Fandom Naruto: Last of the Fallen Blossoms

[KageYuuki]

Yukari Satou

Yukari inwardly sighed at the tension that fell over Enkai and Izanami. Maybe I overdid it . . . I'm really not cut out for this sensei stuff. She shook the thought away, right now she needed to focus on keeping the three of them alive. She could worry about her lack of teaching aptitude later. At least Koyome's nerves seemed to have settled for the most part.

“Hey uhm… sorry about earlier guys. I want y’all to know you can still count on me. My feelings aren’t so strong that I’ll let them jeopardize our teamwork."

A small smile pulled at the kunoichi's face. Maybe things would work out between the four of them after all. At the mention of the hot springs, she hummed. "It's been a while since I last visited the hot springs at Wolf's Refuge~! Nothing beats a day out there." It had been one of the first places she'd stumbled into following her escape from the Land of Fire. The retired samurai there helped see to her wounds and gave her a place to rest before reaching Hanamachi.

Unless one of the three Mokunoha spoke up, silence would fall over the group as they left the village gates and ventured out into the snow. Yukari flared her own byakugan, keeping watch for any danger. She kept a brisk pace, not so fast they couldn't keep up, but still moving swiftly through the snow and trees.

Her pace slowed once they started coming across signs of battle, scattered kunai and shuriken peppered the side of trees. The smell of smoke hung heavy in the air. A fallen tree still smoldered with glowing embers. Yukari's pace slowed further as the stench of blood and death began mingling with the burning wood. "Looks like it was an ambush," she said finally, coming to a stop at the edge of a clearing.

Six bodies waited for them. Headbands marked two as from the Hidden Cloud, while the other four wore the heavy white armor of the samurai. Slashes from blades, patches charred black with fire or lightning, scattered kunai and tags, it had been a fierce battle however brief.

"You . . . made it." A voice wheezed. One of the samurai sat propped against a tree, wrapped in bloody bandages. "Was starting to worry . . . my message didn't make it."

"What happened here?" Yukari frowned at him.

"Ambush like you guessed." He coughed, a wet and painful sound. "We managed to take out two of them before the other two took off . . ."

Koyome's byakugan would see the flare of chakra in the distance before anyone else could see the glow of flames rocketing towards them. The fire took the form of a serpentine dragon, threatening to turn them all to ash. Yukari pivoted towards the flames, thrusting a hand out. A large shell of chakra tore from her palm and struck the other jutsu, splitting it and diverting the flames around them. A flash of heat and light, and it was over. "Was wondering when you'd come out of hiding." She muttered. In a quick movement, Yukari bit into her thumb and wove a short series of handsigns before pressing her palm to the ground. In a cloud of smoke a large white tiger appeared, its forked tail swaying. "Hikari will help you get the injured samurai out of here, let me deal with our friend here. Like samurai, shinobi typically move in four man squads. There's a good chance another's still around here somewhere, so be on your guard. I'll catch up as soon as I can." She seemed to fade from view as she body flickered away.

"Thanks for the save," the wounded samurai would grimace as anyone would help him onto Hikari's back. "Name's Fumio . . . by the way."

InsaneAsylum AtlannianSpy Phayne

 

[Phayne]

Team Yukari

Enkai Kaji

Mokunoha

Onwards!, To the field of battle!

Enkai silently watched the interaction between Koyome and Izanami; the former appearing to antagonize the latter; her weapon of choice being Izanami's disdain towards Shinobi. The boy could only sigh and shake his head in response to the teasing; silently praying that this didnt turn out into some kind of problem later on. Especially when their formation dictated that he be smack dab in the middle of the two... were they really going to be alright?.

Thankfully, it seemed like Izanami wasn't quite ready to hit the 'self-destruct' button on their newly formed team just yet; her sudden and quite surprising apology coming as a welcomed relief. One potential disaster, averted. So far so good. "Don't sweat it..." replied Enkai, from behind Izanami, before turning to glance at Koyome. For some reason he could not help but feel like she would so easily relent on her earlier teasing of their fellow team mate. Silence would ensue as they continued towards their destination; each passing second causing Enkai's nerves to rise ever the more slightly, before finally threatening to explode as they neared the sight of battle.


The reality of the world that Enkai had merely placed a foot within was soon dawning upon him; the truth behind this ongoing war between Samurai and Ninja. The sight of the six deceased had naturally caused his body to lurch forward; one hand instinctively raising towards his mouth in an attempt to prevent anything unwanted from spewing forth. Death; while not uncommon in this line of work was still a concept that Enkai had yet to truly understand, to truly acknowledge. He had thought himself prepared for the real deal, convinced himself that he would be fine when faced with the reality of what this 'duty' had demanded from those that chose to entwine themselves in this game of cat and mouse. Pausing and averting his gaze, the gruesome sight of one of the fallen had caused him falter; his mind reeling from this particularly 'vicious' demise. Why had he been so naive as to assume himself mentally prepared for such a sight... this was no longer a game.

Death had merely been an afterthought for Enkai; a concept that he had not even come close to understanding; his naivety perpetuated by the youthful innocence that still clinged onto him; an innocence that only really viewed death as a 'thing', rather than an end. How foolish of him to think that he was stepping out into the real world, his mind still lingering in the childlike memories of his youth.

Samurai's and Ninja's. A game he often played as a child with the other village kids. The game was simple in its design, relying more on the openness of ones imagination. Two teams were required; a group of youths either playing on the side of the Valiant and heroic Samurai vs another group that were designated as the 'Evil and scheming Samurai'. The objective was to merely outsurvive the other team and steal their flag. The 'Samurai' team could only use wooden swords or sticks as their weapons; while the ninja could use whatever dirty tricks they desired. 'Death' in this game was merely lying down until the game ended; then going home for a hot meal once the sun set. The real world was nothing like the games he enjoyed playing as a child. This wasn't a game, he couldn't just pretend to die if his team loss. It was war. Death was inevitable, there wouldn't be a second chance.

Shaken, the mokunoha would slowly progress forward through the battlefield; his senses hightened for any lingering threat that may have remained; the boy feeling more prey than predator in this moment as he followed his team; eventually stopping as a voice called out to them. One survivor... the one whom had sent the message requesting aid. Why had he been left alive unlike the others?, the thought running through his head as he remained in a state of unease.

The answer would come soon as he barely followed the movement of Yukari; his eyes widening as she sprung into action; slicing the incoming threat; yet despite her efforts Enkai would still find his hands raising forward, covering his gaze from the bright glow of the fire technique. Unlike her swift actions; Enkai found his thought process to be lagging; his mind bordering between sanity and insanity as he tried to grasp the entirety of the situation before them. This was their first day... their first damn day.

Glancing at Hikari; and just about registering the command given to them by their sensai; Enkai despite his present state had begun to glance at both Izanami and Koyome in an attempt to gauge their present states, yet without having had the opportunity to see what their full capabilities were nor to have even had a change to try and get some kind of 'teamwork' training in, it was ultimately impossible for him to simply 'wait and see' what they would do.

Sighing and slapping both cheeks to try and calm his nerves, Enkai soon began to formulate a plan of action based around himself; the knowledge he had on his own capabilities far more trustworthy than the scant knowledge he presently had on his team mates. Though... his mind could not help but linger on something Koyome had mentioned... her perceptiveness... whatever that meant. "Time for that perceptiveness you mentioned" suggested Enkai, glancing towards Koyome before his gaze soon danced across to Izanami; ".. and I guess its time for you to put that hatred of Ninja to good use.." he paused, trying to reaffirm that based on what he currently knew about his team mates, this was the best course of action.

"While you guys do that.. I'll get him onto Hikari..." continued Enkai, deciding against the use of his own jutsu. While he did have the ability to potentially gain some information through his sensory technique; that particular jutsu would only prove to be useful if they remained within the area it encompassed. If the mission was to get Fumio to the village for aid... than the jutsu's actual effectiveness wouldn't have surmounted to much, save to add the addition of heat and potentially lower their visibility.

That being said... there was still the fact that Yukari-Sensei was out fighting by herself... potentially coming up against two enemy shinobi. Would it really be wise for them to just leave her alone. Enkai tensed. There were too many factors at play here and too little information at their disposal... the only thing they really had were her instructions. The sight of the fallen samurai momentarily flashed in his mind... before he shook his head, to rid himself of such thoughts.

Reaching towards his side, Enkai reaffirmed that his weapon was still there, before he began to make his way to the injured Fumio, "I'm open to any suggestions you guys have and I'd normally be happy to divulge more of what I can do... but I don't think time is on our side" he spoke, kneeling to the side of Fumio as he offered to help get him on his feet.

KageYuuki AtlannianSpy InsaneAsylum

Code by Serobliss

 

[AtlannianSpy]

Koyome Omozukai
Team Yukari
"My suggestion is that we get the hell out of here," said Koyome tersely, watchinng Enkai step up only vacillate. While she spoke Koyome scanned her surroundings with her byakugan, moving her head from side to side slightly to indicate that she was actively looking with the perception she had vaguely hinted at. With her byakugan hidden from view there was no visual indicator that she was doing something notable, a factor that Koyome had anticipated would be useful against allies but one that she hadn't anticipated might unnerve allies. Maybe after this was done Koyome should add some kind of cosmetic indicator to key in allies? A pair of goggles or something? That was a question for tomorrow however, right now there were more pressing concerns at hand, like not dying.

"Hikari san, are you willing to carry Fumio san on your back?" Koyome asked, facing the white tiger and offering a perfunctory bow. It was unlike her to be so formal but summoned creatures could be a bit mercurial and this one was a giant cat, some notion of pride could probably be taken for granted. "We'll be limited to his speed and we want to gain as much distance as possible between us and Yukari sensei to limit the possibility of us or the wounded being taken hostage. If we can move far enough away the other shinobi will have to worry about being too far away to support their partner against Yukari sensei," Koyome said, her expression turning calculating she turned to her attention to her teammates.

"They've already lost two squad members to what they likely would have anticipated to be an easy ambush so the possibility of losing a third should weigh on them, we can use that. In the best case scenario the remaining shinobi will follow us for a while before losing heart and doubling back to reinforce their teammate, allowing our sensei to defeat each in turn. If we are engaged we can use delaying tactics to further dissuade pursuit like using Enkai's steam for area denial or planting traps."

Koyome clapped her hands together. "While we move Fumio san please share what you know about our assailants such as what kind of jutsu they use and how much stamina they are likely to have,"

Ordinarily Koyome wouldn't have bothered to take charge like this, at least not before her accident, but she didn't want to waste time while they could possibly be assaulted. Enkai had seemed open to someone else taking charge and Koyome felt she could leverage Izanami's guilt over her earlier faux pas to keep her in line. Even if a better plan could have been worked out with discussion and debate it was better to move decisively with something acceptable than waste time. The fun of poking and prodding her teammates would have to come later.

"Let's move," Koyome said, her voice cold and level.

InsaneAsylum Phayne KageYuuki

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Izanami Kutsuki
Izanami could feel her mind sharpen as they entered the scene of the ambush. The scattered bodies, weapons, as well as the remnants of fiery techniques indicated that it was a hard fought battle, despite the samurai’s defeat. Her eyes dashed across the scene, uncontrollably focusing the bodies of the samurai, the lingering flames, the back of her sensei, scattered ninja tools, and to the blood stained snow. It was an overwhelming rotation.

Unconsciously, Izanami’s hand rose to grasp the red wrapped handle of her odachi. The sting of the needles poking into her palm shook her out of her trance.

Hurrying over to Koyome and Enkai, she nearly squealed when a fiery dragon appeared coming right at them! Luckily she was able to watch her sensei impressively deflect it with chakra coming from her bare hand.

"S-stay with us for a bit longer Fumio,” Izanami said, pulling herself together once again. Her mind was racing at a mile a minute. Things had gotten incredibly real incredibly fast. What happened to a little agility work today? Hell… what happened to ninja being so pathetic? To be frank, ninja seemed terrifying all of a sudden.

Enkai seemed to be feeling similar to her, but Koyome seemed unfazed. She came up with a plan on the spot, and even told them to get moving.

“I’ll lead the way back. Same formation as before yea?” With that said, Izzy waved her comrades, telling them to follow as she took off back the way they came.

KageYuuki Phayne AtlannianSpy

 

[Haze-]

Ōkami Itto
Team Roku​

- Cherry Blossom Gate. . .​

---

“Hm, my clones are on academy level too.” — He gave Yusuke’s question a thought or two before he answered, folding his arms into his kimono and trying to keep the straightest face possible.

It was half a lie; he knew his clone technique was much more complicated than that, but he didn’t want to have to be mindful of the clone while they tried to protect the dummy— “Maybe even worse than academy level…”

Itto sat slouched, one hand idly thumbed at the iron loop of a mismatch kunai by his side— the stray, the one that didn’t quite pair up with the other rows of four— and another poked and scratched at the fine sheen of ice Izumi had set up. If he’d been a soldier, a true samurai clad in layered plates of iron, he would’ve been hurriedly sharpening his blade there and then.

If he’d been a roofless child, right as he looked to be, he would’ve been staring off at the vistas of the dark clouds blocking out the sun— only thin edges of light cutting through. But he was neither of those, so he busied himself emptying the mind instead. Listening. Trying to pick up intent from anything or anyone that might’ve been roaming around in those clouds.

His heart shortened, slowed down its thumping tempo to match the eerie silence filling the empty space between them and the clouds.

Once he heard the faint crack of the first brittle arrow under Roku’s feet— like he were a bundle of tightened nerves looking to explode— he tensed up, gripped his sword. He side-eyed the smoke, nodding towards it to let his teammates know in case they hadn’t caught onto it — “He’s there…”

Their 15 minutes were up, apparently.

“Damn right it is…” — Itto mouthed at Roku’s compliment? of their makeshift perimeter. He’d brought a leg up to his chest, bringing his arm around his knee and twirling the kunai between his fingers; his grip on the sword was still just as firm, he was both hanging on Roku’s words of advice and listening in for the next step he took.

The man stepped back for a while, then something snapped behind Yusuke, making Itto stand up and swallow a knot down his throat — “Are ya’ makin’ fun of me, old man…?” — A vein of anger showed on Itto’s brow as he heard Roku’s imitation of them. Thought he wouldn’t admit it outloud, Roku was surprisingly good at it.

Needed to work a bit on the accent, but he was on point.

“Huh?” — That look of annoyance crossed him, shortly fading into one of confusion right after he’d mentioned something about them getting Yusuke killed — “Sorry…?” — Itto loosened up his stance, tossing the sword over his shoulder and giving Yusuke a semi-apologetic look. Not really coming to understand the prospect of him and Izumi having to babysit Yusuke.

Moments of buildup later, another string of wire strummed on Roku’s step, another tense stare-off between Itto and a cloud of smoke; the darkness finally dissipated around them. In a flash, the sun came in strong, rays of light stabbing him in the eyes. He grumbled and turned away, finally getting a clear view of the whole mess they’d made all over the entrance of the Torii gate.

After a scoff and a pained, sympathetic half-smile for whatever poor would end up slipping and falling ass-first on that layer of ice on the floor, Itto took a glance off to the side— nowhere in particular— bringing a loose fist up to his mouth and nibbling on a rapped knuckle as he pondered over the test.

“What a damn pain…” — He was thinking practical, a scenario where those 15 minutes would play out in the battlefield. Having to look out for others was nothing but living on nerves and adrenaline, 15 minutes and a miscommunication was more than enough for the wrong life to be whisked away — “Tch…”

What a damn pain indeed.

The other half of his brain was starting to make mental images of the hundreds upon thousands of positions he could hang up that bastard Ishii on spools of wire, leave him there to dry in the sun. He’d learned two things out of these 15 minutes, even if torture methods weren’t a part of Roku’s teachings.

When Roku ordered them to pick up their tools, Itto broke from his train of thought. Someone had to clean up the mess, he figured — “On it.”

The pale-haired boy got to work. Stooping down to grab handfuls of sharp string and pull, taking out rows on rows of kunai in one quick tug. He sighed, dangling the strings of kunai in the space between him and Izumi, the metal clacking together, like he was holding a dead snake and a cat o’ nine tails on the same hand.

It took some restraint for him not to toss her the bundle of kunai and move on with it, he stood there and waited for her to take it from him. He narrowed his eyes at her, as if it stung to be thoughtful — “Thanks for letting me..—”

Mid-step, mid-speech, mid-everything; he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand at attention.

His eyes went wide. His mouth snapped shut. A spine-chilling, flash breath of cool air moved down the collar of his kimono and blew his hair along where it went. Then the shockwave reached him, rocking his head forward and making him stagger to a kneel.

He felt his heart sink to his stomach right when the bang of the explosion came, it made him jerk his head down on force of instinct. The cold touch of the snow that had jumped onto his shoulders drew a sigh out of him—quick and hoarse-breathy, almost angry, melting in the air.

A rush of blood found a place to anchor in his head, swirling up and gathering to sober him up from the shock of the situation. He pushed up from the tip of his sword on the snow, coming to a shaky stand — “…letting me use your tools.” — He spat out the rest of that sentence, looking back to where the explosion had sounded off.

“What ta’ hell even was that?” — Itto snarled, not expecting to get much of an answer. They’d passed the trial before, but now the trial by fire had begun. It didn’t help ease his nerves that they wouldn’t have their 15-minute prep time for this one — “Got it. I’m right behind ya’.” — Once the game plan was laid out before them, Itto took a deep breath, psyched himself up.

“Let’s go then.”

---

As the bright-chested man barreled towards the fleeing crowd, arms wide and stretched out, he’d have a pair of crimson eyes digging straight into his back. Somewhere among the trees.

風 Fūton: Seijitsu Kaze-ken 風
(Wind Release: Faithful Wind Blade)​

A swish of sharp air whistled faintly through the trees, bringing up blankets of snow on its wake, flaked whites hung mid-air and threw off glimmers of whatever sunlight would seep in through the over-arching trees. Right below the man, a step or two ahead, the ground was split clean in half. The wind had damn near pecked him on the big toe.

20 or so feet at his side, rounding the length of a dry tree, was a boy with a wild shock of ash-blonde hair. A wooden sword at his side tipping to the ground, that same crater parting the ground seeming to originate from it.

He looked shaken. Breathing harshly, his chest rising and heaving like it had the weight of the whole world crushing it down. His hands slick with sweat gliding down the hilt of his bokken, his head ached and his pupils danced madly on his eyes. He was huffing and frowning with only one thought plaguing his mind — “I messed up didn’t I?”

Itto was a damn mess and a half.

He’d been holding back from blowing his cover, the vile stench of the dead before him hitting him square on the nose. It was getting harder and harder not to look at the dozen or so dead in front of him, but it got even harder to sit back and let the pile grow larger. Suddenly his body just moved on his own.

He huffed the nerves loose, his mind still racing with the realization that this could easily be it for him — “Only the Mizukage?” — He jeered, a full-fanged sneer blooming on his factions, his eyebrows drew in and a creased line appeared over them. Itto looked almost…disgusted at such a bold statement.

“The Mizukage oughta be weak as hell if yer’ second best, then.”— Itto barked at him. His guard wide open with his sword resting on one shoulder, almost mockingly — “A’ thought ya’ ninjas were s’posed ta’ be better than the humble samurai an’ all that.”

“Oi,”— The boy tossed the words over his shoulder, an awkward smile blooming on his factions — "Back me up before he beats ta' shit outta me…” — He was only hoping that he could distract them long enough for the escaping refugees to cross the forest; safety was a long run's away from here, that he knew.

 

[AtlannianSpy]

team Nadeshiko
Akari


The ring of bandits around Akari flinched backwards almost like a singular organism in the face of Akari's athleticism, but they regained their courage swiftly when her projectile thwacked uselessly into the ground.

"Grab her! She's some samurai brat and she'll go for a king's ransom!" snarled the spokesbandit, encouraging the bandit whose face Akari was aiming for to try and grab her ankles with dirty, grasping hands. Fortunately the sudden appearance of a swooping crow caused the man to fumble his grab and Akari was able to safely bound off his head to relative safety. The bandit rabble surged around the stunned man, aiming to surround Akari's landing spot.

Before the bandits could catch up to Akari's new position however there was a rush sound and wind and suddenly Nadeshiko was in front of her, driving her foot into the lead bandit's midsection and sending him hurtling back into his fellows.

"You are interfering with samurai business and threatening my student," Nadeshiko said in a voice as soft as silk and as cold as ice as she swung a malevolent looking, red bladed naginata up to rest on her shoulder. "Surrender or die,"

Groaning and cursing the bandits slowly got to their feet, but as they did so something menacing emanated out from Nadeshiko, crashing against the bandits like an invisible wave of force and nearly all of them physically recoiled, stumbling backwards a step or sinking to their knees.

"Surrender. or. die," Nadeshiko said again and this time her voice was not especially soft.


"Can't say I like either of those options," drawled a man's voice, his tone laconic. Standing just behind the pileup of bandits knocked over by Nadeshiko's assault was the bandit who had appeared to be sleeping earlier. He still wore the same conical, straw hat but it was tilted up now to reveal lean, rectangular face partially obscured by a few days of stubble and some tendrils of greasy looking hair. The man's eyes were half closed and he wore a lazy smile, giving him an overall sleepy expression that belied the tanto he carried loosely in his left hand. "Jeez this was supposed to be easy money and a few days in we run into a bunch of samurai. What a lousy tip this turned out to be,"

"I did think it was unusual for bandits to appear so quickly, scum like you are so rarely enterprising on your own initiative," Nadeshiko said coldly. "After you surrender I'll have a few questions to ask you about this 'tip' I think,"

"See there we go talking about surrender again but I reckon you'll be the one doing the surrendering," said the man. "See I think I can keep you busy long enough for the lads I left at the boats to come back for their shift change and nab your other little brats back there from behind. Then we can return to this whole 'surrendering' idea when I have a little more to bargain with. Sound's pretty good no?"

There was a beat of silence and stillness and then suddenly Nadeshiko whirled into action, she flipped her naginata, extending the butt of the weapon out to hook into the collar of Akari's shirt and lifted her student up like a crane. Using the weapon to increase her leverage, Nadeshiko spun Akari once and then hurled her almost like a catapult back towards her teammates and Endou Kannabi, continuing her spin even as Akari flew to turn back and block a strike from the tanto wielding bandit who had closed the gap between them in an instant to unleash a ferocious combination of slashes.

Ganryu

Shaoko and Hibari

The other two members of team Nadeshiko were given little warning as Nadeshiko suddenly slammed the butt of her weapon into the ground and used it to locke herself into position as she suddenly began building up intense amounts of yang energy in her body. "I need to go ahead," said their instructor tersely, "stay here and look out for each other," she said before suddenly disappearing in a burst of wind and motion, leaving the two students behind with Endou, who stroked his beard thoughtfully.

What followed next was a tense few minutes of waiting but eventually the two of them might hear approaching footsteps coming from somewhere behind them. Meanwhile, from in front of the party they might hear the sound of Akari screaming as she hurtled through the air towards them.

Orikanyo Spoiled Bread

 

[KageYuuki]

Squad Yukari

"No, it probably isn't." Fumio replied to the mention that they might not have a lot of time. He slowly clambered to his feet, heavily leaning against Enkai for support.

At Koyome's bow, Hikari dipped her head in return. "Rare to see such manners in one so young." Her voice was a low, warm rumble. She glanced at the wounded samurai as Enkai helped him to unsteady feet. "But yes, it will be much faster this way. Though I'll be hampered in a fight this way." Hikari moved closer to Fumio, letting him climb onto her back with a pained hiss.

Fumio managed a weak smile at Izanami, "Don't worry, I ain't dying just yet." He laid forward, gripping handfuls of white fur to keep himself from falling off. "But I'm pretty useless like this." His weary gaze returned to Izanami, drifting to her weapon. "Quite the sword . . . must be from one of the big clans."

The group started forward, Hikari following the Mokunoha's lead back into the forest. It was quiet save for the crunch of snow beneath their shoes and Fumio's rasping breaths. The smell of smoke still hung heavy in the air, carrying an almost sweet scent that mingled with the pine forest.

Fumio looked over at Koyome, studying her face. "Take it this isn't your first time out in the field, huh? They must start you ninja pretty young. You . . . are a ninja, right? Or were? Still not sure how all that works." He chuckled and grimaced. "Our attackers though . . . Two of them were swordsmen, probably the most even match. That one that attacked your sensei was nothing but fire jutsu and explosions. The flashy sort. I'd imagine that sort of thing is draining. He'll probably want to finish the fight quickly." As if to punctuate his words, the brilliant glow of fire erupted in the distance. "Didn't see much from the last one, lots of stuff like you've got on your belt there. Smelled like flowers." He sighed, "Took everything we had to bring down just the two . . ."

"And yet they allowed you to live." Hikari mused in a low rumble.

Fumio ran a hand over his face. "I think . . . the bastards wanted me to call for help. Guess they thought they could pick off whoever came running."

Koyome's byakugan would pick up another sight as they continued their trek back through the forest. The body of a fourth samurai laid in the snow. Burns and kunai had torn through his heavy armor.

Phayne AtlannianSpy InsaneAsylum

 

[Ganryu]

Akari Tone

​

Spoiler: Tone Household

Sparks flickered on an off on an old porch, before finally lighting an old weathered pipe. A frail man slowly rocking back and groaned as he looked up at the clouds, watching them before taking a puff. Next to him, in another chair, his wife darning holes in various hunter gear.

For several minutes, a melodic haze of bugs buzzing, and chickens clucking filled the yards, an occasional rustle of leaves as animals made it through nearby brush. Finally, the woman put down a needle, and picking up a verbal one instead.

"Why is it you're so hard on Akari, Ryuujin? And don't blame it on your wounds acting up, you were even worse to her this morning than Rei, and he's an asshole these days."

Another puff on the pipe, and he slowly answered. "She's too kind, Tomo. I want her to quit..."

"Why? She's got your skill, she wants to be just like you. Are you afraid she'll end up like you?"

"It'd scare me if she did, Tomo, it'd scare me if she did." He tapped his pipe against the nearby railing. "But, that's the problem. She's not. She's way too kind. Do you know how long it took me to get her to shoot her first deer, dear? She could track them just fine, and when she finally took the shot, hit it first time. Gck-!" He suddenly froze up, coughing as pain in his side erupted, but another puff of his pipe, and it eroded, "Gah... a-anyways, it took nearly dozen different trips for her to stop trembling. Can you imagine if she has to fight PEOPLE? She doesn't have what it takes. I'm sure you hate me, but I'm hoping she fails, for her own good."

Tomo picked up her needles again, shaking her head. "Being a jerk to her isn't going to dissuade her. Akari's way too stubborn to quit, no matter how many times she falls down. Besides... you've been watching her this entire time, haven't you?"

Ryujin snarled at his sensory being given away, spitting at the garden... "Tch, fine, have it your way, yes, I'm worried and watching. She's already bungled a shot, and there's no way she 'missed'. But, funny you should say 'no matter how many times she falls down'..."

For all the talking Akari HADN'T done, her yell, comical as it was, seemed to make up for it as the girl flew at the group like a falling star.

Spoiler

It was only moments before impact she seemed to remember her own abilities, gulping as she stopped screaming, and traces of blue appeared under her feet. Righting herself, the outline of the ground appeared under her feet, another 'boing' slightly breaking her fall as she rolled onto the ground infront of the ground several times, coming to a stop under Shaoko's foot, staring up at the impressive spear... and once again gulping that she hadn't landed a few feet higher. Images of many boars she'd hunted and put on spits flashing across her mind.

Akari groaned, but got up, dusting herself, and bowing to Hibari. "Thank you for Koga... he was very helpful. I owe him many shinies." She then shook her head, and remembered the more important message! Nadeshiko Sensei was in danger! There was a strong bandit, that looked like they were about to go toe to toe with her! And they were in danger too! Back ups were coming! More bandits! They needed to hide. Or fight!

Wait, she hadn't said anything! She turned to the group, holding up a finger, and instantly souring.

Spoiler

W-what words!? How was she supposed to summarize that? What was most important?! What did she need to say right now!? Why was she a messenger!?

Sweat dripped down her face and she realized her finger was still up as if asking to speak. She gulped again.

"B-bandits!" She croaked, slightly louder than normal. Then realized Nadeshiko was, indeed, fighting many bandits. She squirmed in place. "T-there's... reinforcements comings! Need to do... something!"

Nailed it. Wait... do I have a concussion? Why does my mouth taste like metal?

 

[Orikanyo]

Shaoko


"Hmm, the business down below must be troublesome. Sensei must be needed a good deal for her to not reasonably expect Akari can handle it..." he watched for a breif second as his sensei just... Where... Where did she go? No easily seen tracks, no movement... He blinked and she was gone in a flash. Her movements were like quiet lightning, she was gone without a trailing sound or movement...

Shaoko wondered this for but a moment before he noticed the projectile coming his way. He had trained for his many times, twirl for things not capable of being batted, but be prepared to try and cut things that were larger but capable of being cut. He conaidered this for a moment before seeing what the projectile was...

"Akari...?" He spoke softly, trying to fogure out what he should do. Should he lay his spear down and catch her? Should he try smashing her with his spear? Should he rely on his training and cut this projectile? The choices were as many as... Three choices... So he chose the one that was most conveinient and involved him not loseing his spear.

He chose to-

Oh she caught herself.

Ish.

Good.

He was already planning what to say at her funeral.

"Bandits you say. Yes, I had thought that would be the case from the beginning. Nobody hangs around a barely finished bridge when it's contractor was going to arrive for good reasons beyond vandalism or robbery. Or paid to do worse." He nodded at this thought, before eyeing the surroundings for obcious or less obvious threats.

"Ninja or foes, I, Shaoko Hojo, demand you reveal yourselves at once! Come forward and meet your deaths!

I shall cut you down with honor! Meet your deaths with it as well!" He called out to... Nobody really he could see around them... taking up the vanguard.

Really he was shouting to nothing like a yappy dog that thought he heard the neighbor minding their own business in the next yard over.

Spoiler: Face

 

[Phayne]

Team Yukari

Enkai Kaji

Mokunoha

Onwards!, To the field of battle!

"Agreed" replied Enkai simply. Despite his thought towards Yukari potentially being outnumbered. He simply couldnt make the decision to ignore her initial orders; not did he feel himself adequate enough to even provide support to her. Ego and wishful thinking aside, it was apparent that without any semblance of prior teamwork; he would merely get in the way. Clenching a fist at his present ineptitude, he could do little more than to trust the command of their Sensei and follow through with the orders. With Fumio up on his feet and most of his weight leaned against Enkai, the pair of them would make their way to Hikari; though Enkai's focus would shift somewhat slightly away from the summoned feline.

An attentive gaze would fall upon the visage of Koyome, one born of both confusion and curiosity as the blue haired samurai watched his companion glance from side to side. By all accounts, Enkai had not noticed the activation of any particular jutsu, nor had he noticed a change in her overral demeanour, yet by her actions alone it had led Enkai to believe that she had acted upon her 'perceptiveness'; in whatever form that was. Surely she couldn't just be looking around herself... even Enkai could do that much....

As Enkai helped the wounded warrior upon Hikari's back, Koyome had continued to formulate a plan, the quick thinking and understanding of the situation hinting towards some kind of prior experience within this world of war they all found themselves apart of. Izanami would soon chime in with what their ideal formation would be; the same as they had when they arrived. Enkai was grateful that she had put aside her previous attitude and was quick to work with the team. Considering what he knew of his comrades so far, it seemed only right for them to remain as such. The cold and assertive 'let's get moving' from Koyome that came after was all Enkai needed to hear, to follow suit. The blue haired mokunoha taking his position within their formation.

Silence beyond the crunch of snow would fall over the retreating group; Enkai on hyper alert for any sudden attack or ambush that may occur. It would only be due to Fumio's question that his hyper awareness would falter, the boy glancing behind himself slightly towards Koyome as she brought up the rear of their formation. It seemed like his initial assumption had been shared by Fumio-san; at least about her having prior experience out in the field. The sound of an explosion would soon echo through the forest causing Enkai to tense up; his fist's clenched in frustration as a bright orange could be seen in the distance.

He could do nothing but follow his team, though his concerns for their sensei would only grow worse as Hikari and Fumio spoke.

"They... they must be really confident then.." spoke Enkai, now looking towards the direction of the explosion. "There was no way they could predict who would come to your aid. There was no gaurantee that a newly formed squad like ours would come. " he paused. "What if a more senior squadron had arrived... did they really think they could still fend them off with their numbers halved?" he inquired, pausing once more.

"Something doesn't feel right..." he finally admitted.

InsaneAsylum AtlannianSpy KageYuuki

Code by Serobliss

 

[KageYuuki]

Izumi Takahashi

Squad Roku​

Izumi stood waiting in the smoke, adjusting her grip on her bow. The seconds seemed to drag on as they waited for the time limit to expire. How long had it been already? Now that she thought about it, Izumi wasn't sure. For all she knew, they could've already gone over their allotted time and failed the exercise. Smoke burned her nose and throat and made her eyes water. The waiting, the unknown, she hated it.

She'd be lying if she said the sound of the bell didn't make her jump. Izumi tensed, tugging on the bowstring but not yet pulling it into a full draw. Drawing the bow and holding it there was taxing. It demanded far greater strength and stamina than the young archer currently possessed.

So she waited. Branches rustled in the breeze, knocking snow loose. Her muscles tensed, nerves buzzing. She waited. Is he messing with us? Izumi adjusted her grip on her bow, arms aching to let loose an arrow into the smoke. Or is he able to avoid all of our traps? It was a possibility. He was a Haganenoha for a reason.

Finally, there it was. The faint crunch of one of her arrows in the distance. Izumi's arms snapped up, aiming a shot into the smoke. She tracked the twang that followed. Had Roku not spoken up, there would have been an arrow sent flying in his direction. She relaxed, easing the bow from its draw without firing. So we need to wait then . . . More waiting, more straining to listen past the buzz of nerves. Would their sensei actually strike? She wasn't sure just how far he wanted to take their little training exercise.

Another arrow crunched, this one by Yusuke. Like Itto, she twisted towards the sound. Their sensei's impressions of her and Itto were eerily spot on. She wasn't sure how he managed to pull it off. While Itto snarled at Roku's next piece of advice, Izumi cringed. Why hadn't she even thought of keeping her voice low? Stupid... She rubbed the back of her next and shot an apologetic glance over at Yusuke. "Hehe . . . sorry." Getting a teammate hurt was the last outcome she wanted in this kind of scenario. The guilt would doubtlessly gnaw at her if that happened.

The twang of another wire snapped her out of her thoughts for now. Another wait, another held breath. But instead of more lecture, Roku sighed. Finally, the smoke began to dissipate, letting in the scant morning light that had started creeping into the sky. They passed. Sorta. Yusuke would've still been in danger, but the wires would have at least bought them time.

"You can sense attacks?" The question slipped out without her even realizing it, eyes sparkling slightly in the dim morning light. "How?" Sure, it wouldn't be able to do anything against a spider's web of wires and explosives like Roku had already pointed out. But something like that felt invaluable against an unseen opponent.

Go pick your tools up, might need'em."

"Yeah, probably will." Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she turned to find Itto already at work plucking up kunai, tags, and wires. Izumi shook the gourd on her belt, feeling how much water was left in it. She scooped up snow and packed it inside while Itto finished gathering everything up. Izumi couldn't stop the smile that pulled at her lips as Roku finally noticed the thin veneer of ice she'd formed around the training dummy. An attacker falling would buy them precious time, even if it was just a second or fractions of one.

"Thanks for the help." Izumi reached out to gather up the offered bundle of wire and kunai. She returned the knives and tags to their pouch before setting to work respooling the wire, as tedious as it was looking to be. Izumi was thankful she didn't really rely much on wire at the moment, winding it back up after was a pain. Maybe shinobi that used spool after spool had come up with tricks to speed up the process.

She looked up at Itto's scrunched up features and hesitated. At least until he started speaking. Izumi felt herself relax only for a heartbeat.

The shockwave slammed into her back, sending Izumi crashing into the snow and ice with little grace. The boom that followed after rattled her very bones. Izumi struggled back to her feet as Roku vanished in a cloud of ash to investigate. "Y-yeah . . . no problem." She let out a shaky breath as Itto finished his thanks. Izumi chewed her lip at the following question. Whatever it was screamed danger. Danger they were going to be running straight for.

So much for a boring scouting mission. Their job was quickly changing into a literal trial by fire.

Izumi didn't say anything, just following before Roku and Itto as they started towards the source of the blast. She brought her hands together, more ice arrows forming in her grasp. Like earlier they were thin and brittle, useless for a bow. Izumi held out a handful to each of her teammates. "They won't last forever, but just in case we have to deal with someone that's hidden." Though from that blast, they might not have a stealthy opponent.

Racing through the snow and the fallen trees, nothing Izumi could have done would have prepared her for the scene that awaited them. Scorched earth. Mangled and charred remains scattered and stained the white snow. The stench of blood and death and burnt flesh flooded her nose and sat on her tongue. Her stomach twisted, eyes widening as her nerves screamed for her to run from the sight.

The way the hunter nin almost gleefully ran after the fleeing refugees twisted the terror into rage. Izumi's heart pounded in her ears and drummed against her temples. Protect them. She was moving without realizing it, hands flowing through handsigns and forming a new arrow out of ice. The strange point was meant to strike and not pierce. Muscle memory was the only thing driving her, her brain still reeling to try and process the horror playing out before her.

Nock the arrow, draw, aim, fire.

The snap of the bowstring and whistle of the arrow was music to her ears over the drowning cacophony of panic that buzzed through her nerves.

Her arrow rocketed through the air towards the charging shinobi's legs, ice rapidly growing out to encase the struck limb. Two more arrows followed suit.

Ice Release: Encasing Arrow

"I've got your back." Her voice was a breathy whisper, rough with fear and devoid of the mirth from earlier in the morning. Protect her teammate. Protect the refugees. No one else had to die today. She wouldn't let them.

Ganryu IG42 Haze- godjacob

 

[IG42]

Yusuke Satomi
Trying to follow the disembodied voice Yusuke shifted his grip on his sword while looking about, hearing it from worryingly close by he flinched and swiped his blade along the ground throwing up a barrier between himself and where he thought the voice was coming from, as Roku began evaluating their performance Yusuke let the barrier fall while his shoulders slumped in embarrassment at his jumpy reaction in what was only practise, he did however still retain enough poise to look faintly smug when his teammates were scolded for being too loud. "Hmm...apology accepted." He replied after pretending to consider for a moment.

Blown backward by the explosion he tried to turn it into a roll back onto his feet but ended up tumbling over a few times trying to avoid injuring himself on his own sword. Popping back up Yusuke shook off the shock of the blast while Roku gave out instructions. "Yes sir." He responded almost automatically at the order to defend the fleeing refugees. Taking the offered ice arrow from Izumi he tucked it into his belt next to the sheath of his sword.

Moving to join Itto he was almost impressed at the other boy's bluster crude though it was and rather let down by the appeal for help from the rest of the team, positioning himself a few metres to Itto's side he gathered up his chakra. Lightning Release: Shock Senbon. With a flick of the wrist he shot several small pale blue bolts at their foe alongside Izumi's arrows.

Ganryu Haze- KageYuuki

 

[Ganryu]

Team Roku && Tokita

A mad cackle broke in the snow filled clearing as Tokita charged towards the madman with a glowing chest. "Yes! FREE HUGS! I love watching the brave break. You samurai are sooo... FUN! Go on stab me! See it doesn't matter as I make you pop... and then dispose of the evidence in a 'BANG'!"

As Tokita got closer and closer, she could see open wounds on the man, that did not bleed, yet never have seemed to heal, the muscle underneath a dull gray, with skin as pale as a ghost. The mask hid his face, but the way his neck muscles strained hid a monsterous and sincere smile.

However, his rush was suddenly stopped as a blade of wind slashed between the two. His neck snapped to Itto with a literal 'pop' as it cocked to one side, interest in his new juice box suddenly dying as the hunter nin stared.

"Weak as hell? Weak as hell!? Ha. Ha ha ha! HAHAHA! Yay! I'm increasing the average IQ of the Land of Iron here! The Mizukage is a terrifying woman."

The rest of his body snapped to place, walking towards Itto as frozen arrows slammed into the man's knee and leg. A small "Heh" came from him as it stopped, before he raised on leg up, and ax kicked the ground with enough force to bend his leg backwards, shattering the ice. A few snaps later, and the man was standing straight, and began his walk. "Now, now. I think... I think you deserve my attention far more. There are far too many stupid people in the world."

As he walked, he ignored the Senbon, same as the other attacks that had hit so far. However, at a surge of electricity, the glowing in his chest suddenly brightened, and the man stopped as his head looked down. The glowing chakra flickered faster and faster.

"Shit."

Another large explosion rocked the area, threatening Tokita and Squad Roku, though having walked away from Tokita had given some room to it.

The man was blown in a jumbled mess against a tree, looking more like a spider from a bundle of limbs than a man. But cracking started to sound, and he began to stand back up, slowly but surely, giving time to the new Mokunoha.

In the nearby tree, the other hunter nin seemed to be enjoying the site more than actually focusing on their mission. Leaves shuffled out the way as the invisible man appeared. "I-is Hogai actually pissed? He's ignoring the fleeing civilians running towards Hanamachi."

The Yo yo nin shrugged, doing a lindy loop as he watched nonchalant. "Hogai's got the hots for the Mizukage, don't'cha know? That, and I don't think he was ever serious about the mission in the first place. Fact he's kept up the entire time rather than waiting's proof he's screwing around. He's probably going to try and make'em cry. He's always about 'inevitablity'. Creepy ass mother-"

"-So... why aren't we taking it seriously?" the ghillie man asked, cutting off the curse.

"Ha! Suppose you're right, we shoul-" Suddenly an arc of fire shot at the two nin, both diving out the way. As it passed behind them, it began to reform into the shape of a samurai, a blade falling down on the Yo yo nin, who quickly made a cat's cradle to block it, getting sent away screaming "Oh sonnuva biiitch" as he crashed into the ground, Roku standing in their place.

"Tch. Sorry to ask this, but can you lot keep him busy? Just. Just survive! Bah. "Scouting" my ass."

He eyed Tokita, and nodded. "Nice bravery girl. Think you got the spirit of a samurai already. Welcome to the Land of Iron."

Roku reached into his pouch, and threw up a spray of white glitter, before slashing straight upwards with his blade, and arc of fire igniting the magnesium powder into a bright flare. A moment later, Roku's eyes shifted, and he jumped back as an invisible needle pierced through the tree he was standing next to, a deep cut gouging into his cheek.

"Yup, mission office can officially go ahead and suck my-"

=========================


Squad Aoba
ZackStop IG42

Back in Hanamachi, a bright flare rose high into the early morning sky, surprisingly close to the mission, yet few people were up at that hour of the day. Leaning against a balcony, a man with silver hair, and red tips sighed. "Roku asking for help? I'd like to say that's rare, but..." He then stood for a moment, and reached down for a cup of tea. "Can't even have a peaceful morning before wor-... Wait, crap! The new Mokunoha were out today!!!" He put his fingers to his lips, pursing for a whistle.

No one came.

"Huuuu... Well, he did want students. There were a few students unassigned."

-----------------

Wherever Yanma had been that morning, whatever he was expecting his daily routine to be, he would find himself close to fame as the Lord of the Land of Iron, Kaizo Shima suddenly held him like a sack of potatoes, flickering down the street at high speeds.

"I don't think we've met, I'm Kaizo, your Taishou. Surprise adoption, we need a squad together now. I'd say 'cancel your plans', but, well, I'm fairly sure they're already fairly strongly cancelled."

A moment later, he'd find himself at a mansion in town, impressive doors inlaid with coral, and inside, the sounds of children heard inside. Knocks echoed as Kaizo pounded it.

"Master Aoba, you wanted a chance to be a sensei, right? Emergency mission. Roku's asking for help. Again. But he's got a squad with him. Go save them. But, take this one with you. Think you're..."

Kaizo pulled up a list of papers, flipping through it, in a nodding fashion. Then paused. "You're not Seiichi... D-did I grab the wrong kid?" An awkward pause. "Do you... want a mission? Wait. Guess I am Taishou... Uh, you have a mission and are assigned to Squad Aoba?"

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Hibari Yozora / Squad Nadeshiko
Location: Yasaji Bridge

"Ohh... I want that." Hibari whispered to herself when she saw her sensei leapt a great distance right into the middle of the bandit formation. If she applies the principles of the wind kata she might be able to replicate that, but, but this wasn't the time to to figure out a new jutsu. Akari landed in front of Shaoko after being thrown by their sensei, shortly after Koga followed behind her and landed back on Hibari's shoulder. The crow seemed really proud of himself and puffed his chest up. Hibari retrieved the unused yellow scroll and put it back in her pocket.

"Yes, they are bandits." She nodded at Akari's report, her eyebrows slightly raised at the sight of a blood coming out from her teammate's mouth.

"They're coming," Unlike Shaoko, Hibari didn't acts with honor in mind. She didn't really want to admit it but her way of thinking was probably more in line with the bandits than with samurai from a honorable clan such at him. After Shaoko finished his yelling, the next moment she noticed any movement or noises Hibari would immediately threw two senbons at them. Initiating an attack before they even fully reveal themself.

AtlannianSpy Ganryu Orikanyo

 

[godjacob]

Tokita Hagami
​

Tokita was determined to make this her stand, this man seemed to be unnatural. Cuts and scars but no blood, a presumed human but lacking in a heart it all had been rather unsettling. However, the young aspiring samurai still had a duty. She prepared to take a swing, as her intent had been to leap up and strike down upon her foe who seemed to not even raise a guard to her strike.

However, before she could a powerful surge of wind cut between the two and on instinct Tokita seemed to hop back.

"What the devil...?" Tokita said, more ninja? Had they been allies to this man or perhaps they had come to aid the refugees? Either way her focus was on the immediate enemy whose neck seemed to snap like a twig, before he more casually seemed to snap it back into place! Was this man inhuman!? Tokita managed to keep her shock from showing as she kept her blade ahead of her before it seemed she had gotten her answer to the previous question.

One used a powerful wind slash, another seemed to rain ice arrows upon him which stabbed him like wet tissue, another still seemed to use charged senbon and caused him to explode! And yet through all of that, this foe still lived. Hell, he had began to reform amazingly enough which seemed to defy about any convention even what of what she had known of ninja. A man who seemed to be the leader of his group arrived and his causal attitude caused her to raise an eyebrow, but he offered her praise remarking she showed true spirit of a samurai.

"I believe the time for flattery would be more fitting once the threat has passed. Until I know the refugees are safe, my job is not finished." Tokita said, though she appreciated the backup as she began to fuel chakra through her blade in an enhancement technique. From there, she rushed and aimed to deliver repeated and multiple enhanced slashes at quick speeds to the reforming foe before she hopped back, as perhaps if she'd cut him down while in this state it would either hinder his efforts to give the others time to follow up or even cut it to such small pieces he couldn't reform.

Everything, every technique or specialization had a weakness. This foe had to be included.


Ganryu IG42 KageYuuki Haze-

 

[AtlannianSpy]

Koyome Omozukai
"I've seen some action before yes," Koyome said in answer to Fumio, her tone sardonic. "It didn't exactly go well though so don't get too excited,"

Behind her wry smile Koyome was calculating furiously. Enkai had good instincts for a samurai, something wasn't right here even if they didn't have all the pieces yet. Studying Fumio carefully with her byakugan, Koyome found nothing too out of order. The flowery scent Fumio had mentioned sounded like it could be a medium for genjutsu, but nobody's pathways showed any signs of foreign chakra.

Then there was the body Koyome had spotted on the periphery of her vision. What did it mean that one of the bodies had been separated from the sight of the battle, had they been picked off first? or moved their later? Could Fumio be an imposter? he wasn't disguised with chakra but maybe he had swapped equipment with a dead samurai? If that was the case splitting up like this might have been exactly what he wanted them to do.

"Turn this way," Koyome said suddenly, tapping Izanami in the front of the formation on the shoulder and pointing her in the direction of the body. "I want us to avoid the river we passed on the way here," This was a lie, Koyome wanted the team as a group to stumble upon the body she had spotted so that she could gauge Fumio's reaction, if he was an imposter he might slip up in some way and if not they could at least study the body for more clues about what was going on here.

InsaneAsylum KageYuuki Phayne

 

[IG42]

Aoba Urashima
Some of the sound from inside stopped for a moment. "CHIIIEEEEFF! The door!" A superfluously loud child's voice pierced the air and another voice at a more sensible volume responded while a few other children joined the first call. "I heard the first time guys! No need for the intruder alarms." After a moment the door opened releasing a burst of warm and unusually humid air to reveal a pale blue clad young man with one child perched on his shoulders and another perched on his hip by an arm. "My lord Taishou! What an unexpected pleasure." Aoba bowed as deeply as he could manage without losing his passengers.

Turning sideways an open hall could be seen with a large water tank filled with coral could be seen along with over a dozen children mostly paused in what they had been doing to gawp at their guest, waving over teenager Aoba offloaded the child he held and placed the one on his shoulders on her feet. "Alright everyone we know what we do for honoured guests right?" With a patient smile he waited while most of the children got the hint and bowed to Kaizo. "Good, good. Now chief has to go to work so Tomoe is in charge until I get back." Gently disengaging his former passenger's arms from around his leg he patted her head and finally stepped outside.

Closing the door behind him his expression turned serious. "Apologies for the delay, you mentioned an emergency?"

Ganryu ZackStop

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Izanami Kutsuki
A flowery scent hung in the air, but Izanami was too focused to notice. Her hand was still above her right shoulder gripping Sesshu-ki. While the tiny needles entertained in the wrappings stung more the harder she squeezed, it kept her alert. Not only that, the blade itself gave her confidence. Despite everything that happened to her clan, they managed to keep this blade safe and sound. It felt like her whole clan was standing behind her when she wielded it. It gave her just enough confidence to lead the retreat.

Her comrades however, were trying to figure out just what the heck was going on. Enkai seemed to have the idea something was off, and Koyome straight up said to change their route.

Izanami looked over her shoulder at her for a couple moments, before looking ahead once again.

“The river?” Izanami pondered aloud at Koyome’s reasoning. “Good idea, I bet those ninja could use the water there to ambush us,” Izanami finished. However, she wasn’t sure if she remembered the river Koyome was even referring to.

“What’s so much better about this way?” Izanami asked as she changed course. She knew Koyome was supposedly the perceptive one and could help know what was happening, but Izanami felt blind here. It felt like a ninja could be hiding behind every tree they passed. The grip on her blade tightened as her stress began to boil. The needles sunk deeper, making her wince ever so slightly. However… it was enough to stop the boiling.

Phayne AtlannianSpy KageYuuki

 

[ZackStop]

Yanma Doromizu​

It was an early morning, dim light passed through the windows of Yanma's small home and into his bedroom. The blue shade matched the cool air on just the other side of the pane of glass, just like every day in the land of iron. The young boy however was unaware of the sun's slow climb over the horizon or just how cold it was, for Yanma was still fast asleep in his bed. He was having a rather violent sleep seeing how he was sprawled out with jumbled up blankets coving only half of him. He snored in peace until he was suddenly abducted through the window right beside his bed.

The land of Iron's Taisho, Kaizo Shima was to blame. A rather strange guy as was abundantly clear for his actions that puzzled Yanma, or would have if he wasn't still half asleep. The window swung open as the speeding shadow scooped up the newly graduated 'Mokunoha' without even giving him time to prepare or even get dressed. So there he was, still in his pajamas being whisked away by their leader.

"What the hell?" Yanma said out loud, watching the snow covered streets fly below him as he lost a slipper. He looked up while the Taisho introduced himself and ran the squad situation by him, a rather dumb idea, trying to fill a kid's head with information about as soon as they woke up. "What- squad?" It wasn't much longer that they landed and Yanma was finally allowed to stand. The sting of cold snow attacked his one barefoot making him wince for a moment before looking up at the over the top mansion, blinking a few times to ensure he was seeing things right. What were they here for? Who exactly lived here? Yanma was pretty quick on the uptake, but things were moving way too fast for his tired brain. All he wanted to do was go back to bed.

Then things got even wilder. It was early in the morning, the sun was hardly shining and it sounded like chaos just inside those walls, the volume nearly doubling as the door opened up to the warmth from within. Humidity blasted against the boy's small frame and what was revealed was a stark contrast interior to the cool colored outdoors, and standing right before him was another total weirdo. "Just what kind of house is this?" Yanma said to himself with an unpleasant expression. He just watched with a reasonably tired expression as the adults talked.

Turns out though, the Taisho appeared to have grabbed the wrong kid. Yanma got a little pissed that he was woken up just for it to be a mistake. He slowly looked over. "I'm-... Yanma Doromizu... and if I really have to go on a mission, I'll need some equipment." He said with a yawn, before shivering and holding his one bare foot off the ground, trying to balance. "And can I get a change of clothes? please? It's cold." He rubbed his arms. Clearly his PJ's were not the best for cold weather.

Ganryu IG42

 

[Ganryu]

Team Aoba
ZackStop IG42

"Aw... they're so cute." The Taisho fauned at the motley of children bowing and scattering to orders, before suddenly remembering his position, and standing straighter, trying to look more menacingly. It didn't last long as he looked at Yanma, rubbing the back of his head, long flame tipped hairs shuffling in his hand.

"Yeah, Aoba, there's a flare by Roku that just went up, he needs help, south gate, think it was patrol route 4B7A. I'm assigning it to you, and finally making you a sensei. This kid's your first little Mokunoha! That said... Give me just one minute, I want to make sure.

Yanma was it? They say the eyes are the windows into the soul, I need to make sure real quick this isn't... too bad a mistake. Mind looking me in the eye?"

As the Taisho continued to slouch and smile, he made a single hand sign. His eyes began to open wide, a flicker of blue flame starting to burn in his iris as he stared at Yanma directly. Slowly, his eyes reddened as veins began crack across his schlera. The flame continued to flicker unabated, Kaizo's gaze not blinking for several seconds as his irises widened and widened, almost seeming to swallow Yanma, the relatively short man almost seeming to grow as his intense aura grew oppressive.

All around Yanma, the snow began to freeze in place, and nothing moved.

Finally, Kaizo's eyelids began to close, but as it did, the scene around Yanma faded, turning black, and Aoba disappearing.

As they reopened, Yanma would find himself a training ground, one of his favored, with a strange doll to one side of it with a wig, and a training post infront of him with several slashes in it. A tanto seemed to be in his hand appearing from no where, and his regular trainign clothes.

Slowly, those lashes of the Taisho closed again, and as they reopened, Yanma would find himself back in his room, books he'd long since finished open on his bed, drawings and lessons on genjutsu spread across them. The tanto in his hands gone, and his clothes changed to pajamas.

Once more, the eyelashes closed, Yanma's room fading, and the eyesopening once more to a snowey plane. But the moment Kaizo began to open his eyes, he seemed to recognize the memory as highly personal, and shut his eyes agin, this time keeping them closed as everything faded around both of them.

Time resumed, and both stood back at the Urashima manor, snow once again falling around them.

Kaizo, however, kept his eyes closed, a dark red pooling and dripping down his cheeks like tears.

"Yeah, Aoba, in particular, if you'd get him some clothes, standard pack of tools, and I believe his preferred weapon is a tanto. And a straw doll?

By the way, when you rescue Roku, if there's any refugee's you think would make good mokunoha, Aoba, if you'd take them under your wing. Think I kinda screwed the pooch not asking you to teach earlier. You're a natural! Look how the children here adore you!"

He turned back to Yanma, eyes still closed, and nodded.

"Also, thank you, Yanma, and good luck on your mission!"

With that, Kaizo waved, eyes not yet open, and turned to leave, before walking straight into a carriage in the road, startling horses that trampled him. A brief 'ow' was heard as he lay on the ground with dirty hoof prints on his clothing, before he flickered away, back to the mission office.

 

[AtlannianSpy]

Team Nadeshiko
At the sound of of Shaoko's challenge the treeline to the east of the party rustled, triggering HIbari's reflexive senbon to whistle into the bushes. THere was a coarse yelp and a burly man in a ragged, cotton vest that left his round belly exposed stumbled forwards.

"GAH! FUCK! You little shits!" Cursed the man, straightening up and and swinging around a heavy, wooden club to point it at the party. "GET EM!"

There was a brief moment of silence where it seemed like the man's command had failed and then a pack of a dozen thuggish looking men and women burst forward from behind the trees, charging forwards in a ragged skirmish line. Whereas the bandits stationed at the bridge had kept small, easily concealable weapons on them to avoid spooking their targets this detachment had no such concerns and were equipped with heavier weapons such as clubs, staves and the odd farming implement. The line of bandits was a bit uneven, some of the lagging behind while others surged ahead, it seemed as though the order to charge so suddenly had surprised them. Nevertheless the bandits still had the presence of mind to fan out and try to surround the samurai party, making the best of their superior numbers by encircling the smaller party before charging in to try and subdue them in melee combat.

Ganryu Orikanyo Spoiled Bread

 

[Orikanyo]

Shaoko Hojo Team Nadeshiko


Hmm... Troublesome.

It was an ambush as he expected, he had hoped his demands would ring in the air and be worthless. But his bait had been taken, and now he had foes to contend with. Many, he had hopes thered be less... But he refused to be overwhelmed, he focused on the one that was closest and waited...

Wait...

Hold....

Hold....

Now.

Spear bending like a tree branch the young man pivoted on the spot, the spear suddenly extended with a spring loaded twinge that filled the air, followed by the sound of splitting air. The long leaf bladed lance ripped through into a belly off an approaching foe, the freshly sharpened blade ripped through like butter, years of training surmounting to a strike that broke through the lesser ill fed bandit like a butcher's cleaver to a hog. Not cut in half, but a ruptured organs spealt quick death.

Heaven's Lance: To reap as the sickle
-The User utilizes the slicing side of the lance's head to cut into a foe or foes to the side of the thrusting head. Good for catching those who try shifting to dodge a thrust.

"Warning unheeded! Face me! Shaoko Hojo and die with honor! I demand a duel of honor!"

 

[KageYuuki]

Squad Yukari

"Confident?" Fumio mused at Enkai's remark, he followed the Mokunoha's gaze to where the last burst of flame had illuminated the distance. "That's possible. They've been getting pretty bold lately." The samurai rubbed his eyes. "But you're right, they shouldn't have any way of knowing who was going to come to my rescue. Hell, there's always the risk that no one would show up." He let out a ragged sigh, shifting his weight on Hikari's back. "Are they just trying to do as much damage as possible? Or is there something else they're hoping to achieve here?" He watched the way Izanami clutched the hilt of her blade in an effort to ground herself. Even in his wounded and exhausted state, his gaze seemed sharp.

"Something doesn't feel right..."

"I agree. And I can't say I'm too keen on sticking around to find out what it is." He rested his hand on his sheathed sword, chakra sat in the weapon. Samurai channeled their techniques through their weapons, it wasn't uncommon to see chakra passively flowing through them.

His gaze shifted to Koyome when she suddenly diverted the team's route. Fumio seemed lost in thought for a moment as they changed direction, heading towards the fallen samurai. "I've been jumped by a ninja hiding in crystal clear water once, not sure how well the trick would work in this cold though." He added to Izanami's mention of them being ambushed.

It wouldn't take long for them to stumble on the body, nothing had been done to try and conceal it. If anything, it stood out against the white. Brightly colored flowers had ruptured from the body, an array of blossoms that had no way of surviving in the sheer cold. The body's hands were pressed together like it was praying. A vine sat pressed between its hands and wrapped around its wrists, covered in dark buds mimicking prayer beads. A particularly large blossom covered most of its face, but from what could be seen the expression seemed almost serene. In any other context, the sight may have almost been beautiful. Albeit in a slightly morbid way.

There was no denying the sweet, flowery smell here. It was almost overpowering so close to the body, drowning out the smell of smoke and pines.

Hikari's bright eyes narrowed at the sight. She jumped back and snarled when the 'prayer beads' began to bloom. Snow crunched nearby. A branch snapped. More figures emerged into view. The samurai and shinobi bodies from where Fumio had been found, and Yukari, all covered in the same multitude of flowers as they approached.

"What is this?" Hikari snarled.

There was a pause. An unnerving moment where everything seemed to grow still. They ran for the group, looking more to grapple them than fight. All of them moved with such single minded focus that they wouldn't make any effort to dodge or block attacks. Red petals instead of blood, roots and vines pulling severed limbs back into place. They might've been weak, but they were also persistent.

If they were puppets, there were no strings to guide them. The chakra filling their bodies was faint, likely fainter than one would expect for a jutsu such as this. Enkai, Izanami, and Hikari's own chakra flows had grown erratic, disrupted by something that didn't belong. Fumio's own was steady as ever, if anything it had flared somewhat.


Phayne AtlannianSpy InsaneAsylum

 

[Ganryu]

Akari Tone - Squad Nadeshiko

Akari groggily rubbed her head as Shaoko shouted in her ear. Friendship in a team was something to be cultivated. She would not, however, be inviting him on any fishing trips or hunting on her family land. Still, he was simple straight forward. So was Hibari. They both seemd the kind to be relegated to the same awkward corner as her in a party. Akari decided she liked them.

The bandits, however, were just as loud as Shaoko, but far less graceful. Akari decided she didn't like them. She flinched as already two senbon fired into the treeline with a yelp following.

Again, Akari drew her bow back. But once again, put it back down. Why was she hesitating!? She had a mission!! She could easily fell most of them before they even made it to the bridge builder! Akari's aim was true. She wouldn't miss either, she knew it. Were either of her teammates hesitating?

She looked at Hibari, having already thrown senbon that had struck true.
She looked to Shaoko, only to find him gone. She blinked, looking back and forth in a panic, only to find him charging the leader... and trying to butcher a bandit like a hog.

Akari put a hand to her mouth, backing up, until her back bumped into Mr. Kannabi. All around them, the bandits were surrounding them. A small creeking cry came from her, voices in her head.

==========

Her brother "Ha, not nearly as talented as me, why even try?"
Her father. "Give it up Akari, I don't want you being a samurai, you're far too kind."

Shaking like a leaf, she felt a phantom hand on her shoulder, remembering crying after a failed training. She'd tried for a month to learn double jump, a simple move, her instructor rubbing the back of his head in apology that he was failing to teach it. Then too, her mother had put a hand on her shoulder.

"Go on. Show us what a grateful child can do, Akari. One more time."


=========
Akari paused, her shaking stopping. A deep inhale sounded. "One more time."

It didn't matter she failed earlier. She just had to succeed now. Akari tensed up, grabbing some wire and wrapping it to an arrow and around her glove, looking down, staring down the bandits. She remembered their client had some jutsu too.

"Mr. Kannabi, you have earth release, can you make canopy above yourself?"

Akari began to take slow steps forward, chakra gathering in her feet, her focus leaving everythin else but the bandits. "One more time!" She repeated. Then, in a flicker, she was gone.

Body Flicker

Reappearing in the air above the circle of bandits, Akari fired one arrow straight at the club of one of the bandits, with enough force to send the club flying straight into his chest.

Akari instantly grabbed a bag, tossing it in the air above her, before her feet glowed blue. Another 'boing' echoed as she leapt off of her phantom foothold in the ground, gaining height with a backflip.

Double Jump

Upside down, Akari notched the second arrow, before firing straight through the bag with precision, right through it's center, bursting it, and sending the large arrow aimed to fly straight through the feather in the cap of one bandit, and to smash into the head of a pitchfork, to try and snap it in two.

The contents of the bag burst across the ground, raining caltrops in a wide field around Mr. Kannabi.

Wires glistened in Akari's gloved hand from the first arrow she'd shot, the club of the first bandit she'd shot at. Grunting with effort, Akari pulled at it with all of her strength, changing direction once again, her hand bleeding from the wires cutting into them {And earlier hunting knife wound}. Pulled towards him, Akari put both feet forward, changing to a flying dropkick at the man's face, trying to use him as a safe place to land without stepping on a caltrop.

 

[Phayne]

Team Yukari

Enkai Kaji

Mokunoha

Beautiful Demise! Zombie Ambush!

The sudden change in direction; instigated by Koyome had caused Enkai to reaffirm his heightened guard to the situation; his senses at full attention as he studied the passing scenery for anything that seemed 'out of place'. Though his attempts to discover anything untoward had paled in comparison to his more perceptive compatriot. Glancing towards the direction of Koyome, a look of mild curiosity had snuck its way upon his visage; the mystery surrounding her apparent talent towards perception growing ever more stronger as her secret remained a mystery to him.

At the mention of the river being the reason for their sudden change in direction; Enkai could only look dumbstruck. 'What river?' he thought to himself, remaining silent yet listening attentively to his team mates. Izanami had been the quicker to react to Koyome's remark; bringing up the potential of an ambush from within the river. Though it was only once Fumio spoke up that a faint memory that lurked within the dark recesses of Enkai's mind would bubble to the surface. He had heard about it many years ago from his mother; a former Kunoichi of the hidden mist; a village that resided within the Land of Water.

"Ah.. my mother mentioned it before... the Hiding in Water Technique, right Fumio-san?" replied Enkai; attempting to go along with the flow; whilst only harbouring a faint inkling of what was actually going on here. He would offer a small glance towards the scheming Koyome. Without having worked with one another before; he could only act on instinct and assumptions and given her sudden mention of a non-existent river, it seemed that his initial remark of about something being 'off' had hit the nail on the head. "Thats a good shout then, I don't think we'd fair too well having to cover old man Fumio while being ambushed" he continued; left hand faintly caressing the hilt of his Kiseru Pipe; reaffirming that he still had his weapon with him.

It wouldn't be long until they arrived at a lone body; separated from the others and displayed in a rather grandiose manner. Whilst the brutality of war had been painted across the snow during what was obviously a brutal skirmish; this lone and isolated corpse was far more surreal; the artistic way that it had been left amidst the canvas of white hinted towards someone who took time and care in their manner of murder; a potential sadist that took pride in their work... not some zealot looking to fight for the sake of a higher cause. While Enkai had initially discarded the faint aroma that had danced upon the air; he could no longer deny its existence; such was the intensity of it within this space. No doubt it originated from the corpse flowers. Enkai would raise an arm to cover his nose; but it was already too late to prevent the underlying effects that would soon occur.

Unlike before, Enkai had managed to keep his composure at the sight of the deceased, given it was less gore than before. Visually, the impact this had was far different to the sight of the five dead bodies they had stumbled upon earlier when they found Fumio. 'Wait a minute...' thought Enkai, pausing in his tracks as his mind suddenly burst into overdrive. Falling puzzle pieces would begin to rain down upon his trail of thought, his mind recalling everything he presently knew about this blood covered world of war that they found themselves partaking in; the sight of the deceased, how their bodies were displayed... how many there were... his initial discomfort towards the situation... the missing fourth member of the Shinobi attackers. Something didn't add up... and that was the numbers. There was 1 too many.

Like their squad of four, Yukari had mentioned that Shinobi too move around in squads of four; thus his initial concern for their sensei potentially finding herself in a 1 v 2 scenario or alternatively the potential threat of the 'sleeper' shinobi ambushing them along the way as they carried Fumio back to the village. No other potential scenario had even come close to entering his thoughts... especially not when the maths added up.

Initially the numbers had made sense... 2 Dead shinobi, 3 Dead Samurai and an Injured Fumio found at the initial sight of battle, the Shinobi that Yukari Sensei had gone to fight and the lingering threat of the hidden Ninja that had yet to reveal themselves. That accounted for all eight participants in the fight; 4 Shinobi and 4 ninja.

But the sudden appearance of this body had thrown a spanner into the works, a ninth member of what should have only been a battle of eight individuals. Of course there was the possibility that this was the as of yet unaccounted 4th Ninja that had yet to reveal themselves.. though any chance of that occurring was quickly dismissed by Enkai as he studied the remnants of armour that were visible. The armour despite being damaged and partially hidden by the foliage was definitely Samurai... that made 4 dead Samurai... 2 dead Ninja... 1 ninja engaged with Yukari in a fight and.... Fumio....

Still behind Hikari and her passenger; Enkai now convinced that Koyome and potentially Izanami had begun to suspect Fumio, would reach for his Kiseru pipe; though as soon as he did he would hear Hikari snarl and his gaze would return to the body; the prayer beads around the corpse's wrist beginning to bloom. He was fully caught by the jutsu.

The crunch of snow would cause Enkai to unsheathe his Kiseru Pipe as he prepared for an attack. From within the shadows of the surrounding tree's the sight of the five fallen warriors would emerge; though the appearance of a sixth form would cause Enkai to falter slightly as he noticed the visage of Yukari Sensei among them. "No..It can't be..." mumbled Enkai, falling for the gimmick as he believed what his eyes presently showed him. Had Yukari Sensei really died in battle?

He would get no time for answers as one of the deceased shinobi charged for him; seeing this Enkai would quickly jump backwards slightly, giving him a bit more distance as his left hand clasped his water gourd; thumb catching the edge of the gourd's cork and popping it off. In a fluid motion; Enkai would twirl the Kiseru pipe in his right hand several times before sheathing it into the water gourd; his body leaning forward as he began to channel chakra through his body and into the pipe itself.

Faint contrails of steam would become visible from the lip of the gourd as pressure began to grow inside. Taking the stance for a quickdraw technique, he waited for the oncoming ninja to get into range; all the while building up pressure and steam within the body of the gourd.

"Dragon's Scalding Kettle Strike" whispered Enkai; his grip tightening around the weapon as he quickly drew it from the makeshift gourd sheath. The pipe would rush forward, striking the body of the fallen ninja with enough force to send it flying backwards; body hitting a nearby tree. Momentarily stunned from the impact; Enkai without missing a beat would place his left foot forward, twisting his body around whilst thrusting his left hand that held the gourd forward; a torrent of hot steam rushing forth to hit the ninja that had been rendered temporarily immobile from the initial strike.

"You guy's alright?!" shouted Enkai, glancing around himself to his team mates to see how they faired against their assailants. Unaware of what was actually occurring.

AtlannianSpy KageYuuki InsaneAsylum

Code by Serobliss