[Graded][Plotboard] Under Pressure

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Niro
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[Graded][Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:16 am

Akari, Tatsuo, one of the many bannin roaming Iwagakure no Sato, and Tate, Iwamaru, recently promoted to chuunin and recruited into Jousai, stood facing off the edge of the cliff face that had been the latters first introduction to the Catacombs. Tatsuo took a depth breath and his ribs and other parts loudly cracked into place as readied himself to dive once more into the dark below.

"First thing is first; supplies. The crates around here are full of 'em, grab a couple flares, flashlights, and bandages. We're not going far so no need for rations this time around. It'll be a just enough to dip your feet but not enough to drown you. Also, see those harnesses?" Tatsuo moved to the first crate of supplies that came into sight, prying open the top with his hands. Inside were neatly arranged rows of the aforementioned supplies; flares, flashlights, bandages. His attention shifted to the second crate right next to the first which had two harnesses rested against its side.

"Put one on. You're still too young to be just relying on Tree Walking to get down there. You'd run of chakra beforehand and no you cannot use it as a training method to increase chakra reserves, I forbid it." He commanded, taking a handful of flares and safely tucking them into his supply pouch while grabbing a flashlight. "They're powered by fuuinjutsu so they'll work for a bit before turning into garbage."

Once sufficiently supplied, Tatsuo walked to a different part of the cliff edge that was much better lit than the other. This one had small, sturdy winches of metal cable that were to be attached to the harness Iwamaru had been told to wear.

"Clip in and we'll head on down."
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:26 am

Iwamaru was a flurry of action as he went to the first crate grabbing five flares, two separate flashlights (one as a backup), and two small rolls of bandages. He realized that after a certain degree, constantly asking questions was going to both slow down the process and make him develop some bad habits. At some points, it was best to trust your leader and learn through the experience itself. Quickly grabbing the harness that was handed to him, he made certain to secure the new supplies between his normal waist pack and the pockets in his harness. Two flares, a roll of bandages, and one flashlight would suffice to remain secured in the harness. The remaining three flares, the back-up flashlight, and the extra roll of bandages, would remain in his waist pack until he needed them.

His ears caught Tatsuo's restriction on using the Tree Walking technique, and he allowed himself the tiniest smirk. It seemed that Tatsuo had heard tale of some of Iwamaru's rather creative training methods, like literally walking up the side of a several hundred-meter cliff face to train his chakra reserves and physical stamina. Of course, he had no intention of doing something like that here. Walking the cliff, he still had his fellow Jousai to help him if something went amiss. Here, a single mistake, one solitary slip-up, and it could be curtains, for good. It was best to cede to the words of caution and experience.

Iwamaru clipped hismelf to the cables once all of his supplies and weaponry were clear. He then nodded to Tatsuo after checking to make sure his sword was secure on his back. He was ready to descend into the Catacombs for the very first time.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:44 pm

The metallic click signifying Iwamaru was strapped in was met with a nod from Tatsuo. He activated his own Tree Walking before he began walking to the edge of the cliff and then straight down it. The cable winches would have an easy release mechanic Iwamaru'd have to press before it'd allow any cable to be fed and then a safety mechanism installed to prevent too rapid of a descent. There'd already been plenty of instances during initial testing of the devices of shinobi being daring and declining at unsafe speeds; some turning into fatal accidents.

Once over the lip of the cliff edge, Tatsuo flicked his flash light on and began to descend, his arm aiming it to illuminate the darkness surrounding them. The faint sounds of beating wings echoed off in the far distance which drew a grin from him.

"I wonder if there's giant bats down here too? I've discovered roaches, rats, and something else but not bats. I wonder if we could ride 'em? Probably make traversing this place a lot easier." Tatsuo mused to Iwamaru about the possibility. "The spot and things we're looking for are about...a third of the mile down the cliff face. It's hard to spot usually so most shinobi either avoid searching for it or miss it entirely." Their trip down the cliff face continued until Tatsuo held up a hand to bring their descent to a stop.

"Did you hear that? Listen." Tatsuo brought a finger to his lips to motion for silence. The sound of thin legs skittering along softly graced their ears and Tatsuo's lips formed into a grin. "We're close. Be on your toes." He picked up his pace downwards before shining his flash light on something out of a horror book. A gigantic spider towering ten feet tall on its legs lay in front of them. It hissed and slowly began to advance, thinking the two were easy prey. The bannin withdrew a single kunai from his weapons pouch and tossed it clean through the legs on the left side of the arachnid cutting them mid way down. A cry of pain escaped the creature as it lost its footing and fell from the cliff face.

"...Oh. How do you feel about spiders?"
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:18 pm

Testing the tautness of the ropes and harness, Iwamaru began to slowly descend, closely following Tastuo’s pace, with his own flashlight in hand, checking the other side of the chasm where Tastuo’s light wouldn’t reach. He wasn’t about to charge headlong into a massive pit filled with mutated creatures. This was a gradual process, especially since the further they went down, the more likely they would fall into an ambush.

It wasn’t until Tatsuo started talking about giant mutated bats that he actually got more intrigued. The Chuunin actually had a soft spot for bats as misunderstood creatures, particularly flying fruit bats. ”If we found a way to tame them, we’d have more than just easy transport. Many species of bats have diets that consist almost entirely of insects. We could use them to combat other creatures down here,” Iwamaru suggested. He had to admit that the thought of a large bat as a companion was incredibly appealing.

Iwamaru froze at Tatsuo’s command to halt, and he even held his breath for a short few seconds. His ears caught wind of the skittering if legs. It was clearly a bug of some type, and considering they’d just finished talking about giant roaches, the notion of other giant bugs were not far from his mind. Following Tatsuo’s pace, he sped up his descent right before the ran into the massive spider. It was thankfully dispatched by Tatsuo, but he was beyond thankful he had Tatsuo there with him. ”I’ll let you know when we’re done,” he sighed, just a tad bit more on edge as he readied himself to keep descending.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:23 pm

Their next period of descent soon came to a stop as Tatsuo seemed to fall into the cliff. Upon a closer examination and a little bit of light, Iwamaru would see that there was a large cave opening covered by the dust and debris caught by the spider silk that decorated the mouth of the cave opening. Tatsuo, now standing upside down in the cave, cut the chakra to his feet and landed gracefully with a flip.

Tatsuo would extend a hand for Iwamaru to grab and pull himself into the cave. Once safely in, Tatsuo undid the metal cable attached to his harness and staked it into the wall so it could not be recalled or lost.

"I'll let you take point on this. These caves lead in to multiple chambers crawling with spiders. There's a few different size classifications for them. There is your normal sized ones, your 2 foot tall ones that remind me of large dogs, you are 10 foot ones like the one we saw outside, and then you've got your queen who is big enough to hollow out a mountain for her brood." Tatsuo explained to his junior in minor detail. Single spiders weren't an issue but their sheer numbers were the game changer. "A swarm of the 2-foot spiders could decimate a genin squad and we've had reports of jounin being killed by the ten-foot ones. Tons of fun." Tatsuo clapped Iwamaru on the back and lightly pushed him towards the black tunnels.

"You lead and if anything besides a 2-foot spider comes out, I'll handle it."
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:05 pm

The rest of their descent went by uneventfully, which Iwamaru was both thankful for and cautious about. It felt like every sense was driven up to eleven here in the mouth of the catacombs. Each step, each movement Iwamaru made was as urgent yet as calculated as he could manage. This was his first time stepping into an environment where death could be met within the space between breaths of he wasn’t careful, and though he was keeping his fear responses under check, every nerve in his body felt like it was crackling with electricity. Tatsuo suddenly slipped out of view, but based on the light from Tatsuo’s flashlight, Iwamaru could see the small hatch in the side of the wall.

Taking Tastuo’s hand, he was pulled inside and retrieved one of the larger kunai, roughly the size of a dagger or combat knife, from his pack and gripped it firmly with his right hand and held the flashlight reverse-grip in his left hand. As much as he preferred the reach of his sword, a longer weapon could be a liability in a confined space such as this.

Iwamaru soaked in every word that Tatsuo offered him. Quick recognition of his targets would be vital to distinguish between a threat he could take and one he’d need Tatsuo to dispatch. Nodding to show his comprehension and compliance, Iwamaru progressed forward at a calculated pace, keeping his ears open and eyes peeled for tracks or sounds of approaching foes. If the tunnel widened out sufficiently, he’d swap out the kunai for his sword, but otherwise, this would be how he progressed forward.

Turning a corner, he’d come nearly face to face with a two-foot spider dangling from silk connected to its abdomen.

In a flash, the spider severed the silk cord and landed, leaping straight forward immediately after. Taking a single step back, Iwamaru lowered his head and uppercut the spider straight into the ceiling. Stunned by his jounin-level strength, the spider fell prone to the ground, and Iwamaru dispatched the creature with a violent stomp on its thorax, splitting the spider into three pieces.

Taking a deep breath, he stomped each part of the spider once more, making sure it was dead. ”I’ve got a feeling these guys are gonna ruin spiders for me,” Iwamaru notes softly, progressing forward after dispatching the opponent. As he walked by, he would yank the strand of silk off of the ceiling, testing its tensile strength.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:32 pm

A two-piece and a violent stomping quickly ended the first spider unlucky enough to encounter the two. As they movedvdeeper into the tunnels, Tatsuo cracked and left fkares behind to make sure they would find their way back with little to no difficulty.

The Bannin snorted at the comment about spiders being possibly ruin for him. He couldn't wait for his reactions to some of the other things they'd encounter down here in the Darkness.

"Just wait until you are forced to eat giant rat meat because you got lost and ran out of rations. That'll ruin most people's perception of rodents. Roach legs, too, are edible. They're really meaty and pop like gross seafood." Tatsuo went on about how eating the local Wildlife as they continued. The tunnels would widen just a bit more but not enough to safely swing a long sword.

Iwamaru would find the strength of this size of spiders web easy to overcome. It was strong enough that the average chuunin would have trouble but with his monstrous-for-his-age strength he wouldn't. As they continued their trek, they'd come around a corner to see two cocooned bodies being feasted on by five two-foot spiders.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:35 pm

The silk split and ripped in his hands. Good. If he somehow fell into silk created by the smaller variant, he’d have no cause for concern. Tatsuo continued to enlighten Iwamaru on the more grisly survival tactics he might one day have to use should he find himself stranded in the Catacombs. They certainly didn’t doubt even slightly pleasant, but he filed them away for future use regardless. Survival did not pay heed to preferences or weak stomachs.

The hiss of the flares Tatsuo left behind to trace their steps broke the tense silence, a small comfort knowing that his back was covered one way or another. He’d keep an ear out for Tatsuo’s footsteps as well, not wanting to take the Bannin’s presence for granted. The tunnel widened out, and as Iwamaru caught sight of what lay before him. There... there were humans being captured by these things. He caught his anger in his throat; uncontrolled rage was a death-sentence down here.

Quickly replacing his combat kunai, Iwamaru immediately grabbed two kunai, trying to line up his shot to target multiple spiders at once. The first two spiders on one of the cocoons were quickly dispatched as Iwamaru’s first kunai pierced one straight through its head and the other through its abdomen. The death hisses alerted the remaining three spiders, and Iwamaru was only able to snipe one other spider, the last two escaping to the walls, skittering onto the ceiling of the tunnel. They were within reach even on the ceiling, but Iwamaru had a more pressing matter. This was a two-on-one match now.

”Tatsuo-san, please step back,” he warned as he took the combat kunai back into hand, rushing forward. The spiders dropped down to try and land atop him, but sliding on his knees, Iwamaru slashed one along its underbelly as it dropped down before immediately turning and throwing the kunai at the other with all his might. Slamming through the spider’s head, it hissed and wailed, arachnid legs scrambling as blood oozed from the wound, death finally overtaking the creature after a few seconds. Taking the second combat kunai from his pack, Iwamaru immediately cut the cocoons from their main parts of the web.

He knew that it was futile. His heart of hearts fully understood these two people were dead... but part of him had to try in vain, anyway. Ripping the long sleeve off of his uniform and cutting the sleeve longitudinally in half, he made himself a crude face mask, cinching it behind his head before slicing the cocoons open. He had to see this for himself. He had to know what he was fighting and why.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Fri Oct 25, 2019 5:24 pm

Tatsuo stayed silent in the back line of their meager formation but kept his flashlight pointed forward and on the group of spiderlings. Iwamaru dispatched them with little issue, something Tatsuo was glad to see. His newest recruit could at the very least be trusted with taking care of himself.

The mood was decidedly somber as Iwamaru prepared himself and began to hack into the cocoons. Tatsuo walked up behind him and didn't say a word. He knew how the spiders consumed prey and it wouldn't be pretty, especially with five of them contributing. The spider silk gave away the still forms of two young teenagers with Iwagakure no Sato headbands strapped to their foreheads. Only their torsos and heads remained, the rest having been turned into a predigested liquid the spiders could consume. The first was a brown haired boy and the second a redheaded girl.

"Lost genin. They weren't the first pair who have snuck down here despite orders to otherwise steer clear. They won't be the last either. The most we can do for them now is to collect their headbands and return them to their families." Tatsuo lamented in the dank, musty tunnel besides Iwamaru.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:06 pm

It was only the understanding that they were long dead that kept Iwamaru from losing his stomach right then and there. The mask most certainly helped dampen the powerful, overwhelming smell of predigested flesh and bone, but it still was so strong that he had lean back from it and avert his gaze. It wasn’t so much the unsettling power of the smell alone that shook him so; rather, it was the momentary fury that rose up in tandem that mandated he take a few ragged, quivering breaths.

Part of him wanted to hate these creatures. He truly did. No one, even those foolish enough to be disobedient, should have to suffer a death like this. But he couldn’t. These spiders never asked to be so brutally mutated, as did none of the other creatures. They were simply doing what instinct told them to do: survive. No, the one to blame, the person or people responsible for the deaths of these genin were those that had tampered with the seals in the Catacombs. The ones that had caused all of this to begin with. They were the murderers. They would pay.

Regaining his composure, Iwamaru tenderly removed the headbands from the slain genin. Clasping his hands together, he offered a prayer to whatever kami or spirit might listen, those who might ferry their tormented souls to the afterlife. Then, standing up, he etched their faces into his memory. ”Whoever did this... whoever caused the chaos here in the Catacombs... They will receive retribution a thousand-fold for the people they’ve murdered,” he vowed. ”I only hope I get to play a part in it when the time comes.”

Retrieving his combat kunai from the spider corpse, he laid the genin’s remains aside and continued forward. With any luck, they’d be able to come back and retrieve them for a proper cremation.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:22 pm

"That's the worst part. The cultists who activated the fuuinjutsu were killed as sacrifices to power it. We never got their identities, motives, or name of their cult. For all we know there's more of them or that was all there was. The Rock has been too busy dealing with the Catacombs to really care but it'd be nice to look into them and to see if they're really cleaned up." Tatsuo admitted to his subordinate. There was no silver linings in the situation; people were and would continue to die until the spirits were sent back and Iwa forces could withdraw. If they ever could be sent back.

They continued forward into the mountain after collecting the headbands from their fallen brethren. The tunnels were quiet now that the colony knew they were within it. Soon enough the tunnel opened up into a chamber 20 meters in diameter. Multiple person sized coccoons hung from the spider silk lining each and every surface of the room. Maybe they'd find some survivors after all.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:45 pm

Tatsuo's admission made Iwamaru's blood boil, but there was little they could do. All he could hang on to was the hope that they'd be able to send the spirits back from whence they came... and that maybe, hopefully, there would be someone who would be brought to face justice for everything terrible these cultists had caused. "Then that is my work. Until I find for certain that they're all dead, they will not find shelter from my eyes."

Moving forward, the freshly retrieved headbands of the two genin gently folded in his pack, the pair continued onward. Eventually, they'd walk into a chamber much larger than the rest, and a literal plethora of human-sized cocoons lined the ceiling. Iwamaru sighed, grimacing at the prospect of what he would see. Death was a constant in the shinobi world. Without a doubt, he would come face to face with it in many ways today. Noting the size of the cavern and the sheer number of cocoons, he knew he couldn't do this alone. "Tatsuo-san, can I request your aid?" he asked as he returned the combat kunai to his pack and drew his sword. "Can your Kekkei Genkai cut the cocoons from here? I'm going to catch them and set them aside. I fear going up to them too closely will leave me exposed to an ambush."

Taking one of his flares from his pack, Iwamaru would ignite it and toss it past the cocoons he could see. He'd then punch a hole in the ground, angled towards the ceiling of the cavern, and he'd stick his flashlight, handle down, into it, to give him visibility up where the cocoons were connected to the ceiling. Should Tatsuo comply with his wishes, he'd wait for each one to be cut down and catch them in his arms. If not, he'd draw his sword and jump up, cutting each one down as neatly and swiftly as possible. It was entirely likely that the spiders would feel the vibrations along the web, meaning they had to be quick. They'd likely be expecting company soon.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:22 pm

Tatsuo had a nagging feeling in his gut as they entered the room and set up. Something was off, he couldn't pinpoint it exactly but it felt vaguely familiar. The small hairs on his neck and arms stood on end as Iwamaru stood in position to catch any cocoons that were sliced free of the spider silk. The familiar flow of chakra surged through his melashiin and activated a single tendril.

Even in appearance there was a stark difference between Tatsuo's melashiin and the melashiin of his sister. For one, the actual girth of his was double hers and the color was a violet so dark and condensed it seemed to be black until it was struck with light from a torch. The tentacle danced through the air and sliced at each bit of connecting silk that held the the cocoon suspended, waiting to move to the next until Iwamaru put down the current.

It was eerily quiet in the tunnels sans the noises they produced. Something was definitely up and Tatsuo released the remainder of his melashiins tentacles.

"Hurry up and check for survivors. Something's wrong." Tatsuo ordered, any mirth in his voice gone as he shifted from mentor to Commander. Iwamaru would find that of the seven cocoons they'd chop down, three would contain survivors.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:44 pm

Catching each cocoon as carefully as he could, he was fairly confident in the result of each one. The first four were the same as the last two: partially or completely desecrated remains, leaving only a headband to retrieve. The next two felt different as he cut them. Though weak, he was elated to see that they were alive, though hardly in a condition to defend themselves. He was glad to know that-

Tatsuo's orders, and the urgency in his voice, cut all room for joy. If Tatsuo was taking command, they were in imminent danger. No questions, no looking around. Act. Now. Quickly cutting open the last cocoon, there was another survivor. Sheathing his sword and quickly tossing one of the survivors to Tatsuo, who had the advantage of his melashiin tentacles to fight with, Iwamaru took the flashlight on the floor and held it with his teeth before hoisting the other two surviviors over his shoulders with haste. With his strength, he'd be able to carry them both without issue. He had to, as until they got to the main chasm, they'd need Tatsuo with as much fighting power as possible for what came next.

Once they were secure over his shoulder, his arms firmly gripping the two unconscious survivors over each of his shoulders, he'd run back through the entrance where they had come in. This was time for a full retreat. Their spoils would be their lives and those of the ones whom they held in their arms.

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Sat Oct 26, 2019 6:10 pm

The situation was the devolving a lot quicker and a lot more dangerously than the chuunin realized. They had found one of the many storage rooms utilized by the spiders to house their food and the colony was not amused by their transgression of trespassing. Not that Tatsuo cared as that food tended to be young or unsuspecting Iwa shinobi but today's excursion didn't only include him. He couldn't play it fast and loose like he liked to today, Iwamaru's safety and the survival of those found came first. He decided against creating a shadow clone to carry the survivors to safety with Iwamaru while he stayed and fought as he caught the tossed survivor by wrapping the melashiin tentacle around their torso and underneath their arms.

Tatsuo followed behind Iwamaru as they exited the chamber. He kept his pace right at Iwamaru's heels as they evacuated until a volley of webbing was fired at and narrowly missed them. He turned his head backwards as best as he could and caught the shine of light against the black exoskeleton of one of the 10 ft tall spiders. If one was here, that meant at least two more plus a horde of the 2 ft spiders.

Tatsuo began to weave through hand seals and gather his chakra as they ran. Once he had gathered a sufficient amount, he hopped mid-run and made a 180-degree turn before landing and releasing his Jutsu into the tunnel. A wall of repeating it Kouton spikes sprung forward and filled the tunnel... for a moment before more spiders began to surge forward along the walls and roof where the spikes did not spawn. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Tatsuo turned back around and caught up to Iwamaru. He had one more surefire idea to get them out of this pickle but he wanted to see how the pressure of an actual life or death situation affected Iwamaru's decision-making.

"Any ideas to successfully escape a colony of gigantic spiders?"
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Sat Oct 26, 2019 6:43 pm

Okay, he was strongly considering putting a hatred of spiders back on the table.

His sense of urgency had probably saved his life in that moment, because not moments after he'd run past Tatsuo did Iwamaru hear a literal legion of clicking legs and carapaces scraping on the dirt and stone all behind them, one set of them particularly heavier than the others. By his best guesstimate, they probably had at least one 10-meter spider on their six with an untold number of the smaller variants scurrying along in front of them. At first, all he could do was focus on running, narrowly avoiding being tagged by a web-like projectile. Normally, he'd try to catalog that sound for later use, considering he could use that information to dodge future shots, but given the sheer number of enemies behind them and the amount of noise they were making, it made such a feat impossible. He'd simply have to rely on Tatsuo-san.

He wanted to stop as he heard Tatsuo's footsteps suddenly disappear, but he quashed that reflex and kept running. Iwamaru knew that if Tatsuo was stopping for something, it was important. The sound of something erupting from the ground and crunching carapaces told Iwamaru that his bannin mentor had just deployed a jutsu against the enemy to what sounded like limited success. Tatsuo's footsteps returned into his range of hearing, along with what was probably the last thing Iwamaru expected to hear from a man that was likely to soon become Tsuchikage:

"Any ideas to successfully escape a colony of gigantic spiders?"

If he hadn't been running for his life, Iwamaru's jaw would have dropped agape. Okay, so this was clearly a test, given the circumstances. Looking around, he quickly took stock of the situation, his inventory, his jutsu arsenal, and the enemy. Spiders, despite having multiple eyes, typically had terrible eyesight and often relied more on sound or tactile senses to detect their prey, often utilizing their webbing to capture them. Webbing... The webbing was everywhere in these tunnels. He wondered...

"Take them, Tatsuo-san," Iwamaru requested, holding the two unconscious bodies up for the Bannin to relieve him of. Taking the four remaining flares he had in his pack, he ignited them all and threw them, burning side into the webbing ahead of them, targetting four separate areas in order to ensure full coverage. He threw them ahead since it would take time for the flares to ignite the webbing into fire. They would be past it by the time the flames started spreading. Not taking this for granted, he'd keep track of the sounds coming from behind. If the fire didn't spread quickly enough or simply didn't deter the spiders, Iwamaru would weave a series of hand seals while moving as fast as possible. His two ideas were to either burn them out or bury them. If the first didn't work, he sure hoped the second would. His Doton chakra shooting out 15 meters in all directions, it would sufficiently weaken the earth in the tunnel, making it perfect for a cave-in. Stopping momentarily, he'd immediately drop to one knee and slam his fist into the weakened earth as soon as he reached the very end of its range, causing a massive explosion that would erupt from all around the tunnel behind them. Even if the spiders didn't get impaled by the stone spikes that rose up, they'd still be pierced and rent asunder by the plethora of other debris and shrapnel hitting them with Iwamaru's full strength before the tunnel behind them collapsed, hopefully burying and crushing anything behind them under several tons of natural rock and dirt.

Iwamaru wouldn't wait to see the result. As soon as he launched his punch he'd immediately turn around and start running again.
JutsuShow
Doton • Improved Sundered Domain
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the necessary hand seals, Iwamaru channels Doton chakra into a 15-meter area around his person, including stone and concrete terrain or structures. The stability of the ground/terrain is weakened. If Iwamaru punches or stomps on the ground with 10 Strength or greater, the ground will break apart, rasing slabs of rock and stone around him at a Speed equal to his Strength. Each of these slabs has 10 Strength. This technique cannot be used against structures or terrain infused with an opponent's chakra if the average of their Ninjutsu and Control, rounded up, is higher than Iwamaru's Control.

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Niro
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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Sun Oct 27, 2019 4:14 pm

Tatsuo grabbed the other two survivors with ease mid-run as they were given to him by tucking them under his arms. The flames from the flares were a good idea and something the experienced Catacomb divers knew to use but it wouldn't be enough for the hardier spiders. He was a bit nervous when Iwamaru decided to soften the rock. That never went well for anyone down here.

The attack tore the spiders to shreds and the cave in crushed any survivors. However it didn't stop there as the entire tunnel began to shake. Quickly a second melashiin tentacle spawned and wrapped itself tight around Iwamaru's torso. Tatsuo was off in a flash, no longer holding back his speed, as the tunnel behind them quickly began to collapse at a visibly quicker rate than Iwamaru himself would have been able to run. They passed by the previously drop flares so fast they were naught but a wink. A third melashiin tentacle spawned besides Iwamaru as the mouth of the tunnel came quickly into view.

The third tentacle anchored itself into the roof of the tunnel just before the mouth and Tatsuo used it to swing upwards and onto the wall after jumping rather than into the opening abyss. The collapsing tunnel unlodged the tentacle as it reached the mouth and a rockslide tumbled down the cliff. Tatsuo didn't wait to watch as as soon as his shiin was free he was running back to the top.

"I give it a C. We got out alive but if I wasn't there you'd be dead. Plus we won't be able to use that entrance to revisit those feeding grounds." Tatsuo commented to break the silence of their ascent.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Sun Oct 27, 2019 5:19 pm

Iwamaru had hoped that he wouldn’t have to use the Sundered Domain technique in such a small enclosed space. He knew that his jutsu, this one in particular, were ill-suited for deployment in such cramped spaces, but necessity dictated his actions. With that exploding tags posing an equal danger, the enemy being relatively uneffectdd by flash grenades, and smoke bombs utterly useless, he had few options.

His momentary victory over the spiders was interrupted by a powerful quaking. He cursed even as Tatsuo’s melashiin wrapped around him and carried him to safety. The mission was technically a success, but Tatsuo’s critiques resonated with him deeply, knowing full well he would have been a flesh pancake if not for the Bannin’s intervention. ”Understood, sir... My current jutsu set is not well-suited for fighting in structurally delicate places or enclosed spaces. Ironically, I have more jutsu to help easily remake that tunnel than I do to fight in it. I’ll work on improving my jutsu arsenal right away,” he acknowledged, grim understanding clear in his voice.

He looked at the survivors. ”I’m glad we found some that could be saved, at least. Once I’ve improved my skill set, I could accompany a team to regain access to that feeding ground if it is deemed appropriate.”

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Niro
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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:26 pm

"Our jutsu arsenals are always lacking when we need it most. Surviving encounters is essential to growing it. As you become more experienced, you'll find even more varied uses for the jutsu you currently have. I'm still learning new applications for both my bloodline and jutsu, it's a never-ending journey." Tatsuo tried to offer some wisdom he hoped Iwamaru picked up on. He always found himself using old jutsu in new ways even though his actual pool of ninjutsu wasn't the largest. He believed that Iwamaru could do the same with little difficulty.

Tatsuo was quiet for a minute after the chuunins offer. Only the repeated pounding of his feet against the cliff face echoed around them.

"Why aim so small? Get strong. Strong enough that I can't overlook you when I have to pick an assault squad to exterminate the Spider Queen." Tatsuo posed the question as the camp light started to flood over the edge of the cliff. They soon crested the cliff face where he placed all of them down before whistling loudly and causing a flurry of medics to come rushing from a tent to the left to collect the survivors in gurneys and carry them off for medical attention.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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ShinobiTruth
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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by ShinobiTruth » Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:02 pm

Iwamaru took Tatsuo's counsel in stride. Indeed, not having a jutsu would not be an excuse in the battlefield. How one used a jutsu was just as important as what function the jutsu itself performed. He needed more flexible thinking, and the only way to get that was through hard work and experience. Already, he was thinking about what he could have done differently, how he might have dispatched more of the spiders without collapsing the cave. Perhaps together they might have been able to fight them back once the majority of them had been slain by the fire. His brain came up with plenty of ideas, but nothing concrete arose.

Even as he considered these things, Tatsuo's offer rang loud and true, giving the chuunin pause. Tatsuo didn't just say that to anyone... or at least, Iwamaru didn't think he'd just say that to anyone. He'd brought him all the way down here, and other than the exit strategy, he'd had the confidence to let Iwamaru take point in the entire operation, however short it was. This was a message. Get strong. "Understood," Iwamaru confirmed, taking the offer to heart, as he was many things Tatsuo was teaching him today.

As the injured were carried away on gurneys, the headbands in Iwamaru's headbands clinked, and he was reminded of one more grim task they had to accomplish. Pulling them out from his pack, he held them in his clenched hand in the soft, dim light. "We... We need to tell them," he said quietly, the sadness evident in his voice. As the one who found their bodies, Iwamaru felt responsible for notifying the families of the fallen. What would he say? He couldn't even begin to wrap his mind around where to begin...

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Niro
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[Plotboard] Under Pressure

Post by Niro » Wed Oct 30, 2019 6:25 pm

"Ready for another sad truth? The higher ranks are swamped with work so headband returns to the families of the fallen are usually designated for chuunin. Would you like to return theirs yourself?" Tatsuo asked as his melashiin tentacle receded into his lower back with a wet squelch. "No matter how or why they were down there, we try to give the family some peace by saying they died in the line of duty rather than they were being arrogant and paid the price. It gives those grieving some form of acceptance. Usually."

Tatsuo looked around the area before looking at Iwamaru then at himself. He could see the copious amount of spider webs and cave dust covering them and made a face.

"Time to head on up and tidy up." Tatsuo commented before leading Iwamaru back to the stone elevator. It took some time for it to descend and some more for it to ascend but the two once more found themselves in his office. He looked over the registration numbers on the headbands before delving into the mess of files littering the office space. Within minutes, he found two files and wrote down the addresses for the two dead shinobi. The first was a clanless son of a merchant and the second was the daughter of an Enkouten. Tatsuo handed over the information and offered him a 'good luck' before the boy left.
#MakeIwaGreatAgain
NameVillageRankTeam
Tatsuo [color=#940839][b]IwaTsuchikageTeam 18 Jousai
Kinomichi [color=limegreen][b]IwaBanninJousai
Kotetsu [color=slategray][b]IwaGeninTeam 7
Ashura [color=coral][b]SunaGenin
Sai [color=#FF14A1][b]Kiri - MND-Rank
Yamato [color=#C71585][b]KiriA-Rank

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