A Stone in the Desert [M/T/Private]

[¤ SFS ¤]

Desert diplomacy!----


Client's Name: Shodaime Tsuchikage Kaguya Kira
Client's Occupation: Shinobi
Mission Rank: C
Payment for completion: 1,000 Ryo + 50 EXP
Mission Subject: Approach Sunagakure with an offer of alliance, the Tsuchikage wishes to meet with the kazekage at neutral ground.
Special Requests: I wish for this mission to be done solo or by teams of two. Violence is only to be used if there are no other options.
Notes: Causing offense will be counted as a failure. A success will reveal a bonus prize.

No holding back. He exploded from the village in such a hurry that the ANBU might have stopped him if they hadn’t already known what he was doing. A mission of unparalleled importance was underway. He was to go to Kaze no Kuni and seek out Sunagakure. There he would begin his mission of meeting with the Kazekage and requesting a neutral meeting ground between the Kazekage and Tsuchikage. The point of the meeting would be for discussion of an alliance between the Villages Hidden in Stone and Sand. He was leaving the village a sooner than then he’d anticipated of even wanted, but he had good reason for that which would also be realized in Wind County, outside of Suna and outside of his mission.

A dash through the village from one end to another, twice helping the scroll shop owner receive his shipment of blanks, guarding the border to Tsuchi no Kuni with Iron Country’s ronin, and even defending Iwa’s honor and pride by besting a Kenjutsu master without killing him. They had all been worthy assignments to a fresh genin and had made him stronger, faster, smarter and more experienced in general. But if he’d known from the beginning something this important would fall to him, he would have trained harder and doubled down on missions. Nothing he’d done thus far could equate to this.

His journey would begin in Iwa, taking him on through terrain only an Iwa shinobi could navigate through without a problem or delay. Through grizzled mountains, jagged and craggy pathways, and then eventually after hours of travel he’d reach the large Cliffside that lead down a chain of smaller mountains that fed off into a massive dessert. Not long after entering that desert he would officially be out of Tsuchi no Kuni and into Kaze no Kuni.

[Axcel]

Moved

[chiatsuki]

A shadowy figure approaches from the gates of kaze no kuni just as the messenger of iwa stepped foot upon suna's land. The tread was soft and non chelant... but upon his face there painted a purpose of perfect portrait. Bubblegum rubbed slightly along his teeth as his cloaked body moved forward. Just after escaping the windy grasps of the sand village's chakra barrier he'd take that cloak off and reveal his golden locks. His blue eyes scanned the area for intruders.... this type of mission was one that sought for weird behavior. Because Touko had been kidnapped the temporary seat holder had requested such measures be taken. His spot stood heavily along the ground he now glued himself to. Suna headband gleaming off his forehead as his eyes shifted left and right.

[¤ SFS ¤]

It was a hard thing to get used to, the sand sinking underneath his feet was a contrast to bounding and leaping from rocks. Stone didn't bend no matter the pressure put on it but Sand shifted and entrapped those that put pressure on it. Traveling through Tsuchi no Kuni meant being firm and strong, being able to climb. Traveling though Kaze no Kuni meant being light-footed, agile and always on the move. Or at least that's how the genin took it as he paced himself advancing in the general direction of Sunagakure. It would be miles before he actually had to be more specific in his directions.

One thing he did like about desert wandering; if you went fast enough the sand would kick up behind you. Leaving a trial and drawing attention wasn't the best way to get the job done so he refrained from doing so after discovering he could but it stuck in his mind as something to try the moment Suna and Iwa were allies. There would be plenty of trips to the desert he still had to partake in, the Sandroa Saggar would almost always be his destination.

His paced trotting through the sands allowed him to soak up his surroundings as they came, nothing that wasn't hidden under some concealment style of jutsu made it within attacking distance without him noticing. That being said he couldn't help but notice the rays of light shining past him, reflected from the headband of the figure in the distance. He was too far away to make out the headband but simply having one made him a speculated ninja. Until he could see the insignia the headband bore it would foolish to approach.

There were more than seven hidden villages of ninja and simply because they were in Wind County, it didn't automatically make this guy Suna-nin, he could have been a deserter, a Nuke-nin and that would be decidedly worse. If he was patrolling the border he would warn intruders not to advance any further and state his positioning as a shinobi of Suna, if he did not name himself as a shonobi of Suna, Sen feared his mission was about to go from good to shit before he could even get the message to the Kazekage. He he wished he’d brushed up on his Youton in case of a fight but he deemed it more important to start building his crafting skills. He didn’t regret his decision now, he only hoped he wouldn’t have to either. A desert burial wasn’t his idea of resting in peace so if it had to happen, he wouldn’t die without a struggle. If he could only get closer… and peek at that headband, all this could be avoided.

[chiatsuki]

The iwa rebel protruded forth like a shadow within the brink of a lit canvass. The golden haired suna chuunin cut his eye to the side after seeing this, performing a few seals before dispersing into thin air. His gloves masked the sound of rubber but no sound would come from him as his escape gave forth at the blink of an eye. His position now stood behind the iwa genin with his sword drawn ready to decapitate the boys head… but he were not that foolish…. Not at all.

His stance erected thus far only to let the genin know he was not of danger but that did not mean he would travel without defense. He was not foolish...no…never..!

[¤ SFS ¤]

Irony by thy name. In the face of death a genin in a foreign land didn't clutch at his life. He only laughed. It wasn't a long laugh and it wasn't drawn out, he couldn't go on too long without answering the person poised to behead him. He had more than one reason not be afraid though. A basic sword strike wouldn't have done much good against his Youton no Tate (Shield of Hard Magma) which was forming a layer of defense between himself and the blade at that very moment. That being said he was sure the Suna-nin had something better that could finish him off but that didn't worry him either because of the other reason that he had to not be afraid.

Because the Suna-nin was a Suna-nin, no other ninja would have warned him and asked his credentials and business with Wind Country before attempting to cut him down. Finding a ninja of the Hidden Sand meant he could be the opposite of worried. It meant he could relax, if only a little. He had a guide now, not only through the rest of wind country but to the recipient of his message as well. He wouldn’t have to waste time trying to find signals in the sand for the entrance to the village. The only thing better than having a guide was having a guide that could help fight off attackers, this one seemed more than capable with a blade, overly cautious even, two things that would ensure he made it Suna in one piece. He spoke clearly with an air of confidence and relief in his voice, two things that would hint at the authenticity of his claims.

Tokomaru Sen. Iwagakure Shinobi, if the headband hanging from my neck didn't already tell you that. I'm on mission from the Tsuchikage to meet with and deliver a message of severe importance to the Kazekage. He had proof but it was neither for his eyes nor the Suna-nin's, only for the Kazekage and only once he was in Suna.

[chiatsuki]

The sound of the sword returning back into its case would give slight re-assurance to the iwa-nin. With his throat clearing he took one step which swiftly met his distance back in front of the iwa shinobi. With a smirk and a grin he'd suddenly change his direction of motive.

With that a dusty wind kicked back from his feet as he drifted with decent structure giving straight leeway to the village gates. If the chuunin knew one thing it was that he was not to interfere with village-relations. His task was simple if not complicated at all. He were to guide any intruders to the alms of his new kage... and thats exactly what he'd planned to do.

Follow into the village. Get someone to move thread into village gates. You are allowed entrance.

[¤ SFS ¤]

His message was taken in with enough belief that he was allowed to keep his head. How lucky he was he would never live down. The Chuunin’s tone changed and he seemed more than willing to guide him into the sandhole all Suna-nin called home. Although Sen was sure it couldn’t have been than the rockhole he himself called home. He didn’t have to try too hard to convince his new acquaintance of his intentions. It made sense though; the Chuunin had no way to tell if he was lying or if he really had a message. If he called his bluff and killed him the ramifications could have been war or on a more personal scale death for just him for killing a messenger. If he did mean harm to the village there was little chance he could kill the Kazekage and everyone else that would follow to stop him there was little to be lost by allowing him into the village considering his claims. If the Iwa-nin was telling the truth and he really did have a message to pass between the Kage’s, preferably a beneficial massage, the Chuunin’s reward for facilitating safe passage for said genin would be at the very least, an early end to a boring and tiring mission of border patrol. He’d only had to guard Earth Country’s borders once. The payout was worth it but it wasn’t a mission he was anxious to repeat anytime soon.

Rotating his shoulder blades and dusting himself off a bit the genin followed his Chuunin guide through the short remains of the area regarded as general Wind Country and into land specifically marked as Sunagakure. A long passageway forged of sand that didn’t crumble when stacked vertically on itself led him to the village gates where tower guards peered down at him with expressions varying from interest and caution to distaste and indifference.

It was to be expected; the Great War left an open field of neutrality between all villages even though before it there was an intricate string between the villages regarding enemies and allies. In general all villages were somewhat enemies at this point as all villages were trying to get back on their feet. Interacting with the others was a gamble in their embryotic states. But, whether that gamble paid the village out or cleaned the village out was up to the two shadows guiding said villages. He hoped for the sake of Iwa that they could be allies that hid no underhanded tricks in store for one another but he feared that was the wishful thinking of a genin.

The Chuunin gave the signal and the gates opened. He followed his guide through with caution. There wasn’t an immediate feel of danger which was what made him so…. anxious. If he was labeled a threat of some sort he wouldn’t be able to make it out of the village alive, especially not with the gate closing behind him. He was officially in the belly of the beast. But, so long as the Tsuchikage hadn’t written anything on that scroll that would screw him over, that beast would become a partner and its belly would be more of a safe haven or home away from home, rather than a potential death trap.

Through the village they went, he tried his best not to stare or learn the layout of the land but it couldn’t be helped. His training told him to know where he was to know the structural layout of his surroundings for emergency situations. This went double for other Hidden Villages whether they were allies or not. Before long he was lead into a prominent building he assumed was the Kazekage’s office. He was relieved that the hardest parts of assignment were over; handing the scroll over and heading home would be the easiest parts. If something unexpected happened and he wasn’t able to go back to Iwa, well he accepted that it was out of his hands and for once he decided that he had to believe in and have faith in his Kage.

[♠Solo♠]

Moved.

[chiatsuki]

Aero’s footsteps were like air over the tiny particles of sand as he and his team pushed behind him. They were the foundation he stood upon… his reason for being here. Brown shreds of hair wafted from down his figure as the wind so persistently beat against his chest trying to force him back. It worried him not about the guard coming up with a stranger… it is what he’d sent him out for. What he didn’t anticipate however was that this messenger was from another village and carried a scroll within his hand.

His words were silent and directed to that of his team. He stood boldly in front of them but would allow them to come to his side… he didn’t believe in showing pride through the thickening of shinobi. With a short few strides he would meet with his blonde-haired guard who bowed his head before him just before catching up to Aero. The Iwa genin would be given a hand sign by the guard to let him know now to step forward yet until the briefing was given.

Ogosuri’s eyes translated a peculiar circumstance afoot as he heard the words of the blue eyed chuunin. Once he’d finished Aero gave him a hand sign as well… his tasks needed to remain at the border of the country so with that he’d give a nod and disappear into the thin air without a trace. With a slight cough the uchiha cleared his throat and tilted his head as he stepped closer to the genin of stone. But with a smile he would send comfort through the crevices of his words…

The concern he had for others was unrelenting. The kazekage cared nothing for wars though he did believe in a strong government for his people. His eyes stayed upon the silhouette of the shinobi of earth but his eyes dare not change into the tomoe his brethren were known for. He kept his eyes at their calm blue state and awaited a response from his teammates as well as his new-found acquaintance.

[Ronno]

Sweat glamored passer-byes as the shinobi of sand ran alongside Fumiko-dongseng and Aero-ssi to the north gates of Sunagakure. The large structures were overwhelming to the genin. Remembering the first time he had come into contact with Suna. Monban Sui was like most shinobi, left without a home after the last Great War. He once fought for Amegakure, but now resides in Sunagakure. The heat was unbearable for the fifteen year old boy. Having once come from a somewhat cold and wet climate, he was not used to such an arid place. Overcame with exhaustion and dehydration, the young man collapsed a few dozen yards outside the gates of Suna.

Stopping there hasted movements to the gates, Sui noticed an Iwagakure nin as well as a sand chuunin, one that he did not recognize. Sui was rattled to see another shinobi inside the walls of Suna. His mind; however, was put at ease with the reassuring from his Kage. Monban nodded in compliance with the Kazekage's orders. Waiting to see what will come from an alliance between the great village hidden in the stone, Iwagakure no Sato and the greater village hidden in the sand, Sunagakure no Sato.

"Right."

He watched as the Kazekage approached the Iwa nin and the Suna chuunin. Sui was impressed by his compassion when he spoke. HE spoke to men the same, no matter their allegiance or background. The Kazekage was a great young man who is truly admirable.

[/justify]

[Fumiko]

[Enter.]

The silence was not disturbing, but rather welcomed by Fumiko, however the threat of danger eclipsed that as she glanced at the approaching stranger and his guard escort. The headband which he wore around his neck was enough for her to tell that he was from a foreign village, and the way he walked suggested an aura of importance. He was here on official business, but there was no way for any of them to tell whether or not that business was riddled with good or ill intentions. Briefly, it crossed her mind that he might have entered under the guise of delivering news, but instead had something of a much darker nature in mind. The very thought caused sand that was once swept easily aside her sandals as they walked, to swirl about the heels of her feet hidden, but prepared nonetheless for less than pleasant actions.

However ill-begotten such an action was, otherwise, she was rather respectful offering a bow and a warm smile to the visiting shinobi with not so much as a single word. As of now, it was not her place to talk, or even interrupt for that matter if the situation called for such. Her only responsibility now was to ensure that the meeting went off with out a hitch and thereafter show the visitor his way out of the village.

The soft steps she took to reach Ogosuri's side would not go unnoticed. The gourds which were looped and tied at the back of her hips swayed and sand was sent off to the side. Such was only to be recalled however, and the particles that were briefly dispersed began also to swirl around her feet.

She wasn't comfortable standing off behind him, leaving him vulnerable to this newcomer. And in that way she was assured that she could properly protect him should things go south in diplomacy. Briefly, as she halted in her proper place, she looked back to Sui, expecting him to take similar defensive precautions should their leader be threatened in any way. However, the glance was nothing more than veiled offer, in no way was he required to take up a position next to Aero. Yet, she would be slightly ill at ease if he remained stationary in this affair. Without knowing true intention and the capabilities of the foreign shinobi, there was no way to properly prepare for the coming moments.

[¤ SFS ¤]

The Kazekage made his appearance and slowly but surely and the genin's patience began to tick away. No matter how long it took things to progress he wouldn't lash out and blow the mission. Still, his parameters were to hand off the scroll and return to Iwa. He had no intentions of remaining longer than necessary so in his mind, the moment the Kazekage had the scroll his business in Suna would be done. It wasn't a personal reflection on the village or it's natives. It was more like a new reflection on his own home; it was the only place he could get started on his work and advance in it in peace. Even now he would feel the will of his new tools cursing him for taking so long on this mission. In short, he was in a rush.

If he wanted to tinker, if he wanted to craft, he would have to learn to move more swiftly in his assignments to have more free time to craft. It would be rude to breakout the tools here and craft up a few feet of ninja wire just to satisfy some compulsion he was becoming afflicted with. He wasn't sure what was happening to him really, up until a couple of weeks ago all he wanted to improve his combat skills and be ready to protect himself against more or less any one who meant him harm. Then a few missions later and a little good faith from the Tsuchikage he'd had no great love for, and he could only think about building and creating. But now wasn't the time nor was it the place. This was future defining stuff that would shape the path of two Hidden Villages of Sand and Stone, and by extension of that, all the remaining Hidden Villages. There was zero chance the others would sit back and remain neutral on all fronts if they heard word that Suna and Iwa were forming an alliance. They would either seek into the alliance as well or form their own in response but not very many would remain neutral. No one wanted to be caught alone in the storm, no one wanted to be left behind. For Iwa this had been an unchanging feeling; they were last in the great race between the Hidden Villages to regain stability but through the prominence of rising genin like himself and the apparent enterprising of their new Tsuchikage they were on their way to something better than the arrogant former glory they'd once been so well known for.

It was important to be patient and let this meeting run it's course, even so, he couldn't stop stealing gazes at the attractive female genin's gourd. He knew what it was obviously and knew what it was for. The only thing he didn't know was what was inside of it. If he were allowed one guess it would be sand. He too commanded jutsu that could make use of a gourd but inside his would be something far more harmful than sand. Her gourd wasn't particularly large or particularly well made. It held up to the standards of what a shinobi should carry in battle but that was just it; it was the standard, not above the standard. He almost began to sweat from the thought of making her a new one, a larger and more durable one, maybe with a shape that showed her curves a little better. It would test the new limits of his crafting abilities in the discipline of shinobi accessories but that was what he wanted. Testing himself was the reason why he wanted to handle this business and return to Iwa; so he could begin crafting things.

Turning his attiention back to their leader he made mental notes. The Kazekage was a decent sized man though his face was young, a bit younger than his own. In regards to size he was about the same height as the genin though his body structure was more slender. It went without saying that what he lacked in muscle mass and tone, he probably made up for with raw chakra and combat skill. He wouldn't have been appointed otherwise. The Wind Shadow spoke graciously which the genin was appreciative of. He bowed deep showing his respect to the man simply for being a leader and bearing the troubles and responsibilities of an entire hidden village as well as it's surrounding nation on his shoulders. Stand back upright He put the scroll in his hand put back in a pocket and a smaller scroll more regal and of finer paper was pulled from a different jacket pocket. A brown seal unbroken and adorned with the kanji for Earth made it radiate with more importance than the phony he'd had in his hands until now. No sense in exposing the real thing until it's intended eyes were present.

Thank you for having me Kazekage-dono. My name is Tokomaru Sen and as you have surmised I represent Iwagakure no Sato. I was dispatched to come here to Sunagakure no Sato and deliver this scroll to you which I received directly from the hands of the Tsuchikage himself. The official seal has not been broken thus I am unaware of what it says. Outside of delivering this scroll I was tasked with delivering a verbal message to you as well as well. He cleared his throat making sure his baritone echoed the proper words. He looked the Kazekage in the eyes as he spoke, no fear, and no hidden intentions.

The Tsuchikage wishes to meet with you in person at a location of neutral ground and discuss the possibility of an alliance between our villages; Iwagakure no Sato and Sunagakure no Sato.

He handed the scroll over to the Kazekage and returned a bow to the female genin, offering one to the male genin as well. He wasn't one for such old-fashioned methods of greeting but they didn't know him well enough to know that. It was better to simply be respectful and put his best foot forward. For the sake of both their villages as an alliance would prove beneficial for both Suna and Iwa.

[chiatsuki]

Within the alms of foreign nature everything seemed calm but the tense spark which fused Ogosuri’s curiosity. The words sent chills through his spine only for the fact of this particular conclusion. As the iwa genin spoke his name Aero rose his brow in a starling manner.. he hadn’t expected names to be exchanged so loosely… but considering the actual affair at hand he seemed to have no problem with it as his confusion turned to a sniveling grin that could push adrenaline into any warrior. With but a second he’d take the scroll and gesture it to the hands of Fumiko as he attempted to shake hands with his new-found ally.

He licked his lips shortly after and took a deep breath before continuing. These memories were coming by a fast pace and would build the foundation of the country he treaded through. Eyes of blue soon began to spin into a purple elixir… two small dots seemingly jotting out from the pupil. Then finally the red tomoe showed its face to the shinobi of earth in order to draw more attention to his eyes… it made less room for things to be forgotten when two people were looking each other in the eye. Hand grabbed at hilt as words smooth as ramen butter spewed forth from the crevices of his lung.

[/b] his offer for now for there is no safe place to meet within this war-wrecked world we call home. Sunagakure has suffered very many faults and we cannot face another stab at our fragile backs… so I will only give him one option as leeway…” [/ul]

His eyes stayed ready at the Iwa genin... pondering his meaning of haste in this world of decadent shame. Aero ‘s fingers tapped upon his hilt before continuing with a slight chin rub and another welcoming grin.

Eyes of fire now shot wide with veins protruding from the outer layer of his pupil. Throat and face edged forth with the anger subsidizing within his body from the previous attacks on the village he now took control of. Aero would probably be looked down for his drastic change of posture but his voice spoke of vengeance upon those who strived for pain and greed. He would not be another statistic within its boundary… and to keep this limit within his grasp the uchiha needed power within the palm of his words every once and a while when they needed to be. Although he never raised his voice it seemed like the perfect time to warn the genin of the opposing danger that walked upon his conscious.

Towards the end of his stammering swagger he bowed to the Iwa genin and turned back towards Fumiko and Sui who had done their parts in aiding him with this meeting. He smiled at them and continued to walk giving them a heads up to follow. There next destination was the treasury… a few items needed to be purchased for his personal team because within the circumstances they now planted themselves upon they would need the correct items to ensure them an unbeatable teamwork. His plans of strengthening his own self would have to now increase into the realm of Fumiko and Sui. He only hoped they could grow in strength as quick as he did… for if they couldn’t it would be a very different battle at the end of things.

With fast haste and fixed posture Aero continued his pace towards his tower in order to get ready for the meeting.


[exit. Fumiko and Sui it is your choice to follow me from here. You all may go and complete missions if you want or anything else you feel like you want to do. I am setting up a new thread today to start my own missions. You may come if you want. Im making some B - A ranks we're going to go on ]
[/justify][/font][/blockquote]

[♠Solo♠]

Ogosuri: +24 EXP

EXP will be awarded to the others once they have left the thread.