[Chuunin Exams]

[Kaitos10]

Would watch as her hydra’s poison blast canceled out the lava and would quickly have it strafe to the right to avoid the incoming blast of lava and to further confuse her opponent about her location would start flying around the team in circles waiting for a good chance to strike. When she heard rei she would fire 2 blasts of poison 1 on top of the enkouton and 1 about half a meter behind him while he was distracted with rei the first blast would be timed to hit shortly after the swarm was approaching rei since she figured that was what she was waiting for as she stood next to the enkouton the second blast a second or two after the first one.

She was pretty sure with her speed rei wouldn’t get caught in the blast of poison or at least she was hoping she was fast enough. Wjth speed and strength like hers she figured it was a safe bet she would be able to avoid it. Plus after her comment she knew rei would know she was going to go after the enkouton.

After firing the blasts of poison she would change to a triangle flight pattern. Then a star based one 10 seconds after the idea was to keep her flying eratic so unless they had a way to see through the mist or detect her some other way it would be very difficult to pin down her location to attack her.


6 posts left of hydra jutsu

“jutsu used”Show

Ninjutsu virulent hydra
Rank A
Duration 7 posts or until destroyed
Range can shoot 70 meters long and the breath blasts have a 2 meter for every 5 points of control aoe effect
A technique, where the user breathes forth a great hydra created of poison thirty meters [30m] tall and ten meters [10m] wide, with a wingspan of fifty meters [50m]. This solid incarnation of poison will then be sent off towards the opponent. Letting forth great bursts of poison which cause chemical burns at control strength and when inhaled will slowly begin to paralyze the body for one [2] posts Each breath blast increases the amount of posts a target remains paralyzed by one post, for a maximum of four [4] posts. The technique ends with the hydra smashing into the ground, letting off a great deal of the same deadly poison in a cloud

[Kabu]

Despite being total strangers the trio were working well as a team and Maho couldn't help but feel a bit happy about that. She did feel a bit bad however about Shigeko protecting her as she did. "Thank you." she spoke simply, gathering chakra into her eyes as she did. It took but a moment for her to activate her dojutsu. "If either of you have a means to track targets within this mist I would like some help. I'm going to finish this with my bow." she spoke, channeling chakra into her feet and turning to run up the nearest tree in case of another attack.

Once nestled in a branch she pulled out her bow, eyes growing wide at the wall of fire approaching from below. Hopefully one or both of them would be able to provide a defense or escape up into trees with her. Regardless she would push her fears aside and wait for a signal of some kind at which point she fired, whether a few inches away from her target's last known location or to wherever she was pinpointed towards should her earlier request come to fruition.

Jutsu and NotesShow

Doujutsu Second Stage Activated: Speed +3: 14->17, Strength +2: 15->17

Tree Climbing

*[Flawless Aim Style • Rapid Reload]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After years of training, the practitioner has learned how to quickly and accurately access their ranged weapon stores at all times in combat. This cuts the effective "reload" time by half, up to a maximum speed equal to the practitioner's Speed score. This also applies to returning unused projectiles to their storage containers or switching between types of projectile weaponry.

[Sia]

Stepping out of the way to the side from the assault, the chakra surged throughout Shuichi's metal body as he silently stared the firewielder in the eyes before the mist obscured them enough.

"You. I think we can get rid of you." Kouton chakra shot out of Shuichi's body and caused himself to dismantle, well, himself. His body broke apart into pieces. Countles shards of metal dusted the battlefield immediately, flying outwards from where Shuichi had once stood and encircling his ally.

"Hello there, let's play a little game." Shuichi and Maido's voice said in unison as the metal shards began to coalesce around Shigeki. This suit of armor was crafted very, very purposefully. Shuichi and Maido took their sweet sweet time putting it together, putting on a grand show of it and piecing it together somewhat slowly and teasingly at first, small pieces of armor homing on on Shigeko, gingerly floating through the air towards them.

"Accept our curse little one." Maido said to them as the metal shards circled around them not unlike a swarm of metal locusts.

"Let our enemies fall to their knees in despair." The armor began to form together into several pairs of gauntlets. How many? Eight pairs yet the technique didn't hold up quite well. One of the pairs began to slide towards Shigeko's fingertips, it was the thinnest and lightest, to be most accurate it was more akin to a pair of thin gloves except that it was very obviously made of metal. And it was comfortable too?! Wow!

The other seven pairs of gauntlets began to affix themselves somewhat adjacently around Shigeko's back area and seamlessly began fitting into other pieces of kouton shards and armor that had fluttered towards them. Shuichi began tugging on them individually, testing it out and stretching them each and finding it incredibly difficult for him to control, so he discarded most of them and settled up against Shigeko's body snugly as a living suit of kouton armor, displeased with his failure as he eyed the metal that lay on the ground.

He would learn that one in time, one pair was fine for now.


Target: Shigeko @ 13 Control

Kouton: My Guard
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
After channeling or forming the necessary hand seals, Shuichi will split his body apart, turning into shards of iron equal to his body size and flying up to 30 meters in a direction of his choosing towards a target of his desire. On impact, he will wrap around the target and encase them in a protective suit of Kouton with style, size, and appearance of his discretion, transforming himself into a suit of armor over the course of half a post. In doing this, he is able to change his total body size to be up to 30 meters by 30 meters by 30 meters in total volume in order to be a large enough suit of armor to affect his target, though this large size is generally not necessary.

[Izanagi]

Shigeko smiled, bracing as the fireball impacted her back and fizzled out. Exhaling slowly, she patted some lingering flames off her shirt and gave the smaller girl a curt nod. She didn’t hold any attachment to her assigned teammate but they were stronger as a unit. It only made sense to protect her. “Let’s make him suffer” she suggested darkly. “I’ll get you a shot” she assured as Maho leaped towards the trees to get herself in position. As the wave of fire evaporated a large swath of mist on its approach, Shigeko assessed the height. 5 meters was relatively easy to clear for a shinobi, even a mere Genin.

As she leaped high into the air, flipping gracefully through the mist, Shuichi began to assemble on her form, piecing together as she landed. ‘What a unique talent’ she mused, admiring the artistry of the segments while she formed handseals and activated her blood sense jutsu. As she did so she heard a woman’s voice. Shigeko’s heart pumped voraciously as her senses felt her targets blood and also that of Maho’s. Interestingly it seemed Shuichi and whoever this woman’s voice was, had no human form. An yet she felt more invigorated than ever before. Little did she know it was her idol, the infamous blood witch Muramasa Maido that now spoke to her. She smirked as the voice instructed her to accept the assistance and eliminate the last target. “Gladly” she responded, grinning as her bright yellow eyes gleamed with anticipation. Tracking the target through the mist and following in pursuit, the Jouchaku girl formed another set of handseals as her mist compressed around her target, hopefully stopping them in their tracks. Then, another short sequence of seals and the mist would thin in a clear line from Maho to the target, giving the girl a clean shot. Shigeko sighed as she slowly walked closer to the man, “Teamwork can be so disappointing..” she lamented, her voice a haunting whisper. “I was so hoping to boil you alive, it’s the least you deserve after tarnishing my clothing with dirt and flames” she taunted as Maho’s arrow would surely strike true. But perhaps if she was lucky the man would survive just a few minutes longer so that she could get her fun.

Jutsu UseShow

[Sensory Style • Blood Sense]
C-rank Ninjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals or channel chakra, releasing waves of chakra out of their hands. This chakra will interact with any blood sources within 50 meters of the user, no matter how faint. The user will be able to detect heartbeats within 25 meters with pinpoint precision and gain an awareness of any other sources of blood, able to distinguish between sources and determine their general direction and quantity. This awareness will last for 7 posts.

*Mist Constriction
C-rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct handseals, the user will focus on a 3x3x3m area of mist. This mist will then become extremely dense, weighing down with [18] strength. Anyone caught within this area with less than jutsu’s strength will be unable to move.

*Fading Mist Technique
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, the user can control the transparency of the mist to become much more lucid or clear in a 2x2x2m area. If this is used on a blanket of mist with another's chakra within it, it requires a higher [Control] strength than the caster. This increased visibility lasts for up to 3 posts.

[Niro]

The trio of shinobi continued their march through the plains of the arena, this time with Kotetsu in front. The silver haired shinobi directed the two girls to continue heading north while he split off to the northwest as they approached the massive steel tower from beforehand. Kotetsu dipped once more back into the mist they had run through but it didn't take long for him to begin to hear the signs of battle as he slowed his approach towards the tower from the south.

[Valkier]

Kotori exhaled slowly and concentrated on the sensation of life all around her, carefully picking through the influx of feelings and information within her mind to identify the people in her vicinity. She recognised Kotetsu's signature immediately, breaking away as he did from their group and heading off at a bearing towards the west, on a more direct route towards the steel tower rising nearby. Still concentrating, Kotori held up a hand to Setsuna to get her attention.

"I can feel four people ahead, not counting us and Kotetsu." She frowned, and the golden glow around her brightened again as she channeled a supplementary technique, picking one of the four life sources at random—Maho—and drawing her own mind closer to it. With the power of Nolosha she connected her senses to Maho's lifeforce, and for a fleeting moment gained a snapshot vision of the other girl's surroundings. Through her eyes she saw a glimpse of the red teams' fight together and the dense mist around them. She saw the sizzling remnants of the fireball igniting across the blue-haired kirigakure shinobi, and the mist reacting to her whims to open a pathway for Maho, though in the snapshot vision it had not opened enough for Kotori to see their target. Nor could she see their third teammate, despite how her life sensory indicated that she was also there, overlapping with the blue-haired woman's location only a moment after the vision. With a gasp, Kotori brought herself back to her own senses, but still kept the sensory readings ready in the back of her mind, watching how those two life sources seemed to begin moving together, overlapping in perfect tandem.

"They're fighting already," she whispered, and tried to meet Setsuna's eyes while they kept moving north together. "Feels like three versus one. They're spending lots of energy, I think, and I saw one take a hit. But they seem to be synergising as well as we do, fighting together seamlessly. We shouldn't underestimate them, even if they're worn down already." She glanced up at the vast pillar of kouton again, shocked by its size as they grew nearer. "We better prepare for a hard fight while we can."

She fell back to follow behind Setsuna, letting the other girl lead on while Kotori began performing hand seals in preparation for lay ahead. They had to press on and complete the pincer move to support Kotetsu. From between her sealing fingers a small vine appeared and twirled downwards along her arm, following her body to disappear into the ground at her feet. A moment later, a humaoid figure in the shape of Kotori, formed of twisted vine and wooden trunk, pulled itself free from the earth like some ancient creature awoken. The clone's features grew and shifted, the wood drawing together and adapting until it became an exact copy of her and began running alongside them. Both the clone and the real Kotori then began a second set of seals right as they and Setsuna arrived at a small pool of shimmering green liquid.

The second set of seals from Kotori formed a suit of earthen armour plates around her body, encasing her with the attire of a samurai warrior. Very fitting. Meanwhile, the clone's jutsu produced a large wooden club, as large as one of Kotori's arms but notably thicker at the head. Both Kotori and the clone would then crouch down side-by-side and take a long drink from the refreshing pool.

Jutsu UsedShow

Resonance
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Ukiyogenma Form 0
The user can focus and connect their senses to a source of life energy within 60 metres for up to five posts. This functions as a form of Life Empathy, allowing the user to experience conventional senses through the target or gain a snapshot of its vicinity.

Mokuton • Marionette
C-Rank Ninjutsu
The user reaches out and causes a small vine of mokuton to sprout from their hand or sleeve, separating and weaving itself into a perfect clone of the user formed from mokuton. The clone has the user's stats and can use any mokuton techniques known by the user.

[Doton • Samurai Armor] - Cast at 10 control
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
Channelling chakra throughout one’s body the user will encase themselves in a semi-malleable full body rock armor. The rock takes on the appearance of an ornate samurai battle armor, complete with a removable helmet as well as shoulder guards. The many tiles overlap and cover their arms, chest and legs utilizing dark brown coloring and a thinner layer of rock between the tiles and along joints. Though the back of their hands are protected the palms and fingers remain bare. This armor forms at a speed of [3] and possesses [17] strength.

---

Kotori's Marrionette performing:
Mokuton • Shillelagh - Cast at 10 control, creating a large club
D-Rank Ninjutsu
The user reaches out and causes a small vine of mokuton to sprout from their hand or sleeve, weaving itself into a simple wooden weapon such as a quarterstaff, club, bow and six arrows, or spear, up to 5 metres in total size. The weapon forms in the user's hand at [control] speed and strength.

[Kao]

"Four?" Concern laced Setsuna's voice as she glanced at Kotori. It was bad enough that Kotetsu had split off from the group. Now they had to possibly deal with being dragged into a troublesome situation. With her hand still hovering near the hilt of her katana, she focused on their surroundings as Kotori worked to sort through chakra signatures. The girl forced herself to not sigh with relief when her teammate reported that they were fighting amongst themselves. "If they're wasting chakra, then that shifts thing in our favor." Indeed, this team had barely tapped into their chakra reserved. Out of the three of them Kotori had expended the most. As they continued on, the younger kunoichi used even more chakra in preparation. Setsuna, her chakra reserves still nearly full, held off on using any jutsu for now.

The two girls came across a pond of sparking water. Setsuna gazed at its strange green hue. There wasn't any algae to be seen, so she was curious about the pool. Before she could stop Kotori, the younger girl began sipping the water. She waited a while, and when Kotori didn't erupt in convulsions or show any adverse signs, the team leader dropped to one knee, cupped her hands, and drank the liquid as well. Setsuna's brows furrowed as a strange sensation coursed through her. It was pleasant, something akin to a warm drink on a chilly day. It was invigorating. The girl splashed some of the water on her face and her skin tingled pleasantly. If she focused she could feel the chakra that circulated in her flow more freely, more powerfully, as if -

"It's a chakra-replenishing pool!" she gasped in realization, turning to Kotori with awe in her eyes. "Drink it, now." The last words, a command, were said with such firmness that Kotori would immediately realize that Setsuna meant it. "You've used a decent amount of chakra. This is a game changer." She would make sure Kotori and the clone drank their fill before nodding in the direction where they needed to reconvene with Kotetsu. Setsuna formed hand seals and then channeled chakra into her katana. Then she pulled Ajisai out of its sheath. Finally. Its sharp edge gleamed wickedly in the sunlight.

"Let's hope Kotetsu isn't in too much trouble yet." She headed off, leading Kotori and the clone to the sounds of the battle beneath the tower's shadow.

JutsuShow

Kouton • Hidden Needle
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, the user will channel chakra into a metal weapon they are holding. Upon throwing or swinging that weapon, they are then able to cause a 15cm long needle to be launched from within that weapon at [Control] speed in a single direction at any point along its trajectory. This needle will strike with [Control] strength.

[Niro]

Rei swerved left, then right, and some of the arrows she smacked away with the broad side of her blade on purpose purely because she could, and some of them she merely avoided on purpose, and others of which she watched go by in what to her felt like in slow motion. Rei danced amongst the battlefield, the only one moving at the tempo that she was. She suddenly increased her speed, moving beyond that of a Jounin level and leaving the swarm behind as she slid across the ground and out of the way of the lava. "Shit, shit shit." Rei cursed under her breath and then her eyes locked onto all of them.

"Get the lava boy I'll deal with the wasps." Rei said and then increased her speed even further to that of a Bannin, having a much easier time outpacing the swarm now as she then stomped hard into the ground with her right foot and swung Katanabreaker like a baseball bat towards the kneecaps of the Enkouten clan member, having very very carefully dodged, ducked, and batted away Shoshiki arrows and purposefully positioned herself on the other side of the Enkouten so that the Shoshiki had to stop firing at her. Then, when the swarm got close, Rei finally bolted at her absolutely most blistering speed, suddenly changing her tactics altogether from playing around and dodging around the battlefield to very very quddenly and decisively slashing horizontally towards someones neck whilst flying across the battlefield as fast as she possibly could.

Except, she didn't. Instead of aiming Katanabreaker as a cut across the Kamizuru clan members neck, she aimed it as a bludgeoning strict against both of his knees in the same velocity.

He wouldn't walk again that day, most likely, but he wouldn't die.



Foresight
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: Perception Concentration
Due to their astute awareness the user is able to see even the most minute of changes, the user is able to easily predict the opponents strikes and as such greatly increase their ability to evade or respond accordingly. This is most commonly used when surrounded by opponents, allowing the user to constantly be on the move; ducking, tilting and side-stepping in their efforts to move out of the path of incoming attacks.

Organized Chaos
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: Perception Concentration
The user's mind will lock onto a number of targets up to their willpower stat, allowing the user to keep track of and fight against them without losing pacing or rhythm in battle. This allows the user to use their arsenal of attacks and expert levels of situational awareness to overwhelm even large groups of armed or unarmed opponents quickly.

The rain of poison blasts was too much for the Enkouten to deal with, even with his teammates help. He and the Shoshiki did their best to raise a defense against the incoming blasts but between the actual impact and the secondary poison, they didn't last for long. Not to mention Katanabreaker nearly killing them either. Between the poison blasts and clearly above jounin level capabilities, the Blue team opponents stood no chance. The broken team would be easy to loot and in it the two would find enough map pieces to complete their own. Now they just had to fight their way out to the exit.

[Niro]

Despite being total strangers the trio were working well as a team and Maho couldn't help but feel a bit happy about that. She did feel a bit bad however about Shigeko protecting her as she did. "Thank you." she spoke simply, gathering chakra into her eyes as she did. It took but a moment for her to activate her dojutsu. "If either of you have a means to track targets within this mist I would like some help. I'm going to finish this with my bow." she spoke, channeling chakra into her feet and turning to run up the nearest tree in case of another attack.

Once nestled in a branch she pulled out her bow, eyes growing wide at the wall of fire approaching from below. Hopefully one or both of them would be able to provide a defense or escape up into trees with her. Regardless she would push her fears aside and wait for a signal of some kind at which point she fired, whether a few inches away from her target's last known location or to wherever she was pinpointed towards should her earlier request come to fruition.

Jutsu and NotesShow

Doujutsu Second Stage Activated: Speed +3: 14->17, Strength +2: 15->17

Tree Climbing

*[Flawless Aim Style • Rapid Reload]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After years of training, the practitioner has learned how to quickly and accurately access their ranged weapon stores at all times in combat. This cuts the effective "reload" time by half, up to a maximum speed equal to the practitioner's Speed score. This also applies to returning unused projectiles to their storage containers or switching between types of projectile weaponry.

The trios attacks put down the final bandit and from his corpse fell an ornate container where within they would find enough pieces to complete their own map. However, Shigeko's sensory picked up a signature to the south and then two more to the east where it quickly became four signatures. With their team mate being on the poorer side of exhaustion due to his grandiose jutsu, the question now became: would they fight or run?

[Sia]

As their opponent's ceased fighting back Rei put Katanabreaker away slowly, making sure they were in fact no longer going to fight them but being prepared just in case. "Nice work Nozomi, I'm not even sure what in the world that was but it looked cool." Rei said with a grin as she began gathering up the map pieces and putting them together.

"Hey, looks like this might be the way." She said and darted her eyes down towards the map that has been assembled as she scooted around to view it with Nozomi together. "Hmmm. Why don't we go this way." Rei said and pointed in the direction that the exit was in in accordance to the map. "Looks like south to me."

She didn't wait for an answer, she started heading off that way. Eventually the two of them made their way towards the guard and Rei stopped for a moment and considered.

"Do you want to wait here and ambush any stragglers for fun before we turn in our scroll pieces?" She asked Nozomi, stopping just short of the guard.

"Because...I do."

[Kaitos10]

Nozomi would smile a little enjoying being praised she says “thanks” it always pleased her when strong or high ranking people praised her. She would then head down with the hydra and would go over to Rei as she collected the map fragments.

After they were assembled she would then see the map with Rei and nod then as Rei spoke then as Rei began to head off she would follow her until she stopped at the spot she wanted to do a ambush and would say

“I wouldn’t mind if that’s what you want to do though personally there is one thing I’m worried about such as the fact that if we’re killing off everyone we ambush wouldn’t that weaken kirigakure and Iwagakure forces and the national strength if we get rid of useful future ninja?”

She then would begin to think of what to do so could do both things would be nice if could have fun ambushing people without causing problems

[Niro]

Kotetsu waited patiently and used his hearing to the best of his natural ability to listen to the other teams fight. As he did so, he prepared each of his five kunai with an explosive tag and made sure his prosthetic arm was ready to fire. He kept three of the kunai in his right hand and tucked the other two into his belt for later use. His job here was simple; stall and buy time until the cavalry arrived. The sounds of battle began to die down and Kotetsu's left arm came up, the palm opening as it was ready to fire. His right arm pulled back in a throwing motion as he continued to listen and keep his eyes focused on the area fighting had originally came from.

As the thuds of Red Teams footsteps drew near, Kotetsu would loose the trio of kunai at the group while jumping backwards to create some additional space and keeping the Vulcan shot ready for quick use in close combat if someone dared to follow him. One to the right, one to the left, and one down the middle would hopefully be enough to end this quickly.

SpoilerShow

3/5 Tagged Kunais @ Red Team

[Valkier]

Having followed Setsuna's command and fully dunking her head beneath the surface of the glowing pool to drink her fill, Kotori shook herself to fling the loose droplets away and then wasted no time in following her team leader as they rushed to regroup with Kotetsu, heading now directly towards the unfolding fight. She ran flat out, moving up beside Setsuna and matching her step for step, eager to see their team reunited and safe. Clone ready on her other side and indistinguishable from her real self, she rapidly scanned the scene ahead: Remnants of mist wafted through the area, but split apart so widely that she could see most of the field. Kotetsu, retreating carefully while flinging kunai, was facing down the team of ninja she'd tracked a minute ago, who had themselves run south towards him to engage. Good.

"Keep your eyes peeled," she warned to Setsuna beside her, "I only see two, but I definitely sensed a third earlier. They won't be far." She recognised the blue-haired Kirigakure kunoichi she'd seen before, and the other—through whose eyes she had looked—turned out to be another girl, almost childlike in stature, but with a posture that said she knew well enough how to use the longbow she held ready in one hand. An archer. Difficult. With a sideways nod to and an unspoken understanding with Setsuna, Kotori got to work.

She wove across the path of her clone as they ran, trying to mix herself with the decoy until they eventually split apart in different directions. Kotori broke to one side and focused on the Kirigakure ninja, beginning to weave hand seals from a safe distance while the clone ran directly towards the younger opponent with the bow, beginning to glow as it ran with its great club held ready in her right hand. As its chanelling completed and it closed to within range, it raised its left hand towards Maho and a mass of twisting roots and vines erupted from its sleeve, shooting forward and twisting through the air to spread towards Maho like a grasping net. If it hit, the technique would wrap around the Maho and restrain her with a tangle of wooden roots, hoping to bind her in place and limit the movements of her limbs. Then the clone would keep running, taking the club in both hands and, if it got close enough, would try and clobber the girl over the head.

Meanwhile, Kotori herself completed her hand seals and opened her mouth wide. In another time and place she might've admired the blue hair of her opponent, but here and now she intended to cover it in thick muddy sludge. It was a necessary shame. She inhaled and pushed the moulded chakra into her stomach before spitting out a great wave of slick mud, which spread out in a wide cone and washed towards Shigeko, coating everything in its path with a wide swathe of sludge. Kotori barely paused to wipe her mouth on a ragged sleeve of her tunic before beginning to move again, trying to stay mobile and parallel to Shigeko's position...

Jutsu UsedShow

Mokuton • Snare -> Cast by the Mokuton clone, targeting Maho, cast at [10] control.
D-Rank Ninjutsu
The user reaches out and causes a multiple mokuton vines to sprout from their hand or sleeve and shoot up to 10 metres towards a surface or target at [10] strength and speed. The vines latch on to whatever they touch, allowing the user to create easily climable surfaces or areas up to 10m in radius of vine-covered ground which grabs and snares any who enter it with [control] strength.

[Doroton • Sludge Wave] -> Cast by Kotori at [12] control towards Shigeko/Shuichi.
C-Rank Ninjutsu
The user gathers Doroton chakra in their stomach before opening their mouth and expelling a large conal wave of slick mud at [12] speed and strength to cover an area up to 30 x 30 x 30 metres. Upon contact with a target or the ground, the mud rapidly hardens into a thick quagmire and binds at [12] strength, preventing movement for those caught.

[Kao]

Once thw two kunoichi approached the area, traces of mist still hanging in the air, Setsuna bristled with anticipation. Her eyes darted around searching for the third person that Kotori was concerned about. She also looked for a fourth, since Kotori had mentioned earlier that she had sensed four chakra signatures. It didn't take her long to spot a corpse on the ground. Her attention didn't linger. Their living targets were within sight, and as Kotori and the clone began their assault, Setsuna dipped her hand into her hip pouch and turned her attention to the blue-haired kunoichi. In a fluid, rapid movement she transferred shuriken to her opposite hand then, from each hand, launched her weapons.

Two shuriken would barrel towards the blue-haired shinobi from her left and her right, curving inwards and aimed towards her chest. But in the shadow of the shuriken were two more, flying closely behind just out of her view. Immediately after launching the projectiles Setsuna drew her Ajisai, her katana. The kunoichi channeled kouton into the blade, readying herself to release it when she was ready. She moved while keeping Kotori, the clone, the blue-haired beauty, and the archer in view. Her focus, though, was primarily on Shigeko. While Kotori positioned herself parallel to their opponent, Setsuna pulled back slightly and split away from Kotori so she arced and approached from Shigeko's right side while keeping out of the way of Kotori's mud.

JutsuShow

*[Flawless Aim Style • Hidden Shot] <-- Shuriken thrown at 15 strength
C-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
By launching two projectiles, one immediately after the other, the practitioner attempts to create a decoy for the second. The first projectile is often larger or of equal size, and the second projectile is slightly behind and below it, the second projectile hiding in the first projectile's shadow. This masks the second projectile and makes it more difficult for the opponent to completely avoid. Opponents with a Perception technique equal or higher in rank may be able to see both projectiles clearly within a reasonable distance, though they'll still have to properly defend against it.

Kouton • Hidden Needle
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, the user will channel chakra into a metal weapon they are holding. Upon throwing or swinging that weapon, they are then able to cause a 15cm long needle to be launched from within that weapon at [Control] speed in a single direction at any point along its trajectory. This needle will strike with [Control] strength.

[Kabu]

Maho smiled in triumph as the last of the bandits fell and the scroll pieces were retrieved, descending from her position as she joined her teammates in looking at the map. "South it is then!" she chirped, turning to lead the way and keeping an eye out for any potential threats as they walked. She did of course hope that if they came across any other examinees that they would be able to resolve things without fighting... It would be sad to fight those of her own nation but even more importantly she was certain that Shuichi was low on chakra after his grandiose displays. She couldn't be certain about but shigeko but she wasn't exactly a fountain of chakra herself and her dojutsu had already deactivated and wouldn't be of much use for a little while.

Of course reality was never quite that simple and they soon found themselves under attack. "Shit!" she swore under her breath as explosive kunai flew towards them. As the nearest kunai approached she pulled out one of her own and threw it, attempting to knock the other off course. Even in this dire moment her eyes couldn't help but widen as she came to an admittedly childish realization. "Ohhhh so that's why adults have swears! Gonna need to talk to momma later about that."

Anywho she couldn't let herself be distracted, with one attack there were sure to be more on the way. And so she sheathed her bow and would begin forming hand seals in preparation even as she ran forward, a metal ball forming in her hand. Luckily with this she was ready as the clone approached. As the vines began coming towards her she fired it off with as much power as she could muster, hopefully intercepting and making contact with the clone at which point it would burst into a cloud of shrapnel, covering the area in metal shards.

She wished she could help Shigeko but until this situation was dealt with she had her hands tied. Perhaps Shuichi would be of some help... though she did hope that he would take it easy and not make any more large scale casts.

JutsuShow

1x kunai

*Kouton • Shrapnel Bomb
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the required hand seals, the user will create a hollow ball of steel about the size of a soccer ball. They will then fire this ball at [Control] speed in a single direction for up to 10 meters. Upon contact or reaching its maximum range, the ball will detonate with [Control] Strength, showering the effected area in metal shards.

[Niro]

As their opponent's ceased fighting back Rei put Katanabreaker away slowly, making sure they were in fact no longer going to fight them but being prepared just in case. "Nice work Nozomi, I'm not even sure what in the world that was but it looked cool." Rei said with a grin as she began gathering up the map pieces and putting them together.

"Hey, looks like this might be the way." She said and darted her eyes down towards the map that has been assembled as she scooted around to view it with Nozomi together. "Hmmm. Why don't we go this way." Rei said and pointed in the direction that the exit was in in accordance to the map. "Looks like south to me."

She didn't wait for an answer, she started heading off that way. Eventually the two of them made their way towards the guard and Rei stopped for a moment and considered.

"Do you want to wait here and ambush any stragglers for fun before we turn in our scroll pieces?" She asked Nozomi, stopping just short of the guard.

"Because...I do."

Rei and Nozomi sat at the southern most exist, the guard there shaking his head as he watched them camp the exit.

'Kids these days ain't right.' He thought to himself before striking up a match and smoke.

[Niro]

One of the two shinobi running this way reacted by withdrawing a kunai and deflecting his just before it would strike them. The kunai tumbled through the air now off target and landed just a foot further from where they had collided. Kotetsu cast a simple kai on the two kunai which had continued towards the sides of the other team mate and were now close enough they could be plucked out of the air by the girls. Two explosions [15 Str each] ripped forth from the seals and engulfed both of them as Shigeko stood there and Maho sheathed her bow. In case they continued through the explosions, Kotetsu cast kai again on the third kunai embedded in the ground in front of them [15 Strength].

Kotetsu backpedaled as Kotori and Setsuna appeared on the scene as back up with some clones to further bolster their numbers. A wave of mud from the Jinchuuriki spewed forth and covered the pair of kunoichi while Setsuna continued in an arc, her eyes locked onto the pair. Continuing their assault, Kotetsu whipped out the two other tagged kunai from his belt and tossed them at the pair, ready to detonate them again if they stood tall through it all.

SpoilerShow

Chakra Kai x3

[Kaitos10]

After seeing no one is coming for awhile she figures it’s better to leave now so they can hopefully get first place in the exams she didn’t want to wait for people to ambush if it meant people would finish ahead of them so she conviced her partner to agree to let her use the scroll to leave the exams and finish

[Valkier]

The web of twisting vines shot forward from the hand of Kotori's marionette clone, its simpler and weaker technique completing before Maho's. The snare technique would snap around Maho like a bolas even as she fired the kouton ball back towards the clone. The kouton ball would hit the clone—which was still charging forward with its great club raised menacingly—and detonate, shattering the clone into a puff of smoke and splinters with the force of the blast. But the snare had worked, and now acted to pin Maho down. The vines tangled around her arms and torso, twisting and tightening her limbs to her chest, while the roots snaked downwards and into the ground, trying to hold her in place. A temporary hindrance even if Maho could overpower it with a moment of struggling. Becuase a moment was all Team Seven needed to finish the job.

Explosions rocked the opposing team moments as the real Kotori completed her sludge wave. The torrent of slick mud burst out of her and quickly spread, wide enough encompass not only Shigeko but, it turned out, also Maho's position. It washed past the whole group, splashing over each of them and pushing them back, then beginning to thicken and set. Maho especially was now caught twice as hard, the roots clinging to her and hardening even as the mud caked over the top of them and contributed even more constriction. Kotori even felt sorry for her as she, grinning, stopped in place and began a final follow-up technique.

"Sorry guys, but it ends here for you. Give over those scroll pieces, and we'll go easy!" She continued her hand seals, knowing that even as she did so her mud was binding the opposing team and making them even more helpless to her finale. Eventually she completed it, feeling the sudden drain as a great deal of chakra surged out of her and into the existing area of mud around Shigeko. With Maho doubly restrained, the Kirigakure ninja remained the bigger threat. The mud caking the girl suddenly came alive, lurching up and around Shigeko and Shuichi more completely to form a complete and thick shell around them, then hardening and compressing inwards, suffocating and slowly crushing. Kotori held the final seal ready, poised to implode the coffin should Shigeko show sign of escaping...

Jutsu used...Show

[Doroton • Mud Coffin] - Cast at 18 control towards Shigeko (& Shuichi, unknowingly)
B-Rank Ninjutsu
The user channels chakra into an existing Doroton technique within 60 metres of their location. This technique causes any mud in the area to surge upwards and engulf a target, surrounding their entire body at [control] speed and rapidly hardening into a thick suffocating shell of [control] strength. At any point thereafter, the user can perform a final kai seal to explosively compress the shell inwards, crushing any caught target at [control] strength. This coffin shell can remain for up to 8 posts before losing its strength.

[Kao]

Explosions sounded all around Setsuna, and she slowed slightly so she wouldn't be caught in any of the blasts. Inexplicably the blue haired girl didn't move to counter or defend so the shuriken all struck true, landing in the spaces between her shoulders and upper chest. The weapons embedded in the armor shallowly, each landing with a metallic clink. Undeterred, the kunoichi swung her weapon at the Shigeko and launched the kouton needle in that direction, again aiming for the chest. She silently hoped the armor held up and Shigeko only suffered damage from the impact rather than be impaled; she'd hate to kill someone from an allied village so early in her career.

Kotori's jutsu worked perfectly. As the mud hardened and the two enemy combatants quickly became immobile, the redhead kunoichi used one hand to point her blade towards Shigeko. With the other, she grabbed three stiletto daggers and held them between her fingers. She raised her brow, daring the girl to do anything short of surrendering and handing over the scroll pieces. Just in case, she readied her hand so that she could throw the daggers at any time.

JutsuShow

Used Kouton • Needle that was prepared last post, at 11 control/strength

[Kabu]

Just as she had feared the situation was rapidly escalating from bad to worse to worse still, Shigeko was in trouble and who even knew what Shuichi was up to in the midst of this. As things stood she was by all means the last one standing and there wasn't much she could do against three opponents by herself, especially when one of them was still somewhere off in the distance. She wouldn't have much time to react as first explosions rocked the arena and then she and her team were all caught in a torrent of mud. Some part of her couldn't help but be impressed as it rapidly hardened around her. Perhaps when this was over she could try to get Kotori to teach her? With that said she of course didn't dare make a move, knowing full well that she at least was outmatched.

As Kotori made her demands and Setsuna seemed to be threatening her, she couldn't help but frown. She really had no say in this matter... in multiple ways. "I would but I'm not the leader here. It's not my choice." she chirped in response, very briefly glancing over in the direction where she had last seen Shuichi. "Do we really need to fight for them though? There's no rule against cooperating is there?" she innocently followed up, tilting her head all the while.

She really didn't want to continue fighting like this if she didn't have to, she was getting low on chakra and achey from being hit with mud and explosions. Perhaps she was being naive in her thinking and she knew that but she was wiling to take this bet, risky as it may be. Hopefully her teammates were also willing to side with her on this.

[Niro]

His kunai sunk into the mud coffins surrounding the two girls as the fight seemed to leave them. Grabbing one of them with his normal hand as he moved close, Kotetsu shrugged as he clubbed both Maho and Shigeki across the face in a bid to knock them out and leave them trapped in the mud.

"Guess that sucks then."

He'd go a little easy on them, with them being stuck in mud and all, but still hit them enough they'd begin to see stars and black out. Once he had, Kotetsu cut away the mud surrounding Shigeko's waist with his kunai and took the scroll pieces from her. "Kotori, seal them up again and let's get out of here." He looked through their scroll pieces and in combination with their own, there was enough for the map to be completed. Satisfied with the outcome, Kotetsu waited until the two were ready and then the team would make their way north towards the exit.

[Valkier]

Kotori's shoulders slumped as the encounter came to a sudden conclusion. She'd hoped team seven's synergy would be effective, of course, but in a high-stakes scenario of a chuunin exam she'd anticipated tenacious resistance, a desperate struggle like those in the stories of her older peers. Instead, their opponents seemed overwhelmed, blasted, bound, slashed, and finally clubbed into resounding submission without so much as a chance to struggle. She lowered her last seal, the unused trigger that could've crushed the enemy further still, and loudly let out her held breath.

"That's all, huh. All right." She scanned the scene, her focus flickering between the two defeated ninja and her two victorious teammates. Had she overestimated the former, or underestimated the latter? After confirming with Kotetsu that they had enough scroll pieces to secure their own victory, she followed his order to rebind the opposing team in mud again, but this time without the threat of being crushed inwards at the end. It only had to hold them in place for long enough for her and her comrades to reach the exit, after all. She gave Maho a rueful shrug, wondering if her diehard loyalty to her chain of command would be a mark in favour of her promotion, or whether her innocence and reluctance to step up and take control would be counted against her. But this was a real test, and there was no room to dwell on the fate of others, and so Kotori fell into step beside Kotetsu and Setsuna as the team departed towards the nearest exit.

[Niro]

With Team 7's retrieval of Red Team's map pieces, the possessed a full map and were able to exit to the north to a middling congratulations from the gate guard.

Red Team would have to be retrieved from the hardened mud by the exam proctors as none of them made any movements or attempts to free themselves of it.