Dreams and deeds

Mission 1 :

Mission 2:

https://www.narutoroleplaygame.com/t47637-the-man-the-myth-the-legend

https://www.narutoroleplaygame.com/t47513-trust-me-it-s-art


“Not to bad….” Maku would say to himself as he looked in the mirror.  The man that looked back at him was unrecognizable to that of who he had been.  When he had last been seen terrorizing the world bright blue eyes full of mischief stared out underneath bright blonde hair.  The face of a boy more than a man.  Now the man who stared out had long straight black, violet contact lenses that matched his original irises looked him up and down.  A face hardened by the years, though the whisper of smile lines still remained.  His most defining characteristics though….gone.  On his forehead, used to keep his long black hair within some kind of order rested a village headband.  Something he had not worn in sometime.  The black fabric met in the middle to a stolid metal plate, the Takigakure symbol shown polished and smooth.  On his body opposed to the normal suit or loose fitting clothes, was a reconstruction of the jonin uniform as he had remembered it.  Remnants of the great tree used in the workings of the reinforced plates adding a special effect to keep himself hidden even from sensory type Nin.  

Weapon pouches on his front and left hip, equipped with ninja tools he had rarely every bothered using since his academy days.  A document in his left hip that lent credence to his new identity.  Finally a knife that he’d received during that time where Akihanna and himself had been forced to take on his old broker.  It was sheathed about mid chest along the buckle that held part of the armor, just above the weapon pouch.  He hadn’t needed or worn a proper weapon in years.  It saddened him slightly as he thought back….a time in Yukigakure when his blade was feared as much as any shinobi’s.  When he’d used it against the man that now slept two floors beneath him, and had aided him in getting the best of him.  Now any weapon bigger than this knife felt heavy, clunky in his hands.  Not even worth carrying.  Padding the various pockets and places, he spent some time adjusting everything to look right.  When he was done, a proper village Nin looked back at him.  Had that villages not been destroyed so many years ago.  His time in writing and dreams had caused his mind to go back to that place, and though nostalgia is a dangerous thing…it pleased him to see this little bit of it to be brought back.  He’d never achieved a rank higher than genin for the waterfall village, and he’d made sure all documents of his existence there had been destroyed, as well as any documents of anyone existing there had been burned away by the Amaterasu.  No one alive from the place could testify that there had not been a Taki Maki that served the waterfall.  

It wasn’t the same as the dreams he’d had if an alternate version of himself.  Nor did it precisely match the character he wrote about.  Instead this version was harder, but he was more real.  The Maku or Taki in the book and dreams didn’t have real emotions, real feelings.  He just was as all those creatures born of imagination are.  An idealized self that can overcome and endure well past thag of flesh and blood.  Maku’s own flesh had been corrupted with trauma and feelings, visions and deeds, and that hardness was visible here in the world.  Still……it wasn’t a bad attempt.  He did miss the blonde hair, but bringing back such a trademark seemed Ill advised at the this juncture in his journey.   

The documents in his pocket recognized him as Taki Maki.  A former jonin from Takigakure who had fought back upon finding its destruction.  Having survived the battle he now worked as a mercenary while wearing the armor of his home as a reminder to himself, both of his failure and what he fights to not allow happen again.  On it listed all his distinguishing features, such as height, weight, eye color, hair color etc.  it was proper documents on par with anything a major village would have in their own shinobi.  It came complete with a list of missions and accomplishments that he had supposedly performed since becoming a mercenary.  All of these were on the level, and any of the more dark dealings had been purposefully omitted.  In addition to these documents, he’d taken to writing a fake journal.  All of which built around these false documents and would act as a secondary proof.  It helped that he’d been practicing in writing his own story, which was the base of the journal essentially.  There were very few around that had been to Takigakure, and fewer that would have the knowledge to dispute what it said.  Even a list of references, all leading to people paid to write such correspondents.  All in all, Hook had our done himself this time.  The man certainly deserved a hand.  Laughing he committed to remembering that joke to use on him later.

In exchange for the documents he’d paid a rather large amount of money, as well as promised to make Hook his exclusive broker until such time as the agreement was less profitable.  That in and of itself was a high price in the underground world, and though he found Hook to be marginally annoying, he’d worked with much worse.  So though he’d muttered and grumbled about it…in truth it hadn’t been the worst thing to give.  Though, Hook seemed to take no time in deciding to leverage this new partnership into jobs.  Two specific missions had come up that he was now to compete.  Neither seemed excessively difficult, but both would take him away from home for a little while.  Looking around his room, he wondered when exactly this place had went from a place to hide, to a home.  It was modest living, and rural ness at its most…well rural.  Though, there was nothing wrong with that.  

Walking down stairs he’d set to writing a list for Youka to complete in his absence.  The demon priest was a lot less demon of recent times, though his energies had started to return through his medical administrations.  The man had a ways to go, but he would be ok his feet soon.  Maku hoped soon he’d be well enough to actually do some of these jobs.  The logistics of his medical supplies and to actual stay alive costed money, something that Maku was shouldering the majority of.  His money he continued to earn from the Land of Rivers covered the majority of his income, but there was always more to be made.  

The list includes some basics, “water the flowers on the porch, feed the koi in the pond, make sure the herb garden doesn’t get too dry, sweep up, etc”. In truth it was more like a honey do list, but it was justified.  The man lived here too, it wasn’t Maku’s fault he rarely ventured from the dank cellar in which his original portion of the hideout was carved.  List complete he’d walk down, and pin it in the medical bay while he slept.  Drips and gentle beeps filling the otherwise silent area.  Looking at the still form, he watched for some time.  The breaths coming shallow and only have elongated times.  Shrugging, he simply left.  There was nothing else he was capable of doing for him.  

His course took him through the same convoluted way it always did.  Leading away and doubling back on itself multiple times.  Each time he changed it up just enough.  Though there was no signs that anyone had found or followed him since returning to the hideout, caution still seemed necessary.  It had been sometime since his last assassination attempt, and he was hoping to keep it that way.  In changing his appearance, and as time continued to March forward they occurred less and less until now, when they didn’t come at all.  He assumed people had thought he died, or maybe just left for distant lands.  He did know that he heard his name less and less, and that suited for the time being.  Youka wishes to return to the old ways.  To crashing against the civilized world like the waves upon the rock.  If he was going to follow suit, something he was not decided on, it would be best that they had time to collect themselves.  Youka’s ambitions never seemed to change, but his confidence while admirable, lacked the substance to back it up in his personal opinion.  

Pulling out the journal, he scribbled down notes and details as he walked.  Taking the time to write a journal entry from years before, set well before the world changed.  

“Echo Uchiha and his attendant arrived today.  They are meeting with the village leader, we think to procure an alliance or a subjugation, only time will tell which.”  

He continued to write detailing from a village nins perspective on what had happened.  Of course he had been present at that, returning to his home, recognizing the village leader as a man he had trained with.  Saiga having vanished mysteriously some time before then.  As he wrote another part of his brain considered why had happened to the man.  He’d been strong, that much was certain, though as a leader ineffective.  From his own bias perspective.  Having finished several entries of short material, that of a man in war time, he arrived within the village that housed Hook, and the details of his next job.  Making his way through town, he entered the nail salon, even some of the workers not recognizing him.  This made him smile, as he made his way to the back office, and then the back office behind even it.  Pulling the cliche book, the false wall would open, and as usual a plume of cigar smoke exited as he entered.  “Nasty habit you know, take up drinking it’s more polite for guests, and you’d have something to offer me.”  He’d say pleasantly as he entered the room, before plopping down heavily in the vacant chair across from the pirate wannabe.  

“Yer well, need me wits about don’t we.”  Hook would say before taking another drag and blowing it rudely in Maku’s direction.  Of which he merely waved his hand to disperse the smoke to the sides.  “Yer late, not a very valuable asset if yer can’t be on time.”  He’d say though it lacked any real bite to it.  The man looked tired.  No rest for the wicked and all that:  He slid over a folder that contained the contract.  

“Traffic on the roads, what can you do.”  Maku would lie shrugging before taking and opening the folder.  Inside the contents revealed the mission.  Supposedly someone had been talking a little too much about things they shouldn’t, and now someone was offering a rather decent sum of money to have him collected to answer for these horrendous crimes of hubris.  Don’t kill the man, just bring him back.  Simple enough.  Flipping a page some details were offered.  He was a former resident of a town in the land of stone.  Not a shinobi, just a low level gangster, so wasn’t particularly a threat to someone trained, however it seemed as though he was well connected with the kind of people who might be.  Proceed with caution and care.  So much for simple.  “So who wrote the contract anyway, and don’t give me any of that crap about you not being able to say, I know the cut you take.”  Maku would flip the folder shut, placing it back in the table looking up.

“Gem mine owner.  Deals in jewelry mostly, but….well some blood on the diamonds I suppose yer could be saying.”  Hook would stroke the terrible gotee as he spoke.  “Man’s quick with payment though, and has more jobs if yer good.  Worth doing business with.”  Now that was a compliment coming from the broker.  Anyone he deemed as worth doing business with either didn’t ask questions or gave payment in full and early.  

“Well, he sounds like a catch, I think your smitten.”  Maku would say watching him.  “Well, I take it you have a lead on where he is?  I didn’t see anything listed…..or is that part of the job as well.”  He added with a bit of a glare.  Not having the proper leads was always annoying.  Jobs where one thing, but having to add detective to every other contract wasn’t something he was prepared to get in the habit of doing.  

“Well, that’s the best part in’t.  He’d supposedly right here in town, easy job, easy money.”  He’d say with a wide smile.  “Collect um, and drag um to the mines.  I hear he’s got a job interview aye.”  He’d say with a wicked smile of someone who enjoyed the plight of others.  Nodding Maku would acknowledge his words, though with a bitter after taste from how the man took glee.  It seemed simple enough, but didn’t they always.  Standing he’d take the folder with him, say his goodbyes, and make his way out from the salon.  Man wasn’t going to catch himself after all.  If only, he thought.

As it turned out however, he was not in the small settlement at all.  He had been, but had already made his leave.  After some amount of sleuthing through the bars he got a general idea of where he was heading, Maku too took his leave of the place and was on his trail.  Continuing to utilize his new identity, he showed papers and moved through several more small towns continuing to attempt to corner his query.  What had begun with a very large amount of contempt slowly shifted into professional pride and anger at being outsmarted by a nobody.  Perhaps he’d lost some of his practical skills sure, but this was becoming a slap in the face.  Every time  he nearly had the man in his grasp, he was gone again, smuggled  away by this friend or that one.  Each place he had been however new rumors had sprouted about the mine owner.  His cruelty to his workers, and how he fabricated precious gemstones with fakes to sell more and turn more of a profit.  In truth everything the man said was likely the truth.  Which was even more likely the reason that the contract was now on his head.  Had he just kept his mouth shut it was likely none of this would be happening, though for some that is more difficult than for others.

Well into the fourth day, he finally had a break.  Spotting the man that he’d come to know as Fu enter a bar, he’d watch and wait for sometime.  Inside under the influence of drink and other vices he once again began spouting the propaganda (though probably true) about the mine owner. He was quite the story teller, gaining gasps and awes at critical moments, his harrowing tales of his he was abused and escaped, even stealing a small fortune that he’d taken with him.  That part had not been in the mission, but while probably exaggerated also had a high chance of being true.  He’d swapped some of the fake stones for real ones, that he had kept as he made his escape.  Making a mental note to check this man’s pockets for these before he turned him in, he Ran chakra through his eyes.  The eyes of the Uchiha would enhance what his natural visions showed.  The world would slow, as each movement became slower, as though being telegraphed.  New colors emerged as the chakra vision made the world more clear and more complex all at the same time.  Though, his violet eyes never seemed to change thanks to the contact lenses he now wore.  

Now that he’d actually laid eyes on the man, he was contemplating the best way to extract him.  Brute force was an option, and judging by the natures around him he was probably capable of such a feat.  Still, there was no doubt that he’d have to fight, and that was something he was trying to avoid.  His fingers played with the hilt of the knife as he considered.  From his hiding place he would listen, still holding the hilt of the knife as one of Fu’s friends spoke.  He listened and listened, until he felt he had it down.  Vanishing from his spot, Fu would be safe for now.  The man would continue to drink and converse a verifiable bar room hero until the owner finally gave the “you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here speech” sending them all out.  While Fu disputed a bar tab on account of his suffering, his mate exited the pub to stand a few paces from the door way.  

Unfortunately for the man, he never even had a chance to light the cigarette that he’d just placed between his lips.  As he was looking down, the jaws of a large wooden dragon would descend in a flash, snapping around him.  It didn’t squeeze him enough to hurt him, but the energy draining nature of the wood technique quickly caused the drunken man to pass out.  No doubt the owner of the pub would be most confused when he woke to see a large wooden dragon wrapped around his pubs roof, but Maku felt he’d done it tastefully, so perhaps, once they removed the man from the mouth, it would be a delightful addition to the place.  Solid work as far as he was concerned anyway.  Jumping from the roof, he would move to the shadows of the alley, and waited.  Soon Fu would exit, looking this way and that for his friend, fear and anxiety almost instantly appearing on his face.  This was a man who knew his limits, and the thought of being alone after his big talk was not something that he wished to be doing.  With a scoff he’d clear his throat.  

“Oye mate, down here, you gotta see this!”  Maku would day, though his voice was different.  A perfect mimic of how his friend had sounded throughout the night.  From there the trap was set, and it was just a matter of time.  The relief spread across his face as he walked towards the alley.  His swagger and confidence quickly returning as he realized his backup was still at hand.  It was a bit sad really, and a shame that he would only have that peace for a short lived moment.  The man would enter the alley, the anxiety slowly returning, but his realization at his mistake came far too late.  Handseals moved quickly, and then before the man could finish the scream a large iron cat rose from the ground, locking him inside before being dragged back down.  Maku would wait, staring at the freshly disturbed earth for a time.  Counting in his head and whistling a tune while he did so.  After what seemed the appropriate time, he released the technique, the box coming back and depositing the man before disappearing in a poof of smoke.  The man was passed out, and in this way much easier to move.  

Grabbing his hand, the two would vanish from the alley, only to appear back in the small town inside a hotel room.  Taking some wire he bound his hands and attached a false exploding tag.  “Wakey wakey”. He’d say giving the man a couple light slaps on the face.  What came next was the classic of “who are you, why are you doing this, I can pay you, etc etc”. All things he’d heard before.  Having already extricated the spare money from the man, he didn’t need it, there was nothing for him to offer.  “I mean, why go blab your mouth, you escaped, why bring in the attention.”  Maku would ask a few moments later.  The man still bound had been told if he removed the wire the tag would explode, which was a lie but he seemed to believe it.  They were sitting on a wagon being pulled in the direction of the mines.  

“You wouldn’t get it, people got to know don’t they.  They gotta know what he’s doing.”

“Yea but…..the free drinks where nice too.”  Maku would say pointing out how he’d profited from if.

“I deserve soemthing don’t I?  I fought back!”  

“You ran away but sure same thing.”  Sighing he felt he knew enough about the man.  There wasn’t likely to be any rousing conversation, and the rest of the ride was mostly filled with pleading and bribes.  What it all came down to though, was he’d brought it on himself.  He just needed to mind his business, or at the very least involve people who could do something not profit off it.  In the end he had to put the man in a genjutsu just to get some peace.  Once this was done, he returned to his journaling detailing out events and times from his own youth.  He wrote about the time in which Saiga had went to Shimagakure to broker some kind of alliance that never really seemed to coke together.  The disgruntled nature of his own feelings were well concealed within the journal of a dutiful soldier.  Then, it was over, and the mission was all but compete.  Arriving at the mines he was escorted by some rather thuggish gentleman to a rather lavish home that seemed out of place on the precipice of the quarry below.  As though it had been lifted and simply dropped on the bleak landscape.  Sound of equipment and explosives rocked the evening air from time to time as they walked into the estate.  As for Fu, he was promptly collected and whisked away.  He didn’t wish him ill but a job was a job.

Inside he met with Hitoshi, the owner of the mine.  He thanked him profusely, offered food and drink as well as an additional payment for a job well done.  In truth if the man was as cruel as Fu had led many to believe the man hid it rather well.  He ate a splendid meal, drank fine whiskey, and enjoyed the creature comforts of a home that he had not lived in for quite some time.  It reminded him abstractly of the palace back in Hoshigakure.  The unnecessary frills of the lavish lifestyle that he had enjoyed but not required.  It was nice for the time, but in reflection he still preferred the brothels well worn in beds, if anything due to the absence of that insufferable pastry named mutt.  He would enjoy a couple days like this, being treated and even got a chance to tour the mines, in which he saw a very bitter Fu stare back at him from where he worked.  Supposedly he’d originally been a worker due to unpaid debts, a score that had been unsettled and now likely reached a number that never would be.  

He kept his eyes open, and though it was brutal work, in a way he himself would never wish to do, the signs of cruelty as they had been described where not on display.  The mine itself offered several stones that had been discovered within the rock.  From precious gemstones to other items of value.  The principle market rock being Jade that had been extracted many times over by the various workers.  Hitoshi let him know that there was a high demand lately as certain craftsmen had discovered it’s uses within the field of chakra control and storage, making it a high demand items within major shinobi villages.  Having never heard or expierenced such a thing, this piece of information had peaked his interests.  

“Well, if you ever have to much, or are in need of someone to help out….you have Hooks information.”  Maku would say shaking the man’s hand.  They exchanged pleasantries, and with that….Maku would simply vanish from the mine.  Instantly transmitting himself back to the Akatsuki house hideout.  

His first order of business would be to check the herb garden…..fry as a bone.  Next the koi pond…..the poor fishies appeared to be starving, not sure how he knew but he just knew.  Next, the flowers kk the porch……all dead.  The living room….unswept.  Stomping down the stares he was prepared to give Youka a telling off for ignoring the simple chores that he had been given.  Sure the man never missed a dose of his pain medication and intervenors nutrition, but could he water the flowers? No.  Selfishness, that’s what it was.  Pure and simple.  

The argument would be mostly one sided as his friends capabilities for speech where still sub par, but it lacked the bite of their initial encounter.  Things had settled down; and the majority of the damage had been patched up, though it likely would take much longer to replace and fix everything that had burned beneath the Amaterasu.  The day would continue on, until it was time for bed.  Setting up his equipment on a manikin he had procured, he stared at the gear as he went to sleep.  Holding a small frog stuffed animal, his mind slowly drifted off, dreaming of a different world.  

—————————————-

The next few days passed without much of note.  Youka still barely existed amongst the living, so while it was nice to have his old friend back….it was still rather lacking in social interaction.  Despite himself, and despite the way he was compared to how he had been…Maku still found himself to be a social creature.  Perhaps that was one of the reasons he so often of late had been taking the different jobs that Hook had, hooked out.  Since his last mission apprehending a loud mouth, he’d completed a few more here and there.  Nothing of note, and sprinkled in where bits of straight and narrow jobs as well.  Something to help build the person he had had created.  Some guarding details, and patrols mostly.  Nothing exciting beyond guarding a noble or merchant from highwaymen and thugs.  In truth the money was easy, the jobs let him talk to individuals and keep his mind busy, and it out food on the table.  All of which was what he desperately needed.  Again, he loved having Youka back,…but it had made certain feelings and thoughts resurface as well.  The good with the bad, it was impossible to have just one and not the other.

Perhaps that was why he skirted the line between annoying him to death, and avoiding him to death.  Depending on how he woke up and the mood that struck him was highly determining on how much interaction he wished to have with the threaded man.  Today was one of those where he wished to avoid him.  Placing his gear on, he completed his look by inserting the contact lenses.  His eyes returning to violet, and just like that….Maku Jemuzu missing nin and terrorist was gone, and Taki Maki ex jonin of Takigakure was back.  Prepared to take on the day, and the missions that came with it.  But first….breakfast.  While he waited for the bacon to properly fry, he pulled out another recreation.  A small brass blue harmonica the symbol of Takigakure engraved in the top.  Playing a few tunes his own memories moved as the notes changed from octave to octave.  The original harmonica had been lost some time ago.  Where he did not know.  It hadn’t really been his fathers but a man who had claimed the title.  So while he supposed he shouldn’t be concerned with it, it still felt sad to loose a piece of something he’d carried for so long.  

It was while in the revere, a puff of smoke appeared on the table.  Out of this smoke waddled a penguin in a robe.  In its beak it had a note which it promptly dropped and then vanished as it had come with another puff.  “That was weird” Maku said out-loud at the odd way to have ones breakfast interrupted.  Grabbing up the note he tore away the seal and set about reading it.  Very few knew of this place and even fewer that were still alive.  Still, curiosity had him gripped at this point.  Reading the paper he felt his eyes roll.  He might have known.  How the man had discovered how to contact him when he wasn’t in town he didn’t know, but he didn’t like it.  Likely it was some technique of the summoning race, though he couldn’t be sure.  The letter bore Hooks scrawls listing out a new job that he wanted him to complete as soon as possible, with 5 exclamation marks after it.  It also had the symbol for money written 6 times, and honestly people thought he was dramatic.  

The details of the mission were always fairly simple and explained out.  Almost as those these contract where reviewed by a staff team to ensure there legitimacy and easy understanding.  Maybe old Hook had an editor, it was hard to see, then he shook his head at the unlikely scenerio.  The details indicated that Hitoshi had personally requested his services to help in a matter at the mines.  Though it did not state exactly what this matter was, it went on about how he had been impressed with him during their last meeting.  It talked about how he was out of the country, with business dealings in the land of Tea, so his assistant would be more than capable of helping him once he arrived.  He was to see her for further information; and should he succeed there would be a rather sizeable reward.  Not only in ryo, but also promises of Jade with the special nature that they had discussed upon his last visit.  Putting down the letter, he moved back to his breakfast.  Picking up and reading the papers one more time as he chewed as though he was reading the morning paper preparing to go to work, which in a very real sense he was.  

Already dressed, he’d planned to pick up some small jobs that wouldn’t keep him away from the house for a very long time.  However the prospect of getting out and staying out for awhile was appealing in nature.  Making up his mind, he would scribble his signature on the paper before pricking his finger with the fork having finished his breakfast.  The blood would trickle slowly into the seal and the penguin would return, promptly snatch up the letter, and vanish once again.  A fairly effective messaging service he would think.  Making a note that he needed something like that, he would rise and finish packing.  He knew of the accommodations so he merely equipped his shinobi equipment, that he would likely never use.  Still, it fit the part and lended a certain validity to it all.  Putting the knife in its position, and sliding the harmonica into his pocket, he was ready.  Once again he wrote the same list of chores that he wished Youka to accomplish while he was gone, with very little hope that it would actually be accomplished.  Sighing, he’d go feed the fish himself at least before vanishing form the doorstep.  

In an instant he was transmitted to the gem dealers home.  Behind him he could hear the sounds of the mine as man battled earth for its riches.  Knocking on the door he whistled while he waited, opting to take a short walk about as the assistant came to greet him.  As he did, and looked over the crevice into the mine it was clear that the man had indeed needed assistance.  The sounds he’d heard were of the miners working, but it was much higher up than it had been the last time.  Before the mine had stripped down, causing a large chasm with multiple entrances.  Now however the men were instructed from probably seventy five percent of what was dug up by large amounts of water. A flood had taken over the majority, and rather than harvesting it appeared as though damage control had become the main aim of anyone working.  Large sump pumps had been developed, and where those where unable to reach workers were hurriedly excavating to give the water a place to go.  A dangerous practice as one wrong move could lead them to be submerged never to resurface.  “I see you’ve found our problem.”  A bell like voice said from behind him. 

“Well, It does look rather…..murky.”  He’d say attaching a pin to the sentence.  In truth he wasn’t sure what to say.  It was a lot of water, but on the other hand he was certain he could clear if, if that’s as even the mission he was meant to accomplish.  He wasn’t overly fond of showing off all his abilities.  And any that utilized his Uchiha abilities were off the table unless the table was on fire, so it would be up to other things.  Already his mind was working on how to solve this issue, perhaps even a bit prematurely since he hadn’t heard the job details.  Taking his eyes away from the water he turned, his eyes meeting that if the assistants.  She was taller than him, not a great accomplishment; maybe by a couple inches.  Long blond hair, pale skin, and soft honey colored eyes stared back at him.  He almost had to do a double take as his imagination filled in some of the gaps and adjusted the minute details until it was a person from the past.  Then she stepped forward and the illusion broke, detailed returned to what they were not what he wanted them to be.  

“Sorry, are you all right?”  She asked a tone of concern in her voice.

“Yea sorry you just remind me of someone.  A friends wife.”  He’d say smiling, his face and demeanor returning to more of a relaxed state as the shock wore off.  She eyed him for a moment before giving it up.  Stepping forward she came to stand beside him, looking down at the mine turned pool.  

“Wel, as you can see this is our main problem, but not the only one.”  Her tone was business like now.  None of the prior concern left.  This was someone who got things down, an assistant that ran the company as so many do.  The boss out doing his business, while she was left to solve any and all problems no matter what they were.  Never a question of it it would be completed, only when.  “The flooding is but one issue, the second being some…thing inside the mine that is causing it.”  Shed had a crudely taken photo over.  Within it was a blurry image, impossible to discern exactly what:  he stared at it, but was unable to come up with a proper explanation.  

“Creature…..you think something did this, not just like….the rain or I don’t underground water?  You all have dug pretty deep.”  He knew there were monsters in the world.  Creatures and things with such capabilities.  He’d had one as something of a pet for awhile.  He hoped that little foxy guy was staying out of trouble.  Still, that shouldn’t be the first call to action, there were pathways to move down first.  

“It hasn’t rained in weeks.  And our geologists are welll laid and well trained there is no such thing.”  Her voice quipped.  The more she spoke the more business and hard it became.  Clearly money was being lost, and it’s mounting absence only sought to add to the pressure she was no doubt under.  “So we are needing two things, one is to find a way to get rid of the water, and second is the creature delt with.”  She turned now to stare at him.  He could tell by her gaze that he was not her first choice, and he didn’t really blame her.  Shinobi were capable people, trained in things that normal civilians could never hope to accomplish.  Though any normal person would unlikely be able to handle all this.  

“Why not contract a major shinobi village.  Hitoshi mentioned you guys sell to them, surely they’d help you out?”  He’d say questioningly.  It did seem odd that their first request was to a mercenary and not the standard channels.  

“Mr. Hitoshi” she said with emphasis, “wanted you.  He does not wish to use a major shinobi village as he does not want the operation to appear as though it has any hiccups.  We have enough supply and orders to survive a week without anyone noticing as long as it is cleared by then.”  She would say, the stress even more evident now.  

“That’s a lot of water to move in a week, among other things.”  He’d say jn a whisper looking back down.  His mind had come up with a couple ways he could accomplish the former the later was still a mystery.  He thought he could probably do it within a day or two if he really pushed.  The trick was how much to show he was capable of.  Though with her description he thought it unlikely for them to say to much if they truly desired to keep all this quite.  One thing was for certain though.  “I mean, I can do it sure, but two things.”  He’d say looking at the assistant who seemed annoyed by this statement for some reason.  “Number 1, I’m gonna need more money.  Sure it’s a lot, but so is.”  He’d wave at the water, “all this.  Second, I’m going to need your workers to go home.  I don’t want any collateral injuries that can be blamed on me.”  He smiled at his simple requests.  Her face turned a new shade of red as she had been listening.  

“Send them home?  Do you know how much money we will loose?  And you think you can do this yourself, preposterous.”  She said a few more things but it all boiled down to the same thing . She clearly lacked faith, a disappointing way to live one’s life.  He let her go for a little while, getting out the unhealthy amount of steam she had built up at his words.  Once she had finally stopped and had taken a breath he would resume his side of the conversation.  In truth, he assumed the potential for money lost well outweighed the cost of sending the workers home, and this was more of a power trip than actually being helpful.  

“Those are the conditions”. He’d say with a shrug, if you don’t like it well I can just….leave.”  With that he would vanish from her sight.  The panic she felt evident from her body language, as he had merely teleported behind her.  After a few moments she turned and her panic went from high, to simply more anger.  However the point had been made, and in seeing her anxiety they both knew that he had won this portion of the negotiations.  From there things would end up going a little smoother as she handled the logistics.  The week had started today, but there was no way to get everyone out and have the daylight to work with, so it was, for lack of a better term, a wash.  He’d take the same guest room he had before and lounged the remainder of the day.  Swapping out his armor for a lavish robe that he left undone.  The breeze feeling nice as he walked around the large house . Most of the doors where locked, which he found annoying as it made being nosy quite difficult. 

Still, it was what it was and soon enough he found himself simply back in his room.  He spent some time writing journal entries but even after awhile that normal distraction become tedious.  Looking out the window the various structure lights began to go out that normally would illuminate the great chasm.  Now it was almost impossible to even see the hole.  Listening the sound of water gently moving could be heard as well as something else, something familiar though he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was.  One thing was for sure though, he was certain he’d heard it before.  

Soon enough he’d gone to sleep, and awoken to a much quieter place.  He assistant was practically waiting outside his door as soon as he was dressed.   An abbreviated breakfast unfolded, and soon enough he was once again standing looking down on the water.  It seemed to have not gone down at all despite all the work that had been going into it.  Even now he could see the fissures designed to lead the water away, and yet despite the clear movement…..it did not help.  Rubbing his chin he considered this.  The thought of an underground waterway that had been opened up still made the most sense the assistant was determined that that could not be the case.  “Alright, give me some time, and I’ll se show much we can get done today.”  He’d tell her, waiting for her to leave.  

“No way, I’m in charge of this and I have to supervise.”  She was quoted determined.  He could always place her in a genjutsu, and have her sleep it off, but that seemed a bit drastic at the moment.  Only one witness, surely that wasn’t too bad.  

“Fine fine, but this is all confidential right?”  He’d ask her.  This got an eyebrow raise, though not a verbal response.  Instead she simply nodded.  Taking that as good enough, he hopes down letting himself fall a certain ways before landing ontop of the water.  The surface walking technique worked, but it felt sluggish somehow, as though his own chakra was being rejected.  Curios and curiouser….maybe it wasn’t an underground water way after all.  The creature person still had his brain itching, and though his mind kept going to the creatures like the 9 tails it seemed unlikely.  For one he should be able to sense something like that, but there was nothing to indicate that much chakra was anywhere near here.  As far as he could tell anyway.  

Getting his footing stabilized, he weaved several handseals, focused on the earth at his back.  He was too high up to summon them from below, but he’d make his way down slowly.  At the completion multiple large trees erupted form the ground growing at a rapid pace, some above but most below the waterline.  A scene from a fantasy novel developed as the large trees rushed through their growth from sapling to full grown beneath the crystal like waters.  They reached out and absorbed the water, both drinking it in and draining the chakra from it, thanks to the natural properties of the wood release.  No sooner had they begun this drain then the water began to subside.  Slowly at first and then faster.  As though the water had been stuck to itself preventing it from flowing properly out do the area.  Now with the chakra siphoned away, it did not have the same consistency and it was free to move. Sweat dripped down his face as he summoned more trees, having not performed the nativity in a long time.  

It was noon by the time he took his first break.  The thick forest now covering the majority of the mines, creating a canopy shielding the bottom from view.  This had been done for two reasons.  One was to aid in removing the water, but the other was to provide the cover.  He wanted a chance to explore and look for the creature himself.  On the off chance it was something akin to the failed beasts, he wanted the cover and terrain to be to his advantage.  He doubted he could handle one right now; but still his pride prevented him from backing out of a job half finished.  “That’s it for the day.”  He would say passing the assistant.  Her look of condiment ion was prevalent, however perhaps it was the actual progress made that their own workers had failed to make that led her to ask no more questions.  Instead she contented herself with writing notes and going to one of the offices in the home and getting back to work.  This included he found out sending an update to her boss.  Which was fine, he assumed the pleasant man would be delighted to hear the news.  

Requesting no workers again tomorrow the second day came and went.  Only 5 to go to have the issue solved.  More than doable he would think to himself.  Throughout the day he would go out and check, but the water continued to recede  underneath the weight of the trees.    The true test he assumed would be what it would do overnight.  The day came and went without incident and soon enough he was back in bed, listening to the chorus of a familiar sound that he couldn’t place.  It wasn’t until he was drifting off to sleep in earnest that the puzzle piece finally slid into place within his mind.  The sound reminded him of tree frogs back in Takigakure, or within the forests of Konoha.  Happy to finally place bathe noise it didn’t occur to him to wonder where the noise was actually coming from.  Instead he was just glad to solve a single mystery, not matter how small it actually was.  His dreams were filled with images of toads as he moved about a restaurant.  The toads acted as waiters assisting the various patrons of the restaurant of discord.  A place that he hadn’t seen in a long time; and one he’d never see again.  

Waking the next morning, it mostly went the same.  Get dressed, a rushed breakfast and then surveying the work, though the survey didn’t go as planned.  Walking to the edge and looking down, a feeling of disappointment washed over him.  Looking down the majority of the trees were still there, but the leaves had wilted, the bark was weak, and though the water hadn’t full risen to where it had been, it had certainly come back up a small amount.  “Mmmmm most unfortunate.”  He would say.  The assistant didn’t say anything, but he could practically feel her wrath washing over him in waves.  Making his way down, he’d once again summon a ride array of trees, making more progress than he had before.  Having built a base it hadn’t been as taxing to reform the canopy, enclosing himself in mostly darkness.  The water drained away enough that he could now access the majority of the tunnels.  Eyes spinning to red and black behind violet his vision cleared to a near perfect clarity.  Making his way through the caves, he was determined to ar least find something to help explain what was going on. 

Any hope of this whoever evaporated with the remaining water.  Not hidden springs, no underground geysers, but also no creatures or even traces of anything to form the pond.  Well into the late afternoon he came back to the surface, strengthened the tree wall and returned to the Josie for dinner.  The assistant locked away in the office didn’t bother him, and he admitted he was to tired to take the time to bother her as well.  He briefly considered returning to the house to check on Youka, but thought better of it.  The teleportation jutsu was a taxing one, and he needed his energy if he was going to continue tackling the project at hand.  He’d not used this much ninjutsu in years, and though a chakra network wasn’t a muscle; he could practically feel the soreness in it as though it were.  Playing the harmonica while sitting on the windowsill he once again heard the chorus of frogs playing outside.  It was peaceful; and he played in tune with the music that nature was already providing.  Happy to play back up to it for a change rather than be in the center.  The night rise, and with it so did the water.  

This time he skipped breakfast all together and simply went to the quarry.  Again the majority of the trees had seemed to shrivel, though some still stood strong.  The water had only returned the smallest amount, but it had risen.  Scratching his head he now only had five days left to complete the mission in a schedule including today.  Again, he formed the trees and watched as they absorbed and aided in the relocation of the water, the ground floor almost walkable now.  Again he searched and searched through the tunneling lines for hours and yet no matter how hard he searched nothing of substance was ever found.  Returning to the surface he sought out the assistant.  “Where exactly was this photo taken?”  He’d ask.

“In the mines.”  Seeing that that was to vague of a response she added, “one of the night crew took it in tunnel C-4.”  He wasn’t sure, but maybe it was time to go and search at night when the water was prone to rise.  Deciding to save his energy, he sacked the rest of the day giving it up as a bad job.  Determined that tonight, rather than sleep, he would at least get some answers.  

Night didn’t come soon enough like so often happens when we are anticipating a task.  A few naps through the day, and journaling yet nothing happened.  Even without the reinforcement of trees the water did not rise while the sun was up.  Only lending credence that the source of the issue was at night.  Still, finally night fell and the chorus of frogs returned offering white noise to sleep too.  Even after the day of rest he felt it in his mind driving chik to sleep.  With a great degree of discipline however, he resisted and traveled down into the mine.  What he stumbled across was…..something.  All along the ground floor hundreds of small purple toads sang their toad song.  As they did water seemed to exude from the pores along their back with each note.  The trees he had placed earlier seemingly poisoned by this act.  As he walked between the roads however they made no act to initiate or move.  They simply where.  By watching the ground that had not yet been saturated enough to hide any tracks he found the entrance in which they had come from. As the best place to start, he’d make his way inside.  

More toads seemed to come from the tunnel even as he walked deeper and deeper.  He could feel the chakra saturating the air as he did so, recognizing it as space time inn nature.  He began to recognize the toads as summoning contracts and what’s more the familiarity of them was slowly sliding into place.  The reason the sound had sounded so very familiar.  These had all been his once, within the basement of that restaurant he had dreamed about.  He’d known the toads of discord had escaped the dimensions destruction and returned to their toad brethren.  Why they were here however he wasn’t sure.  The seemingly endless tunnel moved on and on, and on…..and on.  Thinking that spatial jutsu must be incorporated he pressed on.  He no longer had the abilities to control dimensions like he once had . He’d allowed that to be given up, not wanting to play at god in a false reality.  Finally an end in sight he came into a large opening.  The walls seemed far away, further than they should.  Jade seemed to jut out from all spaces, and in the center of the room, a large creature he recognized.  

The sleeping figure snored loud enough he wondered how he couldn’t have heard it.  It’s open mouth continued to spawn additional tiny toads that came out of its tongue.  It’s purplish skin resembled poisoned flesh, bulbous eyes were closed.  Sprouting from the middle of its head two large angler type appendages hung low.  On their ends each held a dangling woman laying limp and lifeless.  They weren’t real, they were just puppets the creature could use to lure in victims.  This toad he had summoned only a few times.  It was ill  tempered, hard to control; and had a tendency to try and eat him when he wasn’t looking.  There weren’t many true toads of discord.  The majority had been ones from the mountain that had been unfortunate enough to get sucked into Discord during its formation from sanctuary.  Beings that were summoned and ended up in the wrong place.  They had been corrupted and transformed by the chaotic energies, but they had not been born there.  He had only known of a half dozen that had been properly formed within discord during its time.  This being one of them; and the one that had likely swallowed the most of its energies.  

Still, it raised the question as to why he was here.  Knowing that now he figured the toads where more of a byproduct; a jutsu that the creature didn’t even know it was performing.  The creature clearly fast asleep didn’t even respond to his shouts.  Scratching his head he considered what to actually do with it.  Forming a few seals hed bite down hard on his thumb, a little blood spurting out before placing his hand on the ground.  Instantly black scrawls spread out in a small pattern before a puff of smoke and a small frog appeared.   “Whotcha want boss.”  The little purple creature would say.  Made comical by the scroll it carried that bore only one name, his own.  

“Ummm can you tell me what this guys doing here?”  He’d ask the scroll keeper.  He was one of the other half dozen or so true born discord toads.  

“Oye ole Ukam….ye well then other toads ain’t likin him much are they.”

“I don’t know that’s why I’m asking you.”

“Well they don’t.  So when he sleeps they reverse summon him to avoid the snorin don’t they.”

“Well that’s not nice”

“Didn’t say it was boss”

“Well he’s bothering these people too, can you send him back”

“Course boss.”

…………….”will you please send him back”

“O you want me to do it now, sure thing boss”

“Thank you”

With that both the small scroll toad and the large monstrous one would vanish.  As the big guy left the other little toads all popped away in a puff of smoke as well.  One by one they vanished and in their absence the water that they were summoning with their frog song went along with it.  Truly an anticlimactic end, to a job that should never have actually been.  Admiring the raw stone he gathered a couple large chunks and took it with him as he left.  Once he was a few steps outside the deep cave he used some seals to completely fill the space up with Mokuton. Creating a large wood human and dragon to encircle the area.  He hoped this would keep the space unoccupied or at least absorb up any of the residual spacial chakra.  He’d have to make time to talk to the toads now.  He didn’t particularly like them calling the big guy Ukam, which was their joke at him, but he didn’t think he should be hanging around here either.  It was a touch dangerous.

Heading off to bed, he’d wake up and convey that the issue was now solved, with three whole days to spare and if she would please negotiate a higher bonus for a job well done.  This got a snort and she refused to contact Hitoshi until it was proven the water had stopped and how he had done it.  As far as his methods went, he thought saying a great big toad appeared and from its mouth tiny toads popped out, sang songs and created water wouldn’t fly as an explanation.  Instead, he defaulted tk the original reason he had assumed it to be.  “Like I said, underground River.  I sealed it up and should hold.”  He’d say with a shrug annoying her further.  Regardless she did not contact her boss for two more days, wanting to be sure the water was gone and he was true to his word.  The first day nothing of note, the second workers returned and went back to mining in the quarry.  Still no water, while Maku simply hung out.  Knowing the job was well and truly done.  

Finally with one day to spare she contacted Hitoshi and let hik know do the success.  His delight was translated into a rather large sun of money as well as two massive polished pure jade chunks.  “Thank you so much.”  He’d say before blowing her a kiss.  Maybe that was more Maku than Taki, but he had just not been able to help himself, it was too amusing.  Watching her prepare to yell at him he vanished once again transmuting himself instantly back to the Akatsuki house.  There he was greeted with exactly what he suspected.  Not a single chore done.  Busying himself with accomplishing what Youka clearly was incapable of doing, he left the large pieces of jade on the table.  They made niece paper weights though he suspected their value to be worth much more than that.  Alas, he had no sue for them at the time, so paperweights was as good as it was going to get.  Though the proper part of the mission was complete, he still had a few more errands to run before it could be out to bed.  Chiefly to give Hook a cut of the money, and to make sure the big guy didn’t wind back up in anyplace he shouldn’t.

The former was the easiest.  Merely sending a small sampling of cash as a finders fee he knew the pirate want to be would be happy with that.  After all, who didn’t enjoy getting money that they didn’t ask for or really do anything to earn.  The later however was a tough more difficult.  Summoning the scroll toad he had it reverse summon him to Mt. Myoboku, where he spoke with several large and impressive toads about what had been happening.  After a large amount of discussion, argument; and the promise of favors it was agreed upon that they would not send him away anymore, but in addition to owning the mountain favors he would take time to summon the big guy himself just to give them a break from time to time.  Finding this agreeable, the mater was finally out to rest and so was his dealings with the whole situation.  Another mission successfully completed, another couple weeks of food on the table and money in the back, and another instance where Maku was just simply better than Youka the Kay about loaf.  How long was he going to milk coming back from the dead for.  

Over the course of the next few days he had begun feeling more pain in his eyes.  Something that hadn’t occurred since he had achieved the eternal mangekyo.  It wasn’t the same, it wasn’t the blindness that he had been warned about prior, but rather something more akin to growing pains as a child.  A muscle being used again, and becoming stronger with its hypertrophy.  He would simply ask Youka about it later, the man had went further down the path of unlocking dojutsu and bloodlines than Maku had ever cared to pay attention too. He’d attained his because of the need, because it was the only way to continue his steps towards his goals.  They weren’t points of pride but rather just tools in the arsenal.  If he could have done without them, he would have.  At least that’s what he told himself.  Now it was so much later, he had become so committed and leaned on them that it was unlikely to ever change.  Would he even if he could?  He wasn’t sure if the answer anymore.  Once a time he would have known, but now…..now time would just tell.

TWC - 10,005

Claims

Missions 
24k from beloved precense (first mission double ryo)
2 Jade doubled from one for the second mission 
15k from MN A bonus for 2 missions
80 ap

Training
+200 ap
+ 10,005 to activate rinnegan and decreasing wait time another month from October to September.  Prev training