Seito knew that if he wanted to take his abilities and self to the next level that he would need to seek out a mentor, a guide. Someone that could help teach Seito not only about how to become a strong shinobi but why. As well as, the political sphere that surrounds Kirigakure. There was so much for the young chunin to learn and he was falling behind on his timeline; he should have been promoted to special jonin by now. With that, Seito had a short list of individuals that he complied for various reasons. Having access to personal files in the Kirigakure Intelligence Division has been fruitful and slightly illegal. However, with rumors and whispers Seito reached a conclusion that while seeking out Osada Sero may be dangerous and perilous the benefits that could blossom will be sweeter than any fruit.

The young Hattori found himself in front of a shoddy, decrepit shack near the waters that would serve as a bridge to the forbidden palace. His hand knocked on the open counter, similar to a ramen bar with hopes that the wood would not break and splinter into his fist. After a few moments, a bizarre and eerie older man appeared and stared into the dark abyss of Seito's eyes. Hesitantly, Seito spoke without breaking eye contact but slightly shifting his head away. "I am looking to travel to the Osada Castle." The old man burst into a shriek. "Aren't ya a little young to be heading on over there? Don't ya know they be monsters older than you in those waters and on that land?"

The chunin seemed unfazed with composure. "There are plenty of shinobi older than Sero that have fallen to him." The rebuttal caused the old man to squint, judging. "Very well. The price is 50 ryo. However, since you are an ambitious and determined young man, it'll be 60!" He laughed as he wandered off over tripping over himself. The Kiri nin rolled his eyes with a chuckle as he walked through the counter and towards the dock. The navy blue pants and shinobi sandals identified him as a shinobi, but none better than the Kirigakure headband that was crisply polished on his forehead. The old man stepped into a creaking, perhaps leaking canoe and extended his arm out for the ryo. "When we get there." Seito said with a stern voice. The old man chuckled and made space for Seito.

His long black locks flowed in the wind as the old man pushed the canoe down towards the castle. Unfortunately, Seito could not see anything due to a thick mist. 'Kirigakure no jutsu?' Seito thought as he wondered if the fog was an ever-present jutsu. Regardless, Seito felt a strange sensation as his hairs stood up. A light chuckle came across Seito as he realized what he was getting himself into and the only way he could handle himself was through humor. As the canoe docked, Seito threw a few coins towards the old man as he caught them with a bright shining smile strong enough to shed some light on the dock. "Be careful!" The old man shoued with a creepy laugh that slowly crept away to nothing. Within moments, Seito found himself on shudder island, covered with fog allowing one to only within the treeline and several meters in front of him.

His first few steps sent him an eerie and odd feeling of paranoia, of being watched, as if he were prey. Regardless, the chunin marched on wishing that he had developed a genjutsu to cure his delusions. Seito walked calmly down the path that he hoped would lead him to Sero. The entire time, blinking eyes watched from within the woods only meters away on each side of him. The chunin chuckled to himself thinking about how right the boatman was. Seeing shadows of the trees gave comfort to Seito knowing that this was not a complete genjutsu. It would not take long for Seito to find himself stepping on stone stairs, that he would hope led to the front door. Not that Seito was afraid but he certainly wanted to get out of here. He could see why people would call this place dangerous but not for the creatures that stalked but for the mental strength required to travel. Seito could easily see someone falling mentally insane here, the sadistic nature of Seito thought it would be hilarious to place genjutsu traps to expedite a complete meltdown. He wondered of many other people have made it to this front door, as he knocked with the large door knocker several times hoping for a response. As fun as it was, Seito was more nervous now than the trip. 'Questions.' Seito thought as he was running down the list of prearranged questions he had for Sero.

[813 WC]

The young man would enter the island with little difficulty having paid the ferry mans fee. However eyes were on him before his feet ever touched shore. Truth be told the ferry was just a comfortable way of getting across. A little bit of supernatural walking practice would of saved him the coin but not being able to see the surface of the water more than a clear spot here and there left an unsettling feeling. If rumors of monsters inhabiting the island were true, there must be something keeping them there besides a body of water. As it stood here and there the water would bubble or shift. Still otherwise except for in those moments. Perhaps there was something lurking beneath the surface. Something awaiting the living to trespass the dead. The ferry man himself would make much quicker work getting away from the island than he had arriving. In the distance there was the remnants of something stretching over the water to the right along the beach. Broken stonework scattered across the beach and the remaining foundations of what once must have been a large bridge made sturdy. Someone had destroyed it for some reason or another. Be it to keep someone out or something in was unclear.

As he would pass along the tree's here and there someone as perceptive as him might notice certain aspects long since faded from the obvious. Old and long since dried blood stains on a tree here. Claw marks and a decayed fingernail in the bark there where someone tried in vain to stop from being dragged within. If he were especially perceptive there was one tree in a clearing off to the right of the road that was almost sacred here. On this tree laid the headbands and symbols of both bandits and pirates as well as missing nin that had tested this place and been laid to rest. The branches covered with them to an amount that was difficult to count. Whoever it was that resided here had made enemies and many had come to claim his life. Many had come and many had burned. In a way it was his own tree of remembrance. A reminder that his enemies resided in the world and his guard could never be let down. As for the spiders watching a couple of the quick ones sped off towards the manor. Spreading word via whispers of a new comer. A new face to the mad kingdom.

As the young man would clear the woods he would find himself passing through a black Iron gate. Barely on its hinges and left open by whomever had been here before him. Had they simply forgotten or had they never had the chance to close it was unknown. Regardless ahead of him he could see the manor in a clearing from the mist now. It surrounded the building but did not invade it. A perfect ring keeping the mist at bay. Some presence within commanding it to be so. The manor itself was three stories tall with a fourth story bell tower that never rang. Its towering magnificence casting a great shadow over the land he must walk to approach it. No light came from within and yet the moment he crossed the boundary the mist would not he would feel it. There was something terrible waiting within. A beast that consumed souls and tore apart men. He would feel the presence and it was as if even the mist avoided him. This Sero Osada was surely not human. The dead could rise from the grave and not set of such alarms in the human mind.

Still even should he press though all that he would move through a well tended garden on either side of the stone path. An assortment of flowers and statues within. The flowers were beautiful and well nourished but the statues were darker things. Depictions of kobolds and gargoyles. Things one evaded in the stories of what goes bump in the night. A slight slosh of a fountain off to the side might even draw the eye. Water shifting along its course from within the fountain over a depicted battle in the stonework. Those near the top still fighting to reach the waters while standing on the bodies of the fallen. Still as he knocked on the door there would be a set of cackles from either side above him. From over the edge of the roof in a methodical unison two large hound sized spiders about the size of a saint Bernard each would descend from above. Trailing a single thick web behind them. Like white ropes as they approached ever so slowly. Speaking to each other and him at the same time. Confusing the situation with how they spoke in long words in low hisses.

"Look Sister, an intruder."

"Or a guest brother. Could always be a guest."

"Guests are invited. Master invited no man this day"

"You know not this ones intentions nor do we speak for master."

"True but master grows tired of assassins. We should eats him just to be safe."

"That is your stomach talking brother. Speak human. Friend or foe...life or death."

870

The howls of the wind and crashing water kept a quiet but unrelenting amount of volume that could persist forever. This was accompanied by the swinging branches and the rattling dead leaves outside the gate. This was place was mysteriously clamorous for showing very little signs of life. His mind flashed back to the tree with the headbands on clansmen, villagers and unique gangs; he could only ponder where the bodies were. Seito was not immune to the ominous and sinister feeling that this island produced. 'Monster Island'. Whispered in the back of his ear as if someone was standing behind him to remind him where he was but he was simply fooling himself by all the times he was told not go to to 'Monster Island'. Interesting giggles could be heard from above the door within the moment of him knocking. His eyes peered up quickly, he was defensive. Seito was not the fastest or quickest shinobi in his rank but he was of considerable quality and could be seen training agility often. This abilities were clearly put into play as Seito reacted to two enormous spiders that were superior to any bug he had ever seen.

However, he was only able to manage his footing and realize the situation before he could react in an aggressive offensive way. Luckily, he was calmed down by the talking spiders. Seito noticed that they hung by a thick rope capable of rivaling some of the branches on the smaller trees. Looking past that, he was happy to see the shadow of the rope. Being a genjutsu user made him aware and how to spot genjutsu, he would often test his surroundings due to caution; which, he was relived yet also disappointed knowing that these massive spiders were real and conversing while repelling. Seito's eyes could be seen shifting between the two and their multiple eyes that seemed as mysterious as the island itself and perhaps, just as big. Their long hisses made Seito relatively uncomfortable but imaging a spider speak any other way might just be more frightening. This chunin would have never imagined himself speaking to spiders, especially ones who are considering eating him. 'As if I'd let you eat me.' His eyes jolted to the right in an awkward eye roll but while trying to maintain respect.

"I would shake your hand as a symbol of friendship but you don't have one. Unfortunately, I am unaware of sharing pleasantries between spider-human relations." Seito said in response. Hopefully, he chose life.

A light chuckle came out of his voice as he wiped the sweat from his hands on his pants due to his nervousness. "I am here to see Osada Sero. I may not be a guest because I am not invited, I certainly am no foe nor assassin. I promise I got the message." He said pointing back at the headband tree, he was certain the spiders were aware of what he was talking about. "I believe I can benefit greatly from Sero and I am certain that I can be an asset to him as well. I come on my own accord with no affiliation to any agency, group or organization." He was hoping that his plea would grant him at least an audience with Sero. Seito was not entirely certain what he was going to do if his wish was granted but he had a couple ideas in mind, he knew that he could not blow his chance though.

"I am certain that Sero is not expecting me personally but I can believe that Sero is expecting a shinobi like me." He said with a last glimmer of hope. At this point, Seito was not sure if he was going to have to force his way into the castle or not. His mind started rolling through his techniques to see which would be best suitable to allow him access. The Kiri nin was just hoping that the door would not be locked and he was absolutely hope that he would not need to resort to violence for an audience. That is when the reality of possible death will crept into his mind and out of any comfort and trust that he is clinging onto now.

[1525 WC]

The two spiders would listen to his initial response. Hanging from their rope like webs a moment as they shifted to look at each other. For a moment there was silence as they stared at the young man. Slowly one snickered and then the other did as well. The idea of shaking hands amusing them. He hardly seemed frightened by them if he could respond with humor. They had expected some screaming and perhaps a fleeing individual. They had listened to the master speak of reasons they must never attempt to venture from the island. Of how spiders off the island were smaller than ones hand. Even the biggest ones. On average just tiny things one might overlook. It seemed hard for them to believe but they did believe that humans would resort to violence given in to fear. If they left the island they left his protection. Not that they couldn't look after themselves. Even should someone capable come along, even should they be burned alive and left as ashes in the wind they doubted there lived a single individual that could take down the entire island worth of spiders. Kill one, face a thousand. That was the true threat.

They would grow in silence as he spoke of getting the message. Their eyes drawn in the direction he indicated. They knew what rested there. A flood of enemies from before their time. Even they could not deny the masters wrath was extensive. However they were forbidden from simply eating just anyone who came along. They were merely the guardians at the door. Keeping the weak willed at bay. They were chosen because they would risk limb and life and bleed just to watch the wrong kind of intruder bleed. Even if they didn't kill they would take a blade just to maim. That was enough for their role. That was their choice. So it was that they would consider this mans choice. He wanted to gain something and came with the gift of his own unique abilities. Perhaps he had something to offer and perhaps he did not. It was up to them to decide and if they let in any fool they would regret it. The next assassin wouldn't be fed to them as quickly. They would have to hunt like the others. They were far to content in their meals coming to them at this point. Besides if this boy truly belonged to no one, he might be perfect to be molded.

So they paused as he stated that Sero was likely expecting a shinobi like him while not expecting him. A riddle? Oh they had spent time learning of these. Oh what a wonderful thing to be brought to their attention! A test oh a test. They snickered again as they swayed back and forth bumping into each other twice before lowering to the ground the rest of the way. Skittering close to him but outside of arms reach and in an odd way sitting in front of him. It looked almost as if they were smiling. They wanted to test this boy. Make sure he was someone with brains over just sheer lust for power. Certainly not like those who had abandoned master. Still they would speak in slow words with long hisses as their pincer like teeth clicked. A small amount of saliva dripping from the tips. They could almost taste his blood. They could smell his warm flesh.

"A test then oh yes a test."

"To see if you are the kind of Shinobi he expects"

"One of intelligence"

"Not of brawn, we have brawn"

"A riddle oh a riddle we love riddles."

"Yes we do oh indeed we do"

"Answer within the half hour on the clock above or run and flee fleshy thing"

"What four letter word can be spelled forward"

"Backwards"

"Upside down"

"And can still be read the same way left to right?"

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