[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ObRDT2r.png[/img] [h2][b][color=moccasin]Tsukiko Umene, Honeybadger[/color][/b][/h2][/center] [hr] The fact the man turned and raised a hand to block Tsukiko's attack confirmed that he had acute sensory capability and not some kind of dojutsu like the Sharingan. However he further demonstrated his ability by allowing her spear to pierce his hand and grabbing the shaft, snapping the weapon with his forearm strength alone while simultaneously grabbing Tsukiko's outstretched leg. [i][color=moccasin]Wait, maybe he has Byakugan if he was able to see my attack with such clarity,[/color][/i] Tsukiko mused briefly before feeling the squeezing force he exerted on her leg. Letting go of the Monicker, as it was a lost cause now, Tsukiko quickly weaved handseals. While the casual onlooker would see this man being stabbed by an invisible force and grabbing thin air, a poof of smoke gave undeniable proof there was an opponent. Quite visible was the potted plant hovering in the air next to the mysterious man, briefly defying gravity before crashing to the ground and shattering. Tsukiko had used the substitution technique, reappearing inside a building just down the street. [i][color=moccasin]That son of a bitch, that hurt,[/color][/i] she grumbled to herself, jumping down from the table she was standing on and looking out the window. The man was still in the street, but the broken spear was now visible and he was likely removing the rest of it from his bloody hand. [i][color=moccasin]And I can't believe that asshole had the gall to break my spear. Now I have to get a new one. That isn't easy.[/color][/i] Clenching her fist, Tsukiko finally looked over her shoulder to see where she was. There was an elderly lady sitting on a couch nearby, watching the TV. She was completely unaware of the invisible woman's presence. Tsukiko propped the window open and jumped out, landing on the street again. Though impossible to see by normal means, those capable of spotting the invisible would see she had a furious scowl. [i][color=moccasin]I don't know how fast he is. I have a headstart from this position, so perhaps I can reach the Hokage and do something. But he might be able to catch me again and all I would've done is waste energy... I have to stop this guy before I can stop that woman. Besides, I'll be able to track her down at any time now. If I can't protect the Hokage... I can avenge him.[/color][/i] Tsukiko pulled out several meters of ninja wire, quickly tying the shape to form a small, pathetic-looking net. However, dangling from the ninja wire in several places were exploding tags partially wrapped around vertices where the wires interlocked. In total there was five. Holding this shitty mass of wire and explosives by another wire, Tsukiko dashed towards the mysterious man. [b][color=moccasin]"Block this!"[/color][/b] Tsukiko called out, tossing the tangled mess at the man with her right hand as she held onto the 'leash' with her left. She deactivated her Hiding with Camouflage while the wires were mid-flight, bringing her intention to view for the whole world. Once the mass was less than two meters from the assassin, Tsukiko yanked the leash taught and channeled her chakra into it. The trademark sizzling sound being quickly accompanied by the near simultaneous detonation of all five tags. Regardless of how much damage the man received, the explosion itself would provide great visual cover by obscuring the view of most the 11th corps member that were watching and the assassin himself. Tsukiko capitalized on this and immediately turned tail to run in the direction of the Hokage and the female assassin. [i][color=moccasin]If that didn't kill him it must've rocked him,[/color][/i] Tsukiko thought, jumping onto the nearest rooftop and making a handseal again. Re-activating the Hiding with Camouflage, so as to be able to get the drop on the female assassin again, she took off as fast as she could to get to the scene in time. [hr] [center][img]https://36.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr7xsq9y3h1qcfp07o1_500.jpg[/img] [h2][b][color=orange]Shin Maru, Topaz[/color][/b][/h2][/center] [hr] The young detective and the jonin accompanying him arrived at the Hokage's Office, both clearly in a rush. [b][color=orange]"Go to their houses and see if they're home. I'll check things out here."[/color][/b] [b][color=gray]"On it."[/color][/b] The two parted ways as the man leapt off towards the city while Shin rushed into the building. Already news had spread of the incident, and though the building was mostly empty there were several people running about with various documents and papers. Apparently they were preparing as if Konoha was under attack with some kind of preservation protocols. Shin made sure to stop one, a thin nerdy-looking fellow. [b][color=orange]"Who can I talk with to find out what the Hokage had been doing this morning?"[/color][/b] Shin asked him, surprising the man. [b][color=blue]"I wouldn't know, but we're all kinda busy here. Shouldn't you be protecting the Hokage right now?"[/color][/b] [b][color=orange]"I'm trying. He was poisoned, I'm trying to find out what point in time he could've been poisoned and who it could've been. Something like that had to be an inside job..."[/color][/b] [hr] The mysterious woman and the Hokage were on the platform again, though the square was much emptier than when they first encountered there prior. However, a single man walked out into the open space, now being one of the few spectators to whatever this assassin woman wanted. He stood at a fairly average height and had medium-length, shaggy black hair. His glasses and beard didn't help his case, making look well into a mid-life crisis. [url=http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/zankyou-no-terror/images/f/f3/Zankyou_no_terror-02-shibasaki-detective-terrorism_department-glasses-goatee-crossword.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/640?cb=20140822180933]Kaito Maru[/url] adjusted his glasses, looking up to the spectacle above the square. The Hokage, lying on the ground at the mercy of the mystery woman. [b][color=maroon]"Boys,"[/color][/b] the man spoke, his voice practically radiating a calm authority. This was only to catch Yamato and Tatsuya's attention, as he gave no further commands. Instead he let out a sigh and withdrew a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. [b][color=maroon]"You know, this was a spectacular failure."[/color][/b] While Kaito's voice still sounded calm, a tone of irritation could be detected. [b][color=maroon]"Our forces performed poorly and reacted haphazardly."[/color][/b] After lighting the cigarette and stowing the extras away, Kaito took a pause for a drag. After finishing it he looked back towards Yamato and Tatsuya. With a simple motion of his hand he indicated for them to stay put. The middle-aged Superintendent leapt up from the square, landing on the very edge of the platform the Hokage and the assassin were standing on. Surely she would see this as an aggressive act, but Kaito made no further moves to get closer. [b][color=maroon]"Honestly, this is just embarassing, Zeno-sama..."[/color][/b] After another drag, Kaito blew out his smoke over his left shoulder. [b][color=maroon]"It goes to show how unprepared we truly were. How little we used caution... By the way, [i]assassin-chan[/i]... does your husband know what you're doing here?"[/color][/b] The elder shinobi lifted his left hand, forming the Seal of Confrontation slowly and smoothly. While nothing happened from it, it was a good indicator that he was now prepared to form handseals.