CRAWLING [CAPTURING THE ROKUBI]

[Kirin-dono]

BIJŪTSUKAI UPRISE Biting down on the end of a cigarette, a plume of smoke billowed and flared from his nostrils. Light blond hair was slowly parted by the wind. In his one hand was pair of binoculars, and in the other, a photograph of his target that he was suppose to catch and take back to the group. He had been searching for this man for going on three days now, he has traveled from the outskirts of Mizu no kuni. Word was that the man had been away from the village for quite some time, or at least that's what Kirin's snitch was telling him from within Kirigakure. They'd locked in a civil war for a couple months, and somehow it lead to the jinchūriki of the Rokubi leaving the village. Somehow he managed to get a picture of the man though, which would make his search that much easier. Time was of the essence; Ōjin declared that the Bijūtsukai needed to act quick, and collect the remaining bijū. Needless to say, he didn't have any time to waste. "I'm looking for this man," Kirin said flashing a picture of young, bushy-haired man with a serious case of five o'clock shadow, a plump, bell-pepper nose, and a lazy eye. He showed the picture to three or four people in the crowd for a moment or so before pocketing the photo to retrieve another. "Have you seen him around lately?" His question was left unanswered as the small crowd dispersed, shaking their heads as they all said "No, sorry. I haven't seen 'em". Grunting, he shook his head. He wasn't a fool, he knew they were lying. It was quite obvious, in fact, he was almost certain that they all knew him and knew him well. The man he was looking for was notorious in these parts as a hustler, gambler, and a con-man, much like Kirin was himself. He must have some serious scare tactics though Kirin as he continued around the town, searching for someone who was brave enough to tell him were the man he sought was. "Excuse me." An older, scantily dressed man beckoned for his attention as he passed him by. Turning back, he peered over his shoulder for a moment seeing what he thought to be an old, ugly gigolo. "What?" barked Kirin in a brash tone, his insides shifting out of disgust. The very sight of this man made him sick to his stomach. "I've been watching you..." The gigolo admitted, taking one step closer to Kirin. His brow inclined as his hand tucked into his sleeve, if the gigolo advanced one step closer he was going to kill him before he could complete the step. "I have shit to do. Say what you have to say then get the fuck away from me before I kill you." "Well--alright. I heard you were looking for a man," the gigolo began fondling in the pocket of his frighteningly tight, pink jacket. From it he revealed a crumbled up picture that was similar to the one Kirin had been showing people around town. "I heard ya' been searching for this man." Glancing at the photo, then at the gigolo, he nodded his head. "Have you seen him?" He queried, expecting this man to have some sort of idea where the man was since he stopped him and asked. "Yes. I have, and I'll tell ya' too." The perverted man smiled, sliding his hand into his pants. "But it'll cost ya' someth--" Plucking his tantō from its' sheath he spun on his heel, facing forward as he poked the tip of his blade towards the gigolo's throat. A chill from the cool steel caused the man to shiver. "Alright then. How about this--I'll disregard the horrific looks you've been giving me, and spare your life; n return, you tell me where I can find that man... Or I kill you here and now for talking to me in public dressed like a 1lady of the night. What say you? Deal, or no deal?" Puckering up his lips, the perverted man gave up. "Alright, deal. I'll tell you where he is, but only after you take that thing away from me." He tightened his grip-- "That wasn't part of our deal," he spat. "Now talk." The day rested on the horizon as the shade of night upraised the canvas in the sky. He trekked slowly as he drew nearer to his destination. For a gigalo, the she-man that Kirin encountered early was a good source of information. The intel he received from it was surprisingly spot-on, the bucket hat wearing man almost felt sorry for having to cut off his thumbs. It was poetic how a streak of lightning struck the skies as the doors of the hotel swung open. Stepping inward, his geta clicking on the marble floors steadily, Kirin smoked his pipe as his eyes scanned the lobby. There were so many faces to survey. He looked from one to the next as quick as he could, it was almost inhuman the speed in which he did so. "I got you," Kirin grinned, spotting a bushy-haired brunette with sparingly garbed attire. Gripping his cane, he wielded it like a scepter. With one slash, the chakra that emanated out of the end of his cane sliced a majority of the innocents in half. Many lives for lost for naught. "You," he called, beckoning for the attention of the jinchūriki who managed to avoid his initial attack by a hair. He grinned menacingly. It was as if he was demented, his sadistic featured crawled as he approached. "Jinchūriki-san," he continued, "Come. It's time for you to...die." Moving instinctively, and almost unsuspectingly, the remaining bystanders became frantic with fear. His target was running from him, like a coward. Yet, that only made the chase all the more grand. Following close behind him, the Kirin beheaded any and everyone who crossed his path as he chased after the jinchūriki. In a matter of minutes, and after almost two dozen deaths, Kirin was face to face with his target. Eye to eye, they gazed at one another as the faced off. The man's hands clapped inward and formed into numerous handsigns until a jet of water would burst out of his mouth like a raging beam of destruction. Kirin evaded this maneuver by simply lunging to the side, picking up a rock as he did so. He threw the pebble with a flick of his wrist. It hit the unnamed jinchūriki smack-dab in the middle of the forehead. "I heard you were a skilled Ninjutsu user," he stated, his tone mocking. "I am unimpressed. Surely you have better Ninjutsu than that." The unnamed scoffed audibly. His hands clapped inwards once more, this time he pressed his hand upon the sealing-tattoos he had on his chest. They were wave-like pattern with various shades of blue intertwining. "Oh?" Kirin watched curiously. A tidal of water literally poured out of his chest. In only seconds, the dry, water-less streets the two were standing in where filled with a substantial amount of water. It was unsightly fast how quickly the water crowded the area until they were standing in a mini-ocean. All the while, as the water was conjured from where ever the seal on the unnamed's chest drew its' water from, Kirin took off. Bouncing from rooftop to roof top, in hopes of avoiding the copious amount of water that was generated. "Impressive," he smiled, thursting his own hand inward. A barrier was erected around a efficient amount of his proximity, shielding Kirin from his opponent's various attack. He surmised, after sensing a high magnitude of chakra being condensed an fortitude, that the unnamed had transformed into their tail state. However, the impact of the bijūdama that shattered his barrier stated otherwise. No, he was now facing the Rokubi itself. "That should take care of you," he said, slapping the palm of his hand upon the forehead of the defeated jinchūriki. Clothes completely shredded, save for the threads that covered his lower region, the red imprint of the two seals that Kirin just placed upon the unnamed were visible. He was beaten and battered, with his fractured bones being visible through his skin. "This was fun." He smiled that sadistic smile of his once more, as he threw the almost corpse over his shoulder. No, he wasn't dead, but after having your chakra network completely sealed off and feeling the sensation of your body being on fire for an hour due to a cursed seal that was placed on your body- you wouldn't be in good shape, either. "I can't wait until we can go after the Kyūbi, I can feel how exhilarating that fight will be."

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[Ðr. Tran]

The Heretics

There were squads dedicated to tracking chakra. Branche sof the Kirigakure military were devoted to maintaining order and peace right now through out the land due to the civil war. So to say this was not noticed was dead wrong, but to say it was allowed was more to the liking of the passages of time. It was well known in the area and to certain outside lands that Kirigakure was embroiled in internal conflict, one side had its reasons and the other their own.

But those who approached the man with a body over his shoulder, were not ninja. They had some of those with them, but they were in fact not actual shinobi. Two of the men, with their bodyguards were rather old, and they had a pleased smile upon their face.

"Honored Guest, your work is quite phenomenal to watch...

I am Makinaze, of the Elder Council, and my associates find that you and yours do some mighty fine work...

If you'll permit me, I'd like to help you with your prisoner, and get you back to the mainland, over a brief stay with his Lordship, Daimyo Suraze, of Mizu no kuni"

Came the old mans words, as he bowed in respect. This was probably the oddest thing Kirin expected t happen, not only where these before him not stopping him or fighting him, they actually wished to help him, or even more?

[Kirin-dono]

BIJŪTSUKAI UPRISE "While your sentiment is appreciated," Kirin said, adjusting his bucket hat so that the unkempt strands of blonde that rest upon his face were more visible. "I have other obligations that I must attend to. Not only that, but I have no interest in meeting your Daimyō." His response was straight forward and honest. The bucket hat sporting ninja-monk had been in Mizu no Kuni for a few days short of a week. During this time he'd managed to become privy to the situation that was going on in the country--they were knees deep into a civil war between the capitol city and the Hidden Mist, their ninja village. In his mind, he considered this lack of harmony to be a sign of weakness. He had no interest in getting mixed into the wreckage, unless he had a reason to. As of now, he didn't--and he doubted that, even if a purpose was afforded to him, that he would oblige. Like he said only moments ago, he has other more pressing matters to attend to. There were no further comments made after his response. There was nothing that they could say that would sway him to come with them, either. The thought of them making an attempt to force him to go with them never even crossed his mind--only people who lacked confidence in their abilities fret over the possible actions of others in such causal crossing. Although, if it came to that, several lifeless corpses would be left in his wake. He continued along the path that he was walking on prior to the interruption. With his bucket hat bouncing upon his messy mop as he trekked off.

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