A Promised Land

Toji Yamata sat in the chair of the Raikage. Today he had a few meetings to attend too. Which he was no stranger too. He had been the Kazekage of Sunagakure before. This was the first time he was out in the open as a new persona. He was sure his defeat of the 8 Tailed Beast would make rounds the world but it was stifled by the appearance of other bijuu at other villages. It seemed something big was going on. And he would be a central part in that.

The attack on Konoha was particularly interesting for him. Which was why he had his underworld contacts try to find Chem. He had last saw the man in Suna but he knew he was a powerful ninja. He would be a great find for the Light.

The political situation in Kumogakure was beyond strange. For the past few years, the village was said to be under the control of Shimiko Chinoike yet the whole affair was shrouded in mystery. When the subject came up, shinobi grew quiet and there was a bizarre vibe that seemed to settle on the conversation. Chen thus came to the conclusion that something was amiss. The Chinoike Raikage was rarely seen and even more inexplicably, in her most recent appearance she declared that the new leader was to be some unheard of shinobi by the name of Toji Yamata. This charade is pure nonsense. Chen wondered if other world leaders found this as suspicious as he did. Ethereum had warned him that the crisis involving the Eight Tails had been resolved and so Chen decided to remain in Kumo, training and occasionally giving out orders to his acolytes. A promising kunoichi by the name of Kaori had proven herself worthy of his blessings and he was now focused on positioning her to serve his ends. The enormous bounty that Konoha had placed on him in response to his letter was amusing but troublesome. It forced him to become a ghost. He had stuck to alleys, sewers, abandoned houses and all manner of total filthy living accommodations that could best be described as "destitute." He maintained a few contacts in the criminal underworld which he used to send out his orders but other than that he was an untraceable non-person.

When some of Chen's contacts came back to him with a message from this "Toji" Raikage, he was intrigued. It could be a trap. In fact, it most likely was a trap. So at first, Chen simply ignored the summons. But that had only made his contacts more insistent. They all were vouching for this Raikage in oddly specific ways and via individuals that Chen knew could not be compromised. Whoever this Toji was had to be a true criminal to the core. There were things that he understood and people he knew that simply could not be fabricated  by even the most skilled of ANBU. And judging by the state of Kumogakure, the village's peak ANBU days were far behind it. This is legit....Toji isn't working for them but that begs the question...who is he working for? And what does he want?

Chen was unsure of how to handle the situation but the reassuring voice of Ethereum ended up being the deciding factor. He would meet Toji in his office, completely un-masked and un-bothered. It was a bold move but Chen had learned to trust his otherwordly patron. The Butcher of Sungakure thus found himself strolling into the Raikage's office. He wore a pitch black cloak that was dirty and ragged. Chen's hair was long, stretching past his shoulders and was matted. The former Diarch looked more like a vagrant than a force of nature. The building was eerily empty and like everything about Shimiko/Toji's tenure, there was an omnipresent aura of fear. The individuals who worked here, did as they were told and heard nor saw anything that was not in their immediate purview. Chen stood directly in front of Toji and scowled. He had no idea that the man in front of him was Raijin, a murderer and terrorist whom he looked up to and invited into his chambers during his brief rule of the Oasis. Instead, he saw a fair skinned shinobi that was unassuming and unimpressive.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear....I've heard you've been looking for me. I sense no ANBU nor any other danger so this isn't a trap....but that only makes me more curious. What is this? What have you done with Kumo?" Chen did not ask out of concern. He cared less for this hellhole of a village. They had done little to help Iwa during the Mountain War and would not even assist in paying the burdensome independence tax. Nevertheless, he could sense that there was something off about Kaminari's leadership as of late.

The Devil did appear. Raijin's contacts were invaluable. They were able to get the message to Chen in quick order. Thankfully he wasn't far and had been in Kumo. The state of Kumogakure had been swayed since his initial invasion of the village. He was now made Raikage with a 'Shimiko' fading back into obscurity. He was basically a different person. The only way to fully see who he used to be would be a powerful mind reading jutsu. To which is mind had been fortified against the Uchiha themselves. "Welcome to my kingdom. Old friend. I requested a closed meeting with you. Here I am Toji Yamata, Raikage of the Hidden Cloud village. But..." Toji was certain that would illicit a look from Chem.

"We have met before. In Suna, I was there during your spectacular display of firepower. I have undergone many changes but it better to show you then tell." Using the transformation technique, he changed his appearance back to his old one where he last met Chem. "I am Raijin. After my tirade of destruction. I was defeated by the Leaf ninja. But rescued by a good friend now. I changed my chakra signature and appearance to blend in. I've been gaining more power lately while working with a group of like minded individuals like ourselves. Which is why I called you here today. Another of my group shall be here to whom you are familiar with.

You are a powerful ninja. It is time we started pooling our powers together. The Major nations have been unchecked for to long. And Konoha is a personal thorn of mine. Kiri poses another issue to all of as well. Which is why I extend a hand, as an ally."

Raijin was sure this would pique his interest. Konoha had thwarted his plans as well with Suna. They all had common enemies.


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Transformation technique

Tadara would be sure to blend in with the rest of the individuals there within the Raikage's office. He wanted to see Chen without the man needing to confront someone. How he acted around the rank and file. Before they had been borderline beneath the man. Mere tools which had suited his needs. His chakra signature and appearance were changed for the time being. However he didn't fully hide himself. He could have with his armor from Iwa and his hiding in camo technique had he wanted. With the mask he would have been undetectable except to the most perceptive people on the planet. However Chen he knew happened to be one of those such people. His statistics card suggested that hiding in such a way would simply draw attention. Hiding with a new face in plain sight was more suited to the assassin doctor. He wasn't here to take a life so he doubted Chen would sense any real danger from Tadara. Even had he heard of his participation with the eight tails. He was sure to partially turn his face away and focus on his paperwork. Just another Kumo jounin with a half mask for his lower face. 

His effort to remain nondescript was likely successful as Chen while perceptive still appeared to care little for those beneath him. His arrogance had always been his greatest weakness. He would wait a full minute as he finished what he was doing calmly. His kumo flak jacket and typical black shinobi pants and long sleeve shirt over sandals made him blend in with the rest fairly well. He was cautious to observe Chen like this but kept his eyes down. His other senses like smell and hearing giving him some data. It appeared that Chen had gone to ground in a literal sense. Having angered a world power or two had its consequences. Tadara was being more cautious with his approach. Anyone who might be after him was either dead or believed him dead and he had still altered his face and signature. However unlike usual he had not produced a single bee. Chen was unlikely to miss such an out of place thing. Still he would give Chen time to make his way to the office before calmly slipping on the mask he had taken from the castle. His other equipment was hidden in a scroll. His real armor and the two artifacts he kept. His student told to be elsewhere today. 

However the one item he kept under his flak jacket had been his mask. The moment he put on the angelic mask a cloak would form over him and his chakra would completely disappear. He was quiet in his approach to the office.  Silent as could be with his practiced stealth. With his chakra completely hidden he would move to the office before hearing what Raijin was sharing with Chen. Raijin was a straightforward man who liked all his cards on the table. He believed he could overpower his way out of most situations. Still he would move to the door and step through into the office. The door was open so he didn't have to make noise opening it. But it would be obvious that he was there suddenly. No sound of approach or chakra signature. Yet a man was suddenly there. As if a spirit summoned to the office. His voice was masked by the mask as was his face. An echo like three voices on top of one another. Hiding his monotone.

"A devil to some perhaps. The analogy however is lost on me. Perhaps the comparison is the pride of the devil in christian lore? His fall was spectacular and he too built a kingdom...However it looks more like you've been through hell yourself. Has Humanity not treated you well Chen Kimyōnakama? Statistically the race hasn't blended well with non humans in the past. You have never been one to blend though."

Chen's eyes narrowed as Toji called him an old friend. He had never met the man not a day in his life. However, as he spoke in hauntingly familiar terms Chen became more curious. A simple transfiguration revealed that he was, or claimed to be, Raijin of draconic fame. Chen was not terribly convinced by the display although his knowledge of certain details was impressive. Chen retained a poker face as he listened to the individual speak. The proposal was interesting and quite tempting. He agreed that the Major Nations were a significant obstacle to his plans. His Father demanded that this world be taken and brought to heel. Suna was the first step. Its people were decadent and unwilling to turn from their degenerate past, and so he had delivered swift punishment. A reminder to the rest of the world that his word was law and that all must cede authority to his vision or face dire consequences. It was the thinking of a mad man but ever since the Heavenly Emporium, Chen's thoughts were not his own.

The Child considered walking out of the room but the mention of another whom he'd be familiar with caused him to stay. True to Tadara's suspicion, Chen did not notice the random workers and shinobi that busied themselves in the Kage's office. He had been more focused on this new Toji character and the purpose of the summons. Chen was aware of someone approaching, his impeccable sense of Perception noticing the slight draft that in the air as the door was moved. He did not bother to turn and instead allowed the stranger to come into his line of sight. Its voice was obscured by a mask and in that instant Chen put two-and-two together. Raijin's transformation was too good to be true. It would take a medical genius to conduct a physical alteration so thorough and complete. Chen only knew of two ninja that was capable of such things. The first hadn't been seen in half a decade and the second was.....

Tadara.

Chen hadn't kept tabs on the shinobi since the Massacere. He knew his former subordinate to be a rather ammoral person as he did nothing to stop Chen during his initial wave of brutality. It would make sense he would join forces with a terrorist like Raijin if it suited his interests. Chen gazed at Tadara through the mask he wore. The nin always had a penchant for them and while he didn't like the familiar terms with which he addressed Chen, he couldn't help but smirk. He had certainly come along way. When Chen had last seen the Owl, he was practically a genin.

"You speak to me as you would a peer. As a servant of the Darkness within the Stone, you will bow at my feet!" Chen said raising his voice in anger. It was Chen's intention to establish a pecking order among the three villains. There was no doubt that Raijin out-ranked them. Trained by Honiko Yoshiadara herself, the self-proclaimed Dark Lord had been a sword of destruction against Kishin for over a decade. When Chen ruled the Oasis, he had shown respect to the man he admired and looked up to. He would have no issues with deferring to Raijin but in turn he expected the same fealty from his former lackey. This was even more pressing considering the difference in power between Chen and Raijin was smaller than that between Tadara and Chen. The Butcher of Sunagakure would turn back to Raijin and answer:

"My Father tells me that I can trust you....that you are who you say you are. I agree that Konoha and Kiri have over-stepped for the last time. I accept your offer of an alliance Raijin." Chen wasn't crazy about calling the man who once ruled the skies by some false name. It seemed inappropriate and disrespectful. "Suna was Iwa's and by extension mine to do with as I pleased and they've seen fit to give it to a foreign interloper. Okane Tomi now proclaims himself its ruler and protector. He seeks to heal what I have broken. I want to add him to our list."

Chen walked to the window of the Kage office and stared outside menacingly with his hands behind his back.  

"]Which begs the question....who is in charge of this outfit? It sounds like you are but you don't speak with the authority of a leader. I assume the purpose of this organization is to lay the villages low but I wonder whose interests that serve? Certainly, mine. But I'd be a fool to accept an alliance if I only knew what I stood to gain from it."

Tadara had found his way to the meeting well enough. He spoke to Chen with the same familiarity as the Raikage did. It looked like Chen was starting to put two and two together. There was always a power dynamic between the villages. Most of it festered behind the scenes of controlling Suna and Kumo. His power had waned and grown in that time. Now he was one of the most legendary ninjas of all time. It was time he used his influence to change the world forever. Chen did want to join them but he was hesitant, as he should. They all walked a fine line everywhere they went.

"There is a leader of sorts but hes been indisposed as of right now. He has his own mission. However we are mostly left to our own devices. We all have similar goals thats why this works out. But we are to powerful to be 'led'. We all have parts to play in this grand scheme of things. It just helps if there is a focused mind with such strong members. I owe him a great deal for my escape from Konoha. Which is why I lend my hand to him. But until he reappears from his mission. We'll be continuing on with our goals. I can't speak for him. But I have always been very giving in the spoils of war. Willing to share whatever we conquer. And if you desire more. We will get it. Together. For now Kumo will be our base. But we have more."

"Tadara here is really the brains of the outfit. But there were somethings I wanted to run by you as well. Our biggest ops would be the Leaf and Mist the village. For the Mist it takes a more concentrated effort. There are many powerful ninja there including my sensei Nozomi. We should start collecting more Kekkei Genkais. The Leaf is home to some of the most powerful ones. They can be a focus for those. To attack Konoha we will need to reinstate my Dragon army. To handle the ninja that come to help the elite. Also if there is a way for you create a type of virus we can release in the village. Something that causes the citizens to rage. This ensuing chaos will ensure we can battle to our hearts desire if we need too."

He felt this was a few ways to spitball a plan.

Tadara would pause a moment. No surprise registering in those dull eyes. Only observing the man. He was prone to these temper outbursts. One may even assume he was driven entirely by his rage. The demand he bow however to a man standing there covered in dust and rags seemed out of place. His research on hierarchy seemed to suggest a fallen noble was no longer someone people bowed to. No did their dynamic really fit anymore. It had evolved and now Tadara was no longer uncertain he was incapable of killing the man. With blast release in hand it was a possibility now. However there was no purpose to such a thing. He did not lack financial backing so the bounty on the man wasn't appealing. The offer for his transgressions to be forgiven was no longer needed nor the promise of the blast techniques and surgery. He had taken those and faked his death. He was perhaps the second most effective if not first ANBU the land of stone had ever produced. Masaru being a tough cookie to compare to. Even if in that moment he was wearing the mans armor. His form seeming to blend with his surroundings before Chen's very eyes. 

The comment about Okane was an interesting one. The most prolific crafter in the world and possibly the highest economical giant around. Chen wished him dead out of pride but Okane wished Chen dead as well. Their value was about equal though. If not two sides of the coin. Okane built where Chen destroyed. With both halves the world could be sustained. With too much growth the world would become to relaxed. With too much destruction then society would be unable to grow stronger. They created a unified world while forcing them not to relax on their desire for power. Still Raijin would seem to ignore the part about Okane and set about divulging some of their truth if not leaving out any real specifics. Tadara would move to the side of the room and peer out the window. Keeping an eye aware of trouble while not fully turning his attention from Chen out of the corner of his eye. If he did not bow Chen could act poorly. Still it would appear the man needed an update. His spy network not doing enough to really give him the ideal information he needed. Not like Tadara could. 

"The Stone fell and now is led by the weak. It was done in and robbed with only three people. In your absence it has grown weak. It needed a refresher. Something to urge this generation into action. With my plan we took it down without any difficulty and in the process Diana and 'Tadara' were eliminated. I went through a few toils to adjust my identity. It would be appreciated if you would not actively seek to ruin that.


 You're own methods of being blatant with your actions and words have left you in a position where the world is hunting you already. Thirteen million ryo in combined bounties makes you the most valuable dead man in the world. However you have a high point value in the scale of power. As for Okane he has a protector at least Toji should know well by the name of Ryuko. A considerable opponent to have. As for a chemical compound Norepinephrine (NE) is responsible for fear and anger emotions that trigger “fight or flight” response. Combine that with Epinephrine which is also known as adrenaline, and you have the compound agent for essentially a rage induced state. How to disperse it and where is vital too however."

Chen was intrigued with this discussion of a "leader of sorts." It appears this was the individual that had bailed Raijin from the throes of death and he was no off on some mysterious mission. Chen noted that his summoner did not say the man's name. What is he hiding? Chen thought. The rest of the pitch sounded good to the Butcher. It was difficult getting people with such vast quantities of power and with a disdain for the existing power structures to work together. As Chen himself had shown, there were squabbles, insubordination and back-stabbing abound in such organizations. It was natural that those who did not wish to be shackled by the morals of the lesser would seek to dominate others in their midst, even when they shared common cause.

Chen's eyes flickered to Tadara. The Owl had grown from a pup into something more. Raijin described him as being the brains behind the outfit. He remained silent as the Dark Lord expounded on their need to attack the Leaf and the Mist, harvest the organs of their Nin and leave them writhing with devastation. Images of pestilence and warfare dancing within his mind's eye and a wicked grin was elicited from his expression. If Tadara could concoct a biological agent capable of creating chaos then perhaps making kneel was not an appropriate use of his talents.

"So that was the three of you I assume?" Chen looked Tadara up and down and spoke again. "Insolent pup." Chen said with a scoff. "You are right about one thing. Iwagakure has become pathetic since the start of Diana's rule. You were right to shake it to its core. It was the reckoning that the Stone needed so that it could rise again. Its current leader is a joke from what I hear but my agents are well-trained and highly skilled. Its only a matter of time before they rise to take their rightful place. Once they are well situated we can use them to further our aims."

The use of the word "our" here was telling. These were highly motivated, intelligent and dangerous Nuke-Nin. They understood that words had meaning and that Chen was not a man of casual accidents. He was in.

The alien turned around and leaned against the wall.

"Deploy it in two places. The first instance should be Tanzaku Town. A population center outside of Konoha that has been given to the traitorous Kaifeng Family. The second instance should be deployed at the Konoha market to maximize the chaos and destruction it'd bring. Since Kumo is our base I will need more...suitable accommodations. Off the books and discreete. I'm sure you should be able to manage that 'Toji-sama.' Then there is the matter of your spoils.....I'd like to peruse whatever Exclusives and Artifacts your group has obtained. Of keen interest to me is Black Lightning Seal."

The attack on Iwa of course had garnered a massive amount of attention. Raijin blatantly causing that amount of damage would certainly reach the underworld. "That was indeed us. And it won't be the last. Everyone here will play an important role in the events to come. I know of Okane and his work with Suna while I was there. I will seek a meeting with him, as he too would be invaluable in this."

"I like the idea for Tanzaku town and the Konoha Market. I shall have some of our ninja spread those when Tadara can make the agents. As far as what we collected as a group I am not privy too. What I have available is my own resources as Raikage. You can access our exclusives and what I know. As for the seal."

Toji got up and walked to Chen. And if he would allow him, place the Black Lightning seal upon his hand. He also grabbed the Kumo scrolls and showed them to Chen. He grabbed some ink and a spare scroll. Where he would put the exclusive jutsus he knew from the Grass, and Stone village. But Raijin offered LRA as well. One of Kumos most powerful techniques .

"With this you should be knowledgably stronger. I will be in the training mountains to hone my strength. If you seek to test your strength follow me there. Tadara, whenever you can finish with virus I'll help distribute it. And I have some interesting organs for you to help me with. I'll drop by after training."

Once they finished what they had to say Raijin would nod and leave the office.


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Exit

Tadara would listen to the alien speak with a general lack of any appearance of emotion. Simply remaining where he stood as still as could be. His eyes behind the math unfocused as he contemplated the impact of this. He could make this enraging agent but the effects wouldn't be permanent. At most he may be able for it to last several hours. The body would try to fight off those combinations he had mentioned quickly. Even with an added agent to get it to last longer he was buying hours...not days. Perhaps if he could create an infection that killed the host but took over the body. A parasite of types would suit his needs best. Something of an altered bacteria designed to multiply, spread easily and produce the chemicals for the rage. That would take some work but it wasn't anything beyond what he believed himself capable of. 

"If you want to spread panic and do mostly mental trauma at a base is introducing it to the public. Likely a better outcome in Tanzaku town. However if you want to effect the shinobi market better you will need to try and infect someone who can deal some considerable damage along with the masses. Otherwise the troops stationed there will quickly put down any dangerous infected. Likely ending in a quarantine instead of an outbreak. I have some ideas for this biological weapon. I will head for the laboratory here in Kumo and begin my work. I require a section of it restricted to me. I am not to be disturbed outside of our work. Outside of those organs....we will talk."

He would stay there. Waiting for Chen to leave before him. The man was more dangerous not for his abilities....he was dangerous for his impulsive temper. Ready to fight at the drop of a dime and holding grudges over growth. His eyes would track the most dangerous man on the planet and only after a minute of contemplation would he exit the room as well. Raijin knew what he was doing training with the man Tadara was sure. Still he avoided the topic of artifacts. The two could discuss that in training. Tadara had to items he wished for out of it. Still he wasn't certain involving Chen was the highest percentage of success. Just another level of violence and some other purpose. One he could not fully identify outside of the label of world conquest. Only as he left would he wonder if the two understood the raw potential of what it meant to ask him for a zombie virus. A beginning to another possible world ending event. 

attempted exit