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Post by Zetsu Rin on Feb 28, 2009 3:48:00 GMT -5
[I ask you very confidentially, ain't she sweet?] | Three cool chicks are walking down the street swinging their hips, splitting up a bag of potatoe chips. Passing them by, were three cool cats.
These cats, these men, hid behind them a young woman. A young girl. Zetsu Rin, she looked over her shoulder at the passing women, and turned back to the backs of the men in front of her. She sighed when they stopped, almost bumping into them.
"The Leaf ninja should be here soon. This if the border of the Land of Birds and the Land of Rain. They will finish escorting you to the Land of Fire."
Rin sighed again, found the nearest large enough rock on the side of the road, and sat down. The men she was with, all three being hardcore assassins, were not the typical type of company she kept. However, as per her father's orders, she made due with the current company. Soon, she'd have strangers to contend with.
"I know. You don't need to tell me. Until conflict between the Oda and Zetsu ends, I'll be staying in Tanzaku Gai. You three can just go back to the village now. No one's going to attack me at the border."
The assassins looked from one to another, then to Rin.
"That's not how it works."
They would have said more, would have explained that they were under orders not to let her out of sight until she was in the custody of the Leaf ninja. They would have possibly explained the lengths the frequently went to, to adhere to mission parameters. How strict they were on following rules. Rin did not need to hear it, though, for she already knew.
Fortunately, she was saved from the lecture by the timely arrival of three figures in the distance, coming from the Land of Rain. The assassins, all hardened samurai, put their hands to the hilts of their weapons.
"You there, identify yourselves!" |
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Post by Yokimaru on Feb 28, 2009 22:01:43 GMT -5
"Listen, I don't know if I made this clear to you two before, but I have rules." The grumpy ninja muttered, they were camping at a stream the day before, scooping water into his hands and lifting it to his face. The cold water splashing across his hardened features, beads rolling down his ugly mug, he looked down into the blurred reflection of the stream and couldn't help but see what everyone else did; a monster. It didn't bother him, and that's what people feared about him most. He knew exactly what he was, he knew he was merely a dog on Konoha's leash, but the difference between someone who does it unwillingly and Yokimaru was that he just didn't care, he didn't mind, as long as he held his life and got the false freedom his handlers allowed him, the illusion that he lived a free man--he was okay with it.
And that's what made him disgusting.
He planted his foot, lifting his arm, wiping away the leftover water and turning to his two Genin teammates. "Rule number one; you do not die. No matter what, you are not allowed to die." He poked one finger in the air as he spoke, it was followed by his middle finger, making the count two. "Rule number two; you stay the hell out of my way when I'm working and you do not engage someone until I tell you to." Yokimaru stuck a third finger in the air, his eyes lazily staring at the two Genin.
"The third rule is that you do not die."
"We're from Konoha." His voice called from up the pathway, his armor clanked and clicked as he approached. The evening sun upon his back, he felt as if he was cooking in his own shell, his one open eye scanned the three, and he idly placed his hand upon one of the swords on his hip, not threateningly, but resting his forearm upon the hilt of his blades. He liked his hands close to his blades if he was going to go into a fight, but these were supposedly with the client, so he made an attempt to not look threatening.
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Post by BLOOD|leg|KEMPO on Feb 28, 2009 23:17:48 GMT -5
There he was, in all his glory. Razuri Oni, last child of the Razuri Clan. Until his aunt gave birth though, and by glory, I meant disappointment. The child had been late to be assigned to a team, and he was assigned to a kid older than him, and some grumpy old guy with swords. Hell, he didn't even know if this was his proper team. He didn't get a summons or anything, but, it seemed that they both knew about him, which could mean one of two things. Either they're his team, or they're stalkers. Judging from the large amount of stalkers in Konoha though[1], it was most likely his team.
His sensei, from what Oni could already tell, was a man with a troubled past, and from the way he implied, or rather, ordered them that they couldn't die, it only made sense that he had lost a team before them in some tragic accident, and that lead him to become the tough as stone man he is today. Though, that was just a thought.
"Y... yes, sir." He didn't know what else to say. He didn't know whither this man preferred to be referred as sensei, sir, or Count Snickerdoodlesworth IV. Marutake, the kid he ran into earlier, seemed to know what he was doing, that, or Oni was so far below the line of knowledge, that everything around him seemed so orderly and well thought out. It never once occurred to him that things could be thought out on the spir of the moment at this time.
The walk was long and hot, and it seemed to never end. When it did, Oni felt like collapsing right then and there. If it wasn't for the fear of his sensei, or the three men not far ahead of him, nothing would have stopped him from doing that very thing. Yokimaru announced who they were, whilst resting a hand over his hilt. Oni had learned during the walk that his sensei always seemed to be restless, ever cautious even. It wasn't until he was done pondering about his sensei that he noticed the young girl hidden behind a wall of guards. Three men can hardly count as a wall, but still, they were big men. Not many words could express what Oni had seen, because frankly, he couldn't see much.
[1] Sarcasm.
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Post by LIVEnSPIRALS on Mar 1, 2009 15:53:41 GMT -5
For the past couple of days the two genin had been relentlessly following after their sensei. He did not slow down for them, and he did not much care if they fell behind. Silence would be the only response they would recieve if asked for a break or for him to slow down. This guy was nothing like Hitoshi, his previous sensei. Though at long last he would finally allow for them to make camp near a stream.
Sitting down with his back resting against a rock Marutake pulled out a small bundle from his backpack, and took out his ninjatō. Unraveling the bundle he revealed three onigiri, each tightly wrapped in nori. Just as he lifted one up to his mouth to eat he would hear Yokimaru speak to the two of them. Listening with his mouth wide open he waited until he had gone through each of his rules before biting into the rice ball.
"Hai," Marutake would respond after swallowing his bite and packing the food away before tending to his blade.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
As the three of them approached their destination point Marutake could feel a slight tension in the air. Looking down the road he spotted three men, all carrying the look of heartless killers. If he didn't know better he would have assumed that they were all from Chirigakure no Sato. Keeping an eye on his sensei's actions he looked past the man, and spotted a girl amongst the men. Nudging Oni with his elbow he made a subtle gesture towards her.
"How old do you think she is?" he whispered.
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Post by Zetsu Rin on Mar 2, 2009 5:02:32 GMT -5
Appearance:  She would never say where she came from. Yesterday don't matter if it's gone. While the sun is bright, or in the darkest night, no one knows. She comes and goes.
Rin narrowed her eyes, peeking between two assassins who stood side by side. She blinked, looking at the trio. Shamelessly staring at the two boys. She spotted Marutake, and picked up on his gesture towards her, however subtle it was. She immediately stuck her tongue out at him.
After giving each person a once-over, Rin figured it was safe to go to them. She moved forward, slipping between the two assassins. One reached out and grabbed her shoulder.
"Hold on."
The assassin who grabbed her shoulder, the apparent leader, nodded to the one next to him. He too shared a nod with his leader, and strode forward toward Yokimaru. Though Rin wouldn't see it, the assassin gestured with one hand to Yokimaru, indicating a note in his other hand. When he was close enough, he slipped the note to Yokimaru and then walked back.
Rin was released. She gave a confused look to the returning assassin as she passed him. Scurrying over to one side of Yokimaru, away from the boys, she looked back at the assassins. They simply stood where they were, waiting for Yokimaru and the others to eventually leave their sight before they headed back.
Now that she was close, Rin gave Yokimaru a good look, figuring he was very similar in manners as the assassins she had spent time with. That in mind, she looked past him, at the boys on his other side. Doubtful they were as strict and uptight. |
Note: "Team of two trailing us for two days.
We'll take care of them on our way back.
Don't let the brat know." |
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Post by Yokimaru on Mar 2, 2009 12:40:51 GMT -5
His open eye fell upon the man's hand, then up at his eyes. He stroked his chin as he watched the young lady approach, turning and following after her as she passed. A grunt escaped him as he flipped the note open, scanning over it without reaction before balling it up and dropping it at his feet. His armor clicked and clanked, he motioned for the two boys before him, "You two take the front, I'll take the back. Triangle position." He commanded in a stern voice, he went from resting his wrist upon his sword to gripping it between his worn fingers, the inside of his palm was riddled with calluses and rough spots.
"Remember the rules..." He spoke, "you're gonna' need 'em real soon." He ominously said, his long black hair swayed back and forth. "It's getting late, the next town is two hours away and it'll be dark by then." He was talking so only they would understand, it wasn't so much code as he was stating things that should have alerted them to things in their mind. Like someone inadvertently trying to warn someone. The night was prime time for bandits to be on the roads, and who knew about what kind of hired help was put out to snatch this kid.
"?!" His body jolted, but he hid it, these two were getting more ballsy, they were directly on his back, lurking among the trees. He could feel their eyes, hear the shuffling of their leaves on their body like a group of monkeys. He smirked, grunting. He'd take this time to introduce the little girl, that way if she was actually in harms way, she could actually call out to whomever. Everything was tactic with Yokimaru, formalities meant nothing, especially when it came to the mission.
"I'm Yokimaru." His head rose from the small girl's form, snapping his fingers at the two kids. "Names. Now."
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Post by BLOOD|leg|KEMPO on Mar 2, 2009 14:45:15 GMT -5
"I 'unno... thirteen... mayb--" His reply stopped short as she stuck out her tongue at Marutake. "Ten or eleven." His expression turned into a generic blank slate, finally deciding that this mission was going to be more annoying and tiring than the walk here. Now, they had to walk back with some rich kid, who was used to getting everything she ever wanted. Or, he could be mistaken, and she could have some interesting stories to tell during the trip. The filthy rich always had filthy rich gossip, but that was all opinion. Oni didn't even know if this girl was rich.
Oni nodded after getting the orders. Triangle position. Their sensei had run them through a couple of the formations while on their trip. Everything seemed so serious to him, and so thought out. He wondered if there was something he wasn't telling them, but hey, everyone has a right to their secrets. "Hai." There was no such thing as an argument with Yokimaru either. If he tells you to jump, you don't ask how high, you just jump, and pray that you're jumping high enough.
Hardly any words were going to be spilled on this trip back, he just knew it. It'd either be an order, or a silent complaint coming from his own head. "Hai, I'm Razuri Oni." He didn't even bother to turn around. Once you get into the zone, it's hard to get out. He felt like he was running drills, but this was more real. Danger was about, he just knew it. He could only hope that his danger senses were broken. He had no intention of fighting anyone today, tomorrow, or well, anytime. He just wanted everyone to get along.
But really... when does that ever happen...?
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Post by LIVEnSPIRALS on Mar 2, 2009 19:33:28 GMT -5
It would be a lie to say that Marutake wasn't caught off guard when she stuck her tongue out at him. Blinking a few times he looked at Oni, and then tilted his head. Perhaps this girl was more skilled than he first had suspected. Or perhaps he just wasn't as subtle as he thought he was. Either way he got caught red handed. "Ahh...I wouldn't be so sure," Marutake said to Oni as he watched the girl walk over towards them. He wasn't too concerned with the dealings between the mercenarys' leader and his sensei. Yokimaru was too battle-hardened to allow for something small to endanger this mission.
Even after his sensei's ominous warning Marutake didn't get too worried or concerned. He came into this mission knowing the risks of being attacked. After all, why request for bodyguards to escort you if there was no danger? At the moment Marutake's primary concern was the newest member of their little party. Though he would have to quickly get back into the mindset of being on a mission after Yokimaru ordered for them to get into a triangle formation. Nodding he simply took a few steps back and to the side, still keeping his eyes on Rin and Yokimaru. Oni, on the other hand, looked just like a newbie genin. He seemed so stiff and ridgid, focusing solely on whatever order Yokimaru issued.
"Zukini Marutake," he said offering the girl a friendly smile.
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Post by Zetsu Rin on Mar 2, 2009 20:35:40 GMT -5
Rin let herself be flanked on either side, the boys in front of her and Yokimaru behind her. She looked back over her shoulder at Yokimaru. She bit her lower lip, and turned back to the boys in front of her. Her eyes lowered a bit as she watched them.
"Um... I'm Rin, from the Zetsu clan."
She spun around, smiling to Yokimaru.
"Yokimaru-san, what'd my bodyguard say to you?"
She was young. Smart, but definitely young. Rin was riddled with curiosity and perhaps boredom. She swayed slightly as she walked backwards, looking at Yokimaru and keeping enough distance from the boys so she didn't bump into them.
The dress she wore threatened to misbehave as the wind picked up, she put her hands to her sides to keep it from doing anything. |
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Post by Yokimaru on Mar 3, 2009 13:13:36 GMT -5
His hardened eyes looked down upon the child as she nosed her way into affairs that weren't for her to know. He looked for a long moment, then turned his gaze back to the road ahead and the setting sun upon the pathway they walked upon. His lips curled into a smile, something that was so foreign to his features before his gaze befell the young lady before him.
"They told me there's two men following us." Blunt, to the point, he wouldn't lie because there was no reason to sugarcoat what he was saying. "From what I can tell, they're hostiles. But if they were smart--from the movements I'm picking up off of them, I'd say they weren't--they would turn and hightail it back to whoever hired them." Yokimaru's quips were obtuse, to the point, he knew there was a chance that their followers were listening in from the range they were at, but he simply seemed to lack a care.
"On your guard, laddies." He grumbled under his breath, the stalking eyes grew closer.
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Post by BLOOD|leg|KEMPO on Mar 3, 2009 19:35:17 GMT -5
Breathe in... breathe out...
Taking a quick moment to relax himself, Oni applied his index and middle fingers to his temples, and slowly rubbed out the stress. Stress was the main thing that ruined his day, because he easily got headaches and migraines when he was stressed. Headaches plus possible ninja attack equaled certain death, and, well, dying was against the rules last time he checked.
Scratch possible, and replace it with definite. It wasn't like his sensei to joke around, from what he could already tell. The man was a rock, in body and soul. Still, every rock has a soft spot, even if that soft spot in extremely small, and it's only because of a few bits of sand breaking away, revealing solid rock again. If that was the case, that soft spot would be gone sooner or later, hopefully later than sooner.
He decided that if they were going to be attacked, he might as well prepare himself. How would he do such a thing? Simple, slipping his hands together and folding them behind his neck for both support, and relaxation. Little pressure was placed against his muscles, and he began loosening them, reveling the stress from his body. Who wants to fight with a stiff neck?
"Hai, sensei." He took the time to actually look back at him and the girl. During which, he spent a brief second to investigate the distance between the four of them, then he turned his head in the opposite direction, putting the same amount of time into his neck turns to relieve his muscles at an equal level. He was no Nara, and his IQ was hardly above the average genin his age, but he knew a thing or two about pressure points and muscles. Being stiff and constantly alert would be the death of him. Better to die comfortable, than paranoid.
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Post by LIVEnSPIRALS on Mar 5, 2009 10:41:16 GMT -5
Rin of the Zetsu ichizoku, the red head thought to himself after the girl had made her introduction. That was such a proper way of introducing herself. Granted she was an important individual, important enough to require a bodyguards, so Marutake could only expect to such a response. What's so hard about saying Zetsu Rin tho--OH! his eyes widened as realization donned on him. Fortunately, she had already turned her back to him when he figured it out.
A smirk tugged at his lips, but he was not willing to get caught for a second time. Turning around so that he could start walking normally he let the smirk form. A multitude of questions swarmed in his mind, such as -- "Why would anyone name their child that?" and things of that nature. Those thoughts quickly dispersed when Yokimaru mentioned that they were being followed. An amused huff slipped from him as he reached over his shoulder and tapped the hilt of his tantō.
"Well, I'm ready for whatever they plan on doing."
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Post by Zetsu Rin on Mar 6, 2009 8:49:57 GMT -5
"J-just let them try."
False bravado. Rin knew certain things, had certain abilities and skills long since passed down from her foremothers. However, she also had a frail and weak body, one which hadn't matured enough that she could correctly fight without actual physical training to enhance it.
The apprehension was obvious in her voice.
Rin did not like having to rely on others. The plan was to stay with her mother until she could fend for herself, but the Oda screwed that up for them by sending someone to kill her. Now she had to live in some obscure location, or be surrounded by bodyguards.
Despite her momentary show of vulnerability, at least she had kept her dignity and no one had said anything about her name.
"The Oda probably hired outsiders. They wouldn't attack Leaf ninja directly, likely afraid of earning Hidden Leaf's wrath."
Rin kept moving with the group, though stayed back a bit, more toward Yokimaru. After all, if an attack came, he'd be the one to save her, not the two boys in front of her. At least, that's how she felt. Turning her head to look behind her, she gave the man a small smile. |
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Post by Yokimaru on Mar 7, 2009 2:23:53 GMT -5
The jingling of a chain--
The sound of rapid footfalls upon the dusty road--
They had been traveling for a good five minutes by now, far enough out to not be seen by her original guards yet nowhere near the next village so there would be less chance of any sort of interference or checkpoint ninja thwarting them. They wore breathing masks over their faces, their eyes glaring upon Yokimaru's back, splitting onto each side of the road.
"Take them all out in one fell swoop...!!" One ninja hissed to the other, the jangling chain caught his attention, causing him to go into action. He gripped his sword tightly in his hand, jumping forward and wrapping his hard arm around Rin as he performed a spin, seemingly putting the girl in immediate harm and using her as a shield--
The chain closed in on them, the glare of the setting sun on the chains was blinding. Disorienting. The sound of his blade sliding from his scabbard--
キ—ン!!
SFX: KI—N
[/center] "SHIT--! HOW'D HE CUT THROUGH?!" One of the Demon Brothers commented to the other across the path as they both slid, their flailing linked blade began retracting into their bulky gauntlets. Their swaying cloaks beat softly-- He released the girl, tossing the blade in the air and catching it with the sword pointing upward. "Stay behind me." He commanded the girl, turning and mapping out a strategy. "We're outnumbered." He said, even though numbers were in their favor. It was probably something that they wouldn't understand, but with a client that needed to be protected--that always meant minus one because there must always be someone protecting the client. Meaning it was two on two, but could one of these two runts actually count as one? Maybe a half? Thus, Yokimaru's reasoning that they were outnumbered. "Which one of you two can fight better?" Yokimaru asked bluntly, "Talk fast." His eyes never left the two ninja, switching back and forth, registering every movement they made down to every twitch that jolted through their body. They didn't have much time, they could only have a stand-off for so long.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size] |
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Post by BLOOD|leg|KEMPO on Mar 7, 2009 2:43:39 GMT -5
The gentle breeze rolled through the sleeves of his jacket, and flapped the back ever so slightly. He had run his fingers down to the bottom of his legs as they walked, leaning forward and keeping up the same pace. He wore his favorite pair of slacks, which had a zipper on each leg wrapping around the knee, and buttons going down the length of the leg to open or close the sides. He had unbuttoned the legs from his feet up to the zippers, and let the breeze trickle against his bandaged legs.
It was like a sixth sense or something how Yokimaru sensed the immediate danger, and what was even more strange to Oni was the fact that he caught himself spinning as well, not even a second late. The two men dressed to intimidate, and Oni could feel a single hair on the back of his neck rise up as he heard the broken chain slide back into the gauntlet. A whole second seemed like an hour, then Yokimaru calmly gave orders, and declared that they were outnumbered. Whatever his reasoning was, Oni could only assume he was talking about skill.
He twisted his gaze over from the men, to Yokimaru, to Rin, then to Marutake all in an instant, fixing his gaze on Marutake seeking an answer. They never really did talk about strengths and weaknesses, and Oni could only assume that his teammate was good with taijutsu, making it clear earlier when he tapped his tantō.
He grunted faintly, and quickly swung his arms down as he crouched slightly, gracefully tugging at the zippers that held the open straps of his pants together, letting them tumble to the ground as he stood upright. He had forgotten to change his bandages from his training session, and his legs still had splotches of faint, yet dry red on them. He made a single kata, then rose a knee in a balanced stance, kicking the air in front of him with his eyes fixated on an invisible force. The following moves that were to play out were unknown to him, but he was ready for whatever was to come.
"You have more field experience, right?" His words were directed towards Marutake, while his gaze was shifting to each of the demon brothers. He had to keep his mind, body, and soul all in constant check if he was going to do anything right. No stiffness, and no recklessness.
Jutsu: Kyouko Iku Oite (Strength To Go On)
Type: Taijutsu, Supplementary
Description: Strength To Go On is much like a taunt. Mainly used as a reassurance, the user can preform a quick warm up, which involves a single Kata while kicking the air in front of them three times. Through use of Chakra, it loosens the muscles, making the Kempo faster and stronger, since the user is no longer hindered by it as much. |
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