A Tale of Two Villages

Watching Jinn’s antics, the girl’s laugh died in her throat as the telltale sound of metal on metal filled the air. It was a sound every shinobi knew well and one Asami had not expected to hear this late at night. Though, come to think of it, they were two rather weak looking individuals walking around an unknown village in the middle of the night. Perhaps she should have expected it.

“P-please,” she turned to face the newcomer at the sound of his voice. “My friend and I don’t want any trouble. Here…”

She extended her left hand slowly in an attempt appear as non-threatening as possible and held it out with her palm facing up towards the blackened sky as if she intended to make an offering to the night itself.

“This is all I have,” her voice cracked with genuine fear as a healthy stack of 5000 ryo materialized on her outstretched hand. “Take it.”

The wanderer’s eyes kept careful track of the man before her as her right hand hung by her side ready to react to anything untoward. The decision to draw blood and enter combat was not one the teenager took lightly, especially after the chuunin exams. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, she also had more than her own life to consider. Though she’d only just met Jinn, Asami could not in good conscience commit him to a fight he was clearly unprepared for—despite her training she feared for his life. And, in the end, what was a bit of paper when weighed against a human life?

Directly following the girl’s offer, the sound of merry singing and the distant clatter of a bar door announced the imminent arrival of another roving band of drunks. If the thug wanted to act under the cover of night and avoid further confrontation, then he would have to act now.

Asami, for her part, had played her hand.

[TWC: 1735, -20 ap for use of Storage Displacement]

Just as things were just about to finish, it seemed their luck had ran out. The two heard someone approaching them, he was armed as well. Jinn wasn't really a shinobi, nor did he have instincts like one. But he wasn't a big enough fool to not know when someone is trouble. Listening to him speak, it seemed his intuition was correct. Looking over towards Miss Miyamoto, it seemed she began to accept his demands. Letting off a huge sigh, the boy didn't want no problems. Since he was by no means a fighter. He knew nothing of the shinobi world and what they were capable of.

Reaching into his pockets slowly, he would grab the 3500 ryo and extends his arms to give it to the man just as Miyamoto did. "H-here.. it's yours." Even though this was the first time he had ever experienced something like this, he saw this kind of stuff all the time where he lived. So it wasn't new to him, but he never thought he'd be the one it would happen to. 

If a fight were to break out, Jinn would be just about useless. Since he's had no combat experience nor any real training. He didn't want to see his companion getting hurt or losing her life because Jinn was useless. He'd rather get this over with so they could move on. Even though he would have to gain all the money he gained for Mr Lance back all over again. It wouldn't go well for the old man if he found out Jinn was dead. And he did it all just to help him. He'd feel responsible for it and Jinn didn't want him to go through that.

Kutari would watch with his focused expression as he listened to the two individuals comply with his demands and part with their belongings, manifesting their currency and presenting them to the brown haired teen. A wave of curiosity and unease would arrive as their adherence to his wishes threw the boy off, expecting at least the more formidable person to give a fight of some sorts. Though her words regarding wishing to keep the two out of trouble could be interpreted as the driving source behind their actions. He’d keep a clear eye on the two and his surroundings, picking up on the sudden caroling of the drunkards nearby Kutari would move with haste to retrieve what he now claimed as his own, the total amount of ryo amongst the two, of course after flipping through the bills and witnessing the recurring bill patterns while keeping the two in clear view, holding his blade slightly higher in front of him to deter his victims from trying any swift actions, a clean attempt to cut deep within at least one, mainly focused on the top priority though keeping a clear understanding of potential danger.


Pleased with the turn of events, he intended to keep the end of the deal, recognizing the reality in which the two respected his proposal. Placing his new contents within his own storage displacement to keep the currency safe, the Uchiha would begin to part with swiftness as he could feel it was time to make his exit. With words housing a sinister charisma, he’d speak briefly as he engaged in his escape.


“As always, a pleasure doing business with you type of folk. I wish we could play a bit longer but it seems like my time here is up. Don’t be afraid to visit again, we’ll always give you a proper greeting. Maybe I’ll even teach our jester here a few moves in the ring next time you’re around, until then!”

His parting remark tailored specifically towards the sheepish boy he just finished haggling with, refraining from sprouting any words to the smaller girl as he continued to survey her and his environment, his sadistic grin popping out once again to bid the people a farewell. Now acquiring what he came for and etching the faces of the distraught passerbys within his mind, he’d make quick work of escaping the interwebs of the village through the alleyways and corners, traveling down one of his many escape routes. That girl from before being a consistent anomaly in his mind, unsure if his many days encompassing cruelty and isolation dulled his comprehension of empathy, expecting to partake in a blood-filled dance with the girl at the expense of her traveling partner as he came off as easily disposable to her. He may have potentially been a high class escort mission of some sort, or simply a person of importance to her conscious. He seemed to lack a similar headband as his partner, but likely a civilian of value. Either way she was no regular passerby that he typically crossed paths with, and though disappointment ravaged his being at the missed opportunity of a gracious battle, what intrigued him more would be the odd symbol upon her headband and the origin of this affiliation, if there were other or even stronger presences that Kutari could come into contact with. Riddled with a profound curiosity and a greater crime record that would strengthen his connections amongst the national criminal ranking, the boy darted throughout the night to his hideout curious as to what sort of new weaponry he could find.


[Potential Exit]


TWC:2020


Claiming:
8,500 Ryo in total
Rank up to C rank due to stealing 4,000 Ryo
1,000 Ryo stolen amount for B rank
10 stats towards Chakra
2,020/4,500 towards Bull Rush

Looks good here, approved

With the bandit taking his leave, Asami's eyes flicked over to Jinn.

"Are you alright?"

The fear that had once dripped from her every word was nowhere to be found. The threat was gone, Jinn was safe, and she was out the money she had intended to use to pay for her night's stay. Oh well, in the grand scheme of things, ryo could always be made again; it wasn't the greatest loss in the world and it was a small price to pay for a life.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," the girl hesitated, emotions were always so hard. "If you want I can still help you find a job...I'll be staying down on the docks now anyway."

The Whisper was not the most comfortable boat to sleep on, but it would make do. After all, she'd spent countless nights on the vessel before and though she wouldn't be getting the shower she had hoped for at least she would be able to sleep in a familiar setting. That had to count for something, right?

[TWC: 1918, -5000 ryo, Zero ryo remaining.]

After being traumatized from the events that just took place. Jinn didn't know what to think, he couldn't get the fact that he almost lost his life out of his head. He heard the words Miss Miyamoto was saying but he didn't know how to answer. The boy was too frighten to speak. But he was able to muster up a few words.

"I-I, don't know.. I'll need some time alone. Thank you for everything.." He said to Miss Miyamoto as he walked away heading towards the docks.

(Exit)

(Will do claims later)

A curt nod was all her companion would receive. There was nothing more to talk about; it was time for them to go their separate ways. Like two ships passing in the night, Asami knew all too well that Jinn would soon fade from her consciousness just like every other person had and would. Such was the nature of the path she now followed, the path of a wanderer.

It was time for her to move on.

Perhaps a different town would have more answers for her than this one?

[Exit, TWC: 2008
+363 words towards Soul Resonance
+1645 words towards Extrasensory]

Approved