness.

Without a scruff grunt, Kasha would start to make his way out how he had came into the mansion, no reason to attempt to find a new point of egress. He had to get out, get about, and get to safety. The world was about to crumble around him, in a very literal sense. Upon making it out of the door Kasha would begin to scan around.

"Fuu! Get to safety!"

He never really knew when she was around or if she was still in the area, his mind was a bit scattered, but he hoped she was able to find a way out of this madness.

 

[Sand Council]

OC: I thought I posted in this weeks ago. Contact me if I take this long!

IC:

Fuu​

The order of operations has varied:

• 1. Criminals arrive at a residence. CHECK
  2. Kasha arrives at the very same residence in pursuit or active response to their invasion. CHECK
  3. Kasha was lured here under a ruse as follows: An anticipated outcome, Kasha was warned that it was a trap.
     • The criminals would break down the front door. As well as other entryways apparently.
     • The criminals would attack the household defender, be it a dog, a man or a series of traps. They would disable or kill their obstruction without remorse.
     • The criminals would seek the master of the house and kill him.
     • The criminals would take the stores and wares of the household as their own and repeat this process on their next target.
  4. Despite warnings he would enter that house and try to save whoever was screaming without regard to himself or the fate of the world without him.
  5. He was supposed to stop Hirotomi in the pursuit of justice. This was an unanticipated outcome.

<i></i>

Kasha has deviated from his intended path which means... This has never happened before. Wordlessly Fuu flipped her pencil upside down. There was this strange pink rubbery device on the non-pointed end. She head heard rumors of its use but had never put it into practice. She opened up her leather-bound tome and found the appropriated page. That rubber device rubbed against the cream parchment and the graphite markings disappeared. A frown eclipsed Fuu's face that displayed her actual age. Her eye twitched. She had never devised an option for such an anomaly. It was his divergent nature that attracted her and it was his unwillingness to conform to the expected standard that caused her to stay.

"Fuu! Get to safety!"

"For what reason? The petitio principii would be that he again wishes to be the hero of this story bringing us back to our principle point. "I have no need for a hero, but Sunagakure does," she announced. Her words were simple, concise and calculated. She wanted to convey a point, a message that she hoped he would take with him.He was a hero, not because he desired it so, but because he did not fall into a perceivable archetype. He was a human acting out a biological and a psychological need not attempting to fill a role he was unsuited for. She pulled something from her neck, a silver chain carried a burden. A heavy, thick black ring. It appeared to be made of stone, pictographs on the sides suggested its age to be neolithic. "A gift."<i></i> She tossed the ring and the chain to Kasha, hopefully it was the right size.

You have received the BIRD CONTRACT

The win scenario: To show Fuu something new/unexpected/surprise her. You stepped outside of her expectations. Congrats.

 

[Raizo]

OOC: If I ever take this long again... beat me o_o

She questioned his request, something that he had not really been expecting, and it caught him off guard. He, in all honesty, felt she had already left the scene after her disappointment, or disinterest, in his decision making. So finding her still around was shocking enough, but the question really knocked him back a bit.

"Well... um..."

In the long line of heroic moments, both fictional and real, there had probably never been a moment when the bumbling words, and noises, that left his mouth would ever be found. This was truly the most unheroic a person in a cape and costume could ever feel. Ever. But before he could continue to sit there dumbfounded, she tossed him an item. Reaching out he would grasp the ring by the chain that held it. The ring was solid black and covered in markings.

"What...wishing for me to have a memento to remember you by?"

You know, maybe he wasn't a very good hero, but now he had a ring. So there was that.

 

[Sand Council]

OC: I tried, you were REALLY hard to find.

IC:

Fuu​

"I am not the sentimental kind," Fuu replied. She lied, most Oracles were rather nostalgic. They tried to record everything they could, as if trying to trace a rainbow before it forever fades into obscurity. This doomed community at the brink of destruction would not be missed by most, those that knew these people would be dead and their secrets, habits and rituals would be buried with them. Her brow furrowed at this bothersome thought that she kept to herself. There was little chance for optimism in these bleakest of times, but it would be recherché to see the village crumble at this point. "You will need that these coming days, you can hope that your village and all that you covet to survive but hope is not a plan."

If the village survived, furthermore IF he survived to understand the gift she bestowed upon him PERHAPS he would be the hero he aspired to be and this tome would be the Chronicles of Kasha. She raised a single hand in a half-hearted farewell. "I hope you survive."

[Topic Left]​

<i></i>

 

[Raizo]

And with that, she was gone. He looked down at the item within his hand. The chain, the ring, it all seemed very simple. Looking closer he noticed the design; not nearly as simple. It was a strange gift to be given but she seemed certain that this was something that was needed, something he could make use of. But the next step, and the next question, would be understanding exactly what it was that she had given him.

"Really could have used some instructions..."

Unfortunately, he did not have the luxury of just waiting for an answer. The secrets behind this item would have to be learned on the fly, which just happened to be the usual for Roku.


OOC: Bird Contract Accepted... officially!

 

[Michi]

The beatings will come later.