the crumbling sand. [EVENT!]

[KID GAMBINO.]

THE TALE OF SUNAGAKURE - ACT III
S U N A K U M A

Chaos was imminent.

"Malevolence was brewing in the Hidden Sand, and the faith of the people was degenerating with each passing second. Mother Nature never did truly accept the human race suddenly appearing and reshaping her land as their own, and the brutal sandstorms, blazing temperatures, and threatening creatures that cursed the desert was nothing less than the wrath of the femme-fatale. It was a common myth that the world came to be formed with miraculous, sporadic events, relentless periods of creation and destruction eventually resulting in the birth of a serene habitat... but the harbringer of the occurrence never seized to exist when the world came to know peace. Remnants of the calamitous entity still lingered in the soil and winds, and triumphantly, some of the greatest conflicts in the Ninja World came to be the meddle of this very sovereign itself. Not every minion that harbored the vengeance of Mother Nature and the mindset of absolute havoc dared to immediately challenge the talents of the human race, shoveling themselves into the darkest corners and most hellish depths to avoid contact... but unquestionably, such enduring behavior wouldn't be capable of lasting until the end of time, and the poison known as evil would rise once again through the crevices of the earth... this was fate."

. . . . .


"Pardon me, Kazekage-sama, but it is time."

Heh, damn right it was time... it was time for Sunagakure to receive a full dose of empowerment and faith, and upon the collective advice of the Sand Council elders, this planned gathering was necessary. Steadily and patiently, I responded to the ANBU guard's notification with a nodding gesture, exiting the legislative chambers with a close tail behind a group of our military's most trusted men. The letters that invited the people of the Sand Village to the current Kazekage's first public address were shoved beneath every doorstep and crack of earth in the town, and it would be foolish of a single resident to have been ignorant of the impending event. The location was convenient and expected for a moment of this caliber... a gargantuan platform just behind the Kazekage Administration that overlooked an empty lot that could've easily spanned at least one hundred meters based on it's immense size. Although rarely occupied, the field served nothing more than this very purpose, and had captured the words of many passed leaders in the terra-firma that surrounded it. "Tch, to be in this position of leadership, who woulda thought..."

The morning was reaching adulthood with the Sun gleaming brightly from above, and it seemed nature had finally calmed itself for the sake of this vital moment, but not everything was pure... because just over the apex of the distant mountains loomed a menacing, darkened cloud... but I proceeded nonetheless. The announcement was just minutes from being commenced, and from the elevated foundation I watched the civilian attendance grow rapidly by the second. Was I nervous? Hell fucking yeah, but through a fake smile it never showed, and I was determined to complete this mission without failure. Pearl-white robes drenched the entirety of my frame, leaving the carrot-flavored locks and an invigorated face beneath the emerald helm of the 'Wind Shadow' the chance to cast through. However, despite the typical kingly costume, anyone who knew a fragment about me understood that I was never one to come vulnerable, and beneath the colorless robe was the same construction apparel that I was known for rocking, equipped with a ninja tool assortment to match.

The countdown was counting down, and the loudness of the crowd proved that the majority of Sunagakure was finally drawing near to the vicinity. The words of encouraged repeated endlessly in my head, and I came to the decision that "pleading" wouldn't be the right choice of behavior. Inspiring the citizens to rebuild their pride and respect for authority required much more, and if I wanted to accept such an entitlement of reign, then I would have to demand it... because, let's be honest, a wolf pack only deserved a powerful voice to lead them!

SPOILER: Click to show

This thread is an exclusive Sunagakure Filler-Type Event, and thus is set to Private. Do not post here if you do not have permission.

This event is Death-Enabled, life-threatening battles will occur, and will require several pages in order for the rewards to be given. Do not post if you cannot agree to these terms.

Make sure to state all and any weapons that you want to carry for this event in your first post... if you do not, then you do not have them on you, simple as that.

The IIC will start at 48 hours (2 Days) from the last poster, and will follow a rotation-type posting order. Each participant can miss the IIC at least once... the second miss will result in being kicked from the thread, or potentially killed. This is a fair warning: the IIC is subject to change if the posting speed becomes too slow.

[Forsaken]

(OOC: got Laz's permission so I dont offend anyone ^^

Rave sighed as he laid back on the rooftop overlooking the crowd of people roving below him he thought it was funny how they acted like they mattered. They meant little but the village and his comrades mattered and as of yet only the Kazekage and a fellow kaguya had entered that grouping. So he casually hopped from roof bouncing from a few window hangings till lightly landing on the semi-soft packed sand that lay under his black boots. His black cloak, quiver and bow clung tightly to his lithe shape while the black cloak hid from his nose while his silver hair drifted down his back. As he made his way through the crowd he oh-so-casually avoided touching any of them. at all.....

He looked up at the Kazekage's tower as the rattling of the tools in his cargo pockets and arrows in his quiver stopped he thought he could pull a fun little prank and so while applying chakra directly to the forehea- I mean feet and closing his quiver, he effortlessly started to walk up the wall of the giant building.

As he passed the first glass window he heard a crash from an assistant fainting, at the second he heard a man start to burst out laughing, at the third a woman opening it and yelling at him and threatening to make him wash the windows, fourth another woman promptly spat out her mocha decaf triple latte out over the window, aaaaaaaand from then on it was one combination or another of those things until he reached floor 47 and the kazekage's balcony and there he proceeded to hang with his black cloak miraculously still hanging as if he was not standing upside down at the moment.

He then got bored. and sighed. and flipped himself up and over the railing to sit on it a few feet away from his favorite Sandman. "What's up boss?"

[Yoichi]

01 - Sunakuma!

---

'What's this...'

The young journalist pushed through dense crowds, intent on seeing the source of this gathering, he aimed to reach the front. Or at least a position from which he could lay eyes on everything that happened. Ivory digits tucked into the folds of his dark black traveling coat; a drape of sorts crafted from a thin ebony fabric. His steel face mask rested on his chest, secured to the tight garments beneath his hooded robes. His fingers tapped along the contraption adhered to his right forearm, a thin steel rod cocked back within machinery in preparation for a lethal strike. The mere motion of his finger could unveil a silver streak. To say the least, Genma was well-equipped; even with a personal team of body guards, armed to the neck in heavy artillery, Genma insured his own safety. Dual trench knives holstered at his hips, a small spool and the thin steel fibers of wire being the main mode of transportation.

Well prepared. The shinobi, personified as a writer, clung to the outer edge of the clearing, grazing the walls of the gathering as he advanced to a proper position. He stopped, hesitating slightly before leaning towards the stone walls for support. Titling his head, a steady gaze fastened on the Kazekage as he stood at the center of the stage, podium in hand. 'I wonder... he thought, was this event his first formal address. Then again it made sense, Genma recalled overhearing the renewal of leadership within Sunagakure. This young man, no... Genma's partner, had the weight of this village in the palm of his hands. His decision to insight war, could bring this village to rightful glory, or leave it a fragment of war forgotten in all but folk tale. Their numbers were impressive, but the quantity of young shinobi was disappointing. A village of children needed an elite group of elders to share their experience and counter the naivety of these young men.

Nonetheless, Genma thought to stick around, enjoy the atmosphere, and analyze the components and purpose of the event.

[Kenchiro]

Kenchiro was kitted out, even more so than he normally was within the bounds of the village. He had, of course, heard about this meeting, and personally he considered it a long time coming. After all, he was there when all the nonsense under the village was discovered. It was, in point of fact, the site of the Genin's first professional embarrassment. Trapped in a sewer tunnel with a crazed gourmand with a macabre taste in interior design, the latter played with Kenchiro's emotions like a poorly tuned fiddle, and Kenchiro let him. Even now, the sight of that man and some of the things he did was enough to make the Genin's nights unpleasant.

As he made his way to the village square where the announcement was to be held, Kenchiro could feel a dark smile tugging at the corners of his lips. What was about to ensue was nothing short of revenge for that little game of cat and mouse. He did not care about his standing in the village, or lack thereof. He was going to be part of this effort to wipe that smug little majordomo wanna be off the face of the planet, even if he had to do it from the shadows because the ANBU wanted to keep him on the sidelines "for his safety." This was personal, you see; nobody jerks around a Nagakin and gets away with it for very long.

He joined the crowds, putting on his typical absent smile as he sidled and slipped between villagers. He spotted a familiar face in the crowd, which he made his way towards. "This?" he said in answer to his half-question. "This is a town meeting, Money. Your timing, it seemed, could not have been more interesting." He looked up at the platform from which the Kazekage would be speaking. "The town's suffering from a bit of a rat problem, you see." He could feel the tiniest hint of acid creeping into his smile, which he quickly glossed over. "I imagine the Boss is going to be looking for brave souls who want to risk life and limb to travel in dark tunnels to search for adventure. You know, the typical song and dance."

Pulling the hood from his light grey cloak off his head, he looked up at his Kazekage expectantly. The sooner this show could begin, the sooner he could get to the important business of giving whatever was down in the sewers it's well deserved comeuppance. "Nice outfit, by the way. It's good to see that you had more to wear than what I found you in."

[Whoa Man]

With his arms folded beneath his poncho hidden from view and protected from the winds that oft carried harsher sands Delray weaved his way through the crowd. His hat was tilted forward and down covering much of his face from view but the truth was it just kept the sun out of his eyes. Beneath his poncho in his hand he clutched a flask that he had been using to get over a hang over most of the day. Having been completely bed locked for the day he had at last elected to go into town and get a bit of shopping done that he had long planned on doing, but on his way back he noticed the assembly of people and realized what day it was! Today the new Kazekage was addressing the people on a matter he couldn't remember being told or whether he had been told at all. Why this assembly had been called did not truly interest Delray, but he did see the opportunity to meet his new boss and see what kind of a character he was to the public.

Standing among the crowd though, the heat of all the bodies pressed in on each other was becoming unbearable. Delray removed his hat casually fanning himself to try and keep cool, but if this took too long he wouldn't be able to hide among the people and would have to excuse himself from the assembly to get away the body heat. He weaved his way through the crowd taking note of a few characters of interest as his eyes flashed across each of them before he found a shady spot to stand on the stoop of a house. He leaned back against the house and continued to fan himself gently to cool off. A much better situation but things were not going well for the Gamabushi in this heat.

Rolling a spliff in his free hand and setting it to his lips he lit the end and began to pull gently on his beard as he smoked. Now he was as comfortable as he was going to get, it was time for this new Kazekage and what appeared to be his... friend who was on stage with him to start the show. Time to hear out the new boss man and see what he was all about, Delray awaited prepared to judge the man on his words and what actions were taken here today.

SPOILER: Click to show

Standard Bow
Rank: C
Type: Primary / Ranged
Special: Fires off arrows at a default speed of 2 meters per second for a maximum range of 10 meters before losing accuracy, without the need of techniques. A half second delay exists between firing off a shot and a reloading the next arrow and drawing again. Keep in mind techniques which improve range and arrow speed act as bonuses, and stack with whatever the bow's base skill is.
Description: Includes Flat Bows and Self Bows. The standard, wooden bow with two curve endings, arched so that the middle is the arc which the user points towards their target. Finally, a string exists from each of the curved ends, allowing for the archer to load and pull their arrow back, creating brief tension which results in the power that thrusts the projectile forward. Light and very easy to use.
Cost: 5,000 Ryo

2x Arrow
Rank: D
Type: Secondary, Melee/Range
Special: 10 Arrows / Pack
Description: Arrows can come in multiple shapes and sizes, depending upon the user's choice. The average length of an arrow from tip to fletching is 27".
Cost: 500 Ryo / Pack

Concealed Mouth Ember
Rank: C
Type: Secondary / Ranged
Special: 5 per pack
Description: When going into battle, a ninja may store a small combustible ember in their mouth. The ember must be bitten to be activated. The ninja can then spit the ember at a combustible substance to help ignite it, with the blast no more than a foot or two of concussive force capable of ignition, with assistance.
Cost: 500 Ryo per Pack

Binoculars
Rank: C
Type: Accessory / Self
Special: Has a range up to 100 meters.
Description: Similar to the radio in ease and effectiveness, the binoculars are sturdy and serve as a means to measure the distance to a target. Measuring no more than six inches in diameter, this square shaped device sports a durable carapace designed to withstand water damage and even the pressure of extreme altitudes.
Cost: 5,000 Ryo

Exploding Note
Rank: D
Type: Tool / Area of Effect
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Special: 10 per pack
Description: The exploding note is a piece of parchment paper infused with special chakra, layered over with a special script on it that serves to enable and facilitate its explosive properties. Its execution is simple - the ninja can attach the note to another object such as a kunai or log, and upon activation, the note is set and begins either a slow countdown burn, which eventually results in a large explosion, or the explosion in itself upon command.
Cost: 500 per Pack

Exploding Pouch
Rank: C
Type: Tool / Area of Effect
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Special: 5 per pack
Description: A variation on the exploding note, these pouches contain a myriad of ball bearings and other metallic projectiles that, when detonated, spread forth even more
Cost: 500 per Pack

[KID GAMBINO.]

THE TALE OF SUNAGAKURE - ACT III
S U N A K U M A

The time had arrived. From the invisible side of the massive stage I stood, the elders of the Sand Council approaching a parade of seats that were delivered especially for this occasion, lined along the west and east of the podium where I would inevitably stand. The highly-respected officials entered of their own accord and time, each senior flashing an encouraging nod as they came to be comfortably seated. The calmness on my face was starting to become weirdly morphed with hints of anxiety, fearing that the thunderous speech would have no lasting effect. Surprisingly, nervousness had never landed such a powerful blow on me before, and uncertainty slowly began to propose if I was truly worthy of the authoritative role... and from the corner of my eye sprung a familiar comrade, one of the many Genin that I had teamed alongside before my promotion, and one of the few that I felt had a promising future.

"What's up, Boss?" The tenacious soldier who called himself Rave undoubtedly had a few personality traits that reminded me of my adolescent years, my lips curling into a smile to remove any signs of imperfection. With fleeting movement, several vigilant ANBU guards made their presence known with the teenager's sudden appearance, but upon realizing that no such threat existed, I waved for them to drop the eventual hostility. For a moment, despite clearly hearing the Kaguya's question, I couldn't help but reminisce about the countless adventures that I had forced myself into with Sunagakure's aspiring lowerclassmen; the boisterous, the courageous, and even the simple-minded... each possessed talents that made me feel inspired about our future shinobi, and as the "boss" of this gang, it was my responsibility to lead them forward valiantly.

"Rave... it is nice to see you again, and although it was quite gutsy of you to approach like that, I must thank you, for you have reminded me of what is most important." Distant eyes shifted from the cloudless atmosphere back to the out-of-place Genin as I became completely overwhelmed with high spirits. "Please, go ahead and join the rest of your fellow citizens, the speech will be commencing soon." The demand was subtle, and after the silver-haired teen made his exit from the platform, I came to stand at the centered podium with the seated elders at my side. Not a single word was spoken, yet the chatter of the enormous crowd rapidly dulled and ended with a concentrated silence. With a deep in- and exhale, I stretched a single hand out toward the mass, pleading for their sympathy to be unmatched.

"Lend me your ears, citizens of Sunagakure... before I inform you with exactly who I am and what lies in the future, let us dwell on the past for a moment. The Ninja World, once divided and ruled by the laws of nature, came to be molded into what is our society today through brutal wars and perilous treaties. The Sand Village itself had faced many demons... the destructive event that ruined thousands of lives across the map in mere days, and forced our village to rebuild from it's very foundation... then the sudden uprising of the Sunagakure's own recurring nemesis, the One-Tailed Tanuki, Shukaku... but during those times, the people of the treacherous desert risked their lives and remained faithful to their loved-ones for the only place that they could truly call "home"... and it was this courage and loyalty that kept the balance unshaken, and the people hopeful..."

I paused, hesitant to acknowledge the sore subject that came to mind, but it was intolerantly necessary. "...now, the word "loyalty", something that I understand a majority of you may feel is lacking in the Hidden Sand Village, with the disappearance of several minions and powerful leaders highlighting our territory as a laughing stock amongst the Five Great Nations, has caused that unrivaled faith to deteriorate over time, the Sand a pitiful shell of what it once was... but I refuse to believe that such ignorance could exist in the minds of this strong-willed village. There are a disheartening malevolence that lurks in the Village Hidden in the Sand, for I have witnessed some of it myself, but even when the forthcoming of chaos seems inevitable, we must prove that the natives of the Wind are never a force to be reckoned with! From the men and women, to the young adults and innocent children... as the protectors of this land, we must FIGHT to assure that our recognition is never underestimated!"

And then, a light applause.

"The beasts of nature may wreck havoc... and those we believed to be our guardians may turn away from us... but never will the Village Hidden in the Sand lose what our ancestors fought so painstakingly to create!" The crowd was becoming louder with each spoken word. "FOR WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE HIDDEN SAND, WILL NEVER BOW DOWN... OUR EARTHLY BONDS WILL NEVER BE BROKEN, AND OUR SUCCESSORS WILL LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SPIRITED WIND... FOR WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE HIDDEN SAND, WILL ALWAYS BE VICTORIOUS!!!"

The rapture was deafening, the intensity of the applause had reached it's limit...

This was what I was destined for.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Sorry for the late post, but the IIC starts now! Each participant has 48 HRS to respond, failure will result in being skipped... miss the IIC more than twice, and you're kicked or dead!


This is the posting order!

Have fun!

[Forsaken]

Rave's body tensed as he felt the telltale whoosh of wind that signaled the arrival of the anbu. His bones rippled as a dew pierced through his skin itching to burst forth but he kept it under control and pushed them back down as he held up his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa guys just stopping by."

His reliable kage signaled them away but he seemed to be in deep thought about something but he smiled at Rave and thanked him for helping him remember something important. "No prob boss, break a leg."

The simple greeting left a smile on Rave as he nodded and waved at him hopping off the podium to go find a nice rooftop and watch his leader's great speech that soon unfolded.

[Yoichi]

02 - Sunakuma!

---

Flawless Timing.

Although darkly garbed and well concealed within the crowd, his acquaintance still managed to locate him amongst the thousands of attending citizens. Genma couldn't resist the slight tug of a smile forming at the corners of his lips, genuine excitement at the chance to cross paths with his former savior. As far as Kenchiro was concerned, Akira was simply a traveling journalist. He had overlooked the simplicity of the stunt, and allowed a rival shinobi to enter his domain; nonetheless, his naivety and kindness had granted the shinobi easy passage. If it weren't for him, its safe to say, his meeting with the Kazekage never could have taken place.

"I'll be damned," he cooed, overtly shifting his gaze to the shinobi.

Capitalizing on the entrance of Sunagakure's fabled leaders, Genma gently pushed Kenchiro away from his posse of body guards. Leading him towards the center of the mass, a position much closer to the stage. Rokuto's speech was impressive, being able to rile up a crowd at the whim of his lips. Spewing nonsense about the past and how it had affected the creation and downwards spiral of Sunagkure; innate speaking skills were the harbor of a good leader, which the young sand boy was bound to make. His characteristics were ideal, and with pure intent, he represented the village on a higher plane. All shinobi considered, this shinobi showed the most potential even among his powerful constituents. He had what they lacked: ambition.

"I had to lose my body guards, they've been quite the bother I'll have you know," he mused to the shinobi, chuckling briefly.

But his words were quickly dulled out by the rising roar of the crowd. Even Rikuto seemed deeply sucked into his act, this powerful facade made to lead the village into the depths of hell itself. He was their king. Their god. Their hero. And more importantly, he was the man who could save this village. Their reputation could rise from the ashes of a somber pit. Genma stood forcefully among the crowd, body stiff, his gaze fiercely intent on Rokuto. If the young kazekage could see anything among the crowd, it was likely this; Genma was only their to remind him of the looming threat. The proximity of war was near, a blood intimacy was soon to show, and one of the five major villages would crumble. That much was certain. Godlike in his air, Genma Nomazaki turned away from his friend, fading into the sea of beings.