Induction into the Brigade

The Brigade was as active as ever despite the present rain for the day. The downpour outside had them wearing cloaks but the grizzled veterans were full pace fighting in the training yard outside of the barracks. A huge section of mud soaked land with a dozen men and women crossing an assortment of weapons and techniques at alarming speeds. Each of them in their own right a capable warrior and none of them holding anything back in their training. Always seeking to excel beyond their limits and become something more. The barracks itself appeared to be a warehouse refitted for their needs. The first floor was a large dining hall for half of it with long tables and benches lined where some where having lunch and others were just drying off while having medical attention to whatever wounds they received either out in the field or during training. Those who had graver injuries were stuck in their bed in the other half of the first floor. Mostly consisting of lockers and bunk beds. Nothing lavish here but it was enough for people who preferred this over adjusting back into society after duty. These were people too absorbed into battle to consider things like family or friends. All their family and friends were right here fighting side by side with them. Next to it was a simple mission board littered with B rank kill missions. Missions sent to them by the village.

There was also one wall in the dining hall entirely covered with ninja headbands with name plaques under them. This was the list of their dead who had fallen in the service of Kirigakure. The Nightmare brigade was both feared by their own village and hated by criminal organizations. It wasn't uncommon for them to be hunted and less common for the village to care much. Still their memory lived on here. The second floor was much simpler. There was the necessary things like showers and toilets in a shared space on one half with a small armory on the other half. Each person had their own locker here for storing their weapons and their cloak and mask. As well as laundry machines for hygiene purposes. As for the third floor there was only one set of steps leading up to a single office away from the rest of it. Keeping Sero's aura away from the people trying to sleep considerably. Since he could not turn it off when he was here he mostly stayed to the office going over mission reports.

The compound itself was surrounded by a wall that was patrolled along the top by the brigade while a single guard stood out front. A robust man with heavy looking armor and a large axe. An eye patch over one eye and balding on top of his head. He looked just as seasoned as anyone else there but he stood under an overhang out of the rain. A single wood pipe between his lips as he lit it with a match and enjoyed the sweet flavor of Tabaco as he inhaled. His one good eye however was focused on his job and ready to stop intruders. After all Sero was here today and he wouldn't lower his guard with that man here. He had more enemies than anyone...but it seemed he was expecting someone today. His eyes were looking for a young lady despite the downpour of the morning. Poor kid was likely going to have to go out there and get soaked in this he would think to himself. Couldn't track a bear in this rain.

Pouring down, Kami’s head and attire getting soaking wet, her shoes getting dirty and somewhat muddy. Kami didn’t mind the rain, in fact she actually loved when it rained. The nice cool touch of the water droplets, bouncing off of her and diminishing shortly after. She looked around in the forest, not knowing which way to go, other than relying on her senses and sensory skill. She felt people around her but she couldn’t pin point where exactly they were located. She looked around, covering eyes to prevent any rain going in them, her head stopping towards the direction of the brigade. She began her walk towards there, looking out for any possibly attackers. Kami had never been around this area so she didn’t know what to expect.

Arriving within the proper distance, the nightmare brigade was in front of her. Guards everyone on top, busy as all, with only one muscular guard out in front. She squinted her eyes, quite curious why only one guy was out here. Kami treaded along the grass, getting closer and closed, still thinking about it— Oh.. That’s why. Once about 5 feet away from the guard, she realized he was a lot muscular and a lot bigger than she expected. She closed her eyes and opened them again, lifting her hand up and doing a small wave. “Sero has asked me to come. My name is Kami Yurei.” She introduced herself, given that she may need to do it often once going inside. The place was huge and honestly, she might even get lost within the building. Now out of the rain, her hair, face, clothing and everything dripped with water, her button up shirt almost see through. Kami patiently waited for the guards response, allowing her to go in and get dry.

Azrael's feet would splash lightly in a puddle in the middle of the street, the young Yurei enjoyed the rain much more than the sun, not that it ever really shined in Kirigakure, still the male would find the rain more enjoyable. Never and More however stayed home as they did not seem to like it as much as Azrael did. Of course, he was not out and about to enjoy himself, he was out for one reason and only one, Sero. After meeting Raika yesterday, his master told him to bring her to the Hozuki compound for a mission, and he was doing just that. Having retrieved Raika they would begin their journey to the other clan district that his master controlled, but that didn't mean he couldn't have fun along the way as long as it didn't slow down their progress of getting closer to his master. Dressed in all black with even his jacket hood covering his ball white hair if it wasn't for the red of his eyes he would have been hard to spot, even his bell earring that could usually be heard as he approached would be covered by the hood muffling it's sound even further than the rain already was.

As he and Raika would near the gates of the compound he would see Kami standing next to a one-eyed man, he knew the man or at least seen him before, just as the other man knew who he was though Azrael had never bothered to learn any of their names. Finding only the ones his master took true interest in to be worthy of remembering their names. The man that stood guard  would not stop Azrael or Raika, unless Raika stopped to speak with Kami, as the entered the district. All the nightmares would know who he was even if they had never seen him before, considering his description was hard to miss, there were not many five foot three inch men that had white hair with blood red eyes, and always wore a mask. They had nothing to fear from him anynore than he had from them, as Sero's second in command they knew there was only one other that Sero trusted more than Azrael and that was Sayuri. So considering the fact that Sero's second was bringing a long a guest would not give them pause nor cause them to react in anyway towards them, they all simply continued with what they were doing.

Azrael wouldn't enter the building however, even if they were nightmares, there would be too many people in Azrael's opinion and he was not big on crowds so instead he would locate his Master through his sensory, and manifest one of his ghosts on the outside of the door to the third floor where Sero was. The ghost wouldn't be able to knock, however it was capable of mimicking Azrael's voice allowing him to speak through it. His whisper being able to be heard easily by his master even through the door. "Master, We have arrived with Raika Ryuutei." Would be all that the ghost would say before fading back into nothingness, Sero knew of Azrael's discomforts with certain things so it would stand to realize that his Master would soon find him just outside the building with Raika, Kami unless the one-eyed man had let her by as they entered wouldn't be that far behind where they stood waiting.

Raika frowns at all the rain as she walks with Azrael. She'd been quiet the entire walk to the Hozuki district, but inside she was in a rather poor mood thanks to the rain. The downpour would almost ensure that most scents would be much harder to track. Mist was one thing, it dampened the scent without actually hindering it, but actual rain could cause scents to get pressed down to the ground and then washed away. She could still scent things out as long as she was close enough, but it was far less effective than it would normally be. Still, the only change to her wardrobe is a longer and thicker cloak with the hood pulled up, letting it cover most of her body to keep her mostly dry in this rain.

She looks up at the one-eyed guard, but mostly ignores him as she walks past with Azrael. Maybe her bad mood shows too well, because the guard doesn't even stop her from coming in on Azrael's heels. Raika recognizes Kami Yurei out of the corner of her eye, but she ignores the other woman who seems to be simply allowing herself to get soaked through with the rain. In any case, Raika deftly pulls her own rebreather mask out of the hip pouch in the back, slipping it over her face to at least somewhat hide her appearance. Although hers doesn't have a death's grin on it, her appearance would somewhat match Azrael's own now.

Once they were past the gate, she pulls off the rebreather and replaces it in her hip pouch, wearing a similar outfit that she would normally wear; it seemed that most of her clothes were ragged, although they didn't seem like they would all fall apart. At least they didn't stink. Raika double-checks the tightness of her boiled leather armguards and shinguards as well; with the humidity, you couldn't always trust leather. When everything seems right, she grumbles quietly to herself a bit at the fact that Azrael hadn't gone inside, but makes no effort to force him in, despite her disapproval of the rain.

"Hmmmm... I thought that other place was his home... Does this guy have a lot of connections or something?"

"Did he now? Well ain't ye a wee one."

The mans one good eye would glance down at the womans soaked top. A slight huff from him at the abruptness of it. Not big enough for him. He needed some big titties. Head sized at least. Still he would take another puff off his pipe as a much smaller man would simply walk by him. Followed by a much smaller girl. He knew the man but the girl behind him? Unfortunately he didn't have much room to stop him given the way of things. Still he would only let out another huff of annoyance before turning his attention back to the girl. She was small but she had a fierceness in her eyes. Nothin but a sprout at the moment but there was room for potential. He would shift his large head to indicate the way the two had walked passed him. Cloaked as they were they would still be easy to spot.

"Go on bout yer business den garl. Don't wander ta much from da path now."

With that he would let her pass and go about his job. Whatever was going to happen. There was one man he couldn't beat for sure...and he wasn't about to cross the commander. The commander himself would be settled in his office with a mission scroll in hand. Tapping it lightly to his desk as he contemplated doing this a second time. The last time two out of three of them went into a coma and the third had some sort of split personality now. Perhaps he expected too much from humans. Or misunderstood their limitations. Their need for sleep...companionship, shelter and food. Sero was comfortable with none of those things. He needed only liquid to sustain. The passage of time no longer even seemed to hold sway over him. Yet those cold blue eyes would shift to the door as a familiar voice spoke. Cold in nature as always and never blinking.

Sero would rise from his desk quietly and open the door. There were other ways to exit the room but truthfully this took the least energy. The ghost of Azrael standing present. Sero would merely pass through it. It was but a messenger. Not the real one. One did not move out of the way of a letter. Still when he reached the first floor three cloaked men wearing plain masks would join him walking slightly behind. Sero would emerge with them to the yard likely around the time all three would gather. The rain a downpour and yet Sero didn't seem the least bit wet. He stood there without his hair even losing shape as he simply absorbed the rain. The men behind him would each throw a large back pack to the mud soaked ground before the three. Before Sero would quietly toss a mission scroll to Azrael. Speaking finally as he did.

"Within those packs is a cloak, a mask and a days worth of food and water. We will be going after some missing ninja. However they have allied themselves with a large pirate group on some islands not far from here. This will be a test of survival. You will be planted on one of these islands and placed under observation. You will spend seven days there. Likely under frequent assault by the enemy. During this time you will need to find shelter, warmth and food as well as fresh water. Sleep will not be allowed either as part of the test. On the seventh day we will assault the missing nin and whatever forces they have left. If you survive. You will not be the weak person you were when you started. Walk away here if you are fine just being what you are now. If you want to be more than this...what life has made you...what trials have molded you. Take your pack and step forward."

Mission Name: Missing nin elimination
Mission Type: Assault
Mission Rank: B
Mission Goal: Eliminate the missing nin
Description: There are several missing nin that escaped from the blood prison gaining power in Kiri. This one has 9 men all around C rank stats and C rank weaponry. The missing nin has access to up to all C rank water jutsu and all C rank stats.
Payment: A private investor in the new prison has contacted the village to pay 25,000 to see this threat eliminated.
Requirements: 2 D ranks or 1 C rank

Kami looked the guard up and down but to her surprise, he was quite the opposite of what she expected and she nodded. A strong thick accent, she wondered where he was from but she didn’t care enough to ask. Before leaving, she noticed Raika and Azrael walking passed her and entering the building. ‘Why am I always with them…’ Kami sighed and made her way inside, following closely behind the two. Looking around the building, Kami’s eyes lit up for the first time since being with her new team. The building was huge and she confirmed that without any sensory or help, she would’ve gotten lost.


Reaching the same position as the other two and stopping side by side, Sero had come down from the stairs, holding three bags. Placing them in front, he gave a speech about the mission they were to be assigned to, giving them an option. Take our leave or pick a bag and step forward. Kami thought about the pro’s and con’s of the mission. Sleep wasn’t an option and neither was backing out if she really wanted to be under Sero. She looked at the other two, knowing Azrael would pick up a bag with no hesitation. Kami looked down at the bags and stepped forward, picking one up and opening the bag. A cloak and mask just like he said. Kami looked up Sero with only her eyes and gave him a small nod before putting on the cloak and closing the backpack to put it in her back. “I accept this mission and thank you for this opportunity.” Kami gave him a traditional bow and stood back up before stepping back in line.

"Master Sero, is clan leader of both Hozuki and Kaguya." Azrael would whisper back plainly to Raika's question of his connections, "he owns all that you have seen and more. Even if he wasn't clan leader, he is the Commander of the Brigade, which gives him much authority." He would add as Kami came to join them in waiting outside for Sero, feeling his chakra move through the building, Azrael knew his Master would arrive shortly.

As the rain continued it's downpour, Sero would step out of the building with three others. Looking as he always does when others were around, and yet completely unchanged by the downpour, just another reason for Azrael to be amazed by his Master. The other three would toss down packs into the mud, before Sero would toss him a scroll, quickly reading the mission scroll as Sero explained the perimeters of the mission. Seven days without sleep, while it would be the longest he had gone without it, lack of sleep was not a new concept to Azrael. At least he had gotten a few hours in before coming here, so there would be something. As Sero finished speaking Azrael would hold the scroll out for either of the other two to look at if they wished as he picked up a pack, he wouldn't open it, simply pulling it on his shoulders before looking to his Master.

"This One is ready, Master Sero."

Azrael, was more than a little excited at the thought of the mission in all honesty, it had been far too long since he had truly tested his skills. If Sero was right then this would see to him becoming stronger, which is all he wanted so that he could help his Master as intended. The Bijuu Kukuo, defeating the beast's mental protection, that was the male's goal. As that was what his Master desired, it was Azrael's responsibility to provide his Master. "Shall we begin?" Azrael would ask not Sero, but the other two that were with him, though he was pretty sure he knew the answers already. Kami was willing to do just about anything, and Raika looked as though she could kill around twenty just because she was mad she was standing in the rain, all in all to Azrael it would look as though they were ready to begin and Azrael would look back to Sero as he awaited instructions.

Raika lets out a low whistle when she's told that Sero is actually the leader of two completely different clans, and she has a moment to consider that that could be her... She was a member of both the Ryuutei Clan and the Uzumaki Clan by birth. Although she'd never really met with anyone in the Uzumaki Clan that had lived, and she didn't know what their culture was like in comparison to the Ryuutei; still, maybe the Uzumaki could benefit from the firm and harsh structure that the Ryuutei clan benefited from. She notices Kami approaching them out of the corner of her eye, but chooses to ignore her for now, since the doors open and Sero himself comes out, followed by three others.

She has to admit that she feels a bit jealous when the rain clearly has no effect at all on Sero, whose hair doesn't even get pushed down by the weight of the downpour. The packs being thrown to the ground causes mud to splash up onto her shinguards, but she doesn't even react to the splatter. Raika keeps staring straight ahead with her bored expression, though Sero would likely know that her attention was tightly focused on what he said. In all honesty, the mission sounded more like a chance for Sero to torture three ninja to within an inch of their lives than an actual mission that was necessary for them to complete; and Raika liked a challenge.

She steps forwards and grips the pack by one of its handles, lifting it up and pulling it onto her back to keep it out of the way, ensuring that nothing is broken from the movement as it claps against her back, following Azrael and Kami's lead.

"I accept this mission as well. Easiest camping trip of my life."

Raika reaches over and claps her hand on Azrael's shoulder, lighter than she had when they had gone out to eat at the fish market after she'd seen how he had winced from the force of her hand clapping on him back then.

Sero would quietly watch as each of them would pick up a pack. Two of them not bothering to check the contents. He would let his blue eyes shift over each of them as they spoke. One spoke of thanks, one of readiness and one of simplicity. He wondered if those would be their opinions still when it was all finished and done. If they would even complete the training. He would fold his hands into their sleeves once more. His hands hidden from view as they almost always were. Of the three of them two had seen some of what he was capable of. However they would be fools if they thought that was the extent of his power. One of them had only seen how the mist clung to him. His command over it and the suiton element. All three had taken a life however which was promising. Still he would speak up once again. The three men breaking off and heading for the docks ahead of them that had come with Sero.

"We will see if this is so easy for you Raika. Bolstering yourself with words is pointless if you do not succeed. As for the cloak and mask...be sure to equip them before we arrive. The rain should conceal our movements from the enemy but it will not last. My men will secure a beachfront for our arrival but beyond that it will be up to you. The mask is for your own protection however. Any surviving witness to what happens that knows your face will likely reveal your identity. You yourself and anyone close to you will need to be on guard from then on for any retribution. It is not a comfortable life. The other members you see practicing around you always wear masks to disguise their identity on missions."

With that he would shift his gaze to the men who had stopped to watch and listen to the meeting from their practice. Upon being spotted however they would return to what they had been doing. Of them though Sero never wore a mask. The only people he surrounded himself with were killers. So he didn't need to worry about their safety. He himself never let his guard down around any of them anyway. Humans were suspicious to him and untrustworthy. Save for a few. Even his own men were always under his empty, unblinking, watchful gaze. Still he would turn and walk passed the three of them and out the gate. Heading directly for the docks. His movements with his pale bare feet on the pavement was a comfortable D rank speed for him though likely the three would need to hustle to keep up. He would take them down a direct path to the docks to where a longboat without oars or sail would await them. The rain already having placed a layer of water in the bottom. Still Sero would continue ignoring the rain. Another boat had left ahead of them with some of the guards going ahead. Still he would step to the Stern of the boat.

"Board quickly. You will want to arrive before nightfall for better chances of finding shelter. It will be snowing on the island."

Feeling Raika's hand on his shoulder, his head would turn to look at her. His eye's just briefly glowing as he activated the E-Rank version of his Akayurei's genjutsu. Just long enough to convey the message, "Like a pack," to her within their minds before turning his attention back to Sero as he spoke to Raika. Azrael would consider his master's words, though in truth for him the only thing that would benefit the male was the cloak, even if it was only to keep the rest of his clothes drier. The mask however would do little for him other than cause a hinderance, his eyes needed to be visible for a majority of his skills and his own rebreather mask was painted to aid with his genjutsu as well. As far as retribution of others, he would actually welcome them to try, he would probably enjoy the show for a little bit. Still, as he followed his master's path towards the boat, Azrael would remove the cloak from the bag and place it around him. He would leave the mask in the bag, throwing the bag back over his shoulder as they drew closer to the dock.

As they boarded the small dingy, Azrael would look down at his sister's question. He knew the answer but would not say anything, he wasn't sure how much about his master, his sister knew. Or why she was even there for that matter, though he knew better than to question his master. If Sero wanted Kami here, she was here, and Azrael would just have to hope that she did not cause problems. She was much more vocal than he was, and from his experience with her. She did not seem to have control over her emotions, she was always so aggressive. If she had a better handle on them, she might even improve her mental abilities and prevent him from beating her in mental chess so often. Raika on the other hand was probably more aggressive than his half-sister, yet that did not seem to bother him like it did with Kami. Perhaps it was because of their blood, the Yurei clan held a certain reputation to uphold, something he often reminded his sister of in their mental games where he had tried to help her. His thoughts would trail back to the first time he had been on a boat, it was the last time he had been on a boat with Sero and Sayuri. Taking a seat towards the back of the boat, Azrael would sit quietly waiting for them to arrive at their destination.

Raika doesn't make any snide comment to Sero when he tells her that they'll see whether or not it's easy for her. She might not be the brightest, but she knows who one can or cannot talk back to, and Sero has shown that he is definitely not the one you can simply make such remarks to. She nods firmly to Azrael as he speaks directly into her mind, though she doesn't speak aloud in response. She's learned that she doesn't need to, and that he can even feel the affirmation in her mind while they're making eye contact. It didn't make the Ryuutei genin very comfortable, that would take time, but it didn't particularly drive her away, either; somehow, company made the dark recesses of her mind a little less gloomy, although one would think that having someone as ghoulish as Azrael in there would only make it worse.

Instead, she slips into the boat with Azrael, rapidly opening the pack and tugging on the cloak as quickly as possible, followed by the mask. It leaves only her eyes visible, and she considers tearing the mask in half to let her fangs free, but she decides against doing such a violent act right at that moment. She could always pull the mask up to feed after any aggressors were dealt with. With Sero in the stern, she's also not sure why there are no oars in the boat; not having a motor would simply make sense, those were too noisy for what must have likely been a stealth mission.

She sat at the bow of the small dinghy, back to the fore so that if she was sprayed, it would only be on her back and hitting the second cloak she was wearing over herself. In such a position, Raika looked more like a black, deadly animal than a human, her eyes closed as she firmly grips the board between her legs, squeezing hard with her fingers and with her claws as well. If the ninja currently at the stern of the boat was as skilled with water as he was with fire, she had a feeling they would be moving quickly towards that island.

Sero would watch all three of them as they would board his personal craft. His eyes shifting to each of them as two of them were silent. Keen to wear the cloaks but perhaps not so much the masks. The one who had the least experience in the torment of others though would seem to embrace it. Sero however would continue to stand in the rain until they were all situated. A question was posed to him in regards to the lack of equipment available for the craft and in response he would finally remove his hands from his sleeves. Letting them fall to his side as his hands would seem to turn to water and like long tendrils fall to the water around them. Almost allowing it to glow as it bonded to him. He felt as if he could drink the entire port but he would not. Instead his dull voice would speak in return to Kami.

"We do not have these tools because we do not need them. They are merely instruments used by those who can not preform a task without them. Humanity surpasses weakness with ingenuity. However one of the elements I have mastered is Suiton. I am bonded now with the water around us and it will carry us where we wish to go."

With that the boat would lurch from the docks and be on its way at B rank speed. Souring through the water of the bay before allowing them to pass it. Seemingly into open water and navigating around icebergs and chunks of ice floating along. The cold waves threatening to splash the boat yet never seeming to reach it entirely. Still they would continue for some time until it became notably colder. The mist parting to reveal an island up ahead. It seemed this island was mostly covered in snow and lacked any sign of wild life. The fish hibernated well beneath the surface of the water and only predators nested here. The island itself was a mile long and half a mile wide with a cave they had used before near the middle. It was where the first of them had gone to rest and had failed the exam.

Though even as they reached the beach it appeared that the three men he had sent ahead would be waiting. The slow snow flakes falling as the boat scraped onto the snow covered beach. One of the men grabbing the stern and hauling it out of the water completely. Another would step next to Sero and speak quietly into his ear. Sero would take the information before stepping out of the boat onto the snow covered ground with bare feet. The snow melting beneath him with a sizzling noise he didn't bother to pay attention to. Instead he would speak to those gathered.

"It would seem the island is more in use than it had been before. Pirates have set up a settlement on the far side of the island. I suggest finding shelter yourselves before nightfall and a source of warmth. Know that once you choose to engage these pirates openly....there will be others. Prepare yourselves and consider your tactics. I will be watching."

Azrael would sit in silence for the boat ride to the island, he wasn't a big fan of water, but he would go where his master told him to go, even if that was over the water. Of course Azrael's version of sitting in the boat consisted of him balancing himself on his feet on the bench of the small skiff, hunched low so that his knees were in his chest and his arms wrapped around him. This of course would not be out of the ordinary for the male, considering he sat like this on land it was not directly connected to the traveling over the water. Though a part of him wished he could fly like Never and More do, his outward demeanor would not change from his typical undead appearance. His eyes would be locked facing ahead of them as they traveled, the only sign of life coming from the man would be the occasional blink of the eyes as he kept his sight trained on where they were going.

As they neared the island, his eyes would be scanning the area around where they were meeting the other men. As soon as they landed as one of the men went to speak to Sero, Azrael would activate his ghost sight. Scanning the surroundings in every direction around them out to five hundred meters, of course due to the limitation of the ghost sight he would have to activate it multiple times. It would not take long for him to confirm for himself that there was no immediate threat to them, before turning back to Sero as his master began speaking. He was able to identify a small path that seemed to lead deeper into the island that did not seem often traveled though it was possible that the snow covering the ground is what made it seem like that. it would be hard for him to tell, but considering the fact he did not see any foot prints he liked their odds.

Hearing his Master's last words of him watching would lead Azrael to assume that, his master would not be accompanying them or at the very least not helping them. Looking to the other two, Azrael would address them. "We agree with Kami Yurei, find shelter first. This One found a path. It looks untraveled, if we are quiet, we could move unnoticed. Kami Yurei can set up her protections, This One can scout the area. Raika Ryuutei can provide guard, take out those that discover us. We believe engagement, should wait. We need full assessment, situation needs to be controlled."

After that he would look up to Sero's face, before looking back to the other two. "Come, much to do." With that the male would begin moving towards the small path that he had seen.

---

Chakra: 135
Ghost Sight: -3 × 5 uses -15
Ending: 120

Raika lets out a soft grunt as they reach the land, and she almost immediately hops out of the boat to the snowy sand on the beach, turning to look at Sero as he explains the situation and how it had changed somewhat since they'd taken the mission. She doesn't verbally respond, simply blinks once to let him know that she wasn't staring off into space or simply ignoring him, though it should be obvious from the way she stared directly at him while he explained the situation.

Raika quickly looks at Kami again after she'd sent some of her mostly-digested food overboard, frowning at her apparent illness and wondering if she was under the weather, and possibly compromised because of it. But she seemed to be fine again once they were firmly on land, or as firmly on land as one can be on snowy sand.

"You're going to wish you'd kept that food in your stomach; we probably won't be able to safely cook food out here, so whatever you eat will probably be raw. No point in losing like that."

She silently agrees with both Azrael and Kami on their separate plans, her agreement made evident by her eyes following Azrael's movements towards the small path. She knows he can likely take care of most of them with his genjutsu, but just in case, she lightly touches his shoulder, a quick brush as though she was simply wiping snow off his cloak, although Azrael would likely understand that she was alerting him to her presence; she knew after being in his mind so often that he didn't like being touched. Should he turn to look at her, she would motion from his eyes to her own, hoping he would understand that she preferred to communicate as silently as possible, and for that, they would need that genjutsu link of their minds.

Assuming he does decide to do this, she quickly shunts her thoughts into his head, wordlessly asking if he would prefer her to accompany him, and also suggesting that they stay off the path itself, and instead stick to the foliage on either side of the path so as to avoid being too easily spotted; the small path would be a little more barren and highly visible, whereas the foliage would provide them with at least some ability to avoid immediate detection.

Ever since she arrived at the island, she'd been completely silent; she apparently didn't like the idea of attracting any more attention than necessary, even through sound. The more noise they made, and they had made a lot crunching through the snow as they landed, the more likely they were to be caught by the pirates on the other side of the island.

Should he decide not to offer her the mental connection, she would speak plainly and simply, only loud enough for Azrael to hear her similarly laid out plans.

Sero would listen to them a moment longer. Cold eyes taking them in before a slow gust of wind would pick up from the sea. A fog bank rolling in behind them. Visibility would drop soon. Part of the challenge was surviving the weather of the island itself. Shelter would be a good step but at some point they would need to generate heat. Especially when night fell and the temperatures dropped below freezing. When snow came so did death for most things caught in it. They were already wet so the largest threat at the moment would be hypothermia. Still if any of them collapsed a team was prepared to whisk them away. Leaving the others to continue on without them. His eyes fell onto each of them but it was clear...when it came to personality and perhaps even willpower...Raika and Azrael stood out from Kami. Perhaps they had just dealt with a harder life...or since two of them were siblings they just dealt with it differently. However he would not bring this up. If Kami couldn't keep up she would need to get the other two to aid her or fail. The other two would learn the importance of caring for their team.

Still before the fog rolled in Sero would turn and leave them. His troupe and him would move across the snow without leaving the slightest imprint as they utilized supernatural walking practice. They were trained not to leave a trace but they would remain nearby. Keeping watch on these three and the enemies on the island. If they tracked everyone Sero would be ready for the more difficult waves. Ready to step in if need be. However they would fade from sight for the time being. Sero's katon energy keeping him warm as he moved. Still in short order all signs of their support network appeared to be gone. Only the three left to determine how not to freeze to death out there. The path itself however was a path utilized not by men but by the looks of it some wolves. A pack of six large and aggressive wolves had taken over what had been a bear cave. If they traveled down that path they would come across paw prints and signs of the pack relatively quickly before they reached the bear cave which was currently down wind of them. If they didn't move soon however the fog would roll in....reducing visibility to ten meters for them...but giving the wolves and Raika and advantage for scent.

Feeling the quick, albeit light touch on his shoulder, Azrael would quickly turn his head in Raika's direction. Almost without a second thought, his eye's flashing as his Akayurei activated. Hearing her thoughts Azrael would nod, he would turn to do the same to Kami to see that his sister was no longer with them. At this, Raika would just hear Azrael let out a whispered sigh within her head as he activated his ghost sight, traveling ahead to find his sister. Seeing what she was doing as well as the markings on the ground as Kami began moving back towards them, he would travel a little further with his sight, seeing two wolves within the cave itself. Though of course there could be more that were net directly in front of him, he couldn't be sure. Still, he would relay this information to Raika mentally as his sight returned to him just as Kami arrived back. He had forgotten his sister had not fully unlocked nor understood the doujutsu they both shared, looking her directly in the eyes, his eyes would flash as his Akayurei activated again creating a mental link with his sister. With both of them connected he would be able to communicate much easier and silently, of course the two of them would not be able to hear each other, but Azrael would relay information between them as it was need.

Azrael would start first by explaining to Kami, what Raika had told him about using this for them to talk quietly without drawing attention. "Perhaps, if you would have waited for us, Dear Sister. We could have shared this information with you sooner." would be all she would hear in her mind, his voice slightly taunting as one would expect from an older brother, as a smile formed beneath his mask. Activating his chakra sensory, Azrael would begin moving through the foliage as Raika suggested, moving with careful steps as he snuck through the area. This of course would do little to keep the wolves from noticing them but would be enough to hopefully keep the pirates and other criminals on the island from noticing them. Of course, with Raika being the expert hunter she was, if she would take the lead, Azrael would not stop her. They would both be able to hear him if he spoke in their mind, and they could both speak to him in his mind. (assuming Kami looked into Azrael's eyes)

"The cave is too far ahead for our chakra sensory to be able to find the wolves, however if they come within range This One will alert you. We all must move cautiously, watch where you step." The good news about the presence of the wolves was that they wouldn't need to hunt for food afterwards, once they took them out and secured the cave, they would just have to start a small fire to cook the meat. There was the fog rolling in with his chakra sense, Azrael would not be too worried about it, though he would still move as quickly as possible while still remaining as quiet as possible which needless to say was not that fast.

Raika nods as information is relayed to both her and Kami, allowing them to speak near-instantly, with the Ryuutei ninja able to communicate rapidly with visuals rather than having to form the words to make her ideas understood. This was so much faster than simply speaking as well as being more silent. This would make things significantly easier. She's actually quite surprised that Kami had been able to see the cave without the wolves attacking her, if she had accurately described the beasts as frenzied. In any case, she would be quite happy with the sound of a cave on the jungle this close to the shoreline, allowing them to have quick access to food, though wolf meat they got from the canines would likely be enough to hold them over for at least a few days; they couldn't afford to ration it out, since they were expected to fight after seven days had passed.

With the new information that the wolf cave is downwind of them, Raika chooses to take the lead by dragging Azrael and Kami much further away from the path, though she drags one of her claws along a tree root or two every few feet to ensure they won't be lost in the forest by taking this long detour. The Ryuutei isn't interested in letting the wolves catch their scent and prepare themselves for a fight. Instead, she gradually leads them out away from the cave, then gradually turns their trio back towards the cave, until they're actually coming at the cave from an upwind direction. Now Raika can smell the wolves, but they couldn't have smelled them, hopefully. Raika extends her claws, watching as the wolves begin coming back home before she strikes, not wanting one of the wolf pack to come back and catch them in the act of destroying the rest of their pack. She waits until the right moment, taking on the Brute Fist stance to be ready for combat.

Raika grips the nearest wolf by the neck and uses her claws to sever the animal's throat, silencing it permanently before she moves on to the next one, letting the wolf she'd split open fall to the ground as she refocuses her attention to the next wolf, moving rapidly between them as she funnels some small amount of chakra to her arms and feet, taking another wolf down with her powerful and quick claws before the pack can even go on the offensive. She has to admit that she rather enjoys feeling a wild animal have its stinky life sorted out.

Jutsu used:

Spoiler:

Also using Adaptive Fighter UA to add +1 tier to Coord, - to Strength, Speed, and Con. -5 CP

Stats:
Strength: D (D+)
Constitution: D (E++)
Stamina: D (B)
Speed: D
Coordination: D (C)
Intelligence: D
Perception: C (C++)

The fog was rolling in quickly behind them and the temperature was dropping. However the issue was Kami had approached the cave from downwind already. The wolves had her scent and were hunting the new prey well before Raika led the group away from the trail and upwind. Four of them had left to track the prey while two had remained behind. Older and slower they were likely to be brought to the prey after it was taken down. However Raika had led the three of them the long and scenic way to avoid the four wolves. Buying them time before the pack could attack them. However not by much. Their pace wasn't enough to outpace the wolves in their territory. Kami's scent hot in their nostrils. Their hunger driving them...the need to eat...to hunt. One may consider it maddening in this frozen tundra. The three who had left the rain not so long ago would likely still be soaked. But the feeling of cold would be passing quickly to numbness. They needed warmth before anything. Wet clothes and dropping temperatures on a snow covered island while being hunted from almost the moment they arrived. No time to make camp before the test began...their only salvation was the extra robe provided....some break against the wind chill.

The fog was rolling in quickly now. Still the three would make it to the cave from upwind and Raika would take down both the older wolves by surprise. However the wolves would catch up at roughly the same time. A howl filled with pain and rage would fill the air as four wolves stood over the cave now. Each almost as tall on all fours as Azrael. Enough meet to last them the entire week. However there was a deep rage there. Among all the animals the wolves are most like humans in a social nature. The most loyal of humans anyway. They mated for life...they lived together...survived together and were a pack. All of them living for each other...and some human had just shown up and tore their elders apart. Their jaws would part showing rows of canines with drool dripping from their fangs. The deep snarls filling the air would be the last thing they would see before the fog would roll over all of them. Cutting off vision from them to the wolves abruptly as soon as the danger was spotted. This however would not deter the wolves.

With little to no care for her companions the wolves would go as if hunting bigger and faster prey after Raika. Moving to attack her from four angles. The alpha of the pack would charge straight at her. Leaping into the air as it went for her throat. The other three would charge through the snow. Only appearing within meters of the group due to the fog for normal eye sight as two would go for her ankles at and one to take her right arm. The wolves would need to be overcome with jutsu as their physical stats were all C rank. Moving all as one unit to take down their enemy with all the hate they could muster. Raika was the survivalist and best suited for helping the other two here...It would be up to them to stop the remaining four wolves. However they would not retreat at this point...they would not run...they would not shift focus unless forced to. Their only goal was to rip Raika apart.

Kami followed behind Raika and in front of Azrael, looking back to him every now and then with a hopeful response of yes or no for an alert. Raika clawing the tree’s, marking where they have been, it made Kami feel a bit more relaxed about their travels. The air got colder, her cloak ripping with a few breezes as it turned almost frozen due to the water and cold air. Her teeth began to softly chatter and her body trembled a bit more. Each breath accompanied by smoke from her mouth. They needed to get to that cave quickly or they would be in more danger than just wolves. Hearing the distant growls and the paws traveling over the snow, next thing she knew, Raika had ripped out a few throats of the wolves, making Kami take a step back, moving her arm behind her, keeping a bit of space between her and her brother so she didn’t fall on him. She looked back at Azrael with a look of ‘why didn’t you alert us…’ if he hadn’t.


The growls getting closer, it was no use to keep their spot hidden and so she stood up, looking towards the others that attempted to attack Raika. “Raika, you have to move!” She yelled to her, performing a few hand signs and looking to the wolves, placing a hand on the ground and electricity scattering into 6 bolts around them, hopefully hitting any of the wolves. Any wolves that did not get hit and or jumped towards one of them, she’d follow it behind with an electric arrow, throwing it at the designated wolf and electrocuting them, as well as it expanding up to 10m upon impact. Kami hoped this would be enough from her and hoped Azrael could do something with his knowledge of their eyes. Raika could handle herself but Azrael was a big worry for her.

---

Kami’s Process:

Azrael's sensing technique spread fifty meters around them as they moved, looking for any signs of pirates, criminals, or wolves. While their top priority was currently to find them shelter, he had not forgotten the reason that they were all here. This island was a cesspool of those unworthy of the life they were living, and the last thing they needed was to be dealing with the wolves and some criminals show up. Unfortunately, fifty meters was not really all that much, but it would give them some kind of warning in case of an ambush. Azrael had been so focused lately on improving his genjutsu abilities to help his master, that he had been neglecting his other skills. His current mental connection with the other two would be their greatest advantage, his thoughts would be instantly transmitted to them as theirs would be to his. Having multiple voices in his head was no new experience for the male, his eidetic memory made it so that every mind he invaded, every memory he stole was a part of him. Albeit, most buried deep within his mind with his own silenced memories but still a part of him, so the thoughts of his sister and Raika within his mind would be as if it were normal to the male. 

As the temperature continued to drop, Azrael memory of his time spent in the cave with Sero and Sayuri in the beginning, happier memories of when he first found his master and his better life began. They lived in the cold back in that cave, the cold never bothered him before even with the wetness of his clothes it wouldn't seem to faze him as they walked. He much rather enjoyed the cold due to the fact that it reminded him of these memories, as opposed to thoughts of fire or large bodies of water. They would make it to the cave following Raika without incident, nothing would come within the hundred and fifty feet of them along their journey.

As they drew closer to the cave, the small amount of chakra from the wolves at the cave would come into his range. Only two at the cave, but he knew the others would not be far. As Raika moved to attack the two at the cave, Azrael would sense the other four above it. The two that Raika attack would be put down quickly just as the four would come into view, but Azrael would be ready for them as they did. With the fog he knew his genjutsu would be useless, but he did have other abilities that he knew could help. Sensing Kami's thoughts of calling out Azrael would speak in her mind, "Remember Silence, Dear Sister." as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Azrael was not athletic by any means, but with the half tiger seal activating body flicker he would be moving just as fast as the wolves towards Raika with less distance to cover as he was not that far from her to begin with. Even in the fog he would be able to track the movements wolves, instantly relaying the information to both of his partners as he channeled chakra into his fist. Even though he knew Raika would be able to smell them, he would still relay the information to her as well as the information of what he was doing. To Kami, he would tell her to attack the ones going for Raika's ankles. Even if she couldn't see the creatures, his sensory and their mental connection could help her with her aim to a degree, hopefully allowing her to hit both wolves without risk to him or Raika. As he made it to Raika's right, he would drop the half tiger seal and deliver a punch to the wolf going for her arm. His normal punch would normally not do much but with his Ijutsu he was able to enhance his strength he was capable of delivering the punch to the wolf's ribcage with C+ Strength behind it as he released the chakra at the exact second of impact hopefully sending it flying. So long as Kami was able to hit the two going for Raika's ankles it would only leave the one going for her throat for her to deal with. He didn't need to see them to know where the wolves were, to know where they were, any more than Raika did. Where the woman had her sense of smell, he had his chakra sensory, and no matter how small an animal's chakra was he would be able to sense it. He would form a string of hand seals in the matter of a second as he focused his medical chakra into his hands, not for the purposes of healing but with the intent of turning his fingers into deadly blades capable of slicing through these beasts as he took up position next to Raika. It was as if he had something to prove, and in a way he did, if to no one else than himself. He was determined to prove that he was more than just his mind.

---

Techniques:

Raika is glad to have kept a mental connection with Azrael through his genjutsu, especially because he's able to almost instantly relay information to her when he uses that sensory ability to tell her where the wolves are in relation to herself. She begins building up momentum, while also making herself harder to pin down by continuously moving all four of her limbs in a swaying back-and-forth dance-like motion. With her ankles constantly moving, the two wolves trying to take her feet are left in a perplexing state as they nearly crash into one another when her legs cross over one another in her movements. Raika grunts when she hears Kami order her to move, and she turns her momentum into a sudden kick as she rotates towards the one jumping upwards to try and take her neck; instead of being able to take her neck in its jaws, instead it gets to feel her right leg smash into its lower jaw as she raises her leg in a long arc. With the momentum being used to power the strike, the wolf is knocked sideways, and its forward inertia sends it turning in midair to land across the two wolves that had been trying to get to her ankles.

She can feel herself smiling when Azrael shows up on her right to take care of the fourth wolf that had been attempting to take her arm for itself, and she can even hear its ribs cracking like so much dry firewood. With her constant movement, she's also staying warm, ensuring that she won't freeze to death in this combat while she turns and stomps her foot directly down onto the spine of the wolf that had been trying to tear out her throat, using the force of her kick and the weight of the larger wolf to keep the other two wolves down and unable to avoid Kami's ninjutsu, killing all four of the remaining pack.

As soon as those wolves are down, Raika immediately starts pushing their corpses into the cave after slitting open their threats in order to ensure they're all dead. Once in the cave, she also uses her claws to cut them open from their chest down to their crotches, before cracking open their rib cages and pointing into their steaming hot corpses.

"No time to waste. In, now, before the body heat is all gone. We can worry about eating and heating later."

OOC: 200/200 Capoeira
150/150 La Armada

Jutsu used:

Spoiler:

Stats:
Strength: D (E++)(D for La Armada)
Constitution: D (E++)
Stamina: D (B)
Speed: D
Coordination: D (C+)
Intelligence: D
Perception: C (C++)

The wolves would be dealt with in succession and in rapid development. A series of lightning strikes, medical chakra scalpels and taijutsu would demolish the entire pack in seconds. Leaving none of them alive to suffer through it. Even through the heavy fog that had rolled in Reika seemed to locate the cave and drag the wolves inside. It would seem that they had shelter from the night now though no fire. Leaving the cave with barely any visibility. Darkness seeping into it even as the sound of guts being flayed open would become clear. Reika was suggesting a form of warmth for them that was both brutal and nauseating to the average person. Having to choose survival or disgust. It would be one of the first things to push them here. Though a fire would be nice for them the fog would make gathering materials difficult. The lack of light in the cave leaving them to their inner thoughts. Though this time Reika would speak out loud instead of Kami. Perhaps this would encourage Azrael to make an open communication channel version of his technique. Either way the issue that was rising next would test them further.

From within the depths of the cave in the furthest back a slight mewling could be heard. The sensory hadn't picked them up before because their chakra was so minimal it blended into the nature around them. The whole reason those wolves had fought so hard to protect this place wasn't just because it was their territory. It was because of their newborn wolves. Out of the litter only three had still survived but now they shivered. Cold and alone without their mother or pack left to protect them. They were trying to snuggle each other for warmth but it would only last so long. Still they would bark slightly and weakly as they tried to shift closer into the corner as they felt an approaching presence. The fog outside would seem to swirl and form into a being as Sero would appear in the cave entrance. His aura spreading through out the darkness as his blue eyes would seem to shine against it. Looking over each of them a moment before glancing to the back corner. The wolf cubs fear telling him they were there. However he would speak to them calmly. No sign of frost on his person.

"You have obtained shelter...but at a cost. The creatures who had used it before as protection from the elements defended it before you took it by force. These pups had their home and family ripped from them and now stand of the verge of annihilation themselves. It is important to consider the consequences of every action. Now you have to make a decision. Will you spare them a slow death and do the deed yourself? Or will you take on extra responsibility to try and keep helpless creatures alive on an already difficult mission? The choice is yours."