Upon a lush green hillside of a land far away from the mainland of Inkland laid rows of tombstones at the feet of the hill with a tree at the top of the hill overlooking the dead like a protector, also shielding the resting souls from the harsh rays of the sun. It's windy today. The howling breeze conducts the brushing tall grass to dance along the stone steps leading to the top of the hill where a lone tombstone laid in the shade of a massive tree like a soul blessed by the gods. Incense is burning at the foot of that tombstone as a lady sits there dressed in black, her palms connected and her eyes closed for prayer. Simone Tokugawa sat at the grave of her deceased husband with this meeting serving as one of reflection and guidance. Her way of keeping a connection with her dearly beloved, she shared anything she knew with him on the other side, hoping that he was watching them above from the heavens. Ever since the events of the Tokugawa selection, she made sure this trip was an integral part of her weekly routine, especially since several events had passed since the day she helped end the corruption of Teitsu. After Teitsu stepped down and Cobalt assumed rule as the next head with his mother as his advisor, he immediately changed the mold of Tokugawa rule in Ikayumu. In a meeting that consisted of the many figurehead leaders of the country as well as the leaders they held an alliance with, he worked to establish a balance of power between the samurai and ninja with fellow citizens of Ikayumu in looking to rid the land of the unfair balance within the land. Establishing a balance of powers, Cobalt opened up the Tokugawa family to an alliance that saw them share their powers and influence with the major allies that fought alongside them in them in the Tokugawa selection. An order is established with the leaders of the allied clans along with the heads of the collective government working alongside Cobalt to help in resolving the issues of the country that emerged in his succession. The first act of Cobalt and the others established was to ban the Tokugawa Selection and instead rely on passing their positions onto the next in line through voting within the collective clans and masses alike, that way they can avoid violence like the selection as well perform checks and balances on other powers. As such, plenty of positives came with these decisions and many small towns under the care of clans started to thrive-in turn boosting the big cities as well. But with the growth of the nation came other problems. A rumor began circulating that an escaped convict with ties to the infamous Hayama shinobi clan had returned to Ikayumu and was causing a stir in multiple ways, and what's more, no one knew who was an ally and who was an enemy-a wild card deadly like a tempest that would strike one town and completely neglect the other depending on how it felt. In turn, the remnants of the Zukuri alliance had fallen, but there were few who still held abrasive feelings toward the powers despite some resolution following the death of Iono Zukuri. Crime rates also increased as as organized crime started to become a new trend in the big cities, which led to many of the leaders of the alliance having to take action. Cobalt, the young head of the Tokugawa family decided that he'd take care of these issues himself, finding it linked to the very same man he managed to let escape back at Death Island; his peers followed, with skilled swordsmen like Jengai and Arokei handling different regions of Ikayumu in attempt to track down the masterminds behind these crimes.
The gentle breeze that kisses the cheek of Simone leaves a wistful touch, one that reminds her of how Arosuke's palm would fit on her cheek as he reassured her that everything would be fine, with him now gone, only those memories remained. One thing she enjoyed talking with him was of how big their son had gotten, and how the more and more the days go by, the closer Cobalt resembled his father, as his once calm red gaze was replaced with one of a higher purpose. A permanent glint in his irises that only saw forward, a goal in sight that he was determined to reach. She bowed her head, "Please, watch over our child…" she prayed, worried that the young Tokugawa was heading down a path all too similar to his father's when he took charge of the family. Simone remembered the subtle changes in Arosuke when he became the head of the Tokugawa, his gentle nature warped to one of righteousness as he felt any action he had to do was for the sake of the people, rather than himself. She understood his intentions and supported him wholeheartedly, but part of her only wished that her son doesn't become a slave to the same mentality, the risk blindly protecting the masses only for someone in the crowd to stab him in his blind side. She only wished for her son to learn from his father's mistake and proceed with caution. Her eyes open and cast to the blue sky stretching beyond the horizon, the tombstone and the shade from the tree before her standing proudly as monuments. The cause for these thoughts stemmed from the recent news of growing crime rates and other organizations looking to take action now that the authoritarian rule of Teitsu ended and some had yet to acknowledge Cobalt as a true successor, which made Simone all the more anxious. Like a premonition of the future, she foresaw carnage in its wake so surreal that even her nightmares felt like a reality. "Nothing better than being at your side…" she whispered with a faint smile, her crestfallen gaze on the tombstone reading his name.
Somewhere in Okina around that same time, a small town is bustling like the many populous cities in the prefectures. From shopkeepers to laborers, everyone is doing their part to keep the community functioning. The dirt roads paved by the carts pushed along the way, the sound of nails being hammered into planks and new houses are crafted, the calls of business owners looking for customers, truly, this was the simple life in small villages all around in Ikayumu. An old man sitting along a wall on the main street plays his old shamisen, bringing the instrument to life with his polished technique. His eyes were closed: one missing, and the other one blind with no color in his irises. His head steady as his finger perform a ritual, summoning a goddess of sound to entertain those who pass him by, his head nodding to each and every person that walks by. Two young samurai pass by the man, the katana blades at their hip catching the attention of those they passed who recognized them right away. One who emitted a crimson aura with an outfit to match and a green aura like the bamboo found in the Kiyamamu prefecture, the pair were members of the Tokugawa alliance: Arokei Chihiro and Jengai Tsuyano, childhood friends of Cobalt and the other two top swordsmen prodigies. They were in the area after receiving word from Lori Kotari who was out in the city of Nakutan, that sat along the same coast as the Okina prefecture. The pair were almost looked completely different than they did months ago, both in physical appearance and mentality. After the events of the selection, both young prodigies were selected to become part of the first generation of the Tokugawa alliance due to their close connection to Cobalt. In a way, they owed him their lives. Ever since that day, things began to look up for them in ways they couldn't imagine: More publicity for their clans and bettering their communities through that same attention, they even improved their forms through rigorous training. Even along the streets they walked now, there wasn't a single soul there that didn't recognize them. Their eyes shift from left to right for the slightest of changes in the buzzing streets, wary of the crime reports in the area. Supposedly, a group of bandits were terrorizing shopkeepers and civilians alike, doing so in broad daylight.
"No signs of anything suspicious. We've been at it for a week now." Jengai said with vigilance, his tone as low as a whisper and he leaned to the side to chat with his partner, a new blade at his waist that wore a green sheathe and had a green and gold hilt; his calm yet narrowed gaze keeps ahead the entire time.
Arokei shakes his head, "Even if there hasn't been any recent developments, it doesn't change the fact that they're in this area. Ever since that man from the Hayama clan planted his roots here, the place has gone into disarray. Luckily the police are well trained, but I hear there are some powerful people among his ranks."
"Kida Hayama…I suspect him to be the root of all the growing issues. The Hayama clan don't usually stir up such conflict since they rather act from the shadows. But ever since Kida returned here, it's spiraled out of control. I hear the Hayama clan aren't taking too kindly to his anti-"
Arokei holds out his hand to stop Jengai, both coming to a halt in the middle of the path on the sidewalk. Jengai looks around to see what caused his partner to come to a stop, spotting nothing unusual. Arokei reaches for his blade at his waist, narrowing his eyes and shifting the weight in his body to his legs as if prepared to sprint; Jengai readies himself as well, counting all the people within their vicinity that he might have to evacuate in case trouble arrives. Though they couldn't identify any people nearby, the duo sensed an unusual air roaming the area-one of malice. It's pungent odor pierced his their senses and warned them to be cautious if they continued. Their enemy was watching their every move. Sitting up high on the rooftops hiding behind the signs, a pair of ninja watch closely as the two samurai below stay on their guard. The ninja wear faces of disgust as their plans to ambush fall apart. Now that they were on guard, there was no point in taking them down now, and instead they would have to wait. They were also upset because this meant there could be no more raids until these samurai were dealt with. A decision to wait until nightfall, the pair decided to keep a watch on them until then. This was a common occurrence throughout Ikayumu as the leaders of the Tokugawa alliance patrolled the lands. Whenever they ventured into cities and small towns to find clues to the masterminds, they were stumped by the enemy going into hiding until they left. However, this method soon changed once Cobalt got involved and decided that every leader of the alliance should relocate to having a home within a designated region of a prefecture, as well as the option to team up and go in pairs when patrolling, making it far more difficult for enemies to mobilize.
"Alright, we're good." Arokei said with caution still present in his tone; Jengai too kept looking around from where he stood, even searching up high on the rooftops in case. "That presence is gone, but something tells me that wasn't the last time."
"Yeah, I could sense malice too. Looks like they're fed up with our prolonged stay."
"So be it. We're here to expel the troublemakers."
They cease their tense forms and calm down with a gentle breath. A similar situation to what fellow colleagues experienced before, they had to be patient if they were going to get any static from their targets, who knew better than to engage in battle with them head-on lest they be fools. The duo decide to grab a bite at a nearby shop and make a plan for the day on what to do next, opting for ramen. Moving aside the curtains at the entrance, they're welcomed to sit wherever they want. A glance to each other and they could already feel the tension in the shop: they chose a place where plenty of shady figures frequented for a simple bowl of noodles. Harsh glares from the left and the right, the two young samurai paid them no attention as they selected a table close to the wall, taking their seats waiting to order. Whispers and snickering fill the shop as the other patrons couldn't help but poke humor at the two kids wearing katanas at their hip who resembled a couple posers who only had them as decorations. Arokei glances to Jengai, who returns the same-knowing that the men here wouldn't leave them be. A few snickering men wait patiently as they watch the pair order their bowls and soon after-eat their fill, sitting back to let their food digest. A trio of snickering men get and and make their way to where the two were sitting, ready to pick a fight. The men start baiting the pair by throwing childish insults, though it's to no success. Soon, one of the men reach for Arokei's blade, but he slaps their hand away swiftly with a powerful glare, which only got the men snickering more as their intentions of provocation were paying off. His senses sharpened thanks to that bowl of ramen, Jengai took the lead and passed a glance to Arokei telling him to calm down. He'd handle it. Jengai politely asks them to leave since they were digesting their meals and didn't want the tasty meal they devoured being spoiled by the sight of their brutish faces, only ticking off the men instead. They shout curses and reach for their own weapons, but several of their hands and arms are severed by a swift strike from Jengai who had his blade unsheathed in the blink of an eye. Horror filled shrieks fill the place as the men fell to their knees and faces bleeding out from where their limbs used to be; the cook went out the back door since this wasn't uncommon in his ramen shop. A dozen men got up in response to seeing the trio of men get sliced, but they don't get to move far as a single strike from Arokei renders them useless. Their legs no longer attached to their bodies, their blood squirted like a fountain with any wriggle they make, writhing like a child as the agony consumes them. They picked a fight with the wrong pair of kids, realizing upon closer look that they were none other than the prodigies known throughout all of Ikayumu. Word of the confrontation spread like wildfire as people ran to the shop to see what was going on, and some went in the opposite direction. This proves true for the pair of ninja who were stalking them earlier, who saw this as an opportunity to report what was seen and give warning: The Tokugawa alliance were serious. For the rest of the day, the news of what happened in the ramen shop spread like wildfire, even finding its way to Kesshoroku, a beach in Okina known for its unique minerals such as a crystal that can shine six different colors.
At a hidden cove nearby, there sits a man patiently waiting on a makeshift throne of stone surrounded by subordinates awaiting his command. At his side are the same convicts who escaped with him from Death Island but not all of them-only Ghary and Spear were present. Standing tall next to their boss, they feast their eyes on the endless wave of subordinates kneeling before them that extends all the way to the ocean with their iridescent heads sparkling with the ceilings and walls. Kida sits on his stone throne with a sly grin, his eyes scanning every single bowing head like an employee checking inventory, making mental notes of what adjustments to make for his big plan. The iridescent hair of the bowing people illuminates the area with great resemblance to the sparkling ceiling and walls. A sly smile appears on his face as he admires the army he's built in these last few months. It all started by gathering the remnants of the Black Urchins who were notified of his escape from Death Island, and from there began the resurrection of the once disbanded group. After escaping from the prison, Kida turned his focus to expanding now that the Black Urchins were disbanded. First he annihilated anyone he couldn't trust and it all started with Lobinci, doing so by initiating a negotiation that fell through. From there, with his limited supporters, he attacked the Lobinci family and assassinated the heads of the household-then taking the territory that belonged to them and claimed them as his. After taking over Lobinci's territory, next was Karpone and Julian, who were plotting to take him down in retaliation. That failed however, as Kida used his newly established network with Ixia to launch an attack and in the end eliminate the pair as well as the Karpone family and seize their territory. After forming an alliance with Ixia and taking down his rivals, he turned to expanding his reborn organization, all to the disgust of a certain family on that same island, which prompted him to seek refuge in a location out of their grasp.
"It's all coming together slowly. Thanks to the sacrifices of the others, we've built a small empire under the noses of the samurai. At this rate we'll be ready to launch a surprise attack."
"But Kida, they weren't sacrifices…" Ghary mumbled with concern at the turbulent path taken.
"Shut it, Ghary." Spear said roughly, irritated by how squeamish he'd become since leaving prison. Though he didn't bring it to like, Spear suspected Ghary of wanting to quit the group because of the road Kida has taken, only sticking by their side out of fear of the consequences. In turn, Kida didn't seem to mind the developments-his tunnel vision designated for revenge.
"Now, now. Let's get along. We have big plans after all. Thanks to our alliance with Ixia and our newest acquisitions, we can carry out the master plans."
"But, shouldn't you let your personal grudge go and focus on the grand scheme?"
"Shut it, Ghary."
"Look, I'm just saying that maybe we should prioritize the grand plan rather than the master revenge plot."
"It's fine, I'll get my justice…Besides, things will get interesting if things play out the way I'm seeing it."
The confident leader said while overlooking his massive following. A group that evolved from the inside out to be reborn, they were no longer the same black urchins as before. A catastrophe waiting to happen, the ex member of the Hayama clan sat proudly with his sights set on infiltrating the mainland where he had business to conclude. As one Hayama is preparing to plunge the world into destruction, the other is hoping to salvage. In the heart of the countryside of Jitanai, a town in the Futsuno Prefecture in the west of Ikayumu, evening is about to approach. The town is usually quiet with everyone focusing on farmer, but not tonight. The streets were abuzz as the elders of the clan requested an audience with Han and his students, citing that since they were the main operatives of the clan that it was time for them to give a report on all the happenings occurring outside of the village. Many people in the community were curious to know what went on behind those closed doors with plenty of murmurs that it also had to do with the departure of that man, who has now gone on to create a gang of his own and bring nothing but chaos. When most businesses were usually preparing to close for the night, everyone was still up, anticipating what would happen with the elders on this night. Roujou and Ayumi arrived in their home village to those same whispers as friends of theirs tried to extract information, though it was all in vain since they had been on patrol looking out for the Tokugawa alliance as of late and thus had no real information-only Han. As they met up in the middle of the village, they too felt nervous to be in the elder's presence on this night, since they were never invited, only their master. For them to be in attendance, it meant something important would be going down that could affect the entire village since they were the best of their clan behind their master, especially now that a certain pair of comrades left their side to support an enemy of the clan, citing that their ideals no longer aligned with the Hayama's and instead seek to follow the lead of the exile. Ever since then, it felt like things were falling apart for the Hayama clan: The Tokugawa were reforming the nation for the better with an alliance so well developed that it would be a mistake not to align with them, Kida's return to Ikayumu saw violence and crime catapult as he plunged the land to resemble their neighbors in the west on the mainland, and then there was an incident that happened in town a few months ago that saw a fellow clan member's throat and stomach slit by the same hands of the exile, which was how he became one in the first place. Indeed, it made sense for the elders to be on edge as any positive news would greatly boost their morale based on how previous events went.
"You two look well…" a voice calls from behind, spooking the pair who waited patiently for their master, only to be surprised by him; "Thank goodness you both came back safely."
"It's great to see you too." they bowed.
"We heard that we'll be attending your meeting with the elders, how come?" Roujou asked.
Han looked hesitant to answer, but motioned for them to follow him on their way to the estate where the elders reside. "Things have not been well, and we're probably going to be tasked with fighting on the front lines." he said regretfully; "As you know of what happened recently…" he pauses, deciding it best not to bring up such a subject. "Anyway, the point is that the two of you are the brightest of the bunch, and are requested to be at my side. Wherever I go, you two will follow as always."
"We'll follow you to the end."
They arrive at the estate some odd minutes later, the company aside from themselves being the singing bugs in the bushes and grass. After entering in and being guided to a moderately lit room where a small raise in the ground has several cushions on the floor, they take their seats before there in the cushions provided on the floor. In just a few moments, the elders would gather and sit before them to discuss everything. The silence was already enough pressure on their shoulders as the young ninja could hear their own heartbeats, always having to look at Han's back to calm down. Han's posture resembled a statue with the discipline it took to stay so steady, barely moving his body for breathing. Even though they would be in the presence of Han, the pair were still unsure why they were allowed to attend this time around. What did the elders see in them? Their answer would soon follow as the elders walked in a line to their seats, awaiting their respectful greetings from the trio. The meeting begins. To start, the elders addressed concerning developments that yet another attack fell on people within the clan in other venues, all linked to the crime bosses. Also mentioned was of the brawl that occurred earlier involving Jengai and Arokei, which prompted the discussion of how to handle the Tokugawa family. Right now, the Hayama were one of several powerful clans who were still at odds with the Tokugawa despite having been reached out to by Cobalt himself, preferring to keep to their grudge and decline any sort of partnership-a folly on their part as even former rivals opted to a partnership for the greater good of Ikayumu. Now that they were at odds with the Tokugawa, they had to withdraw everyone there to avoid detection, also learning that there were ninja from other clans also present in the Okina area where the incident unfolded, which prompted a transition the subject of how to handle the mastermind behind all of the growing problems: the exiled man. Not mentioned by name, the elders wanted to figure out a way to handle him, finding his growing power to be frightening as he was gaining influence from all walks of life and slowly but surely, creating a fierce threat to the values and traditions of Ikayumu. They were worried, but had no solution as most of their most talented ninja were either too old or already deceased; Han and his students were all that remained from the available pool. That was the main purpose for Roujou and Ayumi's attendance. To be part of the discussion and gain knowledge along the way, the pair had to just sit there and let their master do the talking, for it was considered disrespectful to speak out of line in their presence. As the discussion continued, the life in the room began spring forth as the elders soon began bickering among themselves about a possible solution, almost forgetting they had an audience in their presence. Han stays silent and sticks to observation, finding it valuable to assess their thoughts through this manner instead-likewise did Roujou and Ayumi, who continued to follow their master's lead. As the subject continued, Han noticed that the elders beginning to go on a tangent and veer away from the important topics and more into the politics of the clan, which he found unnecessary given the current situation. In hopes to bring them back on track without any disrespect, he reintroduced the problem with Kida once again, except he made one crucial error in his delivery...
"Don't mention that bastard's name!" one of the elders shouted, their attention targeting him in a split-second. Met by the fierce response, he was stunned to silence-as were everyone-now that the eldest Hayama spoke, especially with and abrasive tone. He was intolerant at the mention of an exile's name, and at the fact that he had heritage to the clan in the first place. The eldest Hayama struggled to even sit up straight due to his trembling arms and body barely providing enough support. Town doctors said it was a harsh onset of a disease, one where it'd hurt to even move his limbs willing and to even speak, and yet with the mention of Kida, his body ignored all the pain to display the powerful presence he once had in his youth.
The suffocating pressure in the room served as a reminder that there was great tension there for a reason, which calmed the other elders now that the eldest of them all even bothered to speak. Even when Han offered his apologies for his rudeness, the tension still remained. A transition to a different topic, it turned to the other affairs occurring outside the village that weren't a direct correlation with Ikayumu or Kida: the alliance with the Octarians. For starters, the Hayama have their own ideals but have no qualms about money fueling their initiative, willing to provide any service for their client once they were paid handsomely-no different than the mercenaries who competed with them in the underground of Inkopolis; as one of the most powerful ninja clans around, their influence was so vast that they were able to meddle with the underground of Inkopolis since Ikayumu didn't have the same driving force in that market. Unfortunately, that also brought around plenty of deaths as even the most skilled shinobi and kunoichi ran into their share of trouble. As it stood, only the best of the Hayama were allowed to do as they desired, to which Han did, striking up an alliance with Queen Candice Octavio. At first it was about the money, gathering intelligence for her while juggling other operations, but once they were given the task of rescuing DJ Octavio, the alliance deepened. As of now, the Hayama clan had become one of the prime allies of Octaria and were part of the plan to wage war against Inkopolis. They had no personal ties to the Inkopolis government, and there were plenty of rewards to receive if there was success in capturing the capital city along with a swarm of forces to overwhelm the nation before they took action. However, things took an unlikely turn when DJ Octavio-the current King-decided to act on a different agenda. This surprised everyone in the room, for Han was the only one frequenting Octaria and obtaining the Queen's audience.
"What do you mean DJ Octavio is cut from the plans? Didn't we risk our lives to rescue him by the Queen's orders?" Roujou asked with a rising tone, quickly performing dogeza with a solemn bow and expression of apology for raising his town so rudely while in the presence of the elders and his master.
"It seems that he didn't see eye to eye with his wife on their plans to fight for Octaria." Han said calmly, sitting before the elders with his head bowed to apologize as well for his subordinate's actions; one of the elders waved their hands and insisted he continued.
"I don't get it...What changed? He was hell bent on war with Inkopolis again. He despised the inklings. What could've changed." Ayumi muttered under her breath to herself, as well as one of the elders who knew a little about the situation beforehand who also found it surprising.
"Perhaps a change of heart. On his return home he probably had an epiphany that was simply bigger than his initial views and thus changed his stance." Afterwards mentioning how it all began: In his absence, his wife took control of Octaria and operated while he was away, surely spreading her influence and creating a faction of her own that was able to sway the opinions of the king's followers. When she sent out Han and his two students to follow along with some other comrades who were supposed to be on their side, that was done when she had already taken control and practically shifted Octaria from Patriarchy to Matriarchy with confidence that her husband would simply be a figurehead while she ruled from the shadows. That plan backfired however when DJ Octavio returned home with a change of heart after having met Azule and having time to reassess his feelings about Inkopolis and the Inklings. Though he despised them, he couldn't this grudge ruin the future that'd already been established by Octolings who lived on the surface like Marina and his ex soldier who went on to join the same enemies who thwarted his plans years before the war, and now his children, who were friends with inklings as well. DJ Octavio learned of the grim plans his wife planned to carry out at the expense of their own people, performing despicable experiments that brainwashed them to be practical zombies, the massive allocation of their capita spent on military advancement with the goal of ruining the infrastructure of the surface world by taking down the key superpower that held the shield: Inkopolis. Once he learned of that, he proposed his own outlook of seeking peace with Inkopolis and form an alliance to help rebuild Octaria and gradually bring them out from the underground and onto the surface world, potentially even help other nations who were trapped even further underground in the deep sea. But alas, Candice turned on him and so did the same followers he thought he could trust. She banished him and then sent men to kill him afterwards, though the resistance saved him, which led to him taking arms with the resistance which brings them to the current situation of a potential civil war. "Though most of the citizens there are content with her ruling, there are a growing number of people fed up with her leadership-some want the king in charge now that he's redeemed himself, and others want a new leader-possibly a different type of governing body." he said concluding his explanation, to an amazed audience of elders, who were compelled by the story to possibly reconsider their alignment with Octaria, which he wanted. The truth is, Han had also seen a change of heart. His hatred of Inkopolis and the inklings stemmed from the mistreatment the country displayed in the previous war and how they handled the aftermath, essentially stripping everything away from the Octarians and forcing them underground in hopes to kill them off in mass extinction like almost did prior where they had no sunlight and stole their source of power for their own. Then there was the treatment of the Cuttlefish, the half-inkling and half-octoling race who formed in the wake of the new era, a race who became cursed by both sides as a rejection, forced to alter their identities to slip through unnoticed, much like octolings did many years ago before the progressive wars ever occurred. Now? Things had changed. With the departure of Cameron and Ueru and the maturity of Roujou and Ayumi, Han no longer saw the same red vision as he did prior. He was tired of fighting the good guys and supporting the bad all for some selfish cause like revenge. Instead, he wanted to lend a hand to the side that fought without malice. He had hopes that if he could spark a change in the elder's mindsets, then he could continue to work as a spy for the resistance while pretending to be an ally of Octaria. His eyes hopeful with life-something his students were amazed to see after the years they spent learning under him-it all shattered in an instant as one of the elders swept the story to the side and concluded that Han and his student simply needed to be careful from now on and to assist the Queen in any way possible-several others agreed. His one chance to have permission granted failed as the elders only saw greed, wanting to push their backwards vision instead. A disappointed man, he's left with no other option to accept their request.
