Recent Posts

fodder in her wings ♥

"Well, I rather think it a little too late for that!" I said, doing my best to keep my temper as I strode about the echoing stone hall. I hadn't spoken to any of the Iwagakure Council since disappearing from our previous council session, and running away to investigate that light on my own, and they were understandably annoyed. Perhaps that was an understatement. My disappearance, coupled with the news that the Kazekage himself was on his way here at this very moment had given most of them a minor stroke.

Hanamura and Adachi were both still shouting at me, while Baba's face was as white as a sheet, her lips pursed so tightly I was sure something had to give. Honda was shaking his head, rummaging amongst his papers, perhaps for my arrest warrant, and even Edo, who I could usually soothe, was visibly concerned.
"I understand I have acted irresponsibly, but you, all of you, chose me to lead this village. I am acting as a leader, and I am making decisions that will benefit us all!" That caused a fresh outcry, so I fled the building, almost running into little Lolita in the doorway.
"You're here! Ah, he's here then?!" I was flustered, I confess. It had taken all my willpower not to tie the entire council up in a web and leave them hanging from the roof, and the thought of the composed Kazekage seeing me and my village in such a state...

"Patrol, patrol immediately! I want no council ANBU on duty around the building, only spiders. Was he in a good mood? Oh, never mind that now darling, just go!" Lolita smiled at me, before disappearing. I could not believe I had had a week to prepare, this was simply chaotic.
"Where is Hotaru? And for that matter, didn't I send you to fetch wine? Well what are you waiting for?!" I released the shinobi I had grabbed at random and hurried back into the council chambers, threads darting around me, picking up bits and pieces as I ignored the council entirely.

"He will enter that door at any moment, and if you don't want to look like a pack of old fools..." I muttered darkly, clutching a sheaf of papers to my chest, and attempting to smooth my hair with the other hand. You have six arms, foolish woman, use them! I knew it was foolish, but there was no way I would let the Kazekage see me looking anything other than my best. Upon turning and seeing Dominatrix standing in the doorway, I hurled my papers onto the stone dais, along with the bottle of wine I had just been presented with.

Waving the still grumbling councilmembers into their seats, I took a deep breath, and walked gracefully to the doorway. Dominatrix stood aside, and I was all smiles.

"Lord Kazekage, you honour us with your presence. Esteemed officials of Sunagakure, I am the Tsuchikage, Mitzy Valentine. Such a pleasure, truly, will you come inside?"

SPIDER ANBU

Dominatrix, Succubus, Lolita

Dominatrix stalked away following the Kazekage's words, leading the party away from the land of Rice.
"Ooh, he's yummy, don't you think?" Succubus giggled, placing her hands on the eldest girl's shoulders as she skipped behind her,
"H-he's the Kazekage! Be quiet!" Lolita said, blushing again as she hurried to keep up with the two girls on shorter legs,
"Oh quit the innocent act, you're not fooling anyone," The pink haired girl teased, walking backwards now to steal glances at their dashing charge.

Dominatrix allowed herself a smile while nobody could see her, leading the party as she was. She too was fond of strong men, but more so of seeing them break. Still, such thoughts were hardly appropriate, given the gravity of their mission. The three ANBU were more accustomed to spying and assassination, their unusual appearances and temperaments giving them an edge in assimilating or information gathering, but falling rather short in diplomacy or manners.

Still, their skills would be invaluable should battle be joined, and when escorting such a valuable target...
"Now now, girls. Don't make me discipline you,"

/exit

metal sliver ♥

Mmm, the response was quick. Of course, it had to be, if puppets were to be a viable option in combat. It followed that - should they not be able to act at the same speed as a typical shinobi, they would be at an inherent disadvantage, but I supposed without the necessity to actually move along the ground, instead mostly suspended through the use of chakra threads, they wouldn't suffer any in the maneuverability department. As the tail intercepted all five senbon in one sweeping arc, I pulled them back slightly, to hover about before it.

The tail was perhaps the most obvious adjustment in her puppet's mostly human form, and I saw now that it had its uses. Whether in making whiplash attacks, or serving as the defence with the most reach, it certainly gave her more options. Did she use a thread at its very tip, to ensure complete accuracy? Unlike Honoka, I did not have to move my arm or hand to launch my attacks, as my threads moved through my chakra control.

The five senbon spun in the air, before making their next assault, two aimed at the puppet's head, one at each arm, and the final one directed to fly past its shoulder, homing in on the girl behind it. It was only a small test, I had no doubt in her reflexes. Besides, our medics were very capable.
"Your hand movements," I called, as my senbon flew true, "could they not give away your puppet's movements?" Truly, I wasn't sure.

Perhaps to one familiar with the motions of controlling such a creation, clues could be gained, and when she had intercepted my last attack, the gesture was one that made sense in relation to her puppet's movements. I was learning something new, if nothing else. Perhaps there was a lesson in that, somewhere - the tiny Genin educating her Tsuchikage.

SPOILER: Click to show

{jutsu}Kumo Kenshi (Spider Silk Thread)

♥

It had been quite the trip, and had yielded rather more than I could've anticipated. I had to begin preparations to receive the Kazekage at once, but the question was - to tell the council or not? The idea of him turning up with representatives from the Hidden Sand was a wonderful thought, and their faces, it would be too priceless!

Regardless, there was plenty to be done.

/exit to iwagakure

"You done fighting now? Smart kid," The nearest assailant was saying, his smirk apparent in his words, even if his concealed face gave no clues. Though they had some trouble cornering the Iwagakure shinobi, once he had been penned in, the game was all but up.
"Like I said, you can show us the gates now, or you can show us them with both your arms broken, it's your call," The young boy, no more than a genin out on routine patrol duty to accustom him to the responsibility, was visibly shaken. He had been separated from his chuunin captain, and almost immediately set upon by these unknowns, forcing him to flee in the opposite direction, putting even more space between himself and aid.

Still he had fought, and he would continue to fight. This was what shinobi had to do, wasn't it? Giving up his village's location was tantamount to betrayal, and he would not be so weak! He formed two rapid handseals before his attackers could react, and proceeded to stomp his feet furiously, triggering a minor earthquake in the immediate area. While two of his foes fell, the other leaped towards him, and he had to throw himself backwards to avoid being caught, cancelling his jutsu and giving the men a chance to recover.

The Iwagakure ninja turned tail and ran, stumbling in the dust, and only making it a few meters away before he felt the thud of iron in his back, and a pain that thundered throughout his body. He stumbled a second time, but could not get to his feet again, and once again pain assaulted him, his shoulder blazing in protest.

Get up, a voice cried, desperate and insistent.

Don't die here!

i run to the sea, it was boiling ♥

How strange it was. This man seemed the last person to need my compassion, yet I felt for him regardless. There were times when the burden of my position was most unwelcome, and I sensed he felt the same. But perhaps, in co-operating, my ideals could be realised, in one small way. Perhaps they could become more than just hope.

But yes, he was correct, of course. This would need to be done by the books. I watched him toying with the plants around us as he spoke, a strange gentleness it seemed to me, rather incongruous with his presence. I wondered about this man. We all had our story, our triumphs and our regrets, how had his unfolded? What had led us both here, to this point in our lives? And was this a turning point? The beginning of a new chapter, penned by our own hands, and not the whimsy of fate?

"A week from now," it was time I stepped forward, having allowed him to dictate our conversation thus far,
"Somebody will meet you - and whomever you care to bring - here, in this spot, a week from now, and lead you to Iwagakure. If we are to truly be allies, trust must begin somewhere, non?" The council would riot. But perhaps it was just what was needed? I strongly believed in this co-operation, and I would risk their ire to see it through.

I nodded at his advice on the tattoo. We knew not what it meant, and having been marked by a god was not a story likely to fit comfortably into conversation.
"Astute, I agree. Are we in accord then, Lord Kazekage?" It was exhilarating, truth be told. This was far beyond petty revenge on the council, this had the potential to bring a new era, a new dawn upon not only Iwagakure, but the shinobi world. Perhaps leading by example could truly spur the other hidden villages to open their eyes?

If not, I feared only ruin awaited us all.

oh sinnerman, where you gonna run to? ♥

I was content to follow him, eyes narrowed at the mane of dark hair before me. Though departing alone to investigate the disturbance had been foolhardy, holding court alone with another kage was perhaps even more so. Amid the namesake of this land he stopped, and I could scarcely suppress a smile at the words that followed. I let him continue, his assessment startlingly accurate, and only a raised eyebrow betrayed my emotions as he saw through my impromptu ruse.

"You don't waste any time, do you darling?" I felt my typical charm would ill serve me here, but I spoke with utter confidence. After all, we were on equal footing, were we not?
"Mitzy Valentine, Shodaime Tsuchikage, the pleasure is all mine," Still, he was a strange one. There was quite the foreboding feel to him, an inherent... distance? Perhaps something colder. But then, it was possible it was I who was the exception, as far as Kages went. Perhaps this sharpness was common in leaders, even desired.

I did not look away from his gaze, however.

"I shall be blunt, Lord Kazekage. This isolationism does not serve. There is no more war, yet our villages operate solely on suspicion and self-interest. I understand that as shinobi, we are raised to distrust and serve only our villages, but... it needn't be that way. Perhaps you will think me a fool, but I believe that in co-operating, we could ensure future peace and prosperity far beyond any we are capable of achieving now," I paused. Was this wise? He seemed to understand my disposition, from his earlier assessment of character, but I doubted he had expected such a... liberal outlook.

I turned from him, looking back in the direction we had come. That being, those behind it, and their future intentions... It all served only to harden my conviction.

"You saw it too, this Manji. Can you fight a god alone, Lord Kazekage?"