From the Mud, Where ROOT Grows

[King of Cats]

The search had been on for hours. Shiroyasha was totally committed to find out who exactly had been watching him.

In the Nara Clan forest Shiroyasha was feeding animals. He had a sack of corn and raw chicken thighs in a bag. He was sitting on a stump surrounded by animals of all kinds. Birds, rodent, deer and even bears were dying to get some of his treats. Sitting in his red coat Shiroyasha looked royal as he threw corn to the birds and bunnies. They were all sitting in one spot where Shiroyasha was throwing the corn and Shiroyasha decided it was time to cook the chicken he had brought. He had already gathered a pile of sticks next to him and he focused chakra into his eyes. His Raitogan activated and a single armed windmill began swirling in ihs golden eyes. As his eyes glowed so did the area within the bundle of sticks. Light grew brighter and hotter before a smoldering began. After another ten minutes of straining his chakra Shiroyasha had lit a fire to cook the food; and that was when he saw a flash out of the corner of his eyes. With the Raitogan light was easily visible and even the slightest movements were noticeable. Shiroyasha was certain of what he saw.

Someone in an ANBU mask was fleeing the scene. Shiroyasha was certain of it. He couldn't make the mask out but by the paint on it there was no doubt of what he had saw. Shiroyasha felt a sudden eerie vibe wash over him. He never considered he had been being watched. In the village Shiroyasha felt safe. He was safe. What was curious to him was if he was safe, why were they watching him. Shiroyasha demanded answers. He got up from kneeling down over the bundle of sticks and threw the rest of the corn to the animals. If he wanted answers he knew he couldn't dilly dally. He walked over to where the ANBU had been watching him. Shiroyasha had his Raitogan active, searching for any non forest colored fabric in the grass and sure enough he found a scrap. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.

Thus began Shiro's search for the ANBU. He was most curious what they wanted from him and he would certainly try his best to find them. He headed out of the forest and into the village, Shiroyasha knew just where to go. He headed to the tracking department of the Konoha ninjas. He was hoping to find an Inuzuka to track the smell from the forest. With the scrap of fabric in his pocket he arranged a meeting with someone from the Inuzuka clan. They were being summoned as Shiro waited in the lounge. The genin was incredibly nervous. He had heard of what ANBU did. They were cold blooded killers, but that wasn't what scared Shiroyasha. He could probably kill someone, though the opportunity had never presented itself Shiroyasha was a ruthless fighter who held no prisoners and lacked mercy on the battlefield. His father always told him the reason he lost so often in chess was that he was too ready to sacrifice his pieces, though that said something different for Shiroyasha's cold actions.

Shiroyasha saw himself as a conquerer. By making moves like sacrificing pieces he got closer to his victory, which was letting his dad win in chess. Shiroyasha hated playing board games but he would never let his pops know. A calculated decision he took despite it's impact on his reputation.

Waiting in the lounge Shiroyasha thought about it all and picked at his fingers. He was mostly scared of the ANBU wiping his memory with ninjutsu. It was rumored they had powerful ninjutsu like that, and Shiro understood he didn't know what he wsa messing with. He nervously pulled the strand of fabric out of his hand. If looked like it was from a cloak. Shiroyasha wondered if he would get this person in trouble when he found them and interrogated him as to why they were following the him.

As he sat there staring at the fabric and wondering someone stepped through the doors.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui had been busy doing her daily morning routine, which was to make sure that the dogs had been fed, and then his morning training. These were the times where he knew that he had to be serious if he wanted the rest of the day off, so he had spent it as per usual, teaching the youngings what to look out for, make sure that they are fed correctly and that the dogs were walked so that if any of the higher ranked Inuzuka's needed to be sent on a mission they'd be ready.

With another morning routine underway, the prankster Inuzuka watched how the elite squad came into the dog pen and picked out their dogs, he was anxious to hear that they had been sent on another tracking mission, he hoped that his mother would bring him along but was instead dismissed. A sigh rolled off his breath as he just nodded and continued to focus on making sure that the compound was safe and that the kids would behave, luckily for Kitsui his shift was almost over and seeing as he hadn't been granted a new mission it would mean that he'd probably get to spend the day being lazy, or so he thought.

Kitsui was called right as he was about to leave, there seems to be someone at their lounge, a strange looking person who wanted to hire an Inuzuka to track down something or someone. A chuckle escaped his lips as he rolled his eyes, normally he would leave these tasks to the youngings as he was sure that the mission was an easy one but seeing as Kitsui recognised the kid from his school days he chose to take it on.

"Aren't you that weirdo Nara thats a mixbreed?" Kitsui tended to talk to people as if they were dogs. "I remember most of the females around school talking about you all the time." The Inuzuka scoffed as he couldn't tell what was so special about him. Yeah that is Shiroysha allright.

He pulled down his blue hoodie as he walked up to him. "So, what can I help you with pretty boy" The Inuzuka crossed his arms.

[King of Cats]

Sitting there Shiroyasha was surprised to recognize the person who was greeting him. The Inuzuka's name was Kitsui and Shiro had seen him in the academy. Kitsui had a reputation for being a prankster but other than that Shiroyasha didn't know too much about him. He had scored some pretty righteous jokes during their academy years though, so Shiroyasha distinctly remembered him. When Kitsui addressed him as a mixbreed what was turning into a smile quickly morphed into a frown.

In his years Shiroyasha was celebrated as a genius of both the Nara and Awai clan. His families accepted him and took him under their respective wings. Of course it wasn't as easy for Shiroyasha as it sounded. There were always outliers of the group who ostracized him as "mutt" or a "half blood." Shiroyasha had a certain distaste for those terms, he felt like they weren't true. Being born from two clans meant more than just bloodlines, or at least that was what Shiroyasha thought. Had it not been for each of his blood ties Shiroyasha wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be a pretty boy.

Usually when Shiroyasha was reminded of his academy days he was reminded of his epic shadow binding showings, or passing exams with a breeze. The social aspect was largely forgotten to the ninja, but he would surely be reminded of it by Kitsui. The girls did has a thing for Shiroyasha. His Awai heritage took over his looks and he had a certain razzle dazzle.

Shiroyasha overlooked Kitsui's comment about the girls. He didn't want to seem lame and comment anything on it further. Instead he stood up from his seat and stuck a fist out for Kitsui to bump. Shiroyasha wasn't frowning anymore and had a sort of half cocked smile. He was excited to get to the mystery of why the ANBU was following him. Shiroyasha said to Kitsui, "Okay I've got an epic task for you." Shiroyasha reached into his pocket. "I found this fabric left behind by someone who was following me. I want you to track them down so I can ask them what business they have with me." Shiroyasha handed Kitsui the fabric.

Notably Shiroyasha was leaving his suspicion as to who was following him out of the conversation. He wanted Kitsui's help and scaring him off with the ANBU was certainly not going to be in his favor.

[Trusted Grader]

Interesting, the way his face changed when I called him that indicates that he doesn't like it... Even though... Kitsui stopped his train of thought, he bumped the Naras fist and nodded at him, he listened to what he had to say before he would scratch the back of his head. "Epic you say huh? Let's not pretend that guys like us get any real missions okay, what is it? Someone stole your pet and you want me track him down or what?" He joked but stopped once Shiroyasha pulled up the fabric.

Kitsui didn't have to smell it in order to figure out that this belonged to a ninja, he could tell by the material that this was leagues above what regular citizens wore. He raised his eyebrow and tilted his head towards Shiroyasha as he wondered what the hell he had brought him. This clearly belongs to a ninja, what purpose does he have with another ninja? Besides, by the color of it... Kitsui clicked with his tongue before he sighed. "I'll require double pay, considering that this fabric clearly belongs to a ninja. Call it... Safety pay."

The prankster chuckled before taking a sniff, then closed his eyes, his senses picked up the miniscule scents that lingered in the air. He snapped his fingers, causing his dog to run up to him, he allowed it to sniff it as well before he sent the dog on the run. "I guess the hunt is on." The Inuzuka chuckled, hopefully whatever they were hunting won't come back to bite them.

---

jutsuShow

~The Sleuth
D Rank Ninjutsu
Dogs are known to be excellent trackers, and the Inuzuka do everything they can to compete with their familiars. In an attempt to mimic their ninken, the Inuzuka member will perform a series of hand seals before channeling chakra to their nose, enhancing their sense of smell. While this isn’t very effective at picking out certain smells, if the user has been in close contact with someone, or has one of their possessions on hand, they will be able to more accurately pinpoint the source of scents that are less than eight posts old as long as the aforementioned source is still within one mile of where the scent was originally picked up.

[King of Cats]

Grinning wildly Shiroyasha handed off the fabric and reached into his pocket. He handed Kitsui a handful of ryo and said with nervous excitement, "No problem." Shiroyasha had no problem paying his own way. His own father had always taught him a man kept spare money saved and he did. Shiroyasha was in fact very much about saving, taking fifty percent of all his earnings and putting it away in the Konoha bank. Living at home Shiroyasha didn't pay rent and that helped him a lot.

When Kitsui's ninken came rolling up Shiroyasha bent over to say hi. He didn't want to get fur on his clothes but a simple "Howdy," would suffice for him. Shiroyasha was an animal lover but he preferred cats to dogs. He had no choice in this matter though, cats weren't especially known for their skills in tracking. After saying howdy Shiroyasha turned his attention to Kitsui and followed him out of the compound. As they walked Shiro told Kitsui, "So I was feeding some animals in the Nara forest in the village and my eyes caught sight of a flash of light. I went over to where the flash of light occured and found this. I'm not surprised it belongs to a ninja, they were fast." Shiroyasha carefully used his words. He didn't want to give away that he knew it was an ANBU.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui looked Shiro in the eyes and chuckled, he couldn't believe that he was really going to pay him more, thruth was that Kitsui was not going to do anything today anyway so he'd probably do it for free, but his friends had thought him to never say no to money unless it was something you didn't want to do. "I got you friend." The Inuzuka was already on the prowl when he saw Shikon sniff at Shiro yet again.

The dog began to growl as it scented the cat hairs on him but stopped once his eyes met Kitsui's who turned to Shiro and just laughed. "Cats and dogs my friend, if it was up to Shikon, there would be no cats, even though I personally have no beef with them... Except that they are selfish, don't really offer you nothing except allow you to pet them when you want... Actually... They offer you dead animals... Which is.... Yeah... Let's focus on the mission." The Inuzuka didn't want to offend the Nara and instead focused on the mission ahead.

They had now officially left the compound and were making their way towards the Nara forest, as the scent he had picked up led him there but also towards the outskirt of the village, which was interesting. Could we be dealing with a Nara? Maybe someone who dislikes that he is a mixbreed? Kitsui rubbed his chin as he slowed down. "So, you mean to tell me that you have a stalker and you want me to find them for you? Sheesh, won't they just, you know, stalk you again, giving you enough time to catch them by surprise?" Kitsui squinted, shrugged then continued to sniff out where the clues could lead them.

He didn't really care much for his answer, he just wanted to make small talk as he figured that the boy would probably eventually open up and tell him the full story as something other than the fabric smelt fishy.

[King of Cats]

Walking through the village and to the Nara compound Shiroyasha could feel a hot rock boiling in his guts. He was nervous to confront the ANBU, but he felt a certain rush from the thrill of the chase. Shiroyasha knew where they were going and followed the Inuzuka the whole way, talking to Kitsui in a cheerful tone about the weather and recent happenings in the village. Despite his anxiety Shiroyasha was happy to get out in the village and do something with someone of his own standing. He had recently spent time working for the Earth Genma jinchuriki through the administration office, and that was a hell of an ordeal to say the least. Working on his terms was freeing. Working with a genin was grounding.

"You think it's a chick?" Kitsui and Shiro were talking about his "stalker." "I hope it's a super groovy Nara girl. You know those girls make the best venison meatballs.." Shiroyasha knew it wasn't a Nara girl but he was having fun talking to Kitsui. For a second he considered telling Kitsui that he suspected it was an ANBU operative spying on him. Shiroyasha at this point had internally conceived a village wide plot to recruit him as an ANBU recruit, but he knew it was a childs fantasy and just kept it to himself. He wanted to confide in Kitsui, but he didn't know him well enough and this was important to him. He couldn't risk blowing his chance to get into the ANBU, or whatever was going on. Shiroyasha wondered if the top ranked black ops ninja of Konoha would be interested in him after all.

With his conspiracy theory choked down his throat Shiroyasha said to Kitsui, "Maybe it's an upper rank ninja spying on me, checking to see if I'm performing right. Commander Zhao checking in on the youngling? Haha.." Shiroyasha realized how stupid that sounded as he said it, and resisted the urge to plant his palm in his face.

As the the two ninja and a dog walked through the woods and made their way closer to the ROOT of the mystery Shiroyasha found himself thinking about his first memory with Kitsui.

It was back in the Academy, Shiroyasha was at the ripe old age of ten years old and he was in a taijutsu sparring match with one of the kids in class. This particular kid was one of Kitsui's sworn enemies due to his incredibly stinky booty. You read that right, this kid did not wipe and anyone with a sniffer had it out for him. Shiroyasha having to fight him in hand to hand combat was the worst, but the half blood channeled his rage and landed a good round house kick to the stinky kids face. Stinky went flying into the crowd and landed right on Kitsui. The smell was probably terrible for his highly sensitive nose and Kitsui threw a fit under the weight of Stinky Boy. Shiroyasha ran over to the two who were smeared in the dirt from an epic kick to the ribs. Shiroyasha jerked stinky off Kitsui and tossed him in the direction of the instructor. Shiroyasha didn't feel bad for ole poo pants, it was Kitsui he was worried about. Shiroyasha immmediately thought of the Inuzuka's snout and reached his hand out to help the dazed Kitsui up.

That was their first memory together. Shiroyasha wondered if Kitsui remembered it like he did. "You remember that stinky Yamanaka boy in class with us?" Shiroyasha asked randomly.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui looked over at Shiro and couldn't believe what he was saying, sure the Nara was known for their venision which to him was rather odd as it was almost like the Inuzuka would serve dog, seeing as the Nara took care of deers but without skipping a beat the cocky Inuzuka replied snarkly. "She better have a fat ass or else you are wasting my time, oh, and she better have a sister or it's survival of the fittest out here. Besides, everyone knows the Inuzukas serve the beast wild meat." Kitsui chuckled as he laid his hands behind his head, Shikon barked as he agreed.

The second comment made Kitsui create a face that revealed that he questioned what they were actually doing or if the blonde Nara was full of shit. "Look buddy, you look good but aint nobody give that much of a shit about you. You may be one of them freak abominations that survived the genetic process that was a clan mix up but trust me, I'll pay you back if it was some high ranking motherfucker who was after your skinny ass." It was rather rude but Kitsui felt that he had to put the kid in his place seeing as for the longest the kid hadn't done anything that warranted a high ranking ninja spying on him.

For all he knows it was only one time that he had truly impressed him and that was when he beat that stinky Yamanaka, which to him was rather impressive but other then that he had only gone through class like anyone else, well, not really like everyone else because he was a pretty boy that got all the bitches but still, Kitsui was fairly certain that he could smoke Shiro easily. "In fact, if they are really after you then I'll owe you one solid, allright?" The Inuzuka turned around and faced Shiro as he walked backwards, he only stopped when they reached the part of the forest where Shiro had found the fabric.

"I can smell... him, he isn't here but he was here." The musk was definately from a man, he could tell from his stench that he was either strong or a dirty bastard, either way Kitsui was intrigued.

[King of Cats]

Shiroyasha couldn't help but laugh when Kitsui said he was going to go after the stalker if she was a sexy woman. Shiroyasha was a handsome man, but he didn't consider himself to be better than anyone. He was level headed and down to earth, but the idea of the ANBU being subdued by Kitsui's charm was ludicrous. Shiroyasha had a good, healthy laugh a that. Kitsui was on a roll with jokes though, inferring an Inuzuka den mother could cook up venison better than a Nara caretaker. Part of caring for the deer in Konoha meant the Nara also controlled the venison market. If anyone knew how to best prepare deer meat it was the people who hand fed the deer. Shiroyasha didn't want to get into that. He was sure it would spark some off handed comments about how he was only a half blood.

Lo and behold as they walked Kitsui would have a dirty comment to make about Shiroyasha's blood line. Being called pretty boy was a compliment as far as Shiro took it, and being called skinny was just silly; but Shiroyasha drew the line at "freak abomination." When Kitsui said it Shiroyasha stopped walking. Kitsui got a little ahead of him, and Shiro's anger was bubbling over. The halfblood said to Kitsui, "Listen bub you're gonna cool it on the comments about my heritage. I don't hold you to your stinky roots. I don't want to be held to mine. I'm my own person, and I come from a mixed family. If you don't like it take it up with the Hokage. Maybe you can rile up some inbred halfwits to start a culling process like they do in Kirigakure. Until you do that I'll be walking free, and I expect you to respect me as a free man." Shiroyasha was holding his temper together. His words were very measured and cautious, yet filled with venom. He didn't know what Kitsui's hang up was but he didn't much care to find out either. "For what you owe me after this." Shiroyasha let out a sudden devilish smile, hinting that he knew something of the stalker. "You can hang up the words 'freak abomination' out of your vocabulary."

The three of them continued their walk with silence from Shiroyasha. He was still pretty mad but trying to be professional. When they got to where Shiroyasha had been tending to the animals Shiroyasha noticed all the food was gone. That seemed to take his mind of the ignorance of Kitsui and his mood began to lighten up. He walked around where he had seen the ANBU looking for any more clues with his Raitogan. Shiroyasha didn't find anything and walked back over to Kitsui. Speaking to him for the first time since he told him off Shiroyasha spoke in a more friendly tone. He was a forgiving young man. "I don't see anything. Can you lead us on where he went from here?" Shiroyasha had his Raitogan active as he spoke to Kitsui. In his yellow eyes there were three arms like a windmill rotating around his glowing, golden irises. The Shining Eye was beautiful to behold.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui looked over at Shiroyasha and thought back to the day they truly met, it was a fight against a Yamanaka who had unfortunately been living a hard life, so he was rather a dirty boy who seemed to experience a lot of stress in his life. Kitsui was rather known to be able to pick out people who had a bad shower routine and this boy was unfortunately one that seemingly always had missed to either brush his teeth or shower correctly.

At least this boy knows how to fight, truth be told if he just took his training seriously then at least he has massive potential. Kitsui rubbed his chin as the abomination continued to speak, he seemed rather upset about what he had called him but the only thing he could think about was if he should call him Abomi or not but truth be told he was just messing with the kid.

Thinking about the money instead, he focused on trying to find evidence and keep his mind clear from pushing himself over the edge for there was a reason why you don't bark at a stronger dog, or at least that was what he was taught as a kid. His fist went from a clinch to him taking a deep breath and then chuckled as he heard Shikon bark, it seemed that he had picked up a scent that could lead them further in the chase.

Kitsui turned to face Shiroyasha once he spoke once again, a smile cracked on his lips. "My nose isn't as strong as Shikons but from what he seems to imply the man went..." Kitsui snapped his finger and watched how the dog rushed eastwards and out of the forest. "Out of the woods it seems... What kind of stalker do you have man? You'd think they would take a less direct path."

Kitsui was shocked when he noticed how the dog went from tree to tree and then out back towards the outskirts of the village, he himself would begin to pick up the scent stronger as he continued forward. A smile cracked on his lips until the scent started mixing with a strong urine smell that almost caused him to taste it. Ugh, that is foul!

Kitsui stopped running as he slid to a halt next to Shikon, who appeared to stop next to a public bathroom. "Ugh... Hate to break it to you man but it seems that your stalker is a dude." Kitsui could tell that the dog was looking at the male's bathroom which caused the Inuzuka to chuckle until the scent hit him again.

---

440

[King of Cats]

The search for the ninja who was tailing Shiroyasha was hot on a lead. The two trackers figured out some key components of who was tracking them. They knew it was a ninja and they knew it was a male. Shiroyasha was pretty certain it was an ANBU after him for some reason, and he was hoping it was good. As the search carried on he was getting a dark, sinking feeling in his stomach. Shiroyasha was pretty sure whoever was searching for him had a purpose and whatever that purpose was he planned on getting to the bottom of it. He hoped it was light hearted, but after all the work he was putting into finding the man behind the mask he had a feeling this day would prove to be one to go down in the history books.

Talking with Kitsui was challenging for Shiroyasha at this point. He was a typically well mannered man who avoided unnecessary conflict but Kitsui was foul mouthed. Shiroyasha let his nasty remarks go but he was on high alert in Kitsui's presence. He was waiting for the Inuzuka to say something stupid again. Shiroyasha loved to fight, and Kitsui seemed tough but he would give it a shot. He couldn't stand the disrespect held for him as a half blooded clan member in Konoha. The previous Hokage was a half breed and proved to be a remarkable shinobi, why didn't anyone hold Shiroyasha to that regard? The boy was indubitably frustrated about it but he tried not to let it show.

"I guess that means this is serious business huh?" Shiroyasha said. He didn't care if it was a male or female stalking him. He just wanted to know why. "Let's get going on from here. I want to make this a world record for the fastest tracking ever done in the village Hidden in the Leaves." Shiroyasha continued following Kitsui and his dog.

As he was walking to find the man who was after him Shiroyasha wondered what Kitsui got out of work like this. Tracking people down for others. "That must be exciting, I mean look at the mess he is about to walk into." Shiro couldn't help but crack a smile. It was a real stroke of luck to have seen the man who was following him, and the luck he had to get Kitsui to work with him despite the obvious danger. Shiroyasha wondered if the Inuzuka worked for just money. He imagined the Will of Fire ran strong in Kitsui, and maybe it was just a strong passion for the village that pushed the teenager toward Shiroyasha's goal.

The boys didn't know it but they were just an hour away from the ANBU Black Ops base of operations in this district of Konohagakure no Sato. They were about to track down a top agent of Konoha and it was going to get serious real fast. Shiroyasha had no idea what he was stepping toward but he was without a doubt ready for it. He had worked hard to be recognized among the NAra and Awai clans. Shiroyasha wasn't going to let some intimidation by the village black ops scare him off. His resolve was hard as steel. He was inching closer to the base, wondering what awaited him and Kitsui.

[Trusted Grader]

The boy grunted as he stared into the male bathroom, he knew that whatever scent they had picked up ended up here, in fact, when he closed his eyes and tried to pick out the scent he could sense that the man had frequented this place. His nose would wiggle, as his brows furrowed, and the sickening smell of urine got the boy to almost puke. Pick out the scent, find the trace, and ignore the rest. Kitsui began to channel chakra to his nose, beginning to pick apart the different scents and allow him to endure the doors.

"You don't have to flatter me Shiro." The Inuzuka winked at his comrade before he tilted his head towards the restroom. "The man frequents, this area, so either he likes to use this public space... Or." Kitsui stared as his mind wandered, and thought about criminals using it as some secret hideout, to the man being some sort of perv, he couldn't imagine that it would be an Anbu they were tailing. "The trail ends here and I can smell that it wasn't a long time ago either."

His nose was working overtime, picking apart the different scents, he watched Shikon appear to be fine as he was naturally gifted in these affairs, Kitsui had to train his nose and keep it as sharp as possible. The chakra that channeled to his nose allowed him to micromanage the different smells while his mind continued to work, he was proud of his own progress and started to understand what his mother meant that he was natural, just a lazy one.

He entered the dark blue restroom, which had smears of different substances that his mind was not going to focus on now, a tingle shivered down his spine as the odors were pungent enough to pierce through the jutsu as he still hadn't perfected it. Three stalls were planted in front of multiple faucets that appeared to be broken down.

Fighting through it the boy stopped once he reached the third stall, passing the other two that were open, "This is it." Kitsui whispered as he nodded towards the closed door where he felt the scent as strongest. Kitsui could tell that it had been mere minutes since whoever had entered this stall left the trail. Shikon had been a good boy and stayed as silent as possible, which Kitsui was going to pet him for later, instead, he peered over at Shiroyasha and then back at the door before kicking it in. "Gotcha!"

The door kicked in and revealed nothing but an empty toilet, he looked up, left, right then down, stopping only when he noticed an iron drain placed next to the south wall. "It's either that or a dead end." Kitsui tilted his head towards it as he quickly peered inside, he wasn't sure what he was going to find but from the looks of it, it was too small for a human anyway.

He let out a sigh of disappointment as he turned to face Shiroyasha. "I don't know man... It seems that-" Kitsui's nose picked up his scent pressed against the wall behind the toilet, he sniffed closer and started to visualize the scent left on the wall, His hands, he planted them here. Kitsui placed his hand on the wall right where he had smelled it and to his surprise it moved, he pushed until it revealed the backroom, a series of long corridors intermingled with Konohas pipe infrastructure.

"I think... Either this guy is a maintenance guy, or something is up." Kitsui frowned as he peered over at Shiroyasha, he did not like to be lied to, nor did he really suspect that Shiro knew what was going on either, but this could not just be some weirdo stalker, this was more. "Are you in bad with gang activities or what?" The Inuzuka asked as he stared at Abomni, something was fishy he could tell.

---

1100/1500 B-Rank scent jutsu Nintai

654 Event

[Izanagi]

For the past several weeks Takeshi's mind had been in tremdous turmoil. Commander Sasaeru had given the young captain 2 weeks of paid leave to process the deaths of his family at the hands of Iwagakure. Only recently had the young man returned to duty, picking up where he left off in monitering each of the clan half-breeds like himself. They could be powerful assets under his command or a liability to the security of Konoha and he intended on ensuring none of them slipped through the cracks.

However, it seemed he still wasn't quite himself and a routine day of observation resulted in one of his Genin targets managing to spot him and even track him with the help of another. Such an oversight was a costly mistake, and one the operative known as Tengu hadn't realized until the Genin pair had arrived at one of the entrances into Konoha's underground tunnel network.

As was routine, the young man had scanned his surroundings with his Byakugan before slipping through the secret entrance and saw the Genin in pursuit. 'Seriously? Tailed by some Genin. What the hell is wrong with me' the teenager lamented, gritting his teeth in frustration. He would have to deal with the problem and take responsibility for his slip-up. Wearing a black cloak and his red coloured bird mask, Tengu would lay in wait 20 meters through the corridor, keeping to the ceiling. He hoped they wouldn't find the entrance and he could file the incident away as nothing more than a close call.

But hearing the voices and getting a closer look at the Inuzuka via his Byakugan, the operative realized there was a chance the man might remember his scent and learn his identity. The two of them were not close but they were distant relatives and as a child Takeshi had often played with Inuzuka kids near his age whenever he visited his Grandma; Inuzuka Takami. 'It just had to be him' Takeshi thought as he began forming handseals. He had never liked Kitsui growing up, mostly due to his distant cousins view on mixed bloods. It was surprising to see him working alongside one. Perhaps he would enjoy this more than he should. As the Inuzuka boy found the entrance and it opened, a wave of Fuuton would ripple through the air, pushing all the oxygen out of the area in a 65 meter radius around the hidden Anbu operative. Now all Takeshi had to do was wait until they passed out and then decide what to do with them afterward.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Fuuton • Gentle Caress of Suffocation
A-Ranked Ninjutsu
Once the user has performed the required hand seals, it is recommended that they take a deep breath. This is because their fuuton chakra will visibly surge outward to cover an area of 65m in all directions around their person. While this does not create a vaccuum or remove all the air, it does push specifically all of the oxygen out of the area and keeps it that way for 4 posts, though the duration can be extended if the final hand seal is held. Note that extending the duration will incur additional chakra costs. This technique causes all who remain within this area to lose 5 Endurance per post that they do not escape it. If they reach 0 Endurance, they will black out. The Endurance regenerates at a rate of 5 per post that they are outside of this technique's effect.

[King of Cats]

As Shiroyasha walked behind Kitsui into the bathroom he knew what was happening. Before his very eyes he had uncovered, with Kitsui, an ANBU passageway. Shiroyasha had heard rumors of tunnels that the organization used to traverse Konohagakure no Sato discreetly but he had never come close to finding one, let alone entering one. As Kitsui was shouting at the stalls Shiroyasha noticed his heart was pounding excessively, he was peaking. Sweating with nervousness Shiroyasha was most surprised to feel a drawing of wind at the tip of hise nose. At first it seemed soft but it became violent quickly and Shiroyasha was on guard, he knew what was happening. He stepped back and took a deep breath.

The two had been discovered. Shiroyasha knew they were in trouble. He was expecting a bit of trouble, some hardheaded old men to give him and Kitsui a talking to about the importance of ninja secrets when they found the ANBU who was stalking Shiroyasha; what Shiroyasha wasn't expecting was to have ninjutsu used against him. Shiroyasha had an affinity for Fuuton however and he knew the technique that was unfurling before him. He had a deep breath and the clock began ticking. Shiroyasha took just an instant to come up with a plan.

Kitsui was standing in front of Shiroyasha. In fact he was standing before an open corrider where Takeshi was hidden in the darkness. Shiroyasha was just a meter behind him and with a human shield in front of him he decided to take the opportunity to find his opponent. Shiroyasha knew Kitsui had the ANBU's scent memorized by now, he could easily find his opponent. Unsure what Kitsui would do Shiro acted on instinct and enacted the first plan that came to his mind.

The halfblood put his hands together and formed several hand seals. As he formed the last one a shadow crept from his foot up to his eye and covered it. Shiroyasha had performed Shadow Sight Jutsu. In a 30 meter range he could see through the many shadows offered by the dimly lit corridor. Shiroyasha quickly peered through all the shadows he could percieve, searching his opponent.

As Shiroyasha was bending a shadow nearly 30 meters away from him, poking it up from the ground so that he could have an ideal vantage point, he spotted his enemy in the darkness. Shiroyasha let go of the shadow, his target acquired, and pulled a kunai from his red coat pocket. He began channeling Hiton chakra into it for the Imploding Star Jutsu. With his fast gathered intelligence of the corridor Shiroyasha knew just the perfect angle to throw his shining kunai, and when to detonate it to best blind his opponent.

The kunai began glowing and Shiroyasha quickly threw it through the corridor. The kunai soared for quite a distance and then when it got nearest to where the ANBU was hiding it exploded with a flash of blinding light. When the light shined Shiroyasha looked to Kitsui and gave him a hand signal that read, "Retreat."

Jutsu UsedShow

Eiketsu • Shadow Sight
D-rank Ninjutsu
After completing a string of hand seals the user will cover a single eye in shadow, rendering it blind. This will allow the Nara to see through his own shadow and any other shadow within his Control range as if looking through a window. The user is able to manipulate their shadow to see things clearly. Shadow Sight can be maintained for up to 4 posts before additional chakra is required.

~Light Release • Imploding Star
D-rank Ninjutsu
After grabbing a weapon or small object and flowing Hiton chakra into it, the user causes the object to glow with their personal chakra color and essentially turns the weapon or object into a constantly glowing, explosive flash tag. This infusion lasts for 4 posts. The 'infusion' does not make the object more durable in any way. The user can also release the Hiton chakra stored inside once and cause it to let out a large burst of explosive light equal to that of the user’s [Control].

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui couldn't believe his luck, his nose was indeed one of a kind, Shikon shared a smile but also a confused look once the wall separated and revealed the backroom, it was almost on instinct that the animal readied itself. Shikon was the first to notice the oxygen diminishing, the dog would growl, indicating to Kitsui that something was up, and the Inuzuka would notice that the scent almost vanished, though his eyes could still see the scent trail.

Kitsui looked over at Shiroyasha, panic-stricken, and tried to warn him that the oxygen was being removed from the vicinity, he tapped him on his shoulder and then his nose as he took a deep breath. He watched the Nara perform a set of hand seals as if he for some reason was ready for this, which got him wondering what was truly going on. First of all, he must've known who we were after, he doesn't even seem all that surprised about any of this. Second, he seems far too ready to bust out a jutsu for a kid who was surprise attacked... What are you not telling me Abomni!?

Kitsui snapped his fingers and sent Shikon out of the tunnel and towards the exit, he then bolted with the dog, grabbed Shiroyasha's collar as he threw the kunai, and dragged him out, he tossed Shiroyasha where Shikon stopped as the dog found the edge to the oxygen vacuum, Kitsui slid to a halt and exhaled, before taking another deep breath.

"Hey! You have a lot to fucking explain! But that comes after this fight!" Kitsui grits his teeth, he takes a look around and notices that the street seemed very vagrant as if there were no people around, which piques his interest. What are we dealing with here? Kitsui formed a set of hand seals and watched how his dog puffed and turned into a copy of Kitsui, both of them then formed another set of hand seals and placed themselves in a four-point position, appearing more beast than man.

"Whatever comes out of that door is our enemy, remember that!" The man-beast drooled, Shikon couldn't speak at this level but that was something they were going to work on, besides, Kitsui was pretty sure that the beast would just curse or say something rather mean. Their claws and fangs had grown longer which gave them better traction and biting force, but they prepared themselves for their signature move.

---

410 + 1100

1510 / 1500 B-Rank scent Nintai Jutsu


410

MetaShow

~Beast-Man Form
C Rank Ninjutsu
A staple of the Inuzuka fighting style, the Beast-Man Form technique is utilized by the Ninken. By working in conjunction with its ninja companion, the canine familiar will transform itself into a copy of the clan member. This technique essentially turns the ninken into a clone temporarily, allowing it to perform the Taijutsu techniques of their Inuzuka partner.

~ Four-Legged Technique
C Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the necessary handseals, the user of this jutsu will take on a more canine-like appearance. When activated, the user's pupils will become nothing more than slivers, nails will become more claw-like, and s/he will travel on all fours. This partial transformation grants the user +6 speed and increased maneuverability, but lowers his/her control (-6) for five (5) posts.

[Izanagi]

Tengu observed the pair of Genin. Their reactions were sharp, the Nara immediately gathered shadows to his eyes, presumably to help him see through the darkness. His fight or flight response seemed to indicate his instinct was to address the threat first. He would fight, if only for a moment. While the Inuzuka focused on self-preservation, quickly assessing the danger of the jutsu and focusing on that. Neither response was wrong, each immediately identified a threat and addressed it rather than panicking or freezing up. That was already a strong sign, the kind of keen instincts one didn’t often find in young Genin. The masked shinobi drew his bow, seamlessly notching an arrow and sighting in his target. He was faster, much so. He could likely drop the boy before he could even draw his kunai. No, he was certain the kid would be easy to kill. But that wasn’t what the Anbu did, it would be wasteful to kill these boys. Instead, he would test them, use them if they showed promise or capture them and wipe their minds if they did not.

He would wait, allowing the kid to toss the kunai. The moment it left the kids hand, Tengu had tracked its trajectory and speed, sniping it out of the air before it moved more than 2 meters. However, as the kunai exploded in a bright light the masked man recoiled. His senses had been completely overwhelmed by the sudden burst of chakra and light. When disoriented, the operatives training demanded that he move, so as to not be an easy target. Dropping from the ceiling into a front flip, the man chanelled chakra through his body, forming a protective layer around him as he anticipated a potential follow up attack. Then, landing in a crouch he reoriented himself, focusing on his hearing as he noted the sound of retreating footsteps.

They had made a wise choice, as even blinded the young operative would have easily taken them down in close-quarters combat. Behind his mask the bulging veins surrounding his eyes faded as his Byakguan was deactivated. His normal sight was returned to him, though his vision was still slightly blurred. Slinging his bow across his back once again the operative swiftly and silently pursued the pair of Genin. He followed them out of the bathroom and into an open field, wary of a potential ambush. Racing past them he exited the airless dome and turned abruptly, blocking their path. The man’s black cloak parted, revealing a dao styled sword at his hip, dark and ornate in design. The weapon called to him, demanding he give in to his frustration at being caught off guard. “You shouldn’t have followed me” the man growled, though his voice sounded young, barely adjusted to the deepening of his voice over the last couple years. “Why don’t you come in quietly, before I have to hurt you” he suggested. “Just stay still, you’ll be out in a moment and we can talk this over elsewhere” he encouraged. He would knock them out with his bare hands if he had to, but he didn’t want to hurt these Genin if he didn’t have to.

Jutsu UsedShow

*[Flawless Aim Style • Tracking]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After much training and study, the practitioner has learned how to read an opponent's movements and adjust their aim accordingly to compensate without penalty. This Discipline allows the practitioner to accurately hit moving targets, though sudden changes in the opponent's movements will still affect accuracy.

[King of Cats]

With Kirsui ready to fight Shiroyasha stood behind him. He had drawn another kunai from his jacket, but by the time he grabbed his weapon the ANBU operative was squaring off with them. The man sounded aggressive with his sword, but Shiroyasha was quick to notice he offered them an out. In an instant the analytical Nara clansman defined the situation and went over possible scenarios. It could go one of a few ways. Shiro and Kitsui could be killed, mind wiped, imprisoned or worse stripped their rank. Or, if they submitted to the obviously skilled ninja, they could walk out of this no problem.

After thinking it over Shiroyasha was prepared for anything. He had already gone over the possible reasons why the ANBU was watching him and he had resolved to make it through this no matter what the cost. With Kitsui in his feral form and Shikon transformed Shiroyasha knew he had to speak up quick. He threw his kunai into the ground before him and called out to Kitsui, "Stand down man, let's 'talk this over elsewhere.'"[/color] Shiroyasha was grinning. He knew this was his chance to learn what the ANBU was doing. Why they were watching him. What they were up to. Shiro craved the knowledge. He desperately wanted to be let in on the secret.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui couldn't believe his luck, he felt that he had been fooled into following a man who was destined to destroy those around him, the luck Shiroyasha carried was rather special for how often did Genin have to stand face-to-face with an Anbu operative that threatened to kill them. "He's bluffing! There's no way they would kill us for this if he was truly part of this village then he wouldn't dare to kill us for no reason." Kitsui wasn't in his right mind, but there was some truth to what he said.

The beast-man clawed at the ground beneath him, he knew that his oxygen would run out unless he did something rather soon and so would Shiroyasha's there was no time for weakness, if they faltered to the man ahead of them would most likely end their lives, especially if he wasn't part of Konoha, for in Kitsui's mind he could still be part of some criminal organization. Though he is dressed like the ninjas that detail the Kage... The beast effect had severely altered his mind, meaning that he was ready to fight at any given chance.

"Enough talk!" Kitsui grabbed dirt and tossed it towards the Anbu operative before slapping Shikon's hands, they both began to spin violently as they separated from each other, they would arc outwards and prepare to attack the Anbu member from the sides, he did this in hopes that he would focus on either of the two and give Shiroyasha enough time to either support them or escape while he had the chance. Either way, the duo would crash into Takeshi's current location before aiming to strike him again, but due to their low endurance, they would be able to get knocked out rather easily.

---

MetaShow

~Piercing Fang
C Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: ~ Four-Legged Technique must be active.
The basis for the Beast-Man form style of combat, this attack is performed by an individual clan member. By spinning rapidly, the user turns into a whirling mass before launching themselves at his/her target. By putting their full body into the attack, the clan member will hit an opponent or nearby object at full strength with their claws, easily rending flesh from bone.

[Izanagi]

The masked Anbu captain watched both Genin carefully, poised and ready to strike should they resist. He was curious to test them further but first he had to gain control over the situation before it spiralled into something messier than it was. He noted the Awai hybrid was more practical than his feral counterpart. Not surprisingly, but their balanced instincts of logic and action complimented one another well and could be honed into deadly teamwork. Tengu nodded as Shiroyasha laid down his kunai. “I’m an Anbu operative. You boys followed me into a restricted area. I won’t kill you, but you will be coming with me” he reiterated firmly. There was no need to escalate the situation at this time.

As the Inuzuka and his ninken prepared for battle, the son of the Fangless hound smirked. His own Inuzuka blood, diluted as it was yearned for combat, for some reason to unleash the anger deep within his heart. “You should have listened to your friend” he responded coldly before taking on a low stance. He was quite familiar with the Inuzuka’s fighting style, having grown up among them and trained with them as a kid. In fact he had even had a few skirmishes with Kitsui himself in their youth. And as Kitsui and Shion neared him, Takeshi’s chakra would flow from his tenketsu, casing his body as he spun violently and released his chakra in a volatile dome around him with enough force to easily send both opponents flying backward. In fact it would expand large enough to knock back Shiroyasha as well if the Fuuton void hadn’t already rendered him unconscious.

Assuming both Genin and the ninken were knocked out when the rotation jutsu subsided, the void too would collapse in on itself as oxygen rushed back into the vicinity. After blindfolding them and tying their hands behind their backs and their ankles to one another, he would jab chakra into their tenketsu, locking their limbs in place before grabbing each of the boys and the dog and slinging them over his shoulders. The muscular teenager would carry them all effortlessly through the dank, winding corridors, partially doubling back through several sections and moving through various hidden entrances and grates until they finally arrived in the Anbu headquarters. Even for an Inuzuka the scents of the tunnels would all seem to blend with the stagnant air. Eventually, the boys would be placed down on metal chairs within a dim room, lit by a single flickering lightbulb. The Hyuuga operative's voice would ring out through the dark. “Now that we’re more comfortable. Why were you two following me?” he questioned.

Jutsu UsedShow

~Jyuuken :: Eight Divination Signs Heavenly Rotation
C-rank Nintaijutsu Maneuver
After channelling chakra through all the Tenketsu in their body, the user will begin to spin rapidly on the spot. This will cause an orb of chakra to expand from their body at [Control] speed, pushing away incoming projectiles, ninjutsu and people with [Control] strength. This technique can last a total of 2 posts, and the orb expands a maximum of 5 meters.

~Jyuuken :: Pricking Lock
C-rank Nintaijutsu Maneuver
Used as a method of immobilizing an opponent, the user will charge chakra into their hands before wrapping their free hand around their opponent's arms locking it in place before striking with the charged hand injecting it with chakra straight into the tenketsu temporarily locking their opponent's arm into that position. This move can be resisted if the opponent has more [Control] than the user. This arm lock lasts for 3 posts.

[King of Cats]

Bound up by the ANBU members jutsu, Shiroyasha was quite uncomfortable. The so called abomination woke up from his little nap feeling frustrated. He was hoping to get the chance to talk to the guy, but it seemed Kitsui's outburst would put them both in jeopardy. Shiroyasha was gritting is teeth when he came too.

It seemed that fortune would shine in Shiroyasha on this day though. The ANBU operative wanted to talk to the boys. Shiroyasha quickly piped up. He could tell Kitsui was less than tactful, and certainly not wise. Shiro wondered how the Inuzuka liked taking a high class Gentle Fist technique to the face.

Answering the masked ninja first Shiroyasha spoke up. His voice was quiet but it was firm. "I saw you watching me. I figured there would be a reward for finding you." Shiroyasha grinned at look into where he figured the ninjas eyes were. The young boy didn't fight to break free or wiggle a bit as he talked. He seemed very calm, but deep down he was afraid.

[Trusted Grader]

Only knowing one thing, the boy prepared for whatever, so when he was warned he grinned. "Let's go!" Kitsui wanted to protect Shiroyasha and knew that an Inuzuka wasn't trained to run away, but when he rushed something different happened, everything went black. He woke up with a sack over his head, his arms were tied behind his back and he was sat on an uncomfortable metallic chair, he wanted to complain but knew that there was no reason for it. He and Shiroyasha were innocent, right?

When the words rang out his mouth that he knew about the agent the boy boiled over and became furious. "YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS FUCKING AGENT GUY, WHATVER!? AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!? Who the hell are you...? Kitsui became quiet after he spoke, Shikon barked for a while before he too became quiet, their part of the room would remain silent until spoken to, for he now knew that he was in deeper trouble than he expected.

See, Kitsui had hoped that this masked man was just a criminal who pretended, but so far it seems that things might have actually been what the agent had told him, he wanted to kick himself, but first, he needed to get out of this situation alive. These secret ops had rumors about killing people who destroyed their operations, blowing up their hideout's front door could be seen as an assault. Stupid Kitsui, damn it, what do I do now? He tried to remain calm but deep down his heart was beating hard as he was panicking.

[Izanagi]

Tengu watched his captives carefully. His Byakugan could observe their tenketsu, he could notice the slightest flucuations that might indicate they were lying. Instead, he saw only fear. That was good, fear kept one sharp. Without it one put their lives and those of their comrades needlessly at risk.

The singular lightbulb continued to flicker and sway overhead, shadows dancing across the cold stone floor. "You two are observant. Your instincts are sharp. I see great potential in you both. Now, I could have your minds wiped and you could return about your day none the wiser" he paused, certainly that was a faborable option to the death they might have expected. "Or, you could join me. Be trained to serve the leaf village from the shadows. You will recieve the best training and equipment but you will forever live a double life. You wont be able to speak of Anbu to anyone outside of this brotherhood. The missions you are sent on will be dangerous and should you fail your loved ones will never be allowed to know the truth of what happened to you. But here, within this enclave your exploits will be recorded and those who follow in your footsteps will know of your sacrifice and what it truly means to be a shinobi. The choice is yours," he said simply, letting his words hang in the air for them to consider. If they accepted there would be no turning back.

[King of Cats]

Already Shiroyasha's resolve was set in stone. He had begun this adventure with the hope that he would be recognized for his outstanding skills, and it seemed this Tengu ANBU member was jus the man to give him such respect. Shiroyasha started nodding excitedly, though the fear in him was still very much alive.

Still bound Shiroyasha started talking, and he wiggled about as he did so. "I swear to respect your ways, sir. Thank you." Shiroyasha had a sort of desperation in his voice. He had never seen power like this ANBU wielded. The whole situation had been rather frightening for him, but it surely wouldn't be the last of his terrors. Joining the ANBU meant that Shiroyasha was going to have a lot of pressure riding on his shoulders, more than before. If Kitsu's treatment of his halfbreed blood was to say anything, Shiro definitely already had a tall order ahead of him. The Awai blood-red, Nara taught ninja was certainly talented, but he had a long ways to go.

Waiting for the ANBU to release him Shiroyasha remained silent. He was excitable, but definitely not stupid. He didn't want the ANBU black ops member to change his mind.

[Trusted Grader]

Kitsui grit his teeth as he continued to listen to the ANBU member speak, it was around this time that Kitsui started to recognize "Tengu's" sweat, his eyes rose from his feet up to meet Tengu behind his mask, Kitsui just grinned but didn't reveal his true identity, he was a bit taken back because he wasn't prepared to be tricked into stalking and Anbu member, let alone someone he knew. This was all starting to confuse him, Kitsui wasn't the type to live a double life or one to throw away his life in hopes of just "becoming" a weapon for the village but due to the recent loss of his cousin's father got him thinking for a brief second.

Unlike Shiroyasha, Kitsui didn't just throw his life away, he needed a little time to think for this was a massive decision to make. A sigh escaped his breath while his head hung low, his thoughts wandered back to his mother and father, how he had wasted so many years just relaxing, which had, in turn, caused a lot of other clan members to look down upon Kitsui, it was a pain he knew that his mother and father carried, one that he couldn't give 2 shits about previously but seeing as he had been given a chance to give them some sort of respect put everything on pause.

Was Kitsui really going to agree and throw his life away? To be used as a tool and then discarded when he was no longer useful? Or was he going to have his mind wiped and go on about his business, which would likely result in him growing up just raising dogs and not pulling his fighting spirit to the surface? Perhaps...

There were far too many questions for him to answer on such short notice, the question was too deep for him to give a proper response, one that truly reflected his inner feelings. Pride vs Honor... Kitsui looked down at his sandals and just nodded yes then let his head hang low, "I am sorry Shikon." The dog whimpered and laid down as if he knew that his master had just signed away their lives, hopefully, he wouldn't have to regret this decision.