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.
Post by Uchiha, Shinji on Jun 9, 2023 22:47:23 GMT -6
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[break][break] The pings of the past came crashing like a waterfall of emotion came rushing back like a bad Genjutsu as Shinji sat in the sand some twenty meters out of the Bedouin Refuge, as the warm sand kept him warm on this night as he sat there looking down at the sand. All he could remember was seeing his brother for the first time in years and it angered him again. The nerve of this man. What he has done to me! What he has done to our family! And, to come to play the goddamn hero! Like all of that would just erase what he has done. The elder Uchiha more or less ignored Yusuke who was not too far from him as he balled up his right fist launching it down into the sand as he punched the sand once, the impact kicking up dust! Shinji with all of his might as his eyes flashed rage sent his fist back down into the sand again as a pile of sand started to form rather quickly blocking the punch from connecting with the sand.
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The sand begins to dissipate rather quickly as the small particles dance through the air and slowly collect back onto the cheek of Shinji's right cheek barely noticeable to the human eye. Shinji took a deep breath taking in what he witnessed with his own eyes. The sight of the nine-tails bursting from the building and the mass that it was and its destructive power. As Shinji exhaled he had to worry about the issues with his brother later, remembering that the older brother touched his shoulder and it was instant teleportation. The Uchiha shook his head as he stood up off the sand, brushing himself and the sandy particles off himself. He would look up at the night sky for a moment with it being clear as possible and every star could be seen tonight dancing in the purple hue of the valley of Sunagakure. He had to get back to Sunagakure as soon as possible. He would look over at Yusuke for a moment before returning to his thoughts. Who were these masked men? What did they want? And, just what was that beast they were released? Shinji would never forget the imagery painted on his memories of that roof blasting off that stone temple and the massive size of this beast. Shinji would adjust the sash holding the gourd of his sand upon as his back as he looked over at Yusuke.
[break][break] "You okay Yusuke? We need to go into Bedouin Refuge and get back to Sunagakure to report to the Kazekage about our mission. And the fact we failed the mission. We didn't provide much protection to Kumogakure and come to think of it were any Kumogakure shinobi there?"
[break][break] All important questions that may need answers, despite Shinji not being able to shake the feeling they failed the objective of their mission in his eyes. Even more aside from the fact his elder brother selfishly saved his life. It burned him up inside. Shinji glanced away from Yusuke Uchiha for a moment entering into his own world within his mind hashing out his thoughts to himself as his black sandals nestled into the thick course sand with a slight breeze flying in from the west coming over the valley as it saturated the flesh of Shinji which would cause goosebumps briefly in a rotating wave on a normal face, but the sand protected him from all things including the sensations of weather. Shinji would place his hands at his side as he awaited for Yusuke Uchiha to gather his bearings. The Uchiha's gourd uncorking itself as it disapates slowly traveling through it's own free will toward the sand behind him breaking itself up, and sliding it back into the gourd, as it begins to collect sand for Shinji. [break][break]
Post by Uchiha, Yusuke on Jun 11, 2023 1:43:16 GMT -6
Mission Reflection: A Suna-Kumo Chaos
In a split second, time seemed to slow around him as he focused on a figure appearing out of nowhere, hair as dark and spiked as his own and Shinji’s. That man, he realized, was the legendary Hokage who grabbed Shinji and him before disappearing in a burst of speed. Blinking in surprise, he could only register the sheer impossibility of the moment before his surroundings shifted again. One moment he was in the shadow of the lurking nine-tails, the battlefield a cacophony of elemental jutsu, clashing kunai, and the deafening roars of the beast. The next moment, silence, a calm that stood in stark contrast to the chaos he had just experienced. He found himself standing amidst a sprawling desert, a good 20 meters outside of the Bedouin Refuge, the sand dunes stretching endlessly towards the horizon. The air was dry and warm, the scent of desert flora mingling with the unmistakable mineral scent of the sand.
His senses prickled as he adjusted to the new environment, noting the subtle shifts in the wind, the distant sound of desert creatures, and the feel of warm sand beneath his feet. The sudden shift was disorienting, but he knew he had been moved through time-space ninjutsu. It was clear they had been moved to ensure their safety, but the thought of the battlefield they had just left brought a frown to his face. This unexpected relocation was strategic, yes, but it left him out of the thick of the fight.
Yusuke’s gaze shifted to Shinji, noting the tightened set of his jaw and the strain in his usually calm, azure eyes. He had seen Shinji in countless situations, from intense missions to relaxed days at the village, but the frustration he saw in Shinji now was a stark departure from his usual stoic demeanor. Sure, they were both frustrated and devastated; the attack on Kumogakure had been a hard battle, and even though they had stood their ground, the mission was far from a success. The sudden appearance of the nine-tailed beast had been a curveball, and the enigma of the masked strangers still loomed over them. But there was something different in Shinji's frustration. It felt...personal.
Yusuke had always been perceptive. He could read the flicker of emotions in a person's eyes, the tension in their posture, the subtle shifts in their energy. But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was eating at Shinji. He felt a brief inclination to ask but he knew better than to press - Shinji would share when he was ready.
Lost in his thoughts, Yusuke was pulled back to the present by Shinji's voice. "Are you okay Yusuke?” Shinji asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Yusuke replied, his voice steady. He gave Shinji a brief nod, his eyes flickering back to the vast expanse of the desert.
“The events that unfolded in Kumogakure were unprecedented but we must ensure that our village and the Kazekage is aware of the gravity of the situation. As for the Kumogakure shinobi, I didn't spot any during the battle. They might have been engaged in other conflicts or arrived after the initial confrontation. I know how you are feeling, Shinji, it's disheartening to feel like we fell short of our objective. But we did what we could in the face of unforeseen circumstances. Moving forward, we also need to investigate information about these masked individuals and understanding their motives."
With a firm nod, Yusuke adjusted the straps of his gear and took a step closer to the Bedouin Refuge, beckoning Shinji to lead. “You can lead the way back to the village or wherever it is we need to go. You must know this terrain better than I do, as I didn't even know this place existed. What's it called again? The Boujee Refuge?”
Post by Uchiha, Shinji on Jun 11, 2023 20:14:34 GMT -6
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"Yeah, I'm fine"
[break][break] Shinji's eyes focused on the sky above him, almost like a mirror to him. He closed his eyes as Yusuke spoke, before opening them again. The starry night danced upon his eyes as he went back into his thoughts. The darkness that was his mind created illusions that he know he saw. That his mind isn't playing tricks on him. Where does one go after death? His eyelids narrow to focus on the stars as if trying to find meaning in them. The speckles of stardust teased the whites of their being for a moment of transfixion on what is and what could be. Shinji remembered that day like it was yesterday. The way his brother put his hand through their mother's chest. In his ears, he can hear her blood hitting the floor of their home. The intense stabbing sensation shot through the valves of his heart as the feeling resonated through his chest now. He remembered nothing else. Not his reaction, not his words. All forgotten to time he just remembered the burning in his eyes as the bloodline limit started to course through his ocular nerves sending off waves of neurons as the tears started to squeeze out of the corner of his eyes as one tomoe appeared in the right corner of his eyes. Symmetrical and full of revulsion. The adult Shinji's eyes openly normally pushing the feeling and memory away as he heard Yusuke Uchiha speak.
[break][break] “The events that unfolded in Kumogakure were unprecedented but we must ensure that our village and the Kazekage is aware of the gravity of the situation. As for the Kumogakure shinobi, I didn't spot any during the battle. They might have been engaged in other conflicts or arrived after the initial confrontation. I know how you are feeling, Shinji, it's disheartening to feel like we fell short of our objective. But we did what we could in the face of unforeseen circumstances. Moving forward, we also need to investigate information about these masked individuals and understanding their motives."
[break][break] Shinji played back the events that led up to his brother doing what he had done. He was right, he didn't see any of the shinobi from Kumogakure. More importantly, it was the look of that tailed beast. Who was it, the thing was huge for sure. Shinji noted the important parts of that and looked toward Yusuke Uchiha with a stoic expression which he typically had written upon his features.
[break][break] "Of course, we will report back to Kazekage before we do anything else short of leaving the village again. We are weapons, our eyes are weapons and people will want our weapons. So we need to move with that in mind. I don't say that to be condescending either. I have just seen things in my life I am not sure you have seen before. And, for that, I am grateful you haven't fully. Though you do have a fully matured Sharingan. So you must have experienced some of what I saw. What's important is what their motives were. What was that thing that burst from the temple?"
[break][break] Before Shinji could finish he saw Yusuke gearing up for the trip.
[break][break] “You can lead the way back to the village or wherever it is we need to go. You must know this terrain better than I do, as I didn't even know this place existed. What's it called again? The Boujee Refuge?”
[break][break] "No, this is the Bedouin Refuge. It is to the west of Sunagakure. No worries, we won't have to walk at least. I want you to relax your body and trust me okay?"
[break][break] The Uchiha started to weave through hand seals rather quickly, faster than most people can perceive as the last seal was completed you could see Shinji's palms clapping together remaining connected in what appeared to be praying hands as chakra began to swell up from within, pushing through the stomach down his feet and into the soil beneath him, the particles of sand that have been in the sand around them feasting on the environment looking to nurture and extract the minerals needed to supplement Shinji's abilities. A rather ability indeed and it would be led to believe that only Shinji has been able to do this for the last year or so. And, word has it unbeknownst to Shinji that he is one of a one when it comes to this ability. He would with his hands clapped together still look at Yusuke Uchiha.
[break][break] "I need you to atleast stand two meters behind me please?"
Post by Uchiha, Yusuke on Jun 12, 2023 4:10:09 GMT -6
Mission Reflection: A Suna-Kumo Chaos
Yusuke's gaze lingered on Shinji for a moment longer before it dropped down to the sandy ground beneath their feet. The truth of Shinji's words, heavy and undeniably real, reverberated within him. They were weapons. Tools molded by the harsh realities of their world. And their eyes were no different. His mind went back to the events that unfolded earlier. That feeling of helplessness. His heart tightened at the memory of Shizuka, the similar pain of helplessness all too palpable. But now was not the time to dwell on those thoughts. It was time to focus, and more importantly, it was time to trust each other.
"Of course, we will report back to Kazekage before we do anything else short of leaving the village again. We are weapons, our eyes are weapons and people will want our weapons. So we need to move with that in mind. I don't say that to be condescending either. I have just seen things in my life I am not sure you have seen before. And, for that, I am grateful you haven't fully. Though you do have a fully matured Sharingan. So you must have experienced some of what I saw. What's important is what their motives were. What was that thing that burst from the temple?"
"I know.” he responded quietly, his voice barely rising above the soft desert wind. His hand instinctively went to his chest, fingers ghosting over the spot where a seal had been branded onto his skin months ago.
"But we are more than just weapons, Shinji," he continued, raising his gaze back to his companion. "Our eyes may be weapons, but they are also windows into our souls. Our hearts. They bear witness to our experiences, our pains, our joys. They allow us to see the world, to understand it, and to change it. We are weapons, yes, but we are also protectors, guides, leaders... We carry the legacy of the Uchiha with us, in our blood and in our hearts. That is the destiny of an Uchiha.”
"No, this is the Bedouin Refuge. It is to the west of Sunagakure. No worries, we won't have to walk at least. I want you to relax your body and trust me okay?"
"Thank the Kami, I don't think I have another cross-desert trek in me right now," Yusuke admitted. He eyed the sand around them, already beginning to shift in response to Shinji's chakra.
Looking forward to the temporary respite, Yusuke stepped back the requested distance, ready to witness Shinji’s technique once more. “Let’s ride the waves then.”
Post by Uchiha, Shinji on Jun 12, 2023 6:45:52 GMT -6
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"I know. "But we are more than just weapons, Shinji, Our eyes may be weapons, but they are also windows into our souls. Our hearts. They bear witness to our experiences, our pains, and our joys. They allow us to see the world, to understand it, and to change it. We are weapons, yes, but we are also protectors, guides, and leaders... We carry the legacy of the Uchiha with us, in our blood and in our hearts. That is the destiny of an Uchiha”
[break][break] Shinji kept his eyes focused as he listened to the words Yusuke spoke of the Uchiha, and he couldn't disagree more. Shinji was focused as the sand began to form beneath the both of them. The sand slowly took shape as Shinji was opting to take sand from the area instead of using the sand from his gourd which is of course mixed with his chakra. Shinji looked back at Yusuke so we can see his eyes and his face and hear him clearly.
[break][break] "I don't value the clan. I believe the clan itself is a folly stuck in old useless traditions. I have no respect for the hierarchy of the clan and believe that no one is fit to tell me how to live my life. The legacy of the Uchiha with me is dead. The legacy I will leave behind is beyond the clan. If you haven't noticed I do not wear the clan emblem. The leadership of Uchiha has failed us all. Of course, this is my personal feelings, and by no means do I expect you to follow my views. The destiny of the Uchiha as far as I am concerned is dead."
[break][break] The stoic gaze in his eyes carried looking into Yusuke's eyes so he can let him see the conviction of Shinji's statements. He would then break the gaze and look ahead as the sand has begun to form into a platform of sand big enough for them both to stand on. Shinji dropped his folded hands as the platform began to rise off the ground finishing forming a large platform that is compact for standing upon. The platform shot off into the sky toward Sunagakure, which shouldn't take very long for them to reach the village.