Xuanguan (044)

[ZK]

Xuanguan



Lush green meadows cover this area from the hillsides to the valleys, where rivers run down into a basin creating a winding system of streams and babbling brooks. These hills of grass are a beautiful emerald colour and create a serene, peaceful portrait of untouched scenery as they sway in the breeze. The communities here are idyllic villages, often surrounded by quant fields.
​

 

[Vayne]

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---

Aurelius continues his travel and rests at a rather friendly village. He hears whispers of intriguing things happening in the world right now, igniting his drive to push forward. He would leave the location and continue moving on towards the edge of the continent.


LLM to Qingshui (042)

 

[Eos]

Coming from Kokkyō (43)​

The thickness of the forestation began to thin, Kenichi tried his best to stay within the shadows of the trees, listening closely to the sounds around him for any signs of someone else following Yanai. They soon began to reach Xuanguan, and Kenichi hesitated at the tree line as his employer walked out into a field of planted rice. The man looked around, taking another drink from his flask. Kenichi heard rustling from the bushes to the side and a hooded figure emerged.

"Well, I was hoping to jump you before you left the woods, but here we are." The man shrugged, pulling a blade from the holster on his back. It was a large sword decorated with teeth and bones. Kenichi followed suit, making his presence known and seperating Yanai from the assassin.

The assassin smirked. "Well, well. I should have known you had a rat trailing you." He paused, frowning slightly and pointing his blade at Kenichi. "Good job concealing your smell," he said with a whiff to the air. "Say, I'll split the bounty if you help me take 'em out."

Kenichi was no fool. He'd kill him as soon as the job was done, not that he would have even considered it.The young Hyuuga lowered his stance. "I'll have to pass on that." He eyed the man cautiously, inching closer with a kunai held sturdily in his hand.

The assassin shrugged, disappointed. "Can't say I didn't try." He charged forward, the heavy blade splitting the ground behind him as it dragged. Kenichi followed up, throwing a barrage of kunai at his enemy. The assassin lifted his blade above him, and the sound of several kunai hitting the metal sounded in the fields around them.

While his blade was above him, blocking sight of Kenichi, the Hyuuga. The assassin was brought to his knee and Kenichi charged forward. As he neared the man slung his giant sword, breaking the earth of the ground and blinding Kenichi briefly. The weight of the sword didn't allow for the assassin to follow up, and Kenichi jumped backward to regain his vision.

The man was already charging toward Kenichi again, and his speed was surprising giving the sheer size of the blade he wielded. The assassin swung several times with heavy blows. Despite them being slow, their impact shredded the ground making Kenichi's steps awkward. The gorilla tactics that the man used were difficult to dodge and the hits were heavy. The blade scraped along the side of Kenichi's thigh, barely hitting the muscles. Luckily his blade stuck to the ground, giving the Hyuuga boy a chance to counterattack. Kenichi formed the needed seals, creating pillars to surround the assassin. He made them close enough so that he couldn't move well within the prison.

"Damn you!" the man shouted, wriggling within the rock pillars the limited the movement from within. It seemed he was primarily a Kenjutsu user.

"Now that that's settled, I have a few questions for you," Kenichi said, taking a kunai from his pouch and pressing it against the neck of the man.

The assassin scoffed. "You want to know who paid for Yanai's head?" Kenichi scowled, pressing the blade closer. "Why should I tell you? I tell you and I don't get another job that pays like this."

Kenichi clenched his jaw, "Won't get another job at all if I kill you here." The assassin hesitated, eyeing Kenichi for signs of bluffing. The blade only cut deeper, beginning to draw blood at the neck.

"They both paid me."

"What?!" A voice from behind called out, Yanai stepped forward, "You're a filthy liar!"

"And why would I like? Look, scum, they want you dead. No supplier, no war. No war, they're children get to keep living." Yanai gritted his teeth then looked away.

"All they want is to end their contracts then?" He said confused, "Why the hell didn't they just ask in the first place?"

The assassin shrugged, "Hell if I know, but they probably blame you for all the blood they've spilled. A job's a job though. I don't ask why."

Kenichi lowered his kunai from the man's throat and turned his attention to Yanai. "You have your answer, now what?"

The burly man stood silent for a brief moment, "I guess I'll move on. There's no living if I go back. They surround my forge from both sides." It obviously wasn't the answer he was looking for, but with two families with a price on his head, Kenichi knew he wasn't wrong either. Yanai's eyes turned to Kenichi. "And what about him?"

Kenichi turned towards the man within the prison. "Do with him what you want, but by the time he gets out of here, you'll be long gone."

"You're just going to leave me in here?" the assassin complained.

"My job is done."

(Ninpo: Kakuu no mai ) - Ninja Art: Aerial Dance
Rank:D
Type: Offensive
Range: short - mid
Chakra cost: 10
Damage points: 20
Description: The user will release several barrages of kunai at their opponent.

Fuuton: Eabora [Wind Style: Air Bola]
Type: Offensive
Rank: D-Rank
Range: Medium
Chakra: 10
Damage: 20
Description:
Utilizing the Fuuton element the user performs a grasping motion with their hand, typically aimed at the legs of an opponent. Creating a gust of wind and then pulling it back, the wind acts as a suction that can be used to sweep the legs of an enemy ninja. While this does not cause any damage to the opponent, it can be used to knock them off balance.

(Doton: Ganchūrō no Jutsu) - Earth Release: Rock Pillar Prison Technique
Type: Supplementary/Defensive
Rank: C
Range: Short/Mid
Chakra Cost: 15
Damage Points: N/A
Description: After performing the required hand seals Rat → Horse → Dog → Snake and they then create a large amount of rock pillars to rise from under ground. They can then be controlled to surround their opponent and create a bamboo-like prison of rock.

End Mission, LLM.​

 

[Vegeta]

https://animebase.me/threads/zhouhua-041.755858/#post-21862063

Continuing moving, Vegeta could see home with his Byakugan now. Boitata keeps moving on course..

LLM

 

[Typhon]

Coming from here.

---

The rolling hills were quite peaceful and relaxing, yet Isoka had to keep moving.

-LLM

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[Goetia]

Coming from here: [x]

Ozymandias makes his way through the area, admiring the lushness of the environment. Though it couldn't compare to the splendour of his home country, it certainly was a sight to behold.

– LLM

 

[ZK]

Coming from Seocheon.

Hawke and Co. travel through Xuanguan.

- Leaving for LM 043.

 

[Mirai 👑]

Coming from: https://animebase.me/threads/ansong-045.755862/post-22096079

Skyla continues to travel.

LLM

 

[Zaphkiel]

Coming from here.

---

After moving silently through the dense woodland around Castle Black, Konoe and Oisha came upon the once-verdant and idyllic fields of Xuanguan to find it littered with bodies and torches and gleaming weapons as the same dark clouds hovered overhead. The sound of all their voices and marching feet caused Konoe to drop his stance and grip his sword. He glanced to his side and found that Oisha had already employed his abilities to erase his presence, appearing as a 'faded' image.

He remained standing, his expression--what little Konoe could make of it--was menacing. "They've taken Gyerseong."

"Looks that way. And the Xuan meadows are next."

Oisha gripped the handle of one of his swords strapped to his back. "Not if the Ronin can help it."

"Patience, Oisha," Konoe said without looking. "You said they despised Madara, right? Well he's not here anymore. Last I heard he got mixed up with that Void goddess-thing. Trust me, if he were here I'd be marching right alongside them. What he's done cannot be forgiven..."

"Commander, these people are not here for peaceful resolution. Look at them." The contempt in his voice lingered on the air for a moment as Konoe watched the villagers swarm a farm whilst setting fire to the crops. Some distance away, another home went up in a spectacular show of flames that illuminated the dim scenery. "We deal with it now. End this before they spread," Oisha finished. Konoe heard the hilt of his blade slide against its scabbard.

"Patience, Oisha."

Konoe did not enjoy the Ronin's pessimism most of the time, and now was no less. His way of doing things often only accounted for himself and his crew; Anything to evolve and become stronger--to hell with everyone else. The Red Fever from not-so-long-ago served as a strong reminder for Konoe about this dangerous affinity, and though Oisha has proven himself since then, it never left his thoughts that he ought to be careful with any orders he could give in this moment.

"I need you to send a message and I want it posted on every major signpost and town square your hawks can reach: I'm looking for good people, abled people. Anyone who is willing to help us defend the Hidden Valley from itself. We don't have nearly enough Black Ones to quell this by ourselves, and the alternative would be a total massacre."

"It's what they're looking for."

"But I'm not looking for that. They're pissed off, and I understand where they're coming from. Of course I don't agree with... with all this." Konoe gestured to the burning fields with both hands. "This is just absurd. But if we can retake these territories or even fortify the other ones ahead of time, we could quell this rebellion in quickest, most painless way."

Oisha appeared to consider this for what felt like minutes. Finally, he said, "You're the Commander." He then made sharp whistle which summoned a hawk from the tree-line behind them almost instantly, which made Konoe wonder if it had always been there watching... listening. The bird landed on his forearm, a sight that was puzzling to the senses due to Oisha's ghost-like visage, and he jotted the message down on a small piece of paper before stuffing it in the hawk's carrier pouch and hoisting it back into the sky.

So that's how the Ronin relayed information throughout Fire Country so quickly... Konoe mused to himself.

"Done. Now what?"

"Now we gather the Black Ones and begin fortifying our territories."

"What about Xuanguan?"

"That will be the task of our volunteers along with help from Kaida and a few Black Ones. The goal is not to kill these people, but rather drive them back and then corner them into negotiations. For that reason I cannot assign you here. I need you back at Castle Black on logistics--Got a feeling this uprising is just a fraction of our problems."

"Tch!" Oisha snapped and turned toward the trees. "We cannot trust outsiders, Commander. You saw what happened with Madara." And then without waiting for a response he vanished from view.

Konoe sighed and released the tension in his shoulders. His mission was considerably harder than Oisha's. He had to ensure the entire Hidden Valley's safety. Oisha's priorities were considerably smaller--he just would not understand the Lord Commander's decisions. At least not right now. "I just hope your birds get the message out, because we need all the help we can get."

 

[Joon]

Arc X: Heaven's Descended Changes

DEFENDER
ARRIVAL: Spawned
Bio: Sun and Moon

---

Sun arrives first, stepping out of the smoke-hazed meadows with a slow, deliberate stride. His eyes narrow at the burning fields and the marching rebels. His voice is low and edged as he says, “So this is what has become of Xuanguan… pathetic.”

Moon arrives moments later, descending from above like a falling petal. He lands beside Sun without making a sound, his tone colder and almost disappointed. “This isn’t justice. It’s grief pretending to be purpose.”

Together, they move toward the conflict—Sun walking straight through the flames while Moon glides along Sun's shadows, embedding himself into Sun's body. They are two halves of the same intent, arriving as a quiet warning before the storm.

 

[Zaphkiel]

Arc X: Heaven's Descended Changes

DEFENDER
ARRIVAL: Spawned
Bio: Sun and Moon

---

Sun arrives first, stepping out of the smoke-hazed meadows with a slow, deliberate stride. His eyes narrow at the burning fields and the marching rebels. His voice is low and edged as he says, “So this is what has become of Xuanguan… pathetic.”

Moon arrives moments later, descending from above like a falling petal. He lands beside Sun without making a sound, his tone colder and almost disappointed. “This isn’t justice. It’s grief pretending to be purpose.”

Together, they move toward the conflict—Sun walking straight through the flames while Moon glides along Sun's shadows, embedding himself into Sun's body. They are two halves of the same intent, arriving as a quiet warning before the storm.

Seeing two individuals arrive from out of the tree-line, Konoe watched from his perch on a nearby boulder as they marched toward the chaos unfolding in the fields below. They didn't look particularly capable but he already knew how deceptive a shinobi's talents could be, especially with chakra involved. Still, they looked unprepared...

"Hey!" he called out to the two. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you. Unless you're one of Oisha's men, then by all means."

 

[Kooljay]

Coming from X

---

Branches parted as she dashed through the canopy, her movement a silent blur between limbs as she closed in on the smoke filled valley of Xuanguan. Below, the fields burned. Voices carried through the wind. Torches. Steel. Chaos.

Her eyes caught two figures near the treeline just as a hawk disappeared into the sky. She slowed. One final step across a branch, then a controlled drop to the edge of the scorched grass, landing without a sound. Ash stirred faintly around her feet as she straightened, gaze already fixed on them. Calm. Measured. Uncertain. She saw hawks above that matched the one that brought her the scroll at the Uchiha Hideout. Perhaps they were the ones who sent it...

“I saw the hawk leave,” she said evenly. Her eyes briefly flicked skyward, then back to them. “But I don’t know who sent it.”

A small pause, the distant crackle of burning crops filling the silence.

“You’re not with the rioters,” she added, more as a deduction than a question.

Her stance remained relaxed, yet ready.

“So before I decide how to proceed… Are you here to stop what’s happening in Xuanguan?”

Her gaze shifted toward the burning fields.

“Or just watching it unfold?”

 

[Zaphkiel]

Coming from X

---

Branches parted as she dashed through the canopy, her movement a silent blur between limbs as she closed in on the smoke filled valley of Xuanguan. Below, the fields burned. Voices carried through the wind. Torches. Steel. Chaos.

Her eyes caught two figures near the treeline just as a hawk disappeared into the sky. She slowed. One final step across a branch, then a controlled drop to the edge of the scorched grass, landing without a sound. Ash stirred faintly around her feet as she straightened, gaze already fixed on them. Calm. Measured. Uncertain. She saw hawks above that matched the one that brought her the scroll at the Uchiha Hideout. Perhaps they were the ones who sent it...

“I saw the hawk leave,” she said evenly. Her eyes briefly flicked skyward, then back to them. “But I don’t know who sent it.”

A small pause, the distant crackle of burning crops filling the silence.

“You’re not with the rioters,” she added, more as a deduction than a question.

Her stance remained relaxed, yet ready.

“So before I decide how to proceed… Are you here to stop what’s happening in Xuanguan?”

Her gaze shifted toward the burning fields.

“Or just watching it unfold?”

Turning from the two who hadn't announced themselves yet, Konoe hopped down from his perch and approached the woman who had so deftly traveled through the forest behind him without a sound. "No, I am most definitely not with the rioters. I'm looking to put an end to their madness instead. I need people like you--capable--of pushing them back and retaking our land. Right now it looks like Xuanguan, Kokkyo, Gyerseong, and the surrounding areas have been... infected by those who seek revenge against a traitor." He paused and looked at the chaos unfolding down below. "It's complicated, to say the least, but as long as you're willing to help you will have backup from the Hidden Valley."

He took a step back from Ash and then pointed at the nearest farmhouse in the rolling rebellion's path. "You can start by fortifying and preventing damage to our people's buildings and lives. I don't necessarily want you to kill the rebels; they're just misguided fools. But you do what you have to. I'm grateful either way." Konoe took a moment to maintain eye contact with the woman, showing his sincerity in those words: if she had to kill to protect, she had all right to do so.

He then took another step back, giving her space to get going while he produces a scroll and begins writing the words that would summon one of his most-trusted, Kaida as well as ten troops. It was all he could muster with the rest of their armed forces stretched across the other provinces in revolt.

 

[Kooljay]

Turning from the two who hadn't announced themselves yet, Konoe hopped down from his perch and approached the woman who had so deftly traveled through the forest behind him without a sound. "No, I am most definitely not with the rioters. I'm looking to put an end to their madness instead. I need people like you--capable--of pushing them back and retaking our land. Right now it looks like Xuanguan, Kokkyo, Gyerseong, and the surrounding areas have been... infected by those who seek revenge against a traitor." He paused and looked at the chaos unfolding down below. "It's complicated, to say the least, but as long as you're willing to help you will have backup from the Hidden Valley."

He took a step back from Ash and then pointed at the nearest farmhouse in the rolling rebellion's path. "You can start by fortifying and preventing damage to our people's buildings and lives. I don't necessarily want you to kill the rebels; they're just misguided fools. But you do what you have to. I'm grateful either way." Konoe took a moment to maintain eye contact with the woman, showing his sincerity in those words: if she had to kill to protect, she had all right to do so.

He then took another step back, giving her space to get going while he produces a scroll and begins writing the words that would summon one of his most-trusted, Kaida as well as ten troops. It was all he could muster with the rest of their armed forces stretched across the other provinces in revolt.

“Understood. So you must have been the one who sent the messenger hawk. I have already quelled uprisings in Kokkyo and Gyerseong.”

Amaterasu’s hand slipped into the folds of her armor as she unrolled the scroll with quiet precision, her eyes briefly scanning the name etched across it before lifting back to him. “Oh, where are my manners. I am Amaterasu Uchiha, here as a representative of the Uchiha Clan.” The scroll was rolled shut just as smoothly and returned to its place, her movements controlled and unhurried despite the chaos spreading across the valley below.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant flames for a moment, the crackling of burning fields reflecting faintly in her eyes, before she refocused on Konoe with the same calm composure she had arrived with. “You have our complete cooperation in protecting these lands.”

As the man performed a summoning jutsu and 10 troops appeared behind him, her expression remained unchanged. “That will not be necessary,” she said evenly. “I work best alone. If need be I will send word back to my clan for reinforcements”

A faint stir of ash shifted at her feet as she adjusted her stance, relaxed yet ready. “Keep your soldiers as they are. There is a great deal of ground to recover, and their presence will be more valuable across the other provinces than clustered here.”

Amaterasu’s ears caught the sounds before her eyes fully settled on the horizon. Splintering wood, distant cries, and the low roar of unchecked flames carried through the wind. Chaos. Destruction. Anarchy. Her gaze shifted and narrowed as a flaming village came into view beyond the fields, thick smoke rising into the sky in slow, curling plumes.

She stood in silence for a brief moment, watching the fire consume rooftops and scatter embers into the air. The glow of the flames reflected faintly in her eyes while ash drifted past her, settling against the scorched grass at her feet. The unrest had not ended here. It had simply spread further than expected.

“It seems there is still work to be done,” she said quietly, her voice even and composed.

Her posture straightened, calm yet resolute, as her focus fixed on the burning settlement. The stillness around her shifted into quiet intent, her presence sharpening as she turned her full attention toward the village, no longer an observer but a shinobi already preparing to move toward the next battlefield.

“I must go. I will return when these lands are safe and free from unrest”

Her voice remained steady, neither hurried nor uncertain, as her gaze lingered briefly on the burning horizon. The distant flames continued to rise, their glow dancing across her eyes as the wind carried the scent of smoke through the valley. There was no hesitation in her stance, only quiet resolve. Then, in the next instance, she vanished in a sudden burst of speed, her presence disappearing from the scorched field as swiftly as it had arrived, leaving behind only drifting ash and the faint disturbance of wind where she once stood as she headed towards the village.

 

[Zaphkiel]

“Understood. So you must have been the one who sent the messenger hawk. I have already quelled uprisings in Kokkyo and Gyerseong.”

Amaterasu’s hand slipped into the folds of her armor as she unrolled the scroll with quiet precision, her eyes briefly scanning the name etched across it before lifting back to him. “Oh, where are my manners. I am Amaterasu Uchiha, here as a representative of the Uchiha Clan.” The scroll was rolled shut just as smoothly and returned to its place, her movements controlled and unhurried despite the chaos spreading across the valley below.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant flames for a moment, the crackling of burning fields reflecting faintly in her eyes, before she refocused on Konoe with the same calm composure she had arrived with. “You have our complete cooperation in protecting these lands.”

As the man performed a summoning jutsu and 10 troops appeared behind him, her expression remained unchanged. “That will not be necessary,” she said evenly. “I work best alone. If need be I will send word back to my clan for reinforcements”

A faint stir of ash shifted at her feet as she adjusted her stance, relaxed yet ready. “Keep your soldiers as they are. There is a great deal of ground to recover, and their presence will be more valuable across the other provinces than clustered here.”

Amaterasu’s ears caught the sounds before her eyes fully settled on the horizon. Splintering wood, distant cries, and the low roar of unchecked flames carried through the wind. Chaos. Destruction. Anarchy. Her gaze shifted and narrowed as a flaming village came into view beyond the fields, thick smoke rising into the sky in slow, curling plumes.

She stood in silence for a brief moment, watching the fire consume rooftops and scatter embers into the air. The glow of the flames reflected faintly in her eyes while ash drifted past her, settling against the scorched grass at her feet. The unrest had not ended here. It had simply spread further than expected.

“It seems there is still work to be done,” she said quietly, her voice even and composed.

Her posture straightened, calm yet resolute, as her focus fixed on the burning settlement. The stillness around her shifted into quiet intent, her presence sharpening as she turned her full attention toward the village, no longer an observer but a shinobi already preparing to move toward the next battlefield.

“I must go. I will return when these lands are safe and free from unrest”

Her voice remained steady, neither hurried nor uncertain, as her gaze lingered briefly on the burning horizon. The distant flames continued to rise, their glow dancing across her eyes as the wind carried the scent of smoke through the valley. There was no hesitation in her stance, only quiet resolve. Then, in the next instance, she vanished in a sudden burst of speed, her presence disappearing from the scorched field as swiftly as it had arrived, leaving behind only drifting ash and the faint disturbance of wind where she once stood as she headed towards the village.

Konoe felt one of his brows quirk all on their own. "Alone, eh?" Whatever humor he might've felt normally showed on his face as a grimace instead. "While I don't like to tell people how to live--or die--I can't leave you to this mess all by yourself." As the Black Ones started appearing out of the treeline one at a time, Konoe motioned to them. "My men won't get in your way, if that's what you want, but keep an eye out for their uniforms because they'll be helping across this and all the other regions of the Hidden Valley."

"Commander," came a voice from the 10-man cell. It was Kaida, dressed as a Black One and armed to the teeth. "What are my orders?"

Konoe turned. "You're here. Perfect. I need you to identify the head of this giant serpent. Who started this revolt? Whether one man or five--I want their names, habits, and plans. No killing, just reconnaissance. I need all my pieces well-positioned before we move in to end this once and for all. Right now I just don't want any more innocent people killed."

"It will be done," Kaida said and disappeared into the forestry.

Konoe then turned back to Ash who was one her way out and said, "Sage's wisdom to you, and thanks again for your help. We'll rendevous here in three days. If you don't see me here, look out for more of those hawks."

Then, once the woman had left, Konoe spoke to the small Hidden Valley militia he had summoned. "Stop the fires and the ones who start them. Ensure that no blood is unjustly spilled, and if it is--deliver karma to the perpetrators. This is our village, and we will not take lightly to usurpers!"

The men roared and saluted in unison and then dispersed into the fields below, leaving Konoe alone again with his thoughts...