Yes we are!

Kyousuke was at the gates buying apples it was a normal day like any other. After, he had purchased a dozen or so he would walk towards the gates to see if the guards were doing their jobs. As the man neared he felt the chakra signatures of more than a few people. Some familiar and others unfamiliar. Either way it was odd to say the least, especially with Ayato calling someone out.

The man moving the distance would call to Ayato. “So, what is going on here?” He would set down his bag of apples and look to the people attempting to enter. If any of them knew about what went down in Kumo months ago between a tall guy with orange hair, from Hoshi and their kage then they would surely know this was the guy.

He was dressed differently though, as he wore his platinum armor. Then of course he would wait for someone to answer the question.

It is around the time she was walking around the village that Shiroi noticed the several 'blips' upon her semi-conscious mind. Multiple rather high chakra signatures near the gates of the village. Shiroi did not have a good feeling about this, but prudence was a must. She would proceed to the gate.

Shiroi would arrive after the spat began. Eyeing Akemi, she would gesture to the boy, though she stood not directly in front of his gaze, so if he noticed her was uncertain. Should he notice the gesture and approach Shiroi, she would ask what was going on, all the while twisting her hands behind her back, preparing to lock her hands around the two pieces of the BoKali hidden under her clothing.

More people. This was starting to look bad, he had attracted a lot of attention, most of it seemingly negative. “I would like you all to remember I am unarmed, and coming under peaceful pretense” He’d say. Looking towards the girls reaching behind their backs, and then to the man activating his jutsu.
 
Komon himself had left his weapons back in the sand inaccessible to him. He had done this as a show of good faith, but it made him feel almost naked in a sense. He was still extending his letter towards Ayato when the orange haired man had shown up. Sadly not many people had heard of his brawl with the raikage in kumogakure and Komon was not one of the few that had.
 
To him he was just another Hoshigakure shinobi. “I’m here under the makukage’s orders to attend a celebration. The makukage isn’t necessarily the leader of the village, but he’s pretty much the commanding officer of all of kumogakure at the moment.” It’s all in this letter.
 
Komon would be doing his best to appear friendly, and non hostile. After all he was outgunned at the moment, and one bad move could get the young and innocent gennin behind him killed.
 

“Sorry, I seem to be causing a bit of a commotion.” He’d say as he used his free hand to scratch the back of his head.

Two words to describe this current predicament.

Holy crap.

Akemi could not help but gawk, as possibly all the Chuunin in the village arrived and started beefing themselves up for whatever reason. Akemi felt a little left out, what could he do? He had never been around this many people before, and one of them seemed to be specifically angry at the small Hiyu. Or Akemi's stupid mind was just misinterpreting it, who knew.

As he looked around at Komon, he spotted a small girl gesturing towards him. She looked... Familiar? Akemi's eyes would suddenly open wide in realization when he recognized her, it was the person who he had had an embarrassing moment with back a few months ago. He was slightly worried for how the girl would treat him, but then he remembered. He had been using advanced transformation to completely conceal his appearance during the moment, so there was absolutely no reason for her to recognize him. 

What's more, why was she even here? Well, Akemi decided that he had already made a fool of himself in front of her before, why should he do it again? So, he silently slinked towards her, trying his utmost to not be noticed by the small army who apparently took a great interest in the newcomer.

"I have n-n-no idea.." He stuttered in response to her question, it was a complete truth. Akemi was socially inept, how else was he supposed to respond. The question from earlier started to resurface, he tried his best to conceal the feeling of foolishness, but he gave in and asked her a question. Well aware that he was probably going to get killed for it or something. "Err, sorry if this is rude, but why is a little girl such as yourself in the m-middle of all these people? It looks like something is about to h-happen, I think you should ev-vacuate." A question which was odd coming from Akemi, especially since he was only about an inch taller than her, but who cares? Unless of course, Akemi got punched for his stupid question.

Ayato extended his hand and reached for the letter, shifting his Byakugan binocular vision to 360-degree. As a means to raise awareness in case the Kumo-nin had a notion of pulling something on him. Ayato would notice  Hikari Namikaze coming into view...then Shiroi Shinzo and finally Kyousuke Snow (thankfully with his clothes still on). It should be noted that this was the first time Ayato saw the Shiroi up close, however, the reputation preceded that one, after all, there was only one loli-Jounin in the village he knew of. 

It was then that Ayato's telepathic seal activated, receiving word from Miyamoto that he had buried his head in the ground, like an ostrict...or a mole. Ayato would give him his instructions of how he should possess himself and then go back with the situation at hand. 

"The Magical Girl, Whack-a-mole, the Pumpin Head and the Loli-Jounin. Not the most intimidating of fellowships, but all of them rushed to the protection of the village all the same..."

Ayato started reading the contents of the letter. It took him only a moment and his mouth stiffened as he finished. "This is what happened." Ayato got back to his sensei, and began reading the contents of the letter aloud, raising the tone of that baritone voice of his, so everyone could hear. The more he read, the less sense it made. All of it was lies as far as he was concerned...Still, the news about Sunagakure having fallen to Kumo was very troubling if true. They could be next. 

There were major flaws with that letter, fist of it wasn't even addressed to Hoshigakure or Denkiteki, not that the Den part mattered - no letter could reach that recluse who ought to take for his personal sigil a man hiding in a basement. Anyhow, this had been addressed to some random kumo ninja, assumingly that would be Komon Hyuuga. Hoshigakure itself was literally mentioned once. Followed by the degrading words that it would serve as banquet hall...As if Hoshi we were their servants. 

We should arrest him and that sorry lot in hiding, he was very tempted to say but for all, he knew all this could be what the enemy wanted. Knowing their Kage, he may have just as well, placed a bomb in Komon's stomach that would denotate once he got further in the village and wipe it off the map. On the opposite end, bringing a higher up here and asking for a verdict may have been just as risky.  Considering they had enough knowledge to find the village's location, it wasn't impossible that they also had enough to make an assassination target of one in Hoshi's leadership. Thinking of it all made Ayato's head hurt. This was too risky. We should just ask him to leave.
 
When he heard, Komon's words Ayato stiffened. "Makugake eh? Well, you can call your village leader lemon pie for all I care." Ayato's brow narrowed down until it gave an expression that uncomfortably came to look like frustration. "But good faith? You come in here bringing news of another's village destruction and talking of an alliance that no one has heard before. "Ayato stated with cold distant tone his voice, making sure his voice had the right ring to it. Firm and stern, all he could remember about his father's voice. "And because of this "good faith" we are supposed to let all that mayhem you folks bring with into our village. Because of a bloody letter, written by some random dude and addressed to a third party, is that the way of it?" Ayato asked as he crushed paper under the weight of his fingers. 

AP:
-40 Limiter Removal
-1 Byakugan

"I swear to god, the tree was fucking huuuuuge. Like, twice the size of the village." Maku would say, his voice slightly slurred, and probably a little louder than the actual occasion warranted. The man across from him had a solid foot and a half on Maku's totally normal height. His beard was red, and clearly damp from spilled mead. Maku's cup was well over half way empty and it's four brothers and two sisters both lay dead and empty next to it. The man's cup family had similar casualties.

Their conversation was on Takigakure, a place none of these fine folks knew anything about, clearly. "Commmon mate, no tree be big as that. Yer full of shit and mead." He would say slamming his cup on the ground, which would be an over reaction had they not been drinking. So it was obviously normal.

Around them the bar was only minimally full. It was just after midday, so by polite society this was a bit not accepted. However, in this seedier part of town it managed to go on without much notice. The bartender placed more mead at both men's elbows. He knew a couple of idiots when he saw them, and the more they drank the more money he made, and if they got into a fight, well his insurance fraud plan would go through easier and he could return all that damn lamp oil he had just purchased.

"Wut, wut did you just say to me??" Maku would say, his eyes slightly going in and out of focus. Maku could feel himself being offended. He wasn't sure why, but you know what, this dude could go to hell. "Yu callin me a liar? Is that what you arrre doin right here?" He would say dropping his now empty mug and pushing it across the table, which would accidentally move his new mug to far away. "Ummm help a brother out?" He'd as eyeing his drink.

Now this bar drinker was a rough and tumble sort of guy, but still etiquette was necessitated. So he pushed the drink back to Maku so he could continue. After all, this was going pretty good so far. "Ye that's bout right. I think you're a damned liar. Commmmmin in here and spoutin you're fairy tales to get these fairies tails....". He would say, a big grin coming over his face at his self made hilarious joke. To which they both start laughing about. The couple of guys who he had pointed towards look over, their eyes locked on the big bastard, and the handsome fellow.

Sauntering over, they put a hand on the burly man's shoulder and push him, which causes him to spill half his mead. "Oi, what you call us? I don't know if you can still read, but can you see these?" He would ask, his free hand reaching to his best and pointing. The marking clearly that of a village guard.

Maku tipped back his cup, emptying the remainder, the bartender reached below the bar and started fingering a crossbow, while Redbeard (that's his name now) looks sadly down at the spilled drink, the second guard placing his hand on the hilt of his blade. As Maku's cup moves down and lands on the table his bright blue eyes have changed to red. The normal ocular acuity however is slightly off. Four soldiers were there had been 2.

"Red beard you fat bastard, I haven't drunk enough for them......well maybe the one on the left.....". He'd say blowing a kiss to the man with the sword. For a second the soldier looks a touch indecisive, but then his military training and the confused look of his friend snap him back to it. The sword is drawn and flashed through the air, however to Maku there were two swords and he only dodged the intangible one.

The bar table in front of him is speckled red, but what really draws the eyes of all occupants is the blonde hairs that float gently to cover the table.

Everyone in the bar looks over, the bartender lets go of the crossbow and ducks behind the bar, several of the shifter individuals seem to vanish, and everyone in the bar seems to be aware something bad was about to happen except the two guards, though their faces clearly indicate confusion.

A woomph sound was briefly heard as the guard with the sword had disappeared, in his place a long golden chain. The other guards eyes followed the chain, to see his compatriot suspended from the wall, the surprise never leaving his face, even as the life did. Drips of crimson fell on the table bellow were two old scarred rogues were still drinking. They'd lived in the rougher parts of Hoshigakure their entire lives, and they'd be damned if a little thing like murder would interrupt them.

A ham sized fist flew through the air and landed on the temple of the confused look guard. The clattering of armor as he hit the ground was the signal for everyone to come back, the hidden occupants all returning. The bartender standing back up, now nonchalantly cleaning a glass, though by the state of the rag it could have been counter productive.

The chain desolved into wisps of golds as the body clambered down to the ground. "Another round!" Maku would yell brushing the hair from his face. His bangs a couple inches shorter. "Ayyy that was a bit rough, doncha tink?" Red beard would say, taking the next round. Maku would like wise take the next cup and slip the bartender 1,000 ryo for his troubles.

"He messed with the hair, you know I coulda blown up the whole bar, I've done that before you know.....". Maku would say pointing an unsteady finger at red beard.

"Ther ya go agan, makin stories from nuthin....". The man would say. They continued like this for awhile until the guard began to stir.

"Hold him up, I just got an idea." Maku would say, his forehead was planted on the bar sure, but he still had an idea. Red beard obliged and gripped the man by the shoulders, letting his mid section lean on the damp table. "You........about to do....me favor...". He would say. His words more slurred than before.

The guard was quickly coming to his senses and began to struggle against the big man's bear hug. "Why would I do that..." the man exclaimed spitting at Maku, who drunkingly dodged it.

"Because.....". He started off sinisterly, before not being able to focus well enough. He let out a sigh and forced himself to activate the sharingan, "I'm going to do magic or something, and well, you just will alright." Overall, probably the lamest of all bad guy speeches before forcing someone to do their bidding, even Red beard looked disappointed, the guard stopped struggling, wondering how his life had gone to wind up here.

The Tsukyomi in total took three tries to appropriately take hold. The first one caused the guy to believe he was in a world of ponies, were you acquired friendship points and there was no combat, in the second vision he stood in a bar watching teenagers plot a club to do more school work, what a bunch of nerds. Finally however Maku found the right sequence of events. "Let um go". He would say, his head thinking back onto the table.

The guard didn't struggle and promptly walked from the room. Red beard looked a little puzzled but went back to drinking. "Now I got a story fer you. I once knew this Samuri.....John was his name, or Jacob well it started with a J....". He would continue his story, Maku would go in an out. He felt safe enough, this had been his part of town, a place Denkitiki nor Akihana would have visited originally. He still held power here, even after all this time, it was still his.

The guard however, moved with a purpose. The vision he had seen was that of Akihana. It involved letting in the Kumogakure army, which was due to arrive at any time. He had faux asked for permission, but honestly Akihanna probably knew him well enough that this was the natural course of things.

Making his way to the gates quite the commission was already going on. Someone was crushing paper, a bunch of people looked kind of sad, and overall just seemed like a pretty intense bit of CD going on. Hoshi head bands, kumo head bands, supposedly an alliance that already existed, yet that seemed to hold little sway. Or maybe they were just being safe, the guard didn't know, on account of his brain actively turning to mush aside from his active orders.

"Let them in!" He would shout over all the noise. "By order of the queen!" His regalia was clearly that of a city guard captain. His voice was certain, and the guards weren't known for their jokes. "By proclamation of the queen, Kumogakure enters with peace." His hand rested on his sword hilt, and his grey eyes scanned the area. A man on a mission. Stepping forward he would spit in the Kumo ninjas direction. "Set them up in the slums,". His voice this time dripping with discontent. Turning he wild walk away, clearly not thinking his orders would be ignored. Should they shout, he would merely continue.

His journey would culminate with him arriving home. Removing his armor, he would kneel, before his sword bit into his own flesh. The guess watch at its end.

(Enter/exit)

It was when she heard her own title being mentioned that Akihana stopped a beat.

Dressed in her servant's garb and visiting the open market about fifty meters away from the gate, the blonde had been keeping an ear out as per usual. Listening to the common folks may have started out as intelligence gathering but these days it was more soothing than anything else. It was a balm to the soul seeing people go about their daily lives when hers seem to be filled with unexpected twists and turns every day. The encounter with a ghost last nigh had still left her shaken, as evidence by the letter she had drafted to all the Jounin and Queensguards that morning, a letter she intended to send out that very afternoon discussing Kumogakure's offer and threat. Denkiteki was once again away, leaving Akihana to decide where Haven would stand in the new world order Kumo sought to create.

Not particularly focused on the spectacle at the gate - there were always plenty of chakra signatures in that vacinity, that was the point of gate guards and letting other ninja in or refusing them - the kunoichi instead was paying particular attention to a woman buying apples. The same apples Ser Kyousuke had purchased earlier. Unlike the knight however, this woman had less money on her. Akihana had been watching her count out the scant few ryo she had, only to realize they weren't enough for the half a dozen apples she needed. Not faltering however, the woman began the dance of bargaining, offering to take the less rosy apples off the sellers hands for the less ryo she could provide.

The seller however would have none of it. He had just served a Queensguard, his products were top notch and this beggar woman could bugger of if she didn't cough up the ryo. Children grew up without apples all the time. Seeing his harsh demeanor, the woman did the only thing she could, she took the four apples she could pay for and resolved to steal two more. Her intention was clear enough in her eyes as she turned away from the stall with her four old and sad looking apples, waiting for a a turn to pass the fruits again when she bumped into... someone dressed remarkable similar to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Akihana spoke softly, her face and hair hidden carefully under her cowl. the woman scowled, clutching at her basket to protect her measly wares, there was no shortage of pick pockets in the area. It was at this time that the medic heard a shout from the gates declaring someone enter by her decree. A decree she didn't remember giving recently.

"By proclamation of the queen, Kumogakure enters with peace."

"I declared what now?" the golden eyes kunoichi looked up in surprise, a sudden gust of wind blowing the hood of her simple navy blue cape off her brow and displaying her long blonde hair for the whole marketplace to see. The Queen caught once again out in the open among her people.

But before anyone could react, she appeared to have vanished, presumably towards the gates where something about herself and Kumo was being shouted out. The only evidence that she had been there, the would be apple thief's bulging basket of two dozen red, rosy apples and a handful of ryo in the fruit seller's till.

At the gates, as the guard was parading around with his orders, Akihana would appear. "By order of which Queen?" she would directly ask the guard making the announcement, now standing in full view of her own shinobi force and the ninja trying to gain entry. Despite her servants garb, the tiny crown that nestled atop her head shone out as the symbol of authority she carried within Haven.

"Ser Kyousuke, what appears to be the matter?" she spoke, addressing her personal sworn shield.

(For the record, the guard would not stop no matter what even Aki joining. He only ever had one course of action, so if someone tries to stop him they'd have to forcefully do so.)