Suna, the raging beast slept eternally, her shifting weight causes the very core of the world to shake, her mighty exhales births the strong winds that carry the merchant boats downstream, and her inhales pull them back to her once again. However, one of her mighty exhales had put the minor villages, her children, in danger. Marauders had come, using the winds Suna had gifted as a blessing to the denizens of her children to wreak havoc, slaughter innocents, and end her mighty offspring. This was intolerable to the Kazekage, her judgment was swift and her reaction harsh, two Chuunin were sent to not only investigate but aid in the complete destruction of said Marauders to make an example of those who wish to harm Sunagakure or her offspring, death was their penalty.

Uchiha Akiko had risen early as she normally had since the untimely demise of her father. Her dreams were haunted by his mutilated corpse and that of a harsh and cold visage of Uzumaki Trilby, the man’s slayer. While her mind was still processing the loss, even after all of this time, her resolve was solid at some point she would slay Trilby for the pain he had inflicted on not only her but her house as a whole. Through this lust for vengeance she had unknowingly giving ground to the cruel Curse that she had sworn to never to give into and the source that bred her power, the Sharingan eye. The blood-spattered images caused Akiko to waken at all hours of the night, each time she fell asleep she was forced to relive the most horrifying moment in her life to date.

Akiko exited from her room and was greeted by the warm scent of meat being fried by her mother in the kitchen. For a short moment her focus was pulled from the horrible nightmares she continuously experienced and towards her empty and rather ravenous stomach. She savored the tastes of the juicy meats as she discussed the mission with her mother, she listened to her mother request to remain safe, before leaving to meet her partner at the gates, an hour ahead of schedule.

Akiko stood in chilled early morning air as she watched the morning sun peek over the edge of Sunagakure’s mighty wall, the brilliant oranges and yellows streaked through the sky heralding her dawn. The clouds took in the brilliance, turning their pure white to an arrangement of various flamboyant colors ranging from light purples to bright reds. For another brief moment Akiko enjoyed the peace, the thoughts of her father being pushed aside as she inhaled the display that Suna had bestowed upon her. Soon her partner would arrive and the sands of some small village would match that of the sky’s crimson reds, soon Suna would have her vengeance and Akiko would be one step closer to her own.

466 Words

The night before, though dark and full of terrors for some, to others was solemn and contemplating, Ayato Amida fasted her sleep the night prior in the stead of deep and relaxing meditation, though it was not as refreshing as closing one's eyes and attaining rest, the length of the meditation still managed to rest and rejuvenate her body and mind enough for her to be able to function for the next 18 hours. Within the deepness of her mind she touched everything, surrounded by the life of her small botanical garden which had begun to expand outwards from her home in Sunagakure. As she meditated she could feel her being in everything around her, she could feel the wind on the petals and leaves of the plants, as well as their joy in being able to flower and pollinate. The thought of plant life amongst the sands was an amazing and invigorating spectacle to behold. And her collection of flowers, herbs and other rare plants had already been of some help to the hospital in the nearby area. But, it seemed all was not well with the coastline boarders...

The next day she received a message from one of the Kage's representatives, as she had not real duties here, not even being a native to the area, it seemed it was time to be put to work to earn her keep in Suna. Ayato read over the full description of the mission and saw that bandits and marauders had been attacking the shoreline villages. Ayato felt a sadness in her heart that others would destroy for the sake of destruction and moved to sit down for her morning prayers. Praying not to a deity or creator but rather performing purifying mantra to cleanse herself and her kharma, as well as centring her mind, an hour past as the clock reached the height of the morn and the sun peaked over the dunes of the land of sand. She stood and donned her equipment, her Gi and her shoes, as well as what little protective gear she actually had to protect against the wind and harsh conditions of the harsh and unforgiving landscape.

As she finally began to leave the house, Ayato managed to collect a small bag of water and provisions for the trip, the briefing stated that there was to be another person accompanying her on the journey, thus, she took twice as much water and food that she should have in case of any short fall on the other person's part. More than a fair share of shinobi had fallen to nothing but the harshness of the Sunagakure desert and its many trials, being prepared was something the Danketsu were quick to instil in you as a child. Looking to the sky as she began to walk to the exit of the town she managed to spy whom she thought would be her accomplice for the following mission, at first glance Ayato deduced that she was a little younger than herself. And an Uchiha by the look of her eyes. While Ayato was still waiting for the time her third eye would open she was not worried about the speed in which it came to past. The Eye was a gift, a reward for the acts of her ancestors, but they each walked their own path, and Ayato accepted that her eye would be when it was supposed to be.

Though being said the two inch odd vertical slit on her forehead surrounded by the impossibly complex scarred symbols perfectly inscribed upon her otherwise flawless alabaster skin. The wounds healed pristinely, the scars bearing no texture what so ever, and were merely a slight perfectly written discolouration of her skin in intricate web works of patterns across her brow around what was to be her eye, down the back of her neck, across her back and shoulders and down her spine, then again on the backs of her hands, forearms and her thighs, but such symbols were hidden from view. Performing the carvings was an almost lethal act to herself at such a young age, but her hand was steady and she was ignorant of the pain and she avoided such catastrophe.

Raising a hand in a silent greeting Ayato strode to beside her companion, not one to open her mouth to greet and waste words when an action and a feint smile said more words about her own personality than all the greetings in the world. Her lavender eyes studied the uchiha's physique on the sly, simply noting her features and commiting them to memory as she finally reached her. I apologise for making you wait, let's be off. She spoke lightly with a largely neutrally positive tone. As if she was glad but about nothing in particular. Her very own sheathe and blade upon her back, the handle in some form of static lock which forced the user to draw the blade from the hip in a reversed grip, as opposed to the shoulder in a downward chop, the axis of the sheathe seemed to be interchangeable with little effort otherwise. My name is Ayato Amida, it is a great pleasure and privilege to meet you Lady Uchiha.

878 words

Elegant yet alien beauty were the only words Akiko could use to describe her companion for this mission, the woman was covered in multiple ritualistic scars which formed various patterns. While Akiko would have usually viewed that as a mar to natural beauty, instead these strange scars seemed to accent the woman that approached her. Beyond her natural beauty Akiko could tell this woman was solid in constitution, her firm body stood as a testimony to that fact. However out of all the things that set this woman apart from any other ninja Akiko had encountered happened to be the eyes. Her eyes, lavender pools rich with emotion yet distant, as Akiko gazed into them she felt as if this Kunoichi could see through her physical body and stare directly at her stained and darkened soul. Because of this part of Akiko wanted to withdraw from her sight, that unmoving and daunting gaze but in the same breath Akiko wanted to accept the gaze, to allow another to see the agony she constantly felt instead of hiding it from the public gaze.

"I apologize for making you wait, let's be off."

A heavenly voice chimed drawing Akiko from her state of deepened thought and breaking her unshakable staring gaze. Akiko blinked in shock at the cool neutrality of the voice, she shook her head lightly as she comprehended what her ally had just said. After she swallowed saliva that was sparsely found in her mouth to quench her now dried throat she controlled her emotions and returned herself to the stony exterior that was usually found on her face.

“No need to apologize, I came earlier then the allotted time anyways.” Akiko responded in a voice void of emotion or at least emotion that was skillfully hidden.

Akiko took the time to notice the woman’s weapon for the first time, the blade of a large Nagamaki. The ornate weapon instantly spoke of the woman’s character and personality as a warrior, Akiko immediately noted that she probably fought with an adaptable form molded around her overpoweringly strong blade. Akiko’s empty deep brown eyes gaze at the weapon in appreciation of both its impressive presence, the care given to the sheathe, and the beauty of the designs found on the hilt of the blade, it was truly an impressive weapon. Akiko allowed a small smirk to appear on her face, she believed this strange, beautiful, yet deadly woman and herself would get along splendidly.

“My name is Ayato Amida, it is a great pleasure and privilege to meet you Lady Uchiha.” The woman said, finally introducing herself.

“Lady Uchiha? I am no Lady today, it is not Suna requires of me. I am Uchiha Akiko and the pleasure is all mine, Amida.” Akiko responded with a small nod of her head as a greeting.

With that Akiko turned to leave, the massive gates of Suna slowly peeling apart as the guards on the wall began to twist the wheel that allowed the gate to open through a series of thickened chains. The wind that had been kept from entering the city suddenly rushed into the city, howling as it buffeted the pair with coarse and harsh sand. Akiko pulled a small handkerchief over her mouth to allow herself to breathe clean air and tilted her head slightly to protect her eyes from the coarse and cutting sands. With one hand on her Katana’s pommel, Akiko took the first step out into the blistering heat and unforgiving winds of the desert. After walking a few steps Akiko tensed her legs and broke into a controlled sprint, she intended on arriving at the Village in question within a few hours, the journey had begun.

625 words

Ayato walked ahead of Akiko for a few moments and signalled a greeting to the Jounin who guarded the city on high, as they themselves signalled for others to open the gates leading to the front entrance to the city. Ayato watched and held her breathe within her chest as the wind charged her head on, the effect of the changing wind pressure not stealing her breathe from her. As well as tilting her body to one side she managed to deflect some of the torrent which harmlessly cascaded past her and toward the village. The tendrils of the breeze were visibly identifiable as they whipped past the solemn duo, due to it being mixed and comprised of the sand the dust and the dirt bringing to to life like a painting. The strokes of browns cascading past her and whirling into vicious dust devils as they ricochetted against the buildings and obstacles which barred their path, dancing and carrying with them some of the joy of nature... Akiko responded to Ayato's greeting of her subservient nature, yet only slightly, the house of Uchiha by many was still considered noble, though by Amida, they were also considered to have fallen deeply astray.

"My family were once strategists to your clan, some time ago, and to many the Uchiha house, similar to the Hyuuga house is considered Noble."

She voiced against the wind, audible enough to hear if Akiko had intended to listen to her words, but otherwise swept away by the roaring of the gale. But Ayato would soon see her companion take to the fleet, bolting before her into the winds, crossing the thresh hold out of the city through the wilds of Sunagakure. Picking up her pace, Ayato attempted to match her speed through the wind and the sun and the hail of sand against her face and body. Breathing calmly through her nose and being sure to shield her eyes all the while they made their way, bowing her head down so that she could still make out Akiko in her own peripheral vision, while keeping track of the path and her surroundings. As they ran across the sun kissed dunes, shaded by the active clouds above their heads, Ayato's eyes to the best of her own ability scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of anything out of the ordinary, occasionally drawing her drinking flask from to obtain a small and meagre sum of water to quench her ever growing thirst in this blasted heath.

They ran on and on and time passed, the soft dunes of the village hidden in the sands gave way to desert canyons and bracken plains which extended toward the horizon, signifying their distance out into the vast Sunakagure desert as dozens of miles which lay long behind them. The village they were approaching was becoming closer and closer, a few meagre ridges of the canyons away until it would be visible to the naked eye. But the heat caused the air in the distance to waiver and change, even play tricks on the human mind into thinking one could see faux images of their own desires. Such stories were tragic tales in the eyes of an Amida, full of deception suffering and woe, many travellers had fallen to the plains in the wilderness, and while they did not talk Ayato preyed for them as she rank, full knowing not all of this sand came from inorganic sources.. The shelter of the canyon rocks gladly shielded the pair from the wind once they got within their shadow, ever nearing their destination. Keeping her eye to the ridges in case of ambush, being sure to look behind them often Ayato opened her mouth to speak.

"So, no doubt we are to perform reconnaissance before we attempt to make any move on this Village Lady Akiko. I'm sure we wish not to wade deep into the forces of the enemy without assessing whatever risk we may descove-"


Ayato cut short as she heard a small collection of rocks sliding down the cliff faced sides of one of the canyon walls, tracing them up to see how far up the displacement had been, even though under suspicion of being watched she did not yet go for her sword, nor even place a hand upon it she did not like the thought of their approach potentially being watched by the people whom they were trying to observe and defeat. The coast was not far from here some could already smell the salt hanging on the air. 

Mission 1500/1500

Raiton training 100/2000

The raging winds roared in anger to the twin Kunoichi that trespassed upon its sands, however swaying them into abandoning their quest would not be so easy. Akiko and her companion made their way defiantly through the coils of the increasingly aggressive beast, ignoring its growls and hisses in the forms of howling winds and blistering heat. As they moved through the neigh eternal desert Akiko faintly made out respectful words passed along from Ayato to herself.

"My family was once strategists to your clan, some time ago, and to many the Uchiha house, similar to the Hyuuga house is considered Noble."

Akiko’s mind raced back to the history of the olden days, when the Uchiha clan stood united as a single indomitable entity. In those days dozens of clans served them, out of respect, fear, or the hatred of a common enemy. However only one clan stood as strategists and respected friend, Amida Clan, the third eye warrior monks who’s own Doujutsu was nearly as fabled as the Uchiha’s Sharingan. The winds slowly began to stop their assault, as was common in the afternoon as the trade winds on the river died down, as such Akiko slowed her pace, and she wanted to talk to Ayato, an Amida.

Akiko reached into a small pack slung over her shoulder and pulled forth two grilled fish, marinated in soy sauce and wrapped in bacon. The aroma caused Akiko’s mouth to water as she extended one of the carefully wrapped fish towards Ayato as an offer to take it before sitting down on the warm sand and began devouring the small meal.

“So, you are an Amida? The third eye clan, I have read about your clan in the history of my own. Your clan served both Senju and Uchiha during their great war; let me ask you something Amida. If you were to breathe in those olden days, who would you serve?” Akiko asked, her deep brown eyes sharpening as she gazed at her ally.

"So, no doubt we are to perform reconnaissance before we attempt to make any move on this Village Lady Akiko. I'm sure we wish not to wade deep into the forces of the enemy without assessing whatever risk we may discove-"

As she ate Akiko heard what Ayato had seen, her hand paused with a chunk of the grilled fish flesh in its grasp as she brought it to her mouth while she looked over her shoulder towards the cliffs ridge line. Akiko strained her eyes as she focused in on the rocky outcropping of the cliff’s crest, was someone watching them? The answer came in the form of a twinkling glint off the small surface of some distant metallic object as it mirrored the light from Suna’s eternal sun. A single arrow drove itself into the sand by Akiko’s left leg, a product of a slight miscalculation of some archer.

Akiko’s reaction was pointed, quick, and without hesitation. The young Uchiha rolled to her feet and dashed towards the cliff face, leaving her fish on the sand for the insects to enjoy. She didn’t bother in glancing back at her ally, Ayato, she was sure the Amida would be close on her tail as they engaged whatever stood on the ridge. Together an Uchiha and Amida would be the undoing of whatever was foolish enough to make an attempt on their lives; their message sent in the form of iron would be replied to by the steel of the Katana.

Something wasn't right, Ayato could feel something on the wind, the arrow which had his the ground had long, though Akiko's words rung in Ayato's mind, which of the two sides would she serve, history had spoken of the Senju as great and nigh on legendary heroes which upheld justice, as well as ideals of peace and benevolence. Their reign created konoha and allowed the country in the land of fire under their rule to become one of, if not the most prosperous country in all of the ninja world. Its walls were the highest, its people were by far the happiest, and they had always managed to defeat the fiends which knocked at their gates. But the Uchiha, were always painted in a different light amongst the Amida, demonic almost, fierce and to be feared. The first of the Amida once served them, their methods he described were a product of the times, many of the people not involved in the war he described as happy, and charitable, but the hate within the Uchiha bloodline was there, and dormant, simply waiting for an opportunity to escape.

Demonic fury, Shattered soul shards deep within their eye, and the Mangekyou sharengan was known to the Amida clan as the Asura's eye. Ayato would not have liked to admit it, though she feared for whichever side the Uchiha waged war against. The concept of a war was one which she did not smile upon. Ayato kept the question in her mind as she deliberated the answer. Her feet twisting as she had stalled and fallen a dozen meters behind before she began to run, run as fast as her legs would take her in an attempt to catch up to the swiftness of Akiko bounding ahead at advanced speeds. Ayato was not much faster, placing a hand on her blade she struggled to keep up, not daring to summon her stead least the threat fully need for her full mobilisation. Taking to the cliff Ayato focused her chakra to her feet, using her chakra to grip the side of the cliff face as she darted up the face of the side in a straight line, easily making ground on Akiko whom had to alter her path somewhat to the shape of the hill they charged up.

Getting to the top of the cliff at relatively the same time, the archer seemed to be little more than a simple villager, his bow was obviously home made, and would have been hardly lethal if he did not fire it from height. The frightened man was probably simple defending his town from invaders in the best way he saw fit. Ayato opened her eyes to this, and thus opened them to the fury of the Uchiha which was charging toward him. Desperation fuelling her legs to pull ahead of the Uchiha for but a moment, her hand on her blade, the villager was petrified, he hadn't even knocked another arrow to attempt to defend himself, wearing common sand protection combined with a shade he almost looked like he was going to wet himself with the two people charging toward him. But that's when the tide changed in the villager's favour. Gripping her sword Ayato stuck out her foot and with two hands in a one hundred and eighty degree swing drew her nagamaki, holding the blade in two hands and with the momentum of her running swung the weapon toward Akiko.

The strike had a simple purpose, to halt Akiko's momentum, her blade clashing with the blade of her companion's just short of the villager she was about to cut down. Ayato was not willing to spill innocent blood. The man could be an informant, or a guide. As the steel met steel Ayato spoke loudly, loud enough to penetrate Akiko's possible confusion, and stifle doubt quickly before she could come to any queer connections as to why the Amida turned around and defended the person who shot at the two of them. "AKIKO STOP!" She began hoping to penetrate her mind. Stop, stay your blade and open your eyes. It's just a villager, JUST a villager. He's probably just defending his land. Look at that bow, he could have never hit us with that thing... Ayato glanced back at the man to make sure he was still there, as well as okay and unharmed. The old man had fallen backward, was dazed, confused, but grateful to be alive. The poor guy would not have stood a chance, but even he spoke up, claiming that some of the villagers had to take up arms to defend the seaside town from the pirates until they waited for backup, he'd aimed his bow at them, but he'd never meant to fire, his hands sore by arthritis, it was astonishing he could draw back the string.

Ayato lowered her blade, the man confirmed the small town was over run, the scoundrels had all but eaten their reserve food, and had the woman and children of the town hostage and whatever able men fishing and gathering food for them. The pirates numbered twenty to thirty strong, and were armed. Ayato frowned at the thought of woman and children being held captive. For them to die would be a sickening turn on the wheel of reincarnation, while the pirates had taken the town no doubt by force. What of the Sick? Wounded? Ayato asked the elderly man, receiving only the answer that the pirates don't care for who they maim, they simply leave them to die. Ayato's eyes moved to Akiko, and began to move without hesitation, now that they were high on the cliffs, they had a vantage point. Moving across them at running speed, Ayato came to an overhanging ridge which peered over the small fishing village.

The sight was interesting to behold, there were villagers everywhere, but there seemed to be some kind of mill where they men worked, and a storage building where the hostages were being kept. Fishermen were strong when push came to shove, and they would probably fight back if they knew their kids and wives were safe. Ayato looked back to Akiko. What do you make of the situation? Looks like the odds are stacked against just the two of us, we could probably fight them all, but not without injury...

Chakra 195:

1187