Looking at the corpse in front of her, Kiyomi scoffed.
''They are an annoying bunch. But we need to get a moving.'' She told Hayate. There was a grim expression on her face as she cleaned her blade on the clothes of the person she had killed. Turning around, she sheathed the silver katana back in the scabbard on her back.
''You did it quite nice.'' Kiyomi said before she began to move, towards the east.
Bowing his head slightly in thanks, Hayate moved out to follow Kiyomi.
"Do you think that will have been enough to buy us some time?" He glanced at her before looking back in front of him. Hayate really had no idea what to expect with this place that they were in. Despite his lack of knowledge he felt confident that they would be able to accomplish their mission. So far the resistance against them hadn't been too tough.
''Not sure. Best to make some distance and then formulate a plan.'' Kiyomi answered back. She was wondering about that as well. The attackers were more or less genin leveled. So not a real threat. And that was what worrying her actually. They were not send to kill them, but to lure them out to reveal something about themselves.
''Stay on guard. I smell something... Or rather somebody.'' Kiyomi warned Hayate. The scent was strange, as she had never smelled that kind of scent before. It raised the hair on her neck as she realized that the fight had just began.
Sensing Kiyomi growing more cautious, Hayate scanned the area around them. He hadn't spotted anything, but he thought he could detect something... something he couldn't quite make out. Readying himself for anything, Hayate's senses were on overdrive. Nowhere near the level of Kiyomi's enhanced senses, but he felt something dangerous around them.
Kiyomi ordered with a handsignal that they should stop.
''Its very close.'' She whispered as she looked around. With each passing second she could feel her senses tingeling that she should try to run away, as the scent became more and more foul. Now Hayate could likely smelled it as well. It was a weird, but horrible smell. Before she could react, a big badger charged and swept some trees aside as the beast tried to maim with his right claw at the two. Cursing, Kiyomi quickly flipped backwards to try to avoid the slash.
Stopping beside her, Hayate thought he detected a faint smell. A terrible smell. As the massive creature slammed through the trees towards them, Hayate cursed and leapt high into the air, narrowly avoiding the giant claw. Pulling out two kunai with explosive tags, Hayate spun in the air and threw them towards the beast, aiming towards its eyes. He landed on a branch and pulled out several shuriken, waiting to see what the beast would do. Glancing to make sure that Kiyomi had landed safely as well.
The beast snorted, causing a strong wind that deflected the weapons. In fact, the explosions caused it to become angrier as it started to growl. Landing on her feet, Kiyomi quickly placed her right hand at the hilt of her katana. She narrowed her eyes as she was sure that this was more of the welcome party she had expected.
''Seems we now really get something on our level.'' She mumbled before she noticed something. A bit of smoke was forming on top of the head of the badger, who glared at the two in front of him. Slowly the smoke was taking shape of a man, who was wearing black clothing, a hood and a mask.
This reeks of trouble. Kiyomi noticed that the person glanced more in her direction and already could forsee what the plan was.
''Hayate, you take on the person. The badger will be dealt with. Keep low on your abilities. This is just a little taste.'' Kiyomi ordered as she noticed the badger was rushing forward again, trying to clawing at the two.
As the man appeared on the head of the massive budger, Hayate realized what was going on.
"Would you like me to summon Kuromu?" He asked over the earphone communicator. Locking his gaze on the man, Hayate threw his shuriken towards him, hoping to draw the man's attention. Seeing the badger charge towards them again, Hayate leapt away, attempting to gain some distance.
The shuriken phased straight through the main as if he wasn't really there. Kiyomi mumbled a curse as she barely managed to avoid to not be clawed by the giant animal. The claw slashed through the earth and caused rocks, dust and debris to be launched into the air.
''No, keep it on a minium. I just need to-'' She said, but had to move again as the badger tried to stomp on her. With a quick leap backwards, she managed to avoid getting hit. The masked man briefly glanced at Hayate, but clearly the latter wasn't seen as a real threat. Kiyomi seemed to be the main focus for now.
Seeing the man pass him over as if he was nothing caused Hayate to grin wickedly.
I guess I'll just have to impress him, won't I? He thought to himself. Leaping from his perch, Hayate landed on the badger's back. Plunging two kunai into its skin to maintain his purchase, Hayate pulled himself up. Pulling out two more kunai, he threw them towards the man. The first kunai had a flash tag attached, and the second one had an explosive tag. Hayate shielded his eyes as the flash went off, and then looked to see what had happened to the man.
Though Hayate managed to stab the badger, the kunai did little more than to irk the beast to attack in a more fericous manner. Hiding behind a big tree, Kiyomi ducked as the claw slashed the tree in half. Rolling away, she managed to keep avoiding to get hit by the beast. Realizing that she was getting driven back, she already had an idea on how to pin down the badger, Literally. Her attention was however caught as she noticed a explosion that caused the badger to whine as it went off on his head. Once the smoke had cleared, the man was nowhere to be seen.
''Out of the way ant.'' The voice of a man was heard behind Hayate as a fist was about to slam against the head of Hayate if he wouldn't try to block or dodge it.
The man's fist connected solidly with - - A chunk of wood that fell down and off the side of the badger. Hayate had used the Body Replacement technique and now stood directly behind the man. Holding a kunai in his hand he thrust it towards the man.
"You should never underestimate your opponents." He said, plunging the knife into - - nothing?
Hayate started to hear a low laugh.
"That's some advice you should take yourself kid." The man said, turning to face Hayate, the knife still held through the middle of his body.
"Any last words?" His look slowly changed to one of puzzlement as Hayate grinned.
"Yeah. You should really pay more attention." Hayate turned his wrist so the explosive tag that he'd attached to the kunai was visible. The tag lit up and exploded, blowing up Hayate's shadow clone and detonating inside of the man.
The real Hayate stood perched on a tree above the action, waiting to see if his plan had worked.
The explosion caused the man to vanish as the smoke prevented any sight on it. It also caused the badger to growl and then suddenly slash from the right towards Kiyomi. Who had been distracted as she had caught a glimps of Hayate being in trouble. Just in time, she managed to jump back, but her back hit something solid. A tree was standing in the way. The eyes of Kiyomi widened as she saw the claw coming towards her. Pulling out a kunai, she tried to defend herself as the claw slashed her and the tree. Dust prevented sight of how she was doing while out of the smoke, the masked man re-appeared on the head of the badger.
''That was one.'' He mumbled before looking and trying to see where Hayate was hiding.
Hayate's sight of the man was lost in the smoke, but he saw the man reappear at the head of the badger. As the badger launched itself forwards to attack, Hayate noticed that Kiyomi was stuck. Leaping from his perch he realized that he was nowhere near close enough to block the badger's attack. He would have to trust that Kiyomi could protect herself. Turning his attention back to the man, Hayate tried to formulate a new plan. Clearly the man had a way of making himself partially intangible to avoid damage. If Hayate had the option he would summon Kuromu to make use of his Wind Release and see if he could destabilize the man. But, Kiyomi had instructed him to find another mean of eliminating the threat, and so Hayate kept to the shadows, attempting to find a new way to get rid of the man.
Damage proof!
Music for the battle.Out of the dust, lightning started to crackle. It created a menacing sound as Kiyomi's transformation jutsu had worn off. Blood was seen on her clothing as the sharp claws of the badger had managed to go through the clothing and mesh armour underneath it. Furthermore, the mood of Kiyomi was very low as she looked with a pissed off look in the direction of the badger. Scoffing, she straighten her back a bit as she ran her right thumb over the cut that was on her stomach. Some blood dripped on the ground due her action, but she paid no attention to it.
''I am going to make you pay for that.'' She hissed as she spread out her footwork and started to weave several handseals.
Placing her right hand at the ground, nothing seemed to happen. But the badger slowly turned darker as something blocked out the light. With a crash, something big landed on top of the badger. Big fangs, claws and a huge amount of fur made a loud growling sound as it started to attack the badger. Kiyomi watched how Ger, her and Hiron's personal summoning, started to fight with the badger. The summoning technique that Kiyomi had performed gave Ger the advantage as the badger seemed to be badly hurt. While it still was putting up a good fight, it was clear that Ger was going to win.
''Where is that prick?'' Kiyomi mumbled as she looked around, also wondering where Hayate was.
Hayate heard the massive bear before he saw him. Smiling despite the situation, he watched as Ger fell from the sky and landed on the badger. Well that would even the odds a little. Seeing Ger meant that Kiyomi was also okay, as it had to have been her who summoned the bear. Moving swiftly between the trees, Hayate stuck to the shadows, his long black cloak helping him blend in. He had lost sight of the man and kept an eye out, wary of traps. Hayate's mind was working furiously, trying to form a plan to destroy this ninja who could apparently avoid all damage from physical attacks. This would be much easier if he could use his clan's abilities, or his dragon. But... he had made a promise, and despite the situation being quite intense, Hayate did not yet consider it to be life or death, and thus, he did not need to rely on those options. Rounding another tree, Hayate sent a message to Kiyomi via the communicator.
"Sensei, I have lost sight of the enemy nin. Do you have eyes on him? Also... are... are you alright? I saw the badger attack you." Hayate's concern was evident in his voice as he asked her how she was faring. Knowing Kiyomi, she probably wasn't in any bad shape, but he could not help but want to make sure.
Kiyomi heard the question of Hayate and she briefly checked on herself. Slowly the cut was stopping to bleed and it was just one long on her stomach. She would attend later to it. Focussing the chakra of Matatabi to patch herself up wouldn't be something she could do in such a fight. Certainly not with an enemy that was nearby but not in sight.
''I am done fine. Don't worry about me.'' She replied as she glanced in the direction of the two giant animals fighting. Dust was wiped up and Kiyomi couldn't barely see who held the upper hand. The sounds indicated that Ger was more growling than whinning, unlike the badger. However, the foul stench of the badger made it hardly possible for Kiyomi to sense where the enemy was. That was kind of annoying.
''I don't. Can't sense him either. Stay on guard.'' She ordered, though aware that Hayate was likely aware that he shouldn't lower his guard. Placing her right hand on the hilt of her katana, she looked around. Quickly she rolled over the ground, avoiding several kunai that struk the place she had been standing. Getting up on her feet, Kiyomi quickly drawned her katana as she noticed several more coming towards her.
''Check the right. You approach him and try to flank him.'' Kiyomi ordered as she deflected the incoming projectiles.
Hearing Kiyomi's order, Hayate leapt into action. As he moved through the shadows, hopping from branch to branch, Hayate thought he saw a shadowy figure ahead. Moving closer, he kept a high guard up. It appeared as though the shadow was moving, and as he watched, Hayate could make out several small projectiles flying away from the figures position.
Got you. Learning from last time, Hayate decided not to try a direct attack on the enemy's body, instead he aimed for the branch below his feet. Pulling out another kunai with an explosive tag, Hayate threw it at the branch, watching as it exploded, separating the branch from the tree. He stayed back a distance, waiting to see what would happen to the man, and wanting to remain cautious, just in case this had been a trap.
The masked man seemed to hear the kunai coming, but it was too late for him to throw a kunai and deflect the thrown weapon of Hayate, It struck the branch just below his feet and as the man glanced down, the explosive tag went off. Kiyomi also saw the explosion and narrowed her eyes, squinting to see if she could notice anything.
''Nice one.'' She mumbled, through the earphone. But as the smoke of the explosive was settled down, the man was standing on another branch, dropping himself to the ground. And not even a scratch. It piqued Kiyomi's interests as how that was possible as annoyed her.
''You got to be kidding me. New plan. I am going to set up a barrier and then you need to strike.'' She instructed Hayate as the masked man charged towards Kiyomi. He drawned a long tanto and started to attack with fast and strong swings. Managing to deflect or dodge the fast attacks, Kiyomi noticed an opening. As she ducked under a swing, she lashed out herself. The silver katana however just phased through the man. The eyes of the girl widened as she then was kicked backwards.
Managing to skidd to a halt, she frowned. What did just happen? Her attack was performed perfectly. But it seemed that her sword just went through nothing. Only the soft sound of a something poofing was heard. But she thought that was the clothing that had been ripped by the silver edged blade.
''This is going to be annoying.'' Kiyomi took a defensive stance as the man charged once more towards Kiyomi. Trying to keep defending herself, she also tried to lure the man to turn his back to Hayate so that her student could surprise their opponent.
As Hayate dropped to the ground, he saw the enemy attacking Kiyomi. Moving forwards swiftly, he watched as she got the upper hand, until her blade passed right through thin air instead of impaling the man.
"I suppose I should have mentioned that this guy can apparently phase himself in and out at will."[b] He spoke quietly through the communicator. He had noticed something this time. As the man made himself partially intangible, Hayate noticed that a small part of him appeared to grow misty, almost like a vapour or smoke. He was too far away to make it out clearly, but he was starting to form an idea.
Making sure to stay as silent as possible, Hayate approached the enemy. Whispering through the communicator he spoke quickly to Kiyomi. [b]"If you can force him back away from you, even momentarily, I have an idea that may end this." Even as he spoke he began forming hand seals, hoping that Kiyomi would be able to move away from the enemy nin.
Hearing Hayate, Kiyomi wanted to grumble that it wasn't that easy as it would sound like. But her attention was focused on not getting sliced or cut up by the weapon of the masked man. Deciding to follow up with Hayate's plan, the girl managed to keep up with the man and instead of only defending, she started to become more offensive. If stabs to the stomach and such wouldn't work, then she would try it on a different way. As the man raised his arm for a hack, Kiyomi lashed out. Pouring a little bit of chakra through the silver, it casted to blind the man and giving an opening for Kiyomi to finish her strike.
''Gotcha!'' With a fast strike, the katana sliced through the arm, looking like it had cut off the arm. But then she noticed what it was. Smoke.
