Starring:
Date: April 6, 2013
Summary:
The trio are on patrol at a small fishing village along the coast. They stop to take a breather, to admire the sea and its soldiers, and are attacked by a group of Kumogakure shinobi in disguise.
"A Raid at Dawn"
Fishing Village [Kirigakure]
The morning is early, green and gray like twirling tea, spinning round the center of its cup, spinning on just enough that the sun shines over the edge of the earth like spears golden and lancing.
The village is small. It is meant for fisherman and their families, tucked into the coast as deeply as the years into the faces of those brave enough. There are many man abustle at so early an hour, but many too have already made it to water. Lines are set, rigs are hitched, spears are grabbed, and nets are drawn, techniques passed down generations and generations — such men have no fate to dream of, so ready is it so cast. A long, thin dock stretches crumbling and brown into the water.
The patrol of Hibiki, Ishino, and Sumiko has led them to such morning work as is currently espied. The troop have reached the apex of their duty. The world is not safe; it is up to its guardians to be vigilant.
Quiet has the trip been, for so quiet are the companions alone, but - as the fishermen lurch into the water with weariness of decades done - Hibiki says, flatly:
"We're hungry."
Sumiko studies the village with her solemn gaze, watching the fishermen as they prepare for their craft. The small woman remains silent for the most part. She is not a woman prone to initiating conversations, nor one of many words when they do start. The men getting ready and then moving into the water have drawn her curiosity for some reason. It is odd to imagine spending one's life as such, doing the same things each day, though it is the way the lives of normal people progress, isn't it?
The dark-haired girl looks towards the rest of her group finally, one hand absently smoothing the black silk of her kimono as she answers Hibiki in a soft tone, "You should have eaten already, Hibiki-kun."
Ishino and the older man with him, were both within those suits. That umbrella over his head carried by the older man. His own attention was drifting across the area smoothly. He didn't even look at the other two when they spoke, his own voice quiet and calm. "There should be an energy bar in my gear. If you want something short and simple. It's tastless, but it will aid you in not feeling hungry, Onkyou-san. Otherwise, it waits til after the end of the patrol. As Sayomi-san mentioned, you should of eaten before we started.."
The boy's cheek twitches, then his neck — his shoulder taps the air. Alas, as empires are in infinite time, it is but a moment, and then gone. The end of night begins to waver away from the oncome of day. Everything looks industrial, and productive. Certain warm, salty guests tremble the air every when and again — the dock calls: the sight of the fishermen and the rising sunlight caught far into the sea. Hibiki drifts, and flicks a thumb at the dock.
"Might we go out there for a moment, Ishino-sensei?"
The sea rumbles and rails, but only like a breath, carrying the fishermen bobbing along. Little boats and antique methods — simple, and effective. There become many - more boats than at first seemed - the farther one goes along the dock.
As the sun comes up, Sumiko lefts her gaze to watch it for a time before she is drawn back to Ishino and Hibiki as the pair speak. She nods slowly at Ishino's comment to Hibiki, then hmm's softly to herself as the younger boy asks his question. A hand lifts to wipe a spray of water from her face and she remains silent, wondering as to the likelihood of anything occurring in this small village and pondering the layout of the place.
"I don't see why not. You have been practicing your water walking to go along with the tree walking technique I taught you, correct?" Ishino's attention shifted from the surroundings to Hibiki for a moment, to catch if there was only a nod or shake of his head, instead of an actual response. He'd start forward then, the older man with him moving in unison although it didn't seem any sort of action on Ishino's part told him to start walking. Either way, he'd approach the docks, watching the men out in the water as they'd move along those wooden planks. He'd step out onto the water itself, as calmly as if it was ground, while looking back to the other two. "How far out do you wish to go?"
The youth grins, raises a hand at the docks.
"I meant out there. That we can be free of concentration. Though-"
Hibiki flicks his head at Sumiko.
"-Sumiko-sensei did teach us how to walk upon the waves."
A certain childishness invades the boy's face, bringing back days and dreams of what could.
"But. But. That is neither the point now nor will be. If you wish, Ishino-sensei, I will walk the docks while you walk the sea."
Again, Hibiki grins - contentment spread like infection - and along the docks he goes, the creak of decades of surety groaning beneath his feet, as if another foot on the earth held by a god. Far the boy goes, along the docks, to the end, to the sea, to the sea, and then the crashing of day as sunlight gleams off the edges of water, the clamber of fishermen rustling like insects in the break of sky. So many fisherman jostling the waves. But not all the boats are heading out; in fact, quite a few are hustling back in.
Sumiko looks back to the two boys and nods at Ishino's comment about the Genin practicing water walking, though she doesn't comment upon her self. Another nod is given when Hibiki says she'd helped him. The small woman follows the pair towards the water, but she decides to remain on the dock herself. She comments quietly, "Hibiki-kun did very well, we even had a sparring bout out on the sea. He did not fall into the water until he was nearly exhausted." Her studying gaze turns towards the water, watching the boats. She blinks slowly when she notices the ones coming back in, "Do fisherman fish at night?"
"Sounds about the same as the spar of tree walking.." Ishino muses for a moment, noting the boats at the same time as Sumiko it seems. "Not generally, no Sayomi-san. There might be some specific.. but not that many, I would think." Ishino ponders for a moment, before shaking his head. He too would step up onto the dock, retrieving the umbrella from the older man with him, who would promptly go running off across the waves towards the boats coming in. Once he got close, he'd slow down some, looking at who was coming in, before a rough, gravelly voice would speak up to those in the boat. "'ey 'ey. Whatcha whatcha doin? Ya'll ya'll done fishin?"
The man in the boat which Time Keeper stops at slaps his paddle in the water, stopping his row. He looks up at the older man standing on the wave, the brim of the fisherman's hat low and steely. The others, in their own boats, continue pushing towards the dock. The man before Time Keeper slaps his hands together, his fingers dancing through several motions. As far away as the men in boats were, a strong gust rushes behind them, pushing them fastly along, til so close they are leaping they come - berobed in wide reed hats and hand-stitches clothes - several brandishing the glowing black tip of kunai in their hands, driving their hatred in yells against the three Kiri nin standing upon the dock.
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 13. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 10. - Rolled by: Hibiki
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki defends against with a DODGE…17
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki defends against with a DODGE…28
Hibiki stares, stunned by the rapidity of events, at the leaping fishermen, grasping just quickly enough that he becomes aware and focused, moving just quickly enough that the swiping kunai miss. The boy himself, so close now to the gathered warriors, lungs for one, whips a shuriken at the other.
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki attacks with PHYSICAL…18
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki attacks with SHARP…26
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Dodge from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Dodge from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Hibiki
COMBAT: Hibiki finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Sumiko's turn.
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 17. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 11. - Rolled by: Hibiki
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko defends against with a DODGE…19
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko defends against with a DODGE…28
Sumiko looks towards Ishino as he answers a frown curving her lips. Her dark gaze turns to follow Time Keeper's trip out to the boats, watching and waiting. As the wind picks up, her frown deepens. And as people start leaping onto the docks throwing kunai her direction, the small woman nimbly twists out of the way, her own hands flying into a series of hand seals, "Water Style Jutsu! Mizu Hari!" And she flicks both hands, sending an array of watery senbon aimed towards the men who've just arrived.
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko attacks with WATER-NEEDLE-TECHNIQUE…30
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Block from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Hibiki
COMBAT: Sumiko finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Ishino's turn.
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 14. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 17. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Sharp from 10 to 20 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Hibiki
RPCOMBAT: Ishino defends against with a TIME-SKIP…53
RPCOMBAT: Ishino defends against with a TIME-SKIP…38
RPCOMBAT: Ishino defends against with a TIME-SKIP…57
The foolish men attacked the wrong people first. In the end, not that it really mattered. That moment of time, the shifting of feet, the genjutsu complete and where they thought Ishino was.. was not where he was after they got done. Kunai thunking into wood, Ishino started his own seals. "Kronos Embrace: Solemn Moment." For those three attempting to attack him, that world suddenly got still, everything slowing down to an abrupt stop as they would get locked into place by that genjutsu. Irritated by the attack, Ishino shook his head.
The old man out on the water would straighten up, that henge fading to reveal the puppet as both shoulders would open. One cannon was facing forward, the man in front of Time Keeper getting sprayed point blank by those poison senbon. The men on the dock were targeted, both by Ishino and Time Keeper, to include all of the attackers in that spread of senbon poisoned by the puppet. Yes, Ishino was going to cut them down quickly it seems.
RPCOMBAT: Ishino attacks with SOLEMN-MOMENT…36
RPCOMBAT: Ishino attacks with POISON-NEEDLE-CANNON…37
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Block from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 16. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Ninja-Fisherman roll(s) Block from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Hibiki
COMBAT: Ishino finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Hibiki's turn.
The man before Hibiki slides out of the way, creaking nimble feet along the worn docks. The number of bodies, so shifting and weighty, so intense and chaotic, is beginning to take a toll on the worth of the dock. The timbers shake and stall — but hold steady still. Death abounds: there is no time for such trivial worry.
The boy's shuriken finds its mark, slicing along the gut of the other fisherman. The fisherman stumbles, his hat collapsing from his head, tumbling into the sea, and upon his forehead does shine in the bright sunlight of early day: the three-rounded-cloud of Kumo. As the other attacking fishermen began to be rebuffed, too beneath their hats they do wear the forehead protectors of Kumogakure.
The two shinobi struck by Sumiko bark out blood as the needles penetrate their thinkly protected selves, burying in their chest and arms. But fight onward they do still, lagging but alive, the dock moaning with each fervid swipe of the kunai in their fists.
Several other of the Kumo shinobi scream into the morning as they are held solid and injected with the ravage of poison needles, the vicious toxins mixing with blood and demise. Two of the men near Ishino, still poking with needles, grit and grunt and wickedly form hand seals, blasting, a moment later, thick pellets of water at the Chuunin.
Hibiki throws another punch at the man before him, turns swiftly, and lunge for the man whom his shuriken just struck. The dock groans heavily more.
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki attacks with POWER-PHYSICAL…19
RPCOMBAT: Hibiki attacks with POWER-PHYSICAL…16
COMBAT: Hibiki finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Sumiko's turn.
Kumo-clothed shinobi roll(s) Physical from 20 to 30 and get(s) a 24. - Rolled by: Hibiki
Kumo-clothed shinobi roll(s) Physical from 20 to 30 and get(s) a 23. - Rolled by: Hibiki
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko defends against with a DODGE…32
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko defends against with a DODGE…30
Sumiko continues to move as the men continue onwards, noting their Kumogakure engraved bands. Blue lightning crackles to life upon the small girl's fingertips as the two of the men focus on her, she flows towards them, her movements like water as she ducks and twists to avoid the swipes of their kunai. As the first of the pair comes at her, she spins, letting him move past her and attempting to place her hand against his back as she evades the second man's strikes, her other hand reaching to touch his ribs.
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko attacks with LIGHTNING-TOUCH…28
RPCOMBAT: Sumiko attacks with LIGHTNING-TOUCH…26
COMBAT: Sumiko finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Ishino's turn.
Ishino was aware of their attacks at almost the same time as they were. Once more, he'd simply.. vanish. Reality and time's embrace of it folding and bending at his whim. Time Keeper would retreat back to the land, that dock finally giving way under him had him landing lightly on top of the water. Puppet and genjutsuist together, he'd narrow his eyes as he went through seals. "Kronos Embrace: Time's burden." For all of those attacking, they'd suddenly be slammed by everything they were doing, the world about them slowing down.. but the requirements of their body don't. They would feel that stress of trying to push against a steel block for being able to move limbs, the weighty press of flesh on lungs as they'd even try to breath, reality in itself seeming to crush them under it's ignorant's embrace. It'd last a few moments, time of course being relative between each person, before the weight would pass, they would be able to move again. It is a heavy toll that he levies on them, however, with that draining feel of power.
RPCOMBAT: Ishino attacks with TIME'S-BURDEN…55
The two shinobi struck by Sumiko collapse into the sea, splashing into the water. The few ensconced in the rigid torture of Ishino feel themselves held lame, fearful of being lost to their own perceptions.
As Hibiki's foes dodge the Genin's attacks, they witness their colleagues fall. With furrowed brows and tight lips, the two shinobi (dressed as Kumo nin) leap from the falling dock, running along the water, away from the coast, headed for what seems a nearby island. The two electrified shinobi stay bobbing in the water, perhaps dead; perhaps unconscious. Too flee the ninja fighting Ishino, once they regain themselves, though slower they are, but away they still run.
Hibiki watches as they flee, the boy himself holding afloat atop the water, rolling with the curls of the sea.
"Do we pursue?"
Zappy touch, poof! Sumiko nimbly places herself between her two attackers, planting a hand against one's back and a hand against the other's ribs, lightning flares to life with the touch, and the pair of shinobi collapse into the sea. The small girl shifts her attention, dark gaze surveying the surroundings. As it seems most of the assailants have fled, her attention turns back to the two she'd just zapped. Forming handseals, she makes a water clone who drags one of them back up onto the dock, and drags the other back up herself. After a second, she calls out, "One of them is still alive, we can keep him for questioning."
Ishino watched them run. Tired, weaken, they fled. Shaking his head, Time Keeper would be left to watch them to the finale of their path, the noted destination for a clean up crew to be sent to. Ishino turns then to the others, looking to Sumiko as she says one is still alive. Good, that means they didn't have to stop one of the ones running. "Very good Sayomi-san. Very impressive. Tie him up. Onkyou-san, verify none of them are in the immediate area. We also need to check the civilians, make sure there is no colladeral damage."
