Crossing Paths, The Desert Rogue and The Grand Merchant.

The Desert Rogue would regularly visit the administration building of Sunagakure, even in spite of its lack of life...The village truly was a shell of its former self. Still, something new caught Azuma's eye, a flyer on the wall. The young Jounin would approach the bulletin board, eyes scanning the flyer. It was for a craftsmen, offering their talents in weapons and armor crafting, as well as an array of other talents they offered. For a fee of course, nothing was free. Azuma gazed at the flyer for a moment in thought and turned about, his white Yukata flowing with his body as he would move to leave the building, returning to the streets of Sunagakure.

The man let his feet carry him, navigating the village with no trouble, making his way to where the flyer would lead him. He'd find himself at a residence, a modest home, frankly not too different then Azuma's. It didn't take impressive hearing to know this craftsman must've been there, hammering could be heard--and light emanated from the open doors of a basement. Azuma wasn't shy, if they had put up a flyer they must be expecting potential customers. Azuma walked around the house to find the source of the sound, finding the open doors to a basement under the house--like a storm shelter now used as a Forge.

Azuma approached the open doors, a case of stairs leading down under the home. He stopped at the top, the tall man knelling down to get a better view into the basement. "I seen a flyer about a weapon and armor craftsman, by the sounds of things I assume I found the right place?" he'd call into the workshop, loud enough to be heard, but hardly even considered a yell. Azuma had a fairly deep voice, it didn't take much to be heard. The Suna Jounin would await a response, as he typically did with his guard up...who knows who could be behind these open doors.

Okane would be hammering away at a large blade. The shaft currently cooling within its mold as he was taking his time shaping this huge weapon. Ten pounds of steel put into both the handle and the blade of the monstrosity. His hammer blows falling time and time again in near perfect positions. He knew when he had messed up here and there as he worked diligently to form the magnificent creation. Hammer blow after hammer blow causing sparks to fly as he shaped even steel to his will. However the red glow was fading slowly. As hot as he had made the thing in order to shape it properly it had to remain hot enough to cast its own glow. His eyes spotted bubbles here and there. Waiting for him to crush them and so he did. However it would have to be left back in the heat a while longer in a moments time. His jade eyes scanning the thick blade once more as the last of the dim glow faded. It would need more work but he was happier with it now. He would use the tongs to turn and place it back in the furnace. Allowing the metal to slowly regain heat.

It was a repetitive process for sure. However he would not allow his first works in this new home to be easily considered flawed. The furnace hissed to life as the fire flicked at the metal. Still a creak of the wooden steps at the cellar doors would draw his attention. He would tilt his head as he heard a voice and smile. Oh how wonderful. The first customer. Okane would turn. Wearing his goggles and leather vest with a thick long sleeve and leather gloves. He would set the tongs down and remove his gloves. Shoving them into either pocket of his black work pants. His boots tapping as he crossed the floor to a table. Speaking in a voice like a soft song. Music to the ears. "Please please come in. I have only just begun but I do have a couple of simple steel pieces. Practice after all. Highly affordable good sir. Oh but heavens me I haven't introduced myself. I am Okane of the Tomi family. Merchants from the south near the ocean. What might I call you?" He would say with a smile leaning on a table with a black cloth over it. Four small bulges underneath suggested his wares might be there.

Azuma's ears burned with the sounds emanating from Okane's home workshop, which would fairly quickly be followed by a voice from within. An invite to come in was given, the fairly tall man would make his way down the stairs as Okane continued to speak to him. As Azuma entered the workshop, off white and amber hues glanced about the room, taking in the sight of the man's equipment. These different colored hues would follow around the room until they met with the one speaking to him.

This was nothing he wasn't used to seeing, a warrior--Azuma had spent a bit of time around craftsmen like this before--even his own former teammate Ei was such a skillful smith. The Desert Rogue's gaze would finally come back to rest on Okane, who had now introduced himself as such. "Azuma Asakaze." he'd respond to Okane, eyes shifting to meet with Okane's jade hues."From the South hmm? I come from the North, near the border..." he'd add in passing, a note of the different regions they hailed from.

The perceptive Shinobi was taking in the visual information fed to him, bulges under the cloth before Okane hinted at their origins--equipment made by the craftsmen. It'd likely not be the best gear, but also more likely to be better then what he found in the shops around town. "I've got some spare Ryo, if you wouldn't mind showing me what you have available...I'm always in the market for new equipment." said the tall Jounin, gaze now focused towards the eyes of Okane--Azuma didn't shy away from making eye contact with whomever he is speaking to, and with the way he carried himself--one could easily surmise he was a confident Shinobi.

Okane would watch as a rather tall and well built man moved down the stairs. The rough wooden steps creaking under his imposing weight. There was a sense of the hot air being rushed out, no that wasn't accurate. More like there was a charge in the air now. Hovering around them and making the hair on the back of his neck and arms stand up. This almost lazy appearing man filled the air around him with a potent energy. For a moment Okane felt the need to swallow. Like somehow if he were to misstep it might spell disaster for him. However he forced the urge down. Refused to swallow and instead forced himself to take a breath. He couldn't show fear here. Not in front of a potential future customer. He had met powerful men before. This one just radiated it. Perhaps unintentionally. Truthfully Okane had expected perhaps a genin to be the first to walk through his door. Someone who had just started off on their journey. Not someone like this. He forced himself to smile and meet those off colored eyes. He refused to be subjugated passively even if it was not the mans intent.

"Ahh well I have just begun working my craft here. If anything I have been testing out the air and steel quality here. My current works I would argue function stronger than the average competitor but they are by no means my true art. Still if you don't mind only slightly above norm, I will of course sell these to you at a discount. No more than fifteen hundred credits and you may have all I have made so far."

With a flourish he would snag the blanket off the top of the table to snap it with a crack to the side. Even though he had spoken poorly of the work he had done so far the equipment there was certainly on par with his competitors if not slightly better. Light weight arm and shin guards with glistening steel and firm ties set into them suggested of good protection. Not the best at that mans level for certain but decent all the same. The Kunai however glistened just as much as the armor did. Polished and sharpened. The weight slightly heavier on the blade but less than a gram off. Circles at the base for easy spinning or attaching a wire to them. "Feel free to browse at your leisure Sir from the north."

Azuma would keep focus on the man, aiming to not seem rude by looking around or like his attention was divided. The smith-turned-salesmen seemed very upfront about what he had available, seemed honorable--most would over-hype their items and under-deliver. Azuma would listen to what Okane had to say about the items and having only recently taken up shop here. After Sunagakure recently reformed, it seemed like there was many new faces around--and some who'd been around, such as Azuma.

Like a true salemen Okane would whip the cloth from the table in an act of showmenship, presenting the items on display. A set of armor pieces and kunai laid before the Jounin, his eyes shifting from Okane to the equipment, ear burning with his invite to browse what he offered. The price made it tempting. He'd glance to Okane a moment, a quick "If I may..." before he'd reach down, picking up an arm guard and inspecting it. Azuma may had not been a craftsmen himself, but he was a rather intelligent man, and had an eye for quality equipment, being a Bukijutsu specialist.. After some inspection and feel, he'd place the arm guard down and follow it up with looking at the kunai, thumb checking its edge--and with a tilt he checked how straight it was. Like an arrow.

"These are some quality pieces, and at that price its almost hard to pass...The steel used feels stronger then what I usually find around the marketplace." he'd say to Okane, placing the kunai back on the table exactly as he'd picked it up. The Desert Rogue's gaze came to meet Okane's once more, "I gotta' ask, do you do commissions for custom equipment?" he'd ask the Jade-eye'd Merchant. All the while his hand came up and reached into the partially opened front of his Yukata, shuffling around only a moment before retrieving a coin pouch. He'd untie the pouch and quickly make out 1,500 Ryo from his stash...he clearly wasn't rich by any means, but the man wasn't poor or broke either. Surely working class, for now. He'd place the currency on the table, a hint of a friendly smile crossing the jaded and scarred Jounin's features as he awaited the answer to his question.

Okane would smile a slight twitch of his lips as the quality was brought up. A different technique then was common involving heating, folding and reheating had been used. He had knowledge of what that technique should be capable of but these poorer quality versions were indeed better than the average mold. If only slightly. Of course he would elect not to answer the perhaps rhetorical statement. The difference there was only slight to the untrained eye. Just how long had this shinobi been fighting? Still Okane wouldn't be so cold as to bring up any of that. Usually soldiers had something haunting them from their past. Rarely they liked to be complimented on a talent they had based on killing and for now this man didn't seem overly proud. So his pride wouldn't be brought out easily and utilized. Instead this would simply be a reasonable exchange by the look of things. If anything it was all straightforward and his first sale would include everything he had finished so far. Jade eyes would study the stranger until an inquiry was made of him about custom items. This would bring a raised brow. A craftsman's pride would be brought out over anything beyond the mundane.

"I will be soon but as of yet I haven't taken a custom order. Perhaps in oh, a month I will truly be showing my talents. I am working on a project at the moment but its still in testing. I would be happy to send a letter by messenger to an address when customs will be available. One moment please."

Okane would barely glance at the fifteen hundred ryo. If not for a need for materials he might not have charged anything at all. However it would more than pay for the steel of those items and his time. They were merely practice after all. Instead he would slip on a glove and move over to a heated shaft. Gripping it and turning it onto the other side for now for a moment the blade of a glaive would pop up partially red hot before being placed back into the fire. It was a hefty looking weapon. Much heavier than the others but still in the process of being finished. He would set it down and remove the glove before wiping the sweat off his brow. It was hot down there.

"Did you have anything in mind? Also forgive my manners, may I offer you a beverage? I have water, ninjarade and orange juice. Or a beer if you prefer. Suna light."

Azuma had heard what he wanted to hear--at least for the most part--the Grand Merchant before him did indeed take custom orders...but not right now. Understandable, the mans craft took time. Azuma would watch as for a moment Okane returned to his work, the Jounin was patient and in no rush. In fact, eyeing the weapon being worked on indeed intrigued Azuma. It was right in line with what he himself wished to order, a Naginata style Glaive.

Okane had inquired if Azuma had anything in mind, followed by an offer for something to drink. "No thanks Okane. But yes, I do have something in mind. Of course we can talk more details whenever you are open for orders, but something akin to your latest project would be nice. I'm in the market for a high end Naginata...but I'll be expecting great things of it. If it can't cut through my current Naginata, then my Ryo may be better spent elsewhere." Azuma would explain, as well as making his expectations known. Azuma was very upfront, the man wouldn't beat around the bush or waste anyone's time. But he wasn't over a bit of a push, his expectations high.

While listening for a response from Okane, Azuma would grab one of what was now his Arm Guards, slipping it on over his arm and securing it, checking the fit. It wasn't perfect, nothing not custom made and form fit would be, but it was plenty comfy and secure enough to be effective. The sound the metal made would make him less stealthy, but the added defense had its benefits. He'd go ahead and collect the rest of his items, putting away the kunai and simply carrying the armor pieces.

Okane would fetch himself a bottled water to hydrate. He moved with a strange grace for a blacksmith across the floor. Almost flowing in his steps until he reached a fridge at the furthest end of the room from the forge. To him it had to be that way. Any imbalance of temperature could effect his work. However when he opened the fridge a thin mist would still rise. Just above freezing temperature. He loved his drinks almost painfully cold. He would snag a bottled water and close the fridge before twisting off the cap and taking a sip. Hydrate slowly or you would effect your body poorly his father had always taught him. Still for the moment he would admire the piece the man would put on. It looked like it belonged. Still at his level Okane wondered what it would really stop. It would endure a great deal but perhaps that was the viewpoint of a weaker man. He would study the man before him until they spoke again. A glint would form in those jade eyes as he would smile with all the mischief of a child having hidden a treasure. Water forgotten for the moment. This was a challenge that befitted him.

"I see. My dear fellow if my experiments go as planned, there will be very little in this world you won't be able to cut. Leave your address on the notepad by the door and I will send notice when I am ready. Believe me when I state that my work will outdo anyone in that category. You can bet on that."

With that he would nod to the notepad hanging inside of a clear plastic bracket by the door. Indicating what he meant. As far as he was concerned their purchase was complete. He wouldn't flatter them with guarantee's. He would simply slowly drink his water as his eyes scanned the simple equipment one more time. These works would not define him. They would merely be decoration pieces in comparison to his real works.

The jounin waited for the weapons and armor smith to get himself a drink--surely working around a hot forge all day would leave anyone dehydrated, not even counting the fact they was in the middle of a barren desert. But it didn't seem long before the man seemed to catch a bit of a challenge in what Azuma said. A smile and a glint in Okane's eyes would signify this, especially with what was said following the smile.

Azuma nodded, more or less what he wanted to hear. "I look forward to seeing what you can do, Okane." said the pale skinned shinobi, a slight smirk back to the man before him. With that he'd take his leave, turning about and heading for the exit--but not before a quick jot on the notepad, a quick glance back to Okane after he finished jotting down his address. "Ja ne." was all he said, a quick 'See you later', before he'd make his way up the stairs--wood creaking and all--and disappear from sight.