Victorious [Ikatashi]

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

Uriko was late. Or at least, she had not made the time she herself had set. The sodden and blustery weather had forced the woman to stay a further day in Konoha, on dry land. The ocean was too wild to cross, even for a shinobi as hardy as she. It was extremely fortuitous that the conditions had calmed in a mere twenty-four hours. Uriko did not like to be kept waiting, least of all when there was no one she could blame for it. As it happened, she was able to secure passage across the water the following morning. Only a few vessels dared venture from the safety of the harbour so soon after a storm, but those that did were not of a mind to care about the type of passenger. as such, the female nukenin was transported without fuss. Travelling from the shores of Konoha to the far more lush environment offered by Tsuki no Kuni, she was quite glad to see the back of the country she'd now left behind.

Her voyage was drawn-out by the captain, who didn't wish to encounter any military ships or the like. Uriko warmed to this notion rather quickly, eager to avoid such intrusions herself. When they finally moored at the smaller of the two docks just outside Getsugakure, the kunoichi fell in line with the sailors trudging one-by-one toward the village, each carrying as much cargo as they could hold. Uriko's hand brushed the hood of her cloak. She was almost about to cover her visage when she remembered that she currently wore the face of another man. Another time she might've chided herself for the lapse, but it was the first time she'd used the technique. Teething problems, of course. Her fingers fell onto the alien flesh covering her real face. It felt weak, as if loosely bound by the muscles underneath. The woman pursed her lips. Though the jutsu was due to wear out around this time, she didn't like having to hope that it held out until she reached the village. It might make matters less... secure.

As she passed the smartly-dressed officers guarding the docks, Uriko made a hasty beeline toward the nearest shade. The kunoichi took a moment to survey her environment. Behind her, the beautiful vista of the sandy shore and turquoise waters lapping gently beside it. To the right, the busy dockyard, full of industrious people with coarse hands and gruff mannerisms. To her left, the very edge of a relatively sparse forest curved around, bordered by the cream-coloured path that ran straight ahead, eventually coming to the modest gates of Getsuagkure no Sato. It was this road that Uriko needed to follow, though she didn't really like the look of it. Too open and exposed. She worried that her disguise wouldn't hold for the ten minutes she needed to reach and pass through those gates. By the feel of the flesh, the woman could tell it would be touch and go. No time to waste, then. She thought silently to herself, setting off at a brisk walking pace. Nothing more. She didn't want the attention.

Yet more luck for the determined nukenin. Not only did her disguise hold, but the guards recognized her face as a Kirigakure envoy. She passed through the gates without so much as a search, reaching the inner village just in time. As Uriko took to the shadows to pull the dissipating skin from her face, she wondered if security really was this lacksadaisical here. The only other explanation was that they had a sensory nin at the gate, who had searched her in secret but found nothing. The pile of indistinguishable mess on the cobbled floor would disappear before anyone stumbled upon it, hidden out of sight as it was. The woman brushed the last few unwanted specks from her body and stepped out into the street. Her intel had placed three different shinobi here, all criminals and therefore all targets. Both the Inuzuka and the Kaguya had been met and conversed with; only the Noroi remained. The few contacts the woman had in Getsugakure had explained that the man she sought had entered the tournament being held on the island, though none could tell her where.

Frustrated, she had followed the information about the Kaguya instead, hoping to stumble upon further insight into the Noroi while she did. Just before their meeting, Uriko had caught sight of a large wooden structure, secreted deep within the country's woodlands. And now, the female nukenin could finally give it her attention. Having removed a guard from his rounds, she took his place for the time being, stood attentively on a foliage-covered branch and observing the nearby goings-on. The kunoichi did not have long - sooner or later the others shinobi patrolling the area would notice Uriko and her lack of uniform (she hadn't bothered to steal that of the guard she'd 'removed'). She could only hope that her search for the young Noroi would advance before then. The woman had even considered setting fire to the building in the knowledge that most would be forced outside. However, it not only alerted security of an intruder, but could have injured or killed the target within. That said, Uriko reasoned silently to herself, If he can't survive that, I'm wasting my time.

A small group of shinobi left the building a moment later. Though they walked side by side, they did not seem to be doing so out of any need other than to head in the same direction. Conversation was sparse, for sure. Each seemed to be holding something - a medal, a statuette? If these were the tournament winners, Uriko hoped her target was among them. Only one was not displaying a forehead protector of their village. Black bandages covered his mouth, neck and possibly beyond, but there was no sign of a headband. Noting this, the female nukenin decided to follow until the trio peeled away from each other, leaving the young lad alone as he walked. Once the other two were far enough from sight and auditory range, Uriko dropped down behind the boy. As he spun around to face her, she held her one good arm up and gazed sternly at him, as if trying to silently communicate that she meant no harm.

Age : 30 Posts : 356

Annoyance, apparent in both his facial expression and body language, dominated Keisuke's other emotions easily as he was presented his championship medal. It was handed to him by none other then Lord Yoshiyuki, the political leader and figurehead of Tsuki no Kuni, the large mans genuine smile radiant as he praised him for his efforts. Two others stood beside him, both waiting for their own prize and congratulatory speech. It took all he had resist scoffing in the mans face. Praise did nothing for the young teen except irritate him, and this was in no way exception. Expression now bordering on frustration, Keisuke grit his teeth and bore the burden given to him as the older man rattled on. Minutes later he stopped, patted him on the shoulder, and walked over to the next contestant, a dark haired female. Attention once again diverted from himself the Lunar Nightmare took a moment to observe his surroundings. the small wooden building was nothing spectacular.

In fact, the only thing remarkable about it was its location; the deepest part of the Getsugakure Forest. It wasn't all that far from the stadium, but finding such a place would be difficult without guidance. Shaking his head from such thoughts he glanced down the the medal, its golden edge marred only by a crescent moon. After his quick analysis he turned about abruptly, ignoring the looks from the other contestants as he prepared to leave,'I do not wish to listen to such blathering buffoonery a moment longer'. His hasty exit was blocked, however, by one of the two guards, the taller of the two explaining that the champions must leave together. Eyebrows furrowing in irritation he fixed a heated glare on the guard before turning said look on the last person in the group, the man currently holding him up with his idle chatter.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, they were allowed to leave, Yoshiyuki granting them his personal blessing with a smile and a wave. All the while only a single thought crossed through Keisuke's head,'That couldn't have possibly ended soon enough. That old man is intolerable...' Once through the door the guards stopped following them, allowing them to leave however they pleased. They continued on in a group, sticking to the path lest they be lost. It was soon afterward his sixth sense began tingling, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Keisuke subtly glanced about, trying to sense anything that might have put him on edge. He saw nothing but he wasn't a fool. things in the ninja world rarely come from the front, and show themselves even more rarely.

Deciding to see if the feeling past he continued onward, the two ninja beside him making idle chatter with one another in complete and blissful ignorance. He did not envy them, arrogance and ignorance got ninja killed nine times out of ten, and almost all of them could have been easily avoided. Splitting off from the main group abruptly he awaited for something to happen, delving even deeper into the lush, dark forest,'If there truly is someone out their, now would be an opportune time for them to strike'. Hand subtly placed on the hilt of Masamune he continued onward. It was silent, or nearly so as he barely heard it. Behind him a figure appeared, their body language tensed but not in a stance. He spun rapidly, hand grasping his blade tightly as the figure held out their arm. Their eyes met, a battle of liquid gold and Depth defying amber following briefly before the message was relayed.

Keisuke was no fool, he knew that if the female had wanted him dead she would have struck, not dropped into the open. Glare still locked upon her he nodded, her silent message of peace taking him out of defense mode and into a calmer state. Despite this his hand remained pinned to his swords handle, his distrust knowing no bounds. "Explain yourself, now." The words were filled with both anger and malice but were not for bravado. Something about the women put him on edge, something most Kage's couldn't accomplish. As such he decided to mask his feelings by treating her as he would any stranger, responding with a cold look and harsh words. 'Still...', he thought as even Suigetsu began pulsating her concern,' If she can upset even Suigetsu I should use the utmost caution...' That being as it may, he refused to back down, his glare intensifying ever so slightly as he awaited a response.

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

If nothing else, Uriko could credit the boy with courage. It was not often that someone spoke to her as he had just done. Not that she was offended - such confrontations were rife within the criminal community. Indeed, the kunoichi's mouth twitched, as if trying to smile but unable to do so. "Hmph." She muttered, letting her hand fall by her side once more. The boy remained on his guard, hand clasped firmly around the hilt of a large, sheathed sword. It was one of two that graced the Noroi's appearance. The second, a huge weapon, was strapped to his back, held in place by crimson cloth. It was not a difficult assumption to make that the boy had a penchant for imposing weaponry. Other than the two swords, a few features stood out. Most notably, his golden irises and the scar that ran across his left eye. The black attire, trenchcoat and pants, were nothing out of the ordinary. A practical and fitting colour for a nukenin to wear, nonetheless. For her part, the female shinobi wore a sleeveless uwagi shirt, loose-fitting zubon, lightweight armor strapped to her right shoulder, right forearm and lower shins and over it all, a long jacket – dark green, with a paler trim and a thin green sash.

"Explain yourself, now." The Noroi hissed, the instinctive emnity he felt quite apparent. Uriko could sense that it was a response driven by fear, despite the boy's attempts to conceal it. She was not one to react well to such talk, but she realised that she would lose a potential ally if she did anything rash. Instead, she managed a somewhat measured response. "I've a proposition for you, boy. Lower your hackles." She replied sternly. After a tense moment, the young Noroi seemed to relax just a little. "Congratulations." Uriko muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the medal. It was hard to tell if her tone was sarcastic or not. She was at the very least, pleased to find that her contact was one of the few victors of the tournament. Had she found him in any other group, she probably would have let him be. The plans that had only recently been set in motion would need every one of the allies to have motivation, determination and strength. There could be little hope that any plan would succeed without them.

"My name is Uriko Nagase, and I have something in common with you." She began, reaching into the folds of her green jacket and gently pulling a headband out. The Kusagakure forehead protector showed the line etched through the village symbol, identifying the woman as a nukenin. As she replaced the item, the kunoichi wondered (as she often did) whether her name would be recognized. True, she had always tried to conceal her identity where possible, but she lamented that this brought her little notoreity. Amongst the criminal underworld however, things worked differently. Many individuals existed who kept tabs on each nukenin's actions and despite her diligence, Uriko was certain not to have gone unnoticed. Shaking these thoughts from her mind, she returned to the situation at present. "In three weeks' time, nukenin from all over the shinobi world will gather and form the beginnings of an alliance - of sorts. The great nations are looking to stabilize, but are still vulnerable. If we act now, in co-ordination with one another, we can come out on top. And we can remain there for as long as it is profitable." What the woman spoke of was common knowledge. The plan she proposed was not. "This invitation is extended to you, Noroi." Uriko finished quietly.

While waiting on hearing what the boy had to say, the woman pondered his position. Unless he knew of her, there was no way the Noroi could gauge Uriko's ability. Yet it was both her reputation and her skill that determined how likely it was for her offer to be accepted. Of course, she could always prove herself here and now but such tasks were beneath her. It would be a last resort to convince the target - she would not beg, or even ask twice.

Age : 30 Posts : 356

The clearing was silent as the stand off continued, Keisuke unsure of the females intentions. She had scoffed at his display, eying him up and down with a calculated gaze. Despite this she had remained as stone, immobile even as she took in his words. Like her body her face remained motionless, any chance of him being able to discern her emotions or thoughts dashed quite soundly. Finally she spoke, her voice cutting through the eerily quiet forest air,"I've a proposition for you, boy. Lower your hackles." That sparked something deep within him. Had she really just ordered him about and then have the nerve to call him a child? Such disrespect, such a disregard she must have to his power! His pride effectively hurt the young nin was forced to grit his teeth, forcing down the stream of insults that threatened to break free of his covered maw.

Body tensed in anger he allowed the emotion to show, his glare intensifying even as he held himself back,'If I jump the gun now I may never know what she has to offer...' That thought and that thought alone managed to subdue the anger raging through him. Then an unexpected compliment of sorts,"Congratulations." She was gesturing towards the medal still hanging about his neck, its golden shine dull in the lack of sunshine. Eyes narrowing ever so slightly he continued his optical assault, his already limited amount of patience dwindling with every passing moment. Suddenly the women moved, her hand moving into the folds of her green jacket,"My name is Uriko Nagase, and I have something in common with you." On edge at her motion, Keisuke watched as she pulled out a familiar object, a forehead protector. Based on his knowledge of villages he assumed it was a Kusagakure headband, a line scarring the metal section as a testament to her defection.

This did not ease the Lunar Nightmare. Quite to the contrary it made him even more wary, Suigetsu mirroring his feelings. The name did ring a bell but he knew not what from. Before he could think further about her unique name she spoke again,"In three weeks' time, nukenin from all over the shinobi world will gather and form the beginnings of an alliance - of sorts. The great nations are looking to stabilize, but are still vulnerable. If we act now, in co-ordination with one another, we can come out on top. And we can remain there for as long as it is profitable." She paused for a moment, seemingly to allow this to sink in. Sink in it did. Keisuke couldn't help the mild widening of his eyes, his surprise apparent for a select few seconds,' An alliance between Nukenin? Something of this magnitude could indeed prove fruitful to my goal...' his musings were halted by her next words,"This invitation is extended to you, Noroi."

That he had not entirely expected. He had assumed there was a point in her telling him all of this, but an invitation? Ludicrous to say the least. Immersing himself in thought for but a moment he pondered his options silently. Once finished he addressed the women with an icy tone,"So, an alliance between the worst criminals this world has to offer. The amount of potential must be immense, especially considering the being spearheading this operation would have to be extremely powerful." Stopping briefly he slowly unsheathed Masamune, shoving the blade into the ground and resting upon it's hilt lazily before continuing,"I am no fool. Who's to say that, were we to accomplish the obliteration of the Great Villages, the more powerful would not simply take the throne and rule over us much like the Kage's do now? For that matter, why would purposely join forces with the very people who would stab me in the back as soon as the opportunity presents itself?"

As his dialogue unfolded his gaze dropped from a glare to a lazy stare, his uncaring demeanor a by product of his thoughts," For the moment let us forget such things. Let us say, just for the moment, that I ignored the obvious cons of this plan. what could I possibly gain aside from the destruction of the village I myself wish to annihilate? There are very few things on this planet I covet, even fewer being within my power to obtain. So then, the question remains; What is there for me to gain?" Such large amounts of speech were rare from Keisuke as he preferred to stay silent. In this case it was necessary, getting his point across essential. Personally he could care less who was in the leadership role so long as his ambition could be achieved, thus his lack of questioning. What he would get in return for his services however, that was a completely different ordeal.

Keisuke eyed the women, his stance relaxed yet his body tense. Something about her set him on edge to the point of distraction. Even as his instincts screamed for him to challenge her his common sense demanded he back down. It was puzzling, she was an enigma. Shaking such thoughts from his head he noticed she seemed about to speak and began listening intently for her response.

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

Though Uriko had advised the boy to calm himself, he now seemed yet more prickly. His jaw tensed and fingers twitched. Live wire, this one. The kunoichi thought privately. His demeanor did not improve upon the revelation that the woman opposite him was also of the criminal world. This was understandable, but the woman deemed it necessary to indicate that she was not here to capture or kill him. If she had been, this was certainly not an advisable approach. After offering an explanation for her presence, Uriko watched the boy mull her words over. It took him some time to respond. "So, an alliance between the worst criminals this world has to offer. The amount of potential must be immense, especially considering the being spearheading this operation would have to be extremely powerful." He mused. To this, Uriko merely tilted her head, as if to say 'perhaps'. At this point, the boy unsheated the smaller of his two blades, pressing it firmly into the soil and leaning against the hilt. Once comfortable, he continued. "I am no fool. Who's to say that, were we to accomplish the obliteration of the Great Villages, the more powerful would not simply take the throne and rule over us much like the Kage's do now? For that matter, why would purposely join forces with the very people who would stab me in the back as soon as the opportunity presents itself?" He questioned. Uriko had anticipated such concerns and to a degree, shared them. However...

"That will be decided at the time, though I assure you, I myself will push for criminal intervention that does not create individual positions that could be exploited. There is no obligation to partake in anything put forward at this council, nor to even attend. But as you say, you are no fool." She replied, distinctly implying that it would be foolish for the boy to not attend. "If, as you say, we cannot work together, then there will be no communal action taken and we will disperse. It is that simple." Uriko stated. Though it seemed quite a tall order to ask for near-unanimous agreement at council, nukenin were quite accustomed to working in absolutes. Applying their life skills to politics would be less of a leap than most might expect. After letting her words sink in, the young man proposed a different question. "What could I possibly gain aside from the destruction of the village I myself wish to annihilate? There are very few things on this planet I covet, even fewer being within my power to obtain. So then, the question remains; What is there for me to gain?" He pressed. The Noroi seemed determined to extract the most convincing material from the woman across from him. "You say that as if it were some small thing. The destruction of a village? Something you could achieve alone, is it?" She quipped, sarcastically. "Again, I can only advise you to be at the meeting. Whatever you want in return for your participation, I am certain the fellow nukenin will look to provide. It is a mainstay of our criminal lives - to secure our services, we expect considerable compensation. If it cannot be provided, we turn our backs. It's mercenary, certainly, but it works." She answered. Of course she hoped the boy was placated for now, but if he wasn't, there was little else she could offer him.

Uriko's gaze was drawn to the large sword, buried a few inches into the ground and currently being used as a handrail. "I hope that carrying such imposing blades isn't just for bravado." She commented absent-mindedly. Her voice was not one of real intent, simply musings spoken aloud. The boy was a listed nukenin after all - it would be unlikely his swords were just for show. A thought struck the woman. This young Noroi needed some sort of assurance that this congregation was not mere idealistic folly, that real rewards awaiting participants and that the stab in the back that was so common amongst nukenin would be utterly taboo. She could not offer those by herself, but she could prove to him that it was no childish ideal. An experienced, deadly shinobi such as Uriko would hardly have set things in motion carelessly. "This is not a half-baked idea." The woman stated, rummaging in one of her many hip pouches. Removing a small, well-thumbed book, she tossed it over to the boy. "Look me up." The bingo book landed comfortably in the lad's hands. Uriko was not asking this of him to show off, but to put a name worth listening to behind the idea she had proposed. Information on her was scarce, but it did highlight the threat she posed. That might be enough to add weight to her suggestion.

Age : 30 Posts : 356

The woman named Nagase did not disappoint, replying to his inquiries mere seconds after he completed said questioning. "That will be decided at the time, though I assure you, I myself will push for criminal intervention that does not create individual positions that could be exploited. There is no obligation to partake in anything put forward at this council, nor to even attend. But as you say, you are no fool. If, as you say, we cannot work together, then there will be no communal action taken and we will disperse. It is that simple." Keisuke felt his eyebrow raise minutely. Not only had she addressed his issues, but had seemed to have already had them in mind herself. That arose even more questions in the young Noroi's mind to which he filed them away for later. 'Distractions are a luxury I cannot afford at present. Perhaps she will elaborate further...' Almost as if on cue Uriko spoke again," You say that as if it were some small thing. The destruction of a village? Something you could achieve alone, is it?"

Frowning harshly a low growl ground out from behind grit teeth, his patience wearing thin. Once again questioning his abilities and underestimating him in the highest form? Does her impertinence know no bounds? Just before he could act on his emotions a soothing pulse from Suigetsu washed over him in a torrent of tranquility, relaxing his body and mind in one fell swoop. Now physically and mentally calmed Keisuke mulled over the woman's words, hating the truth they held. 'The words she speaks ring true, my ambition is just that, a dream.' his eyes returned to nuke-nin before him once more, the Nagase showing signs of continuing her dialogue. "Again, I can only advise you to be at the meeting. Whatever you want in return for your participation, I am certain the fellow nukenin will look to provide. It is a mainstay of our criminal lives - to secure our services, we expect considerable compensation. If it cannot be provided, we turn our backs. It's mercenary, certainly, but it works."

Nodding in acknowledgement Keisuke mulled over the response she had provided. While he agreed that the system was something akin to law in the underworld, that did not quell his fears for reimbursement. Delving even deeper into thought he fixed her with a neutral if not blank expression,' Based on her rather vague answers there is no certainty in anything planned...Well, except perhaps the meeting I have been invited to.' Deep within his thoughts he barely registered it when her gaze leveled on Masamune,"I hope that carrying such imposing blades isn't just for bravado." Normally such a comment would offend the teen, being the sole carrier of his fathers sword and legend. Keisuke had learned however. From the moment they had met the women seemed to be testing him, gauging both his emotional and physical responses.

Based on this, and the fact that Nagase hadn't seemed to have meant offense by the words, he decided to respond calmly and without anger," I assure you, Uriko Nagase, I am quite well versed in the way of the sword. As such I would appreciate the discontinuation of commenting upon such secondary and unimportant subjects. Instead, let us return to the matter at hand." Satisfied, Keisuke watched as she began rummaging through another pouch,"This is not a half-baked idea." That brought his eyebrows together even further, deepening his frown in mild confusion. It was common sense to assume that the plan she had spoken of was not a scheme or random idealistic nothing. Why else would they track down him, a C-Rank Missing nin who purposely makes a point of keeping people at distance? 'It couldn't be for the company', came the rare worded response from Suigetsu, the speech audible only to him in his mindscape.

Internally he scoffed, grinning at the bladed beauties words,' I would imagine not, my dear Suigetsu...' From that point he blocked communication, hoping Uriko failed to notice the short interlude. A book found its way to his hands out of reflex, the title reading Bingo Book in bold letters. "Look me up." Fixing a questioning glance on her he did as suggested, skimming past his own page in the well thumbed book. He had no desire to see the lies his village had spewed froth about him, and for a moment his face reflected as much, a grimace of irritation flashing over his features. Finding the page after what could only be described as an awkward moment of silence Keisuke nearly dropped the book in surprise. There on the page lay the name and two mugshots of the woman standing not ten feet away, a large bold statement highlighted by red ink as a warning to those who might view the writing. Eyes wide, senses now screaming he re-read the information slowly in his mind,' Nagase Uriko: S-rank missing-nin of Kusagakure no Sato. Kill or Flee on sight, wanted dead or alive.'

Eyes now leveled back on Uriko he stood silently, unsure how to proceed. Saying he was tense would be an understatement, he was wound tighter then a spring despite his calm voice. "Your reputation is fierce, and I have no doubt what the book says is true.", he paused to toss back her small paperback," However, that does not mean my trust has been solidified. I will come to this meeting of the missing nin, that is when I shall make my decision on whether or not to join." Allowing her a moment to take in his words he continued shortly after,"So, where might this meeting place be?" There was no falseness with his claim. He would indeed attend and see if what he truly desired was possible. If so, then this group will have gained his aid. If not, it would be as simple as walking away.

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

Although the kunoichi was the one divulging details at the current moment in time, she too was learning quite a bit. Keisuke's face was awash with small tells - a twitch of the mouth, an extra blink and of course, the more obvious raised eyebrow. It was not that he was a particularly easy to read specimen, rather that Uriko had spent years learning to scratch beneath the surface of any given's person's words. It often provided valuable insight into what they weren't saying. Sometimes, this was a mere withheld fact. Others, it was their true intentions. And so she watched every little movement that the young Noroi made, gauging his emotions and thoughts. Her method was far from an exact science, but was useful nonetheless. Keisuke had a persistant curiousity, one that seemed to stem from caution. Uriko wouldn't have minded betting that he was not an individual who undertook even the most menial task lightly. He understood repercussions and consequence, an important survival skill for any nukenin. Yet the woman herself knew that this approach could lead to opportunities missed while weighing up whether or not to act. Regardless, the young criminal nin awaited further information from the female despite her explanation.

Instead, he received what had been meant as a simple observation as scorn. For a brief moment, his body tensed up. Uriko could almost feel the enamel being ground away as he pushed his teeth firmly together, hidden behind pursed lips. The kunoichi was not about to apologize for a practical assessment of the boy's goal. As far as she was concerned, he was being offered sound advice. Whatever irritation he felt toward her soon dissipated and he relaxed once more. Whether it was the realisation that the statement was in fact true, or that any action against his new acquaintance would cause things to turn ugly, Uriko did not know - or care. She decided to placate him with further information. Besides, she reasoned with herself, he's going to need a little more convincing. The woman opened her mouth to speak once more, impressing upon the boy the importance of attending the meeting in order to have his questions answered. When she came to a halt, Keisuke inclined his head in acknowledgement and paused to mull things over. He did not seem completely assured yet and Uriko was tired of trying to answer questions she could not, for she would be doing so on the behalf of many others.

The woman chose to gently rile the Noroi once more. This time however, he ignored her quip and plainly stated his lack of interest in such small talk. Had it not been so carefully worded, this would often have sparked a response from the female nukenin, but everything from the boy's stance to his mannerisms and tone told her that he was unaware of who she was. After handing over the bingo book, she tilted her head slightly as she waited for him to find the page about her. If anything, this would surely convince him that at least turning up to the nukenin council was worthwhile. The woman's brow furrowed as Keisuke, his head angled down to face the pages of the book, muttered something under his breath. His mouth appeared to offer a ghost a smile at whatever he'd said, too. Curious indeed. Uriko mused, pencilling in a mental note to learn more about the boy when she had the time. As he reached the end of the worn tome, Keisuke stopped quite still, the book held open at a particular page. "Ah." The kunoichi murmured, almost inaudibly. To the young nukenin's credit, he recovered his composure swiftly and only the keenest observer would have noticed he lost it at all. He took a moment to think through his next few actions.

After the brief silence, Uriko found the bingo book tossed back to her, catching it and neatly tucking it away with one smooth motion. She might have lost an arm, but the one she had was impressively dextrous. The Noroi had made up his mind, apparently, and wished to at least give the meeting a chance. Whether it was influenced by the female's standing or not was unclear, though both his words and his physical response hinted he recognized this all too well. Now, naturally, Keisuke wished to know of the location to which he would travel in three weeks' time. This, Uriko had pondered for quite a while. For obvious reasons, Hi no Kuni and Kaminari no Kuni were impossible - their military strength posed a great threat to the converging criminals. Kaze no Kuni was too strongly allied with the Fire Country. Tsuki no Kuni could be excluded as well, due to the large amount of recent activity and increased security as a result. Kusa... Uriko would not return to her hometown. In Kuma, while the kunoichi could survive the poisonous gases, her fellow nukenin could not. Yu no Kuni's relations with the greater nations were frequent, making it too unreliable despite the lack of formal military. Now that the Shantakai were gone, Ta no Kuni had no criminal allegiance and may already have tried to peddle secrets. Ame and Kawa's geography made it a dangerous location, and Yama was a difficult place to hide a gathering in. That left Yuki and Mizu no Kuni. Mizu had the greater military strength, but Yuki bordered Kaminari no Kuni. Fortunately, the snow-capped mountains of Yuki meant the only safe way to travel there was by boat, around the land to the other end.

Uriko met Keisuke's gaze. "We will convene in Yuki no Kuni, in the western mountains. Head for the small township and pass beyond into the snowy hillocks. I will meet you and direct you from there." She replied, her answer firm and sure. "Should you meet unfamiliar nukenin en route, you should show them the following sign." The woman added, holding her right hand up to shoulder height, palm facing her face, and moving it to grasp her left shoulder, as if cradling her own chest. "An identical response means that you are there for the same reason. I will teach this to the others, as well." She explained, understanding that inviting unfamiliar nukenin together could be volatile unless immediate communication on encountering each other was possible. "If you wish anything else of me, now is the time. Though my time is short and my patience not limitless." Uriko finished evenly, aware that she had many more criminals to visit.

Age : 30 Posts : 356

There was a brief silence, Keisuke's golden orbs glued to the form of one Uriko Nagase as he awaited her response. She was still, gazing at him with well veiled intentions. For a moment nothing stirred, the silence as thick as the lush forest around them. Suddenly there was noise, its point of origin being the woman standing not far from his own position. "We will convene in Yuki no Kuni, in the western mountains. Head for the small township and pass beyond into the snowy hillocks. I will meet you and direct you from there." A small shiver wracked the Noroi's young frame: cold was not his best element. In fact he hated it with a passion. For the umpteenth time that day his musings were interrupted, the S-Rank missing nin addressing him yet again. ""Should you meet unfamiliar nukenin en route, you should show them the following sign." She added evenly,holding her right hand up to shoulder height, palm facing her face, and moving it to grasp her left shoulder, as if cradling her own chest.

"An identical response means that you are there for the same reason. I will teach this to the others, as well." A small nod indicated his approval and acceptance, his body otherwise still as it leaned against Masamune. The intelligence and forethought alone suggested much planning, something the Lunar Nightmare respected. Bringing many Nuke-nin into a small area wasn't the wisest of ideas under most circumstances. But Uriko had found a way to keep the peace between those of the alliance, more proof of her intelligence. 'Before this moment I had doubts. Now I see this cannot be some folly idea. No...This could very well lead to the accomplishment of my ambitions...'

"If you wish anything else of me, now is the time. Though my time is short and my patience not limitless." The sound of her voice roused him once again, her tone even and her gaze neutral. Ignoring her comment Keisuke uprooted his blade from the earth, clearing the dirt from the metallic weapon with a short controlled flourish before sheathing it smoothly. That finished he turned to his left and began walking, saying only one thing before disappearing into the dense foliage," Uriko Nagase, I accept your terms. On that day we shall convene, and I shall do everything within my power to help. You have my full cooperation. Until then, farewell." With that his visage vanished, swallowed by the shadows of the forest.

(Sorry for the wait and horrific exit/post.)

Age : 35 Posts : 1113

There was little else to say between the two nukenin. Keisuke maintained his even composure as the woman explained her well-laid plans. He seemed to have no objection and although he shivered visibly at the thought of the cold weather in Yuki ni Kuni, he nodded in approval of the kunoichi's 'criminal recognition' system. Relaxing now, his frame was propped up by the large, pitch-black blade. Needless to say, Uriko felt responsible for the boy's satisfaction. She had taken great care to think through and prepare for the overwhelming number of eventualities that could occur. Keeping this information from the authorities, making sure the meeting point could not be readily uncovered, but easily defended, preventing the large number of nukenin from killing each other en route... Not to mention the hassle of contacting every bingo book name she could locate. Of course, when it came to the actual congregation, there were few failsafes already in place. As this notion took her, the female criminal nin made a mental note to arrive well ahead of the others and to put in place what measures he could.

There was a short pause. Having offered Keisuke the chance to inquire further, it appeared he didn't need to take it. At her quip about her own patience (or lack therof), his jaw tightened. Only for a moment, but Uriko noticed. Short fuse, this one. But the woman would not take back her attitude. She was abrupt and to-the-point, but it got the job done. Everyone knew where they stood. It wasn't the most amicable of approaches, but the missing-nin had always built a reputation for being distinctly unfriendly. Why change now? After weighing up his thoughts on the invitation, Keisuke eventually came to his decision. He gripped his sword's hilt and unearthed it from the loam. It was given a quick brush-down before being sheathed in one, smooth motion. Quite casually, he turned heel and began walking in the opposite direciton. "Uriko Nagase, I accept your terms. On that day we shall convene, and I shall do everything within my power to help. You have my full cooperation. Until then, farewell." He called back, making sure his words were clearly received. With that, he disappeared into the surrounding woodland. Uriko stood still for a moment. Her eyes tracked his faint movements but she soon gave up the pointless endeavor. "Brash." She muttered, raising her eyes to the heavens before she too, disappeared from sight.

EXIT, TOPIC END.

[OOC: Ah, don't worry. I've been travelling about the country quite a bit, so my activity has been less than usual 'til now. As for the post, I don't know what you mean! Mine wasn't all that, to be honest. We'd pretty much exhausted the talk for a sortof 'non-social', 'non-combat' topic. Frankly, I think you did a good job. Eventually, this plot line will emerge. Cripes but it's gonna take a while though. Hope you're patient!]