Raikage tower.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:


"Just the one issue. This is actually a shadow clone of mine. My true body is still in the Land of Myth investigating the rumours the village caught of cultists and those mysterious Bijuu beings" informed the male. The female nodded to show she understood. She had read some basic information about them a while back.


"I believe I am long overdue an update. The mission is still progressing slowly. The giant tree of light that has appeared in the Land of Myth appears to be a connecting portal to all other realms. Several Shinobi abandoned the journey to it, including Kimi. I believe he should have safely returned to the village by now. Only a handful including myself reached the tree and used its powers to cross into the realm housing the cultists..." told Yis.

"Of course, there was a...hiccup along the way. Please do not be startled" warned the man. Marii took a deep breath when he raised his flayed hand. A puff of smoke appeared moments later. The ANBU agent stepped back in case she had to alarm someone.

The young woman felt the blood drain from her face. His cerise hair was now silvery white. Furthermore, his skin was as pallid as hers. It was a far cry from his previous appearance. The biggest shock however was his eyes.

"My Kedoin body was destroyed during the journey. Mercifully, I managed to repair the damage with some external help...Though I am now permanently stuck like this...Is this going to require updated paperwork?" told the Chuunin in a joking voice. The Raikage remained silent for a minute. Then, she cleared her voice.

"Just - what HAPPENED to you!? Did you get injured by someone who could threaten us?! I mean, not everyone can regrow their arm like you! Which leads me to ask what happened to your body. Besides you turning into an...albino" replied the female.

His eyes looked eerily familiar. 'I have seen them before. But WHERE!?' recalled the brunette. It was not the Kamuya bloodlimit. Nor was it the Uchiha's Sharingan.

Suddenly, she remembered one of her first teammates. 'That's it! Natsumi! Those are Hyuuga eyes. But don't you have to be borne with those? Maybe the hiccup changed his DNA somehow' realized the young woman.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Skulking Shinzu]

Yis – No, Zuruel, now stood before the Lady Raikage, completely exposed in his new unchanging default form. For a shapeshifter, there would be no greater curse than losing one’s ability to transform. Taking in the silence, Zuruel simply lowered his pale white arm and patiently awaited the Raikage’s response. Not only were his limbs skinnier, but they were also much longer and spindly than Yis’ or even Zuruel’s original jester-like form. This would explain why he had been seen arrive so stiffly after being forced to use a rudimentary Transformation Jutsu to maintain his disguise as Yis.

“Not an albino. A light elf, or Ljossalfar.” Zuruel corrected, while staring back at the Raikage with pale blue iris only a single shade darker than the whites of his eyes. “The destructive force that caused this cannot harm the village. The empty space between realms is filled with the Winds of Chaos. A barrier was created to allow us to travel through the winds, and into the desired realm housing the cultists. However, for an instant, the barrier cracked, and I was sucked into the vortex of energy. Apparently, that is instant death for most, but my Kedoin cells were resilient enough to prolong my life as I hurtled through the winds and managed to freefall somewhere into the next closest realm.”

Embarrassed, Zuruel left out the part about being warned not to get too close to the boundaries of the barrier, only to ignore the warning in hopes of studying the Winds of Chaos more closely. Ironically, he had achieved just that. Though, much closer than he had intended. “I landed somewhere near a lake housing a chaotic water spirit – a Fossegrimen. Whether it was sheer luck, or the Wind of Chaos somehow reacting to my will to live, I was thrust onto the one entity in the entire realm that could save my dying body. Before all my cells could be disintegrated by the residual energy of the winds, the Fossegrimen created a new body for me as even supernatural healing was deemed impossible. Unfortunately… The closest shapeshifter blood the Fossegrimen possessed was the blood of a light elf. Hence why I now look like this and as you may have guessed…” Zuruel finished his speech by activating his Byakugan, which caused his pale blue iris to fade away into the complete blank slate of his whites eyes. Alongside this, the characteristic bulging veins around the former Kedoin’s eyes revealed that this was no fake. He had indeed just activated a Byakugan.

“I trust you know of the Hyuuga clan? They possess a sliver of Ljossalfar genes in their DNA. The proportion of Ljossalfar genetics to human genetics would classify me as a main branch member.” He said, while scratching the back of his silvery white hair before using both hands to push aside the hair around the sides of his head. Dazzlingly, each strand glimmered under the natural light while revealing a pair of slightly pointed ears. Despite the references to Hyuuga, he clearly seemed more elf now than human. “That about sums it up. My original body is still journeying towards the only known city we have discovered in the strange new realm.” He said rather nonchalantly, as if having had plenty of time to accept his fate and grow accustom to this new body. “That about brings an end to Zuruel’s mission report. Do you have any burning questions on your mind?” He said, while clearly looking as if he had not yet finished. There had been something Zuruel wanted to ask. A humble request. However, in an display of politeness and respect, he first gave the Raikage an opportunity to ask anything she desired first.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:


"Not an albino. A light elf, or Ljossalfar. The destructive force that caused this cannot harm the village. The empty space between realms is filled with the Winds of Chaos. A barrier was created to allow us to travel through the winds, and into the desired realm housing the cultists" started the male.

"However, for an instant, the barrier cracked, and I was sucked into the vortex of energy. Apparently, that is instant death for most, but my Kedoin cells were resilient enough to prolong my life as I hurtled through the winds and managed to freefall somewhere into the next closest realm" continued Yis. The female was silent while she listened to him. She noticed the bulging veins on his face. It made her feel a bit uneasy.


"I landed somewhere near a lake housing a chaotic water spirit – a Fossegrimen. Whether it was sheer luck, or the Wind of Chaos somehow reacting to my will to live, I was thrust onto the one entity in the entire realm that could save my dying body. Before all my cells could be disintegrated by the residual energy of the winds, the Fossegrimen created a new body for me as even supernatural healing was deemed impossible." said the younger man. His pale lavender eyes stared into her ice blue ones.

"Unfortunately...The closest shapeshifter blood the Fossegrimen possessed was the blood of a light elf. Hence why I now look like this and as you may have guessed..." continued the Chuunin. Marii nodded while she kept eye contact with him. He had captured her curiosity.

"I trust you know of the Hyuuga clan? They possess a sliver of Ljossalfar genes in their DNA. The proportion of Ljossalfar genetics to human genetics would classify me as a main branch member" told the male. The young woman raised her eyebrows when he revealed his elven ears. This was getting beyond strange.

"That about sums it up. My original body is still journeying towards the only known city we have discovered in the strange new realm. That about brings an end to Zuruel's mission report. Do you have any burning questions on your mind?" finished the silver-haired man. The Raikage rubbed her eyes a little bit.

"Sorry about that. It's been a long day. I am familiar with the Hyuuga family. One of my old teammates was one. Furthermore, we got Daisuke-san at our service" replied the female.

She stretched her arms and spine a little bit. "My biggest concern is if Yis-kun is safe. I am afraid he needs to update his medical roster once he comes back. Especially since he has a doujutsu now. However, I am glad to have another Hyuuga on board" stated the brunette.

"Furthermore, how much intel do you have on the bijuus? I have not found that much information about them really. All I know is that they are powerful creatures that reside in Shinwa no Kuni" said the young woman. She felt somewhat frustrated due to the lack of information. Especially since these creatures could pose a threat to them.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Skulking Shinzu]

Noting the slight tinge of uneasiness in the Lady Raikage’s expression, Zuruel dismissed his Byakugan and allowed the bulging veins to fade back into smooth unblemished skin. “Daisuke-san!? I didn’t even consider him…” The clone made a note of that. Despite having the equivalent skill of a newborn, Zuruel seemed to possess some degree of natural talent with the Byakugan. However, there was no doubt that there was still room to learn. Especially from someone as skilled as the Jounin Commander. “So, there will be paperwork after all.” Zuruel smiled while lowering his hands to allow his bundle of wavy silver hair to naturally fall over his ears.

“The Bijuu? Unfortunately, none. The journey to the tree of light alone was arduous enough. Combined with the near-death experience, Zuruel ended up quite the bit side-tracked. He managed to regroup with the surviving Shinobi. However, they hadn’t made much progress in his absence. As things stand, we have yet to come across any inhabitants of the land. Hopefully, we will have more information to share upon reaching the first major city.” It was unfortunate, but the bulk of the journey thus far had simply been reaching the destination, as opposed to clearing any objectives. The group hadn’t even come across any cultists yet, which no doubt could be ‘milked’ for a plethora of information on the mysterious Bijuu.

“A map we came across did identify a landmark called the Bijuu Cradle. However, it is quite a distance away, and it seemed more appropriate to visit the major city first in hopes of questioning the locals before delving deep into the unknown.” Zuruel had always been rash and headstrong. However, the journey so far seemed to have clearly changed him. Strangely, he now seemed more on the cautious side. “Lady Raikage – if I may, did something happen during my absence?” He asked, while taking into consideration the secretary’s warning and the mannerisms of the Raikage which revealed that she had likely been up all night dealing with something concerning.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:


"So, there will be paperwork after all." replied the male. "I'm afraid so. That's the downside of being a humanoid chameleon" told the female. The ANBU smiled behind her porcelain mask. Being able to change your looks without a henge was a great ability to have.

"The Bijuu? Unfortunately, none. The journey to the tree of light alone was arduous enough. Combined with the near-death experience, Zuruel ended up quite the bit side-tracked. He managed to regroup with the surviving Shinobi. However, they hadn’t made much progress in his absence." informed Yis.

Marii nodded while she listened intently. "As things stand, we have yet to come across any inhabitants of the land. Hopefully, we will have more information to share upon reaching the first major city. A map we came across did identify a landmark called the Bijuu Cradle. However, it is quite a distance away, and it seemed more appropriate to visit the major city first in hopes of questioning the locals before delving deep into the unknow" continued the young man.

"Thank you for sharing that information. Did you record that?" asked the young woman while she looked at the female. "Yes my lady" answered the owl agent. She quickly wrote down the information in her notebook. The Raikage looked back at the kage bunshin.

"Lady Raikage – if I may, did something happen during my absence?" inquired the Chuunin. The female let out a small sigh. "Yes, but it's not something unexpected. It's one of those things that are not unusual in the shinobi world. Does not make it any less troublesome however" replied the brunette.

She had a firm tone in her voice. The female knew the Chuunin would pick up on it. "One more thing. Who are in his group? Would be good to know in case we need to contact each other" told Marii.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Skulking Shinzu]

“This will be the last time then.” Zuruel said solemnly. The fact that he had resorted to a simple Transformation Jutsu suggested that he had all but lost his ability to transform through physical and biological means. The solemn expression then broke as he turned his head around to glance at the ANBU agent. “Owl.” He made a note of that. It wasn’t the division he was most interested in. However, Zuruel had worked with quite a myriad of ANBU agents in the past. Hopefully, word of his exploits would had spread amongst the divisions.

“A Witch named Loki – though she has broken off from the group to focus on her own mysterious projects. The Mizukage is with us, who appears to be an underlining of Loki. So is the former Kazekage – Shiki, who is husband of said witch. Emi, a close companion of mines - and a Shinobi of Amegakure. Other than these individuals who I am currently travelling with, one other made it to the realm with us. A Yukigakure Shinobi with long silver hair.” Zuruel paused to point at his own hair, as if to confirm the similarity in colour. “However, he seemed unwilling to communicate or work with us. While the group is currently heading Southbound, towards the nearest city, he elected to travel North alone.”

Zuruel answered the Raikage with usual immaculate detail. He didn’t bother commenting on what was discussed earlier. The firm tone suggested to him that the Raikage had learned of someone’s death. The lack of anger in her voice made the clone wonder if it was a random villager, and not someone personally close to the Raikage. However, even if it was a death worth mourning over, would she display such emotion in front of an ANBU and Chunin? The clone realised that the duties of a Raikage likely included wearing a authoritative mask at all times, much in the same way that Kedoin wore masks to hide their emotions and thoughts. “One final thing, Lady Raikage.” The clone straightened his posture once more before speaking.

“Zuruel commanded I dismiss myself upon giving you this update. However, as you may be aware, Shadow Clones transmit all knowledge, experience, and newly acquired skill back to the original upon dismissal. Learning more about this newly acquired Hyuuga heritage while in the safety of the village may aid Zuruel and provide him with precious life-saving information. May I have your permission to remain in the village for several days longer?” A glimmer in the clone’s eyes suggested he wasn’t finished with the requests. “…And one final request. Zuruel was intending on volunteering his services as an ANBU recruit. The requirements have been all but fulfilled. However, the abrupt nature of the mission he was sent on delayed those plans. Do I have your permission to study under one of the divisions on his behalf? The knowledge and skills earned could assist him and the rest of the group greatly.”

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:

"A witch named Loki – though she has broken off from the group to focus on her own mysterious projects. The Mizukage is with us, who appears to be an underlining of Loki. So is the former Kazekage – Shiki, who is husband of said witch. Emi, a close companion of mines - and a Shinobi of Amegakure. Other than these individuals who I am currently travelling with, one other made it to the realm with us." replied the male.

'I knew Shiki-san became the Kazekage some time ago [society, current affairs]. Had no idea he married a witch though. Wonder how their children will be like' mused the female. The agent scribbled down the information on her notebook. This could be important for later. Furthermore, she felt relieved that Yis was in a strong group.

"A Yukigakure Shinobi with long silver hair. However, he seemed unwilling to communicate or work with us. While the group is currently heading southbound, towards the nearest city, he elected to travel north alone." informed the young man. Marii just nodded in agreement. It made sense to her since he could be familiar with the northern territory.

"One final thing, Lady Raikage. Zuruel commanded I dismiss myself upon giving you this update. However, as you may be aware, shadow clones transmit all knowledge, experience, and newly acquired skill back to the original upon dismissal. Learning more about this newly acquired Hyuuga heritage while in the safety of the village may aid Zuruel and provide him with precious life-saving information. May I have your permission to remain in the village for several days longer?" started the kage bunshin.

"...And one final request. Zuruel was intending on volunteering his services as an ANBU recruit. The requirements have been all but fulfilled. However, the abrupt nature of the mission he was sent on delayed those plans. Do I have your permission to study under one of the divisions on his behalf? The knowledge and skills earned could assist him and the rest of the group greatly" told the male.

Marii let out a sigh. "I don't have any issues with you staying here. The only thing I need to know is where you'll stay at. I can't give you an answer on the ANBU request right now. Firstly, I need to know which division you want to apply for. Each division has their own set of requirements after all" informed the young woman.

"Furthermore, I don't think we've allowed kage bunshins to take ANBU exams. I need to speak with the ANBU captains about this. I should be able to give you an answer in two or three days. That's the fastest I can do given the circumstances" replied the Raikage sternly. Her eyes were a bit tired, yet understanding.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Skulking Shinzu]

“I will be staying in my house and dojo of course.” The clone found the question odd. Chakra clones were as much the original as anything else. That statement only held even more true for intricate creations such as Shadow Clones. “I share the same thoughts, experiences, and history as Zuruel. I know he decided on the Falcon Division recently after months of observing how the ANBU operate. These are the exact requirements that he has fulfilled – experience in the tracking and capture or destruction of a target.” The clone revealed several mission slips. Most notable of all and a testament to his skill, the tracking missions had been complemented alongside the former Kazekage himself – Shiki.

“I will patiently await your response. In the meantime, I will be in my dojo.” The clone hoped to show maturity by not challenging the decision. No doubt the Raikage had to be aware of the fact that Shadow Clones were not as durable as the original. A single hit with moderate force behind it, and he would go up in smoke. This would only make the exam that much more difficult. “Several days is plenty fast given the circumstances. Please, take your time. If that is all, I will leave you to your duties.” If all was said and done, Zuruel would give a polite bow as if to dismiss himself, before exiting the room. His intentions for now, would be to simply return to the dojo and train as much as possible as to give the original a advantage once the time came to dismiss himself.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:

"I will be staying in my house and dojo of course. I share the same thoughts, experiences, and history as Zuruel. I know he decided on the Falcon Division recently after months of observing how the ANBU operate. These are the exact requirements that he has fulfilled. Experience in the tracking and capture or destruction of a target." informed the kage bunshin.

He handed her several mission slips. Most of them were familiar to the female. One of them was a tracking mission with Shiki.

"I will patiently await your response. In the meantime, I will be in my dojo. Several days is plenty fast given the circumstances. Please, take your time. If that is all, I will leave you to your duties" told the male.

Marii gave him a sincere smile. She was relieved that he would not force her to work faster like others did. "Thank you for the cooperation. Let me know if the situation changes for Yis-kun. Have a great day" told the young woman.

After he left, the Raikage checked the missions he did. 'Yis-kun has done more than enough missions. He's got the correct rank as well. I suppose all that is left is to message the falcon captain' concluded the female. She glanced up at the other woman.

"I will write a letter to the falcon squad captain. Maybe Yis-kun could track down the person who murdered the Jounin. I know that the Hyuuga clan can see chakra with their doujutsu. That can come in handy for a falcon" told the brunette. The ANBU agent nodded in agreement.

The young woman wrote her recommendation letter to the captain. She handed it to the masked female afterwards. After the owl agent left, the phone buzzed. "The family of the deceased has identified the body. They want to meet you at the end of your day" told the woman.

"Understood. I better prepare myself. Thanks for telling me" replied Marii. She had no idea what she was up against. The victim was not a random shinobi...it was someone close to her.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

The clock was nearly 5 PM when the female signed the last report. She went to the secretary right afterwards. "I am going home now. Are the family of the deceased downstairs?" inquired Marii. "Yes, they arrived five minutes ago" told the woman.

"I see. Thank you. Take care" replied the young woman. The older female nodded before her boss left. It did not take long until the Raikage reached the lobby.

She blinked when she saw her parents, Kenichi and her aunt Hoshiko. A feel of dread ran down her spine. 'This can't possibly be good' realized the female. She tried to keep a straight face as she approached them. "Hello" greeted the brunette.

"Hello. You probably know why we're here. Your eyes says it all" told Hikari. Her teal eyes looked like two pools of sea water. "I take it we're going to my place?" inquired the young woman.

"We are. If anyone asks, it's a family occasion" told her cousin. She noticed that his eyes were faintly bloodshot. "Good thinking. Let's go" replied Marii.


[Exit Marii]

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsus used:


Ear of royalty.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User is a natural negotiator.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a + 10 bonus to all acting and sense motive checks. If the user has 50 or more points in one of these skills, the bonus increases to + 20 for that skill.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous.


Appraise suspect.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Supplementary.
Effect: User sizes up a target before interacting with them.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Prior to any interaction, a user can evaluate the subject to work out the best way to behave with this person. They do this by looking at the following:

• How smart is this person? Smart people give different behavioral signs that one can pick up on.

• How emotionally stable is this person? Unstable, emotional people base decisions much more on emotions rather than logic and will respond accordingly.

• How mature are they? Do they understand right from wrong?

• Are there any cultural differences that are going to affect this conversation or could explain unorthodox views or behavior?

• Finally, does this person have a medical condition or are they on drugs? If they were drunk, for instance, they may be more talkative, with less fear of the consequences.

User gains a + 10 bonus to their relevant sense motive and acting skills.
Limit: Must learn from universal miscellaneous. Must know acting (50 Points). Must know sense motive (75 Points).



Skills in use:


Influence [125/125].

Perception [125/125].

Society, current affairs [125/125].

Society, Shinwa no Kuni [117/125].

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

[Enter Marii. Please post here Skulking Shinzu]


"Kami-sama. Please let these news benefit our village" muttered the female. She was sitting down behind the desk in a black suit. Quite befitting since her aunt was being buried in a few days. A soft knock could be heard on the door.

"Come in please" replied Marii. A blonde falcon masked ANBU entered. "Good morning my lady. I heard about the daimyo mission. My division wants to send their condolances" told the male.

"Thank you. It's much appreciated" replied the young woman. "We got some news earlier this morning. Two junior bear officials spotted the suspect two hours ago. He's on his way to Aramis" informed the ANBU.

The Raikage smiled. "That's fantastic!" told the female with a sincere smile. "We need a Chuunin or Jounin to come with us by the way. Do you have anyone to spare?" inquired the man. "I think I got just the man for the job" said the brunette.

She handed him a shinobi file. The falcon agent read the information. "He looks very capable" stated the male. "He is. Furthermore, he has expressed interest in joining your division captain" continued the young woman.

"Let's see how well he does it then. The lab has completed the DNA sample. We have a name match. I do have some bad news too I am afraid" informed the ANBU. He handed her two papers with some lab data on them.

One of them had information regarding the murderer. The second paper looked like some ID paper. 'Animal identification chip number is 100814151724. Owner is....NO!!!'. Her skin turned ashen when she realized what this meant.

"The medics tried to save him. Sadly, his blood loss was too severe. His old age did not make things better either. We could not have identified the thief without him however. He was truly a hero" stated the man.

"He was. I have not seen much of him lately. He would be too dangerous for my - ahem - chickens. As you said, he died a hero. I would like him to be buried at the pet cemetary" replied Marii.

Ten minutes later, she would ask the secretary to contact Yis. It was time for him to test his skills. The falcon ANBU was preparing himself for the mission. The murderer would probably be caught today. If everything went according to the plan that was.


[AC Daiki dead due to old age and blood loss]

[Skulking Shinzu]

[Enter]

“Is everything okay?” Yis stared at the secretary with troubled crimson eyes. Having permanently lost access to his Kedoin physiology, Yis was resorting to utilising Genjutsu in order to maintain his persona as the flayed Chunin of Cloud. “Is this relating to… The funeral?” Yis kept his voice low and calm. He had heard that a funeral was taking place in several days. Furthermore, the Lady Raikage seemed to be related to the deceased. That type of news spread hard and fast within Shinobi villages – and was the only reason he could imagine for being summoned to the tower at such short notice.

Whether information was given or not, Yis had already been through the motions several dozen times. Rather than handing any items over, he simply removed his cloak and folded it neatly into a tray. Containing Deep Pocket rituals, the cloak itself held every item on Yis’ possession – both for convenience sake and to make this process swifter. Once the security checks were satisfied, the former Kedoin allowed himself to be led towards the Raikage’s office while wondering what the Lady Raikage’s mood would be like during such a solemn time.

SPOILER: Click to show

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:


"Is everything okay? Is this relating to...the funeral?" inquired the male. The secretary gave him a wry smile. "I am not allowed to say anything. Confidentiality clause" replied the woman.

The door opened moments later. "Ah - there you are. Please come in" told the female. She was grateful to see that Yis was here. Behind her stood a blond ANBU with a falcon mask.

Marii shut the door after the male had entered the office. "I am glad you could make it on such a short notice. As you already might have heard, we lost two Jounins. One of them was indeed my relative" confirmed the young woman.

"Fortunately, two agents spotted the murderer recently. Hence why you are here. Our falcon ANBU captain wants a Chuunin or Jounin on their team. I decided to pick you. Especially since you have expressed interest in joining" told the Raikage.


The captain stepped forwards. "I see you've met all the formal requirements to join. Except one. You need to do a mission related to the division you wish to join. Do you know what kind of work our division does by the way?" inquired the man.

[Skulking Shinzu]

“Confidentiality clause… This is beginning to sound more ominous.” Yis took in a deep inhale to calm himself, before exhaling just as the door to the Raikage’s office creaked opened. “All black.” He noted, upon taking in the Lady Raikage’s attire. “Greetings Lady Raikage. Greetings… Sir.” Yis still didn’t know how to refer to an ANBU agent. Their very nature meant secrecy. Secrecy meant no identity. Whatever the case, Yis picked out from the Raikage’s words that this ANBU operative is of captain rank. Outranked, ‘Sir’ seemed to be the safest bet.

“For Kumo, I would appear at even shorter notice if requested.” Yis smiled, though did not laugh. Somehow, he could sense a heaviness in the atmosphere. “Two Jounin murdered… So, the rumours were true.” The smile on his face quickly faded at the confirmation. Mouth parting, Yis prepared to speak, but restrained himself the moment he spotted the ANBU captain stepping forwards. This caused his posture to tighten and straighten. Questions could wait until the ranking superior had spoken.

“I am being recruited!?” Yis paused for a moment to process the captain’s words. He clearly wasn’t expecting this request of his to be fulfilled so soon. “Yes Sir!” He said, in an overly enthusiastic tone that betrayed Yis’ usual calm monotone nature and revealed the Zuruel underneath. “The Falcon division are responsible for protecting the village and entering high-risk territory under the control of enemies in order to track down and hunt – usually, to capture criminals or missing-nin.” Of all the ANBU, the Falcon division is considered one of the few offensive units, which was a descriptor that drew Yis in like a moth to a flame.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

((OOC: Feel free to ask the ANBU about the mission, division etc. Skulking Shinzu))


Zuruel and ANBU:


"Yes Sir! The Falcon division are responsible for protecting the village and entering high-risk territory under the control of enemies in order to track down and hunt – usually, to capture criminals or missing-nin" replied the male. His enthusiasm made the ANBU smile behind his mask. At least this recruit knew what was expected.

"I am glad to hear what is expected of you. Our mission is to capture a criminal. However, he is quite a tough one. One of the major reasons for this is the committed crime. This person is a murderer" started the man.

"The second reason is his profession. He is an actor who pretends to be others for a living. Being a former Chuunin of Kumogakure only adds to the difficulty. He was spotted near Aramis earlier today. However...our target probably looks completely different upon our arrival" warned the masked man.

The female heard a faint knock on the door. "I'll get it" told Marii. She opened the door to see who it was. It turned out to be her secretary. "We just got some good news from Enrai" told the woman.

She handed her a letter. The young woman felt a smile form on her face. "I will meet him at the gates. Oh, please send one of the rainbow lorikeets to the embassy. They need one" stated the Raikage.

Leah nodded before she shut the door. The female would send a reply with the lorikeet a few minutes later. The younger female turned her attention to the two men. 'I am glad to see Yis in such a good mood. Especially since he will make a great addition to the falcon division' observed the brunette.

[Skulking Shinzu]

“To clarify – being a Falcon division mission, I assume you intend for us to capture the target alive?” Yis was already aware that the Falcon and Wolf divisions worked closely together. While the Falcon hunted and captured, the Wolves interrogated those brought back for precious information. Of course, what happened next was a complete mystery to the former Kedoin. Even at his rank, there seemed to be information that he wasn’t privy to. Especially around the inner workings of the other divisions. “And the target – do you have a description of what he looks like normally, and what we are expecting him to look like now? You also mentioned that he is an actor. Will he have changed his appearance through Chakra Jutsu, a cellular transformation of the body, or simple makeup and cosmetics? On that note – do you have any further information about his other skills and abilities?”

Yis wasn’t used to having an entire information network at his disposal. Even basic registration files the Raikage likely possessed would contain nuggets of precious information. In contrast, Mo rarely afforded him such luxuries. Usually, it tended to be a case of hunting someone to the ends of the earth, with no real leads or information beyond a photo. “Other than that – I am ready. I’ll just need my cloak.” Yis smiled at the sight of the Lady Raikage’s expression. Whatever message she had just received appeared to be a positive one. “I should leave sooner than later to ensure the target does not flee into another village. Will we be carrying out this mission together? If so - lead the way Sir.” He asked the ANBU operative, while unsure if the ranking officer would act as a escort, or if Yis was expected to carry out this task alone.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:

"To clarify – being a Falcon division mission, I assume you intend for us to capture the target alive? And the target – do you have a description of what he looks like normally, and what we are expecting him to look like now? You also mentioned that he is an actor. Will he have changed his appearance through Chakra Jutsu, a cellular transformation of the body, or simple makeup and cosmetics? On that note – do you have any further information about his other skills and abilities?" inquired the younger man.

"Yes- he needs to be alive. I got a copy of his file here. He's skilled with ninjutsu and genjutsu. He's good at acting plus disguise as well. I think he uses traditional methods and chakra for the coverup" replied the older male.

"Other than that – I am ready. I'll just need my cloak. I should leave sooner than later to ensure the target does not flee into another village. Will we be carrying out this mission together? If so - lead the way Sir." finished Yis.

His politeness made the man smile. "Glad to see we got some polite Chuunins. In my experience, that's not always the case. Take care my lady. See you at the gates in thirty minutes" told the captain.

He would leave the office after giving his 'lady' a polite bow. "Best of luck Yis-san. Don't forget about what he said about our target. He's not like the others you've faced" warned the female. She was smiling, but it was a bit eerie.

Her smile looked slightly sinister compared to earlier. The male probably understood why. Her aunt's murderer was about to be put to justice. Not only that, he faced small chances of escape. Clouds could cover large areas in short time after all.

[Skulking Shinzu]

“Genjutsu shouldn’t be a problem, and I can easily disable Ninjutsu.” Yis revealed, while studying the file that had been handed to him. Shapeshifting abilities such as those of a Kedoin would be difficult to pierce through. However, Chakra and more traditional methods were no match for Yis’ recently obtained White Eyes. Having gotten used to them over the course of weeks of training, Yis felt eager to test out his new eyesight. Unlike his former self as a Genin and new recruit, the former Kedoin felt rather confident with this mission. Not even feeling a tinge of nervousness or hesitation, he mentally prepared for what was to come. Though the mission could theoretically be accomplished without shedding a drop of blood – that could easily change if a single mistake occurred.

“Heh. You honour me with your praise.” If the bottom half of Yis’ disguised face wasn’t ‘flayed’, then he might have visibly blushed at the captain’s words. Adjusting to Shinobi village life after living in Mo had been quite the journey. However, these words of praise finally signalled to him that he had finally learned how to integrate himself into the village. “Understood Lady Raikage.” He said, with an elegant bow. The Raikage may have noticed at that moment that Yis’ action was both swift and smooth. This new body of his was clearly more flexible and lighter than his prior form.

Yis easily recognised the expression on the Raikage's face. Even if the blatant sinister smile was ignored, the Raikage’s fierce eyes alone revealed her thoughts and intentions. She was understandably invested in this mission’s outcome, which left Yis hoping that his next few words of encouragement would be enough to keep her patient until having captured the target. “Leave it with us. We will not disappoint you.” He said, before exiting the office and gently closing the door behind him while trailing after the ANBU captain. It was finely time to prove himself.

[Marii K. Kazeraikou]

Yis:

"Leave it with us. We will not disappoint you" assured the male. "Good. Good luck Yis-kun" replied the female. Once they left, she put on her Raikage robes plus her hat.

"I am going to the public gates. One of our shinobis are returning today. I need to verify him" informed Marii. The secretary nodded in reply. The young woman left the Raikage tower with a smile on her face.


[Temporary exit for Marii]

[Skulking Shinzu]

[Enter from here.]

The group appeared towards the right of the entrance of the tower in a flash of purple light. “Order up.” Zuruel's skin began to peel back and darken. Meanwhile, his pristine white hair began to stain black and his iris flashed crimson as a Genjutsu transformed him back into Yis. Scooping up the target, whose limbs were still freshly frozen together, Yis turned to face the captain. “What is the standard protocol? Straight into the tower, or do we take him somewhere else for interrogation?”

Marii K. Kazeraikou