[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

Akira understood it. It was a concept that he found himself all to familiar toward. Different reasons for different actions but she seemed to accept her own nature. Akira was sure there was likely to be a side he hadn't yet seen of this stranger.

Now, when it began to heat up from what Akira could tell, she also seemed to sense his anxiousness and also pulled her weapon out. Akira did feel a bit uncomfortable with her being at his back, but it wasn't for naught. After a small amount of time, something did happen.

To both of their sides (his right and her left) one of said travellers would appear from behind a boulder with what looked akin to an ANBU mask. A tracker-nin, if Akira had ever seen one. He couldn't identify their nation though, and there didn't appear to be any headband of sorts to identify them with. He was minimally equipped: from what appeared to be a few weaponry like Kunai and Shuriken on the basis of the size of the pouches on his thighs, but otherwise didn't appear to be much to him. That meant either ninjutsu or taijutsu: none that Akira was too enthralled to deal with.

"Akatsuki, you are to come with us immediately-"

So they were Kyobo, potentially? They were speaking in a language that Akira did not understand, as he had heard from the brief word that Horongai had spoke. But he had clearly made sentences in his baritone voice and Akira certainly couldn't understand them.

"You'll need to back off." Akira would first warn him. He had seen five Shinobi, and he pointed the scythe at the man with the end: blade facing downward.

"We have no quarrel with you, Iwa Shinobi. We're here to apprehend Kyōbo Akatsuki." he spoke in a voice now distinguishable by Akira. "Identify yourself." Akira would say. They were operating in the land of stone, so most shinobi wouldn't have had jurisdiction there. "We are from the Tsuchi no Kuni branch. We have to apprehend Kyōbo Akatsuki. Please step aside." the man's aura began to change as well, like Horongai had as well. Though Akira couldn't see it, he also assumed there was likely to be a red eye as well.

Akira's scythe would lower slightly. "Why?" he was starting to be caught in a moral conundrum now. "That, I cannot say." the man responded. To them, secrecy was of the utmost importance and no Iwagakure Shinobi: no matter how good their relations, would change that.

'Shit.' Akira saw her reasons, but then again, he didn't want to damage the relationship with the Kyobo. He didn't know this woman, but she had her reasons for her mission. Akira wasn't aware of the full situation. "If you want me to move, you'll have to give me a better reason to acquire Akatsuki."

It did, unfortunately mean, if it was bad enough, Akira would actually step away and allow her to fend for herself: and the best he could do would be to not fight against her as well. But he hoped for her sake what she'd done was negligible, if anything.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

Akatsuki watched as a shinobi moved out of hiding and into sight, and her suspicions were confirmed true. It was, after all, a tracker ninja. Damn, Akatsuki thought to herself, glaring. There was only one that Akatsuki could see, but Akira said there'd been more previously headed their way--so she doubted it was just one. It seemed a little overkill to have so many people coming after her, but she knew the Kyōbō didn't mess around when it came to their security, so she wasn't surprised.
    The tracker nin spoke to Akatsuki directly, and though she already recognized the masks and style of clothing, it was only further confirmed to her. Kyōbō. Without a shadow of a doubt. He spoke with an air of authority, and had a serious tone to his voice.
    But Akatsuki didn't care much for authority, and she stood her ground. Her expression grew serious, and she shook he head. "No, I will not be coming with you," she retorted. She knew what would happen if she did.
    If she was lucky, they'd throw her in prison, where she'd stay for the rest of her miserable life.
    She wasn't going to go back with them. They'd have to drag her back by force or kill her before she ever returned willingly.
    Akira, surprisingly, spoke to defend her, and Akatsuki felt a twist in her heart. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. These weren't just bandits or enemy shinobi wanting to spill some blood for the fun of it.
    But soon enough, they explained the situation to Akira. At least, the fact that they weren't here for him and didn't have any intention to fight him. There was no need, after all. He wasn't their enemy. Akatsuki was.
    "This isn't your concern, Iwagakure shinobi. This is a Kyōbō affair. She is a criminal, and a threat to the security of our village, step aside," the tracker warned once again.
    Akatsuki didn't move from where she stood with her back facing Akira's. She was almost certain things were about to get messy, and though she usually would prefer not to keep her back open and unguarded... Sighing, she spoke up again, though, softer this time. "Akira-san. Step away. This isn't your fight. They don't want to hurt you." There was no point in him getting injured when there was no need for him to. He wasn't their enemy, he had nothing to do with this, it wasn't his problem. It would only cause problems for him if he were to get involved, not to mention the risk of being injured. Turning her attention back to the tracker ninja, she said, "I don't want to fight you, either. But if you don't back down I will cut you down.."
    She knew what she'd done, and she was guilty of what the man said. In the eyes of the Kyōbō, she was a criminal, she was an enemy, and if she couldn't be taken back, she had to be taken down. But she wasn't afraid. She knew of this when she left the village. She knew the risks, and what she was searching for was worth it. She wasn't going to back down. Carefully, she changed her stance and inhaled deeply, changing the control on her breathing as she prepared herself. Still, until she heard their response, she would not take the initiative.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Chinkonka no iki | 鎮魂歌の息 [Requiem's Breath]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low - Very High
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: None.
DESCRIPTION:
A special breathing technique that is the foundation of all the moves, if one wishes to go beyond toying with it. By inhaling deeply, the user prepares the muscles for a quick and strong succession of moves, that will double the strength behind each blow.

This technique works for five moves in total, be them combinations of two strikes or single ones. After those strikes, the user needs half a minute (one RP round) before striking again with the help of Requiem's Breath.

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

"Five of them. No idea about specialisations." Akira would ask, hoping the woman would be able to fill him in on the details although he also realised that it would also cause the woman to have to leak information about herself as well. He knew about the aura, but how that would be effective would be an odd thought for him. Would they be like his own chakra cloak?

Akira wasn't convinced just yet. She spoke back to them and so Akira would be stuck with the situation of what they were talking about, whether backstabbing him, or more about her own crimes or whatever - the tone itself was not a positive one.

The tracker was a bit concerning for him, but he wouldn't see it to be anything more than it was: they wanted to apprehend the woman. The man's tone indicated he wasn't talking about Iwagakure no sato. "Your village does not concern mine. If you can't provide a valid reason, I will not step aside." Akira would respond coldly, it was perhaps an inconsiderate thing to say.

They could've said that Akira was a criminal, there was nothing to substantiate that claim either. Akira was not a green shinobi, he could handle himself well enough so he thought. The man withdrew a one handed hammer, and his aura would surround it. 'That doesn't look positive.' Akira thought as he observed the change. "You're willing to damage relations with the Kyobo clan over Iwagakure?" The man spoke coldly, perhaps thinking that would be enough for him to step back.

"They don't, I'm sure." Akira would mumble to her. "You're willing to damage relations with Iwagakure?" The same thing would silence the man in return. It could definitely go one of two ways, they were hesitant to engage, their mission was one thing. "I am Satori Akira of the Five Tails, Jinchūriki of Iwagakure no Sato, and I swear I'll rip you limb from limb if you come near me." Akira would point his scythe one again. "That goes for you and your four other cronies." he would let them know that he knew about them as well.

Would they rise to the challenge or back off?

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

Five? A concerning number. That was certainly more than last time. Akatsuki continued to hold her ground, and though she managed to keep a calm expression--barely--she couldn't deny it was a frightening number of shinobi to go against one person. They were likely well-trained, too. Not your genin pushovers. Akatsuki was strong, and she knew she was, but if she was rushed by five warriors simultaneously, she wasn't entirely sure how long she'd be able to keep up.
    There was a chance.
    A slim one, but a possible one.
    Especially if they relied heavily on the Kyōbō clan's jutsu.
    They possessed deadly abilities, but Akatsuki had fought with such powers, once, some time ago. She knew the weaknesses, she knew the counters. With the blessing of her God and the companionship of her weapon, she might just stand a chance. It would likely be a bloody battle, and she'd probably only get out by the skin of her teeth, but there was hope.
    Still, Akira's words took the woman completely by surprise.
    He wasn't going to back down.
    Even after she'd told him to leave. Why? This wasn't his fight--and what the tracker said was true! She was a criminal, she was a threat to them. She'd broken their society's number one rule--and it was held to a higher degree than murder. Even if she held no regrets for seeking out her brother, she knew she was in the wrong.
    Hell, if she hadn't broken their law, Yami wouldn't have been taken in the first place.
    It was her fault.
    She had done a seriously bad thing, and there'd been steep consequences.
    Why was Akira defending her? Perhaps they weren't supplying him with a "valid reason" why they were tracking her down, but wasn't the fact she was a criminal valid enough? And as the tracker spoke once more, Akatsuki only realized just how high the stakes were for him, too. Akira would be damaging the relationship between the Tsuchi Kyōbō and Iwagakure by defending her--which was a serious political decision. It didn't make sense. Why wouldn't he step aside?? Akatsuki opened her mouth to say something--to tell Akira to back down, not to jeopardize his own safety and the relationship between the two villages, that it wasn't worth it--but before she could, he gave his own veiled threat.
    Jinchūriki?
    She didn't know what that was, but the tracker seemed to. And it seemed to be a big deal, because he retracted his protective aura.
    This does complicate things. If he were just any shinobi, it would still be risky for our political relationship to take him on--but at the end of the day he was warned and defended a wanted criminal, so it was his own doing. Suicide. It wouldn't be our fault. But to attack the Jinchūriki of Iwagakure? It doesn't matter how much he was asking for the trouble, fighting him would be declaring war against the hidden village. It's crucial we bring Akatsuki back to the settlement, but not at such a steep cost, the tracker evaluated. He raised a hand, signaling to the others who were in hiding before he spoke. "Very well. We will disengage, Jinchūriki." He turned his attention to Akatsuki, uttering one last warning.
    A threat.
    "But he won't be around forever. This is not the last you'll see of us, Akatsuki," he promised.
    And, just like that, he was gone.
    Akatsuki hadn't seen the other four to begin with, but she trusted his words. They surely were gone, too. At least for the time being.
    She frowned at the thought. This was bad. The woman sheathed her sword, and though she knew the tension was eased briefly for the time being, this was just the beginning for her. It was a victory, but it would be short-lived. A moment would pass before she poke up again. "Akira-san... Why? I don't understand. They would not have hurt you." She didn't sound angry or frustrated, though her tone was still serious as it had been before, but more... confused. "And I am what they say. I'm a criminal. So... why...?" She turned and looked up at him, concern displayed on her features. It didn't make sense at all.

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

Akira was expecting the worst, but was pleasantly surprised when the man's auric shell would disappear from him. 'That's definitely a thing.' Akira would think to himself, noting it on the unlikely chance he'd ever meet a Kyobo again after today.

He would shrug, beginning to sheath his weapon away slowly. "What do you mean?" Akira would ask. There were a few answers to that question. Why had they backed off? Why did he get involved? Akira was guessing for the latter. But she'd admitted that she was actually a criminal. He frowned.

"How was I supposed to know?" Akira would ask. Well, five tracker/hunter-nin showing up would be indicative itself he'd relented, but that itself was not the damning evidence. "Let's say I'm innocent, but you say I'm not. Where's the proof? I'm supposed to take their side because there's 5 of them?" Akira would pose a question with her for good reason. He had no reason to believe that she was a criminal yet. Well, she'd now admitted it.

Akira would sigh, crossing his arms after he'd now sheathed his weapon. "What did you do?" Akira would ask her. Just because he'd stood up for her once didn't mean it would happen a second time.

Akira kept his wits about him as he kept a hand on his trench knife, walking a bit slower and more tentatively as he walked through the road, as long as they'd left and would continue to stay gone then he'd not have his own problem, and he wouldn't make it her problem either. It wouldn't surprise him if they'd now simply kept a tail until Akira would pass on without her, and then they'd pounce.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

Akatsuki frowned at his question. How was he supposed to know?? "There were a bunch of hunting nin! And they were looking for me! You were still standing up for me--but even I told you to leave! Because I know what's going on doesn't have anything to do with you and I don't want you involved! And you and them are supposed to be allies, so if they're after me it must be a good reason, right? Doesn't that make it obvious I'm the bad guy here??" She sighed, returning her pace to his side. Calmer, she added, "Just because there's more of them doesn't mean they're right, but they were making it clear they didn't want to hurt you, so I don't understand why you didn't just walk away. There was no reason for you to fight them..."
    She didn't understand.
    It didn't, at all, make sense to her. Akatsuki was a stranger, they weren't friends or family so he had no reason to stand by her side. And against Kyōbō tracker ninjas, too. Iwagakure and the Kyōbō Settlement weren't enemies--they weren't exactly allies, but they certainly weren't enemies. It didn't make sense for him to side with her when there was no clear reason for him to. Even if he didn't want to take their side and fight her alongside them, it didn't make sense for him to be threatening them, himself.
    Akira next asked what her crime had been, and Akatsuki felt a heaviness in her chest. He deserved to know, right? She didn't normally tell people, but how could she not after everything that just happened? It would feel wrong. "I--" she started, looking around as they walked, one hand gripped to her chest near her locket. "I left the settlement."
    That was it, really.
    She hadn't killed anyone. Hadn't stolen anything.
    She'd just... left.
    "I-I'm very sorry Akira-san, I didn't think--I didn't mean for you to get involved," she said. "Normally they wait 'till I'm alone, I don't know why--" Akatsuki bit her lip and bowed her head. She'd just wanted to spend time with Akira, offer him some company, and maybe give him a good memory. She just wanted to talk, thinking maybe he could get rid of some of the weight on his own chest, and after that they'd part ways and never see each other again. She hadn't intended for all of... this to happen. "This is bad..."

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

She made it sound like that she was important to his life. She seemed to be trying very hard to make herself out to be the bad guy. Akira had been down that road as well, it was generally out of regret but everybody had their own motivators. But he would shrug. No matter her reaosns, Akira had his own snap decisions as well. "I didn't know that you were a criminal." He repeated himself. They had been adamant as to not provide any further information that he had to make a decision based on the information that he currently had. He didn't feel sorry for that.

Akira looked confused at the response. She'd... left?

"You left? That's it?" Her situation reminded her of Himishi Ai. One of his students. Unable to truly leave. "And you're not leaving out any details? Am I missing out on a culture thing or something, or are you not telling me the full truth?" There were clans in Iwagakure no Sato and they'd had their own rules, like Ai had mentioned to always keep reporting to the Himishi compound: he wouldn't be able to fully understand as a non-clan, but that was all it seemed to be about nowadays, and one of the great political rivalries born from one's bloodline.

They had now finally come out of the rocky centric path and were now back on a regular stony path with dirt and trees once more- but another could be seen in the distance. This would likely continue for a while longer, but they weren't the worst distance away, not with their pacing and all.

He briefly thought of Yoko, wondering if she'd found her destination fine. "Chill. They won't attack while I'm around, so that buys you some time." There was a bit of arrogance, and yet Akira didn't sound like he was joking when he said it.

"I can probably buy you a few hours when it comes to part ways." Akira would decide on a simple enough mission that he could do while he was performing his own. He was sure that he had some jutsu in his arsenal that would aid her on her journey onward. He was lost in his own way, but that was fine, too.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

"Of course you didn't know, but shouldn't it have been obvious when they showed up what I am?" Hunter nin didn't usually just stop to say hi or bully strangers into handing over their lunch money. At least, Akatsuki was fairly certain that wasn't the case. But she'd run in with different tracker nin before, so perhaps she was only speaking from her own experience. Tracker nin meant they were hunting down a wanted criminal, if Akira wasn't the criminal, then obviously it was Akatsuki. It seemed that simple to her. Which is why his behavior had seemed so... strange.
    Akatsuki nodded. "Yes. That's it." Still, he didn't seem... all that convinced. But, he quickly guessed it. "It is a culture thing. Leaving the settlement is--it's worse than killing someone," she stated, frowning. "It's a very big deal. That is the whole truth."
    Wasn't Iwagakure the same way? Wasn't it illegal to just... leave the village? Wouldn't they consider you a nukenin, a dangerous threat that needed to be eliminated, too? Or was that just a Kyōbō thing?
    "Mmh... Yeah..." Akatsuki mumbled. It was true that he was buying her some time. Not that it made any difference. One hour or five minutes, they'd still found her, regardless. And the result was going to be the same. There'd be a fight. Either she'd win or she'd die trying. Now that they'd found her, there wasn't much she could do to run away and hide--at least, not until she knew she was safely out from under their watch.
    Which, knowing her community, would only happen after she'd successfully vanquished them in a match.
    Though, the suggestion of buying her a few hours after they parted ways caught her surprise. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? But--when we split up there's nothing you can do. You'll be gone." She frowned. "Which is okay, you know." A pause. "I know how to fight them. And I am strong." Maybe not taking on five shinobi at once kind of strong, but nobody needed to know that.

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

Again, he shrugged. There was a lot of the 'not my problem' situation going on. It wasn't Akira's problem to care, but they were interfering with him, and inconveniencing him - but he had some moral duty to uphold at the same time. He was in it now for better or worse.

Similar rules existed in Shinobi villages, but Akira wasn't aware of the exact difference between his village and Akatsuki's own. Perhaps a likely guess was to keep their special techniques and bodies alive, they valued secrecy. They were just every other clan situated elsewhere instead of in a ninja village.

He was surprised to hear Akatsuki's version of how seriously they took leaving. It was treated seriously in any shinobi village, but hey - people had different versions and tastes. His hands would wave around as he spoke. "If you say so." If leaving was the only thing - she'd not harmed anyone else, she hadn't gave secrets or the whole lot: then what issue was created from a clan that could up and move themselves on their own record?

"That sounds like before we'd met, to my understanding you hadn't crumbled before my eyes, nor will you do so after." Akira was talking about buying her a few hours, not giving her the world and sky. He didn't want to directly say it, but he would give her a glimpse. "I have my ways." Akira would tap at his weapon. He didn't want to make it sound like he was a full out Genjutsu user, but he knew a way to buy her time, it would happen when it happened.

Akira didn't want to say but he wanted to tell her not to minimize the potential capability of five ninja. There were quite a few of them to say the least, unless they were out for multiple people: just for Akatsuki? It potentially warranted it. "So what's the big deal with the Kyobo, anyways?"

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

Akatsuki nodded, slowly. She understood what he was saying, at least, she thought she did. And although she knew she was strong, she knew she had limits. She wasn't unstoppable. She was human. Eventually, Akatsuki wouldn't be able to keep up. They'd get stronger, or there'd be too many. Her only hope would be that she'd continue to get stronger, herself, and continue to grow and pose more and more of a challenge each time instead of less of one.
    But she would not correct Akira.
    His words were good, and she was able to find hope in them. She would not dissuade such. "I will not crumble," she promised quietly, to herself.
    She didn't understand what ways Akira "had" that would make any difference. There was nothing she knew of that came to mind, but she also did not know him or his capabilities. He fought with a scythe of sorts, so what? That didn't tell her anything. But it didn't matter to her, either. She somewhat doubted that anything he did would make any difference, but at the end of the day, she didn't need it to.
    Akatsuki had always relied on herself before, and she was prepared to do so now.
    If there was any substance to his plan, she would accept the assistance. But she would not depend on it, and as they walked, she began to strategize her own plans, herself. He could keep his secrets, it didn't matter.
    The woman raised an eyebrow at his next question. What was the big deal with the Kyōbō, anyway? "I don't understand." What did he mean? Why did they care so much that she left? Or was he asking about something different--their culture and history, or even their powers? It was a vague question and Akatsuki wasn't quite willing to spill out everything she knew to this man. She'd already kept things relatively vague before.

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

"A good nindo, in fact..." Akira would stop for a second, staring at her and then out to their surroundings. He'd not had a nindo himself for the longest time, but he hadn't felt like his life had anything to stand by. If anything, it made sense. Through the hardships and the things that had happened, Akira had not fell. He did not crumble. 'The start of a new nindo, perhaps...' Akira would level with himself as he walked, but kept his attention on the woman as well.

She didn't need his help, then that would be fine. But if she felt she could take on 5 Shinobi by herself, then so be it. Akira knew that he could, but then even so he also knew that if he died, his ethereal form would take care of them and then every other living thing in the area as Kokuo fled. "I mean, why haven't the Kyobo integrated with the village? What makes you guys so different? I'd like to think we're accepting of them, even with the problems we have." Akira would explain. There had always been a large divide between the clan and non clan sectors of Iwagakure no Sato, though it was no longer a violent occurence it was just a behind-the-scenes issue that people spoke about behind closed doors.

But his question was on the basis of what made them different. The aura? That was something he didn't expect she would tell him, and even despite wanting an answer himself. What he wanted and what he would get would be different.

"We're still about an hour out." Akira would give her an idea of how long it would take, and if they decided to part immediately: then she had an hour before needing her own plan, because Akira looked behind him and he thought he could see them still - watching and waiting for the Jinchuuriki to pass. She seemed reserved and even Akira would've thought why she hadn't questioned why they'd backed off from him specifically. Obviously it was due to being the Jinchuuriki, but he was well known enough, so he thought.

Another sweeping right, and what would give them some distance and disguise from the environment. "I can make a few clones, have them look like you and then send them off into the wild. You can escape through that." Akira would explain. He'd taken the idea from one one of his missions a while ago when someone had tried doing the same thing, until he'd been found out. But Akira wouldn't wait and make a show of it, he would just have his clones run far and wide.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

"Nindo?" A curious thing. What was that? If she had to guess by the context of what her statement had been, it was a belief or way of life, perhaps. She hummed a little, then gave a small nod in agreement. If that's what a nindo was, then it was a good nindo indeed. Perhaps it was not her nindo, per se, but it was certainly a belief she carried, and a way of life that she tried to life truly to. To rise above all that came against her, defy fate and resist even nature if need be. No matter what, she would not break, she would not crumble. "You can fall, but so long as you get up again you will never be broken. Stumble seven times, rise eight, as they say."
    No matter what, she would always get back up again.
    She glanced up at Akira, and then with a serious tone of voice, told him, "You must never give up, Akira-san. Life will always give you new challenges, each worse than the last. But you must never lose sight of who you are, and hold onto your goals. That way, even if you fall, your hopes and dreams will give you the courage to stand up again." She looked back to the road splayed out before them, and fell silent after her short message.
    Akatsuki didn't look at him when he elaborated his intent, however. But she gained a clearer image of what he'd wanted to understand.
    The Kyōbō race was a mystery to him, he didn't know why they behaved the way they did. Why they isolated themselves when they could have joined Iwagakure. He thought they were accepting of the clan.
    "No." He was wrong. But, of course, it couldn't be helped. He knew nothing of the clan, so although his claim meant well, it was born from ignorance. "We are a cursed people, or so Legend says. The Kyōbō do not get along with people, and history has shown only violence and tragedy where the Kyōbō have tried to blend in. Our views, our nature, and our way of life conflicts with most people, and that is why they keep to themselves. They are not a trusting people, and they value their individuality above all else. By nature, we isolate ourselves, and though the Tsuchi community does have some outsiders, they are the minority."
    Even her sensei at the dojo, back when she still lived in the settlement, had not shared her blood. It was how the branch had started off. A few Kyōbō, and a few nukenin who had banded together and created a community of their own. It was a Kyōbō community, and now they were the majority of the population, but that didn't erase their origin. There were still several non-Kyōbō citizens and shinobi, albeit less in numbers. And they were welcomed and accepted as any other member in the community, because although different, they were few who were able to cooperate, understand, and work alongside the Kyōbō.
    "That is why leaving the settlement is such a serious threat--it endangers the entire community, our whole settlement, our safety, our security, and our secrecy. I used to think it was a stupid law when I was a child, but I understand now why it's important. You think you all would be accepting of them, but that is because you don't know them. You would quickly change your mind, just like the rest of the world." She paused, for a moment, dwelling on the thought. "I have seen how the world view other Kyōbō who are from different sectors--and it is not with kindness or joy. We are outcasts and it is best that we stay that way."
    It was why she so tried to hide herself from them. From the world. She was scared, ashamed, and embarrassed. She didn't want to be seen as a freak, or as some evil monster. She didn't like that she was a Kyōbō, and though she couldn't change her nature, she still tried to change how the world saw her.
    But that was a whole other package.
    "Eh? You can??" she questioned, looking at him with surprise. He could make clones that looked like her? Akatsuki thought he could only make duplicates of himself. "That's amazing!" And it just might work.
    Might.

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

"A statement to live by." That was the easiest way he could define a nindo, but he wasn't the best person to ask about it.

He had a lot to think about when Akatsuki decided to play a spiritual role for him, apparently. He would look at her once, and then the road. The road was still long and winding. "Fall seven times, rise up eight." They'd perhaps heard different versions of the same story.

Akira felt a bit antagonistic toward the answer: he had determination, he had discipline. Where motivation failed, discipline kept him in line, which was why he was in his position now. It's how and why he would continue to grow. But the Kyobo were turning out to be a special people. Unfortunately, he understood all too well how superstition and tradition wracked through their collective people.

"Right." It was a good history lesson that he was beginning to learn. Something he'd never really taken the time to do back at home. She was right, though. The Tsuchi no Kuni village was small: Akira had never been there himself but he'd known most of the geographical locations by importance.

"Is it because of the purple aura you guys seem to have? It tied in with rage quite clearly, so I've seen." He again, was referencing to the other boy. The child, so easily enthralled and clouded by his anger (and Akira was the same). It was again another question that he had because he was curious by the surprise. She'd... seen ninja before, right?

Were they now even on the same level? "Have you not had any ninjutsu training? At all?" Akira was only thinking about using the most basic academy technique, the henge technique. A technique that was in his repertoire from the earliest age. If the Kyobo hadn't joined the village or any other for that matter, he supposed they wouldn't.

Military villages were across the world, he assumed. People had training - but perhaps those who didn't cover under the shadows they portrayed wouldn't gain the same benefits as the rest. A shame, he supposed. But again, they were such simple techniques.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫

[Akatsuki]

❊ even though our ❊ destinies are connected

they never should have intersected

Did it have to do with the aura? "Maybe," Akatsuki admitted. "Our powers are definitely related to anger. You cannot unlock them without that intense rage, and sometimes bloodlust," the woman explained. "With enough training you can summon forth those powers at will, but usually they are triggered by serious feelings." She paused. "But other people can do things with their chakra and aren't hated for it--they are praised instead. So maybe our power has to do with it. But I believe it's more our culture, our history, and how we behave that makes people hate us. And I don't blame them."
    Akira seemed perplexed at her ignorance, this time. Ninjutsu training??
    She knew what ninjutsu was. She'd fought against shinobi, before.
    But she didn't know the extent of it all. She didn't know every technique, every ability. When he'd made his clones, they looked just like him--and they were clones of him. He had made them. If she made clones, they would probably have looked like her--right? So for him to be able to make clones that looked like Akatsuki, instead? It was a new an impressive thought, in her mind.
    And it wasn't that she'd never used ninjutsu, before.
    She'd awakened her powers once--when she was young.
    When she fought the nukenin who took her brother.
    But...
    "I'm not a ninja," Akatsuki said plainly. "I know of some ninja arts, but I was raised in a dojo." She turned her head to the side, slightly, looking at the nature that surrounded them. "The man who took me in after I left the settlement was a ninja from Kusagakure, but he did not teach me the shinobi arts. He taught me the way of the sword, and the way of the Yōkai. I don't need ninjutsu, I only need my strength, my companion, and my hope. I live by the sword, and I will die by it."

WORDS: XXX TAGS: @tag Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only Violet Text - Common Language

XOXO SHIN OF GS + THQ

[Deleted]

[googlefont=Fira+Sans|Playfair+Display]

PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT,

He was learning more and more. Maybe he'd been charming enough to slide it out of her mouth or she'd just offered it up to him but it pretty much confirmed what he'd been thinking. "And those guys were intent on bringing you back?" He was just giving contextual confirmation of his thoughts about the situation that happened.

He felt a bit sorry for her because it was absolutely true. People could simply be born in a different family and be praised for it, be born with an ability and be praised for it: depending on how those abilities were viewed made all the difference irrespective on whether those abilities could bring good to the world or to other people. A harsh reality. 'So a combination of the abilities plus the background.' It was more to think about, he'd have to try read anything he could about it but would be exceptionally unfruitful. After all: The Tsuchi no Kuni branch were secretive, and they were good at it.

"It also explains the boy." Akira would also nod, the one he'd encountered. In either sense of the word his suspicions were confirmed when Akatsuki confirmed her lack of training as a Shinobi. So she was simply skilled at the sword?

Akira would shake his head, his confusion becoming audible. "Ahh?" his eyebrows furrowing as he looked over at her. "Okay, I'm getting lost. The way of the Yōkai?" Akira was knowledgeable enough that that could've meant any number of things. A technique? A fighting style? A way of monsters? He didn't know.

He hadn't missed the mention of Kusagakure at all. In fact, he was actively not mentioning it. They were an enemy nation, only it was one which he'd actively done missions that would weaken them. But it made his situation with her more difficult. As long as she didn't become his problem, there wouldn't be. If she was a Kyobo, even he understood her association with Kusagakure would be loose.

But that didn't mean she wasn't useful now. She would have to watch her step.

AND MINE IS THE FURY

dandy ♫