[Cha 1 Location] Amana Pass

[Oni Archives]

::Amana pass. Many have traveled this road and still do to this very age. Merchants, travelers, fisherman - and tourists come to Kagetsuchi to see the marvelous lights and casinos heard about all across Naraka. Sometimes I can't help but think about it - the history. Amana....one of the old Feudal ages provinces here in Naraka. I reach down and grip a hand full of dirt...its an odd twilight really. The dirt here was set and paved ages ago...this same hand...my hand - had felt this dirt on two sides of the mirror...Hyokengeru when it belonged to Gogandantes...when it was fresh, and now - when it belongs to Kiyoshi and both have become old. I look up to the fork in the road and can see it like it was still here...just trees and greenery now - but there used to stand a gigantic manor here before. Proud and tall.....now no one even remembers its name. The paths diverge into threes...three...the number isnt the same anymore to me. Past, Present, Future. Wisdom, Emotion, Spirit. Izanagi, Oshirama, Kazekuto. Dead, died, will die. Fate makes fools of us all. Its the end of a road, and the beginning of a journey.:: [sub]- Kiyoshi[/sub]​

 

[Oni Archives]

As soon as the forest opened up into the trio of paths, Kasami didn’t second guess their decision and started to immediately go to the right, her gaze shifting between all in company only to realize that Eiji was not there. She doubted it was because he was too scared to continue, or he wouldn’t have even left Kiyoshi’s village. So something had to have happened. She remembered Sentou, and how he just disappeared out of thin air right beside them. All she could do was hope he was safe, and that he’d show up eventually, but even Sentou was still missing. Maybe he wouldn’t... and she’d never know. Just like she didn’t know what happened to Tatsumi.

She didn’t seem at all surprised about it judging by her reaction, clearly visible to all of them, which could be misunderstood for not caring. What was she to do though? They didn’t even know where the last one had gone, now Eiji disappeared and it’d be no different. Maybe he’d end up where Sentou was, who knew.

”Was there something in particular that you preferred about this path besides the obvious?” She was just curios of his decision, and wondering if she’d gotten all the bits of information he’d been provided. Getting her ducks in a row, so to speak. Were there threats ahead? Should she be prepared for a fight? It was odd that there was a part of the village that was cold, but everywhere else around it wasn’t. Was it high elevation? She didn’t receive the information herself so she was highly overthinking the possibilities and worried for the unknowns, but every direction would have unknowns.​

 

[Oni Archives]

Just as earlier Kirinji opted to travel a few steps behind the group as it allowed for him to protect their back and scope out their surroundings subtly like clockwork. Not only that, but he had also suppressed his chakra completely so they wouldn’t catch any unwanted attention either as they traveled toward their intended destination. Just as Kasami, Kirinji also noticed the absence of an individual, Eiji, but he didn’t give it much thought. Knowing him, he probably either ran away from them thinking he could escape Naraka or decided to remain behind and not leave the village.

Regardless, they decided to remain the course even with one absent and as the paths opened up they drifted towards the right. However as they opened up Kirinji couldn’t help, but double guess it. Many variables played a factor and not much, if anything at all, was in their control. Everything could go bad and it could all lead to their death, but everything could also go right and they make it out safe. The uneasy thought caused a pit of abyss in Kirinji’s stomach, he hated that feeling of unease. As they walked he thought about why he had come here — or rather for who and just how far away he is from meeting him. He breathed in deeply and exhaled silently, ”It’s getting easier to breathe and move here” he thought to himself, ”Heh. I can see why they are so fast back in the normal realm.”

Kasami broke his train of thought and he glanced over at her as she spoke ”Something particular? Not really other than it feeling the safest out of the three. The shopkeeper told me that the path on the left has a lot of traps, some even he can’t see. Traps were a little vague to me so we could see anything from mines to uhhh ... complex sealing traps. The middle is obvious. I rather avoid the murder monks. But the right.” He thought back to the words and mannerism the shopkeeper described it, ”He said the right could bring us good fortune, but that also we face a big threat. So lets make sure we keep our eyes open.” With that end part being said, a bit more serious than the rest, he started looking around again.

 

[Oni Archives]

=The sound of wheels...coasting along the road could be heard much further ahead. In fact it was one of the only sounds that was heard in that moment as they proceeded on. But of course this was no stranger to them - simply Ko coasting along on his skateboard going to get a look ahead. He had been walking much further up ahead then they had - previously, in the shadows while they were having their heart to heart and more so at the forefront now after it was finished. It didn't involve him at all, he was simply on a different emotional spectrum and focus then they were at the moment; you could say that it was from his time in ANBU. When working with the black ops - Ko learned very quickly that when pulling members from different backgrounds and from all around - you were bound to get some different personalities all with their own beliefs and dispositions. He'd learned to look past it and focus on common interests and the persons abilities to achieve that goal. He hadn't cared much for the fact of the talk because for him? It didnt matter what anyone thought of him otherwise - it didn't even phase him. They were all targets, all on this things human dining menu - and if that wasn't as common a cause as it gets, he doesn't know what is. But that was his state of mind, hopefully theirs too. . . but not this new burning dawn they were pitted up against. That perplexed him. He couldnt help but wonder even with their own thought process about how it should be done why would they want to separate their numbers and do it on their own? This Izanagi wanted to defeat the Salesman too, why not agree to disagree? There had to be more to it then that. Regardless - Ko did not take part in the talks because he was a master at keeping a team in conjunction and banking off his squads abilities and skills. Ko just kind of meshed with a team, even if he didnt mesh with all the members outside of combat. His sharingan was activated - scanning surroundings to make sure that if there was anyone hiding in the forest or otherwise - he would see it. Then suddenly he came to a stop - turning his skateboard to the side as he stepped off and stomped its tail end, kicking it up to his hand. His eyes widened for just a moment at what he beheld before they narrowed more in contemplation:

"Hm...might be harder to find what we're looking for here after all."

=As he said this what was laid out before him was a monolith of a village. What it lacked in comparison to places like Konoha and Kumogakure as far as width and land mass it made up for in towering architectural mass. From this side of the river you could plainly see the east side of Kagetsuchi. It looked peaceful, quaint, people walking there along the side of the river and the bright warm lights illuminating the white sheet portal doors from inside - it was quite homey. The bridge before them was massive, you could say that the bridge was an attraction itself in the way that it was so gigantic - the upper cover of the bridge like a massive roof in itself and there was food vendors and souvenir stands lined all along the bridge. There was honestly more people on the bridge then it looked like from this far in the village itself. From across the river - beyond the quaint little district of the village you could see the gigantic towering casinos from over their roofs, and among them one singular mass of a tower as well...needless to say thats the main casino that was briefed about as well. Ko waited for the others to catch up - he was resisting smiling as much as he could. It was something about how jovial and light such a place was that made him feel oddly at home, but he knew he needed to keep his guard up. When the time finally came that they caught up he would turn looking at them both as he spoke: "Well, we're here. I suggest we stay as close as we can - theres a lot of people here. Or at least keep track of each other so we dont get lost and separated." **his sharingan deactivated as he held his board under one arm and the other tucked its hand in his pocket** "Hm...wouldnt hurt to grab another little snack though.."​

 

[Oni Archives]

She was silent the rest of the way to the village, taking in what Kirinji had said. It was still the safest sounding of the other two, even with the mention that he’d told him there was a big threat ahead. While she remained alert, she seemed rather absentminded in comparison to how she usually was. Her gaze seemed fixated ahead of them as opposed to scanning their surroundings, and if anything else was said to her it was tuned out. It was a wonder what she was thinking of, but even if she was asked she wouldn’t say.

As they approached Ko from behind at the end of the bridge, she inhaled the smell of food and licked her lips. They had eaten before leaving Kiyoshi’s manor, but it had tasted so good she just wanted to eat more. The food here smelled divine as well, and she whole heartedly agreed that a snack sounded amazing. ”Agreed, but how? We don’t have money- and I don’t think we should spend our remaining vouchers on food.” To keep close to them, she didn’t walk ahead, but she moved to the side of the bridge before the stalls started to overtake it so she could look ahead of them at the towering buildings. It was incredible, and she was excited to see what this village was like as opposed to the ones that they had seen already. This seemed more like a city than a village, and it was lively. She could only imagine what it looked like at night.

Quickly she returned to her male companions before they moved on without her. Kirinji mentioning the big threat had her on edge when it came to mind again. She didn’t want all these people to get caught up in a fight so she didn’t want to linger on the bridge too long. ”We should get moving before something bites us in the butt at least.”​

 

[Oni Archives]

=The moment that Kasami spoke about their vouchers Ko somewhat huffed. His crimson red bangs that were in his face by this point casting off in the air as he looked around - then as he started to make way down the bridge as Kasami mentioned that it probably be best that they continue on before something bite them in the butt he opted that she was probably right and went along. But would they though? A brazen attack putting so many lives in danger in the middle of what must be one of the biggest villages in Naraka - or at least he would think, just based off the way that this one looked in comparison to the others they had stopped at. He started to walk along thinking to himself the possibilities of such an occurrence when suddenly a dumpling plate was shoved in his face. His brow raised in question he peeked over the top of the plate to see one of the merchants that had been near by smiling at him with plate in hand: "Hey man. Thanks. But I can't pay you. Savings and all that - "The Mrs would kill me." you know how they say." But it was then that the merchant looked at him with confusion in their face - informing him that food on the way in to the village and in parts that were not the casinos were free. His eyes snapped open - a deep seeded fibrillation of shock deep within the recesses of his pupil as they slow to a stop and fixated upon the merchant as he told him this.

"You say.
What Now?"

=And there it was - a few seconds later making its way down the bridge was a heaping pile of walking food, dumpling platters, kabobs, candy and the like all piled a'top of one another fit neatly with two healthy stalk of deniem clad legs from underneath it - hiking each foot high in the air like a marching soldier as Ko made his way down the bridge with hardly enough space around the food to see any extent of where he was going; instead he peeked through the spots in the pile that made a hole so that he could peek at where he was going and then operate off photographic memory. "Hey hey hey - watch out there. Coming through, 'scuse me!" =He called out as he went along his way till finally, with a satisfied goofy smile upon his face he caught a turkey leg in his teeth and smiled wide - pushing the gates to the village open with his foot as he made his way inside=​

[[Transitioning -------> Kagetsuchi East]]

 

[Oni Archives]

Kasami moved with him, mindful to keep Kirinji in eyesight and not let him fall behind as well, as they made their way across the bridge. The dumpling plate startled her, coming out of nowhere, and made her stomach growl as Ko regretfully informed the merchant that they were unable to pay him. And then a miracle... the food was free! She was probably drooling, happily taking a portion of her own dumplings for the road as they went on their way. Somewhere along the bridge Ko became piled over with food, giving her something to laugh at. It relaxed her nerves, her own little smile lighting up her features.

While they walked, she thanked the merchants offering more food and stacked them into Ko’s arms so it was all balanced and wedged together, ensuring they’d lose nothing. She apologized if he bumped into anyone. Eating off her own plate of dumplings while they walked, Kasami occasionally picked something out of the mountain of treats to eat as well, creating quite an amusing scene for those that paid any mind. It was a nice change of atmosphere from what they usually had in this place, but it wasn’t enough to make her forget where they were. She was still cautious, friendly with their passersby but wary of their alignments. Anyone could be their opposition, and in a place this big, there could be more numbers against them than for them- even in Izanagi’s village. All she could do is be kind and hope it paid off.

When Ko opened the gate door with his foot, she held it open for him the rest of the way, and ushered Kirinji through as well before moving in herself with one last look at the grand bridge.

Transitioning ——-——> Kagetsuchi East​

 

[Oni Archives]

[[Sub]((Meanwhile....The Central Path))[/sub]

=A mass explosion occured down the middle of the path - trees blown up and away in the dramatic cataclysm that was created by the detonation. Smoke filled the air around the area as three oddly dressed monks stood there outside the smoke. Each breathing heavily as one in the center held his arm which bore a smoking port for explosion release in the center of it. He looked drained. The two on the outside looked at him and chuckled - ""Annoying miserable whelp wasn't he? Filth always talks the loudest before they die. Shame we couldnt drag it out. Would have liked to hear what octave he'd hit when being carved to hell and back." The two seemed supremely confident in the ability of the one in the center...but he himself...he didnt seem quite sure. There was silence among them when suddenly a voice came from the side of the one furthest to the right: "Shit...ya know I always felt the same way." With this interjection came a startled and quick attempt to jump over and continue the attack on the male the voice came from - but the monk was far too slow, apparent that he never stood a chance. Half way through dashing to close the gap he vomited a choked sound of a gag - his windpipe being suddenly cut off as a firm hand gripped his neck and squeezed tight the flesh around it. It was none other then Eien Jigoku Satsujin. He choked the man with his right arm - which soon started to glow and grow in size, slowly transforming into a beastly Bijuu cloak of an arm. Then as he did this with his opposite arm he formed what looked to be only half of a handseal - which it was, made whole by the fabrication of Subarashii that formed in the air like gold snow flakes till solidifying around his hand in the form of another appendage, like watching a clay mold of a mirroring hand appear. As it did, it completed a set of seals with his hand while he held the monk in place. The one from before in the middle was frozen in fear - seeing the man take his comrade so brutally...so quick and precise. His remaining compatriot jumping over his body urging that they would need to stop him if they wanted to live when suddenly - the two of them were taken up in a gigantic geyser of lightning.

"Lightning Style: Asura's Fury."

=He had called out when such happened - watching as the two were engulfed by the lightning chakra and subsuquently scattered into dust by the intensity of the voltage. As this happened Eien held the other monk up to watch it - as his eyes widened and rattled with fear Eien inhaled deeply with a satisfied smile upon his face, it was perhaps the biggest smile that he had mustered in quite some time as he snapped open his eyes to look at him once he was done and the lightning dissipated. The monk was broken - his facial features twisting and writhing in horror as he was made to look upon the face of Eien in which his face seemed to be soft, understanding and almost mournful as he spoke to him: "Thats it. Yes, I could have let you die in much the same way. But I needed to feel it from one of you. Needed to soak that in - ya know? Your fear....the understanding that you are going to die here. . . I had to feel you accept it, you two bit murder monk pretender. Heh, now you can die knowing." And as he said that he looked the monk straight in the eyes and started to squeeze. His hand was gigantic by this point and the way that it squeezed made the monk look like he was a stress doll about to pop at any moment - the claw enveloped most his upper body as the top fingers pinched closed around his neck. He watched, never blinking and never looking away from the monk's eyes who could do nothing more but look in horror. Then - his eyes spiraled and darkened into a crimson red sharingan - staring straight into the man's eyes as he held on....and suddenly dropped him. The man was still making choking noises as he dropped him; stuck in a genjutsu - forced to feel and struggle against the pressure and asphyxiation of Eien strangling him to death indefinitely this entire time. Eien stood there looking at him with a smirk upon his face as suddenly he spun around catching something...but only barely

"Whoa whoa whoa - hold on now, why the rush?"

=As he said this he struck his claw out flat into an open palm - stopping a golden wisp in its path as it burst open and now there before each other stood Eien and Kiyoshi Uzumaki. Having stopped Kiyoshi in his tracks as he was running the gaze between the two men was intense - of course on Kiyoshi's end it would be. Eien wasn't strong enough nor was his prowess honed enough to keep up with Kiyoshi the last time that they had met so he was notably on defense when this development occured. Eien tried to snap his hand closed but Kiyoshi was already ahead of him - zig zagging backwards at three points like a bolt of lightning as he came to stand there and looked down at the man that was still choking: "That really needed? I thought you weren't the type to decide on either particular Hadou?" Kiyoshi said watching the man and then looking back to Eien. He stepped forward - stepping directly over the man and before Kiyoshi with a smirk upon his lips as he pointed at the man: "What can I say? I was judging before I even gave it a shot before. Developments happened and I have to say - I think this is pretty fitting of me. You though - Im afraid I cant let you go anywhere. See, I learned some things after Tengy wisked me off to the promise land. I got some things to ask you before anything." At the time Kiyoshi looked at him and scoffed - looking at the man that was on the floor in genjutsu with a grimmace on his face towards his suffering. This was bad, maybe really bad. Eien was stepped in the Hadou of cruelty - and killing these murder monks? It was a sigh of a pilgrimage towards one of the Hadou. Kiyoshi's eyes struck back to him with the same grimmace upon his face and then down at the man again - looking between the two before suddenly....

...He laughed...

Kiyoshi drug a hand through his face and up his hair as he laughed looking at the man there on the ground and then back to Eien - his entire demeanor changed as he stood upright and tucked a single hand into his pocket. Soon the action potential aura that was around him went from golden orange to bright red as he looked at Eien with a smirk: "Man - really had you going huh? Well sorry to tell you kid but you arent the one calling the shots here. I'm going to go where I want to go - and let me tell you why.". =When he said this Kiyoshi removed his right hand from his pocket and opened it up - palm directed down at the ground as Eien's eyes followed and suddenly went wide - his eyes flinching back shut a moment after as he deactivated his sharingan. His lips grimaced as in the reflection of his eyes you could see a bright purple chakra exploding off Kiyoshi...or what had seemed to have been. There was a blade sliding out of the palm of Kiyoshi's hand cutting through the flesh to emerge as one name left Eien's lips.

"....Gogandantes...."

=When he said this Gogandantes simply caught the handle of his blade - and looked up at Eien, smirking as he brough the blade up to point it at Eien as he spoke, Eien visibly flinching and moving as if a kid avoiding the barrel of an empty gun. Gogandantes chuckled at that, and asked: "Heh...did my Kiyoshi impression fool you? Been working on it..."​