Once the explosion hit the battle field everyone eventually flew backwards into the beach, rolling and tumbles on their sides as the shockwave from Sarada and Kotatsu's colliding fist put a stop to everyone's battles. Nanami, in the background took the opportunity to shoot down all existing clones with ease, her inner anger ravaging inside. Something was overcoming the poor girl as she witnessed the attempted kill strike on her sensei. With the last of her strength, Sarada managed to charge enough chakra in her fist once more and sent a gut renching punch into Kotatsu's stomach. The air leaving his body as he gasped. The complete silence of the battlefield drew everyone's attention. Shiroma had no time to react after pulling herself up from the ground as she paniced weather or not Sarada saved herself from death. Kotatsu's eyes widen as small amounts of blood coughed out of his mouth. He fell onto the ground as Sarada fell backwards, her strength becoming complete exhaustion.

Sigmund proved to be a difficult foe for Sakuya and all around him. His new founded darkness practically took over him. Whle his teammates believed he was almost gone, deep down he was fighting a war neither of them could understand. His lust for power overweighed the decision to want to be good. He was following a path all too familiar with history. All of Sakuya's jutsus failed with each attempt being blocked. Sigmund wasn't even breaking a sweat throughout the battle. The battle became draining as Sigmund had yet to strike her. As the battle continued on, the true Kotatsu continued his flurry of attacks one by one. The explosion interrupted his battle as he managed to keep a steady stance. Once things cleared up, he witnessed his brother's ultimate demise. He didn't react right away as Kotatsu fell. With Kotatsu's defeat, the clones disappeared one by one into dark liquid before it evaporated into the air. Nobody moved a muscle as they watched the final battle however Sigmind took the opportunity to rush in. His plan and ourage took over as he charged in with such quickness that he towered over Sarada.

She was weak and vulnerable and Sigmund knew it as did everyone else. Before Sigmund could even pull out his knife, Nori and Nanami were quick to race towards him. Nanami, bow in hand fired another arrow at his hand, the arrow disarming Sigmund's kunai knife. Nori followed up with her own taijutsu. Her gut told her she had to stop him, her feelings aside, but deep within her heart, her emotions tugged at the thought having to finally fight him off with all her might. Even though she didn't want to hurt the one she loved, she had to stop him, whether it killed her or not. He unbandaged her arms, the wraps loosened as she attempted to finally kick off from the ground and thrust her leg up. However before she realized it, he was gone, her front lotus technique ending in failure. Shit. she told herself as her eyes glanced around for him. She knew that would've been a final blow for him, but she wasn't quick enough.

Sigmund reappred next to Sakuya, vulnerable and knew if he took their weakest link out, it would be a debasting blow to everyone around him. He grabbed Sakuya by her shirt, lifting her up from the ground, his bones seeping out of his hand to make a blade. The group of shinobi knew they wouldn't be able to make it in time. Nanami shot another arrow, attempting to disarm him again, but the darkness around him formed a protective shield around himself, deflecting another from coming in. Sakuya tried to wiggle out of his grip, trying to summon her water chains to form around him but she was too exhausted to get them to come reach up from the ground. Sigmund smirked. "This has been long overdue. Without you, they're weak. he muttered to her before bringing his blade to her chin. "I will enjoy this greatly.

All the while, Kotatsu managed to regain his breath. His eyes were blurry as he looked up at the grey-blue sky. The air was cold as he just laid there. His ears were ringing around him. He almost seemed lost and confused. A voice in his head seemed to be putting pressure into his mind. You're weak. You allowed an Uchiha to crush you. I gave you everything and now you are nothing! with the last sentence of being told he was worthless, he felt an ache throughout his body and lots of pain. He was paralyzed as he felt the darkness slipping away from him. His power gone; his control over darkness vanished. He was no longer connected to the evil forces of the world. Not only did Sarada defeat him, she stripped him of his power, however nobody knew the effect it would have on her as she laid unconscious.

[Kotatsu has lost the darkness abilities. All jutsus are converted to unique techniques now teachable to other shinobi.]

Kotatsu rolled over on his side and found his brother across the way, holding onto Sakuya. It was an uncomfortable sight for him. Sakuya was his former teammate. He was welcomed by her and she encouraged him before he ran away from the Land of Lightning. He knew he had only one option. Sucking in air, he got onto his feet, his Sharingan exposed. The blood of an Uchiha coursing through his veins as he managed to to appear by Sigmund. Sigmund grinned before glancing at Kotatsu. "Glad you could join me.
" Sigmund seemed to not notice that Kotatsu was no longer on the same alliance. "You can help me absorb this power, brother." he grinned wider. Sigmund pulled his bone knife to Sakuya's stomach and before he could pull it back, Kotatsu placed his hand on Sigmund's arm. "She isn't worth it. Let her go," Kotatsu chimed in. Sigmund's eyes seemed to flare as Kotatsu disagreed with him. This was a first. "Let her go?! No!" he snapped as he pushed Kotatsu away from him. "You're weak!" he declared as he thrusted his bone knife forward. As the knife his flesh, Nori, Nanami, and Shiroma's eyes widen as they rushed to the protective bubble. Fuma had unleashed the power of her blades as she managed to crack the dark bubble, but still couldn't penetrate the hard shell. Due to her mercenary work with darkness inhabited lands, she was able to use the blade to begin weakening the shield but it was too late. Fuma locked eyes with the individual that was stabbed.

In her place, Kotatsu had managed to switch places with Sakuya, teleporting her out of the bubble. Kotatsu had been the one who been stabbed, protecting his former teammate. It was a shock that stunned everyone. Sakuya was more surprised as she sat on the ground and tried to come to terms with what just happened. Kotatsu saved her life. After everything he did, he saved her. "You fool! Protecting them?! I should kill you!" Kotatsu managed to push Sigmund away from him, the bone knife retracting out of his stomach as he coughed up blood. "You blind fool. You'll meet your demise eventually. It's not worth it." Kotatsu managed out as he fell to his knees. Sigmund wasn't finished with him however. "You don't deserve those eyes,
 he stated as he picked up the wounded Kotatsu and began gorging Kotasu's eyes. Due to the strains that Sigmund has used, he managed to cause his eyes to go blind, almost losing his sight. With Sigmund taking Kotatsu's eyes, he managed to transfer them to himself, Kotatsu losing his eyes forever. Sigmund was now gifted with Eternal.

Fuma managed to break the shield as Sigmund threw Kotatsu's screaming self out of the now destroyed bubble surrounding them. Before Sigmund even got the chance to use his new found power, Nanami, Nori, Shiroma, and Sakuya did not hesitate to restrain him as quickly as possible before 
Sigmund got away again. Sakuya managed to build more strength and used her water chains to wrap around his arms, legs, and torso one last time. Shiroma used her ice to freeze the ground around Sigmund, encasing his legs with black ice, locking him into the ground. Nanami held her bw straight to his face, determined to ensure he wasn't going to move. "Make one move and I'll shoot, Sigmund. It's over. Surrender!" she threatened. Fuma used her old headband to cover his eyes. The eyes of the Uchiha were deadlier than ever. She held him steady. Sigmund began to struggle. They all knew it was only a matter of time before he broke free from their gaps. Because Nanami practically held Sigmund at gunpoint, it was up to Nori to restrain Sigmund completely with the information they had gained awhile back about his weakness. "Nori, do it now. This is our only chance!"

Sigmund knew what was to come. The paralyzing feeling he has experienced before was his only weakness. He growled, he yelled, he shouted and tried his hardest to break free. Without the use of his newly aquired eyes, he was useless for the time being. Nori approached Sigmund, the young man she knew and loved was still in there, deep inside. "Sigmund..." she muttered as she placed her hand on his cheek. "This isn't you. This has never been you.." she continued as she put her head into his chest. She could hear the darkness through him. It was strong, but not consuming him completely. Before she could get herself to immobilize him, she brought her lips to his and everything went white.

That was the last thing anyone could remember from that day.

A year has passed and everyone had went their seperate ways to conquor the ongoing war that the world was still experiencing. Unfortunately for them things had chanaged dramatically. After that fateful night, returning home was a disaster. The other group that had been entrusted with discovering exactly how the dark shinobis managed to sneak into the Land of Fire, it turns out it was a distraction from the oncoming attack that happened. They discovered the hideout that tunneled all the way to the Hokage's quarters, which explained how exactly they managed to learn so much about all their missions and operations that the Land of Fire had planned. The surprise attack caught the leaf village offguard, ultimaely losing the last stronghold. Countless citizens died and most scattered after the retreat. Sasuke put up the biggest battle he had ever fought and although he managed to surpress the Mysterious man, it wasn't enough to save the village. Sasuke, his new found aunt, and her husband, the Wolf Sage, managed to transport a majority of the survivors to a mysterious land that had yet to be inhabited. With the lose of countless lives, Sasuke remained as interim Kage of their new land. Commanding the forces of his elite force and the Sacred Board, the past year has been peaveful and successful building a new village from the ground up. A lot had changed that still scarred many shinobi. Our heros had returned, Lady Sarada stuck in a coma for the last year. Shiroma's heart went out to her and had decided to remain by her side throughout the entire time. Shiroma was offered training from a fellow comrade, Tsubaki, who was very much alive still. Nori was nowhere to be found after that day. Nanami however decided to train under Fuma still, having much to learn. Fuma had agreed to return with the condition that she wasn't officially apart of their brigade however still giving assistance whenever needed. Sigmund had returned to the village, trialed, and stripped of his Chunin rank. Due to his involvement will many efforts that caused mass destruction, Sasuke had kept Sigmund under wraps for the last year. Sigmund was only allowed to travel unless he was in the presence of his aunt and the Wolf Sage, which Sigmund personally trained under without a word. Sigmund’s eternal Sharingan has been sealed and is not useable for the time being. Kotatsu lost his eye sight and is now regaining to learn to fight without sight.  Sakuya continued to train under Sakura, further mastering her medical training. Fujii had spent the last year learning how to cope with the loss of his hand due to infection and relearning to execute jutsus to their max. Newly found knowledge helped him train countless shinobi in his lightning arts, passing on his legacy.

[Note, all players who were eliminated from the game are now considered decease. If you had a relationship with these said characters, they perished with the fall of the leaf village.]

The new land is now called Land of Firelink, the capital/main village: Izalith. I do apologize for the long wait. This post was much bigger but in order to keep some things as a surprise, I deleted a lot more than what it is now. Al characters that took place on the battle in the snow, you have very faint memories. Everyone else remembers the destruction of the leaf village.

[Private to Yamada Nori: You, my dear, are now evil, going forward with the plans we had planned together. Your post can explain where you’ve been however can not explain that you’re evil. You’ve disappeared but are now returning.]
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:41, Sat 10 July 2021.

   The events had been hazy. He was aware all that he did, all that he caused and was disappointed for himself. But he felt alive. The darkness coursed through his veins and had given immense power. The lust for such power was incredible. It was thrilling and he didn't give it a second though. The mission was somewhat a success though. He tried so hard to fight it, to not disppoint those around him but whatever thatman did, had complete control over him. He was well aware the destruction and the casalties he caused for this war. He was part of the reason why the war took a turn for the worst for his team. He almost caused the death of the Hime, his former team, and even his brother. His brother...that was the biggest reveal. He didn't look like anything he remembered but it was so long ago.

   He had much to contiplate after he was arrested and taken back to the Land of Fire, but once they arrived he was angry at what took place. The leaf village was under attack and in ruins when they all arrived. He was given permission to help fight and get civilians evacuated for safety. It brought back memories from two years ago when all five lands were attacked. It was during his Chunin exam and his dream had been ruined until the aftermath. It was as if history was repeating itself again. Because he had experienced this before, he was able to fight like he had never been before. The pained memories had filled his mind as he recalled his sensei's death. His very first mentor and it put a rage into his body. He ensured his parents made it safely and he fought with all his might. Once everything was secured, Lord Sasuke fought off the Mystious Man. Unable to completely defeat him, Lord Sasuke proved to be a formidable opponent. They retreated, but at the cost of the village.

   Soon after that, they relocated the remainder of all the villages and land and stumbled upon an island south of the world. Lord Sasuke had resumed his duties as interim Kage and established a new county, the birth of Firelink and their village Izalith. Many smaller clans dispersed and formed other villages throughout the island. Once things finally started coming together, Sigmund had been put on trial. The Sacred Counsel had cast their judgement. His conditions were to be stripped of his Chunin rank and he would be heavily monitored. He wasn't allowed to leave Izalith without the accompany of Akasumi and her husband, the lost Wolf Sage Shi. The counsil had also decided to seal his etrnal sharingan and could no longer draw upon it. He was limited as what he could do with it. When his terms and conditions were read to him, they also had another family matter to take care of. For the benfit of him, they revealed that Akasumi was Sigmund's birth mother, but not just Sigmund, Kotatsu's as well. He had learned the birth story of himself. He was decended from an extinct clan, well two extinct clans and he was one of the most rarest shinobi to possess two kekkeis at the same time; the sharingan and Shikotsumyaku. It came at a price however of the inability to control himself. She was in charge of ensuring he followed his probation terms. However Sigmund took this opportunity to bond with her and her husband.

   He had taken advantage of the opportunity as they were his keepers. He trained not only under his mother, but was given the rare opportunity to start training under the Wolf Sage himself, learning only a basic technique and the ability to channel senjutsu. It had been an exhausting year, only keeping mostly to the village. He trained hard because Nori had left a year ago and he had no idea where she had ran off to. He couldn't remember much at that beach, but he did remember Nori's absence. Nanami had chose to leave too, leaving him to himself for the most part. He felt guilty of his actions and had sworn to himself he would be better for them, but that remained to be seen. He visited Lady Sarada from time to time, but her condition never changed. Shiroma had stuck around and it wasn't long before Sigmund discovered the love that the two girls shared for each other. While envious, love wasn't on his agenda really. Nori still had his heart, but winning the war was on his mind so he could redeem himself to everyone around him. Sigmund spent his days at the Uchiha clan mansion, training harder and attempting to get stronger. He went on the occasional mission to assist with civilian escorts, village guarding, being a courier, and any other minimal mission. From time to time their was word around that Snow Shinobi would be spotted within the island, but they never once discovered the island long enough to report back with useful information.

   Sigmund would be found now at the dojo in the center of town, attempting to learn a new dance for his kekkei. He was dripping with sweat and panting from exhaustion. He grew a couple of more inches taller and his hair remained dark. A faint indication on his jaw line showed he was starting to grow dark peach fuzz, but he kept it clean. His hair reached his shoulders now and he kept his attire the same. His arms covered in scars from the year's events against his pale skin, wrapped in bandages to prevent the traumatizing events. He panted as hunted over, his hands on his knees as the sweat streamed down his face. "That's it for today," he muttered through pants of exhaustion. Twelves hours had gone by and his training was over.

All Nori could remember was a flash of light and the warmth of another person’s lips against her own before everything grew dark. However, at that exact same moment, while everything was a blur, something also felt different inside her. It was a feeling that was foreign to Nori. It was a feeling of strength. A feeling of something being awoken deep down in her soul. Like a switch had been flipped. It was a feeling she couldn’t explain. In that state of unconsciousness, memories of people’s faces flashed in her mind. Familiar faces. Then suddenly, a voice whispered Nori And her emerald green eyes darted open. Her body had ached all over and her head...her head felt like it was splitting in two. As she held her head with one hand, she pushed herself up from the dirt ground loitered with leaves, rubble, and twigs. Her eyes lifted up and when she did, she saw an endless amount of darkness and trees surrounding her. She was alone in an empty forest with no recollection of how she got there. Fear struck her. Had she died? No. That wasn’t possible. She was feeling pain course through her body. If she were dead, she wouldn’t feel like this, right? She stood to her feet and began to look around her, but nothing. Nothing was here. She called out, but no one answered. What is going on? she wondered to herself. Then suddenly, a voice echoed in her head...

There is no use for calling out now. You are alone, Nori. Just like you were always meant to be. You no longer have friends. You no longer have a home. You have nothing except the cold, dark emptiness around you the voice told her, causing Nori to look around in search of it.

Who is that? Who are you? she asked but the voice just giggled.

Don’t you know who I am? I am you. I am the darkness that lurks within your heart. Nori grew puzzled yet she couldn’t help but peak her curiosity further.

 I don’t understand. What do you mean the darkness within me? she asked.

The voice merely giggled again. Exactly how it sounds, my dear. I have been inside you since the moment you were born. Or rather the moment you were conceived by your pathetic birth mother and father. Don’t you want to know why you were given up, Nori? Since the moment you found out the people you have known all your life aren’t your real parents, haven’t you always wondered who gave you life?

In all honesty, Nori hadn’t thought too much about it. Part of her didn’t want to know why she was given up or why she wasn’t good enough to be kept. All that mattered was that she had people who loved her yet...it was those same people that had kept the truth from her for so long. She had been angry. Confused. Sad. Hurt.

 Kirigakure. That is where it all started and where your story began, Nori dear. You were born of a love that was pure, but should never have come to be. You were a mistake. That is why your birth mother didn’t keep you. She didn’t want you and just gave you away. She wanted nothing to do with you. And your father never knew you even existed. He still doesn’t yet part of him lurks within you, Nori. He always has and it is awakening inside you now. The darkness that has been manifesting you has been freed and it is just wonderful the voice said with a giggle that sounded both haunting and menacing.

Nori brought up her hands and covered her head as she crouched down on the floor. I don’t know what you’re saying. I...I... she uttered as she shut her eyes tight.

You were born to bring peace, but you were also born to bring destruction on the world, Nori. That is your purpose in life. Haven’t you always wondered in your heart what your purpose for being alive truly was? It was not meant to be as servant that serves others. Others are meant to serve you The voice told her. People have always underestimated you your whole life. Your teachers. Your friends. Your teammates. Your leaders. You were always the weak link. You were never good enough for anyone. Not even your own mother wanted you. Talk about rejection.

S-shut up! You...you don’t know what you’re saying. I was good enough. I was...I was... She said aloud.

You weren’t, but you will be, Nori. Oh yes. You will be. People will fear you. People will kneel at your feet. You will no longer be the weakling. I will help you, my dear. I will help you bring forth your true darkness, isn’t it wonderful?

Just go away! Nori screamed, but the voice only giggled once more.

Oh I will never go away, Nori darling. I will always be right here. It doesn’t matter how much you fight it. You will succumb just like your father did and now he is one of the most feared man this pathetic world has ever seen. What will you do? Will you deny what has been in your veins your whole life? Or will you embrace the gift you were given to create a world that is entirely your own? Will you bring peace or will you bring destruction to the world? Think about it carefully, my dear. However, just know that whatever path you decide, you will be alone. The voice replied in a low, sultry voice.

Just go away! Nori screamed and it did. She was met with silence in response. She opened her eyes and looked around frantically, but nothing. What was that? What was that? She gripped her head again. The voice’s words echoed in her mind. None of what it said could be true, right? None of it made sense. Yet...yet why was she feeling this way? Why did she feel her heart racing? Why did she feel herself trembling in fear? Or was it fear? What was this? All of it just made her more confused. Nori struggled to find her identity her whole life. It was true that she always felt different. She never understand why nobody liked her. Did people see things in here that she herself didn’t see? Was she really capable of doing terrible things? Was she...a monster? Like her father. Nori shook her head. She didn’t want to believe in anything this voice was telling her, but could she really not believe it? She didn’t have any answers, but how would she get those answers? It all started in Kirigakure. That’s what the voice said, right? Nori’s eyes opened and she slowly stood up to her feet. And her mother...she had to find her. Maybe she would know a way to stop whatever it was that was brewing inside her. There was only one way to find out.

Nori found her way out of the forest and yet still, everything was shrouded in black and the only light were the stars shining up in the sky. There was this feeling she had when she came out. There was no turning back. She closed her eyes. Faces flashed through her mind. A warm feeling came over her. She wanted to protect that feeling, but how could she? It made her question if everything in her life was really real. Had it all been an illusion she built up in her head? Did she really have a home to go back to? She brought up a hand and placed it against the side of her head as a sharp pain pierced through it. Everything was so confusing. She had to get answers. She knew she needed to for her own sanity’s sake. She didn’t want to let this darkness take hold of her and turn her into something or someone awful. Even if it did lurk within her, she was going to control it. However, little did the young Shinobi know just how little control she would have and would soon realize that no matter how much she tried to resist, she couldn’t run away from what her true destiny was.

That is where Nori’s new story would begin...

Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months, And now a year had passed. A hooded figured landed and perched upon a branch of a tree just outside the outskirts of the village Izalith. She stood tall. The breeze ruffled the torn and holy blood red cloak as it flapped behind her. A hand reached up and pushed back the hood from her head, causing strands of loose red hair to fall and frame the slender face. The gentle emerald green eyes were no longer there. Instead they held a firmness that hadn’t been there before a year ago. These were eyes now tainted with a depth and a darkness that would not have been recognized by those who would have once known them. Nori jumped down to the ground and landed strongly on the soles of her black boots before she stood up and when she did, she stood her ground. She was more firm in her stance. Stronger. In the time that Nori had made her way out of that forest in pursuit of answers, she had begun to re-train herself all over again starting at the fundamentals. She even started to meditate, which was something she found helpful when she had once trained with Rock Lee. She had to focus on herself. She had never been the smartest or the strongest of those from the past and that had to change. She was determined to be stronger than she had ever been and that started from the inside out.

It had taken her weeks to reach Kirigakure on foot and when she finally did, there was little to nothing left of the village that was once known to be of the strongest in the Nation. Somehow she knew she wouldn’t find her mother there and that she had most likely fled. But would there be somewhere there that had the answers she sought for her whereabouts. There were no people left except for a save few who had dared to go back to scramble what had been left of their lives. And when had begun to explore the ruins, she passed by what had looked to be an armory. There were all sorts of weapons scattered about, but a few swords had her eye. She picked them up from the ground and looked them over. They felt heavy yet light in her hands. Deciding to take them for safe keeping, she walked out of the village but remained close by to camp. She didn’t know what had come over her that day, but she soon began to just toy with the swords at first, but upon further discovering, she found she had been quite handy with a blade. If there was one thing that she had remembered learning in school was that Kirigakure had been infamous for having the best Kenjutsu users around. In fact, they were known for it. Somehow the feeling of holding a blade felt natural to her. Like they were meant to be in her hands. So as time steadily began to pass, Nori had become quite skilled and had even started to combine them with her Taijutsu based techniques. Even she had been surprised by how quick she was able to learn how to use blade, but there were these feelings that rushed over her every time she used one. Like she wanted to test them out on something...or someone. There were the urges that she got that she couldn’t explain sometimes and sometimes...sometimes that voice would come back to haunt her and taunt her into doing things she didn’t want to do. Nori tried to ignore them, but as time steadily went on, she found herself unable to resist. There were days as she traveled that she would wake up with blood on her hands and not know where it came from only to discover where it came from later. There was a sense of dread that washed over her. She never killed needlessly. It was always justified, but what...what had come over her? She knew there had to have been some justification for it...right? Was she protecting herself? She didn’t know. She couldn’t remember.

Nori felt herself changing. Changing in a way that she told herself that she was never going to do. The days where she would wake up with blood on her hands began to increase steadily and it scared her not knowing where it came from. Yet there were other days were she was conscious of her actions and did her best to stop them. She was going to control this. But some times things could sometimes be out of your control and that was what Nori had begun to understand and learn as time went on. The voice talking to her was telling her to do things. Bad things for the fun of it and while Nori sometimes won the battle, she didn’t always win the war. She had to strengthen her mind and she knew that she could. Steadily over time she did and somehow she felt a sense of empowerment over the voice in her head. It was a start. She had good days where she felt she was making progress in not just her inner training, but her physical training, too. She kept herself fit and even though she rarely ever used it, practiced her Ninjustu. She didn’t know where it came from, but she found herself becoming better at it. Her chakra that had once been weak was becoming stronger. It was exciting to Nori. How far could she go with it she wondered.

It was safe to say that during this year, Nori found this experience with being on one’s own to be quite...liberating. It was just herself and no one else. Could she get used to this? While continuing in her pursuit of answers, Nori began to delve deeper into perfecting her own techniques in the process. And she felt empowered. Moreso than ever before. She found herself wanting to become stronger and stronger. She was changing. In her heart, she knew this but she was finding herself unable and unwilling to stop it. One day she took the blade to herself, cutting her once long, flowing red hair and making it short. In a sense, it was a way of leaving the old Nori behind and creating life anew with what she knew. Change seemed to look good on her and it certainly did. Now she stood outside the outskirts of Izalith. She wore fitted black pants with a holster on her left thigh, exposing an assortment of Kunai encased within their straps. Her dark burgundy top with a mid-neck length collar was cut off at the middle of her ribcage, exposing her toned midriff. Around her hips were two black belts, each having a small pouch with an assortment of Shuriken attached to it that was secure on her hips. And lastly, there was a holster that held two Katana blades secured in scabbards on her back. Nori made her way towards the gates of the village and was stopped by the two guards that were posted there. She told them her name and that she posed no threat. She was passing through for food and shelter. The two guards weren’t hard to convince and she was granted entry upon clearing it with their head. Nori walked through the gates and made her way inside Izalith. A village that gave a sense of belonging and welcoming to those that entered, but to Nori, it could be a village where all her questions could be answered.

Sarada only remembered the battle that ensued between her and Kotatsu. Her last minute Cherry Blossom Impact did the trick. It caught him off guard and was enough to send so much chakra into him that it literally almost killed him. Her sharingan had retrcted and she fell backwards from exhaustion. She felt weak and a huge mental strain. Her previous side wound also began to bleed, as did her eyes. The exhaustion was so bad that she began to see nothing but a blurry greyish blue sky above her. She could hear the gasps from Kotatsu as he attempted to regain his breath and the blood likely coughing out of mouth right about now. With a weak smirk, she finally closed her eyes, knowing damn well she succeeded.

Unfortunately, her body naturally shut down, her mind trying to reestablish itself and heal. Her unconscious body was transported back to Konoha, however once the village was attacked and laid in ruins, she was unable to protect her mother, her family, everybody she served. However Sakura was able to successfully get her daughter's body to safety and transported her to the new established land.

Sakura did what she could to make an attempt to awaken her daughter, however only time would tell if she would wake up. Before they knew it, Lady Sarada remained in her coma for the past year, showing brain activity, but no physcial movements. Unfortunately her physcial body had taken its toll; with no physcial activity, her muscle mass began perish, her har longer and damaged. Their most respected Hime look greatly sick.

However Sarada was able to hear exactly everything around her. She was silently conscious but with no control to wake up. She tried her hardest for the past year to get her body to coooperate with her to no avail. During her entrapment within her body, she began training her mind in the arts of genjutsu even further. A strong mind means a strong opponent. She remembered hearing about her birthday, her mother coming by week by week in hopes she awaken. Her father stopped by rarely, but the thought is what mattered. The shocking appearance of Shiroma however, is what kept Sarada sane. Shiroma confessed feelings finally for the Hime before her. While flattered, Sarada simply couldn't tell her the same even though she deperately wanted to. Shiroma never left her side, but there were days where she didn't show up at all and Sarada only assumed it was the training that her former sqaudmate Tsubaki was conducting for her.

On this afternoon, Sarada felt weird. Her experience felt more weirder than usual. Something didn't feel quite right at all. Was she dying? Was she finally giving up the will to live? No. You can't. Don't give up. God damnit don't give up. There's too much going on for you to just throw in the towel. Get up! Get up god damnnit! she kept telling herself. With the weird feeling passing, her eyes began to flicker, her vision blurry still but eventually came clear after blinking for several minutes. Shiroma was in the room, sleeping holding her hand at her bed side in the newly build hospital. She was able to slowly regain feeling in her hands and gave the slightest movement and indication that she was awake to her special person in the room. Her hearing was still quiet and her body ever so weak to push herself further. Her eyes fianlly fixed on the sleeping Shiroma. I'm alive...

Word had eventually spread about Lady Sarada’s awakening and a mysterious short red haired girl entering Izalith. It wasn’t long before people started gossiping about the newcomer that was wielding katana blades.

Memories of that fateful battle had been at best hazy for Sakuya. She remembered most that overwhelming fear and desperation as even her best efforts did very little to slow Sigmund down. Knowing that succumbing to her opponent kept Sakuya on her feet and unknowingly activating her bloodline limit to push herself harder to keep the rogue chuunin busy, but even that proved futile in gaining any advantage in their fight. Things escalated further when Sigmund took the chance and managed to fell Lady Sarada from where she stood.

Sakuya felt everything slow down at that moment, seeing Nanami and Nori racing to stop Sigmund in their own way. The rogue shinobi then vanished from sight and before she realized what was happening the medical nin found herself lifted off her feet by her shirt. She struggled, physically exhausted from the fight to break free. Her bountiful reserves of chakra spent, Sakuya could not even muster enough chakra to form her water chains to stop Sigmund. She could only stare back in a mix of fear and resolve to hold out.

Kotatsu appeared next to Sigmund, increasing the sensation of unease in her gut. Was this as far as she could go?

"She isn't worth it. Let her go."

It was those words that helped snap her out from the overwhelming feeling that gripped her. Sakuya braced herself when Sigmund was about to stab her when she was suddenly flung to the ground. She looked up to realize what happened - Kotatsu had switched places with her, saving her life. Seeing what Sigmund decided to do instead brought an unknown sensation over her, chakra drew forth from her deepest reserves and she called on water chains to hold on to Sigmund with all her might. The others moved in as well to hold Sigmund down and finally incapacitating him for good.

It was at that moment of relief that Sakuya felt lightheaded and collapsed from exhaustion, requiring a full day of rest before fully getting back to her feet. The rest of the mission went uneventfully until they returned to find Konoha in ruins. Things were hard to come to grips with but Sakuya pulled herself together to do things she must do. She continued to train under Lady Sakura and also assisted in the care of the princess, and on her free time tried to catch up with Nanami and the others.

She also reached out to Kotatsu, first and foremost to thank him for saving her life. When they were settled back into Izalith it was more to catch up and somehow get a sense of normalcy from the time he has left them.

The hard part was communicating with Sigmund - just the sight of the latter would make Sakuya tense up out of fear. It was clearly impossible for her to communicate properly with Sigmund especially with how he threatened to kill her the year before.

Sakuya decided not to change her looks from how it was in their last mission, but choosing more practical version of her clothes to go about her duties as a medical nin and keeping up with her training in combat. She also kept in touch with Fujii-sensei, just to make sure he was faring well despite the loss of an arm.

Word of Lady Sarada finally waking up after so long was great news to Sakuya, who noted Sakura-shishou deep in thought about her daughter's condition.

It was turning out to be a long and bloody war, the battle weary nin had been on the losing end of things since before they were bunched together in that loose conglomerate of a new village. Nakano, and likely others, hadn't been entirely happy with the new branding as well as the seemingly dynastic nature of the whole thing, but if a bit begrudgingly at that, she had still done her duty against a common enemy. Not that there was any choice, as far as she knew, there was nowhere else to go, not to mention the seemingly unbeatable foes that hounded them beyond it's confines.

Yet, despite everyone's best efforts, Konoha had followed suit behind all the other hidden villages that went before it. The latest debacle had claimed many of the able hands capable of putting a fight, the escape from their homelands apparently only delaying their demise. But such was the life and death that, knowingly or not, had been thrust upon them the moment they became shinobi. As quickly as it came to be the new joint village had been snuffed...

Now there was a new rebrand, one to which she felt even less attachment, lacking all of the few people she had come to know and have any appreciation for. It would be a lie to say that Kyoko hadn't considered the option of taking her chances on her own or downright defecting to the enemy. Above all, she considered herself a survivor and at this juncture, it was easy feel like she was on the losing side, going down with a strange ship, full of strange people, many of which she had come to despise just as much as their foe, was not surviving. Still, knowing little about the enemy and being of such meager means, she wasn't keen on taking such odds, not that her ilk were strangers to such things though...

Nakano and many other genin had fought and displayed bravery and loyalty far and above their calling and rank. Nobody could in good faith question them or their unwarranted dedication. If nothing else, Nakano stayed and fought for this new place just like she had done for the one before, necessity being as good a reason as any other to ensure loyalty at the time.

NANAMI NARA

Nanami had played support to the ship's crew, and kept all of the dark tide from washing over the ship. The clones were a challenge they took Nanami a while to deal with as for some reason they were superior to normal shadow clones. After her battles ended she kept fighting and protecting as much life as she could. Eventually she focused on healing once the tide stopped washing against the ship. Many of the crew were saved, and many more ninja. She looked on at the final battle. One which infuriated her. As she rushed in to stop Sigmund. Her bow leveled at him. Nanami's fingers twitched it was very hard for her to hold back from loosing that arrow. While she loved Sigmund like a brother. She hated him with an equal level of emotion. His selfishness, his self centeredness, how rude, not caring he was. She knew Sigmund as well as he knew himself. She hated and loved the person she was a finger move from killing. Then she watched Kotatsu suddenly intervene. Things went from bad to worse. Her dragons were roaring with anger in the back of her mind. Her anger, love, hatred filled them as well as it did herself. Yet Sakuya was important to her. Next to her teammates. Sakuya was one of the few people who acknowledged her. Even if she had fans and people who admired her.. Those type of people were not the type of people she needed at her side. Sakuya, Tsuna, Nori, Lady Sarada.. Even though Sasuke was a bit harsh on her. Nanami knew why..

Kotatsu.. Someone she could only hate. Saved someone that was precious to her. Watching Sigmund gain new eyes. She knew well this was bad. Nanami had studied everything she could about Sharingan, and even found out some things from other sources. The Eternal Sharingan. This was very bad. Then Nori rushed in, trying to change him from his path of darkness. When she kissed him. Everything went white. Appearing elsewhere. The following year would be one for not just her but many.


Time Skip..

Nanami needed space from everything. She would dress all in black and leave to train with Tsukiko for a while. Nanami was never the same after that day. Especially with the rumors she had heard. It angered her even further. There was no one around to help take the burden from her. She would shoulder her hate, love, anger. There was little Nanami liked anymore. She had those people she loved.. Not much else. Her family will always be here family. Tsukiko would note this emotional state. Yet no manner of mission or training eased it. Nothing eased it. It was apparent as her pure destructive side would lead to massacre's of bandit camps. Any word of the man in black. Nanami would follow those leads. Mostly ending with cult like people which again she had no issues killing.

The only thing that truly eased her was her singing. Nanami often performed at small villages. Seeing their smiles helped a bit. After six months she would smile for the first time in a long time. Her heart was still torn apart. All of the mixed emotions were causing her to be somewhat unstable. Which she had shown in the battle with Sigmund and Kotatsu. Three months later she would leave Tsukiko a letter saying she needed to find herself, or she might become a danger to everyone.

Nanami would wander to each of the smaller villages, ones not absorbed into the collective. The ones left to fend for themselves. Outside of her performances. Nanami had earned fame as a guardian of sorts. A majority of the bandit camps near the smaller villages were left in ruins. Though something odd started to happen. No bodies were found anymore. Nanami had her dragons incinerate the bodies. Then added the ashes to areas where the land was poor for farming. Increasing their yield in the coming spring by almost twenty percent. Nanami was still only putting bandaids on her emotions. Still only doing good for everyone else not herself. This still didn't diminish the feelings she felt. Nanami was bottling all of those negative emotions up. Not the best idea for a teenage girl who was emotionally scarred.

Hearing Izelith had been completed she would return home. Nanami's now had black flowing hair.. It moved like air itself. She had grown up a little more in that year. She also had a Ninja-to across her back. When she returned home. She was unsure of a great many things. though she was sure of is there was an event, and she was going to sing at it.Nanami found it hard to reach out to anyone, and she had no idea what would happen when her and Sigmund came face to face. There was still a lot of uncontrolled emotions there. So she would eventually reach out to everyone, and visit Lady Sarada hearing she had woken up. Hearing of a red haired woman wielding Katanas was an interesting bit of news. The descriptions made it sound like the woman was Nori. But until they meet again. There would be no way of knowing.

TENSHI AKIYAMA


While having to deal with his fair share of enemies. Even dealing with a clone of Kotatsu. The battle for him was keeping the medics, and others alive. Tenshi teleported all over the field. Marking anyone and everyone. Some many changes of position. He was a yellow flash. Mainly due to his blond hair. Tenshi intensity grew as more enemies swarmed and rose up. He took to other methods, as he found drowning these odd enemies was a guaranteed death. As they stayed down Tenshi moved on. The medics were amazed by how quickly he moved the injured into her personal space. The severely wounded were placed within this space, as well the medical experts who could save them. This left Tenshi with a sense of satisfaction at the lives he was saving. Not one around him fell. There was a continuous stream of movement from Tenshi. Now faced with a horde. Tenshi would smile. The boy shifted into his nin-taijutsu stance. He had saved everyone that was injured in the area he was sent to defend. Now it was time for a counter-offensive. He gathered up all the ninja he could. Applying his mark to all of them. Then as if a tidal wave of light washed over the dark encroachers. They way Tenshi switched position, and attacked. Using massive punches taking out whole squads. He had no issues leaving the Uchiha to the main force. As he and the other ninja kept the medical crews safe. By the time he looked over to see the kiss, and the white light. Whatever happened after that was a blur. All he knew is he did what he could to save lives..



Time Skip

The following year was a trying one for Tenshi. As his home was all but destroyed. Even though a new city for all nations to join was being built. He looked at the ashes of the place he called home. He spent many weeks sifting through the rubble of his fallen village. Tenshi was angry.. Like many others he was sure. Tenshi went about finding the fallen in the rubble. He would identify as many as he could, and bury them in a proper way. Keeping families together in the same plots. The hundreds he had to bury would take a toll on him mentally. Fighting and killing the enemy was one thing. Burying people he saw on a daily basis was another. He did find a few survivors that were trapped. Saving them gave him a little hope that there were others. This was still difficult telling those who survived that their families were dead. Tenshi's family luckily was already out of the village before the attacks. He had yet to find them though. One thing he would eventually rectify. For now he built sturdy fences, creating a large cemetery. A few more months of this and he and the others looking had found all the bodies, identified them, and buried them. Tenshi had a book in his hand. A list of the fallen. Now with this all done. Tenshi would resume his search for his family.

The next months were spent combing over the Land of Lightning for signs of life, and the other small villages. He would look as the smaller villages had been all but wiped out. He found a few children from these villages. They followed him on his journey. In total Tenshi had rescued twenty orphans from starvation and the winter months. His personal space was something of a marvel to the kids. A place that was paradise to them. Tenshi had set about making new clothes for the kids, and shoes. For the most part they stayed in his personal space jutsu. A place inaccessible to anyone. He would come across some balls and other toys. Giving them to the kids to keep them entertained.He found many books. Some of the kids were old enough to read them. At night he would hunt and feed the kids. Usually potatoes, rice, and some form of wild game. Quail was the easiest to find. So there was always food. The kids were happy. It made it easier for him to focus on finding his family..

Heading up into the mountain he ran into hordes of bandits. Nothing he couldn't easily handle. Tenshi had become quite the fighter by this point. Even thirty bandits seemed easy to him. His moves were so fluid, and deadly. The likes of bandits were no match for him. He entered the forested area of the mountains. There he found a small village had been set up. His family was thankfully there. His father who was a massive mountain of a man had many bandages. Likely from the bandits looked worse for where but was still alive and kicking. All of his family was alive. This gave him great relief. There were also many orphans in that village as well. After they all entered his jutsu. He would walk back to their border, then snap his fingers, and him and an ANBU ninja he knew would switch places. The ninja would sink into the ground and eventually return to the new city.

Once he found an area they could place their clan. Tenshi would go to Sasuke, and make a formal request of him. Tenshi asked if his family could have some extra land to build an Orphanage, and his family would run it.. After the request was made he would return home and wait for his response.

YUREI INUZUKA

On one of the other fronts Yurei seemed to be in command of a small squad. Unsure at first how to handle. He quickly gained his stride. Quickly like any person thrust into a bad situation. they adapt or die. Yurei adapted to extremely fast. Quickly taking command of the ninja around him. Yurei and Sora his wolf. Would then lay siege in a way only an inuzuka could. Sora marked a massive area, as disgusting as it may seem. It made their task to easy. Using the water bowl technique to create water. Then using that to engulf the area in the Hidden Mist jutsu. Yurei and the other Inuzuka went to work. In the mist the scent Sora and the other canines created made it easy to find them in the mist. the dark soldiers were cut to ribbons. It wasn't a surprise to see someone as young as him adapting to war. Especially when he was in one of the more savage like clans. Lets not look past using wolf tactics. When the mist cleared nothing was standing. Yurei picked up a Katana and quickly went about decapitating them. He was nowhere near the front as he had been pushed back and away from it. The flash of light came and he along with everyone else vanished.

Time Skip

Yurei spent the remaining year training. He didn't have the emotions many of the others had. His clan survived for the most part so he was content. however in that war. He felt weak. So he spent the next year training in anything and everything he could. Setting about to master and increase the strength of his jutsu. As well as his Inuzuka techniques. Yurei would help with the construction of the new city the best he could. Yurei showed great aptitude for strategy. He was sent to a school to further his talents in that department.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 20:07, Fri 21 Aug 2020.

News had spread about Lady Sarada’s medical condition and rumors quickly spread about the newcomer with flame red hair walking through the new villages gates of Izalith. The weather blowing a cold breeze due to the island being surrounded by the ocean, people seemed to have resumed their lives even with the events of death and destruction looming over them freshly in their minds still. Most of everyone that people knew were either dead or injured and afraid of any impeding doom.

Lord Sasuke and Lady Sakura claimed their throne of ruling their newly established dynasty before them, ensuring the village safety and going to the extreme of monitoring exactly who left and docked on their island with full escorts. They couldn’t afford to have yet another destruction. The toll of the war was taking its toll on Lord Sasuke as it was obvious he was under immense stress mostly because years have passed and they weren’t even close to finding their Hokage Naruto yet. They didn’t have a clue and Hinata had remained in the background up until recently. She had been putting together search parties of elite Shinobi to track any dark camps that could contain any clues as to her husbands whereabouts. Her children had been forbidden to remain within the village to conceal any other threats they likely possessed to fuel Naruto’s absence.

An emergency council meeting had been called not to long ago making their next move in their war effort. All the while, Lady Sakura called upon all available genin to report to the newly established academy building in the middle of the village. The building was made of metal, never once been used yet even though the building had been opened for almost six months now. Young kings has been afraid to enroll into the academy afraid of dying or losing their families whole away but nonetheless, Lord Sasuke encouraged anybody who was willing to take a stand and fight for their freedom instead of fleeing and being afraid.

The building was almost like a metal castle, shiny and retaining the cold air around them. Because it was fall, dead leaves laid all across the grounds of the academy. Classrooms were filled with college like bleachers with white boards instead of chalk. Four stories high and not once used. Genin began to gather in the courtyard of dead leaves, familiar faces. Kotatsu and Sigmund has yet to show up; Sakuya, Nori, Nanami, and the others not to be found. The anxious genin knew exactly why they were summoned. It was time for squad assignments and new coming missions.

To say Tsukiko being surprised at surviving such a battle would be an understatement. It wasn't as though she hadn't fought as many foes before, but normally they were nowhere near the skill and lethality as the man they had fought so hard to take down, and even when she tried recalling the warzone, it seemed nothing more than a haze. Something she took solace in, given the recovery period the following days. She'd been in more pain than she realized, and she didn't have to question a hazy memory when adrenaline highs were involved. Especially since it wouldn't be for some time until she could get her hands on some good booze.

---

Returning home, or wherever the land of fire gathered nowadays, was a trial. Nursed to health yet forced to disarm, the uneasiness only grew the further they went inside the city. With Sarada unconscious and the Genin her only credible character witnesses, she didn't see much hope that she'd be given reign to rejoin the shinobi of the land of fire. Though she was more merc than loyal follower of the snow, she did still oppose them at the time, and she could feel unseen eyes on her, watching her, waiting to make their move if she was any sort of double agent.

Winning trust back would be difficult.

Or so she thought. When she was brought before the Hokage, Sasuke, she found his cold, blank gaze almost welcoming. No suspicion like the anbu shadows, or betrayal like the very few she recognized from her days as a genin learner, just calculated coldness as he bade her make her case. And she did. She started by detailing how she had nothing against the Leaf village, how her abandonment had started - Frustration that she couldn't fight alongside her brothers and sisters, culminating in an eventual flight from the Leaf Village. She explained that she never fought against the Leaf, instead telling of how the vague reports of a rogue anbu agent providing relief and protection from bandits and malcontents in unprotected towns and villages was actually her.

It felt like a lifetime ago, but trying to establish some goodwill never hurt.

When Sasuke didn't interrupt her, she continued further. Describing the war's eventual end and her fateful meeting with Tetsuya, an infamous Ronin who had been at large for quite some time. She described how he became like a mentor to her, and how they fell into mercenary work, only very occasionally coming at odds with the Land of Fire, given her desire to avoid fighting people from a home she still hoped to return to (A convenient lie, all told. She was a young girl ready to explore, not be in a place her family had stayed for generations.)

It was probably the first time she'd bent the truth, and with insightful shinobi presiding over this "interview", she eventually relented, following the admission with an insistence that she hadn't been aware the land of Snow was seeking to war with her village until it was too late. By then, she was in deep, her and her mentor, and there was no way out. Not cleanly. From there, she went on to speak of the inner workings of the Snow, how her and her mentor ended up as just a little more than mercenaries for the Snow. How much access they had freely, and how much she would eventually get a hold of not-so-freely.

She had just been telling a story, right up until Tetsuya's death came up. There was no time for tears since he'd died, just work and running, but as she described how it happened, they began to flow freely. Her voice wavered, but she never stopped - She described how she had met one of her kinsmen on a routine patrol. An ambush. How all of them fell, and how the patrol was decimated. How Tetsuya gave his life protecting her from a blow that would kill her, and how she had recognized her assailant. A revelation that had shaken her, very clearly, but not something she commented on.

And from there, she spoke of how she had him get word to the land of Fire...Firelink, now, that she wanted to defect. And then she began to summon scroll after scroll of intelligence, lining them up one by one. Of hidden Snow weapons caches, of patrol routes, of known associates, of spies and informants and detailed information on ranking generals - what specializations she was aware of and what was suspected. Her flight had been hasty but she had made sure to have something solid. Tangible.

And when she offered them all and finished her story, she sat and let the silence stretch, before finally adding that all she wanted was a chance to fight on the right side, or, barring that, safe haven from those she had just betrayed completely and utterly.

She was more surprised that she was allowed to live at all, let alone that the best possible outcome, that she remain free and join as a provisional Jonin, was the very one she was granted.

---

The year that followed was an....odd one. Having been a wanderer, it was odd that she'd been tasked with rallying the Fuma, and after a very...colorful...reunion with her mother that she refused straight out to talk about despite the event putting her in the hospital for a few days, she found herself coming to enjoy the peace of having a "Home" to return to. Even odder still, she found people looking to her. Continuing training with Nanami, it was a surprise to find their not-so-public display had inspired others to approach the red-haired woman, and though she managed to chase off most of them, she found a few honing their kenjutsu with her as well as doing her best to give the Genin that helped her back "Home" a proper outlet.

Their routine was something that Tsukiko enjoyed, and even though she could barely claim to know the girl well, the former-ronin made sure this one small thing remained a constant. She pushed her to improve, after all that was the point of them getting together, but she also spoke. About herself. How the previous day had went, how Tsubame was being a silly little thing and brought back a green rock as big as her fist once, how surprised at how grown her younger sister was, even, occasionally, how much she missed her friend and mentor. It was something small, and though she did gently prod the girl occasionally, she never pried. She wasn't going to force her to pour her heart out so someone who was just training her, but she knew that Tsukiko had an ear to lend, and support to give if needed.

She wasn't surprised when Nanami set out, though she did report the happenings along with a recommendation to have someone shadow her, if they could be spared. Not that Tsukiko wouldn't mind doing so herself, but she hadn't been about to destroy what little trust she had rebuilt with the leadership here.

By the time the year had passed, she'd found herself in one of the few good bars Izelith had, a drink of celebration. The rumors of Sarada's awakening had spread like wildfire, and any excuse to drink was always a good one. She'd visited the woman a couple of times, under armed guard. The first had been to apologize for the state that the woman was in, almost jokingly asking whatever powers that be if she could switch places - After all, Sarada was the dutiful heiress, whereas Tsukiko could barely be considered the head of any clan with how few they now were. The second had been to offer some barbecue and a drink when she got out, though she did stress it wasn't meant as a date, just an apology.

She'd managed to refill her gourd and finish what remained of the bottle when the rumors of some 'flame-haired' woman wielding katanas came around, and at first the former ronin became very, very offended. After all, she was neither mysterious nor did she carry two! What very nearly turned into a brawl became curiosity, and despite some of her drinking buddies sniggering at the idea of her having a long lost twin, she found herself setting out to quietly find and shadow this newcomer. After all, if people coming in and out of Izelith were monitored closely, how 'mysterious' could this girl truly be?

This had been the first time that Nori would be coming to Izalith since it was formed by Lord Sasuke and Lady Sakura. In that year she was gone, she had seen many different places and encountered many different people...for a short amount of time, but not once had come across this place. She had heard rumors of it, of course, and that the Hidden Valley of the Fire was no more after it was destroyed. Nori wouldn’t lie and say that she wasn’t curious about Izalith, wondering if anyone she had once known would be there, but where else could they have returned to? Nori supposed she could have gone back, but...she didn’t. She found that her life was leading her in another direction and that voice inside her head told her that she was destined for something more than being tied down to protecting one place. All the while, she knew her parents, or what she had found out to be her adopted parents, were back there but she knew that they were okay. They had to be. What mattered more to her was finding out the truth about her life. She had been kept in the dark so long...about everything. She had to find out for herself who she was and where she came from. Her mother was still alive as far as she knew and that was why she was here in Izalith. She hadn’t had any luck from where she had looked thus far, so she had to be here. She would find out her answers soon enough.

As she pursued her way through the village, she found the people of the village looking at her. Whispers amongst them fell upon her ears. She supposed she did look a lot different in comparison to how she looked before. Would anyone even recognize her anymore? Maybe that was a good thing. Somehow, though, the people’s perception of her felt like anything more than warm and welcoming from what she had once heard the people of this place to be. They seemed curious. Frightened. Suspicious. Did she really look like a threat? Maybe she did with these katana blades upon her back and her weaponry at her back and sides. She didn’t want to think she was anything out of the ordinary, but she supposed they were entitled to say what they wanted and to feel what they had felt. She did just come out of nowhere and these days, you could really trust no one that came in through the gates that you had never seen before. It was good that Lord Sasuke had put up that gate and place guards there. Although, how long would that kind of protection last? Would it do any good considering what the world had experienced a year ago?

A cold breeze ruffled the cloth of Nori’s tattered cloak as she made her way down the dirt streets of the village. Her eyes took in the children playing freely amongst each other. Some young in age. Others a little older than them. Such innocence. She smiled faintly as she stopped by a small marketplace full of fresh fruit and other produce. She snagged a few apples, handing a coin over to the elderly woman of the shop before she heard a few young Genin passing behind her speaking to one another about being summoned to the academy building in the middle of the village. They didn’t speak of other details. Just that Lady Sakura had summoned all available Genin to come there immediately. Nori turned her head and looked at the passerbyers before she looked over to the large, castle like fortress made of steel. Should she go, she wondered? Was it any of her business to? She was just passing through. Although, she wouldn’t lie and say curiousness was on her mind. Nori thanked the elder woman and stuffed one of the apples away into her pocket before she turned sharp on her heel, causing her cloak to flap in the wind as she walked down the dirt path in the direction of the academy and took a bite of her apple.

Lord Sasuke awaited the arrival for all available genin to arrive within the academy grounds. He skimmed over the large group of faces before him. Some he had know since the day they were born and others who he had personal relationships with. They had all come a long way and while the destruction before them should've broken their spirits, none had faultered. With the last arrival being his nephews, he began.

"I have gathered you here to announce your new team assignments. We have a lot of work to do still and in order for our new village to thrive, we must start working towards completely rebuilding. Izalith will be our new home for the Land of Fire has finally fallen to enemy hands. While one day the council lies hope on returning, I am confirming it will be long after our lifetime here that Izalith will migrate back to the the five nations," he harshly spoke the truth. Sasuke had never been known to sugarcoat anything in his life and his harsh words would surely strike some sort of fear amongst the grow, but it was only to motivate them to do their best and to work towards a better future them all and their future families.

"I have had enough with the loss and pain we are all going through. I am making it my mission to personally venture out to locate our lost Hokage because we all believe he is still out there alive and I will succeed in bringing us back to normal and we will win this war!" he shouted as he glanced over to his right, Fujii Sima standing close to him with anticipation. Fujii had retired his ways of leading squads will the recent injury that had taken him down. He was no Sasuke for he needed the use of both his hands whereas their fearsome leader was able to perform with one arm gracefully. Lord Sasuke dismissed himself and Sima took the lead.

"The following students will be grouped according to skill level. Squads will branch out from the traditional groups of three that you are use to. You are to report to the mission bulletin tomorrow for an assignment. Spend this last day with your families for most of you will be gone for months and will not be returning any time soon. Make this last day count. We have a war to win and every mission completed is a step towards victory," Sima encouraged as he started naming off groups starting from oldest to youngest.

[Check the squad roster thread for your assignments.]

"That is the last squad. Get acquainted and any questions or concerns come to me. Do not forget to pick up your new communicators. With new technology, we have eliminated the use of messenger birds and have come up radio transmitters or wireless radios. These are designed to be used without using vocal communication to execute more stealth approaches and better communication between teammates. Do not forget to pick up your starter travel packs as they contain several new items that we are barely releasing to our shinobi. Use them well and coordinate better," he explained. With all the down time on Izalith as they rebuilt, technology was finally discovered and evolved rapidly. No only were they able to design useful squad gadgets, televisions and modern electricity finally began to thrive which became revolutionary amongst the entire island.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Sat 10 July 2021.

When Nori reached the outside of the tall steel doors that led into the academy, she stopped while other genin piled in. The thought of her needing to be here ran across her mind again. Could she really even call herself a genin of this new village without being here since its inception? It's been a year since she parted ways from her old squad to look for her long lost mother. That was her mission right now. To find her. She hadn't been able to find any piece of mind or any answers to the questions that she sought, so it occurred to her about why she should even be here at these doors. The thoughts of maybe seeing her old squad crossed her mind. Maybe even seeing... Sigmund flashed in her mind and she shook her head. She was no longer to let him sway her or consume her mind. She didn't know what happened to him after that last fight on the shore and she was blinded by the light that consumed her. Was he alive? Was he dead? She didn't know. Even before that fight, he was gone. He was no longer the person that she once knew. He just... wasn't there anymore. And the feelings she had for him... did those matter anymore? They probably didn't to him. It made Nori's heart ache a little just thinking about it. These feelings... she hadn't thought about them in a long time. Now wasn't the time to. Odds were that she wouldn't run into him here anyway, so what harm would it do to at least take a peek to hear Lord Sasuke had to say? Odds were he was the one that called this meeting. With a sweeping of the leaves across her feet, Nori stepped through the large doors and made her way inside.

Once everyone had gathered in the courtyard where Lord Sasuke was, indeed, waiting for the genin to arrive along with...was that Fuji-senpai? Wanting to avoid being seen up close, Nori stationed herself at the back of the crowd and put her hood over her head as she leaned against a nearby wall. She folded her arms across her chest and listened carefully to Lord Sasuke speak. It seemed he was here to announce new team assignments and to deliver the harsh reality of the world they were now living in. Yet at the same time, was trying to motivate them and encourage them that they would stand united and win this war. Lord Sasuke had always been a strong, fearless leaders, but Nori was sure that even in these unprecedented times that he, too, had felt some sense of fear of not knowing what laid ahead. After giving such a realistic yet encouraging speech, he stepped aside and Fuji-senpai came up to start announcing new team assignments. Maybe this was the ideal time to step out since she had no intention of participating. She pushed herself away from the wall and turned away to walk through the empty entry way, but suddenly stopped when she heard her name being announced as being apart of the Fire squad. How did they even know she was here? She hadn't exactly made herself known that she was back. And she heard Sigmund's name. Did that mean he was back? Nori shook her head. That didn't matter. Was this still really her fight? Should she be apart of it? She lifted her foot up, and then the other before her footsteps carried her through the empty hallway and led back out of the academy grounds.

Nanami had entered and then listened to Sasuke. It was still something she had difficulty with. She wasn't sure she could ever fully trust  Sigmund again. She enjoyed the time when they first met. But things just slid downhill. It never went back to the way it was. Even more so when Sigmund was corrupted. She was unsure if it was even safe to be near him. The pain he caused all of them was about as unforgivable as any other atrocity. Nanami had more respect for Kotatsu in the end then she did for Sigmund. They way he treated them even before he was corrupted was inexcusable. Even though Nori excused the behavior out of her blind love for Sigmund. She could understand that at least. Loving so much, believing in them so hard. It was one of those things that was passable in her mind. Part of her wondered why she came back. Was this the best thing for her to do? To fight again. More than anything she wanted to sing again. All she had done for the past six months was take out her anger on people who deserve it. Well mostly deserve it.

Nanami's eyes glance over to Sigmund, and the others. She still stood in a lone corner not knowing if she should approach them or even what she would say. There were many powerful emotions left on that battlefield. Ones that many are still riding even after a year to cool off. This left Nanami in a place wondering what to do next. The only way to find that out is to move forward. Not stand around and do nothing. She would approach Sigmund and simply say "Hey."

Sakuya listened intently to the words spoken by her sensei, the latter no longer assigned to active field due to his injuries. It raised her spirits in knowing that she will be working together with people she already knew... but her feelings sank in finding out that Sigmund was one of those people she would be working with. Had he truly recovered from his ways back then? She could only trust the decision made by her sensei and the others in having them form a team.

The young medical ninja stayed close behind Nanami and Kotatsu, two of the people she trusted the most, as they gathered together after some time during their return to Izalith. She waited for the others to start the conversation, being the youngest in the group she was unsure how to start a conversation in this somewhat tense atmosphere. It was Nanami that initiated a greeting towards Sigmund, and Sakuya could only wait anxiously for how Sigmund would reply to such a greeting.

   Sigmund remained silent for a bit as his name and several others he had worked with before were all group together again. It was a long awaited reunion; one he actually looked forward to. He had been an outcast for the last year; everyone had cut ties with him and hardly anyone trust him again. He was stripped of his title, his name, his identity, everything. He lost the love of his life. He lost his best friend. He lost all respect and everyone around him was on thin ice. The fact he was allowed to leave his sanctuary was surprisingly shocking.

   As the debriefing has been finished, he stood there silently as everyone eventually feathered out and prepared themselves for either the end of this own life or building for the future. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he felt everyone staring at him. H recognized some of the eyes that kept their eyes on him. It was a feeling he had hoped would pass, but he was doubting he'd ever ben trusted again within the village.

   As he got lost in his own self pity, he was approached by Nanami, a familiar face and former friend he has missed dearly. "Hey," he greeted back. "How are you? It's been awhile..." he uttered sadly. ""I've missed you. Truly I have," he started. While Sigmund wasn't the type to exchange many words, he knew Nanami deserved to hear what he had to say. He knew the tension between them wasn't good and he has had the past year to think about it. Like everyone else, Nanami had cut ties with him and focused on herself. Last he had heard about her was that she had taken to leaving the village as everyone around him had.

   "Nanami....I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I truly am. I don't deserve your forgiveness. Your friendship. Or anything for that matter," he paused for a moment as his eyes glanced at the ground for a moment before looking back at her. "I just wanted you to know that I am going to get better. I have been getting better," he sighed. "I hope one day things can go back to what they use to be. I've missed your friendship, Nanami," he uttered as he extended his hand out towards her, an offering of peace. "I also wanted to tell you that I'm proud of you. I've been hearing what you've been doing in the war effort. A lot more than I have been doing," he slightly joked. "I want you to know that I support you and I'm glad you're advocating for those in need and I look forward to seeing what else you have in store for yourself," he finished. He sighed again, feeling himself rambling on like an idiot.

   As he was getting reacquainted with his former friend and her comrades Sakuya and his brother, something caught his eye. A woman. A girl with kitanas. She had looked familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He slightly shook his head. Perhaps he was imaging things. Nori was the only one that resembled the strange girl in the background, but was too afraid to call out to her. He glanced back at Nanami. "Nanami, have you heard from Nori?" he curiously asked. If Nori talked to anyone it would've been Nanami at the very least. "Or Shiroma?" he added. Shiroma had been their newest addition to their trio. Shiroma had kept the peace and even out Sigmund in his place a time or two. Shiroma was probably the only friend that likely didn't hate him, more disappointed he assumed.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:17, Sat 03 July 2021.

After everything that had taken place, Kotatsu had been returned to their former village only to discover it had been attacked. It no longer existed. However he wasn't conscious enough to truly remember much after that battle on the beach. He had not only been freed from the grasp of darkness, but the price he had to pay was his eye sight. Being blind wasn't fun. He could no longer see a face, a smile, a tree, the green, the sky. He went into rehab after his eye wounds and stomach wound healed him. With the wonderful Lady Sakura ensuring his survival, he was given another chance to redeem himself. While he had been behind many lives lost, places destroyed, his name had been cleared of wrong doing as many tests were administered.

It had been determined that whatever dark forces that float around the mysterious man, he was able to indoctrinate people with his mind, forcing them to lose themselves, do things they believed were right, but in reality it was wrong and nothing but death. With the past year, Kotatsu had become a test subject and study of the effects that this dark jutsu energy has on a person. Kotatsu remembered everything though. He had to live through every single wrong deed he had been forced to do and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

But he felt he had did the right thing back on the shore. Saving Sakuya, the only friend that had truly was nice to him years ago. He knew he had redeemed himself somehow. He smiled at the thought of the past year as he stood next to Sakuya and Nanami in the academy grounds.

He had been given an opportunity that most likely could've gotten him exiled or even killed. He couldn't be more blessed.

As his recovery from surgery for his wounds, he had been going through rehab to learn to use his hearing more as his eyes couldn't be of use anymore. While saddened that he could not longer use the Sharingan, he was rather glad to be rid of such a thing. It was something many wanted and envied and it had only caused destruction, not harmony. It was a burden that he was glad he was no longer carrying. He had to relearn jutsus, trust his hands to do the work for him and rely on sound to coordinate counterattacks and execute perfect jutsus. It was as though he had to start from the ground up, but he had been content with that.

His mother and step father helped trained him and his brother into the men they would become soon. He kept in touch with Sakuya as her presence always brought a smile to his face. He was proud of the shinobi she was becoming and he had been sorry for everything he put her through. But as always, she had forgiven him with  kindness he always cherished.

He had followed Nanami with Sakuya tagging along. They had been debriefed and been assigned new squads, all familiar faces including his brother. He knew Nanami hadn't spoke to Sigmund within the year. The awkward silence between all of them was a reunion that was long awaited as Nanami initiated the first word.

In reply to Uchiha Sigmund (msg # 16):

After filing out of the tall, steel doors of the academy, Nori had debated whether or not she should stay or go. Part of her felt like she was a foreigner to this new place called Izalith. Everything around her felt strange. Especially the people. There had been people from other distant villages and lands that now called this place their home that she didn't recognize. After everything that had happened a year ago, there was so much devastation that she seen for herself on her own journey and it didn't seem like there would ever be a place that people could call home again. And while it was home to them, to Nori it just...wasn't. Konoha had been the place where she grew up. Where she went to school. Where she began her journey as a ninja. And where she had met her friends. Her friends... her mind reflected the faces of Nanami, Shiroma, and...Sigmund. When she had heard his name being called out by Fuji-senpai, she had felt her heart fall into her stomach at the thought of seeing him again. He was here and somehow she couldn't believe it. In the journey she had separated from her old teammates, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to everyone. Especially him. What was going to happen between them now? Nori was conflicted about what she should really do in this situation. Things had changed for her in the past year. She was a different person and it honestly scared her that she was slowly losing what was once good about her. She wasn't weak or unfit to be a ninja anymore. She had grown and evolved into someone that had a darkness in her. She had been trying to fight it and not let it overshadow who she once was. She wanted to be good, but at the same time, also wanted to hold onto this new strength and power that she had obtained. Would the people around her even recognize her anymore?

Nori's footsteps came to a halt at the sight of seeing Nanami and Sigmund together. She felt her heart start to pound loudly in her chest. She knew that she could turn back now if she wanted to. She could leave it all behind and not be apart of any mission ever again. Yet when her eyes laid on Sigmund, she felt herself take a hesitant step forward but then take another step back. A part of her wanted to run up to the two of them and hug each of them, but the other part of her told her it wasn't a good idea. She couldn't risk losing either one of them in any way, shape, or form again. If she did, she wasn't sure if she would ever come back from it. Not only that, but she knew that once these missions were over, she wouldn't be coming back here to Izalith. She didn't belong here. Both her heart and her mind knew that. What reasons did she have to stay here? None. Maybe it was just better to leave now with the image of knowing that they were both alive and doing well. Nori curled her hands up into tight fists at her sides and she quickly turned away from the sight of Nanami and Sigmund and started to walk away. It was in doing so that the breeze picked up and blew off the hood of her cloak, revealing the head of burgundy hair that shone brightly in the sun and was carried off to the side by the gentle breeze.

When her eyes fluttered, she began a slight panic as she realized she was tubed. She could hear the beeping of the heart monitor and the tube that was down her throat. She began chocking, becoming panicked after realizing her surroundings. She twitched her fingers, but no other movement registered with herself. As her heart raced, nurses began to notice and rushed into the room, trying to calm their Hime down.

Lady Sarada's awake! Lady Sarada's awake! Chen, go notify Lady Sakura right away! one nurse shouted and another one running out of the room. The news had traveled fast that she had finally woken up. It wasn't long before the village started migrating towards the hospital where she resided in. Many worried she would never be the same, some didn't have hope she would wake up, and others were concerned for Lord Sasuke and Lady Sakura as Sarada was their only child.

Lady Sarada, please calm down. You need to stand still so we can take out your incubation tube a nurse cooed, her cold hand holding Sarada's face still while another nurse started removing her tube. As it finally came up, Sarada gave one last cough. She began to calm down as her eyes kept searching the room, coming to terms of what was going on.

---

One of nurses rushed their  way through the hospital and all the way to Lady Sakura's office, slamming the door open. Lady Sukara, Sarada's awake. she informed and they both rushed to Lady Sarada's room. A pleasant smile was plastered on Sakura's face as she walked up to the bed, stroking her daughter's face. "I knew you'd pull through." she stated as she took out a small flash light, shinning it in Sarada's eyes, looing for any dilation of Sarada's pupils. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

---

The sight of her mother would've normally brought a small to her face, but any movement was near impossible it seemed. Barely the corners of her mouth curved up, an indication she understood. She tried to swallow hard, signing she was thirst as she felt her throat so dry she could cough again. Her mother took notice of this and brought a straw to her lips. trying to quench her thirst.

---

She grabbed Sarada's chart and glanced at the heart monitor and blood pressure. "Your heart's doing good. Steady. Your blood pressure seems to be in the norm. And no signs of head trauma that we can foresee," she started jotting down. "You've been in a coma for almost a year. You pushed your body beyond exhaustion. We had to perform emergency surgery when you got back. You had very nasty stabbings and major bruising to your organs," she continued on. "Your body shut down on your and your mind forced itself to recover. You'll have to do some rehab, but your dad believes your Uchiha blood is some kind of miracle blood that'll help you recover much faster within your outstanding brain activity you had this past year," she explained as she bent down and kissed her daughter's forehead before she used the bedside remote to prop Sarada up.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Your dad expects you do be up and running within the week, but I am advising you to stay put for as long as possible. You need to recover before you can push yourself beyond your limits again. Please listen to me," she begged. "I don't want to lose you again," she uttered. She looked over at Shiroma, awake. "Your friend has been almost every day, as has the rest of your squad. They've been sending you flowers and keeping you company, although Shiroma seems to have taken a liking to you I see," she teased before placing Sarada's chart down. "I'll give you some space. Please rest,' she advised as she and the all nurses left the room.

---

Sarada sighed as her mother finally left. It was a lot of information to process. While she was glad her father had faith in her, her mother also brought on a good point. She looked over at Shiroma, a faint smile on her face. "S.....Shiroma," she whispered. "H...h...have you...been...here the...whole time...?" she asked.

Amiko sat in her seat listening in awe as the legendary Susuke Uchiha entered the room and announced that teams were to be announced.  She hadn't expected that he would be making an appearance.  His Rinnegan eye seeming to mesmerize her for a few moments before she broke out of the distraction and paid closer attention.  At the mention of Susuke leaving to find the Hokage she couldn't help but feel disheartened, now was when they needed strong leadership the most.  How was sending one of their strongest members away going to aide their new village?

Her attention quickly turned to Fujii-sama as he began to announce the teams properly.  Alpha team wasn't very surprising, of course they'd want Sarada Uchiha to lead their first squad, especially with Sigmund on the roster.  Teaming them up with Nanami was only common sense with her Sharingan, with Nori acting as an backup given her high rating in taijutsu.  It was a solid team, a veteran team if she recalled as well.

Her team was the next one that Sima mentioned, Baker team.  She was quick to take down notes down on what she knew about her team mates.  Only to frown when she realized she only had two other team members, that was atypical in traditional genin squads.  A faint blush creeped onto her cheeks as she mentally put a face with the name Tenshi Akiyama.  She didn't know him personally but she had seen him while she and the other senior academy students had arrived here in the new capital.  He was attractive, and seemed like a nice enough guy.  The name Kyoko Nakano she was more familiar with, the girl was from the hidden stone, and much like herself Nakano-san seemed shy.  She knew she was a bloodline user by the last name, but sadly hadn't paid enough attention during class to really put the name with a bloodline itself.  Hopefully they'd find a third member to make a true genin cell.

She missed Gamma team's members as she was lost in her own thoughts on her team, but was drawn back to the real world when Delta team was being announced.  Another one of the veteran teams.  She didn't know as much about delta though, except that they had an Uchiha and Inuzaka on their team.  Without knowing more about the dynamics she couldn't really judge the team.

As the teams were dismissed Amiko made her way up grasping the communicator as she passed and looked around the room.  It seemed she wasn't the only one with an occupied mind as she noted several other genin lost in thought.  She reached into her pocket removing a small glass ball with a colored fluid.  She'd have to see if Kyoko stayed behind or rushed on to find her, but it did offer some time to practice atleast.

-------

Amiko moved to stand off to the side of the main entrance to the academy building.  Her hands wrapped around the baseball size glass orb as they glowed faintly blue.  Within the orb the fluid swirled in different directions at the whim of her chakra.  The deep green color within the orb slowly shifting into a dark blue and light yellow at the edges.  It was a chakra control exercise among the Araumi clan, the goal was to separate the two different dyes out of solution.  Using the resistance to chakra to identify each of the dyes, the end goal was to have 2 hemispheres of dye with no mixture occurring.  She'd yet to beat the exercise.  Its purpose was to both improve chakra control, and help simulate the slight differences in tissue and fluid types sensed, when using medical jutsu on the body.

The exercise was interrupted when she was the distress that Nori was in, the moment of distraction being all that was needed for the two fluids to once again mix together fully turning the orb dark green again.  "Damnit," She said before slipping the orb back into her pocket and approaching Nori from behind. "Are you alright, Yamada-san?" Amiko asked with concern as she lightly placed a hand upon the older girl's shoulder.

In reply to Araumi Amiko (msg # 20):

Upon hearing her name being said from behind, Nori stopped in her tracks and froze. She felt her heart start to pang in her chest. What was she so nervous about all of a sudden. It wasn't the voice of Sigmund. And it wasn't the voice of Nanami or Shiroma. But somehow the thought of someone knowing it was her...she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Not that she was trying to hide it...well, maybe a little. When she turned herself slightly to look back at the person talking to her, she spotted a face that was familiar. What was her name again? She went to the academy, didn't she? And she was younger than her, too. That much she knew. "Oh, um..." she began to say. She had red hair and eyes that were a softer hue... Wait. A something. A... Then it clicked. "It's...Amiko, right? Sorry I guess I didn't recognize you. It's been a long time."

In reply to Yamada Nori (msg # 21):

"yes and Its alright, Yamada-san, but my question still stands, are you alright?  Seeing your teammates seemed to unsettle you?" Amiko asked with a faint smile as she watched the older girl with concern.  She wasn't sure what the dynamic was within the team, that kind of information wasn't exactly available at the academy.  A few stories here and there of adventures.  Maybe a technique or two that a member of a team had perfected was known, but nothing about the team dynamics or anything that could be used against the team was ever spread to the uninitiated shinobi corp members.    If Nori had issues with her teammates, perhaps she should see a Yamanaka or someone with more specialized skills in the mind arts.

In reply to Araumi Amiko (msg # 22):

When she heard Araumi ask if she was alright, Nori wasn't exactly sure how she should answer that. There were a lot of things that she was feeling right now, but was alright one of them? "Am I...alright? I don't...really know," she replied as she turned herself slightly towards the girl that was behind her. "I mean, if I am being honest, there are a lot of things that I am feeling right now coming back here. I'm in a place that I should be calling home yet everything feels so foreign to me. It makes me feel a little uneasy." Nori turned her head and looked over in the direction of Nanami and Sigmund. Just seeing them and knowing they were so close...it made the young ninja's heart ache. How would they react to her being here after a year of being separated? She lowered her eyes softly at them. "I guess you could say that seeing them after a year makes me a little unsettled, but I'm happy they are doing alright. I'm just not entirely sure how they would feel about seeing me again. A lot has happened since we last saw each other," she replied honestly before she looked back at Araumi. "I'm thinking about leaving before they see me. I don't really have a right to be here. After all, I don't really consider this place being my home."

In reply to Yamada Nori (msg #23):

Nanami would listen. She sighed. Her disdain for Sigmund was at it's peak and was never forgotten. The way he treated everyone, especially Nori. It was not what she wanted. Nor was it one she would accept. However her colder side calmed her, and decided Sigmund had a single chance to prove himself. If he hadn't changed after the incident. She would request a transfer or request he be transferred. Nanami was leaning against the wall. She had already spotted Nori. She'd move in a fast fluid movement to appear near Nori.

"To late you have been spotted, and .."

She tackle hugs Nori. She had missed her friend. They had been through a lot. Or better yet. They had both been through hell, and survived. They both were very unique and opposites as far as abilities go. Having Nori on her team was the only saving grace she had. There was no way she wanted to deal with Sigmund alone.

"Glad you are back, and glad to be on your team again!"

   And as he expected, anything he said was ignored. He had figured as much as his previous actions was unforgivable, but nobody seemed to understand that part of everything that had happened, wasn’t his fault. He had watched Nanami walk off and dark eyes followed as she had approached who he believed was Nori. It looked like her, but he wasn’t sure. Overhearing the confirmation of Nanami’s excitement was enough for him. He hadn’t spoke to Nori in a long time. Feeling discouraged he didn’t bother with another apology.

  He gave a half smile to Sakuya. ”Good luck on your mission, Sakuya,” he said and turned around, waking out of the academy grounds and went home. Trailing behind him were his mother, Akasumi and his Master, the Wolf Sage.

Granted he could t see much, hearing the uneasy exchange of words between everyone was not all surprising, he knew his brother was bothered since the loss of his friend and he knew it was going to be a tough time for him to recover. He sighed, looking over at Sakuya, the only individual that he hung out with. ”You think they’ll ever forgive him?” he asked curiously. Everyone seemed to have forgiven Kotatsu way more than Sigmund and partly because Kotatsu was almost rendered useless and far less weaker. Kotatsu didn’t have much of a memory of the events that had happened while he was lost to the darkness but he remembered enough that changed him too. ”You know...” he uttered as he looked away, hearing Sigmund’s footsteps disappear. ”While I get everyone’s concern that Sigmund could always turn back, nobody will ever understand being stuck in your own body...soul..,” he explained.

”You lose yourself you know. Any anger or negative feelings manifest inside you. That’s how HE keeps his control,” he explained to Sakuya. ”Promise me you won’t fall prey to this okay? We have lost enough good people to this,” he told her, a bit of concern in his deep voice. Everyone seemed to have taken a liking to Kotatsu; call and collected and even more wiser than his Sigmund. He was definitely a changed guy compared to last year’s attitude.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:57, Mon 12 July 2021.

Amiko gave a polite bow to the pair of Uchihas and Nara.  "Nara-san, Uchiha-san, Uchiha-san, Harusame-san.  Good morning, congratulations on the reunion of your team.  Should I take my leave? So you four may celebrate?" She asked shyly as she began to feel a little less confident with the sudden addition of four more, she didn't really know any of them that well. She wondered if any of her team might be around, she atleast knew Nakano from the last year.

As if on cue, Kyoko came along, timidly approaching the gathering from Amiko's side, she mumbled. "A... Amiko, I looks like we are in the same team, lets get along." She didn't really know the others gathered there, nor Amiko all that much for that matter but she knew Araumi far better than them. "Ar-are you hungry?" Nakano figured it may be a good idea to actually get to know her teammate, or so she remembered learning from a rather outgoing previous teammate, how times had changed...

"U-un... You take care..." Sakuya managed a reply to Sigmund when he bid her good luck on her upcoming mission. While she still felt uneasy when Sigmund was around, the medical nin felt she should put some effort in making amends too. He was an ally now after all, and one should look out for their allies whenever they could.

Kotatsu then asked her if the others would be able to forgive Sigmund for what has happened before. She remembered that they were brothers, thus her reformed friend worried for his sibling. She afforded Kotatsu her company since she thought of him still as an ally, probably even more so after how he saved her life. She therefore would do what she could to help him out as well.

"I would like to believe that everyone else would forgive your brother too, despite what happened..." Sakuya mustered a reply as she looked to Kotatsu's way, "Maybe it will take more time, but I hope things will turn for the better."

He then explained what Sigmund had to go through, that dark emotion that could consume one's being if left unchecked. Sakuya remembered various cautionary tales similar to that told before by her parents when she has yet to become a genin, warnings about that side that one should not cave into.

"Hai, Kotatsu... I'll remember to watch out..." she said with a nod before looking to the others. She was surprised at how Nanami was able to move so quickly, disappearing from where she stood one moment and then appearing to land a glomp onto Nori when the latter arrived. There were old and new faces around too.

"Ah, you don't have to go..." Sakuya assured Amiko, her arms waving up and down in an attempt to show that it was fine to stay before she bowed politely to introduce herself, "I-I'm Harusame Sakuya, by the way...! I-it's a pleasure to meet you!"

In reply to Nara Nanami (msg # 24):

It wasn't as if Nori didn't want to see Sigmund or Nanami. She did. They meant something to her after all. But the three of them had been through a lot together and without the year of seeing each other, she was sure that even more changed and they grew distant. Maybe there was part of her that was apprehensive to go back because of how much distance there was between them now not just mentally and emotionally, but no doubt in their physical abilities, too. Was she ready to face that just yet? She wasn't sure.

Before she could even think to walk away from the scene, she suddenly heard Nanami's voice from beside her, causing her to turn her head to look in her direction. It was in doing so, though, that she felt herself tackled into a hug. Nori's eyes widened slightly at the sudden action. "N-Nanami-" she began to say as she brought up her hands to press against her back. Wait. Wasn't she just with Sigmund a second ago? "I-It's nice to see you, too." She turned her head and looked over in the direction where she had seen the two together, but it was in doing so that she caught the sight of Sigmund's retreating back heading out of the academy grounds. It was a sight that she had seen many times before and it still had the same effect on her. She lowered her eyes before she blinked and looked back down at Nanami. "Um...how are you, Nanami?" she asked.

Amiko smiles at Kyoko and slipped back away from the teammates as they begin to reacquaint themselves. "Let's go get something to eat Kyoko, it was a pleasure to meet all of you, tell me how this turns out later" She said with a light bow before gently reaching out to take Kyoko's hand and let her lead on to wherever she wants to eat.

Nakano wished that Shinji was there, that rascal seemed to have extensive knowledge of the best places to eat at. She dragged Amiko along with uncharacteristic determination. "Do perhaps you like Yakitori? I know of a place... That is, if you would like to, there are other places too. M-my treat." Kyoko mumbled in contrast with her recent recent outburst of confidence. She was no Shinji but a fair amount of his expertise had rubbed on her over time.

Amiko smiled and happily let her teammate lead her along.  It was much easier to let her decide on what they would eat since it'd guarantee that it was something that Kyoko would like. "I'm fond of all kinds of Yakiniki, so yes Yakitori is good." she said happily as she watched the people around her, feeling much more at ease now that there were less people crowded around and she only had to impress an individual instead of a team.

"Lets then." Kyoko affirmed tugging again on Araumi. Shinji would be so proud of her, she almost could pass as an adjusted member of society!

The place in question was on the smaller side of the scale, almost feeling squeezed into the larger whole of the building. Once inside however the place was spacious enough for what it was, various stools along a counter and the kitchen in plain view just beyond. Watching one's food cook was part of the experience and it's scents permeating everything pry one's appetite open, that is if one didn't mind that kind of thing and the smoke.

Nakano took a seat gesturing for Amiko to follow suit while she timidly got the attention of the cook and ordered. "Excuse me, c-could I get tsukune and bonjiri?" Her attention now on her new teammate. "Order whatever you want please. My treat."

Amiko looked around the building with interest taking note of what she saw others eating before making her order. "May I have some Torinegi, and Tsukune, please." she said before turning back to her teammate.

She gave the girl a proper once over for the first time, ever really.  She thought the short hair gave the girl a cute look, not that she was really into girls.  "So, shall we introduce ourselves properly?  Name, likes, dislikes, goals, elemental affinities, and such?  If we're going to be teamed up together we'll have to know how to cover each other's back and work together after all." she asked curiously

The cook took their orders and promptly got to work right before their eyes. This was why Nakano loved this kind of place, seeing the food one is to eat prepared right before them had many advantages, if nothing else the delicious scent never failed to cheer her or her appetite.

Kyoko gave Amiko an awkward nod before fidgettig on her seat for a couple of seconds, seemingly thinking her answers. Her new peer seemed rather straight forward but accommodating enough. Nakano leaped from her stool and di a bit of a dynamic introduction. "I am Nakano Kyoko, nine to ten I am more or less a genin!" After which, what felt like an eternal silence followed. Painfully slowly, Kyoko go back on her seat, getting as red as some of the raw meat waiting to be cooked.  With her gaze now sinking into the floor, she continued in a far less energetic way. "... I like cats, snakes and ice-cream. Hate storms and the ocean, other stuff too. I want to make money, I guess. E-earth... Don't really like fighting, much, the way people do here. Nin-ninjustsu is deception, I think... Win first, jab a blade in them after."

As the two genin chatted excitedly they were suddenly interrupted by a voice from the doorway of the yakitori shop.

Excuse me... do you know where Baker squad went? I was told they went this way...

The speaker was a tall, rotund young man wearing a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt, a pair of sunglasses and the kind of disposable medical mask that visitors to the hospital get handed. He looked like an overgrown civilian child playing ninja. Only two details showed that this wasn't an obvious joke. One was forehead protector which was shiny, new and real.

The other was the official Mission Scroll open in his hand with the words "Notice of Assignment to Existing Genin Team" printed on the top.

"That would be us, have a seat.  I guess I should go next, Araumi, Amiko.  If you haven't heard of my clan, its because we're small, and we had to flee the purges just two generations ago, so we're rather new to the Fire County, I like fluffy animals, books, and sunrises, I hate bullies, and fire works.  My goal, is to one day bring honor and respect to my clan and possibly become as great a medic as the great Senju Tsunade-sama, my primary focus on training has been medical and water jutsu, although I have a slight earth affinity." she said to them both as she scooted over to make room for the Aburame.  She wasn't sure if he was an Aburame, but he had to look of one atleast outfit wise.  Hopefully if he was, she wouldn't find to many bugs in her sleeping bags.

Nakano glanced over the newcomer. Gosh, this had to be a joke, it wasn't but it had to be. Not that she could do anything about it, they had a creep in their team... Kyoko hesitantly raised her her hand as to vouch for Araumi's affirmative answer. "That, that sounds nice Araumi-san. I suppose a sense for family is something to treasure." She looked back at Hayate. "W-what about you?"

Hayate's heart pounded. He wasn't prepared for this. Not just the finally getting a team. Not just the suddenly being introduced to his team outside of an official, comfortable context. But they're both kunoichi and both... Bad thought, Hayate. Punishment thought.

Hayate squared his shoulders like he was preparing for a spar and took a seat on the offered middle stool. Despite his dingy appearance he smelled...fine? Like the potted plants that people put up in offices.

He pulled the mask down under his chin revealing a broad grin, a dusting of spidery mustache hairs and what looks like a big, dark-brown wart just off his lower lip and turned his head from side to side as he talked, trying to look both of his new teammates in the eye at once.

Hi, my name is Aburame Hayate....

I'm a genin, I just had my graduation exam half an hour ago...

I turned thirteen yesterday...I know that's late, they started me in the academy late. They said I wasn't ready...And then there was the war last year. But I think I'm pretty ready now...

He scratched the back of his head as if this moment was only the regular sort of awkward instead of kind of mortifying.

Right...what I'm good for. I'm an Aburame, of course... but I'm really good at Taijutsu, like, it's the first thing that makes sense. Y'know how when your body and your bodies are in motion and working like they want the same thing?

Hayate stopped himself. Of course they don't know. It's impolite to expect them to know. He cleared his throat and started again.

Also I have a wind affinity which isn't that common...I've only just got the hand seals down but I think it'll really help us out.  I'm also an Aburame, sorry I already said that, but I know I'm kind of not shaped like one...that's a choice. When I get older I don't want to have to use a jar, so I'm preparing the territory now.

He clenched his fist crumpling his transfer orders as he turns to face Kyoko again.

I like...uh...I like my swarm of course but that's like saying you like your hair. Is it OK to like something that's part of you if you take care good of it? Or is that conceited? I also like it when I can be helpful to be people. I really don't like how the new school is made of metal. Really how everything here is too new. Too clean.Nowhere to hide.. My goal, our goal really, is to attain enlightenment. But I think being a shinobi with you two will help.

Finally he stops, and Hayate's shoulders sag, like he's just carrieded a hundred pound bale of rice up a mountain. Which is when the wart on his face choses to wake up. revealing itself to be a kikaichu. Its antennae twitched once, twice and then immediately scuttles up his left nostril, where it's safer.

Amiko listened attentively to the introduction and was about to common when she saw the bug move up his nostril.  It caused her to pale slightly at the thought of something climbing around inside her, but that was the Aburame way.  She could deal with that, it was nothing right, it'd all be fine.   "Well, I'm glad to welcome both of you onto our team, we just have to meet Abiyama-sensei now I guess, wherever he is.  I hope we can learn alot from each other and become good friends." She said with a hopeful helpful tone to her voice.

Kyoko seemed like a very nice girl that she could easily get along with as long as they worked through their mutual shyness.  Putting on the extravert act was a bit tiresome both emotionally and a bit physically.  Atleast their common love of fluffy adorable animals would be something to bond over, as well as their common earth elemental affinity.

Hayate, would be the harder one.  He seemed even worse then Kyoko when it came to shyness, and hadn't yet developed the mask to fight introversion.  She could sympathize with him, she really could.  It'd taken her almost two years to get to where she was and it still was awkward, especially around large groups of people.  Maybe he could help both of them improve their taijutsu though.

Nakano really wished he had kept the mask up. She didn't really have anything in particular against bugs, some were kind of creepy and alien looking but that was about it. However, there was a great divide between bugs one stumbled on the countryside and the thought of the living and scurrying away in and out of one's body, the later gave her a cold sweat at best or she found utterly repulsive and reminiscent of maggots and other vermin feasting on a carcass. Needless to say, it wasn't exactly the kind fo imagery one wanted looming in their mind during lunchtime, but such was the ninja world, full of the outrageous, subtle and gross.

"Aburame-san. Do you... Do you, eat?" Inquired Kyoko, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer to her question. She gave Amiko the kind of glance that spoke volume of her dismay, at the very least, about having to eat lunch nest a walking infestation.

Hayate's eyes went wide behind his shades. His face fell. Not here a minute and he was already being made fun of. New team, old school. All the same always the s...

Stop. No tears. She's not Konoha.

Hayate stopped and looked at Kyoko, really looked. At her eyes. At the style of her hair and clothes. At the way she addressed him with a san like a civilian or....foreigner. One Who Doea Not Know. Of course. This was a Real Question not a what did you do question or a who do you think you are question. Safe.

Oh. Um. Of course I do. He patted his stomach like it was all a big, safe joke.

Way more than a lot of my cousins. We get taught early on to let the swarm, you know, our kikaichu do most of the hard work. But I don't listen so good, I train like I have to work for a living. You feed the body, body feeds the swarm.

It's not a closed system. The swarm eats my chakra but I have to eat to refill that. I'm not a monk. When I was nine I thought I could teach my swarm to eat solid foods and then eat the individual bugs. Problem is, they're full of my chakra. And so eating them all at once fed the chakra back into my system too fast and overloaded the chakra coils. Like one or two won't hurt but even a rice bowl full...I had to go to the hospital.

Hayate smiled at Kyoko as if what he said was a normal teammate sharing a mildly-embarrassing childhood experience.

Don't just talk about yourself, you were raised better than that

"Oh. Wait, sorry. I talk too much...?"

Wait. Was she scared? Why was she scared? What have you done?

"Am I scaring you?" Hayate tried to sound calming, neutral but his voice came out as a buzzing monotone...

Amiko was quick to reassure Hayate, maybe a little to quick in all honesty. "Oh, of course your not scaring us.  Kyoko just has never met an Aburame before since she didn't go to the academy in Konoha.  It takes some getting use to, to think about your swarm..." she wasn't sure how to really put it, in all honesty the concept of a colony of insects living inside someone was creepy and disquieting.

To a medic such as herself it was also an interesting premise, a symbiotic relationship that must influence all aspects of the body.  She tried not to think about the idea of little bucks crawling around in tunnels throughout his skin.  She'd never seen the actual tunnels, in fact her clan knew next to nothing about Aburame outside of a few theoretical writings that she'd more heard of then actual read.

She turned her attention back to her other squad-mate and gave a slight sigh. "Its a complex topic, I suppose the simplest way of putting it, would be kind of like how our body is made of cells of various types.  The Aburame just have a second species that acts kind of like a secondary lymphic system?  Wait...do you know what the Lymphic system is?  Never mind, its a symbiotic relationship, the bugs eat chakra, and Hayate's body provides it in return for the loyalty of the colony that resides inside him.  Hayate still needs to eat, but the kikaichu inside him feed on his chakra network, or those that he directs them to feed on in combat." She was getting a headache trying to explain all of this.  Her clan specialized in being doctors, either civilian or battlefield ones.  What she knew about the body, and what your average ninja did were vastly different.  If it wasn't taboo, she'd have taken a kunai to herself and pointed things out, its not like it'd have permanently hurt her after all.  However she'd been warned a long time ago, not to do demonstrations of her bloodline in public, even if it was the easiest way to explain things.

It was only a few seconds after her rant finished she realized, she was coming off just as weird to her new teammates as well.  A faint blush crept onto her neck then took over her face causing her to shrink slightly back into herself, something she tried her best to hide, while feeling like at the same time she was curling up into a ball in embarrassment.

Nakano glanced from Hayate to Amiko time and again, somehow now making direct eye contact. Her right eye twitching slightly even with her affable smiling face. In fact, if they didn't know better, one could even say that her hair was having a sudden small case of gravity deficiency as she clenched her fists. Kyoko eventually took a deep breath, looked back down to the floor and stretching out one open palm as if to keep them at bay she said. "Enough! Enough... I don't want to hear another word."

With that out of her chest, her outstretched arm dropped dead by her side and she gestured towards the kitchen right before their eyes. "So you do eat, order something, if you would like... Just, just keep those things out of sight." Out of sight, out of mind. Besides, she didn't presume the cook or the other patrons to enjoy the sight of vermin crawling about.

The first thing Hayate did was turn to the waiting cook.

Hasami, please, with tare sauce and...I guess a tsukune. No sauce, ease.

Gizzards were healthy and there wasn't much organ meat on the Aburame table. Too discordant a flavor and hard to digest, besides. The tsukune was obvious, every else was getting one.

Then to Kyoko. His words in the practiced apology all Aburame were taught to used with spooked clients and disgusted diplomats.

Thank you. I apologize. I'll make sure you see no more of them than necessary.

And if Hayate was still at the academy, that would have been that. He'd have made a game of hiding his bugs. Sneaking them just at the edge of her awareness. Until she went to the teacher or just got quiet and left him alone.

But that was no longer an option. She wasn't his classmate, she was his teammate. They were going to be responsible for keeping each other alive. He turned to Amiko, his voice quiet and stern.

What you said was informative and accurate. Why didn't work? Why is she still disgusted and scared?

He looked down at the little bottle of mixed pepper and the napkin rack.

How do we fix this?

Amiko gave him a sympathetic look. "Give her time, and respect her wishes, she'll accept it and you with time.  Sadly it might also be where we are talking about your symbiotic friends?  Many people find discussing body anatomy disquieting at the dinner table?" She didn't want to go into how some patients might find such details disquieting or even disturbing in general.  How her description of it might also have offended, either by making Kyoko feel she was being talked down to, or being far to detailed in nature.  She was sure they'd all work well together and hopefully in time accept their differences. "To a bright future together, and friendship?" she offered up a toast with whatever had been provided for drinks while they waited for their food to arrive.

"That's not... Forget it, just... Mind yourselves,there is a place and time for everything, a season for every purpose under heaven, or so they say. Even for reveling about vermin under your skin." As if on cue their orders began to come through, one of the many virtues of that style of cooking. "Lets just eat." Gods was this exhausting for her, was this what they called a cultural divide? Whatever it was, food was there, bug free, just made grilled meat on a skewer, some tea (in her case),life just didn't get much better than that.

With both hands full, taking bites from each in turn, any unsightly imagery and thoughts were quickly washed away and her mood was reset. "So. You pack a good punch and do whatever it is you do with those things, and you are a medical nin. I suppose I can heal too, after a fashion. But anyway, I mostly hide and ambush. Guess we aren't some kind of storm team..." She ended with a slight chuckle as if laughing at her own joke. This was the most talkative she had been in forever but with the right mood and for the occasion, it was well worth the effort.

Tenshi had been listening to his new team. He smiled just a little. The team was shaping up to be interesting. His eyes would look around. He did not know what other things would happen. The mission board being opened again was an interesting team. He would catch up to the group who seemed to have found themselves. With a smile would introduce himself.

"Amiko, Kyoko, and Hayate. It is nice to meet all of you. I am Tenshi Akiyama this squads leader. It is nice to meet you. So seeing as you have all been talking among one another. Why not make this formal and introduce yourselves, and the role you would like to play on the team?"

He would say as he seemed to be very calm and cool. He would smile and wait for them to do so.

Amiko gave a quick salute to Tenshi and blushed deeply.  He was attractive and it didn't help her being a teenager.  "Araumi Amiko, team medic, and possibly water ninjutsu specialist? Sir," she spoke in a militaristic tone, seeming to tense up at the presence of a commanding officer and being told to introduce herself.

Hayate spun in his stool and dropped to the floor in a single motion, his self-recrimination and yakitori forgotten as the protocol took over. Fist in palm, he bowed.

 Sir! Aburame Hayate reporting! In addition to my bloodline gift, I am qualified in Taijutsu with a wind affinity. In my callow and unworthy opinion, I would be of most utility as a frontline combatant. Dozo onegaishimasu.  Sir!

As he rose, he snapped a salute the same way Amiko did. He was pretty sure he'd gotten everything in.

In reply to Harusame Sakuya (msg # 29):

Kotatsu stayed in the background for the most part, taking in his new environment. The last time he had been on a squad was several years ago, but he was excited. Not only had he successfully learned to work with his new disability, he was paired up with an old friend, Sakuya. She had grown up. Back then, she was just a kid and he was a punk who ran away and it all became a blur after that. He cleared his throat. "Hey Sakuya? Do you know who this Fuma-sensei is?" he asked.

Kotatsu hadn't ran into the name before, but he had a feeling it was something important. Fuma had only recently been appointed as an acting Jonin which meant they weren't truly a trusted ally. But as the more Kotatsu thought about it, the more it bugged him. "And if so, where do you think Fuma-sensei would be? This doesn't sound like somewhere they'd hang out at," Kotatsu added as he ran his hand through his hair and stretched his arms upwards. He was getting pumped for a mission that's for sure.

Yurei would look around and listen to everything. Things seemed to be shaping up as they should. He was always sharp. His tactics were beyond most. His clan were mostly Taijutsu users. But he was a standout who combined ninjutsu and taijutsu. He would walk up behind Kotatsu. Knowing who he was as he was around for most of the happenings. But didn't go on the missions. For a moment he wondered how to introduce himself to the other two. Walking up he would wave. His wolf companion was walking next to.

"Heya captain, and Sakuya."

He would bow to each of them and them ponder. He had only seen Fuma once or twice. So he had no clue.

"If we had a possession of hers. My partner could sniff her out if she was in the village."

"Ah, about Fuma-sensei...?" Sakuya remarked, turning to Kotatsu when he asked if she knew about the sensei assigned to their team. Try as she might, however, nothing came to mind of really meeting Fuma-sensei before.

"No, I have not met her before," the young medical ninja admitted while shaking her head, "Maybe we can ask at the information about her?"

Someone then greeted her and Kotatsu from behind Kotatsu's back, accompanied by a wolf pup. Sakuya wasn't quite sure who he was... but maybe he's a member of their team too? If she remembered right, his name was...

"Inuzuka... Yurei, was it...?" she mustered the voice to ask, taking in the newcomer's appearance from head to foot to remember who he was before responding with a bow, <blue>"Pleased to make your acquaintance. Unfortunately I don't have anything that could be confirmed as a possession of Fuma-sensei."

Glancing over at the late arrival, Nakano somewhat happily greeted Tenshi. Now they were all gathered and it was nice to she a familiar face after a long while, not that she knew him in much depth. "N-nice meeting you again Akiyama-san, I can work as a scout, I think..."

The Aburame was way to official. Though it was an odd feeling to have someone respond like that. He would simply smile and bow in return. Looking at them all the team seemed to be put together with some balance. It would be interesting. Though he figured he should tell them of his talents so they know where he stood. Being an odd one who uses unique ways of using jutsu.

"Now that introductions have been made. I should inform you of my skills. I have unique sensory abilities, and I don't use hand seals for jutsu. My Kekkei is unique. I kind of draw runes or wards in the air. But I am also really strong support. As far as combat abilities, and am Nin-taijutsu specialist. But I can operate in the mid to close range. Hayate you are likely a mid to long range jutsu user with your bugs and such. Amiko will be support, as well as some mid range jutsu I am guessing? Kyoko you seem like a stealthy type fighter, who uses your quick wits to deal with situations. This will be a fun and strong team."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:13, Sat 17 July 2021.

"Hai, Sensei.  So, how do you want to handle our training?  How often will we be taking missions? Are we going to be assigned the traditional D ranks or jump straight into Cs?" Amiko asked as she started to eat her food, delicately taking thte pieces of leek out from between the chunks of chicken meat first and then taking each piece of chicken.

Hayate wanted to speak up. It was on the tip of his tongue to correct his sensei, that he really wasn't that great at longer ranges. That his use of his kikaichu wasn't standard. That he was really much better in the thick of it. But he knew....

A lesson you've learned.

That you don't correct your superiors. Older relatives, teachers and That did not mean Hayate would obey unthinkingly, he'd have been a very different young man if he did. But it meant he  would wait for a chance to show what he could do.

Instead he merely stood there, waiting, his snack cooling behind him.

The provisional Jonin was elsewhere.

Maybe she meant to be late. Maybe she didn't. She certainly wasn't expecting to be ambushed by a runner with a pack addressed to her and a list of her new team, along with an unsubtle admonishment for not being where she had not known to be. It provoked an eyeroll, but the former Ronin meandered her way towards the schools, glancing down at the assignments in front of her.

She didn't remember there being so many Uchiha when she left, her mouth curling into a wry smirk. Either way, it meant one of two things - He was either a plant, or this was an olive branch. Possibly both.

Probably both.

She shared a nod with Tsubame, the hawk perched so comfortably on her shoulder. Tsubame always agreed with Tsukiko, because she was a smart bird.

The other two were certainly interesting. The Inuzuka clan were powerful shinobi, and an errant thought wondered if the boy was the kid of someone she'd gone to school with. She'd find out soon enough, especially if he ever spoke about his new team. If it wasn't seething silence, it was almost explosive outbursts from people she used to know.

Harusame was the outlier. The basic information she'd received listed a kekkei genkai, but it was frustratingly vague on what it was, and to top it off she was the token kunoichi. Though, that made things a bit fun. Tsukiko could practically hear her old mentor growling about the joys of discovering something new.

Either way, as she stepped onto the school grounds, giving a little click of her tongue to encourage Tsubame to stretch her wings as she eyed those still around. She could go for subterfuge, there were certainly only a few hangers on milling about and still getting acquainted with the people they'd bleed with, and it could be interesting, seeing their reactions, sizing up who they were as people, not just as shinobi.

"Delta, y'here?!"

Or she could be a blunt hammer.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:52, Wed 21 July 2021.

Yurei would hear their callsign and look at the woman. She definitely fit the bill of a Jonin. He'd walk over and look at Fuma.

"You must be Fuma-sensei. I am Yurei Inuzuka. That is Sora my wolf. It will be a pleasure to work with you."

He would bow and look at the rest of the team.

Sakuya turned to look to the voice that called to their team name, seeing the older female shinobi with a hawk resting on her shoulder. The best the genin could use to describe the woman was how rugged she looked - she probably had as much missions as Fujii-sensei under her name.

She bowed to acknowledge that she was indeed part of the team before asking, "Hai, Delta team is here. Are you the sensei assigned to our team?"

The mission in the Land of Snow had taught Sakuya to at least find out who she was speaking to before properly disclosing her own information. While it shouldn't be necessary here, it was a good habit to practice and make sure that the one arriving was indeed their team sensei.

In reply to Uchiha Sarada (msg # 19):

This last year had been a lesson in something Shiroma knew too well already, patience.  The loss of the leaf a place she had just barely started to think of as a potential new home for her was hard to accept.  She worked hard to accept this new land as he own though the fear still held her that this land like all the others she had called home would be taken as well.

Though at times she forgot her own age with the things she said seeming to come from someone much older then she was, it was times like these that she remembered she was still a young teenager and barely old enough to be out of school and running missions.  She pushed such things to the side, letting her mind focus on helping on missions that never took her too far from home, always coming back within a day to the hospital where Sarada slept.  She never wanted to be far from the girl who had been quickly becoming more than a teacher to her.

Keeping to missions in and around the city let her spend more time training though she could never find a way to look into the question that was plaguing her about herself.  Where had the red eyes come from?  Her inner personalities grew closer and yet more distinct while still being a part of a whole.

The training she had with Tsubaki allowed her to hone her skills developing greater control over chakra and even learn to walk on water which had been a major annoyance for her.  Though she found that her special affinity with ice seemed to change everything about how she worked with chakra.  Where others could just walk over the water with barely even a ripple her steps always left a thin sheet of ice behind barely noticeable, but there.

Training and short missions where the only things that pulled her away from the chair near to Sarada’s bed.  She took her meals there and even slept there unless she was kicked out for some reason.  In those cases she would often just slip out of the window and place a few ice arrows and just lay out on the side of the wall till she could sneak back inside.  It finally just became accepted that Shiroma would be around no matter what anyone did.

Hence why she was laying there curled up on a chair as the nurses checked on the newly awakened Sarada. The commotion roused her and she sat up looking over at the bed and the now moving form of her teacher.  She waited and watched and listened to everything that happened as she shifted to the edge of her chair as Sarada’s mother finished up her exam.  Hearing her name the pale ice girl stood up walking over and smiling.  Her eyes a pale blue as she smiled at Sarada.  “Well one of me has been most of the time. When missions don’t get in the way.”   She reached up about to brush a side a stray hair as she had a few times over the last year but stopped herself remembering how little physical touch Sarada seemed to like.  “Now that you are awake, time to get you up and moving again.  We have a lot to talk about.”

In reply to Tsuna Shiroma (msg # 62):

Sarada sighed. She was utterly exhausted still. A year her mother said. She’s just been laying here for a year she asked herself. Shiroma had only been nothing but a blessing. Probably one of very few reasons Sarada pulled through, however only fate would tell. Shiroma had almost brushed a small piece of her hair aside, Sarada’s cheeks flushing with pink from just the thought of her touch. Shiroma, back to business as usually. ”Yeah...moving,” she uttered as she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get her body to suddenly move was going to difficult but she needed to do this now otherwise she was going to be useless. A long awaited silence passed between the girls until Sarada was able to move her fingers, then her arms, and slowly started to prop herself up. Her face showed anything but fun from this task. She was shaky, but strong enough to manage to prop herself up and sit up. She rubbed her eyes from the grogginess of sleep. ”Time hasn’t stopped I see,” she commented. ”What’s in the agenda today?” she asked.

Sarada was unaware of what had happened with everyone. She wasn’t even aware that she was no longer in Konoha. She was curious if their mission was successful or not. She only remembered bits and pieces from the beach battle. ”I can assume I’ve been reassigned to another squad?” she questioned.

Shiroma smiled and moved some pillows to help Sarada sit up before moving to sit on the bed down near her legs smiling at her.  Her teeth bright white as the snow as her ice blue eyes just looked at Sarada’s face.  “No it hasn’t stopped, and you missed my birthday which I might just forgive you for seeing as a coma is a good excuse.”   Shiroma smirked and giggled, "The agenda is however much your mother will let you do and you can do without hurting yourself so you can get better.”   

There was a moment of sadness on her face before Shiroma sighed and shook her head.  “I don’t know for sure, the squad has been split a bit there have mostly been solo missions getting things set up since the fall of the leaf.”  She sighed and closed her eyes this time opening them on dark stormy blue. “There is a lot to tell you about, and the memory after certain things on the beach is hard to recall.  But I will fill in what I can of what has happened.”  So began the story of what Shiroma had been doing this last year and what she knew of the others.

If Sarada hadn’t known, she would’ve believed that Shiroma was older, more mature than her age let on. A lot had changed about her and she saw it. Sarada smirked. She did miss her birthday. Hell, she even missed her own birthday. ”I promise I’ll make it up to you. You deserve that much,” She commented. Once Sarada noticed the change in eyes, she immediately knew Shiroma still had her visitor still. ”I was beginning to wonder when you’d show up,” she teased. Her other half had explained what exactly happened to her and the squad. Konoha had fallen and everyone was forced to relocate to an island north of the Land of the Moon. It was impressive that they managed to evacuate so many in such little time. What amazed her the most was this place, Izalith. It had been their new home. Sarada was able to confirm her suspicions that she knew this wasn’t the hospital she remembered. Shiroma proceeded to inform her of what the others had been up to; Sigmund and Kotatsu’s war crimes, Nori’s disappearance, and Nanami’s training out and about. She wasn’t at all surprised they hardly kept contact but to know they each visited Sarada at least a few times throughout the year was a bit reassuring.

”I see...” Sarada muttered out. All this information would take some time to process but time wasn’t going to be in her side. She needed to get back to duty, to start her career again as soon as possible. ”The war’s getting worse and it’s only beginning,” she commented. She looked over to one the stands to her bed, a newspaper called Izalith War Times. Once she read the issue, she smirked. It didn’t take them long to report her awakening. It must’ve been something important, perhaps a glimpse of hope. ”You know, I’m really glad you’re here actually,” she blurted as she closed the newspaper and just looked at the colored photos of the ruins from all over the world. ”Through all of this pain and destruction, I somehow managed to find my peace and happiness,” as she glanced at Shiroma, a moment of silence between them. ”My reason to fight,” she added. ”With that said, I think I’ve spent more than enough time for bed rest,” she said as she pulled the blankets off of her, revealing the torso bandages that covered her. It was evident that she lost some muscle mass, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t gain back. She swung her legs to the side of the bed, already exhausted just from that. She sighed and closed her eyes temporarily before she managed to lower herself onto the ground, her feet touching the cold marble floor. Her legs shook as she finally got to her feet. ”My mother will be disappointed in me for not staying rested, but we don’t have time for that,” she added.

In reply to Harusame Sakuya (msg # 61):

Kotatsu felt the wind change twice. Even though everything that had happened, he was entrusted to be the captain of his new squad. It was a huge responsibility to hand him after everything he had been through. It became more official as his new teammate arrived. Yurei was his name. It hadn’t been a name he was familiar with. Kotatsu’s only guess was that this new genin was freshly graduated or perhaps from a different village that the war seemed to push him and his family out. As they got acquainted, he could hear more footsteps approaching, wings from a hawk. A woman called for Delta squad; that was him and his comrades but he didn’t recognize the voice. It was upsetting that he couldn’t see either so placing a face on this woman was impossible. Kotatsu also bowed, a sign of respect as he knew this woman was higher above them. ”Kotatsu Uchiha, captain of delta squad, ma’am,” he commented. Her presence was strong and fearful. She would definitely be a formidable opponent of the occasion ever rose. ”No disrespect, but you are?” he pressed. As captain, he needed to ensure the safety of his squad, even if this woman wasn’t their sensei or even worked on the same side. Her approach was just different to what he was use to. It perhaps was his nerves as it had been a long time since he had been apart of a squad.

*Uchiha Estate*

   Sigmund had walked quietly to his home, his mother in tow and his step father right behind her. The crowded academy grounds was like a disastrous family reunion. While he did what he could, his friends weren't going to be very forgiving and any chance to rekindle any of it was slim. He shook the feeling off. You apologized. That's what matters. he told himself. His brows furrowed toegther as the thoughts raced through his head. He knew he was going to keep his distance, likely returning to the old Sigmund of the past, a Sigmund he thought he had grown out of. He sighed as he kept hearing their footsteps behind him. "I thought I was free to walk alone?" he commented as they made their way past the estate entrance. He had came to a stop, hands in his pockets, his hair over his eyes, a tad annoyed.

---

Akasumi had kept her distance and kept her eyes on Sigmund. Kotatsu wasn't going to be a threat any longer as long as his chakra was sealed away. Sigmund on the other hand could be unpredictable. While Sasuke and her decided to cut Sigmund off from any Uchiha bloodline, it was still a worry. He could snap any day, any moment. Had the darkness finally disappear? Would it come back? Was the worst over? Akasumi had to always be prepared, whether everyone deemed it safe or not. Her husband remained by her side, fidgeting with his new radio. He made occasional comments about how far technology had evolved and how surprised he had become of everything. Shi had always been a village man, never a city man. Everything was still new and exciting. Their other son, Yami, had enjoyed the city life much more than Shi and Akasumi did. Akasumi hated city life; it was crowded, dirty, and harder to manage. They came to stop when Sigmund commented on following him.

"Free to walk alone when you leave the island. You are still under my supervision until then," she answered. Sigmund had merely grunted before they all sat in their estate courtyard under the only cherry blossom tree garden on the island. "Something on your mind?" Akasumi asked.

---

Sigmund had remained quiet as they felt the air rustle around them, his hair blowing with the wind, his eyes barely meeting with Akasumi. "Yeah. I can't wait to get off this island finally," he stated. "I'm ready to get back to work and I'm ready for this war to be over," he added.

Shi began chuckling with delight as he looked at Sigmund. "You think it's that simple?" Shi questioned. "This war is far from over, my boy. You say this now because you're an adolescent still, but when you're actually losing friends, comrades that you have known your whole life, then you'll understand why this isn't easy," Shi fired at him. "You think you're a hot shot because you have two rare bloodlines? Well I hate to break it to you, son, but you're not," he added as he stood up. "Look around you. How many lives can you count right now that have already perished because of this war? How many years do you think all the previous wars took? War doesn't just go away in the blink of an eye. You must work at it. You must be apart of those winning forces so you have something to come back to," he snapped as he got to his feet. "You're not the big bad wolf, Sigmund. You're nothing but ordinary!" he fired as Akasumi got to her feet as Sigmund rose and the two men got into each other's face.

"Say that again to my face," Sigmund barked, their foreheads touching. You could see the tension between the two alpha wolves fighting for their dominance.

"Shi. That was uncalled for," Akasumi said as she placed her hand on Shi's shoulder, pulling him back. "Talk a walk. Now." she ordered as Shi backed up and huffed under his breath, walking away.

"Yeah, that's what I thought you f-" Sigmund had been interrupted when Akasumi slapped him. "Silence!" Sigmund growled under his breath before jumping from the porch and heading outside of the estate. "I got to go. I have to pack," he uttered before jumping onto the roof of their home and through the window to his room, packing the gear he was going to need. All Akasumi could do was watch as she paid attention to Shi walking away.

Nanami was happy to see her friend again. It had been to long since they had seen one another. Even though after the battle they all went their own ways. Nanami went on hunter non, and recon missions, as well as to find herself. She would smile and step back. Looking at Nori.


"I am doing good. I missed all of you. It has been a rough year. But we all had to work some stuff out. Your hair is different, and it looks like you took up the sword. You were already the strongest up front we have. I look forward to seeing your skill with them."

She didn't bring up Sigmund as she still didn't know what was going on if anything between them.

"Seems like our old team is being reformed. Anyways, stay. At the very least know I need you. While the island brought out the worst in me. You kept me grounded. So I hope you'll stay."

Tsukiko nodded as 'her' squad approached. She shifted, pulling a gourd from her belt and popping it open, taking a drink as they each introduced themselves. Partially.

Her lips twitched - From whatever it was she'd just drank or the situation was unclear, and she let out a sigh, using her wrist to wipe her mouth before laboriously stoppering it, then slowly setting it at her belt. Despite the beads lacing her hair and the very obvious jewelry adorning her neck, the entire motion was in silence. One that let her gaze wander, to the other teams. A familiar face in one Nanami was spotted - If she caught the Jonin's gaze, there would be an unsubtle nod of recognition, before returning her attention to her team. The Inuzuka boy was given her scrutiny.

"And if I weren't yer sensei?" She let the question hang. A brow rose as she regarded the boy, but it seemed the question rhetorical, for she continued.

"...I am provisional Jonin Fūma Tsukiko. Some of ye may have heard of me...others y'may not. Bear in mind that provisionality don't make me any less capable than yer average Jonin." She didn't seem keen to share much more than that, and her gaze slid from the Inuzuka boy to Kotatsu. She didn't need special eyes to size a man up, and she didn't seem especially subtle, gaze flicking from his feet, taking in his stance, to his hands, his posture. And in that brief moment, she took a step back, and her gaze coolly slid from him to the only other Kunoichi on the team.

Expectantly waiting introduction, it seemed.

Ah, so she is our assigned sensei... Sakuya thought after hearing the woman's introductions. The latter's expectant looks clearly meant they were expected to respond with their own introductions as well. If she was a provisional jonin would it mean she was promoted under special circumstances such as an emergency? It wouldn't be a genin's place to inquire the details of such circumstances and therefore Sakuya decided not to think too much about it.

"I apologize for not introducing myself," she first apologized with a respectful bow before introducing herself, "Harusame Sakuya of Delta team, pleased to be working with you."

Sakuya then raised her head afterwards. She wasn't sure if their assigned sensei did not like the fact that they did not introduce themselves first, but it felt like there was some tension from the jonin's gaze.

"Don't apologize." Better now than never, she thought as she avoided looking at the Inuzuka boy.

"Y'had the right idea. I'm a no one. I coulda been a missing-nin for all you know, and th'greatest control over information ye've got is mastery o'yer mouth." Her grin was lopsided at that. Technically, she was a missing-nin. Sorta.

"Now that we're all introduced, I'm here t'tell ya our first mission's been assigned." Fishing out a small scroll, she held it out towards Kotatsu to take. "It'll take place in the land of the moon. Information gatherin', but be prepared for resistance. Pack accordingly. We'll set off in two days."

"We set off at dawn. Oh." She began slowly drawing an X with the tip of her foot. "And make sure you all pack extra bandages. Ye'll need 'em." There was an unsubtle crack of simultaneously her shoulder, her neck, and her ankle before she burst into a cloud of smoke.

That hawk still circled high, but when the smoke cleared, only a small, straight, single edged blade with a ring pommel could be seen, resting in the center of the X. A tag hung off it, on it was inscribed in a handwriting far more refined than the woman it had taken the place of:

Most instructors give you a stiff test. I understand a few of you have been shuffled around a lot, so that's on hold.

For now, this is a good blade. Decide who it belongs to, and to whom I give it's scabbard to. I expect your reasoning at the dawn of our departure.

"Hai! Understood, Fuma-sensei!" Sakuya replied before their sensei disappeared in a puff of smoke and unusual cracking of joints, leaving behind a bladed weapon on the spot where she once stood with a note attached to it. The medical nin in training first picked up the tag with the note elegantly written on it, unexpected with the rugged look their sensei possessed.

"Kotatsu, Inuzuka-san, you may want to have a look at this..." she said after giving the note a brief read, turning to the two boys that formed the team with her before looking to the blade before them, "Sensei wanted us to choose who would hold on to the weapon and to choose who should receive its scabbard tomorrow."

For Sakuya, it would be a choice between Yurei or Kotatsu to wield the blade. She wasn't the one to possess combat skills that would land a decisive blow. Instead she focused on jutsu that offer support or treatment to teammates and ensured they survived. There was the issue of the scabbard too - would it mean something that would keep the blade in check? For now she could only guess the reasons based on what she knew.

Kotatsu had recognized the voice from before. It had been that rogue Shinobi from the Land of Snow that had tagged along with Lady Sarada and her team. The fact she had been assigned to become a Jonin within the city was surprising, but then again he had been granted back to the ranks of genin so anything was possible. It was likely they were desperate and perhaps Fuma provided valuable training or valuable life lessons. When she had began speaking, he was attentive. She had kept it short in her heavy accent. He didn’t encounter many that had foreign accents. He wondered where she came from, however he knew he’d have to earn her trust before ever learning of her origins and intentions in Izalith. She explained their mission; suppose to be information gathering but he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Why send their squad for something less experienced genin could do. He was aware of the Land of Moon’s ongoing battles though. She had handed him the scroll, something he was unable to read but he was sure it was just their mission intel. He honestly needed to look into alternatives for sight. He wasn’t going to be able to keep doing this. He pushed that thought in the back of his mind for now.

The puff of smoke was an indication she had left them to it. Something had fallen onto the ground and Sakura then had explained what it was. A single blade with a note, instructing them to choose whomever to receive the blade and an explanation as to why. That was odd. He was certain it was going to be test. He walked to it, picking it up and inspecting it. ”That’s odd. This can’t be that simple,” he commented to his team. “This has to be a test,” he added as he turned to them. •Did any of you know how to use blades in battle other than a kunai?” he asked.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Fri 30 July 2021.

In reply to Uchiha Sarada (msg # 65):

Shiroma smirked her dark blue eyes stormy for a moment wondering when she or her other self would have a chance to talk to Sarada about their worry regarding the red eyes.  As she listened and watched there was a momentary blink and her eyes had shifted back to the pale ice blue that she normally kept as her front personality.  There was a slight blush as Sarada spoke of having found her happiness, and reason to fight.  Shiroma smiled and nodded slightly. “And I mine.”

Shiroma shifted not moving to help Sarada knowing that their leader needed time to figure out her own limits at the moment.  Even knowing that Sarada would just push those limits whenever she found them.  There was a slight giggle from the ice Kunoichi. “As long as you are the one she comes after for you pushing too hard and not me. Her temper scares me.” Shiroma was there to help to provide an arm or a shoulder when needed, to catch Sarada if she fell that was her place and she hoped to never leave it.

In reply to Uchiha Kotatsu (msg # 73):

Yurei would nod. He had been practicing with blades. But mostly weighted ones, as he had not been granted his own sword yet. He wanted to incorporate the sword into his clan's taijutsu.

"I have been working with them, but haven't been granted one of my own. After the mission my father was going to give me the families Ninja-to."

He said as he would walk next to Sakuya and Kotatsu. While wary, Yurei had not been involved with the events that displayed how Kotatsu was during the initial war.

In reply to Tsuna Shiroma (msg # 74):

Sarada chuckled lightly. Shiroma made a point about her mother's temper. It was something to avoid, but she could recall that her mother never once lashed out to that extreme with her. Her mother only seemed to do it with her father or other shinobi who'd piss her off daily. "You have my word, but I might not come back alive if I have to face off by myself," she joked. Having both sides of Shiroma present was pleasantly nice. While some couldn't tell the difference, Sarada knew instantaneously. Believe it or not, she actually loved both of them. "You know, for being bedridden for a year, this is surprisingly easy," she pointed out as she made her way to the closet, opening it and surprised to see her clothes. She had longed to get back into her clothes so she could continue her plans. She had a lot of training to do before she could get back out there though.

Before she did anything else, she turned around to look at Shiroma. "I know once we leave this hospital, everything's going to be different," she said as she walked across the room gracefully, grabbing Shiroma's hand in hers and placing it over her chest. "Professional during missions; in between and shore leave, free game," she explained. Although she knew she didn't have to remind Shiroma of this, it felt nice having to just say it. Her heart beat within her body, Shiroma could likely feel it. Sarada was one to never simply give in to her temptations or her feelings. She had always been a hard ass, never one to give herself weakness until today. Sarada had always been independent and relationships were never her focus because she was content with being aline, but with Shiroma, it was different; new and exciting. She found the person she wanted to fight for and live with once the war was over. "Aishiteru," she whispered as she give Shiroma a light kiss upon her lips before she smiled.

Kotatsu scratched his head with is hand as he used the other to inspect the weight of the blade, the type of blade, and its more refined details. He frowned upon his inspection as Yurei explained about his family's goal upon his return. "This doesn't seem like anything special. Almost has the weight of a kunai knife," he explained. "Yurei, you're more experienced, perhaps you should have it," he stated offering it toward him, before turning to Sakuya. "Or maybe Ms. Sakuya since she's been around Fuma-sensei before?" he questioned and brought it back to himself. "Or me, the blind guy," he teased himself. "Any ideas?" he suggested. There was more to this, however perhaps he was overthinking it. Maybe this wasn't a test after all and it was a simple decision.

"I have not much experience with bladed weapons larger than a kunai, and I'm not exactly too good with taijutsu..." Sakuya admitted, knowing it wouldn't be much help to her possessing a weapon she couldn't properly use, she then looked to Kotatsu as he was examining the weapon by his other senses, "Perhaps it would be best to let Inuzuka-san handle it, since he has the most training with weapons."

In reply to Uchiha Sarada (msg # 76):

Shiroma just smiled as she saw how easy things were being for Sarada glad that she wasn’t being too weakened by her long time in bed.  “Better than the other option I would say.” Seeing as the other option was months of learning to walk again as well as other basics just to regain a portion of what Sarada had been able to do.  Seeing her strong like this warmed Shiroma’s heart...at least emotionally.

It was the next moment that she was sure she warmed her cheeks with blushing as her hand was grabbed and she looked up at Sarada gasping softly.  Her pale white cheeks turning a light pink tinge as she bit her lip blushing deeply. “I was...about to say that as well.”  She looked up at the older Shinobi and couldn’t stop the gasp as her next word so carefully chosen drove into Shiroma like one of her own arrow though with much the opposite temperature. The kissed was met with a hand gently coming up brushing over Sarada’s cheek as Shiroma pressed into the intimate touch showing her own desire for it though still keeping it light and chaste.  A moment to be sure she had breath in her body before she whispered out in joyous response. “Aishiteru,”

Shiroma couldn’t suppress the soft girlish giggle that slipped past her lips as she blushed and let the back of her hand press to her own lips not wanting to let the feeling of Sarada’s warmth slip away.  "We are going to miss these moments on leave when we are on missions.” She looked up at Sarada her eyes the dark stormy blue shot threw with rays of ice blue showing the shared moment with both personalities. Shiroma reached up brushing a crystal of ice from her eye, both returning to the full stormy blue. “I do fear the world will close on us quickly though. I hear missions for teams are being planned again and I suspect ours will be one of them.” Though she was trying her best because she knew it was needed soon, Shiroma's heart was hurting thinking about leaving this moment, she knew how rare they would be.  Such was the life they had both chosen.

In reply to Tsuna Shiroma (msg # 79):

All Sarada could do was smile. The hot she had felt inside was unimaginable; to know that not just one Shiroma loved her, but surprisingly both of them did. She’d never imagine the secondary would ever give into her own temptation, but She suppose Sarada just had that magic touch. Sarada lightly chuckled as Shiroma giggled. It was like music to her ears before Shiroma had brought her back down from cloud nine, reminding her that these were only going to be rare moments. She nodded her head in agreement. Luckily for them though, Sarada had some more shore leave before she likely found out about her assignment again so she wasn’t going to waste any of it

It had been an interesting moment as she witnessed two personalities melding together in both agreement and bringing them back to reality. Sarada let out a heavy sigh, dreading having to get back to work even after a year off. ”I figured as much,” she agreed. ”We should probably head out then. You need to find out where you’ll be and I need to figure out what grunts I get this time,” she joked. Like two bodies, one soul, Sarada had felt the ache as well in her chest, the sadness overcoming her a bit. ”I’m sure it’ll be a couple of days before we have to return to work again. We’ll just have to take advantage with whatever we have left,” she added before walking back to the closet.

Her clothes were neatly pressed, hanging on hangers, her katana blade placed in in the back vertically, the sheath string broken. Her kunai pouch torn. Her attire definitely has seen better days. She had stripes of the terrible patient robe, throwing it on the floor, her bandages kept on. She began dressing herself, her battle scars on her back and arms became more visible. She just smirked at them as she finished. Putting on her last boot and grabbing her headband and tying it on her forehead tightly as her long raven colored hair flowed down. She glanced at Shiroma. ”So. This Izalith city. I am in need of a tour guide to the academy grounds,” she stated as she extended her hand out towards Shiroma.

In reply to Harusame Sakuya (msg # 78):

Kotatsu nodded in agreement as he tossed the blade towards Yurei. ”Here,” he said. ”Now that that is settled, we need to get ready for our mission,” he stated, the group heading to the armory to pick up their new communicators, stocking up everything their sensei had instructed them to do. In the back of his mind he thought about their Sensei. Something was off and different about her. Fuma had confirmed to them about how she was only an interim, but there had to be more to it he thought. Her simple test had to be more than what she gave him. It had been the obvious choice to give the blade to Yurie, but should have it been given to someone who wasn’t experienced with blades. Her pondered this for quite sometime as he finished packing his own bag and looking at his team. ”It seems we have some time left over. Train or eat?” he asked. Eating one last good meal was a given but he also wanted to touch base with his team too when it came to training. He didn’t know too much about this Yurie kid and Sakuya, well he knew her abilities. He was the mystery genin as he didn’t retain any dark chakra jutsus and wasn’t allowed to tap into his Uchiha bloodline anymore just like his brother Sigmund. He had trained hard though with his mother and Fujii-sensei with learning to cope with a disability.

In reply to Nara Nanami (msg # 68):

Nori had to admit that in the time that she was gone, she had missed having the company of those that she had been close. She had been alone out there with very little interaction with people in her path. It got lonely. Yet at the same time she knew being away was the right thing to do. She had to be away to figure out who she was and where she came from. And there was still that part of her that was even afraid to come here to Izalith. She didn't know what she was going to find beyond those two large gates that led into this place that several people from all around now called home. Now that she was here and in front of Nanami, it was like her past was coming back to her. A past that she wanted to put behind her because of the emotions that it brought up inside her.

"I'm glad you're doing well, Nanami. I can only imagine how much stronger you have gotten since we last saw each other. You were always the level headed one amongst us who saw the most reason. I'm sure that that hasn't changed at all," she said with a small, faint smile. "I don't think any of us are who we used to be after a year has passed. We have changed in our own ways, so the past should be the past and be buried. We should try to get along as the people we are now and not who we used to be."

Nori turned her head and glanced over her shoulder, seeing that Sigmund had disappeared from sight. She pressed her lips into a thin line before she turned her head and looked back at Nanami. "I'm not sure if I have a place here anymore. Izalith...it's not really my home. Not like it is to you and Sigmund and the other people here. I am just...an outsider," she told her truthfully. "There's no real reason for me to stay and be apart of a team that is already broken. I saw the way that you looked and talked to Sigmund just now. I know he's done a lot of things that are beyond repair or forgiving and you have every right to not want him involved in your life, but there's no way a team can function if everyone doesn't work together and be civil towards each other. I think both of us know that very well after everything we've been through, right? You can't carry the weight of the past with you anymore, Nanami. It's not going to do you any good. You...have to learn how to forgive him even if it's not going to be an easy thing to do."

Helping out in preparing their gear, Sakuya made sure to prepare their medical supplies as well. She requested for additional bandages for the team according to Fuma-sensei's order. With how many unknown variables they were going to deal with it was prudent to have enough medical supplies to keep the team in good condition.

"A quick training could help us touch base with what everyone is capable of," Sakuya spoke up when Kotatsu asked about whether they go train or have something to eat, "But something quick and decisive - anything too strenuous would affect how we perform during the mission."

"That, and it might still give us time for a meal to discuss things over," she suggested with a smile as she looked from Kotatsu to Yurie, "What do you think?"

In reply to Harusame Sakuya (msg # 83):

Kotatsu smirked, knowing a quick spar was going to be give him an idea how he faired against his comrades since returning to civilian life. "All right. Now that we are good to go, and since training is on everyone's mind, how about a good spar against each other? I'll finally be able to get to test out my new arsenal of ninjutsu," he teased them both as he slung his bag over his shoulder. "After our spar, one last good meal before we head out? Fuma-sensei is definitely going to test us so we need to be ready for anything," he added as he turned to both of them. "One more thing," he paused before putting his hand out. "I know what everyone is saying about me. I know I'm not everyone's favorite person right now. After everything that has happened, I promise to make this right and I need you two to trust me when I say I am truly sorry and I pledge my life to the both of you," he uttered, his tone dropping as he bowed his head before them. He knew his crimes, the mistakes, and the damages he made. He was one of the main reasons why this war turned the way that it did and he was going to pledge his life to make it all right. He wanted to be at the front lines to fight to his last dying breath.

>>>>Delta Squad Mission Thread>>>>
This message was last edited by the player at 08:03, Wed 11 Aug 2021.

In reply to Yamada Nori (msg # 82):

"You are very wrong Nori. I was naïve, foolish, thought I was stronger than I was. I nearly broke on that island. While I don't know how I will react to Sigmund when I meet him again, as we didn't actually speak yet (That was internal monologue.). I have spent the last year searching, for a meaning. Any reason to continue this path. Among them was you. While we were all very emotional on that island. You were the reason I was able to keep it together. I spent the last year gathering intelligence, and wiping out our enemy. You could say, I have become a very efficient assassin. I mastered my dragons. So they are very strong now. Even though part of me hates Sigmund. That one day where he was normal and nice gives me a little hope that he can change, and that I can change as well."

Nanami would tap the center of Nori's head, and giggle a little. It was a sign of  bond would be the best way to put it. Hearing Nori call herself an outsider, she would shake her head.

"I was adopted into the Nara clan, I do love my parents. I have no place of origin. Another thing I have been searching for. I am more of an outsider than you. Also if I am going to fight, I want your swords right next to me. We could easily become the most unstoppable force in the city. So if for no other reason but me. I want you to stay."   

In reply to Uchiha Sarada (msg # 80):

Shiroma smiled slightly and nodded, “Yes we should take advantage of every moment we have.” She didn’t move to help specifically knowing enough about Sarada to know that helping would have upset her.  As it was she was there to led support when it was needed and to let the princess of the country do as she wanted otherwise. Not to get in her why by helping but to be there when she needed it and to let her figure it out otherwise.  She did turn away as Sarada changed, before turning to help with the boots before standing back up and smiling.

“Well I don’t know everything about the place yet but I’m still learning.   We will start and see how you feel.  first step is the door to this room, then we can try down the hall and to the front door of the building.”  She smiled “Unless you prefer out the window? To be fair it does seem a bit more your style.” There was a new slightly sassy streak to Shirima that was showing itself.

In reply to Tsuna Shiroma (msg # 86):

She had chuckled lightly. "Been here a whole year and you haven't explored this city? I suppose we will be spending a lot of shore time together then, Ms. Tsuna," she winked as she made her way to the window. Sarada had smirked; it was as if Shiroma knew her all too well. "You seem to know myself all too well. But I like it. Let's go," she instructed as she opened the window, sliding it to the right, the fresh air and ocean breeze could be felt against her skin. Memories began flooding her mind from the beach. Same smell; salt water, fire, destruction. She had remained frozen for a split second before blinking her eyes. She shook off the feeling, but she was almost positive Shiroma's more attentive half likely noticed this.

As she began to climb through the window and turning around, she got to see the city. It was magnificent. She was actually in shock. It was bigger than Konoha had ever been and it was on an island. She was amazed at the fact they managed to build a city so quickly within a year, but she reminded herself that many, many villages and other capitals had fallen and this was the only stronghold they had left. She was sadden to know Konoha was no longer standing, but Izalith would have to be her new home....for now.

She turned around and glanced at Shiroma before she pushed herself off the window seal and onto the next roof next door. She almost tripped as her legs were getting use to the landing and working them out again. "Man this feels great. Let's get to those academy grounds," she said as she began running again. It felt nice; her legs stayed at her pace, her body was actually recovered as far as anybody knew. She was glad Shiroma suggested this; going through the hospital was likely going to be a pain as news had already spread of her awakening. She was their Hime, royalty, a celebrity with a high reputation. She sometimes had wished she was just ordinary, but it wasn't something she could chamge. She shook her head again. She needed to stay out of her head; she had been doing that for a year now. It was time to take advantage of the now.

She knew Shiroma wasn't far behind her as they continued to push themselves lightly off the roof tops of some of the tallest buildings, apartment complexes, even clans' courtyards. Eventually they made their way to a giant building with glass windows and a courtyard. She was positive this was the academy grounds as she noticed many young genin wondering around with senseis. She stopped waiting for Shiroma as she scanned the grounds. She noticed a red haired girl who looked like Nori and a black, raven colored head with her. She knew those faces anywhere: Nori and Nanami. "Looks like today's going to be a reunion," she commented. "When's the last time you spoke to them?" she asked curiously.

   Sigmund had packed his belongings, relieved he'd be able to leave Izalith finally, but anxious that he'd be stuck with a team where he wasn't wanted. He shook his head as he folded several sets of clothing, a blanket, some food and bandages, and several kunai knives. He had picked up his communicator before coming back to his estate. He closed and tied his bag tightly before scanning the room for his headband. He walked to his dresser, grasping it in his hands, the headband of the Land of Storms, or at least that's what they use to be called. When he had briefly joined forces with the other side, he remembered his darker side had put an 'X' over the symbol. He never did get it replaced as he felt he still didn't belong here. He had thoughts about running away, never wanting to be found by either side of the war. His mother had managed to stay hidden for a long time, why not him?

   He had shook his head and placed the headband into his pocket. With one last glance, he headed towards his window, before hearing a knock on his door. With that, he jumped down out of the window, landing on his feet and body flickered away from their estate. His mother running to the window seeing him vanish.

   Sigmund made his way back to the training grounds where he saw most of it had been cleared out of genin and their superiors. He had stopped not too far from a silver-haired girl and what appeared to be Lady Sarada. He was surprised she was here; she just woke up from her coma and she was up already? Leave it to an Uchiha to be ready for battle. He smirked at the thought. He remained silent and motionless, seeing if anything interesting would happen before he made yet another appearance.

Making her way back to the city under new orders to meet with the princess, Sakuya was out of breath by the time she arrived at the academy's training grounds. She was taking a few deep breaths to recover from the run before looking up to see if her teammates were also there.

She quickly recognized Lady Sarada... and accompanied by Shiroma. It looked like she would be together with capable individuals. She mustered up her courage to approach the princess and Shiroma in order to introduce herself.

"G-good day...!" the younger genin greeted with a slightly nervous voice, offering a bow to the two before continuing to introduce herself, "I-I'm Harusame Sakuya, just transferred to Team Alpha this morning! It... it's good to see you well, Hime-sama! A-also to you, Tsuna-san!"

In reply to Nara Nanami (msg # 85):

Nori listened carefully as Nanami spoke of what she had gone through on that island a year ago and how much she had changed since then. She could tell by her posture and her presence that she had, indeed, grown stronger than the girl that she had once known. While a year wasn't a very long time about of time to be apart, it was long enough for their all their lives to change. "I think there are certain things about ourselves back then that we wished we could have changed or things that could have been done differently, but there's nothing we can do about that now. All we can do now is move forward and learn from our mistakes, right?" she said. "If we are going to do this, we are going to have to do better this time, Nanami. Sigmund is apart of this time and we will all have to work together if we don't want to fail. I think after everything that we all have gone through, none of us want that to happen again. We can't afford to."

Nori soon felt the top of her head tapped by the hand of the girl in front of her, causing her to close one eye and bring up a hand to soothe down the hair that had come out of place. Nanami had seemed fairly confident in not just herself, but her abilities, too, if she had felt this strongly about her staying. She was still unsure if it was the right thing to do. "Nanami, I think there are things in both of our pasts that are more similar than you think. I think one day when it is a better time we should talk about it," she told her. "Until then, I suppose it wouldn't be such a bad thing to do this one mission. Maybe not so much for you, but for me to close out that part of my past and let it rest." Now that she had said it, there was no turning back. She turned her head and looked over in the direction of voices she had heard in the not too far off distance. There was Shiroma, Sakuya, Lady Sanada and...Sigmund. She pressed her lips together at the sight of them, her green eyes reflected from the sun that was shining high above their heads. A sudden feeling of butterflies began to fill her stomach. She wasn't sure what was going to happen this time around, but how much worse could they possibly get?

In reply to Harusame Sakuya (msg # 89):

Sarada had heard the light footsteps around her as she and Shiroma were approached by a younger girl. She recognized the face and as she introduced herself, she gave a slight smile. She had been with Master Fujii on the beach a year ago. "Sakuya, I remember you. You were with Master Fujii's group with that Kondo fellow," she confirmed. The girl had matured some and seeing as how she was here, she said she had been transferred. Sarada had no knowledge of the sorts. She was curious as to who else was here, but as she peered ahead, Sigmund could be spotted in the far distance.

A reunion it seemed. She sighed, dreading the tension they all would have with each other. Shiroma and Sakuya likely didn't get involved with that drama, but Sarada knew she would have to put her foot down on this one too. "Thank you, Sakuya. Let's join the others and get things rolling, shall we?" she stated as she glanced at Shiroma, a small smile before her face turned serious and she walked on. She threw her hand in the air, motioning for them all to gather around her so she could began her first task as their sensei.

Nori let her eyes drift over to just behind Sarada as she walked towards her and Nanami and let them shift to look at Sigmund standing not too far in the distance. It seemed like he was trying to delibreately keep his distance and interact with them only when he had to, but she could certainly understand why he would want to. It wasn't as if any of them stayed in contact with one another and the details of what happened that night were still a blur. All she knew when she woke up was that her friends were gone and she was alone. A lot had happened in that year long journey that had led up to this moment, but in some weird sense, she had never really felt like she was alone. It always felt like someone or something was watching over her and keeping her safe. Yet every time she woke up from her dreams, she was alone. Now she was here. Nanami was here. Lady Sarada was here. Shiroma and Sakuya were here. And Sigmund...how should she act around him? There were these feelings that were still hidden deep within her. When she looked at him like this, she felt this sense of longing and ache to go towards him yet her feet remained planted on the ground.

Nori's green eyes softened at Sigmund before she saw Lady Sarada motioning them all to come towards her. The last time she had seen her, things had been a little on edge but with the time that had passed, she wanted to just wipe the slate clean and start over. She turned her head and looked over at Nanami. "I guess this is it," she simply said before she started to make her way towards Sarada, flipping her cape in the wind. Once she got close enough, she stopped and gave her a small bow of her head out of respect. "Sensei, it's been a long time. I'm glad to see you're well."

"Understood, Hime-sama!" Sakuya managed a reply as she followed after their team leader to meet the rest of the team. Upon recognizing one of the genin present at the training grounds she couldn't help how a chill ran down her back, feeling like her hair stood on their ends. Sigmund was also there with them, did it mean he was also part of the team?

"G-good morning, Uchiha-san...!" she managed to put together an awkward greeting even if it she was scared of Sigmund. Trying to get over what happened the year before was a big hurdle she had been working on getting over. At least now she could manage not to run away at the sight of him, but staying calm with him around was still a long way to go.

Seeing Nori and Nanami in particular helped her collect some composure, enough to at least keep herself from visibly trembling.

   It had seemed the team was in for a ride as their newest recruit showed up. He had just see this girl with his brother not too long ago. She was the other medical Shinobi in training. He also remembered she had those powerful water chains, a technique he’d love to experiment with his bones. She had approached him and he was shocked. He blinked a couple of times as his heart raced and she managed to tell him good morning. Out of all the individuals, Sakuya always seemed to be kind to everyone despite their history. Sigmund was grateful for this moment. He had in crossed his arms and gave a slight bow to her. ”Harusame-san, good morning. I look forward to working with you,” he greeted. He knew he had to make an effort even if they were all forced to be around him.

   Lady Sarada had gathered them around and it seemed this was going to be their squad. Shiroma, the ice Queen, Sakuya the Graceful, Nanami of the Wind, and Nori the Mysterious one. He had felt Nori glance at him several times, whether it was by accident or on purpose he’d never know. They had something going on in the air a year ago, but once Izalith appeared she had disappeared and not once kept in contact with him. Whatever he believed was there, was nonexistent and he came to terms with that in his isolation.

   He pushed all those thoughts and feeling behind. He ensured he’d keep them locked away for good. He grabbed his bag and took a place next to Sakuya but more in the back. He didn’t any to make anybody feel uncomfortable as he did.

Once everyone was gathered, she had swiftly walked past them and looked on the board. She wanted to confirm her her team before she began anything. She saw her name in red and the others right below her. She came back to the group seconds later and turned to them, arms crossed and looking at the team before her. “Thank you Nori. I am glad to be back on my feet again,” she commented before glancing at them again. ”So we have quite the reunion here so with that said,” she started as she crossed her arms. ”What happened last year was a cluster fuck. Not only did we almost fail our mission but we took casualties, we severed ties with each other, and we lost Konoha,” she recapped. ”Now today we have to return to that land and uncover something we missed the first time,” she continued as her voice sounded more serious. ”From here on out, nobody is allowed to hate each other. Each one of you was placed on this squad for a reason and if we hate each other, we are already on the path to failure once again.”

She remained quiet for a moment and stopped in her tracks, facing them once again. ”I don’t know about the rest of you however I do not plan to have a failed mission on my track record and neither of you want to start that trend. So to prevent such failure, I am entrusting Tsuna Shiroma to be your team lead. While I am assigned as your sensei, Shiroma will be my secondary as none of you have proved to me that you can lead well,” she paused and sighed. ”Your first lesson is to squash your differences and put the past behind you. While some of you may not want to participate in this, you all will be required to make amends before we even begin our mission, this includes you too Shiroma. Once you have completed this objective, I have more in store for you,” she announced.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Sat 04 Sept 2021.

   Sigmund had listened to their Hime’s words, but it seemed to have just flown over him. He wanted to roll his eyes but he didn’t; it would’ve been something his younger self might’ve done. He was ready to move past his challenges and past, but were his squad ready to do the same? He knew they all feared him; perhaps it was something he could embrace, or perhaps not. He had already apologized once and countless times before in various letters, notes, and even the Tsubaki column that he was actually embarrassed about. He was ready to leave Izalith. He glanced over at them as Lady Sarada finished her speech. She always seemed to amazed him; she was someone she looked up to. She had accomplished so much in so little time and their age at that!

   He let his eyes low and towards the ground, the silence growing between them all. He wondered who would be the first to break the ice. He hadn’t wanted to take this task particularly but he might have to suck up what little pride he had left if nobody said anything to each other. He was sure they were all friends and on very good terms; their sensei’s speech seemed to mainly point him out without really saying anything.

Sakuya listened intently to what the princess had to tell them, nodding in agreement and showing a determine expression on her face. They would need to rely on each other for this mission and it would do no good to cling to fears and insecurities when their lives were on the line.

"I'll put what I learned to good use and make sure everyone comes back in good shape!" she then assured the others in an attempt to cheer everyone up. Now wasn't the time for everyone to feel anxious towards each other!

Nanami would nod as she listened to everybody. Her eyes never meeting Sigmunds once. It would take him broaching the topic of forgiveness or teamwork if they were going to make amends. Though Nanami had been working as an intelligence ninja, and an assassin at times. It was not as simple as Sarada was wanting it to be. Hate may be a strong word in her mind. But she didn't know how to interact with Sigmund. The many she killed while away on missions and finding herself. Part of her psyche was imagining they were him. But then the other part of her mind wanted that one day back. The day that Sigmund seemed normal. So she herself was ultimately lost in which direction she was willing to go.

"I don't hate Sigmund, but I have learned how to do things my way. I'll listen to the orders from Tsuna, and you Sensei. I agree with you, last year was the fuck up to end all fuckups. Everything was against us from the onset. But my rationale of what happened won't change what happened. I've changed and gotten stronger. I didn't know who I was during that mission, or even before the mission. I was like a lost lamb. It took going through hell to find myself. I have trained myself into being able to switch off my irrational emotions when needed. We won't have a repeat of last year."

She would bow to everyone. Her body language showed it was more of an apology for how badly she had acted during the mission.

Sarada had nodded her head, respecting Nanami's honesty. "I don't expect you all to forgive and forget. Something as traumatic as last year will never go away," she explained as she crossed her arms, staring at each of them slowly. "I'll never expect any of you to forget. I won't expect you all to say you love each other," she paused. "Hell, I don't expect any of you to be friends, but while we are on missions, you will protect each other," she began.

"You will fight together and we will accomplish so much more. Today, as your sensei, I am asking you to put it behind you right now. This will not be the only time you'll ever experience betrayal, heartbreak, death, or even friendship. Nobody is forcing you to be here. You all can turn in your headbands right now and walk away and never see each other again," she said harshly before uncrossing her arms and putting her hand out as a peace offering. "Or we can learn to heal, work together, and fight together as a whole and help end this war. I understand this isn't something you all should've experienced and I'd like to personally apologize to each and every one of you for failing you last year," she whispered. "But as shinobi, we will learn from our mistakes and tackle what we lost last year."

While she knew they likely would never be friends with each other, as long as they were assigned to her squad, they would learn to work together and trust each other again. It had been a long year that she had been absent and it was going to take work again like before, but Sarada was truly confident that they all could overcome this. She would personally see to it that this mission was a success this time.

Nori lifted her head up and stared into Sarada's eyes once she had approached them and began to speak. She wanted them to make amends with each other before they went out on this mission that would take them back to where the source of where everything had began. It wasn't something that she was looking forward to and she knew that if she wanted to, she could turn back right now and never look back. But she felt like now...if she did that, she would truly lose everything. Her eyes drifted over from Shiroma, Sakuya, Nanami, and finally to Sigmund, who had been keeping his own distance away from the group but was close enough in ear shot. With the way things ended last year, she was left abandoned in the woods with no one around her. She had been lost. Confused. No one but the voice in her head. Everything was a blur back then, but all she knew was that she was left alone. Even in the time that she was gone, no one had come to look for her to bring her back to this place. Time had moved on. There was no connection to this place called Izalith even though she had links to her past standing all around her in this moment. If this was the time to say something, she was going to take it.

"Izalith isn't my home and I don't belong," she began to say after Sarada had finished speaking. "I have no obligation to be here like you said, sensei. I could very well turn my back on this place right now and walk out of those gates without any regrets. However, while I may not have a connection to this place, I have a connection to all of you. Whether it was as a mentor...a comrade...a friend...or my world...all of you have effected my life in some way. I could never forget that and turn my back on all of you." It was as she was naming off those connection, she looked from Sarada, to Shiroma, to Sakuya, to Nanami, and finally, to Sigmund; her eyes staying on him for a few lingering moments before she blinked and looked back to Sarada. "After what happened last year, I woke up abandoned in an empty forest without any recollection of what happened. Over time, everything came in in flashes. Sometimes nightmares that haunted my dreams at night. I was in search of something that I had lost long before I was even born. I was in search of my real home. The place where I truly belonged," she said as she reached up and grabbed the pendant draped around her neck. It was round with the engraving of a blue wave rolling into the ocean below. "I wanted to find the person that left me this pendant. My...mother. I had to go. I knew if I didn't, I would never get the answers I needed and I was tired of not knowing who I was. I had to find the pieces of my life that were missing. But in this process, I have changed in a lot more ways that any of you will have expected me to and I'm sure, in time, all of you will come to see it. I am still searching and looking for who I am, but I have also not forgotten my past. It's apart of who I am. I also don't plan to fail this mission, but I trust that depends on the effort everyone present is willing to make to help it succeed. In saying that, I know I don't need to have any worries. I put my trust in all of your hands and I'm confident we will get it done."

---

GM EDIT:

Group has moved to their mission thread. >>>>>>>
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:39, Thu 25 Nov 2021.