[Continued from: https://ninpocho.com/threads/there-is-something-on-your-neck-ait-exam-part-1-2.67920]
It began with a scroll...
Sketched out hastily across the roll of parchment that had been given to young Tanatsu Kino was a series of lines and dashes in carefully curated columns. Working out, from any young shinobi's days in the academy, that it was a physical depiction of Morse Code would reveal a set of instructions to the newly inaugurated Genin;
If all were followed correctly and without incident, Kino would find himself arriving at a large circular room, with many different doors lining the curved wall, each looking like they had been carved from the rock around them. From the journey on the cart, it wouldn't take long to realise how huge this place must be in its entirety, not to mention the fact it had been built through the entire interior of the mountain which loomed over the village. It was quite the feat of modern engineering. If he were to step into the center of the room, the scroll of parchment which had led the boy here would suddenly become very hot, before immediately cooling, alerting him to the fact that, on the flip side, an easily readable paragraph;
Three doors seemed to stand out from the rest, equidistant from one another, each bearing what appeared to be a white, plain porcelain mask, each bearing a vague resemblance to a different animal, staring down at Kino with blank, hollowed-out eyes. They were, unmistakably, the masks used by members of the ANBU Black Ops, lit ominously by the torch brackets affixed to the wall other side of them. Below each, stuck to the door, was a slip of parchment, bearing the same jagged, rough handwriting as had the note;
The three masks seemed to peer down at Kino, watching him intently, and although these seemed to be the only vaguely humanoid faces in the room, the Genin would certainly have a strange feeling, not so much like something was watching, but breathing right down the nape of his neck, waiting with bated breath to see what he would do. There didn't seem to be any other way out now.
Indecision? Stay. Rot.
It began with a scroll...
Sketched out hastily across the roll of parchment that had been given to young Tanatsu Kino was a series of lines and dashes in carefully curated columns. Working out, from any young shinobi's days in the academy, that it was a physical depiction of Morse Code would reveal a set of instructions to the newly inaugurated Genin;
If all were followed correctly and without incident, Kino would find himself arriving at a large circular room, with many different doors lining the curved wall, each looking like they had been carved from the rock around them. From the journey on the cart, it wouldn't take long to realise how huge this place must be in its entirety, not to mention the fact it had been built through the entire interior of the mountain which loomed over the village. It was quite the feat of modern engineering. If he were to step into the center of the room, the scroll of parchment which had led the boy here would suddenly become very hot, before immediately cooling, alerting him to the fact that, on the flip side, an easily readable paragraph;
Three doors seemed to stand out from the rest, equidistant from one another, each bearing what appeared to be a white, plain porcelain mask, each bearing a vague resemblance to a different animal, staring down at Kino with blank, hollowed-out eyes. They were, unmistakably, the masks used by members of the ANBU Black Ops, lit ominously by the torch brackets affixed to the wall other side of them. Below each, stuck to the door, was a slip of parchment, bearing the same jagged, rough handwriting as had the note;
Vulpine | Canine | Mustelid |
|---|---|---|
Pride, and poise, and clever disguises, A fox’s wit outstrips surprises, Faultless logic in every forum, The very picture of quaint decorum, Verve, and venom, and vicious vexation, Undervalued at one’s own damnation, Gallant, or glib, but always faithful, Seeking peace in a manner quite graceful, Peace and piety, With modest sobriety, Our work is concerned with preserving society. If you embark upon the path of Diplomacy, The mask embrace you. | Judge, and juror, and jaded jailor, Sniffing out truth and hunting betrayer, Tenacious, tedious, passionate, perfect, Never failing to reach a verdict, Steadfast, stalwart, incessant, insistent, A good reason why ‘dogged’ means persistent, Question, query, and seek solution, Oversee each execution, Snappy, sprightly, spirited, spry, But temperate and tranquil, a talented spy, Inquisitive, imperative, Ardent, assured, Silent saviour without witness, nor reward If you embark upon the path of Inquisition, The mask embrace you. | Lithe, and little, and stealthy, slippery, An abject artisan of weaponised trickery, Quiet and quaint, and steps without sounds, The weasel’s chicanery knows no bounds, Cutthroat, callous, and coldly calculating, Waiting, watching, and heart pulsating, Slicing, and slitting, and slyly slaying, Cover their mouth to shush the braying, Vanquish and vanish, Fleeting and fast, Either hailed a hero, or sorely outcast. If you embark upon the path of the Assassin, The mask embrace you. |
The three masks seemed to peer down at Kino, watching him intently, and although these seemed to be the only vaguely humanoid faces in the room, the Genin would certainly have a strange feeling, not so much like something was watching, but breathing right down the nape of his neck, waiting with bated breath to see what he would do. There didn't seem to be any other way out now.
Indecision? Stay. Rot.
