The Supernal Triumvirate

[Valkier]

 Kirigakure no Sato, twelve hours ago... - Aisu Naohiro stood tall upon the roof of the Mizukage's tower, hands folded behind his straight back, watching the mists of Kirigakure sink into twilight. A cool spring wind whipped at his heavy cloak, pulling the dark fabric out into an ominious bridal train behind him, but he barely registered the tug or touch of the weather. He came here to escape and to think, to be alone far above the mundane worries of the village where he could feel as one with the mists, and his mind was elsewhere. On Kaguya Makoto, their new young Jinchuuriki, and on the puppetmaster's strings tied to her. How far did he dare push her?

For the most part he'd left Karagata Shinjiro to guide her through her first weeks as a container for the legendary warrior spirit of Ayago. There was no better teacher in the world, certainly, but his strong influence over an impressionable young mind remained a lingering concern. How far could he trust the man? A wry smile flashed across his face as the unpleasant answer came immediately: Not far, not far at all. Shinjiro may continue to pay lip service to his position for the time being, but Naohiro was under no illusions. The Karagata heir served his own goal, and the moment they ceased to align with those of the village would be the moment his loyalty ended. The smile faded to be replaced by a scowl. He was loyal for now, at least. So far as anyone could tell. But it remained critical that the young Makoto find bonds outside of the Karagata's reach, too, lest she end up as no more than a tool in the assassin's pocket.

That made the decision, then. For all her youth and inexperience, for all her newness to her bond, he would send her elsewhere. Not for long, and not unguarded, but just long enough for her to find her own path through the trials of being a Jinchuuriki. She could return to Shinjiro's expert grasp in a few weeks, perhaps, once she'd had a taste of freedom and come to her own terms with her new position. But where? With Nishiki, perhaps? The scowl shifted to a frown and a shake of his head. No, the Trickster was powerful, but perhaps not the most... delicate of operatives. His knack for mischief may spell disaster for someone so new to their powers as Makoto. And yet, it made the most sense to set the young woman up with her spirit-wielding peers. Iwagakure has several young Jinchuuriki, he realised, and his frowned deepened. Can I trust them so far, with something so valuable? And yet, in all other respects, it was perfect. He turned back to the tower and finally thought to secure his cloak. He could make the arrangements and get Makoto set up to teleport directly to the Hidden Rock, and consider the risk during the night. Perhaps prepare some contingencies, ensuring that she could be reverse summoned home again should it ever be needed... -

---

-  Earth Country, the following morning...

A few hours nighttime hike through the foothills and plateaus north of Iwagakure saw Hachiya Kotori, Jinchuuriki of Life, standing at the head of a serene forested valley. The rising sun painted the skies a pastel wash of pink, red, and orange blending to cool blue with the coming day, and the cool mountain air reminded her of home—her first home, not Iwagakure, a quaint mountain village far away from the bustle of Earth Countries many cities. Both that village and this valley were beyond the range of most prying eyes, and that had been an essential request for today's assignment. Barring the honour guard of tenkujutsu-trained jounin nearby for their emergency protection, the three Jinchuuriki—Life, Heaven, and Fate—were to meet, by the order of two kage. Three young ninja, from three distant nations, with one common bond. She found a quiet rock right at the head of the valley and stretched out atop it, letting her white hair blow in the breeze as she turned and waited for the other two distant figures to catch up...

---

---

[Drak]

The pair of shinobi handlers who had been sent to watch over Makoto while she was in Iwa had been there at her sealing. She did not recognize them, nor did she ask. Rather, as she channeled the power of the new spirit, she could see the events. She saw her bound and writhing body on the stone slab through their eyes and heard her own screams through their ears.

With a quick shake of her head, Mako dispersed her new sense. This must have been the boon that Ayago gave her. Since that day training with Shinji, Ayago had not spoken to her even once. The dreams had not abated either. Almost like Ayago was sitting on the sidelines of her consciousness and dropping hints about something that was as of yet still unknown to her.

This was the first time Makoto had ever been outside of Water Country, vassal states notwithstanding. The light breeze cut through even the warmest of her clothes and chilled her to her core. Both she and the clothes were designed for the warm, humid weather of Kiri, not this new land of steppe and forest ringed and cut through by snow-peaked mountains.

Mako shivered as she and her guards trudged through the trees. In the distance, she could see a small group of Iwa shinobi huddled a short distance from a single figure atop a hill. Probably one of the people she had been sent here to meet. With a nod to the Iwa shinobi, her guards stopped and let Makoto go on ahead.

She ascended the hill and found herself looking at a young woman who looked to be around her age. A faint smirk came across Makoto’s features when she saw that the stranger had white hair, just like her.

“Kaguya Makoto, Chuunin of Kirigakure no Sato, Dagger of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist and-” a moment of hesitation. Normally the matter of Ayago was something to play close to the chest, especially with a member of another village. Then again, the Mizukage had sent her here for the express purpose of training with other jinchuuriki. “- and host of Ayago, spirit of Fate.”

A warm feeling spread through her. Perhaps Ayago was pleased at the way in which Makoto had gathered her own set of titles.

“Who are you?”

[Kabu]

"It sure does feel good to be home! It's almost like I never left." Shoshiki Mei happily hummed to herself as she cheerfully walked along, a very unhappy Jinchuuriki following too far behind as they traveled to their destination. Upon learning of this upcoming meeting she had been all too happy about the opportunity to return home. Suna wasn't the most awful place, she had even come to surprisingly enjoy her time there, but she was excited for the opportunity to see her parents and Maki. Of course there was business to be done first, they hadn't come for a leisurely visit but rather for a meeting, but perhaps once that was done...

Koyuki meanwhile was much less enthused, the girl having been in a sour mood ever since they had crossed the border into Rock Country. "I don't see how you can stand this. We haven't been here long and already I want to go home." she grumbled, picking up her pace to walk by her handler's side. She had expected something like this to happen eventually but she had been hoping for more time to prepare first. She also hadn't been expecting it to be so soon after she had been made a Jinchuuriki... There was also the matter of her handler, she having been under the assumption that such people worked at a distance, but oh well... In their short time together she had already realized that Mei was going to be sticking to her like glue while letting others handle the stealthy approach.

In response to Koyuki's grumbling Mei giggled, taking a moment to look over at her pouting charge. "I told you it would be cold and I even offered some warmer clothes before we left." she spoke, clearly reprimanding the girl.

"Your clothes are so stuffy and I didn't think it would be this cold!" Koyuki practically shouted in return, shuddering as a gust of freezing wind blew by. Back home it did get cold at night and she didn't really like that either but this... this was somehow even more unbearable.

Luckily for her their destination soon came into view, a group of people already standing up on a hill, two of them appearing to be girls around her own age. She of course didn't know either of them but she was able to recognize that they were likely the fellow hosts they were to meet. Even if she hadn't been certain, the slight stir of the Genma within her consciousness told her all that she needed to know.

And so... "Sorry if we're late!' she called out with some semblance of a smile, albeit a bit stiff and twitchy, as the pair climbed the hill, Mei having taken to walking a few steps behind her. "Shinsen... Koyuki." she began to introduce herself, pausing as she was cut off by another freezing gust. "Host of the Heaven Genma and Hater of Cold."