OOC: If you haven't read the OOC, don't post here. All the stuff you need to know is in there.

IC:

The Desert

Kuyoshi walked next to his partner, a smile on his face the entire time. Kohaku remained silent. Kuyoshi always had a hard time determining whether or not Kohaku was smiling, since his face was covered by the traditional wrappings of the Sand Nomads.

"Damnit Kohaku! Why do you always have to be so somber?"

Kohaku turned and looked darkly at Kuyoshi from under his hat. Kuyoshi just laughed it off, and kept walking, coaxing a sigh from Kohaku.

"If you weren't so arrogant Kuyoshi-sama, we wouldn't be stuck in the middle of the desert."

Kuyoshi stopped walking, and looked angrily at Kohaku.

"I'm not arrogant! That man was suspicious!"

Kohaku looked at him again, with a look that said "you are wrong".

"He was a Desert Nomad with a tamed Worm. Those aren't uncommon. Now we're stuck walking. Even I don't like this much sand."

Kuyoshi let out a "hmmph", and began walking again. Kohaku sighed, and followed him. Kuyoshi stopped suddenly, for he felt a faint rumbling shake the sands. Kohaku stopped as well. In the short time they had been together, he had learned to trust Kuyoshi on a few things. One of them was finding danger.

"Kohaku, how much does sand muffle sound?"

Kohaku held up five fingers, indicating a reduction of about 5 times the original volume. Kuyoshi stood up fast, and made a few handsigns. Kohaku stood completely still, but Kuyoshi knew that he didn't need to move to attack. Several Desert Nomads rose from the sands, and formed and ambush circle around Kuyoshi and Kohaku.

"You two boys are on our ground. Get the hell off, or we'll take your bodies out in pieces."

Kuyoshi smiled, and laughed at the apparent leader.

"You don't scare me. If you want a fight, then come! Make the first move!"

Kuyoshi grabbed the three Shuriken from the air, each one of them aimed at his back. He smiled, and threw them into the ground. His face became serious as his mindset focused around the battlefield. Three of the attackers were facing Kohaku, the other four were facing Kuyoshi. Raising his hands, the two permanent seals glowed a deep red.

"Kuyokuuton!"

Flames as black as night shot from Kuyoshi's hands, completely engulfing one of the attackers. He drew two enlongated Kunai from his belt, a began to spin in the sand. He rotated faster and faster, gathering wind around him until it became a small dervish.

"Whirlwind of Blades!"

One of the attackers tried to jump out of the way, and was unsuccessful. He was cut to pieces by the spinning blades. A second one jumped out of the way, but Kuyoshi stopped spinning, and released the two Kunai with the energy of the spin behind them. The went clean through both of the men's hearts. He field stripped the weapons from the bodies, and took any water that they were carrying. He turned to Kohaku, only to find him sitting on what had formerly been his opponents, but were now only piles of bone. Kuyoshi snorted.

"Show-off"

This coaxed another sigh from Kohaku, and the duo began to walk again. They both gathered wind around their feet, and jumped, allowing them to glide across the desert.

Nation of Shadow; Mt. Tanahi


Katamari stood at the base of the volcano, staring hatefully at the beast. It had claimed many lives during its years of activity, and he hoped to somehow find a way to stop its charge. The Head of his city told him he was a fool. In fact, he was. There was no real way to stop a live volcano like this, it was a freak of nature. So he set out to try and do the only thing he could do. Study it.

Not much was known about the way they worked, and that frustrated Katamari. His parents had been killed when it had erupted fifteen years ago. No warning had been given to the citizens, there never was. They had just moved once a year from their city to another summer home until the volcano had erupted. This pattern had been taken up after the city was demolished fifty years ago by the volcano. People of the city had assumed that all they would need to do is leave before that predetermined date and they would be safe. But the volcano had become unreliable. It started acting up too soon. Katamari had grown tired of the travelling, and he convinced his parents to let him stay at their summer home, to take care of it. Three years later, the volcano wiped out the city, with his parents there.

He never had much love for them, however. They had ignored him, treated him like a stranger. The only bond between them was that they had given him food and sheltered him. There were no true bonds between his parents and he. But Katamari still felt obligated to all the others from his city. He did not want there to be more deaths like theirs, especially since the Head of the city had already begun reconstruction at the site, even though Katamari told him it was foolish and it would just happen again.

Sighing, he trudged up the side of the volcano. It was quiet all around him, save a low hum coming from within the mountain. “Woah!” His feet slipped on some mud and he fell down flat on his face. Cursing, he got up, wiping the mud from his face. He felt stupid. What was he supposed to look for anyways? Making up his mind, he decided to head back down the mountain. This had virtually been a waste of his time, so he decided to visit the Head and see if he could persuade him not to rebuild the city. There was no taming this mountain, and he didn’t want more innocent lives to be destroyed, especially when he himself had a chance to save them.

Hmm, I wish something would happen, it's such a beautiful day and its going to waste..
Echo sat ontop of a tree branch looking over the northern wall of the Nation of Wind. Cleaver, hsi sword, was laid down next to him, Echo had taken it off to relax for a few minutes. The wind was blowing south, into Echo's face and the mist from outside the walls felt relaxing as the sun beated down upon his brow. Echo was about ninety feet above the ground when sitting on the branch, the townspeople passed him from underneath wonder if he was going to fall.
Echo heard them talk with eachother as they passed, they thought he couldn't hear, "You think he'll fall?" "If he falls, lets take that sword and run.".
They want me to fall That badly? Huh? He stood up,
"I hate this place!" He yelled. Then jumped.
It seemed like everyone stopped to watch him fall, waitting to take his belongings. Echo fell behind a medium sized building, out of sight of his spectators. A few seconds before he was close to the ground, Echo already began to hear the clutter of footsteps approaching, turning down the streets to se where he landed. Echo was about fifteen feet from the ground when he made two hand signs, holding the second consentrating on the airflow between hmiself and the hard earth he was wildly approaching. It only took a second for the air beneath Echo to rise up towards him to slow his fall, and eventually sustain him in mid-air, no mroe than a foot off the ground. Echo laughed, "Those idiots thought I was really going to kill myself for their own enjoyment? HA! They have another thing coming." Echo released his consentration and fell to the ground(only being a foot from it) and landed on his hands. Echo latched Cleaver onto his back and tightend the straps.
"Comon, I think he fell behind this building!"
Persistant, aren't they..? Damn thieves. Echo thought and spat, he walked behind the building in the opposite dirrection of his followers. "Let them be puzzled over where I landed."
Echo placed his ahnds behind his head and leaned back as he walked, starring at the sky. He seemed to have wandered onto the streets, and people passed him looking strangely. Having grown up in a group-home, the common-folk seemed to treat you differnetly, but this didn't bother Echo, he simply ignored them. Echo was walking towards the North Gate of the Nation of Wind, not knowing why, it was just the way he was walking. The rumble of feet moving in unison was heard behind Echo, and soon, multiple soldiers fromed into two lines of five passed him. They all seemed happy and eager to get where they were going. The soldiers were dressed in thin blue plates of armor, covering their chest, soldiers and some of their arms. This was the standerd soldier war-uniform.
A fight?
Echo jogged slightly behind them, wanting to know if they were so eager to fight someone. They approached the North Gate wich was slightly open, allowing merchants to pass in or out. A woman ran into the Nation of Wind through the gates at that moment, "Help! ..A Demon!" Echo's face lit up with excitment. It is a fight!
The two lines of soldiers formed one, passing through the gate single-file, Echo trailed behind.
As soon as Echo passed though the gate, the guards immeditaly began to shut it, and soon, it was shut. Nothing was coming in, or out now.
Echo unshiethed Cleaver, holding it with his right hand, over his shoulder, smilling. Echo stopped to let the soldiers begin the battle with the demon, but they didn't. The soldiers had formed their two lines again, on each side of a child inbetween them. They seemed to be asking the child if she was Okay, and where the demon whent, and what it looked like. The childs back was to Echo so he couldn't tell wether it was male or female, but it was no older than the age of twelve. Echo dug Cleaver into the ground, head first, leaving the handle up. The child seemed to not be moving at all, except, it was giggling. By the laugh of the child, Echo found it that the child was female. Her giggle was slow at first, but grew faster, and deeper. It was only moments later that her 'giggle' was a full laugh, and a shockingly deep one.
"SHE is the Demon!" A soldier yelled, and all of the others painfuly learned he was right. The child turned around, and Echo saw that she had no eyes, except, they were two black holes, and her lips were green with crooked yellow fangs.
"Got you!" It said, in a deep vocie.
The demon outstreched her arms and her fingernails turned into elonggated claws. She slowly turned to the left line of soldiers and began her attack. Swinging her hands violently with shocking speed. She had successfuly clawed one soldier to death before the rest unshiethed their swords. The fight whent on, but it seemed that the Winds army was losing, badly. The demon ebgan changing form, her hair began growing longer with a deep purple tint. Her hair was longer than the child within seconds, and she was now using that, along with her claws, to attack. Strangling soldiers from behind her, grapping a few, and clawing them while they were tied down.
"This has gone Too Far!" Yelled Echo. The Demon stopped, and released the soldiers from her hair. She turned to his dirrecton, "You want to die as well, boy?... Fine, here I come!" A smile appeard on her deathly face, her hair flowed with the breeze, she was running towards Echo. Echo gripped Cleaver tightly, clenching it with both his fists. The Demon was approaching remarkably fast. "Im going to skin you alive, boy." She yelled as she ran.
Like hell you are wrench! A low whistle was heard behind Echo. It was the wind he was consentrating on, he was making it move rapidly at Cleaver, in the direction of the demon. The whistling sound is made by the air splitting on Cleaver. "DIE!" Yelled Echo.
Echo thrusted Cleaver forwards, throwing up clumps of dirt from where he had pushed Cleaver into the ground. Echo swung surprsingly fast with Cleaver, because Cleaver was nearly his hieght if not more, and was ehaveir than himself.
The debris settled, and Echo slowly dropped Cleaver from over his head. The Demon child laid on the ground infron of Echo, a huge gap was inbetween its chest. She was starring at him, still smilling. "Damn you.." She said.
"Next time you got to hell, stay there!" Echo responded, and pierced through the demons head with the head of his blade. Echo was breathing heavily.
"I focused too much on that blow.." A breeze blew east. The girl turned to ash and blew away with it. Echo got down on one knee, and tried to regain his breathe.

Shadow Arena, on the edge of the village

Race jumped aside as the dark creature leaped at him. Races' hands began to take on a series of motions, ending with his well known Air Dark Ball. It launched at the mindless, wolf like creature, tearing off its arm. Letting out a howl, the beast fell to the ground. Race launched himself into the air, and fell ontop of the beast, then removed its head with one sapphire blade, impaling his heart with the emerald blade.

The crowd cheered as Race held up his foes head and let at a roar. The next round would be between the challengers, instead of man and beast. Race returned to the holding chambers and sat down, then looked beside him to another one of the challengers, "So, are you ready to die in the finals, or would you rather I spare you."

The other captured shinobi didn't even look at him, just opened his palm to show a spark ignite thin air into a small blaze. "Fire, will always out do shadows, because as long as there is light, a shadow may only exist where it may hide."

Race shook his head, this shinobi was uite clueless, "But wind, will always put out the flame." Race smiled, this final match was their chance at escape.

Earth Shinobi Arena #2 - Desert

Kuyoshi sat down, his legs exhausted from jumping so much. Kohaku landed behind him, and stood completely still. Kuyoshi snorted.

"Why the hell do you have to do that?"

Kohaku shrugged, and picked Kuyoshi up. He dragged him towards the building up ahead, one of Earth's many Arenas where Shinobi from all the world over came to see who is the strongest. Kuyoshi broke from Kohaku's grasp, and immediatly sprinted towards a fountain, where he began to drink. Kohaku began speaking to the Arena master.

"How much do you pay combatants?"

The Arena master snorted, and pointed to the sign. Only those who won the tournament could win the prize. Kuyoshi rejoined Kohaku, and stared at the sign for a second, until he realized what his partner had in mind.

"No. No Kohaku. We're on a mission here."

Kohaku looked at him coldly.

"We need money to complete the mission. Alot more money that we have. Besides a three million Ryou prize is impressive. Even a Nation as powerful as Fire would be glad to have the extra money."

Kuyoshi snorted again, but then gave up. He couldn't really argue with Kohaku on these things, besides, he liked to fight. Kohaku went to get them signed up for the tournament. He came back with a consent form.

"You'll be the only one in this. It's a death match, and I honestly don't feel like killing you...or being killed by you. Just don't overdo it."

Kuyoshi grinned, and signed. He went over to the Arena master, and got his pass. He showed it to the guards, who let him in. Inside the barracks, a dozen other Shinobi from every Nation except Fire were in their uniforms, and polishing their weapons. One of the guards handed him a dusty uniform. Kuyoshi took it, and looked at it in disgust.

"I'm not putting this on my robe."

The guard looked at him.

"You'll put it on. Or i'll make you put it on."

Kuyoshi landed a punch squarely into the man's stomach. The guard was sent flying back into the sandstone wall, and he collapsed. Kuyoshi threw the uniform into the air, and burned it.

"I think I'll fight in my robes thank you."

He waited until the last match came, his.

"And now! Kuyoshi Ochi of the Nation of Fire, vs. the Current Champion, Zaisha Mitzuki from the Nation of Earth!"

The crowded cheered as Zaisha stepped onto the field. He entered with all the granduer and ego of a long time celebrity, and he basked in it. The cheering died down as they waited for Kuyoshi to appear. He came out of the east gate, and simply walked into the huge arena. Zaisha laughed at him.

"You think you can beat me! You're just a brat! I bet you can't even hold a proper sword!"

A bell indicated the start of the match. Zaisha activated seals on his body, and drew a huge stone sword from the ground. The blade was made of obsidian, and the handle made from granite.

"Die boy!"

The blade hit the hard ground, where Kuyoshi was standing before. Zaisha looked around for where Kuyoshi had landed, and couldn't find him. A kick to the face sent him flying into the air.

"I was standing on your blade. It's to big, far to slow. I can dodge it way to easily."

Zaisha did a backflip, and landed on both his feet. He spit blood out of his mouth, and threw the sword. He formed a few quick handsigns.

"Now I'm pissed you little punk! I'll show you the true power of a Dragon!"

Several rocks formed the shape of a dragon, and went flying towards Kuyoshi, who had already begun to spin. A huge dust cloud covered the impact. Everyone waited, eager for the conclusion of the battle. Except for Kohaku, who had already guessed the outcome. When the dust clear, and he saw Kuyoshi's body, he knew he was correct. Zaish laughed.

"Ha! I told you that you couldn't take a Dragon boy! That'll show you to mess with the big boys now!"

He jumped over to the body, and looked at it in grim satisfaction. He saw Kuyoshi move suddenly, and felt his legs being sweeped out from under him. Another kick to the face sent him up in the air. This time, Kuyoshi followed him, and grabbed the back of the dusty uniform. Zaisha was thrown at full force into the ground. Kuyoshi continued his journey up, and began to rotate. He drew his two elongated Kunai, and switched directions.

"Whirlwind of Blades!"

The impact from his attack cracked the ground, and burrowed another foot into solid rock. Kuyoshi simply jumped back and walked over to the center.

"I know you're not dead. A champion wouldn't be defeated so easily."

He felt a hand grab his foot, and a punch connect with his chin. Zaisha emerged from the ground, and laughed again.

"You're very good boy! First person that i'm going to have to fight with all my strength. Prepare for one helluva fight!"

Nation of Shadow; Kourahn City


“Sir, I’m telling you, it’s stupid! If you rebuild the city at the base of the volcano it will just destroy it again!”

The Head looked at Katamari angrily. “Why would I listen to a boy?”

Frustrated, Katamari punched his hand into his fist. Why wouldn’t he listen to him? His parents had been killed by the volcano! Wasn’t that enough? Calming down, he tried to speak rationally. “I’m sorry, sir, I was out of place.”

“Right you are,” he replied, less than graciously.

“But,” Katamari continued. “you are not being reasonable. You must surely understand that if you populate that area again, the people will end up being destroyed by the volcano.”

The Head smiled, easing the tensions of the room. “I understand your concern, for your parents were killed by it, were they not? But, I’m afraid I would need more reason than that not to rebuild the city. Many are without homes, and other cities, even in the Forest, are becoming too crowded. Under the volcano is the only place left.”

Seeing that he was dismissed, Katamari left the Head’s mansion. This was so unfair. What if they just built more homes in the other cities? Or even the villages? He sighed. Politics, unfortunately, were still beyond his grasp. Feeling a need to vent out his anger, he headed for the Kourahn City Dojo. Maybe if he was lucky they would accept him into it as a member this time, instead of just an overseeing guest. He had watched the contestants that fought there for many years, and he had even learned a few tricks from them, things he practiced elsewhere in spare time. He also hoped someday to fight against Rykong, the best of the best from the KCD. Smiling at his hopeless dream, Katamari walked down the cobblestone street until he approached a flat roof, white building.

Nation Of Fire : Somewhere in the woods

Haseo was sitting on a tree branch. The shadows of the leaves was broken by sun rays that were penetrating through the trees and hiting Haseo's face.
He would turned his head from left to right from time to time. Then he would gazee at some birds that would fly over the trees. Bird's singing combining with wind that would make leaves dance would form an excelent song. That and smell of nature would make one feel at peace.

'' Haseo! ''
He heard his name that echoed through trees. Haseo slowly turned his head and looked down.
There was some man dressed in black robe. A long time friend of Haseo

'' Hey, com'on down! The caravan will soon come. We better prepare!''
Haseo slowly stood up one the branch
'' Yeah, I'm coming down ''
Haseo jumps down on the ground and then together with this one they started running through the woods. Along the way more of them showed up. The were all from the Nattion of Fire. They were all ninjas. Some of them were high class ones.

When they got near the open road they all hid on their possitions. The waited for some time.
Carriage appeared in their line of vision. It was followed by some men on horses. When they arrived near enough the ninjas of fire jumped down in front of them.
Two ninjas that were fallowing that caravan all the way olso came down. The served as the protection if ambush happens. They were Miroku and Kamuyo.

Miroku started walking toward the group of ninjas and says
'' There was no need for you to come here. As you can see, everything went well.''
The leader from ninja group stepped out and answered
'' We did only what we were sent to do. Our mission is to take you back safely to our nation.
'' Awright, mission was sucsess but it's not over yet. Let's head home together''
The ninja leader nods and orders ninja to follow the caravan silently.
Before Haseo jumped together with others he looked at his brother and smilled. He was realived that he returned safely.

Nation of Shadow; Kourahn City Dojo

Walking into the Dojo, Katamari stayed along the wall as he walked into the fighting arena. Just his luck. Rykong was there, and he was fighting another contendor, someone Katamari did not know. He must be a newer member. Katamari walked to the official who was mediating the fight.

“I would like a chance to fight Rykong.”

The official glanced at him, his gaze sweeping from down to up. Then he nodded. “What are you betting?”

“If I win, I can train here at the Dojo. If I lose...then I’ll try again later.” The official nodded. The fight ended shortly there-after, and Katamari saw as the official spoke to Rykong. Rykong’s eyebrows raised as he looked at Katamari. But he nodded anywas, accepting the fight. Smiling inside, Katamari stepped into the center of the floor. There weren’t many people in here, most had left after the previous match had ended, either to go about their lives elsewhere, or to train in the Training Room of the Dojo. Few stayed to watch Rykong’s next match.

“So,” Rykong spoke in a deep voice. “I am told you challanged me. I will not go easy on you, even if you are new here. Understood?” Katamari nodded. “What is your name?”

“Katamari Kisuko.”

“Very well then. You know me already, but for formalities sake, I am Rykong Junoa.” Rykong entered his fighting stance, by placing his feet apart and crouching down low, hands out. Katamari stood there, waiting for his enemy to make a move. Rykong kicked out with his foot. Katamari’s right arm flew out to his side, allowing his body to sway to the right, barely evading Rykong’s force.

“Impressive. I underestimated your abilities. But you’re going to need to do better than that.” Rykong leaped up into the air in a somersault and landed on Katamari’s other side. Spinning around, Katamari brought his arms up instinctively, trying to block Rykong’s punches. Two of the four made contact with his face. Staggering backwards, Katamari felt his mouth. Blood was issuing forth, but there was little pain. He could manage. Rykong came at him again, but Katamari let his feet slip out in front of him, bringing him to a sitting position. Rykong’s punches missed. Bringing up his knee, Katamari hit Rykong.

“Uhhn!” Rykong’s hand went down. Instinctive reflexes like that Katamari hadn’t counted on. Quickly getting to his feet, he hit at Rykong, giving him a bloody nose. Growling, Rykong kicked at Katamari’s chest, but Katamari ducked down and grabbed onto Rykong’s other leg, forcing him to crash to the floor. They began wrestling on the ground until Rykong had Katamari in a headlock.

“You fought well. But you still need to do better.”

Frustrated, Katamari stood up. He had lost. Now he wouldn’t be able to train in the Dojo. Before he left, he bowed to Rykong as a sign of respect, and much to his surprise, Rykong returned one. Katamari left the Dojo, feeling the blood at his mouth. It tasted bitter. He had had the foolish hope of beating Rykong with no prior training. It had been a foolish gesture. Unsure of what to do next, Katamari headed back to his home so he could think his next move through.

Nation fo Wind; Outside the Northern Gate.

The fog grew thicker as he approached the Nation of Wind. Soon, the fog kept Thend from seeing far infront of him and he had to navigate using the sun. "The sun rises giving Life, and sets with the Wind, or so the old folk-tale goes." Thend said to himself.
It was later afternoon, so the sun began to set, and Thend folllowed it. The ground beneath Thends feet became soft, like it has recently been torn up. The smell of blood grew thick in the air, shivers ran down Thends' back.
"I h-hope there aren't any d-d-demons or b-bad people around." Thend said stuttering.
The fog rose slowly, almost unnartualy. You have to be kdding me.. There was just heavily thick fog, and now it just dissapeard? Somethings wrong. Most certantly wrong.
"Ah, Ha! The Norther Gate of the Naiton fo Wind!.. Oh god.."
Laying roughly fourty feet infron of Thend were Wind soldiers, badly lashed and torn up. Thend began to run to the Gates in search of help for the fallen soldiers. Past the soldiers, laid a man no older than himself, and he was moving.
"Stay still, I'll help you!" Said Thend, before tripping over a cluster of dirt. His speed, mixed with his fall sent Then tumbling towards the fallen commoner until he collided with him.
"Ow! What the Hell is your problem?!' He said.
"..I... I was just trying to help" Thend replied
"So by helpnig, you mean trying to hit me unconscience?"
Thend blushed, "Sorry bro."
The stranger got up on his feet, picked up a large sword and hilted it upon his back.
"Isn't that too heavy?" Thend asked, getting up.
"..Nope."
Thend stared at the stranger for awhile and then asked, "My names Thend, yours?"
Thend waitted for an answer, wich only came after the man started walking away.
"I go by Echo, and don't call me Bro anymore."
Thend followed behind Echo, wondering if he knew how to get inside with the gate shut. Echo approached the large metalic gate, raised his right fist and banged against the door, hard. "Let me in! The demon is slain, along with soldiers!"

Silence.

"Let me in damnit!" Echo continued to bang on the large door.
"Stand back so I can open the gate!" Someone behind the wall yelled, and Echo stepped back. The doors creased open, and a medical team stormed out before Echo could walk in.
"So.. What do you do with your time, Echo?" Echo and Thend walked in.
"Why are you following me?!"
"I dont know, I can't even remember why im hear."
"Where did you come from..?"
"Nation of Life. Why?" replied Thend.
"It takes days to get here on foot, and you cant remember anything?!!?"
"Not really. Last thing I remember was, I was dancing with some trees, and this giant wolf came out. I hopped on his back and we flew into the clouds."
"You annoy me." Said Echo irretated.

Echo and Thend walked throughout the Nation, traveling from town to town until night fell. Echo still didn't know why this Thend person insisted on staying with Echo, and Thend was getting annoying. "Where are you going to sleep?" Asked Thend.
"Not with you I hope.."
Thend laughed, "Ha ha silly, I wouldnt sleep with you. Only next to you!"
"Not even that, is going to happen. If you value your life." Relpied Echo.
"Where are you going tomorrow?" Thend asked.
"If you must know, I am going to Earth Nation. I heard I can kill people for money there."
"Can.. I come with you?"
"Oh, NOW you ask to follow me!" Echo said sarcasticaly, "What made you follow sicne you collided into me anyway?"
"I guess its because.. Well, im all alone. I wonder from Nation to Nation. Town to town, city to city. It seems hard to make friends.."
Echo stared at Thend, He's alone too eh? Well, I guess that explains why hes following me. When i was back in the group-home, all I did was follow other.
"You may follow if you wish, but don't slow me down." Said Echo, Thend's face lit up.
"Friends?! Are we?!"
"..Not quiet, heh" Said Echo.

The two continued to walk to the edge of the city, where is boarders on the water. Echo and Thend watched the sun set. Shades of purple, reds and blues streaked across the sky. Echo leaned back and fel against the sand, it was soft and warm. "This is where I sleep." He said.
Thend looked around, trying to find a place that didn't have much sand, he didn't want to get any in his hair.
"Nothing but sand. Its comfortable." Said Echo, slowly drifting to sleep.
Thend dug into his shirt and pulled out an flute carved out of wood. Thend began to play, the notes and rythmes he played ran through Echo's ear beautifuly. The ground beneath Thends feet grew wildly with grass, roses and tulips.
Not Everything has to be sand.
Thend returned the flute into his shirt and laid down upon the newly grown earth. The flowers smelled lovely, as the just bloomed. Putting his arms behind his head, Thend starred at the dusk sky, looking at all of its various colors in awe. This never happend at the Nation of Life. Thend slowly drifted to sleep, Echo was already way ahead of him. The wind blew east, and a low whistle was heard, Thend fell asleep.

Desert Arena

Kohaku turned his back on the battle, and went to a merchant. The next minute would be preparations. Kuyoshi would have to end this quickly if they were to finish their mission.

"Excuse me. I would like one of those umbrellas."

The merchant looked at him confused.

"It's not windy out. Why would you want an umbrella?"

Kohaku shrugged, and handed him a silver piece. He was given one of the umbrellas, and took his seat again. Kuyoshi had almost completed the seals necessary. Kohaku turned to the other people near him.

"I advise you to hide your head."

They laughed at him, which caused a sigh to escape Kohaku's lips. He opened his umbrella, and watched the match.

Kuyoshi finished the last of the seals on his body. Zaisha had been busy with his own seals. His were finished just after Kuyoshi's.

"Your turn Zaisha. I want to see what you have before I kill you."

Zaisha activated them, and formed Shinobi out of rocks.

"It's the Earth-Clone technique. Very effective. I doubt you could do anything to these, even with your most powerful attack."

Kuyoshi didn't reply, but leapt back a hundred meters from Zaisha. Concentrating his Chakra, he activated his bloodline. His eyes began to glow with an inner fire, and the seals erupted in black flames. Bringing his arms into an X on his chest, he gathered wind around them. Zaisha was smart enough to guess that if he remained exposed, his body would be obliterated, and gathered sandstone around himself like a shield. Kuyoshi released the wind, along with the flames.

"Kuyokaze!"

Kohaku put down the umbrella, and formed sand over it. A huge windstorm seemed to be coming from the inside of the Arena, and the lower parts of the wall were getting scorched. Anything living in the Arena burst into flames. After two minutes, the winds died down. The Earth Clones were dust, only a few boulders remained where they had been blown into the wall. Zaisha's sandstone shield had protected his body from the wind, but he had been cooked alive by the extreme heat. The rock was beginning to get soft, but was not quite melted yet.

Nobody needed to announce the winner. Kuyoshi simply walked off the field, and went into the lockers were he meditated, recovering his Chakra. Kohaku almost smiled, but decided against it. He had noticed a certain figure in the crowd, the person they had been assigned to kill. With Kuyoshi completely exhausted from using Kuyokaze, Kohaku knew that he would have to complete the job. He began a chant, which drew stares from the already astonished spectators. A huge sandstorm began to brew, and hit the Arena instantly. The sand remained suspended in the air, blinding everyone. When it had cleared Kohaku was nowhere to be seen, and neither was the Target. Kuyoshi had noticed these events, and left the building in a hurry. He found Kohaku outside, the body of the target on a Sandworm. A spear made of compacted sand was still sticking through his neck.

"Get on Kuyoshi. I already grabbed the money, and I got who we're supposed to kill."

Kuyoshi nodded, still out of breath. He got onto the back of the giant sandworm, and immediatly fell asleep in the saddle.

Race and his freind headed out to the arena. They stood on opposite sides of the feild, shrouded in darkness for so long, this blaze would surley distract the crowd. Race charged right at the other man, just so the man could launch himself right at Race. Their swords colided, and with the sparks, a flame ignited, Race at first was caught off guard by this mans mastery in the use of fire, but after race caught his footing,he answered with his Dark Air ball, cutting through the flames, and letting release, putting out the fire. The crowd cheered at the performance.

Race again came at his opponent, this time, using his Shadows fury ability. His foe answered with great blast of fire, right into the middle of them. All of the shadow clones vanished. Race came through the balze and stabbed his foe in the right arm. "Now," Race whispered to him, and the area they where in caught on fire, Race ran for one gate, while his partner the other. Race made it out, but they shot the fire user with their bows.

Race ran for the main city, he had escaped for the third time from that arena, and did not plan on getting again. He headed for Kourahn City, there he could hide for a while at least before leaving.

When he reached the city, he headed straight for the dojo, there he was known by no one. When he arrived, he saw a boy just losing a fight to the who appeared to be the dojo leader. He entered as the boy left, looking him in the eyes, and noticing a bloodyed lip, the boy looked upset. He thought he had found his chance, he turned around and followed the boy to his home, there he waited till the young man went inside.

Race approached the door and knocked. He intended to offer this boy a deal. If the boy would take Race in and hide him, he would beat the man at the dojo for the boy, so they may take him in and train him. Of course, they sould have to accept the thought of letting another man do the fighting for the boy. But Race was sure this young man deserved the training.

Nation of Shadow; Katamari’s House


Thinking about the battle as he walked inside his home, Katamari knew he probably shouldn’t have been so hasty in making his decision to fight Rykong. Rykong was the best of the best in the Dojo, so it truly was silly to have thought he could beat him without any prior training. Sitting down in a chair he shut his eyes. However, as soon as he slumped into the seat, a knock came at the door. Wondering who on earth would come to see him, of all people, he stood up. He didn’t have any friends, or at least close ones, they had all died when the Mt. Tanahi erupted. Shrugging, he figured he might as well see who it was. It might even be someone from the Dojo.

Opening the door, Katamari’s eyebrows raised slightly. It was most definitely not someone from the Dojo. In fact, the man looked like he had been through hell just on his way to Katamari’s house. Rather sheepishly, Katamari introduced himself, bowing slightly as a sign of respect. “My name is Katamari Kisuko. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” He asked, ushering the man inside and offering him a seat on his three person couch.

Katamari’s home was a humble abode, with only two rooms. A kitchen and a living room, which was where he slept. It was a messy place, but he did his best to keep it clean. The floor was ebony wood from the nearby forest, and the walls were made of cedar, a somewhat odd combination. He didn’t keep any food inside his house, except for cold drinks. Whenever he was hungry he used that as an excuse to leave his home.

As he waited for the man to sit, Katamari got him a glass of cold water. He didn’t know if the man would want it, but Katamari was thirsty from his fight, and he thought it rude if he would drink without offering anything to the man himself, even if he didn’t want it. Sitting down, Katamari listened to what the man had to say.

Giant door opened and caravan slowly started to walk through it. The guards nodded to ninjas for their fine work. Some men, it seemed as they were noble people from Ochi Palace came closer to some members of caravan and they started talking.
The riders unmounted their horses and took them away. Some guards came and helped them with their cargo. It seems that trade went well this time.
Haseo stood there with other ninjas that were ordered to meet with the caravan in half of the way. He wasn't briefed much about this mission. His only duty was to protect it until it's safe.
'' You guys did a good job. You are dismissed now.'' The leader of their group said that and joined in the conversation with the rest of the people who were carrying some cargo.

The two ninjas faced in front of each other , close to Haseo, and started talking
Ninja 1. '' I wonder what was in that cargo?''
Ninja 2. '' Beats me. I heard some rumors that those are exchanges goods from some other nation. It's very classified so common ninjas know nothing about it.
They both turned around to Haseo and asked
Ninja 2. '' Hey you know something about this? Did your brother mentioned anything? ''
Haseo slowly looked at that shinobi and answered.
'' If we don't need to know then why bother. The little you know the lesser you'll think about it.''
The two ninjas looked at Haseo and after brief moment they walked away from him. Haseo just pretended not to care but in reality it really pissed him off.
'' Damn it, I hate running around and helping in same stupid errand missions. I wan't to know does it have any purpose? I wan't to fight in my missions not doing the patrol'' he says to himself.

He stood there for a while and after his brother finished talking with the nobles he decides to talk to him. Haseo walked a few steps until he was behind his brother, Kamuyo.
'' I'ts good to see you safe big brother. How was your mission?''
Kamuyo smiled a bit and answered
'' Pretty good. I have heard that you are doing an outstanding job in your missions''
'' Yeah, by wasting my time..'' Haseo complained
'' You will go in more exciting missions very soon trust me. Just keep on training''
'' I will. Speaking of training, let's go train together. You can help me in some techniques that I want to perfect.''
''Not today little brother, I have to make a report about this mission. Maybe later.''
'' What was in that cargo. I can pretend it doesn't concern me but some exchanges have been done in a great deal lately. Why is that? ''
'' Nothing that is worth your time. If your teachers want you to know they will tell you.''
Kamuyo laughed and putted his arm on Haseo's shoulder. And after that he turned around and left with some other ninjas.
Haseo stood there for a while watching his brother from the distance. He decided to go train on his own.

The Desert - Lake of Crystals

Kohaku walked into the huge natural formations, the center of the Desert's largest city. As the largest terrain in the entire World, the Desert might as well have been an entirely seperate nation, but uprisings had been crushed continually by Earth, and so the Desert had remained. Kohaku sighed, and continued onto the Rendevous point. It was located near the underground stream, which had been suspended in Crystal. The river was visible to anyone who would pay the sum to get in. Or those who had connections to the Rebels, who convieniantly made the Crystal Caverns their home. Kohaku just happened to be a former Rebel.

"Hey sandy boy! Your blocking the view!"

Kohaku stopped where he was. He knew what the man was looking at, one of the hentai shops next to Kohaku. He let out another sigh. The city, even with it's huge amount of money, was a center for crime. The man was drunk, and was starting to get angry. He took a bottle, and smashed it over Kohaku's head.

"I don't appreciate that sir."

The man laughed for a second, but was drawn into a dark alley by sand. His screams were muffled, and then silenced completely.

"Baka."

Kohaku walked a bit more, past the opium houses, and past the homeless. For as long as he could remeber, this had been his home, out among the streets. His parents were well off, but he had been cast out. As a Fox, he had first activated his Spirit when a gang of older children had threatened him. He was found later, crying, surrounded by skeletons polished smooth by sand. The boys never reported home, and they were assumed to be killed by Kohaku. His parents feared for their image, and cast him out into the streets. He had never shed a tear since.

"Do you have the money?"

His contact nodded.

"I have the body."

The body rose from the sand. Kohaku had carried it the entire time under the surface, in order to hide it from watchful guards. His contact handed him a bag of jewels, and Kohaku left.

OOC: There, wrapped up my introduction.

OOC: I know "baka" means idiot in japanese but in the language of my country it means grandmother. Not really cool eh?

IC:

Nation of Shadow

In a town which was located in a forest on a safe distance from the volcano, was an abandoned and secluded house. No one ever came to that house. Many have forgotten about it's existence and many others never even knew about it. It was a perfect meeting point.

Inside, Dimmu was standing in the middle of a large room which appeared to be a living room. He has been coming here for quite some time, meeting his contact and receiving missions. A perfect spy as he was, is a valuable asset for any conspiracy.

Today he waited for the contact longer than usual. Then his eyes looked trough the walls of the house and saw a man approaching. A stranger to his eyes, but yet again he has never seen the face of his contact. Maybe he decided not to hide it anymore, but that would be unprofessional.

The man entered the house and closed the door behind him. Dimmu frowned and waited for the explanation.

"You are Dimmu are you not?" The man asked.
After some thought Dimmu replied. "Yes."
"Good, I just wanted to make sure that I am killing the right person." Said the man with a sense of scorn.

Without a second thought, Dimmu takes a kunai from his belt and throws it at the man. The kunai thrusts into the mans chest and the body turns into smoke. A Shadow Replication! He thought. But before he could look around, the man jumps from the attic down on Dimmu and thrusts a kunai into his head. Dimmu's body turns to smoke as well. Bewildered, the man starts looking around. At that moment Dimmu starts coming out of the man's shadow, which was casted behind his back. When he came out long enough, he thrusts a kunai into the man's neck and the blood starts gushing out. This time it's the real one.

Turning around, the man sees the rest of Dimmu's body coming out of the shadow.
"The shadows..." He gurgles and starts walking towards the door. He was walking like a drunk man, spilling blood all over the floor. He exited the house and looked at the sky. He could barely see it of all the trees. Then he fell to the ground, dead.

Dimmu approaches him and takes out the kunai from his neck, cleans it and attaches it back to his belt. Being a spy, he instinctively searches his body. There was nothing except for kunais and a letter. Upon opening the letter, he recognizes the hand writing. It was the same hand writing of the letters he received from his contact. He started reading it.

Kuzu,

This is a job of utmost importance. You will go to the house I told you about. There you will find a man, Dimmu is his name. I do not need him anymore so you are to take care of him. Second, and this is the main part of your job, you will go to the Nation of Fire. There are two men, brothers, whom I want you to monitor and gather information about them. Their names: Kamuyo and Haseo Hayashi. Report back to me in a month. I want progress.

P.S. Beware of the shadows.

Dimmu frowns, folds the letter and puts it into his pocket. Nation of Fire... You will regret trying to kill me. Having no personal possessions, Dimmu sets on a journey to the Nation of Fire immediately.

Surpried by the young mans great hospitality, Race accepted the glass of water, but before taking a seat, he introduced himself. "I am Race, and I am here to offer you a" he pauses to think of the right word. "Compramise." Race bowed with his words, then took a seat.

Race looked at his surroundings, and relized this boy was kind of alone, though Race was unsure why, then again, he needed shelter right now. "You see, the reason I am such a mess, is because I just escaped the shinobi arena. Few know of it, though, those that do, are either there for entertainment, or because they broke the law. The reason I was there, is because I am from the wind nation, and illegaly crossed borders." He sighed, "Anyways, I noticed you have little to no training, and there for, can not get into the local dojo. However, I thought, that if you were give me shelter from the law, for the time being, then I will defeat the best fighter in the dojo, if I can. If I fail, or they deny my challenge, then I will leave you be, or perhaps teach you how to fight in the basics that I was taught by my master deep in the shadow forest."

Race took a drink of the water, and twitched his ear, he heard someone fighting, though it was to far away for him to care, a simple struggle between shinobi, so common. He looked back at Katamari, "So, Katamari-san, do you accept my offer?"

Nation of Shadow; Katamari’s House

Katamari felt two emotions as he listened to the Race. Awe and a pang of hurt. The awe from what he had come through just to see Katamari, and the hurt from the fact it was so obvious he had no training. Pushing aside those two feelings, Katamari thought this through as thouroughly as he could. He didn’t know entirely what situation Race was in. From what he said, he escaped from the Shinobi Arena, evidently a place where evicted criminals go. So, if he accepts Race’s offer, he would be in league with a criminal. However, Race had only tried to cross the border of the Nation of Wind to get to Shadow. Could he be all that bad? Katamari doubted it. This Race fellow almost sounded like he himself. Hadn’t he, so long ago, wished to travel beyond the borders of his home? The answer, most assuredly, was yes. He had always wished to journey to different lands, see the world. He also hoped to become a great Shinobi warrior, however, he doubted that would happen.

Thinking about Race’s offer, Katamari wanted to say yes. But the pang of hurt crept up again. Why did it have to be so painstakingly obvious that he was not trained? Laughing at himself silently, Katamari told himself he was an idiot. Race was offering to get him into the Dojo. Why should he refuse. But...a different thought entirely struck him. Why learn from Rykong when there was obviously someone better to learn from? Had not Race said he learned from the Master of the Shadow Forest? Why not learn from Race himself?

“Alright,” Katamari started. “I’ll shelter you here from the law until it’s safe for you to go. However, I ask for something different in return. I do not wish to recieve training from Rykong, Master of the Dojo. In fact, could you not teach me the skills you have learned? I feel that since you have seen the world, and Rykong-san has not, you would be a better teacher. Is this condition acceptable to you?” Offering himself the chance to get hopeful, Katamari waited for Race’s reply in breathless anticipation.

"Are we there yet?" Thend moaned.
Echo just sighed, he still questioned how Thend managed to come along, and why he was so persistant.
Thats right.. Echo thought, He just wants a friend
The two were traveling across the flat plains, north east of the Nation of Wind. There destination was the Nation of Earth, for Echo's personal gain, but their path had to make them cut through the Nation of Fire. A good mid-way point in their travel, but Echo was still unpleased at the pit stop. It was a clear day outside, minor clouds, and the sun aimed high. Thend, arroused by the beauty of nature today, took out his flute. He started to play, and as he played he swayed his head left and right, minutes later, he danced to his own toon.
It would be very awkward for me to ask if he's straight, right about now.. Echo thought, and smiled for a second.
Throughout Thend's one-man parade, he continously bumped into Echo. Echo didn't seem to care much, however if it were anyone else, it would have bothered him. Only because the music Thend was able to play, and was playing, put
Echo to ease, and strangly made him feel 'happy'.
"You have quite a talent playing that thing, Thend." Said Echo, Thend stopped playing to reply.
"Tha-"
"No, no. Please, continue" Laughed Echo, "I didn't mean to intrude." Thend nodded, and played once more.

They reached the Nation of Fire within hours, but since the traveled with the sun, it seemed to never set. They both
entered the Nation side by side, Thend was still playing his flute and Echo never grew bored of it. It was a small town, with a little population, it was merely a branch-off town from the big city. Eventually, after walking through the town, Echo and Thend reached the part where the sub-town ended, and the Nation really started. Similar to the Nation of Wind, two gigantic metal doors layed before the two, and upon those two doors layed the Fire symbol across it.
"Two merchants would like access into the Fire Nation!" Yelled Echo.
A pause, a middle aged man(so it seemed) popped up from above the right door. He clearly hasn't shaved, and probably hasn't been with a woman since. He responded
"You two don't look like merchants! What do you sell?"
Echo looked at Thend, looking for an answer. Thend found one.
"We are Hentai Merchants! We possess only the latest from Wind Nation!"
The gates-man paused, and yelled, "Open the gates!"

Echo leaned near Thend, and whispered,
"Quick thinking."
"..Perverts" Said Thend with a sigh.

The gates opend most of the way and they entered. Upon their enterance, they met the gate's man whom wished to know what they sell. He was seemed very eager, "Well, let me see it. I'll be the first too-" The gate's man was cut
short by Echo's right fist against his left cheek. The gaurd fell to ground in pain. "You inconsiderate fool!" He yelled, unsheathing his sword. At the same speed, Echo did the same. The two had thier weapons out and pointed towards eachother, except Echos' Cleaver hovered over the guards head, while the guards tiny sword was a foot away from Echo's chest.
"I have more reach, this wouldn't take long." Echo said, with a threatening smile.
I can't have them do this.. Thend said to himself.

The guard was shaking, knowing he would die he he attacked, Thend approached from behind. Silently taking out his flute, wich he had put inside his shirt before they entered, he hit the guard(gate man) over the back of his head, knocking him unconscience. Echo sighed, but was slightly releaved that he did not have to stain his sword with
an unworthy-apponents blood. Echo hilted Cleaver back upon his back and nodded at Thend, a silent 'Nice work'.
The two left the guard sleeping on the ground and entered the city/Nation.

Nation of Fire; Valley of Ashes.

After being in town for some time,
"Sheesh, more like th Valley of Perverts. I mean, look at it all!"
Thend pointed to the vast amount of shops before them, as they walked by. "It's just all Hentai!"
Echo laughed, "Good place to grow up as a child, I suppose."
Thend was quiet, and moraly scared by the vast amounts of Hentai, and the amounts actually being sold.
"Lets just get outta this place soon." Said Thend.
Echo just nodded, and the vastened their pace.
"Lets find an inn, and rest for a bit" Said Echo.

Ochi Palace

Kuyoshi removed the crust from his eyes, and looked around. Kohaku hadn't returned from the previous night. Just to be sure, Kuyoshi checked Kohaku's room, and saw that the bed was made. He shrugged, and began to get dressed. Kohaku walked out of the bathroom, in a towel. They both screamed.

"##### Kohaku! Can't you say your coming out!"

Kohaku twitched, and averted his eyes.

"Kuyoshi...please...pull up your pants..."

Kuyoshi looked down, and realized that he only had his shirt on. He pulled up pants, and then sighed. Kohaku made sure it was safe to look. Kuyoshi looked at the mask he was wearing.

"Don't you ever take that off?"

"No."

Kohaku went into his room. Kuyoshi began to get curious as to what was behind his mask. He decided that he would find out! He dressed himself in his battle armor, leaving his robes behind. Kohaku emerged shortly after, dressed just as when Kuyoshi found him in the desert.

"Hey Kohaku! I'll treat you to lunch!"

Kohaku shrugged, and they both left for the dining room. They arrived at it, and took one of the many tables. The chef came out, and handed them a bowl of rice, tea, and placed the meat on the barbeque. They both waited until the meat was cooked. Kuyoshi waited to see how Kohaku would get the food through the mask. A stream of sand appeared, and covered the food. It pulled back, and disappeared. Kohaku gave a satisfied sigh.

"D-d-did you just eat food with...sand?"

Kohaku nodded cooly. Kuyoshi twitched. He left out a hmmph, and ate his meal, although grudgingly. When he was finished, he paid the chef and left. Kuyoshi needed another plan. Suddenly, he had an idea!

"He Kohaku! Wanna go to the Valley of the Ashes? My treat!"

Kohaku shrugged again, and they both left. They arrived in about an hour. Kuyoshi directed Kohaku to one of the houses, and they went in.

"This man here wants a room, and ladies."

Kohaku slapped him, and blushed.

"Come on Kohaku! You never even look at women!"

"Yes I do."

"The last time I saw you look at a women, was when you were fighting here. And she ended up dead!"

This caused the manager to panic a bit, but Kuyoshi calmed her down. He convinced Kohaku to take a room, and brought up a few of the ladies. He waited to see how it would go.

"A little privacy Kuyoshi."

Kuyoshi felt a vein pop in his forehead, but he smiled, and left. He waited outside the room, angrily. Two hours later, Kohaku emerged from the room. Kuyoshi went in to see what had happened.

"Harra? Harra?"

Both girls had changed into respectable clothing, and the bottle of Sake had been neatly arranged. The entire room had been cleaned, and the coach hadn't even been used.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS GUY?!?!?!"

Kuyoshi decided it was time to be direct, and ran up to Kohaku. He grabbed the mask, and pulled it down. Kohaku's face came with it.

"Why won't this thing come off!"

Kohaku continued to be jerked around by Kuyoshi, until finally the later was exhausted. Kohaku stood up straight and dusted himself off.

"Do you want to see what's behind the mask?"

Kuyoshi nodded eagerly. Kohaku pulled down the cloth....revealing....

"SWEET GODS WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING!!!"

Kohaku pulled the cloth back up over his mouth, and proceeded to wake up the manager. Kuyoshi found a small corner to huddle in. Kohaku sighed, and left.

OOC: Yes, it's a blatantly obvious Naruto parody, from the only good filler episode. Needed a filler.

Shadow Nation- forest of shadows

"Katamari, I accept your offer," as he bowed again. "Now, do you have a bath or something I may use." Katamari nodded, and led Race to the bath in the middle of town. Race entered, and when he saw no one around, he quickly washed up, being sure to scrub at his fur patches and hair. When he returned to Katamaris', he told him they would have to go to the Shadow Forest in the morning. They both went to bed soon, Race sleeping in one of bedrooms on the floor, while Katamari slept in the livingroom, as he claimed he always did.

In the morning they headed off to the forest, which wasn't far from the town. Soon they were trudging through the it, Race leading the way. A branch reached up and snagged Races ear, which made him jump as it cut his skin. "Damnit," he cursed.

Katamari looked at him questioningly, "What?" he asked.

"There are creatures here, deep in the forest, I would rather not mention, though, they come for the smell of blood, as you can see, I just cut myself." There was howl in the nearby. "I know not the name of most of these beast, but i do know that the one you just heard, appears like half man, half wolf. Though, they are mindless, beast, that is all they are. They are simple to kill if you understand their movements, and for ninja and shinobi, a pointless, all force creature. Comming at you wildly. I do beleive your training starts here, kill this, and I know you are not joke, that is all it will tell me though, but if I must save you, then return home, and I will live here in the forest, seeing as they do not want me, a shadow user, back in the wind nation." Race smiled as the beast approaced, its face covered in dry blood, and a grin on showing its yellowed teath, it walked on two legs, and its arms were as long as its legs were. T hand man like hands, but they were clawed and covered in blood crusted fur. As it approached, Race stepped away, preparing his Dark Air ball just in case he needed it. But first he gave one of Katanas to Katamari. "Good luck, this will be your first lesson, how to kill a brute."

Nation of Fire : Woods, close to Ochi's Gates

Haseo concentrated his chakra for a bit and started doing handseals. With each seal he made a different sign with his hands.
'' Dragon , Ape , Horse , Bird , Tiger! ''

Souryuuha!

He put his hand down and started collecting chakra in his hand. The fire has started to burn and his hand slowly began to be affected by it.
'' More, I need more power! ''
He talked as he pushed his chakra Even further to maximize the strenght in his hand. The flame became bigger as well as it's necessity for grater control. Haseo gave the best he has but the flame began to shrink little by little until it was completely gone. This useless try ate another gouge od chakra. Two tries and two misses.
'' Damn it...'' he said it with anger. He returned his hand from the ground and straighten himself up. He looked down for a few moments then he closed his eyes and said loudly

'' Quit hiding you two. Come on out!''
The two ninjas came out of the trees. It was one male and a female. They came closer to Haseo.
He knew them. The female was named Mizuki and that male was Van. He knew them a long time. They are good friends with Haseo, they knew each other from younger days.
'' Why do you always train here in the woods outside the castle gates? '' asks Mizuki
'' I need to concentrate. The nature is perfect for that. The training ground is always full of people and with all the yelling and sword clashing I can't think straight.'' Haseo answers
'' Yeah well, good thing guards always let's you through. Anyway, we are here because there is new mission asigned to be taken care of. You want to join?''
Haseo finally turns to them. His eyes were telling that he is interested already.
'' It depends... what kind of?''
'' Trading again. It seems like there are some mercenaries hired to stop that trading. Most of the other people of other nations would like to Ochi palace fall but... with us, the most powerful ninjas out there will never see that happen!'' Van says
'' If we never lost our country before doesn't mean that it'll never happen. But, about this mission, who signed for it?'' Haseo asked

'' It is an A rank mission. Only ninjas of higher lever are free to sign in. The mission was given by someone from Ochi's nobles. The cargo isn't food or supplies. It is stated as unknown.''
'' Unknown? With what country of nation will it be exchanged?'' asked Haseo
''Nation of Life. Don't know the details but as soon as we saw it we wanted to tell you that. You were bragging how boring the mission were in a past few months.'' Mizuki says
'' I see...'' Haseo slowly answers
'' We are not gonna join. We already have other stuff to do. Will you?'' asked Van
'' It sounds dangerous... which is good. I shall look more into this. Thanks for telling me'' Haseo thanked them and left for Ochi palace.

Nation of Shadow; Forest of Shadows


Trembling, Katamari accepted the katana. Perhaps he seemed to be trembling out of fear, but in fact he was anxious, excited. This was his first encounter with an animal, a beast. Thus far he had only known the fighters in the village, not this foul creature that stood before him. Making a firm grip on his sword, he held it in his right hand, his left arm somewhat behind him. He had trouble if his left arm was in front of him. He always feared he would begin waving it around mindlessly, in the end accidentally wounding himself. So, he kept it well behind him, out of danger.

Suddenly, the beast attacked him. Its attack knocked him down. Getting up quickly, Katamari began circling it. Then, swiftly, he thrust out with the katana, striking the wolf-like creature’s arm. It snarled, but didn’t seem to be wounded. The beast lunged at Katamari, hitting the sword out of his hand. Katamari sighed, he always did have a bad grip on things.

Jumping up and catching a tree branch, Katamari hung onto it with his hands and began swinging. The beast, figuring it had an easy target, ran towards him. Gathering enough momentum, Katamari swung off the branch, landing behind the beast. Hitting its back hard with his right palm, he felt time stop. A sharp, electric shock drove through his body as a black shadow issued from his palm onto the creature’s back. It fell down, dead. Falling to his knees, Katamari felt dizzy. What had he just done? His head felt heavy, his body weak. His eyes rolled back into his head and he fainted onto the ground.

OOC: We'll start soon Cloud, on your post.

IC:

Ochi Palace - Training Grounds

"Alright boys, line up!"

The ranks of ninja trainees drew themselves into military formation, two lines of ten, each shoulder-width apart. Kuyoshi smiled. Just like little obedient robots weren't they. He shook his head.

"You, the one with the long hair. Over here, now."

One of the ninja stepped out of the ranks, and came to where Kuyoshi was standing. An oil soaked barrle was on a stone pillar. Kuyoshi pointed to it.

"Light that one fire, from twenty meters."

The man boy stood back. Kuyoshi looked him over. He wasn't over thirteen, like most of the ninja trainees. Twenty yards was well beyond his range. Kuyoshi was looking for the technique used; if it was by the book, Kuyoshi would know instantly. Even someone as young as he was knew what the manuals and scrolls said to do for techniques.

"Kuuton!"

A small ball of fire came from the boys mouth, but didn't even go a meter. Kuyoshi shook his head.

"Break formation, all of you. Now, stop doing things the way your told. Especially with fire techniqes. Next to Wind, their the most unconventional and individual of all the techniques. Each person makes their fire come out different. Some people use handsigns, others can use phrases. You used what the book said. Kuuton. Try something different. Here, watch me."

He turned to the barrle, and thirty meters. He cupped his hands around his mouth, and opened one end.

"Kuyokuuton!"

A huge black stream came out of his mouth, heating the air around it incredibly. The barrel lit before the fire even reached it. Kuyoshi stopped feeding chakra, and the fire died down.

"Now go around with a piece of wood against the stone wall, and just play around. You'll get it faster that way."

Kuyoshi held up a piece of wood as an example. A hard sand spike went straight through it. It was Kohaku.

"Mission time."

Kuyoshi nodded, and brought another instructor over, to make sure nobody caught on fire. Kuyoshi laughed at the memory of when he caught on fire....and was then interrupted by Kohaku. He spoke in a whisper.

"There's a caravan departing. We've been assigned to guard it."

"Sounds routine. Why us?"

"The cargo is top secret, and heading for Life. It's A-ranked. Mercenaries have been hired to stop it, by whom, I wasn't informed. But I have a funny feeling that these are more than just normal Mercs. They should have given it an S-rank, but I won't argue. You, me, and some other kid are going on this mission. We head out soon, so get ready. Don't bother to pack your robes, but bring the scrolls."

Kuyoshi nodded, and headed back to get ready.

The Nation of Fire: Ochi Gates

Ochi Gates were enormous. There were no such gates in the Nation of Shadow. Not even close. But the time for admiration was over, he had to enter and find out about the Hayashi brothers. There were a bunch of guards guarding the gates. Dimmu did not have any worries on getting in. He examined the surroundings. Two guards in each tower. Then he looked through the wall and saw quite a number of them. He approached the wall and made two hand signs. After that he was molded into the wall's shadow. Through it, he traveled to the Ochi palace, unnoticed. Some people walked around the palace but he kept to the stationary shadows to preserve chakra. It would be ghastly if he ran out of chakra and exited the shadow. Exposing himself here was not an option.

Now he was inside the Ochi palace, molded into the shadow casted by a cupboard. There was a man, older man, sitting in a chair at his desk. From his appearance Dimmu came to a conclusion that he could be the head of this place and knowing that his contact would not be interested in someone unimportant, he waited to see what will come to pass and if he could find out something about the Hayashi brothers here. There was also a possibility that a person like the head of a village would detect him, but it was only a possibility.

"Damnit," Race grabbed the boy and took him to a small hut in the forest, laying down in a bed. He quickly locked all the doors, and the windows, then he realized his katana was gone.

He ran out the door, and to spot Katamari had lost his Katana. There he quickly found it, but also found himself up against several of the wolven beast, feeding on their dead brother. "Why oh why," he said, as he grabbed the katana, and began to use his Dark Air ball, it hit one of the ones right in the neck, tearing off its head, then he used his Clone ability, and was soon on his way back to the hut, "What did that guy do, I felt something, but I am not sure what."

OOC: I'm just gonna start it up Cloud. To lazy.

IC:

Ochi Gates

"So, who are we travelling with?"

"His names Haseo. He's a higher level ninja. We'll be guarding the caravan."

Kuyoshi nodded. His armor had been painted the night before; gray, to reflect light less. Kohaku didn't care about stealth. He wore the exact same that he always had, the traditional Sand Nomad robes and cloack. Kuyoshi had his two elongated Kunai strapped to his waist, and a shortened Katana on his back. He had serated the edges, to make it a multi purpose weapon. Kohaku carried nothing.

"So we're only defending from mercs?"

"Yes."

Kuyoshi sighed. Whatever they were guarding, it must be important to assign him and Kohaku to. The last escort mission they had been on was three years ago, and it was escorting Kuyoshi's father from a meeting with Life. It was incredibly uneventful, only a few bandit raids.

"Come on, let's go."

Kohaku got up, and Kuyoshi followed. They reached the caravan in a minute, and Haseo was waiting for them.

"Alright Haseo. My name is Kohaku, he is Kuyoshi. I'm going to need a list of all the skills you can do, along with a demonstration of some unique ones, whether their fully developed or not."

Kuyoshi nodded.

"And, if you want help with training a bit, I work with the students at the Training Grounds sometimes. I can help."

"Show me what you can do."

The Nation of Fire

After waiting for some time he felt that his chakra was running low. A man came into the head's quarters and kneeled on one knee.
"The caravan has departed. Kamuyo and Haseo as well as those two left with it."
"That's good. Haseo needs more field work."

Upon hearing that, Dimmu leaves the palace. The old man raises his head and looks at the ninja who has just reported to him.
"We have been spied."
The ninja spreads his eyes in surprise. "H-how?"
"A shadow ninja. Hmm... What could someone like him be doing here?"
"Shall I take care of him?" The ninja asks.
"No, everything will reveal itself in time. We will just wait."

At the gates, one of the guards went to the bathroom not knowing that he has been followed. While he was unzipping his pants, Dimmu raises out of the shadow and makes three hand signs. At that moment dark mass comes out of his palm and he thrusts it towards the guard. It enveloped the guard and he couldn't move. Then Dimmu drains a part of his chakra and the mass gives it to him. I almost ran out of chakra. While the guard was coming to his senses, Dimmu throws a kunai which thrusts into the guard's head. He falls down, dead. Dimmu takes out the kunai, cleans it and attaches it back on the belt. Without using the shadow mold technique, he leaves the gates unnoticed. Seeing that the caravan is not moving fast he jumps on top of the tree canopy and catches up with it. Using his eyes he saw through the tree canopy and the trees. He had yet to discern who Kamuyo and Haseo are.

OOC: Albel, please post your location in bold at the beginning of each post.

IC:

On the Road

"Anything?"

Kuyoshi waited for a response from Kohaku. They were patrolling the perimeter of the Caravan, making sure nobody was following them. So far they had circled it seven times without an abnormal sighting.

"Nothing. Just some birds...wait."

Kuyoshi listened closely.

"Let's get back to the Caravan. Be on your guard."

Kuyoshi grunted in agreement, and jumped from branch to branch, heading towards the caravan. Kohaku arrived before him.

"I saw a shadow move back there. Not very obvious at all. I didn't feel anything at all. It seemed to be alone, and I have no idea what it wants. What do you think we should do?"

Kuyoshi thought for a moment. A possible Shadow Ninja? There were rumors that they exist, but no real confirmation, even among the Intel Nins.

"Don't go after it. It's a human, that's obvious. A demon would have just attacked us by now. We don't want it to know that we know it's here. Did it see you?"

Kohaku shook his head.

"I never went much farther than a few trees out. The sand saw it for me."

Kuyoshi twitched involuntarily. It was eery what Kohaku could do with sand.

"Good. It wouldn't have seen me either. Let's spread out, but not to far. Make absolutly sure that we cannot be seen by anyone."

Kohaku grabbed a robe made of Demon's snake skin from his bag. He handed it to Kuyoshi.

"This will keep you from being seen. At least to an extent. Stay at a distance, and don't move drastically unless you have to. Otherwise you can't be seen."

"What about you?"

Kuyoshi looked around for where Kohaku had gone to. He almost screamed as Kohaku's head appeared from the ground.

"I'll stay down here and watch with the sand."

Kuyoshi nodded, and put on the snakeskin. They broke into different directions, Kuyoshi into the treetops, Kohaku underground. Little grains of sand began to fill the air, like millions of tiny eyeballs. Kohaku waited in his cocoon for a chance to capture the shadow. Kuyoshi waited in the treetops incase Kohaku missed. If Kohaku did, he sure wouldn't.

[OOC: Sorry for the shortness of posts lately.]
IC:

Nation of Shadow; Forest Hut


Moaning from the pain, Katamari slowly sat up. His head was swimming and immediately he fell back down onto the bed. He brought his hands up to his face. How long had he been unconcious? How did he pass out like that, was probably a better question. Looking around the hut, he didn’t see the other man. Race, that was his name, Katamari reminded himself. When Race got back, if he did come back, Katamari would ask him.

Feeling that nothing else could be done, he rolled over onto his side and began to sleep. He was still too weak to move so there was nothing he could do until Race arrived. At least, Katamari hoped Race came back. He needed to ask him what had happened out there. That black thing that had come from within him, that scared Katamari. How could he have a power like that inside him without even knowing it? Trembling slightly out of fear, Katamari calmed himself and fell back asleep.

(OOC : I wasn't lazy I was away and I couldn't get on net. I'm sorry about that but you could have waited a bit. But nevermind now. I'll try to fit in.)

Haseo walked to the Ochi Palace and then he saw his brother coming out with some noble people. He seemed rather worried. The guards in front of the palace didn't let Haseo to past through.
'' Sorry kid, elite ninjas only'' one guard spoke
He made two steps backwards and waited for his brother to finish talking with those people. After they axchanged few sentences Kamuyo nods to them and they return to the Palace. He noticed his brother then, who was still waiting by the guards. He slowly came down from the long stairs that led to Palace enterence. Haseo greets him.
'' Brother, why are you concerned? It's not like you to be worried.''
Kamuyo just smiles and tells him
'' It's not your problem. You have your own mission to take care off''
'' What?'' asks Haseo
'' The special A-rank mission. I spoke to some nobles and you don't have to prove yourself or anything. You can thank me later.''
'' Isn't that cheating? And why do you think I need to take that mission?''
'' You did complained how boring you were? Anyway it will help you became better. Come now, let's get on with prepares''

Haseo and Kamuyo went to make the preperasions with the caravan. After they finnished Kamuyo says :
'' Your new teammates will be arriving soon.''
'' Wait a minute! I though that you're coming with me?''
'' Some other time. I still have some work to do here. Anyway, do your best and be seeying you''
Kamuyo waves to him and starts walking away from him.
'' I can't belive he just left me like this heh'' Haseo smiles.
Then he noticed two ninjas coming closer to him. One of them says:

"Alright Haseo. My name is Kohaku, he is Kuyoshi. I'm going to need a list of all the skills you can do, along with a demonstration of some unique ones, whether their fully developed or not."
Kuyoshi nodded.
"And, if you want help with training a bit, I work with the students at the Training Grounds sometimes. I can help."
"Show me what you can do."

Haseo smiles and answers :
'' I don't show my moves to anyone. I'm probably stronger then you two.'' Haseo showed off
'' You train me? Well, we can see who is stronger when we are on the way. How does that sounds?''

Later on the road Haseo asks : '' This place is perfect for practecing. Let's get it on, and I'll see will I take you to be my master after the fight.'' Haseo smiles and calls him with his hand to get it on.

OOC: That's clever, filling in the things. For the fight, i'll adopt that as well. Just cause yeah. And i'm really impatient.

IC:

On the Road

Kuyoshi fell into ready stance. Both nodded, and lunged at each other. Kohaku stopped them with a wall of sand.

"Stop now. Both of you will fight with a supervisor. Haseo, I don't know your personality. Kuyoshi, I know your personality too well. You'll kill your opponent by accident, or if you get to serious. I'll make sure neither of you kill the other, or injure them to badly. We're still on a mission."

Kuyoshi nodded. He fell into his stance again. He concentrated his Chakra into his limbs, and waited for Kohaku to start. The sand in between them fell to the ground, and slip back towards Kohaku, signalling the start of the fight. Kuyoshi moved as fast as he could, not towards Haseo, but into the trees, where he would have cover.

"Kuyokuuton!"

He shot a jet of black flames at Haseo, purposefully aimed to throw him off balance. He pulled two shuriken out as well, aiming for where Haseo would dodge too. Kuyoshi smiled as he landed on the tree branch, and disappeared behind the trunk of the tree.

OOC: Sorry about using your character for one attack, needed it for introduction. Just remeber these are fighting style posts, so do a short thing of your character's movements, and attacks. Thanks!

’’ Hmph, bring it on! ’’
Haseo smiled with excitement while he was preparing to attack.
When the sand fell on the ground, as the sign to show that fight has began, Haseo started running toward Kuyoshi who was going for the trees. He almost perfectly calculated his speed to match the one with the opponent.
Suddenly Kuyoshi did a Kuyokuuton technique making Haseo to slow down. He dodges the jet of black flames by running to the left and jumping. But before he could land safely two shuriken appeared in front of his face
'' D-Damn it…'' he says to himself
Haseo pulls his kunai and barely manages to reflect those two shurikens. Kuyoshi disappears among the trees. Haseo stands still for a few seconds and then he does handseal. He puts his hands crossed close to a forhead and then he extend them toward the trees.

''Habataku Endan''

Haseo fires a straight burning beam toward the trees where Kuyoshi is.The flame sets some of the trees on fire. His plan is to get his opponent out in the open.

Nation of Fire; Somewhere

"Where the hell are we?!" Asked Echo.
"How am I supposed to know dude. Your the one navigating, aren't you?" Said Thend.
"You're f#%$ing kidding me."
"You got us hear, I thought you knew where you were going."
"Yea, north to Earth!" Said Echo.

They were out of the Valley of Ashes, close the city. Cat houses appeared every now and then, but (thankfuly, thought Thend) not as often as the Valley fo Ashes. Surrounded by merchants, chanting at them.
"Buy my spoons! Best in the world!" One said.
"..No" Relpied Echo.
passing another stand, "Hey, hey! I know you want my ink! And possibly some parchment? You seem like-"
"No.." Said Echo, a little frustrated.
This continued for at leaste twenty minutes, driving Echo to his edge. Until..
"Hey bro!" A merchant said, Did he just call me. Bro?! Echo righ eye twitched and he slowly turned to the merchant, who continued: "Want to buy my swords? Better than yours! They'll cut through anything!"
Not only did the merchant call Echo 'Bro' but he also made fun of his greatest personal achievment, Cleaver.

Echo look furiously at the merchant, a low whistle began to hum, and grew louder with each second until it was ear-piercing. "Whats that noise?" The merchant asked aloud.
"Could your swords.." Echo said while reaching for Cleaver, griping the handle, "Do THIS!!" He half yelled. Unlatching Cleaver with remarkable speed for its enourmous size. He swung it down in between the merchants stand, The force of his swing made the ground on both sides of his blade to split and lift up towards eachother. The merchants' stand was split in two, bending in the middle from the uplifted earth beneath both sides of the stand.
Echo turned and walked off, he whispered, loud enough for the merchant to hear: "..Bitch"
Thend ran to catch up with him.
"Now why did you do that?!" Asked Thend.
"Dont you see? Look," Echo pointed to the stands laid before them, "They wont even look at us anymore, let alone try to sell us useless items!" He let out a slight laugh.
"Well, at leaste your happy." Thend murmured

The Nation of Fire
The merchants slowly faded, and they entered the city, more nobility was seen, and their clothes grew more colorful and cleaner. I almost feel out of place. Thought Echo, Echo must really feel out of place here. Thought Thend
The nobles stared at them as they each walked in the streats. They knew they weren't from around here.
Slowly they stopped looking and whent on with their daily lives. Echo and Thend heard them talking amonst
themselves. "I wonder what they are shipping that needs that much protection!" Was usualy what they heard.
Echo leaned towards Thend as the walked, "I wonder what they are wodnering about.."
"Your lucky your size covers for your brains, Echo." Thend said and giggled.
They walked for some time, still hearing the nobles talk, "I wonder why a shipment is going to-" They couldn't hear the name of the Nation.
A could of children ran past them, going in their dirrecton. "Comon! Comon! Lets see how big it is!"
Thend shot a look at Echo, who in return, looked at him and nodded. They jogged behind the boys, keeping a distance, but following. They followed the boys to a large building, soldiers seemed to be marching to and from places.
The kids squeeezed throught the crowds, as did Thend and Echo. Their curiosity grew larger when they walked inside of the city. A large crate was being loaded into a caravan, the symbol of Life was on it.
Thend looked at Echo with a stern look, something Echo was yet to see.
"We are following it." Thend said.

The Woods - Nation of Fire

Trying to get me to reveal my location? That's not half bad. That technique's pretty good too. Kuyoshi smiled, as Haseo had burned the wrong tree. As soon as he had landed on the branch, he switched quietly. Perhaps I should let him fight me out in the open...no. He's strong enough for his level, and if he catches me in a trap...

Kuyoshi shook his head, and quickly formulated a plan. He drew another Shuriken, and attached it to a flexible branch. Pulling the branch back, he connected it to wires. He proceeded to set up six more branches like this. To keep Haseo busy, he threw a smoke bomb into the center, along with spikes. Kuyoshi was making sure that Haseo wouldn't leave the middle.

He took another position, higher on the branches than the Shuriken. He held all the wires in his hand, and let go at once. Quickly making a handsign, he let a stream of black flames from his mouth, igniting the Shuriken. They streaked towards Haseo, hopefully buying Kuyoshi enough time to set up the rest of his trap.

The Nation of Fire - Woods

So he is Haseo. Then I guess Kamuyo isn't accompanying the caravan. Dimmu observed from a safe distance. What could he do? If they saw a shadow ninja they would learn of their existence. That would be bad because the few shadow ninjas that still exist keep their existence a secret. Who is he to uncover it?

Then something strange started happening. Two of them took their fighting stances. From what he could see it was a quarrel. One of them jumped into the trees and then executed a technique which the man he deemed to be Haseo evaded it and countered with his own technique. Then the ninja in the trees started assembling a trap. Dimmu could see it due to his Kage-boushi. It would be bad if Haseo got killed. At least he thought so because he was not sure of what his former contact's intentions were with Haseo and Kamuyo.

Dimmu takes out a couple of kunais and throws them. The kunais cut the wires and Dimmu changes his location so they don't discover him by the direction of the kunais he just threw.

The trees that Haseo aimed for was wrong. Before he could do anything else the smoke bomb just came somewhere from the trees. Haseo jumps away but the smoke has already spread through the sorounding area. He covers his mouth with his hand.
'' He is planning something. I will not let him do it.'' He says to himself
He wanted to move further away but the spikes on the ground prevented him to move. He was traped in the middle.
'' Where is he going to attack next? Above? From the side? With all this smoke I can't see clearly.''
Then he heard a sound of kunai but it didn't came to his direction. Haseo thought that it was just another plan from his opponent. He quickly forms few handseals and makes his Burning Whip.
He jumps in the air, out of the smoke, and throws his whip far away until it was attached to one of the trees. Suddenly he noticed the sound of broken wires so it made him able to see where Kuyoshi was in that moment. Haseo throws three kunais with exploding tag towards him. Then he pushed himself with the help of his whip and he safely lands on one of the tree branches.

OOC: I'm gonna be in the same location throughout this fight....so i'm not putting it up. EDIT: Fixing it. Happy? And no Albel, i'm not ignoring you Kunai in this one.

IC:

"Kuyokuuton!"

The exploding tag blew mid-flight. Kuyoshi shielded himself from shrapnel with his arm. Two Kunai hit him in the arm, but didn't penetrate far beyond the armor.

"Damnit...I didn't expect a follow up attack like that..."

Kuyoshi looked around, and saw that the main portion of his trap was destroyed, at least on the upper branches. So I'll have to get him back on the ground to get him. This fight is turning out interesting after all.

"Kuyokuuton!"

He let another stream of flame move towards Haseo, following it up with two Kunai. He grabbed his two elongated Kunai from his belt, and rushed after the attacks, preparing to strike after they were deflected.

Training Room, Fire Military Complex

Yori let his breath out in one long drag, paused, and drew in more air.

Breathe in... breathe out...

Breathe in... breathe out...

"Uesugi Yori!"

Yori snapped to attention, straight and stiff as a board, as the trainee instructor approached. Sergeant Daisuke was a large, square man with a blocky black beard, a sharp nose, and overall a dark appearance. Despite all his scary features, however, he was a kind man and an excellent instructor -- exactly the kind of person Yori needed to bring him to a functional level in the Nation of Fire's shinobi squads.

"Uesugi, you have the Spirit type, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Yori mumbled.

"Well, Uesugi, the most basic Spirit technique is the act of releasing chakra through a closed fist, forming a white smoke that concentrates and flies at your foe. It dispels weak shadow jutsus and weakens demons. Do you understand this?"

Yori nodded, staring straight at his feet.

"Have you seen this done?"

Another nod.

"Well, then, do it."

Yori grimaced, then closed his eyes and clenched his right fist. He squeezed harder and harder, his worn fingernails digging into the palm of his hand. He was getting nowhere, but he had to please Daisuke-sensei, and so he continued. No smoke appeared. When blood started to trickle out, Daisuke grasped Yori's wrist and released chakra into Yori's bloodstream. His hand forcibly relaxed, and the scratches from his fingernails were patched over instantly.

The other trainees grew restless. They had already completed all that Daisuke-sensei had asked of them. Some laughed at Yori's plight; others were disgusted with his weakness. Sensing the negative feeling of the students, he turned away from Yori. "Training is over for today. I am satisfied with all your work. You may leave." The other students rushed out of the room as quickly as possible. Yori moved to follow them slowly.

"Wait, Yori."

Yori turned. Daisuke-sensei never used a soldier's first name. "I want to speak with you personally."

Yori sighed, and followed Daisuke glumly to a side room of the training barracks. Kanji were inscribed all over the walls, on the floors, and on the partitions closing off smaller square areas.

"Yori, this room is a Focus Chamber. When we encounter a student like you, we've found this is the best way to get you actively moving your chakras outward. These kanji all over the walls are all focuses for people. Some find that taking one kanji and thinking of it helps them move their chakra."

Immediately Yori saw one on the wall at eye level to his right. "Loyalty," it read. Where had he heard of "loyalty..." He shrugged, and attempted the technique again. The chakra flowed straight out of his hand, through his clenched fist. The smoke formed a distinct, pale orb that floated around the room aimlessly. Seeing nothing to assail, it disappeared.

"Looks like you've found one," Daisuke said with a smile.

Yori nodded, unable to smile. He was free to go, but now he was confused. He knew many people spend a good share of their adolescence on some sort of journey of self-discovery. His own adolescence was all but over, and he had not even begun his. Somehow, this character... "Loyalty..." struck a nerve. It piqued his curiosity and forced him to think.

What is "loyalty..."

And how does it apply to me...?

As soon as Haseo was on the branch he watched his opponent dealing with his swift counter, However, Kuyoshi was making some sort of trap and it would have succeed if some of his wares wouldn’t have been destroyed. The kunais that stopped Haseo’s downfall did not come from him. Someone else was interfering. But who? Was it that sand guy?

His opponent fired out another attack. Haseo jumps down from the branches and the stream of flame hits and burns the nerby trees. As soon as he stood on ground two kunais came.
Haseo quickly deflects them with ease with his kunais that he suddenly drew out.
But before he could do anything Kuyoshi just appeared in front of him.
’’ What speed!’’ he was amazed

Haseo crosses his kunais in order to block his opponent’s attack. Although he did block Kuyoshi’s strike but the impact blows Haseo away. He somehow manages to land on the ground with his feet but he still slide few meters away.
’’ This guy is too strong. I have to try and do something from the distance.’’
He throws his two kunais that he held in his hand and then he began running around his enemy in circle. He started throwing all his kunais that he had towards him. And as the finishing he used a mid size shuriken, he jumped and threw it at great speed.

A full circle of Kunai? Not bad. He's fast for his level. Oh well.

Kuyoshi spun his two elongated Kunai around in his hand, causing them to become shield-like. He rotated his body as fast as he could, and moved the spinning Kunai up and down.

"Whirlwind Style! Shield of Blades!"

The Kunai deflected off his spin. Kuyoshi crossed his Kunai, and blocked the Shuriken.

"You're good Haseo. That would have been fatal if it hit me. But it won't hit me. It looks like i'll have to go full speed on this one."

Kohaku watched from a distance. It had been awhile since Kuyoshi had gone full speed on anyone. Unlike soldiers, Ninja and Fire Shinobi were trained to hit very fast. Kuyoshi, being alligned with Wolf, and being a Wind-user, could move faster than the human-eye could track. Kuyoshi disappeared, and began to run circles around Haseo, who looked around in confusion. Kohaku talked half to himself, half to Haseo.

"It's called the Dance of the Black Wind. It's a very high level Taijutsu technique, and normally Kuyoshi can't accomplish it. But he's able to harnass the air around him, reducing friction and boosting his movements. It's really amazing. My sand can't keep up with it."

Kuyoshi moved faster and faster, causing any loose particles to rise wherever he stepped. Soon a cloud of dust was encirciling Haseo. Kohaku could no longer see what was happening, and disappeared into the ground.

Haseo's attack proved to be usseless. His opponent deflected every kunai he threw at him.
He finnaly understood why his brother said that these new people would help him improve. They can't help him master the almighty Dragon Strike but with their help he could be as good as his brother. His opponent was not just strong but fast too. Kuyoshi’s speed was way to high to track with normal eyes. Haseo realized that now is the time to unlock his bloodline ability. Washiboku.

Kohaku explained this new technique that Kuyoshi was doing.
’’ It's called the Dance of the Black Wind. It's a very high level Taijutsu technique, and normally Kuyoshi can't accomplish it. But he's able to harnass the air around him, reducing friction and boosting his movements. It's really amazing. My sand can't keep up with it."

Haseo closed his eyes and concentrated. He sensed his opponent speed. Haseo almost had this speed in his mind. But no matter how hard Haseo tried, his Washiboku just wouldn’t awaken.

Haseo opened his eyes and saw that his opponent is almost ready to finish it. Haseo didn’t stand the chance. It seems like that this is as far as he can go…


OOC: Well, it looks like this is it. Finish it Crono.

OOC: Alright. Fun fight though.

IC:

He's trying to do something....a bloodline ability? Can't give him time to activate it. It was fun while it lasted though. Kuyoshi added Chakra to his muscles, and the wind beneath his feet. Time for him seemed to slow, and he disappeared completely from Kohaku and Haseo's sight. He landed strikes with his hands on Haseo's joint muscles. Haseo tried to remain standing, and was able to, until Kuyoshi landed a second set of strikes in the exact same places. Haseo collapsed, unable to move either his arms or his legs. Kuyoshi stopped over him, hand ready for the finishing strike.

"Halt."

Kuyoshi stopped, and dropped his hand. He grinned. Kohaku lifted Haseo with his sand, and supported him.

"The attacks will keep your muscles from moving for about five minutes. Until then, i'll support you wtih my sand."

Kuyoshi placed the Kunai back in his belt.

"Alright Haseo. That was pretty good."

Haseo looked at him, confused. Kuyoshi smiled.

"I know, it was completely unbalanced. You aren't even an elite Ninja yet. Me and Kohaku here are considered the two best Young Ninja in the entire Nation of Fire. So don't worry about losing."

Kohaku nodded. Kuyoshi was wrong on one part; Kohaku wasn't a ninja.

"Haseo. Never throw all your Kunai at once, not unless you know for certain that it will kill your opponent. You can sense my initial speed. You could have used a Kunai then, couldn't you?"

Kuyoshi laughed, and gathered the fallen Kunai. The group headed back to the Caravan. Kuyoshi found a bowl of Fried Rice and devoured it greedily. Kohaku watched him silently.

"Yes Haseo. He always eats like this after a fight. His techniques take up massive amounts of Chakra, so he eats to replenish it."

Haseo lost. He knew that these guys were strong but not this strong. Not only was he beaten up he blamed himself for not finding a way to defend himself in that last attack. If he only mastered Washiboku he would be able to defeat any enemy. Kuyoshi proved to be an worthy opponent. His speed is what Haseo wanted.

"Haseo. Never throw all your Kunai at once, not unless you know for certain that it will kill your opponent. You can sense my initial speed. You could have used a Kunai then, couldn't you?"

He was right. But Haseo got mad when his enemy had an upper hand so he wanted to throw everything he got in order to beat him. It was a bad mistake though.

When they finished talking Kohaku, Kuyoshi and Haseo got back to the caravan which was guarded by two soldiers that were sent along with them. They chated together while the two shinobi fought. Kuyoshi started eating and Haseo looked amazed how hungry the guy was.

"Yes Haseo. He always eats like this after a fight. His techniques take up massive amounts of Chakra, so he eats to replenish it." Kohaku says to Haseo

Haseo then asked Kuyoshi :
’’ I’m sory because of my arogance, didn’t know how strong you guys were but now that I know can you teach me that speed. I want to be as fast as you. Can you help me? ’’

It was getting late. It would be best for them to spend the night here and continue to the nation of Life tommorow. The guards that were soupose to meet them half way should support them.

OOC: Alright. The Caravan is underway, and I'm still confused about Albel!! w00t!

The First "Arc" is beginning!

IC:

Kohaku was alone. He could not see anything, hear anything, or smell anything. But it did not matter. I am one with the sand. That was what he was taught since he was born. To him, the sand was a living creature. It manuevered on it's own, thought to itself, and spoke to him. And when they fought, the sand was a perfect extension of his being, able to focus and add to his power.

"Kazesabaku..."

The body fell, stripped clean of all flesh. The polished white bones fell apart. Like any living thing, the sand devoured. Kohaku looked away from the once living man. He woke, vomit rising slightly in his throat. It had been nights since his dreams had started. Always the same dream, from when he had been trained. The Desert Wind was his other name, no less his than Kohaku of the Sand.

He rose from his sleeping pad, next to Kuyoshi's and Haseo's. They were both still exhausted from the fight. Kohaku walked over towards the trees, trying to clear his head. A thin shadow caught his attention. It was darker than the rest, and seemed to resonate with Chakra. It passed along his chest, and he suddenly felt a cut. A shadow blade?

"Reveal yourself before the might of the Sand..."

Little bits of sand flew off the ground, and a hurricane force wind blew the grains into the forest, stripping the leaves from the trees, cutting away shrubbery and other small plants. The winds died down, and Kohaku walked towards the center of the newly made clearing. Two massive Shuriken flew from the trees, aimed for his feet and head. A wall of sand caught them both before they reached Kohaku.

"Shadow Ninja...interesting. I had heard rumors of existence, but not confirmation. I would be honored to be the first to kill one."

Two Ninja, dressed entirely in black, jumped out of the forest. One of them was simply a shadow shaped like a man, the other was distinctly flesh. His body was entirely tatooed, in either jet black or shades of dark grey. They arranged themselves in a tribal pattern, one that Kohaku did not recognize. The Tatooed one spoke first.

"We are the Shadow Brothers. You, Kohaku, are interefering with out mission."

"What is you mission..."

"We are here to destroy the Caravan!"

Kohaku named them both. Tatoo and Shadow. Tatoo drew a katana from a holder strapped to his back. Another massive Shuriken was attached near it. If he had thrown the Shuriken, then the Shadow Blade would be from the other. Tatoo smiled.

"Can I kill him brother?"

Shadow nodded. Tatoo let out a malevolent grin, and the sword transformed into a massive blade, with a Demon's mouth near the hilt.

"Devour your Opponents Hiderigami!"

OOC: This isn't a drawn out battle. I'd say four posts. Go ahead and post in the future, the only thing that happens is that Kohaku now wields a sword at the end.

OOC: Continuing Battle...

IC:

Tatoo smiled malevolently at Kohaku.

"This is my blade. Hiderigami....devour his Soul!"

Tatoo disappeared from Kohaku's sight, moving so fast that the human eye could not track him. He swung his sword at Kohaku's head, hoping to dispatch him quickly. The attack was blocked by sand. Kohaku sent Tatoo flying back into the remains of a tree.

"I inherently control sand. It acts as a shield for me, and I provide it with blood to quench it's thirst."

He raised a hand, causing the action to be mimicked by the sand. It grabbed Tatoo.

"I...."

The grip tightened, and Tatoo's ribs broke.

"Am the Desert Wind!"

Blood splattered as Tatoo was cut by billions of grains of sand. Each grain only made a slight cut, but would eventually strip the flest off of anything. Kohaku dropped the body.

"This fight is over."

He suddenly collapsed onto one knee, sweating. Tatoo stood up, bleeding slightly, but not as severly as he should. He was laughing.

"Baka! Why do you think I gave Hiderigami his name? It devours everything! But it loves Chakra the most!"

Tatoo pierced Kohaku in the heart with Hiderigami. Kohaku fell onto both his hands and knees, and started coughing blood. Tatoo pulled the blade out, and kicked Kohaku onto the ground.

"You'll be dead soon. Even the Desert Wind will suffer from a lack of water."

Tatoo pressed his boot into Kohaku's skull. His foot went right through. Right through sand. Kohaku disintegrated into Sand, and reformed himself ten meters from Tatoo.

"That hurt slightly. But you missed the point. I have no heart."

Kohaku put his hand through the hole that the blade made. Sand filled it in, and turned to flesh.

"Your blade is nothing compared to the sword of the Desert Fox."

A katana formed in Kohaku's sand. The Blade was made of compressed sand, and looked like a blade of diamond. The hilt was wrappend in Kohaku's. Kohaku's robes and upper tunic disappeared, leaving him bare shirt, only his pants on. The original physical deformities on his mouth had disappeared, leaving only the fangs of a fox.

"Break his spirit, Nainokami."

Kohaku and Tatoo lunged at each other. Shadow saw them both reappear opposite from each other. A slight cut appeared on Kohaku's shoulder. Tatoo almost celebrated his victory, but a gash appeared on his chest.

"Damn you bastard! Before you could hardly move! But you're so ##### fast now! Bastard!"

Kohaku appeared in front of him.

"When I shed my Sand, and my robes, I get rid of all that excess weight. It allows me to move with incredible speed, but I suffer for my lack of armor. Otherwise your pathetic attack wouldn't have even scraped me."

Hiderigami connected with Kohaku's shoulder, but didn't penetrate the skin. The edge had been completely shaven off. Tatoo dropped the blade, his hand still gripping it.

"You were so slow with that massive blade. I had plenty of time to cut you to ribbons, but decided that I would shave your blade down. Before I kill you, I will kill your brother."

"Nainokami......Massacre...."

Nainokami disappeared, leaving only the hilt in Kohaku's hand. The blade appeared behind Shadow, prepared to severe his head from his body. Tatoo grabbed his blade with the other hand, and blocked the attack. His sword returned to normal form, his Chakra no longer able to sustain the continous release. Shadow brought the arm over to Tatoo, and the arm started to repair itself. He turned to Kohaku.

"You are a worthy figther Desert Wind. Excuse my brothers rashness. I told Kagekami that we should not have sent the weakest of us out here."

Shadow performed a few handsigns, and shadows from the dead trees rose up, taking the form of Shinobi. The two brothers then disappeared, leaving Kohaku to fight off the shadows. Kohaku sighed, knowing that the delay would work. He stuck Nainokami into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. The shadows disintegrated, and Kohaku sealed his sword.

"I suppose that I should keep you with me Nainokami. If those two attack again, I won't last long unless you're readily availible...."

He looked over to his Sand Nomad robes, the ones he took with him after leaving his village. The front was half eaten by Tatoos sword, along with the numerous cuts. Kohaku sighed, and looked for his wrappings for arms and mouth. They were stuck in one of the trees. With Nainokami sealed, his deformity would soon be returning, and that wasn't something he liked to flaunt around.

"Now to head back to Kuyoshi. I have interesting news to report to him...."

Back at the Caravan

"You found what?"

"Shadow Ninja."

Kuyoshi nearly spat his tea onto the table. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and took a deep breath.

"Kohaku, I don't think they even have ninja. So far, the Nation of Fire is the only country that lists Ninja under....."

Kohaku almost winced at the sound of Kuyoshi smacking himself.

"Of course they wouldn't have listed it! Rat bastards! Now we're dealing with an elite group that's trained for stealth AND can blend into the shadows!"

Kohaku nodded.

"From what I gathered, they sent one of the weakest at me today, but he could be the strongest for all I know. He was a challenge though, and I bled for the first time in a long time. If he's the weakest, I'm guessing there is very few of them. Maybe around a hundred."

"Why couldn't there be more?"

Kohaku shrugged.

"Maybe. But I doubt there is, unless they suddenly ca train super soldiers on a large scale without anyone noticing."

Kuyoshi nodded.

"This Caravan might have actually done something for me, aside from boring me to death. I'll send a message to Fire as soon as I can."

Kohaku got up from the table, drawing a look from Kuyoshi. He fell on the bed ans slept.

"Nani...."

Kuyoshi felt his eye twitch.

"Didn't he just tell me about how powerful they were? Why would he sleep if we could be attacked.....baka."

Kuyoshi got up, and started walking towards the door. It never seemed to get closer. Kohaku grinned under his wrappings.

"BAKA!!! Stop moving the sand under my feet!"

OOC: Way to triple post.. lol
___________________________________--

Following the Caravan; Getting lost.


"Would you shut up!" Whispered Echo to Thend.
"La dee da, doo dee doo!. Singing is fun." Sand Thend.
Your the one who wanted to follow this thing in the first place! Now you wont shut up!
Your going to get us caught you dumbass.. Thought Echo.

The two were following close behind the caravan, hopefully not close enough to be spotted though. Before they
started their journey to follow it, wich Thend insisted upon, Thend took one of his pills he kept in a sac tied
to his belt. Echo kindly refused to take one, Thend acted strangley afterwards, and still is.
"How can you see? Your eyes are only half opened, and they're red as hell! What did you do to yourself?" Asked Echo
"Im one with nature my dear friend." Then replied laughing.

Echo and Thend followed the caravan and studied its escorts. There were only two. One with a loud mouth, and
one covering his mouth. If the one with his mouth covered talked, Thend and Echo didn't hear it but they always
heard the loud one. It seemed he always had something to rant about. Running from tree to tree, the caravan
was not difficult to stay at pace with, it moved slow.
Suddenly, one of the guards, the quiet one, exited the caravan, and left. This bothered Echo, he feared that if and when he or she returned, they would be found.
"Im so hungry..." Moaned Thend.
Echo pointed his fist in Thends' face, "Then eat my knuckles if you dont shut the hell up!" He whispered.
Thend leaned over and kissed his fist, "I luuuve you mannnn."
Angry, Echo punched Thend on the forehead,
"Feel the love now?"
"Can't feel a thing mannn." Smiled Thend.

The masked guard returned to the caravan, he seemed wounded.

"Hey Echo," Whispered Thend, "Whatever cargo their carrying, we must ensure its delivered."
"Oh, why is that?"
"My villiage has no army, we make little weapons, and live off the land. We are peaceful and at peace. We have
limited recsources as well, so the more, the merrier."
"So.. this tells me your villiage is a bunch of pansies?"
"..Basicaly." Replied Thend.

OOC: Permission granted from Chrono to use his characters... I think that's what it means anyway...

IC: Fire Country, Capital

One of the Nation of Fire's top generals was standing in the courtyard before the recruits. Daisuke stood next to him, calm and confident as he always was. The general boomed out his message.

"Soldiers! You have all been gathered here for a vital mission briefing. We have just received a distress call from soldiers on an important mission