Mayhem, Puppets, and Money! [Open]

[Midori Futotta]

Since Maru wasn't actually let into the village, he was still allowed to stay within the country so he decided to head to where that guy named Roku told him to head off to. He was to head to Soons Haven, some place ran by a group of incredibly super rich and powerful people known as the Merchant Lords. Since he's spent most of his life living on the outskirts of Konoha in Crater City which was well known as the City of Thieves. When he heard about Soons Haven he figured that there had been some people who had been using their silver spoons negatively, so why not simply rob these said people and put them out of business. Since he did have the mindset of a thief naturally he looked at this opportunity as a way to get fast money both as a thief and as a mercenary.

Maru decided to wear his puppet body with his temporal stride abilities, honestly his time bending puppet was indeed his favorite puppet to use for job like these. This body represented that of a 18-year- old, he had an all white suit with a stylish white top hat. Brown hair down to his shoulders with a fancy looking monocle with buttons so he'll be able to accelerate his movement that covered his right eye. He also had a watching to go back and forth in time and to also reset any timeline at least 3 times if he doesn't like what happens a few seconds ago. And the really beautiful thing about this Hitokugustu was that he could step out of time completely.

He wouldn't have any problem doing the task he was assigned but young mercenary ran into a slight problem…. He didn't exactly know where Soons Haven was! He scratched his head, kicking at the sand at his feet. “Now where the hell was that city again. “ he asked himself, wondering if some kind passerby would give the mercenary some directions so he could see who he could see the loot he could make off with and the bloodlines that he could add to his collection. The thought made the puppet master chuckle to himself, rubbing greedy palms together before getting back to trying to find this place.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Before Maru left the gates of the village she casted an emerald emitter jutsu on him. This is a rather unique technique that focuses chakra into a emerald crystal. This chakra attunes itself to a specific target, and from that point emits a distinct pulse that the user may sense, allowing them to trace the location of the target. Unscrolling a map on the table before her she cast an emerald emitter jutsu with the crystal in a pendant. Holding the pendant above the map it would then point to Maru’s current location.

Tracking his movement she can give a guess as to which way he is facing. Hakuren concludes if he continues to walk in the direction he is travelling, he will miss his destination. Fortunately she can use her telepathic abilities to communicate with him even from the gates. turn 50 degrees left and walk 2.5 miles.

 

[Midori Futotta]

As Maru wondered which way to go, he suddenly heard a voice come to his head again. The voice he recognized from the gates when he left to head to the outer village. ‘Turn 50 degrees left and walk 2.5 miles.’ At first, he looked around to see were the voice came from then he slapped himself because it was clearly obvious were the voice was coming from. “Got cha, thanks!" He exclaimed before doing as instructed. If there were people around they might've thought he was crazy since it looked like he was talking to himself. But then again people thought he was a little loony regardless so that really didn't matter to him.

Since this person was most likely watching him from the gate, the young mercenary didn't actually know what this person looked like. From what he knew already, this person was a girl or a woman with a really feisty personality. A smirk spreading across the puppets plastic looking lips at what the young lady in his head may look like, of course while the lady was in his head he could at least keep things interesting by flirting with his phantom helper. “Aye you must be a master at genjustu right?” He began, then stopped to make finger guns at the air. Because you might be the girl of my dreams!" He exclaimed, pretty proud of himself for that one.

He laughed a bit to himself, adjusting his hat and tie before continuing. "So since you are gonna be in my head, why not tell me a bit about yourself sugar? I mean, you know that I'm a thief and that I'm a mercenary so what's your story hon?” He said, actually curious on that matter. Though he would consider himself as a dark shinobi, he had a small weakness for girls. Especially if they were beautiful.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Hakuren was speaking to him using the bloodline jutsu called Distant Mind Sync. This only allows for brief communication between the two, totaling no more than 5 minutes in a 24-hour period. With the use of this communication at the gates and the use of it here to give directions to Maru, her usefulness of this jutsu with Maru was up. The transmission was ended before Maru could even utter his last sentence to Hakuren. Knowing where Maru was heading and that he was heading the right way there she takes off to Soon Haven herself. Hakuren has her own means of transportation.

Hakuren’s father use to tell her back when she was young and exploring her Yamanaka powers, ‘to enter into an entity is to know an entity. Through watching through its eyes and experiencing life as it does, you will begin to understand the nature of its existence.’ The Yamanaka clan have a unique ability to expel their soul from their own body and possess another. The target may be human, animal or otherwise; it does not matter. The animals of the desert were her teachers. They taught her to hunt, to hide, to fight, to avoid and many other things. However animals are not the only teachers. As a summoner Hakuren can create entities for the element such as fire or earth. Through possessing such creatures she has learned the nature of the elements themselves. When this jutsu, mind transfer, is combined with the Name of the Rose, the Yamanaka becomes one with the target. Suddenly the being is more than a simple camera, but now a vehicle.

In a body of a bird she flies over to Soon Haven and being that she is flying there rather than walking, she may very well get there before he does. Should he reach Soon Haven, she could communication with him telepathically with a different Yamanaka ability; one that cannot be used at such long range.

 

[Midori Futotta]

“……” he didn't get a reply, the woman must have cut communication with him quickly as she heard his pickup line. Shrugging he continued onward to his destination. ‘Too bad, would've loved to talk with that chick a little longer.’ He thought as he continued on his way to Soons Haven, an ebony bird flying overhead as if accompanying him but in all actuality it was probably heading to the same place as he was. Finally he could see it or at least the high walls of the place where he needed to go.

From the outside, the place looked almost like a Kingdom! A huge stone walls that probably protects this little community of people from storms or probably bandits. Maru smirked, heading up the sandy walkway to stop near the gates to admire the beauty of the really big wall thinking of the fortune and wealth that was right before his fingertips. He took another stop to dump his shoes which had been full of sand, then put his shoes back on before heading for the gates. Then when he stepped in he squinted his eyes, looking around at most of the the people in Soons before walking in among the crowd. He placed a hand on his chin, wondering where should he go first since he was here now. Perhaps he should pay a visit to the banks, or maybe even the jewelry store before he does this little task. Then again, there was a beach around so perhaps he could terrorize some of the locals by taking off his head then running around kicking sand castles yelling ‘Vikings Attack!!!’ Lots of fun to be had here the mercenary thought.

Then he stopped again, looking at senbons for sale at some weapons stand. Since he lived in a city where if things were illegal, it was perfectly acceptable within the city naturally pickpockets were a normal thing around The City Of Thieves. He'll he started actually stealing since he was maybe 11 or 12. Since Maru was strapped for cash since he was kicked out of his and need money, he thought that maybe no one would be watching him since he was already in his location, so he kept watched for a person that looked to have a lot of money so he could probably "barrow” from them. Then he could just barrow the senbon then just be done with it."Neee Hee Hee! The poor sucker won't know what hit em?"

 

[Ryu Hime]

As soon as Maru enters the city the first person that would greet him was a beggar. He was an elderly man that just wanted a few coins so he could buy a warm meal tonight. Looking around Maru would likely see quite a few beggars. Some played an instrument in hopes they would me please enough for there melody to share their wealth. Others were crippled and collected money from those who showed pity on them. One was a blind woman who sat holding a cup and silently collected offerings. It was a sad sight directly caused by the merchant lords of the city. These lords were wicked and took most of the wealth, thus leaving many in poverty and doomed to live off the generosity of others.

Testing one two three. Hello can you hear me? Hakuren set up a sensory link with Maru for audial messages only. Should the link work he should hear her voice talking in his head once more. My apologies, I am afraid I lost connection during our last communication. It seems you have reached your destination. Let me say Welcome to Soon Haven. Was it all that you were expecting?

 

[Midori Futotta]

While Maru looked around for a person who looked to have money, some begged came to him and asked for a few coins to spare.“Nope, ain't got it for ya.” Maru said, shooing the beggar away. The one thing he noticed was that there were a lot of beggars around a place he thought would be thriving with riches. Poor people playing instruments in hoped it'll get people to share their wealth, crippled people taking money from those who pitied them, and he even saw a blind lady holding out a cup for spare change! Maru's face soured at the sight, even if he was to take from these people it wouldn't nearly be enough to get the kind of expensive things he liked to get. Perhaps he was on the wrong side of town, not where the rich people were.

Without warning the voice inside of his head came back, speaking out loud to it. “Hey, hey good looking. What's cooking?” He answered in response after the communication was back on, it seems that they lost communication somewhere along the line. But he did indeed made it to his destination, but was it all that he expect? Of course it wasn't. [Well that's too bad sugar, at least you're here now. But, I gotta ask, what the hell's with all these poor people? Thought there would be more…. Wealthier people walking around here.“ he looked around again, then scratched his head, he did expected Soons Haven to be bad but he didn't expect to see the poor this early. “I'm guessing I'm in the wrong side of town, right?”

 

[Ryu Hime]

Oh please save the false flattery, you don’t even know what I look like. It is a sad sight directly caused by the merchant lords of the city. These lords are wicked and took most of the wealth, thus leaving many in poverty and doomed to live off the generosity of others. Hakuren was not surprised about his comment about the poor people here and to answer his question. You could say that. The closer to the center the richer the people. You want to see the rich head further in. Hakuren was getting the feeling that Maru would likely be able to get into the village and it would be only a manner of time for him to run into Akkuma. Akkuma would likely love a person such as him. Though Akkuma was also one that could likely tame this wild beast of a child.

However, beggars do have there advantages when used right. They are the eyes and ears of the town. A crow would then land on Maru’s shoulder and would point its beak to a certain individual. In fact that blind girl over there has something for you for when you do enter our village. The bird would then fly off to spy on him from some rooftop. If Maru would approach the blind woman the voice spoke of, she will raise her cup as if to accept an offerings. If reached into the cup he would pull out a couple yen and a poker chip to the Devil’s Lair.

 

[Midori Futotta]

Maru chuckled a bit. “Well I don't have to see you to know that you're hottie, usually women with sour attitudes are pretty good looking.” He said, pretty confident in his little idea that she might be a good looking. Back to the topic at hand, it seems that these merchant lords took most of the wealth hence why there were so many poor people, guess you could say that this thriving place wasn't too kind of a place for people who can't afford it. Survival of the fittest system for what it seems. “So the wealthy people are in the center of town? Sounds great!” He narrowed his eyes, smirking smugly as he spoke. “Honestly thought that I'll be seeing people like these all around this place.”

Normally, he would find the beggars to be… well useless. However, they are the eyes and ears of this town from what the voice said to him. Then out of nowhere, a crow landed on his shoulder and he turned his head about to shoo it away but the bird seemingly pointing at a certain individual. The puppet master walked closer to the blind woman. Reaching into the cup to take a single poker chip and kindly put the yen in his coat. He adjusted his monocle then began to examine the chip. “Hey sugar, do they have a Casino here or what?” he asked, examining the chip from all angles before putting the it in his pocket for safe keeping.

Keeping on the move, he strolled along the streets looking from left to right. He noticed that his movements was starting to get a little slow down a little. Maru groaned, digging in his coat pocket –very slowly– he pulled out a wind up key, he removed his top hat and stuffed the mechanical key into the back of his head to turn it. Twist, twist, twist. His movements were coming back to back to him, then when he felt like he was at full capacity he removed the key then placed his hat on top of his head.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Hakuren was not sure if that was meant to be a compliment or an insult. Considering he really did not know what she looked like, she took it as the latter. You worthless rag doll, my body is nothing more than a vessel from which my soul resides. To call my personality sour is to say I am sour as a whole. If he was not a puppet she would bite his neck and drain him dry for such an attack on her personality. Maru cared way too much about his looks that he sacrificed his own body to attain so called eternal youth. It was so pointless as his consciousness would still age and develop. Eventually he will grow out of this child like persona and enter into adulthood. And eventually as time goes by he will attain experience that of a wise old man. He may always look young but he will feel old. This is something the two of them are doomed to experience. However Maru chose this life, but for Hakuren it was unwillingly thrusted onto her.

If Maru would inspect the poker chip carefully he would see the word 'Devil's Lair' engraved on it. It is not uncommon for casinos to have there own poker chips for this prevents someone for taking chips from one casino and using them in another. "Yes there is." As he was speaking out loud instead of in his mind, it would not be to hard to believe someone else would think he was talking to them. The blind girl's voice was hoarse and scratchy like a person that lost there voice. Hakuren had drunk a horrible concoction to disguise her physical voice. "However there is no casino by that name here." The name was engraved and thus even as a blind person she could read the chip. "I believe such chip belongs to a casino in the shinobi village. However if you want to go to one of the casinos here I can guide you." Hakuren hopes he takes her offer as the sensory link she is using to communicate telepathically is a short range ability and thus she would need to say in some sort of proximity. Hitting on another girl already? Or was that question meant for me?

 

[Midori Futotta]

The puppet master chuckled at the the response of his phantom helper, tipping his hat he decided to apologize because he didn't meant for her to take his comment as a insult. “Whoops, didn't mean it to be an insult sugar. I'm just saying you're a little sassy is all, and if you're sassy you gotta be good looking hm?” He made finger guns at nothing, flashing a cheesy smile. One could say that the mercenary cared a lot about his looks more than anything, hence why he chose to become a human puppet so he could retain his youth forever. The only bad part about the whole eternal youth thing was the fact that he literally watched everyone get older, like his rival who he had expected to always be that same young punk he saw back in the student tournament is now looking like a 30 something year old man and another student has a family with children! Since age wasn't really a problem for him, he would always think that when he sees his enemies or allies again they would look the same but they always looked old.

After examining the chip, he notice 'Devil's Lair' engraved on it.. Forgetting that he was speaking out loud to himself, the blind woman answered! Maru's face scrunched up a bit, thinking 'ew’ multiple times but he still remained polite. “Is that so?” He said, keeping his cool. “Well, I would love to where this casino is. I'll make it worth you while." Maru stated, reaching into underneath his shirt to open his stomach cavity where he stored a huge bag full of stolen jewels he robbed from Tea Country, pulling out a nice looking diamond to give to the poor woman to before closing his stomach then adjusted his clothes. Then he heard the voice of who he actually was calling sugar, then chuckled. “Common, pumpkin pie you know that was meant for you. Say do you happen to be a Yamanaka? Because I can't get you outta my head.” He made finger guns, pretty proud on that line too. But then he turned to the blind woman so she didn't think he was hitting on her. If she looked and sound a little better, maybe. "Sorry hon, I'm not hitting on you. You see there's this sassy, good lookin' woman who's talking to me. I think she's getting a little jealous thinking I'm hitting on you. he said, pretty confident in himself and stuck a pose."Who wouldn't be jealous for the attention of someone as eternally beatiful like maw."

 

[Ryu Hime]

Maru would take her that was good, however there would be one little matter she will have to take care of first. Maru offers quite a reward for taking him to where he desires to go and she could not help but recall how he blown off the old man. “That is quite generous of you sir, but you should save your rich for the card tables.” Consider how much he was willing to pay her, he gathers he was trying to impress the voice. Surely he could tell from her comments that the voice had eyes on him. “Besides my mistress pays me well.” By mistress she means the Devil’s Lair from where she occasionally works, but she will let Maru believe what he wants to believe.

Is that a pick up line or a serious question? It sure sounded like a pick up line and the gestures he made afterwards made it seem like a pick up line, but his question was quite true. “Yes the person you are speaking telepathically to is a Yamanaka. Now if you excuse me for a moment” The blind woman would get up and walk into a dark alleyway. Don’t follow her she’ll be back and no peeking. More than likely this would cause Maru to be even more curious as to what was going on but it could not be helped.

In the alley she strips off the dust covered rags she was wearing and tosses them on a naked sleeping woman. To disguise herself as a beggar she needed the right attire and thus she borrowed some clothes from a beggar by using a genjutsu to put her asleep. Hakuren did not want to borrow the clothes for long or she would wake up thinking she was robbed. Unfortunately the only other clothes she had access to were the black robes of the anbu. She would rather not making it that obvious she is the voice. With nothing else in mind she casts a shadow garb jutsu and mold this chakra armor to look like her usual black dress that she would be seen in.

Maru said ‘ew’ in his mind so many times that at least one of them transmitted as a telepathic message to Hakuren. She wonders if he would find her more attractive now that she’s no longer dressed as a poor beggar. Coming out of the alleyway she will gesture the puppet man to follow her. Despite being blind the woman seems to navigate herself like she was unhindered. “Jealous you say? I think it is more likely she is toying with you.”

 

[Midori Futotta]

All this time he was telepathically speaking with a Yamanaka? He was fimular with the clan since he had one come to his shop when he was around 14, the nice woman ended up possessing one of his dolls and was great at playing her little clay violin. Since he became a human puppet himself, he thought about using the soulless body she left as material... But her family came and picked up the body before he had the chance, which was too bad. That ability to go inside of a persons mind would've been pretty useful, plus he had made a couple of puppets that could cast genjustu through sound. She could've worn one of his puppets that could cast genjustu via instrument but of course the ability to enter the mind of someone would be nice. Probably so he could do something stupid like drink poison which was something him and a former teacher did for a lesson at one point. Shaking his head to stop looking back on his past, he saw the blind woman leave to a dark alley.

Curious, Maru decided to take a quick peek around the corner of the dark alley to see what the woman may be up to, realizing that this beggar wasn't what she seemed. 'Oh’ he thought to himself, seeing the woman he thought was a beggar throw the disgusting looking clothes over a sleeping homeless woman, now revealing she was in a shadow garb. ‘Oooooooooooooooh…♥ ’ he put a hand on his chin, then quickly stepped out of view pretending he wasn't watching the whole time. Before he knew it, a better looking woman came to around the corner. She was blind, but beautiful at least. “Well hello there sugar.“ he said, ignorant to the fact that this woman was the voice he was talking to suddenly changing his tune now that he knew what the blind lady actually looked like. “Sorry about earlier sugar didn't know that you were in disguise.”

He squatted in front of the woman, looking her up-and-down for a moment. Then quickly stood straight up to and adjusted his hat and monocle, then strolled over into the alley. “So tell me sugar, do you believe in love at first hear? Because if beauty were time, I would be an eternity." he said, making finger guns to the nice looking blind lady despite her not being able to see him then chuckled to himself. He placed a hand on his hip, since it was probably rude of him not to introduce himself he thought that he should give the woman his name at least. “Oh! By the way, names Maru. Also known as Maru of Darkness or commonly known now as Maru Princess Of Heart, Protector of Love.” He gave a quick mock pose on saying his title of being a princess, then quickly snapped back to normal. “So what is your name pumpkin? You gonna give it to me or am I gonna have to work for it. I'm cool with just calling you beautiful or sugar. Heh heh!” He flashed a toothy smile.

 

[Ryu Hime]

Well in seems we have an answer; she was quite stunning after all. Now was in as much as Maru was expecting? That is a question she is not likely going to get an answer to. But with those sugary words it was time for another telepathic outburst. He was thinking the voice was jealous, she can work with that. You two timing marinette. I am going to strangle you with your own strings. That sounded better in her mind, but did not really make sense with a human puppet. You know what I’m gone, communication end. Hakuren then cancels the link between them.

“You’re preaching to the choir about the eternal youth.” The blind woman continues to walk as they talked, “Enough with the food already. I’m starting to think you want to eat me and it is making me hungry.” Maru has been using the term sugar quite a lot but has used pumpkin and pumpkin pie. “You can just call me…” “Grandma!” Hakuren head jerks in the direction of the voice that interrupted her and it was conveniently timed. Another beauty walks onto the scene dressed in red. The New comer looked like a normal teenage girl but her one eye really stood out. With in her yellow eye was a functioning clock called the Tokeigan. “Hey Red, should have figured we’d run into you. Mind escorting this guy to the casinos for me. His name is Maru and calls himself the Knight of Hearts or something.”

Akazukin was quite versed in the art of tarot reading and the Knight of Hearts was a part of the minor arcana. “So a self-proclaimed prince charmiiiiiiiiiiiing?” Akazukin voice grew louder at that last part as Hakuren took Akazukin’s arm and bit it. Akazukin did not mind Hakuren sucking her blood, but would have liked to be forewarned. Either way she agree to take him. Hakuren then takes her leave. “Okay Prince, follow me” Again he will be lead down the streets deeper into the city. “So what brings a prince to this fair city?”

(Hakuren leaves topic: NPC Akazukin enters topic)

 

[Midori Futotta]

Unfortunately, Maru had forgotten about the voice that he had heard in the gates but she quickly made herself known when she called him a ‘two timing marinette.’ Maru's eyes widened then held both of his hands up as if he was in a western stick up, waving them slightly. “Uhhh… This isn't what it looks-” before he could explain himself, communication ended and Maru scratched his head. ‘Yeesh, thought this was a No Strings Attached Relationship’ he couldn't help but think of a quick pun to lighten things up, of course now fully focused on the beautiful blind woman who was able to get around just fine which was another plus on her part, the air of the interesting blind woman left him kinda on edge of knowing the name of this mysterious woman.

Calling her sugar, pumpkin, pumpkin pie was alright with him, but having her name would be nice. She was about to give him her name when suddenly another came in yelling for her, and Maru rubbed his eyes. “Wait, Grandma?” He said, confused because the woman looked way younger than most people who are called grandma would be. Maru gazed at the pretty looking red head for a while, then smiled and raised his hand to wave at her. “Yus, I go by Maru Princess Of Heart, Protector Of Love. Nice to meet you strawberry cupcakes.” He gave a toothy smile to the girl, this one being more loud and energetic it didn't take long for Maru to take a liking to Akazukin too. Plus that yellow clock in her eye was pretty interesting, but since he was called prince charming he couldn't help but to talk about himself.

"Ahh! Yes, I am a self-proclaimed prince charming. You could say that I might be the– Uhh. Excuse me but what are you doing." he said, pointing at the blind woman who was biting into Akazukin’s arm… Was she feeding on her blood? Regardless, Akazukin acted as everything was normal when the blind woman was finished feeding then asked him to follow her. From what he saw, he was glad that he removed all of his blood from his body and decided on fully modifying his body. But he couldn't judge because he makes people into wooden dolls and in some cases he wears them like armor. Following the young girl deeper into the streets, he was simply asked what he was doing there. He tipped his hat then answered. “I guess you can say I'm a traveler looking for some work and a place to stay. Hear their are beaches around here too, might check that out too."

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin is a rather interesting individual possessing an extremely rare doujutsu called the Tokeigan or clock eye. As much as she is aware, she is the only human to possess such a strange doujutsu. The Tokeigan only changes one of a person’s eye and is always visible. Its appearance as one could guess by the name is a clock within an eye. What is really unusual about its appearance is the fact that it is a functioning clock, which tells the correct time. The eye gives the user the ability to look into the future and temporally step into it. However the distance into the future is relatively short compared to science fiction novels. Akazukin can see and travel through time on a scale of a couple of minutes. Some would find her restricted vision and travel makes the power mute, but one can do interesting things by seeing events a minute ahead of time.

“So Prince, how did you and Haku…” She stops in mid-question and the hands of the clock within her eye spins furiously before returning back to normal. Akazukin takes a step backwards and an arrow goes flying before her face. “Good grief, it is getting as bad as the black bazaar.” She could hear quick footsteps of someone rushing her. The minute hand moves forward and back again and for some reason in that split second she manages to get her musket that was on her back in her hand like magic. “And disarmed.” What seems like a clone of Akazukin suddenly appears out of nowhere. This extra Akazukin grabs the musket on her back and fires a bullet of water. The bullet knock the man’s kunai right out of his hand and the Akazukin duplicate vanishes as quickly as she appeared. The duplicate was not a clone but her traveling back and forth through time. “That was a warning shot. I suggest you leave.” The man runs and Akazukin goes back to facing the puppet man. “Now where was I again?”

Considering the type of puppet Maru made back in Leaf, he may not be as shocked about her abilities as most. However she would be the first to tell him that her temporal abilities is on a whole different level than his little contraption. Maru might be the Princess of Heart, but Akazukin was the Goddess of Time. “Oh, right I was asking you how you met Hakuren.”

 

[Midori Futotta]

Walking behind the woman, Maru looked around from left to right again then left. That clock in her eye had him wondering if she was a temporal stride, seeming how that puppet is his favorite one since that one was able to manipulate and control time. Of course, some might see the power to go back and forth in time by a couple minutes or even thirty seconds to be not as effective as going back a month or traveling back a year. But Maru himself knows the kind of things you could do with that power. Him for example, he simply could blow up a jewelry store then stantch as many jewels as he could then go back in time before the robbery which should be a couple minutes, hand the Maru before the robbery the stolen goods from the different timeline, then make the one who committed the crime step out of time and poof! Robber Maru doesn't exist. That along with his spiritual abilities of seeing into the future to change his fate, this makes for a perfect crook if the cards were in your favor.

But there are limits and sometimes perfection is flawed, like that time in Tea when he was stealing jewels being too late in going back in time due to him trying to show off, that crime wasn't erased. Thinking for too long, he heard the girl who was leading him speaking but stopped in mid question.

“?!?!!” an arrow flew pass the young girls face, and Maru looked around to see who the hell was shooting at them! Maru made a Ofuda slip appear in his hand, and pressed a button on his monocle to so he could accelerate his movements since he pretty much ‘wore’ his temporal stride puppets eye to modify his puppet body but it looks like he was too late. The girl had it handled, managing to get her musket quicker than he could process then fired at the man's kunai. The man running away, Maru wanting to feel like he was doing something shouted as the bandit ran. “Uhh… Yeah! You better run!” He exclaimed, deactivating his monocle then adjusted his hat. “Heh!... Showed him”

Now that the risk of bandits were gone, her question to him had finally had been asked and he tipped his hate. “So that's what that blind lady's name is. Well, I met her when I strolled into Soons Haven. Thought she was some beggar at first but it looks like she was in some disguise.” He answered, probably the only time he remembered coming across Hakuren but he had a question of his own for Akazukin. “Speaking in which I got something to ask you, well two things.” He said before he began. “First how far could you travel? Because I only managed to go 30 seconds in the past or future through one of my puppets. Second… mind explaining why Hakuren bit you? I mean I heard of cannibalism in this country but I didn't think that crap was true.”

 

[Ryu Hime]

Akazukin giggles as the puppet man tries to act like a big shot for she knew full well that he did not do anything during that fight. Not that he really needed to do anything for Akazukin knew how to take care of herself well enough. “She disguised herself as a beggar?” Akazukin found that a little odd but that did explain the sound of her voice. “She is a close friend of mind and can be quite crafty.” However Akazukin now wonders why Hakuren was in Soon Haven to begin with. She figured she was here because of this man, but if they first met in the city that couldn’t be the case. Maru then had two questions for her: one she don't mind answering and another thought would be better homing from the horse's mouth.

“A puppet with temporal powers?” Akazukin’s voice was filled with amazement for she never heard of such artifact before and wonders how this man came across it. “I would very much like to see this puppet you speak of.” If it was not obvious already, it is now that she had no idea what he was. Unfortunately she was not around to see him pull a bag of gems for his chest cavity and he looks human enough. She is going to fill a little silly when he tells her that he is the puppet.

“Perhaps it is better I show you what I really am.” Without hesitation Akazukin then casts her highest level jutsu she possessed. It was an S-rank jutsu called Avatar of the Divine and the title matched its power. Akazukin changes before his eyes. Her hair goes completely white, her skin becomes deathly pale, her one clock eye was now two and her clothes change into a kimono. However the most unnerving thing about her was likely the giant ethereal clock that floated above her. With an anti-gravity jutsu her feet does not even touch the ground. This might be delusions of grandeur, but in this form Akazukin truly believe she is a god.

“Gaze mortal, upon the figure of The Goddess of Time.” Akazukin laughs exuberantly in delight. “It has been so long since I’ve met a traveler, but to answer your question; I can travel a minute or to into the future long enough to cast a jutsu before returning right back to the moment I left.” Akazukin is well aware how pathetic that sounds coming from a person claiming to be a deity. “I am bound by cosmic laws that prevent me from going back in time to alter the past.” Akazukin also has her limits and can only create temporal loops. “Now as for Hakuren... I'm afraid that is something you will have to ask her my little prince."

 

[Midori Futotta]

The puppet master gave a slight chuckle at hearing the amazement in Akazukin’s voice, true puppet masters are known to wear their puppets in order to gain abilities that they don't normally have. Another benefit to wearing a puppet was that you weren't open, so he was able to use Chakra styles and the skills from any Hitokugustu he wore. The Temporal stride was his favorite one to wear for the obvious reason of being able to travel through time. “Well you want to see the puppet, do you? Well you're pretty much looking at the puppet.”</B><B> He said reaching for his monocle to press a button to activate his temporal abilities. With a quick shuffle backwards, Maru didn't just travel through time but he completely stepped out of time completely… taking the young girl with him. Around them it would seem that the normal time would be slowed, while out of time anything that would target the mind would be canceled, attacks would do less damage, and even if he would be put down he would even be resistant to that until he phased back into normal time. After 10 seconds in real time, they both phased back into real space time. “Temporal step is just one of many things that this body I'm wearing can do, honestly I think I have a slight respect for the bloodline. But, yeah I am wearing the puppet… I'm what you call a human puppet.”

He obviously didn't feel the need to keep the fact that he was an artificial being a secret, but what he actually used the temporal stride abilities for he kept a secret because from experience in using people as puppets. Some people would be offended by using their bloodline for his selfish agenda.. Regardless since he revealed that he was a human puppet, she showed him that she was a goddess of sorts. Maru looked up at the huge clock over her head in awe, he caught a few things that the self proclaimed goddess said. Of course, she was able to answer his question about herself but it looks like he'll have to poke the Hakuren to tell her about herself to him. “One minute into the future huh? A lot better than how far I could travel.” He said, pretty much he could travel back and forth through the lower levels of time. “I mean if I don't like what happens a few seconds ago, I could just reset and undo it to myself. Plus I can go back and forth in time at least 30 seconds and I could jump in different threads of possibility to change the outcome of a battle. Might seem like cheating but what could ya do.” He chuckled, gesturing his hand to himself. “So… sugar. Does my beautiful goddess have a name?”

 

[Ryu Hime]

Maru steps out of time completely and takes Akazukin with him. Around them it would seem that the normal time would be slowed, but it was not the same as her own. Akazukin then decides to use her own powers alongside his to given him an idea of how her powers work. The hands of the clock within her eye spins sporadically. Suddenly they would find themselves no longer in Soon Haven. Instead the both of them was standing on a land mass floating in the air with an ever expansive desert beneath them. Normally Akazukin would appear within the structure but, she wanted to show the Maru just where this place is. It was a breath taking view and so hard to bring visitors. Strange serpentine creatures flew through the air and the sun hung in the sky in the same place that it always does when Akazukin comes here. On this floating island was a large structure and blue sand that seem to emanate with chakra flows down from a higher island like a waterfall. This mystical sand seems to empower the structure as the gears on the outside turn with its flow. “Behold the Sands of Time in the Desert of Eternity.” Unlike Maru which likely just disappears in one moment in time and reappears in another, Akazukin physically travels through time. With in the building were halls which she walks to enter into the future. Time travel for her is not a teleportation but a journey.

After a few seconds they would both phase back into the natural world. “My apologies for hijacking your little technique. Temporal step, you called it?” This was one ability she did not possess though she does step outside of time quite often, but not in the same way as he does. “It is not often I have visitors into my divine realm.”The only other person that ever joined her was Hakuren. Hakuren was able to join Akazukin through the use of a combination of two jutsu; Name of the Rose and Mind Transfer. When these two jutsu are used in tandem the Yamanaka body enters into anothers. “My name is Akazukin, though as you have noticed Hakuren enjoys calling me Aka-chan. As for my true name, that is something only my husband is privileged to know.” She recalls the many of the odd traditions her family had that were heavily influenced by superstition. She had two names in fact; a given name and a true name.