Team 2 (Nozomi/Raijin)

Spoiler:

Honiko's clone walked behind Nozomi and Raijin as they made their way through a dark and damp tunnel. Their group had split into two teams. Team 1 would search for the gestation pods that had been described by Iwagakure's ANBU. They'd recover three and destroy the rest as the village had asked for. Meanwhile, Team 2 consisting of Honiko's clone, Raijin, and Nozomi would hunt for the Type I Specimen and attempt to kill it. Honiko was not interested in capturing the beast but rather eliminating it entirely. She had expressed to the group that she was certain Merryweather had activated the creature and had nurtured it to its near maturity. The creature was a relic from the far past presumably having come to our world through one of the portals created by Kaguya. It had killed mercilessly in early shinobi history before being damaged and put into stasis aeons ago. The beast was designed to kill Bijuu and Jinchurikki and when it was fully grown it was formidable for even a Disciple. Luckily this beast had not quite reached that level which is why it was imperative they kill the critter now rather than wait for it to become a problem. There was no telling what Merryweather aimed to do once the beast was fully grown but Honiko imagined she'd use it to gain leverage over this world. She had a nasty habit of using crises to extend her influence to various worlds and the Society had not intention of letting an alien interloper meddle in the affairs of a world on the verge of rebirth.

Honiko's clone brought up the rear as she had given Nozomi command of this particular contingent. She wanted to see how her disciple handled leadership under high intensity situations. Killing this monster would be difficult and it would give her the chance to test her shinobi's skill before making her decision on whether or not they'd assist in the Blood Prison jailbreak. If they could kill this monster they would be right where they needed to be in terms of strength. If they failed and were injured and she had to use her clone to bail them out then they were not ready for greater responsibility. If they died then they were weaklings who through sheer luck had earned her notice but were not worth her time beyond that. The clone said nothing as they moved through the tunnel. She could sense the Specimen moving throughout the tunnels but she would not give them any warning as to its current location. They needed to be on guard at all times. The sole assistance they'd receive is Honiko choosing to remove Nozomi's seal before they entered the tunnel. The Dragon Sage used the Five Elements Unseal technique to remove limiter on her disciple's power. Over the course of the past two years Nozomi had proven herself as a shinobi. Honiko was confident that Nozomi would not rely on her Bijuu's power to the point were it would become a crutch, she had a strength all on her own as her first line of defense.

Raijin was used to the secrecy. Moving in the shadows, and secreting themselves around was all apart of being a ninja. However this was one of the first times they had worked with a larger village like Iwagakure. They had a peculiar problem that even piqued the interest of Honiko. Assembling her team she instructed them that they were to work with Stone Ninjas. Raijin merely shrugged at this, it didn't matter to him one way or the other. However she also told them that they would going to the Cursed valley.

Rai had heard that his clan had been here in numbers before. He had a deep longing to be around his own people only because they knew what was to be shunned and hated. Almost as if they were like a Jinchuriki, a beast within them they could hardly contain. This mission would be an eye opening one into the deep mystery of the Land of the Earth. After their meeting with Merryweather and all the other delinquents. They had another pressing meeting with the Iwa's crack team.

Though the country was much weaker than it used to be, it was apparent that their help would be essential in getting the Specimen either captured. Or killing them. He could feel the intent of Honiko was possibly the latter. They made their way through a very dark and very damp tunnel. With his affinity to Nature chakra, he would be able to sense any life around them. But he felt nothing in these tunnels except smallest creatures. The first team had gone to recover the pods. Team two which was Nozomi and Raijin. Had the incredibly simple task of killing the specimen.

Whatever it was...hopefully they had enough power to defeat it. Honiko's clone was with them so he felt some reassurance. But she would not be there all the time, and this was a test to see if they were ready for what was to come. He would be ready. Looking to Nozomi, she looked to be ready as well.

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Senjutsu: +15 175/200

Nozomi paid attention to the ground and her ears and nose mostly as she walked through the caverns. Over the years, her senses had sharpened immensely, as she'd trained herself in various different circumstances. Sometimes while blind folded, sometimes deafened, sometimes unable to smell. Each time she would have to learn to rely on different senses and eventually all of them had sharpened.

What caught her eye immediately were the tracks. There was a creature of interesting proportions somewhere here. It appeared to have a tail that it dragged along as it had formed a path between each step. Occasionally it would move from the ground to the wall, and then the ceiling. Like shinobi could. The occasional corpse showed it was lethal.

Her nose told her more. Metallic scent and rotten flesh. Probably some blood, indicating lots of it as well. Some fresh. "I can smell blood." She muttered to Raijin. Honiko was an observer, no need to convey to her anything. "It should be easy to track from there. I dont hear anything though, so it isn't close, or at least isn't moving. Be quiet and stay stealthy."

She'd follow the scent rather than the tracks as these tracks had multiple paths, the creature obviously using these paths quite frequently. Eyes could be deceived, but the nose and ears were less often wrong. All the while, she was walking with such silence and light steps so as not to leave a trail of her own and make no sound her own. If the creature didn't have perceptive prowess at least as good as she did, it might only notice Raijin, giving her an advantage.

Honiko's clone could sense the Specimen in her Mind's Eye. The creature was rapidly moving through the tunnel system and had stopped suddenly as it sensed an intruder following it. The beast turned and darted upwards, smashing through the earth many meters ahead of them and then doubling back to confront them. It moved quickly but with an eerie silence. The Specimen was 80 meters away....70 meters.....60 meters......50 meters....Honiko stopped walking. It was futile to continue. The fight would be coming to them shortly and she figured there was no harm in giving the pair of them a subtle warning. It was a few precious seconds to get ready. As the Specimen drew closer, it began to release built up chakra from several vents on its back, increasing its speed and the force of its movements. The tunnels began to shake and dirt pelted them as a low rumbling could be heard from above. The rumbling intensified and Honiko could tell that it was charging up its chakra for a devastating attack. The Sage's clone crossed her arms and said nothing as she waited for the inevitable clash.

There was silence. Then chaos.


The Specimen burst through the roof above them and landed 5 meters in front of them. The act was punctuated with a release of chakra and pheromones that would render them partially blind. Honiko's relied on its superior sensing and perception abilities to avoid any serious harm. Nozomi would be tasked with defending herself and Raijin from attack. The blast of chakra and smoke was kinetic with enough force to knock each of them backwards if they did not take the time given to prepare themselves. The creature bent low and snarled, a beast with a pure ebony exoskeleton, long tail, two sets of mouths elongated skull, and a series of vents sticking out of its back. The vents fumed with chakra and smoke as it exhausted what they had been building up before its ambush. The Specimen had been designed to hunt Bijuu and Jinchurikki had an olfactory sense in lieu of eyes. The sensory system was complex and made up a significant amount of the flesh matter within its skull. It lowered its center of gravity and whipped its tail around as it turned its head towards Nozomi. Its maw and secondary maw opened with drool leaking out. It sensed its prey and if the disciple was not careful it would soon taste it as well.

Their walk through the tunnel was increasingly making Raijin nervous. Searching for a creature Iwa was to scared to take themselves. Something that had made a major country that shaken, had to be serious trouble.

It was then that Raijin noticed that Honiko stopped suddenly. He stopped as well, she wouldn't have stopped for no reason. There was something happening. Raijin felt it first, a soft rumbling. It seemed to be a quiet build before it began to get stronger and louder. It felt like it was above them.

Something was definitely coming. Raijin activated a partial transformation in his right arm. He fashioned his arm into a large shield. He could feel his strength grow as he took his Arhat stance. Just then something burst through the ceiling and came crashing down to the ground. It was something that could described as a monster.

A beast large and intimidating with a long tail and an insect like head. But Raijin didn't get a look as there creature released some heavy pressured force that blasted out to them.

Raijin instinctively pulled the shielded arm in front of him and kneeled down. Planting the squared end to the ground and it was enough to cover his entire body. Hopefully enough to stop the blast. Nozomi would have to open the attack on this beast while he waited for an opportunity.

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Strength C > B > A (Arhat, Tier 1)
Nature chakra: 40/40

Nozomi's senses were incredibly sharp. She noticed the beast probably around the same time as Honiko did, but she made no outward acknowledgement of that fact other than a small twitch of her head in the direction of the noise. Raijin, much like she had learned, would have to learn how to do things largely on his own. In a way, she thought the boy hopeless, but Honiko deigned to keep him around for whatever reason, so she didn't cause any problems with him. However, she wasn't his teacher, and if he wanted to learn from her, he'd have to watch her carefully, and learn her processes. His skills he would have to learn to hone himself or through Honiko, unless Nozomi was directed otherwise.

When Honiko stopped moving, Nozomi was surprised to note that Raijin had taken a cue as well, morphing his arm into some shield like appendage. She furrowed her eyebrows at that, having not known what sort of abilities he had particularly, never having cared to pay attention to the boy. She'd have questions on that at some point, but now wasn't the time for it. The beast was coming, and they could all easily tell at this point. It was moving fast though.

Nozomi halted as well, deciding that she was going to have to deal with this creature more than likely single handedly, so she needed to gauge it's abilities beforehand, and in the safest manner she could. Forming the Clone seal, Nozomi made two shadow clones, which appeared next to her and they moved behind Raijin and his shield.

As the beast slammed through the earth and landed, Nozomi launched herself backwards, putting some physical distance between herself and the creature as she was slightly blinded. That wasn't too much of a problem, she didn't rely on her sight purely, and her other senses were plenty sharp enough for her to use.

She herself was far enough away, having moved from the zone of impact that she wasn't shoved back any, and her clones having hidden behind Raijin, who was using his shield to anchor himself, were safe from the blast zone as well. Now having Raijin and her clones between them, Nozomi was free to watch as her clones prepared to take on the beast.

One of them shifted into the Arhat Fist style, while the other shifted into a Spring Chant stance, expressing the two main combat styles Nozomi used. She needed to gauge how effective each style was, or even if Taijutsu with this creature was valid. They both launched from behind Raijin, the Arhat practitioner moving to the left around him, and the Spring Chant one moving to the right, to try and box the creature in.

For now, neither attacked, as Nozomi was more of a defensive counter duelist, and the creature would more than likely initiate when they got in range anyhow.

(Using the styles, no boosts applied yet)

Honiko's clone was impressed that the duo had realized trouble was coming. Raijin used his Blessing to create a shield for himself while Nozomi dropped behind a bit to form clones. When the monster arrived they were well grounded. Her top disciple had opted to further back so as to watch and observe. Honiko folded her arms and watched as the Specimen's head followed her movements. Even as the clones moved in on him, the Specimen only had eyes for the prey containing his prize. A Bijuu. The Specimen whipped its tail around hoping to sweep the clones off their feet. The Specimen would draw itself up to its maximum height and then strike each of the clones as best as it could with its long arms. The strikes were quick and aimed at the traditional weak points of humans, the neck, the solar plexus, groin, and throat. What was surprising was that the Specimen moved as though it were a trained martial artist and not like a wild animal. If it had been successful, the creature would dart forward heading straight for Nozomi so as to tackle her. It appeared to ignore Raijin and Honiko for the moment as it dove to knock the kunoihchi to the ground and eat her her throat in a single bite with its dual mandibles. Honiko would step out of the way not seeking to draw the beast's ire for the moment. She didn't want her disciples to die but she wanted to see them handle this on their own. If Raijin didn't get in the beast's way then he wouldn't be attack either and if necessary the beast would actually crawl on the walls to get around him and attack Nozomi.

Raijin witnessed the blinding power of this specimen unfortunately. Though he was blinded, he limited it quickly by putting up his shield in time. Shaking his head his vision cleared and there were Nozomi clones taking guard behind his shielded arm. After the blast of chakra settled  down, the clones all took off to confront the large beast.

The creature was not interested in Rai nor Honiko for that matter.  It seemed to really react to movement. However it made a beeline straight towards the original Nozomi after striking out at her clones. With Raijin being directly in its way it jumped to the walls to crawl around him.

Raijins body began to change more dramatically than before. His arm reverting from the shield to a reinforced arm. The rest of his body began to take on demonic looking transformation. Skin became scaly and black, a jet like appendage on the back of his legs and spine.

Activating his second stage sage transformation. He exterted power into his legs. Feeling them strengthening under the power of nature chakra. Lightning began to spark around his right arm as well. He also diverted another boost to his right arm.

Just as the creature went around and landed it was a few meters away from Nozomi. Using this as chance to attack his blind spot there was an ignition blast of nature chakra that imitted from his back and feet. He turned towards the specimen and began his attack.

The blast instantly propelled him with great speed that he caught up with the beast almost immediately.  Its mouth reared up to take a vicious bite out of Nozomi. Raijin appeared beside it running with much more speed than he ever produced. Then he charged a jet propelled punch with his right arm and sent it blasting at the creatures head.

Hopefully doing much more than grave damage but was able to send it flying sideways. It would go crashing into the cave walls leaving a large crater and making it imprinted into the wall. Now with it being totally devastated by the lightning and nature enhanced rockets punch. It was now at the mercy of Nozomi's attack.

"I think it reacts to movement. But he knows I'm here now."
He would say standing next to Noz if his attack were to succeede. Held his hands out in the familiar Arhat style waiting for her next attack on the specimen.

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Learned (Lightning Release: Thunderclap Drill, Jet Booster Jump)
Thunderclap Drill -10
Arhat style -3 = 77/90 chakra

Jet Booster Jump -10
Piston fist -3 = -27/40 nature chakra

Strength C>B>A>S (Tier 1, Arhat Style, Thunderclap Drill)
Speed C>B>A++ (Tier 2, Jet Booster Jump)

Nozomi's clones didn't really do much to try and dodge or avoid the attacks, leaping over the tails swipe but otherwise taking the attacks. This was more to judge speed and power behind the attacks, as well as observe the fighting style. Surprisingly enough, it fought like she would expect a person to, with power and speed on par with her own while utilizing Arhat style.

The clones dissappeared, the knowledge coming back to Nozomi, along with her full chakra stores. A sideways glance to Honiko, Nozomi's mouth twitched into a smirk. This creature would be quite the decent challenge. Something that could match her own speed and perceptive abilities was an incredibly good took.

Her only concern was whether or not Raijin would be able to hold his own and survive this. She knew Honiko would want her to protect Raijin if possible, not that she really wanted to. Still, it didn't look like the creature had any current interest in him. If anything, it was only focused on her for the moment.

As she readied her stance, watching the movement of the creature and preparing a powerful punch to send the creature flying backwards, she watched Raijin launch towards them at decently high  speeds, impressive for most, certainly. If his attack would connect, Nozomi would shift from a fighting stance, and immediately begin making hand seals.

Monkey, ox, boar, tiger. She released a large amount of Raiton chakra, forming into 15 discs of electricity, launching them at the crater where the creature would be, unable to dodge them as they spread out to cover the entirety of the small crater. It would be hit by at least half of them no matter where it tried to move, if it did at all.

If Raijin didn't connect, she would try and simply smash it in the face, her attack enhanced by Arhat Fist, her full force behind it, Smashing Boulder as the technique was called. It was such a powerul technique that boulders would be shattered by it. A small blast of petals issued from her hand, the force serving to accelerate her punch at nearly S rank speeds.

The Specimen was blindsided by Raijin's attack. It had been bred and designed to pick up on Demonic chakra and while it was conceivable that the beast might one day evolve to smell Nature chakra its present stage made it more or less blind to the Blessed One's presence. Honiko watched as the monstrosity was pummeled into a crater by her disciple. She crossed her arms and muttered "Good" as Raijin showed his true power by slamming the creature into a crater. The beast howled in pain as the direct hit sent it sprawling into the cave wall. It had paid for ignoring him and was now dealing with a shattered arm and cracked exoskeleton. Black fluids were leaking from several key points along its body and just as it moved to clear the area, several discs of electrical energy were launched at it. The Specimen moved with all the speed and coordination afforded to it, using strategic spits of acid to detonate the disks that it could not dodge although the ensuing close range detonations would create collateral damage perhaps even harming its aggressors. The beast limped back putting its weight on its good side before swiping its tail at the transformed Raijin hoping to stab him in his heart. It was now aware of his presence and spoiling to take him out. While it used its long tail to attack him, it ducked low to avoid Nozomi's punch and to aimed to cut her feet out from under her. Spikes jutted out of its forearm as it sought to remove her feet from under her.

Raijin's powerful punch sent the beast spiraling into the wall and it made a large crater. It was visibly broken possibly on the inside and one of its arms was withered and useless now. Honiko could be heard saying, "Good" behind them. Raijin knew it would take much more to please the Dragon Sage. He had to bring on that tact and skill he had learned the past two years into fruition. But there wasn't much time to think about that as the beast crawled towards them after Nozomi bombarded the beast with many electric disks. Yet it still was able to move Direct hits and this thing is still trying to kill us. What manner of creature is this. They had no idea what it was they were fighting but Raijin would have to steel himself in this fight.

Surviving both their attacks it now was paying attention to Raijin. It moved a bit slower after the attacks but it was still quite fast. It struck its tail out trying to stab Raijin straight into his chest. The slowed movement allowed Raijin to move to the side dodging the attack, and he reached out with his transformed hands. His appearance began to change more drastically, becoming more animal, more beastly. Raijin had modeled his transformation after seeing Balerion, very similar to a dragon.

Raijin grabbed the beasts tail and opened his mouth. Concentrating chakra into his mouth, it required no handseals for this technique. A large bolt of lightning fired from his mouth, followed by two more bolts of lightning aiming at the creatures damaged body even further. If they were to connect. Raijin would follow up the attack by clutching the tail harder and swinging it upwards. Where he would pick it up and slam it on his opposite side, and he would jump backwards to create some space for Nozomi to attack.

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The thing could spit acid, which was good to know now rather than find out later by surprise. It detonated most of the discs before it got boxed in, but Nozomi had already backed up far enough that it wasn't an issue. The discs were more for delivering a shock and cutting than anything else.

The creature moved as fast as she did, which was fairly interesting to Nozomi. Her speed was nothing to laugh at, something she had developed for quite some time. It was quite impressive that it could still move so fast despite its injuries, and Nozomi was actually a bit annoyed that they couldn't capture this creature and use it. But the objective was to kill the thing, so she would do so.

She leapt over the newly spiked arm, instantly on edge as it demonstrated an ability to grow new things, much like Raijin was just now doing himself. Still midair from her jump, Nozomi would, as soon as she cleared the arm, deliver a kick to the side of the creatures head with her full force, amplified by Arhat Fist.

The tail was an issue, Bayushi may not have enough speed to fully dodge it as it wasn't injured and is a separate appendage. Nozomi sought to rectify that, so she flipped through the handseals for Water Heaven's Convergence, drawing in the moisture from the walls and ground around them, and launching spikes of water from the ground and ceiling and walls inward toward the creature. She made sure to bend the tendrils around Raijin, Honiko wouldn't be thrilled if she impaled one of her teammates. Of course she also made sure to not hit herself.
-1 Arhat Fist
(Originally 3, reduced by UA)
-5 Water Heaven's Convergence.
(Originally 10, reduced by Isobu UA)

The Specimen could sense Raijin dodging and retracted its tail almost as quickly as it shot out. Raijin would be unable to catch it and slam him. The lightning bolt was problematic but the creature sense the change in atmosphere and shot out a stream of acid to counter it like it did the discs. The small detonation that followed caused the tunnel to rumble. Nozomi's kick sent it back but a stream of chakra erupted from the vents on its back so that it wouldn't lost its balance. The creature hissed and noted Nozomi's water attack just before it was loosed upon it. The vents smoked and unleashed an aura of fire and smoky acid to dissolve and evaporate the water before it could kill the creature. The Specimen backed away from the pair realizing that its quarry had help and the pair of them were stronger than it. The Specimen was used to picking off humans that were weak or at least those who that were too afraid to fight. The Specimen turned and ran blasting chakra through its vents as it raced away from Raijin and Nozomi. It was badly damaged and while it was moving quickly it was practically hobbling in its retreat.

If the two gave chase the Specimen would slam into the wall and exit into under the tunnel, then another, then another. The Specimen was barreling through the walls and entering adjacent tunnels each one slightly lower than the last. It was escaping to its nest. If her disciples gave chase (which she fully expected them to) then the clone would poof.

Exit Specimen to where Team 1 is.

Exit Clone

Raijin's attempt to grab the specimen when it was foiled, it reared its tail back. Taking Raijin's strength seriously, it was also quick enough to unleash his own acid attack that blasted and detonated his attack. This beast is really dangerous. That acid attack is something to be weary of. It turned to Nozomi and was able to defend against her attacks as well, using its acid to weave a deadly defense. After successfully defending itself from the Society's attacks, it began to rear its head back noticing the combined efforts were working. It began to back away and then finally took off. Using the immense pressure of its chakra it ran right through a cave wall.

Surprising the Raijin with its retreat. Though it was hobbling it was doing its damnest to escape from. "He won't be getting very far." Bayushi said as he deactivated his Sage transformation. "Injured and now its afraid of us. Time to finish it." Raijin began to take off after the beast, following its trail of destruction in the wake of its retreat.

[Exit to Team 1's thread]

Nature chakra 37/40

The beast was heavily wounded, that much was certain. There was a moment when a creature knew that it was in a bad situation, and people could tell that it had switched from fight to flight. The moment was fairly evident when it went fully on the defensive. Her kick smashed into it, but it managed to keep on its feet, and the water came in to pierce it, but was met by a blast of acid. Nozomi's water surged around her to keep her protected, and by the time she landed, the beast had already bolted through the wall.

She immediately took off after it, body flickering as she did so to make sure not to fall too far behind, if at all. Raijin would be hard pressed to keep up himself, but the creature was the danger here, anything else she was sure he could deal with. She wasn't about to let the beast get away. Honiko dissipated her clone as Nozomi gave chase, blasting far ahead of Raijin.

-exit to team 1-