Hateshinai Jiki, Sensō no Geijutsu - In Character

[Walrus]

Ritsuko saw the slight blur of movement just before she struck her foe, and decided that this enemy was no simple assassin. Their strike hit home on her arm and they successfully evaded her high-speed attack. What's worse was what Ritsuko would soon feel after she impacted the earth and went underground. When she went to swim through the earth, which was as water before her jutsu... she would, of course, kick her legs and swing her arms. However... when she went to move her legs... her left arm and her tail were what moved instead. "Interesting..." thought the Jounin as she made a rapidfire assessment of the situation.

The technique known as "Doton: Dochu Senko" was a very useful skill that Ritsuko had found herself utilizing more and more... especially in conjunction with her "Fleeing Squirrel Maneuver" defense. Add to it that the skill required no handsigns, and it was almost the perfect combination. Now she was completely underground, and not visible to her foe. This would likely only buy her a short time... but a short time was a blessing in a battle of elite warriors as this was turning out to be. ... thoughts raced through her head as she attempted to formulate a strategy. Unfortunately... only one came to mind. Flight. She knew the Hokage was a capable fighter, and had likely called her in as a distraction... and if not, she would still be no help to him in her current state.

The earth around Ritsuko was already in a liquid state... and thanks to the sheer force with which she had hit the ground not two seconds ago... she was at least a few meters below the surface. This was advantageous for her, so long as her foes did not also possess Doton Jutsu. Thanks to the fact that her current jutsu needed no handsigns, simply a steady flow of chakra... Ritsuko unsealed the chakra left in her gloves and let it out in a slow but steady surge. She then manipulated it through sheer force of will. The earth behind her solidified and pushed her along, as the earth before her liquified and allowed passage. It would take a bit of time for her to figure out how to move properly... and by then, the jutsu would likely wear off anyways. Regardless, she was now of no use to the Hokage... and would better serve him by fleeing and living to fight another time.

[Tuujaimaa]

Tsukishimo - Outside Konoha

Tsukishimo’s shadow, which had never stopped running at Sota, would reach just about his person as he was two seconds into his initial monologue. It, using the previously built up momentum, would thrust its weight forwards and suddenly be replaced with the real Tsukishimo - the product of the powerful Ten’i Kage no Jutsu. Now the woman in the flesh was in front of Sota, she combined her built up momentum with the Hakke Hensū Shō to deal two extremely quick blows to Sota: She would strike him using a turning motion to her right, past his left side, on the heart and at the back of the neck. The gentle fist technique would take its hold, and as she attacked Sota’s nervous and chakra systems simultaneously two things would happen: His heart would suffer minor damage and his blood pressure would thus decrease, and the physical strike as well as the attacking of the nerves at the back of the neck would render Sota unconscious. With this, adding his weight to her own momentum and picking him up - then storing him on her back - she would complete her spin in midair and land gracefully a good 5 feet behind where Sota was previously standing.

Then, capitalising on her completion of such a fluid movement with momentum, she would immediately begin running away from the fight between Chiyoko and Ritsuko with an unconscious Sota in her hands. She was definitely slowed, carrying the Kage, but with the commotion occurring between the other combatants and her incredible speed regardless, she would easily begin running out of the way and on her way to wherever it was she desired. Her shadow remained where she had been, almost running towards Chiyoko, but would stop its direct path and curve off to the side with a roll to avoid impacting Chiyoko or anything that could have been in the way, and would watch the remaining fight closely, ready to react at any second to any changes. As the shadow shared a sensory link with Tsukishimo, she would react to their movements as per she saw through the shadow, and could perhaps even speak to Chiyoko through the shadow.

[Sotawyyvra]

Sota would fall unconscious, thus being absolutely helpless to defend himself as his body was slung over the strangers shoulder and taken wherever desired.

[Innue]

--- Chiyoko ---

Chiyoko had no idea who this woman was, but the Hokage was hers and she was not going to just simply let her escape.

With a surge of chakra, Chiyoko substituted with the senbon that had just buried themselves into the part of the Hokage that was flung over her back. It took much more chakra than a normal substitute, given that she had to make use of Tekigou, but it was necessary to prevent escape. Given the close proximity, she would reach out and grab onto the Hokage with her right hand, her feet still off the air from her substitute. Her left immediately formed a solitary handseal as she prepared to extract the Hokage with a surge of strength. If she grasped the Hokage and pulled, she would most likely rip him off of of Tsukishimo with augmentation from Shokei Shimasu - for both the arm that would be grasping the Hokage and the enhanced strike with her leg that would likely hit Tsukishimo from behind on her lower back.

After having seen the swap with the shadow, Chiyoko assessed this was integral to her combat style and that she needed to be wary of it. It was quite different in behavior than a Nara style shadow, but from her experience it was best to assume it was exceptionally dangerous.

[Tuujaimaa]

Tsukishimo - Outside Konoha

Tsukishimo’s shadow had a sensory link with her, and as the shadow watched Chiyoko substitute, the information was immediately relayed to Tsukishimo. It would follow her to continue feeding information to Tsukishimo, as well as being available to use in combat. Acting purely based on instinct, Tsukishimo combined two principles in tandem: She was going to throw whatever was on her back forwards to regain her momentum, and she was going to roll forwards to gain the vantage point in a fight behind her. She was somewhat mentally prepared for Chiyoko given the sensory link with her shadow, and the fact she had essentially “seen” the two surges of chakra that Chiyoko had prepared. The first had been used for her Kawarimi no Jutsu, but the second had remained in her body. In addition, the shadow would see Chiyoko performing the Shokei Shimasu when she did, and Tsukishimo would easily be able to figure out how it worked. However, these events would not happen just yet.

As Chiyoko would be reaching for the Hokage and first contact was made, Tsukishimo’s center of gravity was already thrown downwards as she rolled forwards, throwing the slumped Hokage on her back a long way forwards. He would now collide a short distance with Chiyoko, increasing the resultant force, and as she was airborne at this point she would inherit all of his and Tsukishimo’s momentum, throwing her forwards with him. This, however, gave her an opportunity to attack through the Hokage.

Should her throw be successful, Tsukishimo would utilise the momentum that Chiyoko would be forced to gain, and direct her roll to the side. Then, facing away from the pair she would carry her momentum further, dashing for a few meters before turning around to survey the battlefield properly and engage in combat with Chiyoko. The throw would also circumvent Chiyoko’s attack and delay whatever technique she had prepared, which Tsukishimo would take into account.

Should it not, however, she would be prepared to react with whatever information she could gather from the point of the throw, and would tense her body to brace herself for an inevitable impact.

[Innue]

--- Chiyoko ---

Holding tight onto the Hokage, having freed him, Chiyoko let the momentum of the throw carry her as well bending her arm grasping him to push back slightly from the throw against her, staying behind the aerial Hokage, his body between them both for the moment she needed. Releasing the jutsu she had prepared, she summoned forth one of her puppets. This puppet, however, did not appear in front of her, or behind her. No, this puppet appeared in the air around both Chiyoko and the Hokage. It'd be tight, since it was only designed for Chiyoko in mind, but they'd fit. There was an added benefit in that if the Hokage became problematic, when he finally would begin to come too, she could kill him easily within the puppet.

Genbu's legs would near instantly dig into the ground below them, and most likely, would fall forward from the momentum of the two shinobi colliding with the inner walls. Without being on the outside, Chiyoko couldn't control Genbu, but she was also relatively safe. But, the control issue would only be momentary unless her opponent could penetrate the defensive shell of Genbu's inner chest.

[Tuujaimaa]

As the events unfolded, Tsukishimo would be watching Genbu encompassing both Chiyoko and Sota. She could see them inside of it due to her ability to see chakra, and would utilise the time she had wisely.

By pressing her hand to a black mark just below her bosom, she would speak: ” Hear me, Kūnokū! Your servant requires aid!”, and thus her message to the Kagekage would be sent. She would wait patiently for her Kage’s arrival, and would immediately react to whatever she saw Chiyoko doing inside of the puppet. Her Shadow would, while all of this was happening, have been summoned back to Tsukishimo and would be waiting next to Genbu. What unfolded next would be... Interesting.

[Hera]

Risa harrumphed.

No, that wasn't right - she pouted. Delicately painted lips stuck out childishly, vermilion eyes crinkled around the edges in irritation. The jittery chuunin had escaped with his papers in a trembling hand some fifteen minutes ago, and yet she was still alone. The paperwork strewn across the slightly sandy floorboards of the airy room had not been picked up. In fact, if anything, they appeared to be in even more a disarray because of the light breeze coming in through the double windows placed strategically behind the Kazekage's desk. Not for any sort of political or safety reason, no. The placement was simply aesthetic, and somewhat foolish when one thought of having large, perpetually opened windows behind oneself. Still, Risa enjoyed the breeze against her hot neck, as sweat was unsavory in appearance and matting up and wetting her hair with the salty liquid even more so. Work was not being done and while Risa was fine with this, it still somewhat prickled at her conscious - where was Sengu? The fastidious woman was never late, never - dammit! Risa should have never gave her that leave of absence. It was ridiculous, irresponsible of her, but when had she ever been responsible? The messy office hurt her eyes though, and the small blooming cacti she kept on her desk had not been watered since Sengu had left, most likely. The thought of it dying dampened Risa's spirits and she languidly uncrossed her legs and dropped them from her desk neatly, standing up with a small flourish.

"Water." Risa pronounced out loud, her voice carrying in the empty room. Paperwork could wait, giving out foolish missions to impatient genin could be done by someone else, but it had been Sengu's job to water her cactus! How much would a table cactus even need? For inhabiting the desert much of her life, Risa was much ignorant of the needs of the few shrubbery that chose to grow there. She simply liked to admire them, not to take care of them. Rubbing her ankle with her other thoughtfully, a light bulb appeared over Risa's head and she bent over, opening drawers haphazardly and pushing things into a disarray in her search of the small bottle of perfume she kept close.Ah - there! Expensive and rich in odour, the facest of the magnificently cut, impish bottle gleamed in the sunlight. Risa grinned in triumph. No need to go looking for water - it was scarce enough as it was in such an environment. Perfume had water in it, right? Cactus could drink it? Shrugging rounded shoulders, Risa unscrewed the top of the bottle and poured a liberal amount into the dirt that encircled the cactus's roots. Satisfied when it looked thoroughly drenched and only a pitiful puddle remained in the bottle, Risa set to dropping the bottle back into the drawer when a strange feeling enveloped her frame. Risa stilled, eyes narrowing. It was rare for the advisor to call for help - as powerful as the woman was, she did not much need her Kazekage's assistance.

"Anbu," stated Risa, and the hawk faced man appeared in a puff of sand, "Get my sword, will you? I am I need of an escort to the Land of Fire. You will come."

"M'lady," The ANBU began, "What of Sengu-san - "

"Who do you think we're going for? Meet me at the gate." Risa smiled airily, "Now go, I've got to find my left shoe. I think it's somewhere over there .. " Frowning petulantly, Risa bent and clasped the straps of her heels around her ankles, her back cracking in protest as she bent down. After glancing at her hair and deeming it satisfactory, Risa spritzed the rest of the perfume onto her wrists, silently filing away the thought that she'd need to buy more later. Where was the manufacturer? Iwagakure? Slipping her fan into her obi, Risa, with an extravagant flourish that was useless as there was no one there to witness it, left the office and landed gracefully on her feet at the gate where the ANBU was waiting dutifully, Risa's intricately carved sword held in his reverent hands. Focusing on Sengu's location as they sprinted, Risa fluttered her eyes closed and absently touched the tattoo on her left hip, the one Sengu had used to call her. So she was a bit outside of Konoha - that was not far, but it was irritating. Risa was not looking forward to seeing the leafy village, but she must do what she must. It was possibly Sengu was summoning that other - the being Risa still did not exactly know of (Did her advisor expect her not to notice the strange marking?), not her, but still, Risa would not permit one of her vassals being protected by someone other than her. It was shameful. The ANBU beside her was slightly useless and would probably be a hinderance if there was really a problem, but for the moment Risa enjoyed using him as a pack mule and would protect him if need be. Still, expendable or not, he was still an ANBU, meant to be one of the best of her village. Risa glanced to her side to eye the nondescript man who appeared solely focused on his task. She snorted softly and looked ahead. They were making good time - Risa could already feel the chakra signature of Sengu, what she faintly recognized as the Hokage's, and two unfamiliar even if the ANBU had not. There only appeared to be one hostile opponent, though - Risa snorted. She'd give Sengu a thrashing for making her leave for one opponent.

"Hello!" Risa smiled cheerfully, landing sweetly on two feet on the branch of a particularly thick tree. The ANBU landed beside her, causing the tree to shake softly from the weight as he handed her her sword. She waved him off absently - she wouldn't need it. The battle in front of her was odd, indeed. A lovely puppet carried two inside of it, the Hokage and the assailant - Sengu stood a bit a distance away, her stance battle ready. There was a Konoha ninja there too, Risa noted, perhaps to aid to rescue her Kage. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed defensively and she rethought her earlier statement, lightly grabbing the hilt of her sword and disappearing. When she reappeared it was in front of the puppet, and infusing chakra into the blade, easily sank the blade into the inner chest of the puppet. This woman was foolish if she thought one from the Hidden Sand did not know how a puppet worked or how to find its weak points with little difficulty - still, it was a nice puppet and Risa commended whoever made it. Having pushed her blade inbetween where the chakra signatures collided, Risa knew she had not harmed anyone inside - it would be useless to kill the intruder before learning anything. With an effortless swing, she pulled the sword down, making around a seven inch slice in the puppet. Dropping to her knees, Risa grinned and eyed inside the cut, seeing a sliver of two cramped people inside.

"Can I join in?" She asked cheekily.

[Hidarii]

--- Ayameko and Kaku ---

"I understand your concerns," Ayameko nodded, "The chakra cost, when done with the experiments, didn't seem to be affected by distance - which is to be expected. It is a manipulation of space between two points and the creation of what might as well be termed as a tunnel. Since time-space is not really concerned with distance, it shouldn't be a problem."

There was little way to make the technique more efficient, at least without someone who had an affinity to such a style of technique. It wasn't unheard of for there to be shinobi or entities to possess the ability to manipulate time-space. However, it was incredibly, incredibly rare. Outside of that, it too significant amounts of chakra for anyone else to preform such a feat. Of course, Ayameko had a way to implement the technique more effectively on Kyokujitsugakure because of deep secrets rooted within the village - secrets she wouldn't divulge to even her closest allies.

However, Ayameko was not above hinting at such things...

"Theoretically, a single person can operate the seal - it is just much easier with multiple people and it is much less of a drain per person to do it with a team. I could probably operate the seal myself a time, or possible two, but I'd be incredibly tired after doing so. Given your age and ability Tokuisei, I suspect you could operate it 3-4 times yourself before becoming exhausted. My people are not known for our large chakra pools, you know."

Ayameko paused, watching the Tsuchikage closely. "I believe you are right though - a demonstration is probably best. I hope I was not too forward in preparing a corresponding seal already." She smiled cheerfully, hoping the Tsuchikage would appreciate the prediction. "I've asked Shien, my assistant, to operate the seal on the other end for us as well. "

Taking a few steps away from him, finding a section of open ground, Ayameko began weaving handsigns before placing her palm softly on the ground. A series of plants and rocks appeared, blending within the natural settings of the area. It was a little known technique of the Sankage - fuuinjutsu created through plants and stones. As long as the pattern, which seemed chaotic and random, remained - the seal would remain. It also allowed the covert application of fuuinjutsu over large areas as defensive mechanisms.

"It is convenient your nephew is along here," she laughed slightl. "Kaku, if you wouldn't mind..."

The young genin nodded and stepped into the center of the area as Ayameko backed away, "Yes, Sankage-sama."

With great focus Ayameko would begin the series of signs to initiate the transport of the Tsuchikage's nephew back to Kyokujitsugakure.

~Tokuisei Nara~

"Still, three or four times is rather low, but I guess I cannot complain. Considering the value this could have at any time in our future." He sighed, he would wish for more uses, but such a versatile technique, with as many safeguards as there were. he truly could not complain about the gift the Sankage was about to bless Iwagakure with. It was then that Ayameko mentioned a demonstration, and Tokuisei nodded, waiting for the woman to go on with her demonstration. One that he personally couldn't wait to see.

"Oooh..." Tokuisei cooed, his face showing an enthusiastic expression as the other kage began to work her magic. "So he's going to be sent to Kyokuujitsugakure, correct? Any you've used your secret technique to have a hidden seal among the landscape... perhaps that could be used to our advantage should war break out, a seal directly on the battlfield, hidden, but in plain sight." Tokuisei was excited, a childish glee welling up inside him. An exciting event, and something useful for both nations. And it would still prove useful on warfront. What more could a man ask for?

Fusei sighed, sticking his sword into the ground and leaning on it while he listened to the old man talk and boast his strength, speaking of how Fusei would be forced to remove it from his grasp. It was pathetic, and quite the big talk coming from a man of easily over eighty. Will would only do you so much; an old body such as his would not last as long as the young, fit body that Fusei possessed. “Now that you're do-” He began, but cut off abruptly as the large gourd Daijoubu had been holding was flung at him at insane speeds. A simple attack, and one that was quite easily dodged, Fusei preformed a simple sidestep, skidding across the grass and regaining his position as the gourd flew past him. “Rude... I thought old people were supposed to have manners...” He muttered the last part under his breath. He took a moment to analyze the fight.

Daijoubu's stance screamed defensive, his legendary sword in one hand an a sawtooth Fuma shuriken that seemed to be spinning faster with every second in the other. A frontal assault would be suicide; especially since his sword was rumored to cut through all others. If this was so, a straight up Kenjutsu battle would be to his opponent's advantage. If he could create an opening, though...

He too fell into a defensive stance; his sword angled to block any projectiles thrown at him, and reached back into his weapons pouch. Grabbing three kunai both equipped with explosive tags, he would fling them at Daijoubu, one moving on a straightforward path; straight at Daijoubu, and the other covering the left and right escape paths. Obviously moving backward to avoid the kunai wouldn't work either, as the force behind the throw gave it enough power to clear the entire plateau before fear of striking the ground. His defense remained, ready to react to any other attacks thrown his way.

~Daijoubu Nochi~

As the kunai shot his way, he launched himself into the air propelled backwards. The gap between him and Fusei would enlarge, and their standoff would continue, but the kunai themselves would fly right under him, exploding as they hit a few rocks further away. "Simple ninja tricks? Really, you expect that to work?" Daijoubu chuckled as he landed sliding a few inches as he took a more offensive stance. Sword held out in one hand, and his spinning shuriken held behind him. He made his move, darting to the side then straight forward. Closing the gap between himself and Fusei. And As the gap would close he would slide low. Aiming a kick at Fusei feet, while simultaneously attacking with his weapons. A perilous desicsion for a normal man, but for Daijoubu, rather safe. And should the attack hit, an easy end to a fight.

[Silexus]

Hoshi, Kûnokû

Yami no Sensei was deep in meditation, the darkness that was merely an extension of his will coiled and pulsated around him barely distinguishable from the natural perpetual shadows that surrounded him. The so called teacher of darkness was calm, tendrils of darkness crawling around the waxen candles as the flames guttered and flickered. It was in this deep trance that he heard the cry for help from Tsukishimo. She was definitely a strange being, one of the few who could naturally withstand his incredibly malevolent chakra with a desire to kill second only to his own which made her unusually useful. Her call for aid came as a surprise to the Kagekage and he languidly tightened his shadows grips on the candles, the flames vanishing into smoke. Kûnokû called his shadows back to him, his mind pulling them back and surrounding himself with the dark before he too became no more than darkness.

Through the hidden paths that only one such as himself could find he travelled, slipping out of the light and existing solely as shadow. Tsukishimo was near Konohagakure not Sunagakure where he had her posted as the Kazekage's Advisor, yet another surprise from his pawn. In a matter of seconds, Kûnokû appeared within the shadow of a tree near to the battlefield and for a moment, he observed the combat unfolding before his eyes. The Kazekage was indeed a mighty swordswoman of great prowess and for now was no foe to him. Apparently she too had been summoned to aid Tsukishimo. As Risa struck the puppet Kûnokû peered through the shadows cast by the light now flooding in to see who was hiding inside and was indeed pleased with the results, seeing the cause for Tsukishimo's need for help. Her target had been the Hokage.

As soon as he realised this, Kûnokû reached his hand back into the realm of shadow and moved it into the shadows within the puppet Genbu. As his arm sunk into the dark up to his elbow a large quantity of his black aura flowed with it, filling the puppet with creeping dark, which after only a moment would explode outwards into a forest of sharp tendrils, piercing the puppet from within and probably wounding those inside and around it as well. Should the natural sharpness of the darkness be insignificant Kûnokû would take only a second to supply the aura inside the puppet with more energy, increasing its strength to the point of success. The darkness that, if the attack was successful, now skewered the puppet from inside would thrash, the black blades flexing and cutting through the puppet as if it were no more than paper.

With their defence broken, if indeed the tactic worked which it most likely would, Kûnokû stepped back into the darkness and walked out of the dark blades which had torn the puppet open as they retracted back to surround him. The aura would obscure any of his defining features from view, keeping his identity a secret as he reached out to grab the Hokage. Seeing as Chiyoko would probably be somewhat dazed by the destruction of her puppet, she would most likely be in no position to resist as Kûnokû took Sota into his hands. If of course, she did react, Kûnokû would be ready to deal with her assault using his shadows, or even have Tsukishimo engage her.