Nostalgic Wounds

A lean figure approached the white brick walls of the village Hidden in the Stars. A few months ago, the S rank missing Nin died by Ayato's hand in the same place where the man stood. A fight that Toneri was denied access to. Security around the gates was tighter than ever. Each gate guard was given a wooden horn to signal the alarm if. One of Hoshi's Nova, Dusk, had used the Mokuton gifted from the Senju lineage to craft them. The number of blows meant something different every time. Once, it was to signal that ninja from another village; twice for Grimma Raiders; thrice for wanted missing ninja.

"Wait right there." The Golden Hyuuga demanded as he stood at the opposite side of the traveler's cold gaze. He placed one bare hand on the pommel of his sword. It was in the likeness of a golden lion's head, with ruby eyes that shone like two red stars.

The traveler introduced himself as Aokidanza Senju and was confident that Shina and Akaboshi would be familiar with it despite not having an appointment. Many guests came from nearby towns and castles upon the announcement of the Great Tourney, held in honor of Ayato and the Nova Corps.

"Harold, run his credentials along with the list," Toneri asked the tall bearded Northman next to him. He was shaped like a bull and dressed in wool and chainmail. The handle of his greatsword poked out of the left shoulder. Harold went up to the guard tower to examine the bingo book's pages as if he were reading a fantasy novel.

"Perhaps Aokidanza was a guest," Toneri assumed from how entitled he spoke and how comfortable he looked insight of an armed garrison. "He doesn't dress like someone living under a bridge, no more than most anyway."

Awoooooooooooooooo. The sound of the alarm broke Toneri from his thoughts. "From which village do you come from?" He almost said in a friendly tone before the second horn blast sounded. Toneri immediately unsheathed his sword. The Dark steel of Brightroar seemed to drink the light of the sun.

"I didn't expect my day to start by carving up a Grimma." He put his feet apart and was ready to charge at the man who stood two meters away before Harold blew the horn for the third and final time. A Wanted Criminal, a B-rank Missing Ninja or above. The Golden Hyuuga felt his heartbeat increasing. Crossbows poked from the turrets of the guard tower behind Toneri, aiming at Aoki. Toneri glimpsed Harold Graymane atop the building, screaming for more men to arrive. 

"Is this the moment that I ask you how stupid you could be? To show your face here?"


WC: 425

The man tried a thinly veiled threat at him. Showing up at the gates so casually was not the profile of a Missing Nin, especially one who knew their presence would be met with hostility. The news of Stein's demise having traveled in every inn and alehouse across Haven country.

"Thirty thousand?" He scoffed, "Criminal life has fallen on sad days if that's all it takes to convince a man to throw his life away." The drifter commended Toneri's courage for squaring up against his B-rank status by himself. However, they were all the same to him at the end of the day. He remembered something his father had told him and Ayato in the training yard. "When in a time of peril, it's better to act intimidating than intimidated."

"Perhaps I'm young and foolish, or there is a high-powered projectile pointing right at your head," Toneri said with a smile. A wicked smile. He tightened his grip around the handle of his sword, and he could feel his knuckles whitening underneath his steel gauntlet. "What business do you have with Shina? If you've heard of her, then you've also heard of her torturing methods. Missing nin become just body parts when she gets their hands on them."

WC: 208

Serenely, the Senju examined the forced that towered over, aiming to surmount should he make the slightest of aggression. Such an assemblage deserved a response. He whistled… high-pitched, with a roll. An amused smile on his face. “You shouldn’t have, Toneri.” The eerie expression on his face would swallow his existence nearly completely. The air around him would grow heavy, nearly suffocating for lack of a better word. 

The long, thin hand of the Buddhist would rise, reaching into his cloth. Fumbling around, carelessly and nearly tauntingly. Re-emerging with a pouch in his hand. He tread over to the Hyuuga, pouch firmly in his hand. Within a foot of him he would smile criminally. “You and I share more in common than you would like to admit, Toneri. But the fact of the matter is, you share my interests. You are nothing like that child of a brother of yours, and I think that alone is enough for this.” Pressing the pouch clutch hand into the chest of Toneri. He would speak to his inner criminal desires with a bribe of 10,000 ryo. 

Raising a brow, the demon knew from that moment and that moment on that he would have Toneri. He chuckled and released the bag to him. There was no turning back now. Turning from him he would glance at the men. “Call of your men, would you. There might be plenty of them, but they are still fodder and you know it.  Inform them that I’m entering the village. You can escort me.” He spoke, quietly enough for only Toneri to hear. Allowing him to have some visual dominance in the eyes of the weak. 

The Senju would then motion towards the gates with the Hyuuga. Making his way into the village with him at his side. 

——————————————-

Ryo: 38,300
New Balance: 28,300

10,000 ryo given to Toneri.

[Exit into the village.]

You shouldn’t have Toneri. The visitor mused. Perhaps, then again, he wouldn’t have seen that display of power. What was next, battling in an open field as we argued about our ideologies. Flexing your chakra reserves is a coin of a currency that is longer valid.

And the demon of disputed lands would be smart enough to know that. Aoki reached for his pocket, which made Toneri clutch for his sword. But his reaction was calm. “Let me see your hands.” He barely managed to let out, and the man held a bag of gold and pressed it against Toneri’s chest plate. 

Money changes everything, Aokidanza was implying. “Who am I to disagree with the words of such an honorable man,” The Golden Hyuuga weighed the situation as he weighed the size of the pouch. “I’m not my fucking brother,” Toneri affirmed and sheathed the blade. The bribe had magically disappeared somewhere inside his armor by the time he did.

He turned around to the guards with a relaxed stance, cold gazes underneath iron half helms.  “Sir Harold, this man is here to surrender as our prisoner. We shall escort him to my brother for debriefing.” "I will see him when he gets out." The Northman was unamused but commanded his men to stand down. He could not say no to the Kage’s brother or someone who would enter the city with his approval.

Toneri smirked as the gates of Hoshi opened, and he and Aokidanza walked.

WC: 247
TWC: 880 

Claims for Toneri
Accepting a Bribe of 10k
Letting Aokidanza in Hoshigakure and giving him a visitor's pass

880 to Whistle Trigger [880/2000]
16 AP

Approved

When it rains, it pours. "Misery loves company". Standing atop the walls carrying out orders, Akaboshi laid his eyes on a suspicious transaction taking place at the village gates. "It seems trouble always finds its way to Hoshigakure" the crimson eyed sighed as he watched everything happen. "And this time the problem is going by the name of Toneri" he would think out loud, referring to Ayato's younger brother who yet again ended up doing something he wasn't supposed to. Where trouble goes, the Hyuuga followed. Oh how he wished he was mistaken, but his eyes had never betrayed him once. 

With his Mangekyo Sharingan still activated the space around him suddenly became distorted, the Nova Commander disappearing from his current position only to end up at his new location at the village gates. With a swirling animation Akaboshi would reappear in front of the group, effectively intercepting their entry into Hoshigakure. "Gentlemen. And Toneri" he'd address them in a sarcastic manner. "Little brother" he directed himself at the young Hyuuga, aware how he loathed the relationship between himself and the Captain.

Toneri's insecurity when it came to the bond Ayato and Akaboshi shared was far from a secret and the Nova Commander would play his cards in order to get a rouse out of the swordsman. "I knew you could be full of shit sometimes but it seems that this time it are your pockets that have been filled" he referred to the pouch of ryo the Hyuuga received earlier. "Harold, you shouldn't always let him have his way". The Northman meant well, all the more reason why the Captain glossed over it.

He then turned his attention at their visitors, a man and a young girl, perhaps father and child. "Now, I believe your reason for visiting might involve my person?". While keeping an eye on them earlier, Akaboshi was able to pick up on the fact that they were looking for the Nova Commander. Why exactly that was would be unbeknownst to him, but he'd find out sooner than later. 

(WC: 343)

- 75 AP Kamui - Left Eye (25% chakra reduction)

1175 AP remaining

Exit

(TWC: 343)
Claims, using 25% max stat discount:
- 343 towards Red Raven