4 Chapter 3: Ishigami Village pt.3 (Edited)
The forestry grew thinner and more sparse as the convoy continued.
The path grew rougher and smaller as time went on, starting to grow in incline as they journeyed on to the homeland of the Mēkā Clan.
Ida's Rest, or as the outside world called it The Cracked Titan mountain. The large and expansive mountain was impressive even at a distance but terrifying as well. Like someone took a rake to its back, massive scars opened the mountains back into random cliffs gouging out of the land. Leading to drops that almost reached miles in depth. Jagged and bare Peaks were like shattered pointed spears, sprinkled across the land from the center like a ceramic plate shattering into large sharp pieces.
Idas Rest was like a beaten and broken titan that had been slain by gods and the corpse left behind turned to stone and became an eternal reminder of his fall.
The Mēkā clan has lived here for close to 200 years. Taming this ragged expanse over the generations has given them a very large return. The untouched natural resources, large areas of land, and natural barriers have kept them safe and let them prosper in the Ninja world.
The Chi-Tori was one of the most common benefits the clan received after decades of hard work.
A native species that inhabit this mountain range. Massive in size, predatory in nature, and surprisingly cunning in how they interact with humans.
They are tough adaptable creatures who rest practically at the top of the food chain in the past without even possessing chakra. And the ones who do are immediately bred and paired off with their partner by the Mēkā clan from birth.
These creatures are then pulled into the clan land to interact and raise intimacy with the children of the Mēkā until they chose a rider.
The loyal and strong Chi-Tori guided the convoy with ease through the rugged pass. The carts were modified over the years by the craftsman in the clan to be able to maneuver the difficult terrain.
Through a series of bridges and passes, darkness slowly disappears as the sun rose to greet the new day. They finally arrived at a small hill that had two large wolf statues stacked facing each other.
In their pale but lifelike features, these twin statues stared down at each other in stoic silence.
The only thing that spoke of these statues being anything but that was the blue flames that flickered softly in their eyes.
As the convoy approached these flames flicked to the side of their sockets, watching as they approached.
The flames slowly started to grow darker the closer they turned from a soft blue to a warning red. Stone jaws slowly creaked open to show rows of long razor-sharp teeth as this red flame grew darker as well.
Seeing this as they approached Akane immediately went and reached into the small bag at her side. Pulling out A short jade stick she lifted it high above her head.
Condensing chakra, she slowly poured it into the jade. After a few seconds, the jade began to produce a soft blue light.
Seeing this light the flames returned to blue and jaws snapped closed once again.
But before they shut completely Akane noticed the dark red stains that lay on the inside of that mouth. Her eyes grew narrow and her face darkened at this sight.
Keeping silent while still pouring chakra into the Jade slowly, she rode forward leading the convoy forward. The air rippled as they passed between the Stone Wolves as they passed the clan barrier that prevented outsiders from peeping or entering the clan land.
After reaching the hill she came to a stop, her dark face melting quickly at the beautiful sight before her.
"Gods, I never get tired of seeing it." She sighed
Early morning light lit a huge hanging cliff above a large and open Mountain pass, A large meadow opened in the expanse along with a river that flowed down the side of the cliff leading to a small town.
Small and medium-sized buildings littered all across the meadow with the river as a divide. People poured from building to building as Adults and children walked to and from to start their day.
Smoke poured from the workshops embedded into the open mountain as Chi-Tori hauled massive tools behind them to bring into the open mountain for the mine.
Along the river shops of various sizes opened their assorted wares for barter and trade. The whole town is decorated in light and pleasant colors. As they rode slowly into the town they were greeted with smiles and nods from everyone they passed. On the sides of the road, young men and women tinkered with various stones and metal creations or joked around while leaping around buildings and chasing after some tiny Chicks that ran between their feet.
Sighing again in the comfort of returning home after weeks of travel. She came to a clearing next to the town square and got out of the Chi-Tori.
This was the Mēkā clan home, Ishigami Village
..../here's a picture that I worked hard to find that fit closest with the image I had in my head/…..
"Akannneee!" Two high-pitched voices sounded in delight.
Pouncing onto her back, a little boy and girl leaped onto the distracted Akane from behind.
With a sweet smile on her face, Akane stretched behind her to pry the children from her back and into an embracing hug.
"Oh, I missed you guys too!!" She said while squeezing them enough to make them squeal in delighted laughter.
After setting them down she looked down at the silver-haired twins. They had already reached her waist in height at the age of 3 and were already showing off their Mēkā blood with their accelerated growth rates.
"Miyato, Masato how is Grandmother doing these days? Not staying cooped in her forge still I hope!" She asked while ruffling their hair.
Miyato frowned at this question. Crossing her arms she said "Grandmother hasn't left the Weavers Den for over two weeks!! She won't stop making those stupid clothes and toys with cousin Kekkai, if we didn't drag her back home she wouldn't even come back to cook!!"
"Yeah!" Masato nodded in agreement with his sister "the toys Kekkai makes aren't fun anymore, they all go to work and leave us with the baby chicks! They don't even do anything when they're that small except run around and peck at us! "
Akane smiled weakly when hearing this, one of the reasons that she left with the convoy in the first place was because it was so busy at home.
The only way to leave the Clan land was to go on missions and since the incident 5 years ago the missions they receive in the land of Stone had slowly fallen till no employment was sent to the Mēkā clan at all under the pressure of the Daimyos of the land of Stone, Bear, and Birds. Causing until recently a complete standstill in income for the clan.
But this did not make the Mēkā clan elders bow their heads instead they agreed to their cousin Kekkai Mēkā's plan and started to become completely self-sufficient.
Taking the arms merchant route they took contracts with daimyos and ninja clans in the larger and more powerful nations that surrounded the smaller country of Stone. Their non-stop production was appreciated by the constantly warring daimyos, flooding the clan with money, materials, and if they were lucky enough a constant flow of low-level Ninjutsu to fill their ever-expanding library of techniques!!!
The convoy they brought back was the one with the closest destination. The rest of them went far and wide to other lands a long time ago. Seeking trade in the land of Storm and land of Wind. The last one before they closed off their land for the winter was their uncle Okamora's Convoy.
The convoy was responsible for almost two years worth of lumber and materials that were local specialties in Hulpond Gorge.
They had been away for a little over a month when they had left for the Land of the earth to sell weapons, medicine, and tools that they produced annually.
Merchants that sell mass-produced weapons and technology were very welcome in the ninja world. Especially when the Mēkā clan started producing their new cloth armor and manipulation weapons.
The newly produced armor was light and durable, able to easily protect the consumer from a low-level fire escape and absorb explosive impact from detonators head-on! All kinds of ninjas broke their heads for the chance to have this lifesaving armor. The only thing that prevented the market from being saturated with it was the limited output.
The Manipulation weapons created by the clan were even more insane! Weapons that accepted Chakra were rare but even rare were weapons that when using chakra could be manipulated with the mind alone!
This was the closest thing to the fairy immortal and his flying sword that the ninja world had! Imagine sitting there guarding an employer with no one in sight.
Suddenly an ownerless blade ripped through the distance at high speeds! Talk less about guarding the employer the ninja wasn't safe from this speeding object!
With a flash of light, the blade comes and goes from the distance. A bounty ninja easily claims their bounty without even needing to show themselves.
There were orders from the capital of wind that asked for these weapons in huge numbers demanding they be crafted as soon as possible.
Though they were tempted to increase the output, Kekkai who is the young patriarch and the origin of these weapons refused. Saying that it would be extremely dangerous to sell more than six such weapons per year.
Though understanding the clan leader had to have Kekkai put his talents to use as much as possible. They gave him free control range to the mine and as much manpower as he needed from the clan. It was only required for him to produce weapons and armor that suited the clan as a whole.
Thinking about her cousin and his myriad of training tools, medicine, and creative library weapons, Akane smiled brightly and couldn't wait to see her crafty cousin.
"Where are uncle Okamora and the others, did we miss them?" Asked Masato
"They are clearing out a bandits' den that had attacked us on the road. They should be home by noon."
At this, the twins looked at each other as she said this.
Looking back at her Miyato asked in a worried tone "You guys were attacked as well?"
Hearing this Akane's face immediately darkened at the question "What do you mean as well?"
Thinking back to the bloody mouth of the Stone Wolves at the clan gate. She worried that the worst possible situation could occur when the Clan was attacked while they left.
"All five of the transports that had returned were attacked by the large number of raiders trying to steal the products we received when they returned whenever they couldn't take them they burned our sealing scrolls and spoiled a lot of food and materials coming back to the clan." Explained Miyato
"Grandpa was waiting for uncle Okamora to return to call a clan meeting," Masato added
The more they spoke the more Akane's face darkened till her chakra began to leak once more. Taking a deep breath she calmed herself.
Taking her bag from her back she gave it to one of the twins.
"Take my bag and bring it back to Weavers den, I have to report to Clan Leader as soon as possible. When I return I will take you guys to play tonight."
"Awwwww"
Ignoring the complaints coming from the twins she turned and ran off to the village center. Where her grandfather and the elders waited for news of their return.
