A Tiger and a Hawk Walk into a Bar: Maaya vs Toshio

[The Unborne]

Somewhere and Sometime in the Land of Rivers

Even though the Second Shinobi World War had just previously ended, the lands where proxy wars were staged and fought remained scarred. This was no different even in the rich Land of Rivers where most of the Great Nations vied for a favoring face with the tiny, yet gold-abundant nation. Even the greatest of nations could buckle under their own greed and try their hand at securing the Rivers' own gold resources.

The battles between Hidden Village shinobi and the Land of Rivers' diverse mercenaries seemed to never end during that Second Great War, but still the minor nation was able to develop its own local economies. Indeed, around every little rice paddy one could find a more-or-less makeshift tavern.

Today's coincidental encounter began at such a bar. Although the rice paddy it was purposely located near was now overflooded with no one manning the field, the tavern was lit and the sound of raucous laughter could be heard from no less a mile away. Its outer side showed no hints of uniqueness other than an almost-ready-to-fall-off sign hanging all crookedly.

The sign read simply:

The Golden Stream

Walking into the tavern, the sound of laughter served as a warm embrace and welcome to every wary traveler. Songs about gallant nights of debauchery and shouts at the local poker table underlined the evening with great mirth and great fights; however, most everyone at the bar seemed to be stunned in awe as onlookers (including the bartender) gawked at a mountain of plates and bowls quickly growing in height.

Munch, munch, munch, gulp, gulp, gulp, munch…

A burp punctuated the continued sounds of gluttony. Its unashamed owner sticks out an empty bowl towards the bartender. Scarred lips smile wide, looking as if they tear open an equally battered face. Teeth (were they unusally sharp) glisten in almost impossible brightness.

"More please!"

Above the scarred smile, bright blue eyes pierce out from beneath a mess of wild red hair. These same blue eyes roll in opposite directions without a sense of contempt in their movement.

[Valgunn]

A Nearby Roof (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMNnhfkWbws)

The building next to this village’s tavern wasn’t built of the sturdiest material, and neither were the buildings next to that one, or the storehouse across the dirt road; so soon after the Second Shinobi World War it was still the custom to make buildings that were easy to repair or rebuild. Even so, three women — identical in dress and appearance except for their hair — had dared its roof to collapse by standing on it. They stood in silence for several minutes, watching the tavern with a great intensity.

“I can’t believe he’s still eating,” the one with red hair said, breaking the silence.

“Like father like son?” the blue-haired one suggested with a non-committal shrug.

“Genetics can only go so far, though, can’t they? They never really spent much time together when he was a kid.”

“Yeah, but his mother was a lot like his father, and they spent a lot of time together.”

“So, like mother like son?”

“That doesn’t really roll off the tongue as well.”

“Yeah...”

“Have you two finished, then?” the third woman, who had brown hair, asked with a note of impatience.

“There’s no need for that tone,” the red-haired one snapped petulently. “We’re ready.”

“Same,” the blue-haired one added with a more passive-aggressive variation.

The brown-haired one nodded. “I’m going down, then.” The other two nodded, apparently understanding the brown-haired one’s intentions.

The Golden Stream

Striding into the tavern, the warm embrace of laughter rebounded from the wary traveller. Songs about gallant nights of debauchery were cut short, and the shouts at the local poker table died away. Eyes went from the stranger with plates piled high to the ninja — which if her manner of dress was anything to judge by, she was — who had dispelled the jolly atmosphere. Her expression was serious and her focus on the stranger.

Step, step, step, step, step.

The brown-haired ninja stood beside the red-haired stranger with the blue eyes and bandages.

“Excuse me, I’d like you to come with me. Please don't make a scene. We’ve got questions for you back at the Village. If you’re not up to anything that might threaten us, I’m sure you’ll be released.”

Map

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%201_zpsiurgwar9.jpg


The blue squares indicate water only a few feet deep, but due to the mud underneath it counts as difficult terrain.
The dark green squares indicate short grass and the brown squares indicate bare earth.
The light green circles and ovals indicate trees of varying size.
The light brown squares and circles, and the dark brown rectangles, indicate wood.
The grey rectangles indicates stone.
The red squares are the roofs of other buildings.

[The Unborne]

The Golden Stream

Undeterred, the motley-attired individual continued his voracious consumption without even batting an eye at the newcomer. It was only until she started to speak that he froze in place. A muffled sound started to fill the now near silent tavern.

Ah-awk-kheh-gak!

The young man turns pleadingly to the kunoichi with his hands grasping at his neck. His blue eyes start rolling to the back of his skull. He tries to cough but little noise seems to escape his mouth. He topples over the stool he was perched on and storms towards the exit of the establishment. The red-haired nobody crashes into the ninja in front of him and tries to brush her aside, waving in desperation for someone to help him.

[Valgunn]

A Nearby Roof

Two figures stared slack-jawed.

The Golden Stream

One figure stared slack-jawed.

A Nearby Roof

“He's not seriously-”

“I think he might be seriously-”

The Golden Stream

The brown-haired woman stared, not entirely certain she believed what she was seeing. As it continued to happen though, she was forced to accept that it was real. As that realization was forced on her she became very annoyed. For one, she was the daughter of a chef, and *******s who don't even bother to taste or chew food properly have been an irritant since she was a child. It wasn't the most sensible thing to be annoyed about right now, but she was annoyed about it. For another, she had fought for this mission (an A-rank mission, one not normally given to a ninja of her rank) so that she could demonstrate the power of the Graviton Fist. It would've brought accolades and prestige to herself and her self-made nintaijutsu style. It was infuriating.

Awkwardly she moved around the young man, and, grasping him firming from behind, tried to force the blockage out. The only thing that could made her more angry was if he was faking this — she needed him alive, so she couldn't just let him choke to death.

[The Unborne]

The Golden Stream

With a purplish face, the choking individual hardly noticed the woman coming around to his back and trying to dislodged whatever object was obstructing his airways. After the second or so heave, something escapes from the wild man's mouth and bounces feebly against the well-worn floor. A rather large bone, half-chewed, lands near a patron's feet. The whole establishment stares at the thrown up food.

After wiping a bit of drool from his face, the red-haired vagrant turns his head around and smiles: "Thanks!" He punctuates his statement with an elbow to the brunette's gut.

OOC:

Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 111/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Armor Class: 28
Ongoing effects: Godan Jouryoku (1/1)

Free:
Unleash the Beast!
Release Rank 5 Strength

Standard:
Grapple Break!
Grapple Check: [roll0]

[Valgunn]

A Nearby Roof

“We wouldn't have fallen for-”

“Yes. Yes we would have.”

“Fine.” The red-haired one pouted. “I hate this guy already.”

The blue-haired one sighed. “Yeah, me too.”

The Golden Stream

I hate this guy already, the brown-haired one felt more than thought as that guy's elbow impacted her stomach. But at least now I get to pound on him.

OOCMain Body
Hit Points: 229/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 98
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 33
Ongoing effects: Kyouka Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (390 minutes)

Opposing Roll
Grapple Hold!
Grapple Check: [roll0]

Kage Bunshin Red
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 108
Armor Class: 29
Ongoing effects:

Kage Bunshin Blue
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 108
Armor Class: 29
Ongoing effects:

[The Unborne]

The Golden Stream

Feeling the woman's hold release a bit after shoving her off, the red-maned man smiles devilishly as he sprints for the now clear pathway towards the tavern's entrance. Plates fly off the bar counter due to the sheer force left behind the vagrant's stride. He blasts through the doorway as the barkeep shouts, "YOU HAVEN'T PAID YET!"

OOC:

Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 106/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Armor Class: 32
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (1/1), Rank 5 Speed (1/1), Tiger Imitation Technique

Free:
Unleash the Beast!
Release Rank 5 Speed

Move:
Dine and Dash!
Move from starting position straight down 70 feet (lands two squares into the water)

Swift:
Tiger Imitation Stance!

[Valgunn]

A Nearby Roof & The Golden Stream

"He hasn't paid?!" The three women said in unison and in an instant all three were in motion, moving faster than the human body had any right. They aligned themselves behind the runner, the red and blue-haired ones making ninjutsu signs while the brown-haired one berated him.

"You lousy *******! You dine-and-dash punk! It's people like you that make the world terrible!"

OOCMain Body
Hit Points: 229/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 96
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 33
Ongoing effects: Kyouka Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (way long), Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Strength Rank 5 (1/1)

Release!
Free Action: Speed Rank 5 and Strength Rank 5!

Movement!
Move Action: 65 feet toward Toshio

Kage Bunshin Red
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 106
Armor Class: 29
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Strength Rank 5 (1/1)

Release!
Free Action: Speed Rank 5 and Strength Rank 5!

Movement!
Move Action: 65 feet toward Toshio

Gravity Manipulation: Decrease!
Attack Action: Half of a full-attack action

Kage Bunshin Blue
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 106
Armor Class: 29
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Strength Rank 5 (1/1)

Release!
Free Action: Speed Rank 5 and Strength Rank 5!

Movement!
Move Action: 65 feet toward Toshio

Gravity Manipulation: Decrease!
Attack Action: Half of a full-attack action

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

"No, no, no. I make this world safer and better. In fact, I think that serves as restitution in some way, no?" The vagabond places a hand behind his head and laughs a bit. After sensing no true cordial response from the three kunoichi, the red-maned invidual opens his previously laughing eyes and scans them with his continuously revolving eyes. "Assassins, huh? Never the funny sort." A sweat bead appears near his left temple. "Though, I gotta admit...color-coded, triplet assassins, that's a new one."

"Lemme guess," he points his finger at the blue-haired one: "You're the smart one." He moves his finger to the redhead: "You're the hothead." His finger falls upon the brunette, touching her square on her chestbone: "You're...the well-rounded one?"

The individual stands there pointing, unnaturally still, before drawing his hands close to his hip, both clenched tightly as fists. He breathes calmly for a moment. Before anyone can see, his fist digs deep into the spot he had signaled to earlier on the brunette.

OOC:

Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 99/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Nature Energy: 50
Armor Class: 37
Armor Class (Melee): 38
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (2/1), Rank 5 Speed (2/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Meotote (1/1)

Free:
Perfect Stillness!
Balance Check (DC 25): [roll0]

Move:
Gather Nature Energy (50)!
Balance Check (DC 30): [roll1]

Swift:
Married Couple's Hands!
Meotote Chakra Cost: 5

Standard:
First Punch (+Combat Expertise [-5])!
Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Second Punch (if first misses)!
Attack: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

The brown-haired woman dodged the double-fist blow with an almost casual ease, slipping around the red-headed idiot to settle on his left. As she moved she wove quick hand signs, and as one all three women finished their ninjutsu. The red-haired one and the blue-haired one moved even faster than they had before, uncannily light on their feet they barely made a ripple on the water's surface. The red-haired one moved behind Toshio, flanking him, while the other moved some distance behind the red-haired one.

The brown-haired one seemed to experience the exact opposite, however. Her stance widened and she sunk slightly more into the earth beneath her. This wasn't as important as the fact she was throwing a punch right at red-headed source of her annoyance. "Pay for you meals, ass!" They shouted in unison.

OOCMain Body
Hit Points: 221/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 94
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 38
Ongoing effects: Kyouka Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (way long), Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Increase [x4] (1/13)

Prepped Gravity Manipulation: Increase!
Standard Action: Half of a full-attack action

Gravity Manipulation: Increase!
Move Action: Half of a full-attack action
Perform Check: Auto

One Ton Fist!
Perform Check: Auto
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Special: [roll2]x5

Kage Bunshin Red
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 94
Armor Class: 32
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 3 (2/5), Strength Rank 3 (2/5), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (1/13)

Gravity Manipulation: Decrease!
Move Action: Half of a full-attack action
Perform Check: Auto

Movement!
Move Action: Up to 70 ft.

Kage Bunshin Blue
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 94
Armor Class: 32
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 3 (2/5), Strength Rank 3 (2/5), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (1/13)

Gravity Manipulation: Decrease!
Move Action: Half of a full-attack action
Perform Check: Auto

Movement!
Move Action: Up to 70 ft.

[The Unborne]

OOC:
Kawarimi no Jutsu!
Ninjutsu Check: [roll0]
Action Die: [roll1]

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

The brown-haired kunoichi's aim proves true as her fist smashes into the dine-and-dasher. A surprising amount of weight backs the blow as her fist seems to protrude through the other side of the wild-eyed individual. Unable to resist the sheer force of the punch, the vagabond flies backwards leaving a large wake of water trailing infront of him. The rice paddy seems to separate momentarily as he carves out a new trench in the water. As he leaves the paddy, his feet catch the muddied divider and he flips into the air. It seems like his flight pattern would soar off into the sky, but his ragdoll body blows up in a puff of smoke.

The smoke dissipates to reveal a very large stuffed tiger suspended in mid-air. A quick second passes by, and the tiger falls down towards the shallow water and squeaks: "I'm the original Tora-osheigo, nyah~!" The doll crashes into the adjacent field, leaving behind not a trace of the vagabond.

OOC:
Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 67/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 67
Nature Energy: 50
Armor Class: 32
Armor Class (Melee): 33
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Speed (3/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance)

Immediate:
Stuffed Tiger Replacement no Jutsu!
Kawarimi Use: 1/5
Location: [REDACTED]

Free:
Hide, Hide, Hide away from the mad Maaya!
Hide Check: [roll0]

Free:
Chain the Beast!
Suppress Rank 5 Strength

Move:
Show your Claws
Activate Tora no Tsume

Standard:
Senin Mode
Convert 31 Nature Energy to Senjutsu Chakra (DC 31): [roll1]

[Valgunn]

OOC
Maaya Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll0]

Bunshin Red Spot Check!
Spot Check:[roll1]

Bunshin Blue Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll2]

[The Unborne]

Underwater

The red-headed kunoichi seems a faint shimmer of blue chakra glow underneath the murky water a few yards away from her. Maybe it's just the light and reflective surface playing tricks on her, but it looks like she sees the image of a crouched tiger stalking its prey before the entire sight vanishes from her sight.

OOC:
Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 67/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 64
Nature Energy: 50
Armor Class: 32
Armor Class (Melee): 33
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Speed (3/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance)

Swift:
Disappear no Jutsu!
Infinity Arts: Sage's Step
Location: [REDACTED]

[The Unborne]

OOC:
Free:
Hide, Hide, Hide away from the mad Maaya!
Hide Check:[roll0]

[Valgunn]

OOC
Maaya Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll0]

Bunshin Red Spot Check!
Spot Check:[roll1]

Bunshin Blue Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll2]

[Valgunn]

OOC
Maaya Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll0]

Bunshin Red Spot Check!
Spot Check:[roll1]

Bunshin Blue Spot Check!
Spot Check: [roll2]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

The three women immediately froze, their eyes carefully scanning the horizon as they acted in perfect unison. In fact, everything they seemed to do was as though they all thought as one. Small differences emerged between them, but ultimately they all did the same thing.

OOCMaphttp://tinyurl.com/hhhw578
Main Body
Hit Points: 221/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 98
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 41
Ongoing effects: Kyouka Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (way long), Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Increase [x4] (2/13), Water Strider (1/780)

Water Strider!
Perform Check: Auto
Duration: 780 rounds
Chakra Cost: 1

Kage Bunshin Red
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 93
Armor Class: 35
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 3 (2/5), Strength Rank 3 (2/5), Weight of the World Stance (S), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (2/13), Water Strider (1/780)

Water Strider!
Perform Check: Auto
Duration: 780 rounds
Chakra Cost: 1


Kage Bunshin Blue
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 93
Armor Class: 35
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 3 (3/5), Strength Rank 3 (3/5), Weight of the World Stance (S), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (2/13), Water Strider (1/780)

Water Strider!
Perform Check: Auto
Duration: 780 rounds
Chakra Cost: 1

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

No sound, nor bubble escapes the shallow field as the trio scan their environment.

Little happens until two blue, clawed hands spring out from below the blue-haired triplet, aiming at her ankles. Before anyone really notices, the kunoichi is dragged underwater and a certain brown-haired kunoichi learns just how hard a tiger can punch you.

OOC:
Hit Points: 154/154
Chakra Pool: 54/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 75
Nature Energy: 7
Armor Class: 39
Armor Class (Melee): 40
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (3/1), Rank 5 Speed (4/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA),

Move:
Convert!
11 Nature Energy to Senjutsu Chakra (DC 31): [roll0]

Swift:
Disappear no Jutsu!
Infinity Arts: Sage's Step
Location: Right Below Blue

Standard:
Senin Mode-enhanced Pop [-7 Combat Expertise]!
Attack: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Sneak Attack Damage: [roll3]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

The blue-haired woman went down with a shout of alarm, the punch landing true before she had a chance to retaliate against her attacker.

"There you are!" The brown-haired woman shouted as she saw the blue-haired woman vanish, darting forward while she wove a single strange hand sign, her steps becoming heavier with each passing second. "Mother****er!" With her next step her arm wound back, exactly like it had before, but rather than the red-haired target of her mission she punched the air (somehow). What resulted with a small hurricane of weaponized air that parted the water once again, exposing the target and the blue-haired woman he was entangled with.

The blue-haired woman then exploded in a puff of white smoke, and the weaponized air was still on target.

Behind the air came the red-haired woman, her hands weaving signs, charging straight ahead, her steps becoming heavier as she did. As she finished her hand signs her forward took on a extremely odd quality to it. Her steps ceased to be heavy at all, and it was almost as though she were being dragged toward her target.

OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%202_zpstvi931wv.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 203/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 76
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 41
Ongoing effects: Kyouka Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (way long), Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Increase [x7] (3/13), Water Strider (1/780)

Movement!
Perform Check: Auto

INCREASE!
Free Action: Increase multiplier to x7

AIR PUNCH!
Perform Check: Auto
Attack: [roll0]
Action Point (Attack): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Chakra Cost: 6

Kage Bunshin Red
Hit Points: 8/8
Chakra Pool: 0/54
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 79
Armor Class: 35
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 3 (3/5), Strength Rank 3 (3/5), Weight of the World Stance (S), Gravity Manipulation: Increase [x7] (3/13), Water Strider (3/780)

Switch Up!
Free Action: Switch from Decease to Increase
Chakra Cost: 14

Pull!
Perform Check: Auto
Attack: [roll3]
Action Point (Attack): [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
Chakra Cost: 6

[Valgunn]

OOC
Reroll: [roll0]

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc_9RT4q8YA&feature=youtu.be&t=38s)

The watery field separates as the compressed tornado tunnels through both water and man. Once crouched supernaturally low, the red-maned individual is forced up to his feet by a wall of mud, water, and wind. The vagrant's feet dig into the mud behind him as he shields his face from the oncoming debris with crossed forearms.

"Not bad," he peeks a piercing golden eye from out beneath his guard as the red-haired kunoichi (maybe shadow clone) comes crashing into him. The vagabond catches Red's fist and returns a punch, but the attack is a moment late once the clone vanishes into a puff of smoke. As the remnants of the clone dissipates, the red-maned individual stands squarely in the newly formed muddy path. His scars had changed somehow. Each marred section of his face turned slightly and aligned themselves around his face. A dark pigment surrounds his eyes making them seem more almond shape; his irises now showed with the brilliance of some long forgotten treasure.

"Like the form?" He calls out to his challenger, a devilish grin on his face. "I hardly find a chance to go full-out, so I hope you don't mind if I crank things up a notch." His hands start forming hand seals that seem at once foreign and alien to the River-nin. "See, my eyes catch a lot of details. The changing masses of you and your clones, the amount of forlorn rice grains lost in your last attack, ya' know, the simple stuff." His eyes start rotating violently, shooting in every direction: a mosquito zipping through a Savannah sunset.

His pupils start to race so fast that they leave behind afterimages of jet black trails each time they shoot across his sclera. The blackness, however, doesn't fade as his eyes resemble empty pockets of space. White lines appear from under his eyelids, forming a gridmap along the surface of his eyes. Small, white pupils pierce from behind the gridlines and centers upon the brown-haired kunoichi. Every slight shift of the red-haired individual's face causes the grid in his eyes to move, but the pupils remain fixed on her.

"These eyes," he says, "see the complex."

OOC:
Hit Points: 122/154
Chakra Pool: 54/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 66
Nature Energy: 7
Armor Class: 38
Armor Class (Melee): 39
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Speed (5/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (1/12)

Free:
Chain the Beast!
Suppress Strength Ranks

Full:
Kaigan!
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 8
Gaze Attack: Will Save (DC 15) or be Shaken for 1 round

[Valgunn]

OOC
Will Save: [roll0]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziM6VS9pbgM)

The brown-haired woman, whose weight was now seven times greater than it had been at the start, couldn't keep a smile from her face. "Like father like son, I guess," she said, mostly to herself, though she didn't keep the volume down.

"I was worried, for a while, that you were just some idiot dragged along on the coat-tails of your mother and father, but it really does seem like you're worthy of being their son." This time she spoke directly at the red-haired man with the all-black eyes. "I don't suppose you'll mind if I crank things up a notch, too?" The smile had exploded on her face, and along with her wide smile there appeared golden lines around her eyes that thickened to engulf them. The lines grew, sweeping sharply back, as equally sharply sweeping feathers appeared on her face and body at random. "I haven't perfected this like you have, but I took the liberty of gathering nature energy while I watched you make a disgusting mess of yourself."

Sharply she made that same odd hand sign she had made before, and the red clone had made just before her attack, and just as before her apparent weight changed. With another sharp movement she drew a small sword from behind her, holding it in a reverse grip defensively in front of her.

OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%203_zps8yvpwczu.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 191/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 127
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 47
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (4/13), Water Strider (2/780)

Flight of the Hawk Sage!
Standard Action: Sage Mode

Kodachi Time!
Move Action: Draw Kodachi

[The Unborne]

Battle of the Sages

"YOU KNOW MY PARENTS?!" The vagrant shouts at the top of his lungs. He inhales and exhales uncontrollably, "What do you know about them? How the hell do you know them. You're no older than me?!" More tiger than man, he crouches low towards the earth, ready to pounce at anything.

[Valgunn]

One, Two, Three, Four! I Declare a Sage War!

Maaya was taken aback by the sudden shout more than she would have been by a sudden attack (a sudden attack, at least, would have been in keeping with the theme of things, as it were, and would have been expected). Odd what the human mind latches onto when it's suitably startled. For example, a young woman being assumed to be a good decade older than she really was. "I'm at least ten years younger than-"

Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Try to Keep Your Timelines Straight!

"I see an opening."

Before the kunoichi can finish her sentence, the Tiger Sage was already a foot away from her in the air with his claws aimed straight at her. His white pupils never once left their target as he preceded to eviscierate her. Every attack that connected, however, seemed to hit only non-vital organs and areas, causing, at most, just minimal blood loss.

"You're going to tell me about my parents, or I'm gonna beat you senseless."

[The Unborne]

OOC:
Hit Points: 122/154
Chakra Pool: 54/112
Chakra Reserves: 43/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 57
Nature Energy: 7
Armor Class: 36
Armor Class (Melee): 37
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (3/1), Rank 5 Speed (5/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (2/12)

Free:
Unleash the Beast!
Release Strength Ranks

Free:
Fist of the Tiger Sage!
Sage-enhanced Attacks
Senjutsu Chakra Cost: 6

Full:
Maul-I mean-Pounce!
Charge to Maaya's front and full attack [two-weapon fighting, no combat expertise, Sage-enhanced]
First Attack: [roll0]
First Damage: [roll1]

First Offhand Attack: [roll2]
First Offhand Damage: [roll3]

Second Attack: [roll4]
Second Damage: [roll5]

Third Attack: [roll6]
Third Damage: [roll7]

Gaze:
Will Save (DC 15) or be Shaken

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

Maaya wasn't expecting such an extreme reaction, and in her surprise she fled backward, vanishing in a blur of motion. She appeared again standing on the dirt divider between two of the paddies. The aura of senjutsu chakra had protected her, but only slightly. She wanted as much chakra as she could muster for her final push. Even so, she breathed heavily for a few short moments as the shock of the blows passed. "Damn it," she spat, hating herself for what she was about to do. Her skin lost its healthy colour and grew into a pale grey, starting to look almost like stone. Her absentee father's unwelcome legacy strengthened her skin until it was as hard as stone without any of the rigidity.

OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%203_zps8yvpwczu.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 143/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 109
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 51
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (4/13), Water Strider (2/780), Stone Skin [5/chakra] (1/1)

Movement!
Move Action: Instant Displacement
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 4

Kyōka!
Standard Action: Activate Stone Skin

[Valgunn]

OOC
Will Save!
Will Save: [roll0]

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

The moment the kunoichi reappears, the Tiger Sage's eyes had already been fixated on her position. Their unnatural propensity of not looking away even for a moment became even more unsettling for the novice, Hawk Sage.

Rather than following up on an attack, the dine-and-dasher clenches his chakra-covered hands and raises his head to the sky. A bestial roar escapes his mouth causing the water in the paddy to ripple away from his location. His voice sounded at once monstrous but also undeniably confident.

OOC:
Hit Points: 122/154
Chakra Pool: 65/112 (18 temporary)
Chakra Reserves: 25/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 63
Nature Energy: 0
Armor Class: 38
Armor Class (Melee): 39
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (4/1), Rank 5 Speed (6/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (3/12), Noble Roar (1/5)

Swift:
Tap Chakra Reserves [18]!
Chakra Control Check (DC 33): [roll0]

Move:
Get dat 14 Senjutsu Chakra!
Chakra Control Check (DC 29): [roll1]

Standard:
Noble Roar!
Perform Savage Roar Technique: Auto
Benefits: +2 Morale to AB and DMG; +2 Morale to Saving Throws against Fear and Charm
Chakra Cost: 6

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

Once again, for the last time she hoped, Maaya brought her hands together to form the strange ninjutsu hand sign she had used (and her clones had used) throughout the last half-minute. Her stance shifted, widening as her weight increased once again. She grimaced. The pain of the added weight, and the pain of her injuries were adding up. She knew her body. She could hold up against four, maybe five, more hits like those. She needed to end this. Now.

She drew herself up, and with two quick punches she sent two more columns of air hurtling toward her target.

OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%204_zps72aopxtr.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 131/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 82 (Strong)
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 51
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (5/13), Water Strider (3/780), Stone Skin [5/chakra] (1/1)

Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x7

Sage Mode!
Free Action: Spending 2 senjutsu chakra for +4 to attack and damage

Air Punch, Times Two!
Full-Attack Action: Air Punch
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 12

Attack Roll #1: [roll0]
Damage Roll #1: [roll1]

Attack Roll #2: [roll2]
Damage Roll #2: [roll3]


Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x0.25

[The Unborne]

OOC:
Immediate:
Kawarimi no Jutsu for second attack!
Perform Check: [roll0]
Action Die: [roll1]

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

The first wave of air smashes against the vagrant's chest leaving in its wake a large indentation of torn bandage wraps and even more torn skin, causing the red-maned man to scream in pain; however, the scream sounded awfully more like some savage roar of some beast. His body was summarily replaced with yet another doll, but this time it was that of a girl with blonde hair.

"I like pancakes!", it says before being obliterated by the kunoichi's follow-up attack.

"You're pretty good," the missing-nin says from behind her, his breath is heavy but she can still tell by the sheer force of senjutsu chakra being released and nature energy being absorbed, that this battle was far from over.

Right as she turns around to come eye-to-eye with his doujutsu, a chakra-enhanced claw smashes into her side with a destructive force on par with her own taijutsu.

OOC:
Hit Points: 77/154
Chakra Pool: 65/112 (18 temporary)
Chakra Reserves: 25/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 47
Nature Energy: 56
Armor Class: 49
Armor Class (Melee): 50
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (5/1), Rank 5 Speed (7/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (4/12), Noble Roar (2/5)

Swift:
Meotote!
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 5

Free:
Perfect Stillness!
Balance Check (DC 30): Auto

Free:
Fist of the Tiger Sage [+12 ab/dmg]!
Senjutsu Chakra Cost: 6

Move:
Get dat 56 points of Nature Energy!
Chakra Control Check (DC 33): Auto

Standard:
Defensive Attack (Improved Combat Expertise [-11 ab])!
First Attack: [roll0]
First Damage: [roll1]

Second Attack (if needed): [roll2]
Second Damage: [roll3]

[The Unborne]

Critical Hit:
Crit like a BOSS!
Critical Confirmation: [roll0]
Critical Damage: [roll1]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

With an almost weightless grace the young woman turned away from the blows. The first tore away nothing but clothes, the claws faltering at the rock hard skin beneath. The second ripped gouges into her torso. "For somebody so focused on taijutsu, you're aggravatingly good at that," she said as she turned, her weight changing again, rooting her into the ground. While vagrant continued to gather natural energy and quickly convert it, the kunouchi's stores of senjutsu chakra were dropping quickly.

With two fast punches she lay into her target's torso without touching him, firing her 'air punches' at point blank range.


OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%205_zpsth7fcfwg.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 62/229
Chakra Pool: 0/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 43 (Moderate)
Chakra Reserves: 49/49
Armor Class: 51
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (6/13), Water Strider (4/780), Stone Skin [5/chakra] (1/1)

Row, Row, Fight the Doujutsu!
Will Save: [roll0]

Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x7

Sage Mode!
Free Action: Spending 2 senjutsu chakra for +4 to attack and damage

Air Punch, Times Two!
Full-Attack Action: Air Punch
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 12

Attack Roll #1: [roll1]
Damage Roll #1: [roll2]

Attack Roll #2: [roll3]
Damage Roll #2: [roll4]


Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x0.25

[Valgunn]

Critical Hit
Crit like a BOSS, Bitch!
Critical Confirmation: [roll0]
Critical Damage: [roll1]

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

The man grits his teeth as a familiar torrent of air slams into his body. Without any weakened force behind the hit, he nearly flies away but grabs the kunoichi's second punch. He hangs on and remains planted in his spot.

"Look," he closes his eyes momentarily and breathes, "I see your chakra is running low, it'd save us a great hassle if you tell me what you know about my parents...and..." The vagabond puts his hand behind his head and laughs slightly: "Let me borrow a couple hundred ryo for back there?" He points towards the vicinity of the Golden Stream.

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

The young woman looks at the man incredulously. "I really don't know what game you think you're pulling, pretending not to know your parents..." She stared at him searchingly. "You've clearly met your father," she continued. "Who else would have taught you how to fight like this?" She indicated the savage marks on herself and the landscape around them with her free hand, presenting them like evidence.

She glared up at him, grinding her teeth. "So drop the act. It's irritating."

[The Unborne]

Rice Paddy

The red-maned individual stares into the woman's entire being, entire future possibilities unfold in his mind as his eyes search for the most definite causal pathway from this very present moment. "Fine," he says almost defeatedly, "I'll return you the ryo as soon as I win the next Kumite."

He slaps his hands together as if in prayer and closes his grid-patterned eyes for a moment. Before he can let out a small breath, a barrage of claws and fists lash out against the poor kunoichi. To any onlooker from the Golden Stream, the speed with which the vagabond attacks causes him to look like a living tiger-fied Buddha statue.

OOC:
Hit Points: 36/154
Chakra Pool: 65/112 (18 temporary)
Chakra Reserves: 25/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 34
Nature Energy: 56
Armor Class: 38
Armor Class (Melee): 39
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (6/1), Rank 5 Speed (8/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (5/12), Noble Roar (3/5)

Swift:
Meotote!
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 5

Free:
Fist of the Tiger Sage [+12 ab/dmg]!
Senjutsu Chakra Cost: 6

Full-Attack:
TIGER BUDDHA BARRAGE [two-weapon fighting, no combat expertise, Sage-enhanced]!
First Attack: [roll0]
First Damage: [roll1]

First Follow-up Attack (if needed): [roll2]
First Damage: [roll3]

Second Attack: [roll4]
Second Damage: [roll5]

Second Follow-up Attack (if needed): [roll6]
Second Damage: [roll7]

Third Attack: [roll8]
Third Damage: [roll9]

Third Follow-up Attack (if needed): [roll10]
Third Damage: [roll11]

Fourth Attack: [roll12]
Fourth Damage: [roll13]

Fourth Follow-up Attack (if needed): [roll14]
Fourth Damage: [roll15]

[Valgunn]

Rice Paddy

The poor kunoichi reacted with her characteristic weightless grace, her glare defiant. Even her peculiar grace couldn't save her, though. She dodged one blow, but found her movements put her in the paths of other strikes, her defiance cracking. She maneuvered her sword to intercept, but the movements of her arms left her side vulnerable to attack; her glare gone as she focused on survival. She parried blows with her arms and hands, but the force of the attacks left no illusion that she was still losing; her defiance shattered. The final strike, the finishing blow, came hard and left the woman a bowed statue dedicated to suffering.

Her voice was small (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yjeDfBjwQ4), but she was still, despite the horrendous punishment, alive. "You think..." Her foot shuffled back, widening her stance as she had done so before, her hands pressing together. "I'm going to lose so easily..." The ground rumbled beneath her as her weight doubled, then doubled again, and again! "To someone like you?" The statue straightened, a blue aura of chakra roaring into life as she drew on everything she had. Her eyes couldn't predict the future and thread a path through it, but in her eyes burned the promise of a future that would not be denied. "Dine and dash scum!"

OOCMaphttp://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii160/Valgunn/Round%205_zpsth7fcfwg.jpg
Main Body
Hit Points: 1/229
Chakra Pool: 2/161
Senjutsu Chakra Pool: 4
Chakra Reserves: 39/49
Armor Class: 51
Ongoing effects: Speed Rank 5 (1/1), Weight of the World Stance (S), Strength Rank 5 (1/1), Gravity Manipulation: Decrease [x0.25] (6/13), Water Strider (4/780), Stone Skin [5/chakra] (1/1)

Row, Row, Fight the Doujutsu!
Will Save: [roll0]

Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x7

I’ve had to guess what Maaya Chakra Control is due to the major data loss at Myth Weavers!

Tap Reserves!
Tap Reserve Check [10]: [roll1]vs. DC 20

Sage Mode!
Free Action: Spending 2 senjutsu chakra for +4 to attack and damage

Air Punch, Times Two!
Full-Attack Action: Air Punch
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 12

Attack Roll #1: [roll2]+[roll3]
Damage Roll #1: [roll4]

Attack Roll #2: [roll5]
Damage Roll #2: [roll6]

Weight Change!
Free Action: Changing multiplier to x0.25

[Valgunn]

Critical Hit
Crit like a PRO, Mutha****a!
Critical Confirmation: [roll0]
Critical Damage: [roll1]

[The Unborne]

Cloth and bandages rip away in the wake of the kunoichi's attacks. Their absence reveals a body tattered with scars over a rigid surface of muscle. The individual's eyes seem to go blank (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYWfxoqSpyg) for a moment after the attack as he vomits blood. Even the world's strongest winds corrode the mightiest of statues. The red-maned vagabond falls forward.

However, this is no mere vagabond, no individual without a name. Even the tides of this battle were not enough to topple this warrior, abandoned by his own village, abandoned by his own parents, founded only by the tigers of Toraken. He most certainly has a name with even more titles: Tora Sennin, Beast of the East, the Legendary Dine-and-Dasher,

Toshio!

A mighty foot crashes into the ground, preventing any further fall. Blue chakra erupts from around the scarred missing-nin and concentrates around him in a perfect sphere. It condenses into a tightly wound bundle of power and erupts outward in a wave of nature energy causing the rice paddy to explode outwards from the two. Toshio's gasps for breath and wipes blood from his mouth. Another shimmer of light engulfs the man as the chakra coalesces into the shape of a ferocious tiger. It roars.

Toshio's fist is already lodged deep into the abdominal region of the kunoichi. His face inches closer to the side of her head.

"No," he whispers, "I already know."

OOC:
Hit Points: 1/154
Chakra Pool: 50/112 (0 temporary)
Chakra Reserves: 25/43
Senjutsu Chakra: 50
Nature Energy: 28
Armor Class: 38
Armor Class (Melee): 39
Ongoing effects: Rank 5 Strength (7/1), Rank 5 Speed (9/1), Tiger Imitation Technique (stance), Senin Mode (TBA), Kaigan (6/12), Noble Roar (4/5)

Swift:
Meotote!
Perform Check: Auto
Chakra Cost: 5

Move:
Convert 28 Nature Energy!
Chakra Control Check (DC 39): [roll0]

Free:
Fist of the Tiger Sage [+12 ab/dmg]!
Senjutsu Chakra Cost: 6

Full-Attack:
Final Punch [no combat expertise, Sage-enhanced]!
First Attack: [roll1]
Action Point: [roll2]
First Damage: [roll3]

Follow-up Attack (if needed): [roll4]
Follow-up Damage: [roll5]

[Valgunn]

Damn It (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61zbdiAb91Q)

"Damn it..." The fist strikes true, but the kunouchi is already falling. The cumulative stress of her own techniques and the vagabond's attack were too much. The young woman's body was failing. Draped over the vagabond's arm she watched as blood and mud mingled in the water of the fallow paddies. The blood wasn't just hers, though. The vagabond's swirled down there too. The kunouchi smiled as her world turned dark. "I was so close..."