The Black Site

Mission Name: To Talk or Not To Talk
Mission Rank: A
Theater of War: The Meteor Wars
Relevant Plot NPCs Professor Cuomo
Mission Goal: Interrogate/Rescue Professor Cuomo
Description: A researcher who claims to know the origin of the meteor has arrived in the Land of Waterfalls. The man does indeed possess critical knowledge regarding the meteor and its properties but he refuses to spill the beans! The Land of Waterfalls has kidnapped him from his home and is holding him in a secret black site where he is to be interrogated. The Land of Waterfalls has hired a pair of shinobi, one to guard the black site (a shack inside the Hot Zone) and the other to make him talk. The Land of Bears has received wind of his capture and is now planning a rescue....so that they can interrogate him for themselves. Victory is declared when either the rescuers or interrogators are incapacitated.

Professor Cuomo is a Plot NPC and will be played by Staff or a Member for the purposes of this Mission. Professor Cuomo has an Intelligence and Constitution of S-Rank. He is fairly resistant to torture (both physical and psychological) but is not unbreakable. Ultimately, success will be contingent on defeating your opponent but if either side is particularly creative in getting Professor Cuomo to talk then they may be eligible for a bonus reward.
Payment: 100,000
Maximum Number of Participants: 4 (2 for each side, split into two topics).

It was a classic "I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me" situation. Ashitaka was, after all, one creepy kid. Being a professional soldier in a time of war at ten years old did that to people, it turns out. Who would have guessed? The thing is that he didn't know he was creepy and he was genuinely interested in the magic space rock that all the adults were literally killing each other over and this guy who apparently knew stuff about it that he wasn't sharing.

"Hello, Cuomo-sensei," he started quietly, his tone respectful. He was pretty sure that the Waterfall ninja had approached getting information out of this professor in entirely the wrong way, but he didn't know how to fix it. "My name is Ashitaka, and I've been assigned to ask you what you know about the meteorite. I'm sorry we couldn't do this in a more natural setting, like a classroom, but as you can imagine as a ten-year-old I don't really have any authority, especially over these Waterfall idiots. But we're both stuck here until either you let us know what you know, or the stupid Bears and whomever they've recruited roll in and kill you to protect the sanctity of their hokey religion."

As it happened, Ashitaka was trying to invoke the "comic book supervillain" trope, where he was acting as though Professor Cuomo was the one with the power in the situation (which technically he was) so that he might feel compelled to talk at length about everything he'd been up to until now. In fact, he didn't even keep the man restrained, which wasn't necessary since there was little Ash could do if he started escaping. Likewise, though, there was virtually no chance that he was going to slip the attention of the masked jounin accompanying him, let alone every other ninja between him and whatever amounted to freedom. He set up a blackboard and some chalk for the professor to write with and also took out the specially-reserved empty notebook he had been saving for just this occasion ever since the details of the mission were given to him. It looked like a college-level composition notebook and had "Things Professor Cuomo Knows" for its title.

"So, why don't we have a talk about everybody's new favorite rock, and then we can see about getting you and your possessions set up in a nice, cozy cottage in Konoha where you're not likely to get jumped by another band of thugs with no idea how to get information from an intellectual? My village is much bigger than the Waterfall one, and while you're there, you'll probably find all sorts of things you might like: the Academy, a lab perhaps, maybe even some peers who can actually understand you."

Kimiko Uchiha was on assignment for a very specific task. Protect the professor, and assist in getting the information from him, however she needed to. Mockingbird was primarily an information gathering group, and so while it was unorthodox for them to be hired on in a mercenary like role, she played the part anyhow. With the warring times, there was money to be made, and Kimiko was a former Jounin of no small talent, so she was willing to do her part.

She kept vigilant watch on the room they resided in, a bunny mask covering her face and black robes covering her body. She still wore her former Konoha flak jacket, but didn't have her headband anywhere. Since leaving the village with Mockingbird, they'd been working somewhat alongside the village, but she wasn't an official Konoha ninja anymore, and couldn't represent them. The Uchiha girl didn't really like that the clan was split and many had remained in the village, but she was loyal to the Akihiro, who was the man she chose as the leader of the clan, not the ones who had stayed and formed their faction there. She'd been torn, but he was the leader and her boyfriend, and since they still worked with Konoha on friendly terms, she couldn't argue too much. As long as the clan could still come together, Kimiko was fine.

Within the radius of 1 kilometer around them, there existed many different cloaked figures, all wearing the same bunny masks about 50 different versions of herself, all keeping watch for anyone approaching. Keeping the interrogation protected, and informed of any ambushes, as well as providing a large force to dissuade people from attempting to try anything.

Normally, Kimiko would be the type to lead one of these interrogations, but she was focused more on keeping an eye out and didn't want to drop her guard for any reason. Failure wasn't an option for her, not when money was needed for the organization, and their failure at mercenary work in the Blood Prison was still a sore subject. If she could show Akihiro that they could accomplish greatness and expand their horizons, then maybe Mockingbird could make some more money and more impact.

-
Stamina: 184.8/235

Sharingan Active: -0.2

Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu used: 50 clones, each with 1 chakra

Spoiler:

"Itch itch itch...." Irui tutted, scratching at his neck and face. He pulled at the cloth wrapping, dragging it back and forth. "Maybe malaria will get them before we do, Seid-san." He joked darkly from his rock seat.

Hidden Cloud Intelligence had led their hunt to the humid, rain-soaked valleys of the Land of Waterfalls. Terraced cliffs carved by water dominated the thickly forested land. Supposedly it came in just barely below the Land of Rain for the sheer amount of rainfall it experienced. Lady Ryuko, the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud had dispatched the two of them to hunt for a scientist linked to the fallen meteorite.

From their perch on a high terrace, the two men could oversee the entire valley, and the dense blanket of trees, threaded through with veins of water. Irui could've sworn this valley was really a form of torture with the unceasing clouds of insects. "Intelligence says they have someone attempting to extract information, and that we should expect reinforcements," He continued, looking up and down the valley from his drawn hood.  

It had been three years since the fight at St. Memori's Cathedral, three years since Mora Mikiri attempted to immolate him, and bound him in these wrappings. She'd burned his face, chest, and arms. What her flames didn't reach, the superheated air did its dirty work, scorching his throat. It had been three agonizing years, and yet his skin had not stopped burning. He reached up behind his neck, and tightened the Kumogakure headband around his neck.

He fell silent, and drank in the situation before them. The Mikiri had taught him that life was a series of tests, and this was no different. It was only a matter of how far a shinobi was willing to go to ensure his own survival, how much blood someone was willing to shed. Four years ago, with Seid he'd struck down his first opponent-- with Lightning Release to the face-- and it wouldn't be his last, this war had proven that.

"Can we use the Kaguya Maneuver again?" He suggested, turning his face to look up at Seid. "I'm quite fond of that one," He added, checking his porous gauntlets.

______

Chakra Suppression Technique (D)

Irui was an interesting partner for this mission, Seid thought as he stood beside him. The Chuunin had found a great vantage point that allowed them to overlook the entire valley and stay out of view. Seid had already activated his Rinnegan, and he was able to spot chakra signatures almost immediately with his vision. He could see many surrounding a building. The two Kumo nin had been hired to recover an asset, and to make him talk. An A-rank mission so this was no easy task, it required some bit of finesse. He was appreciative of the banter Irui provided but he wasn't quite good with banter himself. Though he thought the two would work well together again.  Darkseid had come prepared, behind the two some distance away following them, were his Six Paths of Pain. He had unleashed them before they got to the cliff. Seid was wearing his black and gold Jade armor, and carrying his ninja tools and weapons.  

He was quiet able to use his abilities to right this wrong in the eyes of the Land of Bears. This meteorite was interesting to say the least, something from space had impacted earth. Besides the Otsutsuki for once. The Paths of Pain were all male save for one female. All pale skinned from sustained death, and they were wearing long white cloaks that covered their dark attire. Only their eyes were visible due to their faces were covered with an assortment of ANBU masks.

The Rinnegan eyes were all watching and waiting on the central one to make his move. "The Kaguya maneuver, that sounds like a good idea. However we have to get rid of those guards first which may complicate things. I'll handle the guards outside, which will provide a distraction for you slip in hopefully. I just find it odd they were able to secure this many ninja for a single man.." Darkseid was mentioning to large number of cloaked individuals all close to the compound. They were covering a middle sized beige building about 30 meters high. It seemed abandoned but it was a black site building for the Land of Water to commit off the book crimes.

Seid would send his 5 of his Pains down the path of the cliff towards the compound. The female Pain referred to as the Oz had on an Ox mask, she remained behind with Seid. "I will oversee the capture. And will make sure no one escapes. Go with one of my assistants. They will aid you." He had never gotten around to explaining his helpers. And it wasn't in his best interest to do so as well. If Irui agreed and went on to plan his insertion, the Ox masked Pain would follow him.

The other five Pains had quickly made their way down and was in front of the well hidden compound. Standing well over 50 meters away, the Pains all lined up a few meters apart from each other. They did not attack yet. Seid was trying to figure something out first. The occupants and guards would no doubt be able see that there were visitors. What they would do was another matter.

--------

Seid: Rinnegan activated

Six Path of Pain (6)  -6 CP
Chakra Visualization 0.2 = 443.8 / 450

Stats:
Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: S++ (Otsu, Metropolis)
Speed: A
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: B > A (Chakra Visualization)

"Bah! Foolish child... You self-absorbed shinobi failed to intimidate me with your pitiable attempts at torture, so now you seek to goad out my critical knowledge with empty promises? How absurd." Professor Cuomo huffed and rolled his eyes, unable to believe the ludicrous situation he had to deal with. After all, there was, of all things, a woman wearing a bunny mask looking after the boy with an aura of absolute seriousness in spite of her attire. "I highly doubt it is even within your capacity to deliver on any offer your pitiful mind can muster! You're wasting your time, and more importantly, you're wasting mine."

The professor stood so that he'd tower over Ashitaka, meaning to intimidate the kid with his physical presence where he could not with his vast intellect. It was probably due to the fact that this one of his captors, like all the others, was simply too stupid to comprehend the unbridled cognitive superiority he was dealing with. They were probably completely unaware of the fact that he had bribed both officials in both minor nations bordering the impact site to take action against one another, such that in the ensuing chaos, he could test how the radiation reacted to the imbecilic combatants and their preposterous arts.

A snap of a book being forcibly closed broke him out of his reverie. He then noticed in passing that the piece of chalk that he'd been idly fiddling with was no longer in his hand.

"You're forcing my hand here, Cuomo-sensei." Ashitaka stated with a heavy, resigned sigh. To Kimiko, he said, "Restrain him, please. It seems that in spite of being the one allegedly in possession of this supposedly vital knowledge, Professor Cuomo has opted to be on the receiving end of an education, rather than offering to provide one. Really, what is wrong with adults these days? It's like the whole world's gone on its head over this rock. I know it's a little cliche, but I want you to know that this will hurt me a lot more than it will hurt you."

Assuming that his supervisor helped as requested, Ashitaka walked over to the chalkboard he'd set up for the professor and began to use it himself. Well, more like abuse it, really. With screeching, grinding strokes that made their audially-sensitive user want to die, he started carving out things that to an ordinary person would simply look more than a little wrong. To nerds like himself and the professor, however, they were mind-bendingly obscene. Especially since he alternated between katakana and kanji with no apparent rhyme or reason, but did so in a manner that made his words still mostly legible:

iMporTaNT FactS tO KnOw:

Pi equals 3.

thE ARea Of a TRIanGlE is 180 DEGrees

THE suN ReVOlvEs AROUND tHe EArth ONCe EvErY 28 HOUrs.

And so on and so forth, until the chalkboard was about half occupied with similar inanities, Ashitaka was experiencing a migraine, and the good professor was screeching at a higher pitch and volume than the chalk could ever manage. Having looked at his profile report upon receiving the mission, the boy genius had quickly picked up on a likely path under the target's skin that he strongly suspected that the adults would probably overlook. While his high durability made him virtually impervious to physical torture and radiant intelligence would have rendered all but the most pristine Genjutsu moot, it did not necessarily stand that he was completely immune to assault. The inherent problem with greatness was that the more of it you had, the less you were able to tolerate the little annoyances. His superiors had probably planned to match their best against his, affording Professor Cuomo to at least go down with dignity should his proud defenses somehow fail. Ashitaka was a child and therefore would provide no such mercy. He really would have preferred to take the kinder, gentler route, but adults always insisted on making their own and everyone else's lives even more difficult than life in general was by default. Thus, he had no sympathy for the man.

Pushing the man down into his seat, Kimiko produced a set of shackles and attached him to the chair at the behest of her ally. She was interesting in seeing what Ashi was going to do next, and took her station next to the door back up again while he began his interrogation.

Kimiko watched the proceeding interrogation with a bemused expression on her face, although the mask hid it from view. Ashi's form of torture was almost juvenile. Scratch that, it was juvenile. It was the equivalent of someone asking 'why' over and over, or poking someone and saying 'Im not touching you'.

Outside however, the clones had noticed the intruders. One of them activated their sharingan so that they could get an accurate glimpse into the numbers of their enemies, and after confirming that there was a total of 7 (6 Pain Paths, Seid, with Irui being hidden from the chakra sensory and not at an angle that Kimiko could see) by the chakra signatures, the clone poofed into a cloud of smoke, transferring the knowledge to the rest of the clones and  to Kimiko herself. Giving a start, Kimiko interrupted. "7 Intruders incoming. Get what you can out of him."

Her Sharingan flashed behind her mask, a glimpse of red where the eyes were located was all that provided any indication of her shift in personality. In times of duress and when fighting became an option, Kimiko's more docile and friendly nature took a backseat to a more malicious persona. The whites of her eyes grew black as the tomoe started to bleed into her eyes. "If they get past me or it looks like I've failed, kill him if you can and get out of here alive. His information can't fall into enemy hands." Little did Kimiko know that Akihiro had made a similar order during the Blood Prison incident. Failure wasn't an option, and they'd rather burn the mission than fail it and let an enemy gain the advantage.

With that, Kimiko exited the building, rushing out to deal with the intruders the best way she knew how. A frontal assault to keep everyone preoccupied. She didn't need to beat them all, but with some of the techs she knew, she could hold back an attack for a bit. Maybe remove some from the equation quickly. There would be little talking, enough to give a chance to leave but it was inevitable that they would decline.

The clones all pulled out a kunai, the only weapons that they carried on them. The Kunai were single copies of a blade given to Kimiko by Akihiro. She didn't know where he was anymore, but he could always find her through that blade if he wanted to. Maybe one day she could use it to find him, but today it would be used to complete a mission.

45 clones separated out through the forest, with Kimiko and 4 clones holding towards the back, to make sure that nobody slipped through the cracks. The 5 Pains that had come forward ahead of the group would be met with 9 clones each, and a wall was formed to prevent any further progression.

Each of the paths would get the same ultimatum. "Leave now and there's no issue. Stay and fight and maybe you win, maybe you lose. But if you get through, the professor dies before you get him."

-
+.8 clone return
-.2 Sharingan

Stamina: 185.2/235

49 clones remaining.

[quote="Shimiko Chinoike"]

On paper, Professor Cuomo had arrived at the Land of Waterfalls to do what he did best. Brag. The only reason he had become a University Professor was so that he could paid to prattle on about his genius. He had made numerous breakthroughs in the astronomical sciences and he intended for this to be yet another. He was going on a speaking tour and given the Waterfalls interest in Meteors as of late he figured he could rack up a decent amount of cash on the speaker's circuit. That was his stated purpose for being in the country.

In truth, he had cut a deal with factions on both sides. They were to engage in hostilities while he observed the effects of live combat while in the Hot Zone. He'd note these observations and study them with the intention of making yet another breakthrough. Together with the Bige Brain he expected that he'd be able to deliver a heaping pile of useful information on the Meteor, its origin, and its properties. Unfortunately, bureaucracy was a bitch. The people had bribed were greedy and rather idiotic. What was supposed to be a carefully controlled battle had turned into all out war. There were even elements in the military that were entirely unaware of his true purpose for being in the nation. The officials he had bribed had kept this to themselves and so now the majority of tacticians within the Land of Waterfalls and Bears genuinely thought him to have some kind of supreme knowledge on the subject. Of course, he couldn't admit that. If he told them what he had done then they'd execute him and his collaborators. Instead, he'd need to sit tight and wait until he could actually garner some knowledge on what this Hot Zone's properties were. Once he had done that then maybe he could exchange it for some money and a trip out of dodge.

It was a race against time. He had to hold off long enough to actually gain the knowledge they sought. Luckily, Professor Cuomo was something of a sadomaschoist. He liked being hurt and he had used the sciences to increase his pain tolerance until it had reached godly levels. He had mocked the boy for his pathetic attempt at trying to break him. Less than pleased with his response, the child decided to begin scribbling nonsense down. The Type-AAA personality within him cried out in pain as the incorrect bullshit flowed onto the chalkboard. He hated idiocy. He hated it so much he refused to teach any student with below a 4.0 GPA. Either the kid had done his homework or he had dealt with Shinobi Professors in the past.

He did notice that Ashitaka appeared to be agitated by what he was writing as well. This meant that they were kindred souls. He could outlast the boy. He could do this.  

"You think that hurts? You think that's something? Try teaching remedial calculus for five years in a farming village! I thought I was going to have to hang myself! Bring it on! he roared defiantly.

He shut his eyes but he could still hear the stupidity as it vibrated through his bones.

A fresh wind swept across the terrace, rippling the cloaks of the assembled team. Irui tilted his head, casting an eye at them through the gap in his bandages. He noted their unique masks, still silent as ever. Seid was the only man he knew in the Hidden Cloud to come with personal detachment of ANBU offices: no other besides the Raikage commanded that authority. They grouped together, wordlessly coordinating their formation like a well-oiled machine.

"The Kaguya maneuver, that sounds like a good idea." Seid returned plainly to him, "However we have to get rid of those guards first which may complicate things. I'll handle the guards outside, which will provide a distraction for you slip in hopefully. I just find it odd they were able to secure this many ninja for a single man..."

Irui placed his hands on his knees and drew himself upright, and studied the forested terrain below. Seid was clearly seeing things that his own Sensory abilities could not perceive at this range. The forest below was teeming with shinobi, all surrounding the Black Site at the center. With a rush of wind, Seid's assistants took flight from the cliff and hurtled towards the treetops.

That's how this is going to be, Irui thought as they slipped into the canopy. With so many shinobi below we need to make them think they have the upperhand in numbers.

Gravel crunched as Seid's sixth assistant stepped forward. The woman stood silently, with a stylized oxen mask covering her face. "I will oversee the capture." Seid continued, "And will make sure no one escapes. Go with one of my assistants. They will aid you."

Irui bowed his head respectfully and approached the cliff's edge, standing alongside the ANBU. "By the grace of Jashin," He whispered under breath and into the wind, "May he grant me a good kill, and through their suffering I will be freed of my earthly constraints...." Irui murmured, and closed his eyes, letting the wind play across his black cloak. He stepped forward-- "Bring me to the void,"-- and sprang from the terrace. Irui's arms spread wide, his billowing sleeves fluttering like birds wings as he descended.

Seid's ox-faced ANBU flew after him, the two racing into the trees.

Chakra unfurled from within him as he released the Suppression technique, and used its energy to magnetize himself to the nearest tree. Irui's knees bent as he absorbed the landing and rebounded on momentum. The two of them accelerated forward, and as Irui opened his Sensory talents to the forest, he became abundantly aware of battlefield. He wasn't the fastest on his feet, no doubt in his mind that Seid's ANBU was being kind and pacing with him. Their route shifted, moving opposite to Seid's Team; while they drew fire Irui and the ANBU would circumnavigate the forest, moving around.

Curious... Irui thought as they slipped through foliage. Each combatant I've detected has the same wavelength.... His hands wove handseals in preparation. While he didn't know for certain, he had a hunch and kept on course for the building.

______

Sensory Technique (50m range, 100m with contact) (-5)
1 Prepared technique
Stamina: 100 /110

"The professor dies before you get to him." Darkseid found these words coming from the one of the guards was quite puzzling. There was something to those words that threw discretion out the window. "That is most unfortunate. For you." Using the central most Pain to speak, its voice was unemotional. It was wearing the Hawk mask, designated as Pain 3. It quickly made a few handsigns, then brought a hand to his mouth. Gathering a great amount of chakra into his chest, he expelled it with a surging force. A wave of fire erupted from his hand, and it began to spread quickly. The fire was so widespread it would consume all the guards and the women who stepped out of the building. It would easily incinerate mostly the entire valley, but the Pain focused the wave into a powerful stream. That was mostly center around the building. Since the women indicated they would kill their target anyways. Perhaps it didn't matter what they did.

Seid's eyes narrowed as he the controlled Pain committed the action. He was testing his theory, he was sure that there was more to this enemy hired by the Land of Waterfalls. They wouldn't have been able spare this many men, for one asset. They seemed to not care about him as well. Going as far as to threaten the mans life if they failed defending them. Which meant they had to be more ruthless because of it.

"So be it." Darkseid said to himself knowing he would have to answer that threat.

The three Pains beside Pain 3, all prepared handsigns prepping their own techniques. The last Pain would be observing their surroundings keeping an extra pair of eyes on any funny business. The Sixth Pain running would stop in front of Irui. "Before we get to the building wait. I believe Seid has started the assault." Indeed from their vantage they were still some distance away from the building, able to view it from the west. Sprinkled throughout the forest were guards to which they were hidden from at the moment. They noticed a great fire raging towards the building.


------------------------------

Seid: Great Fire Destruction - 30

Six Path of Pain (6)  -6 CP
Chakra Visualization 0.2 = 407.6 / 450

- 3 Techs prepped

Stats:
Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: S++ (Otsu, Metropolis)
Speed: A
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: B > A (Chakra Visualization)

"If they get past me or it looks like I've failed, kill him if you can and get out of here alive. His information can't fall into enemy hands."

Ashitaka's blood ran cold at this point, rather than at her announcement of the intruders, and the levity of the absurd situation he was in with the interrogation was banished in an instant. He knew that she had clones up, and the fact that she was telling him something this obvious at this point in the mission instead of making sure he knew it'd be required of him before it started strongly hinted at the notion that she was probably threatening their enemy with a nearly identical statement. He turned on her with an expression that was half-incredulous, half-panic.

"Wait! No, don't!" he waved both hands in her direction in an effort to signal her to stop. "Listen! You know they can't go home empty-handed! First rule of bargaining! Both parties need to believe they have something to g-"

And then she left without indicating any acknowledgement of his words.

(Seriously, the disrespect I have to put up with,) he thought before he heard it, off in the distance and approaching rapidly: the roar of a massive wave of flames. He sighed, then began counting down: "Three, two, one..." then suddenly the sound of fire got even more intense and changed directions, diverting away from the pitiful shack the interrogation was taking place under and spreading over the valley forest. For some reason, the genin had the faint but distinct impression he could hear a chorus of silent screams.

Snapping out of his reverie, Ashitaka glared at the door Kimiko had left through and wrung his hands first at the sides of his head, then in its direction, using a gesture that Professor Cuomo was doubtless intimately familiar with. Then he forced himself to take deep, calming breaths, ran a hand through his hair, and returned his attention to the captive researcher.

"On the way out to this adventure, I had compiled a list of the five stupidest things that could potentially happen here within the limits of my imagination, because I expected that they would be inevitable. Four of those things have just occurred in rapid succession. I mean, lighting a forest saturated in alien matter and radiation on fire from inside it, really."

He unfastened the silk rope from one end of his weapon, inverted that half of it, then clipped it back in place. Then he tied the rope to the central section, pulled off the released partial sheathe, and stowed it in his traveling pack. Satisfied with his weapon's new form, he turned back to Professor Cuomo as the current-polearm he was wielding turned black. He failed to notice his hands taking on a wooden aspect and merging with the haft.

"Fortunately, the information I'm personally here for could do just as well without that tainted grove in the way. In any case, the fifth item on that list is that you do not actually have any pertinent information in the first place, and are deliberately putting yourself at risk to toy with a variable number of high-strung and extraordinarily violent people. But that would be positively insane," he concluded as he directed the weapon at the bound man's throat. "Wouldn't it, Cuomo-Sensei?"

The threat was empty at the moment, however. In fact, Ashitaka had half a mind to just let the man go. After all, the pertinent information his village was informed that he had was only going to be relevant as long as there was wildlife in the area surrounding the meteorite impact, and that was very quickly ceasing to be the case. Now, he had to think of some other way to give the Waterfall people something that was worth what Konoha was being paid for this mission. Maybe if he devised a means to steal the meteorite itself...


____________________




Ashitaka:

Stone Bullet - 5
Chakra Flow: Earth -1

Weapon: Modular Weapon (Naginata Form)
Rank: B++ (Titanium) -> S++ (Earth Flow)

Stats:
Strength: D+
Constitution: C
Stamina: D++ (84/90)
Speed: D
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: C

She didn't really have time to sit and listen to Ashitaka's protestations, as there was an issue to be dealt with. Kimiko saw a build up of chakra with her Sharingan, and began to prepare her own. Judging by the size and color, it was a fire jutsu of immense power, something that Kimiko could counter with one of her own. The difference of course, was the technique she used only required a single hand seal. The pinnacle of fire jutsu met with each other, fire cancelling out fire and sparing the house from destruction, but the meeting of two S rank jutsu would decimate the lands they traveled through.

Her clones were wiped out, minus the few that had stayed with her, returning the chakra that they held to her and replenishing her stores. It appeared that these people were quite powerful indeed, and having a bunch of clones that couldn't use high level jutsu wasn't going to benefit her in this fight. She banished the 5 clones next to her as well, and then used the multi shadow clone jutsu once again, making a few clones with a larger portion of her chakra supply.

The 4 clones she made took the place of the former clones by her side, activating their own sharingan. It was clear these were no average opponents, so she was just hoping to buy enough time for Ashitaka to finish up the interrogation and do what he could. Winning wasn't going to be a likely outcome here, but she had enough chakra to mess up her opponents for a while.

For now, they held a defensive line, prepared to react to any buildup of chakra or rush with a coordinated assault of their own. Given their field of vision and coverage, the Pain and Irui were easily spotted out especially once he dropped his anti sensory jutsu, although the Pain traveling with him had already given away his location earlier. They weren't moving very fast at all, and nothing hid from the Sharingan eye. The five Kimiko bodies spread out to protect the house and cover its front, with the clone closest to Irui and the Ox masked one turning slightly to face them. If they got too far forward, she'd take offensive action but for now she was just keen to watch. It was pitifully slow to her eyes and she could see every move they made before it was made.

Luckily enough, the house was safely behind her, and the interrogation was in the basement as well, so even if they got through she could just collapse the house on them and still keep the professor safe for the time being. Kimiko didn't really care that much about him, especially with the currently dominant personality of hers, she only cared about the success of the mission and beating back any attacks while ensuring her own survival. For that, she'd fight tooth and nail, revel in the bloodshed and fire, and if all else failed, retreat for the time being. If Ashitaka got captured or killed, that would be on him if he didn't heed her warnings.

-
-0.2 Sharingan
+45 chakra returned from clones
-20 GFA [Ninjutsu perk reduction]
+4 chakra returned from clones
Stamina: 214/235

4 Clones made: 42/42 Stamina each
Each use Sharingan: 41.8/42 each

Stamina: 46/235

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

"Before we get to the building wait. I believe Seid has started the assault."

Irui dug in his forward foot and came to a sliding halt in the branches, and grasped a branch to steady himself. He knew well to heed the ANBU's warning. The first time he'd seen Seid's destructive potential had been against a drug cartel in the Hidden Cloud, a mission that now seemed so simple in highsight. Seid had moved at a breakneck pace through the cartel's ranks, carving through personnel before dispatching Kodo-Kai in moments.

Floodlike, Seid's flames tore through the undergrowth like a great beast, shattering trees and igniting the remains as they gouged a path. Thundering flame roared from the opposing side of the valley, matching Seid's intensity, and the two collided  into a blistering wall. Irui flicked from the deadly display to the forest before him, and the beige building ahead.

"So he has, Ox-san." Irui murmured dryly, peering out from the gaps in his bandages. His eyes traced the line of fire from either side, narrowing on the point of origin. "Strange," Irui ruminated, and looked to the Ox-masked ANBU ahead of him. Unless he'd been mistaken, the opposition's fire had a single source-- one lone shinobi. With so many shinobi guarding the site, he'd anticipated wading into enemy fire from the get-go. Yet here they were with a forest full of targets, each with similar chakratic-wavelengths, and only a single shinobi opening fire on them.

If his lips could still move, Irui would have smiled as a thought cross his mind. The enemy was lying to them about their forces. It wads a common tactic to deter Sensors in the field, using any manner of decoys, from insects to clones, even prisoners to inflate their numbers. The strategy clicked into place-- why only one shinobi was showing a display of ninjutsu, while others held back. It was clever, he'd give them that, but straight forward. Bog the opposing team down by focusing on artificial teams, hoping sheer attrition and distractions would slow them down.

"Tell Seid that I'm in position" He said to the woman.  He'd hoped that in the midst of combat, Seid's team was coming to the same conclusion. Ever observant, he kept his senses open to the surrounding forest, and pulled a tag from his pouch, tucking its edges into the wraps around his wrist. He and the woman would hold their position for the moment. "And that I'm ready."

_________
1 Jutsu prepped
1 Tag
Stamina: 95/110
Sensory Jutsu (D, -5; Irui is aware of any targets/Clones within 100m, and is aware of their similar signatures)

"Impressive." Seid thought after Pain 3 and Kimiko's fire blast collided in great fashion. The valley would erupt in a fire tidal wave, however Pain 3 kept up the pressure with its attack, pushing past Kimiko's Great Annihilation attack. And the other Pains were not exactly waiting for the smoke to clear. The Pains up close were able to see the one who fired back also wielded the Sharingan. Proving she was a dangerous Kunoichi who was also capable of great destruction. Perhaps with her threats of killing their target was no bluff. She seemed dangerous enough to pull it off. Seid began to assess this mission as a loss but he would eliminate his enemies still. Using an overwhelming force of his power.

"What we have here," Seid said to himself overlooking what was about to happen. "Is a rare chance for me to cut loose." Pain 3 maintained the pressure from his attack, channeling his chakra into fire and finiting the stream again towards the Kimiko and the guards. It turns out they were Shadow clones. Which could mean the real one was probably the one talking and blocking his attacks.

Three of the Pains 1,2, whom had already prepped the tech, both unleashed the same technique. This was one of their most deadly jutsus in their arsenal. A black lightning dragon erupted into the air and arched their heads were looking down on their enemies. They were very large, reaching an estimated 20 meters into the air, constructs of pure black lightning. They all aimed their attack into the stream of fire Pain 3 was continuously firing. Two of the Dragons combined, creating a deadly three headed beast. The with power to cut through the stream and obliterate the entire area of Kimiko and her immediate clones. The Sixth Pain still observed from a distance. Actually providing sight for a counterattack.

"It seems the enemy does not have the intention of letting us get the target. They will kill him if they fail to protect him. So Darkseid has decided to eliminate them all." She would say to Irui, him being a sensor he'd be able to notice any tricks up their enemies sleeve.

----------------------

Seid: Great Fire Destruction - 15 (Upkeep)
Six Path of Pain (6)  -6 CP
Chakra Visualization 0.2
Black Lightning: Hydra Dragon Blast(2) -20 = 366.4 / 450

Hydra Dragons combined S-rank power

Stats:
Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: S++ (Otsu, Metropolis)
Speed: A
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: B > A (Chakra Visualization)

"Ha! Don't think I didn't hear that, you little runt! Your time is running out, and my rescue is on the way!"

"I'm not a runt! I'm 10, you know."

(Good Lord, what are they feeding this kid? Other children?)

"Be that as it may, I can practically hear your window of opportunity closing. You've failed, and you have only your own inadequacies to blame."

"I used to really admire you, you know? ...well, welcome to the ever-growing list of adults who've lost my respect in a single conversation. And congratulations! You beat Nyg-sensei's record by a couple minutes."

"You are in no position to lec- is it getting warm in here?"

"Oh, you noticed! How nice! I was starting to worry that you outsourced your observational skills to your lack -ahem, interns."

The cavern was underground, moistened by the aquifer running through it, and a good couple hundred meters away from the near end of the firefight. But the temperature had departed from "comfortably chilly" to "lukewarm" and was climbing steadily. It would become a sauna in a few minutes if things outside kept up as they were. To make matters worse, Ashitaka picked up the subtle but distinctive 'ping' of another Sensor scanning nearby. Instinctively, he scanned back before his better judgment came to a clear decision on how to respond. It was probably for the best though, since he was sure that the other had already detected the nature of his chakra and it was better to be informed than to gamble on an attempt to hide and be caught with a deficiency in data.

"What is it, Boy? Do you hear something?" Professor Cuomo asked before catching the slightly-less-unfriendly end of the Modular Weapon in the side of his face. Ashitaka was in no mood to be talked to like a dog by this asshole.

"Sit tight. I have to take this," the young Genin commanded dismissively as he approached the door leading to the antechamber of the cell which the prisoner was held in. While his weapon could cleave through the walls, ceiling and floor smoothly enough that he didn't really need space to fight in, it was still nice to have. He planted the Modular Weapon in the ground in front of him and made a blindfold for himself which he used to cover his eyes. Then he retrieved his weapon with one hand as he leaned against the wall and readied a flashbang with the other.



------------


Ashitaka: Sensory activated (passive- 50 Meters) -5 CP
Weapon: Modular Weapon (Naginata Form, Chakra Flow [Earth]) -1 CP
Rank: B++ (Titanium) -> S++

Stats:
Strength: D+
Constitution: C
Stamina: D++ (83/90) [Stone Bullet Cancelled]
Speed: D
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: C

Due to the Sharingan, Kimiko could well see the chakra build ups of the two new jutsu, and 3 of her clones responded with their own preemptive attacks. Kimiko's clones formed the seals for the Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, countering the power of  Seid's attacks with some of her own, overpowering the monstrous force with some power of her own. Of course, this wasn't a fully sustainable attack, something that would eventually run her down on chakra completely, but stalemating Seid was easy enough for the moment. If he wanted to get through, he'd need more power.

The main issue with the attack Kimiko opened up with, GFA, was it's lack of sustainability. It was a massive burst of fire that washed over a wide area. The power of the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet was equal, but the problem with it was that it took a deal of concentration to exert control over it, and the speed wasn't nearly as great as higher level techniques. However, when it came to a defense, she didn't need massive speed, she needed great power to keep Seid's Pains at bay. They worked perfectly to not only counter his offense, but actually began to gain ground on his techniques. The power of her 3 dragons would begin to overwhelm the sustained offense of his two techniques.

The 4th clone turned its attention to the Pain and Irui on standby, with Kimiko herself watching the proceeding. As long as they weren't doing anything, she wouldn't push forward. Her reactions were held to keep them at bay as long as possible. She could already tell, defeating this force wasn't going to happen. All she could hope for was that Ashitaka had gotten the information that he needed from the professor.

The clone she had on standby made the seal for Multi shadow clone, creating a secondary clone from it to send back to check on Ashitaka.

-

The clone would enter the abode again, heading back down to the basement. Ashitaka's sensory should easily recognize her chakra signature. "Have you gotten the information from the Professor yet?" she called out. "I can't hold them back forever you know. If he hasn't given it yet, then we need to clean up here and go."

-
3 Clones: 31.6 stamina (-.2 Sharingan, -10 Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet [ninjutsu perk reduction])
Clone on Standby: 31.6 stamina (-.2 Sharingan, -10 MSC)
Clone with Ashitaka: 10 stamina
Kimiko's Stamina: 45.8/235 (-.2 Sharingan)

Jutsu used:
Multi Shadow Clone available above

Spoiler:

From Irui's vantage point, he could only watch from a great distance as the battle unfolded in al its fiery glory. Shouts of flame, twisting dragons and flashes of writhing energy scoured the forest as Seid's team clashed violently with Konohagakure. It was nothing short of spectacular. Trees were uprooted, exploding and catching fire in the wake of the flame dragons, whole swaths of land instantly charred black, the air hung thick with smoke and mist.

Irui's stomach took the moment to gurgle, and suddenly he wished he'd brought snacks. Something prickled his thoughts, like a jolt of electricity running through his veins. The hooded man's attention shifted suddenly, snapping to the beige building.

"Found them." He said suddenly through the bandages. "Sensor-type. The chakra signature is weak, very weak, but it is Konohagakure for sure. They're too far to gauge intent or chakra levels, but from that broadcast...." Irui trailed off, and folded his arms over his chest, calculating.
"... They're not on the surface, probably in basement of the structure." He reported bluntly, "They're planning to make an escape with the Asset while holding off your team, Ox-san. Given their location, I'd anticipate their team has Earth Style for evacuation."

It was unpleasant news for their team. After trekking from the highlands to the water-logged Land of Waterfalls, the mission was rapidly deteriorating. They could still seize the objective, but their window was rapidly closing. Irui fell silent, his eyes flicking to the shifting battlefield. What had begun as an extraction had quickly deteriorated into a violent skirmish. He had a suspicion that today he would not be interrogating any living bodies.

They were too far to interrupt an evacuation, Irui knew his limitations well, and the building was certainly too far for him to reach with any technique. He looked to the ANBU next. "Tell Seid I'll hold my position. If you have Earth Style.... " He trailed off and shook his head. "Tell Seid he can do what does best."

____

Sensory (-5)
Stamina: 90/110
1 technique prepped.

"So they are underground you say?" The Sixth Pain Ox spoke back to Irui. Simultaneously Seid was processing the information while battling the Uchiha. Their descendants were very powerful. He would have to greet them with overwhelming power. Something he was sure would have lasting effects on this valley. Seid knew what he had to do, focusing his chakra into hands. First he would clap his hands together. A small vanta black portal about a meter wide and tall, appeared in front of him. Using all of his paths vision to see all of the clones position, he focused his next portal a few feet away behind Kimiko and her clones. In their blindspot. A portal the same size about a meter wide and a meter tall opened right behind the Jounin. They would be distracted by the dazzling show of firepower from the Pains and they also concentrating on their own techniques.

Seid with his right hand and quickly stuck it through the portal in front of him. His hand would reappear behind Kimiko where a black orb would fire from his palm at her. Slipping his hand back through the portal, he closed the portal behind Kimiko and in front of himself. Then he opened a second portal next to his left a foot away. This time the portal was about five meters tall and five meters wide. The same sized portal would open behind Irui and Ox the Sixth Pain. "It's time for you go to back to Darkseid for a minute." Ox would say to Irui.

Seid reached his left hand through this portal and grab the back of Irui and pull him through the portal. The attack he unleashed could only be resisted by his Pains. The ball of black chakra he threw at Kimiko would shoot at her immediately with a sudden speed. If it were to hit, the ball of chakra would smash into her back. This would lift her into the sky while generating a pull that akin to a tornado. The pull would reach out and effect everything with a 200 meter radius as the ball would rise to the sky above the black sky. The ground would begin to break apart, uprooting the very ground underneath his opponents.

Since they were underground, he would soon see them spiraling in the air. As the Chibaku Tensei began to form as the ball stopped 100 meters into the air over the Black site building. At first the roof of the building began to crumble and then the ground around it began to break apart. Total chaos would ensue as there was complete destruction. Everything began to be sucked with troubling force into the sky where Seid manipulated it to compound together. While larger pieces of the forest around them began to be pulled in. He centered to the are around their targets and behind the black site building and next to it. Being careful not to extend the pull towards the Pains as to not uproot their position though they were immune to the pull

The building would break apart and the ground under it would turn into debris. The pull would even destroy the building completely to unearth the basement itself. This would eventually pull the target Professor Cuomo out of his holding cell and flying into the air along with the other enemy keeping him captive. The Chibaku Tensei would grow bigger and bigger as slabs of earth began to slam into it. Beginning the process to create a mountainous boulder. But the Pains across began to plot. Pain 3 stopped his assault with fire. While the other 4 made handsigns, if Kimko and clones kept up their onslaught they would be consumed by the Chibaku Tensei behind them. If they continued the Pains would each scatter quickly, dodging the dragons from reaching them.

But then they would be dealing with the next barrage of attacks. The first two Pains next to Pain 3. They would both hold their hands to their mouths and fire another blast of Black Lightning release Hydra Dragons. This time seperately, they were stronger apart. The aimed blast would curve around the fire dragons and aim towards the clones.

Pain 5 who was on the edge of the frontal assault began to charge being sure to go around the carnage. He would purposely run towards incredible pull from the Chibaku Tensei. He would be coming from the rear. Kimiko's left, being sure to avoid an unpleasant dragons. Though it doubted they would be able to maintain them.

The Sixth Pain also began to charge forward. Replaceable bodies if he was to claim new ones today. They would both be trying to from the rear, even while grounds were being torn apart all around them. The Sixth Path made its way toward the clones in which she would cross the distance quickly.

----------------------------------

Seid: Hydra Dragon Blast -20
Six Path of Pain (6)  -6 CP
Chakra Visualization 0.2
Yomotsu Hirasaka - 10 (2)
Chibaku Tensei -20 = 310 / 450



Stats:
Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: S++ (Otsu, Metropolis)
Speed: A
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: B > A (Chakra Visualization)

Ashitaka had just opened his mouth to yell at Kimiko for announcing her imminent defeat within earshot of the prisoner when he noticed a sudden and intense surge of chakra from their enemy. Less than a heartbeat later, it was behind his partner and basically right in front of him. Well, a short distance above his head, anyway. His tactical decision of moving the interrogation down into the cellar to avoid being easily interrupted now made it nearly impossible to escape.

"Behind you!" He shouted instead of what he previously intended, knowing that with the power going into it and its proximity to the building, he had absolutely no chance of escape. He was too slow to interfere and too weak to retaliate. He couldn't do anything but brace himself and hope he survived.

The blindfolded boy curled his body around his weapon, keeping it pointed at the warping reality and wishing that he couldn't perceive it. If Kimi couldn't do something to stop it, he was just going to be thrown into the air like a rag doll and be crushed by the gravity ball. He was already mentally preparing himself for his imminent death, although he was more upset about the general devastation of the environment.

He didn't care about the professor or his information. Nor, apparently, did anyone else present. That was just another potential paycheck. Someone else could fill the man's role in society, or find the data he was keeping from everybody the long way. Science didn't create laws, after all, only observed them and created ways to make use of them. The entire foundation of its benefits was that anybody could do it if they were reasonably intelligent and spent enough time and effort on it.

The world, on the other hand, was another matter entirely. They only had the one, and it was already scarred by the effects of powerful entities waging war on its surface. And both his protector and his enemy were making their own contributions to the lasting damage. And now the landscape wasn't just being burned to barren ashes, it was being torn up and used to crush... well, him. He was a lot more durable than the average shinobi, and far more so than the average ten-year-old, but it seemed unlikely that he was going to live through this.


-------------------



Ashitaka:
Chakra Flow -1
Weapon Grade: B+ -> S+
Sensory (Passive, 50m) -0.5
Stamina: 82.5/90 (Corrected for actual cost of Sensory)

Kimiko's clones had done their job, overpowering the techniques that the Paths had used, and thus heavily reducing the chakra interference. As Kimiko's primary purpose was defensive, the dragons ceased their advance when they beat back the other two techniques and forced the path's to take evasive maneuvers. The dragons stayed tight around the group of clones and Kimiko, and with Kimiko's Sharingan, she'd be able to predict attack patterns and react to them while they were happening, rather than try and meet them at a distance. Kimi's attention was drawn to Seid's movements, as he clapped his hands and opened a portal. Had she not been dating Akihiro, she likely would have stared a little longer, but Kimiko had some small introduction to fuuin related teleportation, and space/time ninjutsu.

Behind you!

The warning came out from Ashitaka in the cave. A warning that was a little too late. Kimiko turned just as Seid's hand released the little black orb towards her. She saw the trajectory well enough and let herself fall backwards and drop. Of course, she wouldn't keep falling, as the gravity well activated, pulling her and her clones towards it. Before it got too big, Kimiko popped the clone that was on standby, and used its chakra while flipping through the signs to send a GFA, quickly. She had no clue what it was, but she wasn't playing games here.

Luckily enough, it hadn't grown or done quite as much damage as Seid had probably hoped, but it had disrupted their line. Kimiko and the clones began to fall, with the dragons holding tight around them. Keeping the defense was incredibly important, especially now. When they landed, they'd need to retreat to the cave entrance, using it as a blocking point. Kimi's clone's dragons would remain coiled around the group protectively, to keep them from being hit with the Path's counter assault. If the enemy's attacked it, short of an overwhelming amount of force to push through her Fire jutsu, she'd be able to handle what they'd already prepared, even if her jutsu was slower.

Retreating as soon as they landed, they moved to the mouth of the cave, keeping the defense going if it wasn't broken through, the dragons would swirl a few meters from the front of the cave while Kimiko would keep an eye out around the entire group as well, so that nothing like that happened again. This opponent was terrifying, and was gaining ground very fast. All she could hope was that he couldn't teleport his way into the basement without actually knowing the layout. Of course, if he could, then he'd have to fight in an enclosed space, which may benefit her a little more.

-

Due to Ashitaka's warning, the Chibaku Tensei's pull was prematurely stopped before it affected the landscape on a truly massive level, and the cave and house still stood, albeit with no small level of destruction around the environment. The ground had started to pull up, the cave had shook, the house itself had partially collapsed, but the entrance was still serviceable.

The clone that was in the basement with Ashitaka would walk past him, giving him a pat on the shoulder, with a nod that he couldn't see and entered the room. She'd reach into his cell, and place a hand on his knee. "Talk. Information. Now." With that, she'd begin to pull out his chakra as well, filling up her own supply. People could resist torture, genjutsu, things like that, but when they began to lose their chakra, that's when people would really freak out.

-

Potential-

Spoiler:

UA:
Chakra Drain: Kimiko is one of the precious few people who can drain chakra from people. This UA allows her to app techniques that can drain chakra, although those techniques leave her more open to receiving damage from chakra as well.
Without using techniques, she can choose to drain 5 chakra from someone by making physical contact with a them using her forearms or hands, although she has to consciously do so. This is able to be used through gloves and clothes, but does not extend to other tools or weapons.
Every time she makes contact, she can draw out chakra from a person (capped at 15 per person per post) or 15 chakra per person if she sustains contact the entire post. However, doing so opens Kimiko up to increased damage (+1 rank of damage) from tangible chakra techniques for the rest of the post round. This is all elemental jutsu, and all attacks with tangible chakra, such as Chakra Flow and other such techniques. The amount that this UA allows for non technique absorption in a thread is capped at half of Kimiko's base stamina cap, even if taken from multiple different people. This can not set her over her maximum pool of chakra either.

Professor Cuomo grit his teeth as he watched the Earth shake around him. There was a distinct burning smell in the air and he could taste death on his tongue. This is what he had been waiting for. The secrets of the meteorite began to spill forth as his mind crunched the various physics around him. The particles in the air, the aura that seemed to streak along the ground, the sounds that every living thing was making. All of it was speaking. You just had to have the right ear to tune in and listen, and listen he did. The man had closed his eyes temporarily and activated his Sensory ability. The feedback was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The Hot Zone was burning. It was being destroyed but even as the reckless Kumo-Nin and their opponents wrought destruction on the area, the picture became clear to him what was happening. He had been waiting for live testing to give him the information he needed but he hadn't expected anything on this scale. The Chibaku Tensei created such a disturbance within the meteorite's range that he was now bleeding through his nose as his brain tried to process all of the information it was receiving. It was hard being a Sensor-Physicist. The slightest fluctuations could send one's brain into overdrive. Fortunately, he was among the best of the best. Professor Cuomo's eyes snapped open and he found himself staring at Kimiko Uchiha.

"Talk. Information. Now."

Then he felt it. Chakra was drained straight out of his body and with it his ability to focus. No....No....NOT NOW!!! he mentally screamed as he realized that she was using him as a human battery. If he didn't talk soon she'd drain him dry and leave him to die. Normally, Cuomo could withstand this kind of torture but he was on the cusp of unlocking the secrets of the Hot Zone. The fighting had provided in all sorts of interesting tidbits of information, information that he could use to become the greatest scientist in history. He'd surpass them all and yet it was being taken away from him. He'd never get the opportunity to study the effects of the Hot Zone again. Whatever the Seid guy was doing was giving him data the likes of which nobody had access to. He knew his way around Ninjutsu and this ability was something beyond the capacity of any human shinobi. Cuomo roared as he tried to remain focused but alas it was no use. He wanted to learn more and this girl threatened all of that. He did not fear death, he did not fear torture, he could withstand stupidity and he could withstand threats. But to be cut off from Nirvana was a hell he could not bear. He was so close to it all and if she kept interfering he'd never get this chance again.

"STOP! PLEASE STOP! OKAY! I'LL TALK! I'LL TALK! JUST STOP! I'M SO CLOSE" Professor Cuomo screamed. He had finally relented. They had broken him. Like a heroin addict desperate for a fix, he began sputtering his words.

"L-L-L-ook around you" he choked out. If Kimiko and Ashitaka looked around they'd see specks of dust floating in the air. It was akin to ash but if Kimiko had her Sharingan active she'd notice the dust had some very odd properties to it. If she had the Uchiha microscope ability, she'd realize just how unnatural the "dust" was.

"What you're seeing is a physical reaction called Cycon-Reishi. Pure spiritual decay. Its bits of soul and spirit...in the sciences we always believed that it was impossible to kill a soul. Resurrection was always a theoretical possibility in the shinobi world....of course, techniques capable of achieving it are so rare they might as well be myths....but what if this meteorite contained an answer to that? The Cycon-Reishi is the result of the jutsu's impact and whatever's in that meteorite. Its killing the environment on a spiritual level. Even now, I can see it"

He was smiling now as if he had gone mad. He was using his sensory to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize the endless reactions happening around him.

"Yes....a spirit-killer. This meteorite was sent to correct an imbalance. Someone told me that, someone...they said it was coming, that it was time. Death has become a joke on this planet. No more. Fear not he that can kill body but can kill the soul itself! Heheheh...." the man was now laughing as though he had gone insane. He then began to speak in, well, mathematics. He was giving them an equation. However, it was up to them to solve it or at least copy it down so that it could be solved.



OOC: Because of your impressive actions in this thread, Ashitaka and Kimiko will receive a special reward.

Professor Cuomo is giving you the equation for a theoretical meta-material known as Spirit-Killer. If the equation and a sample from the Hot Zone are given to a Chemist capable of making S-Rank Compounds, Spirit-Killer can be created. This material is capable of being forged into a weapon that can obliterate the victim's soul. This means that they CANNOT be resurrected or reincarnated through ANY means and all Rollover Experience will be transferred to the user instead.

However, the equation is incredibly complex and long. It will take time to write it all down. For your two's intelligence 2 Posts. Keep him alive and talking for the next two posts and you will have the full equation.

"So they are underground you say?"

Irui regarded the response for a moment and nodded. The Ox-mask's voice was cool, her tone decisive. A palpable shift in demeanor had come over her, even if he couldn't see her expression, silently she and the others were coordinating. She and they wordlessly processed the information, calculations were exchanged, proofed, and together, Irui knew they had reached an ultimatum for the battlefield. He'd seen their strength before, it was something he never wished to be on the other side of.

She fell silent, and a hush came over the woods as if the forest drew breath, shivering with anticipation. He felt the fluctuation, a reflex of pure instinct, before it registered in his chakra: a thundering, cataclysmic chain reaction had popped into this world even if he couldn't see it.

"It's time for you go to back to Darkseid for a minute," Ox-murmured.

"Wh--?!" Irui gasped aloud as a hand grasped him at the nape of his neck and pulled. The world gave away beneath him, the sky bled and distended, stretching the horizon into an oblong infinity. He glimpsed it for only the briefest second, as he stumbled back onto solid ground and now stood alongside Seid. He planted his hands on his knees and gagged-- traversing Seid's space-time technique never failed to nauseate as the brain reconciled the effect. There was no time to relax.

Hands intertwined into the Horse sign in preparation. He breathed, bringing himself upright to view the field. A pitch black sphere climbed into the sky, drawing a thin trail of debris after it. The air quivered and thundered as the sphere's influence reached out, grasping larger stones and trees. A truly awesome and horrifying sight it would have been, if the enemy hadn't fired a searing Fire Release to meet it.

"I see you got my message." Irui said plainly, "Only one Sensor, from what I can tell. Too many of our opponents have similar chakra wavelengths to not be clones, but you already know that." He readied himself for a counter attack, placing one foot behind the other. He knew he was stronger, far stronger than he had been when he'd first met Seid, but time and time again, the man never failed to demonstrate just how far their gap was.  "I'm expecting you to start dropping moons next," He joked.

It was most unfortunate for the Konoha Jounin. Thanks to the efforts of their Sensor, he was at least able to warn of a foreign signature that had appeared. But his Yomotsu Hirasaka was incredibly fast, and untraceable. The warning from would come to late. As Seid released the small black orb, it went flying at Kimikos back. Not being able to move in time, she simply dropped backwards. Hoping the ball would pass her by. But it did the opposite of that. The black satellite was controlled at all times by Seid. And noticing her fall backwards with his many open eyes on the battlefield, all but sealed her fate. With his hand pulled back from the portal, it disappeared as it had came. And the black orb actually curved downwards instead into Kimikos body.

With the pull being at such a fearsome ferocity, she would take the full brunt of the Chibaku Tensei. The black orb would crash downwards into her stomach. But Kimiko was resilient, she was still able get make her handsign and complete her most powerful tech. She unleashed the Great Fire Annihilation. Aiming at the orb lifting her smashed against her, the flame blasted openly and hit the orb.

But in the process it also burned herself as well. An explosion sounded as the two powerful techniques spreaded out. It would of course consume the Jounin. When the smoke cleared, she was burned badly and laid out on the ground. Hanging on by a thread from his Rinnegan eyes. The clones Kimiko had were instantly 'poofed' out of existence. The Pains dissipated their black lightning attacks, before they could land. They were able to see that Kimiko had been defeated. Pain 5 stopped his run right in front of the black site building. Using the information given to him by Irui. They knew where they were located in the basement. He would give them a chance.

They would be surprised to see Kimiko's clone disappear in the middle of the interrogation. Not even getting the chance to fully crack the man. But the other ninja would be expecting this. So the Pain began to speak loudly for them too hear him "Surrender or die. Your partner has been defeated. You have 5 seconds to answer." Then Pain 5 would began counting down from 5. If he received no answer he would rush in immediately for the basement.

"Time to see if you're ready for the ANBU Irui." Seid would say as he opened a portal in front of them again. A portal would open beside Pain 5 as well at the sametime. "The Jounin on their side has been incapacitated. That leaves their sensor and Cuomo to recover. Lets go to the building to see if they surrender. If they don't. You'll handle it. Leave getting Cuomo to me."

If Irui agreed, he would allow him to touch his shoulder and lead him into the portal. Where they would appear in front of the building next to Pain 5. Seid and Irui would arrive just as the Pain 5 began its countdown. And the Sixth Pain also arrived next to them. The gang was all there.


------------------

Seid:
Six Path of Pain (6)  -6 CP
Chakra Visualization 0.2  
Yomotsu Hirasaka - 10 (2)= 273.8 / 450



Stats:
Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: S++ (Otsu, Metropolis)
Speed: A
Coordination: C
Intelligence: C
Perception: B > A (Chakra Visualization)

The woman had grossly understated just how quickly she was losing the fight.

Ashitaka expected that.

His warning had come just slightly too late for her to effectively capitalize on it and bring meaning to his contribution.

Ashitaka expected that.

Somehow, she still managed to dispel the ball of unholy chakra before the real devastation he felt it threatening the area around them with took hold.

That was a welcome surprise.

Now, though, he was alone and facing off against over half a dozen enemies, the weakest of which was significantly more powerful than himself. And he was filled with the absolute certainty that the best he could muster wouldn't have a significant effect on such foes. It was foolish of him to even take on a mission like this and believe he could succeed.

"Surrender or die. Your partner has been defeated. You have 5 seconds to answer."

He was planning to surrender in the first place, but as has been mentioned before, Ashitaka handled ultimata exceptionally poorly. He formed the Dragon hand seal and dove into the wall of hardened dirt that was all that separated him from the nearest Pain. A tiny ball of light formed in his hands and he imbued it with chakra, causing it to go ballistic and basically drag him out of the ground immediately in front of what was now a line of foes. He knew that with their collective capabilities, they would absolutely see him coming, and that's what he was counting on. He refused to release the chakra ball until it burst at roughly face level for all present. The light was so intense that he could almost see through his blindfold. Which was good, because the explosion nearly deafened him. His ears would be ringing for a good while, maybe even the rest of his life. All five seconds of it.

The flare shot up a few more meters as he grabbed his weapon with both hands and took a step forward, lashing out at the group in front of him with a swift and broad sweep of his blade.

"To be frank, I would have preferred to talk this out," Ashitaka said as he spun his naginata and planted the tip of its blade in the ground beside him. "But my partner has chosen this path for my team, and it would be disgraceful of me to give up without at least a few swings of my blade. Now, are you going to defy the pattern set by every other adult I've encountered and actually LISTEN TO ME, or am I going to have to continue proving I can present a threat?"


------------



Chakra Flow on Modular Weapon (Quality B+ -> A++, 1 CP)
Sensory Technique (-0.2 CP)
Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique (-1 CP)
Non-Elemental: Flare Gun Technique (-1 CP)
Style: Swift Pole Arts (++ Speed, + Coord, -3 CP)
Swift Sweep (++ Strength, -1 CP)
Aura: Moonlit Performance (++ Perception, + Coordination, -3 CP)


Ashitaka's New Stats:
Strength: D+ -> C
Constitution: C
Stamina: D++ (72.3/90)
Speed: D -> D++
Coordination: C -> C++
Intelligence: C
Perception: C -> C++

Kimiko's last bid to extinguish the Chibaku Tensei orb before it grew to full size was somewhat successful, although she felt the searing pain of her flames on her body. It was enough to pop the clones that she had made, their jutsu extinguishing with them. She collapsed to the ground, the only thing on her mind was the pain, but she was completely passed over by the Paths. Of course, there was no explosion from the attack, since the Chibaku Tensei wasn't actually an explosive type technique, so she was left where she had been, not blasted away or killed, but that worked out well enough. She wasn't here to die. And despite the interrogation being not fully finished, she'd acquired some new information courtesy of her clone.

It wasn't a total loss here, at least. She looked at her body, assessing the damage done, knowing that she wasn't capable of moving for the time being. From her stomach down, she was burned severely. Moving her legs wasn't going to happen. She couldn't really help anymore, but Ashitaka hadn't taken her advice to escape or try and kill the professor. She could vaguely note that combat was still ongoing, but her focus was starting to drift away, and it was all she could do to stay awake. If she passed out, she might not wake up again, and so her survival mode was funneling adrenaline through her to numb the pain and keep her awake and alive.

She was lucky. She hadn't incinerated herself at all, medical aid could fully recover her. There was no blood, so she wasn't going to bleed out.

-

The clone with the professor had pulled its hand away when Cuomo began to speak franticly, ready to part with some information. It was a give and take situation, after all, and she was ready to give him the gift of his chakra source while he gave her the gift of knowledge.

When Cuomo began to speak, Kimiko's clone activated her sharingan, and began to record the words that he spoke in her mind and with the capabilities of the Sharingan. The Copy Wheel ability of the Sharingan was incredibly important for a number of reasons. It allowed the user to fully memorize and duplicate the exact motions and muscle patterns in a person. Normally, she'd use it for Taijutsu abilities, or copying Techniques that she could perform, but in this instance, she used it the same way she had during the meeting with Tatsu, Raijin, and Seigi.

The way that Cuomo's mouth moved, the undulations of his tongue, the way his jaw shifted as he spoke. All of it recorded into her Sharingan. All the while her hand hovered over his leg, just in case he stopped speaking. She didn't need to write it down, she was able to copy it, and would figure the rest out later. A smirk on her face appeared for a moment, hidden by the mask she wore, and then she ceased to exist as Kimiko's real body sustained enough damage to extinguish her.

-----------
Out of Combat.

Sharingan: Copied the verbal equation before poof.

What happens when you destroy a Chibaku Tensei?:

The marble was nothing short of ferocious, unyielding, and devastating in its punishment. Wind rushed into the valley below as it took hold and began boring into the land. Loud cracks and rumbles split the air, climbing with the marble as it rose and devoured like a living thing. Irui looked on, watching the spectacle of debris twisting around it. Within moments, a desperate counter-attack was launched, but the battle had already been decided, and a hush quickly fell over the valley.

"Time to see if you're ready for the ANBU Irui." Seid murmured, and slit the air with another portal. "The Jounin on their side has been incapacitated. That leaves their sensor and Cuomo to recover. Lets go to the building to see if they surrender. If they don't. You'll handle it. Leave getting Cuomo to me."

Irui turned his head slightly, eyeing the man.

"There shouldn't be any problem," Irui returned, looking into the space-time window, and stepped towards the portal, splaying the fingers of his left hand as the Paths led him through the rift. He landed outside the carcass of the building, alongside another of Seid's Paths. Instantly, his gut twisted, reeling from the shift in space as he touched down. He planted his feet, swallowing hard to choke back the nausea. There was more important work to be done than hurl his lunch.

"Surrender or die. Your partner has been defeated. You have 5 seconds to answer."

There was turmoil, a splitting and ripping of earth as Irui approached. There in the boy's hands, a small orb of light. He knew the technique well, and he met the boy's actions with his left hand. The brilliant light splintered and frayed as it exploded, twisting  unnaturally until he seemed to grasp and crush it from a distance. There would be no blinding Seid's Paths.

"To be frank I would have referred to talk this out," A small boy was protesting. "But my partner has chosen this path for my team, and it would be disgraceful of me to give up without at least a few swings of my blade. Now, are you going to defy the pattern set by every other adult I've encountered and actually LISTEN TO ME, or am I going to have to continue proving I can present a threat?"

This boy.... Irui observed, He's got us there. Either we negotiate, or fight. If we fight, and Konohagakure sends a reconnaissance team, Kumogakure.... Irui bowed his head, letting the hood fall forward as he took in the boys words, and immediately understood the depravity of the situation. Irui stepped around a Path, revealing himself.

"Oh I think you've proven yourself quite capable." Irui spoke up, "Why would a Jounin go to such lengths to protect the interrogator?" He tilted his head slightly, and folded his hands together in front of himself at waist level. "Your Jounin Commander would have backups in place if you failed, and I can only assume you've extracted information from the Asset in that time frame, but not all of it. Fortunately for us, a scientist does not draw the attention of the Hidden Villages unless their work is fruitful."

Irui paused, allowing the situation to cool. He hoped the boy was following along. Combat here would only lead in one direction for the child: If Irui fell, the Paths would be on him, his Jounin's life would be forfeit, and the scientist would be taken regardless. Men like Cuomo were well-connected, well-published, their work praised and lauded, which made this situation even stranger. Why, and how were these two drifting so far from home?


"I have a proposition, if you'll hear it." Irui offered, raising his left hand in an open gesture. "Or are you going to follow the pattern of every shinobi I have come across?"


_______

Dark Releasing: Inhaling Maw (-3 CP)
- 1 Prepped
- Flare Gun Technique (+ 3)

Stamina:  /110