The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy! Day 1]

[Sunaku Harupia]

Blindsided...again...though this time, he was pretty sure that everyone else felt the same way... that or he was simply grossly uninformed. He was still resting from the battle with Magentica, spending some time in his family home...and then darkness, an unknown figure spewing gibberish...and then it happened. An explosion which managed to rock the household of the Sunaku...they could see, or rather not see the Kazekage Tower being demolished in one second. There was a shocked silence as the men finished speaking, and then of course, chaos, more confusion, panic. His father flying into a rage, calling for everyone in the household. Obviously no contact with the outside, since the Kage Tower was knocked down most likely alongside the dispatch center. Other people of his clan were outside, god knew what else did these maniacs do...and Haru simply waited till he could finally go out to search. Of course his parents were hard to conceive, they didn’t know what was going on, what was waiting out there. Still, regardless of his role in the family, Haru had the biggest chance of holding out in whatever chaos might be outside. So he was amongst the few sent out to gather the rest of the Sunaku he could find, and just see what the situation was outside.

He bolted out of the compound in a blitz, almost in a half conscious daze. Again, something like this happened. Some kind of force came into the village, with no one seeing, no one having a clue... and they instantly took over control. Just like that. No traces, no signs, nothing. Was this some kind of mystical force again, or was this such a deeply rooted inside job that no one had a clue? It didn’t make sense...He could feel himself panting heavily, until he found himself in the middle of the chaos in the desert crown. Looters, muggers, everything, houses being burned down...just how long did they deliberate in his house? Or just how little time did people need to devolve into such mindless beasts?

Haru took a deep breath, though he could feel the blood in hi boiling. Seeing all these. Things happening around him...If he wanted, he could make the sand sink right under these savages feet...and yet, he rebred the words of the damn smoker...they were being watched... he was probably being watched to. He needed...he needed to stay calm, focus. He needed to find someone...anyone from his clan who was lost in the chaos...his companions, friends... Right now he was alone in the middle of this chaos, dressed in a plain shirt and pants, his long hair flowing unkept. He rushed out so fast he didn’t have time for pretty much anything...Still, if he were inside his home, hiding away from all this, it would be even more pointless...at least here he could search, see, think...they would need some sort of plan...but right now, he was to stumped and confused to see any possible solution. All this chaos and...filth...it was assaulting his senses. But he was still looking for something concert, tangible...he just hoped he would find it soon.

Mft, Wc= 519

 

[Uri]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Uri was speeding through the Crown, moving from building to building, balcony to balcony, passing by attacks on innocents and fellow shinobi alike. They were small things, but would not help address anything. In all of this hellish confusion, there needed to be a larger gathering and he found himself oddly alone. He had run into a shake Yume, but she was tunneling hard on her search for the Steward. A fruitless search in his eyes considering the moment at hand was far more precious than chasing after ghosts and clues of someone unseen. Their attackers were relying on the Sunan shinobi to hold no presence during this time and it was working. Chaos had overtaken the streets and people hid behind their doors and inside their compounds deliberating their next move. Some clans had sent out aid, but did so under a personal banner and not that of Sunan forces. The Ikoji in their white robes with their spiritual healing had made it to the tower in force, but the Inuzuka, the Uchiha, the Toraono remained largely unseen despite being powerful entities.

Their attackers were making good decisions, informed ones based on their intelligence. When completely invisible to the eye, unable to assess the threat the Sunan forces remained scattered and lost, especially without proper leadership. The timing of the attack had been perfect.

Pulling up a tattered, dark brown cloak that concealed all his features and a pair of goggles to disguise his eyes beneath reflective lens, he dropped into the street and the impact sent a rippling wave through the stone street. Numerous looters flew high into the air, suspended unable to react and metal lances jumped up from the ground and trapped them in a pointy metal deathtrap. If they moved or struggled, they would pierce vital arteries and bleed out. A handful more of bandits exited nearby buildings and grouped up in an attempt to halt his movement. They yelled and charged at him in a brave maneuver, but common thugs were no match for shinobi. Meeting them head on, he ran, keeping his form low to the ground and as he was a few meters out, he dragged his hand along the street and gleaming obsidian shards grew beneath his feet, eventually lifting him up high into the air and onto the back of a mighty stone dragon. Its giant body plowed through the formation and crushed any who got caught up on its impossibly hard serpentine form. Just as it had been summoned, it dove back into the ground and Uri was running once again on the ground. Behind him lay a scene of blood, gore, and pointy objects.

A quick inspection and he found himself on the same intersection he often visited. The cafe he had taken Sousuke too on more than one occasion and tons others. That's when Uri's tinted sight caught the familiar face of Sunaku clan's own artist extraordinaire, Harupia. While Uri had never spent any extended time with the man, he knew of him through Sousuke and the handful of social events he had attended. A shinobi prisoner jumped down, a jet stream of flame hissing by as the chuunin side-stepped it and retaliated with the rapid-formation of a papercraft hammer that was nearly twice his size. The giant origami piece slammed his assailant into a nearby building and through it as if it had been a ball hit by a bat. A flurry of papers fluttered about as the weapon broke apart and Uri waved to his allie and moved into the remnants of a down-trodden cafe, using the over-hanging awning and overturned tables for cover.

"Lets see if he has anything useful to pass along."<i></i>

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Things were going...as well as they could go, in this situation at least. Or perhaps it was barely enough for it to be good. He managed to find a few members of the clan not too far off from their compound who were returning on their own. They lead them further down the chaos to some other's. While taken of guard, at least some of the people were still capable enough to fend for themselves, as he saw at least a few other Shinobi defending themselves against the rucks. Still, it was mostly based on self-defense, or simply defending a small group near them...they were completely blindsided and rattled, that was certain...but how else could it be from such a sudden attack?

Haru moved further into the crown, passing more and less familiar faces. He saw other Sunaku man and women fending for themselves, concerned about him staying outside. Some were less lucky, overwhelmed by the amount of looters and thugs around them. Still, a few simple shurikens of sand were enough of a distraction for them to get on their feet and fend of the group quickly enough. A brief exchange of thanks, and ushering him to come back along with them. But he...he knew he couldn’t. Seeing all this ... all these civilians, even more confused and terrified for their lives. An elderly couple who ran a jewelry store, a well of family, all being rounded up by some thugs...all of them suddenly in the middle of hell.

He knew it was rash, but his actions were more instinctive then anything. Just a few days ago he promised to protect his village better...and now here he was. The looters who were attempting to round up the people found themselves under a relentless assault. One after another, solid clumps of sand were sent flying, striking at them with immense force, at the head, at the stomach. They were all bludgeon cluster's... he didn’t know these people, whether they were looting because of lacking money before? Vengeance against the rich? Were they simply criminals...he wasn’t sure. But he would try his best to subdue them... and if they wouldn’t back of, then there were the ones throwing their life away.

The assault was interrupted as a burst of flame shot up nearby, followed swiftly by a men flying through a wall of a building. The shock of that attack combined with the previous assault sent the larger group of looters running (at least those conscious by now). Another round of thanks, and please to move on...but the Sunaku was focused on what he just saw. The men using flames was dispatched...by paper. He lately saw one person using the fragile material as a destructive weapon... and while he couldn’t be sure if the waving figure was truly him, nor was he truly acquainted with the Shinobi, right now, it was more than he could really bargain for.

Without thinking much, he asked the civilians near him to head towards the Sunaku headquarters, staying together for more protection, after which he stomped the ground in a swift motion, kicking up a huge cloud of sand around the area. The Sandstorm Veil, often times an effective way to conceal you position. He hoped that the eyes possible watching him now didn’t like sand in their eyes. As the sandy smoke screen lingered, he moved towards the building he saw the other Shinobi go into, trying his best to conceal himself as he entered.

Mft, Wc= 581

 

[Uri]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Uri heard the footsteps enter into the establishment and he immediately hooked the unseen stranger by the cuff of their robes and dragged them around the corner, holding a....spoon? In his scramble, it had been all he could get his hands on. Luckily, he had seized the Sunaku clansman and didn't need to spoon anyone to death on that day. Leaning back onto his heels, he sat crouched in front of Harupia and undid the wrap concealing his facial features. The tufts of white hair were sticking out at all kind of odd directions from being contained in such a manner; ninja hat hair.

Steady hands reached into the folds of his coat and retrieved a small cardboard box that had pink and red detailings on it. Closer inspection would reveal it to be a box of strawberry pocky. Uri took a stick and stuck it between his lips, making it appear as if an action hero smoking a cigarette, but his awkward demeanor, goofy smile, and general silly nature couldn't pull it off as well as he thought he did in his head. Tilting the box towards Haru, he offered him a stick, "Good to see a familiar face. Sunaku Harupia, right? I've seen you around a lot at some of the village gatherings. Sousukkun speaks highly of you."<i></i> Free hand extended outward, he offered the man a handshake. This was their first proper introduction after all. "I'm Kuroda Uri, it's a pleasure. Just wish we could have met formally under better circumstances."<i></i>

There was a holler and a screech that echoed somewhere out in the distance.

"What's the good word, how's your clan fairing? I have barely seen anyone else since this all started. It's like everyone just fell off the grid, and not in the sneaky ninja-way either. Like, no one is talking, everyone is panicking."<i></i>

Uri had been through the lesser areas of Suna making sure his family was taken care of, but from there he proceeded to move through the village and made no effort in hiding his presence as he battled his way from point to point looking for other ninja. Harupia had been the first he had seen since Yume, making for a grand total of two.

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

The spoon...it has been many years since Haru had faced someone brandishing this piece of cutlery against him. Good ole Mr.’s Hoshi...she was a fine cook, but had quite the temper. Especially if a curious Sunaku child was trying to peek into her pots or snatch some early dessert. She was surprisingly swift with her large wooden spoon...it made him think about the bumps even now. of course, much changed since then in terms of his ability...then again, he was facing a man who just smashed someone through a wall using paper. Who knew if he wasn’t able to manipulate metal in some way?

Still, the sand under his feet only rumbled slightly before he was released from the men's grip, adjusting his robes a bit, while the men uncovered his disguise. Even though he only saw him briefly, he didn’t need much time to recognize that he was indeed the man he thought. Haru rose a brow a bit as the man took out some pokey before sticking it into his own lips. There they were in the middle of hell, and they were having their first meeting with and sharing sweets. Well, he was sharing, since Harupia didn’t have any.

He did take the offering, nodding his head in thanks and once Uri stopped speaking he gladly took the offer, shaking his hand while saying "Yes, a nice chat on the birthday party would be a much better place to meet. Regardless, well met Uri. I was anxious to meet you after seeing how hard you fought against Magnetica, but getting spread in the stomach had left me more sore then I would like" before taking a nibble of the treat he was offered. Usually he would try and savor the taste more...but the screams outside had him more nervous than he would like.

After the next question he would say "My clan is...doing as good as they can right now. Their working on fortifying the household, making sure they can defend themselves is some angry mob decides they’ll be a next good target or something. My father sent out a few men to try and find anyone outside the compound, me included." He paused for a moment, starting to pace in a nervous fashion before saying "panicking...heh, doesn’t make us look well does it? The protectors of the village being rattled like this... Yet at the same time, I doubt any of us was expecting something like this to just explode from nowhere...This is just..."

He let out a frustrated sigh, before he would sit down in front of Uri saying "If it weren’t for you showing up, I’d probably go on a rampage at all those...thugs rampaging out there. I’m not sure if that would be better than just falling into hiding, no matter. Whoever pulled his of knew where to strike first. I’m guessing everyone’s radio is as dead as mine" stopping a bit to poke the earpiece of his head set, before asking "Who else did you manage to find? I wasn’t quite sure where to go of first...though I guess the Kage Tower might be an obvious place for people to meet after the explosion...probably too obvious if our enemies have as many eyes around the village as they claim... Did you see Sousuke? If anyone would be able to have some way to communicate with the radio station down, it’ll surely be him…thank you for the treat by the way " he concluded, catching his breath and trying to collect his thoughts while he had the stick of pokey in his mouth, rolling it around in his mouth. So many people being god knows where and doing whatever they can...it was obvious they needed or regroup and plan for the future...but he was struggling for ideas how to do that.

 

[Uri]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

While Uri didn't know Harupia all that well, he was surprised that the Sunaku clansman was so well shaken from the events that had transpired in short order. Perhaps it was because Uri had clear defined goals to follow when things started to happen; people to save, places to make safe, bad guys to squish under giant rocks. Focus helped keep the chuunin's mind on everything else other than the turmoil they were facing in droves, the criminals raiding and harming the civilians who they were charged to protect. Magnetica had been a terrifying adversary to face, but her threat had been neutralized almost immediately pending her entrance into the village thanks to the Sunan Shinobi Forces who met her at the gates. Now they were facing someone who was much more well thought out, came in numbers, but kept themselves hidden to the general populace.

This was a shadow game they were playing now. Not like the typical upfront exchange they had been met with in recent times.

"No, I can't say we could have seen this coming,"<i></i> Uri replied, biting his lower lip. "But it's a bit worrisome they knew exactly how we'd react. Something somewhere just isn't working and its showing in this attack."<i></i>

The cave they lived in was meant to protect them from all the harsh things outside its protective bubble, but what happened when something got inside? All hell would break loose and run wild in the streets; as was evident by all both shinobi had seen since the tower fell.

"Yeah, if they hit the tower, I'm pretty sure they scrapped the comms center too. My radio has been dead for a good while too,"<i></i> Uri paused to as Haru asked about who else he had encountered. Unfortunately, the list wasn't all that long. Feeble compared to what he had hoped to encounter. "I saw some ninja heading to the tower debris, but I had to take care of my family first. I did run into Yume-chan, who was looking for Sousuke, but she hadn't a bit of luck in her search yet. Where ever Sousuke is, you can bet he's trying to figure out a way to get this all right. He always does."<i></i>

Uri smiled and passed the remainder of the box to Harupia, patting it against his chest, "Take the rest, find someone else who may need a little pick-me-up in all this; I have plenty stocked up at home,"<i></i> Carefully he turned the corner of the server's station he had been leaning against and peered out into the streets, huffing at the trials ahead of them, "I was heading to the Obsidian Palace to check for Sousuke or his protector, you're welcome to tag along if you'd like. Can't say I'm too enthusiastic about going...place gives me the creeps."<i></i>

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Haru let the piece of candy roll in between his lips as Uri talked about something being wrong...well, in the broader sense at least. It was a bit of an understatement given the current situation...but it was something Haru was slowly starting to realize. How the Grand Palais worked, how the village seemed to be moving from one maniacal super powered being attacking them to another... and it was all eclipsed by their current location...literary. That was partially the blame for why Harupia was so distraught. A nagging sense of guilt. he had the power to set things right, he had the need to do it...and yet, again, he failed to do something significant in time.

With a soft sigh he would say "As much as they outplayed us, I wouldn’t give them that much credit. With how much they rigged the situation in their favor, what was there for us to do? If we all managed to group up in one place from the very start, what's stopping them from blowing up the entire then? Assuming of course they actually are capable of doing that, but even so, it’s a bluff which will be hard to call.." he took another bite of the pokey before saying "Whether they expected this outcome or if it’s just a pleasant side effect of their scheme, our reaction...my reaction was far from perfect. There will be some lessons to take away after all this is over...I’ll be sure to thank out "teachers" for them once we get our hands on them." Haru always felt a bit uncomfortable studying the more morbid application of the sand jutsu he knew... But somewhere in the back of his head, he was eager to show all that he learned to those orchestrating this whole debacle.

He let out a sigh as he mentioned who he met before saying "I know he is, but still, I'd feel beter knowing he was doing so with our support. It’s a shame you didn’t have Yume come with you. Her own prowess aside, the aid of the Inuzuka would be a great boon. Who else will be able to track down our other allies if not them and their canines?" he asked somewhat rhetorically. Also, in the back of his mind was the thought of using the canine companions to deliver messages across the village...seemed more stealthy then human running about the village. And if there would be one thing they needed, it was proper communication with the whole village... though things had to be taken one step at a time he figured

In his somber mood, he still had enough humor to smile in thanks for the pack of pokey saying "Thank you...always good to have some contraband around you when under occupation, heh." As Uri peered through the windows and shared his further plans, he took the time to take one of the cloths from the tables, starting to rip part of it off saying "The Palace...god knows what's going on there now. Which is why I can’t imagine letting you go there alone...though I have less time to come up with a proper disguise" he paused for a second, a set of handsel and a poof of smoke revealing him in a transformed form. It was a rather indistinct, bald man, clad in a chunin uniform. After that he would speak on, while tying a smaller piece of cloth over his head and then a larger around his shoulders "It does seem like a probable place for other Shinobi to gather, if only to try and control the damage which might have happened there. Im ready to go when you are" he said with a nod, stepping closer to Uri. It would probably be a rather fast run...

Mft, Wc = 628

 

[Uri]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

"Is it bad that I wear this on a fairly regular basis when I traverse the maelstrom?"<i></i> He asked in jest, re-layering his disguise about his features. Stopping only to check their surroundings on occasion. Spoon still in hand, the branded seal on his flesh glowed and the metallic utensil shifted into the form of a small bug that could have been a silver broach worn by a noble. Gently, he left it to rest on Harupia's collar. "As long as you hang onto that and don't get too far from me, I'll be able to hear you speak. Unfortunately, it is only a one-way street. Should be good for up to a mile. Any farther than that and it just becomes a decoration. You're welcome to keep it all the same."<i></i> The chuunin said, smiling underneath the face wrapping he now wore about his visage.

In a crouch he edged up next to the counter and looked down the street that would take them on their path to the prison. Uri had made a point of moving through the pathways, out in plain view as to draw attention to himself. That way criminals, madmen, and their attackers focused on him and not others. The chuunin looked back at the man behind him. While Haurpia out-ranked him, life within the village had ill-prepared him for the horrors they were facing. The cave had sheltered another and made it so performing his duty clear of any concerns was a challenge. The travels Uri had done, the places he had been, the faces he had seen, the death he had been witness to let him grow in such a manner that his spirit was not shaken by grand gestures of power or threats by a face that was just as likely to be a stranger he had bumped into out on the road. A man was only as good as the choice he made in the heat of the moment, when lives were on the line and others relied on him to make the best choice. The village stood without anyone to make those hard decisions. Every second passed was another death. Unfortunately, the village hadn't ever been an answer for Uri. It had only shoved at him dozens of questions. About his life, about his family, about the person he wished to become and the one he would become, about his abilities to help serve his family, his village, his country, the people of the world.

The village had never been kind to Uri.

And it had been in his time away that he found answers. Answers that would shape him into the humble, smiling, sugar-loving sweetheart that would reduce you to atoms and then vaporize those if you threatened the balance of the world. That Uri was the one who had returned more than just a teenager become a man. The man who went to those he loved most and secured their safety. The man who had the opportunity to become the hero his father had always told him about in tales of The First Men.

Uri had seen the uncertainty of the man with him and knew that he needed the push into the ugly world where they now lived. Knowing without it he would not achieve what the village now demanded from him: Excellence. Presence. Making moves and letting the people of Sunagakure now that they had not been abandoned in their time of need. That the ones trained and sworn to protect them were still out there and that they were not alone. Harupia would play a vital role in this ordeal yet, Uri knew that.

"Move swiftly. If you have to attack, do not stop. Incapacitate if you can, kill only if you must."<i></i> Uri shrugged a little under his cowl. "Be flashy if you can. Leave a mark behind. This way people can see it and know we're out there. If we get split up, just head to somewhere safe. Anywhere. We can't afford to take chances out here. If either one of us die trying to find the other then we can't help the village later."<i></i>

A calm intake of air and Uri took off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. They would move down the streets of the Crown, racing to make it to their destination, but at nearly every intersection they were met with resistance.

((OOC: Feel free to RP beating up some baddies. Shinobi and non-shinobi alike!))

[mft]

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Haru rose a brow at the men’s questions, chuckling a bit saying „Well, covering yourself up when traversing through the dessert is always a good thing, so your attire seems quite good. Though it seems your cloak has been through a lot of journeys” he commented as the chunin converted the spoon into something more useful. He truly wished he could ask him more about the man rather than pounder what is the best way out of a rigged predicament …well, at least they would have something to chat about once this was dealt with. Taking the brooch and nodding to his explanation he would say ”Very nice looking, and practical. Quite impressive” moving behind him to peer out the street. Perhaps it was time to think of more practical uses of his own skills…again, something he neglected for much too long.

After a brief silence he listened to the man lay out a bit of a plan. He couldn’t help but wonder… Harupia truly wanted to rid the village of the trouble. He was tempted to unleash his power and bury all of the rioters in his eye sight in sands. Yet, there was the looming threat of the village exploding because of some lunatic deciding he was spoiling his plans. But still…what were these plans? There had to be more than just a want of destruction, otherwise the village would have been gone by now. Some kind of revolution, a new establishment? Heh, from what he read this was a pretty text book revolution. A lot of mindless violence, and a hidden group takes the reigns from some other group. Regardless, they wanted the village to be intact.

Some people would probably call it reckless bravado…yet, he couldn’t help but agree with Uri. They needed to show that they weren’t dead. Rattled, but not down. He’d find a way to hide himself if need be… after all, he could be given these invaders o much credit. As Uri stopped speaking he said “I can do flashy quite well when I want to. If we come to the Palace and we don’t hear a response from our…accessories after three call out’s, then we’ll retreat to safety. Assuming we’ll end up split up. Stay safe now” he ended just before Uri took a deep breath. Inhaling with his nose, he darted into a run right behind him, once again throwing himself into the chaos of the village.

It didn’t take too long, since just around the corner there was a threat, 4 thugs heading out a jewelry store with loot. Still, since they were more preoccupied with their goodies, they had the drop on them. Before the first one of them realized who was charging at them, a swift motion of his hand sent a barrage of Sand Missiles flying, 12 hardened clumps of sand shooting from the ground. They were smaller then normally, made to be accurate. With a combination of strikes in the head and stomach, three of them were knocked out quite easily. The one who spotted them was conscious enough to dodge, though he was struck with one clump of sand right in the stomach. As the men crumpled in pain, his lowered head soon came to meet the sole of Haru’s foot, a straight kick aimed at his face sending him flying through the air as he tumbled to the ground. Not an elegant kick, but he was in a hurry after all.

After running a few more seconds, they came into another group of thugs, though this time they were prepared, a group looking for a fight basically, around 7 of them. One of them spotted him and Uri from afar, and judging by his appearance, he was an inmate of the prison let lose. The fears were further as the men chucked a boulder in their direction, apparently adapt in earth Jutsu. He called out “Careful!” to Uri before rising his hand before him, erecting a barrier fixed of sand and stone before him, shielding himself from the boulder. Before the other men could retaliate, a swift push of his hand sent a chunk of the barrier flying. The Bedrock coffin technique was one he enjoyed for versatilities sake.

The single stone projectile wasn’t much of a challenge for the man, with him simply swinging his arm towards it to Smash it into pieces. Still, Harupia wanted to distract the brute so he could come in closer. Once next to him, his hand shot forward into the men’s chest, Chakra focusing in his fingers as he applied a One Elemental Seal upon him, making sure to hamper the men’s ability to use jutsu. The seal was applied successfully, catching the Earth Shinobi by surprise, but he was soon being converged on by two others thugs. Not wasting much time he swung his elbow at the man’s chin, and aimed a kick at his gut, pushing himself towards one of the other attackers. Said men seemed to be less skilled In any forms of martial arts, swinging a bottle at the Sunaku’s face. Harupia dodged the blow and grabbed the men’s arm, making sure he wouldn’t try swinging the weapon again, before punching the men one in the face, and then shoving him in the direction of the other one to the side. Ehh…punching people without his gauntlets was something he wasn’t quite sued to.

Luckily he had the earth on his side, a barrier of sand arising to his side, defending him from a pair of throwing knives which the third person brandished at him. As the three converged closer to him, he simply stomped down with his foot, suddenly streams of sand lashing out from under his feet words them. Suddenly the three thugs found themselves whipped by hard, grainy sand, with not quite enough preparation. One of them managed to turn back before being struck down, joining the other’s scrunching in pain from the lashing. After that Haru tried to see if Uri was still around there but before that he caught the now sealed Shinobi running at him trying to strike. Ducking elegantly before the strike, he would quickly run through a set of seals as the men turned to face him. As soon s that happened, he shoved his hand toward the men’s face, a Blast of Chakra condensed within it, striking at him. There was a shout as the man was sent flying by the blast, tumbling down to the ground, blinded and struck down by the blunt force of the blast. Now he looked up at Uri to see whether he was done with the other three…or if they were coming towards him, and Uri was nowhere to be seen. Who knew what would the Sunaku see once he rose his head.

Mft, Wc= 1135
(Sorry for any typos I didn’t catch x.x Also I hope some of the liberties I took are ok o.ob)

 

[Uri]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

It seemed Harupia didn't take long to catch on and went about using his earthly talents to spread the sandy sacrament of his clan. Uri had seen the Sunaku during their battle with Magnetica. His powers were great and his imagination boundless. The quaking under his feet from the massive sandworm construct imprinted freshly into his mind. Powers like that were accented well by the artistic mind of their wielder and would prove to be invaluable. There were plans that needed to be executed, but time would allow for a small bit of deviation. It is said that those who are creatives are truly masterminds of a different kind. Their minds worked in more fluid manners than the more rigid discipline taught at academies and boot camps. they could operate outside the normal boundaries because they were used to the more abstract ways of thinking.

The first group of thugs were quickly dispatched by Harupia, but they soon came across another group and they were instantly routed. Uri took his group and Harupia took his.

These weren't common criminals either. These were shinobi; trained killers and assassins. Desperate and craving revenge for their imprisonment. A flurry of elemental attacks flew at him and his hands glowed in response as he mimed pulling up on a bed sheet. A wall of pure metal was ripped from its cobblestone grave and held up enough for Uri to move before it was turned into pieces. In a flurry of energy, Uri brought forth a storm of glittering red crystalline fragments and shrouded the area in its scarlet storm. The Ruby Rain would act as cover for his next attack that was unfurled from the very pores of his body. An accrid green smoke leaked from his being and tainted the red of the minerals around him. Every second his pursuers would spend chasing him it would bring them closer to their death.

So hungry for blood the three attackers charged in haphazardly. Their coughing gave them away even in the low-visibility environment. Uri would move through the dangerous storm like he did the maelstrom; quietly, methodically, feeling his way through the flow of the storm. As he happened upon each thug he would take hold of their face with an open palm, grip for a brief second and then throw them back into the mayhem of the red and green cloud. The others would follow soon too, having their faces grabbed and then cast back into the death storm. Once he was satsified he had gotten all three, Uri relocated himself outside the manifestation and looked through his tinted goggles, piercing the haze. It was like staring at the men before him. Random jutsu were being cast in a vague attempt to strike their target, but to no avail they were as blind as someone who had ripped their eyes out. A sharp snap was released from his fingers and there were three thundering explosions that sent remnants of the cloud down every street near him.

When the smoke and ruby dust had cleared Uri was no where to be seen...

[Topic Mysteriously Left] =OooOOOOooooOOOOoooOOooo

[mft]

 

[Sand Council]

Re: The Crown is Burning...(Open)

Chaos in the streets was no unusual, but it created difficulties for anyone attempting to find another. This case was no different. Pacing down the winding mazeways of Sunagakure was a man who had seen signs that beckoned him to the village before their attackers had made any moves. Trapped inside he had resolved to find his brother and reunite his family as a whole for the greater good of all thing Wind Country. This man was one who had traveled from lands far east with his family and came to Wind Country searching for a purpose. They had at some point grown apart, but knew they would always find one another in times of dire need. A mercenary, an adventurer, and a baker...

As Harupia gazed up to see what had happened to his partner, he saw another of the ninja thugs barreling down upon him. Before he could react, the frame of the man was mashed into the road by a giant stone club. If he followed the length of the giant weapon he would see a man clad in leather armor, a half-finished cigarette in between his lips, and most importantly the full beard and mustache combination that defined the epitome of masculinity. Once Harupia would right himself, he would discover this man was nearly seven feet in height and that the weapon he wielded was not in fact a giant club at all, but a massive stalagmite from somewhere in the cave. It was easily bigger than the sunaku and weighed several hundred pounds.

"You have pest problem. You no longer have pest problem." There was a deep, hearty laugh that echoed through the area as he slapped Haru on the back with a meaty hand. "I see little sand man need help, so Oleg is helping!"

Even though his appearance was more compared to a bandit or marauder seen pillaging supply lines of Soon's Haven, Oleg was quite the cheery type and happy to help.

"I saw cloud of smoke and boomboom explosions and came, but when I get here no more signs of your friend." He spoke of Uri display. Oleg had been in Sunagakure for some time in an attempt to track down his oldest brother, but had found nothing but madmen and criminals. A large fist hit his chest. "I am Oleg, a mercenary. I am here looking for older brother Olgav. Do you know him or someone who might, sand man?"

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Smoke. Harupia saw a lot of green, rather unhealthy looking smoke as Uri dispatched the warriors he was dealing with. It seemed he was doing quite well all things considered. Haru couldn’t help but be surprised how he always saw the man pull of a new trick from up his sleeve. Paper, explosive, metal, not crystal Jutsu. Haru himself had dabbled a bit in the more specific mineral which you conjured with that justsu…perhaps he needed to brush up on his knowledge more. He could use any advantage he could get in the current situation.

Speaking of explosions, Uri decided to end his fight with a bang, causing the smoke he used to cover his own attacks to fill up the entire area. Coughing a bit, Harupia tried to spot out the other Sunan Shinobi as the mist dissipated…what he saw was another attacker coming towards him. Before he could think up of a way to quickly dispose of him, a solution was presented to him. Apparently you should convert criminals into pancakes.

Slowly, Harupia looked up the giant slab of a weapon, over the giant muscled hands and all the way up into the eyes of the men who assisted him. The Sunaku artisan couldn’t help but feel a bit of a chill go down his spine. Fighting larger opponents wasn’t anything new to him but still…if the men decided to turn against him, he would be facing quite a challenge.

Luckily, it seemed that that wouldn’t be the case, for now. Though he felt that if he was less prepared, the pat on the back could have easily dislocated some bones in his back. Still, it seemed to be all in good spirit. With a somewhat somber tone He would say “At least these pests are dealt with… And still so many to deal with. Regardless, I thank you for your assistance…” After that the Mercenary explained why he appeared here and introduced himself in a more formal way, to which he said “My name Is Harupia, Sunaku Harupia. I’m glad to meet you Oleg…as for you brother, I don’t think I do know him…though, perhaps… is your brother a baker perhaps?” It was a weird question but…during Sousukes birthday, he had a recollection of a men serving quite delicious treats, who was also quite imposing in his stature. He didn’t talk to him, but he made sure to try his treats…and he remembered Uri doing the same…

URI! He was not here…much was apparent. After a brief silence he would say “If anything, I think my companion would know your brother better…Uri, can you hear me?” he concluded, fiddling with the accessory on his collar. He knew his invention had a small range, but he needed to try at least once to see if he was still close.

Mft, Wc= 471

 

[Sand Council]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Oleg​

The mercenary's eyes shot open at the mention of Uri's name.

"Oori? Da sugar-loving chuunin? Oleg knows him!" The giant of a man would proclaim, pounding a hand against his own chest with enough force one would think it'd bruise. "We smash many bandit. Soon's wanted neenja and so we got Oori!" Standing the rock-pillar weapon upright, the length matching Oleg's massive height, he thoughtfully stroked at his epic mustache and beard combination. "Jah. Brother Olgav is baker. Make sense it would for Oori to know Olgav."

A quick sweep of the area would prove that Uri wasn't within the visual vicinity and Oleg would frown.

Nor was there any sort of response to Harupia's question.

"Whispering to ghost man not help us find Oori." The large mercenary was clearly vexed at the situation. "Come, Harupia Sunaku Harupia, you take me to friend who knows whole village." He spread his arms out wide as if to embrace an imaginary person. "I find older brother. We smash more bad guys. You get to stay with Oleg. We all win!" Then a thought dawned on the bearded foreigner and he leaned down far enough to make direct eye contact with Harupia. "You do know someone who know village, jah? Oleg must find big brother. Olgav squishy in middle and warrior spirit. I must make go protect him." Hefting the impossibly heavy makeshift weapon upon his right shoulder, Oleg waited on Harupia to take the lead. Surely he would know somewhere to take the big man to find his information.

((OOC: Super duper open-ended. Feel free to find an NPC to make use of or if you think someone IC would make a good match shoot them a PM and we can get something working with them. Oleg must find Olgav!))

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Haru listened as the man recognized who he was talking about. It seems they were partners in battle at one point...which made it all the more of a shame that he wasn’t around anymore. Haru couldn’t help but shudder a bit as the men raised his weapon, trying not to look towards it... after all, after a strike like hat, there was bound to be something...messy on it.

As Oleg spoke to him Haru sighed deeply saying "Indeed... I wish there was a ghost man who would help me find more of my friends..." muttering a bit to himself. Oleg then talked about wanting his assistance in finding his brother. As the man looked into his eye, a lot of thoughts came through his mind. Should he be heading off to help Uri in the Obsidian Palace? This men would be fine on himself... but if he were to believe him, his brother was in danger. And he couldn’t just leave the men here...and while he believe both Uri and the giant staring into him were capable of defending themselves, Uri at least knew the village. This man was lost in the middle of a chaotic storm...and by helping him, he could potentially help other people in the village...if only by indeed smashing other bad guys.

After a brief stare down, he would give them men a slight pat on his shoulder (he was curios weather the men would even feel his hand at all" as he said "Harupia will be enough, Oleg. I know the village myself, and I know a few people who do. Hopefully we'll be able to find them before something bad happens...but I will help you find your brother, I promise". After saying that he would turn around and start heading forward down the road, making sure to turn back to see how fast Oleg was able to move. He was assuming quite fast, seeing how he barely noticed him charging into his aid. As for where he was leading him...well, the fact he knew little about the men’s bother made it quite hard indeed. The people he knew which seemed to be more acquainted with him were Shinobi who probably were dealing with different tasks. But... as an artist, he sold some of his works to various richer folk in Suna. One particular client of his had quite the sweet tooth. Perhaps it was a bit of a long shot, but maybe he placed an order, of knew someone who knew...it was the first lead that came to his mind which was somewhat close by.

As the pair charged through the streets of the Crown, he tried his best not to focus on his task, seeing how he didn’t want to test the patience of the warrior behind him. Still, there was a few thugs that came into their way, most of which were quickly dispatched by the Sunaku with a well-aimed projectile into the head. Luckily it seemed the Shinobi prisoners were nowhere around for now...Soon enough they would be coming to the apartment in which the client go his lived... he could only hope the men was still relatively safe.

(Sorry for the delay, I was trying to come up with something not quite farfetched, and dealing with my small library of NPC’s x.x)

 

[Sand Council]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Oleg​

"Yes. Good. Harupia. Much thanks."

Oleg would follow the Sunaku and keep up with him regardless of the enormous weight of the makeshift cudgel he carried with him. The look of the man spoke of someone who had traveled a lot; lived a hard life on the surface of Wind Country. Oleg was infamous in Soon's as one of the most successful guardsmen for merchant caravans and precious goods. Not a single thing had ever been lost under his command. Anyone who had ever spent any extended time in Soon's would have heard of the foreigner who was a giant and had the strength of ten men. That was Oleg, the man following just behind Harupia and who wield a just cave spike as if it were an umbrella.

While Harupia kept his attention forward and toward their destination, Oleg's form had done a lot to deter anyone from attempting to sneak up on them. The gore and viscera stuck to his weapon was more than adequate to discourage any aggressive movements onto the duo.

"What Harupia do in Sand-filled village? If Olgav is baker. Harupia could anything be!"

Although he cut an intimidating presence, Oleg seemed to be quite a polite person whose improper speech was more a charming quark than anything else. For someone who understood everyone needed their role, he had to wonder about the sand-wielding escort he had with him right then.

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Now that he thought about it, he started to recall stories heard from the merchants he was buying or selling to in Soon's. While some of them did hire Suna Shinobi for convoying caravans, some weren’t to trusting of them, and some just didn’t want to waste the time of heading towards the village or waiting till Shinobi come seeking employment. And there were other mercenaries willing to take up the task. But amongst the stories of failed defenses or the mercs running of with the loot, there were the tales of one men who was always honest, and always successful in the defense. He thought that the stories he heard about some of the caravans were a bit exaggerated...but seeing what the men was capable of, suddenly the image of one mercenary tossing rampaging through a horde of bandits didn’t seem quite of.

As they moved through the village, mostly uninterrupted for now, the large mercenary asked him what he was doing in the village. After a bit of thought he would say with a chuckle "Me? Well, I use the sand to make art. Sculptures, paintings, anything I’m capable of, either to sell or just to test my skill. So I am an artist...I am also a Shinobi. I help the village in its needs...try to keep it safe...and right now everything is falling apart and there is little I can do..." he mused in lower tone, trying his best not to think about all the chaos around him. For now at least it seemed that their mere presence was enough to calm things down where they passed by...but how long would that last.

He didn’t have much time to reconsider, because they were near the house of the client he was seeking. It was a moderately large house, with a small yard with a fence before it. He could see some people already behind the fence trying to fore their way through the door, some of them seemed to be scaring of the people in front of the gate. Turning to Olgav he said "Make sure none of these follow me while I knock on the door, if you may?" before he dashed forward, having a running jump to pass over the fence and the mooks before it. It was about 6-7 people...he would be surprised if they didn’t run away from just seeing Olgav as the rest did.

As for those in the yard already, there was 4 of them, 2 banging on the door, two behind them. One of them saw him flying in, just in time for Haru's feet to meet his face as he landed on the ground. One was knocked down, and while the second one was already alert, he net attack came swiftly as Haru struck his palm against the ground, using the Sinkhole Fist Jutsu to create three pillars from the ground, two striking the men’s stomach and the last one sweeping at his feet, easily knocking him down. While the other two turned towards him, quick motions of his hands kicked up the sand under his feet, sending bluntly shaped clumps of sand at the targets, each striking with enough battering strength to knock them down. Nice and efficient for the most part... he turned back to see whether Olgav was already past the other goons while he moved forward, hoping they would have an easier time getting inside...

Mft, Wc= 570

 

[Sand Council]

Re: The Crown is Burning...[Anarchy!]

Oleg​

"You sound like big brother Ollie! Can crush man's skull like sparrow's egg, but choose to perform less violent job." There was a loud, throaty laugh. "I like you, Harupia. You good guy. Even if soft in middle like Ollie."

Oleg was amiable to just about anything and was more than happy to follow the Sunaku's pursuit of a lead. As a complete stranger to the village, Oleg didn't know his way around the village. When the brothers had originally split up, it had not been on the best of terms and so they had never kept in contact, but always listened to the whispers just in case if one needed the other. That was why Oleg was in Sunagakure now. Somewhere, somehow, someone had heard of this attack and it had reached back to the giant mercenary and here he was! In such times Sunagakure needed every allie they could get and in Oleg, they had a powerful warrior who was not afraid to get his hands dirty.

"Happy to, sandman!" Another booming roar of laughter left his lips and he raised the giant rock club. Instantly, four of them bolted down the street. Both hands gripping tightly onto the stalagmite, the outlandish titan swung it and in one hefty swing batted the remaining three attackers away as if they had been tin cans. There was a sickening crunch of bone and a wet thud as they sailed away and land in crumpled heaps nearly ten meters away, "Tiny thugs are no match for the mighty Oleg!"

This was about the time Harupia turned to check on his newest companion who he would observe pay special attention to unlatching the gate, stepping through and quietly closing it once more. One might even call it dainty. A few more strides and he would arrive next to the Sunaku.

"This home of friend?" He asked, curious.

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Just as he suspected, the giant mercenary behind him did very short work of any thugs which were left behind and came closer to him. He was surprised that he didn’t go crashing through the gate as he approached the door with him. He guessed there was really more to this men then just his giant, brutal strength…Regardless, as he asked about the house he said “It is…now to just try and get inside…”. He was a bit worried coming here the situation would be a bit worse, but he did notice that none of the windows were shattered or anything like that. Seeing how Mr. Yamada did have quite a few valuables in his home, and having a few brake ins before, he guessed that he did actually make his house more secure…they were lucky there was no Shinobi prisoner trying to break in here.

Knocking on the door more himself he called out “Mr. Yamada? Hello? Anyone?” only to hear from the other side “Get the hell away from the door’s, I swear if you come in we’ll” but he didn’t manage to finish before Haru cut in “Are you one of the guards!? This is Sunaku Harupia here, a Shinobi. IS everyone alright there?”

They could hear a bit of shuffling on the inside of the house, before the door was cracked just barely open, a few chains hanging , a young men peering from behind it. Haru couldn’t see if he had a weapon or not, but he seemed rather distressed. The men spoke up “We are, for the most part…we managed to fend of all the thugs and lock the door. Mr. Yamada and his family are all inside, terrified, but safe…why are you still standing here and not going after the people who did this?!” If only it was that easy… With a sigh Harupia said “I’m doing the best I can, I ran through half of the crown trying to fend of all these people, but I’m trying to find some of my friends…and that hard without any sort of communication. And also, this men here is looking for a brother, so that’s why we needed your help”.

The guard looked up a bit, his visage visibly growing a bi paler as he grasped just how big the mercenary behind Haru was. After a bit he said “And how can we help? I don’t think Mr. Yamada ever met his brother…” to which Haru said “Maybe, but Im pretty sure he bought things from him. This men’s brother is a baker…then one who was serving during the birthday of the Steward.” The guard looked confused for a bit but then asked hesitantly “Erm…is the baker big and speaks in a… funny way?” not wanting to offend the giant behind Haru. As the Shinobi nodded the guard said quickly “Well, Mr. Yamada was there only once, he always sent one of the guards to get the stuff there…the guy is a pretty good baker. I never went there myself, but Hiro was…oh god, Hiro. He was supposed to go there today…What if they got him al…”

Harupia interrupted him once more saying quickly “Just tell us what you know, anything. If we know where to look we’re bound to come across Hiro as well!”. The guard was silent for a second before he said “The…the Sietch Zensunna. The place is there, I’m sure. Not sure about the name…something with sweets…and mints maybe…That’s all I can remember”. Nodding, Haru turned to the giant men behind him and said “It’s in a different district…but it’s not far from here if we make a run for it… And I can only guess that you’re legs are as strong as your arms. Follow me!” he finally said before heading towards the other district. They at least had a location…now he just hoped they weren’t too late, for neither the brother or the lost guard… He couldn’t help but feel every second was making the situation harder and harder for them…

Mft, Wc = 672

OOC: If I may, Id like to exit this thread and make a continuation in the Sietch area? If you feel that would be too hasty I’ll accept any other developments you might have in mind. IM really sorry for mu tardiness as of late, and if this isn’t my best and most sensible post. Being busy and a bit drained when it comes to writing for a while…but I promise I’ll try better from now on. If anything I can at least promise more regular posts

 

[Sand Council]

Oleg​

The exchange had been a bit drawn out, but they managed to get some valuable information. Oleg was pleased to here about a decent lead. As Harupia turned to him and suggested haste, Oleg nodded, dropping the massive club onto the yard and leaving it stand erect.

"Now I run fast!" He also adjusted the makeshift weapon a bit in the dry earth. "It also help scare off little baby bandits. If they think Oleg around, they no come near!"

Turning about face, the giant readied himself for a more speedy descent into Sunagakure's village. While he did not appear it, he was in fact fast for his size. Perhaps not on par with Harupia or many of the elite Sunan forces, but swift enough to make most average ninja question themselves. One long arm extended back out the way they came, he smiled wide. "Lead way, Harupia. Oleg be behind. We find Olgav and Hiro. Make both safe."

((OOC: Hop topics! Do what'cha gotta. I'll follow ya right after.))

[Topic Moving]