i l l u m i n a t e d [itachi]

[Hakumei Shian]

The cold, empty tundra. The sensory kunoichi could feel the loneliness that stretched without end, miles and miles of it going on forever like that travelling genjutsu. Except it wasn't. With no one to keep a mask on for, Shian's amathyst eyes bored into the ice and rock in front of her each step. There was something about being with the Hozuki, the 'good guys', and having to escape to a cold and crappy place like this that almost made a hysterical laugh bubble from her throat. It was hard to stay and look at those frozen faces, just as vacant as her own. Waking up each day to be completely useless sapped her energy more than an actual fight ever would. There was nothing, and their plans were eroding to a dull gray.

The tension from months ago faded, leaving a bitter taste and low morale. On those kinds of nights where she could sense the quiet tears from the other bunks, living felt like the heaviest weight they dragged around. She did everything she could, but Uzumaki Naruto wouldn't have it. Even when she brought him hot chocolate with the little snowman marshmallows floating on top or covered him up after he fell asleep at the desk again, she could never take the pain of having a friend in jeopardy from him. He had to be at his best. After never having the chance to help the Raikage, obeying him felt right. He was her superior, so being concerned about his well-being was natural. Perhaps dying for him would be considered a long-shot, then.

The bare touches of evening welcomed the lone shadow, embracing her figure as she decided to do the usual rounds. Tepes sat on her shoulder, feathers quivering slightly. The owl didn't like the lack of hiding places the area gave. It would be too easy to tell if someone was coming, yes. But the emptiness was unsettling, when they felt like the only beings on earth. They didn't sign up for this. When they trained to become shinobi, none of them imagined the end. Shian continued to walk, unable to stand the bland scenery. She tugged the hood of her jacket over her lavander hair, leaving the bunny ears to flop about a little each time she moved. Maybe it was something more than obeying him as a subordinate.

His smile, the exhaustion in his eyes reminded her of someone else. He used to smile at her and let her hold hands with him at the academy, even if the other kids saw and made fun of him for having the deaf girl's cooties. The chuunin liked to believe she could be useful to him too, but now she didn't even know where her brother was. She knew as much as anyone else did... it had to be her fault, from being selfish. She held on too tightly to the hem of his shirt so he had to pull away, fearing she would never become strong on her own. That the little girl would always be dependant on him... was that what he thought?

Mistress, please.

The tawny owl tapped at Shian's cheek gently, circular eyes reflecting worry. Shian's solemn expression broke, lips curling gently as she patted her summon's little head. Tepes didn't like it when the chuunin thought of such things, especially when they shared a mental link. Anyone would be brought down by her thoughts, maybe that was why Hiou disappeared. With nothing to latch onto, the purple-haired girl's thoughts often ran in circles. Her mind integrated with the background, falling and twirling about like the flakes of snow that landed on her cheeks. In the back of her memory, she could recall a story someone told her... that snowflakes were all lost, and searching for a home until they reached their destination. Even then, they would be absorbed by the earth and eventually drawn out again, always searching for that place to belong as the wind tumbled them around however it pleased. If that was so, then wasn't all of Yuki no Kuni lost? Certainly not... It was a silly tale weaved by a parent's imagination, filled with affection for their child. Perhaps that was when she fell in love with those 'once upon a time' scenarios.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the summon tugging at one rabbit ear. Um...

Yes... thank you for reminding me.

And then there was the matter concerning that suspicious glow of chakra coming northwest from where Shian currently stood. As a child, she had a knack for recognizing and using chakra before even joining the academy, and even then she never quite sensed something like this from jounin. Even knowing the strength of Uzumaki Naruto's chakra... the stranger was slightly more powerful than the keeper of the nine-tailed fox, and as far as she could tell that person was also from Konohagakure as well. She paused, running through different ideas in her head. As far as strategies went, she never expected to be in this situation. That person was about half a mile away, but at the speed they were headed they'd be bound to cross each other in several minutes. The girl frowned, moving herself accordingly so she was positioned right in the stranger's oncoming path. Whoever it was, they were in quite the hurry... Shian let out a timid sigh, looking at Tepes who merely nodded. She hated making a bad first impression, but making sure the Hozuki were safe came before that.

... There it was. Closer. She began to channel her chakra into the ground, keeping the time in her head. Shinobi rarely slowed down when they were travelling in-between countries unless a break was necessary, so she could estimate about how long it would take.

Five... four, three... two...

The rapid shift of the earth beneath her even made Tepes jump a little, rising within a split second. She moved a decent amount of the ground she was standing on to create a wall several meters long on each side, and one or two meters thick. She could feel the traveler's chakra stop in front of the wall, and peered down at the person curiously while trying to keep her dress from revealing anything indecent. Her hand glowed with a tiny amount of chakra, and with a flick of her wrist she began to write, her other hand gently touching the spear strapped to her back in case the person decided they didn't want any interruptions on their way to Yukigakure.

‘... I'm sorry... I noticed you were coming my way.’  She gazed down at the stranger, violet eyes and hair glowing faintly from the bare light the stars and fading sun provided. Her expression held no threat, though she didn't want to admit stopping such a strong opponent was nerve-wracking. Surely if she had a voice it would have been stuttering for the right words, but instead her wrist trembled just a bit. ‘But you don't really seem like a normal shinobi, and it's important that the villages stay safe... where are you headed?’ 

---

name | 繋がり ;; Connection
type | Ninjutsu.
element | n/a.
rank |E.
description | Shian is able to form a mental link between herself and one summon. Costs a small amount of chakra to use and sustain.
cons | Jutsu is broken when either of them is hit.

name | 土遁・地動核 ;; Earth Release: Moving Earth Core.
type | Ninjutsu.
element | Doton.
rank | C.
description |The user lowers or raises the ground at a high speed, allowing them to avoid attacks. The size of the affected area as well as the depths that it is lowered to is also up to the user. Can be used four times per thread.
cons | Speed and distance depend on how much chakra she puts into the technique.

name | しわほう ;; Sign Language.
type | Ninjutsu.
element | n/a.
rank |E.
description | Shian's right index finger glows with a tiny amount of chakra so she can write what she wants to say in the air. Once written she can also move the words around or flick them in one direction until they hit something and fade, or when she feels like dispelling it. Most of the time it's used for communication, however it can also be used for pranks. The variation to this is using a little more chakra so her thoughts automatically appear as words the moment this jutsu is activated. As to be expected, lying in that alternate mode is almost made impossible so she only uses it when she has to explain a lot.
cons |She can't force someone to read it, and with the variation to that technique lying or thinking something Shian doesn't want the other person to hear is very difficult.[/size][/blockquote]

[Uchiha Itachi]

It was the beginning of the blue hour, with the sun barely glowing on the horizon and the sky preparing itself for the midnight to show. The Uchiha shivered at the frosty chill permeating his overcoat, checking the sky for his crow summon. It had scouted quite far ahead already, but had not yet revealed to him the exact location of the Hozuki's new refuge. The young corvid simply did not know, despite how exploratory it had proven itself in the past. Broad undulating curtains of ice covered the range of mountains that dotted the landscape, making it difficult to negotiate even for someone as nimble as him. Still he pressed onwards at an unrelenting pace, that was until a wall erected almost instantly in his path.

Digging his heels into the thick snowy ground beneath him, Itachi managed to stop, very nearly crashing into the promptly formed barrier of earth. If it wasn't for his Sharingan, his face would be coated in snow and soil. His eyes shifted from the structure, which was brightened with a layer of chakra when inspected with his bloodline limit, to the young girl positioned on the top of it. Before they had even spoke she had fallen into his trap. She looked into his eyes, the red lucent orbs in which his clan had gained their baleful reputation were reflecting right back at her. He already had a multitude of options should she decide to attack him directly. Though despite her having one hand on her weapon looking as if she would engage him at any moment, her other hand was dancing in the air as she elegantly formed a sentence with chakra, luminescent in its nature.

“... I'm sorry... I noticed you were coming my way.”

He remained silent, now aware of her condition, or at least he believed so. There was something about the summon on her shoulder that raised suspicions however. What was it?

“But you don't really seem like a normal shinobi, and it's important that the villages stay safe... where are you headed?”

She was absolutely correct, he wasn't a normal shinobi. In fact he had stopped thinking of himself as such the moment he slaughtered his entire family, the moment he beat his brother within an inch of his life. His face was blank, not at all betraying his emotions as he had practised so frequently in the past that it seemed like a second nature to him now. He blinked. She wasn't a spy, of that he was certain, and her character so far was unquestionable, but there was a risk to informing her of his motives or letting her in on his intended whereabouts. What if she was interrogated for information? They weren't that far away from the Kurai that she could consider herself safe yet.

“Very well. I find you are deserving of my frankness,” he uttered, his serene gaze fixed on her. “I will speak of Hozuki, and if I am to divulge you of this information, I should like the opportunity to discuss at length your aspirations in that regard. You speak of the safety of the villages, so I am to assume you are aware of the power struggles that plague our land.”

Itachi was trained on her responses at this moment. She seemed to be watching him quite curiously, focusing on every word he spoke. It was at this point he figured it all out, she was hard of hearing, and he was only surprised at the duration in which it took for him to make that conclusion! He cleared his throat, making a mental note to avoid any long-winded explanations.

“I operated as a part of Hozuki before it re-established itself in Snow. My goal was to infiltrate the Kurai forces in Konoha and return should the mission fail at Hozuki's behest. I succeeded initially, despite the challenges I faced. I remained in their presence for many, many months until I was presented with a very unique opportunity, to cure myself of an illness that would have...” did he want to tell her that technically he had already died once? No, he did not wish to drag this out, “...well, to put it simply it would have killed me. Know that it was not selfishness that drove me to steal that medicine for myself, but at the prospect of becoming more "useful" to the Hozuki then I ever had been. So I took it.”

He looked away from her, his skin pale lit against the bluish black sky and the silver moon that was beginning to poke itself into view. It had gone dark much too quickly, or he had spoken far too much. He couldn't decide.

“I was discovered as a spy. I don't know how, perhaps somehow I stood out against the reprobates that littered my old home village. After I escaped them, I was made aware that the safety of the Hozuki had been compromised. I returned to nothing but a crater. I found out about their arrangement in Snow, and thus I decided it was time for me to return.”

He stepped backwards, looking back to her again.

“Now,” he said quietly, “I do not wish to neglect your company, but as it is already quite late, I shall be pressing onwards.”[/size]

[Hakumei Shian]

Bright eyes watching the stranger, Shian quickly realized in the cloud of snow that the stranger had just barely managed to stop himself. Letting the bits of dust obscuring her vision dissipate, the chuunin was met with crimson orbs and raven hair. She couldn't think of a name, but his features were quite recognizable. Looking into the Sharingan, she immediately knew exactly how futile it would be to even think of making a move against this person. Even moreso since her other comrades were back at the base, and never really liked her much to begin with. A disappearance wouldn't be noticed that much, that might even be the reason no one wished to accompany her. The grip on her spear eased as she began to feel pressure she was rather used to, of facing certain death and being in the hands of someone much greater. It was hard to believe she'd gotten used to the stress... or was it fear?

Tepes, on the other hand, wasted no time in filling Shian in on the information she lacked.

... It's an Uchiha. Konohagakure's finest... or was. A rather impressive sight.

I thought I recognized him.

Barely. It was difficult for the girl to even recall what happened last week, let alone way back when she had actually scanned the bingo book. The owl cocked her head at two-hundred and seventy degrees, exceptional hearing picking up on the mouth movements that formed his every word.

“I will speak of Hozuki, and if I am to divulge you of this information, I should like the opportunity to discuss at length your aspirations in that regard. You speak of the safety of the villages, so I am to assume you are aware of the power struggles that plague our land.”

So far, so good. Tepes transferred the words she heard into Shian's mind, causing her to dispel the earth wall. Her brows were knit slightly, having long ago given up trying to imagine sound. She knew what he said, the subtle waves of his chakra informing her that yes, he was telling the truth. Pulling her hood down, the Hakumei's face softened to something akin to sorrow. Reading chakra tended to pull that affect from her, though she would respect the choices he made while undercover. It was not her place to question what already was, and if she could make a proper guess, the other shinobi who knew of him may show more hostility than she did. The slight sternness in her behavior gave way to brief flashes of guilt from her previous self-righteousness moments ago.

Now standing at the same level as he did to glimpse at his attractive profile in the moon's light, Shian was briefly captured by his lack of expression. Its similarity to the other Hozuki members was somewhat startling, considering he had been gone for so long. She had grown to dislike that drained behavior. There was a vague desire at the bottom of her chest to see them all happy... There wasn't much to say, no words to comfort another person added to the list of those who no longer had a village they thought of as home. The sensory-nin bowed her head, taking into account both the misfortune that plagued him and the fact he would hold a higher rank to her in their shattered hierarchy. There were words she wanted to write, but they were almost too excessive in the night's silence.

The chuunin fidgeted with the small watch dangling on her right wrist, the level of her stare becoming rather acquainted with the ground. Ah, that really did make a bad impression... but from the readings, he didn't show a sign of minding. Being cautious was good. As far as surveillance of the area was concerned, she still couldn't perceive anyone else coming in their direction. That didn't mean they were safe. Looking back up at him, Shian took a few steps forward to indicate she would begin the trek back as soon as he gave an indication.

‘I work under Uzumaki-sama... I'd like to accompany you back, with your permission.’  She quickly switched to the variation of her writing technique that allowed her thoughts to form in the air in a similar style, except the words would follow her and stayed opaque. It would be easier for him to see while they were travelling if he wanted something. ‘... Shian. Ask anything and I'll try to answer to the best of my abilities, sir.’ 

[/size][/blockquote]

[Uchiha Itachi]

“I work under Uzumaki-sama... I'd like to accompany you back, with your permission.”

The name hit him suddenly. Uzumaki. His dark hair tossing about in wisps across his face was almost enough to veil the astonishment that appeared so quickly.

“Naruto-kun,” his lips parted in shock and his eyes widened. He blinked, now present from the state of languor that washed over him previously at the mention of the young shinobi's name. It pleased him to hear of his comrade, though he may not have shown that in particular.

“... Shian. Ask anything and I'll try to answer to the best of my abilities, sir.” It took him a moment to acknowledge that she had even addressed him.

“Shian,” he said, almost whispering. “Very well, come along.”

He was beginning to shiver, and his jaw set to stop his teeth from chattering. He realised keeping himself moving would be better for his body thermometer anyway, and turned to Shian to give her a firm nod. With that, he hopped forward and kept a steady speed as he surveyed their surroundings for any possibilities of danger.

Both boots trampled over the crunchy snow in quick succession as he made his way up another hill, which again was blanketed in the frozen white that almost defied the presence of an early midnight. It was beautifully vibrant as if reflecting the moon's extraordinary glow, but it wasn't so easy to get lost in the tranquility of it here, the painful blast of air soon reminded him of that. Close by, he could hear that Shian was in fact keeping up with him for the moment, and although he had slowed himself purposely to allow her to do so, it did not bother him.

The rising and falling of his chest, the expansiveness of it all whenever he took a breath and the "normal" rate at which his heart continued to beat now, it was vivifying and incredibly underappreciated. His illness had taken its toll on him in more ways than one, and he had found respite at last. It allowed Sasuke the upper hand in their battle without making it too apparent that he was pulling his punches, although now looking back on things, that had all been for nothing. One big waste. After all, his revival meant Sasuke's victory was practically meaningless, but the circumstances that had taken them by surprise had forced him to drop his facade and show his true nature. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have met Naruto or Sakura and been allowed a "second chance" as it were.

He was quite sure that if he continued in his current destination without looking at her, all the while talking, it would be almost impossible for her to understand what he was saying. He turned his head to look back at her, waiting for her to catch his gaze.

“For how long have you known Naruto-kun?” his query was perfectly modulated, with each word pronounced clearly and somewhat slowly, trying to correspond with her accustomed senses.

Although he had already thrown a question at her, his investigative manner got the better of him. He thought to stop, or else she would feel as though she were part of an inquest, but he asked regardless.

“Have you more information about the other shinobi that we may find here?”[/size]

[Hakumei Shian]

She took in his shock with the watchfulness being a figurative mirror allowed her, tilting her head to the side so wisps of hair fell onto her cheek. Surprise and a hidden joy, did that combine to create relief? She didn't know the Uchiha, not as well as she did the others, so perhaps reaching out to him would be too much. Yes; it probably would be, and she didn't want to cause him any more stress.

... He's surprised?

Maybe he expected someone else.

That she might be able to give the tawny owl. She heard from other Hozuki followers that Uzumaki Naruto had quite a reputation for being some kind of joker. However she never got to see that side of him, joining shortly after their original base drifted away like a house of straw, leaving no trace behind. Watching him recollect his thoughts was fascinating, to say the least. Even with her abilities, it was difficult to predict exactly what was the cause of his expression. Tepes nodded when Itachi spoke again, signalling to Shian it was time to head back. Her fingers clenched, the numbness and sharp twinges of cold going through her hand made the girl blink. Observing so much, forgetting the existance of the one who observed happened more than just on an occasion.

The chuunin followed him silently, only the echoes of her footsteps and his resonating. They moved quickly, against the freezing air that bit at her thighs, though Shian knew he had slowed down considerably for her to keep up. She felt rather terrible for keeping him back, even if she was at her quickest it would never be quite good enough... that bothered her. Maybe stung at some non-existant pride. No, she preferred not to demand perfection from others, but as far as returning back with the man half-frozen due to her own abilities she might as well have said, 'hey look what I found' and gone on from there to being his luggage. Another step. Before her heel hit the snow chakra was pushed into it, causing it to glide forward. No footprints.

As she did so, her eyes chanced upon the moving of his lips. It was easy to tell he had purposely slowed his speech for her usage. Shian offered a small smile in return, the faint shape of the moon shining in her irises. Tepes decided to repeat his question just to be certain, but she was already formulating a proper response as words gradually appeared from the air.
‘... Three years, I think. I first heard of the Hozuki when I was informed Kumogakure was being invaded.’ 

She paused, deciding against sharing how it was she didn't know the outside world was breaking apart. From appearance alone, most didn't think she'd been incarcerated. Many found it rather unsettling she was over the age of eighteen, the way she dressed. Thankfully, he asked another question which opted for her to change the subject. Shian continued following him at a steady rate that provided a lot less effort than actually having the soles of her shoes hit the snow, even increasing the pace a bit to let him know he could go faster if he desired it. The main concern was his health, not hers.

‘The leader of Yukigakure allowed us to move here, though the public isn't aware. It's better that way... some are starting to think it's a neutral zone.’  Tough chances of that. No one was in a particular hurry to get to Yuki no Kuni because no one percieved it as a threat, or a prize. There were only so many places to grow drugs, and in snow was not one of them. Activity from various gangs kept them on their toes too. ‘Travellers come and go, nobody really stays for long because of the temperature... If possible, keeping your face concealed would be helpful.’ 

In truth, she had no idea if those in Yukigakure would see his face, his eyes and automatically recognize him. It was better not to take any chances, though. He'd already come so far. The kunoichi paused, watching his moving form in concern. He had been shivering before, surely he was aware if he worked up a sweat he would become even colder. Frost-bite was deadly in the enviorment they were in, and most shinobi underestimated how fast it could sap the energy from them. It could even mean certain death if their actions were too foolish. They never considered that kind of thing (along with keeping papers organized for god's sake), therefore Shian always did.

... Keep him warm.

As you wish, ma'am.

Tepes flew off her shoulder in an instant, making a brief fluttering noise before grazing down to land on Itachi's. She was a bit surprised as to how different the Uchiha's body was compared to her summoner's, he was much more muscular and tense. Perhaps that was to be expected, since he could see her coming. The owl's eyes closed as she cooed gently trying to transfer some of her warmth into the crook of his neck. There, there... good human. He was chilly, wasn't he?

Meanwhile Shian watched the interaction unfold, smiling to herself at the rare moment of tenderness shared on a freezing night. In many ways, Tepes was able to accomplish tasks she couldn't complete alone. The bird served as her memory, making her a huge crutch compared to the relationship normal summons shared. Perhaps choosing her larger owl would have been a better choice in retrorespect, there was only so much comfort a tiny one could provide. She wrote the owl's name in her mind, causing her to tap the man softly with her beak and motion back to where Shian was.

‘I'm sorry... I should've warned you.’  Her face turned blank, frowning. ‘Are you feeling alright?’ 

---

name | 風遁・亡舞;; Wind Release: Deadly Dance
type | Ninjutsu.
element | Fūton.
rank | C.
description | Shian focuses wind chakra to the bottoms of her feet, creating an almost unnoticeable gap that separates her from the ground. By keeping precise control on it at all times she is able to glide across surfaces and quickly gain momentum average shinobi wouldn't be able to accomplish in a few steps. Her turns and jumps are much smoother and more powerful. This is Shian's signature move in combat. Can be used twice per post.
cons | It's extremely difficult to stop even with excellent chakra control, Shian actually has to release the ninjutsu entirely every time she wants to. Overshooting jumps is common and it's not easy to use her spear while this is active either, as both require a lot of discipline and attention to her surroundings.
[/blockquote]

[Uchiha Itachi]

The sea of snow seemed eternal, and the harsh wind that accompanied it was starting to turn the tip of his nose into a very flushed red. In his mind, he thought back to the Kurai. How long would it be before they decided to encroach on their position in Yuki? Already they were continuing developments across other lands, spreading their power and influence and weakening the constitutions from within. It didn't look good, and as always the odds were slightly stacked against them with their commander taken hostage and imprisoned, though he tried not to think of it. His mind snapped back to the here and now, his return was fraught with uneasiness and it made the solace in which he had longed for after such a hard time just... cease to exist. He didn't make a habit of fretting, but he would feel sorry for them when they received the news of his arrival, because he couldn't feel sorry for himself at all.

He looked to Shian, hanging on her every word as she primed the air with her energy.

“... Three years, I think. I first heard of the Hozuki when I was informed Kumogakure was being invaded.”

So she was a longstanding confederate of the Hozuki resistance, and a dear friend of Naruto? It was nice to know that he kept such pleasant company, and that maybe when he did eventually get there, that there was a small chance this meeting wasn't plagued with the same attitudinal conflict that he had known when he first declared himself to their cause. They didn't know, didn't expect, that a "manslayer", nevertheless an Uchiha would be joining their movement on that day, so long ago. When Sakura first brought him to them, he was met with feelings of contempt, refusal, although it may not have been apparent. Even after she had explained Itachi's predicament to them, he never felt as though he was truly apart of Hozuki. Now he knew for definite that those doubts he harboured were all his fault.

He swallowed away the pent-up anxiety that gathered like a knot in his throat, looking back to her as she continued to write to him.

“The leader of Yukigakure allowed us to move here, though the public isn't aware. It's better that way... some are starting to think it's a neutral zone.”

Itachi's head tilted as he became pensive. He knew only a little about Yukigakure. He was aware that it became embroiled in an internal dispute between the rightful heir to the throne Kazahana Koyuki and the degenerate ruler Kazahana Dotō, but following the resolution of that skirmish the land had very few in the way of armed forces, not as a consequence of the war, but probably due to their lack of foresight over what had now swept across the nations. They were neutral, yes, but without the necessary forces to stop themselves from becoming downtrodden, especially when there were so many organisations fighting for their share.

He started to speak, slowly at first so that she could prepare herself. “Independancy is as much a risk as it is a reward; in order to prepare for peace, you must prepare for war.” His wisdom came from experience, from the trauma of having to see it all first hand at a sensitive age. “I don't see Yukigakure lasting much longer before becoming a hotbed to terrorism and corruption, much like Konoha.”

Hopefully before they became sitting ducks, Hozuki would be long gone. This was only a temporary arrangement after all. Though strategically, because it was between Takigakure and Otogakure, Snow would be a primary candidate for further expansion in the eyes of the Kurai. It was quite surprising that they hadn't already made their move.

“Travellers come and go, nobody really stays for long because of the temperature... If possible, keeping your face concealed would be helpful.”

He pulled up his hood, the darkness consuming his visage as he did so. He was used to hiding beneath a veil of secrecy, but it would not do her so well trying to decipher his already minimally portrayed emotions. At that moment a bird snuggled into him for warmth, perching somewhere beneath the opening of his hood and his neck. He could've sworn it chirped and fluttered with the intensity of her chakra, either way Itachi found himself mesmerised by its spiritual poise. Then he turned to her, and her new balletic display of movement. She was taking powerful strides now, and her renewed vigour had made it so that she had finally caught up with him.

“I'm sorry... I should've warned you.” He looked from the lightly-plumed owl and then to her. “Are you feeling alright?”

He sensed the genuine concern, but he was not one to openly spill out his feelings, even more so to someone he had not long met. How did he feel? He felt broiled with outrage and humiliation, unable to act. These were things he felt ordinarily, and they once gave him strength, focus. Suddenly though, it dawned on him that the ability to manipulate and stow away these feelings had long disappeared and they had now brought out a new weakness in him: emotion. He was stupid to think that she was asking about his personal feelings however. She was inquiring about his physical condition.

Itachi took a breath as he landed and rapidly pressed off his stronger right foot into another great step. His breath came out in a puff of white mist, and his fingers he could no longer sense. For all he knew they could've fallen off.

He tilted his head to her. “I am well,” he managed. “I am not acquainted with these lands, but we cannot be far away now.”

“Are you plenty aware of the opposition we face?” Inside he felt himself cringe. That certainly appeared quite disdainful. He did not mean for it to come across as such, but this information was vital, especially coming from someone he had never seen before.[/size]

[Hakumei Shian]

(I'm so sorry for the wait and awfulness of this post)

“I don't see Yukigakure lasting much longer before becoming a hotbed to terrorism and corruption, much like Konoha.”

As the air blew into her face, Shian continued to skate across the ground in fluid motions. The burst of freedom she got normally using that technique was gone, instead the cold piercing her body with the precision of needles. Her hair was barely kept under control by the metal clips bundling her ponytails together, bits and pieces of wavy strands obscuring her eyes and the corners of her mouth. Even so, the adrenaline kept her going and at that point, and the movement of her legs wouldn't stop. There was no reason to, even if a machine's gears were rusting it would still continue to function. Knees bent slightly, skin dry and cracking from the temperature her violet gaze managed to lock into his as he spoke. She could feel the white letters of Tepes' speech forming in the back of her head.

... Do you remember what happened to the Uchiha clan?

Please remind me.

The amnesiac broke her gaze from the Uchiha's eyes, ends of her mouth tugging down at the waves of nausea that came with knowing. The kind that kept her away from camp, avoiding those peculiar ones that spread sorrow with a single touch. Disconnecting was possible, but also an easy exit when she truly wanted to read someone. The easy way out. It wasn't anything personal but when they remembered at strange intervals... Her heel nearly slipped to jab at the rock beneath but she caught herself, drawing a thin line between her special technique and letting her knee smash against the ground. They weren't shards of feeling that would threaten her for nights to come. It was much bigger. An abnormal conglomeration of guilt, and fear. Shian could feel Tepes emptying a brief summary of the Uchiha clan into her head. Most of it was skimmed as Shian still tried to keep up with him. Her face stayed unreadable.

When the sun set on the Hozuki base, many times Shian would wake from her own nightmares only to be disturbed at the persistance of others'. For the past two years there was no warning, people just broke, and they forgot about the gangs and wars and walked right out of the base to go home. Home wasn't there, civilians would never look at them the same way... but it had been so long since anyone had thanked them, or loved them. Sometimes they just stood there. She would lift one arm and wrap it around her shoulder, heaving it up like a life-sized doll. Then, slowly, the small sensory-nin dragged them back inside. Step by step. Rarely did they cry, just shells of warriors with no one to protect. She made herbal tea for the ones with night-terrors, then filed paper-work the next day. She didn't want their thanks. As soon as the sun dipped down past the horizon, she'd repeat the same steps. An obligation to fellow shinobi, and to repent for her past misdeeds.

“I am well.”

At that, Shian's eyes hardened. His signals changed like the flow of a tide. Itachi wasn't exactly lying, but he was trying to dodge something. He wasn't fine: he felt alone. Caged up and locked away by self-doubt and other miserable thoughts that would continue to eat away at him. Maybe forever. It was a heavy burden that felt familiar, she had seen it before. Relating this much to a person was rare, but somehow the festering guilt managed to reach her own untapped emotions. The hope of coming home to a person with the pride of watching their own flower blossom and mature, savoring every moment under the shade. At the same time there was also someone behind bars being strapped down, screaming as the administered drugs turned her veins different colors.

Shian?

Her eyes snapped open and like a broken movie reel it was gone. Tepes continued to feed her small amount of body heat to the man, wings flapping knowingly. He was going to speak, so she quickly translated. “Are you plenty aware of the opposition we face?”

A quick flash of regret passed over her like a brief shower. Shian raised one quizzical brow, almost waiting for him to say something else. Did he find that sentence to be rude somehow? It wasn't like she could hear how he said it, but that had stayed the same since she'd been a child. Unable to tell from tone, she saw all inquiries as a student would see a test: question and answer based on fact. There were no hidden meanings or subtitles unless the person himself wanted there to be, and then she knew because it appeared as malice. Strategy and common sense... expressing her concern in words was almost like telling lies, so the few actions she tried to choose would have to display that feeling. It was trying to push a wall cemented into the ground. She tried her best but there was only so much the Hakumei could do and in the end her muscles were tired and it was hopeless.

‘... Not completely. But there's no other path for me.’ 

She nodded at her thoughts, seeming comfortable enough with how she arranged her words. Indeed, there was something strange about the few Kurai bases she'd managed to scout out. Shian knew they were developing new technology, because every so often she would see several balls of chakra too small for a person, too fast to keep up with. The Hozuki were at a large disadvantage if Kurai suddenly discovered a new kind of weapon or fighting style, because they could only get such weapons from buying them off dealers willing to work with them or by taking them from the bodies. Although, she had good reason to think such special equipment wouldn't be released to other dealers either. Though they did get help from outside sources, they circulated their own weapons. There was no way to cut that off either, since she guessed the development and storage areas were underground or heavily guarded. No, she couldn't begin to estimate the forces they had. But two years ago, she knew death would be inevitable. If it had to happen, she would accept it as long as Uzumaki Naruto and the others stepped over her body and moved forward.

They continued onward, and although it was only a few minutes the moon was gradually raising into the dark sky to try and touch the stars. Yet with their path almost looking similar wherever they turned, time stretched until it felt like an eternity, stuck recollecting the memories of the past. Shian glanced at Itachi, still feeling short bursts of chakra coming from him, stunning her with emotion and vertigo. There was no use in trying to guess what he was thinking since she could only get a general grasp of a stranger's status, it was much easier if their feelings pertained to the conversation at hand- another blink and she was behind bars, joints protruding dangerously from her skin while she could smell the blood and tissue from the next pen over and almost feel it spilling into her mouth...

Shian!

I... It's fine.

It was gone. Everything was fine. There were no other after-effects aside from a vague headache, but the flicker of the past had been sobering. She couldn't bear to pretend everything was fine when he reminded her if a friend or teacher didn't stop to help, no one would. Still side-by-side with the dark-haired man, Shian reached over, fingers lightly tapping Itachi's shoulder. Her jutsu slowly dispelled as the girl shook her head, gesturing for them to stop. Even with a mental link, Tepes looked confused at why they would slow down when the two were almost there. Then the girl reached out with both arms and hugged him.

She never wrote when she decided to help, but this was different. It was making her think of those times she'd already forgotten, and were now foreign. The skeptical part of her had already begun its mockery. What if he just saw them as what they were, mere words? She couldn't comfort an ally the way normal people do, unable to murmur kind words. They didn't know each other that well, certainly he didn't expect it from her. She was already quite the liar. But she wanted him to know. If she didn't it was just leaving another person trapped in the dark. He would have to find himself, and perhaps it would harm him more than a cage ever could. It still had to happen. She couldn't imagine him being in a state to fight, being so close to giving in. To that frightened, hysterical prisoner that she formerly knew as herself... if she had the chance, what would she say to herself back then?

‘... It's okay. You're okay.’  Shian finally released him from the gentle embrace, reaching up to pat his head lightly. ‘... It's scary now, but please hold on. You're not alone anymore. You're okay.’ 

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[Uchiha Itachi]

((I apologise for the delay. Also! Slight swing in formatting. Hope your eyes don't bleed.))

All fell silent, with the exception of the howling wind, which was the only sound discernable throughout the entire valley. Shian remained still, searching him for a response. There was none, and for that there was a plausible explanation. The figure she had held with her natural clemency had dispersed into a "murder" of crows when she patted it, each one of the corvids soaring off into their own direction with the raucous clamour that they were renowned for. Not too far away, Itachi watched from a wintry hilltop. He had, out of fear for his own safety, produced a Karasu Bunshin before the two had even met. This was a regular provision for him as both a former member of the ANBU and Akatsuki; he had learnt a thing or two about letting his guard down during long excursions such as these.

He looked to the moonlit skyline, but still facing her to enable her interpretation abilities to function accordingly.

“We've made considerable headway. It would be a shame to stop now, when we are almost there. Let's move on.”

Due to the unique characteristics of Karasu Bunshin no Jutsu, Itachi's chakra levels had barely fluttered. He made a habit out of using the technique both in battle and during operations. Though, his energy reserves were the least of his concern, he was now rather aware of the growing coldness between them due to his unusual act. He didn't enjoy his own stringent procedures, especially when it emphasised how reserved he was as a person, but in his mind it was imperative to act in such a manner. He had to admit though, her attempt to alleviate the sorrow that was deep inside of him had turned their trek from a prosaic experience into a heartening one for which he was grateful. It was a relief to know that compassion existed in the shinobi world where wickedness was dominant. He stopped thinking about it now, turning fully to the direction in which they were just moving.

The surrounding atmosphere was thickly gelid, the air becoming a pain to breathe as it swept in bitterly through his lungs. He coughed, but it was a healthy cough if such a thing existed, not a hoarse and blood spluttering one. He nodded in affirmation to Shian, leaping forward and prompting them to continue their voyage. He was quite pleased with their progression so far, having navigated miles of this harsh land and dealing with the physical demands it presented. His bunshin had remained cold, but his real body was a little bit warmer as chakra existed in a much larger volume there.

Like his bunshin, he had draped his hood over the top of his face, concealing his eyes in darkness with only the faint glow of his Sharingan emanating from his dark profile. It would be a difficult task for most people if they attempted to identify him like this, but Naruto and his close friends wouldn't find it as challenging. They would probably notice the intersticed fabric part of his undershirt protruding from beneath his upper layer, and his familiar white and dark-tipped boots along with the black bangs which framed his pale face. They were small details, but ones that his associates would easily pick up on. Well, that and his Sharingan of course.

Thinking of them also made him reflect on his former position in the executive branch within Hozuki. Would they afford him that same role when he was reintegrated, if he was reintegrated? It was nice to think so, but he became disillusioned suddenly as he also reflected upon his mistakes, upon the reality. Duty had separated him from them when his attendance would have been crucial. For what? For knowledge of trade routes, for knowledge of areas high in Kurai influence, for greater understanding of the Kurai hierarchy (or lack thereof) and to see how far Konoha had fallen. It wasn't worth what it had cost him and them, at least in his eyes. The information he had obtained was known to the Hozuki anyway, and the Kurai weren't about to give anything away due to the misfortune of having a spy amongst their ranks. No, they were unsystematic but they were not entirely stupid, despite how the drugs affected them.

He didn't dare look at Shian, as it probably took her a while to build up the courage required to perform that last feat of bravery and she would most likely be seeing him differently now, like the coward he was. At least she was still travelling with him, that did mean something, even if it was just her using him for safety.[/size]

[Hakumei Shian]

Both the summon and the chuunin jumped back a bit watching the Uchiha's form disperse into shadowy birds that flew just out of her grasp, leaving a couple feathers in their wake. She didn't reach out, instead prompting to tug at one bunny-ear half-heartedly.

Ah. Sorry, dear.

Tepes seemed apologetic, following Shian's crystalline eyes as they chased the dark crows, merging with the enviorment as they went out of her field of vision. Her face was blank, almost wistful as the warmth she felt from reaching out flickered like a candle before fading entirely. Any surprise or disappointment she felt was quickly locked away. He had a good strategy for meeting strangers. What did she expect? Certainly most could agree the sensory-nin was pretty dense; or perhaps they couldn't understand that with reading mental states there was always an extra factor that needed consideration before coming to a conclusion. Sometimes she sacrificed a better strategy for one that was emotionally sound. Of course, that wasn't always the case.

Now she knew where he was. Tilting her head in his direction, the girl watched the actual version of him and pulled her own hood up as her fingers continued to toy with one side. It would be better to continue to watch over him as though nothing happened, it was even more bothersome when her own feelings hindered what needed to be accomplished. Even so, she did wonder whether her actions only served to dishearten him further, or scare him away. She bet on the latter. One couldn't act like a close friend when there wasn't actually an established relationship, no matter how much empathy existed. That would explain why she ate dinner alone.

“We've made considerable headway.”

As the owl translated Shian nodded and turned away, ignoring how bitter the air felt against the tips of her fingers. She continued onward at a quick pace as Tepes flew after her, wings flapping quietly. It was usually common courtesy, especially for a person who couldn't hear well, to always look at the other's face. Yet she knew what he was going to say next, so perhaps skipping over extra manners would do in such a situation. If speed was what he desired, then he needn't ask any further. Although to any other ally it appeared she'd brushed him off, she could almost predict his next order.

“It would be a shame to stop now, when we are almost there. Let's move on.”

‘Yes. I'm sorry...’ 

Her apology was quick, only a few beats after his suggestion. Tepes made a soft squawk, also a bit dampened but not terribly affected in the long run. It was a shame, but they had a base to return to. Hopefully her mistress would see the encounter as another life lesson and not some awkward comforting method that went horribly wrong. Unfortunately, the shameful flush in her cheeks pointed out otherwise. Any normal person would point out the strategies she used to get by were flawed. Placing faith in a person you don't even know... That didn't change the fact it was dangerous- yet she didn't care. Shian knew what it was like to take the blame, no one could survive that kind of pressure for long and harbor the heavy pain that came with it. She didn't want to make another clone of herself.

The gusts of wind attempted to ensnare them to no success as the Hozuki members continued on. If no one around would help him, it gave her more incentive to do so herself as they approached the lion's den. Surely he couldn't expect to get out completely unscathed... That would be her duty. Acting as a human went before being a kunoichi.

‘I'll be in your care... Uchiha-sama.’ 

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