[center][h2][color=#534730][U][B]Heirana, Shirayuri[/B][/U][/color][/h2][/center][hr]
Heading into town with Mayumi alongside her, Shirayuri was sending off periodic vibrations, in order to locate  the individual who got the most foot traffic. Someone who had the most wealthy looking residence. Eventually she found what she was seeking, and made a beeline for the building.

With her outlandish looking mask and the symbol of Iwagakure on it, she was garnering some attention from the locals. They appeared to be noticing Mayumi as well. Some of the villagers weren't noticing the duo because they were shinobi though...some of them were just leering. She ignored the latter of the two, but smiled at the others, her expression relaxed and friendly.

Reaching a house near the middle of the village, one which was slightly larger than the others--possessing two stories and a wider frame in addition to a backyard, which lacked a garden--Shirayuri knocked on the door three times, then waited, wearing the same smile. After a few moments the door opened to reveal a small blonde haired child no older than nine. She aimed her head down at the girl, lowering her self so she was crouching, her hands on her knees so she was at eye level with the little girl. [color=#534730][b]"Are your parents home, dear?"[/b][/color] She asked with a measure of sweetness, despite knowing they were already--one of the benefits of some vibrations traveling through surfaces, and sound entering through nooks and crannies.

The girl took a step back from Shirayuri, but nodded, before she saw the symbol on the woman's mask at which point her eyes lit up with surprise and awe. Shirayuri giggle slightly as the girl tried to talk, but only a small squeal of delight was all that came out. [color=#534730][b]"We'll wait, you can go get them,"[/b][/color] she said, doing her best to urge the girl on, they were here on business, even if she would have greatly enjoyed entertaining the child.

The girl nodded enthusiastically then ran off into the house, calling for her father. Only a minute later the man came into sight, his brown hair and beard well groomed, with slight tinges of gray where age was showing through. The man was short, she noticed, but he was well built, which she found odd due to his position. [color=#534730][b]"Thank you,"[/b][/color] she said to the girl, who beamed in response before backing up to give them some space. Shirayuri rose to her full height and [I]looked[/I] in the man's direction before she spoke, [color=#534730][b]"Greetings sir, I gather you're the chief of this village."[/b][/color]

The man nodded, smiling slightly, [i]"Yes and who might you two be if I may inquire? I don't recall sending for aide from Iwagakure,"[/i] the man crossed his arms as he said it--his expression not matching his annoyed body language in the least. Shirayuri would have winced if she wasn't used to dealing with this sort of thing, [color=#534730][b]"Our venerable Tsuchikage caught word of what's been going on here, the woman who's so near his borders and harassing good folk such as yourselves."[/b][/color] Her smile never faltered, though it did soften, her eyes telling a more serious tale. [color=#534730][b]"He sent us as a preemptive measure. To capture the woman and relieve your capable shinobi of the burden so everyone can return to their lives, and this new found peace."[/b][/color] The man raised an eyebrow, shifting his weight slightly. Near the end he began tapping his foot quietly against the dirt. [i]"We didn't [/I]ask[I] for the [/I]venerable[I] kage's assistance,"[/i] he said, as if stating it again would make them flee. [i]Why was he so agitated? Perhaps needing assistance was a hit to his pride?[/i]

[color=#534730][b]"I'm sorry sir, we're just following orders. I didn't mean to imply that your people couldn't handle this themselves. We're just here to lend a helping hand and take back the offender once she's defeated. For intel, she's not the only individual to attack a settlement in the last few months it seems."[/b][/color] Had she not been wearing her mask, the man might have seen her brow crease in worry. What he would see is her lips settle into something closer to a frown.

After a long, tense, silence, the man let his arms fall to his sides and nodded, sighing, his eyes hard. [i]"Very well, I'll have my men lead you to her base, but I'm warning you, overstep your bounds and it won't be pretty. Oh, and any metal you've got on you...I'd abandon it, they'll never hit her."[/i] Shirayuri glanced at Mayumi, then back at the man, her expression now clearly a frown. [color=#534730][b]"Very well, I take it your men can brief us in regards to what they've gathered about her abilities?"[/b][/color]

The man shook his head, having already turned away. He glanced back at them, [I]"She only came out once, most of the survivors have brain damage...or are in terminal condition. Got a healer with you by any chance?"[/I] She shook her head, [i]"Pity,"[/i] he said in response, then closed the door behind him. Shirayuri was left with an ominous feeling and a lingering disappointment. She wished people could be more reasonable.

Taking in a deep breath and then letting it out, she turned away from the chief's house and began walking. They were soon joined by a small contingent of shinobi, roughly eight of them in leather armor, most wielding wooden weapons, if any at all. She decided she'd keep her yari in their seals unless she saw an opportune moment.

Hopefully Nobushige would meet them on the way there, granted...with the additional shinobi it was likely that they'd lose the element of surprise. Unfortunate.

They'd just arrived and things really weren't going to well.[hr][b][i][h3][center]Elsewhere[/center][/h3][/i][/b]
As Nobushige's group of clones neared their target's rather conspicuous base of operations, several groups of individuals would begin to come into view. There were nine or ten groups, each with three people in them. As he got closer he'd note the metal protrusions and odd indents in flesh. He'd also note what was floating behind them roughly 20 meters in the air: A small island of stone, a jet black dome barely visible over the lip. Metal rods could be seen in both the surroundings, only an inch or two sticking from the ground. Corresponding metal rods were arranged all over the floating base, most sticking out of the bottom of edges of it. Every so often electricity arced between poles. There was a feeling of static in the air.

With the approach of Nobushige's clones, each in their own garb, the groups began to turn, noticing the intruders. Some of them yelled for them to scram, while others began to point and laugh. There were a few who just watched, remaining dead silent--not many of them, only 4 in total. Those four appeared to have less obvious, or drastic physical augmentations than the others, but they were also surrounded by what appeared to be an aura of static. The others had it too, but it was hardly as prominent. Some didn't have it at all, though electricity would sometimes spark off of them and strike the ground.

It was an odd thing indeed. Then again, Nobushige had likely seen some strange things in his time.

Very strange things. Perhaps it would prove interesting for him.

Perhaps.