[Akira]

Petty clan squabbles, indeed.

"Cut it out! Both of you!" Hotarubi spoke sharply, loudly, and enough to make both the Yamakira and the Mikatakujira stop in their tracks as they stood opposite one another from the table they had been formerly sitting at.

"You're not objective being a Yamakira as well." The Mikatakujira, Keisuke, claimed. Hotarubi would sneer. "I'm not a part of this weak posse that borrow our name. I am objective." Hotarubi wasn't objective but he could deal with squabbles - petty shit between shinobi and rivals. Isshin - the Yamakira would take greater offense at the Special Jonin's words and would redirect his offensive at the man.

"You wouldn't even dare stand up to me in a fight. I'm the heir of this clan." Isshin was a thunderous voice, and Hotarubi would not have it. "You know our teaching and what Keisuke here doesn't know is that winner takes all, always." Hotarubi would nod at the man as he spoke to Isshin with a cold hearted calculation. "So if you want me to oust your seat and your bloodline, shut the fuck up." Maybe he was being harsher so that he couldn't be called out for favoritism? The raven haired boy would slam his fists on the table. The immediacy of this need would have Hotarubi release that ever so intoxicating presence that he had admired of Kenji and Ryu's: it had been something he himself had been working on.

Hotarubi would stand up.

Isshin would sit down.

Hotarubi would sit down.

Step one, done.

---

Minimum turn in time: 28th December 2023
Mission:

SPOILER: Click to show

Petty Clan Squabbles
MISSION RANK: B
NPC REQUIREMENT: Optional
PARTICIPANTS: Open, Open
DESCRIPTION:


*Must Complete: As part of peace initiatives the Daimyo is trying to bridge gaps between clans. There is currently a dispute between the 'regional' heirs of the Mikatakujira and Yamakira in Nishima-Jo, Bonchi no Kuni's capital city. Without violence, of which one of them is particularly prone to: resolve the matter.

*Repeatable thrice

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

It had been clear that Hotarubi would have his work cut out for him when he had started. The man hadn't believed it to begin with - that it would be resolved within the day and that would be it. But being something that was supposed to 'come with danger' he really wondered how bad it could have been?

Frankly, it was petty. The two male rivals were fighting over a woman. As they tended to. Fewer arguments were started about war than something as petty as a man's pride: did Hotarubi blame either of them? No. In fact, he understood it complete. There was a level of removal from the process considering he didn't find anything so valuable to him, but if he wanted it? It was his. The reminder that he was to not be like his father flashed in his mind and he would wipe at his eyes.

"Let's start over." Hotarubi would bring down the tone. If he had had it his way, they would have simply fought to the death but apparently that was not a 'good way' to deal with things. The Yamakira believed in it, and while he held his view that it would have quickly settled it - the Mikatakujira believed in the matter of the mind and that they would resolve it through none other than a game. Of course, the innate distrust between the two meant they had brought in an outsider to administer a task for them both to complete, but they also needed to compete and not die from it, and then the others needed to accept the results of the decision.

And frankly, it wouldn't have surprised him that they were likely fighting over someone who did not want to be either of theirs. The Special Jonin had not yet even spoken to the third party here.

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

Hotarubi had full faith that it would be the Yamakira to be victorious, though the man sat there watching the two of them posture and with his own arms crossed - they both looked pretty fearsome as it went, but the Yamakira were cutthroat.

After an eternity of listening to the two of them argue with one another it came apparent that it was the Yamakira who lacked any sense of self control as quite a few times over, Hotarubi had to stand up and intervene: but it was the Mikatakujira which had a sense of respect and self-admiration. They were both different in their own ways and Hotarubi had also spend time deflecting from the man considering their game seemed to be to out-intellect the two of them (which didn't seem particularly difficult) but unfortunately for Zakku, Hotarubi was just as much of a brick wall as the other clan heir sat opposite with them. "So we've been able to establish at this point nobody is willing to back off, to accept the other's words, you don't want a fight-" Hotarubi pointed at Zakku, the Mikatakujira clan heir, "- and you don't want a puzzle-" he pointed at Isshin, the Yamakira clan heir. That was fair, since they both know that they would best the other at it.

Hotarubi stood up with what would be the final time today. "I need some time to figure out what to challenge you both with that is fair. I'm going to talk to her first, so the both of you can come back here tomorrow and then we're going to resolve this. I will come up with a task that is fair-" he pointed at the Mikatakujira "- and a task that is not easy. Prepare yourselves and be prepared to lose." They both seemed to lock eyes with one another and that with a few shared words. It left Hotarubi in the room alone but this was just...

So petty. The fact that they needed the other to back off- when the door was shut behind them Hotarubi groaned. He would find this woman and find out what was so special about her - if not anything but to satiate his curiosity first.

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

Hotarubi was able to find the property through a couple of quick enquiries since it had not been overtly provided to him, giving him an opportunity to use some investigatory work - coming to a lesser area of the capital, Hotarubi didn't realise how poor some of the areas were. This was not a lascivious property. It was… it left a lot to be desired as he stepped over the potholes and the garbage that was strewn around - between the seedy tight alleyways as all the houses seemed to cramp in to one another. Coming to the door: Hotarubi would knock.

Had either of them come here? This was disgusting, even for his own standards. The door would open, revealing the woman - "You're –" Hotarubi questioned, and it likely felt intimidating to open the door to one of them, she croaked and tried to shut the door, and Hotarubi would put his foot in front of it. "I'm not here to hurt you. Just to talk." she hadn't really gone far: it was a tiny enough property with two single rooms, and he supposed the second room was a toilet.

"You're a Yamakira. I can tell." Her voice seemed afraid, and he wondered for why? "Yes, but to help. I'm from Takigakure no Sato, on account of a… marital type dispute?" He started, and that seemed to alleviate the tension from her shoulders. As he focused on her, though his tough stare might've been concerning he was checking her heartbeat: it was still going fast but he could tell it was beginning to slow. It was much easier outside of a fight and a difficult situation to tell, but when you could also perceive the entire world around you as it moved: you tended not to notice many of the fine details without paying close attention.

She seemed to slow at the first person actually speaking to her like a human since this had all began. "Yes..." that was... a brutally slow answer. "So, let's have a conversation. May I come in?" Hotarubi would wait for her, but the door would open and she would allow him to find a place to sit down.

Inside was not any better than the outside. And there - he would be able to sit down, listen - and hear what she had to say, as well as asking some pointed questions.

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

They'd spoken for about an hour by the time, Hotarubi had leaned back against the wall and crossed a leg - crossed his arms. This woman was... boring. He felt himself nodding off at various intervals that led to him then leaning forward on his knees.

Hotarubi sat, listening to her talk and drone and the way that she spoke without feeling or vigor or passion in her voice reminded him of himself, there was just… nothing there. "…and I know that you're supposed to like a single person but…" Hotarubi was reminded of Ryu's concubines: he who took without remorse. It wasn't his way to assign values to someone else, he would simply do what he felt was right for himself.

But the more she explained herself the better the cogs in his mind whirred and he came to an understanding about why it was so hard between the two of them. Hotarubi sighed. The woman's head was empty. Uncaring for the outcome, just that she was to reap the benefits of being the wife of a rich family that could take care of their needs. "I see."

"Well. As I said. I will ensure that the Yamakira do not bother you. I will ensure the Mikatakujira do not contact you - at least until this is all over." This was why it had been difficult: both of them had been using their influence to try and persuade the one another. Unlike what the moral conversation was, he didn't ask her if she wanted to be married. That was for her decision: Hotarubi had a mission to be done first.

She was pretty - though, Hotarubi had to admit. Look past the grimy house which they'd likely never seen and Hotarubi could understand why they might have overlooked wanting to marry a commoner. It was interesting, however, how they'd managed to meet: she had been working at an event they were both mutually at, and because she had managed to captivate the Mikatakujira by simply listening (again: head empty) she had garnered the attention of the Yamakira who desired, much like he expected to see from someone.

Typical. But it did leave Hotarubi with more questions than answers and ones that he did not feel he would find at the bottom of her mind, much less how he would administer the tests tomorrow. That would be what he worked on... something that couldn't be a blanket fight, something that couldn't be a quiz. Something between the two...

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

Now locked away in his room the time would be spent slamming his head into paper as he tossed them one by one away as he thought of anything and everything. Unfortunately, as a man who's primary proponent was being the strongest, games of skill were no good to him and only military-based fighting games came to mind.

If Kenji had taught him well enough, it would work here. Maybe he was being reductive but as he chewed on the end of a quill, something came to mind in the rail of his mind that went with 'will' - and then an idea.

That was it... Hotarubi began to start writing his answers down as he sipped at a glass of water. This would do nicely. Hoping and expecting that they would be able to last one day more for this all to be resolved between the three of them. Or - two and a body, considering there was nothing inside the servant girl's head.

the next day...

And then it would manifest when in the morning, outside the room they'd been using for 'negotiations' they would find Hotarubi standing. Behind them - groups of people. Peering behind them, Hotarubi rose a brow. "How are we doing this?"

"You have twenty minutes - northeast beach on the sands. Find me there. Don't kill one another and take different routes." The first spoken to the two of them, the last to everybody.

---

239 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

"First challenge of three, if we get that far. First," Hotarubi stared at Isshin first. "A challenge of will. You're going to both stand in the sea, naked - overnight. I'm going to watch. If one of you gives up, the other wins." Hotarubi would raise a finger before Keisuke could intervene. "Isshin will need to be human for this. And you-" Hotarubi himself had taken a long time to think about the task at hand, and how it would work.

Sure, Hotarubi wanted the Yamakira to win but that was because he was holding some clan pride - but he couldn't be accused of impropriety at any point. So while the crowds gathered from both clans - Hotarubi was able to placate the noises in the ground. "Will have the benefit for this round, Mikatakujira. In the next, should you both face it - will put you at a disadavantage." murmurs of the crowd and Hotarubi couldn't care any more that the host Yamakira was glaring at Hotarubi for the disadvantage that had been given.

"No fighting, keep a fair distance from one another." And so they would both begin to strip. But what Hotarubi hadn't said was that they could use other methods of survival, so if they had a technique and wanted to expend chakra? Well - they were free to do just that.

The two competitors began to strip.

---

226 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

Listening to the two of them go back and forth between the two of them Hotarubi had grown bored - but he continued to watch with a vicious edge, they were making it boring, but boring was good in the context of making sure they didn't fight - as he watched them, the ebb and flow of the sea was bad enough as they would be pulled back and forth. It was cold: he could see that on both of them.

Isshin on one hand had taken the position and a stance of cold, hard meditation and was stalwart - unmoving against the tide as they dug themselves in. Hotarubi guessed, since it was a bit harder to feel it in the water and the sand that he had used his legs to dig himself in, given that he was lower than Keisuke, and they were about the same height.

Keisuke on the other hand was definitely steeling through it and doing better than Hotarubi had thought possible. "You're a loser, through and through-" It was hard to sound tough through chittering teeth. "Hah - and like you're any match you fuckin weakling-" Isshin responded through deep breaths, that made him take a few seconds to respond.

Hotarubi, across the way, drawing both of their attention as he guffawed at the both of them. "Shut the fuck up!" both of them managed to shout in unison.

---

232 words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

From the third hour, the crowds were starting to drop in numbers as the sun had gone down - Hotarubi stood guard, watching the two of them. The murmurs had turned into choruses of noises as what had become an issue had now become a spectacle.

Watching them - it was apparent that both of them had the major components of stubbornness as he watched, by this point he had summoned himself a stone chair as the illuminated glow would highlight the sides of their faces as they stared at each other - or they tried to psyche the other out, but largely remained hospitable enough to not try and be disqualified by Hotarubi who had been overtly gung-ho throughout the process, and as the ranking officer in their presence - had some authority to tell them what to do and to expect consequences for mistreating them.

But - that worried Hotarubi as he gauged them. He had spent years himself being a fuck up - year being a trouble maker, and both sides smelled of it. On one side, Yamakiras - he knew them through in through and he could smell the arrogance from afar. But the impetuous superiority complex on the other side couldn't be ignored.

But on the Mikatakujira side, they were more meddling and conceited as they stayed among themselves: they were definitely avoidant of the Yamakira group as they waited for the first test to conclude. But, Hotarubi could see from the corner of his eyes (or the front of his eyes when he was directly watching them) that they were talking quietly, concisely between them.

---

264 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

The drabs seemed to remain down to the few core followers on either side because Hotarubi noted the similar age differences. The only people who seemed to remain were the ones who Hotarubi would only have guessed were Genin or Chunin at most on both sides, and they didn't seem particularly happy for the other party either. But - while they goaded one another, neither group made a move to do the other in which was good for Hotarubi who would have probably, most definitely failed the mission if he could not solve this without violence.

"You may exit." Hotarubi would call out to the two of them, who - in their coldness, crossed arms, would weakly begin to scale their way out of the sea, one foot by the other. It had already begun to take their toll but it did not seem either one was down. That was good- it was good that Hotarubi had to think of multiple incursions since he didn't think they would have given in that easily.

Both teams had prepared - and Hotarubi thought he had seen Keisuke being slipped a military ration pill as a towel was put over him. The Mikatakujira team on the other hand had already begun to warm the man up using what could only be a fire, and wind ninjutsu. Smart work - smarter than what he expected of his own kin.

---

230 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

"We begin the second exam shortly. You have one hour to rest." And this was where the differences between the two set in: while the Yamakira chatted among themselves and Isshin curled up to have a quick nap as they stood watch, the Mikatakujira had prepared something as they offered Keisuke a warm drink and set him off into a slumber using a medical technique, and the others began to work on him. It looked like a massage of sorts.

Wasn't illegal, he supposed, since they looked over at Hotarubi and Hotarubi averted his gaze - it wasn't like he had thought over the rules to the n'th degree. "Don't even fucking think about it. An unprepared Shinobi is a dead shinobi." When Hotarubi saw them starting to turn toward the Mikatakujira - and he quickly dismissed it.

49 minutes later...

"SECOND TEST." Hotarubi yelled - to rouse the two of them from their slumbers, though it seemed that Isshin, the Yamakira was faring much worse. But the tides would turn, as he had instructed the two of them earlier. "I didn't get enough sleep..." Keisuke yawned. "You also got the advantage of not using chakra and a team to comfort you." Hotarubi was prickly in his response - but it was also pragmatic.

---

210 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

"The second test is a test of skill. Perform the water walking technique on top the water." Hotarubi would instruct the both of them. They both looked at one another as they broke through from the crowd. What did Hotarubi have in mind for them?

See - when he had focused on what would be more of a skill inducing game, he had related it in terms of his own techniques. More importantly: Hotarubi couldn't control sand. But what he had managed to do the previous day was turn their entire area beneath their feet into stone, rock and dirt from the confines of the sea. He had prepared this land for him and him only - and none of them would know otherwise. That had been painful, but apparently it didn't matter since nobody had noticed the difference in the scenery.

With the sun breaking through, blinding the spectators and Hotarubi, but not the two contestants as they stared at him, Hotarubi would continue to squint as he gave the rules. They quickly took their place. "I will be controlling your environment. Quite simply, don't fall in the water. I will be causing shockwaves to knock you off balance. Do you both understand?"

It would be an active game. They both nodded. "Good. If that's the case, we're going to begin. Rounds one through five. You may use techniques, but you may not harm one another. You may not leave the water, and you may not create structures that keep you above the water."

"Where's my advantage?" Isshin would state, confused. Keisuke wanted to know as well as they stared - as did their group of spectators. "There is rock and dirt beneath you that I put there painstakingly without using my own doton."

Isshin's grin grew disproportionately.

---

296 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

The first and second round had been Hotarubi testing the water as he pretended to cast techniques by using handseals - causing waves to emerge as he used what was essentially the earth corridor technique underwater. Keisuke on the other hand with his finnessed chakra control was able to do okay - but Hotarubi was feeling that there was some stress building with what was at stake. They'd already had several hours, and what the Mikatakujira hadn't used in chakra they were a) being effected by Isshin's Doton techniques in some form, which was actually in line with the rules and b) couldn't overcome raw power, which the Yamakira had in droves.

Isshin, was having an easy time. When the waves rose - he was just cruising along on the levels. When they started getting much higher, the man created a platform that broke the water from below, equalising him much sooner while stopping him from standing on it, not breaking the rules. And as Hotarubi had thought, was an incredibly smart move. Not one that he would have thought of himself.

But, it was within Hotarubi's purview to make it harder. So he would: breaking the waves in different directions and suddenly, they were both beginning to hustle - jumping or leaping, Isshin creating his own platform to push the water, to fight against the tide and current. Keisuke was starting to wobble, getting thrown around, ending up on his hands and knees at one point.

"Haha! Who's losing now?!" Isshin was performing more handseals as he carried across the waves, while Hotarubi performed his own seals, causing a wall of water to pass by both of them to take them out. Keisuke dodged. "Right. Like a Yamakira would ever beat us."

Hotarubi suprressed a scoff.

---

293 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

They were doing well and in fact - Hotarubi was proud of himself. The two of them were focusing on their own work enough that they weren't fighting with one another. "The spectators. You guys need to back off. Hundred meters on either side. Go." Hotarubi ordered them as he watched the waves come to a slow stillness and the two of them seemed almost allied as they held one another up.

"Final round." Hotarubi would shout out.

Beneath the sand, it would emerge up as Hotarubi seemed to rise up on a round platform. Isshin would make a noise causing Keisuke to look over, in what was universally understood as an 'oh shit' noise because Keisuke immediately started performing handseals when the platform the proctor stood on slammed into the ground, and with it - a very precise, forward facing ripple would concur throughout the area.

The shudder throughout the area would cause a cubed effect to break out across the water - softball sized holes puncturing through the water. If someone were in the water, who would have known how they would have reacted? The ripples to rip them apart? Would it do nothing? But above, Keisuke slapped his hands together and went sky high - but Isshin? Isshin was stupid, creating a platform for him to jump up on to.

Isshin had broken the rules. There was silence as it broke through the air.

---

233 Words

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Āsuhanmā Jutsu [Earth Hammer Technique]
RANK: A
CHAKRA USAGE: High
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Doton
HANDSEALS: 15
DESCRIPTION:
The user summons themself a stone pillar that they rise up on over the course of one post and then the pillar 'slams' back into the ground at speed, causing a shockwave that distorts the landscape in circular medium sized radius - 25 meters. The area itself similar to an avalanche will churn the area around it in an inconsistent way, which can cause individuals to lose their footing and be crushed and turned into a blob of bones and meat and is excellent for dealing with squadrons of people at one time - but will hurt anybody in the area without adequate defenses.

[googlefont=Open+Sans]

[Akira]

Well. That had him stunned. Even though the Mikatakujira had been at a disadvantage he had done it. Standing there, breathing heavily and looking like he was about to pass out - the orange haired man stared at Hotarubi, waiting for him to call it. The two groups - stunned into silence.

It did not seem there would need to be a third round. Hotarubi could feel it - all from around, the created battleground. Hotarubi didn't like what was about to come next, and he knew it. "What the fuck is this? You nearly killed me!" Isshin yelled, fuming - foam formed at their mouth as he came off the shore and right up to Hotarubi to the bridge of his nose.

Keisuke on the other hand had quickly come off and retreated to the safety of his clan bretheren. Isshin on one hand was waiting for Hotarubi to say what he knew was coming. "You better-" Hotarubi knew what was going to be suggested and before Isshin could finish his demand as 'clan heir' the Special Jonin would give the result.

And he knew it, because of his battle perception that the Yamakira had already formed themselves into a formation - the Mikatakujira on the other side though, their conceitedness would shine through as Hotarubi could see three more of them, behind the Yamakiras - they had not yet noticed.

"Keisuke wins." Hotarubi croaked croaked, finally.

And all hell broke loose.

---

237 Words

[googlefont=Open+Sans]