Haigakure: Power of the Volcanic Fist!

[ZeroNumerous]

Haigakure

Mist drapes the pre-dawn morning of a village hidden on the side of a volcano. It's large wooden walls are slickened with the wet drops that warn of early morning rain. The village itself is a small collection of homes smushed together by more necessity than choice. Several homes--each at least five stories high and some more--stand in close enough together that one could open a window and leap from room to room. Several ladders are extended between the buildings to form makeshift walkways so anyone can move in between them readily.

Several ruined structures are still standing where they were when the attack began. Partially due to a lack of manpower to move them but mainly due to a lack of funding to dispose of the ruins properly. The ruins have long-since been searched for both surviving people and surviving valuables so the jounin just allow them to sit there until the village can fund their removal. The only non-crowded building in the village is the Memorial Government Structure which stands both as a memorial of the end of the war and as the central government for the village.

A pair of dark-cloaked people wearing animal masks stand in front of the cities large and open gates. Only two ANBU per gate remained out in the open, but those ANBU would change out with their hidden reserves every hour. The ANBU make no attempt to stop the one chuunin and three genin from leaving the village from doing so, but merely record their passage and watch them leave.

Team Two

Team Two stands at the gates of Haigakure. A dark red colored scroll waits in Akane's hand with the group's latest mission written in it.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Yuu stands at the gate, Kuromaru alongside him, looking calm and collected. If anything, he's slightly bored. He is of about average height for his age, well built, with dark, midlength hair. He wears the standard ninja garb of the village, his well-polished headband prominently displayed. He fiddles with the hilt of his father's katana, waiting for their chuunin captain to talk as he did his best to keep from glaring at the two guards.

"Tch. Arrogant leaf-nins. Why are they still here? It sure as hell isn't for our protection, and they definitely don't do a very good job guarding the place. I've been able to slip in and out of the village for years, never caught so much as a whiff of them. Bastards still think they need to hold us virtually prisoner here, after they attacked us."

"But really, I should be focused on our mission here. This is what I can do to help out the people here best. And Chizuru-san wanted me to pick up that medicine if we happen to go through a village. White Jade berries. I'll have to remember that for her.

[Malek]

Matsuo

- Most of them are no better or worse than you and me - their just doing their job as we do ours. - Matsuo spoke calmly, ignoring ANBU as if they were not there - If the situation was any diffrent when this started it could have been our village burning Konoha and us standing on guard of them.

- Either way it would be nice to know what will be our mission, Akane-sensei... - He changed topic, turning his completly white eyes to their teacher.

[Valgunn]

Uchiha Akane

She had been called many things in her life but Sensei was new to her. It was new enough that for a few seconds she didn't respond. "We need to find a lady in Lamani village and escort her to Sunagakure. A C-rank." Slipping the scroll into her pouch strapped to her waist. The skirt she wore dangling down her athletic legs to knees. Twisting the front of her sandel into the ground forcing her foot into the back of her sandel. The light colours of her shirt and skirt in contrast to the darker green of the rain coat she had slipped on gave a queer look to the otherwise stunning Kunouchi. Leaning back a little slipping her hands behind her head and under her blonde hair that now tied into a tight bun with two throwing needles inside but normally mid-back. A smile had creeped across her face as she looked up into the sky.

[The Unborne]

Fuzen Hibiki

A slender genin lags behind the rest of Team 2 rubbing his temples in the process. "Guys can you shut up? It's almost time for our next mission!" Hibiki freezes as he looks at his two comrades in front of him, "No, not you guys, I was talking to...yeah..." The ash-nin pushes his two white-blond bangs out of the way of his sanguine eyes; his cheeks also turn a similar color in embarrassment.

Blame Fatass over there, he started it again. Hibiki rolls his eyes as he passes the ANBU guards stationed outside Haigakure. The genin would have said something that would show his inherited resentment, but the Anger inside him would not quiet down. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" In a puff of smoke a clone appears looking both ways as if he was teleported from somewhere else. His clothes were the exact same as Hibiki's: grey ventilated trousers with one pant leg removed, a matching grey flight suit zipped over his battle vest, and his hitai-ate fashioned into a belt buckle to keep his trousers nice and tight.

"What's the big idea of dragging me out here Hibiki?" The main body looks at his clone and raises one of his flaxen eyebrows, "Because, you're making the most noise so go take a hike." Hibiki looks to his sensei as the kage bunshin walks away from the group, "How long will this mission take, Akane-sensei? Is Lamani Village far from here?" The genin kicks at ash on the ground waiting for a quick response.

[Valgunn]

Akane

Despite the files on each on them and the brief time she had them before she still found it odd and calm damaging to see Hibiki and his MPD. "It'll take us about a day to get where we're going. I hope everyone brought a sleeping bag 'cause I'm not sharing mine." She said despite the fact she would probably end up giving her sleeping pack over to the most annoying of them. "It'll then take us three days to get to Sunagakure. Another three after that to get home." Almost singing it as she began to walk forward. "If we can finish the mission without too much trouble I'll buy you all dinner."

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Yuu isn't particularly startled by his teammate's actions. He's known Hibiki long enough that this doesn't surprise him anymore. And it also gave the opportunity for free punching bags if he got irritated at him enough.
"Sunagakure is in the middle of the desert, correct? I need to pick up a water bottle...and one for Kuromaru as well. Will we have time when we reach the client's village?

[Valgunn]

Akane

"I think so. The client may wish to leave as soon as we arrive." Akane twisted her head around to look at Yuu. "If that is the case I'll grab the supplies while you three continue on with the client."

[ZeroNumerous]

Travel

It's a slow, arduous trek northwestward toward the hidden village of Konohagakure. It takes the full day, and you're forced to make camp in the wilderness for the night as a soft rain comes in shortly after dark. The area for your campsite is protected by moderately large trees that block out the falling rain adequately. The night is uneventful, but you have some time to do a bit of training before bedtime.

Lamani Village

As you grow closer to the village, you notice a pall of smoke drifting upward on the horizon. It's not the soft white smoke of civilization but the dark black smoke of destruction. You're still half an hour out from Lamani, but could reach it in just a few minutes by leaping instead of walking.

[Malek]

Matsuo

Travel

While others train openly, Matsuo disappee returns just in time for sleep.

Lamani Village

- Oh great, a fire. With our luck it's the client's house burning. Shall we hurry? - Hyuuga asked preparing for speedy leaping.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Evening
Yuu spends the evening training with Kuromaru, working on their coordination and teamwork against a single foe. [Actual Jutsu training to come when I know a bit more about training.] The trees in the area surrounding one particular stump are noticeably devoid of leaves, and the stump itself bears many large claw marks, though no sword slashes- Yuu had not wanted to dull the edge of his father's sword against such a target.

Lamani Village

"Kuso." Spotting the smoke rising from the village, Yuu's eyes went flat. His hand twitched to the hilt of his sword, as Kuromaru let out a low growl.

"Akane-san. We need to get to the village immediately. There are probably survivors, and the attackers may still be in the village. Your orders?" Yuu looks like he's straining at the gate, ready to move as fast as he can as soon as he has the order.

Damn Konoha ninja! This is supposed to be their territory! Why can't they protect it? Or maybe they did this themselves? Revenge against a small group of rebels that results in the deaths of who knows how many innocents?"

[Valgunn]

Uchiha Akane

Akane seeing the destruction as the others did her first reaction an exlamation. "You're going to hate me for this but our client comes first." Her voice serious as a grave as she spoke. "We can not risk that our client is in the middle of whatever is going on." She smiled back at them, the flow of chakra around her body picking up speed and power in her long bare legs as she silently hoped that they would get the meaning of what she was saying.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Yuu sighs a bit, looking very downcast and just a tad rebellious.
"Understood. Confirm the safety of the client and get her out of this mess. That comes first." He moves chakra to his feet, getting ready to move out to the village at all speed.

[Malek]

Matsou

- Alright. What do we know about the client? We'll have to know as much as we can soe that we can identify her. - Matsuo focuses his chakra, to keep up to speed of others.

[Valgunn]

Uchiha Akane

"All we have is a name. Yamamoto Suka." She saw the rebellious streak inside Yuu come out but let it pass without comment. "We can not safely find her untill the village is safe." Crouching and jumping in a single fluid movement with her last sentence marking the begining of their much more speedy advance, any further conversation could be had while on the move.

[ZeroNumerous]

Lamani Village

Fire and smoke greets the group as they leap into direct view of the village. The nearest two straw structures have already been reduced down to blackened husks while the next one is bathed in an orange glow. A beaten path runs clear through the center of the small clump of straw homes that make up the village. The path is ruined by masses of horses hooves leading toward the village's center.

Village Center

The center of the village has three groups of men, women, and children clumped together separated by gender and age. A ring of armed and gruff looking people surround the men, women, and children. Each one holds a weapon and jeers at the scared peasantry. A trio of obvious ninja stand just off to the side along with an armored man and a peasant-garbed woman. No one successfully makes out their headbands from here.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Yuu ducks down at the borders of the village, hiding behind a house that is not currently on fire. He holds his katana in a white-knuckled grip, as Kuromaru continues to emit a low growl, almost on the edge of hearing. He speaks in a low voice.

"Normally I'd just charge right in and destroy those bastards standing there, but with those ninja not interfering I'm wary. With ninja support they could very well take us. I'd think we should walk up and demand an explanation from those ninja- we've got a right to be here after all, and if they attack, well....so be it." It's obvious that Yuu would quite like it if the thugs and ninjas turn out to be hostile.

[Valgunn]

Akane

The appearance of other Ninja was worrying but it was one of the hallmarks of a good Ninja to adapt to changing situations. She dropped down along with Yuu using activating her Sharingan for a moment to allow her a clear picture of the scene unfolding in the town center. She landed with a soft thump a small amount of dust flying into the air as her well manicured and sandled feet hit the ground. "Not a bad plan. Everyone has to agree to this, defending her from Ninja is beyond the scope of our mission." Her tone not as serious as you should expect from a Ninja in a possible combat situation. "If everyone is up for this we go in and ask they give us our client. Chances are that they wont. It's only fair to gve them a chance." An unpleasent smile across her face as her killing intent became almost palpable.


OOC:

Spoiler

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"Ninja Lore" - (1d20+14)[22]

[The Unborne]

Hibiki

Previously...

As Team 2 settled down for the night, Hibiki summoned the Deadly Seven to help set up camp. There were a few fights and arguments, but overall the kage bunshins behaved themselves while Hibiki snuck off to find an open spot to train. Once finding a suitable area, the Ash-nin cracked his knuckles and began to manipulate the air currents beneath his feet. With a single jump, Hibiki soared through the sky; while in mid-flight, he performed another hop which sent him even further upwards.

An excited shout escaped the genin's mouth, but was cut short when he looked down to see the world far below his feet, "..." All his excitement had left him just as fast as the ground came back up to meet him.

Lamani Village

The rest of the trek to the village was uneventful while Hibiki rubbed his soar head from the accident the night before. Laughter never ceased inside Hibiki's head once he told his multiple personalities what had happened. Everything turned silent once the smokes were spotted coming from Lamani Village.

Fuzen Hibiki simply shook his head in denial as the rest of his team left for the village. The mental genin took his leisurely time walking towards the village as requested by the Sloth inside of him.

The Ash-nin made it in time as Akane was about to finish her plan, "Umm Akane-sensei would you wish for me to place a few clones around the perimeter, you know so they don't leave with the client...or umm, to scout for hidden enemies? You can't go out there, you make too much noise," Hibiki throws his hands up apologetically, "Sorry that was for Wrath not you, Akane-sensei."

Spoiler

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Learn Sarutobi no Jutsu DC: 13, 1 success
Learn Bonus: +11

Take 10 result: 21
Time Halved so I learn the technique in a single four hour block

[Malek]

Matsuo

- I think that if diplomacy won't work, we'll have to worry most about how many there are. If both those ninjas and the mercenaries, bandits or whoever they are come at us all together, they could overpower us by numbers alone. I think there are two ways we could go around this if it comes to battle: We could use Hibiki to stall the warriors - as he is the one with most chakra and best techniques for fending off multiple enemies - while we take care of the shinobi. Alternatively the stealthies of us could split, and prepare to flank them, while one of Hibiki's clones gets disguised as him. Don't think that a clone would work for that - he might have to go further away from you than it's possible... - Matsuo consideres the possibilities for a while, before shaking his head.

- Ah, I'm sorry Akane-sensei, I'm probably overthinking it. Well, you know my take on it now anyway. - he ends.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

"Why would we need to have one of Hibiki's clones impersonate us? They don't know how many we are and, small village like our own, a three man team would be perfectly viable, particularly if Kuromaru is with us. I do like the idea of Hibiki stalling the bandits while we engage. Even without him, thanks to Kuromaru, we'll have them outnumbered."

[Malek]

Matsuo

- Ah but we don't know who they are, or what they might expect from our village. Either way a clone decoy, if we'd go for pre-emptive ambush, means another target they have to worry about - and any hit that goes for a clone, is one less hit that goes for us.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu
"Why not just send in all clones, then? Hibiki, how good are they? Can we use them to get an accurate reading on the situation before charging in?"

[The Unborne]

Hibiki

The Ash-nin looks back and forth between Yuu and Matsuo between their exchange of plans. Hibiki looks to Yuu, "Well...They're good for one hit mostly, but if they get the drop they can do some damage on a group. Once they are destroyed, they give me instant access to what information they gathered."

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

"My question was more whether or not they'd be able to pass as a team without the enemy recognizing that they're clones rather than their battle abilities. But we're out of time here. If they can, I say we send three or four clones in disguised as us to get a reading on the situation. If not, I say we use Matsuo's flanking plan. But it's your call, Akane-sempai." As he says this, his head is twitching up, trying to get a look at the situation again and again.

OOC

Spoiler

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As you can see, I'm not going to bother with "sensei". That would really imply a Jounin instructor, unless Akane's designed to be ours, rather than just the leader of our team.

[Valgunn]

Akane

"Sending in Hibiki surrounded by clones disguised as us sounds a great plan. If they turn hostile Hibiki stands the greatest chance of survival." A strange puckish grin grew across her face as she leaned down a little to smile at Hibiki as if daring him to say no. "Come on Hibiki. Show us how super manly you are." She leaned back up and then as an aside she said "Before I forget. At this point the mission has increased in rank from a simple C-rank to an A-rank. The Ninja in the village are Desert Ninja. You are all free to refuse to continue."

[The Unborne]

Hibiki

The youthful genin salutes his chunin leader, "Yes Sensei, I will show them the definition of manly!" Hibiki twirls his one flaxen bangs and begins to piece together who he would use...

Inside Hibiki's Head

Bwahahahaha! It's mission time guys! LINE UP! The Deadly Seven take their positions in front of Hibiki, "Pick me Hibiki, I'll show those Suna-nin's a thing or two!" The insane genin rolls his eyes and points to Pride, who in turn gives a thumbs up.

"Okay I'm also going to take ummm..." The other six all wave and whistle to gain Hibiki's attention, "Uh...Give me Wrath and Envy, sorry guys that's all I need." Poor Gluttony slouches and walks away into the darkness that is Hibiki's mind, "I'm always picked last."

Outside

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! Three puffs of smoke pop into existence; out the smoke stands three clones of Hibiki with hand seals ready as they perform Henge no Jutsu. Once "Team Hibiki" is formed, the mental nin surveys the disguised bunshins and nods, "Alright let's go!" All four walk out of the forest and head towards the situation happening in Lamani Village, "Hey! What's going on here?!"

Spoiler

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Stamina Damage:(3d4)[6]
Clone HP: 2
Clone DC: 15

Hibiki Chakra: 48

[ZeroNumerous]

Sand-nin

As Team Hibiki gets closer, the Suna-nin come into focus. The first is a dark-haired female not much taller than Hibiki and wearing a light yellow fox mask across her face. Hibiki easily recognizes it as an ANBU mask. She whispers something to a much larger, much more muscular and much more bald ninja whose face looks like a cat's scratching post. He grumbles, then looks toward Hibiki. "Koso-san says half your team are bunshins of some sort. Unless you intend to attack I suggest you let them go."

The scarred ninja roughly shoves the plain looking blond ninja who makes up the third member of their team. "Go fetch Hitori-sama." The boy shrugs, then leaps away leaving the scarred ninja and "Koso-san" behind with Hibiki. The ANBU-masked girl begins scanning their surroundings for anyone that may or may not be with Hibiki. Meanwhile, the unshaven and old-looking soldier the ninja had been meeting with just shouts at Hibiki with abit of drunken slur to his speech. "Bah! Kill the damn boy and we can move on. It's what you stupid ninja were hired for, right?"

[Valgunn]

Akane

By this time Akane had removed her backpack and jacket revealing a spiral tattoo on her right shoulder. "****." She whispered as she heard the talking and Hibiki's cover being blown. Sunagakure and Hitori. She pulled her ANBU mask from her pack and soon had it attached to her Forehead Protecter, it was useful to hide if she had her Sharingan active. She then turns to the other Genin that she expects and hopes are worried for their friend "Hold together you two. I'm going out there and you two are staying here. I'm not risking you two in a sneak attack. Stay calm. The first sign of trouble come in and incapictate the girl in the ANBU mask first. Do not kill." The slow steady beat of her heart as she made her choice would never have betrayed her fear as she head towards the situation happening in Lamani Village.

[Rogue 7]

Yuu

Yuu tenses, his hand resting on his sword hilt. For all his compassion and drive to help those down on their luck, he had never been terribly good at taking people alive. A sword didn't do that very well.

"Wait a minute, sensei. I heard what one of them said. You appear to be in their Bingo Book, and they haven't attacked yet. We're supposed to be allies with Sunagakure, and I'm sure we'd have heard of anything we'd done to break the alliance. Maybe that old soldier is just bluffing. At least try and talk this out first, but I've got your back.