[Plotboard] A Spoonful of Syrup

[Sanjuro]

One of the many perks to being recognized for his unique skillset was the many resources that had been funnelled his way, funding his experiments and leading to him gaining even more standing. The downside? His skillset was recognized as a useful tool not only in the village but in the field as well. Most of the situations where he had been requested to assist on a mission were situations that could and indeed had been handled by one of his subordinates, but it seemed in this case given the people involved Hideki would be required to personally oversee the mission. If there was one thing Hideki loathed more than being forced to abandon his experiments, it was being told to do so to babysit glorified nobility.

Honestly, if given half the chance he was likely to assassinate the Water Daimyo himself for dragging Hideki away from the lab.

Tugging the hood of the common brown cloak further down, sinking his face further into the shadows, he took a moment to reach out with his senses and feel the numerous lifeforms that populated the capital of Water Country. Unlike Kirigakure where the hum of chakra was in the air, fuelling the many seals that powered the village in most regards, this place felt almost desolate in comparison. Pockets of concentrated chakra here and there, some civilians with more chakra than others but still weaker than the average Genin. He sneered in contempt to the lot of them. Sheep. Lives that held little importance, expendable. These people would continue with their lives, never achieving anything, simply fading away and being forgotten. The idea almost sent a shudder down the Bannin's spine. He could certainly see the appeal of immortality that had lured in Kenji, when comparing his existence to these commoners. Being forgotten, fading into distant memory and then into eternal nothingness, was something Hideki would never abide.

Letting go of his chakra he turned to the young man accompanying him. Kuro's skillset would certainly come in useful here, though he almost wished he had brought along someone more capable of dealing with the political side of things simply so he wouldn't have to bother. "Welcome to the capital, Kuro. The cesspit of the country we call home." The trip over to the mainland had been thankfully short. In terms of distance the capital, in a different province, was closer than the only other village in the Kirigakure Province. Still, travelling via boat after learning to manipulate space and time left Hideki in something of a sour mood. It seemed so… time wasting, in comparison. "Come, the sooner we deal with this traitor the sooner we can go home and get back to work that actually matters."

Being shinobi lent the duo a certain amount of privilege over the merchants and farmers making their way into the capital. Simply by flashing their forehead protectors they could bypass the majority of the security and make their way towards the Daimyo's palace. Mile upon mile of roads and buildings and so many sights made up the city, many of which Hideki had seen before but Kuro likely had never seen in his life. Hideki would provide the young man no chance to sight-see, however, as he made a beeline for the samurai garrison attached to the palace.

[TyDie]

The trip had been long and boring, as boat travel normally was for Kuro. When one grew up their whole lives in a land surrounded by water and mostly made up of islands, riding on boats quickly lost the excitement factor. However, he wasn't prepared for the shear size and magnificence that was the capital city of water country. Surely such a place bore home to a myriad of underground organized crime syndicates, and judging by the overall layout of the palace from what he could see as they approached, there were multiple points where security was weak enough that a skilled infiltrator could-

"I'm as eager to get this task done as you are, but I don't believe we share the same reasons for that Hirohito-senpai."

His thoughts were cut short as Hideki rushed the two into the samurai garrison, flashing his headband this way and that to prove their purpose / allegiance. One of the many perks to working with his sensei was his desire to be in control, to take the reins and lead the situation; it meant that Hideki would likely do the talking, freeing up Kuro to focus keenly on the situation and maintain the silence that he normally preferred to maintain while on mission. Of course, he no doubt got some weird looks from the samurai; the only visible parts of his body were his hair and a single eye, and he was very clearly armed with various arrays of weaponry, not the least of which was his gloves. Though of course all they'd see would be the ninja pouch and the senbon laced within his arm sleeves, as Kuro took to hiding his weapons very thoroughly.

Still, he could only imagine what it was like for these commoners to see shinobi in person. Most people outside of the 5 major countries still though of Shinobi as sorcerers of the dark arts.

[FluffyGinja]

As both of the Shinobi were approaching the Samurai garrison, they would notice that there were several people out front of it, seemingly guarding it or awaiting the arrival of someone. When they had gotten close enough, the men lowered their spears in front of the door. "State your business." One of them would ask in a voice that seemed to belong to someone nearly twice his age, its thick rasp almost sounding as if he were perpetually sick. However, he would notice Hideki very quickly... and the headband that accompanied his pants. The samurai would seemingly peer over at the smaller one with him and notice it as well.

"Ah, you are the shinobi that we were told about. I'll escort you inside." He simply stated as he brought his fingers up to his lips and whistled once before he would begin to move inside. The whistle, whatever it was for, seemed to inform the others of his intention and someone came back to replace him rather quickly as he would begin to escort the two shinobi himself. When both of them would enter the grounds, they would notice the staggering amount of other samurai, doing some sort of work. It ranged from training newer recruits and veterans, to focusing on tactics, to very simple tasks as cleaning.

The samurai that was escorting him spoke no further though, he was simply moving them along. Eventually, he'd stop at a door and simply clear his throat, before he briefly opened the door. "A moment of your time. The shinobi have arrived." Which was promptly followed by a voice that seemed to state "Let them in then and begone. We have much to discuss."

When both of them would enter the room, they'd be greeted by a plethora of people and plenty of seating. It seemed to be a meeting room of sorts, with everyone assembled as was requested by the Daimyo. "Ah, the man himself. It is a pleasure to meet you, Hirohito-san." The man at the far end of the room spoke. His hair was matted to his face, graying with age, and it was unfathomably long. He was dressed in a serious garb, one that was gifted to him by the Daimyo himself and he seemed to be taking this entire event seriously. He move around the group of people, the massive table and approached Hideki, before bowing in recognition. "It is a honour to have you here. Along with your companion, whom I assume is but a vessel for your knowledge and something with whom you'd like to impart more of the politics of Water Country upon. I welcome you both. Please, have a seat. We are ready to begin. There is much to discuss and even more to do." It was clear... the rumours of this shinobi had begun to worry most and it was seemingly starting to affect the general mood of the intelligence officers as well as their head of security. "Ah, I forgot, my apologies. Junpei, Kariya. Head of Security." He stated as he was walking back to his seat, his name inconsequential it seemed as he was more keen to get down to business.

[Sanjuro]

More out of habit than any thinking that he would need to make a quick escape, Hideki began casing the grounds of the samurai garrison as soon as they were escorted through the gates. While the majority of the bodies within were focused on tasks like training or cleaning, Hideki noted the guards more keenly, the way they moved and any kind of search patterns they may have established. This close to the palace, Hideki realized they were dealing with more formally and superiorly trained samurai than the usual fodder left in garrisons around the rest of the Water Country islands. Hideki spoke not a word to their escort, a favour which the man repaid in kind until they arrived at a door. The doctor closed his eyes and reached forward with his senses, getting a feel for what awaited them in the room beyond in the seconds before the door was opened. While he was at it he took note of Kuro's chakra signature, changed as it was since the introduction of the Kessenchu, and made a mental note to separate it from the rest of the group.

Far more people than he imagined were necessary for a briefing with security. Which meant the Daimyo had gotten involved in this affair himself. He sincerely doubted the head of security would have arranged for this many vassals to be at a meeting that displayed his ineptitude. With a silent motion, Hideki ensured Kuro would remain quiet and a few steps behind and to the left of him. Loathe as Hideki was to admit it, decorum had to be upheld here.

The door opened and Hideki stepped into the room carefully, again performing a cursory examination of the area even as he continued to walk forward. The elderly man clearly leading the procession stood as soon as Hideki entered, clothed in regal attire though not of a station high enough to be true nobility. This was the man they were here to see then. "A gesture I return in kind." Hideki bowed his head ever so slightly in recognition of the deep bow the man had given him. Hideki had never prostrated himself before anyone, not even the Mizukage, but he was willing to show respect where it was necessary. "Yes, my vassal has a woeful lack of understanding when it comes to the wider world of politics. Far more dangerous battles have been fought with words than ever have been with blades, something I trust he will come to understand in time." Hideki moved to take a seat but signalled for Kuro to remain standing behind him. "Pay attention, Kuro."

It was a power play more than anything. Kuro looked far more intimidating that Hideki did, garbed entirely in black and with nothing but his hair and eye visible. Having him standing at the ready, far more able to fight at a moment's notice, would likely dissuade any of the intelligence officers that had any ideas of questioning their presence more vigorously than necessary. They probably didn't even realize that Kuro was actually his name, considering it meant Black and the boy's outfit… well, it wasn't what one would call inconspicuous. "For those unaware, I am Hirohito Hideki. Now, perhaps you would be polite enough to inform myself and my companion how you became aware of this threat."

TechniquesShow

[Mental Arts • Situational Awareness]
C-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 20 Instinct
Hideki has a keen sense of awareness of his environment; his natural attention to detail allows him to passively memorize the layout of an area as he moves through it. He naturally identifies potential entry and exit points, the positions of other people and their general patterns of movement.

[Beyond Senses]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Ninjutsu/Control/Instinct stats of 10
This sensor jutsu is used by Hideki to feel chakra sources within a radius of 25 yards. While this jutsu is fairly helpful in sensing chakra, it is unable to actually pinpoint specific chakras outside of 10 feet. This only gives Hideki an idea of how many entities with chakra are present in their general area.

[Archive • Chakra Signature]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
By studying an individual chakra source within his range, Hideki is able to record and store that particular chakra signature in his mind. The range at which he can study a single chakra signature is determined by which Senses technique he applies at the time. Alone, this only allows Hideki to record and recall individual chakra signatures with perfect clarity, but it serves as a gateway for other sensory techniques.

[TyDie]

Kuro was of the same mind as Hideki in at least one respect; his habitual attention to his surroundings that bordered on paranoia led to him mapping out the best methods of escape, as well as the best methods of using the terrain to his advantage should a scuffle break out. As the two moved through the samurai garrison, he took into account the average size and shape of the samurai he saw. They were clearly above the average run of the mill samurai one would see in other areas of the world; it was obvious that these samurai were part of the guard forces for the Daimyo himself. Therefore it was clear that they were not only strong, but skilled as well.

They'd prove to be quite a challenge if it came to it... not that he expected it to.

This all took him about twice as long as it took Hideki to understand more than likely, given Hideki's incredible ability to process information in fractions of a second. Still, Kuro's mind was fast enough to understand what it needed to, when he needed it to. He walked into what he could only surmise was a briefing room, giving only a small nod in response to the little recognition he received from the daimyo's head of security. It was just as well, his sensei's reputation far outweighed his own... But of course, that was fine. He didn't really want any recognition for his actions, given the methods he used. However, even this man must have recognized the Seven Swordsmen's mark on his forehead protector.

Kuro watched as Hideki took his seat and motioned for Kuro to continue standing; He wanted Kuro to remain at attention. And so, out of respect and duty, Kuro stood slightly to Hideki's left with his arms crossed in front of him, his single eye gauging the men within the room, bouncing from one to the other as he waited and listened to all that needed to be said. Of course, he was also watching body language, looking for any signs of agitation or discomfort at their presence, as well as any lies that may or may not have been said during their briefing. If there was an attempt against the Daimyo, none were beyond scrutiny; in fact, it was quite probable that someone within security was in fact involved somehow.

Jutsu UsedShow

[Tactical Awareness]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Mapping out a location for a mission is important. Detailing security, Planning escape routes and keeping track of people’s comings and goings are just a few examples of what must be done to ensure mission success. Kuro has learned how to study a location, find faults in its layout and is able to build a mental map of his area, picking and choosing places which may be its weakest areas and best points of entry. As a result his sense of direction and ability to understand an area's layout are keen, as well as his ability to pay attention to his surroundings at all times.

[Find the Truth]
C-rank Taijutsu Discipline
Kuro has trained himself to pick up on the subtle tells that people give off when they tell lies, such as body language and microexpressions, small audible tells such as nervous laughs or sighs, and eye movement. This technique allows Kuro to tell when someone is lying, whether it's to him or anyone around him, as long as he is paying close attention to the situation at hand. This can be fooled by someone with a technique meant to hide their tells so long as the jutsu is of a higher rank than this one.

[FluffyGinja]

"Absolutely, Hirohito-san. About a week ago, one of my scouts reported seeing a few strange occurrences. Mainly, there was a great deal of highwaymen suddenly dead. While this is often normal thanks to the Daimyo's forces, this was not at the hand of a blade of my own. We found this out later when said same scout was found with several of your shinobi tools embedded within his chest. Originally, we suspected it was a rogue shinobi for our own sake. It would make it far easier to prepare for a greater threat and it be a more minuscule one than the other way around, as you likely know, Hirohito-san." His voice was calm, and collected. His eyes scanned the room as he spoke, making contact with a few key individuals who were indeed her due to the Daimyo's intervention in this affair.

"Normally, this would not cause for such alarm had we not found out but recently that this man was indeed a shinobi and was indeed after the Daimyo's life. Whoever this person is, they are extremely dangerous and cocky." He stated as he passed some papers towards Hideki. It was any and all information on the shinobi that could be gathered. It was very... very little but it was a start. "They use poisons of some kind, which I was unfortunately a witness to when several of my men simply dropped dead only a day after encountering this person. They work with extreme percision and swiftness, a credit to Kirigakure's training and strength... but at current, a disadvantage for us." Along with the papers, Hideki would notice that one of them seemed to be addressed to the Daimyo himself. One that was very simple and arrogant in its writing. 'Prepare your best. I desire a challenge before you die.'

Whoever the person was, one thing was certain... Hideki was definitely going to be needed in this venture. "If I had more information, I'd happily give it to you, but as it stands... I've only managed to have one scout survive an encounter with this person and it was at this person's own fruition." The entire time, he spoke with a small sense of frustration at his own short comings and desperation at the target at hand that likely on Hideki might pick up on.

[Sanjuro]

Hideki lifted his elbows to rest of the edge of his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his face while he surveyed the room with one eye and kept the rest of his attention focused on Kariya. While he wasn't impressed that they had been called in before the threat had even been determined to be real, the fact that it only later came to be true was the only thing keeping Hideki from walking out of the room right now and going home. When Kariya eyed certain individuals he made a subtle motion with his finger that hopefully Kuro would be perceptive enough to pick up on. The ones the Daimyo personally sent here Hideki wanted to check out first. It tended to be people closest to the victim that wanted the target dead the most.

The scientist took the papers that had been passed over the table and spoke without looking up from them. "I myself am in fact a proponent of using the exact amount of force necessary to counter a threat. No more, no less." His eyes narrowed when he read the section that mentioned the dead soldiers and then he turned his gaze back to Kariya when the man mentioned poison. So that part of the mission statement had been true at least. He looked back down to the papers and took a closer look at the note. "Do you still have the corpses of your soldiers felled by the poison? I would like to examine them if you do." He passed the papers back to Kuro to let him look them over. There wasn't much at all to go off.

"I'll also need to talk to the survivor. There are a lot of Kirigakure ninja that favour the use of poisons. It is an effective tool, especially against civilians." He steepled his fingers in front of his face again and let the light of the candles in the room hide his eyes behind his lenses. "I can assure you, minister, that your men were never equipped for dealing with a shinobi. Your sense of frustration is misplaced. Even the lowliest Genin are trained well enough to hide their presence from and eliminate civilians. That is why we charge such exuberant amounts for our services."

He was slightly concerned about the note that declared the shinobi's intentions. Most trained ninja would never declare their intent to kill a target before doing so. It was a sure-fire way to get yourself killed. Perhaps whoever this was had other intentions in mind. Drawing the attention of Kirigakure for example? There was too little information to draw any serious conclusions yet. His eyes flicked around the room, looking for any signs of nervousness or discomfort from any of those seated at the table.

TechniquesShow

[Mental Arts • Keen Observation]
B-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 30 Instinct
Hideki's observational skills borders on the preternatural, taking in even the most subtle of details in those around him. He is so constantly aware of others that he can pick up on tension changes in the body allowing him to judge whether a punch is about to be thrown or even track the movements of a pen as someone writes in order to make an accurate guess as to the information.

[Mental Arts • Micro-Expressions]
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 40 Instinct
Reading micro-expressions is a particularly good way of telling if someone is lying; with years of training even the smallest of motions can reveal the truth hidden behind the words. Hideki is capable of picking up on these subtle tells, a miniscule upturn of a lip, a slight twitch of the hand. Everything tells a story and Hideki knows how to interpret them.

[FluffyGinja]

Hideki would notice, for certain, the smallest sense of relief from Kariya. It was clear that he was glad that someone of Hideki's skill, rank and knowledge was here. Especially after the fiasco that was his own failings. "I am glad for you advice concerning the security, Hirohito-san. We do still have some of the bodies of the corpses... The rest, we were unable to retrieve due to various complications or they have already been laid to rest. The survivor is currently here... Likely in his own room. He has not been talkative nor has he seemed himself after encountering the shinobi." He stated as he would straighten himself up some. He knew that Kirigakure shinobi were a threat but he had had no clue just how bad it was.

"If you desire, I can call someone to lead around at your leisure." He stated as he would take a moment to breath in deep. The room seemed to... calm down considerably. Even those that were sent here by the Daimyo were seemingly far more relaxed and at ease. With that being said, Kariya himself even looked more visibly imposing. Far more of what his title would appear. All thanks to what could essentially come down to Hideki's mere presence within the room.

[Sanjuro]

His eyebrow lifted imperceptibly at the feeling of ease that spread throughout the room. It was a strange emotion, one that Hideki rarely noticed in others who were subjected to his presence. It also wasn't an emotion Hideki particularly approved of. While they may be little more than civilians in comparison to Hideki, these men were supposed to be key holders of power; allowing themselves to fall into a sense of complacency and reliance on Kiri, whilst useful to the village, was disgusting to the scientist. Sneering at the group, he stood up and regarded them all with no sign of respect in his look. "My apprentice will see to the survivor and I shall require an escort to wherever it is you keep your dead. Kirigakure shall handle this mess."

He turned and walked out of the room without waiting for a dismissal, motioning for Kuro to follow. The second they were outside and awaiting their escort to arrive, Hideki erected a barrier to prevent anyone from listening in on the duo. "Apply whatever methods you find necessary to get information from the survivor. I don't particularly care whether he lives or dies, so long as you get some form of evidence as to who it is we are dealing with. A description, a scent, an intuition, anything. And ensure he isn't under the effects of any poisons when he does speak. Check his pupils, blood pressure, excessive sweating, dryness of mouth. There are numerous drugs that can affect the mind and manipulate what we believe to be truth."

As he spoke he took a brush and ink pot from his equipment pouch and began to carefully pen a set of fuuinjutsu onto Kuro's lip and ear. "Standard communication seals. Channel chakra into the Speak seal on your lip when you need to relay information to me." He moved the brush in deft, expert strokes, and then without so much as flinching pulled open his shirt and began to paint another seal on Kuro's chest. "The Kessenchu should are a powerful tool but given that we are likely facing an expert in poison usage I cannot afford to leave things to chance. This will tell me if your vitals fluctuate beyond acceptable levels. Far too much work has gone into you to risk your life now."

As he applied the finishing touches to the seals, he gathered his chakra and pushed it into all three, making them glow as they accepted the energy and began to function; all the seals linked to ones Hideki himself wore at almost all times. He felt the connection settle and nodded more to himself than anyone else, slipping his tools away.

TechniquesShow

[Auditory Diffraction]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After channelling his chakra, Hideki will create a small cube-shaped barrier in his hand. This cube then expands until it creates a 'room' which is 2m3. The barrier itself has a very subtle light blue glow but is intangible, with anyone being able to come or go as they please. The purpose of the barrier is to intercept any sound waves coming from the inside of the barrier, effectively creating a 'bubble of privacy' where only those that are in the confines of the barrier are able to hear what is said within. If Hideki were to leave the area or get knocked unconscious, the barrier fades instantly; otherwise it can last for up to 10 posts.

[Link]
C-Rank Augment Fūinjutsu
By placing a small seal behind the ear and on the inside of the lip, and then channelling chakra into them, Hideki creates an audio link between himself and any targets he personally place this seal combination on. While hearing is always active, channelling chakra into the seal allows effected targets to speak, their words being stored and transmitted to the other seals.

[Patient Monitor]
C-Rank Augment Fūinjutsu
A Fūinjutsu created by Hideki in order to monitor the health of others whilst in the field. After writing out the seal directly onto the skin of an individual, on their chest over their heart, the doctor will activate it. Physically the seal is a circle of ink with a blank space in the middle. This seal has no time limit and will last until physically removed, though it can be toggled on and off by Hideki. The blank space in the middle is filled with a number between 1 and 5, depending on when it is activated. Once activated, it will link to Hideki's parent seal which is located on his palm. The parent seal will heat up and the blank space in the centre will fill in with the number of the seal if they are triggered. It doesn't give him any information as to how injured they are or what kind of injury they have sustained, only that it is potentially life threatening and requires immediate attention.

[TyDie]

Kuro stood silently, watching and judging the entire situation over and over again, running every possible circumstance in his head as he listened to what was being said. It was clear that this threat was skilled... the note was just plain hubris though, and it left a bad taste in his mouth. He had great skill to be sure, but he acted like a genin trying to prove his worth. He would take pleasure in spilling the bastard's blood. When Hideki mentioned what was to be done next, standing from the table as he did so, Kuro would merely give a small nod to the group before following his sensei out the door.

Once outside and within the confines of Hideki's soundproof barrier, Kuro would speak in response to his sensei's commands. "I don't see why I would need to kill him. My understanding based on what I heard is that he's still in shock, so I don't think physical coercion will do much good... but I will keep it in mind and use it if necessary. However, I share your concern about the poison; I've heard of poisons with delayed or constant effects not only on the brain, but on the body. I will keep an eye out for any signs of poison in the man's body. Hell, I wonder if the Kessenchu can tell me if he's poisoned or not... if I put a few in his blood, they might be able to figure it out."

Kuro stood completely still as the doctor put the various seals on his body, one pair for communication and one to monitor his physical condition. Seals that he had worn numerous times before, so this was no different. "I'll inform you immediately of any details that are pertinent to the situation at hand. And I'd ask that you let me know anything you find out about the poisons, so I know what to look for while talking to this man. Plus, any information on this man's poisons will be helpful for the future, when we inevitably fight the target."

This was admittedly the first time he had ever really gotten to work with his sensei. Almost 10 years of service to the man, and not once had he taken an official mission with him. Not once had he been able to call the man his teammate, to work beside him instead of -for- him. It was almost surreal to be honest. With nothing else to say, Kuro would give his sensei a small nod before walking towards where the survivor was reportedly staying.

[FluffyGinja]

Without delay, just as the seals were finishing, two people came around the corner of the facility and approached them. "Hirohito-Sama, Aisu-Sama." They'd both state as they bowed before one of them gestured to each of them to follow before beginning to lead them off. The one that led Hideki was a far older man, aged but battle hardened from the expression he had on his face and the telling scars of fights. He didn't speak, possibly orders from whoever had told him to escort Hideki, and it didn't take long at all. Mere minutes, and they had arrived at a very makeshift morgue of sorts. Dead were strewn about, on tables, on the floor.

It was not what Hideki would be used to. However, he was not given much chance to observe everything as he was led to a backroom and the man who led him gestured to the bodies that lie on the table. Side by side, all with various wounds... but nothing that looked entirely fatal. Without a peep, the samurai moved himself out of Hideki's way... and seemed to stand guard near the door, not allowing anyone to enter. It would seem that they understood privacy. This would give Hideki free reign to exam the bodies as he saw fit.

Meanwhile, Kuro was being led by an equally silent man, one of middle age with hardly any noticable features, much like himself. This escort took far longer and he was moved into a far more secure area before he was gestured into a room. When he would enter, there was a person lying on a bed. He seemed unconcious, but was quickly arisen when the man who had escorted him spoke up. "Shinji, get up! Someone needs to talk to you!" He stated, his voice husky, almost as if it was gravel under foot. With that, he stood guard as the person lying there seemed to open their eyes barely and peer at Kuro... expecting someone. Expecting speech of some kind.