Aikayume Azusa vs Okada Kaji [Spectator Thread, Open]

[Miroku Riyota]

[This first segment is in response to an event mentioned in Azusa's post, ignore it if you don't care.]
Riyota was a man with a large pool of stamina, but lugging the various gear and equipment all the way from Wind country to Tea country had drained him of nearly all of his energy, it wouldn't have been so bad had Azusa not insisted on bringing various packs of different brushes and other beauty items. Her loyal knight and apparent pack mule was wiped out for the evening. 'And now apparently guests are a thing that are happening.' He thought to himself, sighing and standing from his seat he walked over to where Azusa was calling him from to briefly greet the guest and make his way to bed.

That however was not Azusa's plan, and anything that isn't Azusa's plan can play second fiddle. To make a long story short, Azusa had informed Riyota that she planned to reward him with a joint massage between her and her new...'friend'. The knight had hesitated profusely, informing his mistress that he did not enjoy being touched in such a way and tried to insist that she would enjoy a massage far more than him. However that was his plan, not Azusa's plan, and within minutes Riyota submitted to her orders and laid himself down on the ground.

He struggled to get himself comfortable, the young shinobi was used to being alert and very much on edge at all times. Letting a stranger get to know him so intimately was definitely out of his comfort zone. Riyota attempted to just close his eyes and wait for it to be over until the guest decided to massage a little bit too low. "Nope, nope, not okay. I am drawing the line here! That's enough." He cried, a tendril sprouting from his back and putting the hand back where it came from. He sprang back to his feet. "My Lady, I must request you let me take control of this situation, you are fighting soon. You need to relieve stress as much as I do. So please...let me...try this...with your...'friend'." Assuming Azusa allowed a different plan for once then the rest is history and definitely a story not fit for innocent eyes. All that can be said is the morning repairman wasn't exactly cheap.

[Now we get to the actual fight part]

Riyota lazily took his seat in the stands, a tired yet content expression on his face. Not only had he had an interesting evening the previous night followed by the most peaceful sleep he had in a while. He now got to see his beloved fight it out in a proper tournament battle. Which to him was about as exciting as it got. To him it was one of her most attractive qualities. The mix of her ferocity and grace in battle, the primal yet refined nature. It was what let him know this tournament was to be incredibly exciting. In his mind she could not lose.

He looked around the stadium, there were quite a lot of people occupying the seats but the young shinobi spotted one right down the bottom. Right next to the action, it wasn't technically his seat but he wanted to be as close to the fighting as possible, and to be able to be heard if he needed to shout words of encouragement. Slinking his way over the rows of chairs he eventually made it to the empty spot next to the arena. "TAKE HIM DOWN AZUSA!" He called over the railing. Hoping she could hear him.

 

[Aburabuta Yutaka]

NPC: Kurohane Kitai

Under any other circumstances, Kurohane Kitai would have likely been a center of a great deal of attention but even a woman of her extraordinary beauty could not compete entirely with the spectacle of the battle unfolding in the arena below the stands. She was adorned in a black gown the color of spilled ink that was trimmed with gold and bright red and wore her long hair which shared a similar shade as her dress down but penned within a mantle of luxurious raven feathers allowing those features of her clothing and appearance to frame her bare shoulders and neckline that plunged just deep enough to get men into trouble for following it with their eyes.

Behind and flanking Kitai on each side were men wearing matching uniforms: dark leather cuirasses and red scarves which covered their faces along with pointed steel helmets. They only moved when she did, canvasing her movements and always ensuring to stay within a few steps of the woman that they were clearly protecting. They bore no obvious weaponry but in the world of shinobi it was impossible to say for sure at cursory examination if they were truly armed in any way though it stood to reason that if they likely possessed some form of armament given the way they moved around her in a protective pattern. The men with pointed hats did not speak or otherwise move or gesture at each other except for occasionally silently warding away someone from approaching too closely to their charge with an unspoken threat of violence.

This location in the stands was at a premium for most of Kurosawa's locales and it reflected a great deal about Kitai's influence-- or her wealth --that she was able to maintain a large enough space around her in such a coveted position. That is until a certain Sunagakurian shinobi appeared in one of the vacant seats a seat or two away from where Kitai sat gingerly and cried out in encouragement for one of the female one of the two fighters engaged in the arena. Almost immediately all three of the masked guards with pointed hats began to move in unison to relocate or otherwise remove Riyota from the place he'd chosen to occupy but curiously, and uncharacteristically, Kitai raised a hand and with a gesture stopped each of her attending guards in their steps as though she'd frozen their entire bodies. After a heartbeat of seeming paralysis, the pointed-hat bodyguards would return immediately to their previous stations like automatons being reset to a neutral position.

"Fancy the fox-girl as the winner, do you?" She asked of Riyota. Her voice was strange-- with her sitting a seat or two away from where he was her words should have been difficult to hear over the roar of the crowd but somehow they were not. He would find that he could hear her as easily as though she were whispering directly into his ear. He might even feel, for the briefest of moments, a sensation like soft lips brushing against the edge of his ear.

With another gesture, Kitai warmly invited Riyota to sit closer to her as a demure smile crossed her graceful pale features.

 

[Miroku Riyota]

Riyota shivered and batted at his ear, suspecting some flying insect to have landed on it. The voice was not one he could ignore though. He could almost hear it inside his head and it made his hairs stand on edge. He turned around, expecting to find someone directly next to him, whispering. Instead there was no-one, no-one but a woman who stood out from the crowd, and whom seemed to have her attention focused on the young Shinobi.

Riyota tried to think if he should recognise her, his brow furrowed slightly and he turned his head away to consider if they had met before but nothing was coming to him. He took it to mean that he had not encountered this particular woman before and was safe for the time being. He turned his attention back to the fight as he nodded. "I don't just fancy her to win. I know she's going to win!" He explained, his eyes intensely fixated on the battle in front of him. A light of passion and admiration burning in the shimmering of his iris. It seemed that the thought that he had stolen his present seat was not currently present in his mind.

As the fight continued, he turned his attention back a slight bit to the woman. Apparently seeing no issue with making idle conversation with someone dressed in clothes as fine as hers, followed by two intimidating guardsmen. "So, who're you rooting for?" He asked calmly, yet still loud enough to be heard over the yelling and cheering of the crowd.

 

[Sunaku Harupia]

Well...so far this was all was going quite swimmingly. In spite of not qualifying to become a member of the team himself, Harupia did decide to come see the tournament himself. As much as he was worried about the whole scenario, with so many of the battle-hardened members of the village coming here, but it seemed the defense of the village was somewhat bolstered...if the door was anything to go by. Besides, if anyone wished to attack, trying to target shinobi weekend by combat seemed like a possible idea...especially with how seemingly the combatants were not interested in pulling any punches.

Tea was quite a curious country, the vast fields of rural, lush countryside providing the Tea they were named for (most of it quite delicious) contrasting with the busy hustle and bustle of Kurokawa city itself. He did not visit this place before, his long absence from his village having his mind preoccupied with...other goals. But now that he was here he did like the feeling, the business of it all. Like the Sunan Market on a good day, but sounded buy a lot more convenient housing. He wished that once it fully built up, the upper village of Suna would look just as impressive... which was something he hoped they could focus on after dealing with a psychotic monarch.

For now, he was just enjoying his time and now as the fights commenced, watching one of those who he was interested the most in. As much as it pained him to say he did not quite recall most of the Shinobi who managed to make the cut, other than the medic Akujin...though the question why the man he met not long after his return was presented as a woman had him quite confused. But the one he wanted to observe was a different woman, Azusa. One who not only survived but managed to disable the test of this. Now that power was as frightening as it was fascinating to think about...so he couldn't allow himself to miss this battle.

He had enough going to get himself seats quite close to the action, 3rd row from the bottom. He was somewaht surprised at first why there was so much space free there, but as someone explained, a rather important figure to the village was reserving several spots for herself and her security detail, and around them as well. And apparently, people weren't the comfortable sitting close by them even if the spots were not reserved. Giving quite a bit of distance between the other people and her. He decided on a place on the row above, away from he three guards and her herself, but still close enough to the action. as long as he kept his distance it probably wouldn't cause much of an issue.

The fight was intriguing in itself, the sand Kunoichi going in for a quick series of strikes before trying to apprehend him with a grapple... and a mirror appearing right next to them. That was quite odd, but he cold imagines it had to have its combat uses... His focus on the fight was slightly disturbed as he heard someone screaming out to cheer for her. He had just noticed someone sitting below him...in one of the spots which were to be reserved. As the bodyguards stood he would lean forward trying to say "erm, I think that spot is ta..." before the lady behind the security detail had requested them to move back, which they did. She then spoke to him, her voice clearly audible through the rucks of the crowd, and beckoned him to come closer. And so he did.Which had left Haru himself staring forward for a bit before turning back to the match at hand, one hand running through his hair in exhaspertion? he just hopes the watchdogs wouldn't try going on him now, as he described the peace. Always had to be something, huh?

Wc= 669

 

[Aburabuta Yutaka]

NPC: Kurohane Kitai

Riyota did not take Kitai up on her offer to sit closer to her but instead was enraptured by the battle unfolding before them and indeed it was a spectacular one. Azusa was proving every bit the warrior that Kitai's information on the Aikayume Clan had implied her to be. With her information networks focused on the events and going on's of Wind Country and most specifically Sunagakure she lacked for any real solid information on fighters from the other villages but it was appearing as though that was a non-issue. The Grand Master had insisted that Sunagakure was foremost on their list of threats to their ascension to supremacy and at the current time Azusa seemed to be more than proving it with her actions against Okada Kaji even though Kitai could tell that this was no mere case of a strong opponent overpowering a weak one. Kaji was a strong fighter, he was just matched against someone who was easily his equal if not his superior. That wasn't to say that Kaji could not win the fight he was engaged in but it would certainly be an uphill battle from the way things were unfolding.

"You might say that I do not have a horse in this race, I am only here for the spectacle." Replied the apparently affluent woman, leaning into her right hand and lounging in her seat as she watched the battle below. Her answer was a false one of course, she was absolutely rooting for the Sunagakure victory if only to secure more information about the way Azusa fought. Sand would undoubtedly have sent some of their strongest fighters to represent them in the tournament and every detail that Kitai could squeeze out of these exhibition matches before the real game was afoot was a small victory for her side.

Interestingly enough during the lull of the battle it seemed as though the young fox-woman managed to take notice of her cheering comrade in the stands... and more importantly apparently took notice of his proximity to Kitai from the way her energy spiked and flowed after having looked in their direction. The feeling of her foreign charka washing over Kitai's skin was a welcome sensation not unlike the soothing effect of a warm shower on a cold day. It had been a long time since she'd tasted the energy of someone so youthful and powerful.

"She certainly is something." Remarked Kitai, her interest piqued from the outburst of indignant energy she felt crash into the stands from Azusa. Even while engaged in battle she had enough of a presence of mind to watch over her excitable little devotee, did she?

Once more a smile crept across Kitai's features but there was certainly a surreptitious hint to it as her position in the seating changed suddenly from where she'd been sitting... a few seats down, right next to Riyota where she leaned closely to him to attract his attention. At this extreme proximity Riyota would easily be able to smell the sumptuous perfume she wore upon her person and as she leaned closely to him to attempt to take his attention away from the battle, if only for a moment to provoke another reaction from Azusa, she brushed up against him and attempted to wrap his arm in hers while pressing her ample breasts up against him.

"Tell me more about her, you two sound so close ..." She breathed as a mind-occluding effect began to set in around Riyota's immediate person...

[Kitai's perfume carries with it traces of the Make-Believe poison that causes those close to her that breathe it in to become befuddled and trusting towards her. Riyota it is up to you whether your character is affected by it or not.]

 

[Kita Shiori]

Shiori pressed through the crowd, elbow sinking into a rather portly man’s gut in a none-too polite gesture as she slugged her way towards the stairs. The thirteen-year old’s awe over travelling to a new country had swiftly waned once she realized humans were humans no matter what side of a border you stood on. Grumbling some more uncharitable thoughts, Shiori cast a scalding glare back over her shoulder to the doughty merchant in thick golden robes who had unceremoniously dumped her out of her seat only moments before. Unlike her peers with their hitai-ate proudly displayed, Shiori had borne the brunt of this adult’s world. The academy student was neither distinguished enough nor old enough to merit respect despite having shown up to claim her seat while they were still cleaning blood off the tiles from the last fight.

She remembered Yui’s admonishment on the trip over, though. It didn’t cool her temper any, but like most splashes of cold water it served the purpose of injecting logic. Shiori might not be awarded the benefits of her shinobi counterparts, but the smallest mistake or international scandal and everyone would be pointing at Kumo all the same. That was life, and she was more upset at herself for hoping that this trip would be different than she was angry at the merchant’s gall.

Once she’d ducked through the throng of human bodies pressed too closely together Shiori spied an oddly open gap down by the railings from her perch on the stairwell. It had to be coincidence, seats set aside in reserve, perhaps, or out of use, and yet… for the chance to see one of Kumogakure’s own in battle she was willing to take a risk. Hurtling down the steps, flustered now that the open spots would fill in just as she had finally caught sight of them, Shiori pulled to an abrupt halt.

There, along the edge of the invisible line, sat a single man. And further down, some fine lady with her retainers. But most importantly, Shiori could now see clear into the arena and the fierce battle that was playing out. Her breath all but congealed in her lungs, fingers tingling, as Shiori leaned forward with wide-eyed excitement. Oh – how they moved! Back and forth and lashing out with a flicker of steel only for emerald lights to swirl and burst. And there, at the edges, some great crimson beast lurked! An animal covered up and down in scales with great glinting claws as big around as a farmer’s scythe. Shiori could hardly follow the rapid attacks, one action flowing into the next, but she pinned her eyes on the dark shadow that was Okada Kaji and held on for dear life.

The hard crest of the seat back jutted into her hip and Shiori sighed with the crowd as Okada disappeared once more. He moved so fluidly that the very air seemed to swallow him whole. There one moment and gone the next. Twisting and turning around his feline-featured opponent. Shiori could just make out the splash of red, blood dripping like a child’s ribbon to adorn the stadium. Her heart stilled, head fit to burst as the crowd's screaming swelled and crashed around her.

WC: 523

 

[Teke]

[Entering during round 3]​

Teke had barely arrived into Kurosawa, arriving just after noon due to extenuating circumstances back in Sand. She had in particular been looking forward to this little, approved visit to the Tea country for many reasons, first and foremost being that she'd never been outside of the wind country and this was a good chance for some adventure. Secondly, her promise to Sousuke extended only to Citizens on the Sand village which meant an opportunity could present itself at some time and place and thirdly, the idea of watching two people beat the hell out of one another for her entertainment, it was a feeling of power in her mind.

Unfortunately for the small blonde, she was running late. She'd been too engrossed in exploring the streets that she'd missed the start of the fight, rushing into the arena that was already alive with cheers, jeers and the sounds of combat that echoed out of what to the onlookers looked like a fighting pit, except grand in scale. She stood at the top of the steps that lead down to the seats, panting softly as she tried to regain her breath, anyone looking her was would see a girl wearing a simple purple blouse with the sleeves rolled up and the top three buttons were undone, a pair of charcoal grey short shorts and matching ninja sandals. That would all be normal, even a tad erotic what with the very open shirt, if it wasn't for the fact that from the neck down she was completely wrapped in bandages, a few band-aids also decorated her face and it looked like she'd been through the wars.

She quickly, for a girl seemingly injured enough to warrant all this protection, skipped her way down the steps and decided against finding a seat, instead opting to hop up onto the small barrier wall that stopped people from falling into the combat zone. She would stand up straight and fold her arms as she looked down into the chaos below completely unaware and really not caring about being in anyone's way. "Ears and a tail..." It might seem strange that she'd bet upon someone she'd never seen or met before, but village pride shone brightly! Also, she saw that Azusa had a fair bit placed upon her already and that type of confidence comes with weight behind it, betting on the favorite often led to results.

The girl tilted her head as she watched, grin on her face as she fantasized about a couple of different things. "I bet she'd taste pretty interesting." She said out loud, little care for those listening to her. She was starting to hungrily lick her lips, both in fantasy about how the girl would indeed taste and a little due to the faint traces of chemical floating through the air and uncovering her very unexplored lustful side. Anyone caring to get close enough to her would see drool slowly flowing from the corners of her mouth that she was obviously unaware of.

[WC - 504]

[OOC - I am going on the idea that her booty is 100% in the way of the both of you, though the view is possibly better now? ]

 

[Miroku Riyota]

Riyota didn't quite understand the scowl he had received from Azusa during a brief pause in her fight. He assumed she just forgot to soften her expression whilst searching for him in the crowds. Smiling brightly, he waved to her. Trying to let her know he was there supporting her. His attention had almost entirely diverted away from the woman whom had addressed him earlier, and he was paying no attention to the rest of the crowd. Not that he recognised anyone nearby.

Suddenly as the fight hit another crescendo he felt something wrap around his metal, prosthetic right arm. "Guh" His breath caught in his throat from the surprise and his muscles tensed until after a moment he realised it was not an aggressive manoeuvre. It was soft, warm and friendly. He turned his head to see the culprit and his eyes widened slightly as he recognised the woman from mere moments ago. Her arms wrapped around his. Her breasts...well...performing a similar action.

A blush grew on the young man's face. "O-oh, I, I think you grabbed the wrong person! M'am y-you..." A delightful scent entered his nostrils and Kitai would be able to see and feel his body relax. His breathing slowed and his eyes showed a sudden lack of focus. He felt calmer in her presence now. She was trustworthy, she had approached him with friendly intent and this was certainly not the place to launch an attack. So he could certainly make time to chat a bit. Besides, she wanted to talk about Azusa. One of Riyota's favourite topics.

Settling back down into 'his' chair he took a deep calm breath in. "Azusa? She's amazing, Clever, beautiful, powerful. I'd do anything for her." A smile crept onto his face as he looked back at the fight. Deep admiration apparent in his gaze.

He opened his mouth as if he was going to begin talking more before suddenly with a reasonable thud a bu-...Or rather a PERSON landed in front of the pair. Riyota shot up out of his chair and out of the woman's grip, startled. His senses apparently surging back to him. Unfortunately in springing up in his chair he had butted (no pun intended) his head against the posterior of the new arrival. To prevent her from falling into the arena he grabbed her hand and pulled her back over the barrier. Potentially sending her flying into him, and both of them flying into Kitai. Unless fate had other plans...

MFT

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

Kaji, damn, Okada.

You think you know a man, you marry him, have his child and then what? He's shirtless and grinning like a cat with a saucer while 'overseeing' a suspiciously blue-wigged, six-armed woman with only a trenchcoat between her and the skin the gods gave her while she 'sews'. Yuii loved the man, she really did. If watching a woman work with her hands was something he'd wanted, Kaji could have told her so and Yuii would have coyly put needle to fabric all night. If he wanted her to do it in just a trenchcoat? Well, a little fun was good for a married couple and in Tea's heat, she could use the breeze. There had been no need for the spider woman, who kept humming the most annoying tune all night and kept giving Yuii glares behind his back, but there she had been. All night. In their hotel room. Naked. The night before the tournament. Sewing.

Somehow, Kaji didn't see the error in judgement. Men.

Despite her irritation, It hadn't been Yuii intention to leave early that morning, newborn in tow, and abandon him for the countdown to his first match. Fate or pre-teen judgement was the one at fault instead as one of the students had gotten cart food at the docks and ended up projectile vomiting. That in itself was generally not an issue, someone just had to hold her hair and say something encouraging but the kid was also a pyro and somehow bits of flame were coming up with the rest. That had lead to the pleasure of babysitting an eleven-year-old in a courtyard, water bucket on hand, after nearly burning down their inn twice. For some reason, it had to be her, for liability sake. At least that was what Ayumu had said before running off with his wife in tow. Thankfully the gods saw to it that the sick little lamb of a student was done emptying her stomach at an hour that would allow Yuii to get to the arena before the fight started. If she ran fast, and there were no distractions.

So she did, and there were none, but only with enough time to spare to find out most of the seats were gone. Standing room only, and forget about getting a close row. Unproven marital status meant nothing compared to the veritable fortunes that must have been spent to keep the riff-raff off. Not that Yuii was used to being told no, but apparently her odd mashing of rainbow coloured shorts and T-shirt in a yellow so bright it made the sun squint wasn't how people expected a Sennin of any nation to dress. Her headband turned belt wasn't exactly proof either.

And so, when she spied by chance perhaps thinking of her has summoned Yuii!!) a familiar little head of red she recognized as one of her charges making her way into one of those coveted reserved rows, Yuii decided to take it as a sign from her god and let the little lamb lead the way. Infant Umeko in tow, she slid through the crowd to her chosen target.

The awe she caught on Shiori's face was the reason she had dragged the youth of Kumogakure to the country of Tea. That exact moment, that exact emotion she hoped the girl was feeling made everything worth it. If they lit the spark of greatness in just one of their youth, that was enough. "He's amazing isn't he?" Yuii chimed at the red-heads ear, shuffling next to her without permission or apology. Never once thinking she could be admiring her love's opponent, either. Kumogakure's heart beat as one, after all. "Like shadow incarnate backed by scaled ferocity, even in the face of his greatest weakness, right?. The very epitome of Shinobi" She paused, listened to the praise spilling out for Kaji's opponent that was made barely audible with all the cheering, then snorted with amusement, "I'll tell you a secret, little robin. Our Okada-san isn't fighting for glory right now, or pride. His whole spirit is poured into this battle because it's the key to his freedom to stay with us all in Kumogakure. That's true power and beauty; having the strength forge forward on the best path."

 

[Seijin]

Umashi wasn't exactly keen on watching the first fights of the tournament, partially out of laziness and partially out of not wanting to see his friends and allies get bounced out early in the fight. However, recognizing his actual duty to at least show up to a single fight, the fortune of the draw ended up falling on Okada Kaji as the situationally picky Hokage worked his way through the crowd of those who had opted to show up. Dressed in his medical whites with his hood over his face to keep from drawing too much attention, Umashi found a familiar face and opted to sit next to the Kumogakurian Sennin. "You know, I find him to be one of the most honorable men that I've ever met . . . it's a shame that these sort of things only lend themselves to seemingly barbaric displays of who can beat up who, when practically the whole of the shinobi system is based on team-based skirmishes." Shaking his head, Umashi gave a low whistle as he tried to look for some sort of way in which Kaji would be able to pull out the victory. Although all hope wasn't lost, it most definitely seemed to him that Kaji was fighting an uphill battle against a highly specialized foe. The way in which the woman seemed to produce an otherworldly aura reminded him much of the Uchiha and their Susanoo techniques but this one seemed to be far more agile and useful in battle. For one, it wasn't as hulking of a figure, but also it was able to use very typical shinobi techniques. It was all very interesting to say the least, but Umashi was still silently rooting for the upset.

 

[Kita Shiori]

Shiori found it hard to tear her gaze away from the battle, even as a familiar figure ghosted to her side with that eye-numbing colorful attire. “Kagetsu-sama!” the young student exclaimed, white-knuckled grip on the seatback never loosening as she blinked up at the Cloud Sennin. For a singular moment the teen wondered if the older woman was able to read her mind and had appeared now to chastise her for her earlier thoughts. It was the kind of irrational thinking that seemed plausible only because of Yuii’s incredible sixth sense on the boat over. The Sennin had had eyes everywhere, known immediately of all the pranks and rivalries and petty grudges, and appeared in a flash to course-correct. Shiori had watched plenty of lectures from up in the rigging, and she knew without a doubt that Yuii had to have some supervisorial chakra monitoring ability.

Her concern at getting scolded flew away in the wind as the fight downstairs turned brutal. Shiori let out a near silent gasp, leaning forward half-way over the seatback as she strained to make out what was happening. Okada had disappeared once more, but that dastardly mirror construct was zooming around the field like an overpriced gaudy looking glass. Her whole body felt cold, a sympathetic nervous reaction as the young woman watched Okada’s sword arc.

Body heat bloomed to her left, and Shiori nodded in aggressive accord to Yuii’s comments. “He is…” Once, before, she might have let shyness hold her circumspect, but with blood already spilled and shouts for more Shiori couldn’t find it in her to hide away from her superior. “He is incredible,” her lips parted, breath escaping her lungs as she swallowed back a scream. This was what they were training to become. This was what those childish schoolyard fights were about. Like paper soldiers aping their tin leaders. She could see the same premise from her classes, the shift of muscle, the play of momentum, but whatever sense of pride or skill a student might feel was washed away by this deadly display. These were masters, true shinobi. And it caught at her, again and again, the beauty but even more so the danger.

Yuii didn’t seem disappointed with Shiori’s inelegant response. She could almost feel the older woman’s smile, hovering over her hairline as the Sennin too stared down at the unfolding tableau. It tugged at something, a little knot around her ribcage, and Shiori tilted her head upward just enough to spy Yuii’s face. The curve of her chin and the flat plain of her cheek, those eyes filled with a terrible certainty so at odds with the woman’s flamboyant attire. Unlike the rioting crowd, Yuii was neither consumed with sportsmanlike blood lust nor disavowed of Okada’s chances. Instead, she watched, standing still like a singular pebble in a pool of water. Those eyes never wavering.

The student quickly squashed some alien desire to reach out and pat the older woman’s arm. There was nothing to comfort, really, and besides it wasn’t her place. She didn’t know for sure what was happening down there, whether Okada was taking those hits to lull his opponent into a sense of false security or whether the blood splatters were visceral and unintended. But she believed. She believed that Cloud produced the strongest, those who clung tenaciously to duty and clawed at each opportunity lest one slip by unattempted. If anyone could come back from a deficit, it would be a Cloud shinobi. Some small part of herself, the angry part, wanted just that. Wanted to watch Okada wipe that smug smirk off the Suna kunoichi’s face, wanted to see the moment when he pressed her into the dirt and she stopped lording herself over him in such an unprofessional fashion.

Shiori might not have wanted to be a ninja, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t uncomfortable at this display. She understood, innately, what it meant to give respect through your own actions. To comport yourself in a way that afforded your enemy and yourself honor. The kunoichi held none of that, far too eager, those fanged smiles too wild. She didn’t like it. Not one bit. And especially not when Okada was there, a silent wraith, wrapped in fierce determination.

“His freedom?” the words slipped past her teeth without stopping to consult her brain, and Shiori flinched minutely even as the question dogged her thoughts. Had… was this a fight to the death then? She hadn’t heard that to be the case, and yet… it would not be remiss. How else to prove true supremacy than through utter mastery of the opponent. Fingers clutching convulsively, the young student mouthed a quick prayer to Raiden. He had to see, had to be drawn in by the flash of Okada, like the glimmering edge to the katana still enshrined in Raiden’s honor back home. He had to be watching. Watching out for his children, even if it would be Okada’s skills that would see him through.

Then her thoughts turned, taking a sidelong juncture as she began to wonder. Unless, it was Cloud that would be upset over a loss here today? Cloud that would enact righteous punishment for the shame? She didn’t like that thought, but it was not anachronistic to her experiences. Surely, they would see this battle for how she saw it, an amazing display of martial prowess and intelligence, and not for the end result. Which even still had yet to be determined, Shiori admonished herself. It was like Yuii said, Okada was fighting, not for his shallow self, but for the parts of him that tied his body to the rest of theirs. He had to feel it. That outpouring of support. Every Kumogakuran who stood spell-bound, chanting his name, whispering his recommendation to the gods.

As an older man stepped closer to Yuii, and by association Shiori, the student hunched down and focused back on Okada. He took another hit, blood welling fresh from the scratches, but nothing in his expression changed. That resolve only growing, a forest fire in the brambles. “He will overcome,” she murmured, letting the wind and the screams whip away her words. Hands clenched, the prayer in her head redoubled in effort. “He will overcome, I just know it.” No matter the obstacle. Okada was like her and she like him. That was what it meant, to be of one purpose, of one mind. Shiori had never understood that line in their classes, the emphasis on a shared life. She was beginning to do so now as her teeth snagged the lining of her cheek and she tasted copper blood, willing every ounce of herself to roll down into the arena and into Okada’s mind. Willing him to move just one more time, slice in close once more, push through and push through and push through. Eventually, the blacksmith’s daughter knew, even the most tempered steel would fissure.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

As if the conversation of freedom had summoned him by force, there was Umashi. Yuii sniffed once and gave his enrobed personage a glance over the curve of her nose, eyes lingering in search of his iconic boots. The kunoichi should have known he would be amongst the watchers as the instigator of such foolishness, but she found his gall in approaching her now astonishing. "Such wise words from the mouth of the man who created this situation." she hissed, spurred to anger just audible over the crowd that erupted as the many-tailed woman landed another hit, "You took a commander and protector and put him in a blood sport, I hope you're satisfied with yourself."

It wasn't good manners, and Ayumu would have scolded her for it, but Yuii pointedly turned back to Shiori. It wasn't a snub, but she needed a momentary reprieve to think and setting her emotioned before addressing the man who guarded the door to a happy future with Kaji. The last thing any of them needed was for Kumo and Konoha's relationship to be bruised by an angry wife. In contrast, Shiori's earnest and real admiration was soothing to her, and she wanted to fuel it.

"The freedom to be where he belongs," Yuii explained, spurred to share more by the energy of the crowd and the anxious rumbling in her gut. She could find no enjoyment from the display in front of her. That was her husband's blood on the arena grounds, her soulmate's flesh that spectators jeered for his opponent to slash. It was demeaning to the man she loved that he needed to be here at all, spilling blood for the unworthy. "Shinobi are as much slaves as any of the indentured men and women that you see walking this city. Our masters are our Kage and country and our cage is the hidden villages we've sworn to. There is a path you are expected walk, jobs you are expected to do and there is no right to decline. This is good enough for most, our masters are kind and we have room to live happy lives, but others are not always born in the place they ought to be."

Yuii sucked her teeth as the tailed woman delivered another blow that knocked her love momentarily from his cloak of stealth. She found herself leaning forward, craning to assess the damage dealt and gauge her other half's status, but the moment passed too quickly. "Okada Kaji wasn't born to Lightning country, but Earth. The man he is now was forged and tempered in the care of Hidden Stone, whetted and sharpened into a great warrior by the renewal of Fire Countries Leaf but it was Cloud that gave him a home and a purpose he wanted to live or die for. He belongs with us, but he doesn't belong to us... 'yet'. Look closely at his armour if you can, there are marks of not just Cloud, but Stone and Leaf as well decorating the metal. Kaji has been forced to represent his lands of birth and contract in this tournament in exchange for a chance to be free of the lands whose claim on him stems from the chance of birth. They won't let him go unless he proves himself."

Her penetrating sapphire gaze returned to Umashi, the crease in her brow asking the question she dared not vocalize; 'was this enough?' Even if he lost, impossible as it felt, could the blood and sweat spilt today break Kaji's bonds? Only the Hokage could know.

Umeko stirred against her chest and resettled into a slumber that only an infant could manage, "I heard you died, Lord Hokage."

 

[Seijin]

Looking on as Kaji took a rather punishing blow, Umashi winced despite knowing that Kaji was good for far worse. As expected, Yuii felt scorned, and the venom that she spat at Umashi didn't go unnoticed. Without breaking his character though, Umashi spoke in a matter of fact way, not allowing his emotions to get in the way of what he deemed . . . business . "The rumors of the Hokage's demise were greatly exaggerated. There was a phoenix attack, a gate rift and a nigh two decade time skip . . . he returned to Konoha in much the same way as he left, a court jester with an all seeing eye." Umashi smirked as he clasped his hands together and then began to crack his knuckles. Noticing the child that Yuii was holding, Umashi nodded towards the child without necessarily turning his head to look at it. "I actually managed to be there right when my triplets were born . . . it's beautiful how the most dangerous creatures known to man can create the most precious sparks of life that we'll ever know." Perhaps referring to shinobi as monsters was a bit too poetic but Umashi had much liked the implied analogy. Thinking of his children, Umashi nodded and smiled as he momentarily closed his eyes and remembered the sad, if not joyous day that they were born. Probably needing to check on them, Umashi realized that he couldn't stay too long past the end of this fight, however it turned out.

Motioning towards the fight with the wave of his hand, Umashi shook his head and spoke. "This . . . this isn't truly what's most important my fair lady . I believe all of this to be a clever ruse to hide what's really going on around us. Distract the people with a blood sport and manipulate the politics behind closed doors. People will be too busy cheering for their heroes instead of calling their leaders to task." Spoken like a true politician himself, Umashi continued on. " I have a suspicion . . . that there is something amiss." Shifting in his seat, Umashi looked over at Yuii and smiled. Unlike what she remembered, his eyes would seem to swirl with chakra itself as they shifted from one color to the next like a never ending vortex. Something had changed in Umashi, something that not even Umashi could fully explain. "All the King's horses and men will be needed if my hunch is correct and I hope that it is not but, I've already discovered something or another that doesn't make sense. Just trust me . . . as hard as that may be. I want nothing but the best for Kaji and his household. I have as much need for him to make it back home to Kumogakure in one piece as you do." Saying the last line noticeably slower than he had the rest, Umashi made it clear that he expected Kaji to remain in Kumo. Despite his methods being every bit insane by any other name, Umashi genuinely wanted the best for Kaji and really wanted to see him pull out the victory.

OOC: Link to what Umashi thinks is amiss below . . .
https://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic.php?f=819&p=289290#p289290

 

[Shimamura Yosuke]

The tea was awesome! There was so much food he never seen before, the weather was warm unlike back in Kumogakure, and there were Ninjas everywhere! But the best part about it was the tournament, and with the tournament of course came betting. He didn’t know if it was so much because of the carelessness of the people working the bets, or if students were allowed to put money up for who they believed would win, but Yosuke bet all of the savings his Uncle gave him to spend during his time here. And he spent it all on Kaji, one of the Cloud’s champions and the husband of the blue haired she-witch from the ship.

While he feared Yuii and her wrath, he completely revered the strategist with the long hair that fought down below in the open field against a champion of the leaf. Sadly, they wasted a lot of time gathering snacks, because Yosuke wanted to try some new things. He had to ask Shizuka, and the new kid, Oushi for some money because he wasted all of his. The lines were long and then getting to a good view took even longer. Finally tired of looking, he shoved through a crowd of people, bags of food in hand.

“Come on!” He shouted to his friend and the new kid that Shizuka seemed to bring along with her mischievousness after the events of the ship, “We’re missing Kaji’s fight!”
He bumped into Shiori as he glued himself against the edge, besides her. He watched the two warriors clashing, they were speaking as they fought, but he couldn’t hear over the words. “Let’s go Kaji!” He shouted as loud as he could, reaching into one of the paper bags and pulling out a chocolate covered grasshopper, “Not bad,” Happily munching and turning to Shiori.

“Hey, what did I miss?” He asked rather obnoxiously, trying to speak over the crowd, “We’d like to know,” He motioned at Shizuka and Oushi with a huge, beaming, smile.

 

[Kita Shiori]

Shiori shifted uncomfortably as her chaperon and nearest authority figure all but sneered in the face of the strange ninja who had sidled closer. Gripping the insides of her sleeves, hands falling to her thighs, she avoided the tall man’s gaze as the two adults exchanged a heated and convoluted exchange. Yuii had lectured them on not picking fights, but the fiery Sennin was apparently not beholden to the same rules. It seemed odd, discordant, like a harsh note amongst an otherwise soothing orchestra. After all, Yuii might be terrifying, but Shiori had never witnessed her lash out without cause.

As the blue-haired woman turned back towards her, rather visibly ignoring the other ninja, Shiori’s concerns only surged. Nibbling her lip, she gazed out at the fight, not really picking up anything that happened down there. Shiori understood what it meant to be tied down by duty and by a sheer lack of other options. No one liked to talk about it in such terms, but Yuii was describing the reality of their village. The life of a Shinobi in Kumogakure was not a voluntary choice. And while Shiori now received perks to soothe the sting of her new trajectory, mission pay and public regard held little in the way of making up for her pre-determined fate. Somehow, despite being in a cohort full of children both stolen or tithed, she hadn’t realized that the same fate would dog the older ninja. That someone as powerful as Okada could be struggling to forge his own path.

“He does though… Belong to us.” Shiori fidgeted, but the words once released couldn’t be taken back. Shoulders straightening, she tipped her chin up and forged ahead – the only path left now. “He belongs to himself, even if just in his head. Even if just… even if it just means that he chooses why he fights, for whom he fights.” She struggled to make clear what she meant, pausing to collect her words like stones dropped in an empty well. Even as the quiet comments slipped away, worn down by the raucous crowd, Shiori wanted to be understood. Wanted to offer this one small piece of solace to the Sennin, this tiny root of nothingness that held her firm to the ground. It wasn’t much, really, but in the face of this stranger who had a hand in Okada’s fight today, this man who would pester Yuii, it had to be more than nothing.

Which was, of course, when the Sennin glanced at the interloper and casually dropped his full title. Shiori went white around the edges, peeking from behind Yuii’s hip at the Raiden-blessed Hokage himself. Her heart clambered up into her throat and decided to pay rent, but it wasn’t enough to silence her completely. “That’s why… he belongs to us, even if it’s just in our hearts.”

It was jarring, to look down at the man battling for his life, for the freedom to make his own choices, and to wonder if he missed his father. If the family he had made in Cloud made up for the one that had been stolen from him. Curling her fingers tightly, Shiori frowned grimly as Yuii explained more about Okada’s precarious social standing. He had served. Okada was among the best, by all accounts. So why was it fair that others still sought to drag him around by his strings like a woebegone puppet? It wasn’t fair, was never fair, but at the same time these were dangerous thoughts. And Shiori understood, with a flash of clarity, why the Sennin held herself so tensely, why anger had broken through that iron control when the Hokage spoke.

Shiori tilted her head back, gazing up at the powerful woman neutered by circumstance. If she was very good, if she did everything they asked of her, would Shiori find someone like this to love her? Was that the promise of Kumogakure, then? Fumiko-sensei always laughed when she talked about the repotting process, like all the lost children were nothing more than seeds to be shifted here or there. But Shiori had seen the shadows in her instructor’s eyes. She’d known, then, as she did now, that there were certain things you didn’t mention. Certain things you held down deep, where the hurt couldn’t be spotted by anyone else. Junichiro would have clipped her over the head for such folly, for trying to disguise the slow bleed, but his way of life hadn’t exactly gotten her out of this obligation. She had to find her own way.

Junichiro made blades the likes of which the god’s still composed poems to. If only that extended to herself, as well, if she could just imagine the dust of her bones as the iron shavings in his forge, maybe she could survive long enough to find a path forward. Okada had done so, would do so, even now. Because Yuii was right. He would never give up. Even if all the other Kage tried to pull him to the four winds, he would fight for his family and his ability to choose. She wasn’t alone in that.

“Okada-sama,” the iron worker’s daughter pressed as close to the stadium as she could get, knees banging against the line of empty seats to the fore. “You have to win. You’ve got to.” Whether she was speaking to the spirits or the man himself, even Shiori couldn’t tell, only that a fierce surge of determination filled her to the brim as she stared at the dark-haired man. He was fighting for his own freedom, but in many ways, he carried all of their dreams on his back. She may be an empty fennel stalk, but she could learn to grow beyond it.

Which was about the time when three of her classmates appeared from the crowd, the pink haired boy glomming onto her elbow like old pal’s. Shiori twitched, startled, only to see Shizuka at the foreground and some other boy she had never met. A frission of electricity raced up her spine, as she took in that round cherubic face with the cat-like eyes so full of placid insouciance. There was a word, just one, that thundered against the inside of her skull, but it was not a word Junichiro would have liked to have heard her say so Shiori swallowed it down. Eyeing the group, she turned, slowly, ever so slowly, to the Sennin. Hoping against hope that the woman was distracted by her mortal enemy, the Hokage, rather than three irascible trouble makers.

She didn’t think she would be able to stop the coming crash, but she had to try. Raiden’s earlobes, she had the worst luck today! None too discretely elbowing the lanky boy in the side, she hopped to the right, ready to step on toes if it would get the group to hobble a few inches back from the towering inferno that could be Yuii any second now. It wasn’t that Shiori expected Yuii to still be upset about the boat, but, she really didn’t trust Shizuka not to start something accidentally while they were all watching the father of Yuii’s baby bleed out and trying to ignore the Spirit’s-Blessed Hokage himself. She was so going to owe a bunch of incense to her ancestors when this was over, for having placed the group at the outer top-most edge of the empty section of seats. It gave her room to push the students a few inches without having to shove them bodily through a crowd.

Shiori twisted, placing herself in between the two conflicting groups, smiling brightly at the trio despite her tired eyes. “You’re just in time, actually. Okada-sama is about to show this Suna-kunoichi what the Cloud is made of.” Shifting, she held out one arm, pointing down into the fray where bits of ephemeral glass lay glinting against the cobble-stones. If nothing else, that stage-mirror had been shattered, it looked like, and Okada was actually far less bloody than when she’d looked but a second ago. “I’m Shiori, by the way. Kita Shiori, I don’t think I’ve met the two of you.” She glanced at the boys, nodding at Shizuka with a far warmer grin.

There was no one she wanted further from Yuii than Shizuka, but also no one she’d rather have at her side when it came time to watch Okada trounce his haughty opponent.

 

[Senju Shizuka]

Multiple times so far she’s played with the idea of using some jutsu to get rid of the crowd. At the pace things were going they would miss half of it, if not all of it. Stupid people, the little Senju thought while roughly pushing a man to the side. She couldn’t have cared less about the look he gave her. Judging from his movements he wasn’t a shinobi anyway, which meant that she would be able to floor him in seconds. That might even get the attention of those surrounding them and scare a couple of them away. Actually, that sounded quite good, perhaps a punch to his stomach and an elbow to the face would clear out the area-

Yosuke’s voice broke her out of her reverie, and the sight of Yuii quickly wiped away most of the devious thoughts she’s been having. She could only imagine what horrors she would be forced to go through should the woman would have to leave her husband’s match to escort Shizuka away. Away, she shivered imagining how she would probably never return because the blue haired Sennin would bury her lifeless body somewhere in the land of Tea.

Allowing Shiori’s smile to distract her from the worries of dying at the hands of the Sennin, she couldn’t help but to notice the figure on the other side. That clothing, the way he held himself. Wasn’t that.. Could it be? Had Yuii just..? Shizuka’s mind stopped, eyes widening slightly as if she was about to pounce a little prey.

“Woah, is that the Hokage she’s messing with?!”

She wanted to know, asking with some usually missing excitement. Even her voice had been raised a little - loud enough for everyone around them to have heard. Shiori didn’t seem to be appreciating that, but Shizuka could only grin weakly in response to the ‘strict’ glare, or whatever that had been. The disarming ‘hey, don’t worry’ type of grin she offered her friend, with some glowing mischief creeping through the green of her eyes, were soon followed up by a clear layer of curiosity. She shifted a bit closer, wanting to have a look at the fight.

“Glad to see you don’t look like a lobster anymore, Shiori.” Poking her lightly, she slid around the girl, letting Yosuke on the other side, and getting a bit closer to Yuii and the other, adult, ninja. This way she would be able to keep her eyes on both spectacles.

Hopefully the Cloud would win on both fronts.

 

[Harou]

Gattsu pushed himself through the crowded arena, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of people attending this event. He felt suffocated by the crowd and hated being touched and bumping randomly into strangers who were rushing past him was putting him on edge and making his blood boil. He felt lightheaded and finally glad when he took a seat near his class. He let out a large sigh, though still felt confined in the spaces of the crowd. He didn’t know anyone from his class and hardly new any of his instructors, as such he just followed his class blindly in an attempt not to get lost in this foreign land. The teenager looked around watching his classmates and sennin converse but hardly paid any attention to their conversation. His eyes found themselves in the fight taking place in front of them. He had heard that there was a Kumogakure ninja currently fighting and watched him closely. Being unexperienced in the ninja lifestyle as he grew up mostly a mercenary child, he wanted to understand the fear and respect given to the shinobi. His mercenary group have occasionally scuffled with hired shinobi and it always led to a devastating defeat at their hands.

He watched the battle before him in awe, tracking or at least attempting to track the fighters in combat before him. He had been updated on Okada Kaji from his village and watching him fight first hand sparkled his bloodlust slightly. An arena to take attempt to show you were the strongest, the idea fascinated him. He had scuffles and duels in his days, but nothing at this caliber. Kumogakure ninja were strong, the opponent being powerful in her own right. “Is this the way of the shinobi?”<i></i> he thought to himself. Their abilities, their borderline inhuman movements. He began to envy their battle taking place before him, he wanted to wield his sword in the arena in a bout of strength. His eyes came alive for the first time since transferring to the Academy. Normally a loner and introvert who was often considered barbaric in mannerisms and speech, he felt at peace now for the first time. This was both familiar and unfamiliar. He forgot the crowd around him and studied “his future opponents” carefully. He wanted to learn, studying them intently.

His mind wandered slightly, he could imagine himself in the field. He had lost motivation to do anything, he felt he had no purpose since his Academic registration. If anything, he joined halfheartedly after his last experience. What was this strange warmth feeling burning inside his chest? Excitement? He had only felt this in battle, never feeling it otherwise. However it was different, it wasn’t adrenaline for survival, it was a different experience and he couldn’t quite grasp the feeling. He truly was ignorant to all forms of emotions that didn’t involve rage. The young student had much to learn. Though his first lesson should probably be in acceptable mannerisms, as he had failed to say a word to a single student the entire trip. Now he awkwardly sat next to them while staring absentmindedly at the battle before him.

Word Count: 526

 

[Aburabuta Yutaka]

NPC: Kurohane Kitai

Poor little Riyota. She could see the conflict cross his face as his conscious mind tried to fight the stupefying effect of her perfume. His body reacted the way many did with the instinctual movement to pull away from her but it was too late. There wasn't a significant dose of poison laced into the fragrance that permeated the air around her but even a single breath of her perfume could muddle minds and chip away at decision-making. Even though he had made the decision to jerk away from her all it took was a pout and a light tug on his arm to pull him back into his seat where he settled in comfortably, dazed and well within control. He breathed deeply and his answer to Kitai's question wasn't one of specific usefulness about Azusa... but perhaps about Riyota. It was plain that there was a connection between them. Riyota was dumb-struck in love with the powerful fox girl and poisoned the way he was there was no conscious mind to interfere with his expression of those feelings. It was impossible to discern Azusa's true feelings from the stands but she had a strong enough emotion surrounding Riyota to notice Kitai's involvement with him during the midst of a battle and that momentary notice had been enough to spark a fire in her.

That in itself was valuable information.

"She fights so well but even such powerful people have weaknesses... we have to protect them, don't we?" Kitai began, following Riyota's gaze out to the battlefield where Azusa continued to duel with her skilled opponent from the village of Kumogakure. Kageoni had his fixation with Sunagakure but this tournament was proving more and more each day that Sand was not the only threat to them in the world.

Unfortunately for Kitai, her words would not have time to reach Riyota as an obnoxious child with a notable lack of propriety for someone her age appeared in front of them, standing on the barrier that was affixed to the ledge of the stands while staring out into the arena like a complete fool. Her sudden appearance startled Riyota up out of his seat and into the stupid girl which potentially threatened to send her over the edge but to his credit Riyota did not seem willing to let that happen. As he reached forward and pulled Teke backwards they both stumbled and began to fall into the stands on top of Kitai... only to find a pile of feathers where she had been previously. Giving Teke a look that could only be described as a expression of pity for the simple and stupid, Kitai would reach up into her hair and with a flourish her hand would come away with an exquisite-looking black petaled rose that she would attempt to present to Riyota with a wink as she leaned forward towards him-- far too forward for a woman with a neckline as deep as hers --and physically whispered in his ear this time:

"If you want to learn how to keep your young paramour safe, come find me later." She would tell him before drawing away from him, giving Teke one last look of mocking pity before turning away from them and beginning to make her way out of the stands. There was nothing more to be learned here with the disruptions as they were and it seemed as though this second of the stands were beginning to fill out more and more. Still, she had gained some potential leverage this day and perhaps soon would see to putting it to some use.

With a delicate snap of her fingers, Kitai called her three henchmen to her side and began to leave the arena, step by step with her bodyguards at each of her flanks and one behind her bringing up the rear.

[Leaving Topic]

[Riyota, the rose she has given to you acts like a Snapshot of her chakra for you even if you don't possess the jutsu. It only functions for you and will last until the next time you meet Kitai IC.]

 

[Tsuyo Oushi]

Somehow, and he wasn’t sure how, Oushi had managed to be lured around to wherever Shizuka went. It’s not like he was all that acquainted with any of his other fellow students, only that the girl had been a little pushy with him. He assured her that she didn’t have to drag him around or anything. If she wanted him to follow, he would...just at an arm's length away at least. That was how he would come to meet the pink haired boy, who he assumed was a friend of hers in class. It didn’t take long for the two boys to be ‘acquainted’ either, Yosuke asking to be spotted some money for snacks cause he wasted all his on something else. Oushi had a hard time saying no.

When they finally got in, the poor boy had to keep himself together as best he could. This was a crowded area, and it would be harder to keep people out of bubble in a situation like so. He would just have to try and manage. Yosuke had led them to the edge though, wanting to get a good look at the fight. He had easily managed to bump into another one of their classmates, asking about they had missed despite it. Except their location hadn’t lasted all that long, the girl directing them elsewhere. It baffled him a little, being led around from place to place, only to have to move to seats further back. Even more so, once again, a girl was close and he had to take subtle calming breaths so as not to be hit by a panic attack. Luckily, he had managed to put Yosuke between him and them, giving the boy a little sense of ease.

It seemed they had been just in time, their fellow Cloud shinobi was about to show his competition what the Cloud was all about. Oushi did his best to pay attention, as he himself wanted to know the answer to that. He was still pretty fresh at this shinobi stuff, and he wasn’t all that sure what he was supposed to be about either. The purple haired boy’s gaze was drawn away from the fight momentarily, as introductions were in order. The girl who led them to the back stated her name was Kita Shiori, a name he could remember easily enough he imagined.

He was shy and quiet, but he would have to speak up loud enough over the noise and cheering that surround them. The boy leaned past Yosuke, only a bit, in order to make himself heard easier if anything. “Tsu-Tsuyo Oushi.” With a curt nod of his head, his oxen tail of hair slipped over his shoulder. He could feel his cowlick rustle with the movement as well, not that that could be helped as it was rather untameable. His caramel brown eyes were once again diverted to the fight below, looking for his answer.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

The kunoichi raised her eyebrows in mild surprise, her blue eyes sparkling at the mention of adventure. There were few forgivable reasons to abandon one's country, but battles with legendary beasts and a fall from time must have fallen on the list. The Hokage's well-timed return for his leap into fatherhood was news to her, but unsurprising. The rest, well, that eluded to a tale worth a roaring fire and drinks; one she would be happy to listen to on any other occasion. "Then you narrowly escaped death, as no Kunoichi would forgive being ignored and treated as a broodmare and the best of us take no excuses. Ever." The world could be ending, the very fabric of the world could be unravelling, the god Raiden could be calling his name, but Okada Kaji would have never missed the birth of their daughter.

Yuii exhaled and let her shoulders drop. A ruse. Wasn't it always a ruse? You could never trust anything to just be what it looked like on the surface, that was practically rule number one in the academy. That didn't make her any happier about the event happening before her eyes, or the fact that Umashi had been instrumental in causing it, but eventually, Yuii could take a shred of comfort from the notion that they were there for more than just a humiliating arena spectacle. At least, if Umashi wasn't just pulling her leg.

"We have prepared for the eventuality that this entire tournament could be a mask for something else. Don't take offence, but outside lands can be so tumultuous and unstable so we've learned to expect the worst and adapt," she answered, lowering her voice to a hiss that should have been inaudible to the little ones and the other watchers. Her aqua gaze went to the young ones that, drawn by their classmate, had boldly joined her in an area that had been reserved. Even at the mere allusion of trouble, Yuii was starting to question their judgement in bringing along the youth along. She had been so enthused by Shiori's reaction to the battle, so certain this was going to enrich their futures, but if the trade-off was putting them in danger they weren't ready for Yuii couldn't live with herself.

On the field, Kaji looked to finally be doing real damage to his opponent. It wasn't enough, but at least she wasn't gliding by anymore. She had to believe in him until the last, but Yuii's earlier waspish words had been correct, Kaji was a commander, not an arena fighter. He was better than all this.

"I suppose you'll want to be talking to Kogami-sama then? I've lost him for the moment, but he isn't my charge this time," She jutted her chin towards the youth engrossed in the battle. She was a glorified babysitter until they returned to Kumogakure, not the Kage's guard. Their leader could take care of himself anyway. "But now you have me concerned enough that I'll play messenger." she conceded as the battle turned sour.

Kaji was bound, and there were maddening seconds as the opponents seemed to speak. The crowd jeered, ready for the bloody end, and certain in the outcome. It couldn't be the finale, she pleaded silently. Not yet. It wasn't right. The gods had to just be playing with him. Kaji couldn't lose.

"Why do they think he has no hope?" she snarled to herself and company, "the fight isn't over. Why are people already leaving?"