Soragakure: The End of Innocence

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede just turns that same gaze on Yousuke, and it's like he's staring at a stone rather than a boy. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. When he finally opens them again he looks a lot softer. "There's nothing in the Sky that can threaten me. Even the whole of the Sky could not threaten me at this point." Kaede looks down at his upturned palm. His hand clenches into a fist as he begins speaking. "Back in that village, when you had to kill those children, I realized that this system doesn't work. Ninja villages, greedy nobles, and countries who crush the individual for power..." The Uchiha looks toward the sky, and doesn't make any attempt to shield his eyes as the rain beats down on him. Suneko rises from her knees slowly, and eventually stands up fully. She's looking at Kaede's back like one would look at a live snake: Sure, it was sitting there peacefully for now, but how long would it take for that snake to strike?

A cold wind picks up from behind Kaede, and the driving rain frames his body in light mist. He looks down at the genin as a lightning bolt cracks the sky. His face is framed in darkness, almost like a mask. "I'll destroy this system. And when I'm done, I'll make sure that there's nothing left but peace. The future will be peaceful. And if the people don't want to go into it, then I'll drag them forward kicking and screaming. Even if I have to dirty my hands to do so."

[Princess Tracy]

Those words hurt. Why do they hurt? Somewhere in Amon's fevered mind it strikes her that Kaede's judgement isn't entirely dependable. It was only a few days ago he was telling her it would be wrong to use mind reading to solve a murder. He might have been trying to fix the case results, but it's not like her testimony for 'mind reading' would be accepted anyway.

"Kaede..." Did something get to him or was he bottling it up? Despite etiquette, Amon can't help but lay a supporting hand on the older man's shoulder. It's with surprising maturity and understanding that she speaks, though a shyness befitting her position. "I said I would follow you on such an endeavour, and I meant it - and I haven't go back on that. But as much as it hurts me to say it, let's not get too hasty from ambition... We should try and diffuse the Sky's actions and hole up somewhere first, you know?"

[Cespenar]

Momo looks kinda weirdly at her brother, not allowing herself to ponder on the connotations of all that is going on right now.

When she speaks, her face is a mask as well - a cool stare, and utter professionalism.

"The people need not enter the equation," she starts matter-of-factly. "A surgical strike would be more effective, and better suited for your abilities. Most don't care who's on top anyway, they just care how they are treated."

Take 10 by Bluff for 20. Anyone wishing to look past Momo's facade needs to meet 20 in Sense Motive if you're female, or 25 if you're male.

Success:
There's a hint of desperation in her voice, which is the tiniest bit higher in pitch than usual. Her eyes belie her confident stance, and the sharp can read the unbelief in them, unbelief against seeing the Mangekyou in Kaede's eyes, and his sudden change in behavior. The fact that she's holding up may suggest, though, that she may have known of this beforehand. Or at least, guessed it.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

"I won't begrudge you for hiding. I certainly won't force you to help. But the longer we delay the more dangerous it will be. I realize that I need allies, but the allies I could use the most are there in the Sky." It isn't hard to figure out who he's talking about. After all, the Sky currently houses a great assassin, the currently most powerful swordswoman, the former most powerful swordsman, and several other mercenaries. Kaede seems to write off Amon's help, and moves on to his sister when she speaks up. His eyes soften considerably, and he almost smiles.

"The people are part of the problem. They allow ninja to become the monsters they are, because it keeps them from doing any of the fighting. A reformation will have to start there."

[Cespenar]

"I see your point."

She gives off a chuckle, slightly nervous.

"Though I admit, I'm a little bit frightened of what you mean by reformation."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke subconsciously jerks his hand down toward the Roukanken's hilt when Kaede begins his almost manic tirade but manages to catch himself in time. "Those are dangerous words he is speaking...just what did those eyes do to him..." And it had to be the eyes. The Kaede of an hour previous was nothing like this. Even considering the man's tendency to hide his true nature, an revelation like this was simply too unfounded for their not to be some sort of external stimulus. "Just what did Suneko say to him...?" He calculates his response carefully, knowing exactly how dangerous the situation was in spite of the relative calm. "Then there is little left to discuss. We must...return to Soragakure for the time being..." In truth he was afraid of the Uchiha's poisonous words but if the man could safely escort them back to the village he would be able to reunite with his grandfather and mother and warn them away from the village. Swallowing his fear for the time being, Yousuke settles his frayed nerves and nods. "Safer with a jounin level ninja than without..."

That was the theory, at least.

[Eurus]

Masaru listens to Kaede, stone-faced and silent despite the prickling fear building up in his chest. It was... complicated, trying to untangle his feelings on the matter. Perhaps the villages were corrupt, perhaps not. But Kaede himself had already unsettled Masaru, and now he was starting to worry that the man was completely insane.

Kaede had spared Alice's life, hadn't he? What was it he'd said -- something about not wanting any more hatred in the world? This seemed like a rather abrupt change of heart, and he wasn't sure what deeper changes it might imply.

He was lost. Completely without a clue of how to react, what to do or where to go. Unsure sure if he'd survive the next few days, or where he'd end up in that time. Just... one foot in front of the other. Slow breaths, keep calm and carry on. Turning into an emotional mess will only remind them that they don't actually benefit from keeping you around.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Unless someone has an objection or complaint: Kaede leads the way back to the Sky. Suneko follows quietly, and at a distance, but she follows all the same. Kaede says nothing on the trip, but does take a chakra restoration potion--as well as a soldier pill--while the group makes their way back. He only stops in front of the Main Rail leading up into the clouds. The rail--split into two separate large rails--has a couple of large tram-like boxes that non-ninja needed to use to head up to the Sky. Kaede points toward the rails themselves. "We'll have to grind our way up. Once we're through the main gate, you'll have about an hour to gather up your friends and family. I'll be going straight to Central, so I want you all to meet me there when you're done. Any questions?"

[Eurus]

Questions? So many, so few of them actually relevant.

"I... don't really have anyone to get. There's just my mother, and she's... not in good shape these days. I could help someone else, I guess."

The alternative, seeing his mother and saying his goodbyes, was an experience he was eager for an excuse to avoid. Partly because he suspected she... wouldn't approve.

[Overlord Rion]

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to find them or get them to leave. But I need to warn them at least. Good luck everyone." With that, Takuya headed off.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke dips his head slightly, nodding along to Kaede's orders, but remains mentally distant all the while. Keeping one's mind on track was rather difficult when one stood on the very threshold of the proverbial lion's den. "Grandfather and mother...and I suppose the Garouhime must be warned of the dangers in Soragakure, if not convinced to leave outright. There is no place for us here, not if Kaede intends to make his words a reality..." At this thought, he thinks about the Tsumaki sisters and feels the frown tugging at his face. "Only if there is time. Family takes priority no matter what."

In a halting, emotionally dispossessed tone he speaks his assent, "I will be off, then."

[Cespenar]

Friends and family, huh? That was a laugh. Only family she had, and she didn't want to go with him. Not right now. Alone with him, her mask might not hold, for better or for worse. But she couldn't take the risk.

She looks distant as she turns to her companions.

"Uh, if anyone has two or more places to cover, I can help."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

When Momo speaks up, Kaede looks toward her. "Cybele is back at home. She's in the attic, and has been hiding there since yesterday. You should go get her."

[Cespenar]

Momo stares back at him for a second, and nods. If no one else objects, she goes to the Uchiha household alone.

[Togath]

After a few moments of thought, Keita says "I'll try to locate my Mother, Father, and Karasu.. And I should try to warn Pachi as well, though I doubt he'll be willing to flee" not mentioning his intent to try to warn his mentor, Hachi, for fear Kaede might try to stop him.
If no-one has anything else to say to him, he heads off, trying to first find Hachi unless followed(if followed he'll head to his home instead)

[Princess Tracy]

On the trip

The entire trek, Amon is tense, but silent; the beating rain and wind keeps her expression largely hidden by the collar of her cloak and brim of her hat, thinking away to herself. Fu~... dammit. Dammit. I wish I could just turn around right now and walk away from whatever mess Kaede's leading us into - head straight to the Scarlet mansion and begin the next phase of my research. No one else has the guts to stand up to him and tell him he's being stupid. Her thoughts fester in spite for some time as she travels, but she just can't maintain it. I can't though... whatever he's up to, it affects everyone I know, and he's got Suneko - my only lead to the Black Princess. What can I possibly do... if he was just going to grab Cybele and run, it'd be fine. Even if he kills a couple of jounin to halt the sky's movement, it would still work out. But somehow, tearing down the system... Eventually her thoughts turn to what to do after today, during the long gruelling trip where she has only her own dreadful thoughts to amuse herself. What's wrong with retirement, really... I guess it might not be an option for Kaede - he might stand out too much, being an Uchiha. Huff... gather the three lords, defeat the emperor, save the world, and go find a nice place to set up shop as a blacksmith... She actually laughs at that, randomly, in the middle of the trip, a bit maniacally. Yeah right, me, retire... though maybe Cybele's right.

On the arrival

Amon stands motionless for a time as everyone decides on where they're going. She eyes up Masaru as he remains, shaking her head, but can't help but think of making him useful. She looks at Suneko - Still rattled? I don't think she's said anything yet. What kind of genjutsu did you use, Kaede? "Tch..." Yousuke and Momo are making off - I should tag along with one of them. Probably Momo. She looks to the older Uchiha when he calls for questions. "I might have a few, actually."

She takes a step towards him, raising her hat off her head, looking up at him with an attempt at a scolding expression that just doesn't work, trying to hide her true feelings poorly. "What is your plan for today? And... never mind. You'd tell me if I needed to know anyway, huh?" She sights, hopping away

She shoots a last glare to Suneko before hopping off after Momo and Yousuke, with a look that said 'you're not allowed to die until I get what i need'. She nods to Masaru to some. "Fine, make yourself useful. Though, I'd suggest getting your mother, you'll... you'll regret not even getting to see her one last time." She bites her lip, trying to ignore her own advice as she moves towards Momo. "Stick with me. Out homes are close anyway." She tries to catch Yousuke's eye once they're out of earshot from Kaede, but decides to meet at his place either way.

Amon goes with Momo to see Cybele for the moment. When they're alone, she tugs on the Uchiha's sleeve to get her attention as she whispers. "Kaede never told you what the mangekyou was, did he?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede looks at Amon, then back up toward the clouds where the Sky is hidden. "I'm going to destroy Central, then give the people up there a choice. They can either come with me, and help me destroy the system we have... Or I'll let them leave." The Uchiha lets Amon leave without saying anything more, then looks to Suneko. The battered former jounin jumps, but says nothing. Kaede simply leaps on the rail and follows the other genin up toward Soragakure.

When the group arrives at the Main Gate they're greeted by a pair of chuunin. One is a dark-haired young man with a scar over his left eye, and the other is a young blond woman with her headband as a scarf. They open their mouths and raise their hands to stop you, but they don't get a moment to speak before Kaede moves through the front door. In an instant he lashes out with two shuriken aimed at the chuunin. Both of them are struck in the throat, and they die gasping for air.

"Now go. Meet met at Central." With that said, he starts walking down the empty street toward Central.

Amon & Momo

The two girls head toward the Uchiha household, and find it without any problems. They discover that the door has been forced open, and someone has been inside lately. The door's broken clean off its hinges, and forms a path into the house like a rug. It doesn't take long for either girl to find the intruders. The hallway is marked with bloodstains splattered across the wall, and two corpses sit on the floor with their backs against each wall. Further down the hallway an unmoving body blocks the door leading into the reading room. All of them have been killed with their own weapons, and their weapons were left stabbed into their corpses like tiny flagpoles announcing their killer's success.

The doors leading to the kitchen and living room are open, and the rooms beyond them are shrouded in darkness. The stairs leading up to the bedrooms is clear and clean of any blood.

Yousuke

Heading to the Konpaku household takes Yousuke right past Tsumaki Treats, but the shop is closed today. Once Yousuke finds his way home, then he discovers his house is broken into. Or, at least, the door is ajar and hanging open. Inside, he finds his grandfather, Mako, Jun, and Sanagi sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea. His mother is scrubbing at a bloodstain decorating the floor with a mop, and a small pile of bodies hidden under a sheet. Youki looks to his grandson when the young man appears. "These gentlemen came calling for you. They were rather irate, but Sanagi-san had a word with them."

Sanagi simply sighs. "They were rude. And they drew swords."

Jun leaps up and runs over to Yousuke immediately. "Did something happen?! These guys said you were a traitor, and they were here to find you, and that they were going to arrest us, and..."

Youki coughs loudly. "..Erm, yes. Well, Yousuke? Would you kindly fill us in?"

Keita & Masaru

Keita and Masaru head to Hachi's house, but Hachi isn't there. Likely on a mission or assignment, or at very least busy with ninja work.

The duo head over to Keita's house, and getting there proves easy enough. Once they arrive they find the door closed, and the curtains are drawn. Both boys can hear the sound of voices from inside, but only a shouting male voice is clearly audible. "Where is he? If you don't tell me where your son is, then I'll start cutting off fingers!"

[Eurus]

Watching the two Chuunin go down is like a bolt of ice down Masaru's spine. As soon as him and Keita are separated from Kaede, grinding along the rails, he speaks.

"...This is insane. I didn't trust the Uchiha before, but he's completely off the deep end."

Then they arrive at Keita's house, and that same sick fear hits him again. So it was moving this fast... their friends and family were already being interrogated for their whereabouts. His concern is momentarily split between Keita's family and his own. If they cared, they'd surely guess that his mother had no idea where he'd go... but then, it was very unlikely that they'd care.


<Can't see inside. Five signatures, two moderate and three faint. We should move in.> Masaru quietly signs to Keita. He waits only a moment to see if Keita objects, and positions himself next to the window.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke ignores Jun's jostling for the time being and instead stares wide-eyed at the pile of corpses. Then to his grandfather. Then to Sanagi. Then back to the bodies. "...words...yes..." Sometimes it bothered him just how acclimated he was to the sight of blood and murder. He supposed his training had something to do with it but then, plenty of people went through the same kind of training and still went slack at the knees on their first kills. Amon, for example. Did it have something to do with his youkai lineage? Was being connected to the Border of Life and Death make yo-Not the time for a theoretical tangent.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Yousuke retrains his state of mind into something more concrete and starts by pushing Jun away and back into her own seat at the table. When he has his thoughts in order he elaborates on the circumstances behind his 'traitorous' actions against the Sky. It was probably for the best if he laid this out as bluntly as possible. "I left the village with Amon to investigate the Death God's shrine, as we planned the day previous. On our way their, we were alerted to crash of thunder. I chose to investigate and led the team to a clearing where Alice was fighting Uchiha Kaede disguised as a masked Soragakure operative..." Here was the tricky part. On one hand telling Sanagi that they were fraternizing with Kaede was dangerous, given her attitude toward the man. But on the other, it was not as if Kaede wasn't planning for something to go down in Central. And then, there was the whole mess of explaining to his grandfather how he had abandoned his friends...

Wincing slightly, he decides to tell it straight. "..when we all chose sides I initially stood with Alice and battled against Amon and Momo, fearing that my betrayal would cause unecessary strife for the resettlement of the clan in Soragakure."

"I-it was a moment of weakness grandfather and I-" he opens his mouth for some defense of his actions but finds nothing but empty words. Sinking his shoulders slightly he sighs. There was really no justification for betraying his honor like he did, except that it happened. "A-Anyway. Thanks to Kaede's efforts, they managed to detain us and get away. Naturally, under Alice's command we tracked them back to the nearby mining village and prepared for an encounter at the Hakurei Shrine." The whole...letter incident was better left forgotten, all things considered. "It was at this point that my allegiances swayed once more. When Hakurei-san came out to greet us, Alice mercilessly attacked her and left her for dead. I stood against Alice in that moment and again, thanks to Kaede, the battle was joined elsewhere."

It was quite strange how quickly he would turn coat when there was a girl on the line... "Ahem, when we caught up to Kaede and Alice, the puppeteer was face down in the mud and for a brief moment the situation seemed settled. However, she had simply been playing dead and when I spoke to Kaede on amiable terms she arose and trapped him in a Living Human Puppetry technique and turned his abilities against us. I led the fight against Alice at this time and with the aid of all the other genin we were able to force Alice to abandon her wooden shell, allowing her soul...mind? to Soragakure where she likely reported us." Did something like Alice even have a soul, as nebulous as the concept was? Probably not.

"Following this, we left Kaede to tend to his wounds and returned to the shrine to rejuvenate Hakur-Reimu." He was not jealous that Yuuji got to call the miko by her first name. "Ah, what happened there is best explained in private, grandfather. Though, what the Founder said to me was rather...infuriating...but I digress. When we returned to Kaede's side he was speaking to someone, intimidating them with his Mangekyou Sharingan. His personality at this point...took a drastic shift. He led us back to the village and is now planning the destruction of the village system. He is going to destroy Central within the hour with his new power but claims that he will allow the survivors to join him or...leave. He wishes for me to meet up with him within the hour. I came here to warn you and mother about this plan so that you might flee the village before it comes crashing down. I do not know what he intends to do but my...friends are likely to return to his side and I must see to it that they do not do anything foolish. I will not ask any of you to come with me, but please grandfather I only wish that you and mother stay safe."

[ZeroNumerous]

Yousuke

The group listens to Yousuke's spiel without interruption or interjection. Sanagi does put down her tea cup when Yousuke mentions Kaede, but she says nothing. Nonetheless, he can sense the sharp change in her demeanor. Immediately she's gone from simply listening passively to actively paying attention to every word the young man says. Her body is tense, and she simply waits for Yousuke to say anything about Kaede's whereabouts. Youki and Youmu are less concerned, and listen to Yousuke's words as if he were simply speaking of the weather or a particularly interesting dream he had. Youki doesn't even bother to put down his drink, and simply continues to sip tea as Yousuke speaks. Mako and Jun both stop drinking tea and fussing over Yousuke respectively in order to listen to him.

Sanagi starts to move as soon as Yousuke talks about Kaede going to Central. She stands up, then heads into the back of the house to get her battle vest out of Yousuke's room. It only takes a minute before she returns, sword drawn and body tensed, and looks at Yousuke. "If what you are saying is true, then he is a threat to the Leaf. I will put an end to him this time. And I will be absolutely certain of that." Mako moves to stand, but Sanagi simply glares at her. "You and Jun need to remain here. If Kaede does have the Mangekyou Sharingan as Yousuke believes, then he may come here to attack Koji. If Kaede appears, then you two must flee. Do not fight, or you will be killed."

[Cespenar]

Momo scoffs at Amon. "I'm not stupid. You can't be an Uchiha, live with them for so long and not know about the Mangekyou."

She stops herself, realizing that she has no right to be angry. Well, actually, she has, but not at her. Still, her current mood prevents her from apologizing.

I wonder who he had to... for the Mangekyou...

Fortunately, the pair reach the household about then, and Momo drops that line of thought at the sight of the carnage the Sky-nin practically brought on themselves. She doesn't spend too much time gaping at the corpses, though, and heads straight for the attic.

[Togath]

Still angered by Kaede's slaughter of the entrance guards, but angered more by the threat to his family, Keita nods at Masaru's question, and draws his sabre and strikes at the window to break it before charging in, leading the way.

Window Damage:[roll0]
unless I'm mistaken.. I somehow rolled 1 too low to break a normal plane of glass... darn(slashing damage is halved on objects, correct?)

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita/Masaru

Keita strikes the window and it breaks. They can both hear the sound of someone shouting. "What was that?"

Windows have 1 HP/inch of thickness, and most of them are 1 inch thick. They have no hardness, so any amount of damage is enough to break them.

Either way: Is Keita going to climb through the window? If so, he'll need a climb check to get through the window and a reflex save at DC 5 to not cut himself on any glass.

[Togath]

Stumbling over the windowsill with much less grace than intended, Keita moves toward the voice, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Stealth;
Hide:[roll0]
Move Silently:[roll1]

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita/Masaru

Keita climbs through the window without cutting himself. He finds himself in a small room that he recognizes as his parent's bedroom. A door leading to the living room is just a few feet away. Masaru is still outside.

The voice from earlier shouts again. "One of you idiots go out there and check it out!" The sound of footsteps follow his shout, and they seem to be heading outside.

Takuya

Takuya makes his way home, and discovers his parents are missing. His door is broken down, and it's not terribly hard to guess that his parents were probably taken somewhere. There's no one in the house, and no one responds to his shouts.

Momo/Amon

Momo starts heading upstairs just in time for a body to start rolling down them. The human corpse makes a stomach-churning thud as it trundles down like a boulder rolling down a hill. Unfortunately, it seems set to roll right over Momo.

Momo needs a DC 12 Reflex Save to avoid the body. If she fails, then she takes [roll0] bludgeoning damage from getting hit and falls prone at the base of the stairs with the corpse on top of her.

Regardless of whether Momo evades the corpse or not, a familiar voice shouts down from the top of the stairs. "Eh?! M-Momo-sama!" Cybele hops downstairs, and grasps at Momo's hand with gloved hands. "Momo-sama! I'm so glad you're safe. These ninja broke into the house, but I dealt with them. I'm sorry that things are such a mess, but I have not had time to clean up."

[Togath]

"Quickly!, Quickly!" whispers Keita as he motions for Masaru to follow through the window as he heads to the door to the living room, stopping a moment to draw out an explosive tag before throwing open the door, "get away from them now!" he shouts, as he does so, hoping that he's right about which room his family is being held in.

Might as well make an intimidate check(using an action point on it as well, since he hasn't had much other use for them, and it seems like an appropriate time for one):
[roll0]+[roll1]

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Keita successfully intimidates the ninja holding his parents hostage. Keita's mother and father look to the boy, and his dad shouts out. "Keita, get out of town. They're going to arrest you!"

[Princess Tracy]

Amon goes silent as Momo snaps at her, though can sense her distress waver a bit from her direction. She opens her mouth to point something out, but grows quit and business like at the sight of Momo's house. "...Oh no..." Everyone else must have been attacked too. Dammit... I shouldn't have hesitated. If I'd coordinated a bit better, I could have restrained Alice... She steps in behind Momo, looking over the mess, looking for signs of life, but having rather dead eyes as she observes the scene, not being distracted by the deaths themselves. "It seems Cybele's been busy."

She keeps close to Momo. When the body tumbles down, she tries to tug Momo out of the way, eyeing the corpse for a moment to make sure it was really dead before turning her attention to the top of the stares. She raises an eyebrow at Cybele being so energetic, but says nothing. She was a million miles from being in the mood to tease her.

"Cybele, we've been labeled traitors, along with Yousuke and Takuya-kun," she says quickly, not looking at the Euryale as she speaks. "We ran into Kaede on the road fighting my... former mentor. Ultimately, Alice-sensei escaped to testify against us after we helped Kaede and Momo fight her off. We've returned to gather our families to leave Soragakure forever, but Kaede seems... ambitious." She leans against the wall of the staircase suddenly, closing her eyes as the exhaustion hits her again, and seems to leave the floor to Momo.

Amon puts out a hand to help Momo to her feet if she gets knocked down

[Togath]

"I know, or at least I figured they would be. if you want to flee, now's your chance.. I'm trying to round up you two and uncle to help with your escape, and try to contact Hachi to warn him about a coup that's about to take place so he knows to avoid the man in charge of it"

[Eurus]

Masaru waits quietly by Keita, trying to stay on guard, but he refrains from actually attacking unless Keita decides to. His house, his lead.

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita & Masaru

"Well, what do you suggest? Where can we go?"

Amon & Momo

Cybele looks at Amon. "Kaede-sama returned? I heard these men were looking for him to arrest him. Momo-sama?" Cybele turns her attention to Momo. "Do you know where your brother has gone?"

[Cespenar]

When the corpse comes atumble, Momo is distracted enough to only barely catch Amon's aiding hand for the latter to pull her away.

"Thanks."

As they are confronted by the familiar sight of Cybele, Momo is paranoid enough to give her a check with the Sharingan before speaking, or letting Amon speak.

"Cybele-san..." Momo greets her with a smile. "Sharp as always," she says, gesturing at the bodies around them. Then, her smile disappears. "Nii-san has gone to the Central. He plans to destroy it and take down the whole system. But he seems... different. You'll probably see it for yourself."

She almost seems like she's finished, but then blurts out, either out of a sudden spell of foresight or pure silliness.

"Whatever happens out there, I hope you two won't end up hating him... or me."

She turns around, and if everyone is finished with the house, leaves.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and Amon

Momo knows that Cybele is Cybele. At least, her chakra signature is the same. When Momo talks about being hated, Cybele places her hand on Momo's shoulder. "Your brother saved my sister and I. I would follow him wherever. His enemies are mine, and his family is mine."

[Cespenar]

"That's what I was talking about," she mumbles, mostly to herself.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke matches Sanagi's glare with one of his own, unsure of how long he can keep the intensity of his gaze going. Sanagi Bea was a scary woman after all. Still, her genin would never think of going against the woman's words if Mako's account was anything to go by. In that case it was up to him to make some attempt at standing up to the Thunder God.

"I have nothing but the deepest respect for your abilities Sanagi-san but I must have you know that Kaede's new abilities were enough to bring Suneko, a summoner affiliated with the Oni to her knees without lifting a finger. Can you do the same against the Mangekyou Sharingan? He has been known to hide his true power. Do you honestly believe yourself a match for him, based on what little you know of him as he is today? The sharingan is indeed a powerful tool but the evolved form of his eyes must surely be stronger. The Rinnegan may be able to suborns individuals but I know for a fact that the sharingan possesses similar if not equal abilities. What hope does the Leaf stand to hold if one of their strongest jounin is fighting against them? Because such a scenario is likely to occur if you attempt to match his powers half-cocked as you are. I do not quite understand your past with him but there is something different about him now. The way he stared at us with those eyes of his...something about him has changed."

After this he turns his gaze to Mako and stares directly into her pale eyes. "When last we spoke you said there were words you wished to communicate to your teacher. If you have not already done so now would be a good time to start. Please, Hyuuga-san. She needs to hear this from you."

[ZeroNumerous]

Yousuke

Sanagi turns her gaze upon Yousuke when he speaks up. "Are you saying I should stand aside? There is an incredibly dangerous enemy of the Leaf out there. I would be ignoring my duty as a ninja of the Hidden Leaf, and as an honorable swordsman, to allow him to do as he please." Sanagi draws her sword, then points her blade at Yousuke. Immediately Youmu stands up and reaches for her sword, while Youki remains seated. He just looks at Youmu, shakes his head, then looks to his grandson and Sanagi. "If you are suggesting as much, then I must treat you as an enemy of the Leaf."

"I am certain my grandson means nothing of the sort, Sanagi-san. I think he merely intends to warn you about the danger of facing such a powerful enemy." Sanagi's unwavering sword remains pointed at Yousuke.

"Do not stand in my way." With that said Sanagi sheathes her sword, and starts heading out of the house.

Mako shakes her head. "It is not the time, Yousuke."

Youmu lets Sanagi leave, then turns to Yousuke. "That woman is crazy, but she will be useful when they start fighting. It would be easy enough to finish off the survivor after they are sufficiently weakened."

[Togath]

"The main rail, and we need to hurry, there's only about an hour, probably closer to three quarters, left before whatever the jounin I joined up with does whatever he's going to do.. and I'm not quite sure if he's sane enough not to cause collateral damage" he says, worried further over if joining Kaede was the right choice, he seemed sane at the time.. what happened while we were investigating the shrine to change him? he thinks to himself.

[Princess Tracy]

"... Momo's too afraid to out and say it, fine. Cybele-sensei, he doesn't seem in his right mind," even Amon cringes at saying that. "That philosophy I admired of his, to not kill and spread grudges unnecessarily... he isn't practicing it. Not since he joined up with Suneko. It's got Momo... it's got us all hesitant."

Amon stalks towards the door, feeling ashamed at having said it, however true. "Cybele, I'll continue to watch Momo's back if you go off to help Kaede," she remarks, reassuring. "Momo, we're not to meet him yet - Kaede doesn't want you in the crossfire. I think we should help the others in case their houses were attacked too, or even lay low, but if you insist on going to Central... I'd rather you go with us rather than by yourself." Cybele will have a harder time protecting Momo AND Kaede if there's a huge civil war going on over there...

She finally faces Cybele for a moment, bowing her head. "Cybele-sensei, two things... your pressure points method won't work on Alice, she's not made of flesh. And... and thank you for reminding me to find the strength to go on."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke scowls, crossing his arms impetuously. "Fine then, if you will not see reason then I will wash my hands of this. Whatever happens to her at Central is not on my hands any longer." His features soften some as he sighs out loud, rubbing at the base of his neck out of weariness. "Grandfather, mother. I think it would be wise if the two of you gathered your personal belongings before we return to Central. Whatever you may believe about Kaede and Sanagi I know not the direction of which the winds will turn. If we must take flight I would have it under our own terms. I will...tend to the Garou-hime in the meanwhile. It will do me some good to be away from all...this for the time begin, I think."

Before he enters deeper into the compound he addresses the remaining leaf genin. "The same goes for the three of you. It will be for the best if you are able to flee at a moment's notice. With or without your sensei. You may tell the Uchiha about his uncle if you so please though I can only imagine how he will react to such news."

[ZeroNumerous]

Amon & Momo

Cybele says nothing as Amon speaks, and doesn't respond until several seconds after the young girl had finished. "Thank you for the information."

She follows the girls out of the Uchiha household. However, her attention is quickly grabbed moments after the trio head outside. The squat building that served as the Sky's central government office shuddered as an explosion rocks the front door. Cybele turns to the girls, closes her eyes, and shakes her head. "I won't abandon Kaede-sama now. No matter what. Amon: I am trusting you with Momo-sama's safety."

With that said she immediately starts leaping toward the nearest rail going to Central. A second explosion rocks Central, and it seems to have destroyed the entire top floor of the building. A crown of rubble rests where there was once a utilitarian domed roof. Most of the top floor had been devoted to middle management and the offices of Kai, Taro, and Sonia.

Masaru & Keita

Keita's parents start packing up their things, and it takes some time for them to all get prepared. When they're finally ready the two genin head outside with the two civilians in tow. Immediately afterward an explosion draws their attention to Central. The building seems to be under attack, and it's not hard to guess who it is. A second explosion decimates the tallest floor of the short building. That explosion seems to have wiped out the area where Kai kept her offices, and where the majority of middle-management for the Sky resided.

Yousuke

"Do not be foolish, Yousuke. The only thing important to your mother and I that we are not already carrying is you." Youki sips his tea as he admonishes his grandson. "We are always ready to leave."

Youmu speaks up when Yousuke considers running. "You want to run? If you're right about your friend, then there is no where to go. He'll bring this conflict to any place we could consider living in. Fleeing from your problem will not solve it young man. You must face it head on."

Mako and Jun just look at Yousuke a bit dumbfounded, with Jun looking more scared than confused. Mako is the first to speak up. "...Sanagi-sensei is right, you know. As leaf-nin, we can't rightly run away if someone is threatening the village. You should help Jun and Koji get out of the city safely." Mako gets up, carefully places her teacup on the table in front of her, then moves toward the door. "I need to go help Sanagi-sensei. Jun, take Koji home as soon as you can." With that said Mako leaves the house deadset on following in Sanagi's footsteps.

The brown-haired Inuzuka girl watches Mako leave, then looks to Yousuke, Youmu, and finally Youki. Her mouth is slightly agape, as if she were trying to think of a question to ask or a direction to take, and she seems rather thoroughly paralyzed.

Youki sighs, then puts down his teacup. The sound of his old bones creaking accompanies the swordsman's gradual rise to a standing position. "I had hoped she would do as you asked, but I cannot knowingly allow a young girl to go get herself killed. Yousuke. Look after your mother. I'll be back in an hour."

[Cespenar]

Momo listens to the pair's talk with her back turned, and only speaks when Cybele leaves.

"Hah," she snorts, irritated. "The whole village is crumbling, and people are concerned for my safety. That's a laugh if I ever saw one." There isn't any humor in her face, though, as she begins to move after Cybele.

[Eurus]

Masaru looks up at the wreckage with a grim expression, and shakes his head. "Keita, I... need to check on my mother. I'd hoped that if I stayed away they might ignore her, but that's obviously not the case. You should probably try to get your parents out while you still can."

[Togath]

"yes, go quick, I don't know what Kaede's planning, but it seems he's already begun the coup" says Keita, trying to lead his mother and father to the main rail.

[Princess Tracy]

"I'll do my best, sensei..." Amon positions herself in front of Momo, setting a firm hand on the Uchiha girl's shoulder. "Of course we're concerned for your safety. Don't forget, Kaede is your brother - he's heading this whole thing and he cares for you dearly. If he has had the mangekyou this whole time, it will be hoping for your future that's held him together. What do you think is going to happen if you charge in and put yourself in needless danger?" Amon speaks with odd understanding of the nature of concealing such stress, understandably. "I'll do my best to support you either way, but I won't let you run off thinking you don't matter," she instructs firmly

[Cespenar]

Momo tries to walk over Amon in a fit of frustration, but then her words catch her attention. Reminded of Kaede's intentions, she can't help to agree for a second, which makes her hesitate... and she stumbles onto Amon, instead of her plan to shoulder her to the side.

She stands there for a second, in an uncomfortable pseudo-hug, and finally takes a step back. She clears her throat a couple times.

"It's less about intentions and more about means from this point on," she starts defiantly. Then her tone softens.

"I'll give him 10 more minutes to level out the playing field. But there's no way he's doing this thing without me us to remind him of his path."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke watches his grandfather's receding form with a frown and turns to his mother before long. "He will not admit it but I fear that he is getting on in the years. It is not safe for him to be exposing himself while the village is in such a state. Please excuse me mother, while I retrieve him." No matter Youki's skill, Rasen's words echoed in through his mind. Age was the great equalizer and despite his grandfather's admittedly amazing physique for his advanced age, time had undeniably taken its toll on his body. "Mother, ensure that the Garou-hime is ready for travel at a moment's notice. Jun, I should expect the same from you and Koji. I should be able to catch up to grandfather and Mako within the hour. Grandfather cannot take to the rooftops as I can and Mako does not know the lay of the city as well as I."

After sidling up to his mother for a surprise embrace, Yousuke breaks off abruptly and bows before taking off. "I will be off, then." He didn't like the thought of his family breaking off into different directions. The clan needed solidarity, now more than ever.

[Princess Tracy]

"Intentions really are everything, in a way..." Amon looks over towards Central. She goes over her thoughts on the battle one last time, as she had for the last few hours, as she comes to a rather uncomfortable conclusion. I've bet this entire battle on Sanagi's inability to kill Kaede with the first strike.

"Alright, the battle might go fast, I get you... Maybe we should check everyone else's houses. With his family, Yousuke's the safest, and I don't know where those other two live, but who knows in Takuya's case." Amon suddenly flinches enough for Momo to notice. One or more Konpaku might get drawn into this battle. She gets a flash of how Momo's feeling and feels all the worse for the realisation of that comparison.

She looks up the street. Her own home was likely closer than Takuya's, but Takuya was by himself, but her family... what to do? "I'll... I'll follow you wherever, Momo, you know the way to Takuya's," she instructs, still staring up to her own home

She'd been trying to keep herself distant and in control here, but the stakes were finally starting to hit her. Before she enters a panic though, she looks into Momo's eyes in what looks like a rather awkward way for a moment. I have to keep strong. If I fall apart now, I'll be putting more burden on everyone else, a burden Momo doesn't need right now. It's time to stop crying... She takes a deep breath , closing her eyes for a moment, and seems to recover her wits

[Overlord Rion]

My family, no. No one touches my family.

Bastards. Find them.

Kill them.

Make them beg. Takuya's face hardens. He does the motions for creating a blob. If nothing else, it could function as a shield. Takuya searches for clues as to where his family had been taken.

Search: If I can take 20, then I do for a 22. If not, then [roll0]

[Cespenar]

Momo is too distracted to deduce much from Amon's flinch, and is on the verge of reconsidering her decision of not rushing straight to Central, but yet again Amon's words cuts into her train of thought.

"Takuya? Oh, yeah, I know his place," she mumbles, and begins to lead the way. Her hands squeeze into fists at random intervals, and she still doesn't seem to be at peace with what she is (or isn't) doing.

[Princess Tracy]

"Momo... when i first woke up with these eyes, I caught a glimpse of Kaede's mind. He..." She stops. No, knowing that, even if her deduction was remotely accurate, couldn't really help Momo feel any better about this. "... We could go to Central, like I said, but I just don't know what would happen. Let's face it, Cybele just left me to defend you, but she's never once let me get involved in a fight with jounin." The only safety I can provide is non-intervention... She grunts - too often her plans were too focussed on keeping her friends out of harms way rather than being effective - she had started to realise this flaw in herself, and couldn't help wondering if this was just that. But what else could she do? What else was she SUPPOSED to do. "Don't worry, I won't keep you apart for long... You're one of the few people that can talk to Kaede, you know"

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Masaru makes his way to his mother's home, and discovers that it's also been broken into. But immediately after entering he discovers a small pile of three dead Sky ninja just inside the doorway. A familiar smell graces his nose, and immediately Masaru recognizes it as poisonous gas. Luckily not enough of it remains in the air to cause him any problems.

Inside the home, Masaru discovers his mother sitting on her favorite pillow. She cradles a steaming bowl of something edible, and doesn't seem to be paying any attention to the boy when he enters. She looks just like she had when Masaru left, and lacks any additional injuries despite the appearance of the the Sky ninja.

Keita

Getting his family to the Main Gate proves easy enough. As Keita is traveling he notes several ninja running, hopping, and grinding toward Central. Some of them are even familiar instructors from the academy. Once he and his family make it to the Main Gate they realize that the gondolla leading down is still at the ground floor.

Takuya

Takuya finds nothing obvious. But he's a smart kid, and it's not hard to figure out that it was probably the Sky that took his family.

Amon & Momo

Amon and Momo make their way to Takuya's house without any problems. They do run across several Sky ninja who ignore the duo and head toward Central. Neither Amon nor Momo recognize any of them though.

Momo and Minions(Amon and Takuya)

Takuya finishes searching his own home in time to hear Amon and Momo make an appearance just outside. Both girls can see that Takuya's home was also broken into, but unlike Momo's house there's no surprise jounin to murder everyone. Instead, Takuya's house is empty aside from the boy himself, and no one is around to tell them where the family was taken.

Yousuke

"B-But, I can't do any of this on my own! W-What if they come back? They'll kill me. Or they'll kill Koji, then Mako will find me and kill me. I can't--" SMACK

Youmu crosses the distance between herself and Jun in seconds, then smacks the leaf-nin across the face. Jun's surprise overtakes her fear, and adrenaline immediately jumps through her system. Yousuke recognizes that tensing of her jaw and fists as her rising berserker nature threatens to overtake her rationality. But her fury subsides as she stops to think, then nods. "I'm sorry. Good luck, Yousuke-chan."

Youmu closes her eyes, then motions for Yousuke to follow his grandfather. "Get going. I'll take care of this idiot and her friend. We'll head to the Gate and start trying to get out of the city."

When Yousuke heads outside he can see Mako and his grandfather. The leaf-nin jumps along the rooftops, and will likely be out of Yousuke's sight very soon. His grandfather is walking along the streets, and in a few moments will turn around a corner and disappear.

[Eurus]

Masaru lets out a tense breath he didn't realize he'd been holding as he sees his mother unharmed, to his relief. Unsurprisingly, it seems like his mother's been keeping a stash of weapons-grade poison around the house somewhere despite her forced retirement. She could probably use a hobby.

Brushing aside the irrelevant thoughts, he steps into the room and greets her with a short bow.

"...I'm glad to see you're okay, Mother."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

His mother turns to look at Masaru, closes her eyes, then drinks down a spoonful of whatever she's eating. "Hm. I'll be honest, but I didn't expect you to still be alive. I figure if someone's desperate enough to try and break down the front door then they've already tied up any loose ends you might represent."

[Eurus]

Masaru briefly considers making a comment on how heartwarming her concern is. He doesn't, of course. It's just one of the many brief, reckless urges that he brushes away over the course of a day. He feels awkward standing up while she's seated, but now probably isn't the time to get comfortable.

"...Not quite. I assume they were here to interrogate you, since I seem to be an official missing-nin as of a few hours ago."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

"Ah. Good to hear. What do you intend to do then?" Another spoonful of her meal pops into her mouth, and it's almost as if Masaru's mother were talking about the weather rather than her son being a traitor. "Perhaps you should flee the city? Or do you intend to hide here until they find you?"

[Eurus]

"Fleeing was the idea, yes. If you have any desire to do so as well, now would probably be a good time. Most of the village's forces are dealing with Uchiha Kaede right now."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

His mother stops with her spoon midway to her mouth. She doesn't raise her head, nor look away from her bowl. "They're what? Wait. Uchiha Kaede? The criminal from Konoha is here?" Masaru's mother calmly places her spoon in her bowl, her bowl on her table, then follows it up by motioning for Masaru to sit down. If he does, then she goes through with a story.

"I fought an Uchiha of the Leaf Village when I was younger. I do not know how old he was at the time, nor his skill level, but I was already a jounin fighting alongside Sonia. In our short battle I came to realize that I was being toyed with. A jounin, being played with like I was some child fresh out of the academy. My greatest poisons, my deadliest jutsu, and even my skill with steel were as leaves caught up in the flow of our battle. That man did his best to not only avoid injury, but also incapacitate me without harm. He succeeded, even when my death would have been far easier to achieve." Hina finally looks at her son, truly looking at him rather than in his general direction, and locks her eyes with his.

"That man left the Leaf Village. And if that man is fighting the village, and I mean truly fighting to kill, then I do not believe we will have a chance to flee before he's finished. He will succeed in whatever his goal is, so I think I shall simply wait for him to leave than risk getting caught up in the madness out there."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon eyes up the ninja passing them by. You know, I bet we could break the rail tracks to slow down reinforcements... But then, she's not sure how to manipulate the battle from here.

She eyes up the no doubt exasperated Takuya as she arrives, looking at the busted down door. She susses it out what might be wrong - mostly on an assumption of the Sky's dirty tactics. "Takuya-kun..." His own family... She tries to think and remember where the Sky might take such prisoners - no doubt to some interrogation setup or cell, right? Assuming it was the Sky of course, an assumption that seemed sound enough for the moment. Quite flashy, the door bashed down. I'd have set a trap or had someone waiting. They mustn't have been expecting us back so soon - or ever, of course.

Investigate (signs of struggle, etc.) - take 10 for 15
Ninja Lore (knowledge of prisoner treatment) - take 10 for 20

[Eurus]

Masaru does indeed sit, and as his mother talks, he gets a little bit paler, and shakes his head slowly.

"I..."

"...That does sound like Uchiha Kaede, yes. Or at least, like he was when I first met him. But he seems to have... changed, very quickly."

Masaru takes a deep breath, and tries to explain the relevant bits of the situation quickly, pausing on occasion to put the right words together.

"When I initially encountered him, he seemed to be determined not to kill, even when it would have been to his advantage. He said that he didn't want to create 'any more hate' in the world. It was... an admirable enough principle, but it was unsettling, particularly since it seemed like he was always concealing his real strength."

"I'm not sure what happened, though. He was speaking with a woman privately -- I think her name was Suneko -- and when we saw him again, he was acting strangely. Cold. She seemed terrified of him, and he said he... had become disillusioned with the system. The villages, the shinobi. That he would destroy it and bring peace, no matter who tried to stop him."

"Which is why, to the best of my knowledge, he's currently launching a one-man attack on Central. And, if what you say is true, probably winning."

[Princess Tracy]

"... Takuya." There's a dreadful expression on Amon's face and she can't bear to look at the boy as she considers the worst possibility. We just have to hope... it wasn't Sonia's men, or that they were feeling oddly merciful. Dammit... "... Were your parents ninjas at all - I mean, trained?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Hina just closes her eyes at Masaru's words. "A haughty goal. I have little doubt that he's only gotten stronger over the years, so I believe our best course of action would be to wait and watch. Whenever power changes hands there is always an opportunity, Ma-chan. If the village considers you a traitor, then stay beside this Uchiha. Become his loyal servant, but not stick your neck out too far. Obedience and prudence in equal measures will take you far, so long as you are loyal to one with strength."

[Eurus]

Masaru is silent for several long moments after his mother finishes speaking, contemplating the advice.

"...He might just be insane. Gone completely off the deep end and picked up some messianic complex."

Sighing, Masaru stands up and moves over to the window, looking out again in the hope of catching a glimpse of the central building. If Kaede won, what exactly was he planning on doing? Destroying every village? Starting his own?

"But I guess he definitely gets things done."

[Togath]

"I'll see if I can get the gondola back up, you should be safe here until I return, since it looks like everyone is distracted by the Leaf nin" say Keita and he moves to head down the rail.
---
if nothing interrupts him, he tries to hide the corpses that Kaede left and get the gondola up.

[Overlord Rion]

"No. Not ninja. Ordinary people. The nicest ones I'm ever going to know. I need to find them. Help or not, it doesn't matter. It they have them, they're dead."

[Cespenar]

Momo looks around Takuya's home, takes in what she sees, and finally gazes at the boy's face. Finally, a feeling she could recognize.

She turns to Amon.

"Central."

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita

Keita is able to hide the bodies by throwing them off the Sky. Getting down the rail proves easy enough as well, but when he goes inside the gondola's control room he's greeted by a mess of knobs, levers, and switches that he doesn't recognize.

Keita needs a DC 15 Know:Tech or Mechanics check to be able to successfully get the gondola to work. If he cannot make either of those, then he does not know how to run the gondola.

Masaru

Masaru's mother just nods. "Then you just need to pay attention, and know when to jump ship."

[Togath]

"bloody hell.. I'd hoped this would be easier.. I guess I need to just stop/finish the coup and hope to find someone afterwards" he thinks to himself heading out of the control room and back to the sky.
upon reaching the top(assuming his mother and father are still there) he says "looks like it's harder than expected, I'll see if I can find someone who might know how to work it.. and see if I can stop that Uchiha's rampage.. looks like he might have snapped, considering he originally wanted to just sneak in and gather information when I first met him" before heading to central

[Eurus]

Masaru nods thoughtfully, still looking out the window before finally turning back.

"Yeah. It doesn't really leave us any worse off than before, I guess. But... I need to see what's actually going on out there at Central for myself."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke flinches when Jun is slapped by his mother but says nothing as the girl goes through her motions. "...right. That is what Mako was referring to then..." Instead he waits for her to finish and sighs, walking over to places both of his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them firmly. Thus steadied, he looks directly into her eyes and says, "Idiot. I don't ever want to hear you say that about yourself again." Gently, he moves his head closer and nudges her forehead with his own forehead protector plate.

"You are a wonderful girl and sometimes it pains me to see people like you caught up in the chaos in this terrible little world of ours. You detest the power that caused you to unwittingly assault your teammates and however terrible this power is the fact that you regret your actions now speaks to me of what kind of person you truly are. However, as it stands this love and kindness of yours is only a hindrance. You cannot protect others, much less yourself, as you are now. Not while you stand idly by as your allies are cut to pieces before your eyes. Your hesitation is borne from the fear of yourself. How can you truly love others if you cannot truly love yourself. That is arrogance."

Frowning still, he continues on, "And there is much about you to love, even if you are doing your hardest to ignore them. So I will speak them to you, as bluntly. As. Possible. You are a smart, beautiful kunoichi who has a bright future ahead of her. You are talented but never immodest with your ability. You possess a kindness of heart that would sway the hearts of even the cruelest of men and women alike. You have a way of being that soothes the soul. You are friendly and vibrant and even when you are like this, your voice is sure to bring color to the air. And finally, you are a strong and caring friend who would never hurt her comrades if she can help it. And you can help it. You have friends like Mako and I...and even Koji who will help you get through your issues, however clumsy we may be."

Clearing his throat he breaks off from her and heads for the door. Clearing his throat he adds, in an all too rushed tone, "O-oi, and don't call me Yousuke-chan. I mean it when I say that we are friends. You can protect Koji and you will protect him. Your friendship is strong enough to that, I would think."
---
On the streets, Yousuke calls out to his grandfather as he leaps into the air to chase after Mako. "Grandfather, I must ask that you return home to mother. I will chase after Mako myself. You will not be able to keep apace when she takes to the rooftops. Your sword-arm is needed at home, guarding the hearth is it not? You need not stain your blade with the blood of this sordid affair, grandfather. I will deal with it as the representative of the Konpaku clan in your stead, as it should be."

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo, Amon, and Takuya

If the genin follow Momo's suggestion and head to Central, then they bear witness to a rather odd sight. Central had been built with attackers in mind, but whatever Kaede was doing certainly wasn't in the building plan. The front entrance was gone, not merely destroyed or broken down, but completely removed. Piles of rubble decorate the ground near where Central's main entrance had been, and the metal double doors that served as Central's first line of defense were bent inward by some great force. A human-sized hole had been formed by the bent doors, and none of the genin are able to see anything more than a dark corridor behind it with normal senses.

However, the oddest sight wasn't the door, but rather the people that had gathered in front of the building. A familiar brown-haired (http://i.imgur.com/Yi6Ux.jpg) eyepatch bearing leaf ninja stood in front of the main gate. She was still wearing Youmu's pajamas; a tight fitting button-up blouse and a pair of pajama bottoms in a calming shade of robin's egg blue. However, her hands clasp a familiar red-and-white sword, and it's plainly obvious she was not there to sight-see or for fun. Sanagi stood with a resolute stance, and pointed her red-and-white blade at her opponent with all the intention of just smashing her way through.

Directly opposite to Sanagi stood an equally familiar blond woman (http://i.imgur.com/pGQt3Fe.jpg). She stood with a more defiant posture than she had previously worn when the genin saw her last. She has not drawn a weapon, but she is holding a scroll in each hand. They were likely premade summoning scrolls, given what Amon knows of Suneko's fighting style. The blond woman shouts at Sanagi. "I can't let you go through here. Nothing personal, Ms. Thunder God, and I hope you don't kill me for it. But... I don't think you understand what is inside this building. It's not something you can oppose."

Sanagi glares at Suneko. "I know exactly what is inside that building: A dangerous enemy of the Leaf Village! If you're afraid of him, then help me. I assure you that I'll kill him, and you'll be safe. Otherwise, stand aside and allow me to kill him. I do not wish for my key into that building to be your corpse."

Suneko looks visibly worried, but does not back down in the face of Sanagi's threats. Meanwhile, the Thunder God approaches her opponent with all the calm of an adult talking to a misbehaving child. It seems the two of them are being forced into a head-on conflict due to their own circumstances. It's at this point that both Keita and Masaru arrive.

Yousuke

Jun just looks at the young man as he speaks. At first she seems despondent that she has somehow agitated Yousuke enough to be admonished, but that changes as he continues to speak. Soon a strong blush comes over her face as Yousuke extols her virtues, and it doesn't take long before she cheeks can be favorably compared to cherries. The two were physically quite close, and that likely factored into Jun's reaction.

The leaf-nin hugs Yousuke. Tightly. Far tighter than a girl of her size has any right to squeeze something. One could be forgiven for being confused and thinking Jun were trying to kill Yousuke by crushing his ribs and breaking his spine, but the brown-haired girl releases her hug before it does any serious damage. Jun looks Yousuke in the eye and gives the sky-nin the widest smile she can muster. "Thank you, Yo-chan. I-I needed that. Stay safe out there, okay?"

Youmu just sighs and shakes her head. "If I had known leaving you with your grandfather would turn you into a regular casanova, then I'd have risked dragging you around with me for thirteen years."

---

Youki is already too far away for Yousuke to speak normally and be heard, so if he wishes to relay a message then he needs to shout. However, an explosion rips through Central when Yousuke shouts out for his grandfather. Unfortunately, the elderly man keeps going and rounds the corner, so it's plainly obvious that his grandfather did not hear the boy's shouts. Youki disappears from his grandsons sight, and likely carries on to Central. Luckily there's a rail between the residential district and Central, and that would likely slow Youki down. If Yousuke didn't want his grandfather involved, then he'll need to at least end this whole charade before Youki arrives.

However, Yousuke is still able to catch up to Mako since he chose to pursue her. Unfortunately, it takes some time to catch her since she started with a good head start and seems to be using her chakra-enhanced speed to try and catch up to Sanagi. Yousuke cannot see the Thunder God anywhere in front of them.

Yousuke finally catches up to Mako at the rail leading to Central. The black-haired leaf-nin stares at the rail apprehensively, then slowly starts to climb on top of it. Unfortunately the Sky's second layer of defense is working against her; It's plainly obvious that she doesn't know how to use the rails.

Masaru

When Masaru expresses a desire to go to Central a familiar dour look takes over his mother's features. "Just be sure to come back in one piece. There's nothing in this world worth you dying over." His mother doesn't make any attempt to stop Masaru from leaving.

If Masaru elects to leave immediately, then he meets up with Keita on his way to Central. If he does not leave immediately, then he arrives at Central on his own.

Keita

Keita's parents hide out near the Main Gate. "Stay safe", his mother shouts at the boy's back, "and don't do anything rash!"

If Masaru left immediately, then Keita runs into his fellow sky-nin near Central, and the two of them arrive on scene together. Otherwise, Keita sees Masaru arrive shortly after he does.

Keita & Masaru

Both sky-nin, whether they arrived together or separately, spot the three genin from earlier. Amon, Momo, and Takuya stand at a 90 degree angle away from a very odd sight. An auburn-haired woman stands opposite to the blond-haired woman that appeared back in the forest near Reimu's shrine. Neither Masaru nor Keita are able to see the auburn-haired woman's face, but based on her posture both of them can deduce that she's ready for combat. Her right arm is raised and she's pointing a red-and-white sword at Suneko. Beyond both of them stands Central, and the bashed in metal doors that lead deeper into the building.

[Cespenar]

Even Momo, who is supposed to know more about Kaede than most people, is taken aback by the sight currently in front of them. Mere fire techniques shouldn't be strong enough to cause destruction of this caliber, she thinks, this must be something else.

Even surprised in such a way, though, Momo's instincts take control as she examines the battle about to take place. The role of a mediator always came easily to her, and even if her attempts didn't end in successes every time, she'd be damned if she wouldn't try.

First, though...

"Sanagi-san," she confronts from afar. "How on earth could you have the White Princess's chakra signature?" she asks pointedly.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke's voice catches in his throat when the sound of the explosion rips through the air. Seeing his grandfather disappear from sight, Yousuke picks up on his pace and sails over several buildings in pursuit of Mako. "I need to set this to rights before grandfather arrives." Luckily, the Leaf nin is not too far gone when he arrives and his lips curl upward in amusement in spite of himself. In a single bound, he launches himself at the rail, placing himself slightly in front of the Hyuuga. Drawing from years of experience he balances himself on the rail with an adroit care, drawing his sword and wielding it in a warning manner. Whatever amusement he saw in the situation gives way to a cold, business-like demeanor. "Turn back now, Mako. Though I commend you for your bravery and willingness to help you must understand that this is a matter belonging to the Sky. And as such, it my duty to see it through. Not yours. Your sensei gave you orders to remain behind, and for good reason. There is no point to you giving yourself up to the darkness of Soragakure or the machinations of Kaede...is what I would say but as it is, you seem to be having enough trouble standing on these rails, much less making your way to Central as you are. So I am telling you now to stay where you are. My grandfather will be arriving here shortly and you are to return with him."

The sky shinobi looks down toward the treacherous heights and then back to Mako. "...I would hate to see such a promising kunoichi plummet to her untimely demise..." As he alludes to the fall he skates backward raising the Roukanken high in the air. "...in this world, the things that cannot be cut by my Roukanken, forged by youkai, are close to none. I only wonder if the rails will feel the same way as I make my way up to Central..."

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo, Takuya, Amon, Keita, and Masaru

Sanagi doesn't take her eyes off Suneko, while the blond-haired woman turns her attention toward the newcomers.

"I just knew you'd be along right after that airheaded teacher of yours..." Suneko sighs. "I don't know what you're talking about, and frankly it doesn't matter much. In case you hadn't noticed: There's a crazy woman trying to kill your brother."

Sanagi responds to the accusation with a calm demeanor. "Do not get involved in this. I have an obligation to defeat the enemies of the Leaf wherever I find them, and Kaede has most definitely become one. Whatever his goal: I will put an end to it right now."

Suneko hisses. "See what I mean? It'd be a great help if you could go get your brother for me. I can't beat her on my own, but I can waste some of her time so that he's prepared."

Immediately the leaf-nin has a rebuttal. "Don't listen to her. Help me kill him and put an end to this madness before any more innocent people die."

The two of them are obviously at odds with one another.

Yousuke

Mako jumps into a fighting stance as soon as she hears something approach, but relaxes when she sees Yousuke. While the young man tries to convince her otherwise, Mako simply follows his example and tries to balance on the rail. Unfortunately it proves impossible, but she doesn't stop after the first try. Mako glares when Yousuke finishes his speech, and speaks in a harsh tone. "You're right. Whatever is going on is between the Sky and Kaede. But I'm not going there because of that. Kaede is a danger to the Leaf--to the future. Unlike you, I cannot abandon my friends."

With that said, she finally grabs onto the rail with her hands. Her feet glow blue with chakra as she uses the Tree Climbing technique to grasp with her feet. The leaf-nin looks rather funny bent over and trying to climb the rail hand-over-hand like a monkey. Nonetheless, her words are determined. "If you're going to attack me, then do it. Otherwise, get out of my way."

[Togath]

best just leave them to themselves, given that I don't know which to trust here, thinks Keita, as he tries to rush past Suneko and Sanagi into Central

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke's eyes narrow when Mako calls him out on abandoning his friends and his face quickly shifts into a dark glower. "...fine." He grins slowly toward the Hyuuga, sheathing his sword on the way to the girl and stops short to offer his hand to the struggling kuoichi. "If you are so eager to face Kaede then I will not get in your way. In fact, I will take you there myself. As far off the deep end as he has gone he probably will not hurt you. Though the fact that you believe yourself somehow capable of effectively combating him is laughable. Kaede does not need to hurt you in order to win, you realize."

He sniffs derisively, looking down on the leaf-nin, and waits for her to accept or not. But first he offers a few words. One last-ditch effort to persuade her at the very least. He would give her that much. "Though I find it equally amusing that the one calling me out on abandoning my friends, is in fact, leaving her own companions behind. Your sensei's departure left the team in disarray and despite knowing that you left them to fend for themselves in the chaos. You knew about Jun's emotional state and of Koji's lengthy recuperation. Do not speak to me about friendship." He knew exactly what his grandfather had to say about speaking harsh things to women but even Youki would understand that sometimes things just needed to be said.

"I had to bolster Jun's confidence before coming here you know. The girl was an emotional wreck when your sensei left but apparently it was up to me to help steady her nerves. Not her own teammate of course. Heavens no." The swordsman sighs sadly and his paradoxically grim and compassionate expression returns to seriously regard Mako. "Your friends need you Mako just as mine need me. But if you think for a second that 'defeating Kaede' is the same as 'being there for your friends' then I am sorry to say that you are mistaken. If you somehow succeed you will return home a hero and be lauded as such but you and I both know that right now you are only running away."

[ZeroNumerous]

Yousuke

Mako shakes her head. "And you think you can do any better? At least I have the excuse of being a spotter for stronger people. Robbed of your sword there's nothing you can do, and you know that. Don't patronize me."

The leaf-nin rebuffs Yousuke's attempt to touch her, and stands up on her own. "You're right, I'm leaving Jun and Koji behind. Because I know your grandfather, your mother, and Koji can protect them as they run. But unlike you, I actually consider Sanagi-sensei and my village to be my friends. So I'll fight, because Kaede is a threat to both of those."

Mako looks down the rail, and starts running using the tree-climbing technique to remain attached to the rail. "I'm not gonna run away to save my own hide when their lives are on the line! Go back to your family and save yourself! After all, it's all you've thought about lately! So go run away!"

[Eurus]

Masaru watches the exchange between Sanagi and Suneko, gaze flicking back and forth between them as they argue, and to Amon, Momo, and Takuya as he tries to judge their reactions. Then Keita rushes toward the building, and Masaru sighs before running after him.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke clicks his tongue and turns away sharply, grinding toward Central at his top speed. "Suit yourself." But then, this was exactly what Kaede meant by the villages exploiting their ninja wasn't it? Crazed as the man's plan was, he obviously had some kind of grievance with the way things were. "...the village system clearly does not work but neither can I condone the complete eradication of entire power structures. The Konpaku scattered to the corners of the world with our loss. The Elemental Countries should not be made to suffer the same."

He travels as quickly as possible, seething all the while. "Momo, you had better talk some sense into your brother soon lest the Sky come crashing down onto the earth..."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Yousuke arrives just in time to see Sanagi and Suneko standing off. He left Mako behind a good distance, but she would probably arrive in less than a minute. All the other genin present can see Keita dash toward Sanagi and Suneko. The Thunder God raises her sword and turns to face Keita. She points the red-and-white blade at the young sky-nin directly, and obviously provides a substantial blockade to his path. Using the opening provided by Keita's dash, Suneko immediately begins the summoning technique.

Sanagi glares at Keita. "I don't know which side you are on, so I will strike you down if you come any closer."

Meanwhile, Suneko goes through the motions to summon something. "Just keep her distracted!"

[Togath]

"Well, I was on the side that helped Kaede get here.. though now I'm on the 'keep the city from smashing into the ground due to massive explosions' side.. either way, you're in my way!" he says, emphasizing the last word by using Dokugiri no Jutsu to engulf Sanagi in toxic mists.
---
ooc/technique description;
A character caught in the poisonous cloud must make a Fortitude save against poison (Primary and Secondary damage are both 1d6 Con). Those who succeed at their saves but remain in the cloud must continue to save each round.
A gas mask renders the target immune to the effects and a wet cloth held over
the face provides a +2 bonus on the Fortitude save.
Keita takes a 5ft. step backwards before using it, to avoid AoOs, and the save DC is 18.

[Eurus]

Masaru's eyes widen as Keita starts attacking, and he reflexively reaches for a shuriken. Almost as quickly, he thinks better of that plan, and simply heads for Central. Making the signs for Kawarimi, he flashes over to the opposite side of the two women and starts running.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke grimaces at the situation, resisting the urge groan when Keita moves to attack Sanagi. "Of all the stupid..." Instead of interjecting however, he calls out to Momo from afar, "Momo! I suggest you follow suit. You may be the only one capable of speaking to your brother as far gone as he is."

[Cespenar]

When Sanagi and Suneko each try to call her to their sides, Momo shakes her head in frustration. True, Kaede might have said he'd go overboard, but people didn't change overnight, did they? Besides, it's not like his idea doesn't have any merit - the shinobi village system was flawed, Momo agreed enough with that, but the real questions were what Kaede would change the system into, and how.

When awakened by Yousuke's voice, Momo looks blankly at him for a moment, but then her brows furrow. She nods slowly, and dashes off into Central, ignoring the fighting jounin. Only after she clears them both does she turn back and call out.

"I'm sorry Sanagi-san, but I can't turn on the kindest person I know in this life... just like that." She lowers her eyes. "Not before I give him another chance."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Keita's poisonous smoke cloud prevents Sanagi from stopping either Momo or Masaru from getting past her. Suneko makes no attempt to stop either of them, and just allows them to pass by without complaint. Sanagi is unable to see Suneko's technique preparation, but she does hear the former sky-nin shout out.

"Very well then." The voice of the Thunder God comes out from Keita's poisonous cloud. A blue-white glow shaped like a human emits from inside the cloud of poison. Immediately after the glow appears a blast of high speed wind rips apart the poisonous smoke and assaults Keita. The vision obscuring cloud vanishes as its dispersed by the wind, and its departure reveals the auburn-haired Leaf jounin. A thin layer of visible blue-colored energy radiates out from her body.

"If you aren't going to help me put an end to this, then I can only assume you are here to get in my way." The air around the glowing jounin feels heavy, as if it were restraining the movements of anyone nearby. "I'll do my best to avoid killing you."

Masaru is able to Kawarimi past Sanagi, but does not have line of sight to appear inside the building. He's able to appear beside Suneko, and she takes no actions to stop him.

Due to the poison cloud Sanagi is unable to see Momo run past, and thus unable to make any attempt to stop her. Suneko takes no actions to stop her either.

Keita needs an Initiative check to initiate combat, and anyone who wants to join combat will also need one.

Sanagi - [roll0]
Suneko - [roll1]

As a move action Sanagi activates her Chakra Presence, and Keita needs a DC 20 Fort Save or take a -2 penalty to attack rolls, skill checks, and his Defense.

Sanagi disperses the Dokukiri cloud with a wind technique. She deals [roll2] wind damage to Keita and disperses the cloud in one round. Keita needs a Reflex Save at DC 22 to take half damage.

Skill Checks:
Ninjutsu: DC 18
The technique Sanagi used to disperse the cloud and damage Keita is Kamaitachi no Jutsu.

Ninja Lore: DC 15
The glow around Sanagi is her chakra presence, which reduces the ability of her enemies to dodge and attack. It's particularly effective within ten feet of distance.


Masaru and Momo

The Uchiha and the chemist are able to get inside the building. The lights are all off, and there are no windows in order to prevent anyone from sneaking inside, so it's pitch black inside. Without any light Momo and Masaru are able to advance forward by moving very slowly and feeling the walls.

Momo and Masaru are able to move half their speed as a full round action. If they have some form of light or darkvision then they'll be able to move at their normal speed.

[Cespenar]

"You wouldn't have a way to light up the place, would you?" Momo says after a while, hugging the wall. The chemist wasn't the best ally she'd want by her side when going to confront Kaede -she hardly knew him, after all- but it wasn't a choice, was it?

[Overlord Rion]

"I couldn't care less about this, or any of you. I need to find out where they took my parents." After saying this, Takuya isn't going to try and rush past, or respond offensively to any combat actions. He's just going to walk as calmly as he can.

How did we get into this mess?

Crush on Momo.

Rhetorical. Ass.

[Eurus]

Masaru winces in embarrassment, invisible in the darkness. "No, sorry. I can't believe I forgot to pack some lights."

Feeling increasingly foolish, he slowly traces his way along the wall behind Momo, trying to stay within earshot of her.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Sanagi looks at Takuya as he approaches. "If you help me put an end to this, then I will do everything in my power to assist you in your search. But your parents will still be in danger so long as this criminal remains alive and active within your village. If you will not act because it is the right thing to do, then at least act to save your parents."

Momo and Masaru

The two are able to make it a bit further along. While they're walking the wall beside them turns from simple stone to a wooden door. The door gives way slightly when touched, and it's plainly obvious that the door is neither locked nor blocked. The duo can either continue to advance forward, enter the room beside them, or split up.

[Overlord Rion]

"I act when I know their fate. I'm not like Yousuke, all bound up in honor. I'm just a selfish child and I want my parents." Unless stopped, Takuya continues walking through.

Think they'll let us through?

They don't have a choice. Suneko has to keep Sanagi busy, after all.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke leans back and frowns. What was up with his friends insulting him today? And for two different things no less! Resisting the urge to grumble he puts it out of his head for the moment and glances toward Central, training his eye on the entrance. "Sanagi is strong enough on her own to deal with Suneko on her own...grandfather will be here shortly and Mako will be arriving even sooner-No. We need to deal with Kaede and with Momo here to think about we should do it without killing him. Not that we would be able to on our own but... best to let the two jounin clash while we try to resolve the situation behind the scenes. While we still can." Helping Sanagi with Suneko meant that the leaf jounin would be closing into Kaede that much sooner.

The genin dashes in toward Central, preparing the seals for a Kawarimi as he runs along, blinking into existence a ways past Sanagi and Suneko. He runs to meet up with Takuya, giving him a curt nod before saying, "I will accept the 'all bound up in honor' as a compliment if you lead the way toward Momo and the...other one."

[Cespenar]

Momo pushes the door open, hoping that they'll find some sort of light in the room. She hesitates before going in, though, and looks behind, wondering if anyone else is following her.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and Masaru

The door creaks open to reveal a discarded flashlight casting its lonely light against a far off wall. Blood decorates the wall it's lighting up, and the flashlight itself rests on something raising it up off the floor. If either Momo or Masaru move over to pick it up, then they discover the flashlight was resting on a young man's corpse. He's rather obviously dead, and does not respond to attempts to rouse him. The young man is wearing a sora-nin headband, but doesn't appear to be bleeding from any wounds.

[Togath]

"If you aren't going to help me put an end to this, then I can only assume you are here to get in my way." The air around the glowing jounin feels heavy, as if it were restraining the movements of anyone nearby. "I'll do my best to avoid killing you."

Keita winces as the wind slices through him, though he still stands able, for now at least.
"I'm on whichever side isn't blowing the center of the city up, and whichever side's smart enough to notice that I acted as a diversion.." he says, shrugging a bit, somewhat full of bravado at having not been instantly slain by the jounin's attack, "I didn't intend to at first.. but I have to admit it worked well enough to get at least one or two other shinobi into central, and gave that summoner enough time to finish whatever she's planning"

[Eurus]

Masaru is following a few paces behind Momo, and breathes a sigh of relief as they find the illumination from the flashlight. It's somewhat tainted when he notices the body underneath it, but corpses are hardly a novel or unexpected sight at this point. If Momo doesn't take the light, Masaru glances around the room briefly, curious as to the source of the blood, before going to pick it up himself. Either way, once it's in someone's hand, he whispers to the Uchiha.

"He should be somewhere upstairs, right?"

[Overlord Rion]

"Good. Follow me, pretty boy." Takuya walks forward into the darkness, pulling off the Chakra Light technique once it becomes difficult to see. Why did no one ever learn this technique, again?

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke scoffs, drawing the Roukanken as they press deeper still. "I will take that as a compliment as well. Better to have than have-not, I suppose." Sometimes he wondered why that was usually hurled as an insult? Wasn't it...good to be attractive?

[Cespenar]

Momo pauses for a moment -almost a flinch- as she sees the body, and considers checking it over for any residue chakra, but then discards the idea, having wasted enough chakra as it is.

"Seems like a genjutsu," she ventures, uncertain.

She finally takes the flashlight and passes it to Masaru, preferring to keep her hands free for what good it might do.

"Probably, yes. Still, let's keep our eyes open. We can easily be misjudged as his accomplices."

Are we?

[Princess Tracy]

Amon watches the whole scene play out rather dumbfounded it seems. At first she goes on the offensive, thrusting out a finger to Suneko and demanding "Alright, spill it, what the hell are you doing in this fight?" She couldn't exactly play into the Onis' hand after all, anymore than she may be already. But when Keita proves foolish enough to attack Sanagi, Yousuke pops out and half of those present run past Suneko into the building, it was all a bit too fast for her hesitant nature. ... If he's on the side of whoever isn't trying to blow up central, Keita's made himself quite the ironic target. Oh, who cares, focus. Let's see, I've been assigned to protect Momo and she just ran off with some boy we hardly know, even if Yousuke is bringing up the rear with Takuya... Still, it can't be wise to let Suneko operate as she pleases. Damn this is chaotic.

She looks around as surprised it was just her and Keita left. Go forward somehow. "I don't think I can help you much, Sanagi, I'm low on chakra and not much skilled in the first place. I've been assigned to guard Momo as best I can - if nothing else, she's the one thing keeping Kaede remotely sane, and she's decided to try and talk him out of... this. Excuse me, but I'm going through. No need to be too gentle with the oni summoner, as long as she can speak by the end of it she'll fulfill a purpose yet. As for Kaede... no good can come from this rampage. I'll try and stop him in my own way." With that, she runs around the melee, keeping her distance with Sanagi - not wanting to tangle with that aura, as she heads for the entrance to central a short ways behind Yousuke. To Sanagi, she indicates to her glasses, even if she doesn't have the guts to use the Rinnegan against Kaede, even now

[Togath]

At Amon's speech, Keita looks alarmed, "wait!?, The swordswoman is your alley?", turning back to Sanagi, "You could forgive me, right? Right?! I thought you were an alley of Kaede. see j-just a mistake, no harm done.. the poison didn't kill you after all so there's no quarrel?!" he mutters, realizing that he's made a "bit"(putting it lightly) of a mistake here.

[Princess Tracy]

"Of course not," Amon shakes her head at Keita. "Sanagi-san is intent on killing Kaede for his crimes against the Leaf and his family. Sanagi-san, I'm... I'm sorry I looked you in the eye and told you that Kaede was merciful. After all this... I wonder if I really understood him to begin with."

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita & Amon

Sanagi turns away from Keita. "Just don't move."

She doesn't move to stop Amon, and allows the girl to run past. Suneko however, is rather less ambivalent. "Sorry kiddo, but if you're gonna try to stop Kaede then I can't let you through." Amon can't just run past her without getting hit, as the entirety of Central's front gate is within her reach. It gets even worse when she finishes her summoning technique.

She claps, then slams her hands onto the ground. A cloud of smoke envelopes herself, but it disperses in a few seconds to reveal a redheaded woman (http://i.imgur.com/dbdS6c6.jpg) that looks to be in her twenties wearing an odd set of red-and-white armor. A colossal black spear rests against her body, and her right arm hangs around it loosely as if it were a close lover. She's wearing a pair of red-and-black bracers that protect her wrists, and her legs are clad in skin-tight black leggings. The redhead turns a pair of inhuman blood-red eyes upon Suneko, then slowly scans the scene to see who remains. She stops when she settles on Amon, then shakes her head and moves on to Keita. She finally stops at Sanagi.

"Greetings once again, Lady Bea of the Leaf Village. Misfortune seems to have placed us together for a rematch so soon after our last battle, but I am quite sorry to see that you are at a disadvantage. Are your wounds healed yet, or is that another disadvantage for you in this battle?" The red-armored woman speaks in an archaic dialect, and talks to Sanagi as if they were equals. Suneko interrupts the nonsense soon enough, and gives the red-armored woman orders.

"Hanako! I didn't summon you here to gossip like a schoolgirl. Kill them all, then follow me. I'll deal with the ones that got inside." Suneko turns around as she gets ready to leave.

Hanako interrupts her before she leaves. "Even the children?" She has an obvious look of surprise on her face that she would be ordered to kill children. Which is rather different than most oni.

"Of course! They're opposing our new master." Suneko makes a hand-sign, then vanishes in an explosion of smoke.

"Hmph." The redhead raises her left hand and looks to the bracer on it. She grimaces as if she were exerting some sort of physical effort, and the yellow gem on it glows brightly for a half second. But then the gem dims into a plain stone once more. She sighs, lowers her hand, then looks up once more. "I suppose I must. I'm sorry kids, but I promise to make your end quick and as painless as possible."

The leaf-nin's appearance grows dark. "If you want to apologize young man, then stay out of my way. I can't protect you against this one."

Suneko finishes her summoning technique. Hanako acts on Suneko's initiative next turn. She then Heroic Surges in order to use Body Flicker to teleport somewhere.

It's Keita's turn, and Amon needs to roll initiative.

Momo and Everyone Else

Takuya leads Yousuke along with his ball of light. The ball of light reveals charred black stains on the floor leading down the main hall. Both of them hear voices in a side door, and when they get closer they can clearly hear Momo and Masaru.

Both Momo and Masaru hear Takuya and Yousuke walking down the hall, and the two groups meet in the main hallway. Momo and Masaru can see the charred bits of the floor made visible by Takuya's ball of light.

If the group follows the trail of burnt wrecks, then they eventually head upstairs toward Kai's office. However, they're stopped by the sudden feeling of a presence ahead of them. Neither Takuya's light nor the flashlight reveal anything, but the genin instinctively realize they are not alone. A familiar voice draws their attention forward, but it doesn't seem to emanate from any particular part of the hallway.

"I'm afraid this is as far as you go. Kaede-sama doesn't want to see anyone right now, and he has told me to prevent anyone from coming through." Cybele's voice is firm and low, as if warning the genin not to move any further. "I cannot allow you to pass through here. I'm sorry."

[Princess Tracy]

Initiative [roll0]

[Togath]

"Well darn, had sort of been expecting her to summon some sort of ogre, given her title.." says Keita, a bit nervous, but not overly so.
"This looks.. fun?, but I'm afraid I won't do much good in a fight like this, so long, hope to see you again" says Keita, trying to dash past Hanako and into the building.

ooc:
Keita moves to 11(horizontal)/9(vertical) moving around Sanagi's threatened area, and uses Kawarimi to teleport into the doorway, 5ft. past the brown area on the map(since it will now be in line of sight)

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Keita teleports into the building. He sees the yawning darkness inside, and a tiny light bobbing in the distance. It's probably one of the other genin groups that dashed past. However, he doesn't hear any voices from inside.

The area around the Thunder God smells strongly of ozone as she assumes a stance that Amon has never seen before. Her hands hold her sword loosely, and she stands with legs apart and firmly planted. Sanagi breathes in deeply, then exhales. Immediately her body exudes a powerful aura of static electricity. The air around her becomes charged enough that tiny bolts of electricity arc down to strike her body and escape to the ground through her feet. Her sword glows slightly as it works as a conduit for the energy radiating from her body. "This doesn't work as well without storm clouds, but I'll make due. I will not be taken off guard nor will I hold back this time, Red Princess."

With that said Sanagi takes another deep breath, and as soon as she exhales a powerful change overtakes her. Silvery-white energy begins pouring out of her body, and both Amon and Keita immediately recognize it as the aftereffects of the Initial Gate being released. However, that isn't all that changes. Her skin becomes a deep beet-like red as her blood flow dramatically increases. Air pressure pushes dirt and dust away from Sanagi as she releases an immense amount of strength. If Amon weren't seeing it first hand, then it would sound like something coming out of one of Youki's novels.

Hanako looks at Sanagi with a forlorn look. She sighs. "I have to do my duty, I'm afraid. We'll fight in a bit."

"What... No!" Sanagi realizes what Hanako means far too late. "Run boy! Get out of here!"

The red-headed oni turns around to face Keita. She looks directly at him, as her inhuman eyes are able to effortlessly penetrate the all encompassing darkness wrapping around the young man. She calmly steps toward him, spins her lance around to a striking position, and jabs it forward. The black-and-red blade moves like a snake aiming for Keita's unprotected flesh. "You should have stayed away. There is no solace in it: But I wish you to know that taking your life will stain my honor far more than betraying my Emperor ever did. I am truly sorry to see you die, and I hope your next life is not one so violent and short."

http://i.imgur.com/fNRS8V3.png

Legend: Hasn't changed.

Keita can't see into the building, so the map doesn't change much.

Sanagi activates Sword Art: Stance - Jigen Ryu. She activates Saint's Fury as a free action, then uses Life Gate Release as her standard action. Due to her mastery of Initial Gate Release she's able to skip it and immediately open the Life Gate.

The Red Princess takes a five foot step to (7,8). Due to her darkvision, Keita is unable to hide from her as he does not have concealment due to darkness.

She releases her speed and strength ranks as a free action, then full-attacks Keita.

Attack #1
Attack Roll: [roll0] - vs Keita's Defense
Damage Roll: [roll1] - Overcomes DR/Magic.

Attack #2
Attack Roll: [roll2] - vs Keita's Defense
Damage Roll: [roll3] - Overcomes DR/Magic.

Attack #3
Attack Roll: [roll4] - vs Keita's Defense
Damage Roll: [roll5] - Overcomes DR/Magic.

Initiative:
Sanagi
Suneko(Gone) / Hanako
Amon
Keita

[Cespenar]

Momo abruptly slows down when she hears the familiar voice, and finally comes to a stop. She looks around for a second to pin Cybele down, fully knowing her definite incapability of doing so. She pauses for a moment, hesitant as she looks back at her companions, but then starts to speak.

"Cybele-san, I admire your loyalty, but I really need to speak to nii-san right now. I'm sure he must have excluded me from that order, and if not, must have taken it for granted."

She takes an experimental step or two.

Take 10 by Bluff for 20, for what it's worth.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and Minions

Momo finds neither hide nor hair of the assassin. However, she knows that Takuya's ball of light has a bright radius of about thirty feet, so Cybele couldn't be within that range. Unless she's standing in their shadows behind them. Regardless, Momo hears her maid's voice once more. This time it's a bit darker and somber.

"Kaede-sama was quite explicit. No one, especially not Momo-sama, was to be allowed through." Cybele's voice grows slightly quiet. "No one."

When Momo steps forward, Cybele's voice comes back in a much louder tone. "Stop! I... I cannot knowingly hurt you, Momo-sama, so I do not wish to fight. But. This stone heart of mine holds no such love for your friends. If you continue forward, then." She's quiet for some time.

It takes almost a minute before she says something else. But when she speaks again her voice is ice cold. All the genin aside from Momo can feel the rising killing intent of a predator hunting prey. Yousuke recognizes the feeling as what he felt way back when Team 5 was first formed. He, Houshi, and Eisen met the woman with Cybele's voice once before; the assassin of the Hidden Stone known as Stone Heart Cybele. "I cannot bar your passage, nor can I harm you in any way Momo-sama. But know that if you continue, then the lives of your friends will be forfeit. They will die in pain, begging for me to end their lives, and I will refuse."

[Togath]

Hanako's attack stabs cleanly through Keita, sending him flying a few feet, though out of the barrage of her other attacks.
He appears nearly dead, and bleeding profusely, and at least at the moment is unconscious.

ooc:
auto failing fort save vs, knock back, in case it manages to knock him to safety

[Eurus]

A slow shudder creeps down Masaru's spine, as much from the tone of Cybele's speech as from the actual words therein. Slowly, he looks at Momo, wondering what she intends to do. When the silence drags on for a few moments, he nervously clears his throat.

"...We're only here to warn him, anyway. A woman named Sanagi is outside, and after she kills everyone in her way, she intends to come inside and fight Kaede."

As he speaks, he turns around to illuminate the shadows behind them cast by Takuya's light.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke eyes his former sensei warily but widens his stance and glances to Momo out of the corner of his eye. "Momo, I...do not like my chances against Cybele, especially when I am backed by tw- a single ally that I have no experience working with but if you are confident in your ability to persuade Kaede then I will attempt to hold her off for however long as possible. The choice is yours but just know that we are working under a time constraint." There would be no aid coming from the chemist, he realized and despite knowing Takuya the longest he had no real understanding of the genin's capabilities outside of the mysterious water blob he used to attack Alice. Then, leaning in to whisper in Momo's ears he adds, "Unless of course, you are willing to turn your own doujutsu on her..."

[Cespenar]

Momo's eyes open wide as Cybele suggests what she will do if she continues walking. She keeps silent for a while, and Yousuke's confirmation of the maid's power only sours her face another level.

"Even if I would turn my Sharingan on her, it might not be enough. And the stakes are too high," she whispers back to Yousuke, gritting her teeth. She looks back at the others to underline what stakes she is talking about.

She turns suddenly, and faces the direction they were going, as if Cybele stands over there. Her face immediately softens.

"Cybele-san. As I said, I admire you, but there's another layer of loyalty here that you should think about."

She revolves around her heels slowly, and examines the walls.

"Nii-san needs me. He may not look like it or definitely not say it, but he turned... well, grim the last time we saw him. Something affected him, or perhaps it was simply too much to mask it anymore, but he is not as he was before. He needs me, just as I need him. If we could just talk, if I could understand what's truly plaguing him, I can help him before he does something even he would regret."

She separates her eyes from the walls and looks, again, directly forward.

"If you truly care about him... or me, and are not a drone who mistakes loyalty for blind obedience, you would let me pass, for his own good. Or even better, come with me. The three of us together, there wouldn't be anything we couldn't work out."

Take 10 for Diplomacy for 20, just in case.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and Friends

Cybele says nothing for a long while, then suddenly her voice comes back as cold and empty as it was before. "You're right. Your brother has changed. He is angry and vengeful."

The former sky ninja goes quiet once more, then speaks in the same dark tone. "But you are wrong. You cannot help him anymore. Momo-sama is, and always will be, something precious to Kaede-sama. He has gone through a great deal to start this. He is overthrowing the Sky, and plans to destroy the shinobi world. If he were to hear your words it would break his heart, and then we would both lose something precious."

Quiet descends as Cybele stops talking for a moment, but it doesn't last forever. The stone floor beneath the group shudders as it moves. But rather than collapse as they would expect, it instead bunches up under their feet and a wall of stone shoots up out of the ground. The first wall is joined by a second wall jutting out of the ground behind them. The stone wall blocks any passage forward or back, and would have to be destroyed in order for the genin to advance or retreat. Cybele's voice comes from beyond the wall, in the direction they had been going. "I am sworn to protect you, Momo-sama. But I am not your servant. I am Kaede-sama's shadow, and as such I have been entrusted to protect him from anything that would cause him pain. Whether that pain is caused you, me, or even himself is irrelevant. And make no mistake: My betrayal would be no different than your heartfelt words; we would both destroy him. The only thing you can do for Kaede-sama now is to stay here until he comes for you. I will go tell him where you are."

The only sound coming from beyond the wall is that of Cybele's heels clicking against the stone floor as she gets further and further away.

[Cespenar]

Momo stands still for a moment, then turns around and leans on the newly grown wall. When she comes in eye contact with her companions, she shrugs feebly and slumps to the ground, into a sitting position. The ordeal was starting to be emotionally tiring as well as physically - and it wasn't the end of it by far.

Well, at least the most prominent assassin of the village wasn't locked in mortal combat with her friends, so that was something, she guesses.

[Eurus]

So nobody was getting murdered. That's... good, he supposed. Although it was hard to feel too relieved when the Uchiha girl seemed so dejected, or perhaps simply exhausted. He has the vague urge to try and say something reassuring, thinks better of it when he remembers that he barely knows her and would probably sound like an idiot anyway.

Trying to occupy himself, Masaru idly looks around their little sealed-off room with the light. He'd never been in this part of Central before. In different circumstances, it would have been a much more interesting experience.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

The room is twenty feet long, just big enough to fit all the genin comfortably, and ten feet wide. There are no doors leading elsewhere, and no windows. The rough walls blocking off the tunnel are parts of the floor. There's not a lot to look at.

[Eurus]

After occupying himself for all of about ten seconds, Masaru sighs and takes a seat on the other end of the "room" from Momo.

[Overlord Rion]

Takuya sits down and puts his arm around Momo in a side-hug. "It just keeps happening, doesn't it? We keep getting rendered ineffective or useless. I guess that's our place in things." His free hand clenches into a fist, water beginning to drip from it and slowly form into his damp companion.

"If Kaede is trying to throw the order out of whack, why can't we? We're not or useful if we just sit here. You...we need to get up and get moving." Takuya makes the motions to try to get Momo on her feet.

[Cespenar]

Momo is mildly surprised by Takuya's words, who usually kept silent and distant to this point, but she appreciates them nonetheless, and doesn't shrug him off.

"He won't even talk to me," Momo says, partly tired and partly frustrated. "What good is a sibling if he is afraid of talking to you?"

"But I guess you're right. We're no good sitting here and waiting like good dogs." She takes Takuya's helping hand and lets herself pulled up to a stand. Glancing at the others' inaction, she sighs and starts patting her belt pouches to locate a stack of exploding tags. She takes out a couple and sticks them to wall before urging the others to the opposite side of the room.

"You might want to cover your faces."

Linking two superior exploding tags and fully charging them for 10 chakra... unless someone has a better idea, because this reduces Momo's pool to rather critical levels.

Linking more than two would grow the radius to more than 15 feet, and we have only 20 feet room.

[roll0]
[roll1]

Pool: 14/42
Reserves: 13/25

[Eurus]

Masaru quickly pulls himself back up and moves into the far corner at Momo's urging, covering his eyes and wincing as the explosion shakes his bones. Wordlessly, he reaches into a pocket and pulls out a pair of small vials, handing them to the Uchiha.

"...Make sure to let the first one finish before you take the second."

Have a set of Chakra Restoration Amplifiers.

[Cespenar]

Momo eyes Masaru skeptically, her paranoid side screaming the folly of taking drugs from someone who was fighting you an hour or two ago, but Momo silences that voice with articulate counter-arguments, like "Why would someone try to poison you in the midst of this mess anyway", and "Shut your bloody trap."

What she says out loud is a muttered thanks as she pops one of the pills down her throat.

[roll0]

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke blinks through the darkness, covering his mouth to prevent any dust from entering his lungs. When some of the dust is cleared he gestures wildly toward Kaede's direction. "This is no time to be chatting idly, Cybele has surely heard the explosion. Move! We may not be able to fight Cybele on equal ground but if we are in your brother's presence I doubt she would go as far as to kill us." Snapping his eyes toward Momo he asks, "What do you know about her doujutsu? Can she differentiate between chakra types? Would it be possible for us to disguise ourselves as you?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Momo's explosive tags destroy the wall ahead of them. Cybele is no where to be found, but it's unlikely that anyone would have been able to spot her if she was there anyway. They can clearly see the trail of formerly alive sky-nin that will probably take them to Momo's brother. Or, at least, to someone killing sky-nin.

[Cespenar]

Dusting herself off, Momo blinks rapidly against Yousuke's torrent of questions, but then shakes her head.

"Truth be told, I don't know the full capabilities of her doujutsu, but I'd guess that it couldn't see chakra as the other bloodlines can.

"Still, though, I believe we're past the point of Cybele's threats and will probably be confronting my brother shortly, so I think the point is kinda moot."

She stops, wondering if any of them have anything else to say, ask or plan.

[Eurus]

"...Let's cross our fingers, then."

He doesn't seem to have anything else to contribute. Nothing, at least, that he's willing to actually verbalize. If he had some concerns over whether Momo would be able to reason with her brother... well, he assumed it was probably nothing that she wasn't already asking herself, and wouldn't accomplish much by reiterating.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke quirks and eyebrow and scoffs at the Uchiha. "Oh? And what makes you say that? Do you have some special insight into Cybele that tells you that she will not make good on her threat as we march toward your brother? Do you you think she is, for whatever reason, incapable of making chase? If so, then by all means. Ignore the danger that she presents." Pressing his hands into the requisite seals, he transforms into a a streaked, grey rodent and bounds along Momo's arm. The mouse squeaks into the girl's ear, "But if it is all the same to you I would much rather keep my life."

[Eurus]

Masaru watches as Yousuke shrinks down for convenient transport, surprised ny the swordsman's tone. Apparently he wasn't as stoic and professional as Masaru had assumed.

More relevantly, he found himself unsure if he should follow suit or not. It seemed like a good idea, but he wasn't entirely sure where turning into a rodent and hiding on somebody's person fell on the scale of implied social familiarity. Finally, he shrugs and signs out the transformation jutsu as well, taking a form identical to the swordsman's and looking up at Momo with beady black eyes as if to ask permission to climb aboard.

[Cespenar]

Momo, too, raises an eyebrow against the Konpaku's unseemly tone, but doesn't push the matter. In any case, it would be weird to argue with a mouse sitting on your shoulder.

She almost chuckles when Masaru joins in on the idea as well, and nods at the boy. She glances askance at Takuya.

Whatever way Takuya chooses, Momo advances with her companions around her, and follows the trail of sky-nin to what she supposes to be her brother.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Momo and her animal companions follow the trail of corpses with obvious ease. The other genin are able to hide in her pockets and the folds of her clothes in order to keep themselves a secret, and thus make it appear as if Momo is alone.

The trail of dead sky-nin stops at a balcony that the sky-genin recognize. It's the balcony Taro, Sonia, and Kai had used to address the crowds during any village fairs or events. The door to the balcony is broken open, and a dead middle-aged sky-nin rests on top of the door. Beyond the door frame stands a familiar dark-haired young man, and to each side of him stand familiar young women. Kaede's wreathed in a visible aura of energy--orange-red in color--that surrounds him like flames around a bonfire. Even those genin unable to sense chakra are capable of feeling the intense amount of energy poured into that aura around him. His aura feels like barely restrained bloodlust marred by a deep and eternal fury, and he smells of charcoal and a burning death. Where Cybele's chakra had been a chasm, and Sanagi's a thunderstorm, the aura around Kaede felt like a firestorm. His anger brings an imaginary heat that threatens to consume everything around him.

To the man's left stood the purple-haired long-limbed assassin they had just miraculously escaped moments before, and to his right stands the blond-haired eyepatch wearing woman who had been opposing Sanagi just minutes prior. The blond is the first to speak. "I summoned the Red Princess to deal with the intruders. I hope you don't mind, but I ordered Hanako to kill them. The leaf bitch--"

Immediately the aura of flame reacts as Kaede's killing intent spikes. A lasso of red fire, taking the form of a skeletal hand made of flame and hatred, grabs the blond woman's throat. Suneko struggles immediately,feebly grasping at the hand of pure energy holding her throat. "Did I give you an order to kill anyone?" Cybele watches the Uchiha throttle his companion with a detached look. To anyone who didn't know her better, her lips could even be mistake for holding a faint smile.

"I--Erk--I", Suneko struggles to speak, "P-grah--please" The skeletal hand vanishes as quickly as it had formed, and Suneko drops to her knees holding her throat. "Call her off. If Momo is hurt, then you had best start running. Or order your oni to kill and eat you. That would be the only way to spare yourself what you will suffer when I find you."

Suneko just stares at the ground in wide-eyed fear, but when Momo is mentioned Cybele speaks up. "Momo-sama is alive, and inside the building. I stopped her and her friends a few moments ago." Immediately Kaede's aura reacts once more, but Cybele continues without a hitch. "They are trapped in a hallway, but there should be enough air for them to be alright for a few hours." It seems that her quick manner of speaking saved her from whatever that wreath of energy was.

None of the three seem to have noticed Momo, or her companions, just yet.

[Cespenar]

Momo exerts a considerable amount of will to look past the powerful illusion and see what is there to see - and immediately reconsiders it. Was she better off not seeing?

Nevertheless, she finds her mask of would-be professionalism still holding as she whispers her companions the truth behind the visage.

"There is a powerful illusion at work here, perhaps the strongest the Sharingan can offer. It masks and changes everything. Sunek- the summoner is... almost dead, for example, Kaede choked her for far longer than we have seen. The illusion may also mask himself, but make no mistake, he's the real deal."

She stops, her mouth dry, and realizes she has not much else to tell. She hesitates before taking the steps to finally confront him. It almost seems someone else and not her brother standing there, all hatred and burning anger as opposed to his usual gentle self.

Still, she has to remind herself that this was not the case. She has to remember it and believe it, or how could her brother do the same?

Barring any final words, warnings, or attempts to dispel the illusion from her companions, Momo lurches her feet forwards, opens her Sharingan, and enters Kaede's field of vision.

She readies Sharingan Technique Mimicry until THE END. :smalltongue: Until I say so, I mean.

[Eurus]

Masaru silently watches, feeling more and more disoriented from the vaguely nightmarish scene. He was barely able to realize that his perceptions were being affected by an illusion, one more powerful and insidious than he'd ever heard of, before Momo confirmed it. Even then, picking out what was real and what was altered was difficult.

Why were these people still listening to Kaede, though, if he was so obviously coming unhinged? Cybele, he could only assume had some kind of duty or relationship to the man... but Suneko? Was it pure fear that kept her here, or something more?

The thought that he had been considering, of serving under whatever banner Kaede inevitably erected, seemed less appealing now. Perhaps it was merely the unimaginable stress of comitting such slaughter even for an ostensibly greater goal that was fraying Kaede's sanity right now. Perhaps, once the dust had settled, he would calm down.

...Or perhaps he would kill them all, and Masaru would die feeling utterly useless.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and the Will-Save-ettes.

When Momo makes herself known the three ninja turn to look toward her immediately. Suneko sighs a powerful sigh of relief that Momo is alright, while Cybele is the first to speak. "Ah, Momo-sama. We were just discussing your safety. I take it that you did something drastic to escape my Mudslide Barrier, so I do not believe you have the chakra to harm Kaede-sama."

The dark-haired Uchiha responds to Momo's presence with a look of relief and worry mixed together. The flame-like aura flickers then subsides. It almost vanishes completely, but a last minute flare of power keeps it at a tiny glow hugging Kaede's body closely. "Why did you come here, Momo-chan? It's dangerous. This woman almost killed you." He gestures toward Suneko, and the blond one-eyed woman flinches as she clearly expects something much worse to happen. However, nothing happens to her just yet. "Go home Momo. Stay there until this all blows over. Cy-chan will take care of you, won't you?" He looks to Cybele with that last statement.

The purple-haired assassin returns his gaze, then nods. "If that is Kaede-sama's will."

A soft smile graces the male Uchiha's lips. "See? Go home, and stay there. It's for your own safety."

Yousuke

Yousuke sees the events unfold before him at a much slower pace. It's as if someone had paused the world, and was now advancing time forward frame-by-frame instead of going at a normal pace. Everything suddenly snaps back to the present half-way through Kaede's questioning of Momo's appearance, and the Konpaku clan member misses everything concerning Cybele protecting Momo. The last thing he hears is Kaede requesting that Momo go home for her own safety.

[Bad Situation]

Yosuke in his rat form blinks rapidly, fighting past the disorienting time dilation, only realizing the genjutsu after the fact. "Shameful...I must rededicate myself iff-when we return." Regardless, he keeps himself still and waits to see how the situation unfolds. It was very likely that Cybele knew they were there, if not their exact locations, but it would be unwise to play their hand too hastily.

[Cespenar]

Now that she is here, all sorts of prepared speeches flutter away from Momo's mind, and she stands there for a few moments, almost befuddled. When she gathers herself, she ignores Cybele to address Kaede directly, but not before rolling her eyes at her in a tired way, her expression suggesting "As if I could hurt him with my attacks".

"Nii-san. What are you doing? All this... isn't you," she says, gesturing at the surroundings and the dead body on the floor.

Real eloquent.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

"It's sad, but necessary. All these mercenaries kill for money, and don't know anything else. Even if I could have subdued them, then they would have turned on me the moment it was advantageous. You know that as well as I do, so I had to kill them. As for what I'm doing..." Kaede motions out across the entire village.

"I'm putting an end to this. To the Sky, to the Stone, and even to the Leaf. I will put an end to them all, and show them that forcing children to fight and kill one another is not a sustainable system." Kaede lowers his hand and his head together.

"The Leaf killed our brother. They tortured Daisuke because I met with him. They tortured him to death trying to discover where I had run to, where you were." Kaede shakes his head. "The Leaf betrayed us, just like the Stone, just like the Sky, and just like every other village out there would. I have to do this, Momo. I have to burn it all so we can start anew. I will wipe the map clean like a forest fire that clears out the rotting dead wood so that new seeds can grow."

He looks up toward Momo. "When I'm done, you'll finally be safe. So, please, go home."

[Cespenar]

"I know that the system is broken, nii-san. I know the atrocities the Leaf, Sky and Stone have committed, you don't need to persuade me there.

"But how can you possibly know that everything will be fine and dandy after we burn it down and start anew? Evil will always be in people's hearts, in our hearts, as is good. And as long as there will be people, there will be those that covet power, and will rise to the position to get what they want. That is the truth, the natural way, even in the kingdom of wolves and ants and dragons and oni. It is our duty to be good and true despite that, in means as well as ends, and inspire others to do the same."

She sighs once, and there's the slightest hint of a tear on her eyes.

"You were such an inspiration to me. Perhaps to many that you led and trained as genin. I... might have not followed your path to the fullest, but it was your standards that I always judged myself by. When I... burned those thugs alive back in Sunomo, I felt bad because it wasn't something you would do."

"Now though..." She looks helpless.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede nods. "You're right. There will always be darkness in the hearts of man. But I can change that. Surely you've felt the genjutsu I've cast over this area already, or else you wouldn't be able to talk to me like this." The elder Uchiha motions toward Suneko, who has finally caught her breath and now stood up. The blond summoner startles at Kaede's sudden movement, but is visibly relieved when nothing happens to her.

"This woman is an oni summoner. She can take me to the moon, and I can use my genjutsu to implant a command in the Emperor's body. I will then place one of my eyes into his body, and use this genjutsu at maximum power. I can affect the entire world, and force everyone into a dream state where no one suffers." Kaede turns away from Momo, and looks toward the sky.

"If the people will not find peace on their own, then I can force it upon them. But first, I want to prove that the village system doesn't work. Maybe they'll get along and I won't need the rest of my plan."

[Bad Situation]

Scowling miserably under the cover of Momo's sleeves, Yousuke barely manages to hold back a disgusted squeak. When the Uchiha finally calls attention to his plan on enslaving mankind under his genjutsu he realizes he's heard quite enough. The silver-streaked mouse emerges from its hiding place and bursts into life in front and to the right of Momo in a fully human form. The swordsman makes no move to draw his weapon but scowls nonetheless, disgust clearly written in his features. “True, there will always be darkness in the hearts of men but can you not speak with equal certainty of the kindness inherent to a man's soul? There is no such thing as a stereotypically 'bad' person in this world. Under normal conditions, everybody is more or less good, or, at least, ordinary. But tempt them, and they may suddenly change, for better or for worse. That is what is so frightening about men.” Yousuke turns toward Momo and then back to Kaede, narrowing his eyes angrily.

"What you are doing makes you no different from the people you claim to be fighting against. You are strong and are thus able to shape the world as you please. You may tell the world about your high-minded goals of wiping the slate clean but please, spare me your sophistry. Seeds to grow anew? All you are doing is sowing salt into the soil. Nothing will grow save for the crude facsimiles of mankind that you plan on replacing the world with."

Now seething, Yousuke continues onward. "I will not profess a bond to you as your sister has done but I will say that I respected you, once. Now I am not so sure. Not because of what you plan to do but with how you seem underestimate the power and scope of human goodness. Mankind is not perfect, I agree, but for that very same reason we struggle and strive for a better future. The road ahead is bleak, yes, but that is why people with powerful convictions like yourself are supposed to blaze trails for others to follow. Change is slow in coming but even still, a brighter day is ever onward. Your ideal future however, is stagnant and false. It is bereft of life in its truest sense and though the world may unify itself against you, a peace brought about my hatred and violence is not a peace at all."

With a somber frown, Yousuke breathes out resignedly and once again turns around to face Momo and the others. "The village system as it stands is wrong and does not work but believing that your madness is any better is height of hubris. That I even considered going along with your goals fills me with shame."

[Cespenar]

"But... if you'd force your will upon everyone and change their minds with your genjutsu, then... it wouldn't be peace," Momo blurts out, horrified with the aspect.

"It would be just... you. Your will, your thoughts, and no one else's. You'd essentially be killing everyone in the world."

She stops, covering her face with one hand. This was becoming too much. Overthrowing the system, she could understand, in a way, but this? Is he truly that unhinged? Was the Kaede she knew ever a lie?

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede only has one response for Yousuke's flowery speech. "Shut up. I have no need to hear the words of a child who has gone through the world being pampered and loved. Do you even understand what you're saying? The good in mankind? Ludicrous. You're just some arrogant child living in an ivory tower. You've lived here your entire life under the protection of Youki. You've never seen the way people, real people, stomp on the downtrodden for daring to ask for their help."

Kaede motions to the village behind him. "Has this village shown you children starving and dying on the streets because their lord is unwilling to help them? Have you watched men turn on one another for just a single loaf of bread? Have you seen what happens to a little girl all on her own in a city like Sunomo? Of course not. Because you've lived a pampered, sheltered life. And you have the audacity to lecture me about the good in mankind?"

"I'm strong enough to shape the world? That's right. And that's what I'm doing. Because unlike your grandfather I am not some noble unwilling to act for the betterment of mankind. I am not so arrogant warrior who will not fight if honor, or some other foolish dream is on the line. I am willing to destroy the system, and give people a chance to live in peace on their own. But if they will not, then I will do whatever it takes to enforce my peace."

"Mankind is a selfish hateful beast that will do anything to rule over its neighbors. Any foolish idea you have otherwise is just a delusion on your part. My bloodline alone is proof enough of that. We're an entire clan of murderers who kill their own kin for power. Had I not left I'd have been no different, and if I had not taken Momo then she'd be dead at my brother's hands!" Kaede angrily motions toward Yousuke. "Don't talk to me about your naive backwards ideas until you've spent time in the real world, without the protection of someone more powerful than yourself."

---

When Momo speaks up Kaede just nods. "You're right, but at least everyone would be happy in their own little worlds. Nonetheless, it is a last resort. I want to hope that they can live in peace with the system gone. I want to hope that the surviving ninja will not go back to what they were doing before, and allow lords to rule unquestioned. But I cannot let such hope blind me to reality, so I must prepare a back-up plan."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke scoffs, widening his stance as he replies. "Different? If you would like to believe that nonsense then I will not be the person to tell you otherwise. Hatred will not beget peace no matter what you say and I would rather live in this flawed world, doing my best to make a difference in my own small way, than suffer the future you seek to bring. My grandfather's love may have sheltered me from the true horrors of the world but at least he had the sense to teach me the compassion of being. I struggle to be a man worth half his measure but if I can manage that, then the world will be a better place for it. You would throw the world itself to the wolves in order to sate your petty peace of mind."

"If that is the case I would rather be a naive child with 'backward' ideals than a far gone madman with a messiah complex like you! At least then I could stand to look at myself in the morning. I have not been in the 'real' world as you call it but when the time comes I know for certain that my grandfather's imparted love will see me through even the darkest of days."

Yousuke turns toward Momo after his spiel and says, "If you actually had a plan to deal with your brother I would suggest you get on with it. Otherwise, we should just leave Central as he says. We cannot stop him as we are and I would hate to see your image of Kaede to crumble away any further. I barely knew the man to begin with but even I can see how twisted and ugly he has become. I cannot begin to imagine how you, as his sister, feel."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

"Better? Compassion? Are you stupid? What have you done that was compassionate? Was killing those children compassion? What about the deal you made to give a scared girl a pair of eyes far stronger than her wildest imaginations? Was consigning Amon to a fate of being used by you pathetic humans desperate to save yourselves compassion?"

Kaede raises one hand, and the fire aura around him jumps to live. "Was it compassion when you betrayed Momo to Alice? You're more than wrong and naive; you're a hypocrite and a coward. Don't try to lecture me about compassion when you've done nothing to help anyone but yourself. You haven't attempted to help the world. You've done nothing but serve yourself like the arrogant self-entitled child you are. Your grandfather is a great man, with a powerful sense of compassion. The fact that you are his descendant disgusts me. How much could you have accomplished if you had inherited his will?"

Kaede lowers his hand, then motions to dismiss Yousuke. "Get out of here. Cowards and hypocrites bother my sensibilities."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon apparently isn't fast enough to the draw as Suneko performs her summoning, and stumbles back at the sight of a Princess, scowling as Suneko issues her order. "Tch, you traitorous..." she growls under her breath as the summoner slips away.

She turns an odd amount of attention on the Red as she faulters in her order. "Strange, for all the tales the old ones tell of oni, I'm not sure I've met a Princess yet who was comfortable murdering children..." she remarks, not knowing how eminently ironic that statement would become. She prepares to back away as Sanagi powers up, knowing she wasn't getting past the Red by charging ahead - Yousuke and Takuya will watch over Momo, I'll see if I can circle around and come back while Sanagi keeps her busy.... She can only raise an eyebrow at Sanagi's transformation, commenting under her breath "The Eight Gates? Like Houshi's technique..." Her thoughts go to Houshi's safety in the midst of all this, and she barely looks around in time to see the Red tear Keita apart as he blunders past her.

Her heart freezes for a moment as she stammers, eyes wide as saucers at the crumpled form in the doorway. Suddenly as she feels her own mortality press upon her, her latest sin - that she was writing Sanagi off as a dead woman, a mere sacrifice, becomes apparent. No time for apologies. She bite sher lip, looking to the leaf jounin. "I-I'm a medic. If I could just..." she tries explaining, cutting herself off - that boy would breathe his last by the time she finished giving even a phrase of a plan. No smoke bombs, no time. If Sanagi distracts her I could maybe patch him up and drag him away... but she's intent, I'll almost certainly die! But I... I... I don't even know the boy, what does it matter? Yet i can't just leave him. I wonder if his parents are also in this warzone, frightened for him - dammit... don't think about that, I'm making my feet too heavy to run.

[ZeroNumerous]

Amon & The Dead Guy

Sanagi looks at the girl. "He's really bad off, but if you can save him then I will do my best. Unfortunately, I do not think we have much time."

[Overlord Rion]

Unlike Yousuke, Takuya didn't have anything to say. Also unlike Yousuke, Takuya hadn't fallen for the genjutsu, powerful as it was. Regardless, Takuya ends his transformation and appears by Momo's side.

Do we qualify as cowards?

Nope. Hippocrits, maybe.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke is silent for a while before speaking again, "Yes, those are all true. I have failed countless times and will likely continue to do so in the future. I am nothing like my grandfather and though I have always strived to be like him I cannot manage to be half as noble as him on the best of days. But if I simply gave up trying I would only stain his good name even further. He deserves more to be sure, a grandson much better than me but unfortunately for him the current 'me' is all that I can give him in return. So maybe I cannot speak to you about compassion given my hypocrisy but just because I am wrong does not make you right. Destroying a flawed system and replacing it with something you think will be better is just as perilous as leaving things as they are."

Again, he turns back to Momo. "Your brother wishes me to leave but thankfully I am not here for him. I still need to make up for what happened in the forest so if you need me just tell me and my sword is as good as yours." Unless she objects to it, Yousuke stands beside her and takes a guarded stance.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Kaede glares at Yousuke. His Sharingan flashes, but it's not the same red-and-black eye with three tomoe. Instead, his Sharingan (http://i.imgur.com/SQMJtuT.png) is a black ring with three large spade-like spokes extending out from it. A thin line juts out opposite each spade, almost as if his eyes were three spearheads crossed over one another. "Run." Immediately Yousuke is assaulted by images from his own personal hell.

Whether Yousuke successfully resists the urge to flee or not Kaede releases his evolved Sharingan. But rather than revert to his normal eyes, his Sharingan reverts to its three tomoe form. "All of you would do well to leave as well. I wish to speak to my sister alone. I do not wish to force you to leave, so I am giving you this chance to leave of your own free will."

Yousuke needs a Will Save at DC 25 or he's panicked for [roll0] rounds and takes [roll1] Wisdom damage. On a failure, he immediately flees at the best of his ability. If he succeeds, then he's merely shaken for [roll2] rounds and may act normally.

[Eurus]

Masaru-mouse quietly climbs down off Momo, and returns to human shape. Without a word, he turns and makes his way toward the door, still in contemplation. As if suddenly thinking of something, he looks up at Cybele and Suneko -- the latter more than the former. If possible, he attempts to follow or catch up with her once she leaves the room herself.

[Cespenar]

Momo looks back and forth between Yousuke and Kaede as they verbally attack each other's characters, but she doesn't interfere. When the Konpaku speaks to him, she responds in a sullen, hopeless tone.

"Thank you for your offer, but no. It would be meaningless to try to fight him. Would be just a waste... of lives." Right now, at least, a defiant part of her thinks, but doesn't speak that out loud, here in his earshot.

When Kaede urges them all to leave, Momo nods to this as well, and turns to her companions.

"Just... do what he says. Go back." And find Amon. Sanagi too. Would that they could help anyway.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke meets Kaede's eyes and shudders all of a sudden, barely able to fight back the hellish illusion inflicted upon him. His hands go to the Roukanken but stop when Momo tells him to leave he holds her gaze cautiously before nodding himself. "I should not have to say this but...be careful. I do not think he will hurt you even as he is but there is no telling what is going on through his mind right now." He places a hand on the Uchiha's shoulder and holds it there for a few seconds too long before he squeezes comfortingly and takes his leave. As he leaves he spares a single glance back at the two siblings, taking care not to meet Kaede's eyes again. "Genjutsu. So much for free will, huh?"

[Overlord Rion]

"Kaede...you can do whatever you like, however you like. Argue with Yousuke, talk to your sister, whatever. I'm never far." Takuya shrugs and gives Momo a pat on the shoulder before leaving.

[Cespenar]

Momo smiles weakly at the two boys' attempts of comforting her, but keeps her eyes on her brother nevertheless, her whole body tense with the expectation of what Kaede will say (or do) when they leave.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and the Momettes

The boys leave, and the blond-haired summoner follows. Cybele remains. "I refuse."

Kaede glares at her, and opens his mouth to say something, but thinks better of it when he gets a glare in return. He sighs, then speaks quietly. "Cy-chan. This is important, and something that can only be passed between family members."

The purple-haired assassin continues to glare at Kaede for some time, then closes her eyes and starts walking toward the exit. "I thought I was family too." With that said she leaves.

Yousuke, Masaru, and Takuya

The boys plus Suneko head down the hall, away from the balcony's entrance. The blond-haired summoner doesn't stop however, and continues on her path toward the front door. She says nothing unless spoken to, and will disappear soon enough. Though, she can be chased after if the chaser acts quickly.

Shortly after she leaves Cybele steps out from the balcony and walks into the hallway in plain view.

Momo

Kaede takes a deep breath when Cybele leaves. "You know what my new Sharingan means, right? Those leaf ninja. They accused me of killing our parents, did they not? Well, the truth is, I did. I killed them in anger, and when I realized what I had done I knew I needed to make amends. If I had left you with our brother, then he would have killed you for power. So I placed a genjutsu on you so you would think everything was okay, then kidnapped you. I'm sorry that I ruined your life, but I could not trust Daisuke after we had fought."

With that said, Kaede continues on. "I met with Daisuke recently, during what I thought would be a pretty mundane mission. The Leaf captured him again after we had met, and according to Suneko they tortured him to death. I will destroy the Leaf for that."

The elder Uchiha retrieves a scroll from one of his pockets, then throws it toward Momo. The scroll bears the seal of the Uchiha Clan, and is bound together in golden wire. "When you want to learn the truth of our clan, our history, then just use that summoning scroll. The scroll only works for one person, so you can't bring any friends with you. But it'll show you everything."

[Cespenar]

Momo, thinking her brother would talk about the current situation, is baffled even further as he dumps some ugly truths on her. She only manages to catch the scroll with both her hands, and gazes at it for a couple seconds, not knowing what to do, or say. Part of her mind just wanted to close up shop, but another, persistent part tries to pick up the pieces and build a semblance of a train of thought.

"Then... Koji was right. I preached to him about keeping an open mind, but it seems that mine was clouded ever since. Still..."

She looks troubled as she tries to make sense of it all.

"Was it because they forced the two of you to kill each other that you lashed out?"

Even with the horrors laid out in daylight, Momo finds that she couldn't fully blame Kaede. It was definite that he wasn't the saint Momo believed him to be, but the ways of their family practically forced him to betray them.

[Eurus]

Masaru exhales in relief to be out of the room with the Uchiha. While it was hard to say that the encounter had gone well, at least nobody was dead. When Suneko continues walking away, Masaru briefly speeds up his own pace to try and keep up with her, following the summoner to the other door.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"They told Daisuke about the family history. Before you were born, they had encouraged Daisuke and I to fight and squabble. They wanted to build enmity between us. So he naturally assumed I would try to kill him when they told him. We fought, but he was still just a rookie, and I was already a jounin by then."

Kaede shrugs. "Maybe I could have saved them all if I had done things differently."

Masaru

Suneko doesn't say anything when Masaru starts following her. Until they round a corner and it's become plainly obvious that they're not just incidentally traveling the same way. She speaks without stopping or turning around. "What do you want kid? I've got important stuff to do, and don't want to get killed because of your curiosity."

[Eurus]

Masaru seems mostly unfazed by the brief interrogation, bending in a polite bow. "My apologies, Master Summoner. I wanted to see if you could shed some light on this situation."

He hesitates for a moment, unsure how to approach the subject even though it's probably obvious where he's heading. Only a moment, though. Testing Suneko's patience seemed unwise.

"...Do you know what set him off? You spoke to him privately while the rest of us were at the shrine, right about the time of his... change of heart?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Suneko just shrugs, still not looking in Masaru's direction. "It doesn't matter to you, so don't bother me about it."

[Eurus]

Masaru nods slowly, unsurprised by the answer, but continues following Suneko. "Right. Well."

"...Fine. Let's try one that does. Do you think Kaede is still sane?"

[Cespenar]

Momo listens to what Kaede says about their family's history, but then shakes her head. All this was... not unimportant stuff, but they were irrelevant with all the villages and people at stake.

"I... don't judge you by those, nii-san. Our family... you... may have done what you needed to do," she manages to say, "And it might have gone better with you kidnapping me than if you didn't."

She shakes her head another time, as if wishing to send those visions away. She swallows hard.

"But what matters is now. Your plan - I agree that the system is more than flawed, it desperately needs to be changed, but you aim to burn the whole tree down while all it needs is pruning the rotten parts. I... I can't agree with that. It's a waste of a lot of good... wood."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Suneko shrugs again. "Who knows? It doesn't matter one way or another to me. And it shouldn't matter to you either; just try to survive."

Momo

Kaede nods. "Perhaps you're right. Some people will suffer. But afterward, everyone will live happily. I hope I won't need to resort to my final plan, because I like having both my eyes. But if I must do it, then I will not hesitate at all."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon goes over her equipment quickly in her head, straining for an idea of how to fix this. She didn't have smoke bombs anymore, though she did have a single dose of poison gas - it wouldn't be deadly, not to her anyway, but she wonders how effective it would be considering the real fight was between these two. Maybe I could use the Rinnegan to suggest that she ignore me in favour of Sanagi... an honourable fight does seem to be what she desires, there's no honour in this - but from what I understand I don't think she's keen to be affected by these eyes again. She nods at Sanagi's tentative assurance and advice. "I think I heard a lung tear," she responds in a quivering voice, trying to gather her wits. One wrong move and she'd die. Then what? Sanagi orders her genin to drag her corpse back to the leaf's surgeons so they can use the Rinnegan out of Kaede's hands? As beneficial as THAT may be, I have to keep going. No matter how weary I am, I have to keep living. But... I can't be a coward any longer, can I? A creeping id of self-hate chimes in, 'You'd go further if it were Yousuke.' Somehow she manages to invigorate herself with that thought, stepping up with an air of defiance... I'm the Sage's Heir, I need to be valiant

Jury rig something, quick, you don't have time! Her eyes flash briefly towards the railing, if she deems it possible, she might cast her hand back like a fishing line to snag the rail into being a pulley before attaching to Keita - if that seems implauable to the master mechanic she'll instead use her upper body strength to drag him. Amon uses her chakra strings to snag and wrap Keita, tugging him wildly away from the Oni, careful, desperate not to cause him further damage if such a thing was possible, as she herself tumbles forward to his side. if unthreatened, she does her best to treat him, applying pressure and bandaging, hoping his body can hold out

Edit: I just realised she moved forward the last turn before Suneko stopped her, so she and Keita should be about 15 feet outside of her spear's reach, so that's nifty. (back of the envelopse, the red moved etc.) I'll leave it to your discretion, I'mma pass out from dehydration now. That or go find water

Heroic Surge in there somewhere

Begin healing. TREAT INJURY [roll0]

[Eurus]

"...I suppose that's why I'm asking, more or less. Sane or not, maybe it doesn't matter. I just want to know if it's safer to stay in the eye of the storm, or get as far away as I can. Since it seems like you're choosing the former, I thought perhaps you had some insight. But if not, I apologize for the disturbance."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Suneko just shakes her head. "Safe? There's no where safe anymore kid. You're going to be involved in the war eventually, whether you're on our side or theirs. I just picked the side I think will win the fight. And, really, what else can you do?"

Amon & Keita

Amon is able to successfully pull Keita away from the spear-wielding oni. Hanako sighs, then raises her spear up. "I commend you for trying to save your comrade, but I cannot allow you to leave with only wounds. I apologize, but I will need to end your lives."

Immediately Sanagi charges Hanako. "This is between us! No one else!" During the charge Hanako lashes out with her spear and slashes Sanagi's leg.

Unphased by the injury, Sanagi clashes with Hanako. Her swordplay pushes the oni back, but she's obviously not injured her opponent as much as she's been injured. And the lightning running through her blade doesn't seem to be bothering the oni in the slightest. It's rather obvious that a direct exchange of physical might will end with Sanagi losing once more.

And Hanako's next move does nothing to change that. The oni breaks distance, lowers her spear close the ground, and bears her teeth like a jungle cat that spotted prey. In a second she closes the distance between herself and Sanagi, and her blade shatters Sanagi's guard instantly. The oni impales her leaf-nin enemy, and the leaf-nin drops her weapon. Sanagi feebly grasps the metal blade that now grows out of her stomach.

"Hm... You survived this time. Congratulations." Sanagi doesn't respond to Hanako, and instead talks to Amon and Keita.

"Idiots... R-run.." The leaf-nin falls to her knees, and then falls unconscious. Hanako spins her spear, scattering blood across the floor as she cleans the blade. The red princess turns toward the two sky-nin.

"It looks like this is the end for you. I am sorry, truly, for what you must now suffer. I will give you some time to come to terms with your approaching end." Hanako calmly watches the genin.

Amon is given 1 minute to do as she wishes.

Relevant combat information:
Sanagi charges. She attacks, rolling a 14 for a total of 43 to hit. She succeeds, and deals 19 slashing damage plus 12 lightning damage. Hanako resists 10 of the lightning damage, resulting in a total of 21 damage.

Hanako gets an AoO during the charge, and rolls an 7 for a 33 to hit. She succeeds, and deals 22 piercing damage.

Hanako's turn comes up. She five-foot steps backwards, then uses Soujutsu: Reverse Hassun. She opts to Power Attack for 3 on her attack rolls, and rolls an 18 for a total of 39. She deals 52 piercing damage, and forces two Fortitude Saves from Sanagi. The first is a Massive Damage Save at DC 15, and Sanagi rolls a 10 for a total of 19 and succeeds. The second is a save to be reduced to -1 from Reverse Hassun itself. Sanagi rolls a 14 and spends a point of chakra for Empowered Resilience. She gets a total of 27 and fails.

Sanagi is reduced to -1, makes a Fort Save to stabilize. She rolls an 8 for a total of 17 and succeeds.

[Overlord Rion]

Takuya sighs and takes his off his headband. He considers it as he speaks."Well, what are the chances the others died a horrible death because I focused only on Momo?" He stuffs it into his shirt and pulls out a hat (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=842791) to replace it. He continues as he attmempts to adjust it, although it appears to be a little too big for his head. "I'm starting to think I screwed up as a sky-nin. Thoughts?"

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke scoffs, likewise pulling the metal plate down from his forehead and lets it dangle from his neck, sending his silvery bangs cascading down the front of his face. "Not like being a sky-nin means anything, anymore. Though, I am beginning to wonder if it ever did..." Staring up wistfully at the ceiling he adds, "Well, even supposing you are a bad shinobi at least you can come out of this saying that you're a decent human being. A decent friend. You stuck by Momo, for better of for worse. That takes a kind of conviction that I'm realizing I never had to begin with..."

The swordsman presses his back against the wall and slowly slumps down to the ground, covering his face and eyes with his right hand, laughing mirthlessly. "Kaede's right about me...I'm just a dumb, arrogant kid whose caught more lucky breaks than he really deserves." Eventually he removes his hand from his face and offers Takuya a sad smile, "For what it's worth though, I don't think you're a screw up. you may have 'betrayed' the Sky but you did right by me when you decided to help Momo out through that Alice mess." With that said Yousuke crawls over to where Takuya is and nudges him on the shoulder good-naturedly before pressing up against the wall again, squeezing his legs against his chest as they wait for Momo to finish.

[Overlord Rion]

"Statistically speaking, any of us making it this far is a freaking miracle. Think about it, we've dealt with living puppets, the dragon sage, oni, and even the Mangekyou Sharingan. We should have died a long time ago. Then again, you are kind of an arrogant ass. But we put up with you anyway." He takes out the Soragakure headband and throws it to the side."Besides, I was mostly just doing it because I ended up with a crush on Momo. I feel like a supporting character who fell for a protagonist in some manga."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke's smile drops immediately and he turns to Takuya with an impassive stare as he monotonously conveys his disapproval. "In that case, I take back any such concessions regarding your personal character. You are in fact, a terrible human being and the world will be a better place when you die."

He turns away from the other genin and looks down the hallway leading out Soragakure. "Anyway, don't be too sure of yourself. If it was just crush you wouldn't have thrown everything away just to be with her. This tells me one of two things: you're either a lovesick fool or you're seriously underestimating yourself. Maybe both even. You are kind of off in the head."

Frowning at the 'supporting character' comment, Yousuke adds, "Well, she is rather pretty and from what I have observed those of her kind are among the most dangerous. Back in the Academy, the girls who would wait for me after class were the worst. You could never quite tell what they wanted, you know? Normally my advice to you would be to just...glare at her a lot but I guess that may not be entirely applicable in your situation...

[Overlord Rion]

Takuya laughs a little at Yousuke's comments. "It's true, I am a little off in the head. Voices, even. When the blob is around I hear it less." Takuya absentment-mindedly manipulates some water from his blob as he talks. He wonders briefly if he could change the color of it later. "What exactly do you mean her kind? Women, or pretty women in general?"

Isn't there something we should be doing?

We're waiting on Momo.

And not killing Kaede. Or finding your parents.

I can't just leave. Not yet. Not until I know she's good.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke waves his hand dismissively, "Women in general. In case you have not noticed, they are terrifying creatures. I do not know how my grandfather manages to deal with them or how he is always chasing after them. He says that it is something I will learn to appreciate when I am older. I somehow doubt it. Another way that I am different from my grandfather, I suppose."

"What about you? Didn't you say something about your parents earlier?"

[Overlord Rion]

"Currently, my parents are MIA. I ended up getting caught up with Momo again and haven't had the chance to look for them, what with the oni at the front door. I feel uncomfortable doing things by myself since I'm not the most effective ninja." Takuya nervously fixes his hat. "Say, when this is over, would you mind showing me some Taijutsu? I usually wasn't paying attention in the academy."

See, Yousuke gets it!

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke looks over Takuya's overall build and smirks slightly, "You know, Amon asked me something along those lines not too long ago and I shot her down pretty badly. But in your case...sure." The white-haired genin smiles in spite of himself and laughs a little, "Who knows, it might even be fun. And at least with you I won't have to worry about snapping off your arms by mistake. Still, it would be a crash course if nothing else. I can show you a thing or two but not much more than that. Imagine me being an actual teacher? I pity the poor kid who gets saddled with my tutelage."

After laughing a bit his face goes serious, "Besides, I'm...not planning on sticking around Soragakure for too long after all this goes down. But uh, I'd like you to keep this between us okay?"

[Overlord Rion]

"A crash course is all I need. Formalized training never really was my style anyway. After all, it's best to find your own style once you've got the basics." At Yousuke's admission that he will be leaving, Takuya simply nods and shrugs. "You think I am either? I'm only here if Momo needs me to be."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke shrugs and nods his head in return. "Well, if that's all you want, then it won't be much of a bother. In return how about you give me some pointers on picking out genjutsu? I was never really good at laying down convincing illusions but after Kaede...if I ever have to fight another Genjutsu-user in the future I'm going to be ready for it..." His face grows dark at this admittance but he smooths it over easily enough. "Takuya is actually an alright guy. I can't believe I was ever mean to him back at the Academy. Well, just another way I was wrong I guess."

It was strange to be sitting here, talking so casually, in spite of the chaos that was surely going on outside. But he'd promised to help Momo earlier and this time he was going to see it through. "Still, I worry about Amon and grandfather. I can only pray that they do not cross over into the Princess' realm."

[Cespenar]

Momo looks lost. Despite her numerous counter-points, Kaede doesn't seem to budge at all, or even consider his plans something to be argued about.

He sees me purely as an object to protect, she realizes. He doesn't acknowledge me as a person, someone who has ideas of her own.

This was going nowhere. Never in her life does Momo remember feeling more hopeless. Even if they disagreed, there were nothing she could do about it. Kaede wouldn't ever hurt her, and if Momo would consider stopping him, the power disparity between them was so absurd that anything she could throw at him, he could definitely shrug off.

Having run out of ideas, she turns her attention to the scroll in her hands. Fiddling with it for a couple seconds, she mumbles to her brother.

"This... wouldn't put me out long, would it?" she asks.

Depending on the answer, Momo either opens the scroll and starts to read it, or packs it away for later.

[Princess Tracy]

Amon does her best to ignore the fight for that brief moment, focussing on her patient as she pulls off a miracle recover. Well, it would be up to him to recover from there now that she had the bleeding stopped - he certainly wasn't getting back in the action like this. I don't think I'll have an easy time dragging him. The bleeding stopped, she looks up just in time to see Sanagi being impaled, the shock of the moment actually paralyzing her for a moment. She eyes the Red at that last bit of advice from the leaf-jounin, wondering how her odds would have been if Sanagi weren't protecting them. She'll live... I think. Assuming the Red doesn't finish her. She tries to remember if Suneko had ordered her dead - she was sure Kaede had his eyes on Sanagi for his genjutsu. Taking a breath, she casts aside her drenched travelling cloak to reveal her more lithe form, stretching a bit as she stands. If it were Yousuke, with a distraction, she was sure he'd escape, but she was the slowest on their team and she had patients to worry about. Even disregarding them, how far could she really get with this oni? Even if she entertained Amon skulking away, she'd catch up, right?

Let's see, there's the sky rail... I might actually be able to maneuvre better than her there. A sound like clicking fingers echoes through her mind as she figures a way to 'beat' her, silenced by the realisation that murder-suicide was hardly any better than waiting for death. Maybe I can at least distract her from Momo and Yousuke and Takuya by waiting out her mental clock. Kaede should have her call off the princess eventually, right? Then again, maybe he doesn't care...

Her body language shows fear, plain as day as she edges around in cold sweat, but her eyes, oh her eyes, had a grim determination to them as they examined her environment, pausing on the Red's... wristbands? Remembering their glow, she guesses their function, given her defiance earlier. "You don't want to do this, do you? Neither you nor the Blue did. How can the 'Human Princess' break your honour so?" she asks earnestly, matching the Red's gaze with saddened desperation. "I won't disgrace you by begging for a mercy you cannot grant. But I don't want to die so meaninglessly as by her whim..."

Might as well get her talking, give herself a few more moments to think. It may even be educational. Wonder how high up the city is currently... Wonder what this mask does... Wonder if the White would jump in if she thought the Rinnegan was in jeopardy... Wonder if she can fly...

[ZeroNumerous]

Amon

Hanako just looks at Amon. "The Blue Princess does not wish to fight at all. I do wish to fight, but mortals are not honorable opponents. They are weak and easily slain. I do not wish to fight them, but I must." When Amon refers to Suneko as the "Human Princess" Hanako narrows her eyes and glares at the young girl. "Suneko has been punished by the Emperor. She no longer has a title, but she still speaks with the authority of the Emperor. I can no more disobey her than I could disobey the Emperor."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon looks over to the sky, seeming to contemplate her mortality but really she was just trying to imagine a way out of this. "The White was referring to her by a less glamorous 'title' I suppose. Why then does she keep her authority - if it unbreakable? You would be hard pressed to find a shinobi less honourable than I." She tears at her stocking, letting it fall away to reveal her prosphetic as she kicks off her shoe. Wearing clothes over that leg was too restrictive anyway. "My body has already been broken. Though, it isn't the time to be exchanging scars, is it." She sighs wistfully. Omki, sorry, but I've no intention of dying here. Aiko, Kaoru, I'll see you again, I will, I will... "You know, I could help break her hold on you," she offers distantly. She could have Suneko dead within the next ten minutes if need be, but that didn't help her at the moment. "There doesn't seem any love lost between the Princesses and her since I first saw her."

Smokescreen, heal Sanagi, hope for best? Hmmm... I could try and hold out for Kaede or someone to make the save but let's face it. I'm on my own. Something tells me my friends won't be coming out here for a while yet. Maybe I should just cut loose and kill this Princess? She doesn't seem that bad a person, but it's her or me. She seemed resistant to Sanagi-san's attacks, so straight up battle is suicide. So the only way to beat her is... She didn't spot Yousuke when he was scouting, she probably isn't a sensor type...

[Eurus]

Masaru falls silent at Suneko's reply, contemplating the dark futures ahead. If Kaede won, would that be good or bad? Did it matter, even? And would Masaru die pointlessly in a war he had no power to influence?

Useless questions, for now. Suneko had the right idea. Stay focused on surviving the next few hours, then the next few years.

Sighing, he heads toward the building's exit.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"It'll take you back home for a little while, then take you to the cat village. Grandma will take care of you there until you wish to leave. If you want to use it now, then I'll just tell your friends where to find you."

Amon

Hanako just shakes her head. "Suneko has no authority. There is no hold for you to break. She is simply acting as the Emperor's right hand in the human world, because we--the oni--are unable to pass through the barrier freely. Only the White Princess has proven capable of circumventing the barrier with her skill, and it is solely that skill that made her a Princess to begin with."

Hanako simply watches Amon. "Even if you had some way to kill Suneko, or some human magic that would allow you to control my mind, then you will still die. The Emperor no longer allows a Princess her freedom. We are his tools and weapons, and nothing more." She raises her left arm, showcasing the gem built into her bracer. "These will carry out the will of the Emperor, no matter how I might resist. Even if my body acts without the input of my mind."

Amon has 42 seconds(7 turns) remaining

Masaru

Suneko walks in silence, and also heads toward the building's exit.

[Overlord Rion]

"So that's all you need? I'm not sure if you can be a genjutsu-user, but I can teach you the important bits about countering them." He looks in the direction where they left Momo, then in the direction Masaru went chasing after Suneko. "I think we should go check out the others. Momo is capable enough to find us if she needs to. I'm starting to worry about Amon, odd as that may be."

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke simply shrugs, "That's fine with me. I've no interest in learning more about genjutsu than what I need to get by. Don't tell Momo I said this, but I feel that there is simply nothing romantic about genjutsu and the like. Not the way swords do, at any rate." Then standing to his full height, the white-haired genin looks down the long, dark hallway.

"I would rather not abandon my post but Momo has Kaede and if I left you to your own devices I'm sure something bad will happen to you. I'll come with, sure. I wouldn't worry too much about Amon though. She's actually quite intelligent when she's not trying so hard to be. Don't tell her I said that though. It will better for her if she doesn't know that I don't think that poorly of her abilities."

[Overlord Rion]

"She and I differ on the subject as well. Genjutsu is a tool, just like Ninjutsu or Taijutsu. Genjutsu is simply a more subtle tool, using to disorient and minimize bloodshed. At least, that's how I prefer to use it. To avoid battle, rather than in the middle of it. Maybe all this fighting is turning me into a pacifist."

[Cespenar]

As much as the scroll intrigued her, it would mean abandoning her companions to whatever would happen here, and that makes her put it away. She raises her eyes back to Kaede.

"So... what will you do now?" she asks, afraid of what the answer might entail.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

Kaede turns around and looks toward the city. "Finish what I started here, then take the Sky and move it somewhere."

The elder Uchiha is quiet for a time, then speaks to Momo one last time. "You're going to oppose me on this, aren't you? That's fine. I knew we'd eventually have ideological differences. I do not intend to make my move against the major villages without some more allies, so it will be interesting to see if you can gather enough allies to oppose me with force."

[Cespenar]

Momo falters in her speech when finally met with the bluntness she always wished.

"I... you're right, we're not on the same page here, and it should have been fairly easy to see it coming. The mask you've put on all this time -if it were really a mask- was what I've looked up to even since I was little. So, when you finally shed it, it's natural that I can't agree with the person underneath," Momo replies, growing more confident in voice as she makes the deductions on her own character.

"Was it really a mask, though?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"I am who I am. The only secrets I've kept from you have been to protect you. It is unfortunate that you won't join me in this, but I understand. You need to be your own person eventually."

[Cespenar]

"As I said, I don't judge you for what you did to protect me. It might have been unavoidable... I don't know, but I do judge you for the here and now."

She shakes her head, her voice and expression gradually returning to their default.

"This is all so very inefficient. I don't disagree with your goal, you mind. If you were planning to do exactly the same thing but with a more thought up plan and much less collateral damage, I'd be there with you all the way to the end."

She chortles derisively, making it hard to believe that it was the same girl just a minute ago.

"But no, you had to flaunt your Mangekyou around, all sound and fury, obliterating anyone on your path like an angry rhino."

"For all your genius..." she trails off.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"There is no plan that won't have a substantial amount of collateral damage. There can be no plan like that. If you get rid of the current system, and then do nothing. How long will it be until the people turn to war once more?" Kaede motions to the city. "What is the other option? When you can give me that, then I'll consider your side. But until you can provide that, your dream to transition away from the current system with minimal collateral damage is just that; a dream."

Kaede grows quiet again, then turns his back on Momo. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about that: How do you oppose an ideology of violence and hatred? Peaceful change is impossible. Gradual change would be squashed by those who uphold the status quo. What else is there to do but fight?"

[Cespenar]

"Philosophically you're right. By definition, peace can't hope to win against war, because that's what war is about, winning."

"But what you have right there," she gestures at his face, "is a power that could transcend such rules."

Her voice becomes level as she lays out her would-be plan.

"The perpetuators of violence and hatred are limited in number in every village, and are mostly focused to the higher levels of power and standing. With your prowess, you could attack them surgically instead of head on, removing or brainwashing the important figures as you deem fit. The destruction or subversion of the Uchiha clan, for example, would do far more good to the Leaf than what you would accomplish with your war.

"You could also make allies within each village that more or less share your views, and help them up along the way. If you'd play your cards smart, political-wise, you'd soon have power bases in most villages, or hopefully even full or partial control of them."

"Then, simultaneously, you could make the change. Shut down the village system, or convert them into something like a police force instead of assassin schools."

"The path would be longer, perhaps more arduous, and I'm not naive enough to think that there won't be any difficulties, any massacres, any loss of civilian lives. But it would be like a day at the parade in comparison to your plan."

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"That's only part of the picture. Yes, the war factions in most villages are small compared to the population of the village, but the pro-war elements are too pervasive to be eliminated or turned strategically. In the Leaf alone I would need to kill the entire Uchiha clan, many members of the Inuzuka clan, the Hokage and her inner circle, as well as ensure the replacement Hokage is anti-war. All while avoiding detection by the Leaf's greatest trackers."

Kaede shrugs. "And then what? Without the Inuzuka, Hyuuga, or Uchiha acting as a check, how many days will pass until someone decides they want to destroy the Leaf? Certainly the Sand has no qualms with a war at the height of the Leaf's power, so how long will it take for a war to break out when the Leaf is crippled? Will any power short of the Kazekage stop them?"

"Any plan involving small steps will end when one of the other villages strikes first. And if not the Sand, then the Stone, Cloud, or Mist will act. Short of simultaneously taking control of every Kage at the same time, there simply isn't a realistic way to avoid a war starting. If a war breaks out naturally, then a lot of innocent people will get caught in the crossfire. At least, with my method, the only people who will die are those already prepared to to do so."

The elder Uchiha motions toward Momo. "Besides. If your plan works, and all the villages are changed from military organizations to police organizations, then it's only a matter of time until someone steps forward and decides that the people with real power--ninjas--rule over the people without any. And then everything goes back to the way it was, and nothing changes. At best, the peace you broker will be temporary. At worst, you start a war that ends with the annihilation of whichever village was weakened and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocents. My way, however unsavory, will be a peace that is permanent."

[Cespenar]

"You may be right. It might be slow enough with the Sharingan to prove impossible."

With the Rinnegan, maybe?

"Still, while your initial plan is arguable, at least I know that eternal or complete peace is only possible in death. You can't be serious about even considering that... Eye of the Moon plan."

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

"If it is what is needed to achieve true peace, then it is what I will do."

[Cespenar]

"Then I cannot abide by that, for peace without freedom is meaningless." Momo replies.

When she looks at him, for a moment it's as if a little sister looks up to her brother.

"So... this is goodbye, then?" she asks with a queer sense of melancholy.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo

Kaede looks at Momo with a weary gaze, then closes his eyes. He smiles. "We'll meet again. When I've fixed things, then we'll move somewhere quiet and be a family again. I promise."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon eyes the gems as her heart sinks. No matter her mind's input, she'll attack... In that case... I'm out of moves, or at least sane ones. This was tailor made to stop the Rinnegan. Is this really the same emperor I saw though, to have such tricks? "I have a genjutsu that would put you to sleep, if you'd care to stand still," she offers without hope.

She looks to the skyrail. If I make a break for the rail and she follows, I could blow the rails and have us fall. This location wasn't chosen idly; even a jounin can't argue with gravity without the proper technique. I can use henge or my chakra strings to save myself. Can this really work?

Amon paces towards the edge of the sky platform in though, sadness in her eyes as her chakra strings find their way to her puppet and she gathers her measly chakra. She looks out across the skyline. I haven't looked at the sky in some time, it's sunset now, I imagine... "I faced a foe like you once, the day I lost my honour and strength. I abandoned my friends. When she cut my leg off, I crawled, anything to live. Selfish and weak. Or at least, that's how I chose to remember. I vowed I would be stronger next time, braver. Yet here we are, three strangers among ninja and an unwilling weapon. In these moments I find my heart has turned to ice. Sometimes I think i just pretend to be afraid.." She falls silent for a moment as she focusses on her 'technique'. "I don't feel ready to die yet, even though if I'm not worthy of life."

She paces back over to the bodies, looking over Sanagi at Hanako's feet and Keita at her own. "If I'd let him die, I would have likely escaped even you. I can't decide if I regret that or not." Sighing, she drops her bag at such an angle that Shanghai flops out for her chakra strings to snag. Careful now. She leans down over the boy, looking over his wounds one last time as if grieving, as one hand goes to the smoke bombs on his belt. "Do you feel any loyalty to the Emperor?" she asks, mewling. as she secretly moves her hand in preperation

From there she falls silent, her eyes trained on Hanako's sphere as she looks a little demure, mouthing a prayer that she can barely admit to herself is real, that she needs saving, taht she was really going to die, that there wasreally no hope fo saving herself, or anyone. Amon performs the tree climbing technique and taps her reserves in preparation. "You needn't make it quick," is all she says after a bit, quivering. "There's something cleansing in pain."

Amon takes 10 to see anyone on the Skyrail, for 18

Amon makes a plan if doing do doesn't interfere with her actions [roll0]

Amon animates Shanghai with [roll1] HP

Amon prepares to throw down a smoke bomb to cover her, Keita and Sanagi and roll away 5 feet into the smoke when it seems Hanako's patience has ran out.

Initiative [roll2]+2 from Plan = 11

Serious
Amon looks inside herself for the shadow. "I... I'm so scared, by myself - I don't know if I'll even be able to move. I... I plan on leaping from the smoke over the edge of the 'island', but any mistake, one hit from that spear and it's over for me. For us... maybe I should just leap now and run away with my jutsu... But I have to save them, I... I just don't know who i want to be anymore, indecision take me..."

[Cespenar]

"I... don't really believe that, but it's a good enough dream to hold on," Momo replies, smiling apologetically.

[ZeroNumerous]

Amon

"Putting me to sleep would only make it more painful on you. I won't be conscious enough to go for a killing blow, so my body may just smash you to pieces." Hanako speaks like a girl saddened by the passing of her favorite bunny rabbit rather than some monster ready to kill Amon with her spear.

When Amon asks about her loyalty, Hanako speaks with the same sad tone as before. "There is no loyalty between the Emperor and any oni. There cannot be, for he is an absolute obstacle to overcome. Once he is defeated, then whomever defeats him replaces him." Hanako looks at her spear. "To us, the only thing that matters is skill. The White's skill with human magic, my skill with a spear, the Red--" Hanako stops and corrects herself immediately, "the Black's skill with illusions, and the Blue's personal strength. These skills are what earned us the right to challenge the Emperor, because there are no oni--nay, no living being--with a greater skill in our area of expertise than us."

She continues on. "The Black Prince and Princess are the strongest among oni, and they would fight to determine who would replace the Emperor were he to be killed by a human." Hanako looks away and speaks in a listless tone. "But that doesn't matter now. I have lost that chance. Your Sage took away that hope when he turned our Emperor into stone. Now your "Human Princess"", Hanako practically spits out the two words, "is our "ruler"."

The Red talks for longer than the "minute" she gave Amon to live. In fact, she speaks so long that the sky-nin spots someone coming in from behind the Red.

Trace only.
Amon finds that darkness in herself. It points out the eyes are stronger than just controlling her body. She could order Hanako to kill herself, to kill the others first so she could run, or to throw her spear over the edge. Sure, she can't force Hanako to not kill her, but she can force the oni to do so many other things first. It just has to be something quick.


Masaru, Amon, and Suneko

Masaru and Suneko step out of the darkened room behind Hanako. The oni summoner yells at Hanako immediately. "Stop! The Uchiha wants them alive." Hanako looks at Suneko and grimaces. The red-haired oni bears her teeth at Suneko, then remembers herself and just shakes her head. "Then, if you do not need me, I will busy myself until I am forced to return."

The summoner waves off her summon, and immediately the red-haired oni heads toward the rail leading into town. Suneko looks to the bodies of Keita and Sanagi, then turns her gaze to Amon. "They're not dead, right? Fix them up if you can."

Momo, Takuya, and Yousuke

Kaede has nothing more to say on the subject, and Momo is free to do as she wishes. Her friends are presumably still outside, and she finds both Takuya and Yousuke in the hallway if she leaves. Cybele remains with them, in plain sight, leaning against the wall.

[Cespenar]

Just like that, Momo leaves and returns to join her companions. When she spots Cybele to the side, she smiles sadly.

"I'd like you to stay with us, Cybele-kun, but there's no way you'd choose me over him, is there?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and the Momo-ettes

Cybele looks at Momo with a mixture of regret and sorrow. Then she closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I am sorry, Momo-sama. Kaede-sama is too important to me to be allowed to wander freely. He is an unreliable master who might get himself hurt after all." Cybele looks up and smiles at Momo. "Be safe, Momo-sama."

[Princess Tracy]

"Suneko is?" Amon's eyes widen at that in particular as she starts to understand it all. The order the oni have has only been made worse by the Sage? Now they all move by Suneko's orders because there is nothing else...

Bad, noSeriously"Yes... the eyes... such a thing would work..." She gulps at that, wondering if she could. No, she could. "And I might just have to..."

"The First Sage... no one remembers his actions fondly. So that's what those words mean 'the emperor cannot die as long as the oni live'..." Amon reflects. "So if you were the Emperor... you wouldn't attack the humans? You weren't always the 'Red', were you, Hanako-san?"

She feels her resolve weakening as she speaks, and jerks herself back into readiness all of a sudden, her hand jerking to her glasses. Then Suneko's appearance changes it all. Amon tenses as the Red just... leaves. Her adrenaline lets up and she falls forward on her knuckles, panting as she grounds herself, realising she was covered in cold sweat as she looks over her shoulder to see Hanako go. There didn't seem to be anyone in her way on the rails... at least she wasn't on kill orders, right?

As Suneko orders her though, she looks around at the summoner and it seems to solidify in her head. She gets to her feet slowly as she scowls. "You're the acting Emperor... so that's your angle, I see it..." She looks down at Sanagi and Keita. "They'll live. Is this Uchiha's mercy?" she grunts. If I distract her for just a second, I could get Sanagi back on her feet to cut her to ribbons. She's the one pulling Kaede's strings, after all, she reasons, trying to make sense of it all. But Kaede has deemed her useful... but if I take the time to poise him against her, who knows what will happen to Sanagi by then

She barely registers Masaru for a moment, but turns to him all the same as she pocket's the smoke bomb she took off of Keita. She nods towards Keita's body, her expression brightening a bit. "Does he have a family to get home to?"

[Eurus]

Masaru's expression is difficult to read, as he follows Suneko outside and sees the not-quite-dead bodies of Sanagi and Keita on the ground. A little bit of relief, a little bit of worry, but something else too. Seeing both of them taken down, one so much stronger and the other still braver than Masaru ever really was, yet still only surviving through pure luck... it was conflicting. He'd run past without a second thought, but if he'd stayed and fought, surely he'd just be bleeding beside them.

Quietly, Masaru walks over and helps Amon, kneeling down next to whichever body she doesn't immediately turn her attention to and beginning a medical technique of his own (possibly preceded by a quick round of first-aid).

[ZeroNumerous]

Amon and Masaru

Suneko shrugs at Amon. "What's it matter to you? Just make yourself useful, or get out of the way."

[Eurus]

"His parents are alive, or they were as of a little while ago. I assume he helped them to get out of the city."

[Cespenar]

"You be safe too." Momo might have shed a tear, but she apparently prevents herself from doing so.

She wordlessly joins Yousuke and Takuya, and leaves the place unless the boys have something else in mind.

[Princess Tracy]

"I wouldn't recommend further healing in your friend's case - he'll need traditional treatment and a week or so to get back on his feet," she advises, as she crouches over Sanagi, considering her options. As she does so, Masaru can get his first look at her bared leg. Her right is a mass of wood and gears that creaks a little as she moves about, similar to Alice's body from earlier that day. "Do you know where they might have gone?"

She glares at Suneko. "I'm not one of your enslaved Oni to order about," she says simply. In the time it would take for me to get Sanagi back on her feet, she might summon something to smack her back down... i need a distraction. "Why are you suddenly so concerned for their health? Uchiha want another lapdog?"

She looks to Masaru. "Are the others okay?"

[Eurus]

"Last I saw them, the..." he trails off for a second, trying to remember names, then gives up.

"The Uchiha girl was talking to her brother, alone. The others were fine."

Given the circumstances, it takes him a moment to notice Amon's leg. Once he does, though, his eyes flick back to it in a subtle double-take. He doesn't comment, merely focusing on the unconscious genin for a few seconds. As he attempts to revive the Keita, Masaru gently keeps a hand on his chest to discourage him from getting up while he retrieves a blood-increasing pill and a canteen of water.

"...Try not to move around too much. You're hurt pretty badly. If you think can swallow this, it'll help."

Taking 10 on Treat Injury to get Keita conscious, then giving him a blood-increasing pill to swallow.

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and her merry band

Cybele makes no attempt to stop the kids, and just watches Momo leave.

If Momo and the group leave, then they arrive outside shortly afterward.

DM

Suneko just shrugs again. "More meaningless questions. Fix 'em already and I'll tell you whatever you'd like to hear."

[Princess Tracy]

"Okay..." Amon sighs in some relief at Masaru's news of the other's safety, even if she doesn't know how to feel about Kaede being alone with Momo. "The Red wrecked his body, don't make him move. It's lucky I didn't finish him off just getting him out of the melee. Find a safe place to take him and let him rest."

Amon ***** an eyebrow at Suneko as she finally reaches for more medical supplies. "It's no wonder the Oni hate your guts. if I were their Sage, I'd at least try to be worthy of respect, Pig Princess. Now how healed am I allowed to get her, you raggedy middle-management?"

She tends to Sanagi briefly. "Come on... I can't carry you..." Get up and run, hide, Sanagi-san... No, you won't do that even in this state, will you? You'll get yourself killed by Kaede, or worse... "Mako will need you, right?"

Amon heals Sanagi for [roll0] I guess.

[Togath]

"Masaru?.." says Keita, still dazed as he's too weak to move from the blood loss, "what happened to the oni?.. Is the lift working again?.." he mumbles again, sounding rather out of it.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

If Amon makes the attempt to rouse Sanagi, then she does so with ease. The leaf-nin opens her eyes with a groggy groan. "Where am I?" Her voice is quiet and subdued. "Ugh. The fight. What happened? Ah!" A loud shout of pain shoots through her body as she tenses up. "I feel like I've been stabbed."

[Princess Tracy]

Oddly Amon can't help but blush at the temporary softness in the woman's voice. "Shh, try not to move too much yet," Amon advises, nursing Sanagi as best she can. "Apparently Uchiha called her off, so the Red's gone down the rail..." She looks over to Suneko with a glare, but doesn't say anything this time around. "She ran you through and you lost consciousness. You're lucky to have survived. It seems the princesses are not in control of their actions..."

She gulps, a little afraid Suneko would interrupt her, but presses on anyway. "Listen, you're vulnerable and Kaede just took down a village by himself. Dying is the best result that could come of a confrontation now that he's not holding back - I don't know what sort of crazy genjutsu he has, but if you fall under it..." The implication was clear that Sanagi might betray the Leaf's interests with kaede's tampering

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Sanagi tries to sit up, then falls back onto her back again. "Now he's weak... Get... Uchiha... bastard." She goes quiet as she lays her head back and immediately falls asleep. It's obvious that her injuries will make it rather hard for her to do any moving, and fixing her up with ninjutsu will likely result in her attempting to fight Kaede once more.

Suneko just watches the whole time, and doesn't interject until Sanagi falls back asleep. "Good, she's not dead. Thank you for all your work, but I'm going to be taking possession of her now."

[Bad Situation]

Frowning at the scene, Yousuke steps forward and thumbs at the Roukanken to draw it an inch out of its sheathe. "And just what do you intend to do with her?"

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Suneko just looks at him. "Let me answer that with a question: Just what do you intend to do to stop me? Do you think you'll fair any better than Sanagi did against Hanako?"

[Princess Tracy]

Amon bites her lip at Suneko's order, "Yeah, no." When Yousuke materialises and threatens her though, she remembers the stakes a little better. Let's see... we could beat her, but it'll take some coordination and any misstep will kill us. The only advantage over killing her here over talking Kaede into it is that Sanagi will walk free. I don't know if Yousuke would allow her to be captured even with these stakes...

"I wouldn't bother, Yousuke. The Princesses are in bondage to that woman's tongue, unwilling all," she informs him, not taking her eyes off of Suneko. She summoned an Oni Princess, that MUST have blown most of her chakra, right? She had an odd drive in her from almost fighting the Red, a need for a sort of closure combat would bring, and it takes some grounding for her to avoid such suicidal instincts. "It... it only took one blow to lay Sanagi low," she tells him, standing. So if we destroy the Skyrail and feint...

[Eurus]

Masaru slowly rises, warily looking at Hanako more then Suneko. Turning the leaf-nin over to the undoubtedly tender mercies of Kaede's group seemed like a vaguely bad idea, but the summoner had a point. They couldn't really stop her.

Sighing, he takes a step back and curiously watches the other genin for a reaction.

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Suneko puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles loudly. An explosion of smoke covers her momentarily, and it disperses to reveal the Red Princess standing guard in front of her summoner. "Stab the blond one. That'll get them running."

Hanako makes a token attempt to resist, but her gems glow once more and she raises her spear. "I would be very grateful if you fled before I needed to stain my honor any further."

[Overlord Rion]

Takuya's hand is reintroduced to his face is a show of exasperation. It just never ended for them, did it? "Normally I go for peaceful solutions, but it totally looks like we should run. And run fast."

[Princess Tracy]

Dammit, what technique was that? She can do that!? Amon grimaces as the Red appears, nodding at Hanako's request. It must take a lot of effort to hold back even that much. My plan is moot, there's no point fighting her here. If I can just get an audience with Kaede, I know what the say to kill her... She bites her lip hard enough to draw blood at Hanako's request. "Very well..."

She looks over Suneko's shoulder, loathe to leave Momo alone but knowing her orders from Kaede would forbid her from attacking the younger Uchiha. She tugs briefly at Yousuke's shoulder as she grabs her things. "C'mon, we'll have our chance later." Have to remember to cut out her tongue... With that she dashes and hits the rails, trying not to feel guilty about not getting Sanagi battle-ready enough to defend herself. She wouldn't have retreated anyway... right? Waving, she orders the others to follow after her. "You're no match for Hanako-san."

[Cespenar]

As Suneko orders the Red to kill Amon, Momo steps in front of the latter, almost sure that the summoner wouldn't go with it if it meant killing her.

"Let's go. We're done here," she says, echoing the others. She gets away with them, but tries to keep to the rear in case Hanako pursues them.

[Eurus]

Masaru only hesitates for a moment before following Amon and the others, not entirely sure why even as he's doing it. Staying here seemed like the more logical choice, but... he couldn't bring himself to do it. To fight and kill and possibly die for a cause he wasn't sure he believed in, under a violent and inscrutable man. It was... easier to run, for now.

[Togath]

"Wait, d-don't leave me here!" calls Keita as Masaru starts to leave, trying to wriggle away, though to little avail as he is still weak and gravely wounded.

[Bad Situation]

Trembling with an impotent rage, Yousuke visibly seethes and shakily re-sheathes the Roukanken. He glares at Hanako and then Suneko and opens his mouth to speak. "This will end differently next we meet, I promise you. On my pride as a swordsman. Princess. Deva. It matters not. When next we fight I will show you the sword that will cut even the face of god."

Breathing out harshly he turns back to Momo and Amon, "Yeah...let's go..."

"Grandfather and Mako are still out there somewhere. We need to catch them and regroup for now..."

[Eurus]

Masaru does a double-take, having briefly forgotten about Keita in his position below eye level, and winces. He kneels down and tries to lift the genin's body, failing completely to raise it more than a few inches. Blushing faintly, he glances at the others for aid.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke watches the chemist for a bit before sighing resignedly. Without so much as a word he walks up to Keita and Masaru and picks him up by the arms. Frowning he asks Masaru, "Grab his le-Hm, actually you're better off not helping. Amon? Takuya?"

[Overlord Rion]

"Got it. I'll take the legs. Move quickly."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon forces herself to move eyes forward, grunting in humiliation every time she looks around even a little to Sanagi. As Yousuke asks for help though, she can only shake her head - she was already first in line and furthest away. "Hanako-san literally has to target me first," she explains, recalling Suneko's instructions. She does slow down enough to confirm that Yousuke and Takuya manage to get him on the rails, before she leads them they all skate down to the base of the track leading to central. "Yousuke, is your home secure? I haven't checked mine yet... Keita, I can make the lift go if you mean to leave now."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Hanako makes no move to pursue, but she does speak to Yousuke when he speaks out. "I am content to wait until then. Perhaps you will be able to give me an honorable battle to the death."

---

The genin are able to escape from Central, and are not pursued by either Suneko or Hanako. Regardless, the group is able to make it into the residential section of Soragakure. Several ninjas are jumping around--some escaping and some moving toward Central--but none of them move toward the genin.

[Princess Tracy]

Amon hops onto ground level shortly, pacing a few blocks before falling against a wall, more exhausted than ever. "Give me a minute..." she pleads, wiping sweat from her brow. "I thought I was really going to die back there..." There's a genuine helplessness in her voice for a moment, but she does her best to fight through it and hobble away. "D-did you learn anything useful?" she asks, nodding her head to Momo but not looking. "Is Kaede, I mean...? What are you doing now?"

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke leaps over buildings with his cargo in tow, growing increasingly uncomfortable when he does not see his grandfather or Mako along the way. "W-We can return to my home I suppose but...I do not plan on staying there long. What's more, Mako and my grandfather are still unaccounted for..."

[Princess Tracy]

Amon stutters a bit at that, but nods. "Mako? Where was she last seen? Your grandfather can handle himself," Amon says as much to herself as to him. Even if he got in a fight he couldn't win, it would be his way. I don't think him so crude though... "I... I should see to my own family, too... if they're even in town... If Keita's running with his family, I'll help him get down to ground level. Who else is skipping town? Takuya? ...Yousuke?" She motions herself towards the residential district, eyes peeled for danger. "Anyone that needs the lift operated can stay put defending Keita until I meet you there. Unless you'd rather wait until Kaede kicks the civilians off..."

I can't really leave now, can I? Everyone I know is in this village... But it can't be safe to idle here... I can leave town anytime if I need to stay to wrap things up, I suppose. Even if Kaede moves the city, I can escape...

"Momo, I know this isn't the best time to ask, but... what is Kaede's intentions? Is it really as it seems?" She hangs around to hear her answer, intent on leaving her with Yousuke for the moment.

[Cespenar]

Momo sticks with Amon and Yousuke to wherever they go, answering Amon's question as they move. She raises her voice a little to inform the others as well.

"Yes," she says, with a sigh. "He intends to burn this village system to the ground, and will attack the Leaf with full force to initiate that plan. I... tried to appeal to his sense of humanity. I failed. Then, I tried to direct him into a course that won't end up in a war... in which I failed as well."

"Also, there's a back-up plan of his," she continues, shaking her head as if still not believing it. "He... intends to reflect his Sharingan off the moon to hypnotize the whole world into non-violence."

"Yeah."

[Overlord Rion]

"Kaede's plan sounds nonsensical, but who knows the real power of the Sharingan. At the same time, it's doubtful he can't do this without a war. In the meantime, my parents are gone and I have no absolutely no idea who took them. If I can't figure that part out, then there's nothing for me here."

[Princess Tracy]

"Reflect the... what?" Amon actually stops, both in her moping and in her motions as she turns to Momo. "How?"

Not to be too OOC, but that's Madara's plan, not Kaede's. You wouldn't lie to a girl with a Rinnegan, would you? :smallamused:

"Your parents... I'm sorry, Takuya. I... in the middle of all this, the only thing that makes it worse is not feeling your family with you... You didn't find anything at central?" An odd sympathy all around

[Overlord Rion]

"There was nothing, and there is just...too much chaos for me to find them. We need to get the hell out of here. Talk less."

[Togath]

"I did get my family to the lifts.. though I was unable to figure out how to work them myself.. hence why I came back.. not such a good idea it turns out.. like with fireworks.." says Keita, becoming a bit spacy again, due to his injuries

[Overlord Rion]

"Less talking, save your strength you moron."

[Eurus]

Masaru looks predictably embarrassed when Yousuke and Takuya brush him aside take over the duty of carrying Keita, without any apparent difficulty. Hearing Takuya mention not finding his parents doesn't help the awkwardness, much. After a few moments of rail-grinding, he softly clears his throat, deciding to risk actually asking out loud instead of just quietly following them and hoping they didn't care.

"...I don't suppose you mind if I keep tagging along with you guys, for now? It's either that or join Kaede's new army, and I'm not exactly keen on that option."

[Bad Situation]

Yosuke frowns when he looks at Masaru but shrugs his shoulders. "I will not be stopping you. Though, if you plan to be leaving, I would suggest you gather whatever belongings you have now."

[ZeroNumerous]

Masaru

Finding his home proves easy enough. When he goes inside however, he finds the building empty. Everything is packed away, so apparently his mother didn't leave quickly nor was there some kind of struggle.

Yousuke and followers

Before getting to the Konpaku household Yousuke and his follows spot a group of dead sky ninja. The group forms a half-circle around a tall, white-haired, older gentleman who looks very familiar. Beside Youki stands a dark-haired white-eyed young girl who looks equally familiar. Youki is not visibly injured, but he does seem tired. Mako has a slashed shirt and a bloody left leg, but nothing looks more serious than a kunai wound. Youki cleans his bloody sword off on the nearest dead ninja's clothing while Mako waves to the group.

"I'm glad to see you guys! I got lost, and then these guys showed up. I'd been running from them for a while, but luckily Youki-sama was here to help. Did you save Sanagi-sensei?"

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke's eyes sink down to stare at his feet but he forces them up to meet Mako's own. "...no. I don't know the specifics but while I was inside Central trying to stop Kaede from his madness your sensei was defeated by one of the Oni. The Red Princess Hanako. Amon managed to resuscitate but the reappearance of the oni's summoner forced us to beat a retreat. Kaede has some sort of plan for your sensei and I don't like it..."

"But that isn't important right now! You need to take your team and leave! Kaede has succeeded in taking the Sky and if we don't leave soon we will be stuck here!" Now suddenly aware of the emptiness of the house he asks, "A-actually, where is your team? I left them in the care of my mother. Don't tell me the the shinobi already have them!?" Yousuke looks around frantically, ready to pull out the Roukanken at a moment's notice.

[ZeroNumerous]

Yousuke and Friends

Mako looks surprised to hear that Sanagi was defeated. "I... did not expect to hear that in my life time." She gets quiet, but Youki interjects.

"I saw Youmu-chan and a couple of kids hobbling toward the main gate. I assume the children were Jun and Koji, because one was supporting the other. Regardless... I need to discuss things with Kaede. If he is as dangerous as you say, then I will put an end to him to protect the peace." Youki sheathes his sword, then calmly starts to leave.

[Eurus]

Masaru frowns, looking around the empty home in confusion. It didn't seem like there had been a fight, so Hina probably wasn't in trouble... but this certainly made things awkward.

He pokes around for a few moments, trying to see if he'd overlooked anything, before resignedly returning to the city's main entry rail, figuring to wait for the others.

[Cespenar]

Momo thinks about mentioning the folly of standing up to Kaede where the likes of Sanagi failed. She does not, though, but glances at Yousuke to urge him to say something, at least. It was his grandfather, after all.

Instead, she turns to Mako.

"Listen, Hyuuga-san. I heard something about Koji's dad. It... turns out that he was in fact tortured to death by the Leaf because he met with Kaede. To find out where he went. I'm sorry."

She pauses for a second or two.

"You know him better than I ever can. I... should tell him all this, right? He wouldn't... freak out?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Momo and the Party

Mako just looks at Momo with a dumbfounded expression on her face. "W..what? N-No, that can't be true. Who even told you that? Well, it doesn't matter matter. There are enemies of the Leaf everywhere, so it's obviously just some kind of propaganda to hurt Koji. I can't rightly tell you what to do, but I will be keeping that information to myself."

[Cespenar]

Momo opens her mouth to tell her of the source, but then shuts it as she realizes that it is meaningless. She reaches out and pats the Hyuuga consolingly on the shoulder, as if it was her family that was having the crisis.

"I see. Sorry to dump this on you."

[Overlord Rion]

"We can sit and talk as much you like, but there are things we have to do...like get the hell out of here."

[Princess Tracy]

"Youki-sama, please don't..." her attempts to try and talk him out of it die out after a few short words. She had no right to disgrace him that way, after all. "Just... just be aware that Kaede won't fight you fairly, nor Suneko, nor Cybele. Hanako-san defeated Sanagi with a single blow, but her will is not her own - she doesn't wish to combat mortals, if not for Suneko's order, the Emperor..." Her voice gives out finally as she concludes giving her advice and she falls silent, staring at her feet for a time.

She looks to the others, Mako included. "You guys go with Keita and meet Masaru at the gate. If you can't figure out the controls for the lift, I'll be along shortly." She looks to Youki one last time, pleadingly. "Hopefully with Youki-sama in tow." She's afraid to presume but so desperately wants a promise from him.

"I... I need to go take care of something..." With that enigmatic objective, she hobbles out of the house and heads back to the Yamana Estate by herself

Amon goes looking for any sign of her family, determined to not leave them in the Sky if they were there. Or at least to not leave without saying goodbye.

[Bad Situation]

Yousuke looks at his grandfather hopelessly and splutters, "G-grandfather, I have the greatest respect for your abilities but he is not a foe you can best as easily as you say. And what he plans for the world is madness, even if he believes himself of truly capable of effecting his schemes. You cannot turn him from his path with mere words, grandfather."

Looking down ashamedly he adds in a quiet voice, "I-I...I don't want to lose you..."

[ZeroNumerous]

DM

Youki shakes his head when Amon brings up her complaints. "While I am grateful that you feel inclined to warn me: It is not the first war I have been a part of. And I have no intention of fighting if I can avoid it. I simply wish to talk, and... should that fail, then I have few regrets about trading my life for the life of such a dangerous criminal. If he proves as dangerous as you believe, then my quick-draw technique will ensure his life ends before my own."

Youki looks to Yousuke. "All things will end in time, Yousuke. I am old, and will pass from this world soon. If I am able to make it a little more peaceful, then that passing will not be a sad one."

[Bad Situation]

Blinking back tears he hadn't realized were there, Yousuke stumbles up to his grandfather and clutches at his robes. "B-but, it's not supposed to be this way. Y-you're supposed to be there with mother and I when I restore the clan. You can't do that if something happens to you at Central, grandfather."

Voice now audibly breaking he buries his face into Youki's chest. "D-don't say that you're not long for this world, grandfather. Please, don't. I'm not ready to lead the clan in your stead. Mother isn't ready to lead the clan. You still haven't taught me the mainline clan techniques. What about the Princess? What about the Roukanken and our other clan legends?"

"I never even got to tell you about the girls I liked. You haven't told me about enough of your dumb stories yet..." He wipes away his tears on the older man's clothing, fighting desperately for whatever excuse he could level against his grandfather.

"I don't want this to be good-bye..."