Blood in the Shadows

Date Started: 4/21/24 
----Date Finished': 
----Previous Role-Play: 
----Next Role-Play: 
----Timeline: April 1050 SE
----Setting: Konoha
----Characters Involved:
*Kage: Hokage Konakomaru Sarutobi, Mizukage Suijin Hōzuki
*Shinobi: 
----	 	
Participants 	Participants	Participants
User:SamuelGreenawalt • User:ZeoSpark	 	
== Water in the Leaf ==
In Kiragakure, the village seemed to be of a calm setting. Most of the citizens were carrying on with their lives and duties. However, there are some, namely trained ninja, that seemed to be on high alert about something. However, they were keeping their presence hidden to make sure not to alarm any people. In the office of the Mizukage, the Mizukage himself, Suijin Hōzuki can be seen with his two collegues, Tsukiko and Inari who are both standing in front of his desk as the younger-looking Mizukage was looking over notes. Tsukiko was a man of average height with spiky white hair and brown skin and notably wore a mask over his face and had a large bandaged sword on his back. Inari, meanwhile, was a very tall individual that wore more samurai-like clothes, had horns over their head, and carried a large metal club.
"So, nothing more about the Jigoku Clan whereabouts huh?" Suijin asks as he continued to stare at the sheets. 
"None sir. Not even Samehada couldn't detect where their chakra are and he has a pretty good keen for that." Tsukiko says scratching his head with his eyes showing disappointment.
"I wished I had my Sage Mode mastered. I could easily find them myself. Because of that, more and more people are winding up dead." Inari says gritting their teeth.
"Now, now. You two do not need to blame yourselves. If anything, I should've handled Chiizu better. I knew he was always ambitious, but never I would've thought he would use his Blood Release for what he did in the past." Suijin says as he now stares at his two suborniates. "The main issue is that there are hints that there are Jashinists there."
"Jashinists?" Inari asks with a head-tilt.
"They're a group of individuals that kill for the sake of their "God" Jashin. They feel like taking lives is their only purpose in life. In other words, they're a cult." Tsukiko says looking at Inari.
"And a very dangerous one at that." Suijin says bringing their attention back to him. "Apparently one can go through a ritual to become immortal and, therefore, kill all they would want. I don't know much of their natural abilities, but I do know that having one that possess a high level of Blood Release is extremely dangerous and must be dealt with swiftly."
"Is Chiizu that Jashin cultist leader there?" Tsukiko asks.
"No. Chiizu has never been into Jashin. That was actually something he was disgusted by from his grandfather." Suijin answers as he starts to think even more. "It may be a relative or someone else. Nonetheless, the main issue is that we have no leads as of late and I would hate for more bodies to rack up. My master always told me that situations like these must be taken care of "swiftly and surely" and I do want just that. However, without a good hint or leads to any actitives of their actions in other places, well we are as stuck as a bug trapped in ice in the middle of slime."
"Reeee....That's being very stuck too..." Inari says with a sigh.
As they were speaking, one of the regular Kirigakure Shinobi came rushing in, wearing the common full black shirt and pants over the grey flak jacket while having bracers over their ankles and forearms as well as a waist guard. 
"Sir! There's a Shinobi that entered earlier that hails from the Village Hidden in the Leaves! Says he has a message for you Lord Mizukage!" He brings the letter over to the Mizukage.
"Speak of the timing." Tsukiko says with wide eyes.
"A message from the Hidden Leaf Village hm? This could be interesting I don't hear from there much." Suijin says as he opens it to read it.
Dear Lord Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist
I have heard about your run ins with the Jashin cult and their bloodthirsty rampages. I have had a cold case that's been lasting for over 20 years now that has been assumed to have been nothing but Jashin involvement of a massacre that happened in my village that long ago. There was also a team of Shinobi not long after those years that a team of Shinobi, including my husband and father, were mercilessly killed in the line of duty that left them in pieces and remnants of a Jashin like symbol. I heard about your knowledge about the Jashin cult and your crusade after them. Come to my Village Hidden in the Leaves to talk more and hopefully seek a similar enemy.
Sincerely,
Lady Hokage - Konakomaru Sarutobi
"Interesting." Suijin says with a serious look on his face.
"Seems like she has been dealing with issues with Jashin as well." Inari says.
"It's very bothersome." Tsukiko says with a clinched fist. "These Jashinists will do at nothing to kill for their atrocious god."
"It is. However, this is the lead that could help us." Suijin says as he was getting up. "The Jashin cult was mainly limited themselves to our own villagers and others that are in the surrounding area. However, they seemed to be branching out to other major villages after all. It appears that I must go and meet up with the Hokage."
"Kages meeting in person like this is quite rare. Plus, we don't really speak with the other villages these days. Would this be recommended?" Tsukiko asks.
"Of course." Suijin says with a quick response followed by a warm smile. "I mean, techically the Jashin cult did started out with our village and they ended up expanding towards others for us not acting quick enough. I do feel somewhat responsible and it's only fair that we meet up with the Hokage."
"That is true. But what will happen where when you're gone?" Inari asks scratching their chin.
"The village will be fine for a little while. Plus, I'll just leave Shadow Clone behind to take my place. It'll be a Slime Clone so it would take much more effort to take out should the village be under attacked. Inari, Tsukiko, you're both with me. Let's be quick about its." Suijin says as he started to walk out of the office.
"Got it!" Inari and Tsukiko say in unison following behind him.
----
A Couple Days Later
It was a cool morning with the wind in some of the hair of the people of Konohagakure. It just got done raining the earlier rain, but it's now a fresh sunshine with a cool wind on the side. The citizens of Konoha were going about their normal business in peace. The Shinobi of the Village were out carrying their proper duties. And the Konohagakure students were seen training or playing in the playground. 
At the Village gate entrance, there stood the Lady Hokage herself, Konakomaru Sarutobi, alongside her trusted bodyguards and one of her personal students, Samyueru Kirisuto.
"It's a nice day out here." Samyueru states as he looks at the flowers below them, "Spring has arrived for sure." 
"Yes....it is a beautiful day here." Konakomaru responds with a long sigh.
"Lady Hokage," Samyueru speaks noticing the down mood of the Hokage, "Everything alright?" 
"Just reminiscing on memories of then..." Konakomaru answers, "And please Sam, you can call me Kona. I was practically your mother for your life."
"Just giving my proper respects Lady Kona." Samyueru states as he decided to leap up to the top of the Village gate. 
"So what exactly are we waiting for here?" Biwaki Mazen, one of the Hokage's guards, asks looking over.
"Just a couple days ago, I released a message to the Lord Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist for a personal request to help investigate something that has been a rather cold case; And a mental pain to my rear." Konakomaru responds.
"Looking to make with an alliance with the Mizukage?" Miriamu, the other bodyguard, questions, "There is just more to having two Kages meet rather than just having a mutual investigation."
"Plus, this type of event hasn't happened in a while." Biwaki states, "Ever since the end of the First World War, before our times mind you Lady Hokage. We haven't seen what the other Kage or villages have been up to since then. We don't know what they'd be like."
"I'm perfectly aware of that." Kona replies with a cold shoulder, "I heard about the Mizukage's actions from different sources saying that he's an honest and righteous man. If there's a Kage out there now that I could possibly trust in, it'd be him. As for the potential alliance, we shall see if its something to be strived for." The lady Hokage releases a large sigh, "I estimated for them to come around at this time, that's why we're here waiting for them. So please wait patiently with me."
"We will Lord Hokage." Miriamu pledges as Biwaki nods and they wait for the Mizukage crew to arrive.
Upon the cue, the trio of Hidden Mist Ninja finally enter the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Both Inari and Tsukiko observe their surroundings as this is their first time and Suijin himself has had a few visions of the village in the past on his end.
"So, this is the Village Hidden in the Leaves. It's going to take some getting used to not seeing mist all of the time." Tsukiko said looking around.
"I know Kiko! I can smell a bunch of ramen and all other foods here! I just mainly eat fish all of the time!" Inari says with comical stars in their eyes.
"Now, now you two. We can partake in their festities another time. We must make haste to the Hokage's office." Suijin says as he kept walking forward.
"And by that, it will be never due to issues between villages." Inari says with a sigh following behind.
"We can just stop by one of those traveling vendors on the way back." Tsukiko says as he follows in suit.
"Over here Lord Mizukage." The Lady Hokage and her group approach the trio of Hidden Mist Shinobi before giving a welcoming bow to the three, "I am Lord Hokage, Konakomaru Sarutobi. You must be Lord Mizukage Suijin Hōzuki. It's an honor to meet at last." 
"You have such pretty hair..." Miriamu the bodyguard looks at Suijin's bright blue hair with the star eyes, "It's blue like the ocean!"
"Miriamu!" Biwaki the other guard would smack Miriamu over the head comically, "No way to talk to a Kage!" 
"Girls be girls I suppose." Samyueru rolls his eyes watching what is happening next to him.
"Hello, it is quite the pleasure to meet you as well Lady Hokage." Suijin says with a bow. "These two are my subordinates: Inari and Tsukiko."
"Yo." Tsukiko says with a hand motion to the air signaling his cooler demanior.
"Hello! I really want to try your villages ramen!" Inari says with sparkles in their eyes.
"Inari, I told you later. This isn't the time of place." Tsukiko says as he was looking with a deadpan expression towards them.
"Heh...apologies. These two can be absentminded at times." Suijin says scratching his head nervously.
"Sorry if my bodyguards seem to be oblivious as well..." Konakomaru scratches her head with nervousness as well, "These bodyguards are Biwaki and Miriamu. Oh and my personal student now jōnin of Konoha Samyueru Kirisuto!" 
"An honor to meet you Lord Mizukage." Samyueru bows toward Suijin, "I have been told by Lady Hokage of your run ins with the Jashin Cult."
"Right. The Jashin issues. I've heard that they have been causing trouble for you as well. I do apologize for that." Suijin says in a humble tone.
"For years, these Jashinists as we call them have been killing innocent people just for the sake of their "God." It's deplorable. Even more so than some of them came from our own village." Tsukiko says with notable anger in his voice.
"And they're pretty damn well hidden too. Even I can't sense them with my abilities." Inari says with a sigh showing her breath indicating at her powers.
"Well, we have had these cold cases of a massacre that happened 30 years ago that may have been them." Konakomaru states as she looks over to her student, "Sam would know about it."
"My clan was ruthlessly murdered when I was a baby." Samyueru voices, "I was wailing as a baby as I could hear screams of bloody murder until I was picked up by my older sister and left the area in a hurry. My sister would come back to see my former clan almost murdered to extinction. It was all but a few of our clan that were able to get away. We fortunately have been able to repopulate ourselves to about a hundred after those twenty years; but the devastation has remained in our hearts from those who have experienced the Kirisuto Massacre."
"That's awful. Apologies that you have went through so much..." Suijin says as he closes his eyes.
"They also nearly killed off my own clan...They tried to recruit us for our own Kekkei Genkai, but when we refused, they killed off most of us because of the threat we posed. Only my father left and he...Is a cruel man to put it lightly." Inari says with their words holding a lot of weight.
"My own friends that I have known for a long time...Most of them were just massacred beyond recongization. Even children weren't safe. I won't rest until they were exterimanted!" Tsukiko says as he clutched his fist.
"Well then, seems we have a common enemy or goal for that matter." Samyueru states looking at the three foreign shinobi.
"We'll be travelling to the crime scene of his clan's part of the village." Lady Konakomaru mentions to the group, "There's major parts of the Kirisuto Residence still left in ruins from the massacre long ago. We had them live in a new residence alongside some other clans to help out for the time being."
"Indeed." Samyueru nods, "The Inuzuka clan were kindly able to house me and my sister till we were able to fend for our own. And Lady Hokage helped watch over me even before she was Hokage herself." he chuckles
"Honestly he'd have a bedroom with the Inuzuka residence or with me when I still resided in the Nara residence." Konakomaru speaks, "I was practically his mom for a time." She chuckles.
"Oh wow! Crime scene! I think we're going to be like detectives huh?" Inari asks exitengly.
"Inari, this isn't something to get excited about... We need to take this seriously." Tsukiko says with a facepalm.
"The Inuzuka Clan...Quite known for their tracker dogs." Suijin says as he was pondering before snapping himself back into focus. "Ah! Apologies. I do tend to gaze off about other subjects from time-to-time."
"It's alright." Kona nods, "We'll show you another crime scene that's about a halfday's journey." She then steps back and starts walking, "We better get to looking into this first scene though."
"Indeed. I'm wondering what type of conclusions we can run into." Sam nods as he starts following the Hokage before the bodyguards follow the Hokage.
"Do you have any ideas Kiko?" Inari asks.
"Er, no. That's why we are here." Tsukiko says with a facepalm. "Though, I still wonder why they started to branch out to other villages. They mainly target those afflicted with the Mist since they're petty bastards like that."
"You cannot predict the mind of evil." Suijin says in a stoic tone." If we did, it would be much easier to stop them before they can do more harm."
"So how did you end up dealing with these Jashin Cult members?" Kona asks Suijin as they start walking down the village, "Seems like you've been on this mission for a while."
"Well, it's been a little over 5 years now. Ever since I became Mizukage, I wanted to expel all of those that didn't help paint the Mist village in a good light. It was known as "Blood Mist Village" for awhile now." Suijin says as he was looking up at the sky. "The number of Jashinists skyrocketed about the time I expelled Chiizu Jigoku from the village due to his savagery towards the other villages for no reason. He claimed he was trying to take down possible threats to the village, but I caught onto a lie where he clearly killed one of our smaller ally villages just for his own bloodlust."
"The Jigoku Clan. They're a heinous clan that practice the terrifying Blood Release style. They can use their own blood in a variety of ways. Even control others as their own puppets. No doubt one of them are Jashinists." Tsukiko says speaking up.
"But Suijin-san said that Chiizu isn't the leader right?" Inari asks.
"I said it wasn't in his nature to become a leader of the cult. He's typically more of the type that does things on his own accord, rather than lead a group as complex as a cult. He most likely has a relative of his clan that his leading it. I do dread if one them happens to be the "perfect experiment." Suijin states.
"So you started studying this when you became Mizukage." Samyueru notes, "And it's apparent that these folks have been at it for a couple decades at least. So whether this was either the works of Jashin or this Jigoku person we don't know." 
"There any identifiable features of differences that'd identify a scene to be Jashin or this Chiizu?" Kona then asks.
"To identify a Jigoku Clan member, you look for their most identifiable features being their pale skin, red eyes, sharp fangs, and darker hair. They are very much like vampires from mythology. This is a reasoning for their status as the "Vamperic Ninjas." Suijin says.
"And if you want to identify Jashinists, just look for certain blood patterns on the ground and, of course, any dead bodies that have been pierced usually with a metal rod. They also wear black cloaks with the symbol of their horrid religion on the back." Tsukiko says chiming in.
"Well, we can at least identify the Jashinists for sure then." Kona speaks, "The Jigoku though....that may be a bit more challenging." 
"I was a baby when it happened so I don't remember what the murderers looked like." Samyueru states, "But maybe I can find my sister to help us out."
"Let Inari take care of that when the time is come. Thanks to Chiizu's previous stay at the Mist, they can help detect his scent. Namely, the scent of blood since, according to them, their blood smells a lot more potent." Suijin says looking at Inari.
"It seems like rotten flesh. It's really bad..." Inari says with gritted teeth with notably one of them being a fang.
"That's....great to know." Samyueru noted as they are still walking.
"We are almost there to the Kirisuto Residence." Konakomaru speaks as they see the entrance point to enter the Kirisuto Complex, "Like we've said before the crime scene is still there and blocked off from several people but there are about a hundred Kirisuto that walk around here still so be in mind." 
"I still walk into the buildings where the massacre occurred to think back on what my father was doing on that night." Samyueru states, "What a sacrifice, to fight until he couldn't against the Jashinists."
"There is one thing I'd better warn you about when it comes to the Jigoku Clan or the Jashinists. A precaution in case we encounter any: Don't let them drain your blood." Suijin says in a serious tone.
"I don't think we'd find any but duly noted." Konakomaru speaks as they enter the Kirisuto Complex.
== Historic Kirisuto Massacre: Jashin or Jigoku Involvement? ==
The group enters the Kirisuto Complex, walking past the yellow tape. There the old scenes of dried blood and cracked buildings are shown here. The complex itself looks seriously abandoned and has been showing lack of care. There are still pools of dried blood that have been stained on for the near 30 years since it happened. Around them they notice the clan's pride of their symbol which is a Cross with a crown of thorns on the center and the signature Konoha spirals. Right next to the symbols were old inked symbols of Jashin that looked hastily made.
"Our clan is really religious ourselves much like the Jashinists." Samyueru comments, "Except for the whole murdering everybody thing." 
"Still is a sad scene." Konakomaru states, "I probably should've had this place destroyed and restored years ago by now."
"Yeah...this is quite the sight...This definitely happened long ago right around they formed for the first time." Suijin says as he was looking around at the mess.
"This is their calling card alright. They're so thirsty for blood, they don't care about cleaning up. It's worse that most tend to be Jigoku members who also manipulate them as well." Tsukiko says as he was looking around.
"You're looking for something Kiko?" Inari asks.
"Just making sure things are clear. You never know with these bastards since they also like to hide underground." Tsukiko says as he continued to look around.
"We cleared the bodies out that we found and given them their respectful dues." Kona states as they continue on to look, "So if you find any new skeletons you'll be shocking us too." 
"Well we can clearly say this was a Jashinist movement." Samyueru would speak, "But you're saying they like sticking underground?"
"Yeah. I've mentioned this earlier but not into full detail but one negative trait to using Blood Release is that it makes the user's bodies much more heated. As a result, it turns their skin pale and makes them extra varunable to sunlight. This is often why they stick to the cool areas of caves or only come out at night." Suijin says.
"Pretty much like vampires, except with the weakness to garlic. Tried once, failed." Tsukiko says with a sigh.
"Yeah, though I heard a stake to the heart still works." Inari says with a look upwards.
"Inari, that's enough to kill anybody..." Tsukiko says with a deadpan look.
"I don't necessarily detect any other signs of people living here exactly." Konakomaru comments as she looks around, "Anything else you should tell us or want to know from us as we move on?"
"They are also paritcually fond of using the Transformation techique. They often disguise themselves as children or older folk seemingly in need of help to catch any of their victims off-guard." Suijin says.
"Yeah we were unfornately hit hard with that trap in the past. It was a good thing Samehada here was able to pick up their malicious chakra." Tsukiko says with Samehada moving a bit on his back.
"Good to know..." Konakomaru says as they continued walking, "Wonder what should be explored first."
"Probably how they got here." Samyueru states, "That was always the question within us Kirisuto, how did they get into Konoha and how did they enter our part of the village."
"Probably another scary ability their Blood Release possess: Being that they can also use Transformation Jutsu in order to mask their charka as the same nature as the one they transform into, thanks to having that person's blood in their bodies." Suijin says with a sigh.
"Like with charka, blood is something that represents one's life as well. If you are able to take that person's blood into you, then you can also mimic their natures, abet temporary." Tsukiko says.