When the comforts of civilization begin to dull our senses, we must never forget that in the beginning, there was war. And war. And more war. Long before there were empires, there were humans consumed with greed and the hunger for power. Resources, territories, information—these were the forms of sustenance upon which we preyed. Today, we call such habits vices. Oh, how arrogant we have become! Are we not still impelled by those primordial emotions? Is the advent of war so far-fetched? But alas, for you to truly understand, we must dive deeper into this land’s half-forgotten past.
There was a time when might was the only law that humankind knew. Fearsome clans roamed throughout the land, seeking amenable grounds within which they could take root and opposing forces against whom they could test their mettle. Given the irregularity of nature’s bounty, certain regions appealed more than others, and dominion over such coveted territories became the spark that ignited the earliest inter-clan wars. These fierce, internecine affairs tended to conclude only when one side had decimated their competition into oblivion, and many clans of story were rendered extinct during this period.
The victors of war, having claimed their territories, often made truces with surrounding locals, offering protection in exchange for access to the yields of agriculture. Over time, certain communities emerged as more dominant than others, either due to numbers or sheer talent, and their rapid expansion would force smaller, neighboring communities to either collapse into their fold or be devastated. When the dust settled, humankind found itself divided into the five major territories that we are familiar with today. And was the bloodshed over? With our lands obtained and our bellies filled, were we finally content?
06/01/2023 June is for Juggin
We made it y’all, another month of OTA, and fresh off the press we have another promotion ready. Leaving behind the opening bonus sadly, we welcome the jugggggg! June is for juggin AKA working hard, so we are making it a double rewards month for every mission completed! Yes we said it's double rewards, now you all can really get into the thick of those builds if you work hard enough. And who knows what you might uncover in the process. AND all jobs are free to enroll no quest EXCEPT ANBU(Black Ops) roles.
Beaming down from up above the sun was beating down on top of the Genin’s head while he strolled away from his hometown, it had been months since he’d heard from anyone. It left him with feelings of frustration and disbelief, this mission was only supposed to last for a month max and it was coming up on 6 months since he'd heard on see anyone from the Shinobi force.
“Where did everyone go?”
Dressed in all black, he wasn’t prepared for the day ahead the sun baked the air around flaring up a light sweat. It had been months since the Reikage sent everyone on that special mission to the iron, ‘why did she keep me here?’ he thought. It was odd he felt like he was one of the stronger members, of the village but he was one of the very few left behind it was a paradox. ‘Maybe I’m here for defense?’ Xio pondered a few ideas while he wondered further away from the village. Perplexed by all the questions left on his mental, he made his way towards his own sanctuary far away from the village.
“Maybe I’ll find some piece of mind there.”
He walked for hours, passing various mountainsides, small rivers, and decaying forest. The genin was looking for the special spot his father used to train him at when he was small, it was in a remote area a waterfall that seemed almost outta place flowed naturally surrounded by a dense forest. It was a place he went when he needed to get some things of his chest. After hours of walking, he finally found himself approaching his target. The sound of water crashing into water echoed through the forest, Xio smiled as the noise brought back nostalgia of his child hood.
“I wonder if dad is okay?”
As he drew closer, he even noticed his own family was ordered to the iron, but not him. ‘What the fuck is going on.’ His mind rattled around a bunch of different assumptions, but no matter what the final outcome he came to was he was too WEAK. Xio didn’t want believe in this, but it was apparent all his family friends, anybody capable of putting up a fight were sent to the iron….
“Why the Iron? What the fuck is the iron… What is that damn Reikage up to?”
The Kami clansmen was digusted with himself, and the situation at hand he didn’t know what he should do. After all of these years of feeling special, he started to feel like it was all a lie. ‘Why did they…’ the idea that his friends, and family had been gassing him this entire time about his own talents.
“It can’t be like that really , it can’t.”
Finally arriving at the waterfall, the Kami boy took in a deep breath as he drew closer.
The waves crashed from one point to another as if it was dancing with the mountain, he finally arrived.
“Just like I left it.”
Speaking aloud the lad found himself at the start of the large lake created by the waterfall, the entire area was fed from this point as luscious vegetation covered everything slowly dying out at about 100 meters. It took him back to the first time he’d been able to use a fraction of his true power, that day was filled with triumph and pain. His father pushed him to what seemed like the brink of death at some points, but he made it through seemly by the skin of his teeth. ‘I gotta figure this shit out.’ The thoughts of his dad gave him a bit of anxiety; he didn’t feel like there was a soul around that could stop his father. Sighing lightly he would take a seat sharing the space with only his own shaky reflection in the lake, it was a strange feeling in his stomach he’d been feeling the whole walk.
“But he hasn’t returned, nor has mom, or even Fuma, she hadn’t been back. This shit just ain’t right, and everyone in the village is just moving on like it’s nothing. Do,they think about everyone that left? Or are their lives just tools that can be replaced with another generation of people?”
He was troubled by these thoughts; he couldn’t comprehend exactly what was going on with the village. It seemed like no one cared that their leader hasn’t returned, and all of the troops she took with her have disappeared as well. Everyday life seemed to move on, even talks of putting a temporary Kage into place have been circulating. ‘Blasphemy’ all of the families of the troops, have already treated them like they were dead it was weird. Xio found himself at the center of a question he probably wouldn’t be able to figure out by just thinking.
“I can’t be wit that shit. I gotta do something I don’t know what but something. Good thing I went to the library before I came out here.”
Reaching into his bag he pulled out a large scroll, holding out in front of him for second he turned to his left placing it on the ground before spreading out. The map detail lightly detail version of the world map, showing known cities outside of the hidden villages that were newly established. Xio would scan the map looking for clues despite not having any idea what he was looking for, ‘she said they were going to the iron.’ He thought as he focused his attention on the region.
“It’s a bunch of uncharted land, come to think of it, their hadn’t even been talks of a hidden village in the iron.”
The thought bounced around in his head for a moment while he tried to think of the last conversation he had with Fuma.
“She talked about some mystical message that came after the biju appeared in the valut. She said it was a meeting that was setting in place years before they’d formed one village. Who did she say it was from again?”
The genin sat alone looking over the map trying to figure out what his next move was going to be. From the position he stood now, he knew he needed more information before he could move forward. But there was also the thought was if he was even allowed to go look for them, he was still a genin and with Fuma gone there was no one to give him permission to leave.
“They all wish for bullshit, and I’m tired of bullshit.”
A man moved slowly across the mountaintops without much of a goal, but that wasn’t a problem it was a day in the life of Roku. It had been month sense he seen another human, he’d been sent from the land of the iron to check on the health of the shinobi world but he always found himself districted and degusted with his chain of command. ‘They sent me out here to monitor their bullshit, I don’t even understand that point of what they want to do.. It’s not like we’ll really gain anything.’ Roku thought to himself. After years of serving he was starting to question his own ambitions, and why he was living the way he was.
“If we crumbled the villages, it won’t help us, they barely even have money, or any type of real value with all of the armed forces gone.”
Roku’s masters wanted chaos and he seen the hidden villages as something that would prevent that. A secretive man, he never fully detailed out any of his plans he just handed out objectives to his subordinates. ‘stupid tv man.’ He thought to himself. The rugged man found himself becoming a journeyman, there wasn’t enough action there was just walking.
“Mmm that place over there is green, maybe I’ll find something to eat.”
Speaking to himself in the distance he could see a large green forest, it seemed to be standing alone in the middle of no where.
“Odd.”
Without much more thought, Roku began to make his way towards the waterfall.
Xio thought, he found a bit of life in the idea of finding everyone, but looking at the map just discouraged his desire of find anything. ‘Maybe I should start by looking into the Reikage’s office for some sort of clue.’ His eyes continued to scan over the map focusing in on routes to the land of the iron, it was a real journey from where he stood now. ‘I would need a lot of materials, and planned checkpoints; it would really be the ultimate test. Sighing lightly the genin looked up from the map for a moment giving his attention to the waterfall.
“Okay, so first I’ll have to figure out a more central location then I’ll be able to map out a route and checkpoints.”
Even though Xio wasn’t that old, he carried himself with exceptional analytical skills he was often praised for his ability to plan. His attention moved back to the map in front of him.
“There are 2 possible routes I can take to the Land of the Iron, one I would be passing through the Land of Forest, Land of Hot Water and the Land of Sound. Or Forest, Hot Water, and Fire which would allow me to avoid the land of sound.”
Multiple situations cycled through his head with each route while he looked over the route looking at the possible checkpoints he would be able to make. The journey seemed like it could take up to a 6 months just to reach his estimated destination. ‘fuck.’ Xio would slam his hand into the map, before turning his attention to the sky up above gazing at the clouds passing by.
“Wait a minute.”
Pulling his eyes away from the sky he’d crack a slight smile.
“I can take a fucking boat, I know I can get the money for it.”
The thought put him at ease, but it was still the task of preparing, and finding someone to sail across the ocean with him. ‘Maybe I can find someone down by the docks, it’ll be someone looking for some money.’ He thought as he smiled ear to ear thinking about the his next steps.
“What was that?”
His eyes snapped towards the forest behind him. Xio bounced to his feet staring into the shrubbery, his eyes gained a bright red tent showing the immature mark of clan.
Walking through the forest, the density of it seemed to grow thicker as he got closer to the waterfall. ‘Still no animals.’ His search for food wasn’t going the best, and he knew he couldn’t hold off too much longer without passing out. ‘Ahh sanity. That would be nice.’ He pulled a kunai from a bag attached to his waist to help clear the path, forestry was making it harder and harder to move forward. ‘When I get back, oh when I get back.’ Branches continued to fall to the ground, and the masked man moved deeper into the forest.
“Oh what’s that smell in the air?”
Up ahead, it seemed like forest was starting to break a little, there’s a bright light and he could hear a voice.
“God?”
He asked while he moved closer to the light before arriving to the waterfall, ‘oh shit. A boy’ his hand moved to the hilt of his Katana before he stood up straight displaying a Maniac look in his face.
“No not god, a young old man, what a fucking present.”
Seemingly barking at the man in front of him, Roku bolstered a huge frame standing at 7 feet tall weighing in at about 300 lbs. On most days, people lost their breath at the site of him, but today, maybe not today.
“What’re you doing out here? Do you have food?”
Roku didn’t budge from his spot, he remained about 10 meters away from the Youth. He didn’t exactly feel like fighting, he hadn’t eaten or slept in about 2 weeks it was starting to take a toll internally. ‘Just my luck, no fucking animals, a fucking shinobi, and a lightning shinobi at that… OH WAIT, a lightning shinobi, maybe he knows where there village is.’ Analyzing the situation further he tried to mentally take not of everything around, while not showing any sign of weakness.
Speaking lightly as the man emerged from the bushes, he couldn’t hope but to gawk a little at the sight of the man. ‘where and the fuck, and why and the fuck.’ Xio ran scenarios through his head, analyzing each step the man took forward. One could tell his company wasn’t completely there as the sadistic expression appeared on his face before he spoke; following awkwardly he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Food? You really look like this because you’re hungry?”
Xio sighed lightly as the man stood upright towering over him from a distance, this situation had gotten weird for the genin. Nowhere near the village he’d come face to face with someone, he had no clue who they were. ‘Shit.’ He look to his left at his map where he clearly had his own village marked off, ‘this no good at all.’ Xio then turned his attention back to his company.
“Well ion’t got much, but some fuckin chips.”
Xio knelled down over top of the map while pulling his bag over to cover the rest of it. He searched the bag while the man stood their watching his every move, he made sure to keep his self alert because things could get bad before they got worse.
“You see, I was out here, tryna clear my mind it’s a lot of shit going on. So luckily for you I brought a few snacks…. You didn’t see no deer and shit while you were walking here. “
Vigorously he moved through his bag before he found an old sandwich he had from his last mission. It wasn’t what he said, but it was still something that could probably sooth this random man in the woods. Placing the sandwich in a visual spot of the man Xio would fold step off his map, fold it, and place it into his bag. Before standing to his feet he would grab the sandwich while looking at the large man stare him down.
“Ight so I couldn’t find the chips, but I found a sandwich, it’s just as good if not better ya know? Doesn’t look like you’ve been around too many people lately, or any civilized place. Who are you?”
As Xio questioned the man he tossed over the food hoping it would save him a little time, and space.
Once handed the chips the strange man devour them instantly, amazed by his effort the gennin eyebrow rose in amusement. ‘well, I guess he wasn’t lying.’ Xio thought while he sat quietly watching the man eat while only taking seconds to look around to check he wasn’t a sitting duck in any ambush.
“So you’re going to continue to walk around without eating and shit, or do you want help?”
As Xio spoke the man’s body seemed froze mid motion of eating chip, his locked in focus before they seemed to start losing life.
“What the hell?”
Reacting the genin bounced back a few space revealing his unmature sharingan announcing he was ready for whatever situation is ahead. Scanning the area, he didn’t see any foreign chakra’s around him which allowed him to focus his attention back onto his new associate. ‘his chakra is depeleting rapidly, what the hell caused this.’ While active his eyes could take in the situation in ways the normal shinobi would have a hard time comprehending, he could see the chakra seeping from a hole in the back of his neck.
“Well isn’t that sinster.”
Pulling the kunai from his bag on his hip Xio would brace himself as the man hadn’t moved for a solid 3 minutes. And the Genin could’ve ran a while ago, but he was interested in what was happening he’d never seen anything like it. As the man’s body seemed to exhaust his chakra like a teapot, it seemed to amplify with each passing second. Until a lifeless grin appeared on the mans face.
“Kill”
Almost instantly bursting from his spot, the shady figured seemed to have snaped pulling his sword from it’s holster. Reacting to the best of his ability the genin was able to block strike with his kunai while bracing with enough force to hold the older gentleman back. Xio would grunt slightly before using a bit of force to push he man back giving them about 10 meters of space between them.
Taken by some strange power, the mans body exploded with chakra fuming from his pours at the center of his chest a small jewel started to emerged unbeknownst to the lad it had a faint glow of light.
“AHHHH, LETS SEE WHAT THIS VESSEL IS ABOUT!”
The man let out a bellowing warcry as he pushed forward towards the younger man, in this moment his conscious was hanging on by a thread he was being guided by a supernatural force. With percesion pulling his katana from his hip he’d cross the 10 meter in was nothing to him as he was well versed in Taijutsu. ‘lets see how he reacts.’
When fighting creating space is the most essential part of fighting in any situation, no matter if it’s closing distance or adding to the space around you have to be on your toes. ‘Well he seems frantic.’ Xio hands joined to gather to perform a short dance, it was clear that he was no longer in a friendly encounter and he had to be careful. Every move counted more than the next, and one of his abilities when it came to battle was his ability to adapt. Clearly outsized by the older man, Xio new his best bet was creating space to see what the man was capable of it.
“It looks like you ate something you shouldn’t have bro?”
Finishing his set of his of handseals, Xio managed to conjure up copies of himself with each one of them mirroring his action he’d reach it his bag grabbing a specially tagged Kunai.
“Back up.”
He’d calmly say as he hurled the kunai forward, while pushing back and slightly to the left in a diagonal direction to create motion around the man causing the clones to move as well. With the clones as a diversion the lad would time the kunai perfectly while reading his movements as his sharingan allowed him to. ‘lets see what he’s made of.’ Forming another seal the kunai would explode with the force of two explosion tags; detonating with at least a 10 meter blast radius. If uninterrupted the explosion would create a cloud of smoke big enough to cover the both of them.
Continuing to push through seals while the smoke cleared, he awaited his opponent.
Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu (Mist Servant Technique) Rank: D Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m) Type: Offensive Handseals: 3 Chakra:2x Low, 1x Low Upkeep This generates five clones. Each time one is destroyed, ten more appear. This technique has a maximum of one hundred clones. Because these clones are an area effect, and not directly effecting a person, this technique can only be canceled by: hitting the user once, or having the user cancel the technique.
Being pushed back by the kid felt weird, the force behind this was unusual for a person of his statue. But it didn’t matter for at this point the bandit was fueled purely by adrenalin and the crystal in the center of his chest. Reacting to the boy’s action he would use his katana to deflect away the kunai, ‘fuck’ without noticing the tags were on it incurred an explosion. The tags explosion had enough force to knock the bandit off his feet sending him an additional 10 meters back in a tumbling manor.
Being well versed in Taijutsu he was able to withstand the blunt force of the attack only taking on some of the concussive force, from his tumble he would land on his feet katana in hand baring the same expression. With each moment passing the bandit could feel his conciseness leaving but his power output was increasing it was a blissful feeling. Letting out an furious roar, the man would ignite his blade in pure chakra.
“Welcome, welcome! We have arrived at your end!”
Shouting at the top of his lungs as the smoke cleared he would push towards the boy with his chakra blade scrapping the landscape as he crossed the distance between the genin and himself. ‘kill, kill, kill, kill!’ only one thought filled his mind at this time, there was total psychosis settling in for him. It wouldn’t take him more than a couple of moments to close the distance between him and the boy, if uniterupted he would performing a diagonal cut starting from his left going to the right.
