A battle of Mind and Flame

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"Eh, the name's a bit dramatic. More like the forest of inconvenience, or the forest of too many wild animals. Things leave me alone usually, so it's quiet. It's not like I have a house nearby and spend days here."

    He was doing his own variation of exaggeration, because it's not like he literally came here for relaxation as much as finding a place no one else was going to be. When he needed to train without the embarrassment of being seen falling off of or out of something, training with throwing things, or to just find a tall tree and hide there for a few hours, there were few better places. It obviously sounded better to just say he liked to hang out in the Forest of Death, or at least that's what he liked to think.

    The talk about his eyes simply made Masshiro narrow his more and more, as it seemed odd that your main tool was something you would choose not to use. Given how he reacted to little more than a jump scare with fireballs, personally the Sharingan would be the first thing he would think to go to if the roles were reversed. Problem was, he didn't actually know how long it took to activate, and what he had heard could have been it's own exaggeration, but now he was curious in a way he hadn't expected to be. This was the first Uchiha he had met, and he wasn't immediately pulling out the crazy eyes.

"Uh huh."

    His eyes were so narrowed they were nearly closed, leaning forward more and more as he tried explaining about not wanting to use chakra, or use it against his genjutsu, and it could have been completely true, not like he would know. It all seemed too convenient all the same, but really, it's not like he could claim otherwise.

"You could always just sho...oh well fine then."

    Wiping his hand on his pants out of some habit, he extended it and moved forward.

"Good point, you don't know me. Name's Masshiro Kurama. I don't lead anything. There, now you know me, so..."

    Wiggling his eyebrows up and down he just kept staring.

"Do the thing."

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    With the precept of battle now behind them, the shinobi's attitude becomes more... bubbly. He introduces himself as Masshiro Kurama, sticking out his hand in gesture of a pleasant greeting. Kuroda hesitates for a moment, and takes his hand off the blade hilt, and takes Masshiro's hand in his.

    After letting go, Masshiro suddenly becomes comically conspiratorial in how he was requesting to be shown the Sharingan - which was both stressful and increasingly embarrassing. Kuroda lets out a heavy sigh, and scratches the back of his head.

    "I can see why Genjutsu suits you... you're very persistent, aren't you?" Kuroda replies, frowning as he tries to think of what to do. "I already told you, though - the Sharingan is very taxing on Chakra, and I don't much feel like getting snapped up in a beast's jaws because you were curious about it."

    It wasn't a good idea to show Masshiro the Sharingan, even if he could use it. There was a strong possibility even now that more than just their eyes were upon this place. Kuroda then realizes that Masshiro was leaning in rather closely now, and reflexively leans back, raising his brows at Masshiro.

    "Can't say I've met anyone this interested in seeing the Sharingan..." Kuroda says, taking a step back. "Most would rather go without ever witnessing them."

---

WC: 220

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"Persistent, I like that. Usually it's annoyingly stubborn, but persistent sounds better. Don't hear that tying together with my genjutsu too often I gotta say. Have to remember that one."

    Stubborn and persistent definitely described him well, but rarely in such obvious ways. He preferred staying out of the way until he had to, and when he couldn't he would beat his head against a wall until it gave way if he needed to. It was hard to say where exactly he got it from as neither of his parents were that way at all, but when you grow up being told you'll never do what they can do, you are weaker than everyone else, eventually you want to prove them wrong.

"You think casting genjutsu isn't taxing? Remember when I created another you attacking you? That was more than a little taxing."

    His eyes were finally opening back up to a normal degree and he was starting to stand up straight again, but his face was now showing more clear doubt, and a smug grin.

"You can just say you don't want to show me. Keep your secrets, doesn't mean I won't keep asking, but just say no. My entire life, my training, my jutsu is all about illusion and obfuscation, so don't think I can't spot it in kind."

    Giving a knowing look and a nod, he turned his head trying to signal he at least thought Kuroda was flat out lying to some degree, thought he didn't know which parts were true and others were exaggerating.

"Ya know, my cousin, she's not much younger than I am, Kurama, lives here in fact, well in this country that is away from the rest of our family, yeah, she has never used a genjutsu in her life. None of our traits manifested. She likes to shoot lightning at people, but point is, she can't do what I can do despite being from our clan."

    Completely turning away now he walked over to where he had dropped his coat, but didn't pick it up or put it on.

"Who wouldn't be curious about it? You're the first Uchiha I've met, and all I've heard about your clan are rumors and stories about those fancy eyes. Besides, knowledge is more powerful than any fireball or genjutsu, wouldn't you say?"

    Leaning back against the tree he was giving Kuroda than knowing look again with that same smug grin plastered across his face.

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda frowns.

    "...I would agree to that sentiment, yes." Kuroda says, somewhat off put. Then he sighs and takes his hand off the pommel of his short blade, and places both hands on his hips. "But seeing how curious you are, I admit that it is a little amusing to keep you in the dark."

    Kuroda tilts his head.

    "So you've heard of the Sharingan. Rumors, you said?" Kuroda inquires. "Let's hear what you've heard then. I wont be showing you the Sharingan, but I can debunk or confirm a few things for you, if that helps sate your curiosity."

    Kuroda gazes around the area.

    "...But perhaps we should deal with these fires first." Kuroda says, grimacing at nearly having caused a forest fire.

---

WC: 124

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"Keeping me in the dark, hah!"

    Letting out a sudden loud laugh, he wiped his face as if it had brought him to tears, though clearly it hadn't. It was amusing all the same, and his sense of humor was all over the place, though he appreciated a good pun all the same.

"Get it, in the dark? Standing in this dark forest, forest of death. No? Just me?"

    Crossing his arms he gave a loud sigh sounding more like a deflating balloon than disappointment. Dropping his arms his shrugged, looking at their half burning surroundings in amusement.

"Heard of is generous, but not completely untrue. I've heard mention of the name of it before I heard what an Uchiha was, actually. Scary eyes that can steal your jutsu so you can't use them anymore. Uh, cast genjutsu just by staring at you, which I can do by the way so big woop. Let's seeee, oh, catch people on fire, and you do kinda cast fire."

    Tilting his head upward he raised his hand to his chin with a stereotypical thinking pose and just stared.

"If you stare too long it can steal your soul, and someone said Uchiha like eating babies, but he also thought I was a ghost because I have white hair, so I can guess he was just crazy."

    Walking back towards Kuroda he reached up towards his own eye as he leaned closer, grabbing with his thumb and finger to dramatically open his eye wider. 

"No genjutsu that I've seen from you, you didn't steal any jutsu that I'm aware of, and I haven't seen you eating any babies yet."

    Leaning back he dropped his hand, but staring curiously into the Uchiha's eyes.

"Not like I would know, your eyes look pretty normal to me."

    Turning back around and looking at the fire, he both nodded and shrugged.

"Can those eyes of yours absorb fire? I know mine can't. I don't have any water powers either. Fire doesn't tend to respond to genjutsu last I checked so, what do you suggest exactly? I suggest we pretend like it didn't happen and just move if it gets too close."

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda raises a brow at the rumors Masshiro was claiming to have heard. And though Kuroda hadn't meant what he'd said at a joke; Masshiro laughing at the pun all the same was a little disarming. With any luck; this whole issue was going to be behind them.

    "...The ravings of a drunkard, is what most of that sounds like." Kuroda grumbles. The rest, Kuroda doesn't immediately comment on - but the rumor of catching someone ablaze with just a look was... well, he led the Uchiha. He knew exactly what truth there was or wasn't behind that particular rumor. "And no, my eyes can't absorb fire. However..."

    Kuroda reaches into his hip pouch, and pulls a small scroll out. He unfurls it to reveal - nothing. Well, almost nothing. There is a wide, empty space, situated between symbols that form something of an oval around the empty space. Kuroda approaches the flames, and kneels down, setting the scroll down and spreading it out.

    He performs several signs, and slaps his hands against the scroll parchment.

    "Seal!" Kuroda barks. All at once, the orange and expanding flames suddenly reach out towards Kuroda, spinning and searing through the air until...!

    The flames change direction, surging into the center of the open space on the parchment! All of the small grass fires and tree bark flames are sucked into the center of that space, and when the blazes are gone, a symbol of the word Fire sits at the center of the once empty space.

    Kuroda rolls the scroll back shut, and ties it closed with a thin string. He stands up, and wags the scroll.

    "Preparation for as many scenarios as possible - something I learned the hard way during the war, and fighting the Senju." Kuroda says, slipping the scroll into his hip pouch. "And to address the rumors, no - we aren't soul stealing  baby eaters. But there is some truth to those first things. We don't need to weave hand signs to activate our Genjutsu - eye contact, even for less than it takes to blink, is enough time to be caught in a Genjutsu cast by the Sharingan."

    Kuroda smiles.

    "And we can't steal your Jutsu - the Sharingan copies it. Completely." Kuroda confirms. "The catching people on fire thing just sounds like a misrepresentation. As you say, we Uchiha accel particularly strongly when it comes to Fire Release Jutsu."

    Kuroda regards Masshiro, and then looks at the dead giant snake.

    "...You did interrupt me while I was hunting. I was about to seal away this beast's corpse for transfer when you showed up." Kuroda says, looking back at Masshiro. "So... what now?"

---

WC: 440

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"I won't lie, most of it I heard from my Uncle. Okay all of it, and I think he was mostly sober, though pretty sure some of it he just wanted to see if I'd call him on it or not. Guy has an odd sense of humor."

    As odd as his Uncle's sense of humor was, it was near a mirror of Masshiro's to be frank, given it's where he had gotten most of it. His parents certainly weren't the laugh out loud sorts when he was young, given how serious they were about his training and unlocking his powers. There wasn't much interest his Uncle had in all of the training of powers and unlocking this and that, just swinging his hammer.

"Interesting."

    Walking over to grab his goat, he began to dust off the dirt and leaves that had accumulated since he had been sitting there. He wasn't ignorant about sealing techniques but first time he had seen it happen up close.

"Senju, didn't expect to hear of that name so soon. Met their leader recently and had a nice chat. Oooooooh...."

    Making a noise that was something between a snort and a laugh, he started to put on his coat with the widest smile.

"They do the wood stuff and here you are catching things on fire. Can't imagine they'd have a good time fighting against you."

    His eyes narrowed at the slight brag about Genjutsu, but it was a simple matter of pride given his predilection to casting Genjutsu as his primary tactic.

"Would be nice to have a Sharingan or two. Casting that simply with what my Genjutsu can accomplish would certainly wreak havoc. Is that a rude thing to say to an Uchiha? I don't really know."

    The "what now" caught him off guard, because the words rang in his head at near the exact same time as he thought to say similar, though he would play it off and act as casually as he could manage.

"Well, if you aren't going to show me your fancy eyes, you could always teach me how to do that sealing thing you just did. That could certainly come in handy. Or, and hear me out, we could make us a deal that no one but us and the trees could dare to hear and..."

    Leaning forward he started to point, taking steps closer and closer towards Kuroda until he was clearly and obviously pointing towards his eyes.

"You tell me how I can get one of those Sharingan and I would be ever so indebted to the Uchiha."

    He knew full well he was pushing his luck, but pushing the buttons till he found the one with the optimal outcome was what he enjoyed the most.

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda lifts a brow at Masshiro as the latter speaks. Yes - eccentric certainly fit the bill with this one. At the comment about Senju, Kuroda shakes his head.

    "Not all of the Senju can use the Wood Release; something I discovered fighting them." Kuroda says. "Just like not all Uchiha can use the Sharingan. For some, Kekkei Genkai never manifest, even if they come from a Clan with a strong one. And as for those that did have it, that I fought - no. It didn't go well for them. That said, I've only faced a handful of them. Kozakura Senju, I hear, is particularly skilled with it."

    It was interesting to know that Masshiro had met Kozakura - and now had met him. Funny how things happened sometimes. When Masshiro asked if Kuroda could teach him the Fire Sealing technique, he was actually preparing to agree. It was not a dangerous thing to teach even a stranger.

    But when Kuroda heard him speak of obtaining Uchiha eyes; his own gaze sharpened viciously. It rang too close for comfort - stories of other Shinobi Clans trying to steal the Sharingan from the corpses of fallen Uchiha, or kidnapping young Uchiha with the hopes of stealing the eyes from a living host.

    "You get the Sharingan, if you are born an Uchiha." Kuroda replies harshly, his expression livid. "If you don't have Uchiha blood in your veins, you don't get to have it. The closest you could dare to settle for, is if you married into the Uchiha Clan, and produced children - they could potentially possess the Sharingan."

    Kuroda smacks Masshiro's hand aside.

    "Don't even jape about getting them for yourself - my Clansmen have been murdered, kidnapped, or their corpses defiled over that very kind of thinking." Kuroda growls. "Do not ask that again - or I will bring the entirety of the Uchiha Clan's power down on the Kurama."

---

WC: 315

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"That-----is accurate. My cousin has one parent from our clan and one parent that has so strong bloodline that I'm aware of, and she not only hasn't manifested her Kurama powers, but she has no skill with Genjutsu to speak of."

    He saw the change in Kuroda's gaze, even as he kept talking, kept asking about the Sharingan, kept putting his foot further in his mouth. It was clear at that point he had not just touched a nerve, but kicked and stomped on it, yet he kept talking. It was one of his less desirable traits, but when he started talking it was more like trying to stop a moving train; you could hit the breaks but it stopped when it decided it was stopping.

"Well sure, that's the obvious and normal way. I think we both know it can happen in other less, what's the word for it, socially acceptable manners."

    Extending his other arm, finally dropping the one that was previously pointing as it was smacked, he cleared his throat and began to extend fingers as if counting, as he started listing ways.

"Being given one from a host, procuring one by force, taking one from a dead body, finding some creepy person who for some reason has one in their position. That's not to say it would necessarily do you any good. I've heard whispers of it, but for all I know you could shove one of them in your own eye socket and it wouldn't do you much good."

    It really wasn't something he was certain on, even if he had a bucket full of them to test the theory, but hearing more about what the Sharingan could do, he'd be lying to say he wasn't interested. Having that sort of power along with the power he already had would make his Genjutsu genuinely fearsome.

"You can't blame me for being curious of such a power. I had to ask, you never know until you do. It's not like I would go plucking eyes like picking flowers, I'm not a psychopath. As for the other bit, feel free. They are in a different country, and there are more than a few far more powerful at this whole thing than I am. My mother for example, I couldn't hold a candle to her Genjutsu. So, be careful what you threaten. Also I have no care for them, hence why I'm here, and not there. Not that I want them dead or anything."

    Dropping his arms, he finally rubbed at the hand that was smacked as if it were a delayed reaction.

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda studies Masshiro for a moment, watching the other Shinobi. From the sound of it, Masshiro seemed to be... alone. If what he said was true, then that meant that Masshiro must be estranged from the Kurama - if he cared so little for the threat of the Uchiha Clan coming after the Kurama.

    Why that was, Kuroda couldn't say.

    "You'll have to forgive my attitude - many of my kin have been murdered over that question." Kuroda says after a moment, his sharp gaze softening somewhat. "The Kurama, last I heard, kept to their own lands. Why would you come to the Land of Fire? With your skill, I doubt it would be for sightseeing."

    A thought occurred to Kuroda.

    "And you said you met Kozakura - may I ask what that was, or how it went?" Kuroda inquires, trying to steer the subject away from the Sharingan.

---

WC: 146

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

    Masshiro let out a hearty laugh at the apology as he fixed his coat and pressed out the non-existent wrinkles. Dusting it off out of pure habit, he looked back up as the laugh subsided, sighing as it ended.

"Why apologize for something like that? You said what you felt you needed to say. Takes more than that to get under my skin, ya know? I've heard just about every threat there is to hear. Okay not literally, but still."

    Giving a shrug, he turned away for a moment, only turning back as he started talking.

"The Kurama, for the most part, do. Most don't do well with strangers, or anything they consider different. There are a few of us here in this country, not that I'd go drawing a map to where they are."

    His own soft and amused features started to harden as Kuroda's softened, as if he had a specific imagine or thought in his mind that was pulling at his emotions. It was clearly one of anger and annoyance, causing his eye to slightly twitch.

"I am what you would call, different. I was frail at a young age, born with this pure white hair that caused all sorts of superstitious rumors, and my powers manifested much later than most. Despite how strong I am with my Genjutsu now compared to others, those of the Kurama back home my own age are considerably stronger."

    Raising his head up from his coat, he stared over at Kuroda, maybe the first truly serious look he had on his face since this meeting had started.

"I'm different, so my parents didn't appreciate that. Me leaving was, let's say mutual."

    Over by the tree where he had taken off his coat earlier laid a scroll bound in a thick red string. Moving over to pick it up he immediately tossed it at Kuroda before he was fully standing back up straight, motioning towards him with his chin.

"It was interesting. That's a scroll partially entailing a mission I was given to.....observe them. Read between the lines and they wanted me to attack them, even kill them. Bit of information about them in there, where to find them and so on. They really pissed off the Daimyo and that was the result, likely one of many no doubt."

    The serious look slid effortlessly into a grin as he remembered the conversation, and the look on the Senju's face as he told them something very similar.

"I don't much care for the Daimyo or his scheming, so I did what I do, gathered my information, just more directly, showed them that same scroll, told them why I was there, and he had a lovely chat."

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda listens to Masshiro, and the latter did have quite a bit to say on the matters. By mutual agreement for him to leave, it sounded to Kuroda that this person was under a voluntary exile from his own Clan. In this age of warring Daimyos, being a Shinobi and surviving meant two things - you either served the Daimyo, or you stayed with your family to protect one another.

    He catches the scroll being tossed to him, and frowns. At Masshiro's invitation, Kuroda unfurls the scroll and begins to read it. That confirmed it - and as Masshiro suggested, there was certainly implications that he should take initiative to deal with certain individuals. That Kozakura Senju was among those meant that the Senju were all being targeted.

    Was the Daimyo so stupid as to think he could target the Senju? That line of thought brought Kuroda to Arata - and the near extermination of the Namikaze Clan.

    "...This keeps happening..." Kuroda says, more to himself than to Masshiro. His eyes narrow as he furls the scroll and ties it shut once more. He regards Masshiro. "What is your goal in showing this to them? ...Actually, no. That isn't important. With Kozakura and the Senju knowing this, it is only a matter of time before the Daimyo or the Senju make a move against the other."

    That meant there was a war brewing, as he had feared. And where, then, should the Uchiha fall onto? Should they side with the Daimyo to defeat their long war time enemies in the Senju? Should they stand with the Senju and depose the Daimyo - if that was possible? Or should they just stand aside, and let it all sort itself out, keeping the Uchiha clear of any vengeful eyes?

    It was not an easy decision, and one he couldn't make by himself. He tosses the scroll back to Masshiro.

    "You understand that by showing this to Kozakura, and now me, you're the first person the Daimyo will look to when Kozakura makes a move against him. There will be war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Stone, where your Clan resides?" Kuroda says, observing Masshiro. "Never mind that you will be branded a Rogue Shinobi and hunted - Itsuki is a prideful, vengeful man."

    Yes - war. Either a Civil War between the Senju and their allies against the Daimyo, or a war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Stone. Or worse - both a Civil War and an International War. The Uchiha would never be able to avoid war in any of the three cases.

    It was time to move the Uchiha Clan somewhere more fortified. And that meant that it was time to turn to the Fire Temple, as he had been considering. The Temple was also a fortress - one that had never once fallen since it was first raised. It was the training grounds and home of the Fire Monks, who themselves were formidable Shinobi, and the Twelve - powerful shinobi who protected the Daimyo.

    Kuroda shakes his head. His hopes for peace were dashed, just like that. So he had to pick a side - or put a stop to the problem before war could break out.

    That meant that the Fire Daimyo, Itsuki Madoka, had to die. He had to fall, and have another take his place. That was the only chance to avoid two wars from happening.

---

WC: 568

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

"I promise you it's of great importance.  I don't hate many, but if I was to put a firm word to sum up my feelings of the Daimyo of thing country, hate is the closest I could find. I also don't like being used as a pawn while also being treated like I'm stupid. All of that lead me to simply be blunt when I talked to Kozakura. Not to mention it added a bit of spice and some potential chaos into the mix."

    That last comment Kuroda had made was exactly the largest point of it all that he didn't bother to repeat or to confirm. At this point he knew enough about Itsuki to know he was getting paranoid and impatient, and just enough about Kozakura to know they disliked the Daimyo even more than he did. The metaphorical pot was boiling over, so what did it hurt to give it a little kick.

    This, much like his sharing the information with the Senju was all purposeful, but the way Kuroda responded was far more thoughtful than he had expected. He could see it all over Kuroda's face, and if no other time he wished he had the ability to read minds.

"I'm fully aware, or at least I assume. I do know I'm not the only one being sent to spy, attack, or engage with the Senju. I personally have no issue with someone taking down this countries Daimyo. They are simply put a shit person and a worse leader. No guarantee a better one would replace them, but I'm giddy to see what comes of it all."

    He couldn't help but let out a laugh though the more he thought about this country attacking that of his origin.

"I would hope with what intelligence Itsuki has left, he wouldn't be so stupid as to directly attack the Land of Stone. Coming after me directly would do him no favors either."

    Taking in a loud and deep breath, he let himself fall back to lean against a close tree, exhaling far louder.

"The shinobi have to eventually cut their strings and stop letting idiots like Itsuki puppet them against each other. If they wanted to work with us, why not, send us on their missions, but they want to use us like you might swing a sword. There are far more of us than there are of them. Let'em hunt, come after us, see how far it gets them. If it was just you are me, we might have issues, but imagine both of us, now imagine ten of us, twenty of us, who could realistically hunt us, stand against us. No more bull shit."

OWL

[Kuroda Uchiha]

    Kuroda grimaces.

    "To be a shinobi, is to be a blade." Kuroda counters. "That is our profession, our way of life - for many clans, including the Senju and Uchiha, that is our culture. But... Itsuki forgets that when a weapon is used disrespectfully, they risk harming themselves on that blade. And when you cast a blade aside, another may come along and use it to cut your throat."

    It was a grim analogy, but an appropriate one he felt.

    "Men who are prideful and vengeful do not typically hold the greatest wisdoms." Kuroda says, thinking about the folly of his father and grandfather. There were still calls in the Uchiha Clan to avenge their deaths, but Kuroda would have none of it. He had loved them, but their deception came with a cost - and they paid that cost with their lives. If Kuroda sought revenge, all that would do would be to weaken the Uchiha further. Enough blood had been spilled on their account. "...If I could, despite what happened between us initially, and our tense interaction... I would like to ask you to contact Kozakura Senju. Please tell her that the Uchiha... are interested in discussing an alliance."

    There it was. His decision as leader of the Uchiha. At first, he had intended to speak with the Elders first and seek their wisdom - but he needed to do more than that. He needed to lead, not wait for others to guide his hand. Kuroda sighs.

    "And then seek me out near Akagahara - if you know the location - I would like to have your Genjutsu for something the Uchiha will soon be organizing." Kuroda says.

---

WC: 275

[Masshiro Kurama]

Masshiro Kurama Rank D Shinobi Ninjutsu: 1 Taijutsu: 1 Genjutsu: 9 Technique: 1 Toughness:1 Speed: 1 Stamina: 1 HP: 420 Chakra: 16

  That statement, it made his eye twitch, given how many times he had heard it. It was as if so many relegated themselves to such a life far too willingly, and the idea of it pissed him off. He was no one's blade, he was no one's weapon, and the idea that his whole life made him that because he was born into a shinobi family just pissed him off even more.

"I hate that statement with all my being."

    The curl to his lip and the way his voice even became deeper with that simply sentence made it clear. Truly he hated that entire ideology. His job, profession, way of life, whatever someone else chose to classify it as, it didn't in his mind make him someone else's tool or weapon. He provided a service, and he belonged to no one.

"Maybe it's your way of life. I am provided the opportunity to do a job, I fulfill the contract provided, and I complete it and move on. I am sheathed to no one."

    Again he loudly exhaled, clearly annoyed, not at Kuroda as much as the entire idea that was now stuck in his mind.

"Metaphors and analogies aside, I have no issues ending Itsuki. Vengeance can be dangerous, pride I think depends on how it's used. I know full well I'm prideful, but I'm not ignorant. It's easy to see often that they go hand in hand."

    There was a long pause, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head as he stared towards Kuroda, not seeming to react at the request he had made, simply internalizing it. What a strange request for a stranger, but perhaps completely normal given the circumstances of said request. Before this meeting he wasn't aware of the rivalry between the two and now he was being asked to take a message about an alliance. What a unique situation he found himself in with a unique location he found himself living it.

"I'll see what I can do. Kozakura moves a lot, so finding them won't be quick, just keep that in mind. As for the rest, I'll figure out where Akagahara is, and you can tell me about what you need me for when you need to."

OWL