Welcome to Gaia! ::

((this is gonna be short... Oh, and sorry for any waiting I caused (doubtful as it is). I got unexpectedly and unexplainably grounded.))

Shiryoku couldn't believe it. After all that struggling him and the other Genin went through, one dart from the Onsei brought the battle to a close. Were the Genin merely a distraction? Well, he couldn't imagine they'd have been much help... But that wqas all? The battle over in a split second?

"Use up all of its contents. It'll protect your wound until a medic gets here."

Well, at least his leg was getting treatment. But Shiryoku was more worried about the girl, Kuniko. Why hadn't she gotten up yet? Did she get hit by a dart too? Or, was she... Was she killed by the traitor?

"How is the.. How is Kuniko?" Shiryoku asked the Onsei, not even attempting to conceal his worry.

(Sound Gang)

"Sir." A word made itself heard in a quiet burst.

The soil before the squad from the sea was suddenly disturbed by a shady coterie. A band of Sound Shinobi from the looks of their gray camo uniforms. As an addition, Onsei spotted the team. They were easily noted by their ominous attire.

A soldier had surfaced from the mass. One of pasty white hair tamed with a hair band, the bangs lightly brushing over a musical note etched in his forehead protector. His stride to the pirates was formal and nearing 'sassy.' It seemed he felt he was the superior of the entire population before him.

"On behalf of Sire Orochimaru, might you be Captain Rakusa?" He pushed the stem of his lenses above the bridge of his nose to keep them from slipping any farther. It was obvious he was addressing the most daunting pirate of the bunch.

(Yakushi Kabuto)



The Sound coterie acted immediately. The group shifted; they positioned their weapons, stances and attentiveness within a single slight period, even if their forms had barely budged. A few clicks of metal. Rustling of the soil. They had the right to take every action thrown at them by these 'visitors' with high precautions.

Yakushi moved not, and kept a firm standing while observing these sea-dwellers. Dirty, aren’t they? His gaze shifted occasionally to spot individual crewman. Many were cracking a grotesque grin of some sort. Perhaps I came in on the wrong foot.



A stranger band of mercenaries than I thought. Looking sharply to the crewman, Kabuto retorted. It was apparent he still believed his position to be more glamorous, from his palm resting against his hip and standing tall, but almost irate. He reflected an image of a mother scowling at her son, knowing he had done something dishonest to the rules. Why he refused to execute a bow was beyond his men's understanding. The truth was, he wasn't quite ready to surrender his full respect to a crew so… eccentric.

"Following our lead, it will be a mere hour until we reach the gates." He rolled his eyes to his wake, then to Captain Rakusa. "There's a port held under our surveillance a kilometer from his peer. They will have the supplies you need."



Why? Of all the private armies he could've chosen from, why this particular bunch? His eyes narrowed while delivering another little inspection over the crew.

He brought about a command. "It would suit if you keep your subordinates here at the docks." He directly addressed the captain. Seeming a bit displeased once again. "We don't want any undesired trouble."

His glare was bound to bolden his distrust.

((Haha, you gave the dishes to a Sound ninja. XD I loved that. He's probably like: "WTF" right now. Eer, I hope I'm not putting Kabuto out of character, but I thought it would be entertaining if he didn't like Orochimaru's new-found mercenaries.))

(Yakushi Kabuto)

He's cooperating in the least. Yet, it's surprising that he's bold enough to be escorted without a guardian. Better for us, I suppose.

Yakushi immediately caught the captain's smart remark. An eye twitched. Rakusa was regarding the Sound Lord's top associate with such lecturing words. He felt like the child being scolded now.

He managed to bottle up most of his discontentment and strolled to the captain's side; he continued, brushing past Rakusa's right shoulder, and to have a cluster of Sound Shinobi tail closely behind. Kabuto, without facing the officer, undertoned a command. "Have a sentry troop supervise the crew during our absence. Report anything you deem drastic."

With a quick nod of approval, the ninja darted ahead of the main body, departing into the overhead tree crowns.

"Come along, captain. Sire may not have such patience today."

(Yakushi Kabuto)



He was half-certain the captain would pick up his words, but it was supposed his old age would cripple his hearing. Apparently not.

Nevertheless, it would only be precarious not to have a team watch the pirates. My trust will not be gained by a batch of soiled mercenaries. It's for the best.



Yakushi turned an eye to Captain Rakusa. He masked his true emotions by narrowing his brow, attempting to look puzzled. "Orochimaru-sama has recently managed the state of his arms, so he is no longer bothered on that account." The pale-haired nin turned back to face the direction he trekked. I should keep the details at minimum with this old man.

((Shortness, but it's only talking anyhow.))

(Dum, dum, duuuummmmm)

"Dispel."

On command, the manuscript charm posted on the barred gate ignited. The fire had soon swallowed it, and in ashes the tag sprinkled the ground. The gate keeper, an ordinary man in a gray coat, strode to the side for a more powerful bunch to move through. An Onsei and an Oto soldier entered the mouth of Katsuhiro's cell.

"Sire requests urgent business with you." At least the Onsei had the grace to say something. His counterpart subordinate was sickeningly stern. The soldier clutched the clothes on the prisoner's shoulder, then took his arm and coarsely pulled him to a stand. Out from his pocket was fished a set of cuffs.

The Onsei shook his head. "That wasn't permitted. Leave him."

Popping the cuffs back into his pocket, the soldier obeyed.

The Onsei had left the chamber first; second came the captive being pushed along by the soldier at the rear. During their tread to the prison's exit, the Onsei gave a few small glances to the despondent hostages warming the neighboring compartments. Once again, he was courteous as to speak up.

"I'm not entirely certain what he wants you for, but don't expect any luck."

((I wonder if he'll be optimistic with what will happen next. Hehe.))

(Dum, dum, du--- screw it…)

The soldier's scowl made it evident he wasn't going to reply.

In a few moments the grouping had stopped at the exit, a timber wood arched gate. The remains of seal tags peppered the floor. The gate's articulation was perhaps the only classy element in the brig. He, the Onsei, grasped the handles and cracked the doors. He gave attention to the captive over his shoulder.

"With you being an enemy scout… I can only imagine."

And the gates were pulled open to reveal a candle lit passageway; gorgeously bright, compared to the prison. The walls were of cold stone, as was the floor, but from spending time in the detention center anyone would find the area somewhat 'warm.' The gates came to a creaking close behind the Oto soldier.

-

"I'll take him from here." A new face for once, after minutes of traveling through corridors beneath the earth. It was the face of a pale young man with a flawless visage, thin, silver hair and a thin frame. His lips were painted cerulean, and another head similar to his own connected to the back of his neck. Some sort of Siamese twin. For his soft features, his sneer wasn't at all, 'benign.'

Unquestioningly, the Onsei submitted his escorted to the young male. The twin dropped a hand on Katsuhiro's shoulder, though even his touch was a little frail, then squeezed him into a passage ahead.

"Sakon-sama." The Onsei said before their departure. The twin, still seizing the prisoner, twisted back around. "This man. What does Orochimaru have for him?"

There was a brief silence. Sakon cocked his 'main' head to the side, flashing a little grin.

"Is that your business?"

The twin thought nothing less of the Onsei, whilst he turned on his heel and piloted his captive down the hall.

((Almost there. XD))