Naruto SoundITP IC 1: A Melancholy Song of Hope To Come

[Lord Raziere]

Jirou:
"Its good that you don't want to, because we're not going to send a Genin after a Jounin anyways, right Otokage-sama?"
He stresses the last word with a warning tone.
"I will handle that particular.....moral quandary. As for the technique...well my jutsu comes from Kiri....so this probably isn't universal. Mist Palm Technique"
He holds out his other hand, opened palm, then focuses and from it, a small spring or fountain of mist starts flowing from it, the flow not enough to obscure anything but it looks kind of cool.
"This is Mist Palm Jutsu, E-rank. You fill the air with water molecules to make it misty, its the jutsu that is taught to make sure you can pull off Hidden Mist Jutsu by making sure you get used to producing a lot of mist, the technique that Kiri gets its name from."
"Wait really? Its that basic?"
"Yes. Hidden Mist Jutsu is a D-Rank. Any Kiri-nin with water release has it."
"Huh, such a famous jutsu is in fact basic. You learn something new every day."
"So focus on making small water molecules and filling the air with them, I will handle the authority figure that I've lost respect for but have to work with anyways if we want things to be better, and hopefully we can wake up tomorrow and focus on happier things. It will all be alright okay? We can work through this."

[Rater202]

"As I understand it, rank is just a guideline. It is determined by the power needed to use the technique, the utility of the technique, and the difficulty that the average person would have learning it: the most powerful and useful technique in the world would be an E-Rank if anyone could do it."

[igordragonian]

"Moral dillema? Aren't you a bit hypocrit? I didn't chosen only for being a decent person. "Moral dilemma" Nozojo laugh.
"At least you have sense of humor. Which is a good thing."
To his warning tone, Nozojo say. "We will do what ever is need to be done. Wether we like it or not. "

He looks puzzled at them entering a jutsu discussion.
"Anyway. I figured this might happen. So.. take this, and read and decide before tommorow "moral-dillema-san." He give Jirou an envoloped letter.
"Without the girlfriend and the girl you are expriementing on...." and then wave them off.
"If you are done here... I am going to destory this place.... I hoped to just one day, lay here and die peacfully... but I don't deserve it. I understand. Anyway... see you around Moral-Dilema-san. It seems I ak stuck with you.... bye"
And he they don't go, he make a wind jutsu to simply flying them off the room, slamming the doors behind them

[Rater202]

Outside the secret room.

"Ishikawa-sensei? I know you do not wish for me to be involved in this, or in politics, but... What little I know of Odayama-san's wife tells me that she will have seen nothing wrong with what that man did... And that she is also very likely to lead us into a way we cannot win... And that man very strongly implied that he is going to die soon..."

"So, tell me: If your protege stole the Snake Summoning Contract out from under the noses of the Leaf Village, that would reflect well on you, yes? Being 'the' snake summoner and being acknowledged as the Snake Sage, or at least, a Snake Sage in training... That comes with prestige and, potentially, military potential since part of my duties would be negotiating to allow other people to contact with the snakes. If I, as your protege, make such an achievement as only a ten-year-old genin, not only do I have that clout to put behind your claim to be Otokage, but the prestige of those accomplishments is reflected back onto my mentor who obviously did such a good job molding my talents?"

"...Becuase I have talked with Menko-chan about a cover story to get past the border into fire country and... I think I have enough money saved up that I can afford a C-Rank mission. I would like to hire Team 3 to escort me on my trip to Ryuchi Cave, because I do not think I am in any condition to make the trip alone right now but the powers of self-healing and rejuvenation bestowed upon the Snake Sage sound really freaking useful right now and, regardless, I do not feel safe in the village right now... And if Otomaru is still out there, maybe getting team three out of his line of sight for a while would be a good idea."

"Also, Kimiko-san seems to be talented with fuinjutsu and having someone who can restrain me if the natural energy the White Snake Sage is enough to make me go berserk would be nice."

"Do you think you can arrange that? Becuase the reasons to do it sooner, rather than later, are mounting."

Also, if she's the Snake Sage, or at least the Snake Sage in training, then she's entitled to the Snakes' Senjutsu knowledge, which might include things useful for Jirou's project and getting that done sooner rather than later would be more directly good for Jirou's position, but Senko isn't going to say that out loud until they're in a more secure position.

[Lord Raziere]

Jirou:
He decides not to respond to Nozojo's jab. He has better things to do than to constantly explain himself to people who don't see the full picture of him. Especially people who don't bother to wait around for a reply.
"Sounds like a plan. However the fact that you entered Fire Country will still be notified by the border guards. If you have a cover story, they probably won't do anything about it but just so you know Leaf will know your there since the point is to track everyone coming in and out, and being confirmed by those border guards is what protects you as they are confirming you there on legitimate business and not infiltrating their country. So while its probably not dangerous by itself if later actions of Team 3 cause them to investigate, that might be a record they look up. And thus something they might question you on if they have reason to investigate it. I know this because we have to do this when entering Fire for the Chuunin Exams. After all if the people who cross the border with the intent to go to the Chuunin Exams don't match the people who enter the Chuunin Exams, they know something is up. Its a useful bit of procedure to make sure everyone is on the up and up.

So yes, I'll arrange it as soon as possible."
Stealing one of Konoha's contracts would be good clout, but he was mostly doing this to make sure Senko was healthy and no longer get her rages. He knew what his priorities were.

[Rater202]

Once they're somewhere more secure, Senko fills Jirou in on the cover story she and Menko came up with, in case that's needed.

However Long this takes to arrange later

Team 3? You haven't seen Senko in a while. Not long enough to be concerning, but...

That all changes when you meet up today: At your usual meeting place you find Senko and Menko... Kinda.

Menko is wearing the white kimono shirt and red hakama of a Miko.

Senko... Is wearing an ankle-length robe with longer sleeves than normal and a hood that's pulled up over her head: You can see her face and so know it's her, but...

She's also wearing a pair of gloves, and on her feet are what look like black Tabi with soles at the bottom. Not technically shoes, but considering her rant on shoes when you first met, it's odd.

In one hand, Senko is holding a mission scroll.

Okayama would have been told about this ahead of time.

"...So, is anyone ready for a C-Rank mission?"

[Lord Raziere]

Kimiko:
She has been working on her fuinjutsu and practicing her paper release under the renewed more gentle teaching of her mother. Things are bit awkward, however:
Mitsuko watches as Kimiko forms a paper airplane....then a crane....then a lotus....then other paper shapes. She was good at forming them in controlled conditions but they haven't started on making them into combat techniques yet.
"Am I doing well?"
"When I was your age.....I wasn't nearly this quick. I was actually kind of average as far as the family went. I can only imagine how well you'll be in a few years."
"Oka-san....what was it like growing up in Kiri? I've heard stories from Uncle Musumu but everyone knows he isn't entirely right in the head."
"....Not like Sound. The Kiri I knew- this was before Yagura- it was highly competitive. Academy students competed to be better, Genin competed to be second team leader, then competed against other teams to be considered to be sent to the Chuunin Exams at all. Everyone had to pull their weight and teammates would often punish anyone who were weak links. They didn't always kill like at academy graduation though, but sometimes you did find genin who "mysteriously died" if they were perceived by their peers as not shaping up."
"Oh...Hm. right you did that academy graduation ritual thing....what was it like for you?"
Mitsuko is silent for a moment.
"....It was horrible kid. I'll tell you about it when you get back from your mission, because well...lets just say it involves your father."
"Okay..."

Kimiko when she arrives will say
"I sure am! Why are you wearing a miko outfit?"
Then Yuyuyu replies
"I think I can guess why. How you've been doing Kimi?"
"Ah I was just studying fuinjutsu after training for hours with my mom on paper release. Understanding sympathetic links is an important part of both fuinjutsu and contracts. You can do a lot with them once you know how."

Jirou, Elsewhere:
He will tentatively open the letter and begin reading.

[Rater202]

Kimiko when she arrives will say
"I sure am! Why are you wearing a miko outfit?"
Then Yuyuyu replies
"I think I can guess why. How you've been doing Kimi?"
"Ah I was just studying fuinjutsu after training for hours with my mom on paper release. Understanding sympathetic links is an important part of both fuinjutsu and contracts. You can do a lot with them once you know how."

"Becuase officially, four genins and chunin are forming the escort hired to protect I, Menko Honda, Shrine Maiden and Priestess-in-training of the Great Shrine of Inari in northern Rice Country from bandits while I make a pilgrimage to the Great Temple of Inari in southern Fire Country."

Inari, a protean kami who resembles a fox and shifts between male, female, both, and neither in whatever combination strikes Inari's fancy so easily that the only pronoun that accurately describes Inari is "Inari" has dominion over, among other things, the growing of rice. Worship of Inari is not uncommon in rural areas in the Land of Rice and the Land of Fire, both of which are known for the growing of grain, and it is not unheard of for people training to become priests to travel to one or both of the temples that Menko just mentioned.

"Unofficially, however, I am going to Ryuchi Cave. Now is... The sooner I do it, the better, but... I did something very stupid the other day. I am not in the condition to make the trip on my own at this time, but I can not afford to wait until I fully recuperate. I trust you all, and I think it would be a very good idea to have someone skilled at Fuinjutsu on hand in case uh... A code oni happens in the cave and I need to be restrained."

Senko looks toward Kimiko as she says that.

But... While Ryuchi Cave is not exclusive to the Leaf Village, most snake summoners and sages have been from the Leaf and they're not likely to be happy with the idea of a Sound Ninja stealing a major, prestigious summoning contract out from under their noses. So, from the moment we leave to the moment we set foot back in our village, we need to act as if Menko is a Miko on a pilgrimage, and the we are her guards... Instead of you all escorting me because I did something stupid and had to commission an escort. Once I am the Snake Sage, there is nothing they can do about it... But if they find out what our real goal is they might send assassins after me or send their own representatives to the cave to try and earn the position before I can.

[igordragonian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Xl...nnel=Kris00092

Nozojo alone. Cry.
He let himself to cry in what left of his humanity.
Can humanity stay in human who did such inhuman things?
'We will be together soon, my dear son. But... we need to keep the village intact.' he whisper as he place bomb tags.
'I wanted us to die together here, where it all started... but you have ruined our sacred place. Now it has to burn. Now I can't hug you back here, while we die together.' He wipe his tears, and jump away jusr before he is finally destroy the room, as the rational have told him monthes ago.

------------------

Letter-

Spoiler: To Jirou

Show

There are pills.
Memory loss pills. They come in four shapes and sizes.
'Sometimes, someone discover something he shouldn't. Sometimes, a shinobi need to forget his friends and love, so he can't betray them. The weaker one wipe the last 2-4 hours. The next one wipe 12-24 hours. The larger one, wipe weeks to month. And the dark one... wipe years. Possibly ALL memories. I will teach you sooner or later, how to make those.
This should be known only to you and me. It's one of my 'cheats', especialy when I want to avoid killing. But beside, giving you more tools, I want you to consider to reliev Senko of the new memories from today'

-------------------

(Is Menko looking human?)


Odayama look tired, but in high spirits. His hair and beard grew a bit longer, and there is a tiny bit of vigor in him. Though, of course he is late.
Oh. To leave the village, after six years of stirctly staying in, if may I be honest, I am bit nervouse girls...'


'Pathetic old man' Usagi grant, as she jump from of the trees, landing on her hands.
'.... The Leaf Village...' her smile become wild and wide
'Sure. Nice.' Maybe they will meet.... the one she owe rain of arrows.

Odayama look concerned a bit. 'Oi, and this is considered a C ranked mission? I.. better take other persona. Some Leaf ninjas won't be happy to see me again.'

[Lord Raziere]

Jirou:
He blinks, considers the pills then puts them inside a storage scroll. These were too dangerous to put in his pockets. He didn't like the implication that his Otokage had pills to make people forget anything from hours to years. Sure it could be used for himself to forget so that he has an alibi when say he has to do a crime, thats one use....but they could also be used to slip into someone elses food or something. Who knows what the Otokage made people forget? He had faith that he probably didn't use it that much- but he didn't know and that was the problem. Now he could give a pill to Senko, yes but should he?
-One: first of all, its erasing the memories of a child, one who is in a development stage of their life, there is no telling what affect these pills would have on her mind' growth.
-Two: On top of that, Senko has a strange biology, one that is currently undergoing even stranger changes. he doesn't know what effects the memory erasure would have on top of that, as the body is incredibly interconnected, for example memory of how to do things like breathe or whatever is in the brain as well, so what if there was vital memory in Senko's brain of how to operate the changes her body is going through and this erased both conscious memory and memory of automatic bodily functions?
-Three: If he tried to offer it up honestly, there is a big chance she'd reject forgetting on very sound ethical grounds that one shouldn't try to cover up a crime. And be insulted that she wasn't trusted enough to keep a secret besides, as well as question where the pill came from and if he answered honestly she might reject that even more. She is already a bit distrustful, no need to give her more fuel.
-four: trying to sneak it into her food or something would just give Senko to distrust him if he is caught in the act, and if he isn't....and if she forgets...well she'd probably find the gap in her memory strange. Senko is honestly a genius beyond her years and might notice a gap in her memory, assume it was some kind of genjutsu and try to figure out some way of getting that memory back. That and Ottomaru is still at large and able to tell the truth- he wouldn't put it past him to just blab the truth again, and a Senko who doesn't remember the first time she found it out would be a Senko who doesn't remember the important lesson that reality is cruel and politics means not every little crime can be brought to justice. In that scenario she'd out the Otokage for sure and she'd have motive to out him as someone who drugged a child to cover up the truth as well. Would not be good for the village or his relationship with her.

There are too many risks to giving her a pill for this. What really concerned him about Senko was that she kept talking about killing herself if she found no other solution, and he didn't want that to happen. If the snakes didn't cure her, he could always just wait until she was in a moment of despair where she thought she should die, convince her that the pill will kill her so as to make sure she forgets the incident instead and thus could be convinced to keep finding a cure for herself instead. Not the most moral of plans to prevent her death at her own hands, but he'd do anything to make sure she'd live a good life- even if it meant tricking her into extending the research beyond the time she allotted to herself and lying that she was still 17 or something. He didn't like it, but he did like the thought of Senko living longer and potentially finding a cure with extra time. If her mission goes well? It shouldn't come to that. But y'know, keep something like this in your back pocket, never know when you need it.

So until he found a use he'll just keep this a secret, learn how these are made, share how to make them with Kikenna or give them to Kikenna for her to figure out how to make them- she is good at drugs and poisons after all and if the Otokage could make them, why not her?- and be more serious about gathering support from the houses now. He would just have to trust that Senko is a smart, capable girl capable of making the right decision.

Kimiko and Yuyuyu:
Yuyuyu explains:
"Let me clarify a few things, from what I can tell of Senko mission:
1- We're not actually going to the Leaf Village.

2-The mission is not to engage with any Leaf Nin. If we were expected to engage with Leaf Nin, it would be a B-Rank mission or even A. Instead we are technically officially escorting a miko from the Land of Sound to shrines within the Land of fire, which might have bandits within its borders as well as bandits within Sound's borders, thus necessitating Sound Nin protection as they were the closest protection detail one could procure at the time. That is the official story

3-What ISN'T the official story is that our Miko is actually Menko in disguise, and our real goal is Ryuchi Cave to take the Snake Contract for ourselves to heal Senko, While Ryuchi Cave is only a few days travel from Konoha. Odayama's concern is correct through: Normally in another village this might be considered an A-rank mission due to its danger and objective, but there is only three Jonin in the Sound Village's history and they are too important for this, so there is no way they'd be spent on this, that and Genin for a C-rank mission is less suspicious anyways."
She pulls out a map and holds it up.
"4- our first goal will be getting to the Rice-Fire Border Checkpoint, a small outpost along the road to Fire Country manned by ashigaru that checks your passports and makes sure your here on legitimate business. This will be vital to making sure we aren't attacked by Leaf Nin, as per international law they cannot attack another ninja on legitimate business without cause which requires checking in there. We then go along the roads like normal people towards the shrines until we find a good place to break off and go to the Cave.

Of course, we might be asked how long we expect to be in Fire Country and thus if we are not out before then, that might look suspicious. While there is a problem of no one seeing us actually going to the shrines, the Land of Fire is big and Konoha can't investigate everything and they are right in the middle of the nations! Their very land is a crossroads that gets people of all sorts passing through it, especially their cities. Merchants hire local ninja to protect them on the way to the big marketplaces of Fire and other superpowers all the time! Hinoshuto, the capital of fire Country is well known for being a center of trade, politics with foreign dignitaries visiting with the ninjas that guard them!

As long as we play our cards right, this mission will be C-Rank and remain so! There will be no need to worry!
Of course, if we were more skilled ninja, we could simply create clones of ourselves to act out guarding and praying at the shrines while we do the real business just to be extra careful, but nothing is perfect!"
Kimiko observes
"Wow Yuyuyu, you know a lot about this."
"Thanks. Of course I do! I'm training to be an infiltration nin, getting us through another nation without suspicion is the most basic part of the job! And if we run into bandits, that won't be suspicious at all."
She turns to everyone
"Any questions?"

[Rater202]

(Yes: Menko is in human form and, ideally, will be for the entire mission.)

"Exactly... Now, the problem is that it takes a variable amount of time to get to Ryuchi Cave, as its entrance is hidden by a Genjutsu. Only someone who is looking for the cave can find it, and the first test to get in is one of endurance: The illusions will lead you around in circles until the Attendants of the White Snake Sage who are on duty at the time decide that you're not going to give up and go home."

"This is the only test that is applied to every visitor, and the only test where the people who fail it don't get eaten."

"Though, to make a correction: Your mission is to escort me while pretending to escort Menko. Unless things go horribly wrong, the only difference between this and a standard C-Rank 'protect the guard from bandits' mission is where are going... And that I might need a sealing tag applied to myself."

"My own actions, off the record, are something I am doing on my own private time, albeit with authorization. Stealing a contract would be a B or A rank mission... If this was a formal mission."

"Furthermore... I physically cannot fail the final test, which is, from what Menko has told me, the only truly difficult test, so even if this was a formal mission it would be lower rank than normal."

"Don't eat any food the attendants on duty offer you. It's probably rotting garbage under a genjutsu and eating it will count as failing a test. Then the attendant will eat you in order to absorb your yummy, yummy chakra... And don't wander off on your own. Not every snake listens to the Sage and you might get eaten."

"...Look, there's a reason why I kept running away from home. That and the obligations."

"The worst-case scenario, is if a Leaf Ninja is taking the test to become the Snake Sage, or otherwise obtain the Snake Contract, during the time we are there or has already done so. That... That would pretty much blow our cover and we would have run for it. Even if I obtain the contract and pass the tests, it could result in rival snake sages and undermine any sense of legitimacy to my claim."

"There weren't any summoners or sage aspirants when I was last at the cave, but that was like, half a month ago... Granted, it's mostly crazies who go to Ryuchi Cave... No offense..."

"Menko, I periodically go homicidal rampages, place no value in law save in how it can be used as a tool, and carry a cadaver on my person whenever possible in case of emergencies. Crazy sums it up pretty well."

"The standard trip to the Shrine takes five days... But for trained Ninja, it can take less than a day to get from the Leaf village to the border of rice country. If we give our time in the land of fire as aproximately ten days we should have plenty of time to get to the cave and back... If we are fortunate, we may even be able to make an appearance at the shrine after all."

"Or...Or, once you get the Contract we just turn around and come home, and if we're earlier than our expected return time we say I was kidnapped by bandits and while I was rescued I was no longer spiritually well enough to complete the pilgrimage."

"If we do that we might be detained and interrogated about details so that they can commission Leaf Ninja to comb the area, which would make us very suspicious to onlookers when the story does not match up and it is going to get out that Sound has snake summoners eventually."

"So why am I the miko again?"

"Because I only own robes, shorts, undershirts, and a single pair of long pants for winter wear while you can create whatever outfit you imagine when you assume human form."

[igordragonian]

Odayama. 'Well I know this area well. It was a place we did more then few missions... and when thinking bout it, the last time I was about your age... I probably have matured enough. Heh.'
He shrug.
"...I could also use the training. After my failure with the bell test, I udnerstood I was on guard duty for too long. All be fine." He smile.
"If you don't mind girls, I would also on the way there, to pay respect to my father's grave."

Usagi groan. "So beside avoiding some annoying genjutsu no ctual action is planned?"

[igordragonian]

Training Session For Jirou

It's on the radio's station roof, with walls of buzzing antenas.
"...Well. Jirou-kun. No matter what has happened yesterday... we still need each other. I still need you to suceed me, but beside wisdom and politics, when things are getting ugly, you need to prove you can pull it off- to fight, defend yourself, and the village's faith in it's leaders and ninjas. The radio station is my prime weapon, and soon it will be your. When we are here, Junins, Senins.. are all meaningless."
Pause.
"First, I want to show you example. Here I am the strongest. Attack me with what you got so far."

[Rater202]

Odayama. 'Well I know this area well. It was a place we did more then few missions... and when thinking bout it, the last time I was about your age... I probably have matured enough. Heh.'
He shrug.
"...I could also use the training. After my failure with the bell test, I udnerstood I was on guard duty for too long. All be fine." He smile.
"If you don't mind girls, I would also on the way there, to pay respect to my father's grave."

Usagi groan. "So besides avoiding some annoying genjutsu no actual action is planned?"

"Usagi-san, you are going to learn that not every mission you go on is going to involve action or combat. You may find, when you are older, that the most effective way to serve this village may involve no action at all... Well, unless you end up becoming a traditional kunoichi when you grow up, but that's not the kind of action you're thinking of... I think."

[igordragonian]

"You talk as if you are senior to me!' Usagi growl.

Odayama shrug. "Well. She is kind of right. Beside, isn't patience and avoiding unnecary conflicts part of the rabbit's doctorine?'

'...Sh-shut up!"

[Rater202]

"No, not your senior. It is just, well, not every ninja fights. Not every ninja kills. Ishikawa-sensei has probably done more good in the laboratory than he has in the field."

"If the only way you are good to the village is as someone who fights and kills... Then you are useless for many, most, of the duties required of a ninja."

"Right now, your mission is to escort me while I collect the Snake summoning contract and acquire the title of Snake Sage. Chances are there is no combat... But if I am the snake sage, that means that I can arrange for other Sound Ninja to become snake summoners and increase the military might of the village. With the power of reincarnation in my hands, I may be able to perfect my research in... Enhancing, my fellow Ninja."

"And if the Hidden Leaf village wants to maintain its tradition of Snake Summoners, they would have to come to me to get them. Either they become weaker and, thus, less able to oppress us... Or they have to make concessions to the Hidden Sound Village. Better trade routes, resources, hidden Jutsu, biological samples..."

"The best-case scenario? The White Snake Sage knows something that can help me control my Rages. Once I can do that, I will be able to access that power at will, focus it, refine it, direct it..."

"I dare say that this trip will be the most important thing I ever do, whether there is any 'action' or not, Usagi-san. And the most important thing you ever do may likewise involve little of the action that you crave."

[igordragonian]

Oadyama shrug. "Yep. Menko seemed to do her homework. But if it help let me offer this way of thinking-"
He smile. 'You won't attack people just on random. Now would you?"

Usagi groan. "It will be cowardy and tasteless."
"Oh. Yes. You see, ninja's action is a food that require long and complicated cooking to do well. You can get either frusrated, or either see the art in the cooking itself. All Villaged more or less are preparing for the next conflict, so even if this specific mission you won't have some gloriouse battles, you will be important."
Usagi nod.
"....I ...will be useful!"

[Lord Raziere]

Training Session For Jirou

It's on the radio's station roof, with walls of buzzing antenas.
"...Well. Jirou-kun. No matter what has happened yesterday... we still need each other. I still need you to suceed me, but beside wisdom and politics, when things are getting ugly, you need to prove you can pull it off- to fight, defend yourself, and the village's faith in it's leaders and ninjas. The radio station is my prime weapon, and soon it will be your. When we are here, Junins, Senins.. are all meaningless."
Pause.
"First, I want to show you example. Here I am the strongest. Attack me with what you got so far."

Jirou:
"On this, I agree. I plan on learning Lightning Release to get stronger, figuring out the higher limits of fuinjutsu, pushing my water release to its limit, and perhaps even making a...perhaps the name for it will be Sen Mark... to even increase my abilities. I can't just prove myself to you, I must surpass you."
Pause.
"Very well. Water Release: Triple Front Assault."
He makes a water clone who charges forward, unfurling a scroll to cast the Reverse World Genjutsu on Nozojo to try and make him vulnerable, and while that is happening he will thrown down a water storage scroll and cast Water Tentacles Jutsu to grab and crush Nozojo while switching his Five Elements Tachi to lightning then plunging into the tentacle's water so that the water conducts the electricity and shock him while that is happening.

Jirou considers this his strongest offensive attack, as its basically attacking Nozojo three different ways: the Genjutsu messed with his perceptions inverting and reversing everything he sees and how his body reacts (for example if he wants to move his left hand up, he will move his right hand down instead), the water will try to crush and drown him and the electricity will try to shock him. Of course it was probably a clone or something- such a thing is so obvious that it doesn't need explaining and he would be insulted if Nozojo gave him a lesson on something as basic as conserving your attacks because your opponent has clones to take their hits for them, thats just common knowledge of shinobi battle, even Genin know it. He is showing his strongest attack because he assumes that Nozojo has something more up his sleeve. Same goes for things like "being prepared" or "using your environment", as he was the one who taught KIMIKO those things.

Like he is assuming this a "come at me, give me the best you got" kind of thing. This was his best.

Kimiko:
She just rolls her eyes at the lesson, not really caring for it one way or another. Her goals didn't really involve the village, and while battles were fun, so was learning things, and this was an opportunity to learn.
"Well, lets get prepared for the mission, then go. We'll need supplies and rations for those days, which I can store in my scrolls, and of course I need to bring along extra Seal tags just in case, and we all need to get our passports for this mission. Things like that."
She will go to gather such supplies then meet up with them later to get going.

[igordragonian]

Nozojo smile.
'Nice.' he say,while calmly swallowing a pill

He has devolped sound and radio waves control techniques. The more antenas and radio waves that flowed around, the more powerful he was.
With a certain set of seals, he made a defensive jutstu.
'Mind Bubble Jutsu-' basicly, bending the radio waves into a bubble himself, blocking genjutsu with a white noise, which was annoying, but was better then anything his foe would try to do.

Jounins. There were a certain treshhold of power, where simply having talent or working hard won't get you there. Each known Jounin had something going for them.
But you could cheat. Use or even create the envirment in your favor.
Nozojo has studied radio and sound like no ninja before him, and though,he failed to devolp a 'release' kind of techniques, he could use and bend what was around him.

That how his jutsus carried through every radio small or big.

He jumped up, also using his most strong brute technique
Radio Tsunami Wave!' he could use it only in the radio station. He never tried to classify it, but it might even be S ranked jutsu, but it was possible only in a very specfific small area.
after the seals, he sent his palms forward, his ears bleeding, as he gathered the radio waves, into one big and powerful wave, empowered with waves of sound- strong enough to push the electrfied water back, doubled with the wave itself.

----


'The Swan Song Crater

Just outside the gates of the villages, after passing the landmines, were a crater.
Result of a big ninja battle.
'Here the Swan Song Battle happened.' ODayama said quitly.

Six figures patroled around the crater
'Honor Guard.' if the girls have asked,


In the middle of the crater were what seemed like, a small forest- but those were actually spears with sound forehead protecters and Ashigaru hats tied to them, wavering like flags.
'We kept them. Here.' he said quitly, they clinked either against their spears either against each other.
'Mine could be easily one of them... so many, and just when we thought..'

In the middle were a metalic statue, of a big man wearing skeletons, skulls as shoulder pads and half mask.
An eldery woman dressed as miko lighted candles to it's feet, she used a bowl to place the candles on-https://pngimage.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/hokage-hat-png-1.png
Also the statue of Odokuro from closer look was made from forehead protctors as well- of the leaf ninjas.
s
The statue's hands were spread to the sides, as if challenging the enemy. From it, tied with chains, about dozen skulls were hanging, and the leaf symbol was carved on each.
'The Leaf Jounins who died here.'
The eldery woman cackled. 'Why don't you tell them the story of the battle, Odayama-chan?'
Odayama sighed. 'It simply a sad and grim story.'

-'It might be,sweet boy. But important one. I can tell it, but I am more creative with the facts.'

Odayama sigh. 'Fine. Sit down girls.'

'I was out of the main battle for half a year, for... my own mission.' pause.
'Anyway, despite all chances, it seemed like that our determination to be heard, were winning against the overwhelming power and will of the Fire Land.' he started to tell.
'The more brutal they became, the more determined we became. The citizens have supported us... and they started to fall and falter. Odokuro have sent the Three Thunders, each with armies to claim the diffrent parts of the Rice Land, while he went back to the village to resupply and get reinforcments.
The very day we have arrived... we dared to feel hope. We even felt triumphed- but the moment we let our guard down- the Third Hokage has attacked. He couldn't go back with such failure against riffraffs like us. He managed to follow and sneak on our very own village. So with a dozen of Junins, dozens over dozens of Chunins and Genins he has attacked. Odokuro were recovering from deep wounds, and we were scattered. But the brave Ashigarus, have bought us important minutes.
Nozojo has encouraged us,and we hurried to face a certain doom. But... at this battle the roles were reversed- in our hearts there were confidence and even...shred of hope for a future. The Hokage was desprate and enraged. I... barely remember the battle as a whole. I just tried to survive, seeing friend and more friends fall and die...'
pause.
But I remember, that Odokuro, has summoned a strom and lightnings with his drums. We gave everything we had and then some. Odokuro fell to his knees before the Hokage. All seemed... lost.'
The eldery woman nodded. 'and then the missing thunder has-' Odayama shushed her.
''This is a taboo subject.'
'Fine. A close friend of Odokuro has wishperd... something. Odokuro rose up for the final time, and after a barrage of berserk attacks have made the biggest last shout technique I have ever seen, he also... sang.. something. Sacrficing himself to kill the Hokage. In his last breath he has chosen Nozojo... and said he has... HOPE for us. We won this day.. but with heavy cost.'
Odayma's eyes are tearful.

[Rater202]

Village Gates:

Once everyone is reassembled back at the gate, they find Senko holding her hand out, concentrating greatly, a small whisp of mist forming above her palm. Kimiko, at the least, probably recognizes it as a very basic water release technique used to practice nature transformation.

She pauses when she notices the others have arrived.

"Ah, we are all ready then?"

The Memorial

It is honestly a bit surprising, Senko thinks, that this hasn't been taught before now... Or maybe it was and she just doesn't know it becuase her education consists entirely of a year of being homeschooled, a year or so of fending for herself in the wilderness, and two and a half years of voraciously devouring anything and everything that could even tangentially have helped her manage or treat her condition.

She holds her tongue at the end, however, when it becomes clear that this story is propaganda meant to uphold Nozojo's legitimacy as the leader... Some Hope he turned out to be.

She vows, in her mind, to redouble her efforts to become the Snake Sage and to quadrouple her efforts to master her Clan's Sage Mode. She's always found the system of war, conflict, and clans hoarding secrets to be downright sinful in the harm it causes, but now...

Now she knows just what kind of horrible things it can drive someone to do... Yeah, she did human experimentation... On Herself. After thoroughly testing it on rats, that was, that was...

During the story, Senko takes the forehead protector from her arm and ties it around her head. The others may or may not notice the pointing of her ears before she replaces her hood.

"...A World where such loss of life does not happen. Wher such extreme measures just to survive are not necessary... That is the World I will create with my two hands even if I have to drag the rest of creation into a new era kicking and screaming. This is my solemn promise... To fight for it... Is my Ninja Way."

To the outside observer, it might seem that this story has touched Senko, but the truth is is that these feelings have been building up for a while.

[igordragonian]

Odayama place a supporting hand on Senko shoulder.
Usagi looked... strangely apathic.

"We, the survivers don't like to tell you,kids about it." Odayama say as if reading her thoughts.
'....We try to push this story as far as possiboe, before being forced to tell it. We want to taint you less as possible."
Pause.
"This day, Nozojo and the rest of us survivers, vowed to work toward the exact goal you speak, Senko-chan. That why the village place on your generation so much...."
Pause.
"Hope."

[Rater202]

"With all due respect, Odayama-san, the Village Hidden in the Sound seems to be making the same mistakes that lead to such bloodshed in the first place. Raising children outside of wartime is a good first start, but..."

For a brief moment, Senko considers stating her intent to become Otokage someday, but... She knows nothing of politics and would get people killed. Better to serve as an assistant or advisor, a perspective from outside the system, to whoever is in the role...

And stop murder kitty from getting the job at all costs.

But it is not exactly fair to place the problems of one generation on the shoulders of another. This problem was not caused by our generation... It was not even caused by your generation. If the legends bare even a grain of truth this problem was caused by the eldest son of the Sage of Six Paths. A few generations ago, Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara attempted to end the problem... And, to some eyes, maybe they did, but to others, they made it worse.

"No more. I did not start this, but I, of my own volition and not, am taking responsibility for it: I will end this constant cycle of war, hatred, and vengeance or I will die trying, even if it takes a thousand years. I will become a New Sage of Six Paths and recreate the fabled Ninshu from first principals if I have to."

Beat panel.

"Somehow... I may have just bitten off significantly more than I can chew."

[Lord Raziere]

Kimiko:
She is strangely silent about all this until she speaks
"So this was the battle.....where my father died."
She says thoughtfully.
"...and how do you feel about that?"
"Strange. He is a person I don't know and never will know. Yet Ryota Ishikawa was held up as the example of what an Ishikawa Shinobi should be to me, what I was taught to try and become. Yet I'll never be able to become that, and I've yet to truly know what he was like. He was the person who led my clan through their exile from Kirigakure and made the deal with the First Otokage to join the village, but that is all I really know about him. Jirou-Anikii was only six when this all happened so he barely remembers what my father was like, and what he told me is that my father just....didn't seem to interact with him at all.

No one will even tell me how he died. I don't think anyone knows. My mother promised to tell me more about him soon but she hasn't had time yet given all that happened. My father is....a mystery to me. I just want to know, seeing as how his life and death affected my current circumstances. Curiosity you know?"
She then listens to Senko's speech.
"How....ambitious. A goal to rival my desire to learn all jutsu! Very well Senko....I look forward to see how strong you become!"
She puts on a shark grin
"For to achieve such a dream you espouse....you'll need to become incredibly strong indeed! It'll be interesting to see whether its right or just foolish. Hyu hyu, either way at least you'll make things interesting and I, Kimiko Ishikawa will be able to observe whether such a legend is true with my own eyes and of course, experiment to see its full potential...Yes, it'll be interesting to see what happens. Interesting indeed."
What.... a fascinating experiment she sees beginning before her eyes. What happens when a Senko tries to change the world? Too bad there is no control group.

Yuyuyu meanwhile just is there, blinks at the two girls declaring their dreams and says
"I respect the fallen for their sacrifice so that I may live the life I have to today, lets go time's a wastin'...."

Jirou:
His eyes widen as his water clone gets destroyed and uses the Body Flicker Technique to run as fast he can, past all human perception, he tries to use his Wind slash to break the wave, but it doesn't work- the sounds too powerful and gets hit by the wave of sound even if the electrified water is broken his ears start bleeding as the main attack hits him- that was close, and if the electricity hit him as well, it would've been worse. If it was truly as powerful as to possibly be S-rank, it was simply a threshold of power he had no counter against, and he had already used his water clone. He felt....weird hit by the waves, as if his entire body was vibrating in a bad way. So in response he focuses on continuing the training and tries throwing a shuriken at the equipment the radio waves is coming from to try and see if that does anything, or if Nozojo will move to protect it.

[Rater202]

Senko blinks when Kimiko says that this might be interesting.

"Are you coming on to me? Because if you are, I should warn you that Ishikawa-sensei seems to be under the impression that he is my father for some reason and any relationship between you and I would probably make him incredibly uncomfortable and possibly break his brain...

"Which, all cards on the table, I would find hilarious, but..."

Senko is joking, she knows what Kimiko meant, but... Has Kimiko known her long enough to catch on to Senko's tells?

[igordragonian]

Jirou's training

Nozojo smile. 'Good thinking. Assasians before you already have tried this.' simply throwing a shuriken as well, to knock off Jirou's.
'It's ok. I didn't expect you to succeed. I just wanted to show, what weapon I am handing you over. You are younger and more imaginative then me. You could probably take this to new heights.'
He stop the waves, and walk over to offer him a hand to stand up.

'Guys like you and me, need to cheat a lot in order to stay relevant.'

-------------------------------


Odayama nod. 'Yes. It isn't fair. But it's what we have, we try to do our best.'
pause.
'Even if this legend is true, I don't think it's about this magical beast or this fruit.. it's about human nature. It's about understanding it. and I believe, this is what special about our village- when the first Ottokage has gathered us, we were a broken bunch- but he gave us a chance, for our voices to be heard. Even simple citizens.... my father was... a gardener. He sold.. flowers.'
Odayama laughed somberly. 'Riding around with his silly bicycle... even into battlefield- ahem.'

He has noticed Kimiko is getting rather emotional as well. It was to be expected.

'Well... if it help anything, we... didn't liked each other very much. The old tried 'Talent vs hard work' only, that I wasn't working very hard, and my father was a silly person selling and giving flowers everywhere.' he say.
'I was scared of him, to be honest. I know it isn't a lot... but...' pause.
'At least, he might feel more real to you. But when I was your age, all ninjas scared me. That why I became one....'another pause.
'I think I can find his forehead protector, his band was unique a bit.'

Usagi silently, sit and play a lullaby in her harp in respect of the spirits.

[Lord Raziere]

Jirou:
He takes his hand and stands up, rubbing his head a little and thinking.
"I might already have a few ideas. The easiest one is that I could probably figure out a one-use storage scroll that stores the attack to use for later, so I can have at least one use of it with me wherever I go, but I have to get back to this room to make a new one. The other one I have is that if given enough time, I could try and figure out making a seal network for it- if you don't know what that is, I wouldn't be surprised, its not something that anyone aside from the fuinjutsu clans are interested in, and its a pretty recent development as far as fuinjutsu and summoning jutsu goes, its all theoretical to cutting edge at best. But basically with enough time, I could say make a central seal here, then make various receiver seals connected to it all around the village so that one could transmit the sound into the seal here and out into one of the other seals as an attack to defend the village, expanding its range.

Basically its already powerful, I just think I need to finagle ways into making it useable outside of one situation."

Kimiko:
She doesn't understand what your talking about
"Hyu? what do you mean Senko? I'm sure Jirou-Anikii would love to see the scientific results of you changing the world, he is a scientist himself after all, why wouldn't he throw something strange into a normal situation just to see what happens? And I don't see whats so wrong about testing myself against your strength when you finally reach your full power."
Yuyuyu does and is suppressing a giggle right now. Kimiko then turns back to Odayama
"I see. Hm. Thank you. I would like to see the headband, yes."

The headband has the sound's symbol but has design elements on it reminiscent of Kiri make as if symbolizing the transition, when she finds the headband/grave she will crouch down to it, and wonder:
"Who were you? and why did you what you did?"
For a while, she is silent: contemplating how her Father could've possibly thought to leave Kirigakure behind and take the clan with him. Why didn't he stay in Water to keep fighting? Why leave all that behind? Why then die here? In short: Why was she here? Perhaps the answer was clearer for most Sound ninja complete with the "hope" thing, but for her it seemed far more mysterious. What possessed two entire clans to leave Kirigakure behind entirely to traipse across the ninja nations and end up joining the Sound? It didn't entirely make sense.

However she won't get any answers standing around here. She gets up and walks back over to the others.
"I'm ready to go."

[Rater202]

...It is at this point that Senko assumes that Kimiko-san caught onto her joke and is playing dumb to reinforce the joke.

On The nature of Kimiko's father... It seems obvious to Senko that a good father would want what is best for his children, and a good leader would want what is best for their followers. Thus, a good clan patriarch would want what is best for their clan.

It could be as simple as vluing his family's safty over the connections they have to their ancestral home and their future over his own life.

Senko keeps it to herself though, it is not her place to comment.

---

Despite its name, the Land of Rice Fields isn't entirely rice fields any more than the land of fire is on fire. There are plenty of rice fields, yes, but as you follow the roads from the sound village to the southern border you pass through several regular fields, a few farms growing other types of grain, and forested areas.

Something to note: Senko seems to to become more... Peaceful, if you will, the further away from the village you get, particularly when you get away from signs of civilization. It is not hard to tell that she's experiancing moments of bliss.

After a while, she starts practing that mist generation technique again and does so on and off as you're walking.

After a few hours of walking, someone from inside a forested area throws a knife into the middle of the road.

"Well looky here?" Say's a voice as four people come out of the woodwork. "Got a couple of baby ninjas and their sitte guarding a young priestest... One of them's a cripple. Poor girl couldn't afford decent protection. Too bad, we're gonna have to sell her instead of just robbing her, me thinks."

These four people are armed with Katanas that are either very poorly made or that haven't been maintaiined prroperly and no armor... So, probably not Ronin, Ronin would take better care of their weapons and would know to cover up their vital bits when attacking ninja.

Menko just has a look on her face that says "I could probably take care of this myself if I didn't have to stay in character."

[Lord Raziere]

Kimiko:
She will try to do the mist generation technique as well, trying to copy what Senko does to get used to it herself. She will after all have to learn Water Release at some point. She looked the most happy when she was learning that.

When the bandits attack, she is reminded of that day when she first killed an ordinary man. It would be so easy to replicate the same result four more times. But did she want to? Did she need to? She is struck by a moment of hesitation...only for Yuyuyu to come running up to them first and bash one of them over the head with her umbrella, the metal inside of making it a kind of club. So Kimiko seeing this as no time for hesitation, extended the blade of the Origami-No-Tsurugi and ran forward, lashing it out to grab at another bandits leg and pull them off the their and feet and right to her where she then punches him in the face with her left hand, a punch probably harder than any that the bandit had ever experienced due to her training.

[igordragonian]

Jirou's Training

'The scroll idea is indeed new, the seal network, it's actually my mine thing. I think I also have saved the village using it during the Swan Song Battle.' he say and pull out a scalpel.(surgeon's knife)
'But you will need to either regualrly swallow dangerouse pills, either let me do an operation on you. You see, normally, humans cannot sense, transmit and of course not, bend radio waves.' Nozojo push back his hair, and show a tiny scar, with some tiny device.
'In the time I have, this is my quickest way to boost you, to be on par with anyone at least, in the radio station,and have advantage in the village.'


-------

Usagi was practicing with sealing scrolls, with the help of Odayama, and tinkering bell niddles and arrows with unique qualities.
She lacked the spiritual patience for elemental release.

Odayama at first tried to give the badits a chance. 'Yoi, yoi, do you really want your bones to be broken? You will feel quite stupid in the morning.'

He shrug.
It seems the girls can handle it, though,he wished he had a chance to strech.

Usagi's face turn red as her hair.
'DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH!? YOJIMBO!' she summon the rabbit samurai.
she sit on his shoulders, load her harp bow with four arrows, as Yojimbo run forward with risen katana to his side, raining all the arrows on the one who called her cripple.
'I am Usagi! And I will never be helpless again!'

[Rater202]

So, there are now two unconscious bandits.

And the leader of the bandits is just freaking dead because this just an ordinary guy with no ninja training, he can't dodge arrows.

The last guy sees what just happened and runs off screaming like a little girl, arms flailing wildly through the air.

"...Well. That happened."

Clearly, they were not prepared for this."