March 10th

[noboatbigenough]

[The message is keyed to Kisame's own missive scroll signature, with a few extra protections to make sure it doesn't get misdirected, and the writing is neat and crisp, with slashing strokes of brush that should make clear to anyone who knows Kisame's handwriting exactly who it is.]

Whoever is in my body,

First, the sword needs to be sealed immediately. You don't have the experience to wield it properly without causing damage to my body. The sealing scroll is in the inner waist pouch, right side. I trust that you know how to seal and unseal weapons. Don't give in to curiosity and unseal any of the others. When this is resolved, I will know.

Secondly, report what you know about events prior to this mind-transfer happening. The more we know, the quicker we'll be able to reverse the jutsu.

Third, it should go without saying that this is a security breach. The fewer that know the better, though I doubt either of us will get away without our mission partners discovering it. Be on alert, and avoid populated areas.

Fourth, who are you? Name, rank, and specialization, please.

Hoshigaki Kisame


[Further down, more appears, but it's in a cypher only jounin in Kiri would know.]

Sephiroth,

If you avoided the mind-transfer and are still in your own body, be on guard concerning my body. I don't know who's in it, but keep a close watch over the occupant and make sure Samehada is properly sealed. That glutton of a sword will only cause further problems; only I can keep it from taking chakra on contact and I have no interest in seeing if it is able to absorb all of my reserves. Samehada aside, I wouldn't discount this switch as a very poor attempt at infiltration just yet, but for the sake of not starting a Fourth Shinobi War, let's avoid active hostilities until we know the full situation.

The attack was the start, and the body I'm in has a seal on the upper thigh.

[Included is a sketch of the seal]

If you could confirm if there is a similar or identical seal in the same location, that would be helpful.

A notice would be appreciated, to confirm that you've been able to read this. If there is no reply, I will assume you've likewise been caught in the jutsu.

Hoshigaki Kisame

Comments

[silverterror]

[He has no idea how to make this private to Kisame, and he glared at the paper for a while before cautiously attempting what amounted to the 'only reply to sender' seal Ami showed him once. Then he layered it with a cypher. And stylized his writing. And didn't use names.]

I have received both of your messages as... both are applicable to my person at this moment. My body, however, appears to be inhabited by someone who has a rather interesting reaction to having been punched in the face with your degree of strength. I have followed the directions for the blade as best to my ability.

I have done my best to try to make this private in turn.

If you are female all parts of the situation are very likely accounted for. The seal matches location on us both, though that took... effort to determine.

[noboatbigenough]

[The missive in return is private, and shows an example of the best seal to use for the purpose. Kisame also layers it under cypher but doesn't bother with hiding his handwriting.]

Sephiroth,

Now I'm interested in what the reaction was. I'm glad to hear Samehada was appropriately taken care of, as well.

I am currently in a female body, belonging to a Konoha-nin, apparently. Taijutsu user is most likely, with a specialization of weapons. There are several seals right on her body for storing and summoning weapons. I'd be more impressed with it if the chakra control needed wasn't drastically different from what I'm used to.

You'll find a salve in my travel pouch. If the gills start feeling dry, apply that and it will ease the discomfort. You might want to rest until nightfall, and then practice keeping the membranes up then, otherwise the light will give you a headache.

Otherwise, see what you can learn from this kunoichi. I'll be doing the same with her teammate, if I can.

Kisame

[silverterror]

[His attempt this time was dramatically better, the seal carefully copied.]

I'll be sure to tell you of it once I see you next. I'm somewhat wary of her given I know my own reflexes. Though she's taken to blindfolding herself so I'm not really sure what to make of that.

I noticed your eye thing already though. Very painful.

[noboatbigenough]

We weren't far from the travel seal, I'm sure I could get this body to one without any difficulty. Meeting up in person would at least reduce the amount of unknowns.

I notice her vision is much less acute than mine, and certainly less sensitivity to light. I can't say how acute yours is, but if it's near mine, maybe she's overwhelmed. Or maybe she thinks my face is too horrible to look at!

You get used to it. Traveling at night would help, if it's too much of an inconvenience.

[silverterror]

My body sees even better at night than the daytime.

If she's blindfolded now I have no idea how she'd take that. If you plan to come to us I can keep us in this area.

[noboatbigenough]

Something we have in common!

And if you can get out of her where exactly in Fire Country she was, it shouldn't be hard to find a nearby travel seal. They certainly have enough of them, eh?

But it shouldn't take long to get here. This body seems sturdy enough to handle hard travel.

[silverterror]

She isn't the most amenable.

That might have been perhaps due to how I greeted her upon the situation setting in.

[noboatbigenough]

“Might,” Sephiroth-san? You used my strength; I’m surprised she’s conscious already. But then you’ve always been particularly resilient.

[silverterror]

I see you've guessed my defensive reaction to attack first then. I merely punched her in the face, it's nothing that would knock me out. Given her lack of expectation for my reaction to pain however...

I do not believe I have been forgiven as of yet enough to get information.

[noboatbigenough]

That could cause it too, I suppose. But work on that forgiveness. We don't want to cause an international incident; I don't want to spend time with Konoha's T&I right now.

[He spends more than enough time with Kiri's, after all, which is part of the problem.]

[silverterror]

...

You're aware I'm not good at this, aren't you?

[noboatbigenough]

The truth will work well enough. If she knows what failing to handle this exactly right will entail, she'll cooperate, even if she doesn't forgive.

[There's a blank space that Kisame uses for effect.]

Forgiveness would make her more cooperative of course, and that would mean quicker results.

[silverterror]

I will be sure to relay the results of my experiment into this venture shortly then.

[noboatbigenough]

I will be waiting. I'll update you periodically on the situation here as well.