Azumi had to admit, it took her brain a moment to process a face though she sensed familiarity with it. Then she realized it was Michi, the student with metallic applications but little talent in other areas who was ridiculed as the dead last.
It seemed apparent that he had improved much since then, but Azumi had no time to think about that as he began to make preparations for a devastating move and had to form a response to it or her ambitions would end abruptly here and now.
“Ninja Art: Liquid Shadow Sphere!”
Azumi began to gather water from all around her, either in unused puddles or those that had been splashed out of the floor, along with her own generated water as she mixed them with her own shadow to produce that liquid shadow substance of her own creation as she channeled it all around her and soon her entire body was covered in a thick, liquid shadow sphere. Identical to the one that she had used to guard against Taiyo’s self-explosion that ended up taking his arms.
Though Azumi had no time to reinforce it, as by the time she finished Reaver unleashed his storm of weapons toward her and they began to pelt in a non-stop barrage against the sphere. It did an admirable job to block the projectiles, given the context of the rushed production, but soon enough as weapons kept slamming into it over and over and over again cracks began to show as Azumi grit her teeth inside. It was only matter of time before they’d break through as Azumi focused less on maintaining something that was inevitably fail as she grabbed her umbrella from within.
Crack!
Woosh!
Ching!
Azumi made an admirable attempt to block away the remaining weapons with her umbrella strikes, but even with that and the weapons that had been knocked away by the sphere several still managed to escape. A buzzsaw dug into her right shoulder, a drill stabbed into her left thigh and a blade cut into her forehead, or rather knocked off her headband which cut into it and allowed a second blade to graze her forehead.
Azumi moved her body in a guard as she tried to protect herself as other weapons passed around, over, below or past her body with some of them doing more damage before Azumi flopped onto her back and rolled along the floor. Her headband bounced around and rolled on the ground away from her. The pride of Amegakure, it’s top graduate of her class and winner of the Chunin Exam….now lied on the ground; a broken mess, bleeding in multiple locations and seemingly dead.
Drip.
But, Azumi was not one to falter, as after a minute or two of lying on the ground she slowly began to stir in place. As she got to a knee, she carefully reached down and yanked the drill from her thigh. Quickly, she tore a piece of her pants and wrapped it around her bleeding thigh to act as a make-shift gauze.
Drip.
As Azumi stood, she would perform a similar action with her shoulder as she removed the sawblade. Azumi bit her tongue to keep from screaming or showing weakness before her opponent as she used a torn section of her shirt to wrap around the area. Both this and the “gauze” over her thigh were quickly stained in blood but the fortunate thing is it would stop the bleeding in those areas which were of primary concern.
Drip.
As for her forehead, Azumi walked over to her forehead protector, as she gazed at the visible crack from the blade that knocked it off, which combined with the desecration of her angel on their torn field left a bitter taste in her mouth. One that almost hurt her as much as the weapons.
Almost.
Regardless, Azumi placed her ninja headband directly over the wound and tied it tightly around her head before she turned over to Reaver, as she amazingly still was able to hold her umbrella in spite of her visible injuries as she cast a glare towards her opponent which released a surprising amount of killing intent.
“Is there more…Michi, or does your resolve only push you this far? I will not let Amegakure’s future, the future of the ninja world be laid to ruin here and now. Until I realize my destiny, until I change this world….I will never perish!” Azumi said which showed her resolve to Reaver once more. Whether it was only that or a mask to hide the intense pain her body felt as well would be impossible to tell as Azumi raised her umbrella and assumed a combat stance.
“Now, do you continue. Or do you yield?”
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Sakura gave a nod of agreement, as she would think over what kind of signal to make as she searched the lower levels of the bar. Nothing seemed to stand out, the women there didn't match the general description gave them and the guys there clearly were not the target.
Though as she glanced upstairs to the top level, she saw a woman up there. Early to mid-twenties if she had to guess, wearing black and with what appeared to be a pig with her. While the pig was odd, Sakura didn’t think much of that alone given the woman did not match Jiraiya’s general description.
No, it was the woman’s curious stare of the scene below, though whether she focused on herself & Taiyo or just the chaotic scuffle she had been in moments ago was destined to remain elusive. Though the woman and pig soon walked off and entered a room upstairs. This was curious to Sakura, and as she wrapped her search on the ground floor of her half she’d slowly began to walk up the stairs where she had seen that woman. The door upstairs too curious for her not to go investigate…
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Asuma would have inquired more, if it had not been for the public threat made by the Yuki to Konoha. A bold move on their part, a foolish one, but a bold one all the same as it appeared they blamed Konoha for holding Kiro. Naturally, the interrogation unit’s account alone would validate their defense but Asuma knew he had to go to them anyway
“Well, you heard him. It’s be best if you made sure you returned to the Yuki Clan. Though I’ll be certain to set the records of your unprovoked assault to him all the same.” Asuma said as while he’d rather punish him for his assault he knew he had bigger priorities he took a moment to take a smoke before he departed, leaving with another pair of Konoha-nin as they aimed to meet the Yuki and explain the situation…while also making sure they didn’t do anything reckless.
Asuma made it in time to see the Hyuga head confront the Yuki would-be assailants. And given the tension was already high Asuma decided to set the records straight as his nin moved by the Hinagiku to offer aid if needed.
“Lord Yuki, I can understand your frustration but you must understand that we’ve done what we could on our end. We released Kiro, and our release records we will provide for you will show that much as evidence. More importantly, it appeared one of your own acted out and attacked two of our own civilians. Eye witness accounts and reports can confirm that much if you don’t take my own word for it.” Asuma said, as he explained the situation to the best of his knowledge before he took a smoke of his cigarette.
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“WHAT THE FUCK MORE DO YOU WANT!? You haven’t fucked my mind enough you piece of scum suckers!”
One might think that bringing Tayuya to an even angrier state than how she usually acted would be next to impossible. However, a ten hour torture session at the hands of Ibuki proved otherwise. Ibuki almost seemed to take a sick satisfaction as he thought of numerous different ways to ravage Tayuya’s mind and scar the girl to try and get her to talk. It was a fun day to say the least.
But not as productive as Ibuki had hoped, as in spite of everything Tayuya refused to crack. Her loyalty to Orochimaru’s cause was admirable, something Ibuki even commented on, but frustrating all the same. Though before he damaged the girl beyond repair Inoichi stepped in and decided to go a more practical direction.
His mind reading gave him more information that Tayuya had been willing to unshare, but oddly he found these mental blocks that alluded explanation that prevented him from learning much more. A form of genjutsu Inoichi supposed, something that showed that perhaps that snake ensured a way that would protect his secrets even if one of his followers were taken.
Now, Tayuya had been left alone. The girl’s will nearly broken and her mind worse off from the mental anguish placed upon her. Not that her condition had been of anyone’s concern, and she was far from sympathy as she heard the door opened and presumed it was that “scarred shit” again, only to see it was instead Anko. Tayuya, in spite of the sweat and her mental fatigue, offered a small smirk in her direction.
“W-well, if it…if it isn’t the little traitor herself. I bet you are getting off on this huh? Well go screw yourself!” Tayuya said before she began to laugh.
“I ain’t talking, and it seems Lord Orochimaru ensured that you wouldn’t probe my brain like the sick fucks you are to get anything! So whatever tactic you try won’t work so you may as well just get out know and leave me to rot. I’m sure it’s what you all aim to do anyway.” Tayuya spat, literally and figuratively as Anko remained neutral in her expression as she pulled a chair and sat across from the temperamental Tayuya before she spoke up.
“No, I am simply here to talk. No more, no less.” Anko clarified, which only caused confusion to show itself on Tayuya’s face before she began to laugh.
“Talk? Are you kidding me? What’s next are we gonna share our feelings? Hold hands and sing kumbaya?” Tayuya said laughing, as she seemed amused that such an idea would be used to try and get information. Anko said nothing, as she gave Tayuya a chance to laugh aloud before she would speak up.
“Nope, just a personal story. A story of a young girl, alone and with nothing, who was promised power & the world in the palm of her hand. An escape from misery into something more. I think you’ll find this to be a relatable story.” Anko said, which caused Tayuya to stop laughing as she simply scowled at Anko. No comment made as she’d humor the former Orochimaru disciple and let her speak.
Even if, that story did sound similar to her own. More than she’d ever admit…
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Tomiko took a moment as she overheard Mori’s question which concerned if she was afraid or not whenever she stood up to people like Mori. Seeing Mori, who she considered pretty brave, admit his open fear both during his previous battles with Reaver on top of his concern with speaking to the Tsuchikage.
“No, don’t apologize. I understand why you’d think like that. And…and I do admit I am scared whenever I do that. In spite of what people think, I am not stupid. I know I can die whenever I do that and in spite of my bravado and my willingness to stand. I shiver on the inside, but I can’t let people know that cause nobody has sympathy for fear in this ninja world.” Tomiko explained, before she let out a sigh as she folded her hand into a fist and added onto it.
“But, I am afraid of failing myself more. Of proving the world right, that I am just a….just a no talent street rat. Someone who is unfit to be a ninja, to rise to that level of the elite. So I lash out, I hold back my fear and put on a brave face because if I give into that fear if I let their words or my own doubts bring me down I’ll just be what people always tell me I am…that no name, weak girl…” Tomiko said, as she thought back to that nightmare of Kiro she suffered through for weeks as she let out a sigh. Sitting down and having a sullen expression on her face.
“And I almost threw it all away. All because of Kiro, and that damn exam match. I nearly lost myself, I nearly gave in then and there.” Tomiko admitted, as she viewed the scars on her arm that were faded but ever present. And likely to never go away as she knew she was killing the mood and quickly turned to Mori with a smile.
“Sorry myself there. I guess what I’ll say is being afraid is normal. If you were not scared, then that would be the weird reaction. It’s all about learning to not let that fear control you, to not let it hold you back because then you’d never be able to make your dreams a reality. You’d never give yourself a chance to succeed if you cower in a corner.” Tomiko advised to Mori, though she never considered herself much of one even in spite of the slum kids rallying around her.
