Tsuyo had been prepared to leave after his brief encounter with Mizuru the blades pirate woman. She hadn't really intimidated him but she was close enough to his level to alert him that her Master would be beyond him at this point. Still he had never met an individual who could handle the combined might of more then one nation. By the look of things the enemy was finally being pushed back. He had actually slept within the defended area safely. And now they knew where the monster hid. Still he was a little saddened. A kage had failed to kill the man. The strongest woman in the nation and very attractive with her long blue hair and slim body. He sighed at the memory as his face heated up. Still as he got out of his bed that he had paid an outrageous price for as the innkeeper said it was times of war. Of course it didn't help that Tsuyo had walked in looking like he could afford to buy the building. He sat there rubbing a hand over his face as he woke up Before moving over to the sunk to wash his face and the crust out of his eyes. He would leave them to their victory. After all he had already made his point by assisting the local Daimyo. He would use that in the future to his advantage. His plans had a chance now to fall into place. Still his people where hiding rather well. He couldn't find any of them who had come before him. He doubted they where dead. And if they had died. He would find out about it and thoughts of the war not involving him would fall away to rage. No wall or man or weapon would stand in his path. Not over the death of a sibling.

Still he slipped into his private shower and washed the blood and sweat off of himself. None of the blood as his bust some of the sweat was. Still his cane was buried in the rubble of the bridge he had collapsed. More of a walkway really but within the enemies inner most territory he had done some structural damage. Now they knew of him. Still as he got out and dried off he finished the usual grooming. Shaving, brushing his teeth, Styling his hair. Once he stepped out his long legs carried him to his armored Custom made suit. Designed by Tame of all people it protected him from nearly every weapon below a Jounins custom made weapon. Kunai no longer even made his list of concerns. Still he slipped into the suit slowly as he recalled his thoughts of home. What if such a thing had happened back in Konoha. The thought saddened him because he was unsure if he could protect the place he was born. Still he shook his head as he buttoned his cuff links to get the thought out of his mind. Then he put on his tie and tightened it. Finishing with the vest and both coats. The armor now complete. He could feel it brushing against his skin with the most comfortable of fabric. It was hard to believe it would stop a full on sword thrust but he had tested it. And seen it for himself. Remembering his cover her returned to the bathroom to quickly put in his brown contacts. Other wise it would be easy to figure out who he was based on his eyes alone. Smiling into the mirror at himself he made some slight adjustments before grabbing the purple scarf and laying it across his shoulders and finishing the look with Fedora.

Now he was fully dressed he reached under his pillow and pulled out a very shiny and big dagger. If the dagger had been any bigger it would of been a curved short sword. It only went to show he was prepared for a fight even when sleeping within friendly territory. Quietly he tucked it into his inner most coat pocket next to his smokes. He smiled as he left his room with only the bed and bathroom looking like it had been touched. He didn't mind leaving such subtle evidence of his passing. It was after all better then the usual trail of dead bad guys. Still he moved out his door and proceeded down the hall. His shined boots making no noise as he moved. Still it wouldn't of mattered because even as he neared the stairs leading down a loud commotion broke out. Cautiously Tsuyo snuck down the stairs and found a heart breaking scene as he peeked around the corner. The inkeeper was laying a young man down on a table with tears in his eyes,. A towel in his hand Trying to stop a bleeding wound near the chest. The inkeeper was screaming for warm water through burning tears in his eyes. Then grunting that he wasn't going to let the kid die. Not his only son. Unable to just ignore such a scene Tsuyo stepped forward. He moved in next to the man and before the man could react in confusion he spotted the tell of medical jutsu's green ball of chakra. within Tsuyo's hands. Moving the towel Tsuyo placed the chakra over the wound. The bleeding slowed and finally stopped and then the man's face seemed to stop fighting between gasps for breath and seemed to be safe now. He turned to the inkeeper and nodded. Before the Kiri shinobi he just healed grabbed his hand in a surprisingly tight grip. Slipping blood stained orders into tit.

"Please...I beg of you..Save us...Don't let us burn."

And then the boy passed out. Pulling the blood stained paper up her read it quickly and alarm and anger filled his eyes. So they intended to light all of Kiri on fire. In a moment he was out the door and launching up onto the rooftops. His rage was making him move at full speed which was entirely too noticeable as most of kiri could not keep up with him. Still he was moving at an alarming pace straight for the area indicated in the orders. So what if this wasn't his fight? He couldn't allow this to happen. He had no connection to these people but just burning innocents. Unforgivable. Still even in his rage he detected a sense of some one following him. He slammed to a stop on top of a roof preparing his chakra. Because of his naturally born flaw his chakra became visible as he flexed it. To any who looked with the naked eye it would seem like the faint outline of something wrapping around the entire building a couple of times and then settling its head over Tsuyo. To any with active Sensory jutsu it would appear as if a dragon made of chakra was surrounding Tsuyo and the building below him. Tsuyo spoke and his voice seemed to echo across the empty roof tops. Yet it was quiet and cold. Dangerous even.

"Reveal yourself."

1182/4000

Chakra 335/350:

Daraku had completed his previous task assigned to him by the allied forces of Kirigakure no Sato and now had a moment to himself for rest. Well, as restful as he could be; this was a battlefield, after all, so he didn't have much choice in the matter but to keeping fighting. Seven Bells ninja had been attacking him all day, and despite the fact that he relished killing them like it was a delicacy, it grew irritating after so many repeated attempts. He assumed that he was one of their targets, now, considering that he'd killed a hefty amount within their ranks. Weird how he found himself pitted against missing ninja when he was a man guilty of similar crimes. It almost made him a hypocrite...almost. This situation was 'different', though, so he used that as an excuse to consider himself just in his actions. He was helping a village both in hopes of reconnecting with some old friends and also in order to get much needed satisfaction from the thrill of the kill and carnage surrounding him. As painstaking and unsettling as it was to see dead innocents everywhere and blood painting the streets, something about it gave Daraku a feeling of belonging, where he new he was needed and it felt right. He was a weapon, and nothing more, always had been since birth. It was common knowledge that a weapon's place wasn't at the seat of a throne, as he had masqueraded to be true in his past few weeks leading the Ishido Clan. A weapon's place was in one of two locations: either in its sheath, or in someone's flesh, simple as that.

Presently, Daraku found himself walking along in a quiet alley. How odd it was that no one was out in this specific area, not even one Seven Bells ninja or a civilian. He blinked a few times to ensure he wasn't just crazy (as if that would help, in such a case), and figured everyone was already dead here. So be it, it gave him a chance to scavenge for new stuff via corpses, so he continued along the paved road, not bothering to turn back. He noticed a slight scent in the air that was unsettling, aside from the expected smell of death that emanated from each carcass. A smell not nearly as pungent nor noticeable, more of a subtle fragrance that found its way to him as he patrolled. Something was wrong here, and although he was unable to pinpoint what the problem was, he knew that he had to be wary, at least. The sound of glass breaking alerted him, and he jumped to the rooftop of the closest building, keeping low to the tiles of the roof in order to remain hidden from view. Looking from his perch, he saw two men run past, headed through the corridor down to a farther location. They were...suspicious in appearance, to put it lightly. Daraku ruminated over the situation, deciding whether or not to follow the brigands and end their miserable existence. The ominous feeling in his gut held him back; he didn't know how strong they were, and gauging such a thing by their appearance alone would've been less than accurate. He decided to leave them be in interest of his own life, instead hopping to a rooftop opposite that which he was currently on and looking out over the horizon, watching the two go off into another area of the village.

With each step, the Ishido's boots made a light click against the tile of the roof, which formed a steady metronome as he moved--tap, tap, tap, tap. He focused his thoughts, wondering when he could accept another mission from the Mizukage. From what he had seen of her, she was a beautiful woman with long blue hair, and she seemed dedicated to her village. He had taken the mission out on the Lake already...hopefully, it was enough to get him noticed by her so that she would request for him to go on mission rather than vice versa. Ah, but a man can dream, can't he? He knew in the back of his mind that his relationship with Kiri was one based solely off of need and indirect affiliation, which made him no more than a mere pawn in their resistance against Seven Bells. The tapping slowed as its pace as he reached a progressive halt. His eyes shifted, looking left and right until were set on a taller roof; he couldn't get a clear view, but from what he could discern, there seemed to be a man up there. What that man was doing was questionable, but Daraku stared at him nonetheless. If it was an enemy, Daraku would've had no problem pulling a sneak attack using his kekkei genkai, but he chose not to as he was under the assumption it was an ally. Otherwise, he would've been with the other two missing ninja that had passed instead of up there.

A voice called out from the other perch, smooth, but its words left a sting afterwords left in his tone. "Reveal yourself." A voice Daraku recognized within seconds. It was exactly who he came looking for, just another weight off his shoulders in this war. Rather than stepping out into the open to be easily seen, he jumped, making a direct landing in front of Kajiya so that they occupied the same rooftop and were a shorter distance apart. "Well look who it is. Hello, Mr. Kajiya, it's been a while." The man's expression didn't change all that much, something Daraku didn't mind but was subconsciously expecting some sign of visible surprise. He moved past that notion and continued speaking, keeping on hand on Nisebi's hilt in case they were ambushed (or worse yet, if Mr. Kajiya attacked him for leaving the Aoi Bara's company for so long) and keeping the opposite in his pocket, as per usual. He remained cautious, sure, but that didn't mean he wasn't happy to see a familiar face in a war-torn hellhole. His lips bent into a half-smile, before parting as he spoke in a hushed tone.

"Sorry for...extending my stay in Sunagakure no Sato, I had clan business to take care of. The Kazekage, however, has avoided my company, so I have yet to clean up the whole mess that is my face in that damn bingo book," This thought triggered a flashbulb memory, and Daraku looked back to just a few days ago, when Syekren Uchiha had attacked him. Instances like that made him want to be unknown, nonexistent to those that could target him. Fighting another ninja was never a problem for him, he was a natural an angel of death, ready to kill on-sight. The problem was more so when those that were hunting him were his friends, complicating the situation entirely. He paused for the slightest of moments to think over the battle before continuing, "Things were looking bright in Sunagakure, though, for the most part. That's half the reason I came here to help with the war rather than to stay further, the other half being that I supposed you'd gotten involved in the war somehow as well. So tell me, boss man, how can I be of assistance to you, for the time being? I'm all yours." The man said, keeping his poise correct and his feet parallel. His powder blue eyes were set on Kajiya's, eagerly waiting a reply with his half-smile stretching into a devious grin.

(1,289)

Tsuyo had to only wait a moment before the presence made itself known. He watched as a blonde haired male sailed through the air. Within a moment Tsuyo dropped his preperations and smiled warmly. Daraku. One of his adopted siblings. He hadn't expected the man to be here as he had received little to no word from him for so long. He had worried for the mans health but as he eyed the bright eyed form of Daraku descending through the air to land right in front of him he felt the man to be stronger then he remembered. Perhaps it was the agile movements or the way he carried himself. An air of confidence like before but some experience or another had altered from the memory in some way. Still Tsuyo listened as the man spoke. Always willing to tell Tsuyo more then Tsuyo told him. He wondered how some one with blood on their sword could have such an innocent quality to them. Still Daraku spoke and Tsuyo listened for any information he could delve from the words. Almost a game of sorts. But that was what he was trained to do. Intelligence gathering was just one of his specialties.

"Well look who it is. Hello, Mr. Kajiya, it's been a while." As the boy spoke he rested a hand on the hilt of the sword he was known for using so efficiently. After all dispatching of an ANBU had apperently been easy for him. Still it drove caution into Tsuyo's very bones. A man who worried about his allies attacking him. Some one who considered them family. It spoke volumes about a persons life style. The poor guy probably never felt safe. His trust probably turned against him at some point in his past. It kind of made Tsuyo hurt a little at the thought. Still brown eyes looked over Daraku. No visible signs of wounds. That was good.

"Sorry for...extending my stay in Sunagakure no Sato, I had clan business to take care of. The Kazekage, however, has avoided my company, so I have yet to clean up the whole mess that is my face in that damn bingo book," Ahh the Bingo book. Yes he could understand the issues that presented. It was after all the reason why he lived such a fake life. Konohagakure being after his head and all from so many years back. He missed home dearly but it was never to be his home again it seemed. Still they both stood in silence for a breif pause before Daraku continued."Things were looking bright in Sunagakure, though, for the most part. That's half the reason I came here to help with the war rather than to stay further, the other half being that I supposed you'd gotten involved in the war somehow as well. So tell me, boss man, how can I be of assistance to you, for the time being? I'm all yours."

Tsuyo smiled and stepped forward to hug the man. Embracing him as one brother to another. He was happy to see one of his family who made such rare appearances in his presence. As any brother would he embraced the young man close before letting him go with a hand placed on either shoulder. Looking him in the eyes before he too spoke. His soft voice ringing out. His eyes warm and comforting. Even though Tsuyo was such a deadly man his ability to make people feel safe around him was something entirely different. Like some one could rely on him to take an arrow for them.

"My dear Daraku. I have missed you so. You are of course free to come and go as you please but I do worry. Especially with you doing everything alone. I beg of you to bring one of the siblings with you and to please write to me or deliver messages some how. I am sorry for your troubles and yet still I am over joyed at your return." With that he looked Daraku over. His attire and general hygiene catching tsuyo's eye as he tugged at a loose piece of fabric on part of the mans clothing." Of course with the resources I provide you I do wish you would all take to dressing like your a member of my family. Won't you consider wearing a custom made suit?"

He left the question hanging as he suddenly recalled his purpose. Stepping back reached through his pockets as if searching for something. His guard wasn't up in the slightest. It was as if he trusted Daraku and so he did. Still after rifling through five or six pockets he pulled out a blood stained scroll and with amazing accuracy flicked it to Daraku. Slow enough to be caught of course. Before once more he spoke. His tone fare more serious this time. He wasn't always jokes and fun." I pulled that from a Wounded Kirigakure shinobi. He nearly died to deliver these to some one, Anyone who could help. It appears as if there are several teams of two spreading something flammable around. Do you see whats happening? They intend to burn Kiri to the ground rather then lose the battle. I can not in good conscious allow that to happen. This is why we are here Daraku. Let us prove to the people that we are not the evil things they tell their children of at night to scare them into being good. Let us earn your name into good favor. If nothing else we might prove your name doesn't belong in a Bingo book but in a book of Hero's." Tsuyo looked at him with an earnest gaze. Hope filled that gaze as if he prayed that Daraku wanted to be the hero. He understood Daraku lived for battle but a sword that protects is always better then the sword that creates chaos. Still suspicion raged in the back of his mind. What if Daraku was not the Angel he hoped him to be? What if instead he had embraced a demon. Would that demon one day be hid downfall? only time would tell. If he lived to see it that is.

2217/4000

The man approached Daraku with acceptance and warm greetings, giving him a large hug and leaving a smile on his face. It was clear that Daraku had underestimated this man's compassionate side, or rather believed that there was no compassionate side at all. He held the hug for a moment (a slight moment, as he wasn't the hugging type) before letting Mr. Kajiya go. Without apprehension or any negative emotion, really, Kajiya went on, explaining how worried he was about Daraku's safety and how Daraku had been "doing everything alone". Daraku was never used to having allies, anyhow, so when his boss suggested that he let one of the other members of the Bara accompany him, he cringed within himself. Although the members and associates he had met were...powerful, to say the least, he didn't like the idea of commitment or being held back. He didn't express his concern, instead keeping a smile on his face, one less of bloodlust and more of "friendly-neighborhood Matsuro" that at least looked to be amiable. Despite the unfortunate setting of this chance meeting, Kajiya seemed genuinely happy, although desiring Daraku to wear a suit...oh, restricting formalwear. He'd consider the offer, but not too seriously; armor suited him better anyhow.

Sudden recall of something took Kajiya's attention, and he began to shuffle through his pockets, one by one. Daraku stood by, half-confused and half-waiting for the man to say something. Ater spending a significant amount of time searching through multiple pockets on his person, he found something, pulling out a blood scroll. There seemed to be some sort of plans written down on it, although in sloppy, rushed penmanship. Kajiya tossed the small scroll to Daraku, who caught it with his right hand and viewed it carefully. His earlier assumption was true, it was a map of the village with marked destinations and various symbols and routes drawn out along its paths. He folded it back up, handing it back to Kajiya, who began to explain what had just happened before Daraku arrived. An injured man had given those plans to him, in hopes of getting someone to stop the teams of two who were setting up the plan in order to light the whole village of Kirigakure aflame. Daraku thought about it for a moment, considering the two ninja that had passed not too long ago. They had to be one of the teams of two, it only made sense. So how else to approach the situation but to hunt them first? Kajiya's voice resounded again.

"This is why we are here Daraku. Let us prove to the people that we are not the evil things they tell their children of at night to scare them into being good. Let us earn your name into good favor. If nothing else we might prove your name doesn't belong in a Bingo book but in a book of Hero's." Daraku gave a solemn look. He knew inside that a weapon could play hero but the only real hero was the one wielding it. He was no more than Kajiya's weapon at the time. How could he be a savior when he truly believed that he was the very evil thing that Kajiya sought to prove they weren't? Moral responsibility and self-perception began to seep into the situation. It wasn't that he felt that he didn't deserve to be in the bingo book...by all means, he knew he did. He just didn't want that reality to be true, he wanted to fade from the scene, fall away from existence, be no more than a shadow in the wall that no one would ever notice. He liked killing, causing pain, destroying things around him, it made him feel stronger, but at the same time being criminalized devalued his image while being a hero only got him noticed and he preferred being invisible. He stopped himself before he analyzed it any further, he'd already been completely silent for minutes. He looked back up at Kajiya, softening his expression a tad.

"I'm going to help because I've sworn myself to your service, to some extent. And what would be the point of coming here if I wasn't going to help? The issue is, my father trained me as an assassin. That's a large part of why I went back to Sunagakure; to kill him as a method of...vengeance. He ruined my chances of ever being a normal kid, and he desecrated our clan's name, earning as a reputation as scum throughout the village. Now that is behind me and I've got my revenge, but it is too late to undo what was already changed in me. I'm no hero, Kijiya, and I never will be. I'm a weapon." Daraku cut off there, ruminating on that last statement. As self-confident and egotistic Daraku was, he felt...unstable, now. He continued, changing the subject swiftly enough. "It doesn't make a difference, really. That's just how things are. C'mon, I saw a pair of missing ninja earlier and they looked like they were following one of the paths outlined on that scroll."

Branded "Hokkyokusei" by his clansmen, was Daraku letting them down if he stopped being that figure in their lives? He'd wondered about it earlier, but it was coming back to him, plaguing his thoughts like a toxin. He couldn't be clan head forever--he'd gotten Kiyoshi to fill in, then, but what of the future? Was he to be confined to Sunagakure for the rest of his days, doing paperwork in his chamber and giving orders? He had said so himself that he wasn't a hero, and thus how could he be a leader? He remembered his exact thoughts. A weapon's place isn't at the seat of a throne. Without further time to worry about it, he cleared his mind, crouched, and pivoted his foot off of the platform, backflipping twice and landing on his feet atop a lower roof below. "Let's go, sir." He said, before sprinting off in the distant ninjas' direction. They were far, but Daraku and Mr. Kajiya were fast enough to have hope in intercepting them.

(2,353)

There was a few moments of silence as Tsuyo watched the young man. He seemed inwardly conflicted some how. As if he was trying desperately to figure out a balance with who he was and who Tsuyo was asking him to be. The silence itself was deafening Even as he stood there considering where the mission needed him to go he listened to the surroundings. The way the battle was going he was fairly sure that Kiri and its allies had the advantage in numbers now. Still he couldn't help but worry. If he failed to stop it all of Kiri would once again be engulfed in flames. He remembered the time years back that He had received word that Kiri was nothing more then ash. He had been just another man behind the scenes during the chunnin exams at the time. Still the news had shook him. He had been forced to realize how much damage on individual could do. He had worried about it up until news of the international murderer known as Hao's passing. He had been torn that day. Pride for his home finally taking down the villain and a sense of dread. With Hao gone some one was bound to try and fill his shoes. Still he snapped back to attention as Daraku spoke. His voice spoke in volumes as did his words. Pain was certainly there. But so was a sense of pride.

"I'm going to help because I've sworn myself to your service, to some extent. And what would be the point of coming here if I wasn't going to help? The issue is, my father trained me as an assassin. That's a large part of why I went back to Sunagakure; to kill him as a method of...vengeance. He ruined my chances of ever being a normal kid, and he desecrated our clan's name, earning as a reputation as scum throughout the village. Now that is behind me and I've got my revenge, but it is too late to undo what was already changed in me. I'm no hero, Kijiya, and I never will be. I'm a weapon."

So there was his insight into the man known as Daraku. Born and bred as a weapon to be used for killing. He really couldn't blame him for seeking vengeance against the source of such a broken child hood. Likely he hadn't always enjoyed killing. He was probably forced into it. He felt a ping of sadness over it. But now he also knew why Daraku had gone it alone into his journeys. After all it was all rather personal. Still he nodded as if he understood. and spoke softly. "The sins of our fathers..." before smiling in a warm way before Daraku switched paces. His expression shifting to a smile once more. He felt like chuckling at that. The man was almost Bi polar. No matter though. It was only a thing that time would tell if such a weapons would ever be crafted into something....more. And once more he spoke again. More cheerful this time.

"It doesn't make a difference, really. That's just how things are. C'mon, I saw a pair of missing ninja earlier and they looked like they were following one of the paths outlined on that scroll."

Tsuyo chuckled as the boy back flipped twice to land on a lower roof. A very showy display but impressive none the less. Not many happened to be so flexible. His mind tugged at the idea that one day he might have need of an assassin. But would he be able to burden Daraku with such? Would he be just as bad as the mans father? He would have to contemplate that later. For now He needed to focus. The fact that Daraku already had some information on the enemy movements just by glancing at the orders was something. They might be able to save to people some how after all. Hope and determination filled him as he stepped off the edge and majestically seemed to glide down to the same roof as Daraku before dashing off in the indicated direction. Letting Daraku take the lead. Still he watched as they went. It was hard to tell but alot of the street seemed to be coated in some sort of goo already. So he got closer to Daraku and spoke up.

"I don't trust that liquid on the streets. Avoid letting any fire near it. If my hunch is correct then thats how they intend to burn us all."

And with that he moved closer into the shadows. His sharp eyes looking around them until he spotted the two. Holding up a hand he signed that he would take the one on the right. Quiet and simple. Before moving like a silent predator through the dark shadows down to the ground level. He moved quietly and slowly so as to avoid being noticed. Finally he waited for Daraku to make his move. He himself positioned right behind one of the two. As Soon as Daraku moved he would rise up and Bring his hand over his victims mouth. With a vicious twist he would turn the head and hear the snap. Just to be safe though He Jerked the head twice more until he was sure the spine was completely disconnected before setting the limp body down and digging though the pockets. His suspicions confirmed as he found a nearly empty pouch of the goo. And the fire device they where intending to use to activate it. And finally a map marking where the other two teams where. Rising to his feet he tore the map in two before handing half the map to Daraku. His half showing where one of the other teams where.

"Go. Kill them. I will take care of the last team. Be quick about it." And with that he turned and was off in the direction his half the map indicated. Growing more confident by the second. One team in three was down. Now they had a chance of wiping the floor with these bastards.

3237/4000

Kajiya followed Daraku for a moment as they sped towards their prey, the team that had left earlier. He heard the man's voice again, giving him a fair warning to the substance coating the streets. Yes, he thought, that had to have been the smell he'd sensed earlier. It only made sense that was the flammable material and thus their method of setting the village on fire. The best they could do for now was to simply avoid it for then. They had Seven Bells ninja to finish off, and so long as the substance wasn't ignited, it wouldn't affect their affairs. "Gotcha, I'll be careful." Moving after the targets like this gave Daraku a sense of camaraderie he had never quite experienced. He was the lone wolf, who hunted alone, who was independent of all, whereas the Aoi Bara was a group built on mutual trust and love for one another, oddly enough. And to be honest, he was starting to like it. Thinking of Kajiya as a brother to him opened up his emotions, liberating him in a way. But he wouldn't go becoming a "changed man", however, it was just an observation that he made and he didn't exactly mind it.

Daraku noticed the two nearby as they were working to complete some sort of task, most likely spreading the flammable material further. Both he and Kajiya hid in the shadows nearby, leaving the two oblivious to their presence. Kajiya signaled the move, making a short countdown of the fingers on his hand, before gripping his target's mouth with great strength. Daraku followed suit, grabbing the one closest to him who immediate began to struggle against his force. Daraku heard a neck snap, not once, but three times in a row, suggesting Kajiya had finished off his man. He continued holding tight to the one he currently held back, using all of his might to pull his head to the side. Finally, the man's efforts slowed for just a moment and their power struggle tipped in Daraku's favor; he jerked the face towards him, causing an immediate snap. Both were dead, but they weren't quite finished yet. Kajiya tore the map and two and handed half of it to him. He took a deep breath, still regaining himself after the struggle as he looked over the map. Kajiya spoke calmly. "Go. Kill them. I will take care of the last team. Be quick about it."

"Of course, I will see you soon, brother." Brother. The word slid off Daraku's tongue like a sweet secret escaping the mouth of a man sworn to confidentiality. It felt natural, if anything. Without further ado, he sprinted away to follow the map's given path to hunt the team while Kajiya did the same with his own half of the map. The streets were interconnected, so although complex and a bit confusing, it was a path with many shortcuts and it didn't take long to traverse. He made an effort to jump between rooftops when he could to avoid the flammable danger zone below, seeing various corpses here and there every so often, probably victims of the team's assault. He would avenge their deaths soon enough. He unsheathed both of his swords and only ran faster, heading to the destination. It was an opening surrounded by buildings with low rooftops. The ground in the middle was all covered with the goo, making it a highly dangerous place to use Katon jutsu of any kind. He returned Nisebi to its scabbard for fear of blowing himself up, but still held Hikou in the opposite hand and a clear view of both his opponents.

They didn't see him at all. They were turned around, their attention directly on the firestarter. Words were exchanged, words of general displeasure with one another, probably arguing over something mundane and stupid. It didn't matter, anyhow, their lives were about to end for good regardless of the setting or circumstances. Daraku activated his kekkei genkai, and felt the color drain from his skin, the light around him begin to pass through him, his body fading into nothingness. He was in his "Phantom Form", as he liked to call it. He made his way to the first missing ninja, lifting Hikou higher with his right hand. He needed to go for a clean slit across the throat so that he couldn't scream and alert his partner. That would defeat the purpose of using his kekkei genkai. The blade grew closer, but not too close at such a slow pace, else it become visible to the arsonist. With a swift flourish, Daraku pulled the blade back against his neck, letting him struggle for no more than a tenth of a second before forcing the weapon to the left and leaving a gash in his throat. A gasp of air escaped, followed by coughing up blood and falling to the floor, dead. His partner was facing away, but the thud of the corpse against the ground made him turn.

Upon sight of the body, he didn't bother to mourn or look afraid. He looked around slowly, wondering who had done it, but Daraku wasn't visible to him at all. His hands began to gather chakra, and he made a hand seal. "If you don't want to stop hiding, you don't have to. I can blow this whole place up anyway...!" The tiger hand seal, Daraku now recognized, associated primarily with Katon techniques. He didn't hesitate, tackling the man and shoving the blade through his stomach as he did. Blood seeped, each drop hitting the stone with a soft splat. He deactivated his kekkei genkai so that the man could see him in his last breaths. "That was for those innocent people you killed back there. You deserve this." He gasped for air to no avail, and it was clear that Daraku had punctured an organ. "...bast..ard," he choked out before falling to the ground, dead.

Daraku gave a cocky smile, looking down at his fallen adversaries. "Now that that's taken care of..." he shifted his view to the direction Mr. Kajiya had gone, hopping to a rooftop and following that route to return to his "brother". His bloodlust was sated, for now, and he was eager to see how the boss man had done in his execution of the remaining team.

(3,437)

250/275:

Tsuyo raced across the roof tops occasionally rechecking the portion of the map he was holding. It indicated the time was soon when they would simultaneously light the fluid on the ground. He was racing against time itself now. He felt the pressure of it on his soul. The innocent people that would be caught in the blaze. The village once more burning because he wasn't fast enough. He wasn't about to take the chance of him being just a little to late. Focusing chakra into the bottoms of his feet he growled as he activated his footwork jutsu. A parent jutsu to the supernatural walking practice he had evolved himself. The chakra focused to the bottoms of his feet and his legs and then suddenly he was bursting forward and stupendous speed. Faster then even some of the strongest in the world. The wind whistled ash e passed like a rocket flying through the air. His coat flapping loudly as he traveled forward. His hair blowing back wildly. He would get there now in a matter of seconds. X rank speed was no joke. Even in his passing his speed created a breeze that shifted direction with the wind. Each time his feet would slam down a burst of chakra would propel him forward leaving dents in the roofs and making the windows rattle. He fondly remembered this speed and the first time he had learned it. How it had put him a tier above the rest. His rise to power partially in thanks to this jutsu. It made him feel alive like he was going for a ride. He zipped across towards his destination. He would get there so fast that he would be able to land and stop them before they had a chance to react. His speed making them inferior beings.

As he neared the location his sharp eyes spotted the two as the finished laying the last of the flammable fluid. He watched as they set the pouch down and stepped back. One of them was reaching into his pockets. Tsuyo was moving so fast he could feel the pressure building. Three seconds away. He saw the man pull out a lighter flicking it open. They intended to light it right there and then. Two seconds away. The fire in the lighter came to life. The other man heard the whistle of the approach and looked up. Spotting him no doubt. One second away. The one who spotted him turned to shout at his partner as his partner tossed the lighter into the air. And then he was there. His hand reached out and grabbed the lighter before it even had a chance to fall. Not even slowing as he was suddenly in the face of the man who had thrown it. The split half second that the man had noticed some one was in front of him had him opening his mouth. With rage inside of him Tsuyo shoved the lit lighter into the man's open mouth and down his throat. The man hardly had time to choke before Tsuyo reached his other hand out and using the lighter as a grip he forced his fingers around it through the mans throat flesh and pulled while shoving his knee into the mans chest. Ripping out his throat the blood sprayed like writing on the wall. Leaving a spray of blood on Tsuyo's face. But he was already moving. Even as the first body began to fall to the floor he was moving towards the other. The one who had seen his approach had been preparing a flame jutsu and was now inhaling to let it loose. But Tsuyo was not about to allow that. In a step he was in front of the man slamming his blood covered hand against the mans chin and slamming his head back against the wall to stun him before using the hand with the lighter in it as a fist pack and shoved his fist into the mans stomach. Setting off the flame jutsu into the mans closed mouth. He held the man there as he watched him burn from the inside out. Then he stepped back and let the man fall away from the liquid. Dead in a terribly painful way. Then he stepped back and breathed. It was done on his side.

He wiped the lighter off on one of the dead mens clothes before he flicked it until it lit. Then taking a smoke from his pack in his inner coat he popped it into his mouth and lit it. Puffing on it as his jutsu faded away. Once Daraku arrived he nodded to him. Before speaking. "Leave a subtle hint to some one who can do something about it that these liquids are flammable. Here is my half of the map. Leave that to them as well. I will inform the shinobi I took the mission from that it's done." He smiled as he turned and walked away from the slaughter grounds. Heading back to the inn to deliver the good news.

4000+/4000
Exit thread.

Daraku came upon the scene, entering another enclosed area. There was the flammable liquid everywhere, but it had a red tint to it. It didn't take him long to see Mr. Kajiya standing there, covered in blood. The same blood tainted the walls and led a trail back to two mutilated bodies behind Kajiya's figure. Daraku wasn't sure whether to be disgusted or impressed, so he experienced a mix of the two feelings welling up. Kajiya regained his bearings, turning to face Daraku and holding out his hand to offer something. Daraku picked it up and examined it; the other half of the map, soaked in the crimson blood as well. He looked at it for a moment before looking back to Kajiya, who was speaking. "Leave a subtle hint to some one who can do something about it that these liquids are flammable. Here is my half of the map. Leave that to them as well. I will inform the shinobi I took the mission from that it's done." Daraku gave the man an amused smile. "A 'subtle' hint? Right, bossman, right. I'll see to it that the village doesn't burn down." Kajiya smiled back and left, without a further word. Daraku watched as he left. An interesting man...yeah. He values his relationships, but based on his scene and the blood everywhere I'm glad to be on his side.

Daraku left shortly after, going off to a sidestreet and following it until he found a Kirigakure Jounin outfitted in the standard village flak jacket. The man had a scroll around his back, so it seemed like a promising idea that he could help. Daraku approached with a relaxed expression, wiping the blood from the paper off of his hands before catching the Jounin's attention. "Hello, you're part of the Kirigakure Alliance, right? Would you happen to know Fuuinjutsu?" The Jounin gave him a curious look, noticing the leftover blood on his cheek. "Yes, both of those are correct...who are you?" He said, holding his hand out. A tanto appeared in it, from a seal within his palm. He pressed the tanto to Daraku's neck with enough force to keep him from moving for fear of his throat being slit. "Whoa, there. Calm your shit, man, there were Seven Bells trying to burn the village down. They're dead now, but I need your help to get rid of the oil-substance." The Jounin looked him in the eyes as if to tell whether he was lying or not, but slowly let down his guard. "Alright, I can help. Take me."

They went back to the streets and alley way, and Daraku handed him the two halves of the map, piecing them together as best he could despite the blood distorting the second half. The Jounin looked over it as Daraku pointed out the areas lined with the flammable material. "I just need you to seal it away somehow, if you can. Do you think you can do it?" The Kirigakure ninja inspected the situation, considered the circumstances, and finally nodded slowly. "Yes, it should take some time, so I'll create a blockade to keep the area clear and safe while I seal it all. Thank you for telling me, you've saved not only me but all of Kirigakure." Daraku only nodded. "Yeah, yeah, right...I'll see you later, Fuuinjutsu guy. Thanks for your help." The Ishido hopped back up to the rooftops and followed them back to the headquarters for his reward.

Exit Thread, Thread Closed
4,035/4,000 Mission Complete