Invited Persons:

It had been a few weeks since he'd arrived in the village of Kirigakure, and things had been quiet. There was nothing really special to take note of while he'd been there; simplistic mission to expose a human that was giving into his baser instincts and preying upon the younger generation. Perhaps, it would have been best for him to improve his skills while it was still early in his journey? He felt it was time to seek out a mentor to train him in the art of weapons. While he did not like violence, there would be people who would want to test his mettle and determination; he had to be prepared to make his stand against them, no matter who.

He'd asked around the village quietly for a few days prior, inquiring as to the location of a reputable weapons master, and had been informed of one that lived on the nearby islands. Before setting out, he figured that it would in his best interest to procure some kind of 'gift' for this teacher, to convince him to part with his knowledge of how to handle weapons. A rare bottle of a special blend of sake, known for being very potent and sweet. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. He did not know if the weapon master was a drinker or not, but it never hurt to attempt. And so, with the bottle of sake sealed away to be presented when the time was correct, the male would make his way, departing the gates of Kirigakure no Sato to find his path into the surrounding islands. It was early morning when the male left his room at the inn, making sure to grab up his Cryptic Dragon and secure his mask upon his face. By the time noon rolled around, he was just setting foot onto the bridge that would get him to the first of the surrounding islands.

As he male walked, he would note that the mists that normally shrouded the village of Kirigakure no Sato seemed to grow thicker as the male ventured deeper onto the islands. It wasn't something he was overly worried about, but he found it odd. During the walk, would simply kick a stone ahead of him to ensure that the path upon which he was walking did not suddenly drop off into a cliff. It would be a shame that his idea to improve the physical condition of his current vessel ended in the demise of it. There was a specifc reason why he'd chosen Kensei as his vessel in this world, more than just the deal in exchange for his mother's health. In terms of a vessel, Kensei was one of the perfect candidates of wiedling one of Fate's weapons. Each weapon required knowledge of a certain style of combat to be wielded, hence why it was important for Kensei to master the styles as soon as possible, otherwise he would be at a loss once he actually aquired the weapons.

And so, this was why he was currently walking through the deepest parts of the mists that surrounding Kirigakure no Sato, fumbling around and trying to find a weapon master that may or may not have been there. There was a strange quiet to the world; no sounds, save for the babble of a nearby stream, and the sounds of his shoes striking the earth beneath his feet. It was at these times that he was most content with the world; he could appreciate the peaceful nature of this creation, despite being unable to see more than a few feet in front of his face. When he met them again to discuss the creation of the next cycle, he would be sure to impress upon the elder gods a request for more places like this. Places where man had little influences on the world, or even better yet, untouched.

WC: 654

As Kensei would approach the island the mist would finally cease to get thicker and actually more of it would begin to coat the ground. The nearby stream ran into the water source that supplied it as he progressed and around the rushing tide would be an old stone bridge. It appeared as if it had not been maintained in some time as entire sections along the side of it were missing from the side walls. The bridge itself seemed sturdy enough however and it was considerably wide. Evidence of a wagon crossing it recently still remained of muddy tracks left behind but there was more to it than that. Dark stains decorated the stones here and there and had a remnant of a red tint to them and a range of splatter and drag patterns. Terrible things had happened here but this was just the entrance to the island where Sero resided. Out of the mist if he approached the bridge a sign would become visible...the sign itself partially covered in grime but the words keep out were plain to see and bloody lines marked where a blood soaked hand had attempted to hold on...all that remained of it was a fingernail jammed deep into the sign.

If he would proceed further yet he would cross the bridge and the terrain would shift dramatically. The air shifted between warm and cold and the wind changed direction each time the wind changed and the trees were barely rooted into the dark ground. The branches themselves void of leaves and yet a black mold clung to them. Almost eating away at its life like a disease. Fish swam up a river that seemed to have been carved into the island towards something along side the road. If Kensei looked close enough at the tree's he would see something interesting. As another thing to discourage intruders bodies void of insides and left split open had been placed under the roots like a cage and the roots seemed to be digging into the older ones like claws. Feeding on the nourishment of the dead. This island knew nothing of tranquility. Whatever type of person resided in this land was not a kind individual. Cruelty and death seemed to be all that touched anything on this island. Yet the resident hadn't made an appearance as of yet. Perhaps Kensei had gone unnoticed.

It was about that time Kensei would be able to sense it. There was something watching him. It was so incredibly present that no sensory was needed and a child could of felt it around them. The wind had died down but now there was the distinct feeling of being watched. Nothing stirred and the fish no longer moved up the man made river. No insects buzzed and not even a scavenger bird could be heard flapping its wings. The feeling like bumps rising on the back of the neck as if imminent danger was all around him. Nearby the mist would shift as a shadow faded away into it once more. Merely a couple meters away but fading like smoke. The feeling grew and faded back and forth as if a beast was on the hunt and stalking possible prey. Each time he would begin to see something in the mist it would fade away again like smoke. However it was clear there was something out there. It couldn't be human and yet it stood on two legs. Suddenly the mist would pulse and almost wash away from the area as the feel of being hunted shifted to pure killing intent as if fangs were already on his throat. As the mist pulsed away a broken down old manor rose like a dark monument within eye sight. So much of the mist had simple been pushed away rapidly. However his attention might be taken away from that as behind him, settled on a large rock Sero sat in a long grey coat with a hood that gripped his wrists and revealed a greyish blue shirt beneath and pale skin. Grey hair and grey eyes stared at the man with a gaze like that of the recently deceased. Grey pants were tightened by a belt at the waist and ties at the ankles where they were tucked into combat boots. What was most interesting was the double barreled Kunai launcher pointed at him and the dead, cold tone.

"Who are you trespasser?"

745

There was a strange beauty to this place -- A serene quiet. No fowl called, no fauna crawled, and even the flora seemed to have grown silent in a sense; no radiant colors, no beautiful flowers. On the path he continued to walk, even as the mist gave way, he did not slow down, almost as if he knew what lay around him despite the shroud. At the sight of the trees, he blinked somewhat, eyes staring about in wonder.

It would seem that Death was a frequent visitor to this place, or more likely, called it home. The bodies that were strewn about, caged  beneath the roots of the trees and hanging from tree limbs like grotesque, devilish fruit reminded Kensei of a medieval torture room, as if the owner took some kind of joy in his work. Given the way the bodies seem to be purposely arranged, one would think they did. He was honestly surprised that he had yet to come across several corpses arranged around a table as if they were having a meal or sitting down to tea..-- the frick was that?

There was something out there.

He could see it through the slits in his mask – there was something out there moving in the fog. The male gripped Cryptic Dragon a bit tighter in his left hand, his right moving slowly to grasp at the hilt of the sword. Could feel it in the mists around him, but not quite catch a proper look at it. Every time the male attempted to focus upon the apparition, it would seem to dissipate. The male was not panicking, but it was unnerving to say the least. But not quite as unnerving as the mist suddenly clearing to reveal a persona seated on a large rock, pointing a strange weapon at him.

"Who are you trespasser?"

Ah, so he was indeed being monitored. It should have been no surprise to him; this was the route to the home of a well known weapons master. Of course it would be guarded; it would be foolish of him to assume otherwise. Gold eyes watched the man in grey upon the rock from beneath the mask he wore. Slowly, the male would raise his hands above his head in a non threatening manner, releasing his right hand from the hilt of Cryptic Dragon. With a calm voice, he spoke out clearly, addressing the man seated before him a respectful manner.

“I am merely a traveler, seeking to learn.” Short, simple, and to the point. He had no reason to tell this man any more of his intentions, lest he be a bandit. If he were a bandit, then hopefully the sword that Kensei carried would serve as a deterrent; never mind whatever that thing the seated man carried was. But from this distance, it reminded Kensei of something, something he'd seen a long time ago. A weapon that was held in the hand, and spat fire like an enraged dragon when used....

“I mean no disrespect. The mist here is very thick, and it seems that I've lost my way. If you'd kindly direct me back to the path, I'll be on my way, sir.” There was a pause after he spoke. If this man was a bandit, then surely he would attempt to rob Kensei at this point, more than likely with that weapon he held. Judging from the way he held it, the weapon was more than likely ranged, and either fired projectiles of solid ammunition, or chakra. Either way, it would do something that Kensei did not want it to do. The male would offer the seated man a smile, hoping to keep this situation calm and stable.

622 + 654 = 1276 WC

Sero watched the man with a cold gaze. The hand on that sword was something he was cautious of. Even a child became a killer given opportunity and any weapon increased opportunity to kill. He was unsure of this individuals abilities as of yet so his weapon was focused on a clean kill shot. If the man came at him Sero was fully prepared to punch new holes into the mans throat. Perhaps he could even learn of the mans intentions as he choked on his own blood. Not that it really mattered to him. If anyone comes at you with an aggressive nature the clear answer is to cut them down. Let the investigation team look into it if curiosity really got the better of you. If not, a free meal always tasted better. Still it was almost a disappointment as the man slowly raised his hands in a surrender motion that indicated he wasn't looking for a fight. Sero had seen it used to attempt to distract from a quick draw movement before but after a moment it appeared that wasn't the case. Unless they were waiting for Sero to lower his own weapon which wasn't going to happen. Not by a long shot.

Still the words that calmly rang out across the dead lands caused on eye brow to raise. When he had been a genin it was rare for anyone to wander to this island aside from a mistake but now that he had power he had found that more individuals of varied natures were making their way here. He could partially understand them though. Those seeking power usually went to where power was found in abundance. If they wanted to learn something from Sero than the obvious choice was to walk across these sin stained lands and find him themselves. Still even with the surrender both barrels remained on target as the head tilted. Adjusting the aim of it away from a kill shot towards a gut wound. It wasn't a complete lowering of the guard but Kensei was making progress. At least now it wasn't intended as a kill shot but the aim was more difficult to dodge by far after the shift. Still Sero wasn't sure who was sending these people to him. He was a force of corruption and had more qualities in common with the four horsemen than any living person. It was unlikely that someone who breathed death and decay was known for his charity.

Still the next little bit of speech was polite enough. If this individual was waiting for an opening the only way to check for it was to provide one. Still it meant exposing himself to danger. He only waited a moment longer before his thumb raised up and gently lowered both hammers on the back of the kunai launcher before lowering it to his side. Quietly he moved down from the boulder, falling from it to the ground at a slower pace then was natural almost like he was gliding down before the pale figure known as Sero lifted his free hand in a waving gesture and revealed the path back the way the man had come. The mist splitting apart in a tunnel to reveal the bridge as if he had shot something down the center of it. However he also gestured the other way towards the courtyard in front of the manner and once more the mist split in that direction only like there was an invisible wall rising into the sky blocking the mist back. In the diameter around them and both revealed pathways the mist didn't seem to reach. However it splashed against the perfect ring around them like water hitting a wall and falling back again. Sero watched the man now as he spoke in a tone appropriate for the distance between them.

"If you have come to this island to learn the courtyard is your destination. If you wish to give up at this point the nightmare ends at that bridge. Choose traveler and do so carefully. If you stay a part of the demons here will forever be with you."

1444

A pregnant pause hung in the air. In the stillness of the area, the incarnation could do nothing but wait. Wait and see if this person would say anything, or make a motion. He was half afraid that this person was a distraction for someone else to attempt to sneak up behind him to do him harm, but he was sure that he would and or could hear them coming. But then again, bandits were a crafty bunch, and given the history of these lands, Mizu no Kuni, it would not be a far reach to assume that the bandits had at least basic ninja training. And the male knew fully well that this place was infamous for its 'Silent Killing' technique. But then again, with the way this persona was aiming that weapon, he could not move even if he wanted to. If he was to die in this place at this time, there was not he could do save for wait for the inevitable

But as his eyes caught sight of this man doing something to the back of the weapon, he released a sigh of relief, which he did not even realize that he had been holding. As the man leapt down from the rock, Kensei lowered his hands down, resting Cryptic Dragon on the ground in front of him like one would do a cane; both hands atop the pommel. It was clearly a non threatening pose, one that would require him to make an excessive motion if he wished to actually draw the sword for combat. He had no reason to want to give this man any reason to raise that weapon at him again; he clearly had trust issues as it was.

As Kensei watch patiently, the male would lift a hand; what seemed to be an invisible force drove back the mists behind Kensei, allowing a clear path back towards the bridge that he had just cross. Then, with another move of his hand and seemingly the same force, the mists were again parted, however in a different direction to reveal what appeared to be a courtyard before a home of sorts. Even through the slits in his mask, Kensei could see how the mists, once pushed back, never quite came back to cover the area, as if they were held back by a wall.

Hm. If he could push back, manipulate and control the mist in this manner, perhaps there was more that he could do to it. It would be best to keep that in mind in case things went.. south.

A logical thought. If this man could do all this to the mists without even exerting much force, then he was bound to be powerful - perhaps, he himself was capable of the Silent Killing Technique? Was he a student of the master? Or rather, the weapon master himself? Time would tell. As Kensei looked on in curiosity, the persona before him would begin to speak again with a slightly lower tone.

"If you have come to this island to learn the courtyard is your destination. If you wish to give up at this point the nightmare ends at that bridge. Choose traveler and do so carefully. If you stay a part of the demons here will forever be with you."

An interesting choice of words. Though this man did not know it, but he sparked an internal debate within the incarnation – could he even dream? It had been nearly two months since Fate assumed control of Kensei's body and yet not once had he experienced a dream. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was not this body's true inhabitant? He was merely an aspect using this man's flesh and bone as a vessel to carry out his will – an Avatar, of sorts. Kensei was still there, within the body, but his mind held no control over its functions. The incarnation kept him contained with a dream of his own making – a mental paradise of simpler times, before his father died and his mother fell ill. As far as Kensei would ever know, he was in full control of his life, never the wise that his body was being used to carry out something greater than himself. Should the vessel ever perish, the true Kensei's place in the true paradise was guaranteed; his reward for offering his body to be used... but this was not the time or place to ponder upon such things.

With a nod, Kensei thought over the man's words. He had no intentions of turning back, but was curious as to why this man referred to this experience as a 'nightmare'. Given what the male saw as he approached, the trees filled with corpses and wilted and paling flora, he would assume that the were either this man's doing, or the master of this place. Perhaps, this was a warning to him, or a test to see if he could stomach what was to happen to him? Either way, he would not falter. Never mind the statement of demons. Demons were nothing to an incarnation. He answered to beings higher than them.

Shifting Cryptic Dragon into his left hand once more, Kensei nodded once more before speaking. “I will choose to stay. I have come this far to learn, and I have no intention of turning back.” He would turn then, moving in the direction of the courtyard, taking care to remain within the boundaries of the mists as he went. There was no fear as the male moved, simply logical apprehension. He did not know what this man, nor these mists were capable of, and he did not wish to find out the hard way, either. He was sure of his combat abilities, but nevertheless it was bad to give away a possible advantage. But just to be polite...

Just before he would pass the persona, he would stop, and offer them a short, polite bow. "My name is Uchiha Kensei. Thank you for your help in this matter. Please, could you inform me of who the master of this place might be?"

1023 + 1276 = 2299 WC

Sero watched as the young man before him placed his weapon, still sheathed, point first to the ground and rested his hands on the pommel. The stance actually took away from the sense of complete surrender. Standing like that the masked individual before him exuded more pride than the usual surrender suggested. Still Sero was prepared to defend should it shift quickly. He was a master at weapon stances and could reason out how such a stance could quickly turn into an attack. An upwards strike or a stab at the foot. However those were the least troublesome ideas in Sero's head. His eyes shifted to the ground where weapon and dirt met. It was doubtful he could detect any minute level of chakra being used to channel a jutsu into the ground. A hidden attack was entirely plausible with or without Doton as an element. It all may have seemed a little paranoid but Sero had survived this long by never letting down his guard with anyone or anything within striking distance of him. Even allies made him wary as they fought by his side. All things died in time but he would outlive his father with out a doubt. Or at least long enough to surpass him.

Still the man shifted his weapon back to his left hand and spoke in return. Perhaps it was honor that drove the individual or pride. Something was off about him though. Sero could sense he was holding less chakra in himself than your average chunnin. Yet there was more there. A sense of divine power that seemed to be held back by that chakra level. It was odd but Sero dismissed it as an individual trying to conceal their true chakra levels. After all in this game of trying to assess each other revealing all of ones cards was a foul play to make. If it turned out the other was prepared to counter what you revealed than you held no ace up the sleeve any more. It was always best if the enemy didn't know the extent of ones abilities. Either to bluff when needed in order to prevent an attack you otherwise may not of been able to negate or let the enemy grow overconfident and make a mistake that you can counter with maximum effectiveness. Battle was about opening be they created by yourself or by the enemy and knowing when to use them. Far too many of this generation though standing across from each other and throwing lightning and fire back and forth was war.

Still the man shifted as he spoke of having come too far to turn back. He moved to pass Sero and dead grey eyes followed without blinking or shifting in emotion. They seemed to just stare lifelessly for a moment before noting the mans bow. As he introduced himself a pale eyebrow finally rose on Sero's otherwise emotionless face. Yet another Uchiha had stepped foot on his island seeking him out. First Maigo, Teru and finally Kensei. It was understandable though. Those of the Uchiha bloodline knew to seek out power. They knew peace may be a thing of yesterday so he liked them more than others. Along with liking them though he usually pushed them harder and they grew to know pain through him. He might actually be doing the same with this one. See if he could push the Sharingan to its limits once again. Truth be told a part of him was eager to start and yet he needed to reply to the question presented. Odd as it may be it was rude to leave the man fumbling around for an answer. So Sero spoke in the same cold tone as the tunnel to the bridge collapsed and mist flooded back into place like a tide the way the man had come. A polite bow of the head was given in return as this was Sero's home and he was likely higher ranked. It was expected with those differences.

"My name is Osada Sero Jr. and you have arrived at the Osada Manor. Crafted after the fall of Kirigakure to Uchiha Hao by my father whom I inherited the name from. He is long since dead so the master of this island is myself. The only other occupants are my cousin and students whom you may meet later if you care to. For now let us proceed."

Sero turned and almost seemed to glide along like a phantom haunting this place in his deadly grace. He moved down the tunnel ahead of Kensei at a walking pace but even from behind Sero it would feel like there was a beast watching from just out of site. Some sort of monster on the prowl and waiting for the slightest chance to pounce and rip Kensei apart. What was odd was that it was emanating from Sero's general direction at its most potent levels but it hung in the air like a hot breath everywhere. He was the source of this islands corruption it would appear. Still as he moved the mist behind him and Kensei at the start of the tunnel began to ever so slowly collapse. Mist pouring in behind them like a white wall cutting off the world outside of the courtyard entirely. As if stepping forward into Sero's manor was like stepping into a version of this world that was far darker. An underworld version of something that was once beautiful with corpses in the fountain and blood staining the stone ground with undergrowth crawling along and feeding on all of it. The bodies in the fountain long since dead as even their blood no long fed the crimson fountain. Still Sero would stop in a section with no statues or obstacles for some distance in any direction. The tiles ripped up by some force creating a ring of grass. Sero would turn once more to Kensei before speaking as they stopped in the center of it.

"I will ask two questions of you and you will answer them directly. No lengthy explanations I ask and you answer. Simple. First, why is it you wish to gain power Uchiha? and Second what is it you wish to learn?"

2491

"My name is Osada Sero Jr. and you have arrived at the Osada Manor. Crafted after the fall of Kirigakure to Uchiha Hao by my father whom I inherited the name from. He is long since dead so the master of this island is myself. The only other occupants are my cousin and students whom you may meet later if you care to. For now let us proceed."

Osada Sero Jr? Why did this man's family name sound so famil-- At that moment, realization dawned upon Fate; images popped in his mind from Kensei's life within Kirigakure no Sato. The Osada clan members were graced with the ability to create an acidic vapor, and suddenly everything that Kensei saw up until the point of him seeing Sero in the mist made sense. All of this mist –... all of it had to have been that very same technique of thiers. It made sense as to why Sero's maniplation of the mist was so precise and effortless. At any point, this same mist that blocked his vision could be adjusted to reduce his vessel into nothing more than a puddle of goo, and there was nothing Fate could do to stop him. He had no counter to this type of combat. He could not burn the mist away because it could be adjusted to snuff out the flames, nor could he seal it, as no seal he possessed could handle this kind of chakra.

In short, he was fucked. Royally.

But, it was no matter. If he was to die here, then so be it. Nothing would be lost but time; Kensei's place in Paradise was secured, and it was impossible to kill Fate itself. Should the vessel be destoryed, the aspect would find itself back in the temple, formless yet again until he could summon forth another host. And even still... there was one already lined up. It would take some doing; a few threads would have to be tugged upon to turn the tide of events in his favor, but his next vessel would come in time.

But that was nothing to worry about in the present moment. He had to worry about now. He would follow this man, this Osada Sero jr, into the courtyard, very much taking care to avoid the mists now that he realized what it actually was. He took careful note of the route he took – it was a habit he developed as he traveled through the village. It never hurt to notice one's surroundings. As they would come into and stop within an open space, Kensei would take up a position some five meters away from Sero, watching him carefully through the mask he wore. When Sero began to speak, he listened carefully.

"I will ask two questions of you and you will answer them directly. No lengthy explanations I ask and you answer. Simple. First, why is it you wish to gain power Uchiha? and Second what is it you wish to learn?"

Was that all? They were simple questions, yes. What did this man hope to gain from them? To learn more of Kensei? The male had nothing to hide.

“I wish to gain power to protect myself as I travel the world.”

A simple enough answer, and exactly what Sero wanted. He wanted the truth from Kensei, so here it was.

“As for what I want to learn... I wish to pursue a mastery of more than just my sword.” To emphasize his point, he would lift up Cryptic Dragon in his left hand, using his right hand to unsheathe the sword partially. “With this sword, I practice the style of Iaido. I wish to learn more styles of weapon combat in order to be more diverse in battle, so that I am never caught unaware.”

A simple enough answer. If this man did not accept it, well then, there had to one that was deemed acceptable. Kensei was not the 'typical Uchiha' as most people thought of them. He did not lust for power like most did. He was the vessel of Fate, he had no need for power, as the world was already his. He seeked merely to know about his world, and to come to know its inhabitants instead of just directing thier lives.

718 + 2299 = 3017

Sero watched the man as he approached him. He was older by the looks of him and seemed uncomfortable now. Sero could almost smell the caution on him. However what interested him was the difference in posture and scent. He wasn't panicking as he realized where he was...what kind of situation he had placed himself in. He was showing caution but it wasn't a fear of death. If anything it was a mere discomfort. As if even if everything suddenly went south for him he was assured he would be alright. It wasn't an issue of power so much as just death not being an issue? It was an odd thing to see. The only reason he noticed it was because before now he had only seen two reactions to meeting him. One was the ones who thought they could fight back and defeat this thing which stalked them and came here looking for a fight. The other was mind numbing, gut wrenching fear. He had seen someone throw up just standing too close to himself. They couldn't handle that feeling like they were constantly about to die. He never did see that person again. Probably better for their health.

Still his attention was on the man in front of him. A puzzle to be discovered later perhaps. It wasn't often he saw something beyond his understanding but he wasn't willing to pass it off as simple insanity. Still he would stand there with the Kunai launcher at his side. Thumb gradually running back and forth along the back of the hilt. He couldn't feel it so he wasn't aware of a habit of his when he was thinking about something. The man had stopped a simple five meters from himself and held up his sword as he answered his questions. Strength and power were needed these days to travel safely it was true. As for the weapon style of Laido....a quick draw from the waist usually in a rapid attack on the opponent. A style that could either slash faster than the enemy could react or power straight through any defenses with a combination of strength and speed. Sero had used a couple of drawing techniques in battle just because it was suited for the situation and had cut right through and enemies weapon and into him without hesitation. Even against metal it was like butter. That there was someone who focused entirely on Laido was interesting.

"Diversity..." Sero almost mumbled to himself before his free hand reached out to his side. A symbol was etched into the palm of his skin that resembled an item seal and yet it had a slight adjustment to it that seemed almost like a signature. He had etched his seals into his flesh? For what reason? It became apparent as to why when mist separated from the mist around them and began to swirl around his hand before lengthening and spreading apart in wisps to reveal a steal blade that looked to have lines in it. It appeared to be a fancy sword at best but with a flick of his wrists the blade seemed to fall apart for all except the metal cord connecting the individual pieces. He spun it in a figure eight a couple of times before tugging it just right for the bits to fall back together. He then spoke up as he held it like a sword once more. "If Diversity is what you wish, utilizing the whip sword and the Kunai launcher provides flexibility, adjustable range and considerable damage. Each of these are difficult to block and equally as difficult to use. Would these two weapons satisfy your search for becoming more diverse with weaponry?"

3120

"Diversity..."

Was there a harm in wishing to be more diverse with his methods of combat? To be able to counter and combat many different  fighting styles. Kensei thought it to be foolish to believe that a single combat style to be superior to all others, hence his reason for being here. The Vessel remained silent as he watched the man before him – what was he doing? W-was that a fuinjutsu seal on his palm? A body seal? Was this Osada member proficient in the art of sealing? As Kensei watched in awe, he would take note of how the mists began to draw themselves into Sero's hand, swirling and enveloping the appendage before seeming to grow and then giving way to reveal a sword in the elder male's hand.

A sword? Why would Kensei require another sword? And with that being said, the sword seemed to have numerous faults in the surface. There were line running down it – were those cracks the metal? Kensei was about to open his mouth to voice his confusion with this seemingly pointless display when Sero flicked his wrist, causing the blade to come appart in segments. Each segment was connected by a metal cord, giving the weapon the appearance of a bladed whip.

Was this a whip-sword? It had to be; Kensei's memories held no actual image of this type of weapon, but held many conversations about it from the vessel's weapon classes while attending the academy. It was a unique weapon that offered many approaches to combat, especially if your opponent did not know the nature of the weapon before hand. As Kensei watched, Sero would spin the weapon in the air, forming out what appeared to be a figure eight several times before flicking his wrist once more to bring the weapon back together. The male would then speak, as he held the weapon up.

"If Diversity is what you wish, utilizing the whip sword and the Kunai launcher provides flexibility, adjustable range and considerable damage. Each of these are difficult to block and equally as difficult to use. Would these two weapons satisfy your search for becoming more diverse with weaponry?"

Was... was he offering the weapon to Kensei? And a Kunai launcher? Was that the other weapon the male held? A Kunai launcher? Almost instantly, an idea for several jutsu formed in the mind of the male utilizing the weapons; lightning and flame whips, a charging attack that upon completion, the launcher would be fired to add insult to injury. But before these could be brought into fruition, the Incarnation would have to be sure of some things...

“I do not meant to presume, Master Osada, but these weapons would be perfect. The unpredictability of a whip-sword, and the firing power and range of a kunai launcher would be wonderful additions to my fighting prowess. Please, allow me to present you with a gift – a token of my appreciation.” With that, the male would lay the Cryptic Dragon on the ground beside him, Kensei would crouch on the ground, forming out a string of hand seals before he slammed his hands onto the ground.

Tiger, Serpent, Dog, Bird, Ox, Dog, Tiger, Bird – poof! From seemingly nowhere, the male would produce the gourd of sake he'd purchased to present to the weapon master. Given that Sero here was the persona that the male sought, it would go to him. But, if this man was smart, he would notice something that Kensei never consciously intended to let be known at this point; if Sero was paying attention and knew anything of the Uzumaki clan, he would realize that Kensei bore no seals upon his hands, but rather pulled the gourd of Sake from a literal void via the Uzumaki Sealing Method. With the gourd now in this dimension once more, the red haired male would pick up the gourd and offer it Sero with another polite bow. “A gourd of premium sake, Master Osada, in appreciation for the gift of knowledge.” He had no idea if the gift would be accepted, but it never hurt to try and win some favor with his 'teacher', if that counted.

3017 + 700 = 3717

Sero listened to the man across from him as he swayed the whip sword back and forth. Somehow in his hands it seemed like the tail of a predator that swayed back and forth in excitement as it hunted. A prey that excited it just a little that it almost seemed to wish to play with it. Make it last a little longer. He enjoyed the insight and respect of this individual somewhat but there was more to him and he could not place it. Somehow this man was more than your usual individual. He couldn't sense more chakra then your average genin had yet the man walked with considerable experience. Perhaps had Sero still been a genin he may have enjoyed learning from the individual. However he was a whole new kind of animal these days. He was the Apex predator almost every where he went and very little cared to challenge him. However he knew that came with a price. He was targeted and challenged by those who wished to work their craft without him interfering. Crime lords that now had a hard time recruiting new soldiers since Sero left his messages. He was costing them and their business and they liked to try and get more experienced mercenaries to take him down. More individuals moving to their death. They feared him and rightly so since he was the end of their dreams. He was actively destroying every trace of anything that could hurt Kiri when he wasn't instructing his students or attending Ayakashi as her honor guard.

Still his eyes were drawn to the man as he settled down and placed his hands on the ground after a few hand seals. Sero watched this with interest as he memorized everything he saw. He would have to pull this from memory later and write it down. Preform his own experiments with it and see if he missed anything. After all as the jutsu was finished a gourd was pulled from whatever place it had been stored with out a seal in sight. The act tugged at his memory towards a novel he had read in his personal schooling. He couldn't pull up the information from memory right that second however as it took time and concentration to sort through all the information available. Still he would not for the moment as he wasn't convinced he could divert his attention from the man who had come to him to learn. Either way he would consider the idea of a gift. He had no use for a drink as he could neither taste it or feel its effects on him. The man didn't need to know that however. Instead Sero would try and bargain for something else he was eager to put to the test. Quietly he flicked the blade around and connected it to the hilt of the blade before twisting it and the blades locked into place like a belt. Sero would hold out the two weapons to the man across from him as he spoke finally. His voice monotone as ever like he had no interest in anything they might talk about.  His dead grey eyes almost trying to see passed the mask. He didn't like talking to masks.

"Your intentions for a gift are noted but I have no use for any food or drink I do not make myself. However that is not to say there is no gift you can offer. You may have these two weapons on the condition you participate in a learning experience with my students. They will only be allowed to challenge you individually and each are at a genin level. Experience in battle is a gift I would have you bestow upon them before it is their life on the line.  Should one of them defeat you, they will win eight Kunai meant to be loaded into that launcher. Each one of C rank quality. If you defeat all three...you win the prize instead. If you accept this proposal, You may take those weapons and practice with them. Choose your battle grounds on this island and they will find you individually. Be aware though they are trained to attack from an advantageous position. They may choose not to inform you of their arrival."

3841

"Your intentions for a gift are noted but I have no use for any food or drink I do not make myself. However that is not to say there is no gift you can offer. You may have these two weapons on the condition you participate in a learning experience with my students. They will only be allowed to challenge you individually and each are at a genin level. Experience in battle is a gift I would have you bestow upon them before it is their life on the line.  Should one of them defeat you, they will win eight Kunai meant to be loaded into that launcher. Each one of C rank quality. If you defeat all three...you win the prize instead. If you accept this proposal, You may take those weapons and practice with them. Choose your battle grounds on this island and they will find you individually. Be aware though they are trained to attack from an advantageous position. They may choose not to inform you of their arrival."

He was not interested in the gift of the drink? Fine enough. Perhaps the male could drink it himself, and see the effects of such concoctions first hand. It would surely be a wonderful learning opportunity, yes? But this man, Sero Osada jr, spoke of something else, of offering the Vessel of Fate the weapons that he held in exchange for fighting his students. The man even offered another prize: Kunai that were meant to be loaded into the weapon and launched at victims, eight in total. Apparently, if the male was able to defeat all three of Sero Osada Jr's students, then Kensei would win the prize instead.

This seemed to good to pass up. As the male spoke, Kensei found himself nodding beneath his mask, listening raptly to this man speak. Sero spoke of how each student would and could be found around the area, and would fight him individually, but would more than likely attempt to ambush him. That was fine for him. After forming the string of hand seals once more, the vessel of Fate would seal away the gourd of Sake once more and then make his over to the Sero Osada Jr to retrieve his newfound weapons.

“I accept your challenge, Master Osada. Where ever they find me, I shall be ready.” Provided that Sero hand over the weapons, the male would take them, and walk away to begin preparing for his upcoming fights. Perhaps he should have asked the master for information about the students, so that he would know what he was in for, but he had a strong feeling that Sero Osada would more than likely not part with information like that. Perhaps he would see it as giving Kensei an unfair advantage over his students. But, this was a training excercise, after all. Perhaps he could trust this man to be impartial towards the situation; perhaps he would not give them information in reguard to him, save for the fact that he obviously existed.

Time would tell. But for now, he had to prepare. There were three rounds he had to prepare for; three fights in which he had no clue about his opponents, save for the words of thier master that they were similar to genin in strength. No matter. He could do this.

If he could not, then he would have to become stronger.

-Exit-

3717 + 568 = 4285

4285/1500 = 2785 [Onojutsu Trained]

2785/1500 = 1285 [Kyuujutsu Trained]

1285/525 = 760 [STR E-2 to D-0]

760/525 = 235 [END E-2 to D-0]

Sero watched as the individual before him didn't really seem to need any time to mule it over in his mind. The deal was more than fair to his side but Sero really didn't have much use for such low ranked weapons. They held a part of uniqueness to them but not one he couldn't improve upon with new weapons. He already had plans for a Senbon accelerator and had his eye on one of the seven swords. The whip blade almost catered to be perfect to him. Each part of its design so perfect for his combat that he only wished he could hold it. Rare was it that one could wield a perfect weapon with no flaws and endless capabilities. In his hands that weapon would cause blood to soak the hills so deeply the rivers ran red. And yet he wasn't really blood thirsty in this particular given moment. The individual across from him was by all appearances no danger to him. If anything the level of respect he was being shown he had not witnessed towards anyone other than the Mizukage. Though his position with her had caused more than a couple of individuals to grow spiteful towards him. Individuals he would need to wait to see them make a poor choice against him to deal with in order to avoid incident.

Still he watched as the man once more simply sealed away the drink and did so without any seal. Was it another individual that had marked himself with a seal and could do this that way? Sero doubted that based on the evidence provided so far. The man had been surprised when Sero used that method before but in a way that suggested he had never seen it before. Sero had a seal branded into him for each weapon and he could do that because he felt no pain doing so. The amount of brands on his skin would of driven someone who could feel pain mad before they reached this point. However as the man sealed the drink once more Sero felt the memory of the book edge just beyond the fog of Memory...only the title surfacing. Wonders of the Uzumaki clan version 2. He now wondered how an Uchiha could utilize a clans ability such as that? Was the man lying about his identity? Perhaps...however another theory was also possible. Somewhere down the line of this mans lineage was likely Uzumaki blood. He may have been raised an Uchiha but instead of the Uchiha bloodline unlocking it would be his latent ancestors Uzumaki blood. Interesting. Seeing his Uchiha student fighting a claimed Uchiha regardless of the circumstances of the claim could be interesting. He would have to observe.

Still the young man accepted his challenge for the time being and Sero nodded his approval. The individual would likely stick to the island to make locating him easier. However Sero wondered idly just how comfortable the man could get. After all Sero fed the dead to wild dogs to harvest them later. They avoided people typically near the manor but if the young masked man wandered to far into the woods he might find himself faced with a ravenous pack eager for some fresh flesh for once. He hoped the man didn't kill his cattle so to speak. A lot of wasted time that would be. Still the young man was off on his own and Sero let out a small smile as the weapons had been taken from him. Idly he made a hand seal and four marks, one for each weapon the man had taken, would fade from the weapons in thin little smokey wisps. Ownership had been switched. One other thing still amused him though. He had set no conditions for these fights. Someone could very easily end up in the hospital. Which he felt was healthy. True combat was to be reverently appreciated. For now he would head back to the manor and prepare for his students to meet him. He had lots of things lined up for them to experience. Lots of realities to be realized for the shinobi that had been placed under one such as him.

Exit thread


4548
Senjutsu D-C 2892/6000
http://www.narutosaga.com/t18167-a-traitor-dies-and-a-dog-is-bornprivate-no-kill-plot#155927

Senjutsu D-C 6000/6000

Fūinjutsu B- A 1460/2500 (3 EP used for half off training)