Kurai walked slowly down the main road that lead into the village of Makkuragakure. He purposely walked slow, with his hands to his side, the left carrying his bag, to let whoever may be watching know that he was no threat. Little Kong followed Suit. Kurai felt many eyes upon him for some reason. The kid looked to be right at home here, seeing as his name meant “Dark” and because of the dark clothing he wore. The body suit that was baggy around the legs and waist. The long black jacket with symbols on his back diagonally: ほこり(Dust) 熟達(Mastery).

He was expecting to walk into a village full of blood, dead bodies, loud music, drunks and women being raped. But instead he could see homes, merchants, families. He could sense a number of very powerful people here, gathered together, and a couple of them felt oddly familiar. Kurai figured he would find out who they were sooner or later.

Would Alec Kane show himself? Or was he the type to send one of his lowers to do his dirty work? Kurai slowly walked with bare feet further into the village, toward what looked to be a huge tower in the center. Perhaps that was where Alec lived...

Hikari followed after her brother and kept close to his side, while keeping just enough distance in case either of them had to react quickly to an attack. She saw how her brother walked, with both of his hands visible and she too did the same. The lemur, Shiro, poked her head out of the back that hung from Hikari's shoulder, looking around at this new, and very dark village.

Hikari resisted the urge to push the few black strands that covered her face and the white cloth that covered her eyes out of her face, but didn't. She didn't want to do anything that might set off an attack. Like her brother she too was dressed in black; a black tank top with a jacket over top that had a symbol known to be worn by medics on the back of it, black pants that stopped just below her knees, and black sandals upon her feet: she had given up her all white clothing just a week or so again.

She looked around with her chakra radar. She hadn't known exactly what she had been expecting to see - at least outside of acts of evil - but instead she saw what looked to be a normal village: minus the many strong looking individuals she could see, a few which she recognized.

Emiko had just been wandering around as she often found herself doing when she suddenly felt a tug in the back of her skull: it was a sign she knew to mean that there was another Jinchuuriki in the village - at least outside of Aella whose tug felt far different then this one. In fact, it wasn't even coming from the tower as Aella's was... no, this was coming from the border of the village.

"Interesting...", she muttered under her breath as she turned and headed in that direction. Already the sand within her gourd was stirring violently, Shukaku reacting to what could possibly be a challenge. He was always blood thirsty, and if Emiko was honest she was a little blood thirsty too: so the idea that this could be someone sent from one of these villages that someone defected from? It got her blood pumping.

She arrived upon the scene not seconds later and came to a halt a good distance away from the duo. She took in their appearances, quickly deducting that they were related due to the way they looked like each other, even though she could easily tell one to be male and the other to be female. The feeling she was getting seemed to be coming from the male, though that didn't mean she lowered her guard any when it came to the female. Distance was kept to ensure she gave herself equal chance at fighting if it came to that. Yet, all her face would show was simple curiosity as she folded her arms across her chest. "Who're you two and why are you here?"

”Sir, there looks to be 2 powerful individuals headed this way,” said Kinzoku through the comms. ”One of them is abnormally powerful, similar to Emiko, who's confronting them as we speak. Should me and the Ops set up a perimeter?”

”No... i've been watching these two on the radar... they came here from Hinowa. I was going to go up there to meet them, but they came here to me. I wonder why?... The way they're walking says they don't want any trouble either. If i'm correct, that boy there is Kurai Yanagi, and according to Mits, he knows a jutsu that will literally turn him invisible. So I think if they planned on attacking or something he would have snuck in. So no... leave them be, but keep your eyes open... i'll handle this personally. I willing to guess that they're here to see me...”

Everyone wearing Wireless Comms and listening to the party line would be able to hear this. ”Got it, sir. I'll keep an eye on them for the meantime,” Kinzoku said.

They'd saved him a trip up north, but why? He really wanted to see what the new village up there looked like. Had something gone wrong? He didn't notice any signs of attacks or anything of the sort up where Hinowa was. What caused the boy and his sister to risk venturing into a home of people that would kill them at a moment's notice?

He admired their bravery, or confidence. A couple of kids walking into this place with all of the rumors floating around, that had to mean the both of them were prepared for a dangerous situation, which brought his sarcastic grin to his face as he stood from his recliner in front of the global radar in his bedroom and made his way downstairs.

He walked through the large front room and to the front doors. Outside, he crossed the drawbridge and headed down the main street, moving along until he came upon the situation with Emiko and the two kids dressed in black. So he was finally face to face with the infamous Kurai he'd heard about. Even though he was blindfolded, Alec seemed to be “looking” right at Kurai, the girl who looked just like him, and the little monkey at his side.

”It's fine, Emiko... They're here to see me. Am I right?... I mean, why else would you walk right into the Headquarters of the Criminal Organization known as The Dark... So, what can I do for you, Kurai?...”

No one had followed them. No one was coming after them. He'd constantly kept an eye behind them just in case, but of course it was for nothing. A girl with a gourd appeared and asked them who they were and what they were doing here. Kua's bull aura appeared surrounding Kurai, snorting and dragging one of his hooves across the ground, before disappearing again. Kurai took this as a sign that the girl here was also a Jinchuuriki, and one of the strong chakras that he was feeling.

Kurai was about to answer her until there was the appearance of the blindfolded man with white hair and black clothes rumored to be alive, and he and his sister had come face to face with the leader of the Criminal Organization, Alec Kane. The man who was said and rumored to be a terrible villain, and who had orchestrated the downfall of Korigakure. Kurai, after talking with Mitsukai, didn't hold that against him anymore. He said that they were there to see him, and he was right.

...But how did Alec Kane know his name? It surprised him, and even Little Kong, who made a strange wheezing noise. Besides raising an eyebrow, Kurai's blank expression didn't change.

”...I came here to ask you something,” he said. ”And if my question offends you, then feel free to kill me, but I ask that you leave my sister be, and let her leave here in peace... You and your people are considered villains... But it appears that you all are united. This girl here approached us the moment we walked in, which tells me she is concerned for the well being of this village. My hearing is a lot better than an ordinary person's ears, and I can hear talking... probably on some kind of wireless device. That tells me some, or everyone is in contact with one another. As the leader of a criminal empire, you could have let this girl here deal with us, or sent another one of your henchmen to do your dirty work, but instead you came down here to confront us yourself...

“My question is this... Actually it's more than one. If one of your people went above and beyond in the call to duty, would you praise them and give them recognition for their success, or are you the type not to notice when one of your people accomplishes something great? Also... should one of your people decide to defect from Makkura... Would you go after them? Or would you just let them leave, and risk spilling your secrets to the highest bidder?”

Kurai wondered if the man would just blow him off and order their heads on a platter, like the crazed warlord everyone seemed to make him out to be. Or would he actually answer the questions presented to him? This would tell exactly the kind of man Alec Kane actually was; a logical individual, or a psychopath.

Hikari was surprised that they were confronted so quickly by the girl who smelled of blood and sand, and yet she wasn't surprised at all. This was the village that the Dark was out of, and surely a bunch of criminals would be on the lookout for danger - something that she and her twin likely could have looked like. Before she could respond to the woman with the sand gourd - which she assumed caused the reaction to Kurai's aura of the bull - another man had appeared. This man she knew to be Alec Kane from all of the wanted posters she used to see around of him. So, it seemed that the leader of the Dark himself had come to investigate what was going on.

A slight frown reformed on Hikari's face at her brothers request: if his question offended Alec then he was free to kill him, but Kurai wanted Hikari to be able to leave freely and peacefully: unharmed. From the sounds of things, just like her brother said when he began to speak to Alec, there were a lot of other people who likewise knew of their arrival. Everyone seemed more than willing to protect their village; and were fast acting too. She was slightly surprised by the question, or questions, that her brother asked Alec, but she simply remained silent and let her brother do the talking for once. She kept an 'eye' on the girl with the gourd, and everyone else around too, just in case someone did decide to try and attack them anyway - though, everyone seemed willing to follow Alec Kane's orders, even though he was blindfolded much like Hikari currently was.

She was curious as to how Alec Kane was going to answer such a question posed to him, and listened carefully for whatever the answer could be: she also wondered exactly why her brother was asking him such things - and what he planned to do with his answers once he got them.

Emiko could hear everything through the wireless communicator she had worn since the first time she had placed it in her ear: the day she had been given permission to stay in Makkura and even given a room within the tower. So, she heard Kinzoku give Alec the heads up, and add in that Emiko was already confronting them. She listened to Alec's response after his arrival and gave him a nod and simply remained where she was. If Alec had been watching these two kids from Hinowa then she assumed he had good reason - like perhaps he wanted to meet them just as badly as they seemed to have wanted to meet him.

She had nothing to say to either of them, and simply remained as an extra 'weapon' of sorts in case something did happen to go down. Though, when the kid began to speak and how he instantly asked that if his question offened Alec for him to kill him but allow his sister to go, talking about how Emiko herself had come instantly when they arrived in the village which signified she cared about the place, and how everyone on the communicators were talking about the two arrivals she couldn't help an eyebrow from raising. He was right of course, everyone was more than willing to defend this village: this was their home, and it had come a long way from the place it had been just five or so years ago - stories she had heard in the short time she had been living in the village.

So, she simply remained silent, waiting to see what sort of answers, if any, Alec would bother to give the kid and his sister. She was curious as to what sort of motivations this kid had by coming here and asking such questions, and so she wasn't about to let her guard down. As far as she knew they didn't have any standing issues yet with Hinowa, and from the talk she had heard, and the fact Dezzy had admitted to having liked the beautiful paradise while she was up there, she had been under the assumption that they wouldn't make enemies with the village up north - especially given two of their own were headed there soon. Was that about to change, though? Were things about to go downhill? She was prepared to find out.

Listening to the kid, Alec suddenly began to get a bad feeling that he was about to be hit with yet another Luca/Strafe/Hiroyuki situation. Another situation in which the leaders of a village just didn't seem to care about the fact that they had someone special and extraordinary in their village doing big things that would just go unnoticed. Of course there would the chance that he was wrong, so he would answer the kid's questions and see what happened next.

”First thing's first. No one is going to die, and if someone is going to leave peacefully, the both of you will. I may be considered a villain, but i'm not so evil that I would slaughter a kid because he walked into my village in a non-threatening manner to ask me a couple of questions. I'm impressed with the amount of detail that you picked on in such a short amount of time here furthermore, if that means anything...

“To answer your first question. If one of my people went out of their way, and say, put in more work than they should have, yes, I would praise them and give them the recognition they deserve, myself, in person. In The Land of Shadows, I see and hear everything. Nothing escapes my notice.

“To answer your second question. Were someone to desert The Land of Shadows, yes. I would go after them. Primarily for an explanation. If the reason provided is good enough, the deserter would be allowed to leave, after a little... shall we say, “Reprogramming.” If the reason provided is something as stupid as 'I just wanted to leave,' then i'm afraid they'd be given 3 choices... They could come back of their own free will, they could be beaten senselessly and dragged back kicking and screaming, or, worse case scenario, they could die right then and there. Because, as you probably already know, all villages have their secrets, and The Land of Shadows has many...”

He hoped the answers provided was to the kid's satisfactory. Still he wondered where all of this was leading. Was the kid going to recite some hero lines and a great speech about 'defeating him' or something like that? Was this the build up to a great climax? Goose bumps appeared along the arms of the blind criminal in his excitement. He could feel massive amounts of power built up in both of these kids. A fight against them would honestly be difficult, he felt. The grin seemed glued to his lips in the face of such raw, untapped power.

”I have a question of you too, Kurai... and I know your name because my Grand Daughter Mitsukai met you in the woods around Niwa, where she went to train with Sage Apes... Can I ask you what brought this about? Yours and your sister's leaving the village, what looks like without permission judging by your bag and lack of headbands, to come here and ask me these questions, having to know our sinister reputation? Honestly, I was prepared to travel to Hinowa to see you, but instead, here you are...”

Alec Kane said that he wasn't going to kill him or his sister, and that when they wanted to leave they would both be allowed to do so peacefully. He complimented him on his ability to notice things like unity and cooperation, and Kurai nodded his head. He said if someone went through hard work, like he had in Hinowa, that he would give that person the recognition they deserved. He also said that if someone were to leave, he would go after them.

He said Mitsukai, who'd taught him the technique called Swift, and whom he taught his camouflage technique, was his Grand Daughter. Kurai found that hard to believe; Alec Kane didn't look too much older than he was, but he had grandchildren?? He said he heard and saw everything, yet he was blindfolded; leaving Kurai to come to the conclusion that he had the same sort of chakra eyes that his sister was now in possession of.

He asked what brought all of this about, and was able to tell that he and his sister and their pets had defected from their village. He could only wonder why a notorious criminal was about to come looking for him, and actually he was surprised, but his expression changed none.

”Well... I asked, because if unity and recognition like this makes me a villain, then i'd rather be a villain. I asked you what I did because my sister and I left that village up there... 3 people are responsible for it's conception... Kouki, Isao and Mizuko... Only Kouki seemed to care about me and my sister, I can't speak for the other 2. My sister and I did much for that village... I prevented numerous invasions, a gang of criminals from extorting the merchants, among many other tasks, and my sister created the first Hospital. Like I said... the only one that seemed to care at all was Kouki.

“So... I refuse to remain in a village where our actions go ignored so that those 3 have time to mess around in a hot spring. While originally I thought you were just a cold blooded villain, Mitsukai spoke highly of you, and told me the reason behind Kori's destruction. I often thought that once you found out the existence of Hinowa that you would return and repeat the process, but after hearing Mitsukai's story of what happened at that summit, I no longer blame you... So I decided to confront you face to face and see if you were like them... and I see that you're not. If you have room for us, we'd be willing to follow you. My sister is an expert medic, and I have many talents of my own...”

... So that had been what her twin was getting at. She didn't blame him from wanting to become a member of Makkura, and she wasn't going to deny that such a situation wasn't appealing to her either. If this was what it took to feel noticed, to feel like everything they did mattered, then she was all for it. Her brother had busted his ass, put his life on the line more times then she even likely knew of, and in the end it had been almost for nothing: save for Kouki who seemed interested in what they had been doing and accomplished. She herself had single handedly set up a hospital in Hinowa, trained the medical personal, and spent more sleepless nights then she could remember ensuring that the place ran smoothly: but, outside of Kouki, she had never truly been thanked for her efforts.

She nodded her head in agreement with her brother's words, glad he was doing the talking for once because she was mostly unable to think of the right words to say: but she wanted to stay here in Makkura too, even if it would make her a criminal as well. Though, she was quite curious as to when exactly her brother had met Alec Kane's grand daughter since she couldn't remember a time recently that he had been outside of the village of Hinowa - but she would save those questions for a later time.

If this man, Alec Kane, was such a feared and horrible villain like everyone was making him out to be, and yet he cared for his people like this, and all of his people cared for their village like they did... then what did that make those where they had just come from? Surely this man couldn't be considered evil. Or as horrible of a villain a everyone made? In fact... he seemed like a pretty decent individual to Hikari. "I agree with my brother... I want to be somewhere where my efforts are worth something. Spending days at a time awake, running a hospital single handedly and keeping people healthy, all while my brother risks his own neck to keep the village safe from the outside... and the leaders don't do anything? That's not the place I want to be anymore."

Well, she hadn't been expecting all of this. She had thought that these two had arrived to cause some sort of trouble, which was exactly why she had headed straight over her - especially after sensing that the male, Kurai as he had been called, had a bijuu sealed inside of him just the same as Emiko had inside of her. But, these two didn't come here for trouble, they came to start a new life. Emiko wouldn't judge them of course, she had done the same exact thing only days prior. She had left the sand to come seek a better life, a better place to be.

However, as she absorbed all of the information being bounced around like a sponge she found herself wondering what her sister and Holeman were going to do. Surely they wouldn't continue on to a village that would end up being the same to them as the one they had just left? No, this was definitely information she was going to be sure to pass along - perhaps they too would decide to stay here. Given that the female said she was a medic, and if Holeman stayed, they'd be more than prepared to handle any emergency with Emiko's own skills and Dezzy's added in on top of that. Yes, this was shaping up to be a better idea with every passing second.

She listened as it was explained that the female had been responsible for starting HInowa's first hospital, and how she admitted to spending days without sleep keeping the place running: and she assumed training the staff. Emiko knew that that was something she'd never have to worry about here - none of them would tolerate her staying up for days and pushing herself to the extremes like that, not with three other medics to take over so that the girl could get some rest. And Kurai would never have to worry about going out in the wilderness around Makkura and running into a situation without backup - or at least a thank you when he was finished.

However, Emiko simply kept her mouth shut as she so often did and would allow Alec to do the talking, all while wondering exactly how he felt about this whole situation, and wondering exactly what her grandfather was going to have to say about it all.

Alec rolled his neck in a slow circle. The grin on his face only became wider, but at the same time, he was also disappointed. It seemed no one else in these other villages seemed to care about their occupants, even if some of those occupants happened to be family members. He began to question the validity of those in this world.

Mitsukai and Holeman suffered through 3 Kage (Luca, Nasin, Strafe) who failed to notice their actions, give them the recognition they deserved, or even come after them after they'd left the village. He remembered through memories passed on to him from Spook of how Luca traveled to Konoha to investigate, the display he put on in Aisling's office with Nasin, and the story Holeman told him of how he'd nearly turned Luca into ash, if it weren't for the last minute reaction of his grandmother. Holeman and Mitsukai had been here for several days now, and still there was no sign of Strafe, nor any other Shinobi from the desert.

Alec kidnapped Avery from Hanagakure 5 years ago, the former village that he himself defected from because of shitty leadership. Alec eventually met the leader - and individual named Izanagi Uchiha - in combat, slit his throat, and gouged out his eyes. The newly appointed leader of the village, an individual he'd had past history with named Natalie Leonheart, was present during this murder and dismemberment. She did nothing to prevent it, or to stop Alec as he boldly walked out of the village. He grabbed the girl on his way out, a close friend of Natalie according to Avery, and again, she did nothing. No investigations. No retaliations.

Alec kidnapped a girl named Amara from a village of water called Denryuu 5 years ago, who was related to the supposed “Lightning God” of Kumo, Raijin, and also the individual who was on a supposed “leash” of the dog man Kenta in Niwa. The supposed person who would bring the end to the Kane family, according to the story Jr told him from the summit. Alec didn't keep Amara long, but he didn't remember this Raijin person doing anything to get her back.

Alec kidnapped Aella (Or rather, he coaxed her into coming with him) 5 years ago. He'd even gone so far as to send a ransom recording to Niwa, sending Ops to hand deliver it to Hiroyuki in person. Aisling appeared to find out what was going on, but Hiroyuki, and even this Kenta person, glorified by Hiroyuki to Alec as being the infamous “Golden General” and also a “savior of this world” once, did nothing.  Now, with Aella once again in The Land of Shadows, and with her asking to stay here from now on, besides a random goon in a mask appearing with messages, no action had been taken.

So today, there appeared Yanagi twins from the new village called Hinowagakure, Kurai and Hikari. Kurai was a Jinchuuriki, and Hikari was a medic, which was why the grin was plastered so widely across Alec's face. Kurai told the story of how he'd went out of his way and put his life at risk many times to ensure the safety of the village. He had to speculate that on top of being a Jinchuuriki, Kurai was also a Sage, since Mitsukai said the Apes summoned him to Niwa to meet her. He said he thought that Alec was a ruthless villain, and that he would return and destroy the area again, but Mitsukai had told him the reason for the village's destruction and that he no longer harbored bad feelings about him.

Hikari told of how she was responsible for the conception of Hinowa's first hospital, and how she would stay up for days to make sure everything ran smoothly. But what made Alec so disappointed was the fact that they both were pretty much singing the same song that Holeman and Mitsukai did when they arrived. They'd gone above and beyond in their duties, but the leaders, save for this Kouki person, didn't seem to care. It seemed as if no one cared for anyone but themselves in this world, and these kids were so depraved of attention that they were willing to be labeled as villains just to be noticed.

”...So disappointing... Just the other day, family members of mine from Yokuchi left their village and came here, and told me a story very similar to the one you just told me. My Grand Daughter Emiko here, and the other two I believe you know. Holeman and Mitsukai? Yes... as you know, they are prodigy children who did things in Yokuchi most full grown and well trained Shinobi were unable to do, and just like the two of you, their actions went unnoticed. Holeman said I don't expect them to kiss my ass or to worship the ground I walk on 24/7, but ANY recognition is better than NONE AT ALL, and what we got? Was NONE AT ALL. I'm sure the both of you feel the same way.

“So... if you want to become citizens of Makkura? That's fine with me. If someone comes after you, I will deal with it personally. Your actions will not go unnoticed by me. This much I promise. As already stated, I see everything.”

Alec pulled down his blindfold so that it hung around his neck, revealing crimson Sharingan eyes. The addition of these kids living here would mean The Land of Shadows would most likely be the most powerful country on the map. There appeared to be no lying in these kids, and Alec saw no reason for them to betray him, especially since they had exchanged secret techniques with Holeman and Mitsukai, but he still hat to let them know he was serious.

”Be loyal to Makkura, Makkura will be loyal to you, and I will not forget it. Betray us, and well... i'm sure you already know the consequences. It won't come to that, i'm positive of it. Both of you are close to Holeman and Mitsukai, so I feel like I can trust you, which isn't easy for a person like me. But I have a feeling about you two... Now. How about we sort the two of you out your own houses? I do believe two of our recently built editions just became available, next to the home of my head of village security named Kinzoku. Follow me please...”

Alec began walking toward the east edge of the village. He glanced back to Emiko. You were the first one on the scene. I wasn't lying when I said the actions of my people didn't go unnoticed, damn good job, grand baby. I'm pretty sure we won't have any trouble out of these kids; Holeman taught Hikari how to see, and Kurai taught your sister how to make herself invisible. Do me a favor and keep your eyes on the borders. I don't think anyone's gonna come out here sniffing around, but better safe than sorry.

Chakra: 790/800

For the first time in a long time, Kurai looked surprised. Holeman, the blind kid who gave Hikari the gift of sight, and Mitsukai, who'd taught him Swift, had left their village too? For the very same reason? It was unbelievable. Kurai looked to his twin in complete bafflement. When Alec said what Holeman had told him, and that he and his sister had to feel the same way, Kurai nodded his head in agreement. Any sort of praise for his actions was better than none at all.

Alec said that it was fine for them to live in Makkura, and that he wouldn't ignore he and his sister, again causing him to nod his head. He then removed that blind fold he was wearing, revealing to them that he had Sharingan. He wasn't a Uchiha, which meant those eyes had to be transplanted into his head.

Kua said, ”Interesting. He has not one, but two of the infamous Sharingan Dojutsu, thus the reason for the blindfold. He probably has the same eyes of chakra that your sister does. This Alec Kane fellow must be one talented individual, very interesting...”

He said to be loyal, and everyone would be loyal to him. He could already guess the consequences of betraying them, which was the farthest thing from Kurai's mind, and that trusting people was hard for someone like him. Perhaps it was because he'd been betrayed many times in the past. Kurai had to admit the idea of his own house was exciting, and immediately began to follow Alec when he started walking.

Hikari was very shocked to hear that Holeman and the girl, Mitsukai, had left their village to come stay in Makkura just days ago and for much the same reasons as Kurai and Hikari had left. Her own face mimicked the look of bafflement that her twin's held. She listened as Alec went on to repeat exactly what Holeman had told him about how even some recognition or praise was better than none at all and Hikari had to nod her head as well in agreement: it was the truth after all.

Hikari was surprised and yet glad to hear all at the same time that Alec Kane had no problem with them living in Makkura, and saying that he wouldn't ignore them like they had been ignored in Hinowa. When she saw him pull down his blindfold and reveal his Sharingan she realized that - unless Alec was a Uchiha which she doubted - he had had not one but two eyes transplanted into his own head. She figured that Holeman likely had a hand in it somewhere along the line since she now knew them to be close, and figured that Holeman had likely given Alec the same ability he had given her, which meant that Alec really could see everything that was happening in his village at any given time: so their actions truly wouldn't go un-noticed.

She knew when Alec said that betraying him there would be consequences he meant it, but she had no urge to do so - if this village turned out to be all that her and her twin were looking for then she was never going to leave, and would defend the place with her life just as everyone else in the village seemed willing to do. Then Alec spoke of them both having their own house and a grin spread across HIkari's face as she too followed after Alec. She had never dreamed of having her own house before, so it was definitely going to be a new experience, and something to look forward to.

"Do you have a hospital in your village?", she asked at random. While she was good at whooping ass and taking names, she was also equally as good at saving lives: and she had learned medical ninjutsu so she could help others, and that's what she wanted to continue to be able to do... even if, like in Hinowa, she helped to create Makkura's first hospital, if the village didn't already have one of course.

Since she figured that Hikari and Kurai weren't going to be a problem for the village, and would indeed be another asset added on to everyone else they already had, she figured she could go back to wandering around. She really didn't need to tag along to see the houses that they were going to be given, and figured that perhaps she'd take the time to go see her sister and - if Mitsukai hadn't somehow heard everything that had just been said - explain to her about the new arrivals from Hinowa, and how going there likely wasn't in their best interest.

Before she could turn however she heard a voice in her head. At first she thought it was Shukaku perhaps trying to play some sort of a trick on her by immitating what her grandfather's voice sounded like, but rather quickly she realized that he must have picked telepathy up somewhere along the line - likely from Aella since she knew the child to prefer speaking with her mind instead of her mouth. She listened as he told her she did a damn good job for being first in the scene, and a smile crept across her otherwise emotionless face. She listened as he went on to explain that Holeman had taught Hikari to see - which concreted what she had suspected the female was capable of using, and how Kurai had taught Mitsukai some sort of ability that allowed her to become invisible. She had no problem keeping her eyes on the borders in case anyone came after the two siblings or anyone else for that matter, but she doubted anyone would just as her grandfather said as well.

Knowing her grandfather would see it she gave a nod in response and headed off in the direction she had come from, wondering all the while if anyone else was going to end up showing up because they were sick of the way their village did things...

[Exit]

Alec put his blindfold back on shortly after beginning to walk. He waved to several of the villagers sitting on their porches and going about their daily commute. Recently, an expansion process began with the influx of new villagers. A section of the east wall surrounding the village had been knocked down and rebuilt to make space for new neighborhoods and houses. Alec planned to give the kids 2 of the newest houses, already fully furnished and move in ready.

”As a matter of fact Hikari, no, we don't. It's a very good idea though. That's a project that you, my daughter Destiny, Emiko and Holeman can all come together and form, i'm sure. I'll have some of my builders get on board, and I have no problems financing the project.”

There were 2 new houses next to each other on the easternmost edge of Makkura, across the street from a small park with a pond, and a nice view of the wilderness that surrounded Makkura. Each house, similarly designed, had a living room, dining room, bathroom, basement, 2nd floor bedroom and attic. The houses each had their own front and backyards, complete with porches.

”Take your pick, all yours... If they aren't to your satisfaction, let me know. We might be able to fix whatever's wrong... Also, both of you should get your hands on some wireless communicators. We have a party line here with all Ops and major members of the village, so that every one stays in the loop and informed. Keep them on at all times...”

His own house... Kurai thought he'd be grown before he could have such a privilege. He could hardly believe it, and knew something like this would have never happened in Hinowa. Kurai began to consider sending a clone home to tell his parents that relocating here was not a bad idea like it first seemed. It was dark here all of the time, and not the paradise that Hinowa was, but Kurai personally didn't care.

Kurai walked onto the porch of the house on the left, stepping inside to take a look around. After looking at each room and going upstairs, he could still hardly believe this was really happening, and honestly thought he might have been dreaming. He'd only just got here and already he was being given his own place to live, with his sister having her own house right next to his.

He left his bag in the bedroom upstairs and came back outside. ”...I see nothing wrong with the place... i'm very grateful, sir,” Kurai said, holding a hand out to be shaken after wiping some of the sweat of running here off. ”Thank you, sir. I will do my best to make you proud...”

Hikari, as they walked, took the time to look over the village. All in all everyone seemed rather happy and pleased with where they lived. They acted like a community should act in Hikari's opinion. She could even pick up the distinct giggling sound of a little girl who seemed to be somewhere nearby, likely playing. Hikari then took care to look over the location that Alec had lead them, she noticed first the park which seemed like it would be a very nice place to go relax and read on days she wasn't busy, and then how the two brand new looking houses seemed to have the perfect view of the wilderness around Makkura. It was still dark, and not as warm as it was up in Hinowa, but Hikari didn't care: this place was in itself a paradise - just of a different sort, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that.

She entered into the house next to the one that Kurai had picked and began to look through it; the living room, dining room, kitchen. Then upstairs to the bedroom and bathroom. She even took a peak out the back door to see she had a porch and yard back there that would make a great place for some private training. She walked back through the house and placed her bag down on the couch in the livingroom: this place was perfect, and she was fine with staying in it.

She walked back outside with a grin on her face and came to stand next to her brother. "It's perfect, thank you very much. I'll make sure to have a talk with Emiko, Holeman, and Dezzy.. I'm sure we can get an awesome hospital running in no time at all." Four medics in one village... she was never going to have to worry about spending days without sleep, working tirelessly to keep the village safe. "I'll also make sure I get my hands on a communicator.. perhaps one that works with my headphones.", she said as she pointed to the headphones that Holeman had given her when she had met him in Yokuchi.

She then looked towards her brother, wondering if he had been thinking the same thing she had about their parents: maybe they should make the journey to Makkura as well - this place wasn't the way everyone had made it out to be. "I think we should let mom and dad know what's up... maybe they should come here, too. Not really too keen on the idea of them being up there by themselves. What happens if someone attacks the village now that we're gone?"

Alec shook Kurai's hand. As he felt the dampness of his hand, probably from their journey here, he came to find the Chimera Technique had gone into play. Alec could almost feel the information traveling up his arm to his brain...

Dust Release (塵遁, Jinton; "Particle Style") is an advanced nature kekkei tōta,  which is created through simultaneous use of the earth, wind, and fire natures...

Alec was now in possession of this knowledge. It would take further study of his own to totally understand. Alec was prepared to undergo this. He also knew that he'd never be able to use this as Kurai would, but that was fine too.

”Oh, trust me... You already have.”

Alec said this with his sarcastic grin and a nod to both of the twins. With this bit of business done with, he turned and began heading back to the tower.

”If either of you need anything, please. Don't be shy...”

Chimera Technique:

\Exit\

After Alec left, Kurai formed several hand signs and created a clone. He nodded his head to his double, and the double nodded back, then turned and began to run. The clone jumped over the wall and began to run in the direction of Hinowa. It would run back to their parent's house and inform them of the situation before dispersing itself.

Shadow Clone Technique:

Kurai then sat on the front steps to his new house.”...Is this guy really a villain, Hikari?... Is this all too good to be true?... He doesn't even know us, but accepted us into his village, and even gave us our own houses... I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around it all...”

Even Kua seemed surprised and taken aback. If this were really a dream, he didn't want to wake from it...

Chakra: 980/1000

Hikari watched her brother form the hand seals for a Shadow Clone and then nod at his double which then took off right in the direction of their previous home. She didn't need to ask to figure that he was sending the clone to inform their parents of what was going on, and perhaps even tell them that they should come to Makkuragakure too. She sat next to her twin on the steps and stared out at the little park across the ways.

She bit her bottom lip as she often did when in deep thought and simply shook her head. "I don't see Alec Kane as a villain, not anymore. Honestly, he just seems to me like a guy who was in our same position, who got angry over the unjust of it all, and tried to make a scene to see if anyone noticed. And, from what I heard, the person who did finally confront him got his eyes gouged out after dying too easily to have been an actual worthy leader.. and the leader of Hana at the time, well, I heard she just let him go." She shrugged. "I've heard of a lot of 'terrible' things that Alec did... but honestly, if I were in his shoes? I couldn't say I wouldn't do the same. Especially with the way people reacted to it all... I mean, people are too terrified to come confront him now, which means he's been able to secure a place that's safe for his family. A place everyone seems happy to be at."

"I think Alec does really know how we feel and what we were going through up there, and is a decent guy, so he's willing to help us out." She shrugged again. "I plan on doing everything I can to get a real good hospital working here with the other medics, and to make sure everyone has a place to go of their sick or injured: I feel I owe Alec that much for his generosity."

The man knew how they felt because he too had been in a village where his actions had gone unnoticed. The 'bad' things he did were just for the attention, and they had gotten him labeled as a villain. When the Kanes attempted to make peace at that summit in Niwa, the attempts had been shoved back into their faces, and they had been called weak and a joke. So Alec destroyed Korigakure to show the rest of the world that the joke was on them. Nowadays, everyone was scared of the man. Alec grinned a lot, but he knew deep down the whole situation must have been eating away at him. How one man endured all of the hatred, jealousy and fear of the other countries was beyond Kurai.

Finally meeting him in person, it turns out that he wasn't the violent psycho people were trying to say he was, and he knew exactly what they were going through. He'd even offered them homes here, and said he wouldn't ignore them. Kurai believed him.

”...Yeah, I plan on playing my part too. I'm sure there's many bandits and criminals around here who'll need re-educating... Mom and dad should be coming along shortly too, once they hear about the place.”