Kusakage Keep

[dondagora]

Saito was, for a moment, shocked at the sight of the apex predator which had been hidden behind the desk, but brushed it off rather quickly. So… lions can be pink, and must be a common pet in the village. He’d mostly been kept isolated from the outside world by his family, but he considered himself fairly socially adept, so naturally he wouldn’t freak out when he something he wasn’t knowledgeable of happened. That said, perhaps it wasn’t that lions were a common pet, but that specifically pink lions were. He decided not to comment on it until getting more information, but so far he was fairly certain that lions were a household pet.

When they came to the office, Saito took a moment to prepa- and the lady called Harue had already opened the door. Rigidly stepping inside, Saito was in awe. The Kusakage wrote a letter, and then talked on a gem, and then swiftly addressed Saito. She was so… sociable! ‘So this...’ Saito silently thought to himself, ‘is the power of the Kusakage.’ Strucken by her overwhelming aura of popularity and suave, Saito hardened himself, determined to make a good impression.

For the next fifteen seconds, Saito went on to stare directly at the Kusakage, attempting to communicate his reply to her question through thought. After remembering, once again, that most people didn’t talk that way, he quickly vocalized his ideas into sound.

Bowing slightly, Saito spoke the words his family had him rehearse. “Greeth-” He bit his tongue. Hard. But he didn’t cry, or at least would never admit to it! Bravely swallowing his embarrassment, Saito began again. “Greetings, Lady Kusakage. I am Saito Yamanaka, a new genin, looking to make your acquaintance.” Once finished, Saito looked up, his expressionless face staying still as ever, but one might find a note of smugness in his eyes alone, pride in being able to deliver his lines almost naturally. Almost.

[neko bo beko]

Instead of verbally showing Yuri where the building permits are, Harue simply reaches around her towards the drawer and knowingly produces the permits she needs to review and renew. The pinklet had gotten impeccably good at keeping up with the tasks and needs of the day, the paperwork of the week, the chaotic mess of an agenda. There's not much time to speak, Yuri's got to hang up the gem (Harue nods leisurely when it's mentioned to speak with her if something comes up) and address the new Genin. Quietly, Harue takes the stack of paperwork but not without a sigh, her third eye rolling while her original two orbs begin to scan the stack.

Harue only looks up from the third paper she's checking when the young Saito makes a familiar noise, like when he'd bitten his tongue earlier. She smirks a bit into her paper, idly listening in the back of her mind to the Genin. She had hoped there was a point to it all, but her really did seem intent on only just introducing himself. No questions? No announcements or promises? Some of the Genin that come in here either spoke shit or professed some kind of feverish admiration for her.

Saito was a nice change of pace.

[DJ Loki]

Yuri raised and eyebrow at the strange Genin, "Hey..." Yuri said in return to the boy as he introduced himself. She smirked and then said, Well Mr. Saito Yamanaka, a new genin, looking to make your acquaintance. You have. I am Yuri Ikebana Hyuuga." She leaned back into her chair and then folded her arm. "If that's all you wanted, then thanks for the visit, fell free to stop by anytime you have a question. I'll do my best to answer you, if I'm here. You can turn your missions requests, and completion slips to Vlad out there. He's a grump. So try not to get to upset with him."

Yuri wasn't sure if the boy had anything else he actually wanted with her. He was a rather odd individual, all things considered. Or maybe he was just a bit awkward around her. It wouldn't be the first time someone was in awe of her beauty, she was sure that was probably the case now. This was usually the part were they declared some grand dream to her, or in Houkou's case, threaten her if she ever showed weakness. Maybe this guy really just wanted to meet her? It was an odd concept at this point. "Harue, make sure he's registered, check his file, and see if there's a team suitable for him to join at the moment."

[dondagora]

“Okay!” Saito casually glanced to his left palm. And by casually, it means he stared at it for a good few seconds doing nothing else, using his other hand to read off the list that had been written there while also mumbling to himself. “Go to keep… greet… missions……… join ANBU… earn family’s love.” Well, so the to-do list of Saito Yamanaka dictated. Having completed his current task, he left! Yup, not even properly announcing his leave to the Kusakage, whom he was intruding upon, he just up and went out the door once his objectives were fulfilled. This wasn’t so much out of rudeness or awkwardity, but rather just outright social ineptitude. He didn’t see a reason to provide departing words or telegraph his leave, so he didn’t.

Equally so, as he passed Harue, Saito once more did not acknowledge her, though in his head he gave her his thanks, but unfortunately this was a quick passing that did not give him time to remember to speak out loud. He headed straight to the mission desks to figure out what would be the best showcase of his skills in order to make his family love him make the Kusakage acknowledge him.

Scanning it, he found mention of Lord Ryan, a respected member of the Kusakagure community. To help such a person would surely put Saito in a good light with the Kusakage. Accepting the mission, he vowed to capture the feline or die trying!

[Taking "Find Mittens" mission]

[DJ Loki]

Mission approved... have fun you nut.

[Inoryu]

    Inoryu would enter the Kusakage's Keep with a scroll in hand containing a detailed report of all of his recent exploits in Kusa no Kuni. He would approach Vlad, Harue, or Yuri with respect and hand it in saying, "This document contains a detailed report and cable of mine and Satu's recent exploits at Willow Moor." 

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC Date: 18 APR 2019

Willow Moor Report #1  

I.     I received a letter from Cha no Kuni claiming to be from a relative of mine that had bequeathed a mansion to my name. I thought it might be a lead to the whereabouts of my biological mother, so I decided to investigate. 

II.     On my travels I met with an old friend, Seiryu Itada, whom I recruited to help with my investigation and he agreed. 

III.     Upon my arrival at The Weald, I met with Richard, a native of Kusa no Kuni and ninja of Sunagakure, and Seraph, a troubled youth with a unique doujutsu and possible short term memory loss. We came across undead creatures that were somehow animated by a fungus. It is possible that it has something to do with the omnipresent spores in the air. They have thick chitin over their skin, but are susceptible to explosive tags. 

IV.     Our party stumbled across a crowd trapped in a compulsion. I managed to resist the genjutsu and rescue them with a combination of my Yamanaka clan ninjutsu and wind release. Shortly after, Satu arrived. He had tracked me down of his own volition. 

V.     Satu carried two of the injured men I rescued to the Hamlet, a town on the brink of collapse, and met the Templars. I heard a voice ring through the Hamlet, but couldn't identify the source, it seemed to be of a preternatural nature. Richard held a feast for the town with the gold he found, but the festivities were cut short when I was ambushed by a demoness with an oversized, three-bladed scythe. I barely managed to escape her wrath, a short battle ensued, and she was shot down by Charlie, a Templar, by modified pistols. Then Charlie was shot down and killed from an unknown source and the demoness was banished by Hron, the commander of the Templars. Seraph, who was detained in a pillory, got caught in the crossfire and after taking a lethal blow, ceased to move. 

VI.     The next day the Templars held a service for Charlie's funeral, but Kurama, a specimen who appears human but with fox ears and tail, managed to cast a medical ninjutsu on Charlie. He is to revive in two days time. He has yet to revive at the time of writing this report. Shortly after the service, Loki Senri Lefaye arrived on a gargantuan flying serpent expressing religious views that conflict and aggravate the Templar's religious views of their deity, Pelor. The land appears to be suffering from a permanent necrosis. Loki managed to briefly reverse the effects, and in that moment I saw that the origin of the corruption came from the South and East. Her first motivation seems to be renewing the Sun Tree, a tree that is hundreds of meters tall. It is the second tree I have seen of this nature, the other in the inter-dimensional space underneath Aokusa, but this one seems to be larger and taller. During the ritual, I witnessed Loki eat the corruption and transform into two different forms, one form appearing as a demoness, and the other a being of pure light. I do not know the specifics of the ritual or how it worked, I can only summarize what I saw. At that point, I attempted to network with both Loki, a leader of a witch coven, and Hron Lightbringer, the commander of the Templars with a bilateral approach to both. I vowed to investigate the Hamlet, which I planned to do since the beginning, but now for the sake of the town and the people, and bring whatever Intel I can collect to both of them. 

VII.     Satu convinced the Templars to release Seraph from the pillory and healed him completely. I produced a shadow clone to travel back to the village to report in to authorities.      

[End Report]

---

OOC Date: 18 APR 2019

Willow Moor Operational Cable #1

I.     I met with an old and trusted ally from Amegakure, Seiryu Itada, and persuaded him to accompany me to the Hamlet. He agreed to go for an opportunity to collect loot, I agreed because though I wanted to focus on the investigation, he offered great protection.  

• Seiryu, Itada - Met in Ame no Kuni and discovered a mutual respect for genjutsu. Since then we have become close friends. A ninja from Amegakure. 

II.    Upon entering The Weald, I came across Richard, a native of Kusa no Kuni and a ninja of Sunagakure. Richard tends to want to take the lead in situations on the battlefield, but does not appear to be a competent leader. Seraph, a troubled youth, seems to always be a source of poor party morale and is prone to in-fighting.

• Richard - A ninja from Sunagakure. 
• Seraph - A troubled youth with a unique doujutsu. 

III.      When arriving at The Hamlet, Richard held a feast for the town with the gold he found at The Weald.  

IV.     Upon arriving at Willow's Moor, Seraph was detained by the Templars for throwing shuriken at a young woman unprovoked, and Richard had thrown himself in the way to protect her. Seraph was detained by the Templars and Richard requested that they send a letter to his ninja embassy (if he had one, this is not confirmed) and to send a request to his own embassy for advice. Despite Seraph's poor behavior, Richard still pleaded for him to be treated well, saying that the environment was getting to his head and Satu agreed with the sentiment. 

V.     I offered to sense if there was any genjutsu on Seraph's person, but Seraph threatened me and provoked me, even while detained. Fed up with his antics myself, I fell for the provocation and responded poorly when the demoness with the deadly modified scythe made an attempt on my life. I suspect she might have had an association with Seraph, of which my interactions could have provoked her, however this is not certain. 

VI.     Loki arrived the next day and in the very first moments of her arrival, Loki displayed a very assertive nature and expressed her views on religion which led to a strained relationship with the Templars. She and Hron Lightbringer argued different viewpoints of religion, but they seem to have similar goals for being present at Willows Moor. The Templars want to save the town and the town's people, possibly due to their religious doctrine, and Loki wants to save this town and town's people in exchange for allowing her to make a base there. She is executing textbook colonization, but I have no idea where she hails from. She asserted her views on religion while also belittling the Templars for being ineffective in their attempts to save the town. Hron Lightbringer argued his own views, though his pride may have blinded him to Loki's assessment of his party rather than owning up to what she was saying. It appears that their main argument stems from her very nature, to resist her ideologies even if she has valid points. Their relationship is strained, borderline unilateral, due to Loki's aggression. However, Loki recruited Kurama into her coven, whom the Templars believe to be an avatar of their God, Pelor. I suspect this is Loki's way to maintain a multilateral relationship with the Templars.

• Loki Senri Lefaye - A witch and leader of her coven. Is considered a God among those in her coven, and claims to have had many battles with beings who have claimed they were Gods. Due to her perspective, I suspect she had defeated every one whom had challenged her in combat. She rides on a gargantuan flying serpent.

• Hron Lightbringer - Commander of the Templars, an order of religious warriors. He is capable of banishing demons. Worships the Deity, Pelor. Believes Kurama to be an avatar of his deity. 

• Kurama - A female specimen that appears human but with the addition of fox ears and tail. She enjoys drinking, and is capable of profound medical ninjutsu. She is believed to be an avatar of Pelor by the Templars and was recruited to be the Fire Corner of Loki's coven. She seems primed be liaison and keep the peace between the two factions. She also wants to save the town as well, though her motivations remain to be seen. 

[End Cable]  

    *Info for Comms

- Tactical Transceiver Link - Line #45723469, 

-Wireless Radio shared by Inoryu Yamanaka, Satu Utahhikari, and Itada Seiryu; Coordinates 1223.37 Latitude, 401.68 Longitude -Insert Coordinates of Willow Moor on great quality map of Kaze no Kuni-, Line 3
    

    Inoryu would bow respectfully, as he always treated his superiors, and answer any questions they had before leaving the Keep to produce a permanent Hiraishin Seal in his room at home and pick up some gear.

{Exit}

SPOILER: Click to show

Trait-

Eidetic Memory
Rank: "C"
Skill: Heritage Trait
Effect: A few rare humans have perfect recall, allowing them to remember minor details from an event that others have long forgotten.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: They gain +5 heritage bonus to all Intelligence Skill checks. User gains a +10 heritage bonus on Observation checks to detect a disguise. The user also gains a +1 Racial bonus to Die Rolls pertaining to Intelligence Skills. If they have any questions about an event, such as a person’s name or exactly what happened, their Game Master must tell them the details (even if the character’s player has forgotten them). They cannot remember extremely fine details, such as the text of a book left open on a desk, but they can remember the general gist of the book or the topic the passage covered. They always remember faces, names, and the basic sequence of events. User is able to memorize 1 additional formula per 5 points Alchemy. This trait replaces 1 Freebies.
Limit: Must start with Character; replaces 1 Freebies.


Flying Thunder God Seal (-25,000 Ryo)
Rank: "S"
Skill: Fūinjutsu
Effect: The seal and activation technique that allows the user to instantaneously transport themselves to marked location.
Special: ----
Drawback: ---
Description: The Seal used for Flying Thunder God. This specially designed seal allows the user to leave their mark upon a target (living or inanimate). If the user succeeds in touching the target with the seal, it merges with the target (or target's body) for 1 hour, making the target a subject for Flying Thunder God Technique. If the target in which the seal was put on is moved at high speed or damaged (thrown or blocked, for example), the user will be notified instantly if they are within the range of Flying Thunder God Technique. In addition, the user will gain a +50 bonus to Observation checks to detect the bearer of their Seal or the Object. To perform takes up 1 Movement equal to Handseals of a "B" Rank Jutsu. Each time performed consumes 1 Charge of Flying Thunder God. User may make the Seal Permanent by consuming 5 Charges of Flying Thunder God, however this only works on inanimate Objects (not creatures).

 DJ Loki
neko bo beko

[neko bo beko]

Shortly after the experience with young, strange Saito and spending time registering him on top of comparing him to available Genin to pair with, Harue found that there was yet another distraction from her short paperwork. This one seemed to ring more soundly with reason, but Harue was distanced from it nonetheless. Red eyes look up from behind the otherwise unoccupied desk at the manila folder being presented to her, and then to a familiar pair of eyes above it, and then back down to the offered report. She takes it gingerly, peeking inside quickly as he explains what it is. Harue nods her head singularly, appreciatively, eyes scanning it briefly, before tucking it under her right arm. "Thank you, Inoryu." Her eyes fall back to her own paperwork, marking down the last of needed details so that she can put away both forms simultaneously. "I'll make sure it's put on record."

After he'd left and Harue had finished her own paperwork, she shuffles around the office filing away her own work before taking the Willow Moor report into Yuri's office, skimming it briefly before setting it with the rest of the reports her highness needed to review and compartmentalize. 

Most interesting in the report was mention of a Loki Senri-LeFaye. If she was there, then what exactly was the heart of this expedition? 

[ report filed ]

[Christoff]

Inoryu: 25,000 Ryo deducted

[Inoryu]

    Inoryu would return to the Keep the next night and would find the scroll containing his reports. With a spare pen, he would begin to write and add to his prior document...

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC Date: 25 APR 2019

Willow Moor Report #2

I.    I produced a permanent Hiraishin seal on the lower branches of the Sun Tree and a permanent Hiraishin Seal in my room.  

II.    Kurama had a request for Satu; to provide medical attention to a Gretchen and/or Albert and gave us vague directions. We looked around the Inn and the Innkeeper pointed us in a direction, however, I believe he was withholding information and wouldn't be bothered to help us despite learning the nature of Albert's and Gretchen's situation. I targeted him and attempted to extract information regarding their location when I was interrupted by a giant. We argued perspectives, but in the end the Innkeeper stated that Gretchen and Albert are fine, possibly just suffering from a broken bone of some sort. Then somehow, the Innkeeper managed to project me out of the establishment while holding up a stone. 

III.    I dropped Satu at a building near the Sun Tree called a Sanatarium, that I thought was medical in nature, while I went to cast a genjutsu on the Sun Tree. The genjutsu was a success, therefore for now on, whenever the Sun Tree communicates, it will be translated to common, permanently until dispelled. I returned to Satu whence I met a psychologist. I pleaded that he take me on as an apprentice but stated that there are still things I must see happening on the outskirts. I've decided to treat him as a customer until I see that I must see. 

IV.    I went to pay my respects to Charlie, whom had fought on my behalf and gave his life for mine. A large raven appeared and I performed the mind possession jutsu of my clan to possess the bird with my own mind to recon when something unexpected happened. I sensed another mind in the bird and it revealed to me a couple memories before overpowering my jutsu and seizing my mind. The memories detailed of a plane of existence where ghosts are transitioning into the afterlife. The woman, whom I suspect to be Nera, had revolted against a man who proclaims that he had performed a 'seeding ritual'. I have a hunch of who that man is but I need to investigate further. 

---

OOC Date: 25 AUG 2019

Willow Moor Operational Cable #2 

I.    Satu and I went to survey the Innkeeper to determine the whereabouts of Gretchen and Albert. Satu accidently knocked over some barrels, and the giants present erupted in laughter, obviously under the influence of alcoholic beverages by the beers in their hands and reciting one of their cadences. They asked us about the strongest drink available, which we replied that neither of us were drinkers. When asked about the persons of interest, the Innkeeper pointed in a vague direction and said, "That way." Satu went ahead in that direction, but without knowing their exact location we wouldn't get far. Since we were already dealing with someone who knew their location, the Innkeeper, I decided to investigate the him further. Since we disclosed already that they needed medical attention and only got a vague response, I attempted to bribe him with my own Ryo. He then disclosed that he did not take that currency and that there was no way to exchange Ryo here. He stated that he takes gems, gold or items of value and referred to selling those items at Gilmore's. At that point, I had a hunch that he was withholding information, by continuing to negotiate. I did not have any item of value so I proceeded with a different approach.

II.    I was in the middle of performing the Shinarashita no Jutsu of my clan to cloud his mind and make it easier to extract information when I was interrupted by one of the giants; messing with people's minds were against their values. I explained why I was doing what I was doing to appeal to their good natures and I was subsequently let off the hook, but not before threatening the Innkeeper for the information he was withholding. At that point, he disclosed that Gretchen and Albert weren't suffering from a serious condition, and I suspect with the power of a stone, forced me out of the establishment. The giants then returned to their merriment. 

III.    Satu made an announcement over the wireless radio while I was training, stating that he was with a physician who could brief us more about the details regarding the state of Willow Moor and how to save it. I immediately Hiraishined towards the seal that Satu is holding. Immediately, the Dr. disproved of my Hiraishin and all magic in general. He went on to suggest that the greed of the owner of the manor was the cause of souls sacrificed, animals butchered, minds corrupted and souls bent and twisted due to his pursuit of magic. He again denounced my jutsu and stated that 'stressors' (in regards to the current state of the town) seep into the mind and alters one's behavior, even stating that it is capable of completely changing one's personality. He said, "Such things are beyond the state of magic. Such things are behavioral and they must be isolated and treated." I immediately recognized his school of thought to be psychological in nature and respectfully requested to be his apprentice.  He said that it is no simple hobby, to return to him when I have laid my eyes to what magic has done to the place. To return to him when I've walked the countryside and can tell him what I've seen. I've shared already what I have seen and it was inadequate. 

IV.    In the memories of the raven- A man discloses that he has performed the 'seeding ritual' and thus can not die. The raven haired woman stated that there are fates worse than death. She put on the mask and I felt unimaginable power pertaining to the ghostly plane and all the souls thereof bending to my whim. Another memory- the raven haired woman in that ghostly realm watching the soul that struggled and resisted the natural current of the afterlife. What the raven haired woman likes to do is read these souls like a book. 

V.    The raven haired woman seized my mind, overpowering my mind possession jutsu to thank me for my kind words to Charlie and I awoke gently by the base of the Sun Tree with a large raven feather just as Kurama had gotten after the resurrection ritual. 

OOC: I'll make my own thread to file reports to the Kusakage for now on to not spam the Keep and the documents will be available for viewing to anyone cleared by Yuri. However, though the documents will be placed in a separate thread, they should be considered stored within the Kusakage Keep. 

[Rose]

enter, A white ribbon raven

OOC :: This post is but the means to create a purpose for a role-play interaction between myself and neko and has no diplomatic relevance whatsoever, side the invitation to a mission.

---

The bird flew into the keep and began frantically flapping its wings about in an attempt to gather as much attention as humanly... (or birdly?) possible. Of course, there was a good purpose for that as the bird was made well aware that the contents of the note on its back were of upmost urgency and importance. Upon exploring the contents of the envelope, one would find a letter of request for aid in a manner addressed from the land of grass itself, as well as a mission paper attached to it.

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Assistance Request - The Tavern of Grass
Rank: "D"
IIC Length: ---
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: Travel to the coordinates listed in the notes of the message and report to the tavern there; stay to take and complete any and all further objectives; willingly cooperate with the local teams for the sake of the mission's completion.
Description: An outbreak of undeath had been occurring through the widths of the land of grass; one eerily similar to the one six years ago in the land of fire, albeit, in a much larger apparent scale. The tavern of grass has required the assistance of any and all free and capable combatants to at least attempt to investigate or at best, stop the spread.
Reward: 7,500 Ryo

Behind the letter, there was a note with the tavern's coordinates: 63.4452° N, 10.9052° E. Had one taken trust in the contents of the raven's letter, they would be faced with the option to dispatch on a mission to aid their lands and be a hero; if one were to distrust it and kill the raven, they could have a severely scuffed lunch... The choice was obvious, was it not?

[neko bo beko]

Shuffling around the office on slow days got dangerously boring sometimes, so a random messenger bird with desperate flapping wings and hooting and cawing was a welcome distraction. The bird itself was unlike any of the messenger birds Harue was accustomed to seeing, so she approaches the retrieval window herself. Stepping before a guard, she extends her palm to the creature to soothe it. "I'll see to it," she says plainly, smiling to the bird and unfastening its little letter. Unrolling it gingerly, Harue's red eyes move over the words carefully. Her red eyes swim but her face doesn't so much as twitch. "Huh."

It wasn't imperative of her to go, but Harue brought it to her lady and agreed to head out herself. After kissing her highness temporary farewell, Harue resigned her duties to an intern for the time being and started out towards the coordinates, her pink steed at her heels. She wondered what exactly she'd find in the tavern.

[kinko]

Mission Taking

SPOILER: Click to show

Name: Thirst for power
Rank: C
IIC Length: 1 Day
Difficulty: Easy
Description: The Kage has commissioned a new scheme in order to promote grow within the village. The series of missions are aimed at ninjas who wish to progress to the next rank, boosting their power so they are able to better compete for the rank of Chūnin, or Jōnin. Money is a powerful incentive to all, the missions also serve as an easy way to meet the exam perquisites, meaning that the ninjas should have no excuse on why they were unable to progress to the next level.
Objective: –For every 40 tp someone gains in techniques (not skills) they will receive a mission credit, along with a suitable reward. Please note this mission will not be backdated, you must come in and request it before the training commences.
Reward: Depends on Techniques learned Ranks (D ranks = 10k Each. C ranks = 20k B rank+ = 40k)

[Enter]

Panze had only his sword wearing his normal outfit as he strolled inside the Keep. It stones walls would soon become more familiar to him as he was now a full fledged shinobi and ready to take on missions. He walked up to the table of binders with a assortment of letters as he plucked up the C rank binder. He flipped through the accessible missions when one caught his eye forcing a flicker of life out of him. He smiled before taking the mission up to the desk.It was the perfect thing for someone starting out. It would allow him to work on kinks in his fighting style. "I would like to request this mission."

[neko bo beko]

"No problem," Harue said casually without lifting two of her eyes from the desk. The third eye at the center of her forehead pointed directly at the lad, watching him as she stamped the slip and handed it back. When all three of her eyes finally regarded him at the last second, she offered a lazy smile. 

Mission Accepted!

[kinko]

Accepting the slip Panze blinked at the receptionist who he now realized had a third eye. None the less he returned the smile with one of his own."I'll come back stronger." Panze had the utmost confidence in himself. His style of swordsmanship was simple yet versatile. Even if he learned all the techniques in the world it would amount to nothing. He needed to make his physical strength that much stronger along with his fortitude. He strutted out of the building with a sigh. This would be a long and grueling process.

[Exit]

[neko bo beko]

Of course it wasn't uncommon for Harue to spend quite a bit of time in the Keep, either working as Yuri's assistant or bugging her casually, but today was different. Her presence there was altered by frustration and a lack of patience. Although at first she'd intended to find it herself, the shopkeepers failed to stock her sought items despite infinite requests. Hard to find or not, it was beginning to feel more like an unwillingness. Or maybe Harue is unreasonable.

Knowing that it was somewhat of a mutual interest and manifestation between them, gems and perceptions and the like, she supposed it wouldn't hurt to ask Yuri if she might know a thing or two. Without knocking and without interruption from the guards, Harue lets herself into the office. The pink steed initially trailed behind her, but slipped ahead to greet the Kusakage first. If she were instead in the quarters, Harue would inevitably find her there instead. "Yuri," she says, entirely informal now. She'd begun to forgo the prefixes a while ago. Still, maintaining a semblance of professionalism, Harue keeps her back straight and face emotionless. Her red eyes are the only give away as they would inevitably regard Yuri with warmth. "Spare a minute for me?"

DJ Loki

[DJ Loki]

While Harue maintained her sense of professionalism, Yuri had no need for such things. She was leaning back in her chair with her feet resting on top of her desk. The papers she needed to look over over, all floating around her as they usually did, as she lazily looked through them. Things had been rather quiet since they came back from the Alleve's, she was know thinking over ways to improve the Villages military power, after promising to help fight an ancient evil. The best she could come up with was putting those scientist that she brought back from the Cursed City to work.

If they could come up with something like the tech they saw down they, using the infinite amount of chakra the surface was drowning in that would be an obvious boon. At the moment, she was looking over quite a bit of requests, for things to be added to the Shining Seed, by those very Scientist.

"Hmm? Yeah, what you need? Oh... what's a good name, for a special Elite Task Unit for Anbu?"

Yuri asked without really thinking to much about what she was saying. It was Harue, she was going to find out about, and if Yuri had her way, leading it eventually anyway.

[neko bo beko]

Really, it was nice to see Yuri drowning in work if not only because it meant she was using her time wisely and making use of her brain, an attractive feat. Harue had wandered in on a napping Yuri one too many times before. Not that she could ever be too mad at her for it; she was incredibly cute snoozing away anyway...

Coming around the desk to take a seat at the guest cushions, Harue's face quirks momentarily, third eye blinking out of sync with her birth given two. The question threw her off just a bit, and she had very little context. Without debating her answer much, she responds sincerely. "That would inevitably depend on the division directive. Something fitting, I suppose." Her painted lips smirk slightly. "No matter their order, the name should sound... threatening, shouldn't it?" 

Although she did want to continue this new conversation, curious about the implications behind it, Harue did not want to forget the thing she came to ask about. As a silent Ōmo rests his rump between Yuri and Harue, glittering eyes following the floating papers, the pink witch temporarily shifts the topic. "As for me... I need a gem. I'd rather not call into BINGO to find a single gem, but I will if I must." Harue crosses a leg over her thigh, the slit in her black dress falling around her slender extremities. Nonchalantly plucking a paper from the air, her red eyes skim over the words, forever contributing assistance. She lets it go and it flutters back into Yuri's mobile. "Gem of the Wise. I doubt you haven't heard of it." Harue smiles. Honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if Yuri even had one of her own. "I suppose you wouldn't just so happen to know where I could get my hands on one?" Her voice was tame but laced with a few months' worth of disappointing news regarding this very gem.

[DJ Loki]

"You can always ask Loki. She gave us those watches with that a gem already in it, and it holds other gems. I doubt she wouldn't know how to get her hands on one, or even make it." Yuri shrugged her shoulders. She folded her arms tilting her head to the head deep in thought, "Although I can see you not waiting to ask her for favors so soon. SOooooo, you can use my connection to get me things from time to time. He calls himself the Handler. He works with the village often. He should be due for a visit soon. I'll tell the embassy to inform you the next time he shows up, you can go talk to him for me. He shouldn't have a problem getting you one."

Yuri smiled at Harue and theen continued,

"It'll be good practice. You'll be dealing with him as the Kusakage eventually anyway. Might as well start forming a professional relationship."

[neko bo beko]

Harue tilted her head and opened her mouth to reference the mention of Loki, but closes those painted plush lips around a smile when Yuri expresses a mutual thought. Loki was in debt for a personalized, fancy weapon to the trio who had arrived that day... Harue didn't want to add another crafted favor on top of that before she could prove she was worth the trouble. It reminded her to call up Loki soon though, to discuss the Coven and what part she could play in it. "Exactly," Harue hums.

Perking up slightly, Harue is just happy to know that Yuri had a solution. The Handler? Now that sounded... somehow sinister yet docile at the same. Did he handle all matters of business, gruesome and fiscal? Or was he of a gentle, nurturing type of handling? It was hard to say. Where she had previously tried to remain distantly emotionless, she couldn't help but break into a pleasant smile. Yuri somehow always put Harue in a better mood, even if only just by existing. "Perfect!" She chirps, eternally grateful. Standing up, she decided to leave Yuri to her obvious headache of a workload. "I appreciate it, Lovely." Harue smirks. Surely nothing was official between them, but she'd given up on skirting her feelings. She was incredibly up front nowadays, just short of declaring her obvious romantic intentions. Soon they would finalize it with gooey dumb words and deeper touches, but for now Harue was comfortable flirting and tip toeing the edge. Taking a quick step over to Yuri, she plants a kiss upon the top of her head before striding for the door. Stopping in the doorframe, she beckons to her pink steed wordlessly and he huffs, standing up and following. As he moves out of the room ahead of her, Harue peers at Yuri over her shoulder. "Let's talk about that AnBu division dilemma of yours soon. Maybe over dinner?"

And then she was gone, heels clacking down the hall. She was excited and buzzing, only a little bit anxious to take up some duties that would inevitably count towards her future leadership, half expecting the embassy to ring her sending gem immediately. 

[neko bo beko]

ENTER.Directly from the Embassy in Aokusa, Harue makes her way back into the village and upon the keep, moving swiftly across the land aback her pink feline steed. Thrumming paws die off the solid earth once they're outside the manor, the pink witch hopping off the beast and coming to rest eerily slow upon her feet beside him.

Letting herself into the office, Harue approaches Yuri rather casually. With no other way to begin, she starts. "Mr. Shaw is... interesting."

Taking a seat upon a guest rest, the woman continues. "Firstly. Whatever it was you'd offered him before, he accepts it. But only while you're Kage; my terms with him when the time comes will inevitably be decided then." Harue's face twists slightly, eyebrows creasing and her third eye narrowing, blinking independently as if feeding Harue the words from memory as she speaks them. "Secondly... His associate has new wares, and he's excited for you to see them. Hopes it'll bring you smiles..." Her emphasis was one of reserved bias, but she skims over it and brings her attention to the last piece of this puzzle. "Lastly, Mr. Shaw would like a home here, under the name Matches Malone... Something simple, he says. Private. A favor for mine but I hoped you might be able to help me with those funds..."

All three eyes blink and she perks slightly, then her third eye closes reflexively. "Considering everything, I think it went pretty well!" An unprecedented explosion of relieved laughter rises from her gut, sharp and sudden enough to draw a doubletake from the pink beast who'd only just finally wandered in. His ears fall back down and he comes to sit at his master's feet as her trilling comes to an end. Sitting back, Harue's chest loses tension as she exhales warmly, cheeks dusted pink as she waits for Yuri's two cents. Her red eyes, unglowing and focused, trace her lady's face.