Victim to my Gaze [p]

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

It was early morning, a yellow hue crept into the horizon tinting the veil of mist that loomed over Hi no Kuni. He was in the meadows, a lithe figure, radiating with a strong persona as he stood proudly casting a thoughtful gaze onto the ocean from which he arrived. The water rocked like a cradle to which life was risen, though while it appeared simple to the eye the complexity would baffle one who only tasted the science of it all. The shinobi, as he was, had come here for a purpose—though his unfamiliar face, and irregular excitement was suspicious.

The morning dew was fresh upon the glade, wet grass slipping beneath his boots as he moved forth. Dark orbs shifted, looking to his side as he felt the presence of another. The feint sound of their movements through the meadow gave clue to their profession, though it was apparent they were yet to master it. Genma stopped dead in his tracks, digits slipping beneath his coat as he pivoted turning to his backside in a cautious stance. "Its rude to sneak up on someone," he remarked, eyes narrowing in on his guest.

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[Toru]

"Why would you accuse, I of sneaking up on you?" Appearing from the shadows, his slender frame would reveal itself to the male before him. His countenance giving off a friendly vibe as if they were long-lost friend, but a nice face wasn't going to get Toru anywhere. Dark hued pools could see that this man was serious-- not a force to reckon with in the slightest, but yet it intrigued the madman to know more, especially the headband that this stranger wore.

"Ahh, so I see you are from Kumogakure, a village which I use to claim, a village that I use to love." Though his words sounded sincere and honest; he was lying-- he never loved Kumogakure, he saw it as a bucket full of shit and he just needed to kick it over. But to be frank, Kumogakure was the last thing on his mind, what truly interested him was how this man was so skilled with hearing the presence of Toru--

When all this time he was moving quietly, taking his time trying to follow the male. Though it seemed to have failed him and placing him in a extremely strange situation.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

"Ahh, so I see you are from Kumogakure, a village which I use to claim, a village that I use to love."

His hand loosened, falling to his hip as his fierce countenance dissolved and his body language turned placid. He stood upright, smirk arching upon his face at the note of his home. Had this man too felt the contempt of the world, the lust which every man felt to be his own. No longer the dog of a militant village, he was free to follow his own moral code; no longer would Genma seek to please other's demands. He was his own law. Tilting his head forward, he glared suspicious. "How cute. . . Another stray dog of kumogakure, though to feel longing to it is just the same as having a collar around your throat," the lone star cooed.

A chuckle escaped thin lips of rosary, his breath clearer than blue sky, in the cold morning. Sauntering forth, he watched the stranger carefully. And although he appeared calm, the glint of excitement shone in his eyes. Just as he had once felt entering the academy, this lifestyle was new to him and all the more exciting. Genma stopped breaths from the shinobi, facing him eye to eye with all but a grin. And then it came, a hand extended forth—the all too rare, formal greeting between men. "Call me...Ares."

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[Toru]

A smile couldn't help but appear across his facade, for the male's words were true-- Toru did make it seem like he was still leashed, still tied down to the pathetic country of Kumogakure. And though he didn't want it to be such, it sadly was the truth. "You have a point my friend, but eventually dogs break from that leash and go mad with insanity." He cooed back, whilst the male drew closer to him; not worrying the vagabond in the slightest way--

To be frank, it made Toru take note that this man had balls; no shinobi would dare to draw closer to a random stranger, but yet this was happening right now before him. Enlightening him and allowing him to truly gaze upon the man's features. Ares's outer appearance was nothing out of the ordinary, simple - yet something about him was intriguing. "And you can call me spongebo- I mean Toru. Will you like to be my friend?" He asked, whilst tilting his head to the side, as he clutch Ares's hand and shook it. The question he asked, might come off odd to some, but to Toru it meant the world to find a friend to bond with--

A friend that he could actually count on. "Nonetheless, what brings a Kumogakure ninja like yourself to Leaf? Decided to take off your leash for good?" His tone of voice was serious - more serious than before, and though he didn't want to rub the man the wrong way; he wanted to know the truth.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

Brave...or just plain stupid.

Not once did he feel the trickle of fear running down his spine. Foolish? Maybe, but a smart man always had a card up his sleeve. Prepared for any situation, though accepting that their was always an unseen path. Regardless, the situation between the two remained calm, and it came to light the reason for the nuke nin's approach. A devilish grin crossed his facade, head tilting down as a hand extended upwards. And as simply as the symbol of his allegiance had been placed, it was gone—falling to the earth with no remorse.

"Only time will tell," he remarked. His answer was sincere, he felt drawn to him, but he couldn't give an answer;not yet. Jumping back, hands dove beneath his coat, unveiling to blades which surged forth towards Toru. They shot towards his ribs, a painful strike to land. "A simple spar is all..." the assassin chuckled. Genma could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, this would be more fun than he had endured in awhile.

[Toru]

"Only time will tell,"

The indication of battle was not something hard to perceive, no - in fact it was rather easy, easier than spotting an elephant in a room full of lions. And even though Toru did not look like he was already prepared for battle, in actually he was - maybe even more prepared than Ares. "You're right, maybe time will tell," ignoring the projectiles that were shot forth to strike him, the perplexed being would simply muster up chakra towards his throat, readying himself to strike back at the tall fellow; his counterattack being more surprising and devious.

He wasted no time to strike -- quickly firing off five chakra needles towards his targets chest, each one expelling from his throat. His actions wouldn't stop there though, for digits swiftly beginning to form a new set of seals for his opponent, causing a malevolent grin to be shown on his facade.

SPOILER: Click to show

¹Airontoku (Ironhide)

[/u]
Rank: D, C, B, A, S [175]
Type: Supplementary / Clan Kekkei Touta / Youton Ninjutsu
Range: Self
Special: Each rank allows immunity to bladed physical attacks of one rank less - i.e. the 'C' ranked version blocks 'D' ranked attacks, etc. Does not guard against blunt or smashing type attacks.
Description: Over time spent with intense magma exposure and control, the skin of the user becomes resilient to weapons to a certain degree. With this prolonged exposure to the heat, their skin becomes rough and rugged, like that of leather, but to a much more durable degree. As such weapon attacks from bladed weapons such as kunai and swords become less effective against the clan member.
Domain: Airontoku.

²Fukumi Hari (Hidden Needles)[/u]
Rank: C [75]
Type: Supplementary / Ninjutsu
Range: 0 – 10 meters
Chakra: Low
Special: When first learned, the user can spit out up to 5 chakra senbon in a straight manner, shooting twice as fast as a kunai. Re-training this jutsu adds 1 additional needle each time. For every 10 needles the user can make, consumption goes up one rank.
Description: Though basic, Fukumi Hari is a Ninjutsu technique utilized by novice and expert shinobi alike due to its practicality. After briefly and quickly molding chakra to one's mouth, the user is able to call forth chakra needles in order to spit them out at their opponent with great accuracy, as well as with the element of surprise in their favor.
Domain: Universal Ninjutsu.[/spoiler]
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[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

More than meets the eye..

The blades which vaulted towards the shinobi changed course, Genma rolling sideways as the thin steel cable began to wrap around Toru's abdomen. And just as he began to rise out of his roll, he vanished from view. Reappearing a few meters to his foe's right, he pulled hard. With the amount of force dragging him from a strange point on his body, the man would likely lose balance, and even if it was momentary it would allow Ares, as he introduced himself to find an opening.

Another shunshin, placed him a foot or two behind the likely stumbling Toru, senbon firing out from his right hand. Were they to hit, they would pierce his flesh at the back of his knees and two in his lower back, allowing a kick to the needles to be decimating in scales of pain. His boot slamming into the mans back, he would caper back retreating momentarily to survey the situation before commencing one more.

[Toru]

No matter how desperately he tried to take the vagabond down, it was all futile in the eyes of Toru. Too be frank, it was futile in the eyes of any shinobi, for Ares had attempted something, which was rather bizarre - something that this madman truly had to ponder about. You see, Ares had attempted to magically alter the trajectory of his projectiles with his imaginary wires, which he honestly had no possession of. Yet he still attempted to do such, and the tattooed man would take that opening as an opportunity to win.

The same time Ares had rolled sideways to 'move' his kunai; Toru would do the same, moving the same amount of feet as his opponent, mirroring the distant to the 'T.' Though he did not stop there, as the foolish shinobi Shunshin (which goes straight) - Toru would already be waiting for his arrival, timing it perfectly.

Waiting for Ares was a swift punch that aimed directly for his throat. The blow was unexpected - something that Ares probably didn't see coming at all; since he believed his strikes were actually working. "I think this spar should stop, before one of us really gets hurt. And honestly, I doubt it's going to be me." His voice resembling his facade greatly, stolid and empty - barely any sign of emotions stirring from within. "How about instead of this unneeded fight, which isn't rather fun - we go and stir up some real trouble?"

The continuation of the battle was unneeded and honestly didn't benefit the two in the slightest, in fact it did quite the opposite. And honestly the vagabond found no joy in it - hoping that his new found comrade would feel the same.

[Yoichi]

Like Moths to a Flame

---

Miscalculated

Ignoring the bladed weapons had been his first mistake, assuming there was no backup plan—did he take Genma for a fool? The thin metal cable, a chain by technical terms, would wrap around him more quickly since he moved towards it. And as for predicting a shunshin, the concept was unheard of, and by the time he traced Genma's movements, the shinobi would have dispersed and reappeared a few meters to his right—as stated. To assume there were no adjustments in his plan was absurd, and precognition of a shunshin would not occur as no sign was given.

Even if he had predicted the near teleportation, a punch could not be conceived in the time it took him to shunshin, with his hands beginning to pull at the thin intertwining of metal, his blades would either be returning to him, or his foes body being pulled sideways. Regardless, he halted his actions on the request to stop. His ego would be his downfall, especially with the prowess he currently possessed. Genma had already crossed path with a few that could have decimated the two of them in instants, to talk big was to sound foolish. However, he ignored it, for youth often felt confident in their abilities. "I agree, it would be of more use to our time," he mused.

[Yoichi]

Follow Me to World's End

---

'Guess I misjudged you...'

Gathering his things, Genma fled from the scene. He had grown tired of the scenario and decided it best to move on. This character, while interesting, was not up to par with what he sought. For now, it was farewell.

[Shinryu]

X +38
Toru +31