Starring:
Date: June 9, 2016
Summary:
Michiko and Daiki go on a basic patrol. What could possibly go wrong?
Poster's note: foul language filtered in obvious places.
"The Winged Creature Emerges"
Land of Lightning
Patrols are a part of everyday life, really. Every shinobi in Kumo goes on at least 30 of them by the the time the year is up, it might feel like. Today, Michiko is going on a patrol with the newly-made Genin, Yotsuki Daiki. Just the two of them because unless something terrible happens (like a million people attack), Michiko can probably handle it on her own… Ahem! The girl is waiting in front of the gates for Daiki, a black fox at her side currently stretching. It's early in the morning with the sun barely peeking over the horizon.
Daiki took his time getting to the gate, strolling leisurely and rubbing his eyes with a wide yawn. "It's early," he grumbled as he approached Michiko and the fox. His brand new hitai-ate was tied securely around his forehead, and he had his shuriken holster and basic supply pouch in place on his person. It was just a patrol, so what more would he need? "Why do we have to do this stinky patrol, anyway? When do I get to do the good stuff? Tracking down bad guys, saving daimyo's in distress, super secret intel operations?!"
Michiko thumps Daiki lightly on the head. "When you stop yawning and complaining about the patrols. It's not fun, no, but it gives you more stamina and strength, helps with basic perceptive abilities, and occasionally you run into some trouble to fix. Now, with all that said, we're completing one of the more basic circuits today because it's your first time on a patrol." She pulls out a map and points to where Kumo is, tracing a finger along the map. "So we're going to go down to this point, then we'll loop back around. A lot of the trouble will pop up here, far from the village. So we'll have to be extra cautious there." Then Michiko hands Daiki the map. "You'll lead the way so you can better know the trail."
Daiki took the map with a slightly lingering grump face, but it was quickly wiped away when he began to focus. "… Okay… So we'll start south," he observed, nodding and folding the map before heading out the village gates. He definitely took note of what Michiko-sensei said about the dangerous spots. But they were going to be in the village's inner circle for a while, so he wasn't very worried.
His hands went into his pockets as he walked lazily. These paths were very quiet… peaceful. He frequently walked this area before he was a Genin. He really doubted there would be any disturbances this close to the village.
"Alright," Michiko says, following Daiki. As he started to set the pace, she would nudge him a bit. "Daiki-kun, if you don't want this patrol to take all day, you'll need to travel a bit faster than this. Walking won't help your stamina, either," she would scold gently. "And if there are any bandits around, we'll want to clear the trails of them quickly, no? Otherwise a normal traveler will be inconvenienced. Or dead."
Daiki flushes slightly. Well, he expected he would hear trouble when he encountered it… So he could probably get out of the peaceful area pretty quickly. "Uh… yeah," he says to Michiko, jumping up a few times until he reaches the tree branches, catching his balance and starting to make his way, leaping across some of the closer ones carefully until he found his stride. This was better.
The further they got away from home, the more unsettling the atmosphere became. Daiki wasn't sure he had ever traveled this far before… But no, he wasn't scared! He grinned a bit nervously, listening to the sound of silence all around him as he crossed the trail. 'Wait…' he paused a moment, leaning against the trunk of one of the trees and listened again. "It's too quiet," he whispers, his ears straining. The forest was usually full of the sounds of wildlife, but here, there was nothing. He looked to Michiko, questions in his eyes.
Michiko and Kimura would keep after Daiki, the two keeping to the ground for reasons. They were able to keep up with Daiki well enough, though, keeping an eye on their surroundings carefully. When Daiki halts, she would pause as well, sending a pulse of chakra through the ground. "Hmm… Yes, it is quiet. Do you know why?" she asks casually, wanting Daiki to figure out that there was a group of bandits up ahead. There were no real signs of their presence quite yet, but the bandits were there.
COMBAT: Daiki focuses 2720 stamina to turn it into 3000 usable chakra!
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a PERCEPTION…12
Daiki's brows furrow, and he looks around a minute. He couldn't see anything… But the silence was deafening. "Well.. Wild animals are scared of people, right? Like birds and things… They go quiet when there are people around." He knew he had to be at least partly right. "We're not the ones scaring the animals… Are we?"
RPCOMBAT: Michiko defends against with a MASTERED-EARTHEN-SENSE…64
"Well, we are, but it's a bit quiet here for other reasons," Michiko says. She points to a gap in some bushes, which would show a few signs of destruction from careless travelers. "There. It looks like their fire ran out. Try to get a bit closer to them and see how many there are, Daiki-kun. Be sure to disguise yourself well. If we like our odds, then we'll take care of them."
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a PERCEPTION…14
Daiki nods and leaps down, making a quick hand sign and focusing his chakra. In a poof of smoke, he transforms himself into a wild dog, then trots off fearlessly just outside the beaten path. As he got closer, he used his doggie nose to sniff the ground where he saw the broken twigs, and the ashes of the fire. The ashes were still warm. Carefully, he followed the boot tracks near the embers, keeping to the shrubbery until he heard the low murmur of men talking. Stiffening, he raised his ears and his eyes, peeking out from the trees. 'There!' he thought, watching them move. 'One… Two… Three… That's all?' he thought, quickly trotting back to Michiko and dispelling his transformation. "I saw three of them," he said under his breath, watching her carefully. "Should we confront them?"
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Glass bottle vs. Daiki from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 12. - Rolled by: Michiko
Wild dogs aren't particularly welcome near bandit camps, which is why one of members throws a glass bottle, likely it was full of sake, at the transformed Genin. It's poorly aimed, which suggests the man doesn't know what's shuffling around in the bushes, but he didn't want to take any chances. "Stupid wild critters…" the man mutters, turning back to his companions. "We should start getting ready."
Michiko would wait patiently for Daiki, though she already new the information. "I see. Well, that isn't too difficult. There are three of us and three of them, so why don't we take one each." Kimura would perk up a bit when mentioned, and the fox grins slightly. "We'll do it on my signal, Daiki-kun. And be careful they don't see you too soon, hai? When you see a small burst of fire, then just charge in."
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…23
Daiki was a little annoyed that one of the bandits had thrown something at him, but at least he was able to get out of the way before he'd gone back to Michiko. When she mentioned waiting for a signal, he glanced at Kimura and nodded slightly. "Okay." His fingers itched, and he drew the shining blue, metorite-steel blade that Hiei had given him. "I'm ready. You go ahead. As soon as I see your signal, I'll be there."
Michiko would slip into position, as would Kimura, so that the three shinobi were lined up with their respective targets. Once Michiko sensed that Kimura and Daiki were both in position, she would release a small fire flare that … went right at the one she was targeting! Trying to get him in the eyes. Then she would move from her spot, using a Kunai to try and slice his throat.
Kimura saw the signal from her spot, but she wouldn't move at all. Instead, her fur spiked up a bit from lightning gathering in it, and a number of lightning needles were shot at the man closest to her, sending the camp itself into chaos because of the sudden assault.
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with FIRE-FLARE with a roll of: 30
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 24
[NPC System]: Kimura roll(s) Lightning Needles vs. Bandit from 20 to 40 and get(s) a 31. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Michiko (30) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 18. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Michiko (24) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 29. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Kimura (31) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 21. - Rolled by: Michiko
'This is it!' Daiki grinned broadly, charging into the camp and lavishing in the thrill of adrenaline pumping through his veins. "HAAAAA!!!" he screamed as he flew past the first two bandits, targeting the third with a series of super-sharp slashes. One toward the bandit's belly, and then a double slash toward his back after Daiki's first attack had led him to slip around to the man's backside. "Take that!"
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with SWORD-STRIKE with a roll of: 14
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 18
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (14) from 10 to 25 and get(s) a 23. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (18) from 10 to 25 and get(s) a 13. - Rolled by: Michiko
The bandits were, as stated, not prepared for this kind of assault! The initial flame blinded the man that Michiko went for, and he went down thanks to the slash across his throat. Poor bandit bleeding to death on the ground … He deserved it >.> Kimura had similar luck in getting the man she was supposed to attack, the stinging lightning hitting its mark. The bandit didn't die from it, but it was painful, and his movements were a bit jerky as he tried throwing things in the fox's direction.
Daiki's own luck was decent. His initial yelling and screaming as he attacked would alert his own target enough that the bandit side-stepped Daiki's strike. Seeing it was just a kid, he couldn't help but laugh and count his blessings. And then Daiki got him in the back, and he winces slightly, reaching out to grab a club as his weapon of choice. "I'll smash you into pieces for that," he snarls, swinging the wooden bat wildly.
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Throwing Things vs. Kimura from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 20. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Throwing Things vs. Kimura from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 18. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Kimura roll(s) Clone Technique vs. Bandit (20) from 20 to 40 and get(s) a 38. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Kimura roll(s) Clone Technique vs. Bandit (18) from 20 to 40 and get(s) a 33. - Rolled by: Michiko
Michiko wiped her Kunai off on the dead man's clothes, keeping an eye on him to make sure he was dead before going to assist Kimura a bit. Not that the fox needed help… The things thrown in Kimura's direction hit clones, if they hit anything at all, and the fox would dart in to chomp on the man's ankles as Michiko slipped in to finish him off with a deft stab through the heart. Good thing his only attack was throwing different things at people…
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Wild Swing vs. Daiki from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 25. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Wild Swing vs. Daiki from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 26. - Rolled by: Michiko
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a CLONE-TECHNIQUE…10
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…12
Daiki had not expected the guy to attack him back! "W-wait… I'm just a kid!" he says helplessly as the man swings his club, finally focusing his chakra and producing a few clones as a last resort. No good! He hadn't had time to move around and confuse the bandit before teh club came slugging down, catching him on the shoulder and knocking him to the ground, eliciting a painful cry from the boy. He was a little sluggish now, too, trying to leap away while holding an injured shoulder, and he quickly got caught by another heavy blow to the back, slamming him down and making him wheeze and cough for a minute. 'Darn it!' he thought, his eyes welling up with hot, angry tears. "Leave me alone, you bully!" he cried, kicking out forcefully at the bandit's kneecaps before slashing his sword up in a high arc several times, trying to cut at anything he could reach.
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with PHYSICAL with a roll of: 16
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 16
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (16) from 10 to 25 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (16) from 10 to 25 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Michiko
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 22
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 23
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with SHARP with a roll of: 28
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Michiko (22) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 19. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Michiko (23) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 17. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Dodge vs. Michiko (28) from 10 to 30 and get(s) a 11. - Rolled by: Michiko
Michiko glances over to see how Daiki is doing, and she frowns a bit when she sees him having a bit of trouble, and she would throw a few Kunai at the man so that he jumped into them as he was trying to avoid Daiki's attacks. Well, that was easy. "Hmm… Daiki-kun, we clearly need to work on your skills more when it comes to live combat. Tomorrow morning, meet me in the training center," she tells him, making a few hand seals so that the ground swallows the remains of the bandits.
Daiki winces as he slowly pushes himself up, nursing his bruised shoulder and back as he sheathed his sword and shuffled defeatedly over toward Michiko with a slow sigh. "… Hai…" He hadn't expected real fighting to be this hard! No wonder grown up shinobi took their jobs so seriously…
Daiki didn't even experience the worst of it, too! Well, it was a lesson that he seemed to be learning slowly… Michiko would check to make sure there were little to no signs that bandits had once been here before she looks back to Daiki. "Okay, Daiki-kun. We only have a little ways to go before we loop back towards the village. Keep a sharp eye out for anything that might be trouble, or anyone that you think might require help. Hai?" Of course, Michiko would be able to sense the trouble long before Daiki spotted it… But she would let him think he was doing the work! Kimura would walk over, waiting for the two slow-poke humans to get a move on…
Daiki nods, taking out the map Michiko had given him and looking over the path once more. His brows knitted slightly. They were about to be in what Michiko had declared the danger zone… Would he be able to handle it? Sighing, he packed away the paper and started a slow, but determined walk further down the trail. "I'll do my best.."
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a PERCEPTION…22
Michiko saw the doubtful expression on Daiki's face and would give him a small smile of encouragement. "It'll be fine, Daiki-kun. You're strong enough to deal with bandits. Just try not to be overconfident. If you underestimate your opponent, you could be the one dead. And, of course, if you underestimate yourself, you may find yourself a bit too tired to deal with the real enemy should he or she decide to appear late in the battle." Michiko would follow after Daiki at his slow pace, letting the pace remain that way until it seemed Daiki felt more confident. Then she would nudge him into a faster pace.
The duo would get to travel for some time, reaching the end of their trail and starting to loop back to the Hidden Cloud. As Daiki looked around, he would notice signs of a rather large animal that seemed to live in this part of the mountain. Large claw marks were scored along some rocks and dead tree trunks, which was a bit worrisome. It was also a bit too quiet…
Daiki hadn't missed the giant animal tracks. Not by a mile. To be honest, he was less afraid of animals then he was of humans, and the marks intrigued him. "What do you think lives here, Michiko-sensei?" he whispered. Wait.. Why was he whispering? A second thought brought him to the realization that once again, the forest had become a graveyard of silence. His eyes went back to Michiko in an instant. "… More people…? Or.. A really… Really fearsome beast..?"
"Well, I have a few guesses," Michiko responds. "What do you think lives here, Daiki-kun? There are a number of signs here that would allow you to determine what it might be. Or at least you'll come to a close conclusion, ne?" She would shake her head a bit at the question, though. "No, there aren't any bandits around here. I suspect they might have been scared by the beast that dwells here. I don't think this creature is anything to worry too much about, though. I haven't received any reports about it attacking travelers. Of course, I could be wrong…"
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a PERCEPTION…24
Daiki gulps. Any animal that could cause the forest to go quiet in its presence was bad news. Still, he took a closer look around.. Those claw marks… The broken tree branches, and heavy footfalls… "Is it a bear?" he asks, sticking a bit closer to Michiko. "I've never seen one up close.."
"I'd say either a bear or a mountain lion. You never know." She chuckles a bit as a she recalls something. "Ah, I did once have to fight a giant rabbit, so it might be the return of that. I really doubt it this time, though. No, it is likely a very large mountain lion or a rather fearsome bear." Michiko paused for a moment, frowning. "Hmm… We might want to move on, though, Daiki-kun. Unless you really want to see the creature. Then we'll go and hide for a bit."
Daiki didn't need to be told twice! "Let's move on," he says rapidly, quickening his step back along the trail back toward the village. "Let's, uh… get outta here before it finds us, yeah?" Not that they would even have a chance of outrunning it, Daiki had to remind himself. That was definitely a possibility.
Michiko would nod and follow after Daiki. Of course, from the corner of his eye, he might notice that there is a shadowy form of a rather lithe figure in the bushes and trees that dot the landscape. It would be gone after a few moments, though, and Michiko and Kimura didn't seem to pay it any mind whatsoever. "So, Daiki-kun. Since there doesn't seem to be any trouble… What have you learned today?" she asks the genin.
Daiki strolled along casually, seeming to be in better spirits now that he thought the danger was behind them. "Let's see… Well, I learned that sometimes it's better to move fast… And that bandits are really smelly, and pretty dumb… And…" he looks down slightly, contemplating quietly. "… I learned that even on simple missions, you can get hurt… So you always have to be careful…"
"Well… Not all bandits lack brain power. The ones we happened across were just very disorganized. They likely weren't all that high in the food chain, so to speak," Michiko corrects gently. "But, yes, the rest is largely true. You do have to keep your guard up at all times. Even when you're in the village, Daiki-kun. You never know when trouble will rear its head." Michiko frowns just a bit, though, thinking. "Just be sure to keep having fun, though. Don't let paranoia catch you in its grip."
Daiki looked at Michiko, thinking about what she said. After a moment, his face split into a happy grin. "Yeah! Why not. I can't be scared all the time, right?" He laughs a little, and continues on the trail. It seemed things were looking up, and Daiki was almost done with his first real mission!
As they continue to make their way back to the village, there's a broken cart in their path along with an old lady. Said old lady is huffing and puffing trying to get her things in order, but there isn't much to be done by one person. Michiko would alert Daiki about the woman before they made their way over. "Excuse me, miss, do you need help?" she asks politely.
The old woman would sigh. "Maybe a bit… The horse dragging my cart along took off after some bandits attacked, and a few of my wheels broke as well…" Michiko frowns a bit and would nod. "Well, I'll go find your horse, and Daiki-kun here can protect you. Does that sound ok?" The old woman looks over at Daiki with a raised brow. "He looks a bit young…" "Then Kimura-san will stay behind as well." "Alright, I suppose this is fine." Michiko nods and glances to Daiki. "Keep an eye out for bandits, Daiki-kun. I'll be back as soon as possible," she says before taking off without waiting for a reply.
Daiki looked concerned for the old woman. When he heard Michiko's orders, he nodded confidently. "Hai," he said, smiling at the lady and standing beside her, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I'm Yotsuki Daiki, ma'am. Don't worry, you'll be safe with me. I'm a full fledged shinobi!" What a vote of confidence. Daiki would keep his eyes and ears peeled for any disturbances while Michiko was away. Nothing was gonna get past him.
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a PERCEPTION…10
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Surprise Strike vs. Old Lady from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 34. - Rolled by: Michiko
Michiko has to go quite a ways from the site, as the horse was just nowhere to be found! She couldn't help but have a bad feeling, too. If she took /too/ long, those bandits might come back. Or what if the old lady was — Nah. Michiko just continued to look around for the horse, sending a pulse of chakra through the earth every now and then.
Back at the crash site… The old lady would just give Daiki that sort of look that said 'Do I really have to rely on a kid?' She would clap her hands together, though. "Why don't we see about the wheels. I have a spare in the wagon that you could get me, and we can fix it right up." She would putter about just a bit to try and examine the current state of her cart. When Daiki entered it to search for the spare, though, he might hear a small commotion outside and the *thump* of something human-sized hitting the ground.
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Surprise Strike vs. Daiki from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 16. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Surprise Strike vs. Daiki from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 30. - Rolled by: Michiko
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…22
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…12
RPCOMBAT: Daiki took 400 damage.
Daiki stiffened when he heard the noises outside. 'Egress,' he thought, chewing his lip and taking a peek outside. The old lady was laying on the ground. "Man! I shoulda never taken my eyes off her!" he yelled, but had to jump back suddenly when a club came swinging at his head. He rolled backwards on the ground, only to bump right into a second bandit who had been waiting. That bandit /did/ clobber him on the head, and he fell down to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
The world seemed to be spinning for a moment as Daiki lay there, feeling something warm and wet trickling down from his forehead. He reached up and touched it. It was red. Blinking rapidly, Daiki's pulse quickened as he stumbled onto his feet and drew his sword, standing guard next to the old lady with fierce determination in his gaze. He wasn't running away this time. "Leave us alone!" he shouted, hardly able to hear himself over the ringing in his ears. His vision swam, and for a moment he felt like he might vomit. Dang it… Where was Michiko???
RPCOMBAT: Michiko defends against with a MASTERED-EARTHEN-SENSE…62
"Ah-ha!" Michiko says as she stumbles upon a horse. The horse is just trying to find some grass to nibble on, having run a pretty fair distance. Which implies the attack happened an hour or two ago. "Well… there we are. Let's get you back to your mistress, ne? I think she might have some food for you, as well," Michiko says to the horse, not caring if the animal understands her or not. Michiko would take the reins and start leading it back towards where Daiki and the old lady were, but she had to go at the horse's pace. Annoying. Once they were on a proper trail, she could ride it, though.
The bandits would eye Daiki, chuckling a bit. "This looks pretty easy, huh?" says one. The other would nod a few times. "Yep. Easy as cake! We're facing off against some kid and an old lady! Well, if the kid causes trouble, we'll need to shut him up… Oru, get the goods. We'll take care of the kid." A third bandit would slip into the cart to check out what the old lady might be carting around while the other two bandits advanced on Daiki.
Daiki watched as one of the bandits moved into the cart, and his blood boiled. With these two getting closer to him, he could do nothing to stop the third. His grip tightened on his sword as he gave the two bandits in front of him his meanest stare. "Stay back… I'm warning you! I'll kill you!" he shouted, his voice wavering slightly. But still they advanced. There was no getting out of this, now.. He had to act! Gripping his sword tight, he lunged at the two men with a fierce battle cry. Blood was starting to leak into his eyes, but he didn't care. All it made him do was see red. His sword flashed in the sunlight as he swung it at surprising speeds, performing a series of swift slashes to his opponents. Even if all he could do was keep them at bay, he would be satisfied.
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 13
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 14
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (13) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 28. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (14) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 29. - Rolled by: Michiko
Kimura seems to have been ignored, which is only a good thing for her. The fox would gather some chakra, then she would open her mouth to release two bullets of wind that would hopefully pierce through the enemies right there. A followup attack to Daiki's sword strikes that hopefully go ignored.
COMBAT: Kimura attacks target 1 with WIND-BULLET with a roll of: 39
COMBAT: Kimura attacks target 1 with WIND-BULLET with a roll of: 38
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge III vs. Kimura (39) from 25 to 50 and get(s) a 37. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge III vs. Kimura (38) from 25 to 50 and get(s) a 39. - Rolled by: Michiko
The bandits seems to have little trouble avoiding Daiki's blind blows, but one of them gets hit in the arm by Kimura. "Ow… Dang stupid fox…" he mutters, aiming a solid kick at Kimura. The fox wasn't exactly prepared for such strong bandits, but she leaped back regardless. Of course, she happened to leap right back into the path of the third bandit who was just climbing out of the cart. The third man, Oru, would blink, but he aimed a swift kick at Kimura's belly to send the fox flying into a tree. Well, that was lucky of the bandits…
"Well, time to take care of the punk," the man with blood dripping down his arm says. He would pull out a broke tree branch and swing it at Daiki, trying to strike him again in the head. "You two, grab what you can take."
Michiko would decide that the horse was in fine condition. And she managed to find the main trail, so she climbs on and nudges the horse into a trot so that they can make their way back a lot faster. She would pick up the pace slowly, glad that the horse was friendly enough that she could ride.
[NPC System]: Bleeding Bandit roll(s) Homerun Hit vs. Daiki from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 21. - Rolled by: Michiko
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…17
RPCOMBAT: Daiki took 350 damage.
Daiki could hardly see with the blood in his eyes, but it was apparent that all of his swings had missed. It was only by luck that he saw one of the bandit's arms move to swing something at him, and he stumbled back - luck was not enough to save him twice, and yet again he was struck in the head with an earth-shattering blow. In that instant, the world went black.
Daiki found himself standing in darkness. There was nothing around him, not as far as he could tell. No forest, no bandits. No old woman. 'Where am I…?' Daiki took a couple of cautious steps forward. The ground he was standing on echoed like a massive stone hallway. When he had walked a little ways, he began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. He suddenly remembered the playful adage he had heard from so many other kids about the experience of death - Don't go into the light! Daiki froze. Was he really dying? No way! He had just started to turn around and go back the other way when he heard a strange voice in the distance.
"I hear you, over there… Come closer, so I can see you…" Daiki gulped hard. He had no idea whose voice it was calling him. "No way!" he yelled back, clenching his fists at his sides. "I don't trust you! I'm going back so I can finish my mission!"
"Oh?" the voice said, sounding amused. "I don't think you're going to find your way back, that way.. I can help you… But you have to come here, little boy…" Daiki turned slowly, glancing back in the direction of the light. He thought long and hard. It seemed he didn't really have a choice… Slowly, he began walking towards what little bit of hall was illuminated.
As he got closer, a large steel cage became visible to him, seal with a single tag of paper. He stared at the paper in disbelief. Was this really all that was keeping the gates closed…? Inside the bars, he saw a flash of movement, and felt a huge gust of wind, followed by a massive buzzing sound. It sounded like a giant insect to him, but he couldn't be sure. "You really are a scrawny one, aren't you?" the voice said, closer now. "I never thought they would seal me inside such a tiny vessel… How rude of them. It's almost as if they doubt my power." Daiki's jaw dropped open slightly. "… Inside…? Are… Are you that tailed beast that Hiei-sama told me about? Are you what they sealed inside me?" Only a low rumble of laughter answered him, followed by a surge of blue chakra. "That's right, boy… Now, for both of our sakes, I suggest you wake up… You wouldn't want to /really/ die, would you?"
Before Daiki could answer, the blue chakra was surrounding him, consuming him, filling him up from the inside out. And then, it was light again.
When Daiki finally opened his eyes, it was to a surge of power he had never felt before in his life. His wounds began to heal all on their own, and the same blue chakra had begun to envelop him like a tangible sheath. His eyes, once dark brown, now glowed red. 'I feel stronger,' he thought, but he found there wasn't much room for brain function at this moment. All he knew was that these bandits had to be eliminated. Gripping his sword, he yelled a powerful screech, slashing out at one of them with a strong double strike, before slipping behind the other and giving him a hard, menacing stare. He slashed out again, this time at the second bandit's neck, this time intent on making them bleed. He didn't have a choice. This was life or death, now.
RP: Daiki transforms into TWIN-WINGED-SHICHIBI-CLOAK.
COMBAT: Daiki heals Daiki for 217 with MINOR REGENERATION.
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 17
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 11
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (22) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 16. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (16) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 25. - Rolled by: Michiko
As the bandits struck down the child, they would just cackle and start getting some of the nicer goods from the cart. They would be putting the different items into giant bags that they conveniently had on their person. It was some time before they started to feel the air get … heavy. Sort of an ominous aura was leaking out from Daiki thanks to the thing inside him, and they didn't really like it… One man turned, and perhaps just in time because he was able to get out of the way of Daiki's sword while the other (the one with the bloodied arm) got cut again! Jeez, what bad luck… The man would snarl a bit. "I thought I knocked you out," he growls, hefting his club and swinging at Daiki.
Michiko would come riding up, the girl not too far away from Daiki now. Of course, she sensed something bad and would nudge the horse into a gallop. They were about a mile away, which was within the range of her detection jutsu, and she didn't really know what she'd come across. All she knew was that in a moment's pause to check on things, she had a very bad feeling…
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Homerun Hit vs. Daiki from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 34. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandit roll(s) Homerun Hit vs. Daiki from 15 to 35 and get(s) a 16. - Rolled by: Michiko
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…16
RPCOMBAT: Daiki defends against with a DODGE…13
RPCOMBAT: Daiki took 250 damage.
Daiki attempts to dodge, but his legs must still have been a bit heavy, because he got clocked in the shoulder by the bandit's club. It knocked him pretty solidly, but to be honest, it hadn't hurt as bad as the first time. On the second swing, the bandit was becoming more predictable, and Daiki was able to move out of range just in time. He lifeted his sword to his cheek, eyes pinning the bandit with Chomei's stare. "Just die," he says, stabbing forward at the first bandit's stomach before swinging around and aiming another pair of slashes at the second. He wouldn't let them get him down again. Not this time.
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with SWORD-STRIKE with a roll of: 20
COMBAT: Daiki attacks target 1 with DOUBLE-SLASH with a roll of: 17
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (25) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 24. - Rolled by: Michiko
[NPC System]: Bandits roll(s) Dodge vs. Daiki (22) from 15 to 30 and get(s) a 15. - Rolled by: Michiko
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 1 with DEMON-GRAVES with a roll of: 76
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 2 with DEMON-GRAVES with a roll of: 70
COMBAT: Michiko attacks target 3 with DEMON-GRAVES with a roll of: 65
The one man gets caught by the strange eyes. He is pretty sure the kid didn't have that look earlier… And then he's down, stabbed through the stomach like that. *Gurgle* *thud* The second bandit was startled that Daiki suddenly downed his companion, and he was slow to react to the strikes. He is about to try and hit back when a hand made of earth shot up from the ground to grab him and his companions. Yes, even the dead one. "What the-?!"
Michiko appears just in time. There's no sign of the horse because she left it a few yards away from all the excitement, and she was quickly able to trap the three bandits. "Daiki-kun, are you okay?" she asks, turning to the Genin. She could feel the dark presence of the Bijuu there, and she recognized a cloak for what it was even though she had only seen one or two prior. "Can you hear me, Daiki-kun?" she asks.
Daiki stood immobile for a moment, not quite registering what was going on around him. It seemed the threat of danger was gone… Red eyes turned on Michiko, and he swallowed on a dry throat a few times. The gash in his forehead was partially healed, but there was still blood all over him. Her voice sounded far away. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, drowning out most of everything else. "….." Suddenly, his grip loosed on his sword and it fell to the ground, followed by his knees and elbows. He panted weakly as the blue aura slowly faded away, and he was left feeling more drained and exhausted than he could ever remember feeling in his life. "… Sensei," he breathed, finally slumping to the ground, unable to keep his eyes open any longer.
RP: Daiki reverts to his normal state.
COMBAT: Michiko heals Daiki for 1737 with SOOTHING CHAKRA PALM.
COMBAT: Michiko heals target 1 with RESTORING-CHAKRA-PALM with a roll of: 51
Michiko would watch Daiki for a few moments, ready to knock him out if need be. But then he seems to collapse, and Michiko would be there in an instant, keeping him propped up and off the ground. "Well, I can't say you did a bad job," she comments, making a few handseals and sending healing chakra through the young genin's body. "We definitely need to start training, though." Once she was sure Daiki was okay, she would let him rest up against the wagon and heal the old lady. Then she would hitch the horse to the wagon, ignoring the struggles of the two living bandits as she went about her business. Once everything was ready, Michiko would glance over to Kimura, who had recovered from being kicked around. The fox gives a small shake of her fur.
"I'll go back and get some help," The fox says, meaning more to take care of the bandits. "No need," Michiko says. "I'll keep them tied up properly." The two living ones would find themselves bound in metal, and she would load them (and the good they stole) into the cart. Then she set up Daiki and the old lady up front, keeping them strapped in carefully and leading the horse so that they could all go back to Kumo. Well, it wasn't the worst mission in the world… She could at least say that.
