haiyaku | 001 ◇ [Video/Action for New Bark]

[Action for New Bark]

[The sun is fading when Kakashi gets kicked out of the house. As if the weird woman calling herself 'mom', the green dog and the music wasn't strange enough, Kakashi also can't see through this genjutsu. His left eye wasn't working the way it should - the way it had since the day he'd gotten it. So he pulls of his hitai-ate and uses it's reflective surface to look at it. The sharigan still swirls, red with black tomoe. Obito's eye looks like it had the last time Kakashi examined at it so why wasn't it working. He replaces his hitai-ate, pulling it low over his left eye to hide the mismatched eyes and scar. Maybe there would be someone here he could ask.]

[Time to dig through his bag and see what sort of supplies he had. A pair of clothes, an odd device that could serve as communication, some necessities, food and more importantly - papers. Papers meant information. There's a map and information about being a trainer. He supposes that's why the dog had followed him away from the house as he packs everything back up except for the papers and the communication device. It doesn't escape his notice that his weapons are gone. Looks like he really will have to depend on the animal for protection until he could find replacements.]

[Kakashi stops to look down at the dog and the dog looks back.] So what am I going to name you?

The dog sits back on his haunches and wags his tail in the dirt. In response the ninja crosses his arms over his chest.] What can you do?

Electrike! [Well, that was a weird response. Kakashi points his communication device at him and he tenses a little when it starts talking. He listens to it closely.] So you're an electric-type Pokemon. [Whatever that means.] I've got just the name for you then. From now on you're going to be Chidori.

[It jumps up, putting both front feet on Kakashi's leg and licking his hand enthusiastically. He pushes it down with a stern no. If he was supposed to train this thing then it would not jump on people unless invited. He starts toward the road, intent on getting underway as there wasn't much point to sticking around here.] Let's go see if there's anyone we know here, Chidori. And keep quiet about it, now's a good time to learn stealth.

[As soon as the words were out of his mouth Kakashi grows tense. There wasn't really anyone left to seek out. Not now that sensei and Kushina had joined the rest of the team in the afterlife. Sure there was Gai and several others but no teammates. Maybe it was best if he just stuck it out on his own at this point. Kakashi looks down at the communicator still in his hand. Might as well.]

[Video]

[Darkness has settled in but there's a shock of white in the black. That's right, someone's hair shines in the growing moonlight. It's the most noticeable thing about the person in the video. Most of his face seems to be shadowed due to his mask and his forehead protector that's pulled over his left eye. What can be seen is a single eye and the person it belongs to doesn't look all that impressed or happy about the situation.]

Is this thing on?

[His Electrike chimes in excitedly at his side. Kakashi looks over at the thing with a stern look. The dog-like pokemon goes quiet but its tail wags which its owner doesn't seem to mind.]

Right, my name is Kakashi. Obviously I just got here - wherever here is. [He doesn't seem all that surprised even though he should be. At least, Kakashi doesn't show it.] This is a good time to ask for any information anyone may have on this place.

[Annnnd...]

[Yeah okay, that's it.]

[He doesn't have anything else to say. No one to search for so Kakashi just ends the communication there.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I will ... lend what assistance I can by way of information but I'm afraid I'm not entirely certain what you've already discovered. Rehashing what's already known is a waste of time.

[Hey, this one's a complete stranger! He has no idea who Kakashi is and probably the same in return. Strangers are good, right?

.... right?]

[Strangers are good. Strangers are better than people who should be familiar at this point. ~~Even if they're bad guys.~~]

I know that there are two lands, that these creatures are used for battling and that they participate in gym battles for badges in order to learn special moves. The worst thing about this place is a group called Team Rocket, weapons are illegal and any abilities we had are now gone.

[Xemnas considers this for a moment before nodding.]

Were you informed that these creatures are by and large human intelligent? Your current companion may or may not be but the 'average' is so. You may find Team Rocket to be less of an active danger than possibly advertised.

Mm.

[It takes a moment of thought.]

Any weapons you have are not only illegal, but simply won't work. Attempt to have a sharp knife and it will dull itself before you can cut your own skin with it, nevermind someone else's. There are ledges you can jump down but not climb back up.

[He looks down at his pokemon.]

I figured that much out for myself. Do you have more information on Team Rocket?

[That's the part he's really curious about.]

What happens if you have a blunt weapon? [Seriously? Seriously. Now Kakashi's just irritated with this place.] That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. What sort of place is this where you can't climb back up a ledge?

Very little beyond what you will find in the news. There does seem to be dangerous elements to it here and there but most of them seem to be this world's equivalents of ... pickpockets and minor thieves.

[That steal pokemon instead of treasure, more often than not. Xemnas doesn't sound impressed.]

Ah, weaponry. You are expected to settle all your grievances by setting your pokemon on people instead. Blunt instruments are fine, so long as they don't look like a weapon or can be claimed to be something else. Baseball bats, pry bars, and the like. I use one myself.

[A prybar. It's very useful. He shakes his head at the ledge thing.]

It's ridiculous but it's also easy to test for yourself soon enough. It's truly an irritating thing to have to deal with.

So nothing to worry about then. [Kakashi's right there with him on the not being impressed. Pickpockets and minor thieves aren't anything he can't handle.]

Is it illegal to attack people with pokemon instead of having a pokemon battle? [Because he will skip right over the animal battle to go for the person controlling them if possible.] I'll keep that in mind for the future.

This place seems more unreal the more I hear.

More or less, yes. You seem a sharp fellow, you'll be able to tell when it's the bosses and not the minions out causing trouble.

[But the news could provide more than Xemnas could, by way of Team Rocket's more serious and impressive exploits. It was just that so many of them weren't worth ..anything.]

The rule of the game seems to be 'don't get caught', as opposed to outright illegality. It seems to be an issue of fair play over strictly not being allowed, but isn't uncommon for those of us not interested in glorified dogfights.

This world has strange and even arbitrary rules, it's true. It takes a little getting used to. Did anyone inform you that if you contact the Pokemon Breeding Centre, you're provided one free pokemon egg by virtue of being a new arrival? I suggest for strength and versatility, a riolu or charmander. If one must use the weapons of this world, one might as well stack the deck.

It will just be more of the same of what I've been dealing with back home when the bosses decide to stick their heads out.

[He's not overly worried about the bosses either. That's just who he is.]

Hm. Sound advice, stranger. I've no interest in unnecessary fights.

They haven't. I'll look into it once I get into town.

From the sound of things you should be able to easily adapt and deal with this place in all its quirks, then. Good luck.

[There's no sense as to whether or not Xemnas means it, as it's said fairly neutrally.]

[A casual shrug.] Putting up a fuss isn't going to get me anywhere. Thanks.

[He doesn't sound completely appreciative so...there's that.]