Collectin' [Q]

[marvolous.]

Even with his words, nothing happened. Unlike yesterday, where the very sand surrounding the gargantuan sinkhole had seemingly acted on it's own, today there was nothing - no voice, no ominous movement of sand, nothing. Considering the stern warning that voice had given, this, of all things, was quite strange. As a result, Akira was able to head into the hole unhindered, allowing him to reach the bottom without any problems at all.

Now at the bottom, though rather dark, there was only one direction in which he could proceed. Heading straight forward would lead Akira further and further into the underground cavern. At first, there would be nothing but sand and darkness awaiting him; after several minutes of running, should he have continued with his pace, he would be brought to an exit. Two exits, to be specific.

Each exit led to a different location. The first one, on Akira's left, headed straight down before curving west; the second one, which was more in the middle than on his right, did the exact opposite - albeit, clearly led to somewhere with sufficient lighting.

It seemed to be the easier of the two choices, but in truth, was it really?

[Nujabes]

Left or right.

I stood there for several moments weighing my options, tapping a finger against my bottom lip. Deciding which way to go on a quest -- especially one as important as this (a matter of national pride), I really didn't want my decision to be the deciding factor. So, I flipped a coin.

Tails.

Pivoting, I took the darker path. Naturally, lacking the light the "better" option held, I was a little more on edge. I kept my hand on Hebi's hilt, ready to draw her at a moment's notice -- I'd be ready for whatever this shit hole had waiting for me.

[marvolous.]

The path Akira chose was darker, yes, but was rather simplistic in comparison to the lighter path. As such, even without any light to guide him through, he would easily be able to forge a proper path. If he continued to follow that path he would reach a second pair of exits. Unlike last time, both of the exits of sorts led to places with lighting.

The only differences between the two pathways was that one (On the left) was filled with what seemed to be a thick haze of smoke, whilst the other - clear, and illuminated - seemed to lead into an area filled with sand.

[Nujabes]

Haze -- of course. It was always the worst situation when you had a suspicion that you were surrounded by a mist that wasn't too healthy for you, but you simply couldn't hold your breath long enough to get by it completely. So, I did the only thing I could: try.

Taking a deep breath (which was thankfully much larger than your average person's, due to my size), I continued forward. There was a little more pep in my step than usual, for obvious reasons, and I was all but jogging down the winding, snake-like path.

Hopefully, the haze would begin to thin and, in time, evaporate before anything started to happen to me. Worst case scenario? I fought whatever the fuck it was lurking down here handicapped.

[marvolous.]

The further and further he delved into the exit the haze would, in fact, begin to thin. It's presence was still noticeable, surely leaving most vision of the path ahead obscured and slightly dark, but it had faded away enough that it didn't pose a threat towards his health. Most of it would have disappeared by the time Akira reached the end of the path; it was a dead end, just a mere room. It was filled with light, almost as if someone had just been there.

"Hey hey hey. We have a guest!"

Much like the sand from earlier, the voice was seemingly generated from nowhere. It bounced around the room, hanging in the air longer than usual - almost, perhaps, like it was more than an echo.

"Shhh, you'll scare em' off."

A second voice erupted out from the room. Then, in the same breath, a man appeared; he emerged from the ground, quite like the hard surface was an extension of his body. He stood there, cladded in armor from head to toe, wearily watching the only entrance (And exit) to the room.

"We caught a big one this time brother!"

On que, a second man shot up from the ground. Like his 'brother', he wore armor all throughout his body. Standing next to each other, the two almost seemed like the same person.

"Would'ya look at that! It looks like we did!"

The older (And maturer) of the two, standing on Akira's left, retrieved his weapon from his back. With a simple 'tug' it was brought out in front of him; the large item, quite resembling a fan, whistled almost as if it sensed the Akira's presence.

"I need to know ya' name before we kill you."

[Nujabes]

Finally, some action.

It’d be more than a “minute” since the last time I’d had a good fight, and while the brothers before me didn’t appear to be all that impressive, their introductions had sparked my interest. It wasn’t every day—even in a world of shinobi—that people simply sprouted up from the ground. Even so, it definitely going to take a lot more than these two goons to keep me away from what was rightfully my people’s.

It couldn’t have been too far off, if I was actually being greeted by guards now.

With a simple tug on Hebi’s pommel, she slithered from her sheath with a hiss and radiant cluster of light. “You won’t be alive long enough to remember it.” My eyes narrowed and my stance widened, balanced and weightless—I was ready for anything either of these two intended to throw at me.

My free hand rose, and with a taunting finger, I beckoned them come.

[marvolous.]

"He's taunting us now brother!"

"The little shit is lookin' to die."

"Baka! Hes not little! Go get him Mu."

Mulling his brother's words over, Mu whipped his large weapon once more, producing the same whistle like scream as he embedded his chakra throughout it's core. From there, all it took was a simple swing for the weapon to generate enough power to send a razor sharp gust of wind towards his opponent. It was fast, long, and extremely aciculate -- cutting deep into the ground as it transcended the rather short distance.

Simultaneously, Ai - the other brother - shot forward, using careful footwork and rather impeccable timing to trail directly behind his brother's wind. Weaponless, his hands came together to form a simple hand seal, allowing his chakra to be split equally to five Shadow Clones; all, separated by a mere meter or two in a straight line, heading to intercept Akira no matter what direction he chose to move - if even at all.

No matter the outcome of the inital attack, Mu followed in suit of his brother, albeit at a slower pace. He'd watch from afar, ready to deliver a similar attack should he deem it necessary.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mu:

Dai Kamaitachi (Great Cutting Whirlwind)
Rank: B
Type: Offensive / Fuuton Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Handseals: Yes [No with fan]
Chakra: High
Special: Blast measures between 10 meters, pierces barriers 'B' ranked and below, and can stack 'B' ranked bonus damage each time retrained. However, after every third retraining, the consumption will go up by one. This technique requires no hand seals when used with a fan type weapon; however, the technique will requires seals if the arm is used to facilitate it. Distance at which it can travel depends on the user's Kiroku Gaijuu range.
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 sixty degree cone. The winds are razor sharp, cover a wide area, and can cut through trees like butter.
Domain: Fuuton. Kamaitachi. Kiroku Gaijuu 'B

Ai:

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary.
Range: Self
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Halves the user's chakra.
Special: When first learned, a single Shadow Clone can be produced. Each time re-learned, one additional clone can be made, for a maximum of 5. Please remember that regardless of the amount of clones made, the chakra is still divided evenly amongst all bodies. However, when a clone is defeated or chooses to disappear, whatever remaining chakra within their bodies, as well as their knowledge, returns to the user. The only exception is 'Bunshin Bakuha', which sacrifices the chakra return for a grand explosion. This technique can only be learned by Jounin ranked shinobi; no exceptions!
Description: Kage Bunshin is an advanced, forbidden Ninjutsu technique, which grants the user the ability to create a tangible clone. The normal Bunshin technique creates a copy of the ninja that lacks any substance. However, Kage Bunshin distributes the ninja's chakra evenly among the clones and creates a real copy with form and substance, to the point the clone can utilize any jutsu the original ninja knows, and spawns with any equipment the user has one them at the time of the summoning. When the clone finally disperses, any new knowledge it has gained is passed back to the original ninja and any additional clones.
Domain: Universal Ninjutsu.

[Nujabes]

Their team work was fairly decent, but nothing that I couldn't handle with all things considered. One would suspect my weakness, as a taijutsu focus, to be ninjutsu. However, that's where Hebi came in. She was a pretty nasty wrench in any ninja's plans, especially those that intended to try and overpower me with long-ranged attacks.

Now, typically speaking, Hebi was more so useful for single-based assaults. Wide-area attacks, while still effected, were more so moot (being as how I couldn't nullify the technique entirely, but more so just a sliver). However, considering our surroundings, it seemed that the terrain fell into my favor. The hallway wasn't incredibly small, but it was too large either - a meager hall that lead to a dead end of a room. So, the deadly winds that sought purchase on my body would, naturally, find themselves squeezed and compacted the closer they came.

Perfect, to say the least.

With a back-handed swipe, rising from bottom right to upper left, Hebi passed through the swollen bosom of air; and just like that, the entire technique vanished without so much as a trace. My arm continued on its path however, seemingly overtaken by the sheer force of my strike, rising and hooking over my shoulder. However, what some might've viewed as an "opening" was quickly closed.

My right hand, free to do as it wished, followed the path of my left not even a faction of a second later. Two kunai were released from the motion, aimed more so to the left of the five-man cell. Their tags weren't hidden in the least, flapping vigorously from the high velocity winds washing over them as they cut through the air toward the group's flank. Presuming they didn't move, at least the two furthest clones would be dispersed.

The lone seal that throwing hand formed the moment those projectiles left its fingertips was promising, to say the least.

[marvolous.]

"You see that Mu?!"

Ai shouted, a swift - and rather smart - maneuver bringing his body to a stop, just short of his opponent. His eyes watched and analyzed the situation ahead of him, noting how his brother's attack had vanished almost instantaneously by a mere swing of his opponent's weapon. He hadn't conjured a technique with the swing, for all he knew, so all that was left to assume was the blade had absorbed it in it's entirety. It was puzzling, but not that fat fetched; afterall, Hiramekarei wasn't the only special sword out there.

"Tch." Almost as suddenly as Ai had stopped in his tracks, Mu, having trailed directly behind to somewhat obscure his actions, fired off a similar attack. It was smaller than the last but traveled with far greater ferocity, aimed to disrupt or hinder the poorly hidden exploding tags that were laced upon each kunai before heading towards his opponent.

Somewhat expecting such, Ai, being infront of Mu and therefore in the way of the strike, shifted his weight to the right side of his body. Then, quite like a snake, his body contorted, twisted and stretched; allowing his entire torso to narrowly avoid the edges of his brother's technique, whilst simultaneously granting him the ability to move his body without the need of continuing on foot.

Both of the brother's timing was extremely pinpoint, almost as if it was synchronized. While Mu's attacked continued on towards Akira, destroying the two clones should the explosion from the tags have not done it's job, Ai's entire upper body matched it's speed. Coming in from the right and having curved his body to do so, his head would reach it's destination just after his brother's attack; timed perfectly to ensure, should the man have swallowed the initial attack, that he'd be able to capitalize on that small "opening" and latch his fangs¹ onto the man's right leg.

No matter the outcome, the remaining three clones narrowed in on their prey. Their fangs were all exposed, and they each seemed determined to draw blood from their guest.

SPOILER: Click to show

The clones are about a few meters away from you, but, for the record, won't reach you until mid-way through your response, assuming there are no interrupts.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mu:
Dai Kamaitachi (Great Cutting Whirlwind)

Ai:
Nan-Kaizou (Way of the Snake - Soften Modification) S-Rank

¹ Jatai no Sasori (Strike of the Snake [Venom Fangs]) S-rank

[Nujabes]

Excellent.

Things were going a little better than I expected them to, but I certainly wasn't going to complain about any of it. The first of the two brothers (Ai) had stopped dead in his tracks as I vanquished the other's (Mu) assault, and that little mitigation of conviction had already put them several steps behind me.

The seal I'd performed the moment I'd thrown the tags wasn't for them. In fact, the tags had served their purpose relatively well - they were just the decoys. While the cave I was in may have been durable to a fault, I wasn't willing to risk any chances of causing a collapse. A double explosion from the tags may have been all it needed to bring everything crumbling down on the three of us, and while they may have no cared whether they lived or died, I had too much to live for. But beyond that, explosions were always the best shepherds for your enemies.

In truth, it was for Hebi. These brothers weren't the only "snakes" down here, dwelling in the cave, as they were about to find out rather abruptly.

By the time the second attack ripped out, Hebi (using the excess momentum from my over swing and the sheer unique ability of her own "release") was already careening about at an alarming rate from behind me, coming out at the waist. The clones, having never stopped moving (and thusly still in the way of the secondary wave) would have been dispersed by their creator's own accord. This was even more cemented by the fact that they'd narrowed in on me in their formation, with the winds raging directly behind them.

Destroying all of the clones body at once would've been more than enough to disperse the winds. But in the pursuit of safety, several steps to my right (opposite to Ai) would have ensured only the outer most edges would've touched me. A few scraps, if that, and nothing more.

And with all of that out of the way, using a simple flick of my wrist, the snake-like blade would've turned left (my left) hard, cleaving through the earth as it instantly doubled-back and, more than likely, through the encroaching twin's body. Evasion was more so difficult when you couldn't see it coming (as his face would've been looking at Akira. While he may have been able to see the sword extend, seeing it "double-back" and thusly eviscerate him is an entirely different matter), and even in the time it would've taken his sibling to speak, Hebi's hunger would have been sated.

My lack of severe movements, however, served another purpose. One that these two would enjoy, I'm sure.

SPOILER: Click to show

¹___

[Trigga]

Mu did nothing more than scuff as his and Ai’s attacks were foiled so easily beneath the weight of a single man. In a game not easily won, the best strategy was to sit back, scrutinize and prepare a proper counter measure. With that in mind and the realization that Ai was well on his way to Hell’s doorsteps, his presence was relinquished from the two; swiftly stepping down into the very ground he stood upon well before any attempt on his life could be made. While Mu and his fan vanished from sights, safely away from harm’s grasp, Ai wasn’t so lucky.

Nonetheless, as his clones quivered beneath Hebi’s might, one-by-one generating a column of smoke in their departure, he grinned. We’ll meet again brother, soon.. Positioning himself with his abnormally flexible frame, his neck extended outwards, happily accepting Hebi’s steel through its bearings, and just as easily decapitating the man without the slightest of opposition; it was as if Ai wanted this to happen.

You were granted moments to yourself, time to reflect on the events that had transpired in the moments your strong, seemingly assertive eyes met with the twin snakes. Though this period of peace was short-lived for the ground crumbled and where Mu surfaced, a cavity appeared. Pure darkness echoed from the ground and it seemed this newly formed ‘pit’ stretched some ways into the earth, even further then where you already resided. No larger than a few meters in circumference, this circular opening was just large enough for a man to slip through—the beast you wanted to feast upon the lands surely was too large.

What would you do? Retract your steps and find another way out or to Mu, or fall into this obvious trap. The decision was yours, be mindful. Looks were deceiving and the mind was the ultimate charlatan.

[Nujabes]

One down.

I could almost feel Hebi writhing in indescribable pleasure as her blade cleaved through the other brother's flesh, drinking in his blood of which was in such vast supply. The other had retreated into the bowels of the earth, and with no more opponents (visually), I performed a single seal to retract the extended sword -- which, at that point, was now laying lifeless against the floor.

Twirling it once, I sheathed the sword; it was about that time that the opening in the floor became apparent. A trap, perhaps, but I only intended on movin' forward. Reaching into my utility pouch, I retrieved a single marked kunai and lobbed it into the abysmal entrance, waiting several seconds for it to fall into the depths.

Then, "Kai!"

BOOM! The explosion would've ripped through the entirety of the small little thing, more than likely destroy Mu had he been inside of it. Regardless of what occurred, simply moving around (whether on the wall or ceiling) would be my course of action. It appeared that the two brothers had been guarding a door at the end of the hall. I'd much rather prefer to see what was in there.

[Trigga]

You did well not to feed into the twin’s malicious gambit and justly destroying the walls which formed the trap door. Had you been a fool enough to pay into curiosity’s hands, you fould have met a near infinite fall with the only realization of death the moment you hit the ground—fi you ever hit the ground.

You’re rather flashy and destructive assault against the tunnel was loud, and surely caught the attention of whatever rested at the bottom, or near and now you were faced with the door in which Mu and Ai protected prudently. At your fingertips and for the grabbing, you now had the choice of staying where you were and backtracking, or entering into the unknown--- would you finally give into your seemingly voracious desire to learn more and expand your horizon or play it safe and return home without taking such a deathly risk?

The sword was waiting at the bottom and yours for the taking.

If you could take it…

[Nujabes]

My only intention in life was to move forward.

The door and the stairs that followed were the only thing I'd see as I pushed through the threshold of the room before me, my hand fastened to Hebi's hilt and ready to unleash her upon the world once more. While I wasn't able to keep an exact measurement of the distance from top to bottom, considering the winding and swirling, I'd manage to keep a rough estimate simply from counting how long it'd been since I started walking down them.

I reached the door after what felt like the better half of thirty minutes, ready for whatever awaited me. I would reclaim the treasure of my people, regardless of what that other snake-bastard hard to say or do about it.

The door opened, and I was ready. This was the end.

[Trigga]

And behind door one was….

Mu.

Your patience and persistence had finally paid off and after pushing open the wooden obstruction that separated you from victory, your calm eyes now festered upon a still-stationed Mu.

“So you’ve finally arrived.” Words slightly muffled beneath the twirling of his fan¹, the man who had caused such irritation now stood just meters before you in a grand room. Lit by a series of strong candles, nothing was a secret and you could see all without hindrance. You were within arms-reach of what you had sought so hard after, now did you have the power to snatch it away?

---

1.prep