[Graded][KCW] Reversal

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 4:44 am

Mission ContractShow

A-Rank Mission Contract
For Special Jounin+ Participants
From Ote, Syaoran of Lightning Country
Requesting [In order to put Murakami on the back foot, you are to make your way to his capital city. Once there, you must break in and make your way to his palace. Then, you are to eliminate the Lady Murakami while she addresses her people on her balcony. Once she is assassinated in plain view of the citizens there will be a mass panic, and Murakami will be forced to retreat back to his own province and abort his plans to attack.]
Time Limit for Mission 96 hours

There was a shrill call in the air as a hawk winged its way through the chilling winter air. It dashed through the snow, ignoring the particles that broke upon its wings and back. It could not afford to stop and wait out the fall, it had a job that it simply must achieve. It called once more, as if to announce its determination and resolve to ride out the weather to reach its intended destination. It sped over trees and hills, its impressive eyes picking out every living thing atop the white blanket that smothered the earth. The snow was a welcome change from the sights it had been seeing lately. Fields full of dead humans, burned forests and human settlements. The land was bleeding, and it was making it very difficult to find suitable prey. But all of that was secondary to its purpose. There! On the ground! A human he had been searching for was found in the snow. The hawk picked him out more surely than any person ever could, even from such a great distance.

The bird dipped its wings and flew directly toward the figure. It would complete its mission here, so that it could go hunting. It approached the man at speed, pulling up to land on his shoulder. With a chirrup, it turned its head to indicate that it required his assistance with the parcel tied around its leg. They were orders for the fallen hero Nakajima Hayate, for him to achieve his redemption. Once he completed this mission, the Bannin Banri would allow him to return to the village and once again be among his people. Once Hayate murdered a woman in cold blood in her own home, he would be allowed to return home a war hero. He would be celebrated and revered once again, his past crime forgotten. This was Hayate's chance at redemption.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Thu Aug 20, 2015 10:54 am

The snow blew white on the mountain that night, each footstep erased by the relentless wind leaving none to be seen. Isolated in the desolate white landscape a man fully clad in multiple layers and a thick cloak trudged along, step by step. He was moving slowly as if saving his energy, or perhaps due to being so cold. The wind howled hard but the cawing of a bird echoed out even harder.

The cloaked fire spun round on his rear foot with incredible speed, a metallic and shimmering pointed object drawn from somewhere beneath his clothing. He paused to inspect the incoming threat only to put away his pointy shiny object. It was a message, and one from a source he trusted. The large and powerful bird came to a halt as it's talons gripped the man's shoulder, tearing the fabric of his cloak ever so lightly. Around one of it's legs was a scroll.

The scroll contained orders for the fallen hero Nakajima Hayate, for him to achieve his redemption. Luckily he was in fact Nakajima Hayate, and, this meant his battle was nearing it's end. His battle of course being the war he had been waging, from corner to corner of his country.

His order were as he expected.

He let the bird go and continued to trudge along towards the snowy kingdom where his target lay in wait.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:01 am

Hayate approached what appeared to be a series of once alabaster coloured walls. Now, between the pearly white painted granite bricks grew mould and moss in abundance. This was partially due to the abundance of water in the capital city of Gyourou province, and partially due to most maintenance workers being conscripted into Murakami's fighting force. The walls had a tin roof above them that was tinted green which covered a walkway through which lanterns hung burning oil. The walkway was where guards patrolled in groups of two.

There were two closed iron gates in the middle of the road to the city, but there was also a hole through which the river entered. However, the hole was grilled with iron bars all the way down into the riverbed below. The bars had too small of a gap for any person to ever think about moving through.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Aug 23, 2015 5:21 am

Hayate carefully surveyed the city around him, staying out of cover as he searched for an entrance point. Walking in would be a poor move- while he was one for flashy and over the top introductions, this was not the time. After finally seeing all that he could in terms of entrance ways, he decided that the only way in had to be through the iron bars and the river. They were not guarded because what man could possibly destroy the iron bars and make his way in? Hmph. That would definitely be his point of entrance. Quickly he sped off, but despite his rushed nature, he was in fact being careful. He kept his sensory open feeling around for any sign of life and in particular, any threat.

When he reached the riverbed, he would continue to monitor for enemy presence, and would perform a set of hand seals creating Son's flaming magatama. He would begin to push it through the bars full force cutting out a human sized entrance. When and if finished, he would enter through the hole

USEDShow

Partial Summoning: Little Magatama
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Son Goku [Little Magatama]
After performing the needed hand seals, Hayate summons the arms of Son Goku over his own. He then forms three flame tomoe arranged in a circular pattern floating above his palm. This is known as a magatama, and after it's formation it may be thrown like a shuriken. Unlike the unstable and explosive tomoe, the Magatama condenses all the energy of the three tomoe inside of it and channels it into pure burning potential. Due to the finite control of the burn, on contact, the magatama slices through objects like a katana, but also cauterizes whatever it slices through. During this process, cloth or dry materials that the magatama slices through are usually lit ablaze. The heat that allows this technique to cut through things gives it a large advantage against metal, however at the same time metal isn't flammable, so it loses a bit of strength in that department. The magatama lasts three posts and it's diameter= 2'.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:37 am

The three points of fire rotated speedily, creating a blade of burning intensity that was able to cut through the iron bars after some time. The water on them and around Hayate boiled and steamed as he cast his technique, exposing them to such high powered flame. However, because of the thickness of the bars and the water that covered them it was taking quite a while to cut a hole through them. It would be some time before they would come free should Hayate choose to continue entering through this method.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:59 pm

Hayate did as much as he could melting and searing through the bars. While he didn't cut through, he figured he had weakened them substantially. Forcing chakra too his body, rather than willing his aura, he created it via channeling, and then put all the hands onto the bars. He forced his chakra through it as he controlled the arms, bending back the weakened ones and using all his might to make a hole big enough for a human- maybe a little more than a human, and essentially, himself to fit through. When that was done he'd make his way through into the sewer.

USEDShow

Ultra Powerful Aura III
A-Rank Ninpou
Prerequisite: 9 Control, Pure Willpower
Upon willing his tenketsu to manifest his Ultra Powerful Aura, Hayate's body is coated by two inches of raw chakra. This aura is stronger than the previous technique and begins to take on a more human shape. This aura's extra chakra allows Hayate to create six arms up to seven-meters in length on demand. These arms cannot perform jutsu, however Hayate can transfer techniques formed in his hands to them. This aura lasts as long as Hayate is putting chakra into it. This technique will materialize with a speed equal to the average of his Ninjutsu and Control up to a maximum of 12, and moves at a strength and speed equal to said parameter.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 3:04 am

While not necessarily a sewer, Hayate now found himself on the other side of the wall. The bars had screeched and groaned, protesting profusely at his rough treatment of them as he forced them to snap on their weakened points and allow him entry. Now he was waist deep in water, just on the other side of the wall. At a glance he could see the river ran the whole way through the city, uninterrupted. It also seemed that the more well-to-do citizens had their homes along the riverside, their larger and more well-maintained homes giving away their preference for the sparkling water's aesthetics.

There was a soft patter off to the left that could just be heard over the top of the running water, but nothing else was overwhelmingly apparent without specific investigation.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:49 am

From his position, Hayate waded through the water, keeping himself attentive as he did so. He'd hear an odd pattering over the tops of the water and had to question it for a minute. He kept his aura arms close to him just in case. As he waded he reached out with his sensory. He had a mastery over chakra and his senses, and his leaking tenketsu that had once been a problem for him had been turned into an ability to sense his surroundings at all times.

He would look for any life-forms around him and relative size if they were close enough. This would help him plot which way and how he would get into the city from here.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:22 am

oocShow

The patter isn't on the water. You heard it over the top of the sound of running water. Using the word sound twice in the same sentence sounds stupid tho (see), so I didn't.

Hayate's sensory techniques could detect thousands of lifeforms within their range. Of course, this was because the river was full of fish and similar living beings. As far as humans go, it seemed like he was the only one going for a swim in the 50 meter wide river. It was, however, quite shallow, only coming up to his waist.

As he moved along, it seemed strange how few people there were, even in winter. Not a single person was to be found, eerily enough, and there was a definite absence of the sounds of general living.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:59 am

As Hayate exited the river and onto the ground beside it, he would quickly keep moving towards the nearest cover- heading towards top speed and to a rate where some of the people here wouldn't even see his existence as more than the wind. He'd dance, running through and around whatever small cover he found on the way, spinning like a tornado about the ground. Once he reached cover, he'd really hone in on his sense and not do a half-asses usage. Different size things, different people, whether ninja or not, all pinged differently. Even samurai had more pressure than a normal man, for example.

Vague sizes was all he'd need to figure out if there was life around here after all.

SpoilerShow

Fancy Footwork
C-Rank
An advanced footwork technique that makes use of good sense of space and high speeds, when Hayate strikes a target he strikes "through" them with grazing blows to move past or by rotating his body past them. This means essentially with each consecutive strike he places himself on the opposite side of his opponent for his next strike. To opponents with (wit+tai)/2 lower than Hayate's movement speed, this will seem like a blur and will be hard to follow as he dances in an untraceable flurry around them.

Hyper Mega Sensual
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Ninjutsu/Control/Wit stats of 7
Utilizing his unique tenketsu defect, Hayate passively pings his chakra outward for up to 40 meters. This allows him to passively receive sensory feedback, though he is only able to receive accurate information within a twenty meter radius of himself. Past this range the accuracy of information exponentially decreases, having no pinpoint location and only really telling him vague sizes and amounts.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:55 am

While his sensory technique expanded quite a distance from him, it still didn't really pick up anything significant. His ears, however, were much more helpful. There seemed to be some kind of buzz, like a market or some other large grouping of people coming from closer to the centre of the city. It made sense, considering the largest building was there. Stone walls lifted the castle onto a tier of ground higher than the remainder of the city, while the river ran right past its eastern flank. Soon enough he made it to the wall of the castle, looking up toward the sound he could hear atop it.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:55 am

It seemed the reason it was so eerily empty, and yet there was much noise was not danger. It was a sign that Lady Murakami, his target, was about to begin her speech. This would be his signal to get up there and get in position. He wished there was another way to win this war.

He wished his idealism could work...

But this was reality. The reality of the situation was he had to do darker things to protect his people. He had already killed hundreds of men in this war... it was righteous in the eyes of his duty and people but he failed to stomach it every night...

It seemed he had finally become a real shinobi. A messenger of death. Putting his hands together he covered himself with a jutsu that would allow him to look like a guard.

He'd look for any entrances into the castle around the back.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:04 am

There was no entrance to the castle to its rear, as that was facing the river. The only conceivable entrance were the open gates in the front, which lead to a sort of subterranean ramp which opened out into the main courtyard before the castle.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:10 am

Hayate couldn't find an entrance into the castle from the rear, as expected. The rear was the best place to be though. Forcing chakra to his feet he speed full speed up the back wall and would continue to leap and run up whatever surface on the back that he could until he reached the top of the building.

The speeds he moved at were a sort of stealth in of itself, and when he reached the near the top, making sure he wasn't quite to his destination too soon, he'd quickly release the technique tree climbing tech and dive into whatever nearby window he saw.

Looking for cover immediately. If there was none he'd quickly execute the transform tech to become a box.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:19 am

Hayate dove through a window on the fifth floor, the closest one available, and rolled to a stop in the middle of a stone corridor. Nobody seemed to be around and he was at the end of a hallway which had a door on either side of him, and a t-intersection straight in front of him at the other end of the walkway with a window in the wall letting light through.

His sensory techniques picked up two people in the room to his right, and another one at the far edges of his range where he couldn't pinpoint their location.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:43 am

Hayate examined his surroundings. There wasn't a whole lot of room in this place it seemed, and he wasn't sure where he was just yet. For the time being he would have to find a place to hide. Making sure that there was no one around, he'd wait here and use any objects for cover until the time was right- until the people were cheering outside and it was time for their lady to give her speech.

Striking now wouldn't achieve the parameters of his mission.

His guard looks were convincing, but he didn't want to go up there just yet or anything like that.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 7:51 pm

While there was nothing really in the hallway to hide behind. The place had been stripped of unnecessary furniture and trappings, all of the décor and personal effects sold off to help fund Murakami's war effort.

However, nobody was moving in Hayate's sensory field, and nobody entered it while he waited, so there was really no reason for him to bother moving.

It was about fifteen minutes before he heard it. Someone had struck a gong, and the crowd outside had begun to call out in earnest. Each citizen hoped to personally catch the attention of their newly made monarch. That was when he felt the movement from the two people in the room beside him. One of them came to the door, and opened it. He heard the two talking, and it was obvious that they were both women. "I understand, my Queen." the first woman said as she exited into the small stone hall and waited patiently for the other to move past her. Murakami Yasuko herself moved out and into the hallway, turning immediately to walk away from Hayate. Her long robes swished along the unpolished stone as she made her way toward the staircase to rise to the sixth and uppermost floor of the castle.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 6:43 pm

Something was off. Hayate's eyes flickered back and forth from his perched position. This was taking far too long. It had been nearly fifteen minutes until something had finally tripped his sensory range. It was two people. In fact, he was close enough to hear them. Of the two, the queen split and went for the stairs, taking off, as the other woman waited for her to do so before making her own exit. This was troublesome- she understood? Where were the guards? What the hell was going on here.

Hayate's mind was racing. That woman, was perhaps her guard. That would not be a good thing. As soon as the queen was gone and the cheering was right, he would look to see if the other woman was still here. Either way, he'd let them depart.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 6:47 pm

The hand maiden followed the Queen to the stairs, where she turned and assumed a stiff yet respectful posture. She seemed to be awaiting something, or someone, at the bottom of the staircase. "I shall await him here as instructed, my Queen. Please, be careful on the staircase." she said softly as the woman continued to walk ahead.

"I can navigate my husband's castle unaided, Shiyori. Thank you." the elder woman replied tersely.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:07 pm

Await him?

This was perplexing. Who would they be awaiting? Was it Hayate himself? Or was there someone else on their way. Something was deeply amiss. Regardless, he did not need to strike the lady yet. He had time to wait and see what would happen next, and though his impulses told him to do otherwise, it would be foolish to act differently. Though he was obscured from people being able to tell who he was, he decided to perform a transformation for good measure. In fact, he decided to transform into something interesting- a man in the clothes/emblems of a crime organization in the lightning country.

Unfortunately, if the crowd begun to indicate the speech neared its end, he'd have to likely act a bit sooner and leave his position of waiting.

USEDShow

*[Basic Jutsu • Transformation Technique]
E-Ranked Ninjutsu
After completing the needed handseals, the user of this technique will be able to alter their physical appearance to match that of another person. By consistently emitting chakra throughout their body, the user is able to keep their appearance adjusted at the cost of their stamina draining over time. As this technique is quite strenuous to uphold, experienced shinobi may see more clearly through this delusive disguise. This technique lasts for a number of posts equal to that of the user's stamina.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 7:33 pm

As he waited, another five minutes went past before the Queen half descended the stairs once more. "Has he arrived yet, Shiyori?" she called, with a note of irritation in her voice.

"No my Queen. Nobody has been in this hallway since I've been standing here." the maid replied submissively, bowing her head in apology.

"I cannot make them wait much longer. If he does not arrive soon I will have to simply start anyway and hope that conniving vagabond kept his end of the bargain." she turned and shuffled her way back up the stairs, clearly feeling the effects of a prolonged period of high tension and stress. This was not a woman who was in her element.

[OOC: If you still do not wish to act, and have nothing else to add, you may simply post [Pass] and I will move on]

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:48 am

[pass... I don't really have even the slightest information to act on.]

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:28 pm

The queen swished her way back up the stairs hurriedly, letting out a growl of frustration. The hand maiden turned and scurried after her, knowing that her job was no longer required. Hayate saw and heard nothing for quite a while, until a second ring of the gong sounded out. He could hear the crowd outside going ballistic as their matriarch stepped out into the sunlight on the balcony to address them.

The woman held the railing with white knuckles as she spoke to them, trying to remain confident. She had ten minutes of speech prepared, and wanted the day to go off without a hitch.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 1:24 pm

It seemed the speech had begun. Hayate paused a moment longer, before leaving from his hiding spot and heading for the balcony. Keeping to the wall, he'd use both his actual senses and his sensory skills to try and pinpoint if anyone was nearby, be it on their way to his path, or in the way of his path.

His next actions depended on if the handmaiden was still there, and if anyone else was.

As he did so from his still hidden vantage point, he sealed, activating a technique. He wasn't a fan of useless blood shed, and for this mission, only one person really needed to die, so he'd do what he could to keep the death count down. When he finished sealing, he'd draw a kunai in the sleeve of his other hand, so that it could quickly drop down into his hand if he needed it.

USEDShow

Let's Call it a Pressure Point
B-Rank Ninpou
After the necessary hand seals, Hayate will imbue his index and middle finger with chakra. Once this has been done, he will attempt to touch his opponent within two posts. If successful, the opponent's body will become paralyzed for two posts. If the opponent's strength is greater than 7 they can resist this technique.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 4:30 am

As Hayate ascended the staircase, his sensory abilities would detect four people in the room the stairs directly deposited him into at their end. Three were situated to the right of the staircase, while one was to the left. He could sense a fifth which was slightly outside the room, presumably the lady Murakami performing her speech. As he climbed the stairs he would hear the slight scrape of a wooden chair on the stone floor, followed by the light tap typical of lacquered armour. Clearly there was at least one armed person above.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 3:55 pm

Hmm. Hayate could proceed through the room, this was an option. But something told him this was honestly not the absolute best route. Every part of his being urged him to just bust in and guns blazing fight his way through just like he had done on the battlefields. He had grown tired off this war. But this mission was more about being smarter than he had been in the past. It was about carrying out the job and getting out. He clasped his hands together as he formed a clone, it drawing a few kunai in it's sleeves. It would stay where he was positioned, and he, would double back and out the window onto the back of the building, checking to make sure it was safe.

When he was in position on the roof above where his target was, he would establish visual, confirming it was the Murakami mistress, then his clone would spring up the stairs to confront whoever was in the room. He on the other hand would slide off the roof and descend upon the queen- a kunai hidden beneath is sleeve.

He'd perform a pincer attack.

USEDShow

Advanced Shadow Clone Technique
A-Rank Ninpou
After forming the needed hand seals, the user proceeds to create a number of clones of themselves (maximum is equal to the user's stamina). Unlike the Clone Technique, these clones are actual copies of the user in both appearance and substance. The user's chakra is evenly distributed among every clone, giving each clone an equal fraction of the user's overall power. The clones are capable of performing jutsu on their own and can even bleed, but they will usually disperse after one or two solid blows. The clones will be created in roughly the same condition as the original and any experience the clones gain during their existence is transferred to the user once they are dispersed. Given that the clones are an exact replica of the user, they share the same stats except for stamina, which is determined by the number of clones presently in effect. The advantage of this form of the technique is that once dispersed, the chakra distributed to the clones returns to the user, allowing any unused chakra to be regained, slowing the draining usage of this technique. The chakra returns to the user at a different rate depending on the user's control.

1-6 Control: 1/4
6-13: 1/2
14-15: 3/4

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 6:37 pm

While there was nobody to confront Hayate on the roof, his clone running up the stairs ended up face to face with a tall balding man. Clearly in his late 40's and with the traditional samurai garb complete with a top knot, he appeared to stare down the clone as he dashed up the staircase. "Stop right there. Everyone has orders to remain off this floor. Unless, of course, you are our honoured guest." the man stated, hand lightly grasping his katana. To the trained eye it was obvious that the man had his weight distributed on one foot and was ready for action, but otherwise he appeared casually stern.

What he did not expect was for a shriek for the hand maiden to come so quickly. He did not turn his head, but flicked his eyes to get a general gist of what she was screaming at. "Oh, already? Hmm." was all he said, slightly surprised.

On the other hand, as Hayate descended upon the would-be queen she spun around to see him. Her eyes betrayed her fear, but at the same time there was resignation in them as he plunged his kunai into her chest. She reached up and grasped it, holding it within her as she gasped. She needed a few more moments of life, just a short while more. "So.. You made it.. she struggled out between rasping breaths. "Than..kyou... One.. more thing.. Over... The edge.." she finished, trying to lean toward the balcony but her strength was already almost gone. Her eyes were determined, but they were fading.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:16 pm

Hayate's eyes opened wide in bewilderment as his kunai sank into the woman, the blood splattering onto his persons as if she almost helped guide his kunai into her chest. His mind had raced faster than ever before as he began to piece things together. His entry into this place had been far too easy. This whole thing had been too easy.

She had wanted to die. Fuck. His hand tugged the kunai free as his other arm reached to grab the lady before her plunge could happen. He'd slam her onto his shoulder, his aura extending out onto her. He'd have to pause her heart to buy some time and keep her from death for a little bit.

He also couldn't stay here though. He lept back onto the roof of the balcony and took off towards the outskirts of town.

His clone meanwhile looked at the man.

"And why would lady murakami give her life so easily?"

USEDShow

Time Alter: Pause
B-Rank Iijutsu
After physically connecting an aura hand to a target, Hayate will channel chakra through it and into his target for 3/4th a post as his aura becomes a jade hue. His chakra will enter their body and slow their heart to a halt- but not killing them. Instead, it pauses and suspends the body allowing the effected target to have no pulse or blood flow for five posts, the chakra feeding their body what it needs for the duration of the technique and until their heart restarts. This has a variety of uses, such as stopping the circulation of poison, faking dead, or even reducing bleeding.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 7:59 pm

The lady Murakami struggled weakly as Hayate lifted her, but she was shaking like a leaf now. Too close to death to make any difference. "No.. My chil.." was all she could manage before she lost consciousness completely.

The warrior on the other hand simply raised an eyebrow at the clone. "And who are you to address her ladyship so flippantly, let alone ask such invasive questions soldier?" the man asked, clearly suspicious of the man in front of him. As far as he was concerned the man they were expecting was on the balcony, which means the one in front of him was not.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:41 pm

The clone blinked, looking at the man before him. Hayate had already made way to leave and was on his way out. He'd pause. Dramatically of course, but also cause it'd buy a little more time.

"Well, the real me is gone." he paused, curiously so.

"With Lady Murakami, I might add. Also she's not dead." he shrugged, his eyes on the mans frame examining it very carefully.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 3:21 pm

The samurai raised his eyebrows in what must have been total shock. "The real..?" he began, before Hayate's clone interrupted him. "No.. We had a deal. He said that if she died... Does that mean you do not intend to uphold your side of the bargain?" He finished, his surprise turning into anger. He placed his hand on his sword, gripping it firmly now. His knees bent ever so slightly, but it was enough to announce his readiness for battle.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 4:41 pm

"I'm honestly just the messenger. It's not like I can't be swayed though. Mind explaining to me just what this bargain was, and maybe I can see eye to eye with you?" Hayate's clone said, him definitely picking up on the man's actions. His eyes stayed steady on his body. Any move and he'd respond equally. Shifting his weight to mirror the mans ready position, he spoke once more.

"I am fully serious, and am not jesting, would you please explain this bargain to me? Why is she saying stuff about her child... What bargain is going on. Why was she to sacrifice her life." Hayate didn't want to cream this guy, he really wanted answers.

Either way, to the public eye, it definitely appeared Lady Murakami was assassinated and her corpse stolen by the infidel.

USEDShow

Instincts
A-Rank Taijutsu
Prerequisite: 9 Tai, 9 Wit
Utilizing his superhuman perception, Hayate can track extremely fast and subtle movements, to a point of detail where he can even read what someone is writing by the way their pencil moves. This movement tracking is so refined he can even pick up on the slightest tension changes in an opponents body, allowing him to act without a single second wasted. At times his eyes seem to move on their own will, rapidly tracking an amount of movements equal to his wit. A downfall to this technique however is that while his eyes may be aware of movement, his body is not always capable of knowing and keeping up.

Patterns
A-Rank Taijutsu
Prerequisite: 7 Wit
Humans follow patterns and in combat this is no exception, raging from taijutsu to hand seals. Patterns already being easier to remember, Hayate has worked hard at actively committing whatever he sees to his short-term memory. This allows him to remember things such as the beginning torque to a kick or a hand seal pattern after seeing it once, so that he can recognize the technique if used later in a battle, giving him an advantage in anticipating his opponents next action and effectively making an opponents consecutive usage of a technique a liability.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:27 pm

The man paused, before clearing his throat. "A man in a black cloak appeared in Her Majesty's sitting room one evening and delivered to us both a letter. She was told to read it and answer either yes or no. She answered yes. Then, she informed me of what she deemed it necessary for me to know. She was going to sacrifice her life in order to save her two youngest children. The eldest son is to die with his father on the field. My place as her vassal is to take command of the city. I am to seal it to all but our farmers, so that my lord's army is deprived of their supply line. Her death was to be a spectacle to instil fear into the people, so that they would not question. She planned to throw herself into their midst with her dying breath, so that they may see her corpse up close. It was intended to crush their sense of nationhood. In exchange for her life, I would be allowed to adopt her daughter and her son would go to Hojo. Until he came of age, I was to run the province. Only once he returned am I permitted to end my life in shame for failing to protect my liege." Toyotomi answered, hoping that the man was satisfied. He wanted the plan to succeed, as it was the last thing he could possibly do for the family he had failed so spectacularly. "This is all I know."

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 8:02 pm

The disguised clone was completely disgruntled. This man didn't seem to be lying. Sighing heavily the clone stepped forth slowly, and in a non-threatening manner. It muttered to the man before him. It muttered because a man in a black cloak sounded familiar.

"Assuming this man was not disguised further, can you describe him in any other way? And do you mean to go against Lord Murakami?"

He was beginning to decipher what had occurred. If he was correct in his assumptions, that man was Banri. Banri had used the kids and the desire to keep this city safe as a bargaining chip, to the point where Lady Murakami would go against her own husband and eldest son, potentially crippling their forces and making victory that much easier for the Hojo and Kumogakure... Man. Banri was a piece of shit.

The real Hayate stopped dead in his tracks, heading back to the roof. Suddenly it made sense why this assassination had been a walk in the park. It had never been an assassination. It had been a transaction, plotted and already guaranteed. The stasis'd Lady Murakami laid in his hands. He had gathered the proper information, and depending on the next words, would act, but not without an extreme level of inner turmoil.

Lady Murakami did not need to die. Her life was no less valuable than anyone elses... It was like a battle between two Hayate's. In a cartoonish matter, his idealistic self denied this plan. He preached that he could protect everyone, end the war without this treachery... but on the other side, Hayate had killed hundreds of men in this war, and watched hundreds of his allies die.

This one life could save so many and potentially speed up the Hojo victory.

Damn.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 8:27 pm

Toyotomi shook his head in response to the questions. "I'm afraid his face was covered by a red mask. His voice was definitely male, and it seemed middle aged. There is only one other thing I can give you. This man... I saw the lord Kusakabe once in my youth, and his strength and charisma sent shivers down my spine. But this man... Simply being in his presence I knew.. I was a leaf and he was an unstoppable typhoon. His unwavering confidence, his relaxed way of standing, the way he speaks. That man was a force of nature. I do not doubt that he could have murdered us all indiscriminately, regardless of any deal." he finished. A bead of sweat rolled down his chin as he thought about the outstanding pressure he had felt when he had conversed with the stranger. He had said little, and yet every word was burned into his brain, and would remain that way until he died.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:07 am

"Very well." Hayate's clone said. He had gathered the necessary information to make his decision, but kept his feet planted. "That man you spoke with and me do not see eye to eye." he said before pausing. The real him was now at the top of the roof, leaping onto the balcony with the lady in tow. His technique would be fading, and she would actually be dying. Well, especially with his next action.

He flung her off the roof to the ground, and with that, turned to retreat out of this city and to his designated meeting spot.

Meanwhile, his clone stayed where it was. It had gathered the information Hayate had needed all along- it had confirmed his suspicions and prevented a certain Banri from holding information from Hayate.

"I assure you I alone could do similar feats, and while I disagree with this move, this could potentially save many lives on both sides. Seeing as the Lady fully agreed to do this herself, I will honor her decision."

With that, the clone would slink off down the stairs, assuming Hayate was at a safe enough distance away, and then poof from existence, though he'd be free from any wandering eyes to notice his poofing.

Meanwhile, Hayate ran swift, his blood boiling. He had done an act he could not stomach. And worse. He questioned why he had been selected for a mission even a genin could have carried out.

I wonder if Banri wanted me to commit this act undisguised- so it was my face, honor, and dignity tied to this horrid act.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:07 pm

"Thank you." Toyotomi replied to the retreating clone "Be careful on your way out!" he shouted in warning as the clone quickly descended the staircase. He then turned around and gestured for one of his retainers to sound the alarm. The city was to be put on high alert, and the gates would be sealed. Escaping the city would be more difficult than entering it.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:19 pm

Joy, I guess I have to play along with this silly ruse. Hayate thought as he lept roof to roof. He had already left the second he had thrown the ladies body from the roof, his clone and double in the tower when the alarm was called, and also exiting. His hands sealed quickly as he changed his appearance to one of the commoners- falling into an alleyway simultaneously and traversing by street.

His clone, who looked like the guy who just did the stabby throw move, would now be trying to escape the building and on the roof top, heading to the walls opposite of where Hayate was heading.

Nafan~ · Post by **Nafan~** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:57 pm

A deep breath. The feel of the polished wood in his hand. The weight of the string. Then, nothing. This was what the archer felt as he released his arrow at the clone that ran along the rooftops. Chosokabe Motochika knew that the arrow would find its mark. The moment it left his fingers, he knew. The arrow thumped into its target at the base of the neck, penetrating down into the torso. Any man would have been dead shortly after impact. The clone, however, disappeared. Motochika's eyes went wide as he realised, that had been no man at all.

Meanwhile, Hayate's ruse had worked spectacularly. He was down in the streets with the hundreds of terrified citizens who were fleeing into their homes as quickly as they could.

Taiga · Post by **Taiga** » Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:51 pm

The mass exodus of chakra from his clone that flooded his body notified him that, unfortunately, his clone had perished. He was quite frankly surprised that with his speed and his aura his clone had been killed with such relative ease. Regardless, he had now seamlessly slipped into the streets masked as a citizen, hidden by the panic.

He would keep making his way, monitoring his senses, and utilizing his eyes to make sure he was always with and following a crowd.