Crossing Lines to Cross Blades

[LmnDrp]

Mission Title: Rogues must vanquish rogues
Mission Rank: A
Pay: 800.000 Ryo
Information: A Mizu no Kuni Diaymo has hired the trio to liberate one of the towns under his jurisdiction. In the south of Mizu no Kuni, there is a fishing village that has recently become overrun by nukennin. According to the Diaymo, five rogue ninja infiltrated one of his fishing villages. A majority of the original inhabitants were either killed or fled. The five nukennin that overtook the fishing village have been using bandits in the surrounding area to keep people out of their oasis. You all must wipe out the nukennin and make sure the bandits understand the fishing village is no longer theirs.

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stay sharp, stand tall, don't go down without a fight

112# ♦ Shinichi no Kotonashi

The small band of rogue shinobi had been travelling for a week and a half at this point, for the purpose of reaching the location of a mission they accepted from a Daimyo of Mizu no Kuni. Their trek from Tenkaigakure had been uneventful mostly, compared to the unexpected adventures Shinichi frequently found himself in, although he found it to be easier to wander off and get distracted while one travels alone. They were now successfully deep within the territory of the Land of Water, and their goal was one more days worth of travelling away. It was morning now so the man turned back to his allies and spoke, "let's move."

► kaigra ◄

[Takeo]

Zutsumi🗲Kazuha

After leaving Hi no Kuni and traveling through parts of Mizu no Kuni for some time now Kazuha favored this country over the previous. The trio had spent the night in a small abandoned home. Kazuha sat sitting up in the living room through the night, while Mizuka seemed to find a room of her own. After waking up, the boy used his pin to prick his index finger. Kazuha used the blood to begin placing seals on his body. The teen sealed a grey wolf mask into his stomach; continually, he began applying more pressure to his pricked finger. With more blood Kazuha drew a long seal on his right leg where he sealed his wakizashi. The boy used his remaining blood to seal away his supplies and kunai. Kazuha pulled a white turtle neck over his torso and then threw a black hoodie over that. He pulled on long purple pants and began fastening his plated tabi on. Shinichi had also woken up early, but the two seemed to both be keeping to themselves. "Where's that old hag, murmured Kazuha as he approached the room she was sleeping in. Mizuka had closed herself in, and clearly valued her sense of privacy. Kazuha began loudly banging on the door calling out, "YO OLD LADY, LETS GO!" Behind the door was a slight rumble followed by a groan.

Cheeky Little Shit

[Takeo]

Mizuka had been traveling for some time now with a man named Shinichi, but their trip to Tenkaigakure brought along another face. Kazuha had solely been an annoyance on Mizuka, and the woman knew very little about him. She saw him as just some punk kid following her and Shinichi around. Mizuka didn't know the boy's strength, but she also didn't really care about his abilities or feats. Mizuka awoke early in the morning to begin readying herself for travel yet again. Before putting on a long green cloak Mizuka slid her steel mesh undershirt over her torso. Mizuka put on a pair of shorts and some sandals. Finally, she pulled her wavy green cloak over her body. There was a loud bang at her door followed by Kazuha's annoying voice. Mizuka stormed over to her room door and quite literally busted it down. The door collapsed down on the boy who only managed to get his arm free. "What the hell did you do that for," cried out the boy in pain from under the collapsed door. Mizuka stepped off of the door to her room and retreated back into her domain. She placed her remaining tools in her disguise briefcase and exited her room again. Kazuha had managed to push the door off of himself and was glaring at Mizuka. The woman chuckled slightly patting the boy on his head, "Kazuha, you really should respect your elders," muttered Mizuka as she patronized the boy. With Shinichi ready to go the trio left the house they spent the night in.

[LmnDrp]

stay sharp, stand tall, don't go down without a fight

187# ♦ Shinichi no Kotonashi

Shinichi scratched the back of his head in both confusion and annoyance, mostly the latter, as the two bickered and yelled. Geez, are these the most elite nukennin I could get my hands on? They're never not annoying each other, he thought as he called out to them "knock it off, goons. We've got work to do." As they headed out the front door, Shinichi and his two partners were greeted with the saturated and flourishing environment. The estuary that surrounded their campsite was full of life while also feeling very serene. "Alright, after a few hours of travel we will be within the territory of the village, and we'll assumedly start running into bandits and the like around that time period. Make quick work of them. We're here to send a message so killing is not only fine it's encouraged, be brutal and flashy, but try to leave some survivors to spread the word. Bodies only say so much. These scum bags give our ways of life a bad name so let's show them what true skill is, right?" he looked amongst Mizuka and Kazuha approvingly.

► kaigra ◄

[Takeo]

Zutsumi🗲Kazuha

It was no surprise to Kazuha that Shinichi had already had enough of the bickering between Mizuka and Kazuha. The trio set off, and Shinichi soon began to give both Kazuha and Mizuka the run down on what was to come. Mischievous, no devious, thoughts began racing through the boy's head like, how many limbs can I dismember before they bleed out? He was walking with his hands in his pockets, like always, and he waited to see if Mizuka would respond before himself. There was an air of silence surrounding the trio after Shinichi last spoke. The teen coughed before replying, "Leaving a message should be easy. I just hope someone there will have some sort of skill." He continued to walk alongside Shinichi and Mizuka while also throwing lychee candy into his mouth. After putting six plus hard candies in his mouth the boy began to choke. His trachea was obstructed not allowing him to breathe. Mizuka was quick to help the boy out by elbowing him in his back with all of her force. Kazuha did not expect this and fell face first into the ground. The hard candy he was choking on also fell to the ground; continually, Kazuha quickly pulled himself up. "What the hell was that for," yelled out the boy in Mizuka's direction. The woman sighed and said, "you would have rather perished boy?" Kazuha's face straightened and he didn't bother replying; meanwhile, the wind around the trio was picking up. Small droplets of rain began to fall from the sky which was quite normal for Mizu no Kuni. Moreover, after walking for some while Kazuha began to hear something trailing behind them. While the trio continued to walk he whispered to the group, "you all hear those footsteps behind us right?" Whoever was stalking the trio must have heard Kazuha because when he questioned his group a flurry of kunai where thrown at the trio from behind. The boy only managed to avoid the brunt of the kunai meaning two came into contact with his right shoulder. He cracked his neck and activated his Hiramekugan upon pulling out both kunai. His dojutsu could see four nervous systems hiding in the nearby water in the estuary. Kazuha called out to both Shinichi and Mizuka saying, "there are four individuals, they are hiding in the water over there,". He pointed in the direction of the attackers before sprinting towards them. Simultaneously, the group of four all leapt from the water and began to retreat backwards on it. Kazuha's eyes were surprised to see Hyoudengakure hitai-ate on each of the attackers. One of the men who ambushed the trio called out to Kazuha, "your bounties are ours!" The teen could not help, but laugh as he thought to himself, we don't really even have bounties yet,"

Cheeky Little Shit

[Takeo]

Mizuka had become lost in thought, but Shinichi's voice brought her back into reality. "Leaving them alive may prove difficult for this bunch," replied the woman with a smile directed at Shinichi. After walking for sometime Kazuha began to choke, and Mizuka was swift in her response. She jumped up from behind the boy and fell down on his back with an elbow. Her attack launched the boy to the ground saving him from choking. Of course, the teen was quite angry about being elbowed, but did not have much to say when Mizuka insinuated he could have died. Not much time passed before the trio was being ambushed by a flurry of kunai. She quickly formed the snake hand seal using Doton: Domu which caused her skin to darken and harden. The kunai that came into contact with her body simply bounced off into the distance. When Kazuha called out the location of the attackers Mizuka followed behind him. She was also surprised to see that the attackers were shinobi. How long have they been following us for, considered the woman as she pressed her palm against the surface of the water. Mizuka changed the state of the water using Yūdaina kōri no sakusei from a liquid to a solid. The river they shinobi were hiding in completely began to freeze at a rapid rate. "Try using suiton jutsu now," yelled out Mizuka to the shinobi. The woman easily waved the dog, hare, and snake hand signs together began channeling her chakra in the atmosphere. She used Yūdaina Fubuki which created a dense snowstorm that only surrounded the trio and the ambushing shinobi. Mizuka was not finished yet and used Yūdaina yuki hyō as well. This created a single ice leopard that chased down one of the four shinobi. It quickly gained on the man and leapt up biting at his shoulder. When the ice beast made contact it tore through his shoulder and exploded impaling him to the ground with ice.

[LmnDrp]

stay sharp, stand tall, don't go down without a fight

180# ♦ Shinichi no Kotonashi

Shinichi was leading his merry band of marauders, when they were set upon by some shinobi from Hyoudengakure with misplaced ambitions that would soon prove to be fatal. Because he was in the front, their leader had time to swiftly evade the frontal projectiles with enough time to deflect the proceeding onslaughts from incoming kunai using his Gyakuten technique. This sent the kunai back at it's thrower, lodging directly into the shinobi's shoulder and neck. They dropped and bled out slowly, a bit to Shinichi's dismay, sorry to make you suffer. He continued to dash and rush after the other failing attackers and his teammates, coming into the clearing he watched as Mizuka made quick work of another. The other two were gaining a bit of distance though, Shinichi could catch them, but he truly didn't feel the desire. "Kazuha, get them. We don't have to worry about them spreading notoriety for us, they're pathetic, just kill them." As he said this, he turned his back to the escaping two and continued to walk into the direction of their mission.

► kaigra ◄

[Takeo]

Zutsumi🗲Kazuha

Not only did Shinichi make quick work of one of the attacker's but Mizuka also completely destroyed one. She also altered the environment heavily which excited Kazuha. He watched in amazement as the atmosphere filled with snow and the river froze. Maybe she is cool, considered the boy when Shinichi requested he end the remaining two shinobi. Kazuha used two jutsu in conjunction Ranton: Shin'yuu Yoroi and Raiton Chakura Moodo. His body surged with both raiton chakra and liquid light allowing him to blast off like a literal bolt of lightning. His Hiramekugan focused on both of the Shinobi who were running through some nearby greenery. To close the distance Kazuha clapped his hands together and used Rensa Denkou Dageki launching a lightning bolt at one of the shinobi's backs. The bolt of lightning stunned the shinobi and connected to his comrade stunning him as well. The teen jumped one the first ninja's back and jammed his koroshyia pin in his jugular. He pulled his pin out of the man's throat and jumped off of him avoiding the spray of blood. The other shinobi hunched over screaming in pain when Kazuha snapped his neck. He quickly bolted back to both Mizuka and Shinichi using his lightning cloaks; Kazuha deactivated his raiton and ranton armor upon arriving back. His hands were in his pockets when he called out to Shinichi, "How long did that take me?"

Cheeky Little Shit

[Takeo]

Before she could even bother consider pursuing the other two shinobi Kazuha moved past her at break neck speeds. I did not know he could move that fast, ruminated the woman as she watched the boy strut about. He was quite flashy for an assassin, but if he seemed to be anything it was proficient. A real diamond in the rough, he's quite young, considered Mizuka with her hand on her hip. The snow around the river had let up some but what still consistently falling. Mizuka turned back to face Shinichi saying, "when do you think he'll be back." Upon finishing her sentence the pipsqueak of boy had made his way back over to Mizuka and Shinichi. "Well never mind then," she muttered.

[LmnDrp]

stay sharp, stand tall, don't go down without a fight

153# ♦ Shinichi no Kotonashi

"It took you about 13 seconds to kill them and get back here. I would've done it in 12 from where I was standing. You need to get back to training instead of going around Hi no Kuni making a mess for me," as he scolded the young boy he bopped the back of his head, but then he softened up a bit and spoke to him again, "though if I were your age it would've taken me 15. Just keep it up, kid," As he they continued to trek through the saturated soil and tall saw grass, Shinichi kept his body down to the best of his abilities, he was a trained assassin so stealth came to him second hand. He considered himself and his allies being behind enemy lines at this point and expected to run into scouts, a platoon, or possibly even the entire camp of bandits at any point.

► kaigra ◄

[Takeo]

Zutsumi🗲Kazuha

"Ah, what the hell," replied the boy when Shinichi said he would have done it in twelve seconds. Kazuha's ear was pleased when Shinichi continued granting the boy insight into when he was his age. The teen gave a soft smirk and simply said, "cool." Shinichi soon crouched down, but both Mizuka and Kazuha could barely come above the tall grass standing up straight. The boy hunched over slightly hiding his body among the tall grass; he used Kuchyose technique to summon a white wolf mask from the blood seal on his stomach. Kazuha pulled his hood down and fastened the mask around his face. Following this, he pulled his hood back up and placed his hand on his right leg. The trio moved through the tall grass with silence, and Kazuha's eyes could spot a group of four men also moving through the grass. The group of men was marching through the grass in a line which allowed the trio to avoid them with ease.

Cheeky Little Shit

[Takeo]

The long spindly blades of grass brushed against Mizuka's soft face. Her hair was tied back, and she had pulled her green hood over her head. A line of four men were marching through the tall grass each with katanas on their backs. The did not seem to notice the trio, but Mizuka still made sure to walk with silence. The woman was quite equipped for stealth and a support role; Mizuka knew how to conceal her presence and even completely cloak herself by reflecting all of the light around her. She withheld this technique for now, but was ready to make use of it if the situation called for it. The air in Mizu no Kuni was wet and salty, it reminded the woman of home. Strangers in the land were easy to spot because they often breathed slightly differently than residents of Mizu no Kuni. Due to the immense amount of fog and salt, the air in Mizu no Kuni is usually quite harsh. Moreover, having to regulate your breathing and fight in mist can prove difficult for some as well. The trio arrived at the break in thicket of long grass at the water's edge. They were in the south of Mizu no Kuni; continually, Mizuka was looking forwards at the overrun fishing village. With her pedestrian vision, Mizuka could spot the small island that looked to be somewhat of a shanty town. Around the outskirts of the island men were circling with large swords and clubs. She could not make out anything in particular within the village, but this island was for sure their target! "How do you both want to approach this? The island seems quite isolated," whispered Mizuka from the tall grass.

[LmnDrp]

stay sharp, stand tall, don't go down without a fight

169# ♦ Shinichi no Kotonashi

Shinichi and his team steahily evaded the attention of the 4 passerby bandits, he considered killing them but ultimately he decided to let them go and not risk any complications. Eventually, the trio reached the island. "Hm... isolated it is..." he contemplated their next course of action. Ultimately, Shinichi decided upon a plan considering everyone's capabilities. "Mizuka, are you capable of surrounding the island in snow using your kekkei genkai? If so, envelop it. Following this, Kazuha will be sent in on his lonesome to assassinate as many straggler and scouts as possible in as short a time as possible. While this is happening, I will go to the center of the village and draw attention, and hopefully draw out the biggest threats to battle. Mizuka, you will flank and we will tear through the opposition from both angles. Soon enough, Kazuha will finish with the outskirts and make his way in as well. We will seize the village in no time." He awaited the onslaught beginning with Mizuka.

► kaigra ◄

[Takeo]

Mizuka listened intently to Shinichi as he belted out his plan before the group; she found no issue with the plan causing her to assume action. The woman stepped out from the tall grass thicket holding a hand seal with one hand, and upon stepping on the water Mizuka used Yūdaina kōri no sakusei. She walked a few meters forwards on the water that froze beneath her feet. She formed three more separate hand seals and used Yūdaina Fubuki. The lady began channeling a large amount of her own chakra in the air surrounding the overrun island. Thick clouds formed above the island and wind began to pick up causing the surrounding water to rise into the air as well. Mizuka manipulated the weather and created a snap freeze to cause a dense snowstorm. The temperature dropped so drastically on the island the surrounding water began to freeze partially as well. Visibility in and out of the island was completely blocked by the flurry of snow. With a blizzard in place Mizuka took even more precautions to set up for her planned flank. After forming the tiger hand seal, the woman used Meisaigakure no Jutsu to reflect the light around her body. This jutsu rendered Mizuka invisible and removed her scent as well. The only sign of the approaching woman was the small ripples in the water as she walked along it. Mizuka easily snuck on the island and began moving towards the center. Her blizzard left the bandits and rogue ninja confused. Some of them even made an attempt to push small boats outside of the blizzard.

[Takeo]

Zutsumi🗲Kazuha

Kazuha was happy to have such an easy task. Having to exert a ton of energy was not the way he did things, so killing the stragglers on the outside of the island was appealing to him. With a muffled voice from behind his white wolf mask the boy replied to Shinichi, "I'll be done before you know it." He quickly broke from the tall grass onto the water; his eyes were set on the dense snowstorm. The dojutsu he possessed focused on the nervous system of a man standing in a four meter high wooden tower. Kazuha was on the other side of the wall that was the blizzard surrounding the island; he used Kuchyose to summon a smoke bomb from a blood seal on his arm. The small compact bomb was tossed through the storm and landed on the sandy strip surrounding the island. Snow had already built up on the ground, and the smoke was only noticed by the man in the tower. When his gaze shifted to the distraction Kazuha burst through the blizzard on to the rogue island. Following this, he quickly scaled the tower flipping onto the small platform at the top. The blizzard and Kazuha's training in stealth hid his presence from the archer who was still peering into the smoke. With his tiny Koroshiya pin the boy stabbed the man in his throat from behind; the archer immediately grabbed at the gushing wound letting go of his bow. Kazuha kicked him off of the tower onto the sand beneath it. Moments later the man bled out only for snow to begin covering his corpse. A group of men with spears were walking towards Kazuha, and they seemed to be circling the island on patrol. The boy flipped off of the tower, and when he hit the ground he ran towards the spearmen. Kazuha held the ram hand seal before approaching using Denkou Doutai Souhou. The man at the front of the group was the first to notice the boy and immediately thrusted at him with his spear. In response, Kazuha used his right foot to slam the man's spear the ground and used his enemy's body as leverage. The young nukennin placed his hand on the first man's bald head and flipped off of him. When he landed behind the group of spearmen he quickly touched the other four on their backs before they could turn around. Kazuha jumped back and clapped his hands using Rensa Denkou Dageki. This technique produced a bolt of lightning that shot into the first enemy affected by Denkou Doutai Souhou; after striking the first man, the bolt of electricity would travel through the others according to when Kazuha touched them. the dazzling jutsu moved through the men from back to front and caused all of their hearts to stop. The boy did not bother to watch them die and sprinted away before they could all collapse. His Hiramekugan searched for more patrolmen on the outskirts of the small snow covered island.

Cheeky Little Shit