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.
Name: Scouting - Part I (5) Rank: C Repeatable: Yes Description: With the shinobi all gathered and stationed within the village Kirigakure is a safe place to be. However this doesn't mean that danger doesn't lurk on the outskirts. Objective: Search the Land of Water for any mysterious persons. If a missing nin is spotted or a shinobi from another country is found, do not engage. Report back to the Mizukage immediately.
Kirigakure gates are in the interior of Mabushī sanpuku (blinding mountain side). Getting to their gates is a task alone without the addition of finding and gaining entry.
He stood just outside the entrance to the blinding mountain side; both its’ location and knowledge of how to navigate the catacomb-like passageways within, which served to keep the village effectively hidden from the outside world, had been engrained to memory since the day he had become a shinobi of the Hidden Mist.
Dressed in garbs dark as a midnight sky, his clothes were light and loose-fitting typical of those of the clan - bandages adorned his limbs, halfway concealed by the short of his sleeves and the legs of his pants. Shinobi tools and pouches were fashioned in their appropriate space inside of the Kirigakure sanctioned Flak Jacket he wore over his torso.
None of this could be seen at the moment, however, as it was all overshadowed by the hooded ebony cloak he wore.
His eyes scanned over the mission document in his left hand once more, the moonlight barely enough to illuminate the parchment – fortunately, he was ever so familiar with the surrounding area, and the ever-creeping mist of the country did little to detour his eyesight.
It was a basic patrol mission— one that probably could have been delegated to a lower ranking ninja, a genin or newly appointed chunin, but Itada had found himself increasingly bored within the confines of the village. If not for nothing else, it would give him some time away from the usual hustle and bustle of Kirigakure.
He would not be alone on this mission, and so he waited by the mountain entrance for his comrade(s) to join him.
There had been talks amongst the higher ranked shinobi in the village, rumors about recent developments in the military strength of the village — he was not one to question intel, but Itada wanted to see it for himself.
last edited Jun 7, 2023 15:33:56 GMT -6 by Sōsuke, Itada
Scouting had always been a task that Chae knew quite well, accustomed to the methods taught by the greatest trackers & scouters Kirigakure had to offer. Due to familiarity, Chae confidently found success whenever missions of that nature registered onto their mission board.
Rising to the occasion whenever called upon by his home, Chae admittedly enjoyed changes of pace regarding missions every now and again. Having just returned from Kaminari after both Ichijin and himself assisted in Kumogakure's troubles, a lesser taxing missions that he'd been familiar with many times over acted as a much needed break.
Clad in a black, flak jacket style hoodie with matching sweatpants, and enclosed shoes designed for intense mobility. Notified that a jounin would accompany him; although excessive, he hadn't questioned why two ranking officer's were needed too deeply. If Its one thing Chae accepted and understood, had been that Mochizuki had always maintained his own reasons for things.
Step by step, steady strides carried him through the catacomb-like pathway that stretched from the inside of the village to the gate's mountain side-entrance way. Once stepped out into the open, his new-found accomplice remained. A quick glance allowed Chae to scan over Sosuke's frame, matching his physical information with the whispers of his capabilities that moved throughout the village's many ears.
Wasting no time, Chae continued onward as the sounds of damp forestry and the creatures that inhabited it moved about. The Ambience of the mist was something that Chae always found soothing.
"Any reason in particular I was picked for this despite there already being a jounin assigned?'
"Oh...Chae Yoon Kushinada btw, Kirigakure's God Of Lightning"
Post by Sōsuke, Itada on Jun 9, 2023 16:26:51 GMT -6
Wasting no time, Chae continued onward as the sounds of damp forestry and the creatures that inhabited it moved about. The Ambience of the mist was something that Chae always found soothing.
On cue, as if the two had previously rehearsed, Itada would seamlessly follow suit, no movements wasted as the two continued forward, leaving the security of the blinding mountain.
"Any reason in particular I was picked for this despite there already being a jounin assigned?”
The comment almost made Itada chuckle; if Chae was paying attention, he might have caught a glimpse of a slight smirk etching itself upon the face of the Uchiha.
“Seems as if Lord Mizukage doesn’t think me old enough to be out the village alone.”
A rare response from Itada to someone he barely knew; it wasn’t outside of his personality to joke or play, but only around those he trusted and loved – to those who had yet to break themselves into his circle of trust usually got the cold and silent treatment until they managed to break through the mold.
"Oh...Chae Yoon Kushinada btw, Kirigakure's God Of Lightning"
The God of Lightning?
Itada had no basis to debate; reports included in the dossier spoke highly of the chuunin’s prowess in lightning style – in fact, that was pretty much the emphasis of the entire document. He was unfortunate enough to not be able to witness that last chuunin selection exam, but he’d heard stories of the tournament, from both gossip around the village, and the Mizukage himself.
Lacking a moniker himself, Itada simply gave his name.
“Itada Sōsuke”
What wasn’t mentioned in the dossier was information that had been directly correlated to him by ANBU of the Water Shadow himself, and was the true reason why Chase had been assigned to attend the patrol.
Mochizuki wanted to ensure that Chae’s new “pet” wasn’t having a negative effect on the chuunin. From their initial interaction everything seemed fine, but only time would tell.
It wouldn’t take long for the two to be out of sight of the village and fully entrenched in the surrounding wilds of the Land of Water. As they trekked forward, Itada would relieve himself of a few details of the patrol.
“Our destination is southwest, quite a distance from village”
“A place I haven’t visited in a long time. I would like to check up on things.., he spoke as his mind trailed off a bit, memories of his father starting to seep into his thought process.
last edited Jun 9, 2023 16:33:20 GMT -6 by Sōsuke, Itada
Sitting at about 5 meters in width and seemingly limitless in length, the road in which both parties walking along remained smooth and ever still in tandem with the environment, only disturbed by the conversation between Chae & Itada.
"Not old enough? Heh, thats totally a load of bull..."
With each step that carried the duo deeper into the mountain path, their conversation seemed to have taken steps of its own, unveiling surface traits of the duo's respective personalities. A quick glance had been cast towards Itada as he verbally returned his own introduction. Itada Sosuke? He knew he'd never forget it.
A Long stretch of silence grew between the two as Kirigakure, once towering in all its glory, soon became nothing more than a figure within a misty horizon. As if geographically on cue, once a certain distance had been reached, Itada's words sliced through the silence between them, ushering them towards a southwest destination. Side by side, one step after another, Itada remained within Chae's peripheral vision.
"Sounds like a home, or something close to it rather. Well it won't long till we're there. I doubt there's anything going on or any need to rush for now. But this long walk is definitely leaving my thoughts open about seeing the nine tailed fox up close in Kaminari."
Post by Sōsuke, Itada on Jun 9, 2023 18:58:52 GMT -6
SCOUTING (3)
If it wasn’t already clear, Itada was not much of the talkative type.
He’d adopted the true moniker of a shinobi – stealth, silence, and discipline - traits embedded into him from his father – and so, he often tried to watch the words he used when interacting when others. Deception was a powerful tool in the shinobi world, and was an art the kiri jounin valued immensely and practiced proactively.
“It is no home of mine. But a city-like fort my father cared for and visited frequently before he was murdered”he replied to Chae.
Perhaps it was the age similarity between the two - Itada only being one year older - that had the Uchiha more open than usual, or perhaps it was the way he’d been feeling lately. It was a hard thing for him to describe, but he felt a bit complacent. With the treaty between the nations active, there was little for the stronger echelon of shinobi to really do.
Mention of the nine-tailed fox had piqued his curiosity — what exactly did Chae mean?
Nine-tails up close? Do indulge.”
If he obliged, Itada would follow-up with another question.
“Do you think the forces of Kirigakure, in our current state, could defend against such a power?”
Although he had never encountered a bijuu on his lonesome before, he was a jounin, and had read plenty of literature in the village archives about the legendary beasts and the destruction they could create. It was part of the interest surrounding his new comrade; if he was really in possession of a power as mysterious and catastrophic as a bijuu, then he would play an instrumental part in the future of Kirigakure.
He would keep his knowledge of Chae’s status as a jinchuuriki under raps for now.. at least until he had seen all he needed to.
Pretty soon, the road would start to narrow and Itada would signal that they would cut left and enter an area of marshlands they would have to pass through before reaching their true destination.
“Careful of the wildlife — they are particularly dangerous around these parts”
last edited Jun 9, 2023 19:10:24 GMT -6 by Sōsuke, Itada
When Itada opened up -albeit briefly- about his father, Chae's eyes drifted forward ahead of him for a moment, reflecting upon his own family, his parents. Without allowing silence to fill the voice for too long, Chae replied.
"Sorry to hear...Hopefully you seen justice about it if you haven't already. Family is important. Mine is just...poor, my salary goes to them."
Every word, intentional, precise, & driven with internal purpose, sounded as though Chae related in many ways, forced for provide and look after a family stricken within extreme poverty. Still young adults, and still humans, Chae found it quite odd when meeting overly stoic and cold kirigakure shinobi; however, he understood considering the village's culture. As with all things, Chae managed to balance time vs place when it came to expressions of personality.
Itada progressed the conversation into Chae mentioning of the Nine-Tailed fox, and wondered whether or not Kirigakure's forces could withstand an attack from calamity itself. It was then that Chae's eyescut & returned to Itada's position.
"Hell No....It was during the mission with Ichijin to assist Kumogakure in good faith. But somehow the nine tails showed up after a beam of light reached into the sky. Never seen anything like it before."
"If we get attacked by that now? We'd most likely lose, which is why ever since I've been back I've been looking for the true god of lightning...Ramuh and his Lightning Armor technique."
Once finished, the road soon narrowed and following Itada's directions and orders as the official ranking officer, Chae seamlessly followed suit.
"Heh, I'm sure by now any wildlife here has seen me them Chidori Target practice. we'll be fine."
Although not concerned with wildlife by any means, an even nastier species of creatures often times inhabited the deep area's of the Mizu no kuni mountains and damp forestry. Petty criminals and thieves. Slowly but surely the sound of two hugs harassing a traveling couple came to pass, easing into listen range with each advancing step.
"You hear that, Itada? I know reports just say survery and report back but....of the record? I always clean assholes like this up and act like i saw nothing...its your call."
Post by Sōsuke, Itada on Jun 10, 2023 19:48:11 GMT -6
The death of his father was a touchy subject for Itada to talk about; it had been almost a decade, give or take, and although he was usually adept at keeping his feelings under control, it was a difficult thing for him to do when it came to the subject. Being so, he tried his best to conceal the feelings he felt and continued forward with the nine tails.
These were Itada’s thoughts as they continued forward and he listened to Chae speak.
We would lose? He imagined so – based on what he had learned through his research and other means, the bijuu were a force to be reckoned with, capable of shifting the destiny of the planet off naught but a whim.
Ramuh? He’d never heard of this Ramuh, but Chae spoke of him with a passion Itada could feel, and so he made a mental note to himself.
Lightning Armor Technique… This sounded interesting to him. He’d inquire more in the near future.
Chidori target practice… So, he was capable of utilizing such a high level technique? And he spoke of it as if he was a master- impressive, to say the least.
Soon after veering from the road and heading through the marshland, the two would come across what sounded of someone being harassed.
“….of the record? I always clean assholes like this up and act like i saw nothing...its your call." – Chae
Under usual circumstances, the young jounin would have probably ignored the situation and proceeded forth as the situation really didn’t concern him.
At this point, the Uchiha noted the second difference between the two.
One: Chae was more open and outspoken about his capabilities and goals, where-as he himself tried to choose carefully what he revealed to others. Two: Though he was kind, he was no hero. He’d adopted a philosophy of strength- to him, the weak were food for the strong.
He did not care, but it would be a grand opportunity to gauge the effects of the bijuu, and a perfect chance to see the God of Lightning in action, Chidori and all.
“Most things I do are off the record”, he mused.
“Do your thing”, he followed.
One thing Chae would come to understand about Itada was that he was not one to throw rank around.
Again — the strong could do as they pleased.
last edited Jun 10, 2023 19:56:50 GMT -6 by Sōsuke, Itada
That alone sealed the fate of the men before him. Itada's words were cast, almost as if he'd been a shinigami sent to collect the two damned souls that laid ahead. A deep breath had been taken before calmly exhaled, and in a flash, Chae's hands exploded into action with a blinding speed. Able to perform six handseals per second, the three seals needed for his intent existed a half a second before his chakra sprang to life.
His Right hand thrummed with power, screaming as if 1000 birds invaded the immediate area without warn. Blue hues of electrifying power cascaded over his body as he took a single, leaning step forward and readied himself to act. Chidori by no means had been a technique that lived in stealth, rather loud, it naturally drew attention which had ultimately been Chae's intention.
With the sound of crackling lightning being an unexpected sound, the two bandits turned their gaze towards the Misty duo and the moment that had....Chae had already disappeared from plain view, leaving only a tuft of dirt and rustled grass in place as a testament to his speed.
Having already been unaware of their presence previously, Chae's body flicker -to them- would've registered as a magical display of teleportation. Chae knew Itada saw everything, the flicker that blasted Chae forward and between the two with a simple horizontal slash form Chidori's spear that extended just enough to encompass the proximity between the two.
Without warn their bodies, torn asunder, collapsed into two, equal halves at the waist. Cutting a gaze towards the citizen's, Chae's chakra calmed on command and faded as the sound of chidori faded into ever so softly. Taking a deep breath one more, he spoke.
"You have your lives, please be careful out here, I may not always be around to patrol...get going."
Sent on their way, Chae motioned back towards Itada, ready to continue what little had been left of their scouting mission.
"I'm pretty sure we can wrap this up relatively soon, by the time we return the sun will surely have set."
Post by Sōsuke, Itada on Jun 11, 2023 11:52:12 GMT -6
Itada watched the scene unfold like it was a movie, interest piqued at both Chae’s lack of hesitation, and the speed at which he was able to weave the seals for his technique. The lightning that sparked from his hand was intense enough to illuminate a portion of the night, and the sound of a thousand birds made it nigh impossible for anything nearby to not be alarmed — animals from all walks of life scattered from the disruption.
If the jounin would have blinked he would have missed it – Chae was as fast as he was, and augmented by the utility of the body flicker, it was all but certain the two thugs hadn’t even noticed what was about to kill them. One thrust of his arm was all it took, and what remained of the bodies hit the ground with a ‘thud’ moments after.
Itada would praise his comrades capabilities, and his merciless approach; even if Chae had left the area a bit messy, the predators and hunters of Mizu’s animal kingdom would be along shortly to clean house.
All that as left do was finish their route, which they’d do with an unmatched proficiency. Whatever conversations they had along the way would be kept between them as they sweeped through the remainder of the marshlands, arriving at their destination in the wee hours of the night.
At the fort, Itada would speak to who he needed to, check on who he needed to, and not along after the two kiri nin arrived, it was time to head back to the village.
Once Chae designated he was ready, the two’d be off.
last edited Jun 11, 2023 11:52:59 GMT -6 by Sōsuke, Itada
As the sun began setting and the chilled winds of the night crept in, Chae and Itada pressed onward, leaving the victims in their rightful place as food for the predators that ruled Mizu no Kuni's expanse. Pacing only a handful of steps behind Itada, Chae allowed him to assume the lead as their steady gait's carried them to the aforementioned fort.
Both hands tucked comfortably within his pockets, the Young chuuinin looked around and quickly scanned and assessed the area before him; quickly realizing it had been one of many areas that still had been unfamiliar to him. Despite being an isolated land surrounded the worlds oceans, Kirigakure had still been a mass of land that held many secrets even from its inhabitants.
With diligence and patience, Chae waited while Itada made his rounds throughout the fort, moving from person to person, place to place, sorting out whatever business remained. Arms folded, his body Leaned against a small village hut near the entrance; as for his mind? It violently whipped about to pass the time, lost in a spiraling storm of imaginations about meeting Ramuh and possessing Raiton no Yoroi.
Before long, Itada returned towards the entrance and the two had been back off towards the village with a simple nod cast in Itada's direction. Midway back towards the village, Chae offered his final words of the night.
"There's alot of things festering in different parts of the world...that became apparent to me after coming back from Kaminari. Chiatsuki is returning soon...and we all need to increase our power. Especially if we're going to tackle the nine-tails...."
"That Said, feel free to find me, we could benefit with some sparring."