Kusakage Atrium Posts

[Not Masakuni]

-Knight & Blade

Heh.

His mind roamed back to that encounter, when he had flippantly offered to serve as knight to her queen. It was interesting to see how their positions had changed, yet remained no different. Once more, it was her in a position of power and him standing before her. Perhaps it was fate. Coincidence was certainly lining up to push him into the same boat as her. There were no other choices, as he saw it. This was his village, and she its leader. He would follow her, for now, if she proved to be a competent ruler. She was strong enough, there were no doubts there.

“Fushoku and Shiro were two of the members of my team during the war,” Shiro explained, by way of explanation. “Both of them admirable people, and both of them dead.” He refused to look away from her, anger burning behind eyes the colour of fire. He controlled the emotion, gently stoking it to burn, but containing it. “I took their names to remind myself of what had to be done to the people who caused their deaths.” He shrugged diffidently, as though the whole thing was a pain long forgotten.

Never so.

“If you are offering, my lady, I am still interested. So long as I have the chance to punish those responsible for the past.” He meant every word he said. It was not often that much emotion was provoked from the cynical soul inside his body, but the seeming lack of responsibility on the part of the Great Nations for what they had wrought in Kusagakure was appalling. Not once, but twice now, following the rampages of the Yonbi, had their arrogance ripped his homeland apart.

“And if you must call me something, my name is Tsukune.”

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[Apple]

Perhaps I could have apologized for the way that I had acted towards him that time ago, but then I’d have simply been apologizing for doing something that I had little control over. However as reserved a man he was, I knew, I could see the small inklings of doubt over me that he had, and if he choose to keep to this mind frame for the rest of his life then it wouldn’t take him anywhere, as he was looking directly at the future with his burning red eyes, and I couldn’t have asked for a more thought-provoking audience as of now. Time passed and soon his answers came to me and I listened carefully to the things that he had to say, taking in the information that was given and processing it- So he had lied to me all this time? Had it not been the fact that his reason for changing his name was very human, I’d have probably put it against him. I was unsure exactly how I felt on the situation and his measures which he’d taken, but it revealed the much more real side to him rather than the slightly snide person I’d gotten to know- Just how deep did his loss run in the wide fields of Kusa no kuni?

So we have all suffered from the war.

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I hadn’t doubted it, but if anything from the deep pools of my mind I felt some kind of understanding to what he had done and why, and as the strings of hate from his own past seemed to make themselves apparent, I couldn’t help but feel that he too understood the common goal that I believed all shinobi from the smaller nations had which kept them together. War had ravaged our country and now even he had revealed to me exactly what had happened to him- But.. was it all true? I couldn’t be sure. Now that he’d planted the idea that Shiro wasn’t even his real name, how easy would it have been for him to pass him off a different person, this Tsukune? It was something that I’d have to take carefully. After all; Even if he was a shinobi of my village, I couldn’t be too sure of where his loyalties were- But I couldn’t imagine anyone picking anyone over me. After all, what hope did Kusa have of advancing without my grace and dictatorship? Preening a long lock of blonde hair to my left and then tossing it behind my ear, I’d let another deep pause sting the air before I spoke next.

”We both have people we want to punish, my love.
And in due time they will get what they deserve.

I promise.”

I had my own, although unfortunately for myself, I only knew the name of one. The last I’d heard of my brother was that he had been doing something with that bastard Kouketsu, and I hadn’t seen him.. since too many years ago. Only he knew the descriptions of the shinobi who had killed my beloved Momochi, and it seemed all hope was lost, but the need to tear through the flesh of my opponents had never been so potent. I had the ability to do everything now as Kusakage but to do what I wanted, I was powerless. The only other person I could think about is myself as I balanced my being- I was my own worst enemy for the things that I had done, and yet at the same time, everyone wanted to be me. I deserved the worst punishment that hell could possibly give to me, and yet I crawled painfully on the surface of this dismal earth for the repentance for my misdeeds. Just what did I have to do to stop this? ”So.. Tsukune..” another pause as I blinked slowly, allowing my eyes to rest on him again, dismissing what feral anger burned in his eyes;

”Just what talents have you got to offer me?”

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[Not Masakuni]

-The Tools Of The Trade

Tsukune.

The sound of his own name was something liquid and sensuous, when it came from her lips. Perhaps it had simply been too long since he'd heard it spoken by anyone, even himself. He had long told himself that it would stay buried with his past, until the opportunity arose to punish the wicked who took his team-mates from him. Here he stood now, on the precipice of an unknown future, one that promised that very thing to him. It would seem that he had no better choice than to throw in his chips with the shark of a woman before him.

“Talents?” He said, not really questioning her. He was merely acknowledging the word. “Information. Support. Wield me as a weapon, but let me be a knife in the dark rather than a sword in the sun. There are none who serve you who can gather and analyze information with a sharper mind than my own. I have skills in first aid and anatomy that I shall only continue to refine. When it comes to logistics, to support and supply, to information-gathering and misdirection, you need look no further.”

Never mind the other things...

“I don't know how this happened, but I cannot deny what is right in front of me.” He moved forward, his body swinging downward so that he would rest on one knee, his fist touching the ground to support himself. Even so, lowered as he was into a kneel, his eyes still met hers with intensity. “I will support your leadership and this village, as I once did. If you will permit me to study at your hospital, and you will not be disappointed at the aid I can provide you with, Kusakage-sama.”

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[Apple]

I relished the words that he said. It wasn’t that I enjoyed using others for my own gain, but the ideas that I now had a whole village to my use for my own and the villages’ gains was too much for me to ask for at the moment. Of course I could never idealize the concept of sending my shinobi to war in such a cruel way that the government had whilst I had previously lived in this place, but at the same time, to be aware that I had people willing to fight beneath my name was something that.. caused a surge of power-lust within me to erupt, my mind rendered nothing as my lips turned in to the same smirk that I had been wearing for the majority of this meeting between the both of us. His word seemed so plausible and understandable at the moment and as I bathed in my own euphoric authority, my eyes befell against his determined red lenses and I could only remember the same drive I had when I was around his age. I missed those days and yet there was no way of bringing them back.

The ignorance that he showed to me in regards of how I’d ascended to the title of Kusakage was one that I appreciated greatly as it prevented me from having to muster up the effort to tell him. It was better to let things like that lay about and to euthanize the doubts that I had in my head about it. ”You do show some enthusiasm.” I’d make the fleeting comment beneath my breath as my head tilted back somewhat as my position on my desk shifted again a little bit to the side, although what blue eyes I was gifted with didn’t falter from staring intently in to his, judging each little move that he made with my serpentine eyes. But the words that he said now; This is what I wanted. This is what I had been waiting for all this time. I was unsure if his respect was a façade in order to bring his own name up in to the ranks of Kusagakure or not but I continued to writhe beneath the very mention of my name as Kusakage by the tongues of others, almost enticing me to submit to the words within my mind.

”If you will permit me to study at your hospital, and you will not be disappointed at the aid I can provide you with, Kusakage-sama”

”..Oh the Hospital? Tsukune, perhaps if you show enough promise then I may consider teaching you myself.”

And it was then, that he, at such a lowered position, would be given what appeared to be a light tap to the middle of his head. Nothing that hurt too much, although perhaps it might have caught him off guard by it. Of course, I’d just made myself evident as being a medical shinobi but then again with my name spreading about the village like wildfire there were people out there who surely knew which abilities I harboured- The ones that I was proud to use, and others.. which I was slightly more keen on protecting rather than flaunt. But nonetheless I then hopped off my desk and returned to my seat, sitting down in the same position that I had previously, and looking on at him kneeling on the floor with at least some kind of entertained look on my face. Would I teach him? I only taught the finest, and would he coincide with this requirement? Only time would tell.

"But for the time being..

..Get out of my sight."

I was irresistable.

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[Not Masakuni]

-The Authority Of A Goddess

Enthusiasm.

Well, he had that. He had a lot more hope and drive in him at the moment then he'd felt in years. Not since before his team had started to die all around him. He twitched slightly, shaking the thought away like nothing more than an annoying fly. She kept her eyes on him, a somewhat disconcerting sensation. It was as though needles were boring into his skull. He refused to look away, however. From what he knew of her, she was not one to take kindly to weakness and insecurity.

Her?

The thought had never occurred to him. He had no conception of her abilities, but immediately the pieces clicked into place. She was a medic, then, at least in some capacity. As he contemplated this, she was suddenly up and moving, her feet alighting on her desk. Her hand came at him, outstretched. His reactions kicked in and he brought his arms up, crossing them in an 'x' before himself. He was but a moment too slow, however, and before he could shape his block properly, she had given him a light blow in the forehead.

At least, it looked like a light blow. The force of it pushed him back, and he just barely managed to prevent himself from falling on his rear. Such things weren't dignified, at least not in the office of the Kusakage. He brought his composure under control, and he stood, brushing himself off slightly. He looked at her, settling behind her desk, and delivered her a deep bow. “I see,” He said, his voice low and respectful. “As you wish, Kusakage-sama.” With those words, he turned and strode from the room.

-Exit

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[Akikou]

Just where in the world am I...?

This was the most prevalent thought in her mind as the woman found herself standing on the steps that would lead into the Kusakage's Atrium. There were other thoughts going on inside of that head as well, ranging from "Who am I?", "What am I doing here?", and "Why can't I remember anything?", but she had answers to all of those things, even if she didn't know what they meant.

Although she couldn't remember why, she knew that her name was Akikou. She knew that her allegiance was pledged to the Kusagakure banner. She knew that she had been knocked on the head at one point. But she didn't know when any of that had happened, where it had all happened, or why any of it had happened... and now, she found herself, upright and awake, in a strange land that she couldn't ever remembering traveling to, in front of the doorway to the home of the Kusakage.

I'm sure that this kind of culture shock would confuse just about anyone.

With a sigh, Akikou moved up the stairways and entered into the Atrium, finding herself on the bottom floor. Walking towards the strange man that she saw, the woman smiled gently towards him.

"Excuse me, but do you know where I am? And is there anybody here that's in charge, who could give me some sort of direction...? I'd like to see whoever that person is, if possible."

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[Apple]

NPC ASSISTANT
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"Excuse me, but do you know where I am? And is there anybody here that's in charge, who could give me some sort of direction...? I'd like to see whoever that person is, if possible."

To say the least, she wasn't one of the first people who seemed deathly confused of the situation to come up and ask to meet with the Kusakage, perhaps to ask some questions. Sighing a little, he'd nod his head and watch as the last guest made his way down and out of the building- "..You came here just in time. If you'd come earlier she'd have been busy." he'd tell her with some sort of attempted positivity. "You're currently in the Atrium- The Kusakage's tower- If you could call it that... eheahuhe..." a silent laugh was made afterwards, almost as if he didn't believe that it was a tower himself- But who could? It only had four floors, but it was how high it was upon the plains of Kusa which made it taller than others. "Lady Kusakage, you have another guest." He'd tilt his head in to the small microphone near his desk, before then murumrings would escape from the speaker, signifying her response. The assistant would then nod his head towards the lift to the kunoichi, suggesting she take the lift up to her office

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• Permission given to meet with the Kusakage.
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[Akikou]

Nodding my head as I took in all the information given to me, I'd turn and move into the lift, finding myself taken to the next floor. When the lift reached the end of the line and the doors open, I almost stared at the glorious domain. It was beautiful here. I managed not to gulp as I stepped out of the elevator and into what, I supposed, was the Kusakage's office, and there I beheld someone that was, perhaps, the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen.

Her locks, golden like the sun, hung down from the top of her head loosely, easily falling below the shoulders, and her eyes, they were a soft, yet deep, blue hue. I knelt on bended knee, as would be proper, and lowered my eyes, looking at the boots that the woman wore.

"Kusakage-sama...?"

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[Apple]

As I’d been told that I was to be given another visitor, I couldn’t exactly be all that bitter about it because after all; These people had come here to talk business or at least had questions that they wanted answered just like the Tsukune before me who had seemed to be quite surprised to see me but nonetheless soon submitted to my authority- As far as it appeared to be, anyhow. Looking at the black door that separated me from the rest of the world, I waited, and watched as it soon opened to reveal the person of whom I was meant to meet with now- A girl, at least in her twenties but surely less than that, of brown hair. Her response, however, despite the fact that it was slightly bizarre, was taken by me quite well and as she’d kneel and direct her eyes elsewhere, I couldn’t help but let a smirk leave my lips as I watched onwards at her as she spoke the title which I now bore in what appeared to be utmost dedication. Shaking my head slightly to get the long blonde hair out of my eyes, I’d then raise my hand and run it through my left side, pulling my golden locks back as I kept my gaze on her for a few moments before beginning to speak and respond to her action.

”Rise- May I have your name?
What have you come here today to ask about?”

My demand would be made. It wasn’t exactly something that the girl would have trouble doing, actually, as I only required two things. Perhaps if I was having a bad spell I’d have been a bit more intimidating but at the moment I was fairly happy in my seat- I hadn’t anything to do all day which perhaps was more of a problem than anything, but on average I found it interesting just meeting the people who queued up to meet me- Me. All the times which I had said that I was bound for this and the times which I had so excruciatingly had my skin etched with the words of those above me had all been worth it, and at the end, I became the victor.

But- What business did she have with me?

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[Messatsu!]

@ Apple +80!

@ Masakuni +70!

[Not Masakuni]

-In Service

“Excuse me.”

His words were soft and polite. It was far different than the last time he had been standing before the Assistant's desk. He had been a heated during that, he supposed. No sense wasting time worrying about it now. This time, he simply looked at the assistant, his face neutral, before setting a few sheaves of paper on the assistants desk; mission listings. Technically speaking, he was a genin with no mission record, after everything that had happened. He needed to rectify that if he intended to improve. “May I take these missions, please?”

SPOILER: Click to show

HELP THE ELDERLY
RANK: D
DESCRIPTION: An old people’s home which promotes independence of the elderly in Kusagakure has requested some shinobi to go out and buy the items that a certain old gent or lady has requested. Due to the short timelimit, your agility as a shinobi comes in to play and you must be successful in collecting the items, as any wrong things bought may result in the mission being jeopardized! The items can range from soap to ready-made meals and the mission is fairly straight forward, so try not to mess up!
OBJECTIVE: Buy the items on the list and deliver them to the elderly!
MININUM SHINOBI: 1
PAY: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

FIND MY DARLING FLUFFLES!
RANK: D
DESCRIPTION: A certain wealthy woman in Kusagakure has a problem- It’s nothing too concerning to the village itself, but she believes it to be the worst thing to happen since the shinobi war. Her cat Fluffles has several times ran away from home and has required assistance in order to find him, and it seems that despite after years and years of escaping the family home, Fluffles continues to toy with the poor woman’s emotions and has gone missing once more- Will anything stop this cat?
OBJECTIVE: Find Fluffles and return him to his owner!
MININUM SHINOBI: 1
PAY: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

CUTTING BACK THE FOREST
RANK: D
DESCRIPTION: Despite the fact that Kusagakure is widely known as a village that harbours all kinds of plants, not all of them are ones that citizens want to see in the village. Sometimes the plants get out of hand and they need cutting back in order to prevent them from growing over paths and becoming menaces, and because of that the village has requested shinobi to go out and cut back some of the plants that have started to become overgrown- cut them back by any means necessary, but don’t go overboard and destroy the plants!
MININUM SHINOBI: 1
OBJECTIVE: Prune some trees and bushes!
PAY: 25 EXP and 500 Ryo.

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[Apple]

NPC ASSISTANT
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“May I take these missions, please?”

Had it not been for the fact that he was standing directly in front of his desk, then the assistant probably wouldn't have noticed him coming in to the building and looking around with his silent tone used as a sort of greeting. Taking a moment to look over the missions he'd then nod his head and take out a grand stamp from his desk, stamping an ornate symbol in thick, black ink on it to signify that it had been accepted and that he was permitted to take them. Handing them back soon thereafter, he'd nod his head. "Here you go. Enjoy, I guess." and then he'd return to whatever work he had previously been doing..

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• Missions accepted!
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[Not Masakuni]

-To Work

Pefect.

Tsukune nodded once to the assistant in gratitude, flicking his gaze over his copies of the mission reports. The shouldn't be too difficult. He turned on his heel, humming to himself. He strode away from the desk, leaving the bored assistant behind him. He moved past the potted plants and the waiting shinobi, and straight out the doors. He caught a ray of warm sunlight on his face as he left, and a faint grin lifted his lips. It seemed idyllic, a life like this. He had better enjoy it while he could.

-Exit

[Akikou]

"Rise. May I have your name?"

At the command of the Kusakage, I raised my head to look into her eyes before raising my body to follow. It felt... different... being in the presence of the one that I knew was destined to rule this country. She seemed like the kind of woman who would control with an iron fist, to kill first and ask questions later. I was definitely awed, but at the same time, I found a million questions racing through my head and I couldn't pick one to settle on.

Instead, I answered hers.

"My name is... Akikou." There it was again, that distinct pause, that display that I wasn't even sure of myself. I gulped. "I can remember being a shinobi of Kusagakure no Sato a long time ago, but I appear to have lost my mind. I have thousands of memories, but none of them connect. My mind is all jumbled, and I... I don't know who I am. I just know my name."

Realizing that I had probably gone too far, I bowed slightly and apologized. "Gomen nesai, Kusakage-sama. I didn't mean to overflow like that. It's just that sometimes my emotions boil over and I can't help myself... especially when this topic is at hand."

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[Apple]

"My name is... Akikou."

From what started off as an average meeting bar from the girl’s enthusiasm with showing me the respect that I deserved, I couldn’t exactly have prepared myself for what she had to say next regarding herself and the village. An amnesiac as well? I could recall Kade and the trials which he’d been placed through in regards to how he lost his own memory- But this girl? I didn’t know her, and I was pretty sure that after the destruction and problems that tore through the village in past years, there wouldn’t be all that many people left who could help her reclaim the memories that she’d lost. Watching as she almost poured words out of her mouth, I could only but be reminded of myself several years ago and how I strove not to be that person, although this girl fell in to her emotions easily and portrayed them to whomever she desired- Obviously. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but I aimed never to be that person again. ”…..” I’d pause in my words with my mouth-half open, as I prepared to address her again. ”Have you any idea of what caused this? Or how far back you can remember exactly?” I’d ask. She’d said that she had flakes of memories floating all around in her brain, but what exactly had caused this?

Kade had been ruthlessly attacked, but what had happened to her?



"..Don’t worry. It will come back to you."

Spoke like the fairest of maidens, and my words seeping out like honey, I was maybe one of the most reassuring people she'd ever met.

Perhaps it was that I lacked the soul to help her or I was honestly unable to do anything even in my position which might help her remember. I was sure though, that if she spent time just walking around the village then memories should be coming back to her, but piecing them back in place would surely be the hardest part to do. Despite the fact that I found myself ever reeling in to darkness I had a sharp mind, and I could remember almost everything. A few things were hazy by now and I daren’t go back to them even if I could remember, but I was glad because of that. Looking down at her with my blue eyes, I awaited for her to respond to me in regards to how she managed to lose all of the threads of memories in her mind and how they all cracked together, preventing her from accessing the ones that she so needed to recall. I couldn’t imagine exactly how it would feel to have that done to you- But at the same time I was glad that I wasn’t in her or Kade’s position.

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