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Vyrin sighed softly to himself as he shifted in his seat to rest normally, his eyes dully watching Sai interact with Soba. Personally he thought they should have just killed them right off the back from the start. Whatever use or service they could provide could and would be better off being done by either him or Sai, as they would be able to do it faster, better, and wouldn't cause some annoying backfire that these two were more then likely to cause... but maybe that was what Sai wanted. It would not be that far fetched to believe Sai wanted to set these two up for a big fall and draw some of the heat and attention off of himself... even though it seemed as though it made little difference in the first place.

Shaking his head softly to himself, Vyrin pulled his hat from his head and ran his fingers through his dark hair. Whatever it was, Sai knew what he was doing... he always did, so he was probably better off not worrying about it so much and just let things go as Sai wished.

A small smile began to etch its way across his lips as he let his mind wander around, his thoughts finding themselves back on the fateful day he first met Sai...

-Flash Back-

Now a little ways into is thirties, Sai sat quietly in a dark hut with his eyes trained carefully on a young boy. The child's deep seated red eyes blaring with a devious curiousity that was only kept at bay from the fear he was holding for the man. With a gruff laugh Sai turned away from the boy, his hand gripping the sides of his mouth and stretching it in a stressful manner. The boy could have been no older then perhaps eight? Possibly nine. More likely the kid was nine. It wouldn't be strange if he was younger but it was ten years ago that his mother and Sai's brother had became intimate, though out of the eyes of the public. And it was also ten years ago that the woman had almost but completely disappeared from the shinobi world when taking residence in whirlpool. It was very likely that Vykin had choosen to do so because she had become pregnant with Sorain's child.. This being kid before him being that very child.

A sigh pressed it's way through Sai's lips as he took another look at the child. He had his mother's eyes and her deep, powerful fury that had been her strength through everything in the world. Even though he was only at most nine years, his frame was muscled and slightly bulky. His stance, the way his face contorted ruefully when he thought he was correct or knew something someone else didn't, the manner he held himself as though the entire world owed him something... It was all Vykin, his mother's entire being was sketched into him and yet everytime he looked at him he couldn't but see his brother. He couldn't but see those red eyes that held pupils just as easily being without, that at any moment the traits of the Byakugan or even perhaps the Sharingan would shine through. That perhaps the way he seemed to take in everything he looked at as some sort of threat or the way he kept seemingly collected even when he was on the edge of imploding with anger. But it was to little... He still wasn't sure if the kid could be Sorain's, he wanted to believe it wasn't and take the kid in without any form of guilty conscious... He wanted to know it was so he could reunite the child with his father... But either way came with consquences, some that he would never be able to bear but had no choice too...

"So... Are you hungry?" Sai asked, instantly feeling the huge age difference between him and the kid. He was thirty-three and the child was nine, twenty-four years. Twenty-god-damn-long-four years difference and he was feeling the difference as the child turned his eyes on Sai, redness in them that wasn't from his pupils showing that he had just been crying while Sai was thinkning to himself. With a grunt Sai turned away and sighed yet again to himself, he had lost touch with his child like self during the war. He had lost his country, his friends, the love of his life, so much... So much that had all turned him into a hard veterain warrior that did nothing more then learned to survive. "I'll take that as a no..." He mumbled to himself, feeling the an awkward barrier forming and strengthening between the two. He couldn't imagine why he had wanted to be a father all those years ago, he didn't know a thing about taking care of a child. He had had plenty of apprentices but that was surely different, wasn't it? He couldn't exactly do that to a child could he?

Turning to look at the boy again, who was no curled up on the corner of his bed with his little chest raising and falling gently, Sai pondered the question. The boy was the son of Vykin and possibly Sorain, there was no doubt that the woman had trained him incase he was faced with the dangers of her enemies chasing them... But he was still only a young child and most definitely not prepared for the mental trails of Sai's forms of training, he knew for a fact Vykin may have trained the boy hard but there was absolutely she hadn't pushed him to the point where his bones broke and his mind could shatter. That was a definite... Vykin could be cruel but she would never be as sadistic as he could be, at least not to someone she cared about let alone her own son. There was absolutely no alternative in this situation, he would simply have to do his best as a father figure... Or at least be a gentler sensei... That, that could be do able right?

"Well, if you do get hungry let me know... Your going to need your strength, it'll be a long trip from here back to Water Country." Sai said softly before stretching on his own bed with a tired yawn, his bright blue eyes training on the ceiling above him as he shifted his currently long main of hair to rest on his chest. Sighing he made his final attempt to make conversation with the boy, "You know... Me and your mom were really close friends and used to fight alongside each other back in the day? Way back in the day, around twenty or so years ago actually. Mm.. Well I suppose you don't care, but if you ever want to know about her just ask." He finished slowly as he realized that the boy hadn't even bothered to even slightly give him any notice. "Anyways, what is your name?"

"...Vyrin."

-Present Time-

Clicking his tongue against the side of his mouth, Vyrin pushed himself up to stand and took a few steps from the fire, his eyes staring off into the distance. The group was currently resting on a beach that extended from the main ports... "I'm going to check out the area, k?" Vyrin spoke softly as he walked past the Sai and Soba, noting the man as he gave a silent nod before continuing on to walk to the ports.

Vyrin's red eyes flickered from side to side every so often as he made his way to the ports. A large ferry stood quietly there, the crew obviously disturbed and anxious to leave. For a moment Vyrin watched them, curious to why they were still there and making guesses at how long they would leave behind whatever they were waiting for, that being Phaeton and Aya who had arrived much earlier. With a sigh he turned his attention to the rest of the port, the docks loomed all along the coast line and boats were tied to their posts everywhere he looked. It was rather strange to see them all there, not a single one missing but Vyrin shrugged it off and made a simple note of it in his mind so he could report it back to Sai later.

Letting a grin play against his lips, Vyrin shifted his goggles to his face, buttoned his coat closed and pulled his gloves securely onto his hand. It was time to do some recon and the last thing he needed was for anyone to spot him now of all times.

Pressing the palms of either of his hands against each other, he bent them against each other until his fingers let out a soft pop from their joints before throwing his hands to either side of him and waving them loose as he jumped up and down in the same fashion a boxer would do right before a fight. Checking his goggles one more time, he took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, his teeth gritting tightly as he allowed his technique to take effect on him.

From the center of his body he began to collect and condense his chakra, allowing it to manifest for a short moment before imbuing it with both his wind and water elemental chakra. It was originally a process that took many hours to finish but now Vyrin was capable of doing it in a matter of seconds... and within a matter of seconds the chakra took form as multiple small crystals within his body. Rapidly the chakra washed over his body as it took form, and the crystals formed within his muscles, taking on a dark black hue as the muscles spasm for a split second before returning to normal.

His smile stretched proudly across his lips... and then he was gone.

[200/200]
[50/50]
[53/100]
[895 - Norm Lines
306 - Battle Lines]

Aya move along a little down the dock they were on, and looked at what seemed to be a information sign, it had welcome to Marky written over a map of the town, the town it self seem rather small when compared with other village Aya had seen and heard about, looking at the map, Aya was able to learn that the village was built in such a manner to protect the inland a little more, it seem that there was a forest and some farm on the other side of the town from where they were. Aya looked at the boats and the town, only to get another shiver run down her spine, she looked back at Phaeton as he walked back to her, he had told the captain to stay or something, but just looking at the crew she could tell they wanted to leave, and it was more then likely that the would before they got back, if so it would be up to Aya and Phaeton to get off another way, looking at the boats in dock a few would be good for them, seeing as they only one person to use them.

Phaeton began to walk on without talking to Aya, it seemed he really wanted to get this underway, or a least get this over with fast, Aya followed after Phaeton as he walked off into the town slowly, Aya was really uneasy as they walk along the road, she was looking at the buildings and at the ground as they walk. That lack of sound was the thing really getting to Aya at the moment, any noise would be good at the moment would make her feel better, but at the same time that would creep her out. As she looked at some of the building a little closer, she notice that that had no real damage on them of any kind, maybe a little from aging near the sea, but they was no damage that would suggest a disaster like they had been told, or of them being taken off by someone, and they weren't any drag mark on the dirt around the house of on the road. As she thought back she remembered that all the boats had still been tied up in the dock, and how unnerved that sailors had been, when only a few hours ago they had been in a good old mood on the boat, something was really wrong here, and Aya only wanted to run away at the moment.

Phaeton soon stopped and allowed Aya to catch up to him, as she did Phaeton spoke up on her 'Byakugan', she had forgotten to use it due to the eerie nature of the village, and he began to teach her how to use his 'Mind's Eye of the Kagura', as she practice with it she notice that it had a different feel to her 'Byakugan', and it had a different effect on her ability, her 'Byakugan' gave her greater insight then 'Mind's Eye of the Kagura', but 'Mind's Eye of the Kagura' gave a greater search range at the moment and better accuracy. "Well I'll begin my search, and you do another search, but this time, let not look for people but more things that are out of place alright". Aya say as she calmed her mind and used her Byakugan, Aya and Phaeton had seemed to make it near the center of the town.

"Perhaps I should explain the mission now, it should explain things better for you both..." Hatsuma stated after Oasis had surveyed the area. "the mission, in addition to searching for the missing nomad shinobi, is to investigate the recent destruction of this island nation... we are to report our findings to the elder on our return should we do so." Hatsuma said bluntly her explanation to the point with no sugar coating on it. "first thing is first we should get our bearings on the ruins and see if there is any life left, though I doubt we'll find much of anything..." Hatsuma began making her way down the vacant street looking about to see if she can find anything.

Oasis nodded lightly as she stood up from her meditation and listened to what Hatsuma had to sa, she was bothered by the apparent lack of evidence as to where the people had gone off to, from what she could tell thy had all just vanished into thin air or something. From what she was able to tell so far, everyone just vanished, there were some telltale signs for where they had been, and where they were at last, but there was no evidence of where they had gone off to. Oasis looked over to Hatsuma curiously. A double mission? So they were searching for a missing nomad, Hatsuma's father? She tipped her head to the side as she explained the second half of the mission, so then they needed to figure out what happened to these people. She didn't hear anyone, or see anything that gave any sort of clue as to what happened here. "Thats a pretty good idea." she states as she followed Hatsuma, "I... do not think we should split up right away Fuyu, we should stay with our team, while we don't see anyone now it would be bad if we ran into someone namely the one responsible for whatever happened here." she states as she stayed in stride with Hatsuma. "I've got my eye on this side so yea." she states with a short smirk, while she was acting more calm now she was still very much so a spazz.

"To make this blunt. I see you as a waste of life, and a failure as a shinobi. You've failed your student, your reasons are pathetic and measly to say the least, and your experience is very, very questionable." Sai said simply as he watched Soba and listened to his annoying bitching. Gritting his teeth tightly, he reached down to grab the man by the scruff of his neck and yanked him close to his own body, the razor instantly being pressed against the man's temple. "Now... I think it's time I find out just how much of trash I've brought along with me. you have a few choices, shut up and watch or... Struggle, die, and die knowing Notwen will follow after you." Sai said softly as he pulled Soba away from the camp fire and into the dark distance.

Soon after a figure shrouded in a dark cloak limped towards Notwen's sleeping figure. In a slow and anguished manner, the figure reached down to the boy with a shadowed hand and gripped the front of his shirt. From behind the figure, the glint of a steel blade could easily be seen arched behind it.













[981 - Norm Lines
317 - Battle Lines]

Not realizing that they were already spotted by something Hatsuma looked over to her teammates who both had opposing ideas on what they should do. "My thoughts go with Fuyu on this matter more area would be covored if we split up, not to mention if we do happen to run into whatever did this I doubt we stand any better a chance together then alone, splitting up will let the others continue on with the search regardless of what happens." Hatsuma explained rather monotonely. She had a cold feeling run down her spine as if they were being watched however she merely let it pass. She looked around for a moment before seeing a rather noticeable building. "we'll meet by the largest building over there, fuyu you may want to actually look at it so you can get an idea of where it is. we'll meet there in an hours time. in the event one of us doesn't arrive just continue on with the mission. it's important..." Hatsuma stated pulling two scrolls out handing one to oasis and then sending one fuyu's way as well. " that is the mission outline, it's encrypted so remember your studies on that matter... good luck." Hatsuma stated with a bow before turning and heading of in a direction to search for some clues.

Phaeton gave Aya a rather strange look. He was already trying to notice if there were things that would have been out of the ordinary, but he was allowing her a quick survey with her byakugan to see if there was anything she could perceive before he gave his own once over. After that then maybe they could pool their information and see what was going on here.

"GAH!" Phaeton was beginning to notice that the eerily quiet little town was becoming less eerily quiet based on a few chakra signatures that were coming from the sea. He looked to Aya, but his demeanor was changed. Phaeton was much more of a support and healer type ninja. He had very few offensive abilities, so he would be pretty bad if it came to that. However, he was hoping that the mysterious destruction of this place was simply attracting attention from other Villages and prompting inspection. This way it meant that neither side had to fight, and they could all go about their business without incident. Maybe they could share information, but he had to be prepared for the eventuality that these people meant business.