Konoha Manhunt

[James]

Night had fallen over Konoha only an hour ago, and many had returned to their homes for the night. Dane had just finished up his late shift at the noodle shop, but this was where his real job began. The young and athletic man would casually stroll on home to his apartment, an unassuming and fairly cheap facility with only the essentials. He would open the door and immediately begin taking off his clothes, throwing them all on his bed. Beneath his bed, he would pull out a rectangular chest, and promptly open it. Inside would be his suit of black leather armor, it didn't have too many special properties to it, but it would hide his face. This would be his very first night acting as the Masked Nin. He was no ninja, and didn't have the authority to do what he planned on doing, but would take a shot anyhow.

Opening the window of his apartment, Dane would jump out, using his left arm to close it behind him. This was where the fun began, his first target would have to be someone or something easy. He needed to get a feel for the whole vigilante thing. Thankfully, he had come well equipped to deal with any threat that reared it's head that night. The katana on his hip saw to that, but he likely wouldn't even need it. He had spent most of his life learning as much about taijutsu as possible, it was time to see if his training would pay off. Things always tended to go better in practice than execution after all.

He was nearly ready to begin the night, all he needed now was a vantage point. The obvious choice would be the roof tops, so with a quick series of leaps between walls Dane would find himself standing on top of his apartment complex. Now it would be time to asses the area, finding any miscreants that may be lurking about. While he didn't have any fancy techniques like the Byakugan or other jutsu that would extend his vision, he did have one that would open his senses. He would simply utter the words "Skitter Step..." causing his ears to suddenly rattle and pupils to open up. He could hear sounds and see sights a further range now, but would be somewhat paranoid in the state. Before long, he would hear the sound of glass breaking a few blocks away. It was faint, but possibly a crime. He would bring his hands together before announcing "Stop," softly.

Now he would need to track the sound's source, and be somewhat quiet while doing so. Dane began to jump from roof to roof, approaching the origin of the alarming sound. "I wonder what tonight will have in store..."

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Skitter Step • Senses Open]
C-Ranked Taijutsu Stance
The main jutsu of the Skitter Step, the practitioner takes a moment to focus their bodies, then releases it. While in this stance, the practitioner's sensory input is increased, allowing them to receive more information quickly. This Stance grants a +2 in Strength and a +4 in Speed but a -3 in Willpower and -3 in Control. This Stance will remain in effect until deactivated by [Stop]. Practitioners of this technique will find themselves fidgeting and constantly moving, which can make it difficult for the practitioner to use this style in a stealthy manner.

*[Skitter Step • Stop]
E-Ranked Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: Any form of Senses Open used.
The practitioner makes a fist with their right hand and places it against their left before placing both hands against their chest. This calms the practitioner's senses and returns them to a centered state.

[Shang Li]

“What time is it?”

Shang Li looked around at the mostly empty shops as he strolled home barefoot along the paved stone that made up Konoha's main road. It had been about a week since the twelve year old boy had graduated the academy as a genin and it seemed like everyday since then had been spent training late into the night at Hideki Nara's Ochiba dojo on the outskirts of the city. To be honest, young Shang didn't mind. He hadn't yet been assigned a team nor given any official missions yet so if he went home much earlier he'd just get roped into helping his mom run her coffee shop.

Besides the nights were nice in Konoha this time of year. Clear and cool without being outright cold, it felt good to stroll through the town after a hard day's training while his muscles were tired and sore and his senses were all wide open. Konoha was a much different place at night with different sorts of sights, sounds and smells than during the day and for one as young as Shang Li it was a new and exciting experience. Sure, his mom may not have liked him walking alone at night, he guessed she was concerned something might happen to him, but he wasn't worried. He was a shinobi now, an elite battle warrior, who was going to mess with him?

Tonight however would be more eventful to most. It started out normal enough with Shang taking his time as he walked home but at some point, as he was strolling through city's central marketplace, he heard the distinct sound of glass breaking just a few blocks away on the other side of some buildings. At first Shang's instinct was to ignore it and keep heading home, but curiosity and prospect of something exciting happening quickly got the better of him as they usually did. The blacked haired young ninja stopped only for a second to check that his kunai were still securely holstered to his thigh and that his hidden leaf headband was tied tightly around his head (Master Hideki had been making him train in full ninja gear since his graduation) before sprinting down a nearby alleyway towards the source of the sound.

[Diatenshi]

Masaru swore as he read the dosier on the table his orange eyes flickering brightly in the dimly lit room. Nine murders in the past two weeks and it didn't show any sign of stopping. It wasnt the deaths that disturbed him persay. It was how the killer seemed to play with the bodies when he was done. Cutting out their eyes and replacing them with shards of mirrors.

The case wasn't officially his but rather belonged to the Jounin mentoring him. He was only asked to help and keep an eye open for the culprit. The civilian police had failed to catch the man time and time again, describing remarkable strength and speed of the unsub. That in itself was disturbing. Was it a member of the villages shinobi going rogue? Questions swirled in his mind as Iburu cackled in the background, the fiery stag finding merriment at the suffering of humans.

'Maybe Ill get lucky and you'll be his next victim. Kekeke'

'Oh come off it we both know that you wont let me die. If I do that means you will as well and we cant have that now can we?.'

Masaru shook his head at the spirit's taunts and turned away from the folder. The unsub seemed to be targeting young girls, killing the parents first so as not to be disturbed. Fricken psycho. Masaru had thought after seeing Iburu he'd learned about monsters. But no these kind of sick freaks were even bigger monsters than him. At least Iburu's drive was understandable having been sealed for thousands of years by humans.

He made sure he had his gear and slipped into the shadows as he travelled about. He was heading to the residential district. All of the murders occured there but were close to a main road. He just hoped the bastard would be caught before he got away again.