Crucible

Raika nods once when Valen suggests that the next challenge might just be to not bring down the manor itself. There wasn't any need in her mind to pursue the thought any further until they reached the manor itself and they were given the challenge. She eats the rest of the flesh as they move, idly dragging her right arm over her chin to wipe away, or rather smear away, all of that leftover blood. Although she and Kami hadn't gotten off on the best of terms, she decides not to provoke Azrael's sister and simply cleans her arm off on one of the large frond leaves near the edge of the road, tearing it off the plant and taking it with her to wipe down some more of that blood from her body.

She stops and crouches once the manor comes into view, then sees their leader tapping the hilt of the sword. "The Burning Blade", huh? He still hadn't actually used the sword yet, and then only fire attack they'd seen him use so far had been used to simply burn away the existence of the bandit's camp to nothing more than ash that would blow away with the wind or wash down into the ground to feed more plant life into growing there. A shame, she would have eaten one or two of them just to ensure she wouldn't go hungry, but at least she got a little bit of flesh for her trouble.

Raika returns her focus to the mansion as Valen lets them know that they can request help at any time. She turns to look at Azrael, remembering that he'd been able to tell exactly how many bandits had been in the camp before, and even knew which ones were in their tents.

"Any chance you can tell us what their patrols look like, Azrael? Maybe where they're posted on lookout so we can take those out without raising the alarm?"

As they drew closer to the mansion Azrael would send out Never and More without any words, just a simple nod of his head. The raven's flying ahead of the group to scout out the mansion, they were smart enough to be able to identify exits to the building allowing them to keep an eye out in case someone tried to escape and would be able to signal Azrael. Azrael would remain quiet after Valen spoke, but if the man would look at him, Azrael would nod. He understood fully that Valen was a capable fighter, more than he could ever hope to be. For the simple fact that his master trusted this man, Valen had Azrael's trust without question. Trust wasn't something just anyone earned with the male either, even his own half-sister held little of his trust, but when it came to Sero the male was different. It wasn't so much that he trusted Sero, it was that he worshipped him as though he was Death Incarnate, his god. When your god says they trust someone, you don't argue about it, you trust them as well. As he was never one to second guess his master, it was often times that Sero says something, and then Azrael would speak as though it had always been so. To him, Valen might as well been his brother, and he would not question whether his words were true. So, he knew if he needed help, the man would step in just as he said he would.

As Raika asked him about looking, he already felt Kami's chakra through his sensory doing what Raika was asking. So he would simply remain silent to Raika's question and look to his sister, as if to say it was already being done, as he waited for his sister to return to her body. As she stated what they were going to be looking at inside, Azrael would turn to Valen his whispered voice softly carried by the wind as he spoke. "So what is the challenge this time, Valen Minamoto?"

At their arrival to the manor Azrael would send his crows out and Kami would begin working to scout the area. Raika would ask of the patrols and Kami would provide the answers. It was all working as smoothly as could be expected. Azrael would eventually turn to him and ask him, his voice a rasping whisper on the air, what the challenge was. Valen’s red eyes turned to each of them and carefully gauged their physical capabilities. Azrael was clearly not meant to be a physical fighter. However he needed to be able to do so as well. Eventually he would run into someone his illusions simply did not work against for some reason. The same could be said for Kami given there were siblings.

Kami however had at least shown an aptitude for lightning ninjutsu. Azrael had shown nothing else beyond his illusions. Therefore the next challenge would need to be something physical, something that tested their abilities and showcased any potential weakness to allow them the opportunity to correct it. He did not think all three of them could manage to sneak through the mansion and assassinate each individual. Given these were individuals who were on alert for danger and somewhat skilled to boot. They would probably discovery his team before they could get anything done.

That meant to a degree they would need some help.

That..That was something Valen could facilitate.

“You three are not allowed to utilize chakra of any kind. You’re to physically sneak in and assassinate or kill the targets with purely physical force or ingenuity but you cannot utilize chakra to do any of it. I’ll provide a bit of assistance to give you a chance to succeed.” He would state, looking to each of them to see if they understood.

[8]

Raika smiles when she's told that they will be restricted from using chakra techniques, a point where she really shines, but then she realizes that will likely mean that Azrael will be nearly useless in this coming fight. She reaches into her left-side pouch and produces a kunai, spinning it on one finger before extending it handle-first towards Azrael while she looks at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Here. Go for the throat only. It'll stop them from making too much noise and I'll be drawing most of their attention if it gets hairy in there. Just stay on the edges of the fight and try to pick them off as silently as you can."

Normally she would have told both Kami and Azrael that they were on their own and they would just have to fail, but Kami had actually given her idea some backing and she knew Azrael would be able to handle a fight under normal circumstances. She stalks around the manor, keeping in mind that Kami had said they were only ten of them... She considers making a noise to just alert one of the men on the outer edge of the group to make him come and look, but Raika thought that the one might alert others, to be safe, and she didn't want to have to rely on her two teammates to have to ensure they all were taken out before alerting the rest. So instead, she slips into one of the manor bedrooms, careful on the wooden floorboards and even going to all fours to reduce the weight of each footfall and ensuring that they wouldn't creak. They might expect an attack from one of the doorways, but it was unlikely they would expect someone to come from one of the rooms in the manor itself.

Kami looked to Valen and raised an eyebrow before giving an annoyed expression and rolling her head. “Fine.” Kami was pretty useless despite being a Yurei but she also didn’t grow up like Azrael. She didn’t focus on her Yurei skills, let alone needing to use them at all. These things only started happening when she came in contact with her brother. She shook her head and looked to the other two, Raika giving Azrael a kunai and hopefully him taking it. Azrael without his ghosts seemed pretty weak but he was more of a Yurei than her at least. She provided the stealthy killing where as he tortured. Thought Kami wasn’t against torturing either, she actually… well, that’s another topic for another time. What seemed to be shimmers in her eyes soon faded from the thoughts of torturing others, she turned her body to go follow Raika quietly. Before breaking off, she whispered to her. “They all seem to be close together and in or around the same room. Two seemed to be strong but the others are pretty lanky. Two are patrolling as well, always in a pair. Be careful.” She said before going a separate way within the building, heading to another room.



This room seemed to be a study and nobody was in it until foot steps were heard from a distance. Kami quickly hid behind the desk that faced away from a wall, chair pushed against what seemed to be the window. She was already light on her feet, let alone thin and skinny so it was easy to produce no noise. She had always been light on her feet, being able to run away from shop keepers. The footsteps came closer, shoes being able to see at the bottom of the table. They stopped, facing towards the table, almost looking like they were viewing something. The feet turned around and Kami made this chance to come out and grab hold of the persons mouth, keeping them silent and with no hesitation, slicing their throat, almost cleaning the head off. She wanted to make sure the man wouldn’t gurgle or produce noise. Blood splattered everywhere, on her hands, face and the floor, as well as all over the man. Kami dragged the man behind the desk and tucked him under while moving towards behind the door. She wasn’t aware of any others but she could try and pin point where they were from memory.

Hearing Valen's challenge Azrael would stare in silence at the man, if it had not been for the mask on his face the others would have seen the frown that had formed on the Yurei's face at the other man's words. He had never done anything that didn't involve chakra in some form or another, it was as if the man made this challenge specifically to spite the young ghost. At least that would be his thought process, however as Raika spoke up offering not only a Kunai but also some words of advice Azrael would shift his gaze from Valen to her. His disapproval of the challenge no longer evident in his eyes as they fell onto the woman, "Thank you, Raika Ryuutei." Would be all the male said as he took the Kunai from her turning his attention back to the house the frown would return to his face.

Without the use of chakra meant that they would be going in blind, not even his sensing would be allowed which means they would have no way of knowing if the people Kami had saw would move from where they were or if they attacked from hiding. Still he would remove his earring and move to follow the others towards the Manor, if they were trying to sneak around, the chime of his bell would obviously be a problem. As he deactivated his sensory he felt as though he had lost one of his senses, considering the fact that he always had it active, it sort of was. He considered turning it back on, but considering he did not want to cost the others by failing this challenge he would resist his urge to do so.

As he watched as the other two seemed to split off, however would continue towards the porch. Seeing a small window that lead to the basement of the manor, Azrael would make his way inside. Considering the window was a quarter the size of the normal windows, he was probably be the only one that could fit through it. Considering the fact that he didn't sense the presence chakra in the basement before he turned off his sensing technique, it seemed to be the optimal entry point for him.

The siblings of the team would give him annoyed looks. However Valen was supremely indifferent to them as he waited for everyone to get ready. Raika handed Azrael a kunai and gave some advice and Azrael removed his bell. The three then began to stalk into the building and Valen himself was going to provide some cover for them. It was a simple enough jutsu and with a single seal a thick mist would envelope the manor, the open doors and windows causing it to filter inside as well. Men and women would cry out in alarm, providing ample sound to track by. Of course they would need to watch out for each other inside as they might be just as liable to run into each other as their targets.

Valen himself would move around the manor, using his silent killing to move without a sound and simply being aware of any danger. He moved slowly, and his ears were open to the presence of any targets nearby. If he came across any he would take care of them. For the most part however he intended to leave the killing here to his team once again. Unless they needed help for some reason. In which case he would simply cut through the manor itself to reach them. His footfalls fell silently upon the ground outside as he heard people begin to call out to each other in order to attempt to track each other down. An attempt to get into organized groups. Of course the moment the first bodies turned up or people stopped reacting would be the moment they realized they were under attack and all noise would probably clam out from those who knew better.

A few would be terrified of course and cry out, scream, or run around and therefore draw the genin of his team to them like sharks to bloody water. The smart ones however he hoped would be more of a challenge to his team. Deciding to make the mood more ominous, Valen would begin to whistle a dirge aloud. The sound seemingly coming from all directions as its sound was thrown off by the mist. Cries of ‘What’s that?’ and ‘What the hell man?!’ could be heard within as they tried to track down the noise that would accompany their death.

[9]

Stuff:

Raika is about to open her own door and begin the attack, remembering what Kami had said about two of them patrolling and readying herself for an attack on two at once when she sees a mist seeping into the building, the perfect cover for someone like her that could scent out her prey and friends alike, ensuring that she wouldn't be hitting Kami or Azrael... but she had no idea how they would be able to avoid attacking her. She would just have to ensure that she avoided them completely. Then she hears whistling, and she silently slips open the door to check on that sound, in the middle of the screaming and terrified shuffling, but she recognizes the scent of Valen almost immediately and avoids him as well. Instead, she finds the first unfamiliar scent she can, extending her claws and running chakra along them to turn them sharper and deadlier before she slams her claw at full force into his throat, cutting off any attempt at screaming and alerting the rest to his own greater danger while he chokes to death.

She follows along in this way, sometimes tearing out their throats with her teeth, and sometimes slashing them open to let them wordlessly drown on themselves. With her efficiency and her eyes closed to focus on scents and make sure she doesn't find any that she recognizes, she ends up killing at least five through the mist, moving with a surety that would likely make others give pause as she avoids the central areas as much as possible, keeping her weight spread across her four limbs to ensure that the floorboards don't even creak to give away her position to the terrorists.

Finally, she comes upon just another one of the terrorists, but this one actually tries to fight back by plunging a kunai into her thigh and trying to call for help. Raika responds to this indiscretion by ripping his throat completely out of his neck with her sharp teeth, and then using her claws to puncture more and more of his skin and flesh until she can fully remove his head from his body. He tries to stop her, still barely alive, by grabbing onto her wrists, but his strength is already fading, and Raika finally succeeds in cranking his neck to ensure that his corpse is now in two pieces.

After such a show of violence, she removes the kunai from her leg and leans back against the wall while she stymies the bleeding, using a ripped off piece of her cloak to wrap around the wound and bind it tightly. She'd been cut by enough of her clan members' claws in sparring that she didn't mind scratches or cuts so badly.

Kami glanced around, hearing a few sudden drops and screams in the distance. She decided to stay put where she was before things calmed down and allowing herself to leave the room. Slowly walking throughout the manor, a mist came in, making it thick and hard to see through. Was this Valens Jutsu or someone else’s? She shook her head and continued walking throughout, moving her body side to side to see if anyone was nearby. When facing the other way, Kami suddenly found herself right next to Raika, turning her body forward and bumping into her. She rubbed her head and glanced at the feral woman before shaking her head and patting Raika’s head. It wasn’t to put her down or look down on her but to let her know she didn’t mean it. She waved to Raika, beckoning her to follow.

Walking around, Kami noticed a rug leading to a door. She made some hand gestures to make it seem like she was gonna go check it out. She carefully walked over to the door, placing her hand on the knob and exhaling. She looked over to Raika really quick before opening it up and seeing a staircase going down towards the first floor. It seemed to have just been stairs leading down but why in such a weird place? Now waiting for Raika’s response, she pondered who should go first. If things were going well, at least 6 or 7 would have been killed by now. Depending on where Azrael was, the remaining three could possibly be with him. Kami hoped Azrael would be able to hold up on his own. For the first time, she began to worry about someone.

As Azrael slid into the window of the basement, he was met with a sight that he did not expect to see, nor did he want to see. The dimly lit basement reminded him of a place he swore he would never return to, the last place he had ever felt weak. The place where he spent seventeen years of his life, before finally getting away from here and finding Sero and Sayuri. The small basement looking so similar to the one where he grew up, the only room he had seen before his escape. It was enough to put the male back in the mindset that he was young and once more locked away from the world, the small boy screaming out. His voice falling on deaf ears until his voice is almost gone and silence returned to the room. His only source of sustenance coming from the rats that would end up in there with him, and the few scraps that the woman upstairs' maid slipped him whenever the woman wasn't paying attention. The beatings he would receive from the woman when he made too much noise, or she got drunk and decided it had been too long since his last one. His mind would begin flooding with memories and emotions the male thought had long been suppressed, clutching his head as he did his best not to activate his genjutsu to escape these memories, tears rolling down over his painted mask as it became too much for him. He would not cry out or make a noise just quietly clutching his head as he tried to fight back his emotions, until he snapped. In just the few seconds since he entered the basement, a change would overtake the Yurei. His hands would drop to his sides limp, the kunai falling to the floor with a soft clink as the metal hit the concrete floor of the basement. as his eyes seemed to glaze over as if he was staring in the far-off distance.

The sound of noise above would draw his blank stare towards the door of the basement as he moved to ascend the stairs, his footsteps light and soundless as he approached the door. Opening it to find a mist filled kitchen, sounds drawing him towards them, his hand idly grabbing a butcher knife from the countertop as he past. It wouldn't take long for him to find himself standing behind a man that was not aware that he was there, in a single swift movement Azrael would slice both of the man's achillies tendons. The man both crying out in pain and falling to his knees putting him at optimal height for Azrael to finish him off by slicing his throat. The gurgle of him choking on his own blood as he died would be met with the thud of his body hitting the floor, the sound of approaching footsteps causing the Yurei to move from where he was to the door as another figure would enter the room. Without hesitation, the small male would leap into the air and drive the knife into the neck of the figure, using his momentum from the jump to help him push the figure onto their back as he finished driving the butcher knife all the way through before pulling it out. As he stood and began moving again, he would slowly pull the knife from the man's throat and move through the doorway of the kitchen. He couldn't see where he was going, but that didn't seem to stop him, he was focusing all of his attention on sounds. Even the small sound that he could hear would draw him closer to it, his arms would sway slightly as he moved yet his footsteps would remain quiet as he walked slowly towards the narrow stairway. Another body would get in his way, and the blade would meet the flesh of whoever it was as he drove the blade forward. He would continue up the stairway, whether drawn by the sounds or some other compelling force that drew him up the stairs. The same blank stare would be in his eyes as he moved, cutting down those that got in his way, all the while remaining silent.

---

OoC:

Valen moved around the manor, hearing the cries and death throes of those that his team were killing within. None of the enemies were to survive this encounter. He continued his whistling as he moved and eventually made his way to the front of the house where a lone man sat waiting, hands held up as if to perform hand seals. Valen was not aware of the man’s intention. If he intended to destroy the manor and everyone inside it. Or was simply waiting for someone, anyone to come out in order to light them up with his ninjutsu and hopefully take them out. However Valen could see from his mismatched gear, scavenged from targets probably, that he was an enemy. Valen, close to the man if he could see him at all, did not even bother to hide his presence. Instead he did the next best thing, and he simply released the Hidden Mist.

The thick fog faded, gradually, until its all encompassing mass dissipated fully to reveal the surroundings. By now, his team would have killed the rest. The lack of noise from within would prove that. Valen himself would handle this one. The man turned to him, seeing a man with long black hair, neatly trimmed beard and deep red eyes looking at him. He looked Valen up and down, his eyes widening as he watched Valen draw his weapon. The magnificently crafted blade that he kept at his side, always. His genin if they had come out, or found windows would easily be able to see the altercation. See the result of his work thus far. As the man gathered himself together and ran at him, performing seals as he did.

Earth formed over his hands as he clenched them into fists and charged at him. Valen waited, and did not bother to move more than was absolutely necessary. His twisted the blade in his hand as the man reached him and in a smooth dodge, twisting his body the minimum amount required to avoid the blow and bringing his blade up at the same time with all of his speed and force behind the blow he would cut through the man’s torso, starting at the hip on the side closest to Valen, and through the entirety of the and out of the shoulder. With a small flourish he would spin, cloak spinning with him as he stepped past the man’s crumpling body as the top and lower halves separated, the entrails falling out onto the ground. Then he would flick his blade once, removing the blood from it before quietly sheathing the weapon.

Immediately after a hawk from the village would land on his shoulder. It’s leg holding a small scroll pouch. He opened it and read, the hawk flying away after he closed the scroll case and shrugged the bird off, reading as he did. It would appear his team would be dealing with another during the rest of these missions. “Raika, Kami, Azrael, to me if you please.” He would say, his voice not particularly being thrown far. However he would assume that they were close. Should they arrive he would turn to them and hold the small scroll up for emphasis. “I’ve been ordered back to the village. However another will be here soon to fill my spot in the team. Camp here until he arrives.” He would say, looking to Azrael and nodding once. “It’s him.” He would say simply, the message clear. Valen would not simply refer to someone like that generally, and there was only one man that both he and Azrael knew that could be. The Nightmare of the Hidden Mist, Sero.

It would seem the man had received the promotion that he was warranted in Valen’s eyes. However the swordsman would be unable to wait for the man to arrive. He was told to report back immediately. “Good job you three, perhaps we can see about doing more missions another time.” He would say, nodding to the three of them a final time. “Good luck.” He would say finally before leaving, moving at his best possible speed (B) toward the village. He needed to get back, the hawk would have to arrive first before Sero got the location of the three so it was probable Valen would not run into him on the way back.

[10]

Exit

Raika grunts softly when Kami jostles into her, and though she feels like swatting the patting hand away, she decides that she'd rather not alienate Kami in that way, since they would likely continue for quite a few missions now before their time together is over. It wouldn't do to be confrontational at the moment, especially in the mist when she's not 100% sure where all the enemies hard; though she could smell the strangers, it wasn't always possible to tell exactly how many there were with their scents literally everywhere in that mansion. Though she can't see Kami waving, she chooses to follow the other woman's scent, limping just a bit from the pain of the recent stab into her thigh.

The genin notices the change from hard wooden floor to a rug when they're approaching a door, and she can somewhat hear Kami shuffling about a bit, but they're both blind in this mist, so she's not entirely certain of what her temporary teammate is up to. Despite her wound, she knows she's better suited for close-quarters combat if they were to meet any further resistance, so she reaches out to where she can scent for Kami, touching her shoulder and only giving a light tug, not hard enough to jolt her, but enough to let her know that Raika will take the lead for her. She moves in and begins coming down the stairs to the lower floor.

Before they take more than a couple steps down, she smells someone else, but she also hears someone else cry out in pain and then some thudding noises. She frowns, but stops Kami from continuing down the stairs past her by lifting up her left arm while staying mostly on the right side of the stairs, ensuring the white-haired woman stays safe. The mist begins to dissipate right after the scent of the stranger that had been ahead of her moves, and she can just barely see another white-haired individual slicing someone out with a knife much larger than the one she'd given him, making Raika somewhat confused.

Then she can see the glossy not-there look in Azrael's eyes, a look she'd seen before in Ryuutei Nameless that had tried their own Naming ceremony too many times, had become lost. Azrael wasn't Azrael at that moment. She lets him approach, waiting for any combative action from Azrael as she focuses into the Brute Fist position, retracting her claws entirely so she can make a proper fist for once. With her focus completely singular on Azrael, she waits until the very first combative move, not even letting Azrael complete it before slamming her fist directly into his jaw from below and to the left, smashing up into his jaw to hopefully effect an immediate knockout, though if her knockout strike is effective, she's quick to grab hold of the front of his shirt so he won't fall backwards down the stairs. Should the strike connect, her left hand also goes to his right to ensure he drops the butcher knife as well before she lets him back down slow.

Raika comes back to the main room of the manor just in time to see Valen bisect their final target, her eyes remaining half-lidded and bored as the situation is described to her and they're congratulated on a job well done. She shrugs as they're also told that the manor will do as their camp site for their first night, and she looks around at the corpses all over the manor.

"A regular buffet."

After Valen leaves, she stays next to Azrael, keeping a close eye on him if he had woken up, or otherwise simply waiting for him to wake up if her strike had been effective in temporarily neutralizing his state.

Kami looked back at Raika, feeling her hand touch her arm and pulling her back slowly. Kami nodded and watched Raika continue forward, following behind. The distant screams and yells made Kami curious as to what may have been happening. Seeing Raika get ready for an attack, Kami prepared her Kunai that she kept on her, ready to attack anything that came in their way.


Going into the spacious view, she saw the familiar white hair and red eyes that were her brothers. Emptied out, nothing in them, making Kami get in front of Raika. “Azrael!” She called out to him but was followed but a coughing noise and a tight inhale. She placed her hand upon her abdomen, a small slice but still bleeding lots. She gritted her teeth, her eyes glossy, almost feeling bad. She fell back on her behind, grunting from the fall. As soon as she hit the floor, her image changed, for a moment changing into a more adult version of Kami. Bustier, even curvier and her hair wasn’t as short. Her unnatural traits remained the same, her pointed teeth and pointed ears as well. While her image almost glitched, she looked back at a memory she forgot she had. Her parents arguing and yelling. Her father grabbing one of the kitchen knives and going to swing at Kami but her mother jumped in front of her. Her vision went black and Kami came back to, breathing heavily. Kami looked around her, still seeing her thin physique unlike her curvier other self and her flat chest. She sighed with relief but kept her hand on her abdomen. Now was not the time to reminisce about old memories, let alone remember them.


Kami glanced up at Raika as she punched Azrael enough to knock him out, catching him and leaving him on her side. She struggled to get herself up but did it anyway, looking down at Azrael. She clenched her teeth and shook her head before finding a place to rest. After letting with Valen, the manor became their campsite for the time being which allowed Kami to prepare her barrier around the manor. Doing the same thing, she placed them around and the barrier formed. Kami placed her back up against a wall and slid down, breathing a bit harder, her shirt now stained with her own blood. ‘Damnit. Why am I emotional..’

---

Five Seal Barrier:

His body would be moving as if on autopilot, everything would seem normal with the exception of the blank lifeless stare of his eyes as he moved forward. In his mind's eye, he was younger than now, the age he was when he first escaped the hell that he had been born into. It was as if the memory of the even was playing through his mind and his body was acting it out on the outside. His escape had started with the killing of the two men in the kitchen, similar to the ones he had killed in the present. It was as he made it to the stairs that things became changed, in his mind's eye at the bottom of the stairs would be his tormentor. The woman who had tormented him since his birth, because of who his father was and what he had done to her. She would try to flee up the stairs as Azrael sliced one of her legs, though in the real world this was him slicing another man's throat. Following the woman up the stairs he would stab at her again slicing across her back, in the real world he would be slicing Kami and as he goes to deal the final blow to the woman, in the real world he was quickly met by Raika's fist and all movement would stop as the world turned black.

It would only be a moment or two, before a deep inhale was taken by the man and his eyes would flutter open. Azrael would have no memory of the events that took place within the house, from the time he entered into the basement to waking up on the floor with his jaw hurting. Looking up to see Raika standing over him, his eyes would blink in confusion. "Raika Ryuutei? This One thought..." His whisper would drop as he sees Kami with blood on the front of her shirt as though she had been injured, he would bolt straight up into a sitting position. "This One is confused, we entered the basement. You, what's going on, Raika Ryuutei?" Azrael would stand to go to Kami, "Allow This One to help you, Dear Sister." He would say as he activated mystic palm, assuming Raika tells him what had happened, Azrael would fall silent. Of course, Raika didn't know why he was the way he was in the house but hearing that he hurt Kami it was almost unbelievable. He had sworn to protect his little sister not hurt her; he didn't understand what could have come over him that would cause him to disregard his sister like that.

As Valen called them outside Azrael would slowly trail behind the other two, his mind still trying to piece together what happened though nothing he tries brought the events to his mind. Valen speaks of having to return to the village, and then he looked to Azrael and said it's him. For the first time since they started this little crucible that Valen called it, Azrael's eyes lit up not from his Genjutsu but from excitement at seeing his Master again. Who knows maybe his master could help him understand what happened to him as well. Azrael would go sit on the front porch of the manor as he waited for Sero to arrive after Valen left, he would let out a small, whispered sigh before looking to Raika. "This One is broken, Raika Ryuutei. Our mind. Our mind betrayed us. Without our mind. We are useless."

Night would deepen giving the three time to rest and restore themselves. Azrael if he chose to would be able to tend to their injuries in that time and allow them to scrounge for food. Giving them time for their chakra systems to recover. The bodies growing cold and flies beginning to buzz around them. The mist settled in for the night soon after Valen would leave. Perhaps two hours or so had passed giving them whatever peace they sought in that time. However in times of peace nightmares were all the more frightening. In the woods outside the manor some distance off yet, every bird would burst from their nest in the trees and in mass fly screaming cries of panic over the manor. The combined echoed cries a crescendo of fear. The fog would roll from the treeline as it blanketed the floor and washed up like a wave against the barrier. Pushing against it and splashing up against it. As if it too fled the thing that caused it. Yet this was not the case. It simply heralded him. Announcing the arrival of the nightmare of Kirigakure. The being that would be replacing Valen as their mission leader.

Jaakuna Sero.

Soon the cries of the birds would fade into the night. The flies inside somehow sensing danger and knowing to flee. Despite their simple nature even they would seek out dark corners within the carnage and remain still. As if the idea of moving was too terrifying for flies. The manor would shift in a strong and warm wind that would pick up from outside. The wood creaking slightly at the sudden difference in temperature and pressure. Sero would emerge from the mist as if floating through the fog towards the manor. He knew where they were and knew each of them. He knew them because he recruited them. Now he was here to see his investment paying off. For now they were unrefined but given time...they would become nightmares too. Azrael was one of the first Nightmares next to Sero. His right hand and a spider in the brigade despite his lack of raw power. His mind and his loyalty were what Sero valued. For when he was nothing only two stood by him. Kami, his half sister was yet to truly evolve. She seemed to slip into killing almost as easily as her brother but there was something soft still there. Where as Raika was simply savage in her ways. Her ferocity perhaps more prevalent than her humanity. The largest question with her was if she would only target criminals.

Sero himself would seem to glide to the barrier. Cold blue eyes glowing against the nights darkness. His form loosely covered in white robes with his hands tucked into wide sleeves as always. Without sensory there was no way to tell if he was using hand seals this way. Still he would pause before the barrier. His right hand lifting as his left hand remained still. Pale fingers stretching out to rise up and slowly, finger by finger he would touch the barrier meant to keep them safe. He would not destroy it outright yet as he gave her a chance to feel him. This was Kami's chakra. The barrier connected to her chakra. She would feel each finger touch the barrier as a ripple like dark liquid would spread across it each time. His tainted chakra touching her own to alert her of his presence if she did not already know. It would be like the kind of trauma that made people scream awake at night drenching her chakra system.


He wanted in....

Despite herself, Raika does feel a little bad when she sees that she hadn't quite been able to fully protect Kami from Azrael's state, but she tells herself in her own mind that it wasn't her fault that Kami hadn't been ready to defend herself from her own teammate; it was ultimately Kami's job to look out for Kami. Because this line of thinking might have been seen by most to be quite ruthless, Raika kept the admonishment to herself, in her own mind. She was just glad that Azrael woke up again and she hadn't actually caused him any serious harm from knocking him out with her carefully-aimed strike, and that he was no longer in that dangerous trance-like state. The last thing she wanted was to be placed under the full weight of one of his Akayurei genjutsu, and she'd considered potentially closing her eyes and blind-fighting the poor boy if he hadn't been shocked out of that trance.

"You thought? Don't. That's clearly a dangerous prospect."

Azrael does seem to be unaware of what he'd done in his trance, so she doesn't hold it against him for long, either, and she describes the situation to him, letting him know that he'd been in some kind of semi-conscious feral state, and that he'd attacked his sister. Although Raika didn't bring up the change in Kami's appearance when she fell; the genin wasn't sure she'd seen that change in appearance herself, since it was only a flash and then gone. She just didn't know what to make of it. Raika stayed back and watched him heal Kami with his chakra, although she kept her own leg wound hidden from him while he did so.

While on the front porch, Raika shakes her head when Azrael states that his mind is broken and that he's become useless without his mind.

"You sound fine to me. Your mind isn't completely broken yet. Kami! What kind of food stores did they have?!"

The last few statements are directed at Kami, who looks to have recovered somewhat at the moment, though she's leaning against the wall and breathing heavily after placing down the seals. She shakes her head when she sees the white-haired woman, though not nearly so disappointed as she would have been in a complete stranger.

"I've got enough bodies to last me as far as meals go. Get yourself and Azrael some food as well; I'll take first watch tonight."

With that said, Raika goes about the manor, finding at least one of the terrorist's bodies and eating his raw flesh after stripping him of anything useful; she goes about the whole manor in this fashion, using the bites she took from their bodies to distinguish the ones she'd already stripped from the ones that hadn't been searched yet. Doing this over the course of a few minutes and eating all the while lets her chakra return to its full strength, though she's now completely covered in blood from her chin down again.

In any case, she doesn't yet manage to get much rest before she catches a scent that she could instantly recognize, and she pauses in her chewing, setting down the disembodied arm of one of the terrorists and swallowing the mouthful she had before she sucks in air through her nostrils. She'd heard some birds cawing in fright, and figured there had simply been a merchant caravan nearby, but no, it seemed their replacement for Valen was coming in hot. Raika assumed that he would have some way of getting in either around or through the barrier that Kami had set up around the manor, but it would not do to let Sero wait, so she turns to look at Kami to see if she's awake and aware of their new mission leader.

Kami nodded to Azrael in thanks and remained still for a bit. As Raika called out to her about the storage of food, Kami grunted as she got up, slowly making her way to the kitchen. There had been some preservatives but not much to last them, maybe only a few days if they didn’t each much. “Bunch of preservatives.” She called back out to Raika. Kami looked to Raika and nodded to the suggestion of finding food for her and her brother. She walked around the manor, maybe seeing if there was an anime trapped inside. Nothing of the sort in which she sighed and walked back to the kitchen; grabbing a few cans of preservatives and taking one to Azrael. “Not much but here.” It was a can of fruit which didn’t have much but hopefully enough to tide him over. Kami walked back to the room she was in when Raika stated she would keep watch. Falling back into the previous spot, she exhaled and closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep.



Dreams. Dreams were the past trying to communicate with the present to possibly warn about the future. Sometimes there was meaning, sometimes it’s was a bunch of information that didn’t make sense. Kami dreamt of her childhood, mainly her mom and her sometimes hanging out and spending time together. Seeing only her lips, the dream cut with static taking over and going black. Kami looked around, seeing nothing but blue eyes staring back at her which ended in static again, making her look around once more. A different room. Her father, Reo, and her mother. They were arguing about Kami and something about a boy. Everything was muffled but key words came through.









Everything fell silent and the memory cut off like a TV. The blue eyes appeared once again, feeling the cold hands of someone touching her. Her breathing became heavier and more erratic, hyperventilating almost. Kami reverted between her 3 former selves. Child, transformation, reality, all within her dream. Her body glitched out in the real world, some characteristics changing and reverting back to her transformed self. “S-stop..” She whispered out. Her legs kicked a bit as she slept, feeling the hand hold onto her, a chakra so tainted, coming on to her. “Stop..” Her voice got louder, her face expressing distress. Colder. Tighter. Her breathing became faster, an eerie presence almost saying,




Kami sat up, her eyes still closed and tears down her face, screaming. “STOP IT!” Kami gripped her chest, unable to breathe properly until she opened her eyes. Her eyes darted around, looking to see what was near her, who was around and why. Her eyes fell upon Sero who was outside of the barrier, his hand gently placed on it. His cold touch still wrapped around her. She got herself up before taking down her barrier, allowing Sero in. She avoided eye contact with him for a while, wiping her face occasionally and her eyes. Her distance kept quite aways as well. Kami did not like this..

Azrael would rise up from the porch without another word to Raika, as he began to move inside the manor. Taking the can of fruit from Kami with a simple and quieter than usual, "thank you, Sister." Azrael would then proceed to grab one of the disembodied arms of one of the men before heading up the stairs in complete silence, heading into one of the rooms on the second floor. He wouldn't pay attention to anything in the room as he headed straight for the window and climbing out, using the supernatural walking practice to scale the rest of the manor to the top of the roof where Never and More would be waiting. Tearing pieces of the arm off with the help of his chakra scalpel as he feed his birds, them each cawing happily as he feed them and rubbed their heads. Sitting on the rooftop with his knees at his chest, his mind still clouded on the events that transpired within the manor, but they were all safe and that was what was important. The arrival of his master could not come soon enough in the male's eyes, hoping that the presence of his master could at the very least settle his mind. He would not sleep, but since no one else was near him, he would remove his mask to eat the fruit within the can Kami had given him. He didn't need much, he had survived longer on much less before, even now that he was living in Sero's palace he still did not eat much. He would he move from the roof until he hear the cries of the birds from the woods as they burst from the tree, there was only one being that Azrael knew could cause such panic in both animals and humans. His master was nearing them, a smile forming on his face as he replaced his mask to its rightful place.

Using the same supernatural walking he had to get to the roof, Azrael would make it down as Kami's barrier dropped as he moved to greet his master. "This One is pleased you have arrived, Master." would be all he would say for now as he took a position in front of Sero with the others, awaiting orders for the next stop on their crucible.

Sero would release his hand from the barrier as it began to shatter. Bits of it falling off like glass and fading mid air as it fell. Until there was only the hint of chakra remaining in the air. His cold blue eyes taking in the three before him. The three who took his tests repeatedly and would do so once again. His hands sliding back into his sleeves as he never once seemed to blink before them. His aura spreading out as the grass at his feet would wilt beneath his fog. The shadows from the treeline under the moonlight would seem to dance as the moon took on a blood red hue. Casting its red glow across the four of them before the manor. Abandoned as it was it stood in stark contrast from the forest surroundings around it. He would speak plainly to them in a monotone voice as he did not seem to mind their reactions to him. Kami's avoidance....Azraels worship or Raikas indifference.

"Make sure you have collected all that you wish to keep from here...then return to me when you are done."

Sero would wait motionless under the blood moon as he waited. Allowing them time to collect their things. His eyes watching and his guard risen. He was on a mission set now with this lot and he was the insurance of success. Still if they would finish and report back to him he would hold up a hand before stepping passed them. From within his sleeves he would preform a rapid set of hand seals. Dragon, Boar, Serpent, horse, hare, bird, Ram, Ox, Snake, Tiger, Rabbit, Dog. Once this was done he would lift both of his hands. His combination Ninjutsu coming into play as he would place them together palms forward. In an astonishing change of pace a barbed bone drill would erupt forward from his palms at B+ speed. A hundred meters wide and a hundred meters tall. Slamming forward in a powerful drilling motion as the ivory death and destruction would wipe out the manor entirely and everything in it. With that Sero would lower his hands as bits of the building would continue to fall scattered around them. He would turn to them with the blood moon to his back and speak once more.

"Leave no chance of hidden survivors. Do not assume your senses or sensory can not be avoided. Only utter destruction is assured. Azrael give a full report thus far."

Jutsu:

Raika collects only enough tools and weapons to replenish her supplies, although she grumbles when she doesn't find any additional smoke bombs to replenish her previous supplies, and she makes a mental note to buy some more the next time she's in Kirigakure. The Ryuutei clan member doesn't have anything to carry by hand at least, although she does take several slices of human flesh with her to ensure that she has plenty to eat until the next part of their mission. She shows that she's ready to go when she returns to Sero, but then she's stopped from leaving to continue their mission list when Sero lifts his hand and then steps past them to stand directly in front of the manor. Raika watches as he performs several rapid handseals, their speed causing them to appear blurred in her view, before he raises both hands to shove out a massive drill made of bone, obliterating the entirety of the manor and ensuring that nothing is left standing. The sheer sound and weight of the drill makes the ground shake, and the genin nearly falls when she steps back from Sero, staring at where the manor used to be. She knew he had some capability with bones; he'd shown that off when he made armor for himself during her first test spar with Sero, but she had no idea that his bones were capable of this much destruction and power.

Raika considers his words when he tells them all to leave no chance of survivors and to not assume they're all dead by using senses or their sensory abilities, as they're possibly fallible. She frowns a bit, but doesn't say anything in response and doesn't question him about putting on such a loud and visible display that might cause the other groups to be on their guard. It wouldn't do to lose her life for making any clever remarks after he'd just shown his destructive power. She lets Azrael give his report while Raika goes to lookout duty, watching along the path towards where their next mission would be to make sure nobody is coming their way to investigate.

Kami waited patiently by Sero as the others grabbed what they would want or need from the manor. She kept her distance, getting a chill down her spine every now and then. Her red eyes with almost a pink hue darted around, her heart beating faster as she glanced at him every now and then. Just sero’s presence feared her from that traumatic moment. Looking back at the others coming back up, she changed her stance to stand by Raika, eyeing everything she got, almost like a curious child. Looking at Raika and then to Azrael, if he were to get some things, doing the same thing to him.


Her eyes gazed up on Sero’s hands as he began performing handsigns that were a blur to her. The next thing she knew was a bone drill so massive that it had destroyed the manor. This took Kami by surprise and remembered the first time meeting Sero. He had given her a bone kunai to help assassinate that one man. She shook her head, placing a strand of hair behind her ear and following Raika, leaving Sero and Azrael alone. Catching up with her, Kami gave a relieved sigh and muttered softly to Raika. “Hope my company does not intrude..” Raika’s presence was just like Sero’s yet calmer and she didn’t invade her dream whether Sero meant it or not. She was comfortable around her and she was able to breathe.

Azrael would be near Sero on his right side as Raika gathered what she wanted from the manor, crouched low so that his knees were up to his chest just like he sat upon the roof. Never and more would each be perched upon a tree, both silently observing from a distance. Though unlike the other animals, the Ravens did not flee from Sero's presences, they still avoided openly approaching him. Azrael would reach into his pocket and return the bell earring to his left ear once more, considering the fact that he did not really use items all that much there was nothing in the manor for him. He had no memory of what had happened within the manor, so he was unaware that he left the Kunai in the basement of the manor. Once Raika was done, he watched in marvel as his master formed a massive drill that demolished the entirety of the manor, it was not uncommon for such a display of power from his master, but it never ceased to amaze him whenever he saw his master's power. As Sero began to speak Azrael would turn to him and once he had finished, Azrael would begin.

"This one was summoned to perform missions for the village, we arrived to find Valen Minamoto, Raika Ryuutei, and This One's sister Kami Yurei. Valen Minamoto was leader, explained that we are performing Crucible for the village. Our first task was a small bandit camp not far from the village, but still a journey. We surrounded the group with our presence, in case someone were to try to spy. Never and More scouted from above, Valen Minamoto made everyone talk to explain our abilities. Upon arrival at the outskirt of the bandit camp, Valen Minamoto gave the challenge to kill the bandits while he distracted them. This One told Valen Minamoto the challenge was too simple, that we could have it done before he walked into the camp. Through our sensory, This One was able to direct Kami Yurei and Raika Ryuutei to those hidden from us in the camp. This One then accompanied Valen Minamoto on approach of the camp, we used our genjutsu to make the criminals kill themselves. We passed the first challenge and Valen Minamoto removed the camp. Second destination, more bandits within manor. Upon arrival Valen Minamoto issued another challenge, to kill without the use of chakra. This One Did Not like the challenge, however we respected chain of command and did not object. Raika Ryuutei gave This One a Kunai, told us go for the throat, we thanked her for this advice. This One, Raika Ryuutei, and Kami Yurei began approach of manor, Raika Ryuutei and Kami Yurei split off to enter from different sections of the manor. This one entered into the basement..." Azrael's whispered voice would stop, as if he was trying to think of what happened next. Unfortunately, it would not come, and he would not be silent for more than a couple of seconds. His eyes drifting to the ground momentarily before looking back to his master. "This One awoke to Raika Ryuutei standing over us, Kami Yurei was hurt. We healed her, Valen Minamoto stated he was ordered back to the village and told us that You were coming, Master. Valen Minamoto told us to make camp and wait for the sign of your arrival. This One's Sister, found us sustenance and we went to the roof to wait for you."

With his report done, Azrael would turn to see if the other two had anything to say to see that they were not there. He would turn back to his master however he would not say anything else. Even at a whisper the strain to his voice was already beginning to start for him once more, unless Sero asked anything else of him, Azrael would return to his crouched sitting position next to his master as he waited for his next orders.

Sero would glance at each of the girls as they actively seemed to avoid him. His eyes following Kami a moment. There was a connection now between them. A portion of his tainted chakra had touched hers and now he could sense a new constant. A fear of him deep within her. He would wait to see if she could overcome this too or if she would falter as so many had before her. This would be her test now with him. Sensory nin had been driven nearly to the brink of madness. Some of his students had fallen to it as well. The plague seeming to be their respite from him. If she could not however...she would not be cut out for this line of work. She would not be cut out to be a nightmare. It was not that Nightmares did not fear anything. Rather that they had known fear. That they had been molded by it and in turn had learned to mold it themselves. Still they would leave the two men there to speak and scout nearby. It was of little matter for now but he would see if she could improve before the end of the crucible before them.

Still those cold blue eyes would shift back to Azrael as he spoke. Azrael...one of the first spiders of the nightmares web. One of eight spots with only five taken. Sero was the first spider and Sayuri the second. Azrael was the third and Valen the fourth. The fifth was Blitz but he had some ways to go. All an intricate web to catch criminals within and consume them. In mind, body and soul. It was not lost to him that they all did so differently. Still the report was at length and he would not waver his attention or blink during it. Those endless blue eyes glowing against the night as clouds shifted over the moon. It was dark now as they spoke. No natural light aiding them and the fog at their feet making it all the more surreal. Still Sero would keep his hands folded in his sleeves and simply listen until Azrael was finished. Speaking to him alone a moment.

"It is often ourselves who become our greatest enemy. To fail against yourself is to find a limitation. What you do with that determines if you will continue to fail or if you will rise above it. Come...Let us walk the road towards the next objective. Raika should be able to track us after her perimeter check. Do not simply dwell on this though Azrael but overcome it."

Sero would limit himself to Azrael's base speed. Preferring it to his own so the others had a chance to catch up as they took the main road towards the missing nin. He did not fear discovery for they were a ways off yet. Even then if they were discovered he could eliminate any threat before them if need be. Still they would travel down the road like this until the other two would catch up and fall in. Though his nose would pick up the smell of something beyond the old blood on each of them. Stopping a good distance from their next objective and glancing between the three. Something was off and it would take him a moment to find it. Hidden as she had made it. Stubborn girl...He would stare at Raika now that they were close together again (assuming they had rejoined) and his eyes would seek to meet hers. Despite her lack of fear those eyes would seem to stare into her very soul. Deep within the caverns of her tough exterior as if nothing could be hidden from him for long.

"Why did you hide your wound? Azrael is a talented med nin and could have healed it by now. Instead you risk infection and choose to fight the pain during a series of missions. I assure you that any similar wounds you received during training matter little to me. This is my world now...the world of life and death and we are going after missing nin next. Any and I do mean any disadvantage we may face needs to be dealt with prior to engaging the enemy. Am I understood?"

Raika hears Kami coming and turns to look at her when she approaches after her, nodding once when Kami mutters out a sentiment that she doesn't want to intrude. Although her eyes are half-lidded and appear bored, her response at least seems sincere.

"You're not intruding."

From that point forward, Raika keeps to a speed that Kami can keep up with, but they're about halfway to the next group before Raika can tell that if anyone heard or saw the destruction, they didn't care enough to go investigating. She circles back around, making sure there weren't any other curious types that decided that a manor collapsing out in the wilds near Kirigakure was worth investigating, but it at least seemed that nobody was coming any closer. She circles all the way back to the manor with Kami, and although she doesn't see anyone there, she smells the scent of both Sero and Azrael. Keeping a hold of Kami's wrist, she leads the other woman back to the other two, following behind them silently; she figured they would assume that since Raika didn't have anything to report, that they were not being chased down.

Then it seems Sero notices something, likely the scent of long-dried blood still on her, and she stares up at him as he berates her for not allowing Azrael to heal the wound on her thigh when he could have done so quite easily. Raika shrugs, then tugs away the cloth that had been wrapped around her thigh from the previous injury to show that there was now nothing more than a small scar where the wound had been only a mere few hours ago. The cloth in her hand still had some of her dried blood on it, so she wadded it up and stuck it down in the bottom of the weapons pouch at her back.

"There was never any reason for Azrael to heal it. By the time he finished healing his sister, my wound was already gone. I merely forgot to pull off the bandaging."

Her face is still fairly bored while she gazes up at him, but there's no animosity or annoyance evident on her face; it might be somewhat obvious to Sero at this point that her bored expression isn't so much bored as it is simply the expression her face naturally defaults to.

"You can and will be made aware of any possible disadvantages prior to any engagement with the enemy on these remaining missions, you have my word. This, however, is no such disadvantage; I can heal myself faster than most can perform the jutsu necessary to do any healing in the first place."

Here, Raika bows a bit towards Sero, with not an iota of sarcasm or jeering in her voice or actions.

"Please, continue with the mission."