Within the fortified Ryuku Outpost, the docks worked tirelessly nowadays in deploying, receiving and generally maintaining a constant, alarmingly busy flow of scout fighters both of Dragon and Order design as the situation seemed to calm down to a more acceptable normality within the Hydra's Nest. The two ever-present figures of the locale, Yasuo and Ibisu, sat and enjoyed some R&R at a cup of sake and a good game of Shogi.
"Hey, Ibisu-kun. Hear the latest rumour ? People around here've been saying we'll have a strange visitor these days. Apparently, Lord Hashirama's meeting some shaddy fellow from some sort of group associated with the Hogosha."Yasuo mumbled after taking a sip of his sake, his subject of discussion, as always, a futile attempt to distract his partner's attention from the game.
Ibisu quirked an eyebrow in sheer curiosity as he too sipped from his beverage"You ought to stop listening to everything everyone says. Even if that were to be true, I'm sure Senju-sama's doing this for an opportunity to use his katana up-close once more."the man replied coldly as his focus from the Shogi board was untouched, making his move as he spoke.
Yasuo began scratching the back of his head, his common reaction towards being clueless about how to not get stomped in the game again."Well, believe it or not, that might not be the case. Everyone's been asked to stay put unless instructed otherwise. The boss is starting to move, you know ? Seems to me like this fellow that's supposed to arrive means business."
Ibisu was set back at the game as he fell into contemplation, trying to rationalise the upcoming event and its consequences according to each outcome. Yasuo was never too bright at strategy, but he knew the game well. Due to Ibisu's spacing out during the last move, he immediately took advantage to sieze the game with one swift move.
"AH-HA! I got you! I finally got you!"the man would burst with joy and pride as he poured himself another cup of sake and chugged it down victoriously.
Only then did Ibisu notice he had lost for the first time in a long period. He picked up his cup and smiled faintly.
"I guess times are indeed changing afterall.."he mumbled and then sipped his drink.