Slave hunter

[Ryu Hime]

Ren was a bastard of Soon Haven. Her mother was a prostitute and Ren never knew her father, not that her mother could tell which one would be her father. It was a tough life but still a pleasant one, up until her mother got horribly sick. Mom was not able to make as much money as she use to and was having a hard time making ends meet. There were times that the Mother had to decide between getting medicine or providing food on the table. Despite her mother trying desperately to stay positive and act like everything was alright, Ren was not fooled. Ren tries to help out doing small jobs here and there but it just was not enough. Eventually Ren does something drastic. She sales herself into slavery, so that her mother could afford to live.

Ren was now back at Soon Haven trying to find her mother. This was no easy task as she has been a slave for quite a bit of her life. She does not even remember her own name much less her mother’s face. Ren thought she had nothing left to lose when she sold herself, only to find out they could take all so much from her. Her only hope was that she might remember upon seeing her mother and thus she wonders the alleys and greets the residence. The one thought that scared her was that she did not know if her mother is even still alive.

Then suddenly out of nowhere she was attacked by some man who had disguised himself as a beggar. She could tell he was a skilled fighter as she could not even follow the movements of his hands as he jabs into her. Catching her breath after the first volley of blows she attempts to string up a puppet. Something was wrong as she could not mold the chakra to create the strings. It her moment of confusion the man pins her to the ground. Ren struggles and calls for help and sure enough a man in a mask appears.

“This is none of your concern anbu!” yells her assailant. The man’s eyes were completely white like a blind person but he could clearly see with them. The attacker takes her one arm and begins removing the hand puppet. Ren was crying profusely as she was being stripped of her prize possession. “She is a run-away slave.” Similar to curse seals slaves were often given a mark to serve as a brand. These brands were made of chakra and were always visible. Ren was not sure how but the man could see her mark even though it was hidden under a hand-puppet.

 

[Kaen]

With the increasing Unbent activity the Sunan forces were attempting to be as prepared as they could be. Ensuring the integrity of the newly built wall, double checking the provisions, even so much as sending out their shinobi to scout and observe for any sort of suspicious activity. That included places like Soons Haven. This was precisely the reason Kaen was way out here today, he was to survey the area and make a detailed report of any findings he may uncover or experience. While it was not related to their Unbent problem Kaen still found something interesting to engage himself in. Well, I say Kaen but today he would be going by his Anbu alias, Ruin.

It was already well past noon and there was nothing, not even a whiff of activity. Quite frankly Kaen, or Ruin, was getting incredibly bored. His Ancient urges were already scratching at the metaphorical door inside his mind. He might go mad if he could not find something constructive to do. With the recent promise he made to Lord Sousuke he couldn't just go find some helpless bandit to suck the life from. But just when all hope was thought to be lost a cry rang out from a distance.

It was difficult to make out, but it clearly wasn't an adult. Kaen had a certain affinity towards the struggles and sufferings of children. Having a history that encompassed such incredible strife and pain it was no surprise that he felt this way. He might be a monster, partially, on the inside, it did not extend to his heart. Children were often too young and incapable to help themselves. Which meant they were the perfect target to prey upon by those of ill natures. And so Kaen got up from his resting position and dashed off towards the sound of the cry.

Upon arriving on scene he immediately recognized the situation. It was just like that one time with that young Suzume girl in the Red Light District so many years ago. The red cape fluttered loosely and Kaen landed a short distance away from the assailant and the little girl under him. “This is none of your concern anbu!” The man was filled with ill-willed determination, he could see it in his eyes. That was the surprising part about the situation, his eyes. "It's been a long time since I've seen a byakugan. But doujutsu or not, I advise you to remove yourself from this girl and explain yourself." His voice was composed yet firm, a sense of strength behind it, a command presence if you will.

The man was quick to reply, still struggling with the girl below him. “She is a run-away slave.” Slaves were not all that uncommon around Wind Country, albeit frowned upon by many it was still a harsh reality of life for some. But it mattered not in this case. Tilting his head to the side he would make another attempt to persuade the man a final time. "I'm not in the business of repeating myself..." Kaen's patience had already run this from his boredom earlier, he would likely jump at the chance to dispatch this cowardly man who would attack a small child in this manner.

[OOC - Entered thread]

 

[Ryu Hime]

The Hyuga rolls his eyes, though with how the byakugan looks it would be hard to tell. To him he was trying to do his job and this man was getting in the way. Ren was still squirming underneath his hold; trying to break free from the man’s grasp, but with no success. “Come on now. I’m just trying to return little Kaede here to where she belongs.” In an instant Ren became completely still with her face reading both surprise and confusion. She has been a slave for so much of her life that she had forgot much before it, but now memories were returning to her. She could recall faint images of precious memories; clouded like in a thick fog. She recalls a voice, a female voice, calling out ‘little Kaede’. It was her name, the name she was given at birth and the name she had forgotten. Somehow this man knew her real name.

Seeing the Anbu still not backing down, he gives a deep sigh. “Fine, fine.” Let’s go of Ren, gets up and steps back a couple of paces. Whether on purpose or absentmindedness he was still holding the hand puppet he confiscated earlier. Normally Ren would be going berserk for the return of Usagi, but she was a little lost in thought. The blue haired girl stands up and dusts herself off. She turn to look at her attacker and asks, “How? How you know name?” The man gives a small grin thinking that he might not go completely empty handed. “How much is it worth to you?”

Ren bites her thumb hard enough to cause it to bleed and smacks her hand on a nearby wall. She performs a contract summoning jutsu. As a snake appears coiled on her arm. One can easily tell he is no ordinary snake with a simple glance. For one he does not go naked like most animals and in dark green button down shirt that seems specifically made with him in mind. He wears a green cap that matches his shirt and a red sash to wear as a belt. Around his face is a mask that covers his mouth, which possesses a zipper to allow him to eat without take down the mask.

 

[Kaen]

The Hyuuga male finally gave in and released the small girl and retreated a short distance from her. Unaware of the attachment the girl held towards the unassuming puppet Kaen would pay it no mind for now. Currently he was only concerned with the immediate safety of the girl. After she picked herself off of the dirt she would question the assailant about her name. One would assume that a slaver would know the name of their slaves, but yet again Kaen was unaware of the girl's name. Though she did look incredibly familiar.

The Hyuuga's response was an unsurprising one focused solely on the self gain that could be made here. Always about money with these guys. What he did not expect was the girl holding a contract with a beast. Not all shinobi possessed one, even more rare for a slave to hold one. Just who was this girl and why couldn't he recall just where he had seen her before?

Taken aback by the sudden appearance of the snake Kaen would begin to wonder what action he should take next. Technically if she was a slave there wasn't much he could do to "save" her, but at the very least he could try to ensure she would be handled with care. Then again, how could he know for sure that she was a slave. In fact it would make sense as to why the girl would question how the man knew her name. Perhaps this was all a ruse by the Hyuuga and he was actually trying to kidnap this girl and make her a slave. This would also explain the sudden appearance of the snake, perhaps she was trying to defend herself. Kaen wasn't one to care whether people thought he was rude or not, so naturally he felt nothing when he interrupted. "I'm sorry, but do you have this girl's paperwork? How can I know for sure you own her? For all I know you're just some lowlife trying to make a quick payoff by stealing away a gifted young ninja..." What other explanation could there be? It was obvious the girl had some talent, otherwise she would have been nearly incapable of summoning a contract animal.


[OOC MFT]

 

[Ryu Hime]

The snake was an interesting character to say the least. When it comes to his fighting style Kiyo casts genjutsu not through hand seals but word of mouth. His is able to taint his words with venom, poisoning a person without even touching them. Despite the slave hunter being tight lipped this snake only needed to give the command, “Speak.” the hyuga eyes would look heavy as he seems to suddenly become lethargic. Words would begin to spill form the man’s mouth as he was under the effects of truth serum.

“I am a slave hunter. I return slaves to their owners.” There was a chance that even if he did take her, she would end up back home. “I recognize slaves from their brand.” The man points at the mark on Ren’s hand. “Slave traders desire two pieces of information, when they get a new slave.”

“Name. Date of birth.” Ren remembers that on the first day of slavery she was asked two questions which she was unsure the reason behind them. They wanted to know the date to which she was born and her name. She speaks honestly and gives them the information they asked unaware of what dark arts they can do with such information. Ren just thought they wanted her name for identification and birthdate to keep track of her age.

The snake just looks at Ren with a glare, “You didn’t.” It seems innocent enough to her. Ren was not sure what was the problem in giving out such information. “You fool. With the knowledge of a person’s name, they can lay hold of a piece of the person’s soul. With the knowledge of a birthdate, they are able to lay hold of the plot the life path from birth to now and from now onward.” Kiyo, the snake, often spoke about stuff that sounded occult. However he was quite right with his assessment as that is what they did. “But how did you know my name off hand.” The man seems to give a hardy chuckle. “I read it off your hand. It say Tsubasa Kea… Hey!” It seems the illusion was broken and the man pulling out a kunai. In a fit of anger throws it straight at Ren.