[Muramasa Uemon]

erase again, and then...

---

Dark eyes followed Kota's every movement carefully.

The way he spoke of his father... even how he clammed up about the subject was familiar, too. It was not his place to poke and prod. A person's past was their own. On principle he would always respect that. Child or not. "Fair."

Muramasa nodded as he stated he was done speaking on the subject. Slowly he ate as well. Didn't have much of an appetite after all the excitement but he had to get something in his stomach. Now that things had slowed down he had time to think clearly. Kuwana was out of the question, at least for now. He'd been witnessed assaulting a citizen. No doubt the authorities were on the lookout for him. The country he used to call home was near enough... but he couldn't move freely there. Every visit was a gamble with certain death. The Land of Rice-Wine was hundreds of miles and an ocean away. After his recent actions, it was probably for the best that his family was there. Safe.

East. It seemed the only way to go... but where exactly? Kota spoke again, saying he was just trying to leave. To live somewhere. Muramasa frowned slightly as he thought. What was he to do? On one hand he wasn't a parental type. Or even guardian material. His goal left no room for attachments, no space for anything other than vengeance. Yet...

A line of thought kept replaying in his head. Of Hanagisa, and Suppa. Neither of them were your typical mentor figures... and they still took him in. Probably— no, definitely saved his life. If they were here, what would they think?

They gave him the tools needed to survive. Invaluable, irreplaceable skills. Whether they planned on it or not they ended up becoming parental figures to him. Did their reasoning matter in the end?  Genuine compassion or curious whim, they sheltered him. Trained him. It was thanks to their efforts that he was here today. Else... "I'd be dead." Muramasa's frown grew. Obviously uncomfortable with the idea... but his pesky conscience was busy at work again. As the boy offered him the rest of his food he shook his head and lowered it. Fingers rose to pinch the bridge of his nose. A long sigh sounded out. "What... do you think about-" It was a struggle to get the words out... but no matter which way he sliced it, there was only one solution. For Kota's sake. And his own. "...traveling with me?" Muramasa raised his head to look at the boy, the corner of his mouth perked up in a sort of forced smirk. People were supposed to seem assured when they said these kinds of things. Right? A bit of sweat dotted his brow...

Rather than rely on his amazing persuasion skills he flicked his fingers, his dormant puppets springing to life. A bulbous green frog, small white rabbit, and the white wolfhound from earlier all approached the duo. Ribbiting, thumping, and panting as they sat on their respective haunches. "...and my friends." An offer.

And yes— this was the absolute best he could do.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
NAME: Kugutsu no Jutsu - [Puppet Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Puppetry]
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental and most used technique of the style, Kugutsu no Jutsu allows a puppeteer the ability to use puppets in battle. While the degree in skill determines the number of puppets that can be controlled, for starters the user can control only one. By making near invisible strings of chakra from each of their ten fingertips and attaching them to their puppets they are able to control the puppet from various distances. However there is a delay between the puppeteers orders and the puppets movements, meaning puppet movement will not be instantaneous, and the response time increases based on distance.


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

STRING THEORY - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

PUPPETMASTER - INTELLIGENCE

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

ASHIZUKAI WORK - SPEED

Honed after years of fighting and training in Jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine Kota sighed in exasperation when Muramasa declined the offer of food. Do I really have to eat all of it? He stared at the meat with wide eyes, as though being faced with a perilous obstacle. Defeated, he took another weary bite.     The child's attention was drawn away only when Muramasa spoke again, and it seemed the man was struggling to say the words just as much as Kota was struggling to listen to them. Kota stared at him in anticipation, having no idea what he was about to say but having his curiosity grow more with every pause. What did he think about... travelling... with him?     Kota stared, dumbfounded.     Travelling with him? When was the last time he was accompanied by someone?     He thought of the large man with the wild black hair and those white eyes that looked like moons... That had to have been the last person he'd spent so much time around. And even then--it had been years since he'd snuck away, hadn't it?     Kota had been six.     I'm gonna be nine this spring--whenever April is, he thought to himself. I've been alone for so long. He wasn't even sure what to say. He missed having someone else there with him--but Muramasa wasn't his dad. He would never be his dad.     But that was... okay.     Kota had disliked everyone else he'd been around, so far. His father had told him that adults were dangerous, and to stay away from them. And he had been good to follow those instructions--though it helped that Kota had grown more feral over the years, and he saw human interactions no different than when he engaged with wildlife or any other animal. They were all there--simply creatures that he needed to fear and avoid for his safety, or that he could use to his own benefit. He had kind of liked that one white-eyed guy--but even then, the two yelled and bickered often.     But Muramasa was different.     Even when he was being nice to Kota--the child didn't feel like he'd won some elaborate mind-game. He didn't think Muramasa was stupid in his kindness, like he'd taken advantage of in so many others. His words couldn't quite articulate why he felt the way he did--     --But it was simple, really.     Kota lived in the wild. He thrived in the woods, and struggled to survive while within civilization. He viewed himself no different than the animals--and they all spoke a language that he had learned well. Movement, body language, the tension in their limbs, the calls they echoed and the stares of their eyes. He knew, often, when he was in danger. He didn't trust people and their pleasant smiles, either.     But Muramasa.     Muramasa spoke that language, too.     There was an understanding between them, even if they never said a word about it. And Kota was drawn to him.     But that worried him, too. If we travel together and he takes care of me, I'll only cause him problems. He'll hate me, eventually. "Ah." He looked over to the puppets--they had escaped his attention entirely up to this point, but he was immediately captivated by them. Where's Yō? Surely he was still somewhere, right? Surely Muramasa wouldn't have gotten rid of him...     Kota's eyes began to water again.     Will he really actually let me tag along with him? Until when? The next town--and then will he drop me off there? His breathing quickened, and he took his last bite from the stick to try calming himself down. It was hard to cry and eat, usually. "Okay," he whimpered. He'll get rid of me eventually. I'll just be useless to him. "I think that could be... real nice." He set the stick down and wiped at his eyes with his arms. "I like ya a lot, so I won't run away."

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

a poppy blooms

---

Silence.

Did he say something wrong? The older wanderer's eyes watched his younger counterpart. Well... most people were better at expressing themselves, he supposed. But honestly, 'Join me on my journey, little buddy!' would have just sounded wrong coming from him. Muramasa could act, but he hated it. Much rather preferred to be genuine.

Muted, guarded, and a little gloomy... but sincere.

It looked as if the boy was lost in thought. Weighing his options. Or ruminating on past experiences maybe. Muramasa moved to tend to the dwindling fire, not wanting to place any undue pressure on the boy by gawking. In the end it would be his own decision. To say that he didn't have any second thoughts about the thing was a lie. Yet... a part of him hoped he would come along. Odd. Hope wasn't a feeling he experienced too often. Told himself that it was only on account of the kid's best interests. Maybe he wouldn't make it if he didn't bring him along...

...but it was more than that. A budding hope for something else. Another way... or a backup plan or— he didn't really know how to describe it. Just a feeling. A foreign, confusing feeling.

Light from the fire reflected off of the tears filling Kota's eyes. "No, no, no." Distracted, Muramasa accidentally knocked over some of the tented twigs, sending a plume of smoke into his face. He coughed, waving it away. Clumsy... was this what he was reduced to when emotions were involved? "Irritating." He thought. But just then, the boy spoke. "O... kay?" The wanderer blinked, looking to the boy. Surprised maybe. But not in a bad way. "Okay." A nod followed his reaffirmation. It was a plan then. A tentative, precarious-at-best plan.

Saying that he liked him and wouldn't run away was a relief... and it also made him even more bashful. Muramasa raised a hand to rub the back of his own neck. "First thing's first, you gotta rest up." The wanderer's eyes drifted to the side.  "Then... we'll head east." It was vague, but in truth he didn't have much of an idea where to go either. Plenty of countries to choose from. Lots of danger as well. He glanced at the boy. Lips pursing as he thought. "Maybe I can show you a few things, too... how to protect yourself."

The road was treacherous. If he hadn't shown up today... well, he wanted to make sure that didn't happen again.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
NAME: Kugutsu no Jutsu - [Puppet Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Puppetry]
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The fundamental and most used technique of the style, Kugutsu no Jutsu allows a puppeteer the ability to use puppets in battle. While the degree in skill determines the number of puppets that can be controlled, for starters the user can control only one. By making near invisible strings of chakra from each of their ten fingertips and attaching them to their puppets they are able to control the puppet from various distances. However there is a delay between the puppeteers orders and the puppets movements, meaning puppet movement will not be instantaneous, and the response time increases based on distance.


SPECIAL ABILITIES:

STRING THEORY - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

PUPPETMASTER - INTELLIGENCE

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

ASHIZUKAI WORK - SPEED

Honed after years of fighting and training in Jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine Okay, he said. It was decided, then. The two would be travelling together, at least for a little while. Kota didn't know for how long it would be--Muramasa hadn't given him a destination or end date to count down to. But if nothing else, they'd probably stick together until... East, did he say? Perhaps if they crossed a border and found some other town, then Muramasa would part ways with him there.     Kota moved his scraped knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his legs, looking at Muramasa cautiously as the man coughed and waved away the cloud of smoke that he'd accidentally sent into his face. He won't betray me, will he? Kota wondered. What if he tries dropping me off in an orphanage or something? I'd rather just be left somewhere in the woods than trapped in a place like that... He sighed, then laid back down on the makeshift bed, wrapping the cloak around himself. Well if he tries something like that, I'd just run away. They wouldn't be able to keep me for long, I'd find an escape.     The boy turned his face to the fire, watching the flames eating away at the branches that Muramasa had gathered earlier. His expression was tired. Pensive. He'd turn his attention up to the older wanderer from where he was lying down--not having the energy to stay upright anymore. "Protect myself...?" he asked. "Like how?"     He was too little to fight very well. He could try all he wanted--but he didn't have what it took to take on a wolf or a bear. He knew that much. Even the merchant he'd stabbed earlier--he hadn't died quickly enough to not still be a threat.     The safest thing he could do was to try avoiding dangerous situations altogether. And as long as he avoided civilization and people, and found a region where he could live off the land, then he was certain he could do so already without help.

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

over the wintry

---

Already the wanderer's mind was busy.

So much to ponder, too much to consider. Then there were the variables... his least favorite part of any plan. Traveling as a pair had its obvious advantages. Two sets of eyes, a partner to aid in matters of survival. But it also presented its own unique problems. Muramasa was used to moving inconspicuously. Not drawing attention, blending in with his environment. With a kid along for the ride that would be near impossible. No longer a shadow.

But a walking target... or two, to be exact.

Memories of the past came to mind. A ten year-old loudmouth filled with rage, causing all kinds of trouble for his mentor. Hanagisa made sure to school him quickly. Taught him how to control himself. To not act in haste. Wouldn't be easy... but maybe he could teach Kota the same? And from what it seemed like he already had a leg up compared to when he started his travels. The younger wanderer had survived thus far. Likely already knew a thing or two about hunting. Outdoorsmanship maybe. It'd take some doing but there was plenty for him to work with.

Show him how to move, how to fight, other ways to think. Hopefully without the same harshness or threats of death that Hanagisa used to keep him in line. 'Encouragement' she called it... his way would be different. Better.

"You have a knack for using puppets... that seems like a good place to start." He replied to the boy, eyes locked on the small blaze before him. Puppets were tricky but Kota was sharp. If he could hone his budding skills and learn how to craft more complex marionettes he could go far. Or at least defend himself from any furious merchants. "Knives aren't my specialty but I could show you how to use a sword. A little, at least." Kenjutsu he knew some about. Trained by samurai allies of his family at a young age... before they all revealed their true nature. No expert swordsman by any means but he knew his way around a blade. Knowledge like that would be useful. As a last resort.

Ideally he would have no need for such things, but the Shinobi World was big and full of hazards. Was always better to be prepared than end up a victim of circumstance. Kota needed to learn. Hesitant as he was... he could teach.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

STRING THEORY - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

PUPPETMASTER - INTELLIGENCE

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

ASHIZUKAI WORK - SPEED

Honed after years of fighting and training in Jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine Puppets...? Kota looked hazily at Muramasa while the man spoke, reasoning with himself what he could teach the boy. I didn't know puppets could be used to protect yourself. A new concept to him. But he liked the idea of being able to use puppets--though he wasn't sure how he felt about using them for a fight--so if nothing else, Muramasa had caught his curiosity. The older wanderer seemed to think Kota was pretty good with them, too, so maybe he'd be a good student.     Then, there was the suggestion of teaching Kota how to fight with a sword.     "Hm..." Kota wasn't sure how he felt about that, either, though he felt even less optimistic than he had with the puppets. Swords were big, and heavy. Kota wasn't sure if he would be able to use one very well--though his mindset was focused on his present ability, rather than guessing the possibilities of the future. His knife didn't seem like a very good option, either. It was a hunting knife--and while he certainly could use it for fighting, it was more valuable to him as a tool for survival. He didn't want it to get overly damaged by putting it through combat.     But, he supposed, he didn't really know.     He had some money, and while he would probably rather use it for food, he could use it for materials. Maybe he could make a puppet, himself. Maybe he could find a weapon and learn how to actually fight with it, instead of panicking and relying on pure instinct whenever he got into trouble...     His father had been the last person to teach him anything. They had been useful skills, and had kept him alive this far. But Kota supposed that there was still many dangers he wasn't prepared for, things that Muramasa probably knew how to deal with better than he did. So he should take this opportunity to learn as much as he could.     And while he wasn't sure how he felt about it entirely, he did think it sounded fun.     Kota looked over to the other puppets for a while, taking in their features and designs. Then, raising the question that had him concerned for a little while now, he asked, "Where's Yō?"

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

forest, winds howl in rage

---

Wariness.

Good. From the look on the boy's face it was apparent that he was none too thrilled about the prospect of battle. Fighting, killing... not things to take joy in. But conflict was unavoidable in the Shinobi World. Kota needed to learn to defend himself. Just like he had himself all those years ago. A rōnin and a nukenin had been his mentors.

Now... perhaps it was his turn to play that role for someone else.

At the younger wanderer's sound of thinking the corner of Muramasa's mouth perked up. "Don't worry." He said, with a nod. "We'll start with something smaller... a wakizashi, maybe." Turning his attention back towards the dwindling fire he tended to it, throwing a few more twigs atop the small pile. Thoughts of home once again returning to him. "Where I'm from, kids start practicing swordplay as young as three." Raised for war. Prospective fodder for the many petty squabbles among the lords and clans within the Land of Iron. Child soldiers.

Samurai, ninja... they were much the same in that regard.

However this would be different. Muramasa had need for soldiers... but not the flesh-and-blood kind. That's what his puppets were for. Kota needed training for survival. Guidance. Maybe his path could be more peaceful? Asked about his black wolfdog the wanderer flicked his finger. His half-bandaged gear leaning against the cave wall rustled, and after some clanking Yō emerged from the cloth, trotting slowly to sit next to Kota. "That's In, Yō's sister." He said, nodding to the white-furred canine. Though still stained red, her appearance was neater than her shaggier brother. She was also a bit smaller. "Tsuki." A finger rose to point at the small white rabbit. "And Date." The frog.

Reaching into his back pocket the wanderer withdrew a small black book. He flipped through pages containing hand-drawn maps. The Lands of Basins, Fields, and Storms all were viable options for travel. Nearby. Away from trouble. Though if they wanted to keep a low profile... "Storms it is." Gloomy. Rainy. A perfect place to get lost.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

STRING THEORY - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

Necessary for his Puppet Ninjutsu and applicable to his other techniques, Uemon has trained extensively in order to mitigate the amount of chakra he uses with his techniques. Compensating for his average chakra reserves this allows him to stay in the fight that much longer.

PUPPETMASTER - INTELLIGENCE

A natural strategist with a quick mind, Uemon is always observing even in the midst of combat. This allows for him to find gaps and weaknesses in his opponent's techniques easier than some, and allows him to formulate strategies and deceptions to take advantage of these shortcomings. His knack for tactics cues him on which approach should work best depending on his target.

ASHIZUKAI WORK - SPEED

Honed after years of fighting and training in Jujitsu with samurai as a child in the Land of Iron, Uemon is surprisingly light on his feet and his hand-to-hand strikes are faster than most expect. Able to strike and weave with deft swiftness he is capable of holding his own against Taijutsu specialists of his rank and outright overwhelming those of lower ranks in a straight up slugfest.

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine "Wakizashiii," Kota echoed quietly. It was a funny word, to him. He didn't know what it was, though. But from the sound of it, it was probably a smaller-than-usual sword. A kid-sized sword, maybe.     The boy watched Muramasa's expression carefully when he mentioned some brief history of his homeland. Three years old? Kota thought, surprised. That seemed really young to be training with swords. But, he supposed, he was pretty young when his father had started teaching him how to survive in the wild.     He thought it was strange, but maybe that's the kind of thing they needed to learn in order to survive.     "Where're you from?" Kota asked, curious.     It seemed like it was probably a pretty scary place. Even to Kota, the thought of being abandoned in the wild to take care of himself at six years old didn't seem nearly as bad as whatever situation you'd have to be in where learning how to fight with a sword as soon as you could walk was necessary. Did everyone fight, there? Was there constant bloodshed and murder?     It sounded frightening.     Maybe that's why he's so serious, Kota thought to himself. Though, when he wasn't concussed, Kota was usually pretty serious, too. Grumpy, at the very least.     The child's expression lit up, however, when Yō appeared and moved over to his side, sitting down beside him. Ah, good, he's still got him! Kota smiled and reached out a hand to pet the puppet's fur. Goooood wolfy. He tilted his head to look at the other puppets when Muramasa introduced them. In, Tsuki, and Date. They all seemed like perfect matches for each of their respective holders. "I knew she was a girl," Kota boasted in regards to In. "She's way too purdy ta be a boy."

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

with no leaves to blow

---

A nod followed the boy's repetition of 'Wakizashi'.

Thinking about it a bit longer, the wanderer frowned. For being a swordsmith he didn't carry a daishō with him. Only a single katana. The same one leaning against the wall with the rest of his belongings. Of course he was no samurai, and truthfully didn't have much use for his blade... but still. It got his mind moving. Had been quite some time since he actually forged something. Maybe he could find work in the Land of Storms as a swordsmith? It'd certainly help him keep a low profile. And earn some ryō in the process. Perhaps he could even make Kota a blade of his own. A proper weapon rather than his small survival knife. Impart in him the skills needed to wield it.

It was a thought, at least.

Upon hearing the child ask him where he was from he grew silent for a moment. Gazing into the embers of the fire pit. "The Land of Iron." Muramasa said, his voice quieter than usual. Standing from his crouched position he moved slowly to the cave wall, gripping his sheathed sword in his hand. Returning to the fire he lowered himself to his knees and grabbed it by the hilt. "Warriors there are called samurai. They're known for their swords..." A sharp ring echoed throughout the cave as he unsheathed the sword. Slowly. Carefully. "...katana." Eyes fixated on the blade as it escaped its scabbard. "My family used to make these." Setting the scabbard aside on the ground he gingerly balanced the weapon on his fingers. Despite its age, it was still in rather good condition. Black tsuka and saya, inlaid with gilded metal. Its tsuba was cross-shaped. "A wakizashi's smaller— about half the length. Perfect size for you." A finger moved to delicately touch the point. For a moment he examined the weapon. Seemingly lost in thought.

Then he picked up the scabbard and resheathed it. "We'll find something that's right for you."

Smithies were everywhere, he was sure to find a local one in the Land of Storms. While he dabbled in many things including art, writing, and music.. the only thing he considered himself an expert at was swordmaking. Hell even in that his sister was better than him, and his father before them. But any Muramasa should have little trouble plying their trade. He watched as Kota pet the shaggy black wolfdog, his tail wagging with some subtle puppeteering on his part. At his comment about In he beckoned her closer. "You are a sharp one." And the boy was. Of course in the end they were only puppets... but every part of their construction was meticulous. Including their outward appearances. Using some water from his canteen he began cleaning In's fur. "Boys can be pretty too... just not Yō"

The black hound tilted its head and whined a bit. Almost lifelike. Briefly he thought of the two half-wolf pups he'd cared for as a child. The real In and Yō. Both would have loved Kota, he thought.

---

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine His family used to make them? Kota wondered. So, maybe they weren't samurai, they just worked for them. At least, that's what seemed to make the most sense to Kota. If Muramasa had been more keen on creating things--crafting weapons and tools--it made more sense that he'd up as a puppeteer than as a swordsman. But with a background like that, still having some sword skills checked out, too. "Hah." At least it doesn't seem he was raised in such a scary way, then. That's pretty good.     Wakizashi it was, then. At least, Muramasa seemed to be more the expert in weapons, so if that's the one that he suggested, then it was probably the best one to start out with.     The comment about boys being able to be pretty took the child by surprise, though. What? No way, he thought. But the slight against against Yō made him giggle. "Yer not purdy, are ya boy?" he asked in a playful tone, ruffling the puppet's fur up with a grin. "Ya know, I've never had a pet before. I mean, I know they ain't real, but they feel and look real so it's real easy to pretend." Rolling over to slowly sit upright again, he'd look at Muramasa excitedly. "Except y'know one time, I had a pet beetle! It's wing was damaged so it didn't fly real good, an' I took care o' it for a week! I named it, 'Tobi'! An' another time, when I was diggin' once, I found a worm! A real big one! Like, as big as yer hand! I named that one 'Mobi'!" He gave a cheeky grin.

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

the distant mountain

---

Yō barked in agreement with the boy.

Definitely not pretty. Savage. Good thing the big guy was designed for mostly covert use. The wanderer finished cleaning In's fur and directed her back over near Kota. It seemed that the boy was doing some pretty serious thinking of his own. The fact that he wasn't jumping up and down in excitement for learning how to fight was a good sign. Control. An even temperament. These traits were crucial to be a responsible and effective warrior.

No one needed a bloodthirsty kid running around with impossible powers... knowing shinobi, the Hidden Villages probably all had more than enough of those.

Muramasa nodded at the boy's words. "When I was around your age I took in some stray pups that looked a lot like In and Yo. They inspired me to make those two." Poor things. Half-wild and without a mother they never had much of a chance. Hanagisa even told him to leave and just let nature run its course. It'd be easier on all of them. Turned out she was right... and despite doing his best to care for them they died. "Tobi and Mobi, huh?" It was a cute enough story. Seeing how excited the boy got during the retelling was almost entertaining too. He shifted so that he sat cross-legged, and placed a hand to his mouth. As he often did when he was thinking. "You know... those might not be bad ideas for puppets." Beetles and worms weren't exactly fearsome, but that wasn't a bad thing. In his experience being underestimated was always a positive. "We'd have to make them a little bigger but it could work." Of course with puppets, one's imagination was truly the only limit. And the imagination of a child was vast, indeed.

Humanoids, animals, mythological creatures... he was curious to see what the boy would come up with. "If it was up to you to make any kind of puppet, what would it be?" If so, he could help give those thoughts physical form. Something told him that Kota would like that part. Learning to create things was certainly more pleasant than learning to tear them down. To build rather than destroy. That much he knew firsthand.

---

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine "Whoah, really," Kota said, surprised. That must've been a pretty long time ago, he thought. A part of him wondered where the pups were, now, since Muramasa seemed to travel alone otherwise. Maybe he let them go back into the wild after they got big enough to take care of themselves? He thought. Though, realistically. They might have gotten eaten.     A sad thought. Kota had seen plenty of loss of life, but he didn't always enjoy thinking about it. Sometimes it was good when animals or people died--but when he cared about them, then it wasn't. Since Muramasa hadn't told him why the animals weren't with him anymore, it allowed the boy to use his imagination. And he'd rather pretend it was the happier scenario.     "Really? As puppets, you think?" Kota wondered, surprised. The idea of a worm puppet was funny to him--and for that reason alone he was almost willing to try out the idea. Beetles were really cool, too. He was certain that kind of puppet would look really neat, and if it was bigger that'd be even crazier.     Then Muramasa asked what kind of a puppet he'd want to make, if he could make any kind.     Any kind, huh? Kota frowned a little as he thought on it, trying to concentrate. While he didn't like wolves--real wolves, at least--he'd grown quite attached to In and Yō--but especially Yō. Holding the admiration toward Muramasa and his creations, the boy wanted to take after the older wanderer and make a wolf of his own, as well. "Maybe a wolf--and our wolves could all be friends!" Kota said with enthusiasm, reaching out his other hand to pet In's fur. Using both of the puppets to keep himself stable while petting them--the boy gave more care to In, focusing on not messing up her pelt while he was a bit rougher and more enthusiastic with Yō's fur. "Or maybe a bear--they're real big and scary but that could be pre'y cool. Or a badger! Or--" He looked at Muramasa, a gleam in his eye-- "a bird! What if I could actually make it fly? Wouldn't that be the coolest thing ya've ever saw?"

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

catch the sun

---

Another nod. "Really."

So curious. It was definitely a good thing. Allowed the chance to get a grasp on puppetry he had no doubt the boy would run with it. Muramasa was already jaded and beaten down by the time he took to the craft. Someone so young with an unbridled creativity like Kota... the possibilities were endless. Any development would be interesting.

The boy asked about puppets. "Really, really." If Muramasa was the smiling type he'd probably have grinned at his enthusiasm. For him, he had his Beast Puppets. Ever the artist the concept of Insect Puppets sounded rather interesting. Plenty of avenues to go down as far as capabilities. As far as he knew he'd never heard of it being done before. Dark eyes watched the youth, their normal sharpness softening slightly as he watched him think. Clearly his mind was racing. Another good sign. "I've always liked wolves." He'd never been one to anthropomorphize animals... though Hanagisa used to say he acted like one. Mostly in a taunting way. Calling him 'pup' or rabid when he got angry. Perhaps it was his loner nature. Or his fierce protectiveness over those he cared for. 

And just maybe... he had been without a pack for too long.

"In and Yō could use some friends." He said to the boy. Then he mentioned a bear. "A bear could be-" Muramasa's voice was drowned out with talk of badgers and birds. A faint smirk returned to his face. The kid definitely had the right idea. "That does sound pretty cool." When was the last time he'd been that passionate about anything? He couldn't remember. "I actually thought about building a bird puppet once... maybe we can work on ours together." Tossing a few more twigs on the coals he nodded to the boy. There'd be plenty of time to plan their creations.

For now? "Give it some more thought... but try and rest while you can." He spoke softly to the boy, taking his blade in hand to go sit against one of the cave walls. In and Yō curled up beside the boy. "We'll leave once it gets dark." It would be safer that way. Less eyes on the lookout for the two of them. More cover for them to evade patrols.

Muramasa allowed his sword to lean against his shoulder, his eyes drifting towards the mouth of the cave. On the lookout for any signs of approach. The sooner they left, the better. Back to the road... but this time? Not alone.

---

[Kota]

Feels like We had         matching wounds But mine's still black and bruised      And yours is perfectly               fine "Hmm, I can tell," Kota said light-heartedly when Muramasa expressed his fondness of the canines. Of course, it seemed pretty obvious to Kota that was the case. He had two puppets that were based off of them, after all! So it only made sense that he liked the animal.     Muramasa even suggested that they could work on their puppets together, and Kota quite liked the sound of that. I don't know the first thing about making a puppet, he thought. So getting to do one with him would be real helpful. I bet I could learn a lot from him. Kota smiled slightly. If he'll teach me, of course.     Though, he had a feeling the older wanderer would.     He'd not seemed annoyed with Kota thus far, and he'd not had any issue teaching him how to do that puppet technique, either. Actually making a puppet? Well, Muramasa seemed like he wanted to teach, and surely he knew that Kota didn't know anything--which meant he totally knew what he was getting himself into, right? So he probably wouldn't be annoyed or upset that Kota didn't have any experience prior, right?     Ah, he sure hoped so.     "Maybe we can," Kota said happily at the suggestion.     The boy settled down on the floor once more with each of the wolves curled around him. Why are we leaving once it's dark? he wondered. It seemed dangerous--that was when all the animals were most active. Wasn't it safer to travel during the day? Especially since they'd found a cave that they could have stayed in.     Not to mention that it was harder to see at night, which meant it was easier to be caught off guard by a predator that was stalking you from the shadows. Or to not notice a bear trap on the ground! Or something awful like that.     "Hmmm... I don't like it," Kota complained, placing a hand on Yō's head and closing his eyes. "But okay I guess."

✜

[Muramasa Uemon]

the desolate field

---

For a moment his smirk returned.

If it were any other kid he'd probably find his energy tiring. Annoying. But there was more than just blind enthusiasm to this boy. He was sharp. Talented. Moreover, there was something else underneath the surface. Muramasa was no mind reader so he couldn't say for sure... but reading between the lines it felt to him like loss.

Something he knew all too well... and he didn't much like speaking of it either.

After some fussing the boy reluctantly laid down between his dogs. "Sleep." He said, putting on his best 'stern adult' voice. Admittedly it didn't sound much different than his usual gloomy tone. Once he was down he resumed his guard. Keeping a close eye for any movement in the tree line. Iwagakure forces were likely to give up without some semblance of a search. Though under the shroud of darkness they shouldn't have too much trouble slinking past. Wouldn't be his first time moving through hostile lands without drawing attention. Not likely to be his last, either.

Soft, nearly inaudible humming sounded out as the boy rested and the wanderer sat watch. A sad tune. From a land of steel and strife. One that a false flower used to hum long ago. Until she was plucked before her time.

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