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.
From Ishikawa’s vantage point, she was able to remain unseen but kept an observant eye over the entire situation while it unfolded. ‘It rare people hold meetings without me knowing.’ Contemplating their agenda she continued to peer through her binoculars, but because she couldn’t hear what was going on she still lacked the information she’d like to have but she wouldn’t budge right away. After waiting for a few more moments while they seemed to congregate with one another something interesting finally happened.
“In Sunagakure?”
The woman would clear her throat while lowering her visual aids to the side, she would squint in for a moment to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. ‘Yeah, in sunagakure.. I guess our academy isn’t as thorough as I liked them to be.’ Sighing lightly the woman would raise the binoculars back to her eyes for a moment, she would catch glimpses of Shinji and Yusuke examining his jutsu.
“I guess they wouldn’t be totally creeped out if I just showed up randomly, I am the Kazekage, I’m supposed to patrol? What would Nato say?”
The woman lowered her binoculars once more, but this time she would tuck them away in a bag that was strapped to her hip. ‘Don’t be stupid Ishikawa I am not there, you know damn well you don’t go outside without me!’ The young woman could hear the Hyuuga’s voice playing back in her head causing her to laugh a little, she thought of him as a stifler at times because he treated her like a flower despite knowing FULLY what she was capable of. This is why today she was alone, and she was gonna try something different and deal with his mouth later.
“Okay.”
There were a bunch of different ways she could get over to the boys, but she wanted to be as noticeable as she approached. Being just under a mile away Ishikawa could cross that distance on foot in a few moments but that was too basic, and a little more effort than she’d like to put in. So, without much more thought the woman would apply a bit of her jinton chakra around her body giving her the ability to not only levitate but fly. From their point of view, if they were paying attention, they could probably see her position at this point as she gained about 2 or 3 meters of space between herself and the rooftop which was the point of her actions.
Ishikawa’s ability to fly isn’t what most would expect, she isn’t bound by any drawbacks for the most part except for dry eyes, unfortunately. And this was because of the speeds she could reach while in flight, but today this wouldn’t bother her. Without wasting any more time, she would shoot off toward their direction making the air around her pop. Crossing the distance, the trio would probably hear her ripping through the air pulling their attention away from their conversation.
“woops now I bet Nato is on the way.”
Speaking to herself as she arrived just above the building the trio was standing on. It was time for her to make an introduction.
“Hello boys, Fancy seeing y’all up here.”
Her voice was soft and carried that cheerful tone her people were used to. While she spoke, a light smile appeared on her face under her balaclava that they wouldn’t see while she lowered herself to the ground. The Kazekage would land about a meter away from Senka to his left allowing her to gain the same perspective as he had of the two Jounin, and his technique. ‘This is amazing, he’s making Ice in the desert. I wonder how they missed this in the academy.’ Her thoughts wouldn’t escape her mouth, but she was definitely impressed by the genin.
“I’m surprised I didn’t get in an invite to this exclusive meeting, what’s going on here?”
As she spoke her gaze would dance between Shinji, and Yusuke.
His eyes, turned towards Shinji, watched with full focus as the sand dissipated around the formation of ice prior to Shinji running his fingers along the formations surface. Seigen took note of the sand manipulation and stored that information within the archives of his mind which he intended on adapting into his Info Card(s). A nod of his head and locked eyes displayed the undivided attention he gave Shinji's words and inquiries.
"Other affinities, only the ones I've got are the ones that actually opens the gateway to my Ice Based Jutsu which is Water and Wind. Beyond those there I don't have any accessible elemental affinity. And I appreciate that Yusuke-Sensei, I worked pretty hard on this secretly, I don't want this to be wasted either."
Acknowledging the Two jounin before him as his superior's, he addressed them correctly with respect. Continuing to display said respect, Seigen watched as Yusuke's words came, catching them one by one without fail as he listed off the many variables and traits that powerful shinobi throughout history have held.
"Yeah, I have all of those qualities, but is it to the magnitude that you and Shinji-sensei has built probably not, but theres only one w-"
His words were cut short, as his peripheral vision caught a flying figure that sped through the open Sungakure air towards their position. before long, Seigen's eyes were able to identify the flying figure as the distance between them closed and visual clarity had been gained.
"The Kazekage can FLY?!"
Truly shocked and bewildered, the young genin watched as the Kage herself came to an easing stop and landed to the left of seigen and inquiring about their current dealings. Honored, Shy, and shocked, Seigen bowed in the presence of the village leader before returning to an upright position. He knew not what to say, only that-in that decisive moment- he felt that Shinji & and Yusuke doing the talking turned out to be the best option.
Post by Uchiha, Shinji on May 15, 2023 11:04:50 GMT -6
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“But remember, Shinji…Being a shinobi is not just about his ability to use ninjutsu. His Hyouton release is impressive, no doubt, but we have to assess his other skills as well.”
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Shinji listened as Yusuke spoke, still admiring the spiked ice jutsu, which could be useful. He looked at Seigen and wanted some DNA for some splice testing himself. I am not sure how the Kazekage would feel about it. But, it'd be interesting to have in our lab. The Uchiha's eyes took in sight but remembered he was here on another business that was slightly more important. This Genin just graduated. [break][break]
"Taijutsu, teamwork, weaponry, and tactical skills. We need to see how well-rounded he is. Even the most powerful jutsu isn't enough if you don't have the physical prowess or the tactical mind to make the best use of it. And if he can't work in a team, that will be a serious handicap in the field. A shinobi can't afford to be a one-trick pony." [break][break]
Shinji would look from the ice structure and over to Yusuke, nodding in agreement, being well-rounded is a much better approach to missions. I wonder how this bloodline limit could work in the field. Not subtle enough for ANBU but could be. Yusuke spoke again, which caused Shinji to listen and nod. [break][break]
"We should set up some tests, see what he can do. What do you think?” [break][break]
"I agree, that would be the smart thing to do." [break][break]
"Other affinities, only the ones I've got are the ones that actually opens the gateway to my Ice Based Jutsu which is Water and Wind. Beyond those there I don't have any accessible elemental affinity. And I appreciate that Yusuke-Sensei, I worked pretty hard on this secretly, I don't want this to be wasted either." [break][break]
Shinji would make a mental note of the two affinities that made up this ice-release ability, but he doesn't know any others. Which is not that big of a deal. This is a pretty impressive ability to have. Shinji was in mere observant mode and before he could respond Seigen started speaking again. [break][break]
"Yeah, I have all of those qualities, but is it to the magnitude that you and Shinji-sensei have built probably not, but there's only one w-" [break][break]
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the air dissipating around an object he can't make out yet, which caused Shinji to turn on his pivot to observe the Lady herself coming into a landing, realizing this was what caught his attention, it's Kazekage. Shinji turned from the ice structure to face the woman who helped save his life. He still had his hands in his pocket as Seigen spoke in surprise. [break][break]
"The Kazekage can FLY?!" [break][break]
As the eyes of Shinji focused on the Kazekage, one thing he didn't understand is why she liked his brother so much. It wasn't important to what was happening now, but the thought crossed his mind as he nodded to the Kazekage in a show of respect. [break][break]
“Hello boys, Fancy seeing y’all up here.” [break][break]
This would cause Shinji to smile a bit before closing the distance between him and the Kazekage, as he removed his hands from his pocket, she would speak again, as this roof was getting crowded now. Now that Shinji thought about it, we are just invading this poor family's home and likely being loud as hell about it. Hell, can we even remove that ice from these people's homes I wonder? [break][break]
“I’m surprised I didn’t get in an invite to this exclusive meeting, what’s going on here?” [break][break]
"Well, I heard there was a graduation today so I wanted to go scope out the class and happened to see this fellow climbing a random building. I was coming to see this guy and saw he was far away from the academy. So, mission accomplished. I was observing his jutsu and unique bloodline. Perhaps was gonna try to take on this guy as a student with Yusuke over here Ishikawa if possible. Maybe take the kid for a bite to eat after I come to speak to you bout it. But, you are here now." [break][break]
Shinji smiled toward the Kazekage and bowed his head slightly in a form of respect. [break][break]
With the sudden arrival of the Kazekage, the atmosphere took on an added weight. As the Kazekage descended onto the rooftop, Yusuke's eyes followed her graceful landing and admired the adept control Ishikawa demonstrated with her chakra, allowing her to fly effortlessly. It was an impressive sight.
"Well, it appears you have a surprise guest, Seigen.” Yusuke observed aloud in a light tone. He knew this situation was not a common occurrence for the young Genin beside him.
"The Kazekage can FLY?!"
He turned to Seigen in response to the boy's awe-struck expression. “Yes, Seigen, our Kazekage is full of surprises" he began, eyes brimming with veneration.
“Hello boys, Fancy seeing y’all up here.”
Upon hearing her voice, Yusuke turned to face the Kazekage, meeting her gaze with a respectful nod and bow. "Kazekage-sama, it's always a pleasure to see you” he said.
"I agree, that would be the smart thing to do."
Yusuke appreciated Shinji's agreement, his eyebrows lifting ever so slightly as he nodded in affirmation. "Good, I'm glad we're on the same page. The best way we can prepare Seigen is by putting him through a range of scenarios. With the arrival of the Kazekage, her vast knowledge and techniques can certainly make this interesting. We could also have him spar with us. Then he can set goals for his training. Though this is just a suggestion" he stated.
Finally, his gaze returned to the Kazekage. "The meeting was rather spontaneous for myself included, but now that you're here Kazekage-sama, your input would be invaluable. After all, who better to judge a shinobi's potential than the Kazekage herself?” Yusuke spoke, the words held a deep respect for the position she held and the wisdom she had gained from her experiences. He was genuinely interested in what insights she might share about their young, promising student.
Quixotic of THQ
last edited May 16, 2023 8:49:00 GMT -6 by Uchiha, Yusuke
Ishikawa listened to her jounin’s explanation of the meeting and for her, it cleared for the most part. It wasn’t the most unusual thing for shinobi to congregate, especially after graduation.
“That sounds swell, I’m glad you two are getting along a lot better! And Nato hasn’t even been around, I’m proud of you all.”
Despite being confident in her decisions lately, there were moments when she felt unsure if she was moving in the correct direction. She wasn’t so much into following procedure, as she was into trusting people. It was an odd thing to watch, but for that exact reason, she surrounded herself with people who could check her personality. ‘Nato might’ve been wrong.’ She thought as the two presented her with the idea of co-mentoring.
“But that sounds like an exquisite plan, I think he could learn a lot from the two of you… And he might even teach y’all a little something y’know?”
Speaking playfully the woman would place her hand on Seigen's shoulder for a moment.
“I haven’t seen the ice release in ages, when we settled here, I thought I’d never see it again but here we are. Or at least not from one of my shinobi”
For a moment her gaze would shift to the genin.
“I’m proud that you’ve accomplished this feat and kept such a level head about the entire thing. Most people are a lot more boastful about being able to command such a powerful release, I appreciate that a lot Seigen you’re already on your way to becoming a fine shinobi if you play your cards right.”
After she finished speaking her gaze would move toward the two elder shinobi once more, Shinji first as he was closer than Yusuke.
“Speaking of which! I haven’t had the time to update you all on any recent news! I got some mail from the Raikage, and I may need to send a few Shinobi to Kumogakure. I know it’s kinda sudden, but I figured I could get a head start on my duties for tomorrow since you two are here. I will not go over the finer details here, as some stuff can be left for the mission briefing. But I can say that you two should get ready for a trip.”
Finally dropping her hand to her side, she would step up past Shinji to move closer to the pillars of ice, reaching out she would run her hand along the ice. ‘it’s barely melting, that’s sturdy.’ She pondered to herself.
“And I could head out myself as a clone, but I figured it’d be a great experience for you two to get out of the village. It’s not like y’all are not my captives after all.”
So much happened in such a little time with the arrival of the Kazekage. Yusuke spoke nothing but truth regarding the Kazekage having been chalk full of surprises. Seigen's eyes moved between Yusuke, Shinji, and the Kazekage as they all exchanged words, Soaking in, not only the experience, but the information and insight that they graciously bestowed upon the Genin. Truthfully, he enjoyed the idea of having a co-mentoring squad, especially considering how serious he intended on taking training his hyouton- based ninjutsu.
Feeling the Kazekage's hand make contact with his shoulder, a soft and admirable gaze turned towards her frame. The skin along seigen's eyes crawled with excitement as the words of the Kazekage's praise filled not only his ears but his confidence as a Genin of Sunagakure. On timing with her words towards Seigen, he nodded at a loss for words until the topic turned to a another matter regarding Kumogakure and the Raikage.
"A full mission, outside of the village? Of course, I'm totally ready for this! Along the way maybe we can do some training drills in between!
Post by Uchiha, Shinji on May 19, 2023 22:59:55 GMT -6
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[attr="class","textie"] [break][break] Shinji's eyes focused on the Kazekage as she spoke. The teenage Uchiha despite being a teen on the cusp of adulthood, you'd think he was older than he really is. The Uchiha took everything seriously, including teaching the newer group under him. He wasn't sure how to feel about the Kazekage praise though considering what haunts his dreams when he sleeps and what he carries with him every day.
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“But that sounds like an exquisite plan, I think he could learn a lot from the two of you… And he might even teach y’all a little something y’know?”
[break][break] Shinji would merely nod the comment, unsure of course how to take or feel about it. The younger man watched as she talked about Seigen and spoke to him. Shinji was listening but his stone-cold emotional face was brimming with tons of emotions that he kept in check. It was then that the Kazekage turned to look at him and Yusuke. The eyes of hers looking toward Shinji first and then toward Yusuke.
[break][break] “Speaking of which! I haven’t had the time to update you all on any recent news! I got some mail from the Raikage, and I may need to send a few Shinobi to Kumogakure. I know it’s kinda sudden, but I figured I could get a head start on my duties for tomorrow since you two are here. I will not go over the finer details here, as some stuff can be left for the mission briefing. But I can say that you two should get ready for a trip.”
[break][break] Shinji didn't show any emotion, just nodded toward the Kazekage as he looked toward Yusuke and then over at Seigen. Shinji breathed in as he looked toward the Kazekage as she walked past, speaking.
[break][break] “And I could head out myself as a clone, but I figured it’d be a great experience for you two to get out of the village. It’s not like y’all are not my captives after all.”
[break][break] "Yes, Kazekage."
[break][break] He would nod in her direction as a sign he was ready to take on the mission, not that he had a choice in the matter. He would look toward Seigen and Yusuke Uchiha, nodding. He would then look at the Kazekage, speaking.
[break][break] "Lady Kazekage, when do we convene for this mission?" [break][break]
The Uchiha sounded determined to do this. He is visiting another village and land he has never been to before. It's likely that Shinji may be tasked with the leadership of this mission. And, he was ready to take on whatever responsibility was being bestowed upon him. [break][break]
Engrossed in the ongoing discourse, Yusuke's gaze oscillated among the Kazekage, Shinji, and Seigen. The unexpected revelation of an impending mission to Kumogakure sent a ripple of anticipation through him, instantly igniting his adventurous spirit. The potential to widen his horizons and absorb wisdom from disparate sources was a prospect that always quickened his heartbeat.
When Shinji voiced his question, Yusuke promptly chimed in, the fervor in his tone evident. "We stand ready to undertake this mission, Lady Kazekage. This endeavor presents an invaluable chance for personal development and a platform to embody the spirit of our village. As for the timing of the mission, we'll adapt to your timeline and assure our readiness at the required hour."
He threw a companionable look at Seigen, his lips curving into an affable smile. "And regarding those training drills en route, I'm all for it. The application of skills in a wide array of circumstances can only enhance proficiency."
The unveiling of this mission had visibly invigorated Yusuke. The thrill of stepping out from the familiar confines of his village and exploring uncharted territory was a thrilling prospect he yearned for. The responsibility of representing Sunagakure in an external mission instilled a deep sense of pride in him, underscoring his evolving role in the village.
His response to Shinji's statement came in the form of a nod, after which he swiveled his attention back to the Kazekage. The self-assurance embedded in his voice painted a picture of his preparedness for the adventure that lay ahead. It was not just a mission for him, but an opportunity to grow, learn, and assert the prowess of Sunagakure's Genin.
Quixotic of THQ
last edited May 20, 2023 15:48:12 GMT -6 by Uchiha, Yusuke
Ishikawa was thrilled by the excitement the group shared about their new mission, clasping her hands behind her back as they talked of possibilities while they journeyed to the cloud. Once their conversation settled, she would speak up once more.
“You guys will be leaving at the end of the week; I’ll need you all to prepare yourself for at least a two-week-long journey, maybe more when you consider the weather. I’ll provide you with a Map that’ll have the location of the village, and the rest of the details during your mission briefing.”
Thinking about the mission she couldn’t wait to hear Nato’s complaints about assigning a genin to work with Shinji & Yusuke without his oversight. ‘I’m gonna have a long night.’ She thought for a moment.
“But all in all, your mission briefing will be in your mailboxes soon. Please do your best to prepare for this mission, you’ll be representing our village.”
She would take a step back from the trio.
“I’ll be taking off now before Nato finds me, Shinji, Yusuke, and Seigen. I’ll be in touch soon !”
As the woman spoke, she would shoot back up into the air just as she appeared this time soaring above the skyline before darting off in an unknown direction.
A mission of this magnitude so early in Seigen's career as a Sunagakure shinobi sent chills down his spine, chill's that originated from feelings of excitement and adventure. The Idea of being in the open world under the mentorship of two Trusted Jounin while exercising his hyouton abilities was something he thought about often during his academy days and secret self training sessions.
Listening intently as his eyes appropriately switched between yusuke, Shinji, and the Kazekage, Seigen nodded whenever addressed. Once confirmed that the mission would've began towards the end of the week, Seigen realized he needed to not only pack, but inform his mother of the news; despite knowing how she worried, it became his duty, his mission.
"This is incredible, My first missions outside of the village like this?! I'll see you guys later!"
Eager to prepare for the impending mission, Seigen turned and exploded into a series of rooftop dashes that carried him towards his home. Soon, the world would hear of the White Sand.
With the sudden arrival of the Kazekage, the atmosphere took on an added weight. As the Kazekage descended onto the rooftop, Yusuke's eyes followed her graceful landing and admired the adept control Ishikawa demonstrated with her chakra, allowing her to fly effortlessly. It was an impressive sight.