Like Kindling Upon The Flame

Pale dawn rose over the horizon as Calin moved toward the gates of Sunagakure. He had traveled from Tea country, chartering a boat to bring him to this place. To his knowledge, Sunagakure had no shinobi any longer. So it would be a simple matter for him to stop, get supplies, and continue on. There’d be no one to try to arrest him or something stupid like that in the process. It just meant he still got his supplies, but also left a body or three behind as charred remains that would slowly drift away into ash. An impression he would rather not leave everywhere if he could help it. The dawn arrived with the chill of night still present in the air, but Calin never felt such things any longer. He had long since absorbed Amaterasu’s fire itself into his being and his body never got cold because of it. No matter what he did, or how cold it got. He would not feel the chill. It was a nice surprise, although he doubted it would protect him from a jutsu that utilized ice, the chakra within said technique would probably supercede the passive warming of his absorbing the flames.

At this point, he’d arrive at the gates, his mind’s eye traveling out to find any sign of guard that he couldn’t see, or shinobi waiting in ambush. He’d do this even if there was a stationed guard at the entrance. It was too dangerous to assume you were only dealing with one person after all. He doubted it would be an issue though, he only intended to purchase supplies, food, water, and other such necessities before going on his travels. One could hunt of course, but having some on hand was always better in his eyes. Especially when one never knew where they would end up. He wanted to find a contract too, but he doubted he’d obtain one here. One never could tell though, so it was with some anticipation that Calin would wait at the gates of the village for a few minutes for a challenge. If none came, then he’d enter in regardless. If they couldn’t watch their own door, then that wasn’t his problem now was it?

WC: 373

The broad shouldered man would stop his walking at the voice of the one who spoke. The man sitting against the wall of a half melted part of the wall, an indention quite large that would allow him to do so quite comfortably Calin would imagine. Calin would study the man carefully, he felt no chakra emanating from him. Nor could he hear the man’s breathing, if he couldn’t have seen the man outright from his perch then the fire user wouldn’t even have known he was there. It was impressive, and that alone denoted training of some form. Was he suppressing his chakra? Potentially, but why? One wanted their front guards to be powerful, it denoted strength of the forces to those looking in. It said ‘If this is the power of our gate watchers, what else do we have for you to contend with?’ to anyone looking to assault the village. Hell, the signs of an assault were abound. Corpses littered the field around them, but none of that mattered to Calin. He eyed the burned and melted wall with a professionals eye, judging the strength of the fire used. He could do better, oh yes, he could do far better indeed.

However, the village was standing, meaning it had clearly held back such an assault. Or had it? Was the man before him a shinobi of the village? One left behind that Calin hadn’t heard of, were there more? Was the suppression of the man’s chakra in that case, an attempt to keep shinobi hidden from the world? Effectively allowing this place to become to first actually ‘hidden’ village in the world? Or had this man been apart of those who had attacked this place? Taking their rightful place as this villages new overlords? He didn’t know, and frankly, he simply didn’t care. “Calin Uesugi, passing through for supplies, maybe find a contract or two while I’m here.” He would say, simple, and to the point. His eyes never straying from the strangers form. The corpses upon the ground around him didn’t matter, they were dead, and therefore meant nothing. He’d keep his mind’s eye open, and his other senses sharp for signs of possible attack. If this man was one of the destroyers, he might want to kill Calin, even if just for the enjoyment of doing so. Or for his money, his now openly stated intent to gain supplies suggested that he had money after all. It was a way for a clever bandit to ensure his efforts weren’t for naught. “You do this?” He’d ask idly, his tone tinged with curiosity.

WC: 437
TWC: 810

AP - 65 = 935.

The man would deny any involvement in the destruction of the area. He would however confirm that the village had been taken over by one ‘Kenshin Uzumaki’. Calin had seen the man’s wanted poster. There was quite a tidy sum attached to his head, but there was an interesting fact about Calin that this raggedy man didn’t know. You see, Calin wasn’t a bounty hunter. He was a mercenary. There was a distinct difference, bounty hunters went after individuals and turned their heads into those who would pay for it. Mercenary’s took any job that they chose. That didn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t take a bounty if the pay was good. However it was much more dangerous for him to do so. He himself was a missing ninja in the eyes of the villages. It was the villages who would pay for the bounty. If he turned up in their village with his corpse, he’d probably be detained and killed himself. After all, he’d by that point prove to be a bigger danger than even their most terrifying boogeyman. No, if he tried to go after Kenshin Uzumaki, even if he won, he couldn’t profit from it. Which was the entire point of it for him. He’d listen to the man’s speech about his boss. Were they the words of a sycophant perhaps? Potentially, but Calin would have his curiosity piqued at the fact that even with his Mind’s Eye active, he couldn’t sense this man’s chakra. The man’s movement closer was utterly devoid of sound as well. His eyes narrowed as he considered these tells.

Without the ability to sense the man’s chakra with his Mind’s Eye, he couldn’t tell if he was lying about anything. What reason would a gate guard of all things, have to hide his ability to lie? The Mind’s Eye technique, allowed him to sense everything down to suppressed chakra, unless there was something preventing even those tells from being picked up by the jutsu. It would almost have to be designed specifically with that goal in mind in fact. To hide from any kind of chakra sensory skill, even that of a jutsu as versatile and useful as Mind’s Eye of The Kagura. Which would inherently allow anyone with such an ability to lie outright to such a user. The question now, became whether or not the man before him knew he was using it or not. Could he be lying to him? Could he be waiting for Calin to turn his back on him, to attack him and loot him? Could he be Kenshin Uzumaki himself, playing games with visitors? At that point the earlier sycophancy would turn to arrogance, but not arrogance without backing. Especially if what he had said was true.

Calin wasn’t sure who this man was, what his talents were, or if he intended any ill toward him. He couldn’t figure it out unless he got started though. Calin would smirk, taking a flask of his own from his pocket and taking a pull from it. “Bounty hunting is too risky, besides, where would I cash in on a corpse like Uzumaki’s? I’d be dead before I left with the money if I went to any villages. They’d be too afraid of someone who could kill him. Nah, no worries from me on that front. If he wants to hire me though, I’d be open. Work is work, and the only kind I won’t dabble in is slave trading. So as long as his ‘big plans’ don’t involve that, then I don’t really give a damn so long as I get paid.” He would say after his drink. “Tell your boss to look into my name if he wants, it’s well known in circles. He’ll find that once I’m bought, I stay that way, regardless of the weight of any counter offers. So, may I come in and get my supplies now?” He would ask, an inquisitive eyebrow raised.

WC: 661
TWC: 1474

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