The King's Arrival [Smoke and Mirrors]

Posts : 1216

Flap. Flap. The pearl white hawk landed just outside the village known as Amegakure. It's massive form drawing little attention as its rider hopped off with no problem. The creature disappeared without a cloud of smoke, beneath the cover the figurine of it landed in its creator's hand. He tucked it away within the clay pouch placed on his back hip. His steps were slow and precise, his red eyes pierced through the rain. He slowly advanced upon the industrialized village that lived within the rain, its dark mood inspired many suicides every year. He walked through the gates and eyed one of the vendors selling umbrellas among other objects. Pulling out a roll of money, the young man had no idea how much was in it, he tossed it to the vendor. In that motion he took a large black cloak and a straw hat too large for his head.

Donning both his items, he walked through the streets of Amegakure. It wasn't going to be hard to find the target, not if the plan worked. With his identity now hidden, Inzei walked up to one of the vendors down the street. The man was selling various items, mostly food that was popular inside Amegakure. He was a smaller man, with a pipe that puffed out smoke occasionally. He wore a blue gi with a white undershirt. His pants were black with rope holding them up, Inzei for a moment forgot this village suffered from poverty. He was older, in his late fifties, and his kind of person loved to gossip. The older you got the easier it was for you to gossip with nothing else to keep you busy. Pulling out a ten thousand yen bill, Inzei slid it towards the man. He grunted and took the bill, their eyes locked for a brief moment. The man's murky brown eyes seemed not to even be bothered by Inzei's piercing red.

"I heard a man named Hakuren Bakuho was in these parts. Do you know him?"

"Never heard of em. You gonna take what you paid for?"

The man was short and quick. It would take a bit more to get any information out of him. Another ten thousand yen bill was produce and snatched away at the same speed.

"I think I might know you're talkin about now. Mmmm."

Inzei wanted to kill the man where he stood, he was extorting him for money and refused to give any information. The king was slowly being angered but he still produced the ten thousand yen bill again. The man took it slowly and took a deep drag from his pipe. Almost appearing to be lost in thought as he smiled.

"Ah yes. I do know him. But I don't know where he is. Perhaps I can point you to one of his acquaintances if I can remember where they live."

This time it was the younger man who grunted as a roll of money was produced. Instead of handing it he tossed it towards the old man, revealing his exposed chest. The old man seemed curious for a moment then dismissed it. After all, money talked and it told him to forget he saw Inzei.

"They live in the ghetto, a torn down house. He goes by Mokubi. He is one of Hakuren's friends. His house has a red star on the door."

Inzei nodded as he took one of the man's basket full of rolls. The man smiled as if they were just two people talking about the current events. The blonde teenager walked away as he made his way towards the housing district. His right hand held the basket under the cloak, the bread was cold and stale. It was about to expire any day now.

"Disgusting."

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The people were used to seeing criminals in this city, no one cared when they saw another one. Inzei blended in as he kept walking towards the housing district, hidden deeper in the city. But in this city people couldn't be trusted, most were just trying to make money to get by. There were people all around, a few on street corners, but none the less around. The young Haretsu stopped on a bridge that connected the housing districts to the rest of the village. This village's industrialization was interesting, street lights flickered due to poor maintenance. But they were still there, people of his village wouldn't appreciate this type of village. Someone came up to Inzei, trying to peddle something. It was pointless but Inzei let the man talk. He wore a black shirt and grey pants, his sandals were falling apart. The umbrella he was holding was destroyed around the edges, making him look even more pathetic.

"So what do you say?"

"Do you know a man named Mokubi? He has a red star on his door. I'm family coming from a long distance to see him."

"Oh! Mokubi? I mean. Nope don't know him."

The man was surprised, trying to pull the same tactic as the old man did. Inzei just threw a five thousand yen bill at him. The man scrambled for it, his excitement obvious on his face. He quickly pocketed the bill and tried to hand Inzei what looked like a shitty ninjato. Is this what he tried to peddle me? It doesn't even have a good hilt. It's only a meter long including the blade. It's hilt is just some shitty leather wrapped around decrepit wood. Inzei took it and held it in his left hand underneath his cloak. He stared at the man now waiting for him to talk. His red eyes drilling into the other's emerald green eyes.

"Yeah. I know Mokubi. He's at home right now, I think he said something about getting laid off. Things haven't been right with him since, you know."

"Yes. It's a shame. I've come here to help him and try to get him to come back with me. Thank you for your help."

The man nodded and ran off, probably to buy a decent umbrella with some food. Inzei sighed as he turned and continued walking towards his destination. At least the man known as Mokubi was confirmed as real. As he entered into the ghettos, it was obvious how badly this village suffered. It wasn't good, it made Inzei sick to see so many homes barely withstanding the rain's might. The house he was looking for stood out like a sore thumb however. It wasn't a small red star on the door, it practically covered the door. It was an upside down pentagram. Not a good sign, at least for reasoning with the man. The hidden Kumogakure ninja walked up to the door, knocking hoping the man would answer. The door creaked open to reveal a six foot tall man, eyeing the smaller genin. His hair was shaggy and long, unkempt and unwashed. His skin was fair and his face was covered in scruff. He didn't seem sociable.

"May I come inside to speak to you? It is rather urgent."

"Ehh? Get the fuck outta here. I'm not buying that bullshit you fuckin orphans are trying this time."

The door started to be slammed shut only to stop, the man's blue eyes dilated as he realized what just happened. Inzei's shoddy ninjato found its new home just outside Mokubi's neck. He opened the door and let Inzei walk inside. Now being held hostage, the man locked the door and walked slowly towards the kitchen. His frame wasn't large, but lithe and weak. He couldn't fight Inzei if he wanted to. Mokubi took a seat at the table, Inzei tossed the basket of rolls in front of Mokubi.

"Eat up and tell me all you know about Hakuren Bakuho."

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"God damn it. I don't know anything! He fucking went crazy after a near death experience. He's been doing those crazy ass experiments every since!"

"Hm. Really now? Where is he now?"

Mokubi sighed as he slumped over onto the table. It was obvious that he didn't want to deal with this today. Inzei pressed the ninjato against the man's head, it couldn't stab but it was enough. Mokubi looked at his captor with defeat in his eyes. The man was at the end of his rope, he lost his job and was now being held hostage. Thunder cracked outside as something inside Mokubi began to crack. It was obvious, the twitch in his eyes started to give it away to Inzei.

"I don't know. He lives, well lived, just down the street from me. There is a bunch of graffiti you can't miss it."

"And what is with the pentagram on your door?"

"They did that to me! The people blamed me and Hakuren's friends for what he did. So they drew these on our houses calling us devil worshipers. They use to come by and yell, throw bricks through my window, even try to break inside! They blamed us for not stopping him! It wasn't our fault! Karen killed herself! Higashi left town! Now I'm stuck here dealing with his mistakes! It isn't fair!"

Inzei's eyes widened slightly as he took a small step back. Mokubi was getting a little too loud for comfort. This wasn't going to end well if he didn't defuse the situation. However, before Inzei could move Mokubi leapt up and charged the genin. In one swift moment Inzei sliced towards the left effectively slicing Mokubi's stomach. To finish off the man he stabbed the blade into the open wound. Not even a scream echo'd out from Mokubi's lifeless corpse. He didn't flinch or try to stop the blade, as if he wanted someone to kill him. The now dead adult rested atop the genin, thunder roared out once more. One hefty push and the body was sprawled a top the kitchen table, his blood coating the stale rolls. The young genin stood there, eyeing the corpse, trying to comprehend what happened.

"Mongrel."

Inzei muttered as he threw the ninjato across the house. He didn't want to be anywhere near the damn thing now. He walked towards the door with a bitter taste in his mouth. He hated killing people with his bare hands, it was so messy. Towards his house then. If he was run out of town, then there should be a clue as to where he is. I'll make use of that to find him. Inzei thought to himself as he left out the house. The blood that was on his cloak slowly started to be washed off by the rain. The housing district was still quiet, no one would miss Mokubi apparently. The now victorious tyrant sighed as he walked down the street. Mokubi didn't lie, the house was easy to spot. If it wasn't raining constantly, Inzei was sure that they'd burn Hakuren's house down. The windows were smashed and the place had writing all over it. The most predominant being hateful slurs. Inzei sighed as he walked up to the front door, this wasn't going to be fun.

Posts : 1216

The cloaked shinobi kicked open the door only to feel resistance against it. It surprised him, so he kicked again on to have the damn door frame fall out. No lights were on in the house and there were holes in the roof. Rain was pouring in freely with little light emitting from the now missing door frame. Inzei preformed a quick series of hand seals as his right index finger lit ablaze.¹ He walked outside and looked around quickly. Inscribed a seal in the ground to the left of the house, then to the right of the house. He didn't need full coverage of the house, just the entrance. He walked back inside and inscribed the third and fourth seal on the opposite sides of the door frame. His fuuton chakra was flowing through this last seal as he placed it in the light way. ² It would alert him if someone walked through the house's only visible entryway. He couldn't afford Hakuren coming home and finding a shinobi with his guard down. The engraving jutsu ended as Inzei slipped his hand into the clay pouch. He munched up the bird figurine he kept to let it go back to being usable clay.

The house was in ruin, it was obvious that someone was in a rush to leave town. Of course that was understandable considering how badly they treated his friends. They must have been ten fold worse to him. Inzei slowly walked through the house, stepping on cracked glass and in puddles that lined the house. He couldn't see very well but didn't need to, he knew where he wanted to go. The house was small and there weren't many rooms to dig through. The open area, which Inzei assumed was the living room, was barren.

Creak. Inzei's head whipped around looking for whatever made that noise. His red eyes scanned the house but nothing moved. He dismissed it, it was raining after all. The red eyed shinboi walked slowly towards the kitchen, the window in the back was left alone. Probably since it was harder to get to than just standing out front lobbing rocks. Lightning flashed across the sky, giving the young Haretsu a moment of vision in the kitchen. Blood was everywhere. It wasn't good. Creak. Inzei spun on his heels. Something definitely was moving now. He knew he wasn't imagining that noise. Lightning flashed again, revealing the bedroom door now open. Across from the kitchen, it was definitely closed when Inzei came inside. The now curious genin grabbed his sword³ as he walked towards the open door. Scriiiii! The alarm seal went off as a figure stood in the entry way. Inzei's red eyes only saw the outline of him before it charged at him. In one quick slash Inzei sliced the figure's arm off. It stumbled back then charged him again, almost as if it didn't care to lose a limb. He pulled his other sword³ out as he swung both of them towards his right. The figure didn't even try to dodge, it just let itself be cut down.

"Mongrel. What are you?"

The tyrant asked as lightning flashed across the sky a final time. A corpse laid before him, now crawling towards his feet. The shinobi panicked as he stabbed both swords into its head in an attempt to kill it. It was unnatural and it definitely creeped Inzei out. It finally stopped moving as Inzei yanked the swords free from the corpse's skull. He walked towards the door and kicked it open with both swords pointed into the darkness. He really wished he had a way to see in this dark house. Of course no one would try the light switches, why would they work in an abandoned house? Inzei's elbow bumped into the push button as the bedroom's lights flickered on.

"Why do the lights work? That's stupid."

Inzei said as he lowered his weapons. The room was a mess but on the good doctor's desk there sat a pile of papers. Most if not all of his research was taken with him when he dipped out of his house. But he left a few clues. Intentional or not, Inzei grabbed the first paper he saw. It was useless, just a piece of paper from the local hospital. It was his notice of being terminated. The irritated king balled it up and threw the paper on the ground behind him. However the man wasn't fully sane, not by society's standards. He left a note on the desk, it read.

To whom it may concern,
I am Hakuren Bakuho. You may already know this and that is probably why you are reading this letter. I have decided to abandon this village. They shun me for my practices and in my noble pursuit to gain immortality. I don't harm any live patients and use only those who have passed. I know that later on in future generations my work will be praised so I leave this note. I am going to hide out at the warehouse I own outside of Amegakure. I will continue out my work there. I am very close to achieving my goal and I feel those who take the time to read this letter will help me. If you wish to join my noble pursuit then please come and join me.

Hakuren Bakuho

"Now I have you, Mongrel."

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46/60 CP

Posts : 1216

Out in the rain the hidden shinobi went, the thunder roared again. He stepped through the street, people eyeing the mysterious figure. Leaving the house of the infamous Bakuro, people became curious. They followed behind him murmuring about why he would leave such a house. He looked back, red eyes piercing through the rain. They froze in place, a small crowd had formed. Roughly ten people, Inzei's anger was starting to peak. He reached into his waist band, pulling out three more rolls of money. He threw the money at the group of people, each one starting to fight over the new found wealth they would gain. Disgusting. Inzei thought as he walked away from the horde. A older man however chose not to fight for the money as he walked towards Inzei.

"What do you want? Why were you in his house?"

"Who's house?"

Inzei asked disinterestedly. He continued down his path with no resistance. The old man stood still yet his voice was firm.

"You know. Bakuro. Why were you in his house? Are you trying to help him?"

The Haretsu stopped in place. The rain seemed to pour harder as the wind picked up¹. The old man still didn't falter, his will stronger than anyone's else. Little did the tyrant know, this man would be the one of the strongest willed men he would've met.

"Why? Are you going to stop me if I am?"

"He's a horrible person. You can't do this. He desecrates the dead. You need to stop him, not help him."

The genin turned around, facing the old man. They locked eyes, his brown eyes seemed to resist Inzei's harsh stare. The golden ruler sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He couldn't say anything without revealing himself. It was pointless to hide now, he was about to find the fiend.

"I am not helping him. I'm here to kill him or capture him. I've been sent by my village. Do you know where he is hiding at?"

The old man's eyes seemed to light up for a moment. Happy that someone came to stop the mad doctor from continuing his horrible experiments.

”Thank you so much. Please, don’t let him go unpunished. He ran out of town, we don’t know where he is but he owns a warehouse. It is in lot thirty-two.”

He spoke happily, the crowd behind him finally breaking up their fighting. They looked on at the older man and Inzei speaking, curious as to how this would end. The amiable tyrant nodded as he turned back around. He continued towards the area known as lot thirty-two. The sky was painted blue for a moment by lightning. The people dispersed, much happier knowing that they had an ally instead of another enemy. Mongrels. Perhaps this city would benefit from my ruling. Inzei thought to himself as he slowly approached lot thirty-two.

The lot was abandoned, the warehouse held no one within it except a few mice. The warehouse smelled of death and blood stains were visible all over the floor. Inzei had been given the wrong information. He growled in anger as something stirred behind him, the shadows danced and Inzei’s fingers danced with them. Two massive clay birds² appeared before Inzei. His chakra reserves starting to run low now, along with his clay³. Each one flew forward into the corners of the warehouse and detonated harshly. Inzei stood outside of it, watching the building crumble. Before the angry shinboi noticed it, a man appeared behind. His red eyes peeked behind him to see a short burly man eyeing him curious. His lower face obscured by a mask and his head hidden by a straw hat. The cloak he wore was wide open, drenched wet, with two katana on his hip. He didn’t seemed please to watch his home get nuked.

”Why the hell did you blow up my house?!”

”Because I felt like it. I’m looking for Bakuro and I was given the wrong information. Do you know where he is?”

”Yes I fucking do. But you’re not gonna find out easily.”

The man reached for one of his katanas, Inzei produced a large roll of money.

”Hell no. I want your fucking hand. Not your damn money.”

”I should say the same.”

It was a bit peculiar to the young king. He was use to everyone here being money grubbing, but this man was different. Well, rage did make us all act irrationally. The man slashed for Inzei, while the young genin leapt back. His right hand in his clay pouch molding two surprises⁴. The man charged while Inzei retreated. It was obvious that the shinobi wasn’t in the mood for a direct physical confrontation. As the man prepared to swing his katana, he found a clay spider attached to his right hand. Inzei’s right hand was out stretched with another spider going for the man’s face. The one on his hand detonated, blasting his fingers into oblivion and destroying his right hand.

”Oh fuckin jesus! What the fuck!?”

”So. Where is he?”

”Go fuck yourself!”

The man was upset, laying on his back holding onto his injured hand. It was understandable, however the young king seemed to run out of mercy. The clay spider crawled onto the man’s face and latched on, digging its legs into his head.

”Care to live?”

”Fucker… He is in lot four. Now get the fuck away from me.”

Inzei’s right eyebrow arched up in curiosity. He didn’t want to be lied to. After all, the old man lied to him, why wouldn’t this guy? Regardless, Inzei could just spend the rest of the day searching each warehouse if this one didn’t work out. He decided if lot four didn’t work out, he’d just start from one and continue that way. The spider detonated on the man’s face, fracturing his skull and knocking him unconscious. He would die without medical attention, Inzei was fine with that too.

”Thanks. I’ll tell Bakuro you send your regards.”

The words came out somberly as Inzei walked off towards lot four. Bakuro was now within Inzei’s grasp. He wouldn't let him get away easily, not after all the trouble he’s been through for him.

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20/60 CP

[Closed]