Aftermath; Afterthoughs [P]

[Shinryu]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000][style=font-family: arial black; color: #efefc6; font-size: 15px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; letter-spacing: 8px; text-shadow: 1px 0px 0px #000000, 1px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 0px 0px #000000, 0px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 1px 0px #000000, 0px -1px 0px #000000;] Old habits reappear[/style][style=font-family: arial black; color: #c5c590; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 5px; margin-top: -5px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px]Fighting the fear of fear[/style] [style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: justify; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙words : WORD COUNT; ♙tags: PEOPLE; ♙lyrics: Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica;[/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-left: 5px; width: 450px; margin-top: 5px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; letters-spacing: 2px;]Growing conspiracy, everyone's after me[/style][style=background-color: #111111; padding: 5px; width: 447px; opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; color: #bcbc82;] "This is insane..." I walked the backstreets of the Blast City, ravaged by the waves of destruction that my nation had unleashed. Houses had burned to the ground, much like my own had. Countless deaths had occurred, both civillian and shinobi, and for the most part, the capital of the Land of Earth lay in ruins. I walked through an alley, and though the day was still young, dark plumes of thick black smoke threatened to block out the sky. The morose colouring was more than enough to drag my conscience to the depths of darkness, my mind swirling around the thoughts of what we had done, and of what I was now a part of... And perhaps I was paying less attention than I should have... But at that point, I almost welcomed death... Was I truly no better than those who had attempted to destroy me now? Is this what being a ninja was about? I took a look around to either end of the alley, before seating myself back first to the wall of one of the few buildings that still stood. Was this really what my career was supposed to boil down to? Killing the innocent and waging war on those who were undeserving, all in the name of being "the necessary evil?" It felt like one big excuse to murder and maim. Kouketsu seemed to think it was an honourable enough task, but what honor was to be found in this? He truly thought himself a martyr, becoming that which would bring everyone else together against him through their combined hate and pain. It was foolish. Suffering may bind them so long as they have an enemy, but then what? What would become of their children, and their children's children? What would happen when new prejudices sprung up? When inequalities came about? I rested my forehead in my palm as I tried to imagine how it was possible that anything good could come out of this. There seemed to be nothing on the horizon but more deaths, countless more innocents becoming nothing more than statitistics quoted in history lessons. And even then, what if I was wrong? What if Kouketsu was right about all of this? I sighed and balled up my fists, slamming them into the walls behind me. It was so goddamn frustrating! Whose side was I supposed to be on? And how was I supposed to understand what was right and what was wrong? It was driving me mad! I knew I disagreed with Kouketsu's ways, but what if I was just too naive to believe that there was any other way? What if there was no real way to lasting peace, only temporary bonds? What if... I contemplated all of the possibilities as I sat there, my head curled up in my hands. The soft patter of raindrops began to fall, and it was hardly long before I felt the cold of the rain starting to soak into my clothes. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore... I only knew that killing those that didn't deserve it wasn't what I wanted to do... [/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-right: 5px; width: 450px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: right; letters-spacing: 2px;]Frayed ends of sanity; hear them calling me![/style][style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙notes: NOTES GO HERE;[/style]credit to ZETTA! of LS & BTN

[Hermit]

!!!

What Jubei saw the moment he stepped forth onto Bakudon Gai's settlement was a disgraceful, putrid slab of land engulfed by wavering flames of crimson. Through the metameric coffins of smoke and smog billowed a spelled of burned flesh and charred bone, very pungent and unpalatable to the senses, enough so that it induced a quick series of heavy coughs. Using his right hand to cover his mouth and nose simultaneously, he continued to trek through the narrow streets, with only the faint sounds of grunting from those who unfortunately survived such a massacre.

("Who- What the hell could have have the gall to do such a thing, let alone beckon enough power to do so. The entire city has gone to hell from the looks of it.")

His calculative mind was hard at work, trying to somehow attempt at deducing the suspects for the cause, but to no avail, his mind couldn't come up with anything that made sense, except for - Kouketsu Uchiha. But even then it seemed unlikely - at least to the samurai- seeing as how Kouketsu was a legend, or was he. Who was Jubei to know, until recently he just stepped outside his honorable world of incessant Bushido and into the world of the shinobi. Needless to say, he continued his long strides, blindly heading towards the heart of town, he wanted to know who did this, who was responsible for this inhumane sight. Ironically his train of though was disrupted as his hand did him no justice in thwarting the stench of death from his nose, forced to take more extreme measure his wrist bent inwardly to cup the edge of his sleeve and pull it forward as he dove his nose into its fabrics.

(""This isn't good at all, the smell is getting even strong the more I wa-")

A faint - but audible - thump pierced the threshold of Jubei's ears. Coming from the right, his head instinctively followed the origins of the sound itself, revealing to him a man of sorts in a alley alone. . .and alive. It was a refreshing sight -for lack of a better term- to finally seem someone with a beating heart within the midst of this destruction. Turning and stepping into the alley way, he stopped some 10 meters before the man and offered words of compassion before inquiry.

"You there! Are you okay? What happened here?"

Sporting his blue, flower covered shihakusho and black hakama, he announced himself fearlessly, making himself known with a direct ultimatum.

[Shinryu]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000][style=font-family: arial black; color: #efefc6; font-size: 15px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; letter-spacing: 8px; text-shadow: 1px 0px 0px #000000, 1px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 0px 0px #000000, 0px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 1px 0px #000000, 0px -1px 0px #000000;] Old habits reappear[/style][style=font-family: arial black; color: #c5c590; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 5px; margin-top: -5px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px]Fighting the fear of fear[/style] [style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: justify; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙words : WORD COUNT; ♙tags: PEOPLE; ♙lyrics: Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica;[/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-left: 5px; width: 450px; margin-top: 5px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; letters-spacing: 2px;]Growing conspiracy, everyone's after me[/style][style=background-color: #111111; padding: 5px; width: 447px; opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; color: #bcbc82;] I jolted upright, staring at the source of the voice. It would have been smart perhaps to have removed my headband, but anyone who wanted to know what I was could have told by my garb, my weapons, or merely the fact that I was still alive amongst all of this destruction. It meant little to hide where I was from with all of the death surrounding me. It would only serve to belate the inevitable were an enemy to find me. However, as I gazed down the alleyway, the person who spoke did not look hostile. Of course, looks were little in a world where anyone could have reason to kill you, but even so, I found him unthreatening, at least initially. Perhaps it was the way he worded his questioning. Standing, I wiped the ash and rain from my face, looking down briefly at my own robe and noticing the dark spots where both soot and water had met. Heh. No doubt Yuuki would be furious if she found out what had happened to her father's robe. I was terrible in that regard, I supposed, always tearing and ruining my clothing somehow. But that was a thought I would return to later. I looked up and faced the stranger with dark hair, his clothing, aside from colour, not entirely unlike mine. "I'm fine... a little worse for wear mentally, perhaps, but aside from that, I'll live." I was somewhat cordial in tone, not wanting to offend the man, but at the same time not granting him my full trust, as would be unwise to do with a stranger. After all, I had no idea what his intentions were, nor who he chose to side with, if anyone. I knew I would have to speak with Kouketsu sooner or later, but for now, perhaps, I could enjoy at least a brief respite from the battle. I formed a single half-seal, my hand hidden in the sleeve of my robe, and a tile of ice would form above the man, sheltering him from the rain. Another would also appear above my head. "If you're with Iwagakure, I'm not looking for a fight, though I wouldn't blame you if you attacked me... I thought we would be waging war on ninja, not doing..." I raised my arms up and gestured to the desolation around me, the plumes of fire and the stench of death; the broken buildings and crumpled bodies. "I never wanted any part in this... For someone who claimed to be a necessary evil, he seems to be going to rather unnecessary lengths... But then, who am I to question..." I spoke reservedly, shaking my head at the hell we had wrought. I couldn't believe that this was 'necessary'. I just couldn't. And I knew that if Kouketsu asked me to do this again, to innocents and the undeserving... I'd have to refuse him my service. But Kouketsu was nowhere near me. Only this man, who I barely knew. [/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-right: 5px; width: 450px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: right; letters-spacing: 2px;]Frayed ends of sanity; hear them calling me![/style][style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙notes: NOTES GO HERE;[/style]credit to ZETTA! of LS & BTN

[Hermit]

Though Jubei’s voice had been distorted from having covered his nose with the sleeve of his shihakusho, his voice still propelled itself forward with just enough volume for this troubled man to hear.

“I’m fine. . .a little worse for wear mentally, perhaps, but aside from that, I’ll live.”

His riposte was swift, yet, delivered in a cordial tone that Jubei very much respected, truth be told, through the midst of chaos he believed that whomever may have been alive would have had their fill of violence and allowed the influential hands of hate aimlessly guide them. But this man, he was far from Jubei’s expectations, his face and the air about him screamed with innate pain, yet, one that hadn’t truly felt like he was even from this town, maybe, maybe not – but he’d know all too soon. Jubei had to keep his distance, for this man may have indeed appeared to be normal but his mind may have been in a place entirely different altogether. Needless to say Jubei could not trust this man – not yet, even while showing a minuscule sense of concern.

"If you're with Iwagakure, I'm not looking for a fight, though I wouldn't blame you if you attacked me... I thought we would be waging war on ninja, not doing...

Reflexively a quick hand slid over the hilt of his own empath as this shinobi committed to some sort of hand gesture, Jubei knew not what it was nor what outcome it would bring, but all he knew that it was a ritual for shinobi and the secret behind their arts. But, something quickly put him at ease, it was, the absence of rain? Yes he was sure it'd been raining -though lightly- seconds ago, and yet, it stopped? But much to his surprised the 10 meter gap that dictated the distance between the two was still being pelted with rain. Curious a quick glance uplifted towards the sky, only to see a plate of ice magically hovering above his head - clever.

"Iwagakure, completely wrong my friend. I hail from no village, only the Land Of Iron. And attack, you, that's only if you took part in this massacre. If so, it wouldn't be fair to those who lay lifeless in this towns soil to let you walk to the earth so freely."

With his voice, calm, yet, stoic, the full bulk of its volume came to bear the moment he relaxed his arm, bringing back down to his side once his nose strangely grew accustomed to the unpalatable scent. Nevertheless, the shinobi would most definitely have to watch his response, for within this 10 meter wide alley, thing's weren't looking so go for him, at least from the samurai's perspective.

"I never wanted any part in this... For someone who claimed to be a necessary evil, he seems to be going to rather unnecessary lengths... But then, who am I to question..."

"No, this wasn't necessary, not for some little schoolyard war. This is the acts of an obviously deranged man. THe legendary Kouketsu Uchiha, villain to the world, war hero to his people, I don't care what he is, but after seeing the world of shinobi getting out of hands to this degree. Samurai will cleanse and unite this world the proper way."

[/i][/center]



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

[King]

"What do you know, Samurai?"

The voice came from a distance, but it was one that Shinryu would've recognized almost immediately. It was the same woman that had saved his hide during the fight merely several hours ago. Now, unobstructed by the smokes and fire, both men would be able to see that she was rather young to be such an experienced killer. No older than sixteen, the dark-haired kunoichi stepped closer to the somber duo. The kunai-like blade in her hand was stained from tip to hand, but the blood was dry. Her armor was in a similar state, though patches of the bluish-gray material could still be discerned.

"And you," she glared toward Shinryu. "I thought I told you to man the fuck up? Neither of you know what real war is. I lost my father and mother in the Great War! And for what? For nothing!!"

Despite her obvious inclination for battle, she couldn't help the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "As long as ninja freely rule this world, war will always exist. Bakudon Gai was nothing - civilian casualties were low, but every conflict will have them. Comb the streets for corpses and you'll find ninja after ninja, not children or elderly."

"Kouketsu-sama is a revolutionary," he continued. "He will bring about an era of peace that will last a thousand years, you'll see. When the villages see what has happened here, they will band together to stop him. They will fear giving birth to another man like him - they will truly, and finally, fear war."

"Isn't that worth dying--"

Her speech was interrupted by an inhuman roar, one that no one should have been able to hear from this distance. Pivoting just slightly, though keeping both men in her peripherals, the young woman glanced back in the direction of the crumbled city. Though the details were somewhat hazy, she could discern the origin of the sound; a massive beast sat at the heart of the city, which was no doubt Kouketsu's notorious summon.

Turning back to the pair, he eyes almost glazed. "It doesn't matter what either of you believe. There isn't a force in this world that can stop Kouketsu-sama."

[Shinryu]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000][style=font-family: arial black; color: #efefc6; font-size: 15px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; letter-spacing: 8px; text-shadow: 1px 0px 0px #000000, 1px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 0px 0px #000000, 0px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 1px 0px #000000, 0px -1px 0px #000000;] Old habits reappear[/style][style=font-family: arial black; color: #c5c590; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 5px; margin-top: -5px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px]Fighting the fear of fear[/style] [style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: justify; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙words : 1,001; ♙tags: Jubei, ? ♙lyrics: Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica;[/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-left: 5px; width: 450px; margin-top: 5px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; letters-spacing: 2px;]Growing conspiracy, everyone's after me[/style][style=background-color: #111111; padding: 5px; width: 447px; opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; color: #bcbc82;] The man who would come to identify himself as a samurai declared his allegiance quite ruthlessly, speaking with reverence and decrying the hatred of shinobi and our wars against one another. I was somewhat moved by his speech, but at the same time, found him to be just as arrogant as any other who claimed that they would rid the world of war. Oh, no doubt that Samurai might rid the world of ninja, but there would always be war, so long as difference bred hatred, and hatred bred violence. That said, I hadn't the time to respond before a shadowy figure appeared. I recognised her voice from before, however it wouldn't have taken that, before she addressed me rather flippantly. She began crying; a sorry sight, but I didn't think her any less for it. She was but a child, as was I. We were only human. No, the only thing I held against her was the way she spoke about Kouketsu. She admired the Uchiha with such child-like fandom that it seemed almost as though she was infatuated with the very idea of him; a strong, dark-willed man with the ambition to bring the world to its knees before him, and all the power he needed to do so. It wasn't until I felt the rumble in the ground, and the distant roar of what sounded like a mammoth of a bear, that I came from my judgemental stupor to reaffirm myself in the world around me. Yet still, the girl spoke again. "It doesn't matter what either of you believe. There isn't a force in this world that can stop Kouketsu-sama." Her words rang with a reverence for war that seemed irascible. It was as though she had no higher dream than being used by Kouketsu-sama to reap revenge for the war. But she was blinded by her ignorance. Just as so many of my brothers in arms were. It was just too easy to be caught up in the furor, and Kouketsu could be persuasive when he wanted to be. I knew that first-hand. Even so, I was done listening, now. "Call me a coward if you must, then. But I have no heart for this war. I can't blame you for hating those who took your parents from you. I feel the same way..." Anyone who knew me enough to know who had taken my family from me knew that I had vowed to deliver justice upon the Yakuza responsible for the crime. But that was different. They were old men, who committed injustices every day as a way of life. They were not children defending their home from invaders. And while I hardly believed that every genin and chuunin in all of our grand country was innocent, (hell, even I had blood on my hands) what we were doing felt as though it was a wholly inappropriate response. "However, constant war will solve nothing. You stated yourself that no one can stop Kouketsu. What then will happen when all the world amasses to fight him? Will he declare himself a dictator over all? When he dispatches his foes, will not new ones rise to face him, constantly testing themselves, trying to rid the world of him? Are we forever to be doomed to war, regardless of what happens, be it amongst ourselves, or against Kouketsu?" There was anxiety in my face as I tried to make her understand just why I was troubled. It wasn't just my moral compass; something about this just was incomprehensible. I was still on the fence about everything, lost in the philosophical constraints of it all, as well as what the hypothetical outcomes might be. Truth be told, no one could know what Kouketsu had planned after the war. Even if he emerged victorious, what then? Would he rule with an iron fist? What role would he have? I couldn't know, and I couldn't say, and all of the pondering of the ‘could be's’ and ‘might's’ was driving me half-insane. "I don't know what Kouketsu has planned after this, and I don't really want to know. All I can say is that I won’t have a hand in killing innocents, regardless of their allegiance." I spoke with a bitter finality. Let her judge me, or try to dispatch me if she must. After everything I had seen, I might as well have died. All I knew was that I was no longer a thoughtless pawn to be manipulated on the Uchiha's shogi-board. If he wished to keep my allegiance, he would have to accept that I would have no part in his war that involved using me as a tool of wanton destruction and death. I was better than that. [/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-right: 5px; width: 450px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: right; letters-spacing: 2px;]Frayed ends of sanity; hear them calling me![/style][style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙notes: NOTES GO HERE;[/style]credit to ZETTA! of LS & BTN

[Hermit]

A quick, unfamiliar voice cut through the conversation without warn, her presence not made known until them. Her sarcastic inquiring about what the samurai knew was obviously a rhetorical question - or so Jubei thought. Quickly the girl came into plain view as she slipped near her ally, and taking ample time to glance over her features, Jubei effortlessly deduced that this girl was younger than himself, yet, the stench of blood fervently spilled from her clothing. If there was anything anyone knew about war, it was that it didn't play favorites when it came down to age.

"As long as ninja freely rule this world, war will always exist. Bakudon Gai was nothing - civilian casualties were low, but every conflict will have them. Comb the streets for corpses and you'll find ninja after ninja, not children or elderly."

He couldn't help but to listen to each and every word that spilled seamlessly from the girls mouth as her eyes began to swell with tears. Jubei wanted to pity her, he truly did, but knowing full well that this girl had played her part and potentially fulfilled her role within this act of violence, he couldn't. But this little 'touching' moment came to a abrupt halt as virulent tremors coursed through the earth beneath Jubei's very feet. The cries of a majestic rage cut through the air as it rocked Jubei's ears, causing him to instinctively turn his head towards the direction of its source, and what he saw was nothing more than raw power storming through the city.

("What in the world? That must be Kouketsu, to think that bastard himself might actually be here.")

And just then, in that decisive moment of time, a plan masterfully unfolded itself before the framework to Jubei's mind. Quickly -with flare- Jubei's attention momentarily shifted back toward the watery eyed girl, and from there would phase one be set in motion.

"You! Girl! Take me to Kouketsu, I have a proposition of power that he couldn't possibly refuse."

[King]

The girl scoffed. "Kouketsu-sama doesn't need the likes of you to assist him. Do what you will, boy, but know that if you stand in our way we'll show you no mercy. I, Haitome Sezu, promise you that."

She'd begun to turn on her heel, heading back toward the city, when the samurai's statement brought her to a pause. How could a swordsman offer the mighty Kouketsu Uchiha anything that he didn't already have? Foolish samurai; they tried to police the world, yet knew nothing of it. Still, she'd humor his sudden change in demeanor. It would be humorous, to say the least, should Kouketsu slay the sword-wielding incompetent the moment he addressed him.

"It seems you've come to your logic, so follow me. . . " she commented before looking back to Shinryu. From her position, she could see both of them clearly. In fact, she wasn't anywhere near either of them - more than a several scores of meters directly to the pair's north, her leisure posture was the result of being perfectly safe from any sort've assault should her words strike a nerve. "You would be wise to watch your back. . . traitor."

[Shinryu]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/houndoomXdelta/de.png); width: 500px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; border: 1px dashed #000000][style=font-family: arial black; color: #efefc6; font-size: 15px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; letter-spacing: 8px; text-shadow: 1px 0px 0px #000000, 1px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 0px 0px #000000, 0px 1px 0px #000000, -1px 1px 0px #000000, 0px -1px 0px #000000;] Old habits reappear[/style][style=font-family: arial black; color: #c5c590; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 5px; margin-top: -5px; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 10px]Fighting the fear of fear[/style] [style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: justify; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙words : WORD COUNT; ♙tags: PEOPLE; ♙lyrics: Frayed Ends of Sanity by Metallica;[/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-left: 5px; width: 450px; margin-top: 5px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; letters-spacing: 2px;]Growing conspiracy, everyone's after me[/style][style=background-color: #111111; padding: 5px; width: 447px; opacity: 0.7; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; color: #bcbc82;] The girl seemed to believe her words held venom to me. She stood some distance away, perhaps thinking I would find her accusation inflammitory. However, it meant no such thing to me. I was not troubled by the gall spewed by a thoughtless pawn. I only hoped for her sake she came to her senses, before it was too late. "Say whatever you like about me, Haitome Sezu. If I am a traitor, then I prefer it to being a monster who remains loyal. As for you, I pity your parents. I'm sure that they would hate to see that their daughter has become the very same monster that tore them away from her. " I would turn to the samurai briefly, staring at him with accusatory glare. The words he had let slip seemed to betray his initial stance. I could not tell if he was simply being a turncoat, or if he had more in mind, but in a world where anyone could be an enemy, I would not offer him the benefit of the doubt. My hands flashed briefly, however without hostile intent, as the rain fell to the earth, allowing me to make a shimmering mirror on the ground at my feet, and another some forty meters behind the samurai, well away from either of the two. That done I spoke without reservation, a tone of warning passing my lips. "Samurai, If you truly wish to offer yourself to Kouketsu Uchiha, then you had best pray we do not meet again." And then, I was gone; stepping onto and through the depths of the placid pane, and appearing some distance away, landing from a fall of perhaps some three feet in a kneel among another deserted alleyway. From that moment, I was no longer a member of Kirigakure. Unashamed of what it meant, although it was a heavy burden, I undid the knot beneath my hair, letting the silver and blue band that I wore fall, clattering to the ground at my feet. I would no longer need it. From that day I had chosen to be a free man, bound by the constraints of no nation, but almost certainly hunted by all. And with that, I would fade into the shadows, and go deep into hiding; my story ended, at least for now. [YUKINA SHINRYU: STATUS - RETIRED] [/style][style=background-color: #414141; color: #000000; padding: 2px; padding-right: 5px; width: 450px; font-family: calibri; font-size: 11px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; border-radius: 0px 0px 10px 10px; text-align: right; letters-spacing: 2px;]Frayed ends of sanity; hear them calling me![/style][style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; margin-top: 5px; color: #464646]♙notes: NOTES GO HERE;[/style]credit to ZETTA! of LS & BTN

[Hermit]

The girls contemptible scoff was ignored by Jubei's iron senses. He'd let her have her fill of mockery, for now, but soon enough, things would beneath the influence of Bushido. Briefly Jubei's attention turned towards the young Genin as his words sprang forth from his tongue and into Jubei's ears. His threat was cute, not taking it serious at all, merely because his attention was more focused -and transitioned back to- the Kirigakure woman who claimed that Jubei had finally come to his logic. He cared very little what that statement truly meant, all he knew was that with Kouketsu's help, Jubei would expand the Samurai influence, and refurbish the once proud race of warriors. After having bade her farewell to her former ally it seemed, Jubei simply put a pep in his step, following the girl with an ample amount of meters between them. This were finally moving along.

[Trigga]

Retirement Approved

[marvolous.]

Shin: +50
Gene: +44
Genbu: +16.