To Hunt a God

[Das Kirb]

With the sun's blasting rays beating down upon the land and the wind whipping up an abrasive and oppressive environment Katsu could only wonder why anyone would choose such a place to call home. The very nature of the land was dead and lifeless. water was so scarce as to be a treasured commodity. Something the woman had taken for granted had been one of the most rare resources to come across in this eternal hellscape. With the wind causes scents to be scattered and nearly impossible to follow it made it even worse. But, the ultimate goal wasn't some grand village or even to hunt game. The largest of which being the odd camel only it wouldn't be a fruitful hunt anyway. No, the intention was to seek a man who's face had been replaced by the sun. And the hunt was going slowly to say the least. No smell, no sight in the blinding light, and nothing but the wind and odd scorpion on the sand to grace the ears. No, all the primal woman had to go on was a feeling, an instinct. One that drew her further into the desert's vast expanse. While the sunburn and lack of food or water made her mood less than approachable at this point the feral creature was thankful for her immortality in such a damned place.

When she wandered far into the setting sun Katsu had felt the constant pull, something primordial pulling her further. The fading light caused her no pause and finally the persistence had paid off. Jutting from the sun baked earth in the middle of nowhere was a lone spire that shot into the sky like a great tree to kiss the heavens. There existed nothing else for miles, but an unknowable feeling told the woman this was the place. Something called to her, similar to the constant ache of hunter's hunger. It pulled at her mind to dive below the sea of sand. Grunting, knowing the sheer hell she was about to be in, Katsu did so. With no entrance and only the vague notion that a god rest beneath her feet, Katsu got on her knees and scooped away at the sands. Slowly at first and then recalling her old life. She pushed her entire body against the small cutting stones that threatened to flay her alive. Determination and sheer stubbornness pushed her further until eventually she was entirely submerged. No air to breath or light to see, but it mattered not. More she "swam" through the earth. Slowly but surely, she made her way to a much more dense bit of rock. It took much effort, an almost impossible amount for her weakened frame, but she pushed through. Breaking her way into a large staircase, the bottom of which a statue with sword and shield embellished by gems of value stood. Exhausted, breathing heavily, and entirely done with this shit Katsu elected a different path. She took a great gulp of air and let out a feral ear splitting primal roar to echo through the chambered halls. If this truly was the place of a god's rest and manned by mortal hands. That reverberating call and challenge would bring them to her as she caught her breath and let the weeping wounds heal.

[Ace Trainer]

Night falling onto the temple made no difference to the inhabitants in it - many of whom would spend enough days in it that the sense of 'day' and 'night' had fallen away to simply when you were sleepy and when you weren't. Indra had been in on the dorms, standing in front of a dirty, marred old mirror adjusting his hair. Already the temporarily dyed white locks were beginning to turn back to his natural color as they grew and he had resigned to needing to cut and dye it again. As he stared back into his own eyes though, a smile would creep onto his face as the feeling of a familiar soul entered his senses from above him.

"Katsu."

What an interesting creature they'd been. Clearly someone who needed the light, and allegedly a former host of a genma much like himself. While she had been strange, he'd anticipated the moment when she'd join him here. An opportunity to learn more both about her, and himself. But even more, they seemed to be a lost soul, and the Sun served many purposes but foremost of all it provided a guiding light. Even here under the vast desert of Wind Country, Indra enjoyed the idea of getting to fulfill his purpose of being a part of that guiding light.

Taking the hair tie on the basin before him, Indra would loop it around his hair, tucking extra stray hairs behind his ears and intending to splash water on his face when a blood curdling roar would echo through the temple, the very walls shaking and dust descending from the ceiling above him. Laughing, he'd leave a moment, instead deciding not to wash his face and turn to extra the room, throwing a cloak over his shoulders. He was dressed in simple clothes, nothing fancy, appropriate for the setting.

As he rounded the corner, he'd enter the hallway and put his eyes on Katsu who had surely gotten even more impatient in the moments of waiting and would wave, "Hey! He- Oh.", her nakedness would register on him, and Indra would frown. Chakra strings would fly from his finger through the hall and nab onto a cloak, bringing it to her and releasing it before her, "This is a home, but it is a religious site too so I'll have to ask you remain...covered.", he said politely. He wondered if she'd take offense, but would attempt to quickly move the conversation along to avoid it, "I'm glad you've been able to recover, and were able to find us! How have you been feeling...?", he asked. Then, something would seemingly occur to him because he'd make a face and then hold a hand out, a white wisp forming in it. He'd release it forward and it would seemingly slingshot to Katsu, vanishing into her chest. As it did, suddenly she'd be able to recognize his face, "Its me by the way!", he confessed, realizing she wouldn't be able to recognize him without that part of her soul to remember his face.

[Das Kirb]

As Indra rounded the corner Katsu would be sitting upon the stones, panting at the effort exerted. The wounds did not mend, her body did not respond to her demands immediately. With lungs of fire she exhaled a raspy cough. However, the sunlight face of a born again god pierced behind the weakness. It stirred that defiance just enough for her to stand and witness him.

She took the cloak and let it drag as she stepped forward. A sense of rage and confusion kept gnawing in the back of her mind. This. . . creature, someone like she once was, it stood before her now with nothing but simple cloth. The body of a man so easily sundered to release a god hidden beneath. A creature of light and darkness, duality in her eyes, and reeking of the same taint she held. The crimson fluid dripping from her raw skin was ignored as another wet sand encrusted step was taken towards a being who's face was made of light. The cloak was wrung like a garrot wire. The god was trapped. It would be freed. It wasn't Vorashu, but it'd be a start.

When he moved she took another step forward, the wet crunch of sand her defiance against whatever he might do. However, weakness and the lingering death slowed her reactions and his movement would be only answered by threat. The light penetrated her chest and it was as if the confusion lifted. A man now stood, not a god mounting a man's frame. His face. . . it came into focus. The face of a young man who's form was no more eldritch than any other. No, he was not like the thing that should not be. Nor was he a living god. His scent was the same as the bastard who caged Vorashu, steeped in blood and bile. It was somehow. . . moreso though. Though less at the same time. Less physical, less real. There was death, but it wasn't her blood soaked slaughter. And it wasn't the eldritch creature from her past that smell of wrongness. Even Kori's ash and smoke filled aura was not the same. No. . . This smelled different. The first time she caught the whiff it was unplacable. He was like she was, like Shinji is. But whatever was within him felt of. . . destined death.

As reality sank in Katsu balanced her stand not but a few feet from him, analyzing intently and silently. The tension in her shifted from rage and aggression to one of contemplation. Though she towered above him she felt so small before him. The last meeting had been of a desperate creature and a man. This was not of a woman and that man. Katsu held the cloak out to him and made a choice. She'd play nice. The reality had finally sank in. He wielded oblivion, and though her face showed exhaustion and rage, her soul housed terror.

Katsu's body shifted and molded, her skin molding and melting into unreal shapes. Hair grew thick and weaved itself into a facsimile of fabric. The appearance of a rough spun covering for her breasts that ran down to her knees. It would cover.

"Keep your robe. I feel better in my own skin." Katsu smoke plainly, barely containing the chaotic emotions that swirled within. "And I'll feel better when my wings grow back, but that's still a ways off. I'll feel better still knowing what the fuck you are." Katsu locked eyes with him. She couldn't hide the terror within, but it was mixed with defiance in that gaze, as if demanding the answer despite it.

[Ace Trainer]

Indra watched as the emotions passed through Katsu's face, and focused intently as the soul of Katsu's soul...shifted around. It was clear Katsu was struggling with something related to Indra, and he was quite cautious about their response. It was very clearly not outside the realm of possibility that Katsu would leap into a rage and attack him standing in the temple. That was very clear to him. Katsu had claimed to be a former host, much like himself, but Indra couldn't quite parse out what that meant for their relationship. He had half expected that the Soul Genma within him would be responsive to Katsu - did the Genma know each other? Could they sense others? The Soul Genma had never spoken of Ashura or the beast within him. Momentarily Indra found himself wondering about Ashura before refocusing on the person before him.

He was relieved when Katsu elected to at least cover themselves partially. The tenants of Yuumegure varied from place to place, but acts of prudence and modesty were more or less the norm, and minimally inside of holy grounds. Women wearing scarves and covering, men in cloaks and shrouds, all were quite normative for Yuumegure. Indra was a religious boy, and while he wasn't often one to try and force Yuumegure down anyone's throats, he did appreciate a bit of compliance when it came to his beliefs in this setting.

"You do look better.", he said in response to Katsu mentioning her wings growing back. In truth, he had said it earlier just to be polite - while she looked improved she still looked to be in quite rough shape. "What I am?"

He smiled mysteriously, turning his back to Katsu and taking a few steps, "I'm a believer of Yuumegure, a simple follower of the Sun.", he would raise a hand, seemingly beckoning Katsu to follow him, "Are you hungry? We have food. Its mostly vegetarian...I don't know if that suits you?", Katsu did not strike him as someone who subsisted off of a vegetarian diet.

He walked slowly, paying attention to the storm resonating from Katsu to see if she'd follow, and to make sure she didn't attack.

[Das Kirb]

"I am better, at least physically." There was a tamber to the words spoken. Indra captured a type of inquisition that was almost foreign. He demanded a level of respect that didn't spawn from feat nor fear. It was an odd sensation to recognize. It spoke of conviction but the enforcement was coming from something else. A moral high ground came to mind but thus far there was only the mask of civility. Offers of food and shelter with only the slightest demand for modesty, no bite back when her idea of modesty was elected instead. The beast truly couldn't pierce the veil yet. Nor could she elicit the information as to why he felt so familiar. A fact that vexed the titan.

The thought to pounce and pin this man came to mind. She was significantly larger and he damned sure didn't have the weapons needed to fend her off should the lust take hold. Her teeth would tear into his fit but small body with ease. The mere thought of devouring him caused instinctive salivation and she fought back the urge. Besides, every time she looked at him she felt a void and the sudden admittance to her own deep seeded fear of this man caught her swallowing hard. Especially with the offer of food she doubted much would be gained. And if he felt like Shinji or how she used too then a hidden blade would be readily drawn. Instead she adopted and adapted. Civility, or at least a feigned attempt at peaceful minds, was the order of the moment. "I usually take my meals. . . on the go. I won't turn it down anyway."

"You worship the sun, call it a god. Why live down here away from it? And why summon a god like me into your home?"

[Ace Trainer]

’At least physically

Indra let off a soft sigh, sadness for the creature visiting him. Katsu had an interesting soul, but there was a purity to it that Indra could recognize. Uninhibited and uncorrupted by the world of man in a way that he found resonated with him. She would accept his offer of food, though and he’d lead her down the hall to the first room they’d pass, a kitchen. A stove top was lit with a pan on it, indicating someone had been in here cooking. He’d gesture to the table and chairs in the center of the room, not fully expecting Katsu to actually take them. Without yet providing an answer to Katsu’s question, he’d begin preparing the meal and plating it. Some sort of tomato dish, he cracked two eggs into the mix and garnished it with some green plants before turning and placing one on the table, holding another for himself.

Whether she began eat or not, Indra would take a forkful of the dish and eat it, a face of relief coming onto him as he ate for the first time in the day.

He’d place the plate down and take a stick of incense off a container on the table, and turn it around to strike against the open flame on the stovetop. ”In Yuumegure, the Sun is our Goddess, but she reaches us through Her Light.”, he explained. ”Is this flame a god?”, he asked rhetorically, ”Most would say no, but it spreads Her Light nonetheless.”, the flame would slowly fizzle out, leaving just an ember for the scent of the incense to burn off of. ”Her Light is all around us here, even if she cannot reach us directly.”, he would eat more, letting a moment hang between them, ”Are you a god? Maybe, its not for me to say. You produce Light nonetheless. Even if the faintest amount, as do I. Perhaps we are all gods in that way.”

”But you are…or were, a being in need of help. And in this time of all, providing help to those who need it is as important of a task as any. So, I wanted to make sure you have refuge for your journey. That being said, no harm would have come of you if you had never came, and you’re under no obligation to be here. But, I suspect we share some…challengers to our peace. And, well. Enemy of my enemy and so forth.”, he mused. He’d look at Katsu now, curious to see what she’d think in response to this.

[Das Kirb]

A turn and a hallway. A kitchen where simple scents spread through the air. A chair offered and hospitality given. All things readily provided and offered without the fiegntest of hesitations. However, Indra had purposefully neglected to answer questions. The woman's suspicions had been raised further if that was even possible. It was at the point of offered food that an alarm bell began to ring in her mind and she had begun to tense, but not baulk. The woman sniffed the provided thing but only caught sincerity in the meal. Even as her body responded to her needs, altering her own nose to respond to the demands of the nose, no foulness came to her. And because of that, she ate. The nutrients and biomass being added to her body rapidly and beginning to forcibly close the wounds the sand had made.

"I found help. Old friends of the family though it didn't come cheap." Katsu spoke slowly and with deliberate intent. She needed more information at the woman began to strain her ears to listen closely. Once again, the shard readily adapted to her needs. The sounds of soft footsteps and muffled chatter as if coming from a good distance away. The conversations readily heard, but not understood. What she focused in on though was Indra himself. She heard the chewing of the food, followed by the soft rustle of fabric, and then the gentle breathing between. However, deeper she heard something else. His heart was racing, he was worried. "Maybe."

"You called me here for a reason. The blade to my cunt, electrocution, imprisonment, and various other fucked up shit I've been through tells me nothing is free. Cause if you're being honest, and you're not or at least not completely, it sounds like you want to help me get back to being my old bloody goddess self and go slaughter a bunch of bitches for you. Depending who that is, you don't have to ask. I just want to know why? The fuck happened to make you ask a dead chick for help, what do you mean I'm interesting, and who am I eating?"

[Ace Trainer]

Indra would physically wince at Katsu’s words. Her language was…colorful. He considered momentarily if he should - if he could - correct her, but quickly settled on it not being a worthwhile endeavor. She’d already made a concession in ‘clothing’ herself, he wasn’t going to push someone that was clearly a bit rough around the edges.

He would give a light laugh at her comments as she continued though, she was funny! Not on purpose, but funny nonetheless. He would shake his head, holding his hands up in false surrender.

”Maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The why is simple. I’m a believer in Yuumegure, and when people are in trouble, I believe I am to help them.”, he shrugged, ”Theres no catch, no pay off or anything like that. Out there in the desert you were in a bad spot. And I’m lucky that I help people in a bad spot.”, he pushed wisps of his white hair out of his face, grinning at Katsu boyishly. ”Thats really all there is to it.”.

”Besides. You said I have a God in me. That you’re a god? I’m doing a lot of explaining. Why don’t you tell me more about that?”, despite the maturity Indra was showing here, it was clear still he had some childish curiousity about him. Perhaps it wasn’t subtle, but he was definitely leveraging that to move away from the topic of Katsu eating anyone, at least for now.

[Das Kirb]

The great woman leaned a bit and considered before speaking. Never one to choose her words carefully she at least learned how to not choose the whole truth every time. Even if it didn't come naturally the pain of her travels had subsided and it'd be attempted. "You feel familiar. Feel like someone else I know from Kiri. Man who is a cage to a god. The god of adaptation. Vorashu. Call him what you want. Genma, sacred beast, fucking asshole, he is divine. A primal creature manifesting what makes life move on. Adaptation, change, and lust for more. Like your sun, only thinking." There was a longing in her voice. A clear and obvious deep pain tinged every word.

"But you're not like him. You don't feel right. You feel. . . wrong. You feel like when I died. Like nothing. You feel like a cage, but when I look into you. . . I only see stasis. So you're either like I was, like that cage is, and carry another god caged and trapped. Or you're like I am, dead but here. Or, and my last and most hated guess, you're like the thing that should not be. But you don't smell like he did. Yet you feel just as wrong." Katsu let the other questions hanf in the air for a bit. With a free hand she fiddled with the sand that had still clung to her, letting it fall to the floor. It was a distraction to keep her swirling emotions in check only, and a plainly petty one at that.

[Ace Trainer]

"Huh.", Indra said flatly, surprised by what Katsu was saying. She wasn't...wrong, or at least not per se. Indra knew there were other genma, the briefing he'd gotten when he was sealed and the trainings with Ikinari that followed it spoke of the 10 beasts that once conquered the world until mankind liberated themselves. The Soul Genma was the first to have humans break from his chains, so it had always felt that being his host was somehow more significant. That the failure of so many hosts before Indra was indicative of some sort of curse or punishment for their hubris. But, Katsu had met other hosts. She spoke of Karagata, Shinjiro, Indra knew the name. He was the host in Kirigakure, alongside Tsukino, Nishiki. Both of them famous for their very long tenure as hosts, and Kirigakure's insistence to show the world what they were capable of. They threatened the world with their hosts, and Ikinari spoke harshly of the culture that bred such a position. The way Katsu spoke of him only seemed to reinforce what Ikinari had taught him.

Inside him though, there was a little bit of excitement. Perhaps he was wrong for that, childish even, but the notion that there were people like Katsu out there. People that worshipped their presence, that recognized their intuitive greatness. Well. It was hard not to feel...well, feelings, over it. Even a devout follower like Indra couldn't help but feel the excitement of destiny on him like this.

Her commentary on death wasn't inaccurate either, "If Vorashu is a primal manifestation of adaptation and change. Then, I am an avatar for the opposite. An agent of stillness, of death.", he paused, "When adaptation fails."

"I am the host of the Soul Genma.", Indra said flatly, "That is likely what you sense in me.", his black eyes would stare intently at Katsu, the plate of food that had been in his hands no longer between them to allow the moment to fully sink in. The golden irises would shift back and forth, searching Katsu for a response, curious to know what she would find to say in response to the revelation.

[Das Kirb]

Katsu's face became one of naked terror as Indra spilled the truth. He was the cage to oblivion and housed the god of true stagnation, the antithesis to Vorashu and thus herself. The woman was paralyzed with the information and entirely unable to hide a single emotion that spread across her entire body. The fake clothing was abandoned as the parasite attempted to respond to her. However, she couldn't run nor fight, and the woman merely froze in that instant as the strength began to leave her. Soon, she was on a knee and inching backwards. Next, she was on both knees and holding her arms up in futility. Her form had become fluid, ebbing and attempting in desperation to find a way to resolve this horrific creature named Indra. But her lips could not move. Her body did not respond. Instead, she screamed silently in abject terror, eyes wide with naked and abject fear.

[Ace Trainer]

Indra watched Katsu intently, his eyes locked onto her searching for her response. What she did, however, was not something he could expect or prepare himself for. It was a sort of primal horror, very clearly a panic as the reality of her situation and who was before her set in. As Katsu attempted to back away, Indra looked down at her, his stare softening to pity and sadness for her. What an unfortunate beast, to be made to suffer this way. Is this what Kirigakure did to it's shinobi? He sighed, chakra forming on his fingers and then shooting across onto Katsu, a soft white glow spreading across them and into her. "Calm.", he insisted upon her.

His ability to interact directly with her soul would likely horrify her in most situations as the reality of what he was capable of now dawning onto her. But, more important in this moment was not to throw this creature before him into a further chaos, one that she wouldn't be able to return from.

He would crouch, bringing himself down to eye level with her but leaving a bit of distance between the two of them, "I am not the beast I carry within me.", he said firmly, hoping to further contribute to the calmness he'd forced upon her soul. "Sunagakure is not like your home. Where your people of the mist, his voice had a bit of venom on how he described them, "use the genma to make themselves mighty. I am a container. A barrier. Call me a Warden, if you would. I'm meant to keep him at bay, prevent it's power and influence from reaching the rest of the world. So you have nothin to fear.", he tried to explain. Perhaps that would help.

SpoilerShow

[Exorcism: Calm]
D-rank Exorcism Jutsu
The user does a series of hand seals and then places their hand on the target (or focusing on a soul possessing the target), and begins focusing on the soul within them. Upon activation anxious and fearful feelings in the target will be exorcised from their soul, overwhelming them with a calming feeling.

[Das Kirb]

Panic had almost overtaken the woman. Desperation was driving the creature to madness, yet Indra solved that too. It was slow but absolute. The panic subsided, followed by the primordial horror that had claimed her mind. The oblivion had been forced back into it's shadows and Katsu's thoughts became clear once more. It moved further, the terror of what this creature was was replaced by an almost apathy. The subsiding of such things brought about another instinct though. The titan knelt before the god of death and her ire had finally found opening to come forward. As fear ebbed, wrath flowed. Realization mixed with hatred of the stagnation this creature before her represented caused her body to augment again. Simple, managed, and focused. Talons now dug into the wooden chair.

Thankfully anger was something the woman was far more experienced at handling. She did not lash out, instead she clenched and grit her teeth. She forced herself to reclaim her footing and brace on a chair. She forced herself not to act. Finally, the beast forced herself to listen. The anger didn't relent as he spoke. However, Indra had given her motivation to maintain control. Not just motivation but a convenient target the woman readily and willingly accepted. Even in rage she knew nothing would be gained from lashing out regardless of how much she wished it so. And he'd tipped a hand towards a different goal, one they both seemed to share. The venom in his voice wasn't lost to her and that allowed some level of trust to drive actions for now.

"You. . . You did what you had to do. But don't do it again." Katsu spoke with unrestrained violence in her voice. "And know I will rend the god of death's throat, devouring even him too." Katsu mastered herself from here, squelching the rage as much as possible. Besides, it was a hollow threat and she knew it for now. "You mentioned Kiri. Is that why you called me here? I've been dead for a while but did hear from those in Fire that Suna fell to the fuckers. Guessing you're trying to change that."

[Ace Trainer]

The whimpering of Katsu's soul slowly subsided into a furious vibration, rage that worked beyond the calming effect his jutsu would have on her soul. As she slowly began to compose herself, Indra would back away, sitting back into his chair. His eyes remained locked onto Katsu, however, careful to be prepared for any response that might come from her. The pity in his eyes melted away as quickly as it had came, back to a stern inspection trying to break out whatever was going on with her. "Alright.", he held his hands up as if surrendering, smiling lightly, "Just don't give me a reason, deal?"

It was hard to tell how old Katsu was, certainly older than him, so the dynamic between them was a bit odd. Indra certainly felt like an older brother trying to come his sibling, was this how Ikinari felt?

He didn't have time to sit on that thought for long, as Katsu would move on, capturing something from his words and dialing in on it. He shook his head to her comment that was half a question. "Look, I will say it a hundred time if you want me to. But, I don't want anything out of you. I'm a Child of the Light. You're in Wind Country, there are a lot of us. And we all believe different types of similar things, but one of the big ones is that you help people when they need help. I dunno if you've seen yourself, but you're not in great shape.", he let out a soft laugh, "And you were even worse out there. I offered you shelter because you needed it, nothing more. Nothing less."

He picked his fork back up, returning to the plate he'd previously abandoned and taking another bite. "That is correct though. Iwagakure lead an assault on Sunagakure, supported by Kirigakure. If you're looking for an avenue for your own sort of something, I'm certainly not opposed to more support.", he looked up at her again, this time trying to feel out her response. Katsu didn't appear to be very strong, not right now at least, but it was rather evident that she was a shadow of something much greater.

[Das Kirb]

With focus upon Indra's words Katsu forced even her rage to fully subside now. Rather than the rippling augmentations deigned to once more take a seat, turning the chair to sit reverse to prop upon it's back. With a deep breath the last of her tension was banished, confusion turned to focus. "There are no free lunches. I've died a couple times and earned the right to say that. However, as a sign of good faith. . ." Katsu's mind once again went to her own body. Once again the skin shifted and altered. Rather than the hairy clothing from before she sprouted an almost armor. The transformation caused skin to slough off and she grunted in pain, but it was over quickly as the woman recomposed herself, fully covered.

"You're not wrong. I've lost a lot. Five years I was trapped in your divine prisoner's realm. It takes it's toll. But I'm working on that and will take whatever help I can get. I'm just having trouble trusting you just want to help me get back what was lost. A guard that cages death itself, has lost their home to Iwa and Kiri and now hides from their god's light beneath the sands just wants to help others? It's hard to not suspect there's a catch." Katsu sighed once more. "But let's say I believe you for now. Perhaps we can start with catching up. I. . . I didn't know Iwa was the one that attacked Suna. Seems five years is a lot to miss. So. . . what happened? More details might make things make more sense."

[Ace Trainer]

No free lunches. Well, that certainly was true in most cases. But, Indra was being serious, he had no intention of pulling Katsu into a war she wasn't interested in. If she was interested though...well, he wouldn't be opposed to another asset like her fighting on his side. The influence of Sakaze was strong, and Indra was very aware that even if he took a strong drive towards pa peaceful resolution, it wouldn't be easily done and having strong assets were helpful in mitigating risk. "That's all I ask for.", he said with a light smile in response to Katsu's good faith.

"A lot has happened.", he said mournfully.

He tapped his fingers on the table for a few moments, then nodded, "During the Great War, Earth Country and Wind Country went back and forth on land control. During this, Fire Country closed in on and seized land at the front of Iwagakure's walls. At the end of the war, Earth Country was able to take back some of the lost land but was clearly...ashamed of their losses. Knowing that they couldn't stand up to Fire Country, they decided to prey on a different target, Wind Country. We had some instability in our government due to changes in our Kazekage that left the seat vacant for some time. I guess Iwagakure's Tsuchikage wanted an easy target so they wouldn't get embarrassed like Fire Country did to them.", he paused, musing on this.

"They first attacked Wind Country proper, some lands our country had added to itself during the Great War as minor countries were absorbed. And our leadership expected that to be the end. And then, I dunno. They attacked Sunagakure proper. A lot of things went wrong but, Suna just wasn't prepared to defend itself. Our allies did a feint to try and split their powers, but it wasn't enough. Iwagakure was supported by Kirigakure based on the reports that have followed. ", he tapped the table more, humming in his throat as if he was thinking, "Those are the major notes. There is more. But for now...well. I don't know if there is anything else worthwhile to share.", he said plainly.

"What do you do with that?"

[Das Kirb]

The great woman burried her face in the crook of her elbows and just listened. When he was done she mulled it all over in her head. There was never any mention of Suna being an easy target back in the day. In fact it was always said Suna's greatest defense was the impossible environment itself. The sands and heat sapped moisture and made any conventional assault a withering affair. On top of that Suna proper was defended by its terrain. Granted, the Kage was the one to make the best use of that. Without an alpha to use them it was an almost moot point. Hell, a snake was nothing without it's head as the old saying went.

And then there was fire country. They were always an enigma to Katsu. Even when the bear made his deal and the RoT and Fire had begun working together it always felt like Fire was playing a different game. Never weak, but always seeming weaker than anyone else. Even Katsu being there it felt like there were but a few blooded members. The rest were focused on. . . other things. But those few were truly lethal and a fucking blast to handle. With this new information Katsu only confirmed what she suspected, Konoha played a subtle game and the lot of them were snakes like Tengu. She'd need to pry open that mask a bit more later.

"I'm wrapping my head around this."

Iwa and Kiri had always been business partners. There was no love between the two, but the attack must have been considered mutually beneficial. Kiri wouldn't lift a finger unless it was paid for in blood. If Konoha had given Iwa a bloody nose Kiri wouldn't care. In fact they'd likely laugh at the dumb rocks. So what did Iwa have to offer? Were Kiri's slaves really that important? Then there was the other side. Why didn't Konoha jump in to help Suna? Weren't the two practically joined at the hip? Or was that just the Alpha's? More questions kept popping up and they all began to give Katsu a headache. One which made her grunt in irritation.

Katsu took a second to let the thoughts settle down for a moment. The effort of thinking through the tactics had been showing on her face this entire time and causing her to speak out loud. "Dammit, I wish the Bear was here and not back in Fire. He's better with this shit." After a few more moments she finally banished most of them from her head, vowing to relate it all to Bear and ask him more about it. Maybe even bring him here. But there was a question that came forward now that her head was a bit more clear. It was like looking at a family picture with someone obviously torn out. "Wait, where was Kumo during all this? If everyone was killing each other over territory where were those fuckers hiding?"

[Ace Trainer]

The bear

He wondered who Katsu meant by this, perhaps another ally for him to bring into the fray? He tucked the thought away in the back of his brain, another thing to revisit down the road. But not right now. He wanted to be genuine to his word to Katsu, so plotting on how she could be leveraged against their shared enemies wasn't exactly in alignment with that. Her next question was about Kumo, to which Indra would give a solemn sort of shrug, "Well. They were here, and then they weren't.", he took another bite, thinking back to the events that lead to now.

"They weren't really too involved. In the Great War, Kumo and Lightning Country mostly stuck to the north. I think they got involved in some minor skirmishes to support people but were otherwise sticking to themselves. When Iwagakure attacked Wind Country at first, the Raikage was there. He got really involved and was part of the main fighting force. But, the second time around...", he shrugged again, twirling the fork in his hand in the air, "No show. Not that they had any reason to show, but. Well, I guess I would have appreciated if they did.", he laughed at the comment. That much was true.

Would Katsu have any other questions?

[Das Kirb]

"I'd wanna call them cowards but fact is I probably wouldn't have given a shit either. No skin in the game so no reason to bother." Katsu let out a sigh. "I don't like it. Gone for five years and the lines are redrawn. My home is gone and those I considered family cast to the winds." The woman stood. "But if you want to help me I won't turn it down. I need more blooded behind me. More to build against too. I've already struck a deal with Fire and the Bear is solidifying it now." Katsu took a step forward and raised a hand. "If you can provide me violence and respite, a target against the gods who walk trapped. . . like the one inside you. . ." Katsu spoke the last words with fearful hesitation despite Indra's casting. The primordial terror still lingered deep. "I'll provide when needed. You have my word Warden of Oblivion."

[Ace Trainer]

Indra smiled, a cheeky smile that seemed to be a mixture of relief and excitement. "You'll be safe here, Katsu! The people are friendly and there is lots to explore.", he didn't want to focus too much on her willingness to weaponize herself for his cause. As much as it would be nice to have someone like her on their team, he also pitied the fact that she so easily surrendered herself to be used by another agent. He would think deeply on this over the time he'd spend with her, he was sure of it. Sure, the Sun provided what was needed to anyone who sought it from her, but what bout what Katsu needed, regardless of whether the strange creature sought those needs from the Sun.

He would resign himself to the thoughts, knowing he'd spend forever pondering on it if he had to. "Make yourself at home, there are dorms, find one you are comfy and call it yours. Please come find me before you leave, but know that you may call this place home as long as you seek to.", he rubbed the back of his head with another grin, "Looking forward to be friends.", and with that he would turn, disappearing down a hall to go take care of whatever other business the young leader had to care for.