The feet of the Nuibari wielder glided through the mist, each step signifying Yumaro's determination to reach his destination swiftly. Haste propelled him forward, and despite the frequent movements of his legs, he remained a silent entity traversing the mist-laden district. To the untrained eye, he was unseen, accompanied by Higetsu, his partner. Master of the Hydrification technique, Higetsu effortlessly navigated the dense atmosphere. Amidst the thick mist, the serrated teeth of Yumaro were revealed, his jawline pressing against each other in anticipation of the unfolding situation. Thrilled at the prospect of once again showcasing his strength and skill, Yumaro relished the impending confrontation with his targeted enemies. Every adversary who dared to stand against the water district, particularly the Village Hidden within The Mist, would now face the imminent threat of damnation.
A smile, revealing his sharpened teeth, coated Yumaro's face, poised to rend the flesh and bone of his soon-to-be opponents. As he drew nearer, the mist thickened, a result of the shoreline and the prevailing circumstances in the area, augmented by Higetsu's manipulation of the mist through his mastery of ninjutsu. This mist acted as a shroud, concealing Yumaro's every move and rendering his actions utterly silent. In this dense cover, akin to a predator stalking its prey, Yumaro anticipated little resistance from his unsuspecting enemies. Meanwhile, Higetsu skillfully employed ninjutsu to initiate engagement with the adversaries that lay ahead. The stage was set for a silent and deadly encounter, as the mist became both ally and accomplice to their strategic advantage.
Yumaro gracefully landed atop a post, securing a high vantage point that allowed him to dissect the current area with precision. Shrouded in the mist's density and maintaining a safe distance from any potential adversaries, Yumaro harnessed the full extent of his skeleton sensory capability. From this elevated position, he meticulously surveyed the surroundings, his keen senses attuned to the subtlest movements and nuances within the mist-laden atmosphere. This strategic advantage provided him with invaluable insights, allowing him to plan his next moves with calculated precision.
"Tck! Most of these enemies are not worth my time. They seem to be reanimated corpses, possessing the ability to inflict harm on those even more inferior. Judging from the historical evidence gleaned from skeletal and bone structures, most of these adversaries were pathetic from the start. I find it inconceivable that the mist would succumb to creatures of such ilk!"
Yumaro's right hand clenched in frustration, his teeth grating against each other, producing a sound reminiscent of a blade being sharpened. The pressure waves of this subtle noise went unnoticed by the enemies, given the considerable distance between Yumaro and the closest foe, preserving the silence of his actions. Despite his disdain for the reanimated adversaries, a conflict arose within him. The struggling shinobi below, facing the revenants, tugged at his sense of duty to protect the populace. Contemplation, however, did not linger for long, as the urgency of the situation propelled him toward a swift decision.
"These enemies seem to be a mix of deceased males and females, their causes of death ranging from battles to ailments, displaying various physical attributes. However, none of them pose a significant threat, except for the one... furthest away. He's the prey," Yumaro declared, his analysis succinct and decisive. The disparate origins and conditions of the reanimated corpses did little to elevate their threat level in Yumaro's eyes, as his focus sharpened on the distant figure that held the potential for a more formidable challenge. He did not ignore the fact that fallen civilians and shinobi, became revenants themselves. This was a mysterious phenomenon, similar to something that not just plaque the water district but the entire shinobi world, perhaps these individuals were in relation to the shadow realm.
At that moment, Yumaro registered a massive sound pressure wave, an apparent reaction to the cause of the boat's destruction. It became evident that a mist shinobi had assaulted the head of the snake, resulting in the downfall of the targeted individuals base and exposing him to the domain of the mist shinobi which even resulted in the individual issuing a declaration of war. The survival of the village now rested on the capabilities of the remaining forces within Kirigakure. Yumaro held hope that the former and current Mizukage, alongside other able-bodied shinobi, would protect the village. With a specific target in mind, Yumaro was determined to swiftly strike down this foe, realizing that the timely elimination of the threat could be crucial to the village's safety.
"Higetsu, our target is the big guy. We shall strike him down first. Let the shinobi of the mist protect the villagers," Yumaro declared with a decisive tone. The focus on the primary threat highlighted the urgency of neutralizing the formidable adversary, trusting that the collective strength of the mist shinobi would safeguard the vulnerable villagers.
In his crouched position atop the post, Yumaro determined that the time for action had arrived. Assessing the situation through his advanced sensory capacity, he prepared to make his move. Yumaro's mastery over the silent killing technique set him apart, even among the most skilled wielders in the land. Utilizing the density of the mist and the cacophony of screams in the atmosphere, Yumaro became a ghost, an unknown entity to the unsuspecting enemies ahead. Similar to a flash of light, swift and almost imperceptible, marked the movement of the swordsman wielding the Nuibari. The descendant of both the Hoshigaki and Kaguya clan disappeared from existence, reappearing upon the surface with unmatched grace. Even the pressure waves of his motion emitted no audible noise, rendering him silent. As his two feet touched the surface, Yumaro's emerald eyes fixated on the direction of his target. Though unfamiliar with the opponent's name, the leader of the horde, Kagaya, would undoubtedly pay the ultimate price. The stage was set for a deadly confrontation as Yumaro,
the ghostly swordsman, prepared to strike.
Now standing on the concrete surface of the water district, Yumaro instinctively knew the precise distance to each enemy around him. None lurked below the surface, and the closest adversary was fifteen meters away, all strategically positioned in front of him but at different angles. Some raced towards his direction unknowing he was there to get further into the village, while others engaged with civilians or contended with brave but untrained individuals. The latter, unfortunately, had little chance of success, and their decision to stay and fight seemed both unfortunate and foolish. In such dire circumstances, fleeing the scene and relying on Kirigakure shinobi for protection would have been a wiser choice. The shinobi who engaged in the evacuation efforts were providing valuable support, but what they needed was a leader, a role Yumaro was not inclined to assume. The responsibility of leading military forces was one he adamantly refused. Yet, the reality before him demanded decisive action in clearing a path through the enemy ranks. Despite not being a leader, Yumaro accepted the responsibility thrust upon him, ready to make his presence known in the relentless pursuit of his target.
Dropping down from his white sleeve, sliding across his bandaged arm and landing the handle within his firm grip was now the legendary blade of the mist, the Sewing Needle. As quickly as it was in his grasp, it was swiftly thrown ahead with tremendous speed, its soundless movements unnoticeable, and its precision spot-on. The needle seemingly made contact with a revenant before someone could even blink, threatening to enter the prefrontal cortex and, with no resistance, splice open the flesh and pierce effortlessly through the bone and exit the other end. With a flick of his wrist, fingers, and palm movements, the sewing needle continued its merciless pursuit of hunting. Faster than the nearby revenants could register the sound of a body thudding against the surface, others within the general vicinity succumbed to the same fate. This became an endless occurrence within a short time span, a result of masterful handiwork and craftsmanship by Yumaro, who was systematically clearing a safe passage to his target. Sophisticated enough to understand that even the smallest obstacle could become annoying, he desired no obstruction on his path. The number of revenants dropping at the completion of a second reached fifty, leaving the observers to wonder if this was the extent of Yumaro's technical skill. As a thief in the night, he was not seen. By the time the first thud could be expected, it never occurred. Each of these revenants was stitched together, their demise shrouded by the horrors and screams of others. Now, Yumaro had distanced himself significantly from his initial location on the battlefield, having relocated elsewhere through the sheer speed of his movements.
Yumaro materialized within the wreckage, undeterred by potential consequences, moving silently amongst the pressure waves without causing any noise to emanate from the debris or fallen corpses. His emerald eyes stared ahead through the mist, their ability to see seemingly irrelevant, for his target was directly in front of him. Despite the massive physical structure before him, Yumaro's confidence remained unshaken, with the obstacle only serving to galvanize his courage, fuel his ego, and bolster his pride. In his mind, no obstacle was insurmountable. With the handle of the Sewing Needle in hand, free of any residual substance and the blade pointed directly at the throat of the opposition, Yumaro sprang into action. Through the physical attributes granted by his lineage and the diligence of rigorous training, he ascended into the air with expedition. The Sewing Needle, aimed to strike through the back of the neck of the enemy leader, was poised to pierce through flesh and sever the spinal cord, rendering the opponent immobile from the neck down if uninterrupted. As Yumaro retracted his hand after the strike, he kicked off the large man's back and centered himself upon a broken post. In mid-air, Yumaro recognized his vulnerability, especially given the height difference with the larger opponent. Nonetheless, he was prepared for counter-strikes or potential support from Higetsu. The critical question lingered: could the leader survive a soundless assault from the mist? The answer rested in the aftermath of Yumaro's calculated and precise attack.
Location: Mist District shore
Posting Order: Kagaya -> Yumaro -> Higetsu - > Gabimaru
Post Time Limit (PTI): 3 Days
Skip Points: ll