Ascension to the Throne.

[marvolous.]

Hidden at the apex of Kami no Shima, this small abode can be found by only those who know what to look for. Even if the keenest of individuals was to find out about this place, the many traps and ominous traits that make and keep it invisible ensure that anyone that the owner does not deem worthy will be killed and never graced with it's appearance. It is the perfect setup for a vagabond or even a convict, for it's strategic location allows whoever is inside of it to be alerted of any foreign presences far before those very people even know whats there.

Until it's procurement by Etsuko Soratsu, the lair-resembling structure was only used by a single man until his unfortunate death. Since then, the place has been layered with weapons and armaments of various kinds. Items ranging from basic shinobi weaponry, to even items thought to only be found in fables, can be found littered around it's expanse. Most prominently is the large Kunai resembling item within the center of the abode, it's nature and purpose among everything simply to guide Soratsu should he ever falter from his path.

Nevertheless, should one continue from the main room they will find that the place is also equipped with everything essential to sustain human life - bedrooms, bathrooms, and even a kitchen where food can be made. Nothing as far as furniture, food, or even beds have been added since the the place was bought, however there is enough room left that adding such necessities can be done with ease. Lastly, along the wall leading from the main room to the dining hall are the only remaining pieces of Soratsu's past life: ANBU engraved armor and insignia, as well as a single Sunagakure Hitai Ate - it's base marked with a simple line through it's village's symbol.
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This will serve as a base of sorts. 24 IIC - DE - Closed to stragglers without a reason for being here.

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[marvolous.]

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[marvolous.]

Without any indication of my arrival, my body would suddenly appear as if it manifested through thin air. It was through Hiraishin that I was able to do this, the power than brought it to fruition allowing me to bypass my own safeguards that kept this place safe and most importantly, secret. Unlike I usually did, I did not come here alone - Kaeor was still in my hand's grasps, so it took me a moment to readjust myself and let him go.

"Well, here we are." I'd finally speak, the light prose that my body demonstatred illustrating just how 'casual' this place had turned to be since it's procurment. Still, it was far different from my home back in Sunagakure - it would take awhile to fully adjust. "I'll be back in a bit, feel free to make yourself as home." With that I would continue on throughout the small home, dodging around the corner that led to the dinner hall before disappearing within one of the rooms and then leaving all-together.

Should Kaeor look hard enough, he'd find that safe for food and drinks, this place had everything he needed - including, but not limited to, the 40k he had just asked me about.

[Yoichi]

only the beginning

---

'Where the hell am I?'

A series of flashback pieced together in his mind; looking down at hands stained with the blood of a human. Weak legs, fallen on his knees next to a corpse. A woman's, beautiful in life, her fair amber locks now soaked in her blood. Heavy eyelids hid alluring blue eyes and her now lifeless corpse struck him with pain and grief. What had he done, how had it come this far...

He woke abruptly, shooting up out of his bed; hands reached for the knife at his side. Well, where one should have been at least, but something bothered him further. In a cold sweat, his eyes shot frantically around the room. A one person bed, from which he had arisen was bolted to the wall next to him. A sink to his right, and as he looked up he could see his own reflection and pictured the glass shattering at his own visage. He had made peace, he thought, but yet these dreams still came. How had he come to reside in this strange place.

Last he remembered, he was fleeing the scene of an assassination before he turned to check on his comrade. It hit him. Those crimson eyes had pierced his soul, sending him into paralysis and a temporary comatose followed. Somehow, he had been transported here. A hand tugged at the door handle—locked—Genma was a prisoner for now. He only hoped that Sora had better intentions locking him up in here.

Frustrated at being locked up, he closed in on the door. Hands rose in desperation as he slammed hard against its surface. Intending to get his kin's attention, he hoped he wouldn't be forced to longevity in solitude. After a few more bangs on the door, he sad down at a wooden desk in the center of the small room. Fresh tea sat upon it, an empty cup waiting to be filled. A chuckle left his lips, at least his captor was courteous. Pouring the hot fluids into his cup, he pressed the cup to his lips, allowing the contents to pour down his throat. It was relaxing, to say the least. And for the moment, he was tranquil; but when the time came, an explanation would be demanded.

[Kaeor]

It was through an uncanny flux in his chakra that had the idea that Soratsu was about to warp with me in tow. He could have alerted to such instead of constantly trying to keep up a shroud of mysteriousness about his actions as if one day we'd be awed by his fanciness. Even post shift my balance remained firm despite Sora's lingering touch that held me. I didn't make much of a fuss over it and instead my eyes danced across his personal little hideout. Would he ever tell us how to get here if we needed too?

There was no need to pry into these matters once he informed me of his departure. Hopefully he'd return soon because time was essentially money. And speaking about money the sack of ryo in the corner of his abode wouldn't be ignored. So as soon as he vanished I'd weave my way to take it for myself and simply pocket it. When he returned then I would leave of this place and purchase what I needed. But for now I had meandered into the kitchen to find items that were quite powerful when mixed. After everything that had transpired there was nothing wrong with a strong drink, right?

And those constant knocks from inside of the locked door down one of the hallways?

Well that just wasn't my problem.

[Yoichi]

only the beginning

---

No more waiting...

The hot tea could only reserve his patience for so long, and after an extended period of time, he felt the need to break free. He had grown irate, not with the courtesy of his captor, but the absence of him. Since several hours had passed, and no sign of Sora had become apparent, it was time for Genma to leave the confines of this small room. He rose abruptly, tossing his chair to the side and standing 'eye to eye' with the door.

The one thing that stood between him and freedom, was nothing too fancy. And a shinobi of his magnitude, although still weak, could manage to escape a room such as this. Hands coalesced with grace, the intertwining of his digits forming the choreography to a strong technique. As chakra embellished his form, thirty crows came to life; theirs buzzing shapes crackling with energy. Moving forward as his lightning projectiles did, the crows would smash into the door, weakening it tremendously as Genma hit it full force, smashing through it as though it were made of cheap wood. A loud crash would echo throughout his kin's abode, alerting any within the premises.

[marvolous.]

Quite like my disappearance from Kirigakure, I would quite simply just 'appear' at my intended destination. Hiraishin was a seemingly effortless technique, but even though I made it look like nothing, it was quite draining. Unlike most techniques, the chakra lost to it couldn't be replaced as easily; the more I used it without rest, the most strain I would receive from it.

It was slightly obvious too, for as soon as my feet graced the hard floor of my home I stumbled forward slightly. I caught myself before it was too noticeable, but with Beppin having been so close to my body prior to it, I doubt it escaped her attention. Then again-- Shit. I spun on the heel of my foot, turning and catching Beppin in my arms in the process.

"I'm sorry, again." I wasn't sure if she was still afraid; truthfully, I wasn't sure if she even knew we were no longer in Kiri - Hiraishin was just that fast. Nevertheless, she was safe now; I wouldn't let anyone hurt her. "We're home, love." My lips found the center of her forehead without another word, the soft pressure of them against her skin seeking to reassure her.

"Sorry."

... What happened to do the door?

[Ichi]

I wasn't sure how he knew me or half of what it meant with them talking; I just wanted to get the fuck away from that guy. I hadn't realized that Sora - er, Nagato - had used his infamous teleportation technique until I felt a sudden evaporation of pressure on my very soul. I could breath easily again; however, I still hesitantly pulled myself away from Sora's back.

That is, until he stumbled (albeit briefly), causing me to as well. Fortunately, he managed to catch the both of us before anything serious became of the event.

For a bit, my only response was a weak smile. His little meeting with That Man had left me utterly drained, both spiritually and physically. However, his own fatigue hadn't escaped me. He'd been using his technique a little too much; in fact, I don't remember the last time I saw him rest. I planned to make sure he got the relaxation he needed later, but I had questions that I, personally, needed answer.

"Sora, who was that?" My voice, much like my appearance, was fragile. "You called him Kouketsu. Is that his real name? Is he the Kouketsu from the Great War?" Again, I hadn't participated, but I'd heard more than my fair share of stories.

His answer was some irrelevant. I didn't like how He made me feel. "He. . . scares me. I don't know why, but there's something about him."

I visibly shook. "But why did he call you Nagato? And. . . what is this talk about a war?"

[marvolous.]

Naturally, I expected her to have alot of questions after all of that. Though I truthfully did not want to answer any of them, I owed her for putting her through such mental scrutiny. "Yes." A answer and a sigh all at once. "Kouketsu Uchiha. All the stories you have probably heard about him are true, as you can see just from his very presence."

The Great War was all but a fleeting memory now, but the legacies many shinobi created during that time still lived on. Though I hadn't actively participated in the war all that much myself, at least not as much as I wanted to, I heard many things about it from Shiro. Most prominently, of course, were the stories about Kouketsu; he was revered as a god among Uchiha and shinobi.

"Soratsu is just a moniker, Beppin." I began, guiding her towards the bed behind her. "I'm an Uchiha, very much like Kou'. But, you see, the name of my clan isn't as widely accepted outside of Konoha as yours would be. In many aspects, we're hated and feared for our power; my father wanted to stray away from such a reputation and so created the name Etsuko." I paused to gauge her reaction to my words, but continued after a moment.

"While we strayed from the name, Kouketsu embraced it. During the war he, very easily, eviscerated whole fractions by himself. Because of him, Kirigakure was spared far less damage from the war than most villages. Frankly, hes a legend in his own right. But--" I laughed suddenly. "I'm one too."

Despite answering most of her questions I ignored her last one. It was apparent, even though I was be so forthcoming of my past, that I did not want to talk about it. In time, when everything was set into place, everyone would know our plans.

[Kaeor]

The concoction that I plugged down my throat left a bitter sting in my throat. The taste of it was savage and ruthless but I'd have it no other way. It was a reflection to the current circumstances I currently mucked myself within. One of the doors had collapsed but I refused to budge. This wasn't my abode so it wasn't my problem, at least that's what I told myself as I took another swig. At this moment I was more relaxed than ever, so when the appearance of Soratsu and his companion instantaneously appeared beneath one of his marked kunai I didn't jump. My lips parted in order to address Soratsu but quickly folded at the sight of him stumbling. I could only guess that the constant use of his fabled technique rendered him vulnerable now than ever.

A part of me thought to aid him, but the more dominant side of me differed and with that I would only watch the two. I chose to keep quiet unless either of the two had something to say. I'd only stand in the kitchen with my alcoholic beverage and place an ear open to the world around me. My eyes very loosely watching the Hyuuga female and Soratsu speak and interact.

[Ichi]

Just hearing Sora confirm the horrible stories I'd heard about That Man sent a very visible shiver throughout my body. I hadn't even realized that I instinctively clenched tighter on his body, pulling him closer to me. Just saying his name made those venomous, crimson eyes flash in my mind - it was a terrifying sight.

Despite my vulnerable state, though, I wasn't dumb. Clearly, Sora had his agenda and had no intention on sharing it with me at the time. I won't lie and say that I wasn't concerned with talk of a war; it was only a few years ago that the Great War had come to an end. Obviously, somethin' big was about to go down.

I didn't want to undermine his story, but I'd had enough for the day. "I like Sora better, anyways. Nagato just sounds so rough and coarse," I teased while pulling his face closer to mine. I bit his lip before giving him a deep, passionate kiss. "And we both know yer nothin' like that."

I needed to blow off a little steam - bein' nervous and confused by all that talk had taken its toll. I wasn't about to let some peeping tom cock-block me, either. If Sora wasn't quick, he'd find himself fallin' back onto the floor with me on top of him. "I hope you don't mind your friend watching? You owe me, and you need some rest after."

Oh, where were my manners? "It's nice to meet you, by the way. I'm Beppin," I said coyly, addressing the other man in the room.

[marvolous.]

Truthfully, I hated the name Nagato. It wasn't me, nor was Uchiha - even in death, I'd proudly be Etsuko. I didn't expect Beppin to understand, being a main branch Hyuuga and all, but thankfully she dropped the subject without anymore prying. I would have gone along with her desires to de-stress me too, much like she had done many times today, but with her sudden words to another - Kaeor, that is - I quickly noticed that we weren't alone.

Two Hyuugas, both main branch I assumed due to them each lacking any soft of branding on their foreheads, in their same room and from different villages - this wasn't going to end too well. "Well, as you can see, I'm back." I laughed slightly; a somewhat awkward, uncontrollable laugh. "That's Kaeor. He's a Hyuuga, very much like yourself." With a simple subtle movement I moved from underneath Beppin, standing quickly before heading past the door and into the main room.

I'm not sure where Genma was, but that wasn't too pressing right now. Everything would be falling into place in the next few days, we had to get moving now. "We won't be needing this place afterall. In a couple hours we'll be moving, so get prepared." My gaze fell on Beppin then, a simple inclination of my head directing her to follow me.

"I brought another addition to our group here a little while ago, so get accustomed to each other because we'll all be working together. After that, we'll leave for Sunagakure--" I walked away towards my room with that. "We'll be taking it over in the morning."

Once in my room I headed straight for the shower. It wasn't too big, but there was enough room in there - not to mention a place to sit - for me to just rest. With the heat of the water turned up to it's hottest point, I just sat there and allowed my mind to wander; the heat from the water, quite similar to the misty nature of a sauna, loosening the strain my Hiraishin techniques had put on my body.

War was nigh.

[Kaeor]

The duo recognized me in a matter of moments, correct in their declaration of there being more than them in this facility. Politely, Beppin had introduced herself to me. The nature of his friendliness remained a secret beyond that of whether it was a trait of her character or if she felt fine in the presence of another Hyuuga. Before I could return the gesture, Nagato had took the glory of exchanging pleasantries from me. A curt nod followed his words.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Soon after I finished, Sora unleashed another statement about the sole reason I remained in his company. It seemed the days of success were waning upon us and out of all times, it was the immediate present that required action. My brows perked and eyes opened as if I had been given some sort of revelation. Mentally I had recapped scenario over scenario that I could be tempted into, but at long last it seemed finally reality checked me. Everything he stated entered the depths of my mind for comprehension, especially the Sunagakure part. Idly, I didn't question what exactly he was leading too as long as I got what I needed.

"Fine. Just don't drag this lovely contract out. Oh, I have a nuke that will meet us later. I guessed having an expendable to replace me would be in my best interest."

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I remarked, ever so accurate about my viewpoint of how Soratsu considered myself that of a single chess piece.
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[marvolous.]

I heard his words, but I didn't address them. Even though he had initially agreed to join me, I knew it was just a matter of time until the violence and bloodshed would be too much for him. Eventually, should everything fall into play, Kumogakure would be on my list for destruction - would he be able to sit around and watch that?

Shit. After finishing taking my short shower I headed back into the main area of my loft, my fingers, with the most effortless of touches, retrieving my many weapons stationed around the room before I finally sat down. There, with everything sprawled before me, I went to work at preparing for battle.

It was with the strength and skills that my Hiraishin master had taught me that I manufactured and created weapons to utilize my fabled technique. It took alot of chakra, but one by one the elongated kunai were marked with seals. Eventually, after wasting enough chakra to leave me mostly drained, ten kunai were fully marked and put away for safe keeping. From there, I marked the inside of my ANBU mask with a seal of it's own - the smooth surface allowing me to place it on the porcelain object without the need of paper.

With everything prepared I headed out, giving both Kaeor and Beppin a proper signal of my departure before leaving without even waiting for them. It was the prime time for a tactical take-over of Sunagakure, I wasn't going to let either of them delay my goals.

SPOILER: Click to show

-- Hiraishin seals prepped.

[¤ Tenkai ¤]

plus 45 exp ;; naga
plus 14 exp ;; genma
plus 16 exp ;; ichi
plus 19 exp ;; kaeor