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.
That was the only sound heard from the room that contained Hitora Uchiha, former host of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox. Well, not the only sound, there was also the sound of a ventilator forcing the young man to breathe. No one would know quite what had happened. The young man was somehow alive, comatose but alive. It had been a wild week or so, but it was all still quite a mystery to anyone even slightly involved in the goings on when it came to these events, and likely labeled top secret by the leader of the country.
The sound of the ventilator breathing for the Uchiha was not what could be heard by the young man’s subconscious. Somehow not only did an outside power find out that he had held the Nine Tailed Fox within him, but they were able to capture him somehow and then pulled that creature out of his body as if it were no big deal. This should have been an event that killed him, but somehow he survived. It was not only a medical mystery but seemed to violate all known laws of physics to Shinobi.
Soon though, the memories of that painful event would traumatize the mind of the Uchiha. Soon his mind would be swimming in hazy memories, not quite remembering the exact details of the event nor able to clearly see the face of the man who had orchestrated that attack on him. However, Hitora was an Uchiha. Uchiha’s do not die easily, Uchiha do not surrender. No, deep in his DNA, down to the most primitive genetic code locked within him was the Curse of Hatred. This alone must be what kept the young Uchiha’s heart beating in his chest.
And beat his chest did, slowly his heart beat faster and faster, as it did the young man’s breathing also quickened. As a nurse walked into the room that he was in his eyes shot open, the one Tomoe of his Sharingan glowing to life as he did and it was a fact of the universe that his consciousness had been restored. That Hitora of the Uchiha clan was awake. The nurse said nothing as she stumbled out of the room to fetch a doctor so they could evaluate the Uchiha and likely to alert the Raikage themselves.
Fuma Kotara, the first Lightning Shadow, announces her presents in the room. It had been several weeks since they had retrieved Hitora, but he had only been awake for about a week. Today, she decided to seek some answers from her genin, patiently waiting by his bedside for him to awaken. As she observed the boy, she noticed his slight hyperventilation, adding to the air of unease surrounding him.
Gently placing her hand on his shoulder, Fuma spoke, "It's good to have you back."
Her touch was intended to offer comfort, an attempt to ease his tension. She continued, "You're still alive, and together we'll uncover the truth."
Embracing her inquisitive nature, Fuma viewed this as an opportunity to understand the modifications made to the seal she had bestowed upon him. It was evident that there was something distinct about Hitora compared to those who had come before him. She also considered the possibility that the method employed to extract the beast had flaws. Regardless, she resolved to unveil the truth behind what had befallen her shinobi. After removing her hand from Hitora's shoulder, she reclined in her chair, offering a gentle smile.
"Apologies for waking you, but it's time for us to have a conversation. Can you recall any details from the day you were kidnapped? How many assailants were there? What did they look like? And where did they take you from?"
Post by Uchiha, Hitora on Jun 13, 2023 18:04:18 GMT -6
[INSERT SNARK HERE]
Hitora groaned, his throat still sore from when he had been intubated by the medical staff, it had been a few days since they were able to successfully and permanently remove the tube that was inserted into the young Shinobi’s mouth and down his throat to help him breathe. His chest itself was still sore, but that was more due to the fact that he had technically died during the theft of the tailed beast from his body, it was still quite the mystery to him how he survived the ordeal that he had gone through only a few weeks prior.
He listened somewhat intently to the Raikage as she spoke, it seemed she was asking if he had any memories of the events leading up to and then during his abduction and subsequent loss of Kurama. He tried to shake his head but was barely able to do so. All of his muscles were rather sore, even with some of the best Medical Shinobi in the village, perhaps the country, helping him to recover from those events. He was not quite sure what had occurred during that time, his memories were fuzzy to say the least regarding it.
“No…I don’t...Remember…” Hitora croaked out carefully. His voice still hoarse from all that he had been through. He looked at the woman, his eyes obviously having returned to their standard color since it had been sometime since he had first awoke. “I…have…no memories…of…what happened.” He continued, it was likely that he had some form of amnesia surrounding the events due to having the Nine Tailed Demon Fox ripped from his body in such a horrific way, even if he were conscious during that event, his mind likely suppressed the memories to protect itself from the pain that would almost assuredly come with them.
Fuma sighed, her disappointment evident in the face of the young man's response. It had become apparent that this entire ordeal had taken a greater toll on him than she had initially anticipated. Taking a moment to assess Hitora's worn-out appearance, the Raikage realized she had already gathered a considerable amount of information about the assailants but had hoped to extract more details from the genin.
"Well, that's unfortunate. I can understand your frustration based on what I've managed to gather," she remarked, her gaze fixed firmly on Hitora's eyes. Crossing her legs one over the other, she settled herself more comfortably.
"Alright, here's what I've been told. You were leaving the Kami compound after a planned sparring session that never took place. As you were walking, an entire paramedic team had to be summoned to retrieve you. During your return, the emergency unit was ambushed by two shinobi who decimated most of the convoy and abducted you,"
Fuma explained, her tone tinged with annoyance at herself for not being more thorough in protecting her Jinchuriki, especially considering Hitora's connection to the Nine-Tails.
"Apparently, these assailants had already been wreaking havoc in the countryside, establishing a small foothold in the country. Once I located their base, I organized an assault on their stronghold in an attempt to rescue you. Your fellow shinobi and foreign allies fought valiantly, but it was too late. Midway through the raid, they managed to break the seal I had placed on the Tailed Beast before I could reach the scene."
Another sigh escaped Fuma's lips as she lamented her shortcomings as a Kage. It pained her to recount these failures to the young man before her.
"After they ripped the beast free, Momochi and I were able to contain the situation and reseal the beast. Once everything was settled, we discovered your barely breathing body in Ishi no Toride, despite the fact that you should have been dead. It's rather peculiar,"
She added, leaning forward to pat Hitora's shoulder a few times. Activating her Byakugan, she examined his chakra network, observing remnants of her own chakra intertwined with it, yet barely a trace of the Nine-Tails remained.
"But that's why I'm here today. We have conducted extensive reconnaissance on the origins and identities of these people. If we can capture them, I might be able to shed some light on how you're still breathing... But until then, if you don't mind, I'm interested in monitoring your progress and having you come in for weekly check-ups so that we can get to the bottom of this issue."
Leaning back in her seat, Fuma concluded her explanation, awaiting Hitora's response.
"Can you say that you feel a resurgence of your original strength, as you did before the sealing?" she inquired.
Post by Uchiha, Hitora on Jun 16, 2023 19:48:59 GMT -6
Give. It. Back.
Hitora listened to the Raikage speak, explaining all that she knew regarding the situation and how he came to be in this current state. He watched as the woman placed a hand on his shoulder and then saw as her Byakugan had activated, looking him over, studying him. He knew that she was looking for signs of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Kurama. Alas there would be no signs other than the strain his body was currently fighting against to deal with the sudden loss of a second soul from his body. Hitora’s ears perked up a little bit when she spoke again after that.
When she began to speak about trying to find those that had harmed him, that idea intrigued him and was almost instantly noticeable on the continuous ECG that was running as his heart rate was showing to quicken, not with fear or anger but anticipation mostly. He wanted to help take down the gang of invaders that dared to harm him and took the beast from him. It was the last question that the woman posed to him that got his curiosity awakened and his mind going once more, thinking about possibilities.
“I’m…better, my body physically could do with a bit more recuperation to get back to one hundred percent, but I’m ready to return to duty…especially.” He then took a deep breath, remembering that the Raikage had said that they had managed to re-seal the Demon Fox once again. “Especially if I can get the Nine Tailed Demon Fox sealed back into me. I handled it once before, I can still handle that power being sealed inside of me.” He looked at the woman, as if his eyes could reinforce his desires to have the demon sealed within his body once again.
His black eyes locked with the Raikage’s pale lavender ones. Staring with the determination of any true Shinobi. Behind that determination was the cold fire of anger, fueled by the strength of the Uchiha clan. He wanted what he had lost back, he wanted to prove that he was still more than strong enough to handle the beast, he already knew that he could tame it given time, to turn the demon from just a weapon to an ally and a power of the village. He also knew that given the chance, even that creature could see the village as its home, given the right stimulus.
As the young man spoke, Fuma couldn't help but laugh a little, understanding his resolve. It was clear what he was implying. However, in this moment, he probably didn't fully grasp the depth of the situation.
"Well, I'm not surprised you feel that way, Hitora," Fuma responded, masking her internal worries. She didn't want to show her concern in front of the young man.
"But this situation has shed light on how I handled things in the past, particularly in terms of the sealing and how all of you were chosen. The fact that we almost lost you and the nine tails made me realize that I may have been too hasty in my decision-making. So, for the sake of the village, we're going to do things a little differently this time."
The Raikage maintained her composure, fully focused on the situation. There were a few things she needed to figure out before moving forward, with one of the biggest concerns being how Hitora survived the unsealing. Her eyes remained fixed on him as she continued explaining.
"Hitora, this time around, you'll be competing with others for the right to have the beast sealed within you again. This tournament will be open to everyone in the village, so you can expect it to be a challenging endeavor. However, I believe you're more than capable of handling it. As the nine tails jinchuriki, arguably the most powerful monster known to walk the earth, you'll have the biggest target on your back. As a Kage, I have to ensure that whoever is entrusted with such responsibility is fully capable of holding their own in a fight."
Fuma knew that this wouldn't be the most appealing situation for the young genin, but she believed it could lead to valuable self-enlightenment. Furthermore, it would provide her with an opportunity to learn more about his unsealing and its effects on his body. The sounds of the medical ward echoed in the background as she explained the new circumstances.
"So, first things first, Hitora, I need you to focus on recovering and getting back on your feet. Get ready to reclaim your opportunity. Do you understand?"
Post by Uchiha, Hitora on Jun 18, 2023 12:13:26 GMT -6
Time To Prepare.
Hitora listened to the woman as she spoke. He could not help but scoff a bit as he listened to her explain about the coming of a Tournament within the village for the right to have Kurama sealed within the winner. He shook his head softly, a bit defiantly, his hair still orange though starting to fade from that as he no longer had the tailed beasts influence within him, the marks on his cheek already nearly gone. He did look much weaker if you took that into account for him, he stifled a wry laugh at the woman for a moment.
“So, because I was attacked in a place where I had no chance to defend myself, in a place where I should have been safe I have to jump through these hoops?” His anger was rising. He was weaker, that much was true, but that’s because he had lost the second soul that was in his body for a very short period of time. He was not going to let this be the end of that story, regardless of whatever the woman would say as a response to his statement, he ignored it and slowly looked back up to look directly into her eyes.
His eyes were not their normal black orbs, no they were his Sharingan eyes. They may have only been one tomoe, but this would hopefully show his convictions in this matter. “I hope you’re ready for bodies to hit the ground, because those who stand between me and that tailed beast returning to where it belongs will die. Those who ripped him from me, will die. I will have him sealed back into me if it’s the last thing I do.” Hitora then allowed his Sharingan to deactivate fully from his eyes, returning them to their black color.
He then threw the blanket of the hospital bed off him and stood up, he grabbed the clothing that someone had brought from his home for him and began to prepare to dress himself. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have training to get done, I have a tournament to win, rivals to destroy.” Hitora may have been wounded, but his anger was surfacing more than anything. The only thing that having lost Kurama would do to the man is make him stronger, strong enough to take back the tailed beast so that no one could ever take it from him again.
The room was filled with tension as Hitora's words pierced the air. Fuma's light blue eyes shifted away from him, sensing the rise in temperature. His lack of understanding weighed heavily on her, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. His words echoed in her mind, causing her face to contort slightly in disbelief. The young Uchiha's temperament was questionable, to say the least, but she remained composed, determined to listen.
"Tch."
Fuma observed Hitora's fury, sensing his readiness to jump back into action. However, she knew that balance had to be restored in this situation. In an instant, her eyes illuminated with the power of her tenseigan as she swiftly extended her hand, pulling him back from the edge of his bed before he could crash into the life-supporting machines. As he stumbled, she rose from her seat, exerting enough force to push him against the wall, causing it to shake. Meeting his gaze, she stared directly into his immature sharingan, a symbol of his inexperience.
"Hitora, it's evident that you've misunderstood."
With measured steps, she circled around the bed, positioning herself directly in front of the young Uchiha.
"Your body was not prepared for the sealing. The unexpected comatose state you endured was a consequence of it. Right now, you have returned to the realm of the living, and we will need to work on developing your shinobi abilities."
Her tenseigan continued to glow, emphasizing the gravity of her words. It was more of a statement than a conversation. She released the pressure against his body, allowing him to slide down the wall he had been pressed against.
"I understand your frustrations, but don't allow them to transform you into someone else, young man."
A light sigh escaped Fuma's lips.
"The notion of bodies dropping is excessive, especially considering the approach I have suggested regarding the resealing of the Nine Tails. However, I assure you, we will prioritize gathering more information about the individuals who captured you."
Perhaps she exerted a bit more force than necessary, but she intended to make a point today. As his sharingan seemed to warp, gaining an additional tomoe in one eye and two in the other, she noted the tale of pain reflected in his eyes.
"I will do my best to guide you through this ordeal. Starting today, you will train with me to prepare for the tournament. Expect formidable opponents, including jōnin and chūnin."
Fuma's eyes remained focused and intense as she locked gazes with the young Uchiha, awaiting his response.
Post by Uchiha, Hitora on Jun 24, 2023 12:58:35 GMT -6
Rapid Sharingan Progress.
With a loud grunt, the Uchiha would be shoved against the wall, wincing he looked at the woman with a fire in his eyes. He heard what the woman said, her Tenseigan glowing brightly as his own Sharingan stared back at her. After a moment when she released him he groaned a bit and slid down a little but not too far. He braced himself against the wall and forced himself to stand once more at his full height. He kept his eyes right on the woman’s own eyes, making sure to not break the connection they shared betwixt their eyes.
“I understand fully what you’re saying and you misunderstand when I say bodies will hit the floor.” Began the young Uchiha, his Sharingan maturing from its one tomoe to its two tomoe as he looked at her. “I don’t plan on ending lives, but none shall stand between me and getting back what I lost. No, they step into the ring with me and they will leave on their back. They will fall before me, whether they live or die simply won’t matter unless you make it a no killing tournament.” Hitora took a deep breath, as if he were mentally preparing himself a bit.
He closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them a moment later, they had matured once more in that brief moment all the way to their fully matured state of three tomoe. “I have no time to lay in bed, I have to go prepare. I must get stronger, even if I somehow lose this tournament, I have no desire to stay as I am now. I will get stronger, strong enough that no one will take anything from me ever again, be it you, those bastards, my father. No one will take from me ever again.”
He then deactivated his Sharingan slowly, the tomoe spinning and shutting as if they were a fan before receding to pure blackness. Once he was standing he began to reach for his clothes once more. “I must become stronger, regardless of whoever gets the Nine Tails sealed in them, as you say, a target gets painted on that persons back, so I must be strong enough to take on that target no matter what. If you think I’ll let anyone just snatch that demon from our village, you are sorely mistaken Raikage.” If she did not stop him, he would begin to get dressed once more, steeling himself mentally to leave and go start his training anew.
Fuma's eyes remained fixed on Hitora as he dusted himself off, his body language mirroring the weight of her unexpected assault. A surge of clarity washed over her, intensifying the gravity of the situation. His words, laden with explanations, stirred a twinge of doubt within her, causing her to question her initial reaction. But it didn't matter; he was the Uchiha, and she could see the transformative struggle etched into his eyes. The enigmatic power of his clan had always intrigued her—unlike the Hyuuga, their abilities were entwined with the tumult of their emotions. With unwavering focus, her Tenseigan locked onto the young man, allowing him to rise unhindered. His objective loomed clear, and she would become his guiding star on the treacherous path to self-enlightenment.
Her voice resonated with a commanding yet composed tone. "I understand."
With measured grace, she reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, ornate necklace, a manifestation of her earnest intentions. Its pendant, a depiction of a majestic nine-tailed fox, possessed a mesmerizing allure—the fox's eyes, each adorned with a radiant sapphire, emitted a faint, ethereal glow. She extended the pendant toward the Uchiha, hoping he would accept its weighty symbolism. Should he reject it, she would stow it away without hesitation, concealing its profound significance for now.
"But here's something to ignite your journey. It may not embody the fox in its entirety, but the gods themselves fashioned this for you."
There were untold secrets tied to the pendant, secrets that could only complicate matters if revealed prematurely. Fuma's gaze remained unwavering, her commitment resolute.
"Keep it close, always. I shall be in touch soon, providing you with the dates for the tournament. But until then, it would be wise to reacquaint yourself with the rigors of training. When you are ready, we shall embark on our inaugural session, where I will bear witness to the fire that burns within you."
As her words trailed off, Fuma turned away from the genin, a flicker of anticipation dancing in her eyes. The air crackled with electric intensity, the weight of the moment hanging palpably in the room.
"May the remainder of this night be a beacon in the darkness. Convey my profound gratitude to your family for their trust in me as your guide on this perilous shinobi odyssey."
With that, the Raikage, emanating an aura of commanding presence, swept out of the hospital room, leaving Hitora to ponder his destiny in solitude.