01|the brainwashing collective.

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][STYLE=margin: 10px -15px 10px -15px; text-align: justify;font-family: times;font-size: 11px;]private. [/style][atrb=width, 450px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: times;font-size: 11px;]It had been days since the disturbing rumors had reached him; he'd been briefed on the topic by the Raikage himself, alongside a Cloud comrade reputed to be an Uchiha. Their meeting would signify the magnitude of the news, and, if true, its eventual consequences. Supposedly, a manipulative, brainwashing collective had infiltrated Kumogakure itself, influencing the minds of the village's youth, special forces, and even, select members of its hierarchy. With tensions rising among countries, word of a Bijū attack, and even Kumogakure's own internal problems, the news would exist as unneeded weight. Being an adherent of the Raikage, and Chūnin of the village, it would be his duty to aid in its elimination. Utilizing the extensive resources gained in view of his new position within the data headquarters' intelligence and sensory division, he'd have spent every moment succeeding the trio's portentous conference researching the organization, investigating leads, and altogether working to gather as much information as possible. The Rengoku name alone would have sounded oddly familiar, eventually recognized in correlation to his iryō background, with their international corporation acting as a privately owned medical research facility, selling their product throughout Kaminari. Within the first few hours he would have found research to be pointless, and nothing short of frustrating, as, initially, they would seem to be nothing more than a mere business. Their dealings weren't exactly a secret, with several profitable subsidiaries known within their individual domains of practice. Exploring and surveying the various media outlets would have been the only way to find anything sufficiently negative about the group, and even then, it existed as nothing more than skeptical criticism and malicious detestation. The search would continue in this manner, though time would see the prying data-nin eventually procure a detailed outline of the organization and their surface proceedings, and while it was helpful in understanding how the public perceived the business, the rumors of deceptive influence and control hadn't reflected this at all. There had to have been something else going on, or atleast, someone behind it, though who or what exactly this was would be seemingly impossible to find. He'd exhausted most methods of acquiring information inside Kumo, left with nothing beyond a few vague leads. Pursuing them would occupy both the second and third days of his search. He'd be rewarded for his labor, albeit with an array of information further disturbing than the original news itself. The evidence, however slight, had been clear, and pointed towards one person in particular. A certain, enigmatic Jōnin Anbu, one of few words, and ostensibly, quite a few motives. Kassui, a ninja he'd worked with, trusted even; and while it wasn't exactly clear what he'd been up to, whether he'd been brainwashed to a degree himself, or if he was the one doing the brainwashing, it'd be near undeniable that he'd been somehow affiliated with or involved in the groups mysterious underdoings. The precocious Hyūga would gather several scrolls detailing his conclusion, and information on the Rengoku organization as a whole. Carrying his first 'project' as a data-nin with him, it would be reported to the Raikage; combined with his commander's own knowledge and the other Chūnin's findings, the group would have a case. It would take a mere word from Eiichiro, and there would be scouting ninja sent to find Kassui's location, the trio subsequently matching in hurried strides as they would make their way to the Anbu training grounds, their intent being to confront the treacherous ninja. excuse the stiffness, haven't started a thread in forever. posting order: haru, kinz, vega, obs. [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 450px][/style]

[Kinz]

OOC: Sry guys, I thought there was someone actually named haru was gunna be posting. I didn’t realize Izumi = haru.

IC:

“GOOOOOD morning Kumogakura!”. The radio blared as Asa hurried down the street in his ANBU attire. He had been briefed the previous day by the Kage himself. They had business to attend to it would seem. Asa had been away from duty far to long, and apparently the work had piled up. He snickered at the though of his absence being a positive. Apparently that was the main reason he had been chosen. He was one of the few people they couldn’t get to. This infamous “they” was some group staging a full on take over under the very noses of the cloud’s people. This ‘Rengoku’ was some sort of company, who wanted to make the village there own through brainwashing, and now apparently they had a lead on one of the main people involved in the plot.

The jounin named Kassui would be their target. Asa wasn’t sure how this jounin had been gotten to, but due to his rank and his station as a fellow ANBU, Asa knew what the penalties for falling into helping with this sort of plot would probably be. More then likely the jounin would face death. The thought stung. Death was a part of being a ninja. Taking lives, giving up your own life, but after his conversation with the Uchiha sage oh so long ago the thought of protecting by killing still irked him. Wasn’t there another way? Asa’s mind continued to ponder these thoughts, until he was closing in on the meeting point he had been told about.

The Anbu training grounds were ahead of him. There was a small expanse of open terrain leading up to the building making approaching unseen nearly impossible. Landing on the last building before the open ground, Asa would await the kage and their chunnin companion.

[vegapunk]

SPOILER: Click to show

Sorry for the delay! its been a hectic week, but it should calm down soon.

There approach had come from his Tower; the grey clouds crackling in the sky, easily enough to match the strength of the own Raikage's anger. At his order a number of ANBU were sent across the village to search for the members caught around the Rengoku organization. Weeks long on work had lead to one name in particular - a name he trusts. With the knowledge of that name, it would be personal, the foreshadowing of their training ground encounter. Gliding through the air from roof-top to roof-top -hands in his pockets- he would turn to see each of his chuunin counterparts to his sides. Golden-locks snapping in the twirling winds, they would leap like a flicker through the air, the destination of the ANBU training ground on there minds.

With the combined natural power they all possessed; Hyuuga, Uchiha, and Yamanaka - they had the best chance to get through to Kassui. Had he been brainwashed? or was he a deep cover agent for the Rengoku organization. An angry look would form across his face at the thought of it, if it were true, how he could have let a sleeper agent underneath his watch. Either way the group would get to the bottom of it, he only wished that Kassui wouldn't have to be killed. There could be a bit of hostility here, surely they know of our impending presence...better be wary he would think to himself as he concentrated. Opening his mind's eye he would be able to sense every and all trails of chakra within a hundred meter radius. The glow of their chakra networks would appear in Eiichiro's mind, he could sense the raiton element within his kumo shinobi¹, he was a native, the inherent lightning running through his core.

Turning to each of his counterparts, their images would rise up in reflection to the bright lightning before coming down atop of a cobbled roof. The two chunin would flicker down first, with Eiichiro landing in the middle only moments later. Leaning back slightly he would open his mouth, his tone was virile and firm - he was annoyed it had come to this.


"The other cells are busy looking across town - its just going to be us three."


// Eiichiro would pause for a moment allowing his Mind's Eye to lock onto their targets location. //


"Let's move out - he is located thirty-five meters northwest, just past the open terrrain..and he's not alone."


The signal was given and the three would move out. He would keep a fix on Kassui's location, knowing full well that there were possible hidden traps lying in wait..

SPOILER: Click to show

* Kagura Shingan 'S' [100m]
* Kagura Sogen [Raiton]

SPOILER: Click to show

* [x2 Mid]

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[BLKND]

The breeze was unsettling. The drifting specs of rain that would venture too far upon every ill-intentioned breeze would make their way further and further into the room. It wasn't as though there was much to be done with it- the room. Used as a meeting place every blue moon, or as a nest for the untold number of rats and wildlife that would invest their time here, there was nothing really useful about this building at all. Compiled with its fair share of rare moss types, and invasive wooden branches, this place had transformed itself completely. The smell of life invaded the nostrils of every person fortunate enough to venture to this part of the city. It was a rarity however. The only people ever bothering to come to this part of the village being either incredibly desperate, or unhealthy. A troupe of drug addicts and drunkards would parade the streets on certain evenings- drunk from their desire to be elsewhere. The lives that they wish they could live teetering somewhere between their reality, and their self induced euphoria. The bums had found homes here amongst the mixture of foliage and architecture. Their very existence here being a testament to human ingenuity. Having proven unfit for further life, these buildings had been abandoned. The life in the mountains being a frugal life to live, it was no shock that after a short period of time, the tips of the mountains were reached, and industrialized. That left life for the obsolete much more difficult to live- so they too would make their way up the mountain. What they left behind had become a method of nature. Church mice would scurry from one side of the room to the other, hugging the wall in an attempt to be ignored by the men who occupied this space.

This crowd was a bit different than the bums who called this part of the city 'theirs.' Instead of ten frail fingertips gripping to any chance of life remaining, would be two strong hands, one gripping the wood-moss mesh beneath them, and the other against their knee as they bowed to the older man before them. Bale blue eyes, small and sinister, would look down at them from his slight perch. A small stage within the room, probably constructed for meeting purposes, would hold him a mere foot higher than his kneeling subordinates, however he appeared to hold no joy in it. His arms crossed, he would relay to them information that would cause for them to be there in the first place.

"As we speak... the city is filled with ANBU, such as yourself with a personal vendetta against us," He would start, appearing to have been half way in to a briefing. "You all understand the appropriate protocol for this situation. We will initiate procedure 'Zouwai,' effective immediately. That is all." He would finish within an instant.

He was a tall, frightening looking man, so as he loomed over the three remaining men, and his face would show nothing but remorse; it was evident that whatever this procedure would entail- it was not within the best interest of these three. However, within the same speed in which the squadron would vanish, as would he. Of the three remaining ninja, one would rise first. A tall, muscular figure, the snouted 'dog' mask that would cover his face would assist in showing proof of his affiliation with the Kumogakure ANBU organization, however it would be the two silver studs which hung from the bottom of his ears that would prove his identity. Looking down at the other two ninja, they too would soon rise to follow suit. To his right would appear a fairly rotund young man, his outfit matching the middle figure's perfectly- save the earrings. His short black hair would give him the image of being more round, but it was the large steel cleaver which hung from his back that would make him a bit more intimidating. The woman to his right, however did not share the same issue. Long, deep blue hair which had been tied into a large blue bun would give her a serious appearance- even covered head to toe in body armor. The ANBU attire in which she wore seemed to fit her proportions a bit better, but it was the studs which crowded her knuckles that also seemed to be a bit more intimidating. Her body was fit- much like their leaders, but it was evident that they all shared an equal amount of lethality.

"Operation Zouwai... that means-" The woman would start, only to be cut off by the hefty young man.

"The Raikage is coming for us." He would say with a saddened tone. His face would shift to the tallest of the three, his bird shaped mask elongating his eagerness in an almost comical way.

Beneath the mask would shine two, horrible red eyes. They showed nothing forgiving, or understanding of the situation, or the fear that these two might have shared. Instead, his vacant hand would extend, the darkened fingertips curling around the shoulder of the young man in front of him. They all understood the severity of their situation, and the repercussions of a failed mission. While no one aside from their squadron would know what it meant, they clearly did. It was a simple five-step process that would be implemented if the Raikage had ever grown suspicious of the Rengoku or any of its members, and was en route to engage them. It was a no-win scenario. Fleeing would increase suspicion, and eventually lead to engagement. Denying would only do so much. The Raikage was of the Yamanaka clan, lying or dissuasion would remain futile against him. Lastly, engagement would result in almost certain death or capture. Under the slight chance that victory was attainable... one would be instantly brandished a traitor and be forced into exile- defeating the initiative of the Rengoku's presence in Kumogakure in the first place. These three were aware of that. The friends that they had made, the family that they had loved, and the city in which they lived would all be considered nothing more than a fading dream. They could not allow themselves to be taken alive- so if any of them were to fall prisoner to their captors, it would be the responsibility of the Rengoku cell to see that no answers were to be recovered. The power of Kassui's grip onto the shoulder of his partner meant so much more than encouragement. It was a blip of understanding- which was rarely encountered in the hands of The Autumn Hound.

"USE... INTEL." He would say encouragingly, an evident ode to the information shared to the organization after having interacted with the men approaching their location.

They had been informed of possible ninja who the Raikage would choose to take with him, as well as whom he suspected the most. It was unknown why Kassui had been the main target of their investigation, but it didn't matter. Enough information had been gathered, not only by Kassui, on each of the men whom had been expected to arrive. Two of which Kassui knew personally- the third only by name. With three men, two of which possessing legendary doujutsu, it would be an interesting battle. After all... the final step of the procedure would be the absolute most important.

// THREAD -- THE BRAINWASHING COLLECTIVE
//OOC -- All armor equipped. All weapons present. Not really sure what scenario is being set up... so I guess I'll wing it. Let me know if anything needs to change!

[luneth]

[STYLE=margin: 10px 65px 10px 65px; text-align: justify;font-family: times;font-size: 11px;]Mossy, unfertile soil would condense lightly beneath my narrow, black tabi's with each consecutive pace forward; by now, I, alongside my yamanaka leader and uchiha comrade, would have swiftly incised through the village and into a derelict region stretching west of the Anbu Headquarters. Just beyond the outermost reaches of their training grounds existed a plethora of once grand, though presently abandoned, decaying structures. Amidst my shinobi coequals, the area was more or less known as a horde hole for the destitute and homeless, evident first-hand as I'd forcefully pulsate chakra through my twin oculi's retral tenketsu, sequentially extending my penetrative sight outward a full hundred meters.

The populace of lost, drifting souls were visible in full, I'd eye the frail bodies shared amongst the majority, even viewing internally, as there were a surprising amount that looked to be on the brink of death. They both surrounded and hid within the moldered buildings, all excluding one. Our target would be this atrophied edifice in particular, deeper within the confines of the desolate vicinity, a lone building that bore the object of our intentions. Accordingly, my head would nod in concurrence with Eiichiro's words, as I too had located my former ally, and the corresponding Anbu shinobi. Thirty-five meters away, I'd feel discontent and a trace of resentment as my snowy eyes beheld his familiar, keenly visceral deportment.

An involuntary scowl would creep its way onto my face, and it wouldn't be long before the three of us would arrive from beyond the slew of buildings and exactly ten meters in front of the felons. I'd have dug into my satchel and nearby pocket as we'd commenced the final thirty-five meters, my boundless vision surveying the workings of my thin digits, which would have exited the compartments only seconds later, just as empty as they'd entered.

Halting ahead of the Anbu, I would remain silent; the scowl my face had previously bore replaced by an inexpressive stare. I stood to the right of the Raikage, with Asashio positioned at his left (?), and would allow our village-head to take precedence in voicing the dawn of our confrontation; unmoving, my eyes would view attentively the opposite trio, taking heed of their individual chakra signatures, as well noting the despondent vicinity I'd previously scoped. There wouldn't be a need for violence, should they comply; I didn't expect it, however, and would have thusly began drawing my static endowment. Should they make a single false move, I was certain in my ability to strike them down.

---

¹ byakugan; mid low.
² ______
³ ______

[ooc] — @obs, i'm thinking that this is more of a storyline thread, and not so much a fight thread, even if there might be a small skirmish in it. i'm prepared for either, just in case. as far as the 'scenario', we're just confronting you, from what i know, in search of rengoku info.
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