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It was known among the Naraku assassins that their leader was fond of animals, and they were fond of him in return. You could see it from the way the crows flocked to him, using him as a perch, bringing him berries as nourishment, sneaking into his clothing to rest, affectionately nipping at his fingers while he pats them and cares for them in return, spending time in the aviary feeding and caring for the creatures. It wasn’t just crows, Oboro seemed to speak the language of animals, always communicating with squirrels, raccoons, the deers from within the forest and many other wildlife.
As chief of the naraku, Oboro had no problem using his animal friends on missions, the other members had no objection and accepted their leader’s favoritism of animals. Many found it endearing on how their stoic and powerful leader was soft and caring towards animals. Although at times it would be surprising for many members to discover new wildlife roaming around the compound, like the situation with the penguin Oboro had brought back from his mission to the arctic who was sleeping in one of the fridges in the common areas, or the time all the crows came down with a virus so Oboro substituted the crow communication system with an army of raccoons. The animals were all well behaved and respectful, even helping out many members in their daily tasks for the promise of snacks.
Regardless, the naraku members were fond of their leader and his ability to understand and communicate with animals.
However not everyone approves of Oboro’s fondness for wildlife, Utsuro does not stand for it.
The former chief of the naraku simply does not like whenever Oboro’s attention is focused on the many animals he has befriended. Scoffing and rolling his eyes whenever Oboro raises his arms for crows to perch on and stay with him and always having food ready to feed any animal that approaches him on his daily walks outside the compound.
While the animals were well behaved and respectful towards Oboro and the many members of the naraku, they were the opposite with the former leader.
No one knows how it started, perhaps the animals sensed the malice within the immortal, perhaps the former chief offended the animals, no one knows what truly happened. But Utsuro had done something to warrant the hatred of the crows.
The funny thing about crows is that they always remember their enemies, telling their friends and other animals of what the immortal had done, which created a rift between the former leader and any animal Oboro befriended. Each animal Oboro had brought home, the crows befriended and offered them a place in the animal alliance against the immortal.
Every animal Oboro has brought back so far has had a vendetta against the immortal, the goat Oboro brought back ate his shoes, the crows bully and harass him on the daily, he accidentally sat on the porcupine, the duck shit on his clothes, the beaver built a dam and locked him out of his room, the horse took over his bed and-
And the moral of this story is that animals and Utsuro don’t get along….
This brings us to our current situation,
While Utsuro tended to stay away from animals when he could, Oboro was the opposite.
Whenever Oboro forms a friendship or bond with animals, magical creatures, critters or beasts it happens two ways;
Oboro approaches the animal and they form a connection
Or
The animal approaches Oboro, his disney princess instincts kick in, they bond and he brings the creature back to the naraku base
Oboro’s latest animal friend is a product of the latter,
While Oboro was strolling through the forest, returning from one his missions, he noticed a group of angry villagers with weapons drawn yelling different ways on how they should “kill the monster”
While Oboro is the chief of an assassin organization, he does not prefer violence, prefering to negotiate and form a solution instead of drawing his blade and manifesting the fate of death to be spun upon his call. It may not look like it to most, but being the Yatagarasu is a difficult job, having to come up with speeches that suited the individual whose soul is to be guided by his will. Oboro prefers a simple and easy outcome, choosing not to draw his weapon, however there were some exceptions to this rule. Not many could draw out the anger from Oboro. Unless you were one of the troublesome disciples of Shouyou, specifically the Shiroyasha, or a self proclaimed “elite” who stole the naraku’s heir and third feather, and those who have/will harm the immortal and any animal.
And it seems the fates have smiled upon the degenerates in front of him today as Oboro has no problem separating the souls from these men’s bodies for the grave sin they have committed, endangering an animal.
So Oboro strikes, choosing to use his needles coated in a deadly, painful paralyzing poison that will give anyone who comes in contact with it, a very slow burning, painful death. It’s only a poison used on those who have truly earned the Yatagarasu's ire.
With the filth taken care of, Oboro approaches the poor innocent creature that had the unfortunate opportunity to experience such horrors. The poor animal was trapped within a cage meant to imprison it, awaiting the villagers to harm it with no way of escape or means to defend itself.
The poor creature was shaking, Oboro’s heart hurt at how such an innocent helpless being could be hated for simply existing in this world, the harm mankind chooses to commit to defenseless creatures left a bitter taste in Oboro’s mouth.
Gently and slowly opening the cage and giving the creature some space, Oboro dug into his pouch and retrieved some water and food for the animal. Leaving it in front of the creature while moving back to allow it some space in case it was wary of him hurting it. The creature was round and fluffy, it warily drank the water and ate the food that was offered. Finishing it then carefully trotting towards Oboro, curious. Oboro remained still where he sat on the ground as the fuzzy creature sniffed at him, looking at him curiously with eyes that were as dark as space itself. Eventually the creature decided it liked him and attempted to crawl into his lap. Attempt is the keyword here as the round fuzzy and fluffy creature tried to crawl, jump and pull himself into oboro’s lap, but due to its small limbs, the task proved difficult.
Oboro had no problem gently picking his new friend up and cradling it in his arms, the creature seemed to like the gesture,Oboro gently scratched the round creature’s head, nuzzling into oboro’s embrace, while wrapping it’s fluffy tail around Oboro’s wrist.
Eventually as time passed at the sky began to darken, Oboro knew he needed to return to the base before Utsuro and the other members of the naraku became convinced he was somehow hurt and needed a search party to find him, he would rather that not happen again.
Looking down at the round and soft creature, cute with its unique striped coloring and long bushy tail which oddly remind him of utsuro’s bangs. Oboro asked his new friend if he would like to return to the naraku base with him, promising that he will never be hurt again by humanity, and will make many new friends with Oboro’s other animal friends. Taking the playful nips his new friend gave at his fingers, Oboro took it as a yes, delighted his new fuzzy friend felt comfortable enough to trust him. Wiggling out of his arms, Oboro’s new friend ran circles around him doing little hops as, eager to see its new home.
Oboro continued his original path towards the naraku base, the round creature waddling alongside him, wiggling its long frazzled tail with each step. As they headed back home Oboro chatted with his new friend, telling him all about the other friends he’ll meet when they get home. Oboro was excited to introduce his new striped friend to his crows, sheep, penguin, horse, snack and his many other friends. Telling the creature all sorts of fun stories and memories he had of each of them. While the striped creature responded with cute little sniffs and snorts to Oboro’s storytelling, as if conversing back with its new human friend. Oboro not only told his new friend about his fellow animal friends but also of Utsuro.
Oboro was very excited to introduce Utsuro to his new friend, he hoped they would get along as Utsuro did with his other animal friends.
When Oboro and his new round friend finally made it to the base, Oboro couldn’t help but notice how the guards he encountered on patrol seem to be frightened by his new friend, Oboro reassured them that his new companion was not dangerous, perhaps it was that the creature could easily blend into the darkness around them, Oboro even told his new companion that if it chose to, it could even participate on missions, of course they would have to disguise it’s white fur with charcoal or temporary dye for it to fully blend into the night.
But that was for another time, as Oboro and his new friend made their way further into the base towards the great hall where he knew Utsuro and many others would be waiting for him to return, Oboro couldn’t help but feel excited, eager to introduce his new friend to the others. Already deciding tomorrow he will wear his white yukata and black naraku insignia to match with his new friend in hopes he will feel more welcomed.
With the men stationed in front the door to the great hall seeing their chief return, they quickly announced his presence and arrival, opening the grand doors to allow their leader to pass.
Oboro walked through and was greeted with many cries of joy upon his return, many congratulating and praising him for his work on his assignment, even with his men looking at him with wide eyes that sparkled, Oboro still couldn’t understand the commotion they would always have whenever he entered a room. Hitsugi who never without fail, was always ready with refreshments and his favorite snacks the moment Oboro returned from his missions to make sure he was well nourished, walked up to him congratulating him on a mission well done and jokingly asked if he brought any more animals back.
Upon realizing his new friend was not by his side, but still in the corridor. Raising his hand to silence his men and their cries of his name, Oboro asked they remain calm so his new companion may enter, noticing the loud noise had perhaps frightened him.
Many quietly awaited for their leader’s new animal friend, as they liked to call them, to make its way into the great hall. Unknown to Oboro, there were bets made amongst the men of the naraku, on what creature Oboro would return home with next. Some claimed he would come home with a goat, other’s betted he would return home with a creature from rehno, one jokingly placed a bet on their leader bringing back a shinigami to the base, arguing that it happened once so what harm is there in see if it would happen again.
But all the joy and calmness of the room was quickly sucked away when the animal their beloved leader befriended and brought back to the base worked up the courage to enter the room, hopping into the great hall as if it were a rabbit was none other than a round creature with black and white fur, in other words a-
“A SKUNK” the blood-curdling scream of none other than Hitsugi upon seeing the black and white striped creature near his feet.
"AAAAHHHH! THERE'S A SKUNK!" came another cry causing everyone in the room to freeze in panic.
In an instant, the room became a blur of motion as people frantically tried to get away from the animal. Chairs were knocked over, people were tripping over each other, and some were even climbing on top of tables and jumping out the window in their haste to escape.
Hitsugi, in his panic and fight or flight instincts taking over, grabbed Oboro and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, before dashing out of the hall and as far away from the skunk as possible while Oboro confusedly asked what a skunk was.
It seems word spread and the entire base was evacuated, many crying for their precious leader, worrying if Oboro made it out unharmed.
It took less than 10 minutes for the entire base to clear out, apparently in that 10 minute time frame, a certain immortal assumed that it was simply a false alarm like the time Hitsugi accidentally had the base go into lockdown when he thought Oboro was killed when he failed to show up on time to a meeting when in reality he was simply sleeping in.
As the immortal entered the great hall expecting Oboro to be in there, he found it oddly empty, watching as there were chairs and tables knocked over, glass on the floor and what seemed to be a weird looking animal having the audacity to curl up and sit on Oboro’s throne.
Irritated and annoyed at how Oboro allows his creatures too much power, Utsuro has no problem walking up to what seems like another animal that wants what’s left of his sanity. Walking up to the throne and pulling the creature up by its tail, ready to give it a lecture on the real hierarchy of the organization, ignoring the little scratches and hisses the animal threw at him.
It seems that in the immortal’s irritation and ego hurt by Oboro bringing another animal home and showing it affection, he hadn’t really paid attention to the animal he currently held up by the tail in question.
Utsuro realized too late that the creature he held up by the tail was not in fact what he originally thought it was but a skunk.
......
A skunk he just royally pissed off.
Before the words could even leave the immortal’s mouth in an attempt to plead for mercy, the damage was already done.
The Skunk sprayed the immortal, right in his traumatized face.