Akira had approached Kiri via the main road from the west as he had chosen to go around Konoha. It had added time to his travel but he didn't really think it mattered. He was setting a pace his two special jounin guards would have a hard time keeping up for the whole trip. A couple of small breaks here and there for their benefit but with his skill he was able to ease any aches and revitalize them if they grew tired. They had made a rapid set paced trip through the day and the night as they skipped sleep by utilizing medical techniques that actually left them more rested than if they had slept for a full day. Still he had checked in at the first checkpoint with Yuurei Jet and Kimura Suutei. He had been amused when they double checked his identity before finally accepting it was him. He had been offered refreshments and an escort but he had simply waved the offer away. Jet he had let head off to interact and discover what she could. Her intel gathering abilities were skillful and impressive. Suutei on the other hand was less of a thinker and more about brute force. As a show of allegiance or perhaps just as a gift Suutei was sent off to wipe out any threats on the border between Kumo and Kiri that were not directly affiliated with either. Pirates, bandits and terrorists.

Akira himself had simply made his way down the road at a rapid pace none of the individuals at the border had a dream of keeping up with. He had heard Rumor of a Shikyo that was faster than any living being in the country but that individual hadn't been there. It felt good to stretch his legs out for a minute and move away from the pace his subordinates were comfortable at. Still he had a rather simple motive for going so fast so soon. He had wanted to show off to these new people. Show that Iwagakure had a Kage that could hold his own. Perhaps even against the woman rumored as the worlds strongest warrior they called leader. The winter queen of the east. Akira had long since considered himself king of the west but when it came to this side of the continent he wasn't so sure his power could prove that. After all the rumors stated Ayakashi could bring an ice age over an entire nation with a clap of her hands. She was also perhaps the one thing standing between himself and being known as the worlds greatest taijutsu master. That may be yet to be proven though. For the moment he stopped at a shop and got himself a hot coffee. To those around him he may appear to be just an average man in a suit. Black dress boots with black slacks over them and a silver button up shirt with a black tie buttoned into it. A white vest with a dark back buttoned over that with a black suit coat. Over the suit coat though was an overcoat that seemed to catch the light every once in a while. A light armor known as Lord of fortune. Perhaps the strongest light armor known to the western side of the continent. Under his arms on either side under the open coat was a harness with a curved dagger tucked into each side. The daggers of almost legendary quality. The trained eye might notice those but the untrained eye would only notice two things about Akira out of the norm. First was how it felt to be near him. Like there was a pressure in the air that almost caused discomfort but somehow made the room feel more comfortable. A power with a subtle and soft touch. The second was a set of golden eyes that seemed to see everything around and see through them too.

Still after he paid for his coffee he placed three sugars in it and added a bit of creamer before mixing it and placing a black lid over the paper cup. He left without making much of a scene before moving away from the shop towards a less frequented part of the village. He checked the watch on his wrist as he figured by now Ayakashi had been made fully aware of his arrival and it was only a matter of time before he was found. He wasn't exactly hiding his presence and the village was full of hunter nin so he had likely been long since detected but no need to make her look to hard for him. He let out a breath before taking a deeper breath and letting it out with a surge of visible chakra. The surge of it blew some residual mist away as golden chakra flew along the cracks in the pavement and water droplets froze mid air and turned a golden hue. His two chakra natures so fine tuned that the level of chakra control was evident in the area around him. Satisfied that a new born could of sensed that Akira let the chakra go with another normal inhale before moving to the bench across from the monument and settling onto it. Sipping his coffee as he waited to see if Ayakashi had a moment to greet him or with preparations he would need to wait a while. Perhaps he should of purchased the paper?

912

Ayakashi had heard rather quickly that the Iron King, the Kage of Iwagakure had graced her lands with a visit, Aya had sent her call only a few days ago after the realization that her ninja had been held hostage against their will in Kumo, an act which could spark much wider conflict than a mere sortie or skirmish between countries, the taking of hostages without provocation was something that could lead to war. An eventuality that  Aya would almost rather die than see come to pass again during her lifetime. The first thing that Aya wanted to do however was to check the strengths of her alliances, Sunagakure had fallen into dis-repair, which, entailed immediately that her ties with gin as the former Kazekage meant little when it came to a land that was barely able to hold itself together. Were it not for the issues that Aya was already currently dealing with, she would have sailed to that country and bought order to its lands years ago. Suzume was a fine warrior, but she had done little for her land as Kage.

This left two nations, the first being Iwa, Ayakashi had, had little relations with the noble country other than the use of their skilled craftsmen to help built the very foundations of her own glorious country after it had been rocked by the seven bells war. Iwa had been instrumental in repairing the residential district which the men of Seven Bells had ran rampant in, but, as it had been some time since that war, the land had been repaired, and from the ashes friendships harder than iron had been forged within the kiln of oppression. The second of the nations Aya had stretched out to was Konoha, a nation which while Aya on a whole had less to do with them, many of her ninja had gone to konoha over the years, they had shared a tight bond when it came to sending ninja to each other for training and missions. Much of that relationship had been build with the former two Hokage, but the current Hokage was no doubt well versed in the history Kirigakure and his own country shared with one another.

Though she had stretched a hand out to Sousetsu, she had yet to hear a reply, but Akira, of Iwa, it seemed had acted with many times more haste. Sending word forward of his arrival, Aya was already on her way to meed him at break-neck speeds. Her feet moving faster than sense as the mist of her country rolled off her as she burst from building to building faster than the eye could see. He had chosen to meet at the ruins of the old prison, which Aya had thought was a little strange. The Fusa prison monument was usually the place that she held the tests for the seven swordsmen or ANBU that she was looking to recruit into her ranks. It was a fearsome place, and a reminder that the land of Kirigakure was not the land to be pushed around by villains any longer. Aya had made sure of that with her own strength, and, like loyal followers, her village grew in strength behind her. But such was the strength of her country now that Aya never again needed to act as a wall or a barrier for danger.

That's not to say that she wouldn't however.

As Ayakashi arrived on the scene, She landed to the side of the monument itself, leaning against it as if she had been there for an age. It seemed Akira had come with an honor guard of sorts, likewise she could feel the feint murderous chakra of Akira somewhere in the shadows behind her, having instructed him to keep close over the next little while. Smiling as Aya wore her usual attire, consisting of her black and blue shroud detailing that she was indeed the mizukage, hanging open and revealing much of her alabaster skin as only bandages covered the upper part of her body. Her mask resting on her belt over the hilt of the Kusanagi, the raijin blade on the opposite side with her own sword changeling on her back with her quiver. The wedding band was holstered on her boot making aya seem well equipped and ready for combat, though by no means as she was now was she ready for war.

"Lord Tsuchikage, I'm honored by your presence."

Aya began to speak with a very formal tone in her voice. Having not dealt with him often enough, she had no idea how he preferred to be talked to. Some Kage had some standard when it came to ettiquite, though it was not much of Aya's taste personally. Aya liked to get to know the person someone was underneath the formality, so it often bit into her pride to be so precise and fake.

"I'm glad that you received my message, it is truly troubling times that we are in these days, that we must meet with these pretexts, I'd much rather invite you to my country for pleasantries and celebration, not grim tidings of conflict that could so easily escalate into something far more..."

[882]

Akira sat where he was as he sipped his coffee. Each time steam rose from the tiny hole in the lid as he was satisfied with how the drink warmed him. He enjoyed a good coffee when it was cold out though typically he took his a bit more irish. Still it didn't matter to him too much that the coffee didn't have the alcohol in it he so enjoyed. Rather he preferred to be sober for this conversation. Idly he could feel the hand not occupied with the cup tremble a little before he clenched his fist a few times. Had it been more then a day since he last drank? He wasn't so great with withdrawal symptoms. He doubted he would be pleasant for much longer if he didn't drink a good double shot of whisky soon. Or perhaps he should try and remain sober during his duration here? No one really knew of his alcoholism nor had they seen the tremors in his hands when he went without. They all believed him to be so perfect it was a maddening standard to live up to. Yet he was human so he had a weakness. For now though the trembling stopped entirely and he let out a sigh of relief. No need for Aya to doubt his power during such a time as this.

Still he was still perhaps the most capable person in Iwagakure now stepping foot in her village. So it wasn't much of a surprise that his eyes shifted to her direction before she fully reached the monument. He saw her land and lean on the monument and calmly sipped his coffee. She was certainly fast. Rumors of her power might not be entirely exaggerated but he felt like he might have a chance of keeping up with her all the same. Not well enough though he admitted to himself silently. He still needed to grow before he could keep up with her. Still his golden gaze shifted over the lid of his cup to follow a shadow just on the edge of the mist. A thin man by the look of him but he felt like murder on legs. An interesting companion for Ayakashi to keep but it certainly kept Akira on edge. He didn't feel that the individual was particularly powerful, probably due to Anbu gear, but still dangerous to him. Either way he looked back to Ayakashi as she spoke up to him. She was being very political but for the moment he simply sipped his coffee as he slipped his left ankle onto his right knee and settled back. When he spoke it was far less formal. Yet respectful all the same.

"Lady Mizukage, Or Ayakashi if I may? I too wish that I could of come to the party and not a whisper of war. If anything though the coffee here is delightful. So one good note in all of this." He finished his cup off and set it on the bench arm next to him. The empty cup seeming to crumple on its own. So Akira did keep some chakra pressure up near himself but only enough to crumple a paper cup. Still he didn't seem hostile even a little. If anything his aura was one of warmth and comfort. Still his golden eyes watched Ayakashi's and almost seem to see everything about her. As if even with all her power he could see it all. Still he continued speaking as he folded his hands in his lap. "I came quickly because as an Ally I wanted to prove to you Iwa was here on your side. I chose this spot to show you what has me concerned. Your rule has reached my ears a couple of times and this monument is famous even across the continent. If another Kage, someone who can bring war down on you...threatens you...what is your plan of action?"

1577

Aya listened carefully to everything that this man had to say, Aya would not begin to assert that he was somehow wise or better for siding with her over that of Kumo, but the fact he was here meant that Aya had friends in high places, since the seven bells war, she knew that Iwa, was one of the nations that had sent many ninja to help, many of them being ninja of renown that attained medals for their service for her country. In that time, Ayakashi had heard rumors that Iwagakure had been harbouring missing ninja, but it had never bothered her, the deeds and dealings of another nation were not her concern unless they posed a threat to her own country. And it seemed to the mizukage that Iwa had become a nation of individuals seeking some sort of sanctuary, everyone had the right to a home and she was glad this akira was willing to give it to them. It could not have been easy to accomplish for any kage who still had to answer to their respective daimyo.

"Lady Mizukage, Or Ayakashi if I may? I too wish that I could of come to the party and not a whisper of war. If anything though the coffee here is delightful. So one good note in all of this... ... ... I came quickly because as an Ally I wanted to prove to you Iwa was here on your side. I chose this spot to show you what has me concerned. Your rule has reached my ears a couple of times and this monument is famous even across the continent. If another Kage, someone who can bring war down on you...threatens you...what is your plan of action?"

Aya fell silent in thought for a small amount of time, the thought of being asked so directly and formally on the back end of a compliment was something that confused Aya, in one breath he seemed to be speaking formalities and pleasantries while on the other he got straight to the point of his visit. Ninja had been captured in the land of Kumogakure, within the very prisons of their nation, waiting to be allowed out. All because a ninja from their nation sought sanctuary in her nation and did not return on time... No... All because a ninja from their nation felt like they needed to abandon their roots in order to get strong enough so that they could defend their own people and family. So much so she'd risked coming to the country who was most likely to kill her at the gates, while, the nation of the kage before her, had a history of taking in those in need... Desperation could drive the sense out of people...

Aya opened her mouth to speak, summoning the strength to not appear meek before one of her only true peers.

"My plan, is to avoid war, it's no secret that I, and the people of this country have had their share of war and loss. We've dealt with armies from people from across the seas threatening the mainland, and we've dealt with insurgents from Blood Country... But an entire other nation... We need to stop this before it gets to that point... On top of that, their country has hostages as bargaining chips, no doubt ready to be destroyed at but a moments notice. So... I feel like there is only one option we have to avoid all of this... Cut the head off the serpent, and allow the body to die... "

Aya spoke with all the gravitas she could summon, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her eyes looking up to search akiras for his response when she dared to speak that kage needed to accumulate to eliminate one of their own in order to prevent war.

"If a kage, is so paranoid they're willing to pin point and apprehend everyone of my nations descent for no other reason than a single missing ninja that fled their country... that is a direct act of aggression against my country specifically. But worse, Kage Sanosuke has proven that he is more than willing to disregard peace on a whim, be if sourced from paranoia, hate, or a madness born from power, he's unfit to keep an international peace between our nations...

And his one life, does not compare to the lives of millions that war would destroy... What do you think? Am I being too rash? News of this hasn't met the ears of MY OWN people yet, but I need to tell them soon... I can't hide this for much longer..."

Aya knew the hearts of her people, something like this would likely ignite the cinders of grief that had been held in their hearts at the loss of their previous kage, as well as the loss of their homes, their families and their nation as Kirigakure had once been the doormat to power. They would bey for vengeance and beg for blood upon hearing this... and Aya would have to reason with that mob hoping that their love for her would out-weigh their need for justice.

[869 words]

Akira paused in his thought process and simply listened as she talked. The coffee keeping him fully awake which was a lovely feeling after traveling across an entire continent. At least he had simply kept pace with two special jounin so it had been fairly easy for him if not for them. They had work they were doing any way while he was simply enjoying a moment to sit down and talk. Not that what he was doing was any less important but certainly less strenuous. Perhaps he would need to change that in order to prepare for what was coming. Truth was though the whole scenario was exhausting. Not physically but mentally. The fires and drums of war stirring and here he was on a bench trying to remain calm and not consider what that could mean for the world. His own people had been concerned for what war would mean between Iwa and their ever silent neighbor Suna. He doubted Suna was even partially organized enough to actually attack Iwagakure though. If they tried he would have to go and personally crush them. That was if he survived this encounter that loomed over Kiri. After all if his hand was pushed to fight seriously he doubted he could actually hide his hyuga heritage. Perhaps there was a way to give that knowledge to Ayakashi now though...Let her figure out what she would of it when she needed him the most. Her words hung in the air all the same.

"My plan, is to avoid war, it's no secret that I, and the people of this country have had their share of war and loss. We've dealt with armies from people from across the seas threatening the mainland, and we've dealt with insurgents from Blood Country... But an entire other nation... We need to stop this before it gets to that point... On top of that, their country has hostages as bargaining chips, no doubt ready to be destroyed at but a moments notice. So... I feel like there is only one option we have to avoid all of this... Cut the head off the serpent, and allow the body to die...

If a kage, is so paranoid they're willing to pin point and apprehend everyone of my nations descent for no other reason than a single missing ninja that fled their country... that is a direct act of aggression against my country specifically. But worse, Kage Sanosuke has proven that he is more than willing to disregard peace on a whim, be if sourced from paranoia, hate, or a madness born from power, he's unfit to keep an international peace between our nations...

And his one life, does not compare to the lives of millions that war would destroy... What do you think? Am I being too rash? News of this hasn't met the ears of MY OWN people yet, but I need to tell them soon... I can't hide this for much longer..."


Still he was a little saddened by the state of things. He had gained all this power to force the world to stop being so foolish and cruel. Not really a task one man could accomplish but one could dream that the Kage combined could do it. He had striven to unify the nations though Kumo had yet to receive his offer. Perhaps had he been faster he could leverage that to stop this nonsense entirely. He doubted it though as he had begun to see that such a treaty would of failed with such a man anyway. To punish a country for a single one of your peoples actions was madness. To arrest anyone of that country innocent or not was chaos. As a leader he could not see anything other than the power play of it. Hostages was the tactic of a criminal. Even had he not had the treat with Ayakashi he would of wished to help if he could for her side appeared more just. His golden gaze drifted off to the west though. Even in the mist he could tell what direction it was. How would Konoha interact with him if they came at all? Would they redirect their attentions to him if he was revealed if not the fight that mattered? Such questions left the mind spinning and had one wondering if they would be helpful or detrimental. He sighed before his golden eyes settled back on the woman before him. The worlds strongest eh? Perhaps he could see for himself what he was working with.

Still he calmly reached inside that unique coat of his before pulling out a single cigarette. Quietly he placed the slim item in his mouth and reached into his coat once more to pull out a match. With a quick brush of a finger across the tip he lit it and brought a small glow to life before lighting his smoke and inhaling. The match incinerated in his finger leaving not even a mark. So he was capable of holding fire without harming his skin. A level much of the ninja world had accomplished but not even a singe mark was something a little higher. Still he let out a small cloud before pulling the smoke out of his mouth and speaking up. His voice calm and warm as before. He was not so childish as to raise his voice to a peer when he was a guest. He rarely raised his voice anyway.

"I feel the situation doesn't allow for much rash thinking to begin with. His actions are borderline anarchist and power has drowned his mind. As for telling your people. One can not hide so grave a situation for long and it is better to get ahead of any rumors. If the people find out about this and feel it has been hidden from them they will be far more angry. However if you present the situation to them with a clear plan of action, stand strong against this adversity you will buy yourself time. So long as they believe you will not let this go they will wait to see you bring about justice. As for me I will simply be a shadow here until you need me for anything. Be it medical uses or simply at an advisory level. What I suggest though is two things. First is to make my being here well known. If your enemy was sure of himself challenging just you, He may rethink his stance with two of us here. I am not known for being kind to the wicked after all. Secondly, in my country not many can stand toe to toe with me in a spar and I have grown relaxed over time. If I can offer you anything, perhaps it is to give you a spar to prepare you for the situation where you remove a snakes head. Of course the conditions of the spar would be entirely up to you."

2748

Ayakashi could feel the weight of this conversation bearing down on the two of them like the gaze of solitary titans. The world as they knew it could very well depend on the outcome of this single conversation, strands of probability and alternate time-lines stretching out from words not said creating a state of flux. It was a rare thing indeed when you can pin-point a moment where the world itself held its breath, fate holding its hand, awaiting two people in order to play his cards, all to see what action should come next so that the future could be made in earnest. These two Kage however, seemed to be grounded enough to handle the pressure, ayakashi carrying the weight of the heavens on her shoulders like atlas, exhaling little more than a chilled breath of visable mist as Akira informed her on his opinions and insight on the scenario and what should be done. Her face attentive when it was not staring at the ground or averting his gaze in order to better gather her thoughts and think about what she had to do next.

"I feel the situation doesn't allow for much rash thinking to begin with. His actions are borderline anarchist and power has drowned his mind. As for telling your people. One can not hide so grave a situation for long and it is better to get ahead of any rumors. If the people find out about this and feel it has been hidden from them they will be far more angry. However if you present the situation to them with a clear plan of action, stand strong against this adversity you will buy yourself time. So long as they believe you will not let this go they will wait to see you bring about justice. As for me I will simply be a shadow here until you need me for anything. Be it medical uses or simply at an advisory level. What I suggest though is two things. First is to make my being here well known. If your enemy was sure of himself challenging just you, He may rethink his stance with two of us here. I am not known for being kind to the wicked after all.

Secondly, in my country not many can stand toe to toe with me in a spar and I have grown relaxed over time. If I can offer you anything, perhaps it is to give you a spar to prepare you for the situation where you remove a snakes head. Of course the conditions of the spar would be entirely up to you."

Ayakashi agreed for the most part, nodding wordlessly as she processed his information, she had every intention of not hiding the information from her people any longer than she had to, but first she needed to see if this was something she would be able to contain, or something that could be undone before any harm was done between the nations. She had hoped, for but a moment, the people of Kumo would see what they were doing and recant, but, day after day, and the week that it took for Akira and his vassals to arrive, the situation had only seemed to become worse. Tapping one of her own anbu on the shoulder after calling him down, Ayakashi whispered in his ear to prepare for an official announcement later, this was something that was going to need to be addressed now, and Aya would have to explain why it had taken her a full week to break the news to her own people. She had the reasoning she was sure that the people of her village would understand, Aya was nothing if not honest with her own people, she had no time for political bureaucracy...

"It seems like I have a lot to get on to then, well, if you believe my actions of what comes next is justified, then I'll stand by my decision, Sanosuke Flynt, I declare to you and my ANBU, is hereby, from this moment forward a Missing Ninja and Criminal of the Village Hidden in the Mist and Mizu no Kuni, wanted dead or alive to answer for his crimes. And i warn you, Akira, if he is willing to do this to us... he would be more than willing to do it to your country, any other, and maybe even his own village... "

It struck her at this point that Akira's offer for training was probably needed on some level, though Aya had been fighting against those who she would consider her equal, even threaten her life as the Mizukage, she could not allow the Kage of another nation to think that way. If Akira knew that the nation which was widely considered the strongest military nation in the world was suffering from internal strife between its Daimyo and the Mizukage, then it could lead to multiple international risks, especially if word were to get back to the other nation's Daimyo and they were to band together against Ayakashi. The Mizukage knew that the ranks of the nations Daimyo were often closely linked together through blood or other historical ties. They would not sanction nor allow the destruction of one of their own in case it led to some sort of dangerous precedent. Leaving Aya to accept the training proposal... It had once been one of her favorite pass-times, fighting against ninja from other nations, though as her youth had fled her, she no longer held any combat upon the pedestal she once had.

"Lord Tsuchikage" Aya began slyly... "If I didn't know better I would think that you were using the guise of training to goad me into a fight. Clever... Well, I don't know about other nations, but the skills of ninja in the mist do not dull, only temper. But, my curiosity is piqued... and I have been meaning to test some new techniques of mine. So, I'll kindly accept that offer in the mean time, but we should move to another location, as much as this arena is one I use to test my Sannin and other ninja, it's too close to the city, and I would rather not destroy the monument. So, follow me. It's not far."

Ayakashi would vanish from all eyes other than Akiras as she kicked off the ground and made her way for the forests which surrounded kirigakure before reaching an open orchard, miles away from civilization, flowering fruit trees across a glade of night flowers spread across the earth in every direction. It was a place of some natural beauty, but these pockets of life and serenity could be found everywhere among the gas-lit swamp-lands and rain-forests. It was here that Ayakashi would stop, the only of her equipment not on her person being the scythe of the late Sero and the armour of Tobirama Senju. Each of which she believed could pose an advantage in combat, but, each in turn were items that she could not use, and were a touch too sacred to be actively damaged in a practice that was little more than a challenge between rivals. Her eye-patch covering her left eye as she smiled and awaited Akira to prepare himself for combat, all the while standing at ease with her hands clasped behind her back.

There was no time the mizukage was not ready for a fight.

"You want rules? How about we take this in two stages, martial, then all out. I'm interested in what you can do without active chakra control. Many ninja and people had power, but power without skill is dity, messy, and unrefined. Don't you think?"

[1322 words]

Akira watched as she listened to his words as his golden eyes took her in. Those eyes seemed to see all and know all even if to Ayakashi that might seem little more than an illusion. He had wondered what kind of weight his opinion might have with her for some time now and at times it had concerned him. After all the "Diplomat" who had gone in his place to make the current treaty a reality had been less than impressive mentally in his eyes. A mistake he had corrected with future diplomats. Instead he would observe for now and see if he could change that impression. Perhaps offering a spar to her was not the best way to go about that but inwardly he had been eager to test himself against the worlds strongest for some time. He slowly rose to his feet as she began to speak and noted the ANBU she had called forth with some what of a side glance. Had her intentions with him been less than kind her multiple ANBU around her may have caused him some difficulty without her lifting a finger. However she was being polite and forward. Still he folded his hands in front of himself as she made her deceleration based a little on his thoughts it seemed.

"It seems like I have a lot to get on to then, well, if you believe my actions of what comes next is justified, then I'll stand by my decision, Sanosuke Flynt, I declare to you and my ANBU, is hereby, from this moment forward a Missing Ninja and Criminal of the Village Hidden in the Mist and Mizu no Kuni, wanted dead or alive to answer for his crimes. And i warn you, Akira, if he is willing to do this to us... he would be more than willing to do it to your country, any other, and maybe even his own village... "

Declaring another Kage, even a mad one, a criminal would surely reach the world at some point. At least he would know her standing point before he came to the country. Still Akira did raise an eye brow. He understood how straight forward she was now with her thoughts but had he been given the choice he would of kept such a decree until the man was in front of him. Allow the enemy into your own home turf where your armies were before declaring him a war criminal. On the other hand this was also with its own merits. If it was common knowledge that his actions had criminalized him in Kiri than if he marched chin up into the country only he could be blamed for what came next. As for her concerns for his country, he had already expressed his concerns for anyone traveling to Kumo among his numbers. He did not have the patience for someone taking hostages of his people. He was too fast tempered to not crush through that individuals country personally. Perhaps that was what made the difference between him and the mizukage. Still she continued speaking and his ears twitched as he watched and listened in silence.

"Lord Tsuchikage if I didn't know better I would think that you were using the guise of training to goad me into a fight. Clever... Well, I don't know about other nations, but the skills of ninja in the mist do not dull, only temper. But, my curiosity is piqued... and I have been meaning to test some new techniques of mine. So, I'll kindly accept that offer in the mean time, but we should move to another location, as much as this arena is one I use to test my Sannin and other ninja, it's too close to the city, and I would rather not destroy the monument. So, follow me. It's not far."

She jested of course but he frowned and glanced about himself. He was to be her lab rat hmm? He was likely going to need to heal himself at the end of the match considerably. Still she turned and was moving rather suddenly and he instinctively moved in pursuit at almost the same speed. There was a difference of course as he had noted before but he figured she would be careful not to lose track of him so in turn he was careful not to strain himself just yet. He moved as fast as he comfortably could but not enough to strain his muscles. Still they would be but blurs to those of rank and unseen by those of less. Still the place they landed several meters apart was rather beautiful. He was still observing the plant life nearby when she spoke again. His head tilting to show he was listening.

"You want rules? How about we take this in two stages, martial, then all out. I'm interested in what you can do without active chakra control. Many ninja and people had power, but power without skill is dirty, messy, and unrefined. Don't you think?"

He paused in his observations of the surrounding plant life and glanced back to her. So it was straight to what interested him most. Hand to hand combat. He almost grinned before he reached up with his right hand and pulled on his tie. The knot slipping undone before he let a breeze catch it and carry it until it caught on a branch. The world seemed tense in that moment as he cracked his neck back and forth before turning to her. His right foot lifting just a little off the ground as he began to lift himself up and down in a little half bounce on his left ankle. His hands raised as he clenched and unclenched his fist in front of him with knuckles popping. Casually he reached inside of his coat and pulled out two masterfully crafted twin curved daggers. Casually throwing them down to the side into a stump. With that he raised his left hand open handed and across his stomach while his right hand raised open handed straight up almost in front of his face. A speed defense stance. Obviously he wanted to test the waters of what he had gotten himself into.

" Honestly I was hoping for some hand to hand time. Chakra control is perhaps what I specialize in the most, however in the west I am the height of taijutsu without contest. I wonder if you will rise to best me at what I focus in or if I can change those rumors to top of the taijutsu world. Feel free to start us off at your convenience."

3863

As the ANBU raced off with the news, Ayakashi looked to the reaction of the Kage, telling him in passing as they raced to their location that the news of his warrant for arrest would be held in secret only between the villages ANBU and Hunter Ninja for the mean time, there was no reason for the common people to know or allow international tensions to increase any more than they already had at the current time. If the news was released too soon it would give their nation time to prepare or spark something prematurely, and, as it stood, with Iwagakure and Konohagakure having sided with Kirigakure and Mizu no Kuni, there was nothing the mountainous nation would be able to do. It seemed that they weren't leaving the country as it stood so no-one who had come back home would be able to travel and share the news with anyone. But alas, as time moved on and they arrived at their destination, Ayakashi watched the Tsutchikage undress and reveal two daggers which looked like they could be brutal if held in the right hands.

Daggers were also often a signal of ninjas who possessed no particular skill in swordsmanship.

What did become instantly apparent however, was the open palmed stance that Akira took up as he faced down Ayakashi, there were few open palmed stances in the world, and fewer which were widely known to those around them. But one, above all, immediately consumed the mind of any ninja who had even half heartedly paid any attention in the academy. Juken ... Gentle Fist ... The art of the Hyuga which had spread far and wide, and oddly enough, the art which had inspired Ayakashi as a ninja all those years ago when she met a Hyuga for the very first time. The Hyuga she had met, much like herself, had no talent with projecting their chakra outward, but yet still had control of their chakra outside of their bodies with their skill and control of their tanketsu. It had taken Ayakashi more than a dozen years to be able to identify her own Tanketsu, a skill which was far more difficult to the ninja who was not able to strictly see these cross-roads in a ninja's chakra pathways.

But she'd done it...

Specifically with the help of a specific scroll, one which detailed a variant of the Hyuga's own techniques, Aya had learned from it, trained by it, though unlike a Hyuga coming into its skill naturally, the Mizukage adapted it blind, like swimming up a rampaging river to reach the top of a waterfall. Ayakashi, in turn removed her swords, laying them on the ground with care, changeling at the top, with the hilts of the Raijin sword and Kusanagi below it side by side, as she lay her two quivers of arrows to one side of them. Taking her dagger she too placed it below her swords before taking off her mask and placing it on top of the respectful layout. Finally, with Aya collapsing her fuma shuriken and rope dart and placing them to the right of the swords, creating almost a small shrine of weapons as she stood, still wearing her father's platinum gloves on her hands as well as the cloak on her back. Stepping out, around and in front of her weapons to meet Akira about 10 meters away. The Mizukage smiled.

"Honestly I was hoping for some hand to hand time. Chakra control is perhaps what I specialize in the most, however in the west I am the height of taijutsu without contest. I wonder if you will rise to best me at what I focus in or if I can change those rumors to top of the taijutsu world. Feel free to start us off at your convenience."

Only a practitioner of Juken would be able to hold such a title, Aya was certain of it, what came next would likely be a surprise to Akira. As Aya swept one of her legs behind her to face down her opponent as she adopted a stance which almost mirrored his own, though Ayakashi would be putting her weight on her hind leg, an aggressive style as she would be ready to throw her weight forward into an attack. Last moment though, tight enough to crush carbon into daimond Ayakashi would coil her fists and wrap her thumbs around them. Close-fisted Juken, a killing martial art style that had no place in the world of self defense, and one where the practitioner faced banishment were they to be part of the Hyuga clan.

God-Fist ('Shinken' - 神拳)

Aya would pause for a moment with a nod to let her opponent know that she was ready, and allowing him a couple more seconds simply to steel himself for what would come next. Ayakashi would not go into combat immediately with her full strength, seeing his defensive style she knew that he would be gauging her strength, and the Mizukage wanted to surprise him. In those still few moments where Aya paused, she focused, her perception of the world beyond her, all implications and sensations of the world around her would vanish as she tunnel visioned on nothing more than her opponent and the fight that was to come...

The Mizukage could not help but let out a chuckle.

It would be in this scenario that normally ANBU performed hand-signs and composed a barrier to encapsulate the entire area, huge enough to give them all the space in all directions they could possibly need by combining their strengths while keeping safe those who had come to watch the clash between the two legendary titans. Ayakashi's eyes moved from the phantom audience within her mind to Akira, looking him dead in the eyes for but a moment as she spoke her final words, allowing them to echo over the tension.

"Lets give them something to remember..."

one... last... breath...

No sooner than she finished the sentence and inhaled, Ayakashi was gone, leaving nothing but a divine wind behind her which tore petals into the air, immediately the petals exploded backwards in a beautiful flourish due to the shock wave of Ayakashi's sheer speed, before they were caught by the wind, moving back to their own natural velocities, effectively freezing them in time compared to the movement of the Mizukage. The ten meters that was between the Mizukage and the Tsuchikage vanished as if it had never existed in the first place. Ayakashi's stance leaning forward as she put everything into her speed and momentum as she would stop little more than a meter before her opponent, back leg bent as she would pivot on a single foot to be standing side-on to Akira. Stomping her raised foot into the ground, cracking the earth under the force, Aya would extend her right fist straight for Akira's solar-plexus with a single, explosive, simultaneous motion.

The power for the single punch could be seen easily as the wind broke over her coiled fist as Ayakashi struck with all the fearsome speed of the viper with the strength of a wild tiger. With both her feet planted and the force of the punch incorporating all of the muscles from her charge, her stomped foot, all the way up her side, arm, and to her fist, there would be no veering off of this single punch. Should Akira attempt to knock it down, he would easier be able to lift his own entire body-weight and push himself up with Ayakashi's fist, than be able to push hers down or to either side. Ayakashi had planted herself like the tree, and would not be moved. Should the punch meet its mark, it would be devastating, effortlessly shattering bones and rag-doll a human dozens of meters should the blow go unguarded.

With all her weight planted on her front foot, her hind leg was now free to move, With Aya's low stance, she was already coiled and ready for her next explosive movement, hoping to catch Akira off guard.

Only time would tell...

[1435 Words]

Akira quietly observed as Ayakashi began to disarm herself. It was a considerable amount that he hadn't bothered to truly count before hand when they had met. Considering the sheer amount of weapons she carried on her person he was filled with both relief and regret. Relief being the greater of the two emotions there because he had no real ability to deal with that many weapons if she could do more than two at once. He didn't care to doubt that she could for his own safety. Instead he just accepted that it wouldn't be an issue. However some regret did linger there for him. After all so much equipment was likely to hamper movement in some way even if just a little and he needed even the smallest edge. The other weapon he took special note of was the quiver of arrows. Oh how he wished to see her use those if only so he could see the taijutsu he had created to deal with such an attack. It was an intense physical move but had she counted on those he would of had the edge he needed. However she did not so he would have to deal with a considerably more fair fight for her. A pity but for the moment he didn't care to see any of the other weapons slicing his flesh.

For now he could not ignore her when such a fight required unbroken attention. A single glance away for a moment could cost him a great deal of pain and possible broken bones. Instead his eyes narrowed as her stance almost mimicked his own. At first he wondered if she was mocking him or simply using a mirror of his own stance but something about it spoke of practice. She was using a hyuga stance...how she had come about utilizing this he wasn't sure but there was one key difference that made it clear no Hyuga had taught her it. Her hands were balled into closed up fists. In Soft palm it was forbidden but not unheard of. It was a way to kill the opponent instead of simply disabling them. Had he not been cast out of his own clan he may have been infuriated by the sheer mockery of his art. It was in some opinions superior but he would have to show that it was not. He would have to show the dominance of soft palm over God fist. He could not be beaten easily here. If only for the pride of a clan he no longer claimed to be a part of. A clan he could not claim to be a part of.

"Lets give them something to remember..."

The words to set off the fight it would seem. It was a shame some what that no one would be allowed to witness this battle between the two. However it also meant he didn't need to hold back in certain aspects with only his opponent present. He was sure she could keep a secret if she wanted to. Probably had plenty even from his information network. No excuses for losing here today. If he was beaten without so much as posing a challenge it was simply because she was that much better. He would have to accept that as fact. For the moment the world seemed to slow on her exhale. On her inhale the world burst to life but much slower than they were perceiving. Petals had just begun to rip upwards to the sky and already Ayakashi had cleared most of the ten meters between them. Certainly a violent rush but his eyes were studying her just as rapidly. He was looking for how this attack would play out and how she was aiming to hit him. He needed to preemptively determine it by her movements before it happened to keep up. However that was easier said than done based on her trained martial arts hiding most of the signals.

Still her momentum halted a meter away and her could see the power and speed surge around her to use her momentum to increase the power of the blow. In one movement her foot dropped and her fist thrust forward as it broke through the air with enough force to send a shock wave outwards that was visible to the naked eye. He figured those gloves would likely be painful to block directly but the stance was so basic for such a high level fight. A straight power jab at him? Was she testing his martial arts with a basic moved back with sheer power or luring him in to something more? Arrogant but fair since her raw power made the simplest move devastating to anyone. For now his hands were already moving as her foot dropped. He wouldn't catch the hand directly without gauging how that power interacted with him as that could break his bones but he would use two hands to stop the one. His hands closed as if smashing a trap down as she aimed directly between them and attempted to catch her wrist in two hands holding his arms locked straight to force her to push him rather than push through his block. It was a violent experience if it succeeded but instead of his chest taking a hit the momentum of the blow and power of it would snap up all the petals in a circle around them blowing away in a wave. His eyes also took in how the ground shattered and how that would affect her footing however. He needed to take the last of the momentum of the attack and use it.

Before he stopped the fist completely if his block worked he would release her wrist with his left hand and grip it with his right. At the same time his left foot would slam forward to try and kick at her forward ankle to try and kick it on the broken ground and hopefully cost her some footing. In the same movement as with his foot he would turn sideways with his right shoulder turning away from her. His right hand would yank as hard as he could on her wrist while his foot tried to keep her footing loose and hopefully take her balance. All of this a simple forward throw but with a little addition. If any of it worked he would in the moment she lurched forward slam his left hand in a side chop towards her ribs since it would be below her arm. Full stopping power equal to his rapid forward throw counter.

4973

Ayakashi's fist flew towards her opponent with the force of a meteor crashing into the earth, to be met by the skilled hands of Akira, the force of her blow, even without the art of reckless release crashed over him in a plume as the force created a wave that shook the very skies around them, throwing ever more petals into the air as his two hands buckled for a moment under the strength of her one, though the fact remained, that Akira had not moved, he hadn't fallen into the trap that Ayakashi was sure that he would not be able to resist, rather, he met her force head on, catching her blow met by a facial expression from Aya that seemed to translate to a bewildered 'huh' ... microseconds before making Akira's own power play in grabbing her wrist and stepping in to throw a kick at her leg which carried her weight. What came next would either be an elbow or a throw as Akira used some of her lingering momentum to lift her in an attempt to throw her over his shoulder. The move seemed to be more of a displacement than an attempt to harm, a simple exchange than an offensive maneuver. As he attempted to pull her forward it was the subtle blow for her ribs that caught her by surprise, it was sly, planned, and effective. Though it was not the blow that Ayakashi would have gone for amid a basic throw, but she commended his effort.

Ayakashi acted quickly, turning her knee to face slightly away from her opponent, she Akira's kick to the let to misplace her footing succeeded, but would deal little damage as her leg would bend normally and soak the blow with its natural range of movement and resistance, coiling and bending as she moved a touch lower than she was before. As Akira stepped in and Aya saw the blow coming for her ribs, her spare hand slid to the location to meet his there and guard against it, the impact of the chop slamming into the top of her hand, even through what armour she wore there she was able to feel the blow, perhaps not quite able to crack the ribs of the Mizukage, but more than enough to deal some significant pain if it had been allowed to slip through the cracks in her guard. The toss, however, was something that Aya at this point was prepared for. Kicking off the ground with her coiled leg, faster than Akira hopefully would have prepared for, Ayakashi would vault over him, twisting in such a manner as she would land facing her opponent, all the while using his grab as her own pivot for the somersault, grabbing hold of the wrist which had in-turn grabbed hers with enough force to claim that she was not about to let him simply let go.

Absorbing the momentum from the arc, this is where Ayakashi was going to become dangerous, from her full one hundred and eighty degree arc, she channeled the strength of Akira's throw, letting go moments before she landed as she combined that strength with her own weight and momentum into force as she hit the ground, foot meeting earth first she bent her knee and span. Coming from low Aya would attempt to immediately sweep the legs of the Tsuchikage, the second she hit the ground without missing a beat, the power of both her and her opponent combined with the force of the kick which would be strong enough to knock her opponent horizontally should it meet the side of his knees that it was aimed for. Sweeping around three hundred and sixty degrees from the follow through, hit or not Aya would use her bent knee once again as a spring as she would launch herself towards Akira, fists coiled and ready to strike as her point to point movement would come into play.

The first blow of the storm that would stream from Ayakashi's would be straight for Akira's chest again, this would be the blow intended to connect with the ninja should her leg sweep have made contact, or should he have jumped to evade her attack, with speed enough to catching him in mid-air should he have so much as hopped her right fist would have almost teleported into place with the Mizukage's extreme movement as she would attempt to punch him square back into the earth to meet his footing once again. Exhaling sharply with the blow for that added ounce of extra power As Ayakashi moved past the basic one-two combination into a strong of blows. Always advancing on her opponent with every strike, her left fist would follow up for the Side of Akira's head, with the right having recovered enough to hook around for the side of his lower ribs as the flurry of blows would continue to strike, whichever hand came down with a blow gave time for the other to recoil into a guarding position covering her head from the other side before it, in turn struck.

It was time to pick up some speed.

Each of the strikes were intended to be fast and relentless with little breathing room in between as Ayakashi was trying to really put the pressure on Akira, but without Akira attacking so much as reacting, Ayakashi found herself in an odd position of being the aggressive one in the combat, as it was usually her who was being attacked by others, so much so that much of her fighting was in an attempt to counter the moves of another person, ending them after they so much as began their movements. Though she could ascertain from the throw that Akira was not only learned in the striking style of Juken, but something else entirely, she was not sure on the art, but she knew that while Juken employed many a submission and many a strike, it was not a grappling or throwing martial art like Judo, Akira was hiding more with his kit, and while Aya was focused on staying to God-Fist and the tenants therein, she was more than ready to begin to expose the true reserves of her skill.

All the while a large white tiger sat in one of the grand grove trees observing the combat, watching Ayakashi move, learning and studying her movements. Silent as the grave and concealed by the low hanging fog that ever surrounded kirigakure

[1112]

Akira would frown and watch as his attacks had little to no effect. She absorbed the blow to her leg almost entirely by moving with the impact rather than letting it hit full on. She was intelligent which made her dangerous in hand to hand combat. It wasn't a joke when they claimed she was likely better than himself when it came to hand to hand taijutsu. If he had use of his chakra for the moment than he might of been able to do some damage but at the same time if she did too than the damage to himself would likely increase as well. Still her reactions and movements were considerably well done and he did not disagree that she too was a master of Taijutsu. She certainly earned the title of the worlds strongest if even he was struggling to cause a single bruise on her. Even if this wasn't life and death combat he wasn't pulling his punches against her and he felt like she wasn't either. Each time she moved those fists of hers it might as well of been a freight train slamming into him. The fact that he had caught one and countered was strictly due to his own skill. Almost anyone else in the world would of been screwed. Still as she blocked his other hand it became clear that the attack on her ribs had failed too. He was going to need to step this up a notch to succeed at any of it.

Even as he set himself to increase the momentum she did too. He was no longer interested in testing her so much as pushing himself and she was going to keep that momentum rolling as well. His golden eyes watched her carefully as she snatched his gripping arm with her own hand and held him as she spun around the throw to finally let go right before her landing. Had she held on and he hadn't turned with her with those eyes ever watching she may have broken his arm. Those golden eyes were ever watching and seemed to see all as he never let her fade from his vision yet he was slower than her he realized. She was already mid attack as she landed going in for a leg sweep. Her impact on the ground send out a wave of earth for a couple of meters and her leg sweep cut through the grass ripping it up like a sword slashing along the ground. He jumped up but it wasn't fast enough in comparison to her momentum. Her kick caught him in the ankles and he felt himself turning. Almost spinning from the power of the blow but the speed they were going, she was going to continue her attack well before he got a full cycle.

He heard the earth erupt as dirt and rock flew from behind Ayakashi with such force that rocks took solid chunks of bark out of the tree's behind her like sawing through the forest. She was coming again for him with a full out attack. He could not simply take this attack and the damage that followed. He needed to show her what she was facing was a peer. He was about to match her momentum and aggressive take on the battle. Once again it was time to step it up a notch. Up until this point he had been switching from one style to another as needed and back. It was time to combine styles for an attack that would count and stop trying to counter her power for power. Rather it was time to use her power to heighten his own as she had with his. In the instant he was in the air and she crossed the distance for another blow in less than the blink of an eye he already had begun reacting instinctively and switched again to a combination of Judo and Muay Tai. Even mid air both styles had impressive uses. He was going to demonstrate to her he was being slightly underestimated.

Another blow coming for his chest was met with a hand slamming onto her wrist with enough force to send an echo across the field like a thunder clap as he grabbed at the wrist where her glove connected to her tightly. With his hand there instead of forcing her hand down he used the force of her leg sweep for stiff arm her arm and force himself to stop above her blow mid spin. At the same time his body would spin using the hand on her wrist as a pivot to swing his knee full force around to the side of her head the striking arm was on. He could see a follow up blow was coming for the side of his head. A blow to disorient was clever but he had a free arm too. He would drive his elbow down to the forearm of the arm she had attacked him with while ducking his head behind it as both an attack and a guard. It wouldn't be enough to stop her entirely but hopefully His two attacks on one side of her would land one of them. Either way the blow meant for his head would smash into his arm that was braced for it and luckily it was more of a speed attack and less of a power thrust. Either way he felt his arm begin to give and his body begin moving away from her. If he had been planted down she probably would of cracked the bones in his arm but luckily he was mid air so instead the blow would shove him hard away from her. His hand attempting to take her glove away from her as he tried to hold on and failed. Her gloves however were of impressive quality and the clasp strained but held. Instead he was left falling back from her by two meters as his boots slammed into the ground and the dirt parted as he slid back another meter leaving two lines. Already both arms up to counter and defend as he knew three meters wouldn't even give him a second against her even if his blow connected to her head. God his arm hurt.

6032

Ayakashi felt like she had her opponent on the ropes, she was faster than him, and considerably stronger, having felt the weight from his previous blow that she had managed to deflect on her ribs as well as measured by the strength of his own throw attempt. She was yet to have an accurate gauge on his endurance, though it seemed to rival her own, neither of his hands had been broken in the exchange when he had managed to catch each her blow with each of his own hands, but when it came to his point to point movement or perception, that explosive motion which made a fighter so deadly in combat as well as granting them the accuracy and speed of mind to be able to keep up with another fighter. Those statistics only revealed themselves though pushing your opponent with everything you had until you found their inevitable breaking point. A point that Ayakashi had yet to find on Akira, he was a skilled fighter, but this was still the early days of this fight.

Ayakashi felt her leg clip his ankles as her opponent attempted to dodge the powerful leg-sweep, the Mizukage of the Village hidden in the mist knew that even a clip there would begin to form a weakness for later, the strength in her kicks was not something to be under-estimated as the Mizukage had struck with the momentum of both herself and him. Spinning out of the strike Akira soared over her body, managing to recover from the minor set-back in a stylish manner, becoming of the Tsuchikage. Planting a leg Ayakashi launched for her opponent only to find that Akira's hand would place itself atop her own as he would vault with a powerful knee aimed straight for the side of her head. With little time to spare and working only on instinct Ayakashi managed to jerk her head to a side as the wind whipping at her from the speed of both her and her opponent created a squall between them so potent that it left a stress cut across her face which would begin to redden over time... Some things were too close, were that attack performed in any other manner other than a head-first attack where Ayakashi was able to visually react to the entire range of movement before her, there was no chance that she would have been able to avoid the explosive knee.

Akira had changed his style again.

Redoubling her efforts, Ayakashi span with her upper-body, catching the already blocking arm of the Hyuga with the back of her fist in place of her punch to the head, meeting his guard, rather than following up, Ayakashi roared and followed through, launching Akira as an airborne and un-grounded mass a dozen meters away with her sheer strength. Akira was strong, this fact could not be disputed, even her Sannin would have been fighting at a disadvantage against this man. Whatever style that he seemed to be using now was unique, It was time for the Mizukage to unleash hell. Leaning forward the Mizukage would sprint in his direction, timing her charge to reach him immediately as he reconstituted from her knock-back. The Mizukage becoming a ghost amidst the swirling foliage as the wind would break over her billowing form, power surging to her legs as the earth around her seemed to ripple, the sheer force of her being was not quite expanding in fallout over the arena, but it seemed the Mizukage was walking a thin line between being a surgical scalpel, and a whirlwind of destruction.

Three meters before the Mizukage reached her opponent she hopped, no higher than a foot off the ground, pulling her right knee to her chest as though she were to deliver a kick so strong that it would impale the Hyuga, until, masterfully, moments before hand, Aya used the slightly off-center force from her lift-off to twist her upper body around, feinting and using the raised knee to land while her free leg, subtly span to slam into the outside of Akira's leading knee. Should it land, the force would be hard enough to drive him, even with his endurance down prone to a single knee if not completely drop him. Following up, with the same leg, like a jack-hammer, she would pull the knee from her striking foot back and aim a full thrust kick for his chin / chest with the same foot, loaded with the intention of intercepting his down-ward path. A successful combination would leave Akira Dazed, but the momentum of the kirigakure fighter was far from gone, the fire in her eyes was not receding or fading, but rather glowing and brightening against the adversity that her fellow Kage was delivering.

Ayakashi was going to push harder and faster, and now that she had begun her momentum, not much was going to slow her down now, all she needed to know was what the Tsuchikage was going to do now, how he was going to block in order to follow through with her harrowing assault. After the attack, should it all succeed as planned she would continue to rush her downed opponent, taking another aggressive step forward and seeing the reaction to her charge, forcing him to counter-attack or suffer another onslaught at the mercy of Aya's aggression.

All the while the Mizukage was beginning to think three moves ahead, planning contingencies for him stepping in with quick knees, him catching her out-stretched legs, each of which would put him at more of a disadvantage as her follow-ups would alter. Catching one of her limbs would immediately enact a retaliation of Aya using him to support her weight as she would aim her other leg directly for his head, forcing him to duck or let go, ducking would put aya in the perfect position to snap her striking leg back, and throw a kick straight to the gut under the arm which held her leg. Stepping in would simply allow Aya to follow through with her strikes, the focus merely changing from an out-stretched leg, to a knee... but most importantly...

Using her legs freed up her hands, which were ready and waiting like the viper to block or grab an advancing attack.

[1076]

Her follow through had been very effective. He could feel her power in every blow she tried to deliver and at this rate he was going to wear down faster than her. His hands and his arm were already partially numb from the impacts and his ankle had a sharp pain in it. If her attack had landed directly on him at any point without his armor lessening the damage he would find himself facing serious damage. It had been some time since he had faced this kind of adversity so he was a little rusty and yet he was managing to keep up for the time being. If anything he was pushing her to fight him seriously. Those blows could not possibly be holding back anything not chakra enhanced. He himself was beyond human ability but she was slightly beyond him. Still he wasn't going to call it just because of an obvious difference between them. It was more difficult but there were ways to sustain oneself in a fight against superior odds. Specifically a slightly more advanced martial art. He wasn't sure it would work against someone like her but even if it didn't break skin it would still pinch...and where he was aiming a pinch could do a great deal.

His Golden eyes narrowed at her roar as he was suddenly launched backwards. For a moment it was all he could do to keep from wincing and gritting his teeth. If not for his armored coat that blow would of cracked his bones. He would need to keep defending from the armor and hope she took a second to figure it out. Already he was sailing back through the air and he could tell she was eager to charge her advantage. Good and bad for him. Bad because he could certainly use some firm footing but at the same time good because he needed her to challenge him as close as possible for this martial art to work. He was going to feel this rush he could tell. Already the world seemed to erupt around her and she covered the distance between them rapidly. He wasn't going to reach the ground before she attacked that much he could tell. However much to his surprise she decided to use another leg attack aiming for his body? He was already shifting his weight hard right when she shifted too. Oh not his body...a Knee eh? Perfect.

A cocky smile would appear on his face as her leg shot up for him like a bullet. His coat fluttering from the force of it. He was moving like something different though. His leg raised up so her foot would pass just under his knee. He couldn't manage more than that anyway as she was faster than him by a small amount but he had watched her displaying some broad movements and a rather flashy upwards attack. His ability to adjust was his only advantage here. Instead of the impact she was expecting though that knee which she had barely missed would shift into a rolling motion to slam back down but so would his leg. It was a dropping wrap grapple around that leg she had presented with all his weight dropping on it before it could retreat. An attempt to lock it between his legs in a leg lock. It wasn't like he was expecting to be capable of making her tap out though. She had already made it clear that she was far too strong for that. No indeed this was simply to pull him down and lock him into place for a single moment. Even as her leg would move with him on it if he succeeded making him her personal club to beat as she pleased his hands flashed back and forth in a rapid motion. Each time it moved his fingers were like solid blades stabbing with surgical precision at the same spot over and over as fast as he could with as much force as he could. Her Tendon on the back of her ankle his single target with a martial art that with training made a persons hand like a stabbing spear. Against anyone else a single blow would of severed the tendon entirely but with her, Akira was going to try and smash his fingers against that tendon as many times as he could before she could figure out how to get him off her. If he failed...if he didn't do any damage with this attack she would have far to much power over him to try any further efforts of the sort.

6812

Ayakashi would react instantly, she'd presented her opponent with a leg following a feint, setting traps within traps as she was well prepared for the grapple, before she was able to snap her leg back she felt the support and strength of her opponent lock her leg in place. She could not properly see where Akira was, she could assume his position due to the fact that she could feel that he was not grabbing her with one of his arms, meaning that he would be situated high, high enough for what was to come... Ayakashi could have slammed Akira with a plethora of moves, using her already spinning and twisting momendum from her feint to bring her other leg right around into the side of the Tsuchikage was usually her favorite, in such a move, against a normal opponent she could have internally cut them in two, the force from her blow so powerful that she would be more than capable of rupturing everything internally within her opponent simply with the shockwave from the blow. But, Ayakashi here had something to prove.

As Akira rose his fingers to strike down on Ayalashi's ankle, twisting his own body to slam into the exposed limb, having caught Aya's leg up at about the height of her knee in order to expose enough of the limb to make a targeted attack against with his fingers placed him in a very vulnerable position. The second thought which raced through the Mizukage's head was to lock him in a vice of her own... An idea that had merit, but, while it would still be effective, an attack with her legs would simply tangle their lower bodies, leaving their upper bodies free to strike in close combat. Coiling around an opponent like a cobra was often the move engaged to tangle an opponent's arm when available, less so their leg unless you intended to put your opponent into a leg lock. Raising and striking at Akira's head would prove little, as quick as the Mizukage was able to be, she wanted to collect him with a maneuver that punished him for putting himself in this situation.

He had grappled her, but she'd also grappled him. The difference was, he was attempting to interract with her body... to evade, she would have to not interract with his, bypassing that stage and moving straight into a strike...

Without missing a beat, as the force around her leg tightened as his close lock entangled the Mizukage, The Mizukage in turn tightened her other leg around his thigh like an Anaconda. The pressure meant the two of them weren't going anywhere... But as the Tsuchikage rose his hands to strike Aya, the first and second blow would land against her ankle, surging pain through her body as Aya threw her weight backward, flexing her body in a manner that few would be able to accomplish. Grounding her hands as Akira would feel the pressure around him begin to lift. There would be nowhere to go as Ayakashi would, with all the strength in her body, using her weight, the force of throwing herself back, and her core strength, lift Akira from the ground, arching over her head as Ayakashi threw her weight back in a single, backwards sommersault and attempt to smash him head-first into the ground. The quick explosive motion with Ayakashi as the Axis, would mean that Akira was moving easily double her speed building up momentum as he would come slamming into the earth in a devastating powerbomb.

Should the move be successful, the earth would crack as dust and force would explode from the impact zone, shooting up earth and dust as Ayakashi would force a crater for the Tsuchikage. The end of her movement would be Aya in a lying down position, still viced onto her opponent as the dust and debris shot past her. Pushing up with her front two hands to be poised on top of Akira, raising her fist threateningly with fury in her eye as she would keep one hand forward to guard. Pausing for a moment to see if the brief combat was over... Were Akira to raise his hands, or appear defenceless long enough for Aya to have landed that final blow, she would release the clutch with her legs, standing up with a step backwards as she extended a hand to allow Akira up from the hole she had created to put him in... Akira was a powerful opponent, no doubt he had not yet finished his training, but should he get there, Aya doubted that she would be able to contend with his martial training. On paper, Akiras learning was above her own, there was no doubting that, but it seemed Aya's physical prowess would push her over.

If her blow had not succeeded in moving on the combat, Aya would react as necessary, more than prepared for a following assault. But to her, it seemed, her opponent in locking her leg, had not trapped her. He'd trapped himself.

---

Ayakashi would move back to where she had lain her weapons, replacing them on her person one at a time, her mask covering her eyes, her swords at her sides, her quiver at her back and her fuma shuriken behind her with her dagger clipping to the base of the hilt of kusanagi. Effectively turning the violent chakra blade into a hyouton weapon so long as the infamous wedding band was attached. Looking over at her opponent, Ayakashi was now ready for the all out fight, she hoped that Akira was not too hurt from the assault that she had forced upon him. Each of her blows would have shattered a normal ninja through and through, even a jounin, but as a Kage, she had made the assumption that he would be able to take everything that she dished out, potentially leaving Akira with a slew of broken bones and fractures in her wake... But she was sure he would have everything handled.

Turning to her opponent, Ayakashi removed her eye-patch, blue flame wrapping around it as she cast her patch aside, looking at her opponent now with her two eyes. The artifact that was lodged within her skull was one of great strength, though it came at a cost, the icey chakra which flowed through her own body would move more freely with a life of its own, moving in tandem with the Mizukage's own desires, but it limited her reserves some-what in order to use it. Though the restriction was minor, every lick of chakra counted when it came to fighting an opponent like Akira. Opening her mouth as Aya's hand slid to her side, resting her hand on one of the several hilts on her person before she spoke out loud.

"You're not bad Lord Tsuchikage, in a couple of years your skill will surpass my strength, I'm sure of it... your discipline and finesse make you a worthy opponent, we should now see how that finesse translates to our use of chakra..."

Taking the sword of Kusanagi from her side and extending the blade to the length of a short sword, the ice blue chakra blade extended in a pristine manner. Hyouton chakra flowing through the weapon turning the Kusanagi's alignment into that of her own, the familiar chill of the ice chakra moving through the blade made it easier to command, combined with the eye of the demon ice witch, the drain could be hardly felt at all. The gift of her late father was being put to good use, and she was proud to have it at her disposal.

Ayakashi would await his response, before moving any further.

[1326 words]

His hits landed before his golden gaze and he almost smiled in victory but something was wrong. His fingers hurt when they smashed against the tendon of all things and to top it off, he felt no liquid warmth of blood on his fingers. It wasn't possible in his experience but one thing he was learning about this woman was that she was not in the realm of possibility. She was the height of the Shinobi world and with that in mind he had tried as hard as he could. Truth was she was monsterous in every way so much so that physically she was beyond him. To have come into this thinking he could just endure until he found an opening was a mistake. Still a shift in his gaze to her face revealed little as well. She didn't show any pain there towards her tendon under attack.

He had gambled for a precision strike and it was not going to pay off. He would of cursed if he had the time but even as his blows landed her legs tightened on his like a vice grip. The payment for his gamble was about to come in full. He knew this so he prepared to muster his strength as his fist closed. Already she had raised him in the air by planting her hands on the ground he realized instantly if he went in for another attack on the same ankle it would probably equal to just as little damage accomplished as before and he would take enough damage to dehabilitate him. He knew what was coming as she followed through in the movement and grit his teeth. It was unavoidable without jutsu but at the very least he could lessen the damage to himself. He was very familiar with how earth functioned as it was his primary birth element. He knew how it softened and hardened and if he took an impact to the upper body and head on the ground she was aiming at he was going to feel it. As she flung him downwards in a power slam his fists jutted out in a one two combo both fists slamming into the earth a mere moment before he did. The earth softening and crumbling from the impact even as his fists skimmed skin off the knuckles right before he himself slammed into the now slightly softened ground. His two small craters minor in comparison to the crater her blow now left with his body and he felt his bones shudder and his head dance in a dizzy spell as he impacted. Still it was considerably less with out the solid earth catching him and more a dirt cushion.

Still as his blurred vision came into focus even though it was just a second he saw her with a fist raised over him. He could see a bit of battle rage in her eye and felt a ping of confidence that he had pushed her to take him seriously. Still in a straight up taijutsu fight he had lost due to her sheer physical power. He couldn't extend his name as the top of the taijutsu world here in Kiri at this rate. His technique had been more versatile but it meant little in comparison to the beast like power she presented. Still she shifted off of him as his thoughts came too and helped him up. She had seen that he had lost this battle too and now it appeared it was on to the next stage. He raised his hands to assess the damage before touching his temple...a little bit of blood on his forehead showed he probably had a concussion. His knuckles were fairly messed up too but thanks to the armor on himself his arm had stopped throbbing finally. He smiled and focused a small amount of chakra as his hands began to glow gold. Already she was collecting her gear but he decided he would use a bit of a healing technique to cover what damage he did take from her since he wouldn't be able to sit still and use it later. As she began to gear up he hovered his hand over his forehead first as the gash there closed up and the blood faded back into the skin. Healing with little more than a pink mark. Next was his hands as both hands hovered near each other. The skin peeling back into place and the blood fading once more until his hands no longer hurt. Medical ninjutsu might be the only thing to keep him in this fight....well...not the only thing.

As the golden chakra faded from his hands he moved over and picked up his curved daggers. Placing one back in its chest sheath he gripped the other in his left hand upside down in an odd way since most weapons were held right side up. Still the blade was facing her so at least he had that right. Still he watched her remove the eye patch and blue flames rose. She spoke to him then and he rose an eyebrow. Listening patiently. "You're not bad Lord Tsuchikage, in a couple of years your skill will surpass my strength, I'm sure of it... your discipline and finesse make you a worthy opponent, we should now see how that finesse translates to our use of chakra..." He smiled at the flattery. It was best he didn't call her a monster with the power of a demon. It might not come across as the compliment he meant it to be. Instead he let out a long breath and considered his words. His life was about to change with this next part but he could accept that now. Having been pushed to using it in a fight had been a dream for some time and now...if not the world then she would know.

"Lady Mizukage... Please...I ask you call me Akira. Though there is little accuracy in that either. I admire your raw power even greater than my own so for the first time in a decade...I will take an opponent seriously. As fearsome as that blade is in appearance I am going on the offensive. What you are about to see no one else on this earth knows about me. I urge you to be fully prepared for me with chakra at my command."

Sure he came across as cocky but he was serious. He looked at her with a serious expression now. He waited until she acknowledged his warning before he took a deep breath again. His mouth would open as slowly a deep roar would erupt outwards and echo across the distance. His golden eyes would spark once and then again before chakra would begin to raise the earth around him. Rocks rising into the air from the sheer power of what was happening. If Akira was a challenge before what was happening now made him the apex of opponents for her to face in that moment. Stone rose and petals flew around them in a dance as the wind surged in a circle around them. His chakra pressure was less than hers so she likely wouldn't be phased by it but she would see something interesting. His muscles shifted and grew as vains rose in his neck and hands. He had something to prove here after all. Next as his muscles grew his feet became coated in a golden chakra that seemed to actually keep his feet an inch off the ground and flared out like golden, tiny wings. Finally and the most interesting part was vains split from his eyes and pulsed as the Byakugan activated in all its glory. Three high level stacked jutsu at once was what Akira could pull off in an instant with his chakra control. More then that would truly strain him. Still those all seeing eyes looked to her as he spoke now with the tiny stones still floating around them in the near swirling storm around the arena. And then he moved. He was faster now then he had been before. He crossed the distance at SS-3 speed and in that instant brought his dagger up in a slash for her chest. His attack was faster now too. Somehow with these techniques he was moving at SS-3 speed and SS-3 reaction time. Now he was actual competition for her.

8229

Jutsu used in order:

"Lady Mizukage... Please...I ask you call me Akira. Though there is little accuracy in that either. I admire your raw power even greater than my own so for the first time in a decade...I will take an opponent seriously. As fearsome as that blade is in appearance I am going on the offensive. What you are about to see no one else on this earth knows about me. I urge you to be fully prepared for me with chakra at my command."

Ayakashi had assumed that the kage before her had some relation to the hyuga, but being a quite so powerful one, outside the land of konoha was something that even she had not quite anticipated with all of her wisdom. She was starting to smile at her opponent, this was what she had signed up for when she had thought that she was going to fight Akira, a match against some-one who wielded the same kind of destructive power and skill as herself... And so as her eyes had once widened with shock and intrigue, they now narrowed as she leaned forward into a ready stance. The Mizukage watched the man's transformation and his silver eyes erupting from behind what they were once hidden by, Ayakashi knew those eyes, every ninja in the ninja world knew those eyes, the Byakkugan were powerful weapons that had long ingrained themselves into the history books of the ninja world as one of the three legendary Doujutsu, and the second of those almost exclusive to the lando of Konoha, though now it seemed the Sharingan of the Uchiha had travelled far and wide since the days of old preceding the destruction of their clan centuries past.

'I shall meet him...'

Aya, taking in a deep breath, pulled her focus deep into her body, feeling the nature chakra within herself as well as her body and spirit chakra, the three components of a sage were there and ready to be combined into in order to reveal her more devastating power. But rather than unite the three, as was often customary, Ayakashi fed her spirit and body chakra to the beast that was her Senjutsu pools, converting the two ready and natural chakra forms into the volatile and powerful third, increasing the sage chakra in her body exponentially and pushing her sage form exponentially further down the track in power and more into the state of something else entirely. Ayakashi's usually Turquoise chakra in sage mode became an incredible and violent emerald green. The patterns and almost celtic lines that would expand in butterfly patterns over her face, flowing down over her chest, arms and abdomen, but especially over her back. The chakra that flowed through her creating translucent light rays which almost appeared as wings.

The butterfly sage was ready.

As Akira charged forward, she could tell that he had recovered, remembering the medical technique he had used before, it was no wonder that he still moved at full force. Ayakashi could still feel the stinging sensation on her ankle... while the pain from Akira's strikes would not hinder her, in fact the pain likely sharpened her senses even further, but it was a testament that she could not allow the Tsuchikage to harm her any more, he was capable of doing so, and that was something that could not be allowed to happen.... It was with harrowing speed that Akira rushed Ayakashi, moving as fast as she did with the movements of his arm whipping out with the dagger in his hand for her chest. Aya would not be able to hold back against this opponent any more, and so it was with a heavy burden that she would unleash her full potential, invoking the 'art of reckless release' without a single drop of chakra the murderous potential of her strikes simply by pushing through her own mental block of holding back had an effect on the area around her, as if the slightest of movements could cause devastation to the landscape around them.

Time was up...

From Akira's perspective, The Mizukage would await for his strike, waiting for the last moment before lowering her weapon in a striking stance to ultimately, potentially, guard against him. Until finally, his blow would strike where the Mizukage... once was. Even with the power of his Byakkugan, he would not be able to track the incredible movement speed of the Mizukage as she almost seemed to teleport to the location on the blind side of his knife. The Mizukage's presence would suddenly appear on his radar, black flame running down her sword as the mizukage faced sode on to her opponent, spinning in the reverse of her step to better swing the blade at its maximum 270 degree arc. The air around her, so ghastly and daunting, it would chill all near it to the bone... The black energy that seemed to tear matter apart radiating with a purple flame that seemed to be nothing more or less than the most extreme hyouton chakra could possibly attain... With a single strike, the void around her blade would expand at incredible speeds, rushing toward her opponent as it would rip the very particles of the air apart, leaving little more than the debris from fission in her wake.

The wave of black hyouton chakra would threaten to envelop Akira, little more than three and a half meters away. Should it make contact, everything it touched would be obliterated by the void-like energy, while the frigid purple flame at its edges would leave behind nothing but frostbitten wasteland. Aya had exceeded the natural power of Ice, and found something else, something more, something living within her chakra. And the veritable string of pearled moons draped within her smiling face showed only how practiced she was at revealing it. The arc in total stood at two meters in height, and expanded out thirty meters across the whole 270 degree arc. Trees collapsing and falling as their trunks were obliterated on contact with the void... In truth, Ayakashi thought that Akira would see the attack coming, it was a basic enough tactic... but with the speed it was delivered, almost attacking before the 1/2 second of the afterimage was even up...

Chakra Notes:

Akira charged forward into battle to meet his opponent. Fate and reality stirring around them as the sheer amount of power flowing between the two could be felt all the way to the village. Only a deranged person would rush to see this fight and even so Akira hardly cared about hiding his identity anymore in that moment. There was purpose to this fight in proving his might. She was stronger and tougher than him but he refused to accept himself as her lesser. He was king of the mountain and she the mist. He was not one to yield to anyone. He was hardly about to give any ground even if she was too dangerous to engage so directly. He would persevere and land a blow. It had to happen or he could not accept that as far as he had reached it hadn't even come close to her. The sweat, the tears, the dead and the blood. All of it had to mean something and to prove it he would conquer this mountain too. He watched as the time it took him to cross that distance, less than a couple of seconds her chakra shifted almost violently in color and she changed into something more. Something beyond what she had been before. It would of made him smile if he had the time to do so because she was taking him seriously. Even Ayakashi could not toy with him. However his focus was too centered on the fight for his lips to even twitch.

There she stood blade ready to take his blade and block it which was what he wanted. He needed to see her try and block for one of his techniques to take effect. If she had blocked the sheer chakra force if not countered should move her and put him on the offensive. However even as his arm reached out he knew it was all out of place. There was an after image in front of him but a surge of chakra that appeared was gone and now on his side. In an instant she moved impossibly fast and now he could see a massive amount of potent chakra building down her arm and into her blade almost instantly. He hadn't wanted to use his one escape card yet but it appeared he was going to have to. She was too far away for his usual counters so he would have to defend. Which potentially meant using up his most major resource. A clan technique he had mastered long ago and only used once. It was far to early to use it and he knew that but he had no alternative. He cursed himself for not creating a substitution earlier which was a foolish thing to do. His eyes narrowed as the blade rose and immediatly he released his own golden chakra and spun. His speed rapid enough to spread his golden chakra about him just in time as a wave of black chakra washed around him. The terrain turning into an ice age for some distance as tree's toppled in the power of the slash. Nothing would grow there for some time and yet for Ayakashi a new view would appear through the black slash.

A golden chakra would split through the darkness and surge forward even as it began to crack as the sheer spinning force of it ripped away the frozen earth and tore   through the flames of winter to slam into her if it succeeded. Right before both techniques shattered or faded like glass the technique was designed to throw her hard. Normal Jounin would of been thrown hard enough to shatter bones a good fifteen meters but if it succeeded hopefully she at least rose into the air and fell back for a couple of meters even with her insane strength. All he needed was a meter or two for his plan to function. As soon as his technique shattered he was crouched down as his knee's bent and he pushed off the ground with everything he had. Nothing left behind as the ground erupted upwards. The only thing his free hand touched was one particularly large boulder which he infused his substitution chakra in as it was sent flying a good twenty meters back crashing into the toppled tree's edge. His knife was risen as he launched after her to be placed in his mouth just long enough to form the tiger, and rat seals like blurs before tugging the blade out of his mouth with his left hand as his right began to glow green.  If all this had managed to push her into a free fall at all in the instant she cleared the first meter so would he. He had been correct in assuming that he needed more than a meter but still he would launch himself as if lying below her and raise his hand up to slam  upwards for her right shoulder while his left hand upon the moment his right should make contact would slam the knife into the ground like an anchor. Combining the sheer force of the sudden stop which yanked hard at his own arm and the cutting power of the chakra scalpels to hopefully drag the scalpels down the entire side of her body from her right shoulder down to her right heel severing every muscle and tendon from point a to Point B and cutting through bone violently and jaggedly as well.

If she wasn't launched by his clan jutsu however as soon as he prepared the hand seals and substitution he would charge out of the destruction intact still even with all the land around him dead and throw his knife at the leg he had attacked the heal on early letting it spin to hopefully cut her or draw her to block it as it was so close while he would charge forward and try and shove his chakra scalpel into her lung opposite her blade arm. If this connected or was blocked it would cut the muscles if it was a body part that blocked him and even if it wasn't there would be a chakra force that would once again attempt to blast her backwards. Still moving with all he had to give.

9286

Jutsu and chakra:

[Akira was quick...]

Few would be able to notice what she had done, but she had managed to coax out the most powerful defensive technique commonly found in the Hyuga arsenal, it was the eight trigrams revolving heaven technique, scriptures had spoken of the technique, almost impenetrable to the point that it was legendary, though there was a technique in Ayakashi's arsenal that she knew would have been able to penetrate its valiant defense... but now was not the time to show such a trump card. The black void-like chakra smashed into the wall of rotating chakra like a wave slamming into it so hard that some of the chakra within the rotation itself became corrupted with the devastating hyouton chakra, swirling within the spinning miasma as the two forces battled it out between them, Ayakashi's brute force technique against the skilled employ of the Hyuga rotation... Were the technique a still barrier, Ayakashi knew that she would have shattered it like glass with her technique. But the spin gave it strength, eternally reinforcing itself as Akira was safe within its confines until finally, the wave crashed around the technique, leaving Akira spared. What came next however, Ayakashi had not expected.

[but there was an opening...]

The tail end of the rotation expanded past her momentary wave, clipping the side of her body and sending Ayakashi flying backward at such a speed that she was momentarily disoriented, her bones bending at the impact force. Buckling, but not breaking as there was nothing behind her for the Mizukage to slam into in order to transfer all that aggressive force into damage. Between the two of them and the aggressive force of their chakra, they had left little within the fifteen meters she was sent. Though it was within that instant that the Tsuchikage was upon her once again, his speed on par with her own as he dashed in low, dagger in his hand as his other seemed to be a-glow with another technique she was familiar with... Scalpels, they had saved her life in surgery several times over the course of her ninja career, she had been on the receiving end of them as a patient, but as a victim, it was not something she was looking forward to. Akira was aiming to get below her as she was sent hurtling toward her next destination. Twisting her body, Aya would let out a burst of her own chakra as she would seemingly kick off a platform that was never there, little more than a translucent fractal sigil, hovering where her feet had once been before fading shortly after, breaking apart into snowflakes scattered by her speed.

[This was her moment...]

Placing her legs on the symbol moments before Akira struck, Ayakashi's legs buckled, where there had been nothing for her to collide with, the force of her chakra just made something, though she largely resisted the fractures in her legs from the force, the cartilage in her joints had been ground from the impact as her body compressed like a spring. Kicking off and firing vertically up with her speed, Ayakashi released everything in a wave behind her, sending a powerful wave like a shot-gun blast directly below her where Akira had been, strong enough to ground his momentum and slam him into the ground with simply the sheer power of her speed used as a weapon against him now that she was allowing the 'reckless release' of her personal statistics. The intention of the sudden attack was to literally bounce Akira. He was intending to stop by plunging his knife in the ground as a stop, the intent followed by with punishment would thrust Ayakashi four meters up into the air as she vaulted... only to pause.

[power at her fingertips...]

Ayakashi had performed a full 180 flip to place each of her feet skyward, planting on the sky with the second burst of her technique, such a crafty skill was the ability to rapidly maneuver in the air, creating the illusion of flight. as if she had stalled on an invisible glass ceiling that only revealed itself at her touch. Looking down to the earth where Akira had landed, Ayakashi coiled power into her left fist, chakra burning through her as she peered down at her opponent, he had avoided the first strike of hers, but, would he be so lucky a second time? Bursting off down toward the ground in a single fluent motion, micro-seconds after Akira would have impacted with the earth if Ayakashi's first impact had connected, she would be upon him again, the power of ice coiled in her fist and steaming as she came down, the crystaline power leaving a slick-stream of crystal vapour which caught the sun splitting light into its prismic components in her wake as she would come down on her opponent with all of her strength.

[Impact!]

Regardless if she connected with Akira or the ground near him with her fist, the result would be the same. The eruption of her ice would move as quickly as sound, doing seemingly nothing within the first moment, leaving an eerie silence in the wake of the estranged pulse, though the eyes of the byakkugan would see her hyouton clinging to everything within range. Before long, everything the wave had touched would begin to corrupt with ice like a toxin, creeping across its surface and digging in like a blade, converting everything that the sound-like pulse had come into contact with into pure, preserved ice. The fourty meter radius of the technique would not only encompass Akira's direct location, but easily the small boulder he had infused with his own chakra. Ayakashi had seen the Hyuga defend against one of her terrifying attacks already, it was time to see if he would be able to handle another...

[And so she awaited the aftermath.]

Her third and final burst from her technique would be from her hands, thrusting herself up and backwards into a somersault before landing in a three point stance, the Sword of Kusanagi with the wedding ring attached held out to her side. The brilliant blue beam of the weapon humming through the air as Ayakashi rose once again to her feet. Should the Tsuchikage have been caught by the technique, there would be little to fear, as the ice that would have crept around him, turning him into a statue was made to preserve life, allowing Aya to take prisoners, or end conflicts without causing the death of any of those involved, her chakra, while freezing those within its range, caused no lasting damage to the recipient. The environment afterwards however, could... Should the attack meet its mark, Aya would quickly cancel the effects of the jutsu, knowing that there would be little the Tsuchikage would have been able to do to prevent himself becoming a popsicle, but moreso, to not risk his momentum or speed causing him to shatter on the ground after a fall.

[1052]

[9074 words total.]

jutsu:

Akira could see her clearly even if he wasn't looking directly at her. Each build up of chakra and the way she moved. His Byakugan wasn't advanced enough to see any damage to her body but he assumed he wasn't getting far. He could feel his energy draining like a great hole had been punctured into his chakra center. Simply dumping it out wasn't getting him far but rather keeping him in the game a moment longer. He had no way of knowing she had a technique that prevented damage from affecting his opponent and thus couldn't tell his offense was going somewhere. It was discouraging but satisfying at the same time. He had grown relaxed and lazy in the politics of his daily life and had assumed he was close to the height of what could be acheived and was possible for a taijutsu user. For so long he had considered himself at the top of the world. Now that there was this overwhelming power he was barely able to compete with he knew there was much further heights left to go in his training. A new drive to strive to be more. However he could not give up yet. Even if his scalpel connected he doubted the fight was over...just another couple of inches and...

Alarm rang in his head as suddenly she had shifted away from him as his dagger plunged into the ground. Desperately his hand shoved upwards to try and touch her with the scalpel at least only to feel cold air. She had acheived maneuverability in mid air somehow. He hadn't thought it possible and had grown to confident. However now he saw it was going to cost him. Even as he spun around the dagger and caught his footing a force of a major shockwave rocked through him as she launched upwards in an instant. Less then the blink of an eye and the sheer force of it so close sent vibrations through his bones. He felt two ribs crack from the power of it as all the grass beneath him burst outwards and froze only to shatter like glass mid air from a second shockwave as she shifted direction again four meters away. Akira felt the cold and the pain all in one as the temperature dropped. He was out of effective defensive techniques and the instant she started charging that fist of hers he didn't have to feel the temperature plummet in the air to see all that raw power with his eye. There was but one option. He had to hit her first.

Leaving the dagger behind as he moved with the rotation around it he kept his momentum up as he pushed his body to the absolute limits. His muscles burned and so did his lungs but he pushed himself harder than he had ever pushed himself before simply running in a circle as golden chakra formed around the circle like a solid line of gold starting a tornado. He was building up speed to the maximum amount just as she finished charging her jutsu and came at him. He could feel it about to happen as if time had halted and the end of this place had come. These two powers were about to meet in less then an instant and it was going to hurt and probably irreperably damage this spot of land. Three meters left. He could feel his anticipation. He was afraid for once. He wasn't sure this would work and if she hit him with that it was over. He couldn't do anything to heal his way out of it. He would be at her mercy. Two meters, Akira couldn't afford to lose faith in himself. He had overcome adversity for so long. A nation after him of his homeland. Anbu hunting him for a decade. Taking down the crime in Iwa and gathering power under himself to fix the world. Helping stop the Bells war and losing his eyes and his arm to a fight with the Senju woman. Regaining his lost parts and growing stronger than ever. Taking over Iwa and making it great again. All of this adversity had led to this moment... He could not give in. He had to try. One meter.

With a roar Akira broke from the circle he was running and in that instant activated one more jutsu as golden chakra slammed upwards like a rocket surging with every thing he had fought for. Every moment he had felt pain of loss and everything he left behind. Everything he had become and everything he had accomplished all in one move to prove to the strongest on the planet that he was strong. To prove no one could ever doubt him again and he was right for the choices he made. That meter was gone in an instant as he moved at 61 mps and slammed right up into her in an attempt to use the strongest of the clan techniques. At 61 mps if his jutsu connected with everything stacked as he bellowed out his cry to make the first movement of the 128 palm while running chakra scalpels. He cleared the space between them in 0.016ths of a second so fast he could hardly follow it with the byakugan active. If his first blow connected it would stun and launch her upwards abruptly with him still slamming up with her into the sky higher and higher as blow after blow would send her flying higher and cutting her over and over while reducing her chakra control bit by bit for 128 strikes until they were 100 meters up and his jutsu would finally shut off. They would begin to fall towards the earth as one eye would barely remain open and his panting was struggling to find air. Sweat soaked his face and he was exhausted. This fight was taking everything he had and if that attack failed he didn't know what else to do. Still he was smiling as his bones felt like every single one of them were cracked. His own attack had left him damaged to the point that he could barely move.

Jutsu and chakra:

[Success...]

Everything seemed to be going according to plan, the shockwave from her reckless release art shattered the ground around Akira, leaving the Tsuchikage in a crater, dry fissures in the rock ripping up the earth while blood escaped his mouth. Even Ayakashi could hear the satisfying sound of his ribs cracking under the strain of the surprise blow, few thought to weaponize their very movement, but Ayakashi, was in a league all of her own. His armour however seemed to have saved him from the worst of the blast which hit him like a wide angle shotgun. It was all she needed however, flying high into the sky the chakra in her hand burned brightly like an ultra violet sun as she planted her feet in the air and descended on her opponent like a meteor descending from the heavens. She could see that the Kage had managed to get himself up, no doubt not bursting up to meet her without control due to that one hand, tightly gripping the hilt of his dagger which was still planted firmly in the ground... He was beginning to move in a familiar cyclical pattern. Something which was familiar to Ayakashi, though she thought it was to be some kind of rotation or defense...

[She didn't see coming what came next.]

Akira, with speed surpassing her own, shot up like a missile at the very last second just as Aya was about to launch the blow from her own fist. A blur amidst the combat. Catching Ayakashi by surprise, as the very thought of an attack to meet her own, she had discarded as simply unthinkable. She had underestimated the gall of the Tsuchikage, and she had a price to pay for that mistake. Ayakashi, thankfully, had defenses in place, whether they would be enough was yet to be seen... her living senjutsu chakra wrapping around her body, forming a film of hyouton chakra like a second skin as the blow came ever and closer still to her delecate form. The Chakra scalpels pressed into the barrier that protected her, doing nothing at first but grind over the nature of her shell as the technique seemed to hold with a degree of effortlessness to begin with. But it was the Juken element of Akira's attack that would push the barrier beyond its ability to guard against her. The first lethal blow of the Juken Attack had been avoided, but it had succeeded in shattering the barrier beyond its ability to be useful.

[the biting pain of the attack stung like a hornet.]

The Chakra scalpels, which had remained hard pressed against her barrier sunk into her skin as the Mizukage finally managed the ability to move once again, The attack which she had prepared had faded from the interception, her chakra spinning wildly out of control and releasing in a direction, causing the clothing on the two of the fighters to become brittle and chip as the wild chakra simply dissipated to the winds in brutal arcs that devastated the land-scape around them, but none landing squarely on either ninja involved in the clash. The second strike of Akira's Juken came crashing into Ayakashi's person, hitting and hewing through her ripping through her body as it caved under the force of the strike. It seemed like Ayakashi was done for from the first bloody impact as drops of garnet life scattered to the winds beyond them... then there was another. Ayakashis' form seemed to buckle and cave around it for a while, but, upon the second impact zone, it could be seen that it was crystalic ice, like diamonds falling from her body and not blood that would assure Akira of the direct blow. Something was amiss, be it defensive technique, or something else entirely... What he had landed a blow on the second time, was little more than sheer ice, in the form of Ayakashi.

[Ayakashi had been crafty.]

A cunning combination of techniques used to leave behind an image of herself as Aya had once again displaced her position appearing on the ground below Akira, cutting flow and replacing kusanagi on her belt and jumping significantly backwards as Akira seemed to push himself further skyward. Blood was leaking from the Mizukage's side as a deep wound had been dealt by his chakra scalpels, narrowly missing the Mizukage's lower lung but had openly cut into her lowest rib. The Ice copy she had left behind with the aid of the speed based illusion would seem like herself for at least a moment, as the crystalline defense had surrounded her, it would likely blend her chakra signatures together into the form of a single sleet. Then, creating the ice statue with her chakra would bear that same resonance for a small time, before it faded into little more than the ice sculpture it was, then finally, with her displacement technique, Ayakashi removed herself from her location with such speed, her colours and living appearance would linger at the location of the frozen doll for half a second as she landed on the earth below her opponent.

[It was time to end this...]

"Finishing Technique!"

Ayakashi Called out from underneath him while he was airborne, the precious moments it would take for him to return to the earth, would be the same precious moments that Ayakashi would require to perform this single devastating attack. placing her left hand on her right wrist for support, Ayakashi put in so much effort she began to roar. Lighting coiling around her as chakra from her body began to flake off her hand in small black and red orbs accumulating to the center of her palm and growing as an unstable mass. While simultaniously blue orbs began to accumulate from the area around her, draining some life from the grass and the earth as the ground began to crack around her, Ayakashi's feet plunging two inches into the ground due to the weight and density of the chakra she was accumulating in her right hand. No-doubt confusion would set into the mind of any ninja who witnessed this technique, Ayakashi's sage chakra began to run out of control, a shadowed image of a form sparking to light as the lightning from the technique seemed to illuminate it from invisibility... A creature with two large butterfly/ moth like wings flowing backwards as more power was dragged into the orb.

[a technique, not seen for three hundred years.]

"You have your secrets Akira, I have mine!" Ayakashi roared as with a final burst, the formless mass of black blue and red seemed to solidify and stabilize in her palm. The trees around her that were left standing angling in as if the orb in her hand carried its own gravitational field, rocks floating into it only to be completely discintegrated by the sheer power of whatever she was holding in her hands. Whatever this was, it was not her usual element. It was something more. At this point, short of a miracle, a ninja would remember stories of the famed Jinchuriki, beings who held within their bodies beasts of insurmountable nature chakra. Their fame etched into legend as they disappeared from the world three hundred years ago. But few could ever forget the stories of the destruction they wrought while they were unbound. Their tool of choice, a black and red projectile, pulled from Yin and Yang chakra that was often generated from their mouths.

[The Tailed Beast Bomb...]

Just as Akira would touch down, Ayakashi would look up with her semi-stabilized technique, crook a smile before kicking off the ground and charging in his direction. Should Akira not be completely consumed by fear, he would notice that the earth behind Aya moving, was exploding behind her. Every step that the Mizukage took was a bound, needing to throw all of herself with each and every step. The force of her running with each bound sending shock-waves behind her which on their own tore up the earth and left nothing in their wake before she would meet him. Ayakashi had some-how managed to create a technique in the image of beings that could rain down devastation on nations, revealing to Akira, and only Akira that she stood as such an entity in her own right. As she made her away toward him, the voice of the Mizukage would penetrate the rumbling sound of her technique, a singular proclamation, confirming the nature of the technique.

"Motinaii Bijūdama!!!" The Tailless Tailed Beast Bomb~

After her call, Ayakashi would vanish from sight, using another of her rapid speed techniques to make her final lunge toward her opponent. While Akira would be able to see her movement path with his astounding perception as well as visualizing her chakra with the byakkugan, it would not be unlike watching the future come to pass as she would be upon him within an instant. But Ayakashi had no intention of striking with the jutsu or allowing it to land... She knew some time ago he had created a substitution technique which was capable of escape, though there was a significantly high chance that it had been destroyed simply by the chaos of the battle, if not the original clash of her bukijutsu technique with his rotation at the very beginning of their duel... So, As Ayakashi let the orb go directly in front of Akira, rather than plunging it into him, she would reach out a hand for the tsuchikage with a wink. Her smile coy, and no longer rugged with the shark like visage of a fighter. But more that of a playful trickster asking for trust.

[as the seconds counted down to detonation.]

Reaching out to grab the Tsuchikage, Ayakashi would continue to move at her sprinting pace, vaulting away at top speed past the orb, hopefully with the Tsuchikage in tow as she moved to escape the destructive radii of her jutsu... In the total time-frame of 2.5 seconds, the Orb detonated spectacularly. Expanding in a perfect destructive dome which obliterated everything within its radius and throwing everything outside of its radius away like a tidal wave. Sonic rings warping around it as barriers were broken before the orb finally shrunk into non existence, leaving behind little more than a perfect dome crater scorched into the earth where it had once been followed by 50m of scorched earth in every direction. Akira and Ayakashi by the time the explosion went off would have been well more then thirty meters away from the maximum explosion range of the jutsu unless Akira had instead elected another means to escape the carnage... hurling Ayakshi and Akira the remaining distance, Rag-dolling Aya for some distance before she managed to place a hand on the ground, route her momentum and land on her feet, grinding backwards with her arms crossed across her eyes before she staggered to a halt.

[Silence befell the land...]

Following the technique, Ayakashi allowed all of her maintained techniques as well as her sage mode to ebb, relaxing her shoulders and smiling happily with the duel as she believed that it had reached its conclusion. Akira had finally managed to cut loose, though now looking weakened after his latest attack, Aya thought that it had definitely been his final attempt at her, so, ending things with a BOOM, the Mizukage had thought it best to mark their conflict with a finale' the history books would remember. By now she was sure that an Army of Jounin and Hunter ninja were on their way to inspect the battle that had taken place. No doubt appearing from various body-flicker's in moments... So, taking a deep breath, clutching her wound as she leaned against her Tiger, who by now had approached to her side to act as her crutch. Aya approached Akira, satisfied with their spar... And no doubt the creation of another large lake to add to water country.

[and so it was done.]

After the dust cleared, and the mist began to roll back in, Ayakashi approached Akira with a broad smile, panting heavily as it seemed that attack had taken a lot out of her, her damaged knees from his thrust felt like they were on fire while she continued to bleed out of the hole in her side. Not quite having the resolve to use a jutsu to freeze the blood-flow and stem the tide. Though she seemed fatigued, it would be evident to see that her vitality seemed to be regaining itself at a fast pace. Drawing in energy from her surroundings she would recover within the course of an hour, but, unlike many ninja, she would recover... Sitting down beside Akira, Aya would see to it that he was relatively okay, sighing deeply and waiting for him to make the first comment on what had just transpired. Being something rather shocking, she thought it polite that he get the first word in.

Seemed right.

[2206+9074 = 11280 Words so far for training]

chakra jutsu stuff:

Akira could barely see his own movements. His bones ached already and his ribs felt like a deep pressure was on them. As if there was a weight pressing on his chest. Damned if he wasn't in massive amount fo pain before he even started his attack. Even as he rose up to meet her in that instant his vision blurred. It was hard to tell if it was because of how fast he had moved and it had messed with him a little or if he had just expended too much chakra too fast. This battle had lasted maybe a total of a few minutes including the no jutsu use part. Already multiple craters littered the land and the terrain was decimated. If anything had this fight happened in the village a third of the village might of been craters. He hadn't wanted that to happen anymore than she had and yet he almost chuckled at imagining that frozen monument in chunks. If anything he was confident she could handle Sanosuke if he tested her patience. He had never met the man but he already felt pity for the poor sod. Akira considered himself as standing above all other men and he hadn't stood a chance. Guess that glass ceiling hadn't been shattered but frozen and turned to dust.

Still he was surprised as he met resistance yet again. Their chakra's surged against each other as blue and gold lines flashed out and cut lines through the ground below in random patterns as if the world stopped for a second before much to his surprise he broke through her defense? He felt warmth break through the cold around his fingers even as his breath frosted over and the sweat on his face froze as well as his clothes becoming stiffer. Her chakra from her last move had dispelled. He had managed to avoid the second monsterous attack from her and now he pressed forward as hard as he could. Again and again he surged forward over and over slamming chakra scalpels into her trying to win this fight as they rocketed into the air. He could feel each blow straining his bones and hear them cracking over and over again and at first he attributed that to her endurance but as he continued cutting into her she became more stiff and stopped ragdolling. Soon he realized he had been pounding on an ice sculpture. Son of a bitch she had gotten out of his attack again!

Gradually he tossed the sculpture to the side as he felt his rising speed greatly decrease with the help of gravity. He couldn't keep going. He was too damaged to simply go and negate another jutsu like that. He could heal himself but his legs felt like Iron weights now. He glanced down at his feet as he began to fall and tried to shift them finding it hard now. With the burst of speed and the release of the speed jutsu he was at best below his original speed now by an entire rank. He knew within that no Jounin could keep up with her and he shouldn't waste her time trying. She was too far away for him to see now which meant she had preperation time without him being able to see her chakra build up. The best he could hope for was seeing her chakra pressure entering his range right before she did. God it felt lonely up there. Falling felt like forever in comparison of the fight up until now. Waiting for her to attack was unbearable as he drew in raspy breaths. Hell he still had to figure out how he was going to deal with the fall. It wouldn't normally be an issue at this speed with his endurance but with his bones cracked it was going to lead to some of them snapping.

Still he felt a surge of chakra pressure fill the air like static energy all around him even as high as he was. As tired as he was he could feel it rising the hairs up all over his body as he heard her shout about having her own secrets. So she was charging up this amount of power to finish him? Damn...well if he was gonna go out he would at least be obliterated. Sure he could of healed himself and tried to avoid it but he wasn't sure he could manage it a third time. Not with more power than either of the ones had used before. He was nearly to the ground when she entered the range of his eyes moving fast with a strange chakra in her hand. She was fairly fast so he couldn't really identify the jutsu as it was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was power incarnate and he was going to be on the receiving end of it. His eyes had been looking around for his substitution item but it was outside of his eyes range and he couldn't see it's golden glow. So that jutsu had little use in a battle of powers this strong.

He had almost touched down on the ground when suddenly she flashed and was in front of him at speeds similar to the last attack he had just made. Well shit in a picnic basket if he hadn't thought of a way out before hand he certainly couldn't now. His Byakugan drained away and went back to his normal gaze. Though the golden dye had faded with one prolongued use to a fainter yellow. He looked up as the ball dropped. She didn't even have to hit him with it and...wait was she smiling? He saw her hand outstretched as he felt the ground just about to connect with him as his left leg slammed down and snapped in three different places. His only option to survive was to take her hand. He grabbed her hand in his even as he fell and was suddenly yanked in a way that snapped his shoulder in half across a distance rapidly. As soon as they made it a distance away...about two seconds of being hauled like an infant by a stallion he felt the concussion of the blast as a plume rose into the air and a wave of destruction washed over them. Akira covered his face with his one good arm and grit his teeth before he was ragdolled out of Ayakashi's grip.

For a minute it seemed he flew through the air. It seemed like chaos and destruction had destroyed the world for a moment before he suddenly was slamming across the ground over and over like a skipping rock. Rib after rib broke over and over again until he rolled onto his back and skidded to a stop. He could no longer tell what was broken or what worked. He was so beyond damaged that if he wasn't who he was he would doubt he would recover. Still he could turn his head after a minute at the sound of something approaching. She leaned against a tiger as she moved over to him and smiled before sitting next to him. He scoffed playfully as he let his head roll back before speaking. His tone tired but there.

"I was beginning to wonder if you could be hurt.......Turns out I guess you can bleed a little if I sacrifice my entire body to do it....Well hell if this doesn't hurt....give me a second and I will fix us. If anything I guess I owe an explenation now that I have clearly lost. I wouldn't put up a defensive technique if you want the full effect of this medical technique though...Probably won't work right if you do."

Breifly he considered just healing himself enough to run for it and letting her bleed in the hopes that the one person in the world he knew could wipe him out would be eliminated but that wasn't his goal. Besides she probably had measures she could take from such a small wound even if it was bleeding nicely. Akira would sigh and grunt before placing both his arms out to his sides not bothering to stand up. His chakra began to swirl around him in a golden color before suddenly sliding into his palms and turning green into two orbs. Unlike the other techniques this one was peaceful and even provided a warm breeze across the area. Grass began to grow and tree's that had been damaged seemed to fix themselves just from the charge up of medical chakra. Assuming she allowed him to charge it up for its entire charge up time Akira would take a deep breath before grunting through the pain and raising his hands to slam both orbs together and creating a green wave. Within 25 meters of themselves any damage they had caused seemed to remold itself as it had been, Akira's bones snapped back into place and the cracks shrunk away to nothing as did his aches and his breathing became easier. Her wounds and aches would heal to her stab wound being little more than a tender pink spot on her side. Blood fading away from anywhere it had stained and clothes reforming. It was perhaps one of the ultimate healing techniques currently in the world to do all that in an instant and remove any physical weariness without really restoring any chakra. Still Akira sat up now and brushed the sweat off his forehead before smiling cheerfully and speaking up now.

"I am going to go ahead and guess that you have questions. Give it a shot."

11965

Jutsu and chakra:

[the battle had ended, and the next stage had begun]

Aya looked over the tsuchikage as chakra began to funnel from the area around her into her veins, all this time, Ayakashi kept a meditative calm whenever possible. The life force of the planet itself rejuvinated her, though, in part she had always thought of it as the country itself giving back to her after she had done and sacrificed so much in its name. In the brief moment of silence before Akira opened his mouth to talk, her eyes looked over the battle-field and the destruction the two of them had wrought. Though it was expansive, it was also somehow clean. There was no rubble or dead land in any direction, nothing had been shattered and scattered around in such a way that it had created a mess. There was simply a multi faceted hole where impacts had been from shock-waves and jutsu. The force of their combat had completely obliterated land-mass leaving little more than what seemed to be a carefully dug out and cleared man made lake... The Mizukage could not help but be a little surprised, though she had a smaller chakra pool than many of the other Kage on record, this devastation and power, she could not recall another instance of a Mizukage posessing such power off the top of her head. Save the third...

"I was beginning to wonder if you could be hurt.......Turns out I guess you can bleed a little if I sacrifice my entire body to do it....Well hell if this doesn't hurt....give me a second and I will fix us. If anything I guess I owe an explanation now that I have clearly lost. I wouldn't put up a defensive technique if you want the full effect of this medical technique though...Probably won't work right if you do."

Akira spoke clearly, and in Ayas perspective, he sounded satisfied, it seemed that he had wanted to test himself against her, and even though he had come up short, he didn't seem overly disappointed. But yes, he was not wrong in that Ayakashi's ability may make her seem godlike to other ninja. But far from mortal, she remembered the wound that had almost pierced through her heart and killed her when she had foolishly sought out to end the regime of the deadly Seven Bells before she had fully recovered from wounds sustained earlier in the conflict. It was a sad time, and although she had lived, she had kept her survival a secret in order to whip her people into a frenzy when they had heard of her death. That day had served two purposes, one, it had taught her just how much the people valued her as a Kage, to charge down a seemingly insurmountable enemy in order to avenge their fallen Kage, but not only that, it had proven to her that she, in many ways, was no longer needed to lead the village. Kirigakure was largely self sustaining now, it had its trade routes, had its ninja, had its people and they all had their place... She was little more than a figurehead needed in times of strife, and to do some menial paperwork, organizing missions. But even then, the twins were far better at that job than herself.

The peaceful chakra that seemed to surround them for a moment allowed Aya to better stand on her legs, the pain she was feeling in her joints from her crushed cartilage as well as the wounds and bruises over her body would quickly repair themselves. Sighing with a quick feel of relief , the Mizukage was able to pry herself from the side of Bai-hu, who looked around at the chakra which filled the air with intrigue. The eyes of the powerful feline darting from place to place in order to best see its effects on the area around them. The land-scape in a few brief moments seemed to gather back some, if not most of its vibrancy bringing a smile to the mizukage's face. She had always been fascinated by the healing effects of medical jutsu. Wondering how they would be able to be used in combat as a tool, though, her ineptitude in projectile chakra control simply made it infeasible if not simply impossible for her to be able to utilize the healing nature of those techniques.

"I am going to go ahead and guess that you have questions. Give it a shot."

Akira spoke again, bringing Aya's mind back to the present, and noting the words he had said so far.

"Thanks for the speedy recovery, my ninja would have taken a while longer... I bleed as much as any other person Akira, I'm still human, as much as I may not feel it sometimes... But as far as questions go, I do have the one, and not to say that I do not value you as the Tsuchikage, I believe that those eyes, and that style may turn some heads if the world were to be open in the knowledge that you are what you are. Especially higher ranking members of the Hyuga clan. Though, I'm sure you long surpass any of their draconian elders at this point. You exceed the power of my Sannin, I doubt Konoha has anything it can offer in order to bring you down. So, how did you come to be in your position, I believe that is the answer to any question that I'd like to hear the most. But likewise, I feel like you might have a question or two of your own"

Ayakashi could not help but grin a tad at the whole conundrum, it seemed that the two of them had wanted to get something off their chest. Aya knew the weight and burden which a secret could bare. Having had to keep a couple of her own, but now was the chance for the two of them to get something off of their chest.

It was a good chance to do so.

[1034 words]

"Thanks for the speedy recovery, my ninja would have taken a while longer... I bleed as much as any other person Akira, I'm still human, as much as I may not feel it sometimes... But as far as questions go, I do have the one, and not to say that I do not value you as the Tsuchikage, I believe that those eyes, and that style may turn some heads if the world were to be open in the knowledge that you are what you are. Especially higher ranking members of the Hyuga clan. Though, I'm sure you long surpass any of their draconian elders at this point. You exceed the power of my Sannin, I doubt Konoha has anything it can offer in order to bring you down. So, how did you come to be in your position, I believe that is the answer to any question that I'd like to hear the most. But likewise, I feel like you might have a question or two of your own"

Akira sat back now but even sitting back he could see into the massive pit below like a great expanse. All their other jutsu didn't seem to have much evidence left of having been used. That slash and the rotation that had saved him had left marks upon the land but with that last jutsu of hers all of it had been wiped away. He wondered if even the dust of him would of been left behind had he been hit by that. Was it even an S rank jutsu? Heaven knows he was familiar with how chakra worked but this particular jutsu hopped the scale. Still he watched as some underground river broke through the bottom of the pit in a geiser. The thin layer blocking it was nothing in comparison to the earth that had been there before. Slowly it began to fill the hole like a huge bathtub and Akira watched it for a moment longer. After all he wasn't sure if he truly was ready to retire. Sure her words were flattering and it was true he had surpassed virtually any member of his clan for the last century but he wasn't eager to take on anyone from his old village. He was confident he could but unlike her his strength wasn't returning. Not for a while until he could rest anyway. If he had to fight too many strong people he wasn't sure he could emerge victorious with his current chakra levels. Still he spoke as he stared into the rising waters feeling a breeze come up over the edge of the pit feeling and smelling of the cold, pure water.

"I suppose it was youthful ignorance. Years ago I was just a special jounin in Konoha. My squads specific purpose was anti chakra attacks. We had two Uzumaki, an Aburame and myself. It didn't matter how strong our target was if they couldn't keep control of their chakra. We were considered prodigies. Which is why it came as a surprise when a group of politicians put an order for the Aburame and I to kill the two Uzumaki. We refused and the whole squad fled to avoid the recoil. I would later find out it was because the girl was a noble born and the man from the slums. Typical of politicians to refuse to allow it to happen based on social standings. I made my way to another country over the years evading ANBU eventually ending up on my own. In Iwa I made a deal with the Tsuchikage Kazu and worked at eliminating his crime rate. I drew in followers and did just that, we even helped in stopping Ukiyo in Kirigakure and a firebombing attack in the village. However when Kazu announced his retirement I wanted to do more. So I changed my appearance and placed a forged file with the name Akira Kazako and fought for the position. My real name is Tsuyo Hyuga."

He would rise to his feet then. Giving her a moment to absorb all of that. He had left out a couple of parts about how his followers had been powerful missing nin at the time including Gin who was hers now. Or that the organization he had formed was now a spy network feeding him information on each villages open movements. Perhaps he was paranoid but for now it didn't matter. If she hated him as a missing nin for a crime his honor demanded he commit so be it. For now he would reach into his coat pocket and pull out a now very crumpled metal case for his smokes. He frowned and pried it open to find most of his cigarettes were demolished. Luckily one was left in tact and so was the lighter. He carefully pulled both out before putting the crumpled case back in his pocket and putting the bent smoke to his lips and lighting it. Taking in a deep drag as he enjoyed the feel of the smoke comforting his nerves. Still he glanced back at her as he could sense her power growing. Not that he could of had a chance of winning if she attacked him now before but with her regaining chakra and him well.... not he would be at another dissadvantage. Still it was only a couple of seconds for him to get his smoke lit and if she wasn't racing for his throat he would pluck the cigarette out from between his lips and blow out a small cloud before speaking again...

"I suppose that leaves the floor open to my question. My history over a hundred years back is iffy but not entirely lacking. I heard you say 'Motinaii Bijūdama'. The tailless beast bomb? I remember it being a devestating techniques the ancient bijuu used but haven't they long since died away? How is it you could learn such a thing that has gone extinct? Based on the sheer level of destruction here it has to be well above S rank and no one could doubt it was the real thing. I suppose summed up my question is simple.....how?"

13006

Akira seemed to be doing better after his own healing technique, haven risen from his place on the ground, Ayakashi slumped to the ground at the side of her tiger laying behind her. The throne of white fur no longer seeming to look interested in what was going on, though, to the observant, the uncannily intelligent tiger would be paying close attention to every word that was exchanged between the two of them. His ears flicking slightly as his differentiated between sharp sounds and soft ones as the Tiger listened with a hidden intensity. Aya too leaning against him, followed Akiras body language with her eyes as he would begin to regail his tale. Ayakashi moments before he began could think of nothing more or less but the potential this story had to be grandiose, with plot, romance,  and intrigue. The thought of corruption within the Hyuga clan like the days of old when they would brand members of their own clan into subservience in order to better harness their own kekkei genkai. There was a romanticism in the Hyuga clan which simply allowed outsiders like herself to dream up tall tales of escape and heroism, though the story she was told was epic in its own proportions, she could not begin to quite comprehend just how close she was going to get...

"I suppose it was youthful ignorance. Years ago I was just a special jounin in Konoha. My squads specific purpose was anti chakra attacks. We had two Uzumaki, an Aburame and myself. It didn't matter how strong our target was if they couldn't keep control of their chakra. We were considered prodigies. Which is why it came as a surprise when a group of politicians put an order for the Aburame and I to kill the two Uzumaki. We refused and the whole squad fled to avoid the recoil. I would later find out it was because the girl was a noble born and the man from the slums. Typical of politicians to refuse to allow it to happen based on social standings. I made my way to another country over the years evading ANBU eventually ending up on my own. In Iwa I made a deal with the Tsuchikage Kazu and worked at eliminating his crime rate. I drew in followers and did just that, we even helped in stopping Ukiyo in Kirigakure and a firebombing attack in the village. However when Kazu announced his retirement I wanted to do more. So I changed my appearance and placed a forged file with the name Akira Kazako and fought for the position. My real name is Tsuyo Hyuga."

The story was one of honor more than betrayal, friendship and refusing to bow to tyranny, it seemed that the effective squad would have been made well at home within the ranks of the kirigakure hunter ninja. Ayakashi knew while inter-clan politics like he had described were still rife within her country, the noble clans since the loss of the old leaders, and Ayakashi herself being able to aid in appointing new ones, had been crippled when it came to the running of the country. Kill orders on friendly ninja were difficult in the country of water due to the sheer difficulty it was to get away with murder within the boundaries of the city itself. They ran because their village could not protect them, or because they felt like it was their village itself which had turned against them, it was a fair judgement, she had seen ninja turn for less. Ayakashi's brow furrowed at this news, though it was obviously some time ago, she had not thought that Konoha under its current governance would have stood for such a tyrannical act. What came next however was a tale of redemption, rather than falling to villainy and spite, the Hyuga had risen through the ranks of another country justly, bought a nation to power, flourishing as the second greatest nation in the world next to her own.

"I must say Aki- I mean, Tsuyo Hyuga... Your story is a surprising one, and not one that many would readily believe, a single credible source from Konoha rejecting your story would be all it would take for it all to turn on your head, and you would be executed for your status as a missing ninja... ... is what I would say were you to be telling your story in any other nation. Having fought you, I feel like I've gazed into your soul, and your story rings of truth to me. I know all to well the evils of complacency and bureaucracy, I've tried to destroy them in my country, but as painful as it is to admit, they don't seem so easily defeated. You're a good man Tsuyo, you served your country well, and the world will remember you for your deeds, not your roots. "

Aya spoke clearly, extending one of her legs right out while the other was pulled tightly to her chest, cocking her head sideways as she continued to investigate the minor details on Tsuyo's face. Studying them and waiting for what he had to say next, she was curious about what he thought about her. Not many had truly bore witness to the kinds of things she was able to do, and she had not even revealed the true nature of her living chakra. The beast within she had tamed a long time though the grueling training from the specter of the kirigakure forest.

"I suppose that leaves the floor open to my question. My history over a hundred years back is iffy but not entirely lacking. I heard you say 'Motinaii Bijūdama'. The tailless beast bomb? I remember it being a devastating techniques the ancient bijuu used but haven't they long since died away? How is it you could learn such a thing that has gone extinct? Based on the sheer level of destruction here it has to be well above S rank and no one could doubt it was the real thing. I suppose summed up my question is simple.....how?"

And thus the question was asked, Aya let out a light laugh, having been prepared for that particular line of questioning for quite some time now. She knew that the bijuu bomb technique she had made was little more than a shadow than the original techniques once used by the bijuu themselves, but a shadow of limitless greatness and power, was still a lot of power to wield in mortal hands.

"How? For such a small word that's a pretty huge question, I grew up on tales of powerful ninja, the Naruto story, written by the legendary Sanin was an inspiration to me when I began my journey. Within the tale, as well within the annals of history, you can find details of the technique, little things like its yin 'and' yang nature gave me clues to discovering how to use it, not to mention the Bijuu's physiological nature, as creatures of pure chakra not unlike we sages use. Seeing the blue balled rasengan used by a ninja roaming through kiri was the final clue... having observed it and some time i discovered the chakra ratio of 1:4 with yang and yin needed to form the pitch black chakra of the orb. It took some practice, mostly led by instinct, but i finally created a product for my troubles. The orb was tiny, no bigger than a marble, but it weighed easily as much as a tree. It quickly went unstable and it ended up destroying a hundred year old oak when i discarded it.

The orb i used there was the finished product of over a years training. Small as it was, at the time, that was as large as I can get it, any bigger and I would completely lose control, likely destroying myself and anyone around me... Which, would not yield a positive result. However, as I came to understand my Sage mode and my chakras better, I developed stronger variants of the standard modes, which allowed me to better control my chakra, expanding the ball to the point I showed you today. The Tailless, Tailed Beast Bomb. I think it's got a nice ring to it... dont you think?"

Aya spoke with a giggle and a coy yet subtly devious smile.

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"I must say Aki- I mean, Tsuyo Hyuga... Your story is a surprising one, and not one that many would readily believe, a single credible source from Konoha rejecting your story would be all it would take for it all to turn on your head, and you would be executed for your status as a missing ninja... ... is what I would say were you to be telling your story in any other nation. Having fought you, I feel like I've gazed into your soul, and your story rings of truth to me. I know all to well the evils of complacency and bureaucracy, I've tried to destroy them in my country, but as painful as it is to admit, they don't seem so easily defeated. You're a good man Tsuyo, you served your country well, and the world will remember you for your deeds, not your roots. "

It was a small comfort to hear those words. Even someone so powerful was acknowledging him for once. Not even by the name he had given but for the first time in so long by his true name. The name his mother had chosen for him. Oh how he cherished it in his heart to hear it once more. His hands spread out to his side as he held them out with his palms out and took a deep breath of the fresh cold air. It was so relaxing for him to finally be able to just relax as himself. No guise he made or plan of action. She knew everything for the most part that he had crafted over the years as a fraud and she was not against him but rather approved of him. A smile spread across his face. For the first time in years life was beautiful. He opened his eyes to see their fight had temporarily split the mist which was rolling back in overhead. A great circle above that rolled and surged to close itself but above was the most beautiful blue sky he had ever seen. The hole allowed a light to shine down on them like a pillar highlighting them.

The Anbu would be here soon to check on what happened he was sure but they had time to relax and talk. Only because it was far enough away for the adults to play while the kiddies were safe. It was a new sensation to be justified and feel alive. His eyes were open and he would swear on his life that life had never been so grand. He had done things others wouldn't but there was nothing like a trail of blood to find yourself a hero to someone. Still he lowered his arms and moved back over as she continued to speak. Settling down to sit cross legged from her. He was still tender and sore to be honest. However he wouldn't continue using medical chakra to heal himself as it would lessen just how much stronger this fight would make him. Muscles grew because they were torn apart and healed stronger. It was a basic principle for his level but he was careful about it. White muscle was a type of muscle where it was good for quick bursts and grew smaller, more toned and better for fast fighters. Red muscle was for longer periods and useful for anyone relying on pure strength. Where they met however was called pink muscle which was superior because it took all the best qualities of both without the rapid fatigue. Fast but strong. Still his mind would stop wandering as she spoke again. He was careful not to interrupt her.

"How? For such a small word that's a pretty huge question, I grew up on tales of powerful ninja, the Naruto story, written by the legendary Sanin was an inspiration to me when I began my journey. Within the tale, as well within the annals of history, you can find details of the technique, little things like its yin 'and' yang nature gave me clues to discovering how to use it, not to mention the Bijuu's physiological nature, as creatures of pure chakra not unlike we sages use. Seeing the blue balled rasengan used by a ninja roaming through kiri was the final clue... having observed it and some time i discovered the chakra ratio of 1:4 with yang and yin needed to form the pitch black chakra of the orb. It took some practice, mostly led by instinct, but i finally created a product for my troubles. The orb was tiny, no bigger than a marble, but it weighed easily as much as a tree. It quickly went unstable and it ended up destroying a hundred year old oak when i discarded it.

The orb i used there was the finished product of over a years training. Small as it was, at the time, that was as large as I can get it, any bigger and I would completely lose control, likely destroying myself and anyone around me... Which, would not yield a positive result. However, as I came to understand my Sage mode and my chakras better, I developed stronger variants of the standard modes, which allowed me to better control my chakra, expanding the ball to the point I showed you today. The Tailless, Tailed Beast Bomb. I think it's got a nice ring to it... dont you think?"

He would pause as she spoke and listen to all of it. He had always thought himself an intelligent man and a couple leagues beyond the normal mind but he had never looked to the history books and stories for truth in gaining power. He had never stopped to look for the secrets of the great heroes of old or questioned his own power as limited before. He placed his hands on his knee's and slouched a little as he thought it over. She was an impressive woman for putting it all together and brave for experimenting with that kind of power. He glanced back over his shoulder and was positive even if he had his rotation ready again he couldn't of survived it. It had taken a moment to detonate but most wouldn't of been able to fathom it's radius enough to fully escape. Even if they were capable of doing so. Her knowledge of chakra capabilites was surprising to say the least. However now he was less on edge. One part hadn't escaped him though and that was her understanding of chakra via sage mode. Something he wasn't capable of. He would sigh audibly before leaning back and placing his palms on the grass which still felt cold under hand. His eyes returning to looking at hers. She hadn't covered that eye yet that he had seen so it still burned bright which only drew more curiosity from him. However as he talked it was with a smile like two friends chatting.

"Impressive that you were capable of that from what little information was provided. I doubt anyone else is capable of doing so. Perhaps you yourself will one day be in those histories as just the same kind of power as our ancient heroes. A pity though that it is something it took a Sage to learn. It sounds greedy and I admit it is but I wish I could obtain the technique myself. However I specialize in Taijutsu, Medical ninjutsu and have picked up Genjutsu. Members of the Hyuga clan are incapable or so it would seem of expanding our abilities further than three specializations. That aside I have never seen anyone perfect a fourth specialization. I am envious of you truly. As for your words to my past they are kind. However before your troops make it here to investigate I will inform you of something else. Something it is only fair that you be aware of. I intend to retire from Tsuchikage. It isn't right I hold it when I am not a member of that village. I trust Nanashi the most as he is my sannin but he has never had the drive to be Tsuchikage. He would refuse it if offered so I have intentions to give it to my student Karumo Sekuro. I will be summoning him to the village before your plans to handle Sanosuke come to fruition. I will accompany you on any plan of action you intend to take of course but it will be up to Karumo to choose what Iwagakure does to help beyond myself. I intend to reveal myself to him and trust him with that information as I love all my students. However the truth will remain hidden until after this business with the Raikage is finished. Once it is though I will reveal myself to the world and ask Konoha and Iwa for a pardon based on my deeds. I wish to make a deal with you before I do. Here and now I will place my byakugan within you if you wish it and grant you that power. In return I wish to live here by this lake and safely away from your citizens. To build a home here and retire. I know this risks your treaties however there is a way to appease both countries. Simply state their missing nin is their responsibility. If they wish to hunt me allow them access to the village with whatever troops they wish to send so long as it is not large enough to be considered an invading force. They won't dare send anyone in only a normal four man squad after me and if they do I can handle it. I ask a lot of you but in truth I offer you my services and my power as well. I hope it is a fair deal."

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