valueoftheworld01: journey of a thousand miles

[Q]

Age had not been kind to Nakamura Uboshi Shishigawara—not even in the slightest. He lay sitting up; his rotting, failed body wrapped in white robes and clean sheets. An oxygen mask helped his lungs do what they could not by themselves, and a pair of glasses, thick rimmed and black, gave his eyes the sight they had lost long, long ago. Eating was a chore he could rarely find the energy to do these days, so an IV slowly trickled nutrients into his scrawny arm and then into his fleshless self. Yet despite the knowledge that the Shinigami was coming for him, that Kami awaited on the other side so that his soul could be judged, Nakamura’s mind was still sharper than the rest.

Turning squinted eyes from an obscenely large window to a shadowed doorway, Nakamura made out the outline of his most trusted servant. The man stood there, his suit clean, his black hair slicked back, and his face handsome and shaved. He had come to the chambers to bring news.

“…They were sent out…?” Nakamura whispered, his voice weak and plagued by constant wheezing and coughing.

“Yes, Nakamura-Sama—and the replies received. They will arrive here within the next day.”

“Good…” He turned his head back to the window, giving him a view of hundreds upon hundreds of miles of Kusa no Kuni land. A smile cracked his old lips underneath the oxygen mask. “…Good.”

VALUE OF THE WORLD01

[/b]
The Journey of a Thousand Miles[/center]

How you received the message and arrived at the doorstep of the Nakamura estate was both an irrelevant and unnecessary detail. You found yourself at a gargantuan golden gate, speaking volumes of the money the owner of the house held. It opened and you were escorted as you arrived into the depths of a mansion that only child dreams could describe.

Upon stepping through the portal proper, you find yourselves being left in the main hall of the castle. Chandlers made of diamond; suits of samurai armor made from the finest blacksmiths in Tetsu no Kuni, and a plethora of other rich details surround you.

“Nakamura-Sama will be with you shortly,” A butler says, bowing before going to escort the next guest in.

For such a massive estate, it feels oddly deserted. Lonely. Workers are nowhere to be seen and the presumed family of the man has yet to show itself. For now you are left to your own devices, though the butler was clear on his one order: do not leave the main hall.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[¤ SFS ¤]

The day seemed darker than normal when the crimson eyes of a mostly unknown genin's gaze grazed the sky. Despite the glorious sun in the air suggesting the day would filled with accomplishment and victory of some kind, he felt a bit glum, if not downright abysmal. Kei had all but vanished in the last few days and when Sen was ready to depart for Kusagakure as the mission ticket said he should, he'd been forced to do so on his own. This wasn't the kind of thing he wanted to be late for so he left alone.

He wasn't sure where his partner had gone off to but he only knew one thing; the next time he saw Kei they would both be much improved. If the younger genin never showed up here today Sen would have to assume he pulled out in order to undergo some impressive and drawn out training. In any event he couldn't help but second guess his decision to come along on this grand occurrence. He had been hand picked by the Sandaime to be here today as a representative of Iwagakure no Sato. Although he wasn't sure what that was worth knowing the status of the Hidden Stone as well he did. There was a chance he could do some good here that would lead to some good to be done for Iwa later.

It seemed he was the first to arrive and he didn't have any intentions on standing out just yet. He had yet to find himself 100% sure of what his objective here was going to be.

Stepping inside the massive mansion he saw all too soon that it dwarfed the home he lived in several times over. The Tokomaru Manor was no shantytown but compared to this place, it might as well have been. He examined his surroundings carefully, a little disturbed actually that someone was able to garner such wealth in their lifetime that they could afford such an over-abundance

[/i] of luxury. It seemed the only thing in this mansion that wasn't more valuable than the equivalent in the world outside this mansion was the air.

He came to a section of the main hall adorned with a small assortment of katana placed eloquently next to the samurai armor. For a moment his mind left his current surroundings as he admired the craftsmanship behind the swords and the armors. Deep down he was itching to see how powerful the swords were and if they could stand up to a blade of his own making. If they were lesser katana than what he was capable of forging then maybe he could sell a few of 'em to the owner of this place.

He wondered what the value was of this home. He wondered how many more shinobi or trained fighters would be coming here today. He even wondered who in their right mind would take actual diamonds and use them for a chandelier. But there was yet another question burning stronger in his mind than any of the others. What could this person possibly want from a handful of Shinobi that have never worked together that he couldn't get himself through other means? His hands stroked his bare chin as he continued to drum the details of this s into his mind and assess the situation. Meanwhile, he could hear the butler greeting the next guest to arrive.
[/blockquote][/justify]

[Messatsu!]

Having received the mysterious message, the Sennin found himself exploring the many corridors of Kusa no Kuni. To have been personally tracked down after being seclusive and incognito for so long, he was more so curious about the man or woman that sent the message. Figuring it was the best of all possible options, he left his marked headband within Sunagakure. Nevertheless, with the message in hand, a map of sorts was inscribed on the back which acted to be his guide and waypoint. In no time at all, the Sennin arrived at a large golden gate - impressive. Curious and relaxed, the Sennin looked up towards the gates apex and gauged its measurements as a general precaution. Dressed in a white robe with a black belt and black pants, the orange haired sage looked directly forward again as the golden gates open. As the dual doors split apart, the emergence of a majestic light caused the Sennin to raise his arm up in order to shield his eyes. Squinting to prevent further damage, the light dimmed thereafter and revealed what looked to be his escort into the castle.

"No way."

These were Masuyo's thoughts as he observed the castle's interior while following the escort into the main hall. He kept his composure for sure, but on the inside he was relatively excited considering he never had the luxury or privilege to ever step foot into a place with uncontested grandeur. Despite the looks of things, everything was deafening silent, so much so that Masuyo even heard the clattering sound of his own his armour beneath his robes. Fortunately, the silence was broken by a man who that seemed to have arrived just before Masuyo, inquiring about the reason for such a gathering. Just barely catching his words, the man had a point, with so much money, the Sennin presumed that finding capable mercenaries would have gotten the job done.

Continuing walking through the main hall, he passed the other present shinobi with only about 3 meters of lateral distance between them. He moved to the center of the hall, looked up at the ceiling and then back over his shoulder to the ninja. "So, what do you suppose we're going to be doing exactly?"

[¤ SFS ¤]

SPOILER: Click to show

The italicized font with no quotation marks...

[/i][/color])[/ul] are thoughts and meanwhile, the bold stuff with quotations

[/i] keep telling me about your day.... ^__^"[/b][/color])[/ul] are spoken word, so technically Masuyo couldn't hear what Sen said but it's nothing major since we're the only two in there at the moment. Just thought I should clear that up~[/spoiler]

Scratching his head the genin pondered the words of the second arrival, turning to face him fully it was only natural they size one another up. It wasn't in the deliberate way shinobi did either, it was in the way that all humans sized up new people. The orange hair's top fell inches shorter than the top of his own black hair. He was also more lean muscularly than Sen was.

The Iwagakure headband that was proof of his standing as a rookie ninja in their village was hidden now where it commonly was; tied around his right bicep plate facing out, over his black thermal. Over both the thermal and the headband was his black jacket aligned with crimson accents. Standard black pants and tabi boots rounded out his attire and his face though scarred permanently was still quite handsome. He considered himself lucky to have received such a facial marking without ending up a boogeyman to the young women in his village. He couldn't help but notice that neither of them were dressed in any fashion that indicated where they might be from.

"Your guess is as good as mine. If their employing ninja from all over the Shinobi World they must be after something that will require physical prowess, absolutely peaked conditioning and a wide range of skills. We could be on some treasure hunt that only the most rich men and women in the world know of." His arms expanded gesturing to their surroundings and all the riches they were already in the presence of. Considering what they'd seen so far in only being here a few minutes, his 'treasure hunt' theory didn't seem so farfetched. Though he had other ideas, he wasn't exactly busting at the seams to share them.

He became quickly vexed with having to parlay and compare notes when his shinobi training made him weary of giving up privy information to strangers. But, was this man really a stranger in this context and how privy was the information each of them held? From what he knew of the mission so far it was likely that the ninja of black, white and orange before him was an ally so there was no need to hold anything back.

He bit the inside of his cheek for focus, he didn't have the luxury of being slow to the take for this mission. Others were coming and if he wasn't able to contribute to the group (assuming there was a group), he was sure he'd be left behind. Though in his own defense it was his first time working hand and hand with unfamiliars while outside of his village in a long time. "It'd be foolish to assume we're all just fodder to read maps and search for things, any adult with an empty wallet could have done that."

[/b] He mused on, deciding to share his thoughts with the other young man. "If two shinobi were called from each village as it was with mine, then we're looking at at least ten ninja handpicked by their respective Kage... and that's just from the Five Major Hidden Villages. Since we're in Kusa no Kuni I'd have to guess Kusa-nin might be involved too. If whatever we're doing is happening here in Kusa and no where else it would be stupid not to ask the native shinobi for help as well right?" His 'right?' was more rhetorical than anything though he wasn't opposed to the orange haired young man chiming in with his own opinions.

"If Kusa-nin are involved then it's a safe bet that others from other Minor Hidden Villages might be coming too." His left hand continued to stroke his chin and for a moment the genin wondered what he would look like with a small chin-beard. He mused it would be sort of nice to feel some fuzz when he reached for his chin. "Judging from the fact that we're both here alone it means not everyone will be coming in pairs." The sooner the others arrived and the host of this... gathering made it clear what the objectives were the faster those objectives could get accomplished. Right now there were too many variables, too many unknown unknowns.[/blockquote][/justify]

[Messatsu!]

With quickness, the Iwa ninja responded, thereby Masuyo turned to face him respectfully. He had a keen eye for detail, even though a great deal of it was quite obvious, but Masuyo found nothing wrong with getting confirmation from another's viewpoints. Actually, his words struck a nerve, namely his statement regarding the leader's of villlage's hand picking their own shinobi for the job. Thing was, Masuyo was without a leader or any authoritative figure for that matter, and that alone strengthened his curiosity about why he himself received a message despite it having been a trivial matter at that point.

If the Iwa nina's inference proved to be true, he feared the appearance of Kumogakure forces. He feared them not as threats, but emotionally, still regretting his the pain and destruction he inflicted upon their capital. He knew that the possibility of Kumo ninja arriving was more than likely to happen and because of said possibility, it gave Masuyo all the more reason to keep his identity hidden. So few knew his name to begin with which was just how the Sennin liked it - the name Masuyo Kekkei being almost non-existent.

"Yeah, its quite obvious this won't be some everyday task, but truthfully, I'm interested to see just how shinobi from different villages act when force to work with one another."

It was common courtesy to announce ones name, however, desiring to keep his own hidden, Masuyo naturally avoided introducing himself. After expressing his weird sense of curiosity, he wanted to get comfortable as he waited. With a quick, annoying sigh, he sat down in the center of the main hall, trying to be patient since that aspect of who he was hadn't really been his strong suit. Sitting cross legged with his back straightened, he faced the golden gates, wondering just who could come through it next.

[Trigga]

(“They found me… but how?

[/color]”)[/right]

His life had changed, his identity burned away with the rest during the Yonbi’s fiery rampage. Molten rock turning all into ash, as the Hokage’s legacy seethed into nothing more than a fable meant to inspire those of his gallantry. However the ghost was seemingly summoned for yet another tale to add to his life’s book, one that foretold of great affluence and fame; two things he could surely live without. Regardless of his status within the shinobi world, his talents were required and those who sought him out wouldn’t just leave without what they came for.

Taking in everything in one rather large gulp, the Uchiha found himself staring down two barred gates of pure wealth. Polished, solid gold becoming the foundation for the walls of protection, the lustrous gates opened, allowing the man entrance. Ochre hues gazing upon wealth itself, no one should have had such riches to his own. Digressing from thoughts of wealth however, he would proceed inward; in his hand, the invitation which allowed his passing into this grandest of institutions. The sun pouring light upon the canvas of Kusa no kuni’s grand paddock and forestry, the Niidaime continued on as he was escorted by a man, well within his years, towards the doorway.

“Thank you,” words of gratitude shared, the butler of sorts bowed gracefully, leaving the hired hand to his own devices. Stepping from the doorways foyer, Ryūsuke took a moment to note the others in attendance; both reaching into the depths of his memory; (“ Sen… and that wanderer?”) Reminiscence of both a moment’s time did him well, for the Uchiha could acquaint himself with both—one being more of a comrade then the other. Needless to say, until he was noticed, he wouldn’t act on urges to communicate; for now he’d admire the beauty which was the interior of this home.

(”Something doesn’t sit well… ”)

Eyes fixated on the grand armors that lined the wall, moving to the crystalline purity that reflected light in all directions, he was well-aware. Aware of what surrounded him and didn’t. A generous man he was, a fool he wasn’t. Garbed in his traditional wears of dark tints and shades. His kosode, sleeveless upon the right arm was complimented by the dark hakuma he wore. His katana laced upon his back as Agni dangled from his waist fastened by the ties of thick rope, he came prepared for anything. He’d simply wait for now, standing just feet off from the two of interest.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size][/font]

[vegapunk]

The sun beamed down from the sky high above moving its ray across the rim of his sunglasses. He had finally arrived at his destination. As if floating, each step the chuunin took towards the large gate was effortless and foreboding. Dressed in his normal attire, his long grey coat would hang down past his waist nearly to his knee's. His floral pants were complimented with his standard ninja footwear and a dark plain tee. He wasn't overly sure of the dress code in question - so he chose to keep it how it always has been. However, he felt slightly under dressed as he approached the large gold gates to the estate.

Looking back, he could still remember in detail when and how he received the invitation. Delivered to him, it was a request from a man of great wealth and reputation - a shock to Eiichiro none-the-less. Although vague in its contents the letter had captured his curiosity with hook and line. Playful as ever, Eiichiro couldn't help but want to learn more of this mysterious meeting. What exactly was he needed for? was it his talents as a shinobi? Surely, one of the wealthiest men in history of the world would have endless resources to acquired some muscle.. he thought to himself as he approached ever closer.

At that moment of reflection the gates would suddenly open on their own accord as his approach neared completion. Entering, he would look around the mans estate which seemed to tripped in gold and pleasantries. It couldn't be argued that the man had style; large elegant fountains, green hedges tripped to perfection, and a path that Eiichiro was sure that was made from the rarest of stone. Surprisingly impressed, Eiichiro would continue to walk to the main hall as instructed by one of the butlers who meet him on the path just after his arrival.

For such a large complex something seemed to be missing....people. Looking around he couldn't see a single soul as his escort walked only centimeters in front of Eiichiro's own step - not even squeaking a single sound. As eery as it was, he made no note of it as he carried on with his travels. They would make their way into the grand hall which seemed to be even grander than everything he had previously seen. The amount of wealth this man possessed started to frustrate Eiichiro slightly, although his face would not allude to it in any way. His escort vanished telling him that he must not move from the main hall. Eiichiro agreed, and began to look around. As his mouth opened slightly as he started to sing quietly to himself. Taking his sunglasses off inside - a traditional courtesy - to reveal his blazing amber eyes to all.

It seems I have company..

♫ ♫ "Hey little soldier boy, why are you so achingly slow..Like fragile tiny shells, drifting in the cold..Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home." ♫ ♫

[/justify][/font]

[~Kohana <3]

As honorable as this may be, I don't find this to be a very good feeling...

Ever since she had received her mission to come here, or rather her invitation, to come here it didn't sit well with her. Not only was there no other Konohagakure shinobi available to come with her, but she felt as though the entire premise of this seemed rather odd from a dying old man with such great power. But regardless she had to simply nod her head and leave behind the lush forests of Hi no Kuni and travel to the even lusher Kusa no Kuni.

Surprisingly though much of the land had retained its beauty even though the obvious scars from the dreaded fight with the Yonbi that ripped asunder the land. Her thoughts immediately fell back to Akira. A man that meant...something...to her. What exactly was still beyond her, but he was something special to her and he happened to harbor a part of that dreaded lava beast within him. Her eyes had seen it, had seen the malignant chakra burst from him, and it scared her.

Regardless of how she felt over all though, this was still of precedent and thoughts of Akira would have to be put on the back burner. With her mind clear, she looked up at the giant golden gates in awe. It was obvious that Nakamura truly was the rich bastard that everyone knew him to be. The structure itself was impressive, not even taking into consideration the giant mansion of a house that laid behind these gates.

He's on his death bed anyways, why would he need to call ninja here to go find relics? There has to be a bigger picture to this than something to trivial.

Kohana's thoughts were interrupted as an older gentlemen rapped on the gate with his gloved hand. The gates themselves creaked while they opened and he quickly waved for her to enter. Following the order without hesitation, the Hyuuga passed through the gates and followed after the old man as he led them up towards the face of the mansion. It was even more expansive and beautiful up front, let alone all of the surrounding environment that was effectively Nakamura's 'front yard'. It was so ridiculous that it was almost funny.

"Thank you," She did manage to chuckle through clenched teeth to prevent herself from laughing at the irony of it all. He simply bowed as he opened the doors to the mansion for her to enter. From there she was simply lead forward into the foyer, or main hall, of the mansion before muttering something of the sort that Nakamura would be along shortly. Maybe he didn't feel like repeating himself? After all, there were already four others here.

I don't believe I know any of these ninja...

Her ivory eyes fell to what seemed to be an Iwagakure ninja first before moving over to the orange haired boy next. They didn't really hold her interest all to well. The Kumogakure ninja seemed strong though. His amber eyes drew her in momentarily, the color almost catching her off guard at first. However it was when her eyes fell on the third person in the room that she felt herself falter and nearly tumble forward. All of her senses failed at once and she simply stared at him for a long moment. Realizing what she was doing she quickly walked off a little, away from the group of four.

There is no way that is Nidaime. He's dead. But, he looks just like him...and the way he carries himself....no, no. He's dead. Rotting in the earth somewhere. That's NOT him.

Her blood boiled at the thought of the 'late' Hokage Ryu. He was a wonderful Hokage, did so much for the village, and then went off and died. To her, he had essentially abandoned them all. Of course, she and Jiyuu go way back as well as she knew he was a capable leader despite what he thought of himself. So the newest Hokage wasn't bad or anything. But regardless of that, Ryu had been a dream of a leader.

I miss those times. It was like everyday was a Golden Afternoon. Now...

Scoffing to herself, Kohana folded her arms over her chest, underneath her breasts, which only proved to help hike them up a little higher. How they didn't spill from her corset was a mystery, but that wasn't the point. The main point was now that she had regained her composure, a death glare had set in within her eyes. Though she didn't dare to look straight at the Ryu look alike, she still stared in the general area in order to see any new arrivals.

Next thing you know, Ichijin will show his terrible face here as well...

[Trigga]

It only took one touch for Ryūsuke to truly feel the level of wealth within this single room. The outside and its near divine allotment, the pearly gates; those were but appetizers to artifacts and edifices more regal in nature. His palm and every crevasse upon his thin, though strong fingers were cushioned into bliss upon the tapestry he wandered upon. His eyes moving up and down, taking in the entirety of such a piece of work, it seemed more religious in nature. Gods of all shapes circling one human—or at least what he assumed. The sun casting bright summer colors vividly woven with pure perfection upon the series of creatures. Tales of both sorrow and bliss—a true masterpiece.

He’d stand there for but a moment until the grand doors he stood but mere feet from slid open. Light breaking into the room with a calm flow, a shadow soon emerged; a body following close behind. Looking over his shoulder had become a second-nature condition of his own self-imposed paranoia and curiosity. As such, it was safe to assume the next entry would be nothing more than a simple shinobi from a region of the world and would prove none beneficial to him at all—he was incorrect. Golden hair and a dark grey coat to balance out his vibrant colors, the Kumogakure Shinobi he had met at the tavern in Kusa days prior emerged—the third person he had knew to arrive.

Alas, he wasn’t in the most nattering mood and his stature as Hokage was all but legitimate at the time being. He’d find time during their travels to converse, but for now, he was more interested in who would be embarking on this travel with him, and that’s when the door opened once more. Another figure approached, just moments following the man with an ridiculous and dark chakra and as she emerged her appearance forced the Hokage’s eyes to widen. “Kohana?” His tone but a murmur, he quickly turned back towards the drapery and forced himself to peer at its magnificence. A shinobi from his home and one of whom he was quite acquainted with, it wasn’t farfetched to assume she could tell him apart from the rest—like he did her.

He could feel her eyes piercing the very skin he bore and upon that he knew she had singled him out. Sighing to himself, not bothering to turn as she looked at him, he’d wait another moment until she was surely staring away. Turning on his heels to face the Hyūga, arms folded beneath her bust as her long hair danced momentarily, he’d simply give her a stare—consistent and more tranquil then the one she sent him. After his death, Konoha had all but prospered; he blamed himself, but the question was, did others?

[The Dude]

A gathering of ninja from all over the world, and for some reason Ekitai had been the only one chosen to be sent by Kirigakure no Sato. He wasn't exactly sure on the reason why there was only one Kiri representative here today but it good give villages the wrong impression. The wrong impression was that Kiri was short on ninja and weak or perhaps they simply didn't feel as dedicated to this as other villages may have been. Ekitai had taken it upon himself, upon receiving the mission alone, to give the impression of a higher class of ninja that Kirigakure bred.

He approached the golden gates casting a casual glance up along that magnificent work while letting out a quietly impressed whistle to himself. 'Wow, this man sure has some class. If this is just the front door I can't imagine what the rest of his house looks like,'

[/color] he pondered anxiously before reaching forward and knocking on the gates with the ornate knocker made available. As he waited at the gates Ekitai carefully removed his monocle and withdrew a kerchief from his vest pocket wiping the lense delicately to remove what little dust had been allowed to accumulate in the travels. After replacing the monocle on the bridge of his nose he had just enough time to examine the rest of himself to ensure he looked presentable. He wore a long sleeved dark gray button up shirt with pin stripes under a very fine black vest that had a sheen in the the proper light. A slim black die was bound around his neck flowing straight down into the vest. He also wore black dress up pants, finely tailor black gloves, and a black leather belt. His black smoothly combed hair was drawn back into a fine pony tail leaving only a few bangs to hang loosely framing his face.

The gates opened and he was lead in side careful to carry himself properly shoulders back and head raised high as his dress shoes quietly tapped along the floor as he walked. They approached the mansion and once at the doors and allowed inside, he glanced around the room and despite his best attempts at appearing presentable, even he would admit he was just as out of place as the rest of the guests here. Diamond chandeliers, collected samurai armor that the samurai had not come to claim, treasures all around and this was only the main hall. His face however remained cool and unaffected by the splendor within the household as he looked around the room at those who had arrived so far. Strangers to his eyes all of them so far but it was transparent that they were simply other ninja who had been collected for this old man's request.

It didn't matter who they were and to be honest Ekitai didn't really care, he wasn't here to stir up trouble he was only here to represent Kirigakure and perform the tasks required before ensuring he would be paid. Still he glanced about taking note of all the shinobi present in the room excluding himself. A shinobi without a headband wearing a white robe with black pants and a black belt was speaking with an Iwagakure shinobi with jetblack hair and crimson eyes that seemed to smolder softly even in this brightly lit room. Then there was a lion... of a man, his body well toned and defined clearly visible even under his Hakuma, his hair was a strange tint of a strawberry blonde as he turned and addressed a rather chesty woman. In fact she was the only woman present and stood with her arms crossed across her chest glaring dangerously, with pale easily recognizably hyuuga eyes, back at the man in the Hakuma. The last he saw was a gentleman in a long gray coat with golden hair combed or pulled back and amber eyes that did not smolder like the others but had a residual quality, in that after looking away Ekitai could only think of the peculiar color.

Having taken note of everyone arriving thus far Ekitai decided it would be best and quite honestly easiest for him to have a discussion with the blonde kumo shinobi. After all he seemed to have nothing better to do than amuse himself with his own voice while the others were either talking, glaring, or being glared at. As the two shinobi weren't socializing with the others yet it seemed logical that it would be easiest to start up a conversation with someone rather than try and join one of the other conversations. He walked across the room to the shinobi before clearing his throat quietly, hopefully this shinobi hadn't intentionally avoided discussion because he liked to be left alone.

"Good day, sir. Pardon me for interrupting your song but allow me to introduce myself if you will, my name is Ekitai and I am the emissary from Kirigakure no Sato. I don't suppose you'd have any more information on this grand mission we've been collected for do you? The details in the letter I received were... far from adequate." His tone was pleasant and friendly as he suppressed his urge to judge the man based on his clothes, surely there was more to judge the class of a man on than his clothes and his singing voice after all.

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

[¤ SFS ¤]

Anxious to get away from all the money here that wasn't his own the genin's head swung around at the sound of the third arrival and he was a little caught off guard when said third arrival wound up being someone he knew personally. Visibly though, he made no reactions to the arrival of this man, a one Uchiha Ryu. He grinned on the inside however when he noticed that Ryu had no visible reactions to seeing him as well.

It appeared for the first three men to get here they all seemed to want nothing more than to learn as much as they could about the mission and then complete it while revealing as little about themselves as possible to the others. Though he didn't think they would be able to go the whole mission and keep up such secrets unless they absolutely had to which he very much doubted they would.

In the amount of time it took to examine the details of nearly all the swords on the wall next to the armors the genin counted the arrival of three more individuals to this event. Those three plus the original three to arrive meant the total of ninja present was six. That meant at minimum there were ninja from at least three other Nations here as he knew none of the others were from Iwagakure and Ryu was from Konohagakure.

Of the arrivals was a Hyuuga whom Sen quickly regarded as out of his league due to the telltale signs of her physical attractiveness. Her blue hair was of a high volume and quite shiny, obviously very well conditioned and her bust was, for lack of a better word, busty. She dressed revealing enough to show she was of age and her big eyes were damned beautiful as such was the case for nearly all women born with the Hyuuga blood and the Byakugan. She threw dirty looks in the direction of Ryu but not at him directly, who seemed to drop all pretenses of hiding who he knew and who he didn't know the moment he saw her.

"Kohana?"

[/i][/right] Maybe she was an ex-girlfriend or something like that. He wasn't too offended when he and the Hyuuga locked eyes and she quickly moved on to the others in room. Surely whatever she thought of him based on looks alone hadn't been very impressive as she spent almost no time lingering on him. Still, he took no offense to it, it was what it was. This was his curse; to carry rugged good looks and be passed over for the pretty boys like Ryu. He grinned to himself at the thought of it.

Next came a ninja in a well dressed suit who very openly named himself to be from Kirigakure. Of course with him doing that he made it clear that no one else here was familiar to him and thus it seemed that none of the others were ninja from Hidden Mist. Of course the thoughts he processed on the Hyuuga and the Kiri-nin were only background noise compared to the ninja that had walked in before the two of them did.

He was dressed so damn chill that he stood out more than anyone else. Floral patterned pants and blazing eyes of amber were his two most easy to remember features, the latter of course was almost known world-wide now. The genin's teeth grit though he managed not to stare. No fucking way... is that really him?

The rampage of the Yonbi was known world wide as a crisis the ninja would have to ban together to stop. The call came from Kusa and many ninja answered making their voyage to the grassy minor nation to but the ape to rest. As a youton user Sen wanted badly to go and if nothing else see the power of the tailed beast of lava that was destroying Kusa no Kuni. However at that time the genin felt his own skill and power lacked far too much for him to survive such a quest so he left it to better trained men. Imagine his surprise to learn months later of such a better trained man; Youton user who fought against the Yonbi and survived, much less one who was near Sen's age and a ninja of Kumogakure no Sato, allies of Iwagakure. 'Kumo's Amber Spirit' as he was known, his alias had become famous as had his eyes. From the moment he'd heard of such a man, Sen wanted to know who was better. Who would win if their Youton clashed? He had, in his own mind, labeled Kumo's Amber Spirit as his rival and now that they were in the same room those feelings only intensified. Though he was disciplined enough to not act on them until the Kumo-nin knew just as much about Sen, as Sen know about him, which wasn't very much actually.

But there it was, the six so far to arrive; one from Hidden Stone, one from Hidden Mist, one from Hidden Cloud, one from Hidden Leaf and two unknowns. With the numbers slowly growing he expected the powers in charge to appear any moment now and tell them exactly why they were here and in greater detail than what they had been told thus far.[/blockquote][/justify]

[Messatsu!]

After moving and positioning himself in a more comfortable area and pose, Masuyo continued to sit within the center of the main hall, cross legged with keen eyes that burned into the door. One after another, Masuyo watched the others that arrived and entered through the doors. Out of those who arrived he only managed to recognize one - the man known as Uchiha Ryuusuke, but more widely known as the Nidaime Hokage. Each new person that entered the room seemed to have represented a different country, which, through Masuyo's eye, merely enhanced his curiosity. Silently, like an observant phantom,he watched the others intermingle with one another, examining their voices, facial expression, and even down to their mannerisms. If this mysterious man actually expected Masuyo to work with total strangers, he needed to know a little something about his allies, even if it had been just the basics. Nonetheless, he remained seated and budged not even an inch, still watching the door and observing all possible things.

[vegapunk]

♫ ♫ "Hey little soldier boy, why are you so achingly slow..Like fragile tiny shells, drifting in the cold..Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home." ♫ ♫

He would continue to sing his melodic tune to himself as his entrance to the hall was noticed by the others in the room. All with eyes of wonder - their gaze would set upon his - an eying up of competition or comradeship? However, his would not set directly on anyone's yet, Eiichiro had kept to himself. He wasn't here to prove anything to anyone or gain an assortment of contacts. He was purely here for the intrigue of what was to come. This wealthy man, little did he know it, knew how to capture Eiichiro's attention - and had done so in the correct way.

His singing would change into a hum as he languishly stood near the right wall closest to the main doors with his hands in his pockets. Back arched he was relaxed and conforming to his on vibe - the people in the room not being too much of a concern for the Kumo-nin. However, he did proceed to look at them out of the corner of his eye. First, he would notice the collection of headbands which each ninja in the hall sported. Interesting..seems as though this man collected from across all the kingdoms, Eiichiro thought to himself. Each man and woman in the room looked powerful in their own regard - and he would be stupid if he presumed their were not.

His gaze would effortless glide over each target endevouring for detail. Each unique and individual in their own right - it wasn't until his gaze meet a certain someone that he truly flicked his attention on. Surely not...it can't b-e..the man from Shima no Kuni? the thought rang through his mind with true urgency - was this the man who attempted to completely destroy the whole of Upper Yard? Firmly his hands would clench into a fist of frustration as he would continue to conspicuously look at the man. Sure, he had changed his appearance but Eiichiro knew that it was him. This wasn't the place for confrontation, and Eiichiro knew that. He was a trained spy after all and those were not the tactics he employed.

Continuing to try and piece the man together he would be interrupted as a man approached him cautiously beginning to speak in a polite manner. With a nonchalant look his tempered amber eyes would meet the unknown mans. First, his attention was caught by the headband marked -Kiri- which the shinobi sported before he looked him up and down with the firmest discreteness. He would address himself formally to Eiichiro issuing his name and village while asking if he knew anymore information on why they were all here. Honestly, he didn't, and he was fine to share that with the man. With slick hair tied back, formal dress nicely pressed, and even sporting a monocle - Eiichiro couldn't help but view the man as prude. But perhaps he was underdressed for the occasion.

Opening his mouth he would release a dulcet tone which echoed with an aire of laidback politeness. He was slightly annoyed that he wasn't able to keep his reconnaissance on the other mysterious man. But, he was always one for a good first impression and manners.

"Ahh...nice to meet you. My name is Munashi, Eiichiro from Kumogakure. Hmm..seems the information I received was also quite vague - seems this man likes his surprises!

[/justify][/font]

[☆ F ☆]

OOC: Uh, don't think you can use a placeholder post to take the same consequence as an official post. Or else we could do the same to evade the penalties of IIC's =P

---

The message as delivered by Nakamura Uboshi Shishigawra had been received soon after its inception into Kumogakure's airwaves, my elite status earning me top dibs on assignments with such exotic danger as this one. And as part of the insurrection, its purpose would be acknowledged to its fullest extent. I had plans for Kaminari, you see, and presenting the result of this skirmish would be one of it. Though there were rumors that Nakamura's fortune was sought by other from Kumo, I had not chosen to ally myself with any of my village brethren. As far as anyone was concerned, this would be a solo attempt on my behalf.

“...”

I entered the somewhat crowded area silently, at leas twenty meters separating me from anyone nearby. Momentarily my head panned from left to right, a brief acknowledgment given to those present. Many different faces and village representations existed, but as far I was concerned, this gathering was a neutral one – for now. It was obvious what we were all here for, but to me, the size of the hunting group did no matter; in the end, I was sure of the prey's presence secure within the inescapable confines of my fangs.

I don't think I know anyone here...

...do I?

I hadn't fully recognized all faces yet, but I was quick to dismiss during the preemptive portions of an introduction. For now I'd wait, the energy flowing within as the presence of the one and only was awaited. There was money to be won, and only one man that could give it; what then, did he want...?

[/font]

[Q]

Muramasa stepped forward, appearing on the banister above the mansion’s guests. Dressed in the uniform of a butler, and caring black, grey tinted, slicked back hair, the servant appeared as a handsome, if not older, individual. Wrapping a gloved hand around the railing, he allowed wizened eyes to observe each one, watching as they interacted with each other or, in some cases, chose not to. Seemingly nodding in approval, Muramasa signaled to an invisible staff member, cueing a procession of music to begin.

The surely shocked shinobi would grow even more surprised as Samurai flooded the room, lining up along the walls of the main hall. Their hands were all on their swords, as if they had come in for battle. Anyone who had the ability to read a situation quickly realized this was not true.

“Welcome guest from the countries of this world,” Muramasa spoke, slowly descending a spiraling staircase to the mouth of the hall. Each word was rich and noble, and the music dimmed with every word. “You have been summoned to Nakamura-Sama’s manor for a purpose that will make each of you famous, should you achieve the task at hand. What lies before you, noble Shinobi, is a world of mystery and peril, mythology and power; a world that has not been seen for a hundred years or more. If you are unwilling to face death, then turn and leave this hall, for you do not deserve to be called hero.”

Muramasa paused, allowing any who wished it to leave. Regardless of who did or did not, he’d have long since reached the bottom of the stair, taking his spot at the head of the two Samurai lines.

“For those who do wish to stay, who do wish to achieve riches beyond even the wildest of imaginations; to fight creatures and discover secrets older then time itself…” Muramasa trailed off, his voice lowering to that of a near whisper. “…Then prepare to meet his majesty—Nakamura Uboshi Shishigawara. Follow me.”

And with that Muramasa turned on his heel and would lead the Shinobi with him, who was in turn escorted by the two lines of twelve Samurai to each side. Should they follow without complaint or issue, they’d find themselves lead through another set of twin doors as magnificent as the golden gate outside of the castle. They were taken to an inner courtyard, one more beautiful than most had ever seen.

Traditional Cherry Blossoms littered the area, oft surrounding a small pond ringed in stones. Other styles of trees, ones only found in Kusa no Kuni and equally as beautiful as the Sakura, stood over large clumps of flowers and grasses of different colors, lengths, sizes, and natures. Atop the surface of the pond, dozens of leaves were strewn, a hundred different colors in all. Koi often jumped and grabbed an insect of some kind for food.

At the center of all this, sitting as if he were the center of the solar system, was the man that had called them all here. Robed in brown and red, Nakamura sat in a wheel chair, his extravagant and rich clothing hiding the age-torn body of his. Bushy grey eyebrows and beard were the only hair on his head, for his scalp was bare. Even if Nakamura’s body had aged and began to die, his reputation preceded him. He was known as, in the past, the richest man in the world. Even the Daimyou held little personal money when compared to a man who, rumors say, could even buy a country. Two beady eyes looked on, observing the men he had gathered with interest.

Even though he seemed weak and vulnerable, his guards did not. In addition to the twenty-four Samurai, two large men, each with swords on their backs and ape masks over their faces, stood at each side of Nakamura hands folded behind their backs. It was considered unwise, foolish, even, to challenge these two in a straight fight.

With everyone now in the courtyard, Muramasa fell to one knee. The twenty-four Samurai did as well.

“I have brought you your soldiers, my Lord.”