Starring:
Tsutsuji, Kyousuke
Date: September 19, 2015
Summary:
A trip to remember one's ancestors turns into a short chase for someone who defiles them.
"Puppets from the Grave"
Boneyard Gardens
The Boneyard gardens is an important place for the sanity of a village. It's a graveyard, so subtly dressed in gardens that attempt to hide the fact that just beneath the ground is a place where the dead rest. For outsiders, this might seem like irony that one of the most beautiful places in Kirigakure has a secret lying beneath the dirt. Thanks to the fact that this place doubles as a park, grave robberies are usually nigh impossible. With people always walking about, either for relaxation or for honoring the dead, there are few opportunities for even an experienced shinobi to get away unseen. Yet, today seemed to be an exception. Today, the remains of a grave where it was rumored a Shimizu was buried has been exumed. Rumors are rumors, because most of those whom belonged to a clan are burned before they are buried. Even Kaguya bones are bleached, since burning them is nigh impossible.
How this act happened was relatively unknown. The Okumo have a wide security net that keeps these things from actually happening. Whomever did this was trained to be very stealthy…
It was unlucky that two individuals whom were completely innocent, risked the finger being pointed at them for committing something treasonous. They would be the last ones detected in the area by spiders, and thus would be guilty unless they somehow found the gravedigger. Tsutsuji would be completely unaware of this fact, however, as she walked through the boneyard gardens like any other day. This time she might have had company, though. Tsutsuji would walk slowly, hands on her hips as she looks down at the ground. "My mother has a grave dedicated to her here." She would tell those present. "It's been about… a month now. I usually come to pay my respects, and remember her. I remember the time that she took me all the way to the First World Ninja Tournament… I was… rather young then I recall!" She says, with a rather positive attitude right now that doesn't fit setting." Tsutsuji places her hands behind her head. "It was between Kaguya Yasushi! My childhood hero, and I remember the other Nin's name… Saito Jon? He had a crow…" She then realizes, turning her head to Kyousuke. "You came from Kusa, right? Did you know that a great tournament was held in your homeland?" She asks.
It is indeed the afternoon, and they are nearing the sight of a very fresh graverobbery that has, somehow, gone unnoticed…
Kyousuke had been rather easy to find.. he does stick out as a foreigner. And has been in close company of the kaguya, along with the girl that was his companion, Eri. "I do not recall. Perhaps it was mentioned when I was still a student of the ninja ways, but my interests lied in taking my own path." he answers. "A crow, sounds interesting for a companion." Eri is busy nibbling on some snack she'd procured from the market, some kind of fresh fishy chunk that her face is busy being stuffed with.
"Ah. So, Kaguya Yasushi punched his opponent, but it was a replacement! A replacement with an explosive tag on it!" Tsutsuji looks up to the sky with a smile as she spends this time with her two favorite people. "I would love to travel and witness a tournament like that myself. The ability to concede if you know you are losing must be the best part about them. To be able to test one's training against another, without the risk of bleeding to death or dying…" It was a shame that she could not witness the one that was held in her own very village. Her mother and grandfather had gotten in a fight over taking her to go, and she wasn't allowed to attend.
Off along the path, there would be multiple graves that are a reminder of those whom had died. Some were overgrown with vines and flowers. Some had flowers laid beside them in acts of rememberance. Even the most bloodthirsty people remind themselves of where they come from, and where someday they must go. It wasn't a few yards away, that a shovel was settled beside an open grave. This grave, clearly being fresh. If one didn't outright see it, they likely could smell the fresh earth and slight rot penetrating the air despite the myriad of flowers that coat the surrounding area…
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a MANESHI-SENSES…39
Kyousuke raises his brow. "I can see the merit in watching others fight. If to study their technique, entertainment I am unsure of." he looks to Eri for a moment, then back. "This is a curious place, why are we here, Tsutsuji-san." the ronin inquires while his companion continues angrily tearing into her fishy prize.
RPCOMBAT: Tsutsuji defends against with a PERCEPTION…12
Kyousuke would be the first to notice the smell of an open grave. He'd also manage to see a trail of dirt leading into the treeline. It was a fresh grave, so fresh that Kyousuke likely could tell that the individual who had dug the corpse up was only a hundred yard through the tree-line at this point.
Tsutsuji stands at the grave of her mother, while Kyousuke clearly notices this. She slowly gets down to her knees a moment as she stares at the grave, soon bowing her body completely down as if groveling. She for one might be angered if graves were just openly ravaged. It would be her duty, begrudgingly, to investigate just as soon as she realizes something was off. Seems as if she hadn't picked up anything at all. Once she was done honoring the fallen, she'd stand right up, adjusting her sleeves as she closed her eyes. "Thanks for walking with me." She'd say, earnestly.
Kyousuke and Eri both pick up on these unusual points, note the trail, and seem rather tense. "You are welcome, Tsutsuji. However." he states, "I am going to have to ask you to follow me, quickly. If you have any flares, I suggest you have them prepared. If not, Eri may have one."
"Why do you always assume I have something!" the girl complains. "You keep our inventory managed." the ronin states, then swiftly starts for the treeline, hands taking to his weapons. "I expect you to be able to keep up, this may be important." he calls to Suji.
Tsutsuji was confused, although, as Kyousuke takes off she realizes quite readily that she doesn't have anything of the sort. "W-wait, what's going on?" She asks. He'd never just run off like this, but then again she didn't know the wanderer long. "Kyousuke! Don't run around in this place, it's considered rude to those whom have fallen!" She states as she quickly looks to her mother's tombstone and places her forehead upon it, closing her eyes for just a few more moments…
Kyousuke would head over off towards the tree-line. The wooded area surrounding the Boneyards weren't very large, but the mist was rather thick. Thick mist concealed things within it, though this mist might have not been natural. Far enough from the path, Kyousuke would likely realize this. It's a common ability in the Village Hidden in the Mist… The mist got so thick, that it might have concealed tripwires that had been set so carefully. Someone had prepared for a chase, it seems…
[NPC System]: Unknown roll(s) Hidden Mist Technique from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 30. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Trap roll(s) Explosion Tag Tripwire Technique vs. Kyousuke from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 24. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Trap roll(s) Explosion Tag Tripwire Technique vs. Kyousuke from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
COMBAT: Tsutsuji finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Kyousuke's turn.
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a MANESHI-SENSES…32
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a DANCING-LEAF…43
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a DODGE…24
Preparations for a chase, sounds like this person is definately not a novice. But, being catlike has its advantages. Spotting obstacles, and also moving just out of their way. A breeze seems to accompany the pair, enough for them to just bend away from the first tripwire, and enough momentum to vault over the second as they continue.. or perhaps. "Eri, take a median position. If Tsutsuji is to follow, make sure she doesn't fall in. Keep your ear out for my call." while he continues on at his brisk pace. Eri jumps back just over the first wire and adheres to the nearest vertical surface she can do so safely, waiting and listening…
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
Kyousuke can just see the individual whom was trying to cover his trail. The individual whom you were looking for was indeed carrying a wooden barrel. A barrel that likely had the contents of whatever was in the grave. The individual's entire head was wrapped in cloth, obscuring his face and his sight strangely. When whomever it was realizes that Kyousuke had not only set off their traps, but dodged them he would set the barrel down, and turn around. "Ah, I see. Someone smelled me out, did they?" He asks. His hands slap together, forming several seals. The seals didn't seem to do anything in particular, yet as Kyousuke forged on ahead, he'd notice that suddenly the ground began to open in front of him, the earth shaking so heavily that his very feet felt glued to the ground. That didn't seem to be all, for outside of the illusion Kyousuke was experiencing, he had created more seals. "I'm not here to fight, friend, so chew on this for a few moments."
Tsutsuji was on the way, and with Eri's help, she'd have almost caught up at this point. Hopefully, she'll get there in time…
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Demonic Illusion:Earth Sundered vs. Kyousuke from 15 to 25 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Hollow Stone Bullets vs. Kyousuke from 15 to 45 and get(s) a 39. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
COMBAT: Tsutsuji finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Kyousuke's turn.
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a TENSE…7
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a TENSE…11
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke took 150 damage.
Kyousuke is quiet in confrontation, eyes low as always while the monologue begins. He's waiting for something to happen, waiting is what has him stuck and unable to truly get a handle on things. Certainly enough time for Eri and Suji to catch up on the scene, with Kyou busy trying to figure out how to bridge an open fissure… in his mind.
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
Genjutsu.. Kyousuke's greatest weakness. The graverobber watched as Kyousuke fell under his illusion. Kyousuke wouldn't see it, likely because he was both stuck in an illusion and knocked off his feet by an earth style technique, but the graverobber raised a finger and shook it at him before picking his barrel off and attempting to get some distance…
Tsutsuji would likely arrive with Eri at this point, and would quickly realize that Kyousuke was looking a little… spaced… "W-was he defeated?" Tsutsuji would ask Kyousuke's partner as she dropped to her knees at his side, looking over him, confused. He barely had a wound on him, other than what he accrued from their training a few nights ago. She was in a worse condition after all, and wasn't out for the count. "Uhm… W-what do I do?" Even she lacks any real genjutsu knowledge…
COMBAT: Tsutsuji finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Kyousuke's turn.
Eri, having not been present for the illusion, does her escort duty for once. This includes pouncing on Kyou's chest and giving him a few wake-up paps, and tugging him to his feet by the ear. "Not even a few minutes and you go and get yourself in trouble." Eri prowls, getting to her own feet and sniffing. "If we move, we can keep up."
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
[NPC System]: Unknown roll(s) Hidden Mist Technique from 5 to 35 and get(s) a 5. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
anyways."
RPCOMBAT: Tsutsuji defends against with a PERCEPTION…13
That means… it was up to Tsutsuji and Eri to chase down the graverobber? "I barely understand what is going on, but clearly there is someone whom Kyousuke thought needed stopping… If he wakes up, can he locate us?" She asks Eri as she gets up and begins to run in the direction that Kyousuke was facing when he was standing. "We might need him up on his feet. soon."
Tsutsuji's arms trail behind her, sleeves being rustled by the speed of her movement as she attempts to keep the individual tracked. The mist technique that the man was using to hide his presence seems to have worn off… Tsutsuji can clearly see the man whom has come to a complete stop in front of what appears to be a hatch leading underground. After all, there would have been no other way to escape with a barrel with a rotting corpse in it. He had a hideout, hidden underneath the ground itself doing god knows what. Tsutsuji would attempt to prevent the man from heading down into the hatch, by throwing several shuriken his way. "Halt!" She would demand. "Drop the barrel, and you won't get hurt!"
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 19
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 20
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 18
Eri gives Kyou's face a nice scratch and jerks him along, enough to have the Ronin suddenly aware that. "Eri, that's another I owe you." he murmurs and stumbles along. Although, once Suji is in range to do things, Kyou gives a whistle. After said whistle, Eri draws her own throwing stars into the fray, tossing a pair towards the barrel-holder!
COMBAT: Kyousuke attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 23
COMBAT: Kyousuke attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 15
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge vs. Sharp from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 27. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge vs. Sharp from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 21. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge vs. Sharp from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge vs. Sharp from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 29. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge vs. Sharp from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 27. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
The Shinobi watches as a flurry of shuriken are thrown at him. The man's wrapped face clearly knows they are coming reguardless off not being able to see. To block each of them, he shoves his foot under the barrel, and flips it into his arms. The sound of shurken striking wood could be heard. "This is no good. Followed me right to my humble abode. Guess I won't be letting you three go." He would suddenly throw the barrel right at Tsutsuji, at a rather rapid speed. With shurken attached to it, it could hurt a lot more than previously thought… Kyousuke isn't out of the woods yet. The Shinobi clearly making handseals. A few moments later, a stream of moving earth would head towards Kyousuke. Earth that could stop him from moving at all should it hit!
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Earth Release: Earth Flow Rivervs. Kyousuke from 20 to 45 and get(s) a 23. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Barrel Throw vs. Tsutsuji from 15 to 40 and get(s) a 17. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Stealth from 20 to 40 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
RPCOMBAT: Tsutsuji defends against with a DANCE-OF-THE-KAGUYA…29
Tsutsuji not only dodged the barrel, but jumped atop it, and kept it from flying backwards towards Kyousuke whom was trailing from behind. The Barrel would land against the ground, rolling backwards slightly until the shuriken buried inside the barrel stopped it's momentum. Dashing ahead, she would pull a Kunai out of a holster along her leg and attempt to slip the Kunai across the shinobi's chest, and face before sweeping her blade underneath in order to disable the individual. "You were warned." She nearly growls. She hasn't yet regained the confidence she had lost from an earlier mission where she was defeated by a simple bandit.
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with BLADE-DANCE with a roll of: 25
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with BLADE-DANCE with a roll of: 17
COMBAT: Tsutsuji attacks target 1 with BLADE-DANCE with a roll of: 24
COMBAT: Tsutsuji finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Kyousuke's turn.
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a MANESHI-SENSES…33
You paged Kyousuke with 'This entire time, the man's voice was coming from the barrel, and not the thing wearing the head-wrap.'
RPCOMBAT: Kyousuke defends against with a DODGE…28.
Kyousuke and Eri's ears twitch at this revelation of theirs and they give a nod to one another, just as Kyousuke jumps up over the stream of earth, landing before the stopped barrel. He gives a growl aloud, "Our target is in the barrel." and that's when Kyou's blade is drawn. He makes a swift, tight rotation that ends with him bringing the back of his katana against the barrel, smashing against the container and seguing into a jo stance, blade held high before he goes into a practiced series of heavy swings against the barrel, giving a bit of slicing on it.. like trying to crack, then slice into a nut.
COMBAT: Kyousuke attacks target 1 with REVERSE-STRIKE with a roll of: 28
COMBAT: Kyousuke attacks target 1 with STEEL-FLURRY with a roll of: 16
COMBAT: Kyousuke attacks target 1 with STEEL-FLURRY with a roll of: 22
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
[NPC System]: Grave Robber roll(s) Dodge from 15 to 25 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Face-Wrapped Man roll(s) Dodge vs Tsutsuji from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 22. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Face-Wrapped Man roll(s) Dodge vs Tsutsuji from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 21. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
[NPC System]: Face-Wrapped Man roll(s) Dodge vs Tsutsuji from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 30. - Rolled by: Tsutsuji
The chest slash was all that was all Tsutsuji truly needed to land to know that what she was fighting… was the very corpse that had been dug up. Clearly, this dawned on her based on the fact that the smell of death, and the sight of maggots was coming straight from the wound. The corpse would fall apart right in front of Tsutsuji, the chakra keeping it together falling apart. This was… some sort of puppeteering jutsu…
Kyousuke would break the barrel with his reverse strike, revealing within, an individual whom looked to be in his late twenties. Clearly some shinobi whom was practicing his art right under the nose of Kiri, somehow… The next two strikes wouldn't kill him, but would injure him heavily. Clearly, this wasn't a skilled shinobi as far as Taijutsu was concerned. Thus he would raise his hands out in front of him with a rather large grin despite bleeding somewhat. "STOP! I am a shinobi of Kirigakure!" He said, still floored. "If you kill me, you'll be hunted. I know who you are! You're a Ronin! You'll be executed for killing me! You might even be executed for touching me! I'll cut you a deal, if you let me go. If you let me go, I'll keep my mouth shut, and this will all be water under the bridge. I've already told you what would happen if you decide to finish me here, or even if you turned me in. Choose wisely, wanderer!" That was the ultimatum! the man had his hands out in front of him to block another strike…
Tsutsuji would drop the knife, the blade covered in a foul residue that she wanted no part of anymore. She would move over to Kyousuke, whom had amazingly sniffed the true opponent out. "Eri told me what was going on… This… man stole a corpse from the boneyard?" It seemed incredible unlikely this would be possible. She looked over to that very same corpse. "… and used it to fight… What kind of jutsu was this?" She wondered. At least, now, if they are fast they can re-bury the corpse before someone spots it… "You deserve no less than death for defiling the dead." Tsutsuji says as she raises a foot and plants it on the man's head… He was at Kyousuke's mercy, whom clearly had three options. Kill the man and fix his mistake. Take the man in and risk being identified as a hostile wanderer whom attacked a Kiri-nin, even with Tsutsuji backing you. Or let him go, and attempt to fix the mistake… Now the wanderer must choose…
COMBAT: Tsutsuji finishes her turn.
COMBAT: It is now Kyousuke's turn.
Kyousuke has his mark now, instead of making another strike he snaps his fingers. Eri then launches a flare up into the sky, burning a quick series of red flashes before it starts slowly burning out. "And so is the genin accompanying me." he answers. "If you've done nothing wrong, then whomever comes to investigate the flare will have no hesitation proving such. I will let your village determine what your life is worth."
COMBAT: Kyousuke finishes his turn.
COMBAT: It is now Tsutsuji's turn.
Tsutsuji may not wear her headband during moments in which she relaxes, but Kyousuke was right… She was still a genin, despite feeling as if she was a worthless one. This individual might have used her body as a puppet if Kyousuke had not been there. "If… that is your choice." She gives Kyousuke a nod as she moves her foot from the shinobi's head…
Nearly ten minutes later, several chunin level Kiri shinobi would arrive. The truth of the matter was that this individual -was- a Kiri-nin. He was a genin, whom decided that the laws of Kiri was inhibiting his studies. He disappeared without a trace for years, and used these wrapped graveyard puppets to gather his daily supplies for him, while he hid inside barrels. He never wandered close enough to sensors to actually be detected, and always appeared to get past any other forms of detection by picking specific times to take and prepare his corpses. He was a missing-nin of little worth, but his capture would keep the graveyard from being sullied any further….
