Sekuro had gotten stuck on call at the administration building, sending more ninja out to the walls for patrol and response drills, Sekuro got stuck waiting for some menial task to keep him busy and earn his days wages. He desperately looked for something to do to keep him busy besides playing solitaire on the table with the deck of cards he carries everywhere, wearing his jacket and a t-shirt underneath like normal he waited for something. Another attendant interrupted his game and sent him out on a simple patrol through the village, basically to make sure no disputes were happening or if any unknown ninja were crawling about to check on them and find out who they/were get them to check in or whatever they were supposed to do.

Sekuro started patrolling the village, keeping his hands in his pockets and waving to those who would wave or greet him. He tried to keep to himself and not draw any attention, it was a quite and peaceful day and with the village running some drills already he doubted that anyone would cause any major trouble today, he followed through to some of the more major areas of town, the shopping centers and main roads, besides... anything would be better than going back and sitting around the administration building. He entered the storm of the crowd that was out around mid day in the village, it would have been smarter to maybe jump to a rooftop but that would draw attention to himself and he definitely didn't want that. He entered the fray and spent the next few moments fighting through elbows and bodies to get over to a popular tea house, he ordered one of the shops prominent teas and paid the women. He sat down on a bench outside and watched as people go by, they all looked like ordinary citizens or had the Iwa headband displayed. No one stuck out as of yet, as he waited on his tea. There was no rush, he especially didn't want to rush into finding any problems in the village yet, and a woman brought his tea and he thanked her and gave her ryo and some extra as a tip.

He sipped his tea as he waited, it was hot and very relaxing, the flavor was excellent and far more prominent than the average tea, almost like coffee it was so pronounced. Out of the corner of his eye he caught someone he didn't immediately recognize, but he didn't look like he was from Iwa, and with that he had passed by, with that Sekuro finished off his tea and waved to the shop keeper. He stood quickly, his height gave him a slight advantage in the crowd being able to see over most people due to his height, he had already let the guy gain a bit of distance on him while he finished his tea. He would be relatively easy to see, Sekuro was able to catch his dark blue haircut in his passing by and it would only be matter of time before he found it. Following the crowd's direction a little further he finally caught him, about 20 meters ahead and several people in between them to keep him sealed. Now it was just a matter of finding out where he was headed, and unfortunately he would have to confront him or find out who he was and if he was a citizen of Iwa. He followed the shorter man from behind and kept his distance as best as possible, waiting for him to do something or stop somewhere, hopefully he wouldn't catch on to him and make a run for it, that would be the most unfortunate thing on such a calm day.

[636 words]

Aiden would still be exploring the expansive village of Iwagakure, taking in the sights and probably still appearing to be the most obvious tourist in existence. He would still be constructing a mental map of everything around him, absorbing all he can see as much as he can and even revisiting areas that he already saw in order to make sure he memorized them as well. He had no camera or anything of the sort, so his eyes had to be his lens and his mind the storage for the mental images he kept fresh within. He wished to have a vault full of memories of the different locations of the village, hoping that he can keep track of everything and create an accurate map for when he could possibly initiate in any missions for the sake of personal improvement and helping the village itself out overall.

He wished to train and become as strong as he can, acknowledging that right now he would be useless to those he cares about currently, but also acknowledging that time spent in Iwagakure before he returns to Sunagakure in order to aid it once more as hopefully a Chuunin and then a Jounin. He didn’t care really about soaring any higher than that. Hell, before recently, he didn’t really have any ambition other than to not get put back into a cage once more and continue getting abused. Recently though, Aiden had realized just how weak he was, just how insignificant he was. He hated the thought of not being able to defend himself nor those he cares about from anyone that wishes to harm them and he especially hated how okay he was with it before. Never had he had been so disappointed in himself since the night before he chose to leave.

That would be in the past, though, and one should simply look ahead into the future and what it holds. The past is but a crumbling bridge, the present a means of transportation and the future a bridge untraveled yet. He had to not be left behind in the past while those around him moved on and matured. He needed to mature as well if he is truly able to survive in this world. Whether or not he actually is permitted to improve by the leader or not is not his problem anymore. He was able to make his own choices and so if he cannot improve through rank and be granted access to further improvement then he would seek other means of doing so, even if it means having to leave Sunagakure entirely and forever just so he can become a better person than he is currently.

In the midst of his thought Aiden didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings until he had passed a tea house, causing him to ignore and not notice the person that was following him now. He, in his misplaced thoughts and wandering mind had shut out his surroundings and now he was paying the price by having a stalker of sorts stalk him, and he never even noticed nor even felt anything was out of the ordinary. Getting his senses back together Aiden would look at the buildings around him once more, noting the details and occasional construction occurring. He knew he would have to keep updating these mental images has construction continued on and things changed, though that wouldn’t be too much trouble. He liked moving, and move he would while he analyzed his surroundings, unknowingly making his way in the direction of the Coliseum.

wc 599

Her stay here had been dreadful, thus far.


Iwagakure, the Village Hidden in the Stone, was simply not treating Noriko very well. Not by intent, of course, by mere circumstance. Not to mention....the kunoichi certainly had reason for her current state of mind besides all the misfortunes that had befallen her. She was distressed, and a tad crestfallen. She had always trusted her instincts, before.... Certainly they can't fail me now....not after such a strong signal.

The young lady slammed her fist on a table she was sitting at. Of course, it was stone; it smarted a bit, but at least she wouldn't answer for any property damage. A sigh was what came after, her usually vibrant outline wilted, almost sunken. Some formless inkling, but at the same time a compulsion of such enormity that ignorance was impossible, had urged her to come to the Land of Earth. What she was looking for....well, she'd have to look for that.

But for the time being, Noriko wanted nothing more than a quick reprieve from her un-warranted ails that had plagued her so, within the space of only a day or two. However she was supposed to accomplish that, she couldn't tell herself quite at the current moment. But, yet....she had just finished her tea. It had helped her calm down, but then she had to go and think about her circumstances again. There went a small bit of Ryo, she supposed....a small moment of calm was better than none, at any rate.

Then, the young one stood up, rather abruptly, she thought. This was, of course, to her own standard; she observed that those around her had hardly noticed her rather hasty abandoning of her seat. She took a small bit of time to push her chair in, make things easier for those cleaning up. After that.... on to why she even stood in the first place. A tall figure, a sore thumb in a crowd...he was tilting his head and   hunching over at times just a tad. Was he looking for something....?

Being as headstrong as she was, the ronin thought not (or did she think naught?) of the consequences of her simply navigating the crowd next to this person, a young man, as it'd be. For the time being, she simply walked next to him, trying to seem as normal as possible. Pfft. Normal....what-ever could that be, eh?

Enoka, in the meantime, was scampering about the edges of the street, keeping in front of his kunoichi owner. He sniffed about, almost aimlessly, almost forgetting why she sent him ahead---rather, almost forgetting that she sent him at all. She had so very much neglected to train him of late.

She gave a light elbow to the young man next to her. "Hey, what're you doing?" She queried him with nary a thought, yet again. She was at least speaking in a lower volume, not trying to bleed her presence all over the place. She knew better than such; she was a ninja, even if lacking the latest formal training.

Ah, but that's what she was traveling for. That's why everyone seemed to exist these days, to get stronger. But what was....the point? The reason she came here, to Iwa....her intuition grabbed her and gave her the oddest feeling, that whatever she needed to get stronger for, she could find it here. Yes, there was something here....well, not exactly here, perhaps. Iwa held something that she needed dearly.

But a diversion for now was fine.

[605]

Sekuro followed the guy wherever he was going, hardly paying attention to his surroundings and to the Kunoichi who was now following him, while he was following the other man. He had taken a few turns and was heading near the coliseum, probably just sight-seeing around Iwa, not too many sights for tourists but regardless, it wasn't long before someon next to him would nudge him, it quickly caught his attention and asked him, "Hey, what're you doing?" so nonchalant that it caught Sekuro off guard. He wasn't sure how to answer that, he didn't recognize her, but the way she was so casual she must've had a reason to be here or have the proper paperwork, regardless, she approached him and now he would have to respond, he couldn't just ignore her, could he? No, Sekuro threw that out of his mind, there was clearly something that attracted her to him, he continued walking, re-checking to make sure that the blue haired boy hadn't run too far off. Looking towards the girl with his purple eyes and walking ahead, Well, you see, I was put in charge of watching over the village, and am going around making sure nothing's out of place, and I think I found something out of place so now it's time to find out what it's doing in the wrong spot and fix it. Walking while he talked, following the boy but starting to lag behind now, he quickened his pace, Now if you'd like to be a part of the fun speed up the pace and follow me. Sekuro then thought next about what he would do, a sort of calculated look came over his face, he knew he could have some fun with these two, he loved puzzles but now it was just a matter of time before he could move both of his pieces together. And he would have to move these two together, he would be able to keep a close eye on him all while leading them ever on to where they needed to be, not neglecting their need to identify themselves at some point.

The next order of business would be for Sekuro to create his game itself, he thought about what to do, and how to do it. It wouldn't be easy, besides, he'd already been spotted by one of the two pieces on his board. He decided to lead them on a goose hunt, at the end of the trail would be something....grand....or whatever Sekuro could throw together, he'd play it by ear and hope for the best. But he knew he could use this girl to deliver his first clue, it would be a little too easy as long as she agreed to play along, either willingly or un-knowingly. He looked at her, pretty much all but ignoring any response she might have started during his brief pause, Say, would you like to help me put the piece back into place? if she agreed, he would then give her a short message to deliver to the man with blue hair. He would write it down on a small note he had on him, reading:


He would also tell her to have him go to the coliseum and stand at the seat of an emperor before opening it and remember the number 25. If they figure it out, they should be able to find the next clue that would bring them closer to, as Sekuro would describe it, an honor bestowed upon them by the Village Hidden in the Stone.

[644 words, 1280 words total]

And such a diversion she got, packaged in the form of this tall figure of business. He had somewhere to be - or rather, someone to meet - and Noriko seemed just curious enough to tag along. It was a fool's errand, really, to go to an unsure location with unsure people, for a surely unsure purpose, no less.

Well, you see, I was put in charge of watching over the village, and am going around making sure nothing's out of place, and I think I found something out of place so now it's time to find out what it's doing in the wrong spot and fix it. Now if you'd like to be a part of the fun speed up the pace and follow me.

The young one nodded, having to look up to attempt to make eye contact. She quickly realized that his pace was increasing, so she didn't bother trying to make conversation. Nori simply tagged along. As if nothing would come of this....

Her very fledgling doubts were already taking wing with the piece of paper she'd been handed. Having been instructed such, she who was something of a ninja ingénue raced to the Coliseum after their words were exchanged. Nothing more than a nod graced her parting.

But why the Coliseum? Why 25? What did she have that he didn't....who was he, at any rate?

At the most grandiose seat in the Coliseum, the kunoichi stood and pondered this. She had beaten everyone else to the punch, it'd have seemed....no one was in sight, not a bit. She didn't like the feel here. A Sealing Tag right on the banister in front of her.....and she descended to the lower seats, aiming to end in the ring. Enoka had already been in the place, romping about with little attention to whatever was at hand.

{OOC: Muse just isn't cooperative here. u.u I'll have more once more interaction starts.}

[320 words, 925 total.]

Walking across the street Aiden had mindlessly forgotten about his trip to the coliseum. With feet lightly smacking against the ground and body twisting slightly in order to avoid shoving through people and running into strangers with as much force as he would have if he just nonchalantly plowed through them like an Ox would a field. Shoulders brushing past person after person, hands gently keeping himself a very small, near unnoticeable distance from any other person, he would gently shove his way through, earning the occasional "hey!" or "watch it!" from the moving strangers as he made his way through the crowds and over to the other side, where his navy blue eyes would be on the prize.

"Ugh." He would simply say though as to his disappointment the desired location which he had shoved his way through the crowds to ended up being a closed food stall, most likely the owner of it has taken a break or something of the sort. With his stomach grumbling and head lowered from disappointment, he would once again walk towards the coliseum, defeated. Upon arrival to the large structure, Aiden would look up towards it, taking in its details and mentally marking its location within his mind before doing the same to the surrounding buildings. It would take him a few minutes  of him doing so as he felt as though he needed to savor every detail, thus making him appear externally as though he would be looking around, lost in thought.

wc: 251
twc: 850

ooc: Sorry for not posting in forever. Also, considering that i didn't have really anything at all to go on due to any interactions being kept to you both, let alone any reasoning for my even taking notice of either one of you pretty much eliminated completely, the post ended up being incredibly short, so i apologize for the length.