i can hear the silence. [m]

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

"You've grown decadent."

It was a sickening amount of waste which had piled up against the edges of this public restroom. The places in which people had been, the foods that they had eaten, and the activities that they had pursued all seemed to pile up here. The edges of these rooms, and the cleanliness that they once held was nothing but a farce now. One good look around would show that this was nothing that anyone would ever want to visit. Yet, as the two men stood there, surrounded by the filth of the people who had treated this place as a personal scrapyard, they seemed to hold no qualms with it. They stood around the same height, but the most defining features between the two was the length of their hair. While one had almost a mane of long, dark hair, the other seemed to keep his very tightly knotted in a position slightly above the back of his head. It wasn't very long, but stilled seemed to form the perfect bun. The lighting made things difficult to see, but from what they could see, they were both very pleased with.

They had congregated around a small stand in the middle of the restroom; a man made object that had been placed there by one of the many visitors of this location. It was silly really, a table within the middle of the rest room, but when considering what this place was really used for, it made a lot more sense. The blonde man had placed a leather rucksack onto the table, while the dark haired man had put a small bottle adjacent to it. They would exchange packages and examine them both thoroughly. In the hands of the blonde man, the jar would open, and the contents would be sniffed, and shaken until it was clear that this was indeed what he was looking for. On the other side of the table, the dark haired man would rummage through the contents of the rucksack, feeling the hefty weight of a few hundred thousand ryou sift across the tips of his fingers. They were both pleased with the exchange.

"Let's get out of here, I can hardly take this smell any longer."

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

"I don't blame you. Let's go."

Taking hold of both of their new possessions, the two of them would soon find themselves exposed to the sunlight. It was midday, and the weather was warm. A slight chill would extinguish the stink from their nostrils, and the sight of foliage would give them something to look forward to; to help forget about the trash ridden bathroom. This part of town was quiet different than the rest. The small township being build on a hill, the two men found themselves on the outskirts, thus the lower portion of the east side. It was the only part of the town that had a decent amount of space. Trees surrounded them, and while there was no forest, the man made grove would reveal that they were in fact in a fairly rural part of the country. The blonde man would remove his hat beenie hat, revealing the rest of his smooth, almost platinum hair. His sleeveless jacket would soon find itself unzipped as well, with the loose gray tee shirt beneath it giving him enough space to breath. The bathroom was known for being chilly, and as this wasn't their first meeting here, they both knew to be prepared. The dark haired man would not alter his outfit much, however. Instead he would keep his hoodie on, simply moving his sunglasses from the top of his head to his face, covering his two crystal blue eyes with pitch black plastic shading. The two would glance at each other before starting to move towards the west, and out of the city. While they were clearly in business together, it did not prevent them from spending time with each other. Small talk would soon erupt.

"So are you headed back home from here?" The blonde would ask, not bothering to stop looking where he was headed.

The dark haired man would nod profusely before slinging the rucksack over his shoulder, much like it should have been. His hands would soon be shoved in to his pockets, and the blonde would continue to speak.

"That's a long ways away to travel with a haul like that. You gonna meet up with a buddy or something? Your boss won't be too pleased if he hears you got mugged. Hehe." The blonde would cackle a bit, the jar having been tucked tightly into his messenger bag, and tightened to prevent any swinging.

"You're right." The brunette would respond. "My cousin's friend is going to get me a boat down to Mizu in the morning. I'm going to stay with him in the mean time." His hands as well would fall in to his side pockets.

The scenery was something to admire. The orchid to the left, with the small time shops, and homes almost build in to the hill on the right- it created a subtle ambiance that men like these lived for. The city folk that would rarely find their way to this part of the country would always be taken back, and walks like this were not uncommon. Their style of dress would inform the locals of their origin, and to simply let them admire a place that they don't see too often. So as the pair needle through the fairly bland dirt roads, and the townsfolk would treat them as though they were nonexistent, it was rather strange to see what they saw next.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

It wouldn't typically be anything out of the ordinary, however, considering the circumstances that had been created, specifically for them, it had to have been noted. A man, draped it what appeared to be a short black cape would stand before them, unmoving, and watchful. A mask covered his face. While it wasn't uncommon to see people covering their faces, it would make sense for the men to be on edge. His arms were in the open, and he stood in a manner that was in no way threatening... but there was something about this situation... something eerie. The figure stood to the right of the rode, facing the almost never-ending orchid, and while his mask would hide the face behind it, it felt as though he was watching them. They would give him their respective glances, making sure that if he tried anything, they wouldn't be caught by surprise; even giving him a few looks over their shoulders. It was evident: he was frightening them. Seeing a figure like this in the city would be no cause for alarm, or even traveling in the wilderness, but for him to be here in this town, after their transaction... they had to make sure that he wasn't a threat.

"Should we check this guy out?" The brunette would ask under his breath, the blonde taking a moment to respond, but eventually nodding as his beenie would find itself once more placed atop his pulled back hair.

Without notice, the two would turn on their heel, their hands both concealed from plain view, their faces blaring of aggression and distaste; that would quickly change. As they turned, they would notice that this figure had moved quite quickly. From where he once stood, he now stood directly in front of them, in fact, mere inches from them. There was a moment of hesitation that seemed to last an eternity. Staring at this man, they could finally see his eyes through the mask which resembled some sort of hound. They were red. Despite having been from the city, where odd things were done to appear unique, even having seen red eyes in the past, this was enough to startle the both of these men.

They would simultaneously take a step back, their hands leaping from their pockets to reveal rather sizeable knives. it was a trick picked up by inner city gangs to conceal the use of dangerous weapons, having holsters within their pants pockets which allowed them to use hidden weapons without suspicion. However, as they took their step backwards, their opposition would take a step forward. His strike was almost blinding; a quick hook to the brunette, who would in turn stumble into the blonde, only for the strangers right foot to extend into the belly of the blonde who had been caught off guard. They would both find themselves stumbling back, but quick on the recovery.

"Who sent you?" The blonde would shout out, swiping his knife in front of him threateningly.

There was no response. Only the sound of the few startling bystanders which had since then fled from the scene in an attempt to find the rag-tag group of authorities which governed this small town.

"He wants the package... probably an ex-ninja." The brunette would say hastily, almost as if he had been waiting for the opportunity to drop the information. "My boss told me that someone might come after us... but you and I can probably take him." He would finish, the blonde almost automatically nodding in agreement.

"We may not know who you are... but you sure as hell don't know us either."

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

There was a moment of silence. It was almost as if the figure was taking heed to what the blonde had said to him. For a moment, the two of them had actually considered their plan to have worked. It was only until there enemy was once more upon them did they realize the fatality in their mistake. It was within an instant that he would approach them. It would take another instant for his short blade to sweep across the chest of the dark haired man, the arm of the stranger cocking his hand to the side before releasing violently to throw his strength, and the blood of his enemy, to the side. His weight would soon kick in to gear as well. His body would thrust against the now pulsating wound of the enemy that had attacked, sending his body once more flying backwards, only this time, the recovery rate would be a bit slower. Like a rag doll, his body would fall crushingly to the ground. The masked man's fist would finally leave the impacted flesh of his victim just in time to grasp the back of his blade. He could feel the weight of his enemy's strength pressing against it, aimed directly for his throat. It was a common maneuver, decapitation. In fact, it was quite rare that another lethal move would be used against an unprepared enemy. However, it would appear to work in the favor of the stranger, for as the weight of blonde would push the body of the masked man away, he understood just how right his statement was.

The blonde would take quick control of the situation. His feet would skid against the ground, the dust unsettling beneath the masked man's mass before he took an extra step back to catch his balance. Of course, by this time, there was no time to stop the blonde man's kick. Flying into the air, the base of his foot would crush against the chest of the masked man, sending him flying in a fashion that was similar to the attack performed against the brunette. Bustling from his previous position, the blond would react within an instant, his knife swinging wildly into the air in an attempt to gain further momentum to ensure his next attack wasn't a failure. Tumbling back onto his feet, the masked man would stumble backwards a few steps before using his force to push himself forward into an unexpected position. Stepping in, he would meet the blonde a bit earlier than expected. His wrist would shoot forward, connecting with the wrist of his fellow combatant, before using his strength to overpower the swinging arm and use its momentum against him. His hands would grasp the shoulder of the man, and the blonde would respond by bringing the blade to the mask man's sides. His kidney was the target; a sure death stroke. It would only be until the man's body would turn into the blonde's pelvis, his opposite hand pushing into his throat to knock him directly onto his back. It wasn't a violent move, but knocked him quite easily to the ground, which would help the masked man gain some space as he would begin to perform backflips in the opposite direction.

Retaining his space, it would take an instant for him to utilize his time. Tossing his weapon at his enemy, he would find himself in a position of absolute control. The tip of the blade would find itself only inches away from the temple of his blonde enemy, only to have it swiped away by an excellent maneuver with his enemy's knife. However, it was to be expected. These men would have been trained well enough to protect something such as this. Despite it having been simply a key element, the contents of that gourd was top secret and had to be taken- so were his orders. As his hands would meet, and odd shapes would begin to form with them, it would becoming sickeningly obvious that something 'different' was about to happen. Leaping from his position to the side of his comrade, the blonde would follow suit. Continuing to kneel, he would begin making symbols of his own, and as the fists of the masked man would raise into the air, and as the clean, white armor would be revealed, it would only take an instant for them to swing back down and deliver a crippling blow into their direction. They stood at the foot of the hill, and the wind surrounding them would pick up to an astronomical degree. All of the public had vanished, wisely, as the terrain would pick up and crash against each other. Each rock beneath the two of them would tremble with the force of the blow. They would only feel the secondary effects however. Almost as quickly as it had been prepared, a tall, stone wall would stand between the violent force of the wind and their two able bodies. Holding his chest, the brunette would finally be able to sit up, and help his comrade in battle. While it was almost a given, this really proved to be the ultimate marker for the rest of what this battle would look like. While they would have liked to believe that the person whom they were fighting would be a quick pushover... it was quite evident that they were all in fact, ninja; and things would not be easy.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

A single foot would reveal itself as the blonde would step from behind his cover. The shadow of the monolith in which he had constructed no longer covering him. His hand would raise to the tip of his cap, grasping the edge before dragging it from the top of his head and tossing it to the side. The remaining wind would take control of it before it would flutter away in the wind. This would be the first time that he would reveal his face to this stranger, and more than likely the last. Taking a quick glance around he would ensure that there were no more civilians there- not that he cared for their safety. Another glance would reveal that his partner had taken a grave injury, and while he was struggling to stand, he was still willing to fight. So as he too would step from the shadows of this stone, the ferocity in his eyes seemed more submissive than aggressive. Slouched over, he would cling to his bleeding chest, his clothing now soaked in his own blood. The bags under his eyes showed his weariness, and the wobbling of his legs revealed that it was taking effort to remain standing. This did prevent him from losing his rucksack.

"We were warned about you... are you alone?" The brunette would struggle to spit out, his hand eventually grasping his knee to prevent himself from buckling over.

There was no response from the masked man. While they couldn't see his eyes, it was evident that he had no intention of conversing with them. Instead, he would stand across from them, his hands hanging at his sides, hidden by the short cape, and his head hidden by the dark hood at its collar. The brunette would look over at his partner, to which his partner would notice the eagerness in his eyes. Mouthing something to him, it was clear that this was a dire situation, and considering the severity of the circumstance... it called for desperate measures.

"Just make sure you don't break that jar. I'll buy you some time." The blonde would say to the brunette, his eyes focused on the enemy at their front.

The brunette would spit some blood to the side before answering. "Got it!"

Like a rocket, the blonde would erupt in a burst of speed, his legs carrying him directly towards his enemy. Almost immediately, the masked man would follow suit, his legs becoming a blur within an instant as they would lift his body across the terrain. He would hardly be able to feel the slight trembling beneath him as the blonde would begin to formulate shapes similar to the ones he had produced just moments before. As his speed would deteriorate, the power of his steps would increase. Within the seconds that it took for the masked man to arrive, the blonde would have finished. His fist placed behind his head, ready to strike, he would thrust himself into his fist- his full weight flying in front of him. His body would contort in his step, his rear foot landing firmly against the ground as his shoulder would arch over with his fist, and his weight. However, while he would be aiming for the masked face of his opponent, the speed difference would prove to be a bit too drastic to catch him. Hitting nothing but air, the blonde would find himself skidding to a halt, trying his best to recover the location of his now dispersed enemy.

"Above!" The brunette would shout with a dramatic tone.

By then it was too late. The blonde's neck would retract and his eyes would stare quickly into the sky, just in time for the body and cape of the masked man to block out the sun, casting a rather dark shadow over his enemy. A single seal remained present at his chest, and as he began to shake his head- much like that of a snake- it would be revealed just what was in store for the ninja.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

There was a moment of silence before the deafening sound of rubble being incinerated would shake into the ears of everyone still present. The sounds of crunching, smashing and spraying would be enough of a distraction, however it was the rubble and debris that would spew forth that would cause the brunette to thrust himself backwards, covering his eyes with his coat sleeve in order to prevent being blinded. It wouldn't do much. As the masked man would land cat-like directly in front of the brunette, it would take another instant for the dirt cloud caused from the explosion to envelop them both. The brunette's eyes would shut instantly, and as he would attempt to retreat, he would be stopped short by the instant feeling of pain coursing through his leg.

"Aaaah!!" He would shout, his arms instantly dropping to his waste as he would grasp a hold of his muscles, the cold steel of his enemy's katana now planting him into the ground.

The dust would begin to settle, and the tall, dark image of the masked man would stand out instantly. Brooding over the brunette, it was evident that he was now in charge of the situation. Standing over the coveted jar, the brunette would struggle to free himself as he would observe the man placing a special set of gloves over his once bare hands. His eyes would soon be drawn to where he had last seen the blonde- the image revealing the now mangled and bloody body of his once comrade. It was unclear whether or not he was actually dead, but regardless, he was now out of the picture. By the time his eyes had trailed back to the masked man, whom had now removed a small black bag from his back pouch, and was now covering the jar to sling it around his back. It was a sick feeling- being so helpless. He had already lost a significant amount of blood, and with the katana lodged through his lower thigh, he was soon to bleed out- his fate was sealed. Staring up at the masked man with blatantly weak eyes, it would take a significant amount of energy to say the words that would slip from his lips next.

"Hehehe... you idiot." The words were insignificant.

As the masked man would begin to walk away, his job considered done, it would be the next sentence said to him that would actually stop him in his tracks.

"You really think they would only send one man to collect something like that?" He would spit blood violently as he would finish what would only be assumed to be his final words.

It was at that moment that things seemed to have changed. The grimace that would cover the face of the brunette would bode poorly enough, but it wasn't until the evident chakra signatures would begin to pop up from left to right, to above to below that things would actually seem a bit less simple for the lone masked man. Backtracking a few steps, he would continue to the body of the dying man, the gloved hands of the shinobi would release themselves from the weighted armor- tossing them to the ground- before feeling the tired rope handle of the blade beneath his fingertips.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

"They say that the only thing that tires a beast is a beast which is evidently more ferocious." It was the voice of an older man, the age evident in its fatigue. "I hope that isn't the case- I want to see the real ferocity of the Autumn Hound for myself."

It would take another second for the masked man to count just how many shinobi had surrounded him. As bodies would begin to appear from the brush of the orchard, from the stones of the will, or from the very ground itself, it would become evident that he was outnumbered by an incredible degree. After his count, it would only take a second to discover where the voice had come from. As they were all masked, covered under the image of what could only be described as bandages covering their noses and mouths, some of them having masks similar to his own with a bit more of a demonic twist. A few oni masks would make themselves evident, as well as various ghouls or goblins. He was one of the more eccentric of the lot. A dark blue mask would stare blatantly at him- the massive yellow eyes of the mask unmoving as the bodies of himself and his troupe of ninja keep watch. A thick, short flak jacket would hug the body of this man. One skintight sleeve would hug his arm while the opposing would grasp the tip of his katana handle which stuck tightly to his back. He was the only one which appeared to be standing away from cover, however his pose made it evident that he was still ready for battle. His opposite hand would reach for the tips of his mask, and slowly begin to pull it to the side, knocking his thick black hair to the side as he would make real eye contact with his enemy.

"It's been a long time since we've seen each other." The man would say coarsely.

His facial hair had gotten out of control. It had appeared that he shaved a few weeks ago, but his beard had begun to take over. He had begun to gray slightly on the tips of his hair, but nothing that was uncommon for someone in their mid-thirties. He was not thirty by any means however. The vibrant brown eyes of the man were unnerving to the normal man, and as he would raise himself from one knee into the sky, it would be that much more adequate when he would stand in blatant opposition of the Kumo-nin.

"I am The Wolf of The Bridge: Kirijin Yukosata." The man would say clearly, a slight grin crossing his face as he would announce himself. "Perhaps you remember me from our Chuunin Exams? It appears that we've both grown since then."

The masked man would continue to stare at his one opposition, one at least. It would take a moment for him to follow suit, but as his own free hand would slide over his face, and remove the thick white mask from his head, his eyes would finally be revealed. There was a slight amount of startle that was heard from the troop surrounding him. The eyes of the Autumn Hound had carried alongside of the reputation of his exploits. With every body buried, another tale of his eyes would be told, until the two ere synonymous. Eyes the shade of the devil himself. The Autumn Hound: Sarutobi Kassui.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

"They call me the Wolf of the Bridge." A coarse voice would boast loudly, slamming his fist against his chest without erring his speech.

The grin that would erupt from the young man's lips was almost mocking. The silver tips of slicked back hair and a strong jawline would reveal just how off this man looked. He was handsome to say the least, but that did nothing for him in a place like this. Here it was his rugged features that would reveal just how prepared he was for this situation. The dirt under his fingernails, the scrapes that had been acquired from head to toe and, of course, the combination of filth and blood which had dirtied his clothing- it was that that showed that he was no stranger to these environments. The katana were strapped to his thick, rope belt. It was an uncanny introduction for a ninja- then again, considering that the five ninja had been placed into a showdown situation- there wasn't much room for surprise. As Kassui stood there, shoulder to shoulder with his only remaining partner during the exams, he would face the three man cell that would offer them direct opposition. Three Konoha-nin, all of which proudly bearing the flag of the swirling leaf. This young man in particular would keep the hitai-ate strapped to his forehead. His teammate to the left- lazily tied to cover her neck. The final team mate being a bit more conventional himself, also having tied the strap around his forehead. They were nothing spectacular, all wearing similar outfits to show their unity- which would differ drastically from their opposition.

An abandoned city square would be the the last place that some of these people would ever see. The buildings surrounding it had not been taken care of. Rooms would spill over into the streets. Walls would remain nothing but rubble as they would pile up in front of these once polished and prestiged buildings. As the rats would scatter, and the voice of this boisterous shinobi would echo, it was clear that things wouldn't last long here.

"Surrender!" The tallest boy would shout, taking a step forward, only for the boy in the center to raise his hand- preventing him from proceeding.

"Look at their hitai-ate. Kumo-nin never surrender..." He would say curtly, his grin widening even further as he would lower his arms from his chest and place them atop one of the two blades at his side.

Two red eyes would peer to his left as he would take a look at his team mate, who he had gathered he would probably never see again. He had always considered her attractive for her age. A few years older than himself, she had been a genin for a bit longer as well- working as an assistant to one of the intelligence executives for a year or two before deciding to participate in the exams. She had narrow eyes that had the ability to pierce into the soul of almost any man. They were almost as savage as his own. Perhaps that was where his desire lay. Her hair cut off at her shoulders very neatly, and the bandages which formed somewhat of a tight turban around her scalp would help keep her hair out of her face, even if there were a few bangs which would occasionally fall just above her eyes. She constantly wore a serious tone about her, and while here clothes were just as ragged as The Wolf of the Bridge, it might have been the coloration which made them seem a bit more put together. A hooded poncho would cover her body for the most part- the rest protected by skin tight leggings that would reveal itself to be an actual bodysuit if further investigated. Her team mate was a bit less strategic with his clothing. Barely being held together by casual stitching, his thick, hand-me-down kimono would drape over his surprisingly tall body. The only thing which didn't seem to be old was the considerably long black scarf which coupled around his neck quite a few times, covering his neck completely.

[BLKND]

沈 黙 を 聞 く

Neither of them spoke, but as Kassui would continue to stare, it would lift his spirits to see that after a few moments- she would turn to meet his gaze. They would share that moment together, and it matter- actually matter. It was the first time that Kassui had ever wanted to reach out to someone, for something to take his hand the way that he had seen the boys and girls his age do. He didn't reach out. She didn't reach out. They would slowly drift from each others gaze as they focus back towards the three ninja that could at any moment take both of their lives.

The dust would settle and it would be revealed to Kassui that he was no longer in a situation of controlling. As the heat of human breath would weigh in on him, and the sounds of pre-battle would cling to his inner ear, he would follow suit. As his right arm would fall to his front, and the katana would shine in the glimmer of the sun. His eyes were serious, and while the bodies which ached for battle grew hesitant from his confidence, so would his power magnify.

"Come..." He would say, almost under his breath as his left hand would slide into the lower half of the handle, taking the rough brass between his fingertips before grasping roughly to ensure his grip.

It would take a few moments, but it would come nonetheless. The shade of an endless shadow would consume him as the bodies of what seemed like hundreds of men would descend upon him. The first to land was a woman- he could tell from the curve of her sword swipe, as well as the size of her wrists. Taking a step back, the tip of her blade would miss him by mere centimeters, and as the tip of her curved katana would glide down, as would her weight. Backtracking, he would take the proper step forward, using his strength to grip the edges of the handle, only to push through her arms first, followed by her body with his blade. Her blood would easily splatter behind where she once stood onto the masks of the people that would quickly take her place. There was no time for her to scream- but plenty for the display to startle her team mates. The men that would appear behind him would miss the gravity of the display, and as they would move in, their blades as spears to pierce their enemy's back, they would soon feel the weight of his blade crashing towards the tips of their own. Spinning around, he would deflect the backstabbing, again pulling their weight towards the ground. It would take the blink of an eye for him to decapitate the first in his sight, recovering his momentum as he would swing wildly at the neck of his other exposed victim, who would drop his blade in an attempt to escape. It was useless. The tip of the sword would slice through the neck of his enemy, his blood spraying almost everywhere as he would turn on his heel before falling to the earth from a mixture of shock and exhaustion.

His arms over his head, it would be simple for him to bring his full strength down upon the next poor soul to step into his path. It just so happened to be a rather portly fellow who would attempt to use his brute strength and bare hands to catch the Hound off guard. It wouldn't work out for him. Within an instant the blade would find itself halfway through his body via his left shoulder. Blood would flow from his wound almost too easily, and despite his strength would find itself only going halfway through the man's body before being stuck. Yanking on the ends would prove fruitless, and soon Kassui would find himself struck he would forget of the possibility of recovering the blade. Stumbling backwards, he would find himself instantly under the assault of the same man whom had struck him. A lean man with arms which would fight against the clothing which covered them. Swinging once more, his fist would soon find itself beneath the underarm of the red eyed man. Taking his right hand, Kassui would plunge a massive, thin senbon into the man's joint, and through his elbow. Exhaling in pain, an secondary needle would soon find itself shoving itself into the man's shoulder, between his clavicle and back. The man would fall to his knees, his shouts disturbing some as they would nonetheless continue to approach their target. Leaping into the air towards the woods, Kassui would find himself intercepted by a woman who appeared to be going in for the kill. Her blade drawn, she would swing the claymore in a vertical fashion, only narrowly missing her target before landing with him at the edge of the woods. The two would skid, and as she would raise the heavy blade once more, Kassui would have already grabbed it. Raising it above her head, he would thrust his heel into her belly, yanking the blade to his side as he did so.

Swinging the blade in a wild fashion against the current, he wouldn't even bother looking to see who he was hitting, or where he was hitting them. An unsuspecting young man was the victim. The blade would hit the side of his head. No where near as sharp it would leave a massive gash in the side of the man's head- his body falling quickly the ground.

[Yahiko]

+85