Mission name: This will not stand.
Mission rank: A-rank.
Objective: Quell an uprising.
Location: Any.
Reward: 1000 ryo + 4EP.
Mission Description: “There are still those who dare to stand against the Raikage’s divine will, and that of his nation. Tear down their blasphemous ideals, and show them the Light.”
Mission Details: Territory under Kumo’s control is experiencing attacks which have escalated into a full-blown rebellion against the Cloud’s presence. Kumo shinobi will attack in numerous squadrons and while the resistance largely consists of B-ranked non-ninja opponents (15-20) led by a single A-ranked shinobi with all Wind library techniques, it is not enough to stop the battle, they must be made to know Hastur’s will is supreme. Characters should leave multiple enemies alive, either sending them with a message for their allies, threats, injuries, etc back to the desert where they will make sure all who they meet will carry on the story of the Raikage’s might.

Mission is invite only

Verdandi had been once again, sent onto another diplomatic mission. Considering the way, the Kiri administration often spoke of Kumo, especially their glorious leader, Verd wasn't really sure what to think of this nation. She had no real quarrels with them but the only reasonable person she had met from there so far was Mizuki. Not to say that Verdandi was put at ease as she noticed that Mizu had been added to this mission's rooster as well. Trotting on her ever-growing polar bear through the steppe. Dandi would soon arrive at the oasis nearby the Kumo controlled territory. A small village not too far off the base camps. Verd was pretty sure that it was one of those she had liberated from the oppressing bandit clans in her previous Kumo missions… but considering the sheer amount of missions she had been doing out in this god forsaken desert who was to blame her for getting forgetful over little details now?

The oasis was calm and small. The water pond was tiny as well and it was evident, that it would be hard to take a bath in it and drink from the filtered source. Hence both her and her bear pet ended up just drinking their way into the water resources before they would lean back against the next best shadowy spot and relax. Supposedly the village nearby has been under continuous pressure and attack by the rebels. It was stated that numerous people had been slaughtered as the suna forces reclaimed their former territory and replaced their own people into the ranks of power. Many of the locals re-joined their former brethren but certain was, the bandits weren't kind to the civilians. Weren't before and wouldn't be in future. They tortured the population and treated them worse than cattle. If it wasn't for that, Verd might have had little motivation to help with this project. But since she somehow had been involved with them before, it'd seem like abandoning those people to the slaughter house by refusing to help them.

Verdandi's problem naturally didn't rise from Kumo as a nation, but rather from the insanity of its leader. The nation itself might be quite fine if the madman would someday find himself replaced with a proper, more humane entity. But these kinds of politics weren't really her thing to begin with. As for now, they would concentrate on doing their job and liberate the civilians while bringing judgement to those she deemed evil and without honour. Mizuki would certainly know well how to judge either of them, while supposedly the third member of their party would deal as… muscle mass? Verd didn't really understood why they had been so secretive about it. Seeing as all of them were supposed to be a team, the ice princess was not really given full disclosure over the project.

Verd wasn't sure what Kumo would accomplish from this crossover diplomacy of nations. Aside from getting other village-nin's to do their jobs for them. Not that they really needed the extra men power, considering the size of their army camps, they should have plenty of specialists to clean up this 'mess' pretty quickly. But there was talk, that these specialists usually did their jobs a bit too… motivated. Not rarely levelling the whole surrounding area in such ways that there was little left to reign over. The prospect that Verdandi was potentially hired for being… weak enough in both strength and moral standards… from their point of view at least… it was annoying her more than it should. After all, despite knowing well that she wasn't without flaws, she considered herself to have become some sort of useful by now?

Setting all the contemplation aside. Verd could feel that something or someone was approaching her. Unsure what or whom it might be she braced herself. Keeping her palm on her sword, standing back up from her little shadowy spot beneath the trees, seeing Avalanche raise along with her. Petting him on his head softly to calm him. Her free hand sliding into her pocket to slowly lift the papers of her mission request hence forth. While Mizuki was familiar with Verdandi's face, the third person involved probably didn't. If it came to her being forced to properly identify herself she didn't want to be caught stumbling or dropping the papers she needed as proof. Of course, to her own annoyance. The missions briefing that confirmed Verdandi's partake in this, couldn't but mention that she did it for the good of their glorious leader.


780

Guard duty, old familiar friend. No matter how boring most shinobi found this duty to be, being assigned to such a watchful position was bound to raise a smile on the kunoichi's face. Even knowing that there was a catch to it, the kunoichi's mood didn't falter when confronted by the information that this area had been enduring several assaults of rebels trying to undermine Kumogakure's influence. No, she had always found guard duty to hold some sort of peace of mind. A noble duty that could make the difference between life and death of everyone standing behind the walls that needed a watchful eye. Perhaps that sort of responsibility pressed harder on Mizuki's shoulder, called louder to her than to most others. She considered it an important task despite its general dull nature.

So fully armed and armoured, she would now be patrolling Kumogakure's claimed territory. Zhinu, who had grown dramatically lately, flew high in the sky. The extra pair of eyes of a hawk a welcome addition to the blue-green ones of the woman. The grey hawk's shadow would pass time and time again over Mizuki's new position as she walked around the perimeter, until it suddenly let out a piercing cry in warning. Instantly resting her hand on her katana, and allowing her eyes to scan the environment, a Kumo-nin hailed her and panted heavily as he delivered a note.

"Message from Admin.", he'd say between his breathes. "Rebels have been spotted. They're gathering quite a large force to strike us."

She'd nod and read through the scroll, blinking a few times when she caught up on the actual amount. A frown of worry would cross her face as even a well-trained special jounin like her was not keen on dealing with the 'rough estimation' of the numbers she was now reading. Even if she wasn't on her own, a small two dozen of invaders with skill estimated around her own was not something she could deal with by herself.

"Admin's looking for reinforcements. I got two names, not sure if more will be send. It's ah... wait.. uhm... Daremo and ah... some Kiri-nin. Not sure why we'd need a Kiri-nin but..."
"The name, please?"
"Oh, Yuki Verdandi, yeah."

As he revealed the name, she'd shoot the genin before her a three second stare which would sufficiently unnerve him to start feeling nervous.

"Did... Did I do something wrong?"
"No, but as a word of advice, mind your attitude. Speaking lowly of others is bound to bring you at blade's end sooner than a friendly demeanour."
"Ah... Y-yes, ma'am."
"Thank you for your message. Take care on the road back, alright?"

He'd flicker away and leave Mizuki alone with her thoughts. If Daremo was to join the defence against this invasion... She already felt sorry for these men. He was of a higher rank, his necrosis not something to be disregarded so easily. Just the thought of having to deal with something so vile made her feel glad he would be at her side today. As for her student, it had been a while since she had seen Verdandi. The war-state in Sunagakure took up a whole lot of time and communication ran red hot for all but personal relations. Being sent to all places was good to build up relations and subtly pick up the advances of the other Nations but it had the downside of never being able to meet up with someone of real value. This would change today, it seemed. The coordinates of the meeting point were not too far off, meaning Verdandi would already be at Kumogakure's perimeter.

"Zhinu, find the polar bear"

An annoyed screech would be the reply received, Mizuki spotting the stinkeye she was given by her bird as it remembered their first meeting. Even if the bear had not done any harm, 'her majesty the hawk' was slighted still by the disturbance of her peace. Still, the bird would flap its mighty wings and fly off to find into the direction Mizuki had pointed. The bird would herald the arrival of Kumogakure's diplomat, who arrived shortly after it had made its presence known with another piercing cry. Now the only one left to gather was Daremo.

"A pleasure to see you again, Verdandi-san. Your support is an unexpected but welcome addition."

---

752

Thin wisps of medical chakra tampered off as Daremo canceled the technique that had successfully closed the deep stab wound on the kunoichi's stomach. The energy being potent enough that there would not be any scar tissues or evidence there was even a wound in the first place - leaving her tan skin blemish free. “Now to wake her up.”, He spoke, touching the woman’s forehead with his right gloved hand. Watching as her eyes fluttered open, a nurse moving to help the woman sit up from her laid down position. “You are a very lucky woman.”, At the sound of his voice, the woman focused her attention on him, “The blade came centimeters from piercing your kidney, and releasing those toxins into your bloodstream. If that had happened, the situation would have been worse than it was.” There was no use in sugarcoating the truth from her. The woman, if he remembered correctly, was a Special Jounin, therefore, he was certain the news would not affect her much. “At least I am survived”, Sure enough, the woman’s words were one he would expect from someone of her status, “When can I get back on active duty?”

Pulling off the latex gloves, Daremo did not pause in the action, having already expected the question, “While the wound was healed, the generated flesh will be tender. If you think you can handle the discomfort than you can return to duty whenever you want. The commanding station has already been informed of your injury, therefore, if you need rest, take it.” Receiving a nod from the woman, he exited out of the tent. His assistance was no longer needed. The nurses were capable enough to handle anything else dealing with the woman. They were a competent bunch which says a lot considering his own standards.

Stepping out of the medical tent, Daremo stretched, eyes looking at the number of different tents scattered about. There being numerous of shinobi moving around the base, entering and exiting various tents, and leaving the perimeter of the base. They moved with clockwork and a precision expected from a military base. While he might have disliked the Raikage, loathing him for his self-proclamation of being a divinity, he can respect what the man did for Kumo’s military might. He did well in strengthening Kumo’s dwindling strength and giving it a sense of direction. While he can respect the man for him strengthening the military, the same can’t be said with how he dealing with the other nations.

His musing would come to a halt as a Kumo-nin with a scroll in hand, ran up to him, “Message from the Admin.”, the parcel being handed off to him. “Thank you.”, He watched the unknown Kumo-nin run back to one of the larger tents, probably to tell them that the message was delivered. Unraveling the scroll, he looked over the contents. Scouts had spotted rebels, the same group that had been striking against them on the outer fringes, have begun amassing in larger numbers, the word is that they were planning an attack against the base. He wonders if the conclusion was a logical one or one gained from capturing a rebel? No matter, it seemed his presence would be needed in this mission, something about the Raikage wanting to leave a statement. It was only further down the scroll that the reason for him joining the mission would be found.  ”If there is one way to put fear in the others, it is to have their comrades return back clinging to death to tell the horrors of what they witness.”, Daremo agreed with his animal counterpart. What was being asked would surely do the trick. Unfortunately for those who are opposing him, the silver-haired male was well versed in keeping people alive, he is a doctor after all.

Finishing reading the scroll, seeing that he would be partner up with Mizuki, someone who he was familiar with and genuine enjoyed working with, and a Kiri-nin named Yuki Verdandi. The name was not of familiarity to him, but he had no problem working with those from other villages. Making his way to his tent, Daremo quickly changed out of his clothing, dressing in his typical kimono attire; light grey kosode, black hakama held together with a white slash, black Jita-tabi. His hair was put up into a bun with two silver tipped senbon holding it in place. With his headband secured around his forehead, Daremo exited the tent.

Another glance at the scroll, remember the coordinates, which was not that far from here, he took off in the direction. The scroll did mention that the Kiri-nin was unique because she had a pet that would stand out considering where they were. It did not take him long to spot Mizuki and a Kiri-nin with a polar bear? That was an unusual pet indeed. Nevertheless, Daremo walked up towards group, his yellow, reptilian eyes focusing on the Kiri-nin, “Yuki Verdandi?”, He asked, wanting to make sure she the who would be joining on this mission. He already assumed such considering Mizuki was there as well, but, he wanted to make sure. Once confirmation was made, he spoke once more, “Kobayashi, Daremo. Jounin, and medic.” After introducing himself, he turned his attention to Mizuki with a smile, “It is good seeing you again.” When pleasantries were done, he spoke, “How do you want to handle this mission?”, wanting to know what the plan was for dealing with the rebels. He had his own ideas, but, he would let them lead, only offering advice when necessary.

---

948

Zhinu would be the first to appear at the checkpoint meeting. Verd could rest assured that Mizuki wasn't far off seeing her proud burd appear on the scene. As expected, the creature not unlike Avalanche had grown in size. The bear however, while proportionally similar, was a huge monstrosity in comparison. When Zhinu was ready to give him some attitude, Ava would roar at the bird in question leaving him baffled for a minute. The two certainly wouldn't be best buddies in near future. But Ava made his point clear this time. Verd giggled. Holding onto her bear to make sure the birds revenge wouldn't come down on him just yet. Seeing the size of its wings and beak, a pet fight would still be a bad idea for either of the two. Zhinu disappeared for another moment, only to return with Mizuki, leading the Kumo-nin straight to Verdandi's place. Despite his arrogance, Zhinu certainly was a useful pet to have around. Verd would, not unlike last time, bow to her sensei despite the fact that their rankings have come closer to each other. Verd wasn't one to get stuck up on titles when she clearly knew the difference between her blade skills and those of Mizuki. "Senpai, it is a pleasure to see you again. I look forward to draw my blade side by side with you this time. Hopefully, I will not disappoint as much." She would speak in her usual over politeness. Something that often came to annoy people around her. But her royal standards still required it of her.

They would end up exchanging a multitude of pleasantries. Even more so as the next addition to the team arrived. Verd's cheeks slightly flushed red at his appearance. He was adorned by light clothes that clearly, despite hiding a lot, underlining the pleasing figure beneath. Verd had to admit, she rarely had met shinobi of more adult age. Her references being her father, uncle, auntie Mizukage, Nayoko and people like Takao. Whilst Aya and Nayo were more the type of person that would drive Verdandi passive due to their somewhat intimidating presence, Takao was more the kind that just couldn't help but being an eternal brat, which made him as lovable as much as she couldn't take him all too serious most of the time. Mizu would eventually take note of Verdandi's flustered reaction, which would leave the ice princess to blush only harder. The man's name however, sounded familiar. Eventually he was involved with cousin strafe? She would scratch her head, having lost sight of whom was how related to each other these days. The almost incestuous depths upon which strong, especially bloodline related genes came across, was a bit confusing even from someone as her, whom as well was of a double-sided breed between Dao's and Yuki's. Verd's contemplation had taken her a bit far off the path. However, it calmed down her flushed reaction so she could ultimately and finally welcome Daremo.

"Kobayashi-san, it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope to be of some use for both of you today." She would add regardless. Further pleasantries exchanged. Maybe some teasing's from Mizu about Verd's initial reaction but the lot of them had a job to do and so they would quickly move out after all. The forward camp that seemed to experience the latest attack was not far from here, hence the choice of this meeting spot. Zhinu would most likely go ahead to scout the situation from above. Signalling the lot of them once the target in question was confirmed. The forward camp itself was located at the border of a sunaan village. The Kumo soldiers must have occupied the village for many weeks considering the flags and various symbols of Hastur already clinging like common tapestry to a lot of the sand people's buildings. It could however also be seen that villagers, civilians, militiamen and otherwise unhappy locals were revolting. Hasturs flags would be lit on fire. The lower ranked kumo soldiers chased from the village walls back to the forward camp. A larger group of heavily armed suna soldiers now standing at the front gates of their village. The gates closed behind them. Showing that the Kumo presence was no longer welcome. Helmets and other weaponry and clothing of slaughtered Kumo soldiers would be dropped along the walls to show off a sign that these sunaan wanted their oppressors gone for good. While Verd could empathize with their wish for freedom. They way they treated their invaders was equally cruel.

Some of the weak kumo soldiers had been caught alive. Pinned to wooden crosses. With rope or chains. Left to rot in the undying sun of the desert. It was their way to stir up the anger within the Kumo camp. Those silly young soldiers who ought to become heroes running to rescue their men, would be either shot down by the B-Ranked archers of the frontline fighters. Or welcomed within their skilled blade to adorn the already plentiful piles of corpses with another addition. Their leader, a large monster of a man, wielding a huge halberd-like weapon. His muscles adorning his arms and upper body. Whilst his legs gave away that he must have skipped a few training sessions for them. However, odd shape aside, he gave off a dangerous aura and with a single hiss of his halberd, the two dozen soldiers would start their attack. Expecting only low ranked resistance, the lot of them was on high morale was launching for the kumo forward camp. Timing for Verdandi's makeshift defence squad was on high value. But just as Daremo had asked for. She was sure that Mizuki had a rough plan on how to deal with them. Even if not. Verdandi's Hyouton chakra was slowly pulsing into her veins and good boy Avalanche too was ready to go in there at full burst. A monster his size could certainly knock down quite a few of them if however.


1020 / 1800

"I'm eager to see your improvement.", Mizuki replied to Verdandi. "I'm certain you will not disappoint in your endeavour to reveal your progress."

Not long after, Daremo would arrive at the rendez-vous point, making his introductions. The kunoichi knew him already, meaning his introductions were mostly meant for the guest shinobi in service who, apparently, took quite a liking to the presence of the man. Cheeks flushed, eyes looking like she could devour him on the spot, Mizuki's eyes would sparkle in amusement to her reaction. That sort of reaction was not unlikely to happen when meeting a man like Daremo. He had the charisma of being older, the status of a jounin that told them he was a man who could care for his family and the trained body that would have every girl dreaming. Unfortunately for Verdandi, he also had a special jounin as his wife, and while assumptions couldn't be made from the flirty banter she had perceived before the two of them seemed to keep an eye out on each others flirting. Or the attention they might get.

"Daremo-dono, a pleasure to have you around."

Daremo went straight to business, requesting if they had a plan already to tackle this. What was there to be said? An invasion was about to happen, troops already moving and a base camp destroyed. From the letter she had been given, the report stated the new occupants had destroyed the camp and had put up some of the troops in a horrid sort of trophy to gloat at Kumogakure. The details were gruesome, the request stating a 'retaliation in kind'. Hatred only bred more hatred, however. While the kunoichi would make sure the mission came to a success, using the same sort of brutality was not something she was inclined to do. She killed with compassion for life, not with the desire to twist it.

"The mission is two-fold. The opposition aims to invade another of our bases as we speak, so the first part is to intercept their advance before we retaliate. A Kumogakure base camp near Sunagakure's ruins was destroyed by bandits, who are now mocking the Shinobi Forces by displaying the tortured weaker members. I'd suggest Daremo-dono uses his medical insight to determine if we can still save the lives of these younger members. If not, their lives should be ended mercifully so we can bury them properly later."

Seeing the invasion force in the distance about the same time as Zhinu cried out alarmingly, Mizuki would point at the small group of a handful of bandits. The three of them would more than suffice to deal with the group of B-rank equivalent powers before they'd move on to the larger piece of work that was the overtaken base.

"Let's discuss our retaliation plan after this brief intermezzo but considering the main camp holds the defensive advantage I doubt a subtle approach will be in order."

There was little to hide in or behind with the wide open desert, and to be frankly with Daremo's power at their side perhaps a blatant display of raw power wasn't the worst. Those who would still decide to remain to defy fear itself would make easier targets. It was to be seen what sort of enemies they had to deal with though. Leaving the remainder of their discussion for a later time, Mizuki would run to counter the invading squad expecting the others to follow up. Forming the snake hand seal, she'd wrap her physique in an invisible protective layer of raiton chakra before resting her hand on her trusted katana, ready to strike the first one in melee range. Taking the advantage of range, a couple of hand seals would be formed on the opponents' side, their fuuton nature becoming clear. By sheer force of will, Mizuki would shift her jutsu's nature into that of Storm Release, dodging a first technique just barely as she jumped to the side and enduring two others which would have missed her by doing so. As they crashed against her chakra barrier without little other effect than having sand being thrown up. Closing the last couple of meters with a dash, Seiun would decapitate the arm of the first shinobi before it deftly swung through the air and separated the crying man's head from his chest.

One down, four to go. For now.

---

748
Total: 1500

310/340:

Amusement danced in the reptilian orbs of his at seeing the reaction his presence garnered from the female Kiri-nin. Many shinobi were experts at hiding their attraction for a comrade, or someone from another village, expertly well. Only making the other person aware of said attraction at the opportune time. Attractions had little place in the work field, as, in his opinion, it provided an unneeded distraction that could lead to some less than stellar consequence. Nevertheless, it seemed this particular Kiri-nin did not care about hiding her attraction to him. A rosy pink tinge dusted her cheeks, and her eyes were undressing him without any shame. He could not help but to chuckle at her response. Thankfully, his wife was not here on the mission, he shuddered to think what she would do to Verdandi upon catching them looking at him in such a manner.

“Do not doubt yourself, Verdandi. You are apart of this mission for a reason. The administration trusted you, therefore, they see something special in you.”, He added, hoping his words would give her a small boost of confidence. Her words reminded him of Mizuki. Both of them seemingly hoping to be some used to another. Humble. They both exhibited the trait, and it was nice to see in the young generation. To often had he seen the loud and boisterous end up jeopardizing a mission or returning dead on arrival. Dismissing those thoughts, Daremo turned towards the mission at hand. The time of pleasantries has passed. Now was the time to see what they could do about the problem plaguing Kumo’s bases.

From his own understanding, a group of bandits had been terrorizing various Kumo bases throughout Sunagakure no Sato. The attacks were not random, but followed a pattern of sorts, with many of the places having been hit had been stripped of any weapons, food, and medical supplies. It was apparent the bandits were planning something big, most likely an invasion. An assumption that was proven correct with the latest reports. What he had gathered seem to be only the tip of the proverbial iceberg as Mizuki explained one of their camps have been destroyed. “Displaying weaker shinobi is a fear tactic, an old, but an effective one. It is used to make shinobi lose their composure. One becomes loses rational when they see a comrade being treated in such a manner. No matter what you witness, keep a level head.”, He spoke, looking at them both. He did not want them to lose themselves to anger when seeing a comrade displayed in a morbid manner.

He understood where Mizuki was coming from when she spoke about performing a mercy killing to the comrades that could not be saved. There was no point in letting them needlessly suffer if they were at the end of their life. It would just be better to end their suffering, letting them pass on painlessly. It would be the least thing they could do for them.

Spotting the invasion force in the distance, Daremo’s eyes narrowed, looking at the shinobi who were pinned on crosses like some macabre ornament. Ropes dug in their sunburn flesh, and even from the distance, he could see various signs of torture. Moving away from the displayed men, his eyes fell upon massive Halberd wielding man. A giant of a man. His legs did not exactly match his upper body which gave Daremo some insight into his strength. Though, such insight was nothing more than an educational guess.

“Subtly is not my forte nowadays, as you can attest to”, Daremo spoke, knowing Mizuki would understand the words spoken. Instead of pulling out his senbons, he flew through the tiger, horse, rat, hand signs. Running towards the invasion force, cyan blue chakra covered each one of his hands, just in time to parry the downward kunai strike of his adversary. Screams filled the air as Daremo swiped his off hand across the man’s eyes, slicing them apart. Blood gushed and the man wails were loud as he clutched at his useless eyes. Not being done, Daremo snatched the man’s arm, exposing his wrist, and sliced his vein, leaving being a 2 ½ in cut. More blood painted the sand dunes as he systematically sliced his opponent apart, by the time he ended it, with a wipe across the neck, the end result was gruesome. Both of the man’s wrists were sliced open, squirting blood like a geyser. His nose had been split down the middle, revealing the cartilage. Both of his tendons was severed, and cuts littered his body, and his eyes were gone. The man face looked like it was used as a tic-tac-toe board.

As the man died, Daremo eyes glanced at his companions, making sure they could handle the others, before looking at the man with the halberd. If the man wanted to torture Kumo-nins, then Daremo will return the sentiment, tenfold.

---

831[1779]

395 | 420:

.

Verdandi would cling herself tightly to Avalanches back. Zhinu had reported, Mizuki quickly followed her companions' observations. The Invasion force of around 24 or more would halt for a moment despite the halberd leaders call for charge. The sight of the three odd looking forces interrupting their flow. But the Kumo soldiers would see this as a signal to charge forward instead. Their battle cries echoing into the burning desert. The halberd leader motioning off five of his men to march forth and intercept the incoming weirdos in the distance. Then scream at his men to get back in line and charge for the camp. Soon Kumo soldiers and sunaan berserkers would clash. Their battle taking shape. The oddly shaped leader, moving away from his forces and gazing into the distance. Mizuki was the first to strike. Her speed was quick and searched her equals among the incoming criminals. She attacked the first in range. Her body giving an odd, electrifying feels which Verdandi's short gaze to her made her skin tingle. Daremo moved in as well. The second mercenary would be, one couldn't say it otherwise, mutilated by a series of movements Verdandi could barely see until he was left scarred and useless. Two down. Three to go. Verd knew she didn't specifically had to prove anything but she wanted to. Avalanche charged forward. His huge appearance soon making the three soldiers doubt that moving forward was a bad idea. Seeing their two comrades slaughtered making it worse. Verd squeezed Ava's hips and the bear loudly roared at the enemy.

Striking fear into your opponent. Wasn’t that the lesson they wished to send upon the Kumo forces with their display of cruelty and perverse torture? It seemed ironic to see the same forces running in fear now. Unlucky for them, they didn't turn around earlier. Avalanche charged in at full speed. Jumping forth. Verdandi using the jump to launch herself off. In a single combined motion the bear would strike his paws into the back of the first, while Verdandi somersault rolled down to unsheathe her blade while she was still in twirling motion. The sheer force of her wheel movement giving the sword an extreme additional pressure. Not enough Dandi would activate the mechanical trigger of her Katana. Sending the shark tooth layer to raise from its hidden second shade, replacing the usual cutting edge of Verdandi's weapon. As she pulled her blade through her opponents back, the shark teeth would cut into his fabrics and skin like a saw. Ripping the flesh wide open. When Verdandi's body actually came to a halt, the target beneath her was bleeding horribly. She admitted that the damage output was somewhat uncontrolled but the brute force certainly had its results. Verd had to pressure her leg against the dying body and pull hard to get the saw weapon out of his flesh resulting in another spill of blood from his split open wide wound. Verdandi turned to see how Avalanche had pinned his target. His impact on the guy's back had thrown his head with a massive thud to the ground.

Avalanche bit into his shoulder multiple times. Keeping the guy pinned that obviously had a major concussion from Avalanches heavy weight pressured onto him so suddenly. Each bite of the bear ripping another few inches further into the man's flesh. Until he eventually pulled out a large portion of muscles, nerves and human flesh from his target as if he was about to eat him. The bleeding would do the rest for this one. The last enemy turning around. Facing Verdandi, his face struck with fear and desperation. Seeing that running away didn't help his comrades. Launching his sword aimed to come down at Verdandi's shoulder and cut into her neck. Verdandi's eyes were still glowing from concentrating the Hyouton in her belly earlier. He body exhaling a sudden gush of pure pressure that would stop the man in his movements. His limbs becoming stiff. His face paled. His arm that wished to strike at the snow princess just stuck. He could barely move his neck. Glaring down to see only how thick frost was already climbing up his skin. The ice quickly spilled up his back to freeze his shoulder muscle. Now the rest of his body was to be encased. Until he ultimately turned into a frozen statuette. In a last motion, while Avalanche already came to run by, Verd could be seen extending her palm forward.

Her left hand would catch on Avalanches fur and slowly pick herself up to swing her body gracefully onto her mount again, without the bears need to even stop in his track. Keeping his charge for the remaining army forces. Verdandi's extended palm eventually closed. "Coffin" she whispered to herself. The ice statuette crushing down on the encased prisoner. His blood spilling from the little holes in the frost. Bones breaking within. His skin melting. His body slowly being burned to death and crushed as well. The five advancing forces had been dealt with. It was just a welcome present of the defenders of Kumo. Daremo had probably set direct charge towards the halberd leader. But all of them were launching to crash into the forces that were currently trying to murder the kumo soldiers. The two archers would be summoned to the leader's side again. Soon arrows would be shot to collide with either of the three ninjas. Five down. Around twenty or more still ahead of them.


930 / 2730

Chakra 280 / 350:

The second man would be struck down by Daremo's fierceness, striking like a pack of wolves at various places before the man would eventually end up dead by his wounds rather than by a swift and merciful blow. Were it not that Mizuki was focused on the task at hand, she'd felt a need to frown at his unnecessarily merciless ways but her student was not being anything better with the showy display of her polar bear honouring its name by crashing into the enemies like an avalanche of fur, teeth and claws while the hidden compartment of her own blade ripped through the back of her own opponent. To add insult to injury and finish off the dreadful show of terror the last target would be encased in ice and suffer a gruesome death. Not quite her form of terror, she couldn't deny the efficiency of their strategies when she saw the leader and his archers focus their attention on the three of them.

Arrows would be shot. And be cut in harmless halves through a swift flourish of Mizuki's katana. The simplicity of the archers' approach making Mizuki wonder if they were joking around or if more had yet to come. Two arrows for the three of them, after they had shown how skilled exactly they were was pretty much like trying to douse a forest fire with a bucket - useless.

"I have a feeling they are not taking us seriously just yet. Since the vanguards are down, let us proceed. Would you be up to give us an opening, Daremo-dono?"

His words that he wasn't into subtlety lately had not fallen into deaf ears. The reptile eyes seemed to have a hungry glint when they eyed the man with the halberd, and as such Mizuki was pretty much suggesting for him to either take on the leader and distract the other troops with his brutality so Verdandi and herself could tear into them, or use one of his area wide techniques and tear down a good part of their defensive measures in the process. No matter his choice, the idea was that the special jounin of the team would be able to take down stragglers and escapists as they fought their way through the defences in the cloak of chaos.

"I have a technique that can swiftly deal with a group of people at short distance. It's just a matter of getting behind their line of defence. Do you think you can get us there, Verdandi-san?"

As she awaited the answers of her team mates, Mizuki would wipe the blood of Seiun and sheathe the weapon. Taking out her trusted longbow and a quiver of arrows, she made it quite clear without saying a single word she would be providing covering fire as they'd make their advance. Melee, range, single or multiple target. Every aspect was now covered, the three of them a small army on their own and ready to bring avenging wrath on those that had mocked Kumogakure.

---

512
Total: 2012

310/340:

The invading men found themselves in an improbable situation. Before the start of their current assault, spirits were at an all time high. They had successful attacked varying outposts belong to the Kumo dogs with little to no casualties on their side. Surprising, they even managed to take over a small village run by those dogs. Instead of killing them quickly, they went for a different approach. They tortured every single one of them. Man or woman, the invaders had their fill on the cries of pain and suffering they caused on the measly Kumo dogs. They even made a performance out of it! Each one taking turns to see who can make their captive produced the louder scream or survive the more extensive injuries. Yes, it was fun times for the bandits .  . yet.

All of knew that none of them held any real power. Sure, they might be able to take out a chuunin shinobi relatively easy, a special jounin with some difficulty, and maybe, if they were lucky, a jounin, but, that is nothing compared to their leader. A monster of a man who saw anything chuunin and below as a small snack. With the giant halberd, they all have witness the man carved through shinobi without the problem, turning bodies into chunks of flesh. The towering weapon was not the only thing scary about their leader. He controls the winds as good as any native suna nin, and paired that with a sadist personality. The men made sure not to get on the bad side of their leader unless they want to end up like the poor sods who do. While they might be good at torture others, it was their leader who was a master of the art. He always manages to find new and innovative ways to torture those in his path, or who dared to disobey his orders.

And right now, as the men witness five of their own get killed, four of them brutally so, while the urge to run was there, they could not. Running meant disobeying their leader’s commands of killing those who stood in his way. Fleeing from the battle meant having to deal with a leader who took glee in torturing the disobedient members. But, if they stayed, it meant they would be dealing with the advancing Kumo forces, two in which, seemingly had no problem in torturing them. The choice was a hard one for the civilian invaders. Either way, the likelihood they would die was incredibly high. No matter, steeling their hearts, sharpening their mind, they will face the measly Kumo dogs, and if they shall die, they will make sure to drag at least one of the bastard down with them.

He only paused for a second, looking at his comrades, making sure they were not struggling with their opposition. There was no need to worry about Mizuki. The woman had proved herself on the battlefield already. Asides from some of the more tougher individuals, she could deal with most others. Verdandi, the young woman who had blushed during their first meeting, surprised him, though it did not show on his face. The way she corporate her giant bear was unique, and the only time he saw a shinobi using pets it was the Inuzuka's. Her movements were well executed, not perfect, there were gaps a jounin could exploit but worked well against the invading forces. Seeing them doing well, his eyes locked with the apparent leader.

Reptilian eyes stared unflinchingly into the man’s eyes. A silent conversation going between the pair. One of them was going to die here, and Daremo was going to make sure it was not him. The brute had tortured Kumo-nins, and the silver-haired male was going to return the favor ten-fold. Every opposition that steps in his direction will be systematically destroyed. A pound of flesh for every drop of Kumo blood spilled. Not only that, he was going to enjoy bleeding the bastard dry. As if knowing what he was thinking, the halberd-wielding male smile, revealing his discolored teeth, looking like they were trying to run away from one another, As two archers were called forth, the halberd male reach down. It did not take long for him to lift the severed head of a male Kumo-nin. A face that was forever etched in horror, capturing the amount of pain the individual suffered before dying. The head lacked eyes, ears, and lips. Even from the distance, one could see the Kumo insignia burned into the flesh. “This for you.”, The Halberd man spoke, knowing one of the advancing forces would hear him, and tossed the head harmlessly towards Daremo, it rolls to a stop at his feet.

Tsk. Daremo did not bother in looking at the severed head. His attention was taken by the arrows aimed at him. Reaching out, he plucked and snapped each wooden arrow. “They are toying around for now. Hoping we will make a mistake. And, it seems like their leader is a sadistic bastard if his gift was anything to go by.”, The gift being a reference to the severed head at his feet. “Very well. Warn Verdanbi about my techniques. You know exactly what they can do.” With those words, Daremo began walking forward. It was a leisure pace and slow pace as if he was taking a stroll through the park or on a beach. Chakra coursed through his badly, circulating violently within him. Those with sensory techniques would easily pick up on his location, and sense the vile coiling within him.

Halting, Dareemo looked at the three men who stood in the way of his destination, that being to their leader. “You will die here.”, Those were the only ominous words spoken, and he saw the shiver that the men could not be suppressed. Chakra hummed along his hands, waiting for the men to act. It did not take long for the three men to find their courage and attacked in a pincer maneuver. Moving forward, he blitzes the first invader, blocking the katana strike with his left hand, the chakra being able to withstand the blow. Tendons in the arm were cut, making it useless, and causing the opponent to drop their weapon. Just in time too, as he jumped over the male, using his shoulders as a springboard to dodge the other to attacks. Landing behind the opponent, he slices at the man’s spine. The cut being deep enough to paralyze the man from the waist down. His body crumbling to the ground like a puppet who had their strings cuts.

Turning to face the other two men, he dodged their strikes, and struck at their arm tendons, forcing their limbs to be useless. Instead of torturing them in the same manner as the first victim, Daremo used the chakra scalpel to flay skin on the men. Elegantly, he danced around them, slicing skin over their faces, arms, etc. any skin that was exposed would be flayed in some manner. The sands would once again be treated to a fine drink as blood dripped from the men open wounds. He did not bother in aiming for vitals. He wanted these men to stay alive for as long as possible. As the three men fell unconscious, the pain of the injuries being too much, raiton was channeled into his right index finger as he fired an electric ‘bullet’ into each one of them. The small electrical shock being enough to shock them out of unconsciousness.

Turning his attention back to the halberd-wielding male, he did not blink as the man gripped his weapon, hefting it on his shoulders, and moved onto the battlefield. His gaunt was slow and purposeful. He took his time to transverse the sandy terrain. Men, those who were under his command, rally to him, and his mere presence seemed to remove any nervousness that was present. “More lambs to the slaughter?”, His voice boomed across the field, being amplified by fuuton chakra, “So be it. I am going to enjoy breaking you all, in every way possible.” With that said, he extended his left hand. Breathing out, fuuton infused chakra was manipulated and condensed into the size of a five-meter sphere/ As quick as it was formed, the sphere was fired at the woman with the bear, aimed to cripple, but not kill. Once the sphere had left his hand, the halberd man charged the other two.

With the man on the move, Daremo prepared himself for the fight to follow. It was time to return all the suffering the man caused . . . hundredfold.

---

1448[3267]

OOC Combat Info:

365 | 420:

Verdandi had returned to the back of her trusty fluff ball and watched the dramatic scenery of emotional hatred unfold between Daremo and the Halberd prince. She kept herself close to Mizuki and would equally follow her example as the archers kept trying to hit the three shinobi. Each of the three seemingly having their own way to deal with the projectiles. Mizu cut them apart, Daremo would just them out of the air and Verd would urge Ava to duck while she tossed a single shuriken in a boomerang path to intercept both. Mizuki made a bit of an audible sigh to underline her disappointment towards the attempt that was made by these men. Probably finding it slightly insulting to think those weak and slow projectiles had any chance of becoming a threat to the three shinobi. However, this whole situation wasn't about her, neither was it about Verdandi. This was some sort of mental game between Daremo and the Halberd guy. Verd was but a side character in this supposedly epic skirmish between the two of them. The three ninjas would still all clash with the enemy forces. Verdandi would allow Avalanche to clash off into an enemy once again. He was good at crushing them to the next best wall or obstacle. This time he hoisted his target into a wooden spike platform that was supposedly made by the Kumo soldiers for the defense of their camp. Impaling the poor guy straight onto the thick spike. Reminding Verdandi on the good old days where she too used to put people on spikes.

Mizu mentioned that she had a technique or two at hand that could possibly deal with the lot of them. After Daremo killed the last guardians of the captain, he would directly approach the leader. Leaving the lot of the scattered forces to surround Verdandi and Mizuki. The combatants seemingly non-ninja. Were of little issue or threat to the two warriors fighting for Kumo's freedom here. Verd however felt that tactical decisions had to be made again. She was certain she would be able to abide to Mizuki's wishes and help her concentrate the forces. Leaving the powerful halberd prince confidently to Daremo's cause. But there was more to be done within a shorter time span. Despite having sacrificed a lot of chakra for her rather brute display of power earlier. She still felt that there was plenty of energy within her. Verd would quickly form a few hand seals and form two shadow clones that immediately started to move. However, Verdandi's plans were to be foiled. Daremo's movements and dance with the devil had brought the leader closer to the two combatants that had split off a bit. While Mizu was busy with some soldiers on her own, the sudden close proximity to the leader would draw Verdandi to the Halberd guys attention. He started to collect his breath and form the seals needed to blast a rather large wind chakra sphere towards Verdandi.

Verd would find herself forced to act in a different manner as expected. Switching from offensive to defensive mode. However, she found that she could eventually accomplish both if she acted cleverly. At first, she had to see where the enemy troops still were now. Seeing them more drawn to Mizuki for now and that not really being the goal of their original plans. One of Verdandi's clones was already forming the hand seals to deal with the wind blast. The other would then again aid the real Verdandi to make use of this and started to form hand seals for the archerfish technique. Verd herself was already planning two steps ahead and was forming the seals for suiton chakra as well. Rapidly and in a very short massive burst of chakra. All the techniques would eventually unfold to the naked eye.

First. Verdandi's clone that was melding suiton chakra. Pushed the palm to the ground and suddenly summoned a huge body of water to the floor. Slowly crashing down within 40 cubic meters before it started to massively extend itself over the whole area.

Second. Verdandi's other clone that had prepared itself for fuuton impact. Casted the Ice Rock Dome technique. Creating a large igloo of ice around the three Dandi's and completely negating the potential damage of the wind blast. However, the collision would still shred the ice dome to sheds and pieces. That was however not unintended. The ice dome itself had been cleverly casted upon the previously created body of water. Starting to quickly flash freeze the ground below everyone within the 40-100m that the water by now reached as it was still spreading. The three Verdandi's hence activated their unique, Hyouton based supernatural walking technique. Allowing the three of them to skate over the ice's surface and speedy move along it while everyone else might have troubles walking on the frost surrounding them. Verdandi's first clone would run north. Towards the gate where the criminals originally came from. The second clone would skate past the enemy troops towards the Kumo camp and Verdandi. Well she directly aimed to circle around the enemy soldiers. Now that she was drawing attention she could leave the halberd guy at last to Daremo and / or Mizuki if she wanted to mess with him a bit too. Like a dog trying to bring his Masters sheep together. Verd tried to lure the soldiers by simple means of making them follow her as she easily glided always just a bit ahead of them away and out of their reach. Occasionally forced to toss a kunai at someone's feet if they came to close or a shuriken whenever more arrows or other throwing projectiles were tossed at her. Once the herd was about in shape for Verdandi's idea. She'd send them a wild water wave to their face. The 'bout a dozen of them left, would fall back, be pinned to the ground. The water of the wave would soon freeze as well, alike the floor. Making the ice stingy on their skin.

But Verdandi didn't feel satisfied by just tossing them over and freezing their butts to the floor. She wanted to glue them down. A bubble wave first to raise weird, ice crystal shaped bubbles from the frozen floor that soon coated the ground in thick slippery juices. And at last, spitting a thick mass of starch syrup upon then. It might appear as if Verdandi was puking a rather large amount of that odd juice straight onto the men. Leaving them all sticky and slowed down massively. By ice, bubble juices and syrup. Verdandi thought, she had done her part of the job and was hoping for Mizuki to do her thing. If she was too busy however, Verd had plenty ideas how to wipe the lot of them from existence. There were about four soldiers still left that got scattered from the group. Eventually annoying Mizuki or Daremo while they were supposed to fight the halberd prince.

Verdandi's clones however, they ran off to their very own adventures. Sort of. The one going for the Kumo camp didn't do much else but make sure to cut down with its blade the one or two remaining soldiers that were still fighting the kumo soldiers. Coming from behind making it easy for a sneak attack and a sudden, slightly mean kill from behind. The clone would primarily send the kumo soldiers back to their camp. Making sure they didn't just run towards the halberd prince and to their ultimate doom. Verd was simply making sure that those silly people would stay alive. Closing the gate to their own camp behind them once they moved in. Seeing them peek out from various windows and corners of the gate as they were still curious how the battle would unfold before them.

Verdandi's last clone. Would eventually pass the point of water and ice. Moving back on suna sand towards the gate of the city. Avoiding archers' arrows as she blatantly jumped onto the gates. Switching her ice-skating chakra to that of normal supernatural walking technique. Walking or rather running straight to the top of the gates walls. Kicking down the few weak archers that were on top of it. Watching them fall to their own demise handed to them, by the simple means of gravity. Since the lot of the suna criminals went to join the attack, only few civilians remained up here. Allowing the clone to move freely and especially, move to the prisoners that were tied to their crosses. The first few seemed to be freed easily. Most of them just tied by ropes or chains to the crosses. But the last one was a tricky one. Open wounds and nails within limbs. Verd decided that removing the nails would cause more damage then keeping them inside. Verd simply broke into the depth of the cross and used her saw-blade weapon to release the man's palms while keeping the nails in his wrists. Daremo might actually find a way to fix him up…

For now. The clone would casually remain on top of the gate. Staring down condescending onto the villagers that allowed such a thing to come to pass. Or even encouraging it. Allowing the sore bodies of the prisoners to rest a bid. Leaning against each other or just lying down. Verd would provide them with makeshift bandages and water as best as she could. They still needed some medical treatment soon. Especially the guy with the nails in his wrists was still at the brink of death.


1620 / 4350

Chakra 130/350:

There was a quiet confirmation from her two allies on the strategies offered. She had perceived the battle of minds between Daremo and the halberd boss, and made a correct estimation of his desires to return the bandit's sickening practises with those of the necrosis running through his chakra. Perhaps it was a male thing to see who would be the better bringer of terror, maybe it was Daremo's pride as a practitioner of such arts to establish his superiority. She didn't know the man well enough to make a proper assessment, but she knew that she'd have to avert her eyes from a practise that went straight against her merciful, life-preserving nature. This would be his game and as he suggested, she'd make sure that Verdandi and herself were not part of it.

"Indeed. Verdandi-san, for your health's sake, do stay out of Daremo's immediate vicinity. A 30m distance should suffice to give him the playground needed for his abilities."

The man with the halberd would not have heard their words yet the head he rolled towards them as a 'gift' felt like he had given them an answer to their little talk. A taunt. Not only to show them exactly what he could and would do with the three Kumo-nin but to tell them he was more than capable of dealing with Daremo himself. Mizuki's eyes would briefly linger on the head missing its eyes, ears and lips. And a drop in air pressure would be felt as if it was heralding the coming of a storm. Mizuki's vibrant blue-green eyes would seemingly shift to a cooler, more distant expression as her mind settled to rain down vengeance in name of the fallen shinobi. Members of her Village, even if their names were not known to her. Every blow delivered to them feeling more and more like a blow delivered to her personally as her inner turmoil and the war's brutality weighted more on her shoulders. The more people she lost that were dear to her heart, the more she felt a need to reach out and grasp onto those that were further away. Every blow chipping off the barriers of discipline and self-control that held back the bottled up thunder storm she had been since she was but a child. Every blow causing ripples to spread out further in the otherwise serene pond reflecting the world like a perfect mirror. Mizuki had grown tired of suffering such losses. Tired of keeping her suffering behind a facade of kindness in her desire to bring peace and prosperity to Kumogakure. As the air pressure in her immediate vicinity dropped, she'd sigh long and quietly.

These men would welcome a raging storm? They would be given one.

As the trio advanced, Daremo engaging the boss and his two bodyguards, Verdandi working to carve a path so they could get behind enemy lines, Mizuki would follow in Verdandi's wake as she channelled ranton and suiton chakra through her blade. Techniques she rarely used, feeble compared to what every shinobi could bring forward, but the chakra coating would do just fine for what Mizuki wanted to achieve. No weapon, no armour, no wall would stand in her way now if they were not infused by chakra. Advancing with a vibrant purple sword in hand, the sword mistress allowed the blade to dance through the air. Deceptive chakra bleeding out from Seiun, coloured purple by the ranton flowing through it, created a spectacle that would honour the name of the sword - Seiun, meaning nebula, became the galactic cloud that could not be grasped nor stopped as its position never seemed to be there where most believed it to be, and the weapons parrying the katana finding themselves melting away upon contact as Seiun burned right through their defences. Seiun burned holes through stomachs as it pierced Mizuki's enemies, leaving a gaping, bloodless wound behind big enough to look through. Wounded or cut off arms and legs would be instantly cauterised by the high temperatures the ranton chakra created as it ran through her weapon of choice. Those who would oppose the Lady of Storms and were allowed to live on would never forget the confrontation as the scars left behind by the burning ranton would remind them of this very day.

The advance would eventually end in a grinding halt as troops swarmed in to block their advance. Even if they couldn't stop the storm, their skill didn't make it necessarily easy. Time and time again, Mizuki would be forced to take on a more defensive approach as coordinated strikes and one-two strategies were applied. Though every parry on her side would eventually just be a delay of the inevitability of the storms perpetual advance, it was nonetheless time consuming. Time they didn't exactly have when they had aimed for a blitz rampage. But a solution would be brought. As if the drop in air pressure around the Lady of Storms was not sufficient, the nipping chill of the blizzards would mingle with it. Mizuki had never seen Ice Release in action but the chill warned her from the flash freeze that would come. Seeing a massive amount of suiton being brought forward, the kunoichi would almost erratically jump up as high as she could, the speed of her action a blur of those that surrounded her. The height of her jump would bring her above the then appearing dome of ice, which shattered almost instantly thereafter as the fuuton jutsu crashed against it. The brief afterimage burned in the retinas of those she had left behind would, along with some of the bandits, get caught in the deep freeze of Verdandi's technique before it completely vanished from sight with the shards of the barrier.

Landing in a world of ice on a layer of chakra of her own, a clumsy dance would begin as the bandits tried to keep solid footing on the frozen surface. Verdandi and her clones would skate around in a mixture of bratty cheekiness and the graceful elegance of a swan as she drove the bandits together and bound them in frosty unison. For a just a moment, Mizuki was of a mind of leaving them there and then, frozen to the ground and useless for the future as they'd helplessly be forced to watch how Daremo dealt with the bandit leader but that thought was pushed aside as she remembered the way they had threated her Village brethren. Shinobi had not been given the chance to life. These shinobi would die namelessly, their spirit not even spared from experiencing the gruesome fate that had befallen them. No, these people would not be spared today. A fair duel to death was one thing. Catching and torturing others for amusement was nothing less than the act of monsters. To leave such akuma alive would only mean they'd come back to haunt the world another day.

Walking closer to the gathered group of stuck bandits as Verdandi and her clones went their own way to deal with stragglers, Mizuki slowly formed the hand seals of a lesser known technique pertaining to the Raiu clan. Not halting for a chat, they'd feel the air pressure around them lower fast as the Storm chakra started to flow freely around her. With a cold toned, "Storm Release, Thunder Cloud Inner Wave", her chakra would instantly shroud her presence from the battlefield as dark thundering clouds bloated up on the ground in a 5m radius, firing thunder sparks at an impossible rate towards the bandits trapped in ice. Unable to dodge and aimed with a controlled precision only Storm Release KKG could achieve, the whole lot would end up slain in less than a second. Weak armours would be pierced, throats and other lethal spots struck unopposed, ending their lives on the spot.

Still not having halted, the Lady of Storms appeared out of the blackened storm clouds which were still well-laden with voltaic energy and ready to strike down anyone who would attempt to give the dead, frozen bandits some humane peace. Her blue-green eyes would look around slowly, her gaze taking note of the Verdandi having cleaned up all but the civilians, nodding mostly to herself in approval of her student sparing those who posed no danger for the future. She would move towards Daremo now, seeing how was he was doing with his quarry.

If the man had already finished his own game, she'd simply bring him up to date of what she saw and suggest to proceed with the healing of the wounded where possible. If he was still occupied, she'd provide a moment of assistance through a raiton jutsu of her own - Disintegrate. At this point, it wouldn't matter to her if her raiton technique would collide with a disadvantage against the fuuton of the halberd king, and it wouldn't matter either if it didn't succeed at hitting or inflicting damage. Just the distraction of a perhaps unexpected attack would be all that was of importance since she knew even one moment of breaking the halberd king's momentum and concentration would suffice for Daremo to cease the opportunity.

---

1563
Total: 3575

265/340:

Sand exploded upwards as the crater was formed in the place where Daremeo had once stood. The silver-haired male having dodged his opponent’s the downward halberd strike. It was a good thing he did for, even though he moved out of the way in time, small lacerations were on his attire. His combatant having obvious enchanted the weapon with fuuton. Apart of him should have known the male could augment his weapon with fuuton, considering the attack used against Verdandi. Coming to a stop, Daremo sheathed the senbons he was wielding, and straighten up. Without much warning, water started to condense in front of him, shaping into the image of a dragon’s head that raced across the sandy area.

He watched as it impacted an individual, their screams echoing loudly as their body was covered in necrotic wounds. Chakra flooded his system, strengthening his body,  just in time for a dark grey cloud of gust to envelop him. Dispelling the cloud, his eyes lingered on the halberd-wielding man. “Sacrificing your own men. Not surprising.”, Daremo muttered, having realized almost immediately the man had substituted with one of his own lackeys to dodge the dragon head fired towards him. “The weak are meant to be a sacrifice for the strong.” He could not fault the man’s logic, however, he did not care for the trading ideology with the man.

Shrugging his shoulders, Daremo charged towards the man, ducking underneath the swing of the halberd to sending his elbow to the man’s gut. Getting an ‘oof’ for his trouble, he had to back off from the wild swing with a few pieces of his hair being cut off via the fuuton augmented attacked. He needed to stop playing around with this man and end it. The longer he danced with the leader, the more the tortured Kumo-nins suffered. A calmness descended on the battlefield, though it did not last long.

Seemingly out of nowhere, those in the vicinity would suddenly shiver as a sick, and diseased ridden presence washed over the battlefield. Like a reaper of death, there was something vile, malicious, and twisted about this feeling that left the weaker individual physically ill. To Mizuki, she would recognize this as the precursor to one of Daremo’s more vile techniques. Light green chakra waft from the silver-haired male’s body, wrapping around his form in a cloak like a manner which stretched only ten meters to those who can’t see the truth.


“Oh, what is this? You think that will stop me? Ha!”, Daremo did not give the man a reply only steadily walked towards the man in a nonchalant manner at least, for the first couple of meters. Pushing off his left foot, Daremo blitz the male who foolishly welcome the encounter. Unfortunately, his foolishness would be his downfall. Even before he could come into ‘striking range’ his cloak would do its job. Screams and curses left the halberd man’s mouth as his skin started to turn black, showing signs of major 3rd-degree necrosis. The cloak ate away as his flesh, exposing bones that were being gnawed on by the necrotic energy. The man would not be able to escape the cloak, he had suffered similar damage to the lower body as well. He did not die though. No, Daremo made sure to stay far enough away that his cloak would not kill the man. Instead, various parts of the man had suffered crippling wounds.

Watching the man collapse to the ground, his damaged legs no longer beginning able to support his weight, Daremo tossed two senbons to disable the man’s arms, or rather what was not eating away by necrosis. “I said you were going to die here, did I?”, He asked, dispelling his cloak as he made his way towards the down man. He had to give the man some credit, asides from the earlier shout of pain, he had been quiet ever since. Grabbing the man by the neck, Daremo used his free hand to take out another senbon. “Mizuki.”, His voice carried loudly across the sand dunes, “Take my clone and help retrieve our comrades. The clone will heal those who can be saved, and give merciful deaths to those who can’t. The Kumo-nin who died will be giving a proper burial fitting for a shinobi. Leave all the dead enemies to the predators of the desert. Let them experience fear knowing at the moment their lives will come to an end. I will join you shortly.” A single clone shimmered into existence, and made his way over to Mizuki, leaving the original with the man.


“You know. My mother was an expert at interrogation, and while I am not the best, I did pick up a few things.”, Those were the only words spoken to the man as the senbon was jabbed into his eye. The eyeball was plucked and tossed aside like trash. He would repeat the action, removing the other eyeball as well. Puncturing the man’s face, Daremo took his time in sliding the senbon underneath the skin, not caring for the blood squirting out, before yanking it forward. The skin giving way as the senbon was torn free from its confines. For the next five minutes, screams of a tortured soul filled the air as Daremo worked on the man. By the time he finished a majority of the skin on the man’s face would have been ripped open, and in some spots completely removed. One could literally see through one side of the cheek, and out the other. His tongue, and ears would be gone, tossed aside with all the other parts of him. Yes, the man would be unrecognizable.

With blood soaking his kosode, Daremo ripped it off, leaving his upper chest bare. Years of training and hard work being on display for, despite being thirty-four, his athletic body still had an impressive six-pack.  Placing a single hand on the corpse. A burst of chakra expelling from his hand as the corpse turned into a black goo, erasing the man’s presence. With the job done, Daremo looked in the direction of his clone, and the others. He would help heal the injured, and provide merciful deaths to those who was too far gone. There was no need to speak about what he did. No need to tell them the horror he placed on the man. No, unless they witness it themselves, Daremo would keep them in the dark, “He has been disposed of.”, was the only thing he mentioned regarding the leader.

Looking at Verdandi, “You did well out there. You have the skills to go far as a shinobi. Just don’t do like I did, and become complacent. Keep evolving. Keep bettering yourself. I look forward to seeing how far you will go.”, having said what he wanted to the woman, he looked at Mizuki. “The same goes for you too, Mizuki.” Standing around with the others, Daremo waited to see what else was needed to be done. His clone having dispersed after running out of from healing the injured.

---

1201[4468]

Stuff Used:

Verdandi watched Mizuki dance past her opponents in her very own movement and style. To eventually see some of that unique thunder she was once promised to encounter with her, was as enjoyable as it must have been for her to finally catch glimpse on the frost element being exposed into the world. While Mizu somewhat had to deal with the ice plateau first, Daremo seemed to have no problems or didn't even flinch at the fact that the floor beneath their feet changes. Maybe he was out of reach as well. Verdandi was busy finalizing her plans. By the time Mizuki and the Daremo clone arrived at the gates to the city, the wounded and tortured soldiers had already been brought down from their supposed death pedestal. Down into the shade of the gates and walls of the village. While the real Verdandi would try her best to give care to the rescued men. The clone would lead Mizuki to the few civilian soldiers Verdandi had but left to live. The three of them bound with the very chains they once used to keep the tortured victims chained to the top of their gate. Not much unlike them the clone had made sure they would be exposed to the sun. The hot sand burning on their legs while Verdandi must have made sure they were not allowed to move from the torturing heat back into the shade. As the clone fulfilled its duty and would leave the prisoners care to Mizuki it would casually poof and disperse into thin air.

Verdandi would converse with Daremo's clone and whenever he would shake his head and move on to the next patient quickly. Verdandi would gently caress the cheek of the poor tortured soul. Pulling her dagger to gently sooth them in before she would pierce her blade straight into their heart and ultimately end their suffering. From the various prisoners rescued. More than half were past the point of saving. Not necessarily because the lot of them came here too late but because their initial torture had been too much for them in the first place. Daremo's clone skilfully healed the survivors. Not rarely bringing wounds back to normality that had already shown massive burn marks. Various wounds and scars just vanishing during the clones skilled and extensive treatment. Still bruises would remain but those could be taken care of at a later time. Verd was impressed by the skill of the medic. Once again reminding herself what powers a medic has especially on a battlefield between ninja. Those who had already died, those whom received Verdandi's dagger as a mercy kill. They would be moved eventually buried by their own men at the Kumo forward camp, not near the village that had defiled and sacrificed them. Verdandi had not seen the handiwork Daremo had laid into place as he finished off the Halberd Prince. By the time she had returned and his clone had already dispersed after serving its purpose.

All that remained of their former enemy was but a black puddle if disgusting looking good. The smell was somewhat disgruntling and Verdandi wouldn't stay for long to linger here. She had seen a little bit of the man's necrosis from afar, the green hued plague of the medic that would turn men to ashes if he dared so. She had seen Mizuki's thunder as she sentenced the soldiers of the torturer to death. She had seen the lady that would always spare life first hand out a final judgement herself. She had seen the beauty and insane destructive power of the ranton element. Eventually keeping it in mind not to test how a storm element would eventually interact with the froze spheres of Verdandi's everfrost. Verd would bow and bid her farewell once Mizuki must have taken care of the prisoners. One way or another. Supposedly the mission implied to let some of them alive? Verd wasn't quite familiar with all decisions and tactics of the Kumo strategy. But despite her various missions she had undertaken to stop the religious fanatics of Kumo, Verdandi came to realize that not all of them were as bad as she might have demonized them. Leaving her to make sure that she linked her previous clashing's with the fanatics not with the rest of their village and that their kage might be a little bit of a strange persona, but not necessarily served as an identity for the whole village and its members.

That being all said, thought, or expressed. Verdandi bowed once more to Daremo, Mizuki. Grinned her already previously expressed blush at the fact that he did indeed couldn't help it but lose his shirt in the process of battle. And make sure to take a good look for a while. Deciding it would be a grande idea to tell Chigetsu it was time to start working out some more. Chuckling to herself. Bowing one last time. "It was a pleasure. I'm glad I could be of some use anyway. Until we meet again " ❤ And hence she would catch up with her bear. Avalanche had been helping himself to a nap after having played transport vehicle as so often. Grabbing onto the cuddly furball to hence forth vanish into the depth of the desert. Verdandi's journey home would be extensive. She wasn't quite aware that Kumo had taken up operations, forward camps and even occupied villages of former bandits so far out here. Wondering if some of those competing allies of the mist were indeed much further ahead in their own goals than their own people? Considering all the sabotage she had seen happening between the villages, her dream of a truly united front against the criminal elements had long since lost values and the true face of dirty politics had somewhat tainted Verdandi's joy in the whole operation. Even the way Kiri was totally playing part of this as if it was absolutely necessary to try and vassalize another country.

In time Verdandi would return to the Kiri camp. With deep interest her mission results would be taken into consideration by the Mission HQ. A lot of extensive questions would be asked about the Kumo soldiers and ninja she had encountered. Verdandi was barely willing to play the part. But she would give away the basic intel of whom it was and what their function on the battlefield would have seemed to be. Despite the slightly underwhelmed response of HQ. Verdandi didn't feel like playing games with individuals such as Mizuki and Daremo-san. Involving them as potential listed threats on Kiri intel sheets. Nah that would have been a low move. Instead Verdandi would try to locate her aunt. It was time to talk with the Mizukage a bit about politics. And about how ill this whole operation was coming to feel for the princess of the snow.

[EXIT]

Verd WC: 1160 / 5'510
Thread Total: 13'553

WC Usage:

The chaos of battle died out when Daremo forced his opponent into defeat. For a moment, quietude seemed to settle at the base. The already macabre painting of tortured individuals and ruinous defences now finished by a mass of frozen corpses and a man awaiting his execution. The lowered pressure created by Mizuki's storm aura would linger around a little longer before the oppressed air would be given any respite. The kunoichi would not have minded executing the leader for his atrocities, an unusual change from the executioner said to carry the Blade of Compassion, but it seemed Daremo was of a different mind. He wanted to finish what he had begun, instead sending a clone to her as he urged her to watch over the wounded and help out where she could. For a moment her blue-green eyes stared pointedly at the leader of this mess, feeling an urge to oppose his desires well up as the wrath of the storm had not cooled just yet. Forcing herself to break eye contact with the man, she'd nod. Perhaps it was better that the Blade of Compassion would not be sullied by scars of vengeance. Besides, kind as she generally was, Mizuki would not have the stomach to do what Daremo was about to do to him.

"As you wish.", she'd say, leaving the man to his own little means of venting a pent up anger he would not reveal. Wiping of the blood from Seiun, she'd sheathe her blade and follow the clone to the camp where Verdandi had already made her presence. The two women would follow the male as he walked through the victims of the bandits' torture, helping the poor shinobi still nailed to a pole or cross, shaking his head at those who would not live to see the day and giving instructions where he believed life was still a believable outcome. Where Verdandi would pick up small talk along the way, Mizuki would remain mostly silent as the raging storm had dispersed and made room for the eloquent grace of the diplomat again. The blood stains on her clothes along with the woman not being shy of doing what was needed to show mercy or preserve life might not quite have fit the otherwise diligent discipline she generally maintained in her function. Then again. Who truly knew Mizuki for what she was?

After unknown time had passed where the only inhumane sound was deliberately blocked from Mizuki's senses, Daremo returned to state he had concluded his business with the leader. He would not reveal any more words than that, keeping the details of his gruesome practises to himself. Mizuki understood well enough. The glint of an ANBU armour in the past, the powers of necrosis at his disposal, now the slow death he had brought forward... The man pretty much fit in with the darker side of the special forces every Village had access to, and much like she otherwise turned her gaze towards the other side as she understood the necessity of such abilities despite her personal points of view, she would not inquire about his actions. He had done his part. The rest was better left unspoken.

Concluding their business, the atmosphere would lighten up a little now that the bandits had been dealt with and the survivors would be allowed a return home. Daremo's praise would be received with a smile and a thank you, before she, perhaps, for a first time perceived the muscled man's naked torso. She'd give him a wry smile, a glint of amusement in her eyes in quiet similarity to Verdandi's more outspoken interest, before she averted her eyes and rose her finger to her lips in a gesture of courteous politeness. Staring was rude, after all.

"So Daremo-dono seems to be the sort of man to praise female companions with that sort of gift, hm? I guess we'll have to keep this show of display a secret between the three of us..."

As pleasantries would eventually die out, it would be time to return home and report. She'd bow to Verdandi and thank her for assistance as she hoped to meet her again some other day. Watching how her student walked her own path back home on the back of the giant polar bear, she'd look up to Daremo for a moment before starting to move forward direction home as well with him at her side.

"ANBU, huh? Why am I not surprised about that after what I've seen you do..?"

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[EXIT]

771
Total: 4346
-3500 mission (1000 ryo, 4 EP)
-800 extra pay (+200 ryo)

Thread WC: 14'324

Growing up, Daremo never had the luxury of being sheltered from the darker aspect of the world. From the tender age of five he was exposed to horrors and atrocities that no child should ever witness. An exposure coming not due to the lack of a mother figure, but, rather from his mother wanting him to see the truth of the world he was born in. She show him what men and women would do when they give into their darkness desires. How good people turn evil even no one is looking. How the idea of there being good or evil people was a farce to hide the truth of the matter; there was no good people in the world, only grey. She open his eyes, smashing any rose-tinted glasses he might have about the world, destroying any ideas of wanting peace, by showing him peace was nothing but a foolish dream. So as long as people had free will, and are easily tempted by their inner darkness, peace would never be achieved. She show him the idea of justice created by the strong. They are the ones who set the rules, dictates what is justice, and make sure other follows them.

Yes, unfortunately, he did not have the luxury to be hidden from such truths. The knowledge shaping him into a person who cared little for shielding others from the darkness of the world. From tearing down their idealist views of peace, forcing them to see the truth of the world. Allowing them to witness, and keeping them from doing anything, as these atrocities are committed a front of them. It was his way of preventing them from doing idiotic decision like many who strives for ‘peace’ in some variant. He rather scar them himself than allowing them to be unprepared when their world is destroyed by the truth. Such tactics was something he did in his younger years, but now, having become a father, things changed.

Glancing at his clone, watching the doppelganger heal those who wounds were not life threaten, getting them on their feet, and taking the lives of those who was far too gone. The clone soon dispersing giving him the memories of its ordeal, but not before handing him headbands and identification to be giving to the fallen’s family. Outwardly not showing anything, mentally, he sighed. The monster and his men did a great deal of damage to the captured Kumo-nin. There were many who will need to get a psych evaluation to determine if they can even return to duty due to the trauma caused. Some of the survivors were not as lucky, the trauma cause was too much, and hidden from the view of Verdandi. the clone granted them their wish of being released from their mortal binds. It was the least he could do.

Dark thoughts would dissipate thanks to Verdanbi, and surprisingly, the ever stoic Mizuki’s reaction. He had expected the Kiri-nin to blush upon seeing him shirtless. The woman had no problem in staring at him during the start of the mission, when he was fully clothed, so it was not surprising at seeing the tinge on her cheeks. He saw the amusement dancing in Mizuki’s eyes as she too took an interested before looking elsewhere. “I praise everyone, ain’t my fault women tend to enjoy my appraisal more than men. Though, it seems like Mizuki is making this seem scandalous when it is anything, but. Who would have thought she would have some such thoughts. Is there something you want to share with us, Mizuki?”, He jest.

As pleasantries winded down, he watched as Verdandi been them farewell, returning the gesture and commenting on hopefully working with her again, his eyes focused on Mizuki. Her comment reminded him of the anbu tattoo still present on his shoulders from days gone, along with the armor that was on display. Shaking his head negative, “Former Anbu from a time long past. Maybe I will tell you my story in the future over a cup of tea. “ Nothing else was said on the matter, as Daremo followed Mizuki back home. Would he tell her the truth? Maybe, only time will tell.

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707[5175]
-3000 Mission(1000 ryo | 4ep)
-1600 extra pay ( +400 ryo)

Thread WC: 15, 031