[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

A wager that determined her fate.... If the eighteen year old had not learned methods in which to control her anxiety, she'd likely feel more than a bit distressed at the notion of everything that was riding on this venture. In speaking with a minister, she had learned that her Family Shop did not rightfully belong to her family. As such, they wished to take it from her. Disregarding this, Chieko had taken the matter to the Clan head, in which she made a claim to remove all possible claim by buying the shop outright. How she intended to do this? Chieko would build a weapon for the Damiyo and sell it to them.... The gamble was that she would have a week to do this, and if she failed to do so she'd be forced to return to the Hohei and serve them for the rest of her life as a Kiremono. Which was no less than a slave with even far worse conditions. Her father had managed to secure his family's separation from the clan and allowed for her to live a life that was removed from such limitations by that status. But to be aware of them and how fortunate she was. In the end, if she failed to do this, perhaps it was a deserved fate. It meant that she could no better wield a hammer to serve her village than she could provide security for it as a shinobi. Still...she wanted to remain optimistic....she had to... Though the journey to the capital of Nohara no kuni was not for the faint of heart, and to do so alone was far more daunting than most travels. Still, she very well wasn't going to try and ask for help with this. Pride was a big hurled, and she imagined her friend Chisai had far more important matters to deal with. In the end, she was on her own. Which was fine....it was her problem and her burden to carry. If she failed, she'd only herself to blame for what came next. Yet, she had zero intention of that. With a small collection of supplies, her trusted diamond Kunai and hammer, the young girl would leave her father's shop for what she hoped wouldn't be the final time, making her way toward the village gate as to secure transport. It was now onward to the Capital....Hohei-cho...

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

The time spent after she had left the militia had given her a view of many different aspects of creation. From materials, to natural elements, to the concepts behind each offering that was left behind by another. It came in many different forms, but often were misunderstood as to be nothing of value. Everything could be shaped into something else, but the form in which it took was up to the imagination of the craftsman involved. She'd seen plain cloth shimmer like gold, plates made of clay encrusted with diamond like stones, and shield used for decoration combat against flames that could melt steel. Chieko was a great blacksmith in her own right, but she could only claim one craft to her name, and that was the kunai she held close to her waist. But even that had not been enough to hold a business. It was proven true after she took over the shop, as business was less and less, and those that had been so faithful to her father's work seemed to leave in droves upon seeing hers. As she looked on from the side of the cart, watching the vast miles and distance pass her by, she considered just what she was attempting and began to see the grand scale of it. It was not as if she were some master craftsman...to most she was novice at best... What hope did she really have to impress a Damiyo? Let alone one that likely would have little interest in the work of a Kiremono? With these thoughts, she'd find herself drifting into doubt...her hand twirling the kunai between her fingertips as it's diamond surface flickered with the fading light of her confidence.

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

As the evening rolled upon the traveling camp, and even as they settled into the night, this lack of confidence remained... Looking into her sketches, reflecting on possible ideas, none of them felt akin to what could impress someone as powerful and influential as a Damiyo. She'd continue to scan her notes to see if she could make a combination of ideas. Perhaps even replicate something that had improved materials, but even that seemed to fail as nothing more than a knock off. One thing people loved more than a good tool, it was one that was original and to them alone... "Original...." Saying this aloud, the fire roaring in front of her as she set down her sketchbook, the young smith would then cup her hand beneath her face in thought. An original weapon that would be unique to the Damiyo and them alone... It wasn't the worst idea in the world, but the problem was that she had no idea just what kind of person they were... Did they have a preference to defense? Were they more outgoing and quick to rush into a fight? Would they prefer something at a distance? In truth, she couldn't recall if the one who was running the country had ever served in more than just an official role?

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

Though this left her with little answers to her situation, it also offered opportunity. After all, it wasn't as if she could make a weapon from scratch with no knowledge of the man using it. Often, if it was mean to be for an individual, the craftsman had to know the intentions of the man. How they thought, what they stood for, their principals. A weapon that was a connection to the soul... "Thats it! I have to get to know the man! Thats how I'll do it!" Chieko would grin before realizing her excitement was probably louder than most within the camp, prompting her to grin sheepishly as she returned to her sketchbook. She had a week to design something for the Damiyo, three days top after getting to the Capital. Once there, she'd find the man and speak with him. A simple task. How hard could it be to find one man who likely sat in one place for hours on end?

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

This question would wait until morning, as the sight of the massive village of Hohei-cho came into view of the caravan's approach... If Chieko had been surprised by the reach of influence to the Hohei before within the village itself, she was stunned by just how rich it had to be here within the country's capital. The artistic appeal was strong and reflected much of the clan's own providence, as well as it's standards. In full view one could see individuals working the fields, and those of more military garb watching them carefully. Along with the norm of security at the gate, she could see those of poor dress in attendance to those of more regal nature. Servants and their masters...or rather attendants and their attendees.... It was at this point that Chieko truly began to see just how wide spread the involvement of the Hohei was within the country as the whole, and it was no more plain than here within the seat of power. Of course, it was one thing to hear of it, it was another to witness it to completion. Though this didn't change what her intention was. She'd still need to locate the Damiyo and speak with them if she were to complete her vision of a weapon for them. Though she'd be lying if a part of her wasn't nervous at the prospect of contending with the possible chance that she might even make it passed the front gate.

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

If the standards of rank had any meaning within Kusagakure when it came to clan positions, it was far exceeded to an extreme here within the capital. Her access was immediately questioned the second she approached a guard, prompting her to quickly describe her position and occupation. Yet even then, it felt as if she were trying to prove something that had never needed to before. Honestly, the life without a headband to prove one's loyalty was truly questionable at best, daunting at worse. Though soon enough, after managing some minor hurtles and having been questioned for nearly an hour, the young woman was allowed access into the large village, prompting her to look around as she managed to contain her own excitement. On the rare chance she ever got to view such a location again, she'd consider against it simply due to the jumps she'd have to make just to get inside. Of course, that could easily change if she managed to establish herself here. Clearly, her doubts were starting to fade the longer she stood here, among people of great wealth and influence. Any one of them could just as easily become a business partner or even a customer. It was honestly a wonder why her father never considered making a shop here of all places. Red tape aside, it was a near dream for business and she'd imagine the amount of customers she'd gain just by setting up shop near the gate. Yet as her pie in the sky dreams began to shape into a possible vision of opportunity, she began to note the treatment of some stands that were in display, prompting her to investigate as she moved in closer.

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

"This is garbage! I can't believe they'd allow someone to sell such trash on the main street!" As a customer raged against the merchant, clearly tossing their wares at the young man as he held up his hands in clear surrender, Chieko would narrow her eyes before then preparing to intercept. With them reaching forward as if to strike the merchant, he'd find his reach shortened, the young girl taking hold of his wrist before yelling back at him. "Hey! If you don't like the stuff, don't buy it! That doesn't give you the right to attack this guy!" "UNHAND ME!! I will not take such abuse! Help! Guard!" In hearing his pleas, the guards would be swift to arrive on the scene, the man now pointing toward Chieko with a furious expression. "This girl took my hand and prevented me from instructing this Kiremono on his ill gotten wares!" The guards would remain silent,looking at Chieko with a frown before the dark haired woman would then release her breath before shrugging her shoulders. "I did...but only because this can't be how..." Within moments, she'd find herself in binds as her arms would pulled down and placed in front of her. "What the hell!?" "Just five minutes out and your already causing trouble! Move it!" That seemed to be how things were run here, leading Chieko to find herself under arrest and now being marched to lock up! "HEY! WHAT..I ...I DIDN'T!" As she struggled, she'd continued to be pulled off, her form being dragged away as she'd watch the man once again continue to berate the merchant, his wares being thrown to the side and his stand soon enough attacked within what looked like it's destruction. Seeing this in her departure, the smith would realize fully that this place was just as lawless as any town, and the guards likely just as focused on keeping true to tradition as any clan.

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

It was amazing how different a day could make one's own perception of an already impossible task... In no less than an hour, Chieko had found herself being locked up within a cell and awaiting judgement for a crime that was by all intent, not even one. She was stuck within the Capitol of her own home country, and had yet to even so much as manage an audience with the Damiyo, nor had she gotten any idea just how she was going to make anything. Sitting within her cell, the dark haired female would sigh before noting the changing of the guard. Their routine was easy to track, and even without training, it was clear that militia rotation was a common thing. Even though patterned off shinobi influence. Not that it mattered, even if she were to try and escape, she wasn't exactly going to. Though this time within lock up allowed her to recognize the flaws in some crafting of the bars before her. Each one seemed to be less dense than the next, proving that with enough force, one could just break out without issue. Granted, getting passed the guards might prove a problem, it didn't make it impossible. Still, this was no less an observation to the weakness of security.... "Ya know? Your craftsman didn't exactly make these bars of strong stuff...anyone could..." "Be silent Kiremono!" In hearing this, Chieko would pout before then pushing herself up to her feet as she narrowed her eyes. "How long till I see...I don't know? Anyone!?" "I said silence!" Feeling a jab from the blunt end of the guard's spear, the young female would fall back as she then hit the wall with a grunt. "Come on! We both know I didn't do anything!" "You spoke out against someone with more authority than you....that is a crime here!" "Bull shit!" In lashing out, the smith would cross her arms over her chest before then looking to the side as she narrowed her eyes. "Who came up with these rules!?"

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

Though Chieko never got a clear answer as to just who made the rules, it was obvious that much of it had a large influence from Clan status. Still, it proved that even her rank had some value, along with her history. By nightfall, it appeared that they truly did not have anything that could concretely keep her locked away or imprisoned. Her value as a laborer was considered on Rank alone and her status as a Kiremono made it so they didn't even see the worth in keeping her. Some even claimed that doing so was a waste of money. So she was released, with a warning no less and with a day wasted... Chieko would sigh as she moved away from the fortress, her eyes narrowed as she rubbed the back of her neck. This was starting to feel hopeless... As she made her way toward the fields to perhaps get some clarity, her eyes would narrow toward the moonlight over the mushroom tops, looking toward them briefly before then sitting down upon a log. "Okay....so today was a bust...no worries...I still have...two days...." Even her tone in saying those words felt forced before placing her hands beneath her face. Two days....she'd have to try and meet the Damiyo and impress them with a design in two days.... Lowering her head into her hands, the smith would then close her eyes before letting it all sink in. "I can't do this....I'm gonna lose my family's one thing

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

Failure was much like a familiar friend at this point... It sat beside her on the long as she considered their hisotry and realized that with it came both sadness and success. Granted, it had made her who she was, but also had left her without the people that she had come to care for and depend on. Her squad had been lost to her in her failure to protect them and consider their lives above the mission. It was what prompted her to view the militia in a whole new way, and now it was going to take everything from her that she valued. What was left anyway.... How was she supposed to reach the Damiyo now? As she sat there and prepared to simply accept her fate, a voice began to reach her as an older male approached with what looked to be a Sycle in hand. They appeared as if they were a farmer. having finished working within the fields and appearing to be ending their day. The bearded figure, standing over her with a calm expression and light blue eyes, looked at her for a moment and then smiled as they leaned against their tool with a wise gaze. "I reckon ya'll being out here and now in the capital means ya don't much care for the fancy..." Chieko would blink and then realize that that was only part of it. "Umm...no...actually I just came out for air...its just a lot to take in..." Not fully true, but even she was smart enough to not be stating her business with strangers..especially armed ones.

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

Though as she looked closer at the tool within the man's hand, she'd note the dull edge and the near useless blade that seemed to rest upon it. It was partially due to her own expertise, but it wasn't going to be much of a defense against any attack. More than that, it seemed like it would barely be useful as a tool. "Umm...that has to be a hard way to trim down weeds or crops..." Chieko would point toward the sickle, prompting the old man to laugh as he shook his head. "Heh...yea...but its hard to find a good smith around here...We did know of one once in Kusa, but they've long since passed on. So we've tried to manage where we can. Often we look to the Hono but the work they do can be pricey..." Narrowing her eyes, Chieko would then sigh as she shook her head. "Of course...Hono are great..well...some are...but a true smith isn't something that comes off a shopping line..." Rising up to her feet, she'd then gesture toward the tool as she waited for him to hand it over. Which, seemed to give them pause. "I happen to be a blacksmith...I can retool that for you and make it easier to get the job done..." "And why would you do that?" "Because it's the right thing to do..." With a smile on her face, the older male would hand the tool over to the dark haired female, causing her to grin as she raised her brow. "Ya happen to have a shed with a fire pit and some stones?"

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

It was a small task and it took little effort to reshape the blade and fortify it. It was probably one of the easiest things Chieko could do. All it did was take time, and even she understood how little of it she had. But, it wasn't as if she needed that kind of reminder. In a sense, she had already given in to her fate. If she was to be a servant of the Hohei, she would at least do something for someone else one last time. The gift of crafting anything had always given her joy. It was one of the few things she had been able to do with her father that they both enjoyed. When she had decided to become a shinobi, she knew it broke his heart in two. It had been his goal to have her take over for him, but she saw the world and it's vastness as her future. She could only imagine his own disappointment in seeing where she was now.... Her dreams shattered, his shop soon to be gone....and all to nothing... As she worked, she'd see the farmer watching her with almost interest as she began to fold the metal upon itself. She'd hold it to the flame and let it shift into a red tint, drawing it back to place within a bucket of water as the shimmer of heat caused it to bubble. "There we go....should just need to cool before I fold it a second time..." Placing her hands upon her hips, the young woman would grin before seeing the man clap. "Impressive...I must say I've only seen that technique of smithing from one other person..." "Sure it's pretty common..." "No no...what you did there...only one man I've seen done that...and my memory is quite sharp...he used to do our gear back in Kusa....good man..." It was then that she began to connect the dots... "Was his last name Hana?" "Yup! Thats him! So you must be his little girl!" Chieko would sheepishly rub the back of her neck as she shook her head. "Not exactly little...but yea..."

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

The two would sit and speak into the hours as the night moved on around them. They spoke of her father and how he had come upon them and gave them wares that could aid them. How he would repair their damaged tools for next to nothing, and often provide them with better ones. In hearing how much her father had done here, it was strange to think that his value was diminished so quickly by his own clan to so little. It was actually infuriating. "I never knew my father did so much here..." "It was at an early part of both our lives...but he never forgot about us...when he heard he was sick we tried to make due with what we had..." Clearly it had worked enough so that they were able to continue working, but the yields from it had probably been hampered a bit. "Few like your old man remain on this side....but I imagine he'd be proud to know that your taking up his shop..." Hearing this brought the reminder of the fact that in a matter of days that was no longer going to be the case, leading to her lowering her head as she shook her head. "I don't know about that...I actually came out here to try and save it....all I did was waste time..." Chieko would then sigh as she shook her head before then narrowing her eyes. "But I'm not out yet...all I have to do is meet with the Damiyo and show him what I can do!" The old man would blink before then holding a small laugh as he shook his head. "A hard time that might be...I hear he's a difficult man to find these days...he travels a lot across the country...." Chieko would hear this and prepare to say something, but as she did, the man would then release a laugh as he began to make his way over to the renewed scythe, holding it's handle as he waved it from one side to the next, displaying a skill that was far from an ordinary farmhand. "But...I can tell you that after seeing your work...I am more than impressed..." It was at that moment that Chieko began to piece it together just who this man was. In looking at him closely, behind the straw hat and rough attire, in the steel like stare of his eyes, to the weathered lines of age upon his face. In that moment, she'd then let her mouth gap as she shook her head. "NOOOOOO WAYYYY!" "Heh heh heh....Surprising to see a lord in the fields? It ain't exactly just the duty of the people to take care of the lands out here...we all benefit from it's harvest so we must all do our parts..."

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

One is never really prepared to meet what could be considered royalty. Especially within an area where most would be seen as less than such. Now while the whole point was for Chieko to meet with the man who was considered to be the ruler of the land, she had not fully expected them to be just out in the open. No less dressed as though they were a simple farm hand. So as he attempted to try and settle the young woman down, he'd place himself back down upon a long as he watched the female scramble to do the same as she held a blank expression. "I....I just don't believe it..." "Hmmm...Well..most don't....but it hardly matters...I have come to see that the actions of others...be it in their own interests or for the greater whole, are often misunderstood...despite what most assume...I did spend much time out here...in the fields...with my family..." Looking out over the moonlight glazed fields, the old man would smile as he seemed to be taken back to a better time within his memory. "Those were good days...yet they were also difficult...but a strong reminder of the value of each individual in their efforts...beyond the realm of status..." In hearing this, Chieko would then tilt her head to the side as she spoke once more, finding her voice as she listened. "You said you knew my father? And that he often supplied this village?" "Hana Haruma...Heh....back then he was Hohei Haruma....but yes...I met him...oddly enough he was not much older than you are now when he came to seek...leverage as it were.." "Leverage?" "His freedom...and perhaps a future....he wanted to be free of his place within the Hohei and to have the rights granted of those that weren't labeled as inferior...in those days...the price for such a thing was high and often impossible to grant...after all..the Hohei is a prominent name here and it values it's class system...though less so the people doomed by it..." Hearing this, Chieko would sigh as she had gotten a full view of such treatment in the last few days. More than she had in her life within Kusagakure. She hadn't realize just how fortunate she had been to have much of it shielded from her. More than that, of the restrictions that came from just the fact that she was considered lower class had been something that very few had mentioned in her own youth. "Your father came to me and requested this and I was hesitant to grant it...until I proposed a trade....his freedom for his talents...." "His work?" "The Hono have far more interests and influence within the country....and their work was considered priceless...labor at such a merger cost was fitting for a man who only wanted freedom...so I granted it....ten years of labor to the village...his work for his release..."

tag || || notes || here || ▲

[Hana Chieko]

Weapon for a King

"So you presented him with a chance?" "No no...he was willing to do what he could to get out and I...implied a solution...one that would work for both of us....I will not deny that the task before him was quite daunting to say the least...especially for one man...but he managed..." As the Damiyo tapped the end of the scythe against the ground, he'd then smile as he shook his head. "I was honestly more impressed with his work than I had seen from the Hono..and thats quite the feat to say the least...your father was a craftsman of the highest caliber...it seemed a waste to let such talent go to the wayside based on just status..." Waving his hand to the side, Chieko would then frown before then looking at the man with a serious gaze. "If ya feel that way, then why not give that opportunity to everyone?" "Can one change the flow of history with mere words? In the end, these walls were built on the belief of a system that required classes that could dictate direction...even I am placed within such a standing where my words may be heard, but not followed..."

tag || || notes || here || ▲