Into a new world. [Hikari, Alec, or invite]

A long boat ride... Nauseating, to say the least. The constant bobbing and weaving, the endless up and down. Why did he agree to this again? He was enjoying the quiet peaceful life in Makkura, training to keep his skills sharp, and reading his comic books. The occasional travel here and there, now that things were drama free. Then a letter shows up from Alec, who traveled across the ocean to new shinobi countries, requesting that he and Hikari board the next boat and get to him as quickly as possible, in a village called Kusagakure. Was Alec in trouble?... No, not Alec. Not him of all people. Still, he couldn't help but to feel somewhat worried. Alec didn't go into much detail in his letter, probably on purpose, to lure them over there.

Finally, the long boat ride came to an end, and Kurai, as well as Little Kong, felt relieved to be on solid ground again. there was the travel until they entered a beautiful grassland country the likes of which Kurai had never seen before... It was surely a sight to behold. These lands looked pure and untouched, and seemed to stretch on forever into the horizons. The air smelled fresh, and the warm breeze on his face, ruffling his wild black hair; it made him stand there and bask in it several moments. Even Little Kong seemed to be amazed by what he was seeing. "Hunh... this place... it's something else..."

There was a village before them that seemed empty of people, but Kurai knew someone else was here...

Boats. She hated boats. The tossing, the churning, the fact that if she didn't have Chakra Radar she would've been as useless as a blind puppy. That in itself had been her only saving grace; well, that and knowing that her brother would have likely smashed anyone who even looked at Hikari wrong into a bloody, shapeless pulp.

So, needless to say, Hikari was quite glad to be off of the boat and on solid ground. Even Shiro, who never complained about anything, had voiced not liking the boat ride. Hikari likely wouldn't even have come had it not been for the fact that Alec of all people had asked for them permanently: that said to her that something was up, and she wasn't about to leave him hanging after all he had done for them.

As both of her sensory abilities came into place, the Yanagi's clan sensory through her bare feet, and Chakra Radar that allowed her to see above ground, she got a good glimpse of the area around them and a beautiful village nearby. She found herself wondering why Alec had called them here of all places while the breeze that blew her shoulder length black hair and the trails of her blindfold back caused her to smile."It sure is...", she commented back to Kurai while Shiro, who was now seated on her shoulder and one-arm hugging her head, nodded in agreement.

A black thing sped toward the kids at a blinding rate of speed. Ordinary eyes would not be able to make out what it was; to them it would be just that, a black thing. It zig-zagged back and fourth in an almost god-like fashion as it approached the two kids who were also accompanied by animals.

At the last possible moment, this black thing jumped toward the kids. It slowed as it jumped, and it's form was able to be made out, although not very clearly; the form of a person. Their legs spread as he flew towards the kids, aiming a foot towards each of their heads. Should either foot smash into their craniums, the likelihood of them being knocked unconscious was very high.

Kua said, "We have company."

...Then something was coming toward them. It was fast. Kurai was barely able to get his bag off before whatever this thing was was upon them, aiming to kick him in the face. A warm welcome.

Kurai quickly slammed his right foot upon the ground, causing a wall of Earth to raise before he and his sister. Whatever - or whoever - this thing was would surely kick the wall instead of them. Next, Kurai would execute a "Mossberg 500" kick, which would destroy the wall and very possibly throw this person backwards in a shower of rocks and earth.

Earth Style Wall:

Mossberg 500 Kick:

This would be the time that Kurai would rush forward with Little Kong in tow, his right hand beginning to charge a blue sphere, the chakra leaking behind him as if smoke. Whoever this person was would regret trying to attack him and his sister after only just arriving here...

Chakra: 980/1,000

Shiro let out an unhappy screech of a sound and Hikari found herself happy she had put on the headphones Holeman gave her, or else her sensitive ears might likely have begun ringing. Within her she could feel Ankoku suddenly awaken: and the bijuu was angry. Chakra Radar as well as Shinsai would work wonders in alerting her to what had both the lemur and the bijuu agitated: a black form was speeding straight towards them.

This form suddenly seemed to change, going from looking like it was about to barrel into them, to aiming to kick them both in the head. Shadows suddenly lashed out of her very form itself, generating from herself. These shadows formed tentacle like strands that struck out after her brother had raised up the wall as a defense against the kick aimed at them and then Mossberg kicked the individual in an attempt to snatch him up as they formed hands with fingers.

Shadow Generation:

Shadow Manipulation:

If the black form was indeed snatched up from the air after being thrown backwards the shadows would wrap around the individual, acting like a binding: something far stronger than actual chains: however they wouldn’t squeeze the person, simply attempt to hold them and keep them incapable of moving even an inch. While her twin and Little Kong rushed towards this individual in an attempt to likely give him a nasty beat down she simply walked after them, calmly.

A wall rose, and indeed, he kicked it instead of them. Then the wall would explode because of Kurai's kick, sending him backwards. However the black thing used this momentum while also pushing himself before the wall exploded, now going backwards at a high rate of speed. The black thing did many back flips, staying just out of the range of those black snake things attempting to grab him.

The kid and the monkey were coming. The black thing stopped performing back flips and jumped straight upwards, as to stay away from the snake things from the female. He jumped upwards into the sun shining, to hide his identity... for now.

Hikari was trying to restrain him. It looked as if this person pushed off of the wall before the kick hit, and while speeding toward him Kurai could see him doing back flips. Little Kong attempted to trip him up with one of his "Monkey Balls," but the person jumped upwards before the Fuuton projectile could make contact.

Little Kong:

Monkey Ball:

But he'd now presented himself as a wide open target. Kurai jumped too, headed directly toward him on a collision course, the Big Ball Rasengan fully formed within his right hand. If this person could not change directions while in mid-air, they would fall right into his attack, and do themselves grave injury...

Big Ball Rasengan:

Chakra: 955/1,000

The evasion tactics caused the tendril like shadows to act more aggressively; but alas the individual jumped into the air, apparently sealing his fate as her twin followed suit with his Big Ball Rasengan fully charged. Hikari had no way of knowing if this individual could maneuver themselves within mid-air so that they could avoid her brother’s incoming attack, but Hikari prepared for it nonetheless.

The tendrils, six of them now in total, spread out with three on the left and three on the right, ready to snap out at the man should he attempted to move in either direction: leaving her brother and his attack to come from the front. If the man were to move the tendrils would strike out like snakes once more in an attempt to seize upon the man and wrap around him like living chains.

Hikari’s arms folded across her chest as she continued to manipulate the shadows, and wait and see what would possibly happen next…

The person was holding something in his left hand, something that looked like a stick. As the kid sped toward him on a collision course, he switched hands from left to right. It would look as if the kid would have a direct hit, as it would seem that this person could not maneuver themself while in mid-air.

But alas, he did not have to dodge. As the two came within close range, this person pointed his left hand downward toward the kid and his blue chakra ball, as if to try and catch or grab it. When the kid came close, he would suddenly begin to find his chakra attack absorbed into his hand; more specifically, into two black diamond shapes located on the palm of his hand. And at this range, Kurai would most likely be able to see the blind folded face of Alec Kane, grinning sarcastically at him.

Inhailing Maw:

"Thanks... I always wanted to be able to throw one of these... just never wanted to go through the hassle of trying to learn it."

After a mid-air chuckle, Alec fell backwards into several back flips, eventually landing in a crouch. He stood up straight, adjusting his hair and cloak, before propping both hands atop his polished walking stick as if it were a cane like he usually did.

"Shadows, huh Hikari? That's a new trick. Very interesting..."

Kurai kept his cool even as the Rasengan was absorbed into this person's left hand. He knew of only one person that was capable of absorbing other people's jutsu, and when the Rasengan was gone, he saw that this person was the very person he had in mind. "Alec?... We could have killed you, what are you doing? Why attack us?" he asked after the mid-air chuckle.

Kurai also fell, forwards, into several flips of his own. He landed soon after Alec did, also in a crouch, and stood up. Little Kong made several screeching noises as he ran and jumped around the both of them in circles in excitement. Against friends or foes, the Simian loved a fight, and it had been too long since he'd been in an actual one.

"That can't be why you called us all the way out here, is it? To tussle around with us? That boat ride here was murder, I don't see how you or Artemis did it..."

“…..” Hikari couldn’t believe what she was seeing: this individual absorbed her twin’s Big Ball Rasengan? That explained, quite simply, who it was: at least, unless another person like Alec Kane had suddenly popped up who could absorb things in such a manner. She shook her head as she listened to Alec’s words with her hyper-sensitive ears and then watched through her Chakra Radar as he did a series of backflips and landed; something her brother quickly did as well.

In response to her sudden calmness the tendrils of shadows began to fade away; seeming to be pulled back inside of Hikari where they had originated from to begin with. Grinning now she walked over. Shiro, when Hikari stopped walking, moved up on top of her head where she sat, nomming a berry she had been carrying with her in the little pouch the lemur had tied loosely around its neck.

“No getting berry juice in my hair…”, she muttered up to Shiro before looking back towards Alec and his trademark sarcastic grin. “Really, I was aiming to capture you but what if I had been aiming to crush you? Would’ve never forgiven myself for that.” She then nodded in agreement with her brother’s words over the boat trip here. “Yeah, that’s an understatement. So, why did you call us over here? And where's Artemis?”, she asked curiously.

"Ahhh relax. If thing really got hairy I have my ways of getting around dangerous things. I just thought i'd have a little fun with you two, to see if you kept up with your training, or if you were sitting around getting fat and lazy. I'm glad to see that it isn't the latter."

Alec motioned for them to follow him into the beautiful village; the setting for the upcoming Kage Summit. While walking he pulled his pipe from the inside of his robe, the bowl already filled with green herb and lit it by snapping his left fingers with a small amount of chakra and Katon charged within his middle finger and thumb. He took several drags of the pipe, choking back a cough or two.

"The next chapter of our little shinobi adventure is beginning... and we're well within the first episode. Shortly after arriving here, I found that Mitsukai - as you all know is my grand daughter - is the Kage of Sunagakure, a desert village not very far from here. Art is there at the moment. A letter was delivered to her desk before I arrived, from the Raikage of Kumogakure, requesting a meet to talk of 'peace and an alliance.' Mitsukai had only been Kazekage for a short while, so it seemed quite fishy. I did some digging of my own, and found that through political machinations the Raikage had been traveling around attempting this 'peace and alliance' jazz with almost all of the hidden villages here. So, Art and I paid him a visit. We decided to test him out. We bombed his village, killed some of his shinobi, and I cut him down."

Before the Administration Complex of Kusa, Alec took another hit of his pipe before putting it away again. He grinned at the thought of being able to come here often as a sort of go-between for Kusa and Suna, if they agreed to what he had planned.

"We weren't the only ones there that day, and i'm not the only 'villain' in this shinobi adventure... There are three others here, and while I know you as well as everyone else thinks the world of me, even i'm unsure how i'd fare in a fight with them. There's a Uchiha with a form of Sharingan i've never seen before. He has techniques unheard of, such as the ability to cover himself in black fire, sort of like how Jr can do. There's a little girl, possibly of the Holeman Clan, who will likely be able to see everything and heal most any wound, just like the Holeman we know. And probably the worst of them, Ranmaru. I told you about him. He's here, on this side of the ocean. According to the whispers i've picked up on, they totally destroyed Kumogakure; there's nothing left of the place but ruin and a wasteland..."

Alec walked up the stairs to the doors of the Admin Complex to find that they were open. He stepped inside. There was a smell in the air that reminded him of a library. It wasn't a disgusting smell, just one that signaled that this place had been here for a long while.

"So a summit has been called, similar to the one in Niwa. This village is the setting, as it is neutral ground. It's going to need someone to put on the hat and lead it."

Alec said he just wanted to test them. If it were a serious fight, Kurai didn't know how he'd actually do against Alec. He didn't really want to think about that though; Alec had been nothing but a friend since first entering Makkura that day several years ago. While he and Little Kong followed him into Kusa - after picking his bag back up - they listened to him explain the story so far. The Raikage was trying to ally with every village, even Mitsukai with the fact that she'd only been Kazekage for a short period, which made him look somewhat weak. Alec went to test him and apparently killed the guy.

3 other rouge ninja were there that day, a Uchiha, a Holeman and Ranmaru, the maniac that was there the day Kori was destroyed. Alec admitted that he didn't know how he'd do in a fight against them, making Kurai look somewhat surprised. If Alec had doubts, then those three must have been something serious. They walked through the village and to what looked like the Administration Complex.

Inside, Alec said that a Kage Summit had been called, and that Kusa would be the stage, because it was neutral ground for all of the Hidden Villages. Kusa had no Kage, since Alec said that someone would need to wear the hat. "Alright, so... who's going to be the Kusakage, then?"

Hikari followed after Alec and her brother, adjusting the bag on her own back into a more comfortable position. Shiro, when she finished, climbed down her arm, holding on to her with one arm and her feet while holding several berries out towards Little Kong with her free hand. Hikari just chuckled and continued on after the other two, listening to what Alec was explaining.

Mitsukai had apparently become Kazekage, ruler of Sunagakure. There had been a Raikage, named Daiko, who Alec himself had killed after him and Artemis had gone to Kumogakure to seek out some answers because the Raikage was on this peace-business with Mitsukai even though she had become Kazekage not long before that. Kumogakure had then been destroyed by three other individuals who had nothing to do with Alec or the rest of his people, and Alec wasn’t sure how he’d fair if he went up in a fight against them. This last part caused a frown to appear on Hikari’s normally otherwise always-smiling face. If Alec was unsure how he would fair up against them then what did that say for anyone else?

When they entered into the administrative building Hikari wrinkled her nose slightly and then sneezed; the smell of an un-used building causing a minor irritation to her overly sensitive senses. She ignored the inner itching of her nose as she turned her attention towards Alec; also curious as to who the Kusakage was going to end up being.

"You."

Alec picked up a Kage hat from the nearby receptionist's desk, putting it on Kurai's head. Alec could think of no one better to run this place. Kurai and Hikari didn't belong in Makkuragakure; somewhere that was eternally dark and chilly, they belonged here, where the sun rose and set, where it was warm and bright. This would be their home, and the beginning of their own story.

"This place, it's gorgeous... untouched, pure. I can think of no one better to protect this place. You're a Jinchuuriki as well as a friend of the sages, Kurai. You're a marvelous fighter. You have Earth techniques i've never even heard of before, and let's not forget that Dust Release; no one else over here can pull off something like that. And before either of you say anything, no, I don't want it. I considered it, but i'm tired of being a leader. Tired of people looking up to me... I rather enjoy the freedom of being able to come and go as I choose. When you get older, you'll understand... Start your own chapter in history here as Kusakage, Kurai. Hikari; with her skills, she could run your ANBU, as well as be the authority of your medical corps."

Alec kept his sarcastic grin as he nodded his blind folded head to the kids and their pets. He stepped back past them and back outside. These kids would probably lead this village into a whole new era, as well as usher in a whole new generation of ninja. it would be interesting to watch...

"I'll always be around for advice and whatnot, so you two won't have to go at this alone. Call me the go-between for you guys and Suna. Maybe I can have myself a proper home in both villages! Kusa, my vacation getaway, eh? Heheheheh..."

Him? A Kage? Kurai didn't think he was ready, even with as far as he'd come. But then again, who actually could say they were ready when a responsibility such as this was bestowed upon them? Kurai almost began to protest before Kua agreed with what Alec said, and told him that this was his time. He said that he wouldn't be in Makkura forever, and something like this was just bound to happen to individuals such as he and his sister. He adjusted the hat on his head with a steely resolve, suddenly feeling that he wouldn't wear this thing much.

He followed Alec back outside into the warm weather, green landscapes, blue skies and cotton-looking clouds; the setting that would now be his and his twins home. "Kusakage... Alright then, I accept. But, what am I supposed to say about you at this summit? It's not exactly like I can lie..."

If Hikari could blink behind her blindfold she would have: Kurai as Kusakage? She was sure Alec would have wanted the title, but he was giving it to her brother? She could think of no one better: her brother had a lot of experience as a shinobi by now, and he was an excellent fighter who wouldn’t fall easy to an opponent if at all. He knew a great deal of techniques, and wouldn’t rely on a single trump card to save his ass in a sticky situation. Yes, Kurai was perfect for the job of Kusakage.

The idea of being an ANBU Captain was rather appealing as Hikari thought about that next: given that she could see the entire country both over-land and underground nothing would be able to get in or out of the village without her knowing. Add on her own shadowy set of skills, plus the Yanagi ones she had honed since she could walk, and she too was a lethal force to be reckoned with. Yes, perhaps this really was her and her brother’s time to shine.

She couldn’t complain about Kusagakure either: it truly was a very beautiful land, something she could see even before she followed her brother and Alec back outside to enjoy the feeling of the warm sunlight on her face. “Yes, I was wondering about that myself.”, she added on after her brother’s question to Alec. How exactly were they to explain the presence of a missing-nin in their midst? Especially if everyone else knew by now that it had been Alec who had killed the Raikage and another group who had destroyed Kumogakure?

"If you don't want to lie? Don't! Tell them the truth; don't feel like you're snitching on me, I want them to hear it. Tell them, 'Alec Kane assassinated the Raikage.' It's the truth, right? Tell them I attacked you two as well, and you and your sister managed to drive me off. It's true, right? Paint a real nice picture of me. Tell them i'm a villain, an unpredictable wild card that delights in attacking villages and attempting to assassinate Kage. I'm prepared for anything that might come my way, so don't you two waste your time worrying about me. Don't you dare..."

Alec was grinning until he told them not to waste time worrying about him. The grin left his face almost instantly, pointing a gloved index finger at them, signaling that he was serious.

Alec stretched his arms and back, giving off several audible popping sounds. He took a deep breath of the fresh Kusa air and let it out slowly in a sigh. Yes, this episode in a new ninja land was going to be fun... A vortex opened before Alec, swirling in a fashion that resembled a toilet flushing. Alec himself began to be sucked into this vortex.

"Welcome home, kids... See you again soon."

Fully engulfed into the twisting, turning void, it remained open several seconds before closing again, and vanishing from sight.

\Exit\

Kurai couldn't imagine ratting out the man who'd taken he, his sister and his family in basically off of the street, homeless. Alec was a wild man who loved the fact that someone wanted him dead - a concept that he would never understand - but Kurai would honor his request. Kurai didn't really care about these powerful criminals that he mentioned; he didn't see the man ever being defeated in combat. Even with the plethora of abilities and skills that he himself knew, Kurai didn't think he'd be able to defeat the man in a serious encounter. His knowledge and experience in the field of battle was just too vast.

Alec disappeared into his Kamui, leaving he, Little Kong, Hikari and Shiro alone in their new village; their new home. "Well... there's work to be done, guys. We should send for mom and dad first off. Then we should explore, have a good look around here for any surprises. Come on, my new head of ANBU, there's no time like the present..."

Followed by Little Kong, Kurai turned and headed back into the Administration Complex, beginning his first day as Kusakage.

[Exit]

Hikari frowned even more as she listened to what Alec said: she too couldn’t fathom the idea of ratting on the man who had taken them in, given them a home, and given them no reason at all to betray him or not trust him. But, if that was what Alec wanted… perhaps he had reasons behind out – outside of the fact that it would make them look good. The fight had been a real thing after all, and the idea that they had staved him off would likely garner some form of respect, if not fear, from the other villages which would mean it would be less likely for them to be screwed over or betrayed.

She watched Alec kamui himself out of Kusagakure, wondering where it was he was heading next, and then turned with a nod to follow her brother back inside. She was more than willing to get to work in helping get Kusagakure up into a place of power and safety – it was a beautiful village, and she wanted to ensure it remained that way instead of ruined and destroyed like Kumogakure had been.

“I’m right behind you, Lord Kusakage.”, she said with a playful grin. That’d likely be one of the only times she used her brother’s proper title, and even then it was playful: above everything he would always be her brother, and she would always consider him as such, Kage hat or not.

[Exit]