Sunagakure Gateway

[King]

SUNAGAKURE GATEWAY

The Sungakure Gateway, more commonly known as the Great Cliffs of Sunagakure, is an extensive chain of dangerous, rigid cliffs encircling the entirety of the village. These towering walls are under constant guard of patrolling sentries, hidden traps, and various outposts along their expanse. The Gateway itself is but an ominous, narrow passage through the cliffs and serves as the only official entrance into the Hidden Sand.

OOC:

[/b] Foreign shinobi must post here prior to legally entering the village. No exceptions.[/div]

2. Official, non-missing Suna-nin do not need to post here to enter or leave the village.

3. When posting here, please only control your character. The necessary NPCs shall be controlled by the current Kazekage.

4. This thread is death-enabled and thus entering the Gates, or trying to enter the village without permission or expressed permission, will result in combat.

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[King]

It had been several long, tiring days of little sleep and constant travel since their departure from Iwagakure. It wasn't until they were well beyond the village's scope of jurisdiction that the Tsuchikage could safely let down her jutsu. Now, deep within the Kaze Desert's scorched domain, mere moments from the Hidden Sand, Kouketsu was visibly more calm and relaxed.

"Lady Tsuchikage," he said smoothly. "I hope that you won't mind, but I've taken some... extra precautions."

As a spiraling cloud of sand dispersed, a massive bisected cliff stood before them. The passage was narrow, dark - hardly inviting. There was a gust of wind as they stepped closer, side by side; a shinobi, clad in white and their face obscured by a porcelain cat mask, appeared kneeling before them. From beneath the folds of its robes, the shinobi produced a small parcel.

"Thank you."

With a nod, the ninja disappeared.

Kouketsu faced Mitzy. "Inside you will find a Sunagakure headband and documents chronicling your entire life here, to this very day. The moment you step through those gates, Lady Tsuchikage, you are no longer Mitzy Valentine. Until you are ready to reclaim the Hidden Stone, for your own safety, you must never use that name again." Handing the Tsuchikage her new life, Kouketsu continued toward the gates.

"Welcome to your new home."

- Exit

[daisy]

choice kingdom ♥

I was exhausted. It wasn't simply the journey, the Kazekage's company had made that bearable, it was more my heart. I had truly done it, truly abandoned my village. Not only my dear subordinates, but every citizen of Iwagakure, I had left them. Of course, it wasn't as it the council was dangerously tyrannical, but they were narrow minded and stuck in their ways. Iwagakure would not progress like this.

Still, now was not the time to dwell upon it, not when I had been given such a chance to make amends. I took the parcel he offered me, and I felt my eyes stinging. He had done so much for me. Why? By all rights he should have turned me over immediately, but he risked so much to help me. After holding my head high throughout this whole ordeal, after leaving behind everybody I had ever loved and being branded a traitor and a coward... The tears began to fall.

"Forgive me, I'm not used to the desert, the sand, it..." I couldn't speak. Facing a life here, even with the kindness of the Kazekage himself, how was I ever to fix things? Even with my darling girls, I couldn't fight the council. I couldn't hurt the shinobi of Iwagakure, not even for the greater good! I shook my head, gritting my teeth. Pull yourself together, you foolish woman! You are the Tsuchikage. Wanted or not, you will serve Iwagakure, and you WILL make it beautiful.

I looked Aka Mu-n in the eye and nodded.
"Thank you, for everything," I retrieved the headband from the parcel and fastened it around my waist, watching it gleam in the desert sun.

"Mai Akira, at your service... my lord,"

And I walked gracefully into my new home, head held high.

/exit

[daisy]

moving pieces ♥

It hadn't been long since I'd entered through these gates, but it felt like a long time. While I knew I couldn't stay long, part of me was sad to be leaving. I had been safe in Sunagakure, or as safe as a wanted Kage could be, and I was stepping now into yet more unknowns. Still, it couldn't be helped, and I couldn't depend upon the Kazekage any longer. It was time to make my move.

Or it would be, when my guide arrived. I wondered if Aka had chosen Matsu purposefully? I liked the strange, beautiful boy and his imperious airs, and I was grateful for the company - such an expansive desert would be difficult to traverse even if one knew its geography, and I was a stranger to these lands.

I lingered in the shadow of the great rock walls, nursing a vague hope that the Kazekage would appear to see me off. It would look odd, perhaps, as I was known as simply a Jounin of the Sand, and undeserving of special treatment, but... Well, it was just that. A hope.

Still, I was finally going to do something about Iwagakure. Would I find the aid I sought in the Mist?

[King]

Supporting the Tsuchikage had been a rather easy decision to make, from the moment he met her. There was a fire deep inside Mitzy; it burned for change, prosperity, and could warm the souls of a thousand shinobi. It simply needed a fan to give it wind, to give it strength. Though her impeachment at the hands of the Iwagakure Council had been disgraceful, a great embarrassment for any that shouldered the title of Kage, she handled it with pride and dignity -- far better than any could have imagined.

There was no doubt she would return to her former glory in short order, and those that stood against her would surely pay for their folly. But this, too, was to be expected.

Mitzy's hope of a in-person farewell became a reality as the Kazekage stepped from the shadows, dressed in the armor she'd first seen him in. For this brief moment, the many eyes and ears that flooded the Sunagakure Gates had turned away, giving the two Kage a semblance of privacy. "Mitzy," he said in a cool, even tone as he approached her. "Your guide will be along shortly. But I wanted to see you before you left."

For a moment, nothing else was said. He regarded her with his captivated gaze, seeing all that she was -- all that she could be. It wasn't until he stepped closer, raising his left hand to cradle her cheek, that he continued. "I know that this is something that must be done. All I ask is that you be safe." Thin lips curved into a faint smile. "If not for yourself, then for me and your people."

Leaning in, he kissed the center of her forehead. "I anxiously await word of your glorious triumph."

[daisy]

my funny valentine ♥

I raised an eyebrow at his appearance, a faint smile brightening my face. So our tête-à-tête had not left a sour taste in his mouth after all - I was relieved. I held my tongue, narrowing my eyes as he stared at me. Did I have something on my face? He had seen me plenty of times, was he only now realising how beautiful I was? Perhaps it was a staring contest, and it simply would not do to lose to the Kazekage. Still, whimsy aside, it was strangely intense... Perhaps he - Ah?

He was very close. My expression did not betray my feelings, though I knew not exactly what they were, as his hand touched my skin. My eyes narrowed further at his words, and I shivered. I sensed that this man - this Kage - truly cared for me, in a way I could not recall having experienced before. I had been liked, even respected to some extent in Iwagakure, before my damning fall, but... I had been alone. I had never cared much for men, not after a few bitter tastes of disappointment, but this man seemed to understand me, rather than desire me.

It was interesting, and rather preferable. However, as much as his words had truly touched me, as he pressed his lips to my forehead, I laughed.
"Lord Kazekage, I am not a child," I peered at him with teasing eyes, my smile widening. But I shook my head, the amusement fading from my face, and leaned back into him, wrapping my arms around his waist, despite the discomfort from his armour.
"But thank you, truly," I whispered, my lips at his ear.

I would never forget how much I owed him. I doubted it would hang over me though, like a debt unpaid, rather that I would carry the gratitude and warmth I felt for him. I lingered briefly, before stepping away and smiling.
"Could any triumph of mine be anything less than glorious?" I quipped, waving an airy hand. I felt truly ready for whatever laid before me. He had affected me, this dark stranger, even if I would never say it out loud.

"I think I'm quite ready now, darling,"

[matsumoto-kun]

Approaching the gates with a collected expression, Ushinawa's eyes would quickly focus with their exposure to the light. The pair of silhouettes which remained at the end of the pathway which lead to the outside of the village remained as such until the young man had reached a reasonable distance. Equipped with a large burlap satchel, and a sand colored sun hat, he would lift it slightly above his eye level to be able to look upward at Mu-n and Akira. There was something going on with the two of them- something that had not yet escaped Ushinawa's pubescent understanding of things such as 'affection.' It was despicable. 

Having taken the time to discard any mentions of his affiliation with the village, which extended to his headband and his ID card, he knew that this mission would remain confidential to much of the village. For now, he would simply be accompanying Akira to Mizu no Kuni, which was something that he had been eager to do for quite some time. During their short time together, Ushinawa had grown to appreciate the woman's power. It was not outside of the realm of possibility that he might be able to pick a few things up from her. If she was anywhere near as powerful as the man who stood adjacent to her, then he would have to be sure to listen to her every word while so far from the village.

Between Kaze and Mizu the entirety of Hi no Kuni stood between them. He hadn't heard much about it, but he knew that the ninja of Konoha had a reputation for having a considerable amount of power. If they were going to stay alive, they would need to make sure that they played it safe. He had never left the desert, so the journey would be both exciting and informative. If he ever hoped to have another mission outside of these gates, he would have to make sure he made it back alive. Finally getting within a noticeable distance, he would move past the two of them without really hesitating or slowing. The words that left his lips carried their way to their height in a cursory fashion.

"We should get going, Akira-chan. I will see you in a few weeks, Kazekage-sama." He said with a sigh, adjusting the tip of his hat as he continued his jaunt.

So much for respect for your elders.

[King]

Kouketsu smiled and nodded. She was such a strange woman, unique and unlike anyone he had ever met before. Truly, Iwagakure was all the better for having her. It wouldn't be long, he knew, before she returned to his glorious post. But until then, he waited, with bated breath, for her to enter his view again. "Until then," he murmured before returning to the shadows and vanishing from view.

- Exit.

[daisy]

au revoir ♥

That was that then. I smiled at Matsumoto's appearance, his attitude lessened not in the Kazekage's presence. But he was right, we had better get going. There was nothing left for me here in Sunagakure, except perhaps a man who I would hopefully see again before too long.
"You're quite right," I said, turning from the Kazekage and stepping out of the shadow of the great walls, the bright desert glimmering before me.

"Until then," I agreed, raising an elegant hand in farewell.

It was time to strike out on my own, and I would accept no failure this time.

/exit

[Ohta]

+15 King
+19 daisy
+8 Matsumoto

[Ning Ru]

Oddly enough, Ru had little trouble entering the gates along side Lash. Though newly established, it appeared as though the man held some sway within this reformed village.

/enter