Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of Games of Body and Soul

Meet the Youngbloods

Early in the morning, Mana noticed a quick shifting of the shadows on the other side of the office. She was so focused on observing her new captive Finger of the Diamond Hand or looking out for potential assassins that a handful of civilian-level chakra signatures completely evaded her attention. At this point the weariness that Mana felt made her mind a tad slower and her minds blurrier. More and more did she catch her train of thought riding on non-sequiturs.

By now the Diamond Hand must have realized that something bad had happened to one of their Fingers. At least Mana presumed this much. If there truly was someone sent to keep the magician's new guest from talking too much, they'd have seen that the woman was being too calm around a self-declared enemy of the Diamond Hand.

"You going to invite them in? Maybe scattering the boys in black and blue was a hasty choice?" the burglar teased Mana. Her tongue stabbed through a bit deeper than the girl wanted it to be able to get. While the office was shut down, it didn't stop from some more ambitious people seeking out Mana's own attention. At some point, the magician may face the ire of groups upon groups of disgruntled people who were unable to rely on the Shukuba Security anymore.

"Stay here," Mana told the burglar, the magician respected the woman's intelligence enough not to have to warn her excessively about how much of a kick in her own groin it'd be for her to try anything funny now.

The shadows that were moving about an empty and rundown office of Shukuba Security belonged to the rookie squad that Mana called out to. From her first sight, she just about realized that it would not be a pleasant work environment, less than half of the calls she sent out were answered and even the four that did answer the summons looked disgruntled and more ready to laugh at Mana's face than face the threat in front of them seriously.

"In here, please." Was all that Mana could muster up to say at the time, her mind raced for ways she could win these four over. Even if her own mind kept switching between her need of a squad and the attempts to soothe herself, however this meeting went, she had to try to get these four on her side regardless on her own stance on things.

The four walked in erratically but then lined up in an orderly fashion, standing like soldiers hearing the speech of their general before riding into battle, except Mana didn't feel like much of a general at all. How could she convincingly plead to these four if she barely believed in her need for their aid herself. This was much bigger than her, she had to at the very least reach out, if she got rejected, the decision on how to act would be made for her.

"Four people? Well, at least you've got the numbers on the Diamond Hand." The Ring of Thumb chuckled to herself. Clearly, she had doubts about the ability of these four to apprehend the other Rings of the Diamond Hand. A sentiment that carried some weight, seeing how Thumb had encountered the other Rings and knew of their strengths and weaknesses and their identities. The burglar had no reason to lie or to build up the power and influence of her organization needlessly, she was a target of their wrath after all and survival must have been her core interest.

"Who is this woman?" one of the four rookies, a short yet athletic and very attractive young man with long dark hair tied behind his back wondered. His tone did not suggest respect or subordination but it was not mocking either. He sounded more on the open to suggestion side, very much on the verge of being won over. That was, of course, if Mana's people reading and listening skills weren't doing her in.

"She's one of the people spreading corruption and holding this town hostage – a Ring of the Diamond Hand." Mana answered the question honestly and with brevity, hoping that was the type of answer that the young man was looking for.

"W-Why isn't she locked up? All of the local arrest facilities are being unmanned, there is not a soul in the office, your aviary box is unattended to and there is a small crowd outside trying to reach you." The other rookie – a young woman whom Mana had already met before, the girl from forensics named Burgoniya who was less than willing to cooperate earlier. All of that spite and disbelief in Mana's abilities and actions were soaking into her speech.