[ Key ] [ @ofascxnsionss / @scxrlctiisms ] [ Suigin Ryū, Kazanbai, Tokima Shieru, Takanashi Ryōta ] [ Death mention, blood mention ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ]
One moment, Ryū looks over the body-strewn street of the village she was meant to aid, gaze wide with disbelief and breath caught in horror.
The next, she barely deflects kick to the temple, arm raised with a shield along her sleeve. The force still sends her flying, managing to maintain her footing as the shrouded figure follows up with a second attack.
And no matter her defensive training, she can't hold off someone of this level for long. An elbow to the base of her skull makes her vision flicker, body going slack as she crumples into the dust. The last she sees before darkness is a hooded figure knelt at her side, a grin wickedly curving their lips.
Then silence, and stillness.
Consciousness drifts to and fro as hours pass, never quite enough for her to surface completely. Humming voices and vague sensations are all she knows until, finally, she drags open her eyes to see only black.
...have I gone blind...?
“Welcome back to the land of the living.”
With a strike, a match lights to fuel a lantern, held by the same figure from before. His tone is masculine, hood still drawn as he holds the light to her face.
Squinting and shrinking, it's then the medic realizes that she's upright. Bonds capture her ankles, wrists, torso and throat against some solid surface to her rear. Taking a moment to think, she attempts to draw upon her chakra...but to no avail.
“No need for that. You will call upon your chakra only once I give you permission. Until then, we don't want you doing anything foolish.”
“...what do you want?”
“I find there's little need to explain. You are our means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides...it may yet become clear.”
Moving to her left, he sets the light upon a stone pedestal. Unable to turn her head, Ryū can see little from her peripheral view beyond its basic shape.
“Teikoku, gather.”
Silently, nine other figures appear along the rim of the lantern's light, all cloaked as well, though several abandon their hoods. Among them, a tall woman of rose hair, and a boy not even Ryū's age. He glances to her with eyes of hazel, brow slightly wilted before looking back to what must be his leader.
“I require constant patrols – five kilometer radius around the site. If you find or sense anyone within the perimeter, kill them. I will not risk being exposed before the time is right. Arrange shifts between yourselves – two or three to a group, and at least two groups at once. Supply runs will be made accordingly.”
“Kazanbai...do you require more eyes and ears here, as you work?”
“Those not on patrol will rest when necessary, or remain here should something go wrong. But I do not plan on any interruptions, Jinpū.”
A woman simply bows her head.
“Now, settle duties amongst yourselves, and leave the chamber. I will begin.”
The rest disappear in a flicker, and silence seems to echo.
“Now...” Approaching his prisoner, the man withdraws a blade. “A little something from you, my dear.” A flick opens the flesh of her palm, blood gathered into a vial before being taken back to the pedestal.
Ryū only grunts, unable to move chakra to heal the wound.
“...a small sample from the offered to begin.”
Straining to see, the medic can just make out the taken crimson as it pours into the center of the stone. A palm held over the pool, chakra sparks, and seems to initiate a chain reaction.
Glyphs carved into the rock glow white, the light spreading down the podium to the floor, where they continue to bloom until the entire chamber floor – a perfect circle – is alight with characters she cannot read.
Last, they crawl up the wall upon which she's chained, casting her in the same ghostly light. Seals upon the shackles glow, and the contact immediately burns. A screech involuntarily flees her lips, every muscle tensing as lightning seems to strike through her nerves.
As though in reply, the symbols glow brighter, and an orb of white begins to gather in the center of the chamber. Small, at first...yet it could just be seen to be growing.
Somewhere, through the pain, Ryū recognizes another feeling – chakra being withdrawn from her system. And yet, somehow, it's not just her own – she knows this sensation.
Nature chakra.
They're...gathering nature chakra...? She manages to shut her jaw, teeth gritting against the agony. But the rest of her body resists her control, too overwhelmed by the pain. But...h-how? I'm not...meditating...!
“I'm sure you have questions,” the man offers, and she suddenly remembers his presence. “Given that the process seems to be well on its way, I will entertain your curiosities.
“This chamber was constructed long ago, by a handful of the first shinobi bound to Ryūchidō. Here, they used their abilities to connect to the chakra of nature, and could store vast amounts of energy. But the war-torn clan – so easily brought to violence by their own inherent instability – hardly survived long enough to make use of it. Most fled and scattered. You know one as Jūgo – the companion of Uchiha Sasuke, and a distant cousin of your own line. He is among the last.
“And yours...yours has been trained and molded into something more...refined. Your abilities are harnessed, easier to handle. And so it is you, the last of your line, that will be used for our purposes.”
To what end? A weapon? Ryū's head bows, shaking as the energy continues to rip from her body. She is a living conduit between the mechanism, and the nature energy around them. I...can't let them...!
“Until we are able to better inspect the machine and its capabilities, a time frame is yet out of our reach. You may be here days, you may be here years, until we have the energy we need...” The grin returns. “...the energy to overtake that of the Kyūbi. To create a bijū even more powerful than the tailed beasts of the Ōtsutsuki. With such power at our disposal, there will be no resistance. Any goal...any prize we wish will be but a demand away.”
A hand reaches out, grasping her chin tightly and forcing her gaze to the shadows beneath his hood. “...and it's all thanks to you, little Suigin. You will be the key to creating the world's most powerful beast, at our command. A new world order – mankind brought to heel beneath a single banner. We have much to thank you for.”
The hold releases, and Ryū's neck slackens, body too weary to hold itself up.
“Not to worry – we do not forget our debts. We won't kill you, if it can be helped, once it's all over. After all...” Teeth flash. “We will need a jinchūriki to keep this beast on its leash. And who better than she who birthed it? Less chance for an...unstable reaction. But for now, you'd best get comfortable. We have a long ways to go.”
In the chamber's belly, the orb continues to grow, pulsating like a heartbeat. Lifting her head to gaze at it, Ryū can't help but see it as an egg...one she cannot allow to hatch into the monstrosity they yearn for.
...everyone...I'm...sorry...!
HOLY SMOKES FINALLY. Alec, hun, I’m so sorry this took so long OTL I am horrible. I just...could NOT think of something to write, and then I decided to just...make a wee snippet of that plot I told you about a while back. A bit bare-bones, as I dunno if I’ll ever actually WRITE the whole thing, but...hopefully it’s offering enough =‘D Ryū’s gone and gotten herself into a wee bit of trouble, caused by none other than Teikoku. Let’s see if we can get someone in there to save her =‘D Anyway, I hope this is all right hun - lemme know if you need anything changed! <3
