Beyond the Shadow of the Mask - A Naruto Quest

[Black King]

With his help, Kham is all set up to become a samurai apprentice. It's a not-so-quick lecture on how to carry himself, mostly disguising himself and covering his trademark Suna red hair with some hair dye, foregoing the use of his sand for the time being, and upon being discovered, being prepared with a sob story of abuse that is...based entirely on fact.

Villain also commands Kham to devote himself to his training, as his insomnia and demon-given stamina provides the perfect opportunity for extra time to learn, and to work on his Third Eye jutsu. First, Khamsin will cover one of his eyes (alternating which one) and give an excuse of training/an eye condition, and use the Third Eye to analyze his trainers and himself, as an outside perspective is always welcome, and second, he will leave (and maintain) a Third Eye with Villain himself so he can see and learn new things as Villain continues his own plans.

Naturally these instructions take much longer than normal due to Villain's...unique way of speaking, but it also takes less time than it could've. A sign that Khamsin is getting used to his new brother-in-arms.

In the meantime, Villain focuses on his goals and on the situation at hand. Having observed the samurai, Villain sees value in having them on his side, one way or another, and given that his base is in this country, it'd also be good to have a guarantee of safety.

He can of course, attempt subterfuge, win the hearts of certain samurai in various ways and rise up the ranks via favors and via organizing a coup of sorts, or he can simply fight, utilizing the Magnetism function on his gauntlets, best the head of the samurai, Mifune, in combat, earn his respect, and/or take control of this country and the army of samurai. Or...he can try to strike a deal of convenience with Mifune, maybe provide a service, make a deal that mutually benefits both sides, such as...mass production of firearms and ammo. Not only does this give him the ability to re-up, but it strengthens the samurai from long range and gives them a further advantage over any meddling ninja.

And of course, Villain can put the issue on the shelf and simply leave to look for another recruit. From his readings in the Sand Village, the Leaf is full of great clans which could yield young fighters with potential, including what should be a jinchuuriki if the Nine Tails Fox attack, dated just 12 years ago, is anything to go by. On the other hand, the Cloud is known to be the strongest of the villages, with the most military power, and they...look most like him in skin tone. Perhaps in a world where that is rare, he could use that to his advantage. The Rock is second, and the Mist...well they just had a purging of their bloodlines it seems, so that can swing to either extreme as far as worthy candidates go.

He could even return to the Sand Village...though that would be fairly risky as they would soon notice their distinct lack of a demon host, who also happens to be the Kazekage's son.

So what will he do...

[] Appear from the shadows and surprise Mifune
[] Ambush Mifune and take him down
[] Meet with Mifune face to face (diplomatically)
[] Challenge Mifune head up (to a fight)
[] Subtly contact the other samurai, see what they need/want
[] Shelve any issues in the Land of Iron and leave to another country

 

[Black King]

Before contacting their leader, Villain decides to...get the lay of the land a bit. He starts by contacting other samurai, both high and low ranking, under an alias, and of course by letter. Ironically, if he met them in person, with his signature mask and attire, he wouldn't be able to disguise himself. The letters are basic and probing, asking about life in Iron Country, framing himself as an investor at times, a samurai hopeful at others.

What he found was...

As an investor, the samurai don't want too much. They have what they feel to be good leadership, good money, a nice amount of resources, and they feel relatively safe...the only exception being...the Ninjas. Samurai aren't dumb and while they train exclusively to counter ninjas, moving fast enough to interrupt their handseals and what not, they can't help but to notice the advantage that ninja have from range, and with their monstrous outliers.

What can a samurai do to a man who can summon a mountain of wood in a split second? If they're close, they can cut off his hands and/or his head. But if they're far away...

They're helpless. And in that case, when confronted by someone as great as Hashirama Senju, could they even cut off his hands? Would they be quick enough? Strong enough? Good enough? And he's not the only one. Over the years, the ninja have gotten weaker, yes, but they still produce monsters that seem...difficult for any samurai to contend with. Like Itachi Uchiha. Orochimaru. A the Raikage, and so on. Most of what they call 'Kage-level' ninja would pose a grave threat to almost the entire samurai forces and if they banded together...it could get ugly.

That is the main concern of the other samurai, and it is a concern Villain can help with. Ninjas were quick, but for the most part, bullets are quicker. And given his skirmish with Khamsin, who has yet to be damaged by any ninja that he fought, yet who's sand wasn't strong and fast enough to withstand a barrage of his .50 caliber rounds...guns would be very effective.

So that's nice to know. And while Mifune, their current leader seems...unbothered by the ninjas, he would be the opposite. Active and anti-ninja to the fullest. Even if his reasoning was simply for conquest.

On the 'fellow' samurai side, the main issue is the lack of training, or so they say. While samurai train every day, and sharpen their swords both physical and mental, the training is very...focused. Normally that would make sense, but with the threat of the Ninja World breathing down their neck, some would like more broad training, such as countering genjutsu.

Villain could also help with that...once he himself learned it. So again, he's confident in his ability to resolve these samurai issues. The question is...how does he go about doing it?

[] Continue to press upon these samurai's concerns and offer his solutions, his promises if made leader
[] Bring these concerns to Mifune, diplomatically
[] Usurp the role of their leader by defeating Mifune in battle
[] Go in person to these samurai and see how much support he can gather

 

[Black King]

"Mifune, your leadership has come into question, it's time that the samurai receive God's Blessing, defending, against shinobi with God's weapons."

Villain issues the challenge, not just to Mifune's face, but to the entire surrounding area, as he projects his voice via his mask. Instantly, the other samurai are alert, vigilant in their search for this new (possible) threat, swords drawn, and eyes peeled. Leading the charge is Mifune, having come out of his 'office' and into the trenches.

Saving them the time, Villain chooses to reveal himself, dropping down in front of Mifune, all but declaring his presence as his challenger.

"Who are you? And what business do have here?" Mifune asks calmly, hand inching towards his blade. Villain cocks his head to the side and takes his time to look and analyze his environment. Right now he and Mifune are in a confined space, near buildings and alleyways, and Mifune is backed by at least fifty of his men. If they fought now...it'd be entirely to Villain's advantage, and that...just isn't fair.

"I am the Black Sun, tamer of the Desert Wind, stay your hand on your sword, if we rumble I would win. We should move to an open space, so your resistance is less feeble, The man with no face, I hear the grievance of your people, and wish to lead you."

Mifune furrows his brow at the...strange words from this strange, masked man. It takes an extra second to decipher the meaning, and even then...something is missing. It then dawns on him.

"So you are the one contacting my men." He states clearly. It seems the men answered Villain's inquiries, but did not keep them a secret. Mifune either picks up on these thoughts, or just assumes that the question will be asked as he responds to them with a bit of a chuckle. "Did you think that my men would betray me so easily? They may have wants and fears and such, but they are still loyal soldiers, samurai in name and in heart, which means they have honor." He explains. "So if you wish to take me down, do not expect to win command of them, unless you do it honorably. In a duel with no interference."

"The Sun rises again, and moves towards an open field, if his rays burn here, the man who just spoke will be yoked and killed. We can duel once there, metal clashing and blood spilling, but I cannot promise honor, as there's no honor amongst Villains." Villain again asserts his point, before making his move to a more open area. Mifune hesitates, but eventually turns to his men and signals, telling half of them to follow, and the rest to gather the other samurai.

Mifune is only a few seconds behind Villain, as they reach a clearing, devoid of buildings and civilians, but it takes a few minutes for the other samurai to catch up. As they arrive, they slowly form a circle around the two, and Mifune draws his sword and points it towards his masked opponent.

"This...villain has challenged me for the right to rule the samurai and thus the Land of Iron. I have accepted with some hesitance due to his strange words and his strange manner, but I have accepted nonetheless. May the best man win!" He shouts loudly, letting every samurai in the vicinity hear his voice and understand his declaration. Mifune then re-sheathes his sword and takes his stance, as he nods to another, high ranking samurai in the crowd. The samurai nods back and draws his word, raising it in the air.

"Now begins the duel between Mifune and the masked man." He then lowers his sword in a swift movement. "BEGIN!"

Mifune's grip tightens on his sword and his pupils seem to dilate as he watches his unknown opponent closely. Villain...

[] Pulls out his Desert Eagles and begins blasting
[] Uses the Magnetism on his gauntlet to disarm Mifune the moment he attempts to attack
[] Uses two shotguns this time to force the samurai back
[] Shoots a fireball from his gauntlet
[] Uses the lightning from his gauntlet
[] Equips his EMP Gun to try to KO his opponent
[] Slowly leaks chlorine gas from his gauntlet, hoping to poison his opponent
[] Waits for his opponent to make a move...

 

[Black King]

Villain pulls out two foreign weapons (as far as Mifune is concerned), long, seemingly heavy, with a strange design to them. Mifune's eyes notice a trigger of sorts that needs to be pulled, and he can't help but to notice the barrel of the gun, a hole from which something is clearly meant to come out.

These observations, along with Mifune's honed senses and incredible speed, keep the head samurai alive as the first volley of bullets make their way towards him. CLANG! SLICE! Mifune dodges the first of the bullets by instinct, but has no such luck with the other two. Not expecting supersonic projectiles, Mifune is nearly caught off guard, as he just barely deflects one of the bullets off of his sword, and slices the other in two before it can reach him. It all happens in less than a second, and by the end of it, Mifune's heart is pounding, threatening to claw its way out of his chest from the excitement and stress.

Even so, the strongest of the samurai and current leader of the Land of Iron makes his move, dashing swiftly towards Villain, attempting to disarm him and possibly behead him with his sword. In less than a second, Mifune is upon the masked man, sword merely inches from his arms, and even with that on his side, he can't help but to feel uneasy.

BANG! A shot comes right for Mifune's head, cutting him off mid-charge, forcing him to block the bullet. BANG! Another one follows and it's all Mifune can do, to crouch to the ground to avoid it. BANG! Another comes, and Mifune is forced to jump, not a great place to be given his opponent's choice of weapon, and so Mifune must make it count. Bringing his sword back, he prepares to descend upon his enemy and slice him in two, hoping his armor will protect him from the projectiles for the time being.

"Block, slice, and dodge my shots, with bullets glancing, then charge The Mask, as your sword swings in tandem. In an ancient times the Villain almost fell to the tantrum, your fatal flaw is you are not as fast as the Phantom." Villain speaks as he raises his guns and begins firing on his airborne opponent. Luckily for Mifune, he's more useful alive than dead, and thus the countless shots fired are aimed more at his sword, than anything else.

BANGBANGBANG! As Mifune tries to swing his sword, it's met with a bullet, and then another, and then another, knocking said weapon from his grasp. Mifune's eyes widen as he draws nearer and nearer to his deadly opponent, without a weapon of his own, and without much of a choice of what to do next. Being an experienced warrior, Mifune can fight without his sword, and it looks like he's forced to do so, as he attempts to shift his weight into a flying kick of some sort.

BANG! The bullet grazes his leg, causing Mifune to hiss in pain. BANGBANG! His arms are hit as well as he lands in a heap in front of Villain. He looks desperately for his sword, only to find it nowhere to be seen. Did his opponent do something to it? Did the force of the projectile send it flying that far? Breathing heavy, Mifune feels Death is upon him, and wishes to speak his final words.

"Wait!" He yells loudly, hopefully interrupting his execution. "I acknowledge that I have lost but...please allow me a few words before I am sent to Death." Villain's emotions are unreadable through his mask, but he does not raise either gun to finish Mifune off. Instead he speaks.

"You can't be sent to what stands in front of you, but speak if you must, with an easel and brush." The former head of the samurai nods as he swallows his spit. He would bow properly with his hands placed together if he could, but the pain in his limbs prevented that.

"Thank You. First, I ask that you maintain the peace between samurai and ninja. I...we do not have the numbers nor the power to sustain a war with the shinobi. Second, I ask that you take good care of my men, as they deserve the best. And third...you mentioned someone that nearly defeated you in battle. A phantom. Before I die, I'd like to know who nearly succeeded where I failed?" Villain stares at his defeated foe, letting silence reign for a good minute, before answering.

"In this case, the Mask will be honest. Your first request cannot be promised. To the second, that is the plan, with the resources that I will have at hand. As long as they remain loyal, they will sow fertile soil. The third question is where you ask the most. Unknown to you, the White Phantom moved so fast he could float. Leader of the Killer Bees, the one named Ghost."

Mifune doesn't fully understand all of it, but he nods his head nonetheless, accepting his fate.

With that handled, Villain...

[] Kills Mifune, making an example out of him
[] Assigns him a new role: as Khamsin's trainer
[] Exiles the former Head of the Land of Iron
[] Commands him to kill himself to restore his honor
[] Pretends to ask him to kill himself, but if he goes through with it, stop him
[] Lets/Asks the samurai what they wish his fate to be
[] Gives Mifune a high level mission, to prove himself worthy of returning to the Land of Iron

 

[Black King]

"The sight of The Mask, can send ten men to flee. You wield your sword well, but wasn't much of a worthy enemy. The Black Sun shines endlessly, even when it rains. A samurai at heart, but you're no Ghost or Crane. Shame. But still you can help the Desert Winds to train."

Villain gives his commands and Mifune...almost gets it this time. Bowing his head, and thanking him for the second chance at life. With that done, Villain dismisses the gathered crowd and lets them know that he is starting on his plans to arm them all with weapons.

"Disperse the crowd, until I call you back to me. For now, I'll get started on creating the gun factory. Armed to the teeth from range, it'll seem strange, once the Black Sun brings the Land of Iron into his reign."

The gathered samurai murmur amongst themselves, some confused, others excited to see and use these 'guns' that had such force that they knocked Mifune's sword from his hand. If it's that good, and that fast, not even the shinobi would stand a chance against them.

While their thinking is partially correct, Villain knows that the key to fighting firearms is simply knowing what they are and getting used to them. Mifune is fast enough to block and dodge bullets, and if he knew about Desert Eagles, especially .50 cals with their gross power, he'd know better than to block and to make the moves he made. Ghost, Crane, the Black Reaper, and even Thriller, all knew how to battle against bullets, and it made them much harder foes.

It'll take weeks to get the factories built, even though Villain can sketch the easy-to-use blueprints in minutes. Luckily the Land of Iron has the correct equipment, so that lowers the time, and samurai are generally far more fit than construction workers.

That said, the Land of Iron is effectively conquered, and Villain can passively run it just fine while searching for more prospects, or he can take his time to invest, do something he didn't do as Death, and make a true, powerful base of operations, advancing the land, and further advancing his samurai.

What does Villain decide?
[] Stay and further build the Land of Iron with technology
[] Go out searching for more prospects
- [] in Konoha
- [] In Suna
- [] In Kumo
- [] In Kiri
- [] In Iwa
- [] Write In
[] Visit Suna to let them know that the Kazekage's son is in his possession
[] Travel to another land to conquer
- [] Konoha
- [] Suna
- [] Kumo
- [] Kiri
- [] Iwa
- [] Rice/Sound
- [] Hot Springs
- [] Waterfall
- [] Tea
- [] Rain
- [] Grass
- [] Write In

 

[Black King]

Villain quietly makes his way out of the Land of Iron, after checking on Khamsin's progress. Khamsin seems to have gotten the hang of the basics of samurai-fighting and has become far more physically fit than before, and far more skilled. Strangely enough his strength appears to have increased a lot, likely due to the weight of the sword he's been given and how much he has to swing it.

And given that he doesn't sleep, and recovers faster than normal due to his status as a Jinchuuriki...it puts his growth in a clearer perspective. In a few months, Villain has no doubt that Khamsin could be a full fledged samurai, on top of his other abilities.

And now it's time, for the Masked Villain to make his way into the land of civil war, crossing water, crossing war zones, and such, to reach the Land of Water, and the Village known as the Bloody Mist. As unseen as the Truth, Villain slips into the village area and...peruses and probes. The surroundings are a mess, with destroyed and withering buildings, bodies on the street, and people fleeing one way or another every few minutes.

With a few promises of possible protection, Villain is able to interrogate the people and the fleeing ninja to figure out where his wares could be. He's looking to recruit ninja after all, younger ninja, with potential, but all he's seen are more seasoned shinobi moving around. That, and powerless people.

Piecing together the information he's given, Villain figures that there's no longer a mere 'war' going on, with exterminating bloodlines and those who would rise up against the Mizukage, but a full blown, actual civil war, fit with a rebellion faction. The rebels appear to be gaining ground by the second, and Yagura, the Mizukage, is lashing out as a result. So while it should be safer around the area, it is actually far more volatile, at least for the time being.

Putting that aside, he hears of two possible paths to travel, one to a farmer's town where they say a young child with a rare bloodline has escaped. And another, to an abandoned forest where supposedly an evil spirit has taken residence, one who has taken the form of a child. There's mismatching info on just what the spirit is, from a phantom to a vampire to an oni to a zombie, but Villain is pretty sure this is yet another child who's simply trying to survive, maybe one protecting something.


But before he can choose which way to go, it appears he is discovered. Blocking his path is...

[] A meek looking boy with glasses and blue hair, wielding a wide, twin sword with curved indentations.
[] A small child wielding an incredibly large sword, nearly twice the size of an average man. With him is a young girl, older than him, armed with a...bow and arrow

 

[Black King]

The meek looking boy adjusts his glasses as he speaks.

"I'm sorry but...Lady Mei said I can't let anyone past. Especially outsiders." He murmurs quietly. Villain says nothing as he watches the boy palm the hilts of his double-sided blade. The child brings his sword in front of him, leaving its wraps on, as he seems to wait for the Masked Man to make his move. Villain however does not move a muscle. The boy seems content to just wait it out for a decent while, but when entire minutes pass of just silence and stillness...he seems to take that as his cue.

With some decent speed, the boy attacks, swinging his strange sword at his opponent. Barely adjusting his position, Villain dodges the blow, still analyzing, and not even bothering to draw a weapon. The boy rushes in at a faster speed, trying to get behind Villain, but again Villain dodges the blow, simply moving his head despite not even looking behind him.

The boy furrows his brow as he continues to swipe and slash at this mysterious man, and miss every time he does so. Finally he puts some chakra into his blade, unraveling the wraps, and swings it down with enormous force.

Or...he tries to.

Before he can swing it to far, he feels cold metal on his forehead as two Desert Eagles are placed in the center of his brow. Gasping in surprise at not just the possible attack, but the cold sensation and the heaviness of the somewhat small weapon, the meek boy jumps back swiftly to avoid what may be a less than generous fate. He exhales deeply to steady himself again. Villain only tilts his head.

"As someone young and inexperienced, you can't beat me. That was your one and only freebie, so flee me."

What is Villain's next move?
[] Actually use his guns to incapacitate the boy (non-lethal)
[] Use his guns lethally
[] Knock him out with the EMP Gun
[] Utilize the lightning from his gauntlet
[] See how water and steel does against Fire
[] Ask the boy why he fights?
[] Insist the boy go get backup
[] Employ Magnetism to disarm the meek boy of his only weapon

 

[Black King]

Before he ends the child's life, Villain is...curious. What would possess one as young and as meek as this boy to take up arms against him? Or even in general? He had to know...

"In this and every world, might makes right, and I have more power, so before I send you to the light, tell the Black Sun why you fight?"

The meek boy shakes in...fear? And anticipation, nervousness as the Masked Man before him questions his motives. He swallows and steels himself, hardening himself to be much like his twin sword (s). With a determined look, he answers.

"I fight for her. Mei...the soon-to-be-new Mizukage. I...believe in her. In her power, in her heart, in her goodness, in...her. And if it's for her, I will continue to fight. Always." He relays. Villain tilts his head. Interesting.

What is Villain's next move?

[] Use magnetism to disarm the boy
[] Shoot him and end this
[] Let the boy go, but ask for an audience for this...Mei
[] Ask for an audience with this Mei, after his business here is completed
[] Rain fire upon the boy
[] Shock him with lightning from the gauntlet

 

[Black King]

A fanatic like him, one who believes deeply in their ideology, whether it be following another person, or another object, or just a way of life...is dangerous. And any fanatic that is not dedicated towards Villain himself, nor his cause...must be eliminated.

"You fought bravely for your future Mizukage and friend. But this is the end." Before the boy can say or do much, Villain raises a single Desert Eagle, and pulls the trigger. BANG! The boy falls in a single headshot and collapses, his body destined to go cold as it lies lifeless on the ground.

If only the boy were less vigilante, less loyal, less inspired...he may have lived. But he wasn't, and thus he had fallen to the Mask. Villain continues on his path.

Back to his original reason for coming to the Mist, Villain remembers what he's been told. About the farmer's town and about the vampire in the forest. Both sound promising...but he must make a choice.

[] Go to the farmer's village
[] Travel through the forest
[] Try both (more likely to encounter another Mist Ninja on either side)

 

[Black King]

[Z] Try both (more likely to encounter another Mist Ninja on either side)

Villain calmly stalks down into the abandoned forest, where the stench of blood is heavy. The forest is dark, in contrast to the rest of the country, and the entire thing looks like something out of a horror movie. The trees aren't barren, but they are...miscolored and corrupted. The leaves are pale grey with red stems, and what appear to be...veins flowing through them, and the ground, the grass itself is very similar.

The moon shines bright in this forest, even though the sun is out, and the air, especially closer to ground level, is filled with mist, both white and red/bloody. Unaffected, Villain continues his march forward, eyes straight ahead as he moves towards his destination, towards his possible future recruits.

They had reported that a phantom, a ghost of sorts was here, and Villain can see why, despite picking up no such signature. This area does feel haunted, and even has the appearance, so whoever dwells here either cares a lot for atmosphere, or their powers automatically takes care of that for them. Or a combination of both.

Villain can't bring himself to care, not yet, not before he takes his time to actually meet this possible charge of his. The charge may be like Khamsin, misunderstood, or they may simply be out of control, unable to stop...whatever this is, or maybe they enjoy it, and want people to fear them. All of it is speculation, until he meets them.

And so Villain continues to walk, on the look out for something, anything, for any sign of what he's looking for...and he finds it. Deep within the forest, nearly in the center of it, sits what looks like a young child, around Khamsin's age if not slightly older, with long black hair, pale grey skin, and blood red eyes. He is surrounded by several Mist Shinobi and appears to be...feral, desperate, with fangs bared and ready to attack. The intent to murder is extreme, washing over the area in thick, viscous waves, and the boy does not appear to be taking any prisoners, evident of the bloodless corpses of previous Mist Shinobi that litter the ground. The living Mist Shinobi appear to be somewhat...frightened, Villain can smell it, and they are warily approaching the youth with kunai drawn.

From Villain's estimation, there is one jounin here and six chunin, with no one willing to waste a single genin on what would be a suicide mission for them. Not even a Kage could protect them from the kind of killing intent that the young boy is currently exhibiting, nor could they likely stop the genin from dying in any type of fight.

Villain also notes that there are...other shinobi, hidden deep in the trees, watching the entire thing go down. None of them had seen him yet, and so he has time to decide his next move. But not too much time, as if he waits long enough, the boy with no doubt be forced to fight.

What will he do?

[] Help the boy
- [] With guns
- [] With fire
- [] With lightning
[] Just watch, this could be...educational
[] Warn the boy of the Shinobi in the trees
[] Try to talk it out with these Mist Shinobi. He won't mind taking the child off their hands
[] Attack the shinobi hidden in the trees
[] Ignore the ninja and talk with the boy