decipher reflections from reality. [quest/private]

[daisy]

Such a dingy place. Nothing at all like dear Josephine's back in the village. I supposed i would have to forgo luxury, just for a little while, in the name of power. I accepted the glass of wine gratefully, but for once, i was a tad wary about consuming too much. Of course i could perform fabulously while intoxicated, but for the first time in a while, i was quite serious about my business. I crossed my legs elegantly, perched on the bar stool, and began to observe. I was wearing a deep black shawl about my shoulders, hiding the majority of my outfit, and i had tied my blonde hair into a knot atop my head. For once, i wasn't decked out in jewelry, only a few simple necklaces and rings, and my heels, while still high, were black and subdued.

I didn't stick out like a sore thumb, and i wasn't enjoying it. The usual lust for attention was under wraps, and i was playing the part of the shinobi. With a little dash of Coco, of course. My target's appearance was an unknown. Male or female? Tall, short? Dark? Rosa hadn't been able to find out. I couldn't fault her though. Tracing them to this dirty little bar was impressive. Who could have known that here, in my country, was someone with the knowledge i'd been seeking for years?

The barman was average in every way, serving foaming pints to who appeared to be regulars, by the way he spoke to them. Was that a clue? If the person could be connected to this place, they must frequent it. He'd know more than anybody. I gestured to him, as if for a refill, and leaned my elbows on the bartop as he approached.
"I'm afraid i'm rather new around here," I began, cautiously,
"I'm looking for a family member of mine. I heard they often came here, but i really know nothing about them. We won't look alike, but... I'm desperate to find them, you understand." I explained, rather shoddily.

I was a fabulous liar, of course, but it was going to take all my talents to single out my target in this place. He nodded thoughtfully, wiping a glass clean as he thought.
"Well now, you'll be looking for a regular, i'd s'pose? The two guys i was chatting to there, they come in about once a week, i reckon. There's a few who live upstairs, in the spare rooms. They come down often enough. A man and a woman, not together, though." I nodded, thinking. Just how was i supposed to know who it was i was looking for?

[daisy]

"Hrm. There's an old lady who pops in most everyday, that's her over there," The barman said, pointing to a small table in the corner, at which sat a woman with grey hair, just visible under her dark hood.
"And the two old men at that table there, they spend most of their days here, playing cards." He finished, gesturing to a table opposite the woman's.
"Thank you so much. I wonder, you've helped me a great deal already, but you wouldn't happen to know which, if any, of these regulars happens to be a shinobi?" I asked, hoping i wasn't crossing any lines. These small pubs, they tended to have a sense of community about them. I was a stranger, and if i asked too many questions, i'd be at risk of arousing suspicion. Nobody would talk to me if they thought me prying.

He frowned, putting away the glass he'd been cleaning.
"Your family member a ninja?" He asked, a note of distrust in his voice. Perhaps it was to be expected. Although the civilians living in Iwagakure were familiar with shinobi, those outwith a hidden village were probably less at ease with the ninja world. We may seem frightening, or maybe they simply knew nothing but rumours of our viciousness.
"Yes. I heard they were adopted by a couple in a hidden village. I don't really know anything about ninja, but it's one of the few things i'm certain of, concerning them." I explained. Hopefully, distancing myself from the possibility of being connected to ninja would be a step in gaining his trust. I couldn't be sure.

"I see. Strange types, those ninja. Not sure about them myself. Old Lady Yami's quite well known as one, she lights her pipe with flames from her hands. The man upstairs is hiding out from a hidden village, wouldn't know if he's a ninja or not though, but he tells us all about it after a few drinks. The woman in the room next to him, she's one of those healers. Been up to her myself after a run in with some wild animals." He was a gold mine of information. And i had myself three targets.
"Oh thank you ever so much. I only hope i can be reunited with them soon." I said sweetly, trying to convey my gratitude, yet only as one looking for a loved one.

"You're welcome hon. Hope you find who you're lookin' for." And with that, i rose gracefully from my seat, sliding ryo onto the bar covering rather more than my one glass. With a last thankful smile, i made my way from the bar, heading up the stairs. I figured the healer would be best to start with. It would be easy to fake some sort of ailment, to give me reason to speak with her. And, in my experience, healers tended to be good hearted. But perhaps that was a rather foolish generalisation. We'd see.

[daisy]

I knocked on the door. I had no way of knowing whether this was her door, or the man on the run's, or indeed a storage closet, but there was only one way to find out. Hearing nothing, i pushed it open slightly, peering inside. There was a neat bed in the corner, a few cupboards and shelves, and then, taking up most of the space, was a makeshift hospital bed, which i imagined would look very sterile if it weren't covered with the current occupant's blood. A young man, shirtless, covered in gashes and cuts. And there was the healer, bent over him, her hands radiating soothing light. I walked in, closing the door gently behind me, and stood out of the way, hands on my hips.

He sounded in terrible pain, groaning everytime the girl moved her hands. It was fascinating though, the way she worked. As she targeted a new area, the wounds began to heal over, the bleeding stopped, the skin knitting itself together. I could her hear breathing, the healing was using a great deal of chakra. But the man's breathing was becoming less laboured, more even. She was talented.
"I don't have any bandages left. I'm worried your wounds will open again." She said softly, still pouring her chakra into him. Enter, Coco. I stepped closer, hands together as i created a thick length of silk.
"Will this do?" I asked, holding it out to her. She looked up, startled, and i got my first look of her face. She was beautiful. Long blonde curls framed her pale, worn face, and although she looked a bit worse for wear, her features were striking and gorgeous. Big blue eyes and naturally long lashes, she didn't appear to be wearing a dab of makeup.

"Y-yes, thank you." She said, taking my offering and finishing up her work. I knew she'd have questions for my appearance, but she placed the man's health above all right now. A true medic. I didn't have long to wait. I kept providing her silk as she needed it, and before long, all the gashes were healed and bound neatly. She had obviously done this many times before. Which made me wonder how she ended up here. Medics were valuable in the hidden villages, often paid highly and running hospitals and clinics. What was she doing in a run down place like this?
"You should be okay. Please don't exert yourself for a few days, but you'll be good as new before long." She said softly, stretching her arms above her head. The young man sat up gingerly, pressing a hand against his previously bleeding chest.
"Thank you so much Miko, i thought i was a goner. I'll get the money to you as soon as i can." He said, getting unsteadily to his feet.

She smiled, but waved her hand.
"If it's the money from trading those animals who beat you up, i think you should keep it." Miko said with a small laugh, and the man left the room. The girl sighed, and began stripping the bloody sheets from the gurney.
"Thank you for your help. My name's Miko. Do you need healing? I'm a bit low on chakra but..." What a sweetheart. I had planned on acting unwell, but it seemed it would be unnecessary.
"No darling, i'm perfectly fine. I do need something from you though. Information."

[daisy]

She looked surprised, but continued to clean up. I hoped that such a girl would be who i was looking for, but i couldn't see how a country medic could be my target. Of course, i knew nothing of her, nor how she ended up here. It was likely she'd belonged to a hidden village at one point, after all. She didn't ask what kind of information, nor say anything at all, in fact, as she cleaned up. The stained sheets went into a basket, and her tools and equipment she began to scrub at the sink.
"I'm looking for a shinobi, someone who used to reside in a hidden village. A regular here." I continued, taking an uninvited seat in a small wooden chair across from her bed. It was a small room, but she had made it quite inviting. Tidy, neat, obviously it served often as a clinic of sorts for the locals.

"Well, i suppose i fit that description." She said vaguely, as she cleaned up a few needles. Senbon, they looked like. I supposed she was making do with rather crude tools, out in the sticks as she was.
"But that was a long time ago. I'm just a healer." The girl continued, focused on her task at hand. She seemed reluctant to impart much information, but again, i was some stranger who wandered into her home. I couldn't expect much without coaxing.
"A rather competent healer, by the looks of it. I'm sure they could do with you back home." I said, crossing my long legs. I supposed right now, i was just trying to find out more about her. Matching information to Rosa's reports, the accounts of my sources.

"I wouldn't know. I left a long time ago." She supplied, finishing washing her hands, and rising to look at me.
"Who are you? Why are you looking for this person?" I waved a hand airily.
"I'm nobody of importance. But i'm searching for an item, something powerful. Very few alive know of its location, or its attributes. I think this person might be one of the few." I explained. I didn't want to give too much away, incase she wasn't who i was looking for. The fewer who knew of my search, the better. She sighed, sitting down on the edge of her bed, across from me.

"An item? I..."

[King]

". . . am afraid I can't help you."

Strangely, her voice wasn't the same timid and gentle octave it had been merely a moment again. Likewise, her beautiful-- soft, supple --features were sharp and narrow with conviction. Of course she was lying, and perhaps her guest would have been able to discern such a thing, but it was irrelevant.

Miko had learned of the item this woman sought (the only item any person would come searching for her) from an old patient, after saving both of his children's lives. He'd revealed the clues to the item's location, so that if she ever needed it, she could seek it out.

But, reveling that to another? She would never.

"Now, I'm sorry, but I have more cleaning to do. Again, thank you for the silk."

[daisy]

Perhaps she wasn't just the kind-hearted healer i'd pinned her down as. I was prepared to leave, to offer my thanks anyway, but then the way she spoke, as if trying to make me leave. It seemed all too forced. I knew nothing more of our target. She fitted the criteria, but then again, perhaps the old woman downstairs, or the man across from Miko, maybe they fitted it too. But i wouldn't leave without making absolute sure it wasn't her. After all, i couldn't march into somebody's life and expect to learn all they knew. It would take patience, convincing. I adjusted my shawl about my shoulders, almost reaching up to tousle my hair, before i remember i'd tied it up.
"I'm sorry to bother you. It's just, as a healer, i hoped you could empathise with me. This item, i think it's the only thing that can protect my family." A lie. I had no family. None that i cared to remember, at least.

"I'm a kunoichi, the first in our family. I begged the village of stone to let me become one, all to protect what i hold dear. But it hasn't been enough. They prosecute my mother, we've had to move many times, but they always find us," I stopped, my voice becoming shaky.
"I can't lose them. I have to be able to protect them." I finished, pressing a hand to my chest. I wasn't about to overdo it with a dab of my eyes or anything, but i tried to convey desperation in my words. I was in my element. A life of lies, of making people believe what i was, what i wanted. I was a creation, and lying to this woman was simply brushing foundation on blotchy skin. A concealment, a beautification of the truth.

"I'm sorry. You already said you don't know about what i seek. I just don't know who to turn to." I said, rising from the chair. I smiled, a forlorn, lonely smile, my lips devoid of their usual colour, painted a pale nude. And then i turned to go. This was the moment of truth, or perhaps, the moment of lies. My performance would be judged at this moment, and i would either have the crowd's appreciation, or i would exit the stage to silence.

[King]

OOC: Player decided 50-high. Succeeded with a roll of 96.

---

Miko was conflicted. The man who had given her the clues to where the item dwelt said it was for protecting the weak. However, Miko lived a rather humble life - she healed, and there were none who sought her life. She'd forsaken the life of a kuniochi for that very reason. Yet, here this woman was - she wouldn't have sought her out had it not be dire.

But, how could she be sure? Miko was silent as death itself as Coco stood and turned for the door, too occupied with struggle occurring beneath her expressionless facade. It wasn't until Coco's hand raised for the handle of the door that, having made her decision, that Miko spoke.

"The Yata Mirror," she blurted suddenly. "That is what you seek?" The last portion of her statement was more so rhetorical than anything, and already the medic had opened a door and begun sorting through scrolls. "I don't know where it is, but I do possess the first of several clues that will lead you to the others."

Moving quickly, she walked to Coco's side and handed her the scroll. "I hope that you find it - for your family's sake."

[daisy]

And the crowd went wild. I kept my expression melancholy as i accepted my proverbial roses. This young woman would never have sought out the Mirror. I could tell that much. How she came to know of it, i had no idea, but she didn't need it. I didn't feel bad, selling such a sob story. She was a good sort, the type of shinobi i would value in my own village. I made a quiet promise to myself then, that should i find the Mirror, i would use it for protecting what i held dear. As precious little as that was, i felt i owed something to this beautiful healer.
"Thank you... You have no idea how much this means to me." I smiled properly then, a flash of my usual confidence and charisma.

"For my family's sake." I repeated, inclining my head. Taking the scroll, i turned on my heel and left. In a way, i thought, walking down the stairs, i wasn't lying. Not completely. My village was my family. The only thing i had left worth protecting. Although i couldn't deny the selfishness of this journey, as the Tsuchikage, any way i bettered myself, i bettered my people. I wasn't fooling myself with the sentiment, but i was pleased to think as such. I waved at the barman, before striding out of the door of the establishment. Out in the open, in my beautiful, barren land of earth, i opened the scroll. A map? That was far better than i'd hoped. I was fearing some cryptic riddle, a clue hidden in a poem, or something of the like. Instead i found a location near the border of the land of grass, not altogether too far from here.

It made sense, in a way. Whoever Miko had obtained the map from, it was more likely they'd have discovered it if the location was nearby. And so i walked. My heels were rather more sensible than usual, a thick black platform, not my favoured stilettos. And regardless of my attire, i was still a shinobi. I covered the distance rapidly, seeing the land around me slowly become rather more lush and green, an indication of my proximity to Lady Blanche's land. I wondered if she had established the village? I'd heard, of course, that Kusagakure existed once more, populated, even if not with great numbers. Something told me she'd played a part.

I did enjoy the flora that was springing up here. Sometimes i wished it would spread to the rest of my dear country, but the dry, expansive dirt had its own, strange charm. I slowed my pace, opening the scroll once more to check my progress. I was very close. The details weren't clear, no landmarks or such, but judging by my distance from the capital, and the village where i'd met Miko, i was incredibly close. Now to dig around a little...

[King]

Had Coco sought this legendary relic out several years ago, the cave that the map led her to would have been empty. The small cleft in the forest would have remained thin and narrow, untouched by the ambition of man (broadened to the point where any archer could easily spot, and slay a target); there would not be sturdy barricades crafted from sharpened logs at the cave's entrance; there wouldn't be a small troupe of guards casually talking while one patrolled the nearby vicinity.

Unfortunately, it was what it was.

Of course there were more within the cave (which was actually connected to a series of tunnel; it was a subterranean web that spanned for several miles in every which direction), doing whatever it was that bandits did in the middle of the night. But, they weren't of any concern to Coco -- not yet, anyway. Rather than worrying about forces unseen, she would do much better focusing on the enemies she could see.

There are several rows of torches, all burning brightly, parallel to each other as they line the opposite sides of a five meter path leading to the cave's entrance. The group guarding the doorway is comprised of two men, both armored and wielding rather long swords (nodachi), two women (both archers), and a rather large dog.

As for the patrol? Well, his whereabouts varied from one moment to the next.

"This shit is so boring," one of the men croaked. "When are we going to get some fuckin' action?"

"I don't know," a woman replied. "Ask the boss."

"Pft, that bastard doesn't do anything but covet that scroll he found we when took over the cave. Says it's a clue to some secret treasure or somethin'."

"Well, if that's what the boss says, then shut up."

"What?"

"Has he led us wrong before?"

The man was hushed. "No."

"Exactly."

And so went the night.

[daisy]

It had grown dark. So intent had i been on following my progress on Miko's map, that i hadn't noticed night descend upon me. Well, perhaps that would be to my advantage, as i'd found what i was looking for. The trees that had sprung up, here along the border were a blessing. I could easily remain unseen as i observed the people nearby. The entrance to some sort of underground area was illuminated, as if they wanted me to find them. Something told me i had to get inside. That same sense was currently also dissuading me from introducing myself to them, although i couldn't help but want to. Perhaps they'd simply give me entrance?

Their weapons and demeanour said otherwise. I'd imagine the large canine would also say otherwise, should he possess the talent of speech. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it was of no consequence to me. All that currently mattered was my relocation from hidden out here, to sneaking in there. Oh my, what a thrill! It had truly been too long since any sort of shinobi-esque activity on my part. The adrenaline, the planning, it was such a charm. I could only hope i wasn't rusty.

Carefully, i began my operation. Silk slipped from between my pursed lips, incredibly thin, near impossible to see in the oncoming darkness. Winding its way up a tree, guided by my chakra, i ever so gently spanned it across the gap, until the thread found purchase in another tree, located behind the cave entrance. A perfect tightrope. However, my performance would not be one to gasps and applause, but rather one gone unnoticed, should i have the luck. The scene set, it took a very brief series of handseals to provide a hopefully unneeded distraction. Four beautiful likenesses of myself appeared, hands on hips. I gently tore the thread from my mouth, holding the end of the length in my hand. With my other hand, i retrieved four senbon from my handbag. Now, to take the stage.

I threw the senbon. Fanned out between my fingers, each would hit at a distance from the other, and at that moment, my four copies would step from the trees, into the torchlight, retracting their arms as if the projectiles had been theirs. Although just a distraction, i had nevertheless aimed for the people in the doorway. I doubted i'd have such luck, but perhaps they'd stick. The moment my clones revealed themselves, i'd hoisted myself into the air with my thread, and quickly balanced myself on the spindly silk linking the trees. I began to walk, over my clones' heads, and towards the cave and its guards, suspended above them in darkness.

SPOILER: Click to show

Chasing Spider Strands [50]
Rank: C
Type: Clan Ninjutsu; Supplementary
Range: Any Spider Strands in creation
Handseals: No
Chakra: Low
Special: Requires no handseals. The range is exactly the same as the initial Spider Strands jutsu.
Description: Being created from the user, the Sasanagi's thread is incredibly easy to influence with chakra. This jutsu allows the user to control their threads with their chakra, manipulating objects attached to with thread, chasing opponents with thread, simply having complete freedom of manipulation. This jutsu only works as long as the threads are still attached to the user.
Domain: Sasanagi, Spider Strands

Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu (Mist Servant Technique) [25, 25, 25, 25]
Rank: D, D, D, D
Type: Genjutsu
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Low
Special: Creates a single Mist Servant, plus one more each time retrained. However, after every fifth retraining, the chakra consumption of the technique will go up by one. Servants mimic the user in appearance in every way and exists solely to distract the opponent. This is achieved via false attacks which incorporate user's equipment in the hands of the illusionary clone.
Description: Kasumi Juusha no Jutsu is a universal sight Genjutsu technique that creates false attackers to delay and confuse the enemy. Though these servants are not real, the actual ninja is able to remain hidden and throw projectiles such as kunai and shuriken matching the movements of the servants. This makes it appear the false servants are capable of attacking. When the enemy attempts to attack the servant, they will merely disrupt the servants illusion body but not destroy it.
Domain: Inton.

Web Walking [25]
Rank: D
Type: Clan Ninjutsu; Passive
Range: Self
Handseals: No
Chakra: None
Special: Always active, requires no handseals.
Description: Being as close to spiders as human beings can be, the Sasanagi is capable of walking along, hanging from or otherwise supporting themselves on any Kumonenkin or Kumonendo creation. By using the chakra infused into the golden creations, or web, when it was created, the corresponding chakra in whatever part of the body is in contact with the thread responds automatically, and the user can support themselves with ease on even the flimsiest Kumonenkin or Kumonendo.
Domain: Sasanagi, D-Rank Kumonenkin

- four senbon

[King]

Clank! While three of her senbon simply soared through the air-- two of which simply soared off into the distance, another of which entered the cave --the fourth actually struck one of her several targets. Of course, it hadn't inflicted even the slightest of damage, being as how it collided with one of the card-playing men's shoulder plate, but it was more than enough to garner the attention she'd been looking for.

"What the fuck?!" he barked merely a second later, almost leaping out of his seat both in fear and surprise. The rest of his team mobilized immediately, taking on a defensive formation about the cave's entrance. The archers readied their bows, standing at the outer most edges of the entrance, and the swordsmen unsheathed their blades, standing more so directly in front of the abysmal door, just as the clones bled from the shadows and into the flood of light.

"Stay right there!" one of the archers commanded. She'd already had one arrow notched and pulled back, ready to bury the poisoned tip right in one of the identical copies's chest. "Don't take another step."

Even over the mangy dog's incessant barking, loud and sharp, the bandits' voices were clear. "I suggest the lot of you turn around and go back from wherever you came! These girls here with the bows won't hesitate to kill you!" It was the bulkier of the two swordsmen speaking now, his voice deep and seemingly pure bass.

[daisy]

The dog was a blessing in disguise. Naturally i made no sound up on my silken highway, but when it came to entering, there was little chance i'd be heard over its barking. At the threats from the girl with the bow, i was already over their heads. When the man gave his ultimatum to my gorgeous clones, i was crouched behind them, prepared to make my descent. They leaped into action. Two of the mist servants charging straight for the armed men, with the other two falling in on their flanks. Naturally, the moment contact was made, my illusion was shot, but i planned to be far beyond retribution by then. Slipping gracefully down a length of silk, i landed incredibly delicately behind the four guards, and dashed into the cave entrance.

As my dear copies had been launching their attack at that very moment, and due to the guards' compact nature in guarding the entrance, i highly doubted my infiltration would be detected, but i was nothing if not thorough. Turning briefly, i spat a massive cobweb over my shoulder, which would serve both to block the entrance, and hopefully entangle my would-be pursuers too. Pulled off rather successfully, should it all go to plan! But i supposed the real challenge lay ahead. The guard at the entrance had been efficient, and were i anybody else, i would likely have had to fight my way in. Just what forces would await me, now i were inside?

I could take little comfort in the fact that they wouldn't be getting backup from outside. At least not that way, but of course, there could be other entrances. Indeed, i was hoping that was the case. I didn't fancy having to leave that way, i doubted i'd get away with the same methods a second time. Moving quickly, yet placing my feet with care, so as not to echo around the cave, i proceeded. Just what was i looking for? Could the Mirror itself be stored within? Or perhaps another clue, following up on Miko's map?

I'd have to wait and see. No doubt my doppelgangers had been outed as mere illusions by now, but i hoped the guard would have no method to alert those inside. I didn't fancy a battle royale, not at any step of my quest. Allowing myself a small, reassuring smile, i crept down the rocky path. I wasn't just any old shinobi.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kumosouka (Spider Cobweb Flower) [50]
Rank: C
Type: Offensive / Clan Ninjutsu
Range: See special
Handseals: No
Chakra: Mid
Special: Spider net extends forward roughly at twice the speed of a kunai. Sticky net's hold is strong enough to immobilize. Distance and strength of extending spider net depends on the user's understanding of 'Kumonenkin'.


* ‘D’ – 5 meter reach, 5 meter circular area of effect
* ‘C’ – 10 meter reach, 10 meter circular area of effect
* ‘B’ – 15 meter reach, 15 meter circular area of effect
* ‘A’ – 20 meter reach, 20 meter circular area of effect
* ‘S’ – 25 meter reach, 25 meter circular area of effect


Description: An advancement to Kumonendo, the Sasanagi is now able to project their sticky web in short projectile bursts rather than in a long stream, creating a new type of offense. After gathering chakra and their spider webbing into their mouth, the user will spit it out of their mouth into a wide cobweb pattern. This wide pattern can envelop their foes and tie them down to a nearby surface., as this stickiness is caused by mixing his chakra with the body fluid. Finally, to ensure their prey does not escape, the Sasanagi's chakra will remain in the web even after it has left their body.
Domain: Sasanagi. ‘C’ ranked Kumonenkin

[King]

What a wonderful, well thought out plan! Naturally, the guards were prepared and ready to take on the handful of copies - they weren't too familiar with jutsu, but they weren't completely stupid, either. It was obvious they were clones of some type, but one of them had to be the real one, right? Well, that's what they thought, until a voice suddenly interjected.

"Behind you!" it screamed as the patrolling guard came into view, drawn back to the his companions by the shouting and barking. Being as Coco was mid-descent, she was completely illuminated by the rows of fire that lead to the mouth of the cave. "There's one behind you!"

Of course, they couldn't simply ignore the small army of copies - they didn't know whether or not the look-alikes could cause them any real harm. But, that didn't mean they couldn't divide and conquer.

A sharp pivot brought one of the swordsmen spinning around, just as his comrade's exclamation came to an end. Snapping his fingers, the seemingly rabid wolf-dog took of charging, clearly hungry for a taste of Coco's succulent flesh. The sudden burst of speed was startling, and with so much velocity behind his movement, clearing several scores of feet with a single jump would've been nothing short of child's play. Had Coco been close enough to the ground, she would find the beast hungrily aiming to rip a chunk of meat from her leg(s).

Meanwhile, the archers released a single volley of arrows. They'd pierce the outer most clones with flawless accuracy, yet the their inward trajectory brought about a sharp clank seconds later. The patrolling guard yelped, stopping dead in his tracks, yet didn't fall. Rather than piercing his sternum, the arrows ricocheted¹ off of his breastplate and doubled-back, coming through the remaining two clones a fraction of a second later from behind.

Now, it was in this small period of time that the second swordsman turned, immediately charging Coco with his blade drawn. The archers were already reaching for another cluster of arrows, ready to kill the poor wench -- she'd picked the wrong cave!

SPOILER: Click to show

¹Ricochet
Rank: C
Type: Offensive/ Taijutsu
Range: --
Chakra: Mid
Special: Allows archer to ricochet an arrow off of solid surfaces. When first learned, the user can ricochet the arrow off of one surface. Can be relearned up to nine times, increasing number of times arrow can ricochet by one. After each ricochet, arrow range and speed is decreased by 10%.
Description: A tricky technique that exemplifies how cunning an archer can be. By bouncing their arrows off the surface of an object, they undercut the opponent’s ability to defend against it, striking deep into the target when they least expect it.
Domain: Archery

[daisy]

You stupid woman. The patrol! I'd been so pleased with my plan, so sure of its success, i'd entirely forgotten that not all the guards might have their backs to me. Oh bother. Mid descent, the dog had begun charging at me, and i had to adapt. I simply couldn't afford to waste all my energy here! Slipping nimbly back up my thread, i caused the rest of the length, which reached to the ground, to slip around the mutt's neck, plucking him out of his trajectory. Such a creature unlikely understood the mechanics of momentum, probably allowing me to hang the mangy thing from my silk like a noose.

Of course, now i was above the guards as one of the men with a sword came for me. This was not how things were meant to go! I knew for sure i'd be the next target for those girls' arrows, perched up here as i was. Of course, i could slip into my decadent armour, and leap in swinging, but such was never my style.
"Do you fucking mind?" I growled, mind racing. I didn't see many options, and so i adapted my previous plan. Hanging above the ground as i was, i pursed my lips, and spat. A massive cobweb, far large enough to entangle both the two women, and the two men closest to the entrance. As for the others, well, i'd deal with them should they pursue me.

As i'd spat the cobweb at them, i'd let a single smoke grenade fall to the ground from my position above it, and then let myself fall afterwards, into its dark embrace. I ran. Whether some of the guards had avoided my web - unlikely due to its large size - or whether the patrol would pursue me - also difficult due to the silk-logged group now blocking the entrance - i couldn't waste anymore time here. Into the cave i sped, hoping against hope that this time, i'd make good my escape.

SPOILER: Click to show

Chasing Spider Strands [50]
Rank: C
Type: Clan Ninjutsu; Supplementary
Range: Any Spider Strands in creation
Handseals: No
Chakra: Low
Special: Requires no handseals. The range is exactly the same as the initial Spider Strands jutsu.
Description: Being created from the user, the Sasanagi's thread is incredibly easy to influence with chakra. This jutsu allows the user to control their threads with their chakra, manipulating objects attached to with thread, chasing opponents with thread, simply having complete freedom of manipulation. This jutsu only works as long as the threads are still attached to the user.
Domain: Sasanagi, Spider Strands

Kumosouka (Spider Cobweb Flower) [50]
Rank: C
Type: Offensive / Clan Ninjutsu
Range: See special
Handseals: No
Chakra: Mid
Special: Spider net extends forward roughly at twice the speed of a kunai. Sticky net's hold is strong enough to immobilize. Distance and strength of extending spider net depends on the user's understanding of 'Kumonenkin'.


* ‘D’ – 5 meter reach, 5 meter circular area of effect
* ‘C’ – 10 meter reach, 10 meter circular area of effect
* ‘B’ – 15 meter reach, 15 meter circular area of effect
* ‘A’ – 20 meter reach, 20 meter circular area of effect
* ‘S’ – 25 meter reach, 25 meter circular area of effect


Description: An advancement to Kumonendo, the Sasanagi is now able to project their sticky web in short projectile bursts rather than in a long stream, creating a new type of offense. After gathering chakra and their spider webbing into their mouth, the user will spit it out of their mouth into a wide cobweb pattern. This wide pattern can envelop their foes and tie them down to a nearby surface., as this stickiness is caused by mixing his chakra with the body fluid. Finally, to ensure their prey does not escape, the Sasanagi's chakra will remain in the web even after it has left their body.
Domain: Sasanagi. ‘C’ ranked Kumonenkin

- 1 smoke grenade

[King]

The beast yelped, and then went silent.

"Soashi!" one of the guards cried, "noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!" Eyes burning red, he shot a stabbing glare at the woman. "You stupid bitch~"

He would have killed her in cold blood had she not spat out that web of hers. Indeed, evading such a massive attack was all but impossible. Both the archers and the swordsmen found themselves tangled in the sticky substance, falling to the floor in a heap of congested limbs. As for the patrol? Well, he was too far from her to actually get close enough by the time the smoke bomb cleared - she was gone (into the cave, obviously).

But, there were procedures to follow - signals to send! Coco presumed getting in the cave was the real challenge. No, their boss had made it very clear-- kill any intruders, if you can. Otherwise, simply make sure that they can't escape. . . not without seeing him first, that is.

So, with a match, he lit the fuse to the series of explosions that lined this particular throat of the cave. After that, he busied himself with freeing his companions. Then--

BOOM!!! Coco would find herself swallowed by a cloud of dust and debris as it rushed through the tunnel (harmless of course), perhaps hinting at what happened. More disturbing, however, was the distant sound of others. They were closing all of the exits -- every single one of them, spare for one.

Advancing was the only option that Coco had left.