Chapter One: A Boiling Kettle

Jonin Lounge 10:19 Thursday 8th May 14 aNb Yugakure

About fifteen people loitered about the sparsely decorated lounge. Tired and bored would adequately describe this group of people. Two sat in a corner, one practicing his calligraphy on a table, while the other meditated on a cushion next to him. Their demeanor mirrored the others, though something else set them apart. A unique symbol etched on their respective weapons, one a sword and the other on the first blade of his fuma-shuriken.

That day, however, was also a special one. The Yukage himself was planning a speech for the Village. As they worked on their respective tasks, more Jonin would join them. About one minute before the scheduled speech, the lounge was packed tight with the full population of Yugakure's Jonin. Through an open window on the side of the lounge facing the town square, the speech could be heard. Down below them a massive crowd surrounded the stands erected that morning for the speech. At that point, both men who were meditating and practicing calligraphy stood to witness the events four stories below.

With a wide-armed gesture, a man dressed in white and maroon robes began his speech. "Welcome to all those gathered here today!" A pause allowed some of the more rowdy crowd goers to give an applause. "As you all are aware, today is an auspicious day, a day we will remember for generations. With the slow transition away from death and violence, our land's fine Daimyo has granted me full authority over the future of our fair village." Another pause came with the crowd now all near ready to explode. "Today I declare the end of the era of death and welcome in one of prosperity and change!"

Some scoffs could be heard in the lounge at that remark, but more so than that was the cheering. At that point, a man with slicked back, slightly purplish hair, groaned in annoyance and left immediately. His weapon also had the previously remarked upon symbol.

The speech continued for a short while after, detailing the timeline of demilitarization and what everyone could expect of their new life. Slowly the Jonin lounge dispersed until there were only the previously mentioned two shinobi. They eyed each other, both knowing what had to be done, yet neither wanted to be the first to say it.

Eventually, the silence was broken. "Tanaka's made his next move, it would seem." The meditative shinobi cracked open an eye to look at his compatriot.

A sigh, then a pause followed that statement. "Indeed, and it appears we are now forced to make ours," the calligraphy student remarked.

"Shall we gather our forces then?" The question felt heavy as it was spoken, and the meditative shinobi closed his eyes.

"This comes truly at a perilous time," came the response. "As tensions with the Land of Frost have deteriorated again, and they have been caught moving through our lands. To directly attack the Yukage at this point is almost suicidal given our neighbors' ambitions. If we gather our forces, it would have to be at our northern border."

"Two problems dealt with by a single stroke," the meditative shinobi commented, opening his eyes again.

The calligraphy shinobi raised an eyebrow. "In what regard? Our faction dealt with on two fronts? Or is there a silver lining I'm missing?"

"If Shimo wishes to invade our land, they must do so quickly and find someplace to entrench their forces, or even our less skilled brothers could fell them on our own land. With a quick deployment of men loyal to us, we can cut through this attack and gain victory, we would win public opinion and perhaps even more shinobi to our cause. You see where I am going with this, I assume?" The meditative shinobi laid out his thoughts.

The calligraphy shinobi nodded knowingly. "I'm following you. I'll take point in the north then, if there are no objections to that, and I think I should take Hidan with me. He's dangerous here."

"If you wish, though, please keep your bickering to a minimum while in the field. We would not want him to explode on us." Nodding, the meditative shinobi continued. "Also, if you see their Kage, engage with great caution. He may have been appointed recently, but he may still offer more than a challenge."

A nod was returned, and the calligraphy shinobi slapped the katana's pommel at his side. "I have heard some interesting things about him, though nothing yet confirmed. I can't say for certain how Hidan will interpret the situation, but we shall see. I intend to do as you've suggested."

"Then take care, Hideaki, and I shall endeavor to do so too."

Hideaki raised an eyebrow, already halfway through his bodily turn to leave. "Before we leave, what are you planning on doing, Neishin?"

"I shall get rid of those ahead of the main force; after all, we cannot march here after our victory with stragglers left alive."

With a shared grimace of concern, the two shinobi departed the lounge, their movements shadowed by an unseen presence. Though neither could detect the ANBU agent undoubtedly lurking nearby, both were acutely aware of the watchful eye that had followed them since the mysterious symbols first adorned their weapons. This surveillance, a calculated measure by the ever-vigilant Kage, served as both shield and shackle against the growing opposition within the village. To the Kage's agents, these hushed conversations were a tapestry of double meanings and veiled intentions, each word potentially concealing a threat to the fragile peace. Yet, despite the weight of unseen gazes upon them, Hideaki and Neishin slipped away, their true motives cloaked in a shroud of ambiguity as thick as the tension that hung in the air.


On the Road 22:53 Thursday 8th May 14 aNb Land of Hot Water

Hideaki leapt alongside the vast majority of his faction's forces. On either side of him, jonin and chunin with the same symbol on their weapons as his own, carried steel gazes. It had been a number of years since the last real fight. No doubt one of the primary reasons that the Daimyo has been pushing for a pacifist modernization. But these were hardened men. The faction they belong to is almost exclusively veteran, with very few young, new shinobi.

Two shinobi disappeared. Then three. Then five. At that point Hideaki noticed, and called out. "Center on me!"

A moment passed and the large group of shinobi collapsed on Hideaki. Everyone on high alert now, most unsure as to why, but on alert nonetheless. The cogs turning in their minds quickly stopped and became light bulbs when an icy mist filled the road. How were they able to stay hidden in this open plain? The answer would come too late as fighting could be heard at the edge of the group. The Shinobi leapt into action instantly. Jutsu started flying of all kinds, and the landscape quickly developed into chaos.
As fire, water and wind jutsu filled the sky, Hideaki also moved forward. He loosened his blade from its scabbard, in prime position for a drawing strike as he darted through the crowd. In an instant, he reached the edge and saw his first enemy. A Shimo-nin. Dressed in their usual white and black camo garb. He thought to himself, how did they escape our notice? We even have some sensor-nin here.

Hideaki effortlessly draws his blade and chakra flows along it. In the same motion as the draw, he slashes diagonally upward, effectively cleaving his enemy in two. This was not the report. He thought again, as he darted to his next target.

Hideaki's blade flashed in the moonlight as he cut down another Shimo-nin. The chaos of battle surrounded him, but his mind remained sharp, focused on the puzzle at hand. How had these enemies evaded detection? The answer came as he locked eyes with a figure standing at the edge of the fray, hands pressed together in a complex seal, just barely visible through the mist.

"A fuinjutsu specialist," Hideaki muttered, his eyes narrowing. The enemy ninja's hands glowed faintly, maintaining some kind of barrier or cloaking technique. Hideaki called out to his nearby comrades, "Focus on the seal master! He's masking their presence!"

As if on cue, a group of Yugakure shinobi converged on the fuinjutsu user. The Shimo-nin's eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly began to retreat, his hands still locked in the seal. But Hideaki was faster. In a blur of motion, Hideaki appeared behind the enemy specialist, his blade crackling with lightning chakra. He brings his katana down in a devastating arc leaving streaks of lightning in its wake.

The fuinjutsu user managed to dodge at the last second, but Hideaki's attack disrupted his concentration. The seal broke, and suddenly the battlefield shifted. Dozens of previously hidden Shimo-nin shimmered into view, their surprise attack now fully exposed. With their advantage lost, the tide of battle quickly turned. Hideaki's forces, no longer caught off guard, began to overwhelm the Shimo-nin. The Yugakure shinobi's superior numbers and knowledge of home terrain started to show as they pressed their advantage.

Hideaki himself continued to cut through the enemy ranks, his lightning-infused blade leaving a trail of defeated foes in his wake. He caught glimpses of his comrades employing their own techniques – bursts of flame, gusts of wind, and torrents of water tearing through the Shimo-nin lines.

The fuinjutsu specialist, now without his cloaking technique, found himself cornered by Hideaki and two other Yugakure jonin. Desperation clear in his eyes, he attempted to form another seal, but Hideaki was prepared this time. Faster than the eye could witness, Hideaki's sword switched from the crackling blue energy to a sickly green. With a swift strike, he cut through the specialist's defenses. The man gasped as he felt his chakra being drained, his half-formed jutsu fizzling out harmlessly.

As the fuinjutsu user collapsed, the remaining Shimo-nin's morale broke. They began to retreat, scattering into the surrounding wilderness. Hideaki's forces gave chase, determined not to let any enemies escape to report back. In the aftermath of the battle, Hideaki surveyed the scene. The road was scarred with the evidence of their clash – scorched earth, shattered ice, and the fallen bodies of both sides. But they had emerged victorious, and with minimal losses on their side.

One of his compatriots approached, breathing heavily but with a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Hideaki-san, we've routed them completely. A few managed to escape, but they won't make it far in our territory."

Hideaki nodded, wiping his blade clean before sheathing it. "Good work. Gather our wounded and prepare to move out. We need to press on to the northern border." He cast a glance at the unconscious form of the enemy fuinjutsu specialist. "And bring him. He might have valuable information."

As his forces regrouped, Hideaki couldn't help but feel a grim satisfaction. This victory would serve them well, both strategically and in terms of morale. But he knew this was just the beginning. The real challenges – both against Shimo and within Yugakure itself – still lay ahead.


Hot Spring Resort District 06:11 Friday 9th May 14 aNb Yugakure

Neishin paced down one of the many side pathways in the constantly under construction district. Buildings that were not there a month or so are now partially built and new hotsprings dug for the village's tourists. Just being surrounded by such a perversion of his village stoked his anger, but he pushes it down as he is here for a reason. An information broker who tends to make deals with the Progressive Reformist Party, most notably information about enemy sympathizers. At least, that is what the man supposedly tells the Kage.

After a turn or two Neishin eventually arrives at one of the older buildings in the district. A two storied inn with obviously repainted walls to help it fit in. To the side under cover is a small personal hot spring, while to the back on a man made mound is the public hot spring where many conversations and noise emanate from. The shoji to the front is already agape and seeing no one to stop him, he walks in and garners the attention of the attending. A woman barely older than twenty with long brown hair, fair face and a typical inn worker uniform.

Startled by the appearance of a shinobi she stutters as she addresses him. "Shinobi-san, what can we help you with?"

"Is Aonuma-san in today?" Neishin asked the woman, a smile atop his lips as he closed the shoji behind himself.

She watched as Neishin stood in front of the door, a sense of dread overcoming washing over her. "I believe he is downstairs in the office, may I ask what you wish to see him for?" The stutter continues.

"You may not." Neishin's smile fades as he gestures to a door to the back of the room. "It is that way, yes?"

She nods and confirms his presumption to which he returns another smile. He opened the door and made his way into the small basement of the inn. A single set of stairs to another door with a plaque that read 'Inn Office'. For a moment, Neishin prepares himself and checks over his weapons. He opted for a kunai before opening the door slowly. The room itself was small and held a desk, chair and a few cabinets. In the chair was a man around fifty or so years old, gray thinning hair pulled back into a ponytail, and basic clothes upon his person.

Before the man even noticed the door open the kunai in Neishin's hand was let loose piercing the elders shoulder and eliciting an immediate cry of pain. In the next moment the man's mouth was covered and his pain muffled so only those present could hear it.

"Aonuma-san, you and I are going to have a quick conversation, and if you resist," Neishin pauses and with his spare hand twisted the kunai. "Well, I would recommend simply complying." Aonuma's eyes moved frantically but eventually slowed and he nodded as best he could with a hand held to his mouth. "Wise choice." Neishin took his hand from Aonuma's mouth. "Now then, would you mind telling me which buildings are currently unoccupied."

"Unoccupied?" Aonuma's question was answered by a twist of the kunai. "Fine, there are several that were put on hold due to budget issues until the Kage could open more policies that favored foreign investors."

"Who would these policies favor?" While the question was simple enough, the answer already seemed obvious to Neishin.

"Land of Fire merchants and nobles." Aonuma sputtered out as the pain courses through his shoulder and arm. "Please, that is all I know."

"Aonuma-san, even I assumed it was nobles and merchants from Fire. I want the names of those linked to the empty buildings." Neishin relented his hold on the kunai, allowing a brief respite for Aonuma. "However, should I continue to find your answers insufficient, know this, I am well orientated with medical-jutsu."

Aonuma looked over the shinobi's face, looking for any hint of a lie or even truth but all he found was stoicism. "You are asking me to give up knowledge only a few have, I cannot comply or my life would be forfeit."

"You seem to misunderstand the situation. I wish to know this information and if you fail to satiate my inquiries, then I will be the one to whom your life would be forfeit." Neishin sighed as he covered the man's mouth again.

With another turn of the kunai, Aonuma's pain doubled as the blade severed tendons and chipped away at bone. Yet, no matter how many times Neishin turnt the kunai his patient would not spill the secrets he wished to know. Unsatisfied with the kunai, he pulled it free of flesh and sheathed it quickly while his free hand worked through a series of hand seals. Once done a sort of blue aura covered his hand. Aonuma looked on helplessly as Neishin applied his aura-covered hand to the man's chest. Blood spurted over both of them, Aonuma's chest opening like a knife through butter as the pain only continues to rise.

Panting and on the verge of losing consciousness Neishin relented and formed a new set of hand seals. The blue aura now covered not just his hands but the chest of the man stemming the bleeding to a point. A sense of relief washed over Aonuma as the pain subsided just enough for him to make muffled comments.

"You wish to talk?" Neishin asked.

With a nod from Aonuma, the hand that covered his mouth was removed. "Morio Okabe, a weapons merchant from Shukuba Town. Misako Hayato, she runs a chain of brothels in Shukuba Town. Lastly, Hidekazu Kuga, a noble from the capital of Fire."

"Are any of them in Yugakure presently?" Neishin halted his medical-ninjutsu to help force a quick response.

"Misako Hayato is currently visiting her open establishments while waiting for the others to be greenlit." The spike in pain was enough for Aonuma to answer without pause. "As far as I know, she's staying within the Kage's compound as his honored guest. That's everything I swear to you."

Neishin shook his head and sighed. "Aonuma-san, I know you know more, after all you may have created the image of a lowly inn owner. However, your secret is not hidden as well as you thought."

A spark of realization ran through Aonuma's mind as he attempted to struggle against his captor's grip. Yet, no matter how much he tried he was stuck in his position and at the mercy of a traditionalist. Or was he? He thought, biting down on his tongue as hard as he could. Blood soon spilling out of his mouth with his airways now clogged full of the liquid. Seeing this, Neishin clicked his tongue and using the back of his hand knocked the senses out of Aonuma. He used the hand seals again to conjure the blue aura the blood slows to a trickle and eventually the wound closed. Now that the threat of losing his information has passed, he places a hand into his pack and removes a small bottle. Opening it and wafting it under Aonuma's nose, Aonuma jolts awake to see Neishin's ice blue eyes burning a hole into his face.

"If you do that again, Aonuma-san, I may be forced to speak to your daughter." Neishin paused to let the gravity of the situation take a hold of Aonuma. "Do you have missives and written information about the three you told me of?" A lone nod is all Aonuma can muster. "Then when I let you lose, you will provide me with it all. Once this has concluded, you will start sending periodic information to a location of my choice. Do this, and your daughter will live to see another day. If you choose to do the opposite of what I have asked, there will be no place for you, or your family in Yugakure, understood?"

"I understand." All of the fight faded from Aonuma. "Where shall I send the information to?"

Neishin let go of Aonuma and smiled slightly. "That you shall know when it is time for you to deliver the information, for now gather what I have asked for and I shall leave you to your life."

With the agreement set, no matter how Aonuma felt about it he set himself back up and went to gather all of the information. Meanwhile Neishin wipes off the specks of still wet blood while keeping his eyes set upon his new informant.

I wonder how long till Kazuki Tanaka finds out about this little transaction. Neishin sat upon the desk as the thoughts mulled in his mind.


Forward Command Post 07:55 Friday 9th May 14 aNb Land of Hot Water - North Border

Hideaki strolled into the makeshift prison. After assessing losses, looting and burning the dead, the group remained unassailed until they reached the border. There a small team from their faction was already stationed as a lookout, and they were unaware of the arrival of their compatriots until they landed at the base. Hideaki quickly assumed command and had the Shimo-nin placed under protection in a shack. Now he joined the prisoner who was still unconscious in the corner.
Hideaki sends a small jolt of lightning from his fingertips into his would-be-killer. The Shimo-nin started upright before collapsing against the wall in exhaustion, still completely drained of his chakra.

"How did you know we were coming?" Hideaki bluntly asked. His tone brokered no argument, and his men had already checked the hostage for poison capsules. His only way out would be to cut his own tongue off. Still the ninja was quiet and he dared still to stare down Hideaki.

Hideaki then obliged. He drew his blade and it began to glow a dark brown. He dragged the blade against the Shimo-nin and watched as the man compressed into the ground, pulled downwards by an unseen force. "This is a seal technique I devised after facing Iwo-nin on an external mission. The seal placed on my blade, when activated, can increase or decrease the weight of an object the blade touches by manipulating the opponents chakra pathways. I'm told it's also quite painful," a pause as Hideaki watched the man's eyes roll into the back of his head, too tired to scream. "It seems that is true." He concludes.

After what seemed like ages for the ninja on the ground, Hideaki released the seal technique and the corresponding letters on his sword stopped glowing. The enemy shinobi's eyes rolled back forward as he regained his senses yet again. The Shimo-nin attempted to point toward his mouth but he was unable, though Hideaki saw the gesture. Hideaki nodded and called outside through the closed door, "I need a medic-nin for a small chakra transplant!"

Moments later another shinobi was in the room with them, and kneeled down next to the prisoner. His hands glowed green as he slipped in a small amount of medical chakra, which is notably able to change into the client's unique chakra almost instantly, though this process is inefficient. When he finished he stood and bowed slightly to Hideaki before leaving the hut.
The Shimo-nin pulled himself up to sit against the wall, at least now able to control his basic faculties. "Fuckin' scum." He said, spitting at Hideaki's feet.
Hideaki raised an eyebrow before shrugging. "Call me what you want, you know your position is powerless, and I will kill you in one of two ways. Swift or slow. Make your choice."

The Shimo-nin sighs, and you could see the age awash in the prisoners face. Lines of wrinkles bely the dark hair and with tired eyes. Hideaki guessed the hostage was in his mid fifties. "I understand." The Shimo-nin replies.

A few moments passed before Hideaki understood which choice the Shimo-nin made. "If that is your choice, you are entitled to it."