The Satisfaction of Solace [Dual Contract Search!]

[Keigo Oen]

Eiji tried not to over extend his listening he knew that there wasnt much he would be able to do even if they were doing illegal things. Though, He didnt matter, he wanted to genuinely help for the most part. So with that he'd continue harkening back into his mind for a moment. 'So he stole the eggs... From bandits who stole them originally...' thinking for a moment. Thinking about the idea of the Mink... and then the other male being partnered up? Something seemed to be that they were always together. Linked together by whatever Ryuichi had talked about before... 'Summoning contract'.

Though as they would turn to leave, Eiji would huff, knowing this was going to be an interesting mission but something that he would have to do because his word was his bond. And Bazu and his father had the mantra of 'A man is only as good as his word...', nodding again he would look to Ryu with a nod. He knew this was going to be interesting, being that this woudl be his first time fighting alongside Ryu. Maybe this would show their comradery through innate chance tactics. "Tch, I'll be famous one day... so it would be nice for you to look back and know the famous man that did great deeds for his country.", though he knew it was all a ruse something that he wouldnt even have a chance to consider. Because ANBU were never remembered, they were tools, some never even left the shadows. And as a trainee... Eiji would soon learn about this lifestyle.

Simply put he would give them a thumbs up before continuing with Ryuichi, walking out of the cave and into the tunnel, whilst going out the over side. Travels didnt take too long but this was definitely going to be the stage of the adventure where they could leave... they had been led to a point where they could simply turn in the Mink and the whole crew. However, as Eiji thought about it he would feel within him something shift...

"Aye... but I think with the patrols we'll have to spot a gap in intervals. I'll be able to feel it out... but to be honest... I think we can subdue a few of these guys. They are grunts... And maybe disguise ourselves. I'll leave the decision up to you Ryu.", nodding once again they would simply scan the area awaiting the break before Eiji would call for them to move in, while detecting them with his earth sensory and chakra sensory.

 

[Toraono Michino]

A loud bell rang out from a tower inside of the town. It was signaling a period of time for food and almost immediately all the kids started to dart towards the gate as if they were racing each other. The guards posted at either side of the large open wooden door were talking to their afternoon replacements. If there was ever a time to dart from the water and into the crowd of kids it was now. Of course this was only one way inside of the village but it was the most direct. Over on the left side of the gate the wall stretched into the forest leaving one to guess that you could climb up into it and move from tree to tree over the gate as well. This path however was left out of the report so it would bring one to wonder if it was done so on purpose. They’re best bet was probably blending on in with the rest of the kids.

Once inside the two shinobi would pass by a few adults as they were eating and would be able to catch the village gossip easily as they moved through the streets. The adults were talking a lot and the same thing kept ringing out about that treaty the two boys were here to steal. As they moved through the town it would become clear that most of the village was against it, but the ones who were for it seemed to be far more passionate about getting it passed through the local government’s laws. Of course everything the pro-hunting villagers were for only mentioned the ways the new law would help them while completely ignoring the possible impacts it could have on the surrounding land. One thing they both agreed on - the answer would apparently come in a few hours.

The plan was of course going ever so slightly tilted.

General news they were getting also said the treaty that was supposed to be signed into law next week was being looked at today. Apparently the local lord just happened to be sightseeing through the country and caught wind of some legislation he could clear up personally without having the headache of his council. This of course translated into someone bribed the lord out here to sign in something the council would pass off. With the locals fooled into believing otherwise this only left the two shinobi and the Eco-terrorists between the hunters and the possible extinction of multiple species. The only thing going in their favor right now was how apparently the mayor was treating the lord to their best wines at the local tavern before heading to his house for the signing. They had, at best, twenty more minutes before the crooked law was inevitably put into place.

Finding the house wasn’t going to be hard. The streets were labeled exactly as the small pieced together maps had shown in the file. If either of the boys took a second to think about it they’d realize that this was the mink’s work. Most of the drawings were sloppy but it only took a little looking to match landmarks up with the drawings in their memories. The back streets of the hamlet lead directly around the streets were adults wouldn’t think twice about kids being all the way to the mayor’s back porch. From there they would have to find a way to break in and hope that the papers were out in plain sight and not inside of a safe somewhere…

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

Seeing all the other children walk in at the sound of the bell was instantly reason for Ryuichi to start running towards the gate too as a part of the act. Of course the sword on his back could be passed off as a toy, or model that he was 'showing off to other kids' if he was asked, but he seemed to get past without much trouble. The image of the map was ingrained into his head, so he easily navigated through the area, remarking on the mink's skills as a spy, and map maker. The trail led them through the area, hearing the complaints of the treaty as well as the select few who were in favor. 'Such an overwhelming majority is opposed to this. These guys must be pulling some serious strings to get what they want.' he thought, walking along while making sure Eiji wasn't slacking too far behind.

Today was the deadline. Just earlier Ryuichi was looking for a place to train, and now he was trying to thwart an attempt to make money that could wipe out multiple species of animal in the area. Though the idea of the animals disappearing didn't affect Ryuichi directly, but he knew if one piece of a chain is removed then the entire thing is ruined. If a smaller animal is hunted to extinction, their predators would die off, followed by their predators. This could cause chaos in the economy of Lightning country if this kind of action spread to the entire country.

And when a country weakens, there begins to grow a threat of war. A war that cannot be won. Ryuichi grit his teeth, arriving at the location shown on the map behind the house. He turned to Eiji, his eyes glowing red. "Daifuku. Keep an eye out...erm...foot? That thing where you feel the ground." He shook his head, not wanting to get distracted. "Just try and feel through the entire house. If the rumors in the area are true, two people should be coming here." With that he went through four hand seals. "Follow me. Combination transformation jutsu!" He stated, slapping the wall His body fused into the wall slowly, and once it was completed Eiji's earth sense could easily tell he released the jutsu directly after to slip out on the other side.

The boy glanced around quickly with his gifted eyes, looking for the paper he needed, and waiting on Eiji.

 

[Keigo Oen]

Eiji wasnt slacking at all. At the sound of the bell a rare bout with activity helped him push through his laziness to find the dark skinned boy trailing behind Ryuichi by a few feet. As Eiji would find himself phasing through everything with Ryu, listening to the idle talk of the villagers as they blended in with the commoners, though it seemed that Ryuichi wasnt worried about it, but Eiji was. Someone would definitely remember their faces, but maybe because they werent anyone in particular they would be able to get away with things.

"Heh... Macha, After this we'll have to do more adventures..", nodding he'd speak while leaning over the snow haired boy's shoulder as they continued. Eiji didnt have any weaponry... but if he hit someone with his fist he would definitely break them. His titanic strength was weird. It was like he was able to draw from something unworldly to drive destructive power out of him. His power didnt even need much chakra... it scared him but there was good reason he was bad with Taijutsu...

At any pace he would follow Ryu to whom had the map. The murmuring of commoners, and Eiji could see the motor running through Ryuichi's mind, but Eiji would think something was going on. Maybe he would be able to help this country if he gained status? To drive the evil away from here, to drive goodness and stability to prominence, but he would need to have alot more drive to be someone of stature. And right now... his only goal was leading his clan... he barely had aspirations after Genin.

"Gotcha.", Eiji ducked himself down and channeled his concentration... he wanted to figure out the layout of this place anyways. The more he knew about the amount of obstacles, and everyone that they might come across... the better. "...You're clear." and when Ryu melted into the wall Eiji would melt into the ground... his expertise with Earth jutsu was ahead of many in his class... but he didnt know many high level offensive tactics... more strategic things. After poking his head up on the other side eyeing Ryuichi he'd whisper.

"Oi, You lead I'll follow you. I'll let you know if there is anyone coming up." nodding again he would sink back into the ground with a feeling of where Ryuichi was going following through from there towards the house. "Nothing so far." but something told Eiji it wouldnt be this easy, so he would stay on high alert.

 

[Toraono Michino]

Luck appeared to be on their side in more than one way.

The house, though small, echoed to the young Earth jutsu user to have many rooms. It was a two story with a small kitchen but a deep pantry that doubled as the basement. The echoing reflections of the rooms would show that all five of the rooms above the basement was empty - except that said basement. Underneath there appeared to be someone tied up to the far wall. They were still and didn’t seemed to be doing anything more than breathing.

As the other youth turned his special eyes towards the inside of the house he would see an extremely well furnished house. His eyes were viewing what would be considered the living room. It was furnished with deep sitting chairs next to a large fire place. In front of the furnace that was pouring out a steady stream of comfortable heat was an endangered specie of giant elk. It’s hide had been laid down like a carpet in front of the gentle flame. Above the fire place was a mantle that held all sorts of fancy alcohol and a box that no doubt contained cigars. Beyond the living room was a carpeted hallway that turned sharply to the left right after a door. To the gifted child he would find that the door had been left opened and that it lead into a study of some kind. The eyes would also detect the things only those gifted with a high-powered dojutsu can see. A particularly heavy set of footprints embedded themselves in the carpet deeply walking from the chair into the office. The ones heading back further into the house were many but this one set of feet seemed to do most of it’s living between the chairs and the office. According to rumors along the way there were was some rather hateful slang used when describing the new mayor that related to his weight so there was a good chance that the documents they were looking for where indeed inside of that office.

Once inside they would find the office itself was plain. A coat rack by the door, a single desk, a simple chair, and an inkwell with a pen that was far overdue for replacement where all that filled the small space. Slipping around to the chair the shinobi would find a locked drawer. The lock itself looked easy to dislodge but the key itself was simply right there if they took the time to look, hanging from a coat rack next to the door. Inside was the documents that needed to be signed, but, the moment they lifted the papers up a heavy key would drop from between the folds and land inside of the drawer. A simple look inside would reveal photographs of the mayor’s…other hobbies. Suffice to say they were dark and it would be easy to figure that the person inside of the basement was not tied up with their consent.

This now lead the young shinobi to be inside of the house and/or outside the house to decide on a choice of morality. They easily had everything they needed for the mission right in their hands and only need to slip out and back out towards the lake. The bell overhead rang again signaling the end of the hour and the period of lunch for most of the farm hands. No doubt it would also mean the mayor and his inebriated lord would be heading back soon to sign the papers they were holding…but what of the poor soul beneath their feet?

Heavy footsteps started to scratch the dirt of the worn out walkway as the mayor and his friend stepped off the town street to head towards his house. They were probably only two minutes away from the front door.

 

[Keigo Oen]

Shaking his head he would lift himself from the ground and then looking to Ryuichi, "Its all clear. For how long? I dont know.", making hsi way through the house wouldnt take long but they treaded slowly to ensure that if his senses were thrown off for any reason that they didnt alarm anyone. With Ryuichi in tow, Eiji would look around the darkness allowing with every step his earthly sensory to pulse out. Almost like Echo location. Giving him a map of an area without the ability to see. Though it was not nearly as good as sonar, it was something that he had that set him up for successes. Either way, Eiji knew that his abilities would be tested, and in short order he would sink under the floor to get into the office room. Trying not to touch as much as possible. 'Gotta keep these fingerprints off as much as possible...' he even stopped himself from touching walls and anything else...

"Gah..", nodding he would open the door from the inside for Ryuichi but he didnt really need to with Ryu slinking through walls with the Combo transformation jutsu. "Alright... everything should be in that desk, but I'm sure its likely locked away if these documents are anything important.", nodding he would attempt to coat his hands in chakra so he didnt have to physically open anything, but... the drawer was locked. "There's gotta be a ke-... OR not. Maybe the dude has the key on him, I wouldnt leave it...right?"

It didnt take Ryu long but after a look around for a few seconds he seemingly pulled the key from the coat rack. "Well dang... The dude's an idiot... but I guess he didnt expect us.", shaking his head Eiji would open the drawer and would smile as they looked over the paperwork. "I think this is it. Mission Accomplis-", then it seemed to be that Ryu spotted something in the drawer... something sinister? It seemed the Mayor was deep into some 'extracurricular' activities. Eiji was stuck in the middle. And it was then that the bells would chime off again.

"Shit we dont have much time... What do we do? I think I can set a minor trap up... and then I'll meet you down stairs to check it out? Or do you wanna just leave?" shaking his head internally. If it meant saving a life Eiji wanted to do anything in his power. He had an Oil Trap and some Exploding Notes... both could be used in this situation.

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

Ryuichi was quick on his feet, and quicker to scour the area. With Eiji being his lookout, he didn't need to focus more on getting caught, and instead put all of his attention into searching. Every crack in the ground was worthy of a small tap with a knuckle to hear if it was hallow. Of course, nothing was really noteworthy until they got into the room that was some kind of office, or study. Inside he was the foot-shaped imprints, and followed them to the supposedly large man's desk. Inside he pulled at the same drawer with chakra-covered hands. Same as Eiji. It didn't budge, so Ryu decided to look through the entire room. This could take some time-

Nevermind. Found em'. "Yo." Ryu said to get Eiji's attention, walking to the coat rack. the faint footprint indents seemed to shift every so slightly to the right before heading out the door, meaning the man commonly had a coat, or keys hanging. Was hiding the key in plain sight...too bad Ryuichi's eyes were anything by plain. He made haste to unlock the drawer, and to pull out what they needed. "Gotcha!" He said, before also seeing the photos of the poor soul. With Eiji feeling trouble, and now having the knowledge of how the two boys would end up, Ryu had to make a plan....

He nodded hearing was Eiji suggested, and grabbed a random hardcover book from one of the study shelves. With a few handseals he slapped the cover of the book, and smoke was seen coming from it for a moment before any signs of burning went away. He pulled away his hand to reveal a glowing red kanji for 'fire' ( 火 ) on it. He handed the book, as well as the documents they came here for to Eiji, and grinned. "On this seal is a jutsu that makes some crazy bright lights. if things get messy, just run some blood on it and it should give you a chance to get outa here, and signal me that there's trouble....alright my guy?" He said to Eiji, before bolting off, following the man's footprints, looking for some kind of trap door, or stairs into the basement...

[jutsu used: Combustive Seal + Ionic Borealis]

 

[Toraono Michino]

It did not take long for Ryu to find what he was looking for at all. Just like the key had been left in plain sight so was the trap door leading down into the wine cellar in the kitchen. Truly the guy appeared to be used to getting away with anything and everything so he didn’t seem to have any caution what so ever. Even the ninja-for-hire that had kept the two rebels from doing this exact thing were no where to be seen. It seemed sort of strange that two adults would have need of children when trained killers were supposedly involved.

Yet the trap door just simply opened up. There was no one waiting down there to fight only row upon row of alcohol and at the very end around the corner was a girl who looked to be barely three years older than either of the boys; chained to a wall. She was curled up in a ball wearing what appeared to be a potato sack that had dirt and all number of stains across it. Bruises and whip cuts were all up and down both thighs and honestly it looked like it she would even have a hard time walking. The moment either boy tried to reach out and touch her she would open her unswollen eye in shock and throw herself against the wall with weakened legs. Her mouth opened to scream but nothing but a few hisses of air came out as she had long ago screamed herself hoarse.

“Oh yes, I do actually have that whiskey on my mantle as it turns out!” Boomed the voice of the mayor. It was loud, deep, and cocky as it rolled in against the front door. While the two boys hid in their respective places the mayor and his ‘friend’ walked in through the door. The man was a large portly individual who was balding on the back of his head. He wore clothes that looked to be tailored twice as nice as anyone else in the village and already smelled strong of booze and cigars as he sauntered up to his mantle to remove a bottle of amber liquid from its centerpiece position. His friend was obvious a man of power with his clothes being even fancier than that of the mayor. Also he had a very tall hat which spoke of his office but it was tucked under his arm. The mayor’s fat thumb pressed against the cork and popped it off without any struggle as the other hand pulled down two brandy glasses hanging from a shelf above the fireplace.

As the mayor poured out the drink and the lord sank into one of the chairs the crooked official, after making sure the lord was comfortable, went back into his office. He turned around over to the desk and opened it up without even thinking that it hadn’t been re-locked or that the key was no longer on the coat hanger. His fuzzy thinking only saw the, now false, documents on top and he picked them up to toss them on the desk. As he did his eyes caught the pictures he had taken and suddenly felt a heat rushed through him. Looking back between the pictures and the papers he got a smile as he thought to himself, “Pleasure before business, as Pops always said.”

The crooked man closed the drawer and walked back into the living room handing the papers over to the lord to look over while he popped into the cellar to see if he ‘still had a rare whiskey hiding’ knowing personally that all of what he owned in that regard was sitting right on top of the mantle. Sauntering into the kitchen he carefully reached down to grab the iron ring and lift up the trap door…

 

[Keigo Oen]

[Sorry for the wait]

Eiji barely made it into the basement cellar before the men made it into the home. 'Think think think think.' looking over to Ryuichi and the girl he would frown, this was something that he had thought could happen, but he wanted to make sure they were doing the right thing in this. He may have been a lazy bugger, but he was not going to let someone be taken advantage of like they were. This was definitely something that he'd have in his heart of hearts. The reason for him being a shinobi, to protect. He was that guy, sort of. At any pace the footsteps above them would begin to clammer and Eiji would motion to Ryuichi towards the cellar door.

"If we dont do something quick we're gonna be as good as dead.", frowning for a moment he'd tilt his head. 'Shit... What should I do? Wait... I got it.' nodding he could feel his chakra was getting a bit lower than half the capacity from over usage. However, Eiji would form handsigns and transform into the girl before making a Mud Clone in the transformed image of the girl. "Oi, Alright... Follow my lead and lets get outta here.", he'd state just before using his strength to rip the chains from the wall then moving to form the last handsigns he'd need.

Once the guys would look into the cellar they would only see the girl laying on the ground and Eiji gone. Eiji wasnt too sure where Ryu was but Eiji was headed to the far wall with the girl on tow. Ryu would feel his chakra, but from here it was all about them getting away. Eiji would hold the girl to his chest as he would reemerge from the ground outside of the gates to the back of the house in the direction of the cave system. "Ryu... where are you?"

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

Ryu used the little time he had while Eiji was getting the girl free to screenshot the entire room, and remember to keep it for evidence against this guy. But there was one problem...if he were to show just the chambers, then it wouldn't be enough proof to bring all this to an end for good. Sure this girl would be a witness, but sometimes people are known to falsely accuse people of power in order to gain a profit for themselves, or just for the pleasure of taking the other down a peg.

Through clenched teeth, Ryu remembered when he had seen Eiji sink through the ground earlier...he remembered everything with these eyes. To top it off, his chakra pool was still going strong, so he could do this. "You go. I need more dirt on this man." Ryu said, copying the technique used by the doton user earlier, sinking into the stone basement ground, keeping his snapshot jutsu active. He had to get this man's face clearly, and his reaction when he saw that the girl was nothing more than Eiji's mud clone.

If he could just see that much happen, he would cancel his snapshot jutsu, and go back towards the surface.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The two boys had already gone far beyond the line of duty for not just their village and country, but for the sanctity of life itself. All they had to do was go in and steal documents yet here they went through the added risk of not only saving a girl who had nothing to do with the mission but to stay behind and collect even more evidence. When the mayor rounded the corner to see his prized possession lying on the ground he instantly picked up the pace in his step. Swooping down into a crouch the first thing the man did was check the girl’s pulse. Being that it was a mud clone made to be prone its pulse was weak but steady. Without a moment of hesitation the mayor reached into his vestments as he stood and withdrew a small earpiece that doubled as a headset. Slipping it into his ear he tapped it twice and began to speak lowly into it,

“Nagata, come in Nagata. We have a…white mess. Yes, someone has obviously been here, the chains were broke. I don’t know! I pay you to guard the house when I’m not here for a reason! I come home to entertain a very important guest and the present I intended to give has been ruined! Look you need to come down here, now. I’m not dragging another damn slave out of the basement and killing her by myself; last time I almost got caught. Would have too if I had been any slower with that shovel, no thanks to you. Hurry up!”

The mayor pushed his ear again but left the bud inside in case the bodyguard needed to report something else. He looked down at the mud clone without a single bit of pity. The female form left behind was meant as a ruse but it ended up collecting a ton of evidence against the man. He didn’t even know who had been in his house or what they had done/taken; all he was concerned for was the illegal slave being held in his cellar. Without hesitation the mayor felt that killing the girl and hiding the body in case whoever saw her decided to try and get officials knocking at his door was the first plan. He would also have to bribe the lord upstairs with something else now. In a fit of anger the mayor drew his foot back and kicked the clone in the face as hard as he could expecting her to cry out in pain. A look of confusion, terror, and relief washed over his face all at once when the girl’s features were removed with that clean kick, face splattering against the wall…however when her flesh turned brown and began to melt into the ground his face turned deathly pale. Without wasting any time he turned and tore ass through the wine cellar to jerk the papers out of his guest’s hands to read over the new print.

A scream of rage echoed overhead.

Ryu having served his job and country well would have plenty of time to leave via the exit his teammate offered once the mayor had left upstairs. When the Uchiha emerged from the ground to where their rescued girl and his friend resided he would be met with a startling vision; dead bodies everywhere.

Only moments ago when Eiji and the girl emerged from the ground at a distance safe enough from the house the two were immediately set upon by no less than six fully trained shinobi mercenaries. While they entered the house and found all sorts of dirt on the fat man running a con, the villan’s entire small force of mercenaries had started to converge waiting for the two boys to leave. All six of the men barring down on the children were veterans for not a single one hesitated in their strike. For a Kumo student and a beaten slave this meant instant death and would have too were it not for a wet and furry critter with a drawn rapier moving at such speeds that when it stopped it would have seemed like he magically appeared before them.

“Sage Art! Undertow!”
“Sage Art! Undertow!” Both the Sage and his partner cried out as an explosion of chakra shook the forest Eiji had escaped into.

The nature energy oozing off the mink shoved its way into the ground via his rapier as he stabbed the point into the Earth before him. Mud walls instantly shot up between the mercenaries and the three in the center of the jutsu rising easily twenty feet from the ground followed by a second larger wall that encased enemies that had been cut off from their prey. Standing at the top of the inner wall the sage with angry ocean blue eyes and hands in a seal inhaled deep before unleashing a torrent of water from his mouth faster than a hydrant could dream. In seconds the space between the first and second wall filled up into a moat-like structure with a current caused by the force the water was being exhaled the enemy could not swim through. They simply rolled and paddled through the dark salt water trying their best to hold their breath longer than Hiro could spit water.


In the damp dark of the first wall the Mink removed his rapier from the ground and raised it before his face before standing attention and closing his eyes. Nature chakra so strong even those unattuned could feel it radiated from the critter's weapon. Suddenly the large rodent’s stance changed and it was rapidly stabbing in all seemingly random directions before opening back up his eyes and sheathing the weapon calmly. However, from the sage’s standpoint, he could see the blade being extended through the walls without piercing anything in between except their enemy. After the fluid between the walls turned red the two released the jutsu causing the walls to harmlessly tumble down around Eiji and the slave. The bodies of their foes washed out around the forest though the water itself, not the blood, vanished into the soil and dried as if it was never there. “Go get your friend,” the sage spoke to the Kumo student as he bent a knee to check on the girl’s battered body.

When Ryu had returned and saw the scene displayed before him the mink and his master were already nearly done setting up some strange circle made of sea shells. The sage turned to the boys as his partner continued to pull shells out of a wet bag and place them in the strange circle.
“The girl told me everything…I doubt we have enough evidence just with her,” he said a little down unknowing of the Uchiha’s impressive feat, “But we have enough here to officially bring this up to Kumogakure and get this man at least on a wanted list so he can quit conning our country…” The shaggy haired man held onto the documents like a treasure…then smiled deeply,
“You have done far more than we ever hoped of you…originally I had planned on giving you some rare shells to sell when you got back home. They would of been worth some money…but, my partner and I agree you deserve something far better.”

Stowing away the documents inside of his jacket Hiro turned around and walked to the other side of the circle so that it stood between him and the two boys. Both himself and the mink held out their hands causing the elaborate circle to glow a soft ocean blue. In a blink a fountain of salt water gushed forth from the circle and with a dramatic slowness a giant multicolored pearl began to rise up from the depths of the water column. When it cleared the water it emitted a field of power that completely erased their presence from the surface world. All around the two boys was the ocean deep and the mammals of all shapes and sizes that roamed through her mighty depths.

“Focus your chakra and touch the pearl with all five fingertips of one hand,” the mink spoke in a wise tone, “And the ocean’s power will always be within grasp. It is the least we can do for two mortals who would risk so much for the protection of their land and the creatures within.”

 

[Keigo Oen]

Eiji was astounished but he even chuckled at the sounds coming from the mansion. There wasnt much else he would be able to do though, but Ryu stayed behind to get the rest of the information, and when Eiji was at a safe place he would figure out something to go back for Ryu even if it meant it would be a suicide mission. Though, before long he would notice that there was something strange going on, the Mink from before seemed to appear out of thin air and everything afterwards seemed to be a blur. Almost as if Eiji was on auto pilot. Though he seemed to come to seeing the bodies sprawled out...

And being sold to go get his friend... He wasnt used to so much saturated levels of chakra. It overwhelmed his earthy senses, but when all was said and done he would use his sensory ability to find Ryu who seemed to be heading in their direction anyways. It wouldnt be long before they all returned to see the three, the Sage and mink, but with the slave girl that Ryu and himself had saved. Listening to the man speak, he'd sigh.

"Bummer. Maybe Ryu collected something to nail that crab with a spear of justice? Eh?" looking over to Ryu, Eiji would smirk maybe he did but it mattered not because they did the right thing saving that girl... Who knew it might've been a prisoner or war or something but they didnt think about that at the time. They were kids. They didnt think politics at every turn. They barely thought about tomorrow let alone their own lives. At this point Eiji was sure he wasnt immortal but something told him that he was well off that it would be hard to kill him. At any pace Eiji would silence himself to finish listening to the Sage.

Before long there was a pearl... with all the spectacle this was the most mesmerising thing that he'd seen. The pearl was something outside of anything Eiji had ever seen. Then the mink began speaking again. "...Oh man, what's about to happen?", thinking to himself, 'The power of the ocean?' Eiji had forgotten all about his father that was probably worried sick about him but he would be proud and would understand. So Eiji would press his fingertips against the pearl while focusing his chakra into the palm of his left hand. Awaiting what would happen next...

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

When Ryu appeared on the surface he was met with the vibrations in the earth, and a sudden backlash from chakra overuse. His eyes retracted into it's normal form, and he winced as his vision went a little fuzzy for a few seconds trying to recuperate. "Shit, I used it too long..." He cursed himself, before standing with shaking legs. He was about to go into a panic attack, considering how he was once in a situation as scary as this. He remembered when he was a little kid, playing with a knife that once belonged to his mom...the feeling of wonder, and delusions of granduer as he tried (and failed) to throw it into a piece of firewood. Then one little accident set his future on hold for three years.

What if this was a situation like that? He felt so alive infiltrating this place that he had got caught up on, getting as much dirt as possible. Now he feared that he would pass out from exhaustion here, and now since he was a fool to think he had enough to go on. However, one thing kept him from just falling over, and giving up...

"If you fall behind, you get eaten alive. That's how this life is."

Ryu stopped shaking in an instant, remembering Uri's face at the top of the massive rock in kumo. It was his first day in the academy, and by far the most grueling... He started with nothing, yet Uri didn't pull any punches. He didn't hold back. The world won't hold back, either. So right now, he had a mission to finish. For the people who would be hurt by that man, the state of kumo's land, and his own state of mind.

He walked forward, letting his physical stamina convert into a tiny pool of chakra, eventually stumbling into Eiji, and with a nod, and the removal of his headband, Ryu would follow him to the sagely duo.

His expression was clear, and determined despite his shaky breathing, and occasional awkward shift in balance. He saw the bodies, sure. Did he ask anything? No. There was no point in it, considering the situation they were in, and the fact that the man obviously knowing what had happened after the mud clone...."Oh, that's right." He said to the sage, holding a hand seal. "I have just what you need....this'll almost be all my chakra, but it was worthwhile to get." He said, letting a minor mental link send the snapshot memory transfer over to the mangy man, should he allow it to happen.

Once this was done, he was obviously going through some strain, but the promise of a new power...that was enough to keep him interested. He followed instructions intently, putting his fingertips on the large, beautiful pearl on the opposite side, of Eiji.

 

[Toraono Michino]

The moment both of the students tapped their fingers against the pearl a pulse of deep chakra waved through the two boys and the forest beyond. Images of their fingerprints held in the five point formation they placed on the pearl lifted from the inner surface of the orb and sank deep into the swirling colors. In return two small bolts of blue colored lightning jolted the back of both their hands to force them back a few steps. The moment either kid stepped back out of the circle the spell was broke. The dark world around them fell away back into reality. If either looked down at their throbbing hands they would see a small mark placed between the index finger and thumb. It was pitch black but the outlines of a mink’s paw appeared on both of their hands for a brief moment before seeming to slip under the first layer to hide from sight of others.

Looking up they would see that the sage for all his power and strength was openly crying. He held out the hand that had been sealed with Ryu’s knowledge out before him like a treasure. It was more than enough to finally shut down the con man and bring at least some small peace back to the little parts of their country. It had been so long since Hiro had considered rest that the very thought overwhelmed him. The Mink, trying not to embarrass his friend anymore than he already had done to himself, cleared its small throat a few times. When that didn’t work he shook the young man but still all the sage could do was simply bawl. With a wistful sigh the giant rodent turned to the two boys.

“With that pact you will be able to call upon the power of the Ocean. I don’t remember how shinobi in the village use the seals to summon us since I’ve kinda just been...living with Hiro for the last few years now…but you’re smart boys. I’m sure you’ll figure it out!”

The mink turned away and tried to console his friend while the two shinobi went back towards the parental. It had been one hell of a training day.

Marine Mammal Contract Get!​

 

[Keigo Oen]

The ritual was astounding... and Eiji found himself looking around in a daze wondering if he'd been dreaming this whole time. However, their focus was keen, Ryu and Eiji's were, and they had done enough to earn the services of... whatever it was that was stated. However. Eiji would already have known about the summoning technique, but he knew of it in terms of summoning scrolls and such as that. So he would figure it out from there, but the crying almost made Eiji get a bit emotional. Was it because it was a beautiful seen what they had done for people they barely knew?

Was it because... they'ed waited so long to be able to do something that seemed nigh impossible? Maybe it was everything all at once.. and Eiji took pride in the feelings that he would take into the world. He would use this in his growth from a student to an ANBU to leader of the branch. He knew his goals were steppnig stones on the life that he would soon lead.

"Oi... Thank you for everything. I will continue to live with the morals I've displayed today... Together we will be able to take down anything that comes against us as a people.", he was merely reciting something from an Endo Proverb but it rang true in this moment... with that Eiji would return to his father after he and Ryu departed from one another... Eiji's father was still sleep....

'Lord... I could have died and he'd have been sleep.'

[Topic left]
[OOC: THANK YOU SO MUCH! IT WAS A FUN RP!]

 

[Otani Ryuichi]

Ryuichi took a deep breath in awe as he felt the entire world sweeping around him in a dark blanket, yet being fixated on the mess of swirling color in the orb. Everything else didn't seem to matter for those short few moments, and the only thing Ryu could explain it as is 'refreshing'. Almost as refreshing as the jolt of chakra that was sent into his hand afterwards, causing him to step back in shock and allowing the dark world to vanish.

"The power of the ocean...?" Ryuichi muttered to himself as he rubbed the skin where the mark had recently vanished. This was something he'd need to look into, and ask his sensei about. He was well aware that the older ninja was capable of summoning powerful animals of chakra, and it's what helped him determine what exactly the mink was from the start. It was a good way to go from here...

And now the man was crying. The stoic egg-eating doofus that had started the mess and was made into a fool by his older sister was getting truly emotional, and frankly it was a bit heart warming. Ryu smiled, knowing that he had done the right thing. For everyone, aside from maybe....poachers.

Regardless Ryu walked away with Eiji, leaving the sage to get ready for a life of relative peace despite the troubles the ninja world had. He was a lucky guy, knowing his mission was completed for now. Despite this, this was one of the first missions for Ryu, and it wasn't going to be the last.

He was broken away from his thoughts of the future of awesome shinobi-ing that he would be able to do by Eiji thanking him. "It's no problem. It was just like sparring with sensei, right? Just....life threatening with lives on the line. Besides ours." He joked with a small grin. "But yeah. I'll be sure to keep up the pace. Your quick thinking is what gave me the idea, and the tools to get that guy for good. At this rate you'll leave me in the dust, and we can't have that. You'd have to rival Aya!"

With that he had come back to a point he recognized, and waved to Eiji one last time before walking towards the village. He was dying for some fried dried squid, and a nap...

[topic left]
[OOC: thanks! Was a great time!]