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Post by Takemaru on Jan 19, 2008 2:49:01 GMT -5
[ Private ]The sun was shining rather brightly in the sky on this fine day in Kirigakure no Sato. A few white clouds littered the sky, and a light layer of mist blanketed the village. With the light from the sun's rays refracting off the mist the village seemed to have a certain glow to it. This was one of those rare moments where the whole village seemed to be at peace. No fights, no murders, just a serene environment in which to relax.
Taking advantage of this seldom occasion was the Genin swordsman, Setsuna Takemaru. He lay resting on a grassy hill on the edge of one of the many lakes that were located in Kirigakure. His newly acquired sword was laying idly next to him. With his back on the ground the young swordsman propped his head up with his arms, and just looked up into the sky. A thoughtful look seemed to overcome his face as he recalled the events that occured earlier in the day.
"Boys, can one of you run out to the market and fetch me these supplies? I'm too busy caring for Hitachi and Maya to go now."
The words came from his mother, a kind and caring woman that seemed to become increasingly stressed as the twins grew older. Before a decisions could even be made on who would fetch the supplies she was already off chasing one of the little five year old brats.
"You heard her Takemaru. Get going."
This voice belonged to none other than Setsuna Shin, a man harolded for his swordsmanship and his rank amongst the Shinobigatana. This man was also Takemaru's brother.
"What? Why me? I got things to do today!"
"I don't have time for doing such petty jobs. That's the task of second-rate shinobi, such as yourself."
Second-rate. It was an insult that Shin used often when talking to him. As a mild relief to the younger Setsuna he wasn't the lowest in his brother's eyes. No, those who recieved the ranking of "third-rate" were the ones that Shin considered to have no talent or potential. Despite this fact, his words still hurt. Takemaru looked up to his brother, aspired to be just like him, and yet he gets shoved aside as if he were nothing. His father was no better, in fact, he was worse. Shin at least acknowledged him. His father merely cared about Shin's training since he was the heir to the Setsuna Clan. Everything always seemed to revolve around the eldest Setsuna boy, and anything Takemaru did took a backseat. Nevertheless, it didn't bother him. Or at least he would not allow anyone to see how the neglect affected him. Taking another deep sigh Takemaru closed his eyes.
"Tch, just because he's a Shinobigatana doesn't give him the right to judge me..."
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Post by Mitsu-san on Jan 21, 2008 19:12:30 GMT -5
[ Reflection Eternal ]
Setsuna Takemaru. Such a sad story. But it was quite the opposite with his teammate, Zetsumei Mitsukai. She was the apple of her father’s eye. Her elder sister was a part of the Kirigakure no Kenpei, the Military Police of the Hidden Mist. She worked in the detective division, which meant she was always home unless called out to work on a specific case. Kitami was her primary mother figure, so she was not lacking in that ares. That’s where she learned to be a lady and still be a shinobi. Kitami was the perfect heiress, the perfect kunoichi and the perfect Zetsumei. What more did Mitsukai need?
Slowly, she walked across the old rickety bridge that had been recently reinforced with new beams and a new finish. It almost looked foreign to her now. She was used to the piece of crap that was about to fall apart at the seams, and thanks to Shou, it’s seams were sewn back together. New did not have to be foreign, but it was to Mitsu. She absolutely hated change, and she resisted bonding with her teammates because of it. The “old” had precedence in her world, and the “new” would just have to adjust to her or move along on it’s way. But in this case, she could not use that logic. The only way to become a better shinobi like all of her siblings was to conform.
Once she reached the other side, she was only a half mile or so away from the village’s gates. Oh, so often had she wondered what was over those fortified walls. But, there was no way out. The village was as secure as a maximum security prison, but only for the village’s benefit. It was Shou’s way of protecting them. That’s what she had been fed, and that’s what she was going to live by.
Mitsu stood there, craning her neck to look up at the massive wall in the distance. Just a few moments outside of those gates...
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Post by Takemaru on Jan 24, 2008 21:38:57 GMT -5
As he continued to lie on the ground and observing the lake the ebon haired Genin noticed a figure walking across the newly refurbished bridge. Raising an eyebrow he lifted his torso up a little, and propped himself up. Squinting a little he could just barely make out who the person was, but he recognized them. Zetsumei Mitsukai. That was her name. She was a member of his Genin cell, one of less annoying members of it. Though, the only qualm that he really had with her being on the squad was the simple fact that she was a girl. Having taken the majority of the things his father told him to heart Takemaru didn't believe a woman's place belonged on the battlefield, rather she was to stay at home. Was it a sexist thing to think? Of course. Did he care? Not at all. If his father said that's how things were then that's how they were to be. In the Setsuna no Ikka [ House of Setsuna ] the head of the family was the law, especially if that said head was the leader of the entire clan.
Raising his legs up Takemaru kicked himself back up on his feet, landing in a crouched stance. Straightening up he picked up his sword, attaching it to his waist, and headed towards her direction. It didn't take long for him to catch up with her, especially since she had stopped to apparently marvel at the wall. Feeling that this was a perfect chance to test out his stealth abilities he quietly made his way up behind her, careful not to make a sound -- even holding his breath as he approached. When he was close enough he leaned his head in next to hers, and whispered into her ear.
"A beauty isn't it? Yondaime-sama says that the village is near impregnable with it."
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Post by chanpuru on Jan 24, 2008 21:49:52 GMT -5
"Hehehehe... I seez yaz. Why ya all up'on her, Takemaru?" Yogitou instigated as he showed from a random bush. Dressed in his normal apparel, the Genin made a break toward his teammates. He knew well how they most likely felt about him. That was the fun in it. Making them miserable was becoming something of a hobby for him. He wandered closer and closer until he was just two steps to the side.
"Yah, Takemaru, ya tryna' get up in doz'?" he said in an aggravating tone.
Holding his self-written manga in his hands, he pointed at them as if they were the laughing stock of the entire village. He slapped his knee several times, as his large mouth stretched across his face, large teeth exposed. Almost as fast as he started to laugh, he stopped. His eyes grew in size, and he looked onto the two in utter bewilderedness.
"Wha' we here fa'?"
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Post by Mitsu-san on Jan 26, 2008 1:41:17 GMT -5
Mitsu, oblivious to Takemaru's "superior" stealth tactics, jumped a little as he whispered in her ear. She did not turn around, though, her attention still on the massive wall in front of them. It was truly a masterpiece. No one could get into Kiri without being a citizen, unless the Mizukage wanted it to be so. On the other hand, no one could get out unless he wanted them to, either.
After partially ignoring Takemaru, she turned slowly to look at Yogi-kun over her left shoulder, then shook her head at his ranting. She had not known the two for long, really, and thus she was still not used to their mannerisms. And as much as Mitsukai wished she could say they were bonding and that their quirks were growing on her, she could not. She was from a clan that had pretty much closed themselves off from the rest of the population, looking at everyone else as inferior and outsiders. She carried the same world view as her father, and lived like the little princess she was.
And she was expected to be treated as such.
Turning back to the wall, she began to walk forward toward it slowly. Something beyond the wall was calling her. Something beyond the precipice where she stood. The mist was thickening, but she still walked blindly into it. Then, as suddenly as she had started, she stopped. Without turning around, she addressed the two behind her in a calm voice.
"I'm going beyond the wall. You in?"
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Post by Takemaru on Jan 27, 2008 0:23:23 GMT -5
Success. Seeing her jump up in surprise after he had stealthily made his way behind her brought a satisfied grin to his face. Chuckling a little to himself his feeling of accomplishment would be short lived as a voice called out to them. That voice. That terrible speech. That indeciferable slang. A vein twitched on his forehead as his eyes shifted over to see the blue haired nuassance. Taking a step back from Mitsukai his eyes narrowed on the boy, who was laughing his ass off for no apparent reason. Just as suddenly as he had started laughing Yogitou had stopped, and looked at them with utter confusion.
It was things such as this that annoyed Takemaru the most. The sheer stupidity that emminated from the boy. It irked him even more than his wretched style of speech. Growling lowly to himself the young Genin would not notice as Mitsukai started to walk away from the two of them. Tightening his fists Takemaru let out a frustrated grunt.
"Why did I get put on a team with a third-rate ninja like you? You're completely usele--"
Before finishing his tirade about how pitiful a ninja he felt his forced teammate to be he would pause. Mitsukai's words had managed to catch his attention, and deep inside of him the rebellious and adventurous side of his persona sparked. A mischevious grin formed as he looked up at the large wall that protected Kirigakure no Sato.
"Oi, count me in."
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Post by Yogitou on Jan 27, 2008 9:58:42 GMT -5
"Ohohohohoho!" Yogitou chuckled, his finger pointed to his teammate. "Ya such a luza!" By this point, Yogitou had grown to live with the insult of being third-rate. He was so closed minded to others, that Yogitou had simply learned to ignore him. Nonono. There would be no repeats of what happened with them the last time. While thinking of such, he looked down at Takemaru's ankle. Smirking, he wondered if he'd left a scar. That'd permanently mark Takemaru as Yogitou's bitch.
But his chain of thought crashed to a sudden end. Looking away from Takemaru to his more understanding teammate, Mitsukai. Her idea did more than intrigue him.
"WHOOOO! I wan' go!"
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Post by Mitsu-san on Jan 27, 2008 15:08:41 GMT -5
Mitsukai was in a trance like state it this point, marveling at the architecture in front of her. There was no doubt that their likelihood of escaping form Kiri’s prison walls was one in a million , but the young kunoichi could not shake the sense of adventure that was calling her. “Alright then, lets go.” She began to walk, but then soon stopped to survey her teammates. “Oh, wait....we’re gonna need a plan.” Scratching her chin, she paced back and forth between her teammates. “Hey, Take-kun. Your brother used to work the gate at one point, right? You can be our navigator.” She said, her eyes suddenly becoming alive. “And I know about herbs and stuff, and I even have my beginners medic pack. And Yogi-kun--!” Mitsu walked over to Yogitou and looked at him expectantly.
A few seconds passed with no ideas for him, but she still smiled. She had no idea what his specialty was, seeing as how they had only been on a few D ranked missions that did not require much skill. But, she was sure he had something to contribute. “You can watch our backs. Be the lookout, kay?” she said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it a bit. Yogitou was a little out there, yes, but his intentions were good. At least, Mitsu thought so.
“Okay, guys. Our first C-Ranked mission. Explore the outside!” At those words, she headed to the gate.
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Saizō
Jōnin - 上忍
Posts: 14
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Post by Saizō on Jan 30, 2008 13:08:13 GMT -5
the sword vendor A box laid upon the pathway that led up to the seemingly impregnable wall of Kirigakure no Sato. Atop of the box sat a man dressed colorfully, purples and pastel greens, dark greens and light reds. His hair was a light brown, face hidden behind the one thick tied lock he wore on the left side of his face. He had been watching the children, all three of them, for some time now. Of course, this was unknown to them, seeing as how they didn't notice anything up until this point. As far as they knew, he was just another vendor, sitting on the side of the road. It was peculiar how his head hung low, how he kept his back toward the road, it wasn't very appealing. It wasn't appealing, at all. No one would want to buy what he was selling, he didn't even bother to look for potential customers within the shinobi that entered and left the gates.
His head rose, it was an eerie sight, the first across his path would be the young girl, Zetsumei Mitsukai. He stood, his robes dropped around his knees. His sleeves slid down over his forearms, hiding the aqua colored ring tattoos around his wrists. Bending his leg at the knee, he sent a swift kick to the box he was sitting on, revealing a large eye-like symbol on the front of it. The lid fell open, and the contents of the large wooden box spilled before the young girl's path.
Swords.
Katana, Ninjatō, Dōtanuki, Tachi, Chokutō and Tsurugi, just to name some of the types that were visibly identifiable on the ground. Brushing the hair from his face, he began turning, the first notable thing about him were his pointy elf-like ears. From behind his thick brown hair stared a blue eye, surrounded by red. Down the front of his nose was a matching red tattoo. His top lip painted a light violet. His skin, a chalky white. Brilliant blue eyes stared down upon Mitsukai with his false smile before speaking in a gentle voice, "Ah, little girl..." Delicate, he didn't seem like the type who came from such a hard village as Kiri, least of all the type to have actually gotten his seemingly fragile body sullied with blood. Then again, when one has had a career long enough in this business, you learn to not judge a book by the flowers printed on the cover. "It seems you knocked over my merchandise." Saizō's eyes narrowed upon her, almost glaring angrily, which was out of place with his welcoming grin.
"Pick them up."
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Post by Takemaru on Jan 31, 2008 0:08:28 GMT -5
"Yea-hea!" Takemaru called out after Mitsu started their self-assigned mission. A look of absolute excitement and eagerness was present on his face. As much as he loved his village there was always a part of him that yearned to journey beyond the heavily fortified walls of Kirigakure no Sato. It was for this reason that he wanted a "real" mission. A mission that took them beyond the reaches of Shou's control. He was so into the idea that not even Yogitou's presence, however annoying he was, could hinder his participation. Following behind Mitsu his grin would fade just as soon as she came to a halt, and looked at them with an examining eye. When she said that he would be the navigator for their little mission a nervous look crossed his face, and he rubbed the back of his head. "N-navigate? Yeah...sure," he said with a nervous laugh. "It'll be a piece of cake."
In all honesty, Takemaru had no idea how to get through the gate. In one of the few occasions that Shin actually acted in a brotherly manner with him just so happened to be after he returned for his month's shift at the gate. From little he was eligible to say the place sounded like an impenetrable fortress. The only advice that was offered to him was to stay along the road. As Mitsu attempted to think of some kind of job to assign Yogitou the young swordsman attempted to formulate some scheme to get them past the gate. All his ideas were worthless as they all ended with them dying by some ANBU that was in the barracks. In the end, the only plausible idea that he could come up with was using his brother as some sort of bargaining chip.
After a moment had passed the trio were off again on their mission. At least they were before a large box came crashing down near them, and spilling its contents of swords all over the ground infront of Mitsu. At that instant a very pale and decorated man stood before her. His voice was gentle, and he had a strangely welcoming grin. However, when his eyes narrowed in on her Takemaru stepped between the two with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Oi, Gyarō-san! You kicked that box! So pick it up yourself!"
His brow was now furrowed, and a look of determination gleamed in the young Genin's eyes. He stood no chance in a fight with this man, but that wasn't the point. He was standing up for what he teammate, something that was told to him by his father. For that reason, and that reason alone he followed it. Tightening his grip on the handle of his sword Takemaru awaited the man's reaction.
gyarō = man who imitates girls in dress, hair style, etc.
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Post by Yogitou on Feb 4, 2008 15:43:00 GMT -5
"CHOCHOCHOCHOCHO!" Yogitou bellowed, thrusting his fist forward as his azure orbs hid behind a thin film of skin. His cheeks shoved themselves aside making way for his wide teeth. His excitement was rather apparent as his skin darkened. A mission. This one was unlike any other. They would really be doing something worth while. If they made it over the gates, how would it make their village look. They'd be the strongest three in Kiri if they could outsmart the ANBU and leave the village.
He chased after his teammates, hoping they would break into a sprint toward the gates. He wanted this to hurry up and happen already. He had grown sick of waiting, even though he knew of the idea only moments ago. However, more things would halt their paths. Swords in particular. Very sharp swords.
Yogitou analyzed the situation carefully. His eyes flashed from the swords to Mitsu and Takemaru and to the feminine man. Raising his brow, he leaned closer to the man. His nose twitched, shaking his spectacles in front of his eyes. His hand raised to his chin, stroking it as if he had a beard.
"Um... wha' ya drest' up lik a chick foa'? Ya gay?"
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Post by blank on Feb 26, 2008 17:51:47 GMT -5
Before she could respond to the man that she could only describe in her mind as "serpentine", Takemaru had jumped in front of her on his "knight in shining armor" schpiel and Yogitou had advanced on the man the only way he really knew how, which was with childish insults. And even though they were in fact children, she put on her biggest display of adultness that she could.
Stepping past Takemaru and Yogitou, she approached the man with her nose high in the atmosphere. "Well, sir--" she began, crossing her arms. "I did not knock over your rusty little wares, and thus I am not inclined to pick them up, now if you will excuse us, we were on our way somewhere very important."
And with that, she spun -- nose still high and arms still crossed -- and faced the gate.
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Saizō
Jōnin - 上忍
Posts: 14
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Post by Saizō on Mar 4, 2008 11:30:21 GMT -5
Eyes shifted from one child to the next, they stepped up for her, first the one named Setsuna Takemaru. His purple eyeshadow shifted as his eyes narrowed upon Takemaru, it wasn't noticeable, but he quickly sized him up. He dare threaten to draw his sword? Dare he? Upon Saizō? His painted lips curled into a smirk, his chalky white skin, dinged with the impurities of the sins he committed during his career, wrinkled at the edge of his lip, folding. "Haa..." His lips parted, a hiss escaping past his lips at the sound of the annoying adolescent voice of the one called Yogitou. He spoke how he carried himself, very unbecoming for a young man with glasses.
They threw insults, insults that insinuated that he was possibly homosexual due to his garb and...well, slightly feminine features. He actually found it ironic, how one made such insinuations, yet spoke as if he had something stuck in his mouth, possibly lodged in his throat. No matter, Saizō expected the boy's to react the way they did, it was the girl that surprised him. His eyes looked down upon Mitsukai who made her way past her two champions, her nose high, as if she were regal.
"Well, sir, I did not knock over your rusty little wares, and thus I am not inclined to pick them up, now if you will excuse us, we were on our way somewhere very important."
Saizō's eyes followed the girl, his slanted eyes narrowed upon her snooty form. He failed to strike fear into her, and now, he doubted not using the "I'll take your hands for compensation" line. It was a little extreme, especially since the goods weren't damaged, but they were kids, they were gullible, they'd believe it, no? Better late than never. His posture was no longer that of a lanky, feminine sword vendor, he changed. It wasn't just his posture, it was his very being, the very feeling her radiated. Before, it was just a mysterious, feminine man, but now, it would be stupid to assume he was anything but a Ninja.
With a flick of his wrists, he lifted his arms, the sound of his kimono's sleeve weakly fluttering as it unfolded. The cold sound of metal sliding across metal. From his sleeve came two long Tsurugi, very plain, not at all flashy like some of the other Ninja Swordsmen. One was pointed out in front of him, directly at the nose of the one who tried to muscle past the lanky vendor by slyly threatening him with his sword. That lanky vendor wasn't present, not anymore, before the boy was not only a seasoned shinobi, but an expert swordsman.
"Your hands." Saizō spoke, his arm lowering, pointing the Tsurugi at the hand closest to him.
"Unless...your hero wishes to draw sword?"
It wasn't a request, no query. It was both a demand and, yet, question within itself. He didn't tell him to do it. He dared him to draw.
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Post by Takemaru on Mar 4, 2008 18:57:12 GMT -5
The young swordsman's eyes never left the lanky looking vendor before him. Not even to glance at Yogitou's goofy antics or even at Mitsu's sudden uptight attitude. Having lived his whole life in a family of hardened swordsmen where strength was valued above all he was able to tell the weak from the strong. For that reason, having lived in the shadow of his brother, he knew that this man was not what he appeared to be. This man was dangerous.
As the man's eyes narrowed in on him a slight shiver went down Takemaru's back. It wasn't noticable, but it happened. Narrowing his own eyes on the man Takemaru gritted his teeth a little. Seeing the smirk made after apparently being sized up by the pale skinned male caused him to growl lowly.
A second. Takemaru blinked for a second, and that was all it took. With a flick of his wrists the feminine man had shown his true colors, summoning two tsurugi from his sleeves. One pointing directly at the Takemaru's nose, and the other at Mitsukai's hand. Again he would speak, his words seemingly directed at the both of them. Tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword Takemaru glared at the man. It was moments like these that he would think back about his brother, his father, and all the stories of those that came before him. The stories of how valiantly they fought against all odds and prevailed. Tales of their great strength and amazing prowess with a blade. It was moments like this that Takemaru wished that he could be them.
Tatakai*, he told himself repeatedly in his mind. The chant resonating in his brain, trying to compell his body to respond. Closing his eyes Takemaru gritted his teeth, and pulled on the hilt of his sword. Opening his eyes to see his arm move in one fluid arc before him, the dual bladed sword in hand, he watched as his sword clashed against the older male's blade.
"Stop being so creepy, Gyarō-jii*. It's not cool," he spoke to the man. A smirk of his own forming on his lips. Though the possibility still existed of him being killed by this man were high Takemaru didn't care. Dying while standing up for your teammates was much better than living to see your team mistreated in the eyes of the Setsuna. If he were to back down he'd lose his father's respect, and that was something the young Setsuna boy couldn't risk. Tatakai = fight Gyarō = man who imitates girls in dress, hair style, etc. Jii = Grandfather
When he refers to Saizo as "Gyarō-jii" he's calling him old as well as effeminate.
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Post by Mitsu-san on Mar 6, 2008 0:25:55 GMT -5
Mitsukai was appalled at what she saw from the man, how he would dare pull a weapon on her and threaten her person, and her snotty air immediately dissipated at the sight of the sharp blades pointing at her and Takemaru. Had he not done so, she would have wagged her finger at him and told him off, but she was no longer in the Zetsumei District anymore. There were no bodyguards to come to her aid. Her brothers were nowhere to be found. Her father and uncle would not jump from the bushes and give this woman-- er-- man the whooping that he deserved. She pulled back slightly, then jerked her wrists away. But before she could utter anything, Takemaru had placed his hand on his own weapon and was challenging the dangerous looking individual in front of her.
Mitsu was indignant.
Not only was this man insulting her and threating her, but her teammate was taking up for her as if she were some sort of damsel in distress.
She cringed, gripped with fear, but too proud to run away. She just stood there, scowling.
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