Unwanted, Undesirable, Unmentionable.

[Dingo]

It had been travelling these rice fields for what seemed like weeks now, and needless to say, It hated the task. The whole country smelled of pesticides, and war had ravaged these lands to the point where even the local bug life was scarce. A discomfort that had earned this city of trade a special place of hate within It's heart. Sei had came here for information. Hoping to hear of the war that had raged in the distance in a land already scarred by war. It seemed like as good a place as any to get information. Tenjin no Sato was a reprieve and paradise for tired villagers to retreat to, with hopes of restoring both their fortunes, and their weary hearts. Many of these people had seen almost as much blood as Sei had, but the blood on their minds was that of their friends, women, and children, while all Sei could think of was the enemies of his country, their life draining into the ground below him. Yet the humble folk of the surrounding lands would find no reprieve here either. They would be greeted to their new homes in the only way war new to greet it's citizens. Blood and fire.

It had smelled it before It could see it, and the passengers beneath It's clothes writhed in complaint of the smoke and scent of bloodshed. Screams echoed from every wall, and wails of children almost threatened to drown out the clashing of steel. Sei could not tell who the aggressors were, or the cause of the burning of the trading ports, but It did not have to guess that war was the cause.

It stood upon the tallest building with the best view. It's jumpsuit glowing as red an orange as the embers surrounding It. Eyes so deep a blue they could be mistaken for black stared off into the flames, stoically watching the carnage unfold, and occasionally swatting away the matted, messy locks of hair that obstructed the view. Sei was not quite sure if It should interfere and play the savior, or simply leave, and let the land succumb to the eventual destruction that had threatened it since it's founding. Was it truly worth the headache to save the people of this village? Could they eventually be an ally? Would it bends it's knee to Kumogakure, and willingly hand over it's valuable resources in times of war? Indigo marbles darted back and forth watching people kill, rape, flee, and scream in terror. All the while, betraying not a single emotion. Never succumbing to the madness it gazed upon.

[Naitome]

---

Tenjin no Sato, taciturn gold bauble, burning. Seething. Over the grainfields pushing raw rice like maggot-heads from a clutch of singed stem becoming sizzle. Ablaze; a fallout. The famed city-state of fable made wraith, like the walls, like so much of what he seemed to see lately. In the crawling crown of flame worn by the brick and stench and dead skin of buildings and businesses, Naitome stood, edge of the lowest roof with the worst view.

The balcony of every adjacent structure crowded him, each competing layer a smoldering chassis. He pushed upwards with his feet clinging to the warped metal of a tethering - hard cable meant to bridge skyscrapers - through momentum alone. He twirled 'round the body-sized chord-braids of the support, darting off only to find purchase on an abandoned silo a few meters away. He continued in this fashion for some time, searching for higher ground, a better perspective. He clung to the rising smoke crusting the once prosperous town, used shadow and silence to mask his journey, moved in ways too peculiar for most. His vision slowly cleared, and he was drawn as if by beacon, a red glow broke the dank broiling. It looked to be another person, or at least, another persons back, and Naitome approached from the rear in a sudden rush of ascending. Before the air could unwind from the briskness of his movements and reveal his approach, he'd speak aloud to whomever this person was, only six or seven meters from direct contact.

"Creeeeeeeeeepy."

Naitome said, mock-serious, waggling four fingers beneath his chin and hunching over. He did a small tap-dance routine, but rigidly, only the lower half of his body moving while the upper half remained still. He did not wear his Kirigakure headband this day, though it was on his person, stuffed near most of his other possessions, and was dressed simply in a black kimono, white magatama draping the collar, kakkou. Akuharu and it's nameless mate crossed at his spine, held in chains, barely wrapped in bandages to obscure their shape. He smiled wide.

"It looks like it's the end of it all!"

He stared, hoping to study the lad's face if/when/as he turned. He wanted to know what to call him, and would have to see what sort of thing he looked like in order to develop the proper name.

---

[Dingo]

It hadn't been expecting company. It hadn't been expecting anything but the chaos this land attracted. Yet the passengers in It's jumpsuit writhed and skittered at the approaching presence. For a while, their persistent nagging was ignored by their master, who's eyes were drawn to the flames that danced on the buildings they enveloped. The voice was what drew It's attention. Long and eerie. Playful, but hinted with something....sinister.

Sei turned it's head, but not it's body, at the figure garbed in a black kimono. Taking in it's odd look, but betraying very few of it's own features, accept for it's tussled black hair, and bit's of the upper part of It's face. It blinked at the whimsical comments of the black clad man, and for a moment offered no other response but a grunt and a nod. Though it's eyes never left the stranger. It simply held it's gaze for what may have seemed like an eternity, while studying and memorizing every small feature. Sei would offer the stranger nothing but the deep indigo abyss that was It's stare. It didn't stop analyzing until a thought passed it's mind. Flicking it's hands out to the scene of discord that laid below them, it spoke...

"......Your doing?..."

It would wait for a response, all the while measuring the distance between them, and preparing accordingly. It took note of the large hidden weapons(?) on stranger's back, which only furthered to cement it's suspicions. It's passengers could sense the tension, and began to writhe, noticeably, beneath It's clothing.

[Naitome]

---

The stranger turned his head in initial response, choosing to keep his body momentarily inflexible. A grunt, a nod; he seemed wholly unsurprised, and wore bizarre coverings (from Naitome's perspective), in a manner that hinted only slightly at his identity. Then, an inquiry. Naitome hadn't figured out what to call the boy yet, but felt compelled to respond, enamored with the flaccid cloying of the young man's tone.

"Not me chickadee, but I wish!"

He exclaimed, mimicking swimming. He put his hand to his chin suddenly, aware of how thoroughly he was being studied by the other party, and would address him again, in timing with the visibly noticeable twitching of the boy's garments. He pointed swiftly in the nameless youth's direction, carefully measured steps seeking to bring him another two meters closer to the boy. His body relaxed.

"You're a shadow person, aren't you. A--"

He did an overly flashy flying half-kick by jumping in place, at the air to his right, before settling into perfect stillness again.

"--one of those guys?"

A quizzical shuddering, tapering connections between instants. If he'd successfully reached within four to five meters of the boy, he'd sit down abruptly and let out a large burp.

"Naitome!"

He said, thumb jerking towards himself, before frantically waving.

---

[Dingo]

The oddity that was the stranger before It only seemed to grow increasingly more odd as the interaction between them continued. It was not sure if It should believe anything being said by this apparent man child, but it mattered very little. Sei was not obligated to act on the behalf of the ruin that was once Tenjin no Sato, even if the culprit was right before It. It was far too late to avenge the once prosperous trading hub, but perhaps it was not too late to draw some kind of information from the deteriorating situation.

"...Nai...tome.."

It drawled, tasting the name, and weighing it's meaning with the queer manner of it's owner. The exchanging of names was an unwanted formality in It's opinion, as impressions were often more memorable then names. And this fellow had left quite the bizarre impression. From the dark, yet oddly formal apparel, to the strange habit of inquisition, to the large almost overbearing weapons strapped to it's back. Naitome's whole demeanor seemed to send the danger detecting instincts of It's passengers ablaze as they twitched and skittered along the milky surface of It's skin.

"...Seishin..."

It would finally offer in response. Sei took note of every inch of the space vanishing between them as Naitome advanced. A pale hand twitched slightly in reflex, as the thought of retrieving one of the machete hidden within It's baggy apparel sauntered through Sei's mind. Yet something about the way this wayward man carried himself suggested drawing a weapon would welcome far more danger than simply allowing the approach. Sei's thoughts turned back to the unusual inquiry he had made.

.... Did he mean a shinobi?...

A single eyebrow raised in thought, and for a moment Sei considered lowering It's large collar to expose the chain-linked head band danging around it's pale neck. But the thought passed never acted upon. His identity as a shinobi of the Hidden Cloud would only raise more questions that Sei would rather avoid having to answer. For right now, information was the only goal, not making friends. Finally turning completely to face the clearly disturbed arrival, Sei would speak again.

"...You know why this happened?... Who's responsible?.."

It said in it's usual short, monotone. Pacing the tiles of the tall building Sei awaited an answer. The sounds of chaos and panic was now replaced with the groans of a dying city. Mother's who had lost their children to the flames or the cruelty of men had long since shed their final tear. Those who were dying upon It's initial arrival, had already passed on. The men who had pillaged, destroyed, and taken their pleasures with the city, had already fled. lamenting in their evil, and sharing stories of their deeds with their fellow monsters. The city no longer burned a bright angered red, and was now a somber orange, complimented with the pearl light of the moon.

[Naitome]

---

Seishin might be his real name.

Naitome thought to himself, somewhere in the endless connections vibrating his mind through waking moments. He heard the slight shift of baggy-clothing that signified Seishin turning without having to move his own head, and listened to the boy's question in earnest.

Responsible?

"Oh yeah, I definitely know whose the center of all this, the creamy underbelly, the head. I saw him. With these."

Naitome pointed to his eyes as he spoke. He assessed their situation, Tenjin no Sato a suffering ember. He thought of the last time he'd watched such a thing occur, had seen civilians peeled open by sweltering and shadow. The roar of cascading evil noise. He thought of the Tidal Walls, home.

"The shadow people called him the 'fireshadow'."

Naitome said, in derangement, perfectly honest delusion alone, whispered, but loudly, like juicy gossip. He turned to face the boy, though still sat, his hands in his lap only for long enough to switch excitedly between picking at his ears or checking that he still had eyebrows or biting the second knuckle of each odd numbered finger starting with his right thumb.

"They said the fireshadow was gonna destroy all the other villages, and uh, that there was a something something in the land of water and that, uh, aw man. Something. Something about evasion? They are invasive? Invading? Invaded! They already invaded! Real spies and stuff! In mist and uh...what's it called..."

Naitome counted off each 'fact' with his fingers, and occasionally toes, as he struggled to remember where exactly the fireshadow had invaded. Would the slight psychological feint cull fear with its weaving? He struggled to remember, visibly, staring in every direction, it was right on the tip of his tongue...

---

[Dingo]

.....Fire...Shadow?...

The name set something ablaze within Sei, and that was something in and of itself, as the stoic statue that was It's face betrayed some form of emotion... well, at least for a second anyway.

So something like our raikage then?..... Another Hidden Village?..

It's thoughts paced about as It continued to listen to Naitome's tale. If this "fire shadow" was indeed invading and destroying other villages, then how long before the Hidden Cloud was in his cross hairs? Sei was not taking this news well, but It tried it's hardest to no longer let it's face betray It's emotions. Instead it took to scrating at it's thumb with it's index finger, the only open hint it would give of it's building anxiety. Very rarely did Sei feel such emotions, but the safety of It's village had long been programmed into it as it's one and only priority, and any chance of it's demise frightened It more than any other danger possibly could.

"...You saw this man?... In the land of water."

Sei edged closer now. Eliminating the already small distance between them, leaving only 2 to 3 meters of space. Naitome was a shinobi. He had to be. There were far too many variables pointing toward that assumption. Now the only thing Sei had to do was identify which village he was loyal too.

"How do you know this man?..... Are you a.... "Shadowy Person"..."

It's body tensed in response. It was not sure what kind of dangers questioning Naitome would bring. Yet if it came to violence, It would be prepared.

[Naitome]

---

Naitome turned his head slightly to see if his questioning had provoked any telling response, taking account of a thoughtful pause in Seishin's manner. He scanned the once impassive glancing, saw a struggle in the boy's face, an emotive misstep. The boy's fingers rubbed together and Naitome shook his head vigorously, even as his own question went unanswered.

That's twice now that he hasn't answered. He's probing, pulling out information like teeth.

He laughed abruptly, Seishin's distance away from the Kiri-nin diminished, down to two meters of clearance between either party. A gathering of chakra within Naitome swelled₁, moved towards his extremities, was called to charge without expression in the world, at least, not yet. He answered.

"I didn't have to see him, and I've never been to the Land of Water. No gills."

He stretched the skin near his throat a bit with his hands, showin that he, in fact, did not possess gills. He tacked on patiently

"But everybody knows."

He shrugged, heard another inquiry, coughed then sung without words, then spit and caught it. He giggled as Seishin asked. He shook his head vigorously then took on a look of disappointment. Genuine sadness.

"I'm not a shadow person, but if you asked me that...it means you're not a shadow person either."

He slumped a bit, looking defeated.

"Everybody know shadow people can talk with their minds."

He wiggled his hands near his head, imitating his idea of what talking with ones mind must be like. He motioned, a simple jerking finger, pointed at the weapons on his back.

"I found some of the shadow people's weapons though. I'm gonna try to sell 'em, see if I can catch a boat out of this place. I should be fine at the docks, where the fire hasn't reached."

Naitome let the words hang in the air, in full view of the young boy, having watched patiently for signs he'd struck a nerve. So close, and drawing closer it seemed, he would flex the hakama covered muscles of his legs, cognizant of ever-encroaching stiffness, and sigh heavily.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Unknown technique prepped.

[Dingo]

Yet again something seemed off. A man as mad as Naitome did not have this much tact without some kind of interesting background, or training. He was too clever for a mad man, and he evaded direct answers from It's questions just as skillfully as Sei did. Their was no way those weapons on his back were simple spoils abandoned by shinobi. No. too much seemed wrong here and not enough fit. Sei gathered that the boy was simply playing mad, and was much more intelligent then he let on.



...Liar...

The thought came sudden, and with it, Seishin's opinion on the man solidified. Naitome had woven an unsteady tale, and even if you attributed that to his unorthodox manner, he had revealed that he knew more then he was letting. Sometimes the truth had to be dragged out, painfully. Though It knew well enough that the only thing awaiting those who underestimated men as strange as Naitome, was death.

"... Funny... You just said you saw him..."

Sei was staring into the queer fellow now, It's bland indigo eyes staring deep into Naitome's crazed ones. A single hand raised up and pointed to the golden beads in Naitome's head. A grim smile was hidden beneath It's collar, and with that, the bout began.

"With those..... remember?"

A pale hand shot into It's baggy clothing as he rushed the few feet seperating them. A machete was drawn and struck with dangerous speeds¹, relieving all the tension and chakra previously stored in it's body. The slash was aimed towards Naitome's shoulder, though chakra was alreading molding within It's core to prepare for a follow up attack, or a counter, should Naitome prove himself a shinobi lie Sei believed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Booyah} Dorokendageki (Draw and Strike)
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Offensive
Handseals: --
Chakra Consumption: Low

With their weapon sheathed, the user focuses their sense to the utmost and then draws and slices within one quick and precise movement. While basic in nature, this techniques forte lies in its accuracy; allowing the user to strike with such precision they could target an arrowhead flying toward them.

Note: Weapon must be sheathed to utilize. User has perfect accuracy for this strike.

[Naitome]

---

Part One, complete.

A stray thought to accompany the incessant counting off of moments in his mind. Since meeting Seishin, Naitome had taken to testing the boy's reflexes, watched as his own sporadic movements were ignored, had been allowed to jump and kick and move his hands, get closer to him as he saw fit. It seemed nothing he did could force the boy into attacking him, but then, a ninjas greatest tool - deception - finally served him, this close to the end. Seishin had visibly reacted, negatively so, to the idea of other villages being threatened by the Land of Fire. His general lack of emotion, and his inability to hide that brief moment of fear coupled with the boy's apparent youth and easy 'dodging' of questions made certain things hopeful plausibilities; Seishin was most likely not a liar.

He hadn't given false answers or half truths, had merely avoided giving answers, though the direct picking apart of the contradiction in Naitome's story meant it was probably easy for the boy to identify such 'mistakes'. Seishin could even enjoy such displays of 'cleverness', had probably smiled as the lie was 'discovered'. If he were a shinobi of Konohagakure, his truthful nature should have provoked different questions, questions directly pertaining to the validity of the statements Naitome made, and not their origin, or his own.

It signaled that a few events were more likely, at least to the part of Naitome's psyche processing such things and not writing a particularly lengthy poem about ogres. It meant that the boy most likely had worse reflexes and reaction time than Naitome, it meant that he probably didn't deal in 'feints' (lies), and that when he eventually attacked, he'd most likely come straight at him, as opposed to undoing the closeness in distance he'd thus far gained.

Most importantly? It meant that Seishin was probably not a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf. This meant that part two of his scattered scheming could begin.

In plain view of Seishin, he watched the boy talking, pointing at his eyes, taking that first step towards him, a hand dipped into his baggy clothing. It was relatively easy for Naitome, whose hands had been gesturing at things near his head for some time, to time the explosion of two girth-bearing snakes from his sleeves to match Seishin's attempted retrieval. Said sleeves could scarcely have been at a more perfect height due to the Jonin's seated position, and the binding serpents would cover the distance between themselves and the boy (aided by Seishin's own mad dash towards him) with a swiftness he'd already shown he lacked the reaction speed to avoid. They would bind him on impact.

The giant snake emergent from the left sleeve, width filling it, nearly wider than Seishin's body, met its twin from the right sleeve in a constrictive mesh that would first prevent the boy's arms from moving away from his sides, and sought to wrap 'round him completely before whatever concealed object he reached for could be withdrawn. Each of the massive snakes open jaws spread wider, fangs gently set to close around the boy's throat from the front and the rear. They would hold him, lovingly, like a child, if successful, enough strength to make him immobile, but not enough to seriously injure him.

He would stand, if possible, staring into the boy's eyes with the gold-black slits of his own, serpentine arms flowing from his kimono, hyperactive senses tuned to locate the wriggling Naitome had noted earlier beneath Seishin's clothes and make it known to him. Though he couldn't kill Seishin in order for his 'plan' to work perfectly, continued struggling would result in a more drastic response, and perfect plans sometimes turned into glowing fish in his mind. He liked killing fish. Maybe the boy could be a fish? Naitome's murderous intent nearly-injected into his target via the snakes hold would seek to weaken the boy's resolve, his forked tongue flickering.

Part Two...

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Jagei Jubaku (Snake Authority Spell)

[Dingo]

Sei didn't miscalculate often. It was conditioned to not make mistakes. To consider every option, every possibility, every variable, was within It's very nature. Yet as the hidden reptiles shot forth from Naitome's sleeves, covering the small distance separating them and wrapped their long slick bodies around It, Seishin knew a mistake had been made.

...Dammit

It thought, knowing it should've expected more from the shady redhead man. Naitome was a shinobi after all, and while Sei could feel vindicated knowing It's growing suspicions had been correct, It was not in any kind of mood to celebrate that small victory. Thoughts raced as the fangs of the twin snakes locked around It's throat. The blade It had sought to retrieve was still tucked away, incapable of being drawn within this bind. Cutting It's way out was not an option, and the smooth scales It felt against it's skin were surprisingly tight with muscle underneath.

....Underneath...

An idea began to take form. Seishin did not struggle or fight the embrace of the reptiles, It knew better. These kinds of binds would only tighten as it's prey panicked, and the knife like fangs at It's throat would not allow much wiggle room without discomfort. For now, It was a captive, and it's only concern was predicting what exactly It's captor hoped to gain. Sei had been both offensive, and defensive in It's line of questioning. Hoping to draw out as much information as possible from Naitome, while revealing as little about Itself as possible. Did the devilish snake of a man come to the same conclusion Sei had just moments earlier? Did he hope to force out the answers to the questions Sei had forsaken? A chuckle, heard only to it's owner, came accompanied with a small grin, perfectly visible to the golden eyes that watched it. Seishin's will did not break, though the presence of Naitome's murderous intent did give invoke goosebumps.

The front buttons of it's jumpsuit had been partially undone during it's binding, and now a bit of pale flesh could be seen, as well as the bindings that suppressed it's chest. Proving that Sei's baggy clothes hid both weapons and gender from site, though Seishin didn't particularly mind what Naitome saw. The Man In Black Glasses, had stripped It long ago of a sexual identity. It was a tool now, nothing more. A weapon as irreplaceable as it was rare. It had been told that since it's birth. Sei wondered if Naitome had noticed the rustling beneath it's clothing previously? The passenger's beneath it's skin seemed relatively quiet, and even on the exposed flesh, there wasn't a trace of them. They had gone to do their master's bidding.

".... I knew you were a shinobi..."

It said mockingly, keeping the nonchalant grin fresh on it's face. It had to keep him talking. Just for a while. It wouldn't take long now.

"...So.... What now?..."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Booyah} ____ being used

[Naitome]

---

Seishin, secured firmly within the double-coil of Naitome's serpent assistance, buried the knee-jerk reaction of disappointment beneath a smirking. The Kirigakure Jonin, hands now free, casually removed the scythe from his back as he was questioned, spotting a clearance of bared skin wrapped in bandages under the boy's collar. Two tiny bumps, almost swellings, pressed flat, muslin-bound. Intriguing. He jerked the scythe towards Seishin's exposed flesh before setting the giant weapon down, blade first into the plated black shingles coating the roof where they stood. Both snakes, tightening so slowly, had failed to discover the source of Seishin's hidden ruffling, but rooted out a shiny sliver of metal bearing their future-meal's village of allegiance. Though Naitome himself could not see it, a series of complex hissing communicated Seishin's origins to the snake's master. Sssss-hsiss-ssshsshss. Cloud.

This is going to hurt.

"I guess it won't hurt to spill the many many beans of this chili now, huh chickadee?"

Naitome looked into Seishin's eyes, focused his gaze, concentrated on the speech he'd prepared. He wouldn't be able to focus for very long, but if he played this right, he wouldn't need to.

"I am a shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato. And what happens now is, I take your place."

He said, his voice an abrupt change, suddenly measured and careful, his body twitching with the strain of speaking so plainly. It was like being cut, everywhere at once, but centered around his brain, this feeling. This normalcy. This charade.

"My pets will consume you, take your essence, make it mine. And when they are done, I will travel to the Hidden Cloud...as you, Seishin."

Naitome nearly passed out from the speech, but held his stance, managing to copy the same nonchalant smirking of his target.

"...they...won't notice..been doing this for months..."

Naitome added, grunting, in a perfect mimicry of Seishin's voice and manner, his smile growing wider.

Sssss...hhhhh----

His snakes attempted to communicate something, something urgent, but they were cut short. Odd. Naitome signaled to them with a waving of his hand and hissing of his own, though they ignored it. They were...growing? Becoming fatter. He didn't understand.

"Do it now."

Naitome said dangerously, addressing the snakes. They didn't respond. He called forth a bit of chakra₁, stepped forward, towards them all...

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Unknown Technique Prep

[Dingo]

And now Sei's patience was beginning to bear fruit. Perhaps because he thought the young shinobi's death inevitable, or blind arrogance, but Naitome had finally reassured Seishin of it's suspicions. Not only did he give away the name of his hidden village, but he confirmed that Kumogakure was, in fact, in danger of this hidden villages egregious ambitions.

...Him imitate me?..."

It thought to itself as eyes widened in shock of the imitation of Sei's mannerisms. No doubt, that if given the chance, Naitome could have infiltrated the village using such a guise. Seishin wasn't necessarily beloved in It's village, mostly because of the grizzly class associated with It. So no one would look into the impostors arrival, or wonder on the comings and goings of the intruder. Is this how Kirigakure was destroyed? From the inside via infiltrators? This was no time for questions, Sei couldn't continue this facade any longer.

The slender reptiles that bound It had long since been silent in their hissing. Would Naitome guess why? How could he? The squiggling beneath Seishin's close had disappeared into the bodies of Naitome's serpents almost as soon as they had bound him. The scuttling insects kept the fanged mouths pried upon around Sei's gullet, pushing the muscle back. They couldnt bite down no matter how they tried. By now their bodies were beginning to bulge and deform, as the Kikaichuu pushed outward, and sucked away the very chakra that gave them strength. Naitome stepped closer. Commanding his serpents to do his bidding, yet to no avail. The moment he inched close enough, Seishin finally gave the command, and It's insects burst out from the sides and under bellies of the snakes.

Soon a tornado of small black specs began to encapsulate Seishin, while two large appendage like clusters shot out in order to surround their prey, Naitome. Using the camouflage of the bugs Seishin jumped back several meters, at speeds even fellow jounin of the Hidden Cloud could barely muster. It would continue It's retreat till It was at the edge of the building on which they stood. 8 meters now separating It from Naitome.

Gathering what was left of the insect cocooned inside it, for a whopping 1,000 kikaichuu, Seishin would form 3 quick handseals, while the bugs began to take off towards Naitome ( assuming he was not incapacitated or otherwise restrained from the sudden swarm already relentlessly pursuing him) carrying a small gift from their owner. They began twisting and forming into the shape of their owner, as the two separated to the left and right sides of the hidden leafs reptilian madman. Assuming they were not being dealt with, the swarms would continue to pursue Naitome, hungry for his chakra, while the two clones would engage him.

Sei would still be on the edge, forming even more hand seals.

SPOILER: Click to show

{ The Rundown}Kikaichuu no Jutsu (Destruction Bug Technique)
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m), Far (10m+)
Type: Supplementary
Handseals: -
Chakra Consumption: Low to use and sustain

Kikaichuu no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu utilized by the Aburame clan. At birth, the user is serves to host as a nest for the Kikaichuu. In exchange for allowing them to feed off their chakra, the bugs will do the bidding of the user. These insects are capable of seeking out the chakra of the opponent, draining it (Mid per turn), and giving it to the user (Half of amount drained), increasing their own reserve.

Note: By default, members of the Aburame clan begin every battle with 2,000 bugs.

Mushi Bunshin no Jutsu (Bug Clone Technique) [2x]
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Supplementary
Handseals: 3
Chakra Consumption: Mid per clone

Mushi Bunshin no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu utilized by the Aburame clan. After performing the necessary hand seals, the user is able to create replicas of themselves using their insects. Once the clone is hit, it will disperse back into the bugs that formed it. They are not capable of using any techniques, but can still absorb chakra (see Kikaichuu no Jutsu).

____prepped

[Naitome]

---

At some unspoken command, Naitome's serpents erupted, inviting a swarm of dark clinging, forcing him backwards. They were...insects? Perhaps some Kekkei Genkai or clan he was unfamiliar with, some hidden skill deep within the cloud's ranks. Remotely interesting. The scatter of the bugs detonation pattern enveloped nearly everything in their way, even extending into arms which were hellbent on capture. The blast itself seemed to coat the Kirigakure shinobi...

"Tricks and sleeves and chitin kings, you've got some art there, Bugsy-wugsy."

...but they coated his floating scythe instead, as Naitome, free of the meddlesome bugs, had utilized a kawarimi₁, exchanging places with Akuharu's person-sized length. Where it had formerly been enmeshed in tile, Naitome now stood, but only for an instant.

The beetles directly before him, which now coated the scythe, left a large gap where their number dwindled, directly before Naitome, though their wild movements positioning was still most likely a reasonably obscuring element, at least for his opponent. Immediately following the exchanged placement of object and body, Naitome would rush forward₂, through the cleared gap, chakra gifted feet carrying him at a pace his opponents mundane backwards movement would naturally be incapable of matching, as he observed his foe's display, reflexes attuned. As Seishin's distracted retreat had been performed without keeping his eyes on Naitome, and had seemingly been done in a linear, easy to track fashion, timing his flash forwards to land him directly behind the boy after a deft slant of steps when it would be too late for him to change direction would pose little challenge for the Jounin, who made forty-eight plans...forty-nine--one hundred and eleven plans in the event the bugs or his opponent prevented his charge.

Seishin would still be allowed to reach his eight meter distance, feet at the edge of the roof, but Naitome would be there just beforehand. As the insects, and Seishin himself, had behaved as if intensely focusing on his previous position - and subsequent detainment - the cloud ninja would have little time, if any, to prepare.

Naitome would simply grab the boy as he exited his Shunshin, reaching with his left hand at the young one's collar, palm to throat, right hand grabbing at Seishin's short hair to take hold, and force him bodily over the edge of the building.

What are you doing you imbecile. Are you trying to kill yourself too.

Naitome would attempt to ensure his tactic worked through unorthodox means. He would fall with the boy, pressing his weight advantage, tumbling with him off of the 'tallest building' in the black and burnt district, eyes wide and hungry, theorizing on the counterattack that was to come. He'd turned with the grappling shove as if mad (which he undoubtedly was), bearing down atop his prey as they would plummet straight down, entangled, nearing their deaths!

"SQUISH!"

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notes}
1. Kawarimi
2. Shunshin

[Dingo]

iNFESTATION OF THE STORM.

A counter attack was anticipated. Though not this kind. Mistakes were made on both sides. Seishin's mistake was hoping that the insects alone would be enough to subdue Naitome completely. Naitome had made an error many make when faced with the infested chuunin. He assumed the insects were completely bound by his will alone. Kikaichuu were in sync with their user. However they pursued the chakra of their target hungrily, and they did not like being cheated. The very moment Naitome would replace his body with his scythe, the bugs would notice the lack of energy. Of nourishment. So too would Seishin. They would pursue his high speed manuever, though would unfortunately, not be able to match his speed. Seishin would reach his destination and summon his swarm even still. Though the idea of forming handseals had abandoned him the moment the insects realized their prey was a ruse.

The crazed shinobi was upon him the moment he turned his head. He was fast. And Seishin could do little but grab the shinobi in reply. They careened off the building, and for a moment, Seishin feared they would die. A desperate plea went unspoken to the partners that had surrounded him during the assault, as well as those who pursued Naitome's essence. Then everything would go black.

Consciousness did not escape the chuunin. They were simply encapsulated in the swarm that followed them from the sentry tower. Still surely falling, but slower. They were gliding above hungry embers and starving flames, with cracked wood, and burned stone below them. Enveloped within large cloud of buzzing black, 2000 insects hovered above smoke and ash. Seishin fought desperately within. Punches, kicks, blows to the abdomen, blows to the groin, all mixed with headbutts, and scratches. This was truly a close combat bout, filled with desperation. Naitome would no doubt return the blows, or possibly strangle the chuunin further. Though their struggle would quickly end, as they crashed through burnt wood and rubble. Falling through several floors.

A cloud of ash would erupt upward as they hit a sturdier floor. Still charred by the flames of the past, though not to the point of weakening it's integrity.The chuunin coughed up the ash and blood that filled his mouth. Watering eyes would search for Naitome. Had he recovered himself well enough to continue the bout? Was he dead? Seishin's insects scrambled to return to him as he issued the command. Some sliding back into the body, others hovering gently above him (800 insects among the cloud, 200 in the body). The other (1000) would seek out the chakra they had previously sought to devour. The ash cloud hindering only their masters vision, but not their chakra homing abilities.

Seishin was readied, mind, body, and spirit, as indigo eyes rested upon the treasure the insects had brought with them, carefully positioned behind the kikaichuu user. Chakra burned within as the ash would settle, surging into his hands¹, and the search for a corpse, or a foe, continued. When Naitome encountered the insects who hunted him, they would spire and twist, attempting to surround him. Reaching and bounding around Naitome from all angles. The Shinobi could only avoid for so long, and the moment his location was made known to the insects, it would be known to Seishin as well. Watchful eyes stood wary for the ash to settle, to adjust, for Naitome to emerge within Sei's line of view. The room was at least 13x13 meters. The fall would have separated Sei and Naitome a distance that could not be made certain in current conditions.

SPOILER: Click to show

{ The Rundown}Kikaichuu no Jutsu (Destruction Bug Technique)
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m), Far (10m+)
Type: Supplementary
Handseals: -
Chakra Consumption: Low to use and sustain

Kikaichuu no Jutsu is a Ninjutsu utilized by the Aburame clan. At birth, the user is serves to host as a nest for the Kikaichuu. In exchange for allowing them to feed off their chakra, the bugs will do the bidding of the user. These insects are capable of seeking out the chakra of the opponent, draining it (Mid per turn), and giving it to the user (Half of amount drained), increasing their own reserve.

Note: By default, members of the Aburame clan begin every battle with 2,000 bugs.

¹___ prepped.

Made by VERSE of GS