Starring:
Kurome, Hige, Shiiru, Daichi, Ikari
Date: October 24, 2015
Summary:
Kurome goes after the man who kidnapped her mother with Hige. They’re interrupted for a bit, but are quick to get on the trail.
Poster's note: foul language filtered in obvious places.
"Ghostly Beasts - Past Phantoms, New Ghosts"
Land of Fire
Shiiru, Daichi, and Ikari were out on a basic D rank mission and returning home. In all likelihood, they were covered in mud, dirt, grime, etc from cleaning a blocked sewer system, and they probably smell awful, too! As they make their way back to the Hidden Leaf, the Chuunin leading them would pause. A finger is held up for everyone to be as silent as possible, and he would listen on the wind.
"So it /was/ you that decided to take my mother?" Kurome was standing across from a tall man that stood at six feet. He was dressed in black from head to toe with a half-mask covering his mouth. There was something mysterious about him, and he definitely didn't look like he came from the Land of Fire. "My dear Kurome, I have not the slightest clue what you mean. I realize my projects have all affected you in some way, but I never intend for them to harm /you/," the man would say in a silky tone. "That being said, I do have some use for her… Perhaps I can help restore her voice, even. I'm sure you would like that. Using genjutsu to make someone scream is a bit strange…"
Kurome's gaze hardens a bit at the man, and it takes a lot of will-power to keep herself where she is. "I don't know why I agreed to meeting you… You're coming with me, Nogoro-san. I want answers, and you dance around the questions as if you've a hidden motive. If you've nothing to hide, you may as well reveal it now."
A frown, and the Chuunin would motion for the three genin-level people with him to stay where they were. Of course, they could try and follow, but it'd be best for them all to stay hidden, right? That's when something strange happens. The area starts to drain of heat, but it's the middle of summer. In fact, the entire area within a 3 mile radius is being /snowed on/! A soft growl goes through the air, and a huge polar bear is suddenly standing ten feet from the group of genin. Where did it come from, though?
Daichi would listen closely at the words being spoken. Nogoro….wasn't that the person from that other mission. Either way he would have no problem helping with figuring this out… Of course that chuunin doesn't want to get him or the others involved. Well either way he would listen so he didn't screw anything up. Next thing he knew it got cold quick. Then he notices the snow in the air. He doesn't speak, but he does look around to come face to face with a polar bear. He would slowly pull a kunai from his pack, but would not strike yet.
Ikari trudges along behind the older Chuunin with her arms languidly crossed behind her head and neck. Overall she doesn't look too irritated by her grimy and horrendous state. Afterall, she's probably inadvertently done worse to herself in the midst of trying to play when she was a 'younger' youth. There is still some annoyance that has crept on her face, brought on by the fact that she hasn't been in a proper state to eat anything for what felt like -ages- now. She might not mind getting dirty in general, but her mother always taught her to have some pride and respect when it comes to eating food. Part of that meant that she should always be relatively clean and decent before a meal. Her stomach would utter a faint but audible gurgle as the Chuunin motioned for them to be silent and still.
Ikari squints up at the Chuunin in confusion before turning her head slightly to the right to listen to the sounds on the wind as well. She herself didn't have much of a hint for what was going on between Kurome and the strange man, but whatever was being discussed sounded very serious, if not like it could be highly classified. She listens for a moment longer as she watches the Chuunin motion out his orders for the lot of them to stay put. It figures they would be told to stay here, but it was most likely for the best considering the potential circumstances. She looks between Daichi and the stranger she had only just met for the beginning of the mission, Shiiru, and rocks on the soles of her feet quietly in an idle but patient gesture. As it starts to get colder though, she undrapes her arms and starts to try to rub some warmth into them, causing quiet crinkles to come from her shirt and vest. This was really weird, but before Ikari could whisper a comment, the bear makes its prescence known.
Ikari's eyes widen in surprise before a large and toothy grin sets on her expression. It was snowing -AND- there was a fluffy white polar bear?! This mission had just taken its best turn in the history of potential twists! She takes a step out to widen her stance a little as she tries to get a good look at the bear, "Wooahh…he's like…almost as big as Xun…" Ikari whispers aside to the two fellow 'Genin', "Maybe even smaller now…I wonder if he can talk…or if he wrestles the same as Xun…"
The whole mess of cleaning had been not as big of a deal for Shiiru. She uses her ninjutsu to help and hardly put any physical effort forth. After all, she was asked along and not a true member of this village. Even as she is coming to a halt behind the others, her gaze goes to the area ahead. Who was this Kurome person and who was the other person? Shiiru had been drug along on a mission just to make some money and now she was standing there watching this exchange that seemed to have little to do with them. Then it is cold. Then it is snowing. THen there's a polar bear and Shiiru's hair seems to frizz up some even as she tosses her backpack to the ground and sand on the floor as well as the sand she seems to always seem to have on her body begins to move a little, "Ok, this got weird."
"But Kurome-chan, I still have experiments to watch over. I can't have them get unruly. If I don't watch them… Well, it's not a pretty picture," Nogoro replies calmly.
"You and your experiments…" Kurome murmurs, shaking her head a bit. "That's all you've been talking about. Your experiments led you from the south to the north. The east to the west. What exactly /are/ your experiments, then?" Kurome would take a step towards Nogoro, threatening… And then she would pause as a very loud roar rings out across the area. And the air… It was cold! Snowing!
"Here is one! Isn't he magnificent? The boy is albino, but he can turn into all sorts of shapes, and a bit of enhancing… Well, that only helped him. And his brothers." Nogoro smirks faintly. "As I mentioned earlier, you cannot die… I must test the limits… The world is an endless fount of information, but you have to find the paths. That is what I am doing. And I am helping make the paths for the future as well. I think… I think it is almost time for another test, even. But first-" Nogoro claps, and the polar bear roars again.
Actually, there were two polar bears. One was approaching the genin/wanderer, the other was making its way along the opposite side. Sadly, Ikari's little hope is likely to be crushed since both large bears seem to want to destroy them! Icicles would form, and then they would float for a bit before shooting at the group.
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Daichi from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 24. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Daichi from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 27. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Daichi defends against with a ACROBATIC-DODGE…36
RPCOMBAT: Daichi defends against with a ACROBATIC-DODGE…38
Daichi would not let the polar bear hit him so easily. So once those Ice Darts came at him he would flip into the air to dodge them all. He hadn't got the chance to hear what was said anymore from Kurome, and that other fellow. Either way it didn't matter. He had something to take care of now, and he would do just that. His next move would be to run towards the side to hopefully flank the bear before throwing three kunai at it.
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 20
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 18
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 14
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Paw Block vs. Daichi (20) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Paw Block vs. Daichi (18) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 33. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Paw Block vs. Daichi (14) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Ikari from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 31. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Ikari from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Ikari defends against with a MULTI-SIZE-DODGE-I…19
RPCOMBAT: Ikari defends against with a MULTI-SIZE-DODGE-I…16
RPCOMBAT: Ikari took 500 damage.
"Weird?!" Ikari whispers back to Shiiru, flashing her an ethusiastic smile, "This is GREAT! I'm so gonna write about this when I get home and tell -all- my friends. They wouldn't believe me that I gotta fight with a talking panda, they gotta believe it this time for sure. Maybe it'll scratch up my clothes to give me a little bit of proof…" She cackles with glee and ends up getting a little too distracted as ice darts are shot her way. She rapidly shrinks and expands her legs to launch herself into the air and land behind the bear that attempts to circle around to the side opposite of Shiiru. "Huh, so you guys DO wrestle…just differently from Xun…interesting. Well, you guys won't catch me off guard this time…" Ikari as a whole begins to swell in size as she immediately runs over. Her hand gets even larger than the rest of her as she attempts to grab the bear to wrap it up and hold it down in her palm. She squeezes as she does this and tries to repeatedly crash the creature into the dirt. As much as she wanted to chat and play with the bears, she knew that containing them was going to be a priority.
RP: Ikari transforms into BODY-GROWTH.
COMBAT: Ikari focuses 2472 stamina to turn it into 3000 usable chakra!
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with AKIMICHI-PALM-GRIP with a roll of: 20
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with PARTIAL-MULTI-SIZE-I with a roll of: 19
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with PARTIAL-MULTI-SIZE-I with a roll of: 22
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Rolling Tackle (Counter) vs. Ikari (20) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 35. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge Roll vs. Ikari (19) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge Roll vs. Ikari (22) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Shiiru from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bears roll(s) Ice Darts vs Shiiru from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 13. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Shiiru defends against with a EARTHFLOW…39
RPCOMBAT: Shiiru defends against with a EARTHFLOW…38
"It's still weird." She states to Ikari, "Like, way weird." She then looks over at Kurome and Kurome's friend. She considers that before there is now two bears and one is coming at her. Then ice floats up and starts coming at her. She simply gestures to the ground after a handseal and slides out of the way, the ground carrying her. She then looks at the bear approaching her and then states, "I have to assume the bears the are enemies? I mean, frankly don't even know. I like the enemies I was facing before, they make more sense." She then makes another seal. She gestures again and then points at the ground below the first bear attempting to very literaly sink it into the ground. She then makes two quick seals and points to either side of the bear. A pillar of earth comes from each side to smash into the bear, "I don't know what is going on at all but I'm going to be hurting bears it seems."
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with SINKHOLE with a roll of: 20
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with RISING-STONE-COLUMNS with a roll of: 24
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with RISING-STONE-COLUMNS with a roll of: 26
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Inertia vs. Shiiru (20) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 30. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge Roll vs. Shiiru (24) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge Roll vs. Shiiru (26) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 32. - Rolled by: Kurome
The giant polar bear, well both of them, actually, would see the genin as a threat, and the first would turn into a rolling ball of death that would squish Ikari's hand if she didn't pull it away in time! It is simply in that form that the white bear is able to avoid other incoming attacks, though it /does/ get launched off towards the sky when Shiiru sends up a column of earth! Granted, it's only launched a foot or two, but still. It then proceeds to change its trajectory and come slamming down on the ground to make a huge earthquake that would shake/rattle/roll the little genin.
Kurome's attention is drawn to the polar bear for that brief a moment, and by the time she glances back to Nogoro, he's gone. A single letter in his spot… Kurome picks up the sheet of paper, tucks it into her pouch, and scowls. "No more games… Next time he's going down." Of course, she had to deal with something else, first. And that would be the giant polar bear that's walking towards her steadily. The woman leaps backwards at the swipe of its paw, then avoids the icy needles that come her way before she makes a few handseals. Chakra is surged along her body while she prepares for the actual fight.
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Quaking Earth (Round Stun) vs. All from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Daichi defends against with a ACROBATIC-DODGE…36
Daichi had no effect with his kunai, and it seemed they had no effect all together. These things were dangerous. There counter involved shaking the earth beneath them. His only affective way to avoid it was to flip up into the nearby trees. From his new found perch he would have to do the one thing he could thing off which sadly was throwing more kunai. "Anyone got any ideas?"
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 24
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 18
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 17
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs Daichi (24) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs Daichi (18) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 25. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs Daichi (17) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Quaking Earth (Round Stun) vs. All from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 27. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Ikari defends against with a MULTI-SIZE-DODGE-I…19
Ikari lifts her hand and does her best to try to jump out of the incoming polar bear's way. These things were fast! And fought in a way she could compare to the older Akimichis. She doesn't have long to contemplate on the similarities though as the rumbling earthquake shakes her off of her feet. She grimaces quietly in pain as a hand reaches down to instinctively find the case for her pill. She had to do something or all three of them could be in considerable trouble. 'Maybe Kenta and papa won't be too mad at me when I make it out of this…' Though, a better question would be if she could make it out at all by the end.
COMBAT: Shiiru focuses 2476 stamina to turn it into 2900 usable chakra!
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Quaking Earth (Round Stun) vs. All from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Shiiru defends against with a EARTHFLOW…29
As the bear lands, she uses her jutsu to make the earth move with the quaking ground so she is mostly stable while this happens. She then looks over at the others before blinking, "I'm…not entirely sure what you guys do in this village." She then looks around, "I mean, in the Land of Tea we have criminals. Not ice bears…" She then looks over at hte bear before sighing, "And obviously this isn't going ot end unless I take and step this up." She then makes a few quick gestures and then sand flows up out of her backpack, "Sand coffin!" She screams and the sand attempts to wrap around bear as she sends it after the bear, "Crush!" She then finishes another seal set and clenches her hands as she attempts to smash the bear in sand.
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with SAND-BINDING-COFFIN with a roll of: 32
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with SAND-CRUSH with a roll of: 20
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs Shiiru (32) from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Kurome
Hige had been around…though of course he wouldn't interfere unless someone was going to /die/ or something. But so far that hadn't happened and, from the looks of things, people were doing okayish. So instead of waiting to watch the others wrestle around with creatures he instead takes off after who they'd come here to meet in the first place. He's going to find Nogoro and find out just what's going on because his patience is starting to wear just a tad bit thin. And so they go through the trees, trying to chase the man down.
The big polar bear that the genin are facing ends up stuck in the coffin of sand, then crushed. Not completely, by the looks of it, but enough to make it angry! A large roar would shake the earth as the bear forms more ice and sends them at all the genin-level kids!
Kurome has her own work cut out for her. She finally managed to latch onto the polar bear's mind with her genjutsu, trapping it in its spot and taking out its legs by cutting the tendons with a kunai. The woman wasn't sure what to make of the bear, admittedly! Nogoro had mentioned something or other and something else, but nothing was adding up properly in her mind. "The answer must be close…" she mutters, skimming back through her memories.
Hige would be right on Nogoro's trail until someone popped out of the earth and attempted to grab Hige, knocking the young Inuzuka off-course so that Nogoro could get away. "A little too involved, runt?" the Shippodoku would asks, pincered hand gripping Hige around the neck if his initial attack was successful.
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Ice Needles vs Daichi from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Daichi defends against with a ACROBATIC-DODGE…26
They would throw more Ice this time, and although Daichi was slower this time it seemed the ice was as well. He figured maybe if he could get close he could do more so he charged the polar bear now. Once he was pretty close he jumped kicking it twice before flipping off of it, and throwing one kunai into his chest. Once that was done he would try to get a good ways away from the bear again. No need to stay to close. "I am not really used to Ice ears myself."
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with PHYSICAL with a roll of: 14
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with PHYSICAL with a roll of: 24
COMBAT: Daichi attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 23
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Block vs Daichi(14) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 17. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Block vs Daichi(24) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Block vs Daichi(23) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 29. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Ice Needles vs Ikari from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 34. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Ikari took 500 damage.
Ikari slowly starts to rise to her feet, and watches in anticipation as the bear is surrounded and crushed by sand. The sight of the more enraged bear brings a grimace to her and she can only raise her arm up to withstand the onslaught of ice as well as she could manage. She slowly starts to pant as watered down blood trickles down from the wounds she's taken so far. Her hand tenses around her pill case and she flicks it open with the nail on her thumb. She empties it out onto her other hand and stares down at the small unsuspicious looking pill with a conflicted expression. This was for the best, it had to be done. She lets the case clatter onto the ground and shoves her hand to her mouth, swallowing the Houren Gan pill down. She clutches her stomach painfully as the toxic pill forces her body to rapidly convert her fatty reserves into chakra quicker. Her own appearance would become a hint slimmer as she levels a harsh gaze onto the weakened bear. She charges for it and immediately grows her fists to try to pummel it with powerful hammering strikes against the ground.
RP: Ikari transforms into HOUREN-GAN-PILL.
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with PARTIAL-MULTI-SIZE-I with a roll of: 28
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with PARTIAL-MULTI-SIZE-I with a roll of: 32
COMBAT: Ikari attacks target 1 with PARTIAL-MULTI-SIZE-I with a roll of: 33
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs. Ikari (28) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs. Ikari (32) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 10. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Dodge vs. Ikari (33) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 10. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Polar Bear roll(s) Ice Needles vs Daichi, Ikari, Shiiru from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 31. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Shiiru defends against with a SAND-BLOCK…37
Raising up both hands, Shiiru brings sand up into the path of the ice coming her way before she glances over at Ikari and shakes her head, "There's…well, I have heard of swelling getting bad but that is ridiculous." She then sighs, "This whole village is weird." She states, "The whole shinobi thing is weird." She then looks past to Daichi and points, "At least you make sense." She then sends more sand out to blast at the bear that Ikari and Daichi are attacking from various angles to try to pummel it with blasts of sand.
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with SAND-SHOT with a roll of: 33
COMBAT: Shiiru attacks target 1 with SAND-SHOT with a roll of: 31
RP: Hige transforms into KONSHO'S-HEART.
COMBAT: Hige focuses 4616 stamina to turn it into 6000 usable chakra!
[NPC System]: Shippodoku roll(s) Pincer Grip (Attack Stun) vs Hige from 40 to 70 and get(s) a 69. - Rolled by: Kurome
[NPC System]: Shippodoku roll(s) Pincer Choke (Stamina Drain) vs Hige from 25 to 50 and get(s) a 42. - Rolled by: Kurome
RPCOMBAT: Hige defends against with a FOUR-LEGGED-DODGE-II…61
RPCOMBAT Hige took 1000 stamina damage.
RPCOMBAT: Hige took 400 damage.
COMBAT: Hige attacks target 1 with ROTATING-VIOLENT-FANG with a roll of: 80
[NPC System]: Shippodoku roll(s) Warrior's Instinct vs. Hige (80) from 45 to 90 and get(s) a 48. - Rolled by: Kurome
Hige glances back as he hears the others fighting and perhaps looks away at just the wrong moment before someone bursts out of the ground. Figures. Hige looks back just to get latched onto and his feral eyes narrow at the man before he gives him a fanged grin. "Oh good, I haven't gotten to kill someone in a while." Konsho appears to break the two apart, freeing Hige from the others grip and leaving the boy to rub his neck before he looks at the man that interrupted them, then looks where the other had run. He'll deal with that later. Fangs and claws elongate as Hige faces the new arrival fully, then in a flash he and Konsho are spinning towards the man, intent to start knocking him into the air to put him off balance.
Daichi's attacks seem to be pretty useless against the polar bear. It's almost like Daichi was a mere fly, except he was paid even less attention. The punches, kicks, and kunai simply were not enough for the bear to bother with! Be that as it may, he has good teammates! Ikari's pill seems to has boosted her fighting spirit, lending to the fact that the bear thought it could move fast enough to avoid the incoming blows. It dodges the first, but the finds itself stuck in the ground, unable to move! That's when Shiiru can go in for the kill, as the bear gets blasted in the side of the head with sand. Usually, one would think sand isn't that bad, but the powerful blasts all but decimate the creature. It gives a last growl before it fades away from the world.
"You say that when I have-" The man's sentence is never finished, as Hige's stunt was not really expected! The Shippodoku tries to scuttle away from Hige, but the violent spin knocks him into the air, and he's flailing with no hold on much of anything to adjust his course. It'd be all-too-easy to end him here and now.
Kurome stares down at the bear before her, watching it intently. She hadn't killed it yet… Was there something..? She watches as the body loses its strength, shifting slowly yet surely into that of an albino teen that was unconscious and just laying there. She blinks once, then she glances over to where the three genin(and a half) are. No, their polar bear was dead, and it wasn't changing at all…
Daichi watches as his attacks did nothing. That is sad to him. He had not done anything, but avoid being hurt himself. This day has been a veey interesting one though. "So is that over? It's finished?" He would relax against a tree nearby now. "Well that was weird, but it wasn't to hard I think. We handled it at least right." He would walk over to check the polar bear himself to make sure it was dead. Of course he had no idea how to do that, but maybe he could spot something that gave it away.
Ikari angrily slams her fist down against the dead polar bear once more before her hand gradually starts to deflate back to its normal size. She pants as sweat starts to bead up and run down her face and her limbs tremble as she stands there. She looks around for the second polar bear but only finds a pale white haired boy near Kurome in her field of vision. Did it run off?…No, something happened to it. What was that crazy guy talking about again? Ikari couldn't remember and the lack of danger has her digging her fingers into clench at her stomach once more. She didn't know what she should do…was it too late to try to throw it up? Would it have done anything? Maybe she shouldn't have been so hasty, but she felt like their lives were in danger! Tears start to well up in Ikari's eyes as she tries to force herself to stand up. There was still a mission to focus on, even if it felt like a part of her was being ripped up inside. "W…what do we do now?" She looks to Kurome for guidance since the Chuunin guiding them was still missing.
A look from the girl and she looks at the others before shrugging her shoulders and looking to Kurome. She then considers this situation, "I was just here to help clean something and make some money. I don't know what is going on here but, do you guys need me any further?"
COMBAT: Hige attacks target 1 with FANG-ROTATING-FANG with a roll of: 71
The two Inuzuka continue to spin, knocking the man into position as best as they are able to. "Just die," Hige growls as the two change position and come at the man once again, this time aiming to saw him into pieces from either side. He's pretty much done with this man from the looks of things! It's time to just do a little slicing and dicing. And then hopefully there will be enough of a scent to pick up on the man who'd been trying to escape…
Kurome looks at the three newcomers and then raises a brow. "Hmm… Your Chuunin… Is just that way. Go back to the village, I'll be sure to tell the higher-ups that you did a good job here." Kurome's gaze flickers to the bear, and she takes a few samples before standing up completely.
Hige's vicious rotating attack would make a gaping hole through his opponent's body, which may or may not be a good thing. The body lands with a thud, lifeless as ever. A bit overboard? Maybe…
Daichi looks to Kurome for a moment with a frown. "Kurome. Wasn't that the man from before?…. I guess it doesn't matter right now, but… Nevermind you asked us to go back so we will." Daichi would quickly glance between Kurome and the others before jumping off into the trees. His thoughts fell back to the polar bear, and the one that was a boy after Kurome handled it. Could theres have been the same way? He wants to know what she was talking to him about now. Either way he would most likely stay quiet the trip back.
Ikari blinks slowly and wraps her arms around her tighter as she looks over the group. It looked like they were dispersing but…no one was staying for her. Some more tears roll down her face and she looks up to the trees. A deep breath manages to break free some quiet whimpering sobs she had been trying to supress. It could have been worse…but the poisonous pill was still left to circulate through her system. She tilts her head back to look up at the trees, before she simply shakes her head to herself and takes the path they were taking on the ground. It was going to be a long walk for Ikari, but there wasn't any other options. If she didn't at least try, then there was no saving her. At least if she focused on making it back to the village, ignoring the pain, then perhaps guards at the gate could help her get to the hospital so that the antidote could be administered.
A glance at Kurome and then she shrugs before her gaze goes to Daichi. She then blinks as she looks around for Ikari. She blinks at the girl before saying, "Umm, what are you doing? That's…a really weird look." She walks over and then tilts her head at the girl before looking back at her, "Umm, not sure you should look like htat. You need a ride back to your village?" She hmms and then idly she makes two quick gestures before she'll cause the backpack she has to literaly be carried by sand to her so she can put it on before she tilts her head at the girl.
RPCOMBAT: Hige defends against with a INUZUKA-SENSES-II…64
Hige and Konsho land next to whatever remains of the body covered in the dead guys blood. Hige eyes the man a moment before he looks to Konsho and they vanish quickly to head off after the direction the other man had gone in. The one they'd originally come here to see. Hige wasn't going to just give up at this point. No, he was going to at least go until the trail was lost. After all this it would be too much just to let him escape now.
"Walkin' back to the village. I need the hospital…I-I need my momma and papa too but…hospital first." Ikari tells Shiiru with a weak tone in her voice. She turns her head to try to focus on Shiiru more properly as the older girl offers her a ride. She hesitated before she nods and allows some hope to lighten up her face, "Y…yeah. If you don't mind. What are we gonna be riding on? You gotta cart or somethin' nearby?" She then looks down as the bag creeps along the ground carted by the sand. "Are you gonna use…that to carry us? That's…wow! Do you think there's enough sand for me too?.." She looks down at her body and though the pill has done a number on her to slim her, she was still pretty portly for her age.
Hige's senses might be a bit dulled by all the blood on his clothes, so it takes some sniffing around, but eventually he would find the trail. Kurome would have sent the three from earlier back to Konoha, making sure that the Chuunin was paying careful attention to Ikari. The young Akimichi didn't look too good. But now her attention was completely focused on the mission at hand: capturing Nogoro. And also trying to figure out where he put her mom. The albino creatures were all doing Nogoro's bidding, which made her realize that he really was behind them all. But … why? "Hige-kun, you managed to find him, then?" she asks, catching up after some time.
Feral eyes flash to Kurome when she arrives and he gives a quick nod. "This way," he says simply, then he and Konsho are running, following the trail without much effort. Part of learning to track is tuning out the things you don't want and the blood doesn't interfere for more than a few seconds. He doesn't ask after the others, knowing that Kurome would've taken care of things before catching up to him. And now it was time to end this.
Kurome nods lightly and follows Hige to her target. The pair don't take long to catch up to Nogoro, though, because he wanted to be found. He was found in a clearing. There was a woman in his arms, bound so that she couldn't move. A knife was at her throat, pressing in enough so that there was a small trickle of blood. "So then… Kurome-chan… I hope you don't mind terribly, but I'm going to be killing your mother." The man looked very calm, and there were a few albino animals nearby… Snakes in the grass. They slithered around the clearing, hissing filling the air.
"You do realize," Hige growls at Nogoro, "that it will be the very last thing you do specter face." Hige is mad and his muscles are twitching with the tension he holds at not just launching forward and going through the women to get to the man. "You make me wish I'd killed you long ago." Hige is down on all fours and is ready to move at the slightest indication that he can have an opening. He can move fast after all, but still.
Kurome sees her mother in Nogoro's arms, and she pauses visibly. The redness of her sharingan was quite plain, and there were only three black tomoe interrupting their vision. "Let… her… go.." she says, voice trembling a bit. The woman's chakra spiked suddenly as she keeps herself back for now. She had to be careful. Nogoro had her mom as hostage. Uchiha Chihaya's eyes were wet with tears, and she couldn't speak because of the man keeping her captive.
"Let her go? My dear, I don't think you quite understand how this works… Though… I suppose I let you run amok for far too long, my little experiment…" Nogoro grins widely, and the serpents in the grass lash out, biting at the trio.
COMBAT: Kurome defends against SNAKE-BITE-II(34) attack from Nogoro with a INTUITIVE-DODGE…61
COMBAT: Kurome defends against SNAKE-BITE-II(34) attack from Nogoro with a INTUITIVE-DODGE…61
Kurome avoids the two biting snakes with ease, kicking them away. She knows she can't use any of her long distance skills, but maybe… Her sharingan whirl to life, and genjutsu takes ahold of Nogoro…. Or at least, it tries. This one in particular would make his world turn upsidedown. "What do you mean, experiment?" she asks, even as she attempts to make eye contact with the Shippodoku.
COMBAT: Hige defends against SNAKE-BITE-II(33) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…52
COMBAT: Hige defends against SNAKE-BITE-II(40) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…44
Hige and Konsho simply shift slightly to avoid the attacking snake bites but can't do much else when it comes to the man himself. He's going to have to leave that to Kurome for now. Instead he turns his already bloodied face on the snakes, watching them carefully before slipping into a quick spinning attack to try and slice them up. It'll leave Kurome to deal with the other, and perhaps give Hige and Konsho a chance to slip behind.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against MIRROR-HEAVEN-AND-EARTH-CHANGE(61) attack from Kurome with a BLADED-SELF-INFLICT…70
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against GATSUGA(49) attack from Hige with a DODGE…38
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 801 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against GATSUGA(66) attack from Hige with a DODGE-II…45
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 891 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against GATSUGA(61) attack from Hige with a DODGE-II…41
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 851 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against GATSUGA(66) attack from Hige with a DODGE-II…48
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 833 damage.
Nogoro hums lightly, the tail of his scorpion figure stabbing his leg to rid himself of the genjutsu. "It is quite simple… I wanted to transform you… Your Sharingan. It was so perfect, too. So young… So much potential with the wielders of the Sharingan as parents… You had the potential, and I awakened it. And then I come back and you aren't using it…" He frowned, then. "I had to figure out a way to make you use your gift… The gift I presented. It's working, no? Your Sharingan… It allows you to see it all~. I wanted to see how far I could press your bloodline.." His eyes gleam, and the tail lashes out at Kurome.
Hige's attacks are super effective against the snakes present, of course, though he does tear up a lot of the ground in the process. But there are a lot of snakes, too, and they seem to get bigger with each one he cuts down! The ones before? Not much bigger than a yard. The ones approaching now had sharper fangs, longer bodies, and a very mean look in their eyes as they tried to bite the Inuzuka duo again.
COMBAT: Kurome defends against TAIL-STING(54) attack from Nogoro with a PREDICTIVE-DODGE…78
Kurome is able to see the tail coming at her in slow-motion or something, making it easy to dodge the strike. "See how far… That… Those are what your experiments are all about, then? Furthering the bloodline limits across all the clans? Making them more potent?" she would ask, continuing to try and trap the man in her genjutsu. She would try to hypnotize him, forcing him to release her mother if successful.
COMBAT: Hige defends against SNAKE-BITE-III(42) attack from Nogoro with a FOUR-LEGGED-DODGE…55
COMBAT: Hige defends against SNAKE-BITE-III(40) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…57
COMBAT: Hige defends against SNAKE-BITE-III(46) attack from Nogoro with a FOUR-LEGGED-DODGE…59
Hige and Konsho continue to play evade the snakes, the albino things more of a nuisance but, well, if it keeps them away from Kurome than for now that's probably for the best. After they launch in the air from their last dodge the two start spinning again, coming in low and try and smash some of the snakes up into the air. One, however, they try to smash sideways instead - read towards Nogoro and his captive. Better injured than dead right?
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against ROTATING-VIOLENT-FANG(70) attack from Hige with a UNCANNY-DEFENSE…62
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1193 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against ROTATING-VIOLENT-FANG(74) attack from Hige with a UNCANNY-DEFENSE…72
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1130 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against ROTATING-VIOLENT-FANG(75) attack from Hige with a UNCANNY-DEFENSE…52
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1311 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against PHYSICAL(29) attack from Snake with a PINCER-BLOCK…50
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against SHARINGAN-HYPNOSIS(81) attack from Kurome with a BLADED-SELF-INFLICT…48
This time, Kurome's genjutsu gets ahold of the man, though it is just after Hige decided to launch one of those snakes at the man. He flicked it away with his pincer on his hand, but otherwise, his gaze was set on Kurome. He puts up quite a mental fight with the Uchiha clan head, but eventually he succumbs to the silent command and releases his grip on Chihaya. "Ugh… The Sharingan… is stronger than I thought…" He mutters, unable to attack further.
The snakes are no longer so small. There's actually three huge ones, each one the side of a tree. Their head is the only thing visible as they spit out chunks of earth, water, and fire from their mouths, all of the projectiles aimed solely at Hige!
Kurome stares at Nogoro for a few moments, then walks up to him. As she walks, she brings out a kunai and leans down very close to him, still keeping eye contact. "You … will no longer get to walk on this land… No more experiments." And then she pierces his throat with the kunai, making him gurgle a bit as he chokes on his own blood. He was trapped by her genjutsu, too, so he couldn't even respond unless she wanted him to.
COMBAT: Hige defends against FIREBOLT(42) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…61
COMBAT: Hige defends against WATER-BULLET(27) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…68
COMBAT: Hige defends against MUD-BULLET(39) attack from Nogoro with a EVASION…63
Apparently even in the air them snakes can be pretty attacky! As the various elements come at them the two Inuzuka just kind of shift around to let them slam into the ground around them. "Let's just finish this," Hige growls. "They're starting to piss me off." The two Inuzuka start moving again in their saw blade type motion, claws and fangs as they go head over heals and start coming at the snakes to try and cut each into little bits before they land.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against SHARP(29) attack from Kurome with a TENSE…7
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 300 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against FANG-ROTATING-FANG(71) attack from Hige with a CHAKRA-DODGE-IV…60
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1476 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against FANG-ROTATING-FANG(86) attack from Hige with a CHAKRA-DODGE-IV…59
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1579 damage.
COMBAT: Nogoro defends against FANG-ROTATING-FANG(79) attack from Hige with a CHAKRA-DODGE-IV…77
COMBAT: Nogoro loses the roll and sustains 1407 damage.
Bang bang bang! The three snakes are as dead as doornails before they hit the ground. There are two thuds for every snake, pretty much, as the head seems to have been sliced from the body, courtesy of Hige. Nogoro stares at Kurome, eyes fading as the life leaves his body. As he starts to fade away, though, so too does his form. His form shifts a bit, breaking the small illusion. Instead of Nogoro, it is Kurome's mom! But where's the real one, if that's….
Behind both, Kurome's "mom" would suddenly disappear into the ground, leaving behind no trace at all whatsoever.
Kurome's red eyes watch the henge slowly disappear… And she freezes completely. There were so many emotions that were flooding through her in that instant, but one of the most prominent ones was sorrow/despair. "No…" she whispers, unable to accept that it was by her /own hand/ that she had killed her mother. "NO!" she shouts, shaking the lifeless body. It was far too late for Chihaya, but that didn't stop Kurome from attempting to resurrect her mom with CPR.
RPCOMBAT: Hige defends against with a INUZUKA-SENSES-II…59
[NPC System]: Nogoro roll(s) Stealthy Stealth! vs. Hige from 45 to 90 and get(s) a 73. - Rolled by: Kurome
Hige and Konsho land, looking to make sure that the snakes are indeed done for before Hige finally straightens. He already knows what happened. He's not sure of the how or why, but he knows what. The scents had been strange, perhaps this explained why. Hige and Konsho flank Kurome, both even more so covered in blood, yet the look of sadness from Hige something rare. "Kurome. She's gone," he says finally after a few moments, reaching a hand to her shoulder gently.
"N… No… She… She can't…" Kurome says shakily, still trying to revive the body. Of course, when Hige taps her shoulder, she whirls on him, revealing that the pattern in her eyes have changed rather drastically. Instead of three black tomoe, her eyes host three red tomoe, each encircled by black commas that join together and almost are inseparable. Only the thin red line between parts prove that her eyes just haven't reversed themselves completely. "I… I didn't mean to…" she whispers, looking down at her hands. "I thought… I thought it was him…"
Hige sees the change but for now it doesn't matter to him, and while he'd heard of it before…well, he'd never seen it. There'd be time to figure that out later. "You were tricked Kurome. We all were. He fooled you into killing her. He'll pay for it, I swear to you." Hige looks to Konsho, then vanishes to a nearby river while Konsho stays with Kurome, trading places with the ninken a few moments later so they're both fairly well cleaned off. "Come on Kurome…" Hige tries to help Kurome to her feet before moving over to lift her mother to lay her bleeding frame onto Konsho's large back for the trip home.
Kurome sits there for a bit longer, trying to adjust to this fact. It was hard to wrap her head around. Her mom was still so young, even without her voice. She didn't report for active duty, preferring to help out around the house. A guiding light amidst the darker times, though Kurome was slowly weaning away from the reliance. But now it was completely cut off. BY the time Hige gets back, Kurome's eyes have faded to their usual black, and she stands slowly, a haunted look to her face. "Hai…" she murmurs, following Hige back to the Hidden Leaf.
RP: Kurome reverts to her normal state.
COMBAT: Hige left combat at 39.6 percent stamina.
RP: Hige reverts to his normal state.
