Storm Front [Open]

[lash]

---

It had been many years since I had been forced to wander through this forsaken desert. Ostracized from the start simply because of my elemental chakra natures, I had wandered, alone, on a simple, yet long-standing mission from the shadow government of Sunagakure no Sato. "Go somewhere that Suiton will be useful! Send us information from the outside world! Be the spy that Sunagakure needs!" These were just a handful of the words that were uttered to me as I had left, but I remember their bitter sting, drilling deep into the old wounds of former teammates and Shinobi instructors. I had been punted around from mission to mission like some kind of joke, never once receiving the recognition that was my due for my successful tasks. Well, all of that was about to change. It was time for me to forsake my mission.

I brought my right arm up to shield my face as a sudden gust of wind sent suna sprawling all around me. "I hate the sand. Tch." After speaking, I turned my face to the left and attempted to spit out some of the same sand that had flown into my mouth, my tendou for opening it in this forsaken place to begin with. All the while, I moved forward, stewing on the anger that roiled deep inside of my bones. So they thought that they could cast me out, be rid of me, and then go months without even sending me a correspondence that they had received my intel? Yurusenai! Unforgivable. And there would be a reckoning. A storm was coming, and I was to be its epicenter.

At long last, I reached the village gates, and what I found there was alarming. They were unmanned. No shinobi stood on the walls, none were at the Gates, questioning those who entered. The sandstorm that blew around me let up for just a brief moment, but in that time, I saw no usual bustle of streets filled with activity. There were no merchants calling out their wares. As far as my eyes could see, the entire place was empty. A frown furrowed upon my face. Where was everybody? I continued forward, bringing my arm up once more as a shield against the sand as the wind began to blow once more. I moved slowly, taking the time to scrutinize my surroundings, searching for any signs of struggle, famine, or disease. However, it was for naught, for my eyes saw nothing.

It was not until I reached the center of the town, known by me as the Crier's Square, that I spotted something amiss. Several doors slammed shut, but not with the practiced military speed of a shinobi, but with the careless motions of a cowardly populace. I continued walking, finally reaching the place known to me once as the Kazekage's office, and I halted my advance, eyes scanning for any signs of military life. And I found none.

Ice hit me in the center of my gullet; not the ice of fear, but of cold, unbridled wrath. I pivoted on my heel, my haori flaring behind me as I reached for my wakizashi and unsheathed it with practiced grace. The weapon made a soft ringing sound in the empty plaza that lasted mere moments. Here in this place, my homeland, which had once been referred to by many as a Great Ninja Village, the leading military force for the Nation of Wind, a barren and desolate wasteland of decline stood like a graveyard testament to untold and numerous failures. I raised my head high, wakizashi in hand, and called out, my voice resounding throughout the plaza as a trumpet on the front lines. The haori fell down neatly across my shoulders, revealing the Sunagakure no Sato headband that I wore as a belt across my waist.

"Oi! Who alive here can bear witness to my presence?!"

There was only silence for a moment, painful and still as my voice continued to reverberate between the buildings. I was about to give up, disgruntled and sick to my stomach with the disappointing stench of failure that wafted throughout the entire city, until one door opened, and a man stuck his head out. I found myself momentarily surprised as I recognized the man, who went by the name of Assiah. Up until the moment of my forced departure from this place, I had purchased groceries from his shop several times a week. Now... now he just looked desperate, and hungry. The youthful face of the salesman that I knew was gone, replaced with signs of premature aging brought upon by worry and thirst. I saw his eyes widen with surprise as he recognized me as well, and he bowed.

"Lash-dono... it is so very good to see you."

With a wave of my left hand, I symbolized my disdain for this type of conversation. "Assiah-san, I have no time for pleasantries. If you know what has happened here, then speak."

The man spoke then, telling me of the tribulations that had befallen Sunagakure no Sato. Mismanaged military funds and the inability to protect essential growing areas outside of the city had caused a weak military and civilian city. Shinobi were sent off on missions to far away places and had simply never returned. Nobody had seen or heard from the Kazekage in quite some time, for he had apparently vanished, like so many of his soldiers. And the council of elders who were supposed to make decisions on behalf of the civilians? They, too, had vanished into thin air. Water and food had become scarce, and the dangers of a desert home became apparent with the scarcity. It had taken only a few weeks of this absence for the people of the town to grow restless and afraid, and a great many of them had simply packed their things and headed off into the blistering sun in search of a better life.

As I heard all of this, my fist clenched, knuckles growing white around the hilt of my wakizashi. It took all of my effort not to begin shaking. Instead, I spat upon the ground.

"People of Sunagakure!" Once more, my voice resounded through the empty plaza, but it was not as empty now as it had been. Windows had been cracked, with eyes peering through the darkness of the unlit homes. There were a few people left in this place, and they heard my voice well. "For too long have we been caught in vicious web of survival! While we squandered our military might on fruitless gestures, other nations have taken up arms and utilized them well. To the northeast, Konohagakure has claimed dominion over Mizugakure. If we are not careful, they may set their eyes upon our lands, as well." I shook my head. "But to this end I swear to you! I cast out the title of Kage, the shadow which hides and does nothing for its people! I disavow this failed system of government! From this day forward, this is no longer a shinobi village. It is my village, and it shall bend to my will. And that will? It will be domination the likes of which this world will have never seen before."

I extended my left fist into the air.

"Now! Who will stand with me?!" I paused, and then barely whispered the following words, though I knew they would carry throughout the plaza. "Or who will dare to stand against me?"

[OOC: I will leave this post here for three (3) days OOC. Anyone who wishes to respond may. If you do, please note that we will be creating a strict IIC of 36 hours that shall be in remainder for the rest of this thread. Please only post once until the 3 day original limit has been met, after which I will respond to any posters and we will resume posting order with IIC intact. Should nobody respond, I will simply go forward with my plans unchallenged.]

[Iizuka]

The village and its inhabitants had recently become accustomed to the haunting silence that had now overcome a once prosperous, and powerful, country. They were victim to complacency and indifference; no one wished for the village to die, but no one was going to try particularly hard, either. The Kage had assumed the role of shadow so fervently that he had seemingly disappeared entirely, and all that was left was the dying husk he had left behind. The pulsations and movements of the place had been reduced to its final breaths, and it appeared as though it wouldn't be long before the village would empty out entirely. Even when there were people out and about they avoided one another. The community was approaching death, either waiting silently for either a slow, easy passing, or a godsend. Sitting in silence at the ramen stand in the corner of the plaza, the jounin stirred his bowl with a heavy heart, mulling over these thoughts and perceptions. It was not the idea of it that disturbed him, however, but the immensely tedious nature of a dying village. The air was stale with inactivity, and every fiber of his body was pulled down with the weight of intense boredom. He cared not for the village, but for his own amusement, as boredom was surely one of life's greatest hardships.

That was when that voice pierced the silence, and suddenly there was a spark of intrigue. Yuu slowly turned, peering over his shoulder into the vacant plaza. He approached another older gentleman, however, and soon the disturbance was over. The faint hope he had died as quickly as it came, and once again the contents of his bowl were spiraling as he sighed heavily. It wouldn't take long before the man began his shouting once more, but this time with a new purpose. The spark reignited, and as the speech continued it roared into a great flame, for opportunity had come once more. Murmurs began all around him as the individual spoke, claiming his dominion of the village in its entirety. He called for aid, or for death; it was unclear whether or not he was even sane. Yet here he was, ending the long silence that had plagued the village for so long. Here was the jounin's chance to lay waste to the tiresome chains that bound him, and the fool even offered to spearhead the entire thing, to put the target on his own back. Now this seemed like fun.

On a whim he stepped out from the ramen stand, calmly walking towards the man before coming to a halt only a few meters away. He gave him a short bow, maintaining a big, friendly smile the entire time. He did not speak, but hoped that his actions had conveyed his participation. Viva la revolution.

[lash]

[OOC: It has now been three days, so I will commence posting. Welcome to Hell Week, Iizuka.You're joining a sorority, bitch.]

With my first hanging high in the air, my voice resounding in triumph throughout the nearly deserted city, my sapphire eyes roamed the terrain, scanning for those who would either come to support or oppose me. At first, there was silence, and a long one, but it was not only silence. Tension hung thick in the air, like a semicolon in a sentence, creating a pause before the next action was set to unfold. And I was not disappointed. Though this populace was one of a downtrodden people, they still had their pride. They had their dignity. They were the remnants of those who had come to this village, the ones who would rather fight and die for their homes rather than move away in search for greener pastures. And they spoke, in volume, quiet as first, but then as a loud cheer that reverberated through the former stillness, coming from open windows and doors as what people were left in this hovel came to meet their savior.

And that was not all, it would seem. Through the crowd, my eyes caught sight of one moving closer towards me. Though he was dressed plainly to my tastes, he had the aura of one who had seen battle before. There was a casual grace to his step, and he had a lithe physique, with muscles filled with strong sinew creating a build much like my own. His white tunic tried to flutter in the breezes that blew dust and sand about in this wretched place, but were attached too tightly to the body to allow such movement. Most of all, there was a gleam in his eye, one that spoke of intent but did not give away what his action would be, and an omnipresent smile that I had to admit that I found slightly irritating.

So it came to pass that the man would wander close to me, closer than anyone else would have been willing to, and I brought both my left arm down to my side and my gaze upon the wanderer fully. The full weight of my intentions to bring this land into submission to filter into my stare, and I began my new mission to size this fellow up.

"So," I said arrogantly. "There are some dregs of Sunagakure no Sato's old denizens that dare to delay in this dilapidated din of disgrace?" My words and my tone would easily convey the disdain that I felt towards anyone who had been a Shinobi for Sunagakure when the town had been seemingly abandoned. I humphed, a grimace affixing itself upon my visage as I continued. "A bow will not atone for your failure. You may rise, however." I gestured dismissively. "Do you have a name?"

[lash]

[OOC: You have missed your IIC. As such, I am continuing the post without you. Should you wish to respond afterwards, you may, but if you miss your IIC again I'll probably try to kill you. :3]

I waited for a response. And I waited. And I waited. As moments turned into a prolonged stretch of silence, the grimace on my face became more pronounced, lines of irritation quickly furrowing my brow as I narrowed my eyes at the man. Is he mocking me? Does he dare disdain a response to me? Anger flared through my body, coursing like a raging river, giving me the strength of a great typhoon as I moved, my body pivoting to the left as I brought my right foot upwards into the air, aiming it at the stomach of the bowed man who had so far come forward yet hadn't deigned to speak a word to my face.

Whether or not the kick connected, I would bring my foot back down, my momentary lapse into fury sated, and I began to observe the man once more.

"Well? Do you have a name?" I paused before continuing. "Should you fail to answer me once more, I shall probably murder you."

Wind began to blow, and I looked up towards the people who were even now still cheering me on. I smiled and nodded my head, not even bothering to watch the man who I had just attempted to kick at.

"People of Sunagakure! From this point on, you may consider me... your Kazekage, I suppose. To show you my dedication to bringing something fresh to this forsaken place, I will wash the city clean of the taint that is the the Shodaime's legacy." As I spoke, my hands began to weave astrological signs, symbols of the zodiacs who braved the night-time sky. My body would begun to hum with invisible power, an incredible force building within me as I finished my land seal and turned around, facing the former office of the Kazekage.

I extended both of my arms forward, palms facing upwards towards the heavens and hands about two feet apart. In front of me, water began to rise from the ground itself, at first nothing but a trickle, but in mere moments it began to rush from the ground, the liquid moving upwards into the air in an ever-growing stream. By the time that stream had reached a height of about ten feet and a width of around seven feet, I would twist my wrists so that my palms faced downward and then motion to bring my hands down quickly to my side. The water responded to my motions, coming out in the form of a large wave of liquid that crashed into the Kazekage's office with tidal force.

The doors to the office would burst inward, ripping off of their hinges as water rushed into the building. Glass shattered from numerous windows as the wave of water attempted to get further and further inside. And while I couldn't destroy the entire building with a singular technique of this level, I personally felt that this would be enough. Once more, I turned around and faced what little of an audience there was.

"From this day forward, I declare this building condemned. Let none enter this place without my permission. We are no longer a Shinobi village. We have a new destiny, and I am prepared to lead you to it.

"Welcome to the Sunagakure Dominion."

With that, I began to move, heading down a street and making my way to the place which had once been my home, stopping to talk to a few people on the way out.

[OOC: I'm going to be making some new stuffs around the village and replacing a lot of the old stuff. I will also be in the process of creating some story missions for our city to begin to rebuild. Please feel free to post in here if you have not and you would like to. My character will stop and talk to you on the street.]

[Kiro]

On the outskirts of Sunagakure no Sato, Kiro walked along the scarce vegetation. Every so often he'd crouch down to get a better look at a plant or an insect skittering along. The desert wasn't foreign to him but the village was, just arriving a few days ago with his broken father. Nothing, he thought to himself, there's absolutely nothing here.

When they arrived, Okita was startled at the jarring state of the village. Growing up, he had read texts and heard from the wandering merchants and passerby the stories of the hidden villages. Their grandeur, their might. The Sunagakure no Sato they walked through seemed drained of all its color; its people, at least those that remained, felt like ghosts. What happened here? Okita wondered.

He let out a heavy sigh, shaking the flashback out of his head. Since then he had learned that the village began to falter months ago. A poor use of military resources and its leaders vanished, it was only a matter of time before things spiraled. He found the situation somewhat ironic, having left for Sunagakure in hopes of a better life. At least in this way, Mother won't be troubled...

Just then he felt the faint traces of tiny legs crawling along the back of his neck. One of his insects he released to scout finally returned with news. A lavishly dressed man was spotted walking towards the town center. Really, is that all? he wanted to ask, but then looked at his surroundings. He found it hard to raise a defense for sand and weeds over the information his bug brought to him. I should check this out, at least see if anything comes of it.

That said, he scaled the nearest building and began to move in the direction of the town center. One by one, the scouts he sent met with him and returned to their nest. "Good work, get some rest," he praised those returning while sending out new insects. "It's your turn now. Keep watch of the area and stay out of sight." He doubted many were versed with these insects but he didn't want to draw any attention to himself, not more than he already had at his arrival.

Kiro came to the center as quickly as he could, just in time for a grand announcement.

"I cast out the title of Kage, the shadow which hides and does nothing for its people! I disavow this failed system of government! From this day forward, this is no longer a shinobi village. It is my village, and it shall bend to my will. And that will? It will be domination the likes of which this world will have never seen before."

Hovering above, Okita tilted his head at the end of the proclamation. What he had just witnessed was so outside of Okita's character, his heart began racing with excitement.

"Now! Who will stand with me?!" There was a pause while whispered conversation emerged from the citizens. "Or who will dare to stand against me?"

Okita stayed just in the shadows on the rooftop, continuing to watch the spectacle. There was too much tension down below for him to even consider revealing himself. And then something, no, someone emerged from one of the stands. Okita wasn't sure if the man was walking with conviction or not, but he slowly approached. A challenger? Okita thought, No...a supporter. The verdict came when he saw the man bowing to the self-proclaimed instigator.

Kiro couldn't hear the exchange between them, but it didn't seem friendly. Soon after, it looked as if he was going to send a forceful kick to the man bowing but he hesitated. Hrm, it's good that I remain here, Kiro thought.

"People of Sunagakure! From this point on, you may consider me... your Kazekage, I suppose. To show you my dedication to bringing something fresh to this forsaken place, I will wash the city clean of the taint that is the the Shodaime's legacy."

And with that said, the self-proclaimed Kazekage raised his arms and begun to summon water. At first it was just a trickle from the ground but in time it was like a geyser had been born. As the spectators waited in curious awe, water continued to amass until suddenly the man gestured to the former kage's office building and sent the tidal force crashing into the building. Glass shattered, doors were flung open as the building became flooded. Okita found himself torn.

In a way, the show of force was serious enough and the man had gone with the literal approach to "washing away" the taint. But in his mind, Okita had expected the building to be demolished. To be completely swept away by the tidal surge. And then it dawned on him: What about all the information stored there? His concern was cut short by another proclamation.

"From this day forward, I declare this building condemned. Let none enter this place without my permission. We are no longer a Shinobi village. We have a new destiny, and I am prepared to lead you to it. Welcome to the Sunagakure Dominion."

Okita stepped back until his back was pressed against a wall. What should I do? he questioned. If he planned on staying, he'd eventually have to confront this new Kazekage. He bit his lip before letting out a another heavy sigh. Better to reveal myself now, then be discovered later.

Locating the direction of the new Kazekage, Okita decided to descend and meet him along the path. He kneeled, waiting to be noticed. His heart was racing. He wasn't used to trying to get someone's attention.

[Iizuka]

OOC: My bad. I had intended to post last night but work called me in. Posts will come quicker from now on. This particular post is short because I have little time but also because I'm unsure if you and I are done in this thread or if we are to talk.

For a moment, Yuu had been lost in his thoughts. His imagination ran wild with the prospects of breaking the routine that the entire village had developed, much to his dismay. The promise of this new leader brought hope of destroying the mundane and of excitement. Having been bored for so long, the jounin felt an ecstatic feeling, especially with the indication towards war. The scene that danced through his mind was short-lived, however, as he awoke from the spell when the rebel's foot connected with his stomach. He doubled over, curling inwards as he fell to the ground gasping for air. He demanded his name once more, threatening death if it were to be withheld. A deep anger welled within his core at the blatant disrespect, but he knew that if either of them were to die now, then it would be the end of the fun. What good was an opportunity if you wasted it at the first sign of trouble? Once he had regained his breath, Yuu rose from his knees and his smile returned.

"My name is Yuu," was all he managed to get out before the man turned away, addressing all those that gathered around him in the plaza. A younger version of the Aburame that still existed somewhere deep in his subconscious writhed around in immense pain from the disrespect, but the current one knew when to resist such urges. The only change of his expression would be the transition from a smile to no expression at all, though the other would not know it. His speech resumed, but it wasn't long before it derived from the strictly verbal path. The insurgent's hands careened through a series of seals and summoned water even from the sands of this desolate country. The massive wave charged forward, overtaking the Shodaime's tower and crashing down upon it with enough force to leave it in ruin. The area was declared, by our "new Kazekage," a restricted zone, and with that he carried on down the street, forgetting completely about the Aburame. He was unsure of whether or not to follow behind him as he walked down the street, and so waited for the sign to do so.

[lash]

[OOC: Is okay, Zuzu. I still love you.]

So, the youth before me did, in fact, know how to speak. Although it had taken some unique prodding, he had finally given unto me his name, and I took record of it before I began my actions to wash away the sins of the fathers of this city. By the time that I had performed my actions and begun to walk away, the other man was already lost from my thoughts, but he came sliding back as I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at him. He still stood, shoulders slightly slumped and back crooked, in the spot that he had been in before, not even having moved from where I had kicked at him besides to actually stand up. I raised my eyebrows in curiosity before, after a brief pause, motioning towards him to join me in my walk.

With that done, I once more decided to ignore the blonde mystery man and spent my time focusing upon my new citizenry. Though not incredibly population dense, the city did still have a fair number of artisans and merchants still around, so perhaps it had not quite been as empty as I had originally thought. The stench of failure and decay still reached through my nose, but, perhaps, there was a soft perfume that had been layered over it that I could smell at the same time, too. It would not be long, however, through my little meet and greet mission, that I would come across an individual with a fairly unique persona.

He wore a fairly standard shinobi's attire, although perhaps someone truly interested in stealth would have foregone the hakama around the waist, yet what really drew my attention was the mask that he wore. It was only a half-faced mask which covered everything from his nose up, leaving his nostrils, mouth, and ears, with everything between them exposed. However, the mask had been refashioned to include a black veil that covered the parts the the mask had originally failed to cover. It had the shape of an animal, inu perhaps, and was composed of a sophisticated black lacquer with trimmed golden accents that was very appealing to the eye.

The man was in a crouched position, one that was universally recognized as something I called a Shinobi's Bow. In this stance, a person remained kneeling, with head slightly held downward. Although one gave up a small field of vision, they could continue to watch the majority of their surroundings, something that was much more difficult to do in a full waist bow, and from the kneeled position, one could spring quickly into action should a threat be noticed. It was this, above all else, that garnered my attention, and I moved towards the boy.

Upon arriving within about a meter and a half of him, I halted, allowing my eyes one last chance to look over the boy before my mouth widened, lips upturned, showing off white teeth in what would be termed as a smile, although no sign of any emotion that would cause someone to smile would ever be visible within my eyes. For a moment, I simply stared at the boy, allowing him the opportunity to squirm for a bit, before I spoke, my soft words leaving my lips in four syllables.

"Have you a name?"

[Kiro]

'Calm down, calm down, calm down,' he repeated to himself, trying to keep his cool. He remained kneeled on the ground doing his best to slow the rapidly beat of his heart. 'Nothing...this village has nothing,' he judged, seeing nothing of any particular interest. His eyes kept wandering back and forth, trying to find details that could distract him while he waited.

With his focus on trying to calm himself, Okita failed to notice the overwhelming aura of the new Kazekage slowly approaching. At first, this was probably for the best as the Kazekage was sizing Okita, which would've made him more uncomfortable. It wasn't until his eyes wandered back and noticed a pair of wooden sandals did he snap out of his trance.

Careful to not raise his head, he raised his eyes just enough to confirm that the figure standing in front of him wore the same attire. 'Shit, shit, shit, shit...' his mind repeated as what could only be describe as an electric shock dispersed against his hairs, perfectly timed with a cold chill down his back.

"Have you a  name?"

It was a simple question, quite expected, and yet Kiro couldn't find his voice. With each fleeting second that passed, he felt as if the awkwardness grew at an exponential rate. 'Well say something!' his inner voice roared, mentally smacking him awake.

"K-K-Kiro...O-Okita Kiro." He answered, trying to stabilize his voice. "I-I just arrived a few days ago...from S-Sandora."

[lash]

[OOC: Iizuka has missed his IIC for a 2nd time this thread. He has now been booted from the thread. Kiro, since I haven't seen you state that you're wearing a Sunagakure headband anywhere in the thread or in your bio, I will assume that you are not, in fact, wearing one, and as such will post accordingly.]

As I spoke to the boy before my presence, I could feel, rather than see, the sudden spike in his anxiety. What could be the cause of that, I wondered, as my right eyebrow lifted slightly in piqued interest. The boy seemed to hesitate for a few moments, more than likely attempting to corroborate a story in his mind that would make sense for his absence in this place up until now, but finally, in what seemed like an eternity to me, the boy responded, giving his name as well as he had been. Okita Kiro, was it? Hmph. I took a moment to glance around the boy's apparel, and to my surprise, I spotted nowhere on his persona a Sunagakure headband, and I pursed my lips.

"So, tell me, Kiro... how is it that you have come to this place? I spot not the symbols of Sunagakure no Sato upon your presence, but, perhaps, more importantly... why have you come here?"

As I waited for his response, I would continue to stare down towards the boy, allowing a slight rise in my natural killing intent to begin to rise. Should the boy answer poorly here, I decided, I would most likely have his head. However, I thought, it wouldn't do to have all of the help murdered before they could achieve my goals. Hmn. Resisting the urge to shrug my shoulders, I simply awaited Kiro's response to my questions.

[Kiro]

"Why have you come here?"

He hated this. Overwhelming personalities made it hard for him to focus. Okita looked up again, just high enough to see the pursed lips of a man easily vexed.

"My father and I came from Sandora, just west of Sunagakure. We traveled with the merchants that came a few days ago." Okita answered calmly, getting rid of his stutter. He had instructed one of his insects to bite him, giving him another point to focus on.

"My father hopes to teach me more about the world, more so than what our little tribe could." It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the complete story. Would that be enough to sate the man's thirst? Okita hoped so.

"When I listened to your speech," Okita turned his gaze back down to the ground. "I felt something stir within me. I'm not sure how to describe it but I want to follow you." Okita's blood started to race as his face slowly became flushed.

Okita shifted his knee so that he was now sitting on them and proceeded to bow. He stayed in this position for a moment's pause before speaking again.

"I-If you'll let me."

[lash]

I listened to the boy's story intently, watching a transformation occur. Gone was the stuttering boy who was cowed by my mere presence - a weakling that was easily ignored. He spoke clearly, if quietly, and though I knew that he had to be terrified, he was controlling his fear much better now. I found myself nodding more to my own assessment of Kiro than to the sounds his mouth made, and to my surprise, the boy entered the traditional Japanese position of souza, sitting on the bottom of both legs with the knees pointed outwards. He then bowed, face down to the ground, and spoke again. It was an incredibly vulnerable position, showing that he trusted me with his life. Perhaps he'd one day be worthy of that trust.

I waited for a few moments, allowing my lack of response to sink into the boy. Throughout the silence, I continued to stare at the boy before, once more, nodding my head towards him and speaking.

"You may rise."

Without waiting to see if he would do as instructed, I began to walk away and down the street once more. I expected him to follow me, so I continued speaking as if there had been no interruption to my conversation.

"I have grand plans for this village, Kiro. And I will need those who are able to follow orders. Do you think yourself capable of this?"

[Kiro]

Okita remained bowing on his knees. His body was tense, half-expecting to feel his face smashed into the ground. If he could, he wanted to minimize the amount of damage that might entail. Seconds continued to pass but there hadn't been a response, none that he could hear or see. His neurosis kicked in and time slowed, he could hear himself breathing slowly while his heart raced, beating too quickly for its own good.

"You may rise."

Kiro quickly stood up, taking the time to pat off the bits of sand and dust that his garments had gathered. His ears perked to the man's voice. When he looked for the man, he was a few feet ahead. Kiro's mouth dropped slightly before shaking his head, realizing that he was meant to follow. As graceful as he could, he caught up so that he was ten steps behind him. 

"...I will need those who are able to follow orders. Do you think yourself capable of this?" To Kiro's expectation, the man didn't turn for a response but instead continued on his way. 

"Yes..." Kiro trailed for half a second before deciding to add, "sir." He wanted to ask a question, one that had been gnawing at him since the proclamation. He just wasn't sure if this was a moment where he was allowed to speak. He bit his lower lip and contemplated. 'As long as it isn't trivial, I'm sure he won't chew my head off...'

"Excuse me sir, but I want to ask you something," Kiro braced himself, "What should I call you?"

[OOC: If you want to wrap this thread up, feel free to do so]

[lash]

As the boy answered my question with an affirmative, I felt a smile spread over my face. It wasn't the smile of one who was genuinely pleased, but the smile a sadist makes as he was about to unleash a world of torment upon someone for the first time. Of course, the wicked grin upon my face wasn't something that the boy would have been able to see, as I was facing another direction, but a sense of elation rushed through my body as I planned to test the boy's apparent dedication to my cause.

Before I could initiate my test, however, the boy took initiative, asking what he should call me. Momentarily caught off guard, I continued walking but considered the question while my sadist's smile fell from my face. What were those who were subordinate to call me? Finally, I came up with the answer. Without pausing in my step, I simply pivoted on my heel, turning about rapidly and extending my right hand forward. I would attempt to grasp the boy's lower neck and chin with my hand. There was no malice within my motion, at least none that could be easily sensed, and the grasp was not meant to be hard. However, should the boy attempt to struggle, the grasp would become much stronger.

"You may call me by either Lash or Overlord, with whichever honorific you deem most befitting." With that said, the smile I had before slid back onto my face as I would look into the boy's eyes. My smile widened as I paused for a moment, allowing the awkward moment and motion to sink into the boy's psyche before I would release my grasp upon Kiro. Taking a step backward from the boy, I would give his entire body a one-over glance, and then nod my head.

"So, you will follow directions, then? At all times, even when you may not know what those directions entail? Even when you do not know their purpose?" I would pause here before continuing. "Then strip. Remove all of your clothing."

[OOC: The thread will probably be over in 2-4 more rounds, depending on how you respond. We should be more than able to wrap it up on time for you to get your Hero's Come Back exp. ]

[Kiro]

Stunned. Wordless. Okita couldn't quite believe what was just said. The mask he wore covered his widening eyes but not his slightly jarred mouth. He was just beginning to wrap his head around Lash's answer and now this. He could still feel his nerves along his neck calming down from where Lash had grasped him. 'Strip...don't strip. Strip...don't strip? He can't be serious, right? It's just a test...'

"If that's what you wish." 

Okita untied the knot of his hakama, delicately unfastening the garment. He folded it neatly before placing it on the ground. The majority of his body was still covered, it was a surprise he wasn't sweating from the layers despite living in a desert. He extended his left arm and proceeded to undue the buckles underneath that restrained the sode to his shoulder. With the last leather flap done, he set it on top of the hakama below him. He moved his gaze to look at Lash, there was something sinister about his expression.

Okita continued to strip, this time removing his arms from the black hō. Like the hakama, he folded the light jacket before putting it on top. Now he was left with his undergarments, his white saifuku, and of course the mask. He brought his hand up to the mask, running his fingers across the black lacquer before bringing his arms down. There were two neatly tied ribbons at his hips, they kept the saifuku bound. He tugged on them to unfasten them and drastically the fabric spread, revealing his bare chest. It wasn't any surprise that he lacked chest hair, he was still a mere boy by most standards. 

As he did with the others, he took the saifuku and folded them before gently placing them on top. The pile of clothes was about a foot high at this point. Okita looked up once more at Lash, wondering how far this farce would go. 

[lash]

Of course, in this as with all things, I had a purpose in my commands. It was not to be perverted that I had asked the boy to begin stripping. There were two reasons why I had done as I had. First and foremost, this was simply a power move. In an attempt to display my dominance, I was forcing someone to submit themselves into an utterly and completely embarrassing situation, the likes of which they would hardly be able to forget. The fact that he had begun this meant that he would remember, always, that he had submitted to me in this and he would always act accordingly.

The second reason, of course, was to search for any signs of hidden techniques. As the boy stood before me in only his undergarments, once more I looked scrutinized the boy's body with my eyes. I could see no hidden markings, signs of kin- or fuuinjutsu. However, what I did see... were several tiny holes placed around the body. Holes were tiny creatures would be capable of escaping, and I found myself nodding. As the boy glanced up towards me, unsure of how much further he would need to continue, I'd gesture and speak.

"You may cease. Please, clothe yourself again." I would wait for a moment for Kiro to begin the putting back on everything he had taken off just moments ago. "So. You possess the techniques of the Aburame clan? What other talents do you have?"