Kawakami Uzumaki/Mission Journal

## A-Rank

### The Amakusa Accords

To be a shinobi is to walk with death. It is to stare into its uncompromising eyes and to do so without fear. But fear, is a powerful motivating force, and one should learn to carefully cultivate it, so that fear may you push you forward to live as you face death. It was a lesson his mother, spirits bless her wicked soul pounded into his skull.

Leaping back, he hastily turned his jump into a roll as he slid underneath a volley of shuriken, retrieving a scroll in the process with his hand coming up in a one-handed tiger seal. His two opponents landed opposite of him, one swiftly going through a series of seals, the other brandishing her sword as she prepared to charge in, their headbands glinting in the sun.

Kusa-Nin.

Kawakami growled irritably. This mission had spiraled so far out control he couldn’t believe that this entire thing started with a rice bun! With his other hand, he angrily unfurled the technique scroll letting his chakra flow through the sealing formulae as it rippled across the page. The earth groaned as a gaping chasm ripped open between him and his opponents, twisted gnarls of earth bursting forth.

Just in time too as his adversary finished their technique releasing a gushing torrent of flames that coiled into a dragon. Its fiery form winding around the spires of earth that erupted trying to slow down its assault, while the kunoichi darted behind in its wake.

---*Two Hours Ago*---

Amakusa Village was a settlement nestled firmly on the border between Wind Country and Grass Country, as such it boasted a great deal of trade between the two Countries. It was considered an economic center where money flowed like a river, enriching its citizens as deals that could very well decided the fate of many villages were made behind its walls. While Kawakami's status as a Younin was well known, it was actually his proficiency in law, trade and contracts that had garnered him such interest. His experience in mercantile trade, trade routes, not to mention his extensive list of contacts including former clients, businessman, and individuals of great noble or economic power was why he was such a fearsome figure in Wind Country.

He had been summoned to Amakusa Village to help oversee a trade deal between the Zerozaki-gumi a native-born crime syndicate operating out of Wind Country and the Higurashi conglomerate, a Grass Country mercantile group. Due to the potential for violence, it was decided that he, a respected Younin would meditate between the groups. Thus Kawakami was chosen and a notice sent out. The two groups were willing to pay quite the consulting fee and Sunagakure was more than willing to lend them the aid of one of their shinobi.

The meeting was set for later that night and in preparation he began scouting out the village. Though security had been heightened for the purposes of this venture, it was Kawakami's mission to ensure that there was no shinobi presence at these meeting. One factor that might influence these trades was that the Zerozaki-gumi had ties by way of blood to one of the clans of Sunagakure, and by entering into these trade agreements one might consider the potential benefit and windfall that could befall a village whose blood relation had just obtained an extremely lucrative businesses deal. Kusagakure did not particularly enjoy the presence of Amakusa, while Sunagakure was more than willing to entertain and engage in trade. One didn't have to wonder if Kusa would be fine with this agreement.

Lost in his thoughts he considered what the ramifications of this potential union would be? "Bun for your thoughts?" A soft voice said. Cursing himself for letting his guard down he turned to examine the proffered food held in the hands of a young woman.

*Beautiful...* he thought, gazing at lavender locks, his nose catching the pleasant hint of lilac and gooseberries in the wind. Almond eyes gazed back with mirth and mischief a playful smile on her heart shaped face.

--- *Present*---

Throwing himself forward he narrowly avoided the blast of shearing winds from the kunoichi which promptly detonated in a massive conflagration as the other kusa-nin unleashed a great fireball. Slamming his hands on the ground he poured his power into the earth as a massive rampart burst from the sands and shielded him from the blast. From the smoke and debris on his right flank the kunoichi darted around his barrier whipping her sword in a flourish as she sought to decapitate him.

Stomping his foot, the sand beneath her turned into a thick mud causing her to abruptly sink and lose balance as she was violently dragged around him in a winding mud river, and into the approaching kusa-nin. Surprised the kusa-nin was unprepared as his partner slammed bodily into him.

His hand morphed into the dragon seal, and the mud river seemingly came alive as a draconic head emerged with a roar letting loose a storm of earthen bullets that smashed into the two enemy nin. A chorus of grunts of pain followed, and it gave Kawakami enough breathing room to retrieve yet another scroll from his person.
The two enemy nin struggled to their feet, the kunoichi’s once luxurious lavender locks now caked with dirt and mud, her almond eyes glaring balefully at him as he stared them both down.

--- *One Hour Ago* ---

As it turns out the young woman was part of the Higurashi delegation, and he was all too happy to spend some time in the company of beautiful woman. They engaged in small-talk for a time, and he prodded her teasingly for answers, looking for any hint of deception. All he found was perhaps a love of adventure, a thrill for the art of the deal, and perhaps a promise for more intimate conversation and dinner later. Soon they separated, the woman whose name he learned was Tomoe bid him farewell as she had to prepare for the upcoming meeting.

Yoshitsune Zerozaki was a dominating and fierce individual, who possessed the presence of a trained killer, despite his weathered appearance. He was at least sixty years of age, though he could have been older, but the sheer aura he radiated hinted at experiences that even Kawakami had to respect. In contrast Toyotomi Higurashi was rather short rotund man, but his shark-like eyes and hungry expression strongly hinted that he was anything but a pushover. He was afterall the head of the Higurashi mercantile group, a loose collective of merchants, traders and smugglers operating under the Higurashi banner.

Seeing these two in the same room negotiating was akin to watching a deadly battle play out by enemy shinobi. He chimed in when necessary to either explain certain details or act as intermediary when things got too heated. Off in the corner he saw Tomoe, and gave her a warm smile, but the look she returned was very odd. Suspicious even. She was troubled, and anxious, but not by the negotiations. She was waiting for something, her fingers twitching in anticipation.

Kawakami was no stranger to genjutsu, and was very familiar with its ability to end conflicts before they even began. While his own skill in the art itself was non-existent that did not mean he was without recourse. Fuinjutsu is such a powerful art, that one could even develop seals to help counter genjutsu. It was why he felt the seal on the back of his neck heat up and dissipate as its automatic defense kicked in and instantly dispelled the low level genjutsu. He was immediately on high alert and watched in alarm as both sides of the delegation slumped down into blissful slumber.

All save for Tomoe, her hand which had been obscured by her body held in a seal. He didn't even think before he tapped the ground activating the reverse summoning seal he had placed on the floor the day prior. Soon all members of the delegation disappeared in a plume of smoke, as their previous space was suddenly filled to the brim with shuriken and kunai. A dark figure melted from the ceiling, dropping onto the ground and with a single seal let loose a fiery stream of smoldering ash towards Kawakami.

He contemptuously tossed a sealing tag forward, and watched as the enemy nin's eyes grew to saucers when he saw his jutsu get swallowed up. Tomoe realizing that their trap had been adverted leapt forward drawing a sword hidden on her person and swinging in a wide arc to bisect him. He danced back narrowly dodging the initial swing, but her blade suddenly turned and its sudden new trajectory caught him off guard slicing across his chest drawing blood. Cursing he dropped down using the spilled blood to draw power for a sealing formulae jutsu. Slamming a palm onto the ground, he instantly adjusted the reverse summoning seal and activated it.

There was a brief moment of vertigo as all three shinobi were plunged into a limbo. As soon as it occurred it was already over and they all dropped onto the desert ground a ways away from Amakusa Village. The two enemy nin looked around in bewilderment and cursed before they locked eyes with Kawakami. No words were spoken, no witty banter. This wasn't some children's story with talking combatants. This was a battle between shinobi. In the pregnant silence, the enemies took stock of the situation and in the next moment made their decision.

The male shinobi reached into his pouch withdrawing more throwing weaponry and Tomoe... no, she was the enemy now. Steeling himself he began preparing an earth jutsu as the female ninja blurred forward.

--- *Present* ---

The two nin just wouldn't quit. Luckily they were reaching their limits as casting jutsu in such quick succession was rapidly draining their reserves. The male nin at least. The female ninja seemed to rely mostly on kenjutsu, and surprise attacks. But even she was being worn down from the barrage of attacks. It was time to end this.

Using his own kunai he deftly deflected a harrowing flurry of strikes, but while he had power it was clear she had skill on her side. Her sword crashed against his kunai severing it completely and as her sword descended on his unprotected neck, he let loose a pulse of chakra and his skin darkened. Her sword struck sending grinding sparks as his Earth Spear technique manifested granting him increased defensive power. No longer concerned with defense he charged forward shoulder checking her brutally sending her into a spiral as she cried out in surprise and anguish.

The male nin performed a swift series of hand seals before releasing a molten orb of fire at his person. The sudden appearance of this blazing sphere rocketing toward him was accompanied by the shout of its name, "Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Kawakami didn't even bother dodging, he simply charged through it his fist a spear cleaving through the fire as it detonated. His form obscured by the smoke and debris allowed him to close the distance and deliver a viscous hook to the enemy, much to his surprise, and was briefly dazed as his follow-up strike folded the nin over his fist. Rearing his leg back he delivered a savage kick sending the ninja sprawling on the ground.

He felt several shuriken impact his back and he glanced behind him to see the female ninja sprinting towards him sword brandished high. Kawakami tapped his arm and summoned a ninja technique scroll. Unfurling the scroll he performed a single unique seal and powered the technique hidden within. The scroll itself seemed to burn with chakra as the scroll was consumed in the casting of this particular jutsu. Thrusting both arms onto the ground, he poured out an immense amount of chakra tempered uncanny precision and skill.

"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"

It was as if the mighty hand of Okuninushi himself had taken grasp of the land for the desert itself seemed to come alive. The kunoichi yelped in surprise as the very ground beneath split open, earth structures bursting from underground into towering spires. The very earth shifted and she was pulled into the churning sea of grinding earth and stone. She watched helpless as her ally was swallowed up by the jagged jaws of a fissure before it closed. In just one moment he was gone. The sand too swallowed her up and she could only curse the Younin Kawakami, before she too succumbed to the beckoning darkness.

Kawakami let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He sighed, and collected the remnants of the battle and then headed back to Amakusa Village.

--- *Several Hours Later* ---

The negotiations returned following the incident, and he was commended for his actions and for securing the safety of the two factions. In the end the Amakusa Accords became official. And soon this would become a rallying cry for more organizations to join under its banner, and secure power and funding. But that was a problem for the future. For now, Kawakami was rewarded quite handsomely for his bold and decisive actions. Both sides promised to provide exclusive discount deals to Sunagakure and it was overall an extremely successful mission. But Kawakami felt nothing but sadness for what happened. He had taken a liking to Tomoe, and it was a shame things had to end the way they did.

Kawakami was a follower of the old ways, and though they were shinobi, he could respect their dedication to their duty. After the battle he found their corpses and gave them a proper Grass Country burial near the border, and offered them a silent prayer that they may find solace in the Pure Land. With that final act of kindness Kawakami made the trek back to Sunagakure. So pleased with his results, Kawakami was awarded the rank of Jounin, and commanded to continue his efforts to support Wind Country through his noble deeds.

Noble deeds.

*Is murder the only noble thing a shinobi can do?* He wondered. Smiling bitterly, Kawakami decided that since he was in Suna, perhaps he could relax for a bit, and perhaps he could even see his cousin? Now bearing a full grin, Kawakami made his way to the Uzumaki compound.