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She looked surprised, but continued to clean up. I hoped that such a girl would be who i was looking for, but i couldn't see how a country medic could be my target. Of course, i knew nothing of her, nor how she ended up here. It was likely she'd belonged to a hidden village at one point, after all. She didn't ask what kind of information, nor say anything at all, in fact, as she cleaned up. The stained sheets went into a basket, and her tools and equipment she began to scrub at the sink.
"I'm looking for a shinobi, someone who used to reside in a hidden village. A regular here." I continued, taking an uninvited seat in a small wooden chair across from her bed. It was a small room, but she had made it quite inviting. Tidy, neat, obviously it served often as a clinic of sorts for the locals.

"Well, i suppose i fit that description." She said vaguely, as she cleaned up a few needles. Senbon, they looked like. I supposed she was making do with rather crude tools, out in the sticks as she was.
"But that was a long time ago. I'm just a healer." The girl continued, focused on her task at hand. She seemed reluctant to impart much information, but again, i was some stranger who wandered into her home. I couldn't expect much without coaxing.
"A rather competent healer, by the looks of it. I'm sure they could do with you back home." I said, crossing my long legs. I supposed right now, i was just trying to find out more about her. Matching information to Rosa's reports, the accounts of my sources.

"I wouldn't know. I left a long time ago." She supplied, finishing washing her hands, and rising to look at me.
"Who are you? Why are you looking for this person?" I waved a hand airily.
"I'm nobody of importance. But i'm searching for an item, something powerful. Very few alive know of its location, or its attributes. I think this person might be one of the few." I explained. I didn't want to give too much away, incase she wasn't who i was looking for. The fewer who knew of my search, the better. She sighed, sitting down on the edge of her bed, across from me.

"An item? I..."

"Hrm. There's an old lady who pops in most everyday, that's her over there," The barman said, pointing to a small table in the corner, at which sat a woman with grey hair, just visible under her dark hood.
"And the two old men at that table there, they spend most of their days here, playing cards." He finished, gesturing to a table opposite the woman's.
"Thank you so much. I wonder, you've helped me a great deal already, but you wouldn't happen to know which, if any, of these regulars happens to be a shinobi?" I asked, hoping i wasn't crossing any lines. These small pubs, they tended to have a sense of community about them. I was a stranger, and if i asked too many questions, i'd be at risk of arousing suspicion. Nobody would talk to me if they thought me prying.

He frowned, putting away the glass he'd been cleaning.
"Your family member a ninja?" He asked, a note of distrust in his voice. Perhaps it was to be expected. Although the civilians living in Iwagakure were familiar with shinobi, those outwith a hidden village were probably less at ease with the ninja world. We may seem frightening, or maybe they simply knew nothing but rumours of our viciousness.
"Yes. I heard they were adopted by a couple in a hidden village. I don't really know anything about ninja, but it's one of the few things i'm certain of, concerning them." I explained. Hopefully, distancing myself from the possibility of being connected to ninja would be a step in gaining his trust. I couldn't be sure.

"I see. Strange types, those ninja. Not sure about them myself. Old Lady Yami's quite well known as one, she lights her pipe with flames from her hands. The man upstairs is hiding out from a hidden village, wouldn't know if he's a ninja or not though, but he tells us all about it after a few drinks. The woman in the room next to him, she's one of those healers. Been up to her myself after a run in with some wild animals." He was a gold mine of information. And i had myself three targets.
"Oh thank you ever so much. I only hope i can be reunited with them soon." I said sweetly, trying to convey my gratitude, yet only as one looking for a loved one.

"You're welcome hon. Hope you find who you're lookin' for." And with that, i rose gracefully from my seat, sliding ryo onto the bar covering rather more than my one glass. With a last thankful smile, i made my way from the bar, heading up the stairs. I figured the healer would be best to start with. It would be easy to fake some sort of ailment, to give me reason to speak with her. And, in my experience, healers tended to be good hearted. But perhaps that was a rather foolish generalisation. We'd see.

I marched out of the gates, pausing only briefly to admire their brand new architecture. We'd done terribly well. I smiled up at the ever stoic Ebony, before continuing on my way, out into the country. Rosa had actually done rather well, this time. It had taken a great many questions, to a great many people to gather this information. Not to mention the many scrolls and books i'd pored over into the small hours of the morning. Not my usual style, of course, but for such a treasure, it was more than worth it.

I wasn't entirely sure just how well i'd manage, but if our sources proved correct, it was within my ability to obtain the item. The problem with such mythical things though, was that sources didn't always prove correct. Second hand rumours, legends passed down through families. It was hard to find solid information. Regardless, i was going to do my utmost. Farewell for now, Iwagakure dear!

[exit to country!]

A variety collection of accounts, stories and guides, submitted by people of importance, and the general public. Curl up with a good book, and you might just learn something.

SPOILER: Click to show

The Sun Is a Cruel Mistress.

One of the more famous folk-tales in Sunagakure lore. The plot of the story centered on the history of the sun and the moon, and it was essentially a metaphor for how humanity's greed could have unexpected consequences. The story went that the sun and the moon were actually spirits, as well as twin-sisters, who walked the Earth in ancient times, when man was more in-touch with Heaven's creatures. The two sisters were both deeply infatuated with one man who happened to live where present day Sunagakure is located. The man was infatuated with them both as well, but despite his love he was also fickle, for he could never bring himself to definitively choose one of the spirits over the other; they both possessed traits that he didn't like. The Sun-Spirit had a fiery, aggressive personality - and she would often get rowdy and start loud arguments with the man. The Moon-Spirit was more cool-headed than her twin-sister, but she was also passive-aggressive and very sensitive, and would often act coldly toward the man when offended. The man quickly grew tired of dealing with the sisters' personalities, and so he would spend his time with one of the sisters for as long as he could stand, and then once she was asleep, he would leave and spend time with the other.

This cycle continued for a time until one day, by chance, the Moon-Spirit awakened earlier than usual to find the man with her sister. Incensed, the sisters bickered with each other ferociously for three days and nights, until finally they decided to settle the matter by forcing the man to choose one of them once and for all. The man refused, claiming that he loved them both too much to give either one up. Now even more enraged, the sisters declared that neither of them would leave his presence until he'd made a decision.

Days went by, as both the Sun-Spirit and the Moon-Spirit stood resolute before the man their choler never simmering for a moment, until finally the fourth day arrived, at which point the man exclaimed that while he claimed to love both of them too much to make a decision, the reality was that he actually didn’t love either Spirit enough to settle with only one. The revelation broke both sisters' hearts, and in a wailing fit of despair, they flew off into the heavens.

The Moon-Spirit and the Sun-Spirit’s hearts healed eventually, but their resentment towards the man’s betrayal did not. And so to taunt him the twins appeared in the sky every day, the Sun-Spirit in the day and the Moon-Spirit at night, hovering just out of reach of the man's grasp, to show him what he could have had. That is why every day the sun rises at dawn and drops in the evening to be replaced by the moon, and that is why it is always blazingly hot in the day and bone-chillingly cold at night in the Land of Wind.

by exar

SPOILER: Click to show

THE LEGEND OF

THE MASQUERADE

Written by "Estilo".

There once lived, during times of peace and tranquility in the shinobi world, a family of nobles that prided themselves on bearing the most beautiful women in the world. It was said that these women were conceived with the brightest of stars in their eyes, granted to them through their high-born heritage. They had sunlight in their hair, hair as dark as raven feathers, hair as rosy pink as a sunset. Their bodies were shapely and elegant, their voices as sweet as honey. And the men of this noble clan protected them all dearly. So, as it was custom back in that era, they would host a yearly ball to find and meet suitors worthy of marrying one of their daughters. And, not surprisingly so, men from every corner of the world would flock to the illustrious occasion.

One of these men just so happened to be one of our very own Kumogakure no Sato shinobi. He was a soldier, looking for a love he had lost long ago, and hoping to see whether the hype of the yearly ball was genuine or not. So he traveled across mountain ranges and through dark forests, crossing into the land of rain, until final reaching the manor in which the ball was being hosted. With the ball only a day away, he sought shelter from the land of rain's near-constant storms in the inn of a nearby village. He was greeted by the innkeeper, and invited to dinner with the man's wife.

"The ball?!" The man exclaimed, having a good laugh with his wife after learning of the shinobi's purpose there. "Why, good sir, only the noblest of blood and kind attend such a prestigious event! You, in such damp clothing and loss of wealth, have surely not been invited! Tell me, why do you even attempt such a feat?"

"I seek a wife." The shinobi answered, knowing all of the things the man had said to be true. "And I have been told that the daughters of this noble family are the most beautiful to behold in the entire region. I cannot leave until I have at least affirmed this to be true."

The innkeeper shook his head with doubt. "Why, I had once sought to marry one of their daughters as well. When I had been young, and an heir to my father's mercantile riches. But I learned then that the beauty of women should not come from outward appearance alone, but from the grace of their hearts, as well. Thusly, I abandoned that goal, and found myself happily married to my wife shortly thereafter. So I ask, is this purpose of yours truly required?"

The shinobi, resolute in his decision, nodded. "I agree with you, innkeeper. The beauty of their heart is what shines most brightly. But, in my search, I cannot leave any stone unturned. I am a man who likes to leave no regrets in my wake. And I strive to never do so. So, heed my words when I tell you that I will attend the ball."

Seeing the moxie in the shinobi's eyes, the innkeeper was then rid of all his doubt. But his interest only doubled then. "But sir! Without proper attire, or wealth, or prestige, how will you ever attend?"

And so, with a wily smirk played across his lips, the shinobi explained. And, the next day, his set his scheme into motion.

The next night hosted the magnificent masquerade ball, and a thousand nobles of a thousand different countries were said to have attended. They came in carriages led by the finest horses, carriages led by tamed wolves, and elegant swans, and endearing deer. And they wore suits made of the finest materials in the known world, prancing about with elated smiles upon their faces, bearing gifts for their noble hosts and their precious daughters. And guards stood at the attention at all the corners of the manor, there to serve.

The shinobi, realizing that he only had a certain period of time before his ruse fell apart, took upon the disguise of one of the attendants. Using a transformation technique, he copied the style of a man who flaunted a black suit, bearing flared white cuffs at his wrists, and a masquerade mask that covered only the right side of his face. Knowing he would need much more than this ploy to gain entry into the ball, he moved on to adopting the persona he intended to take. Then summoned a massive crow that would serve as his "steed". Ready, he would approach the manor entrance.

The entire troop of guards at the front entrance gazed in awe as the massive crow descended from the sky, and as its master walked down the black wing it had extended upon landing. "Halt!" The doorman would say. "Who art thou? And from where do you hail?"

"Why, good sir," The disguised shinobi would reply, bowing politely. "I am Baron Prometheus, and I hail from the land of the Corsair. My beloved Overlord, regrettably, could not make it to this occasion. I am, therefore, serving as his trusted envoy."

"Do you possess an invitation, traveler?"

"I am afraid not, you see, the rain within your country has managed to deprive me of the token. And I cannot stress how grieved I was at losing it. But heed my words, should I not attend this ball, my Overlord would be very cross. With the both of us. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying he would be disrespected! Enough to wage war with your dear masters. Now, I am certain we'd like to avoid that?"

Alas, the shinobi- or rather, his disguise- was allowed into the masquerade ball. It was a festivity unlike any other. The ceilings were adorned with diamond-encrusted chandeliers, each possessing enough wealth to feed an entire village population for years. Exotic and luxurious foods and wines were passed around on trays by poised waiters. Music filled the massive ballroom within with soothing, and refined, tones. And, as the rumors had suggested, the entire event was graced with the presence of the most stunning league of women the shinobi had ever laid his eyes on.

He was astonished by the sheer beauty of it all, before coming to his senses, and entering the crowds of nobles and aristocrats filling the manor. He approached and talked to many of the women within the celebration, conversing and hoping to beguile them into a dance or two. But, after a while of being charming and suave, he found that none of the women he had met so far ended up meeting with his expectations. As the innkeeper had hinted at, they were beautiful on the outside, but unlikable where it counted most.

They were selfish and vain creatures, more interested in prestige and wealth, than connecting with any other human being on an emotional level. As the clock neared midnight, the shinobi would find himself growing tired of his search here. He had completed what he had promised the innkeeper he would do, and was just about ready to leave, looking for other stones to have unturned.

But then, he found her.

She was leaning over the railing of a long staircase, watching the event with nonchalant eyes, hidden behind a glittering blue masquerade mask that covered the top-half of her countenance. Her hair was long and wavy, carrying the bright yellow hue of the healthiest of sunflowers. Her eyes shared the same hue of color, golden gems contrasted against the creamy complexion of her skin. Her hourglass frame, garbed by a stunning black dress, existed as a testament to her still youthful beauty. The shinobi was in awe.

Baffled as to why she was alone, he approached the maiden, and gently tapped on her bare shoulder with a gloved hand. "M'lady," He began, as she turned to see him over her shoulder. "Why are you alone, on a night such as this? With a beauty, such as yours?"

A slight frown betrayed the sense of sorrow she suddenly felt. "I am the youngest of daughters here," She answered. "And this is my first year attending this magnificent ball my family has hosted for generations. But my fate has already been sealed. For no man, in his right mind, would want to marry a girl such as me."

"B-But why?" The shinobi asked, completely confused.

"I am cursed." She responded in a murmur. "I was born with eyes that can see through the veil of any ploy, and act on their own whim. It is said that, should I be paired with a suitor that does not bear true love for me, they will be incinerated into a mere pile ashes. Since the day the seer proclaimed this curse to be true, my fate has been sealed. And I will never find a husband."

The shinobi was astounded to hear of such a thing. A curse? He was having trouble believing it, but was convinced of the sincerity in the maiden's words. She was telling the truth, and the sadness in her eyes did not lie. This curse was a blight on her life, and on her happiness, and he felt as though he would do anything- or go anywhere- in the world to make her happy. So he extended a single hand, and gave her his brightest smile. "Let's give me a try, hm?"

Her mouth shaped into an astonished 'O'. "But s-sir! Did you not hear of what I had just said? Your life is in danger with me! You could-" But she didn't finish her sentence before being pulled away, down the stair case, and at the center of the ballroom.

They danced, they talked, and they laughed. It would not take long before the shinobi realized that she was the one he had been looking for all along. She was different than the rest of her relatives, and she possessed a beauty within that swayed his heart in ways he never could have imagined. But, at the end of things, he knew all too well that his heart belonged to another. "I met a girl in these very lands, a long time ago." He confessed, as they slowly danced. "I loved her with the entirety of my heart. When I lost her, my heart was lost with her. And I am sorry, m'lady, but I don't think I can bring myself to truly love another ever again."

The young maiden, having completely enjoyed the night he had spent with her up until then- despite her dangerous condition- was crestfallen to hear this. She stopped their dancing, a single tear streaming down her cheek. She, too, had fallen in love long ago. And, having seen this one night as a chance to reacquire happiness in her life once more, she found that the disguised shinobi's most recent confession had shattered her hope. She would live on, pursuing her own dreams, achieving her own goals... but she would never find a life partner to share her life with.

Suddenly, and without warning, she raised her head. As if controlled by some malevolent demon, her eyes opened wildly, and pupils that had once gleamed yellow suddenly swirled into a crimson shade of red. This was the evolved doujutsu of the Uchiha! And it had activated, pointing its sights directly at the shinobi. "Run!" The girl pleaded, bursting in tears as her eyes remained forcefully open. "My eyes... they'll incinerate you! Please!"

But the shinobi, he remained steadfast in place. There was a look of curiosity upon his face, intrigue, as he stared into her eyes and narrowed his own. Tentatively raising a hand, as the golden-haired maiden's sharingan eyes began to spin, he removed her masquerade mask. His eyes grew wide with astonishment, he dropped her masquerade mask on the floor, and then- he laughed.

The maiden, she didn't understand! Was this amusing to him? Was he prepared to die because of her curse? She stood there, completely baffled, as a crowd of nobles started to form around them, curious as to what all the ruckus was about. Then, she gasped. The disguised shinobi had enveloped her into a passionate kiss and, as she closed her eyes, savoring the precious moment- she could feel the intensity in her sockets begin to fade away. They parted, long enough to gaze into each other's eyes. "But... you said you could never learn to love another." She whispered.

The man smiled, as though he knew a secret that no one else knew. And, when the clock finally struck twelve, his disguise dissipated. He reverted back into his original, and true form, and it was only then that the maiden understood. She burst into tears again... only this time, they were filled with the utmost joy. And as they kissed once more, a flock of ravens materializing around them as the shinobi willed them away, they knew that all in the world was right once more. Two long-lost lovers reunited. Happily ever after.

THE END

by estilo

I sighed, perched on a bar stool, as Josephine waved a mission slip in my face. That foul woman, Yubaba. She couldn't just send me a message, or come tell me in person, no, she had to post a mission about it. I knew, obviously, i had to get it done, and truly, i was going to! Just not at the moment.
"Oh darling, why can't you do it? You're fabulous at paperwork." I said to Josephine, finishing my glass of wine and moving to pour myself another.

"I don't think so. Get going, slacker." The manager said, removing the glass from my hands, and replacing it with the mission slip. I grumbled, slipping gracefully from my seat and marching to the door. I turned to give her one last dramatic look.
"When i am buried alive under a mountain of paper work, and die, and the new kage is a tyrannical dictator, who shuts down your bar and sends you off to do slave labour, you only have yourself to blame." I said, pointing a menacing finger at the woman, before tossing my hair and leaving the bar.

SPOILER: Click to show

name: paperwork!
rank: d
description: get that paperwork done. you know miss rosa has no idea how to fill it in. i'm talking to you, tsuchikage. you can't just ignore it forever.
objective: finish the village paperwork! (yawn!)
client: village elder yubaba
reward: 25 exp, 0 ryo

[exit!]

There we go. I knew of the woman, Anemone, who had been a genin for a brief time during my previous reign, before i'd wandered off, of course. That would explain the lack of records, the lack of information. Perhaps i was soft, perhaps i was merely too concerned with other things, but i was neither angry, nor disappointed. After all, hadn't i used to leave the village as i pleased? There was nothing left for her in Iwa.
"Would you continue your journey, to find your brother?" I asked, matter-of-factly.

Before giving her the time to answer, i turned my line of questioning to the boy beside her, who was still an unknown.
"And you, just who are you? Do you know each other? Since your little charade appears to be just that, what's your part in this little play?" Oh dear, could he be a missing ninja too? I did hope not. One unknown nuke was embarassing enough for me. It was strange, really. There was no uncertainties, no lenience in dealing with those who abandon their villages. I wondered about the Mizukage. Should he find one who fled the Mist, would he kill them where they stood?

Mkay! I need to sort out my genjutsu from before the revamp, Genbu has said that it's fine for me to retain learning genjutsu as a wholeee.


Requesting a refund on;

The illusion of sight 'release' which i paid 300 exp for.

And;

Kuramu no Jutsu (Extremely Disorienting Color Spray) [50, 50, 50]
Rank: (C), (C), (C), B
Type: Supplementary / Sight Genjutsu
Range: 0 - 10 meters
Special: Affects a single victim within a 10 meter area, plus 10 more each time 'C' rank is retrained; 'B' rank adds an additional viciim each time retrained.
Description: After performing the needed seals, the user then targets a person with in range of the technique. The person targeted first shows signs on the technique immediately. From their point of view, the world that they’re looking at is twisting and turning rapidly in different directions, making it very hard to see. After a while disorientation kicks in and the person may feel nauseous and dizzy.
Domain: Genjutsu - Illusion of Sight

Of which i purchased 3 C-Ranks, and doesn't appear to exist anymore. For 150 exp.


Refund total of; 450 exp

Buying;

Senkusha no Magen (Harbinger of the Demon Illusion)
Rank: (D), (C), (B), (A), (S)
Type: Supplementary / Inton Ninjutsu
Range: 0 - 25 meters
Handseals: No
Chakra: --
Special: Allows the user the ability to create, control and move Inton (Yin) chakra of their own for multiple purposes. Range of illusion control and projection depends on the highest rank known.
D: 5 meter range
C: 10 meter range
B: 15 meter range
A: 20 meter range
S: 25 meter range
Description: Inton, the Yin Release, is based on the spiritual energy that governs the imagination and can be used to create form out of nothingness. At at mere whim, Yin Release masters are able to convince their targets that they are actually seeing or experiencing things created by the illusionist. Precise chakra control is a must with this art and proper training clears the avenue for other techniques to be learned, still they all rely on one founding principle - the user's ability to cause hallucinations from a distance.
Domain: Inton.

All five ranks for 25 + 50 + 100 + 150 + 300 = 625 exp.

Sonzoku no Genjutsu (Genjutsu Duration)
Rank: (D), (C), (B), A, S
Type: Passive / Genjutsu Skill
Handseals: No
Chakra: --
Special: Highest rank determines the length at which the illusion elapses.
D: 1 turn
C: 2
B: 3
A: 4
S: 5
Description: An essential passive Genjutsu Skill, this represents the user's ability to manipulate illusionary chakra in order to make it last longer. The more and more they hone their Genjutsu skill, the longer their illusions will last.
Domain: Senkusha no Magen (Harbinger of the Demon Illusion)

First three ranks for 25 + 50 + 100 = 175 exp.

Yuukou no Genjutsu (Genjutsu Effectiveness)
Rank: (D), (C), B, A, S
Type: Passive / Genjutsu Skill
Handseals: No
Chakra: --
Special: Highest rank determines the amount of targets one can affect with an illusion.
D: 1 target
C: 2
B: 3
A: 4
S: 5
Description: An essential passive Genjutsu Skill, this represents the user's ability to manipulate illusionary chakra and the amount targets it can affect. The more and more they hone their Genjutsu skill, the more senses they will be able to affect.
Domain: Senkusha no Magen (Harbinger of the Demon Illusion).

First two ranks for 25 + 50 = 75 exp.

Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu (Mist Servant Technique)
Rank: D, (D), (D), (D)
Type: Genjutsu
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Low
Special: Creates a single Mist Servant, plus one more each time retrained. However, after every fifth retraining, the chakra consumption of the technique will go up by one. Servants mimic the user in appearance in every way and exists solely to distract the opponent. This is achieved via false attacks which incorporate user's equipment in the hands of the illusionary clone.
Description: Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu is a universal sight Genjutsu technique that creates false attackers to delay and confuse the enemy. Though these servants are not real, the actual ninja is able to remain hidden and throw projectiles such as kunai and shuriken matching the movements of the servants. This makes it appear the false servants are capable of attacking. When the enemy attempts to attack the servant, they will merely disrupt the servants illusion body but not destroy it.
Domain: Inton.

3 more D-Ranks of this, i already have the technique from before. For 25 + 25 + 25 = 75 exp.

Kokuangyou no Jutsu (Journey into Black Darkness Technique)
Rank: A
Type: Genjutsu
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: High x2 [Cast] - Low [Sustain]
Special: Affects everyone within range.
Description: This technique exerts an hallucinatory effect upon the eyesight, effectively blinding the opponent. No matter how skilled an opponent may be, they are forced to wait helpless in this world of darkness, as this technique allows the user to attack unseen. Although it negates sight, it does not stop the other senses.
Domain: Inton.

For 150 exp.


Spending total; 1100 exp.