“Take who you wish, but, remember some of the merchandise much to be preserved for the customer.” Screams and cries of help followed the proclamation as the Okiya was assaulted by several men clad in armor. Busting through doors, startling the women and clients of the establish. Blood painted the walls and soaked into the floor as clients were cut down without mercy. Women of all ages were either thrown down, their clothing ripped, much to the twisted glee of the assailants, or dragged out of the house while knowing what was to come of those who were not. The young knew not of what the men were doing to the others, but the sounds coming from the destroyed establish told the older ones what exactly was occurring. Unfortunately, they could not shield the ears or eyes of the younger females, as they bore witness to the depths of human cruelty. The one who orchestrated the attack did not participate in the atrocity acts, instead, he watched from his vantage point.

What felt like hours to the women were only forty-five minutes or so. The men having satisfied their cravings, leaving behind forever broken shells, tied up and secured the rest of the merchandise. “Is the product secure?”, The captured women cowered at the approaching presence who looked at them as if they were not even human, but rather, slabs of meat on the market. The being did not make any aggressive actions towards the caged women, looking over them long enough to ensure none of the injuries were too life-threatening before moving on to the next cage. Stopping at a cage, noticing the trickle of blood seeping between the bars, the being frowned, “Who put this one in here?”, They asked, pointing to a blonde haired woman, who was being attended to by the other four women in the cage as they attempted to stem the blood flow fro a stab wound.

Seconds passed as none of the other men wanted to own up to blunder, until, finally, a black haired boy, who could be no older than seventeen admitted in placing the woman in there. “I made it perfectly clear that no damaged merchandise was to be put into the cages, did I not?”, The being asked, even as grey-ish sand started filtering from the small black gourd attached to their hip, and slipping into the lock of the cage. “Y. . .Yes Sir.” The boy spoke, holding back the flinch when the lock to the cage fell harmlessly to the ground, and the woman in question was carelessly thrown out. Her moans and groans going unanswered by the men of the troupe, while they would have laughed at her misfortune, they were waiting to see what would come of the boy.

Locking the cage back up, none of the other women dared to escape, lest they wanted to deal with the troupe’s leader. “Come on, we will be cutting through the mountain range in order to make our schedule.” At the mention of the mountain range, many of the bandits paused in their tracks and showed signs of hesitation. Lately, there have been rumors of a lightning Akuma roaming the mountain range. A supernatural being who spits lightning out of its gaping jaws, disintegrating anyone who dared cross its path. Many of them knew of fellow comrades who ventured through the area, only to never be found, they presumably being killed by this lightning devil. “Sir, are you ---” The black haired boy from earlier coughed up blood and gripped the iron spike that pierced through his chest and had him suspended several feet in the air. As the boy’s life drained from his eyes, he would, unfortunately, learn a valuable lesson incredibly late; keep a low profile if you already got in trouble. “Let's go.” The men, shocked at what had just occurred, moved, pulling the cages as they made their way towards the mountain path. To some, who believed in a higher power, they were praying that they did not run into the lightning devil. The religious act being ironic considering what they had just partaken in moments ago


“Nanashi-chan, it has been such a long time.” Daremo did not attempt to correct the elderly woman who, upon immediately seeing him into the Okiya, had enveloped him in a strong hug, the act being something he returned. He had long since stopped going by Nanashi, especially after the man’s apparent demise after murdering the noblewoman. There was simply no way he could return back to using the name that became synonymous with many things, both good and bad. While he did not like many people knowing that he and Nanashi was the same person, thus concluding that Nanashi was alive, there were exceptions to this rule. Only the close people were allowed to called him ‘Nanashi’, and that included his non-blood related grandmother before him.  “Yes, it has been a long time, Chizuru.”, Daremo spoke, glancing at Amaya, reaching for and grasping her hand into his own, “I would like you to meet Kobayashi Amaya. My wife.”

Daremo silently watched as Chizuru eyed Amaya, her beady dark brown eyes appraising the woman. Her stony expression morphing into a kind one as she smiles, and embraced Amaya in a hug, “You actually managed to tame the brat? That is impressive.” She spoke, turning around, and shooing away the other girls and women who had, either known Daremo when he was younger or was told about him by the matriarch. “Come, let’s talk over a cup of tea. I am not as spry as I once used to be.” Chizuru said, walking away as the sound of her cane echoed throughout the establishment. Daremo, once more holding Amaya’s hand, guiding her through the establishment.


Taking a sip of the tea, Daremo looked at Chizuru, “Do not worry we wil - - -” Screams and cries for help echoed loudly throughout the building, and Daremo lept into action, bounding towards the direction of the noise. He knew that Amaya would not be far behind him. Arriving at the source of the noise, he noted several women, wrapped in blankets being led inside by members of the Okiya’s. “Nii-san!” Daremo turned his attention to a black-haired woman who was tugging him towards the covered girls, as tears were flowing down her cheeks, “You need to help them. They. . .They. . .”

Looking at the girls, Daremo noted the distance look within their eyes. A look that was all too familiar for him, he has seen it countless times before. “Amaya. . .” Daremo looked at Amaya, a swirl of emotions playing out within his eyes, as he moved to provide assistance. Amaya would know what Daremo needed. He wanting help with the healing of the girls. Kneeling beside a red-hair woman, he did not flinch when she struck out against him, scratching his arms, as she shrieked and attempted to get away from him. “I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help.” The words were spoken softly as he slowly moved closer to the girl. Medical chakra enveloping his hands, “I am going to heal your injuries, okay?” It took some time and coaxing from his sisters to get her to trust him, but, in the end, he was allowed to heal the more serious injuries. He could not heal some of the others due to their location, and because he was male. The same thing would be repeated over and over again.

As he moved towards a tan skin woman, Daremo’s eyes widening, “Mutsumi???” There being hesitation as he called out to the woman, hoping above everything that he was wrong. Daremo felt the pit of his stomach dropped as the woman turned towards him, “Uncle Nana?”. The distance between them was closed in an instant as he reached towards the girl, gently laying the girl back down, preventing her from straining the stab wound on her stomach. “How are you here?”, He asked, using medical chakra to heal up the wound, thankfully, the other geishas had cleaned it beforehand. Daremo listened carefully as Mitsumi spoke about the death of her mothers, one of them being his former teacher Maise. She going on to explain that she became apart of the Okiya sometime afterward and had been doing well, until they showed up.

“What happened?”, Daremo asked, slipping out of his Haori, and wrapping it around Mitsumi. As the only child of his former mentor began speaking on the events that had occurred a day ago, Daremo found himself having to clamp down on his anger. The beast within him was slamming at the bars of the cage, and screaming out for the blood of those who dared to defile not only Mitsumi but the others. Those animals dared to touch Mitsumi and the other geisha. They dared to break them like this! “Uncle Nana.” Daremo snapped out of his musing, grasping the Mitsumi’s hands into his, yellow eyes raging with barely constraint anger looked into dim sky blue ones. Never should eyes of someone so young should be so lifeless. “Uncle Nana. Will, you do me. . no. . will you do us a favor?” Daremo nodded without hesitation, “Anything. . .”

Although there was noise around them, as many of the girls and women were being comforted, Mitsumi’s voice still was heard, “Will you kill those animals?”. Wordlessly, Daremo looked around at the other victims, all who had turned to him, and burned the image of their broken eyes into his memory. Standing up, Daremo leaned down, kissing Mitsumi on the forehead, and wiping away her tears, “Of course, I will.” He spoke with conviction. Tightening the haori around Mitsumi’s form, “Hold onto that for me, will you? I will be getting it when I come back.” ruffling Mitsumi’s hair, Daremo turned to Amaya. Similar to him, she was pissed, her long-lost sister has been one of the victims. These animals really know how to piss people off.

“Amaya. You ready?”, Even if she was not, Daremo would make his way towards the front door, stepping outside, and waited for his wife. “They were headed towards the Valley of Mountains. The place is not too far from here. To avoid detection, they would probably go around the town located nearby the mountains. So, we should be able to catch up with them.” He spoke, sped away from the okiya. Only after a good distance away, "Time to hunt. . ."

---

1764

A late evening in Iwagakure. Two people walking down the road in the Valley of Mountains. One, a five year old child wearing a simple sweater and trousers. Rugged brown hair, green eyes and a 'trophy' bandage on his nose for the hardships he had suffered. Kazuki was a simple boy who ended in the arms of a yamabushi through unfortunate events. The person next to him, being the yamabushi and his guardian, was a young woman wearing the tattered remains of a brown kimono with golden trim. A straw hat sheltered most of her face, her lustrous black haired tied in a knot and hidden under the hat, feet carried by simple shoes adorned by purple thread. The remainders of a former higher class she belonged to. The way she carried herself, the yamabushi could easily have been mistaken as a ronin but as she bore no weapons few would make that mistake - a ronin always kept their katana close.

The two of them would quietly walk along the road, having left Iwagakure behind them quite a while ago and moving forward to their own sheltered home in the Valley of Mountains. In the distance, the hawk eyes of the yamabushi caught the dancing black plumes of smoke but as she had sworn not to interfere with shinobi business ever since she took on this new life, she didn't rush forward to perceive with own eyes what had transpired. It would take another fifteen minutes of peaceful walking before the child himself noticed the black fumes too and raised his hand to point at it.

"Suzume-neesan, look!"

As if only now noticing the smoke, she'd tip her hat and raise her eyes to the skies.

"My. Something bad must have happened over there."
"Do you think it's the tea house along the road?"
"I believe so."

The expression of worry on the child's face didn't escape the yamabushi. The two had recently partaken in a tea ceremony with a maiko of Iwagakure's hanamachi. An interesting conversation for the yamabushi who wanted nothing more than to teach the boy some culture and artistry, but the boy himself had grown more attached to it than she had expected. It was normal then that he showed a similar concern for a tea house that was none of their concern, even if fatigue had already settled deeply into his young body.

"We should go see!"
"Is that so, Kazuki-kun?", Mizuki would ask, pulling her hat back down. "The world doesn't concern us"

The boy would look defeated as he was reminded of the first lessons he was taught. She was right. The two of them lived secluded. A dark god lived in Kumogakure, bandits had killed his parents, the maiko of the tea house was hurt. Suzume was right. The world was a mean place.

And yet...

As the tea house in the distance neared with every new step, the impatient boy anxious despite the lessons taught, he would eventually run off to meet the people huddled together. People who had survived the ordeal and were left on their own. Broken. Crying in a corner, just an old woman left to tend to them. An image too much to bear for the child, who could feel tears well up and still raised his chin. Had he not wanted to help him? But now he felt hopeless as much as they did, too young to do anything, too weak to do much. The yamabushi would arrive, seeing his shoulders slump a little. With a sad expression he looked up at Mizuki.

"What's the matter, Kazuki-kun?"
"I... I can't even do anything.", he said as he rubbed the tears out of his eyes.
"And what would you do if you could do all the things?"
"I... I would... I don't know."
"Offer what you have, Kazuki-kun. It's worth more than giving what you don't have."
"But I have nothing..."

Mizuki crouched and took his two hands in hers, palms open and bared to the skies.

"I see two fine hands that helped me countless of times. Why would they not be good enough now?"

His eyes would widen as he grasped the meaning of her words and with a nod, he would tear himself loose and run up to the people in peril. With the last of his energy, he'd help out where he could. Passing towels, getting warm water, being his empathic self. Learning values a shinobi like Mizuki would not be able to teach him without their presence. As he went about, she'd smile at his eagerness to help out others despite the pain he still suffered. Perhaps his own way to find peace. By bringing it to others. Arashihime could not have wished a better path for the boy.

As she closed the distance between her and the house, an elderly woman would walk up to her in a hurry.

"Samurai, samurai!"
"I'm sorry, I'm not a samurai. I'm a yamabushi named Suzume"
"A-ah... I'm sorry but could you help us nonetheless? I know you hermits don't want any relation with us but... please."
"What sort of help would you need?"
"Bandits. They barged in and took away our geisha, did... horrible things to the others. Oh, please..."

Being a woman herself, Mizuki swallowed at the imagery of what they had done. The cries, the fear was palpable, and it wouldn't be the first time she had crossed bandits bold enough to make a mess among the weaker. However, where most contented themselves with brutality and the occasional murder, few had gone this far. Tapping the border of her straw hat, Mizuki realised she could not leave this unattended to. Even if she had no business with the shinobi and wanted to remain secluded from the world, there were limits even to her peace of mind.

"W-will you help us?"
"I have one condition. The boy is named Kazuki. Let him stay here for the night under your custody, I'll be back tomorrow to pick him up."
"Of course! thank you, a thousand thanks."
"I should thank you for watching over Kazuki. Please be well.", she'd say as she bowed before the old woman, vanishing in a flicker when she straightened again. The old woman would be left behind confused, not having believed the rumours about yamabushi but quickly forgot about all that when she ran in to care for her own people.

---

The night would soon fall but the traces were still fresh. Men, wagons. They had been quite numerous. An orchestrated raid rather than a random bandit. Was the Infinity Gang behind this? Considering the direction they were going there was a chance this was the case. A gang with whom Mizuki had already clashed after she had taken out careless bandits on a regular case when they crossed her. They had come for vengeance, and had failed in achieving it. She had left most of them alive back then, slaying only their leader. Had they returned despite her warning? If such were the case she would not be so kind as to leave them a second warning, the yamabushi disgusted by their low practises.

Zhinu would cry out, the grey hawk monitoring the skies warning her of danger ahead. Whistling a command, the bird confirm the order and fly off. Returning to Kazuki to keep watch over him while she wasn't around. In the distance, despite the twilight, she could see the camp rise up at the horizon. The banner of the Infinity gang. So they had reorganised themselves. An error on their account. Moving to the flank of the mountains, Mizuki would hide in the darkness as she thought about a plan to deal with them and retrieve the captured geisha...

---

1322

Family came in all shapes and sizes, related by blood or by circumstance. Sometimes it changed dramatically and sometimes it stayed the same. Your family could either accept your changes whether they were extreme or small and sometimes they saw you just as you were the last time they remembered you. As a small smile spread across the Guanyin’s face she couldn’t help but to think that that was what was happening now: even though it had been years since Daremo had gone by his former name it still stuck to him like some kind of permanent force - not glue, definitely not glue, but something far stronger. With her smile growing more pronounced - her own gladness to see her love reunited with people she knew he cared about but hadn’t been able to see in quite a while becoming more pronounced- she watched the two embrace and waited to be introduced. As her hand was reached for and grasped she gave Nanashi’s a gentle squeeze, bowing her head politely as she was introduced to the woman that Nanashi had called Chizuru.

Hiding her amusement well she waited as the woman gave her a look over, noting to herself as the woman did so that this reminded her quite a lot of when she had first met Daremo’s grandmother and grandfather. Though, she also found herself noting that this felt less threatening - no, not quite the word needed - dangerous perhaps? The way Daremo’s grandmother had looked at her had made her feel almost like she had been on an executioner's block and waiting to see if her sentence would be overturned: life or death. Thankfully whatever mental assessment the woman was giving her didn’t last long and Amaya was apparently proven worthy as the woman embraced her with a hug which Amaya automatically returned. When Chizuru spoke again, seemingly surprised that she had ‘tamed’ Nanashi, Amaya laughed softly and shook her head. ”It’s a funny thing the power of love…”, she knew the words could be taken as poetic and yet Amaya wasn’t the type: she spoke them because they were true, not because they were pretty. ”Though, I don’t know if it was so much I tamed him as much as he tamed me.”, again truthfulness left her lips, words she didn’t mind sharing with those who obviously cared for the man whose hand she was once again holding as they followed the elderly woman.

Tea was a lovely idea, especially after such a far journey, plus it led to a perfect time to talk and get to know more of Nanashi’s unrelated family. However, no sooner did they take a seat, Nanashi beginning to speak, was his voice cut off by distance panicked cries. Just like her husband she was out of her seat and following after him immediately, taking in a sight that was disturbing and horrible - though sadly one she had seen in some context in the past on more than one occasion. Her response was immediate as she moved forward to help the injured, heading to some of the worst of the group first: superficial injuries could wait in comparison to some of the more grievous ones there. As her hands glowed with healing chakra, her effective skills once more put to work, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and glanced over in time to see one of injured girls lashing out in fear against Nanashi. It was a sight that in any other contacts would have incited Amaya’s violent temper but in this situation, with the state the women were in, it was clear what had happened to them and therefore understandable.

It wasn’t until what seemed like several hours had passed, but which was really only three or four minutes, that Amaya moved to yet another girl, kneeling beside her while checking over her less severe injuries and applying the same medical treatment as she had done with the others: leaving behind not a single physical mark, though there would always be plenty of mental ones to make up for it of that much she was sure. Working diligently she started with the more grievous wounds, leaving the laceration across the young woman’s face for last. In fact, it wasn’t until she got a good look in her eyes that Amaya paused, feeling as if the world around her which was already so damaged and broken had just incinerated itself. ”Chiyo…?”, Amaya spoke softly, causing the girl who had been looking towards one of the other to zero in on Amaya, eyes widening after a moment as she made notice of the features that were still familiar of Amaya’s though her albino traits had long since been erased and replaced with black hair and eyelashes, and stormy gray eyes and lightly tanned skin.

”... Amaya?!”, the woman practically shouted, moving immediately to cling to the elder female. Amaya’s own arms wrapped around the girl without hesitation as if her very arms could shelter the younger woman from the cruelness and harshness of the world she had been forced to endure and witness, feeling her shudder as a sob left her lips.

What had been anger before at this situation compared to nothing at how she felt now: while she knew she would follow Daremo into whatever hell they need to traverse in order to find and kill - and likely torture - those who had done this there were an all new motivation there: her own revenge. They had hurt her Chiyo, her baby half sister, and she wanted to introduce them to the type of hell on earth they would never recover from. ”You’re safe now, little sister.”, Amaya spoke softly, trying to console the crying young woman.

”No I’m not, they’ll come back…”, Chiyo responded, her fear put into words.

”Then I’ll make it safe. How about that?”, Amaya spoke, pulling back to look Chiyo in the eyes, the unspoken remainder of her words showing clearly on her face: those who did this would die in the most gruesome and horrible ways Amaya could imagine. She would make things safe again, she would make sure that Chiyo was never harmed by another soul for the remainder of her life. She would hunt down and exterminate each and every individual responsible not only for her own suffering but those of Chiyo’s family and friends.

Perhaps it was her words, or perhaps the look in Amaya’s eyes, or maybe a combination of both, but Chiyo was slowly able to release her hold on Amaya and nod before sniffling and wiping away tears. ”Just make sure you come back…”

A wicked grin spread across Amaya’s face and she nodded as she stood back up, helping Chiyo to her feet in the process. ”Don’t worry about that, Chiyo… “, Amaya would respond before placing a gentle kiss on her sister’s forehead: a sign of protection, and a promise she would return. Glancing then towards Daremo she would nod, turning and following him towards the front door and outside. There was so much she needed to explain, especially after the reappearance of a sister she hadn’t often mentioned, and so much more she had to deal with herself considering the fact that she had believed her half sister dead for several years now, but it would wait until their task was done. You didn’t fuck with a monster’s family, and she knew that both her and her husband would make sure the men who harmed those girls knew it. Nodding to his words about the location of the those who had earned their ire she followed after her husband in silence, her mind churning while she remained ever watchful.

---

1,310

Akinari, a member of the Infinity Gang looked at the back of his leader with slight apprehensiveness as he, and some others, tugged along one of the cages that had held their product. It had been a day since one of their members, the boy’s name having long since been forgotten, was slain by their leader when he asked one too many questions. He could not help but to mentally shake his head at the kid’s foolishness. While the boy was a greenhorn when it came to these particular operations, he should have still understood the rules of the Infinity Gang; one does not question leadership without risk of death. A simple rule that the boy had seemingly forgotten and his forgetfulness resulted in his death.

None of the members mourned for the boy’s death; he was just another casualty, and easily replaceable with the next eager and proven individual. Like many others, Akinari cared not for his fellow man, only cooperating with them because it was good for business, but, if giving the opportunity, would turn on them and take their possessions as their own. The idiom, “there is no loyalty among thieves”, applied perfectly with the men, and few women, who made up the Infinity Gang. the only thing that bound the group together was the prospect of wealth and the threatening power of those in charge.

Having said that, Akinari understood the concern the boy had. The Valley of the Mountains had become deadlier as of late. What normally would have been a safe passage for the likes of the Infinity Gang, and other criminals. Sure, there might be skirmishes between rival groups, but at least it was an enemy everybody knew thus knew what to expect; they knew how each group would respond, and what they desire to get through the mountains without any hassle. Now though, those days had long since gone by, thanks to the damn Lightning Devil.

No one knew where the being came from. One moment the trails were being peacefully used by them and other like-minded people, then the next, incidents of people being attacked by a demon who spews lightning started making rounds within the criminal world. What was thought of as an isolated attack, for shinobis were sometimes called in to deal with them, was written off as such when more individuals returned after being attacked, usually without their leader. Normally, the attacks would not be a problem, one would just avoid the area of where they were taking place. But, when it came to the Lightning Devil, it attacked randomly, without a set pattern except for they occurring around Valley of Mountains.

At the thought of the latest attack done by the Lightning Devil, Akinari stared at the back of his leader. Questioning them was out of the question unless he wanted to end up like the boy from earlier, however, he wondered was they were led through this path for some other reason? Both him, the leader, and some of the other members were not originally apart of this group. They were apart of another which leader fell in combat on this same valley, with the members of the group only being able to escape due to the merciful nature of their assailant. When they returned, the group was merged into the current one, and a new leader was appointed.

“Set up the camp here before it gets nightfall.” The leader barked, watching as the men went about setting up the camp. Banners being placed on the outer encampment’s edges to warn other criminal groups of who was here. The cart holding the whimpering product was hauled to the center of the camp. “I want eight of you on guard duty. Pair up in twos, and cover each cardinal direction.” The leader ordered. Rolling his shoulders, Akinari pulled out a scroll on his person and unsealed a rather large hammer. The hammer looking more like a meat tenderizer tool just scaled to that of a 5ft weapon. Looking at the person who he was paired up with, another greenhorn who was only equipped with a low-quality sword, Akinari mentally shook his head as they began patrolling the western part of the encampment.

---

At a young age, shinobi are taught to not allow their emotions to get the better of them. That emotion can cloud one’s rational thinking, making them take riskier actions than they normally wouldn’t have if they were thinking clearly. Though, at the same time, emotions could strengthen one’s resolve, give them the last bit of ‘something’ to solidify their decision. It empowers them, making them stronger in ways that would not be possible if emotions were mute. Emotions were a double edge sword that many shinobi traditionalists finding them to be useless, and others finding them to be a much-needed commodity.

Daremo, himself, was also in the group of those who believed emotions were needed. Emotions were what separate the mindless from the rest. It is the one thing that separates the drones from the living. That is why he did not try to control the emotions felt when finding out what had happened to his mentor's daughter. In this context, rage did not do any justice to describe what Daremo felt upon exiting the establishment. Rage was just a tip of the iceberg. What he felt went deeper than what could be described as 'rage', and it blurred the lines with murderous.

He did not care much for other people. He could care less what occurred to them, for his concern was elsewhere. However, when it comes to those who were family and considered friends of his, Daremo did not take kindly to anyone who messes with them. The Elemental Nations offered little place to hide for those who were the target of his ire, and, the bandits who did this would find out in a painful way.

Transversing the lands, the colors around him blurring together, Daremo turned his attention to Amaya. He noted the drastic shift within her the moment they had exited the Okiya, "Assuming you knew that woman?", He asked, referring to the last girl that was healed. He was not too clouded with his own emotions to overlook something was amidst with his love. He was curious about what relations Amaya and the other woman shared. She was not someone that Amaya had mentioned, at least, not to his knowledge.

"We won't be stopping by the destroyed Okiya. Time is of the essence to rescue the other girls that were kidnaped. Fresh product is rarely held on for long periods of time due to the maintenance costs of keeping them alive. Those who buy tend to prefer their girls to be in somewhat good condition. The bandits will attempt to unload their supply with another group who will then take them to wherever they would be held for market." He spoke, seemingly having knowledge in the dark arts of human trafficking. The knowledge coming from years of experiencing the criminal underground due to his mother, and others, wanting him to understand the darkness is mankind. The experience giving him knowledge that would never leave him. "We will be heading straight towards the Valley of Mountains. Thankfully, from what Mutsumi mentioned, this group is fairly large with thirty or so members. The number of members, plus the cargo they are carrying would limit the places they can hide." He said, continuing the trek to the mountains.

As nightfall would fall, Daremo pressed on through the valley of the mountains, sharp eyes peering through the darkness, looking for any signs of the bandits, and ears listening out for anything that would give away the bandits location. Asides from the occasional bird or insect cry, the area was quiet. "Do you see that?", Daremo asked, pointing towards a fire in the horizon. The location of the fire not being too far from them for, even at their distance, he would hear the sounds of a large group.

Just as he was about to ask Amaya what she thought of the chance that the group would be the ones who kidnapped the other Geishas, Daremo suddenly tugged Amaya into a small cave located to the right of them, just as two bandits walked by, both of them carrying swords. Eyes narrowed as the men talked about wanting to play with the girls and that were at their camp. They seemingly disjointed with the fact they had patrol duty while the others did not.

Looking at Amaya, Daremo cut towards the bandits, a silent message being passed between the lovers; he would take the one on the right, and she takes the other simultaneously. Once the message was passed, Daremo, initiated the attack, sneaking up behind his target, covering their mouth, and jabbing a black senbon into the bandit’s neck. “We need to keep one of them alive to get information out of them. Maybe they will be able to give us more information regarding the group.” Daremo whispered while keeping his hand over the bandit’s mouth. If Amaya did not kill her’s, he would do away with his own, but if she did kill hers, well, the bandit with a puncture wound in the neck would be having a very bad day. Either way, information would be obtained.

---

1571[3335]

Bandit Info:

The camp of the bandits was large. A sizeable caravan compared to the general camps that dotted the Valley in secrecy. Blue-green eyes calmly observing the place, Mizuki's mind wondered if this was the result of her having dealt with an assault of fifty bandits weeks ago. The gang having grown fearful enough of the 'akuma' that they had decided to band together for their own safety. A misplaced sense of organisation out of a misjudged necessity. A hint of self-doubt slipped into Mizuki's mind at the possibility she had been the cause of this, much like she had been the cause of Hastur's self-imposed divinity. One woman to put faith in the man, only to see him end up forgetting about Kumogakure as he focused on his own reputation as a god. Be it as it may, the burden of responsibility pressed on the yamabushi's shoulders.

With night falling soon, she would hold the advantage. A shinobi was trained to infiltrate no matter the time of day, but bandits usually weren't. Some would hold position near campfires to have some light but few were wise enough to understand it was better to hide in darkness and look at the light than stand in light and peer into the darkness. Those who would have the insight to perform proper night guard generally posed little problem for a trained shinobi such as herself. Blending in with the mountains she was familiar with, Mizuki waited for the night to come. Soon enough, a cold fury would come to pass in the form of a raging storm.

~..:: NIGHT ::..~

Night had fallen. Having unsealed her armour and katana, the yamabushi was ready to bring vengeance on those who had dared to mistreat the people of the tea house. She had shown compassion for life, no matter how misguided they had been, and had to suffer how they squandered their possibility for a better future by going there where angels feared to tread. No more. As she moved unheard under the guise of the night, her light step faster than most thanks to Hsien, she passed effortless through an unexpected gap in the defences of the night watch.

On a similar level, the camp seemed to be rather alert despite the night, worried gossip going around that two men had yet to return from patrol. A heated discussion, tension was higher than it should have been yet nothing compared to what the Siege of Inabayama had taught her. At worst, the men had drunken themselves into a stupor. At best, they couldn't bear the inhumanity of the gang and had fled at the first moment that had presented itself. It would change little about what was yet to come.

Forming the hand seals of a jutsu which would herald the arrival of the Lady of Storms, Mizuki's chakra would slowly but steadily manipulate the barely perceivable weather under the night sky. The clouds already present would gain a darker colour to the point they'd be a brooding grey. The pressure in the air would drastically fall as thunder clouds were formed, and eventually the first drips of water would betray the sudden change in weather. Where a few of the men would swear under the sudden rain, things took a turn for the worse when the light of campfires were dimming rapidly to a point of non-existence and the heavy rumble of thunder made its disdain over the camp known.

Those that had taken the night to have a good rest before their watch would suffer an uncomfortable night. Those who took the watch would soon be left in the dark as campfires lost their light under the heavy rainfall, the only sound to be perceived being that of cold rain drumming on the ground. The women in their cages, though afraid of the increasing chaos, were probably the safest of all in their cage at this point, their greatest discomfort being the lack of shelter against the downpour.

As panic rose, orders were barked against the heavy winds. Two men had already disappeared through unknown forces. Two more would join them in the afterlife as a shadow appeared swifter than they could have anticipated, crude senbon puncturing their throat. The rainfall would hide the thud of their bodies in the distance, a flash of light revealing a silhouette against the dark skies momentarily. The akuma had come. And it was not in a good mood...

---

753
Total: 2075

OOC: Assuming questioning that one man might take some time...
Disregard suiton/raiton effects of the jutsu. Only creating the storm with it.

325/350:

There was something to be said about the way that Amaya was feeling as she followed after her husband. What had started out as rage had grown into something worse: the calm before the a world changing storm. This was worse than the fiery temper she was known for, so much so, as it brought with it a slew of the ‘unknown’ factor. In her line of work both as a shinobi and while working in the hospital back in Konoha Amaya had witnessed a lot of horrors, she had got an up close and personal look at the terrible things people could do to one another. All manner of injuries and victims of all manner of crimes had crossed her path and she had had to treat them all - having never turned away a single patient or case regardless of how gruesome it was. She had handled it all with a kind of detached professionalism that was almost scary in its own right: as if she were an entity without thought or feeling, a being just doing their job day in and day out, utterly and completely unaffected by it all. Sure, she could get angry, and sometimes her temper got explosive. But, this calmness? This focused lethality? It wasn’t natural for Amaya, and it was going to be terrifying when she unleashed it on her target.

She knew what those girls had gone through, even the ones who she hadn’t healed personally. She knew that no matter how well she repaired their bodies their minds and spirits would remain forever altered, nearly shattered. This was the kind of experience where you couldn’t shut the lights off at night over, the kind of thing that caused you to check and then recheck and then check once more every lock on every door and window in the house. There was no getting over this, no way to fully heal, even when those girls were in their fifties there’d still be something about this experience that would haunt them: there were simply put forever altered. She knew it, she knew it was the same for Chiyo as it was for the others. She couldn’t rewind time, but she could certainly destroy each and every individual who had a hand in this. She owed her sister that much at least.

She was jared from her murderous and torturous thoughts from the question her husband posed to her as she ran along with him, turning the world into blurs and streaks of colors. “Her name is Chiyo, she’s my half sister. My father ended up impregnating a woman while on a long-term mission. They kept in contact afterwards, and Chiyo would often come and visit us during the summers. One day her mother sent us a letter saying that she was dead - we believed her. I had no idea Chiyo was still alive and living here in Iwagakure.” Ah yes, that would be someone else she would deal with in time too: Chiyo’s mother: though perhaps not with the same kind of method she intended on using against the low life individuals who had harmed those innocent girls - no, they would witness and face a special kind of hell.

She listened with rapt attention at the plan Daremo have, it not escaping her notice the intricate knowledge he had of the workings of human trafficking - though she wasn’t going to question it now, especially with their task at hand. Instead she simply nodded her head: time was of the essence from what Daremo had said, and she could only hold that the idea of the buyers wanting their ‘product’ to be in good condition would mean that the girls who were being transported would be safe from the worst of the horror the others had faced.

As night fell around them she knew they had to be close: her and Daremo moving far faster with just the two of them than any group of thugs could surely do, especially with a bunch of imprisoned and frightened girls along with them. Her gaze shifted to what appeared to be a fire in the distance, and she nodded to Daremo’s question. Before she could speak, however, she found herself pulled to the side just as the sound of footsteps reached her ears, two bandits heading past carrying swords. While they could have been just any two people wandering through the same as her and Daremo were it became quickly apparent that wasn’t the case due to the choice of topic they were discussing: loudly enough that it seemed they had no idea her and Daremo were there, that death awaited them.

At Daremo’s silent message she’d nod in response, following after him with the kind of silence that death itself moved in. While Amaya would have normally chosen a weapon to make killing more convenient in her current mood that question the case. Despite the bandit being armed along with his body she moved up behind him silent like the grave. Before he could even know what was happening she wrapped her arms around his neck, bracing her hand on his chin, before giving a sudden and violent twist: snapping his neck and killing him instantly. With Daremo leaving his own unhappy victim alive Amaya dragged hers into the cave and out of sight, ensuring that if anyone were to pass by, such as another patrol if there happened to be one, there’d be no evidence left behind for them to find. Even the drag marks from the victims feet were scuffed out of the dirt, ensuring that there was nothing out of the ordinary to indict anything had happened at all.

---

950 | 2,260

The snapping sound of a neck being broken was unmistakable, and it told Daremo everything he needed to know in regards to Amaya’s decision. “Aren’t you the lucky one.” He said to the bandit that was bleeding profusely from the neck wound. Knowing this bandit would be the key to finding out information on the bandit camp, and what all awaits them, medical chakra was channeled into Daremo’s right hand that was now covering the entrance wound point. The flowing flood oozing between his fingers came to an abrupt stopped as the wound was closed. As he stated before, there was a need to keep one of the bandits alive for interrogation purposes.

Needing to transport the struggling bandit, Daremo wrapped his arms just underneath the man’s chin. It taking only a few minutes for the man to slip into unconsciousness. Hefting the body onto his shoulders, Daremo unceremoniously tossed the man against the mountainside, and watching impassively as the man was jarred back to consciousness. With precision from the countless hours of practice, four senbons were thrown at the man, burying into his limbs and into the rock behind him. “You awake?” Daremo asked, tilting his head to the side as the bandit attempted to spit in his face. Behind the defiance within the bandit’s eyes was fear, he knowing well what awaits him.

Daremo enjoyed seeing the looks within his tortured victims. It gave him reassurance that the person being interrogated was human and not some mindless robot that would take some extreme measures to break. For while he had no problem in torturing people, he preferred to get it done quickly. “I really don’t enjoy torturing people.” He monologued, pulling out a single kunai and began twirling it around, “It is a chore, to put it mildly.” Some people would have started physically torturing the individual for information. While it was a valid tactic, Daremo preferred a simpler approach in the beginning.

“What is your name? I’m Eishi.” He introduced himself, giving the man a fake name, not like they knew that. No matter the name given, it serves the purpose of broken the barrier of strangers between the two. Granted, the tactic might have been more impactful if the bandit wasn’t pinned to the mountainside, but everything could not be perfect. Communication was still established. “I don’t care who you are! You piece of shit not going to get anything from me.” The bandit vehemently said. He knew what was going to happen. He was not stupid in what occurs to those who were captured.

Not being phased by the bandit’s comment, Daremo searched through his person, looking for anything that might give away information. “The Infinity Gang, eh?” He flipping the silver coin, with the gang’s sigma engraved on it, up in the air, “Been awhile since I ran into them.” The last time he ran into the group was during his younger years, and even back then they were running amok. Tearing was heard as Daremo ripped off the right sleeve of the man, revealing a tattoo that showed his affiliation for the group. “You are a relatively new member, aren’t you? What, maybe a year or so?” He questioned. There were ways to tell members of the Infinity Gang apart, the new members’ tattoos lacked many many of the marking as some of the older members who had colorful and detailed markings that are associated with their achievement. The information was something discussed during the academy days as a way for students to know about the local gangs in Tsuchi no Kuni.

“I am not going to tell you shit.” Why did people have to be difficult? A lot of time could have been saved if the information was just given upfront. Taking the kunai in hand, Daremo looked around, finding a twig on the ground, “This will do just nicely.” he said breaking the twig, and sharpen an end to a fine point. The sudden rainfall gave him a momentary pause, for he could have sworn it was clear prior to that. Chalking it up the Iwa’s weather, Daremo lifted the bandit’s hand and placed the sharp twig just underneath the male’s nails. The bandit, who figured what was going to happen, started to struggle against the senbons that pinned him to the wall.

Whistling a small tune to himself, Daremo flipped the kunai around, holding it by the bladed in, and tapped against the twig, pushing its sharp point underneath the male’s nail. “Do you want to give us the information we want? The location of the camp? How many of you are there? Is the product still with you or has it been handed off to another? Who is in charge?” To give the bandit some incentive, Daremo tapped against the twig, sending it deeper underneath his nails. The rainfall drowned out the screams from the bandit, who still remain steadfast. “Very well, have it your way. . .” Daremo said, and got to work.


The leader did not particularly like the defenses of the campsite. While there were only two natural ways in entering the encampment, that is being the worn trail that cuts through the campsite, there were still plenty of other ways for one to sneak up on them. Rock cliffs jutted on nearly every side of the encampment, providing an adequate amount of cover from natural forces and means to hide within the crevices that were sporadically about, gave excellent means for other groups to sneak up on them. Like judgemental Gods, a couple of massive trees overlooked the bandit camp within the sunken valley.

Sitting underneath one of the shelters provided by the cliff was the troupe’s leader. Grunting the leader stepped from underneath the cliff, his body being illuminated by the glow of the flames, “Have the other two - - -” Eyes narrowed when it suddenly started raining, and the wind picked up speed. “Get our product underneath that cliff!" The leader barked, his words being followed by the camp descending into the darkness from the heavy rainfall. Mass panic assured, captured girls screamed, and bandits scramble about to do what was asked of them. “Four of you, split up, and check on the patrols that went missing and report back!” The leader order underneath the flashes of lightning that illuminated the night sky.

The leader looked out into the distance, eyes narrowed in an attempt to peer through the curtain of rain. Having survived as long as he has, he knew when to listen to his gut, and right now his gut was telling him somewhat was wrong. Hell, instincts was only apart of it, the fact four members were missing, they haven’t checked it was worrisome. Sure, he did not fully trust those in his company, much like him, they all had their own motives and reasonings for doing what they did, and would not hesitate to cut down their own if it means they get closer to their goal. However, none was foolish enough to desert, knowing well what awaits them if they do. So, the question remained, what was going on out there?


“Thank you for that information,” Daremo said, glancing when he did not receive any response. Citrine eyes looking at the strung up bandit. The bandit, whose name was forgotten already, had seen better days. His eyes, ears, nose, and fingernails were all missing. Littered across his exposed upper chest was missing patches of skin, and puncture wounds went straight through the body. Along with the patchwork of wounds, there were blacken  “Guuhhh.” The man could no longer speak, only gurgle as his tongue was missing too. Pulling the senbons from the limbs, Daremo had already turned his attention to Amaya by the time the bandit dropped to the ground. “Let’s go.” A crunch was heard as Daremo crushed the male’s windpipe with his foot, “We should be able to dodge the other six patrols, or if the opportunity arises, we can kill them. There is a chance others might be sent this way to check up on the patrols if they had to check in at a certain time.”

Thankfully, it would seem the sun would come back out for them, the rain has been nothing more than an unexpected shower. Though, his eyes narrowed when he noted that the darker skies that were specifically over the ‘apparently’ bandit camp location. He understood there was something called isolated rainfall, but he still could not shake the feeling that something else was going on. “Someone is coming.” Daremo suddenly said as the sound of individuals talking could be heard. Whoever was talking were coming straight towards them. No sooner as Daremo could see them, a black needle would be thrown, piercing one of the bandits through the heart. His body dropping with a thud as he never knew what hit him. If Amaya had not taken out the second bandit, a secondary needle would be thrown as well, killing them both.

“Leave the bodies there. We should be nearing the camp before another patrol arrives.” He stated, walking past the cooling bodies. The sound of rainfall could be heard as they neared closer to the camp. “Turn right,” Daremo whispered, walking up a path that branched away from the main road. Their informant told them that the camp had settled on the main road for whatever reason; he was not supposed to know. Walking up the path, Daremo looked about the trees that were scattered about, senses alert for anything that might be lurking in the darkness.

The sound of rainfall got heavier and heavier as Daremo moved closer to the edge of the cliff, glancing to make sure Amaya was following him. Amongst the rainfall, voices, and whimpering, could be heard from below. “Seems like our informant was right.” He said to Amaya, eyes noting the bandits that were moving down below, whenever lightning illuminating the skies. “And there are the captive geishas,” He said, pointing to the rather large cage being guarded by two bandits. “How do you want to do this?” He asked, eyes noting a rather large figure barking out orders. Neither he nor Amaya would be seen due to the natural cover provided.

---

1728[3299]

Bandit Leader Appearance

As expected there would be movement in the camp. Shouts were not distinguished from the sound of heavy rainfall but the cages that had first seemed like boulders under the curtain of rain were now being moved into the mountains. Men were moving into new directions, patrols changed at the last moment. A sign the bandits had come to understand something was amiss. Hidden within the mountains herself at certain altitude, blue-green eyes glided over the layout of the camp like those of her hawk Zhinu. The two exits created by the road were the only natural escape routes, guarded by a few men to cut off those who would venture along the beaten path. The rocky surroundings were sufficiently a barrier to dissuade most people from slipping by these defences but wilful soldiers and shinobi would consider them a poor challenge at best. With the camp showing signs of alertness this early, it was clear at least one of them was not as dumb as he looked. A man experienced through hardships and sharpened by vigilance in perception and reasoning. He was still but a single man in the masses, however. Culling those bandits who lacked the vigilance and mind of the leader would eventually prove a benefit in the long run, as what they lacked in brains they'd certainly make up on brawn. Strength in numbers, even for a trained shinobi, could still prove dangerous. Every cut or wound only adding beneficial layers to her enemies. Mizuki preferred her clothes to remain intact, if anything.

Moving across the mountain range, her brown and gold tattered kimono blended in well with the warm colours of Iwagakure's mountains, her black hair and trained movement benefiting greatly from the darkness created by thunder clouds. Nonetheless, with the patrols having changed on a whim, she'd stumble upon a single scout making his way into the mountains. A seasoned man, by the looks of his walk and the way he upheld a certain vigilance. Better trained than most members, at least. The yamabushi would not hesitate to engage him, jumping forward as if carried by the winds. A light attack, if anything, blocked by the man as he jumped at the ready on the rocky underground.

"So the boss was right.", he said in understanding. "Don't think you'll get away, woman. You'll make a fine addition to the rest of our wares once I'm done with you."

He'd leave little time to speak, engaging right away with a short sword of his own. Custom made, bearing strange markings on the hilt. He'd stab and swing at the intruder before him, Mizuki keeping a minimum movement as she dodged and redirected his strikes one by one until she saw the opportunity to disarm with a spark of lightning. A technique pertaining to the Heaven Sword style, now applied through mere contact with her skin rather than her katana. His sword would clatter to the ground as his hand numbed by the raiton. A moment of confusion at this supernatural ability, the realisation he was facing the bandits' new boogeyman encroaching slowly upon his consciousness.

Nonetheless the man would not give up. Engaging in unarmed strikes, he proved to be better at that than wielding the blade. Precise strikes, powerful strikes. Still lacking in speed. His strength would be used against him, the minimal movements of Mizuki tiring out the more exhausting manoeuvres of the man. Blows that would hit would be redirected. Careless overexertion punished as she brought him out of balance and forced him to spend even more of his precious energy. The first signs of his fatigue would surface before the eye of the storm that was the ranton user. As if the storm didn't even touch her.

Confusion turned into disbelieve. Disbelieve nudged the beginnings of fear. Drowning his emotions in rage, he would lash out again. Fiercer, harder. Losing himself slowly in his lack of self-control. His movement ended up more crude, his mistakes bigger with every blow. And thus her punishment became more severe. A leg positioned too far, her foot knocking it from under him. His arm a minute distance out of his own field of energy, a strike against his open ribs followed. An imbalanced shift in his posture was met with a crushing stomp on his knee, crippling him further in his movement. Time and again, he'd spit towards the Heavens and be met with his own foolishness.

Eventually defeated, the man would crumble under his own exhaustion and fall to his knees. His eyes would rise to meet hers. Read the cold anger held back in those beautiful eyes. Disappointment. A quiet wrath. A judgement far worse than any man could suffer. Then, realisation.

"A-akuma...", his last words before his life was ended with a single, merciful blow under the flash of lightning.

---

Count: 5 down, many to go.

822
Total: 2897

Amaya didn’t bat an eye at the idea of Daremo torturing someone, instead she took up the position of lookout while ensuring she had a view of the ‘fun’ that was going on with their captive guest. She felt no remorse, no pity at all, for the scum pinned via senbon to the rock of the mountain side and in fact the look on her face conveyed a single message: this was nothing more than a typical day in her life. Watching with apathy as the bandit was aroused from his unconscious state she found herself feeling nothing but curiosity - though that was directed more towards what her companion was about to do to the unfortunate soul rather than for the scum itself. The fact that fear showed clearly in the bound victims eyes told Amaya all she needed to know and that was that he knew what was coming, which in her opinion made it all that sweeter of a moment. Sure, she was being cold and sadistic in her thoughts and viewing but considering the damage she had seen done to those poor girls back at the okiya she didn’t have a single ounce of sadness to feel for the thug: whatever he was about to experience he had brought about to himself three fold.

Hearing Daremo’s remark about not really enjoying torturing people and considering it a chore a soft smirk formed upon Amaya’s face, turning her beautiful features into something sadistic and frightening. She listened as Daremo offered up a fake name as means of introduction while the piece of filth offered nothing but defiance in return. Continuing to watch the going-ons she hid her curiosity well as Daremo went through the individuals pockets and pulled out a coin, remarking on a gang name that the scum was apparently associated with. This was further cemented as Daremo ripped off the thugs sleeve, revealing a tattoo that added more telling details - such as the fact that he was a fairly new recruit. It was Amaya’s years of training that kept her from asking questions, that kept her from revealing her lack of knowledge on the subject in the fact of the enemy: though she certainly would have some for Daremo later unless he decided to take the initiative and explain it to her before she had a chance to ask.

As the thugs defiance continued she watched with the same morbid curiosity as before while he went about finding an instrument of torture - or what would become one after he sharpened it. The thug surely seemed to know what was about to happen to him as his struggling intensified though thankfully the senbon did well the job of holding him there. Watching as her companion placed the pointed end of the twig beneath one of the bandits fingernails she listened as he laid out what questions he wanted answered. The lack of response came with consequences, ones that led to screams that were drowned out by the sudden heavy rainfall as Daremo got to work: a brutal process which Amaya watched with the same apathy as before while also keeping a lookout so that no one could sneak up on them unexpectedly.

What the piece of scum experienced was quite gruesome considering he was missing his tongue, eyes, ears, nose, and fingernails as well as patches of skin on the rest of his body. The puncture wounds where he had been pierced through only helped add to the carnage. The fact that the man was still alive wasn’t surprising for the medic, nor was the fact that he was conscious, though she didn’t give him long before a mixture of blood loss as well as the pain itself did him in: that is, if Daremo didn’t beat those factors to the proverbial punch. In the end the thug had been unable to hold out and keep the information he knew a secret, he had sung his song and spilled all that he knew. Hearing Daremo’s words she dropped from her perch nearby, landing silenting and without disturbing the world around her, while a satisfyingly morbid crunch reached her ears as their victims windpipe was crushed under foot. At Daremo’s words about dodging the other six patrols or killing them if they happened to run into them her sadistic smile would spread across her face once more, ”I’m a kill everything that moves kind of girl, love.” The idea of running into the other patrols, or scouts sent to check on the well-being and locations of those who hadn’t checked in yet was appealing to the Guanyin as it meant a chance to make those who had had a hand in the heinous crimes against those girls suffer and she was all about vengeance.

No sooner had Daremo spoke words she already know, and fresh bodies came into sight, did a senbon leave her person piercing through the air straight and true before imbedding itself in the chest of the second individual who dropped to the ground, dead before he reached it with a senbon through the heart. She followed Daremo after their victims were down without sound, keeping up with him as they made their way to the camp they had been informed about. With their vantage they were granted a decent view while hidden from cover and Amaya found herself easily picking out the leader among the rabble: he was the biggest, the loudest, and his voice held a kind of authoritative tone the type of which she was used to with those who led by the fist and brutality.

Stormy gray colored hues would shift as her focus turned to the camp as a whole, taking note of the way it was blocked off naturally by the rocky mountains surrounding it save for the road itself that carved a path through: it would leave little means of escape depending on how they were about to go about things. At her companions question her gaze would shift back to the leader, watching as he barked out more orders. She knew the old adage of how taking out the leader caused the rest to scatter and she found herself wondering if that would work here. The man seemed to use his size and brutality to rule, barking out orders in a way that made her wonder if any of them would truly mind if he died: normally in situations like this sheep without their shepard were easy pickings for the wolves but in this situation there was no telling if the others would end up a mass of confusion and terror if he were to die. There was also something about the man that seemed off in a way: the way he held himself was different than the rest - not the usual thugs throwing around their weight but powerful in a way that wasn’t like the rest. ”There’s something about the leader that seems off. I can’t place it, but he seems different than the rest in the way he carries himself - he might be a bigger problem than the rest.”, she commented softly as a plan began to formulate in her head. This was of course an issue: if they targeted the leader immediately then they’d have to contend with him as well as the thugs, but if they could manage to thin the herd first they’d have a better and easier time in dealing with the man in charge. ”I say we blitz attack them, with clones. Vastly turns things in our favor. Killing them as quickly as possible would be best before they can wise up and try and use the girls as leverage. Starting near where they’re kept would be best, and keep the thugs from being able to reach them afterwards. I doubt many of them can traverse the mountain side or else they wouldn’t be camped in the middle of the road like this, so that’ll help for our advantage too, it’ll leave them only one way to go - back the way they came.” A thought occurred to her then that had her glancing at Daremo, “Do you want the leader kept alive?”

Amaya would wait for Daremo’s response, both to her plan as well as in regards to the leader living or dying: already assuming he’d want him alive so that he could torture him and get as much information out of the man as possible. Only if Daremo agreed would she create four clones of herself, her chakra divided equally among them, making a muttered comment about how this was going to be an ”Orgy of death and pain…”, before moving herself and her four clones into position while waiting for Daremo to do the same: the goal was simple, to get the thugs guarding the girls away from them and keep any others from coming closer as they picked them off.

---

1,505 | 3,765

Jutsu and Chakra:

Through the torrential downpour, emerald green eyes squinted, trying to pierce through the sheets of rain without no luck. The owner of the eyes did not know what had happened; the weather was fine one moment, the beauty of the night sky above them, and then the next, tremendous amount of rainfall. The once stable ground had become unstable. The rain has caused it to be become muddy and slick, making movement more of a mental chore than necessary. “Hey.” Glanced towards the sound, the individual looked at one of the slaves, a beauty that will fetch a pretty penny, “Why are you doing this? You are like us, so why are you helping them?”


The question was not surprisingly, from other raids they have done, the females often asked why another female would help savages. “You wouldn’t understand.” The female said, turning back to remain vigilant over the surrounding area. It would do no good if her boss caught her slacking on her duties. Just thinking about what would happen to her if she was caught caused her to suppress the shudder that wanted to run down her spine. She knew and seen first hand, what happened to the females who did not pull their own weight. They got turned into dispensable objects for the rest to use to relieve stress between raids and during travels. There is nothing the women, who get caught, can do about it; only those in the higher positions may put a stop to it, but, even then, the individual would forever be in the other debt.

“Try me.” For someone who was captured, and had been quiet earlier, the female sure was talkative. “How about you, shut up.” The woman said harshly, not looking back at the female in question, instead of remaining vigilant. From the actions of her leader, her, and every other member, knew something was wrong. The patrols from earlier had not come back yet, and apart of her doubted the ones sent out to check on the others would return either. Without warning something wrapped around her neck, and she was yanked upwards. Her disappearance would be followed by another, with chaos interrupting as someone screamed



While waiting for Amaya to respond to his question, Daremo focused his attention on the bandit camp. Even in the cover of darkness, he was still able to make out multiple bandits of various stature and nationality moving around the camp in an orderly fashion. The few females he spots, their softer features, was not surprising, either they were items for the bandits to use, untouchable only for the leader, or part of the troupe. From his younger years, he knew some females willing and unwilling, join troupes for whatever reasons. Often times the smarter leaders employ females to help with the rounding up of other females, and to provide the captives with someone they believe they can trust or confide into. It was a somewhat twisted, but effective way, to get the captives to comply, and not be as fearful.

Glancing back at the leader, someone he had picked out prior, Daremo watched as he the man move. There was something different about this one. The way he transversed the muddy terrain without slipping. The way he barked out orders with an authoritative voice, causing the men and women to follow without second thought. Everything about the man screamed ‘trained’. Whoever this person was, they had gotten training somewhere, asides from the basics which many of others are taught, “Agreed, we will need to be wary of that one, and make sure we know where he is always at.”, he responded. It would do neither of them any good if they end up getting killed by now maintaining a visual on the leader.


While he would have liked to pick off the members one by one, and sticking to the shadows, Amaya plan was a valid one. Neither of them knew if the bandits would attempt to kill the captive females once it became apparent that the operation was completely ruined, or use some other tactic that would jeopardize the safety of captives. “Move to separate the captives from the bandits. Killing those around the cage would prevent the girls’ from being used against us.”, he said, letting his opinion be known about the subject. When questioned rather he wanted the bandit leader alive or knock, Daremo nodded, “Yes, I want to see if he have any useful information.” Unlike the grunts, Daremo was positive the bandit leader would know things only privilege to others in the same position. Maybe they will have information that would prove useful to them?

Instead of making four clones like Amaya, Daremo only made one, feeling the dip it made in his chakra. Nodding to the clone, he watched the doppelganger, using the natural coverage, to stalk towards the overhanging cliff where the captives were, while, he, himself, remained where he was at. Silently, he watched as his clone unstrapped a treasure found in the ruins of Suna, the blade segments extending downward, like a snake, coiling around the neck of a bandit and hauling them up. Underneath the cover of heavy rainfall, the silent ‘thump’ of a headless body falling went unheard. The unattached head resting at the clone’s foot, and blood spurting from the wound soaking the ground. The same action would be done the other guard standing beside the cage, the clone having waited until the leader, and everyone else was not looking.

Unstrapping the sword from his person, Daremo looked at Amaya and nodded. It was time to make a move, and, with that, he slung his sword, it disconnecting into segments, cutting through the through the night sky, and pierce straight through a bandit’s neck. The impact is enough to jar the bandit to the side, only for them to fall the other way. Though done stealthy, the action would not go unnoticed, for a bandit would spot their downed comrade and sounded the alarm.

“INTRUDERS!”

---

1010[4309]
Bandits Death Count: 8 out of 25 

Jutsus and Chakra:

Like a ghost, Mizuki circled further around the camp. There was an uncomfortable unease within the camp that went beyond the discomfort of the raging storm. Even if patrols didn't return, their vigilance was focused towards a more inward perspective. As if the danger was hiding in between them rather than circling around them. Sitting on a rocky outcrop, Mizuki peered through the darkness and the rain to check the shift of movement as the bandits paced nervously, looking for another opportunity to cull their numbers. She'd force them to band together and call out to her, expecting them to use hostages against her - obstacles on the path of the avenger easily disregarded with the precise control inherent to her KKG. However, no such thing occurred. Rather than the bandits panicking, a mental barrier kept them quite vigilant and organised. Eyes spotting the man controlling the situation it was no longer a secret as to why this was the case. A trained man, the movement of his muscles, the sharpness of his gaze, the calm demeanour despite the encroaching chaos telling her he had seen more than sufficiently his share of problems in life. A dangerous man by all accounts.

Mizuki's eyes would further, spotting how two shadows in the rain were lifted in the air effortlessly by powers unknown. The unease not inherent to the storm revealed itself: someone else was here, dealing with the bandits. And by their skill in stealth, the invader had to be quite well trained too. As the alarm was sounded with a resolute, "INTRUDERS!", more shadows seemed to spring forward to take down bandits. Mizuki's cue to attract attention to herself, creating a distraction these unknown invaders could use to their benefit. If there was anything the former diplomat of Kumogakure was good at, it was remaining plain visible in the open as she dealt with her opposition, the Raiu's heritage of shock-troopers and guardians not lost to the woman of the same blood.

Lightning would form within her hands, the bright spark instantly revealing her presence while its unmistakable chirp left little to the doubt of its nature - chidori. She would not go unnoticed, the lightning "AKUMA!" recognised by the more superstitious bandits among them as fear forced the hairs upon their skin to rise. More than one would turn their heads to see how Chidori's illuminated omen moved through the rain at blinding speed before it ate through the armour and the chest of a bandit within the camp. The throes of death and terror followed in its wake.

Two nearby bandits grabbed their wits and moved to strike her. Dancing through their blows, she'd eventually grab hold of the first one's arm and twist it uncomfortable, her sheer strength and skill forcing him to flip backwards against his will and slam into the ground as he lost footing. The second one would follow soon after, the attack dodged as she took a slight step back, grabbed their arm, kicked them behind their knees to force them down and flipped them over as she twisted their arm. Holding tight to the two bandits, she'd pivot a 360° course as she dragged them feet over the ground before throwing them a couple of meters away. The symbol of yin yang would leave a mark in the ground where they had fallen and had their feet being dragged across the floor. While her technique had not killed them, their death would soon follow as blue lightning left her fingertips, travelled through the air and fried the both of them with sheer raiton wrath.

If her chidori had not revealed the presence of the 'akuma', then the blue lightning once perceived by the many members of the Infinity Gang she had left alive in a previous scuffle surely would. Superstition or reality no longer mattered at this point. The bandits knew they had gone too far with their last raid - the entity known among bandits as the lightning demon of the Valleys had come to make its displeasure about their activity known.

---

Death count: 11 of 25

688
Total:3585

280/350:

At her companions confirmation that he wanted the bandit leader alive she nodded in understanding before moving into position with her clones. She waited, and watched, as both of the guards overseeing the girls were dispatched of, furthering the count of what they’d done before. It would ensure that no one could reach the cage before they landed, thus no one would be able to cause harm to the girls locked inside. With the cage’s guards out of the way she and her clones slipped silently from their advantage point like phantoms in the dark, landing just as one of the bandits yelled that there were intruders. With impassive looks upon all of the clones faces each one waved a quick set of hand seals before forming chakra scalpels in their hands.

As their attack began it became apparent that her and Daremo were not alone in regards to their attack on the bandits - though she had no way of knowing who else was around. While the idea of another crashing in on their party probably would have bothered some Amaya didn’t see it that way: the faster the bandits were disposed of the sooner the innocent were safe. It was all that mattered - well, that and ensuring Daremo got his answers from the bandits leader.

With her attention focused on the bandits rushing in the direction of herself and her four clones, each one wore identical passive expressions: whether or not the task and art of killing bothered them or not was to remain a mystery unlike the bandits who wore expressions mixing from rage to anger to hints of fear that they might be dancing with the Grim Reaper tonight. Amaya and her clones worked like a well oiled machine, something that came from years of practiced, honed to a point of perfection. They were able to maneuver around each other with practiced ease, hacking and slashing at vital points at the body: Amaya striking a bandit in the neck and letting their life blood flow down their shirt, her first clone executing a duck beneath of a weapon before fainting behind the bandit to slash at the back of both knees with the chakra scalpel in hand. Clone number two aimed for its targets eyes after dodging various swings with a weapon, blinding and killing the man. Clone number three executed several precise slashes with the scalpel, slicing both wrists of the bandit down to muscle and making them incapable of holding a weapon before grabbing them by the hair and slitting their throat wide open. Clones four and five had similar results, each taking down a single bandit, adding to the blood that spilled forth onto the earth, seeping into the dirt and staining the stone.

From a quick count as the original Amaya dodged beneath a blow to her head with lightning fast reflexes before turning to execute a kick to the chest of another bandit as he got without range to force him back as he fell to the ground clutching his ribs and beginning to cough blood as several ribs had broken and punctured his lungs, she realized that the bandits numbers were dwindling fast. It wouldn’t be long now before they were in control, and the girls who had been kidnapped would be safe again, and able to be freed. Yet even still as she side stepped another blow she knew this wouldn’t be the end for them: this would be something that haunted them for the rest of their lives, a memory that could never be erased, that would never go away. If only she had a way to remedy that…

---

620 | 4,385

Death Count: 17 of 25

Jutsu and Chakra:

“Something is wrong.” Akinari said, drawing the attention of his ‘comrade’ that were walking ahead of him down a path, making sure nothing was amidst. “Ugh. . “ the other bandit intelligently said, looking at the older member with confusion clearly written across his face, “What do you mean?” Instead of answering right away, Akinari looked back to where he knew the camp was, eyes narrowing as if trying to perceive something that wasn’t there. The man was not a fool. Having been in the business as long as he has, escaping death by the narrowest of margins, he knew when something was wrong. He would like it to the instincts of a shinobi, but, even he knew that was not entirely true. “Let’s head back to camp, and give a report.”, he abruptly said something was wrong, he just knew it.

The bandit leader swore, head snapping in the direction of the bandit who had sounded the alarm. Those under him knew what awaited those who falsely used the alarm, thus, he knew that the bandit was not playing around. Sparring the deceased body a parting glance, the faint sounds of chirping birds were heard. Knowing well that no birds would be out in this weather, his head snapped in the direction of which it came from. Eyes flashed dangerously like one of the intruders was identified as the notorious Akuma. Grey sandy particles began to levitate behind him at the thought of the lightning devil intruding once more.  Their mere presence caused the scars on his body to flare up in pain, a reminder of what was done to him by their hand.

He could not focus entirely on them though, for, it seems the Akuma had brought friends this time around. “Tsk. What an annoyance.”, he muttered, noting that the guards that were around the product had already been taking care of. Outstretching his hand towards the cage, he yanked it towards him, the construct sliding across the mudding ground, and stopping inches in front him. With the product near him, those who were intruding would need to get through him before they could be saved the girls, as he expects they might be after.

The bandit leader focused on the carnage happening before him, barely sparing a glance to the arrival of Akinari and his partner. Seeing his men dying, no matter how useless they were, he was going to rectify this. “Get it together men. Do not let the intruders live! Remember what awaits you!”, Like a resounding thunder, his voice boom across the clearing, and for the men still fighting, renewed their spirits, if only slightly. Seeing his men fight with slightly raised spirits, he began to manipulate the floating iron sand, forming it into a large spiral shape spear. Roughly five meters long and three meters wide, the spear spun in the air, at a slanted angle that its sharp tip was pointing downward, with fuuton wisping off of it. While he would like to send the spear at the Akuma, there were other nuisances to deal with, thus, was aimed at one of the many nuisances running about killing his men.

At the same time, Akinari slammed his hammer onto the ground, causing it to spark, and a bolt of lightning to jump off, and head towards Akuma, hoping to catch the being off guard. The men was falling like flies, and it was time for them to enter the battlefield, and hope they make it out alive. Though, as Akinari moved in to help those fighting the Akuma, earth flowing to his moving body, adding a layer of protection, and lightning sparking from the hammer, he had a feeling this might be his bout.

---

Daremo did not bother in looking for the individual who was helping them in clearing out the bandits. The name Akuma was one he had heard in passing, about a benevolent mythical being who lives in the very mountains. He did not bother in asking more on the particular topic, for those who had mentioned the being seems to respect it, thus, it was none of his concern, not like it would have been if the situation was different. Leaning back, he dodged the swipe at his neck, it bisstrong enough to potentially open him up, and casually parry a strike coming from the right of him, causing the bandit to become unbalanced. Grabbing the back collar of the stumbling bandit, he sent him barreling into his partner. Lashing out with his sword, the segments broke apart, the wire holding them together hiding in the night, and struck like a viper, spearing completely through the men’s body before being retracted.

Tossing a glance, he noted his clone severing the arm of a bandit before executing them via stabbing them through the neck. Attention shifted to the sudden to giant spear looming overhead, and that was fired towards Amaya. Knowing not if it was the original or a clone, chakra circulated through him, as he blitz towards her location. Appearing right in front of the spear path, he went through two hand signs, body glowing an eerie green, moments before the spear impacted him. Grabbing Amaya, Daremo jumped away with her moments as the iron sand, that was on the ground, turned into branching spikes. “He might be a nuisance. . .” Daremo mutter, noting the man’s use of iron sand, and tying it with Jiton. To those who knew him, they would note a slight change in his voice that was darker than normal.

Annoyance and anger, that was two prominent emotions felt by Daremo as he sat Amaya down, and looked in the direction of the bandit leader, locking eyes with the man. “Help whoever is helping us take care of the rest of this trash, but, be wary. We do not know who our ally is for now.” he said, not looking back. Deciding not to waste any time, Daremo moved towards the opponent, his movement being a blur to those who were not able to perceive it. Appearing in a few meters in front of the man, his sword once more broke into segments, the three moving parts speeding towards the male.

The wall of iron sand proved to be ineffective as the weapon broke through them, and barely missing the bandit leader who dodged out of the way. Before the segments could slide between the bars of the cage, Daremo yanked them back. A cat and mouse game was played between the two, as Daremo continued attacking the male, who was dodging and moving him away from the cage. Just as he stepped in front of the cage, he jumped up, narrowing miss being hit by the construct as the bandit leader pulled it towards him. “I know what you are doing.” The baritone voice of the bandit leader echoed out, “You are after the girls, no?”

Calmly looking at the bandit leader, Daremo took a step forward, just as the sound of metal groaning in protest was held. He narrowed his eyes as the construct with the women was being bent inward by the leader. The silver-haired male did not give any indication of caring as he walked towards the male, “I am going to enjoy what I have planned for you.”, he muttered, watching as his clone performed the Chidori. The sound of chirping birds being enough for the bandit leader to turn around, lashing out with iron sand against the clone, dispelling it. This would be his downfall as Daremo attacked, once more, using his sword to pierce through the man’s stomach.

Walking towards the downed man, Daremo turned his attention to the girls sitting in the cage, a fine mist escaping his mouth as the girls were put to sleep. “Amaya and Akuma, check on the girls, I will need to have a chat with our friend here.”, he spoke, knowing not if Akuma was still around or had fled, but knew Amaya would do what was asked. Looking at the down man, Daremo released the restraints on his chakra, a trick he learned from an acquaintance. As if pestilence itself had stepped on the battlefield, a diseased, sickly feeling descended on all within a 50m range. Those of the weak mind have to make a choice of fleeing or remaining to fight as their body reacted to the sickly nature of Daremo’s chakra that sought to infect and devour everything. The man attempted to move, but a foot on his stomach stopped such actions, and he became paralyzed. Lifting the man up,Daremo dragged him to one of the mountain walls, tossing his unresponsive body against it, and nailing him to the rocky background.  It was time to get to work once more. . .

---

Death count: 20 out of 25 | Bandit leader is bad shape


1469[5778]

Spoiler:

There was little left to do at this point. The unexpected allies had made short work of whichever bandit had been too close to their side, and with the exception of a random lightning spark being sent to her direction Suzume felt like she was all by herself in within the raging storm. The spark would pose little problems as the mountain hermit stretched her hand and caught the fury of the element in it, allowing it to burn her hand until it would die out. While it was unlikely those using raiton were also resistant to it, the idea to attack a 'lightning demon' with his own element seemed almost dumb. The man would have little time to be shocked about the the whole ordeal that the mountain hermit seemingly unfazed by the attack even though her left hand under her cloak sported minor 2nd degree burn wounds.

The leader was challenged by one of the strangers. A man, hearing from the depth of his voice, the storm distorting his voice to a point Suzume couldn't quite recognise him. The sound of their scuffle was picked up despite the blowing wind, an indecisive battle occurring in the dark until the bright light of another chidori would sing through the darkness, forcing the man to deal with the flank attack and forsaking his defences in the front. Wide open, the stranger would be given a clean hit. The end of the bandits was near. The path to the caged women open.

Suzume sighed contently as a portion of the stress dropped away, the unknown male calling out to an Amaya and herself, revealing the identity of the other. A woman, by the name of it. The mountain hermit would move closer to the cages, hearing the cries of solace despite the limited confines. All the blood, the battle, the terror. It was not the sort of experience civilians should have experienced. Unfortunately there was no means to undo the past, and if there were means to erase the memories to preserve a peace of mind, Suzume did not have such abilities at her disposal.

Grabbing a lock on the cage, raiton chakra would course through her hand and into the lock, triggering it to let go of its defiance. The lock would be tossed aside, the door opening with a loud creak. Women storming out with tears of joy, whispering thousands 'thank yous'. And yet, Suzume didn't feel like the night could be considered a victory. Too much had happened, another dark smudge on the actions of mankind. Urging them to stay together and move out of the zone towards the exit where they had come from, Suzume could feel a nefarious chakra nibble at the back of her courage. It'd send the captured women into another wave of panic, forcing them to move faster towards the exit. All the while, Suzume would lift up her eyes and stare into the direction of the male. Picking up a certain hint of familiarity as the feeling of foul air and infectious disease washed over the area.

"I know but one man that could outlive pestilence itself... But why would he be here?", she muttered to herself before moving towards Amaya, "This companion of yours. What's his name exactly?"

---

551
Total: 4136

-2 ranks raiton damage [Passive + Cloak]

The bandits were almost entirely eliminated, their skills no match for the trained individuals they were up against. While they might have been able to use their strength and brutality well against civilians they were no match for those who were seeking to end their existence now. It was unfair in a way, perhaps, and yet Amaya saw nothing wrong with the justice she was dealing. Well, perhaps she did see something wrong with it: it was too quickly. Their deaths were quick, lacking the suffering and pain that they had put others through, but there wasn’t the time, and torturing a group enmass was easier said than done anyway. No, while she would have loved to see the whole lot spend the next several hours or days in agony until they broke, until their minds snapped and all sense of the world as a whole left them, their goal in ensuring the safety of the females being held hostage was more important.

Just as she finished dealing with several more bandits attempting to land a killing blow on her, their blood having joined the others as well as their bodies with various inflicted wounds to their necks and other vital positions on their bodies, her focus shifted to the spear heading in her direction, sent there obviously by the leader of the group of thugs. Yet, she wouldn’t be given time to react as Daremo positioned himself in front of her. She knew the spear impacted him and yet he seemed unharmed as he jumped away with her seconds later, iron spikes erupting on the ground where they had been previously standing. At Daremo’s words of the man possibly being a nuisance she nodded her head in agreement, her impassive expression never changing despite being directly attacked: a hint at her seasoned station with her lack of freaking out, hyperventilating, and just general ability to handle herself well in the face of pain or even death.

Her companions words were surely an understatement as the leader proved capable of manipulating the metal cage, pushing and pulling the cage full of trapped females around as he saw fit, using it as a means to try and attack her husband. In the end though his tactics wouldn’t matter, as the sound of chirping birds filled the air and the bandit leader turned towards the attack he left himself open, allowing Daremo to attack with his sword, giving the bandit leader a wound that would eventually prove fatal without medical attention, but which allowed questions to be asked in the meantime.

Though more than willing to help with the interrogation process that was most likely about to be performed she instead nodded to her companions words and focused her attention on the women in the cage. Several had accumulated injuries when the cage had been so unmercilessly pushed around, but one was worse than the others - bloody, a mess. Glancing at their unknown ally she watched as the lock on the cage was done away with, freeing the girls and allowing them to be able to exit, numerous “thank you’s” being directly at them. However, as she felt a chilling presence at her back she took notice of the one female unable to remove herself. Stepping inside as the woman began to panic more than she had been Amaya took note of the haphazard job that some of the girls had done in treating the woman’s wounds - the only reason she was currently still alive. ”Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, come on, I’ll get you away from here and see about those wounds.”, Amaya spoke softly, her voice caring and compassionate, her words full of truth and trust. Scooping the woman up in her arms as gently as she could Amaya stepped free, moving to join the others, taking the woman away from the presence Daremo was forcing upon the leader.

Putting the woman down with the rest her hands, she shifted the woman’s attire while ensuring as much modesty as she could as she checked the woman’s wounds before her hands began to glow with healing chakra, the woman’s wounds seeming to reserve upon themselves until only faint scarring remained. At the time same she would cast a glance at their unknown ally, and then towards her husband in the distance. ”He goes by Daremo, these days.”, she answered softly, figuring that if her companion wanted to go into more detail about who he was than he could: she wouldn’t spill his secrets.

As she finished healing the woman’s wounds, telling her to rest for a moment, Amaya stood back up from her kneeling position, dispelling her clones that remained, their experience, chakra, and knowledge being returned to her. ”What’s your name, stranger?”, Amaya would ask, glancing towards the unknown individual. ”I’m Amaya.”

---

820 | 5,205

Chakra signatures are similar to fingerprints in the regard of them always been different from one another. Never would two chakra signatures be the same, unless one is a copy of the original. To many, asides from using it as a means to identify another, the signatures also give some insight into the person as a whole. The presence allows others to get a vague reading on the type of person who they are dealing with, or, at least, a characteristic of theirs such as their personality or elemental affinity. Such intimate knowledge could be deciphered from the feeling of one’s chakra signature. And Daremo wondered, what did the people, who did not know him, thought about him from the feeling of his?

Needing to send a message to the leader, Daremo removed the proverbial leash off of his chakra. Like opening a diseased filled pandora’s box, the presence released was anything but gentle. The world shuddered, and any animals in the vicinity scurried to safety as something unnatural descended onto the grounds like a wrathful god. The feeling was harsh, scratched at the throats of those in the vicinity. Palpable, the presence burned the tongue, leaving a horrid taste in the mouth that would not leave no matter what one did. The presence was stomach churning, and, as evident by the spew bubbling from the male underneath his foot. Daremo noted, assumingly, that goosebumps were forming on the paralyzed male’s exposed skin. Nature itself seemed to recoil from the vile, twisted, and malicious chakra which oozed from his pores.

Eyes flickered towards Amaya and Akuma, watching as the women were hurried out of their confines, noting how at least one had trouble in getting out of the cage, and began to panic, seemingly from the presence which was alluding from him. Thankfully, his wife went back to retrieve the woman and led them to where the other ones were. Could he have waited until they were further away before releasing his chakra? Yes, he could have, but, in the heat of the moment, it slipped his mind. Did he regret it? Yes, but, he had no time in wondering about that.

Knowing the male’s armor might cause some issues, Daremo ripped it off, tossing the useless equipment to the side; it being relatively easy with the male being paralyzed. Barely lifting the male up, Daremo dragged the bandit leader towards one of the cliff side. Being mindful to trudge the male through the mud, rocks, and other segments on the ground. Making it to the rock cliff, he tossed the male against the rocky background, receiving an ‘oof’ from said male. Four senbons left Daremo’s hand, piercing through the male’s shoulders, and the space between his knee joints, nailing him against the wall. With the senbons being barbed, there was hardly a chance for the male to escape.


“You with me?”, Daremo asked, backhand the bandit leader, ignoring the tooth that flew out of his mouth, and the look of rage in the male’s eyes. Seeing the male having trouble speaking, Daremo reigned in his chakra, removing the presence of the diseased god. “Who the fuck are you? You working for those rock fuckers or that bitch Akuma?” Daremo smiled at the male’s question, not answering right away, instead, healing the near-fatal wound on the bandit’s stomach. There was no need in having the male dying before he could get information from him. “Daremo, and once upon a time I was one of those rock fuckers. As for working for Akuma. . .”, he cared not for releasing such information, not like the person was going to be alive anyway. As for the partnership with Akuma, he would just let the bandit leader believe what he wanted. Though, while he was focused on the male, he did pick up the conversation between Amaya and Akuma, apparently the later knowing him in some facet.

Having healed the wound, Daremo channeled his chakra through his hand, an amorphous of water forming in his palm. “Now you know my name, what is yours?”, dodging the bloody spit, Daremo sighed, “Fuck off.” The bandit’s comment was typical. Why couldn’t some actually be courtesy? “If that is the game you wish to play.”, the formless water lept from his hand, wrapping around the bandit’s head, though, keeping his eyes, nose, and mouth uncovered for now, “Last chance in telling me your name. . .” Waiting a few seconds for a response, Daremo received none, and the water completely covered the male’s face.

Staring unflinching, Daremo watched as the bandit leader’s eye widen, as the need for breathing became an issue. “Did you know, you pass out before you drown? Your body does not allow you to feel the pain that comes drowning.”, He stated, talking about the fact as if he was talking about the weather, “Do you want to experience what it feels like to drown when you can’t lose unconscious? I could give you that gift. Allowing you to feel everything ounce of pain that you otherwise would not feel do to the body protecting itself by shutting down.” Though there was still a look of fear in his eyes, the male was still holding out,

Knowing there was not enough time to be gentle with the male, the women needing to get to safety, and staying out here would not do any good for anyone, Daremo began to break each one of the male’s fingers, “I know you are apart of the Infinity Gang, and apart of the human trafficking  branch.”, He admitted, ignoring the male’s screams of pain, and him gulping in water, “I am not stupid in believing your group is the only group who raids places for the product. What are the other targets being hit?”, the water surrounding the bandit’s head would peel away, allowing the male to catch his breath and answer Daremo’s questions. “It is already too late. They already been hit and probably secured by now. We were paid a hefty amount for the product.”, Daremo frowned at the information. “A coordinated assault on multiple points? Who is the one who ordered for such a mass amount of product? Could not be someone low on the totem pole. . . And your group was going to meet the middleman, right? Where.”, There was no doubt in his mind that the bandit’s troupe was heading to drop off the product to the middleman.

Daremo noted the look of surprise on the bandit leader at the mention of a middleman, “How!?”, he knew what was being asked, but did not reply, instead, he broke the male’s arm, “Tell me, where were you going to meet the middleman?.”  Questions would obviously be asked from Amaya, and maybe Akuma, with Daremo knowing more than one should about the criminal underground, “An operation of this scale usually have middlemen. Benefactor(s) do not come to see the product themselves, it is too risky. The middleman is usually the one who showcase the product to the benefactor(s), and only after they have been thoroughly checked over and prepped for the showcase. Now tell me, where were you going to meet the middleman?”

Seeing the male not wanting to answer, the sphere of water formed around the male’s head once more. Taking out senbons, Daremo began sliding them underneath the nails of the broken fingers, ignoring the male’s screams and gagging on the water. Before the male could drown, the water moved away from his face. “One more chance. Give me the information I need.” Daremo asked, looking at the male, and digging into the male’s pocket. “What is this?”, Ignoring the folded piece of paper, Daremo eyed the golden locket He was surprised to see a picture of the bandit leader, a happy woman, and a child. A family photo. “Give that back!”, the bandit roared, trashing against the confines, the senbons beginning to wiggle as the male attempted to use his ability, but lacking the chakra to do so.

“A family, eh? Ironic. You in the business of destroying families, yet you have one of your own?” Daremo shook his head. Eyeing the male, Daremo thought about what he was going to do, “You care for your family, don’t you? Tell me everything you know, and you will be able to see your family. If not? You will die, and when your family has your funeral, I will murder them in their moment of grievance. Their deaths won’t be quick. For everything you and your men do to the women over there, I will return tenfold. By the time they are dead, they will be nothing more than empty shells of themselves. A useless husk devoid of a soul. So either tell me what you know, or you and your family will have a nice meeting in the afterlife.” Though he did not say exactly what he would do, it was apparent the Bandit leader was remembering everything his men had done to the women as his face began to pale.

“So, what do you say? Live, or watch from hell as your wife and daughter is treated like a nameless sack of flesh.” People who knew Daremo often forget his childhood was anything but normal. He was raised in an Okiya that was extremely close to the criminal underworld. He was exposed to things that a child should never be exposed to. He learn how to break people by striking at their fears, and if not, performing such atrocities acts that would forever be left buried. The male was dark. Just as easy he walks in the ‘light’, he can dive and strive in the darkness part of the abyss. His eyes narrowed as he waited for the bandit leader to make his choice.

He did not have to wait long. The bandit spilled everything. Within two days, they, and the others were supposed to meet the middleman and his people in Tatekotan. It would be there were the product would be handed off, and they were going to get paid. The middleman was apparently a wealthy citizen who owned several warehouses, and a shipyard in the city. By using those channels, the products were going to be taken to where they were supposed to go. When asked if there was anything else, the male swore on his wife and child that there wasn’t.


A black sphere formed in his right hand and Daremo pressed it up against the bandit’s neck. Impassively, he watched as the bandit screamed as the flesh, in a 12 diameter radius, eroded away, revealing the internal muscles. More flesh began to be eaten away as Daremo walked away from the scene, not before pulling the needles out of the male, dropping him to the ground, as he was literally eaten alive. Walking towards Amaya, and Akuma, Daremo paused a healthy distance, “How are they?”, he asked, looking at the women who flinched when he looked in their direction. Their action was not surprising, especially after what he just did.


“We should get them to civilization, and back to the Okiya. Mutsumi would be glad to know we saved them.” He noted at the mention of the girl, some of the women perked up, looking at him curiously, but none dared to ask. Eyes fell on the Akuma, “Do you want to come along, and see to their safety? We could not have done this without you.” He said, waiting for the Akuma to reply. He curious in finding out who this Akuma was, for they were a mystery around them, but, also some familiarity. There was also the issue on how Akuma would handle the way he treated and threaten the deceased bandit leader.

---

2,000[7,778]

Spoiler:

Not just familiarity. Pestilence itself was the very man that had stood at her side during the Siege of Inabayama. Daremo. Mizuki would have smiled at first but his presence could at this point put her in danger as well. She knew too little about him to know to what extend she could trust the man that once held her back. He was a Kumo-nin. Not by birth, no, but his past laid buried in the unknown. Was he originally a Konoha-nin? An Iwa-nin? Those questions were of lesser importance. He wore an ANBU armour once. And though wearing an armour didn't make one an ANBU in skill, the way he dealt with the bandit was akin to the approach in how he had dealt with the leader of the rebel camp back then. His actions had been executed at a distance back then, but here they were only cloaked by her own storm.

"Daremo, you say.", she repeated his name, her mind lingering on the Siege for a moment. "You may call me Suzume, Amaya. I'm a mountain hermit living here in the Valleys. While I generally avoid mingling with society there are times where even I can't idly stand by. My meddling has earned me the name of 'Akuma' among many bandits, a belief that I am a demon with supernatural abilities."

Her eyes would glance over the women one by one to assess their general health as they crawled out of the cages towards safety. Most had a couple of bruises, some a few scratch wounds. Fortunately nothing too bad on a physical level, but the true wounds were not caused on a level the hermit knew how to heal. Terrors of the mind, horrible experiences. She knew Lin would have had the means to deal with such wounds, leaving the hermit rather powerless as she felt the weight of ignorance pressing upon her shoulders.

The green glow of the healing chakra Amaya used on the most severely wounded of them all was still a far goal to reach for the hermit who had only recently developed a certain taste for the 'supernatural immortality' often attributed to mountain hermits - a product of meditative training. Not wishing to dwell upon her own ineptitude in a time where others had need for support, the hermit instead supported those she could with what she did have. Calming them with the almost unnatural serenity that she expressed as the eye of the storm, guiding them towards one of the exits, empathy and compassion. The storm she had maintained would melt away, fury wavering now that the worst verdict had come to pass.

Her eyes shifted to Daremo in the distance, keeping himself entertained with the bandit leader. The suiton bubble, the torture he was bringing. Where once there had been a question about him being ANBU before, she had now been given an answer. Yes. He had been ANBU before, the art of information extraction. Benevolently or malevolently. Then, the host of information no longer needed, his death sentence would be executed for his impudence. The consequences of commanding the masses into a downwards spiral, executed. Perhaps it was a good thing he executed the bandit as he did.

His deed done, he'd return to Amaya and the hermit, to the collective of women waiting to return home. Now that the storm had died out and the bandits had either been killed or scattered in fear, a brooding peace returned over the land. He'd inquire about their health before suggesting to return to the okiya, revealing that they too had visited the tea house where the hermit had left her protegee Kazuki.

"I'd say they'll live but require time to process what happened tonight but I believe your companion Amaya might tell more as she seems rather adept in the arts of restoration. As for the help, you are most welcome. Though a mountain hermit, I could not abide idly myself, our meeting unexpectedly beneficial to our aligned goals.", she'd reply with a slight bow. "I will join you as I left my protegee at the struck okiya. Now that the storm has broken the road will be clearer."

She'd throw a brief glance in the direction where the leader was being eaten alive by a technique harbouring a darkness of which she doubted Hastur could rival it. Tearing her gaze away from a most inhumane approach to ending a life, she took a measured breath before moving on. She'd remain with the two shinobi, eyes gazing out into the distance as the troupe would slowly return to the okiya.

"A polar opposite in many ways. The Yin to Amaya's Yang, yet the Yang to a dark god's Yin. The universe has a strange way of bringing answers to those who seek them. Are you two from around here?"

---

823
Total: 4959

There was something to be said about the stubbornness of some people. Even some distance away, and busy healing the worst off of the women before tending to the ones who would fair a bit longer, she could still pick up on the conversation going on. Daremo was being courteous and polite considering everything that had happened but the leader of the now dead group of bandits wasn’t going to be so forthcoming. It was only years of honing in her horribly quick temper that caused her to remain where she was even as she heard the man trying to spit at her husband: a younger Amaya would have wandered right on over and beaten the man into a bloody pulp while ensuring she broke multiple bones in the process, healed him, and repeated the process just to get several long minutes to hear him scream and plead for her to stop. This Amaya though? She had better control than that these days.

Instead of allowing her temper to get the best of her she focused on her task at hand, finishing with one woman and moving to another as her hands continued to glow the same eerie green that indicated medical chakra was at use. As she had done before she worked in a way that gave the woman the most modesty as possible where the need for clothing to be moved was an issue, working with a kind of quickness and thoroughness that spoke of practice for the field medic. While these weren’t some of the more severe injuries she had ever seen, quite a few of the women had been knocked around a bit when the leader had pushed and pulled the cage around to his whim, and she knew concussions were no laughing matter.

As Daremo began to drown the man, giving him a taste of fear and the near touches of death, Amaya herself focusing her attention back onto the women: though questions certainly lingered in her mind that she would be asking her husband about later - mainly to sate her curiosity. From what she was hearing it seemed like the bandit was trying very hard not to be forthcoming with the information, but like all others the man had a weakness and Daremo found it soon enough, causing the man to spill the beans so to speak about a middleman his group as well as several others were supposed to be meeting. The fact that the attacks had been coordinated spoke to Amaya at least that whoever this middleman was was organized. These weren’t random crimes of opportunity as a means to get rich quick, but something so much more. It also meant that there’d be more people to rescue.

Turning her focus back to Suzume as she had called herself Amaya offered a nod in understanding. ”That certainly explains their reaction.” After finishing up with healing the women as best was in her ability to do so Amaya would stand once more, focusing her attention onto her husband as he walked over. At his question she would glance back towards the women and then at her two allies with a soft sigh. ”Suzume’s right: this is going to take time for them to process. I’ve healed their wounds, they’re physically okay, but only time will tell how they handle this mentally.” Her attention would then focus to Suzume, a ghost of a smile spreading across her face. ”I suppose the universe does. While I’ve been in this country quite a few times I originally hail from Hi no Kuni.” It was information freely given, information she did not mind sharing: besides, it wasn’t like she was considered missing. No, she had left the proper way before going to join Kumogakure, so it wasn’t like she was giving secrets away. Common enough knowledge anyone could find out easily enough and all that.

Her gaze would shift onto her husband, curiosity there that was poorly restrained at the moment. She had questions for him, but she knew this was not the time or place. She would ask them later perhaps, when there was time. For now though it seemed like the clock was ticking against them: while these women were now safe and healed as best was possible there were others who had suffered the same fate, and she knew her husband would not let them suffer the fate they were venturing towards, nor would she. Amaya might not have the best morals, perhaps, but there were certain things she had little tolerance for and this was one of those things. She could be as cruel and heartless as any shinobi could, but there were also certain standards she held herself to, things that she was against, and harming the innocent, let alone stooping to things like this, made her blood boil. More would die, of that she was certain.

---

826 | 6,031

Citrine eyes looked over at the women that were hurdle together, noting how many of them flinched when they caught his gaze on them. Seeing them in such a state brought back unpleasant memories for Daremo. Brought back the times of seeing his own sisters in similar states when a particular client or clients were rough with them. The pain in their eyes of being used and abused by anyone with enough money to pay for their services. While, it could not compare to what these girls had faced, or wouldn’t face if not for a timely intervention, the situation was still very similar. Seeing them like this, Daremo found his heart going out to them, and his gaze soften, “None of them deserved this.”, he muttered mainly to himself. Not wanting to cause them any more discomfort, he looked away and focused on Amaya and Suzume.

Listening to the words spoken by Suzume, Daremo focused on his wife. “Processing and accepting that the incident of today was not their fault might be hard for some of them. They will need a big support system to help them through this. Something like this is not easily forgotten, and can not be simply ignored. They will have to face the reality of it. “ he spoke. Glancing once more at the women, he spoke to them in a calming voice that still carried, “Whatever you do. Do not try to block this moment from your minds. Yes, you were kidnapped. Yes, some of you were raped. No, it is not your fault that this happens. The only people are fault are those dead men. None of you did anything wrong. You are not the blame for the actions of those bastards.”

Noting how some of them was looking at him with a look of curiosity, he paused, thinking about what was going to be revealed, ”Some of you might wonder why you should listen to me. I can’t give you a reason, but, I can say this. I know from seeing my own sisters, and personal experience.”. Seeing the looks of disbelief, Daremo continued, telling them a piece of his past, “I was eight years old. A particular female client came into an Okiya around here. She had a taste for young boys and using toys. Seeing how I was the only boy at the Okiya, you can guess I was chosen, and you can guess what happened. I still remember every action she did. The smell of her perfume, raspberry. The color of her hair, blonde and styled in a ponytail.  How her fingernails were painted green. I tried blocking that moment out. Tried to forget about it, but, my mother.”, the word was spoken with nothing but love, “Did not allow me. She, along with the other geishas and matriarch pull me through my first experience.  My situation was different, but, it was still traumatic for a child. But, my point is, do not forget what happened. Accept it for what it was, and lean on those around you, or whoever you are close to, for support. They will help pull you through this, and you will survive.”

Having said what was needed, seeing them accepting his words, Daremo looked at his companions, noticing how the mountain hermit was looking back at the dying bandit leader, and Amaya was gazing at him with curiosity. He knew that gaze would intensify now with what he just told the girls. His words were genuine, coming from a painful past that was unknown to many. “I would not feel mercy for men who force themselves on anyone or participate in human trafficking. They are monsters, and sometimes it takes a monster to deal with another.”, he spoke, following them back to the okiya.

As the Okiya slowly came into view, Daremo chuckled softly at the hermit’s words, “Yes, my wife is amazing at the healing arts. I, too, can heal, but I confess such skills have dwindled over time as I dived furthered into darker aspects of the art.” He paused, debating on answering truthfully about where he came from, “Originally, I was from here. Owned a few hospitals around Tsuchi no Kuni while leading the main one in Iwagakure no Sato. Alas, those days are in the past, and I only come back here to visit family I left behind.” Looking at Suzume, “What about you? Are you from here?” The question being asked just as they arrived at the front of the Okiya.

---

755[8533]

Experience and empathy were two things in life that carried weight. Everyone could speak but few could speak with value as a person who could relate through existence or emotion. When people spoke about something they knew, others listened. Not everyone would easily agree or abide, but it was hard denying words that carried the weight of life itself. For what little Mizuki had come to know this man, it was almost surprising to hear him talk about his own life with such weight when he had mostly revealed a darker side of himself throughout his professionalism as shinobi. Now she understood where it came from. A darker past, controlled but not forgotten.

Her own experience had been spared of such horrors until she became a genin and had to take a life during a mission alongside the Raikage Lin Katonrai. Perhaps the main reason why she suffered more than him when taking a life. To her, life was a precious thing full of beauty and vibrancy but to Daremo, whose childhood was a dark road better left alone, a whole different perception ruled his mind. At times like this, she really felt like a pampered princess compared to some others, even if she had seen her fair share of struggles these late handful years.

The question about her origins would be asked in turn. A woman of the Land of Fire, a man of the Land of Earth. She knew Daremo was not of Kumogakure initially as she had seen the reports of him joining the Village, but she had not expected him to be native to these lands here. Mizuki wondered if it was coincidence that once more she felt a closer affinity with the Iwa-nin than any other Village so far.

"I originally hail from the Land of Lightning but have been living in the Valley of Mountains for several months now. Seeking the road to peace and enlightenment, away from a land lost to the darkness. Perhaps one day, I'll return to my homeland and bring enlightenment to a troubled land."

In a way, healing her own soul from the drowning taint that had slowly crept in the Village. Unlike Amaya, she was no healer. The road was tedious and difficult, countless times she had felt herself slip away towards the edges of depression, Kazuki being her inspiration to steel her mind and dredge through the mental storm as she searched for answers on how to save herself and the Village she so loved. The Tsuchikage has given her a spark of hope when he had revealed a humane approach towards a stranger when Kazuki had fallen ill. Then later the maiko Mameha, another shinobi of Iwagakure, had given her solutions she had not been able to see previously. And now a familiar face, hailing from the same lands, had thoroughly shown his disgust at such unrighteous acts.

"You are most likely quite familiar with the situation in the Land of Lightning, Daremo-dono, but have you heard the tales of the risen God, Amaya-sama?"

The suffixes were used on purpose. Not only to reveal a deeper respect towards the two but also as a subtle hint towards Daremo, who might be familiar with the honorific by which a certain person had addressed him in the past. Perhaps he would remember, a small piece of the puzzle for him to play with. Perhaps he would not, in which there would be no harm done.

With the teahouse in sight, Mizuki would walk over to see how Kazuki was doing, only to see him sleeping tightly under a cover. Cheeks red from exhaustion, it looked like the boy had tried his hardest to make himself useful with what little ability he had at his five years old age. The hermit would be informed he was doing well before the woman ran up to the incoming women, rescued from an unknown cruel fate. Finally home. Finally free to recover from today's nightmare.

The hermit would return to the couple of unexpected allies in this mission once they were done with their part, matter of continuing the conversation possibly left pending.

---

696
Total: 5655

Even though Daremo’s comment had been clearly muttered to himself, Amaya caught it regardless and simply shook her head in response. Her husband was certainly right: none of the women present had likely ever done anything in their lives to deserve such treatment, but then again that was the way life worked. It picked on and targeted on the weak, it chose those who were susceptible. It was a constant cycle of bullying and abuse. The only way to survive it all was to not give in or give up, to keep pushing through no matter what was thrown your way.

As her husband’s attention shifted from the frightened women and onto her her own gaze would shift onto him as she listened to his words. They were certainly truthful, but they were also eye opening, especially as he began to delve into his past for the sake of the women. She listened intently as he laid some of his past bare for them, giving them someone that they could relate to while showing them someone who had overcome what had happened and possibly even grown stronger for it. He spoke from experiences, allowing his own personal horrors, or at least a taste of them, to be known. It only added to the questions Amaya had for him, but they would be questions for a later time, for when they were within the privacy perhaps of their own home. She certainly had no intentions of poking the snakes of the past with a sharpened stick, but there were some things she needed to know - such as if that woman was dead, and if not who was she so that Amaya could make sure the woman suffered the most horrible experiences of her life for what she had done to her husband. Amaya was, if not anything else, exceptionally territorial and protective of those she loved after all.

Her mind wouldn’t dwell on these things though as her gaze shifted then to their ally. It was with practiced ease that she hid her disgust of the mention of the so called God. To carry such a title was absurd, and an insult to the gods themselves. Not wanting to give too much away, especially in mixed company that could likely lead to issues for the innocent women among them later on, she simply gave a nod of her head in indication that she had heard of Hastur and his absurdity, as well as the actions that had been going on due to him. ”Unfortunately, I have: at least somewhat. He was certainly a topic of conversation between my husband and I when I decided to leave my home for his.”, she worded herself carefully, showing her disdain while not actually putting it into words. One did not simply bad mouth a Kage after all - especially when you were living now well within his reach. The last thing she would ever do was put her family, especially the adorable and innocent twins, in the way of harm.

As they reached the Okiya Amaya would take a step off to the side, out of the way but still very much watchful of the reunion. This was not Amaya’s world, it was a world she knew almost little to nothing about, and yet she couldn’t help but to feel a kind of connection with the women she had helped to rescue. They would forever become a part of her life in one aspect or another, while a piece of herself would always remain with them.

---

595 | 6,626

Daremo knew the revelations he revealed would have some consequences with Amaya once the pair got a chance to talk in privacy. His past was something rarely discussed between the two. While his lover knew a lot about his childhood, he left her out of knowing much about the atrocities committed against him by the various clients, and how his mother did nothing but allow it to happen. He particularly did not like talking about such subjects with her, mainly due to knowing the anger felt when she learned about the truth of his situation. He did not want her to feel anything different about his mother, someone who he loved dearly despite all the wrongdoings she allowed to happen to him, or the other geishas, who also knew what was happening but did nothing. No, Daremo very much likes to keep Amaya's picture of his family to be, for the most part, untarnished by the truth.

Saying that he knew, sooner or later, he would need to discuss many of the things with his wife. Memories of the past will need to be brought to the forefront, and he needed to lay out everything for Amaya to digest the full extent of the man she married. The conversation was not one he was particularly looking forward to due to the high amount of emotions that had a chance of being present, yet, he knew it needed to happen. Too much has been revealed today to let the conversations slide by. He fully expects Amaya to ask him about it at the moment noticed. He saw the questionings looks she gave him, the curiosity in her eyes as his actions revealed many unsettling truths about him. It was just a matter of time.

Alas, the moment would not be now. They were in the presence of others, and he did not want to get into a delicate conversation with multiple pairs of ears around. Thus, instead of dwelling on the evitable future, he shifted his attention to Suzume and questioned about her origins. It was only fair the question she had asked the would also be turned on her as well, right?

He found it interesting to note she was from the Land of Lightning, but, having been living within the Tsuchi no Kuni's mountains for several months. Peace and enlightenment were terms of familiarity to him, but, only because of him being a sage in training. He highly doubts the training he went through could compare what she sought after. Though his expression did not change, he wondered was the darkness she spoke of tied to Hastur; the self-proclaimed god of Lightning Country.

Not wanting to dwell on the man before any longer than necessary, Daremo returned his thoughts back onto Suzume. There was something about the woman which screamed familiarity with him. To his knowledge, he had never run into a Suzume while in Lightning Country, though that is not saying much with him rarely being in the country as it is, and knew none outside of the former Kazekage. It could not be her. She was not from Lightning Country. So, who was Suzume to make him feel a sense of familiarity?

The answer to the question would come from the word Suzume spoke, as she questioned Amaya of knowing about Hastur, Daremo-dono. There were not many people who used suffixed when addressing him. Many just talked to him as if talking to a friend or someone close. None of them used the respectful suffixes, asides from one person. A look of recognition flashed across his face, and Daremo glanced over at Suzume. Could she really be his the swordswoman he fought alongside in Suna? Could she really be Mizuki; the herald of Hastur? If she was, the conversation had just become more interesting.

"I am familiar with the false god who resides in Lightning Country.  His actions have been questionable as of late.", He did not go into further detail in fear of the other pair of ears. He did not want to risk such talks to be leaked back to Hastur with the man taking actions against him and his family.

Reaching the Okiya, Daremo stood beside Amaya, watching as the freed women were reunited with others. Tears of joy were shred, as many of those who had waited behind, guided the freed women inside, comforting them along the way. A small smile tugged on his face at the sight, "It is always nice to bring them home. The older women will help the young ones deal with what happened. You can tell some of them have experienced this before", He whispered. Grabbing Amaya's hand, he gave it a light squeeze, "I will tell you everything about my past, about my past as a geisha.", he promised, watching as Suzume moved towards them.

Looking at Suzume, Daremo debate on questioning her, "Mizuki?", He whispered loud enough for only the three of them could hear. If the woman was indeed Mizuki, he continued, "Seems like I am not the only one who did not return back to the Land of Lightning after what happened in Kaze no Kuni." Glancing around, making sure no one was easedropping on their conversation, he continued, "Do you have a place we can continue this conversation in private? If not, the Okiya where I grew up in is not too far from here." If she did have a place where they could talk, he would follow her, if not, he would guide her to the Okiya of his childhood.

---

933[9466]

Amaya remained reserved. She answered the question without truly answering it, her diplomatic answer revealing her true feelings only in the way she hinted at Hastur having been the topic of their conversation. She didn't have many good words but publicly disgracing him seemed equally foolish as his followers hid everywhere. Suzume knew Hastur's thoughts on Iwagakure. The only Village he disliked and had declared not worthy of assistance during the Siege of Inabayama. She wouldn't be surprised if he had his spies within the lands but up until now the hermit had yet to meet any sort of activity other than the two ANBU stumbling upon her. When Suzume heard that Amaya had left her Village in favour of Kumogakure, her thoughts briefly wondered why that would have been the case. To join a faction she considered stronger and better? Even if the hermit's eyes shifted towards Daremo and the notion of love between the two, wouldn't it somewhat be strange to move to Kumogakure when there was a dislike for its kage? Or were there other reasons all together?

Daremo's answer seemed to tilt a little more in favour of the latter as he openly stated his opinion about the false god. Questionable was, to Suzume's idea, still a sweetened way of putting it but knowing he was a Kumo-nin himself it was just about the worst he throw in without skimming the line of treason if someone caught him. Still, she felt somewhat relieved that she was not the only Kumo-nin in the world that felt like Hastur was failing his nation. If only she could read the minds of others to know how many more were of the same thoughts. If only she could pick them all out and band together to bring Kumogakure back to its former glory. A nation proud about its martial prowess rather than a nation filled with zealots and sinister rituals to devour the world for a mad man's power.

As if her thoughts had betrayed her, her real name would be mentioned. Daremo had picked up the honorifics and completed the puzzle. She wouldn't reply to his question but a meaningful stare in his direction would allow him to understand he was right. Mizuki, indeed. A diplomat of Kumogakure who had once heralded his name, now just as well in hiding as she sought inner peace and enlightenment. A way to cope with the monster she had brought into Kumogakure, a self-imposed exile as she searched for answers in how to restore her treasured homeland. If she would tell people she had been living a step away from a hidden path leading into Kumo, a 'trial of the kami' forgotten since long even by those considering the Land of Lightning as their heritage, and that less than a handful of people had found the path in the long months she had lived there, would it be considered a good place?

"Allow me to thank the two of you with a cup of tea. On my own I might not have been able to bring this endeavour to such a success. I don't have much to offer as a hermit but I'd hate to see you go unrewarded nonetheless.", she'd offer as she bowed before them. A request innocent enough for eavesdroppers not to think much of it, a subtle invitation to the two to follow her to a place less than a handful others had stumbled on in the last months. Partially hidden by the further ends of Iwagakure's mountains, partially concealed through camouflage. The basic camouflage technique once learned as an academy students applied by the hands of a jounin had done a remarkable job at remaining hidden despite the simplest applications.

If they'd accept, the hermit would lead them towards the far end of the Valley of Mountains where hills had made for small forested land and rising mountains, there where the Land of Stone hugged the Land of Lightning. It would not look like much more than an empty place, the darkness of night only adding to the camouflage brought forward by the greyed pelts of the camp's makeshift wind-breakers mimicking the stones, a single vertical stripe resembling much like just another tree in the growing density of the nearby thicket.

---

733
Total: 6388

.oO(OOC: I should be able to post faster for the next month, finals are over. \ o / Going to keep this short to keep things moving.)

A gentle smile spread across her face as she watched her husband’s attention focus on to her, moving towards her to join her once again. Feeling his hand slipping into her own and the gentle squeeze that came after she returned the gesture gently, her smile growing bigger for a moment. She became aware fairly quickly of how much of her curiosity had been showing considering her husbands words, and she nodded in understanding. Yes, this was certainly something they needed to discuss, but she wanted it to be a private matter. Had the events of this evening not happened she would have never asked or delved into his past because she knew deep down it would never change her opinion of the man she loved, but considering all that had gone on she wanted to know now. Still, it would never disaude her love, no matter what was revealed. Perhaps it was time for she, too, to reveal more of her past to him as well - it was only fair after all.

Amaya’s attention would focus onto their unexpected ally, and once more she wound find secrets being revealed as her husband addressed the woman not by the name she had originally given them, but by another: Mizuki. The meaningful stare in Daremo’s direction only seemed to confirm the whispered question: apparently they had not finished delving into secrets. What more would be revealed this evening: it was something she couldn’t help but to wonder.

As Mizuki mentioned a cup of tea as a means of thanks she took it as a means for them to leave without anyone being suspicious, and so with a smile still upon her face she would nod in agreement. ”A cup of tea sounds wonderful.”, she would agree softly, glancing over to her husband to both see and listen to his reply on the matter. Should he also agree she would follow after Mizuki, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, all of which remained hidden and in check by the impassive and emotionless mask she had perfected. She was eager for the three of them to be able to speak privately: she had had more to say in regards to Hastur, but had learned in her life to be cautious around strangers. Of course, this woman was as good as a stranger to her as well, but there was something there - perhaps a sort of union due to having worked together towards the same cause, a like mindedness so to speak.

If there was ever a private place to talk it seemed that this was it. Camouflaged very well and well away from what would be prying eyes and ears. A place where words could be spoken freely, without hesitation. It was impressive to say the least, at least to Amaya, and reminded her of her past when she was guarding Kenta, and the private conversations they held hidden out in the deepest and nearly unreachable parts of the forests. It brought a kind of inner peace that one couldn’t get in the hustle and bustle of cities and villages. A place one could truly be alone, be themselves. Perfect, at least in her eyes. ”Very nice… reminds me of back home. I used to have a place deep like this in the forest. Hidden, unknown, a place of peace.”, she would comment thoughtfully before glancing towards her husband, wondering about his opinion of the location.

---

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A verbal confirmation did not come from Suzume, yet, there wasn’t any need for one. There was not a shred of doubt in his mind of her true identity. From the sense of comfortability she had around him while they combatted the bandits, freeing the women in the process. From of use of lightning, he having caught glimpses of it during his own skirmish with the bandits, seeing it cutting through the darkness. He knew not of another who possessed such talents for the raiton element. How she used honorifics when speaking to him. Honorifics was not something many shinobi used to address another with there only being a few exceptions, one of them being Mizuki. Suzume and Mizuki shared many similarities, and it was not hard for him to come to successful conclusion in who the woman was.

There was a chance of mentioning her name held a chance to add more questions to Amaya’s growing pile. He could not remember talking about Raiu, Mizuki to his lover. He can’t recall ever talking about everything that went on during the Siege of Inabayama, and how he got into conflict with Konoha-nin and Kiri-nin in befall of Mizuki. The conversation would be an interesting one for this would be the first time Daremo directly attacked anyone leaf-nin or water-nin for the desires of others. Despite his own issues with the leaf, expanding from their inability to do anything for a former blind apprentice to the stripping of every title Amaya held, he had never acted against them . . .until now. The only obligation he had to help Mizuki was because of them being Kumo-nin, nothing more nor less. A lesser of a reason than to what the current Hokage did to Amaya.

Citrine eyes gazed at the approaching form of Suzume who bowed to them, “There is no need to thank us. We would not have known about what was going on if it wasn’t for someone of importance to me escaping and locating us.”, Omitting who the person was, Daremo did not see any need to letting such information slip. Glancing at Amaya, he did not comment on her accepting the hermit’s offer of tea, “Tea would be perfect right now, Suzume-san.” He was curious about certain things, but, dared not to speak about them in the opening while risking it being overheard.

Thus, it was not surprising that Daremo, after glancing at Amaya, would follow Mizuki across Tsuchi no Kuni’s terrain. Passing by familiar locations, mainly caves, that jarred up memories of his time as a shinobi for Iwagakure no Sato, and how he used the natural hide-outs for his own legal or illegal purposes. Coming to the end of Valley of Mountains, Daremo noted that they would be close to the land of stone, and ironically, close to Lightning Country. Eyes pierced through the darkness, taking in the well camouflage place.  He himself would have a hard time finding it, if he wasn’t led to it.

Daremo agreed with Amaya’s comment of the place being somewhere where one can find peace. “It is funny that you chose this location.”, he said, looking around it with a sense of familiarity, “As you know, I was an Iwa-nin. My sensei and lover, at the time, ultimately became a missing-nin, but not before putting a hole through my stomach. She doing so not out of spite but to keep the officials from wondering if I knew anything. Alas, I stayed in contact with her, and we often used the places around here to meet up. This was the last place I seen her over a decade and so ago.” Yet more information about his past was dropped now that they were in a secure location.

Gazing at Suzume, “I am assuming you want to speak to us about Hastur, and this invitation for tea was either a bonus or a ruse?”, he questioned.

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