abwehr (Arata)

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion A sturdy carriage of fine sakura wood would wind its way down the rickety cobble path paved toward the great city of Otafuku Gai, drawn forward by nothing but the whim of the driver and the croak of warped wood. The carriage was adorned with intricate designs of cherry blossoms and golden accents, a clear sign of wealth and prestige. Inside the carriage, a figure sat hunched over, hidden beneath a thick cloak. The figure's gloved hands clutched tightly to a small, leather-bound book. "Careful, Eiji." The figure whispered, feeling the carriage bounce and sway over uneven road. "Sorry Keikan." A young boy whispered, diverting more of his focus to ensuring that his passenger had a smoother ride. As they neared the city, the figure drew her hood back, revealing the white hair and fair features of the princess of the Senju, Kozakura Senju. She peered out the carriage window, catching glimpses of the bustling streets and busy markets. But her attention was soon drawn to a commotion up ahead. A group of armed men had formed a blockade checkpoint at the outer limits, brandishing swords and scowling menacingly at the approaching carriage. "Itsuki's been busy..." Kozakura whispered, a calmness in her voice urging Eiji onward. From her leatherbound book, she pulled a small identification card. Aiko Sato, it showed and quickly her face changed to match the figure who's image was printed on the cardstock paper. She passed it forward to Eiji, who's heart quickened as they moved closer to danger, and he presented the card. The armed men scrutinized the card and exchanged glances before one of them spoke up. "Alright, you may pass. But keep in mind, the city is under our juristiction and any suspicious activity will not be tolerated." Kozakura nodded, concealing her relief. As the carriage rolled past the blockade, she let out a deep breath. She knew that things were only going to get more difficult from here on out. The city was in chaos, torn apart by civil inaction, common cruelty, and a playground to criminals and wicked shinobi. At the heart of it all was Itsuki, the notorious prince, who after his father's death had seized control of the nation, and through his influence maintained his rule over Otafuku Gai with an iron fist. Kozakura was determined to put an end to Itsuki's tyranny and restore order to the city, and to the whole land of fire. But to do so, she would need to enlist the help of allies. A tough sell in this part of the land, so far away from the Maboroshi Forest. But she had a good idea where to stop. A week back, one of her jounin officers had brought to her a story they'd overheard on the side of the road in the city of an underground organization, who's sour opinion of the princeling could almost rival Kozakura's own views on the matter. They'd meet beneath a tea shop on the west side of town, just shy of the transition into Shukuba Town, today. If she was going to find the kind of empassioned help she desired, and needed if she was going to take down Itsuki and supplant him, it would be here. As the carriage came to a stop outside the tea shop, Kozakura thought for a moment about how her younger self might have felt about this moment. She had always been a warrior at heart, but politics had never been her strong suit. She'd treated the matter with disdain for much of her life before her father died. But years of instruction and experience as the Keikan had molded her into the kind of woman who could navigate the treacherous waters of diplomacy and negotiation. Throwing her cloak up, Kozakura gave Eiji a nod. "Don't linger here, it may draw attention." She tossed him a small pouch of coin, and stepped out of the carriage. "Buy yourself something nice, and come back for me in a few hours." "Yes, Keikan." Eiji said, dillegently following the order and puppeting the carriage off down the road toward the market. Standing alone in the road now, she could feel the eyes of the city upon her, watching her every move. She thought it best to enter quickly, and headed down the steps to the undercroft of the teashop, the sweet aroma of the tea leaves masking the thick odor of dissent. Arata Namikaze

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Arata Namikaze]

HP: 340 | Chakra: 17 | Regen: 5/post

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TAGS: Kozakura Senju

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NOTES: ~

Dark brick lined the walls, caging in the damp scent of the tea shop above. Somewhere deeper in the shop’s basement, tea leaves must have been strung up to dry. Their aroma clung to the basement air, mingling with the pipe smoke that hovered near the ceiling. Even standing at the bottom of the stairs outside the basement door, Arata could smell the strange mix floating out. A burly man, clearly a guard, leaned against the brick wall and eyed him warily. “Get in or get out, son,” he breathed through his beard. “Lingering’s my job.” With a short nod, the shinobi stepped inside.

As he did so, he carefully folded up the weather-stained invitation he had presented the guard. It had arrived—in a far better state—ten days prior, addressed to him personally and signed by “a concerned friend.” He wanted, now, to unfold it and study the message again, but such an act would serve little purpose. He already knew the contents: condolences for the Namikaze massacre a year prior, hints at Prince Itsuki’s involvement in the whole affair, and plenty of veiled promises—promises pointing toward answers and revenge. The letter had closed with a simple time and location, an invitation drawing him to the pungent cellar beneath the city of Otafuku Gai.

Whispers of political dissent had reached his ears months ago, but such conversations were a perennial subject in every land. He had heard plenty of them during his years on the road. This letter, though, had the mark of something different than idle threats: it bore the mark of organization. Someone had moved—or at least was trying to move—beyond mere gestures of revolution. In this little tea shop of whispering conspirators, someone wanted to bring those hushed conversations to life.

The room itself had a surprising amount of space relative to the shop which rested above it. Illumined by the soft glow of candle light, he could see plenty of casks and crates lining the walls. A banquet table ran down the middle of the room, though no one yet sat in the mixed variety of chairs which surrounded it. The crowd—perhaps fifteen or twenty in number—had broken into smaller parties. Some lounged against the crates, smoking pipes and speaking with a whispered intensity. Others formed conspiratorial huddles in the darker corners of the room. A few wore hoods and masks, concealing their identities, but the majority went bare-faced.

These are the leaders, Arata thought as he sized up the different groups. A guild master’s token here, or a noble’s robe there made for easy marks. The merchants, too, had a certain look about them. The rest—a mix between elderly, wizened figures and crazy-eyed malcontents. Community organizers, politicians, and radicals. For every one of them, there must be hundreds behind them. With a big enough group, and some momentum...

He sighed and settled on a small crate in a darkened corner of the room. Few had noticed his entry, consumed by their whispering. A few eyed him with a brief curiosity, but eventually leaned back into their own conversations. A leader, he thought. A group of leaders in search of a leader. The challenge wasn’t numbers or influence—it was keeping a group of merchants, nobles, and activists from tearing each other apart.

He slipped his hand back into his pocket, rubbing a finger across the wrinkled letter once more. He'd stay, at least, and see what the meeting had to offer. Perhaps the little tea shop in Otafuku Gai held more than a few surprises. 

You’ll get what’s yours, Itsuki. And I’ll be there when you do.

Made by Zeref of THQ

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion Kozakura moved down into the basement, slipping into a strategic vantage point atop a crate against the cold northern wall. The air was thick with the scent of drying tea leaves, pipe smoke, and sweat, creating an oppressive aroma that made every breath a laborious task. As she sat in the dark dank of the undercroft, each minute that passed dragged on like an hour, and Kozakura had to shrug off attempts to include her in idle chatter and hushed murmurs many times while the group's anticipation built, awaiting the reveal of who it was that had gathered them together. As she looked around the room, Kozakura couldn't shake the sense of unease that settled over her like a heavy cloak. These were not the rebels she was used to working with. They were merchants, nobles, and community organizers, and each had their own agenda and interests. It took a skilled commander to keep a band of trained, disciplined shinobi from tearing eachother apart. Kozakura wondered who had the audacity to think they could keep command over such a diverse group, filled with ego and entitlement that shinobi were not conditioned to possess. Whoever had summoned them all, if they could pull it off, it would be impressive. As her eyes idly scanned the basement, Kozakura's attention was drawn to a blonde-haired man, standing tall and exuding an air of leadership. Threads of recognition connected in her mind as she realized this was Arata Namikaze, head of the fallen Namikaze clan. The massacre of his clan had been a tragedy that served as clear evidence of the daimyō's true character, and Kozakura had cited it many times in her conquests of lesser clans as she pressed on her own rebel front back in Maboroshi. If this meeting brought her nothing else of value, it had brought her this. Suddenly the murk of the basement was banished by a sudden blaze of light, wisps of smoke curled up into the air like serpents, and from within their midst emerged a figure cloaked in mystery. All heads swiveled to the edge of the banquet table where their benefactor stood, resplendent in a riot of colors that made her stand out like a flame in the darkness. With a sweeping gesture, the blind minstrel introduced herself to the gathered throng of rebels, her words ringing out with a musical lilt that brought to mind a chorus of birds singing at dawn. "Greetings, fellow dissidents!" she proclaimed. "I am Goze, and I shall be your gracious host for the evening." Goze's voice carried like a melody, and her words flowed like honey. Her clear practice caused Kozakura to remain cautious and indifferent. "You are all here today, brought together by a common enemy, the oppressive and corrupt Itsuki regime. They have used their power to crush dissent and silence those who oppose them, but we are not silenced. We are here, and we will not be silenced any longer. Today, we have the opportunity to come together, united in our cause, and to support the rebel front in their fight against our oppressors." She paused, allowing her words to sink in. Kozakura gave a quiet sigh, sure where this would go next. "If you pledge to support our cause, to back us financially and lend us your resources, we promise that you will be rewarded in the new era. A new era where power is distributed fairly, where the people have a say in their own governance, and where those who once oppressed us will be brought to justice. The future is ours to seize, but only if we are united in our cause. Now! I understand this is a difficult decision, and..." As Goze confirmed Kozakura's fear, that this was a pointless ploy to gather resources from the already downtrodden, in service of most likely the personal gain of their 'gracious' host, she ceased listening to her continued speech. Instead, she moved toward the only interesting figure she had spied in the room. If a rebellion was going to overthrow the corrupt regime, it seemed she would need to do it herself. And the Namikaze would be invaluable allies in that goal. "Greetings, Lord Namikaze. I am Kozakura, the Keikan of the Senju Clan. I would like to offer my sincerest condolences for the loss of your clan." Arata Namikaze

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Arata Namikaze]

HP: 340 | Chakra: 17 | Regen: 5/post

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TAGS: Kozakura Senju

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NOTES: ~

A charlatan. Shame. Arata sighed. Words led out against more words would not bring him any closer to his goal, nor would they help any of the other dissidents. Likely, Goze would simply drain their resources and slip away at the first sign of genuine resistance. However, a glance at the hungry eyes of the now-seated conspirators revealed to him that such a scam would likely work.

On one hand, the conspirators had certainly risen high enough in life to understand that Goze had her own agenda, her greed working silently in the background. On the other, though, all of them nursed similarly inflated ambitions. Their mistake was one of arrogance, not of naivete. At the end of the day, every person seated at that table believed they would be able to outmaneuver the others, and they lacked the humility to see that Goze—with her practiced speeches and charisma—would beat them all to the punch.

Shinobi who thought along similar lines often ended up dead, and Arata had no intention of joining them. It was important to know which battles one should fight. He eased himself up from his seat in the corner of the room, but as he turned to leave, he found himself face-to-face with a white-haired woman who introduced herself as Kozakura Senju.

After hearing her condolences, Arata offered a slight nod of respect. “Thank you, Keikan, though as you can see, the Namikaze are not completely lost.” He felt a familiar fire flare up in his heart. “We mourn the dead, yes, but we still have our battles to fight.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have heard wonderful things about how you’ve built up the Senju, and I am looking forward to seeing where you’ll take your clan in the coming years.” He glanced back toward Goze’s sales pitch, which was starting to drone a bit. “Though I must confess, I am surprised to see you here of all places. I was just planning to leave, myself. Our ‘gracious’ host has made a lot of promises, but I’d rather listen to someone who means what they say.” He paused slightly, his tone gesturing to the unspoken question beneath his words: Perhaps you feel the same way?

Made by Zeref of THQ

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion Kozakura's smile was small, yet knowing, as she observed the burning embers of Arata's ambition and thirst for revenge. He was right that the Namikaze were not completely lost. She recognized the unwavering strength of a true shinobi in his eyes, someone who refused to succumb to loss but instead drew motivation from it, someone who could take the tragedy that had befallen them and use it as kindling and fuel for a fire that would burn away injustice and complete their mission. That kind of fire was something that she was intimately familiar with. As Arata spoke, his words only served to further reinforce Kozakura's impression of him. Goze was a fraud, one among many that Kozakura had encountered in the past year as she expanded her network of clans within Maboroshi. Her influence spread like the roots of a mighty oak, uprooting and destroying the parasitic hold that the daimyō had over the people and the land. "I too have grown weary of the empty rhetoric of charlatans and thieves." Kozakura's eyes glinted with a depth of meaning that went beyond Goze and the noblemen assembled before her. "That's why I have come here today, seeking to forge strong alliances for my clan and our burgeoning alliance. But so far, it seems that all we have done is waste precious moments indulging in Goze's grand entrance." With a subtle but unmistakable emphasis on the word "waste," Kozakura wore quite intentionally on her sleeve that she was someone who did not like to mince words, and did not tolerate frivolousness. She looked to Arata, with a question of her own. "May I ask, Lord Namikaze, what are your plans for the future?" Kozakura inquired, her expression contemplative as she leaned forward slightly. "It is difficult to imagine that you would let Itsuki's actions go unpunished." She was very much interested to see what Arata's answer was. It would tell her if he was the kind of person that the Tasogare Alliance could use. Arata Namikaze

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Arata Namikaze]

HP: 340 | Chakra: 17 | Regen: 5/post

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TAGS: Kozakura Senju

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NOTES: ~

Arata nodded slightly after Kozakura had explained why she had come to the speech that evening. Stark honesty tinged her words, confirming his first impressions of the Keikan. Here was a person who wasted neither time nor resources, taking action where others might have dragged their feet. Arata both respected and was wary of such efficiency. Anyone who had heard the news of the Senju’s rapid, systematic expansion in the Maboroshi Forest likely felt the same. Kozakura and her clan could be powerful allies, yes, but that also made them equally terrifying foes. If she had truly come to the tea shop to forge alliances, he could not afford to dismiss the opportunity in front of him.

He would not bend on his ambitions for the future, but if his interests happened to overlap with the Senju’s he intended to capitalize on them. “My plans are simple, enough, Lady Senju,” he spoke. “I will see Itsuki dethroned and tried for his crimes, and I will make sure my clan has whatever it needs to rebuild. And,” he added with a slight grin, “I’ll try my hardest to stay alive through all of that, if I can.”

There was another goal, of course, but the Keikan did not need to know about his search for Midori, Itsuki’s kidnapped daughter, whom Arata had tutored at a rural temple a few years prior. An heir to the throne would only complicate matters, and there had been no indication as to her whereabouts in over a year. She’s alive, though. He told himself. She has to be.

He paused for a few seconds, eyes drifting to the corner of the room as he thought through his next words carefully. “That sounds a little overambitious, doesn’t it? I’m not a complete fool, though. My resources are limited, and any effort to take on Itsuki at this moment would likely end in my own death.” The words tasted like ash in his mouth. He had spent too many long nights talking himself down from storming the palace of Otafuku Gai before his heart had finally accepted that his clan needed him to be more than another dead Namikaze. “However, with a strong alliance or two, perhaps…Well, let me put it this way: If our interests happen to overlap, what do you think you could do with some of the Land of Fire’s best scouts and skirmishers?”

He hoped the question painted a nice enough picture. The Namikaze, even in their current state, still had nearly a hundred of the quickest shinobi from across the Five Nations. They were a shadow of what they had been a year prior, but even a mediocre tactician could use them for devastating effect in ambushes, flanking, and sabotage. It was possible that a truly gifted commander—one who wasted neither time nor resources—could use them to cripple on a nation.

Made by Zeref of THQ

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion Kozakura's lips curved into a subtle smile as Arata expressed a hint of doubt in his grand plan. Was it a little overambitious? "Not at all." she said, as mind wandered to the years she spent pursuing her own ambitious goal, one that went beyond the boundaries of any single shinobi clan. Compared to her pursuit of eliminating war from every nation in the world, the idea of a small clan taking down a corrupt daimyō seemed almost trivial. Their discussion was laced with subtlety, but Kozakura had picked up on the unspoken message behind Arata's words: if they joined forces, could they bring ruin upon Itsuki and his followers? If so, in what way? She pressed a finger to her lips as she conjured in her mind the many possibilities that having the agile and skilled Namikaze clan as allies could afford her. "Well," she began. "We could probably take Tonika Village." If you wanted to talk about overambitious goals, this was definitely one. The thought of sacking and conquering Tonika Village with even a handful of shinobi clans was, without a doubt, considered to be impossible. Let alone, with only two. It was one of the most heavily fortified strongholds of the daimyō, second only to the inner city of Otafuku Gai, and rife with corruption. The village was patrolled by platoons of soldiers who moved at erratic intervals, making it almost impossible for any shinobi to infiltrate the area undetected. But with the Namikaze clan and their imposisble speed on their side, the Senju and their lesser clan allies could break the chain of patrol, slipping past to shatter their defenses and purge the city of the daimyō's influence. She allowed a moment for that impossible thought to form in Arata's mind, and then followed it up. "And Yosuga Pass, too." While not as fortified as Tonika Village, Yosuga Pass was renowned for how quickly it's retired shinobi populace could mobilize to defend it. Taking control of such an important trade route for the land of fire would be pivotal in their quest to take down Itsuki. Arata Namikaze

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Arata Namikaze]

HP: 340 | Chakra: 17 | Regen: 5/post

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TAGS: Kozakura Senju

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NOTES: ~

Arata blinked. Tonika and the Yosuga Pass? No wonder Kozakura had hardly seemed to bat an eye at his plans for the future. She certainly dreamed big. Running a hand through his hair, he whistled softly. “You paint a pretty picture, Lady Senju. Taking the Pass would be a big enough blow to seriously hurt Itsuki, but stealing away his precious fortress at Tonika, too? You could end his influence in the region.”

He shook his head and tapped a finger on his lips, running through the possible outcomes of such a decision. “I won’t say it’s impossible, but…Well, I will say this: I believe you when you say we can take Tonika and the Pass. If we moved quick enough and hit hard enough, it’s not out of the question. However, holding onto both of them afterward—that will require a lot more than a well-timed assault.” The daimyo would not sit back and watch his second largest fortress and one of the nation’s main trade routes get swallowed up overnight. Maintaining a presence in Tonika and the Pass would require not only healthy supply lines but the military power to keep them well-guarded against Itsuki’s forces.

Such an operation would demand numbers well beyond what he had expected out of the Maboroshi Forest. However, a more important question lingered in the back of his mind. Raising an eyebrow, Arata turned a question toward the woman standing across from him. “Let’s say everything does work out, though. We take Tonika Village, we secure the Yosuga Pass, and we defend against the counterattack Itsuki is bound to send our way. Let’s even be so bold as to say we take the bastard down. What then? What happens to the people of Tonika Village, or Otafuku Gai, or all of the farmlands in between? What are your plans for the future, Kozakura Senju?”

Made by Zeref of THQ

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion Kozakura had not become accustomed to this. As the head of her clan, and the most prominent among the leaders in her small band of collected clans, her plans had been been subject to such thoughtful and thorough questioning. It was difficult for her to say if she liked that, but her recieving it from Arata served only to show that the fire of his ambition was tempered by a well-reasoned mind, and that his desire to help the people did not end where his bloodline did. She sat on the question thoughtfully for a few moments, going over the possibilities and her options in her mind. She wanted to ensure her answer came from the same place of careful consideration that the question had been born "On the front of defending against counter attack, I am confident in my clan's ability to reinforce Tonika Village and the Yosuga Pass. However, you are right that it would require us to be spread very thin. In all likelihood, maintaining our position there would prevent forces being rallied to mount any further operations to take down Itsuki." Next, came the second question. The far more important question, she supposed. What to do with the civillians? With those in Tonika and Yosuga who benefit from the daimyō's regime, and who would regret and even oppose the loss of his influence. "As for the people, I will not see them punished should they oppose us. I refuse to stoop to Itsuki's level and inflict unnecessary suffering upon innocent lives." The third question was one rather ambigious in nature, but Kozakura could tell that Arata had a very specific question in mind. When he asked for her plans for the future, what he meant was her plans should she be afforded a position to lead, or to take Itsuki down. "This world is an endless cycle of suffering and war, spinning on an accursed wheel that cannot be stopped. It is perpetuated each generation, by people like Itsuki and those who serve them. It can never be stopped, so long as it is allowed to exist. It must be broken," she said, a determined look in her eye, so sure of the reality of her impossible ambition, despite the incomprehensible scope of it. "And I intend to break that wheel. I will burn it down, and from it's ashes I will forge a new world, where shinobi no longer fight and die without reason or reward." Arata Namikaze

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Arata Namikaze]

HP: 340 | Chakra: 17 | Regen: 5/post

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TAGS: Kozakura Senju

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NOTES: exiting thread

Arata listened and, for a short time, said nothing. His mind ran through Kozakura’s answers again, weighing each of them in turn. Her final statement—burning the ever-turning wheel of suffering and war—had the most weight behind it. In the back of Arata’s mind, a small voice asked about what else might get caught in the Senju’s great bonfire. Would burning this ‘wheel’ mean burning down farms? Towns? Opposing families? Kozakura promised no unnecessary suffering, but a great deal could be justified in the midst of a war.

Enough of that, he chided himself, fighting to silence the small voice. Do you want Itsuki gone or not? Do you want your clan restored or not? Do you think that will all just happen on its own? Of course, there was no certainty behind where Kozakura’s rebellion might lead. Perhaps she was right—perhaps she could break the cycle of suffering and war which had plagued the nations for the past hundred years. And if she was wrong, Arata would have to accept those consequences as they came.

What was certain, shining brightly before him, was that a partnership with the Senju would allow him to fulfill his own duties—to avenge his family and protect the remaining members of his clan—to an extent he hadn’t dreamed possible. There could be no greater revenge on Itsuki than shattering his throne, and there would be no greater assurance of safety for the Namikaze clan than a new era of peace.

After a moment of consideration, Arata nodded. “Those are fine answers, Keikan.” He met her gaze, a familiar fire burning in his eyes. “I will be honest with you: I do not know if that wheel can be shattered. In trying to throw it to the ground, you might simply spin it all the faster. However,” he leaned forward slightly, “if you really can bring about this ‘new world,’ then the Namikaze would be honored to fight by your side.”

A hush had fallen in the room, a brief lull as dinner began for the various conspirators. The ‘gracious’ host herself had not yet taken her seat but was instead slinking toward the two of them with a hungry look in her eyes. Both his time on the battlefield and his time with the merchants had left Arata with a healthy sense of when to retreat. He had already found more than he had hoped for at the tea shop that night.

Offering Kozakura a bow, he began to move toward the stairs. “I will prepare my clan to join you on your trip to Tonika, Lady Senju. In the meantime, let’s stay in contact about the particular details of our alliance. You or any of your clansmen are always welcome to visit us in Chikurin Village. Until we meet again, Kozakura.” With a short wave and a flicker of motion, he disappeared into the night.

Made by Zeref of THQ

[Kozakura Senju]

abwehr Koza seeks allies for her rebellion While he had not shared his feelings in full, Kozakura could tell that the same things that weighed on her about her great work had weighed on him as he considered it as well. She would do all that she could, to avoid suffering, ill and tragedy that could be avoided. But in conflict with forces as large and as persistent as she was, it would become increasingly difficult to avoid that with each pace forward she took on her track toward the new world. Even with that weight though, Arata could clearly see the possibilities a world like that would afford. The same burning fire that raged in her heart was reflected back at her through Arata's eyes, and he had agreed to fight beside her. It would still take a significant amount of planning, and at least one other clan by their side to take Tonika and be able to hold it down afterwards. As Arata left, Kozakura wordlessly bowed her head in recognition, before the blind minstrel had crept up beside her. "Kozakura Senju!" Goze cried, and with a single step forward Koza inched a step back toward the stair case. "What will your contribution be to our fine cause?" There was a moment of pause, where Kozakura considered her options. As she did, she noticed an intensity in Goze's expression, like she was waiting, reading, observing. Perhaps she wasn't even blind. This charade had been enough for her. But trouble for Itsuki no matter how small was another bullet in the gun of her rebellion. She handed Goze a small bag of ryō. "There is work to be done." she said simply, as she moved up the stairs. It would take a lot of hard work, but the wheel would burn. Tonight, the kindling beneath it had sparked. All she had to do was fan the flame. Arata Namikaze Exiting thread.

Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1 Technique: 1 Toughness: 2 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 CP: 17/17 HP: 460/460

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Edsauce]

Kozakura Senju gains 9 XP

2 + 9 = 11

Arata Namikaze gains 8 XP

17 + 8 = 25