[Muramasa Uemon]

a village in clouds

---

Kaminari no Kuni... how long had it been? Months, at least. Nearly a year now.

Last time he had walked these lands were under initially positive circumstances... though events quickly turned those sour. Several dramatic poisonings, a skirmish at an okiya. Quick thinking had saved some of the victims lives...

Though the scars they now had would stay with them for the rest of their lives. So it was a bit of a sobering experience to be back here. And this time he had ventured much further inland than before. While he enjoyed nature and was used to traveling, mountain-climbing had never been a favorite hobby of his. Luckily, chakra helped.

Garbed in his usual attire with a pale brown traveling cloak draped around his body, he ascended. Ample usage of the Kinobori no Waza simplifying his hike quite a bit. A few shaky footholds called for more traditional climbing... but he only complained internally as he made his way. "Just think of it as training..." The thought occurred. A way to lie to himself that this journey was not as treacherous as it seemed. Time passed, and eventually he ran into a shinobi.

Always an... interesting experience. Paranoid, perhaps rightfully so. Alert. Wary of strangers. It took a bit of explaining but he was able to convince the man that he was a simple traveler. No headband. No affiliation, not even to his homeland anymore. And so reluctantly he was escorted to the village gates. Under close watch of course.

No matter what else about the world changed, shinobi were true to their careful nature. Came with the job...

...probably. Upon summiting the peak, the village was laid out before him. "Impressive." Even to his critical eye it was a sight to see. Pausing for just a moment, he took mental note of its structures. The landscape. The positioning of the cloud coverage. It would make a nice addition to his sketchbook... but he decided to hold off until a bit later.

Lest his artistic interest be mistaken for intelligence-gathering. Adjusting the sword that hung over his left shoulder, he trekked onward. Over a vast series of bridges and walkways. Towards the gates. It was good that he wasn't afraid of heights... though this sort of altitude could make even the boldest of climbers shudder. The air was thin and he found himself out of breath by the time they arrived, but they did. And he was directed to an area to sign-in.

Picking up a pen, he filled out the necessary info. Answering questions as he did. Name? "Muramasa Uemon." He said. Occupation? "Swordsmith." He nodded to the blade that hung behind his shoulder. Nation of origin? "Tetsu no Kuni." Reason for visiting? "Visiting a relative." Easier said than done. All he had to go on were rumors of a cousin taking up residence here. It may have been fruitless... but meeting Sora sparked something in him. A desire to reconnect with family. Scattered as they were it was quite the task. But nothing ventured, and so on.

So he got to work, providing whatever proof that he could that he was in fact a traveler. Not some wicked enemy ninja here to raze the village. In truth, he could not care less about shinobi matters. But such was life. 

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

The city gates of Kumogakure were wide and broad. In times past, they might even have been considered quite an imposing thing, a reminder of exactly where the onlooker was and what stood to either protect them or to fight them should they prove themselves an enemy. However, since taking the office of Kage, Kizumi had done quite a number on the PR of the Hidden Cloud. This was a place that was far more welcoming, far more inclusive, and far more understanding than it had ever been before.

Even so, outsiders were still a rare thing. It wasn't like they never happened, in Sho's time as a Shinobi alone he had found himself dealing with outsiders on more than one occasion, but they still weren't common. Usually, it came about through two kages, or at least high-ranking village officials, discussing and coming to the conclusion that said inclusion would strengthen the village as a whole.

This time, however, it was a far smaller decision, and for a far more personal reason.

"Relative?" the Chuunin sitting behind the desk asked, looking the man up and down. Perhaps it was paranoia or perhaps he was just trying to excel at his new job, but it was clear that the Chuunin was skeptical of what he was being told. "Which relative would that be, exactly?"

This wasn't a new thing - Wannin were often treated as unwanted visitors, spectres on the doorstep, more trouble than they were worth. Sometimes they would even be shooed off from villages, and whilst they were unlikely to get attacked officially it wasn't unheard of for people to attack them when they were leaving. A "random act of violence", an unfortunate happenstance that couldn't be avoided.

Fortunately, any rising conflict that could have occurred was cut off when a voice from within the village called out to the Chuunin at the desk.

"Sorry about that, he's one of mine."

Standing at the edge of the village, both the Chuunin and Muramasa would be able to see a strange figure standing there. Young, although maybe only a year or two Muramasa's junior, the figure was wearing a long lab-coat, a set of medical fatigues, as well as a forehead protector wrapped around his right arm declaring him to be a member of the village. He was, clear as day, an actual member of Kumogakure.

What was more immediately noticeable, however, was the dark pair of spectacles sitting on the edge of his nose. The glass was blacked out, clearly thick enough to prevent any and all light from pressing through. They were, in other words, not sunglasses but almost more like a mobile blindfold. What little onlookers could see beyond the glasses were able to tell that his eyes were zoned out, unfocused, suggesting some form of blindness or at least limited vision.

"At least, I'm pretty sure you're one of mine... You'd be Mr Uemon, right?"

491 words | Okada Muramasa _

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

hidden far above the sky

---

Suspicion. Wariness. To say it was unexpected would be an outright lie.

All of his time in Tsuchi no Kuni and he had never once set foot in the village proper. Only Kuwana and some of the other towns in the nation. A lack of trust, perhaps. Or maybe just that same caution to be the norm with ninja.

Either way, he did not get defensive because there wasn't any reason to. The wanderer had a perfectly valid reason for coming here and some preliminary checking would prove it true. "Muramasa Ryūzaburō." He responded simply. "A cousin of mine." Ostensibly he was some sort of ninja here. Of what rank he could not possibly know.

It had been... eight years? Since last they saw one another. Back then, they were both still residents of Tetsu no Kuni. Neither of them schooled in the Shinobi Arts. A lot had changed since then. And a lot more yet would.

Fortunately, a kinder ninja interrupted the small visitation dispute. A shaded youth, maybe a few years younger than himself. Intent on covering for him or perhaps just aiding a stranger in need. Uemon decided not to give away the game... instead nodding after a small pause. "That's right." He replied, glancing between him and the guard.

As far he was concerned, the paperwork had been filled out and he'd done his due diligence. Any further dispute would have to be handled later... of which he was sure there was bound to be more. It came with his way of life.

Whenever the inevitable happened he would handle it. Taking a step towards the youth, his dark brown eyes narrowed just a touch. The sunglasses he wore were darker than any he had ever seen. "Interesting." He thought. Why he chose to vouch for him Uemon could not know... but he was most certainly appreciative. "Thank you."

Everything considered it was the least he could offer. "I don't believe we've been formally introduced." He said. And if they were going to converse more... freely, it would be best to do so out of earshot of the guards.

Or their small ruse would surely be exposed. Not the biggest deal in the world as he was in fact legit. But he was content enough to play along for now. Uemon watched and waited. Interested to see what the boy would do next.

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

Slipping away from the main gate, Sho walked passively alongside Uemon, keeping him in close to keep him within his altered field of "vision".

Even without his eyes focusing on the man, his senses were telling him all that he had to know - he could sense the sword on the man's back, his lack of a forehead protector, the way he held himself. He could even feel almost every contour on the man's face, every follicle that fell around his features. A bit too serious and dour for Sho's taste, but he could admit that he was a looker if nothing else.

And there it was, the ever-elusive thank you. Sho's face creased a little, a small polite smile on his features for managing to avoid the conflict that could have arisen.

"You're welcome, think nothing of it. Lady Kizumi wouldn't want any sort of conflict happening, especially not just from a gate guard getting jumpy and wanting to prove their value to the village. I figure I helped both of you out, even if they wouldn't acknowledge it."

Sho spoke simply, his tone earnest and genuine, giving the impression that he genuinely did think this was the sort of help that anyone would give. Even so, there was a sense that this wasn't the first time that this had happened. Sho might still technically be a genin, but he seemed very aware of the politics of the village and just how these things seemed to happen.

"Oh, right, where are my manners..." he mumbled, realizing only after being prompted that he hadn't actually introduced himself. "My name's Shosuke; Doctor Yamamoto Shosuke, but you can just call me Shosuke. Or even Sho if it helps, I'm not exactly one you need to kowtow to. Just your run of the mill genin."

His introduction of himself as a doctor explained the lab-coat, as well as the various bags of medical supply around his person, though it was still rare - the amount of people who didn't just know about medical treatment but could actually be considered a doctor were few and far between in the world that prized strength over nearly anything else.

"So, Mr Uemon, you mentioned wanting to visit a cousin, right? I don't know anything about a Muramasa, so I won't be able to help you there I'm afraid. You got an idea of what he looks like at least? Its possible I might have run past him at some point."

Of course, the irony of using a visual description given his current state was not lost on him, but it might give Uemon some idea as to just how temporary this state of affairs with his eyes really were.

451 words | Okada Muramasa

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

sheltered from the storm

---

It didn't take long before the two of them were off. Away from any overeager guards and with a touch more privacy as they walked. Every so often he glanced over at the youth, curious as to his intentions. Helpful? Or just curious.

Regardless he had smoothed his entry into the village. So that alone earned him a bit of favor. "Kizumi-sama is the... Raikage, I take it?" That sounded right. He was not the most up-to-date on the leadership of Hidden Villages. Or their titles. A nod of his head followed after. "In any case, your help is much appreciated."

Uemon spoke in an almost-formal manner. A habit he had never truly left behind from his homeland. Dark brown eyes scanned their environs as moved. The view was literally breathtaking... though now that he wasn't fighting an incline, he had managed to catch his air. Getting ones bearings in a new land was not always the easiest task. And this one had proven much more perplexing than either Arashi no Kuni or Tsuchi no Kuni. It would take time...

But he was bound to adapt. As the helpful Kumo-nin spoke again, his attention was brought back rough. Gaze settling on his face as he listened. "It's nice to meet you, Shosuke-san." Per usual, he felt as if some level of formality was in order. And would proceed as such unless he really insisted otherwise. Humility was a present surprise, though it did prompt a raised eyebrow. "You can't be that much younger than me... to be a full-fledged doctor at your age is no small feat." He said. It was true. The Kumo-nin may have been easy on the eyes, but it was not as if he were trying to butter him up. It was a genuinely impressive achievement.

One deserving of its due. And besides... he knew a thing or two about being overly-modest. If he could not take his own advice, he could at least encourage others. "Nothing run-of-the-mil about that." Not that he saw at least.

Strength was fine— but Uemon knew better than most that a warrior's most important weapon was their mind.

Ninja or no. As the doctor spoke, the wanderer raised a finger to scratch the side of his face in thought. It did not seem likely he was to find his cousin. "I'm afraid my family doesn't stand out much in a crowd." He admitted, doing his best to recall anything that might help. "Dark hair, dark eyes... he likely carries a high-quality katana but then, that isn't much help in a world where many do." No, unfortunately they were rather run-of-the-mil appearance wise. A Muramasa stood out by the expertise of their work, not necessarily their looks. "Apologies..."

He said, nose wrinkling just a touch as he continued to think. "It's been quite some time since I've seen him... I was only a child, then." Loudmouthed, brash, and with big dreams. A far cry from the soft-spoken young man he grew to be. Still, there was a chance he could still happen across him. Plenty of places to search in the village.

Or he might have been out on a mission? Either way, he was never easily deterred. Gaze finding the doctor's face once more, he stared at his sunglasses. A curiosity that had been eating at him... though tact kept him from asking.

Rudeness, and all. Instead he opted for subtlety. Raising a hand to shield his eyes. "Is it always so bright here?"

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

Pause.

There was a clear moment of surprise where Sho stayed silent for a second, taking in the fact that this guy didn't even know who the Raikage was. He understood the concept of the position, at least, but one would figure that if you were going to travel all the way to a different village you would do the bare basic research of figuring out the leader of the place.

"... Yes." Sho said, after a moment.

"Yes, Lady Kizumi is the Raikage. The hachidaime, to be specific. Though, quick warning; Some of the folks round here are more loyal than others. Try not to let on to others that you didn't know who she was or you might, ya know, get the gate treatment."

Sho himself wasn't bothered, beyond the fact that he found it hard to believe someone was this uninformed about somewhere they were travelling, but there were definitely a couple of zealots in the village who would take offense at such a notion.

Either way, the more Uemon dwelt upon just how impressive it was that Shosuke was a doctor at his young age, the more one could almost physically feel a tension growing. A discomfort about the amount of focus being paid to it as he tried nonetheless to remain friendly and cordial, as if to say that it really wasn't that impressive at all. It was clearly a sore, sensitive subject that he didn't enjoy dwelling on all that much.

Of course, Uemon was right - there was nothing run of the mill about such a feat. How one would manage to be both a genin and a licensed professional in the medical field at the same time seemed at the very least unlikely, if not impossible, at Sho's young age. Indeed, the time it would take alone... well, it raised a couple of questions. A questions that he was clearly not too eager to answer.

Instead, he would rather focus on the problem at hand.

"Dark hair, dark eyes..." Sho murmured, mulling it over in his head for a moment. "Yeah, that's not gonna be a lot of help I'm afraid. Whilst there's a couple of clans around that have bright hair, especially those foxes, dark hair and dark eyes is kinda the norm around here. Probably from all the sunlight..."

Indeed, it was the same sunshine that was clearly having an effect on Uemon. Being on an elevated plane as they were, they got a whole bunch of sunlight. That was why they had to have UV sunglasses on them so much, to ensure that it didn't interfere with their duties as Shinobi.

"Yeah, it's like that almost twenty four seven, all year round. Whilst the sun is up, its gonna be like that. Still though... As to your issue? You said you're a swordsman, right? If so, you might try the commercial district of the village. Anyone with wares to sell would set up their shop around there.

Though I must be honest, I don't know if we do a lot of swords in our village. The sharpest thing I handle on the regular is a scalpel..."

524 words | Okada Muramasa

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

a jaunt through the street

---

At the Kumo-nin's reaction, Uemon raised an eyebrow.

Was it truly that surprising that he did not know who the current Kage was? Of course they lived in the Shinobi World, but most people were not shinobi. Plenty of merchants, craftsmen, and farmers lived entirely separate lives.

Away from their influence— though still very much affected by their many, many squabbles. While more well-read than most, life on the road found him behind-the-times on current affairs. Aside from the gossip of other travelers and whatever he managed to glean from his allies. Simply put, he had other things to worry about than ninja.

Besides... the world was much bigger than Kumogakure no Sato. It was not his duty to keep track of the many comings and goings of elusive feudal lords in shadowy Hidden Villages. They did not concern themselves with him, so he did the same. "Mm." A sound of understanding. Nationalistic fervor... his favorite. The warning was good.

Never did he seek out conflict... but he could not say for certain that he would bite his tongue should the topic come up. Clearly the young man was uncomfortable speaking of his profession. Perhaps it was not simple modesty.

To each their own, he would not press the matter. Uemon could only nod as Shosuke responded to him. It was as he figured. "I see. Not all of us can be so singular." He said. Strange hair and eye colors seemed rather prevalent in many Ninja Clans. Most Tetsu no Kuni families were rather... normal, by comparison. Something did catch his attention though, and so he backtracked. "...did you say foxes?" Odd. He did not mean fox people...

Right? Shosuke continued on, explaining to him a bit about the constant bright light here. It explained the sunglasses at least... but even still, his looked quite a bit darker than should have been necessary. Uemon nodded in response. "Swordsmith, yes. My family are crafstmen by trade." Or they were at least. Once. Not Ryūzaburō though. The famed 'Tetsuryū'. A point of a pride for their family. As a child he was always looking up to him.

It all seemed so long ago now. "The commercial district sounds like a decent place to start." Uemon replied, contemplating the Kumo-nin's words. Not many swords in the village? "In my experience... where there are hands to wield them, there is a need for blades." Proper swords or otherwise. Crafting katana was their specialty... but samurai used other weapons as well. Naginata, jutte, kanabō— everyone had their preferences.

And in a world so often plagued by war... the sale of weapons was always a sure thing. "I'd be content to offer my services during my stay. At least until I manage to track down Ryū." First in Arashi no Kuni, now here.

How quickly he fell back into the old family ways when he needed to. "If you could show me the way there I'd be grateful." A request. Of course he could find it himself... but a guide was always preferable. At least until he got his bearings. If he agreed, Uemon would follow. Taking in the village with his eyes as they moved. Landmarks.

Important places of commerce. Devoting them to memory. Always keeping notes mentally... until he could scribe them down on paper. "Do they sell glasses like yours in this district as well?" He asked after some time.

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

It seemed they were at a genuine impasse.

Both of them were clearly too intrenched in their own world to be able to truly see from the other's viewpoint. For Sho, whilst Uemon was right and there was a lot of world outside of the ninja worlds, the idea of not researching or understanding a location that you visited was a weird concept.

But then his world was one of books and learning, of research and experimentation. He lacked the practical wisdom that came from living as a wanderer as Uemon did.

Even so, even were Uemon not visiting Kizumi's village, the idea of not being aware of those five or six people in the world who could likely end the world if they ever went too hard with their natural talents was a weird concept. Though maybe that was just Sho being a natural worrier and wanting to make sure he didn't step on any concealed landmines.

Though, the man's dislike of nationalistic fervor? Well, that was something Sho understood more than most.

Having attended Iwagakure's most recent Chuunin exams, he had seen first hand just how obsessed some people got when it came to protecting and representing one's nation.

He really shouldn't be the one to speak about it, since he himself had been willing to go above and beyond for the cause, but there was something wrong with just how excitable everyone was for bloodshed of "enemy" villages.

Nobody should have looked that happy when it came to people being mutilated.

"Don't worry about it. There's a bunch of fox people out in the west of the village with very bright hair and big poofy tails. But its tied to some sort of hijutsu or other, so I have no idea how their bodies ended up looking like that.

You know what it's like... it'd be like another craftsman copyrighting his work and you not being able to work out how to make their exact formulation of steel."

The man continued his talk for a moment about the necessity of blades and how there would always be a market for them, but Sho remained quiet. It was only when the man offered his services that Sho spoke again, this time curious.

He couldn't be offering blacksmith work, right? The man didn't have a forge and he doubted any of the local craftsmen would be willing to part with theirs even for a few hours without a suitable bribe. The man didn't exactly seem rich...

"What ARE your skills exactly, if you don't mind me asking? It's not like we're lacking for blacksmiths; our last Raikage before Kizumi was obsessed with marketing and increasing our economy after the Plague so just about every industry has some sort of foothold in the village. Maybe not as well funded as they should be," he murmured, his thoughts momentarily dwelling on the underdevelopment of the medical field within the village ", but they're there. So what've you got?"

The last thing he said, however, made Sho the most uncomfortable yet.

"Uh... these sunglasses aren't for sale. They're... medical." That was the most he would say on the subject, though the topic was clearly far from a comfortable one.

525 words | Okada Muramasa

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

the people here hum and thrive

---

Uemon blinked as the doctor answered his question... then blinked again.

So... Kumogakure no Sato did have fox people. Why not? "I... see." It was a bit strange. But then, he had seen plenty in his travels. A Ninja Clan comprised entirely of wrestlers, the startling modernity of Amegakure no Sato, talking shinobi gorillas. So he simply nodded at his explanation. Or lack thereof, rather. "Yes, of course." He said.

Secrecy was a normal occurrence in their world. Families protective of specific jutsu, willing to spill blood over certain inheritable traits— so the analogy to trade secrets made perfect sense. Shosuke posed another question...

One that made him a bit uncomfortable for a change. "That's a... difficult question." The wanderer admitted, his mouth pursing and moving to the side a bit. As with all of his facial expressions, it was muted. Slight. But his apprehensiveness was there. "You know my trade. Once, I trained in swordplay as a child... but I'm no expert by any means." He carried a blade, even used it when necessary... but it was not his strong suit. No, his expertise lied in other areas. Information that he kept close. "What about yourself?" A flipping of the question. "You're knowledgeable about medicine... do you study much else?" Uemon was curious. And a bit guarded.

Lying never truly sat right with him... but omission? He had no qualms about. "As for smithing..." A pause as he adjusted the sword slung on his shoulder. "Quantity is well and fine, but quality is what truly matters." The words fell softly from his lips. No arrogance in his tone. Smugness, either. The ins and outs of blacksmithing were his roots. In all the world the sole thing he could truly call himself 'skilled' in. "Not to speak ill of Kumogakure smiths, I'm sure they are skilled in their own right. But, well..." He glanced briefly to his sheathed blade.

"All I can say is that I've never had much trouble finding work." In truth, he didn't much like belaboring the point. Too easy to misinterpret as boasting. "There is always plenty to learn... and to teach." He left it at that.

No, he was not here to upset any burgeoning markets, or lay claim to an industry. Simply to find his cousin. Unfortunately that would require some sort of income. Blacksmiths needed assistants. And he had the experience.

Always carrying his qualifications close by, slung around his shoulder. Shosuke spoke again, answering his question about glasses. 'Medical' he said. "Ah, I understand." Impaired sight of some sort. Likely not full-on blindness judging from how well he seemed to get around... but certainly hindering. Uemon paused. And thought.

The beginnings of an idea beginning to form in his head. "Shosuke-san, I'm not one to pry." He began. Glancing to him. "However... I possess another skill that could be of some use to you, specifically." He did.

One that the doctor might need. "I wouldn't want anything in return. It would be freely given." Uemon did not like things being gifted to him. Too often there were hidden strings attached. Expectations to uphold. Implied conditions. Something told him that the young medical-nin might feel the same. So... "You've done a kind turn for me already with that guard. So... we can call it returning a favor, if you'd like." Justification of a sort.

If it was needed. In the end? The decision was his alone to make. "We can discuss it later in a more private setting if you wish." Vagaries made things difficult to agree to, but he was not without his reasons. Something the Kumo-nin might come to discover should he choose to discuss the matter. Later. "But please, do lead on."

To see this commercial district of theirs... and to show the 'application' he carried in a sheath to the first blacksmith that would entertain any notion of him helping out. It didn't have to pay well. So long as he could subsist.

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

Honestly, if Uemon had said that he hadn't meant to insult Kumogakure, Sho wouldn't even have considered what he said an insult. However, the fact that he felt the need to justify that sentence by saying it WASN'T supposed to be offensive ironically made it feel more offensive, like it was a cloaked insult. Maybe Sho was just overthinking things but...

Well, regardless, he shot the other man a rather unimpressed look. "I'm not about to try to steal from you, Mister Uemon. There's no need for you to get this paranoid over a simple question. If you don't want to tell me, that's your prerogative, but I'm just trying to help."

There was a pause there for a second, as if Sho scrutinised the other person for the first time. This guy was kind of a hypocrite, huh? Uncomfortable sharing his own abilities but more than comfortable asking about what Sho was capable of. Not only that, but he was relegating him to just the role of a doctor. Sure, it was his title, but...

"If you must know, Uemon, I'm a shinobi. I'm not exactly going to go on and list everything I know how to do, but suffice to say I make my living working for the village. Sure, I dabble in medicine, but its not like it's the only thing that I have going for me.

Though, I'll admit that I'm not exactly a swordsman or a salesman like yourself. Honestly, maybe if I was I could give you more help with the market, but..."

Ignoring the man's talk about disrupting markets, the thing that drew Shosuke's attention was his discussion of wanting to pay him back. Sho considered informing him that he hadn't done what he had done for Uemon himself but more for Lady Kizumi. After what happened in the Earth Country, he owed her a favour and figured stopping an incident before it happened would go someway to making up for that whole mess.

That said, he was hardly about to turn down an offer of learning some skill or other. Considering his condition, he still had to get stronger, to make up for what he had lost. Plus, maybe it would narrow the gap between himself and Miroru... Perhaps it was selfish to not reject it out of hand, but was it so wrong to be selfish every once in a while?

"Sure, why not?"

With that, Sho turned on his heel and moved to walk him towards the marketplace. It was a fair distance away, and Shosuke could only see a small bit ahead of himself with his developing sight, but fortunately as it moved whilst he did it didn't serve to hamper him too much. He wasn't walking into anything at least, so that was something.

Still, if Uemon was able to read people with any skill whatsoever, he would be able to read the slight lack of confidence in the way that Shosuke walked. It hadn't been too bad earlier cos they hadn't exactly walked very far, but occasionally he would stop and start, readjusting himself as if he was working off of a faulty navigationary system. After all, he was essentially working off of landmarks that his senses could ping just on the edge of his periphery.

"So," Shosuke began, trying to find something to distract from the awkwardness in his gait. ", what caused you to look for this relative of yours? Judging by the fact you don't know the first thing about Kumo, I'm assuming this is the first time you've ever been here? Why now of all times?"

601 words | Muramasa Uemon

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

and bicker... it seems

---

Defensiveness. A shift in tone. Any hint of a smirk faded from his face as he listened to the Kumo-nin.

This was about to be a long day. "...there isn't any 'must know'. I'm just asking you the same." He said flatly, eyeing the doctor with half-narrowed eyes. Did all ninja take this line with outsiders? Or was it bad luck? Who knew.

A small nod followed his explanation. "Fair enough." He began, averting his gaze as they walked. "Just as you 'won't list everything you can do' I'm not going to either. You have your reasons. I have mine." If he was a hypocrite, this boy was quickly proving to be the hypocrite. To ask a question and not expect it to be turned around?

Not to even speak of practicing medicine for an institution that dealt death on a regular basis. Ostensibly this was supposed to be a conversation. Not a lecture. Tinges of annoyance already beginning to grow, he seemed content to let the subject lie. If he were a sigher, he would have. Recalling a similar 'greeting' of sorts in Amegakure no Sato.

Uemon hated samurai... and it seemed his opinions on shinobi were not bound to be improving soon. It mattered little in the end. He did not care. Shosuke was welcome to his obstinacy. Just as he welcome to side-eye him for it.

Half-expecting him to disagree, he was only mildly surprised at the doctor's acceptance. The wanderer nodded.

Teaching was in his near future it seemed... if they could stand to be around each other that long. A prospect that seemed tenuous as Shosuke asked his next question. "..." Uemon went silent. "...I thought I had no social skills."

It was the only thought that entered his mind as his brow furrowed. Was it his face? Something about the way he spoke? Maybe it was just the nature of shinobi to be unflinchingly discourteous without cause. Either way— he was not the one. "Shosuke." A curt word. Dropping all pretense of etiquette. "I've been nothing but respectful so far yet you seem intent on petty rudeness. We can do this passive-aggressive dance if you like but I don't expect you'll enjoy the outcome." He cast a disdainful gaze at the doctor. It had been a long day of travel.

Nerves were frayed, his feet hurt, and he was tired. The last thing he wanted was to sit here and be insulted by some boy in return for basic kindness. "Judging by the fact that you seem to not know anything about the outside world, I'll tell you. Some families scatter. Some, even, become shinobi where they might not have otherwise." There was a bite to his words. Telling of some sort of normally well-hidden anger. Saved for his enemies... and pretentious doctors, it seemed. "I'd heard tell that he may have relocated here. So here I am."

It was a simple and as complicated as that. But he had more to say. "Not everyone has the time or inclination to keep up with your village's goings-on among the many, many others." For someone so allegedly well-read, he was frankly surprised this was even news. "Like the Great Plague that killed a third of your countrymen. Or Kumogakure's conflict with Shimogakure. Or the apparently shockingly short tenures of your Kage."

Uemon may have been a wanderer, but both of his mentors were students of history. Naturally he was too. "The world is much bigger than Kumogakure no Sato. You'd do well to remember that the next time you speak to someone you've just met and know nothing about like a child." No raising of his voice, no making a show of it all— only a cold, even tone. Many things he could abide. Patronization by an abject stranger he he could not.

Frustrations abound, he shook his head. Letting his words hang in the air as his eyes narrowed on the doctor. Part of him wanted to leave. To make his own way through the village and tend to his affairs. But for some reason...

...he stuck around. Doing what he could to control his growing glare. Shosuke seemed to be able to navigate around well enough, though his impaired sight was clear in his gait. Awkward. Stiff. He hoped the doctor was just having an off day and he was not normally this cavalier with everyone. Otherwise he doubted they would get along.

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

As they continued walking, the hair on the back of Shosuke's neck shot up on end as if touching a plasma ball. A lesser known ability of the ritual was an ability to detect heart race and understand emotional responses that went unspoken. As if out of nowhere, he could sense a certain negativity in this new wanderer. Anger, frustration, irritation - safe to say, none of it was good, though unfortunately Sho's abilities didn't go so far as to understand the cause of those emotions.

At least, until he spoke.

After Uemon spat those words at him like an accusation, Shosuke stopped moving. His body language tightened, as if defensive, like a turtle sticking its head within its shell. However, there was also a certain quietude that came from him, as if waiting to see if the other man had finished. When, with enough time, it became clear that he had, he spoke once again.

"Nothing but respectful? You asked about my disability, you made a joke about how 'cool my sunglasses are', you insulted the quality of my village's craftsmanship, what part of any of that is respectful, Uemon?

I get that you're new to town and don't know the social dimensions, but I have been to the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, and spent time with people from the Land of Grass. I may not be as far-roaming as you are, but there is no country where any of those are considered respectful."

Turning, Shosuke "looked" at the man. His tone was quiet but serious, as if on a razor's edge.

"I'm not trying to be rude or petty. I am simply suggesting that when you choose to visit a place, you do some research first. It's the very basic level of courtesy you can show your hosts. I did it when I prepared to go to Iwa, when I went to Konoha, so don't assume I'm just speaking from a pedestal.

Don't assume just because I'm blind that I do not wander like you do. That I've spent my entire life coddled and thinking that Kumo is the entire world." he said, his tone darkening significantly as he spoke.

"I get it, I do. You want to see the world, you're not comfortable sitting in one place for too long. It's a big, wide world out there and there's a whole lot to see whilst you've still got eyes to see it.

But if you presume to lecture someone you don't know about something you don't know anything about? Maybe don't do it when they've gone out of your way to stop you getting jumped."

With that, he turned on his heel once more and took his original heading. It seemed that despite his clear irritation with the other man's discourtesy he still had every intention to help him out.

"If you want to lecture someone else about ignorance? Maybe get your own facts straight first."

491 words | Muramasa Uemon

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

words traded, again

---

And there it was. Hostility that for whatever reason seemed to boiling just beneath the surface. Maybe the boy was having a long day of his own. Perhaps he was just naturally arrogant. In any case, it made no difference.

Uemon listened, his expression flattening as the doctor spoke. "A joke?" He asked. "'Cool'?" A hint of disbelief in his voice. He did not even talk like that. It sounded like something Kota might say. "I asked a question. I'm not sure if you can tell... but I don't really do jokes." An accusation of insults and disrespect. Had he been having a conversation with someone else? The wanderer looked around. "Insult?" Perplexing. If he were one to emote he might have even looked shocked. "Do... you mean the part where I explicitly said that I wasn't speaking bad about your village's smiths?" It was starting to seem more and more like there was a disconnect.

Perhaps the young doctor did not get out much. Or simply did not understand the virtue of not immediately bragging about one's skills. "Not everyone feels the need to boast about their skill, doctor." Just because he did not do comedy did not preclude him from sarcasm. It was almost funny. Being condescended to about arrogance by someone who so obviously thought highly of themselves. Shosuke assured him he had traveled. Uemon did not seem convinced. "And yet you still seem to be missing the forest for the trees." Misconstruing curiosity as 'jokes', hyperfixating on his obvious attempt to skirt around bragging about the quality of his work. Frustrating.

Fortunately, his time with another shinobi prone to picking apart his words and alleged intentions had seen him grow accustomed to just this thing. "Not rude, not petty... pretentious, then?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why assume that I 'don't know the first thing' about your village? Because I don't know the name of the most recent Raikage?" It was ridiculous. Beyond, really. Whoever this person was, they must have been a new appointee. Relatively, speaking.  "This is— ...what? Your fourth Kage in almost as many years?" It was a foolish assertion. "Do you know the name of who presides over Hayashi no Kuni? Sake no Kuni? Tetsu no Kuni?"

No. Which was his point. Yet he still did not assume he was some uneducated boor. Though this conversation was quickly adjusting that opinion. "You weren't 'suggesting' anything, Shosuke. You were assuming much with little information. Taking a jab at me. And you weren't as sly about it as you seem to think." More talk. Of courteusy... of all things. A frown crossed his lips. Was he being serious right now? "Courtesy? Like the kind your guards just offered me?" If he were actually trying to be funny, now would be the time to burst out laughing. "That sort of thing is a two-way road. And from what little I've seen... I don't really think you should be the arbiter of what is and isn't respectful." Tact did not seem to be in his wheelhouse. He went on about not being coddled, of having lived an experienced life. Being confined within a Hidden Village made him question the extent of that... but it was not like he could dispute it. Fully, at least. "Unlike you I try never to assume. Just like I didn't assume you were blind just because you wore dark glasses. Why would I?" Sure, he had a suspicion of something. But it could have just as easily been an injury. Or maybe the brightness here really was that much of an issue. Or he could have been concealing dōjutsu. Which was why he asked in the first place. No matter which way you cut it, it was a giant leap in logic to assume he was making fun. 'Uemon the Comedian'. Clearly. "Oh, and... for someone so allegedly uncoddled you sure are acting that way right now." Petulant. Somehow shocked that someone might not have the same frame of reference as him. Self-aggrandizing before him in real time... 

Taking umbrage with how he spoke. If he were a less patient person this could have easily devolved further... which was his point. "No." He said. "Obviously you don't get it. You know nothing about me." Wanderlust? No desire to sit still? It literally could not be further from the truth. But honestly... he did not feel the need to bother explaining. If anything it was always interesting to see someone's attempt at psychoanalysis. Revealing, in its own way. "..." Uemon fell silent as he paraded his assistance around. 'Stop him getting jumped'? That was interesting.

Did he think this was the first time he had dealt with jumpy gate guards? "I already thanked you for your help. I've done nothing but ask you simple questions. Think what you will, I don't know what else to tell you." It mattered little in the end. This was not the first spat he had gotten into. And it was unlikely to be the last. "You're right, though... one of us is lecturing plenty right now." The wanderer could only shake his head. Unsure if this was simple obstinacy or selective hearing. He did not need to justify himself to anyone. Least of all to some temperamental genin. And yet... "Ignorance? Quite." Somebody was indulging in it. "Are you finished?"

Eyes narrowed on the doctor, still baffled at his allegations. "If this really is some absurd misunderstanding I'm content to move past it... but if you expect me to stand here and be patronized?" He paused. Uemon was no brute. No need for threats or attack. Words were weapon enough. "You can try someone else." Or leave.

Pride was not something he had in spades. But that did not mean he thought so little of himself as to not stand his ground when he was insulted. Or condescended to by some stranger. He would not expect anyone to.

---

[Yamamoto Shosuke]

... What the hell was this guy's problem?

Shosuke was not someone who was particularly prone to violence, he was someone who would rather study a problem than attack it head on. Even so, the more that this guy spoke, the more Shosuke could feel his blood boiling. All of this just from him making a simple travel suggestion? This guy thought that he had the right to talk about Shosuke being arrogant whilst doing all of this? What sort of idiotic hypocrite was he?

Were it not for the fact that Shosuke was facing away from him, and the fact that he was wearing pitch black sunglasses that protected his eyes from the extreme ultraviolet light of Kumogakure's sun, Uemon would be able to see his eye physically twitching as if he had a disconnected ligament. Shosuke's hands, resting in the pockets of his lab-coat, were trembling with growing irritation as this guy just would not shut up about what an asshole Shosuke apparently was for making a simple request.

There was a dark part of Shosuke, a part that he had only been made aware of recently, that wanted to strike Uemon. To turn around and punch him in the face, to knock out his teeth, to send him to the hospital. This sensation, it was the same that he had felt when dealing with the head of the Hyuuga in Konoha. That same almost-feral urge to take out his years of pent up aggression on the man without restraint.

"... Are you done?"

Shosuke's voice was quiet. Unlike Uemon who seemed to be at the edge of yelling, he remained quiet and cold, more like the icy cold of Yukigakure than the fiery heat of the forge.

He needed to vent this frustration or he was going to do something he regretted. He didn't know anything about this guy, this guy could be far stronger than he was, or far weaker, but either way that wasn't going to change his impulses. The intrusive voice that desired violence. No, he had to take control of this, to steer this ship, before it steered directly into the rocks.

No matter how angry this guy was making him, he would not submit. He would not become just as bad as the gate-guard who's first instinct upon seeing a wannin was to turn them away or assault them. So, with some hesitation, he gritted his teeth and took in deep breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Focusing on maintaining his chakra, his qi, before he spoke again.

"Look. Clearly, the two of us know nothing about each other. I made what I thought was a pleasant suggestion and you have clearly read it as some sort of value judgment on your whole deal. Maybe we're both at fault here. 

I don't know, but its pretty damned clear we're both walking on egg-shells. You've travelled far and haven't had a chance to rest, and I only lost my eyes recently so I'm still sensitive about them.

How about before you meet your cousin you go get a drink at one of our local joints. Take some of the load off."

This was a level of self-control that Shosuke was struggling with. He had repressed his emotions for so long that having them bubble to the surface like this was something he found hard to process. This was the best he could do at offering an olive branch. If this too was rebuffed, if he was again insulted and mocked for making an effort? He wasn't going to be able to stop himself.

He was going to punch this guy in the mouth.

611 words | Muramasa Uemon

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus Used: None

[Muramasa Uemon]

tension; rising and falling

---

Despite the clear flaring of tempers, Uemon had not raised his voice at all. He did not yell, laugh, or even smile.

Had not, for quite some years now. Aside from the rare attempt at expressing feeling he had troubles emoting. Instead, his voice was eerily calm even in the midst of argument. As it always had been. Face steeled. Showing little.

Inside of him was a cold fury that lied dormant... but that was saved for his most hated enemies. Who were fortunately far, far away from Kaminari no Kuni. Trading barbs in the street did not require his wrath. Or even his care. Shosuke on the other hand looked to be simmering. Trembling, almost from anger. Understandable.

Perhaps... this had gone too far. Uemon adjusted the sword hanging from his shoulder as he listened. Staring at him with a furrowed brow. Something had been lost in translation here. There was only one grudge worth holding. And it was not this. "Clearly." He spoke in agreement, eyes narrowing slightly as he continued on. "It wasn't as pleasant as you make it out to be..." A muttered word. 'You don't know the first thing about Kumo-' was not a pleasant way to start off a suggestion. But he was tiring of this exchange. If Shosuke too wished to move on from it.. there would be no objection from him. "But you're right. If I gave offense I assure you it wasn't intended. So... my apologies." Uemon was many things, but a bully? Certainly not. It was meant to be a simple question.

Nothing more, nothing less. An offer of a drink caused the slight furrowing of his brow to ease. It had been a long day... and sake would probably help his aching feet. "That sounds... fine, actually." A truce. For now it seemed.

Communication was often difficult and everyone had their own challenges to deal with. Having struggled with emotion himself for so long he understood that better than most. Despite how stunted his own appeared to be at any given time. "Sure. Drinks, then. Perhaps we can put this spat behind us." Tension, tempers, alcohol...

...what could go wrong? Uemon's eyes shifted, to look around for any sign of a watering hole. "Do you have any place in particular in mind?" He asked. Shosuke knew the village better than him. Best to have him lead.

---