Burning Mystery

[Drak]

"Here you go," the bored-looking clerk at the Mission Office said as she handed Damon a mission scroll. "Any questions?"

Mission Rank: C

Mission Type: Investigation

Location: Sube Village, Soul Island, Lightning Empire

Case Details: Katsuragi Seiko, age 19, was recently found dead in the town square of Sube Village. Normally, this would be a matter for the local authorities, but the manner of her death has prompted the village hetman to call for help investigating. Seiko was found burned to death in the town square. Initial investigation by local authorities suggests that she was burned pre-mortem in a manner consistent with the use of Katon jutsu. According to the hetman, no one in the village has chakra knowledge sufficient to use Katon of this degree.

The Mission Office has identified three possible ways this happened. First, a rogue ninja may be targeting the village. This is considered the least likely reason, as Sube Village is a small, agricultural village with little value to a rogue ninja. Second and most likely, this may be a hit put out by the Katsuragi family’s rivals, the Fuyutsuki family (see Appendix). If this is the case, they likely contracted a missing nin or a ninja from another village, or possibly have a member capable of using Katon. Finally, there may be a supernatural cause for this.

Your primary mission is to determine the culprit behind this killing. The secondary objective is to apprehend or otherwise neutralize the culprit. If the culprit is determined to be a ninja, apprehending them may be impossible if they have already left the area. If this is the case, please gather as much intelligence as you can and return to Kumo with it. If a spirit is the cause of this killing, sealing or banishing them will be required. As such, the Mission Office suggests sending someone with skills in Tenkujutsu.

Currently, there are no specific suspects, but circumstances suggest that you may want to begin by investigating the Fuyutsuki family. The rivalry between them and the Katsuragi is enough of a motive to warrant suspicion. However, do not let that prevent you from looking at other avenues. For example, Katsuragi Seiko was known to be a great beauty, and stood to inherit a great deal of money, so either a love affair or an inheritance plot may be in play here.

Appendix: Sube Village is dominated by two rival families: the Katsuragi and the Fuyutsuki. The Fuyutsuki see themselves as being the older, more prestigious family. They have extensive agricultural holdings in the region and are also the hereditary priests of the local shrine. The Katsuragi by contrast started as a family of charcoal burners and metalworkers. However, in recent years they found a vein of precious metal in the region and have become very wealthy off the proceeds. The Fuyutsuki have long resented the Katsuragi as upstart commoners, leading to a rivalry that dominates the politics of the region.

---

Victims:

• Seiko Katsuragi: Cause of death -- burning
• Haru Fuyutrsuki: Cause of death -- blood loss via multiple slash wounds

People of Interest:

• Yuudai -- Village Hetman -- Color: #FFBF00
• Kichiro Katsuragi -- Seiko's Father
• Toshiko Katsuragi -- Seiko's Mother
• Wakana Katsuragi -- Seiko's Great Grandmother, Head of the Katsuragi Family
• Goro Fuyutsuki -- Haru's Father
• Yuuna Fyutsuki -- Haru's Mother
• Hideyoshi Fuyutsuki -- Haru's Grandfather, Head of the Katsuragi Family, Priest of Suna Shrine
• Kokoro -- Seiko's handmaid, Last person to see Seiko alive
• Yoshio -- A friend of Haru's

"You have 24 hours to get yourself ready. We've arranged passage for you." The clerk produced an envelope. "Contained in there, you'll find boat tickets to Soul Country and enough Ryo for the overland trip to Sube, as well as the return journey."

[Davak]

Finally.

Damon had been eagerly awaiting an assignment. Not just any assignment, but one that would bring him to the enigmatic Soul Country. This island, annexed by the Lightning Empire amidst the tumult of the Great War, was, as far as Damon could tell, the gateway to the world. The isolationist nation was lodged between Water, Lightning, Fire, and the distant northern island. One would expect it to play a much more important role than it did, acting more as a proxy between nations than the bustling clash of culture or trade hub it could have become.

It would mark the furthest he had ever traveled south, and more importantly to him, the first time he would leave the homeland he was born and raised in.

He impatiently pulled the documents from the clerk's hand and walked off without another word.

24 hours… I need to prepare my equipment.

The Ishiguro expected to be traveling for at least two weeks. He would pack accordingly.

He opted to run his missions solo, there were many reasons for this.The biggest one being he simply didn't want to be in the presence of other shinobi unless he absolutely had too. Damon yearned for autonomy over his path and purpose; any companions would only serve as unwelcome diversions.

For a mere second, the faces of his former comrades flickered through his mind's eye, swiftly quelled as he banished those recollections away somewhere deep into the far reaches of his mind. No point thinking about them now…

While his fighting style or shinobi class would be considered more of a support type, he trusted his keen survival instincts to keep him out of any serious danger.

I don't need backup…

A while later, he found himself in the grand halls of Ishiguro Tower. He would, of course, never admit it, but the silent halls, the temples dedicated to meditation, ancient tapestries, and the ethereal luminescence of the lanterns at night were all sources of comfort to the orphan.

Yet, he bore a deep-seated resentment towards his clansmen. They didn't know him, yet they accepted him as their own. Pretended he was family. His family was dead… and he would forever blame the Ishiguro for it.

As the sun kissed the twin summits of Kumogakure's mountain peak, Damon left the tower behind.

Adorned in his signature thick black fur coat layered over a standard flak jacket and a dark, unassuming shirt. A silver compass hung on a chain necklace of his neck. Furthermore, he was donning traditional long, loose-fitting hakama trousers, and a pair of sturdy combat boots. He carried both a larger backpack as well as his meticulously packed pouch that was strapped to his lower back. His three-section staff, folded and tied up, was hanging off his shoulders in a cylinder like case.

There were no goodbyes to be said, as Hanako had once explained, "Kumogakure was a lonely place." His thoughts briefly danced with memories of Asuna, pondering her whereabouts before settling his gaze on the large temple-like structure that led out of the city.

Despite his reservations, a surge of excitement coursed through him. He knew to achieve the power he sought, he needed to face more of the world.

EquipmentShow

Large Backpack

• 1 Water-bag
• 1 Gomuko mat and pieces
• 3 Candles
• 1 Set arms guards
• 1 Set leg guards
• 1 Telescope
• 1 Map of Soul Country
• 1 Shinobi face mask
• Various documentation
• Various snacks
• Various spare clothes

Backpouch

• 5 kunai
• 10 shuriken
• 10m of wire
• 5 exploding tags
• 1 smoke bomb
• 1 flash bang

Strapped to his back

• Three Section Staff: 3x 65cm Metal-tipped Sections / 2x 13cm Iron Chains

[Drak]

After a short trip from Kumogakure, Damon arrived at the port from which the ferry was to depart. The ferry itself was unremarkable: a relatively simple, unadorned boat dubbed the Renge-maru. Aboard was a snapshot of the new and constantly developing relationship between Soul Country and their new suzerain on the mainland. Scholars loaded up with books, scrolls, and specimen jars plotted out new research questions which they could answer. Prospectors and survey teams poured over charts and maps, figuring out which areas were yet to be mapped in detail, or checked for deposits of rare woods, metals, or minerals. Merchants (or rather, their assistants) went back and forth to scout new trade routes and secure contracts with suppliers in Soul. Finally, hawkers who made a living selling to the people who made this trip walked along the deck, shouting out their wares: prepared bento boxes, snacks like boiled peanuts or dried squid, and cups of beer and sake.

The journey was not exactly a long one, and most of it was sheltered by the large bay formed by the conjunction of the Lightning and Whirlpool countries. As they left the bay, the sea became harsher and more turbulent. Damon saw more than one of the scholars and merchants lose the food they had bought from the hawkers over the ship’s side. It was around this time that Soul Country began to fade into sight. The southwestern tip of the island was on the port side of the ship, just off the bow. Although it was a shorter trip, to Kusatsu on the island’s western coast, the ferry only went to Hakone, the main port on the eastern side. When the ferry cleared the southern tip, its heading changed, moving northeast instead of southeast. Now, one could watch the low-lying grasslands and tidal marshes of southern Soul Country pass by in the distance off the port side of the ship. Further off, the mountains of the northern half of the island were visible as hazy outlines in the distance, the peaks of the mountains highlighted by the orange-hued light of the setting sun.

As twilight approached, Hakone became more visible in the distance as the lights of the harbor and the city behind it twinkled across the water. As the Renge-maru pulled into harbor, the clean, salty smell of the open ocean was replaced by a dirtier, brinier smell: the result of hundreds of fishing boats dumping their catches onto the pier every day. As they pulled into the harbor, one of the ship’s crew went around the deck ringing a bell and announcing that they were about to dock, and that everyone should gather their belongings. Soon after, the ferry docked in the harbor with a gentle thud, and began to disgorge its human cargo by means of a lowered gangplank.

The passengers and crew of the Renge-maru spilled into Hakone, seeking its inns, bars, and brothels depending on their inclinations. As night began to fall, Damon started to think about his next move. It was doubtful that he would be able to secure cart passage north into the mountains now, just after sunset, and making the trek by foot in unfamiliar terrain would be time-consuming and error prone. He weighed the options before him.

[Davak]

Damon's departure from the mainland was also a departure from the vibrant chaos of the port, pesky merchants calling out their wares, sweaty sailors shouting orders, and travelers bustling about, he was content in leaving it all behind. Out here on the rugged old boat, the air was thick with the scents of salt and fresh fish, mingling with the exotic spices sold from colorful stalls and vendors. As the ship set its course, the noise gradually faded, replaced instead by the sounds of waves crashing against the boat and the wind blowing through their sails, leaving Damon to his thoughts and the vast, open sea.

He found himself standing alone at the helm, his gaze locked on the horizon. It was his first horizon at sea, and he was stunned. He had seen comparable sights before, high above on Akino Peak on a cloudless day, staring down at the tiny, endless world below, but this was different. This time, he felt as if he were part of the horizon.

Tss, I should write a haiku…

This voyage marked his first time on such vast open waters, a stark contrast to his extensive explorations of the rigid northern territories.

Initially, he was rather uneasy about this unfamiliar mode of travel, but after a few hours, his concerns gave way to exhilaration, captivated by the ocean's boundless expanse and the sense of adventure it invoked.

As the vessel sliced through the waves, Damon found himself lost in contemplation, opting to sit and soak in the panoramic views instead of preparing his gear or revisiting the mission's outline once more. The landscapes unfolding before him was a tapestry of grasslands rolling into the embrace of distant mountains. It stirred memories of summers in the North.

Don't give me that, pull yourself together…

He chose to turn his back on the sight and rest against the main mast as he unraveled some dry crackers he had packed for the journey. He wondered about his choice of provisions, ever so slightly regretting not indulging in some of the exotic culinary delights he had bypassed at the port.

The dusk at sea mesmerized Damon all over again, a spectacle of fiery oranges and soft pinks stretching across the sky, reflecting off the waves in the distance. It was a moment of unparalleled beauty, starkly different from the sunsets of his cold homeland, which, though beautiful in their own right, lacked the mesmerizing dance of light on water.

Arriving at the port of Soul Country, Damon immediately noticed the stark contrasts to Kumogakure. The architecture here was more rural, with buildings unlike the rigid, imposing structures of the capital.

A mix of foreign and local inhabitants shifted about the port. It felt less busy than where he had left, but this city was also much larger. The streets were filled with a mix of unfamiliar scents and sights, dishes cooking in kettles on the street, and cargo of unbeknown origins being moved upon ships.

He quickly realized the impracticality of pressing forward to Sube Village this late into the evening. Yet, he had no intention of seeking shelter at an inn or brothel, of which he could spot quite a few just down the main road from the marina. Instead, he opted to leverage his mission's official capacity and documentation in search of a local Lightning Empire barrack or outpost. The young shinobi knew they would have to grant him entry, and he’d rather sleep in some lone bunk bed than a bustling lodge.

[Drak]

Hakone was not a large city. By keeping his eyes peeled for banners, it didn’t take Damon long to find the local garrison.

“Who are you?” the guard at the building’s gate asked as Damon approached, eying his forehead protector. “You here on a mission?”

The guard briefly examined Damon’s credentials before waving him in.

“Alright alright, looks good. I think we have some room for you. Go ask around on the second floor. Mess should still be serving too.”

As the doors creaked open, a large room was revealed. From the looks of things, it served as an official briefing area, but at this hour it was serving as more of a lounge. A few soldiers sat in groups, playing cards or talking amongst themselves. A few heads turned to assess the newcomer, but most went back to what they were doing quickly afterward.

To the right was a large door leading to what was clearly the mess. A pair of long wooden tables – rough hewn and stained from years of use – dominated the center of the room. Off to the side, there was a cafeteria-style counter with the last portions of that night’s meal – some sort of seafood croquette by the looks of things.

To the left, was a staircase leading to the second floor. That was where the barracks were. Up the stairs was a long hall with rooms branching off of it on either side. The first two were a quartermaster’s office and storeroom respectively. The rest of the rooms were long chambers, each wall lined with two sets of bunk beds. A short ask around would yield a room with a spare bed, along with a group of soldiers passing around a bottle of liquor.

[Davak]

Speed Training

With his official documentation in hand, gaining admission to the outpost went rather smoothly. He sought out the barracks to secure himself a solid night's rest and a warm meal but was surprised to find a well-equipped training ground behind the large building.

Hmm, I hadn't had much chance to move around, cooped up on that boat and all…

With a newfound sense of purpose, he finds the quarters supplied to him and drops his baggage. In the solitude of his designated room, he removes and hangs up his large jacket and the flak underneath, replacing them with attire that speaks more to comfort and the physical exercise he was about to partake in. He intended to make good use of his time before heading out in the morning. It was time for some physical self-improvement.

The night's air, cool with a hint of sea salt from the ocean only a few blocks away, felt inviting to him. The Genin approached the large secluded field he had spotted earlier. He boticed a few guards near the entrance, but the training grounds were seemingly empty.

Tss, they must all be inside drinking…

By all means, it was the perfect arena for the night's endeavor. The field was vast and offered him the physical and mental space to confront himself without the prying eyes of others or the distractions of the day. Here, under the cloak of darkness, he seeks to put himself through a grueling training session.

It was about his speed and his clear and alarming limitations of it. Damon confronts this with a rare blend of humility and resolve. He knew that while speed may not be his innate strength, it is a skill that can be honed, a weakness that can be mitigated through dedication and rigorous practice.

the boy begins his training with short jogs across the two far sides of the field. Once he felt warmed up, he pushed himself to engage in a series of sprint trainings, gradually increasing intensity.

Faster, faster, faster…

The training is strenuous; he focuses on explosive speed and momentum, each dash demanding every ounce of his strength and focus. Everything is geared towards enhancing his agility and power. These sprints are not just physical trials but also mental ones, and the exertion is immense, each back and forth dash a battle against his body's natural inclinations, each rest period a moment to gather resolve for the next.

Faster, faster, faster…

When he feels to have reached the limit of his speed, he begins channeling his chakra in tandem with the physical exertion. It's a meticulous control, but one taught even in academy classes, focusing larger and larger amounts on his legs, aiming to amplify his speed beyond natural limits. It requires an intricate balance between physical exertion and chakra control, a skill that not only tests his endurance but also his ability to synchronize his spiritual and physical energies.

Faster, faster, faster…

As Damon dashes back and forth, his movements become more audacious. He incorporates risky turns and slides, using the momentum to launch into the next sprint. Aware of the strain on his body, especially his ankles and knees, he pushes through, driven by the desire to reach new heights of speed.

Faster, faster, faster…

One step placed too far in between, one moment he can't keep up with his own speed and the boy goes soaring through the night. He hits the floor and rolls across the ground a few times before coming to a halt in a grassy patch. He flexes muscles, scanning his body for injury but luckily comes up short on anything but a few scratches and bruises. So he just lays there for a moment, the grass feels cool against his sweaty back, the sky scattered with stars, and he can even hear the sounds of the sea washing against the shore.

He already dreaded returning to Kumogakure; ever since he had come back he had felt it, there was just something about the place. His home in the north was one known to be cold, rugged, and unforgiving. That town was colder, plenty rigid, and by far more unforgiving.

Where else would I go?

He shook off the strange thought, got off the ground, and continued his efforts to up his speed.

Drained after another hour of training, Damon reflects on the night's efforts. Seated, catching his breath, he knew this would never be a strength of his, one that he would have to learn to supplement, or otherwise balance. On the other side, he also contemplates the significance of pushing past his perceived limits; it felt like a weakness now, but what if he were to seriously invest in it?

A question for another day…

Exhausted but satisfied, Damon concludes his training with a sense of accomplishment. The solitude of the night, once a backdrop to his endeavor, now stands as a witness to his dedication and perseverance.

He sneaks past the cafeteria to grab a few fish croquettes before making his way back to his chambers. A shower later, he falls into his bed and almost immediately goes into deep slumber.

In the morning, he changes gear, back into his mission outfit, packs up, and leaves the outpost, only running by the cafeteria once more to fetch some breakfast.

For his usual self, overly excited, he heads into town to find a cart willing to bring him into the north of the island near the mountains to Sube village.

WordcountShow

905

[Drak]

Breakfast that morning was congee with seaweed, scallions, and plenty of salty fish. The cart that Damon found was a simple tinker’s cart packed with small goods for sale and tools for making miscellaneous repairs: hammers and tongs for bending metal implements back into shape, whetstones for sharpening dull blades, and locksmithing tools for opening obstinate locks and replacing missing keys. As they set off, the ocean air was cold and the morning sky was overcast with a thick layer of clouds, but once the morning began to drag into the afternoon the clouds burned off and the air warmed slightly, making for a cool, crisp day.

The first two or three hours saw the cart travel along a relatively straight path: first along the coast and then inland towards the mountains. As the island’s northern mountains loomed closer, the terrain turned hillier, then rockier. As the sun passed its zenith and descended towards the western horizon, the cart started climbing into the mountains proper. They reached the village of Sube just before sunset.

The village was built in a small valley between two mountains. The simple, wooden constructions of the village were huddled against the tall, stoney cliffs that comprised the base of the mountain. Most of the buildings were not much more than wooden shacks. The only exceptions were two larger, slightly sturdier compounds, and a building that was clearly a shrine. There was a large group of people gathered around the shrine. Their clothing suggested a funeral.

The tinker’s cart stopped just outside the village.

“Here we are, Sube Village,” the driver told Damon. “The town’s too small to have a proper inn, but you might be able to find a spot to lay a bedroll in the local watering hole. I stay in my cart so it’s not a big deal for me.”

[Davak]

As the cart rolls through the changing landscapes toward Sube Village, Damon sits in reflective silence. Initially, he had distracted himself with going over all the different equipment loaded, always smart to take inventory. As the day progressed, they passed through more of Soul Country's serene landscapes, from the lush coastlines to the towering mountains, stirring memories of his early days traveling with his Genin team—memories of nights under the stars and camping in pinewood forests and desolate tundras, memories of loss. To ward off the creeping sorrow, Damon distracted himself with a game of Gomoku. He unravels the playing mat made of different leathers and begins laying down black and white stone pebbles, meticulously analyzing each strategic move against himself. Even as he distracts himself, he knows it's more of a metaphorical duel, mirroring only his own internal battle with grief.

Upon arrival, Damon's keen eyes survey the village's layout, cataloging paths and landmarks with acute precision.

"Don't worry about me, I'll come check in with you in the morning," he tells the cart driver, leaving him with some payment in hopes of keeping him around as long as possible before heading into the village.

Why didn't I bring camping equipment… sigh

Drawn to the somber gathering at the village shrine, the young shinobi approached it with cautious curiosity, maintaining a respectful distance. His observant gaze scans the mourners, searching for the village leader responsible for alerting the authorities in the first place.

He would wait out the proceedings, keeping a close eye on the crowd and the ceremony before attempting to make contact.

[Drak]

As Damon watched the events unfold, it became clearer and clearer that this was, in fact, a funeral. The crowd was gathered around the entrance to the village shrine, and people took turns coming up and speaking of the deceased. From the eulogies, Damon was able to ascertain that this was not a funeral for Seiko Katsuragi – the woman whose death had prompted his arrival – it was for a man: Haru Fuyutsuki.

There were three easily identifiable groups in the crowd. Near the shrine was what looked to be the family – the Fuyutsuki family most likely. There were maybe a dozen people there centered around a man dressed in priest’s garb and a woman dressed in a kimono that was noticeably more luxurious than that of anyone else around. Also with them was an old man with a fur mantle draped over his shoulders, leaning on a cane. He made eye contact with Damon, gave him a slow nod, and held out his hand as if to say “Wait there, please don't interrupt us now.”

In front of the grieving family was the bulk of the crowd. They were clearly the peasants and miners that made up the village’s population, and there was not much of note about them. More interesting was another group standing off to the side. They were dressed well, similarly to the Fuyutsuki, but did not match the rest of the village in attitude. Everyone else there was clearly in mourning, but these people seemed to be… angry?

The service ended when the man in priest’s garb stood in front of everyone and chanted a series of prayers for the dead: asking the gods for protection of the young man’s soul and hoping for a favorable reincarnation. After that, everyone began to disperse and the old man who had gestured to Damon came hobbling up to him.

“Greetings,” he said. “You must be the shinobi that the village sent. My name is Yuudai. I am the hetman of Sube. As you can see, there has been another death since we called you here. Another mysterious death of a young one. Haru Fuyutsuki was found with dozens of deep, fatal cuts all over his body. Both bodies are lying in state in the shrine basement. You may feel free to examine them. You can also feel free to ask questions of the families, but I would ask you to wait until at least tomorrow to give them time to grieve. In the meantime, I can do my best to answer any questions you may have.”

[Davak]

Damon carefully surveys the modest assembly gathered before the shrine, their shared grief reflected in their face and gestures as the ceremony goes on. For all but a group, the boy had to guess they were from the Katsuragi family.

Hmm, interesting…

When the ceremony had subsided and he was addressed by the hetman, the shinobi stepped forward, a figure of disciplined resolve amidst the uncertainty, extending a deep bow in greeting.

"I am Ishiguro, Damon from Kumogakure no Sato," he introduces himself, his tone modest but carrying the necessary respect. "May I have the privilege of knowing your full name?" His query, though simple, was planned, seeking to discern whether Yuudai's roots were with the Fuyutsuki or Katsuragi lineages. It was a crucial detail to determine how he would weigh the man's allegiances and thus the trust that could be placed in his opinions.

As pleasantries give way to the purpose of his visit, Damon's gaze momentarily drifted to the group of seemingly angry mourners fading into the village. "The sorrow of the people gathered here speaks volumes of the tragedy, two deaths in such a short time. Could you share the connection that group had with the deceased?" he paused only momentarily before adding “… they seemed, frustrated?” He wanted to confirm his suspicions, and gauge the degree of expected bias from Yuudai.

Once the conversation shifts towards practical matters, Damon requests a place to stay during the investigation. "Would it be possible to organize a room or so where I could safely store my belongings and rest? A prolonged stay seems inevitable."

As the sun begins its descent, casting long shadows over their meeting, the Ishiguro inquires about the dead once more. "Before the day ends, I would like to examine the bodies related to the case. Would that still be possible? Did the two victims know each other?” His words were meant to create urgency. He needed to gather first hand evidence quickly, people lied, people were driven by their emotions, these copses didn't have that luxury anymore, he wanted to find out what they knew.

Yuudai's response to these advances would be telling, both of his own allegiances and his openness to collaboration with an outsider such as himself. The hetman's willingness to facilitate his requests would at the very least dictate the start of Damons investigation.

[Drak]

“Welcome, Ishiguro Damon from Kumogakure no Sato,” the old man said. “We common folk don’t tend to use surnames much, but mine is Mizuno.” He paused and looked at the group which Damon had pointed at.

“Ah yes, that is the Katsuragi family,” Yuudai said. “Their youngest daughter’s death is the reason you are here. They are convinced that the Fuyutsuki have some connection to young Seiko’s death. Still, they could not avoid coming to the funeral without losing face.”

“You may definitely inspect the bodies. Come with me,” Yuudai said, starting to walk. “While you do that I’m sure I can find a room for you.”

Damon was led to the shrine, and around the building’s back, where a cellar door protruded from its base. Yuudai produced a key and removed the lock.

“The bodies are down there. They will be hard to miss. Unless you have any more questions for me, I will be arranging a place for you to stay.”

After that, the man would walk away. Down the stairs in the cellar, Damon would find a large but crowded cellar area. Most of it was filled with out of use seasonal decoration for the shrine, but stores of food and other village supplies could also be spotted around.

In the were two makeshift platforms in the middle of the cellar. Upon each was a white sheet, under which the outline of a person was plainly visible.

[Davak]

The knowledge that Yuudai was neither Fuyutsuki nor Katsuragi would prove rather useful, although it couldn't be disregarded that either family might have certain leverages over him.

Damon would not hold him in any higher regards, nor beckon him any more trust than he would otherwise.

Either way though, for now, he appreciated the old hetman's aid, both in procuring reasonable accommodation and allowing him access to the deceased.

I wonder if they knew each other well… how long were their deaths apart?

The young Ishiguro decided to keep these questions to himself for the current moment and instead opted to note them down for further interrogations later on.

Parting ways with the old man, Damon left his equipment at the shrine entrance and slipped down into the cellar below.

He had barely made it down the stairs into the faintly lit hall when he noticed the shadow-summoned specters floating about. Devil Dust was acting on its own accord again. He knew his summon well; they had a knack for the sorrow of humans and the tragedy that befell them.

"Don't touch the bodies," he ordered harshly. The response of the tiny spectres was but a unified shrieking and high pitched hissing as they danced about the room.

Damon ignored them and walked up to the pedestal on which the bodies lay.

He gave a short prayer, wishing them well on their final departure to the realms beyond their own before getting to work.

Then he began carefully adjusting the white sheets covering the silhouettes of the dead to study their physique and wounds, as well as anything else he could pick up on.

Writing down his findings, he would make sure to appropriately conceal the departed and expell the presence of his bound summon before heading back up to grab his things.

Hed go to seek out Yuudai about a place to rest.

Unless anything would prevent him from doing so.

[Drak]

The first corpse that Damon examined was clearly that of Seiko Katsuragi. The body had been burned beyond recognition with the exception of the head. Below the neck, the skin and outer muscles had been turned to ash, leaving only charred bones and viscera, but the corpse’s face was essentially untouched. The intensity of the burns suggested either an incredibly long duration, or a very high temperature. Upon further inspection, the otherwise-untouched face did have some minor burns around the mouth and nose, suggesting that the victim was alive when she was burned. That made a long-duration, low-temperature burn seem much less likely.

If she had been burned alive at a high enough temperature to do this much damage, then it was either done in a hot oven, or with jutsu. The clean break between heavily burned and near-untouched flesh ruled out an oven, which meant this was jutsu.

The second body was Haru’s. It was covered in deep cuts, all very clean as if performed with an especially sharp blade. There seemed to be little rhyme or reason to the cuts: his arms had slices on them, but in other places than along the outsides of his forearms that would be expected from defensive wounds. There were also slices along his legs and down to his ankles – hard places to reach with a blade while attacking someone. There was one slice along the neck just under the jaw that seemed to be the killing blow.

While examining that fatal wound, Damon noticed a pendant hanging from the boy’s neck. When he reached down to examine it, it fell open revealing itself to be a locket. It was empty, but there was a slight residue inside it, suggesting that it may once have contained something.

When Damon was done examining the bodies, he covered them back up and ascended from the basement. There was a young boy – maybe twelve – waiting outside.

“Ishiguro-sama? Come with me. Yuudai told me to take me to your room.”

The boy guided Damon through the village. Soon they arrived at a small shack set up in the shadow of a slightly larger house. Inside was a simple pile of straw bedding, a table, a stool, and a tiny clay stove with a bucket of coal next to it to bring a modicum of warmth to the room.

The next morning, Damon would awaken to a knock on the door.

“Good morning,” Yuudai said. “If you want to speak with anyone today let me know and I can arrange it.”

[Davak]

Damon was huddled next to the entrance of the small shack. In the case of an ambush, he wanted to be out of sight to any intruders storming through the door, trying to get the drop on him. He was wrapped up in some of the bed sheets to keep warm, dressed in a plain long shirt and pants.

It was early in the morning, just after sunrise; he had only slept a few hours, taking breaks to wake and patrol the area, keeping a lookout for any hints that he was being watched or otherwise monitored.

Some would consider it vigilant, others paranoid.

Right now, though, he was busy studying the notes he had so far taken about the case.

Two rival families, one royal, one working class...

A dead girl followed by a dead boy, and an empty locket...

Love stories make me sick...

Enough of a motive... did they want out?

Or did someone find out?

I need the how and the who... maybe even the what...

So we need to establish a clear timeline, proof of their relationship, and hints at whatever it was that killed them.

A knock on his door and Damon rose to full height. It was Yuudai, the hetman. The shinobi eased up.

He bowed to greet the old man, "Good morning, yes, I would very much appreciate your support today."

The Ishiguro visibly relaxed, took a seat on the stool next to the table.

"I need to speak to the immediate relatives of the victims, also the people that last saw them, and if possible, any close friends either of them might have had."

He proceeded to stare quite sternly at the villager. "Lastly, the tempel keeper, or head priest would also be a valuable person to interview about the murders."

"I don't think anyone else is in immediate danger, but to prevent any allegations from turning into retributions, it would be best to accelerate these investigations. I'll come after you, and we can gather everyone at the shrine."

He thanked the man and now focused his attention on his equipment. He wanted to dress as appropriately and non-threateningly as possible, opted for rather traditional garms. He donned no mask and no hood, only his ninja headband strapped to his forehead. A bland dark grey long-sleeved kimono wrapped around his frame, his typical hakama pants pulled up to his belly. He holsterd a single kunai into the back pocket but made sure to collect and store all notes pertaining to the case in his inner pockets before leaving the shack.

Right now, I declare fault and blame; I wonder if I'll be forced to also act as judge and executioner.

Hmm… I am enjoying myself, aren't I?

A slight smirk blew over his lips before returning to his stoic, cold demeanor as he walked across the town square towards the shrine.

[Drak]

Yuudai nodded sagely at Damon’s requests.

“I should be able to arrange that. A hefty list such as that might be more work than can be done in a day though. You should be able to speak with the Katsuragi – that is to say, Seiko’s parents Kichiro and Toshiko – today with relative ease. If you truly desire, you may speak with Haru Fuyutsuki’s parents Goro and Yuuna today, but it may be kinder to give them a further day to grieve. The head priest is Haru’s grandfather Hideyoshi Fuyutsuki. He is just as much in mourning as his son and daughter-in-law. As for close friends…”

Yuudai trailed off, gently stroking his long, graying goatee which reached down to his collarbones.

“Seiko had a handmaid: Kokoro, whom she was very close with. Haru’s best friend in the village is – or, was, I suppose – a young man named Yoshio. As far as I have been able to ascertain, Kokoro was the last one to see Seiko alive. As for Haru, I’m not sure, but I would suspect it was his parents. Finally, the matriarch of the Katsuragi family, Wakana Katsuragi may be worth speaking with.”

He looked at Damon.

“Who would you like to speak with first?”

[Davak]

"Yes, of course, Yuudai, let's do it as such. I'll want to speak to Seiko's parents first, then lets proceed to talk to his handmaid."

The Ishiguro boy stood in thought for a second before deciding on his final stance "Yes, that should provide me with enough information on the first victim. Let us head out afterwards and meet the mourning parents of the Katsuragi family in their homes, we shouldn't wait with the questioning, as said, the more time passes, the greater the risk of retribution from either side. We will also go meet Yoshio, and then, last but not least, return to the shrine to meet the head priest there. Let's solve the burning mystery swiftly, Yuudai!"

He wasn't sure if he was doing a good job or not, but it was his attempt at pepping the old man up, shaking the lust for adventure out of his old bones. He needed him, but even more than that, he needed him to want to help him solve this.

As far as he could tell, and he knew himself, that truly, he couldn't, Yuudai was the only ally he had.

As the two headed out to meet the individuals for questioning, Damon began noting down the questions he would ask on a scroll he pulled out from within his garments.

- When was the last time you saw Seiko?
- How would you describe her relationship with the latter victim, Haru Fuyutsuki?
- Did she behave strangely somehow?
- How do you explain the incident that led to her passing?
- Anything else you would want to let me know?

As he stared down at the black ink drying, he caught himself slightly angling the corners of his lips into a hushed grin. He was enjoying this... it was the tingle of adventure, of mystery. It was strange; he wasn't a fan of the unknown per se, truly, more often than not, the unknown was the enemy, something that could hurt him, but here now, on this foreign island, whisked away by adventure, he wanted nothing else than to know more, learn more. Curiosity had gotten the better of him.

Tss... what a bother...

He let Yuudai lead him to their first group of people he wanted to interrogate. The order wasn't relevant truly, but he would make sure to meet them all separately, not as a group, especially the parents one at a time. He needed them all to tell their version of the story.

He'd ask both parents and the boy's handmaid the questions he had written down earlier. Once he had collected their answers, they would return to a group setting so he could ask a few follow-up questions before heading out to see the Katsuragi family.

[Drak]

The Katsuragi compound was – by the standards of Kumohakagure no Sato – a supremely modest building. Still, the shingled three-storey building of stone, wood, and paper stood out in a village composed mostly of straw huts. The building’s interior matched the outside: a restrained, traditional house in the style of the continent that must have seemed glaringly modern to the residents of Sube.

Damon met with Kichiro and Toshiko Katsuragi in the first floor sitting room. The three were seated on embroidered zabutons around a large, low table. Servants brought out tea for the three and slid the doors shut behind them. After introductions had been made, Damon was able to interview the two separately. Even so, their answers were remarkably similar, down to some of the same words and phrases both used.

“The last time we saw Seiko was the night she died. We all had dinner together that night and went our separate ways after dinner. She – Seiko – went up to her room and we didn’t hear anything else from her that night. We woke up to the news that her body had been found.”

“They had no relationship!” the wife seemed offended, almost theatrically horrified at the suggestion. “They were, of course, acquainted as the scions of the two foremost families in our small village. But that was the end of it. They rarely spoke. Of course there was no relationship.”

“The Fuyutsuki boy? How would we know? An outsider might not know this, but our families do not get along. They look down on us for having the gall to work ourselves up without having been chosen by the spirits of the land.”

“How do I explain it? Isn’t that your job? Very well. I would imagine that someone in the village somehow blamed him, or his family for Seiko’s death and wanted to make the Fuyutsuki suffer similarly.”

“Anything else? No. I think we are done here.”

Damon had to wait a while to talk to the handmaid. When she arrived, she looked incredibly nervous.

“I last saw Seiko-sama on the night she died. I took her dinner up to her and helped her dress. I think she was going out, but she wouldn’t tell me where. She was giggling though.”

“Haru? The other victim? I don’t know. I think Mistress Seiko was having liaisons with someone in town though. A boy. She seemed happier recently. Shortly before she died, she asked me if I had any experience with, well, you know… lewd things. So I think their relationship might have been going in that direction.”

“I don’t know if he acted strangely. I’ve never met him. And I told you about Seiko already…”

“How he died? I don’t know. I heard from my sister that he was all cut up, so probably someone with a knife? Or a sword? Probably a knife. I don’t think anyone in town owns a sword.”

[Davak]

Damon gave his best to follow all etiquette expected of a stranger intruding on a mourning family. He well remembered the formalities they had him follow at the orphanage, and even before that under the care of his Ishiguro family, both of which had been hardy and demanding in their own ways.

But he was rather impatient today, which was unlike him, or was it excitement?

It was obvious that this mystery was slowly unraveling before him, and he craved its finale.

The parents, even in isolation, gave almost identical protocols about the circumstances leading to their daughter's death.

Almost too identical to be a coincidence. And it was rather clear by the maid's tone of voice and general behavior that the situation had made her rather anxious.

Could she have been fed the answers? Damon's paranoia was tugging at him; it was much harder to complete a puzzle when you didn't believe you had the right pieces.

Yet he listened vehemently to all the separate reports of those he deemed most knowledgeable about the incident leading to the death of the first victim.

And without asking for any follow-ups, he would leave the stale yet beautiful estate. He still needed to talk to the other family.

His working theories were that the two victims must have had some sort of relationship. Fearing retribution, he imagined they must have sought help from a third faction outside their respective clans, at which point the first tragedy struck.
Why was unclear; any hired help should have very little reason to kill their employers unless it was some sort of crazed missing-nin.

There was, of course, still another theory, one that laid like a stone in Damon's belly, that the aid they sought was that of spirits, an option considering the Fuyutsuki relations to the local shrine.

Of course, the other question was what they would need this party to do for them. Grant passage away from this place?

Either way, Damon believed whatever it was, it was the reason for the initial death.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to share his secrets, Haru must have sought out to seek retribution and was slain in the process.

If he followed this theory, the testimony of the Fuyutsuki would be much more relevant, especially of those not immediately mourning Haru, say his friends and grandfather who was also the head priest.

He hoped to encounter these two and at least one of the parents as well.

He scribbled down some thoughts on the scroll he had carried along as he walked through the rural village back to the temple where he was to meet the last of the witnesses.

He would ask the group slightly different questions this time.

- When was the last time you saw Haru?
- What did he do on the day of Seiko's death?
- How would you describe his relationship with the first victim?

Yoshio would additionally be asked:

- Did you know of a plan to escape the village? And who do you think Haru would go to if he were to plan to leave the village or commit a similarly dangerous plan.

Hideyoshi Fuyutsuki would also be asked an alternate questions.

- Do you believe a spirit of any kind could be at work here? Have you noticed anything peculiar? Offerings or gifts at the shrine?

With all this information, Damon should ultimately be able to determine the culprit and the best next move in order to apprehend the murderer.

[Drak]

If the Katsuragi residence was traditional by the standards of the mainland, the Fuyutsuki residence was downright outmoded. Unlike the Katsuragi house, this one was a single-storey building with a much larger footprint that sat on the grounds of the shrine complex behind the shrine. The meeting was held in the home’s lobby: a huge, dark room almost entirely devoid of furniture. The walls were hung with richly-woven tapestries depicting mandalas, mythological scenes, and what Damon assumed to be moments from the village’s history. At the room’s center was a fire pit, above which hung a kettle and a cauldron. The grandfather was the first witness to enter.

Hideyoshi spent some time making small talk with Damon: welcoming him to the village, asking him how it compared to the mainland, thanking him for coming out to investigate, saying that it was nice that they were getting something out of Soul Country’s change of status and how many were wary of mainlanders. When Damon got to questioning, the old man had the following to say:

“Haru was to be my eventual successor, and as such would have regular lessons with me. This past week, I had been very busy with shrine, and with other village matters, so I had not spoken with Haru much. I’m sure I saw him around the estate, but nothing sticks out in my mind. The last substantive interaction I had with my grandson was about a week before he died: I was instructing him in some of the rites that we as the shrinekeepers must perform. I was teaching him how to bless protective amulets. I only wish I could have given him more instruction in such matters. Then he might still be with us.”

“The boy was sad when Seiko died. As you may know, the Katsuragi family does not care for us Fuyutsuki. Still, we see ourselves as the protectors of this village and its residents. Haru was a sensitive boy who took that ideal seriously. Seiko was around his age, so even though the two didn’t have much of a relationship, I think it hit him hard that someone so young could die.”

“Like I said, the two did not have much of a relationship. They likely spoke at village events from time to time, but they were certainly not friends. Her family would not have stood for that.”

“There was nothing peculiar left at the shrine, and I never heard of anyone else doing rituals. However, that doesn’t totally rule out spirits. There is a rumor, or rather, a legend in this village about a foreign shinobi who died here long ago and haunts the area as a sort of spirit of vengeance. While the locals will sometimes claim to have seen him or to have been chased by him, I can’t say I have ever dealt with him personally. I suppose it wouldn't be out of the question at all for a hungry ghost to have done this sort of thing, but I couldn't even begin to guess at why he would have gone after the children. All of the rites we perform here have to do with the local kami: the gods of the trees, of the river that flows through the town, and of Subeyama-sama, the great god of the mountain from which our village takes its name.”

---

Haru’s parents gave Damon little that he did not already know. They told him of how Haru – the sensitive boy – was saddened and scared to hear of Seiko’s passing, but what was to be expected from such a sensitive boy? They told him emphatically what while the two definitely knew each other, there was no friendship or – the mother nearly shuddered at the thought – romantic relationship between the two. They did mention something odd about the last night Haru was alive. He had gone for a late-night stroll that evening. It was slightly out of character for him, but the parents thought nothing of it. He had seemed not quite himself all evening, and figured that he wanted to clear his head.

---

Later that day, Damon met with Haru’s friend, Yoshio, in the small shack that he had been staying in.

“The last time I saw Haru was I think two days before he, you know… um, he was really beat up about Seiko, so we just kind of chatted: shot the shit. I don’t think there was anything strange about it.”

“Like I said, he was really beat up about Seiko’s death. He freaked out when they found her body. Came to me crying and shit. Fucked up how she died: burning like that. Had to be awful.”

“You know… Haru had been bragging to me about a girl that he had been wanting to fool around with and I think it might have been Seiko. And actually, I saw him right before Seiko died. He was bragging to me about how he was gonna get some that night. I never asked him about it afterwards because he was so sad about Seiko’s death, but I think that girl might have been Seiko. Big if true: their families do not get along.”

“Hmm. I don’t think he had any plans to leave the village. I don’t even know how you would do that: it’s a treacherous journey. You’d have to wait for a traveling merchant, or maybe pay a woodsman to take you. Probably not something you could do on foot, especially not with a lady with you; if that’s what you’re asking.”

[Davak]

The vast differences between the two estates didn't outright shock the young shinobi, but they definitely raised concerns. It was clear which of the two families only recently come to power and which had been born with it. The older estate he now found himself was kept plain and simple yet its walls adorned with faded tapestries and intricate religious symbols, while the newer estate flaunted its wealth with garish displays and opulent decor.

But it was exactly those tapestries and icons that had him thinking.

Could the sudden rise in wealth have something to do with this whole fiasco?

With every new piece of information, he knew he was getting closer and closer to the truth. Damon gave it his all to partake, dissect, and reflect on the information he was given

The head priest's observations raised some concerns that stuck with Damon. The modest temple, with its incense-filled air and dimly lit altars, seemed filled to the brim with secrets. At this point, Damon had almost entirely subscribed to the belief that the deaths suffered in the village were not caused by human hands but by a curse or fatal pact that the victims had succumbed to.

He thanked the head priest as he left the humble building, but a nagging feeling in his mind made him think he would be seeing the old man again rather soon.

Last but not least, he returned to his own little shack where he had been staying to talk to one of Haru's friends. The boy, with a mix of fear and resolve in his eyes, almost single-handedly confirmed Damon's thoughts on the relationship between the victims, but the motive was still blurry.

Once again summarizing the facts, Damon whipped out the scroll he had been jotting down his thoughts on all day.

The victims both knew each other intimately and were having relations. This would clearly displease both sides of their respective families to almost equal degrees, although Damon personally thought that the house of the Fuyutsuki would be the party that lost more face and power. At the same time, they were also the one most to gain from taking out the heir of their rival's regional family, which was the first death.

Both victims had died of wounds inflicted in methods simply not available to the folk living in the village. Especially the points of the cutting wounds pointed towards a smaller, nimbler creature than the average rogue ninja. And it was clear chakra-powered abilities were at play here considering the fire that killed the girl.

But apparently, neither of the two had plans to leave the village or otherwise escape the fate of their established rivalries.

Maybe he had it wrong. Maybe Haru was the one who walked in on the assassination of his girlfriend and had to die for what he would have otherwise leaked.

Either way, no path brought him past the fact that a curse or spirit was at play, and Damon would have to find and snuff out the demon in question to find his answers.

He waited just before dusk to call for Yuudai. Once he arrived, Damon invited him into his little shack and unraveled the scriptures on which he had been brainstorming all day. The dim light of the setting sun cast long shadows across the room, giving the moment an air of solemnity.

“Yuudai, I need you to help me uncover the truth behind the local tale of this ravenous rogue Shinobi. I fear it might be under control, which puts us all in danger. Tell me everything you know that I could use to find its whereabouts.”