[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

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Golnax
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:58 pm

viewtopic.php?f=68&p=4170479#p4170479


Aimi stood outside of the Mizukage tower staring up at the veiled windows that presumably held the Mizukage within. He'd been standing there for a while and he knew full well that he was being watched this very second. How could he not be watched? For the jounin, for any jounin for that matter, he was displaying some very unusual behavior; he was hesitating. The shirtless Kaguya had been standing still outside of the tower for nearly an hour now trying to fully commit to stepping through the doors and making his way up to see the Mizukage - to see Kasai. Many times he'd been in the tower before at the behest of other jounin or very rarely the Mizukage themselves. He had received missions directly from both Kasai and the Mizukage who were now past, but this was different. All of those times, all of those missions, he'd been summoned - ordered - to enter the tower for one reason or another. This...?

This was an action that he felt he needed to take of his own accord. The matter at hand was on the surface a simple one. Some time ago he had faced Kasai in a one on one fight. The rules and arena were restrictive so neither one of them could truly have gone all out against each other or really threaten each other's lives, but fought they had done all the same. At the climax of the battle Kasai had given him a declaration; that he, Aimi, was to be the next bannin of Kirigakure.

This was a chance that few ninja were ever given. It was an honor beyond compare! This was the highest rank that could be bestowed upon any ninja anywhere and it gave that ninja powers rivaled only to the kage themselves in terms of influence and prestige!

... So why then was he hesitating?

As he stood the white haired ninja could only think of the fight that he'd had with Kasai. After the fight had ended and he had little else to do he had inevitably returned to the pyramid in which he had fought and watched some of the other matches - primarily the ninjutsu ones. What taijutsu fights he did see didn't impress him and thus he didn't stick around to watch them for too long. The ninjutsu fights, on the other hand, saw Kasai besting opponent after opponent one after the other until the final climactic fight. He knew then that if Kasai had really been trying to best him in a ninjutsu contest seriously he likely wouldn't have stood a chance. Aimi held back during the entire fight in order to try and be more impressive, to not give too much away, to not get people watching caught in the cross-fire. Kasai had no such feelings during his fights and it showed.

The thought occurred to Aimi that he was hesitating specifically because of that. Because in the field of ninjutsu he was so clearly outmatched by the man who was potentially about to promote him, and yet he had decided that his skills were good enough to warrant the rank of bannin? The truth of the matter was that Aimi didn't know why he was being promoted fully. In his less than thirty years he had been an outstanding shinobi by most measures, yes, and had successfully completed more missions than he could count. He had served and been of service, and yet...

Part of him didn't feel like this was real. A part of him was certain that this was some sort of test that Kasai was putting him through. That somehow, despite all of his careful planning, all of his secrecy, all of the measures he'd taken to keep it hidden, Kasai had managed to gain knowledge of the one thing he had withheld from the entire village and claimed as his own: Napalm. If that was the case then this "promotion" would have been nothing more than a ploy to get Aimi close, to put him in a position he couldn't escape from so that he would be forced to give that which he had created to Kirigakure at large! To be made to lose his own creation! Or worse yet, that which he had hidden over a decade ago far away from the village itself...

Most of him didn't believe that though. He'd been too careful, taken too many precautions, literally flown to heights that few could follow in order to maintain that secret. No, this wasn't about napalm. So then why was he hesitating? The truth, the awful, bitter truth of the matter was this: In Aimi's heart of hearts, in that part of himself he dare not acknowledge exist, in words he never believed would touch his lips... he was afraid of this promotion. Afraid because he knew that it would give him that which he had sought and fought for without fully understanding why his entire life! He knew that with the possibility of this promotion came his freedom... or at least, a part of it anyway.

These thoughts were far from the forefront of his mind though. Closing his eyes, Aimi took in a deep breath through his nose, clenched his fists, let it out slowly and ran his left hand through his hair over his scalp. 'No more waiting. No more cowardice. Face this, whatever it might be,' he told himself. He opened his blue eyes and took a step forward. The quiet pad of his wrapped feet against the cool cobblestone of the village accompanied him as he approached the door - as did the shinobi who were watching him, in their own way. Boldly but still unsure he marched up to the front doors of the tower and pushed them open and stepped inside. He walked with purpose towards the stairs that would lead him to Kasai's office. His face was rock. His mouth was a chiseled line. Only the ball of his fist betrayed his nervousness. Each step simultaneously felt like leaping over a mountain and walking on thin air, and before he knew how many he had taken he was there - standing outside of the Mizukage's door.

And there he stood. Waiting to be called inside or turned away. He knew Kasai was aware he was coming. This was now a game that was played on his turf.

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Zao
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Zao » Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:47 pm

Kasai had truly been expecting his subordinate for some time, upon his arrival at the Tower of course he was informed by a figure who seemed to emerge from the very shadows of the old man's office. "Sir, he had arrived outside but isn't coming in." This fact caused for the old man to smile a bit as the gloved left hand reached up and gentle rubbed the manly crimson haired beard upon his scarred face now. "Not unexpected I suppose." He spoke quietly with his death-like voice as the soft tone floated over to the young woman, the tone itself causing the hair on the back of her neck to rise up ever so slightly. Unsure of what he meant by the words she drew back into the shadows a bit but after a few moments of silence she spoke one more time. "Should I go get him?" Kasai simply shook his head and started to work on another folder full of paperwork that contained some recent updates from their information network on the mainland. The body guard simply faded away from sight as the man continued to smirk lightly, his words placed a heavy burden on the experienced jounin but the man had now spoken the words lightly.

On the other corner of the desk was a thick folder, the outside of the fold allowed one to tell that it had quite some age to it and on the top right corn of the packet was Aimi's name. It was a detailed record of the man from the time he entered into the shinobi academy to the completion of the last mission before attending the Star Country festival where he fought against Kasai himself. The village had one of these on pretty much every shinobi, documenting their feats, achievements, and failures but few actually knew of these. Normally the council kept these but with a new council not yet established everything fell on the Mizukage to handle. Aimi was one of the first that he had hand picked out at this time, the man was truly above the normal level of jounin and having him do such miniscle taskes was a waste of time and talent.

"Little Aimi, there are much bigger things for you to be doing..." Their was an almost sinister chuckle that left the large man's scarred lips as he spoke to himself and flipped through a few more pages studying the information on them as time passed and soon he'd already read through a couple of these intel reports. Things were slowly starting to progress and their allies the Stone village were also starting to prepare their on hand...the game that they were playing was truly a dangerous one but it was something this world needed, in the eyes of Kiri's Black Reaper anyways. He didn't pay attention to the time as he simply went about catching up on the events that had transpired while he had left to meet with the Kage from Iwa to discuss things in person once again. Outside the Kage's office a couple of strapping looking young men, both wearing the symbol for the Swordsman on their person seemed ot be just waiting.

One was obviously a Tsuikino, his five silver tails curled up behind him as his rapier style blades were sheathed on either side of him and the other was a fist blade user and a fellow clan member of the soon to be bannin. Both were the same two body guards that had accompanied the Kage to Iwa and then back through Star country during the short festival. As Aimi would approach both of them who had been just speaking back and forth straightened up their bodies and offered the older man a martial Salute as the Kaguya named Hitachi spoke for the pair. "Welcome Aimi-sama. The Mizukage has been waiting for you." The pair were very respectful to the shirtless man, each either knew of the man's skill from personal experience or learned about him from others due to his level of swordsmanship. Any member of the Mist Swordsman at least knew of him and were a bit sad that he hadn't joined the group in the past but one must walk their own path, as they knew when one walked the life with the blade. Stepped asides they would allow their senior shinobi to enter when he was ready.

When ever the man found the courage to open the door, Kasai would be at his large desk, fitting for a man of his large stature with a new file in his hand but it wasn't Aimi's. The shinobi's log file was on the far side of the desk with a single chair in front of the desk as the old man simply glanced up with his golden eyes towards the bare chested swordsman and gave a 'come here' wave of the free right hand. "Come in and set down." Kasai's voice seemed almost completely absent of any type of emotion, a voice of death if you will, as he spoke a few words for Aimi to have a seat while he placed the folder down and brought his hands together on the desk now. "You've finally come to see me." Their was a hint of a smile on the man's scarred lips that were almost hidden by the rough looking beard upon the large man's face now, his eyes seemed to almost glow towards the man as the whisper like voice filled the air between the two men now while he looked for any response from Aimi now and judged the man's body language.
CharactersShow
Active
Tsukino Hisato - Kiri Chuunin - Seven Swordsman Dagger

Saisuko Zao - Suna Bannin - Spirit Weapon Saint

Kyōhō Ken - The White Snake Sage - S Rank Assassin/Bounty Hunter

Aburame Hisato S-rank Mn / Inactive

Old CharactersShow
Inactive/Dead

Arashiyama Ning - Kumo Chuunin - Weilder of the Ghost Spear

Yami Kasai - Mizukage - The Black Reaper - DEAD

Genso - Elemental Crafting Shaman - A Rank Monk - Inactive

Aburame Akiro - Konoha Jounin - ANBU Member - Inactive

Hyōryū -- Suna S-Rank / Dead / Used as Inheritance.

Xi - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Sato - A Rank, "The Cleaving Swordsman " / Inactive

Akujin - Konoha Genin, Art Ninjutsu Guy / Inactive

Toukai Touma - Kiri Genin / Inactive

Arashiyama, Toushi - Kumo Bannin / Dead

Hitachiai - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Ji Ning - Iwa Genin / Inactive

Naegi, Chin - A-rank MN / Inactive







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Golnax
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:05 pm

Aimi eyed the two shinobi who stood outside the door. The Tsukino? He had no idea who they were, but he recognized the insignia of the Seven Swordsman when he saw it. The Kaguya, on the other hand, he knew quite well. This was Hitatchi Kaguya, a shinobi seven years his junior. Assigned the rank of Special Jounin and selected to be the Mizukage's personal bodyguard - one of, anyway. The two of them had spent plenty of time training together. The clawed gloves were, in a way, Aimi's idea. When Hitatchi and himself were both younger it was Aimi who had pointed out that the Kaguya kekkei genkai was suited quite well to hand to hand combat if utilized properly. Sometime later when Hitatchi began to excel in close quarters combat, specifically hand to hand techniques, he had suggested a pair of gauntlets or some sort of brass knuckles to help augment his style. Together with his ability to create bones at will they made him a very formidable opponent in the right circumstance. The salute was returned with a nod from the jounin, who simply replied, "Thank you," before stepping past them and heading into the Mizukage's office.

Inside Aimi beheld Kasai behind his large desk and met his golden gaze. He noted that the man's face was quite scarred, something he hadn't had the time to properly process during the heat of battle, and the only other time that he could recall seeing the man had been the brief and distant look he'd given him after subduing Yoshimitsu. Suffice to say that up until that point he hadn't realized just how grizzly the larger man appeared and not for the first time was he thankful to be gifted with such extreme regenerative ability that prevented such scars from forming. At Kasai's insistence Aimi stepped forward and took a seat, crossing one leg over the other and pulling his cloak over his legs so as to not flash his kage. To make sure that this didn't happen he placed both of his hands over his right knee to hold the cloth in place.

"Yes, well, this was the first chance I had since we returned to the village. I felt it wouldn't do to simply seek you out directly after the tournament had ended while we were still in a foreign country. Such a thing should be handled at home, no?" he asked, trying to make conversation to make up for how nervous he was. His eyes darted around the room as if to look for some threat. His heart was pounding in his chest and he was noticing things he normally would have ignored. The size of Kasai's desk was scaled up to fit the man and in the comparatively small space of the office it gave the effect that Kasai was a giant and Aimi was something much smaller - though this likely would have been the case for anyone in the Kaguya's position. He noticed the heavy shadows that clung to the corners of the room. The soft wisp-like quality of Kasai's voice like a chilling air against the skin. He sat and said no more, waiting for the Mizukage to speak. The truth was he had no idea how this was supposed to go. During his other promotions there had been a small public ceremony to which other ninja could attend - be it his graduation from the academy, his promotion to chunin after the exams or his promotion to jounin which had come some time after. This was much more personal and that somehow felt more dangerous, though Aimi couldn't exactly know why. All he did know was that he needed to wait for Kasai to lead the show...

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Zao
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Zao » Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:43 pm

Kasai would only smile at the man's words, "Of course...." A simple response was all that Kaguya would recieve from the old man as he glanced back down at the Intel report on his desk, it held some hints of things that were stirring between Fire and Lightning country but that was for another time now as he reached down and quietly folded the cover page of the document over closing the file for the time being. Now he was able to shift his body a bit now so that he was full on facing the young man before him, at least young in comparison to his own age as the broad-shouldered giant lean forward a bit allowing for his elbows to rest on the table. Letting a few seconds of silence pass. Then he reached out with his left hand and touched the edge of the worn blue folder that was a few inches thick and had Aimi's name upon it, sliding it across to the other side of the wide desk with ease due to his long arms allowing for it to end up directly in front of the jounin.

"Please look through this and ensure that everything is correct." It was a simple request from the old man, as thorough as the village was at keeping track of its shinobi and annotating their successes and failures no system was perfect or one hundred percent accurate. Thus the Kage wished to know directly from the horses mouth in this case if anything was in there that shouldn't be or vice verse if the folder was missing any of the man's missions or exploits for the village. Kasai honestly didn't expect for anything to be missing but he did this not to really check for anything but to assess the man who he believed could perform in the prestigious rank of Bannin for hte village, to see if the man was hiding any sort of secrets that could be used against the village or perhaps if the man had any type of alterier motives that weren't aligned with those of the village.

After all, as a bannin there truly wasn't any form of lease or restrictive control on where or what the man could do in comparison to that of the regular jounin in the village who still needed a reason to leave a certain distance from the village unless on missions. He would truly be more or less free in the sense of the word, only required to return to the village once a year to check in and speak with the Kage himself. No one, including the council if it was established again in the future, could call for the recall of Aimi except for the current Mizukage. As long as Aimi's goals still aligned with those of the village's then their wouldn't be any problems and for how the man carried himself, he would only be asked to continue carrying himself with the pride and strength of a shinobi of the Hidden Mist. For now though the file was his first step along the journey to becoming the first Bannin promotion under the rule of the new Kage...
CharactersShow
Active
Tsukino Hisato - Kiri Chuunin - Seven Swordsman Dagger

Saisuko Zao - Suna Bannin - Spirit Weapon Saint

Kyōhō Ken - The White Snake Sage - S Rank Assassin/Bounty Hunter

Aburame Hisato S-rank Mn / Inactive

Old CharactersShow
Inactive/Dead

Arashiyama Ning - Kumo Chuunin - Weilder of the Ghost Spear

Yami Kasai - Mizukage - The Black Reaper - DEAD

Genso - Elemental Crafting Shaman - A Rank Monk - Inactive

Aburame Akiro - Konoha Jounin - ANBU Member - Inactive

Hyōryū -- Suna S-Rank / Dead / Used as Inheritance.

Xi - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Sato - A Rank, "The Cleaving Swordsman " / Inactive

Akujin - Konoha Genin, Art Ninjutsu Guy / Inactive

Toukai Touma - Kiri Genin / Inactive

Arashiyama, Toushi - Kumo Bannin / Dead

Hitachiai - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Ji Ning - Iwa Genin / Inactive

Naegi, Chin - A-rank MN / Inactive







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Golnax
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Wed Oct 30, 2019 11:34 am

Aimi watched as Kasai closed one file and slid another - this one with his name on it - across the top of his desk. He couldn't help but notice the length of the mans' arms and remember the fights he'd seen in Star Country. In his own fight Kasai had extended his arm with earth, in another his entire body had been extended and changed shape to that of a dragon. He wondered, as he was leaning forward and reaching out to take the file from Kasai, if the man was altering his shape to give himself strange proportions in order to better give off the sort of chilling aura he was so obviously radiating.

Picking up the folder Aimi leaned back in his seat and turned it over to the cover that had his name on it. He opened it up and found on the left hand side to be a current and up to date profile all his own, complete with a picture that was paper-clipped to the folder. A taijutsu specialist with a focus on Katon ninjutsu as a side, some supplementary ninjutsu and fuuinjutsu. The profile listed off what equipment he carried with him normally, what he normally wore. It had a psych profile attached to it which, if Aimi took the time to go over, the jounin was sure to find issues with. He glanced back up at Kasai but didn't say anything for a moment before looking back down at the right hand side of the folder; the much thicker side which contained his history.

Born to a pair of slaves in Kirigakure, Aimi was taken from his parents before his first birthday and given to the Kaguya in order to make him one of their own because of the disease he and all other Kaguya had been born with. So far so good, although his parents' names weren't marked in the ledger. He went on to read how he had been trained since he was old enough to understand the meaning of the word, how initially he'd shown an avid interest in genjutsu above all other forms of jutsu. The record went on to say that by the time he entered the academy and was actually being taught jutsu that he showed no real affinity for genjutsu at all and quickly switched to focusing on taijutsu. There was a small note that made Aimi chuckle - sort of scrawled in on the side. It read, 'Often picks fights with other classmates. Teamwork needs to be emphasized.'

It made him chuckle because of what wasn't there. The reason that Aimi picked fights with other classmates is because they would make fun of him for not being able to perform even the simplest of genjutsu. They had said that a ninja who couldn't use genjutsu was no ninja at all and young Aimi, tender still he was, couldn't accept the thought that there was no place in this world for him as his Kaguya family had stressed so much that there was. So he lashed out as most children would. This temperament cooled down with time naturally and turned instead into a general hatred for genjutsu itself. He read on.

He read how he had graduated the academy despite his lack of genjutsu skills and went on to perform many missions as a genin. He chuckled again as he went over his own past and seeing written, and thus remembering, his times practicing Drunken Fist as a potential taijutsu style. When he was much younger he still wore clothes his tolerance was next to nothing, and so one sip of any especially strong sake was enough to get him trashed! The style had ultimately proved to not be to his liking, however, as he didn't enjoy not remembering the fights he'd been in or practices he'd done. Relying on muscle memory and instinct in the heat of the moment didn't seem wise to Aimi, so he had abandoned it. He read how he had shown interest in puppetry for a brief moment in time and was surprised to see that particular note. He'd only ever spoken of such a thing a handful of times to the jounin he'd been taught by and the other genin that he'd worked with and for a short length at that. To see the note in this ledger was just proof of how thorough the village had kept an eye on him over the years.

Aimi read how he had, as a genin, attempted to use raiton but found that, like genjutsu, he had no affinity for it and thus began to focus wholeheartedly on katon as an element. He recalled how it was right around this time that he invented his ghost-light techniques at about the age of 16. There was a note that made him frown a bit and that was how he showed interest in medicinal training but never pursued it. That was a flaw, he felt, as he had taken the time to study human anatomy and learn where pressure points were and how to press them in order to stop bleeding! It wasn't much but he certainly had studied medicine! He frowned because he came to the conclusion that he should study more of it when he had the chance. His frown deepened as he went on to read how in the opinions of those higher ranked shinobi than himself at the time felt that he was purposefully avoiding the chunin exams - which was only a half truth.

Aimi was 15 before he took his chunin exams for the first time. He had failed them when he proved to be less of a combatant than the genin he was pitted up against. He tried again, a year later, at 16 and once again failed for the same reason. His opponent was simply better than he was. After this second defeat he took a year to train harder than he'd ever done in his life, intent on not just passing the exams but excelling at them. He'd waited so long because from the time he had left the academy at 10 he'd heard how dangerous and trying the exams were, how often ninja died participating in it, how the tests put strain on your mind and body to the point of breaking to weed out the weak from the strong. By the third time he actually went, though, he was an A rank level ninja with the rank of genin and was by far one of the strongest if not the strongest out of that entire class, not just from Kirigakure but from any ninja village who had participated!

He recalled his chunin exam as being mostly straight forward. It was a singular test that they all participated in. They had been placed in an artificial environment full of traps and dangers and given the instruction to find a key in order to escape. Simple enough, except that in each area there were only 3 keys - and far more than three genin gunning for them. In the end, despite his strength and indeed because of it (Aimi didn't feel it was wise at the time to flaunt his strength but instead hold it back for when he truly needed it), he had ended up working with genin from other villages in order to reach their goal. Aimi remembered how the exam had been... so easy than it seemed to be for his fellow participants. The traps were slow compared to him and thus non threatening, the environment was tame compared to the beatings he received back home at Kirigakure. It wasn't until the three red-clad figures had approached him and the two other genin he was working with at the time that things truly became challenging!

Yet survive the three shinobi he had and, upon reaching the end of the trial and finding the key, he had turned on the temporary teammates he had made as well as the other genin who showed up not long after the scuffle began. The resulting fight was... well, again, easy for Aimi to overcome. Despite the numbers being against him he simply was more physically capable than the others were and so proved to be an insurmountable challenge for them. He took his key and left the exam victorious at last, leaving the other genin to pick themselves up and fight over who got the other two keys. Aimi saw, in his own ledger, a pair of notes accompanying this particular event. One of them simply read, 'Savage?' while the other read, 'Teamwork issues?'

Thus Aimi had become a chunin and had continued his life as normal for the most part. Older than most beginning chunin and physically on par with some jounin he was given more and more dangerous missions to go on in order to test his limits. This part of his history seemed boring to him, really. It read as a checklist of all the missions he'd been on - from the time he'd help break up an illegal gambling ring right there in Kirigakure to the mission he'd taken outside of the village to try and survey the possibility of gold on one of the islands within Water Country - that were side noted with him training. When he thought back on this time of his life he did find it to be a bit of a blur as train and work was pretty much all he did. There was one mission that did catch his eye, though... an incursion into the Land of Fire...

This mission Aimi recalled well and as he went over the notes of success - which it had been. But seeing the date and name of this mission brought a chill to Aimi's spine. For years now he had been harboring a secret from the village at large - a secret going further back than Kasai's time as Mizukage and indeed several before him - an artifact that he'd come across during this mission... well, after technically but still. After the mission he had recovered it and, wanting to keep it all for himself, had for the first time kept something a secret from the village by taking a detour to hide the thing within Water Country and doing his best to make sure no one - not a single soul but himself - would be able to find it. His throat felt as if it were closing shut as he read over the details of the mission, waiting to see if there was any mention of the thing, that slayer of worlds, and yet...

There was none.

A heavy breath escaped Aimi through his nostrils as he continued to read on, wanting to give Kasai no cause for any real alarm. He read through his missions as a chunin, he read over his jounin exam which he had passed more or less with flying colors. He briefly went over his missions as a jounin which were, all in all, fresh in his memory and saw that a note had been taken about his seeming enthusiasm to teach a younger generation. Including the two current Genma hosts he saw.

All seemed to be in order to the Kaguya and as he left the last page fall and he shut the folder he looked back up at Kasai and felt an ease wash over him. There was no record, it seemed, of his having the Worldslayer. There was no mention, either, of his creating or practicing napalm. Aimi reached out and placed the record of his life and his service upon the Mizukage's desk. "Everything seems proper to my eyes," he said and there would be no trace of a lie in his voice or in his body. Indeed he felt far more relaxed now than he had been all day and the sudden relaxation left him with vague sense of vertigo.

"Why have me look over this though?" he asked as he leaned back in his seat and replaced his hands on his knees. "Aside from a pleasant stroll down memory lane for me I'm not sure what the purpose was. To double check and see if the record was straight by my account? Well, aside from a couple of small inaccuracies here or there I find the events of my life to all be within that folder... Why show them to me now?" he asked in all seriousness. Having checked and moved on past the point of suspicion that the village might know more than he believed, Aimi was prepared to get to the meat of this meeting: his potential as a bannin.

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Zao
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[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Zao » Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:03 pm

The large framed man simple watched as the experienced jounin went through each portion of the folder, there would of course be a few descrepencies within it and there would also be a few things that the village would omit from the traditional personnel files like this and instead file those away within a much more secure place where only truly secretive information was kept. But that was all for another time now as the large man seemed to remain purely emotionless, something that was even easier to do than before he had this type of body that was within his complete control.

It took a bit of time, but finally the bare chested swordsman setting across from him now was able to check through the simple folder, after setting it down the expected responses from the jounin started to come and Kasai allowed for his subordinate to get out his words before he reached across the desk and placed his hand on the folder pulling it back over to him. "No reason." Their was an almost devilious smirk on the man's scarred face as he picked up the folder and out of nowhere the left hand that was holding the folder burst into flames that were extremely hot. It only took a few moments before the folder was covered in flames before the man reached to the side and tossed it into a metal waste basket to let it burn until the folder was nothing more than ash, flickering cinder, and trails of smoke rising up from the can.

Adjusting himself back onto Aimi now with his golden eyes, Kasai began to speak once again. "That folder honestly didn't tell me anything that I need to know." Their was a hint of a laugh as the man set back now in the wooden chair folding his hands down onto the table as he let his golden gaze take in the swordsman. "Tell me Aimi. What goals do you have for yourself?" All of the little antics and such were over and things were headed for the more serious topics, the Kage had already had a handful of chances to witness the man's personal strength in different aspects. Also able to judge the level of respect that the jounin garnered from his peers and others in the village, even personally keeping the pair of genma of the village in line without even being ordered to handle this task.

Now that he knew that side of the man Kasai wanted to hear exactly what kind of goals the man had for himself, not the village. He needed to know what the man really wanted to do and with this new freedom that came with the promotion to the rank and title of a Bannin within Kiri, one could do many things...
CharactersShow
Active
Tsukino Hisato - Kiri Chuunin - Seven Swordsman Dagger

Saisuko Zao - Suna Bannin - Spirit Weapon Saint

Kyōhō Ken - The White Snake Sage - S Rank Assassin/Bounty Hunter

Aburame Hisato S-rank Mn / Inactive

Old CharactersShow
Inactive/Dead

Arashiyama Ning - Kumo Chuunin - Weilder of the Ghost Spear

Yami Kasai - Mizukage - The Black Reaper - DEAD

Genso - Elemental Crafting Shaman - A Rank Monk - Inactive

Aburame Akiro - Konoha Jounin - ANBU Member - Inactive

Hyōryū -- Suna S-Rank / Dead / Used as Inheritance.

Xi - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Sato - A Rank, "The Cleaving Swordsman " / Inactive

Akujin - Konoha Genin, Art Ninjutsu Guy / Inactive

Toukai Touma - Kiri Genin / Inactive

Arashiyama, Toushi - Kumo Bannin / Dead

Hitachiai - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Ji Ning - Iwa Genin / Inactive

Naegi, Chin - A-rank MN / Inactive







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Golnax
Posts: 1498
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:00 pm

[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Wed Oct 30, 2019 8:50 pm

Aimi watched as Kasai picked up his file and gave the simple answer of 'No reason' before setting it on fire. His blue eyes widened at the sight of his entire history, everything that he was, that had made him who he was today in summary literally go up in flames. He could feel the heat from the fire across from the desk, a heat he recognized all too well, and had to ponder what the significance of this action was. Frankly he didn't believe the Mizukage when he said that there was 'no reason' for him to look at his file, exactly the same way that he didn't believe that there was no reason for it to be burned. The Kaguya looked at Kasai and stared at him while his file burned and his eyes were cold. He understood now what this meeting was - at least to him - a test. Like so many others in his life on his road here, Aimi saw this as an obstacle that he had to overcome not of the body but of the mind. The act of burning away his fire which contained within it every mission, every detail of his development from his teachers, his team leaders, the Kaguya clan and anyone he had ever interacted with, every note and profiling piece of information was a clear message. A message that at this point he was all too familiar with.

The ninja of Kirigakure were tools. Disposable. Thrown away easily and replaced by another. To burn a file on one of the village's jounin, which for all Aimi knew was unique and one of a kind with information in it that could not be found anywhere else, was as clear of a message as the Mizukage could send. This meeting was a test and the stakes were high. Aimi felt he understood the dangerous game he was now engaging the Mizukage in; his life, much like his file, was just as disposable should he fail.

Then came the question and Aimi, no fool, saw right through it for what it was. How many times had it been drilled into his and every other ninjas' heads that their life was not their own? That their goals were ultimately, no matter what, in service of the village? What strength they had, what heights they reached, were to be in service of both the Mizukage and the house who owned them. If they so chose they could walk into the office right then and there and order Aimi to attack Kasai himself if they felt like it. The only reason they didn't was because of the tremendous power and influence that Kasai, and by extension the office of Mizukage, held. It would be a wasted effort and every house leader knew this. Which was why no one ever really tried. All the same it could theoretically happen and if it did no one would be surprised. In Kirigakure that was a ninja's lot in life. A weapon. A tool. And yet the question was... perplexing to Aimi.

Kasai was just as much of a ninja as he was, so why ask what the Kaguya's goals were? Why ask what ambition he might have when the answer should be so obvious? It felt like some sort of trap to Aimi and it was for that reason he took as long as he did to answer. He stared at Kasai and seemed to ponder what he would say but in reality he thought only of why he had to say it. What was the game? What was the end goal?

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "If you're asking what I plan on doing with my life... well..." he paused and raised his right hand slowly. He began to channel katon chakra into it and with a snap of his fingers a small dollap of flame, little more than the head of a match, burst into existence above his thumb and quickly petered out. "I suppose it would be to get more powerful. What I just did was a much smaller version of what I believe you saw me doing a few weeks back when the Genma Yoshimitsu was running wild. I've figured out how to make fire with just a snap of my fingers big or small. But I don't think that's all I can do. Similarly..." He paused again and balled his left fist up before raising it slowly. Then in a flash he swung his arm downwards with such a force that the very air in the room was compromised. It rushed about and sent papers fluttering! Hair was sent flying on both mens' heads! The fire in the trash can flickered out for a moment before catching its' breath! The very wood of the room shook for a moment from the force of Aimi's hand!

"I'm physically a force to be reckoned with in both speed and strength," he said, running his right hand over his forehead and moving his long white hair back into place. I hit nothing just now and the room quaked. But I sense that this is not all that I'm capable of. If I were to have a goal other than serving Kirigakure... I suppose it would be to find that limit, try to surpass it, and then learn something new." For a third time he paused as he slowly brought his hands together - slowly as to show no threat - and placed them into his lap. "I find I have much yet to learn in all fields. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, medicinal arts... I oft feel that I've barely begun to study despite a lifetime of learning, experimenting and growth. Maybe I have no limit, in which case I have no real goal other than to serve and be of service. Only time will tell."

He watched Kasai all while he spoke, looking for some sign or hint of what the man was getting at. Once again there was no trace of a lie in Aimi's voice and no misinformation given. All the same the sense of danger had not left him. He still felt this was a test, the result of which would determine whether or not he was made into a Bannin or not...

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Zao
Posts: 4025
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:00 pm

[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Zao » Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:35 pm

Kasai seemed to be listening casually, the question he'd asked was truly an open ended one and one that he knew some people truly wouldn't be able to answer in such a situation or perhaps they were afraid to say what it was that they really wanted. The old man really did care for when people just told them what he wanted to hear, he didn't wany yes men or robots. If one wasn't able to think for themselves and think critically at that then they would only be fodder for the front line and not any form of key individual that could be utilized to win battles and ultimately wars.

As the man snapped his fingers, the small flame that was created reminded the Kage about the technique which he'd used in a similar manner within the confines of the tiny arena where the pair had exchanged a couple rounds with the other. Of course he figured the technique he'd used in that battle was a rather restricted one considering the other civilians watching the fight in the nearby vacinity. This was followed up with the man giving a brief demonstration of another ability that he had, as the winds within the room were rapidly affected by just the swing of the man's fist to the point that even his long crimson locks were blow about for a few moments it only caused for the man to smile now. An old and experienced shinobi had seen this kind of skill before, something known as heavenly tai which had the possiblity to allow a taijutsu user to create physical attacks with no chakra that could rival ninjutsu in power.

Even though he already knew this about the man, it was nice to see that the man setting across from him actually had a set of balls on him to show the Kage in this way, there weren't a lot of shinobi like him and it only caused for the scarred man's lips to curl up in a grizzly looking smile due to the scars and rough looking beard. "I can agree on two fronts. The first being that you are quiet strong and in a handful of fields, such diversity is a testimont to your level of strength in both fields." The man paused and brought his hands together on the tabls, allowing for his elbows to once more rest ont he edge of the heavy looking wooden desk now as he continued to speak. "But you do still have quite a bit to learn." Kasai only confirmed the younger man's words about still having much to learn but it wasn't spoken in a condescending way which was rare from the old man who viewed very few others in a favorable lightly.

But Aimi had managed to attract the man's attention, his skill was indeed about the level of a jounin and slowly creeping in on his own. Some in the man's position would have become more weary about someone who could possibly take his place in the future but Kasai only became delighted in the idea. Yet, he knew that there was something limiting the potential growth of the man who one day might be able to rival himself given enough time. Sadly, that was the strict rules and organization fo the village. "I was once in the same boat many years ago..." The golden eyes of the large man closed for a moment as he appeared to be reflecting on a time in his past before they reopened ever so slowly and refocused on Aimi once more.

"Aimi, the life of a jounin and all the restrictions that come with that from our village are only restricting your growth, even if you haven't realized that. It is your potential growth that I've called you here today." The man reached into the top right desk drawer now and removed a bound scroll, sliding it across the desk before letting it go to allow for the Kaguya to take it when he wished to. "Only be experiencing things that normal shinobi aren't allowed to do will you be able to reach an apex in strength and experience. From today on you will be Kiri's newest Bannin. The only one who issue you orders or missions will be myself." Placing his hands palm down on the table he slowly stood up while scooting back the large wooden chair now in order to stand completely up, his imposing figure looming over the younger shinobi before him.

"You are free to travel and do as you wish, you only need to return once a year and report to me. Other than that you will only need to return if I personally request for you to. Inside this scroll is a messanger seal that will activate if your present is needed within the village." Kasai's golden eyes seemed to contain their normal piercing sharpness as his whisper like voice drifted across the short distance like the jounin was speaking with death himself and making some sort of deal with him. "Do you have any questions?"
CharactersShow
Active
Tsukino Hisato - Kiri Chuunin - Seven Swordsman Dagger

Saisuko Zao - Suna Bannin - Spirit Weapon Saint

Kyōhō Ken - The White Snake Sage - S Rank Assassin/Bounty Hunter

Aburame Hisato S-rank Mn / Inactive

Old CharactersShow
Inactive/Dead

Arashiyama Ning - Kumo Chuunin - Weilder of the Ghost Spear

Yami Kasai - Mizukage - The Black Reaper - DEAD

Genso - Elemental Crafting Shaman - A Rank Monk - Inactive

Aburame Akiro - Konoha Jounin - ANBU Member - Inactive

Hyōryū -- Suna S-Rank / Dead / Used as Inheritance.

Xi - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Sato - A Rank, "The Cleaving Swordsman " / Inactive

Akujin - Konoha Genin, Art Ninjutsu Guy / Inactive

Toukai Touma - Kiri Genin / Inactive

Arashiyama, Toushi - Kumo Bannin / Dead

Hitachiai - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Ji Ning - Iwa Genin / Inactive

Naegi, Chin - A-rank MN / Inactive







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Golnax
Posts: 1498
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:00 pm

[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Thu Oct 31, 2019 10:10 am

Disbelief was a funny thing. As Kasai spoke Aimi listened and at first it seemed to be par for the course. A brief compliment, 'yes Aimi you are a skilled jounin', followed by a note of potential improvement - the kind he'd heard and even said himself many times. But what came next was hardly something that the Kaguya could believe. The Mizukage spoke to him about how the life of a jounin would be, for him, too restrictive and it was about this time that his ears seemed to start ringing and Kasai's voice began to grow distant. Frankly this was far from what he expected to hear and what he'd been psyching himself up to believe. This was it? This was all there was to it? No more questions? No final test? No inquiry to his loyalty? No special request? He supposed he couldn't rule that last one out just yet but as the realization really began to drape over him like a blanket that this was happening and there was seemingly no ulterior motive or hook, all he could find himself thinking was, 'This is it? At long last...?'

Sound seemed to come crashing back into being as Kasai asked if he had any questions. Aimi almost flinched at the question as he zoned back into the present moment and adjusted his gaze to look up at his Kage for a moment and then back down at the scroll on his desk. It took a second for all of the sensory information that he'd been subconsciously taking in to come back to him. The Mizukage had just granted him the rank of Banin. He was beholden to no one except the Mizukage anymore. The scroll was a messenger scroll, presumably inscribed with fuuinjutsu that when activated would tell him to return to the village. He only had to return once a year to report in, but other than that? He was free.

"I... I don't... Sorry, I'm just a bit overwhelmed I guess," Aimi said, getting up slowly and reaching out to grab a hold of the scroll. He hesitated for an instant before placing his hands on this proof of his new rank as if worried that for whatever reason it would be snatched away from him before he could lay his hands on it. He picked up the scroll and looked down at it, tilting it back and forth in his hand. He found himself thinking, 'Funny... it feels just like any other scroll...'

Looking away from the scroll and back to Kasai, Aimi straightened his posture and held the scroll down at his side with his grip held tightly on it, still afraid that it might be taken away from him. "No, I have no questions. I will go forth with my new rank and... well... grow."

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Zao
Posts: 4025
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 8:00 pm

[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Zao » Thu Oct 31, 2019 9:34 pm

"Good." The man nodded with his scarred face now before turning to his left halfway in order to look out the large windows that went around the back of the Mizukage's offce, starting out at the thin viel of mist that blanketed a good portion of the village below. This really was the first big event in the man's shoes of Kage since taking over from the previous one, his old friend. With his back still partially turned towards the bare chested man he started to speak without looking back. "If you aren't stronger by the next time you return to the village your title will be removed." It didn't seem like a threat was the deathly words floated across the room in the mna's traditional whisper-like tone to Aimi, more so some sort of promise to the man.

In Kiri, there was no room for failure. If for some reason the swordsman was unable to increse his strenght and in turn the strength of the village as a result, then he wasn't worthy to hang the honorable name of 'Bannin' around his neck. With the last of his words spoken to the new Bannin the man's large right hand, hidden in what appeared to a be a black glove rose up and gave a shooing motion to the ninja. Their business was done and there was now nothing else for the two men to discuss with one another. As the newly promoted man would leave the office the two Swordsman would bow deeply as he passed, demonstrating their respect for the man as he departed before the fellow clansman of Aimi entered quietly. "Hitachi, notify the village that Kaguya Aimi has been promoted to the rank of Bannin."

The Swordsman was a bit startled when the words hit him, not able to form words for a few moments before the figure managed to pull himself together and bow to the Mizukage now before quickly turning on a time and sprinting out the office. "These kids, heh..." Kasai laughed quietly to himself as he knew that the young man would ensure that the important news would be passed to those who needed to know who would then in turn inform others. In a few days a village wide festival would be held in the shirtless man's honor...
CharactersShow
Active
Tsukino Hisato - Kiri Chuunin - Seven Swordsman Dagger

Saisuko Zao - Suna Bannin - Spirit Weapon Saint

Kyōhō Ken - The White Snake Sage - S Rank Assassin/Bounty Hunter

Aburame Hisato S-rank Mn / Inactive

Old CharactersShow
Inactive/Dead

Arashiyama Ning - Kumo Chuunin - Weilder of the Ghost Spear

Yami Kasai - Mizukage - The Black Reaper - DEAD

Genso - Elemental Crafting Shaman - A Rank Monk - Inactive

Aburame Akiro - Konoha Jounin - ANBU Member - Inactive

Hyōryū -- Suna S-Rank / Dead / Used as Inheritance.

Xi - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Sato - A Rank, "The Cleaving Swordsman " / Inactive

Akujin - Konoha Genin, Art Ninjutsu Guy / Inactive

Toukai Touma - Kiri Genin / Inactive

Arashiyama, Toushi - Kumo Bannin / Dead

Hitachiai - Iwa Jounin / Inactive

Ji Ning - Iwa Genin / Inactive

Naegi, Chin - A-rank MN / Inactive







User avatar
Golnax
Posts: 1498
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 7:00 pm

[PB] Stultus Intineris Spatium

Post by Golnax » Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:46 am

There it was. As Kasai was moving to look out of the window Aimi looked back down at the scroll in his hand. He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of it frankly and still felt as though it was an inadequate representation of the rank of bannin. Never the less it was his now and he had to take care of it. What the Mizukage said next though drew his attention away from the scroll and to the man. There it was, his suspicions were confirmed. This had been a test from the start, just... not your average, ordinary test. By The Mizukage's order he had a year and nearly unlimited freedom to do as he wished in the pursuit of becoming more powerful - but if he did not meet this criteria within a years' time, the rank would be stripped from him. It wouldn't have surprised the Kaguya one bit if, a year from now, he was given the exact same deadline for another year in the future. On and on it would go, one last tether to keep him bound. Improve constantly or be reduced in status.

Well... It could have been worse.

For Aimi saw no reason as to why he wouldn't improve, why he wouldn't become stronger. His body was that of the juggernaut. No matter what injury he sustained he would heal from it. In the pursuit of power he could break bones, sunder flesh, destroy his body over and over again and within moments he would be back on his feet! Now that he had no reason to stay within the village, there was truly nothing holding him back from seeing just how far this body of his could take him.

As Kasai waved him away Aimi went to bow his head but stopped the habit right in its tracks. Bowing to the Mizukage was... well, something for lesser ninja he supposed. Not that he outranked the man or didn't hold respect for him. It was as simple as for the first time he was on more or less equal footing with the leader of the village, answerable to none but him. He didn't have to bow to him before leaving the office - he didn't have to do anything! And so he chose not to. Aimi turned and walked out of the office and as he stepped out of the door the two ninja who had been standing outside bowed down to him. He looked at them and said nothing, a sort of abject numbness still about his being as the reality of what this all meant hadn't quite yet sunken in. They bowed to him, likely not knowing of his new rank, and seeing the display was... somehow empowering for him. He'd had people bow to him before but it never really meant anything. Just one ninja showing respect to another. Now though it somehow felt... different.

Aimi chuckled lightly and walked on past the two, down the halls, down the stairs. He strolled! Any opportunity that he had to get downstairs quicker he denied, for he no longer had any reason to be quick in this immediate moment. He took his time and waited for it all to hit him fully. Slowly he made his way to the ground floor of the tower and walked out of the doors and into the mist. Where to? For the first time in a long, long time... he didn't know.

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