Mist District

[Khandov]

The Mizukage's eyes watched Kuroshiki, first attentively, but then they tilted up, and a nearly invisible twitch shook his head. While hearing Kuroshiki, he juggled thoughts and wishes of the entire District in a more thorough fashion than ever. On one hand, he could speak and coordinate with more people than ever before. On the other hand, his body was becoming thinner, more gaunt. Though not quite an impediment on his strength, Kazuo's gauntness was notable even through his traditional robes.

You have my thanks for your help, Kuroshiki. What's more, you can count on this whole District to be in your debt. There is much to be done, much that is being done...

Indeed, the palace's foot traffic, sounds and presence of Shinobi specialists, indicated construction detail going on. Very little was known about what was being constructed, except that it was on the palace's lower levels and has been designated as "R&D expansion", which was all that was known publically.

...but committing to retrieving the Shimo power, is something I'm interested in too. If you say they resembled possession, caution must be exercised... lest we invite darkness in. One calamity is enough for us. You helped me, and now you can count on my help. As for the boy... I must see him personally, and interview him, before making a final call. But under cautious supervision... it is a Shinobi's fate to be a part of studies few dare commit to, for good reason.

It wasn't just an interview he was attempting. In the fell event the Shimo power was indeed bearing possession risks, Saito's mental fortitude had to be assessed in ways more thorough than the Exams were.

 

[Mellow]

The Mist District lay draped in a mystical celebration as Mellow Tomogui, the wendigo, lingered within the depths of his damp cave nestled in the heart of the wetlands. Though, in the midst of it all, a distant howl echoed through the Mist as a sound that reverberated through the very fabric of Mellow's being. It was Null, his comrade in arms calling out from the outskirts of the Mist Village. The roar carried a message - a sinister disturbance that demanded the attention of the young Tomogui Clan member. As such, his head snapped up, the tribal markings on his face seemed to have illuminated in the darkness of the cave. While he had no idea of what was happening, this triggered Mellow to jump into action.
As such, without hesitation, Mellow burst forth from his damp refuge; The ground beneath him quivered as he sprinted through the wetlands, his hair and the fur on his jacket billowing in the humid air. As he raced though the Mist district, his senses heightened, picking up on the subtle disturbances in the spiritual energy around him.

After a few more moments, the Mist Village emerged from the etheral fog, and Mellow paused after running up one of the taller buildings to get a better look of the situation at hand. While being closer and able to hear the yells of his friend more clearly, these were yells of sadness and anger which only meant something serious had to have happened to push Null to actually reveal himself. In the distance, he saw his large friend in an entirely new form, much bigger than usual, and possessing wings. The cries of his comrade were becoming louder by the second, Mellow then squated and contracted the muscles in his legs before pushing off of them in the direction of Null was coming from. The timing of this jump added with how fast Null was closing in on the location caused the two of them to collide right outside of the Mizukage's building with the height and power from Mellows descent into Null causing the two of them to crash into the ground.
​

Mellow: Hey yo! The hell's going on, calm down!​

---

Meanwhile, Kuroshiki had been finishing up his report to Lord Kazuo about the completion of assassination. Though, before Kuro managed to respond to the Mizukage, a howl could be heard coming from the Shimo Clan's ruined estate. Alerting the jonin that his student had returned from the exams which made the timing a bit of a problem. There wasn't enough time to get rid of all the bodies, and with the destruction of their home thanks to the Mugen person, trying to cover it up as something else would have been impossible to do. Though, after a short while, the signature of his student and another more dark and sinister presence were closing in on the location of the building; And within seconds, Kuro visibly watched the hulking KKG of the Shimo clan falling from the sky with another person seeming to have been the catalyst. Kuro recognised the other one from the assistance with the shadow battle, Mellow Tomogui.
​

Kuro: That could be difficult, he's already arrived. The kid who assisted you and Isamu in the fight with the shadow beings is outside with Saito. That KKG form he's in is difficult to deal with for someone without the necessary KKG, i only managed to get away because I caught them off guard, and had help. Saito's however seems much bigger than the others, and it feels much stronger. Unless that kid is some kid of monster himself, he's going to need help. I'm low on chakra though so i won't be much help right now. You may need to assist him or send Isamu out there.​

 

[Yatoru]

As Null Propelled itself through the forest, drawing itself closer towards the Mist Village, his fury finally unbound; this hulking monster larger than the others of his clan. His beady pearl white slits for eyes focused on the Mizukage's Office, the Hulking beast collided with an individual both Null and Saito Knew dearly, a close friend of theirs named Mellow. The collision which occurred forced both Null and Mellow to the streets as smoke scattered across the ground as the silhouette of Null arising can be seen. The Symbiotic Kekkei Genkai Null looked towards Mellow, his jaws opening revealing the rows of dagger like teeth as Null let out a ear shaking shriek, his tongue wiggling around as tendrils rapidly formed around his body. The Wings retracting as these tendrils seemed almost as sharp as blades. Nulls attention now towards Mellow before alas an unfortunate little girl bystander stumbled in on this strange situation. It was here that Null would quickly latch a tendril to the girl pulling her into his grip as he shouted with a distorted voice,​

"Mellow! We will not forgive the acts on our people! We have seen the bodies of our clan and Saito and I will take revenge! No more shall the Shimo clan suffer... There will... Be... CARNAGE!"​

Having said this Null went to tear the head off of the little girl with his massive mouth only for a foot to slam across his face, the speed in which this was done and the force used behind it was just enough to force Null to unhand the child before skipping across the street as he'd slam heavily into a brick wall. From where this kick had occurred, stood a strange pale boy, with bedridden onyx black hair. Dressed in the most standard and almost stereotypical Shinobi attire was a member of the Yamishi Clan which originated from the Demon District but relocated to the Mist District. This individual whose scarlet eyes glew in the smoke stood stoically as he remained silent, a strange malignant force of shadows sways around his being.

This young man was called Gabimaru Yamishi, and as he stood watching Null arise from the destroyed wall, tendrils shot from the Shimo monster aiming towards Gabimaru who with an elegant flow of movements swiftly side stepped several tendrils allowing them to slam into the sides of the buildings behind him, unaware that Null would use this to swiftly launch himself towards his attacker...

 

[Khandov]

It was not easy to sense the humblest of signals when one's attention was focused on the bigger picture. Kazuo still pulled any attention he could to service the conversation with Kuro. Grateful for the deeds done, he only just heard the howl... and knowing where it's from, he did not even read the intent.

The Shimo estates were close enough that an attack could come without a warning... from either side. He felt embarrassed that it took Kuro for him to know they were plotting against him. But the whole ordeal was a net positive: He now had a rapport with someone, who helped him without asking much in return. Except for help for the boy, even if he didn't say it directly. He didn't had to. A Mizukage had to show gratitude, and not pass on on opportunity for power.

And now this child, wielder of power to be forewarned about, presumably lost control to his instinct, drowned in grief and anger. Kazuo's eyes shined already with his psychic power, as the only non-violent way to subdue such a being was with speaking to his mind... Kazuo's way.

Then he is our most immediate priority and opportunity. For trials to come, let me just say, we'll need his power. - he said, careful not to let any more information slip.

It was clear that Kuro's work never involved a coverup: Given the scale of the deed, an impossibility: Wiping out a clan is too great a feat to cover up.
He did not stop this. He'd do it himself had Kuro not intended to. And he'd cover nothing up. Shimo would be a message that Mist District is no helpless prey. Kazuo's works, if matured, will make it surpass all others. The former is deterrence. The latter... best be subtle about it, thought Kazuo. In the end, he was fully intent on confronting and assisting Saito.
I am preparing something else for Isamu, it's almost ready for him to get involved in. You have my word, you helped me, I will help Saito. Already he's a danger to the innocents, I sense. I must enter that scene posthaste. You've done much already. Make yourself at home in Palace.
With these words, he pressed a button and the window by the side of the room opened. Wind howled into the office, but not quite enough to make a mess. The Mizukage unceremoniously walked up to the window and stepped out of it, falling down. A lightning bolted right where he fell, and he became it: And in microinstant, it manifested itself near the scene where Gabimaru just saved one of his people and was about to pay for it.

Not if the Mizukage had anything to say about it. There was little to know about Saito's KKG: from what Kuro told him, and from initial observation, it appeared to be a parasite.
Anticipating the beast's attack on Gabimaru, he unleashed his illusion prowess straight at the beast: Its vision's sharpness was to decline, causing a sort of vertigo, and it would appear as if Gabimaru wasn't there. Kazuo's eyes flashed purple and Mind Release chakra flew straight at the beast to disorient it further.
It was then when he was surprised even further. This beast was like nothing he ever attacked via Mind Release: Was it playing tricks on him, or was he essentially targeting an entire hive mind? He was forced to imporvise and unleashed a cascading, repeating torrent of commands at the being's tentacles, intending to stiffen and paralyze them. His sword drawn, his focus singular, his main goal was to cripple and divert the being's attention to the one who actually had a vested interest in seeing its bretheren fall.

 

[Mellow]

Upon the two mist shinobi colliding with each other and crashing into the ground, Mellow performed a backflip as he and Null both gained some distance from each other. He knew that if Null and Saito couldn't calm themselves down, or if Mellow himself couldn't do it; He may have to resort to killing his own friend. Something he definitely didn't want to do but understood if something needed to be done in order to save more than just a single life, he'd do it. Even if that meant he had to kill someone close to him. The young Wendigo's eyes focused on Null, his surroundings, and the tendrils that were being released by him. Once he grabbed a hold of the girl and began speaking, Mellow began charging up chakra into his feet for a burst charge once he saw an opening. That time was approaching very soon as he picked up the scent of someone he didn't expect to show up along with seeing the Mizukage dropping down right beside Null. As such, as he finished his speech, a shinobi around the same age as Mellow showed up and delivered a blunt kick towards the bigger beast. The Tomogui Clan male used this opportunity to speed towards the little girl and scoop her up before jumping up into the Mizukage office through the window and handing her over to Kuro to take care of. Immediately afterwards, Mellow stood in the window he had just jumped into which was the same window Lord Kazuo has just exited from.
​

Mellow: Null, Calm down! You didn't even like the others, don't let Saito's emotions control you! If you die, there's no bringing you back!​

During this speech, Mellow will have been going through one of his pouches and eating a couple fingers of one of his past victims. From there, the younger shinobi utilized his echolocation technique with a combination of one of his high pitched screeches. The combination technique was used to amplify his voice as he utilized his chakra to focus them on Null, trapping the beast in a 'seemingly' endless barrages of high frequency sounds as Mellow darted towards him. His speed and detection in the vibrations within the aire thanks to the echolocation technique allowed him to easily evade the tendrils as this let him know of their exact path and any changes they may make. Added with Lord Kazuo's technique, Mellow will only end his high frequency attack on Null should it actually cause Null to contort and separate from Saito. He will have also lifted up a finger towards his lips as if he was telling Null to be quiet.
​

Mellow: Gabimaru! Lord Mizukage! Now's the time to take him out or trap him. He can't stay in that form forever, let's take him out before he has the chance to recover!​

 

[Yatoru]

Null being succumbed to some sort of Sensory affliction only for a simple mistake to occur, Null was a single celled organism, making him all brain, all heart, and all eye; so though his white slits were afflicted one would not take in account the strange nature of this being. But at the moment where the Mizukage's Mind Release stuck, the Mizukage would not be aware of the hive mind of this parasitic being. Such a notion would have the mind of the Mizukage entrapped in metaphysical Tendrils whilst in the outside world, Null would continue his blitz slamming Gabimaru into the wall as Null quickly turned his attention towards the Kage office, tendrils shooting out towards the window in order to pull himself up to face off against Kuro and Mellow only for a strange amalgamation of condensed Shadows to form an eldritch hound to consume the tendrils before they could connect to the window seals. Gabimaru who slowly rose from the wall glared with such bright red eyes as he slowly walked forward; shadows swirling around his beings in the strange shape of tentacles with eyes and teeth.​

"Now, that was unnecessary... They may want to keep you alive, but I can see reason that you are beyond salvation monster... To put Saito out of his misery, I shall put you down for good."​

This being Said, as Gabimaru and Null stare down one another; the Symbiotic creature letting out a roar as tendrils as sharp as blades aiming towards Gabimaru and the Mizukage. Its mass of strange fluids growing before alas becoming as large as a one story building as Null shouted with such fury;​

"I shall ravage this entire village for our people! This is the Will of Null and Saito Shimo!"​

This being said only confirmed that there would be no salvation for the Shimo survivor or Null, no their mind contorted by the desire for chaos and destruction, for bloodshed and carnage!

 

[Khandov]

Remind me to never probe unknown beings...
Cackling at his error and recalling a few others he made, Kazuo writhed in what appeared to be tendrils but were reflection of the being's soul, facing down an intelligence which's very form and system was distinct. A mere moment caused him to fully appreciate its sheer difference, even though much more had to be done to understand it. But first he had to get out. There was no time: First he remembered how Mellow was using high-pitched screeches to subdue the being, and he used his expertise in Mind Release to emulate that: turning his thoughts into higher and higher sound-like frequencies, with intent to have the tendrils reel at the intensity. His own mind straining, he had to make a connection-like effort to make his hands reach out for his kunai and slit his arm, and so a mighty Eel would manifest behind him, saving the Kage twofold: By getting his body out of the tendril way, and by Kazuo using his deep connection with the Eel's mind to hoist his mind away from the tendrils to the Eel, back to his body.

Once his error was corrected, his lust for knowing more overwhelmed him. Mellow's call registered within him: Exceptional as he was, he needed help, as Gabimaru seemed set on killing the thing. He intended for something else: Bring the powerful being to near-death state, and then work on trapping it. Its sheer power ensured it would be easier to subdue it than to kill it. Only issue was that the thing was still in Saito's body.

Riding the eel, he drew sword and carefully poised to strike at Null, or better yet, any tendril coming their way. Their Lightning chakra swirled on, ready to repel anything a sword would not hit.
Mellow, send your screeching into my sword, it's ready to receive them and slam them into Null up close.
He also intended to compel Saito to sleep through Mind Release... assuming Null was certain to be unable to intervene.

 

[Fox]

Drip... Drip... Drip...

A stream of water droplets can be heard at such a consistent pace that it is visible on the harbor - the scent alone is powerful yet pleasant as it reaches the nose. The movement of the ocean is anything but still, as it continues to hit the wooden structures that establish the harbor port. It's where the boats are, as well as a further area where visitors can fish or simply admire nature; though there's something different in this case. Normally, there would be visitors, yet there's no sight of life in this place. The waves suddenly halt without warning, almost unnatural to see, as it is not a normal occurrence. Sudden.

Splash. ​

Sounds of water dripping onto the harbor and ocean below as a body of water can be seen planted against the surface. It solidifies into a hand, though the rest remains liquefied. The body of water suddenly becomes detached from the larger body of water; though it is not unoccupied as it is the Hiramekarei itself, as well as a couple of fish swimming within the floating pool of water. The shark teeth appear in a sinister smile-like manner as the entire body of water accumulates and reassembles into an actual body - with the rest of the water still flocking toward the Shinobi. "Well... That was no good." The darkened yet frustrated expression can be seen on the man as he holds a fish that was seen prior to being consumed raw by the Hozuki. Until there's nothing but a bare bone of the fish itself. His eyes looked at the bone itself, being reminded as he chuckled a bit. "I guess I should tell that skeleton I couldn't find whatever was causing our fleet to sink." He whispered as he continued to move toward the village from the port, determined to contact his comrade. He tossed the bone back inside him as he dug to get another fish to consume.

 

[Davon]

As Higetsu stealthily maneuvered through the waters, an imperceptible force began to materialize, a subtle undercurrent generated by the extraordinary attributes wielded by the seven ninja swordsmen. This phenomenon was markedly distinct from the wielder of Hiramekarei; Yumaro, a man of flesh and bone, appeared to have mastered the turbulent sea encircling the misty landscape.

Yet, Yumaro couldn't ignore the peculiar behavior of the marine life in the vicinity. The fish, typically governed by the ebb and flow of the ocean, now exhibited erratic movements, signaling an unseen disturbance. Though Yumaro observed this phenomenon, he remained indifferent, choosing not to investigate the cause that stirred the aquatic realm.

In tandem, Yumaro and Higetsu navigated side by side through the aqueous domain. Unbeknownst to Higetsu, who usually had keen awareness was grasped by the wielder of Naiburai. Swiftly acting, Yumaro extended his hand, securely seizing Higetsu, and expertly maneuvered him out of the water onto the rugged rocks lining the shore. "I trust you've prepared adequately for this mission and haven't neglected your training." Yumaro stated sternly, summoning forth the scroll of their mission details and placing them in the hand of his partially liquified fellows grasp.

 

[Mellow]

With his cousin showing up and taking the attention away from Mellow and the child who were both near Kuroshiki, on top of the aid of Kazuo, this allowed the young Wendigo's attack to successfully commence as planned. The frequency wasn't super high, but with the frequency it was at, this allowed the group to see the growing weakness in the beast as it's movements were slowed to a degree and the attacks from its tendrils were drastically weaker than what they should have been. He wanted to give his friend a chance to calm down even after what Gabimaru said; However, once Null responded it was now known that Null didn't plan on listening and death was going to come to everyone if the creature wasn't stopped. While Mellow initially had no idea of the weakness of his friend being a high sound frequency, this was initially to try and irritate him and force him to lose focus; However something else entirely was revealed. In those same moments, he heard kazuo call for him to infuse his screech into his own weapon which the young wendigo was happy to do. Maybe his sword could contain the soundwaves enough and release a combined frequency to get Null to stop. With that being said, Mellow's 'sshhh' towards Null is when he forced his screech to rapidly rise to a higher frequency and immediately made a special hand seal from his home land. Each hand revolves around one another into Tiger/Ram, with the right hand behind left.
​

Mellow: Dan...​

With the calling of the seal, his chakra 'seemingly' split as his screech still remained on Null/Saito, while another portion was fusing with the sword of the Mizukage. The screech once infused with the blade will be releasing itself and making the blade vibrate ready to be released at any point. At this point, its sound frequency reached its current limit of what Mellow was able to produce which was something that would sound like one is trapped in the center of 50 cat scan machine, enough to destroy the ears of a normal person should they be the target of this technique. This new elevated variation of his attack alone will bring Null to his weakest point as the hulking form will begin to contort and open up to reveal Saito inside and ultimately making detaining him easier.
​

Mellow: Null! Calm down! I know this is hurting you, if you stop this nonsense i'll release it! Otherwise we're going to have to kill you! Don't be a fool!​