The one fell and the other will rise

The two man and single dog funeral procession wound its way deeper into the woods with a certain finality. The chakra induced rain had long since ended and the dying sun overhead began to cast long shadows across the land. What once looked like a happy green forest was slowly transforming into a deep dark woods. This was Wolf's element, the forest of Konohagakure. Even walking now she could appreciate its beauty and danger.

During the course of her walk with the boy, Wolf had been listening to the constant buzz from her anbu tattoo. With its continual use the tattoo was starting to burn a bit, much like a brand. Though it was not any type of pain she could not ignore. Plus the endless stream of voices and commands gave her something to get lost in. After all, talking to the mourning child who walk a few paces in front of her was not much of an option.

Could always talk to Chai...

Chairomaru walked at Wolf's side with long lazy strides. The ninken, much like his companion, did not much enjoy the smell of dead bodies-it was unnerving. Certainly a normal person could smell when someone was dead, but to an Inuzuka it was torturous. The smell invaded one's nose and stayed there for days afterwards cropping up at the worst of times. The first time operative Wolf had smelled a dead body she found herself unable to eat for two days. So, suffice to say, death smelled awful.

Matching the boy in front of her, Wolf stopped on the spot. The trio had come to an opening in the forest canopy, it was actually kind of nice. The trees bent around the circular area as if compelled by some other worldly force with the body of Kasai at its center. Half the clearing was bathed in an orange sunlight while the other half shrouded in shadow and slowly eating up the fast dying sun like some ravenous monster.

Wordlessly the boy placed  the body down and took a few steps back. This was the anbu's cue to get to work. At this, she nodded once to Chairomaru who stood to her left. The ninken knew the procedure and the signal: he was to watch the perimeter. So, in an instant Chai had drawn back to the shelter of the forest and began patrolling the clearing. Every now and again one would probably catch glimpses of the large hound moving soundless through the brush, it was time to begin.

"You might want to look away for this part," Operative Wolf warned before stepping forward to the body. Truly the next part was a bit nasty. Drawing a kunai and the two blasting tags from the weapon pouch on her upper thigh the anbu sighed ever so slightly. A funeral pyre was not for traitors. Plus a pyre took far too long to start up and put out effectively. The technique of simply frying the insides of the body worked much better and was quicker.

If not stopped, the anbu would take a breath and place the kunai's point a few inches above Kasai's navel below the ribcage. Then, with all the precision of a surgeon, she would press the kunai downward causing it to sink hilt deep into Kasai's flesh. Pulling the blade down the body, Wolf would create a large foot long slit. Pulling the blade from the body Wolf took an involuntary breath.

Here comes the smell...

Yes, there was that smell-it could not be avoided. Placing the bloodied kunai at her side the anbu would take a single blasting tag and gently place the tag within the slit she had just made. With her chakra already infused into the tags it would take naught but a command to send the body to the netherworld. Removing her blood soaked right hand Wolf glanced over her shoulder at the boy to make sure he was still there before continuing. Next was the brain. Tilting back Kasai's head with all the care of an attending nurse the anbu gingerly opened the boy's mouth and placed the second tag therein.

As for the final touch...

Moving her bloodied right hand over the slit in the stomach a green aura began to heal the wound. Well, heal was not really the right word. Wolf was simply closing the skin and not healing the organs within. Making sure to take the kunai with her Wolf would stand up and turn back to the boy she had come with. Looking at him she was struck by how she once looked. Yes, she once looked like the boy did when her parents had died in an attack that leveled all of Konoha.

Now is not the time for memory lane, Ashi.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Wolf said hesitantly, she was not good at handling other's emotions-this was difficult even for a hardened anbu operative. "If you have any last words, now is the time."

Perhaps times like this were supposed to be awkward. Death was awkward for all involved. Yes, that was it.

[-2 exploding tags]

Setting Kasai down Tatsuya looks at the mask that was once vibrant with oranges and reds. Smirking slightly Tatsuya decided to place the mask on Kasai's body. Stepping back Tatsuya turns turns his head away from Kasai as suggested by the anbu. 
Tatsuya didnt have anything to say for there was nothing to say. Tatsuya and Kasai were on the same page, even now. Wile it would seem like Tatsuya had brutally murdered his friend for attacking the village, this was not what Kasai and Tatsuya though which was all that mattered. Kasai admitted to this being the best way to go and it was true however it was quite odd for it was strange that in the end the shadows that a flam created eventually ate up all the light. then again was Kasai truly dead? Sure this form of him was but his spirit and soul was so strong that it could not just simply leave this world. This makes Tatsuya chuckle slightly.


"May the love still live and the fire shall never die."

Ashi remained motionless until the boy spoke. Then, with a slow reverence, she made the required handseal. For a moment it appeared as if nothing happened, but then it became abundantly clear. The blasting tags normal explosive force had been blunted by the human body in which they sat and now the insides were smoldering. The heat from the tag in the head had started a fire that devoured all in its path. Fire burst from within and began to eat away the body of Kasai from the head down. It was not a dignified burial, but it would suffice.

The blaze lasted for five minutes during which Ashi watched as the small flames consumed the body. The smell was horrendous and the visuals even worse. A burning body is not pretty to watch. However, the anbu watched all the way through. It was her duty to see this through to the end and see it through she did. However, a dead body was not an end all here. She still had the boy who stood next to her.

Once smoke began to rise from the desiccated corpse Ashi spoke up in a soft almost caring voice.

"What will you do now?"

Maybe an odd question, but the anbu recalled the words the boy said at the gate. He wished to leave the village, Ashi could not allow that. However, before hi-jinking the poor child away she figured it best to understand him, he was not an enemy after all. Yet.

The soft sounds of stopped steps would be the only announcement of her entrance. This was closer to the village then she should be seen with people afoot but a great fire... well it raised some questions up until she actually made it close enough that her sharingan eyes could study the surroundings. She recognized one of the figures, The nara boy she'd met so long ago and shared jutsu with, but the second she couldn't actually remember having ever met. Calmly she approached, moving to stand beside tatsuya before finally speaking, assuming she wasn't stopped until that point of course.

"Hey. Um.... Friend of yours?" She recognized a funeral pyre when she saw one. Thankfully she hadn't seen too many in the days past. It puzzled her a bit to try and figure out who exactly had died, considering it wasn't one within her district. As always she wore the seemingly plate metal armor, whose dark metal like appareance would allow the dancing flames to flicker against their nothingness. Her hood was down, but clearly displayed across the back of her cloak was once more a large crest of the Nara clan. The final bit of the ensemble she'd taken to wearing lately was a small silver Hyuuga pendant which swayed back and forth across her chest as she moved, continuing for several moments even after she stopped.

The paper tags went off and Kasai’s body burst into flames. With flames burning through the body it was quite fitting that this would be the last thing to happen to Kasai’s body. He was a 
man born of the sun and cursed with fire for eternity. 

The Anbu asked what Tatsuya would do next. Tatsuya knew what the next step would be as soon as that fateful substitution took place. In that moment the village no longer became Tatsuya’s home and that it was now truly time to move on. Of course Tatsuya wouldn’t forget about the Land of Fire but rather Tatsuya felt that the will he once had was now not the same. Besides the world was large and there was much to learn.

Tatsuya was about answer the Anbu when Kira entered. Tatsuya nods to her and says. 



“Yes a friend, a comrade, a brother he was.”

At the approach of a new figure a low growling spread throughout the clearing. One source of the growling came from directly across from where Ashi and Tatsuya stood  from within the woods, Chairomaru. The second source was from Ashi herself. From behind the wolfish mask came the sound to match, a low growl. It was the growl of a wold defending their kill. Ready to jump on whomever was stupid enough to make a move on her quarry. Such was how the newcomer would be greeted.

Where are you Chai?

As if in response to Ashi's thoughts the mammoth sized ninken slunk from behind the trio moving to Ashi's side. Comforted by her partner's appearance the growling fell down to a dull roar until it completely disappeared. Yet still Chai barred his teeth that could rip flesh from the bone. The newcomer was not welcome, but she was also not a threat. For she could stay. After all, the deed had been done. Nothing could be gained from the charred corpse of Kasai.

Traitor, Ashi corrected Tatsuya's words in her head. Sure, the kid could be sentimental, but Ashi had to be realistic. The kid had blown the hinges off of Konoha's gates with ill intent. Honestly, the traitor deserved a slower death, much slower. Alas, life was not fair and Ashi had been denied that right. Now it was time to clean up all the loose ends.

"You can hurry along now," Ashi said flatly to the newcomer who stood on the other side of Tatsuya. "Official business of the village. It is all under control."

No, the anbu was not in a talking mood. This was not business of a civilian, or whoever that was. All Ashi knew was that the woman was not of any importance. Meanwhile the mask that obscured Ashi's face was a badge of her authority in the situation. Only a fool would question Konoha's anbu. Konoha's anbu had been key in securing the Fire Nation. ANBU operatives were soliders at heart, each and every one of them.

Of course Ashi did not re-ask Tatsuya of his plans. The question still stood and Ashi was not one to ask twice. It would be a waste of words.

She gave the boy a slight nod, her attention temporarily taken from the situation as she heard the dual growls of the anbu. "Inuzuka. hm." She watched the large wolf as it sauntered out from it's hidden position, mostly likely it's existence now to be meant as a threat. This girl was unaware who she was dealing with however..... This wasn't the time to teach her. She was probably just doing her job. Raising her hands she would show the anbu she had no weaponry openly displayed, and with it the girl could catch a glimpse of the raven anbu style mask that so closely matched konoha's style. It'd been years since she'd even thought about her reasoning for creating the item. To consider in now felt..... Strange.

"I mean no harm. This one is one of mine. Nomi Hyuuga, head of the Nara clan. " She watched the girl's body closely, studying it for any signs of further agression. She was too aware of both the power and training of the anbu having lived within the village for so long before she'd gotten lost. If the girl made no further actions to force her to leave she'd finally address Tatsuya.

"I'm sorry for your loss. The life of one bearing the will of fire is always tragic. I'm always here if you'd wish to speak of it..... or other things. It's unfortunate that this is where I'd meet up with you. We um.... Have clan buisiness to discuss." her eyes stayed focused on ashi and the wolf, her hands up in a posture that encouraged her purpose her, suggesting she meant to cause no harm. Why hadn't she kept that head band so long ago, she thought to herself.

Tatsuya smiled as Kira’s and the Anbu’s wants had come into conflict. It was obvious that the Anbu had something further to discuss with Tatsuya and by his remark it was private. But Kira also had similar wishes which elevated Tatsuya’s interests. Hmm would their be another conflict, two in one night? Exciting. 

Nevertheless Tatsuya didn't see why both parties couldn't be addressed. 

“Well my plans for the future eh? Hmm from the moment that my blades stuck my own comrade down down I knew that my place in this village had ended and this head ban that was placed on my forehead ever so long ago has rusted away. I dont plan on staying in this village no mater what Kira has to say.” 

Tatsuya had more to say on the matter but wanted to hear what the Anbu had say. Then turning to Kira moments after he says. 

“However Kira I am very interested in what ever this clan business you speak of. It has been far to long sense the nara clan has collaborated on something”


Wile it was true that Tatsuya was interested in what Kira had to say but again it would not hold him back from leaving the village, even if it were only for a short time.

Some people can't take a hint can they?

The newcomer did not make any move, but instead made herself right at home. Oh, if they could see behind the mask of Operative Wolf they would see the same barred fangs that Chai so charmingly wore. Hell, the punk went so far as to formally introduce herself as the head of the Nara clan, Nomi Hyuuga. Honestly it did not ring a bell in the slightest. Ashi didn't like the sound of the woman at all. In fact, the only thing she disliked more was what she looked and smelled like. With the faux anbu mask in her possession, Ashi did not trust this newcomer in the slightest.

However, manners were manners. Like in any line of work Ashi had to deal with people she did not necessarily like. So, she suppressed the urge to rip the poor woman's throat out and instead gave a calming pat to Chai's head. The Ninken's teeth quickly disappeared as his body noticeably relaxed. Along with Chai's teeth also went the slight air of tension. Sure, it was there, but barely perceptible.

There there Chai, it is bad manners to kill someone on sight. We'll learn more about her first.

Then Tatsuya spoke and it was as Ashi had feared. He planned to leave the village, but what was more was the name, Kira. Tatsuya called her Kira. A different name than the one she had given? Odd, a bit suspicious, but nothing to burn someone over.

"Very well, though I will urge you to get permission from the kage before departing," Ashi said almost mechanically. "If you leave without it you will be declared a missing ninja. I will then hunt you down and, when I catch you, I assure you that your fate will be the same as your friend's over there."

Ashi waved in the direction of the ash pile that once was Kasai. Yes, Ashi had threatened Tatsuya. Well, it was not really a threat. Rather a statement of truth. She was an anbu and she would hunt those who left the Leaf without fail. Such was the nature of things.

The anbu would not direct any words to the alleged Nara clan head. She had already asked her to leave. And we all know Ashi's stance on repeating herself. Today Nomi, Kira, whatever her name was had attracted the attention of the Konoha anbu. Such attention was not something many would wish even on their worst enemies.