In a few hours, the young prince had managed to find slumber within his sister's embrace, the older royal having joined him as they slept on the couch. Though as another knock came, the girl would allow a single eye to open, looking toward the door with a calm expression. Considering the time, it was possible that a situation had come about, and she was the village Commander. Carrying the boy in her arms, she'd make her way to the door to see yet another messenger.
"You guys are busy tonight..."
"I apologize Lady Oonakayama, but there was some matter involving odd behavior from a Genin a few hours ago. You asked that there be caution in movement at night due to the recent rise in sandworm activity..."
Reaching for the scroll, she looked over the report with a serious expression.
"The guards reported her training briefly outside the village, but then reported her movements moving toward the outskirts...."
Narrowing her eyes, Arashi would release a breath before then looking to the side of her as she held a calm expression. She had a feeling she knew who it was, but the report had more than cleared up any possible confusion. Still, it made little sense for what the kunochi was doing as of late, and she had done well enough to provide for herself. She was her friend, but she also knew that the young woman had been searching for something. Internal or not, it still didn't help in her being concerned.
"It's possible that she may be planning to leave the village with sensitive information..."
"I didn't ask that..."
"Yes...I apologize ma'am..."
Arashi would hand the scroll back, her eyes remaining on the man as she nodded.
"Right...take this back to the Kage Manor...I'll deal with it..."
"If I might say...would it be a bad thing for her to leave?"
Arashi would say nothing as she shut the door, looking back at Takefusa before moving away from the door.
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Moment MusicMoving through the village was never an issue for Arashi. The rooftops, dangerous as they could be for a child, were far easier for a trained shinobi. As she arrived at Bakura's apartment, she checked inside the building as she took in the sight of the woman's belongings.
How many years had it been since the former Bodyguard had disappeared into the desert? It seemed as if the years were endless, but the fact that she had been such an important part of the village made the time seem less. Still, it didn't change the fact that she had been gone for so long. She even remembered the day she left, mostly because like Miori, the woman had been like family. Though the one to take her departure the hardest had to be Miori.
Kneeling down, she'd allow the scent of the room to fill her nostrils, taking note of the aroma of musk and iron around her. Miori hadn't been here in some time, yet the place had been paid for by the Genin. Which begged the question, just who was she saving this place for?
Closing her eyes, she'd rise up before then placing her hand on the woman's bladed weapon, noting the dust as she rubbed it between her fingers.
"Look after each other....shit..."
Miori was a friend, a sister, and she had promised that they'd be there for each other. But as the years had gone by, the woman had become more and more distant. Almost to the point where she was near a stranger to her. Such, her actions of being isolated in the Outskirts had been strange. Especially since she had a home in the village. Maybe the memories were too much...or she had yet to accept the fact that Bakura wasn't coming back.
There was only one other place the woman would go...and it was clear that if she was going to find her and figure out just what she was doing, she'd have to return to Team 3's tower.
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The trip itself wasn't difficult, she knew the way well enough. As she moved through the outskirts, looking down from her sand platform, she saw the ruined buildings and the partial repairs being done to the area. It was a slow process, but soon enough the outskirts wouldn't be so much of a wasteland any longer. People there would have somewhat of a better living situation than before, but the years of agony were likely not to vanish overnight.
This had been her playground for years when she left home, her safe haven. The people there weren't always friendly, but it still was safer than being at home during that time.
It was where she met Miori, the girl who managed to skip an academy trip and one in which she had felt so unwelcome that she skipped as well. It was the place where she began to get to know Zakku and the three of them would hang out from time to time when she allowed herself to be open to such things.
Arashi hadn't always been social, but that was a barrier that changed. Still, the place in which Team 3 often collected themselves was an old tower. It had lasted so long that it seemed impossible for it to be taken down.
Landing at the entrance, she saw the old brick and stone, the faded lettering along the side of the door from effort placed in removing it, She walked inside and ducked her head beneath one of the leaning pillars. Ascending the stone steps, she'd move into one of the rooms, seeing a collection of objects and items that had seen better days. She'd note Zakku's old book collection, spare parts and pieces from Miori's tinkering, even Nezumi's old gear piled into corners spread out all over.
It was almost like a shrine of sorts to better times. Or at least, a different part of life in general. Oddly enough, she never left anything of hers here. Of course, she never really thought of herself as part of their group, even though they welcomed her. So it was strange when she found what looked to be an old device in a corner. Making her way to it, she'd make out the design quickly. It was a tool used by a former circus performer she had encountered years ago, his ego thinking he could replicate Sand techniques to perform tricks. He had been a criminal, but the trophy had been kept at least. Likely by Zakku.
A small piece of her had been left here...
As a smirk crossed her lips, Arashi made her way out of the room, a familiar odor catching her as she moved down the hall to a more empty area of the tower.
That was where she found Miori...
The room was bare, with nothing more than a dirty mattress and a couple of blankets. As she'd see the form of the woman lying there, she'd look toward the window to see the high moon overhead, then back down toward her frame as she was covered over by the sheet of cloth, shielding her from the chill of the desert.
Arashi prepared to say something, but as she leaned at the entrance, she'd stop herself. Perhaps, this was what she wanted. It wasn't healthy, but Arashi certainly couldn't speak to mental health. If anything, Miori had been more of a soundboard for such things. Which made her feel even worse for having slowly lost that connection with her. It also led to a lot of regret.
In hearing faint laughter of days long past, she'd close her eyes before then preparing to make her way back down the stairs and out of the tower. She wasn't doing anything, and nothing around her showed signs of ill intent. Not that she suspected her of it.
-S.A Used-
Will of Sand
Will of Sand- Adding the element of her own chakra into the mixture of sand, Arashi is capable of faster and stronger sand manipulation and attacks. The extent of this control is due to the supply gathered within her gourd, granting the bonus of power, but limited to only the amount contained within it. This ability makes her constructions more dense and harder to break down, and the swiftness of their creation is instant rather than requiring the prior time of build-up as before due to the strengthened bond between Arashi and Shukaku.
Ultimate Defense
A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike.
Sand Control
Arashi is granted two forms of defense by the Ichibi. The first one is a subconscious ability granted by the Bijuu is that there is constantly a barrier of sand clinging to Arashi’s skin. This barrier acts as a shield against her skin, absorbing heavy blows and protecting her. Her sand defense is very tough, being very difficult to break through. The sand has been likened to steel and concrete. The second form is one which pulls sand from her surroundings and the sand piled on her skin to form a visible barrier and dome like barrier around her. The sand is typically pulled from the ground and any nearby source. Arashi’s various dogs often have a plentiful amount of sand carried in their thick coats. As such, the sand is often pulled from their coats to be used to protect the girl. Through the course of her training, Arashi has learned to control both of these forms of defense to a degree, making her much more capable of mounting a defense in a variety of ways. But she still at times must incumbent some cooperation from Shukaku to ensure of it's sustainability.
Arashi can control sand and wind around herself to whip up sandstorms with powerful gusts. The sandstorm often appears when she’s emotionally strained and damaged. If there is no sand around her, powerful breezes will still gather around her. Shukaku enjoys teasing the girl to the point where sandstorms appear. But with the course of time, Arashi had grown more comfortable with this and developed a thick skin towards such actions by the Bijuu.
While Arashi had previous had little to no control over her other sand related abilities, she has a somewhat capable hand at this one. Because of the trauma of her sand attacking her classmates at a young age, Arashi has managed to reign in some of this power. Learning to bend the sand to her will, Arashi can keep it from hurting those she doesn’t want it to hurt. Sand will be gathered from nearby sources to be used as a weapon when this ability activates. This ability typically only activates when Arashi is in severe danger, but it has now become possible for her to do so with ease. Though it is more prone to activating near or on full moons. The sand takes the form of blunt objects or tendrils to bash or choke enemies. During moments of extreme strain, Arashi loses all control over this ability as well.
-Jutsu Used-
-Items Used-
-Familiar Used-
