Mission Details:

Late afternoon had come so quickly, it was essentially evening. The sun was setting, he hadn't cared to pay attention to the time  while he was sitting there and contemplating through what he would do. It was nice and cool, the air seemed stagnant but would chill the skin, not for Karumo, it always felt stagnant outside for him. A few clouds sparsely held the sky together, giving him something to look at among the hues of orange and darkening blue, a small tint of grey at the angle away from the sun on each cloud. An appropriate view for Karumo who walked along the wall of the village, heading away from the village gates and traversing the circumference of that wall slowly and methodically.

Karumo's grey ANBU gear and black clothing underneath, the headband of the village wrapped tightly around his forehead, his hands in his pockets and his eyes scanning the areas around him. He'd much rather have preferred to look at the ground, just past his feet as he walked, the perfect view of changing nothingness to let his mind wander over all the different variety of events and scenarios. A small missive captured that gave heed to the assassination of the Tsuchikage at some point soon, evidence pointing towards very soon. They never should have told Karumo at all, the instant he heard the news he immediately grabbed the missive for himself, preventing others from fighting in his own protection, obstinate against help as he usually could be and cryptic in his own confidence as they tried to prevent his own bit of recklessness.

Of course, the village knew where he was, it wasn't like he could slip away all that often, he'd chosen to act as bait to draw them out as much as they could. With his routine, he'd made note that he'd be 'inspecting' the wall by himself this late evening in case anyone needed him. He hoped the info would get out, alone and trapped against a wall, his assailants would have a much easier time killing him outright. Of course, he knew that ANBU would get deployed in the area around him from the elders and others trying his safety but they'd stay out of sight and out of mind for now.

With word of his location so open and the trap set, all Karumo had for now were his thoughts and the scenarios playing out in front of him. It reminded him of that one mission, an old jounin threatening to destroy the wall, blaming the village for all his wrongdoings and well, Karumo couldn't deny it or talk him out of it at all. It ended poorly, left a bad taste in his mouth ever since. This, he hoped, wasn't some case of another grudge held against him personally, someone bent on his death in any way that could be had.

That's what was on his mind, some form of discussion, anything that might prevent some reckless action and unneeded violence, the village had no idea where that left him really but with each crunch of his sandal against the ground another scenario filled his mind and went off in ridiculous tangent and scenario. What made it worse than not knowing who was trying to kill him was not knowing why they were, whether it was a grudge or some contract killing that grew large enough to come after him within his own borders. A gust of wind blew and Karumo's eyes flickered in nervous action, he knew that they wouldn't give him a chance to talk things out, he'd have to be more aware of his situation. He was always awful at dividing his attention and even more atrociously so when his mind was pacing faster than his feet.


[645 words]

Pacing back and forth along the main bedroom of the orphanage, her restless feet would graze against the wooden panels of the floor. Biting down on the soft pale pink flesh of her bottom lip she would tug at it before allowing a small amount to escape leaving her to chew at the right side pausing in front of the large circular window. Her frame would arch forwards placing her  hands onto the frame causing a small layer of dusk that had settled to raise up, dancing in the air around her hands as her head fell forwards mumbling incoherently to herself. Struggling to rid herself of an ominous feeling that had seeped itself into her gut, crawling about her insides to violate her thoughts. She would grit her teeth as her fingers curled a little towards her pale leaving her rather short blunted nails to scrape without impact against the wood, the sound easily curling into the air.

Her head would slowly raise just enough for her miss matched hue's gaze to leek into the outside world taking in the few clouds that scattered along the darkening sky. Evening time. The younger members of the orphanage would be heading up into the room shortly to sleep. Releasing her lip from the grasp of her teeth she would sigh before whispering the words, "Quod quidem quale sit, domine Jashin?" Her accent now, for the first time in such a long time coming into its own as it graced the mother tongue of her childhood. Mere second's after she had uttered words the light sound of padding feet would linger only to draw closer. Feeling a tug on her first from the right side would have her raise her hand from the window cill along with raising her full arm up to peer under the appendage at the smaller child. The child would duck under the arm as it rose to take up the space between her and the window forcing her to take a small step back to give him room. The child would reach up with his free hand to draw his fingers down her face, an action she often did to him and the others  as his other hand remained gripping at her shirt. She would lean down a touch more as  the fingers trail down her face came to an end at her chin enough to briefly place their foreheads together before standing upright fully. The boys grip would loosen to simple prod her in the stomach before pointing at the window as he looked up at her. Her hand would shift to over the prodded area before nodding. She would crouch down giving the child a hug before mumbling "Thank you."  

With that she would grab her black and red trimmed males jacket from the bed, tugging into it as she strode down the stairs just as some of the others were ready to head up. Her eyes would lock with the elder brothers just for a moment, yet the moment were long enough for him to know she needed to head out. He would simply nod, she did however know that she would be expected to explain herself later on. She would slip as quietly as possible out of the front door, Her equipment already in place in their pouches, found strapped to both thighs, the bottom of her back and the back side pouch that rested against her rump, leaving a few senbon within her hair. Hopping a few steps to start off with as she tugged her boots on before sprinting off in the direction of the administration building.

Just a short time later she were passing through the hallways of the administration building, so few people milling about in the evening time made for an easy enough time to get to the Tsuchikage's office. Stepping up to the door her hand would raise as she took a few seconds to poise herself ready to knock on the door only for it to creek open a little further. 'open?' Her brow would crease as she looked at the door. The Tsuchikage didn’t seem like the type to leave his office door open... Her eyes would trail to what could be classed as remnants of an old boot mark, quickly dismissing the mark as she heard movement inside. Place her hand against the door her other hand would shift to Amai unlatching the weapon as she took a step into the room, only to find it empty and darkened by the fading light of the evening. Giving a light sigh her miss matched orbs would search the room much like the first time she had been in before landing on a note on the Tsuchikages desk though it sat scewiff along with a few papers the same, all together seeming both in character for leaving the note yet out of character for the unorganized positioning of things. Reading over the note her gaze would raise to stare out the office window for a moment. Making sure to not touch anything. Had someone been into the Tsuchikage's office? How would the Tsuchikage feel about the state of the office. A short stifled chuckle would cause a short puff of air to leave her lungs through her nose.

Choosing not to waste any more time she would set off once again trekking at a fast pace out of the admin building heading to the Tsuchikage. Like bial, the uneasy feeling that she had suffered through out the day would raise into her throat as she neared the Bastion Adamantine skidding to a halt before it. Twisting on her heels fast enough for the loose strands of hair to whip around in the movement she would head up to its top side.  

Slowly her pace significantly she would scan along seeking out the Tsuchikage for a few moments before finding him, seemingly in a world of his own. Though relief did not find her as she thought it might have to see the Tsuchikage well. After all could she just be paranoid? She would for a moment close her eyes centering herself as she inhaled drawing in the scents around them into the vicinity of her lungs before stepping over leaning into the usual low bow as she spoke, her accent sitting far heavier in the tones of her voice  than usual, "Tsuchikage Sama?"


(Word count:1067.)

Karumo continued his walk, his inspection of the wall or whatever facade he'd built up around his trip was certainly not being well portrayed at all. His attention had been more focused internally, on the buildings and street around him rather than on the wall itself, and never on the path directly in front of him, leaving him walking a bit aimlessly in his own tracks. His own mental writhing was keeping far more blocked out of his perception than he'd probably care for, walking another few blocks before something came into view, a few people loitering about in an alleyway. Kids really, probably up to no good but nothing that Karumo couldn't handle. A menacing glance and flare up of his own internal energy brought a glaze over them, but his pace held as he walked forwards without missing a stride. Maybe the three boys that lingered there would get his quick message, he didn't think they were his true assassins, couldn't be.

Toji and Saruri though, they were only a few blocks ahead, crouched down and waiting on a  third floor balcony behind a solid wall. Keeping their view and vision loosely and the path ahead, it'd been quiet all night, just waiting for their target to approach near them. They'd both stayed mostly quiet, knowing their target and goal, Toji pushed the memo, the scenarios the ideas, they'd trained to strike quickly and without hesitation. Saruri was so young though, he held such little personal interest in all of this, as he sat crouched down with his puppet he held a fearful gaze as Toji sat in meditation and watchful eye.

Karumo's walk continued, he was 4 or 5 blocks away them, the anticipation growing among the pair as he continued to get closer but they couldn't attack too soon, they needed the most opportune moment possible. Toji fidgeted with his bow in hand, several arrows drawn, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. He watched carefully, nervously for what may be his only chance at the Tsuchikage.

However, Karumo's walk was ended, somewhere between 2 and 3 blocks away, his step was interrupted as a person approached him. Familiar face from Taeru, just a kid from the distance that Toji and Saruri sat at, Karumo was still facing them but unknowingly at the same time. The words rang out to Karumo, he paused and sighed a bit at her presence, his hands left his pockets as his attention turned fully towards her, his eyes moving to make eye contact though part of him felt like that might be a futile effort still. It couldn't be her, could it? He focused on her demeanor, no... he was just being paranoid. It wasn't his student that had come to kill him, at least, he hoped not. So far she didn't seem... well maybe a bit nervous but all that concerned or anything of the sort. Her eyes didn't show it, and that was the biggest concern for him. The right hand that was lingering lazily over his kunai pouch in case he needed to grab it quickly relaxed even further.

Karumo spoke up quickly, his tone was more dull but softer, he hadn't spoken in a while so it rang hoarse, just short of cracking a bit. His tone and demeanor were more concerned but he was a bit more soft spoken all the same, "You shouldn't be here right now..." his eyes were stern and betrayed his demeanor and tone. "I'm probably dying soon, so you should get away and stay far from here, while you still can." he spoke softly into a sigh and shook his head, letting his hands fall back into his pockets as he glanced at her and continued to look around her, past her at the buildings and area around them.


[658 words, 1303 words total]

Raising from the bow slowly as the Tsuchikage draw a tad closer her miss matched hues would focus on his hand as it shifted towards his Kuni pouch... something was wrong... very wrong. Her right foot would, out of natural reaction graze back along the surface of the ground, a stance more fitting to defend from before realizing her own movements. 'Does he really see me as a threat?' Her body would snap back into a rigid position, like a soldier on parade would for their superior, tense yet ready to accept what fate were placed before her.

Her gaze would rest on the Tsuchikage's lips  as her hands itched to move. What was going on? The burning sensation would flare up in her throat like fire tearing her apart inside, bearly settling as his hands returned to his pockets as he spoke. 'I know I shouldn’t be here right now, I should be preparing for be...' Her thought trail would snap off as he continued to speak, his words setting the fine hairs on the back of her neck too stand on end. Yet something in her calmed, though this were not in any way a good thing. The calm before the storm often wasn’t. Her wind would blank and her expression would crack a little as she bit back a comment attempting not to snort at the Tsuchikage's cryptic state, only for the odd giddy notion to set into her voice as she spoke, the sound giving an odd chime to her usually dull voice, making her sound a tad more feminine than usual "hn, were supposed to be a squad aren't we Tsuchikage Sama? If your life is in danger I'd rather face that very danger with you than just run away. It's not my own fate I fear. " her own cryptic moment setting up in unintended reaction to his own. She would step a little closer taking the opportunity to inhale to her lungs capacity to draw in his scent, seeking out the conformation of him being the Tsuchikage, before drawing her miss matched gaze around taking up watch in the opposite direction to the Tsuchikage, though would continue to speak making sure it were not obvious from a far that she were observing as close as she possibly could given the situation.

"Aren't squats supposed to take care of each other and back each other up?" Using her right elbow she would tuck against the open jacket forcing it to ruffle as it sunk back placing her right hand into her pocket yet only to her knuckles, her position prime and ready to withdraw Tatsu that remained hidden at the base of her back as her left hand opted to hook her thumb in the loop of her pocket again giving her a good position to reach for Amai that remained a short distance from her fingertips, strapped to her left thigh. Weather something would happen or not, it were better to be safe than to be sorry. Her cold miss match orbs would survey the area as she waited.


(Word count:516.)
(Total work count:1583.)

Taeru obviously saw his concern, his lingering hand, she straightened out quickly, it made Karumo wonder after the fact on if he was falling apart and losing it. If his mental status were compromising his physical awareness, perhaps... he began the mental preparation to reign himself in, in any case. If his genin pupil were catching those small lapses then he would really be in trouble against any capable would-be-assassins lurking around them. As he made his comments, urging her to leave it seemed to have the complete opposite affect in the end. Making some feel good speech about the squad and not fearing her own fate. Karumo would be impressed normally but part of him was overridden with past guilt and concern, at his own failures and inadequacies. He'd be damned if he subjected his own student to the failure that could ensue or letting her get caught up in the protection of his own life. Just like the rest, the ANBU captains, the elders, everyone.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply, hoping to display some audible annoyance with her decision and action, as she asked about the squad again. She was already on lookout, covering the area behind them, he could tell that much from the movement in her eyes. Part of him wanted to blurt out and ask what she was doing, but he held his tongue and instead continued on with labored breath, not really taking a breath before speaking, "Listen Taeru, you shouldn't be here, this isn't a game or some simple mission..." he tried to drill the point forward as his eye flickered up and to the right to the building ahead of them.

Two blocks away from Toji and Saruri's position, he'd stood up and was aiming his bow intently, the standing motion caught Karumo's eye. His face filling with concern as he watched the bow draw deeper and release in the interval it took him to realize what was going on. The trajectory mapped out, he knew it was low, it might hit Taeru with her back turned? Not allowed, Karumo would reach out with his left hand and grab her right shoulder if he could, pulling her away and to his left, hurriedly but not with enough force to throw her down. Instead, he'd sink into that position and be met with a bow piercing deep into the flesh of his right shoulder, two inches from his armpit and an inch below the ball, clipping into part of that pectoral muscle.

Karumo didn't wince though, the arrow was nothing though it looked like it sunk in pretty deeply, he ignored it, hopefully now in front of Taeru, he would rotate his feet and spin. This time, he'd reach around Taeru with his left shoulder and essentially tackle her, carrying her quickly out of the street and away from the wall into a nearby alleyway before coming to a stop some fifteen feet or so in, assuming everything went to plan up until that point and she didn't try to fight it.

It was a quick exchange, with her back turned she wouldn't get much reference for what was going on but what would be obvious was the arrow sunken nearly two inches into Karumo's chest, the blood beginning to flow downwards from it. "You, are staying here." he gave sternly, accenting the word 'you' heavily so that should would understand his point.

Toji and Saruri jumped down to the street level, Saruri using his puppet and Toji having three arrows in his hand and set at the bow ready to be drawn and fired away. They were prepared to give chase to the animal they'd just wounded, ready to track him any distance needed in order to secure their kill.

Karumo knew this, knew that he'd have a very brief moment from his fleeing to convince Taeru to leave and to begin his own counter to their attack. Taking the arrow in his left hand, he didn't pull on it, but instead grabbed it a few inches from his body and crushed it in his hand, breaking off the end that was hanging out and leaving the tip stuck in him for now. Lots of blood, thankfully he couldn't feel it, otherwise that was sure to be a very painful blow to take at random.


[742 words, 2045 words total]

As he spoke her lips would part to reply her sentence barely even formed in her mind as she caught sight of his gaze flickering away, above and slightly off to her right side causing her own miss matched hues to shift off a preparation to turn, ready to fight enough for her hand to shift its position from her pocket to tatsu causing her shoulder blade to stick out only giving more grasp as the Tsuchikage's left hand grasped at her shoulder, knowing resisting wouldn’t at all do, he were far far stronger and she knew it, she would instead bail in with the movement, tilting her head just before being able to duck into the shift itself. As her head tilted the arrow would whip past to dig itself deep into the Tsuchikage's shoulder, as though her gaze had followed the arrow itself, blood. The flesh of her cheek would split  only just an inch beneath her striking yellow orb almost fully erasing the little painted red dots. The blood would bubble to the surface before spilling in thin streaks down her cheek, flowing enough to drip down from her jawline.  

'He's hurt.' Her mind having just enough time to repeat itself as her body had already begun to act shifting the position of her feet allowing her right hand to grasp at his belt almost as though she were to run with the intent of taking him with her, though their thought trails seemed to line up just enough as her movement's met with his own tackle leading to the action she had aimed for, removing a tad of the edge in the connection, though still feeling it. Once they were out of the way and the Tsuchikage had released her she would resist the urge to rub at her chest, inhaling deeply through her nose to ease the tight sensation in her chest from the connection. Her head would tilt back to look up at the Tsuchikage. There's no way I'm leaving him to fight two alone and injured.' Her miss matched gaze would flicker to the wound watching him crush the protruding part of the arrow embedded within him. Her mind would flicker through different positions before settling with what she would do, knowing there wasn’t time to argue this out, she would join with or without his permission but she wouldn’t give up the Tsuchikage's chance to retaliate. The blood that had trickled down her almost porcelain features seemed to oddly suit her as she bowed her head to speak "Yes Tsuchikage Sama."  her head would lift allowing her orbs to tarts off to the side watching out for the enemy, such exchange taking barely a few seconds, but when It comes to life, all's it took sometimes were a few seconds, this she knew.



(Word count:471)
(Total word count:2054.)

Karumo nodded to her reply, she seemed to have gotten the picture about it, but... a shift from just a moment ago? He'd have to be careful and give her a moment to get away, buy a little bit of time so they couldn't follow, his head and body turned to face the entrance of the alley way that they were in as he rolled his shoulder, or at least tried to. His range of motion was limited a bit, and the further he pushed it, the more blood began to pour, probably from him shifting the arrow head around. He needed to avoid moving that shoulder as much as possible.

Toji and Saruri began to run after them, Toji had his sword drawn and in hand while Saruri dragged his puppet via strings and floating behind them. A few feet and to the left from the entrance of the alley way, Toji held his arm out and hit Saruri in the chest to bring them to a sudden stop. "Puppet first." he spoke lowly, so that no one could hear him really. Saruri nodded in response and raised his hands while jumping back a touch so he'd have a better angle, letting the puppet fly forward and place itself right at the edge of the alleyway. Saruri jumped again to get behind it and watch the scene within, so he could see and control his puppet with precision.

Karumo blinked as he saw the floating humanoid, the sun dawning and it's features were fading against the shade it cast on itself. The puppet raised it's right arm straight up, the hand lifting up and a small nozzle extending out, but to Karumo he only saw the hand flip upwards. Next came a small spark, bright orange and red started small and began to grow rapidly from its hand. Karumo put together a few handsigns quickly and then quickly pressed his hands to the ground, moving as fast as he possibly could, what would form in front of him was a wall of a darkened red color, made of pure chakra to act as a barrier for them.

The flames from the puppet's flamethrower would crash against it for a time, crackling and burning against the chakra but his barrier would hold for the moment, turning his head back towards Taeru he would speak up with gritted teeth and his palms still on the ground, "Now is where you run!" he would say, turning his head back towards the ground as the flames would continue on for another second or so.

Toji stayed perched against the wall and out of the way, his sword in hand still as he waited for a chance to really move in after his prize.

Once the flames would subside, Karumo would look up as they lingered away the puppet and... a child behind it? He looked young, but not as young as Taeru all the same. Lifting his hands up and letting his barrier fade away, he rested back on his heels, waiting for the sound of Taeru to begin to make her exit and run away, not knowing where the one with the bow was at anymore either. His eyes would briefly wander up but snap back down to the puppet, being sure not to let it out of his sight for more than a brief moment, knowing even that much could cause him some problems.

Next he looked on and the puppets mouth dropped open, another projectile, Karumo formed another quick series of signs, Uma, Saru, Tori and inhaled deeply and overlapped his hands over his mouth. Spitting from his mouth a quick stream of dust straight from his mouth at high velocity, covering their view for an instance. Saruri pulled his puppet back and jumped to the side, escaping the high speed stream of dust while Toji leaned away from the alley way, the edge of the wall eroding away under the pressure too. Saruri's puppet didn't escape the stream though, taking a slight bit of damage he would discover after, scratches and immediately wearing out its casing and joints a bit heavily. But he wouldn't discover that until after the jutsu would have passed them by.

Once his jutsu was done, Karumo would grit his teeth and turn around. If Taeru hadn't left, he'd be grabbing her like before and move to run again, aiming to clear the other 30 feet of the alleyway in a burst of speed as quickly as he could turning right and stopping another 15 or 20 feet from the alleyway they were just in. On the chance that Taeru stayed he'd be more stern, "I wasn't joking about leaving..." he'd breath a bit heavily and turn back towards the alleyway to wait for his attackers, wondering if they'd pursue him any further or if they'd hesitate.

Toji and Saruri stood there in the wake of the Dust Cloud jutsu, with a sigh and shake of his head, Toji would point up to the rooftop, motioning to Saruri as well. "Let's go, we'll try to catch them off guard." he finished as they both began their climb upwards to the rooftops where they'd then begin to search for the two of them.


[896 words, 2941 words total]
[255/300 Chakra]

Jutsu Used:

The scent of the Tsuchikage would thicken in the air as more blood oozed up to gush from his fresh wound as he shifted his arm causing her to grit her teeth. An odd prickly sensation would spread along her spine like venom as anger brimmed towards the surface briefly. Her head would raise taking a silent step off to the left of the Tsuchikage and a little closer to the wall on the opposite as to where the two had stopped to allow the puppet out first. Her miss matched hues would lock onto the puppet and then shift to the boy that hopped out behind taking what details she could from the both of them as she Tsuchikage shifted into action raising up a barrier in time to protect against the fiery attack of the lad, This one, this boy wasn’t the initial offender but an accomplice to the crime and now with the audacity to attack the Tsuchikage. She would feel her chakra crawl like the tingle of an infection inside of her. Her miss matched hues would turn to the Tsuchikage as he looked up at her to speak. An ominous sensation would trickle from her as her expression held an unusually stern touch. She would wait to reply once the Tsuchikage made his next move, usually it would be something she would have wanted to see she would however shift just a touch as she spoke,"Agreed." Her voice far sharper than usual and her accent thick cutting the air to ribbons in its wake. Her body would turn just to the side to face the wall furthest away allowing her knees to bend a touch before pushing off, heading straight for the wall as she focused her chakra to her hands and feet  allowing for a short jump landing against the wall on her hands and giving no time away as she immediately sprinted scaling up along the wall. Her actions to the roof out of sight of the two hiding from the Tsuchikage's attack.  

In her movements she would remove Amai and Tatsu from their sheaths at her thigh and back flicking them down to open them fully. Once atop the roof she would stand at its edge above the two concentrating on the jutsu before them positioning herself closer to their back yet remaining directly above them she would lean her whole form forwards  visible to the Tsuchikage if only he looked up, with a force before stepping to sprint down a short way before pushing off from the wall twisting in the air, as the chakra that had built into her hands surged through her weapons sending a vile olive green crackle of static along each of the weapons. Her legs would tuck to her stomach keeping her ankles together as her legs spread using them to direct her spinning attack in the force of her fall. Attacking from their blind spot her hands would shift rotating her tessen; one of the tessen would come to a short stop closing too as she landed against the ground between the two against her knuckles, her other tessen she would strike upwards and over. The sudden intervention would have the two flich off and away from that which descended into their ranks, her attack aimed for the right hand and wrist of Toji her impact like a static pop of electricity would send a damaging pulse into the lads hand, the pressure fracturing the knuckles and thin bones within the hand itself, the weapon itself causing a small slice bearly an inch deep that started at Toji's knuckle of his little finger to the bone of his wrist. She would follow through with her movement drawing her to close the exposure of her chest that she had created, her justu in tatsu now extinguished as she struck over and down to create a mere surface wound of half an inch deep from Saruri's wris downwards by around four inches as his arm rose to protect himself in the flinch before stumbling back. The momentum of the movement forcing her right back up and onto her feet just in time to take a harsh elbow to the ribs from Toji the movement followed by the slicing sensation enough for the flesh to split under the blade of his sword, a vicious retaliation yet his grip only ensured the bones within his hand would crack that bit further causing his hand to twitch losing the grip. Her left arm would immediately close to her ribs feeling the blood begin to trickle down her side as Toji's free hand gripped at his own wrist moving to face just back against the wall now facing her fully as he took in the surprise of what had happened. Amai would remain close to her still gripped by her left hand holding the very same vile green cracked running along its surface. Taking in a quick analysis of Taji her eyes would narrow. He were the asalent that had wounded the Tsuchukage from afar, she also knew that he were stronger than herself.  A low almost due toned growl would form in her throat though gritted teeth as she shifted positions to be able to take in a view of both of Toji and Saruri not wanting to underestimate them nor get caught off guard by the two; her feet would spread to a shoulder which apart so that her sides faced the two and she faced where she would be able to note if the Tsuchikage came from the entrance of the alley giving him a chance to either reposition himself better or attack knowing he wouldn’t flee, as she held their attention. She would lower into a crouch shifting her arms to that Amai and her jutsu fanned out ready at her back as Tatsu took up position in front of her. As she spoke her chakra would begin to ooze from her, yet not yet fully roused "You will both regret your actions this day" Her voice and tone would take on a vicious, strict venom dripping tone as her accent thickened, almost threatening to spill forth her mother tongue.  



(Word count:1033.)
(Total word count:3087.)

---

Chakra: 165/200:

Karumo listened as she agreed then began to run off, heading for the wall to their right and scaling up it. Karumo thought it through on the spot, probably a safe move, the buildings only about five stories in height so not excessively tall but enough, then he thought about the boy, if she weren't discrete enough she might get seen going up the rooftop by him. That wouldn't lend well to her escape, so Karumo's jutsu launched forward and sent the boy and his puppet back to the right, out of view from where Karumo would have been as he stayed in the alleyway and prepared his retreat back and to the left from where he exited.

Once he was out of the alleyway, he looked up and channeled chakra to his feet as he jumped up to the wall of the building and began to traverse it's edge vertically. At the top he jumped up, part of him hoping to find Taeru on the rooftop and out of the way and another part of him hoped to find her off in the distance getting away from the scene. But when he arrived to the rooftop, he found neither scenario to be true, his mind ran through, perhaps she'd jumped back down and cleared the scene. She seemed adamant enough about listening to him anyways, he had no reason to suspect otherwise and the bigger problem was the disappearance of his two assailants in the same breath. He glanced around the area and crouched down, walking as quietly as he could back to the corner from which they were hidden immediately.

Some small shock came across his face as the scene unfolded before him, Taeru was down there among the two and the puppet, wall of the building behind her and the other two had spread out to surround her using the puppet as well. He gritted his teeth and pressed his hand to the edge of the wall as he prepared to vault himself over and jump down to assist.

Toji and Saruri had their plan though, Saruri held his hand up and twitched a finger, letting a blade protrude a distance out from the puppets left wrist while Toji held his sword forward with a single hand. Karumo hadn't looked for the details in his hurt wrist but instead planned to cement himself directly between Taeru and her assailants as he watched Toji's body flinch, preparing to charge forward and the puppet move forward too. Both aimed for a direct attack with their bladed weapons and aimed to stab directly into her immediately.

Only to further the damage, the puppets open mouth would shoot out a small ball right at Taeru's feet, a single flash bomb to bind and hesitate her movements for a brief moment as Toji shielded his eyes and Karumo began to fall looking right at it. A stupid mistake he'd made and if Taeru weren't more aware, they would both be paying dearly for.


[511 words, 3452 words total]
[250/300 Chakra]

Jutsu Used:

Her sharp unforgiving miss matched gaze would cut from one foe to the other allowing a low growl o follow her words, settling in the pit of her throat causing her chest to sound hollow to any with good enough hearing to catch, its sound almost primal, otherworldly to match the voice she had produced. Watching as they drew their weapons ready a smirk would tear the left corner of her lips up forming almost a grin that seemed out of place on her usually stern or sweeter features as she watched the older lad Toji labour with his hand. She would wait until the last moment as hey drew closer before pushing from her crouched position forcing her frame around a meter backwards from her position just as she left the ground the flack bomb would catch her foot, drawing her gaze towards it only to catch sight of the Tsuchikage descending in a similar fashion as to what she had from the roof. The split second of sigh would be faltered by the flash causing her to turn away just catching her fall, landing on her feet once more only to take a few steps back as her. Her vision damaged but not yet totally useless. The basic outlines of each body and a rare few features she could at least tell the difference, its effect making her bloody coloured orb water.

The position the Tsuchikge were aiming to land within would have him pinned at a much closer proximity to the two than she had been, weather he landed before Toji of behind him. That puppet would be a problem, but more o the user if he were allowed to remain active slinging about the lifeless doll. Shifting the position of her feet she would she would crouch before pushing forwards. Her aim to protect the Tsuchikages back at any and all costs, at the risk even of her own. Were it not her duty to do so?  Would be to shoulder barge into Saruri as he aimed to catch the Tsuchikage in the aftermath of the flash bomb. A rumble would echo from the cavity of her hollow sounding chest with the colliding impact, simply to knock him off course even if it were only by a few steps giving her the chance to stomp downwards at the knee joint of puppet forcing it to a knee. With her action and the quicker recovery of Saruri than she had anticipated, a sharp sting would catch her right hip forcing her to jump back and away accidentally falling into Saruri enough to send them both into a stumble with the collision. He warm wet sensation would slowly soak her hip only giving up more evidence that another wound had been taken. She would have to be more careful if he were to be of any use.

Saruri would back up immediately dragging the puppet straight past her and back as he retreated just a few meters back, seemingly not wanting to lose sight of Toji in the commotion she would take advantage of his absent mind with a clear goal in mind. She would sprint towards him and his puppet out right catching his attention. The puppet would remained in front of him, taking her chance to wind her chakra around her Tessen as she chucked them forwards, both spinning as they hung on thin threads of loose chakra as her fingers slipped to form the hand seal Uma, following with Tatsu then Tori in a quick succession before pushing from the ground as her genjutsu took hold mid way into her jump, his expression visibly distorting into a panic withdrawing another step raising his hands up a touch allowing his fingers to shift in a quick succession to protect himself from the envisionment of her imcoming, sending another flash bomb at a quick rate such catching her directly in he center of her hitai-ate attached to her chest. Retracting the string guiding her weapons back to her hands as the flash caught. Her eyes would blink rapidly knowing roughly where the puppet were as it zeroed in to attack her. Grasping her tessen keeping them closed she would draw them down with the force of her upper body in toe, her previous and jutsu now dispersing as it made a blind connection to the puppet along with her other jutsu free tessen only worsening the impact made. Her feet would draw up as chakra surged to her feet in the movement her aim to take footing on the puppet only for her right hip to protest forcing her foot to land much lower than she had wanted aas pain surged up through her system causing a strangled whimper to hitch in her throat the pain only connecting o that within her ribs labouring her breathing. Regardless for now she could press on, attempting to keep her movement fluid she would allow her body to continue to lean forwards her aim to use the puppet in which she took footing to launch herself towards Saruri, enough to catch him off guard further.


(Word count:856.)
(Total word count:3943.)

---

chakra: 150/200:

Karumo watched in his descent as Taeru jumped back, the flash bomb exploded at her feet as he watched her glance at it, and he himself glanced at it. His eyes reeled as he blinked heavily, the outlines of extreme light caught his vision and lived on in blotches over everything. Blurred out from there he came to the ground in a quick descent away from everything as he lost control, the kunai in his right hand was in reverse grip and he maintained control as he landed and fell to a knee almost immediately under the shock of his own weight meeting the ground. Surprisingly so given how little control he had over the arm, but the kunai stayed and he was fine for the moment, if not overly concerned at what was happening now.

Taeru had turned off and began to engage the puppet master, the swordsmen was still on her own attack as Karumo landed behind him, at the very least, he had to pull the one away that she wasn't focused on. Quickly with his left hand he reached to the pouch behind his back and grabbed two shuriken and threw them forward at the legs of Toji. The shuriken flew forwards as Karumo quickly stood up and found the back of his leg, the first implanting into the back of his thigh and the second into his calf. Painful as Toji fell back and stopped his chase of Taeru to look at Karumo who sat with a hanging arm and kunai in hand.

Toji gritted his teeth and pulled the shuriken out of his leg quickly and turned to face Karumo, a slight limp in his leg... must be hurting. Karumo noted the detail and tossed the kunai into his left hand and held it while slowly moving his right hand into a ready position. The grey armor he had on was now running a bit red across his chest from the wound of the arrow in his shoulder, the end of it still imbedded into him. Toji dashed forward at Karumo who aimed to keep some distance by back peddling across the street and parallel to the building next to them.

His goal in essence was to keep him away from Taeru, the other puppeteer looked young for sure and aside from his puppet, Taeru was a prodigy in her own right and might be able to keep up. But with two against her, she stood no chance in any regard. Not any reasonable chance. So that was his goal, he was running through scenarios in his mind quickly, trying to cut his attention for whatever little it was worth. Toji seemed slow, slower than Karumo that was for sure, as he began to chase him down with sword in hand and held forward. Karumo jumped back and used his weaker right arm to grab more shuriken, two more as he threw them forward, Toji dodged them easily enough but one was able to cut his face, just above his jawline and whizz past him. Karumo's arm was betraying him, slowed and obvious movements, he'd have to keep away from it.

But in Karumo's delay, Toji had closed the gap, using a single downward slash from high above him, Karumo brought his good left arm up and tried to use the kunai to block the swing. Halting the attack for just a moment before the kunai gave way, being separated before the edge of the blade came down and cut into his left forearm. Karumo jumped back again, the padding of his armor had mostly blocked it and saved him from taking any serious damage but at the same time left a solid mark against the plate itself. Karumo dropped the half broken kunai before reaching to his pouch with his right hand and grabbing another, Toji left him no opening to wait though as he continued on with another slash that Karumo stepped away from and a stab that forced Karumo to jump up on the wall next to them.

Planting chakra to his feet and staying there, Karumo stood on the wall a few feet above Toji and swapped the kunai in his hands as Toji jumped and spun his sword in an arc for Karumo's head. The fire in his eyes had grown as Karumo's purple eyes tracked the movement as best he could. The fire was an intense blaze to say the least, he seemed more wild animal than focused killer or trained assassin. Karumo knew in that instance that there was no diplomacy here, nothing he could say, any words he paused to relay would merely put himself at risk of his onslaught.

Toji jumped up and met him on the side of the building, their weight pulling them to the ground but both using chakra to keep them supplanted. Karumo knew better now, to keep his kunai away from the blade, instead waiting for a chance to strike in counter. Karumo's eyes focused, he was now poised and aimed for grace. Letting his feet slide with movement but not leaving the building itself he began to minimize his movements absolutely, every cut near him dodged by mere inches. After several movements and jumps, Toji swinging wildly and Karumo almost doing nothing but toying with him, they'd ended up high on the wall, forty feet... maybe fifty from the ground.

Toji cut down quickly and Karumo moved his chest, leaning away from the cut and dashing in immediately after to close the short distance between them. Using his arms and strained body to grab Toji's sword arm and pull him off balance and off the wall for a brief moment. Quick rotation came about, Karumo unplanted his own feet and brought his knee up to Toji's arm and punished it, his grip failing with the sword as Karumo continued. Two more strikes to Toji's stomach as they began to fall, Toji fighting and pushing off of him, Karumo spun again and moved so that Toji was underneath him despite trying to close the gap.

They were ten feet from the ground, he was watching it but Toji was focused on him and staring wildly up. He wouldn't notice it, when his back hit the ground and Karumo straightened out bringing his legs underneath him. Holding his arms up to condense himself and fall a little faster, he used his right knee to land. A dangerous maneuver but when Toji hit the ground and bounced a bit, already disoriented he would further be crushed under the weight of Karumo's knee. Supplanting the knee right into the center of Toji's chest as he came to the ground, he would absolutely crush him under his leg. The very bone cracking underneath as Karumo dug it in and pushed Toji towards the ground, blood rushed immediately to his mouth as he spit it up. The sword that Karumo had dislodged landed a few feet to their side, sticking into the ground and splitting the road sharply.

Karumo immediately rolled away from Toji, who lay in a bit of a crater under the impact of it all, he was obviously reeling unlike Karumo. His body was slow though, his leg had taken a good bit of strain from landing, too much pressure upon landing even, he took it slowly at first getting up and hobbled his way to standing. The arrow had pulled even more blood out of him in the time, the red stained in lines down to his waist now, still the bleeding hadn't stopped. He was either cutting more into himself or the arrow had cut into something on his body that was far more important than he'd be wanting to think about in that moment.

In the time of their exchange, Karumo hadn't focused on Taeru, but he was looking for her now, wondering where she was and deep concern to how her own fighting was going with that puppeteer.  


[1347 words, 4799 words total]
[245/300 Chakra]
[Supernatural Walking Practice Used Again]

As her hand signs finished Saruri’s vision would fail him in the sense of twisting and distorting his vision of her as she landed against his puppet, her head would tilt down as two sets of horns protruded from her hair curling back like that of a succubus only as streams of ominous green chakra twisted like tendrils from them forcing the corners of her elbows to become pointed like blades, the imagery mimics against her knees as a bone like plate seemed to cover her more squishy area’s like an armour, a barbed tail would curl around to hold in place as the flesh of her cheek split open revealing sharp pointed teeth. The vision that of a beast, a nightmare made real before his very eyes.

Blindly she would launch herself forwards much like the beast of a creature the lad now saw in place of the female, launching her weight down against him forcing him to the ground with her. As his arms flung up before him in an attempt to protect himself the momentary laps of his memory in his panic his puppet would slump down too. A grin would peel up along her lips feeling his hands grip at both her arm and shirt, the lad occupied with trying to avoid the illution of her barbed tail as it stabbed down at him. Her hand would raise up and under to force his arm down pinning it down using her forearm and amai before striking down with Tatsu closed, her aim to damage the hand to the point it wouldn’t be used  to guide the puppet. Her first strike would indeed snap the lad from the genjutsu knowing she would have to move quickly the second strike would follow and then again knowing that by the second the bone within would have taken fractures enough to stunt the movement. Saruri would scream out as the pain surged through his hand violating his wrist and arm with a throbbing sensation. His retaliation would come quickly as he realised she no longer had the appearance of the beast, with her vision still not fully restored she wouldn’t catch sight of his leg coming up, only feeling his foot against her chest before pushing hard, a good hard boot to remove her. Having not been ready for the impact the action would send her right into the back of the puppet forcing it too to land back in a slump on the ground,  sharp pain would rip through her chest causing her to choke on a cough yet she knew she had to move. She would roll a few times over to one side forcing herself into an odd crouch as her hip protested against the action, forcing her arms to resume the position as they had before with Tatsu in front of her and Amai behind, just in time to hair the puppet shift away, merely seeing shapes shift about as her vision slowly returned.

She would squint watching for the movements of both the puppet and its master taking note that his attention seemed to be focused more on the others. Would he really be fool enough to try? Hearing the puppets mouth open she would ready herself tilting her head down before shifting to jump back another meter the flash bomb a hope to blind her so he could make a direct hit with the jutsu that followed, more fire. It had to have come from the puppet as weaving a hand sign with such a damaged hand would have been a feat in itself. A diversion and a hope to catch her off guard. She would push forwards driving Tatsu upwards before spinning it as her own chakra funnelled into it raising toxic green flames along the weapons surface only forcing them to fan out creating a defiant blaze protecting her from the fire that approached, but only just. Whilst for the time being she were protected her gaze would cut over to the Tsuchikages direction, still just barely making out shapes, she would simply hold faith that he were doing just fine. Slowly drawing her attention back she would catch sight of Saruri as he began a sprint to assist Toji. With gritted teeth another wave of chakra would be forced into Tatsu, the action itself flaring up her chakra. The jutsu would raise up an odd green illuminating cracked charcoal like look, rolling her action from the spin she would draw Amai up close to aid in the movement as she drew them upwards activating the jutsu sending a thick smog cloud of burning ash just catching Saruri and blocking the way so that he could not advance without further pain, and at the very least not with any form of haste.

As her chakra flared up it would seem to flow from her more like a toxic overflow than a burning fire like most drawing forth an ominous touch, this were not the colour of healing, not by a long shot, this were that of pestilence infectious and angered. Those few that had the pleasure of seeing chakra would even say the sight of it were that of another world as the chakra itself took form, raising from her back like a secondary torso of a woman, gaunt yet once lavish in beauty, its hair would flow like a river in the chakra of its very being, from its shoulders a mantel of bone arching out before curling upwards a sheet of thick flesh spread between the two bearing the mark and holy sign of Jashin. Its eyes ears and mouth mangled and sewn shut, it would lean closer to her frame enough to draw up from her arms able to grasp around Taeru’s wrist like the shackles it wore, its own collar connecting it to Taeru. Taeru’s body easily resembling a puppet to her own chakra as it rose from her.

As her vision returned she would stride towards Saruri as he continued to try making his way through the burning ash, she would slash downwards with Amai clearing a small section before reaching in to grasp at the lads shirt with her middle and index finger forcefully dragging him back from advancing through the jutsu. He couldn’t be blinded for too long could he? Using Tatsu she would strike as he turned to look at who were there, a mix of shock and hated seeping from him, striking with Tatsu she would clip at a downwards angel the side of his head taking him down to a knee. His puppet would emerge from the cloud of ash with a jump ready to slash downwards, she wouldn’t move from her chosen space, instead her determination to take away the use of his other hand would keep her firm. As the lads working hand twitched to have his puppet strike at her, she would drag her right hand back forcing tatsu to open again as another stream of toxic green flames danced along the surface, she would accept the blade of the puppet cutting down through her jacket and shirt before forcing into flesh cutting deeply enough for more blood to raise up almost immediately soaking her cloths and arm down to her elbow, her hit however would painfully quarterise as she sliced deeply into the lads hand, striking from his wrist, diagonally past the finger, removing the ability of fluid use.

The puppet would slump over them, She would grit her teeth biting back a whimper as the weight landed fully against her fresh would sending her down atop Saruri. Saruri would attempt to crawl backwards away from her as the ash were almost completely clear. Taeru herself would only follow after him her own blood a menace as it soaked into the lads cloths. She would plant herself atop his hips gripping his shirt in her hands pressing the fabric and her tessan into her palms raising him up as she leant down with force to connect a headbutt directly with his nose immediately busting it and watering his eyes. She herself would whimper as pain from her wound surged once again causing her body to naturally flinch back. Having failed to grasp back at her or moving his puppet Saruri would shift under her as she flinched back using the moment to turn onto his stomach his attempts to get away. She would raise with both Amai and Tatsu closed using them both to hit down against his head forcing him to slump down in pain. He would cry out as she dropped Amai opting to take his hair in her hand instead, taking a harsh grip she would force him to look up as she bore her weight down against him. A low growl would raise in her throat as she spoke “Open your eyes and see what happens” both their visions almost back to normal again she would force him to watch the Tsuchikage and Toji towards the end of their fight.

She would attempt to breathe through the pain feeling her body shake she would attempt to account on all of the injuries she had sustained in case more came. She knew she wouldn’t hold out for much longer. She were however dragged from her thoughts as the impact meters in front of them rippled out in a gust drawing her attention back to the fight before her. Her grip on Saruri’s hair would tighten and she flicker her other wrist to open up Tatsu using its span to protect her face from the debris that fluttered about. Her right hand would drop back down after the gust landing against the ground her back would arch as she continued to try breathing through the pain that now ached her body. Her chakra would slowly cease as she saw the Tsuchikage raise and the assailant remain down. The feeling of relief coursed through her. To ensure he would remain down and not try to resume the attack she would flow a steady stream of chakra through her hand in the touch as she grasped his hand implanting the sensation of the wounds he had suffered along with their pain, they would for now both feel this pain. The implanted pain and his own would have the lad whimper trying to remain still as possible as he begun to sob staring out at Toji.


(Word count:1737.)
(Total word count:5680)
(Chakra: 95/200.)

Jutsu:

Karumo finished his bout and looked away from Toji towards the direction where Taeru was, to find that she had subdued her own opponent. Karumo breathed a short sigh of relief as he watched the other boy wince about and whimper in pain, he was curious to just what she had done to him. Karumo began to step away towards her but Toji groaned out, his arm reached to his chest and the pain beyond readily obvious was smeared across his face. "Tsuchikage..." the cragged words grew across his throat, hardly audible as he pressed his diaphragm against his lungs and struggled to breathe and produce anything at all.

Karumo turned and looked down at him, the blood on his uniform was apparent and his fatigue was starting to show with heightened breathing, his shoulders and chest expanding a bit more visibly but Karumo wouldn't even notice as he talked. "Hm?"

"I'll kill you... if you won't-... kill me now, then you'll die!" his words were separated by pained breathing and a rough tone.

Karumo blinked for a moment as he watched the man try to roll to his side, groaning and crying out in agony and clutching across his body to grab his other arm with his good hand. Karumo stopped for a moment, things were quiet as he struggled to get upwards, Karumo raised his left hand, the kunai still in it, looking at the blade as the moonlight glared off of it and sat in the reflection of the steel. For a moment, he pondered on adding another death to his tally, what it was worth, what the cost was... he had it within himself, his mind was wandering around. He just wanted to kill him, it was obvious that no one put him up to it. Too much raw emotion in his drive, he would be a danger to his ninja, he would try it again if he ever recovered. So then it would be better to end this man's life? In a pragmatic sense...

He glanced over to Taeru for a moment to see how she was or would be reacting, if at all. He'd noticed the cut she received and imagined how tired she must be. Just his student after all, not hardly with the stamina or chakra that Karumo himself had. He stepped in the path, as Toji groveled his way upwards to his feet, pushing off his knee, the blood was apparent as it drew from his mouth and he coughed it up forwards in a labored pool. Karumo stepped so that he would block the path, the direction of Taeru's line of sight, he didn't know why but a killing in cold blood... it might be too much for a child to hold on to.

"Fine then..." Karumo drew his arm back across himself and stepped forwards.

"Tsuchikag--" his word was cut off as Karumo stepped towards him. Toji leaned forward, as if he were using all his energy to make one last jump at him, unarmed and without a goal, just hoping to make it to Karumo in his step, but he was cut short. The flash of Karumo's arm and the kunai reflecting off the moonlight again in the arc of his swing, it was over as the blade cut across his neck and ended his chance to say anything, ended his life, and his final goal of killing Karumo.

He fell to the ground in a spurt of blood, not dead yet but would be soon enough. Turning back towards Taeru and paying no mind to Toji or Saruri just yet, he'd flicker over to her as quickly as he could and speak up, "You shouldn't have gotten involved, are you alright?" he glanced over her and took in account of her readily obvious injuries and reached out to place a hand to her shoulder. It would only take another moment or two for the ANBU squads that were stalking around him as a precaution to arrive with the commotion they'd caused. He was surprised they hadn't arrived sooner, they must have been getting soft in their tracking skills.

Still, he'd glance down to Saruri and wait to hear how Taeru was before thinking on the subject any further. The task here at hand was over, there was nothing left to do but figure out how to approach Saruri and his own crimes.


[749 words, 5548 words total]
[245/300 Chakra]

Her hand would shift positions from the ground to Saruri’s shoulder just as the boy reared up despite the pain he felt, though her eyes remained planted on Toji just as Saruri’s were. A low rumbled growl would filter into her throat from her chest, a deep, animalistic sound rattling from within. Her chakra would slowly begin to flare up once more forcing her genjutsu to further the pain, doubling it, yet still the boy cried out to Toji even extending one of his damaged hands, a plead for the life, yet not his own but for that of the likes of Toji. Not her growl nor the extra bearing of pain would cease the emotion those rose in the lad as he bore witness along side Taeru as she held him in place, for a moment forgetting her own pains as her sight zeroed in to watch the Tsuchikages actions catching roughly the conversation between the two. Now she would bare witness. Her mind would reach back to their conversation about taking a life and whether or not there were any innocence in the action. Watching simply for his choice in this moment.

Still the Tsuchikage would step to place his back to her shielding the view of what were happening, did he wish to save her from the site? Did he still see her as merely a child? Were she not yet a shinobi in his eyes? If he had seen further back into her past, known her actions as deeply as she did, would he still have stepped up to shield this view from her?

Saruri would shudder as the blood spurted out, sprinkling out along the floor causing the lad to call out again, his sobs a mix of pain both physically and mentally only magnified by the genjutsu as grief wreaked his body, his strength returning for him to press his hands down regardless of the damaged they had suffered against the ground as he shifted to stand even with her partially lent and straddling him. Her right arm would raise as a cold stare into the back of his head consumed her look for that moment as she struck the back of his head with Tatsu closed. The hit harsh yet not harsh enough to deliver a killing blow, one to simply down him once again to the point of bridging unconsciousness.
 
Her gaze for a moment would remain on the twitching body of Toji feeling the body below her tremble, wreaked with grief over pain leaning him a sobbing mess until taking note of the Tuchikage close by even in his state of near unconsciousness he would attempt to peak against the Tsuchikage only to have his face pressed into the dirt as her grip on his hair remained firm. Though her chakra were down to past half she wouldn’t let up her jutsu forcing his pain to up causing him to scream out as the pain began to register once again, now at full strength unless his eyes rolled back, passing out, her jutsu would fade as she spoke up to answer the Tsuchikage, her voice much more like her own again, though her accent seemed just a tad thicker, “I am fine Tsuchikage Sama…” She would look up at him her usually calculating hue of her miss matched orbs holding now relief as she looked up at him taking in his wounds before speaking again, “Your wounded.” Her voice held something that could be classed as a hint of innocence yet laboured heavily with concern. Concordant that the lad beneath her were out cold she would raise releasing her grip on his hair to free her hand keeping Tatsu in her other. With her free hand she would shift to raise it towards him before recoiling her hand remembering her place, she would shift to lower into her usual bow, instead shifting to her knees arching her body down to bow, a mix between wanting to show more respect, ask forgiveness and the protest her wounds gave out. “My apologies Tsuchikage Sama.” Remaining in this position she would catch the sound of the ANBU arriving.



(Word count:697.)
(Total word count:6377.)
(Chakra 90/200)
(Imposed touch continued.)

She was alright but went straight to worrying about his own wounds, Karumo glanced down to his shoulder and the blood that had flown down it, some of it drying but the blood around it was still fresh. "It'll be fine..." he spoke up and let that be the end of his commentary for it, not even able to feel it and only concerned with the blood loss if anything. A moment later, Taeru stood up, Saruri had been knocked out, she had beaten him near his own life but Karumo ignored that for now. She bowed and apologized, but it didn't seem like she was regretful of her actions, instead just playing the formality after. Karumo sighed and shook his head, "It's alright, let's just get you to a hospital and get your wound checked."

The ANBU closed in around them, one took at the rooftop and two dropped down to the street level and beside Karumo as they began to speak up, "Lord Tsuchikage, what do-" he began with a slight bow.

Karumo sighed and cut him off, "The boy is still alive, take him into custody and prepare to interrogate him when he wakes... I don't know if you'll find anything useful in his head... probably just resentment..." Karumo muttered under his breath at the end.

"Sir, your wounds?"

"It's fine, I'll escort myself and Taeru to the hospital. I'll leave the clean up and arrest to your squad then?" Karumo glanced over to him and raised a single brow as he awaited a reply. The ANBU would nod and point out motioning down the one from the rooftop and the other that was hiding in the shadows as they would soon begin their work.

When that was done, Karumo would look towards Taeru, "Do you think you'll be alright to make it to the hospital?" he would pose and would look to the cut again, the fatigue on her persona and wait for a response. One way or another, he would get them both checked out, if he had to carry her or not. Leaving the scene to the ANBU and escorting his student away from the scene and to get her cleaned up and not near death as well. It could have been worse, Karumo supposed, since he could have been left alone to face them both. As for Taeru, she played a dangerous game jumping into the mix of two would-be assassins of the Tsuchikage. Luckily, they weren't more skilled like most would be for killing Karumo, they were generally lucky in their outcome.

Karumo would end up having a deep muscle shoulder wound, some bruising, and a few minor cuts to deal with but all in all he would be fine, a bit of rest and a few days for the muscle to stretch out back into form. Part of the miracle of medical ninjutsu, he'd just have to try not to strain himself too badly.


[506 words, 6054 words total]
[Mission Complete]
[Exit Thread]

Training:

She would remain in the knelt bow gritting her teeth at her wounds determined not to make even the smallest of peeps as movement shuffled about them. Listening carefully as the Tsuchikage spoke to the ANBU. Slowly raising with a light sway as she quickly found her footing to look up at the Tsuchikage for a brief moment giving a light nod, drawing her gaze down, “Yes Tsuchikage Sama, I will make it.” Determined not to show weakness her features would harden to her usual state regardless of the shooting surged of pain in her movements now the adrenaline of the action had begun to fade away quickly now.  She would glance back at his shoulder then arm before turning away dipping into a crouch as she neared Saruri, keeping her movements careful as she reached past the ANBU, her movements though clearly strained held a form of elegance as she retrieved Amai from beside the boy making sure not to touch anyone in the process. Almost as though looking through the boy as she did so. Still in her crouch she would return her weapons to their rightful sheaths closing their latches before drawing to her feet again, another slight wobble in her height. She would inhale carefully not quite reaching her lungs capacity as the wound at her ribs throbbed. She would follow just behind the Tsuchikage waiting for little ways before placing her right hand top her ribs to cup over it as she spoke, her accent lacing her words in a thick tone, “Tsuchikage Sama, Riddle me this…” She would pause stealing a glance in his direction taking the opportunity to take a few small breaths, “We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies. We are not to be judged by our size…” She would slowly remove her hand taking a peek at her bloody hand only to cup over it again knowing the blade had nicked right through her bindings “What are we?”


(Word count:335.)
(Total word count:6712.)

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