It's interesting to see how quickly someone's tone can change. Mitsuo knew that he was a good example of this, his rage being able to quickly take him from being a rational individual to someone who gives no ground and takes no shit in a split second. He found it interesting to see that Gin was a bit of the opposite. They hadn't interacted much before this, though the two of them had a lot in common he had heard. Both had been Kage, both were teachers who liked to push their students far past their limits, and both seemed to have short fuses, though that could have been said about a lot of ninja. Seeing Tsuyo back off about his stance on Gin made Mitsuo a little more calm. There was no way she would accept the fact that three men were going to go into her old village to rescue her kids without her, as she would likely be more than happy to break down the gates and burn the place to the ground to get what was hers. Mitsuo did so enjoy the idea of Suna burning to the ground...

As he watched everyone's reactions a small half smile formed across his face. It had been a long time since he had felt like he was truly a part of something again. Tsuyo talking reminded him of when the two of them had first met after the death of Kimaru, a calm wind that ended the storm in Mitsuo's head. He had walked into a meeting with him and the Tsuchikage with information concerning the defenses of the village of Konoha, defences which upon taking the position of Hokage afterwards he had changed to ensure that nobody else had his plans. When he saw Tsuyo he had felt two things that he didn't want to feel that day. The first thing that he had felt was crushing sadness, the man in front of him being a painful reminder of the person that Mitsuo had lost oh so recently. Even had he not lost him recently it would have been difficult seeing him, as even to this day being with Tsuyo brought back painful memories. The second was an overwhelming anger, a rage that burned white hot. If Tsuyo hadn't fled Konoha he could have protected his brother, he could have stopped him from the horrible fate that had befallen him and Mitsuo and Kimaru could have still been together and happy to this day. He wanted to punch Tsuyo and scream at him and hug him and cry on his shoulder all at the same time, but he managed to keep himself composed instead and tell the Tsuchikage his plan before he and Tsuyo discussed the loss of a person who was important to both of them.

That felt like a long time ago now, and truly it had been. Many years had passed since that day, and Mitsuo had become older and arguably wiser, or at least he thought so. He tried not to let his emotions rule him anymore, though there were certainly times where that was difficult. He had been overwhelmed with emotion once again when he received the letter from Tsuyo once more, after seeking death wherever he could, literally chasing it across the entire globe before returning to this familiar place. He was being presented with many chances to meet that end, a chance he was looking forward to embracing. He had been waiting for death to claim him for a long time, becoming more and more reckless as he went. The fire for life was no longer there, but at the same time he had no interest in allowing someone to simply snuff him out. He was known as the Sword Saint of Konoha, a war hero to Kiri and a ninja who was known and revered world wide. Were he to die it would be to an opponent who had truly defeated him, only then would he be satisfied. He had been working towards uncovering the identity of the man who had orchestrated the deaths of his family and of Kimaru for years, and he was closer than ever to uncovering the truth, and they would be going to deal with that. The firey passion inside of him was alight once again, making him feel as though he could accomplish anything and that he would be postponing finding that honourable death for a little while longer.

"Tsuyo, you dangle the people who killed my family, your brother, in front of me. You know that you have me hooked instantly, like a fisherman who knows his baits better than his own hand. What do you need us to do so that we can take these bastards down? When can we go back to work?" His voice was a little bit quicker than his normal calculated pace. He was excited, and it was undeniable to see. He might have even been bouncing a little bit, though he imagined that nobody would really notice. All of the heat radiating off of him had changed its intensity, he no longer burned with the malicious blaze of anger, but with the warm inviting flame of a campfire, welcoming its visitors and keeping them warm from the cold outside weather. He was ready for revenge...

5373

Tsuyo could not truly tell if She was sated with his response or not. A difficult woman to work with and he was accustomed to considering where other loyalties may lay with her but not once could he remember her betraying them. His suspicion was simply a survival instinct at this point with nothing to warrant it. Still he looked into her eyes for a moment and contemplated her words. Her children were hers to rescue. The concern was whether they could go along with whatever action she took or if there could be some planning. Tsuyo wasn't above going through the front door in most cases and lord knew they had the power to do so. Still her battle was something different. Innocent people could get caught in the middle and he doubted her rage would allow her to keep them alive. Shinobi simply doing their duty with no knowledge of what was expected of them. He would remain considerate of her needs but his goal would be to use their minds over their muscles on that scenario. As he intended to do with Konoha. It was some time off anyway and all he could do with Gin is hope she listened.

"Take some time and think on Suna. We wish to aid you sister but we must remain a force for the good of those who are not yet tainted. We must figure out how to rescue these children and take your vengeance without murdering every shinobi just doing their duty with no knowledge of the events."

With that he heard Mitsuo speak from across the table. Excited and a little bit faster pace than before. Tsuyo would take in a breath and feel the air as it shifted from uncomfortable to relaxing. His silver gaze shifted to look at Mitsuo. A man close to his own age if not a little younger. He had not known him in his youth well. If anything someone his brother was fascinated with. If only his attention had been more perceptive. He no longer could see his brother but Mitsuo had proven a decent supplement in his place. A remnant of his brother however broken stood at his side as his brother would have done had Tsuyo simply asked. Now was the time to do so. He would take in a deep breath of air and rise to his feet. Turning to speak to Mitsuo with his eyes nearly burning with intensity. His hands adjusting the ring on his middle finger. One of the three rings he wore. One with the Hyuga symbol, one with the Tsuchikage symbol and one with a blue rose on it. His own voice was soft but clear spoken.

"I have asked a great deal of you Mitsuo up until this point. You have suffered on my behalf and we have both bled for our cause. There comes a time when all we strained to obtain and all we screamed at the heavens and climbed for tooth and nail comes to fruition so long as we do not surrender to the night. I have found him. I have found the source of all our suffering and loss. My brother, your lover murdered at his word. You and I now ride for Konoha tomorrow. We go to request to the Hokage to stay out of our way. To clear our names and break a man who god knows has this coming. "

As he finished speaking Tsuyo stepped forward into the table. The stone peeling away and floating out and up in a circle pattern piece by piece inch by inch somehow sealing itself into the scroll a little at a time. Breaking apart as if stone parting ways for Tsuyo to pass. With each step more of the table faded into the scroll and the folders fell into the laps of those that were not holding them. Information that had been dug out from buried depths and at great cost of both coin and blood. As he took the final step the last of the table faded into a glowing golden scroll until the glow faded and a sealed scroll remained. His hand rested on Mitsuo's shoulder before he looked out the window behind him over the clouds. Watching the way the moon made it glow like a still sea. He would speak over his shoulder now but still his voice would carry.

"Take your time Gin and send us word when you need us. We will come. Tsuneo, do as you must but do so safely and with my prayers. Send us word when it is finished and conclude any business you have in Kumo. You are free to either join us in Konoha when it is done or return to Iwa and see that the peace I established there is kept. You are my eyes and should you return sane from this quest, I will have need of you. For now this meeting is concluded. I bid you all farewell. Until our family gathers again."

With that he released Mitsuo's shoulder and turned. Walking out the door to the steps and descending down into the night. He needed to rest and then gather travel supplies and a horse. The ride to Konoha would be long but he knew in his heart he would not rest until he was within those borders again. The only thing he would truly need to hope for is no one in Kumo would be so unwise as to attempt to stop the two of them. They would prove even to Sanosuke himself if they had to that they would not be denied their destiny they waited so long for. Even as he stepped out onto the street and the first droplets of rain hit his face and thunder rumbled above Tsuyo felt it. Fate could sense his movements and approved. The world turned in his palm and he would interact with it yet again. With a smile he turned and in a moment he stepped and was gone. Moving at speeds only the most powerful of shinobi could accomplish to his dwelling. His excitement moving him to draw closer and closer to the day. It was finally time for his brother to rest in peace.

Exit thread
6517 Genjutsu A to S

After Mitsuo had said his peace, he looked towards Gin and then Tsuneo once more. The four people at this table had shared so much between them, and had such an interesting history together, that sometimes it was easy to forget how different each of them were. Gin and Mitsuo were very much alike, both of them extremely proud of their abilities with the sword and they also both had terrible tempers and were prone to outbursts, like the ones that had happened earlier in the meeting. There was a kindred spirit between the sword masters of the Aoi Bara that no amount of fighting could truly erode, as they had great respect for the abilities of one another, and Mitsuo knew that if he was fighting beside Gin, he could always feel safe. He appreciated her knowledge and experience, and the two of them even had similar training styles, which was just one more thing they could bond over.

Tsuneo and Mitsuo had gone through much in their times within the village of Konoha, each of them having to deal with terrible loss and each of them coming out of it with more questions than answers. While Mitsuo didn't know the full extent to which Tsuneo had been tortured, he knew that he had been experimented on and it had made him the interesting character that he had become today. To put it bluntly Mitsuo honestly thought that he was bat shit crazy, but Tsuneo had a deep respect and reverence for the former Hokage, and Mitsuo always appreciated people like him. It was rare to find a fan when you were one of the most hated people in the world, and you tended to take them where you could. He was also an extremely determined person, having sought out Mitsuo for instruction with the blade, and even though Mitsuo hadn't deemed him ready, he was looking forward for the day when Tsuneo would come back to him to complete the training that he had gotten a taste of that day.

Tsuyo and Mitsuo were the closest of all of them, as their histories and futures would be forever intertwined by the fact that Tsuyo's little brother Kimaru had been Mitsuo's first love. He and Kimaru spent the majority of their time together when they were kids, which caused Mitsuo to have a lot of exposure to the older Tsuyo. While they didn't interact too much, Mitsuo always remembered looking up to the older ninja, wanting to one day be a hero in the village like he precieved Tsuyo to be. When Tsuyo left, it left a hole in Kimaru's heart and greatly upset Mitsuo as well, and when he had found him again after the passing of Kimaru, he did so with a mixture of happiness, anger, confusion and betrayal. He hated Tsuyo and blamed him for the death of Kimaru, while also blaming himself for being strong enough. Tsuyo, of course, seemed to blame himself for not being there as well, and when Mitsuo had first joined the Aoi Bara, it was difficult for him to talk to the leader for a time. The two would eventually become extremely close friends and there was no person in the world who Mitsuo would rather have beside him when going into a mission, as he knew Tsuyo and Tsuyo knew him better than anyone else.

When Tsuyo began to speak once more, he first addressed Gin, telling her to take some time to think on what he had told them, and saying that he didn't want her pain and anger to spill out on all of the people in the village. Mitsuo would hold his tongue, though he himself wasn't entirely fond of the village hidden in the sands. The last time he had been there, he had completely wiped out an entire clan of people, and while that wasn't necessarily a terrible thing, as they were bad people, it hadn't been something he had ever lost sleep over either. He hated Suna, more than any other village, because of what it represented to him. He hated sand, the fact that it managed to get into your everything, it was extremely invasive, and it tried to cover everything up at all times, hiding the beauty that could lay beneath it. He wanted nothing more but to wipe that entire village from the face of the map, but he knew that Tsuyo wouldn't allow that. He didn't think, however, he would mind if he offered to give the village a nice little facelift. He had learned that the heat from his attacks could cause sand to turn into glass, so it stood to reason that if he exuded enough heat he could turn the entire village into a beautiful work of art.

When Tsuyo turned his attention to Mitsuo, he addressed the fact that he had asked much of him, which Mitsuo had never personally minded. Tsuyo trusted him, and he trusted Tsuyo, and the two of them worked extremely well together. When he talked about how they had both suffered and bled for their cause, Mitsuo simply thought that every ounce of blood, every broken bone, and every life he had to end with his blade was one hundred percent worth it for the outcome. The two of them would be getting revenge on the person who had made their lives hell all those years ago, and there was nothing in the entire world that would make him happier, save for having his loved ones back. When Tsuyo told Mitsuo that he had found the cause of their torture the smile on his face widened, and he knew that there was nothing more important in this life at this moment than that thing. The two of them would go and as brothers they would face their demons, and destroy them together. Nothing could be greater than the ending to their painful and tragic stories.

[color:332c=#660000]"Nothing you have ever asked me to do has ever been a burden. I consider you to be my closest friend, Tsuyo, and I treasure every moment we spend together. Each tear shed, every ounce of blood lost, every pound of flesh stripped from our bodies, all of it was all worth it. We have overcome so much together, and we are finally going to be able to get closure. I would ride into hell with you, so long as I had you by my side when I did it. I trust you above anyone else in this world, and the two of us will end the plague that has been eating away at our home village and set it free from its eternal nightmare. There is nothing that can stop us from achieving our goal."

Mitsuo watched as the table began to seal itself away, Mitsuo moving over to put a hand on Mitsuo's shoulder. He would address both Gin and Tsuneo, telling each of them to take the time they needed and get ahold of the two of them whenever they needed them. Once Mitsuo and Tsuyo had dealt with their own demons, they would both be more than happy to help the rest of their family to rid themselves of theirs as well. What else was family for, after all? As the table finished sealing itself, Tsuyo removed his hand from Mitsuo's shoulder and walked out the door, Mitsuo taking one last look around the room. He still could hardly believe that after twelve long years since the death of Kimaru, he would finally be able to get justice. He stood up, trembling slightly and heart ablaze as he made his way towards the door as well, taking a look around the darkness outside. Kumogakure was a beautiful village, of that there was no doubt, but Mitsuo wouldn't be upset about leaving. He would be happy to finally be out of this place, and be on his way back to the one place he had been yearning for for the past five years, the one place he thought he would never be able to return again...home.

Since coming to this village, Mitsuo had been expecting to come face to face with his destiny. He was almost positive that the Raikage, Sanosuke Flint, would demand his head, and he had been fortunate that that had not been the case. Mitsuo had come to this village feeling as though he was a few steps behind where he normally was, but on this night he felt like he was stronger than he had ever been. He could feel his resolve surging to new heights that he had never felt before, and he could once again feel the Will of Fire building up inside of him. It was the one reason that he knew he could never truly stay away from Konoha, as being a member of the legendary Sarutobi Clan meant that the village was in your blood and your very being. He was ready to go home and speak with the Hokage, sure that Sousetsu would (hopefully) welcome him back to the village with opened arms. Sousetsu had been his best friend for several years, and he was the man whom Mitsuo had given the hat over too when he had stepped down from the Hokage position. He was certainly looking forward to seeing his old friend one last time...

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6955/9000 words for Fuuinjutsu A ->S

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