An Inconvenient Trial [IO, Jun]

Mission Text:

Isaribi had known this day would come. Whether this was punishment for things that she had (or hadn't) done, or whether it was some kind of test that the shinobi wanted to put her through, she had already been anticipating these orders for a few days. However, in her current situation, there was no way to get out of it. That didn't mean she had to win the way they wanted her to win, though. While intentionally throwing was not an option, she could win this in a way that showed people that she was capable of working outside of her comfort zone.

Of course, a task like this came with rules. No killing. No pillaging. No usage of certain jutsu. She suspected they would pit her against an opponent who was willing and able to take advantage of these restrictions, so she had prepared and prepared again. With the tools at her disposal, she could carry out her strategy with a little less of the trepidation she had been afflicted with for years. As she walked toward the entrance to the arena within the Dragonpit, she began to tune her mindset, turning it away from the somber, contemplative thought that she was used to in her daily life, and more toward the aggressive, hyperfocused mentality that she clung to in combat.

Cranially, she had probably been brought here to prove a point of some kind, but she pushed those thoughts away, compartmentalizing them for later. She was here to win a fight, and win it soundly. It didn't matter who was watching, or how many people were in the audience. They could scrutinize and judge her as much as they wanted, but as long as she came out of this place the winner, who gave a shit? Deep down, there was the vague unease that always came with thinking like this, but that too she pushed away for the time being.

The arena that she entered was a simple one, a perfect square, fifty meters by fifty meters. The ground was light blue smooth paved stone all the way through, and the early morning fog hung heavily like a mist over the arena, reminding all that it was open to the sky without obscuring vision meaningfully. The sun hung just above the eastern horizon, signaling the morning of a cloudless but misty day. The edge of the arena was defined by the walls of this part of the Dragonpit, being the light blue standard, vertical rock affair made of the same material as the floor, stretching upwards for about ten meters, all around, up to where the spectator seats began. Isaribi couldn't imagine that anybody would be stupid enough to sit that close to the combatants. The morning air itself was laden with the scent of smoke, thick and strong from some sort of industrial or agricultural process nearby. Fitting, for a building located on the Hill of Burning Trees.

Isaribi entered the arena at its southern edge, 25 meters away from both the southwestern and southeastern corners. Since she was unsure where her opponent would end up, she kept her back to the wall behind her, limiting angle of ambush and ensuring that she had a good view of the entirety of the arena. Being used to a paramilitary schedule, Isaribi had gotten there first. She had to resist the urge to walk around and plant traps. This was supposed to be a fair spar, after all, though she had no doubt that her opponent would emerge at some inconvenient point and use some inconvenient jutsu. Well, that was just part of combat.

Isaribi was wearing her standard uniform and headband, with her flak jacket over her abdomen. She had debated suppressing her chakra on her way here, but had decided not to on a whim, allowing her power to flow freely. Her flute would be held firmly in her right hand, in something approximating a playing position, such that she could begin playing at a moment's notice. If her opponent had not yet appeared, she would check over her weapon pouch by her side and sealing bands on her wrists, ensuring that everything was in place.

If her opponent appeared, she would give the seal of confrontation, signifying that she was ready to begin. If the opponent violated decorum and made any actions that would cause Isaribi any measure of alarm, she would alter her actions accordingly.  

Stat Snapshot:

[WC 740
AP: 2000]

Never judge a book by its cover. As a symbol of peace, Akaboshi appeared to be tranquility himself, and while such a claim was true, it didn't mean the Red Raven would simply watch from the side after finding out one of their own had started walking down the wrong path. Using his influence as the Nova Commander, the crimson haired Uchiha found out how the meeting between Toran and Isaribi ended, two fellow clansmen who were going to discuss the Eternal stage of their renowned dojutsu. Keeping her past in mind, the Captain couldn't say he was surprised. And so he decided to lay a trap.

With the Dragonpit as a guise for the ambush, Akaboshi would use the mission to lure the former Jaws member and flush them out. The final key to his plan was to send for Toran, the young shinobi who ended up being treated poorly and almost used by Isaribi for her own gains and scheme to try and overthrow the current system within Hoshigakure. Once the boy arrived, the Nova Commander would quickly explain what was about to unfold. Assuming everything and everyone was in place, the Captain waited for his target to raise their left hand for the Confrontation seal while holding a flute in their right before activating his Sharingan.

Doing so, he would teleport close to Isarabi who was originally standing roughly fourteen meters from him, eventually reappearing four meters left to her position. "This is as far as you go" the Nova Commander threatened, reaching for his blade as he aimed and placed the tip of his sword on the woman's left shoulder, its edge almost touching her neck. "Your opponent will be me". One wrong move and both her head as well as the threat would be removed. Successfully apprehending the female shinobi was also the sign for Toran to join the rest of them at their position.

(WC: 320)

- 10 AP Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan
- 38 AP Kamui: Left Eye (Speed: 150)

The meeting between Akaboshi and Toran with the information that he was to be used as bait against Isaribi certainly was an interesting plan. He’d be used to draw her out into the open of the dragonpit, fake crowds mainly of Shinobi and Spec ops divisions would be set up to make the look all the more convincing. The final nail in the coffin would be himself, he was tasked as the bait, and in accordance to that assignment. He’d play his part until the very end. He knew of Isaribi, her talks and prattles about her own thoughts of the world, she was scorned by the world, molded into the person she was that had been stuck in prison for parts of her life. She was once a part of the Jaws of Grima. A group of bandits and brigands, seemingly tasked with making those who lived in Hoshi miserable. Yet she had made herself untrustworthy, played her hand too much and revealed her true intentions. Toran didn’t know if he dodged something when he decided to simply leave her there and walk off. Yet he remembered the sunken feeling deep in his chest. That his soul was beginning to bottom out of any thoughts or forms of pity. Was he becoming the model shinobi? The one who took orders without any questions, did any task that his Kage would give him? Just what was he inside of this small game of chess that Akaboshi decided to play? Laying a trap like this, Akaboshi wished for this to seemingly go smoothly.

The seal of confrontation was made with isaribi’s left hand, their flute held tightly in their right hand. Immediately, Toran would do the same to keep up the charade. Right hand rising upwards, left hand grasping at the black and gray handle of his blade. Both of their sharingan’s whirling to life, coating the once black eyes in a sea of red. Yet in that precise moment, the emergence of Akaboshi immediately let Toran know to move forwards with the plan. Dashing forwards at Incredible speed to keep Isaribi’s eyes on them. It allowed Akaboshi the perfect moment to place his blade right on her left collarbone and shoulder. With Toran following suit with placing his sword on her right collarbone and shoulder. He remained silent, his stance steady, no shred of doubt lined his features. His sword held tightly in his grasp, blade pressing delicately against her collarbone. One wrong step could mean the end of a fellow Uchiha. Toran’s eye’s showcasing his Mangekyo Sharingan. Staring directly at Isaribi with the intent of stopping their movements. He couldn’t believe that they had made themselves look so suspicious. There was a weird feeling in his stomach about this, yet he still couldn’t place his finger on why this made him feel so strange.

He’d have to swallow the feeling for now, as Akaboshi could continue with the procedure for arresting her.

WC:493

Akaboshi stood at the heart of the Dragonpit, Hoshigakure's renowned venue for traditional exams, ceremonies, and spirited sparring matches turned into ambushes. Suddenly, a thunderous thud echoed through the air as the body of Isaribi Uchiha, his own brethren, crashed to the ground before him. The earth beneath her fractured, and a cloud of dust rose, eagerly absorbing the spilled blood.

Surrounded by his comrades, Akaboshi observed the scene with a heavy heart. Isaribi's fate was sealed the moment he spotted that Flute in her pocket, a stark symbol of impending doom. As she struggled, her veins pulsed violently, a consequence of Natsuki's infused agent within her artifical limb. With a somber resolve, Akaboshi delivered a swift blow from his katana, bringing a merciful end to her suffering.

Gazing upon the bloodstained blade, Akaboshi couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for besmirching his pristine white cloak. Yet, amid the chaos, none of the Uchiha iron had splattered onto his face, a testament to his towering stature over Isaribi's fallen form.

He surveyed the lifeless form of his kinswoman without a flinch, knowing he had witnessed worse during the Hoshimura Rebellion. It wasn't on the battlefield, though; instead, it was in the aftermath, within the confines of the infirmary and hospital. During the battle, he had remained behind to protect the city, anticipating the potential loss to the rebels.

Recalling the tension at the Heraldry gate, Akaboshi's heart raced as dust appeared on the horizon. He braced himself, expecting Haegon's vanguard to descend upon the village. But as the approaching rider drew closer, it was revealed to be none other than old Kenta Oshirasama, mounted on his black stallion with its fierce red mane. Despite missing an arm and being bandaged, Kenta exuded jubilation, announcing the rebels' defeat.

"We have won, we have won. The rebels are crushed," Kenta proclaimed, his infectious joy washing over Akaboshi and soon over the village. It struck him as odd; Kenta had been a constant presence in his life, a loyal companion of his father's. Yet, today felt different.

"I am sorry, lad," Kenta offered, his words trailing off. Suppressing the urge to protest, Akaboshi grappled with conflicting emotions. Haegon, their former Headmaster of Astral point, among other may have been a traitor, but he couldn't deny the sacrifices made, including his father's heroic act to secure victory over the rebels. This daring act had paved the way for Ayato and a small group of allies from the south to flank the rebels, trapping them against Tojo Yomiyama's formidable defenses. With Shina and Akabayashi raining arrows upon the enemy, victory was secured.

Reflecting on his father's courage, Akaboshi couldn't help but acknowledge that without his selfless actions, they might never have arrived in time to save the village from certain destruction. He still held his katana in the fireplace, broken as it was, and looked at it with pride. But if someone were to ask him, he would have preferred to have a living father than a shattered blade.

So it was that it fell to his shoulders to rebuild their chapter of the Uchiha clan. Something shifted within him when the white cloak was placed upon him, on the day the last S-rank missing ninja besieged the city and failed. Akaboshi had knelt a boy, but now he stood a man of the Village Hidden in the Stars. He understood what it took to protect the village from enemies both inside and outside these walls.

When public security approached him with their plan to utilize a former Grimma member to lead them to the location of a legendary equipment, even if that criminal was a distant brethren of his, it all felt sketchy. The initial deal was to rearrest them once they led them to the location.

But then they spiraled out of control, pushing a coup agenda, recruiting thugs into their operation, and even aiding a few defectors. "Words are wind," the people from Public Security assured him, jingling coins, "and the cost of a couple of low-ranking incompetent fools is a small price to pay in the face of a legendary equipment, you should know that Captain, by that armor you wear." And so it was.

Akaboshi wiped the blood from his blade with a wet cloth and sheathed it. Retrieving a scroll from his pocket, he placed it next to the body, its kanji glowing as it absorbed the traitor and their equipment. Sometimes you need a hero, sometimes you need a professional. With the Vulture gone to the distant land of Kiri, someone had to take action.

Tojo Yomiyama had tried to convince him that now, with the Vulture and his talons gone, they had replaced the city's watchful guardians with trusted men of Public Security that Akaboshi could rely on. Instead, he felt they had merely swapped one schemer's unit for another's.

(Exit)

(TWC: 1135)
Claims, using 25% max stat discount:
- 1135 towards Summoning Art: Phantom Strider

OOC: I am claiming the legendary equipment as part of my village leadership role, considering it belonged to a banned character, effectively ending their storyline here. I am also claiming the A-rank Uchiha body and any other possessions mentioned on their character sheet. This will be their final topic and we had started before the activity check. I am not interested in anything else. I believe I have followed the rules meticulously. Thank you.

Akaboshi wrote:

(Exit)

(TWC: 1135)
Claims, using 25% max stat discount:
- 1135 towards Summoning Art: Phantom Strider

OOC: I am claiming the legendary equipment as part of my village leadership role, considering it belonged to a banned character, effectively ending their storyline here. I am also claiming the A-rank Uchiha body and any other possessions mentioned on their character sheet. This will be their final topic and we had started before the activity check. I am not interested in anything else. I believe I have followed the rules meticulously. Thank you.

Approved