The underground seas of Sunagakure... known as the Undersea. Deep within a cavern beneath the surface, a vast watery environment exists. So many different species of fish exists here, brought over from places across the globe. Many species of flora existed here as well, specially adapted to the light-less habitat. The geothermal vents below the sea warms the whole area, and allows for the proliferation of life. What a spectacular place.
There were a number of entry points to the Undersea, some more well-known than others. One in particular, was extra special. An entrance situated within the main Monzaemon mansion itself, it lead deep into the cavern systems, with many branches breaking off as it went on. Each branch eventually ended in a secluded area overlooking a portion of the Undersea. A distance prior to reaching each of these areas, there would be a sign detailing the secluded area - whether the water was fast flowing, abundance of fish, abundance of flora, a large area for use, if tides played a major role, if it was sandy, if there were boats or piers, or a combination or none of any of the above. It allowed the person of interest to pick their secluded spot easily. Two large poles always adorn the tunnel where the sign is, and a rope is available to cordon off the area, if anyone entering it wanted privacy.
Kyokuso always chose a particular spot - one with calm water, yet an abundance of life. One with a sandy shore that reached into the waters. The space itself was not huge, but not small either. It was plenty for him to meditate in. As he walked through the tunnels, he had chosen to cordon off the area, prior to making his way to his place of seclusion. When he wanted peace and quiet to hone his skills, he had always chosen this place.
Once he arrived, he scanned around the environment to see if there were signs of anyone else there. Seeing none, he sat down on the sand and faced the sea in front of him. Above the surface of the waters, nothing can really be seen. No sounds either. Yet, below the water, he knew life abounded.
Closing his eyes, he began the meditative process. First, the recognition of his surroundings. As a Yamanaka, he began to cut off his own senses, imagining as if he had been blindfolded, his ears covered. With such darkness and silence around him, it might as well be so. Slowly, his mind began to expand from his body, and he began to search the environment. Illusory, perhaps imaginary, tendrils reached outwards of him like roots of a tree, expanding into the waters. Soon enough, they began to touch the many lifeforms that inhabited the seas - mostly various species of fish. As each tendril connected with a fish, Kyokuso reached into their minds, almost - but not quite - taking over. The fish reacted violently at first, freaking out and darting around, causing ripples in the sea as they broke the surface. The noise initially broke his concentration somewhat, but he soon pushed it out of his mind, clearing it once again. The fish continued to dart and break the surface - he just willed himself not to hear any of it.
Soon, the fish calmed down, and his reach started to expand again. He could feel the life force emanating from each fish, each crustacean, each shellfish that he connected to. He could not feel any flora though, but that was expected. His skills relied on a mental connection, and it was hard enough to have any with lower animals, let alone organisms without minds.
Suddenly, he felt the familiar feeling of a palm placed on his shoulder. He ignored it, and the figure the palm belonged to walked past him, heading towards the sea. The figure was in the form of a man, was ghostly, and dressed in all whites. As the figure approached the sea, he did not sink his foot into the waters itself. Instead, the foot connected with the surface of the water, though it caused no ripple. He continued on, walking on the water, further away from Kyokuso. All this, while Kyokuso still had his eyes closed. Yet, Kyokuso could see the figure clearly, and in fact, he could see the surface of the sea itself as well.
Soon, the mysterious ghostly figured was joined by others, all having touched Kyokuso before walking onto the surface of the waters. Within minutes, six figures had appeared in total - three males and three females. They all stood and faced Kyokuso, each with a different stance. In fact, upon a closer look, it would be clear as well that they all had slight variations, although physically they were all the same height, and dressed the same. The first to have appeared - the man, had the shape of a small six-sided flower carved upon his forehead. The second, a woman, had two five-point stars carved into her - one on each of her palms. The left side was dyed black, whilst the right side was white. The third, another man, had thick lines running up and down his body, spreading like roots of a tree. The fourth, another woman, had white lines on her that seemed to congregate where her chest is (not that it is clear, given she is clothed), however the directionality implies it. The fifth, and last man, had white lines running down each of his fingers, connecting in a point just past his wrist. The last of the six, and also the last woman, had a particularly ethereal look to her - specifically she seemed to be partially transparent.
So, just who were these six people? And what do they want with Kyokuso?
There were a number of entry points to the Undersea, some more well-known than others. One in particular, was extra special. An entrance situated within the main Monzaemon mansion itself, it lead deep into the cavern systems, with many branches breaking off as it went on. Each branch eventually ended in a secluded area overlooking a portion of the Undersea. A distance prior to reaching each of these areas, there would be a sign detailing the secluded area - whether the water was fast flowing, abundance of fish, abundance of flora, a large area for use, if tides played a major role, if it was sandy, if there were boats or piers, or a combination or none of any of the above. It allowed the person of interest to pick their secluded spot easily. Two large poles always adorn the tunnel where the sign is, and a rope is available to cordon off the area, if anyone entering it wanted privacy.
Kyokuso always chose a particular spot - one with calm water, yet an abundance of life. One with a sandy shore that reached into the waters. The space itself was not huge, but not small either. It was plenty for him to meditate in. As he walked through the tunnels, he had chosen to cordon off the area, prior to making his way to his place of seclusion. When he wanted peace and quiet to hone his skills, he had always chosen this place.
Once he arrived, he scanned around the environment to see if there were signs of anyone else there. Seeing none, he sat down on the sand and faced the sea in front of him. Above the surface of the waters, nothing can really be seen. No sounds either. Yet, below the water, he knew life abounded.
Closing his eyes, he began the meditative process. First, the recognition of his surroundings. As a Yamanaka, he began to cut off his own senses, imagining as if he had been blindfolded, his ears covered. With such darkness and silence around him, it might as well be so. Slowly, his mind began to expand from his body, and he began to search the environment. Illusory, perhaps imaginary, tendrils reached outwards of him like roots of a tree, expanding into the waters. Soon enough, they began to touch the many lifeforms that inhabited the seas - mostly various species of fish. As each tendril connected with a fish, Kyokuso reached into their minds, almost - but not quite - taking over. The fish reacted violently at first, freaking out and darting around, causing ripples in the sea as they broke the surface. The noise initially broke his concentration somewhat, but he soon pushed it out of his mind, clearing it once again. The fish continued to dart and break the surface - he just willed himself not to hear any of it.
Soon, the fish calmed down, and his reach started to expand again. He could feel the life force emanating from each fish, each crustacean, each shellfish that he connected to. He could not feel any flora though, but that was expected. His skills relied on a mental connection, and it was hard enough to have any with lower animals, let alone organisms without minds.
Suddenly, he felt the familiar feeling of a palm placed on his shoulder. He ignored it, and the figure the palm belonged to walked past him, heading towards the sea. The figure was in the form of a man, was ghostly, and dressed in all whites. As the figure approached the sea, he did not sink his foot into the waters itself. Instead, the foot connected with the surface of the water, though it caused no ripple. He continued on, walking on the water, further away from Kyokuso. All this, while Kyokuso still had his eyes closed. Yet, Kyokuso could see the figure clearly, and in fact, he could see the surface of the sea itself as well.
Soon, the mysterious ghostly figured was joined by others, all having touched Kyokuso before walking onto the surface of the waters. Within minutes, six figures had appeared in total - three males and three females. They all stood and faced Kyokuso, each with a different stance. In fact, upon a closer look, it would be clear as well that they all had slight variations, although physically they were all the same height, and dressed the same. The first to have appeared - the man, had the shape of a small six-sided flower carved upon his forehead. The second, a woman, had two five-point stars carved into her - one on each of her palms. The left side was dyed black, whilst the right side was white. The third, another man, had thick lines running up and down his body, spreading like roots of a tree. The fourth, another woman, had white lines on her that seemed to congregate where her chest is (not that it is clear, given she is clothed), however the directionality implies it. The fifth, and last man, had white lines running down each of his fingers, connecting in a point just past his wrist. The last of the six, and also the last woman, had a particularly ethereal look to her - specifically she seemed to be partially transparent.
So, just who were these six people? And what do they want with Kyokuso?