[RP Location] Shimeru Temple

[Oni Archives]

~Meanwhile~

"You say its him huh? I hope you're right about this - I know you usually are, but it was Jinsei. He killed Jinsei - he just got his name and he killed him.

"I know how much your creations mean to you Kiyoshi - Jinsei especially so due to his exoskeleton being a representation of a former student. I know that living his death a second time especially with the ability to see through his eyes and know what he was feeling...it cant be easy. But you have to trust me on this."

=This transpiring in the capital city of Naraka where Izanagi made his home - in his very office as he stood before a monitor that had Kiyoshi's face at attention on the screen. His eyes were wild - not just with anger or sadness but the type of wild you get when you have nothing on the mind but complete and utter murder. He was reliving feelings that he much rather kept buried deep inside his mind and was doing his best to pull himself back together. But it just wasnt that easy for him. He grasped his scalp and slowly raked his hands back through his hair as he took a deep breath trying to regain his composure. Eyes closed now as he asked Izanagi another question amidst their conversation:

"You said that they were at the temple closest to here huh? Are they gonna be okay? You know I could be there in a literal blink if I wanted to, you say the word and I'll go handle it."

"No not you. I know you - you'd be too much. On top of that I dont want you seeing the kid and your rage coming back up. We need to keep Gogandantes where he's at."

"Hm - don't you have a student in the area as well?"

"Yeah - he should be in the vicinity, I think he was looking for Tatsumi or something so he may be on his way there at this very moment."

=As he said this through the perspective of which he could see things he would witness the moment in which Ko came from the heavens with a Raikiri aimed towards the crown of Daikokuten's skull. His expression seemed completely calm all the way up to the point that the purple smoke burst into Ko's face. The moment that this happened he would have adjusted the crimson shaded specs that he wore upon his face for a moment and shook his head with a scoff=

"That's the last thing we need. Looks like he'd be show up pretty quickly, otherwise we're gonna have an entirely new problem on our hands and that group of shinobi isn't gonna make it out of that temple with their lives intact."

=His view of things was coming from very low to the ground and from the angle that he was at he could see the way that Ko's face looked. He was positioned at the very front of him as he knelt on the ground just before he tried to kick Sentou and he could tell that by this point the only way that he would be able to stop him is through some form of intervention. Though he did not worry about it much for a few reasons. The main ones being - the way that Daikokuten's miasma works is that it showed you the person that you hate most in your life. Conspires with your paranoia, rage, and resentment to put you up against those around you - projecting you as that very fear or resentment. Once done it makes you fight like a wild enraged beast....wild....enraged.....beast. Ko was far more deadly in a position that he was thinking, strategizing, using his witts against people and cornering them into a position that their strength becomes their weakness. He was not doing that in this state. He was not using genjutsu in this state and he was not going to strategize in this state...at least not to any level outside of reflexive. As far as he was concerned this was not a shinobi at their highest level and very rarely was it ever a shinobi at their highest level when grasped by the miasma. The second thing that kept this from being a critical issue to him was the student that was in that area. The particular one in question had experiece with Daikokuten - a relationship, if you would. In fact - it was he that unknowingly opened the door for Daikokuten to make it to the living world. He knew that the student in question would have it handled.=

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"Currently"

=There was an odd bug crawling around in the front area of where Ko was knelt but did it distract him - no not at all. He had missed Sentou which only made him more spurned to double back and land a hit but by the time that he turned around everything else was in motion already. The moment that the geysers of flames started to come towards him and the shuriken were in motion he would not even bother with the roots in the ground. He could feel them as they came up towards his ankles. The moment that all of this was happening there would be something else going on in his head and with his body. He would grit his teeth and cock back a bit, but for that moment that he did the real Ko, the sensible one was yelling at him from the inside and it seemed like he had a pretty good influence even in that regard. The pain from what was going in mentally, the trauma from knowing that he was practically locked inside of his body - it triggered something in him. As he cocked back his body flickered for a very brief moment In doing so he would find himself several feet backwards out of the way holding the dragon seal to his chest he would do something that not even Kasami in all this time knew he could do...as he slid back the roots that she called up would get called up even further - letting the shuriken that would have been connected to wire pass - canceling the wire trick in favor of keeping himself on the up and up. In doing this the fuuma shuriken would fly at inaccurate trajectory and in doing so the one on the right would land behind Kasami with a blunt sounding plant into a tile and the other would chop and plant into where Eiji was. The roots themselves would come up and grow - expanding to the point that they would come over him and protect him from the shuriken even with their wind nature chakra augments. As he did this his sharingan changed. Going from just a single red pupil to a red pupil and twisted swirl around it - resembling the kind of eye that the uchiha progenitor would have had in his prime. He had just manipulated woodstyle - with his own woodstyle and from this point he was using a sharingan never before seen and technique that would put a stop to this:

"Ikigai"

=He muttered under his breath and followed with a choked cough as he did such and in doing it there would be a very thin - if you blinked you would miss it; bubble that appeared around him. The moment that the bubble appeared around him and sustained about a ten foot diameter there - when the geyser got to his vicinity he would find that there was nothing but silence. The moment that his geyser of fire was supposed to come up - it did not and instead what had come up would have been a geyser of steam - fanning through and covering the area to the point that it started to fog up the area closest to Kasami and Eiji. Those that did not have some kind of ocular aid would find that their visual prowess would be impaired. While the steam came up - there was a moment of complete silence. Even the grunts and coughs of Ko would have gone silent and for a moment it would seem as if nothing was happening.....then suddenly Sentou would find himself starting to get pulled deeper into the steam to the point that Ko was standing...less he found some way to keep himself down or otherwise cancel this - he would find himself pulled into the steam and unleashed upon by Ko. . .it would not be apparent till someone got close or someone was to look through the steam at him - but what could be seen. Would be two glowing indigo orbs there in the steam where he stood.=​

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[Oni Archives]

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It seemed that despite his enraged persona, Ko was capable of defending himself from the assault of the three; watching from above sentou could only admire the finesse of their assailant as he thwarted their attempts. His eyes tried to keep up with him as much as possible as Ko flickered away and took control of Kasami's technique using the roots to shield him from Eiji's shuriken jutsu -- believing that his flames would do the trick against the woodstyle, sentou smirked to himself thinking there wasn't anywhere to go but that soon proved not to be the case as steam rose from the ground instead. "Huh, what happened to the flames? He asked himself and no sooner as he asked this the steam began to roll across the area blanketing everything. It was difficult to see anything, let alone hear anything, before the steam had surrounded them he was sure to he had heard Ko and his coughing fit, however now it was dead silent.

It seemed no matter what they threw at Ko there was some sort of counter measure being thrown back, with the fog taking away his field of vision sentou couldn't help but praise this well groomed shinobi, remembering a time he spent fighting shinobi from the mist village he had seen a technique just like this making it hard for enemies to fight back or even flee efficiently -- generally speaking losing sight of one's foe was definitely a game changer in a fight however sentou had spent a lot of time without his five natural senses, to him this was practically nothing, nevertheless he had a team to think about, not only himself. Creating the Bird hand seal sentou would emit the chakra he had previously gathered around his body outward summoning a large gale of cold air whisking around him to create a wind tunnel strong enough to blow away the lingering steam in the air to provide his team vision of the situation. Whether or not this proved true or not sentou would begin to feel some strange sensation around his body, it was as if he was moving all on his own - being pulled from the sky sentou would be brought back to the ground where despite his attempts of keeping a solid footing on the ground found himself sliding indirectly towards Ko. Had the steam been lifted from the air sentou would see Ko standing where he was with two mysterious orbs floating around him, "You're not getting me that easily!" sentou growled behind clenched teeth, gripping his tonfa's handles tightly he began to think about the demonstration the merchant from the village gave him, showing him the tonfa's he had contained a summoning kanji at the bottom for both that were capable of summoning chains from the hilts. Instinctively sentou imbued his weapons with chakra as he summoned chains from his weapon only to coat them with wind chakra to give them the characteristics of the chakra before swinging them into the tiles piercing the ground and hooking him in place, but despite that with the unstable hooks being planted into the ground the syphoning sensation was still strong as the tiles were slowly loosening from their locations. Any longer and the spikes would come out of the ground and sentou would be hurled directly into Ko, "If you're going to do something, do it now Eiji!" sentou shouted as he did what he could to maintain his footing.
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[Oni Archives]

After his attack had been launched Eiji was sure that his attack would be enough to at least distract Ko from continuing his assault upon Sentou, however to his dismay he would see the plants summoned by Kasami grow towards the sky blocking not only his shuriken but canceling out Kasami's technique and turning it to his own. As such a million thoughts seemed to rush into Eiji's head about every possibility that could unfold within the short time frame of the next sequence of attacks. One of the possibilities that could happen was still in play. Sentou's attack was still rushing from underground towards Ko, if his attack was effective it could give them an advantage and chance to take him down.

Sadly enough, Sentou's attack would be blocked as well, when Ko pulled off what seemed to be a powerful water release technique it made Eiji's normally inexpressive face change to one of pure shock. The steam created by the clash of Ko and Sentou's techniques was a powerful one, thick enough to obscure their vision unless they had an ocular technique. Eiji himself did not have a dojutsu but had an idea of what would transpire next. As such when Sentou began to clear out the steam using his own wind style technique Eiji would take advantage of it forming a quick almost instant burst of hand seals, six to be exact but only two would be noticeable even to a skilled dojutsu user, the last two which were Boar → Tiger. In the moment the steam began to clear out if Ko was not paying attention he would miss Eiji's chakra infecting the water molecules within the steam separating them out and moving them.

Eiji would be smirking inside his head as he would say, "Water Style: Liquid Memory" under his breath right at the moment Sentou began to be pulled into the maw of the steam towards Ko. The shuriken which would have landed where Eiji had been in the ground was of no consequence since he was in the air like Sentou but what would happen next would hopefully shock the entire group. A smirk formed on Eiji's face right after Sentou anchored himself poorly to the ground telling him to do something fast. With that Eiji would have done three things while holding his hand seal. The first would be the water molecules which moved away part of them would create a bubble which had a mirror like surface around Sentou. Anyone outside the bubble would only see themselves and not be able to see what Sentou was up to, though Sentou could see the outside world perfectly himself. The bubble was filled with enough air to last him about ten minutes, at the same time the bubble was forming around Sentou, if Ko lacked the focus or was too focused on Sentou he would fail to notice the water molecules which were pushed behind him by Sentou with Eiji's chakra.

These water molecules would begin forming small javelins aimed towards Ko's back. Each one aimed just slightly away from vital organs. At the same moment the bubble was half formed these javelins would launch themselves towards Ko relentlessly stabbing him though not in a way that would put his life in danger, similar disabling him possibly permanently. Even though this attack seemed as if it would work Eiji knew fairly well Ko was a capable shinobi and would more than like counter his attack so he held his tiger seal though the next move would be kept until he needed it to attack Ko or to defend his group. He would continue to manipulate the javelins and try to take Ko off his game as much as possible to give Sentou and Kasami an opening to strike.​

 

[Oni Archives]

=This team was more capable then Ko had thought from the start. That much was apparent even in this state that he was not in control of his own bodily functions. All the while he was being controlled by that miasma in his head it was like a fog - only bits and pieces he was able to make out and remember vividly as far as what was going on and that mainly consisted only of the actions of the others; not himself. It was like watching a movie from a first person view of the villain - but you never got to see his face to start with. As Sentou started to move the steam from around him he would see that it was quite a successful effort. As he did so it started to move it from around Ko as well and when it cleared he would be able to see something truly horrifying. The two orbs that were glowing in the steam were Ko's eyes. They were active Rinnegan. Ko was sneering as if he had reason to have extreme malice towards each of them and once his eyes were revealed it would be apparent to anyone that knew the rinnegan's ability that what was pulling Sentou was the Universal Pull technique. It inhibited him somewhat as he struck his tonfa chains into the ground to tether himself down but in this state Ko was like an animal for the most part, putting up a fight only riled him even more and as such his pull got stronger - like a frustrated child trying to pull back his toy. But the horrors and mystery were not over yet - oh no they were just starting to reveal themselves in fact. The moment that Eiji went about his technique he would find that it was indeed quite successful. Well executed. However it would not afford them much - but not for the reasons that he would have initially thought. When he casted the bubble over Sentou he would find that Ko would not lose track at all - he still had his universal pull on him and able to see or not he could still feel him in his grasp and as such continued to pull - not to mention with the technique Sentou had used to disperse the steam he could confirm his presence the more the steam parted ways - concluding that he was indeed bringing the source of said jutsu [sub](Sentou)[/sub] closer to him. He was however, focused directly on Sentou at this point if anything more so now that he had to affirm his presence with clues other than visual confirmation, and with that his spikes that had formulated from the water molecules around them did strike into Ko, causing him to grimace sickeningly and his facial expression to twist in anguish as he let go of Sentou. He would have dropped to a knee in pain - looking up at them in frustration. . .

. . . and then he would begin laughing hysterically . . . .

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Meanwhile

=Back at Izanagi's office he would be monitoring the events that went along - watching as the fight went by, observing from the small insect that had been on the ground before as the events unfolded looking to see what this group could do in the situation at hand. It was unfortunate that they had gotten caught up in this - but the way that he had seen it, if the Salesman had brought them here, then they were marked either way it went. Better to refine them here where they can learn to defend themselves then throw them back into the waking world vulnerable and helpless. As Ko used Universal pull he would begin to see who he was pulling into view as Sentou emerged. This made an eyebrow raise on the face of Izanagi as he pulled down his crimson shaded specs and observed closer. "Now what are the odds of that..." he mumbled as he watched on. It was . . . difficult from this perspective to say the least - these insects were an entirely different issue then if he were there observing himself but he could not leave the capital at the moment. If he did everything could crumble from under them. Soon Eiji's technique came into play - and at this point Izanagi had been tapping his chin almost nervously. The woodstyle, mangekyou sharingan, use of the rinnegan...there was a lot coming into play here all of a sudden when Ko himself did not even seem to have knowledge of this potential consciously. It raised many questions as far as what this would do to him if he were relieved of the control of the miasma. Then the spikes struck and Izanagi dropped his hand in slight shock - he couldnt believe that there was any way that he was hit by such a thing regardless of the good manner in which it was set up. But then it hit him...Izanagi started to strike a button on the console before him repeatedly and as Ko started laughing he began to shake his head and repeat to himself: "No no no no.." Then it happened. He felt the spike in chakra from the insect's presence and at that point he started to exclaim towards the monitor that he just called up.=

"Kiyoshi you have to get there NOW!"


[sub]((Listen While Reading - Recommended))[/sub]


=From that point Kiyoshi's bright eyes seemed to gleem even more, the ground around him started to course with an electricity that crept up and up till it was coursing over his entire body. Quickly - a noise kin to a gunshot went off and he was gone, his labcoat and slacks flying up in the air as a streak of sunset color lightning went off and came right back. Before the clothes could even hit the ground he was back catching them and folding them with hands faster then the wind. He himself was dressed in the attire of a Kirigakure shinobi, full flak vest and all and with a roll of his neck and spring of his heels the gunshot noise went off again and he was gone - the doors to his factory swinging open in the wake of more lightning.=

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At Current

=The moment that Ko had started to laugh when he hit his knees he would smile wide and soon his body would glow green - and burst. . . a clone. But a clone of what? It was not a shadow clone but this bright green chakra that spew forth seem to be something else entirely, something not seen before. It would have spread like a burst from a flash grenade and anyone that it struck would find that their ability to access their chakra would be completely stunted. Leaving them unable to utilize ninjutsu for who knew how long? The only person in range of this at this point would be Sentou. But if this were a clone - then where was the real Ko? When did it happen? Everything seemed to be spinning as a ridiculous chakra source woiuld have been felt from behind them all. It was massive - enough to make anyone familiar with the concept think that there was a bijuu standing behind them. It was coming from the windmill shuriken that had landed with a blunt thunk. Back when he had let them go and stepped back his body had flickered, this was a high speed movement a kin to an advanced level body flicker that he had used to create a clone and replace him while he utilized a mimicry jutsu to disguise himself as a shuriken. In that moment he had actually replaced said shuriken upon his back and went forth in its place. The shuriken that was stuck in the ground behind Kasami would shake before it finally burst and sitting there crouched would be Ko - laughing while wearing a very familiar mask...it was a bright red horned oni mask, quite similar to The Tengu in the fact that it seemed to me made in much the same craftsmanship. He had already weaved the handseals while he was disguised as the shuriken so as he came forth he would spring up and chuckle:

"Sanzou Style: Deep Forest Symbiosis"

=As he said this they would get a moment of silence for a few seconds. After that had transpired he would find that there would be a grave cataclysm that would burst from the ground behind him. It was like watching a kaleidoscope of sharp tipped branches and vines shooting out of the ground from behind him flaring out into a great wave coming their direction. It was like a Tsunami of tree limbs and branches and they were all aimed with a deadly sharpness and precision at all of them. They would move around Ko and go directly for their targets with a deliberate nature and speed that would seem as if the tree itself was living in its own and hungered. Had they not acted quickly they would find themselves in a very deadly situation - the bloom of branches tall and wide to the point that it would engulf and destroy this temple as a whole when it struck, now behind Kasami - her and Eiji would be first at risk of this technique with Sentou last out in the back now. But had that clone caught him in the explosion he would be most at risk - not having his chakra he would have to rely solely on his physical ability till the effects wore off. Ko - becoming hidden and concealed in the darkness of the forestry that expanded and covered around him like snakes coiling over its prey=​

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[Oni Archives]

There was a lot happening at the moment, and all of it was trying to process in her head at once. It was an overload for her, completely overwhelming. So much so that she almost felt like she needed to sit down. New information about the person that she adored so much filing itself into her brain at the same time as him attacking them. To be learning new things about him, she almost felt... insulted. He had changed so much about her, asked her to become something for him that she never believed herself capable of- but he never told her about himself. He kept secrets, and that almost hurt more than having to fight him and potentially hurt him.

Who are we kidding though, we can't touch him. She sneered at her thoughts as she simply watched the events unfolding before her. Him being able to take over her wood style shocked her, but it didn't shock her more than when she saw those spiteful Rinnegan eyes. The only logical thing she could think of was that the miasma did something to him, but there was no way to really know what it could have been without taking the time to test different theories. He went into a rage, for no reason, and that was all she knew for fact.

Taking a deep breath, she was raising her hands to cast a fire style jutsu his way when he started glowing and suddenly burst. Her hands paused, confusion returning again until it registered that it was a clone and there was something spreading outward from where it had vanished. A curse passed her lips as she watched Sentou get hit with it, his chakra undetectable afterward.

She closed her eyes and let out a calming breath, finding peace in the chaos within herself so that she could react quickly once she heard Ko from behind her, laughing the same way that the clone had been. For a brief moment she was in turmoil. She wanted to go to him, to tell him she loved him and try to reason with him through whatever had taken over, but she knew that she couldn't do that. Even if she was okay with dying to him, it wasn't about just her anymore. There were people around that didn't deserve to die, at least not that she was aware of. Her heart and mind were split in two, both pulling with equal force in directions opposite of each other. Go to the person that she loved, or try to help others fight him and possibly hurt him.

Tears were in her eyes as she opened them, the words of the jutsu he was casting leaving his lips and in that split second she had made her decision. She looked over her shoulder at him, shedding a tear as the winning half of her consciousness damned him, and moved just in time to avoid the initial spreading of deadly wooden limbs. Her feet carried her as fast as they could to Sentou, the most vulnerable of all three of them, as she threw herself onto his back and wrapped her arms around his chest. "Eiji, get over here!" She yelled over the sound of the wood spreading, and waited as long as she could for him to get to them, before she clenched her eyes shut and cast her own wood style. Thick planks of wood shot up around them to shield them, curling up over their heads and sealing shut to prevent any from curving into their protection. She poured as much chakra as she could into it to reinforce the wood and make it withstand Ko's attack, though she kept it compact enough to spare from using too much. It could fit the three of them though. Whether Eiji had made it to them or not was entirely up to whether he had heard her and made it to them in time before she closed them in.​

 

[Oni Archives]

As his attack began to strike into Ko, Eiji would look surprised and startled at the same time. In his mind, as he thought with the speed of a supercomputer looking at this from various angles and different variations of the situation he found no way that this simple attack could have hit Ko in the way it did. As his attack finished piercing into Ko he knew immediately something was wrong, he saw earlier how he took out one of the Oni people's guards that were sent to protect them and how he fought almost on par from Eiji's perspective against the man who trapped them too. There was just no way but by the time he realized it, it was too late as the clone of Ko popped into a green chakra which spread over towards Sentou.

The green chakra popped the bubble surrounding Sentou and seemed to invade his system. At the same time, Eiji had already begun searching for where the real Ko was. His chakra was undetectable which made his effort seem in vain until he turned around to see the large shuriken. By the time he noticed it was already too late as Ko had appeared from the shuriken and begun a wide range wood-style technique which was heading towards Eiji and Kasami who were at the back. As well as Sentou who was at the front and seemed to have been weakened by the green mist. As this large daunting tidal wave of branching and stick came hurdling towards Eiji immediately moved with Kasami in order to try to protect Sentou.

As Kasami created her own wood-style barrier around them Eiji began to create his own barrier by casting the jutsu he used earlier to protect Sentou and strike Ko's clone. This time on a much larger scale as all the water molecules around Kasami's barrier began to harden into a strong barrier of frost in the shape of a diamond with the strength of steel. This barrier was dense and was two feet around Kasami's barrier in all directions. If Ko was not paying attention, however; Eiji would once again strike him without mercy. As Eiji's hand seal never dropped nor did the jutsu stop at just protecting them. Other water molecules began moving in a location outside of Ko's view. If the barrier held Ko would be struck in a devasting manner due to these water molecules which seemed to be outside his view but inside his range.​

 

[Oni Archives]

(Click below to listen)
Bare your teeth, Young Seiryu...
Just the same as these young shinobi fought for their lives, he had been there himself not long ago. In fact the very gentleman they encountered to set all these things in motion, Ikki himself was directly responsible for. His form resonated at the thought of it all. Perhaps it was time he paid the aforementioned a visit, he was still spending his days outside the nations of the world the last of his ventures leaving him within the borders of kirigakure. When it was all laid out before him like a road map within his head, Ikki could remember coming up short in his encounter. Even more so being used like a mule to smuggle out something much worse than most were prepared for. Just the same his nose for this individual was keen it was almost as if Ikki was drawn to his form. Meanwhile his fist were found burying themselves in the bark of a single tree within the Naraka. Its crimson leaves shaking before a handful were shaken free. Amidst this his head perked up like a prairie dog. His body knew exactly who and what it was when things began unfolding in the distance. That chakra all to familiar the feeling of that very same miasma in the air as things continued.

His brow twitched at the thought, losing was apart of being a shinobi but this? This was a sore spot to say the least. He alone had almost lost himself at the thought as the leaves that fell around his physique simply burned in the air turning to ash. His form was radiated an unbearable heat in anger before he took off. Had one taken a look at his attire they could he wore that of an azure mask amidst his departure. His legs coiled like springs as he squatted down before launching himself into the air. Flight a skill bestowed upon him through the use of his own seishin release. His form barrelled through the air without hesitation and minimal resistance and amidst his arrival it would’ve brought down so much more than just a young man known as Ikki. His form arrived with haste no less than moments after both these young shinobi managed to erect barriers to shield their own lives. Had they been successful in defending themselves from such a technique they could find him standing Ikki standing not far behind them at all. In the event that these branches formed from wood coiled around their location his arrival would result in a relative quak as he impacted the ground. Had they been capable of looking upon his form through their own protection via dojutsu or sensory technique they could find it wreathed in flame. Moments before impact it would consume any of these aggressive thorns if you will, that found themselves calling their surroundings home. A technique Ikki had since crafted after a brief bout with his father.

“Katon: Kiln of Seiryu”

His form would’ve impacted the earth like a meteor burning up as it entering the planets atmosphere. When combined with the chakra that filled the air of naraka and the well of chakra he called his own supplementing the technique it made for something nearly immeasurable. Even the young shinobi who found themselves turtled within their dome of frozen and oaken safety alike. They could soon find that even their dome of frost had been reduced by a few inches itself. As for the wood release that was bound to effectively surrounding them it could be found cleared from Ikki’s point of arrival had everything gone to plan. When they eventually arose from their cocoon of safety they would find the son Izanagi himself standing before them. His nostrils flared and a look of agitation on his face as he held his weapon of choice now in hand, 二つの美徳 Futatsu No Bitoku lit. “Two Virtues” a pair of brass knuckles steaming in his grasp as he awaited to see who was within this defensive shell. He had a feeling they were among potential prospects to be among such a place. In the event that they emerged from within they could find his masked form standing before them eager to lend his aid, as he had a score to settle. Had Ko or any other person of interest decided to make a move on them collectively he would have been more than happy to intervene. In short Ikki arrived with rage in his belly and his eyes on the prowl for the young man who previously used him as a mule to escape.


Had they taken a look upon the entirety of Ikki’s physique they could find him wearing that of simple shinobi attire. His torso clothed with that of a simple charcoal grey turtleneck and his legs donning a pair of camouflage pants similar to that of kirigakure’s shinobi attire. His arms even more clearly riddled with scars and markings alike he clearly stood as a seasoned shinobi to say the least. All things considered he was among the few members of the uchiha bloodline worth the burden their eyes entail.

 

[Oni Archives]

=The moment that the disturbance to the wood that was flourishing about the temple grounds at such a ravenous pace would occur - there would be a moment where Ko inside the cocoon that he had made for himself in the midst of it all would have snarled in anger. He could tell that the tree was being burned away and that it would be a matter of time before just such flames would start to make their way down the stream of wood towards his cocoon. This being said he started to step backwards walking into the wood he shelled himself in till the point that it seemed that his body would start to meld into it. The moment that it did this he would disappear - no longer in the cocoon but shortly after appearing behind the origin point of the wood, now with the monstrous growth between himself and the targets he had in his sights. It was starting to get bad...the longer that he was under the influence of the miasma the more that Daikokuten started to get control of him in a manner that he could utilize his abilities under a more sensible composure. While he stood with the mass of newly created forest between them he started to weave handseals - grunting and twitching a bit as he did such he would finally stop with the bird seal to his chest and as he did this they would find that the forest would start to hiss as it was burned and shoot around them. Some roots and vines would strike the barrier that they had been at and try to whip at and attack them as well with sharp points and some blunt ends. But it was apparent that it was not their intent to attack them - no they were doing something much more, whirling and twisting as they spiraled upwards until finally they met the peak high above the grounds with a pointed tip. The burning parts seeming to ignite the wood and make it glow internally as Ko stood further back. At this point - there was a green chakra that was starting to push from his body almost forcibly. It was bright, vibrant - and perhaps the most potent and vivid that either of them Ikki included had seen, even more so then that of a normal Oni. Ko seemed to hesitate as it did - struggling till finally he started to put his hands together slowly, his mask teetering off his face to fall to the floor as it revealed that his eyes were now the same as they were - rinnegan but with one drastic exception. They were glowing a bright green. He started to mutter the words - as the tip of the giant spiral of wood and vine started to resonate...there was something in the very tip top of it. This was of a size comparable to that of a small building, but in the shape of an orb. Ventablack in color....it was amaterasu. The words that started to leave Ko's lips with much struggle started to make sense with what was about to happen:

"Oni Genbu: Black Spindle."​

 

[Oni Archives]

After the barriers were up, Kasami had let go of Sentou and slid off his back, standing on the ground behind him for a moment before she moved around to the front of their small group and rest her hand against the wood with a sigh. They had a small moment of relief from the fight to coordinate, but honestly she knew better than any of them that they were outclassed and had no chance. Anything they came up with would be countered. Especially since she had believed Ko to be strong before she knew he had Rinnegan and wood release also. Sound was pretty dampened in their little sanctuary but she could tell from vibrations no longer passing into her hand that the battering had stopped, and it was uncomfortably quiet. Not dead silent but for being in the middle of combat it was still enough not to sit right with her and she knew they needed to move and not let themselves be sitting ducks.

Quickly she shifted the wood around to open the back of their egg shaped protection and was startled to find another stranger standing there as if waiting for them. Her brows furrowed as she walked out of it, reaching her hand behind her into her pouch to grab one of the vials of explosive properties. "Who are you?" She stepped as far to the right as she could and walked toward his direction, keeping distance between them and never putting her back to him. Her hand stayed behind her back.​

 

[Oni Archives]

As nothing collided with their barrier Eiji would release a sigh of relief before his barrier dissipated into the air his chakra following it. As such Eiji saw that Kasami opened up her barrier to allow a way out for them as she stepped out Eiji would follow her out of the cocoon. When they stepped out they would both see a young man standing in front of them and flames begin to encroach upon the plants that Ko had summoned. Eiji himself was not worried about this but more so worried about how Ko had begun to move the plants around moving upwards towards the sky. Eiji had no intention of falling prey to Ko's plant-based havoc once more.

He would forgo figuring out who the mysterious man was that seemed to be on their side as he was facing Ko as well and plan to defend against whatever Ko's next attack was. He would be smart moving far away from where the plants reached their peak pointing downward at them like a light fixture which would illuminate them in death. As he did Eiji began to prepare several hand seals at blinding speed. He was hoping Kasami would have avoided whatever Ko had planned as well but he also prepared a defense and offense against the so-called great shinobi. He hoped that Kasami and the mysterious male would aid him in taking Ko down and incapacitating him.​

 

[Oni Archives]

Ikki’s brow quirked under the veil of his mask the thought that this young woman felt whatever was in her pouch of goodies was enough amused him. His lips parted but his index finger pointed upwards at the contorted spectacle that was Ko’s next move. Beneath his mask at this point was a bit of sympathy as upon his arrival and the subsequent birth of the aforementioned he could see and very well hear the struggle that same struggle in his voice. Ikki had been here and in his shoes no less used as a mule for the very man responsible for these circumstances it angered him, but all the same he responded to kasami’s question of his identity. ”A friend of a Friend but more importantly - my name is Ikki or to the people of most villages Yone. Whichever floats your boat.” amidst speaking he could be seen hastily making his way from the area in which the congregation of wood overhang. He knew even as his crimson eyes darted around looking for possible solutions the energy that Ko radiated was massive even in comparison to his own father who boasted something truly great within. Even if in comparison to his father’s drop in the bucket at the time his father even deliver ten percent of what he had. The thought of that moment rattled him to his core but all the same when it snapped back to the present he was laser focused. He returned to the moment that he was in a similar boat blindly darting through the very same miasma and waking up on the outside.

Had Ko taken to attempting to release his jutsu he would hope that this young woman and young man were quick to move. He couldn’t exactly shout out the entirety of his plan but he had already gone to work in his mind. While the groundwork was already laid they had been putting in their best efforts only prompting Ikki’s praise in that regard. However what came of his actions in these moments was that of a few words ”Move or die your choice! Second, we're going to need to restrain him by any means necessary.” While the first thing from his lips wasn’t really a suggestion and more so a definite of their circumstance Ikki still moved with haste. His flames had gone to work but when his eyes peered upwards earlier just the same as his finger directed he recognized that very same blackened blaze above. Amaterasu, something he didn’t favor as a member of his clan but he knew all too well as it stood as some of the founding techniques within the uchiha bloodline. Wherein his own flames managed to stop the previous rampant grow what stood before them now was bound to be devastating even with his own flames present it was clear. While Ko called upon amaterasu Ikki called upon his own taking in a deep breath beneath his max and exhaling as he continued to approach Ko with little hesitation at all.

Amidst this when the pair found themselves emerging from their respective womb of safety they would very easily find themselves enveloped in warmth. As for Ko had he allowed Ikki to make all the way to his person he could find the presence of his form providing a similar warmth all be it much more oppressive. Ikki’s warmth was to be followed by flames of blue, as he outstretched his hands and they shot forth. Had they made contact with Ko’s form things would begin to fall into place. The flames aimed to soothe that rampant force growing within him and in turn causing him to exude such potent energy all the same. These flames were shaped in the form of a cone as if aimed to swaddle an entire area in its girth. Had this gone according to plan Ko would find slowly but sure what ran him mad and even more so gave birth to such power per the moment was attempting to be broken down by the aforementioned. Simply put Ikki hoped these two individuals followed suit in hopes of stopping Ko before his own plan came to bare. It was clear to Ikki that one of them certainly had the means to with wood release. The aforementioned something capable of following Ikki’s footsteps in his attempt at subdual. Perhaps the young man who found himself bringing about a coating of ice to supplement her own barrier of wood could supply a much needed resource of water as Ikki already had the accompanying piece to made up Ice release but did not boast the style himself.

 

[Oni Archives]

.......Dreams........

In the end.....all we really have are our dreams.

But where exactly do those dreams come from?

Imagination?

I couldnt imagine the dictation...

That it took to re-imagine a nation..

Or have the patience.....No...

This is not imagination....

How could I dream...so vividly...of someone or some thing...I never knew...or never been before?

"We have to ta-"

"You presume we have anything to talk about! I don't need to talk to you! I - wh...who....who even are you?"

=His interrupting sentence bullied his own off to the side both vocally and conceptually in the way that he shot down that there was any presumption to be had that the two need to have a conversation. But his sentence ended weaker then it started, lowering his tone and with it his stature and arms after he had wretched forward at the boy before him as if he realized that he had completely lost the plot on the central element of this entire situation. He just...jumped...he was so angry - more now then he ever was usually - why? Why was he so angry? He looked around himself and what he saw was...unfamiliar yet it was so familiar in itself. He couldnt place a name to it at all - but this beautiful place he knew the location. He knew the surroundings, the rice fields, the jade waters and waterways that ran through the village. That massive Jade tower that stood at the north end of the village. He looked back to the boy and realized he too was familiar....strikingly so. It was...him? But not him - and that rage...he couldnt shake it every time he looked at him, it made him avert his eyes away from the male=

"Yeah...that's why we need to speak. I'm you. Not...your current self but in the not too distant future you will see yourself changing...more into me. A more...mature...refined you, in control of your abilities. It's very important that you and your team - get to Kagetsuchi and remember the Jade Tower...the one from your dreams. Its complicated. . . but

It's time for you to wake up."

=The moment that he said that he held his fingers together as if he was about to snap. The moment that he did this there started to radiate a bright green chakra from his body and focused down at his hand, the same color as the chakra that was starting to illuminate Ko's body as he fought in the physical world under the control of Daikokuten's aura. Then with a sound that seemed to open the vacuum around his mind. He snapped - and the green chakra burst and blinded the boy.=

---

𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞

=The moment that the group he had previously been attacking emerged from the barrier that had been made and the new addition to the onslaught started to come forth the afflicted Ko was already fighting with his rage, the miasma, and seemingly against this green chakra emerging from his being. With a grunt and gigantic huff he focused on his rage and spite...he could feel it welling up inside of him - he could feel it giving him strength, bolstering his resolve, feeling the way that the more he let it take hold and the beast within be entertained the easier it became. He was seduced by the feeling..he was going to give in. The moment that Ikki's hand came forward and the onslaught of flame was closing towards him Ko revealed that this day would show that it had surprises for everyone involved. He released his handseals and prolonged the jutsu per the moment - but what he did do was hold one hand forward and up turn his fist, vermillion lightning starting to cover his body and charge over him until finally he opened his hand from from it came a violent cloud of red lightning that looked as if it was a nebula. This cloud would come forward and start to clash against the flames - in doing so it started to take an odd silver hue almost periwinkle as the two very specific chakra types began to clash and what it did was not just push back, against, or destroy each other; but cancel each other out as it came into contact together. This would be a battle of who could put out more the fastest - it was a matter of if one could pour in enough to overshadow the percentage that was canceled out by one side to the other. The entire time this was being done he would have one hand back behind him; his other arm was charging vermillion lightning as well until finally the green chakra started to burst out around him. This chakra poured from his body like green flames and in doing so his eyes widened and his body started to stiffen and convulse like it was blinding him at this point. He still maintained the push back against the blue flames of Seiryu however the rest of his body was locked. In that instance there it came - a voice from nowhere loud and urgent and most of all......the sound of a gunshot:

"W͕͕͗͗α͕͕͗͗τ͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗r͕͗ ͕͗-͕͗ ͕͗γ͕͕͗͗σ͕͕͗͗υ͕͕͗͗'͕͕͗͗ν͕͕͗͗ε͕͗ ͕͗g͕͕͗͗σ͕͕͗͗τ͕͗ ͕͗τ͕͕͗͗σ͕͗ ͕͗g͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗τ͕͗ ͕͗h͕͕͗͗ι͕͕͗͗m͕͗ ͕͗ω͕͕͗͗α͕͕͗͗τ͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗r͕͕͗͗.͕͗ ͕͗I͕͕͗͗f͕͗ ͕͗h͕͕͗͗ε͕͗ ͕͗ι͕͕͗͗η͕͕͗͗g͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗s͕͕͗͗τ͕͕͗͗s͕͗ ͕͗ι͕͕͗͗τ͕͕͗͗,͕͗ ͕͗τ͕͕͗͗h͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗η͕͗ ͕͗γ͕͕͗͗σ͕͕͗͗υ͕͗ ͕͗c͕͕͗͗α͕͕͗͗η͕͗ ͕͗b͕͕͗͗r͕͕͗͗ε͕͕͗͗α͕͕͗͗κ͕͗ ͕͗ι͕͕͗͗τ͕͕͗͗'͕͕͗͗s͕͗ ͕͗h͕͕͗͗σ͕͕͗͗l͕͕͗͗δ͕͕͗͗.͕͗"

=The voice of Kiyoshi Uzumaki, however his body was nnot physically there - there was a rift up behind Ko, as if it was breaching through reality but unstable at the same time...it was apparent that he could not hold it for long because soon it snapped shut and he was gone. But the words of wisdom he had given them - it would be their salvation. Meanwhile - the body of the one known as Sentou would be gone...it was as if it happened directly under their nose the moment they took their perception from it. There was not a single clue as to what happened with him but in the midst of all the chaos if you listened closely you could hear but one faint...ever subtle whisper trail off into the distance:

"͕͗K̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗w̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗t̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗c̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗K̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗b̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗T̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗k̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗y̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗m̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗H̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗T̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗m̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗r̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗T̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗m̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗t̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗k̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗T̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗d̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗H̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗r̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗I̷͕͕͗͗c̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗t̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗r̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗U̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗Y̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗m̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗t̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗S̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗s̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗v̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗K̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗f̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗d̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗T̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗k̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗w̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗r̷͕͕͗͗a̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͕͗͗M̷͕͕͗͗y̷͕͕͗͗o̷͕͕͗͗k̷͕͕͗͗e̷͕͕͗͗n̷͕͕͗͗g̷͕͕͗͗u̷͕͕͗͗c̷͕͕͗͗h̷͕͕͗͗i̷͕͗"​

---

---

---

 

[Oni Archives]

Kasami had stopped circling the newcomer when he mentioned that he was a friend of a friend, her posture straightening as she slowly moved her hand from behind her back. She finally shifted her gaze away from him for a moment to look up at where he’d pointed. The woman was silent as she turned her body back toward the person that was attacking them, a sadness in her eyes that was clearly readable. “Ko…” Her body lip trembled for a moment before it was trapped between her teeth. After a moment of staring at him, she shook her head and turned away. She walked a few feet away and pressed the heel of her palm between her brows, taking a deep breath in. It almost seemed like for a moment she was simply overwhelmed with the situation, and as Ikki approached the man she loved- she couldn’t bear to see what he would do to him. It wasn’t the case however, she was wracking her brain for something. Something she learned from her father, from Ko when she met him. Anything at all that would be helpful.

She could hear the clashing behind her, which caused her to turn around and see the events that were unfolding. It was a lot to take in- things happening that she couldn’t explain to herself in her mind. That included the rift that was opening up behind Ko. Kasami had started to move forward when she heard the voice speak of what would help, before it suddenly closed and was gone. Water? She practically wanted to slap herself in the face. Of course it was that simple. She looked behind her, eyes narrowing for a moment as she heard a second voice trailing off into the distance. Was that the one responsible for this? Maybe, but she couldn’t go chasing after him… She needed to stay to make sure no one hurt Ko more than necessary just to get the situation under control. “Eiji, you have anything that could help with that? That’s kind of out of my element. We need to do something quickly.”​

 

[Oni Archives]

Listen While You Read
As Ikki began to speak to Kasami, Eiji would pay close attention as he moved away from the location of Ko's attack. He took very well from what Ikki said that he was correct in his ideals earlier and that the enemy of his enemy is his friend. Right now, Ko was the enemy and Ikki attacking him openly made him a good friend to have on their side. After a few moments, Eiji would see Ikki charge forward towards Ko going to strike him.

As Ikki's flames burst forward and Ko's counter came to clash against them, Eiji would notice that a portal would open up behind Ko. The voice was unfamiliar to him but he judged from Kasami reaction that this person could be trusted. If this was the case and what Kiyoshi said was true, Eiji already had his plan as Ikki kept Ko's attention. The actions earlier would come to fruition as the water and chakra he dispersed into the air earlier would make itself present and noticed. The water gathered from the atmosphere around Ko all the small molecules trying to invade his being from multiple angles.

While these small particles slowly gathered around Ko, from behind him would appear a thin almost non-existent arrow of water. This arrow was about the size of a butterfly needle which would be launched at the back of Ko's neck. Had this butterfly needle-sized arrow pierced him the water would disperse within Ko. Had the water molecules that spread around him been allowed to form upon his body they would enter with the same intention and spread out within him dispersing into his body. Eiji would hope that his plan would work and save Ko as he had only spent a short time with Kasami but knowing her love for Ko he could tell losing him would become a detriment to their adventure and to his own safety simply because of her becoming downtroden.​

 

[Oni Archives]

In this moment alone Ikki’s gaze faltered, however not in the instance that he grew weak. This was merely an action of shock and awe between these interactions. His azure flames continued as they made contact with an equal and opposite force. His flames met with the lightning of Ko and with that Ikki’s determination only led to him taking this young man for all his glory as someone of interest. It wasn’t often that he met someone capable of counterbalancing his flames of blue. This young man had something special about him only causing Ikki to make a mental note before continuing his output. His form continued to heat up just the same as the lightning within this young man’s grasp continued to crackle as things moved forward. The silver glow that burst forth from their collision was surely a spectacle to behold to even the youngest of shinobi as it stood in a typical sense opposing chakras would simply fizzle out on one another upon making contact. However here these two met with force and instead of dismantling one another joined together giving off the aforementioned silver glow. Amidst this glow Ikki’s mask became tinted in its light clearly becoming a more vibrant blue due to the lighting produced. Had the two individuals that were now accompanied by him taken to action they were set to find Ikki’s form rigid in its posture as his hand was still outstretched and the coil of blue flames that shot forth from his hand moved to keep pace with this vermillion lightning. If one were to liken this interaction to anything they were bound to come to the conclusion of two people arm wrestling with one another. While neither truly had the upper hand in this moment or so it seemed they were both quick at work with their own machinations.

The young sarutobi boy already at work in his attempt to administer the cure as kiyoshi himself had already come and gone with their compatriot. Among this it was clear that things were beginning to pan out in either parties favor. Had things gone according to plan and Ikki as well as Ko continued their clash on of them were set to prevail. Ikki’s crimson hues were still quick at work even among their clash. Ko with his hand behind his back filled to the brim with the very same lightning present and Ikki exhaling to tap into his own Souzou Subarashii. His chest collapsing under the departure of air from his lungs as his eyes dialed in on Ko’s form. His own secondary technique had gone to work as a golden chakra seeped from his form only to form a series of hands each with their fingers curled like a beast claw. They would not long after shoot forth in homes of shackling Ko’s limbs with little hesitation a total of 4 hands meant for 4 limbs. Upon contact they would begin to weigh him down gathering weight the longer they existed. It was going to be as if Ko had the full weight of Naraka’s chakra saturated cave from his initial bestowal. Ikk recounted a time when he had received his mask and more over gained access to his mangekyou. The air in that cave felt heavy as if it were attacking his being and in this instance he set out to replicate that it would be as if the weight was multiplied several times over as a means of restraint.

Should everything pan out accordingly these hand shaped shackles were set to weigh down his form with little hesitation. The first pair was aimed at the back of his knees to cause them to buckle under the weight while the others aimed to first weigh down the hand that continued to aim his vermillion lightning to the ground and the same could be said for the other. They aimed to drag his form downward upon collision in hopes of restraining this young man. Had this actually been the case Ikki’s flames would cease but his body would continue to radiate its warm in hopes of suppressing the malevolent chakra that resided over him. This snowy haired young man that stood juxtapositioned with Ko had a score to settle with the man responsible and he knew all too well what Ko was feeling in these moments. His own body had been put through these very same pace and Ikki hoped the pair that accompanied him in kiyoshi’s departure with their third had taken his advice and moved to administer as much water as possible to Ko’s body.

 

[Oni Archives]

=He continued on to blow that vermillion lightning towards the male. His mind was nowhere else but on this at the moment. As it stood with the miasma taking hold of him at the moment as it were - he was not able to understand much; but it was something in particular about the way that the lightning dissipated into the silver hues that he did not like more so for the fact that he did not understand it. It triggered a deeper primal rage in him that caused him to tunnel vision and start to press it towards him more so with a greater intensity. It was not till suddenly his knees were buckling and arms struck back that he snapped out of it and went into an even deeper rage. He did not fall back completely under the weight of everything at that time but he did fall down to his knees as he was resisting the weight of the subarashi hands. While he was on his knees he let out what seemed like almost bestial grunts and roars as he opened his mouth and a thick cloud of the vermiliion lightning shot back as if to continue the clash before he was struck with water arrows. None of which broke the skin or anything but did seep down inside of his being - mainly the point of critical importance being the one in his neck. This seeped down into his throat and caused him to gag, coughing a bit as something started to happen. Soon that green chakra thatw as over taking his form before engulfed him and seemed to snatch his now rag-dolled body away from the vicinity of the attacks and what not even against the weight of the hands; just enough to pull Ko's body to safety. As this happened he writhed on the floor and wretched up - vomiting on the ground before he fell over and passed out. However upon doing this something would be revealed. From his throat had crawled out a kind of spider-like figure. Its body seemed mushy and it bore a single eye. that skuttered and looked about frantically. This eye seemed to be made of a coagulation of the miasma that he had inhaled.It was a big clump and soon started to skitter away - dying slowly before it gave up and burst into dust, obviously incapable of sustaining life outside of a host for too long. After this had happened Ko would cough a bit more, frantically pulling at and rubbing his chest till finally - he passed out. On the other hand the body of their remaining travel companion was nowhere to e found as the amaterasu and living forest started to die off.=​

 

[Oni Archives]

Dangerously, her mind wandered during the clash before her and she found herself watching the moment that Ko revealed to her that she was not a Nara unfold again. Why this moment in particular returned to her, she wasn’t sure, but it reminded her that she owed him a lot more than just the untapped strength that she carried. He had revealed the lie that she lived, and he’d freed her of the guilt and pain that the Nara family she grew up with had caused her. She felt better about letting go of them, and not like she was abandoning her family. But it had also given her a slight sense of abandonment as well, because she would never be able to ask why her real parents gave her away. Not to mention, there weren’t really any members of her birth clan to look to for answers, if they’d even have them were there any. She needed Ko, it was the only real thing and authentic thing she had in her life. No family, no friends. Just him. It didn’t feel satisfying, but that was the truth- for now.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard coughing, and immediately noticed that Ko had moved and was struggling. Her feet started to carry her to him before she had even really thought about it when whatever the hell kind of creature was inside him started to crawl its way out. It made her pause, and completely grossed her out. Her attention was on it as it started scuttling away, planted in her place, as it turned to dust. She stood there blinking for a moment, til her skin stopped crawling. Shaking the feeling off, she moved to Ko who had since passed out and knelt beside him.

“Is he going to be okay?” She looked up at Ikki hoping he’d have some insight on the situation. She shivered and made a face like she was still grossed out by it. The sight of something akin to a spider crawling out of someone’s mouth was a sight she could have done without. “Good job, Eiji. Thank you.” She offered him a smile, trying to be polite to him. She’d pretty much given him the cold shoulder and attitude since she’d met him, but she wanted him to know she was thankful for his help.​

 

[Oni Archives]

As things began to wind down and Ko seemed to have been affected by Eiji's technique. Eiji's mind began to race, thinking over the possibility of whatever else may have happened or gone wrong during the time they spent fighting Ko. He was trying to calculate whether they were truly safe now or whether they were still in danger. When he saw the mysterious spider-like entity crawling out of Ko's mouth he assumed that Ko was no longer a threat and beyond that, he could worry about the other things that were rushing through his mind and his calculative process.

The most pressing of these matters was whether Ikki was truly a friend or was it simply a point of the enemy of my enemy is my friend and now that the enemy was missing Ikki was the new threat to the three. Right, when the number three popped into his head Eiji noticed that Sentou had gone missing somehow, his eyes combed over the entirety of the visible temple before his eyes for a moment searching for Sentou before turning to Ikki, "I have a few questions for you before I begin to trust you, although I am thankful for your help in assisting my teammates and me, especially the girl who is attached to him..." He said pointing at Ko and mentioning Kasami.

He would give Ikki a minute to compose himself seeing that he did not believe that he was a current threat but possibly more of an underlying trap or something else that would bring them danger in the future similar to Ko. And with him not knowing where Sentou had disappeared too, he was more cautious and wary of these two beings which seemed closely related to the Oni more so than he could possibly fathom at the moment.​

 

[Oni Archives]

Ikki could see Ko’s form buckle before being yanked in the opposing direction. He could recall a time when he was in a similar position not necessarily failing at the monstrous corpse of mikaboshi. He could easily remember the sense of defeat he felt simply being caught by something so simplistic yet so deadly if not tended to immediately more importantly the man responsible, Daikokuten. His form appeared so young back then was it even the same now? Ikki’s mind boiled over with a hint of rage that even this young man here was another pawn in someone else's game. Ikki’s brow twitched under the mask that rested upon his face the moment he saw Ko’s form heaving forth the spider like being his first instinct in that moment alone was to simply crush it beneath his feet but the two that accompanied him needed to see it. He could see what appeared to be a sense of concern in the young woman who soon found herself perched next to his form. Ikki didn’t revel in the fact that this boy had a power akin to his own but instead laid it to rest as an afterthought. When kasami looked up to him questioning if he was going to be okay Ikki nodded his snow white hair bouncing back and forth before he knelt down next to him as well only to hoist his body over his shoulder.

Ikki could feel Ko breathing albeit rather feint but he was sure once this young man came to the two of them could have a conversation on the interaction their chakra had with one another. Amidst this in the time that it took him to hoist Ko’s body over his shoulder he could hear the voice of another giving thanks. He followed up with a deep voice of his own “It’s no problem at all I’m sure things will be explained later but for now we should be ready to move soon.” He took note of the fact that this young man was very trusting of him at all, an important aspect that any shinobi should carry. In turn had they been ready to leave Ikki would be more than happy to lead the way in no time.

 

[Oni Archives]

=Ko remained unresponsive at this point after being hoisted over the shoulder of the other male. The point that they had come from was blocked off by the amalgam of now dead tree that was at the point where Ko had been standing just before the Miasma lost its grasp upon him. The only way now was the exact way that they needed to go. Straight north - through the ruins of the temple and along the path back to the village. The path would lead them directly to it - for the path was meant in the first place to act as a passage for those who came from the village to worship. It would not be long now and there in the village they could get the proper medical diagnosis to be sure Ko is brought to health properly.=

[[Transitioning: Shimeru Temple > > > > > ??? Village]]


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