Exiting the compound later that day far after Uemura had dealt with the stranger at their gate, Kawatake--followed closely by Tataruki and her fox--trudged through the desert in an effort to quickly arrive in Gobi village. Preferring not to be caught in a sandstorm, or three, Kawatake and Tataruki took few breaks as he was intent on finishing this as quickly as possible. He did not like wasting time and this applied to everyday life as much as it did to missions of any sort. So it was, after many hours of tiring travel, that the two saw the village upon the horizon. Exhaling sharply, Kawatake stopped a moment, glaring through the sand and heat towards the settlement. He didn't like the feel of this, but it didn't matter. Glancing at Tataruki briefly, then looking away, he started again and the two would soon find themselves entering Gobi Village. With any luck, the villagers, and any resident clan, would be responsible. It would be better that way, otherwise the Monzaemon would be dragged into what would likely be a much more complex situation. One that he did not like the idea of at all, even if they were likely to triumph in the end. It was with this in mind that he set foot in the village. Hoping that things would be simple, but figuring they would be anything but. It was an unfortunate place to be.

Skall - The Skinwalker

It was with a small amount of reverence that Skall stood just outside the village of Gobi. There was always an odd mixture of spiritually sound peace before blood was she en masse. Sitting upon a blanket laid out upon the sand, the young assassin watched as a figure or two moved about the village. His presence was subtle: a dust cloak wrapped around his shoulders and a conical straw hat atop his head as he pretended to hunch over in a drunken stupor, empty sake bottles laid out before him.

And so Skall waited quietly, hoping that his father would remain unharmed without him at arm's length. It was difficult to watch other shinobi remain close at hand in the brotherhood of clanship whilst he drifted on the outer edges of Uemura's world. Edges that were usually crusting with dried blood. But that is where he was told to be, and so he remained.

The toxins that remained on his person were of precious value for the moment with the clan's stores pillaged. He would have to use them sparingly if at all, instead relying more on his weaponry and, if occasion warranted it, his hazy red gift.

Letting out a mock hiccup, Skall's eyes darted to movement on the horizon. His eyes were well adjusted to the dark though not capable of seeing through it in its entirety. Either the rest of his clan were arriving soon, or he had drank a little too much of the sake. It was necessary to pull off the role of a drunkard, if only for the sake of the scent of his breath should a passerby interact with him.

Gobi was a fair sized town, largest in the area due to the trade. It normally had a rushed feel to it, but today was different.
All across the town of Gobi the citizens shuffled nervously. As soon as Kawatake entered, the people kept their distance. They were whispering to each other with an air of fear in the air. Several whispers were louder than others.

"It's him, Monzaemon."
"Great, them too?"
"This isn't good."
"Stay quiet, you don't want them overhearing."

Fires smolders in the distance, but other than the nervous chatterings, the town was oddly quiet considering. A doors shut quickly.
_________
Next to Skall, a passerby wabbled past, walking from the village. Alchohol was on his breathe as well, a small caravan in the distance behind him. He was oftly friendly, but it was mostly the alchohol.

"Hey, what'cha doin' sittin' all the way out here? Not that I blame'ya, the towns gone to hell since they came. Shutting us up, all's so they can pick a fight. Hey... ya got anything strong on ya? "

Skall- The Skinwalker

Skall gave a purposely lazy glance with one eye from beneath his hat. With a bit of a grunt, he leaned forward slightly and took a small flask of his own personal sake from the small of his back. From beneath the tattered dust cloth his hand rose, holding the incendiary liquid out to the drunkard. Before the man would be given the container of alcohol, however, Skall would have an answer.

"Whatchu mean 'they', pal?" The words were slurred heavily and a light huff of a sigh was added to the end. The potential for some kind of ambush was wholly possible, but it made Skall's stomach churn slightly at the thought of them walking into something far worse than a few shinobi with a grudge.

The grove that had existed since Kimiko was a child was a place of solace for Toyotomi and his daughter. Any discussion could be held there at their discretion. A place away from the world, the grove could bring a bit of peace for Toyotomi's family. He stood the flowers that Kimiko had planted weeks ago, admiring the beauty that his daughter paid so much attention to. Not only were they beautiful but also the kind of flowers that her mother would plant. Memories hobbled together within his mind, going over the things they shared, and the incidents of arguments. Regardless of the good or bad, Toyo was happy. He would wait as long as needed for his daughter to arrive whilst he smelled the flowers. "Let us hope your daughter has things in her grasp. "

Arriving a minute or two later, Kimiko's defined figure strutted its way proudly into the clearing, an air of purpose about her. Seeing the place she had spent many training sessions in was somewhat nostalgic, it provoked many emotions in her, but she had no time to address them at such a pivotal time, so they merely skirted the edges of her mind, ignored for a time. "Greetings father," she said, her voice sharp despite its clear and harmonious sound. "I called because I would prefer to make a more informed decision, and as I understand it you were the one who located the...problem," her eyes narrowed, a brief fire in them, before it was pushed away, clarity again apparent on her features.

"Ah Yes. A man dead and our storage nearly all burned. A difficult situation to say the least. None of the men could find the culprit or even a hint of evidence to help." Toyotomi rubbed his chin intently. A quick unlatching of the pouch on his hips, Toyo pulled a kunai out. It was a small thing for Toyo and Kimiko to speak while practicing. It was a calming thing that both got from the woman they loved the most. A flick of the wrist sent the kunai flying toward his noble daughter. Nothing intense from them as that would ruin the area. Just a small exchange.

She listened, standing with one hip jutting out to the side slightly, her hand on said hip. When she noted his movement she took a half step forwards, angling her left side in front of her so that when the kunai approached she could turn, whipping her arm up, and snapping it out of the air. She then began to walk to the side, turning to tread the same ground she had before, pacing. "A blatant attack, and at such a terrible time in the season too," she tapped her chin thoughtfully, her brow furrowing as she did so. She did not like this, not one little fucking bit.

Doing her best not to grit her teeth, Kimiko's jaw muscles tensed lightly before more words poured from her supple lips, her tone serious, "Seeing as our relationship with most surrounding clans is decidedly positive, I say we send out a message or two." She nodded her head, glancing at her father a moment before continuing, "The clan should be informed and the watches doubled, preferrably with the sharingan so as to not miss any...important details." Like the face of a killer, she thought, annoyed that there'd been not a single witness. She didn't understand how it had been managed. "We also may have to consider the possibility that one of our so called allies is lying to us. What do you think, father?" The last bit she said after ceasing her pacing and turning to Toyo, at which point she threw the kunai, as if passing the speaking torch. The action was casual despite the serious circumstances, she was attempting to stay relaxed.

It was barely working.

Raising his hand, his middle finger and pointer finger taking signifigance, Toyotomi caught the kunai between them like snatching a fly out of the air. His sharingan had worked out the neccesary speed and angle needed to achieve such a feat. "I agree. Foul play is an easy thing for the shinobi. It would take such to get past us without warning." Toyotomi's left hand rose to stroke his chin and he pondered for a moment. "What is it you would like for me to do? Our options are limited." He asked curiously.

As her father mentioned foul play her eyes widened, an idea entering her pretty little head. Her eyes darkened, "It just occurred to me that this would've happened in the middle of the night, with ample shadows, but low visibility." She looked to her father, "I only know two clans who that would serve as an advantage to. The Hyuga and the Nara..." despite mentioning the former of the two she could not see the Hyuga daring to attack them. Her and their people had something of an understanding as it was far too dangerous for either of them to face eachother without extensive losses. The Nara however, she could see taking on that role. They were mysterious, possessed some kind of specialized shadow technique, and many of them were geniuses to boot, or at least they liked to flaunt that particular trait.

She hated the Nara and their ways. Damned bastards. "What do you think?"

Following this she should her head and turned away, clearly agitated now. "Sending messages out is one thing, but there must be a way to tell if those bastards lie to us...." She trailed off, beginning to pace as her thoughts raced.

"I can't guarantee anything but send me if need be and I will speak with the clans. I do carry a long standing with them and if they lie to us, then I'll personally see to the end of their history." Toyo's sharingan pierced through the tension right into his daughter's eyes.

Nodding slightly and smiling at the ferocity in her father's eyes Kimiko's own eyes flashed and he'd note her sharingan's brief activation before she turned away and a focused look came upon her features. "Good, now all that needs doing is to notify the clan, and deal with the aftermath," she said it almost as if it were a small issue. With her father's opinion, and his assistance available to her, she walked to the center of the clearing and preformed several handseals before firing a small fireball high into the air. It was more smoke than flame, but when it met its peak, it exploded, releasing a thundering sound over the area.

This was how she always called the clan together. It was convenient and required that she waste no time sending a message by word of mouth. The clan would be gathered soon, and when they all arrived she would begin her work. This would be an interesting time they moved into, even if she did not yet realize it.

The winds of change were blowing, after all.

Nara, Shikako
Land of Fire – Tea Room, Nara Compound, Morning

Shikako scrunched her fists together and bowed her head in quiet acquiescence. The very same anger before was bubbling and boiling and bursting in her veins and before she knew it, Shikako’s mouth was opening and she scathingly hissed, “Sorry, father, didn’t know that I was such a damn burden.”

“Watch your tongue!” Shikaro snapped, slamming his cup to the table. As if he realized his anger, he closed his eyes and took steady breaths before saying, more calmly this time, “Now is not the time for anger, Shikako. We must have a clear head. Now, who do you suspect would kill Shikamoe?”

The Nara heir unclenched her hands and blew out a stream of air before regaining a poise the poise she pretended to have. Who would gain from the death of Shikamoe? There would be no point in killing just one shinobi unless to send a message and even then the message may be vague.
“Is there any more details? Anything that could hint at a motive?” She asked morosely, not quite ready to talk to her father.

“The medicine storage was destroyed and Shikamoe’s death was brutal – a message.”

That explained it.

The Nara Clan wasn’t very social at the moment, considering the whole Shikako-Shikashi fiasco – while they were strong now, they could be weak in the future if Shikaro was to suddenly die and the heir has not been determined. The conflict could resort in civil war and so they decided it was best to keep to themselves right now in order to keep the inner conflict secret. However, if a clan were to discover their secret and attack, it could spell their doom. Any of the clans could discover it, but the people with the best jutsu to uncover secrets would be Uchiha or Hyuga considering their eyes.

“The Uchiha or the Hyuga.” Shikako repeated aloud.

“Good.” Shikaro muttered, nodding his head.

Nara, Shikashi
Land of Fire – Nara Compound, Morning

Immediately, at the summon, Shikashi’s shadow stretched and sought to latch onto the others.

“I will say this once more.” He warned, his voice hard and unyielding. “You are not wanted here.”