After All, We're Family [P, NK, Kenjiro]

Kozachi was sitting by the banks of the Naka river, not far from where she and her brother had first visited the shrine. Getting here had been a pain in the ass (again) what with traffic and all. She wasn't really pissed off at it though. Rather, she was more angry and Kenjiro. How long had it been since they'd last met? Weeks? Hmph! If he was a truly capable member of the family and clan, he'd have wrapped up this business much faster. She knew she probably could have. With her current prowess, she outstripped Ken by.... well, by how much exactly?

She was letting her pride get the better of her. Obviously, from what she had experienced in the exams, she had a long way to go. A VERY long way. There was no way she could allow herself to stop training now. More power was needed, and she'd sacrifice a lot to get there. Although, how much "a lot" was, she had yet to decide. For sure, she wouldn't fall into the temptation of trying to kill Kenjiro. The very possibility of her brother dying was out of the question entirely, especially by her hands specifically. No, that could never happen.

Was she prepared to sacrifice her newly acquired resolve, her loyalty to her village? Dubious. She supposed that if the village was any less kind to them, she might not have any problems sacrificing it in pursuit of self improvement, but even that seemed dishonorable at best. Gritting her teeth, she decided to think about it later. She hadn't seen Anri in a fair while since their trip to the snake cave or whatever it was, but the snake had implied that she was hiding something from her. Oh well, every girl had her secrets, even herself. When Anri was ready to talk to Kozachi about the glowing cubes, she would come herself. 

Either way, she was sitting by the banks of the river, waiting for her brother. She didn't expect him to come today. Still, she'd wait here every day for Kenjiro to return. When he was finally done with his quest of vengeance or justice or retribution or whatever the shit it was, she'd beat the crap out of him. Then he'd have to face the clan, too. For every action, a reaction. For every decision, there was a consequence. She'd learned that, seemingly, before Kenjiro had, and it was a lesson she'd beat into his thick skull if she had to.

[WC 418
Target WC for me at minimum btw is like 3400]

Kenjiro was getting back into the swing of things since he was released back into the village. His training had been neglected for some time, but that does not mean he had not become rusty in the business of being a ninja, he just needed to brush up on it all. As he walked along the bank of the Naka River he occasionally kicked in a rock or two as his mind raced with questions and possible directions to travel along his road to his own path. The sound of the river flowing slowly was a pleasant background noise that set the daytime scene just right.

Just as he was beginning to question the tactics and resolve of Gisei he was caught off guard as he saw someone sitting at the bank. The spot was pretty common to the Uchiha clan as a place of meditation and self-teaching so he did not think anything of it until he was literally right up and about to pass the person sitting when he noticed just who it was. So with a heavy sigh, he sat down on the bank before picking up a rock and tossing it trying to skip it across the water but failing horribly.

"So...you heard I was back and you still have been avoiding me like the plague, you do realize that I was..." He started but soon remembered that technically his absence was treated like a trip to the hospital to recover.
"Forget it. I just want to start off with I am sorry, and secondly, I know I have to own up for what happened within the clan but I am sure you heard about Gisei's family. This thing is being treated as a cover-up, but I can promise you I did not take matters into my own hands and kill the bastard. I made sure he was caught though." He finished as he picked up another rock and threw it at the water in the attempt to make it skip but yet again he failed miserably.

"I never could skip rocks very well." He said as if brushing all that has happened off his shoulder.

WC:360

She raised an eyebrow, though her heartbeat had quickened. Fucking finally. Maybe he didn't realize it, but they hadn't told her jack shit about his return, although she couldn't possibly imagine why not. Still, it was what it was. Steel yourself, she thought inwardly. Now is no time to be rushing over and hugging him and asking him if he was hurt or anything, regardless of how much you want to do so. There will be time for that after justice has been served. Kozachi noted that he seemed... stronger than before. Once again, the genius boy of the Uchiha clan had outpaced her once again.

Frustrated, she stood up. There was no time to waste in skipping stones either.
"If you're quite done, we're going home." Her tone was a little colder than she had intended, but maybe it was for the best. If he'd follow her, they'd head back to the main portion of the Uchiha compound. Kozachi noted the people as they passed. Disciples from various sects of martial arts on their way to evening practice. Apothecaries and healers getting ready to close up shop for the day... and open up their more shady practices. Yes, she knew of all this. At the same time, however, she didn't quite mind it. Apothecaries who brewed poison for purchase weren't technically breaking any law, especially since their unique hobby was tacitly allowed by the Uchiha clan within its compound. Also, the group or cabal of apothecaries was not just a secret society, it helped to root out problems in the community. Those who wanted special drugs or pills to assist or enhance in combat could try to get one from them, but if they had offended the clan, the apothecaries were glad to put more names on their blacklist.

As they walked, Kozachi stayed quiet (unless Ken had something significant to say). Just like before, she was just a little pissed, but she knew her anger was transient. She wouldn't scold him, it wasn't her place (yet), especially within the compound. No, that was her parents' job, and that of the elders. She'd leave them to it, and when all was said and done, she'd wipe his wounds, knock him over the head, and everything would go back to normal. That is, if they let him live. Kozachi quickly dismissed the idea of him dying from her mind as they reached their destination.

"I hope you're ready." She said to him solemnly.
[TWC 831]

Her words were colder than usual, and as she promised him in an earlier encounter. There was going to be a time to pay for doing what he did. There was no doubt in his mind as she stood up and told him that they were going that this was set up so that he was going to answer for his shit right then. He followed in quiet contemplation, his eyes fixated on the ground as he thought of what he might say to the elders when the time came. Most likely he would not get a chance to talk, and he was not as fast as most ninja so running was out of the question. He grit his teeth as he thought about having to fight...he was no fighter and his ninjutsu was mostly so that he could take advantage of Genjutsu techniques that he knew. As they arrived at the compound proper he looked up and snapped out of his blank state as the hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up as he actually began to get a little excited.

When she spoke to him asking if he was ready he took a quiet few steps forward as he stood beside his sister instead of behind her. He felt that he had been lacking in power of his sister for some time now. It was time he stood up and acted like a man about all of this shit and take his punishment. The guards opened the doors to the compound as Kenjiro would walk forward with or without his sister. As he would cross the threshold of the compound he would look back at his sister and flash her his Cheshire grin. The same grin he had not shown to anyone since the last time he used it...to reassure Kozachi that their plan to get him captured to catch those televised fuckers and put a stop to the torture, at the cost of his face being burned.

"I will overcome this obstacle." His inner voice rang out in resolute power as he waited for what was to come.

WC: 355/715

Hmph. We'll see about that, she thought to herself as she opened the door and led him in. Directly after the atrium, was the chamber of the elders. It was a dimly lit room, lit by unseen lights and censer fires emitting (somehow not unhealthy) joss smoke. Perfect, just as tradition demanded of them. She moved to the side and sat down formally, just as she hoped Ken would... and just as the eight elders were now. The elders were clad in black, and were sitting in array in front of them in no particular order, or at least no order that was apparent to her.

These were all the elders of the Uchiha clan, ninja or no. Their accumulated wisdom and judgement would decide her brother's fate. Inwardly, she hoped that they gave him all the mercy he needed and no more. Either way, if Kenjiro would sit as she did, the elders would begin.

"This is no proceeding, no trial. We have decided your fate long before you returned to us." Oh, good. Kozachi was almost afraid that they would make her sit through some kind of long ass legal thingy. Well, this was for the best, she supposed.

"For the remainder of the day, you will rest. During that time, a message will be delivered to you. You will use the instructions in that message tomorrow, for they are the rules of engagement against an opponent that we have designated for you to fight. Through combat you will redeem yourself to us. Should the outcome be... favorable, you shall be absolved, and we will never speak of this again." Of course, the consequences for failure were obvious, even if left unstated. Tch. Who would they make him fight? She doubted that they'd set up something unfair for him, but there was always a trick when it came to trials like these. The gauntlet was always longer and narrower than it looked.

"Go now, both of you."

That night, they'd send instructions to Kenjiro. In essence, whoever he'd be fighting, they'd be using similar rules to the Agni Kai combat ritual that was used to determine clan head (shirtless, at sundown, swords, etc.), with some exceptions. Firstly, the fight could be lethal, but killing was not required. Secondly, as Kenjiro was not proficient in ninjutsu, both fighters would be allowed to use their full repertoire of techniques. Finally, his opponent would not be told to him until the time of the fight, tomorrow evening. Until then, he was not permitted to leave his room. Whether he followed the instructions or not was up to him, though.

[TWC 1269]

Kenjiro watched as his sister walked up and then beyond as she entered the Elders area and took a seat. The room is dimly lit was not a bother to anyone in the room, but as the elders entered he sat down beside Kozachi as he watched them sit at their own mats with no worry on their face. He expected them to not listen to a word he was going to say, but surprise surprise they one-upped him by not even allowing him to greet them or offer up an excuse. The judgment came down swift and just as he imagined it, Gisei's visage flashed in his head as he talked once of the elders saying that the current hierarchy of the clan was just as ruthless as an outsider.

when they spoke of no trial and that their minds had been made up of a punishment Kenjiro knew exactly what was to happen. They wished for him to fight until he could no longer. He did not speak out of turn or at all, but he did look at them as if challenging their rule, he made his mind up then and there that he would become the one that the elders would either worship or fear. He was going to make damn sure that the world feared the clan once more and that the sins of those of the past and present would be nothing compared to what he wanted to do to restructure the clan. As they dismissed them Kenjiro stood up and turned so he could walk back to his own home for that is what they ordered him to do so.

The next day would come and he would do no training, he would only go about his day in autopilot. If Kozachi saw his eyes she would know that he was different, he was thinking of a plan, but he looked not like an animal that had been backed into a corner, but as someone that had been hardened by the cold world and was ready for his fate. When his orders came, he made sure to burn the instructions after he read them and retire to his bedroom where he would prepare his ceremonial clothes; A garb of the ancient warriors, it resembled a mix of a kimono and a training Gi as he would make sure that they were ready to be put on as he grabbed the two kunai he owned as training tools and loaded them into the secret braces that allowed him to use some more underhanded taijutsu moves, namely the hidden arms technique.

If nothing happened he would begin to dress an hour before sundown and make sure that he was ready for his death he tied his hair into a ponytail. Dressed in his best ceremonial clothes he left his house at sundown. His family most likely did not know except for Kozachi, perhaps she informed her parents a little as to what was going on, but it did not matter. This was something he had to finish himself. He arrived at the northern banks of the Naka River, a lone bridge crossing from part of the Uchiha compound to the next was often traveled through meditative purposes, was about to be soiled with blood. He stood at the edge of the bridge as he took one final calm breath before walking towards the center of the bridge, the orange sundown setting painted a beautiful scene of serenity.

It was a good day to die. He thought to himself as he waited on whomever he was supposed to fight.

He activated his Sharingan.

WC:605/1,320

As Kenjiro did his preparation, several servants scurried forward with a red folding screen, obviously hiding the approaching challenger behind it. Whoever it was clearly didn't want to reveal themselves until the fight was about to begin. An older looking attendant stepped behind the screen as well. An adviser of some kind? Or perhaps a coach? Who knew, right? There they were, behind that red screen of doom on the other side of the 10 meter wide bridge that stretched over a narrow portion of the river, about twenty five meters. The bridge was straight rather than arched to allow for easy traffic flow for carts and the like, and was constructed of extremely durable stone.

At last, the attendants stood again, and began to move the screen away. The old man, after saying some words to whoever was behind it, stepped back quickly as well while the servants packed up the screen. The figure, clad in what appeared to be a large hooded red robe was facing them as they moved away, as it were, facing away from Kenjiro. At last, it turned around, shedding the robe.

"Alright, Ken. Let's get it on!" 

With the Sharingan blazing in her eyes, Kozachi stood before him, ready to fight at full power.

=Earlier that day=
Kozachi had received her own set of unique instructions. So, she was to be her brother's opponent, huh? Rather than being angry or chagrined, the girl felt only a grim determination, and a little excitement. She'd never known that she'd needed something so much. Finally, she'd be able to show off to the other just how much she'd improved. No more hiding, no more training in the darkness. Her talent was there for the village and for the family. Still, she was glad that she had been given the option to not kill Ken. 

She kept having to remind herself that all this effort and violence was to teach him his lesson. Well did she know the principle that if people like the Uchiha clan members were not given discipline on the regular, things would get out of hand. Assets like Kenjiro (as disgusted as it made her to think of him that way) could not be allowed to roam freely as he had done, even given the circumstances (not all of which she knew, to be quite fair). Thus, she had been chosen as the one to hand down the punishment of the clan. 

When the time came, they brought her behind that pointless stupid screen in that retarded robe to the fight scene. She'd decided to dress simply (maybe not enough, but whatever). There had been one thing that she'd forgotten from home, so she'd had the old servant fetch it for her. No point in walking all the way back herself, right? This was one of the many advantages of being born in an influential clan. Anyways, as he approached, she snatched the headband out of his hands and tied up her hair.

"You can fuck off now, by the way." The fellow bowed and left, as did the other ones. And then... she greeted her brother.

_____________________________________________

Kozachi was dressed in what appeared to be dark sweatpants, with merely a cloth bound tightly across her upper chest. No extra pieces of armor, no enhancements from the clan. This would be a fair fight, if nothing else. She dressed for efficiency, nothing fancy or anything that would weight her down. Kenjiro was good with tactics and tricks, if what she'd inferred was true at all, so she'd give him no foothold. Making the sign of confrontation, she waited.  

[TWC 1873]

Here is where it all begins, and where it ends is what Kenjiro thought to himself as the paper-thin board in the middle of the bridge was there to allow everyone time to get ready.  An elder watched and spoke some nonsense about redemption but Kenjiro did not care.  He had his own life to live, he knew the consequences of it all and he was ready to fight.  When the board was removed he saw something unexpected and heard the voice all at the same time.  His opponent was his sister Kozachi Uchiha.  He assumed she had her Sharingan activated, and with a glance, he saw that he was right.  

Wasting no time he raced off in a zig-zag pattern at his top speed (63)  while also keeping an eye out for any attacks with his Reaction time of (153) as he moved to close the gap between them.  If he was able to get within two feet of his sister he would start by using his chain fist taijutsu to try and deliver five straight jabs in quick succession with a speed of (73) and power of (20)  If just one of the five hits is able to land the targets health stat will be reduced by five points.  The attack was made so that he could finish this quickly.  

Of course if at any time that Kozachi was able to stop him from closing the gap and attacking, or if she just managed to dodge or block the attacks then Kenjiro would activate his Sharingan Genjutsu with a power of (85) to make it look as if there were two of himself all surrounding his sister speaking of how this was a waste of time and that he would beat her because he was not going to be put away just like some other Uchiha brat that spoke out against an elder all the while following her and keeping pace while leaving Kenjiro open to make another attack.

Unless otherwise stated everything is done at top speed.  Nothing was being used as lethal damage.

AP Usage
200
-2 for Sharingan 3 Tomoe

188
Chain Fist-10 AP
Sharingan Genjutsu Rank A-40 AP

138 AP Remaining

WC:347/1667

Coming at me right off the bat, huh? No subterfuge, no bullcrap. Well, she was a little disappointed. This couldn't possibly have been how he'd gained the loyalty of those who had followed him in his unlawful acts or whatever, right? Hmph. Maybe he was still looking down on her, whether he knew it or not. She held back her frustration with him, for now. She'd have time to vent later. In the instant that he reached the distance of about five meters from her, she would bring up her other hand, forming a tiger handseal and paralyzing him instantly where he stood. 

Should this measure be successful, she'd then release the genjutsu he threw at her, the level of sharingan that she had attained being the same as his. He waited THAT long to use a genjutsu? Surely, this must be some kind of joke. Damn, fuck. She'd expected more from him than this. She began to walk foward. Should this action stay uninterrupted, she'd deal a blow to his head with her right fist, knocking him out, and thus enabling her to disable the paralysis jutsu successfully. Damn, he'd been caught by that jutsu, too. His strength was like that of a fucking child...

Should everything go in such a way, the elder surveying them would declare that since Kenjiro was no longer able to fight, it was now over. He had been forgiven, his sins washed away, blah blah, whatever. The old fucker left, leaving them on the bridge. Kozachi waited until he was out of sight, then picked up the unconscious boy by the collar, slamming him against the wall of the bridge to wake him up.

"What the fuck was that?! Don't tell me that's all you were working on." Throwing what was probably one of the more powerful genjutsu she'd seen so far from THAT distance? Insanity.

[TWC 2282
-10 for Kanashibari
-5 for gen release
185 left]

"All of it for nothing, he did not learn anything from his current losses...all I had to do was be shown how much of a failure I am by own sister...She did it beautifully as well. She has shown so much progress." His inner voice spoke as he was caught off guard and paralyzed instantly. Like that, it was over, and the look on Kenjiro's face was not of shock, anger, or even mock happiness, he was also apparently unconscious. He felt nothing at this loss, all it meant was that his sister had the upper hand and took advantage of a situation that she was placed in when Kenjiro did not do anything to compensate for his own shortcomings. He was stupid to have fallen for what he did, and so when everyone was gone and she woke him up he listened to her yell at him as he sighed. Her anger was influenced by his shit performance, but he had no care for it. The deed was done and the fight was over, he did not die and apparently, his crimes were absolved.

"Bad luck I guess Kozachi, I fired off too early, poor training, take your pick here. What I did while I was away is blatantly obvious, I am not equipped for long range and my strength is not like a damn giant. I did not use any tricks, and I had no reason to, the fear of death is always there but the way the elders acted and this elaborate fucking fantasy fight they made was just to add some drama to an otherwise boring life they have been leading." He started as he would look to see if he was still being held against his will, if he was not he would just hop up onto it, looking at his sister, though from the view it was more like a stand of defiance.

"You are the winner, congratulations on it, you are the better sibling, after all...always have been. So where do we go from here?" He asked as he stared down at his sister. There was obvious tension, but he was not a fool to engage in yet another fight.

WC:370/2,037