Ninpocho Chronicles

Ninpocho Chronicles is a fantasy-ish setting storyline, set in an alternate universe World of Ninjas, where the Naruto and Boruto series take place. This means that none of the canon characters exists, or existed here.

Each ninja starts from the bottom and start their training as an Academy Student. From there they develop abilities akin to that of demigods as they grow in age and experience.

Along the way they gain new friends (or enemies), take on jobs and complete contracts and missions for their respective villages where their training and skill will be tested to their limits.

The sky is the limit as the blank page you see before you can be filled with countless of adventures with your character in the game.

This is Ninpocho Chronicles.

Current Ninpocho Chronicles Time:

Private An Archaeological Find

Ryu Hime

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Kiyo calls himself an Archaeologist though the term does not exactly fit as he seeks to learn the culture and back ground of many species not just humans. To this end most of Kiyo’s life was spent reading books. Sometimes he would adventure out to some land in search to find some archaeological find. This is the reason he has come here to the country of sand. It was just recently that some sort of great calamity shook the land. This immense quake had caused the sands to shift and uncover things and places that were long since buried. It was an opportunity he could not pass up. In his journey through the underground cavern he found an ancient map. Kiyo thus goes to Sunakagure to formally request a couple of shinobi to help him explore what may be a city or something lost to the ages.

Kiyo waits at the gates of Suna for the arrival of those who were assign the mission. He was sure they would find him interesting considering he was not human, but a snake. However one can easily tell he is no ordinary snake with a simple glance. For one he does not go naked like most animals, but in dark green button down shirt that seems specifically made with him in mind. He wears a green cap that matches his shirt and a red sash to wear as a belt. Around his face is a mask that covers her mouth, which possesses a zipper to allow him to eat without take down the mask.

Ren was first to arrive and being that Kiyo and Ren have met before, there was no surprised. “I guess I should not be surprised that you will be helping be.” Due to his small size his voice sometimes comes off sounding like a child though he is fully grown. His voice also hard to distinguish which gender he is. “Are you alone? I was expecting to receive one more. Not that I doubt your abilities.” Kiyo Moves his head a little to look behind Ren.
 

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A small boy dressed in earth-colored robes walked toward the pair, his long black hair unmoving, his bright yellow eyes alert and his gait incredibly smooth. It was almost like he was gliding, despite taking long strides on short legs. As he got closer, it was obvious that he hadn't considered the snake - despite being dressed in clothing - as being someone he was tasked with meeting. Daijamitsu came to a stop beside the other young shinobi.

"Hello," The Genin said, as he offered a bow to the girl. "I am Daijamitsu, I do not think we've met. Also, I have been placed on the team assisting the mission to escort Kiyo-san... is he here yet?"

While he waited for a response, Daijamitsu took a moment to glance down to the snake nearby. The items of clothing were incredibly odd for a serpent, and the Genin wondered at why it was dressed that way. Was it a pet? Did the other shinobi girl own it, and liked to dress it up? Very odd indeed.

"Hello," Daijamitsu said to the snake, smiling a wide smile, as he crouched down and looked into the creature's eyes. "I have a fondness for snakes... and you are definitely interesting. Did our friend here dress you up?"

The Genin didn't expect the creature to reply, of course. So instead Daijamitsu simply stared, his bright yellow eyes - with the serpent-like pupils - simply observing, finding the snake dressed in clothing somewhat amusing. Still, with luck, Kiyo-san wouldn't take too long to arrive, and the mission could get underway. Daijamitsu stood back up and waited...
 

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Ren wears a large green raincoat that has a pair of rabbit-ears on the hood and boots that match her raincoat. Though it hardly ever rains in suna she does find the coat looks good on her. She normally wears this attire during this time of day. It is true that the desert is an extremely warm climate during the day, but it darn right chilly at night. She was not to surprise about the mission having them set out under the light of the moon. Not even the animals that call this place home like to travel around in the blistering heat.

When Daijamitsu came to a stop beside her, she reacts with a quick retreat. After taking a couple steps away from the genin, she then hides behind her hand puppet. “Hi.” She says weakly and watches as the boy does a bow and introduces himself. “Um, Ren.” Ren is a very shy girl who is unable to articulate full sentences and express herself well. Often she lets her puppet, Usagi, do the talking for her. “Greetings greetings.” The puppet cries happily while emphatically waving its arms. “Kiyo-sama is right over there.” The puppet points to the snake, which was currently eyeing Daijamitsu.

“Good evening my dear.”
Kiyo said in response to the boy’s hello. “That’s good to hear as it would be problematic if you were one of those people scared of snakes.” Unlike with Kazu, Kiyo was not angry with the boy. He did not really care too much about being mistaken as a pet. He gets that a lot from humans. He does however tend to take offense when mistaken as a wild animal as he tries hard to make himself look dignified.
 

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Daijamitsu offered an awkward smile to the small girl in the green bunny-eared raincoat, trying his best not to judge someone else. He had seen that reaction many times, what with his own odd characteristics, and didn't want to become those people he disliked for focusing only on his differences. So far, aside from seeming shy and eccentric, Ren had been polite. Even her puppet projected a kind, perky attitude... and then proceeded to inform the Genin that Kiyo was, in fact, already present.

Kiyo was the snake.

As the snake began to speak, Daijamitsu's eyes widened. Not in fright or panic, but wonder and awe. For the first time in his life, the boy was face-to-face with a talking serpent. It was almost too much to process, especially as up until this point, all of Daijamitsu's interactions with snakes had been with typical ones - namely, they couldn't speak or didn't tend to wear clothing.

Huh, the clothes make more sense now!

"It is a pleasure, Kiyo-sama," Daijamitsu said as he looked to the snake. "I am sorry, I did not realize you were you. What a pleasant surprise!"

Daijamitsu offered an overly wide smile, as the pair of yellow eyes regarded one another. The Genin had an affinity for the snake species, and wondered if Kiyo could sense that lingering connection. It had been explained to Daijamitsu by another shinobi as one predator meeting another in the wild and regarding the other as the same. Or something like that. Honestly, Daijamitsu still had no idea how he was able to influence and interact with snakes, so with luck perhaps Kiyo had some answers?

"I do not think we are waiting for anyone else," Daijamitsu said as he looked over his shoulder back toward the village. "I am ready to escort you when you are, Kiyo-sama. And I look forward to talking with you more once we are traveling. This mission became a lot more exciting."

Daijamitsu waited, wondering where the small group were headed...
 

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“Hey, hey.” Once again the puppet waves its little paws in hope to grab their attention. Daijamitsu might note how well the puppet talked. The puppet’s mouth movements matched the words perfectly and yet Ren’s did not move a muscle. It is because of this Ren that was known as the expert in ventriloquism. “I almost forgot to introduce myself.” Ren was almost curious how Daijamitsu would reacted to this. Would he take it seriously? Would he even bother to remember the name? He gave Kiyo a happy greeting, would he give her the same. “My name is Usagi.” The rabbit hand puppet then gives a politefully bow.


“Yes, I was told that I was only getting two.” Kiyo raises his head and looks up into the sky. He seems to be looking for something. “You see that group of stars over there.” Kiyo was using his tail to point and it was directed to a certain snake constellation. Though unless Daijamitsu studied stellar geography, he’s not likely going to see it. “That is Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer. According to my map we will be heading in that direction.” Kiyo then slithers over to Ren and she could guess the reason. “Considering my speed.” Ren reaches down, picks Kiyo up and lets him rest on her shoulders. “Thank you. Now let’s be off.”
 

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Daijamitsu had thought the day couldn't get any weirder. But it did. Now he was offering a small bow to a puppet. Still, Daijamitsu would never had it said he didn't respect others, no matter how weird or eccentric they were.

"Usagi-chan," Daijamitsu offered a small smile, noting the skill in which Ren spoke for the puppet, without moving her mouth. It was impressive. "You look very prepared for the mission. I like your eye-patch. How long have you known each other, Ren?"

Though it wasn't long after the introduction by the small hand puppet that the group were away. Daijamitsu walked at the back, behind and to the side of Ren, though not to be awkward or to avoid, but simply to keep awareness of the rear guard. The rest of the trip was uneventful. There was some small talk, but nothing too serious or heavy. Daijamitsu took the time to ask a few questions of Kiyo, seeking to learn some more about the talking snake, but it seemed the destination had appeared before too long, and the Genin had to wait on speaking more for later.

"Is this it? Interesting," Daijamitsu said in a low tone, as he peered at an outcropping of rock faces in the sand around. Like literal formations had been raised from the earth itself, jagged and angled upward, with what appeared to be a cave-like entry along the red cracked face. "Is there any danger you know of, Kiyo-sama? It might be best to prepare before entering?"

Daijamitsu looked to the others, yellow eyes regarding the odd bunch.
 

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“Let me take a look.” The snake slithers over to the entrance and studies it to confirm that this is indeed the right location. This was an artificially made cave and once had some sort of inscription along the edges of the door. Looking closely Kiyo could still see some of the etchings, but they were extremely faint as they were smoothed by sand over the years. The words were written in Runtic Terra, the ancient language of Suna, however it was illegible even if the shinobi knew the language. “Yes, yes I do believe so.” Ren bends down near the large flat boulder and does her own study. Looking at the ground it was no wonder nobody was able to find this place before as it seems this large rock was blocking the entrance. It appears the great quake caused this giant slab of stone to move out of the way.

“This place was creating by the mad king. It was to be a test of bravery and intelligence. Inside is a great labyrinth that one must solve with a monster roaming it. The monster is said to be a horrific beast half man and half bull.”
After hearing about the maze Ren pulls out a ball of golden thread and ties one end to a rock. The reason behind this is that they can always follow the thread back out. It would be quite unfortunate if they got lost in there. “I doubt there is much danger now as it has been many decades. I would assume the guardian of the labyrinth is likely dead by now.”

However Kiyo could not actually say for sure whether the creature was dead or alive. Kiyo was curious about the construction of the labyrinth as there were some descriptions that were so outlandish that he had to see for himself. There was also an end to this maze, but no records state what was at the end of it. Kiyo would love to solve this puzzle and see for himself, but would he and his two escorts be up for the challenge?
 

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Daijamitsu listened intently to Kiyo, nodding along to the snake's words, as though the Genin knew anything about what was being said. He didn't, not a single bit, so it was more to show Daijamitsu was giving his attention. The story about the guardian in the labyrinth was somewhat scary, but surely between some shinobi, it wouldn't be too big a problem?

"Since we are entering a maze, do we have--" Daijamitsu stopped mid-sentence, as he saw Ren unrolling the end of a ball of string. "Ah, I see. Very smart. By leaving a trail, we don't get lost."

The Genin smiled, before he turned back to look at the entrance to the cave. It seemed ominous, but that could just be due to the tale of the half man/half beast inside. Or maybe it was simply because they were entering the unknown and were the only means of protection for the snake escort. Or maybe it was all of the previous reasons combined. Either way, the longer the group waited, the longer the mission would take.

And if things were so dangerous, Daijamitsu doubted an Academy Student and a Genin would be the only protection.

"I am ready when you are, Kiyo-sama."

Daijamitsu looked to Ren and nodded. It was time to protect the HVT.
 

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The party then enters in through the entrance way down a hallway. Kiyo would take the lead with Ren following shortly after. The air was stale and there was no light other than what little poured from the entrance. Kiyo seems unfazed by the poor lighting, perhaps he could see better in such conditions than humans. Ren however guides herself by placing her free hand on the walk. It was quite clear that this was no natural cave as the texture of the wall was smooth to the touch and the floor level with no obstacles to trip over. As they continue to walk the darker it would get and Ren seems surprisingly calm about it for a shy little girl. Suddenly there was a loud cry which startles Ren and causes her to falls backwards. Considering how far away Daijamitsu was she would either bump into him or fall on the floor.

ARCH2O-Fragments-of-Euclid-A-Video-Game-Inspired-by-M.-C.-Escher%E2%80%99s-Stair-Labyrinth-02.jpg
The sound seem to have come from below her around her feet. It was like she stepped on something. “That was my tail.” It seems she accidentally stepped on her escort, which probably did not reflect well on the mission. “Sorry, sorry.” Kiyo was not too angry with Ren considering he did stop moving forward. The reason being that they have come to a door. “Daijamitsu come up here and open this door.” Kiyo would quickly move to the side to avoid being treaded on.

The door was made out of wood but had no handle or knob for the boy grab onto. However should he put some weight on the door, it will begin to open. The door gives a loud creek which echoes throughout the maze. If there was a guardian out there, they know someone just entered. Inside was both breath taking and mind boggling. Stairs were everywhere leading to bridges or platforms, but what was truly strange was the positioning. They came out of the walls and the ceiling and there were doors both upside-down and on their side. It was a maze that seem to make no sense. The labyrinth was lighted by small altars that littered the place. Each alter had a large orb with an ominous glow.
 

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The cavern was a surprise when compared to the rocky natural form of the outside. Incredibly smooth and unnatural, it had likely been carved or constructed in the past. The change from the rugged outside desert to the corridors inside was almost shocking, with Daijamitsu having to blink. Still, the group continued onward, and the pale Genin followed, not wanting to be left behind. There was a cry from ahead, to which Daijamitsu narrowed his yellow eyes and prepared for defensive measures for Kiyo, but it was revealed the other pair had simply stepped on the other. Unfortunately being a little behind, Daijamitsu saw Ren fall and walked over to assist her back up.

"It is dark in here, are you alright?"

Not concerned with his tail being stepped on, Kiyo approached a doorway. He called for Daijamitsu to open it.

"Okay," Daijamitsu said as he stepped forward toward the door.

With some effort he pushed on the closed opening, and felt the resistance of old hinges, before adding some more strength. With a groan and creak they opened and revealed an even more spectacular and surprising interior. It was a literal maze that weaved and folded in and over and through itself, causing an almost dizzying effect of pathways that connected at impossible angles.

"How do we want to approach this?" Daijamitsu asked, as he looked to both Ren and Kiyo. "I do not think the string will work here... gravity simply will not allow it. Is there another option for keeping our path marked?"

Looking around the intricate interior, trying his best to sort through various pathways to reach certain doors, Daijamitsu absently wondered whether they might actually run into the infamous guardian after all. It seemed the deeper the group went, the more ominous the journey became, and it wouldn't surprise the Genin at all if they were forced to fight a half-man, half-bull creature in the dim maze.

"There are several doorways spread throughout this cavern... do we know which one we want to pass through?"
 

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Kiyo was simply amazed with the sight as it was far more than he could ever imagine. “Beautiful.” The very nature of how this maze was put together spoke much, though some of his initial thoughts may be wrong. The maze was quite intimidating and would most definitely require an intelligent mind to solve. Being that there was areas where one had to walk on walls and ceilings, gave Kiyo the impression that only those who practiced the shinobi arts could possibly solve this puzzle. “I do hope you two learned the needed chakra control to walk against gravity.” Though not a shinobi himself, he has heard of a training involves focusing a fixed amount of chakra to the bottom of one's feet, and using that to climb a tree without using one's hands.

While Kiyo was pretty much ecstatic, Ren wore a much more worried expression. Her mind went to the same place as Daijamitsu. If they had to walk on walls and stuff then her little ball of twine was not going to be much help. Ren was apprehensive that once they enter the maze they might not be able to find their way back out. When Kiyo asked about her abilities she nods and smiles when Diajamitsu shares in her concerns, though she really did not have an answer for him.

Usagi on the other hand seems to have something in mind as the little rabbit hand puppet begins tucking Ren’s shirt by the shoulder. It will likely seem strange seeing a puppet trying to get the attention of the puppeteer, but this is just the tipple actions of Ren. The girl looks over to her felt friend. “Try throwing a Kunai over there.” The puppet seems to be pointing at a door, but Ren gives a confused look as if she is unsure why the puppet would give such a request. “Why?”

“I have a theory that I want you to test. Just trust me on this.”
Ren gives a defeated sigh and pulls out a kunai. She throws it straight at the door but the kunai trajectory seems funny as it flies through the air. The weapon did not fly straight, but seem to make slight adjustments in the air. The Kunai did not even make it to the door, but fell flat onto some steps. This was weird because the stairs were on its side… so how was the kunai lying flat on it? “Hmm… It seems the direction which gravity pulls is not the same in all areas.” This means Ren’s string trick is still doable. And the maze could actually be done by non-shinobi.
 

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Daijamitsu watched patiently, yellow eyes narrowed, as he saw the kunai shift and alter on its path. It took an instant to realize that gravity was relative to the surface inside the maze, which meant several opportunities and options became available again to the group. Daijamitsu supposed the string idea would still work, too.

"Kiyo-sama," Daijamitsu said in a low voice, as he looked to the small snake who had just finished conducting the kunai experiment. "Do you have an idea of which direction we need to go? Do any symbols or pathways give us direction? I am good with spatial awareness, but need to see where I am going to first."

The use of Ren's string would be an additional layer of protection, as Daijamitsu had already begun studying the intricate layout of the maze. Even though there were a mass of multiple paths and branches, there were also specific angles and shapes that formed, which could be used as anchor points for traversal. Still, the question remained of where they were going...

"Usagi-chan, have you seen anything like this before? I cannot believe how complex it all is, and how it seems to warp reality."

Until they had a destination in mind, Daijamitsu would at least try to continue making conversation with the others.
 

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The labyrinth was quite a riddle with no real clear solution; it had unusual twists and turns one can take, but no obvious path for one to travel to get to the desired end. There was no markings that Kiyo can see at the current location. Despite how awe inspiring the place was, one stair way was pretty much the same as another. However Daijimitsu had a point. This was a test of knowledge, so there had to be something the guide them. No matter how much he looked at the maze, the only thing that really stood out were the alters that provided light to this dark place. Did the altars serve another purpose? Were they a hint of some kind? It was interesting how they were laid out as none of them where on a surface where gravity would be normal.


Meanwhile Ren was noticing something else as she too was looking for something that was not there, which she expected to find. This place was ancient and people supposedly died here but yet the place was quite clean; there was no blood, bodies or even dust. Someone or something was obviously still around and taking care of the place. it may be paranoia getting to her but she gets the clear feeling they were not alone. Giving the ball of twine to Usagi, Ren pulls out another kunai just in case.


Daijimutsu speaks to the hand puppet and asks if she has seen anything like this before. Surprisingly the rabbit nods as she seem to see something the others do not. “Yes there is something very familiar here.” The puppet looks to Ren. “Perhaps you see it too?” Ren however looked confused as she did not seem to know what the hand puppet was talking about. With a sign the white rabbit dives into Ren’s pouch, leaving the ball of string and pulling out a pair of sun glasses. “These might help.” The felt bunny offers the shades to Daijamitsu. The place was already quite dark and thus with the sunglasses he would be practically blind. The only thing he really would see would be the glowing orbs on the alters, which looked surprisingly like a section of the night sky. If he looks carefully enough he would notice the constellation Ophiushus, which they followed to get here. Interestingly only one door was next to one of these alters that made the constellation.
 

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Daijamitsu kept looking at the maze, his mind perplexed and racing to try and make some sense of it all. There was definitely something he was missing, some detail or piece of knowledge or information, something that would add some clarity. But for now, with how little the Genin understood of the mission aside from being an escort, there was little hope of Daijamitsu solving the complex problem. Then suddenly the puppet spoke up, causing Daijamitsu to raise an eyebrow as he looked toward the bunny.

I wonder... does Ren actually see what the puppet claims to see? Or are they individual entities that think differently even though they are connected physically?

It was definitely an interesting question and perhaps Daijamitsu would ask about it in the future. However, at that moment, it seemed some finer details would be provided by Usagi. Patient, as always, Daijamitsu simply watched as the bunny shuffled around inside Ren's pouch for a moment, apparently looking for something particular. It didn't take long since it wasn't a large pouch. The puppet lifted up sunglasses, which made Daijamitsu cant his head to one side with an odd look...

"Okay...," Daijamitsu said slowly as he reached out to grab them. "I will see what I see."

The Genin placed the sunglasses on, throwing the majority of the maze into darkness due to the dim lighting, and was immediately aware of the glowing altars and the lights of each. They stood out in contrast to the sudden shading, and it took Daijamitsu only several moments to begin to formulate patterns with the layout of the altars. The darkness of the sunglasses, combined with the glowing orbs, made it seem like the night sky - and it was only a small jump from that logic to recognize it was some kind of map of stars, a constellation.

"My astronomy knowledge is not a strong point," Daijamitsu said as he strained to recall the shape. "I learned basics for night navigation in the deserts, but recalling specific groupings of stars... hmm... is... that the Ophiuchus constellation?"

Daijamitsu took the sunglasses off, as he passed them back to the puppet with a nod.

"I did notice there is only a singular door near an altar... is that our intended path, Kiyo-sama?"

[ MFT ][ WC: 373 ]
 

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Kiyo would applaud Daijumitsu and Usagi for there well deduction if he had hands to do so. “Good work. Now we just have to navigate a way there.” The party would walk and begin to climb up stairs and at least one of them (Ren) will fall down the same set of stairs due to the sudden change of gravity. They would walk across bridges and dive into tunnels. By the fifth set of stairs, then would begin to learn how to adjust to the sudden shifts. They would likely be glad for Rens golden thread as it would likely be rather difficult for them to find their way back.

Once at their destination they would be greeted by a pair of doors which seem to be made of two different kinds of wood. The one door was solid oak painted white and had a knob of obsidian. The other door was of ebony and one might have not noticed it in this dimly lighted place if it was not for its knob of white marble. Maybe there is a meaning to these doors. Perchance they were a clue for a puzzle that await for them inside.

However the party did not necessarily have to try out the doors right away. This was in fact an archaeological mission. It is not guaranteed that they will leave the same way they came as there might be an exit if they solve the maze. This might be their last chance to look at things before continuing on. There is one of those strange altars with a glowing orb nearby.
 

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The trek through the maze was a mixture of surprising, confusing and interesting. Daijamitsu had always been smart, his young graduation age and maturity an indication, but it was the boy's strategic capabilities that were some of his strongest. Unfortunately that didn't much matter in this place, as there was no real need to observe and plan according to enemy movements or abilities, there was no need to prepare traps or jutsu. At least not at the moment. Depending on whether the infamous beast of the maze was actually around or not...

"Looking at this door, it comes across as a loose representation of yin and yang?" Daijamitsu said in a low whisper, as he looked at the colored sides of each door. The black and white offsets made the connection obvious, of course. "Could it be that simple, Kiyo-sama? Part of me thinks it is aimed at being misleading, though what it could be I am not sure."

This wasn't Daijamitsu's field at all. He was not really someone well-versed in a range of knowledge and academia, rather he was skilled in having the capacity to rapidly learn something if he was given cause to research it. But a general knowledge was a shortcoming of his age, and even he had to admit the usefulness he offered in this situation was limited, like his understanding of the maze and its legends.

Still, there was no reason not to pay attention and potentially learn something!

"I wonder what the orbs glow with," Daijamitsu muttered, as he stepped closer to the altar and peered at the light source. It was strange, casting the surroundings in its eerie hue. He turned to look at the others. "Do any of you know anything about these types of things?"

[ MFT ][ WC: 292 ]
 

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The group would then approach the nearby alter with the glowing orb. The sphere seems to look as if it was made of glass with some pieces of metal weaved into it. It glows with a bluish-violet light which provided just enough illumination to see where one was going in the maze. Neither Kiyo, Ren nor Usagi had any idea what it could be. However Usagi seem to have noticed something, “Are those symbols at the bottom?” Naturally Usagi goes to move the object to make the markings more visible, however the moment she touches the orb the light goes out. The orb seem to have deactivated and they were about to find out what exactly was its purpose.

It seems these orbs was the reason for the unusual gravity for as soon as it went dim, the party was no longer sticking to the wall. As Ren notices her body shifting to the side, she quickly grabs the alter with her free had. Usagi was still holding the orb and Kiyo manages to wrap himself around Ren’s ankle in time. “Put the orb back, Put the orb back!” The snake shouted with extreme panic. Usagi complies but it was not working. “Where’s Daijumitsu?”

In truth the fall would not be that bad as there was a bridge about eight feet below where Ren was hanging. They would easily survive the fall with minimum injury. The problem is that someone seems to be already on the bridge. It seems the guardian was very much alive and active as the Minotaur stares up at Ren. The creature did not exactly look like a living thing though but more like an autonomous puppet.
 

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One moment the group was investigating one of the altars with the blue orb, and the next Daijamitsu was tumbling and falling.

When the gravity gave out on the surface of the disturbed orb, he barely had time to reach out for anything around him, and instead had fallen off the walkway toward the one opposite. With a thud, the Genin landed on the bridge, as he let out a wince at the small impact. It didn't seem there was any real damage or injury, likely just a bruise to his arm and thigh when he checked later.

"I'm down here," Daijamitsu called, as he looked up at the three above. It seemed they were having issues still, with the orb refusing to function again, despite Usagi trying to place it back. "Is everyone ok--...?"

With a frown, Daijamitsu felt the bridge shudder under foot. He looked to one side, his yellow eyes narrowing, as he saw what was more than likely the guardian of the maze. The minotaur-like creature had the appearance of artificial joints and limbs, which told Daijamitsu that perhaps they were dealing with some type of puppet. Another stroke of luck was the minotaur was mid-stare at Ren, who was above the bridge hanging on with both Usagi and Kiyo... and for the moment didn't seem to pay attention to the lone Genin furthest from the handled orb.

What are we doing? Daijamitsu thought to himself, as he crouched and tried to minimize his presence. Are we attacking it, waiting for it to act, or are we retreating?

Hopefully Kiyo would say what the plan was, because right now Daijamitsu seemed to have a small chance of surprise on the guardian. But whether that would last for long remained to be seen...

[ MFT ][ WC: 294 ]
 

Ryu Hime

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Ren only had one free hand to hold onto the altar and in her haste to grab it as soon as possible, she did not have the best of grip. Ren would not be able to hold on for long and one by one her fingers starts to slip away from the stony surface. Time almost seems to slow down as she begins to go airborne in her rapid decent. The guardian would pull out a war hammer from its back and wield it with both hands. Like a professional baseball player the creature took his stance. The artificial beast seems to put some serious eight into his swing as he aims at the girl. Being that Ren was in midair, there was not any real way of her dodging the blow. The only thing she could do was block the attack by crossing her arms. Kiyo abandons ship by uncoiling Ren’s ankle and making it for the bridge. Bones crack and shatter under the pressure and the hammer sent her flying backwards for a grand slam. Ren flew so far that she entered an area where the altered gravity still worked. She lands on a set of stairs like a rag doll. The orb gently rolls down the stairs as her body remains motionless.

The Minotaur would put away his weapon and turn to face Daijimitsu. Slowly the beast would approach and would walk right pass him like he was but a fly. The genin might attack but he did not retaliate or really acknowledge the boy. Once the Minotaur was gone, Kiyo would slither over to the boy. “She was a brave soul. We will not forget thee.” He says as a small prayer. “We must continue onward Diajumistu.”
 

Daijamitsu

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The guardian ignored Daijamitsu, instead attacking Ren directly. Perhaps it was drawn to the individual that had touched the orb, or who had disturbed the maze, rather than anyone else? It was a hard call to make, one based purely on very little information, but seemed about right. Still, Daijamitsu knew that simply attacking the Minotaur, after seeing how it injured - or even killed - Ren in a single blow, wasn't the best course of action. In fact, by remaining as little a threat as possible, the pale Genin was likely doing the best course for the situation.

As soon as the guardian moves on, I'll check Ren, Daijamitsu thought to himself, as he remained crouched. There it goes... looks like it is headed around toward Ren, but with my agility I should be able to beat it to see if she's alive!

At that moment, Kiyo slithered over to Daijamitsu, and proposed the pair move on. But the Genin didn't agree, as he didn't want to assume Ren had been outright killed. It was possible the girl was injured or simply unconscious, so taking a moment to ensure she could be helped made sense. It was a little concerning how easily the snake seemed to move on. Without wasting time he grabbed Kiyo, knowing the guardian had to move around at a slower pace, Daijamitsu began leaping and running toward his downed companion, using the knowledge of the gravity shifts to account for changing his direction and landings. It wasn't easy, but it was considerably faster than taking the long way around like the Minotaur was. Within moments, Daijamitsu landed beside Ren...

"Give me a moment, Kiyo-sama," Daijamitsu said in a low tone, almost a mutter, as he moved quietly to Ren's splayed self. "Ren? Usagi? Can you hear me?"

Daijamitsu reached down, he pressed his fingers to Ren's neck, checking for a pulse. With a glance back to Kiyo, the pale Genin hoped some sign of life could be found... and all the while the pale Genin kept a wary eye on the slowly approaching guardian of the maze.

This is not good.

"We do not have long before the guardian reaches us, Kiyo-sama," Daijamitsu said, a frown on his face. "Can you do anything?"
 
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