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Iza & Kat

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Post by Willoria » Sat Aug 28, 2021 1:06 pm

Today Inuzuka Minako was not herself, but rather she was Ryoshi, an ANBU Operative. She was still new to the organization, but this was the first time she had received such an assignment. It honestly felt like babysitting, and she wasn't particularly fond of it. Regardless, she had accepted the task and knew she'd have to leave her usual demeanor behind for the most part. Rather than her usual style, her hair was pulled back into a single dutch braid, clean of any extra items such as her usual bones, leaves and the like. Her paints and such were gone, and of course she wore her mask and uniform as required.

She arrived at the home of the Hokage's family as instructed and knocked on the door, feeling more than a little awkward. When someone would inevitably answer she would simply introduce herself. "Ryoshi. I am here to see Master Yozei."
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Tue Aug 31, 2021 11:51 pm

So, the day had finally come. After nearly five long years away from Konoha Yozei had only spent a mere two months within the village he had come to think of as home. He had been able to spend some time with his siblings, even travel to Aroma country and see the Chunin exams held there. But try as he might nothing felt normal or right about being back in Konoha. He felt as much an outsider as the day he had first arrived 12 years ago. Having led a platoon of Harukatsu loyal Samurai during the war he had grown closer to his heritage and earned respect and recognition from the nobles of Fire country. Finally, he would be accepted and recognized as a member of the Harukatsu family, a true prince of Fire country and 6th in the line of succession on the Harukatsu side of the royal families that alternated in the rule of the country. But for now, he would be given a great honor of representing both the Harukatsu family and the military presence of Konoha; helping to rule over Dragons Breath from the stronghold of the newly established military village of Shitenno-Jou. Samurai and shinobi united to the cause of defending the new region of Fire country.

His immediate family had gathered to bid their farewells with the exception of his biological mother Harukatsu Megami whom had already left ahead to Shitenno-Jou, for her and her elder brother would also live in the new palace, sharing the duties in maintaining order over the large region as well as Dragons Touch on the neighboring Shrimp continent. It was a Hyuuga boy that answered the door, “Please, come in” the Genin offered politely. Behind him Yozei hugged their sister Kaori while the Hokage clasped him firmly on the shoulder before giving him a proper hug when the brown-haired, blue-eyed girl finally released him. “I’ll miss you. I love you. Write to us, promise” she pleaded, eyes damp. "I will, little sister. I love you too" he assured with a warm smile. She was a girl that loved her family and it had been hard enough having her big brother away for so long, even Hanako and her parents had often been deployed or otherwise occupied throughout the war. To have Yozei stripped away already was nearly too much to bare. “Be safe son. Listen to the people, be understanding. This will be difficult, but we’ll always be here if you need us” he promised the boy. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I love you” he stated hugging him tightly. Though Yozei had never been near as athletic as him or as inclined to the outdoors he was still an exceptional shinobi, honing his craft in Katon and Doton specifically and proving to have a noble heart and a true calling to leadership. "Thanks, dad," he said softly, for the first 8 years of his life he didn't have a father and he felt immensely grateful to have been able to spend even 7 years learning from the man and getting to know him before the war forced them apart.

Yozei moved on to Takeshi. The two had much in common, each feeling the weight of family and responsibility, the young Hyuuga looking to change the clan but first gain acceptance despite the black mark on their family in the eyes of the Hyuuga. It would be a long and arduous path but Yozei having gained acknowledgment from the Harukatsu despite being shunned and treated as a bastard for most of his life gave him hope. “I’ll come visit sometime, maybe even all of us” the boy considered with a hopeful smile. “I’d like that. Until then, keep everyone safe for me. Get stronger, find your passion and you’ll be accepted” he encouraged his only younger brother. “I will” he replied, before moving to his twin sister and consoling her. Before he left Yozei would make sure to say his farewells to his older sister Hanako as well as his Stepmother Aina. “I love you all, we’ll see each other again soon, I’m sure. At least once a year let’s try to visit” he said with an optimistic smile. He wasn’t sure how much he would change over the next few years, but he had to find out on his own. “Okay, let’s go” he said, turning to address the masked woman. Yozei wore traveling clothes, a green shirt and grey pants, and a brown cloak though he still wore his forehead protector and his sword at his hip. His formal and more traditional clothes had all been sent ahead a week ago with his mother, he didn’t need to stand out too much during the journey. After all, he was a high priority target for anyone that knew who he was.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:20 am

Hyuuga Aina was leaning against a nearby wall as she watched her family bid farewell to her stepson Yozei. She technically wasn't immediate family to the boy, a wall that had slowly been torn down over time, or at least she thought it had. But as she watched him say farewell to his siblings and to his father it was hard to see it that way. When he had first come into their lives it had been hard not to hate the boy. She had been jealous, she had felt he represented something she wanted alone with Takeo that she clearly wouldn't have, but he had quickly managed to show her how silly the sentiments were. In the end Takeo had chosen her to have his family with after all and she had realized the value and love in that choice after all and she and her husband had come to their own arrangements later. She still had his love and had even come to love Yozei as if he were one of her own children. As he had fought in the recent war she had lost sleep over concerns for his safety as if he were one of her own children, yet now she was watching him leave for his real family and it suddenly felt as if all that progress was thrust aside like it had never happened. It was as if she wasn't family at all.

These were all feelings she pushed aside and buried down deep however, determined to keep a single soul in the room from ever seeing her hurt. It was fruitless, it would only cause an issue where none need to be had. She would play the dutiful wife and mother, stepping up beside Takeo as he said his goodbyes to his son and sighing quietly. "I'm sorry Hanako isn't here." she said quietly. "You know she loves you and is going to miss you." she assured Yozei. "Just as we all are, she's just... she's her. I'm sure the first letter you'll get from her is some gift and an apology." she told him, chuckling a bit as she knew it was the truth. Hanako being so close in age to Yozei felt as any teenage girl would at his leaving, wholly betrayed. Blinded by teenage hormones she was either hiding in her room or out in the woods right now. Aina could have dragged her kicking and screaming into the room for the goodbyes, but why turn this sweet departure into a horrific drama if it didn't need to be? "I'll make sure she comes to visit you as soon as she can." she assured him as he turned to leave, stifling her own disappointment at his departure.

Ryoshi watched on in silence from the doorway. This seemed to be a fairly intimate and personal family affair and she wasn't about to interrupt. In truth, it left her with a pit in her stomach. She was watching a brother walk away willingly from his family and she wasn't sure she understood, she and her brother had never willingly separated. The only thing that had separated them was death, behind her mask she find herself grinding her teeth in agitation briefly but she managed to push down her anger by time Yozei turned to address her. She gave a short bow in greeting though he hadn't bothered to even greet her, another annoyance. "I am Ryoshi." she gave in brief greeting before leading the way out of the door. As she stepped out she saw a brief shadow as Rei vanished into a nearby bush to stay out of sight and nearly rolled her eyes at the dog's clumsiness. 'She's going to have to do better than that.' she thought to herself before glancing to Yozei. "Any other stops we should make before we go? Any other farewells you need to address?"
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Sun Sep 12, 2021 6:37 pm

The auburn-haired 6th prince of the Harukatsu family nodded solemnly at the realization that Hanako wasn’t coming down to see him off. Hanako had been his first sibling, while he had many cousins, uncles and aunts within the royal family his mother Megumi had done everything in her power to resist marriage offers and not bare any other children to ensure Yozei the best chance possible of being legitimized. If she were to have a husband other than the boy’s father, Takeo she was sure they would use their power and influence to prevent a bastard from being able to claim their fortunes or contend for the throne. His mother being the 4th princess of the Harukatsu family and daughter of the previous Daimyo she had enough sway to finally rally enough support from other nobles to grant Yozei full status. Even so, Yozei had always felt scorn from the nobles of Fire country, his family in Konoha, aside from his mother, were the first people he felt truly loved and accepted him. It was not an easy thing to leave them behind, though he felt in his heart and soul that his duty was more than one to the village, it was to the country and now more than ever Fire country needed noble representatives ruling in each of their territories. “I know” he responded softly. “I’ll keep rooms free for all of you. Thank you for everything, mom” he said softly, giving Aina a hug as well. He had come to love and accept her as his own family too. She had been an important mentor to him, sensei during his Genin years and a strong role model to look toward in learning how to funnel strong emotions into his own powerful state, similar in some ways to Aina’s Berserker form. She too had taught him Sankaton and the control needed to know when to hold back.

Moving to the door, Yozei finally acknowledged the Anbu operative waiting for him. Judging from the mask and the female voice he had never met this person before, though his father was here and trusted her to escort him so that was good enough for him. “A pleasure to meet you” he said simply, bowing his head slightly. “Let us be on our way then” he stated, giving his family one last, long look. When asked about other farewells only two people came to mind; Zakuro and Nikuya, his closest friends and most trusted comrades that he had fought alongside through some quite perilous encounters. From his understanding Zakuro was in Wind Country currently and so that left only Niku. “Inken Nikuya”, he stated. “She’s a good friend, I’d like to see her. Maybe she can even come with us” he stated to which Takeo responded. “She is quite capable; I can have her redeployed to Dragons Breath if she’s important to you” he stated. Yozei nodded, feeling more secure by the idea of having a powerful, nearly Bannin caliber Kunoichi deployed in the region. “I would appreciate that, but only if she wants to” he decided. “She should be at Mamorinuku headquarters” he stated, expecting his escort to lead the way there.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Sun Sep 12, 2021 6:56 pm

It was hard for even Aina to stay feeling bitter as Yozei hugged her and even called her 'mom'. She returned the hug, perhaps a bit too tightly for a moment. When he released her she'd have to reach up and pull his head down a bit to do it but she kissed him on the forehead with a bit of a laugh. She couldn't help the small tears in her eyes. "Not quite fair that you actually got taller than me... not sure when that happened either." she teased, sniffling slightly before she cleared her throat. Likely unseen to him, though Ryoshi had caught it out of the corner of her eye, Aina slipped something in his bag. It appeared to be a small package, likely a gift for him to find later and the young ANBU agent smirked behind her mask. She was curious, but if she knew mothers it was probably something either embarrassing or touching. There was never an in-between with mothers.

Ryoshi watched as the woman withdrew to her husband's side again, shifting her own attention back to Yozei as he addressed her and she had to stifle her own response as he addressed her as a stranger. It was weird, after their confrontation in the woods. She simply nodded at his request before giving a respectful bow towards the Hokage and his family and turning to lead the way out of the home.

Of course she knew where the Mamorinuku headquarters were. It wouldn't be hard to find. She lead the way, keeping her hands at her sides and somewhere between the buildings was Rei, keeping an eye on the pair. 'Maybe if I took on my brother's dog it would be easier... a companion on ANBU tasks, a companion on my usual tasks... I feel naked having Rei so far away...'
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Tue Jan 11, 2022 4:46 pm

The pair departed from the large home, and as Yozei followed behind the Anbu operative he found himself having second thoughts. Saying goodbye to his family was hard enough, he hardly wanted to interrupt Niku at work and make another farewell, especially if she could be deployed in the region anyway. In fact, the truth was he didn’t even know what the woman really thought of him, were they even friends, or simply teammates? Vanguard had been thrown into disarray with the war, while he had fought alongside Niku and Zakuro often throughout the war and the skirmishes in soul country it had been a while since they had felt like a proper team.

He had to remind himself that this was his chance for a fresh start, new responsibilities, a chance to make amends and rule justly and with compassion. “I’ve changed my mind. We should depart immediately” he decided. The journey would be long and even he didn’t know the exact route his guardian would take them. They couldn’t afford any delays. The young man’s mind swirled, was he making the right decision? Leaving Konoha would be hard, but he would always be a shinobi, even if royal duties took priority, it was still important to maintain a shinobi presence in each of the new regions of Fire country. He just wasn’t sure he was ready for the responsibility, though he supposed he would have superiors still and advisors to help train him in the duties of being a Harukatsu.

Gripping his scabbard as he ran, he looked to the familiar intertwined bracelets against his wrist. He had never been very good at letting go of the past, instead it was something he used to help shape him, to guide him on his path. All he could do was keep moving forward and let fate dictate its course for him.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:47 pm

As Yozei suddenly changed his mind, Ryoshi suddenly tilted her head much like a dog would when curious. "Alright." she said simply as she turned to follow him in a new direction that would take them more immediately out of the village. As he ran, so did she. She kept up with him fairly easily, noticing that as they drew close to the exit of the village she saw less and less signs of Rei. Once they would leave the confines of the village entirely she would quickly realize that her companion had not followed them but bailed entirely. Before she could wonder what had happened, she saw something else out of the corner of her eyes.

At first the flash of white put her on edge, but then a grin spread across her features under her mask. "My companion is finally joining us, don't let his presence startle you, Master Yozei." she suddenly spoke up, wanting to give Yozei warning before the large dog appeared.

Far more skilled at being the silent shadow than his sister was, Ryu soon appeared at Ryoshi's side. A large white dog with a scar over one of his eyes, that eye being an amber color and his other being a crystal blue. The dog didn't bark or make a sound as he came up beside Ryoshi at a quick pace and simply nudged at Ryoshi in greeting before taking off further ahead of the pair and disappearing into the foliage. "Ryu will be scouting ahead as we go." she assured him.

'Look at that...' she thought to herself. 'I wasn't sure he'd be ready in time.... yet here he is.'
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:40 pm

Yozei kept his thoughts to himself as they moved through the village. It was natural to assume a member of Anbu wouldn’t be very conversational and he didn’t want to trouble her. She was just going about her duties, after all. Shortly after they departed the southern gates a sudden motion from the treeline caused Yozei to tighten his grip on his sword, his right hand hovering in a ready position as his chakra flared. During the war he had improved his senses somewhat, embracing the way of skitter step to hone him against ambushes. However, it had left him a little on the jumpy side. Though as it became apparent the canine was a ninken he relaxed. The appearance of this companion had suddenly humanized the woman somewhat. Immediately he learned something about her behind the mask, that she was a member of the Inuzuka clan. That fact alone helped him to trust her more. Though he had never grown particular close to the Inuzuka he knew that his father maintained strong family ties to the clan. “Ah, so you’re one of them.” He noted as the Ninken ran off ahead and the two shinobi followed behind. Even so close to Konoha he didn’t want to speak freely of her clan and risk blowing her cover. “Are you a friend of the family?” he wondered before remembering his manners. “Sorry! I know you’re not supposed to talk about personal things while on duty. Still, it’s nice to know something about you beyond your mask” he chuckled lightly.

Looking over the woman as she ran alongside him, he could conclude that it did seem like she was quite fit and equipped for taijutsu. As one would expect of an Inuzuka. “I’m starting to see why you were chosen for this mission. You’re a strong taijutsu fighter then, aren’t you?” he wondered. In this case he didn’t feel he was overstepping personal lines but rather discussing useful combat information in case they got into a conflict. It was standard shinobi protocol after all to familiarize yourself with your comrades’ strengths and weaknesses after all. “I’m best at laying down heavy firepower from a long-range but I can hold my own in close and mid. Katon and Doton are my specialties.” He informed. It occurred to him that the Anbu guard likely already knew this about him, but it was better to be sure she didn’t assume he was a close-range fighter just because he carried a sword. He knew a few techniques, but it was more of a diversion than anything, get his opponents focused on his weapons so that his real talents could overwhelm them.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:28 pm

Keeping herself in mind as Ryoshi rather than as Minako was difficult, but she was slowly falling into swing with it. Yozei's presence was a bit of an agitation given their interaction previously, but with the mask between them it was a bit more comfortable. Not to mention seeing the way he interacted with his family, somehow he seemed different. Though she also felt a bit of jealousy, she couldn't imagine willingly walking away from such a family, not when the most valuable member of hers had been ripped away from her. Though as all these thoughts ran through her mind her eyes drifted up ahead to where Ryu surely was and she realized it didn't feel quite as bad with her brother's dog with her. "Hm?" Her thoughts were pulled back when he asked about her ties to his family, and a chuckle escaped from her lips as he seemed to almost chide himself. "Relax, there's nothing to giveaway there." she assured him. "I'm not someone your family has met before, I have no ties to your family." she added. "Even without the mask I would just be another member of the Clan, almost as faceless."

'To all of them but you anyway... maybe... assuming you even remember meeting me....' Of course that was a thought she kept herself however.

He started asking about her capabilities and the woman saw no harm in the questions, merely nodding at first. "Close and far are my ranges." she admitted, reaching up a hand to tap the bow on her back. "Close range is my greatest strength though, but it's all taijutsu for me." she admitted. "Practically useless in anything else... something I desperately need to work on." Ryoshi motioned up in the direction where Ryu had gone however. "He's good for early detection though. So long as he's within twelve meters of us, we'll have plenty of warning, and he's very good at staying quiet and hidden from any targets as well."

She spared a glance over at Yozei however. "If you don't mind my asking, why leave? Seemed like none of them really wanted you to."
Ryu JutsuShow
Inu no Seishitsu :: A Stray Scent
D Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Being a ninken, Ryu's sense of smell has been trained to quickly and accurately detect odors nearby, based on how strong or weak those odors are. Overwhelming odors, like the smell of rotting flesh, can be detected as far away as 100 meters, while the smell of an average human can be picked up from as far away as 25 meters. Subtle scents, such as masking agents and odor concealments, can be detected up to 12 meters away.

Inu no Seishitsu :: Walking on Paws
D Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Being a ninken, Ryu is able to move on all four of his paws in near silence and leave behind little to no trace of his passing due to the structuring of his feet combined with his abilities as a shinobi's companion. To hear his movements, an opponent requires a hearing perception jutsu of equal or higher rank.
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Post by Izanagi » Sun Jan 16, 2022 11:48 pm

Truthfully Yozei was rather surprised that the Inuzuka woman didn’t have any ties to his family. Upon further consideration he supposed his father wouldn’t have had much time to visit the Inuzuka compound lately, with the war and all of his duties it was hard enough just to find time for his family and friends. Or so he had gathered at least, he hadn’t been in Konoha for years. It had been nice to train with his family again and catch up with them though before he followed his duties once more. “My dad would always tell me how the Inuzuka are our family, but I hardly knew my great grandparents before they passed away. I did see Aunt Masami a lot though but never really got to know anyone else from the Inuzuka aside from Grandma Takami but she was adopted in” he spoke, reminiscing on the first years he came to Konoha. Regardless he could see the feral traits that had been passed down through the Natsuki line, both his father and Aunt Ayame were ferocious taijutsu fighters with a love for animals. It seemed that lineage might have fallen short with him however.

The young man contemplated for a moment. Perhaps he should just treat his Anbu escort like any other person, there were fellow Konoha shinobi after all. “Do you find your work fulfilling? Being faceless, devoting everything you have to the village?” he wondered. He could only assume that Anbu had little time for anything beyond their work. They could hardly let anyone close unless they were also a member of the secretive organization. Yozei chuckled to himself as the woman spoke of her skills. And when she mentioned her shortcomings, he gave her a measured look. “We’ll be travelling for days, we should train together in the evenings, even if it’s just an hour a night. If your affinity is Katon or Doton I’m one of the best in the village to learn from and I could certainly use some more sparring in taijutsu.” He offered simply. There were a few moments of quiet before she asked him about leaving his family and Yozei exhaled. His face was serene. “It’s funny” he began to explain, “You and I are so similar, yet also opposites. We hide our true strengths behind our weaknesses. A close-range specialist carrying a bow; a long-range caster with a Katana” he smirked tapping his weapon for emphasis. And then his smirk faded, and he continued to speak from the heart, humble and honest. “We both put everything into our duty. To be Anbu you have to sacrifice, working from the shadow, keeping your distance from everyone. I’ll be a prince; I have royal blood. There’s no hiding that. I’m always going to be in the open. But I have to sacrifice too. To protect my family, my country even, I have to do this. It’s my responsibility.” He said, his voice calm but heavy. He was a man now and he had his own duties. Fighting in the war had shown him how valuable he was, but also how dangerous it could be for others around him.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:03 am

"Your father may think of the Inuzuka all as family but I'm afraid his name is only familiar to me as the figurehead of the Hokage. I've never interacted with the man personally, watching you say your goodbyes is the closest I've seen him." Ryoshi admitted, fighting to keep her words and expression neutral behind the mask as she spoke. She still bore a great deal of anger against the Hokage for what had happened to her brother after all, and what had come after. She had heard after all that he held their family in great regard, even seen him come to some of the funerals. But not to her brothers. She had tried time and again to convince herself that he couldn't come to every random Inuzuka's funeral, but it was hard to convince herself of it even if she knew she was right and that at least in this case she was being emotional. She was always emotional in all things concerning her brother after all. But she managed to recover herself a bit. "The name Masami is familiar a bit though." She could admit that much at least, Masami was well known in the clan after all. She couldn't admit her personal connection without risking giving away hints to her own identity but to act like she didn't know her would be just as much of a red flag.

Yozei asked about her work and Ryoshi shrugged a bit. "In truth, it's still a fairly new role for me. I didn't wear the mask before the war, but my role in the war earned me the opportunity I suppose you could say." she admitted. "I came to terms with a faceless role then, I lost much... I suppose it is fulfilling now. Before the ANBU I worked with no one but a select one or two others, and now I work with teams and probably know more people than I did before. It's a bit ironic really." she couldn't help a bit of a wry laugh. "Somehow I have no face and more friends, its the opposite of what most would expect.... so yeah, I like my work so far. Even if my first mission did leave me feeling like I was going to piss my pants." Her mind went right back to that mission with Yoru himself and it sent a shiver down her spine, remembering fighting against a memory of Yaku, a ghost of him that nearly killed them both.

She was glad for the change of subject when Yozei brought up training though. She laughed again as he mentioned his own talents again. "Actually my affinity is Doton... I've just never dived into it-" but her words were cut off momentarily as she heard a distant and quiet howl. "That's Ryu."

"Stay behind me, Yozei." Ryoshi suddenly kicked off with an extra burst of speed to outpace him and sped off ahead to check on her partner, and to see what he was alerting the pair to.
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Post by Izanagi » Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:35 pm

Yozei considered the woman’s words. He had learned of each of Konoha’s clans and prominent shinobi as part of his studies and as he recalled there were nearly 100 members of the Inuzuka family. He supposed in any family that large there would be many distant cousins one might never meet, even if the majority of them all lived in the same village. Certainly, there were many members of the Harukatsu family he never met despite most of them coming through the palace at some point during his time living there. “My father has often said all of Konoha is his family, given his ‘friendliness’ I wouldn’t be surprised if I have at least a few more siblings I don’t know about. It might be better that you haven’t interacted with him” he joked, smiling for a moment before looking away. Though he respected his father’s strength and love of family he couldn’t help but feel the man was too promiscuous and reckless for his own good.

He had even seen him eying up Masami quite regularly despite always saying how she was like a younger cousin to him. Truthfully Yozei was surprised that both of the Hokage’s regular guards were men, though perhaps that was a decision made by the Anbu commander knowing that Takeo would be too easily distracted otherwise. When Ryoshi spoke of her role in Anbu, Yozei listened with interest. The organization was a rather secretive one, and though there had been glimpses of the masked figures guarding the Hokage or responding to high level threats there were few details of the group available to the general shinobi of Konoha and fewer still to the public. Even as the son of the Hokage Yozei had no idea where the Anbu headquarters were or how exactly they went about recruiting and operating or even how many members there were.

Over the consistent patter of their footsteps and the rustling of leaves in the wind he listened. “I see, you must be quite the shinobi. I feel safer having you at my side and knowing there are others like you protecting the village.” He said with a warm smile. If she was good enough for Anbu and was therefore trusted by his father, then she was someone he was happy to have watching his back. While the mask could be somewhat off-putting, creating a certain feeling of distance, conversing like this helped to break down the barrier slowly, creating a greater sense of comradery.

It was true however that Yozei could be rather self-centered. He had received only the best education, training and luxuries throughout his entire life. It was natural he was often praised and held in high regard and that sometimes got to his head. Perhaps due to such privileges he had spent little time actually making friends and properly bonding with other. More often than not his interactions were with family, instructors of some kind or bodyguards. And as he grew older, he made a few friends but the line between friend and comrade in arms was one he still couldn’t fully distinguish. Still, regardless of another’s role he could at the very least be friendly and entertain some simple conversation. He nodded as she mentioned her affinity was Doton. That was fortunate, he could certainly work with her on that. It was a rather useful element for sneak attacks and sheer versatility which would serve her well, he was sure. He was about to comment on the matter when a sudden howl from ahead captivated the woman’s attention. It seemed the canine scout had detected something of note. Yozei only nodded again, “Understood” he stated simply as she advanced in a burst of speed. Yozei on the other hand actually slowed down somewhat as he channeled chakra. Stone samurai styled armor would begin to form around him as he gripped his Saya with his left hand and dipped his fingers to draw a kunai in his right.
Jutsu UsedShow
[Earth Element • Samurai Armor]
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
Channelling chakra throughout one’s body the user will encase themselves in a semi-malleable full body rock armor. The rock takes on the appearance of an ornate samurai battle armor, complete with a removable helmet as well as shoulder guards. The many tiles overlap and cover his arms, chest and legs utilizing dark brown coloring and a thinner layer of rock between the tiles and along joints. Though the back of his hands are protected the palms and fingers remain bare. This armor forms at a speed of [20] and possesses [40] strength.

*Ochiba • Single Finger Draw
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Utilizing this manoeuvre, the user is able to quickly draw a kunai from its holster. This is done by placing their finger through the lip of the holder and into the ring of the pommel, flicking it up and out quickly, having the kunai in the user’s hand within an instant.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:55 pm

When Ryoshi caught up to Ryu she found him poised and waiting on all fours. Carefully she checked the space in front of him and found several traps set on the path. They were carefully rigged up and hidden well enough that they might not have seen them if they had just been walking and talking as they had been. Behind her mask, Ryoshi wrinkled up her nose as she carefully dismantled the traps. It took her a few minutes to do so, and while she worked Ryu rushed back to remain by Yozei's side to ensure he wasn't left completely alone. The dog simply hovered near the man in silence, keeping a general awareness of the area.

Eventually Ryoshi returned to the pair and shook her head. "No sign of who yet, but someone's set traps up ahead." she informed him. She glanced around again and shrugged. "We should be on our guard though, not sure if someone is specifically after you or we're just going along some path chosen by a bandit or criminal by chance." She looked down and saw Ryu standing on guard and took a moment to put a hand on the dog's head. Ryu seemed to flinch slightly, but otherwise he nudged at her.

"We should get off the main road, whatever the case may be the path we're taking isn't safe." Ryoshi finally stated, looking at Yozei a moment. "Thoughts?" she asked. "I'm here to protect you but I also can't force you."
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Post by Izanagi » Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:57 am

Yozei waited, ready and alert. He scanned his surroundings slowly and breathed slow and deep. He didn’t want to get too on edge but without much skill in detecting ambushes he was relying on the Inuzuka and her ninken. The aforementioned white dog quietly returning to his side. After several tense minutes the Anbu operative returned and Yozei slid out of his ready stance, exhaling slowly one last time. He nodded, understanding her assessment. It wouldn’t be the first time he had been specifically targeted; he had even been captured a handful of times before. But more common was running into trouble by happenstance. Though before the war bandit and slaver activity within Fire country had been the lowest in decades, now opportunists were feeling brave and taking advantage of public unrest in regions that had been contested during the war.

The Special Jounin considered their options, the Anbu operative was the lead on this mission but he was still a capable shinobi in his own right, even if his safety was the mission in this case. “Safer to assume they’re after us, we should change our route even if it takes longer. I can mask our tracks” he said, following the woman’s lead on which direction they went. Whatever the case he would channel chakra into his feet, creating three separate fake trails of tracks that continued for 15 meters along different directions. Whichever way they moved the tracks would erase themselves as they went. Of course, this wasn’t full proof, there were many means of tracking after all but if they were being targeted it would hopefully at least buy them some time. “I can take us underground too if need be” he said after they moved at least a kilometer away. If Minako gave the go-ahead he would create a tunnel into the ground that would close behind them as they went. It would be fairly taxing to keep up more than a kilometer or two but even that distance could be enough to break a scent trail. And there was always the option to rest in the safety of underground. He could move comfortably at around 20 speed and still keep up with erasing their tracks and/or creating tunnels as they went. Unfortunately, though Yozei’s ninjutsu would prove useful he didn’t have the physique to keep up with his comrades if they needed to move at their full speed.
Jutsu UsedShow
[Earth Element • Misdirection]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
By channeling chakra into the earth the user is able to remove any footprints or otherwise marred areas of earth or create false tracks and markings within a 15-meter diameter of himself, the affected area of earth will blend in seamlessly with its surrounding soil masking any sign of distortion. If used in a streamlined manner this technique can be used passively in order to erase his tracks as they are made making following users trail incredibly difficult by traditional means.

[Earth Element • Mole Hiding]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming handseals, the user will submerge into the ground. The user can then dig through the earth with the use of chakra. The user can travel underground, up to 15 meters deep for up to 5 posts before needing to recast the jutsu. The maximum distance the user can travel is 25 meters per use. Additionally, the earth can only be moved at a maximum speed equal to [Control], limiting the user’s speed at which they can travel through the ground. Using this technique does, however, create a tunnel of sorts, allowing the user to create a series of tunnels for various purposes though the user can close the tunnel behind them as they move should they choose in which case the earth compresses with [Control] strength.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Fri Feb 04, 2022 9:40 am

Ryoshi nodded as Yozei offered to create a fake trail, and found herself fairly impressed as he did so. She watched the trails seem to take off in other directions, and for the moment kept Ryu at her side as they began their journey again. She led them off the path and through some trees as they went, hoping the brush would also mask their tracks as they went along. She didn't like the look of the traps though she kept those details to herself. They were new, and signs that they had recently been monitored remained though she hadn't seen tracks of those that had watched them. So whoever it was had been careful to stay unseen at least when coming and going, and it had been recent, within the last day she would guess. It left her uncomfortable at the least.

After awhile he mentioned making a tunnel, and though he couldn't see it she made a face behind her mask at the suggestion. She hated enclosed spaces, though after her initial reaction she knew he was right. It was a good idea. She managed to keep her body language from showing her distaste too badly, she hoped anyway, and instead tilted her head as if contemplating the idea and nodded. "Go ahead." When he'd form the tunnel she'd follow in. Though the slow down made her a bit uncomfortable in addition to the enclosed space, she didn't voice it. Slow and safe was better than fast and reckless after all.

Ryu of course stayed close to the both of them so long as they were within the tunnel.
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:38 pm

Yozei took a few minutes to get his bearings before creating the tunnel, going as far as to quickly climb a tree and look around. He wasn’t very adept at it, but from his experiences being ambushed in the war he had developed a keen awareness that occasionally took over in stressful times. Some called the style derived from such impulses, Skitter Step but Yozei hadn’t learned to fully control such a state. As he looked around, he absorbed the information like a sponge, memorizing the terrain. He was quite academically smart, more so than almost every Konoha shinobi given his extensive tutoring and education that extended beyond the academy. He knew maps well and understood a great deal about other countries and their cultures as well as math and politics and a number of other subjects that were deemed useful for royalty to adhere to. The typical routes to Dragon Province were by ship or by railroad, the latter of which would only get them as far as Wind country until construction across the canal to new Tea country could be completed. But there was also a much longer way by foot, to the west through Pebble and along the outskirts of Wind country coming all the way to the western coastline and into Dragon Province from there.

First Yozei would make a hole straight below them. Closing it above as a he formed a small fireball in his palm to act as a guiding light. Within the relative safety and seclusion of underground he would give his escort some options. “We can head south for the ocean, south-west to hitch a ride on a train or west to travel toward Pebble and along the borders of Wind country until we can work our way down” he provided the options. “I never learned proper sensing techniques but it I can keep up headed the right way until we’re comfortable emerging” he explained, his mind racing with the possibilities. “I’ve been captured a few times before and survived my share of ambushes” he made light of the situation, chuckling lightly but in an almost nervous way.
Jutsu UsedShow
*[Skitter Step • Senses Open]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
The main jutsu of the Skitter Step, the practitioner takes a moment to focus their bodies, then releases it. While in this stance, the practitioner's sensory input is increased, allowing them to receive more information quickly. This Stance grants a +2 in Strength and a +4 in Speed but a -3 in Willpower and -3 in Control. This Stance will remain in effect until deactivated by [Stop]. Practitioners of this technique will find themselves fidgeting and constantly moving, which can make it difficult for the practitioner to use this style in a stealthy manner.

[Katon • Fireball]
D-Rank Ninjutsu
Channeling chakra the user focuses Katon chakra into one of their hands. This causes a fireball ranging from 6 inches in diameter to 1 meter to form in the palm of their hand. The fireball can be fired off with a strength and speed up to the user’s control. If not fired within 5 posts, the ball will dissipate harmlessly.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Sat Feb 05, 2022 6:53 pm

Behind the mask, Ryoshi raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Well hopefully with me here you won't get captured yet again... if you do I'm pretty sure my career is over." she joked, chuckling a bit to herself. "First mission to myself out of the village and I get the Hokage's son kidnapped? Yeah that'd be a disaster." Still she thought over the options for a moment before shrugging. "Let's try for south-west for the train. Should keep us discreet for most of the trip and at least keep you in comfort for the last part of it, as well as speeding up the last leg to get us ahead of any real plots." In truth, it sounded like a dumb idea even to her but she couldn't help but think that some things could be dumb enough to work, including this.

Though it did make her smirk as she looked at Yozei for a moment. "You might have to dress down on the train a bit though. My mask is going to draw enough attention without the rich fabrics you're wearing adding to it. Don't need some prostitute targeting you for a payday." A bit of Minako's crass attitude showed through for a moment as she made the joke and she couldn't quite help it.
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Sat Feb 05, 2022 7:27 pm

The handsome young prince to be smiled warmly, “At least those other times were my own fault and usually because I was protecting those under my charge. If we run into trouble this time, I’ll fight with everything I have” he assured. He wouldn’t let himself be taken again. She was right, this was her duty, and she was prepared to put her life on the line to protect him, he had to be willing to fight to save himself too. “I can see how that wouldn’t go over well” he admitted, chuckling lightly as he held the fireball out, the various shadows it cast were playing tricks on his mind for a moment he thought he heard something too but it turned out to be nothing. His free hand twitched slightly as he waited for her to make a decision. He didn’t like staying still here for too long, even if they were underground.

Yozei sighed, relieved with her decision. “I was hoping you’d say that” he admitted as a tunnel opened a few degrees to his right and he began leading them down the long corridor. “It’s embarrassing but even after the war I still get seasick. I barely made it down South last time” he recalled, his face souring at the thought of the nausea but also of the horrors that he had been met with when he had actually gotten off the ship. Either way it wasn’t an experience he was in any rush to relive. “And I’m not sure I’m up for the extra week or two of travel the long way would warrant, not that you’re bad company or anything” he said, finding himself a little more talkative now that he was feeling more on edge. Conversation was often a welcome distraction to the feeling of having to scurry around underground because there were potentially unknown assailants that might want to capture or kill you. “Have you ever been on the trains? I’ve heard they’re quite the experience” he considered, speaking at the same time she mentioned his attire. “Oh? Are we not riding first class?” he teased, blushing suddenly as she commented about prostitutes. “They wouldn’t have anyone like that on the trains…would they?” he wondered, genuinely shocked by such a suggestion. He hadn’t ever considered approaching a brothel before and certainly didn’t expect to encounter such service providers during transit.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:15 am

Ryoshi chuckled as Yozei insisted she wasn't bad company. 'If he saw me with the mask off, he wouldn't think that.' she thought to herself. Though she shook her head as he expressed relief that she'd chosen the train. She still wasn't sure it was the smartest decision, she was literally picking it because anyone following them wouldn't anticipate it as it was technically a stupid choice. He asked her about her experience with trains and the woman shook her head again. "I've never actually been on one myself... well, not inside of one at least." she admitted, shrugging. He made a comment about first class and the woman laughed. "No first class, riding it at all is questionable enough without going first class." she replied. If she wasn't wearing her mask she might've stuck her tongue out at him childishly.

Though his blush made her grin. She turned and looked at him a moment and couldn't help a slight cackle. "Clearly you don't realize not all prostitutes are dirty and on street corners." she said, laughing again. "Well little Prince, time to learn. They do have high quality ones that prefer to be called Escorts. They can dress and clean up as well as any high class woman. You'd hardly know the difference until they insist you have to pay them just to be on your arm, and then pay them again to do more." She was grinning widely behind her mask as she looked at him and saw how innocent he was, shaking her head. "Relax, no such woman is going to get near you on the train anyway. I have to stay near you anyway. I'll probably have to remove my mask and use a henge when we get there."
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:54 pm

Yozei’s right hand ran against the cool dirt wall as his left held out his fireball. He took solace in knowing that he was at home and in control in such close proximity to his elements. Though his repertoire of jutsu was somewhat lacking he could fight well with what he knew and had mastered the ability to freely control earth and fire. That had made him somewhat lazy in learning proper more specific techniques. Even his taijutsu and physical training felt like a chore to him. He was rather lazy by nature, the drawback of being so talented and reaching his peak early. He was looking forward to being able to sleep and sit back while they traveled. He raised a brow when she talked about being on a train but not inside one. “Sounds like a story to tell” he chuckled lightly. He was somewhat disappointed he wouldn’t get to experience the best the train had to offer but it was still an exciting prospect nonetheless and he understood the need to lay low.

When she teased him about prostitutes he laughed lightly at his own expense. Of course, he had heard of high-class escorts. Even as a child he had heard some talk of such things in the palace, though he had assumed that those types stayed within certain elite circles and visited private villas, not something as routine as a transportation, even if the railroads were all the talk lately. “I did hear some talk of mistresses and concubines growing up, though you’re right. I’m not sure I could have known the difference from the proper ladies” he admitted. Then he got a bit of a contemplative look about him. He wasn’t sure how much he really wanted to talk about his personal life and childhood. “Though even noblewomen aren’t afraid to use their charms and bodies to negotiate deals, I’ve heard its quite common. I suppose even Kunoichi might have such demands of them from time to time” he considered. All in all, it was human nature to use whatever advantages you could to achieve your goals and women certainly had a lot of power over men when they relied on their sex appeal.

He smiled playfully thinking about her comment about protecting him. “I’ll hold you to that. I’d hate to be seduced by a pretty young woman” he teased. In all honesty, he had been far too long without intimacy, and though he craved the closeness and the warmth of a woman it was hard for him to open his heart again and even harder to be intimate with someone he didn’t love. There had only been one love and one woman that had managed to bed him, and those days were long passed. Eventually, he would have to move on, and he knew that, but the war had been a sufficient distraction. He wondered if he would even have a chance to find someone of his own choice again. Surely, his duties as a noble would demand an arranged marriage and he only hoped that when that time came it would be with someone he could grow to love.

It would be several hours of travel, moving underground for a few kilometers before eventually emerging and making their way toward Mizuno village at a running pace. By the time they arrived at the station it was late afternoon and Yozei was exhausted. Fortunately, there were still a few departure times to choose from, though surely the sooner they left the better. The village was quite busy as it housed one of Fire countries primary station and served as an important trade route. Travellers from Wind country, Aroma, Lightning, Whirlpool and Fire intermingled here. Trips that would normally take days by foot could be made in a few hours in the comfort of a refreshing cabin, complete with snacks and drinks. There were even rooms that could be rented to properly sleep in for overnight trips like the one Yozei and Ryoshi would surely take in order to travel along the coast through Aroma country and into Wind. From there they could make their way into Tea and then to Dragon, either by foot or ship. For the moment however, Yozei’s thoughts were simply about boarding the train and getting a chance to shower and sleep.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Tue Feb 08, 2022 11:26 am

She grinned as he referred to the train as being some story. She couldn't disagree there, it was a story, but perhaps for another time. When he went on to talk about 'charms' as a tool for kunoichi, she smirked behind her mask. "Yeah, it comes in handy." she acknowledged, glancing at him. "When not trapped behind a mask anyway. Hard to seduce a man when I'm in this get up." she added with a bit of a snort. "It can be a tool like any other, some kunoichi are more comfortable using it than others. Personally the furthest I've ever gone with such a tool is idle flirting and innocent touches. Makes my skin crawl to think about doing more with someone I don't give a damn about... or worse, someone I've been ordered to eliminate." Ryoshi couldn't help a slight shudder at the thought. "No, that strikes me as a tool easily used by our enemy nations though, which is why we should be cautious." As he tried to tease her about protecting him, she grinned back at him even if he couldn't see it. "Oh don't worry, I'm sure they don't know your type isn't the fake high court noblewoman type. Any honey trap the enemy tries to plant would fail immediately." she quipped with a lap, not quite realizing her slip up yet, that she had referenced a conversation they'd had when she was without the mask.

Arriving at the station hours later would present another set of challenges for Ryoshi, but they were challenges she could meet. She first had to find an out-of-the-way place for Yozei to remain while she grabbed a few things, likely an alley near the train station. When she came back she had an armload of clothes. She handed a few off to Yozei. "I grabbed these off of a couple of clothes lines, they look like they should fit us well enough." she mentioned. "We'll look like ordinary travelers this way." she glanced at Ryu. "...with a pet." The dog growled at her but eventually huffed as if giving in. She removed a cloth he wore around his neck with the village symbol and replaced it with a simple leather collar and glanced at Yozei wen she felt like his eyes might be on her. "I left more than enough money behind to cover what I took. It'll probably replace the items twice over." she said, probably assuring herself more than him really.

Once she had handed him a set of clothes she motioned towards the back of the alley. "Change, and be quick, I'll keep my back to you and keep watch." She didn't seem willing to take no for an answer as she immediately turned her back and waited. Assuming all went well she'd assume he'd do the same and take her turn to change clothes before performing a henge and slipping her clothes and mask into a bag before looking at him with a new face.

Without missing a beat she handed him a ticket. "So here's the fun part. We have an overnight room rented for this trip. When I bought the tickets with my mask on and they asked me what the purpose of the trip was... I said it was for my employers' honeymoon." Ryoshi shrugged. "Seemed like the best ruse, and lessens the risk of any ladies knocking in the middle of the night." Of course though she was pretty embarrassed by the ruse herself, she couldn't help teasing him slightly based on their earlier conversation.
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Tue Feb 08, 2022 11:40 pm

Yozei smirked at the woman’s comment, “That’s fair, although there is a certain appeal to the mystery of it” he joked lightly. He nodded in agreement as she spoke of sex as a tool. He could understand that and certainly didn’t judge Kunoichi who used such means but personally that wasn’t something he would be comfortable with. It was refreshing to hear that even an Anbu operative could hold similar beliefs. He had often wondered what sort of morals Konoha’s elite were prepared to abandon. “We have that in common then” he said with a sympathetic smile. “I’ve killed, in some ways I’d like to forget. But I never want to associate sex with death and betrayal. That’s something that is supposed to be sacred, done out of love” he said softly, his eyes sad and contemplative.

He gave her an assessing look when she spoke of his type. “I didn’t think I was that easy to read. You’re right, I hate pampered fake people. Even through your mask and your position, you feel more real than those types” he considered whimsically. It was easy to make casual conversation with a faceless bodyguard. Though he did have to be careful not to blather on too much. She was just here doing a job after all. It was unlikely he would ever see her again after they reached their destination and even less likely he would ever learn her true identity. With this in mind he found himself growing rather quiet for the next few hours, only making the occasional small talk and emerging briefly to assess their position.

When they eventually made it near the station, Yozei waited anxiously as his escort left to retrieve some disguises. They had made sure to enter the city underground and closed the tunnel behind them so there wasn’t any chance of being detected and he was sure Ryoshi was careful to not draw too much attention to herself as she went about her business. The young prince frowned as she spoke of stealing the clothes. Money was not an issue for him, he carried plenty of it on him and he hated the idea of taking advantage of Fire country citizens and their allies that were trying to recover livelihoods after potential hardships during the war. He accepted the clothes handed to him, a simple indigo samue. Half the field workers, monks or even just shopkeepers on their days off wore something similar. He nodded, exhaling slowly in relief as she explained she had compensated the homeowners for their stolen clothing. “Good. These will do nicely then” he assessed. It wasn’t the type of clothing he was used to, varying between fine silk and intricately patterned Kimono and other formal wear, or the more modern and casual clothing that was typically only found in shinobi villages.

He nodded simply, sighing as he accepted the rather embarrassing place to disrobe. Folding his clothes neatly he placed them in his bag, along with his smaller weapons and his forehead protector. Dressing in the simple indigo pants and relaxed fit of the samue he tied a simple black sash obi around his waist. His Katana would be a problem, the brilliant red and gold of the ancestral sword of the Harukatsu family and the other black and decorated with lightning bolts and wind swirls in a similarly expensively designed fashion. The best thing he could do was perform a simple henge, transforming them into small folding fans that he kept tucked together on his left side. His hair too he would transform to take on a black hue instead of his quite distinct auburn. Now he would blend in perfectly with the average person. When it was Ryoshi’s turn to change he would dutifully guard her, not tempted in the slightest to peak at her while she changed. Both in respect for her duty as Anbu and her modesty as a woman.

When she walked by him, he found himself blushing lightly. He wondered how similar to her true appearance she had decided upon. Henge or not he hadn’t thought she would be quite so beautiful and it took him a moment to properly collect himself. He was about to make a comment when she presented him with a ticket and he found himself awkwardly receiving it, nearly dropping it as he found somewhere in his bag to place it. He sighed in relief as she mentioned they would be able to stay in one of the small cabin rooms, only thinking about a shower and place to sleep. It hadn’t quite dawned on him that they would have to share what would surely be a small space. His face paled however at the mention of a honeymoon ruse, he looked at her with an incredulous expression. And then he sighed yet again, accepting that it was actually a rather sensible solution. “I suppose that’s easy enough. Good thinking” he said, attempting to keep his spirits up. “I must say, I am quite looking forward to a shower and some rest” he admitted. At this point he was exhausted and simply glad for the chance to relax finally.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Tue Feb 08, 2022 11:57 pm

Ryoshi caught sight of Yozei's blush for a moment, and completely misunderstood it. She quickly started checking over her clothes. "Did I leave something exposed?" she asked, blushing lightly herself as she was worried she might have had a wardrobe malfunction of some kind. She wasn't used to this sort of clothing at all, and getting dressed in it had felt clumsy at best. She had almost asked Yozei for help. Almost. But when she gave up checking and gave him the ticket and saw him pale at the mention of the ruse, she realized it wasn't her outfit that had made him blush exactly. The woman manged to keep her reaction down to a slight smirk, though she was pretty sure she could see him struggling with the idea for a moment.

When he admitted to looking forward to a shower and a rest though, the woman nodded. "Yeah, that would be nice." she admitted, though she frowned slightly. She wasn't sure how much of either she'd actually get, considering her job was to guard Yozei. More than likely even on the train she knew she'd be staying up in shifts with Ryu to keep watch, at best anyway. Regardless of the thought though, she turned and started leading the way towards the train.

The process of boarding was rather simple. All they had to do was show tickets and they were shown to their room. It was a simple and small space, though Ryoshi immediately spotted an issue with the honeymoon ruse as they stepped inside and she closed the door.

There was just one bed.
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:43 am

The boarding process was rather seamless, and from Yozei could tell there didn’t seem to be anyone following them. Though he did find himself scanning the crowds and actively looking for weaponry or the types of physiques that might indicate either shinobi training or a life of banditry. The downside of the train was that once on board they would essentially be trapped with a group of hundreds of potential assassins for a duration of over 12 hours. As shinobi, it wasn’t as if they couldn’t survive jumping from a high-speed train if needed but given their route would take them through long stretches of desert, it certainly wouldn’t be ideal to make an early departure. He wasn’t sure how Ryoshi handled the nerves so well, she seemed of a similar age to himself though he supposed it was always easier to remain calm when focused on protecting others.

When they made their way to their room, Yozei felt he might finally be able to relax, if only for a short time. However, as the door closed behind them it suddenly dawned on him just how small the space was. And more importantly the fact that there was only one bed. It wasn’t as if there was a lot of floor space either to make for a secondary option. Not if they wanted to be well rested at least. There was barely enough room for Ryu to lay down comfortably on the ground. Slipping his bag off and placing it down, Yozei unhenged his pair of Katana, “Well that’s not ideal” he stated, his heartbeat was already racing at the idea of sleeping in such close proximity to an attractive woman. It had been years since he had felt such closeness, and this was hardly the appropriate time or place to change that. “We should shower…or eat, or maybe just talk? Do a sweep for hostiles?” he suggested nervously, anything to postpone the awkwardness of trying to sleep in such a scenario. Moving to the window above the bed he closed the curtain and placed his pair of Katana on the small ledge. He would probably have to keep them in the room for the duration of the trip. It wasn’t like there was anything to do on the train anyway.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 12:54 am

A quick glance at Yozei confirmed that Ryoshi wasn't the only one both surprised and uncomfortable with the fact of there only being one bed. She couldn't help it, the woman laughed audibly with a loud snort to start. She quickly covered her mouth, blushing a bit before she cleared her throat to recover. She walked over and sat on the bed, glancing down at Ryu who managed to find a corner to sit upright in. The dog's behavior only made her shake her head. "Go ahead and shower while you can." she told Yozei. "We'll get a bite after and you should rest. I'll do a room sweet while you shower... not that it'll take me long." Ryoshi sighed to herself, before glancing around. "Ryu and I will split duties on keeping watch, it's important that you rest up for your new duties upon arrival."

It was hard to hide her annoyance, her personal feelings couldn't get in the way of her mission but the son of the Hokage was leaving the village behind. The distaste she had shown for what she felt was his refusal to accept Konoha as home during their first meeting still remained. Without the mask it was harder to hide her personal feelings. Instead she covered for her feelings by simply rubbing the bridge of her nose as if she were tired, which wasn't wholly inaccurate either.
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:14 am

Ryoshi’s laugh helped to lighten the mood and relieve some of his apprehension. Yozei even managed a light chuckle at his own nervousness, breathing deeply and finding himself reaching a calm state finally as the effects of Skitter step began to wane. “Okay” he said simply, a shower and some food would do him some good and help him to feel refreshed. Though he couldn’t help but feel there was some unspoken tension for a moment. He assumed it was because Ryoshi would be stuck on duty all night and they still had a long day ahead of them in the morning. “I’m still a shinobi” he said quietly but with conviction. “I’ll share watch, your rest is every bit as important” he assured.

With that, he turned to leave the room and go find the showers. He would keep his hair transformed black but there was some risk in not carrying any weapons on him. Of course, he could still conjure fire and stone at a moment’s notice, so he was never completely defenseless. If truly threatened he even had more deadly skills, though it was rare for him to resort to using such methods. The shower wouldn’t take long, only a few minutes were allotted to conserve water and they were located quite close to the room they stayed in. It was hard to believe but they actually had one of the larger and more luxurious rooms, it even came with complimentary dinner boxes and some sake as well as a small sink. When he returned Yozei’s hair was still damp and his stomach growling. He felt better after washing away the dirt and sweat, maintaining good hygiene was always important to the young man despite his affinity for earth. “I hope Ryu didn’t eat my share, I’m starving” he said with a lighthearted tone.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:23 am

Ryoshi didn't respond to his comment about being a shinobi. She couldn't think of anything that wouldn't just insult him, but the fact was, in her mind he wasn't a shinobi on this mission. He was simply her ward, and her job was to protect him. She was careful so that he might not realize it, but once he left the room she sent Ryu after him. After all, she couldn't let him go alone but also the man deserved his privacy for a shower. Ryu would simply follow him to and from, discreetly. In fact, shortly after he returned and made his joke about the dog he'd probably turn to see Ryu walk in behind him as Ryoshi grinned. "Nope, he didn't get a chance to." she replied with a chuckle of her own.

With Yozei back though, Ryoshi would hand Yozei one of the dinner boxes before sitting at one end of the bed with her legs tucked under her with the other one, and of course slipping Ryu some food from her back that she'd brought with her. She looked at Yozei for a moment before turning her attention back to her own box as her mind wandered over a few things. "Mind if I ask... why are you leaving Konoha?"
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:44 am

Yozei let out a small huff of amusement as Ryu moved passed him. For such a large dog it was quite impressive how swift and silent he was. He hadn’t even noticed that he had been tailed. It was almost enough for him to be put back on edge again, but instead he took comfort in knowing that Ryoshi and Ryu were there to watch his back and that he could trust in them. “Seems I’m in good hands” he commented, impressed. Accepting the bento box he sat on the opposite side of the bed, crossing both his legs under him.

Slowly he opened the box and took hold of his chopsticks, savoring some of the breaded chicken and rice. He was surprised at the woman’s question. “Duty” he said impulsively. But that wasn’t quite accurate. He sighed and looked a bit deeper into himself. “I think I can do more good there. Konoha is my home, I love my family, but I can’t hide from who I am. I have responsibilities I was born into. The war made me realize how much of an impact I can make” It was clear he didn’t mean that entirely in a good way. “And how much I have to atone for. I don’t want to see anyone suffer under Fire country rule, if I can help keep the peace then I have to try” he spoke from the soul, his words heavy. But still he clung to optimism, that he could do better and become the man he was destined to be. He wanted his family to be proud of him and he knew they were but he didn’t quite feel deserving of that.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:49 am

Ryoshi chuckled as Yozei complimented Ryu's ability to sneak around. "Yeah, he's a lot better at this sort of work than his sibling." she remarked. "As an Inuzuka its difficult to do my work without risking being recognized purely for my companion... but I'm in a unique position of having more than one, so he only comes with me on these kinds of missions. These are what he excels at, and what he prefers to do." she commented before digging into her bento. She was glad for the food, even if she did prefer something she had cooked over a fire herself.

Though as Yozei answered her question the woman couldn't help a pause. She turned and gave him an odd look as she thought back to her first conversation with him, and how harsh she had been with him. The pain of her loss of her twin had been so recent still she had practically taken it out on him. It left her wondering about what he was saying. "What could you possibly have to atone for?" she asked quietly, unable to shake a bad feeling she had.
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 2:55 pm

What the woman said about her ninken was interesting. He supposed that made sense, he never really thought about it before but it did seem that either Inuzuka were uncommon among Anbu or they typically operated without their ninken. It was enough that he briefly considered if he might have crossed paths with the woman before. It was difficult to tell, her voice did seem somewhat familiar especially without the mask but he had also been travelling with her all day so it was natural to develop some level of recognition by now.

Yozei stared into his bento, his appetite suddenly soured as he recalled some of the darker times during the war. Placing it on the small counter next to the sink he retrieved the bottle of Sake and a pair of cups. Pouring one for each of them and silently offering her one. It was likely she would refuse but he certainly could go for something to take the edge off. Downing his in one drink he poured another that he would sip on more carefully. It wasn't particularly good Sake by any means but it would do the job.

He sat back on the bed, leaning against the back wall with his legs outstretched, bottle and cup in hand. "I served as a Lieutenant, leading a platoon of Fire country samurai during the war. It was my first real command. My first assignment was to secure lava island so that we could develop a new naval base, a staging ground so we could deploy further south and better prepare against Kirigakure's naval force. It was supposed to be simple, we all thought the island was uninhabited. Maybe some pirates or smugglers at worst" he looked down into his cup, taking a deeper sip and feeling a light buzz wash over him. He didn't really want to talk about the details, it was still hard for him to think about what could have been done differently.

"Instead we found tribes of people, primitive, they didn't speak our language. We tried to round them up, force them to surrender but it became a slaughter. They kept fighting, hiding and ambushing from the forests. We burned them down, killed anyone with a weapon, the fires took the rest...an entire culture, gone" The smell, the screams. There was nothing quite like women and children burning alive and knowing you were the one responsible. Intentionally or not. The public hadn't been made aware of the natives and why would they? If people knew what they had done so early in the war they would have lost support and the moral highground. Yozei couldn't even look the woman in the eyes. He knew that Anbu surely were used to collateral damage, achieving their mission no matter the cost but that wasn't the kind of person Yozei was and he hated himself for being responsible in the death of innocents and cultural genocide of a reclusive people that may have had a rich history of traditions and knowledge.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 3:42 pm

Ryoshi immediately felt bad as she watched him set aside the bento box, she almost said she shouldn't have asked. But it was done, she doubted saying anything would change the fact that she had managed to ruin his appetite by bringing up what were clearly painful memories. He offered her a cup of sake and she took it, albeit hesitantly. She didn't actually drink it, she simply held it in her hand as she listened to Yozei go on to explain what had gone wrong for him in the war. She couldn't really help the way her eyes went wide for a moment as she listened, what he told her was shocking to say the least. She had never heard about this, and couldn't help feeling like she should have heard about it, even if she was still newer to the ranks of the ANBU.

As part of getting her own reaction under control, Ryoshi finally downed that cup of sake and set it aside. Naturally she wouldn't have a second. Taking the edge off of hearing something horrible was one thing, risking inebriation on duty was entirely something else. Against her better judgment, Ryoshi moved from her spot on the bed. She scooted over and partially crawled to sit directly beside him, resting a hand on his knee a few moments after he finished speaking. "Sometimes no matter how much good we try to do, things just go horribly wrong in the worst ways." She couldn't help the fact that her mind went to her twin brother for a moment and she realized that the last time she had met him she had severely misjudged him in her anger.

For all her hatred of the village for leaving her and her brother in a horrible position, for her brother's death, the truth was she hated herself for not being able to save him. Fact was, she suddenly realized he could understand her pain after all. He might not have lost a sibling in his arms, but his attempt to follow orders had resulted in so much collateral damage it did more than equal the loss of a sibling, it was something far beyond that.

She gave his knee a light squeeze before sighing quietly. "You should sleep, Yozei. It's another long day tomorrow."
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:40 pm

Yozei closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping to put the memories aside. But he saw only burning, heard the screams of his men, ordering their enemy to stand down and comply. Then the war cries from both sides. They had found writings on the many ancient trees throughout their island forests. How many centuries of information had been recorded and lost to the fires? What little remained was written in a language that was now dead and gone. If nothing else the people had been devoted, when the tides of battle changed, and they knew all hope was lost some charged to their deaths and others willingly walked into fire. Had there ever been a chance they could have resolved the invasion peacefully? There were several villages. No, against such people the best solution would have simply been to never be there in the first place. What could he have expected? Ships full of heavily armed men had stormed their beaches and demanded surrender in a tongue they couldn’t understand. He would have fought too in their place.

For a talented 16-year-old at the time, all that power he possessed didn’t make up for experience. His eyes opened slowly as he felt the bed shift and the woman move next to him. He was surprised, but her comfort was not unwelcomed. The young prince finished back his second cup, exhaling slowly and leaning his head back against the wall as he felt Ryoshi’s hand against his knee. She really was beautiful, but he knew better than to overstep. This was just a mission for her, and she was still on duty in a sense. Her words helped. “Yeah…I’ll get through it. I have to” he sighed, most days he could put it to the back of his mind but the memories and the guilt always had a way of crawling their way back. It was a hard thing for him to accept. He had always been held to such a high standard, by others and himself. To face the reality that he wasn’t a hero, or some role model to be admired by his siblings was difficult. But mostly he hated himself for it. He knew there was darkness inside him, and one could argue it wasn’t his fault. His soul had been tainted and he fought against the dreams, kept his sacred Katana close by at all times to keep the demons from his mind. But it was still a part of him, just like all of his faults and the consequences of his actions that he would forever have to live with.

He moved to fill another cup, but between the shaking of the moving train and his growing tipsiness his hand was jostled, and he ended up spilling nearly half a cup on the woman’s kimono. “Sorry” he muttered, screwing the lid back on the sake and reaching over her to place it and the cup on the ledge next to his pair of Katana. While he was leaning forward he opened the window cover partway so they could see their surroundings as they traveled without completely exposing their cabin to anyone watching the train pass through the countryside. In doing so his left arm reached over her head and as he sat back down it settled behind her. Another jostle from the train and he leaned into her. “Can we just sit like this for a little while?” he pleaded sleepily. It was clear he was exhausted. The weight of the day, the talk, and the drink all finally hitting him at once. But still he wasn’t quite ready to sleep, he didn’t want to risk having any nightmares and at least for the moment, the woman’s closeness helped to put his mind at ease. The sun was beginning to set over Fire country, bathing the farmer's fields and thickets of forest in a warm orange glow. In the distance, one could see the Ocean as they moved along the southern coastline toward Aroma country. It was incredible how fast everything seemed to be passing and yet there was so much landscape that one could still take everything in. Certainly, the train was moving at least as fast as either of them could run.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:13 pm

Ryoshi couldn't help a chuckle when Yozei spilled some of the sake on her. "Easy now." she said, chuckling still. "Trust me, none of this is going to bury the demons of what happened to you and what you've been through." she told him. She gave him a worried look as she realized he was feeling the affects of the alcohol, remembering how she'd nearly fallen into a bottle herself after her brother died. It was something next to no one knew of her struggles, this was the closest she had come to confessing it. But the way he had managed to put his arm around her, the way he sat with her, she realized he was essentially holding her, but also cuddled up against her. He asked to remain like that and for a moment her breath hitched. But the woman finally nodded. "Alright." she said quietly. "Just don't go crushing on my appearance, it is just henge after all." she told him in an attempt to tease him about it. Still, she rest her head against his and let him stay as he was.

She wasn't sure when she accidentally fell asleep.

When she woke up, Minako had no idea that her henge had failed. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, and so hadn't taken steps to ensure the henge remained up or that she was in a position to fix it immediately. When she did wake up she groaned, rubbing her eyes for a moment as she tried to get a sense of things. A cursory glance around the room told her everything was normal in spite of her stupidly falling asleep.

Everything except for the failed Henge.
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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:17 pm

At some point the lush greenery transitioned to arid rock and sand, the sky darkening and stars glimmering in the sky. And Yozei found himself entering the great throne room of the Shittenou-Jou Ryu palace. Large stone pillars wrapped in red velvet and golden dragon patterns lined a large throw-rug of swirling black and red designs. Light shone in from the terrace walls, casting shadow on the large throne at the end of the room. As he approached, Yozei smelled smoke and then saw the flames, licking at the walls and encroaching closer. A looming figure sat on the throne, glowing marks illuminating his skin, eyes aflame. As Yozei drew closer his steps became heavy, his footing meeting resistance. His eyes cast downward, finding himself standing in a river of blood. Panicked, his heart raced, his hands clammy with sweat as he reached for his sword only to find his hands grasping at empty air. He could see the bodies now, his mother, uncle, grandfather. Collapsed at the foot of the throne, their vacant gazes staring at him, blood poured from cavities in their chests and slit throats. He tried to yell, to cry out in rage but he found he couldn’t speak.

‘This is your destiny’

The voice was familiar. It was his own, but lower, filled with malice. Yozei tried to move, to turn away. Stumbling backward he found himself seated on stone. A throne. The bodies were at his feet now, a bladed chain wrapped around his left arm, drenched in Harukatsu blood. Wisps of fire and glowing marks emanated from his body, caught in the reflection of the glint of steel as it snaked around almost with a will of its own.



The world shook, he found himself jostled and suddenly the throne room faded. Startling awake the morning sun shone through the window, across the arid lands. Instinctively Yozei found himself reaching for his Katana, contained in its gold embellished sheath. His breathing was heavy, but it slowed as soon as he touched the material. Exhaling slowly, he remembered where he was and began to feel at peace once more. It was not the first time he had such a dream, but each time it was so vivid that it seemed real in the moment. “We must be getting close” he muttered. The sun had already risen, and by the landscape there were surely well into Wind country by now. Though, looking over he found himself flinch as he thought perhaps he wasn’t fully awake after all. He recognized that face but it wasn’t the look of the woman he had fallen asleep next to. “It’s…you. From the forest” he pieced together quickly. That wild hair, the defiant eyes. She had enough Inuzuka traits that she might have been able to be mistaken for someone else but it had been only a week or two since that encounter. He wasn’t about to forget a face that quickly though her name did momentarily escape him. No wonder some of the things she had said seemed familiar. And the other ninken, it all seemed to make sense now. But he was sure she hated him, just how much of their journey thus far had been an act? Was she resenting every moment with him? That thought left a pit in his stomach, he hated feeling lied to, that everyone was only putting up a front, showing him a fake version of themselves. But she was Anbu after all. He should have expected as much.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:29 pm

"Easy now, you're safe." Minako tried to reassure him when he startled awake. She turned to face him, resting a hand on the shoulder of his that was closest to her. Though his flinch as he looked at her caught her off guard and she gave him a strange look for a moment. But then he made a comment about the forest and she blushed deeply suddenly. "...shit." She moved off the bed quickly to look in a mirror nearby and realized the henge had faded. With a heavy sigh she rested her hands on a small counter before turning her head to look at him. "...yeah, its me." she said simply as she turned to try and move closer to him again, kneeling beside him on the bed. "You don't look well, are you alright?" It didn't dawn on her what he might be thinking in the moment seeing her and who she really was as she tried to reach out a hand to touch his forehead carefully. "Feels like a fever..."

But when she paused and really took a look at him, taking in his expression, she realized something was amiss. "I... didn't mean to fall asleep, the henge fell because of it.... sorry, it's probably a bit of a shock." she said, grimacing slightly. 'Well this is one way to fuck up my first solo ANBU mission isn't it?'
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:39 pm

Yozei sighed and then groaned as he twisted and stretched out some kinks in his neck and back. He hadn’t fallen asleep in the most comfortable position, though the closeness had been nice. He hadn’t fallen asleep snuggling a woman like that since he was a teenager with his first crush. It really was rather pathetic when he thought about it. As handsome, rich and powerful as he was it would be easy for him to pick up a girl if he really tried. But he simply didn’t feel he deserved such happiness or was ready to be with anyone like that. It was an emotional wound he wasn’t prepared to re-open. Having his first girlfriend break up with him after their only time being intimate together hadn’t done any favors for his self-esteem.

His Katana laid across his lap he sat at the edge of the bed. “I’m okay” he said simply, his expression sullen. “Just a bad sleep, a recurring dream. Nightmare really” he explained as she touched his forehead. He looked over to her with a gentle smile. Even after her identity was revealed she still seemed to care about his wellbeing. “You’re a good bodyguard. I should hire you on full time” he said with a little more levity in his voice. She apologized and Yozei smirked, trying to force himself to lighten the mood again. “The biggest shock is seeing how well you pull off a kimono, you clean up nice” he said, even though she wasn’t exactly the most put together, having just woken up it was still quite the difference to seeing her in the woods with sticks and bones in her hair and ripping a rabbits head off with her teeth. Though despite her barbaric tendencies they had actually had quite good conversations before he had touched a nerve about her brother and caused her to run off. Still, that resentment she felt towards him had been made clear and he wasn’t sure he would ever fully break through that barrier or if he would even have much of a real chance.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:54 pm

Minako couldn't help a snort as he referred to her as a good bodyguard. "Pretty shit ANBU operative though... first mission without a partner and I've screwed up and let my identity be revealed." she said, chuckling to herself as she shook her head. She pulled something out of the kimono's pocket and reached back behind her head with both hands, trying to pull her hair back into a quick ponytail at the base of her skull to get it under control. Under the circumstances it was the best she could really do for it. "Commander hears about this, he's going to pitch a fit..." she muttered, remembering how much she'd screwed up on her last mission when she had worked with Yoru directly. Her thoughts were quickly interrupted as Yoru commented about her in the kimono and the woman smirked at him, nudging his shoulder playfully as she shook her head at him and rolled her eyes. "Yeah... and you grope in your sleep, Mr. Proper." she teased.

But with her identity revealed, her mind went back to the night before and what Yozei had told her. Without adequate room to pace around, the woman walked to the other side of the small space and leaned her back against the door with her arms crossed. Naturally Ryu took advantage of the moment and jumped up on the bed to curl up comfortably. She looked at Yozei a moment, hesitating before she finally spoke. "I owe you an apology, Yozei." she finally managed, chewing on her bottom lip a moment. "Last night... well. You made clear that you do understand my pain. You may not have been through the exact same thing, but you've been through a parallel hell at the least." The woman took a deep breath and sighed. "Even so... I shouldn't have gone off the way I did. I was only two weeks medically clear and still hurting, and I should never have let that influence how I treated you. Yeah I have a rep for being wild and even acting like an animal... but even animals have some empathy, and I showed none."

Minako's eyes finally dropped towards the floor and her feet. "I hope the bullshit I spouted that day didn't influence your decision to leave Konoha."
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:47 pm

Yozei gave a wry smile as Minako lamented about her Anbu performance. He could feel the weight of his haunting dreams slipping away. Despite the way they had ended things when he had first met her, he did value her advice. And she seemed to know him well, even if she was a little off base with some of her assumptions. Perhaps there was a chance to smooth things over, though he wasn’t sure what it was worth with him moving half a continent away from Konoha. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re still just Ryoshi to me” he assured, there was no need for anyone to find out her identity had been compromised and if anyone could be trusted with a secret surely Yozei was at the top of the list. He had acted as a liaison for dealings with rogue shinobi on behalf of the village, taken part in a genocide that was scrubbed from the record. He had even betrayed his ‘uncle’ Yoru and helped capture him, but publicly he had returned to the village and atoned for his crimes of his own accord.

He blushed, eyes widening in shock as she told him he had groped her. She didn’t seem upset by it at least. It might have not even been true, just trying to get a rise out of him. He couldn’t say for certain. It had felt nice to be close to her and certainly he had held her close and enjoyed the snuggles as he slept but he wasn’t normally someone controlled by impulses. “I…well, it has been quite a while” he admitted, playing along with it. “I’m sorry if I crossed any lines though” he said more seriously, just in case he actually had, he supposed even putting his arm around her and snuggling her like that could be seen as too personal to some people.

When Ryu switched places with Minako, Yozei naturally placed his hand gingerly on the large dog, giving him a light scratch if he allowed it. He was surprised when Minako apologized to him, though he could see there was genuine emotion in her words. Truthfully it meant more to him than he had expected, to feel that she was being genuine, that there was some connection there beyond duty. Perhaps they could actually be something akin to friends. He longed for more genuine connections with people, they were hard to come by for someone of his lineage and reputation. “Thank you” he exhaled, feeling a great sense of relief. He hated being judged for things beyond his control, being seen only as privileged and above others. All he wanted was to feel like he belonged, to be accepted and loved. His family provided that but his friendships left him wondering, and he hadn’t even dared to open himself up to romantic love for fear that it would be the same. That they would never be able to see the true him nor he be able to see behind their masks. “I hope we can move forward, maybe even be friends. I like talking to you and I do appreciate your bluntness” he said with a hopeful if a little hesitant of a smile. He shook his head to the side at her last comment. “My mind was already made up; I know it’s what I need to do. For so many reasons, but I do want to return to Konoha someday and I never want to stop being a shinobi” he said with conviction.

He turned to look out the window as they crossed over a massive 20-kilometer bridge that spanned the two sections of Wind country. An amazing accomplishment that had been constructed in only 2 years. Soon they would be entering the territory of former Dune country and that was where the train would come to a stop. The railroads into Tea country were nearly complete but still not quite ready for international travel. “Looks like we’ll be departing soon” he observed as he collected his other Katana and re-applied his henge technique. While he waited, he would finally finish the rest of his bento box for some much-needed sustenance.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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Post by Willoria » Thu Feb 10, 2022 10:19 pm

Minako gave him a look of surprise when he mentioned liking her bluntness. It almost made her snort in a laugh. "I don't think anyone has said that since my brother." she admitted, shaking her head. "He was always the more diplomatic of the two of us... now I gotta get used to being both again." As he spoke of deciding on his own to leave, the woman nodded slowly, sighing to herself. "Well in the spirit of bluntness... I hate that you're going." she admitted, smirking slightly as she looked at him. "Turns out you're not that bad after all. Prince." she added, chuckling a bit. The title amused her a bit, and cringe a bit. But as he mentioned departing soon the woman sighed and looked out the window on the other side of the room, still leaning against the door to the room where she'd been. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Ryu's ears twitch but she didn't think much of it, not at first.

There was a loud sound and a grunting gasp from Minako as she looked down to see a blade sticking out of her right shoulder. A split second later and it retracted, the door behind her opening as she dropped to a knee and kicked backwards with her other foot, both hands touching the ground as she heard the satisfying sound of someone's knee-cap being sent the wrong direction and shattering.
The Tales of the Aes Sedai Fukusha Reina - Iwagakure No Sato - Jounin - #EF2B2D Atsushi Cho - Tea Country - D Rank Samurai - #A34402 Hanzo - Sunagakure No Sato - Genin - #35C4AF

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Post by Izanagi » Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:54 am

Yozei smiled softly as she talked about her brother. That was a good sign, that she could recall happy memories and speak of him without directing those feelings into hostility. Though he was still apprehensive about commenting about him, less he upset her again. Talking to others in mourning wasn’t something he had much experience with. He hadn’t been there for his siblings as much as he would have liked to be after the murder of their grandfather by Kirigakure shinobi. “Grandpa Natsuki taught me to love the rougher things in life, I didn’t take to the outdoors as much as some of my siblings, but I like to think I carry on his heart, his appreciation for the things in life that guide us and shape us”, he said softly, eyes alight with nostalgia and mourning. He regretted not spending more time with the man, but he had some good memories with him still from his first five years in Konoha.

He looked up at the woman as he ate his bento, sipping on a bottle of water periodically. “I wouldn’t mind a visit from a Plebian every now and then” he countered with a playful smirk. “And it doesn’t hurt to have another reason for me to return home” he added. Konoha, for all the hardships he had in fitting in, was still home. It had helped shape him and he would always be grateful. He looked down, grabbing a piece of tenpura with his chopsticks, only to hear the sound of scraping metal. His eyes went wide, the bento tossed aside as Minako slumped. His mind raced. Shoulder wound. His chakra flared, his hands raised together as he conjured a stone spike. He was prepared to fire it through the door, but as it opened and the assailant was staggered with a kick to the knee he was granted a clear shot. Sliding off the bed he crouched slightly, leaning to angle the shot upward as it pierced the attacker through the chest, flying with such force and speed that it send them careening backward, pinned in the corner of the hallway wall and ceiling. “Are you okay!?” he rushed to her side, putting pressure on the wound and frantically looking for something to wrap around it, to no avail. “We have to move” he decided. He turned to the window, readying his hands to disintegrate the glass panel when suddenly an explosive tag was slapped onto it from the outside. No doubt Ryu would already be on the move, so Yozei would divert chakra into creating his doton armor as he dove into the hallway, making sure Minako got out with him.

The explosion rang out and a few shards of glass embedded into his back and shoulders before his armor fully formed. His ears rang but there was no time. From either side of the hallway came attackers with knives, or perhaps they were short-swords? His head felt fuzzy, but his instincts took over. Skitter step activating. His hand moved to his sword, deactivating the henge to return it to its normal form as he sent the weapon flying grip first into his target with enough force to shatter ribs before returning. He attempted an Iaido draw but the space was too narrow and he ended up glancing his strike off the wall, allowing his opponent to tackle him to the ground. As they aimed to stab into his neck he would attempt to channel chakra into his hands, forming a layer of sankaton which he would grab at their wrist with one hand and their throat with the other.
Jutsu UsedShow
*Doton • Spike Shot
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user will form a stone spike directly in front of them roughly 1.5 meter long and 1/2 meter in diameter at it's thickest point before launching the spike forward up to 25 meters away at [30] strength and speed.

[Earth Element • Samurai Armor]
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
Channelling chakra throughout one’s body the user will encase themselves in a semi-malleable full body rock armor. The rock takes on the appearance of an ornate samurai battle armor, complete with a removable helmet as well as shoulder guards. The many tiles overlap and cover his arms, chest and legs utilizing dark brown coloring and a thinner layer of rock between the tiles and along joints. Though the back of his hands are protected the palms and fingers remain bare. This armor forms at a speed of [20] and possesses [30] strength.

*[Skitter Step • Senses Open]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
The main jutsu of the Skitter Step, the practitioner takes a moment to focus their bodies, then releases it. While in this stance, the practitioner's sensory input is increased, allowing them to receive more information quickly. This Stance grants a +2 in Strength and a +4 in Speed but a -3 in Willpower and -3 in Control. This Stance will remain in effect until deactivated by [Stop]. Practitioners of this technique will find themselves fidgeting and constantly moving, which can make it difficult for the practitioner to use this style in a stealthy manner.

The Sword of the Yamabushi
This sacred Katana has been passed down through the Harukatsu family for generations. Named after an ancient monk tribe that forged the blade and utilized it to suppress spirits, this Katana has become an heirloom of fire country nobility. As the first descendant of the Harukatsu family to become a shinobi, this sword was presented to Yozei shortly after becoming a Chunin. The blade is 30 inches long with a 12-inch handle and stored in a deep red sheath adorned in ornate gold markings. Having harmonized with Yozei’s chakra the blades unique properties have become available to him to utilize. Both the Saya (Sheath) of the weapon and the blade itself have a unique effect.

Beyond these two abilities, the sword and the sheath share a strong connection to one another. Both reflective of their connection to the owner of this weapon to retain a durability equivalent to Yozei’s Endurance stat as well as the blade and Saya sharing an innate connection, able to be fired away from each other in a linear fashion or recalled to the other, orienting itself to sheath itself back in the blade at will so long as Yozei is touching one or the other. The speed and strength of both the Saya and the Blade moving away or toward its counterpart is equivalent to Yozei’s Control Stat.

*[Iaido • Last Breath]
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The most iconic (and most basic) strike of Iaido, the practitioner quickly draws and cuts with their blade in a wide arc in one fluid motion. This simultaneous draw and attack straight from the scabbard makes Iaido well-suited for an initial surprise attack and for taking advantage of openings presented by the opponent.

[Deadly Touch]
D-Ranked Sankaton Ninjutsu
The user will channel chakra, causing Sankaton to form around one of their hands. The next time their hand comes in contact with something, the Sankaton will spread through it, causing burns on contact, and eroding up to 0.5 meters of material with [Control] Strength. This jutsu can be risky as it's possible for the user to accidentally touch themselves with the Sankaton.

Natsuki Takeo - 17th Hokage, former Anbu Commander [DEAD]
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD

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