Look Out [Kohana Only]

[Jae]

There were many retreats hidden beneath Hi no Kuni's dense forestry, some set up to aid the moving traveler and others more secretive in origin. This was no different from the latter and Hi no Kuni was chosen specifically for it's clandestine appeal. Convoluted pathways blanketed by an emerald canopy made searching through the woodlands a hassle on it's own. Only those with the proper guidance would disclose this purposefully cloistered oasis.

The setting itself was quaint, but distinguishable once the brush began to clear for whoever approached. They would find a circle hut set in the center of a well made clearing, it's only sign of activity being a steady stream of smoke that billows from it's apex. It's size would be noticeably questionable, especially if it was to accommodate more than one person. However, upon entering they would find that the cylindrical top structure was only the shell of a staircase, which spiraled deep underground.

At the bottom of the staircase was a single wooden door propped upon rusted old hinges. Behind that door is where I sat, facing the door, afront a table lined with various maps of the land and seemingly ancient texts.

[~Kohana <3]

It hadn’t been long since she had been elected Hokage. In fact, the official announcement hadn’t even been made yet and she already received a request to meet. A representative from Iwagakure and a Hyuuga at that had been the one to request such a meeting. Despite being apprehensive at first, specifically because of his relation to her, her curiosity was piqued enough to agree on his terms and location, one she had only know in passing.

The meeting pertained to ‘family issues’ and the future of Konohagakue and the other villages. Regardless of her hate for the Hyuuga or the broad topic of discussion, she couldn’t bare any ill will towards this man, Ares. He wasn’t from Konohagakure so he had nothing to do with her suffering. It was odd not to cringe at the thought of another Hyuuga.

I suppose I need to be a bit more tolerable, only because of my status and title now…

Shaking her head, Kohana activated her Byakugan, though only briefly to survey her surroundings. Though she knew the general area of the little ‘shack’ she had never truly been there. Thankfully her eyes picked out the structure some ways ahead. Good. She was getting tired of almost running aimlessly through the woods. Thankfully in no time at all she found herself staring at the door that led inside. If she didn’t know anybody she would have knocked and waited to be let in but instead she glanced around one last time with her Byakugan before stepping inside the hut and shutting the door.

Briefly she glanced around to see nothing of interest and nothing all to spectacular. Her eyes of course showed her the spiral staircase she had heard of leading down underground. Quickly she made it a point to hastily make it down the stairs, the clicking sound of her heels on the stairs loud enough to warn her audience of her approach. It would only be the two of them here anyways, so stealth wasn’t necessary but the sound did annoy her. Regardless, upon reaching the bottom she found a single wooden door, old by nature. Out of respect she knocked twice, in quick succession, paused for a moment, then opened the door.

Inside the man before her was nothing of what she expected. Seemingly tall, that was for sure, despite him being seated, darker skin, light hair, musculature well defined, and having a hint of age to him. Ares seemed like quite the refined gentleman. But what drew her in immediately was the emptiness of his eyes. His ivory pools enough to cause her own to stop and catch his gaze as she took the necessary steps inside and closed the door.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am Hyuuga, Kohana. Hokage of Konohagakure. Thank you for suggesting such an easy place to meet and troubling yourself to come all this way.” She paused wanting to take a seat across from him, but refraining from doing so quite yet. Standing was perfectly fine for now.

“Floor is yours, sir. I’m interested to see what a Hyuuga from another country all together has for his views.”

[/justify]

[Jae]

At the time I'd been completely buried in the research I had laying across the table. Escape routes, entrapment locations, and landscape patterns were practically all my brain had interpreted for what seemed like the past week. More than the workload, the attention to detail such an operation took was more taxing than ever. Some type of blow to the integrity of this campaign was sure to occur, I learned early in life that it was practically suicide to expect everything to go your way on the battlefield, but even then I had to ensure that the tiles would still play in my favor should something detrimental occur.

It was only when a faint wrap at the door commenced, coupled with the grating creek of rusty door hinges, that I was pried from my concentration to acknowledge my visitor. I had petitioned to meet with Kohana Hyuuga, the recently elected Hokage, but I was unsure of just how "negligible" Konoha would be with it's leader meeting a statistically unknown member of another ninja village.

As far as notoriety went, I made sure to keep my name off the Bounty Hunter's radar and lauded my ability to do so. After all, my hands filthy hands had not been exonerated by those claiming to rule the land. Men, women, and children have all fallen before me when it was required of me.

I'd neglected to activate my Byakugan, perhaps under-estimatingly, but once the door had been pried open I found that my aloofness was well warranted.

"And there she is," I cordially remarked before rising from my chair to formally greet her. While she approached, I studied her thoroughly; a curvaceous woman who stood just a head taller than most I'd seen, her most dominant traits an ode to strong Hyuuga genetics. Even as she spoke I observed her features, becoming somewhat enveloped by the emptiness of her eyes. It had been so long since I'd saw a pair.

"Don't worry about it; the trip made for great exercise," I smiled. In truth, it had been great exercise. I had slain nearly four men during my expedition. "The same goes to you." My last remark ushered me back to my seat, where I absentmindedly turned back down to my work. It was Kohana suggesting that I take the floor that snapped me back to reality.

"Oh... right! Excuse me," I shook my head briefly before waving a hand toward the chair across from mine. "Please take a seat." Assuming she did, I continued.

"To be curt, what I'm about to tell you may upset you. Should that be the case, by all means, do not hesitate to interject." I paused briefly to reach for a clay cup that sat at the corner closest to me, taking a subtle swig of it's contents before resetting it. I found comfort resting my elbows on the table, leaning in slightly with one hand coddled within the other.

"There has been talk of Konohagakure's weakening foundation all across the continent, which became evident through the influx of Uchiha and Hyuuga taking residence in neighboring countries and Hidden Villages." My emphasis on the word served to accentuate what came after. "I, a Hyuuga born out of Tsuchi no Kuni, am a testament to this."

I paused briefly so that she could take in what I was implying before proceeding. "Our continent is still recovering from the last Great Ninja War and, as a result, bounty hunting as been on the rise," I spoke, looking to secure eye contact before I continued. "...along with organ harvesting."

[/color]

I placed a hand atop a closed folder, sliding it in her direction. "Since the restoration effort has been in motion, there have been 8 separate incidences of Hyuuga and Uchiha corpses being found stripped of their Doujutsu. I hate to imply that you have some kind of control over this, Lady Hokage, but it is Konohagakure's negligence that is directly responsible for this."

"The Hidden Leaf's priority of protecting it's own native kinjutsu has apparently been abandoned and now, as a result, two of the most powerful instruments the shinobi world has ever seen are in the hands of God knows who!"[/b]

I could feel my anger getting the better of me, something I hoped wouldn't arise during my initial impression. I spent the next few moments attempting to regather myself, leaving Kohana ample time to speak her piece.

[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[~Kohana <3]

Ares was polite, something she almost expected of him considering the way he looked. Whether or not that was a farce due to the conditions of the meeting or if that was really how he acted was beyond her and quite frankly, it didn’t matter. She could care less, though; in retrospect the curiosity was still there. Regardless of her idle pondering, she bowed her head in thanks to his greeting. “Well I’m glad that you at least enjoyed the trip.” A smile was given, though it soon faded, as he seemed to momentarily disregard her and get back to the plethora of paper work and old texts strewn about on the table.

However it seemed her request for him to take the floor so to speak had only been registered a little late. After offering her a seat, she nodded and took the offer. Now sitting across from him, and being on a better eye-to-eye level, she had to admit that this man, Ares, was quite the handsome man. It made her wonder just how much power he had in Iwagakure, not just physically, but just what machinations he is pulling the strings of. Though picking apart people was a constant for her, she silenced herself in order to pay full attention to what her presenter had in store. His words though were certainly something she hadn’t expected.

Upset me? What in the world could possibly—

The mention of Konohagakure’s decline and weakened foundation caused a visible twitch in her persona. It wasn’t exactly a hidden fact but to hear that there had been so much talk about it worried her. An immediate assumption of invasion is what popped into her head at first, however the reason behind the decline made her rigid in her seat. Uchiha and Hyuuga taking residence elsewhere? So what? She’d rather have it that way to begin with. The Hyuuga with all of their demoralizing traditions and pious hierarchy and the Uchiha with their utmost arrogance and defiance—not to mention the usual lust for power, it was absolutely disgusting.

Despite the fact she wanted to interject, she bit her bottom lip, idly chewing it while folding her arms over her chest unconsciously bolstering her breasts up. The sound of his voice was something to pay attention to, it was smooth yet there was an edge to it as if there was a fire slowly being kindled within him. Even with the mention of bounty hunting and organ harvesting, why should she care? Granted it was probably out of place for a Kage to not care what happens to their village’s clan, those particular two deserved to perish though. Or at least the ones who still resided within Konoha and practiced their dirty traditions.

What is he getting at with all of this? If he cares so much of his cousins and extended family then he should have gotten a rally together first to bring to my attention or something…

Eyeing the folder that he then slid her way, she unfolded her arms from her chest and gingerly pulled the information towards her, opening in to skim through the pages of the different incidences of Hyuuga and Uchiha murders who had been stripped of their Doujutsu. Though it didn’t matter to her before, it was now that the pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. Power bred hate, war, and destruction. The Uchiha and Hyuuga had that power. But now, others had it as well and they too would follow the same path and pick up, though different in context, the same dirty traditions and demoralizing demeanors. As she continued to skim, his words were more pronounced and that kindled flame was obviously growing.

Sadly, Kohana already knew the answer to all of this already. It was an idea, though a despicably horrible one, that had taken residence on the back burner of her mind. Just the image of the Hyuuga Compound burning and the screams of all those within echoing within the billowing smoke that would blanket the sky caused a shiver to run down her spine. Though it had always been a dream of hers to do such an unspeakable act against her very own family, the thought never crossed her mind for the Uchiha. She had always held a disdain for her crimson-eyed cousins but never the same hate. However if the Hyuuga should burn, why not the Uchiha as well? After all with the majority of both clans supposedly tucked away safely within the confines of a Hidden Village, if they were to be eradicated there wouldn’t be ‘clans’ with power, simply people.

And people can be managed.

Kohana was silent still though, not having said a word since she had taken her seat. Even with Ares finished and trying to dampen the flame she had started to admire, just in the slightest, she still remained silent. What seemed like an agonizing eternity ticked by until she finally pushed the folder aside and made sure to meet his eyes once more, like he had done earlier to get the emphasis of his point across. Her lips parted and she opened her mouth but no words came.

Idiot. Get yourself together. This is what you have worked so hard for all your life. To make an example of them, humiliate them; prove them utterly and completely wrong. Furthermore….you’ve lived to annihilate them! Do it—

“Kill them.”

Her first words were said harshly and actually quite abruptly, as if she were trying to interrupt someone who had been previously speaking even though there hadn’t been. A deep breath was taken in before she repeated the words, though slower, as if to sound out each syllable (even if there were only two of them). “Kill them. The solution to this is that we eradicate both the Main houses of the Hyuuga and Uchiha. Raze their manors and compounds, and let them bleed out, drowning all of the disgusting, arrogant, and pompous traditions. With them gone, those scattered can be managed, kept in check, and manipulated through their grief. Anyone who has either Doujutsu implanted? We find, murder, and crush the organ and its tainted genetics.”

Perhaps a slight craze had come into her eyes, or maybe it was just the heady feel of finally getting the thoughts and ideas she had buried for so long out on the table. It was rash, especially considering she was in company of one of the two clan’s she wanted slaughtered. Regardless, she leaned forward over the table, her eyes staying focused on Ares. “What say you, Ares? Are you a blind follower or will you be an all seeing liberator?”

[/justify]

[Jae]

Despite my fervor, my eyes never left the newly appointed Lady Hokage; her and her endowments. I was slightly amused by her poise; whether intentional or not, her posture seemed to "put her best assets forward" so to speak but being the person I was raised to be, this minor sighting was exactly that -- minor. I'd never allow myself to fall victim to seduction, lest that seduction be warfare itself. The art of physically and mentally disembowling my targets had been the only carnal pleasure I'd indulged in for quite some time, but perhaps I was overdue for something a little more.. lasicivous.

For the duration that I observed her, she seemed well wound up in her own thoughts. To be truthful, it left me on edge as to what her reaction may have been. For all I knew, she could have been relaying our entire conversation to her cohorts. That was a risk I was willing to chance, however. For years I had been heralded as The Ram of One Path due to my headstrong nature. Once I gained a clear view of my objective, not a force in the world could make me falther. Though I wasn't entirely sure if she would decline my offer, if she were to there would be quite a lot for her to deal with on her journey back.

And that's when she said it. Kill them? I mused. Is she really this desparate to save her own life that she would lie to rema---. My thoughts were interrupted by her enunicated repeat. And this time I couldn't feel the tension that nearly stifled her the first time she'd said it. To my surprise, her description of what she envisioned taking place seemed far more graphic than anything the council at Iwagakure had proposed. In fact, what she conveyed happened to be our last resort tactic for containing the problem.

But the more she elaborated about the screams, about the carnage, about the bloodshed, the more I found her... attractive.

Our eyes locked as she went on to describe how we would handle those unworthy of our blood inherited birthrights, along with our own kin, and I could feel myself beginning to swell from beneath the table. Had I not been so enamored by the prospect of genocide, I may have been embarrassed. And this time, when she leaned over the table, her "assets" seemed more appealing; so much that I was forced to fight for dominion over myself. It was taking everything within me to keep from forcing myself into her.

And when she asked of my heart's solidarity, I turned my head to the side to chuckle. My choices were limited, one being the more obvious pick, but I preferred to do things my own way.

"Neither," I smirked. "I this affair I am but a custodian, appointed to clean up your nation's mess." My words were callous, completly hiding the fact that beneath the surface I lusted for her. "This initiative requires your complete cooperation. Despite your high ranking position, should you fail to uphold your end of the bargain you will deal with me, personally."

Our eyes would lock once more, intentionally on my part but not to instill fear in the newly appointed leader. It was to signify that if I made a promise, I intended to deliver on it

The Ram of One Path never looks back.

[~Kohana <3]

In the rage and utter malice that was linked to every last word that escaped from her lips, she hadn’t noticed just how enthralled her fellow Hyuuga was with her. In her younger years she had been known as a man-eater. She would work a guy until his self-control was nearly frazzled and beyond repair to get the information needed or to get the job done. Then she would leave them a crumpled mess thanks to a well-placed palm to their bodies and an induced flare of electrically charged chakra that attacked their nervous system. Those days were some that she found herself missing.

Or rather, it was the absolute power that she wielded then. Oddly, she had become too soft since then.

Regardless of her actions now, and the obvious lust for bloodshed glinting in the emptiness of her eyes, it was his chuckle that drew her back in from the fantasy world she had created for only the two of them to share. It was then she noticed the rigid demeanor he wore, as if he was all too interested in her solution, or perhaps all too interested in her. Though as quickly as she caught it, it faded behind the straightforward and rather blunt portrayal of his ‘duty’. Not to mention the ominous statement at the end. Was that supposed to be intimidating?

“Oh? Who’s to say it wouldn’t be my pleasure to deal with you on a more personal level, hm?” Briefly she smiled while leaning back into her chair, again folding her arms along her chest to the same effect as before. “However, what exactly IS my end of the bargain, Ares? Saving superior genetics doesn’t seem to be the entirety of whatever plot Iwagakure has. At least, that’s what I would think.” She tilted her head then, her long black hair rippling over the soft skin of her neck until it was left bare, the entirety of her neck, shoulder, and collarbone in full view.

However with a quick tap to the side of her temple, Kohana straightened up once more, her eyes meeting with that of the Hyuuga male across from her again. “I will say, though, that as far as anything pertaining to the annihilation of either the Hyuuga or Uchiha you have my full support as well as my full cooperation.” Again she would pause, lowering her arms and folding her hands together atop her lap. “Oh—and also, Ares, dear, I do hope that the one who sent you also plans on making an appearance. I can tell it isn’t the Tsuchikage, otherwise you would have outright mentioned her. So please arrange that as well—that is if I find your bargain satisfactory.”

Kohana was perceptive enough, even without her all seeing eyes staring through him, to know that this wasn’t a run of the mill discussion between two villages. Though she hadn’t met the Lady Tsuchikage, she knew of her and this certainly didn’t seem like it would be her style. It made her wonder just who would pull such strings and why. At first she couldn’t help but think of him. Kouketsu always was a fear in the back of most people’s minds. After all, he had nearly ended the world once before, what would stop him from doing it again? Even under the guise of deceased, she had her doubts and this only strengthened them for the moment.

Yet again, the floor was his.

[/justify]

[Jae]

The moment she chose to entice me is the moment I lost interest. Those type of advances meant nothing to me, an individual who found more excitement in the chase than in the finish. Whether she noticed or not, my eyes brows furrowed offputtingly the more she continued. "Your end of the bargain", I laughed amusedly. Her demeanor had shifted, from lacking to overconfident, in a few fleeting moments; it was a type of assurance that grated at my own will to dominate -- along with my patience.

"You aren't exactly in a position to be demanding anything, Lady Hokage." My tone deepened to the point that my statements began to resemble aggressive roars.

"It is your village's negligence that has brought me here in the first place."

"It is your village whose been weakened to the point that your frailty has become gossip through other village power circles." I could feel my anger rising once more.

"Quite frankly Lady Hokage, this operation could be done with or without you." I paused a moment to let that idea sink in, sighing once before taking a sip of my drink.

Her inquiry of my auspices caused me to raise a brow. It was only a Hyuuga's nature to be perceptive, with and without the Byakugan; that, I applauded. Her prose seemed to insinuate that she had some sort of leverage over the situation. Perhaps it is in my best interest to entertain that idea, I mused, smiling as I took a scratch at my head. My pride would have to be set aside for the greater good of the operation.

"But I am aware that these things do involve some sort of give and take; what is it that interests you?"

[~Kohana <3]

Kohana was taken aback, to say the least by his change in demeanor. Within any situation like this one needed to observant, if not overly observant. It had been so long since she had even tried such advances, even if they came to her like second nature. But it seemed as though they had come hand in hand with the vulgar thoughts of carnage and destruction regarding her dear clan.

The hostility, or perhaps the better word would be frustration, from Ares was enough to bring her back, yet again, from the delusion of power she thought she had somehow gained. It was sad that she had become like that and the frown on her face from the revelation was obvious. Over the years she would have pegged herself to have gained more self control. Perhaps she truly hadn't, but really, the situation itself was a prospect she never thought she'd follow through on until she met Ares.

As he spoke, she stayed silent, sitting there back straight, hands folded in her lap still. When he was finished, she nodded her head. “Pardon my behavior Ares. I didn’t mean to offend or act as though I had any say. This isn’t MY plan nor was it MY idea. If anything I should be thankful that you came to me.” She would pause and lean forward, keeping her hands clasped together as to rest her chin on them while her elbows were planted firmly on the top of the table.

“I would like to be a part of this operation, and truly, only thing I ask for is to keep my title as Kage as leader of this village. But granted you realize any Kage would say as such.” She tried to remain calm and a woman of dignity. After all, she wasn’t a kid anymore; she shouldn’t be acting like a vixen in heat just to get her way. Shaking her head slightly she glanced over the table at the various documents, curious as to what they all said and were about. Just how much more was there to this?

She sighed and looked back up, hoping to meet Ares gaze once more. “Do you know what my dream has been, Ares? Ever since I was a little girl I wanted…” There was only a slight pause before she continued. “To rip my father’s heart out and hand it to my mother and laugh at her reaction. Then when the shock over takes her? I would drag her outside and tie her to a support beam and burn her, like a witch to the stake.” Her gaze had hardened and to him he would know she was serious to a point.

Admittedly she had backed off a little, became a little submissive for the other Hyuuga. However it was out of respect. As he said, she didn’t have to be a part of this, and it was HER village’s fault that it had to come to this. Kohana would be the one to make amends for it, she would make sure of that.

[Jae]

My abrupt disinterest in her temperamental shift seemed to have made in impact; her demeanor reverted back to a state of modesty. When she apologized and spelled out how grateful she was, I simply nodded and allowed her to continue. Her request for providing her assistance was named shortly after, a fair deal that I was sure I could have delivered on; an undisputed title as the sovereign of Konohagakure. It would take some work, and a significant amount of political underwork but it was all feasible.

"Very well, I'll see to it that you are lionized like no other Hokage has been since the previous war."

[/b]

Soon after I spoke of my willingness to see her wishes through, she sighed and carried on about her dreams. It was a very.. morbid fantasy to say the least, and she spared every detail concerning how she saw it in her own mind. It left me wondering just how disturbed she had been in her earlier development. There was something about her that I felt both resonated with my own character that may have had to do with our upbringing as royalty.

Our intolerance toward parties we deemed unfit for whatever, the willingness to see through any effort to eradicate them coupled with an inexorable sense of pride. In some ways, she and I were a lot alike.

"That is an incredible dream you wish to see through, Lady Hokage," I huffed a single chuckle through my nose. "May I ask, what's driven you to such an extreme? What drives your animosity for the Hyuuga Clan?"[/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[~Kohana <3]

Kohana laughed, outright, laughed as though it should have been absolutely obvious as why she would hate her own clan, her own family so much. When her laughter subsided, she inhaled sharply, as if to catch her breath before brushing her hands through her hair and then smoothing out the wrinkles of her long slit skirt. It wasn’t a terribly long story but she could go on for days of the atrocities that she had seen over the years. Though they could be Gods in their own right, the Hyuuga were nothing more than arrogant and lost; fallen to their mortal desires and pride.

“I’m not entirely sure how other Hyuuga behave and raise their children outside of Konohagakure—though I’m sure someone like you knows how the hierarchy works within our clan.” She would pause for a few moments, as if to allow Ares to collect what knowledge he had and knew about his distant Konoha cousins. “There is a Main Branch and a Side Branch. In theory it sounds reasonable. Those born from the elders remain in the Main Branch while those not are ushered into the Side Branch in order to protect said elders. A seal is placed on their foreheads, binding them to a specific Main Branch member and all of the elders at once. If said Branch member should die the seal would burn their eyes from the inside out to avoid being taken by other villages. That stops them from simply plucking the eye from the Side Branch members as well.”

A small spark lit within her, but she had to quickly dampen it and put it out. She would not lose control of herself in front of him, not now at least. “At any time though, the Side Branch can be caused pain by the Main Branch by slowly activating the seal, then deactivating it. I’ve watched it myself—men and woman having their brains turned to mush by those of the elders. My fate would have been the same if not for my sister."

There was a small glimmer among the sadness and rage at the mention of her sister, but it was only brief before her darker emotions took over once more. "Though my father is an elder, when I was born I was to be made my older sister’s guardian. A member of the Side Branch. However she fought it and threatened to kill herself in public, outing the Hyuuga for their practices.” She would pause and tap her forehead then, running her index finger over the flawless milky skin their. “As you can see her pleas and threats worked, however that brought shame on the Main Branch for bending ‘law’. And the Side Branch bore ill will because I escaped the fate of being ‘caged’.”

Throughout her entire life she had been shunned, having to learn all of the Hyuuga taijutsu and techniques on her own or from watching her sister from afar. Never did she get praise, and she always had to live in her sister’s shadow.

Even without the seal, she had fallen into the same cycle all Side Branch member’s had fallen too, however she didn’t even have their support. Even the day she graduated the Academy, as she ran home with Konohagakure headband in hand, all her parents did was look at her, shake their head, and then swoon over her sister. In time though she had become more powerful than her sister and they resented her even more because of that and it just kept getting worse.

Ares, however, didn’t need to know all of that. Kohana didn’t want him inside of her head, knowing her life, or knowing who she was. She hadn’t let anyone in and she didn’t plan to. Her eyes however, still played the story out for him, glazed over with a mix pof anguish and pure hatred. “They are monsters who think they control who should have our gift and who shouldn’t. They hide behind those they enslave and send them to their death so they can live on. It’s pure cowardice and utterly shameful.” She stood from her seat then, reaching behind herself and started to unzip her corset. Immediately an arm came up under her breasts to support them as well as keep the front fabric from falling away. However the entirety of her back was bare, and she turned so Ares could view it.

Her lithe, yet powerful frame showed how strong she was, how dedicated she was to her training. The curve of her back was perfect and feminine in its arch. However spots of purple and brown marred the pale skin there, most old and healing while there was only one fresh one. “My father’s work…” She noted before zipping her corset back up and turning to face Ares once more.

“As Hokage I wanted to change all that. However the village elders themselves already knew and forbid me from saying a word. They said it would cause an uproar and too much rebellion. So for now, I agreed. I let them stay hidden behind their fear and their so called regal rights.” Her face, which had been flat and with no sign of emotion save for the fire in her eyes contorted then and she chuckled a bit as she took a seat once more.

“Do you see now, Ares? They try to be Gods but all they do is show fear. When someone more powerful than them appears they try and cage them, they try to beat them down into obedience. I hate them!”

Though it was brief, a surge of chakra rushed through her as she slammed her fist into the wooden table. Perhaps it was subconsciously but the surge stifled a bit and only a fist sized hole was left, but it was obvious if she hadn’t stifled it, the table would have probably been splintered into saw dust. It was clear it wasn’t that of her Hyuuga talent that allowed for such strength either. Kohana was truly multifaceted and much stronger than her small body allowed one to believe.

She too was a beast...

[/blockquote]

[Jae]

Her story was a driven one, compelling indeed, but it may have appeared odd to her that during her entire display of emotion not a single inch of my expression moved, save for the part where she embedded her own hand within the table we sat it; and even that was a slight glance. And despite how she sympathized her reason for wanting to destroy her own kin, I couldn't help but feel detached from her cause entirely. The truth of the matter was; had she been marked with her own seal and protected her sister as she was destined to do, the issue I'd summoned her for would not even exist.

As far as I was concerned our Clan Elders were not in the wrong at all, deciding to segregate our members between houses. In truth it kept dissenters exactly like Kohana in their place. And then came the rising sense of disgust within myself; I was beginning to recognize Kohana as exactly the type of individual I repudiated. Her sense of pride, unlike my own, came from an underlying abhorrence she held not for Hyuuga Clan policies, but for her own sister. I couldn't help but imagine if the shoe had been switched, would I be talking to her sister instead?

I waited some time to speak after her outburst, pushing myself from underneath the table to stand before circumventing it with steps toward her. They were slow and deliberate to show that I meant no harm, and when I finally reached her I extended a hand to place atop her shoulder.

"Their time will come, Lady Hokage, and your redemption will be had." I leaned in closer to set my lips beside her ear, allowing them to brush against the sensitive flesh as I whispered. "And the last thing they will see is your face, triumphant."

I came back to a full stance before taking steps toward the room's entrance, looking back toward her once more.

"We should return, Lady Hokage, our villages will begin to suspect foul play if we're too careless with our time."

[~Kohana <3]

Kohana had found it odd how unenthusiastic and simply uninterested that Ares had seemed upon telling her story. In all honesty, it pissed her off a bit. Why ask if he really didn’t want to know? What was he expecting? Kohana wasn’t the type to want bloodshed simply because of bloodshed. Granted her reasoning was somewhat of a selfish one, in the long run it would better the situation.

Those who were weak, those who didn’t rebel, those who stayed caged, and those who hid behind those cages, all of them would be purged. It would be the ones who wanted to stand firm and take the risks necessary that would come out on top. That being Ares and Kohana. Regardless if she had been marked and served her duty, she would have still fought against it though obviously not as openly.

The Elders were fools. If they didn’t have the strength to strike down those who would come after their eyes, their gift from God as some would call it, then they didn’t deserve such a power. Keeping people in their place was never the cause, only the outside picture. Again, it was just a selfish attempt to make slaves. It had gone on through so many generations that who would think to go against it now?

If the roles were reversed though, she still would have found Ares and this cause. Why? Because she would have done the same for he sister, saving her from a life behind bars. Though her sister was the only one she could ever tolerate, she didn’t hate her, couldn’t hate, but for the bigger example of things she would kill her.

She remained quiet after her words were finished however, eyeing the much larger Hyuuga male as he stood. When he reached her, his words were comforting, but not something she could entirely believe, not now. Even the shudder, though brief that rippled through her from the close proximity didn’t sway her (despite what her outwards appearance may have let on). His demeanor, even if it was brief, had changed from when they first discussed conquest and obliteration. Perhaps she was being too suspicious, but she couldn’t just be under the pretense that everything was lollipops and rainbows.

Ninja didn’t work that way.

“Indeed they will. As the only other Hyuuga I fully trust, Ares, I’d like for you to share that. If not in Konohagakure, in the over all picture. You aren’t tainted by what the Main House has done and for that, I must say, I envy you, and because of that I respect you. Even my own sister whom I love, I know would fight against me if it came down to it.” She would stand now as well, turning to watch as the other walked to the door. “I will be triumphant yes, but for our cause, YOUR cause.”

Nodding at his last words and came up to the side of him, placing one hand on the small of his back while the other came to rest on his arm. He was so much taller than she was and it was in this instant that he reminded her of another man, one she held rather dear to her heart. What was with all the men in her life being so tall and the reincarnation of Apollo?

“Be careful Ares. I can see that you’re quite powerful—in all honesty, perhaps even stronger than me. You’re my only ally in this however.” She would smile, and despite her precaution and suspicion, she would still like to think that the two of them could be at least genuine with each other. “If you ever need anything, even outside of what this meeting was about, please don’t hesitate to ask, alright?”

She needed him to trust her, and hopefully offering her assistance in all affairs would do just that. Besides, it would also help get rid of any qualms she had about him.

Who you know is everything, after all.

[/justify]

[Jae]

"You have my word, Kohana; together the crimes of the Main House will be purged by fire." The arm she touched was raised at the elbow until my forearm and bicep made a ninety-degree angle, my open palm facing the ceiling. From within it suddenly flickered a mesmerizing flame, a modest display of what I truly could perform. I lifted that arm over and behind her head to sling that flame toward the table we sat it, allowing the fire to land atop the table and all of it's contents.

They burned so easily and the entire bunker would soon be blanketed in flames. This was to ensure that no one would discover their coup.

"Let's go," I said, looking down into her lavender irides once more before darting up the steps.

/exit

[Gentlemanne]

Jae + 63 EXP.

Kohana + 52 EXP.