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.
"My god, he never mentioned it would take more than a week to extract this thing," Myaku exclaimed in frustration.[break][break]
"And he didn't say it wouldn't take a week either, did he, Myaku?" retorted his companion.[break][break]
"Well, this isn't good. I think the Raikage has caught wind of our location. There's a large group of people converging on this stronghold, Myaku. I'm not sure how this will play out. Maybe we should have started with smaller targets," Ushinawareta expressed her concerns.[break][break]
"Eh, I mean, the point is to make their lives difficult. Even if we walk away without our intended target, killing this kid will surely put the Kage on notice," Myaku responded, maintaining his resolve.[break][break]
In a dimly lit room, the duo stood over an unconscious body, their hands outstretched. It had been three days since they had captured the shinobi, embarking on this risky process. Myaku and Ushinawareta were entrusted with the mission to capture a specific Cloud shinobi, and they had succeeded.[break][break]
"If we have to, we can retreat. But first, we can sound the alarms to buy ourselves some more time," Ushinawareta suggested, speaking softly to her partner as they continued to focus on breaking the seal.[break][break]
"Alright, give me two seconds," Myaku replied calmly.[break][break]
Without moving a muscle, Myaku utilized a special technique to project his voice throughout the entire building.[break][break]
"Generals, send your troops to the front entrance! We've got company. Ensure they don't interrupt our process," his commanding voice resonated throughout the building, causing all the initiates to spring into action. They swiftly evacuated the premises, moving in unison.[break][break]
"This should give us some time. I'll keep an eye out for any real trouble," Ushinawareta stated, her senses heightened as she heard the alarm blaring.[break][break]
Whatever Sinister and twisted things the world and society felt like it spun, to Chae, existed as nothing more than childsplay in comparison to the wrath of Mochizuki, The fabled Mizukage. It was due to said wrath, that Chae had been sent to successfully accomplish his first task after his life changing meeting with the Mizukage.
Despite being left with a note and a mysterious seal that stretched across the side of his neck, he refused to allow the hands of failure take hold of his journey.
Being amongst if not out right the first to arrive, Chae waited diligently; From seconds to minutes to hours and thusly days, Chae rationed his reserves specifically meant for reconnaissance. Finally, fate rewarded his patience as the faint sound of a voice projected throughout the entirety of the fortress; commotion.
On Cue, Chae finally moved, disturbing the nest of leaves, twigs, rain, insects, and animals that passed over. From said nest Chae emerged silently, almost as if he himself commanded nature to aid him on his silent pursuit. Covered in mud, grim and soil of Kaminari, insects peacefully crawled off and away from his body as he came so a low, one-knee crouch, eyes slowly opened and alert.
Positioned next to a tree that'd been rooted near the western-most Corner of the fortress about 15 meters from the entrance in which they anticipated enemy forces. Aiming to gain an advantage, Chae seemingly disappeared, leaving a handful of peacefully falling leaves as a testament to his previous position.
As for Chae himself, the movement had been one of upward ascension, carried with enough force that he landed upon a thick branch that easily supported his weight. Coated in chakra, his feet silently landed upon the bark 10 meters vertically from the ground he once remained hidden within.
Fastened into his position, a family of branches & leaves both below and above Chae acted as fine cover beneath the veil of night. Intently, his eyes moved about, scanned the lay of the land before him, aware of all things beneath the influence of his gaze, for now he waited, casting quick-cuts of his eyes towards his flank and the top of the fortress' edge.
Part of the reason I found comfort in the air of Mizu no Kuni had to do with the special way Kiri’s odd, unusual, yet natural mist pockets hid you away, as if you no longer had to live on this earthly plane. Yet this new land, this country of thunder, where natural misty hidden veils are abandoned and replaced with thunderous mountain ranges, began to adopt its own sense of charm. Loud, rather than silent if you will. But hey, I was no flower in the wind. A change in scenery would not define my undoing. I would simply adapt, as I always do, and make sure to perform my role as battle medic as efficiently as possible. But one cannot portray support without having a partner; and so, as I crept up the nightly path, approaching the proposed meeting place as detailed by my orders, I finally gained sight of my rendezvous.
There he is…
He emerged from earthly constraints effortlessly, deciding to cease being one with nature, and instead, seek guidance from a perch higher than his own perspective currently afforded. He was agile in his approach, a sufficient quotient of dexterity used to maintain his ascent and rule out any form of error. Now, as he has reached his new position, he appeared to be intent on gaining some form of insight on our target. I sighed lightly, not minding that a simple activation of my own chakra would reveal all, and instead choosing to align his priorities with my newfound comrade. His name was prevalent in the dossier I had received before I had been dispatched to this mission, but then again, he was no stranger. We had completed several operations successfully, As such, I felt confident in speaking his name.
”Greetings, Chae-san…”
“...just what is it that you see!?”
Considering we all had the same orders, there was no reason for my counterpart to assume any ill will rooted in my rather casual approach, despite the war-like air that currently suffocated all those within reach. This was, after all, the designated meeting point. And after several successful missions completed together in the recent past, I was no stranger to the Lightning Tiger and his incredible prowess. We knew just exactly what to expect from each other, no more, no less. As I approached, my figure hidden as well in a combination of night’s darkness and the wild vegetation, I traversed swiftly and stealthily. A quick check of my equipment – radios, weapons, accessories, items – was done one more time, all while remaining patient but a few meters away from Chae.
There was nothing else left - it was time. As I pondered his response, I felt chakra rush to my eyes. It was time to really see what was going on.
She can't help but wonder if they were back to the warring states period. [break][break]
Because undergoing an S-rank mission is, for some reason, completely fine on the raikage's radar even for a genin like herself! Cursing the nagging pressure of feeling out of place, the kunoichi moves amidst the shadows, encroaching throughout the night and sneaking towards the rendezvous point. Perhaps many of her peers and impromptu allies would feel a sense of duty, ambition, or even competition as they tackle this newfound threat, but Jin's a simple girl -- it takes her best right now to remember breathing is crucial once in a while.[break][break]
"It'll be alright, alright, alright...sigh..." As a cascade of nervous sweat flows down her features, she cheers for herself mentally. It gives her no extra courage points, but comfortimg herself like this keeps her grounded in reality instead of spiraling down into despairing scenarios that haven't even happened yet. [break][break]
Unlike the outsiders they have for allies in this mission, even an inexperienced kunoichi like herself has some decent knowledge about the terrain. It doesn't take her much time to follow the rendezvous coordinates, and before long, she arrives and perches herself on a resilient branch, hidden amidst minor branches and leaves around her, with just enough room to peek at the entrance.[break][break]
With a few quick motions, Jin checks for all her scrolls. Her pair of ninjatos are sheathed and strapped to her waist and her tanto to the upper right of her back, near her right shoulder. The tree to which her perch belongs sits quietly southward from a gathering of mist shinobi, with around fifteen meters separating them from one another. A soundless sigh escapes her mouth, a sign of the momentary relief for arriving at the rendezvous in one piece, though the feeling is not long-lasting. Having Xio and Hyouka-sensei around certainly makes things less stressing, but... In the end, she just hopes everything works out and they all get to go back home together.[break][break]
The kunoichi quickly notices herself falling victim to pessimism again, and knocks her forehead with her right fist to keep it together. [break][break]
"Itata..." she mumbles under her breath. [break][break]
'Hesitation is for the unsure' Xio pondered as he maneuvered through the dense forest, trailing behind his fellow clansman Jin. This marked their second mission together, one that seemingly surpassed their capabilities, led by the experienced Hyoka. While Xio couldn't help but harbor concerns about the potential pitfalls of their current situation, he placed his trust firmly in his kage. Filled with unwavering confidence, the genin donned his customary mission attire, albeit swapping his scythe for his trusty gourd.
"We should be nearing our destination, Jin," he muttered quietly.
Breaking through the chakra barrier that shielded the castle, Xio and Jin advanced effortlessly, the barrier proving more of a visual illusion than a formidable obstacle. Perched among a cluster of trees, Xio stood shoulder to shoulder with Jin, his gaze fixed on the castle they were tasked to raid. Beyond it, he spotted two Shinobi that seemed out of place in this domain.
"Well, it seems like her information was accurate. We might have more support than initially anticipated. Things could get messy,"
Xio commented, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.
Turning to Jin, he leaped from the tree, landing with a soft thud about 10 or 15 meters away from his fellow shinobi he noted off in the distance..
"Hey there! Are you friendlies? I hail from the Hidden Cloud Village. Could we have some identification before things take a turn for the chaotic? Just your names and villages will suffice,"
Xio called out, surprising himself with the audacity of his forward stride. He hoped to maintain a welcoming tone, aware that these men could potentially pose a threat. The blaring alarm emanating from the castle, coupled with its direction pointing toward them, instilled a modicum of confidence in Xio's decision. Without glancing back at his comrades, the genin attentively awaited the duo's response, all the while keeping a vigilant eye on the castle looming ahead.
'Can't Kumo handle their own in-territory problems?'
He had a valid point.
Whilst he tried not to get tied up in the affairs of villages, it was clear that the Hokage had some kind of fondness for the Raikage - that or, sending him trapesing to Kaminari no Kuni was a form of peace offering. Either way, he'd had to travel for quite some time to get to the location that Raikage had pinpointed in her communications, and what did he get? nice lodgings for the night? a red carpet welcome? No. Was he expecting any of it? Probably not - he wasn't that delusional. Not yet at least.
With his long black hair tied up securely out of harm's way, and the Konohagakure shinobi headband he usually wore tucked away, hidden in a pocket, Yuurei approached the keep. His breathing was steady, despite wearing the herbalist's respirator that he had only restocked not a few days ago. Though he wasn't aware that he'd be heading out at that point, it was a good thing that he'd gotten his belonings ready. From what he'd heard, the coming events were going to be difficult, though not without the support of any other nation that would offer its support to the good people of Kaminari no Kuni. Whilst he didn't necessarily sign up for this mission, the pay packet promised at the end sweetened it a little. Partly shrouded in a cloak and camouflaging against the backdrop of Kaminarno no Kuni, he sauntered on confidently.
The closer he came to the stronghold, the more aware he became that it looked he wasn't the only one here.
'Hey there! Are you friendlies? I hail from the Hidden Cloud Village. Could we have some identification before things take a turn for the chaotic? Just your names and villages will suffice'
Yuurei sighs. 'Are they trying to get everyone killed?' he ponders, looking on at the white haired figure. Whilst Yuurei was aware the call-out wasn't for him, but instead two other shinobi he could make out up ahead. Tucked down, his hands meet delicately to form the seal to instigate Kagura Shingan. With one burst of chakra, Yuurei focuses, attempting to discern the figures within 50 meters of him up ahead. For those closest, a few things were clear:
- A figure who's aura glowed with raiton - something that Yuurei was all too familiar with, bearing a huge chakra pool; - A second, edging closer to the first, with traces of doton and suiton running through their body; - A third with fuuton and doton coursing through their veins;
And
'Huh?!'
lastly, another, closer on approach to the third with a chakra source unlike anything he'd ever seen before. Yuurei made a note of this as it was otherwordly - was he seeing things correctly?
Placing the learned information to memory and their current locations, Yuurei would deactivate the technique after picking up the remaining traces of chakra further afield, and move closer to the group, the tracker on his left eye allowing him to spy on each individual member from afar. 'I guess it's not all that bad of an idea to have allies in a situation like this..'.
{Techniques used}Starting chakra pool | x2 Massive Chakra used so far | x2 Mid
Kagura Shingan (Kagura Mind’s Eye) Rank: S Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10), Far (10m+) Type: Supplementary Handseals: 1 Chakra Consumption: Low – 2x Mid; Low to sustain Kagura Shingan is an advanced Sensory Ninjutsu technique used by all sensors, and serves as the root to the entire sensory tree. After performing the necessary handseal, the sensor closes their eyes and uses their innate ability to detect chakra in order to determine the location of their opponent by the faintest of chakra trails, as well as discerning the size of an approaching unseen force, and even their chakra capacity.
This sensory technique can also discern whether or not a person is under the effects of a Genjutsu; which elements they have at their command (even advanced releases), and likewise mask their own chakra signature (user’s) from other sensory ninja. The focus required to do the latter (masking their signature) prohibits their other sensing abilities, however.
Note: For a Low increment of chakra, the user can detect all chakra signatures within twenty meters of their person. For a mid worth of chakra, they can sense all chakra signatures within thirty meters; for 2x Mid, they can extend their range up to a maximum of fifty meters.
Trailing behind both Genins under her charge was Hyouka. Yes, despite being the leader of their team, she had herself watching their rears. It probably had to do with her emotional state regarding the Raikage's recent choices, but she knew this time that hands were tied regarding this specific one.
Landing with her team, she did her own equipment check: sword on her back, kunai blade hidden in her jacket, flashbangs, then a bunch of throwing weapons that paled to Jin's collection. It's stuff she never left home without, but she also felt she might be lacking a bit.
“The right word isn't 'could' but 'will'.”
Standing upright, she moved next to Jin as Xio stepped forward towards the other presences in the area. Since he decided to do the diplomacy, Hyouka could save herself the trouble. It was a difference in personality: She wouldn't do it until there was no one else to, but Xio was much more of a go-getter. As long as she pointed out the important parts so he didn't stumble due to something easily preventable, he could clearly do what he set out to.
Now, how messy this situation was going to turn out was something Hyouka felt she was about to find out. She prayed in her heart it would not be the worst case scenario.
Perched and elevated, Chae gained a visual advantage over the soon-to-be battlefield as his eyes & head moved about. As expected, a familiar voice called out to him, one that immediately increased his position of confidence at that time.
Ichijin Hyuuga, comrader, superior, and supporting counter part to Chae on various missions. It went without saying that the duo grew accustomed to not only their respective personalities, but their abilities within the field as well.
A soft laugh managed escape from Chae's stomach as he found the irony in a Hyuuga clansman asking what someone else could see. Cutting a quick glance toward Ichijin once he eased into his position only a couple of meters from Chae, he replied with another glance that whipped back over his right shoulder.
"I see what seems to be an allied rendezvous. There are other persons of interest not too far behind us, a group three from what I can make out, non-hostile as of now."
With confidence, Chae knew that anything he may have failed to see or noticed wouldl've effortlessly been isolated and relayed to him by way of Ichijin's capabilities.
"Simple enough, alarms on. I'm going to enter from above while they expect others to enter head on from the entrance."
Mere moments into his briefing, Chae's attention had been gathered by an approaching figure that inquired whether or not Ichijin and Chae had been friendlies. From 15 meters away he spoke with volume, especially from that distance in order to have been clearly heard. Chae's teeth clicked in irritation. Tch!
Refusing to return a verbal response of equal volume, a half-turn towards his rear, facing the Genin from a side view, a single "shushing" finger raised to Chae's mouth.
Not even a moment later had his legs and feet blazed in tandem, pushed against the branch that he and Ichijin remained perched. Launching himself through open gaps of branches and vegetation, Chae's final, upward Ascent carried him up, forward, and over the Fortress' edge.
Landing in a half crouch, unannounced, unsuspecting, and utterly silent. The Area had been circular, meant to be one of the fortress' bastions' positioned within a corner of the structure.
his commanding voice resonated throughout the building, causing all the initiates to spring into action. They swiftly evacuated the premises, moving in unison.
And then there was none.
So all of if not the bulk of their forces were truly gathering at the entrance. As the alarm continued to ring true, Chae hoped that any other remaining parties would've provided an appropriate diversion. Either way, he knew Both himself and Ichijin needed to press onward. Looking ahead, no one existed before Chae, not then at least. Eyes and sense alert, Chae waited for Ichijin's support, refusing to move forward without him.
Instantaneous gratification washed over me as the chakra I began to summon moments ago rushed to my head – specifically, my eyes – granting me ocular superiority. A vast world, tumultuous world was unveiled before me, and with that, all the many details that came with it. It was stunning. Byakugan! There were three things I was the most eager to uncover. Firstly, I would take notice of our surroundings. Cha-san was one of the most talented trackers I knew, but nothing was more infallible than the magic behind my gaze. Nothing within fifty meters would be hidden from view. And as expected, it seemed we were not alone. Three nearby unknown agents nearby seemed to act as a coordinated unit, while a lone agent remained slightly behind. All of their equipment was noted as well, as well as any literature possessed.
”Yeah…it seems we have company…”
My hushed tone came off as somewhat sarcastic, a slight dig at the apparent Kumo-nin that so loudly announced his presence, as well as that of his allies, and disregarded the most basic rule of being a shinobi. Then again, it was no secret to the enemy Kumo would be offering a retort to the enemy’s invasion, all with the help of the shinobi world. Mochizuki made clear that this mission was designed in solidarity with the Hidden Cloud. As perplexed as I was to witness my leader to earnestly entertain a notion other than that of violence and murder, I also understood it was a time of overall peace for each country and its hidden villages. Bloodthirsty or not, one did not become the head of one of the main hidden villages in the world without possessing some intellect when it came to diplomacy. As such, I would react differently than that my Kiri-kinfolk to this innocent exhibit, and tolerate any naivety without experiencing a personal sense of disdain towards our allies.
But this did not mean I would sacrifice my own intelligence either. It was evident the allies present were sent by their respective Kage under the pretense of offering assistance to Kumo in the form of quelling this foreign invasion, and putting a stop to whatever nefarious plans and schemes the unknown actors have hatched. As such, I would match Chae-san’s attitude, though not without offering a morsel of the information requested. However, just before, I would make sure acknowledge the second bit of information I desired to attain through the use of Byakugan – that is, any and all potential enemy traps, with or without the power of chakra behind them. This was especially important now that Chae decided to move forward in a tactical way. Rather than approach the main gate head on, he would skillfully attempt to scale the walls on the sides by first traversing the body of water in between where we stood and our target.
”There should be no chaos. I am a Jounin after all, and we are here to help. But that doesn’t mean we have to reveal everything about ourselves, either. It’s bad enough that we have to come down here and bail you out, in your own home to boot…”
“...but I kid, I kid. I suppose you can call me F. We hail from Kiri. We all have a job to do.”
“That is all.”
It was the codename Mochizuki had given me once I had visited him in his personal quarters and dined with him, an experience whose result I still am unsure about to this day. My mind, after all, was still fuzzy regarding our meeting. But regardless, we were under no orders to reveal vital information about ourselves, and the revelation of my rank was only to reiterate we were no amateurs. Whether they were satisfied or not with my answer did not matter, for in the end, once I recorded all visible traps in the area into memory, I moved on to the third and final aspect of important behind my ghostly gaze – the location of enemy troops. I mimicked a similar path to that of Chae as I began my approach, using my most basic shinobi skills to walk across water, similarly to Chae. It would not take long to take note of the surging number of soldiers coming forth towards the main gate, as well as those that remained within. Each of their positions were also recorded.
If the area was clear of traps, I would continue to follow Chae's path.
Byakugan (All Seeing White Eye) Rank: C Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m), Far (10m+) Type: Supplementary Handseals: - Chakra Consumption: Low
Description: As its name implies, the Byakugan is just that, a featureless white eye that can occasionally possess hints of blue-gray and lavender, respectively. When the Byakugan is activated, the user's pupils become more distinct, and the veins near their temples bulge, representing the sudden chakra activation that makes the doujutsu possible. All members of the clan possess and can use the kekkei genkai from birth, as opposed to needing to awaken it. Byakugan gives the user a near 360 degree field of vision, except for one blind spot at the back of the neck above the third thoracic vertebra. With this vision, the Hyuuga can see through solid objects, and can use a degree of telescopic sight up to a maximum standard distance of fifty meters. However, by holding a single seal (tiger), the user may enter a "focused" state and increase their range up to a maximum of five kilometers; they must remain still during this enhanced sight, and due to their attention (and sight) being well beyond their immediate surroundings, are quite vulnerable to assaults. Finally, one of the greatest uses of the Byakugan is the ability to see chakra, chakra flow as well as the chakra circulation system inside the body with great detail. It is from this particular ability that they are able to employ their ultimate attack style - the Gentle Fist.
Note: Because of the eyes ability to see all things chakra related, the user can detect chakra sealed barriers as well as determine when genjutsu is being used; this means hyuuga are unaffected by genjutsu cast upon them. It can also discern a transformation as well all types of clones (spare for Shadow Clones, as the chakra is evenly distributed).
