yourhatred | eighteen crows (朱) voice/action

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eighteen crows (朱) voice/action

[Early this morning Itachi can be found in the battledome in between sessions spent fighting various creatures from other worlds. If he's going to be here, he might as well make use of this facility.

Later, having gotten an acceptable amount of exercise, the ninja will be hitting up the grocers before heading back home. It's a typical day, basically.

He'll comment on the journals once all that is settled.]

It's been some time since I properly spoke up over this. I suppose you can consider this checking in, for what it's worth.

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[Nor does he. Quite. But beggars can't be choosers, and he's not walking days in a tunnel that might as well be made of seastone to reach the sea.]

It smells North Blue-like out here.

[It's a bit absent and a lot wistful, and he notices that bits of scrub and sea grass have sprouted up, and he's sure that there are seabirds nesting in there - and 'lo soft squawking by their feet - and he'd discover them if he'd only look.

But he's headed to the water. And he won't step on the docks quite yet.

There are lights on in the Cullen house behind them (and how did that get there?). Perhaps Sparrow is home.

He sighs...]

And a lovely evening for sailing. [Which is a pity. He would like to fulfill that promise. But they're there for a walk.] But this is pleasant too.

[He is no coward but... there's no good way to start this off.]

I assume that's an ocean you're familiar with.

[The ninja isn't going to deny that the air and the atmosphere around the beach this time of day is pleasant, but Law clearly has more appreciation for the ocean than he does. Itachi appreciates most things in nature, but he's been rather land-bound his entire life.

This clearly isn't so for the pirate, the reasons being obvious.

He's still curious about the reason he's been brought out there in the first place, and he remains mostly silent to allow the other to form up how he was going to address it.]

It's my home ocean. Though I guarantee the waters here are warmer than those ones. Especially from where I'm from. You don't go swimming at a pole.

[And Law has never been so land bound until Luceti. Funny that. And this ocean has a barrier. Which is obscene, and mars the experience a bit more. Oceans are supposed to be free.

Where you can leave everything behind.

Not here. But it's relatively private. Not like the rest of Luceti, where any attempts at solitude are generally interrupted in five minutes.

Yeah... about that.]

Nn... I owe you some explanations about a few things, Itachi, for starters. [Have you noticed the Mister has been dropping a lot, lately? Rubbing his forehead.] Starting with what happened after I returned from my Mallynap. You might have noticed we were very quick to leave.

[Easy things first.]

I did, yes.

[And he considered the reasons to be none of his business.]

[... in this case, it might become it.]

Heard of a guy here called Blackbeard?

I hear of a lot of people, so it's a possibility. Yes.

Enemy of mine. Enemy of practically every pirate here. Extremely powerful. [And here he frowns... yeah, that really doesn't convey the threat of him. Let's try this.] I'm only mid tier for power in my world, and I think you have an rough idea of how strong I am. He's top tier... and that's roughly a hundred times my level, or more. I don't have an exact gauge on it.

Anyway, with the arrival of certain parties from my world, the situation with him is threatening to possibly become unstable. He's laid low so far - most of Luceti regards him as a joke. That could change very quickly. And he might start going looking for them or those in alliance with them. And he is indiscriminate. Anyone in his way... or anyone around if he's in a particularly foul mood can quickly become a target.

So if he comes... leave. Grab your brother, don't let him argue, and get out.

[Itachi's expression remains deadpan, but he looks at Law for a good long moment.]

Everyone is restricted in their abilities here. Even him.

I'm sorry, but I can promise you nothing. This place is full of those from various tiers in their own world, and most will not run if the village or their friends are put in danger.

Neither will I.

[...

Do you really consider me your friend, Itachi?]

Well...

As long as you're forewarned.

[He is faintly smiling as usual, but it is utterly bittersweet.]

[Or just part of the village, but more likely the other. The list of those he could consider the same is next to nonexistent.]

Grabbing my brother and running has also never been an option.

But I appreciate the warning all the same.

Mm. [He closes his eyes. Might want to watch by your feet - there's a surfbird running by with a tee tee tee.]

We come from two completely different worlds, don't we?

I believe that most of the inhabitants of Luceti all come from very different places.

...But you would be correct in regards to our two worlds in particular.

[Itachi easily sidesteps the creature. Hearing it coming was enough.]

Mnhm. [Yes, but did you avoid the tiny rock crab also running around?]

Aren't even shinobi where I come from, actually. [That we know about.] Even the concept of ninjas is pretty foreign, believe it or not. So... sometimes things can be hard to grasp. Doesn't mean I don't try, but, pirate.

[Different worldview.]

[This is Itachi we're talking about. The wildlife is safe.]

Likewise, I have never actually met a pirate before now, though I would not be surprised to find that they actually existed in my world aside from stories.

[If anyone knew the answer to that it would be a mist ninja.]

Mm? It's usually pretty obvious when a pirate's around. Most of us aren't known for our abilities at stealth. [Save some of the Strawhat crew and himself, the pirating community is pretty damn loud and obvious.] But, if you have them, I imagine that they'll be different from what I'm used to. Probably taking more than a few cues from shinobi. [As you folk seem to be the dominant military power there.]

No doubt.

If they exist, they haven't caused much trouble among the main nations I'm familiar with. But then if they really wanted to run a smooth operation, then avoiding the main branches of ninja would be wise anyway.

If they wanted to just survive they'd have to. [Unless they were strong enough to take those ninja on, which in that case they wouldn't be stories anymore, would they?] The seas are unforgiving enough.

But it wouldn't be something Fire Country would have to worry much about anyway, given it's nearly landlocked, right? Much less Konoha. I hear it's as inland as it gets.

It would not be, no. The Land of Water would be the most at risk, and attacking the shores without a powerful crew would be highly inadvisable given the reputation of many ninja in that region.

[This is sailing away from where he wanted it to go. Time to correct course.]

And those that are powerful tend to be ninja already. Though I wonder if the notion would cross anyone's mind to begin with.

Perhaps.

[Though the nations had enough problems on their own without having to add outside issues.

He glances toward the pirate somewhat curiously. Certainly this isn't what they'd come out here for.]

[No it isn't. But even he isn't blunt enough to address the massacre out of the blue without some sort of lead in.

Not in these circumstances.]

As I said, we're from two different worlds. So there's major differences in beliefs, in mindsets in some areas. And that makes some things hard to grasp.

[And an exhausted sigh.]

Some actions hard to understand...

[You know where this is going now...]

[Itachi does know. He says nothing, stoic expression remaining as he continues to walk.

This isn't something he wished to discuss with outsiders, even those he's become closer with in this new world.]

[We all have to do what is painful and uncomfortable sometimes.

And it's not only uncomfortable for you.]

I've known for a long time, Itachi. Not only about what happened, but why it did.

[Itachi closes his eyes. The revelation doesn't upset him, really. With this place as it was, it had only been a matter of time before that news got around. Even as much as he didn't want it to.]

I'm not surprised. It's hard to keep a secret here.

[Sighing again.]

That's a small village for you. The mad experimentation doesn't help.

[Fixing his gaze upon the ocean. He's quiet.]

It's not alright, you know? What happened - what your leaders decided. All of it - it is what it is. It's not alright. I don't know what threat your clan's existence posed to motivate such an extreme order, and I don't know the consequences refusal would have brought. There's a lot of things I don't know. And a lot I probably wouldn't understand. ... I am not of your world. Not a shinobi.

Just a pirate.

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