[Oonakayama Takato]

This Is For the Future

For The Days To Come

The world had lost its meaning. The world has lost its luster. These were the only truths he could see as he stared into the endless depths of the desert. The vibrancy of scorching sun, the melody of the desert wind seemed now opaque and hollow. Even food and drink felt like ash in his mouth as time had passed on and his grief had turned into detachment. He came here often, looking at the sun set from the high parapets of the watch tower, as if the sun had the answers that he sought but he found none but the welcoming embrance of silence.

How much had he lost in such a short amount of time. His station and purpose. His drive and dreams and now, perhaps most painfully, he had last a piece of himself with his passing. "All hail the conquering hero..." He finally said, in a dry, raping tone that only he heard, his voice sounding parched and weak, as if he had made a pilgrimage through the fields of bone deep in the desert. "Let us remember him as him... and not him." He mused quietly.

Lord of Iron. Lord of Iron. Lord of Lies, lord of failure maybe. That was all he was really. Even as he stood stoic, ragged and haggard with grief, he simply stood. Awaiting and releasing a sigh, closing his eyes, remembering her hand, pressing against greivous wounds. He lost the love of his life and as he opened his eyes, feeling mist raising in them but wrestling control of raw emotion, he stared at the sun that was setting on the west certain of a single thing. No light, no candle, not even the sun could replace the void she had left in her passing. Only grief remained.

Oonakayama Arashi

315

notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Veritas Ferrum TAG. Oonakayama Takato WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Good Goodbye What events could do to a person to change so much in such a short time? It was strange when you could admire someone and then realize their faults so swiftly, only for them to be renewed once more. In a sense, that had always been the relationship between Arashi and her father. For years, she had seen him as a man too weak to defend her from the vultures that had attached themselves to his station, only to come to realize his faith in her and what she could do. In the time that came after, she grew to understand more and more of the responsibilities he had carried for so long, and the importance of the choices he had to make to ensure the good of all. That said...there had been one person that had never faltered in her eyes....An individual so wild in spirit, yet so noble in character... They had defended her on her worst days, encouraged her to be better and always pushed gently to see her succeed...It was the love only reserved for those that were truly important to them, and it was shared openly with determination and the spirit of a true warrior and queen... And now they were gone.... It would have been natural for her to go off on her own....to simply disappear within her apartment...to seek comfort from those around her. Had she been the type, she likely would have cried herself to sleep or simply rambled into a drink to cure her aching heart...But she didn't.... A part of her wanted to...but she couldn't... Years of repression was a hard habit to break in times of overwhelming odds, and she'd seen enough friends depart to become a master of it. More than that, she knew that this was no time for her to break.. Not when the pillars of their family were crumbling at their foundations.... Setsuna had heard the news and was a wreck...lumbering about the Compound like a dead man until Arashi managed to give him something to do. Occupation of the mind was enough to bring him some semblance of peace and he was able to find it in simple work at the Academy for the moment. Takefusa was too young to realize the state of things, but his questions of where the woman was began to become harder and harder to hear. She imagined that was a question that would have to be answered in time and the response of her working would not last for much longer. Even he knew that she often wrote... As for the Saeko...the Clan itself was struggling under the news, her grandfather as much a wreck and a bubbling caldron of rage. A ceremony had already been made in honor of her, but it would be some time before the preparations were complete. And her father.... He had spent days just staring from the rampart...eyes looking to the distance, listing off silique and seeming to be a state of lamentation. The Oonakyama clan itself was holding together on faith that their leader would return to his senses in time, but for the moment Arashi was handling that task also. Between her duties, Arashi was managing Clan decisions for two separate groups and also making it home to ensure that her family ate. She'd remain there to listen to Set, comfort Take and also try and support her father as much as he was welling to take from her, which was far less than one would think. The man was drifting in an endless sea of despair, the once great Kage now without his title and one true love... But in his loss...he was losing the things that remained...and Arashi was just trying to hold it together to give him time to process... Arashi had not fully allowed the events of her mother's passing to really wash over her. She wouldn't let herself slip when she needed to be the one to keep things together. That much she could do...and she would... Watching him from a distance....Arashi would begin her usual march toward the place he laid watch, much as she had in the recent weeks to pass. As she took in a breath, she'd stand beside him before then closing her eyes as she looked to the side. "The clan elders are wondering just what you wish to do with the coming reports on expenses...Their concerned that with the lapse of resources coming in that the cuts will hit harder this year..." Her tone was calm, holding her hands behind her back as she then allowed a small smirk to cross her lips. "Typical fashion I told them to stuff it...imagine how that went with four old men..." Raising her brow at the small jest, she'd hope it would at least be enough to get a small crack of a smile, yet soon allowed her own to fade before then speaking again. "Noticed ya didn't eat anythin yesterday..or the day before that....and before that...if ya hate my cookin that much ya can always just ask Set to run down to get take out...Rather see ya get fat than thin in your retirement but thats just me ya know?" Sarcasim was always one of Arashi's biggest traits. More than anything, the jabs were usually enough for the two of them to bond over as she was just as clever as he was when it came to word play. It was her hope that if she continued to poke the bear she might get a reaction out of him that wasn't sadness. Still, she also knew when to allow the reality of the situation to sink in. Maybe not completely...but enough so that he at least knew she knew... "You keep this up and you'll be joining her...is that what ya want?"

SPOILER: Click to show

-S.A Used-
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.

Enhanced Smell

Somehow, Arashi has gained an enhanced sense of smell. It appears that she’s been hanging around dogs for too long and has obtained a sense of smell that rivals that of a blood hound. In reality, she has simply discovered that by channeling some chakra to her nose she can enhance the cells within it and gain a super sense of smell that may act as a sensor and tracking technique. She can smell out strangers, steel and various other things. Arashi may retract her chakra from her nose as well to make her sense of smell return to normal. Due in most regards to her heavily enhanced sense of smell, With her continued usage of this ability, she has now become capable of near passively monitoring the exact range of a target and their positioning within 250 meters. (Able to turn "off and on" this enhanced sense at the 'prick' of chakra to her nose)

Ichibi Curse Seal
The only ability Arashi has competent control over, this is the ability to utilize the curse seal marks over Shukaku’s body for her own bidding. Arashi can will the seals to cover her own body and control them to form various seals to preform fuuinjutsu from her own skin. As such, she can summon weapons she has sealed within them and rearrange the seals to be able to perform various fuuinjutsu that she has knowledge of without scrolls by using her own skin. She may also seal items within the curse marks and rearrange them to perform an unrelated technique before reforming them to summon the item at a later date.




-Jutsu Used-
.



-Items Used-
xSand Gourd
-Familiar Used-
x-Stray Pack

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Takato]

This Is For the Future

For The Days To Come

Takato listened to his daughter's step. Her words about expenses, situations with the clan and self-depreciating humor. All these words felt hollow and distant, like listening to the waves crashing against the rock from mountains very far away. These were important subjects, he knew this but in truth, part of him made him feel that it didn't matter. Silence had been more common from him in the last few weeks. He knew that Arashi didn't blame her, but Setsuna probably did and Takefusa was too young to understand. His father in law, well, he had made it clear how he felt about him.

As the question came about his lack of sustenance, a sad, soft chuckle had escaped him. Neither had he taken a moment to rest, to reflect. He had merely was trying to simply come to terms with that. He opened his mouth, finding his lips dry like parchment, his throat dryer even still. He tried to come up with words to reply. His silence making him feel as if he hadn't spoken to anyone in years rather than days. "I'm not hungry." He said, speaking truly about that at least, ignoring the last question she had posed about him trying to join his wife.

"Appropriate sufficient resources from my personal funds to cover the costs." Takato said, considering that, he hadn't used any of the inheritance his parents had left them, which were more than considerable, in fact, he didn't think that they would even make a dent on those resources. "That should be sufficient for the year. New streams of revenue will need to be considered however." He said, lowering his sight to the floor, noting the tiny grains of sand being moved away by the desert breeze that penetrated the battlement.

Oonakayama Arashi

312

notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Veritas Ferrum TAG. Oonakayama Takato WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Good Goodbye "I'll make sure their aware that ya wanna pay out of pocket. Sure that will put them at ease since it ain't outta theirs..." Responding to the man, Arashi would hold a calm expression as she imagined it was the best non-response he could give considering the limited communication in the past few days. In the end, it at least showed that he was still somewhat there. Not ever present, but still there... But he hadn't answered her question, meaning that it could be that he did, but wouldn't say it, or that he was honestly not sure just where his thoughts were on such a question. Which, in a way, was terrifying... Her father was usually quite decisive when it came to his views or thoughts on any subject. It was what had made him such a valuable leader and kept Sunagakure from falling short. While others may not have viewed it that way, he had done what he could to keep the peace and secure the lives of those in the village. He had done more than most, and that was a success after the lost of it's previous leader. He had been placed in a position that left him with nothing else but to be certain of his actions....so to see him in a place where he wasn't... Looking to the side, Arashi would then close her eyes before speaking again. "I just...need to know that you'll be okay....that you'll bounce back from this...or that I need to start preparing for whats next..." Her voice was stern, but she made sure not to show that inside she was pretending to know just what she'd do if this was indeed where all roads were leading. "If you're not sure I get it...but just let me know alright? I'll do what I can...like I always do...you don't need to worry bout that....just don't...forget that we're still here too..."

SPOILER: Click to show

-S.A Used-
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.

Enhanced Smell

Somehow, Arashi has gained an enhanced sense of smell. It appears that she’s been hanging around dogs for too long and has obtained a sense of smell that rivals that of a blood hound. In reality, she has simply discovered that by channeling some chakra to her nose she can enhance the cells within it and gain a super sense of smell that may act as a sensor and tracking technique. She can smell out strangers, steel and various other things. Arashi may retract her chakra from her nose as well to make her sense of smell return to normal. Due in most regards to her heavily enhanced sense of smell, With her continued usage of this ability, she has now become capable of near passively monitoring the exact range of a target and their positioning within 250 meters. (Able to turn "off and on" this enhanced sense at the 'prick' of chakra to her nose)

Ichibi Curse Seal
The only ability Arashi has competent control over, this is the ability to utilize the curse seal marks over Shukaku’s body for her own bidding. Arashi can will the seals to cover her own body and control them to form various seals to preform fuuinjutsu from her own skin. As such, she can summon weapons she has sealed within them and rearrange the seals to be able to perform various fuuinjutsu that she has knowledge of without scrolls by using her own skin. She may also seal items within the curse marks and rearrange them to perform an unrelated technique before reforming them to summon the item at a later date.




-Jutsu Used-
.



-Items Used-
xSand Gourd
-Familiar Used-
x-Stray Pack

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Takato]

This Is For the Future

For The Days To Come

"Good." Takato replied, unconcerned on whether or not the rest of the elders would be grateful to his help or not. The clan had barely being reestablished for a decade after the name had faded like the grain of sands upon a desert storm. He had brought it from death after gathering descendants such as himself as a sign that some of their past would come back. He supposed that in the grand scheme of things the clan still working would contribute to the village's stability. As silence followed his word and he would listen to his daughter speak again, once more he felt that he couldn't truly answer.

Takato didn't know what to do, how to act. All seemed to him to be lost of its purpose and meaning. He didn't know what action he would take and as he listened to his daughter's questions. He took a deep breath and began to search for the correct words, stammering at first until he began, hoarsely at first. "I don't know, Arashi." He explained, turning to face her slowly, deliberately so until she would see features, shadowed in grief, unkempt in pain and haggard in disposition. A phantom apparition of the moniker that was the Lord of Iron.

"What does man have left when sorrow takes hold of his heart?" Takato replied in a quiet tone, avoiding to look at her and wondering if she thought that she had failed Kasumi as much as Setsuna did, as much as he himself believed that. "How can I dispel the shroud of the world when no candle flickering in the wind, holding to whatever wick and wax can do, will never replace the sun?" He said, feeling now like the broken man that he was.

Oonakayama Arashi

309

notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Veritas Ferrum TAG. Oonakayama Takato WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Good Goodbye Yea...us... The though crossed the young woman's mind as she listened to her father lament the loss of what he felt was his eternal light. It was impossible to fully rationalize just what could be said to help here, and it seemed like a reminder of the things that did remain would not be enough. Which...was a in a sense disheartening when the didn't value or matter... But, she could understand it....as she had been in a similar position more than once... Crossing her arms over her chest, Arashi would begin to look toward the distance as she released a breath as she shook her head. "I don't think ya do...." That said, she'd turn herself around as she leaned against the railing that face the garrison, looking toward the village as she spoke. "Ya couldn't replace mom even if ya tried...she was...heh...amazing...impossible at times..." A small smile crossed her lips before allowing it to fade as she thought of the woman and then stopped as she released a soft breath. "Someone once told me....that the best way to mourn those that are gone...is to celebrate the life that they lived...in doing so...you can remember the best of who they are and not dwell on the fact that their no longer here....and feel the regret of things that couldn't be said...." Shrugging her shoulders, she'd consider the person that gave such advice, laughing for a moment as she then rolled her eyes. "Ironically that person became a lord so there has to be some wisdom there to linger on..." In saying that, the young woman would look toward her father as she continued to smile. "You gave Mom the most loving and peaceful relationship I have ever seen...The two of you raised a family together when ya had nothing...took in kids even when ya had so little to spare...and never made us feel like we were lacking for anything..." Saying this, Arashi would then lean back further as she placed herself upon the rail, sitting down as she looked upward as she rocked back and forth. "I will remember...how mom was constantly...actin as a buffer between you and me....never taking sides...and always letting us work things out....she was strongest shinobi within the village could kick both our asses but she remained a peacekeeper and a single look could cut through the bull shit..."

SPOILER: Click to show

-S.A Used-
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.

Enhanced Smell

Somehow, Arashi has gained an enhanced sense of smell. It appears that she’s been hanging around dogs for too long and has obtained a sense of smell that rivals that of a blood hound. In reality, she has simply discovered that by channeling some chakra to her nose she can enhance the cells within it and gain a super sense of smell that may act as a sensor and tracking technique. She can smell out strangers, steel and various other things. Arashi may retract her chakra from her nose as well to make her sense of smell return to normal. Due in most regards to her heavily enhanced sense of smell, With her continued usage of this ability, she has now become capable of near passively monitoring the exact range of a target and their positioning within 250 meters. (Able to turn "off and on" this enhanced sense at the 'prick' of chakra to her nose)

Ichibi Curse Seal
The only ability Arashi has competent control over, this is the ability to utilize the curse seal marks over Shukaku’s body for her own bidding. Arashi can will the seals to cover her own body and control them to form various seals to preform fuuinjutsu from her own skin. As such, she can summon weapons she has sealed within them and rearrange the seals to be able to perform various fuuinjutsu that she has knowledge of without scrolls by using her own skin. She may also seal items within the curse marks and rearrange them to perform an unrelated technique before reforming them to summon the item at a later date.




-Jutsu Used-
.



-Items Used-
xSand Gourd
-Familiar Used-
x-Stray Pack

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Takato]

This Is For the Future

For The Days To Come

"No..." He trailed for a second as his daughter spoke. "I never beat her in our spars." The Lord of Iron spoke, he remembered when they had met when they were mere children. He didn't have his mastery of iron sand like he did now and his clumsy movements hadn't been fast enough for him to react. The fight had bended before it had begun, with her grinning face hovering over his as she held a fist and demanded his capitulation. It was safe to say that she had stirred something in him even back then as a boy, ignorant of how he felt.

"She was truly stronger than me, but had the wisdom and humility to know that I was best suited for Kazekage." He said in a quiet and reflexive tone. He allowed himself a brief sigh, feeling the dryness of his throat. Even when he still felt the pain as if a hot burning iron had been piercing his heart, he knew that his daughter had the right idea. He couldn't truly live like this, Kasumi wouldn't like that. "I was truly blessed and even lucky she found interest in a wimp like me." He said, forcing a pained smile as he faced their daughter.

Yet, he didn't know how to exactly move forward. He wasn't sure he could go back to their house, their old house at any rate. At least not now, not this soon. "I... Can you walk with me, Arashi?" He pleaded his daughter, looking at her, finding much of himself on her features but softer, holding the echoes of Kasumi in a way he really hadn't seen before. "If, you don't have anything to do, that is."

Oonakayama Arashi

301

notes

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Veritas Ferrum TAG. Oonakayama Takato WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Good Goodbye It was a brief, but the faintest of smiles could be seen on the old man's face, prompting Arashi to look at him as he spoke of his departed wife and her mother. It was no understatement to admit that he felt weaker in comparison to her, while she didn't think that to be true. If anything, if such a thing was possible, they never showed it or lorded it over each other. If nothing else, had the positions been reversed, she'd imagine that her mother could have been just as capable of a Kage as he had been. As he seemed to take a moment to collect himself, he'd begin to ask if Arashi could walk with him for a while, prompting the young woman to raise her brow as she heard the rest of his plea. He looked so tired, so upset and dishelmed. Perhaps it would take time for him to truly regain some of the life that used to meet his eyes, but it was a start in him simply wishing not to be alone right now. "Course...I don't have anything to do thats more important..." Rolling her eyes slightly, she'd then push herself from the railing as she began to walk with her father, her expression calm as she tested her hands at her side. The air was brisk due to the setting of the sun, yet the coolness that followed with it allowed for the area itself to feel less blistering hot. If one was observant, you could see the heat rising from the earth, a slight steam that would almost make a sort of mist. "For what its worth...I think you were an amazing Kage...." In saying that, Arashi would look to the side as she spoke, closing her eyes before then scuffing. "I won't say it didn't drive me nuts sometimes...but I don't think anyone could have maintained as many ties or relationships with villages as you had without compromising who they were in one way or another..." Saying this, Arashi would begin to walk backwards as she stared toward him with a calm expression. "You deserve a break....this village took enough time away from you..."

SPOILER: Click to show

-S.A Used-
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.

Enhanced Smell

Somehow, Arashi has gained an enhanced sense of smell. It appears that she’s been hanging around dogs for too long and has obtained a sense of smell that rivals that of a blood hound. In reality, she has simply discovered that by channeling some chakra to her nose she can enhance the cells within it and gain a super sense of smell that may act as a sensor and tracking technique. She can smell out strangers, steel and various other things. Arashi may retract her chakra from her nose as well to make her sense of smell return to normal. Due in most regards to her heavily enhanced sense of smell, With her continued usage of this ability, she has now become capable of near passively monitoring the exact range of a target and their positioning within 250 meters. (Able to turn "off and on" this enhanced sense at the 'prick' of chakra to her nose)

Ichibi Curse Seal
The only ability Arashi has competent control over, this is the ability to utilize the curse seal marks over Shukaku’s body for her own bidding. Arashi can will the seals to cover her own body and control them to form various seals to preform fuuinjutsu from her own skin. As such, she can summon weapons she has sealed within them and rearrange the seals to be able to perform various fuuinjutsu that she has knowledge of without scrolls by using her own skin. She may also seal items within the curse marks and rearrange them to perform an unrelated technique before reforming them to summon the item at a later date.




-Jutsu Used-
.



-Items Used-
xSand Gourd
-Familiar Used-
x-Stray Pack

MADE BY VEL OF GS