Starring:
Date: December 30, 2015
Summary:
Sakuya, being transported to the Hebisuuhai Village to await her trial, is attacked by Bandits. Yorishiro further finds reasons to dislike the Hebisuuhai in charge of transporting Sakuya, Muko.
"Integrity Under Question - Attacks Along the Way"
The Road towards the Hebisuuhai Village
The journey to the Hebisuuhai Village was a long ordeal. They were situated far off through the mountains un places that had little law enforcement from the village. The walk so far had simply been a rather long ordeal in which every once in a while Sakuya would shoot out a corny joke, while holding onto the hands of Yori whom had been there to support her at every turn. All the while, once out of the village, Yori had convinced Sakuya's cousin and the Hebisuuhai in charge of taking Sakuya out towards the Hebisuuhai village Muko to remove her hand-binds and collar through oath. So, for a while, Sakuya was able to move at her own pace. It was for the best. This part of the country is known for travelers being robbed. "I once wrote a joke about ninja, but… Nobody saw it!" Sakuya was still trying after all this time to continue to joke corny jokes to forget about her problems. "Yooori! Come on! You should tell at least -one- joke!"
The Muko was stroking his head rather hard. "We could… Take a joke break? I'm sorry, but I feel the more you joke the more the integrity of the clan falls apart… besides, silence is necessary along this pass. We might be in for a fight if you are too loud." This was a pass through the mountains towards the eastern coast of the Land of Lightning, and like all mountainous areas there are few trees. It's mostly cold, craggy rocks with a few pine-trees that are lucky enough to grow up there.
"I never really looked at any jokes Sakuya-chan. I'll try and find some time to look some up when we get back to Kumogakure. That way if you need them again I'll have them ready." Yep, see, problem solved! For the future at least, not for this very immediate moment. He was glad that Sakuya was allowed to go her own pace now and wasn't being dragged along anymore. It really had irked him and would be something he'd be taking up with the clan and Kumogakure at a later date. "He's right Sakuya-chan, there are a lot of bad types around this area. It's known for them. I think we should try and remain somewhat quiet while we travel through here."
Sakuya defers to Yori's judgement, and drops her tone to a far lower one. She stops the jokes too. They were really bad, or perhaps she just felt they were bad because Yori and Muko were not laughing anymore. "Hai… I'll cut it out…" What irks Sakuya more than being dragged along like a dog was that she was not allowed to have her partner with her for this trip. It cripples her abilities, and makes her seem less… Hebisuuhai. It is like forcing an Inuzuka to stay at a inn or hotel that doesn't allow dogs when the owner of said Hotel parades their dog everywhere. It's a cruel injustice that she cannot have the second of her two most important people here. "Somewhat cut it out… Not like we can't handle it. We're -shinobi- of Kumogakure, Muko. As in, we could probably flatten not only bandits but ninja as well." Well, Yori could for sure.
"Yes, yes… Ninja this and that. The Hebisuuhai can take care of themselves too. We signed the agreement to send our young ones to Kumogakure to become a part of their military, so they can be stripped of their connection to our clan. In return, Kumogakure gives us certain rights. Certain. Rights… A beautiful agreement, which feels more like slavery to me in a sense."
Yori was not happy Zuzu wasn't along either. If nothing else he knew it would be at least a mild comfort for Sakuya. And who knew what the snake might be able to do to help. He's silent until the guard snake finishes speaking and only then does he look at the man with some surprise. "If you don't agree with the agreement we could always open it up to look and negotiate again, Muko-san. The Villages are still fairly new and changes are bound to happen."
Muko appears to be a village hater, and would merely say the following. "No, it's fine as it is according to the elders. We don't have shinobi wandering our sacred halls, at least."
Unbeknownst to the entire group, there were indeed several bandits up ahead, hiding behind rocks. Rather blatantly and plainly there. Fodder to be crushed by foot and boot. One of them takes the initiative, poking over the rocks with a blow dart which was aimed at Yori of all people. Guess they saw the Kumogakure Hitaite and thought that he was the one that needed to be disabled…
[NPC System]: Just another Bandit roll(s) Blowdart vs Yori from 15 to 40 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Sakuya
RPCOMBAT: Yori defends against with a WEAPON-BLOCK…37
Well, no Shinobi in the halls until Yori arrives at least! He seems to be considering how else he might approach the discussion when he senses something off. He half turns, drawing his blade half out of it's sheath to deflect the dart wide before his gold-brown eyes move to where the shot came from. "I guess we weren't quiet enough," he says before drawing his sword fully. "Whoever you are this is your only warning. Leave us be or face the consequences."
[NPC System]: BANDITS!? roll(s) Blowdart Barrage vs Yori from 20 to 45 and get(s) a 27. - Rolled by: Sakuya
[NPC System]: BANDITS!? roll(s) Blowdart Barrage vs Sakuya from 20 to 45 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Sakuya
[NPC System]: BANDITS!? roll(s) Blowdart Barrage vs Muko from 20 to 45 and get(s) a 37. - Rolled by: Sakuya
RPCOMBAT: Sakuya defends against with a EVASION…21
RPCOMBAT: Sakuya took 400 damage.
Sakuya did not feel as if a warning was appropriate. "This is clearly an attack on us, but I won't kill anyone." As if trying to prove her innocence by showing she isn't much of a murderer. She would place her hand in a seal and close her eyes as she begins to focus.
Yet Sakuya's focusing and Yori's threats don't seem to deter the fighters. The man who took a shot gives Yori a warning instead. "Eh? Well, come any closer and face the consequences!" The man would call out before being scolded by another individual. "We're trying to make a living, and you're telling them to leave? Idiot! Everyone, start an attack!" And so they do. All of them had poisoned darts, and they all fired at the group! It seems as if Sakuya was directly hit by some of the darts that barrage her in the leg, neck, and stomach, causing her to become poisoned. A nasty poison indeed. Muko has no problem defending the darts, as his very own partner wraps around him and uses it's scales to defend against the darts. Without Zuzu, Sakuya does seem a little helpless…
COMBAT: Sakuya focuses 2528 stamina to turn it into 3000 usable chakra!
RPCOMBAT: Yori defends against with a WEAPON-BLOCK…26
RPCOMBAT: Yori took 400 damage.
Yori becomes a bit distracted when Sakuya is hit by the darts and though his sword deflects some of them a few get through. It's what he gets for not paying full attention. But now he's really not happy. His eyes turn back towards the group of dart shooters and he moves forward swiftly, his sword flashing as he moves towards the first one he sees to give a few quick slashes at. Don't need to kill anyone. Just scare them off a little.
COMBAT: Yori attacks target 1 with SWORD-STRIKE with a roll of: 25
COMBAT: Yori attacks target 1 with SWORD-STRIKE with a roll of: 29
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Blowdart Parry from 15 to 26 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Sakuya
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Blowdart Parry from 15 to 26 and get(s) a 16. - Rolled by: Sakuya
[NPC System]: Tougher Bandit roll(s) Ruthless Punch vs Yori from 30 to 45 and get(s) a 39. - Rolled by: Sakuya
It seems as if Yori was skilled. At least, from the bandit's perceptions, all they could see is two sword strikes that cleaves the belt of blowdarts from the nearest bandit's chest. It falls to the floor, and the individual takes off running. "NO WAY! NOOO WAY! I'M NOT TOUCHING THAT!" Says one individual, as more bandits decide today was not the day… Except one. One larger man whom clearly takes good care of himself. "Not so fast. A true man never runs from combat!" A few moments later, he charged to strike Yori with a rather deadly blow.
Knowing that most muscle heads do terribly against Genjutsu, Sakuya would follow up against the man right after his first punch as snakes began to coil around his muscly body, pulling his limbs away from any defensive position momentarily and giving Yori a chance for an instant victory. She hopes.
COMBAT: Sakuya attacks target 1 with SNAKE-CONSTRICTION-METHOD with a roll of: 32
[NPC System]: Tough Bandit roll(s) Genjutsu Defense from 15 to 33 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Sakuya
RPCOMBAT: Yori defends against with a BREVITY…41
Yori vanishes from in front of the man, his fist passing through an afterimage of the Saito as he appears behind the man and shakes his head slowly. "I gave you a chance to escape. I wouldn't even have gone after you. We have a schedule to keep." He seems almost sad but then they /do/ have a schedule to keep. Lightning fills his blade as he lashes out quickly, his intent to take off a limb at this point. Preferably a leg. It would make it a lot harder to be a bandit then.
COMBAT: Yori attacks target 1 with LIGHTNING-FLOW-SHARP with a roll of: 41
the tougher individual whose mind was stopped by genjutsu would be struck by Yori, and soon enough his leg would be on the ground a few feet away from Muko, whom was approaching the man. Sakuya's genjutsu fades and soon enough the man would realize how terrible his situation was. "AAAAAAH! MY Leg!?" He clutched his wound as it bled out. "P-please! M-mercy!" He asked of Yori, after all… No harm was done. He would just have to live as a cripple for the rest of his days.
Or not… Suddenly a large gaping maw of a green snake engulfs the man's head and begins eating him. Good stuff, bandits. "Trash. Doesn't deserve to live. I'll take care of the rest…" The man screamed in pain as his snake engulfed him completely. One could see him writhing within. Without a leg, it'd be futile. Acid might begin to eat the man from the outside in. All the while Muko was smiling rather widely.
Sakuya wasn't sure what to make of it. "W-was that really necessary?" She asked her bloodthirsty cousin.
Yori moves quickly, place a hand on the now one-legged man's back high enough that if the snake goes too far he's really going to piss Yori off. Narrowed eyes are on the man and his giant snake then while healing chakra takes care to keep the snake's venom from even being able to be absorbed or affect his skin. "This was my enemy, Muko-san. I would appreciate it if you live his life to me. There are others you can chase if you wish to be a killer." The sword is held in his other hand and he's quite ready to injure a snake if he has to.
Sakuya can't really do anything, and now Yori and Muko were about to square off. She had a feeling. "Muko-san… We're… Shinobi of Kumogakure. Not only that but Yori was attacked first. It was his choice, to be… well… a little honest." Sakuya looked away, rather meekly. She hadn't the strength to fight Muko. Not without Zuzu, at least. The other Hebisuuhai's snake would quickly lose his lunch. Literally. Yori pulls the man away, who is likely unconscious even as he uses medical ninjutsu to try and remove any venom from the man's blood… Muko would be quite angry. "You're going to let a criminal live? Soft shinobi of Kumogakure. Why, I would kill my own niece if I knew for sure she had committed a crime." Moku looks at Sakuya, with almost a death glare. "In fact, I hope I am the executioner. This man might have eluded justice, but… You have yet to elude it. Come along Anoro. Let's continue on to the village." He seems confident enough to turn his back on Yori and Sakuya as he continues to move towards the Hebisuuhai village.
Sakuya wasn't excited about hearing that even a close relative had not a shred of care for her." She tried to keep a positive mood, but… At this point it was hard not to have a bit of a frown on her face. She moved up to Yori and knelt near him as he healed the toxin from the man's blood. "I'm really not going to make it, am I?" She would whisper to him.
Yori's frown remained as he lowered the man to the ground, ignoring the snake and man as they started off. He took time to heal the venom, and then stop the stump of a leg from bleeding and closing enough so he wouldn't bleed out. "Don't worry Sakuya, I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he says softly while he works. Standing after a few moments to hold a hand out to her so they could start after the snake. Hopefully this guys friends would come back for him soon. At least he had a chance.
He had a chance because Yori had a heart. Many shinobi do not. Muko displayed quite an attitude. Sakuya reached out to take Yori's hand as she moved on with him. "I didn't mention this before, but… I really don't like my clan." She said rather quietly. Her tongue idly flicked as her eyes close a moment. "I'm trying my hardest to not act out. I don't even want to say anything because I know they'll take it the wrong way and it will somehow weigh against me in court. It's hard to be someone other than yourself, just because you fear the consequence…"
