Welcome to Gaia! ::

Karite walked barefoot through the rubble of his home, the place where he learned who he truly was. Stepping on the homes and dreams of his family he made his way to the town square alone. Karite hadn't seen hair nor hide of another Tategami in a long time. He didn't want to think about being the last one but for now there was plenty to keep his mind off it. Stepping in closer he noticed Sorri and the Uchiha. There was a shinobi there he hadnt seen before. The boy wasnt in a mood to ask question but he was here to see what was on the horizon. He was hopping a strong dosage of revenge would be on the to do list.

Himoto took advice of some of the veteran villagers, such as Hamma the great blacksmith and noodle cook Udon. By nature Hyuuga were too prideful to take advice from non clan members, but Himoto would need all the advice she could get for this speech, heck for the next few months. Each word they gave her, she inscribed into the folds of her brain. The magnolia eyes activated giving the woman a piercing look around the amount of people gathered. She wanted to get a gage of how many people came to this area. "A little less than half the villagers are here... many of the shinobi are not though. Only a student, three genin and a chuunin." the woman thought. It was a little surprising to see so little, but then again the shinobi were only a handful now. The Uchiha, Sukotto, attended and was ready for action. Yet there seemed to hesitation... a lack of trust. Which was completely normal considering the situation. "Thank you for attending. I will be getting into the future plans of the village soon enough." Himoto stated blandly. It was her professional voice. That at least made two chuunin the new leader could count on. Well hopefully two. The woman was expecting Kanami to attend, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Probably still at the hospital..." Himoto thought. She had not left there for a while.... No one else was probably coming so she might as well start. "You can do this..." the woman thought with a sigh. The first step was always the hardest.

"Morning to you all. Some of you have seen me around the village since the Black Spring incident, but I have not introduced myself. My name is Hyuuga Himoto. Due to the loss of Harada Shinichi and Tenmoki Yuki and until either of them can be found I will be functioning as the village leader.". Her white still activated to try and get a scope of the crowds’ feelings. The woman left a moment's pause in between for the citizens to absorb this. Mumurs, whispers, slanted eyes, glares, looks of disapproval, hopeless faces. The Byakugan saw it all. Now it was what Himoto could do with that information.

The small veins and all seeing glare subsided into a slightly softer, but still stern, look. “Many of you may not know this, but the Hyuuga and Shimagakure have a few things in common. One thing is that there always seems to be something trying to destroy the community. More so in Shimagakure than my clan. There is a reason that this happens though. It isn’t due to unfortunate events. Greatness is always targeted by the lesser. Shimagakure has begun to become a known name throughout the shinobi world and unfortunately that has become a threat to someone or some affiliation. Hence they took advantage of a situation.” the woman stated. Himoto did wonder how the battle would have gone if the tailed beast was not a main priority first. Although that in itself produced other questions. How did the enemy know of it? It meant they had to have been watching the village for a while. Or someone was gave them the village layout…

Himoto continued. “Shimagakure has been injured before in the past and each time it has risen to its previous greatness. This time will be no different. There may not be a Uchiha Ichi or Harada Shinichi to lean on for aid, but this time you won’t need to lean on someone. We’ll get back on our own feet and begin walking again. I will not lie to you. It will be hard. I do not possess any of the talents or skills of Ichi, Shinichi or Yuki. I will learn everything I can that they did. I will push myself, but I am only one person. I will need each of you to help. If we all can cooperate we will survive and we will see the future.”

Quiet...

While Xyn's mind was still calm, he glanced back and forth within the small crowd of people while the person at the head of the group started to speak. He had heard Sorri some time ago, but now wasn't the time to concern himself with that person. The Ibazi... they had a home in this village. The Nara, the Tenmoki, the Uchiha, the Hyuuga, and the Raiken... All of them had homes. Xyn and his people were travelers by nature, or so he was taught. What was it like to have a permanent home? Were all those buildings also destroyed over the Spring? Trying not to focus his attention on any particular person, Xyn looked over what was left of the rubble-shaped horizon. His unconcealed eye narrowed toward the distance for anything that stood out. The Ibazi home... was Sorri alone now? Was everyone alone?

Stay... quiet...

A building concern filled his eyes. He had felt a lot of things since first arriving in this village some years ago, but this...

I have to stay quiet... Listen patiently...

Take in all the information around you, that was what Xyn's primary instinct was. The heat growing in the center of his chest that filled his body was more than a distraction, more than a diversion, it was a complete change of will. There was nothing that could be said now that was of any interest to him. Both his eyes started to close from a sharp pain in his head. He started to lift his right hand to his forehead, the section of his brow still visible wretched and lined with more wrinkles than a boy his age should have.

Memory... discarded. His hand dropped back to his side, his face returning to normal, although normal for Xyn was a frank but solemn expression that was still abnormal for a child to have.



Who was this girl everyone was listening to so intently? Everyone had gathered around her... is she the reason all the people including Xyn were here? She wasn't pretty enough for such a crowd to flock to her. Those eyes were especially unappealing. He remembered seeing a few people with those eyes, and each time he saw them, it was as if the person could see right through him. Making the scene that much creepier was the veins in the human's face bulging around the eyes. No one reacted to it so it must have been an affect of those blank eyes... no, they weren't blank, there was a small definition of an iris, but such a detail almost completely vanished when the veins gorged. Even while examining this creature, Munin was able to keep track of Xyn's subtle head movements and match them. Standing on the boy's shoulder made it a great deal easier to pick up on even the slightest tilt of the boy's head. What was he looking at? Something outside the crowd, perhaps the ruins of the village. Perhaps it had something to do with what the girl was talking about. If everyone was listening to her, maybe she was some kind of construction contractor. Hmm... if she was in charge of rebuilding the village, maybe he could get Xyn to mention placing proper perches on some of the taller buildings. It would make studying these humans much easier.

He moved...? Munin didn't notice Xyn's facial expression until he felt the boy's muscles tense. He kept with his task and lifted his right wing. There was a short pause before they both returned to a proper posture. Another headache... Munin had tried, but he couldn't understand the source of those headaches, all he was able to figure out was some muttering about 'memory'. He remembered the Douken elders using the same word, but he still had no idea what the word meant. Human language was so annoying to figure out...




Xyn
Daily Observations
1d20 + Detect(0) +Int(7)
DC: 20
Train: 0/6

Munin
Mimic: Daily Observations
1d20 + Spy(3) +Agi(4)
DC: 20
Train: 1/3

The Uchiha was also gazing through the crowd that had gathered to hear the Hyuuga's words. Unlike Himoto, however, he didn't need his kekkai genkai to read the expressions that had carved themselves into the faces of the villagers. He was quite interested to see how the new leadership would affect the villagers. As the woman spoke, the etchings of worry and dread seemed to slightly fade away from their faces. Thankfully, Shimagakure had yet another diamond in the rough that had been hiding from the public. Sukotto was quite happy to know that someone with more tact than Shinichi had managed to step into power. She may not have been as strong, but if she had been, chances were that she would have been wiped out anyway. In any case, she seemed to be the exact kind of leader that the village needed at the moment. Sukotto appreciated how she hadn't directly claimed the title of Kage yet, he believed that it showed a great deal of modesty on her part.

A slight grin slipped across his face as the young Tategami spoke up against the speech. Under regular circumstances, Sukotto would have probably scolded the youth for speaking out so blatantly against a superior shinobi, but honestly, this was the nature of the Tategami. The kid actually reminded him quite a bit of Maya, and Sukotto had always been fond of her, even though she seemed to be mad at Sukotto more often than not. With this bit of familiarity existent, the Uchiha simply brushed off the situation, though he was happy to see that Himoto had handled it quite professionally. She didn't quite have the caring touch of Ichi, but at the very least, she took care of things.

After the woman finished the speech and requested that all shinobi receive the vaccine, Sukotto stepped up first in line. He didn't fear the infection, rather, he wanted to get the shot as quickly as possible so that he would be able to set out and begin the task of safeguarding the village from any lingering threat that the attack had left behind. As he extended his hand for the shot, he lowered his voice so that Himoto and perhaps only a few people who were close by would be able to hear him. "Well done, I think you really managed to restore a bit of confidence into the villagers. We need them to trust the shinobi, else our existence in this village is meaningless." With that said, Sukotto figured that it would be the appropriate time for him to request a mission. "Now, we must get to the tasks that have to be completed in order to restore the safety of the village. I volunteer to lead a team to complete a task, if you wish. I suggest it be taking care of the dangers that lurk in the wilderness, given that that will be the most risky assignment that anyone will receive." The Uchiha looked Himoto straight in the eyes. The Hyuuga clan had always fascinated him. He wondered what sort of mystical hidden powers really lurked within those wonderful white eyes."You will probably have to remain here in the village and provide immediate protection to the villagers since you're the strongest shinobi in Shimagakure now. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that I am now the second or third most powerful shinobi, and since I'm the one who's here, I believe it would be wise to allow me to handle purifying the wilderness. Unfortunately, the attack has left me without my regular squad, so I will have to select a couple of shinobi to bring with me."

Intelligence Training - Determining Potential Strategy
While running Serena and Shisei through an exercise that pinned the two of them against himself, Sukotto has decided to consider what he would do if he had been placed in their shoes, while also allowing his mind to dance within the battles that he has experienced over the course of his career as a young shinobi.
DC: 27
1d20+17(Intelligence Mod)= 27
Train: 13/15

Himoto stared up at the Uchiha male for a second with a confused look. She was not expecting anything to give thanks. Especially after the genin’s words. The woman regained her composure quickly so she could talk to the teen. As the hazel eyed male, Himoto began to note his perceptiveness. The Hyuuga embalmer wondered whether this talent came from his intellect or did those talented eyes give him a new perspective. Maybe a combination of the two. It was an amazing part of history that the Sharingan was some mutation of the Byakugan blood. Even more was how the eye developed its own techniques unique of the Byakugan. There were a few researching the copying eye within the clan trying to figure out just how it mutated from the white eyes. Himoto never paid attention to the eye. Her job within the clan had never put her in involvement with one. The grave keeper only knew of the famous stories of the eye and miracles Ichi performed with it. From now on though she’d watch carefully to see the full capacity of the eye.

“Just as your file states, you are very sharp. Over the past days you’ve probably noticed the animals acting differently. They have become more savage and aggressive towards the inhabitants. Some are not fearful to enter the village. A few of the citizens have been attacked and dragged out by animals. I need to stay back to contend with reconstruction and other things. Carry a team of shinobi, head into the forests and eliminate the devil marked animals. Once we can take down their plentiful numbers there won’t be as much fear from them. Unfortunately I can’t grant you to carry other chuunin. I will also need them for other missions. This may seem odd, but I would like you to carry an academy student or two on this mission. Despite the dangers, it is becoming more imperative that they get some battle experience. I’m putting a lot of faith in you to bring everyone back alive. When you’re done you will probably be able to find me at the Kage’s office.” the woman stated. After that she peered off to the other shinobi planning to give them their temporary cure.

-------OFFICIAL MISSION-------

Mission Name: Devil Marked Extermination
Rank: D
Location: Shimagakure
Description: One of the three masked figures secreted a vicious poison. Because of this poison it has put many of the villagers and shinobi into the clinic. It has also seeped into the lagoon whose stream is also connected to the Forrest of Sorrows. Some of the animals in these areas have drunk the polluted water and are now extremely aggressive and will attack with slight to no provocation. They can be identified with weird eyes, a deteriorating body and purple or red rings or spots on their body. Exterminate these creatures before they infect the little population left in Shimagakure.
Contractor: Shimagakure Villagers, Hyuuga Himoto
Reward: 20 Ryo

Hyuuga... the only real member of this clan he had contact with was some twerp calling himself a 'dream'. The doujutsus were always annoying clans. The Uchihas were especially frustrating. An eye that could gather knowledge with such ease and no apparent consequence... well, he didn't know enough about the clan to observe any consequence. There had only been one Uchiha he could tolerate...

Xyn didn't feel much like waiting in line for some vaccine. He had nothing against needles, but he didn't think himself weak enough to fall prey to some unnatural disease. The only time he had ever been sick was when he was caught in the rain, one of the reason he despised such dreary days. He could handle the snow and the cold, but rain was unforgivable.

This Hyuuga at the front of the line, however, seemed confident, or at the least, tried to give off an aura of confidence. Was this to be the new head of the village? Ichi and Shinichi had both fallen... Xyn had expected someone like Yuki to take the role of leader, or someone of that family. That, at least, would have been more preferable in Xyn's mind. This person wasn't offensive in any way, but those doujutsus...

"Recovery... if it was enough to recover, we would not have fallen this far." Xyn reasoned while he looked toward Munin, whom he had just realized was imitating his movements. The raven usually only copied him to try and figure out what he was thinking. With a slight grunt, he lifted his right hand to the bird's legs, motioning for him to step onto his wrist.

"It's not enough. It's not..."

What was that at the head of the line? What was everyone doing up there? Every instinct in the raven's mind was to simply fly up and figure it out. Well, almost every instinct. There was still that one nagging concern not to cause any trouble. Such a thought was rare to him. Causing trouble was fun. Distracting these humans was the best way to get what he wanted. Right now he wanted to know what the human were up to, so circling around might make him more of a nuisance than he needed to be. Hmm... patience... usually Xyn's method... but this was annoying. With Xyn's focus on the Hyuuga, Munin tried to study her as well. A lot of people had their attention on her, so she must be saying something important...

Huh? Munin twitched, taking a few sidesteps away when he saw Xyn's hand approaching. Now what? He was just starting to get his imitation perfect. With no reason to refuse, Munin simply hopped onto the extended arm. The tactic was meant to hold him out in front, as if taking Xyn's place in line. What was it about the end of this line that would make Xyn want him to go first? Now that he wasn't on the boy's shoulder, it was impossible to see ahead. Maybe he should have hopped on the boy's head instead, even though Xyn's hair was little protection from his claws the way the cloak around his shoulder protected him.

Something... important... well, there was no point worrying about it now. He could behave for just a little while longer... maybe a closer look at the white-eyed girl would shed some light on why everyone seemed attracted to her.


Xyn
Daily Observations
1d20 + Detect(0) +Int(7)
DC: 20
Train: 2/6

Munin
Mimic: Daily Observations
1d20 + Spy(3) +Agi(4)
DC: 20
Train: 3/3

Even though Sorri was thuagt oftherwise he turned his attention from the Hyugga and to Karite in agreement. Those words always boiled down to one thing at somepoint, dissapointment. Every speech he's heard from a leading figure tried to keep the ninjas of the village hoping and what happened? After they used all thier blood and sweat to fight something out of thier hands happened. Maybe a little less planning was in order. Sorri watched Sukkuto smooth talk his wayinto geting a mission after calling himself the second strongest in the village. Sorri walkede his way to xyn's side, turning his back to the Uchiha.",,,heh didn't his entire squad end up in the clinic? Yet even with our Kage in battle Xyn and I are able to stand here today..maybe Serena would have been better off with us" A year ago. No, even just a month ago Sorri would have followed the Uchiha without a second thought. The heavy thumb of his clan had been on him since the day he started at the academy