A Hero Celebrated, A Beast Returned - Suna’s Official Starfall Opening Thread

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

A Hero Celebrated, A Beast Returned - Suna’s Official Starfall Opening Thread

The night that would change the world wasn’t just special in Suna because of what was to occur but due to what had already happened. The day Yoshimaru returned from the stars was the very same day as the inauguration of Gaara the Great all those year ago. Gaara, arguably Suna’s greatest leader, is widely celebrated and lauded for his achievements and believed to have heralded in a golden age for Suna. As such it has long been an official public holiday steeped in custom, tradition and a festive atmosphere. Even before news that it would play host to a meteor storm people were making plans for the Golden Festival as the night was known. By tradition everyone would be dressed in yellow and they whole village would be lit be flaming touches and feasting and games would occur throughout the night in Gaara’s memory. So when news of that meteor shower of unnatural significance was going to take place on this day of all days the people of Suna rejoiced, expecting it to be the greatest night of the year. As it turned out it would be great and truly memorable but not in a way any had expected. It would be turning point of Suna, a realisation of the conflict to come and a hardening of resolve.

This scene takes place 10 minutes prior to the events outlined in Starfall. At this Monument square, in front of the people’s palace, is filling up with 1000’s people, many drunk and everyone merry waiting for what they hope to be a particularly spectacular meteor shower.

All Suna Nin are encouraged to post. This is an opportunity for Nin to gather, meet new people and play a part US’s opening sequence. This does not count against a member’s posts restrictions and you do not use up your 2 active thread at time limit posting here. When enough people have posted I will post the next part, giving time for reactions before posting the following section and so on and so forth. It should be fun. Don’t worry if you aren’t great at rping, we were all beginners once after all and use this as an opportunity to rp with more seasoned members

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

The festival that celebrated perhaps Sunagakure's most revered Kage - Godaime Kazekage, Gaara - was particularly enjoyable for Kasumi Satake. And it wasn't because of the feasting, the games or even, this year, the much-anticipated meteor shower. It was, inexplicably, because of the required clothing colours. Kasumi always enjoyed wearing yellow tempered with a little black, and on this occasion, yellow was customary. Put simply, it was the perfect excuse to wear her favourite evening wear. Glancing over her shoulder as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, the kunoichi couldn't help but smile. The yellow-gold dress shone in the light, the black trim offsetting it perfectly. Small, delicate and beautiful black butterflies adorned the dress just below the neck, on the left. A thin, black satin scarf covered her actual neck, and a similar fabric bound the dress at the waist. There were no frills or concertina effects involved in the dress - it was straight and delicate.

Perhaps it was the inner child in her, but the small pleasure of being able to wear something... special excited her the most about the festival. Not that she didn't enjoy all the other frivolities. On the contrary, she wouldn't even bother going if it was just a stuffy, ceremonial affair. And of course there was the meteor shower. A spectacle that would not occur again for centuries, Kasumi was counting her blessings that she would be one of the fortunate few to see it. The stars had always fascinated her, though she respected the current human limitations with regard to viewing and visiting them and had long since resigned herself to dreaming. Slipping a small item pouch beneath her dress, where many would wear a garter, she checked her image one last time. Shoes! She hurried to where her black, formal shoes sat and slid her slender feet inside, fastening them tight smartly. With a sigh of relief, she headed out of the door and down the steps into the main street.

Lanterns and torches had the whole of Sunagakure lit up like a Christmas tree, gold, red, orange and yellow glows filled the otherwise mundane streets of Sunagakure and gave the place a fantastic atmosphere. Kasumi could hear the patter of feet rushing to the area where the villagers would gather and the distant sounds of those already there shouting, laughing and enjoying themselves. Hurrying along as fast as she could while still walking, the kunoichi's mouth eased into an anticipatory smile as the noise grew louder and louder. When she finally arrived in Monument Square, the place was alive with music, food, drink, colour and most of all - people. The party was well and truly underway and now it was Kasumi's turn to enter the fray. With an eager grin on her face, she made her way to one of the alcoholic drinks stalls to order the first of many drinks she would be enjoying this evening.

Age : 30 Posts : 66

Drunk people talked loudly to their friends, games made noise, children ran around playing tag, all of these were the sounds that Adair heard as he sat on the bench in the middle of the festival. He was holding a teriyaki beef stick in both hand and he was lazily munching on them as he watched all the people around him smiling and having a good time. Adair hadn't made many friends as of late and so he was stuck just watching other have fun, again. This was the celebration of the leader that all of Suna praised for his wise actions during times of need, he had even sacrificed himself for the sake of Suna. The Gaara of past was capable of doing almost anything with sand and so was also seen as the "perfect" Suna village leader. Adair had aspirations of being Hokage someday or at least a position to be like Gaara or maybe one to help the Kazekage.

The festival was really buzzing with people in little groups, talking and enjoying themselves. On the outside looking in, yes that was what Adair was doing he was casting himself out of the group of people he was making himself the outcast by not trying to talk to people. Adair got up off the bench and threw away one of the empty teriyaki beef sticks and started to much on the other. He wasn't sure what to do first and honestly he wasn't even sure if he wanted to, maybe he should go and play one of the games set up. Adair headed towards a game that was simply described as "Fish Catching-can you catch a fish?" Adair knew that this game was rigged in favor of the people who operated it, because the thin rice paper catchers were not meant to be able to withstand the water for long or to withstand a quick movement. Adair went up and bought two nets, then he put one net in either hand and used the nets as a pincer and caught a fish immediately. The people frowned down upon Adair and handed him the fish that he caught in a plastic bag filled with water and tied at the top, the fish was a Japanese Goldfish about 6mm in size. Adair looked at his new fish and smiled, maybe his parents would allow him to keep this one. Adair looked around before stuffing the goldfish in one of his empty pouches. 'Maybe tonight isn't such a bad night I mean I just got a new fish and everything' Adair looked up in the sky and smiled, the night was such a beautiful one.

ooc: in case you want to know what a Japanese goldfish looks like click This

Posts : 126

What was a festival without fireworks? That was the question Izumi had asked herself the day before the festivities were to begin. Perhaps somebody should have noticed that things were missing.. or that no one had seen or heard from the young genin all day... but they all had their own worries. The water displays on the strip had been undergoing alterations in preparation for the festival, and the fish restaurants were busy setting up carts and tracking down all the fish that were being imported at a hefty cost. With all the Kimura clan busy with their work, no one had taken note of the other family business. Their famed explosives being transported across the village.

It was quite an undertaking.. moving that much unstable, highly reactive, explosive across the village. It was to be a surprise after all. She couldn't move it out in the open, that would ruin the surprise! No, it had to be done in small quantities while feigning errands so that no one would be the wiser. Not that anyone would be surprised to see Izumi Kimura with enough explosives to raise a small city to the ground. She did have a certain amount of expertise on the subject after all. Still, it didn't make it any less dangerous. The small stockpile she had going on a roof just outside the strip would be enough to level the plaza where everyone was going to be gathering tonight. It was something Izumi knew by virtue of being a bombardier, but didn't think of at all. Perhaps it was the foolishness of a child, but Izumi didn't think that this was a big deal at all. It was just a little bit of blasting oil... what harm could it do?

On second thought, maybe they should have been keeping the stuff under lock and key and not been trusting it to what were essentially tweens who got their kicks out of power. Power was the best was to describe blasting oil. A single cup of the substance held as much explosive power as a single explosive tag. There were four cups in a quart, and four quarts in a gallon. Simply put, each gallon container of the oil that she intended to use would be sixteen times as powerful as one of those notes. As she ran that calculation in her head she looked down at what looked to be a giant slingshot she had erected on the roof. She was going to have to get these things up really high to set them off 'safely'. And safely was really something to be debated. She knew the kill zone on these babies and knew to be far beyond it, but other then that... what distance was safe was really up for debate.

But to hell with safety, the people wanted a bright display and the thrill of explosions! Well, all people like Izumi did. That group was really just occupied by Izumi alone, as the average person would be terrified if they knew what she was planning for their 'viewing pleasure'. A spectacle unlike any before it. Not only would the people be garbed in yellow, but she was determined to turn the very night sky itself yellow with her stunning display. And it would be stunning, if not visually, then physically if this gigantic slingshot didn't get her a big enough arc.

Everyone celebrated in their own ways of course. Izumi could think of not better salute to the most honorable kazekage then twenty-one bomb salute. Twenty one because that was all that she could muster together on such short notice. She dared not get into the barrels of the stuff without help. They were too big for her to handle alone, and she didn't want any accidents. With the amount of explosive she had on the roof, she could wipe out an area over one and a half kilometers in size with just the direct blast alone. No way would she be clumsy enough to risk having that go off near her. That was the sort of explosion the required a really long fuse and running like the dickens followed by finding a boulder to hide behind. She didn't get the reputation as the Suna Sapper without reason though. She was perhaps the most deadly genin alive in that she was capable of mass destruction on a whim. Suna should have been considered lucky that she was on their side, and wasn't one to be accident prone while doing what she did so well.

The people of Suna likely wouldn't agree that they felt lucky to Izumi on their side. She had just finished adding a powder to her explosives that would turn the blast yellow, and was now loading it onto the giant sling shot for launch. Putting it in place she smoothed an explosive tag onto the side of the skin of blasting oil with care before pulling back on the large elastic strap. Using her weight she pulled down and down till she was sitting on her heels, looking up at the night sky with the strap pulled down to her chest.

"Well, here goes nothing. FIRE IN THE HOLE!", she shouted as she released the strap of the giant sling shot, allowing it to launch the gallon of high explosive high into the air, arcing out over the square where the festivities were just getting going. Her warning didn't carry nearly as far as the flying explosive though, the crowd completely unaware of the coming attraction. It wasn't likely that anyone other then a ninja would see the flying sack. She had to get it moving quite quickly to get it to fly far enough after all.. and it was quite high up in the sky. But surely everyone for miles would see, hear, and feel what happened when it went off.

First was the primary blast, followed less then a second by the primary charge. The explosive tag went off, shocking the explosive oil. A shock was all it took to ignite the impromptu firework. It went off with a deafening bang, a flash of intense yellow light that lit the night like day for but a moment, and shock that everyone would be feeling. It was far enough away not to knock them from their feet, but it shook the window panes and rattled bones. Babies would be screaming in terror. Perhaps some ninja might even think they were under attack. Surely anyone with post traumatic stress syndrome would be diving for cover.

Back a good distance away from where the crowd was and from the explosion itself was Izumi, with a big grin plastered across her face as she remarked. "Whoa shit... That's so awesome!", her voice rising into a squeal of delight as she witnessed her hard work come to fruition. She was probably the only one really psyched up to light another one of those puppies off, standing at the edge of the roof a moment as she basked in the glory that was high explosives.

"Shall we have another Suna? I think we shall!", she said to no one in particular, as she was alone on the roof top currently. With a clap of her hands she turned to head back to where she had lined up the gallon skins of blasting oil. Time for number two of twenty one. This sure was a grand festival.

Posts : 191

Hanikaro Senju sat atop a nearby rooftop, well shrouded in the shadows of the night. He was not wearing his shinobi uniform, but rather a simpler outfit of linen, a combination of a tunic and light leggings, both black. He had never been a fan of crowds, and though he occasionally glanced below to look at the gathering mass of people, shinobi and civilian alike, he had no interest in become mingled in with such a grand mass of people. He felt that doing so left him, as were all the others down there, vulnerable. There was little space to move, to react, to fight, should such an event occur. Chances of a shinobi attack were slim at best, but Hanikaro could care less, he had no intention of being caught up in a vast assault in the crowd. And so he sat, at this eagle-eye position, sitting, barely visible on the rooftop of one of the taller nearby buildings. Even the laterns and lamps that brightened the street with a level of light equivalent to that of the Land of Winds high noon, the artificial lighting barely reached the roofs.

Normally at this time of day Hanikaro would have been in his small apartment, or out training in the desert, or possibly even in the library doing research, if he wasn't out on a mission. However, even he recognized he signifigance of the oncoming meteor shower- an event the like of which had not been seen for who knew how long. Even a servant of Sunagakure lke Hanikaro, who had spent years practically killing his emotions in order to increase his effectiveness as a weapon, would have been loathe to miss such an event. So he lay back against the rooftop, indulging himself to a period of relaxation in what was otherwise an incredibly rigorous life, a cycle of training, performing missions, and sleeping. Music blared up merrily from the festival grounds below, as Hanikaro, in what was an equally rare occurence, began thinking about the past. He thought about the great figurehead of Sunagakures past, to whom this festival was dedicated, Gaara of the Desert, the second Kazekage of Sunagakure. Since then, most villagers had lost count of the number of Kage's who had come and gone, but Gaara's name stood out like a beacon against a night sky. The man's feats were legendary... Becoming Kazekage at the age of 16 had only been the beginning of the mans prolific life. Even Hanikaro's own exceptional accomplishments held a mere candle to the inferno that was Gaara's glory- a level of prestige and power that most shinobi could only dream of. A level that Hanikaro strived to attain. But for now, he was merely a loyal servant, a weapon of Sunagakure. And for once, in a life of nearly ceaseless conflict and strife, this weapon was taking a brief respite, and observing a spectacle that would be remembered for decades.

Age : 28 Posts : 701

Initake was wandering around the Monument Square, looking at the many different festivities, and the many ridiculous drunkards that were running around, having a good time,but ruining everyone else's. This Celebration was in memorial of Sunagakure's perhaps Greatest Leader: Gaara. He stood near the center, sitting on top of one of the kiosks, with anxiety building in his; eagerly awaiting the night's most anticipated event: a meteor shower. He swung his feet back and forth, nearly kicking the shopkeeper in the face every time. The shopkeeper continued to tell him to 'GET THE HELL OFF!', but Initake didn't listen, he'd come even closer to his face when he did yell, but eventually, he stopped.

As his boredom aroused, he jumped off the kiosk and began to wander once again. He frequently looked up at the night sky, but, as of right now, only a clear night sky, a truly beautiful sight. He looked at himself, and then everyone, seeing how much the stood out against the blackness of the night. Yellow... The Color of the Country, it just looks so....different seeing everyone wear it.... and it contrasts so much against the sky.... I LIKE IT! Initake liked attention, but seemed to be getting none. So, he knew one way to get attention.

Initake, being the only Inuzuka, that he knew of, in Sunagakure, he transformed into a dog, and began to run around aimlessly, occasionally bumping into people; which some he knew, most not. He then appeared in front of one of the games that they had set up for smaller children, but, Initake, being 14, knew he had to try to go against his sometimes childish instincts and stay away. He had an argument with himself in his head, as he frequently does. YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT...... No, I don't, it would make me look childish.... Do I want that on one of my first nights as a genin? he decided that his second self was correct,no need to play any childish games, leave that for who was meant to play it: children.

He jumped up on the top of an older, run-down shed, and began to howl at the crescent moon. But, his lovely howling was rudely interrupted by some fool who decided to get fireworks. Initake walked up to the woman, an began to bark and growl. But, alas, they didn't hear him.

So, he decided to give these fireworks a shot, as one went off, and exploded yellow, the next did, along with a string of many more. He walked away eventually, and saw saw a guy walking around with a fish... and a pretty one, too.

Initake transformed back and decided to have some fun. Since Initake was the artistic type, he ran home, not too far from here, and grabbed some chalk. He got to a place, near the bar, where there were only drunkards, but they were inside, and he began to draw a picture of the man of whom this Celebration was in service to, Gaara. Some people gathered around, seeing the fine artistry, and gave him feedback. Most by sensible people, some by idiotic drunkards who could barely even walk, let alone the right to judge art.

Initake began to think about the Meteor Shower again, and returned to his place atop a higher kiosk this time, for this one is too high, so Initake couldn't kick the owner in the face.

Posts : 830

"GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! BLAIZE GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! BLAIZE!!!"

Many people were gathered in one of the shops late during the night of festivities. Everyone was happy and marry like there was not a care in the world. And during this festivities blaize has decided to join in on this fun as well. Although he was not allowed to drink people around him were having so many drinks that a red hue like mustache was seen above there lipes. Why was everyone happy is because they were all watching Blaize playing a game of vision.

What is this game of vision? It is a game that is set up with 20 kunai knifes and twenty targets. A player is set up with a pair of glasses with a shrunken as its lens. Its lifted up above the glasses. Each lens has 10 shrunken tips that flap down to your eyes, thus lowering your vision. The object of the game is to get the most targets with your eyes vision worsing and worsing with each tip of the shrunken going downwards. and blaize was already on his 15th kunai.

"Thunk"

Another perfect mark made by Blaize and everyone was yelling and cheering him on. as the crowed was then yelling out.

"20! 20! 20! GO FOR 20!"

Blaize chuckled and smiled at the game and the guest here. He wanted to have fun at this festivals and it seems that he has. He then started to get to number 16 as he was ready to throw the kunai at the target as he herd commotion from outside of the bar. He then placed his kunai down as many seems to be disappointed as he then spoken.

"Hey don't you hear that something is going on outside."

As he spoken he got outside of the bar and saw a person. Well not much younger then him drawing something on the ground. Many people were drunken but seemed to be happy with this young boy's art. He tilt his head trying to see the picture. He then looked up at the roof and then started to jump ontop of the roof to get himself a better view.

"Who is that, it seems familiar."

One of the drunken said it was a drawing of Gaara the great. This brought back some memories as he spoken to himself.

"Yea now i remember this, My brother he use to tell me stories about him. before i came to this country he told me about Gaara and the great thing he has done over time. He really must be special to have his deeds and work become engraved in this person's mind."

When he came to reality he saw the young person got up and run away, well not run away but to a different part of the area. he then started to speak out as he was trying to get his attention.

"Hey you, boy with the chalk i want to talk to you about your drawing of Garra. "

With that sentence he was trying to get the person attention. It seems he was the closet one of their age group around since everyone else was busy becoming drunk.

(OOC: kinda raw sorry)

Age : 28 Posts : 701

As Initake was finishing the last detail of Gaara's gear, and clothing, a couple people came up to him. One man stood over him and watched him finish his masterpiece. Even though he was a little sugar high, and his hands were shaking, it wasn't too bad. One f his better drawings, for sure. The guy, a little older than he, had asked him "Hey you, boy with the chalk i want to talk to you about your drawing of Garra. "

Initake looked up, stood up, and spoke to the man in a somewhat loud tone, which may have sounded somewhat rude. Though he did not mean it, people who just meet Initake consider him rude, it is just how his voice sounds, raspy and kind of deep for his age. "yes, and what exactly what would you like to ask me?"

Initake glanced down at the drawing again, and had the ever-so-common Artist's Insecurity. Meaning that he wasn't sure of himself as an artist, he had to fix something. The guy then began to speak, but before he did so, Initake interrupted him. " Excuse me, hold that thought."

Initake then made some minor adjustments to the hair and the kunai Gaara was spinning in his hand. He made another kunai on another finger, and had him holding a small scroll in the other hand, and made the beginnings of a sand dragon in the background, representing his unique talents as a shinobi, let alone a leader. But before he got too involved in his work, he returned to his work, he stood once again and spoke to the guys. "I apologize for the interruption, but what was it?"

Posts : 162

Renjiro was at the centre of the village wearing his normal clothing but all in bright yellow. Even his face was colour in yellow and as he was perched at the top of a building made of pure sand he blented in perfectly. He watched the villagers from above noticing the cheers and celebrations of what their great leader was. Renjiro being a senju originates from konoha and therefore didn't feel the same way about the great kazekage gaara like the obvious people below.

He looked at the sky as it was a clear sky without a star to be seen, however there was still a slight green tint to the clear sky. Renjiro realising something wasnt quite right was rather adjitated and worried but put it down to the extraordinary conditions the meteor shower was bringing to the world. His thoughts was that if this is going to happening across the entire shinobi world this must be something to enable that to happen.

He looked back at the stalls and buffets below looking at all the people down there enjoying themselves. What a shame most of them was there just for a good time and not actually there for the memorial of the dead kazekage gaara. It sickened him that people would actually come to it just for the free activities and nothing more, which in his eyes was disgracing the name of the kazekage himself. Renjiro had the moral high-ground here as he wasnt taking place in the festivities because he didnt believe in celebratations of the dead in this way.

He layed down on the roof of the building, blending perfectly with its surface (except his eyes) and gazed up at the stars wondering when this was going to happen and if this uncontrolable feeling of something wrong happening would go away or prove to be right.

_________________

WC: 310

Posts : 830

Blaize looked at this shinobi. He was a diffrent one then the other shinobi he had meet in the past. Then again it proves that you are diffrent and unique from everyone else right? Or was that a wrong way to long at things. Blaize looked at the drawing that this shinobi has continued. He looked at what the shinobi stoped his conversation for. There was gaara the great in his glory in his picture. The picture itself seemed to have him ready for battle yet in awe grace as well. He looked at the shinobi as he looked at him asking him to basically return to his question.

He cleared his thought as he then looked at him and then nodded at him. The night sky has seemed to compliment gaara. He then started to speak at him as he knelled down looking at the drawing trying to make sure the drunk would not trip over him.

"Such a amazing drawing you have, it seems you put much flow within your painting. Even though the time of this was just recent. My question is: "How did you become to admire a man like gaara anyways. Many people have been grateful to him. i just wanted to know what reason was yours."

As he looked at him. Though his reason was just because he had a home. Blaize lived here from his travels not because he was born into the land of suna. But staying in this country made him feel as this was his home as well. He then refocused to give his attention back to the genin.

Age : 28 Posts : 701

Initake looked up. He then nodded, looked down at his painting, and thought for a brief moment. Apparently this guy likes my art... "Well, thank you for the compliments and such, no one really pays attention to the arts around here normally." He then bent over, and made another minor adjustment. While doing so, he responded to the shinobi's question. "Well, you know, there are a few different reasons I guess I could say, but, my admiration of Gaara, it comes to one thing. He came to rule in the time of need. He was an amazing Kazekage, and the timing that he arrived to the seat of power, and the way he dealt with it was simply astonishing. Going from a lesser shinobi to dealing with the power of being a Kage? Simply amazing. Everyone usually focuses on his skills as a shinobi, while some focus on his skills as a leader. I am one of the lesser group, we would most likely not be here if it were not for his amazing leadership."

He stood up, examining and analyzing his drawing, and did so from a few different angles. "An artist can never be satisfied with his work. There can always be something to change or improve." With this, he erased some of the zippers and compartments on Gaara's attire, and went for a more graceful look, rather than a combative look. For, his vision of Gaara is different than anyone else's, he just describes the couple things that he admires of Gaara, rather than the things that irk him about him.

"There are many things that irk me about him, but I'd rather not say, considering I a focusing on the upside of him at this moment in time. There, I am done! What do you think?"

Posts : 830

Blaize looked at the painting after he asked him that question. He did not have much time to react to his previous words but it was alright. He focused his on his question and then jumped up to a higher better elevated roof. There he was able to see the whole picture of gaara. He was impressed by this person. This person here did not have to look up to see his whole work. He would just work angle by angel, frame by frame. Although the whole picture flows together into the final piece of gaara. He looked down ready to give his thoughts.

"I must say that is a very good drawing of gaara."

He said as he jumped down back to were he was before.

"The picture's itself seem to flow together don't you think? Ha ha i mean you already know it flows together but from another eye's, an untrained one i can see the effort you really put into this. But i want to ask something else if you don't mind. The picture it helped complement the night, the festivities, as you said his upward moments. The picture also reflects the night sky but what i wanted to ask is that you said there are things that erk you about him. What are those things or is it because tonight is such a great day its best not to talk about it. I have a feeling that it is but you cant kill a person for asking."

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Okay epically long revival thread, since I am trying to keep everything going there was a lot to post. Summary:

Current posters acknowledged (except Fox I hope she forgives me)
Nin sent to stop K
Caro + party intro will be sent to too something pretty dangerous

Yet too come npcs
Mayhem
More Mayhem

Just so its abundantly clear, the kazekage has a german accent

_____________________________________________________________________

Suna was alive with the sounds of people partying and the flicker of innumerable torches lighting up the night shrouded city. All of Suna had turned out for this once in a life time event from drunken haulers, to flint eyed merchants and wide eye children the square was heaving with life and laughter. Only one area of the expansive square remained relatively unoccupied, a small stage, where even now dancers and fire breathers twirled, flipped and danced for the crowd’s entertainment. Behind this at the foot of the People’s Palace lay a large ornate band stand a silken affair bedeck in vines and blossoms in which Suna’s political, social and military elite watched the spectacle unfurl in the opulence that they had become used to in recent times. A lavish seating area, bar and buffet all under an invisible awning designed to keep the elements off without impeding ones view had already lured most of Suna’s notables out and even as the people partied below, Suna’s debauched nobility socialised, boasted and lied to one another. Either side of this glowing political bubble of activity where two darkened areas whose function remained largely unknown to the teaming masses. From the perspective of an outside observer, it wasn’t clear what they hid though many a drunken reveller had already come to their own conclusions. Given the constant stream of waiters and staff weighed down with drinks and canapés of all kinds that came and went from the right it was probably some sort of kitchen. While on the other side, if the number of rather queasy looking guests who entered it only to return with a look of relief plastered on their faces it were anything to go by, the toilets. The partying onlookers were certainly correct about the first they were not exactly accurate concerning the role of the second ……..

In the shadows to the left of the stand there was indeed a throne of sorts. The throne was by no means easy to see, almost nothing was in this near pitch black environment and were it not for the flickering light of a solitary candle slowly dribbling into non existence nothing would be at all. The frail light it gave out, so at odds with luminescent of everywhere else seemed to try in vain to keep back the clawing darkness and was restricted to providing the barest illumination of its surroundings. In this dimmest of flickers it was possible to tell that far from the practical porcelain device expected the throne was a rather gaudy monstrosity, a baroque gilded affair with deep satin cushions more at home in a tasteless palace then this darkened gloom. At first sight it was not clear if it was occupied at all had it not been for gleam of the pale light on silky white fur and the contented purring of a cat dreaming of hunting sky whales. Closer inspection would reveal that this cat was by no means alone, nestled as it were was a darker shadow which occasionally appeared to stroke it, or tickles its tummy. Odd sound and often disturbing sounds tend to permeate from its depths, everything from hushed barely audible arguments on unknown subjects, to the sonorous humming of musical lyrics and perhaps most oddly chilling of all the unwarranted laughter directed at the occupants own unspoken jokes. Here hidden from public sight and mind the Kazekage planned. Well most of time, at this particular moment he was singing …..

One of the many darker shadows that surrounded the chair, for there were many hidden out of the sight to answer the occupants unpredictable requests approached the chair’s right and to reveal the dimly outline form of a man in uniform of a Shinobi uniform. Had then light to see by it would have possible to pick out the two concentric marks on his breast that was the only indication of his rank. Captain Tiron, elite jounin and district commander had been charged with overseeing the security tonight’s festivities and as expected had come to report his findings and check if the Kage had fresh orders. However at this moment he was at a loss to know how to approach the subject as the most feared Nin in Suna began what appeared to be the first verse of the popular musical number ‘I Feel So Pretty’. Even as he took his first tentative step forward, the Kazekage’s sonorous and unmistakable voice sang forth with gusto:

I feel pretty,
Oh, so pretty,
I feel pretty and vitty and bright!
And I pity
Any girl vho isn't me tonight.

Throughout Tiron tried to maintain his calm unemotional expression and appear that nothing was remotely amiss. Of course Tiron had heard a few things about the Kazekage and witnessed a fair few more, but nothing could really you prepare you for being in the man’s presence. However his uncertainty on whether to risk interrupting the Kage before he ploughed on to sing the next verse in his own unique manner was allayed by a change in tone inflected by one word

Report

As you command Kazekage Dono, all is going as expected, security remains tight and all infractions have been dealt with quickly and discretely. A few noteworthy occurrences but on the whole nothing serious to report

Den I take it ze explosions pose no dreat to ze general populace?

No my lord, nothing more then a stunt though the have been many who have been less then appreciative of them, we have been using dampening seals to limit the worst of their effects. We believe the person responsible is a genin by the name of …

Cut off mid sentence the Kazekage interrupted as if it were the most natural thing in the world though his tone was engaging not pompous, the interruption itself that of who was both interested and not constrained by civil formalities rather then intentionally rude

Young Kimura Izumi, her sensei has reported she is quite ze handful among other things

Tiron didn’t even blink at the interruption or how hit the nail on the head without seeing it. He knew better to take offence at slight that wasn’t really their. The Kazekage was many things to many people but in no case was he a fool and nor did he take much interest in what was expected of him. Conversations with the Kage had a tendency to change pace at the flip of switch. According to his friend Julina a genjutsu expert and somewhat of a psycho-analyst the Kage displayed so many alternating personality traits that any definitive analysis of his mental state was all but impossible. She advised that he kept his own engagements with the Kazekage relatively minimal where possible and assume and question nothing he did, the latter because unpredictable individuals where intrinsically dangerous to hang around, the second because doing otherwise would likely just give him a headache. In the former he had no choice and the latter he decided to follow to the letter. Tiron had enough to deal with at home with his demanding 2 year old terror then create worry himself about things he couldn’t do anything about. However his inactivity now reflected her third piece of advice, if you don’t know what you dealing with better to hold tight and wait then act unwisely.

I thought it best to leave the decision on taking her into custody to you hands my lord

Ya. Dat was perhaps best. In Suna ve should avard ingenuity do you not zink?

Then before he could even answer the Kage replied a new inflection in his tone as if he deep conversation with himself

Indeed. Perhaps ve should allow de genin her fun

Tiron don’t questions why and simply waited for the Kage to reach a natural conclusion to his own external discourse with himself. It was at this point another one of the Kimura’s explosions went off, this one rather closer then the last. It’s vibration caused the nearby side table to wobble slightly and the Kage’s tea cup perched as it was close to the edge to tumble off in chink of bone china and a splash. Shinobi like reflexes prevented most of the damage as the Kage caught it with his outstretched foot, not even looking and then proceeded to catch most of the downward bound tea before it could hit the ground before flipping cup and saucer back on the table with a twist of an ankle. Unfortunately for the Kimura not all of the tea was so readily caught and some splashed on the currently very lazy and self important Mr Bigglesworth. Unbeknownst to Tiron or any others but the Kage himself the cat empathic growled

You not going to let that meatbag (Calcifur’s rather mild definition of a human) of yours get away soiling my coat like that?

Most people assumed Mr Bigglesworth was simply a fat lazy cat, while both were true in part he was also powerful, indignant and no slightly wet and entirely irritable

It’s just a bit of Tea Calcifur (Mr Bigglesworth true name) and do I need to remind you not everyone is a meatbag?

Meatbag’s are meatbag’s whatever you train them to say. If you don’t do something I will find some pocket lint

Give it up furball your way too damn lazy to go looking for anything

That witch soiled my coat, if you don’t do something I will

The Kazekage paused to think. He feared very few things but pocket lint was a notable exception and he sensed that perhaps in this case it might be easier if he concede to Calcifur’s self centred demand.

As you wish though don’t think you can have it all you own way

All the while Tiron was getting worried as the Kazekage appeared not to say anything and was wandering if said something to cause offence but couldn’t fathom what. He was somewhat relieved when the kage spoke up, not to talk to him or himself but rather his cat:

Aww Mr Bigglesworth are youss okay-e-way. Youss didn’t get all wetty dit you. Ve cant have daddy’s little kitty cet getting all fluffy wuffy can ve. No no no ve cant. Let daddy make the big bad girly stop

Calcifur who found the condescending comments of meatbag’s offensive bridled indignantly as Howl happily got his own back on the self important feline.

You hearrt Mr Bigglesworth, much zough I delight in the amusement of her actions our little genin needss to be refrained. I would be obliged if you avoit a forceful approach, I think inventiveness she at least earn her ze fighting chance don’t you dink?

Hearing nothing from the lounging cat but the odd purr he decided best not to question the fact

Yes Kazekage Dono. I shall see to it.

Guut. Now tell me of dese other notabless you mentioned

Tiron didn’t hesitate

There are a few standouts notably a bunch of liberal complainers, some tourists who said the wrong things and got in a spot of trouble and we drunk Nin by the name of Wasibi was found hiding under the stage trying to peer up the dancer’s dresses. We also have a number of rather savvy young Nin out there including a freelance fisherman, a wannabe artist and even a hotshot knife thrower, I shall be sure to keep my eye out on their progress.

The Kage seemed to pause moment perhaps to store the information mentally somewhere. Though this was the case he also thinking of one name in particular, Mr Wasibi. His unavailability could jeopardise his carefully laid plans and that could not be tolerated. However that was not for Tiron ears and so he replied absently in the manner of one to whom the news carried no great weight:

This information will come in useful doubt. I will have too keep a closer eye on them in the future. Now I had best keep you no longer, I imagine you have enough to do without having to keep aging man like myself amused. You are free to leave

And with that the Shinobi captain took his leave as silently as he had arrived. When the Kage certain he was once more alone he raised his hand to his chin and considered what to do next. Wasibi’s drunken buffoonery would render him unable to perform his duty, a duty he had been hand picked from a host of more qualified individuals to perform due to his unique nature. The task at hand involved the placement of certain seals, in itself easy enough but the Kage was not of the mind that others knew of their nature for such thing might prove problematic as such the individual needed to not only be competent enough to perform the sealing but absentminded or quite simply unable to comprehend the seals nature. Of course the difficultly was that those generally competent enough to erect such a seal array generally didn’t fall in to either category. Wasibi however, with his debased nature including a love for booze, women and gambling did. His moral failings that made him perfect for the job he had in mind and it was perhaps ironic that these should be his undoing. Wasibi would learn he was not a man to so easily displease but that could wait. The seals couldn’t and for now another was needed, a guinea pig to run down the maze and not question why. The problem was where to find such a person and on such a night. Perhaps fate or simply luck shined on him for even as he contemplated this predicament he sensed a series of new if lower ranking seals in the distance on the right. Closer observation revealed a huddle of genin crowded watching the dancers perform and as quickly as that a new thought came to his mind. Truth be told he hadn’t even consider genin, the task was not without a degree of danger and the necessary understanding of seals need to erect the seal array was not precisely of their level but simple as the seals he sensed were these seals seemed solidly made and perhaps good enough. The best part of course was that these genin would not even question the seals nature, let alone unravel intent. There was a distinct possibility the might die of course but then again they were only genin and thus all the more disposable really. Yes they would do nicely and though he did not realise it he cackle ominously at the thought.

Raising his right arm moments later a second shadow appeared from the darkness, this time a women in he late twenties where monochromatic shades and white suit.

Miss Yellow, do see de group of genin watching ze dancerss on da right. I have neett of zeir presence, voult you be so kind to escort dem here. Quickly and discretely if you vill, their presence here must go unseen

Miss yellow had been one of the first TSOKR, bent to his will be use of powerful mind altering genjutsu. It was necessary at the time but now he avoided such heavy handed control measures for it had the unfortunate affect of killing almost all initiative and independent thought. What was left was a very pretty but practically killing machine whose loyalty was beyond question. The TSOKR agent didn’t even bother the process why her master ask such of her, it was not relevant and with a mere nodded she shunshin’d into the distance flanked by two others. Before Caranore and the others knew what hit them a discrete smoke bomb went off with barely sound and unseen hands had emerged to drag them with blinding speed to where the Tyrant waited. Attempts to resist proved fruitless as the TSOKR took no prisoners, binding them with genjutsu and breaking all resistance with controlled bursts of extreme killing intent and occasional kick for good measure. Less then 2 minutes after they had been dispatched and they returned now with a number of genin in tow, quite literally in some cases and unceremoniously dumping them on the ground and taking positions about them. As if they presented some unseen thread Miss Yellow took a position just to the right of the Kage’s chair, leaving the huddle of genin alone in the centre of dark room with the chair and its infamous occupant just meters in front.

There perhaps more efficient and less traumatic ways to grab their attention but he was not for codling Nin and he wanted to see if they had the guts for the job at hand. Even so knowing they would be confused and probably fearing the worst the Kage’s hands flipped through the single hand sign necessary with stunning speed unseen below the folds of cloak and spoke:

Vell Vell Vell vhat an entrance. Miss Yellow is rarely so late which meanss you must haff put up quite a fight, most impressive indeet. Doubtless you are hungry, understandable. Could ve get some refreshments for our guests? Oh but vhere are my manners, I am your beloved Kage and I am delighted to make you acquaintance. I haven’t seen such promising genin in quite a vhile. Your parentss must be inordinately prout of raising such a fine collection of Shinobi. Now you must be vondering vhy you are here? Vell vonder no longer. You see your dear Kage has something vonderful plannet but a part seemss to haff gone awry. A certain assistance of mine has taken sick and iss in dire of ze medical treatment.

It was this point the Kage unintentionally added or very soon vill be

I am zerefore in great neet of a number of fine individualss to do vork for me. Did I mention it involvess sealing, oh never mintt it does, which is vhy I thought you might be perfect for de job. Of course Miss Yellow here haff suggested sending TSOKR, dat employing genin such as yourselves would be insane for such an important duty. I believe otherwise, I told her our genin strong and fearless. Vait did I say that? Ya I must haff I mean I am hardly insane now am I? Perish ze thought. In any case I zink you vould be perfect. What do you dink?

As he said the last he wondered how his new guinea pigs would perform, admirably with any luck. Even so the fat fluffy menace nestled on his lap couldn’t help but comment

Hmmmm you guinea pigs look tasty. Can I eat one if the fail you?

Nien, no touchies. Dese guinea pigs are mine … at least for de moment. Though I vill consider it

And with that the lord of Suna awaited an answer

_____________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile a certain Shinobi captain had been busy writing out two identical notes and attaching them to Kunai and sending them flying. He could of course catch the genin himself but that would hardly by sporting. Far better others served in this role, less skilled for now but not without promise he mused.

Shortly afterwards Blaize, Jsalos and Adair narrowly avoided the kunai only to find the following message:

Listen up.

I was impressed by how you have handled yourself tonight so I am going to give you a further opportunity to test yourselves. There is this genin by the name of Izumi Kimura setting off explosives and the brass want it stopped. I am delegating the job of you and 2 others to deal with her. She is to be taken into custody and stopped from setting off any more but not harmed. Sometimes a Nin needs to take prisoners alive, its time you all learned how. I don’t need to say that this comes from the top and thus don’t bugger it up unless you want to be on gate guard duty for the next month.

Captain Tiron
District Commander

Age : 28 Posts : 701

{OOC: 3356 words.... holy shit Hugh.}

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Archived due to removal of existing plot