Relics of the Past (Mission)

Amikiri’s eyes fluttered open as the light of day shot through the trees. He had spent the night sleeping in a very primitive makeshift shelter. It was composed of a large Y-shaped branch leaned against a tree, with sticks laid against it, and bark and moss laid atop that. The shelter provided fantastic protection from wind, snow, and rain, while also providing decent camouflage against would-be attackers.

Speaking of protection, currently he only wore his armor Nise. It was much too uncomfortable to wear Kavacha during the night and Nise did the job, especially with his ability to summon Kavacha at a moment’s notice. In terms of his ability to fight back against these possible attackers, he simply had the weapons in his Sealing Bands. A Universal Projectile, while intended for long range, could manage in a short range confrontation. He didn’t want to use his Great Spear in such a small area, as its size would likely cause it to be too unwieldy.

The dark haired Hyuuga had spent the night in a sitting position, with his back against the tree. It was a tad uncomfortable, but allowed him to be better prepared for any attackers. Amikiri, in his typical early morning confusion, wondered why he bothered so much with protecting himself against attackers. He pondered for a second, before remembering he had been assigned on a mission to recover a rare relic from a roaming missing ninja. Speaking of which, he was supposed to meet up with his teammates today, by noon at the latest.

Of course, Amikiri could’ve easily made the journey from Hoshigakure to their meetup location on foot within a couple of hours, and there was no need for him to have left yesterday. However, he wanted to enjoy the nature around him. Spending his entire life in this beautiful countryside, he always missed it when he was within the urban center that was Hoshigakure. THe dark haired man rose and quickly destroyed his shelter, before he started walking towards his rendezvous point at a casual pace. He thought back to his time as a child, racing through forests and fields, before being called back home for supper. While it had only been a few months since the set of missions he had ventured deep and far into the wilderness, it had felt like an eternity. The beautiful forests, rolling hills, and steep, rocky mountains were always what he would call home. While he walked, he summoned his Kavacha and Great Spear. He strapped his Great Spear to his back, but in a slightly different manner than usual. Amikiri had the handle sticking down and right, with the blade sticking up and to the left. This was almost the opposite of what he usually did, but storing it this way allowed the blade to avoid any risk of being damaged by ground objects. As he put on the helmet for Kavacha, he activated the short range version of his Byakugan, allowing him to maintain maximum visibility even with the helmet on.

As the Hyuuga came within a dozen or so miles of his target, he swapped his Byakugan to its long-range, focused form. He swept the area around him, looking for his teammates. Eventually, the dark haired man found a camp. Cleverly concealed in the terrain of the woods, it was the sign of a fellow experienced resident of the rural and wild parts of Haven Country. He switched back to his short-range Byakugan, observing their exchange of words from a bit of a distance. He couldn’t make out what they said, nor did the Hyuuga yet have the ability to read lips. Amikiri decided to take the chance on if they were hostile and friendly, and walked towards the camp. As he drew near, he took his helmet off and deactivated his Byakugan. When he exited the thick brush surrounding the camp, he would say in a comedic tone, “Well, I hope y’all are here for the mission. Otherwise, I might’ve just put myself in quite the sticky situation.”

WC: 675
TMWC: 1304/6000

Active ANTs (1/1):

As dawn painted the border of heaven with its first golden hues, Natsuki Hyuuga, a seasoned Jounin from Hoshigakure, stood with an air of assurance and readiness. Her silver hair shimmered in the morning light, and the violet depths of her eyes held a silent determination. Adorned in lightweight silver armor, she wore a crimson cloak that billowed gently in the breeze, a visual emblem of her rank and loyalty.

She bore the weight of her distinguished accomplishments and a familial connection that tied her closely to the village's leadership. As the sister of the revered Hogokage and one of the great heroes of the present era, Natsuki carried the legacy of a lineage marked by excellence and commitment to the village. This association added a layer of responsibility to her role, as her actions echoed her prowess and contributed to the collective narrative of the Hyuuga legacy within Hoshigakure. The shadow of Ayato's influence, cast across the village as a symbol of leadership and heroism, served as both a source of inspiration and a reminder of the expectations of being part of such an esteemed family.

Natsuki arrived early, a silent sentinel awaiting the genin team she would lead on their mission. As they gathered at the border, she greeted them with a nod, her gaze carrying a sense of recognition despite it being their first meeting. The unspoken familiarity spoke to the interconnected bonds threaded through the village's shinobi.

The morning air carried a faint scent of dew, and the distant rustle of leaves added a serene backdrop to the scene. Natsuki's leadership style emerged subtly, her calm demeanor instilling confidence in the genin team. A hint of humor danced in her eyes, lightening the mood as she prepared to guide them through relics and secrets.

"Morning, team! Natsuki Hyuuga here, your tour guide through relics and secrets. Once we go through the names, we can show the skills. Ready to dive into the mysteries of the day?"

Their objectives included a relic retrieval, a task demanding precision and skill. In Natsuki's experienced hands, the team would navigate the challenges with poise. As the morning breeze whispered promises of a new mission, the group stood on the threshold of heaven, ready to embark on their journey.

[WC: 380]

As a young woman who looked to be the same age as the dark haired Hyuuga arrived at the site, it seems all four members of the team had fallen into place. Amikiri silently and internally chuckled at the astronomically strange timing of it all, with the three of them having stumbled upon Hebiishi’s camp almost simultaneously.

Amikiri eyed the new member of the group. He heard her talking, but he didn’t really understand her words. He did not intend to be rude, he was just too busy focusing on her face and hair. There was something about it that was strikingly familiar. As the silver and gold haired Hyuuga finished speaking, Amikiri would say, “You know, this may sound weird, but I swear I recognize you from somewhere. I think it’s a bit of your face structural or something, as well as the hair color. Do you happen to know or be related to a Toneri Hyuuga? You two seem strikingly similar.”

After he finished talking, the dark haired Hyuuga surveyed the group. Amikiri appreciated Hebiishi’s review of the details. As the saying went, measure twice, cut once. From what the dark haired Hyuuga observed of this man, he seemed to be a fellow man of practicalities. While the blond haired boy seemed to be half a decade Amikiri’s junior, he stood around the same height as he did.

Surveying the last member of the group, Joro Shokku was quite the large figure. At six feet tall and over two hundred pounds, his physical presence seemed to fill whatever room he was in. However, his social presence was quite minimal, as it seemed that he let Hebiishi do most of the talking for him.

At this point, Amikiri realized he had done a bit of surveying, but not a whole lot of introducing. He said, “Well, my name is Amikiri Guhin. In regards to what we should do, I think our choice is quite simple. I’ve never been a fan of thieves. They take the hard work of others, not just stealing money, but also stealing someone else’s blood, sweat, and tears. Not only are we here today to deal with a thief, this thief is a particularly dangerous and possibly violent one. I say we treat this mission as act first, ask questions later.”

His right hand drifted backwards, moving towards his Great Spear. He did not mean to intimidate or threaten his teammates with this move, simply to display his intent for this ‘Nightingale’ figure.

The dark haired Hyuuga never thought of himself as a particularly violent man. However, he did have a deep, seething hatred for thieves. As he had said, they stole more than just money, they also stole someone’s hard work and passion. Additionally, the last time he had dealt with a missing ninja was Isomo. As much as Toneri told him to move on, Amikiri still knew he had made the wrong choice not arresting Isomo at that very moment. He was not going to let that mistake happen again. This was not the time for them to be paused by their doubts, this was a time for them to act.

WC: 528
TWC: 1203
TMWC: 3311/6000

As the new addition to the team, a young man with dark hair, arrived, Natsuki Hyuuga couldn't help but notice the strangely coincidental timing of their gathering at Hebiishi's camp. The oddity of it all prompted an internal chuckle from her.

Amikiri's attempt to recognize her face and hair left Natsuki amused. She responded with a playful smile, "Well, I hope the familiarity is a good thing. Toneri's my brother, so the family resemblance is strong, it seems."

Taking a moment to survey the team, Natsuki shared her thoughts, "Ah, the complexities of teamwork. You've got a practical one," nodding at Hebiishi, "and a man of few words," glancing at Joro Shokku. "Now, Amikiri, you're not just against thieves but against those who steal blood, sweat, and tears. I like the way you think."

Her gaze shifted towards the camp and continued, "So, shall we dance with this 'Nightingale'? I say we make our moves and let them hit the right notes when they realize the show has started." Natsuki playfully tapped her fingers against her sword, emphasizing her readiness for action. "Let's bring some harmony back to this melody."

With that, Natsuki stepped forward, her silver hair catching the sunlight. "If they're expecting a silent night, we'll give them a symphony they won't forget," she added, her tone carrying a blend of determination and a hint of mischievousness as the balance to the melody of justice was bound to be restored.

[WC: 242]
[TWC: 622]
[TMWC: 3533]