Recent Posts

So, he can't keep that thing up for long, huh? Whether it was actually due to some sort of strain (that I couldn't see), or simply the chakra required to sustain such a fearsome technique, I did not know. But, I do know this: it was the only thing keeping the fight going this long.

Considering I'd been looking at him the entire time, my retaliation (to both the dispersing of his Susano'o and the completion of the handseals) came swiftly, and again, without warning.

My right hand was already up above my shoulder, wrapped around Hiramekarei's hilt. With that said, considering I was still in the curve of motion, extending my fingers straight so that they were parallel to the length of my shoulders put him directly in line for another volley. By the time his hands connected with the earth, four bullets were whizzing through the air in a perfectly vertical line, three of which were guaranteed to strike in his current crouch (one along the cut, the other the chest, and the last his cranium).

Even though I was moving, my target was completely stationary. It made aiming a lot easier, and with a simple dip of my shoulder (to supplement the angle), I both ensured the aforementioned precision but also eliminated any chance I might nick myself, as well.

I wasn't sure how he intended to get out of this one, considering he was facilitating a technique. But, if I had to guest, if he could manage to escape this one, he'd be forced to cease the ground-altering technique in question and, once again, become intangible. However, even if he didn't, my escape would be a sure thing. Regardless of how great or marginal my loss of balance was, there was ample time for me to avoid a crushing defeat.

Tilting off to the right, just enough, a simple push from either leg was all that it took to send me retreating away from my opponent, obliquely in the air, over the crest of the forming dome and off of the earth, itself. The handful of meters separating us before was almost doubled from the motion (20m), giving the both of us more than enough room to work with-- presuming he was still alive.

SPOILER: Click to show

Equipment,
- Samehada
- Hiramekarei
- Training Weights
- All secondary weapons
- All Accessories

Chakra,
- 11 Massives

Having never stopped moving, by the time he turns, I'm already wall-past his side. I continue running along my curve, essentially keeping the aforementioned distance (14m) between us. For every step he takes in, I match with a step out, until incapable of doing such (as I'd be running into a wall).

As it stands, I'm now behind him, and being as how he'd be turning to follow me, we've effectively swapped sides on the battlefield. I don't mind his handseals, and keep waiting for another monstrous attack from his Susano'o. But, I prepare for my counter attack as I do.

My right hand wraps around the handle of Hiramekarei well before the kid has finished his handseals, my left remains firmly around Samehada, and like before, I do nothing.

SPOILER: Click to show

Equipment,
- Samehada
- Hiramekarei
- Training Weights
- All secondary weapons
- All Accessories

Chakra,
- 11 Massives

Too slow. Whatever the kid was planning, it was definitely going to have to wait. Even though it may not have been apparent, I was already poised to attack, despite the distance that still separated us. The boy had just wedged the kunai in his mouth, and then began his set of seals (the first), when all of that came to a screeching halt.

Pop, pop!¹ By the time he heard the sound, two bullets -- roughly the size of my fingertips, at least to the first knuckle -- were whizzing through the air from my right hand (which was already elevated and extended forward), the momentum of their acceleration so high they were nothing but blurs. Aimed for his center mass, by the time he completed the third seal of his technique and began crouching to slam his hands against the surface below, both of the projectiles would have borrowed their way through the center of his chest. But, I wasn't finished.

Another volley of two bullets followed, with no more than a second of lag between it at the first wave (which was more than enough time for me to accurately counteract any evasion, in terms of maneuvering, the kid might have had), aimed to strike him down if he were to make the foolish play to move up, left, or right. Naturally, if motion was his answer, I'd lead my shot to ensure he ran directly into it, almost guaranteeing a hit.

Regardless, the fifteen meters I'd given him to get his shit together once again shrank, now nothing more than eight meters. Yet, despite my speed, it was entirely controlled and I was ready for any last-minute adjustments to keep myself out of trouble.

What would he do?

SPOILER: Click to show

Equipment,
- Samehada
- Hiramekarei
- Training Weights
- All secondary weapons
- All Accessories

Chakra,
- 11 Massives

Even when you have the element of surprise, you can't be too careful. I've never been a good ninja-- the whole hiding thing and sneaking around just isn't my style, and is pretty hard when you're as tall and big as I am --so I tend to stay still for the most part, until I'm sure that I'm going to get a kill. With that said, I make heavy use of distractions and baits; it's easier to kill a bastard if they're focused on something else, even if they aren't focused on you to begin with (like I said earlier). So, I just waited. I was close enough to make my move, but far enough that I was just a shadow in the darkness.

When I saw the girl's dog go forward, I was admittedly interested. Though I hailed from Konohagakure, and she was not the only Inuzuka within Mizu no Kuni's borders, I'd never really spent too much time with them. So, it was interesting to finally see their skills get put to the test out on the field. Just a little more, I thought as the dog neared the friendly samurai. He extended his hand, and I knew at that moment that it was all over.

The dog leaps, the man yelps, and my targets stir. That's when their lives came to an end.

With a single hand wrapped around Samehada's hilt, I lunged into the air with a speed truly unnatural for a man my size. I'm above the man furthest to the right before he even fully manages to stand, with Samehada lifted from my back and over my head. I'm not sure what he noticed to make him look up-- though I'm sure it was the sound of rustling branches and wind --but his eyes met my own, just as I gripped the bottom of Samehada's hilt with my other hand for the double-handed grip, which was, admittedly, entirely unnecessary. Several waves of scales protruded from beneath the layers of bandages, and like a guillotine, I brought the monstrous weapon down on him.

The sheer impact was enough to kill him, flattening his skull with such force blood exploded from every orifice. The scales simply shredded what was left of his helmet and face as my stroke finished, cratering him into the earth. The second samurai, to my left, stared with a horrified expression on his face. Reaching for his sword, he was mid-way with unsheathing it by the time I'd crossed the necessary distance. Sweeping Samehada out, from right to left, so that a foot of its length crossed the man's abdomens. The sound of twisting steel range out, briefly, before the tearing of flesh as the samurai was nearly carved clean in two.

Blood and gore splattered across the ground, with the majority of it sinking into the bandages covering the blade. Tattered meat hung within the wedges of the scales, dropping with disgusting sloshes. In the glow of the campfire, the living blade looked more terrifying than I imagined possible. Writhing with utter glee, I could barely keep my grip on the hilt. But, the tremors died soon after, and only a eerie silence remained in the wake of our attack. A soft, sing-soft whistle left my lips, telling the girl to come. Once she was close, I looked to her.

"Good job." It was a fleeting compliment. "Now, flank left and I'll flank right. We meet at the bridge mouth in ten minutes, and storm our way to the Bridge Master."

Lulling my neck from side to side, and rolling my shoulders, several pops reverberated from beneath the flesh. I could still feel Samehada writhing against my back, anxious for chakra and flesh; the signal-man wouldn't quench its thirst or sate its hunger.

"I'll handle the two by the fire," I replied smoothly. I didn't doubt the Genin's skills, but as I've said, my sword was hungry. The last thing that I wanted to do was piss it off -- who knows when it might decide it simply didn't feel like fighting, if it didn't get its daily dosage of chakra.

Palming its handle, I glanced at the girl. "We'll rendezvous just to the west of the bridge's mouth. I imagine the bridge master is at the head -- there'll be a lot of samurai between us and him." With my free hand, I hooked my thumb along one of the bandages, clearly contemplating whether I should unveil my Sharingan so early in the fight. Deciding not to, my arm fell back to its side.

With that, I took off toward the two men that were soon to be my victims. Samehada's joy was almost annoying, it was worming along my spine so feverishly. But, I could understand its excitement; it'd been quite some time (since the assault on the Nibi) since it had eaten. I didn't like to think I was starving the beast, but I just wasn't the same person I used to be. My thirst for battle had all but vanished, and with it, Samehada's gaurantee of a filling meal.

But, I intended to make it up to him tonight.

Hutora appeared no more than a handful of seconds after the destruction had occurred, kneeling and-- from what I could see --shaking with what I could only imagine to be fear and confusion. "Mizukage-sama?" he whispered, waiting for my orders.

I open and closed my hand several times, palming the layer of blood and shredded flesh caking my fingers. The Hachibi's cloak had retreated back into my body, and the temperature around me immediately cooled.

"Send out three units of HYDRA to retrieve their bodies. If they're still alive, give them the medical treatment they need." No matter how badly I'd injured them, I was certain they were tough enough to survive. "If not," I continued, addressing the worst case scenario, "Then give them a proper burial."

"Hai!" Hutora said curtly, vanishing in a gust of wind.

Odd, indeed.

Though I really didn't appear to be paying too much attention to the oddities of my surroundings, I was on guard and cautious. There was a reservedness in my step that, in all honesty, I rarely used. But, this situation was different. Who knew the boundaries of my own mind? In the real world, I knew my foes - their limits and strengths. But here? Who was to say that a spider couldn't rip me in half, with or without the Hachibi's help?

It wasn't long before my watchful step led me into a clearing, decorated with beautiful flowers and neatly cropped grass. It reminded me of somewhere, but trapped within this dream-world, I couldn't imagine what it was. And that's when I heard it--

--the howl.

He's here, it said. It was followed, like an orchestra, by a slew of others. The noise blended into a calling that I recognized; each and every voice I knew was coming back to me. I remembered them all - the wolves of the pack I'd been initiated into as nothing more than an infant, when my family had left me for dead. And, as I imagined, it wasn't much longer before the head of my pack emerged from the shadows and mist.

"Father," I whispered breathlessly, my eye scanning him over several times to ensure it was him. It'd been so long since I'd seen him; I wanted nothing more than to rush over and grab him, hug him and roll in the grass like we used to when he trained me to hunt. I wanted to know how my mother was doing; my brothers and sisters, as well. But, something inside me hesitated -- I didn't move.

Instead, I lowered my stance, spreading my legs shoulder-width apart to distribute my balance. Something wasn't right. "Father, it's me." I looked around. Where were the others? "Why haven't the others come?"