[Episode Ikki Pt1] Mebu Castle

[Oni Archives]

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While everyone was being observant of their surroundings Kirinji was not doing that at all, something that was unusual. Typically he was the one that would constantly be checking their surroundings and making sure they were okay. But right now, it was like he was focussed. Or maybe even distracted. His eyes were fixated upon Mebu Castle and they hadn’t moved since it came into sight. Was he excited? The question pounded his mind like a hammer with a nail. Trying to explain the impact Izanagi has had on Kirinji, consciously and subconsciously, would be a burdensome task. They had a lot of history together. Some good, some bad, some terrible. Excitement wasn’t what he was feeling. More so unease. He was in the back corner of the elevator and as all of them packed in and the elevator began to rise, he was washed over with a nostalgic memory.

Years Ago—Kirinji & Izanagi’s First Encounter

He was merely a young man. Wise, but with much to learn. This was during the time he was still active for the Uchiha Clan. Kirinji had heard of the myths of the infamous Izanagi Uchiha. The man who became synonymous with Death and went by Fear Itself. Yet there was standing in front of that very exact man somewhere in the Land of Water. At this point of time Izanagi was fully bandaged, something that Kirinji had found odd. They fought and Kirinji understood quickly that the man was holding back. Izanagi never said it openly, but as they exchanged blows he could feel it. Feel it in his very bones the bloodlust that Izanagi was holding back. It resulted in Kirinji losing, but that encounter proved one thing was important. Each and every tale that he had heard about Izanagi were merely watered down.

Abandonment

They hadn’t left on the best terms. Rather, there weren’t any terms. One minute Izanagi was there and the next he was nowhere to be found. This was frustrating to Kirinji because Izanagi was someone he looked up to, almost as a parental figure. Their relationship had grown considerably since their first encounter. And Kirinji believed they had some mutual respect. He knew Izanagi wasn’t someone from the normal world, but he was different. He wasn’t one hundred sure, but he had a general idea. He understood that, but he never thought he’d leave without warning. It felt like a knife in his back. They had plans, but it all went down the drain the moment Izanagi had left. But now he was here. In the back of this elevator, ready to meet Izanagi once again. While he thought of two memories, the latter took more control of his emotions. His fist tightened and his upper lip began to twitch subtly, yet uncontrollably. His purple eyes slowly and methodically transitioned in the crimson three-tomoe Sharingan. It was like the blood in his veins had been somehow transitioned into rage. An energy that began to slowly consume him and it was clear from the look in his eyes.

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[Oni Archives]

--Hitoko Okami-Uchiha--

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Hitoko's hands reached down to a loose string on her kimono shirt and began to mess with it, still slightly hazy. She looked over to the you man who stepped back at the sight of her when she first woke up and attempted a reassuring smile. 'How embarrassing...To have my reality distorted so much I create a scene. Get it together, Hitoko.' These thoughts spoke loudly and echoed within Hitoko's head which caused her to shake her head a few times in hopes that these thoughts would slip away or at least quiet down.

Hitoko heard the man called 'Eiji' speak, his voice so pleasing it actually served to ease Hitoko's tension. Though she acknowledged what he had said and gave him a smile as a greeting, she didn't reply seeing as Hitoko hadn't done a thing to help Eiji. Hitoko's ears did perk up at the sound of the library though, as she herself was interested in reading something - Anything to keep her mind from drifting and her eyes from closing again. She followed the group at a steady pace every time she moved, sticking close to them. She was in an unknown home, unknown land...Unknown world. She'd be lying if she said she was fine. Hitoko was scared.

Hitoko could tell something was wrong with Kirinji, she could practically smell the change in him, but Hito knew better than to forcefully bother him and push him to spill his guts. If he wanted to talk to her, he would in his own time and Hitoko knew and respected that. Instead, she simply stood in the elevator. Still playing with that loose string on her kimono shirt until...it snapped. It snapped as if the tension this elevator was giving as it slowly rose to the top was suddenly too heavy for the thin thread to keep it's grip. Hito gulped, looking up as the elevator continued to rise. Her heart and stomach were filled with pits of unrest. She had no idea what was waiting for them up top and she was too scared to try and use her senses to figure it out.

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[Oni Archives]

Eiji was still a bit confused and flustered after having just woken up from what seemed like several nightmares, dreams, and a realization, he looked at everyone before Sentou speaking and asking about what happened at the temple. These words were basically asking Eiji or Kasami to give a detailed recap of their entire adventure but for Eiji, this was way too much for right now. He would have to recollect his thoughts and put them in order so that he could convey that and what happened after he was separated from Kasami and Kirinji, "Um... I have to tell you later when we can sit for a bit after this. Alot happened and I need to collect my thoughts first if you don't mind Sentou, sorry." For now, one thing really concerned Eiji within the group and another thing mildly bugged him.

The thing that bugged Eiji the most is that it seemed no one noticed or seemed to care that his appearance heavily changed to a more feminine one than the almost savage masculine appearance he had since they met. Eiji assumed that they would be confused, annoyed, angry, or suspicious of him without his fake appearance but it seemed no one cared at all. He didn't want to cause any more problems but he assumed that just like when he was younger he'd be called out of his more feminine and gentle figure by others. Eiji simply was confused by the fact that it was not acknowledged at all but he would let it go as his next concern popped up quickly as he noticed a strange woman giving him a smile who he had not noticed till now.

The strange woman was, of course, Ayako Okami-Uchiha but Eiji had not met her before and knew nothing of the strange woman who smiled at him with such a kind expression. Her kindness towards what to Eiji was a total stranger confused him but he knew he needed to try to be more open with the group as such he turned towards Kasami tugging a bit on what little clothing she wore to try to get her attention before whispering, "K...Kasami... Who's the other girl who's in the group..." Eiji felt a bit ashamed asking Kasami for a few reasons, the first being that he had been very rude to her, and even though it was an act and he had felt bad the whole time as he had always hidden his true self away from others he still felt ashamed. The second one was because he felt like he had no right to ask because he got dragged away from the group by the freak from the Burning dawn and was only returned via airmail in a nearly dead state.

Either way, he asked Kasami as they were walking up to Izanagi's building, but before Kasami could answer two more things caught his attention, the first being Kirinji who was acting weird, like unnaturally weird. He seemed a bit miffed but Eiji could not tell why. It was only through his Axon release that Eiji could even tell by sensing the negative energy from Kirinji, it was something he had not felt from him before and was eerie, even though it was only a small amount the negativity was still picked up. The second thing was the guards which he only noticed after Ko walked up to one and ran away quickly, something else that was eerie to Eiji. The powerful, strong, and somewhat aloof Ko seemed like a child who was trying to get away with stealing in the way he ran away from the black-covered guard. As they moved towards the lift Eiji waited to see if Kasami would tell him anything or Kirinji would tell the group what was wrong with him. He was anxious for so many reasons and the well being of one of his new friends was a major one of those reasons.​

 

[Oni Archives]

Sentou nodded at Eiji as the latter explained they’d disclose the information he was seeking whenever they had the free time. He wouldn’t argue with that, considering Kasami and Eiji both just woke up.

Having asked if it was possible to get a spar with one of these monks after their meeting with the Lord of Naraka, he would feel Sakuya slap his arm jokingly. The monks would love that, huh? Just what were the Senpu Monks to begin with? Despite the nostalgia of feeling like he was back home, the young man couldn’t help but feel slightly frustrated. There was a lot about Naraka that Totsuka didn’t tell him, all he could think about were the mysterious merchant words; perhaps his teacher thought it was best that Sentou didn’t know much. He tried his best to conceal his mood, giving Sakuya a look of confusion as she mentioned he reminded her of someone she hadn’t seen in a while. Just who could that have been? He was primed to ask who in fact, however before he even managed to utter a word, he noticed the change in her facial features as she curled her lip almost as if regretting what she said. It didn’t take a mind reader to understand the thought troubled her, it would be in his best interest not to overstep his boundaries.

Following lead, Sentou would step onto the elevator along with the rest of the gang. It seemed everyone was all here, well almost everyone. Sentou smirked briefly watching as Ko caught up, running to his destination. Whether his sense of perception was low, or Ko’s was much higher, but Sentou wasn’t sure what it was he bolted from. Just something about it happened to make the Kenzai smile. With the whirring of the gears and the elevating rise, Sentou would close his eyes briefly as he reflected on his journey thus far. It felt like it was only yesterday that he had returned from his pilgrimage through the Land of Lightning and stricken with the illness of missing home. Finding former friends and teachers alike sprawled around and defeated by his biological father. There was so much rage, so much, the last thing he recalled was waking up to Hideyouri missing and Irou dead on the temple grounds. Feeling helpless he searched for his mentor to get stronger, only to delve through the caves of Yomi before ultimately drowning and waking up in the world of Naraka. Opening his eyes, Sentou turned his gaze towards Kasami and Eiji both. He remembered their meeting in the forest fondly, the killing of a monstrous oni, and a man in a red tengu mask. They were lucky to be given some form of guidance through Naraka with the aid of Jinsei, keyword were. The only thing he remembered about Jinsei before Ko dispatched him was that Izanagi had killed Totsuka. All of this weighed heavily on his chest, many persuaded Sentou that it wasn’t an act of ill intentions, but a necessary one. Maybe he was just naive, but couldn’t there have been another way? A heavy sigh left his nostrils before he closed his eyes once more. All he could do was wait and find out for himself.

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[Oni Archives]

[sub]((Listen While Reading - Critical: Past Of The Demon.))[/sub]

=As the elevator ascended to the designated floor the gravity of the situation would have become more and more evident for our travelers. Despite everything that they had experienced. Starting from landing in the bamboo forest and dealing with the hulking orgre, slain by the mysterious and silent Tengu. To the malicious Daikokyuten and his miasma, Ikki Uchiha and his azure flames - all the way through the massacare of Kagane and The mind games of Genichiro, of Seven Winds. All of these things were key points in their travels where they were pushed to their brink, where they were exposed to situations of dire life and death scenarios and yet...the more they rose over the horizon of the floorboard and become level standing on even ground with the black silhouette that stood in the window, as it had when they first arrived here. It would become apparent. He was upon them. Izanagi Mebu Uchiha - The alleged murderer of Sentou's mentor, The Uchiha lord that left the clan, and Kirinji in desolation to deal with the stagnation of the clan and the shinobi world as they knew it, a man that Hiruzen Sarutobi a wise shinobi in which Eiji had known well of would even steer clear of - the bane of the previous predecessor Okami clan that were upon the scene of the waking world before Hitoko's own came to bare and most of all...slayer of the demon known as Mikaboshi - to whom rinnegan lay nestled snuggly in the eye socket of Kasami Senju, in a way - a distant descendant of his own blood. That eye had probably never thought to look upon this man in this manner ever after that legendary meeting, and this group probably never thought they would make it this far to look upon the formless silhouette of the man - pressed against the glass seeming illuminated and brightened by the sun setting on the distant horizon before him outside the window...he'd looked upon a sunset like this once before in his life and he remembered it as vividly as Team 3 could feel the bruises of combat past upon their flesh.

"They don't care! Don't you get that!?"

=The feminine and young voice of a much greener Izanagi exclaimed. A sunset of similar description on the Konoha horizon behind him. He punched a nearby boulder and at the yield of his fist it crumbled - as if too afraid of the man himself to give any retort to such an action of anger otherwise. He turned and looked upon the visage of his younger brother. Zaku Oda - formerly to the waking world known as Zaku Uchiha - the Nara born Uchiha clan Jounin with no face. However now he was not using his "No Face" fuinjutsu in this moment and his face was not concealed by the vantablack obscurity. The young green haired shinobi attempted to prop himself up on the Executioner sword and come to a stand, only to falter under the weight of his shambling corpse as Izanagi looked at his futile attempt in irritation:

"Give it up. We're stuck, and you're only going to exacerbate your injuries if you keep on. Much unlike your religion's popular belief - Lord Jashin isnt going to take your pain and turn it to strength. Get it through your head - they do not care. The clan isnt coming for us! Jashin - is not coming for us. No one is, we're on our own."

"Ha, pain -is- strength my brother. The ability to feel pain is a blessing, nothing good comes without struggle, and the more pain I feel, the higher I further my education in the fine art of inflicting it. Heh, appreciate your "concern" but I'll manage just fine. On the other hand though, I think you need to have ore faith. You're the Uchiha Lord's Grand Inquisitor, and honestly - the sole reason the enemy fears us so much. Kami is strong, Kamui is diplomatic - but you're the one that brings the full brunt of fear to bare upon them. They cant lose you as an asset."

*Izanagi then moved forward with anger in his expression. Walking over and snatching the Jashin amulet off his brother with a closed fist and crossing him across the jar with the same. His younger brother fell to the ground shocked at the reaction, though his eyes held no anger - only confusion.*

"Let me realign you back with reality for a moment. Kamui - leads nothing. Little pretty princess sits tall on the throne while Shi'chi Rou, Kirai and I make the moves and he takes all the credit. Only reason he's there is because he's worn a tiara so long why not look good in a crown too? But note this for certain. We are behind enemy lines, stranded - and the only thing between us and home; is the entire brunt of the enemy forces. Kamui and most of the clan for that matter, are cowards. The ones that could help us will be busy doing the heavy lifting for him, the rest? They'd never risk their own lives for the sake of ours. Thats what it comes down to at the end of the day Zaku. Not what they can lose. But what they will sacrifice - to save their own skin. We're not getting help from anyone. No clan! No Jashin! Hell, I doubt theres any gods out there listening to us at all! Again - we'll just come down to the good ole basics. Pure, raw, uninhibited animalistic SLAUGHTER! And I'll have to do it again Zaku! I'll have to dig down inside of me and let that horrible monster out again! I ca-"

=The young Izanagi collapsed at the seams...there was more going on internally then what he could lead on. More then what he could tell his full blooded Uchiha brother. They'd only been bond brothers in truth, but he'd known the man for his entire life and claimed him as his own. He could never tell him the truth, or anyone for that matter. The Senju/Uchiha wars were difficult for him in ways that he could never reveal. As he collapsed he looked over at the man, whom had nothing but concern in his face for him. Here he was, behind enemy lines with his younger brother. An Uchiha. None the wiser that his own origins were further into the Senju then they were the Uchiha. He was a double agent, a Senju assassin - gone rogue, far from the ways of the Senju to do the impossible. End the cycle of hatred between the two clans...between the two incarnates - by doing what his ancestor Ashura would not. . . murdering every single Uchiha that he could possibly find. The frustrating and stressful thing about this scenario wasnt being stuck behind enemy lines. It was the internal battle....he had options - certainly more then Zaku knew. He could expose his cover, and go back across the enemy lines as the known progenitor incarnate. Hope that Zaku was more loyal to him anyhow and would keep his secret. He could kill Zaku all together, silence the only issue and reveal himself to the Senju. He'd make it back across not only without effort, but with support. . . he'd have to kill his little brother anyway to make his plan come to fruition, right? Or he could do it the hard way. And blow straight through the masses of Senju on the other side entirely - yes that'd work splendidly right? Kill more of his own blood. Dash them against the stones till their feet quit twitching - it wouldnt effect him right? What was one more dead senju? What was one more body of the people he was actually fighting for? What was one more sleepless year of nightmares....seeing his mother's face in every Senju woman he'd kill along the way. . . He couldnt do it, he knew it - all the blood on his hands he'd come to rue it. He grit his teeth at the thought...this was a burden he had been carrying for a while. So long - putting his trauma behind him and wearing that emotionless face. He looked over aside of the campsite they made at the mask...the Azure mask of Seiryu...somehow - that mask gave him comfort, in a way that he didnt want to admit. It erased his identity. When he put that mask on, he wasn't Izanagi. He was Shi'No Ningen when he put that mask on, and his hate...his pain...his resentment - they manifested in full force in the form of absolute, unbridled, unrelenting wrath. He looked back upon the sunset as he refocused himself. And with a deep breath looking out at the rocky plains and fields and with a long exhale, eyes snapped open....he gaze upon the courtyard of the manor....as above - so below, past to present.

=The silhouette of Izanagi lingered there at the window. Absolutely still and unmoving, it appeared that he was standing there with his back to the group unmoving and unspeaking even so much as unflinching stiller then a statue as he gaze out at the land. Perhaps in contemplation. They were all here, and unbeknownst to them he had been watching their travels all along this time - in vivid detail at that. The moment that they came up on the elevator, a small insect would hop down from Sentou waistline and scurry across the floor over to the silhouette of the man, standing there as motionless and horrifical still as he had been when they first made it here and he watched from above at the window. Maybe he was just going through it all. Perhaps for once in his life, Izanagi had nothing to say - stuck in the contemplating of how to explain to Kirinji or to Sentou, what to do with Eiji and Ko, and how would he manage Kasami's eye, Hitoko's miscarriage. Things that all transpired with the exception of Kirinji and Sentou here in Naraka, under his umbrella - his watch. The man was just as undetectable as ever, not so much as a sound, chakra signature, life force - hell, not even a smell as he maintained position...he knew that there was something to bare - and a lot to answer for and explain. And most of all he knew two here in particular may be...less then happy to see him. He'd give the floor to them in particular, awaiting what they had to say before he acted.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

Kasami dreaded what awaited them at the top of the lift, but even still- when the time came she was the first to step off of it. Crossing the small gap between the lift and the floor they arrived on, she stared at the silhouette in front of the window. She was so unsure of how to feel. There was a sense of familiarity, though extremely vague, radiating through her. This was their goal since they’d come to Naraka- to make it here. Now that they were, she’d have thought her first feeling would be relief. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t any of the things she’d expected it to be. Excitement, anxiety, gratitude. It was... uncertainty.

Where would they go from here? Would they be prepared for that path? Did they have time to ask questions? Get their bearings? She wanted to talk to her team one on one. She needed time for that though, and she didn’t know if they had it.

She didn’t step too far into the room away from the group, lingering close enough that she could still be in proximity of Ko. He seemed unsettled, though who wouldn’t be. She’d found it more exciting and fascinating than scary, especially after she found out that they were on their side. Nothing to be afraid of there, right? Right...?​

 

[Oni Archives]

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Uncontrollable rage. That was what he was feeling. It was etched into his very fibers at this point. Embedded deep into him. It was like the very air he was breathing in, allowing to circulate through his lungs, and exhaling back out was rage. Memories kept flooding back and back until the elevator stopped. Kirinji waited in the back, patiently, allowing everyone to get off the elevator as he was in the back. However, there were parts of Kirinji that were still there. He didn’t know what came over him, but being this close to Izanagi after all this time and with the memories coming back—it made for a lethal concoction.

Control was the name of the game and Kirinji played it well. Or he had, up until this point. He stayed there in the elevator even after the back. His eyes closed as head down, but his eyelids twitching like he was in a trance. Then it happened. Something that hadn’t happened in a very, very long time. No one had seen it. Sentou, Kasami, Eiji, Ko, Kiyoshi, Ikki—this entire trip he had done so well and kept control of himself. Hell, even Ayako had never seen this side of Kirinji as well. It must have been ages since he had been like this...

Long Time Ago, A Real Long Time Ago

”You’ve lost your touch, Eikou.” The young blue-haired Uchiha spoke. ”What’s that what you said all those years ago? ‘What’s my resolve? Killing everyone and everything that stands in front of me.’ Yeah, that’s what you said wasn’t it? Where’s that resolve now?” Half way through his sentence you could hear the other man known as EIkou Uchiha Tengu coughing, once upon a time a powerful mixed member of the Uchiha and Senju Clan. Years ago, many had put Kirinji and EIkou into the same bracket. Kouwei as well, but he was never at their level. Those three. They trained together. They fought wars together. They were brothers in arms. But one day, Kirinji just snapped. This was when he was still a young man, consumed by war. The blue-haired man kneeled down beside the man coughing up blood. A sword stuck in Eikou’s back anchored him to the ground and a sheepish smile painted on Kirinji's face. ”I just want you to kno-”

The elevator Kirinji was in suddenly began to violently shake, but this was Naraka, and all the equipment was top-grade. It would surely catch their attention, whether they were in conversation with Izanagi or not. From the elevator stepped out the war-washed veteran radiating an energy foreign to the majority in the room. Even himself. The aura washed over his body and moved as if it had a life of its own. Dark magenta in color and consuming him entirely. At this point of time, no one in the room mattered to him. They were merely in the way. His crimson-three tomeo optics were fixated on Izanagi and only Izanagi. Never did they waver toward the others. Kirinji pointed at Izanagi violently, his hand visible shaking.

”Where the fuck have you been?” His voice sharp, full of distaste and anger. ”You became the Uchiha Lord and left without notice. Left me without notice. Left me with a bunch of children who began to fight over the throne. The worst part isn’t even that you left. The worst part is you didn’t take me with you.” He was slowly approaching Izanagi, getting closer and closer. ”You knew well that I did not like it there. That I only endured their stench of stagnation because you were there. So tell me. Tell me, what was so important for you to just up and leave—without a word, without notice! Tell me!” Kirinji was breathing hard after shouting at Izanagi. By this point he was no more than a few arm lengths away from the man.

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[Oni Archives]

There was a pit in Aya's stomach that just grew larger and larger with time. Every now and then she'd steal glances between Kirinji and the top of the elevator. It felt like shadowed hands of unease were reaching over to grab at her, tugging at her clothing and pulling her backwards into the darkness. After everything that happened in Naraka since being here, what was the worst feeling she'd had thus far? Was it this one? The desperate unease and feeling of unknowing, the despair she felt while being demolished by someone much stronger than herself while trying to find her husband, the loss and emptiness, or was it the growing feeling of loneliness. Being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people made her feel lonely.

Ayako's ears picked up Eiji's whispering to Kasami, prompting Aya to lift her hand and wave with a small smile. Though it was polite to introduce herself, Ayako didn't feel like opening her mouth to speak. Perhaps the wave and smile were more for her to ease the stress she was feeling rather than to be polite to Eiji. Just then, the elevator breached the surface of it's destination and Ayako squeezed her eyes shut before she could see anything. She wasn't prepped. What if she saw something unsightly? She had no idea what to expect once her eyes fluttered open and she wasn't sure how much more she could take. Ayako breathed in slowly, trapping her breath within her lungs for roughly two seconds before she slowly let it out. As she was exhaling her eyes opened and she saw...A statue? She squinted but the light was in the way. It looked like a statue of someone standing by the window and maybe enjoying the changes of the day and night. In a way, this statue-like person scared her more than the idea of not knowing what she was going to find up here. Though, as if on instinct...Ayako followed Kasami out of the elevator and then stopped once she was out, wondering why on Earth she had just stepped out of that elevator.


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[Oni Archives]

Confusion, fear, excitement, and depression. These four emotions were running rapidly through Eiji's mind as he looked around the group as the elevator was rising to the top floor. Eiji was excited about reaching the group's main goal. They made it to Izanagi safely this was something to be excited for but confusion and fear came after that. Why did fear and confusion come after the excitement started to die down?

Various reasons for Eiji, he was confused about what would happen once the elevator reached the top, he was still confused about why Kirinji was radiating such negative energy, negative energy so strong and different from normal and lastly, he was confused about everything Izanagi might know about himself, his connection to the Burning Dawn Puppeteer. The fear came from so many factors and Kirinji his teammate was yet another of those reasons, he feared the negative emotions that poured out from Kirinji so vehemently, he also feared losing his current teammates that he was starting to connect with, and lastly, he feared the idea that his connection to the Burning Dawn Puppeteer might hurt his teammates or himself in. His depression came from the idea that he had hurt his teammates in the past and Izanagi or someone else may bring this up.

All these thoughts, emotions, and ideas were running through Eiji's mind as the elevator rose up, and there before the group hidden in a silhouette was the man, the myth, the legend Izanagi Uchiha. Eiji had only read legends about him from Hiruzen's notes and his father constantly warning him about the dangers of encountering this man. He could only now slightly understand the depth of those words, the idea of what it meant to stand before him. Eiji would look around his team before seeing Kasami step slightly forward not far from the team into the room. Eiji saw her bravery and was so impressed by it.

Kasami's bravery was then abruptly hidden away by Kirinji, whose voice would be heard sharply coming out with such anger, hatred, and disgust that it could not be ignored by Eiji and his newly acquired and recently practiced ability to sense negative emotions. He now found an answer to why Kirinji had such Darkness coming from him today and especially at this moment. Eiji's eyes would open wide as he looked at Kirinji, the feelings of his newfound friend, the deep pain hidden behind those other emotions, and the idea that Eiji wanted to help wanted to be someone Kirinji could lean on but had no clue how to approach him for such. Eiji could only stand there gripping his soft small somewhat feminine hands tight into a fist so strong to the point a bit of blood would be spilled from the center of his palm.

Eiji could only sit there in silence waiting for Izanagi to respond, waiting for some idea to come to him as a way to help or even just open up better to show he wishes to be there for his team and even more so, opening himself up and working on being a stronger person so his team won't feel such pain in the future if he can prevent it. There was so much about to happen and so much that had started just from stepping off the elevator to approach Izanagi that his question to Kasami early about who Ayako was had become completely ignored and lost not only to himself but seemingly Kasami as well. The thing most important now was their approach to Izanagi or at least in Eiji's mind, how the rest of them will approach this scene or even how the rest of them will approach Izanagi in general about the more than likely billions of questions that will come through their minds and have a proper conversation about what was the next step in their journey.​

 

[Oni Archives]

-Boom, boom, boom, boom-

The sound of his footsteps closing the gap between him and the back of Izanagi's silhouette approached with baited rage and intention within them. Kirinji was on the war path, and it was apparent even to a blind man at this point. You could hear it in his voice, feel it in his presence, smell it on his skin, everything about him was in absolute astonishment and disdain at the audacity of the man known as Izanagi to have left him back in those times. They were rough times indedd, admittedly. Caim had died not too shortly before, and almost all of the Uchiha of respectful repute had either died, or gone into hiding by that point. It was to no consequence at the time since Izanagi had remained under their banner - he'd carried them to victory before and the clan had faith that he would again and thus...stability reigned strong. But - as Kirinji had stated here in this very moment, suddenly Izanagi had vanished - and with it all semblance of stability vanished just as quickly, and now here he was - standing before Kirinji just a few feet apart; it must have been like some sort of illusion to him. The kind of feeling where something has seemed to be so far ahead of oneself that you have to check constantly whether or not you're dreaming or awake. "Tell me." The Uchiha Veteran demanded harshly, sharply, stingingly to the back of the silhouette in a manner so strong that it demanded support:

"Damnit man - tell him! Matter of fact - tell THEM! The people need to know!"

A voice called from...behind them? The voice would be familiar to quite a few and not to the others but had they turned their heads just a bit they would find that behind them would be standing a man in a pristine white lab coat. This man being none other than Izanagi himself. His expression was blank - almost clueless as he had been watching Kirinji and the others as they arrived on the lift, with set perfectly in the space where the hole was in the room, a platform becoming now whole with the floor. He'd had been here the entire time they came up and before them? Well. . . there was an explanation for that. Izanagi moved between the group, he could have gone around but it was more efficient to him to awkwardly shuffle between everyone: "Excuse me, pardon me - hi nice to meet ya. Izanagi Mikoto? You are? Hi Im Izzy, and you? Ooo - party favors dont mind if I do. **he pinched Eiji's thigh and fondled Kasami's rear a bit, slipping between her and Ayako only to quickly inhale and glance down at cleavage of the Okami woman** "You smell nice." *perhaps an internal gag at the fact that the woman with heightened senses had not picked up an odor to indicate his position...or maybe he just liked her smell? You never knew with Izanagi. He slipped between everyone, released from the grouping with a spin move recovering to a position in which he could face Kirinji again - though the moment that he did such

-Abject horror and almost primordial trepidation-

It would have taken an expert eye to catch it, needless to say that the intended target would catch it no problem, being kirinji and given the fact that he had his sharingan active. It was subtle, no way that anyone behind Izanagi would be able to see it but the intensity of it would be drastic enough to cut back the paint off these very walls with the sheer force behind how striking a look he would give. Without a doubt - Kirinji would know the look...in a manner that he -did not- know the look...but recognizing the same beast, with bigger teeth, was no difficult feat - and Kirinji had seen Izanagi focused on eradicating a target before. However, for the briefest moment...it wasnt like Izanagi was looking at a person. It was like he was looking at a body - defying the laws of nature by walking around once more. This was not only a look of hostility or high tension - but a look that indicated he was soon to give his everything to dedicate towards the destruction if need be. But like said, it was waivering...and for a moment after you could tell that there was confusion in Izanagi's expression. Perhaps he had thought he'd seen something in Kirinji that he had not...for a moment. The man stopped there in front of him, for a minute he didnt say a word but soon he sighed and rubbed the back of his head:

"You've got questions. I know. All of you do - I'm certain. You've been through a great deal and Kiyoshi has told mem very much about the each of you. . . Except you - hi." **Pointing at Ayako** "If its answers that you want - then it is most certainly answers that you will have. But first, I have to ask - do you have a particular set of scrolls on your person at the moment? Curiosity."

That being said he would give a light shrug as if to say "no big deal" when he said curiosity in asking about the scrolls. His hands cupped together as he smiled lightly - nonchalant as if the tone between him and Kirinji was not tense for his abandonment of the clan all that time ago...how was he to know though? There were many reasons he left, though one and the biggest was absolutely the issue going on in Naraka, the issue that may never be discussed was the fact that Izanagi had been a spy from the Senju clan. When he'd learned the truth about the clan and origins of their power - he had vowed to take it upon himself and end the grudge between the incarnates by doing what his predecessor, Ashura ddi not have the heart to do. Eradicate his brother, entirely. That would have meant - none can survive. Not even Kirinji, who during his time in the clan he had come to acknowledge as a good friend and comrade - among other things even Kirinji hadn't known about yet. If he were to go through with his plan - absolute elimination of the uchiha clan's ability to procreate, he would have had to done such in every single member that existed. . . he'd come to know and care about. Not only had things in Naraka called him, but he couldnt bring himself to do that. . . it had become far too easy, no pleasure to be gained from any of it. So there he stood, looking upon Kirinji waiting for the inquiry as to the scrolls to be answered, though in typical fashion..it could be said that maybe...Izanagi already knew the answer to this - and he was just...checking something.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

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The anger had clouded his vision as he realized that he was not speaking to Izanagi, but a cut out of him. Ironic wasn’t it? Kirinji was blessed enough to be born an Uchiha and have access to a set of ocular abilities that provide exceptional clarity, yet he couldn’t see past his rage. The concept is even funnier when you take the curse into account. When he heard the voice call out from behind him, it was like his eyes rolled back to the back of his head and his body followed shortly after until he was facing Izanagi Mikoto completely. What he was feeling never faded. That rage? It trinkled through his veins and set his body ablaze like a match being thrown into a pool of gasoline. The wrath vividly dancing in his eyes like a flame lit candle.

His eyes never lifted off of Izanagi and they watched as he awkwardly routed his way through the rest, paying no mind to his commentary to any of them. This was normal for Izanagi, and most times, Kirinji would entertain them. However, circumstances were different in comparison to the past. He shouldn’t have been this mad. Why was he this mad? Had he snapped? Had the nuts inside his mind become loose? Answers that could potentially be answered soon. As Izanagi made his eye through the people, he noted Izanagi made a face. A very specific face in fact. A face that he had never seen Izanagi make before. Was that fear he tasted in the air radiating off Izanagi? Soon, it changed into something ferocious. While he stood there, it seemed as if Izanagi was looking through him.

Izanagi asked him the question and when he finished Kirinji’s eyes narrowed in on Izanagi making direct eye contact with him. A clear look of confusion plastered on his face as if he looked off toward the others briefly. Had this man just completely disregarded his question and asked about a set of scrolls, something which seemed frivolous at the time? Kirinji was taken aback and you could visually see it by the way he jerked his head back and nodded side to side slowly. ”Tch.” There was no point in arguing with Izanagi, especially with the switch personality. Kirinji humored it. He reached toward his back and you could hear a pouch unclick as two scrolls dropped out into his hands. Kirinji brought his hand back around so it was hovering in front of his stomach. Palm facing up and open, two scrolls sitting there ready for Izanagi to take. Ruminations Of Bladed Thesis, Volume I and Volume II. He had another scroll, but he had moved that into a pocket dimension to call forth in time of need. So these two scrolls were the only thing upon him. Why did Izanagi have an interest in them? He had no clue, but whatever got him to answers.

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[Oni Archives]

It was with the settling jolt of the elevator coming to a complete stop that alerted Sentou that they had finally arrived at their destination, the boy’s eyes snapped open as jaded oculars expanded while he searched for some form of visual data to consume. He hadn’t noticed it during his first observation, however as his eyes continued to scan the unknown territory a second time, Sentou discovered the silhouette of another standing at a window as if contemplating something. Try as he may, the Kenzai orphan couldn’t make heads or tails of this mysterious figure, but deep down his gut was determined to believe they were indeed in the presence of the Lord of Naraka. They finally did it. His throat clenched as he tried to swallow his anxiety. He had thought about this day for so long, yet he felt as if he were in stasis. His body refused to respond to his initial thought of charging into the room to question Izanagi himself, was he stricken with fear?

Whereas Kasami may have been the first to disembark from the elevator, Sentou would be the last soul to vacant its contents as he poured into the room rather hesitantly. It wasn’t until Kirinji spoke up with a rather heated attitude that the orphan would feel his negative restraints lift from his body. Simply listening and watching as the blue-haired individual questioned Izanagi on his abandonment made an inner flame within the Kenzai flourish; anger and mistrust took a toll on the once kindred spirit. A darkness glazed over his eyes as he grit his teeth and balled the units of his fingers into a fist before stepping forward. “Why’d you do it..?” His voice trembled as he fought to remain as sane and collected as possible, the sudden way in which he spoke could easily be mistaken for Sentou adding on to Kirinji’s inquiries but in truth he was in fact questioning the Lord’s choice of killing Totsuka. The inside of the room grew hot expeditiously, suffocatingly so as the boy subconsciously conjoined his Fire and Wind chakra to create Scorch in defiance, but going even further beyond as the advanced principles of Nature Transformation excelled such heat to hazardous levels; the radiant silver sheen of the Kagutschi Jigoku no Hi expelled around his being as he glared intently at the man in questioning. “ Why didn’t you and Totsuka find a way to work together!? Why the fuck is the Takagamahara so important you killed your own flesh and blood? Why was it so important that he kept everything about the Oni secret from me? Did you both think you were doing me a service by leaving me in the dark!?” He spat angrily. The audacity of being left with nothing but confusion was causing the young lad to lash out in ways he wasn’t even capable of recognizing himself anymore. As if something dark and twisted was forcing its way out of Sentou to belittle the oh so powerful Izanagi himself. The raging torrent of metal-colored flames burned without harmony. Just before the situation could get more heated, the voice of another would call out from behind, insisting Izanagi answered their questions. The glint of dark crimson faded from his eyes as he realized what was happening. Relinquishing control of his chakra flow, the young man’s flames would quell until the room temperature regulated to its previous condition prior to the child looking over his shoulder to witness this newcomer. Diverting his gaze from the group as a whole, Sentou slowly separated himself from the others as he stood near the outer limits from everyone. He was unapologetic, he was unsure why such raw emotions even chose the time to surface as it had. This new stranger introduced themself as Izanagi which brought a look of shock to the boy’s face. Had he taken his anger out on the wrong person, believing the original entity to be Izanagi? He was none the wiser that in fact they both truly were an extension of Izanagi. He had unintentionally let the stress on his shoulders out with his outburst, there was nothing more for him to say for now. Silencing his mind, Sentou waited patiently to see what Izanagi had to say for himself. Maybe then he would feel better about his next course of action.

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[Oni Archives]

She stood there awkwardly for a moment wondering who would be the first to speak when Kirinji stormed past her into the room. The energy radiating from him made her extremely uncomfortable and as he spoke, she realized the reason he’d been looking for Izanagi- they had a past together. It was a lot to take in at the moment, everything he was saying, but she realized just how foolish she’d been when she was so guarded upon their meeting in Kagane. He hadn’t told her a whole lot, but she had questioned him as if he had no reason to be looking for the same person as she. And in fact, he had more of a reason. Maybe more of a reason than anyone-

No. In stormed Sentou, in close proximity to her, barraging his own set of questions to the silhouette at the window. The increasing heat in the room furthered her discomfort, her face becoming flushed as her own body temperature rose at the mercy of his fury. She was nearly sweating when a voice behind them chimed in. It had come with such a surprise that it actually caused the young Senju to jump slightly. How many times were they going to be snuck up on in this place alone? As she glanced over her shoulder at this person that was introducing himself as Izanagi, she made eye contact with him just as he was fondling her. She was so stunned by this that her reflexive gesture to swat his hands away were nowhere to be found, and she just followed him with her gaze in shock of the audacity he had into the room past everyone else. It was hard to tell if the heat was what had her cheeks burning red or the fact that a man she had never met had just groped her, but now that she was looking... for some reason he felt familiar.

There was silence around them for a moment until he questioned Kirinji on if he possessed a set of scrolls and by now, her curiosity was piqued, but she was also apprehensive. Her fellow shinobi seemed rather angry with Izanagi, and he wasn’t addressing the matter at hand but rather deflecting to a different one all together. Was it really that important? She was no doubt concerned for Kirinji and what she held felt coming from him, but Izanagi didn’t seem concerned. He just seemed... Well, quite honestly she couldn’t pin it. As much as she wanted to be able to read the room, she was completely out of her depth here. Things were at work, and had happened, that she had no part of, and as such she had no reason to stick her nose into it. She was there for them, if they needed her, that was all that mattered and all that she could do for them.

Part of her wanted to go to Kiri’s side and offer her support in whatever way she could but she was neither confident nor sure if he would even want her there. So she just stayed back closer to the elevator, even taking a few steps closer to the threshold nearest to Ko and Sakuya. And she just watched- unsure, but calm and collected with at least the certainty that if everyone else in the room was going to lose their cool, she’d be the one that didn’t for all of them.​

 

[Oni Archives]

Negativity, something everyone has experienced before, but for Eiji, it was something far greater than simply feeling it around himself because he knew someone was being toxic, treating them poorly, or just acting like a dick but Eiji no it was more than that. So much more as Eiji was able to actually sense the emotions of negativity, the toxicity in the air the same way someone would sense chakra or energy, and right now Eiji could sense the room filled with deep hatred, anxiety, nervousness, depression, and other negative emotions. They were swirling about his friends and teammates almost as if some of them were wearing it like a shroud or a cloak.

Eiji could feel the overwhelming and overpowering negativity in the air and become overwhelmed a bit as he had just begun to be able to harness his ability to sense negativity. This overwhelming negativity began to crush Eiji causing him to fall to the ground for a moment as he was attempting to catch his breath. His mind rushing as the negative emotions of rage and hatred from Sentou and Kirinji were crushing him. He wasn't even able to notice anything Izanagi did no it was so overwhelming for Eiji but he would adjust after a few minutes as Kirinji seemed to calm a bit and hand a scroll over to Izanagi. Afterwhich Eiji was able to stand back up and regain his composure as he looked at Sentou and Kirinji with a look mixed with sadness, pity, and confusion.

He wished he could understand them better, understand their past, see their past and be there to help them through it. He wanted to be a better person to help them have less pain in the future. He wasn't sure how or what else was coming for them in the future but he definitely wanted to grow and become stronger to work with his team and protect them. Right now, the major thing for him would be to adapt to his axon release and his ability to sense negativity so as not to be overwhelmed by it in the future.​

 

[Oni Archives]

[sub]((Previously, upon their arrival))[/sub]

"You...you don't think that'll work do you?"

"Well, I'm honestly not sure - but hey! I've done crazier things."

"...Hm...Crazy, not exactly the word I would use for it."

"Oh hush and give me the perception filter alloy."

=An exchange between Izanagi, and his prized Medical advisor whom in the time that he had been around - though reluctantly, had been quite a help to him and the people here in Naraka. The man put a green veiled gauntleted hand down in Izanagi's palm holding a golf ball sized vantablack cube that seemed to blur the light around the immediate vicinity of it. Izanagi placed this down in the base of a card board cut out of himself and stood upright, hands upon his hip smiling in a boyishly satisfied kind of way as he chuckled: "Now, with this being here in the window - with the perception filter there in the base of it, it should be far enough to allow it to be perceived, but altered just enough for no features, or any immediate presence to it to be made out. If this works - then we'll be able to move along with the second phase of the development." With that, Izanagi peeked over the shoulder of the cutout to outside, he knew that soon the students and other monks would be up and about but as he looked he saw something more unusual. They'd arrived. Izanagi couldnt help but chuckle mischievously as the doctor leaned around him a bit and inquired, unamused: "You....can't be serious can you? I don't think that'd be the best guinea pig." "No, its the perfect, Guinea pig. For many different reasons. You'll see." And with that being said Izanagi tip toed cartoonishly back away from the cut out as the elevator lowered with the good Doctor upon it: "Tch. If you need me, I'll be in my work station, doing actual adult things. Looking at what you've planned you may be seeing me with a fat lip and black eye very soon." meanwhile he scurried to the back of the room and looked upon the uplifted steps which he would usually sit upon the Black Throne. No throne present, but he wagered the group would be too stricken with anticipation to even bother looking behind them once they saw the decoy.=

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=By now Izanagi was standing before Kirinji. His body language depicting very many things to the skilled and seasoned eye in the field but it was that, the very reason as to why his presence was so concerning. The man was an expert at false signals. His mind was one that calculated every little thing that happened down to the T; and most times not only just calculated but simulated several different variances of the situation at hand several times over before settling with moving with the flow. Everything down to the way that his body moved, when he moved, where he moved - where he looked, how he breathed and even so much as the direction that his toes were pointing when he stood or sat addressing someone. . . subtle thing was it not? Something that many did not bother to pay attention to. Generally the natural thing for a person to do - entirely independent of their own conscious intention to or not to do so, was to turn your toes in facing the person of interest in the current moment. You could see it if you watched people, especially people that crossed their legs - a form of self soothing; one thing that was the hardest to shirk off was the direction you point your feet; towards the person if engaged or interested, maybe even cautious of, and away in the case that you were looking to divert away from the conversation, or maybe even look for an excuse or method to escape the conversation with said person. Izanagi's feet, were directly pointing towards Kirinji, it was upsetting in a way of speaking it was almost terrifying the way that the man stood there in such perfect posture facing him direct. But soon the time came that he brandished the scrolls, answering Izanagi's question and for a moment he raised his hand in a denying fashion and scooted them back towards Kirinji in a kind of "no thanks" way: "Ha - you hold onto them. They like you better." he said. It seemed like he was solely focused on the scrolls and not at all what both he and Sentou had been demanding answers towards when they arrived. However that was far from the case - although less in the priority scale for him. After all, the state of things in Naraka could have turned either one of them into a potential sleeper soldier without even them knowing it and for the moment it looked as if that may have actually been close to the case in the moment. Sakuya saw the way that both Kirinji and Sentou went off, and hearing what they were going off about she couldnt help but wince a slight bit almost in a kind of "Oh - theres more going on then i knew" kind of way. She took a few steps back and then suddenly in a sound like a gunshot she was gone in a pink flicker of light. For a moment there Izanagi took a deep breath - getting himself together for he knew that if he broke concentration it could mean the end of it all...and when he did such - the ground started to rumble and shake for an ever slight moment though it didnt seem to come from his body as the central focus point at all. He chuckled - the rumble an extreme indicator of the exact thing he was worried about and with it he gained a reminder to his focus. Suddenly - it was as if the contents of an entire ocean spilled from his body and washed through the room, much similar to the way that it worked in Tatsumi's healing ward there was a feeling of misplaced calm that would radiate from his body - but most of all, a feeling of slight inner weakness as if something had been taken from one self. A light green aura expanded from his body in mighty proportions and for a moment...he slipped...and forgot to be careful in the way that he moved. Turning away from Kirinji and towards the group as he started to walk -there would be a very distinct feeling. Had you ever gotten that odd sinking feeling in the stomach or chest? The kind you may get when going down the slope on a rollar coaster when you're running straight down into the dip? Well, that wasnt just because of the momentum of the movement - but in actuality it was the feeling of the looser organs in the body, intestines' and things of the sort being shifted and pushing against each other in your body. It's a wander people line up to experience it when you think about it. What would occur - even for those that had experiences similar instances before would be upon Izanagi turning and the moment that his shoulder would shift around; it was as if a wave of momentum in the room would turn with him and coil everything and everyone in the aftermath of its shift as it did such - imposing that sort of feeling on those that stood near in the room. . . this was because this instance of Izanagi was stuck at 30% rather than Izanagi's usual 10 and he had no way of dipping anywhere below . . . it was only upwards from here though that was good...in the case he was being used that would be the only direction he would want to go if need be anyway. The man started to walk - and despite the way that he smiled looking back between each of them he would sound as if he was not quite that pleased. Starting with Kirinji:

"The Uchiha clan...ha - its been a while since I've heard them referred to in anything but utmost disgrace and comedy. -he sighed- By now certainly you must know, you've always been ever curious. You know that I'm far more Senju, then I ever was Uchiha - but what you perhaps did not know Kirinji was that I was on a mission. A mission to kill them all, every single one of them. Even you. I couldnt stand to carry the task or the inner conflict anymore. The clan had become a glorified daycare, and I do so detest violence against children. Yes...that played a big part in it, it feels like so long ago. But you couldnt fully understand. No not without seeing you wont completely understand. Even what you have experienced here in Naraka so far - telling you "Things here got out of hand." wouldnt fully summarize it for you. I didnt want to kill you then, and I certainly didnt want to take you in that moment with me here, so you could just die later. . . -his eyes narrowed and his tone darkened- Could you imagine. How responsible I would have felt if you came here and just ended up like one of the other villages? Counting yourself among those that died the way they did in Kagane?" -He lingered on the thought for a moment- "No, you needed to grow more first. Grow stronger, more open minded, more wise. You'd always found me, somehow. I knew you had the tenacity and one day when you find me again - it'd be apparent on you. Apparent that you were ready. But you had to stay first. Stay and witness what true weakness means. What a sorry excuse for shinobi the world was birthing. "

-With this being said he stopped walking, off to the side of the entire group and looking over at Sentou, whom admitedly the explanation to his question was far...far more complex then he would be able to explain in this moment. He was obviously feeling a lot and thought it didnt show on the surface, so was Izanagi. Though truth be told - there were many things and suspicions about the situation that he couldnt tell Sentou, and with such being known - out came that master of misdirection spoken of before as a wide brimmed smile spread across his face and he said:

"Isnt that what most Uchiha are good at? Killing their siblings? He was in my way." -A true statement one way or another, but he said it to set the tone, no telling what effect it would have upon the young warrior but either way he would soon follow up saying: "I didn't want to. I loved my brother and he had been missing for so long. But the truth is the truth, and on that night I discovered the location of the Takamagahara and how to save these people. And Totsuka chose the secrecy and preservation of The Takamagahara, over the safety and future of all the people here. One - for the lives of several thousands? I had to do something. Killing him was a no brainer."

=With that being said he continued on walking, till the time came that he got around the group - in which he and Ko passed awkward eye contact in which Ko looked almost defiant despite the presence of the Bitoku in the room. This made Izanagi nod his head to an inner thought and continue to walk to the stand in which his throne would usually be upon before turning around, at this angle facing Sentou had he not moved from his previous stance and looking over everyone else as well. He was waiting - almost as if he was trying to see if the answer that he gave would be enough for Sentou or if it would only more him to spite. Regardless should either of them take the reigns of the conversation, which he was sure Kirinji would opt to moving forward he would continue on in the sted of working it in with them. But then it hit him, he tapped his lower lip and then pointed to the ceiling as if to say "aha - oh yeah." and looked to Kirinji gest at the scrolls: "Those scrolls. You should be careful. Others besides myself may not recognize it so well but the influence of Cruelty's Hadou can be intoxicating. Reading the scrolls? It'll taint you. Make you act out in ways not quite like yourself. Do you feel it? Boney finger tips wrapped around the corners of your mind? When storing them, I'd keep them as distant from your person as possible. If the TENGU see the scrolls and that Hadou in you, they'll cut you down on sight."​

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A puzzled expression vividly became apparent when Izanagi had gestured in denying fashion. It almost made a wire become loose inside his brain as the first question that popped into his mind was ”Why waste my time asking then?” He wouldn’t put it past Izanagi to have already known about the scrolls, so he could have very well been asking about something he already knew the answer to. In reality, it wasted both their time. And not only that, but he still hadn’t answered his main concern. However, before he could express his anger again the ground began to shake and rumble, and then suddenly—a green aura washed through the room akin to the one in Tatsumi’s healing ward. However, this time, it wouldn’t affect Kirinji the same it did before. Perhaps it was the Hadou from the scrolls which caused him to retain his anger. Fortunately, it had died down due to the rumble that occurred. Kirinji began to put some information together. Izanagi concentrating, the ground beginning to rumble, and the calming radiating aura that followed. It wasn’t met for them, it was meant for him. There was something he was hiding.

They were then hit with something odd when Izanagi turned away from them. He hadn’t been foreign to this concept. The last time it occurred it was from the flip of a wrist. This time from him turning away. It never seemed to end. A sinking feeling in his stomach outstripped his current anger all from the momentum of the movement. Kirinji stood his ground and did not showcase even an ounce of discomfort from the shift. Then came the words and answers he had been waiting for. The reason Izanagi abandoned him back in the Waking World with those children. Oddly enough, his reasoning was sound. As Kirinji listened to the words of the man, they weren’t shocking revelations or anything of that sort, but more so a relief to finally have answers. And he was right. From the encounters Kirinji has had thus far, back then, he wouldn’t have survived these levels of encounter. He had room for growth. He still does.

However, one thing continued to bug him. Just like back then and just like now, there were lies. Well, they weren’t necessary lies, but selective information was being told to them. And with Izanagi, he wouldn’t put it past that to be the truth. Even now, they weren’t being told the cause of the rumble. Yes, Izanagi lost concentration and had to recollect himself, but that isn’t the true reason. Izanagi moved forward responding to Sentou and Kirinji allowed him to answer without interrupting. He had a lot on his mind and a lot of questions at that. Key words, recurring words. “Takamagahara”. A few times he had heard that now and the more in the dark he was in it. What was it? From the way Izanagi had responded, it sounded like some power source. Kirinji began speaking once Izanagi was done, his tone still purposely aggressive. “Lies then, lies now. Or rather, not entirely. You tell the truth, but you withhold information purposely in manipulative fashion. Don’t you?” He didn’t expect him to answer that and continued forth. ”You’re right. I wasn’t ready back then. If I had entered into this world then, I would have surely ended up as a casualty. Now, I’m here and to be honest with you, I’m not sure whether or not I’m ready, but I have no choice. I’ve fought for you before and I’ll do it again. But. If you want me to be effective, if you want us to be effective, we need the whole picture. We need to know what we are up against, what we are fighting against, the parties in play, all of that. Including why this place just started shaking and what exactly is the Takamagahara.” He’d inhale deeply, closing his eyes as he finished talking. Kirinji retracted his crimson three-tomeo optics. ”Priorities. Priorities.” When his eyes opened on the exhale, they were no longer the Sharingan, but instead his regular lavender eyes.

When Izanagi mentioned the scrolls and how he should keep them off his person, Kirinji flipped his wrist in the same manner that Izanagi had during one of their many encounters. Unfortunately, it was not mass-vertigo inducing and only faded away from the scrolls into a storage dimension, one that was void of everything and consisted only of the scrolls. He felt the boney fingertips wrapped around the corner of his mind. And in retrospect, it indeed was playing an intoxicating factor in his anger. For someone that was consistently in control of his emotions, he seldomly was ever truly angry. ”I purchased these scrolls from a silver-haired merchant under the guise that it was some wives tale. The way he described it was about some legends and myths of the Sanzou Monk known as Bladed Thesis, one of the first monks and the first Oni to ever exist. That it was mere fiction. But judging from your interest, judging from your cautionary words, and judging from the potential of what could occur if I ran into the Tengu and what they will do—and what the scrolls did to me, it isn’t all hearsay, is it? You can guess my next few questions. Who is Bladed Thesis?”

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[Oni Archives]

A look of confusion encompassed his face as he stared at the individual they first encountered in the room to the second stating they were Izanagi. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t feel guilty for flying off the hinges, but for all he knew it wasn’t like he had planned on it. It wasn’t until the loud sound of a pop signifying Sakuya’s departure and the green wave of familiar energy washed over the room that Sentou realized this was the real deal...but why was this expanding wave so familiar...it was much like back at the temple when Ko was a victim to what’s his faces miasma. Sentou had since learned the name of the man, something along the line of Dai-something, but the importance of his time wasn’t the matter at hand after all. When the , Bitoku energy flared through the room, Sentou took it as a sign they had enraged the Lord of Naraka, but it didn’t take long for him to realize it wasn’t truly meant for them as the room shook as if it had a life of its own...just what was Izanagi, what was the Takahagamara in its fullest? Just shortly before Izanagi began to explain the situation to both Kirinji and he, jaded orbs looked towards Ko. To be truthful he didn’t know much about the man, he was hot headed yet reliable, that’s all that matters right? There was a lot at play that he just didn’t quite understand, but time would soon tell eventually. And so, he listened to Izanagi speak, having turned his gaze back to the man in question of course as the latter mentioned very nonchalantly that that’s what Uchiha’s do; kill siblings. The moment Izanagi claimed Totsuka was simply in his way, the child bit back his bottom lip, trying not to let his emotions sway in a time like this. Trying to display restraint, Sentou silently wished to curse the Lord but waited until the man stated he didn’t want to kill his brother. At least what he had learned from the Merchant at Byakko’s tea shop was true...wait. He looked up with a strange sense of deja-vu, curious but unsure if the matter was true or not. Kirinji had mentioned obtaining these scrolls from a silver-haired merchant - the one he had encountered had hair of such and even knew the location of his teammates, if not even more that he withheld for Sentou’s safety. Waiting for Izanagi to finish speaking so he wouldn’t rudely interrupt, Sentou started to ask about who this merchant was until Kirinji followed up with Izanagi, questioning the Takamagahara, as well as a name he had yet to hear of - The Bladed Thesis. He sealed his lips, was there even a reason for mentioning this merchant? He was better off staying silent for the time being to learn the true scope of what they were truly dealing with. An intent stare, not one of malice, was directed once more at Izanagi as Sentou mentally readied himself for the horrors they were to discover.

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[Oni Archives]

- For a moment there Izanagi mused over the thought. "Silver haired merchant." That was the bad thing about it wasnt it? Being the king? You tend to forget about the little people - or at least not get much time to interact with them for most of the business that went through Naraka was something that was handled by Genichiro and other Tengu Legion soldiers, not to mention KAISEI personnel. He hadnt much time to deal with that kind of thing with everything that had been put on his plate, and it was in that moment that the premise of that showed him a chip in his shield. This silver haired merchant, he had heard that kind of description before to speak of a merchant of mysterious repute that knew more then he should have....it was something that had been said before - to describe himself. "Im just a traveling merchant, never fought a day in my life." he would remember telling village officials when he was roaming the waking world under the guise of a humble shop owner. And it was the same, no one had time to investigate every merchant coming in and out of a nation - so no one knew, now he too was subject to that same vulnerability. He'd admire the poetry in it if it wasnt for how much it irritated him to say: "I'm not sure of who that merchant is - but its no folk tale." -He paused for a moment at the way that Kirinji had mentioned misinformation for the purpose of manipulation and for a second - Izanagi became legitimately pissed off, but it was only for a brief second...though for that second - it was as if an outside force jumped to salvage his temperment....jumped to save them - an icy wave cascading over the room as everything seemed to blur for just a slight second, and Izanagi seemed shocked himself, as if reminded of his own need to remain calm and started to mutter: [sub]"I dont need you to monitor my temper too."[/sub] -before he got back to it- "Misinformation you say? Heh One in a position of power, must be careful what he says and what he shows to people. You could have a force more then strong enough to defeat the enemy, but once they see the sheer numbers of their forces - they lose morale and that loss of morale is what turns a capable bunch of fighters, into a waste of flesh on the battlefield. But you say - you're ready to see the numbers...in truth, heh" -he paused, taking note of how Sentou looked over at Ko and for a moment there, Ko looked between the two, Sentou and Izanagi wondering why they were both giving him this odd look - only for Izanagi to chuckle and nod his head, walking towards them so he too could stand on the elevator: "Come on then. Lets go - so I can show you the face of your enemy. I'll try and explain what I can." =And with that Izanagi would stand upon the platform they had all been upon, waiting for them to wrangle up back on the elevator for it to go down again. Once they were all there and the elevator started moving, he would begin swaying back and forth on his heels in a sort of childish manner. Obviously somewhat contagious - Ko started to do the same in a weird bubbly kind of way like a kid happy to mimic the others on the playground before he snapped out of it and planted his feet firm, taking a few steps back from the man. "Manipulation" Izanagi repeated with a chuckle on his lips, thinking about how many genjutsu he knew he could slip here and there, how many genjutsu he could force - and how many techniques he had for complete and utter indoctrination and mind control. He was astounded at the idea. His power - back in the waring nations period and now, lay in control and his ability to force it where needed. The thought he needed to do like Kami did.....like Kamui did.....Like Mikaboshi did, and manipulate anything - it struck a nerve with him. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with a chuckle before continuing: "As I said, Bladed Thesis is no wives tale. He - is the true first Oni. A literal demon manifested from the core of Naraka itself. A man posessed by the insatiable need to destroy all life as it exists till there is nothing left. And the reason behind much of the destruction I wrought as Shi No Ningen. In the waking world, there was a point where I changed. There were still parts of me that knew mercy. Adhered to a code for things. Then - after I dawned the Mask of Seiryu and became an Oni. I changed. Merciless, I'd destroy anything and anyone that stood in my way - I even handicapped Kirai, a man whom I trusted and was close to for ages. And I did it all with no hesitation. Because I was fueled by what is known as Hadou of Cruelty, the very same thing that those scrolls impression upon you and influenced your outburst back there. The scrolls are an account of Bladed Thesis' last moments of humanity before the Oni erased every form of man within him. Bladed Thesis in truth is just the body, a vessel for the Oni - Shuten'Douji, a vile creature that in the days of Naraka's birth arouse from within the planet to consume all life and challenge the Ancient dragon of the heavens whom gave to us the Nirvana Fountainhead waters - from which the stream of life flows through. The two fought for ages, and eventually came to a stalemate that locked them both together over the Nirvana Fountainhead waters. But in those last moments - Shuten vowed to violate and destroy everything the Dragon of the heavens had created and given the people of Naraka. And so it wounded itself, and bled corruption into the fountainhead waters. Bladed Thesis, is a result of what happens when the spirit of Shuten Douji - finds an applicable host to bind itself to. And Hadou Of Cruelty, is the spiritual energy of Shuten - bled into the Nirvana Fountainspring corrupting the thoughts and emotions of Oni or those close to its influence that are capable of using spiritual energies. Back then when I was making a name for myself in the waking world, trying to gain strength to defeat Mikaboshi - Bladed Thesis touched my mind and heart, and lead me on a warpath. Hadou Of Cruelty gripped my mind and erased my humanity, allowing me to summon Shi No Ningen." =It may have been a lot to take in, but Izanagi continued to explain , showing zero signs of wavering as if he had gone over this to someone a million times, hands in pockets as the elevator reached the next floor below. Once it stopped his eyes went up to a gigantic door sitting behind a desk, looking similar in size and design to a great Rashoumon wall. This had been the very same door that he and Ikki had walked past before and he had not wanted to go into detail with while he was here. He'd soon step off the elevator and begin walking towards it - looking to the woman behind the desk with a nod and serious expression to meet her own worried expression before she quickly got away from the area. He'd stop in front of the door and rub the back of his neck in thought. This could be very bad, for them that is - not so much for himself or anything. The door had been sealed shut for quite some time, hopefully the sheer amount of chakra and Hadou being expelled wouldnt have too much of adverse effects once here. Though the air would begin to get weary for those that were there at the time Kagane village was destroyed. The same dark, uncomfortable, and dreadful feeling that they felt as they had been watching children and families float off into the sky into those tents...it'd be thick in the air now. Izanagi continued: "Well. You wanted to know what you were up against. The odds and what you have to contend with. I'll show you. Subsequently - it will also be the reason that I can not go with you on this journey. So tell me....are you sure you want to put your eyes on this? Any of you that wish not to look, I wouldnt blame you."​

 

[Oni Archives]

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Even Kirinji got an odd feeling mentioning the silver-haired merchant. He knew little about him and it was because the merchant designed it that way. Kirinji valued information and in a way he was thankful that the merchant provided them with valuable information, but at what price? It felt as if he had made deals with the devil. Kirinji said not a word once he had finished speaking. He merely listened to what Izanagi was saying, even when he muttered to himself about his temper. The way he worded the sentence was strange, as if he were talking to another part of himself or something else. An icy wave wafted throughout the room just before which threw Kirinji off because there was so much happening. The building shook, the presence of bitoku, and now this. Despite that, he focused his attention back onto Izanagi and what he was saying.

Izanagi always had a way with words. Words were important to him and he knew which word to use and how to use it. A silver-tongue, eloquent and persuasive. Majority of the time, he found himself agreeing with what Izanagi had to say. When he gestured them to follow he did as such and stood beside Izanagi as the elevator took them down. As Kirinji listened, it all sounded as if he were being told some mythological story of how the Oni were created, but it was just a myth. That much had been verified. He also didn’t know how to feel. The spirit of Shuten'Douji was so powerful that it could infect others, even Izanagi. He too had experienced the Nirvana Fountainhead Waters. What he didn’t know was if there was only one or many. Does that mean that everyone latently carried a part of Shuten Douji? So many questions, including where was Bladed Thesis? Was he alive or dead, and what does that mean for Naraka? Instead of guessing, Kirinji opted to ask directly. ”Bladed Thesis, he’s alive or dead?”

Eventually, the elevator stopped and they arrived at the next floor below. The elevator doors doors opened and there he saw a door to which he assumed held the answers they were looking for. Even before they had gotten onto the elevator, Izanagi described it as “Come on then. Let's go - so I can show you the face of your enemy.” Face our enemy, what does that exactly mean? As Kirinji stepped off the elevator and became closer and closer to the door, a sudden wave of familiarity hit him like a truck. He grit his teeth and his eyebrows furrowed as he felt the same ominous and dreadful feeling as he did back in Kagane Village. The ever feeling brought back the smell of blood in the air. It was so strong that it tinged the air and left a pungent taste in his mouth. A feeling he thought he’d never experience again. It was like he was laying down and someone left an immovable weight upon his chest. Izanagi asked them if they were ready, and Kirinji was hesitant from the moment he had stepped off and felt that feeling, but he nodded back to the man in confidence, awaiting for him to open the door.

He didn't know what was behind the door, not even an idea or concept of what it was. All he knew was that it had something to do with what occurred at Kagane Village, a place where hundreds if not thousands of people had died without discrimination of whether or not they were male, female, or even children. Civilians of all shapes and sizes were killed without so much as a second thought. And blood. All that blood. Whatever it was, it needed to be stopped.

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[Oni Archives]

Intense was a very good word to describe the flow of conversation, starting from Kirinji's outburst until now. Everything that was spoken about was more about Kirinji and Sentou's past rather than the team as a whole which beyond the major context of the conversation there were minute details that Eiji could not understand but he did get one thing and it was something Izanagi pointed out. Something that caught his attention quickly and drew him in like a moth to a flame, and the flame was probably something more dangerous for Eiji at the moment. He could feel it from not only the words Izanagi spoke but the irritation Eiji could feel from underneath his voice.

He continued listening to the conversation before Izanagi directed the group back towards the elevator as he wanted to guide them to something. As Eiji looked at Izanagi and Ko who exchanged glances at one another before Kirinji got on as well. As Eiji followed shortly behind Kirinji listening to the story of the oni mythos but before they got off the elevator as Eiji would pose the question to Izanagi, "That's interesting but haven't we been against the Masked Salesman or someone? And if I am correct what does he have to do with you, with Thesis, with the Oni at all?" These questions would be interrupted as they entered the floor with the massive door due to Eiji's sudden sense of intense pain.

The pain came from three major places but the brunt of which was on the outer layer of Eiji's skin. The sensation of intense flames spreading across his skin combined with a feeling of every nerve ending upon his skin peeling away, rather than something that could kill him it was more so something that could annoy, irritate, or distract him to the highest degree. The whole time Eiji would begin scratching himself he could feel the flames spreading over his head and to his second heart. The first time Eiji would truly notice the axon heart within his body and this is what made the sensation of flames and peeling more annoying as Eiji could not scratch the other two sources. He was curious as to why the whole time they had been within Mebu castle he had not heard from Imperious but he could not be bothered to think much about it with the current situation, the only thing he noticed from Imperious was his quiet and eerie smile in the back of his head. Eiji could tell that the closer they got to the door, the stronger the flames burning his skin would become but he did not know why.​