Grass Cutter; [ Relic Search ]

[Comatose]

The seeder pieces of paper fired earlier were to get the men on the defense, though they had attacked anyway. Dodging the huge dragon a second time was no problem in the three dimensional-space that was the sky, allowing almost complete range of movement. A flap here, and a turn of axis here and I was out of harms way, getting closer to the two combatants in the process. The paper that had not been sent off to the men had subsequently been preemptively prepared for defense by blocking the initial volley of shards of wood.

Since many trees had toppled both in the wake of my seeder sheets and the flowing of the dragons, I could clearly see the oncoming threat of Tigers. When one had battle experience as one like myself did it was easy to see when another had the upper-hand both in strength and numbers. Even with all my paper it was difficult to keep a defensible line with all the projectiles and dragons being shot at me. I made a decision, that it was all or nothing, I had to go on the offensive.

Two sheets of paper were sent to intercept each individual tiger sent toward me, at the same time I was attempting to dodge the second dragon — made out of water, erecting a single sheet of paper to at least deter it's direction.

All at once after this did the paper I had sent toward the tigers, and the seeder paper sent toward the two enemies explode. I had realized that this was perhaps not enough to take down their defenses, but I needed only but a chink in their armor. The time and disruption necessary to muster an attack. I had no choice. I threw everything I had at them, I couldn't lose, wildly flailing my arms in their general directions, sending three individual huge bladed blasts of wind at them at once.

"I won't fucking lose!"

SPOILER: Click to show

Hatoronshi Bakuha (Crafting Paper Explosive Addition)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S [175 EXP]
Type: Supplementary / Secret Technique
Range: 0 - 10
Special: Adds explosive note properties to any paper creation of the user's choosing. The rank of this technique determines what rank of paper techniques can be converted into explosive notes. Like explosive notes, each detonated tag covers 10 meters.
Description: As its name implies, the clan member is able to imbue their paper creations in the same explosive properties that ignite a regular exploding note, spreading the effect over across a mass amount of paper sheets. When combined with other clan jutsu, the explosive additions result in a truly terrifying offensive combination.
Domain: Shikigami. Must know Paper Strength.

Sujimae Kami (Folding Paper)
Rank: B [100 EXP]
Type: Ninjutsu, Defensive
Range: Self
Special: Allows the user to instantly create a thin wall of paper around a portion of his or herself to protect the user from harm. This ability has a five turn cooldown, and also drains double the amount of chakra of a normal B Rank technique. Maximum area of effect is five feet in length by three feet in width. Strength of the defense is based on the user's own rank of Crafting Paper Strength.
Description: Sometimes, an opponent can perform a technique that can catch even a skilled warrior off-guard. In these moments, the Shikigami can call upon reserves of paper to instantly form a small protective wall up to a meter in front of him or her. The wall remains in place for a singular turn, and cannot be used again for five turns.
Domain: Shikigami

Dai Kamaitachi (Great Cutting Whirlwind)
Rank: B [100 EXP + 100 EXP] x3
Type: Offensive / Fuuton Ninjutsu
Range: 10+ meters
Special: Wind blast can travel 10 meters, plus 10 more each time relearned. Pierces barriers 'B' ranked and bellow.
Description: This jutsu was brought to fame by a legendary Suna shinobi from long ago, and was named after a mythical creature able to command the winds on a whim. After channeling chakra to a limb or weapon, the user executes a large swipe, letting loose an intense wind in a one hundred and eighty degree cone. The winds are razor sharp, cover a wide area, and can cut through trees like butter.
Domain: Fuuton.

[Kii!]

The dragons had missed, or were deterred by large walls of paper. This made it necessary for them, in order to continue with their attack, whirl about and twist over their own long bodies. Moments later, they would be on a track back to consume their target. The many spirit dogs weaved in between the papers that made their way toward them, avoiding any direct damage at first.

Then, with a thought from you, they would ignite in a fiery explosion. The explosion rocked the spirit dogs, ripping away at their inky existence and causing them to spiral backwards from the concussive force. Unfortunately, save for three dogs which had been caught next to each other and in an explosion that was triple the force of the others, the explosion was not strong enough to destroy them. Instead, they were delayed, but soon regained their composure and made to destroy you.

The shinobi who had summoned both wood and water took the explosion almost full on, dodging only a bit of the damage with a short backward hop. He shot backward uncontrollably, intense heat licking at his skin and pain webbing through his body as he slammed into the wall. Shakily, he supported himself on a single knee and a hand, but failed to summon the energy to attack more.

The artist’s ink shield absorbed the explosion, shattering entirely and allowing a bit of force to overwhelm him. He rocketed back toward a wall, but remained in control due to the weakening of the explosion from his shield, and flipped to land against it safely.

[Comatose]

My offensive burst had done well to deter a further attack from the the duo and their aberrations. The paper I was using to defend myself could not afford to take any damage from the creatures, and in that respect the way in which I would use the sheets only served to adumbrate my next devious doing. My next series of defenses seemed almost desperate, as I wanted them to seem — to lull my attackers into a false sense of security before the big bang.

The rest of the paper at my disposal at the time, and a bit more paper conjured from myself, was used to thwart the continued advance of the tigers, simply colliding with the ink constructions in a way as to stick to and pull them away from me to the best of their efforts. The dragons were dealt with as they had been previously, the rather clumsy and obvious movement paths they took and could take were easily surmised, and thus allowed me to take the most direct and efficient courses to avoid them — even with the doubling over of their bodies.

As I passed by one of the dragons, catawampus to the dragon's own trajectory, I formed handseals and gently brushed my hand across the trunk of a tree. All the trees about the area, so condensed in the closed space of the large room, were all touching in some way. This even included the trees I had felled earlier, showing true testament to how much exactly the field of trees had resembled the forest it was so named of. It was only a matter of time now.

I need only brave this last few seconds before the field would be transformed into nothing but paper and a few saplings. It was at that moment, when all the wood had just been transmuted into paper and the enemy was on their heels surprised by it, that I would attack with overwhelming ferocity from all sides. It would be much too overwhelming for any defense, and any person.

I need only hold out a bit longer. .

SPOILER: Click to show

Hatoronshi no Mokuton (Crafting Paper Creation)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S [75 EXP]
Type: Supplementary / Secret Technique
Range: -
Special: The rank of this technique determines what rank of paper can be converted and used for clan jutsu. Paper conversion takes one turn to complete, and produces paper at half the chakra cost of creating it from one's own body.
Description: With this technique, the clan member can recover the waning paper supply at any time, as long as wood is present. After forming the needed handseals, the clan member will let their hand touch any wood surface and convert into sheets of paper. As long as foreign chakra isn't controlling the wood, it's a potential paper source.
Domain: Shikigami. Must know Paper Strength.

[Kii!]

It was quite surprising for them, what you had in store. Your defense gave them a sense of power, as if the situation was in their control, and they would soon be victors. Due to this, despite your impressive abilities, they weren’t worried in the least. Things changed when their own creations were turned against them. In almost a single instant, a very large area of the forest one shinobi had created was turned into paper, a resource that you would find excruciatingly useful. Faced with a sudden wave of countless pieces of paper, both shinobi attempted to double back. One, whom had smashed into the wall area, struggled at first--and in that moment, was swallowed by the white paper wave. The artist managed to fall back all the way to the wall at the end of the room, farthest from you, and escape into a doorway.

If you chose to follow (as it was the only way out of the room, excluding how you’d entered), you would find another long corridor. This corridor was dark, and many small ink animals laid, resting in the darkness, ready to attack you at any moment. The artist himself would be nowhere to be seen, however, and eventually you would come to a well-lit room which housed both the artist, somewhat nearby, and Kusanagi far in the distance atop an intricately designed altar.

[Comatose]

To say I was glad that I had finally managed to subdue the enemies was an understatement. It had taken most of my mental faculties to come up with a solution to their continued assaults, mostly because I wasn't entirely sure the trick would work. Normally, had those trees actually been birthed for a particular purpose and governed by their chakra for an attack, I couldn't have done it. However, because the trees were birthed by chakra but otherwise natural, I could do with them my bidding.

Though I noticed the ink-specialist flee, my paper was not organized enough to actually catch him efficiently. Controlling all the paper at once took a great measure of comprehension and effort, and when one controlled a great body of paper like that the signals for movement to any individual chain of paper sheets was delayed. Nevertheless, I would choose to follow him after I was sure his accomplice was duly strangled, all of the paper in the room inchoately returning to my hand to form a perfect sphere. The sphere was tightly packed as to hold that volume of paper in the space provided, the sphere stretching the width of the palm of my hand, or only approximately six inches, and rising the same height.

When I finally made my way into the room the ink-user had fled to, after coming into contact with some rodents I simply squeezed to death with the sheer overpowering amount of paper I held, I found myself quite frankly astonished. This had to been too easy for me to imagine that I was in the prescience of what I thought I was, just on the other side of that room. It was the weapon I had been enthralled with this entire campaign, the Kusanagi.

". . . !"

My eyes probably lit up from my surprise and excitement before I saw the ink-user again, my gaze turning back to it's usual stoic. By this time the ball of paper I had been holding was properly veiled to look like the head of his comrade that I had felled. It was a message, even if the head was falsified, a message that no one would stonewall me from the prize.

"Don't get in my way."

[Kii!]

The room, which contained the blade you so sought, was immensely smaller than the one you’d only just come from. It was perhaps fifteen meters wide, and twenty five long. The ceiling was only perhaps ten meters high, and this gave both advantage and disadvantage to you and your remaining opponent. With his Kuchiyose no Jutsu activated, another scroll, similar in size to his previous summonings, was brought to him through the use of his chakra. Upon it was seventy animals and large arachnids, varying from tigers to hawks to massive spiders. They were all released and ready to envelope you in their inky darkness, while at the same time the artist removed another, small scroll from his pouch.

”You can’t have it!” It had come from the artist, though you likely felt another presence within the room. It was still, lurking and observing, and would feel as if it wanted you to notice it. It made no moves, and didn’t seem to bear any hostility aside from a murderous intent, which seemed to lie beneath a veil.

The sword sat on its altar, observing the battle but otherwise still as a sword would be, as if taunting you, begging you to retrieve it.

[Comatose]

I did not allow thoughts to cross my mind that this would be easy in the slightest, I could not be that jejune. Even with the advantage of not having to summon forth any paper, and basically having an unlimited supply at my disposal I had seen what this man was capable of. All the same, I probably hadn't seen all he was capable of. I could not shake the feeling that I was at a disadvantage here, even considering the fact killed his buddy. It felt like someone was watching from the shadows. There was no way to know if my feeling held true, and if they did, there was now way to know of this person's intent until they acted.

I ignored my feelings for a moment as I held my hand forward, and allowed the condensed ball of paper to begin to hover forward toward the man who had just begun the summoning of his aberrations. At first it would seem like the ball's insides were boiling and churning, the surface of the ball bubbling in wanderlust, and then finally as his creations ushered forth the ball would erupt into seventy streams of paper. The paper streams would each choose an aberration as a target and seek to intercept them before they could move any closer. Again, because of the transformation of the forest in the previous room that was more than enough paper to do this and then some.

"I will have the sword."

Nothing would stop me from obtaining that sword after all I had been through and all I needed to protect it with. I needed to protect the only person I held dear from the kakistocracies that were the Hidden Villages. She and many other ninja of the world simply did not understand how cruel their leaders and villages were. So many things went on behind the scenes no one knew about. I needed to make sure none of those things would end up at her doorstep.

[Kii!]

The inky creations raced forth will all the strength of that which they represented; a birds flew at their highest velocty, large cats bound across the plain landscape and massive insects scurried at surprising speeds. Each was strong in their own right, reinforced by the chakra and ink which comprised them; they were stronger than the paper that threatened them. Still, the near endless supply they were faced with was both daunting and overpowering, even for creations of their strength, but it would take a considerable amount of chakra-infused paper to destroy each black phantom. So, with the time they were given by their fortitude, they raced forth, cutting a path through the paper streams that filled their vision. Many were injured or destroyed, but sixty five creations would eventually reach the you before they were destroyed, lest you provide some sort of reinforcement. They would attempt to tear you down.

At the same time, the artist began to emit sweat from his finger tip using a clan jutsu, which in turn was transformed into ink. Then, upon the scroll he’d retrieved, he began to draw an image which was a mirror of the opponent he faced--you. Soon, he would finish the drawing, and unless you managed to prevent him from doing so through a horde of more than sixty powerful, black killers, he would begin to form the hand seals that would finish his jutsu.

If that happened, your world would go white. Everything around you would disappear, filled with endless white. A canvas of sorts.

SPOILER: Click to show

Edo Byouho (Impure World Drawing Style)
Rank: A
Type: Offensive / Genjutsu / Secret Technique
Range: See special!
Special: The opponent, since their sense of sight has been changed to purely black and white, generally knows that they are under the effects of a genjutsu. Cannot be used to kill someone or inflect actual bodily harm. Affects any drawn victim within eyesight.
Description: The user opens up a scroll. Using their excellent artistic nature, they will quickly draw their opponent into the scroll. Then, performing the required handseals, they target the opponent and link their mind to the user's canvas. The opponent looses all natural sense of vision, and the world around them is replaced with a whiteness that stretches as far as the opponent can see. The user, then, will continue to draw, creating whatever they wish upon the canvas. At that point, those images will appear within the opponent's mind, forcing the opponent to view them. Every change made upon the canvas will appear within the opponent's mind. This effect will continue until the user releases the opponent from the Genjutsu or the victim breaks it.
Domain: Li Clan. Gahou Tenrai 'A'.

[Comatose]

It was taking a bit more paper than I had anticipated to stop the inky creations, and seeing them power through the endless amounts of paper I acted quickly. The speed and intensity at which the remaining 65 streams of paper raced and crashed into their associated ink creation was increased, resulting in the paper shattering into the creations which much greater force. The five streams which had done the job, and crippled or destroyed their accompanying creation formed into one with a specific task in mind. Now behind the creations, effectively superseding the wall of ink that was indirectly those creations, trudged on toward the creator. If allowed to continue their path they would slam into the Ink-User with effectively five times the force that a single stream did, continuing to do so until I commanded otherwise or the paper ran out.

Using just a small bit of the paper I made a contingency for myself by summoning forth just enough paper to cover my body head to toe in an armor that blended into the surrounding flesh. hair, and clothing. The armor would be durable enough to protect me from just one attack should any of the creations get through. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the Ink-User pulled back his assault prematurely. He certainly had to do something to make sure he wasn't gobbled by the stream of paper.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kami Yoroi no Jutsu (Paper Armor)
Rank: A [150 EXP]
Type: Ninjutsu, Defensive
Range: Self
Special: Completely coats the user from head to toe in malleable paper armor which protects them from incoming damage. Maintaining the armor costs an additional D rank amount of chakra every 2 turns. Defensive strength is equivalent to the user's rank of Crafting Paper Strength and Elemental Resistance.
Description: A thin and lightweight armor ninjutsu, this technique covers the user from head to toe in paper. When blended correctly with other Shikigami Ninjutsu, the opponent usually will be incapable of even telling that the user is guarded in this manner. Should the opponent attack the user, they will find the paper defense in the ready to absorb the blow. An attack of equal strength to the user's Crafting Paper Strength will break the armor, creating the need for the armor to be recast, while an attack of greater strength will pierce through the defense, damaging the user.
Domain: Shikigami

[Kii!]

[[ Hnng, sorry about the untimely/short posts :c ]]

Your assault did not let up, and in fact increased in its intensity. Unfortunately for the artist, this meant that his current endeavor--that was, trapping you in an illusory canvas--was to be left unfulfilled. Though the ink creations which threatened your life did not let up their assault, their creator was forced to leave his scroll behind and disappear in a blur. His Shunshin no Jutsu would carry him to his right all the way to the wall, and then another shunshin would bring him down the wall, closer to you, ten more meters. In doing so he spaced himself from your paper mass. Hopefully, you would find yourself distracted as to his location long enough for his ink army to devour you.

Nearby, hidden from sight, sat the teal-haired man, grinning madly as he tilted his head. Soon, there would be a victor, and things would get more interesting.

[Comatose]

The sudden disappearance of the ink-user was as surprising as it sounded, but rather predictable. On one side of the ink-user the battle between my own paper creations and his ink ones raged on indefinitely, and on the other there was nothing but calm serene open space. Of course, I was versed in the technique known as Shunshin, which allowed the user to traverse a great distance in literally no time, and as such was also aware of it's limitations. One could only go a finite distance each time, and without advanced training, in one direction.

Keeping this simple logic in mind I was able to discern a direction he would choose. He would not put himself further in harms way by going in the direction of his creations and that ensuing battle. As such there was only one likely way to go and the instant he had disappeared, knowing that it was much too fast for any sort of Genjutsu, I knew the Shunshin had come and which direction he had went.

Luckily for me, and unluckily for the ink-user my paper was not individual bits of paper being fired, but a continuous stream emanating from the ball as the source. As such, simply cutting off the flow and directing at a whim was simple, and even beneficial. The paper that was flying toward his previous locale was simply redirected to now surround him, while the stream was now directed at his new location. The method of attack I went for was the same as with the man's buddy, to smother him to death.

The streams of paper directed at the creations now, each took the form of a hand, big enough to palm the creature associated with. I realized it was ineffectual to actually try to kill the creations. However, it was more than likely possible to pin them down for the time being, and that's what these hands hoped to do. The predictable paths of the creations, obviously coming at me, left almost no room for an unsuccessful take down of each individual creation. This would use the paper to simply hold the creations against a wall or the floor for an extended period of time. A single sheet was not enough to take down these creations, but 100, or even 1000 sheets of paper reinforcing one another was. When one piece would falter and fall away, another would pick up the slack, and so on.

[Kii!]

There was little place for him to run. With his creations unexpectedly held off, and the malleability of your paper exceeding his expectations, his chances of victory were dwindling. His escape routes were already cut off, and now he was faced with what would likely be his defeat, and possibly his death. He could generate a shield, but with the paper afforded to you by his previous ally, the supply he faced was far too expansive for him to hope to survive.

With your victory decided, you would be free to retrieve Kusanagi no Tsurugi for yourself. Something seemed off, though . . .

[Comatose]

"Just like that? I doubt it."

I spoke as all the paper remaining began to detract to the sphere from whence it came, save a single stream, which still in the form of a hand reached out to take the sword from it's hearth. I assumed that the ease of the reach of the Kusanagi had meant one of two things. Either it was a fake sword, in which case I would have to woefully continue my journey, or it was a trap of sorts and it wouldn't be this simple to obtain it. With the eerie feeling the room gave me, I expected it to quite possibly be a combination of the two.

[Kii!]

At first, the sword seemed tangible--real, and powerful. Your paper hand plucked the sword from its place on the altar, and for a moment it hung there. Your suspicions were confirmed as it dissipated into nothingness. As it did, you’d realize that a note took its place on the altar. It was a simple piece of paper. Though written a bit sloppily, it seemed to lead you in the direction of the sword. Or, at least, shed light on the situation at hand.

I’ll keep this simple. I have the sword, and you won’t find it without me. Fortunately for you, I have no use for this piece of metal; what I do have a use for is money.

I’ll be generous. I’ll only ask for 30,000 Ryo, and it’ll be yours. We’ll meet outside this place in a day.

So a thief had stolen the sword, and wanted a ransom of sorts. Your choices were simple: come up with the money, attempt to pry the location of the weapon out of the thief with force, or return to the master with the news.

Either way, you had a day to decide.

[Comatose]

There was no doubt that the mysterious voice told lies. There was no way that this person had stolen the fabled Kusanagi. The weapon was a lost relic guarded by time and that old man. My only encounter with the man had left a lasting impression on me, I knew that he was one to be respected. I could tell that he was a wise and powerful old crone, more powerful than I. The weapon would never be so easily stolen and whisked away. This had to be the wrong place. It must have been a trial for me to go through. Besides, even if I wanted to indulge the would-be thief. Why would he just not slay me with the sword and take the money? I didn't have enough money regardless.

"No. Impossible. I don't believe you. No-deal."

I spoke under my breath before rushing outside to meet the old man once again, to plead with him to stop playing games.

"That wasn't the true location was it?"