Budding Dissatisfaction! A True Demons Rite!

It has been some time since the Culling Games. It is a contest that drags individual shinobi and kunoichi together to display their skill, levelheadedness, and, most importantly, their inhumanity. Or so that was the intended goal. But Aokidanza found himself spiritless while clandestinely attending. Deracination was the feeling the demon had experienced. Akin to titillation at the back of his heart. This feeling presented itself erstwhile, leading to his domination of Konoha, Sunagakure, Tanbo, and many others. He longed for stimulation, a commodity he presumed to get while within the gates of this fortress known as Konohagakure. Oh, how woefully he was mistaken.

As he postured in the vexation of his inactivity, two were summoned by way of the sensory corp. He meets with two of his trusted, Goto and Nurai, brothers by mixed blood and bloodshed, ideal surrogates. Without question, no one will dare utter contumacy during their mortal reign.

The Senju stood from his throne, making his way to the fenestella. Diabolical eyes scan the village front with disdain. The very air that filled his lungs tasted of nausea—a crippling knot in his very stomach. His blood seeped animosity into his immediate environment, his chambers, making it a somewhat tangible density of pure hate.

He would tell himself that his limits were about their frame. The restless bellow within him is growing more powerful—a first for him. One he wrestles with admitting. What was he to do? His chakra forbids him from leading a natural life, not with the trail he left in his wake. A decision is almost destined for him; all he knew was disdain and dread. No peace will ever be stationed in his world. He will never know of its gentle embrace.

For days none had seen the visage of the red demon, child of the past Hokage Ishimaru and current bloodbound of Aokidanza. After the events of the Culling Games and his...disappointment in his own fight, Nura had spent many days in his own dwelling inside of the basement breaking down his fundamentals and rebuilding himself. He trusted too much into his own body and in some cases that was his downfall. He was too prideful in his own gifts, those that made him look down upon his enemies but now he stood at a new pinnacle. In front of him sat a sword, broken but welling with power. He had found it among his fathers effects before he had been buried and kept it with him because he thought to himself at some point he would take up arms. The darkness of the room swelled with the malevolent energies of Meiton giving it a dark, eerie shade of blue but as a knock came to his door he would open his eyes to finally reveal the crimson hues upon the world and sigh heavily. As he stood the sword would be tied to his waist as he stomped up the stairs and upon opening the door he would see who it was beckoning him. His eyes would meet with the messenger as he smirked and nodded not needing any other indication of where he was about to head- to the demon in charge.

The door would close behind him as he took off into the village, tying his hair up into a messy warrior's bun. He had been wearing a torn, but nice looking shirt underneath his jacket, black pants and his shinobi tabi. His Konoha headband had been tied to his waist and as he moved he made no notions to speak to anyone. If his foster father had called for him it was not just a house call, something was either about to happen or had happened. In any case he would make his way with haste toward the Hokage building and upon his arrival he would give a small bow to the receptionist before heading up. He would wait outside of the door for a moment before taking in a deep breath and pushing the door open. His eyes would scan the room as per usual before stepping in and looking upon the vessel of Aoki. He couldn't sense it right off the bat, but he could tell something was off...different actually. To most this would have scared them or prevented them from moving, but Nurai was a beast not unlike the one in front of him. He had not reached the pinnacle of Aoki, not by a large margin, but he was on his way. As he flowed into the room, he would close the door behind him and stand 2 meters from Aoki's right side," I like what you have done with the place...it feels almost homely, but i can tell this isn't a social call. Are we waiting on others?," he'd ask quizzically as he continued to look around the room.

Heavy was the atmosphere, cold would be the air. Both the outcome and aftermath of the Culling Games left a bad taste, what should have been a celebration ended as nothing more than a disappointment. Whereas everyone had the chance to rise above themselves and proof their worth, they instead decided to perform poorly which would in turn reflect on the village and more importantly, the Hokage himself. "I can only imagine how he feels about it". If the silver haired Senju was already discontent with what happened, Aokidanza's frustration would be more than tenfold. And if that was the case, the Deputy would soon find out as he made his way to the Hokage Chambers.

Having been summoned not that long ago, Goto assumed the meeting would indeed be about the event that turned out to be a complete letdown and how they should proceed. Knowing the Demon and how he treated those that disappointed him, the silver haired wouldn't be surprised if a heavy punishment was coming. Nevertheless, on the off-chance the Hokage called them to discuss something entirely different, the Senju decided not to allow his thoughts to wander too far ahead. In any case, the Shadow would do what he did best, assist his Kage to the best of his abilities, regardless of how the situation played out.

Arriving at the Chambers, he noticed the door was already open, meaning there was no need for Goto to knock. Entering the room, the Senju laid eyes on both Aokidanza and Nurai, one of the Genin who under-performed in the Culling Games. "I take it you didn't call me over simply because you missed those pretty eyes of mine?". Waiting for the Demon to explain, the Deputy closed the door as he already knew whatever was going to be discussed would be for their ears only.

(WC: 308)

The first to arrive was Nurai, as expected. He was young in years but impassioned. Despite what he displayed during the Culling Games, he maintained his heart. The Demon would even go so far as to presume that Nurai was more dissatisfied with himself than with failing his foster father. Several veins swelled and bulged upon the demon visibly. The joking greeting was usually welcomed warmly, but this was not the time. The demon has been changing” in his last few weeks of truancy. Should he altruistically admit it himself, even if he is unaware of why?

Nurai would meet with the Lord Hokage’s back; the once mid-length, black hair was now much longer, reaching his legs and somewhat wavy. The chakra that emanated from his actuality was more potent in darkness, despair, dread, and calamity, but it was still his. If Yachiru were present, she would find this both nostalgic and hideous. “ Hold your tongue, Nurai, or do you wish only to disappoint me with your nescience further? ” He replied. He was finally turning to meet him face-to-face.

The Shinkou would find that Aokidanza’s visage was not what he recalled. His facial features seemed familiar, but overall, he looked youthful. This was the appearance that Aokidanza wore in his prime; his chakra reverted to such a state that it helped in his visual reflection.

His tone in this audience should not be taken lightly. His disapproval of Nurai’s display stemmed from something more profound than he realized. Not long after the shadow would manifest, Goto entered the chambers—sworn brother of Aokidanza. The demon would shift his gaze to meet that of his brother’s. The jest he made did not receive the welcome he might have hoped for. But then again, Goto knew Aokidanza better than anyone besides Yachiru.

“ Even you come with quip responses to my call? Have I grown complacent with my rule? ” He responds frustratingly. His chakra flared as the desk that divided them split clean in two while maintaining its structure. The vexing iris of the Sharingan was hugged by onyx scleras fixed on them both. These two were somewhat alike—more than they would probably ever agree upon.

“Sit. ” He ordered, taking a seat of his own. The demon would wait for them both to sit before getting to the point. “The Culling Games…report.” The air changed instantaneously after those words left his lips. Tension grew so dense that one could claim that it was nearly tangible, pressing them again. The expression on Aokidanza's face was that of a bored and emotionless juvenile.

His mind was warped around other pressing matters, but he did not allow that to precede recent events.

The smile that had adorned his face slowly began to wane as the man in front of him slowly began to turn around and he could see for once that the general mood of the man was not the same. The look he had given him was new, something no one had given him. To Nura it was a mix of disapproval and anger the likes of which he had never thought he would personally get from Aoki. As the smile fully disappeared and the stoicism that painted his face had became neutral he took a small breath and replied with nothing but respect," Yes father as you command." there was no hint of sass nor his normal tone. He knew at this point Aoki had meant business with this visit. As he began to relax he would hear another come in, and over his shoulder he would see his uncle, Goto, walk into the room as well. Things at the moment did not seem to look in his favor, but once Goto gave his usual remark and Aoki responded with that same cold tone....Well the Shinkou knew something was amiss. Besides the appearance of Aoki and the feeling of the room, his tone had came off as something he had never truly had the opportunity to experience. He had recollected a time where his surrogate father had heard this tone, but never him. As the desk split, Nura was wise not to move and instead stood there with his hands in his pockets, his eyes remaining on Aoki so that he did not incur his wrath any further.

As the two were told to sit, he would sit down in one of the free chairs and draped one arm behind the chair and the other on the adjacent arm of the seat. When asked about the Culling Games, his eyes would slowly drift over to Goto, who he would hope would not speak to terribly of his performance. While he, at first, gave it his all it was ultimately his distaste for the fight itself that lead to him forfeiting it. Nothing told him that Aoki would take that well, but if he was going to be punished for it then he would simply have to take that on the chin.

It appeared the tone had been set, and his earlier assumptions about Aokidanza's mood proved correct. "At least you didn't break the chairs," the silver-haired Senju couldn't help but remark. Wasting little to no time, Goto would take a seat and sit down, aware it would be pointless to drag things on. Doing so, the Deputy didn't avert the Demon's gaze, similar to how he stared the threat down and looked it in the eyes the day a couple of rogues tried to make their claim on Konoha. He had come too far to let a change in furniture intimidate him.

As the three of them had made themselves comfortable, at least for as long as the current situation allowed, the Hokage brought up the topic of the Culling Games, the Leaf's tournament most likely the reason for today's meeting. Looking over at Nurai and the Shinkou's realization it would be wise not to mention his poor performance, Goto figured it to be in everyone's best interest if he took the word. "Given it was the first edition in such a format, one could say it was a success," the silver-haired started rather optimistically, leaving his personal opinion aside for now.

However, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. "Nevertheless, the individual performances and fights were rather lacking". The Deputy explained how many of the participants were disappointed, whereas only two met the Senju's expectations. "Simply put, I'm afraid most aren't ready. And if it wasn't a matter of skill but mindset, then that just makes things worse". A day would come when Aokidanza and Goto wouldn't be there to defend, and the village would have to fend for itself, but as things were currently standing, Konohagakure better hoped that day was still far away.

(WC: 307, TWC: 615)