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.
Vapor leaked from the ANBU's mouth, mingling with the omnipresent fog as she walked across the sands of the colosseum. It was a cold night, the full moon's light shining down, and while even now she could hear the telltale sounds of Shinobi training in Shinbatsu's Path, here it was quiet. She was alone here on the sands, not a soul to stir the air save her own.
She stopped in the middle. From here, looking through the mist, the arches and benches of the stadium took on stranger shapes. Her mind's eye saw the ruins of Kirigakure, the cracked and frozen remains of the city peeking through the fog, leaking shadows over the landscape. The desolation had called to her, pulled at something both predatory and secretive lurking beneath the surface. At the time she had been too focused on her mission, too focused on the danger that lay around every corner to stop and examine the effect it had on her, but here...
Here, alone with the shadows and mist, she could look within and finally see for herself what it was that found them so appetizing. The ANBU took a seat on the sand, crossing her legs with her six hands pressed together in meditation, and immersed herself in the fog.
[col3]|[spoilername="OOC"][Looking for a bit of RP sparring, preferably with just one person, though I can do a couple more if people seem interested. The setting is just as it's described above, middle of the Colosseum at night on a full moon, fog easily up to your neck in most places and covering just about everything. If nobody seems interested in a few days I'll finish it up solo, so get in while the getting's good ][/spoilername]|[/col3]
Ko loved to train at night. It wasn't as much fun during the day, when everyone was out doing the same. He didn't like having to compete for space with people, and they always took it as an opportunity to show off. While they all did that, the young boy would often be seen in the library, tearing through book after book about any such subject the young boy desired. Afterwards, he would eat some dinner and leave to go train at night. As such, Ko managed to work in double the amount of training as anyone else—he worked his mind, and his body. The sun had already descended down past the mountains when Ko emerged from the restaurant he'd decided to try that evening. The fog was rolling in thicker than usual today, but Ko didn't really mind it all too much. He was bundled up with a beige jacket and a scarf, not to mention pants and thick boots—anyways, the cold didn't really bother him. His silvery gray hair and eyes blended into the fog well, almost acting like camouflage. At his side was small gourd, with a few markings on it and a seal on its lip made of paper. There seemed to be some sort of seal on the paper tag, preventing anyone other than Ko from using the contents inside. What they were, though, was a mystery.
Ko was heading out to train for the evening. He was still getting used to his relatively new skills, and he wanted to see just how close his connection with the Sadon Element was. He decided that for today's training he would use the large Colosseum that typically held matches for sparring. It was a wide open area, specifically meant for sparring between opponents. Ko didn't think there would be anyone there at the moment, though, as the moon was already high up in the sky. As he arrived at his chosen venue, though, he was treated to the sight of another person. The fog made it difficult to see them very well, but there was definitely someone there. Curious, Ko walked up to to them—who else had the same idea that Ko did about when the correct time to train was? He called out to what he could now tell was a woman of seemingly a few years more experience than himself. "Hello, ma'am. Am I disrupting your training? I figure we can share the space, right?" He always did his best to be polite, and didn't want to disturb the woman too much. She seemed fairly engrossed in her meditation, but Ko couldn't just ignore her either.
The ANBU closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her as she focused her gaze within. With each breath she sank deeper into the trance, her chest slowly inflating and deflating like a bellows full of mist. She remembered clearly what it was she was looking for: less of a sensation than a state of mind, a piece of her lurking beneath her day to day consciousness. It was an instinct, a predator's instinct, driving her to stalk and toy with her prey. It was why she had felt compelled to design her mask they way she had, with it's mix of feline and arachnid features meant to instill fear into her target.
She could remember the first time it had taken hold. Her comrades lives were on the line, but all she could think about had been the buzzing and fluttering of tiny bodies through the air and how good it had felt to crush them in her teeth. Then ANBU had felt it several times since, but nothing had brought it to the surface like Kirigakure.
Here, with her surroundings so reminiscent of her time in the ruins, she felt it stir to life as she had then. Calm. Cold. Calculating. However this time was different. Rather than fight it as she had before she simply let it take hold, slowly easing into it like a lake of freezing black water as her mind and body were seized with the clarity only the cold could bring. She could feel the shadows and mist playing across her skin as if they were living beings, and as her awareness spread outward she realized that might not be far from the truth.
Yevon taught that the Fayth lived in all things, and that one simply had to listen with the right ears to hear their voice. The ANBU felt the reality of that statement now as the shadows and mist whispered to her, resonating with her predatory instinct. Through them she felt the boy approach, stopping as he realized he was not alone.
"Hello, ma'am. Am I disrupting your training? I figure we can share the space, right?"
The words were oddly distorted, as if he were speaking through a wall or veil of water, yet she could understand him perfectly.
Her voice was calm, tranquil, but above all powerful and commanding. She did not open her eyes until after she had answered his question. Those eyes were piercing, staring out at him through the thick fog. He hadn't noticed the mask when he first saw her, probably due to the fog obscuring his sight—did the mask mean that she was an ANBU? Ko wanted to ask her, but he didn't have time. The woman stood up, saying something about him being "just on time". He didn't get it until she dropped down into a sparring stance, readying herself against what could only be assumed to be his coming attack. That was, if he had one coming. Ko hadn't expected to be challenged to a spar, especially by an older woman. As his eyes absorbed in everything he could see about her, a few extra details came to his attention that hadn't been obvious before. First and foremost, he noticed that she possessed a few extra limbs. Normally, one might freak out about something like that—Ko, however, knew what they were. He'd read about them, the special kekkei genkai that hailed from the Water Country. "Hachiashi, the Clan of Spiders." He muttered the name under his breath, which she could probably hear. Beyond the extra limbs, though, he also noticed the mask. Was she an ANBU as well? Maybe if he impressed her, right here and now, she might take him under her wing as an ANBU in Training. The young boy smiled to himself, seeing a golden opportunity being offered to him. Here he was, a mere spar away from gathering valuable hands on experience fighting a member of a clan that seemed to be all but non-existent these days, and potentially making a name for himself within the village's solemn and silent protectors. When would he ever get this chance again? The boy had made up his mind. His hand dropped down towards the gourd at his side, and a smile flashed across his face. "So I have. In that case..."
"When The Deck Is Stacked..."
Ko undid the paper seal that covered the small opening in the gourd he carried with him. Without so much as moving a hand, a stream of sand broke the paper and slithered out into the open, surrounding the young boy on all sides. The sand was alive, or at least it appeared to be. Upon Ko's mental commands, the sands would move however he chose for them to. He'd need to summon all of his skill and mastery over these sands if he wanted to stand a chance in this duel. Smiling with excitement, Ko stated his thoughts simply. "Let's do this." He was going up against not only an older shinobi, but probably an ANBU as well. He had to be better than he'd ever been. His brain kicked into overdrive, thinking what he could possibly do to her. He didn't have the luxury of keeping his skills hidden in this spar—if he hesitated at all, he might end up dead. With that in mind, Ko thought it best not to rush in without a proper plan. He'd noticed the soft crunching of sand beneath him earlier—he'd use this to his advantage later. For now, though, he'd need to gain a little leverage in the battle. Weaving a couple hand signs, the young boy knew better than to call out the names of his techniques at this level of play. He started with a relatively low level Doton Element technique wherein he would fashion a clone of himself out of muck, though instead of using the mud and dirt around him he'd use the sand swirling around his body. Taking shape, Ko soon had a crudely shaped double of himself. The clone wasted no time in charging at the woman, occupying her time for however brief a moment could be gotten out of that assault.
A second, though, was all Ko needed. He was a relatively quick child, and while she was preoccupied with the makeshift Sand Clone in-front of her, he'd already disappeared. No doubt he was using the fog for cover. Some people might have called this strategy cowardly, but Ko preferred to think of it as a tactical retreat. It wasn't meant to be permanent, and he fully intended on coming out to fight some more. However, he wanted to see what she was going to do with that. What kind of techniques would she use? Would she abstain from techniques? Small things like that can tell you a lot about a person. What would she do, especially in an area with as uneven terrain as this—the sands that filled the stadium must have made it hard for the woman to move properly.
The boy had spirit, seemingly eager to get things started. The ANBU watched calmly as he unsealed a large gourd, created a clone from the sand within, and retreated into the mist. Sand...that could be interesting. She had spent her fair share in the library researching bloodlines as well, though on her account it had all been searching for clues about her own heritage. Still, in the process she had learned quite a bit about them in general. If he was Sunaku things could get very interesting depending on how in tune he was with the bloodline. The sand at their feet would be an asset instead of a hindrance to him, allowing him stable footing and a vast amount of resources in this fight.
That wasn't to say that she didn't have a similar advantage, however. The whispering of the shadows and mist gave her a few ideas, new ways she might use her abilities with the darkness and fog. One of which she used now, using a favourite technique of hers to move a short distance into the fog with invisible speed while leaving behind a clone of shadow in place of the earth or lightning clones she would normally use. The technique was seamless, giving the impression that the clone was truly her while she faded from sight.
Her clone stood it's ground as the boy's clone charged, sending out tendrils of shadow to reinforce the idea that his clone was charging the real one. Judging from the jutsu he used they would likely both explode on contact, but she only needed the ruse to last a short time. Time she used to extend her awareness through the fog. He was still a student, and as such had yet to learn how to effectively hide his presence even in an environment such as this. Perhaps it would be enough to fool another student, perhaps a Genin, but not one with the instincts she had.
The ANBU could feel him waiting. Choosing to observe rather than act, trying to feel her out. Again, a valid enough strategy against others of similar strength. Giving little while learning much, determining your enemy's strength and acting accordingly. Conserving your own strength until it was needed. She smiled beneath her mask, eyes glinting. She would enjoy toying with this one. He might even learn something from it.
She timed her move to coincide with the exact moment the clones met, sending out a wave of fog towards the boy strong enough to bowl him over without any real damage. It's direction would make it seem as if it originated from the clone, not her, while she remained hidden in the shadows of the mist. A bit of misdirection meant to send a message: You'll have to try better than that to get a reaction from me.
This would be an interesting fight, indeed. Ko watched from his vantage point, seeing the woman's attacks. She was going to strike the clone head on, huh? She hadn't moved since the clone started to charge, which was interesting. He doubted his techniques would really put a dent in her metaphorical armor, but at least he could now tell that she was a close range fighter. At least, that's what he thought. As the two collided, she seemed to have used a ninjutsu at the last second—an interesting move, using a technique like that at close range. She was a tricky one, Ko would give her that. He'd have to keep that in mind, from now on. As his clone made contact with her, though, something odd happened. It was brief, but Ko could see her body dissipate into nothingness. Was that a clone? He didn't have time to think, as shortly after a wave of fog, obviously guided by chakra, was heading towards him!
How did she know his position? He'd hidden himself, using the sands below them as his cover. He blended in very naturally, and yet somehow she'd seen through it. He had to stay calm, though. As the wave of fog approached, he automatically protected himself with the rest of the sands around him. They covered him, providing a sort of shield that was able to absorb the majority of her attack. He didn't take too much damage, and it certainly wasn't enough to end the technique he was using. This woman was strong, the shadows and the mist were her weapons. However, that's not all this battle would be about. She may have been a master of the shadows, but Ko was a master of the sands. Shortly after her attack, Ko had moved himself around. He had scouted around, and very soon he was able to find her real body! The makeshift sand clone was beginning to reform, which would hopefully distract her from him creeping up behind her. He could hide anywhere he wanted, right below her feet. This entire stadium was his battleground, and he would use it to his full advantage. Appearing behind her, Ko made his move. He used his finger as a guide, slashing towards the woman with a thin trail of sand following closely behind the guiding finger. He couldn't stay on the defensive forever, and needed to show that he had the ability to act when the moment was right.
The only flaw with his plan, though, was that he'd set himself up for a relatively easy counter attack on her part. He knew that his attack would probably do little more than catch her off-guard, if that. She would strike back at him, very quickly. He was glad, then, that he had the clone available to him—should she strike back, he'd be able to switch places with his clone. At least, he hoped that he would be able to. Depending on how quick she was to counterattack, he might not even have time for that. If the worst came to pass, he'd have to rely on the sands around him as an impromptu shield. He doubted they would do much, but if it came to it he'd have to accept that. This was the inherent flaw in his plan, which he would just simply have to work with.
There was a chill in the air that Ayumu was slowly becoming accustomed to. There was a time when he had become used to the feeling, having been out in the elements every night on patrol. Recently, around this time, he had been in a warm home relaxing. While that might have sounded nice to some, for Ayumu it had been an incredibly boring result of losing the ability to use his chakra for an extended period of time. He had been the Sennin of the ANBU, but a man who could not use chakra could not be a Sennin, or even a shinobi truly. So, for a time, Ayumu was neither. He was a layabout for a month or so, but he would have gone completely insane if that had gone on for much longer. He took a job with a blacksmith for a while. If he couldn't wield weapons, at least he could make them. There was some solace in still being able to hold a sword every day, at least. All along, he made repeated trips to Kumogakure's hospital for treatment. The Med-nin assured him they could restore the use of his chakra, and eventually they made good on their promise. It took still more time and rehabilitation to fully restore it, but when the Med-nin gave him the OK he began his training with renewed vigor. Now he was restored to active duty and it was time to get back into the swing of things. He would have to get used to the chill in the night air once more.
This was his first patrol after having come back. It felt almost foreign at first, but as he traveled the rooftops it all began to click once more. The familiar routes he took around the village, the trouble spots that always required checking, the different crowd out at night- all became familiar once more. Now he was approaching the Vespasian Colosseum to ensure nobody was holding any late night grudge matches. It was the perfect arena for them, after all. All seemed quiet, but he would take a peak inside. Shinobi fights were often quiet, after all. Quickly running up the outside wall of the Colosseum he made his way to the top. Once he had reached the apex he glanced down into the arena. It was a foggy night, and the fog had settled down into the arena. However, upon closer inspection he could make out some figures below. 'Oh boy... not even the first night is gonna be quiet, huh? Well... that works for me,' he thought.
He quickly went through a series of handseals and cloaked himself in chakra, his clothing taking on the appearance of his surroundings making him silent and incredibly difficult to see. He needed to scope out the situation before he intervened. He dropped into the stands and slunk down the aisles staying low to the ground as to not be noticed. As he drew closer the figures became more clear. There were two combatants it seemed, though the clones were initially confusing. Through the fog, he could only make out a few things for certain. One was clearly a boy of Academy or Genin age. The other was taller, though small of frame, but those were not the distinguishing features. This figure wore an ANBU mask just as he himself currently was... and had six arms. 'Shashu?' Ayumu's mind guessed immediately. She was the only six armed ANBU he knew, after all. Actually, she was also the only six armed person he knew, period. 'What's she doing with this kid? Training him?' he pondered. It seemed it was a good thing he hadn't called anything in over the radio.
He could still barely see through the mist, but his interest was peaked now. He figured he would remain and watch. He had no intention of distracting either of them, so for now he wouldn't reveal himself. It had been a long while since he had seen Shashu. The combination of her mission outside of the village as well as his own and then his subsequent time off had ensured that. This would give him a chance to see how much she had grown if nothing else. He was also curious as to who the boy she was with was and what he was capable of. Perhaps he was an ANBU in Training, or hoped to become one. He could ask after their spar was over with. For now he would watch from the stands, minimizing his presence as much as possible.
This time she made no move to dodge the boy's attack, allowing his strike to rip through her body, or, more precisely, her form. The boy's finger bisected her with no resistance it all, tearing through her like tissue paper. It was not blood and entrails that leaked from the wound however, but an inky blackness that looked as if her insides were formed from darkness itself. Regardless of his reaction the ANBU would turn her head slightly to affix him with the stare of a single glowing yellow eye, chuckling as her body dissipated into shadow.
Her initial assumption had been correct. The boy had at least progressed far enough to use his abilities to find her through the sand. He would probably assume he had slain another clone, where in actuality she had temporarily altered her body to become shadow in order to allow the attack to pass through her without harm. It was a powerful technique to be sure, but the whispering shadows warned her that remaining part of them for too long was dangerous. She would need to reform her body to it's natural state quickly or risk death. First however, she would leave the boy a present. As the shadows that comprised her form slipped past him she directed the traces that remained to latch onto the boy and sap his essence. If he was willing to risk such a dangerous gambit on an unknown foe without an exit strategy he would soon pay the price.
Choosing a spot several yards to the left of the boy she allowed her true body to coalesce, but with a twist. Rather than stand directly on the sand, and thus give away her position, she rested her many hands and feet upon a cushion of mist that diffused her weight across a much wider area. From there she watched the boy (or if he was smart, the clone) fight against the binding shadows. The ANBU smiled beneath her mask as the struggle gave her another idea, this one with a more personal flair.
She began pushing chakra through the cushion, slowly extending tendrils of fog in all directions. From above the pattern would resemble the stereotypical spider's web, but instead of a sticky adhesive contact with this web would result in the tendril snapping tight around any body part unfortunate enough to touch it.
This was all theatrics, but said theatrics served a purpose. To unnerve the prey, set it off-balance and drive it into a corner where it could be dispatched with ease. The ANBU was going easy on the boy, but that didn't change her nature. Kiri had done something to her, unlocked a part of her predatory nature that had long slept dormant and now begged to be explored. The whispering shadows and mists were the first clue that spoke of her blood's origins in a long time, and her unsuspecting prey was going to help her learn all about it.
For but a fleeting moment, Ko thought that perhaps he'd done it. He couldn't believe it when his attack landed, exactly how it was supposed to,slicing through the woman as if she wasn't even there. He did say it was only for a moment though, as his attack very quickly was revealed to have been ineffective. The flesh and bone of what should have been the woman's body gave way to inky darkness and shadow. She looked back at him, glaring through her mask with yellow eyes that felt cold and intense. She almost felt like a predator, a hunter of some sort. But that would mean that he was the prey...
As the shadow-clad woman crept away, she seemed to use the chance as an attack as well. The shadowy tendrils around had collapsed around him, grasping at him in a violent and desperate attempt to bind him in place. The things drained away his chakra, slowly withering him away until there would be nothing left. As the last traces of life left his system, though, the young boy crumbled into sand—his whole body reverted to the course material and began to fall apart. Ko had swapped with his clone before, leaving it behind to become sapped and destroyed. The residual chakra had even been absorbed as well, meaning the young boy would have to come up with some other tricks. He had hung back a dozen meters or so, watching to see what would happen next. He needed a new plan, and fast. This fog and darkness wasn't helping him much, though.
Just as he said so, however, he could see the fog move in a very odd way. Almost as if it were guided. Quickly he realized that the woman had launched another attack, only this time over a much wider area. She was laying her trap, like a spider would to catch a fly. The web of clouds and fog was closing in fast, leaving the young boy barely any time to react. What he did, though, was probably the most worthwhile thing he could have done: he jumped. As he did, a small cloud of sand and particles coalesced underneath the boy's feet—he was creating a surface for himself to stand on. Safe above the web below, Ko began to ascend a little bit. The young boy had had enough of this ridiculous weather. "Time to fix this.." He'd had enough of this fog. He enjoyed walking through them earlier, buy fighting in it? That was a whole different story. The young boy centered himself, breathing in deeply to maximize his next attack. Breathing in a deep breath, Ko then molded his chakra into the air held in his mouth. A burst of air was released from his mouth, dispersing the natural fog around them. This continued once or twice more, until all around the young boy he could see properly. And now that he could see, he could properly fight too.
There would be no more playing around. Ko was tired of reacting. He wanted to be proactive about this, and get on the offensive end of this fight. He shot out streams of sand, attempting to force his opponent out of hiding in the shadows. Unless they'd done something spectacular, Ko's removal of the fog had given him a clear enough vision of the battleground. Looking down upon the scenes, Ko wondered what else he might be able to do in order to best her. For the moment, though, he had a moment to think instead of relying on his instincts.
[ooc: My apologies for the lateness. Also going off of no sleep last night, so please tell me if I typed something really stupid.]
Ayumu wasn't the only ANBU of rank to be attracted, though Nobuyuki did not arrive because of duty. Instead, the captain came due to nightly training with Yoru and the Tori no Chōkanzu jutsu.
From far above the stadium, the ebony bird glided along, eyes focused on the earth below. Nobuyuki leaned against the railing of his balcony with his eyes closed, hanging his head low as he watched the world through the eyes of the crow. On rare occasions, he would see crimes take place and be able to snapshot the incident and bring some justice to the scum of the ghettos. But tonight, he watched an intense battle brew in the stadium under the moonlight, thankfully of the friendly and competitive type. Such an event peaked his interest and motivated him to take to hurrying off towards the stadium.
Nobuyuki approached from one of the stadium's highest entrances into the seating area, with no intention to hide his presence. He quickly found a seat to get his viewing pleasure. At this time of day, it's not like the event cost anything. In one hand was a small pair of binoculars and in the other... some funnel cake he picked up from a guy on the street outside of the stadium. With the plastic fork in hand, Nobuyuki took a decent helping of the tasty meal and put the binoculars to his eyes to watch what was going on in more detail. Moments later he heard the ruffles of Yoru's wings folding in neatly and the sound of his beak pecking at the food. "Save some for me." he said with a smile as the young boy sent out some tendrils of sand to find this opponent.
Ayumu remained silent as he watched the battle unfolding before him. The boy appeared to make contact with Shashu, but it quickly became apparent that was just what she wanted him to think. It was reminiscent of an ANBU ability, but proved to be otherwise. She was using Ninjutsu of the shadow element. It fit well with her natural affinity for sticking to the shadows, but this might have been the first time Ayumu had witnessed her using such abilities. 'How fitting,' he thought, chuckling quietly to himself as the shadows began to latch on to Kotsuko. Fortunately, he had the wisdom to swap places with his clone which crumbled back into the sand.
'Good,' Ayumu noted, nodding in approval. The new abilities he witnessed from Shashu only continued as she began to utilize the mist and create a web of vapors. 'Fitting indeed,' he thought, recalling her bloodline. She was really playing up the spider angle. 'She's messing with him,' Ayumu noted, smiling. Of course, it was a bit cruel to mess with someone who was on a different level than you, but that wouldn't have stopped Ayumu either. Besides, someone on your own level wasn't going to let you mess with them. The boy would learn from the experience. At least that's how Ayumu justified it.
Meanwhile, someone else had shown up in the stands. This one was making no effort to conceal himself. The only reason Ayumu was hiding was to avoid distracting the two combatants from the fight, but perhaps they would be too focused to be distracted. Upon closer inspection a man and a bird were making quick work of a funnel cake. 'Ooooh funnel cake... shit, I wonder if I could find a vendor and come back before this is over,' Ayumu pondered, ultimately deciding to resist the temptation.
The sound of shifting sands brought Ayumu's attention away from the funnel cake as the boy raised himself from the ground atop a sandy platform. He also began expelling bursts of air to attempt to rid the arena of the mist Shashu was making use of. Fortunately his jutsu would ensure he remained hidden for now. 'Not a bad idea,' Ayumu thought as he watched. It remained to see how it would play out for him. For now, he seemed to want to be on the offensive as he began launching attacks with his sand.
She nodded approvingly as the figure caught in the shadows crumbled to sand. It would have been the worst of rookie mistakes to close with an enemy and not have an escape plan in case things went south. Had he not had the clone in reserve the fight could have ended right there, and in a real combat situation that would have very easily been his death. Fortunately it was a lesson he seemed to already have learned, though the situation could still have been very bad for him if she had used a different avenue of attack.
His reaction to her web on the other hand was a bit more inspired. From the moment the ANBU had begun using the fog as a weapon she had been waiting for the boy to neutralize it. Had she been in his shoes, it would have been the first thing she tried. It wouldn't stop her use of mist of course, but it would sway the battlefield more in his favor. She was reminded of an excerpt from a book on shinobi tactics she had read once:
No matter the scale of battle, the single most important facet of combat is the battlefield itself. It factors directly into nearly every possible strategy, defining one's route and plan of attack as well as any defensive measures one might take. It is possible for a vastly superior force to suffer a crushing defeat simply because an enemy exploited unfavourable terrain to their advantage. Thus one should look first to their environment before considering an enemy.
This is doubly true in battles between shinobi, as they are uniquely equipped to mold the battlefield to their will through the use of chakra. A discerning shinobi will ensure that the environment remains in their favor while thwarting the opponent's attempts to do the same. Failure to do so will result in an uphill battle, and will all but ensure defeat against any enemy of skill.
It made her wonder if the boy had perhaps read the same book as he utilized high-pressure bursts of air to drive away the mist in the immediate area. It wasn't a permanent fix, but for now the sands within the arena were mostly clear of fog.
As he rose up on his small nimbus of sand, the ANBU's attention was momentarily drawn to movement in the upper reaches of the stands. It seemed a man and his pet bird had decided to treat their battle as a show, even going so far as to have brought food to eat and little binoculars to peer through. She let out a small tch of annoyance. If she had intended this to be an exhibition match, she wouldn't have waited til the dead of night to come out here. Almost idly she crooked a finger on the far side of her body from the man, as if she was pulling a string. A few seconds later fog would coalesce around him, blocking his view and fogging his lenses. It was rude to spy on other people after all. She grinned beneath her mask at the idea. Not like she was one to talk on that account.
Her attention back on the boy, it seemed he had decided to seriously go on the offensive this time. Several streams of sand arced her way from his position, most likely in an attempt to attack from multiple angles. Seeing as how they were guided by his will they would probably home in on her as well. Her solution was to take a deep breath and violently exhale in much the same matter as the boy had, but instead of air a huge quantity of dark fog exploded around her like a smoke bomb.
As the sandy tendrils entered the cloud she too jumped high in the air. Apparently the boy had had enough of the cloak and dagger fighting and wanted to put down some pressure to force her out into the open. For someone with his strengths that was probably for the best: he could thrive in an open environment as it would allow him to use his sand to wear down the opponent, forcing them to react to him instead of the other way around and not giving them a chance to regroup. Smart...but it only worked as long as you could keep up your rhythm. Finding a way to interrupt it was a key in overcoming that sort of opponent. Fortunately for her, she had a great deal of experience on the boy.
Forming a head-sized ball of mist she whipped it at the boy like a curveball, though the motion itself was a mask for her real attack. The glowing ball of mist would arc around to the boy's right, drawing his attention, while simultaneously a large fist of fog would materialize out of the fog bank over the stands and come rocketing in on his left. Both would detonate on contact, throwing him off his makeshift platform before the fist would re-form around him and fling him bodily into the web below. Should he manage to dodge both attacks the ANBU would take advantage of the opportunity by suddenly appearing behind him and striking him with a blast of shadow, thus ultimately sending him straight in the web as well.
If either plan of attack succeeded the boy would land smack in the center of the spidery trap. The misty cushion would keep him from taking much damage from the fall, but in return the strands would quickly fold in and snap tight around him. While in its grasp he would be unable to move, see, or hear, and even breathing would be difficult. The ANBU was interested in seeing how the boy handled such a situation. In her experience most tended to panic when trapped in a cocoon and deprived of their senses. Perhaps the boy would fare better? Plus, she had put all that effort into making the web in the first place. It would a shame to let it go to waste.
Ko didn't notice either of the spectators—his mind was focused solely on this fight. He didn't spare them any of his thought process, as he was already busy enough trying to think ahead of this woman. For now, his ploy was working. The receding mists had made it far easier for the young boy to see the fields around him, though he knew not for how much longer. Furthermore, the streams of sand which he had used were successful in their purpose, even if they didn't connect—she was forced out into the open, which was exactly where the young boy wanted her. He would be able to retaliate against her more directly, without the interference of all this obstructive mist. She wasn't going to just roll over and let him win, however, and immediately came back at him with a counterattack of her own. She had launched a mist-based projectile towards him on his right, seemingly imminent in its arrival. But Ko knew better. This was a feint. He could see the second strike coming on his left. They were timed to collide at the same time, which Ko would take great advantage of. He glanced down. He could pull it off. Smirking to himself, the young boy waited until the two attacks were about to collide. Closer. Closer. Just a little more...
He jumped. At the last second he flung himself backwards off his platform. At the same moment that he had done so, he was beginning to have the sands that he controlled disperse and reform themselves as a new platform where he planned to land. He'd even anticipated the second part of the two-front attack, wherein she would have attempted to knock him down with her mist-based technique. What he hadn't expected, though, was the backhanded technique she'd used to sneak up behind him. The two mist-based attacks were a diversion? She struck him hard from behind, in mid-air. He couldn't have dodged if he wanted to. He flew through the air, arcing like a stone being thrown over a lake. When he landed, it was in the vapor web that had been laid below. The fall wasn't bad—it was like a soft padding, to be honest. Before he could react, though, the webbing closed in on him. It strangled him, suffocated him, and bound him in a very tight cocoon like a moth trapped in a web. The more Ko struggled, the tighter it became. He couldn't see, move, hear, and he could barely breathe as well.
"Power Unleashed"
This wasn't good. This was the end of it. She could kill him, right here and now, if she wanted. That's what would happen in a real fight. Wasn't this a real fight? Ko started to panic a little. This was unbearable, contained like this. He didn't know what to do. He struggled. He couldn't think. He squirmed. He didn't know what the hell was going to happen. He pulse quickened. His chakra flared. His muscles clenched, his mind raced, and his strength all but left him. His sword vibrated.
What? Ko didn't realize it for a few moments, but his sword was vibrating. It was shaking violently. It bent. It deformed. It moved. He carried that sword with him, the one he'd received from Satou, tucked away behind his jacket. He hadn't wanted to use it in this fight, because it didn't seem like it would be of use to him. Sure, it channeled Raiton Element chakra, but that didn't help him against non-Doton Element attacks. Something was happening to it, now. Ko had felt the solid metal pressing up against him a moment ago, but it was slowly losing its form. It was becoming soft, and malleable. Ko tried to focus on it. He tried to control it. Outside the cocoon, it wasn't blatantly obvious. That is, until a simmering silver blade pierced through the cocoon's wrappings. In one motion it cut horizontally through the vapor wrappings, creating a place for Ko to escape from. He leaped at the opportunity, freeing himself and escaping from that hellish construction. Once out, Ko took a second to catch his breath. Then he looked at it.
Where his sands usually floated around him, he saw flecks of iron and metal. They pulsated, writhed, and breathed as if they were a living thing. But of course they weren't. Ko could feel them, moving that is. He was connected to them, inexorably bound. He moved his hand, and the sands swirled. He breathed, and they undulated. It wasn't just them, though. He realized that, once he cast his mind only slightly further outside, that he could feel the stadium. That as an odd way to put it, but it was the most accurate way too. He felt a part of the structure, as if he could see and feel every piece of the building. What sort of power was this? His eyes fell upon a piece of scrap metal that lay on the side of the Colosseum, curious about something. He extended a palm towards it, reaching out to it with his mind and his chakra. The metal responded. It flew towards him, gently and controlled. As it neared him, Ko could feel every fleck and piece of that metal as if it were an extension of himself. He could use it. Mold it. Shape it. The scrap metal disintegrated, breaking down into grains the size of sand. The young boy smirked. "So it's Magnetism..." He'd figured it out. Was this his power all along? He'd have to check later, but he suspected that the majority of the sand he'd been able to control had been composed out of ferrous materials. Perhaps he'd limited himself, accidentally, by thinking it was sand itself he was controlling. In this instance, just now, his sword must have responded to his Raiton Element chakra during his frenzied state, possibly focusing and amplifying his natural abilities. His understanding of his abilities had previously been dubious and improper, whereas he was beginning to understand the true nature of his abilities. He was beginning to realize it, but he never had the ability to control sand. He had a far greater ability...
Ko turned his attention back to the woman he was fighting. He glanced back at the shifting sands behind him, and thought he'd try something. He focused his energy into the palm of his hand, willing the sand to coalesce at that spot. Obliging, a steady stream of sand began to condense in his palm. Ko increased the pressure, binding the sand together. It hardened, forming into a small but weighty ball. It's surface shone with its metallic properties. Controlling it with ease, Ko twirled it around his hand. He increased the speed, until suddenly he thrust his hand forward. The metallic orb followed suit, and launched itself towards the ANBU woman with a tremendous amount of acceleration. Ko needed a chance to test these new powers of his, and what better way to test them then through combat? Ko was suddenly enjoying this sparring match entirely more than he had been.
[edited the prose a bit, as I didn't like how I'd written it before]
The funnel cake quickly disappeared and Nobuyuki was left frowning. "How unfortunate. Yoru, take this money and go buy some more, have the man bag it and bring it back. You better not eat it or you are going to get fat." he warned, offering up the money. One might say the bird glared at him for a few moments before picking up the cash and flying off. This left the captain alone with his binoculars and the fighting got more and more intense.
The fog was soon dispersed by a wind jutsu Nobuyuki had picked up back in the academy. It was troublesome, but harmless.
Yoru returned with the food and they filled up once again until Nobuyuki was leaning back in his seat patting his belly. Yoru had hopped onto his protruding belly and laid down to recover from the meal. "Nothing like dinner and a show, aye Yoru? I do love this village."
The fighting grew intense and Nobuyuki followed it with interest. Unfortunately, given the nature of the fights it was hard to see. If these two had been a true show in the daytime the crowd would not be pleased. They liked a show and what was being given was intrigue; mist and mirrors of the stealthy kind.
The fight raged on as Shashu continued her sneaky antics as always, using misdirection and stealth to confuse her opponent. Kotsuko was holding his own pretty well though, even if Shashu wasn't being completely serious. He had excellent control of the sand and seemed to know a good number of jutsu to utilize it. Meanwhile, the second spectator was still hooting and hollering and making a general ruckus. It was like he thought this was one of the normal matches during the day fought for the crowd's entertainment. In his defense, they were fighting in the middle of a stadium specifically meant to hold fights in front of a crowd. It shouldn't be so surprising, then, that a crowd had shown up to watch. Ayumu watched briefly as the man handed over money to his bird and send it flying off somewhere. 'Did he just send his bird on an errand?'<i></i> Ayumu wondered, watching the raven fly away.
'I should get a dog... or something,'<i></i> he thought, as he watched Kotsuko. He had turned his attention back to the fight just in time to see the poor boy wrapped in webbing. 'Ugh, ew... that has got to be unpleasant,'<i></i> he thought, recalling when he was bound by the ANBU jutsu in his fight for his life in Tenouza. This had to be worse with the sticky webbing surrounding him. It seemed to be over for a moment, but suddenly a sword pierced through the webbing and sliced it open. 'How did he manage to get the range of motion inside to use a weapon?'<i></i> Ayumu wondered as he watched Kotsuko emerge. Now the boy was up to something. He was forming a ball out of sand, but something was different. The ball shone, reflecting the lights of the stadium and revealing itself to be metallic. 'It's not sand? Metal? Or wait... shit, what did they teach me in the Academy again? Goddammit, elemental affinity is so complicated... Could be magnetism? Maybe a combination of both. Explains his escape. The plot thickens,'<i></i> Ayumu thought as he watched the ball launch towards Shashu.
She never ceased to find it fascinating how people reacted to being cocooned and deprived of their senses. It was as if a primal part of their mind went into overdrive and squashed any rational thought, dousing their mind in fear and forcing them to struggle. It was exciting, almost erotic to watch, and it tickled her predatory instincts in all the right places. She could feel her pulse quicken as she panted in a way that had nothing to do with exertion. The feeling was so much stronger now than it had been before Kiri, her instincts urging her to take advantage. She wanted to toy with him more.
However before she could take a single step something interesting happened: a silver blade punctured the cocoon from the inside, slicing clean through to allow the boy to escape. That he was able to free himself was not that important; had he retained his wits the boy could have used his sands to tear an opening. What was interesting was the method. Metal manipulation? No...it was more than that. The ANBU could feel a familiar tingle in the air as he pulled a piece of scrap metal towards him. Lightning chakra. That meant either Gravity or Magnetism, and the degree of precision suggested the latter.
Judging from his reaction the boy was unfamiliar with these new abilities, which raised a few questions on its own. Was he just now awakening new power, or was he even a true Sunaku in the first place? Ultimately it didn't matter at the moment. Perhaps she would find out later, for now she was simply smugly satisfied she wasn't wearing the standard-issue ANBU gear. The lack of metal on her person meant that the boy would have to provide it all himself if he meant to attack her with it, which in turn would broadcast his intentions pretty clearly. That was the downside to working with metal: it was dangerous to be sure, but also slow and cumbersome and thus easy to avoid. So long as she paid attention it was unlikely she would be caught by surprise.
Having finished experimenting with his new abilities, the boy once again went on the offensive by launching a ball of solid steel towards her at high speed. A mischievous grin crossed her face as she immediately spun in place, tagging the ball as it passed her with a length of webbing from the arms on her left side as she flung the other end towards the boy with her right. He would have but a split second to react, and if it connected inertia would have its way and yank him towards a head-on collision with the colosseum wall. It would likely knock the wind clear out of him, but the ANBU had her doubts. The boy had metal at his command and could easily coat himself in it or create a shield to absorb the impact. Still, it would be worth a chuckle and would keep him from getting too ahead of himself.
Regardless of the outcome she would step back and give the boy a moment to recover. The unveiling of his new abilities and subsequent attack had given her the jolt she needed to reign her impulses back in, which was fortunate. That was what this was for, after all- after Kiri she needed to strike a new balance between her instincts and her rational self. Embedded in her blood they were an irrevocable part of who she was, but they didn't need to be all she was. The shadows and mist whispered to her as she concentrated, sharpening her focus. Her ancestors had gone through this, it was only right that she should too.
Ko eyes followed the metallic ball closely, focusing insanely hard on it. The boy was finding it more and more difficult to control the farther away it went, though he wasn't sure where or if there was a cut-off point at which his magnetic abilities would cease to work. He imagined it wasn't infinite, but the exact range of his abilities would have to be measured later. For now, he tried his best to maintain as much control over the orb as he could. He was trying to direct it directly at the ANBU woman, trying to gauge what she might do next. More evasion? Or was this another diversion, like always? He couldn't read her as well due to her mask, but he had so far gotten a sense as to her fighting style. Something sneaky and unexpected was coming, no doubt. He just had to prepare or it...
He couldn't have prepared, however. Preparation against an opponent like this required more battle experience than he had, and it meant that he would be woefully unable to defend against any attack she may have in mind. While she seemed to be sticking to her guns in terms of what kinds of abilities she would use — shadows, mists, and spider-based abilities — she still had a far greater set of skills to draw from. Ko's arsenal was rather limited in comparison, and even more so since he was now trying to grapple with learning the limits of his new abilities. A young boy like Ko couldn't possibly hope to match the woman evenly.
He had to out think her. She worked on instinct, but Ko worked on calculations. He fought with a sort of cold fury, both calm and collected and fiercely powerful at the same time. It was a dangerous combination, really. All the passion of a brawler, and all the levelheadedness of a strategist. When the woman attached the webbing to the metal ball, and then flung the other end of it at Ko, he didn't panic. He didn't flinch. He realized, instantly, that he wouldn't be able to dodge it. He didn't waste time trying. That precious second was used for more important matters, like bracing himself for the impact and bringing his iron sand close into himself so that it wouldn't be left behind by the sudden acceleration. He realized quickly how he might use this to his advantage, and allowed himself to swept up by the forward momentum. He soared through the air, freely following the metallic ball's trajectory. He had his goal in sight, and he knew exactly what he had to do. At the last second, he changed the ball's direction off to one side. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to redirect the young boy directly towards the ANBU woman. He was right on top of her, too.
She hadn't done anything so far. Ko didn't imagine this strategy to do much other than startle her, but did he really expect to be able to take her down anyways? No, this battle was about testing himself, about exploring the depths of his abilities and hers. If he gathered a sufficient amount of data, that would be enough for him. With this in mind, the young boy brought his iron flecks towards his palms, forming a long staff made entirely of the iron sand. It was heavy and solid, perfect for delivering a direct hit. As he accelerated faster towards the woman, he brought forth the staff to strike her. He wanted to see how a direct attack like this would make her react. Would she disappear in another puff of shadow and mist? Would she stand her ground and fight? Ko wanted to know more about this woman, his opponent.
He didn't even know her name yet. He'd have to ask her it when they were done.
Ayumu continued watching, although he could help but feel slightly antsy hiding in the stands. Watching a fight was all well and good, but shinobi fights were supposed to be quick. In fact, this one would have been if Shashu was doing more than simply testing Kotsuko. At some point, Ayumu wanted to just jump in, but that was not why he was here. Sitting back in one of the stadium seats, he laced his fingers together and began to twirl his thumbs as he watched. The metallic ball that Kotsuko had flung at Shashu was attached by webbing to Ko himself dragging him along with it. Not missing a beat, Ko used the momentum of being dragged along to his advantage, closing the gap between himself and Shashu and using the opportunity to launch a direct attack. He formed a staff out of the particles he controlled and made his strike. Ayumu leaned forward in his seat. This was the kind of attack he liked.
[OoC: I believe some skipping is in order, hope nobody minds but we're going to be here forever at this rate. I recommend you guys skip too. Sorry for the short post, not much to write when all Ayumu is doing is watching.]
"What!? What do you mean it's raining pizza!? I swear students these days... of course I'll come over to eat it. Be there soon."
Nobuyuki got up and headed for the nearest exit. He had seen what was needed. Hopefully Ayumu would take an interest in the skilled young man, enough to offer him a spot within their ranks. If not... then tough luck.
Time seemed to slow for a moment as she took a step back after affixing the boy with the web. Her mind ran swift and clear, the whispers flowing over and through her like a babbling brook as she took in the situation. She had intended to allow the boy to recover from the imminent impact, but it seemed he had exercised his new-found power to alter his course. The metal ball's trajectory now put him on a collision course with the ANBU herself. He had even gone so far as to use his metal sand to form a staff instead of forming a defense against an impact with the wall.
She smirked.
This was it. Her prey, despite it's struggles, had only managed to back itself into a corner. This was how she fought: on an instinctual level she understood how to manipulate her enemy to her advantage, how to act and react in such a way that it led to an inevitable conclusion. Against someone like the boy who relied on analysis and calculated decisions she was the worst kind of enemy. She had no set strategy, plan, or means of attack. Her only goal was to toy with her enemy til she found what made them tick, and then either guide them into making a fatal mistake or wear them down til there was nothing left.
The boy's mistake was in making such a risky attack with no way to back out if things went sour. He had put himself in a similar situation earlier and very nearly paid for it, but he had had the foresight to have a clone ready to take the fall for him. Here he had no such fallback. Whether it was fear or bravado, it seemed that the eagerness to test his new abilities had gotten the better of him.
The smirk twisted into a wide grin, her eyes wide in anticipation. She could feel euphoria suffusing her body, every hair standing on end. This was it!
As he closed, she took one step toward him, both moving in close and setting herself in a wide, balanced stance. One hand rose to deflect the staff away, a second pulled the thread to keep him on course. Two more formed a handseal while the fifth and sixth snapped out in a pair of palm strikes, catching the boy in the sternum and gut. However, rather than arrest his motion the strikes instead knocked the wind from his lungs before arcing him over the ANBU's head, sending him crashing upside-down and back-first into the same crater his ball had made in the colosseum wall. Following up she sent a small cloud of shadow-shards at the boy, stopping them scarcely an inch from piercing his flesh.
She let the shards hover there and waited while the boy regained his senses and collected himself. Unless she had seriously misjudged him he would see them and understand the message: game over, no continues. Only after some form of recognition, perhaps a nod or a word, would the ANBU allow her jutsu to dissipate. She felt good, no, great, her entire body tingling in the aftermath of the hunt. For a few scant moments there she had felt pure ecstasy, a perfect union of her entire being as everything fell into place. She had never been one to relish a fight itself, preferring the satisfaction of a silent kill, but with this...she could understand how some people became addicted to battle. A slow approach, building up anticipation to the final climactic moment...it was something else altogether. It felt right, and something told the ANBU that was exactly what she had been searching for. She just didn't know it would feel so good.
The ANBU relaxed, and waited for the boy to make the next move. Her eyes studied him for any signs of injury, but she doubted he had suffered anything serious. A few cuts and bruises, possibly a broken rib or two. Nothing a Med-nin couldn't fix in short order. She wondered what his reaction would be, and if he had any questions to ask her. She certainly would in his situation.
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][/spoilername]|[/col3]
Ayumu wasn't the only ANBU of rank to be attracted, though Nobuyuki did not arrive because of duty. Instead, the captain came due to nightly training with Yoru and the Tori no Chōkanzu jutsu.