The priestess laughed in delighted surprise when he obligingly picked her up. She must have been expecting him to protest.
…Had that been an option? He wondered. This was a mission. Granted, she was supposedly his peer, not his client. And nonetheless, he would never agree to be a beast of burden to a client. It was a little beneath his dignity and station.
But no one was going to...
2024-02-26 00:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostRose wondered if the roads were treating Vivian, Kian, and Marcel as kindly as they treated her. After a few days of gentle sun and easy riding, the party arrived at the capital without any issue. Of course, they didn’t get very far in amity. The best hours by far were spent in a tense silence, which was less effort than tense diplomatic smalltalk.
That was well enough. They ...
2024-02-25 23:31:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 44
Rose wondered if the roads were treating Vivian, Kian, and Marcel as kindly as they treated her. After a few days of gentle sun and easy riding, the party arrived at the capital without any issue. Of course, they didn’t get very far in amity. The best hours by far were spent in a tense silence, which was less effort than tense diplomatic smalltalk.
That was well enough....
2024-02-25 02:40:14 +0000 UTC View Postset in a vague future where they are in an established Konohagakure and her cult is going really well.
“Is this an assassination attempt?” Tobirama asked his sister-in-law. Mito’s attendant tittered at what she thought was a joke. Mito herself merely gave him a closed-lip smile with her usual laughing eyes.
“Of course not,” she demurred, as if she didn’t see h...
2024-02-25 02:38:14 +0000 UTC View PostThe first two hours of the ride were excruciating in their stiff silence, heads held high as soldiers gawked and saluted again, again, and again. It was nothing like Rose’s initial trip out to the war front. She had ridden side by side with Etienne, far enough away from others to laugh and hold conversation.
This group had to pass through miles of encampment to get alone. The roy...
The first two hours of the ride were excruciating in their stiff silence, heads held high as soldiers gawked and saluted again, again, and again. It was nothing like Rose’s initial trip out to the war front. She had ridden side by side with Etienne, far enough away from others to laugh and hold conversation.
This group had to pass through miles of encampment to get alone....
It was a surreal scene. The Priestess held court in the forest. She looked to Hashirama as if she needed his help for anything and requested seating. Madara choked down a wild laugh.
Hashirama gave her a sickly smile and conjured a flat platform with a raised table fit for a small delegation to sit at. He looked at the two armies, clearly considering speaking as to their presence...
2024-01-31 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostCelestin followed close to her heels. She knew him well enough to feel that something was charged in the air.
It made her defensive. Rose had to work not to push her shoulders and chin up as she strode to her destination, aware of subtle stares and hasty bows in her wake. She was all but a Queen. She didn’t need to be told that she was too soft or that her judgment was question...
2024-01-29 03:00:02 +0000 UTC View Postthis is NOT A CHAPTER this is just my rough outline of Vibes, which I thought might amuse someone.
They have a peace summit, which aiko is uniquely unsuited to moderate. She tells them her demands: she wants them to not fight. She tells them it's inevitable that they'll get along.
Everyone hates this, except Hashirama.
Izuna manages to redirect to the current politi...
2024-01-26 23:51:31 +0000 UTC View PostThey were unable to immediately depart. The Uchiha were ready to depart, but the Senju were struggling to get organized for travel. Normally he might take that opportunity to be smug about the superior discipline of the Uchiha. At the moment, one-upping Hashirama was far from Madara’s mind. The other clan head was too busy to notice any posturing regardless.
In the chaos, Madara leaned ...
2024-01-24 04:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostCHAPTER 41
“It would be much better to disguise me,” Vivian said, not for the first time.
She wasn’t wrong. She was the most distinctive member of their party by far. They were back to traveling on the main road for lack of better options. The group was tense with nerves every time that they passed merchants or troops. So far, they had had no more conflict, but how long would ...
2024-01-22 04:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“I think we should go somewhere secure to talk.”
Ji Min nodded grimly. She didn't know what to do from here. It wasn't covered in the government onboarding. “Any suggestions?”
‘Especially since this was illegal. Technically that was just breaking and entering. If I do anything about it, that's vigilantism, which is worse.’
Reporting it was always an option...
2024-01-20 07:20:58 +0000 UTC View PostThey were unable to immediately depart. The Uchiha were ready to depart, but the Senju were struggling to get organized for travel. Normally he might take that opportunity to be smug about the superior discipline of the Uchiha. At the moment, one-upping Hashirama was far from Madara’s mind. The other clan head was too busy to notice any posturing regardless.
In the chaos, Madara leaned ...
2024-01-20 07:19:10 +0000 UTC View PostHer first reaction was pure animal fear.
Then the placement registered. They were in the kill box. She'd found a living, breathing person in this hell, and she couldn't leave them.
It could be a trap. If it was, it was going to work on her. Ji Min took a few quick steps into the room and hastily checked to be sure that no one was hiding behind the work table. It was clear. So she to...
2024-01-08 09:16:53 +0000 UTC View PostThank you for bringing the mis-post to my attention!
This motherfucker was going to get twisted into the world’s first pretzel. Aiko bared her teeth at Tobirama. She was going to break his bones, boil him, and salt him to taste.
He was whipping through the eight billion hand signs for a water dragon. Unfortunately for him, ninjutsu had gone through some significant developments a...
This motherfucker was going to get twisted into the world’s first pretzel. Aiko bared her teeth at Tobirama. She was going to break his bones, boil him, and salt him to taste.
He was whipping through the eight billion hand signs for a water dragon. Unfortunately for him, ninjutsu had gone through some significant developments and distribution between now and when she’d learnt it. She ...
2023-12-27 02:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostApparently space piracy was pretty forgiving to beginners. That should have been pleasing in the circumstances.
She was in hell, actually. Ji Min was making arrangements to send her baby siblings off into space and she was grateful for it because the alternative was worse. This was actually hell.
“I can train them,” Issa reassured from the other end of a video call. She popped s...
2023-12-25 09:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostThis motherfucker was going to get twisted into the world’s first pretzel. Aiko bared her teeth at Tobirama. She was going to break his bones, boil him, and salt him to taste.
He was whipping through the eight billion hand signs for a water dragon. Unfortunately for him, ninjutsu had gone through some significant developments and distribution between now and when she’d learnt it. She ...
2023-12-20 00:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostJi Min drove back to the hotel since it was dark. When they were about halfway back her phone started to go off in her purse.
Ari leaned over in the passenger seat and turned off the music.
“Thanks,” Ji Min said. “Could you-”
“Yeah, of course.” Ari unzipped the bag and pulled it out. She looked at the screen and her whole face twitched. “It's Dad.”
“Dad...
2023-12-17 23:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostShe didn’t waste time regretting much after the odd band left camp. Rose went to administrative work with grim determination. For now, she needed to understand the full scope of the situation. Ending this campaign was going to be a nightmare of coordination.
She wanted to wrap this up before the end of the 40 days of mandatory conscription ran out. If she could pull off a 40 day war, t...
Chapter 28
He didn't like the situation in the least. Tobirama set his face in cold impassivity but inside his mind was racing.
He'd felt the priestess's chakra disappear and reappear.
It was the same as her apparition from the mountain temple. She was simply gone in the space of a thought.
Witch.
The taste of her chakra was metal in his mouth. There was something ...
2023-12-10 03:39:41 +0000 UTC View PostCHAPTER 24
“I was thinking that we should register me as being home schooled.”
“...what?”
M.J. rolled his eyes at her. “Winter break won’t last forever,” he pointed out. “If I’m not going back, eventually I’m going to be reported missing. Am I going back home?”
Ari scowled. “You’re not.”
M.J. lifted his hands. “See?”
...
Travel was a lot faster with a noblewoman in the party. Marcel gave an appreciative rub to the neck of his borrowed horse, relishing the softness of sun-warmed hair under his palm.
Tiny Vivian was at the front of their group on a little pinto. She was still wearing her emerald gown, but she’d hitched the skirts up with a bit of leather to show off sensible trousers underneath and boots...
He didn't like the situation in the least. Tobirama set his face in cold impassivity but inside his mind was racing.
He'd felt the priestess's chakra disappear and reappear.
It was the same as her apparition from the mountain temple. She was simply gone in the space of a thought.
Witch.
The taste of her chakra was metal in his mouth. There was something desperately wrong...
2023-11-21 19:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
“I won't be in town much longer. Meet me late tonight or we can't work together. Tell me where.”
Ji Min sent her ultimatum to the Investigator and put her phone away to focus on family time. This time Ari drove. She parked in a paid lot by the planetarium and dropped the car key in her purse carelessly. “Let's go!” She threw open her door and burst out.
Ji Min got ou...
The situation spiraled out of control rapidly from there. The Uchiha returned to their formation. Hashirama fluttered around, eyes darting between her, Tobirama, and Madara pleadingly.
Madara looked grimly determined. From the outside, there was nothing to indicate that he didn’t want bloodshed.
“The clearing overlooking the river,” Madara said tonelessly. His eyes darted away...
2023-11-15 03:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostTravel was a lot faster with a noblewoman in the party. Marcel gave an appreciative rub to the neck of his borrowed horse, relishing the softness of sun-warmed hair under his palm.
Tiny Vivian was at the front of their group on a little pinto. She was still wearing her emerald gown, but she’d hitched the skirts up with a bit of leather to show off sensible trousers underneath and boots...
It felt like being on a family vacation. While Ji Min called around to find a space she could reserve for them to train in, M. J. and Ari apparently negotiated a schedule. Ji Min looked it over. The morning was for fitness- strength training and cardio like urban running, and there was a daily block of time in the evening for some type of skill. There was an extremely half hearted “homework t...
2023-11-06 00:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post
Ritual attempt to avoid bloodshed complete, Madara stomped his war fan into the ground. On the other side of the field, Hashirama flicked his stupid hair and raised a hand to his army.
Izuna stole a glance at the priestess. She wasn't looking at him, but he made sure to pose so that his jawline looked particularly strong from her perspective.
If he had to characterize her exp...
CHAPTER 38
The Princess’s friend was a little creepy, Marcel decided. She had eyes like an owl and no unnecessary movements. He gave her a smile and took off the sweaty helm with relief.
“It will be my pleasure,” he agreed. It didn’t matter to him one way or the other if he traveled with this woman. If she was trustworthy, he could bring up what he truly cared about. “How ...
2023-10-29 22:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post