[Mikazuki Aikawa]

you're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
all that's left is a ghost of you
※
TAKEDA SANOSUKE™

Mikazuki was many things, but if she was anything, she liked to think she was unassuming. Squeakers was, at least. Perhaps even in civilian clothing, Mikazuki had a bit of an intimidating demeanor--but Squeakers? He wore a silly mask, a bright yellow rain coat, and he was a mere chūnin. Any truly dangerous shinobi wouldn't really feel threatened by a chūnin under normal circumstances, and definitely not one that looked like him.
    But anyone who had actually gone against him in recent times knew he was worth more than his salt, and Hi no Kuni had recently become aware of just what kind of a threat he truly was. Her rank no longer held much merit when she was getting tangled in the world of jounin, and it was easy to forget that she was technically of a "low level". But the days of playing herself off as something harmless were coming to an end, as she knew they inevitably would.
    Squeakers had been a disguise, meant to be an enigma, psychologically disarming, and to throw others off her trail. And for a great deal of time--years, in fact--she'd kept up the act, and it had served her well with her intentions.
    But times were changing, and she was no longer confident what the right path was.
    If nothing else, however, she knew that things had to change. She was strong, yes. And that was fine and well--but she needed to get stronger. She had shaken an enemy nation once already with her display of might and power--but there was always room to grow, and she hadn't even reached the halfway point of her powers and abilities. She had come face-to-face with abilities and techniques she'd only feared in her worst of dreams, and while she'd stood victorious in the battle of will--it was a strength she wanted to cement. Something she wanted to perfect.
    Already, she believed she was close. Already, her will out-powered most. There were few who would be able to do what she did without breaking, but if Mikazuki noticed this strength, she only wished to reinforce it more. It was valuable, now, but she wanted to be renowned for it.
    Mikazuki would slide into the room where she knew she could find Sanosuke. While she'd sought out help elsewhere already, she wanted his involvement this time around. "Hey Sanosuke~" she greeted in a friendly though not-likely-very-sincere-because-she-was-a-very-serious-person tone. "How are things?" Of course, she had an idea of how things were after their rescue mission--or was it a kidnapping?--for Shodaime had turned out. She was uncertain how the higher-ups felt about the event, but she'd be lying if she said the success and exploration of her abilities hadn't left her feeling a bout of pride.

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[TAKEDA SANOSUKE™]

Sanosuke's start as the Amelord was definitely a successful one. It was a bold and risky move he made attempting to go after Konoha's Head Medic, but in the end his gamble paid off. The mission of course didn't come without the loss of one of his own, but that was the nature of their jobs as Shinobi and Sanosuke did all he could to make sure any family left behind was looked after in the wake of their death. Fortunately, their loss wasn't for nothing.

After some scolding from the council there was a lot they had to accept after their intel reported that two of the people they were up against was the Hokage himself, and the world Renown Senju Kazuto. Going out on the front lines was a dangerous move, but he needed to show that the village taking a chance on a younger Shinobi in favor of a more season vet was the right decision going forward for Amegakure's future. It wasn't enough for him to just have the title, he needed his subordinates to know that he was worthy of it.

Thanks to Amegakures JITE captain, some of Tsuki's best operatives, and of course his most trusted comrade Mikazuki Amegakure would leave a foot print large enough to make sure the entire Shinobi world was put on notice. The days of Amegakure being viewed as a "Minor Village" was heading toward a trajectory much bigger than the standard they had always been held too. Sanosuke was extremely thankful for the work they had done especially since part of this mission was personal.

The only reason the entire operation was allowed to take place was because of its upside in how much intel they could get from her. Since then things only continued to improve for Sanosuke, but there was another selfish angle to the mission. Sanosuke got to redeem the in fighting that once ruined the reputation of the clan long ago as the Takeda rose higher on the clan hierarchy of the village the more he solidified himself as a leader.

Nevertheless, now his focus was on trying to expand the reaches of Arashi beyond toward the land of rivers. Of course there was a lot of other things that needed to happen before then, but his foot was still not off the caravan just yet. Soon his presence would be met with a familiar voice as he turned around to look at Mika. "Ah, its just you Mika." Sanosuke responded while turning his frame completely to face her own. "Things have been quite well actually.. Without you I'd be having to 'rank' my way around here like a kid."

Nothing was worst than looking among your peers and spotting the hate and jealousy in their eyes. It was as if he was having to watch his back from the very people he was in charge of leading. Most of them still didn't like him, but they respected how far he was willing to go to get things done and that was the start he needed. Without Mika he wouldn't have been able to accomplish that goal. "So.. What brings you to my attention?"

[Mikazuki Aikawa]

you're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
all that's left is a ghost of you
※
TAKEDA SANOSUKE™

Mikazuki listened briefly to Sanosuke's light praise, and the corners of her lips curled into a grin of glee and pride. So, things had turned out in their favor. The concern of war after their attack still loomed in the air, but it was far from the jinchūriki's mind at the moment. Perhaps at a more sensible time her mind would have been sharpened with reason, but she was the furthest thing from it for the time being.
    "I have a favor to ask." Didn't she always? Even high off of her intrepid display and victory from a dangerous battle with such grave stakes, she still had a one-track mind. Closing the door behind her, she waltzed up to Sanosuke's desk and slid her hands atop its surface, leaning in slightly. Her hair fell loosely around her form, reaching down to her hips. Several strands fell in front of her face, masking her features in gentle shadows and the dark circles around her eyes gave her the look of a wild beast. Then, in an airy voice, she said, "During that fight, I became frightfully aware of something quite horrid. A few things, actually. One of our enemies weaseled their way into my mind." Her eyes were alit with malice and rage. "Did you know that?" Still, her voice was pleasant. "They know my face. At least one of them does. I was able to overwhelm them, pushing myself to limits I'd never tested before that moment, but I feel it'd be arrogant to assume I could always come out on top in a test of will." Her expression grew more serious as she whispered, "And I quite dislike that."
    Stepping away from his desk, she'd turn away somewhat, her voice growing serious once more. Much more familiar to what Sanosuke was used to. "I've displayed great willpower before. I survived the sealing ritual when I was a mere genin, and my will was enough to reign in even such a great beast. I've endured torture and didn't slip my hold on Gyūki. I've suffered a great many losses. And that's great, all of it has been. Even this last battle--I stood victorious even when a parasite tried to reign control over my body. But it's not something I like risking. No matter the physical demand, no matter the psychological torment, any force that tries to contest my spirit will break under my fortitude." Glancing back at Sanosuke, she asked, "What do you think? I wanted to ask if you'd be able to help me train such. You're not obligated to at all, you don't owe me anything. I'm asking as you, not as a jinchūriki to their Lord, but as a comrade to someone they trust. What are your thoughts?"

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[TAKEDA SANOSUKE™]

"As always.."

Sanosuke teased before she spoke her mind. The now Ame lord took pride in his ability to be able to help Mika outside of her responsibilities to the village as the Jinchuuriki. Too often during the last regime was she underutilized despite all the experience she racked up in other areas in addition to her own talents. With him she would have her chance to shine as the Shinobi he always believe she was, but that also meant making up for lost time too in regards to other needs to she had.

In this case it was the possibility of being controlled, or even losing control in a situation where an enemy nation is literally able to enter your mind at will without needing any prior access. It was amazing, but terrifying in the same breath and he could understand why she felt that something needed to be done about it. As she transitioned from her own progress before coming to the conclusion of what she was asking he'd place his hands gently across his chin.

"This is why you're amazing, and I appreciate you always taking into account my position before asking favors like this. Makes it all the more easy to say yes when you need things."

Sanosuke added with a grin. It was often easy for people you were close with to forget the position you're in once you rise up through the ranks. Sanosuke had to deal with a little of those growing pains with his own clan members as his promotion had risen him well above the Devil King himself. Fortunately, they all understood and he had little to no problems getting his fellow clansmen to see eye to eye with him.

"But of course. I'll have my assistant take care any of the paper work that needs to be done in the meantime, but I can always make time for my most trusted comrade, the 'Jinchuuriki'." Sanosuke added while moving his fingers in quotation marks so it wouldn't seem like he was favoring her over other responsibilities, even if he actually was. So long as he could hang that over their heads what could they say?

[Mikazuki Aikawa]

you're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
all that's left is a ghost of you
※
TAKEDA SANOSUKE™

Mikazuki chuckled lightly at his praise. "You flatter me~" she responded lightly, gently waving a hand in dismissal. "Keep that up, and I might start thinking you've got a crush!" Of course, his words of admiration were appreciated, though she wasn't sure how to properly receive them. Praise wasn't something she was acquainted with--it was foreign and uncomfortable. But she wasn't certain that it was a bad thing. She couldn't think of any legitimate reason why it would be a negative thing--and her years of studying psychology strongly pointed to the contrary being true. But, still, it was difficult for her to properly process. And so, she dismissed it with a light-hearted joke, instead.
    Still, he was willing to set his work to the side and help her without delay. His immediate response was appreciated--she wouldn't have been mad if he'd instead just set up a schedule for a different date. Though, it now brought up the question of how they would go about it. "Thank you," she said in a soft tone, her tension and frustration seeming to ease away. "I confess, I also came to you hoping for your direction in how to practice such a thing. The only ideas I can come up with involve torture, but I'm not sure how comfortable either of us would be to engage in that way."
    She'd been tortured, before. It wasn't that hours of constant torment really bothered her psyche--but the idea of Sanosuke doing something like that to her?
    No, it wasn't really something she could wrap her head around. That thought alone was... far too weird. And even if that wasn't the problem--Mikazuki, in truth, wasn't certain if he'd even have the stomach to do such things to her. She knew he was a village leader, now, which meant he had to be tough. But to that level? It seemed unreasonable and unlikely. And that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
    "I'm certain there's other ways to test one's will without resorting solely to physical means, though. Do you have any ideas?" As far as she knew, he wasn't a genjutsu specialist--he'd always seemed to hold strengths in taijutsu and bukijutsu, and while he'd studied genjutsu briefly with her, she doubted he'd picked up an affinity for it in the past few years without her knowing. Which, really, made her uncertain what the other options were. 

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[TAKEDA SANOSUKE™]

For a moment Sanosuke actually froze when she chuckled at what she said. Either she was in a really good mood, or his position had allowed for their relationship to reach greater heights because he'd never seen her like this before. Sanosuke even laughed a little himself, but when she added the part about having a crush on her he'd freeze again. This time his entire face turning red as he rubbed both of his cheeks while trying to regain his composure. "When did you become so good at being normal."

Sanosuke added rhetorically before things finally got to the matter of why she was here to begin with. Apparently she was looking to get herself some training, but the kind that she was asking for was quite specific. When she mentioned the possibility of torture being a method he knew this had to be something serious as there was very little training that would have ever required a degree of torture in it.

"Testing ones will? This wouldn't have something to do with what transpired on that missions of ours wouldn't it?"

When the briefing came in order one of the things that was brought up by Mika and his other operative was that the man standing in the back had somehow been able to enter their mind. It was unlike anything he'd ever heard of, and the most interesting part was that no one even saw it coming. Fortunately due to the nature of being a Jinchuuriki the hold couldn't be maintained, but everyone else?

They were victims under control without the possibility of regaining control over themselves. "Honestly? My knowledge on what a Jinchuuriki can do is still relatively low... The only thing we do know is that the relationship between yourself and your tailed beast is ultimately what makes your mind harder to breach. I don't think torturing is going to be the kind of training you need to improve your mental fortitude."

"I think the only one that can help you with that is the Gyuki.."

[Mikazuki Aikawa]

you're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
all that's left is a ghost of you
※
TAKEDA SANOSUKE™

Mikazuki smirked slightly at Sanosuke's comment as he tried to regain his composure. I was just joking, why did he give such a strong reaction? Something she probably wouldn't ever understand. In her youth, she probably would have responded with a "fuck off" if someone had joked with her in that way, so any different response to her teasing was... well, confusing to her. "Well, if you think I'm 'normal', then I've really got you fooled." She was anything but. She wasn't entirely certain what "normal" would even look like for her, but she was certain that whatever it was--it wasn't her.
    For the years after she'd become a jinchūriki Mikazuki had tried to be "normal". She thought it was what she was supposed to be, that Lord Fifth was somehow expecting it from her. It seemed like an "option", then, when it never had been before. 
    But those years of strain and trying to force herself to be something that didn't come natural to her... only caused her more grief and hardship.
    And it had been a painful reminder of why she was the way she was. Who she actually was.
    She was stronger, now. More confident, even. But she wasn't different. Not really.
    "It's called acting. Like how I acted like Squeakers, or acted like I'd resigned as a shinobi. I'm just playing with you." And "play" had taken on many different forms for the jinchūriki. The beast liked to mock, fluster, and cause others distress. It enjoyed threatening and frightening. She couldn't remember if she'd been like that, before, but it didn't seem too different to her.
    He returned his attention to the matter at hand quickly enough and voiced his own thoughts and concerns. He expressed his lack of knowledge on the life and abilities of a jinchūriki--which was accurate, he didn't know much--and stated that he didn't believe torture was the answer to her problems. Something she strongly disagreed with, but she hadn't come here seeking that out--this time. Still, what he brought up instead wasn't all that appealing to her, either.
    Her brow furrowed slightly, and she let out a huff of frustration. She'd seat herself on the surface of his desk and flip her hair.
    "I don't know. The Hachibi played a factor in how I was able to escape the technique, but I confess I was merely using him as a tool in that situation."
    Your rage and malice. Something you've always possessed, and at times have tried to overwhelm me with in the past. I suppose it might have been nice for you that you didn't have to hold back or play nice, but...
    You still were only utilizing my unbridled wrath to your gain--because you're capable of doing such a thing. I wasn't helping you out of empathy.
    "It was more like I was just playing a game of 'chicken'. Letting someone else take the reigns of my body, since that's what they seemed to want, and overwhelmed them with the burden I face daily. They weren't capable of handling him, I am. At the end of the day, they still entered my mind. I'm accustomed to my bijū, so I'd like to think that I could overwhelm anyone once more should that happen again, but... I'd also like my will to be so great, solely on my own, that I could cast them out with my own two hands. While I am proud to be able to withstand my beast's might, I don't want to use him like a crutch in the future. I want it to just be me. Not an intruder and I holding up a rock, seeing which one will break first under its weight, but able to wrangle the intruder out of my head with my own strength--directly. If that makes sense..."
    She sighed.
    "But you're right, something like that isn't easy to practice. Entering someone's mind isn't exactly commonplace, and that Konoha shinobi isn't here to lend their talents..."
    The only one you share a mind with is me. Do you wish to test yourself against my might?
    "So, if this is something that I can only resolve between my beast and I... Would you supervise? Just in case if--" She paused. No, I can't go into it with that mindset. Having an iron will means not allowing any leeway for failure. Especially not to this degree. She took in a deep breath and regathered herself. "Would you want to watch as I practice? You have a lot to learn about jinchūriki, after all. It could be a good opportunity for you."

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[TAKEDA SANOSUKE™]

Of course she was playing him. Sanosuke chuckled a little while shaking his head after realizing he had fallen for her tactics yet again. It made perfect sense that she would be able to pull of such a move after creating her alter ego Squeakers so many years ago. He didn't get to find out who she really was until he was officially named the new Ame Lord in wake of Tatsuo stepping down to attend to other matters. Nevertheless, they quickly got back on track to why she was there in the first place.

The complexities of being a Jinchuuriki was still a lot to take in. His experience in combat with her and Toru only gave him an idea of how strong they could be in combat, but never what it was like to live amongst a Legendary sentient being like the Hachibi. The fact that she was able to use them as a tool in that situation was also quite interesting given the details he was given about their personality from other host.

Regardless, she was able to use that against the mind user who might have felt exactly what Mika feel on the daily bases by entering her mindscape. Fortunately for them all she was able to keep herself from losing control. The point of this all seem to point to her not wanting to rely on the Hachibi in situation where she felt like her mind was being compromised by something else.

Her ambitions were strong and definitely the direction the village hope she might take as she spent more time getting to learn the beast and what it was capable of in addition to what they would be capable of accomplishing together. In conclusion they both came to understand that without having his skillset that they would not be able to replicate what took place during that extraction.

Instead, she decided that she would try to do this on her own with his supervision which was a good idea given there was only a few people in the village capable of containing her prowess as a Jinchuuriki. "Not at all. I don't think theres many others that would be best suited for doing so, and as you noted this could be a great oppurtunity to learn in detail what exactly being a Jinchuuriki entails."