What does the fox say?

The signature was hardly difficult to locate.  Exhaling in the hospital, Maku soon found himself inhaling the mountain air.  The behemoth that rested behind him remained motionless as per Maku's last order.  In a way, he almost felt bad about capturing and dominating such a beast, one that should be allowed to run free and satiate it's hunger, yet....well life was unfair so he quickly decided he was over it.

A hand reached forward and touched the beast and both once shine returned to the plane of reality.  Brushing the hair from his face, Maku mentally commanded the creature to follow him.  An odd parade procession indeed as the gigantic creature gingerly walked each claw shattering earth to one side then the other as Maku walked in the middle, whistling a tune he had once heard in Konoha, but had never bothered to learn the words.

After a spell they found themselves in a large crater, on the edge of the lands the Kumogakure could still call it's own.  It was here he assumed he would be left alone.  His note was safe in that girls pocket, and in time no doubt she would find him.  Maku didn't kidnap, he let them come to see him.  Though, that conversation was for later, at present there was another he wished to speak with.

The Genjutsu dominating the kyuubi would lesson slightly and instantly the wrath flowed freely.  The hairs bristled, tails snapped shattering rock like sugar glass.  The great maw rushed forward, slathering jaws set to shrewd the boy, except they didn't.  As they sought to close they stopped an inch away closing on air.  "Please, don't tell me you have such little respect that you think I would remain that unprepared?  I have no doubt you are intelligent, that anger might get you in trouble and has no place here."

Waiting the beast checked its chains and found them sturdy.  Physically could it have shattered any restrain?  Possibly, but the restraints Maku was using weren't conditional on strength of body.  "Now, tell me....what does the fox say?"

What followed was essentially, well it was basically a history lesson to shatter all other history lessons. At his final word the beasts head had looked down and Maku's sharingan whirled as his Tsukyomi took hold in true earnest on the best. Not a watered down version to detain, but full strength and his entire being infiltrated the creatures mind, and it was here he would pull each grain until the bag was picked clean.

The begining, the begining of the creatures life, he watched, he witnessed and he walked among history. He had no time for centuries, so using the own beasts mind as a guide he picked up the highlight real. It was a long time before he reached the story of Echo, but intime he did. This was what he had wanted to see, and watch he did. How much had the beast seen as Echo had gone through his life.

Brothers, deeds, regrets perhaps, each moved past his vision. It wasn't a perfect picture after all the visions where tainted with the bias of the beast, but all the same, he wasn't looking for clarity but rather a bed time story to comfort him when he lay his head down. As Maku watched his own frame walk toward the beast, he broke the genjutsu.

Deep breaths, each one slow abs dilebrate filled his lungs. It was a lot to take in all at once. His brain felt like a bowl of water where one more drop would cause sonething valuable to drip out. "Thank you, Kurama." It was the name the mysterious figure had called the beast. He had no doubt, it was the given name. "I...appreciate that this is difficult for you. I appreciate the uncomfortably of it all, and the frustration at being freed only to enter a diffrent form of capture. Alas, we are all prisoners, but for the first time in going to let you choose how you'd like to be prisoned on this bit of rock we call home." The smile danced across his lips, his ease apperant by even a novice. Life was a great game, and while a couple pages might be missing, Maku considered himself to be holding the rule book.

"You can seek a quarrel with me, in which you have already lost. This isn't the first time this has happened to you, I think you know how it ends. However to contain you isn't my mission. Frankly my own voices up here keep me company enough, adding yours....well Id have a 6 card full house, and that's no good." Chucking he looked at the seriousness still on the face of the monstrosity. "The second choice, the one I prefer, is we work together. You remain free, you work with me, and we do as we please as beings such as ourselves should be allowed to do. So....what will it be?"

The question was left hanging for a moment as Maku awaited an answer. This undoubtedly would not be the conclusion, that was still far away, however it was laying the foundation of the future. All that's left is to see how tall the building he is working towards building.

The moment hung in the air for a long time, as the beast no doubt considered its options. This wasn't the beast of old that had succumbed to nothing but rage and hatred. Maku had bore witness to that beast, but it had long since died and transformed into the creature before him. Having witnessed that some humans could indeed show respect to the tailed beasts, and that others indeed deserved the wrath. There was room for both in this world. The truth was, when was the last time the beast had been given a choice, even if it was a limited one.

"What is it I am to gain in this agreement?" Te beasts pragmatic voice rumbled from deep in its throat as it laid its colossal body to the ground. Head in its paws as to be on the level of Maku. Well, this was at least some amount of progress. At least a true dialogue had been opened, it was now time to continue the trend and see pointless fights ended before they begin.

"What is it you want? Freedom, certainly. You will not be sealed in a body ever again, There will not be a need. Destruction of humans still? done and done....the path I am on, well there will be plenty of time for that. The freedom of your brethren? Well we could probably accommodate that as well if you like. Really, I only ask two things of you. 1. stay alive, and 2. work with me as I seek out my goals. When I am dead you are free, when I am finished you are free." It was stated so matter of fact it caused the great maw to smile. Honestly, what fool would allow such a creation to roam free.

"Working with you, and what does that involve?" The beast rumbled. Besides itself it was interested. While the genjutsu held it from lunging and killing the boy, he was free, in the open, breathing real air not sealed in some meat bags body. Already an improvement over the past 20 some years, and the years before that, and the countless countless years before that. This wasn't a drugged version of the world feeding his rage, he was lucid and in control. Perhaps that is why he remained at least for the moment, open to ideas.

"Simple my dear Kurama, simple. You are already a legend, that is merely my goal. Though I am not sure what else I wish to do to complete this task. No doubt we will seek to kill the most powerful shinobi the world has seen, break the monuments that men pray to, and perhaps....spend a day at the beach in between, just as a nice break." At the same moment both entities laughed. Maku's light and airy carrying on the wind, and Kurama's a bark rumbling the stones around them.

As the creature laughed a weight was lifted. The genjutsu, was gone. What was more the boy wasn't even looking in his direction but laying flat on his back staring up at the sky, no his eyes were closed. The urge to lash and kill was immediately apparent, and yet....it could sense no ill will within Maku. In fact now that Kurama thought about it, nothing he had said had tripped his primal ability to feel lies and deceit. "I'm going to take a nap, we can talk more when you wake up....if your still here and I am still alive of course."

Almost immediately a feint snoring could be heard. Still laying on the ground the beast watched the soft rise and fall of the boys chest. Who was this jumped up little shit? Was it arrogance, innocence, or just plain stupidity.....Kurama still wasn't sure. However...he hadn't lied, and what would be the point in not immediately sealing him away if that was his objective. Kurama was not one to be left in the open for long.....yet here he was. One thing was certain though......he could kill the boy later, for now.....well perhaps he could listen to what he had in mind and go from there.

"So...what now."  A man said, his voice formal and deep.  Fingers drummed on the oaken table, his high backed chair glistening from polish as the single lightbulb hung overhead swinging in a breeze that didn't exist.

"Well we could go throw a party....ice cream is nice" a small child, blonde Spikey hair waving as his head bobbed up and down.  His chair was at stark contrast.  Chipped, stained with every color you could imagine and maybe a few you couldn't.  "I mean, parties are nice and ice cream is even better."  The older man huffed clearly unimpressed by the idea.  

"Enough, I didn't let up to allow pointless fighting.  This isn't some game, and this isn't the time.  We tempered our resolve, we destroyed our humanity, for what...to be completed mere weeks later.  No, we must return to what we were, but with new convictions."  The man spoke eloquently, each word held the weight of gravity itself, as each one was decided upon with careful debate.  His appearance in a fine suit.  His chair unlike the pompous, or the childlike one was merely modern and clean finished.  A higher class of wealth that didn't parade Itself and instead merely let its owner speak for the means that brought it into being.

The three continued to speak and debate for some time.  A child, an old man, and a pragmatic middle ground.  The three levels of Maku's consciousness, trying k work through the proceedings and how to go forth.  This was the dream Maku had, the only way he could solve what to do next when ones mission in life was already completed.  However of course, it wasn't.  

"Well it's agreed.  Next step is to move outside the village systems.  The other lands, we will sieze one.  A daiymo should be easly killed and replaced.  From there, we can contiunue wih something better.  All in favor?"  At the last word the three men all let out an aye.

"What of the priest?  Can I play with him for real yet?"  It was the child that spoke.  For his was the realm of combat.  To Maku the confrontation of life and death was never more than a game so it only made logical sense when the man in the suit brought him back to give him free reign of that area.

"I think so....he is stronger now than ever.  As strong as us....I have my doubts.  Though his habits of splitting personality on the outside is just without class.  Eliminating him might be best."

"Seconded, if he wants to talk with himself it's best to stick internal". The old man stated inciting a laugh from each at he table.  

"Very well, it is decided.  We move to the outside countries at our next best opputunity.  The one known as Youka Tau is also from here forth shall be re guarded as a threat and due for elimination.  If that is all meeting dismissed."  As he finished a gavel was brought into the table, and just as the sound filled his ears, the eyes of Maku flashed open, awaking again to the world.

What had caused this flash of awareness where before there had been rest.  Had the dream concluded with the sound of a gavel, or had some other precense alerted his resting mind to the dangers he had briefly closed his eyes to.  While he would have preferred the former it proved the later that had awoken him.  A signature fast approaching, so fast it was already here.  Perhaps it was the wind...but for a moment he saw a ghost, a ghost that may have not yet even had time to depart this world...

Has quick as this flash of a thought occured it was gone.  This was not the former employer, but somehow it reminded Maku of the one known as Echo.  They didn't particularly look alike, and yet there was still a familiarity that disturbed the notion that this was a coincidence.  Maku's own eternal sharingan picked up each detail, the open jacket displayin a strong physique, a close range fighter.  Tears staining  the face, recent trauma.  The way his eyes looked Maku up and down, sizing him up?

Standing Maku looked at the man, wondering who on earth he could be to spark the visage of Echo in his mind.  A smile broke on Maku's face as it so often did.  Fear, not an emotion he called his own.  Anticipation, that was what always replaced such a feeling in these situations.  Something was going to happen, while he knew not what it was to be....well it was going to be a hell of a story down the road.  "Well I am just one, though I'm not sure if I qualify as The One."

If allowed to fully stand, Maku would be shifted more so on his left leg in a relaxed stance.  His demeanor was that of a man at his ease as it so often was.  Not out of ego, entitlement, not even cockiness, it merely was how he held himself and had gotten used to being.  His attire was simple, bare feet in the dirt while the rest of his frame was in simple white robes.  Not even having a chance to use his cuff links to change his appearance to something more fun.  His blade strapped to his back hanging loose.

Blonde hair had been tousled by the speed of his new aquantence.  Now the soft breeze continued to move it this way and that, reminesent of of grain blowing in the wind.  His own red eyes danced across the mans frame picking up on any remaining detail his initial look might have missed before resting on the Crimson eyes that matched his own.  Intriguing indeed, this would be intresting.  "Can I help you friend?  You look upset.". His words would sound genuine.  He was not intentionly antagonizing as far as Maku knew there was nothing to antagonize in the first place.

Behind him however at odds with his own cool demeanor the Kyuubi'd hair would begin to stand on end.  It had recognized the man almost instantly, having seen him from between the bars in his prison.  Fangs quickly became barred.  While neither human was preferable there was one difference.  One was the brother of his former prison, and one had let him remain free without restraint.  If lucky perhaps they would kill eachother, but best to be on guard.  Freedom was a new gift, and seeing a blood relative of the former prison only boaded that perhaps they wanted him sealed away again.  "He's Echo's brother moron..."  The words came out low and in a hiss.

"O really?  Well that is intrestong". Maku spoke in a whisper, never turning or changing position in the slightest.

Have you ever sat and watched clouds roll in on the horizen. As the white fluffy pillows soured, and slowly darkened as they became saturated in moisture. Given enough time what was once a mere hint of a storm, unleashes itself upon you before the thought of an umbrella can occur. Koroshi Uchiha, while never that white fluffy cloud from this initial interaction, was slowly becoming saturated in not water, but rage.

This much was obvious to any shinobi, and did not take a keen insight or special training. A deluge was building, and should events conintue to transpire in their current trajectory, Maku would find himself worse than just soaking wet in the street. At the exclamation of his relative, Maku let out a singular and very soft sigh. This sigh of course would coincide with the tectonic stomp that Koroshi had unleashed. The very ground moving beneath his feet, Maku felt his knees bend ever so slightly. While moving slightly side to side riding the earthen wave of motion, He never let his eyes drop, never stopped smiling. Echo had held dominion of the wind itself, this brother from his build and current outlet of pent up emotions seemed to show a diffrent sort of elemental affinity.

As the ground began to settle, or at least the worst of the quake died out and Koroshi demanded a name, Maku allowed his own chkra network to break free ever so slightly. He was no phsyical marvel as the man before him. He was but a boy, lean and lithe. Though, if strength of arm and back was the factor that determined his life....well he'd have died back in the academy, probably to a girl.....in preschool..........shit thats embarrasing, got to hit the gym if he lives.

Musings aside, while the man before him was a mountain, Maku himself was more like quicksand. Unknown to both men, they both held doton as their primary elemental conduit. The similarity however ended there. For Maku, quicksand was essentially his fighting style. As it conintued on, as he gained a grip his pull became stronger and stronger, punishing each small mistake like a fatal step. Though, when countered with enough strength that is a worthless skill, soon they would find who had the stronger convictions...if indeed it came to that.

All these musing would occur in a flash, as not more than half a second could have gone by as the echo of his voice died out from the mountains surronding them. A name, just give him a name. No need to poke the bear and keep this going, just give him a simple name...."Nope, you don't get a name. Echo deserved a name, because he was my friend. Your yelling is rude and not friendly, so no thanks." The smile revealed more teeth. Gods be damned......just couldn't keep his mouth shut, even in this situation.

"If you want to know about your brother, his last moments and why I am here and he is not, I suggest you calm down and ask nicely, otherwise.....if violence is your only aim then loose the arrow." Everything up until that last line was said in his boyish voice that somehow always seemed lighter than air. At the end though, it was clear that if the man known as Koroshi wanted a fight and would not truly listen, then he was more than happy to oblige.

Boiling, no not even boiling, more like the way magma flows before riping the earth asunder to unleash itself on any who dare be to close.  That was the Koroshi that Maku saw, and the explosion of chakra only aided the metaphor.  As the raw energy began to physically manifest, Maku let the smile slide from his face replaced with a slightly worried look.  It was clear that the man before him had not found the talking option to be preferable, and they were probably going to engage in the aged art of fisticuffs.  Not that that was Maku's forte, but he believed in trying new things every once in awhile.

As the man began to yell Maku was just able to get his left hand up at the level of his eye, as if he was going to be able to actually block a blow from this man.  Fist clenched the explosion occurred as the man jumped forward.  The sound filling his ears, the man was already half way to him.  Maku was a fast little shit himself, but this was a level of speed he would not be able to touch, and because of that he was glad for reflexes.

As the man was half way to him Maku's entire form seemed to catch fire.  Not just any fire however, golden flames seemed to completely absorb his body as the culmination of his abilities was released.  The Susano'o armor covering his body at a speed of 290 (Reaction time).  It had not been missed on him that his enemy had shifted his gaze, instead he had rather looked Maku in the chest than the eyes, but that was alright.  

75% of his journey complete a roar would fill Koroshi's ears, deafening him to the world around him.  Maku's robes where the cause of the sound, and for the cause of the tightening that would occur across his current adversaries muscles.  The genjutsu taking hold the moment the flames of the susano'o had covered Maku (100 power).  It would seek to paralyze his body preventing any further action, though his current course of movement would of course continue on through, his momentum seeing to that.

If everything had played out exactly as Maku had intended, the paralyzed body of Koroshi still locked in his kick would finish his flight and the foot would crush into Maku's chest as Maku on instinct turned just a half inch leaning forward with his left side.  The armor that covered his body would keep him from feeling the full force of the kick, but it would not stop the momentum to follow.  

WIth the subtle shift of his body, he sought to have the kick no longer hit center mast, and instead after the initial impact that caused both to slide backwards at a startling rate to begin to slide across his chest.  This would lead it to wind up between Maku's right arm and torso that would quickly snap down while his right arm punched up to have the teeth of his gauntlets rip into the man's hamstring holding it in place both with his strength and the fangs of his gauntlet.  Maku doubted he could hold him, but at least to pull free would wound the man.  (150 str and speed, sharpness of fangs from punch = 225)

At the same moment as all this was happening, using the lean to his advantage Maku would extend his left fist the short distance to make contact with the mans face.  Was it luck, an accident, or on purpose whether the fangs of his gauntlet completely missed the man's eyes, well I think we all know the answer to that

Spoiler:

.  The punch would hit with his full strength and speed, the fangs while missing the eyes would still rip into his flesh.  (150 str and speed, sharpness of fangs from punch = 225)

Seeing as his genjutsu was intended to freeze the man in his attack, Maku was hopeful all these things would occur.  If it all did, and the man was still within the genjutsu as the slide finally ended with reduced speed as Maku's heals had been digging into the ground they would make gentle contact with the Kyuubi.  Pushing downward he would shove Koroshi into the ground before releasing him.  "We don't really have to do this ya know.  Wasn't kidding, I said we could just chat."  The smile had returned, and he would look upwards, "Sorry Kurama, but thanks for the cushion."

Of course he would only speak if his attacks had gone through, and Koroshi wasn't seeking some kind of counter attack.  Maku would not strike the man should it all have gone through and he was on the ground, instead he would allow the cestus on his left hand to disappear and simply extend a gold covered hand downwards.  He would watch the man's eyes and attempt to judge if the man would continue to seek a quarrel or not.  "Blink if we can talk please."  If the man did, then Maku would let the genjutsu end and help the man up.  Of course, he hoped he could read lips, cause the roaring would just then cease, but with his own sharingan he was confident the man could piece it all together.

Should the man reach upwards and clasp hands, Maku would offer one single sentence "Names Maku boss, nice to meet you."  and you know what, he really meant it.

AP expenditure

1343 - 15 EMS 3 rounds - 100 susa - 20 roar gen = 1208 remaining

Susa
3rd ability

New Stats

Armor of Susa = 200
str and speed = 150

(Just to clarify the genjtusu used had a power of 100 with no actual visual effects.  Thus unless I am otherwise mistaken the sharingan would have no effect on breaking it.  100 X 0.75 = 75 chakra to break free)