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Xenon gave a slight laugh. "I'm the resident medic nin when one is required." he assured. "However I wouldn't have knocked her out in the first place if I thought there was a chance she would quietly accept conditions of being blindfolded and such. You may leave whenever you wish, and you may even take her with you, but I have no intention of treating an enemy who isn't on their deathbed." he adjusted his glasses. "Particularly one as treacherous as Kikyo. Were she to know the location of this base, I would most certainly have to kill her." he shrugged, completely shameless over the matter. "Therefore to avoid that and keep her safe, it's better if she merely stay unconscious for now. Ignorance is bliss, they say." he seemed to consider the matter. "I suppose there's always the chance that we could interrogate her... but that would be in poor taste I think, considering as a grunt she probably wouldn't be able to tell us much anyway." he pointed to the two boy's. "Ah, but a note. Just because she works for the Otobe seventh house, doesn't mean that she isn't a Ninja of Oto. She merely has other allegiances that the Otokage. You should remember that. She is still technically your superior." he seemed to adapt a more bemused smile. "Of course, technically, by those standards, I'm still your superior, and not a missing Nin at all."



"Hm?" Kai looked intrigued. "How do you figure Xen?"


Xenon merely gave his usual cheer. "Well, my last order from the acting Otokage at the time was "Stop the Otobe". As that was an official mission with full rights to leave the village, I haven't technically violated any of the Otogakure's laws, nor my oath as a Shinobi. Aren't loop holes wonderful...?" he turned his gaze back to the twins. "Regardless what you might want to believe, I could really care less. Just because she's a backstabbing manipulative girl doesn't mean I don't like her. She's actually a rather amusing individual from what I recall, and probably doesn't mean any malice in her actions. I'm not at all trying to turn you against her. I'm more suggesting that when you realize she's been working you over, to not take it personally." it was so very strange at how...honest he was being. He wasn't even being sarcastic. He truly meant his words, however light-hearted they sounded.

"But I suppose that no matter what I say I'll seem like the villain here," he recognized unabashed. "So let me just say this..." he raised a finger to them, looking almost immediately more serious, his humor dropping away. "You need to remember that you are in the middle of a power struggle that at the moment you can barely see or understand. Do you have any idea WHY those tunnels were filled with experiments? What it was that went on down there?" his eyes were intense behind his glasses. "The Cultists that lived down there, that worked down there, broke every human right or barrier of decency that you can imagine. They did horrible inhuman things to people, all in the pursuit of power... all in the pursuit of something they belived to be their legacy, their birthright...do you know why...? Do you why it was that they were able to be so callous? So heartless?" he reached up and took off his glasses, taking out a cloth to polish them. "And don't answer "because they were evil" ...there's rarely such a thing...and if there IS, there is a method behind it. There a reason that their hearts feel it possible to become evil... can you guess what it was...?"

Xenon shook his head. "The hunger for power is something that can drive all men, but it is not necessarily something that can drive them to evil." he pointed to himself. "I myself, ever since I was very young, hungered for power the likes of which you can scarcely imagine. Even now, as strong as I've become, I'm still not satisfied..." he folded his arms leaning back on the counter once more. "Yet still I would never, and have never, perpetrated acts such a that, acts of such callousness against the will of another." he seemed for a moment a to change to subject, but he was clearly leading to an end point, as all teacher's tended. "My clan, the Maboroshi, were once a united clan, as any other, with our various branches and houses...until the last great Ninja war, when we were specifically targeted and pushed to brink of extinction...do you know why?" his face was still serious. "It's because of the ultimate form of our Kekke Genkai...an ability that we possess in it's perfect form." he held up his hand like one holding the strings of a puppet. "You may have heard of it, of course. It's what we are commonly associated with among those with a knowledge of history. The Jistasu Shisshin." his eyes seemed to become dark for a moment. "It's a simple technique in idea, at least. The user sends his chakra into the opponents mind, as with any genjutsu...the only difference is that rather than governing perception, we Maboroshi can seize control of our opponents motor functions..." he dumbed it down so they could understand. "It allows us to control them...like a puppet...like a toy on a string..." he waved his finger slightly, as if to indicate. "With nothing more than a twitch of my finger just now, I could make one of you attack the other...and so long as my will was stronger, there would be nothing you could do about it. People feared this technique...it terrified them."

He reached up again and adjusted his glasses. "For after all, making someone stab themselves with such a technique is child's play for a master...why not make them... claw out their own heart? Or murder their own family before hurling them-self off a cliff?" Xenon seemed tired for a moment. "I have never, though it well within my skill, tried to learn this technique...I've delayed merely for the reason that I do not possess the quality that those men who so readily experimented on their fellows did."

The 15 year old prodigy leaned off the counter and gestured towards the door, as though offering to show them out. "It is the belief that you are better than your fellow man." he escorted them to the door. "It is the belief that you are superior, that they are not worth as much as you, and that there is something about you specifically that raises you above the rest..." he narrowed his eyes slightly as he came to stand outside. "It is something beyond mere arrogance...it is something beyond confidence...it is beyond even pride." he set his hands back in the pockets of his coat. "It is merely the belief that the rest of humanity is worth less than you are..."

He looked to the two twins, "That is what allows people to do things like that without pause. It is what allows for massacres, for atrocities, and inhumane action. Every time a life is taken thoughtlessly...THAT, is the reason." he looked above the canopy of tree's that sheltered the village, and the brief glimpse of the sky beyond. "And that is the very idea that the Otobe's Oto stands upon. That they know better than the rest of you... it may not immediately turn sour...but eventually..." he gave a slight smirk, as though grimly accepting something. "But I suppose there is not much to be done now...my words will not reach you. I lack Kimiko's...talent for that sort've thing. I speak logically...and logic does not always move the hearts of the afflicted." he turned sidelong to Mokutan on his shoulder. "Mokutan, show them out."





"Sure thing boss." The crow turned human assured, hopping off his master's shoulder, and tossing the the twins a pair of blindfolds. "There, put those on, and keep a firm hold on that girl friend of yours. And Mark me brats, I ain't nice like the chief here, I think your trying something, I'll kill ya. You understand?" The casual way the bird said this, it was...somewhat obvious he meant every word. "The Chief may hold to the idea that all people are equal, but we're equal in our right to follow our own path, and mine is to make sure that anyone who messes with the chief and Kimi-tan is deader than the dirt yer standin on. Comprende?" the little bird hopped unto the twin's shoulder unceremoniously. "Now follow my directions. And don't think just because I'm this small I can't back up my talk."

Xenon gave a slight sigh. "You'll forgive him. He's very protective." the silver haired youth assured. "But I've given him order's not to harm you unless you show signs of aggression. You'll be fine."

Mokutan muttered sidelong to the twins from their shoulder. "Make. My. Day."

Xenon gave a laugh. He was always like this around people who didn't like his master...as though it was some sort of personal affront to him. Though, truth be told, the bird had been with Xenon ever since he was small, and dedicated himself to believing and trusting in him. He supposed that in that way, disliking Xenon, to the Bird, was akin to affronting everything that the bird believed in... "I don't suppose you'll look back on this encounter fondly," Xenon guessed with light shrug. "But...well... remember what I said hm?" he turned round and headed back inside. "Oh, and one more thing. If you do indeed choose to side with that girl, rather than Oto herself, the next time we meet..." his smile was back, though their was something more dangerous behind it. "I'll have to be more serious..." and with that he went back inside.


Mokutan guided the pair well passed the borders of the village, giving them blind directions to follow, and resisting the urge to lead them over a high cliff...

Mokutan finally hopped off the twins shoulder, landing on the ground behind them. "Alright. Now keep walking from here. You've been in the thick of a Genjutsu for a bit now, so don't bother trying to retrace your steps...and anyway, if we catch you trying to sneak back in we won't be as nice as this time. Got it?" the crow turned around and began to hop back towards the village. "Oh, and hey, one more thing eh? You guys should be really careful." the bird seemed a bit more earnest now, as though he was throwing them a bone, even if he didn't like them. "Personally, I don't care if you idiots get yerselves in with the wrong crowd, but the boss seems to like ya, and I know it'd be a pain if we had to kill ya later." he indicated Kikyo. "That girl there was probably sent ta scout you two out for their organization. From what Phan-tan (A Japanese suffix indicating a nick name) reported, they're targeting as close to the clan heirs as they can get, so guys like you two would fit their bill. If they start offering you shiny things and grandiose promises... well..." he seemed to consider it. "We ain't exactly sure what they're motives are yet, but from our experience, it ain't good. Just keep what ya call yer wits about ya, okay?" he continued to keep hopping back to the village...

He supposed he shoulda told um about the rebel base at the mouth of the valley, and the fact that they would likely be captured if they went there...but, eh, they'd be fine.

You find yourself in a forest with little to no understanding of the lay out, as well as which way might lead you to safety, while in the distance you think you might see a river, you aren't really sure through the thick foliage. Kikyo is still sleeping soundly, and unless you have some skill with survival, you might not even be able to properly know which way is north. You may make any checks you feel pertinent now, or simply choose a direction at random.

>To your left,
>Forward towards the river
>To your right
>Back towards the village...

((Reaction: you are unable to surmise anything from your surroundings.))

Jiro Soma
LV. 2
Experience: 5/150
Hp: 16
Cp: 24
MHp: 14

Jiro noticed the structure but, Aki couldn't see it. All Aki could hear was the sound of rushing water, birds chirping and the nature. Jiro decided to go see what the structure was. Jiro said to Aki, "There's some kind of stone structure ahead, perhaps we could use it as shelter until Kikyo woke up." Aki shifted his head and looked at the structure. "Alright but, we better not wake up in the middle of the night to just be attacked by lizard things." Jiro laughed a little and made his way to the structure with Kikyo over his shoulder. Aki moved his way out and helped Jiro carry Kikyo a crossed the river. Jiro was relieved a bit as he needed a little help and Aki just sitting and doing nothing was not help. He didn't say anything though and took the help.

Aki Soma
LV. 2
Experience: 9/150
Hp: 16
Cp: 22
MHp:14

Jiro Soma
LV. 2
Experience: 5/150
Hp: 16
Cp: 24
MHp: 14

Aki and Jiro go for cover into one of the brushes in the grotto. Jiro set Kikyo down and they both listened to their surroundings carefully. Aki jumped a little when he heard the massive shifting. Both of them heard the sniffing, Aki hoped that it wasn't looking for them. They both kind of doubted it was human, considering the stuff that they have ran into recently it wouldn't surprise them all that much. Jiro was quick to pull a kunai out, at the sound of it sniffing but, Aki grab his wrist and put his hand down. Aki gave Jiro a dirty look and Jiro understood. They probably wouldn't want to fight this thing alone, maybe with Kikyo but, with one person down they didn't need another. Aki looked around the surrounding area and looked for an area that they could possibly go to, to get away from this monster or creature. Aki coughed a bit and looked at Jiro, they were hitting their point. Aki went inside of Jiro, what now? Jiro thought of an idea he picked up a stick and wrote in some dirt, "henge jutsu?" Aki shook his head no. They couldn't really do that right now. Jiro thought it was a good idea but, he just went along with Aki. Jiro thought about a distraction. He pulled up a kunai and showed it to Aki then pointed towards a tree branch on the other end of the grotto where the creature was probably near.. Aki thought it over a moment and finally decided that it would be a good idea. If they could distract the beast long enough they could escape without it even knowing.


Aki Soma
LV. 2
Experience: 9/150
Hp: 16
Cp: 22
MHp:14
6, 17, 15, 19
Stealth rolls:
Aki: 6+5=11
Jiro: 17+7=24
Awareness rolls:
Aki: 15-3=12
Jiro: 19-3=16