Sero moved down the tunnel into the old city. Forgotten as it was called but a common place for him to traverse. Algae plagued the walls and floor as he moved along the road within. Water dripping from a thousand places and yet hardly a sound could be heard. His grey eyes shifted down the dark end of the tunnel. Further from sunlight and his destination. How often he had traveled here but rarely for a mission. He was familiar with how easily chakra could become distorted down within the depths beneath the sea however. He had a job to accomplish and his sandals carried him closer to it. His grey hunter gear tight on his body. A long sleeved tight grey tactical shirt with tactical grey pants. Each pocket filled with kunai or knives sheathed within. On his hip was a Katana but something new rested on his back this time. A long bow sat there. It's string holding it over his right shoulder while a quiver held over his left with a black strap. The bow itself black as night and the arrows to match. He was hunting something and so a bow would prove useful. For a time anyway. Still he would not waste time considering his choices with doubt but instead press forward. If he needed to shift he knew this place well enough to gain a steady enough chakra flow. The darkness of this place seemed to call out to him. Raising a call to something within him.

A fallen city was a breeding ground for his sage mode. The decayed bones and structures of the passed inhabitants long since withered to nothing. The ones that remained intact were crumbling and writhe with disease ridden mold. He knew if he activated his sage mode here it would flood him with overwhelming power. A last ditch effort should things go awry. However his thought process was broken as just ahead something shifted behind the large moldy heap that may have once been an overturned cart. Probably toppled in a failed attempt to escape. His feet came to a stop as he waited. His bone mask still pulled to the side of his head. Within a couple more moments it would shift again and a low growl would seem to escape its location. He would watch as a large reptile creature shifted and crawled slowly into his view. Watching him as one would watch a meal with yellow eyes. A rather sizable crocodile barred passage for him. Perhaps it had claimed this tunnel as its territory or it was simply seeking out fish that had fallen when the tunnel emptied. Either way it stared into the pits of Sero's lifeless eyes. Staring within him and seeing something there that made one thing clear even for a beast. Only death followed along that path. The crocodile hesitated as something so fleshy shouldn't feel so threatening and yet it turned all the same. Quickly retreating into a hole in the wall on the side of the tunnel. Sero watched a moment before continuing on his path. His steps continuing him down the tunnel as he smiled a little. Even the beasts had begun to understand. He was the alpha predator. None hunted him without being hunted in turn. That was his goal in life.

558

Sero continued into the darkness of the tunnel until all he could ascertain were outlines. A once great city reduced to this underwater tomb. A part of him wondered idly if this was the destiny of the island nation of Kiri itself. If an entire city could be reduced to this could a nation be as well? They had survived a trial by fire but how did one stop the tides of fate? Regardless his pondering would come to an end as he noted an increase of light in the tunnel ahead of him. He knew he was coming along the tunnel far enough now he would soon be upon the remains of the fallen city itself. It's glass ceiling making it still inhabitable if not for the creatures lurking within. Many a shinobi had died within this place. Be it to the immortal keeper within or the armies lurking underground. Some part of him wondered if the Hoshigaki remnants were once survivors of this city. If so it would be interesting to interrogate them for a history of it all. However he knew them to be more of a barbarian warrior race. Passing on legends and keeping records was simply not something he expected of them. Still he knew one thing about this race of people. They thought themselves conquerors and had their eyes set upon Kiri itself. Hoping the land people would submit to their might. However that was why Sero was here. A deterrent, much like a warning to explain how it was they could not conquer the surface.

Even as he rounded a corner he noted the light coming from the end of the hall. The city within was lit like mid day as it was outside. He imagined how dark it was in the night but would be unable to approach at such a time. Low tide only happened during the daylight hours for this city. The only time one like him could comfortably gain access. Still he would shift his bow off his shoulder now and notch a single black arrow into it. He was entering the battleground now. A mere matter of time before he caught sight of an enemy. Simply put it was more reasonable to have a weapon at the ready in such a location. He could sense around him life moving below. Before they hadn't been this close to the surface. He would be sure to leave a bigger impression this time. His grey eyes shifted back and forth as he exited the tunnel. Arrow drawn back to his eye as he glanced around rapidly. At this point he would start at a disadvantage. If they knew where the only entrance point was they would see him the moment he emerged. Where they would be could be a multiple choice answer. He could hear the strain of his bow string as he would gaze about himself. He knew they were there. A shifting movement on a rooftop fifteen meters away caught his attention. He had seen the scout just as it moved to go and sound the alarm. With a rapid turn and hardly a moment to aim Sero released the bow string. Letting the arrow fly.

1097

Even as the arrow released from his bow he knew where it would hit. He could predict range and drop with the force of the draw much easier without any wind moving in the old city. No distractions or obnoxious noises to deter him. His mastery over a bow was enough so that he knew before it finished passing the dark wood of the bow where it would hit. The black arrow flying through the air before drawing closer to the target. Even as the fishmen scout turned to look behind him the dark metal of the arrow found home directly in his eye. For a few steps the fishman would stumble forward. His brain not yet registering he was dead until finally he dropped over the edge of the roof away from the bell he was to ring. However that was nothing more than a momentary comfort to Sero. Quickly he moved in a step to the roof top the man had been on an notched another arrow. His flash step carrying him to the edge just in time to see the creature fall to the ground below and crash into a pile of old rubble. Even as it did the sound echoed and nearby more movement was detected. This time five more dark figures emerged from an alley way. Quickly approaching the disturbance with weapons drawn. In a flash they were upon their dead comrade. Before they could look up though Sero had loosed two more arrows. Each one a deadly projectile and accurate.

One of the fishmen took an arrow to the throat and the next to the chest. Even as they fell the other three pointed their hands to the building roof and Sero turned. As he sprinted away Multiple waves of water crashed through the building and toppled it. Three A rank jutsu. How interesting they had the capabilities. To topple an entire building in a second. Wasteful though since they missed their intended target. Still he used the cover of the building falling to land on a light pole and draw another arrow. Timing it with the falling rocks before loosing yet another. Smashing it into the chest of yet another enemy. With that the remaining two turned and formed hand signs. It appeared they were going to attempt something. Together in unison they formed identical hand signs and as they did suiton dragons rose from the water around them like large snakes. With a shift of their hands they set both in pursuit of Sero. He raised an eyebrow at the increased capabilities of the group before he flashed away from the light pole just as it was struck down and into another building. Landing within before immediately charging down the hall as both dragons began to zig zag through the building behind him eliminating it room by room. Doing a fair job at keeping up with Sero himself. His eyes noted the empty window frame at the end of the hall before he stepped again and flashed through it. Drawing two more arrows and angling them just right. At least these two had been foolish enough to stand next to each other. The moment he spotted them mid flight through the air he adjusted and fired both arrows. Even as both Suiton dragons burst from the crumbling building behind him.

1655

As both dragon tore through the building into the open air after Sero he loosed both arrows. Each one flying at equal speeds from the dark bow as he flew through the open air. The Suiton dragons closing in with open maws before suddenly they burst into a wild spray of water. On the ground below both the remaining fishmen were clasping arrows in their throats as they fell to the ground to die. However even as they died before the dragons could hit the sheer torrent of water flew into Sero sending him crashing through a thin bit of drywall into another building. It was within the office there that he came to a rolling stop and landed on his feet. Hand reaching back for an arrow as he looked around. He had taken out half the patrol but none of them were the commander. That was the true target. Still his grey eyes shifted to his dripping bow string. With a wet bow string his aim would be off and it was more likely to snap. With a sigh he rose to his feet and slipped the bow over his shoulder and hip to rest on his back. There was still work to be done but now, he would need to be significantly closer. Still he would keep his Katana sheathed for the moment as instead he drew forth a pair of tanto. Decently made knives. He would try and remain stealthy for the moment since the attention would be drawn to the two collapsed buildings next door.

Still even as he stepped into the hall and edged over to a window he could see a great deal outside the dust in the area. The commander was yet to be seen but two more had gone to investigate. Likely the others were watching somewhere nearby. If he engaged those two the others would be upon him but based on squad studies of their movements, that would leave them with just two plus the commander. Having made up his mind about it Sero decided he could handle any threat at that point. Quietly he waited for the two to have their backs to him before in a blur of movement he had launched himself from the window, racing to the ground with a dagger in each hand Sero Smashed down hard enough to send rocks flying in every direction before he was instantly upon the first one. Jamming his daggers into either side of the things throat before ripping outwards. Even before the other could bring his weapon to bare Sero had spun and blinded him with a spray of blood. With his enemy blinded Sero threw both daggers at the things chest pegging him in either lung before he dropped. Even as the two dropped in bloody heaps with him standing over them though Sero heard a sharp and clear whistle. His grey eyes turned to the entrance of the alley and there they were. The remaining two flunkies and their commander. His hand drifted to his katana as they brandished weapons. At least this close to him they preferred hand to hand instead of jutsu it appeared.

2185

Sero stood his ground as he turned to face the final three. The commander and his two goons stood ready for him. It was nothing of serious consequence though. He was aware of their capabilities. Or rather had been made recently aware. Should they have tried to overpower him with sheer jutsu he may have been pressed but that was not the case it would seem.  All three held their weapons tight as the two flunkies moved forward slowly. The commander watching for an opening as he braced himself. Both his pawns moving to either side of Sero and flanking him. Sero watched the commander without blinking while keeping tabs on the other two. His stance shifting to a wider gate with the crumbling of rock under foot. His right hand resting on his katana on his left hip as he crouched down a little more. The tactic was obvious but effective. They were going to attack him from three different directions at once in an attempt to catch him off guard. To take him down with considerably more force all at once. His grip tightened on his Katana as the city began to feel his pressure. To feel the killing intent of the thing in front of him. And to know it paled in comparison to his own. He could sense the fear of the pawns and knew it would slow them. He knew he could take them easily if they made a mistake. The question was the commander and what he had planned to do.

In a moment all of them were frozen in place. None moved either from fear or anticipation. They were playing a game of death and likely only one could walk away from it. However Sero had done too much damage to their ranks. He was too valuable a target to allow a chance to escape. Nor was he known for running. If they didn't take him down now they knew they would be hunted. So it was that the two pawns suddenly shifted their feet and moved to charge at Sero from both sides. Stabbing at him with their spears as Sero drew his katana. Sparks flew in the air as metal rained against metal. Repeated stabs at his person from both sides were met with a flurry of defensive movements. His Katana a blur around him as he looked for an opening to attack. It was then that he noted the commander shifting his stance. He was going to throw his trident. Sero grit his teeth and pushed his body for a hard deflect on both incoming spears knocking them back in a single blow just as the trident was let loose. However Sero was prepared. His free hand reached out and grabbed one of the pawns by a fin and yanked him into the tridents path. He watched as it pierced through flesh entirely and then yanked out. He was going to turn to dispatch the other one coming back at him from the side but rather suddenly the entire area lit up as a pillar of raiton energy burst forth and began to electrocute everything within it. Frying the fishman and leaving smoldering ruin behind. The commander smirked a moment before doubt registered on his face. Something felt wrong. He was afraid but he could not tell why....Hadn't his target been reduced to ash?

2752

From the smoke and dust a single thing could be felt. A rush of energy that seemed to dim the light of the entire city. As if the ceiling was being blanked by some massive thing. All of the energy of that which fed on decay had been focused on a single point and now it appeared to have empowered Sero far more than before. From the smoke he stepped with his clothing smoldering. His eyes and outline were the only thing visible in the debris but those three eyes burned red within the destruction. The commander would shake at the sheer force of what stood before him as if he was unable to stand anymore. A flicker of something caught his eye but it was already too late. As he heard an echoing word his throat suddenly burned from something hot smashing into it. "Silence" was the word uttered and echoed. Acid bullets had smashed into his wind pipe and with that he dropped.

Sero stepped forward then. His Sage mode fully activated as he moved closer, katana still in hand. His gloved free hand reached out and like a vice grip held the man by his top fin with his head back. His eyes staring into red pits of hell as Sero spoke. His voice echoing as it did when in that mode. Like a thousand voices echoing him from the grave. "Make no mistake, war, war has been your goal and now it has come for you. Each time you rise to threaten that which I guard I will come. Beg for mercy if you wish and pray but neither will do you any good." With that his Katana flashed. Another head collected for his bag it would seem. He turned and flash stepped back to the tunnel. The show of force should be sufficient for now. He simply needed to escape the area so he could turn off Sage mode as within the city it wanted to remain awakened.

Exit thread
3085/3000 S rank mission complete