[Episode Ikki Pt1] Mebu Castle

[Oni Archives]

=Mebu Castle - once known as the late Narukagami Manor during the rule of Mikaboshi as Naraka's leader. The castle has long since been expanded upon by Izanagi during the re-emergence of the Mebu clan into the broad light of day and has been turned into a booming castle full of activity and strength. Lanterns fly high in the sky - adorning the sky with a blanket of blue, purple and orange during the night as well as the day. Once leaving Kagetsuchi you'd find yourself in a narrow, and rocky valley all the way till you meet the inlet peninsula that the castle is located upon. There are many Sanzou monks and priests from the Senpu Temple around the central courtyard - practicing katta and blessing travelers to and from the castle as well as Cipher's Shadows and Black Initiative spotted in the shadows of the manor as well. In the central location of the outpost itself stands tall the main building - in which the black throne is seated. It is there that Izanagi publicly addresses those with business in Naraka=

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[Oni Archives]

Ikki racked his brain as they walked not in search of answers but peace of mind. The things going on in Naraka let alone the shinobi world as a whole were coming to bare. If anything the death of his biological father was one curse that was laid to rest. While Ikki possessed his own set of Mangekyou Sharingan he had no best friend to lay to rest under the guise of gaining power. It was an almost sickening thought to say the least and yet here he was convening with his adoptive father. In his eyes he couldn’t help but think about the fact that even Naraka’s stability was in danger. Just as they walked through the lobby of his office he would let out a heavy sigh filled with a sort of relief. There was a sort of weight lifted from his chest at the idea of his biological fathers death. It could quite easily be described as an issue he could wash his hands and mind clean of without issue. However even he understood that things like death were a part of the world's economy even amidst civilians. Izanagi or rather this clone of izanagi that he was speaking with was sure to inform him that things weren’t as they seemed at Tatsumi’s ward. In Ikki’s eyes he could only hope those that were under his charge were just as equally aware of their impending circumstances. If that Mikaboshi wasn’t as he seemed then what was he? This could of course simply mean that his intentions weren’t all there or that his scheme spanned far beyond just wanting to carve the shinobi world in his image persay. Another heavy sigh followed before Ikki turned to Izanagi and spoke with his typical deep tone, his voice clearly filled with a hint of concern as he spoke.


“You know, with everything going on in Naraka I have still managed to show some modicum of feelings for the team you sent me along with. I can only hope they’ve made wise choices in my absence. That aside, what are you planning to do about this mikaboshi situation? I don’t see this impending incursion being a sustainable choice for either side.”

Ikki let out another heavy sigh with the thought of his biological fathers death on his mind. He promptly ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to refocus on the circumstance at hand. Naraka was practically falling to pieces under his Izanagi’s rule or so some thought. There was still time and he could only hope that those people he traveled with understood what they encountered in the pass was far from the worst to come. His eyes shifted towards Izanagi with a feint look of mourning amidst it all. Despite Ikki’s distaste for his biological father there was still an inkling of pain at his loss. Ikki was still trying to process it all at the end of the day. It wasn’t that he viewed it as a weakness to say the least to mourn in such a way that it would affect those around him. He didn’t want the weight of his emotions to cloud his judgement let alone put them in jeopardy. In the end even as their verbal exchange would’ve likely continued his body still brimmed with frustration and anger. His eyes welled with at first glance one could mistake for the average tear yet these were stained red. Even as Ikki stood before the man he now considered a father he was still capable of mourning and mourn he did as those tears of red flowed down his cheeks.

 

[Oni Archives]

[sub]((Listen While Reading: A myth - Izanagi))[/sub]



=There they walked, stepping side by side with his adoptive son Ikki - he couldnt help but think a bit himself...he didnt honestly think that it would come to this...at least not in this manner. With the matter of Ikki he had always assumed it would come down to a fight - life or death between him and his biological father, whom he knew as well for quite some time - he'd considered him a comrade in arms many a time. This Jigoku clone was walking aside of Ikki with his arms folded - wearing the typical "I just threw it on" look that even he was guilty of despite his wealth: Labcoat - button down shirt and tie. This clone...had been formed quite some time ago and had been out and active far longer then any of the other Jigoku clones that Izanagi had out walking around...infact - for the events transpiring at hand he had recalled all of them and reciprocated their ability to this one, and this one had been here - at the manor, guarding the door to the throne room and restlessly researching the entire time. He was frazzled....but in light of everything that has been going on in Naraka Izanagi still managed to keep that same charm that he always did....bigger things a'foot that he had to deal with - he was still worried about those around him; Naraka was not what he was frazzled with in the moment. No, instead it was the matter of Ikki and this situation thats been dropped in their lap. Who knew - in a time that people were dying left and right, literally entire villages being eaten alive family and all, the death of a single man could cause such a discomforting shift; and Izanagi was not certain how to console him. He'd been losing families left and right, villagers, children - lives were lost every day...he'd grown accustomed to not having anything good to say. They walked - really by this point they had been pacing and finally Izanagi stopped along side Ikki looking up at the door to the throne room as he spoke unto his son, really - more so thought a'loud to him in reference to the situation:

"Eh - telling you that you're going to be alright or anything like that really just belabors a point. You're not completely fine. I get it. With him dying - its like a part of you goes with him. He's dead - and its hard to feel like a part of you, whether its sentiment, history, or grudge went with him. It takes a part of you that you didnt get to reconcile yourself. I get that. Take all the time that you need. Naraka is fine. Almost everything is going exactly how I planned it. Just have to root out two uncalculated variables."

=It was then that Izanagi turned to Ikki, arms still folded as they had been but at this point he was no longer tapping his inner arm as he had his hands placed, he simply looked at Ikki with a calm expression upon his face and sighed before he turned back and looked at the door and announced with a resounding: "There's a mole among us. A traitor." He took a moment to let that sit - he knew that Ikki having met almost everyone within their little family of Oni - hearing that there was some form of traitor among them? Well it would have been quite a shocker to say the least and cast previous events in a different perspective for him as he had already crossed paths with so many that knowing this - could have possibly been said traitor. Izanagi chuckled a slight bit - and instead of going on about his problem as it were, despite the fact that any problem in the Oni wasn't just his problem any more but all of theirs as a family; he still rather continue on with Ikki and his situation first - as it was said...it was one of the only things that he had not predicted and concerned him more since it had to do with Ikki's emotional, mental, and in the oncoming case - physical well being:

"His sharingan. Are you going to implant them? Would you like me to do the procedure? Its is one of...my specialties I suppose I can say now. A piece of him - to carry with you. I must say it is rather different then the reasoning behind most Uchiha implanting. Though there are things we must discuss about it as well - truths that come with this I need to shed light onto you for, moving forward. It would seem that the subject has become...more relevant to your case here lately."

=As he turned to him in saying this his expression was calm, but it could also be read that it was rather serious as well in the same breath. He didnt look at Ikki with any certainty or intense expression but rather a very forthcoming openness. It was an offer after all - he wasnt conscribed to go along with it if he didnt want to. Ikki knew that Izanagi was not fully Uchiha and that the stronger parts of his descendance lay more along the lines of the Senju - even more then Hashirama himself, so certain things...did not come to him in these kind of situations nor when he first implanted his own sharingan. But obviously there was more to be spoken of...a certain history and power that came with the bloodline of the Uchiha - one of the reasons behind his power under the Uchiha clan and it would soon become a very important part of Ikki's life, whether he wanted to implant those eyes or not, it was a thing that would follow him.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

“Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one.”

While his mourning was less filled with sadness and more frustration due to the fact that he always deemed his biological father his quarry. In a way when he died it came across in Ikki’s mind as a sort of theft. It was almost as if someone had eaten the last piece of cake that you had been saving for a rainy day. This brief moment of mourning was quelled within a matter of seconds. When Izanagi spoke to him there was a certain level of comfort that came from it even if it wasn’t what he wanted to hear, it was what he needed to hear after all they were shinobi. Death was commonplace and even if it wasn’t by his own hands that his father died the sentiment that was carried on with his passing was still there. This momentary slip of tears was merely things coming to a head amidst it all. Ikki knew he was going to be fine but he also knew there was no point in concealing what anger he harbored. When Izanagi said everything was going as he intended he almost wanted to laugh at the thought of it considering the circumstances of naraka as a whole. However there were a few keywords in that statement one of which was almost. It was sobering to hear the man he had always considered a father admit not everything was so cut and dry. The thing was the most sobering was this phrase alone

“There's a mole among us. A traitor."


Where bits of his snowy white hair would normally hang just slightly over his eyes this nearly made them stand on end. It was almost like flipping a light switch in his brain driving something home for him in just a few words. Despite losing his biological family the family he has since made among the oni was at risk now. If what Izanagi just told him was true that would mean there was far more at risk than simply a familial bond or some sense of comradery. As a result those eyes that once brimmed with bloody tears were now filled with a certain passion if you will. It was one of those things that really got under his skin. It was enough to put a hold on his mental state but as that fully sank in Izanagi posed an important question about his fathers sharingan. Izanagi was right about one thing upon mentioning it and that was the fact that Ikki’s circumstances weren’t what they would be for a typical uchiha. Ikki let out a heavy breath while running his fingers hands through his hair pulling it back in the process to revealing those crimson eyes. They were dialed in on his adoptive father filled with a level of seriousness that Izanagi likely hadn’t seen from Ikki in several years to say the least. The look he had on his face was reminiscent of when he and Oshirama first faced off. Those same words from back than resonated in his mind ”There is no room for weakness in my garden” Ikki responded to Izanagi with a hint of well placed anger.

“Then let's discuss both about this traitor and these eyes. I want to implant them. It would be pointless to let his eyes go to waste. Let alone leave them as a tool to be used against any of us in the future. If zaku’s corpse can become a weapon against us then what’s stopping anything left behind from being used in the same manner.

By this point Ikki was also standing by the door to the throne room with his arms crossed. While Izanagi looked at Ikki with such a forthcoming look he could find the boy he called a son, adoptive or otherwise had been set straight by their brief conversation. He was aware that even he didn’t know all the inner workings of the sharingan nor was he afraid to grasp at something new. In fact a portion of his ability as a shinobi came with his ingenuity as a shinobi. Whatever comes next was likely going to lead to an exponential growth in the weeks or even days to come.

 

[Oni Archives]

"You too have known loss. And that loss haunts you still to this day. You'd hoped that hatred - might replace the pain. It'll make a demon out of men like you and I."

"Hm, Zaku."

=The thought passed his mind several times over at the idea that someone had actually wrested the casket that was being carried by Eien away from him and managed to take custody of it. Eien was an undeniably strong defense against any form of theft attempted on that casket. He thought about his deceased brother for a moment as he reviewed that memory. Arms folding over the top of the other he rubbed his chin in contemplation about the matter - perhaps more about the fact that he still felt contention about his brother's death, or more about the idea of who was strong enough to defeat Eien in such a way - knowing that Eien would fight to the death to defend his station as its protector. Yet - here he was...still alive. Knowing how Eien is and the fact that it would be a fight to the death - anyone that could do battle with him on that level, on that kind of playing field and not only come out on top but leave him subdued non-lethally? And for what purpose? It almost made Izanagi feel like from the start the traitor in their midst might have very well been Eien...perhaps he was the top subject at the moment. He washed the thought from his mind - knowing that this was not the moment for it, they had business to tend to. As he set his arm back down to his sides he would tuck them into his pockets. There was conviction in Ikki's voice - this was good and it made Izanagi proud to see his adoptive son and disciple deep in his convictions and focus. He'd gest with a turn of his head towards a near hallway and begin to walk over in that direction:

"Lets get to it then. I'll give you the finest implant that I have performed yet. The quicker we get you going - the better an advantage we get on our enemies. They wont be expecting our shinobi to be operating at different fronts like this."

=And with that being said Izanagi would have disappeared off down the hallway, granted that Ikki follow behind, arriving in one of Izanagi's many laboratories - this one focused primarily on doujutsu, ocular augmentation, and the integration of Kiyoshi's Cyber Initiative implants in the common shinobi body. The lab would have many different sets of eyes in them, some of which were normal eyes and many of which were obviously from different clans or synthetic. In the back of the lab there were three jars that sat solely by themselves. A set of Byakugan, a set of sharingan in the other, and something entirely different in the next...these eyes were bright gold and the pupil was...obviously mutated in some way. When Izanagi got there he would come over to an operation table. The necessary tools were all there as well as an IV rack. He laid his hands out before the table and as he did such - a Bitoku field would radiate off his body and expand to the point that it would engulf the space between him and the table. The field was less refined and focus - but certainly more potent then the usual in the fact that this field not only sealed the chakra inside the tenketsu, but projected an intense feeling of passivity on those within - causing them to relax and find themselves in a blissful state - almost like being under laughing gas. With that he simply looked up to Ikki and gest: "Let us begin."

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[sub]((Two Hours Later))[/sub]

=His labcoat was not stained red at all. Not a drop of blood having gone anywhere that he did not want it to go - he was good at that before he even became such a practiced surgeon. Though there were plenty of bloody gauze to his right side - antiseptics to his left; he kept it all in one smooth flowing transition making sure that any time he do something that would cause bleeding in such a manner - he caught it, contained it, and cast to the right the gauze after use. He removed the sanitary gloves from his hands. Upon closer inspection of the scene you could see that there had been erected two small trees on both sides of the patient - the wood, petrified and white baring a beautiful white flower upon its leaves - this flower was giving off a sleep inducing gas that put the patient under. Reaching into his labcoat he would examine Ikki and with a tilt of his head he would see that the surgery had been conducted almost perfectly - he had been doing them so much for such a long period of time after all and this time unlike the others, he actually did want to be as delicate as possible since he was performing the surgery on Ikki of all people. It was seemless, perhaps the best he'd done yet - which is exactly why he would pull the smelling salts from his pocket and wave them before his nose. The way that he saw it - if he was able to continue in the Uchiha - Senju wars after doing his first transplant, then having one of this caliber performed on his body - fighting a war as clandestine as this one, he should be plenty fine. Not only that but this handicap and hardship will make him a more deadly adversary in the first place, strength would bud from this. Izanagi sat down on what appeared to be nothing - but the moment that he did such gargonite seemed to peel from the floor around him and form into the black throne. That shapely - grotesque and yet elegant and polished seat of arms and screams as he sat back upon it and his head settled perfectly there in the palm of two open hands - his arms cast down upon the arm rests which met his hands with another set, looking as if the throne was interlacing fingers with him as he spoke to Ikki. There was something about the feeling of the room in doing so - heavy and primordial kin to the feeling of Madara presiding unto Obito Uchiha about his philosophies yet what he had to say....was much more prolific and enlightening to a good fraction of his power; parallel to another conversation taking place at this time in Naraka:

"As you awaken - listen to my words - and so too shall you awaken inside. There were two great descendants of the late sage of six paths - Indra from which the Uchiha clan descended and Ashura from which the Senju became. And much like those clans the two fought - for the love and approval of their father and for the birthright to shape the world of men in the image they believed would bring posterity to the people. In these days - on their father's deathbed Indra put a curse upon his brother. A curse of hatred - and vowed that he will always come back, always be born anew to continue what he started till his vision of a perfect world came to fruition. And so Ashura vow that he too would always come back to stop him. As you know - I was the first of Ashura's incarnate cycles. And born of his very own flesh. Bastardized by an affair with an Uchiha warlord. I tell you this now so you know...the most powerful weapon of the Uchiha clan is not their eyes alone.

...It is hate...

The stronger your hate - the stronger your eyes will become. The stronger you will become. Your visual prowess will always be as strong as your hate - and your ability to see through it. Hate - but control it. These eyes that can see through genjutsu. Are only at their strongest when they too - can see through the unrelenting hate of their user. Boil. Fester. Let your hate burn a hole in your chest - but when you start seeing red - always keep vision of your goal. There is nothing out there - that can contend with an Uchiha - brazen in their hate...aside from perhaps a Senju with the desire for peace to stop it. Do not read my words wrong. Do not let your hate consume you. Your hate is a blade - sharper and sharper the more intense you feel it. But being able to maintain your humanity. The desire for peace, and the ability to cherish and protect it - is your ability to wield that blade. It took me quite a time to learn that. Blessed by Ashura's love and compassion - and yet cursed by Indra's hate and conviction, I had sought years ago to reprimand the feud between the two, by utterly destroying the Uchiha clan and annihilating every single member - right down to the last woman and child. I had played my part well. Working their ranks from the inside - never the wiser and finally came into seat as the Lord of the Uchiha Clan. Wiping them out would have been as simple as a single ambush. I couldnt bring myself to do it. I had become consumed by my hatred and I knew it. It was not...

...It was not my Ninja Way...

So hear this Ikki. Daikokuten is a strong foe. Not only that but at this point, you are bonded. You've been inside of his place of imprisonment for as long as Naraka's civilized era has existed. And he has dealt you a blow of loss - using you like a hitchhiker to get back into the world once again. You have a target for your hate. Focus it - let it fester in you. It will help you in your battle against him and the agents of The Burning Dawn. But do not be consumed by it."
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[Oni Archives]

It was clear even when Izanagi heard about what happened with Z aku’s body it was a point of interest. Eien was strong in his own right both of them knew that so to say that it wasn’t a cause for concern would be a lie in some facet. Ikki was eager in a sense as the conversation they had sparked a fire deep within. The idea that there was a traitor amidst the family that was built on the idea of tightly knit bonds was a blow in and of itself. In passing as Izanagi gested for him to follow down the hallway his footsteps were filled with purpose as they moved. In fact it was clear that when they turned down the aforementioned hallway they had become set in their intentions. Ikki’s heart pounded at the thought of what was to come. Even he understood the weight of what was about to occur whatever procedure Izanagi intended to perform was likely going to be life changing beyond the point of simply implanting the eyes of his deceased biological father. There was always something more to the encounters he had along the way. Whether it be interacting with Eien or his humbling bout with Oshirama. Things were seemingly bound to have more in store for him.

It didn’t take long before the pair was standing within the confines of his laboratory with things so neatly compiled at first glance. Amidst this of course Ikki was taking stock of his surroundings coming across the plethora of eyes among other things. In doing so the thought of his previous escapades emerged within his mind. He could vividly remember taking a pair byakugan from a young girl and slaughtering her squad as a result. That encounter alone was a lesson in futility for the party at hand. They decided to come in blindly and as a result paid a price like no other. It was a massacre and at the time Ikki thought nothing of it yet here it was coming back as a passing thought. It was almost laughable to think about it now, was he the monster that came with having uchiha blood running through his veins? He shook his head briefly as he laid their on the operating table. Things had come to a stand still in his mind at this point his state of mind slipping into what could easily be likened to nirvana. Even if it was just for what seemed to be a moment the last thing he heard as he was went under was Izanagi’s voice.

"Let us begin."

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While he was under the influence of the plant during the procedure his mind was still at work in what most doctors might refer to as twilight a distinct level of limbo per say for the mind. There was a familiar feelings about where his mind went in those moments as things became a bit more surreal within his subconscious. It was just like the events before he entered the holding cell of the young man he came to known as Daikokuten. Albeit there was something different about it as he soon came to find that rather than floating to the top of crystal clear waters like back than. They had been muddled, stained red as if blood tainted the waters while he was gone. His subconscious was coming to give him a similar talk to the one back than albeit with a far more stern tone than before. Despite the bitoku keeping the precipice of his mind at ease the things that went one here remained far from filled with turmoil. The waters may have been stained red but this was no plague or bad omen. This was his mind coming to terms with recent events and as it did that looming figure from before stood over him. Its fur coat clad in white accompanied by that of an intricate pattern as well as its black horns. Its eyes were aglow as it looked down upon Ikki and spoke with a bellowing tone.

“Stand proud. You may not have accomplished your goal of killing your father but you know the journey ahead is far more than the death of a single man. The man that sits before you now is your family now. The man you mourned was nothing but a stepping stone and while you shed tears for him his death only stands to make you stronger.”

"Remember back then? You told me coming to you was a cop out and yet here we are again standing before one another. This is exactly why I came to you then and why we’re here now. You’re the part of myself that comes with the idea of rationality, my anchor. These waters are stained red as a reminder of what you. No what I have done in the name of the thrill or better put the hunt for blood. It's clear that if I'm here speaking to you then I am ready to come to terms with that. This longing for the death of my biological father is put to rest robbed from me but that doesn’t mean that was what defined me."

Ikki stood before this lumbering figure locking determination filled eyes with it. They were done here. His subconscious was slipping away from him and he it, as the sedative nature of Izanagi’s plants began to wane. His subconscious body was pulled back through those muddled waters with great haste. It was like receiving the same falling sensation one might have in a dream. However despite the speed in the sensation Ikki didn’t jolt awake at all in fact as he was pulled through those muddled waters he heard the voice of izanagi again. This time deliver words of wisdom as he sat upon the black throne. Izanagi was bestowing a lesson even his subconscious wanted to drive home. Hate was a weapon to be honed and his adoptive father was saying it best as he spoke of his past. One of the things that resonated in his waking mind was the last phrase his adoptive father spoke.

“Focus it - let it fester in you.”

He was right in saying not to be consumed by it. It was one of those things that could send any man down a path they could not return from. Where many men and women alike met their end in the name of some hatred filled revenge story. One chapter in Ikki’s story of revenge had ended but another had just begun. As he laid there on the table coming too his body grew with warmth a subtle heat as if the technique he had worked so hard to hone was slipping away from him. However the table nor the things around it were bothered by such a thing. This was an internal machination as his blood seemingly began to boil and steam rose from it. This was a clear sign that his body was easing back into the full swing of things. He soon sat up from his position on the table leaning forward with his hands on the bandages covering his eyes. When Izanagi was done speaking he could find that Ikki despite having his eyes covered was very well within his right mind when his lips soon curled into a smirk as the thought of what had just occurred within a two hour span.

“Then let the cup floweth over and our enemies be slain by the very hate that drives us. I feel as though these eyes can see anything and everything. Truly impressive work, father.” Ikki said with a voice filled with sincerity and determination alike.

Despite not physically being able to see his father right away through the aid of his newly found eyes he had a good consensus on where his father was in the room. It was at this moment that it became clear, the boy that Izanagi had come to call his son all those years ago had been born anew. Seiryu, Ikki Uchiha had come to terms with the death of his biological father and become wholly bonded with him in a way that no other could. This wasn’t some quest for power for Ikki; this was a testament to his unyielding determination. Their enemies were in for quite the rude awakening when the time came.

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[Oni Archives]

[sub]((A few moments later))[/sub]

=By this point in time they had moved out to a balcony off the side of the lobby where Izanagi's main throne room was located. They'd been walking the halls a bit after the procedure and Ikki navigated them considerably well given his current state - he was no stranger to coordinating without sense of sight, as any adaptable shinobi should be. It did something of an odd boost to morale in Naraka and in the castle especially to see Izanagi and Ikki walking the halls conversing as they did. Typically Izanagi did not have time to do such or Ikki was out handling another of Naraka's affairs - the people of the Castle appreciated actually seeing the pair not only together, but speaking and interacting so casually despite what was going on around them - even if Ikki's appearance somewhat intimidated some of the people there...the same people who had been around Izzy long enough to make the comparison between Ikki and a young Izanagi. By now they stood on the balcony with the kiss of the sun on their cheek and caress of the wind at their back as Izanagi stood looking outwards at everything as he began to brief Ikki on some things:

"The Sozo Subarashi. You may not have the Hadou Engine inside you like Eien does - but you should still be able to achieve this. We just call it - Sight Beyond Seeing. You arent a sage yet - but by using the Subarashi you should be able to feel, and perceive senjutsu in the area to experience the shape of your surroundings. I word it like this because - for all intents and purposes what you're doing is not seeing...and feeling is too simplistic a word for whats happening. Its like having imagery of your surroundings - etched into your existence. In some cases - it will do you good and show you the truth even where your eyes wont., and it'll especially aid you now. You should get used to doing this - it'll be a strong edge you need, for as you know - we can't rest on our laurels. There's work to be done. **he sighed a moment, contemplating what he was doing and what exactly it was that he was asking of Ikki** "I would usually do it myself. I have good rapport there. But as it is - Huang Long and I are tied up, and its long overdo for this anyway.

It's time you met Seiryu in person.

I need you to go to the heaven hotsprings. The Oozora Onsen, land of The Tengu. And I need you to call the other Saint Beasts there here, Byakko, and Genbu. We'll need their help, it's one of the only sure fire ways I can fix what is being broken here now. The Onsen....**he hesitated, apparent that this was something of a magnitude and stress that even he questioned if he in good conscious was making the right call on in sending anyone there at all, much less his own son.** is located in the Bamboo forest, just south of Kyotoshiro Village, the very same village that the new bunch was thrown in when they arrived. There - some of the Spirit Hunters that survived have been seen guarding the boundary line of Toyotomi crossing, the forbidden zone. You'll need to travel with them and cross the forbidden zone to get to the gateway to the Onsen - and travel to Nirvana - a land like the world of men, that is a sister mirror to Naraka. There the connection between you and Seiryu will be the strongest and you will be able to meet with him. The pull between you will be at its strongest there - you wont need directions."

=After briefing over this Izanagi couldnt help but sigh - bringing his hand to adjust his glasses upon his face as he tilted his head and looked over towards Ikki. Once he had done this he would give him maybe one of the most serious looks that he had given him in quite some time, an expression of dire intent:

"We just spoke about hate a moment ago. But know. In Nirvana - Hadou is at its strongest. Its where it hails from - both the Hadou of Cruelty and Compassion. Even if you are not trained to use the Hadou - it can find you depending on your emotions and it - will use you. While there - you have to be in control. Its one thing if you find yourself being taken by the Hadou of compassion, thats manageable. But the Hadou of cruelty can be a pathway of perversion and corruption. If you give in to it - Its not just a possibility, but a guarantee - you will not make it back. It is imperative that you resist it."​

 

[Oni Archives]

After walking through the manner for several minutes it didn’t take ikki long at all to get his bearings with his eyes bandaged. It was no different than training with a blindfold on at this point. The sound of their footsteps functioning as a sort of echo location as they moved about even the chatter of surrounding voices painted a vague enough picture for him not to bump into things. One of the things that made their traversal of the castle grounds so prominent was the soothing aura they gave off. This of course wasn’t entirely in the literal sense but the boost of morale that came with seeing a father and son walking together in these trying times. This was likely equivalent to a kage making his rounds in their respective village in the waking world. The people that were about certainly grasped the magnitude of seeing the pair together. In Ikki’s mind it was a welcoming thought even if it was just a clone of his father it was enough to put him at ease. As they continued on eventually making their way onto the balcony the pair began to conversate a bit more openly. A bit of advice for coming to terms with his lack of typical vision given the circumstance.

"The Sozo Subarashii. You may not have the Hadou Engine inside you like Eien does - but you should still be able to achieve this. We just call it - Sight Beyond Seeing. You aren't a sage yet - but by using the Subarashii you should be able to feel, and perceive senjutsu in the area to experience the shape of your surroundings. I word it like this because - for all intents and purposes what you're doing is not seeing...and feeling is too simplistic a word for what's happening. Its like having imagery of your surroundings - etched into your existence. In some cases - it will do you good and show you the truth even where your eyes won't, and it'll especially aid you now. You should get used to doing this - it'll be a strong edge you need, for as you know - we can't rest on our laurels. There's work to be done.” **he sighed a moment, contemplating what he was doing and what exactly it was that he was asking of Ikki** "I would usually do it myself. I have good rapport there. But as it is - Huang Long and I are tied up, and it's long overdue for this anyway.”

Izanagi had given Ikki a mission amidst his bit of advice. Despite committing the mission to memory, Ikki's mind was focused.. As he inhaled deeply amidst the break in speech from his father. His chest filling with air as he centered himself both in mind and body. The explanation seemed to be simple enough he needed to reach beyond simply treating Souzou Subarashii as a weapon just the same as he had been doing with the flames of seiryu for so long. As they stood their and Ikki took in the words of his fathers task his area of vision would slowly begin to grow. In the beginning it was still fuzzy like staring into the static of the television. The essence of the world around them slowly poured into view at first being nothing more than the balcony itself but as they continued to talk the picture would inevitably become clear. This was the perfect time to get adjusted to his new circumstance before putting himself out into the world once more. As they stood there and Izanagi shifted to the mention of meeting Seiryu his ear perked a bit more. This was one of the few times if not the first Ikki could think of that Izanagi mentioned meeting seiryu himself. Things were turning out to be quite interesting to say the least. When Izanagi turned to Ikki to speak of the hadou he could find that Ikki was slowly growing more adjusted in his usage of using his new found means of sight. This of course resulted in the two of them making a sort of eye contact even if Ikki’s eyes weren’t visible due to the bandages. The thought of what was about to transpire made ikki ponder for just a moment what exactly it meant to have each of the saint-beasts in the same location let alone what that meant for the weight of the situation as a whole. He shifted his weight a moment before placing his hands in his pockets and speaking.

“A sound mind makes for a sound body and I intend to keep it that way. My intention is to stay as firm as possible under the stress of my emotions at this point. When I fought Eien to reign him in what he became was something I feared. If that’s what it means to be under the effects of the hadou with no control than I intend to stand as strong as I possibly can.” Ikki rolled his neck from one side to the other before locking his relative gaze on his fathers location again as he spoke. “As for the Saint beast I have a question. Who is that boy with the red hair travelling with Kasami, Eiji, and Kirinji? Not his name but what exactly is he? He and I clashed at Shimeru temple but this time it was different. Where there may have been an explosion between elements the color it gave off was odd. It held a silver color, is he another saint beast or is there more to it than that?”

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[Oni Archives]

"Hm..."

=In the moment Ikki's response was reassuring. But there was still something about it that he could not shake - and he knew exactly what that thing was. He had always known. As many that spent a lot of time around him knew - he did not open up about very many things at all. Beneath that eccentric and goofy demeanor there was a man that was always in contemplation, always trying to get five steps ahead of his enemy and ten steps ahead of himself. There were many things that he kept a secret - even from those closest and with the most trust in him. Was it of paranoia? To protect them? Or perhaps fear? Ikki would soon find much to his dismay - this one was likely the latter. A bit more of time would transpire - and between then there would be a lot of plain and simple catching up - nothing too intense along the way to the base of the castle. However once at the bottom floor - out at the main courtyard where they could clearly see out at the forest and narrow fissure one must travel through to get here, Izanagi would halt Ikki before he saw him off on his journey. His tone was perhaps more dire then Ikki had heard it before as he warned him:

"There is something you must know. Once in Nirvana - how I said the Hadou is at its most potent. There are things in Nirvana I have never told you about. If you thought leaving the world of shinobi and coming to Naraka was a shift, from Naraka to Nirvana is the same kind of shift on another level. The Hadou...its alive in itself - I can't stress how important it is to you that you remain in control." **he sighed and adjusted his glasses once more, a tic - preparing to admit something he felt he should have mentioned ages ago.** "Mikaboshi was not the first Oni. This book you've noticed me reading. The Closed Fist And Philosophies of Bladed Thesis. That man, was the first Oni. That man - is sealed away somewhere in Naraka...and I dont know why but I can feel it...he's still alive. The Hadou of Cruelty has some connection to him. When it enters you...you can feel his thoughts....his malice...his fingertips - caressing the inside of your mind. He's out there, in Nirvana. And to keep him out of your mind you will have to stay strong. Ikki. **His gaze sharpened upon him in complete and utter seriousness** If Bladed Thesis gets out. There may be nothing that even I and the Takamagahara can do to stop him."

=With that being said Izanagi would simply continue his gaze upon him, letting it set in the sheer seriousness of the situation as he had explained it. Soon after that he would roll up his left labcoat sleeve where there would be revealed a circular summoning seal on his forearm. He wouldnt need to bite his thumb - instead a Jigoku mite manifested from his hand and crawled up his finger - opening it ever slightly to get the blood on the seal before closing it up. As he did that he would then set his palm on the ground and a cloud of smoke would emerge. From it - a mass conglomerate of chakra as the smoke cleared and there within stood a Lion of a pitch black beautiful mane. Izanagi stood upright with his hands in his pockets as he and the lion then met face to face. The lion seemed livid - as Izzy simply chuckled and tilted his head with a light wave:

"Ha ha - heyo Misshaku. Its been some time."

"....You....you're alive. No - its not completely you. A shade. You've some nerve - we thought - "

"I missed you too buddy. I know - you all thought I was dead. But you know I wouldnt have been gone so long and silently if it werent for a reason. We can get to that later - but right now I need you. I cant use too much chakra otherwise I'll disrupt the Mite Bind and leave myself with no one to watch the exterior. You and Ikki - you've never met. He's my son."

"Your son."

"My son. I know - I'll explain later. . . Its time. **There was a long pause** I can't close the gap for Ikki like this, but I need you to get him back around to the sacred forest. Can you do that for me?"

=As he said this the lion looked at him in silence. You could tell that there was something there as far as the lion was concerned. he had been looking for such a long time and here he was being summoned by him - and only to be told that THAT time has come? It was a lot to take in and for a moment the lion simply stared at his face just to wrap his head around the fact that this is the face that is associated with one of the biggest major changes in his life. The lion, Misshaku - looked over at Ikki for a while, examining him with bright glimmering golden eyes before finally he would move over to his side and prepare to depart. Once Ikki was done with all of his formalities here - the Lion would roar, opening a space time aperture before him that they both would step through. The range of his far he could get them? Still yet to be known.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

The two of them ventured the castle at a steady pace but once at the bottom a lot of things became clear. Even when Ikki thought the other oni that walked among men were among the worst there he should’ve known there was a bigger fish. His fathers expression shifted to such a serious one in the moments that he began to mention the man known as the bladed thesis. If he was truly something capable of striking fear into the belly of a man Ikki saw as practically insurmountable that could only mean whatever stories he would come to hear down the line were bound to be rooted in truth. Even with Ikki’s eyes hidden behind that of a blindfold he was still making eye contact with Izanagi as they prepared for his departure. He gave a solemn nod to coincide with the fact that he understood the gravity of the situation far more than he did before. As a few moments passed and Izanagi began his preparations for the summoning seal Ikki began stretching further limbering up for what was soon to transpire. While his body was the furthest thing from out of shape this was a sort of ritual for Ikki so to speak. It was typical of him to use this as a means to center himself and as that puff of smoke emerged before the two of them Ikki reached for the sky with his fingers interlaced only for his body to crack in its entirety.

Once all the tension was released from his body and the smoke cleared Ikki watched as the beast emerged from the smoke. It was clear that this was Izanagi’s summon but more importantly there was an underlying tone between the two of them. In the end it didn’t matter given the circumstance as it stood Ikki was ready to head out. He would even go so far as to give his father a two finger salute as Misshaku came to stand next to him. He didn’t want to give him any more of a reason to worry but had his father taken the time to look upon his demeanor during that salute he would find it almost cold. This wasn’t because he was going to shy away from his connection to one of the few people he cared about; this was him centering himself for the journey to come. Once the two of them stepped through the space time aperture there would be no turning back for all intensive purposes. Wherever they ended up it was bound to be the start of a telling journey.

 

[Oni Archives]

One Day and sixteen hours later

=The Castle was for the most part peaceful, there were all the typical things going on around the grounds - the usual Sanzou Monks and representatives rolling around doing their daily tasks and attending their meetings. The Senpu Temple monks practicing their katta, sweeping the grounds and blessing those who came visiting the grounds. And then of course there was none other then Izanagi, the Black Throne - who ironically enough hadnt been seated upon it physically in quite some time, no in fact this was not the genuine article but a Jigoku clone...really there was no better "next best thing". The man sat outside a very particular door marked with the motif of a great dragon spiraling across each side of the double doors. Izanagi sat in blood red robes, usually what he did most his leisurely tasks in and training - almost as if meditating he sat there with back against the door and eyes closed as he wait with arms folded. Soon, a pair of footsteps appeared before him, sparking with sunkissed orange hues as an out of breath man seemed to be recuperating there before Izanagi:

"We need to talk."

-Izanagi opened his eyes with a half-hearted chuckle as he rubbed the side of his neck and compressed his palm against it as he rolled it around a bit knocking the kinks out. It was none other then Gogandantes before him - to no surprise of his own in actuality.-

"I suppose we do. It seems you two have decided to merge into a single consensus again. Our guests should be arriving soon, and more then likely they'll have him with them - I'm aware. But that sho-"

"No.....we, seriously NEED to talk."

=Izanagi looked up to him to make direct eye contact seeing the way that the man was out of breath yet still very seriously focused upon him he could tell that this was the face of a man whom discovered something that had appauled him - and judging by his demeanor he was the culprit that kept it from him. Izanagi could only think of a few things that could bring this to pass and with that in mind he only was able to look up to the man from his seated posture and adjust his glasses, punctuating the thought with an almost juvenile in trouble kind of:

"......Oh......"


--TEAM 3, CHAPTER 3 PT 1--


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[Oni Archives]

The expedition from Kagutsuchi village to Mebu Castle was much more simple than the young child had initially anticipated; so much in fact it was rather unsettling to say the least. Since he awoke to the realm of Naraka every corner of this place seemed out to get them, it sure didn’t help knowing the Burning Dawn had targets pinned on their group as a whole, and with three of their members (presumably) still out of commission it would make matters worse for the remainder of the group being split between catering to the unconscious and fending off assailants. They had been traveling for little over a day now, following behind Sakuya as she led them to their destination; on the other side of the confined valley, Sentou and company had encountered the vast mountainside where at the top of its elevation perched the castle in question. It was quite the sight, a castle hidden away by the jagged formation of rock amalgamations - it somewhat reminded him of the Hidden Lotus Society he was raised as it was a temple hidden deep in the foliage of the outskirts of the Land of Fire and Land of Wind.

Had Sentou still been carrying the knocked out Eiji on his back, the young Kenzai male would adjust the product in which he lugged around; shifting the weight of the older male while maintaining his own balance, careful not to tumble over and fall. It looked uncomfortable, considering Sentou’s height and age, however he had more than enough physical strength to not only escort his dazed comrade, but also not break a sweat from such a treacherous journey. In spite of that, although he was more than capable of being a pack mule, deep down he dreaded the walk and couldn’t wait to finally set Eiji down so he could stretch his tired limbs. Periodically checking ahead of the group and watching Sakuya, Sentou would say a curse beneath his breath as he simply urned to find a place to rest.

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[Oni Archives]

"C'mon now big guy - thats gotta be uncomfortable. Here, let ya buddy Ko take a load off ya shoulders."

=With that being said the moment that he mentioned this Sentou would feel Eiji being slid from his shoulder and slung down into the wheelbarrow Genichiro so graciously provided after they were done at the casino. Crude, it may have seemed - but the man had a very valid point as they had left. It was much easier on them then carrying all three of them on their own and would leave their hands free and body's available just in case. Hitoko was smallest, so she was on the right, Kasami was more sturdy so when Eiji got slid in on her right she would be a comfortable fit - save for the few bumps he hit and shakey way he was towing the wheelbarrow. He seemed to be at great ease after everything and good spirits, having gotten himself some parting gifts from the resteraunts in the casino as they had left, stuffing his face with dango and yeast rolls that he snagged. He was so hungry lately, so ravenously hungry and he couldnt put his finger on why exactly....growth spurt? Hell he hadnt even kept track of the last time he really had a birthday or even kept track of his height. It was a blur after that time back at Tatsumi's healing ward. For a moment Ko froze, mouth wide open about to consume the third dumbling on a five piece stick - not quite sure why that is but he shook back from it and continued on moving along. He knew that the food that he had here was not going to hold him - and as such his attention shot towards Sakuya; who's cape of candy pink hair flow down swaying side to side past her tight shorts. A sultry strut for a "Priestess" of her caliber. Just what did it mean to be a priest or priestess in Naraka anyway? What did they believe in? He called out to her: "Hey - how close are we? Im starving." =She was walking forward carefree, hands in the pockets of her jacket as she drift along at a leisurely pace and made her way through the crevice. She didnt realize she was moving slow until anything was said - she was used to running everywhere cause with action-potential to think of, she could really get anywhere in a prompt time and not worry about it. Walking like this was something that she did in leisure or when she was hanging about some place, not to allow people to keep up and escort anyone; so she was doing the best that she could to emulate normal walking as much as she could. Then she heard Ko call out from behind her and the first thought that she could come to was: **Who knew from his size that he pigged out so much? Jeez - he just had an all you can eat buffet right in front of him at Genichiro's.** =That brought her mind back to it...Genichiro. She had heard the conversation between Kirinji and him - a man that seems to have known him from a time far before his surfacing here in Naraka, and even seemed to not only fear, but respect him to a considerable degree. Though the former of the two was something that she was used to being associated with Genichiro and earned no merit to her - of course one would be afraid of the monster that lurks under the bed and thats what she had always thought of Genichiro as...a monster. But the conversation between the two had shed some manner of light on her, he was part Izanagi...and perhaps even being influenced and controlled by him...she'd always known Izanagi to be kind, compassionate, merciful and considerate....Genichiro had shown that to them in the past two days and she wondered...was it even him? Or was that Izanagi that shown inside of him? And if so - did it really matter? Perhaps even if he was being influenced by Izanagi that could be changed into something more? After all, what more is our conscious then a voice in the back of our head that tells us what we should do and shouldnt - perhaps Genichiro simply never had that originally and the only difference now is that his conscious has a name...Izanagi. "Not too long now. We should be coming up at any t-" = before she could even finish her sentence it seemed to have already been punctuated by the sound of a banging gong. Not startling or really ceasing her sentence at all but washing it over with an even more assured sense of safety and normality. She was already pretty certai that no one would be foolish enough to challenge the Black Throne so directly - so the way through the crevice was sure to be safe for her. But hearing the sound of the Senpu Gongs told her that she was not only in familiar and safe spaces, but she was just in time for breakfast - certainly that would be a treat for Ko. With a wide and satisfied smile upon her lips she announced:

"We're here."
[sub]((Listen While Reading: Contest Of Strength!))[/sub]


=And just like that it began. If one had gotten a single glance at the area before emerging from the sunlight blocking walls of the crevice they would have a point of reference to compare the sudden change. The area was bright and sunny - the rooftops of the castle and near by buildings looked like they were all hand crafted from slabs of jade and what was once a beautiful, quiet, and still set piece of architectural art became a bustling, busy, lively cesspool of life and most of all - combat. People poured from the rooftops, windows of every floor and height, from doors and everything jumping to their every day routine, the monks praying, initiating katta, the bureaucrats going about their plans wasting no time meeting with one another to discuss new laws, revisions to old bills and amendments to ones that already existed to fit the landscape of what was transpiring in Naraka currently and most of all the Senpu, Sanzou, and Amina monks meeting at wherever they made eye contact with one another and exchanging blows of such a scale they could be heard all around the temple. There were strong winds - or what at least seemed to be strong winds, however this was nothing more then the momentum and power of all the combat around colliding and force from exchanged and blocked blows gusting past everyone there. They were from all shapes, genders, and sizes - young and old all about fighting. From rooftops broken bodys fell upon their backs Landing upon the unforgiving limestone with a satisfying crack before they burst out laughing and were helped up by the monk that had defeated them. There was no hostility among them, even the ones passionate about their skills that were betrothed by defeat and frustrated with themselves were helped up and motivated by their fellow brother or sister; then they were off to one building in particular. This was their every day routine, they had been doing it since they were ever of age to fathom what it was to close a fist and use it. The morning routine was wake up - and seek combat. Those that were defeated were sent to the dining hall with the number in mind that they were defeated. And they would line up and sit in prostration waiting for the last to arrive. This was a test in itself, battling the temptation of the flesh in their morning hunger to remain patient, humble, clear of mind and ready for the next morning, for once the final arrived they would be fed in that order - starting with the final monk all the way down the line - inevitably the first defeated having to wait the longest though there was no worry about how much food there was and not getting fed - simply how long they would have to wait. Inevitably the one constantly last would either grow stronger, or grow more patient and thus be strongest in mind and wisdom. The last one of course was the strongest - but often times here the last one would allow his brothers and sisters to eat before them. They were taught humility and grace in combat and as such thanked their brothers and sisters for sharpening their skills by allowing them to go before him. It was good times - unlike the waking world never was there a competition driven from ego here, they were all one - and as such enjoyed each other company and strength as if it was their last...here in Naraka it very well could be at any moment. From a distance - the sound of clashing fists and kicks sounding off was like bubble wrap being popped. It had even taken Ko a'back for a moment. The first thing that he thought of was if this were only the sects of monks here - and they were creating such powerful sounds and winds, he couldnt imagine what full scale war looked like. Suddenly it was making sense. Why the other Oni that they had encountered were so strong if this was the kind of culture that was simply normal to them. Looking at all of these adults, children, fighters so powerful - it was an average to them. Such strength in the waking world was a phenom, near at least Sanin level just to fight at this level. They were products of a much, much different world. They started to come down the walk way and the closer that they got to the castle the louder it got - apparent now that even the air pressure was different, almost popping his ears here and there by how thin the air was on the mountain and how certain pockets of air were transformed by the manipulation caused by every gust that came around and across from the blows. He couldnt even imagine how strong even the political figures and scholars must be...something most would overlook - but they were holding conversation out here in the open enjoying the air and sunlight as all this fighting was transpiring, and they were still able to hear each other just fine nor did they fear any collateral damage from any of them...which made him feel like they knew that they could handle it with ease if they were hit on accident, or maybe they knew the monks were just that skilled. Either way to hold concentration and focus so effortlessly while this happened and hold complex and delicate conversation so flawlessly like this...their focus must be monstrous. Even Sakuya passed through with not a flinch or off color blink in the world - as she even waved to some of them and bowed her heads as they passed by fighting; further more - the finesse and style exhibited by the monks as they flipped through and over them all exchanging blows and mid combat waved or bowed to Sakuya as well only to continue on without a hitch, some of them he couldnt even keep up with and out of curiosity activated his sharingan just to keep track of with a concerned grit of his teeth, not admitting how difficult it was even still as they passed.
"Welcome to Mebu Castle. Heh - I know that its a lot to take in at first but you'll love it here, we all do. And we're just in time for dinner too! That big building to the west is the Grand Archives - where all of the information concerning most things in Naraka from legal, past precedent and history, religious artifacts, locations all the way down to cook-books, herbal glossaries and wild life catalog is stored. Most of the scholars, philosophers and politics frequent there. To the East over there is the Medical Center. Self-explanatory but our best medics, doctors, physicians, psychologists, pharmaceutical analysist, and scientists frequent there - and keep record of poisons, serums, experimental drugs and procedures and other crazy science stuff. But we dont need them for the moment even with our sleepy heads here. Our best and brightest should be there in that building to the North. That would be the Seneschal Sanctum - the main building. That is where The Black Throne is seated at the very top floor, the dining hall, many of Lord Izanagi's laboratories, as well as the artifact vault and Alliance Council seat. We'll be headed there, not only do we need to see Izzy anyway - but I'm sure he'll have a solution to wake our sleeping beauty's here and make sure their all in good health." =With that being said she pointed off to the building that towered off above every other building within the walls. There was a giant window at the top that seemed to overlook everyone and everything and had you looked hard enough you could perhaps see the small silhouette of a person standing there in the window on-looking what was transpiring...standing with hands behind his back almost as if he was observing their group in particular...looking right at them.=

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[Oni Archives]

It felt like she was never going to come to. The darkness had come and stayed, and she didn’t quite understand why. Now that she could remember what was happening last she was awake, she knew, or at least hoped, that she wasn’t dead. It had to have just been that time was passing by slower for her, and she’d wake up soon enough. She was correct- though she wasn’t expecting to be so abruptly woken and rattled by a loud gong ringing her ears.

Laying in the safety of the wheelbarrow, as the sound of the gong rung out the previously sleeping Kasami’s arms moved up over her head, crossing them overtop so that her bicep pressed against her ear. She laid there completely still for a moment before she moved again, awaiting silence that never came before she tried to rouse herself into full consciousness. The place they arrived to bustled with life and it was clear from the sounds around her that she was in for something she’d never witnessed in her life. But... there were a few things she had to take care of apparently- including an empty stomach and most importantly, her right eye felt like she’d been staring at the sun for hours. Odd to her, considering the left was always the one that felt bothersome. The rinnegan usually let her know when it felt discomfort or reacted to her thoughts of Mikaboshi- all in her head likely, but now her right eye burned and felt like it was watering profusely. How long had it been like this?

Kasami just laid in the cart quietly, listening to everything around them and regretfully not taking a peek herself. She just couldn’t fathom actually opening her eyes at the moment. What she wanted to do was take cold water to her eye and wash away whatever the hell was burning it. Her left eye did open and take a look around from the wheelbarrow as she laid there, from beneath her hair and crossed arms. The buildings were architectural masterpieces. She’d never seen anything as astonishing as far as a building went, besides maybe the casino. Not even the Hokage Monument had meant much to her.

The cart shifted around, bumping Eiji up against Kasami’s back again. This was what got her to sit up, leaning on a hand as she sat up on her side and grimaced at how stiff her muscles felt. She looked down at Hitoko in front of her and then glanced over her shoulder at Eiji. Scanning the area she saw all of the monks first and then settled her gaze on Ko first. Rinnegan peered into Sharingan and she gave him an apologetic half smile before looking at Sakuya as she explained everything, giving Sentou a quick glance as well. Breakfast sounded delightful but- ”Is there somewhere I can wash my face? It feels like my eye is sealed shut.” She looked at Sakuya practically pleading. Kasami was a hygiene conscience person, so she didn’t enjoy this feeling at all.​

 

[Oni Archives]

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He was there with them, but he wasn’t there exactly. The seals he had placed on his teammates acted as more than just transportation and support. His consciousness was imparted into the seals as well, meaning it allowed for him to monitor them in real-time. Their thoughts, their emotions, where they were, who they were talking to, and what was being said were just some of the aspects he could observe. At the time, Kirinji was still back at the casino having a conversation with Kami no Shi. Or rather, he was listening to what he had to say. The man would notice that Kirinji had become slightly distracted, but he was still nodding in response to Kami. Once the man had finished, Kirinji would slightly bow to the man and thank him before vanishing with no trace left behind.

He emerged beside Sentou without much forewarning, hand on his shoulder as he had placed a seal upon him as well. It was clear that he was a part of the team and everyone but him had a seal. This was much more of a convenience for Kirinji, being able to move around between them, but he’d be lying if it wasn’t more for Sentou. He still remembered the words he said and the tone the man said it in. It had made him uncomfortable and so this seal also served as a precaution. He arrived the moment Sakuya had finished talking about the Mebu Castle to see what Izanagi could do about the ones that were knocked out. In the moment, his purple hued eyes were fixated upon the castle, analyzing it almost angrily. There was a window and behind it a silhouette of a person standing there. From this distance, he couldn’t tell if it were Izanagi or not, but his insides began to turn in anticipation

How long has it been since he had encountered Izanagi? Years? Decades? How long had it been since he last heard his voice? He wasn’t sure about the years, but he was sure about their last encounter. It was during the times that Izanagi had just recently become the Uchiha Clan Lord. He had plans, they had plans. But it was so quick. One night Izanagi was there leading the clan, next they were in shambles due to Izanagi having just left. Kirinji clenched his jaw in annoyance while the top of his lip twitched slightly. It wasn’t that he had left that bothered him the most. No. What bothered him most was that Izanagi had left without so much a word and more so, left without him. Kirinji had expected Izanagi not to be the type of person to do that, so at the time, it had gravely hurt him.

As they made their way towards the castle, Kirinji had glanced down at the wheel burrow of the three. Kasami had gotten up so his eyes fixated themselves upon Hitoko as he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. He glanced up at the others before his eyes reverted back to the castle as he responded to Kasami, ”I’m sure there is a place inside that palace to wash your eyes. Just wait until then.” It was clear by his tone that he didn’t want to waste anymore time. They had gone through much in a short period of time just to get there. Now that they were here, it was best to get there immediately.

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[Oni Archives]

~Hitoko Okami-Uchiha~

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Anger built up inside of her. Green hair flashed in her mind over and over again, replaying that fateful scene that lead her to Naraka and practically destroyed part of her life. The more she saw those flashes of green hair, the more her blood boiled. The dream was so realistic, as if she was living it all over again. But this time, she had control of the events that occurred. In her dream, Hitoko slipped into her past feral mentality from her time in the wild and quite literally carved out this green-haired man's throat, pulling his limbs from his body. But, even as she did, the dream would restart and he'd be fine again. She tried to kill him and tear him apart with her claws and teeth over and over and over, each time she slipped further and further into the darkness of her own mind until eventually...The dream didn't restart. There was no green - no colour at all. Just black. Hitoko called out for Kirinji, Sakuya, Fenrir...Anyone. Though, no one called back. She tried to find her way out of the darkness but it was endless. It went on forever, it seemed until a familiar back filled her view. She would recognise her husband anywhere and ran to him, but he was walking away. It was as if the more she ran, the greater the distance between them grew until he was no longer in her sight. She panicked, overwhelmed with confusion and sadness. She looked left and then right, spotting candyfloss pink hair. Again, she ran to it and like Kirinji, Sakuya eventually slipped away. It was exhausting. It happened every time she looked around and eventually she collapsed to the floor, sobbing. In the next instance, a bright flash of white scared her out of her sadness and she quickly crawled toward it, climbing to her feet and breaking into a run. Though, running toward the light wasn't a sign she was going to wake up. It was just a chance for her blood to boil further. She watched what seemed to be herself getting demolished by that green haired man. Hitoko watched the first drops of blood stain her clothes and she also watched the expression on her face when she realized the life filled with light growing inside her, had gone dim and was swallowed by darkness. The scene paused and turned from colour to black and white and Hitoko snapped. Unknown to her, all of this was affecting her in the dream and in reality. As she extended the length of her claws in her dream, they extended in reality, her closed eyes bearing the thin slits of the first stage of the Okami Dojutsu and her sharp, K9-like fangs had grown longer, her lip slightly twitching as she slept. Hitoko's muscles tensed and the moment she ran her claws across the mans neck in her dream, she was forced awake. She immediately launched herself from the wheelbarrow and looked around at unfamiliar surroundings. She was currently in a feral state and was ready to tear the throat out of whatever she could see first.

Luckily for her, the first person her eyes fell on was her husband, Kirinji. Her breath caught in her throat and she realised that she had been dreaming the whole time. Her eyes looked downward as she raised her hands, looking at her extended claws. Hitoko had knelt on the ground with a sigh of relief escaping her, her hands outstretched and placed on the ground for support. She took deep breaths to calm herself, her teeth slowly inching back to their normal size and her pupils doing the same. Unfortunately, her claws would have to stay extended until she could get her hands on some nail clippers or a file, but other than that, Hitoko seemed to be more than glad to be awake. She remained on the floor for a few more seconds to take just a couple more deep breaths and when she was sure that everything was back to normal, she stood up. Though, of course she wobbled a little, having been in a wheel barrow for a while. "Forgive me...Night terror..." Hitoko spoke sheepishly, half embarrassed and half upset. As a medic, she knew the signs of trauma and it seemed that Hitoko was now plagued with them - so much so that it was affecting her reality.

​

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[Oni Archives]

As Eiji was tossed from on the back of Sentou into the wheelbarrow he could feel his body hit against the cold steel of the device but was still out cold for the moment. The passage of time that came with travel was unbeknownst to Eiji who was stuck in a void, a white realm surrounded by nothing. The further away the team was from their destination the more that was happening within Eiji's mindscape or dreamscape. The void began to speed up and change with every step showing flashes of memories and past traumas. This was not like his life flashing before his eyes, it was more akin to that of him remembering the past which was set in motion by the Eiji he should be.

As these dreams continued on they would have arrived at Mebu castle, Eiji hearing the clashing of the monks even though his dreams could tell that something was happening outside. The continuing clashes would cause Eiji to stir turning from side to side before opening a single eye being unable to track the clashing of the Monks through ordinary means. He could tell their movements were beyond his current capabilities of being able to assess. As he simply laid there releasing an almost inaudible sigh from his mouth as the thought of needing to grow even more if these people couldn't handle what they were going to be up against was terrifying to him.

As Sakuya announced the directions of the buildings from North to where they were now, Eiji sat up after Kasami and of course after Hikoto's night terror and looked at them for a moment. He wasn't sure of what to say, ask or do. He felt awkward around his team due to all the trouble he caused and the distance he felt between them. He simply got out of the wheelbarrow and moved over a bit away before quietly, "Thank you for rescuing me and healing me everyone..." He stated in a soft tone, his gentle voice pleasant on the ears a bit higher-pitched just slightly below that of a feminine tone. After this he would look over at the place Sakuya mentioned was filled with information about medicines and poisons before looking back at Sakuya, "I need to wash up and after I'd like to explore the library and medical research areas if possible." His voice was still timid as if he was afraid to speak to the others. It was a change from the Eiji they were used to but his true self was starting to show a bit after all he had gone through within Naraka.​

 

[Oni Archives]

“Huh? Oh, you don’t have to but it’s much appreciated, Ko.” Sentou said during their brief exchange as he handed Eiji over to the red-haired male. Taking a moment to pause in his stride, Sentou waited patiently for Ko to get Eiji situated into the wheelbarrow before they continued onward. It was the mention of food that made Sentou chuckle at Ko’s gluttony, he had been stuffing his face since they left Kagutsuchi, how was he keeping everything down? A gentle smile spread across the lips of the Kenzai orphan, he didn’t believe life could be so enjoyable, despite the dangers of Naraka, it felt nice to be involved in a group again.

Looking up from his thought, Sentou was alerted by the loud banging of gongs signaling their arrival to the estate, finally. Being observant of his surroundings, Sentou stared at the monks training as they passed through, it was a nostalgic feeling - one that made him miss his old home at the Lotus Society. Nevertheless, the warriors here felt like they were on a different level compared to the ones from home. Something about such profound combatants made him think of his foster father, Irou, he quickly shook his head to free himself of such sorrow. Now wasn’t the time to bask in guilt. Just as their guide had finished explaining the locations within the estate, Sentou felt a sudden weight placed upon his shoulder causing a small state of panic in the child as he swerved around to see Kirinji had mystically appeared out of thin air. “Oh, what the fuc- Oh, it’s you..man you scared me.” Sentou sighed in relief, he could feel his heart beating through his throat; he had imagined they were being attacked suddenly with the sound of gongs and fighting serving as nothing more than a distraction. He was grateful that wasn’t the case, and even more so that he didn’t instinctively swing on his new ally, desperately trying to calm himself, Sentou tried to swallow his anxiety.

Having taken a second to catch his breath, Sentou would check on the well being of those in the wheelbarrow; it seemed Kasami was awake now, sitting up and asking to wash her face. He wasn’t sure what had happened to her previously in the Pitt, but he was happy to see she was alive and well. The second one to stir awake would be Kirinji’s wife, Hitoko, who jumped from the wheelbarrow in such manner she seemed animalistic and ready to pounce whoever, seeing such a thing made the young man step back, wary of the situation until she finally calmed down from the sight of her husband. Last but not least, the gentle voice of Eiji snatched Sentou’s attention, looked like the gang was all here and well. He’d had rather Eiji not mention anything, but regardless they were all distraught in a mysterious world, if they didn’t look out for each other, who would look out for them? Giving his signature thumbs up and a rather goofy smile, Sentou would respond to Eiji, “Glad to see you’re alright. Heh, didn’t think I’d see Kasami or you after the temple...what happened to you anyway?” Whether or not Eiji or Kasami were in the mood or right mind to explain to Sentou what happened after he disappeared he wouldn’t force it. Instead, Sentou approached Sakuya, “T-this place is beautiful...after we see Izanagi, would you think its possible I found someone to spar with here? This place reminds me a lot of my home and it’s got me all ansty and ready to throw down!” He spoke with much excitement, he knew they were here for important business, but after that was all said and done he would love to indulge himself in the culture of these fighters.

​

 

[Oni Archives]

=The moment that Sentou would have asked Eiji and Kasami about what had happened to them Ko would have heard and kept to letting them explain that bit. He was still so taken a back by all of the high level combat that was going on, but there was something in particular that caught his eye the most and really made him think about things a second.

[sub]((Listen while reading))[/sub]


"A-a-....are they...no. Statues? No they can't, they look so real. A- Sakuya..hey..."

=His lips trembled at the thought...at the idea....at his eyes. He hadnt seen it before...none of them had seen it before from the moment that they came into the area. They had passed the bridge and all had been well, completely clear. But the moment that they got in and really started looking - Ko's eyes picked up on something...Amist the monks that were all carrying on and fighting he noticed something. There were...silhouettes that he couldnt quite put his eyes on...but they were there. Only after a few monks had passed by and blocked the range of sight could he accidentally see them, his eyes being where a monk once was and after they moved falling upon...men in black armor. It was black as the night, almost as if it absorbed light into it and they stood entirely still, you couldnt tell them apart from statues at all. People went inside to eat, they stayed, people fought around them knocked into walls next to them - they stayed not even so much as a flinch. One on a roof, one at the side of the main building door, one next to the library, two at the far corner, five next to the medical wing - they were appearing everywhere....no,not appearing...they were only just now being -noticed- he could see them now after seeing one. He started to ask Sakuya if they were statues but much to his surprise he finally saw it FINALLY, one's chest lifted, and sunk - just as quick and lightly as he saw it...you had to strain to see it. That discipline...that devotion and lack of fear...that discretion - they had been here the whole time and hadnt moved an inch but he couldnt see them....then it struck him. Ko whipped his head around and looked back at the strip that formed the bridge they had crossed......

eclipsed.....

Entirely in black.

There were enough of them to block the entire bridge - set in threes and spaced five feet from the next row and they all stood still next to each other never looking back at the group or the temple. How was this even possible? They did cross the bridge not but seconds ago. Where were they? He spun and looked back at the silhouette up in the window only to see the silhouette linger a moment, and then part ways from the window. So far apart and still it was as if he was denied the answer to a question he couldnt even deliver from this far away. Sakuya then came to his side and put a hand on his shoulder, snapping her free hands finger in front of him:

"Hey hey hey, snap out of it its okay. They're on our side. Thats Tengu Legion. The Black Throne's personal special ops. They're securing the perimeter making sure that no one gets in without approval. Trust me - theres few places in Naraka safer then anywhere that they settle down. Especially in such grand numbers."

=She reassured him but at the same time it made her wonder. Were the burning dawn really that strong? She couldnt help but wonder more, enhancing her questions as to why Izanagi did not just wipe them out himself personally with questions as to why he had so many of the Tengu Legion here? Did he need them? Were the burning dawn such a threat even to himself? Soon she was met by Sentou's voice - to which she snapped from her train of thought as they approached the doorway into the main building. She couldnt help but snicker and laugh and even forgot her typical "hey theres new people around" demeanor and slapped his arm on the side jokingly: "Ha - I'm sure they'd love that. Especially the Senpu temple monks. You bet! I've got a feeling you're gonna like it here. You remind me of someone I havent seen in a long time." =Having said that she couldnt help but curl her bottom lip under her teeth at the thought. She hadnt seen Eien in a very long time and wondered where he was at. He was so troubled here lately. he had one job, one purpose and the burning dawn took it and since then he just spiraled. Finally they moved inside - being met by the front lobby which only had a desk and a gigantic octagon shaped platform a few feet behind it. The hallways winded left and right around both sides of it and down gigantic corridors - obvious there was a lot of important work going on there but what was important was the apparent lift before them. Ko was still at the door, looking at one of the legion soldiers next to it like a kid staring down a live action adaptation of their childhood movie fear, leaving the wheelbarrow so cautiously there next to him as if he half expected to be snapped in half the moment that he let go of the handles. Then - he let go and bolted off catching up to the group - the soldier never budging an inch. Soon they stood upon the lift and Sakuya waited for everyone to get on; once they were there she would clap her hands and smile wide:

"OKAY - are ya excited? Moment of truth here we go. Everyone here and good?"

=Once they were on, the lift would start to raise ever slowly with a rough unwedging shake before it started to ascend slowly. Apparent that they had quite a height to climb if they looked up, you could see the entire long shaftway going up to the roof of the top floor which beamed down upon them a vibrant and beautiful jade light as the sun shine through the jade roof. It would only be a matter of time now, Izanagi was only several stories up at the top of the lift now. The anticipation - palpable, and the creeping climb of the lift would seem forever if one were too enthused to get there post-haste.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

What happened to her? The question actually made her laugh slightly as she shifted in the wheelbarrow. Her hand fell down from covering her eye, which didn't open even after the fact due to whatever was keeping it shut. Crawling over Eiji, even using a shoulder as a prop, Kasami removed herself from the cart and started to walk next to it, stretching her arms over her head with a strained grunt. Being curled up that long left her kind of sore, but it felt... much needed. It was a long story, so she'd save it for another time and let Eiji take the podium to explain where the hell he'd went while they were walking to Kagutsuchi.

Instead, as she crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed the soft fabric of her haori, she glanced at Ko. Her steps faltered a little bit when she saw the look on his face, falling back slightly from the side of the cart to walk beside him and follow his gaze. She didn't see it at first either, not even slightly, especially not looking through one eye. She really had to strain to see the one he'd spotted amongst the fighters, and then suddenly they were everywhere. It was incredible, and even more exciting to her than the castle itself or the monks. Tengu had been the most peculiar person to her since she'd arrived in Naraka, from how he'd helped them with the ogre and to saving her, and she hoped Tatsumi as well, from Mikaboshi when he had come for the idol. To find out that there were more Tengu, and they were this disciplined, just made her wonder what kind of training they had to go through to get to this point. Was it easier for them because of where they came from as opposed to the Waking world? She'd certainly never met shinobi like this. Kiyoshi was next, and maybe he was a shinobi still, but she had a feeling he wasn't straightforward with her when she asked him if he was an Oni.

As they came up to the building, she seemed less concerned about her eye, though it was very obviously irritated due to the redness at the seam of her lids meeting. Instead of worrying about something she couldn't change until she got to some water or was able to work away whatever had gunked it shut, she would take the time to actually take the surroundings in when they entered the building. Hitoko and Eiji were both awake now, and that meant that no one had to be carried into the building. The wheelbarrow was left at the entrance and they made their way to a large lift. She stood next to Ko quietly, keeping an eye on everyone and especially the new woman in their company. She had very little idea of who she was besides being someone important to Kirinji romantically, and there was very little interaction with her to gauge what kind of person she was. But if Kirinji liked her, and she herself got along with him, surely they wouldn't have any issues in that department either. Hopefully...

Sakuya asked if they were excited and she made a face as if thinking on that for a moment before shaking her head. she wasn't excited. More so... nervous. This was the person they'd sought out to speak to since they came here and the absolute chaos that followed them as they travelled here wasn't even them being officially involved in this war. Izanagi may ask them to leave, or he may task them with whatever he feels they could help with and then there will be no point of return except abandonment. She didn't have it in her. She was ready to defend Naraka, but this was just making it real. What she saw while she was out cold had helped solidify it in her heart- it had helped solidify a lot of things. She had started questioning herself, but that was over now.

She wondered what Izanagi was like to Sakuya as opposed to when she had asked Kiyoshi about him, but she didn't know if that was an appropriate question to ask. Especially not when they were about to meet him themselves. She could hear a million and one good or bad things about him, but the only conclusion she'd still come to was that she needed to come to a consensus about him herself. It had been the same way with Ai. She hadn't heard necessarily bad things, just minor confrontation between them, and what she had said at the shrine had made her realize that people had their own reasons for this that made sense, and even if it didn't make sense to her- it did to them. She could at least admire someone fighting for something they believed in, even if it was opposite of her own.​