Stand-Off (Nariko)

The crowd of Jashinists would march through the streets as they made their way to the Raikage's Complex. Banners would be waved and prayers chanted as the group shut the entire walkaway down just as a matter of their sheer numbers. Mora was at the front of the crowd flanked by her most senior and trusted Sacristans. The Lady Superior was carrying a long ivory staff with a twisted crucifix at the top. It was symbolic of her role as shepard and leader for the Orthodoxy, a role founded by the Necrossiah himself and given to her. She had made a sacred vow to uphold his doctrine, protect his Church, and fulfill his prophesy. Mora fully intended to adhere to that vow.

The crowd would stop just before the steps of the Raikage Complex. Mora stepped forth, walking on the steps until she was right in front of the building's door. She slammed her staff into the ground authoritatively and the crowd cheered in support of her.

She'd whisper a prayer for herself, the Church, and even Nariko. Then she'd speak in a loud and clear tone:

"Lady Raikage! The Jashinists of this city demand your presence! For far too long you have allowed yourself to be swayed by heretics and un-believers. Come out and join us Nariko-sama! For if you will not answer to the voice of God then who will you answer to?"

Mora was calling out the Raikage. The question was whether she would answer or not.

5 A-Rank Guard Squads, 5 A-Rank Scout Squads, 5 A-Rank Assault Squads are protecting the protest from all sides and angles. With many on the rooftops watching out for threats.

Nariko had been informed of the protest long before they reached the scene, and had already been preparing just in case it came to a fight. She sighed, sitting in her office, surrounded by some ANBU who were helping her don her armor. The Infinity Armor, something she hadn't had a reason to wear since purchasing it. A marvelous thing, one she hoped she wouldn't need to use today either, but she wore it just in case. Nariko threw on her Kage robes and hat as well, something she only did when it came to official matters that she couldn't just walk around in her Jounin outfit for.

The ANBU around her had already been given orders by Nariko not to initiate any violence, and to simply block off protesters and normal civilians. Nariko didn't want a fight that could be pinned back to her or her troops to start. If one was to happen, the Jashinists needed to throw the first attack. "Head on out and get to position please. I'll be more than capable of taking care of myself, protect my people though."

Her troops nodded, and Nariko went to a chest that contained the scrolls and exclusives of Kumogakure. Handing them off to the dedicated guards who protected them, Nariko gave a simple order. "If it comes to a fight, and someone tries to steal these, burn them. I can remake them assuming we win, I've studied them thoroughly, but I'd rather not let these fall into enemy hands."

The group knew their mission, and Nariko was ready. She didn't have any guards with her, and it was time for her to wait for them to arrive. Taking a box of cigarettes, she pulled out one and lit it, smoking while she waited. It wouldn't be long.

-

Throughout the city, Nariko's guards had been mobilized. Leaving the gates manned purely by Chuunin, all 3 of the A rank guard groups and both of the B rank guard groups from the gates had been re-positioned. The gate's A rank and B rank Counter-Espionage groups were also sent out, but they were mingling amongst the crowd of counter protestors, who arrived to try and go against the Jashinists. Specific orders to blend in and help manage any danger had been given, so they were there to detect any signs of fighting and suppress them before they could begin on the side of the Kumo Nationalists. Nariko refused to let her people be blamed for causing a fight.

Additionally, there was a barricade of guards that were specifically sent to separate the Jashinists from the Loyalists, with express orders not to engage the Jashinists unless attacked themselves. The total forces were the entire reserves of Kumogakure that weren't currently stationed anywhere, pulled from the Barracks. That amounted to 2 B rank guard groups and a C rank guard group as well from the Barracks. The Academy was closed as well, their stationed Jounin and Chuunin sent to deal with the riot, while the Genin were sent to reinforce the Gates.

The Training Grounds were completely shut down, and all the stationed troops there were redistributed. The Jounin group was sent to deal with the riot, while the Chuunin and Genin were sent to the Market District. This allowed the Jounin at the Market District to re-position to the riot defense as well. The Counter-Espionage did the same thing that the other Counter-Espionage were doing.

-

Nariko wished she could have the entire force of Kumo in one area, but unfortunately, she had her forces spread out on patrols and some in the land of Frost, and some were scouting. This led to their numerical advantage being unusable currently, but they could still put quite a bit of pressure on this to not escalate, and if it did escalate, they would still come out on top.

And then the call from Mora came out. Nariko sighed, lighting another cigarette, and stood up, walking to the door of her balcony. Opening it up, she stepped out and moved to the edge, peering out at the crowd. Part of her wanted to end it now. To blast a powerful jutsu out at the crowd and wipe out the Jashinists who dared riot. However, she knew that Mora wanted that. Mora wanted the call to violence. Nariko's hands were tied here, otherwise she'd have a serious revolt.

So she took a drag of her cigarette, and breathed out, before hopping up on the balcony's edge, and addressing Mora, Nariko would speak to the crowd instead. Voice raised loud so that the conversation would be heard by all. Nariko's proclamation would be public. "The Voice of God? Pretentious. I don't serve your Lord. I don't serve any Lord. Heretics and Non Believers? Only to your religion. To me, they are simply advisors. To me, you are simply an advisor. You hold no power in Kumogakure but what I decide you have. It was by my grace that your religion was allowed to flourish, and it's by my grace that it continues to do so. You think yourself so superior to everything and everyone, all religions and people should bow to you, but the truth is, I don't believe in any religion. I don't believe in your so called superiority. And in truth, it has no place in my military structure's command. Those who have command in my military, do so because they are skilled. To me, you are but a civilian. As any other."

Ashing her cigarette, Nariko continued. "A civilian who is under my protection, but a civilian also under my command." Nariko's speech turned from Mora to the gathered rioters. "To those of you here because of Mora's arrest, note it wasn't any religious intolerance. I don't care about her religion, I care that she refused to leave an active military lockdown zone, and she was escorted off the premises. She was treated justly, unharmed, and released swiftly. As anyone else would. Because that's the truth. Under my law, that's what you all are. Equal. Not above my law, but not shunned by it. Protected by it, but subservient to it. So I remind you this: Respect my law, and you will be protected by it."

She dropped down from the balcony, and turned to face Mora, who was at her door. "So, do you still wish to talk?"
-
Forces Distributed to the Riot Defense:

Spoiler:

-

The Infinity Armor:

The crowd agitated and roared their disapproval of the Raikage's policies. The Jashinists felt wronged. They felt disrespected. But above all else, they felt challenged. The Raikage had seized their religious leader with impunity and their rivals dragged her name through the mud in their little newspapers. Did these heathens not realize who they were dealing with? The Orthodoxy was the most brutal and effective sect of the most violent religion in the world. They would happily sweep the stone and steel of the city away in a tide of blood. It'd be like sandcastles falling to the unstoppable tides of the ocean. And they'd do all of this while screaming the name of their Lord. Mora waited patiently for the Raikage to respond to the rancorous crowd. She noticed that the area was now swelling with Kumogakure shinobi. The Anti-Riot Brigade had been deployed and it was clear from their numbers that Nariko was treating this as a serious threat. Counter-protesters had also come to greet the Jashinists, their fervor and anger were just as real as that of the faithful. Many had been wary of the Church's legalization but as the faith grew larger and more bold, many saw their growth for what it was. A genuine threat to the peace and safety of non-believers.

Mora's men held the tide back just as the riot defense did the same on their side. The leadership of both factions did not want to be the first one to light the match underneath the powder keg. Mora looked up to see the Raikage's balcony doors open. She raised her hand and the Sacristans managed to slowly shush the protesters to silence.

The woman opened her mouth and her very first sentence profaned the Church. The reaction was immediate and severe. Boos, jeering, screaming, and even foaming at the mouth threats to the Raikage. The protesters were now pushing against the Orthodoxy-Militia with all of their might. The Orthodoxy-Nin barely held the line as they pushed their comrades back. The Jashinists wanted this woman's head.


"but the truth is, I don't believe in any religion"

The crowd went wild in disapproval and it was a miracle that the protest did not break into a riot right then and there.

Mora spat at the Raikage Compelx in disgust. She couldn't help it. Atheism grated against her soul in a way few things did. To believe that the spiritual wonders and works of this world did not have a divine origin was tantamount to the darkest of heresies. She could respect the Divine Church of Hakkin, she could respect Ninshuu, heck, she could even tolerate Buddhism. But to publicly proclaim that there was no God was an unforgivable sin. The punishment was death. Mora looked up to Nariko as the woman continued speaking from the balcony. For the very first time since the two had known each other, there was an unmistakable look of malice in her eyes. The contempt burned in the High Priestess's pupils as she listened to Nariko spew blasphemies from her perch above them. The woman was dressed in armour and her soldiers were ready to destroy the Church. This was it. This was the moment that Jashin had revealed to her. The Orthodoxy's moment before overthrowing the tyranny of the heathens and establishing a Jashinist State for the first time in human history. The only thing keeping Mora back from moving on the complex right then and there was the knowledge that Shimiko was still not present. The girl had said she would be back by now, but none had received word of her arrival.

Where is our Defender?

Nariko gave her explanation for why she arrested Mora but it fell on deaf ears. The Jashinists were whipped up into a frenzy and they didn't care what an apostate had to say. Presumably, the Loyalists believed that the circumstances of the arrest were irrelevant. If anything they were more like to criticize her for not killing the Lady Superior on the spot. When Nariko asked if Mora was ready to talk, the woman raised her staff and as if on cue the multitude raised their fists into the air.

"Lady Raikage you words blaspheme and profane the very God that has blessed you and your village. I came in good-faith to pray for you and ask you to repent before your people. But now I fear that you have mistaken Jashin's favor for invincibility. Godless as you are, you have committed this grave error partially because of Lord Jashin's generosity. You believed that because he has swelled your army with great shinobi and wealth, that this was your doing. But proximity to great power often creates the illusion that one wields it. I am not subservient to you....I am not protected by you....We are all subservient to Jashin and we are all protected by him. I strongly suggest you turn away from this foul apostasy and turn back to the grace of God.....for as we of the Orthodoxy say...."

"FOR THOSE WITHIN THE CHURCH......EVERYTHING!"

The crowd completed the axion in militaristic unison.

"FOR THOSE OUTSIDE OF IT........NOTHING!"

What would have happened next was anyone's guess, but before Mora could say or do anything else, a loud horn sounded. The steady march of shinobi could be heard from behind the protest. It was the Chinoike Clan led by none other than the Scarlet Fever himself, Vik Chinoike. The deceptively young looking Jounin made his way through the crowd and joined Lady Mora at the steps of the Raikage Complex. Shimiko had secured an alliance between the Church and the Chinoike Clan so naturally the Sacristans allowed him through their protest. The Chinoike immediately took up positions around the Jashinists. They were clearly protecting their newfound allies. However, their purpose was two-fold. One one hand, they added to the Orthodoxy's numbers, but on the other they were also providing assistance in holding back the rabid fanatics. The Jashinists could not be permitted to strike the first blow, at least not without the express command of Lady Mora.

Vik knelt on one knee and kissed the red ring on Mora's finger. The silver-tongued Clan Leader needed to appease the Jashinists. He needed to show them that he was on their side and that above all else, his loyalty was to the Faith. He rose and looked up at Nariko.

"My Lady Raikage. I think I can be of some help here. Tensions are quite high and I think each of you would benefit from a talk in private."

Vik's words were not loud enough for the crowd to hear. He was banking on the fact that the Raikage, like most high level ninja, had the ability to lip-read and attune their senses to the subtitles of speech. His words served to placate his military commander without offending the energy and anger of the Jashinists. All they'd see is a man who made a clear act of submission to their leader before standing beside her. The negotiator thus had no intention of revealing his full speech to the angry mob.

"There are points to be made on both sides. Change can be very disruptive....you don't want to privilege one group over the other but on the other hand the Orthodoxy perceives disrespect from your Administration. I remember when Kumogakure was founded...compromises needed to be made and each clan had their grievances. Let us not antagonize each other further with public discourse. Let's discuss this in private and see if we can't do what our forebearers did and achieve a historic alliance"

Vik looked up to Nariko and there was something rather different in his eyes than with Mora. He was pleading with her. The man had chosen Mora's side but that didn't mean he was evil. He genuinely did not want to see Jashinism destroy the country and while he was not naive enough to believe that Shimiko would ever turn against the Orthodoxy, he knew that if Nariko made certain concessions, the Lady Superior would have no reason to call for a revolution against the government. He had done what he thought was best for the Chinoike Clan, but here and now, he also believed that he could do what was best for Kumo. It wasn't just what he wanted, it was what his spouse wanted. Shimiko was still away tending to ANBU business and would probably have no idea of the current turmoil between the two factions. Yet if she were aware of the situation, she'd do everything in her power to bring it to a peaceful resolution. As her spouse, it was his duty to honor her desires and protect her interests. In doing so, he would protect his own and that of his people.

"Nariko-sama....just invite us in...." he mouthed.

Mora said nothing. She was in a jam. The Jashinists were screaming bloody murder but even with the Chinoike Clan's help, they couldn't hope to defeat the entirety of Kumo. They needed Shimiko to strike a quick and decisive victory for them. Yet she wasn't here and the prospect of winning a fight without her was rather grim.  The damage that a Civil War would cause would be incalculable. It would annihilate the Orthodoxy, set its progress back centuries, and make the Necrossiah out to be a liar. For if Kumogakure was no more and the Church destroyed, how could the prophecy of his return be fulfilled? However, she couldn't allow Nariko to cast aside the concerns of the Church. The faith had a grown and it was time for her to show her flock that that growth meant something. Something that needed to be respected, and if necessary, feared. For now, the Lady Superior allowed Vik to do the talking. The Sacristans, Orthodox Militia, and Chinoike Clan were doing their best to keep the crowd subdued. If negotiations began then perhaps the outcome of a bloody Civil War could be avoided.

Nariko was stubborn as a bull, that much was certain. She wasn't one to bow to anyone, and certainly not Jashin. Her declaration of atheism was met with a torrent of shouts from the crowd. She half expected the riot to break out into full violence, but somehow, it was still contained. Mora began to speak, and Nariko could feel that a fight was on the horizon. Mora stated that the accomplishments of Nariko's were by Jashin's graces, and Nariko knew that there could be nothing done that wouldn't result in a fight. "For those within the church, everything, for those without it, nothing."

The cry was a call to arms for certain. Nariko steeled herself for the beginnings of battle. However, as if on cue, another player entered the field. The Chinoike clan had mobilized. Nariko's guards had been so spread out to contain the riots, as well as keeping core functions like the gates, residential, and market places guarded that there was little way for her to have stopped the entire clan of the Chinoike's main fighters from mobilizing against her and marching. Was this how rebellion was to be? Openly attempting to overthrow the Kage?

Nariko grimaced. The church she could deal with. Shimiko would be mad, yes, but ultimately it was their fault for all of this. She hadn't asked for it. She'd tried to be reasonable, and they still saw her as an obstacle to overcome. There was no other conclusion for this. However, Shimiko's new husband and clan? Even if she prevailed in a fight, Kumo would be wrecked. Core clans demolished. And Shimiko's clan on top of it?

Nariko's resolve wavered. It showed on her face, she was shaken. Could she really do this? Nariko was just a girl playing at ruler. She hadn't asked for this all to happen. To be the kage who ruined Kumogakure. She should have just refused Shimiko's request to legalize Jashinism. She was supposed to be temporary. Someone else was supposed to take over when they could, but it hadn't happened. She'd been the kage for almost 5 years now. 5 years of trying to rebuild this nation from the ruins of the plague. And all for this? For these people to rise up against her? Ungrateful!

A flash of anger appeared on Nariko's face. The anger turned to conviction as she decided. This was her village. She was responsible for them, but she was also the law. If this was to be how it ended for her, then so be it, but she would destroy all enemies of Kumogakure, even if they came from within.

However, even as she was prepared for combat, Vik seemed against the idea as well. He still showed loyalty to Mora by kissing her ring, showing that his support was ultimately behind the Church, but he spoke of dissolving tensions by way of compromise. A compromise that by definition would favor the Church above all else, showing favoritism to them and completely destroying any sense of impartial judgement from Nariko. Vik mouthed pleading words for them to discuss this inside, but Nariko knew she couldn't.

There could be no compromise without backlash from the other faith groups. And if the Orthodoxy could get its way by mobilizing an army against the Raikage, then everyone would be able to. There was no choice here. She had to refuse. If she let them win here today, the position of Raikage would be a joke to anyone who wanted to change her mind. She had a duty to protect her village, but if it came to it, she couldn't sacrifice the sanctity of her position to do so. As the leader, she had to show she was worth following. Not a pushover, or nobody would respect her authority ever again.  

Nariko shook her head. She spoke loudly, addressing Mora and Vik, but also the crowd. "No. No compromise. My compromise was allowing the church to exist. I legalized your version of Jashinism. I gave Shimiko the money to buy you a church space, out of my own funds, not the city's. I give her an excess of my personal money, not Kumo's, some of which I'm sure gets donated to the Church. That's enough from me. No preferential treatment for any faith. I keep church and state separate. Nothing I do is with money from Kumo's budget unless it is a Kumogakure matter. Under me, you've thrived, as I said, because I allowed it. That's the extent of my policy. Without my say so, you'd still be teaching in some gutter, or some cave, afraid of being discovered. You practice your religion as the law has laid out, and we won't have any problems. But stay out of my politics. That's not your place. This isn't a theocracy I'm running here, and it never will be. If you don't like it, I'm not holding you prisoner here. You're free to practice wherever you like, but not everywhere is as tolerant of the Orthodoxy as I am."

'Your move.' It was time. Mora and Vik would either step down and concede, or Kumogakure would go to war.

Her troops morale increased, and the counter protesters cheered in response, with jeering and shouting mixed in throwing insults at the Jashinists, but they were held at bay by the efforts of Kumogakure's military. Attempts to start fights or throw rocks were quickly interrupted by the counter espionage groups amongst the crowds, stifling any violence from the Loyalists before it could start.

No Compromise. Hm.

Mora looked at Vik as if to say See? I told you so. The man didn't even look at her. He was in utter shock as he stared up at Nariko. It was all he could do to keep from dropping on his knees and begging her to see reason. Mora wasn't as surprised as Vik, but that didn't mean she wasn't disturbed. Nariko was not backing down and that meant neither could the Church. Truth be told, Mora would have much preferred to sit down and hammer out some kind of deal between the Church and the State. However, that wasn't Jashin's plan. She was fully ready to put the Orthodoxy on the offensive if Nariko wasn't even willing to give her the courtesy of a sitdown. Vik continued staring up at Nariko, as if he could will her to retract her words. She had basically just told an army of Church supporters to get lost and now the ball was back in their court. When it was abundantly clear that Nariko had nothing more to say on the matter, he turned to Mora who gave him a blank stare. It communicated all he needed to know. He had failed.

After Nariko's stunning rebuke, the Church's side grew quiet. They were uncertain of what to do. They were seething with rage and desire for violence but after such provocative words they knew oddly paralyzed with fear. The specter of violence was no longer a threat, it was an imminent reality. Mora turned to her most trusted and fanatical Sacristan. A tall and decrepit looking Jashinist wearing a golden robe. The man's name was Lee-hei and his dedication to the blood cult was legend. She nodded to him and in response he smiled. Before he could open his mouth, a Jashinist who had glimpsed the interaction lowered his spear, selected a target, and in a flash hurled the weapon at a peaceful protester. If successful, the spear would slam into the Loyalist's throat silencing his celebratory cries with a gurgle of blood. The Jashinists had had enough of this heretical insolence. It was time for the people of Kumogakure to acknowledge the presence of God. It was finally time to kill their neighbors. Whether the blow succeeded or not was immaterial for Sacristan Lee-hei would remove a dagger from his belt and point it at the Loyalists and the Anti-Riot Defense Force.


"ATTAAAAAAAAAAACK" he roared

And just like that, the Kumogakure Civil War would begin.

Spoiler:

The Orthodoxy Militia, backed up by the Chinoike Clan, surged forwards. Their goal was to kill every single armed Loyalist in their path. When the two sides clashed, the flurry of techniques, blades, and bodies would rock the Administrative District. The Raikage's Building itself might even be jeopardized due to its close proximity to the battle. The shinobi would do most of the fighting, but even the civilians would probably not be able to resist tearing each other apart. It was Shimiko's worst fears come true. As the battle unfolded, Vik instantly went into protective mode. He knew his wife would slaughter him if he allowed Mora to be harmed during the course of the battle. Given her status as Lady Superior of the Orthodoxy, she was a high priority target of the opposing side. He shielded her from the excesses of the battle and did his best to guard her.

"Lady Mora, please stay behind me! I'm going to escort you back to the  Chinoike Clan District...you should be safe there!" he shouted over the screams of the combatants.

"No! I must return to the St. Memori's Cathedral! Our Lord will deliver us victory but only if we remain steadfast in our faith! I will not cower while my men martyr themselves for Jashin's sake. I will pray in the very place God has ordained for us!"

The Chinoike Clan Leader suppressed a rebuke. It was useless to try and change her mind. The best he could hope for was that Shimiko could show up sooner rather than later. Otherwise they'd all be doomed. He somehow doubted that his charm would be enough to keep his Chinoike brother from hanging for treason.



The woman of the hour herself would be leaping from rooftop to rooftop as she made her way to the Raikage Complex. Somewhere around the midway point of her journey, she heard it. The unmistakable sound of steel hitting steel. She could smell the fire and smoke in the air. She could even taste the blood in the air. The area was saturated with it. Chinoike...... Shimiko stopped in her tracks as she realized that she had been too late. She could see the smoke rising from around the Raikage's Complex. The Civil War had already begun. She turned to Seigi and he'd be able to see the pain on her face. It was as if someone had ripped her heart out and crushed it. Her people, Her Church, Her village. They were all fighting to the death now.

"Seigi....we're too late....it won't work....we're too late..." she spoke softly. The shock and anguish of the moment robbing her of her voice. She shook her head as if to shake away the fear and uncertainty. She couldn't afford to be paralyzed with fear. Not now. The blonde activated her Ketsryugan and snapped into the first level of the Lighting Release Chakra Mode. "Seigi....I need you to go to that Tower over there"

Shimiko would point to a Tower in the distance of the City's skyline. It was where she had made her home after Natsuru had left it to her. She had aptly named the building "Shimiko Tower" partially out of a sense of vanity. The Twins had probably already left Kumogakure for the Chuunin Exams but in case they hadn't, they'd probably be in the Tower. And if they weren't there, then Miyu and Kaida almost certainly were. She needed someone to protect them. There was no telling what an opportunistic fiend might try to do during a Civil War. She would be busy trying to calm the situation down and the last thing she needed was for someone to try and hurt those she cared about. She didn't know this Seigi very well but she had decided to trust him. Now that blood was being spilled, he was better off guarding her family than trying to get both sides to come to terms. That was a job that only she could do now.

"Please go there and if you find anyone inside....protect them. My family lives there and I can't trust anyone but you right now. Please keep them safe."

He didn't work for her and keeping her family safe wasn't in his job description, but she hoped that he'd be willing to help her out on this. If so, she'd thank him and then take off in the direction of the Raikage Complex. Now that she was moving at her top speed, she'd get there in mere seconds. As she approached ground zero of the battle, the stench of war became stronger. She didn't have time to even crane her neck to look at the conflict, yet even if she did, she wouldn't have. It was too painful. Shimiko hadn't been there mediate between the two factions and now their blood was on her hands. The blood of comrades, countrymen, and kin. In a flash, she had leapt over the balcony and landed in Nariko's Office. She prayed to Jashin that Lady Mora was safe. That Nariko hadn't done or ordered anything rash. In turn, she hoped that Nariko was still here in the office. That the woman hadn't immediately joined the fight after it had broken out. Light blue electricity crinkled around Shimiko as she maintained the Lightning Release Chakra Mode for the time being. If Shimiko saw her sensei, she'd immediately reach around her back, grab her Sai, and toss them down to the ground. She raised her hands showing that she was completely unarmed. She didn't want her intentions to be mistaken. If she came face to face with the Raikage, Nariko would see tears of blood streamed down her face.

"Nariko-sama......Why?! WHY?! WHY DID YOU LET IT COME TO THIS?!"

The words were accusatory. She could not blame Lady Superior Mora for this. It was impossible, unthinkable. Even if Mora had led a massive crowd to her sensei's office she was the infallible prophet of the Church. She could do no wrong. Shimiko loved Nariko. The woman was family to her. But even family could not command her loyalty before Jashin.


Used:
Raiton's Siphon [Lightning Release Techniques 1 Rank Lower in Cost]
Lightning Release Chakra Mode Level 1 [Activation]


Shimiko's Stats
Strength: D-> D++
Constitution: C -> C++
Stamina: A+
Speed: A -> S
Coordination: A -> S
Intelligence: A
Perception: A

280/290

Shimiko's worst fear had become reality. Civil inside of Kumogakure had begun and there was no stopping it. Seigi stopped as Shimiko did, staring at th smoke in the distance. The distant cries of anguish filled the area around him. She gave him a command, and part of him didn't want to listen, wanted to stay by her side, but he knew better. He would just get in the way, she Shimiko couldn't lose her brother. Not again. He would nod to her in agreement as her Lightning Release Armor crackled the energy around them. He could feel his hairs standing on end, and didn't know if that was because of her, or because of his own fear. Whatever the case, he needed to press on.

"Shimiko. Be safe." Would be the only words he would mutter before heeding her command, and leaving the battlefield. He was unsure of what he had got himself into, but there was no going back now. Exhaling sharply, he would sprint across the roof once more, heading toward the toward in the distance.

[EXIT to Shimiko tower]

The silence following Nariko's speech was deafening. The calm before the storm. Nariko's body was tense, and she knew. Her eyes broke off from Mora and Vik, and scanned over the crowd. She saw the spear in motion, and her anti riot force was busy facing the other way. There was nothing she could do, no warning she could make, the spear hit its mark, burying into the civilian target it was aimed at.

Nariko let out a scream of defiance and anger as Lee-Hei ordered an attack. With the Chinoike forces on their side, her troops would be overwhelmed in time. If they had stayed loyal, then it would have been easily squashed. Nariko rounded on Vik and Mora, but they were already in the process of leaving. "Call it off or you'll have nothing left."

Rather than joining the fray herself, Nariko formed a few handseals and aimed up into the air, unleashing a massive torrent of fire into the air. The Grand Fire Annihilation would light up the field without hitting anybody, but would be a massive intimidation factor. Enough to cause a break in the fighting hopefully, to rein everything in. The Jashinists and the Chinoike clan had made a massive mistake.

"CEASE! Drop your weapons and surrender IMMEDIATELY or die!" her shout would echo across the field.

Around this time, Shimiko would appear, shouting at Nariko, but Nariko wasn't having any of it. "Don't you fucking dare. Help me get this fighting under control if you care at all about your clan and your church's survival. Full blown treason!" Nariko was furious, her composure was nearly lost at this point. She felt the pressure of her Bijuu beating at her will to take over, but she suppressed it for now.

While she wasn't overtaken by it, the vile chakra was starting to leak around her, enough for people to feel the murderous intent behind the Tailed Beast. She wasn't quite sure what to do about the future, but the fighting needed to stop now if they wanted to avoid completely wiping each other out. Nariko's hands were tied on this though. There would be riots on both sides no matter what she decided anymore, the most she could do would be mitigation and damage control.

The Jashinists alone would have been fine. She could handle that. But a full blown coup? Treason? There was no way it could be ignored. But more on that later, for now, lives needed to be conserved. "Conserve lives now, deal with the fallout later." she growled out to Shimiko.

One thing was clear: Either the fighting would stop, or Nariko would be forced to wipe out the entire Chinoike and Jashin alliance. There was no other option for her. Even damage control would be a political mess.

-30 GFA
Stamina: 230/260

The Grand Fire Annihilation Technique lit up the entire sky. The intensity of the fighting appeared to die down for a moment as everyone was distracted by the oversized flare streaming from the Raikage Complex. It was a testament to Nariko's power and her rapidly thinning patience. Shimiko had seen the blast of fire from far off but even from her position, she could tell that it wouldn't be enough. Once the Jashinists had started fighting, only death or a direct order from the clergy would make them stop. In a few seconds, they were back at it again with even more fervor and fanaticism than before. The warning shot had failed to leave a lasting impact.

Her words would be ignored as the Sacristans urged the Jashinist Militia to continue fighting and not lose heart. Dutiful and loyal to their Lord, they kept up the pressure. Their superior numbers allowed them to begin steadily driving back the Anti-Riot Defense Force. Eventually, their enemies would be depleted and from there they'd have free reign over the civilians that had challenged them in the streets.  When Shimiko finally did arrive at the Raikage's Complex, she'd be startled by Nariko's response to her interrogative. Nariko was fuming mad and she could see flashes of bright red in the woman's eyes. She had never seen the Raikage this angry and she'd never been rebuked so harshly by her sensei. Shimiko paused as she was momentarily cowed by Nariko's fierce resolve. She demanded that Shimiko help her take control of the situation before anymore blood was spilled. Everything about Nariko stressed the gravity of the situation. Her voice, her words, the loosing of such a powerful S-Rank Technique. There were no lengths that this woman wouldn't go in order to preserve Kumo. Unfortunately, Shimiko knew one thing that Nariko didn't.

There'd be no "quelling" this situation. Shimiko hadn't been around for the escalation but she knew that once Lee-hei had removed the dagger from his belt, he would not return it until it was soaked in blood. The realization hit her hard and fast. It burned in her soul and she started choking on her words. Nariko didn't know. How could she? There was no way the Orthodoxy would allow themselves to be brought back under control. Not unless Lady Mora willed it, and if this was happening then there was no doubt in Shimiko's mind that it was because the Lady Superior wanted it to happen. Orthodox Jashinists could be remarkably brutal when they wanted to be, but they were also disciplined. They were carrying out this attempted massacre because Mora had given them permission to do so. If anything, she had probably explicitly ordered them to do it. What made this truth so disturbing was that it essentially made de-escalation impossible. They would not listen to Shimiko if she tried to get them to stop. They'd keep fighting until Mora told them to cease. And as long as the Jashinists were fighting, Vik would ensure the Chinoike Clan would keep fighting alongside them. Shimiko would need to kill her brothers and sisters in faith and blood if she was bring the situation back under Nariko's control.

Shimiko took a step forward. She needed to find the right words to make Nariko understand. The future of the village depended on it.

"Nariko-sama....." she said re-adjusting her tone. Nariko was probably already on the verge of losing her temper. Self-control was difficult for jinchurikki and if Nariko fell under the Beast's sway then Kumo truly would be lost. Shimiko now knew that throwing out accusations would get her nowhere. As angry as she was at the Raikage for letting the situation spiral out of control, if she expressed that frustration it'd only drive Nariko deeper into the arms of the Bijuu. She couldn't allow that. She needed to play off of Nariko's concern for her people. Maybe that would then override her hatred of the Church and sense of pride.

"Please....I know how to make them stop but you have to listen to me. You have to. Please....I can smooth things over with Lady Mora. She's the key to all this. This stops with her command and I know how to get her to call off this riot. Just...You just....You have to go away for awhile. Just leave the village for a few weeks and I swear I'll fix this.....you need to trust me Nariko. Its the only way we can save everyone."

It was the honest to Jashin truth. Lady Superior Mora had felt slighted and the only way to get back in her good graces would be an act of submission. Shimiko knew that given the circumstances, there was no way that Nariko would bow to Mora. But perhaps she could convince Nariko to temporarily leave the village. That would probably assuage Mora's ego and give Shimiko much needed leverage. She could convince the Orthodoxy to stop fighting and from there a peace could be negotiated. But the harder Nariko fought back, the worse the situation would become. Shimiko intellectually knew that the Orthodoxy was wrong to have started the riot, but spiritually her hands were tied. She wouldn't be able to stand by and watch her Kage slaughter her brothers and sisters in faith. They had brought her up from her lowest points. They were her family just the same as Nariko was. She couldn't bear to see them massacred in the streets and the same went for the Chinoike. She had known that this day would come, in fact, she had prepared for it. Yet this whole time she had always believed that it would all work out with minimal or zero bloodshed. The naivety of that fantasy was now apparent. The best she should hope for was to separate the two factions. In order to save Nariko and the Church, she needed them to cooperate with her. Anything short of that would force her to make the hardest decision of her life.

LRA V.1 Maintained

-5 CP

Nariko had no clue what to do. On the one hand, leaving the village might stop a war from happening, but on the other hand, she would probably be seen as weak in doing so. Her villagers wouldn't trust her anymore, leaving them in such a situation, especially if Shimiko would just smooth things over by handing things over to the Jashinists. Nariko knew her student was incredibly biased on this regard. It was why she'd never trusted just handing the village over to Shimiko. Things wouldn't go well if she did that, and she knew it.

Besides that, Shimiko wouldn't properly punish the traitors. People had died. There was a rebellion. This was all treason, and treason was punishable by death. The Jashinists could have been just a riot, but the Chinoike clan had actually committed treason. They were members of Kumogakure's military, unlike the Jashinist Orthodoxy's church.

Nariko's struggle to hold back the Bijuu's influence was the only thing keeping her from doing what she wanted to do. She wanted to deal with the problem herself. To wipe out the traitors. To slaughter the church. The corrupting demonic influence of an untamed Bijuu inside her bade her to use its power, feeding her malice and bloodlust, boosting them beyond what their normal values would be. She remained silent for a moment, as she mentally fought the Bijuu's influence off, staving it away so she could think clearly.

"There will be repercussions for the church and the Chinoike that participated. Treason is usually an executable offense... but it doesn't have to be. This isn't a pardon." Nariko said, turning her eyes to Shimiko, making it known that she wasn't giving Shimiko a pass to do whatever she wanted to do. To just brush it under the rug and pretend it didn't happen so that a war would stop. But for now, she'd made her decision. Nariko was going to trust Shimiko to keep her people safe. To prioritize the village's concerns over her duty to her clan and her church.

"Deal with it. Or I will. You've got until the Chuunin Exams are done. If they end and things haven't been worked out satisfactorily, I'll handle things my way...... but I'll trust you." Nariko said, turned around and opened the door to the Raikage Building, slamming it shut behind her. It was time to see if her trust in Shimiko was well placed, or if she would ultimately choose to betray her as well. Nariko really hoped their bond was stronger than that. She couldn't handle betrayal from the only family she had left.

Nariko was risking it all for Shimiko.

-Exit-

Shimiko watched as her mentor struggled with the demon inside her. Seeing her fight its influence put her on edge. If worse came to worse and Nariko lashed out, did Shimiko have the conviction to take her down? Fortunately, the answer to that question need not be resolved today. Nariko turned and looked her student in the eye before giving her response.

"There will be repercussions for the church and the Chinoike that participated. Treason is usually an executable offense... but it doesn't have to be. This isn't a pardon."

Shimiko held her breath.

"Deal with it. Or I will. You've got until the Chuunin Exams are done. If they end and things haven't been worked out satisfactorily, I'll handle things my way...... but I'll trust you."

She released a deep sigh. She couldn't help it. By the grace of Jashin, Nariko had done the one thing that Shimiko feared she'd never do. She backed down and entrusted the entire village into Shimiko's care. She agreed to leave the village temporarily, this would give Shimiko the leverage she needed to quell this rebellion before it consumed the city. She'd need to deal with the fallout of course. Nariko left the door open to a punishment that didn't result in death which meant that there was room for negotiation. Unfortunately, the Church was likely to balk at any corrective action even imprisonment. Shimiko pushed that thought out of her head.

No....I need to focus on stopping this madness.....Nariko-sama still trusts me...she's willing to swallow her pride and put this village in my care. I CANNOT LET HER DOWN.

"Nariko-sama, I swear I will not fail you. I'm going to settle this situation and when you return all will be right with Kumogakure"

When Nariko turned and left, Shimiko kept herself upright by sheer force of will. She wanted to collapse into tears of anguish and sorrow. She had nearly lost both her Church and a member of her family on the same day. The impending Civil War had been cut short before it could escalate, and for this, she was thankful. But the underlying causes of this riot would still be present even if the violence ceased. In the past, she had resolved to let things play out. She had been certain that it would end up in her favor one way or another. Now Shimiko knew that she needed to be proactive with respect to the Church and its relationship to the State. She'd need to bring both sides into accord. The fate of those closest to her hung in the balance. Failure was simply not an option.

Shimiko gathered herself up and sprinted from the room in a flash. The fighting was still going on outside and if she tried to intervene now it would only get worse. She'd have to annihilate the Orthodoxy's Militia in order to stop them. She couldn't do that. Her best bet was to seek out Mora and get the woman's blessing to call off the assault. Shimiko would discuss what had happened with Vik and Mora. After many tears, pleadings, and resolutions the three had decided to pull back their forces. Certain individuals within the Church would be "held" pending charges and Shimiko promised to speak with Nariko about the situation. Once the plan had been agreed to, word immediately was sent out and the fighting ceased. The Orthodoxy-Nin pulled back and Shimiko, using the authority vested in her by the Kage, ordered the Riot Defense to stand down and not go after the retreating Orthodoxy-Nin. The Chinoike Clan likewise retreated back to the Clan District.

The aftermath of the battle was horrid. Civilians had been killed, stores looted, and both armies had inflicted considerable losses on one another. The Administrative District was badly damaged as a result of the fighting. Each side had shown some degree of restraint, but it still hadn't been enough. Several buildings had been destroyed, the ground mutilated beyond recognition by various techniques and effects. It was a putrid reminder of the conflict between the Jashinists and the Loyalists. A scar and monument to a momentary yet devastating Civil War.

Exit