Event Sunagakure Presents: Two Kings Part 3 - Mercenaries are Mandatory?!

[Chikamatsu Shin]

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THE KAZEKAGE'S SUMMONS
Primus Tower - Evening - Kazekage's Office​

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The evening light of Sunagakure's artificial sun painted the Kazekage's office in shades of amber and gold, the carmot-powered star beginning its programmed descent toward the western edge of the dome. Shin stood at his window, hands clasped behind his back, watching the city below settle into the rhythm of evening, merchants closing their stalls, families returning home, the last training sessions wrapping up at the academy grounds.

But his mind was elsewhere. On the dune trails. On whispered reports from informants. On families that disappeared without a trace.

He turned from the window and moved to his desk, where four sealed scrolls waited—each bearing the crimson wax seal of the Kazekage's office. Unlike the gentle chakra-finches he'd sent to summon the genin team just this morning, these messages required something more… deliberate. More respectful of the recipients' positions.

Shin raised both hands, and chakra gathered at his fingertips, not golden and warm like his usual manifestations, but silver and cool. Four desert hawks materialized before him, larger and more formidable than finches, their eyes sharp and intelligent. These were messengers for professionals, not students.

He attached a scroll to each hawk's leg with careful movements.

"Find them," Shin said quietly, his luminous blue eyes meeting each bird's gaze in turn. "The automaton named Sekuro. Miroku Kureji. Masaru Yuuto. And Rakujo Reika,. Deliver these personally. Wait for acknowledgment if they're willing to receive it. If not, return to me immediately."

The hawks lifted off through the open window one by one, disappearing into the twilight with silent wingbeats.

Shin watched them go, then turned his attention to preparing the office. This meeting would be different from the one with the genin this morning. There would be no tea ceremony, no carefully arranged refreshments to ease nerves. Mercenaries and missing-nin didn't need their hands held. What they needed was respect, clarity, and—most importantly—fair compensation.

He moved to the sitting area and adjusted it slightly, ensuring there were enough seats but maintaining a professional distance. On the low table, he placed a single decanter of water and several glasses. Simple. Unpretentious. A gesture of hospitality without condescension.

From his desk, he retrieved four thicker folders—dossiers compiled not from academy records, but from intelligence reports, sightings, reputation assessments. He knew enough about each of these shinobi to understand they wouldn't appreciate false familiarity or platitudes. They were professionals. They deserved to be treated as such.

Shin moved to his plant collection and began his evening watering routine, the meditative rhythm helping him organize his thoughts. The mission he was about to propose was dangerous, morally complex, and required people who could operate in the grey spaces where village shinobi couldn't tread. Mercenaries and missing-nin existed in those spaces. It was why he needed them.

The Yurei Orchids received their light misting. The succulents got their careful drops. The bonsai required more attention—a new branch needed adjustment, the wire repositioned to guide its growth without strangling it.

`Much like this situation,` Shin thought. `Guide without controlling. Request without demanding. Compensate fairly without insulting.`

He set down the watering can and washed his hands, drying them on a clean cloth as he returned to his desk. The folders lay waiting. He didn't open them, he'd memorized their contents already. Instead, he focused on the sealed document that would be presented once they all arrived: the mission parameters.

Spoiler: Mission Dossier

Mission Classification: S-Rank
Duration: Maximum three days
Compensation: ¥500,000 initial, additional payment to be negotiated based on findings and risk assessment
Objective: Verify reports of human trafficking operations targeting nomadic families in the Diamond Ocean region. Identify routes, methods, and confirm Baron Twin involvement.

The sun continued its descent outside, the office growing dimmer as evening settled in. Shin snapped his fingers, and small flames appeared in the lanterns around the room—not the harsh brightness of carmot light, but the warm, flickering glow of controlled fire. It created an atmosphere of intimacy without vulnerability, professionalism without coldness.

He settled into his chair behind the desk, folding his hands in his lap, and waited.

Somewhere out there, four hawks were delivering his message. Somewhere out there, four individuals were reading his summons and deciding whether to answer.

Shin had gambled on their professionalism, their skills, and their loyalty to payments. Whether that gamble would pay off remained to be seen.

But if even half of them arrived, if even half agreed to take the mission, it would be worth it. Because the alternative—sending village shinobi into a situation that required operating outside official channels, that required the kind of moral flexibility that missing-nin possessed—would put his own people at risk in ways he couldn't accept.

The Kazekage waited, bathed in lantern light, surrounded by living things he'd tended with his own hands, and prepared to make a deal with devils… because sometimes, devils were the only ones who could walk through hell and come back with the truth.

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Spoiler: Letter

To [the recipient of this message]:

​

You are hereby invited to meet with Chikamatsu Shin, 12th Kazekage of Sunagakure, regarding a matter of mutual interest and potential employment. The matter is extremely time-sensitive. Your expertise has been identified as potentially valuable for a mission of significant importance.​

This is an invitation, not a summons. You are free to decline without consequence.
​

If you choose to accept, please present yourself at Primus Tower, Kazekage's Office, immediately. Compensation for your time will be provided regardless of whether you accept the mission itself.​

Discretion is appreciated but not required.
​

Respectfully,
Chikamatsu Shin
12th Kazekage of Sunagakure no Sato​

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OOC: This is an open invitation for Sekuro, Masaru Yuuto, Kureji, and Rakujo Reika to join this thread. Feel free to enter at your convenience—together or separately, in any order. No strict posting requirements. This is a mission briefing that will lead into a surveillance/intelligence gathering operation regarding the Baron Twins' alleged human trafficking operations.

 

[Sekuro]

Fully charged, his system let out a low -ding- to signify as much.

-Peck peck peck-

The light but firm tapping of a sharp, hard object against his puppet panels alerted his system enough to begin his startup phase.

The cyborg had been roaming the mobile village of Sand for just over a day before managing to find a quiet and secluded slum to recharge in. The chaos of the village's previous attack was still apparent, however, Sekuro had his own issues. He would still need to take care of his voice box issue; however, he would be able to communicate with his external upgrade, Pandora over the interim.

Sekuro's sensors identified the hawk, pecking at him with a letter attached. Its chakra held traces of the Kazekage, so it did not immediately trigger a threat response.

Waking up in a ruined building, sleeping among the rubble and destruction of a fallen building, Sekuro read the letter.

He was being invited.

A nod in the direction of the hawk after reading the letter was all the acknowledgment it needed. A moment later it was flapping its way out of the run-down stone building.

Sekuro was unsure of where the Primus Tower was exactly, however, he would have no issue locating the Kazekage after having recorded a snapshot of him during their last encounter, Sekuro was currently able to locate the man nearly anywhere within the country.

He'd use this ability to fly directly towards the set meeting location.

Running his Symbiosis processes, Sekuro had once more shifted into his Flight Panels (Wind Valk), allowing him to propel himself in the air with his chakra propulsors, the Kazekage was only a short flight away, and it would swiftly become apparent which building was the Primus Tower.

Arriving through an open windo, the cyborg would land, reverting his chakra propulsors back into feet and hands as he made contact with the floor of the office.

Surrounded by plants was the man he'd recently crossed fists with.

The Kazekage.

Still without proper speaking equipment, Sekuro would allow Pandora to speak for him.

A short burst of white noise would fill the room temporarily, followed swiftly by silence. Without appearing, the voice of a child would be heard next.

Invitation received. Presence request acknowledged.

Between the two were several folders and documents, along with a container of water and several cups.

It would seem he was not the only one invited to this party.

[mft]
400+

Spoiler

 

[Rakujo Reika]

The scratch of charcoal against paper was the only sound she allowed herself.

Reika sat cross-legged atop a low stone rise carved into the cavernous edge of the city, her sketchbook balanced on one knee as she worked. The way the lanternlight and mirrored crystals scattered along the walls caught the angles of the sandstone had drawn her here—soft illumination spilling across rough surfaces, shadows stretching and overlapping in ways that felt almost intentional. She wasn’t trying to capture every detail. Just the balance. The quiet geometry of the place.

A shadow passed over the page. She paused mid-stroke, red eyes lifting as a desert hawk descended from one of the upper ventilation shafts, wings folding neatly as it landed nearby. Its posture was alert but controlled. Reika closed the sketchbook without haste, sliding the charcoal into the fold before standing. She approached the hawk with her hands visible and accepted the scroll from its leg. The crimson seal told her enough.

She read the letter in silence, the ambient hum of the city carrying faintly through the stone beneath her feet. An invitation. Not a summons. Payment regardless of her answer. Her thumb traced the edge of the parchment once before sliding it into one of her pouches. “You can go back,” she said quietly. “I’ll hear him out.”

The hawk launched upward again, disappearing into the shadows above. Reika returned to the stone ledge and reopened her sketchbook. She added a single, darker line where the shadow had fallen moments before, then closed it again. Whatever calm the drawing had given her, she set it aside without lingering.

After a little while she arrived at Primus Tower without announcement. The office greeted her with lantern light and greenery, a space curated for conversation rather than control. Reika paused briefly at the threshold, took it in, then stepped inside. “Thanks for the invitation,” Reika said evenly as she entered, inclining her head once. She took one of the seats without waiting to be directed, posture relaxed but attentive. Four dossiers lay on the table between them. After a moment, she reached for one. She didn’t open it. Instead, she turned it in her hands, feeling the weight of it, the firmness of the binding, the density of the paper within. Her thumb rested along the edge of the cover, holding it closed. “I’ll read it,” Reika said calmly, eyes lifting back to Shin. “Just not yet.”

She set the dossier down beside her, untouched. She wasn't the only one who had been summoned, looking over at the other person besides her and Shin. Nodding towards him as her greeting towards him before resting her eyes back on Shin.

 

[Kureji]

Kureji didn't really have much planned today. Heck, the past couple of days have been pretty busy for him. If anything, he was going to use this day to chillax and possibly just play some music to pass the time. He was inside of his hotel room as he played his guitar absentmindedly. How the few days that have passed have been full for him and even to some extent a lot.

First was Glowy Dude. He has it out for the Baron Twins cuz they attacked this Village. Kurjei himself had it out for them cuz of the trafficking operation that they are doing. They made a deal to focus on getting rid of these guys and saving the people turned slaves. Then there was Kyuji. She is an interesting person. Someone that had history with his father who wasn't exactly on good terms with Akkuma. Kureji had made a mental note of possible ally in them even though he spilled the beans to them that he is a missing ninja and that they seemed completely fine with it. Then comes Machoman. They had duked it out and ended in a stalemate. Kureji would laugh to himself, thinking of if the fight would have just went on forever. But why was his name Machoman and what does he mean that he talks to a Who? Then there was Brother. Okay, he doesn't know the man's name but he seems chill. Four arms and whatnot. It kinda just felt right calling him Brother. And finally there's Kohana. The rock star would smile faintly to himself just thinking about her. She just has that effect on him.

Whilst he was daydreaming, he heard a knock at the window to his hotel. He raised his eyebrows as he knew he was on the fifth floor. "Hm?" He opened the window for a hawk to fly in and land on his bed with a letter on its leg. He would cock his head to the side and instantly petted the hawk instead of grabbing the letter. After a few seconds of petting the hawk, he took the letter and read it. He doesn't remember who exactly Shin is, just that Kohana had talked about him a time or two, calling him the current Kazekage. But the only one he was aware of was Glowy Dude. Did he lie to Kureji and his name is actually Shin the whole time???

Either way, it seemed that he was needed for his expertise. He would laugh about it. The only real expertise Kureji has is that he causes chaos. But he also seen that the letter had named him Mirokou Kureji. He sighed. Yeah, he's still technically part of the clan since he never really denounced being part of it nor has he denounced being the son of Akkuma. Half of him didn't want to even show up just for that. But as he put his hands into his pockets he has been reminded that his own funds is running low. "Dammit. Well... If Glowy Dude is Shin, then I did tell him that I would go out and give those twin barons or whatever hell." He patted the hawk softly on its head and smiled at it as he would walk over to the window and waving at it before turning and walking out.

Gravity took hold of the missing ninja, but his fingers glided on the surface of the side of the building, chakra focused on his fingertips as he would slide down the side of the building like a badass. Going through the Kazekage tower, none of the guards really stopped him despite the aura of chaotic energies that he gives off, most likely orders to let him past to talk to the Kazekage. He would walk in to set his eyes on Glowy Dude. So he is Shin. The more you know. His eyes scanned around the room on two other people. One looked like a cool robot, just by first looks, he could see that there were fine details and time made for those details. As for the second person...

Kureji's face turned red as he would yell out, "AH!! AH!!! Umbrella lady!! Back!" The rock star would jump back. He would sit in the furthest seat away from her as he would look away from her. He would take a deep breath then say, "I'll work with ya. But don't get any weird ideas around me." He would not make eye contact but then looked over at the man or robot. "You look cool. Are you like all metal? Cuz that'd be so metal if you were." The second time he used the word metal would suggest that it would be used more as an expression rather than an item. He would lean back in his chair but make an effort to not look at Umbrella Lady.

(one edit made to fix spacing between two words)

 

[Masaru Yuuto]

The heavy sliding doors of the Kazekage’s office groaned open, admitting a pair that seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

First came the man. Yuuto walked with a heavy, measured gait, his four arms folded in pairs across his chest. His transformation had progressed significantly since his days in the Abyss. He was no longer the "regular" shinobi he had once been. Now, he was a living testament to Curse Life Sculpting, a nightmare of twisted biology and overwhelming presence.

Close at his heel was the beast.

The simian chimera, once a raging monster named Kento, followed with a newfound, eerie discipline. It moved with a predator's grace, though the visual was somewhat undercut by the heavy, reinforced armored pants Yuuto had spent the morning fitting onto the creature’s lower half.

Tennō, as he was now known, huffed a breath of hot air, his six eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and simmering instinct.

Yuuto stepped further into the amber-lit room, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group. He didn't offer a traditional bow. His relationship with Shin was built on a different kind of foundation.

"Sorry if we’re late," Yuuto said, his voice a gravelly rumble. "Took a bit of time to get the big guy into his new gear. He’s not exactly a fan of zippers."

He gestured vaguely to Tennō, who let out a low, vibrating grunt as if in agreement.

Yuuto’s eyes shifted, landing first on the figure of Sekuro. He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. He didn't recognize the man, but the craftsmanship was undeniable.

Another human puppet? He wondered if this was the new fashion in the world he’d been absent from for so long. It seemed like everyone was trading skin for steel and wood these days. Little did he know, he was looking at the very man he was supposed to be hunting. To Yuuto, this was just another stranger in a room full of them.

Oddly enough, for some reason Tennō stared at the Human Puppet with piqued interest. The corners of its simian lips spread to reveal a toothy smirk. Did the monkey .... know him?

Then, there was the woman. Reika. She looked like she belonged in a boardroom, not a battlefield, yet the way she held her dossier suggested a hidden edge. He made a mental note of her presence but didn't linger.

Finally, his eyes found the silver-haired rocker.

Kureji looked like he was vibrating in his seat, desperately trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the "Umbrella Lady."

Yuuto felt a flicker of genuine amusement. He actually liked this airhead.

"Hey, Brother," Yuuto called out, a rough smirk playing on his lips. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or maybe just a girl. I thought you were supposed to be a rockstar?"

Without waiting for an answer, Yuuto moved toward the seating area. Seeing Kureji huddled at the far end of the table, Yuuto decided to help his "brother" out in his own way.

He nudged Tennō toward the space between Kureji and Reika. The massive, six-eyed beast climbed into the area with a heavy thud, its armored pants clanking against the floorboards. It sat down right next to Kureji, its large shoulder nearly brushing against the musician.

Yuuto, meanwhile, took the seat next to Reika. He sat with a casual, almost sprawling posture, his four arms finding places to rest on the table or his lap.

He looked around the room once more, taking in the full picture. The cyborg. The businesswoman. The chaotic musician. Himself and his tamed monster. They were a rag-tag collection of specialists. A group of individuals who existed on the fringes, discarded by polite society but possessed of the kind of lethal utility that a Kage apparently found necessary.

It was like a gathering of expendable tools, pulled from the bottom of the chest for a job too dirty for anyone else to touch.

What kind of hell did you find, Shin? Yuuto thought, his luminous eyes settling on the Kazekage. That you’d need a collection of devils like us to walk through it?

He leaned back, his eyes steady as he awaited the official briefing. "Well, I’m here for the compensation, but I’ll stay for the story," Yuuto said, addressing Shin directly.

Tennō let out another low rumble, his six eyes briefly fixating on the water decanter on the table before he looked back at Kureji, seemingly wondering if the rocker had any snacks.

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

They arrived in fragments, each entrance a small revelation of character.

Sekuro came through the window with mechanical precision, his transformation from flight configuration to humanoid form fluid and efficient. The white noise followed by the child's voice announcing his arrival made the Yurei Orchids shiver slightly before settling.

Shin inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for coming, Sekuro."

Reika entered through the door with measured calm, her red eyes taking in the office with what appeared to be artistic appreciation. She took a dossier but left it unopened beside her—an interesting display of patience and control.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation," Shin said. "We'll begin once everyone has arrived."

Kureji's entrance was considerably more chaotic. The silver-haired musician burst in with an intense energy—though his reaction to Reika and subsequent retreat to the furthest available seat while complimenting Sekuro's metallic construction suggested there were stories Shin hadn't been told.

The final arrival carried the most presence. Yuuto entered with his four-armed form moving with heavy confidence, followed by Tennō—the six-eyed simian chimera now wearing armored pants. The beast positioned itself strategically between Kureji and Reika while Yuuto took his seat with casual authority.

Shin's lips quirked upward slightly at the sight. "You're right on time, Yuuto."

What a collection they made. An automaton. A composed businesswoman. A chaotic musician. A four-armed curse-sculptor and his chimera companion. Missing-nin, mercenaries, and individuals who existed in the grey spaces where village shinobi couldn't tread.

Exactly what he needed.

Shin moved to stand near the head of the seating area, the lantern light casting his shadow long across the floor. The Yurei Orchids behind him leaned slightly toward his presence—a small detail marking him as their clan's once Overseer.

"First, let me thank all of you for responding to my invitation," Shin began, his voice carrying calm authority. "I know this is unusual—a Kazekage directly employing individuals who exist outside traditional village structure. But the situation we're facing requires exactly that kind of flexibility."

He picked up the sealed mission dossier from the low table, holding it so everyone could see the crimson wax seal.

"Before I explain what I'm asking of you, I want to establish something clearly: you are here by invitation, not summons. Everything I'm about to share is confidential, but you are free to refuse without consequence. Your time will be compensated regardless of your decision."

Shin broke the seal and unrolled the document, his luminous blue eyes scanning the contents he'd already memorized before looking up at the assembled group.

"Three days ago, Sunagakure was attacked by mercenary forces hired by entities known as the Baron Twins—oil lords—who have been consolidating power through violence and human trafficking. The attack on our village was designed to collapse our tunnel systems and suffocate our entire population underground."

He let that sink in for a moment. Genocide. Not conquest, not subjugation—extinction.

"We repelled the attack, but at significant cost. Twenty-three dead. Twenty-seven wounded. And during interrogation of captured forces, we learned the location of their primary operation: the Golden Sanctuary in the Diamond Ocean. A place disguised as a merchant paradise but functioning as a hub for forced labor and human trafficking."

Shin set the dossier on the table and began to pace slowly, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Here's where it gets complicated. The Baron Twins operate with enough legitimate business facade that direct military action by Sunagakure would create diplomatic incidents we can't afford—right now. We're still rebuilding from the attack. We can't be seen invading Soon's Haven territory without ironclad evidence of their crimes."

He stopped and turned to face them directly.

"That's where you come in. This is an A-rank mission—intelligence gathering and surveillance of the Golden Sanctuary with high probability of combat. Your objectives are threefold:"

Shin raised one finger.

"First: Confirm the trafficking operation. We need visual confirmation, documentation if possible. Names, faces, routes, numbers. Evidence that will hold up under international scrutiny."

A second finger.

"Second: Identify key personnel. The Baron Twins themselves if possible, but more importantly their lieutenants, enforcers, and anyone else running the operation. We need to know the structure."

A third finger.

"Third: Assess their military capabilities. Troop numbers, defensive installations, response protocols. If it comes to eventual military action, we need to know what we're walking into."

He lowered his hand and his voice took on a harder edge.

"Now, the complications. The Baron Twins employ skilled mercenaries and missing-nin—some of whom may be as capable as anyone in this room. The Golden Sanctuary is heavily fortified and operates under the protection of Soon's Haven's corrupt government. You will be operating without official Sunagakure support. If you're captured, we cannot publicly acknowledge your mission."

Shin's blue eyes moved across each face in turn.

"You will be disavowed. That's the reality of this work."

He let the weight of that statement settle before continuing.

"However, you will be compensated appropriately for an A-rank mission with hazard multipliers. Additionally, any intelligence you gather that leads to the liberation of trafficking victims will carry substantial bonuses. And should things go sideways—should you need emergency extraction—I will personally ensure you get out, politics be damned."

That last part wasn't in the official mission parameters. But Shin meant it. He wouldn't send people into hell and abandon them there.

"The mission timeline is not flexible. You won't have access to Sunagakure's intelligence on the Baron Twins' operations, supply requisitions, nor coordination support from my office. The execution is entirely in your hands. You're professionals—I'm not going to tell you how to how you accomplish the objectives, but you have three days before we plan on making our move. Be back by then."

Shin moved back to the table and poured himself a glass of water, taking a measured sip before setting it down.

"Questions? Concerns? Now is the time to voice them. And if anyone wants to walk away, the door is open. No judgment, no consequences. This is dangerous work that requires operating in moral grey areas. I won't ask anyone to do it against their conscience."

He leaned against the edge of his desk, arms crossed loosely, and waited. The lantern light flickered slightly as evening deepened outside, casting dancing shadows across the assembled group.

Four individuals. Four different motivations. Four different skill sets.

Would they take the job? Would they walk away?

Shin had made his pitch. Now came the harder part, seeing who would step into the darkness with him.

"One more thing," Shin added, his voice quieter but no less intense. "The people being trafficked through the Golden Sanctuary aren't abstractions. They're not statistics. They're families torn apart, children sold into slavery, lives destroyed for profit. The Baron Twins are building their empire on human suffering."

His hands tightened slightly where they rested against the desk.

"I'm asking you to walk into hell... but—I'm asking because those people can't walk out on their own. And right now, you four are the only ones who can reach them without triggering a war Sunagakure isn't ready to fight."

The Kazekage fell silent, letting his words hang in the air alongside the unspoken question:

Will you help me?

 

[Rakujo Reika]

Reika had remained still as Shin spoke. Not passive. Contained. The kind of composure built from years of knowing when to hold yourself together because letting go would only make things worse. Her red eyes followed him without interruption, the unopened dossier resting beside her hand like a deliberate delay.

When Shin finished, the silence that followed was measured. Expectant. Reika exhaled once, slow and controlled, then reached for the dossier. She opened it. Her eyes moved steadily at first, mission classification, duration, compensation. High risk. Short window. The kind of work that didn’t pretend to be clean. Then she reached the section detailing targets. Routes. Methods. Disguises. Her reading slowed. A faint tightening appeared at the corner of her eyes.

Nomadic populations identified as primary targets. Her fingers curled against the paper. The air changed.

At first, it was subtle, like standing too close to stone that had been warmed all day. Dry. Easy to dismiss. But as Reika drew in a breath and let it out through her nose, the warmth deepened, spreading outward from her in a restrained but unmistakable wave.

Her red eyes lifted from the page. And this time, they glowed. Not flaring. Not wild. Just lit like embers exposed beneath ash. The lanternlight in the office suddenly felt inadequate, the heat pressing close, dense and uncomfortable, as if the room had been pulled nearer to a sealed furnace. Chakra stirred beneath her skin, contained by discipline rather than calm. As Shin’s earlier words replayed in her mind—mercenaries, tunnel collapses, suffocation—another phrase echoed unbidden:

Too late.

She had heard it before. After the counting stopped. After the dust settled. Reika closed the dossier. The sound of it meeting the table was controlled, but firm.

“They chose people who move because staying still gets them erased,” she said, voice low and even, edged with something sharper now. “Because no one notices quickly when they disappear.”

The heat intensified, not explosive, but oppressive. The glow in her eyes held steady, casting faint reflections against the polished surface of the table.

“That isn’t strategy,” Reika continued. “That’s predation.”

She leaned back slightly, but the movement didn’t lessen the pressure. If anything, it spread it; her presence radiating controlled heat into the space, making it impossible to forget that something dangerous was being deliberately restrained. “I won’t pretend this is just another contract,” she said flatly. “And I won’t treat it like one.” Her hand remained near the dossier, not opening it again, not pushing it away. Ownership without indulgence.

“I’m not walking out,” Reika finished.

Not a question. Not a promise. A fact. She fell silent for a moment, eyes still glowing faintly, the air around her heavy with contained heat and unresolved consequence, making it clear that whatever came next, this mission had already crossed from professional into personal. “I don’t need it framed for me,” Reika said quietly once he finished. Her voice wasn’t sharp, but it carried weight. “I’ve seen what that kind of empire leaves behind. It doesn’t just break people, it teaches the survivors to disappear.” Her gaze stayed on Shin, steady and unblinking. “Hell isn’t the part that concerns me,” she continued. “It’s walking back out and pretending what we saw stays there.”

A pause. Deliberate.

“But you’re right about one thing,” Reika said. “Those people can’t leave on their own. And war doesn’t help them if it buries them under politics first.” She leaned forward slightly, forearms resting on her knees now, engaged, present, no longer distant. “If I walk into that place,” she added, voice low and absolute, “it won’t be because I enjoy this kind of work. It’ll be because someone has to go where witnesses are inconvenient.”

She didn’t say yes.

She didn’t need to.

Her eyes said enough.

[MFT - 614]

 

[Kureji]

Kureji would calm down and listen to what Shin had to say. He already knew about most of what he had to say. He of course was the person that got the information about Golden Sanctuary. He threw the guy that had given him the information into the maws of a sandworm. But with what Shin was telling him seemed nearly a break in the deal that they had. Instead of letting him just do what he wants, he has to only do recon. He gritted his teeth as chaotic energies would flare up for a mere second. Any whom had been looking at him would see the chair that he was in would change in its appearance into that of an electric chair and then back to a normal chair.

Yuuto and Shin, whom both have experienced feeling his chaotic energies before would realize that this is different from that of his more fun side. Shin especially would be able to feel that this would be the same type of energies that had surrounded Kureji when he had first learned about the human trafficking thing along with kicking the guy into the mouth of the sandworms. This was not Kureji's normal happy go lucky self.

"Intelligence gathering and surveillance with high possibility of combat eh...? Hehe..." He chuckled but his tone and facial features were totally different than that of what everyone is used to of his friendly manner.

"Imma be real with you. I ain't built for this typa stuff unless it is to cause chaos to the highest degree. And I really want to let loose if it means freeing them people." He would stare at Shin in his eyes, studying him. "And unlike the rest of these guys." He would gesture to everyone else, "I've done fought these guys before. I'm pretty sure if I walk into their stronghold they would be highly suspicious especially since they probably know already that I worked with ya'll." Taking a deep breath, he would continue, "Unless they think of using me for their own means, I have the most connections to Sand, despite you say that Sand will not acknowledge the mission existing and my own involvement. You, yourself have proven to find much about me and who I once was here."

He would shift in his chair. "I'll do this mission and fake it unless they decide to push me past the point of caring. That is... Unless you have a better idea for me." The rock star would then close his statement with, "Either way. I want to do what is necessary to save those people and free them from what they are being subjected to right now."

 

[Sekuro]

[Analyzing_
...
Processing ]

As the Kazekage explained the situation, Sekuro listened and recorded the events as they unfolded. Others had joined the requitement scheme and to Sekuro's surprise, a few of them he'd seen just as he entered the village proper recently. As they all entered and settled, Sekuro compiled his opinions, waiting for the proper time to voice his concerns.

In truth, the explanation for the mission was of no concern to Sekuro. He was in need of funds to further upgrade his systems list, and the proposed mission paid a hefty sum, and based on what Sekuro compiled, it was primarily recognizance based. This was of particular note to Sekuro because his skills in that particular area were of exceptional caliber. The added component of combat only served to sweeten the deal as Sekuros chakra circuits were still brimming with excitement at fighting against particularly strong opponents. And these opponents came with no moral hangups? For money?

The computation was easy.

He would accept the mission as presented. The chakra signatures within the room were of notable intensity, each briming with their own flare, Sekuro could tell their strength was formidable. They would probably be valuable allies in the mission ahead should they accept the terms presented by the Kazekage. Sekuro waited until there was a pause before opening his mouth.

-White Noise-

Unpleasant noise would fill the room, sharp and without human words, Sekuro had not yet found a sufficient engineer to repair his voice box, and now with this mission ahead of them and a timed one at that, he may still be unable to do so. So Pandora would translate.

This unit is capable of capturing, recording and relaying messages, flight, and long-distance visual reconnaissance capabilities. However, this unit is concerned about the stealth capabilities of the other members of this mission.

Should stealth be necessary, the large simian may prove to be a hinderance. Though the potential to be an effective lure is not without it's own value." The voice that followed was that of a young girl. It did not fit the body it came from but as Sekuro's voice box was damaged, he only had the auxiliary voice of Pandora to speak in his place. Sekuro would look directly at the monkey as Pandora spoke in his place. Deadpan and unbothered by whatever antics or presumptions the creature may have had. Then back to the Kage.

I've seen it's combat capabilities firsthand against your Saunan Shinobi. Perhaps unleashing it in the direction of the Saunan enemies would prove to be an effective strategy.

A visual display of the events of the other night would appear to broadcast upon the table where the dossier's sat being chakra broadcast from Sekuro's eyes.

A holographic display of the events from the othe night showcasing Sekuro's point of view of how he'd seen both Yuuto, the monkey companion, and Kureji along with the Saunan shinobi engaging with them. As the video played, more white noise would play for a moment, then once again, translated by the disembodied voice of a little girl:

"For operational security and efficiency, we should establish if the present parties are able to control themselves during a sensitive matter such as this." Pandora's voice concluded as the video of the other night concluded. Sekuro had flown off and the recording cut out

[563mft]

ooc: displayed Snapshot from this thread. 2/4 slots full.

 

[Masaru Yuuto]

Yuuto remained silent as Shin spoke. He broke the task down mentally, connecting the dots between the Baron Twins, the Golden Sanctuary, and the political minefield they were being asked to walk through. Beside him, Tennō tried his best to stay attentive. However, the simian had a chronic case of wandering eye syndrome. He kept casting snarky, sidelong glances at Sekuro precisely when Shin spoke about the dangers of the mission.

Yuuto reached out and flicked Tennō hard on the side of his head. The monkey grumbled under his breath, rubbing the spot with a massive hand, but he finally settled his gaze forward. Reika spoke next. Yuuto listened to her with a quiet intensity. Her words were deliberate, her intentions rooted in a sense of honor that bordered on nobility. She sounded like the type who would throw her life away to shield the little guy. It reminded him of his younger days, before the world had carved its lessons into his skin. He gave her a small, respectful nod of approval.

Then there was Kureji. Yuuto knew the rocker wasn't the most organized or subtle tool in the shed, but they had vibed instantly. Being around Kureji was like being trapped in a gentle Genjutsu that lowered your guard. He thought of his "brother’s" ability to warp reality and smiled. Tennō seemed to share the sentiment, though the simian was mostly staring at Kureji’s pockets, clearly hoping for snacks.

Before Yuuto could offer his own response, the room filled with the grinding of gears and that familiar, mechanical clatter. His head turned toward the human puppet as a ghastly, child-like voice filled the air. "A cursed thing" spoke on behalf of the contraption, claiming that "this unit" was concerned about the group's stealth capabilities. To drive the point home, the cyborg decided to pay Tennō back for the staring by projecting a video of the incident in the slums.

Childish, Yuuto thought.

He rolled his eyes as Tennō began to hoot with laughter at the recording. The beast seemed more amused than offended that it had outmaneuvered the Sunan shinobi. Yuuto looked at the cyborg, noting the lack of presence and the irony of its broken voice box. He knew this being, at least he was sure, he did. He let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Wait, wait. You mean to tell me that you went and got yourself cursed? Haha! The irony is rich." Yuuto leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Sekuro’s sensors. "A mute thing from Moon Country, playing cameraman from the rafters while people bleed. Is cowardice part of your programming, or did you just pick it up on the way here?"

He let the silence linger for a moment. He didn't want to derail Shin’s meeting with a petty tit-for-tat, but he wasn't about to let the insult stand. "Look, I won't judge you for whatever cursed thing you picked up. Look at me, for Raiden's sake." Yuuto stood up, gesturing to his own four-armed, scarred physique.

"You're an unknown variable with a broken voice box and a coward's record. I won't have a machine deciding my worth when it hasn't even found its own identity yet." He didn't have emotion behind this line, pure analysis. He had set the stage, as puppeteers do. He patted Tennō on the head to calm the beast's chuckling.

"His outrage was my mistake, sure. But next time you decide to perform Snitch-no-jutsu, make sure you stay for the end of the show."

Yuuto looked back at Shin. "I already paid the people in those slums for the trouble. I'm helping them fix that building, too. Better craftsmanship than the garbage they had before. On top of that, I contained the spectacle with my arena of flames. I kept this guy from raging out and I healed the wounded. I do apologize, I didn't intend to wake him up like this."

"However it's time I tell you my truth." Yuuto began to weave hand seals. Two of his hands moved with blinding speed while a third was held up in a defensive, non-hostile gesture to keep the room calm.

Shadows began to swirl around his body, clinging to his frame like living ink. He performed the Shadow Garb jutsu, a high-level technique that few outside of the Anbu elite could replicate. With a flick of a fourth hand, he released two headbands from a hidden compartment. They clattered onto the table. One bore the mark of Kumogakure; the other, the hidden leaf of Konoha.

"My name is Masaru Yuuto. I was a Medical Captain and an Anbu Sennin for both Kumogakure and Konoha." The shadows rippled across his skin. "I was exiled from my home because of weak men who clung to false ideals while kowtowing to fear. I watched Raikages die to their own folly. I have survived wars where the lives of my brethren were snuffed out, all for the delusions of the "strong"." Tennō winced at the mention of the wars. The simian’s genetic memory still carried the sting of the Bear Marsh War where it had originally fallen.

"I abandoned Konoha because, again, great men fell to the collusion of the weak. The flames of betrayal burned that village before I ever could." Yuuto released the shadows and paced toward Shin’s desk. "I've walked around this village for two days. I've seen demon-kin roaming freely. I've seen advancements in Jutsu that would make other villages weep. Most importantly, I’ve seen a plan. I've seen a structure that doesn't bow to weakness. I hope my assessment is correct."He stopped before Shin. There was no threat in his gait, only the weight of a man who had seen too much. Yuuto extended his hand toward the Kazekage.

"Based on what I have seen, I would wager to say you're shrewd. Pragmatic. I think you and I can get along. What do you say?"

He waited, leaving the hand extended for a handshake or a denial.

"Apologies for the display. I didn't expect to be put on trial so soon. However, let me make it clear: I will help Sunagakure. These are the ancestral lands of my clan. How could I stand by and watch?" He turned back to the group, including the cyborg. He activated Snapshot, his eyes flickering as he burned their images into his memory.

"Taking a record of something is simple. It's child's play for people of our caliber. Let's not confuse surveillance with capability." Yuuto sat back down next to Tennō, his posture relaxed once more.

"We would benefit from a decisive operations manager. A strategist who can keep us all in line and ensure we have clear objectives. A handler, if you will."

He glanced at the others. "I would suggest leading the operation myself. But let's be honest: we don't know each other yet. Command, order, and trust are things that take time to build." He looked at Shin expectantly. Honeyed words, layered with the belief of truth.

"So, Lord Kazekage, any way we can make that happen? Do you have someone who can breach the chaotic sands with us and keep this circus moving in the same direction?" He understood Shin's logic, they couldn't have anyone tied from Sunagakure in the crosshairs, however in a land that was foreign, they'd need someone who could truly be a dedicated guide. No shade to his brother, but Kureji had already made it clear that he wasn't that person.

[MFT]

Spoiler: OOC:

Performed Talk-no-Jutsu
Performed Shadow Garb [Master Rank]
Performed Snapshot [Master Rank] 1/4 Slots Used