Back to the Springs

While You Read:

Missions:

As Sakaiza and Momo returned to the Land of Hot Springs, their journey led them to the chaotic streets of Yugakure. The village, notorious for its lawlessness and the presence of missing ninja, was in a state of perpetual disorder and anarchy. But amidst the chaos, Sakaiza remained undeterred, his determination unwavering as he searched for the man known only as "the Cultist." It had been a moniker Sakaiza had assigned to the unique figure after their brief encounter and quick dispatch of an arsonist. The Cultist had spoken of righteous devotion to his God, his words veiled in cryptic messages and unwavering conviction. Intrigued by the man's fervor and seeking answers to the mysteries that had plagued his mind since his visit to the Shinkou temple, Sakaiza was determined to find him once more. His company seemed valuable, and worth seeking out perhaps for the long haul.

With Momo at his side, Sakaiza navigated the cobblestone streets of Yugakure, their senses sharp and attuned to the slightest hint of the Cultist's presence. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and desperation, the sounds of revelry and conflict echoing through the narrow alleyways. And worst of all, it was hot. But as they moved deeper into the heart of the village, Sakaiza's keen eyes caught glimpses of shadowy figures lurking in the darkness, their intentions veiled in secrecy. But he paid them little mind, his focus fixed solely on his quest to find the Cultist.

Hours passed, the sun sinking below the horizon as day turned to night. Yet still, Sakaiza pressed on. He had no intention of being in the place for long, but was determined to find the man he sought. And then, a whisper of movement caught his attention—a fleeting glimpse of a familiar figure slipping into the shadows of an alleyway. With a silent nod to Momo, Sakaiza followed, his footsteps echoed as he moved through the darkness. The alleyway was narrow and winding, its walls lined with crumbling buildings and forgotten remnants of Yugakure's turbulent past.

Once Sakaiza had caught up and was within five meters of the man, he'd call out to him. "Yo...I don't think I caught your name last time."

His voice slightly muffled, but still heavy and clear through the bounds of his mask. He bore his Hyoga shell, and relevant weapons and equipment. Beneath his mask, his enlightened Meigan scanned the man's frame, paying specific attention to his chakra signature. Upon seeing it, he was at a loss. This man's signature didn't seem to be familiar at all. Still though, he made an attempt. "I've learned a lot about myself since meeting you, but for some reason I feel you may be able to help me think some things through..."


WC = 463
+1 Yuumei Stack

"He maketh me lay down in pastures of green, leadeth me beside quiet waters..." The Cultist cleared his throat. His dark blue eyes remained keenly fixed on the cracks on the exposed brick wall in front of him. He had heard the footsteps of the familiar figure who had approached him, and noticed him only from the corner of his eye. His semblance was unmistakeable. A steady trickle vandalized the old wall, its continuous flow serving to fill in for a brief and awkward silence of words. As the tall, bronze-skinned man continued, his face remained solemn and earnest, "He refresheth my chakra, and guideth me along the right timelines. Even as I stand now in the darkest alley, I fear no evil, for He is with me, my rod and my staff. He comforts me. Sakaiza... Do you hear it? The sound of Nature calling?"

When the steady stream finally ceased, the cloaked, shadowy figure made sure he was proper before turning towards his old ally. The swordsman's unique horned white mask and attire, along with his stature and accent made his identity clear to him. His eyes lit up as he recalled their last encounter. The man from the north had told The Cultist a great deal about himself before he had the chance to reciprocate. The older of the two, it would be revealed, had a great number of reasons as to why he was unable to return the samurai's gestures in kind. As he spoke again, his monotonous voice was deep and coarse. "Valiant Samurai from the frozen lands, we meet again. Forgive my manners. I did not mean to ignore you before you flew off with your Winter Bat at the end of our last encounter. My name is Jupiter, and I have learned a lot about myself since our last encounter as well. Allow me to begin by answering your questions from our last meeting. Afterwards, I will help you think things through to the best of my ability."

"Indeed, my home was Sunagakure. It was serene." Jupiter began, "I swore my allegiance to the Fourth Kazekage, Musu Uzumaki. Then.. One day I had an ominous feeling, that something evil would descend upon the Hidden Sand. It was a feeling that I could not shake off. It rocked me to my core." He paused, looking off into the distance before meeting eyes with Sakaiza once again, "I knew that I had to become stronger, much stronger, and fast. And for that purpose, I sought to make a pilgrimage here, to visit the Temple of Jashin, in order to seek his Blessing. I wished to open the Gate of Death, but I was not prepared to embrace it!" He punched the brick wall next to him, indenting a crater into the worn-down cement - an outburst of emotion that he was not used to expressing. He looked up at the star-ridden night sky. It was a clear night, but his cheeks were wet, as though kissed by rain.

"I have failed as a shinobi. As a result of my cowardice.... My home is no more."

---

WC: 519

Sakaiza listened intently as Jupiter spoke, his heart heavy with empathy for the man's pain and regret. The words of the Cultist echoed through the dark alley, each syllable weighted with the burden of loss and sorrow. As Jupiter revealed the depths of his past and the haunting memories that haunted him still, Sakaiza felt a kinship with the man before him—a shared understanding of the trials and tribulations that came with the life of a shinobi. When Jupiter punched the brick wall in frustration, leaving a visible indentation in its surface, Sakaiza's gaze softened with compassion. He understood all too well the toll that failure could take on a person, the weight of guilt and remorse that threatened to consume them from within. It was, after all, the same fate that his own version of Sunagakure faced. And it was the same burden that he carried to this day. But even in the midst of despair, there was a glimmer of hope—a chance for redemption, for healing, for a new beginning.

"You have not failed, Jupiter," Sakaiza said softly, his voice carrying a note of reassurance through the confines of his horned mask. "The path of a shinobi is fraught with challenges and sacrifices, but it is also one of resilience and perseverance. Your courage in facing your past, in seeking to understand and overcome your fears, is a testament to your strength of spirit...I too had to face this reality, and only days ago when awakening a new potential within myself. And I sense that you have potential within yourself to awaken as well."

He stepped closer to Jupiter, placing his gloved hand onto the man's shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. "We may have lost our homes, but we have not lost ourselves. There is still hope, still a chance to forge a new path forward. Together, we can confront the darkness that threatens to consume us, and emerge stronger for it." As the night sky twinkled with a myriad of stars overhead, Sakaiza felt a sense of determination stirring within him—a resolve to stand by Jupiter's side, to offer him support and guidance on his journey of redemption.

Stepping back in place some distance from Jupiter, he turned his back and firmly folded his hands across his torso while starring into the sky. "I sought redemption and salvation in getting stronger. Not just for myself, but to protect those that I care about. Now, that is a place called Hyogagakure. And to do that, I traveled to the Land of Shadows and underwent a ritual of sorts hosted by my clan's ancestry. There I faced a battle with the darkness inside of me, and have come to terms with it. But it has left me with questions, specifically one I hoped you to answer...How would you prevent another village's destruction? And also, would you ever oversee the destruction of a village?"

Before he gave Jupiter enough time to speak, he'd offer another partnership between the pair. "If you'd like, we can discuss the matter over a mission I have undertaken here within this...place," he proposed, refraining from calling Yugakure a village. "It involves crafting some equipment for a handful of veterans, whom I presume suffered similar fates to our own."

WC = 547. TWC = 1010
+1 Yuumei Stack; 2 Total

Jupiter listened keenly to his new friend, paying close attention to every word. His eyes widened subtly when the samurai made mention of his awakening, a peculiar word that piqued his curiosity. He wondered what kind of awakening the man could be referring to, and how he could open his own eyes to a similar power. He wondered if he himself was still dreaming.

When Sakaiza planted his gloved hand on him, Jupiter felt as though his determined tone and natural cadence had lifted a dark veil that had previously curtained his reality. His eyes glistened with hope. His expression was no longer sullen. The bland poker face that young Jupiter was known for had revealed itself again in the adult form. As Sakaiza told him about his ritual in the Land of Shadows, Jupiter followed every word keenly. As a man of spirits, both of mind and drank, he was interested in all sorts of rituals. He believed that a common ground existed, between all of the world's religions and rituals, even if the commonality only existed as an idea, and even if some Gods to him were more false than others.

"A question for me, after a journey like that? I am flattered - And not an easy one to answer.." Jupiter nodded as he looked into the horizon, in deep contemplation of the question he had just been asked. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a relevant verse was surely brewing.

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." Jupiter took his gaze from the horizon back to Sakaiza. "After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree—all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away. And He Said, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oiltree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine and the box tree together. But first...."

Jupiter turned his back on Sakaiza, walking two steps towards the dead end at the end of the alley way before clenching his fist and holding it in front of his chest. He spoke then with eloquence, "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.. We must sever the weeds at the root, or else, like the nine headed snake they spawn from new stems. For behold, the Lord will come in fire, And His chariots like the whirlwind to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For the Lord will execute judgment by fire. And by His sword on all flesh, and those slain by the Lord will be many."

After a deep exhalation he turned back and smiled at Sakaiza, giving him a thumbs up,

"And then Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. Have I answered your question?"

Jupiter would listen for a response, and then reply to the samura's offer about the local job. "Crafting? It's not my area of expertise. How about I just tag along and you tell me about your ritual while we walk?"

---

WC: 670

After placing his hand upon the shoulder of Jupiter for reassurance, Sakaiza retracted his arm back to his side. Momentarily he shifted his weight to his back foot, awaiting the response from the cultist. The Shinkou would raise both arms to chest height before folding them, then firmly placing a balled fist upon his chin so that the knuckles of his right hand were pressed against the  grin of his mask. For an instant, his head would turn and eyes would shift from Jupiter towards the end of the alleyway. From it he could see the entrance to the perpendicular street, which was scarce of any sources of life. At this time of night it was dangerous to be outside, especially in a city riddled with anarchy such as Yugakure. With a blink his eyes would return to Jupiter, who at this time concluded his brief period of reflection and began his response to Sakaiza's inquiry. In somewhat expected fashion, Jupiter spoke with an ominous tone and a cryptic message. After listening further, the masked man understood that the metaphor being painted was biblical, which fit the theme of the conversation regarding ritual. Although the Wretched hadn't traditionally been a man of piety, he was well versed in some scriptures due to his fondness of literature. As Jupiter continued, Sakaiza would refrain from trying to process the information as he received it but instead waited for the final, which came with Jupiter asking if his answer was satisfactory.

The Shinkou would maintain his pose, taking a deep breath and focusing his eyes on his friend whilst collecting his thoughts. The message which stuck with Sakaiza began with the importance of a righteous life, and how it paired with wisdom. With a complementary balance of both, there would be positive outcomes from all who bear witness to it. This concept was related to the man who sacrificed his own wellbeing for the goodness of his believers; a direct example of the virtues Jupiter was describing. These virtues were theorized to be instilled in people by nature, and those without it wouldn't necessarily maintain them. However the next metaphor regarding olive trees suggested that regardless of one's innate nature, they could with various levels of effort be included in a place of righteousness and wisdom. Though it seemed as if the continuation of the tree analogy suggested that salvation also came hand in hand with turmoil. But nevertheless, the end result would ultimately lead to restoration and renewal. The final passages which Jupiter referenced somewhat puzzled Sakaiza more. There seemed to be the idea of the ultimate promise of everlasting salvation, but it could only be obtained by removing all sources of evil even if it came through the means of devastating purification. Almost as if Jupiter was saying that the means justify the end.

Before responding, Sakaiza took another moment to reflect on how the quotes and metaphors pertained to Sakaiza's opening line of thought and question. Of course the meaning would vary from who interpreted it, but to the Wretched, it seemed as if his own personal journey of redemption, salvation, and power aligned with biblical themes. However the power the Shinkou sought wasn't something that would be granted solely by physical or chakra based strengths but also through living a righteous and wise life; which would not only help Sakaiza, but those around him as well. Interestingly enough the battle against himself which he faced was conceptually similar to the struggle Jupiter described between good and sin. And ultimately this battle was a step to Sakaiza's own path of self righteousness and healing, severing himself from his former sins to prevent further inner turmoil associated with them. Those themes related to the Wretched questions on a village's well being in that Jupiter seemed to suggest if they are upheld then righteousness, renewal, and restoration would only yield life giving outcomes. And on the contrary those same principles must be utilized when judging if a place would meet its destruction and for what purpose, though would inevitably result in eventual restoration when the righteousness is returned.

With this understanding in mind, Sakaiza would tilt his head slightly to the side and underneath the concealment of his mask bear an expression of curiosity. "You speak as wisely as the meanings you convey..." he'd say while smiling softly at the sight of Jupiter's positive body language. "I appreciate your response. It was open ended, yet resonated with me nonetheless. I believe my own journey of salvation is not so different from that which a village must have. And through...fate I suppose, the level of salvation or righteousness that a village exhibits or lacks, will be responsible for its longevity...Seems rather predetermined in a way."

He'd pause to allow for Jupiter to respond before the subject changed to the mission, and the cultist's willingness to participate but not lead it. This was fine with the Wretched, as he was a natural disciple of weaponry and learned some during his time spent with Hyogakure's blacksmith. When the time came though, Sakaiza would agree with Jupiter's proposaling responding aloud with a, "Very well".

The Shinkou would take the lead, walking the pair out from the depths of the alleyway and onto the barren street. Momo would take flight from his shoulder, scouting the area ahead and flying in direction of where the mission needed to begin: Yugakure's Forge. It was some distance away from the alley, at least a 15 minute walk, which Sakaiza would pursue by following the winged lemur's flight pattern. During the walk though, he'd begin describing his trials to his friend.

"The ritual was...ominous. It took me to a place that barely withstood the test of time. But within that land was a temple. One that emanated a chakra that felt distant yet simultaneously like home. It was sinister, yet auspicious. And inside of it laid relics of the past, preserved and formerly worshipped by my people. To the regular eye, I suppose the chakra's influence of these relics would go unnoticed. But to my own, everything seemed intertwined. Almost as if it was divine intervention, creating a pathway to the various trials of the temple. The divine intervention was what we know as, Yuumei. Evidently it presents itself differently to everyone, but to me it was a reflection of my lowest points in my life, which was predominantly how idle I was during the fall of my former home. I had to come to terms with it, fight it, and embrace it before it would embrace me. But when it did, it felt as if I evolved entirely."

WC = 1108; TWC = 2118
+1 Yuumei Stack; 3 Total

Jupiter's worn wooden sandals loudly clattered against the rough concrete road as he carefully walked alongside his masked compatriot. As they leisurely walked, Jupiter thought that their thought-provoking conversation wove through a complex labyrinth of deep introspection and philosophical muse. Now outside of the shady alleyway of the ominous village, they steadily walked on a rocky gravel path towards the ancient forge. Jupiter attentively listened as Sakaiza eloquently spoke. The skilled Shinkou's words painted a lucid and vivid picture of his spiritual pilgrimage to the mysterious Land of Shadows, a realm that felt almost familiar to the spiritually inclined Jupiter. Jupiter absorbed every minute detail, listening as though it was the most interesting thing he had ever been told.

Jupiter paused for a moment to adjust his worn cloak. He rubbed his tired eyes and yawned softly. His compatriot turned to him, raising an inquiring eyebrow. Jupiter shook his head and continued walking, murmuring something about lack of sleep. As their intellectually stimulating conversation shifted towards the practical aspects of their important mission, Jupiter's focus drifted accordingly towards the job. After all, even dedicated priests had to earn a living. "All hard work brings in more ryo, but mere talk leads only to poverty..." He muttered, "Those who cultivate their village will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense."


Although he had openly admitted that crafting was not his natural forte, he had unwavering faith that he would as always find a creative way. "For I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength and damage reduction." He expressed his willingness to collaborate with Sakaiza, the only other Sunagakuren shinobi he had encountered ever since he left home. Although during his time in Sunagakure, he had not fully realized his sense of patriotism perhaps taking it for granted, the opportunity to herald the Hidden Sand's proud legacy along with his compatriot now strongly called to him. Walking towards Yugakure’s imposing cavern forge, Jupiter felt a renewed sense of purpose and curiosity. As the intrepid duo approached the dark cavern, he could hear loud deep grunts and the sound of banging hammers and scorching flames from far away.

Sensing heretics, Jupiter hesitated for a moment, adjusting his cloak and grasping his kunai more tightly. He exhaled deeply and stepped forward, following his compatriot into the unknown. Upon reaching the forge, the deafening clamor of metalwork and the glaring glow of the flames welcomed them. Old men with grey hair and developed musculature hammered away at different metal rods. Full-bodied maidens in dark full body robes chanted incantations as they melded blood and strange exotic materials into half finished prototypes in the dim light of the cavern forge, surrounded by tools and artifacts of their craft.

Jupiter narrowed his eyes and scanned the crowded room. He spotted a fair face and nodded in greeting, then averted his gaze from her brown eyes as soon as he sensed a smile crack on the woman's face. He raised his arms and started yelling at the heretics in the cavern, preaching as he walked around in circles.

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the mortal flesh.”


“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord our God out of a pure heart.”

“For everything in the world—the lust of the mortal flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Lord but from the world.”

"Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Your false Lord is wack!”

"Ahem." Jupiter snapped out of it as he looked over at Sakaiza from across the cavern. "So, what's the job?"

---

WC: 632

As their conversation and the day equally waged on it became increasingly apparent that Jupiter had been growing tired.  And this was fair. He himself was unsure about what activities that the pious man had been participating in, but he knew that his own last few weeks were anything but relaxing. To cap it all off, Yugakure was not exactly the most cozy and quaint village in the world. The nightlife was busy and bustling, not just with late night functions and merriment, but also with crimes and disorder running amuck. Therefore he could understand if the combination of hard work and lack of sleep were driving Jupiter to fatigue, and sleepless nights. However conversations like the ones the pair were having invigorated the Wretched man. It was nice to get the perspective of someone he admired,. Without realizing it, Jupiter had become his friend and someone he could debate ideals with. Perhaps it was due to the bond they shared by being in battle with another. Yes, he thought to himself. Almost as if they were brothers in arms.

As the conversation refocused onto the mission at hand, Jupiter would make a comment about the value of hard work, importance of ryo, and the value of investing in one’s endeavors. In the case of Sakaiza, his endeavor was Hyogagakure. And he was a firm believer in figuratively “filling Hyoga’s cup”. This mission was just another means to justify the end, and it seemed like Jupiter was on the same page. But what was curious was that Jupiter’s words seemed tailored to Sakaiza’s situation. For a pious man, the pursuit of ryo was rather a conflicting subject, seeing as Sakaiza was aware of the saying that ryo was the root of all evil. Though his subsequent comment seemingly justified his actions to not only work with Sakaiza on earning ryo, but perhaps something deeper. Puzzled, he’d question Jupiter. “So what is your…’village’…so to speak?” He’d pause for a moment, but before Jupiter could respond he’d continue. “And if you don’t have one, perhaps you can come to mine, as my brother in arms.”

Though the two had been from different times of Sunagakure’s reign, they shared the strifes of the Sand. Both have survived the destruction of their home, but carried with them the Will of the Wind. Perhaps they were cut from the same cloth. But as Sakaiza reflected on this thought and the topic at hand, they’d eventually reach Yugakure’s Forge. At face value it didn’t seem much more than a place of fabrication and labor. The sound of metal clanging and the smell of fire crackling was comforting. But when he’d glance over at his friend, he could see that something was on his mind. He didn’t really get an opportunity to inquire, but  instead Jupiter made his concerns known aloud…and for all to hear. And as he spoke it became abundantly clear that this place was a bit more than a forge. His words implied that these people were sinners, evil, and likely heretics. Truthfully, a theme that was characteristic of everything Yugakure, but nonetheless something Jupiter would not remain silent on. The situation was slightly humorous to Kai. Beneath the confines of his mask he’d smile softly, and Momo who was still perched upon his shoulder would even let off a small telepathic chuckle to his owner.

And after his sermon was over, Jupiter would turn to Sakaiza as if nothing had happened. With a degree of bewilderment in his tone, Sakaiza would respond in turn. “Well if we’re still permitted to work here, we are to assist the forge master in fabricating some armor and weapons for a few veterans. Then we need to deliver them to them, and potentially teach them how to use them. Relatively basic, and I imagine it will be predominantly explaining whatever unique traits this…evil Forge bestows upon the items. If you prefer, I can bear the equipment once it’s forged. That way you don’t need to taint yourself.”

Sakaiza was attempting to be respectful of Jupiter’s sacred nature. But the difficulty would be that both men were expected to work the forge.

Shortly after this conversation the forge master would come over, bearing some gear. Two sets of aprons, masks, and gloves. Though he also held a shovel in one hand and a hammer in the other. Clearly he was suggesting that one man would be tasked with working the fire, while the other was expected to shape the equipment. Sakaiza, having worked a forge before, opted to take the hammer as metal work required a bit more experience and craftsmanship than working the flame. He’d equip the apron and gloves, but defer on the mask as his own would suffice and was taboo for him to remove while on duty. He’d then proceed over to the station equipped with two anvils, tongs, molds, and molten slag of a unique and sinister ore. With his gloves on he would grab two blade molds setting them adjacent to each other on their own anvils. He positioned them straight on, and once they were staged he would grab ahold of a heat resistant cup by its long armed sample handle. With this in hand, the Wretched would dip the cup into the molten slag, then pour its contents into each mold. As the slag took shape and began to harden, Sakaiza would grab his hammer and beat upon both forming blades in the process. To form them it would take at least half an hour each, where each minute felt like an hour of laborious work. When this was concluded and the swords were cooled, he’d grab ahold of the tainted blades and walked over to the subsequent station where the blades would then have their hilts woven and decorated and their pommels equipped by the robed women that Jupiter referred to as heretics. They performed s chat of sort, as an aura of chakra overtook the blades. By this point Jupiter was reproaching Sakaiza, presumably having finished his own set of tasks.

Kai would whisper to Jupiter so that no one else heard. “Do you know anything about this…ritual?”


WC = 1029. TWC = 3147
+1 Yuumei Stacks; 4 total

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. But seek the welfare of the village where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jupiter's reply to Sakaiza's invitation to join his village as his brother in arms was as cryptic as any other response he ever gave. As to what village he was from, Jupiter thought, would be obvious to Kai - having been cut from the same cloth so to speak - in whom he had already confided his regrets and feeling of powerlessness when calamity befell Sunagakure in his absence. The two walked on towards the forge, and Jupiter contemplated on the offer made to him by the samurai, his bronze face curtained behind a stone veil of optimistic indifference.

When Jupiter was done with his sermon, he looked around the dead silent room, staring back at the heretics who had not seen a man so pious, or rather depraved, with their own eyes in the small and ominous town. Many were speechless, then some giggled. It was evident in the vibes that the heretics believed that their dark Lord was far grander than any pious rebel's words, and his sermon held no meaning to them. Before he knew it, Jupiter was equipped with an apron, a mask and a pair of gloves and a shovel all given to him by the forge master. He attempted to protest, but he was led by two dark maidens in dark robes towards a cavern within the cavern, and as they approached the cavity on the stone wall ahead he could feel the heat from the flames ahead against his cool tanned skin.

When his hand brushed against the intricate carvings on the stone pillars that harboured the inner cavern, the long columns rang with a deep, rhythmic resonance. As Jupiter, guided by the two heretics, neared the spot where the singing pillars grew thinner, their dark and distant song blossomed into a scene of joyful lamentation around a fiery pit of crimson red. From behind his solemn veil, he watched the monks in their dark, flowing robes as they weaved through the pillars, chanting their incantations under silver rays of reflected moonlight. His attention was drawn to the man who stood closest to the pit, the tallest of the shadowy forms. On his face was a hideous scar across his left eye, which appeared to be permanently shut. In his bony right hand he clutched a wooden basket woven from the same tree that grows Garland Flame. He observed as each chanting cultist circled around the pillars in many labyrinthine patterns before approaching the figure by the pit to drop a wad of ryo into his basket. The dark scene in front of him made his blood boil, it appeared unholy. When the last one had made his donation, Jupiter moved towards the monk, stretching his arms wide to preach to him.

"Halt! Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord."

In vain.

Just as he planted his first foot forward, the sound of his wooden sandal scraping the rock floor was drowned out by a haunting, deafening wail.

The sound was the sound of many flowing rivers as they crashed against each other and banged into the rocks in between. A tense Jupiter clenched his fist, feeling as though he was sensing an invisible and paralyzing presence. He watched as their scarlet painted bodies rolled into the scorching pit of fire one by one, until finally the screeches seized - the rivers halted - and Jupiter could move once again. He approached the scarlet pit and looked over the edge, staring at his own reflection as it danced in the rippling blood. Across from him, with a wicked smile on his face, the one eyed monk patiently collected the beheaded skulls and severed limbs of the donors into his garland basket, picking them up from the temple floor to toss their bones into the bath of fire.

"Greetings, visitor. You're late. Get to shovelling, you must the work the fire. "

"I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells!" Jupiter cursed angrily in defiance,  but the monk along with the two maidens who had escorted him into the inner cavern had already disappeared formlessly into the moonlight.

He clutched his shovel, gritting his teeth with disdain as he saw the severed pieces of flesh all over the cavern's floor. With a sharp inhalation, the man from old Sunagakure had another revelation.

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

He grimaced as he got to shovelling, cursing under his breath as he fed the severed heads and limbs of the heretics to the flames. The scene was grotesque, and his heart pounded in his chest, but he carried out his duty imagining himself as a beacon of light in a dark Lord's embrace. He imagined that if God existed, he would be found at the place furthest from the heat of the flames. After feeding the last head to the flames, he tossed the shovel in and crouched to dip his hand in the lake of fire, burning his skin to cleanse himself. As he then watched his reflection in the bright shimmering flames, he briefly wondered what ever happened to his estranged brother.  Would he ever give in to such dark temptations? He couldn't bare the thought of it. He vowed to find God and guide the masses to the light.

Upon coming out of the cavern, Jupiter kept his head down as he walked up to Kai and stood next to him. Making no effort to be quiet, Jupiter pounded his chest as he yelled out loud. "Everything about them is wack! The chanting, wack! The creepy fire pit, wack! The way that they chop each other's heads and limbs off to use their bones to keep the fire going? Wack! Me, I'm pious as fuck!"

---

WC: 1081

What a terrible friend he had been. 

Whether it was ignorance or the goal of making ryo that clouded his mind, Sakaiza had been ignorant to just how vile this place was. The stress and labor of forming the blades and subsequently an armor set had dulled his senses, and deafened the lamentation from his comrade. The Wretched did not hear Jupiter's testament to the evils of this place as anything more than a humorous situation initially, but as he bore witness to the ritual taking place he could immediately rely on his better judgement. Prior to Jupiter returning to his side, Sakaiza watched the early stages of the ritual by his lonesome.

It began with discernible speech.

"Oh sacred one, bless this equipment with your favor. For we embed the blades and armor with Garland Flame, and the bodies of those we've sacrificed."

What followed was a series of dialect that Sakaiza had never heard before, but could best describe it as gibberish with a heavy usage of the tongue. It was unlike anything he ever witnessed, as this dark and decreipt place seemingly came more alive as the dialect grew louder. Eventually it progressed into a chant, organized by a circle of womanly patrons that started to emit an essence of sinister chakra. They surrounded three woman, all of which worked strenuously to put the final touches onto the equipment. 

It was at this time that Jupiter arrived. When Kai posed the question to Jupiter about the ritual, clearly his friend had been fed up. There was no telling what he witnessed while working the fire, but his outrage made Sakaiza second guess what exactly the molten slag was that he had pounded into equipment. It was an affirmation that this place truly was disturbing, as Jupiter's typical cryptic and noble speed was reduced to nothing but anguish and disgust. The Wretched understood though, and all he could let out was  "Word...".

The woman cared nothing for the men's exchanged dialogue, and when they concluded their chanting a resounding flash of chakra filled the forge with a near blinding display. Sakaiza would squint his eyes, raising his forearm over top of the forehead of his mask in an attempt to shield himself from the illumination. But just as quick as it came, it departed. And what remained was only the two swords and a cuirass of armor lying on the table before the duo. The silence that ensued within the forge was eerie, but what had been more disturbing was that all evidence of any other form of life in this place aside from Sakaiza, Momo, and Jupiter had completely vanished. 

His footsteps broke the silence, as the approached the working platform which the armor and blades had been set upon. As he neared them, he'd activate his Meigan briefly enough to study the aura of the equipment. His chakra vision showed him a deathly essense imbued within the equipment. But what was particularly notable was that the chakra seemed to be symbiotic. It was oddly reminiscent of that of Yuumei, when Sakaiza had treversed the temple in the abyss. But this seemed to host more of an evil spirit, rather than a benevolent one. Where Sakaiza's Yuumei looked to work with him and have a mutual agreement to empower each other, this chakra source seemed to want to overtake its host. Simple intuition led Kai to believe that this was in exchange for significant power, which would explain the cryptic wording of the message he received when enrolling in this set of tasks. The chakra from the equipment seemed to be condensed around the handles of the blades, and the underlay of the cuirass. Therefore Sakaiza took extreme caution in handling it, making sure that he did not come into contact with those locations. He'd toss them in a weaved tote which lied nearby, and sling the tote over his shoulder. Their weight was prominent, but not enough to slow the man down.

Then he would rise, turning to Jupiter to shake his head and sigh. "I am sorry I brought you here. I really though this was going to be relatively simple and straightforward. Never would I have guessed that we'd be responsible for crafting and delivering weapons made in the belly of the beast."

Clearly, Sakaiza had an understanding of what that place truly was, and also exhibited remorse for Jupiter's involvement. "When I undertook this mission, the details suggested that the equipment was to be crafted powerfully enough to "provide a gateway to Hell for those that dared to oppose it'...I guess I interpreted that as just meaning as strong as possible. Never did I think someone would truly want to sell their soul to the Unholy one in exchange for power of this magnitude."

Now it had all been coming together. People truly craved power by any means necessary. Even if it meant losing themselves. And perhaps that was the underlying explanation for Sunagakure's fall during Sakaiza's time, and during Jupiter's time. 

"I understand if you'd rather separate yourself from this mission...But I will begrudgingly transport it to the client then wipe my hands of it. Either way, let's leave this place."

Unless Jupiter protested, which was unlikely, Sakaiza would start the men's exit from the Forge. As the reached the light of day it was refreshing, and almost as if the radiant rays of God's sun burned away the residual evil which attempted to cling to Sakaiza and Jupiter. As the men walked, the equipment would clang against each other, emitted a low tone that admittedly made Sakaiza's neck hairs erect. To drown out the sound of the equipment, he'd follow up with Jupiter.

"How are you feeling? And have you thought any more on my question?" Clearly referring to his offer to join Hyogagakure. 

The conversation would develop however Jupiter allowed for it to, and when it came to Sakaiza's turn to respond he would start to respond but would be cut off by a boisterous voice at stood at the door of the homestead the pair arrived at. "You got my shit?"

The voice was rugged, almost as much as the landscape of the outskirt of the village which it stood upon. The frame matched it as well, being chiseled yet clearly wounded from years of experience. The man was rough around the edges for sure, which was unsurprising given how direct he was. 

Sakaiza would sling the tote from his shoulder, bearing both straps of it, one in each hand. As he walked towards the man, the briliant sun was beginning its set upon the horizon. The air was crisp, and the wind was still. The homestead seemed peaceful, a large difference than anything this man likely faced on his typical day.

"Your shit is in this bag. I'm sure you know more about it than we do, but my understanding is that its made of Garland Flame and...human remains. From what I can tell it's got a symbiotic chakra embedded in it, so just prepared that once you wield it, you will become a host of something much more than what you may know..."

The information may have come to a surprise to Jupiter, but not to this man. "Good," he'd respond stoically. "Now leave." 

Choosing not to waste any more time in areas he did not agree with, Sakaiza would simply nod. He'd lightly toss the bag of equipment on the ground in front of the man, then turn his back and prepare his departure from the homestead. Of course he would wait to see if Jupiter had any words for the man before departing, perhaps a sermon on the evils of the equipment. And if so, then Kai would listen attentively. If not, then the trio would simply start their way back to town.

For his parting words to Jupiter as they reached the Inn Kai stayed at, Sakaiza would simply state to him. "Listen, I will not be in Yugakure much longer. If you plan on leaving with me, I am heading out with another by the name of Travin in a few days. Meet me here should you choose to join. And again, I apologize for how..." he paused as he couldn't find the words to describe the events of today. "...this mission went. Forgive me brother." He'd part ways from Jupiter, and return to his room in the Inn.

WC = 1406. TWC = 4553

- Exit -

WC Claims:
2000 WC to memorize Jupiter's chakra signature
750 WC to learn All Father's Voice
1500 WC to learn Infinity Release [Hyoga Exclusive]
750 WC to learn Acrobatic Recovery
750 WC to learn Yuumei Infusion
803 WC to learn Manipulating Attack Blades (803/937.5)

Mission Claims:

23000 Ryo
80 AP x 50 to convert it to 4000 Ryo
Kage Pay x2 = 30000 Ryo
57000 total Ryo