Recent Posts

The tin voice called words mysteriously to the room containing the company, and though no one could see it Kiyoshi grinned behind his high rising collar at the word 'Echomire.' He didn't smile because what happened next was a good thing, just that it would be humorous and it was already far too late to stop it for anyone who didn't know any better. Kiyoshi swung the claymore from his shoulder and brought it driving into the ground holding tight to the handle for anchorage as the winds swept the room up in a powerful vacuum that stole several younger shinobi from the party.

By the end of the roaring winds, the only ones left were Masuyo, Yuu, and Kiyoshi himself. "They'll be fine I'm sure," Kiyoshi mumbled quietly as he wrenched his blade free from the earth and slowly hefted it back onto his shoulder, "and if they're not, then they should never have come here to begin with." With that the three shinobi set off into the pipeline to discover what was left of the land the world had turned a blind eye too.

______________________________________

Kiyoshi strode along the water at Masuyo's right hand side as the party traveled deeper into the pipeline still, before strange occurrences began. At first Kiyoshi thought it was some sort of trick or perhaps old tech that was malfunctioning as the green fluorescent light penetrated the shadows of the pipeline. Soon though, the abysmal creatures came into sight stumbling about mindlessly. Kiyoshi shook his head at the haunting scene as their green reflections warped across his glasses. It was horrific, sickening, and vile. But, while it hadn't been expected it wasn't all that surprising to Kiyoshi to see the horrors of science roaming about aimlessly. Many of the Kekkai and Tenzo here today had been wandering about without direction just like them ever since the fall of the village.

A voice called out a warning that carried through the cave to the party drawing everyone's attention to the lone samurai standing in their path. It seemed as though the samurai wanted them to leave peacefully which was too bad since the company had other plans. Actually it would be more accurate to say that Masuyo had other plans as he hurtled forward towards his enemy. Chasing closely at his heels into the fight was the bold Yuu forming hand seals as he went. Kiyoshi grunted as he too joined in the fight perhaps a mere second behind the other two. In his left hand he reached into the folds of his coat grabbing hold of a kunai, in his other hand he gripped the sturdy handle of his claymore that rested on his shoulder. He advanced on the samurai's position keeping a careful eye on Yuu and staying within three to five meters of the young Tenzo at all times but careful to move side to side as the others though not in the same pattern or rhythm.

Skidding chairs across the floor rang across the room as the pair nearly jumped out of their skin as the staring contest was brought to a close as the waiter unwittingly interrupted. Setting the tray down on the table with one bowl of lo mein and another of some sort of beef stew with pieces of bread. Both sets of eyes focused with intent to kill on the waiter who quickly scurried away rather comically.

The two then stared at each other briefly before Kiyoshi reached for his stew and bread meal pulling it before him and beginning to eat. But as Akane tried to do the same, Kiyoshi swatted her hand away from the spare plate. "Hey!" Akane objected withdrawing her hand instinctively and now looking back at kiyoshi in disgruntled confusion rather than hate.

The Chunnin took his time casually chewing his food and enjoying the bite before swallowing and raising his head to look back across the table at Akane. "Sorry," he began quietly, "Sensei's only buying food for everyone on his team. You really chose a bad time to quit too, because I don't know about your lo mein but my stew is excellent today."

"What? What's that supposed to mean, I never quit!" Akane's stomach gave a lurching growl at the smell of the lo mein that sat just before her. Even the smell of this bastard's stew made it hard for her to think straight with all these questions she had now.

"Well maybe not intentionally. But, sensei explained to me that you'll not pass the exams and your team will become chunnin without you. Then they'll be assigned to a team with Chen and I if we approve of them and help to train them. On the other hand there's you. You'll simply be retired as a ninja or have to be cycled into the process again being assigned to another genin squad (most likely fresh out of the academy I might add.) He thinks the experience again will humble your personality and you'll become a far more effective ninja. Maybe even next year...."

Kiyoshi looked over at the younger girl who casually met his gaze with a particular finger thrust to the sky. "I don't need lessons from some boy wearing his hair like a girl, thanks though." She said before turning on her heel to leave walking ten meters away from her team before sensei called after her.

"It's a shame you have to act like this and storm off before you get to know the man who actually beat you. I was going to buy us all dinner for that excellent training drill." He folded his arms across his chest and smiled smugly, "But of course you wouldn't stoop that low for a free meal now would you?"

Akane stopped and turned around calling, "I'll meet you at the ramen hut then. Just because I have to eat with you doesn't mean I have to talk with them after all. See you there sensei." She turned again and began walking towards the village leaving her team, sensei, and the Tenzo partners standing silently for a moment before one of her team mates broke the silence at last.

"Don't mind her, she's just a sore loser. She always gets like this if things don't go her way. She doesn't lose all that often though so it makes being on her team a lot easier for all of us."

"Which is exactly why," Sensei continued, "I requested both of you Chen and Kiyoshi. Chen you're a born tactile leader, you study hard and your preparations are good habits for the team to fall into. As for you Kiyoshi? You push yourself to be the strongest as a hot headed weapon, and you've learned when to put the safety on and keep a cool head. I need you to mentor Akane and be a role model to her. Make her look up to you so she'll want to be like you."

Kiyoshi simply stared off where he last saw the girl round a corner. He reached behind his head tugging his ponytail both hurtfully and thoughtfully. "No, a girl like that? A rebel if you will. She doesn't want someone or something to stand for, she wants something to stand against.

"Well however you do it, make it quick. You need an in. She won't even speak to you after this meal if you don't play your cards right tonight. Oh, and before you even think about it," the man gave Kiyoshi's ponytail a tug none to gently to get his attention, "I'm not buying you more meal tickets wither her. This is it for you, understand?"

Having had a later start than the party of kekkai and tenzo who had so recently visited the shores of Mizu no Kuni, Kiyoshi Tenzo managed to follow in their wake using his sensor abilities to track the unique gathering of chakra signals. Slowly he had been gaining on them in their trek across most of the world and as he crossed to the border to the lain of rain he knew what their goal was. Masuyo Kekkai had traversed the world and been a beacon to any Amegakure shinobi he came across. A beacon of the hope and restoration of the once proud rain ninja to their former glory.



Having ran straight into the country without use of any sensor techniques anymore (as he knew full well where the band would be heading) Kiyoshi arrived on the scene as the band was preparing for whatever they had planned. One arm hung folded from the chest of his long heavy coat whilst his other clutched the handle of his massive claymore supported over his shoulder. His steps were large and solid, his glasses perched half way down his nose revealing half his eyes both the scarred eye and his crimson smoldering eye.

As he approached he looked past the group at the gates struggling inwardly to keep pent up emotions for his home within. Coming back here felt like a sicking deja vu. When you return home and you feel like you're going to walk through the gates just like the old days and go straight home where all your family will be waiting for you. The mind's habits plays emotional games on itself and false hope had no place here today. Kiyoshi was here now, Amegakure was not. The only good that could come of this now was bringing back the proud prestigious program that had been the village hidden in the rain.

"Be on the look out guys, regardless of how close we are to our goal you don't know what is hiding in the shadows."

"I agree but I get this feeling it's just us...at least for now."

"Almost alone, Kekkai." Kiyoshi growled quietly but passively as he came into the group. He did little to hide his disdain for the Kekkai clan itself. He had been raised during an age of conflict with the Tenzo and Kekkai and while he had often worked along side both of his family members he only seemed to do it under the village's direction. The village was now gone, but it's will endured and Kiyoshi knew for the sake of the village he would work professionally with these ninja as he had in the past. "And while you may not know what lurks in the shadows for us within I can at least offer my guidance and foresightedness on this matter."

Kiyoshi took more steps coming up to Masuyo, he raised his blade from his shoulder high into the air before laying it down flat on the ground between Masuyo and Kiyoshi. He knelt down in silence bowing his head slightly before the avatar of nature chakra that lead the party, "Kekkai Masuyo, my old student. You have at least one more Tenzo who will see you as the headship of this village if that is in fact you're lofty goal." He adjusted his glasses and raised his head to look up at Masuyo but did not rise to his feet. The young boy had grown considerably since Kiyoshi had last seen him. He had assumed the young boy dead but seeing the youth of Ame flourish and steel himself with determination filled the old shinobi with joy. A singled tear hidden behind his shades and collar rolled down his cheek as he grabbed hold of the claymore's handle tightly in his fist again. They had all been refugees for too long.

"Get to cover!"

Kiyoshi didn't need to be told twice as he quickly threw himself to the side of the door way still on the outside of the building just before the explosion of wind roared past him. He turned and walked into the building casually looking around at the damage done. It had been loud and perhaps drew some attention but proved immensely effective at disabling both of the men within. Kiyoshi knelt beside them for a moment placing fingers to their necks. They still had pulses, Masuyo had handled this expertly and followed instructions even restraining his strength.

He rose to his feet silently striding with heavy foot steps no longer concerned if people heard after the explosion. On the opposite side of this splendorous entrance hall was a another door he approached. He pulled his glove back on as he placed his hand on the door knob pausing to say, "See you on the other side Masuyo. I have faith that I won't have to come back for you if you get into any trouble. Just keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine." With that he opened the door and stepped through.

There was a long hallway filled with doors and dimly lit at this time of night by candles on the wall. He walked down casually before stopping at a door far down on the left before again closing his eyes in silent concentration. It took little effort for him to sense inside the room. Inside there were two ninja, one asleep in his bed while the other sat in a chair quiet but not asleep quite yet.

Kiyoshi stomped in the hallway continuing down in a noticeable but not too loud manner about five meters before flickering backwards mutely ten meters crouching low against the wall. The ANBU stepped out turning to the left where the running had gone off to. As he did Kiyoshi ran up from behind him wrapping a wire quickly around the handle of the door as he grabbed the Anbu by the back of his head. With perfect timing he tugged lightly on the wire bringing the door to silently latch shut just before he face planted the guard into the floor hard enough to knock him unconscious but not kill him.