A ghost and two wolf cubs

Tengoku was quietly thinking to himself. Not the most impressive train of thought but he was considering something odd. They had went back up to the cabin for a few days to collect some personal items before intending to return to the village to train. However despite the wagon pulled by a donkey full of camping materials he hadn't heard much else for some time. Back in the woods that was to be expected. Not many traveled there in fear of wolves and bears. The twins knew enough to avoid them. Or in some cases interact with them in a friendly manner. The mule itself was just borrowed from a friendly enough farmer for a couple of coins. The two of them had been walking for about two days now since their cabin was so remote on purpose. Tengoku was wearing his usual loose white v neck shirt with his black fur shouldered long coat. Black slacks and boots that were usually splattered with mud up to the heels. They were passing through the training grounds when it struck him. They should be close enough to the city by now to hear bustle or construction. There should be people training nearby. He would pull the mule to a stop as it bayed in surprise. He would quiet it as his wolf like ears twitched and he looked around with silver eyes. There was no sound of people at all. Just the wilds. No crowds on the roads, no one calling out slurs at them. If it wasn't for how discomforting that was he would have rather enjoyed it. But a ghost town that was lively a week ago raised questions. He would call out quietly to his sister nearby.

"Sis, something is off. I can't hear any of the usual city noises. And the smells are....faint."

Shinobi-sandal covered feet slowly paced the cart, a borrowed wagon Tengoku was able to gain access to for them to transport their belongings from the old Cabin in the Woods to the village. Frankly she should've just ridden in the cart, but she was to proud for that, the woman standing tall--at least as tall as a 5'4" woman can be--as she walked aside the cart. She kept her arms crossed and eyes forward, pinkish-red hues gazing coldly ahead, full of a steely chill that spoke without words. She was dripping in confidence, and pride.

She'd continue to walk aside her brother and the cart, pulled by a mule, as her brother seemed to garner a bit of worry upon nearing the village gates. The woman was in what could be called her casual outfit, lacking the thick overcoat, a simple dress adorned with multiple wraps of bandages about random places--and lined with fur. It wasn't until her brother forced the Mule to stop moving forward that she'd turn her attention to him, watching his ears twitch. Something was amiss and her brother could precieve it, despite her high level of intelligence, her senses are dull compared to Ten's. Finally, he'd spoken to her. The woman's eyes narrowed, frustration building up in her...this would be instantly shown when her cheek markings shifted, the once blue markings now turning to match the color of her eyes.

"...So what then, is the village empty? I knew the village was on shaky grounds, especially after the recent strife within the village and out...but we've only been gone a few days, what could've happened." she'd say, granted her 'question' wasn't really a question, more a statement. Her voice was strong and clear, cutting the air like a knife before gracing Tengoku's unique ears. A sigh passed her lips and she'd shut her eyes, letting her emotions fall back and once more returning the blue shade to her cheeks.

Tengoku would nod quietly to his sisters words. A less then divine state it had indeed been left in. However for everyone to have been evacuated and to leave their homes behind. It was certainly a lot to digest. He would sniff the air. Fear and confusion were present as ever. More so now perhaps. He would lean down to touch and examine the ground. Not many had left this way but some had and in a group. Moving fast as normal folk could. He would glance back the way they had come. It may have been safer in the mountains. Away from whatever was happening here. His silver eyes would scan the horizon only to spot a fast moving man in white robes heading their way. To say fast was an understatement. In his current state it would be impossible for him to keep up with this ghost. "Incoming." He would mutter before the man took a launching step off of a branch.

As the man sailed through the air it felt like Tengoku was moving in slow motion. In the time it took this person to cross that distance Tengoku could barely rise to his feet. Dust from the road they walked would pulse out like a ring from where this person landed. He would ask which side they were on and Tengoku would furrow his eye brow in confusion. He wasn't much of a talker but he would collect a slightly sword shaped stick out of the cart next to him. Sliding into a kenjutsu pose should this move into a fight. He figured he didn't have much of a chance but he would rather grab a weapon and go down fighting than stand uselessly there. Besides if he knew his sister she wouldn't roll over either.

post 2

From the perspective of Tsu she'd have no idea anyone was coming. Her brother was the eyes, ears, and nose of the pair after all. Where the young woman would be clueless to what approached, her brother seemed to catch on. She'd only get a brief warning, a stray 'incoming', and before she even could react, a man landed in a crouched pose in front of them, sheathed weapon held out and ready to be quickly brought out into battle at a moments notice. The womans eyes narrowed on Haku as he spoke to them, the tone making it clear he wasn't here to make friends or ask for directions.

She may not have been the most perceptive one around, far from it, but the woman did take in one thing. The hat...sign of the Hokage. She'd spent years with her brother out in the woods, away from Konoha, and at this point even she wasn't sure 'who' the Hokage was at the time. Could this be him? But he's so...young. She withheld a growl, a natural reaction to being under threat of attack. By now her brother had armed himself with...well, a stick. Classy act.

But she'd have to keep calm, and as she raised her head some, nose turned up just a little as she stood tall...at least for a woman of her stature. Even if this was the Hokage, she was quick to snap in Haku's direction. "Which side? We're from here in Konoha...you wear the hat of the Hokage, is this how you treat citizens of the village?!" she'd bark with a hint of fury. She'd step closer, the woman seemingly unafraid of the much stronger shinobi before her. She even stepped past Tengoku, despite him having taken a defensive pose between Tsu and Haki.

She'd stop roughly five feet out in front of their cart and her brother, sharp pinkish-red hues staring daggers towards Haku. If she was to let her brash side take over she'd have likely started weaving hand seals, and attempt to put Haku under the spell of a Genjutsu. But the more calculated and less instinctual side of her knew she'd be cut down before she even finished her hand seals, judging by how quickly Haku had raced up to them and cut off their path.

"Explain whats going on here...my brother is telling me he can't hear the sounds associated with the busy village, and now we have you showing up in front of us wearing the hat of the Hokage. I've never heard of a village leader doing such a low task as guarding the walls...so who are you...and what happened to the Hidden Leaf." she'd go on to say, tongue sharp with anger. By now the woman's markings upon her cheeks was lit bright pinkish red, matching her eyes, and upon close inspection, she was bearing her fangs, if only slightly without even realizing she was.

Tengoku would watch his sister step forward. He wasn't happy with this situation and even less so with her being on the front line. Granted they were not very strong. Not to mention they were worn out and tired just from the hike into town. He felt a cold breeze shift around them. Flaring out his coat and the bottom of her dress slightly. However it barely seemed to stir this man. As if he commanded the very air itself. Ten would tilt his head as his sister began to speak and squint his eyes. His ears twitched as he listened to them both. Not a lot of it made sense to him. What did it matter who ran a village? Was it because this man was stronger? Did people leave because he was scary? The shit was a nekonian empire? Did that have something to do with cats? He didn't really like cats. They always hissed and clawed at him. Mean little smelly things. Pooping in sand boxes. He never pooped in sand. He was superior to a cat. Yeah. Why would anyone follow something that pooped in a sand box? Conquering other nations? Ridding the village of the strongest? But the pack was right here? Did that mean they were missing nin?

Having completely forgotten for a moment that this guy was clearly stronger than them. He noticed his sister was closer by far and did this guy call her a cub? Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit fan had been shit on. The fan was in the sandbox! Acting quickly he would step forward and place a hand on her shoulder. No picking fights with super dude. He would try and draw her attention to him and shake his head no. In silence he would tap the headband she was wearing around her neck and then tap his own chest around his heart. It should be obvious to her what he was trying to communicate since he couldn't really find the words. Not in front of super dude. Jeeze he was intimidating. Was it his sandbox the cat shit in? Well it was empty so Ten guessed so. Anyway, the indication was that Konoha was home. Even if they hadn't liked the people they grew up here. He wasn't ready to give that up for a cat. Of all things a freaking cat. He grimaced at the thought.

Still silver eyes would turn and narrow as super Kage dude. The Hokage? That range a bell. Some sort of commander guy. Likely to give them orders. Rebuild the village? Well he wasn't so good with tools but if it was war. It took some doing and it was sloppy but Tengoku would flourish his fake sword with a single spin before jamming it into the soft grass. Barely pressing it in enough to hold in place before he crossed his arms and nodded standing behind it. He might not understand much but there was something he did understand. If there was a fight to be had the winning side had the twins on its side. Because it won because they were there? Or because they chose the winning side? Ah screw it. He wanted to fight for Konoha. To make Konoha great again.

If Haku hadn't been so busy laughing, he may have noticed the quite visible eyetwitch of annoyance as the man laughed essentially in her face. He'd go on with a short speech about brandishing her fangs in the face of an unknown threat. There was validity in what he said, but she had her own thoughts on the situation. But her ears burned with the final word there...'Cub? Who the hell is he calling a cub? White haired brat. He's just a teen.' echo'd in her mind.  She didn't have a chance to respond though, as the 'Hokage' went on and explained the situation.

She'd cross her arms as she listened to Haku, it taking a moment for him to get it all out. He sure wasn't the politest person...but neither was Tsu, so things was even there. She let out an annoyed sigh, shutting her eyes and turning her head away if only slightly. She...could be just a bit of a 'diva' at times. Odd for a girl of the Woods. She'd open her red hues to find Ten's hand on her shoulder, looking to him. He was nervous, she could tell. But his message was clear to her when he gestured from her headband to his heart. She shut her eyes again, puffing up if only a little as if she was gonna blow, only to sigh it out and once more the blue coloring returned to the markings upon her cheeks.

With a quick glance she'd bring her gaze back to Haku. She had mauled over his words and now would give her own. "Small flaw in your logic. All three of us here know who is the strongest. I know if your goal was to simply kill us, you'd have done so already. At the same time, even now, we have little chance of escape...this only leaves a couple options; You're either going to kill us anyway and nothing we say or do matters...or you're not...and I don't take you as the playing with their pray type. Maybe you got me fooled, but please...tell me if I'm wrong." she'd speak with a more calm tone then she had before, indication she had calmed herself from the initial spark of aggression within her. Backed into a corner and such. Maybe Haku did have her fooled, maybe he was just playing with them and was gonna kill them. But she felt she had picked apart the situation rather well.

She'd look back to her brother for only a moment, before looking back to Haku. She raised her hands and shoulders a bit, shrugging. "It can't be helped...if thats the state of the village and we're basically all thats left then we best get a move on..." she responded to Haku's inquiry. She'd snag the reigns of the Mule pulling their cart, tugging on them, and the Mule would again pull the cart forward, continuing their route. She'd look up to Haku once more, as her and the mule towing the cart slowly approached. "Shall you lead the way then, 'Hokage-sama'..." she'd say, the way she said 'Hokage-Sama' being a flirty, but mocking tone.

Tengoku would ready to move with his sister as she began to lead the Mule. His hand moving down to grip the stick as he stepped forward only to get yanked back a little by the stick in the ground. He grunted as he had a difficult time pulling it out. Only to turn as a sheathed katana was thrown to him. More like tossed. Even that he fumbled to catch before clearing his throat clearly embarrassed. His silver eyes looking down to the gift as a smile came across his face. A real sword. People hadn't really trusted him with weapons before. He always seemed a little slow and didn't talk much so others suspected he was simple in the head. No one gave a simple person a blade less they hurt themselves or others. Plus he was bullied a lot and people knew better than to give the tormented kid a sword. Still he had practiced the forms. Fighting was natural for him and relaxing. Letting his movements flow into one another was awkward for now but he wanted to be better. He would slip just the edge of the blade out. It was a basic metal but it was much better than a silly stick.

The two of them would be instructed to come at the man and Tengoku would hesitate looking to his sister for reassurance. They were the same age but she was clearly the leader of the two. Only if she gave him the nod or some other similar signal would he nod in return. Tying the katana to his waist tightly he would remove his fur lined coat. He was a thin boy but now it was clear he was tall. Six foot tall to be exact as he straightened up. Not the tallest around but good for a swordsman. His arms and legs were lanky which suggested he had reach. Slowly as she tied up the mule he would circle around Haku to the opposite side. His demeanor changing as he lowered down to grab a handful of dirt and rub it into his palms. His eyes shifted from their innocence to something more ready. Silver orbs observing Haku. He would rise and draw out the katana as he took in a deep breath and let it out through his nose. Taking up a stance with his feet spread and his sword held in both hands. Blade pointed forward and held steady. It was heavier than he expected. His job was simple. Draw attention away from his sister. If that meant taking a hit so be it. Just as suddenly Tengoku took in a breath and lunged forward. Blade turning upwards as he went for a downwards stab at his opponents mid torso. His opponent was faster so if he had any chance of hitting he had to aim center mass. One major thought was running through his head. How did that hat stay on at those speeds? Suction cups maybe?

exit thread
4 posts 80 exp

Tsukiyo would find herself being halted...for the sake of keeping things smooth, for now, she obliged Haku, and would stop, her gaze focusing on him as he spoke. She sighed, maybe he'd missed her point--there was no point in arguing though, letting Haku think he had the last word on the subject. Truth was her point was if he was going to kill them, it was either gonna happen, or not. Her attitude bared little on it, and she'd managed to get a good read on the young Hokage--him even expressing she was right in saying what she did about 'playing with pray'. Now, the death wish part...maybe he wasn't too far off, she had no death wish, but she also was the brave type, she knew death was coming for us all--and she'd accepted it long ago. Why fear the inevitable. But Haku did have something she didn't, even with mind among the best in the world, she did lack battle experience. Something Haku had. Something...she needed.

The young woman's eyes opened up, less narrow, and more surprised, when the younger Jounin would summon a sword, and toss it to Tengoku. She watched as her brother fumbled with it, and even seemed embarrassed by his shaky catch...but seeing Ten smile when looking at the gift, it warmed her icy heart. She'd turn to Haku, her expression had shifted, and now held a more sincere look. She would've thanked him, but apparently she was left to tie up the mule. This...it dropped her expression, right back to normal, sharp eyes that could peer straight through someone's soul. It was true, her moments of showing a softer side were very brief.

She'd grunted and went ahead, pulling the Mule away after giving Ten the nod to show they indeed would be doing this. It'd honestly take her a minute, she was slow to walk. After taking a good bit longer then it should've--she'd secured the Mule and cart to a nearby tree. Well, if Haku was trying to trick them, it was working. Lucky enough, the Hokage wasn't. While at the cart, she'd grabbed a couple things--holsters and hip pouches, two each, and would secure them to herself--readying for battle with some of her equipment. (See this page for details. Basically Kunai, Shuriken, smoke bombs, and explosive tags--your basic stuff.)

She would return towards the others, but hang back, as it seemed Ten was already preparing himself at this point, trying to encircle Haku, and putting his poker face on. It seemed the spar was on, if Haku was luring them in--he had them. But...Tsukiyo felt it'd be ok. Something about Haku seemed...familiar to her. Maybe she'd seen him when he was but a wee lad? Either way she saw her brother preparing for an attack. She too prepared herself, but she was much more subtle.

Tsukiyo begun forming chakra within her, building it up--she didn't have much but she had enough for what she was to do--she'd charge her chakra...the woman had a talent when it came to Genjutsu, a fairly rare one. She didn't require the use of hand seals for casting Genjutsu. For the most part, without paying attention to her, she could activate them in near secret. She wish she could've planned something out with Ten beforehand, but he sort of rushed into it head first--and there was nothing that could be done for that now.

She'd use the time it was taking for Ten to make his move on Haku, Tsukiyo watching as her brother went in to strike the Jounin with the blade--a head on attack. It was taking Tsukiyo a fairly long time, a few seconds--hours worth in a quick battle--to mold her chakra. But once it was ready, the trap was set. Now to trigger it. By now whatever happens--happened between Haku and Ten as far as Ten's attack, and now Tsukiyo wanted to draw attention back to her--if only a moment. She was ready to use her Tree Binding Death technique. She drew out a few shuriken, keeping them within her fingers as she posed them visibly out in front of her...Haku viewing her hands was the trigger, if he seen her hands--the Genjutsu would be cast.

"Hey, Tweenkage! You like shuriken?" she'd announce herself with a cutting tone to draw Haku's attention, waiting a few seconds to give him a chance to look her way, before throwing 6 shuriken in Haku's direction. Her aim...it was piss poor--one hit the ground instantly in front of her, one was on path for a near miss with Ten but wouldn't hit him, flying off into the distance, three others had no shot at hitting, and only one managed to forge a path in Haku's direction with the slimmest of chances of hitting its mark--assuming Haku didn't simply step to the side or just catch it. But of course...this wasn't her true strategy. She simply wished for his eyes to have met her hands to cast Tree Binding Death.

((OOC: Closing thread and collecting my 80 experience.))