Will of fire soaked in gasoline

[Izanagi]

As Yoru approached and placed a hand on his shoulder Takeo caught his worried glance. Returning the clasp on the other man’s shoulder the Hokage nodded, affirming his resolve. His combination had used a lot of chakra at once though already he had managed to catch his breath and find a second wind. Though if he were to estimate he only had about a quarter of his chakra reserves though given his ordinarily massive amount of chakra he still had quite a hefty amount to utilize. It was only in comparison to the godly chakra reserves of their adversaries that his own fatigue seemed noteworthy. Still, he knew that Nehan’s extensive regeneration would have taken a hefty toll of its own and so too would the regeneration to Kenji’s body. If it came down to a 2vs2 he could still hold his own against Nehan and Yoru’s own reserves and skill were comparable to Kenji, if they utilized their techniques wisely the pair of them could still come out victorious.

It was evident however that killing their opponents swiftly was not an easy task, they would have to switch tactics, wearing the pair down until their bodies lacked enough chakra to adequately regenerate themselves. Luckily both Yoru and Takeo possessed significantly superior speed to their opponents, conserving their own chakra while forcing their opponents to deplete their own reserves was an achievable task. Of course with such a strategy it was unlikely that Mai would survive. It was for this reason that Takeo re-assessed the situation and shifted priorities towards finding a peaceful resolution. Every Konoha shinobi’s life was valued to him and while he knew there were times when sacrifices had to be made and deaths were unavoidable in this situation the risk may have been too great for the reward.

The Hokage watched with awe as the immortal duo repaired themselves at a remarkable rate. Nehan’s wound had sealed itself shut and even the effects of paralysis had almost completely diminished. Her robes were still tattered and bloodied but her arm was fully healed and re-attached and there was no trace of the dozens of deep slashes that had earlier sliced across her body. And then there was Kenji, to survive his most powerful offensive combo, winds that had shredded his body and torn apart two of his limbs in addition to the one he had severed moments before. Though the being didn’t possess flesh per say his entire body had been blackened and smoldering as his tendrils and pseudo flesh melted and sagged off his body from the flames so intense that even metal would have been melted. Even with his regenerative properties if the being had taken even a second or two longer to teleport out of the area there would have been nothing remaining of his body at all. While Kenji was returning to a more human and less grotesquely mangled form Nehan managed to stand and approach her comrade as she spoke.

He listened to her deranged view on the situation. Truly her mind was deluded if that’s how she saw it. “That’s where you’re wrong Nehan. It’s precisely because my compassion extends beyond Fire Country that I hold you accountable for the dozens of innocent lives you’ve taken in the name of your God. You are not the victim here. In your heart you truly are a monster and only you are to blame for your actions. You are a dangerous and wanted criminal and you’d both do well to remember the fate that awaits your kind upon entering the Land of Fire." As Nehan pointed her scythe at him it was Kenji whom Takeo kept an eye on. He knew that if the woman attacked Yoru would strike her down in a flash, it seemed unlikely Kenji would be capable of offering much support in his current state though he knew better than to underestimate him, precisely why he had opted not to further strain himself with another attempt at finishing them both off.

The burns across Kenji’s body were rapidly diminishing in intensity and even his limbs were making good headway in growing back, it was oddly intriguing in the way he utilized the tendrils within his body acting as limbs in place of his own, able to bear his own weight and even grasp objects such as the kunai from earlier. ‘So taking out his limbs is useless then. Will have to focus attacks at destroying his chest and core then’ he noted, determining an important difference in strategy between the two immortals. The attack he had used against Kenji after all had been one designed with Nehan in mind. Already he had adjusted to this newfound information and had come up with a strategy to overwhelm and destroy Kenji’s most vital components. The problem was such a strategy would require almost all of his remaining chakra and would require Kenji to be unable to utilize Space-Time, researching the drawbacks of such a style would surely be helpful in ensuring success. He knew there must be limits and conditions to such techniques, some way to exploit a weakness. His eyes widened as Nehan was nonchalantly teleported away. That was certainly a favorable sign and an amusing occurrence as well that further exposed the relationship between the two rogue ninja.

Kenji’s proposal was certainly surprising, a stark contrast to Nehan’s response. He wondered for a moment how the two of them managed to agree on anything or even work together, clearly Kenji was the authority, though why would Nehan even wish to follow someone like that? Once again it seemed that the man had an uncanny ability to draw others to his causes, a way of getting into people’s heads. “I’m no fool Kenji, I know the game you’re playing at. You’d never offer such a thing unless it came with a hefty reward, village secrets perhaps? Test subjects with unique bloodlines? And at the very least blackmail to threaten war with Iwa at your whim or force Konoha’s hand into doing your bidding rather than the other way around. I refuse to believe you’d do such things without a cost too great to make such endeavors worthwhile. Beyond that even if there was a mutually beneficial agreement I’m afraid I simply don’t trust you.” He stated. While Takeo had met with a missing nin in the past and considered working alongside her, above all the Hokage trusted his instincts and gut feelings. There was too much at stake with Kenji and not nearly enough reason to think he would prove a valuable asset.

[Willoria]

She could hear the conversation, but she couldn't take part in it. The woman still lay there as she channeled mystical palm through her bugs to heal her. There was so much damage she knew it was going to take a long time to heal, more time than she could afford. At this rate, she'd run out of chakra before she was fully healed. Mai knew she was to the point where she needed medical help from another, she would need the hospital, and that wasn't going to happen any time soon. After a few moments she had at least healed enough to move and despite Dai's protests she shrugged off her bugs and hid them away as she pushed herself to her feet.

She stumbled, she could barely stay on her feet, but still the woman in the ANBU mask moved towards the others, stopping about five meters behind Takeo. 'I have so little left I can contribute, but if shit goes sideways I'm still here.' she thought to herself. Despite the argument that further went on in her own head, Mai was still dedicated to finishing out her role in this, whatever that role might have been.

[Lacarix]

The young Bannin glared at Nehan, His gaze couldn’t avoid her soft pale features, she was a completely different woman when her Jashin like features faded away. She began to speak, she spoke to eloquently, with real raw power and emotion. Even though the words were harsh and spoke of nothing but monstrosities, Yoru couldn’t help but imagine if she was back in the village, what if she had never of left? She was strong, beautiful and had a way with words she could be a top war chief of the village. Was it really too late? He looked into her large blue eyes, hoping to see some redemption. He was taken back by what he saw, nothing but evil in those eyes. It broke his heart, just that simple gaze told Yoru everything he needed to know, Nehan would never come back.

The large scythe was lifted up through the air, Yoru dropped back onto his foot, withdrawing a kunai in an instant, he was ready to strike the woman down in a matter of moments. She was in no shape to fight, Yoru hadn’t a scratch on him. She would not lay a finger on Takeo, he’d make sure of that. Yoru took his gaze away from Nehan just for a moment, look at Takeo.

He’d been injured, surely fatigued but he had a lot left in him. If they wanted he was confident the pair could kill Nehan and Kenji right now and end all of this. Would it be worth it though? People like this defiantly socialised in powerful circles, he couldn’t even contemplate the power they would have behind him. He was sure if the missing ninja all got together they would cause complete chaos, nothing had seemed to unify any of them as of yet, though the death of two powerful people like this could.

Kenji moved his kunai over to Nehan and would attempt to touch her on the shoulder to transport her away. He didn’t drop his kunai and awaited to see Nehans reponse, she was capable of stopping him If she chose. He’d be ready to defend if Nehan was still on the field, and wouldn’t relax.

His eyes widened as Kenji made his proposal, Yoru began to grin with excitement. His smile was almost cheek to cheek, the thought of ridding Iwagakure lit him up with excitement, he resented Iwagakure more than any other village. He knew they didn’t directly effect the country in its entirety, but the Rock Country and it’s Daiymo allowed slavery and the hidden village gave them the ability to do that. Without the strong shinobi, Konoha could rip through the Rock Country and rid it of slavery once and for all.

Yoru had a personal vendetta against slavery, in his youth he was kept as a slave and the scars on his body wouldn’t let him forget it. He wanted to offer his hand out to Kenji and say yes. Though he couldn’t. He looked over at Takeo and the Anbu he was holding, his smile soon washed away. He knew it wouldn’t be as easy as Kenji was suggesting, Iwagakure was incredibly powerful and they wouldn’t be stopped, though only way Yoru could stop slavery was by working with Iwagakure, it wasn’t their fault that he was enslaved it was the slavers that took those early years from him.

He lowered his kunai, he felt defeated. He can’t believe he even considered saying yes to Kenji, almost joining up with them. Since Yoru left the village, he was slowly falling out of love with Konoha or at least he had until he returned. Seeing Takeo taking lead, proving that Konoha was not to be trifled with. Yoru walked closer to Takeo and the Anbu in his arms, they were just standing there as though everything was fine. He watched with awe as she got up, how was she capable of this? She was suffering, that was apparent. She was part of Konohagakure the village that had saved Yoru’s life, he owed his life to this village and in turn her. He reached out stroking her arm gently, trying to assure her someone was there for her. If she needed it, he'd be there to support her.

He finally decided to break his silence “We need to wrap this up…” he paused over Takeo’s name, unsure what to call him in front of Kenji and Nehan “Lord Hokage.” he said firmly, almost though to be giving Takeo the power of his title “She needs some attention.” He glanced over and looked at Kenji “They have nothing to offer us, you know I hate Iwagakure more than anyone but we can’t risk war, we can’t risk everyone in our village and we can’t risk her.” He spoke with real venom, he wouldn’t fall for their tricks.

[TyDie]

...That was about what Kenji had expected from his opponents. After all, 'the will of fire burns brightly and it's light will chase away the perverted darkness' or whatever simple minded code it was that Konoha ninja lived by. Although, a part of him couldn't help but wonder if this was Takeo's final answer or not. After all, he was surrounded by allies, allies that no doubt had a certain expectation of their commander in chief. Allies that would no doubt rat him out if he decided to work with an infamous, evil villain such as himself. Ahh... such small minded fools.

With a small shake of his head, Kenji looked up at the sky, giving a slight eye roll as the answer he was given. "A pity, however it's to be expected given the recent situation you and yours had to deal with involving Henkou. But I do believe I said 'think on it', didn't I Lord Hokage? I don't expect this to be the last time we converse, and next time I hope it's on more... agreeable terms. I'd like you to take some more time to consider my offer before outright refusing what could be an incredible asset to your recently razed village."

Kenji looked now at the woman who had somehow managed to stand after the immense damage he had caused her body with his tendrils. Even he couldn't hide his reaction to such a spectacle. "Fascinating... A lesser shinobi would have died outright, even though I held back... No doubt you're facing severe organ failure and several dozen shattered bones, and yet still you stand defiant against me..." He gave a slow, though genuine clap at her clear stance against him. "I'm truly humbled by the strength of your flame young one... you may prove to be a worthy adversary in the future."

The cocky one clearly had a mouth on him, of that there was no doubt. And in return, Yoru would earn from Kenji was a simple scowl. "Speaking of humble, you should learn some yourself. Do remember that you encounter me and my comrade at separate moments in time. In a true confrontation, you may not be so lucky. And overestimating yourself... well, I'm sure you know where i'm going with this." He cut himself off, realizing that he had fallen into lecture mode and definitely needed to be on his way... He had an angry witch to deal with still.

Holding his Kunai out again, Kenji smiled once more at Takeo, his cheeks stretching as they were held in place only by a few threads. "I hope to hear from you in the near future Lord Hokage. Until then, I have much to do. Whether we become allies or not, believe that you haven't seen the last of me." A deep, ominous chuckle resounded out as he slowly swirled into nothingness, Jikukan chakra completely enveloping him until he faded away entirely to his realm.

[Izanagi]

Takeo noted the shifting emotions of his friend beside him, even if he wasn’t directly looking at him he was so attuned with Yoru that he could essentially sense how he felt, from subtle shifts in his stance to varying patterns of his heart beat. In this close of proximity there was much he could pick up on. Of course he would wish to jump at the opportunity to destroy Iwagakure, the two had talked in length on various occasions over the years about a joint dream in finding a way to completely protect the land of Fire against slaver raids. Much of that conversation stemmed back to Iwa. While Yoru had initially wished their destruction and he knew some part of him still did, Takeo had consistently made a point of wishing for negotiations and co-operation as a first approach, resorting to war only if forced. After all, as much as it would be ideal to free all slaves Takeo knew that realistically the most he could hope for was coming to an agreement of stricter regulating of slavers and freelances as well as improved border security system to prevent trafficking.

Nonetheless if there was a way to ensure Kenji could be trusted and was willing to take direct action against Iwagakure then he was a resource that even Takeo couldn’t deny. Alas lack of trust seemed to be the greatest factor in preventing cooperation. It would only be a matter of time before one was betrayed by someone of Kenji’s personality type then there was the wildcard that was Nehan, whom clearly wanted nothing but Takeo’s death. He pondered this over for another few moments, his mind always working the angles and considering strategies. He had already burned one bridge with Nehan with a pre-emptive decision, it would be a shame to make a mortal enemy out of Kenji as well. “If there comes a point where I’m able to deem you trustworthy and reliable there may come a time where our goals align.” He stated in response. That was as much of a commitment as Kenji would get for the time being.

The conversation was interrupted briefly as Mai limped towards them. Takeo assessed her condition quickly and he knew that he and Yoru had come to the same conclusion. They had to get back to the village and ensure she was treated right away. The fact that she remained conscious and able to move brought a proud and respectful nod of acknowledgment. This was the will of Fire in action, the ability to never give up on a comrade and always push oneself to the limits for the sake of others. Without her here today it was quite likely that he could have died or at the very least been seriously injured. Now thanks to the loyal ANBU operative the Hokage had been healed completely and with the assistance of Yoru had been able to not only stand their ground against these S-Rank Missing nin but drive them back into a forced retreat. ‘Well done Mai, you can rest soon’ he thought.

He would ignore Kenji’s remarks towards Yoru, the way he saw it both had large egos though Kenji’s was unrivalled. Though Yoru put on a brave face and was extraordinarily confident against weaker opponents he knew that the young man fully understood the frailty of life, he maintained a healthy fear of death for himself and others, an aspect that evidently Kenji no longer considered. In Takeo’s mind, this was what gave the leaf shinobi an edge even when outmatched. They were always fighting for someone else, giving everything they had to keep themselves and their comrades alive unlike immortals whom tended to overestimate their own resilience and create more openings.

The Hokage would nod to Yoru in agreement, they would shortly be on their way. “I’m sure we’ll meet again Kenji in the meantime take no further action against Fire Country or its citizens if you wish to one day develop amicable relations with Konoha.” He stated before Kenji gave his own parting words. As he vanished into another realm Takeo would gently scoop up Mai as he stood next to the Bannin, “Alright, take us home Yoru” he instructed, assuming that he would have had the proper forethought to leave an anchor in the village for quick return. If not they would have to run back manually and hope that the strain of travelling at such high speeds didn’t further antagonize the many injuries Mai had sustained.

[Willoria]

It was an absolute struggle for Mai to remain standing. It was just as much of a struggle to stay conscious. She gave no reaction to Kenji's remarks about her, or what anyone would say about her. She simply kept her eyes on Kenji, telling herself she was ready to act should he try to put anyone else into danger once more. Blood stained her white and blue mask, the designs of the bug that had been on it were skewed by the blood smeared down it from the mouth piece. Blood stained her clothes as well, and her skin. She could still feel in places on her neck and chin where it was still damp, while in other places it had dried.

Once Kenji left, Mai felt herself start to relax, and she started to wobble where she stood. She felt Takeo lift her before she could fall, but she was barely aware of it. Consciousness was already slipping from her as she rest her head against his chest and heard what he said to Yoru. 'I tried.' she thought to herself as she felt her breathing begin to go ragged. The woman would be unconscious in mere moments, having used the last bit of energy she had to stand defiant in front of Kenji.

[Lacarix]

Yoru glared at Kenji as he scowled at him, he was so tempted to run over and punch the scowl from his face. He had to bite his lip to stifle his laughter at what he deemed a foolish man. He spoke of true confrontations, it was obvious to Yoru that Kenji had used what was probably his most powerful attack and it couldn’t even touch him. He rolled his eyes as Kenji continued to talk what Yoru deemed utter rubbish “Luck had nothing to do with it Kenji, you were simply too ‘slow’.” A smirk fell across his face, Yoru was one of the fastest men alive and he was proud of that skill. He loved to point out how slow his opponents were. His eyes glared into Kenji’s “I look forward to the next time we have an encounter, I haven’t even broken a sweat and here you are tending your wounds. The foul immortal ‘monsters’ will be nothing but bedtime stories once I’m done with you.” He fully knew if he came face to face with Kenji again it could be the last thing Yoru saw, he wouldn’t underestimate Kenji’s abilities, but he was confident in himself, he felt as though if they met again he could slay the beast.


The Bannin shook his head as Takeo suggested that they may even work with someone like Kenji, he was a foul beast and could never be trusted. The moment Takeo made a deal with someone like him is the day Yoru leaves the village behind for good. He was shocked Takeo would even suggest trusting him. With that, Kenji dissipated into thin air. The two ‘monsters’ had gone back to from where they came and Konoha would rest easy once again from the monsters under the bed. Things could of easily backfired, one wrong step, Takeo and Yoru could of easily lost their lives, konoha would feel the strain. After Enma and Yaku, could Konoha really take another invasion? They would look incredibly weak to the rest of the world, many people would take advantage and Yoru wasn’t sure if Konoha was ready for that.


He was glad they had finally gone, his eyes narrowed as his glared at his sensei “Takeo, we can’t even consider their deal!” He spat angrily, feeling betrayed that Takeo could even contemplate such a thing. Since he’d arrived home he’d been nothing but respectful to Takeo and his position as the villages Hokage and hadn’t argued with him yet, but working with Kenji was just unimaginable “You know I hate the earth country more than anyone, but it would be a disaster, if the rest of the world found out we were working with a wanted man we’d lose all of our allies and for what? To start a war? So many lives would be lost and it will be for nothing!” He spoke with such venom, would Takeo truly risk Konoha and the people who lived within it's walls? He sighed with annoyance, looking down at the Anbu he realised this wasn’t the time or the place for this kind of conversation. Takeo gave him the order to take them home.


He grunted, nodding at the order. Like Kenji before him, Yoru withdrew a kunai from his pouch and held his finger through the pommel as he weaved a flurry of handseals. He had never tested on it with someone holding another life form, in all honesty Yoru was quite new to the whole space and time gig. He edged the kunai towards Takeo, touching it against his skin as he vanished into thin air taking the Anbu with him. They would find themselves in the centre of the village, Takeo would need to head to the hospital straight away. He soon followed, dissipating into the air and appearing on the other side.

Yoru held out his arms “I’ll take her Takeo, I’m quicker than you. You should have yourself looked at as well.” Assuming Takeo handed over the girl, he’d wrap his arms around her carefully. She felt as though she weighed nothing, he pulled her close to him, feeling the beat of her heart against his own. It seemed faint, he was so disappointed in himself for not prioritising her safety. Turning on his heels he prepared himself to run to the hospital as fast as his legs would carry him, before he left he looked over his shoulder “Sorry for my outburst… Lord Hokage.” He needed to remember his place and show nothing but respect for his sensei, it wasn’t his place to yell at Konoha’s leader. Though he didn’t have time to concern himself with that. Yoru took off, moving like a blur as he weaved through the streets of Konoha. The streets, that for now, were safe.

UsedShow

*Recycle & Open Space: True Link
A-rank Jikukan Ninjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals then place one hand on an any object small enough to fit in their grasp. Upon doing so, they will Recycle Space, creating an exact duplicate of that object. The duplicate of said object will act as an Anchor, turning both objects into links to each other. Should any party aside from the Architect come in contact with either anchor, they’ll be instantly transported to the other Anchor either a) they elect to or b) their control is less than the control of the Architect. The Architect can opt to use the Anchor at any point as well, should they so choose.