This is Gospel {Minamoto-Kono Residence} [Open]

[Zethui Kobayashi]

Time in Stone was coming to a close. A part of him had taken a liking to this place. His clan had found root within its walls, the mountain views were nothing short of spectacular, and the people in general were pleasant even though the leadership was going through a bit of inner turmoil. Those politics didn't have anything to do with him and since Kamaru wasn't being persecuted directly, Zenichi felt that he didn't need to involve himself anymore than he already had. He only had one last matter he wanted to attend to before he left.

At the Sennin offices, tension was high and it seemed like a fight would break out at any moment. There, he learned two things. The first was that the lady he had met at the festival named Haruka seemed to be the infacto leader of this village. While she didn't carry the mantle of Kage, she seemed to dominate the room and clearly had more support for the position than anyone else. He knew very little of her abilities but it would seem that her ruthlessness could be an asset. He had met with Raikage Shin and Kazakage Sousuke and both seemed too gentle to be Kages. He knew that there needed to be a juxtaposition of traits in order to lead a country so who was to say that being aggressive in ones ideals wasn't one?

The second was a young lad named Gasu. He reminded Zenichi a lot of himself as a kid. He was thrown into a clan and forced to find his way in a nation of swords. While Zenichi had always excelled, Gasu seemed to be struggling. Proclaiming that two Sennin had tried to kill him was a serious accusation. Normally Zenichi would chalk it up to childish embellishment but Gasu accused his would-be killers directly in front of all. The boy wasn't scared of anyone and kept fighting even when his leaders tried to keep him down. It touched Zenichi in a way that made him want to help the boy. Maybe he was a handful that couldn't be helped or maybe his leaders saw something threatening in him. Either way, the boy wouldn't last outside the gates long without a bit of luck. Haruka had personally promised him a passport. Zenichi would offer to escort him at least temporarily to ensure his safety and maybe train him in tactics for survival.

This lead Zenichi here, to the residence of Haruka. It was near dusk, the shadows of the buildings were getting longer with each minute and the temperature outside was dropping quickly. Late autumn days were long but the night made one quickly realize that winter was near. This was further evidence that Zenichi would need to help the kid outside that gates. Zenichi had checked the offices for her but the Spire seemed to be a ghost town. Following the recent events, he could understand why people were staying clear. Hesitant to enter another confrontation.

As he passed through the streets, his eye would catch small patches of black dried speckles everywhere. Subconsciously, it would gnaw at his brain because it realized what it really was. Zenichi would never suspect that he was seeing that blood of an Uchiha leading to Haruka's door, nor even made an association between that blood and the young Uchiha he had met. That would be was too speculative and illogical. As he passed one last speck on the corner of a building near her house, he buttoned his coat, checked is collar and hair, and made one last mental image of himself. He was here to sell himself like a vacuum to someone who had nothing she needed from him but was to be asked none the less.

 

[Enatsu]

Yuuto stood in the broken tower staring into the horizon of Stone. His mind was still racing over the events of the previous nights. Haruka lost her Nana and became more recluse. She was whacked out of her mind clearly but the questions still stood. How did the bulbs in the kitchen break? Could there be another assailant? Did Gasu manage to get a blast into the kitchen? Did the lightning manage to actually reach all the way there? It was a controlled burst there shouldn't have even been a chance for it to get anywhere else. He only targeted the bulbs in the hallway to disrupt the lightning. Furthermore for this woman to die by light-bulbs, it all just seemed fabricated. Like a weird nightmare someone was trying to plant. The worst of his thoughts was that the child had something to do with it. Children bred from power had more likelihood to have their powers burst out of control than those who were not.

You could assume these thoughts that had been plaguing him are what brought him here to this tower. It could even be argued that they were the reason this tower was in a damaged state. Yuuto had spent the last few nights bombarding himself with Lightning Jutsu repeatedly creating a storm in the sky to reign down on himself. It was penance for the young life he took, and the potential one that he may have caused. Tohsaka's body was shielded by the Orb, another puppet creation. After each series of destructive blasts he would meditate for 30 minutes before using the Reversion Jutsu to reverse the damage. However each time he did this, the scorch marks took a little more out of him. He was physically drained, and mentally tired. The crows feet under his eyes told this tale well. However the penance was coming to an end, he could not be idle forever in due time Yuuto would have to move on with himself and make real progression.

After taking time to redress himself in new clothes and equipment. Black padded hardened leather for armor. A red coat made of durable silk from an S-Class Crag-worm. Haruka sure did have some amazing connections, the new material for his puppet weapons would be amazing. For now they still looked ruddy and in shambles. On his back lied a giant gray and black claymore twice his size, and on his hip an orange sabre the length of his waist to sole. The other side held a green lantern, and in his hand a giant orb of metal and wood. Inside was the corpse of a young man, the fallen Masaru kinsmen. To take this from him would immediately end very badly for whoever dared try. He was set on leaving this village now, his brethren would be finally be given rest...

Who the hell is this? Another intruder? I hope not to bloody my blade a second time.

Yuuto was tired and did not wish to cause anymore harm. Haruka would be angry enough at the destroyed portion of her tower, but maintenance men would be there to fix it with earth jutsu. The man before him seemed to be skulking about making entrance or simply waiting. If this was another assailant his track would end cold here.

"Hello, can I help you?", the words were dry and direct. His face was still tired and his voice was monotoned. If anything you could still sense the sternness, like a sharp tension in the air.

[MFT]

 

[Zethui Kobayashi]

As Zenichi crossed the street, he came upon the massive building complex that housed hundreds of Shinobi. After looking at her address once again that was jotted down on a small piece of paper, he realized that the second set of numbers on it must signify an apartment number. He felt a little amiss at the thought of wandering halls looking for her apartment number. He was even more discouraged by the site of the building. Chard edges were smoke black here and there. Odd numbers of bulbs were either blown out, flickering, or just simply missing. Unless he saw this building before it was defaced by conflict, he would have no way of knowing if this was due to a lack of upkeep or through mass aggression. Seeing people live in such disheveled residences made Zenichi wonder what kind of leadership would allow their subordinates to live such a way. Maybe the rumors of Inu Endo were true.

As he reached the front entrance, a tall guy wielding an even larger sword on his back came forward. Zenichi wondered how someone could carry the burden of such weight long term. Zenichi had learned storage seals ages ago and wondered if the man in front of him simply didn't know there was a better way. Of course Zenichi knew that not all swords were the same and sometimes a sword is an extension of ones entity. None the less, Zenichi's back seemed sore just by looking at Yuuto.

Ah yes, Sorry to intrude. I am Zenichi of Konohagakure. I was about to leave Stone and wanted a quick word with the Daimyo, Haruka. I was told she lived in this complex. I went to her office but that place is a ghost town. I figured I would try here on the off chance of running into her. Do you know where I could find her?

Zenichi's tone was pleasant and seemed genuine. He even gave a small smile to the guy in hopes of showing his friendly intent. Yuuto had no reason to help Zenichi and he knew that. Buttering him up a bit with a friendly smile may go a long way is gaining Yuuto's trust and give Zenichi further direction on where to find Haruka.

 

[Enatsu]

The pained look on his face transformed to that of a kinder one. Yuuto did not trust these people entirely, his first night here gave reason to that. Yet to harshly judge the next man because of a fool's action is unbecoming of an adult. These were the things that keep you alive. This man's kind words would not sway him, but he would listen calmly as he spoke. The stranger uttered his name, Zenichi of Konoha. A dead village left to ravaging by the samurai, they had not called for help either, pride was their downfall. The name "Zenichi" hung in his mind, it was possible that he was the same person in the listings back on Anbu files. However instead of speculation he would simply stare at the manor behind him in full scope.

A long sigh escaped his mouth as he had to come up with what to say. After the contemplation Yuu would turn back around "It is a shame that you came today. Madame Haruka is currently in mourning. An assassin killed her grandmother and tried to kill her son. The small boy will always have the deep scar to remind him, I couldn't reverse the damage on either. I would give it a few days before attempting to speak to her, I'm sure whatever it is can wait until she's had time to give rest to her family."

With that Yuuto would smile and nod his head to the young man as he began to walk past him. There was nothing more to say, if this man tried to leech more information he would simply deny him the tale. There was nothing to say and truth be told he did not want to stir up his own unstable feelings on the death of her nana. There was the potential it could have been his fault.

[Leaving Topic Unless Stopped]

 

[Zethui Kobayashi]

As Yuuto's tale unfolded, shock crossed Zenichi's face. The brutality of killing one's elder and attempting to kill their child was insufferable. He couldn't quite believe someone would attempt such a violent act. His heart hurt for Haruka and he felt selfish trying to reach her at such a sad time in her life. His request and desires were pittance compared to what Haruka would want at a moment like this. Revenge, Mercy, one last moment with her loved grandmother. He wasn't sure how to really react to such news so he graciously bowed and thanked Yuuto for relaying the info. Zenichi looked to the building once more and saw the war scars for what they were, memorials to a moment that couldn't be forgot. As he turned away from the building to make his way towards the gates, a loud voice boomed across the village

"Click... Click... Click. Is this thing on? Yeah ok. Um... yeah, greetings Iwagakure. This is Kage-guard Ryujin Koyoko of Iwa. You received an announcement from a woman boasting her grandeur and triumph over a evil tyrant. Minamoto-Kono Haruka, the Twenty-third Daimyo, daughter of Mizukage Minamoto Taro, and the hand of Justice, is no hand of Justice. She murder your leader in cold blood (no pun intended...) and offers you a road towards a better tomorrow by proclaiming herself your new leader and protectorate. Spitting on your traditions and values, she parades around with the head of your king like it's some kind of trophy, denying him his honor and respect. Denying you your right to morn his death in Iwa tradition. The last words Inu-sama spoke to me was of his suspicions that Haruka was in league with Komogakure forces and now has been killed by her hands... I have documents stamped by Inu Endo-sama the reads...the Kage Guard is to act as the Kage's sword, his hands, and his eyes to cut down the wicked just as soon as defend the weak, to keep our enemies at bay just as soon as they might need to be done away with from a distance in the shadows... These vows I made still stand even pass Inu's untimely death. For treason and conspiracy, I am placing Haruka under arrest. Any who interfere will be labeled an accomplice and also charged with treason and conspiracy. We are without a leader which leaves us unprepared and unorganized if we were to be attacked... that is why, until the sennin has appointed a new Kage, the Kage guard will act as commander of military operations. As one of the kage guards is hospitalized and relieved of duties for the time being, both Kage guard Mikana and I will act as the Tsuchikage until a new one can be granted powers through a traditional Iwa competition of might. Thank you Iwa for your time. Know that your in good hands... Koyoko out."

Could her attacker be so brazen as to announce his disdain for Haruka in public so soon after a failed assassination attempt. Zenichi's thoughts of a Konoha divided came rushing back as he realized that a corrupt Daimyo lead a nation to ruin. While Stone wasn't exactly the same, friction between two sides would escalate to unknown levels. He wondered if it was his place to try to intervene. He wasn't a man of this village even if his Clan was housed within its walls. He wondered if someone could mediate the tension between the two before disaster struck but memories of the group meeting in the Spire showed him that resolve wouldn't be easily accomplished. Maybe it was time to leave while he could.

Unfortunately, his curiousity would lead him to a single outburst towards Yuuto. The man was pretty far away and possibly couldn't hear him as Zenichi yelled, Was the assassin a member of the Ryujin clan?

[Topic left unless question responded to]