"No single thing is perfect by itself. That's why we're born to attract other things to make up for what we lack. I think we start walking in the right direction only after we start getting our counterparts beside us."
Itachi Uchiha
With their plans already set and waiting to be set into motion everyone retreated to their private chambers. Hashirama and Tobirama went to the building where the recovered Senju were and would soon take their leave and be back first thing in the morning. There were many things they needed to do the first taking their now recovered unit back to their compound and also discuss more private matters. Now that Hashirama wasn't within ear shot of him, Syrus released a soft sigh emptying the ashes from his pipe as he leveled a look with Haji, as ever stoic as usual the younger brother returned the gaze. He had a few things to discuss and he couldn't be blunt like he normally was with Hashirama around. He was too emotional, no he was soft. Syrus never thought he'd be arguing with the younger man, but he was both of them had opposing ways to approach a situation. Hashirama wanted to talk and come to a truce, while he just wanted to get rid of the problem altogether. It wasn't a crime, entire clans were wiped out in this era overnight like a flickering candle flame.
Pushing that little squabble aside he had other things to focus on, like why his brother was delayed for a few months. "Why were you delayed?" Syrus asked in a emotionless tone though his eyes were swimming curiosity and suspicion. It wasn't like Haji to spend a lot of time on missions, he was efficient and would be back within a few days. He wasn't worried of course, but he couldn't say the same for Usagi though that was more likely to be frustration since she didn't get to for good reason. He set the pipe down, exhaling a smooth stream along with some of the thoughts circling through his head.
"I'll go make some tea." Usagi offered.
"No." Syrus said a second after she uttered the words and she didn't move from the mat she sat cross legged on. "There's no need to do that Usagi-chan I want you to be here as well." He looked at her with a stern gaze, she nodded her head a few times relaxing herself into the mat. Normally she'd make tea of have a low ranking member do it, stiff talk made people thirsty. But, it was better that she was here so she could hear why her brother took his sweet ol time coming back to the compound.
"Princess Hitomi was adamant that we stay at her estate, as were her parents. First and foremost it'd be rude and distasteful to refuse the offer. So I accepted... However, I encountered Cho and his pack of mutts during my time there, even before I was halfway to her village." There was a pause, allowing the information to sink in. "I was attacked numerous times, I was with the princess every time and no harm came to her though I can't say she didn't get a bit of splatter on her. I tried to talk sense into her, the longer we stayed there idle the more exposed she would be to an attack." He answered with an even tone though his eyes shined with great annoyance, he didn't like having to follow her around everywhere, especially when he told her to stay within the village's walls. Of course she didn't listen and ventured out and that lead to more trouble than he'd like to deal with.
"Inuzuka.." Usagi almost spat, resting her hands on her knees and leaning forward. "Where do they get off?"
"I've heard there was an increase in their numbers around that area." Syrus said closing eyes for a moment, opening them again when he decided to speak. "They really are a savage clan, can't even stay in one compound together.. Instead they're spread out over a wide territory, each territory has one leader and they all answer to him. However, some of these territories aren't in good favor with the other, opposing ideals and such, frivolous at best. Cho is the leader of the territory surrounding the borders." It was a pesky nuisance dealing with them, it had been going on long before his father came to power, there was always an enmity between them and the Inuzuka. Wiping them out completely was out of the question since they were spread out, and even now he couldn't do that. Not without Hashirama talking his ear off.
"I also encountered Souji." Both of his siblings narrowed their eyes hearing the name of that man, Usagi already knew about it or what Haji divulged at that time, and Syrus remained silent, they didn't speak out their thoughts and waited for him to continue. "The battle lasted well into the night, and there was no clear victor. He is the reason for my delay besides staying at the estate for a good month or two despite my misgivings." There was a long pause, there was always the risk of running into him or his kinsmen, but he couldn't have tracked the location unless...
"You finished off those Uchiha?" Syrus asked his eyes glaring.
"Of course, along with anyone else who stood in my way." Haji answered, Usagi shook her head at how bluntly he answered.
"I see..." Syrus mused more to himself than his siblings.
"What are we going to do about the Inuzuka?" Usagi asked her tone losing any of the cheerfulness it usually possessed. She was looking forward in the future to clashing with the Uchiha, who weren't to be underestimated by any means unless she wanted a swift death, but she wasn't so foolish to underestimate them. There was a reason why every clan besides her own, the Senju, and a few other clans feared them and tread clear from their path. She wasn't going to even entertain the thought of her coming face to face with Cho or some other leader, she wasn't ignorant, but she had bigger fish to fry.
"Nothing." Syrus answered with a light scoff. "They're nothing to worry about.. And more importantly it wouldn't go over well with Hashirama-san..." There was a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone at the end. He was a man of action and passion, he wasn't nice though he wasn't extremely mean either, but they were known as wolves for a reason and it wasn't from not plunging entire villages or clans in the matter of a day. Seeing Haji nod in agreement but Usagi scowl he slowly hit the pipe, the smoke sending a jolt through his lungs. "They're not going to attack our compound.. What good will it do if we attacked Cho's territory and killed every last one when there's another territory not sixty miles away?" If that was the solution they would've been wiped out a long time ago while their father was still leader.
"Still..." Usagi said her scowl not lessening at all.
"We may have an enmity, but Cho made it clear that he was after Hitomi's head, it may have been personal but he was still after her head." Haji interjected. The Inuzuka were savage and reckless, they attacked without any plan or a care if they lost one or one thousand it wouldn't make the biggest bit of a difference. Perhaps that's why they were separated over numerous territories instead of being in compound, it was ridiculous but as savage as they were perhaps it was for the best. "We'll leave them to their own devices, they aren't a threat to us." Syrus nodded in agreement emptying the ashes from his smoking pipe, Usagi nodded just barely though she didn't look happy or willing to let it slide but did anyways.
"Yes, I agree." Syrus nodded. "We should focus on the demonstration tomorrow, as well as the Domou and Uchiha. I would imagine their leader won't be happy you left an entire division on the road side brother." Haji's face didn't show any emotion. "And there's always that thorn in the side Souji, I didn't think he'd go through the trouble of going all way to the Lightning country just to find you." Syrus exhaled a sea of smoke with some of his thoughts, there was a shift in the power standings as it were. With Tajima and Batsuma now dead and their sons becoming leaders and second in command, what fragile balance the world hung on was crumbling like a stack of bricks. Everyone wanted to reign supreme at this moment, and though there was battles every day, the worse was yet to come.
"That's right." Usagi nodded. She was looking forward to the demonstration and clashing swords with Tobirama again, she normally didn't get so excited at the thought of a spar unless it was with her brother's. But Tobirama intrigued her more than she could fathom and he didn't hold anything back despite her being a girl, that she was more than thankful for if he even thought about looking down on her for the simple fact she was a woman she'd smack him so hard he'd be in the Water country. "Damn that Souji.. He's just trying to make a statement.. Is there any word of Mikito?"
"No there isn't much." Syrus replied with some disappointment laced in his tone. She was good at covering her tracks and moving across long distances with good speed, there was also the fact she didn't leave any survivors from an encounter, though she gave them the chance to run. Foolish. Souji was direct and honest in the sense he attacked and didn't bother to ask any questions whatsoever. while Mikito was more patient she didn't actively seek conflict, and then there was Ahiko who was a lot like Hashirama. "If he's trying to make statements he needs a new approach. If there's nothing else to add?" Seeing them both shake their heads he set down his pipe and stood up. "That's all be up at nine sharp."
"Got it!" Usagi said as she excused herself from the room her footsteps thudding down the hallway. Syrus kept his eyes in the direction she was walking in, making sure she was out of earshot.
"There is more to this demonstration than just being a demonstration." Haji stated noticing that look in his brother's eyes.
"Besides two clans causing a ruckus there's a problem. A big problem." Syrus's expression darkened as he recalled the damiyo speaking on something that was supposed to be between him, Hashirama, and himself. There's been a lot of devastation beyond the outskirts of my territory, many whisper of a cat with one glowing yellow eye the other green and it's said to be vicious and bigger than a mountain! The words and warning echoed through his mind, at that point even Hashirama showed some surprise and shock not sure what to make of it. Not only were they dealing with two clans, but a behemoth that was larger than mountains. He could only think of one thing that was anywhere close to that description and even that was considered just a tale. But he wasn't ignorant to the truth of the matter, what many called tale his clan considered truth.
"Green and yellow eyes?" Haji echoed his features softening with curiosity, his eyes training on his lap as he rubbed his chin with his finger. "You mean... But that can't be.." He locked eyes with his brother, there was no lying or humor in them at all only seriousness that he saw before he jumped into a battle or was speaking to the council.
"It is." Syrus's eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint gleaming in them "A Bijuu... This is only to be shared with second in command; only me, you, Hashirama, and Tobirama know of this and it has to be kept that way."
"And pray tell, how do you intend to stop a Bijuu? They're pure chakra and can destroy mountain ranges without as much as flick of their tails." He read enough on the folklore of the shinobi, many didn't believe the Bijuu were just pure myth, much like Rikudo and the Jubbi which was all of the nine beasts.. But that was so long ago, generations before his own birth. It wasn't far fetched if one actually took the time to decipher the cryptic wording, the riddles, and had the nerve to believe.
"Me and Hashirama-san have devised a plan to deal with the beast." Syrus responded. "I'm not sure myself if it will work, but I'm not going to let the beast do as it pleases as long as the damiyo requests our assistance, and Hashirama is of a like mind." The only thing we could agree on.
"You know when she finds out you kept it a secret she's going to be pissed." Haji said with a wolfish grin.
"Female wolves are just as ferocious as their male counter parts."
Yuko's eyes were narrowed in intense concentration, she carefully kneaded her chakra being mindful of how much she put forth, it was a trailing affair. She had good chakra control, but this was maddening her entire body felt like lead, and it was much worse since she was wearing her weighted clothing. But she held firm gauging how much and how little she kneaded. So far the only she got was a small ripple just a few inches in front of her, the ripple turned into a small wave but there was no twister that soared hundreds of feet or a huge dragon shooting forward with a ear shattering roar. Ahiko stayed silent watching her for the last few hours.
She didn't give her input already speaking her piece, learning the suiton was a trailing affair. It was the second hardest element to learn next to wind, and one's chakra control had to be near perfect. If she were to speak now with encouraging words or advice it would only merely distract her and all of her efforts and focus would just snap away like a candle blowing out. It took herself two years to learn the suiton and gain some mastery, she wasn't close to being able to form it out of nothing, but she was proficient enough and her attacks were powerful. Her siblings took to katon and futon, the former being the hardest to learn though Mikito accelerated in katon.
Yuko formed a hand seal, more out of habit than anything. Up until this point she was only focusing on her chakra and kneading it on the surface a few inches in front of her, but it wasn't working. She poured more chakra out, her hands latching onto the other as it formed they formed the tiger seal. Yuko bit down, clenching her teeth feeling the strain, but she pushed, come on, come on! She coached herself. The ripples turned into small waves and the small waves turned into small distortions. Ahiko's eyes shone with astonishment as she seen a small, almost unnoticeable swirl of water moving upward at a snail's pace, but it halted and slithered back down. Yuko grunted, pouring more chakra in, but it was a mute point and finally after four hours she dropped to her knees panting, enjoying the coolness of the water beneath her. "Damn it..." She muttered.
"Hey, hey now." Ahiko said walking towards her and crouching down in front of her. Yuko's hair was messily hanging over her eyes slightly obscuring them, sweat dripped down her head, sliding down her jawlines and splashing into the pond a few inches down. Her breaths were short and sharp, and her shoulders shook from the exertion of focusing and kneading her chakra for hours, and as minuscule as it was the taxing her Sharingan took on her chakra. "You've just started training today, you can't expect to learn suiton that fast!" Ahiko carefully patted her shoulders, mindful of the weight bearing down on them. Yuko didn't look at her instead stared into her reflection. "It's the second hardest element to master, the first being wind.. Many shinobi don't even dare to try and use it since it is so difficult."
"I... Need a minute." Yuko said more to herself than the girl crouching before her, but Ahiko still heard her nonetheless. She allowed a few minutes of silence to pass, the only sound was of the rushing waterfall just several feet away from them. It was soothing and comforting to hear the constant roar and torrent of splashes.
"Can you stand?" Ahiko asked as she removed her hand from her shoulder, stepping back and giving her space. Yuko didn't respond right away still catching her breath, her chest rising and falling in a natural rhythm, she gave a small nod heaving herself up until she was standing upright. The strain was apparent right away, her body wanted to slack, her shoulders gave, and her knees buckle but with a deep breath she held herself firm. She wasn't used to weighted clothing at all, she was used to her light ninja attire, she wondered if everyone she seen wearing the haoris and almost identical outfits had the same weights in them.
"What's next?" Yuko asked with a tired eagerness in her tone.
"We're done for the day." Ahiko replied, holding up a finger as she seen Yuko open her mouth ready to object. She liked the determination, that fire that swelled in Yuko. Regardless of how things were going so far she didn't give up, she continued, she pushed through it. That was good, it was great! But it wouldn't do any good if she passed out from exhaustion. "If we go any further you'll just pass out, I don't want you to exhaust yourself to such an extent that would be detrimental for your training."
"Can we work on something else then?" Yuko asked the eagerness not fading, perhaps it wasn't eagerness but desire. A desire to strive and get stronger, to seek new levels and break passed them and move onto the next. She noticed Ahiko's brows knitting together her face thoughtful as she observed Yuko with a keen eye, she could see she was going to say no. "I can keep going just fifth teen more minutes." The red hair kunoichi pressed, almost pleading with her not to stop now.
"Okay." Ahiko relented taking a comfortable stance. "Fifth teen more minutes, come at me with taijutsu."
Yuko didn't respond verbally, she instantly lunged forward, the weights doing the job and slowing her down if only by a few seconds, she aimed a punch at Ahiko's head. Ahiko swayed her head to side at the last second, Yuko followed up quickly lashing out with another punch which Ahiko ducked under, sliding to the side and lashing out with her own punch. Yuko already seen the blow coming, she expertly ducked under the quick jab, striding forward with an elbow jab aimed for Ahiko's ribs, but the curly haired woman parried the blow causing Yuko to slide forward. She's fast... But the weights are doing their job.. Ahiko thought as she got ready for another attack.
It came as quick as a snake, Yuko's fist lashing out in a straight, Ahiko swayed her head to the side watching the fist shoot passed her face. Yuko over extended, retracting her fist before Ahiko could catch her unguarded stomach with a knee. This kept on for several minutes Yuko attacking and Ahiko dodging, their movements bellying tremendous speed that would make sprinters faint with envy. Yuko's Sharingan glowed a bright red as she picked out several openings and went after them, and Ahiko dodged them at the last minute putting distance between them forcing Yuko to lunge after her. Finally, Yuko mistimed a punch, aiming high instead of low, and Ahiko parried the strike, lashing out with a punch the caught Yuko in the stomach forcing some of the air from her lungs. Yuko stepped back, sucking in a sharp breath.
"You're proficient." Ahiko said in an honest tone as she raised her fists. "But you telegraph your strikes." Ahiko sprang forward, her foot swiping outward, Yuko seen the trajectory and jumped back narrowly avoiding the strike, but Ahiko spun full rotation leaping forward and lashing out with her elbow. Yuko's tomoes rotated quickly, she leaned down, but at the last moment she caught sight of her knee shooting upwards, forcing herself to jump back she evaded the blow by an inch sliding back on the water. She gestured for Yuko attack and the red haired woman didn't delay and was upon her with a barrage of punches, her Sharingan blazing. "When you're fighting someone and can't get passed their guard, you feint." Ahiko said as she dodged a punch, Yuko barely nodded focusing on keeping up her barrage. "The key to it is force them to commit. You have to make it look as if you'r really going to punch them." Yuko lead forward with her left, aiming it for Ahiko's jaw, the girl dodged and Yuko's other fist shot forward for her stomach. "But when you're facing someone taller you want to avoid certain moves." Ahiko deflected her punch, jumping back. "When you attack, you want focus your chakra into your fist, foot, knee, whichever body part you use for the attack, that's where the power lies."
"I understand..." Yuko breathed feeling sweat pouring off of her now and soaking her clothes. She wanted to continue, but she fell to her knees fighting for breath as she shook her head. Without hesitation she dipped her hand into the water, readily drinking it. She relished the cool feeling it left in her dry mouth and on her sweat slicked skin. "The feint is to set them up for my next strike, but I have to make them commit to it."
"Correct!" Ahiko beamed with a nod, extending her arm forward with an open hand. Yuko looked at it for a moment debating if she should take it. She pressed her hands on the water as if it was dirt and struggled to heave herself up even an inch. It wouldn't hurt this time to get some help, she reached out gripping Ahiko's hand tightly as she heaved her up. They sat at the edge of the pond both enjoying the solace the tranquil place brought, Yuko slowly caught her breath, chugging down some water.
"I'm sorry my sister sent you to the Water country." Ahiko broke the silence keeping her eyes on the sky. "That place isn't a place where any shinobi should be.. My father took us there when I was six, called it training. I seen him cut off somebody's head, and Souji stabbing someone through the throat..." She took a breath, it wasn't a memory she was fond of. Seeing so much blood her father and brother coated in the sticky substance, the stench lingering. "I seen my sister cut a man from the collarbone all the way down to his waist, the body wasn't even recognizable it was just a mass of cut bones and blood.. So much blood.." Yuko stayed silent as the older girl spoke her piece, she rarely had moments like these, to bond with a fellow woman. She couldn't imagine seeing what Ahiko saw at six, the things she went through recently, she couldn't imagine going through it at the tender age of six years old.
"When I first got the mission and your siblings warned me, I didn't take it serious." Yuko admitted in a sheepish manner, taking another swig of water. "It was my first mission, I didn't think I was going to be walking into a war zone. I must have been there for a few months, I spent all of my time fighting or at an inn where the violence didn't get so ridiculous..." Her first encounter when she made land fall was a band of shinobi out for her blood, and that's not including the Yuki clan and Kagyua clan. "I don't know how many people I killed, I lost count... Sometimes I still have nightmares about what transpired there.. I seen a kid no older than eight get impaled on a bone, as much as I wanted to cry, I had to keep on moving. I was in the Yuki clan compound, the Kagyua clan attacked, completely ruthless." Yuko shivered for a moment, how many children died like that eight year old? How many were being slain in ways more brutal than he was? It could have been her if circumstances were different. "But I survived so that counts for something."
"It does." Ahiko nodded her agreement. "The Water country has been in turmoil for as long as any of us can remember. The islands are in constant dispute and the mainland is the worse." It was years before the place would gain the infamous title 'bloody mist' but even in these times the violence and bloodshed there was astronomical, civilians were killed in the crossfire, and entire cities were reduced to smoldering ruins. "But, you lived.. And you've met me, you'll be living with me now... So things aren't that bad.." Ahiko sighed in a wistful manner.
"No." Yuko agreed, stretching her sore and heavy arms over her head. "They're not so bad." She smiled for a moment. "I have a friend through all of it."
"Hehe!" Ahiko grinned cheekily looking at her with glimmering eyes. "That's right! Speaking of which we need to head back.. My sister will be curious of your progress, and I need to make sure that I'm not needed for anything later on."
"Okay." Yuko nodded in understanding.
Yeah time for the Bijuu to start rearing their ugly mugs and wrecking shit like they do best.. I have nothing more to add.. Thanks for reading!