Clash of the Demigods: Saphiro Kimza VS Miyuki Murakami (半神の激突：キムザサフィロ対村神ミユキ, Hanshin no Gekitotsu: Kimuza Safiro tai Murakami Miyuki) is a roleplay between Gen Nakaido and Pythonraptor

EncounterEdit

Saphiro Kimza was on a mission to Arizogakure to access some important details on the Kimza Clan's ninjutsu and kekkei genkai. Saphiro was sent alone on this mission, seeing as everyone else had something else to accomplish. He didn't mind though, as he was able to study his clan and their homeland in peace. He went to the Kimza Compound and started studying some scrolls there on ninjutsu and various customs. He brushed his blonde bangs out of his eyes as he started to read on what was sitting ahead of him.

He knew about the legends that the Kuguari Clan held, and he knew that more than just the Shinziro Tenga Group would be after their power. He just had to make sure that anyone that came towards this village would be stopped. The question was, how could just one shinobi keep out numerous looters? Especially if those looters were powerful shinobi as well.

Miyuki Murakami had been sent on a mission to infiltrate and possibly destroy Arizogakure, depending on what she found there. The Kage Council had perceived Arizo as a threat to their power, and had ordered Miyuki to gain a better understanding of the village. If the village was a powerful one, Miyuki was to annihilate it, something the kunoichi was uncomfortable with. I really hope the mission won't require me to destroy this village, it's really beautiful, thought Miyuki. She laid her eyes upon the Kimza Compound. Well, I guess this is as good a place as any to start, thought the girl as she walked towards the building.

The Kimza boy's eyes stirred around and he stood up from the table he was sitting from. He could feel a shift in the air, a strange shift at that. "There is something not right here," he said, curling his hands into fists, "I don't think I'm the only one here to gain knowledge. Either that or Ezemaru's genjutsu is affecting me again. Saphiro stood up and walked towards the entrance, where he suddenly froze. There was a woman not far from his position, and she seemed different in aura to him. Yet, why was he uncertain about this person.

Miyuki drew closer to the building, and her gaze settled on a brown haired youth. She felt a shiver run through her spine, and she had a distinct sense of uneasiness as she walked towards him. This was very unusual, as Miyuki was known for being unflappable under any circumstances. I wonder what this strange feeling is? thought Miyuki as she approached him.

Saphiro steadied his breath as he drew closer to the girl. He was not sure of who she was or what she wanted, but he was certain that this tension meant bad things were bound to happen. He formed a hand seal and stepped forward, his green eyes flashing slightly, "Who are you and why have you come here? You're not of Arizo." the boy asked authoritatively. His clan were known as the descendants of bloodthirsty savages by some, so why was he so caught off guard?

"I'm... a visitor," said Miyuki, unwilling to reveal the true reason why she was there. She couldn't understand why she had the distinct feeling something was not... right about this boy. Miyuki's eyes took on the ripple pattern of the Ketsugan.

"I would like to believe you," the boy said, his natural pacifism wanting to end this conversation with him walking away. But, his teachings as shinobi told him that there was going to be no peaceful solution for now. He weaved a series of hand signals and stepped back, "However, I can't and won't! Kimza Style: Warping Vortex Technique!" He then created a midair dimensional rift and jumped into it, the vortex closing up. Another vortex appeared above the girl's head and Saphiro was launched out of it quickly, performing a swift axe kick.

Due to the fact that Miyuki's speed was comparable to that of the Body Flicker Technique, Miyuki was easily able to evade Saphiro's falling kick. Miyuki then stared the Kimza clan member in the eye, paralyzing him by manipulating his brainwaves. "I don't want to fight you," Miyuki said. "Why did you attack me?" There's no way he could know about my mission, Miyuki thought.

"Your eyes," he said, straining to release himself from this strange technique, but to no avail, "They changed all of a sudden. I have no idea why, but my clan says that any unknown change is bad until it is tested, even if it is from a beautiful woman." The Kimza then closed his eyes and opened them. They were no longer dark green, but a light teal, and six Y-like shaped markings appeared in them, glowing a pale blue, the appearance of the fully matured Nokerrogan. Using his dōjutsu, Saphiro released himself from the mental hold, though his body was still stunned. "Now why have you come here," he asked, his tone demanding yet still peaceful.

Miyuki decided that there was no harm in revealing the true reason she had come to Arizo, as she evidently could not fool Saphiro into thinking she was a mere sightseer. "I'm Miyuki Murakami. My village ordered me to infiltrate- and possibly destroy- this village," said Miyuki said to Saphiro.

Saphiro's eyes flashed shortly and the markings in his eyes, known as pillars, glowed brighter than before. "I have already dealt with Ezemaru Kimza, another powerful ninja, due to the same cause," he said, knowing that the girl was a lot more than any average shinobi, "My clan may be war-like and seemingly disregarding towards human life, but they're my family and if war is what has to happen..." He then made a series of hand signs and his arms were coated in blades of pure chakra, "...then so be it."

Miyuki placed a hand on the sword that she carried in her ribbon belt and unsheathed it. The iridescent blade shimmered in the light and it appeared to be on fire, as Miyuki channeled a large quantity of Chi Chakra into it, causing a chirping noise to emanate from the deadly weapon. "I don't want to do this any more than you do," said the kunoichi to Saphiro. "However, I have no choice. The Kage Council thinks this village is a threat to their power, and they want me to obliterate it. I... couldn't refuse." Miyuki then shifted into a combat stance. The tension between the two ninja grew to an unbearable level, and it seemed the very air was affected by it. The strain broke like a glass rod snapping in two. In a flash, Miyuki appeared behind Saphiro. "You use the Wind and Fire Release, and you are capable of combining the two elements, correct?" asked the girl.

Saphiro's eyes shifted as the girl he was presently staring towards vanished into thin air. His teal eyes with spiraling irises shifted around in a seemingly worried fashion at first. Then, his breath evened out and his eyes felt like they wanted to burrow into his head. Taking that as a sign, the boy jumped back into a vortex and slid out another a few feet from Miyuki. He got into a defensive stance, holding his dual chakra swords out and facing her, "I can," he said, shifting his weight to steady himself, " and I do. I call it Blast Release, an invention of mine."

"Interesting," said Miyuki, as she activated the ability of her Ketsugan that allowed her to see the vital organs. She had no intention of seriously injuring Saphiro, but was prepared to do just that if the circumstances forced her to. He uses some sort of space-time ninjutsu, Miyuki thought. Oh well, I know how to get around that. Miyuki gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.

Saphiro stepped back further and scanned his opponent. Her eyes told him that he was not the only expert of a dōjutsu amongst them and he had better be ready to fight with every ability he had available. I cannot use that technique yet, he said, tightening his fists and causing the swords to intensify, I am not resorting to it if I can avoid it. For now, we go hand-to-hand He dashed towards Miyuki and jumped into the air, spinning sideways to become a makeshift windmill blade.

Miyuki blocked Saphiro's attack with her own Tenshiken, being pushed back a step in the process. She then formed the Seiryokugan in her left hand and thrust it towards Saphiro.

Saphiro was struck in the solar plexus by the sphere as he landed from his attack. After being pushed back a few meters, he created another vortex and jumped backwards into it. He then appeared behind Miyuki and formed a dense tornado around himself and pushed its walls out further. Damn! he said mentally, catching his lost breath, That hurt a bit more than expected.

Miyuki decided it would be a waste of her chakra to form an equally powerful wind technique to counter Saphiro's; instead, she turned around and shot a large bullet of fire at Saphiro's wind technique. The wind-fueled technique ignited the Spiralling Impulse, with Saphiro still inside it.

I can't just keep warping out of the way, he thought as he watched the roaring flames around him. Instead, he used the air currents around him to weaken the winds and jumped through the tornado in a small ball. Rolling shortly to extinguish the flames, he hopped to his feet again and got into a fighting stance, "Never said we couldn't chat as well," he said, running towards the girl and performing a series of sweeping low kicks "Why does your village want to decimate a smallish village like this one?"

He's a skilled Wind user, thought Miyuki. It takes quite a bit of practice to manipulate existing wind. Miyuki began to dodge and block the taijutsu attacks and retreated several paces. "To be honest, I don't really know. I remember something about 'vortex ninjutsu' that the council was talking about, but other than that, I have no idea. The truth is, the village elders sicken me, and I try to have as little contact with them as possible."

Flipping back to his original location, the Kimza began processing what Miyuki told him. "Just like my uncle Ezemaru and the Kuguari Council," he thought out loud, "using his power to destroy." Saphiro then extinguished the chakra on his arms, though his Nokerrogan remained in full effect, "Once the Kuguari find out that a girl with strange chakra was here, your village will be targeted. I think we should both back down now, or take this fight elsewhere."

"I don't think Kagegakure has anything to fear from your clan, but you're right, we shouldn't fight here," said Miyuki before moving to the village outskirts with the Long-Range Body Flicker Technique.

Saphiro watched as the girl vanished and tracked her chakra signature with his dōjutsu, I just hope our short scramble didn't alert either village already, he thought as he entered a warping vortex and dropped from it at the outskirts of town, landing on an abandoned house, "I'll give you the first move," he said, "Call it, guest curteousy, call it weakness, it's really your call."

The Real Battle Begins! Edit

"Very well then," said Miyuki, as she bit her thumb and summoned a large flock of ravens. Several of the black birds formed into clones of her, while the others flew in circles around Saphiro, assaulting him with the horrible screeches that were their cries. The screeches had the ability to cause extreme pain and hallucination.

Saphiro tried to cover his ears to block out the auditory assault, but it was too late, for their cries were already attacking his hearing nearly past the threshold of pain. "Dammit," he cringed, biting his thumb as well and clasping his hands together. A large wasp appeared around him and countered the noise using its rapid wing strokes, then it launched a sphere of bio-electricity at Miyuki.

Miyuki countered the electric attack with an orb of fire, the two attacks colliding and nullifying each other. "Nice summon you have there," said Miyuki as she used a powerful genjutsu, enhanced by her Ketsugan to the point of being comparable to Tsukuyomi.

Saphiro did his best to dispel the genjutsu, but it was far too powerful to eradicate fully. He forced himself to endure the flames ingulfing him from within. Once the hellish nightmare as over, he dropped to his knees, shuddering. "I've been through worse," he muttered to himself, "I've been through worse. Still, that was unbearable." Still shaky from the close call with the genjutsu, he stood up and weaved a series of hand signals, "Playing with fire, eh? My turn!" He then launched a wind-enhanced fire sphere at his opponent.

Miyuki shot a large volume of water at high pressure using the water in the atmosphere, extinguishing the flame bullet. "You're not the only one who can combine wind and fire," said Miyuki, as she used a variant of her clan's technique on Saphiro, before igniting it with the Tracer Bullet.

"Gen sensei should've taught me more fire techniques," Saphiro replied, jumping back from the spinning inferno. "This is getting old and its depleting my chakra, but unless I want to use that technique, I have no choice!" He then jumped into a vortex he created and landed next to the girl. Spinning quickly on his feet, he summoned a mass of colorful sparks in his hands that quickly turned a crimson blade. "Try this on for size!" he shouted, reaching quickly at her with the blaze.

The flames engulfed the girl, as 'Miyuki' dispersed into dozens of ravens. "Wrong one," Miyuki said, smiling. One of Miyuki's four remaining clones appeared behind Saphiro and began to desiccate him.

"I like your techniques," Saphiro said as he slowly mummified, "Maybe I should learn Water Release one day. For now, though, I should really consider getting out of here." He then created a larger tornado than the last to push the clones away from him and jumped higher into the whirlwind as he recovered from his near-disaster. As the tornado faded, Saphiro shot another large fireball at the clones, that surrounded them in a dome of raging flames, eating away at the oxygen inside.

Miyuki's clones began to gasp for air, before they all formed several hand seals and shot powerful blasts of water out of their mouths, putting out Saphiro's fire technique. Maybe I should use non-elemental techniques,' thought Miyuki. "Crescent Moon Explosion!" said the Murakami, swinging her sword, which resulted in a powerful blast of red chakra being directed at Saphiro.

Switching from fighting with elements with something more neutral, Saphiro thought as the red blast raced toward him. My abilities there are limited, but I'll see what I can do! "Kimza Weapon: Kimza Arrow!" he shouted, blasting a large mass of chakra in the shape of an arrowhead towards the blast threatening to tear him into pieces. The two attacks collided and a large explosion followed. Diving into the dust ahead, Saphiro entered a vortex and shot out another below Miyuki, kicking her in the chin and into the air. He then appeared above her and slammed her heel into her chest, throwing her towards the ground. "Saphiro Kimza Strike!"

In the instant before Saphiro had struck her, Miyuki, sensing something was about to happen, had partially manifested her Yata Armor. When Sapiro kicked her in the chin, launching her up into the air, the Yata Armor absorbed the force of the taijutsu strike. As Saphiro was about to slam his heel into Miyuki's chest, the latter had shaped her armor into numerous spikes, which impaled him in multiple places in his leg, some of the spikes going straight through it, due to the force of the blow. Miyuki then fell to the ground, her armor dissipating the force of the impact. "Using taijutsu on a Ketsugan wielder isn't a good idea," she said, surveying the wounds on Saphiro's leg.

Saphiro stumbled back and winced as the pain from what just happened erupted from his leg all at once, "Dammit all," he growled, struggling to stand up, "I sure did wish that Kaede came along with me. No matter." He took off the bandanna around his neck and wrapped it tightly above the most injured part of his leg to stop the bleeding momentarily. She's far too strong, he thought, She has me trumped due to one extra elemental nature and a dōjutsu I've never seen. Not to mention the gap in skill. I have no choice but to use that technique. Hope this goes well. He then closed his eyes and opened them again. The pillars in his eyes fused to form three intricate designs. At that moment, his irises became navy blue in color as chakra poured from his pupil into them. "Shu Nokerrogan."

Miyuki looked at the new stage of Saphiro's dōjutsu, and she suddenly had the feeling that her own Ketsugan would not suffice if she intended to emerge victorious. A black design formed in the center of Miyuki's iris, as she activated the advanced stage of her own dōjutsu, the Saishū Ketsugan. Miyuki then used the heightened prowess of her eye technique, to take control of Saphiro's nervous system, and had him place a kunai to his own throat.

"This again?" Saphiro growled, struggling to free himself. He closed his eyes and began gathering chakra, but knew he wasn't prepared to go that far yet. Instead, he dug his nails into his hand to shock himself from the hold on his nervous system, though the result gave him slight disorientation. In a flash of hand signals, the Kimza rushed towards Miyuki and blasted her with an outward funnel of superheated and explosive air.

Miyuki manifested the rest of her Yata Armor, the powerful Chi Chakra being only slightly damaged by the Palm Cannon before Miyuki began to reform it. The kunoichi then began to form a large mass of rotating air, which would be impossible to ignite due to the condensation of the air. "Wind Release: Great Typhoon Bullet!" said Miyuki, bringing the hurricane-like technique down on Saphiro.

Saphiro created another giant whirlwind and let it clash with the windstorm ahead of him, hoping that the two would cancel each other out. He then backed away and created a quantity of 20 vortexes and hopped into one. Upon his entrance, all of the vortexes closed up. After a few moments, the vortexes opened up again, with a great number of kunai racing towards Miyuki.

Miyuki shot a number of fireballs in the direction of the kunai, the fireballs deflecting the knives.

Saphiro then used this moment to appear from his transformation as one of the kunai. Using a small, but intense blast of wind to blow out the fireball coming his way, Saphiro dropped towards the girl and prepared two Kimza Swords. He then spun rapidly as a large tornado formed around him, becoming infused with his chakra. "Eat this! Wind Release: Severing Impulse Technique!" he shouted, jumping out of the attack and hurling it towards his opponent. This is kinda fun! he thought.

Miyuki diverted a large quantity of Chi Chakra to her sword, using one of her clan's strongest moves: Ken'nan. Miyuki then charged towards Saphiro's wind technique, holding the sword in front of her. When the blade made contact with the wind, it bifurcated on either side of the sword, due to it being unaffected by any sort of chakra. In addition, due to the strength of the armor which surrounded Miyuki, she hardly felt the wind, though two small gashes began to appear on the Yata Armor. This was because the armor was strong enough to withstand several S-Rank technique used consecutively on it with minimal damage. This is one of the few times I've actually enjoyed a battle, thought Miyuki. It's almost like a... game." "Ken'nan!" said Miyuki as she appeared in front of Saphiro, swinging the weapon towards his head. Saphiro would find it nigh impossible to evade because of Miyuki's great speed and strength.

If I don't do this, Saphiro thought, forming one of the ancient Kuguari Clan hand seals, I'm done for! Shu ability number one: Kuguari Style: Mystic Step Technique! He then gathered the energy from the chakra in his shu pillars and converted it to a form of natural energy around him. He stepped back as Miyuki's technique grazed the bridge of his nose, leaving a small, but painful cut. Immediately, once his foot touched the ground, Saphiro went about fifty meters backward using incredible speed. He then stepped forward and reappeared in front of Miyuki, holding a Palm Cannon sphere in each hand. He combined the two and created another, much larger, funnel of superheated wind.

Miyuki used the Long-Range Body Flicker Technique to avoid the technique, then instantly flickered back to her original location. "So, that's what you call the Blast Release, isn't it?" Miyuki asked Saphiro.

Saphiro looked down at his still steaming hands and brushed them on his shirt. "It's a small example," he replied, weaving hand signals. As he did so, the air around the two became very heavy and hot, yet surprisingly dry. "However, my Tokomiya Clan heritage allows me to use fire-based jutsu, as the Kimza clan solely use wind. Here's a much larger example!" He then generated the largest tornado he could and pushed it forward, allowing it to absorb the explosive air he created. At that moment, it ignited and became a spinning funnel of brilliant white flames.

The powerful technique was executed perfectly, the spinning funnel exploding in an intense flash of light. As Saphiro scanned the battlefield for his opponent, Miyuki said, "Take a closer look around." Saphiro turned around to see him opponent looking at him. "When I asked you about your Blast Release, I used that time to put you in a subtle genjutsu, making it appear as if I was still in front of you. I had run behind you while you performed that large technique. Miyuki formed the bird hand seal, condensing a titanic quantity of atmospheric water in order to use her most powerful water technique. "Water Release: Hell and High Water!" said Miyuki, creating a large tsunami directed at Saphiro.

"That is a water technique beyond the likes I've ever seen," Saphiro admitted out loud, weaving hand signsals and absorbing the sunlight around him into his palms and augmenting it with chakra. "This must do the trick. This technique would make the most elite of the Nakaido clan sweat! My third most powerful technique and my Blast Release masterpiece! Fire Release: Solar Storm Technique!" He then tossed an condensed mass of solar energy towards the tsunami, which exploded with the luminosity to color the area purely white. The sphere expanded into an explosive ball that generated incredible winds and tore into the earth. Saphiro jumped out of the way to prevent the expanding miniature star from consuming him. As the two massive attacks clashed, a large amount of steam erupted and covered the battlefield, cancelling each other out. There goes about sixty percent of my remaining chakra, the Kimza thought.

"I'm impressed," said Miyuki. "No Fire Release technique has ever completely evaporated my technique before. Where did you learn how to use the Fire Release like that?" As she said this, she was contemplating using one of her most powerful techniques.

Saphiro closed his eyes and went into a meditative state, "I've been studying the Tokomiya half of my bloodline for years. Training with Gen-sensei also helped me in that matter." He then opened his eyes again, one of the shu pillars in his left eye completely black and no longer radiating chakra. "Your abilities are staggering. I may lose this impressive battle, but I'm going out like a Kuguari should, with all tht I have."

"It's been an honor fighting you," said Miyuki. "To tell you the truth, if it were up to me, I would leave this village and return home, but the Kage Council ordered me to wipe out Arizogakure. Even if I don't agree with their decisions, Kage is my village, and I won't defy them." At that point, Miyuki formed the Ram, Tiger, and Ox hand seals.

"Loyalty," Saphiro muttered, the inactive pillar on his left eye splitting into two sperate pillars, "If only the Kuguari clan had more of that. However, Arizo is my home as well, and I must complete my duty as a shinobi and protect it, even if I am the first casulty. I have too little chakra for my most powerful move, so I'll use this one instead. It's been fun fighting you, miss... Bishamonten!" As he said that, a large black circle erupted from his body and spread across the ground for a long distance, coloring the ground black. Then a huge wall of black and white chakra, towering over fifty feet figh, erupted from the Kimza and raced throughout the circle, tearing everything it touched into black cinders.

Miyuki was hit by the full force of the Bishamonten, the Yata Armor being able to protect her from its effects, but when the fearsome technique was over, the armor was reduced to a small red aura around Miyuki. "Incredible," she said. "You're the first ninja who has come this close to breaching my Yata Armor." As Miyuki said this, a large wind disc was forming in the sky above the battlefield. "Wind Release: Heaven's Vengeance!" said Miyuki, bringing the immensely powerful wind technique down on Saphiro.

Saphiro was reduced to kneeling as his technique took more than two-thirds of his remaining chakra, his Shu Nokerrogan reduced to its initial form. As he watched the wind disc fall towards him, Saphiro knew if he got struck by that, he'd be dead. With enough chakra for one last push, he created a vortex and jumped into it. He then appeared within some distance of the attack. He blasted a large sphere of flames and used some wind chakra to jump into it. As the wind attack struck the sphere, he could feel the fire dying from the impact and was shocked as the firball was blown away and he was slammed by the attack head on. As he was thrown back to earth from the explosion, he summoned enough energy to create one last vortex and fell into it, reappearing out another one near the ground. He replied with a sharp groan as his body struck the ground and he slid to a stop, alive, but battered. Miyuki felt horrible that she had hurt Saphiro so badly. Damn the Kage Council for making me do this, she thought. As she thought this, she began to breathe harder, the strain of using such powerful techniques beginning to show. I've got enough chakra to use both my Saishū Ketsugan techniques, and maybe another powerful nature transformation, but after that, I'll be forced to use weaker ninjutsu, or maybe I'll stick with kenjutsu and taijutsu. Miyuki walked towards Saphiro, noting that his chakra levels were significantly depleted. "Do you really want to continue this? I have no desire to kill you, but it may come to that if you interfere with my mission."

Saphiro struggled to regain his lost breath and looked up as Miyuki approached him. His body was severely bruised and he mind was slightly warped from using the Bishamonten. His Nokerrogan was still active, but only in his right eye, for the one of his left deactivated from chakra depletion. Providing he could have enough drive to get up, he could continue fighting and perhaps warp at least four more times, but then he’d probably too weak to go on fighting. “I’m not of Arizo,” he said between pants, standing up, “but this is my clan’s ancestral home. I’d destroy this place myself than allow someone else to do it. Plus, this fight was a bit too loud. Arizo shinobi will swarm here any minute now.”

"I know. But then, that's what I'm hoping for," said Miyuki. "This village is going to be destroyed, regardless of your efforts to stop me."

Saphiro knew that words would not stop this determined girl, and his chakra capacity was running on empty. The only thing he could do now was to wait for this mini war to unfold, or hope that his comrades from Konohagakure came to his aid in time. As he heard the footsteps of numerous Arizo shinobi as they reached the place where his Bishamonten wiped the area into oblivion, he knew what he had to do. He activated the Nokerrogan in his other eye and weaved hand signals for his Multiple Vortex Technique. Since this right eye only had four pillars, Shu Nokerrogan was impossible. Then again, he had no plans of fighting seriously, only delaying and keeping Arizo out of this situation until help could arrive.

Miyuki threw several kunai with exploding tags at the Arizo shinobi, the blasts from the weapons being powerful enough to render them unconscious. Turning her attention towards Saphiro, Miyuki said, "I'm sorry... I never wanted to do this, but I don't have any choice. Kassatsujizai," as Saphiro's hands began to turn black due to necrosis. Due to this, he wouldn't be able to form hand seals.

Saphiro watched in shock as his hands turned black and turned utterly useless to him. He stepped back and began watching as more Arizo shinobi ran into the area. One of the shinobi was Haseo Kuguari, one the most celebrated Arizo heroes that fought in the Fourth Shinobi World War. "You are under arrest, young lady," the Kuguari elder stated as he stepped forward, his Nokerrogan flashing. Saphiro shook his head and stood up, "Don’t fight her," the boy pleaded, stepping in front of the man, “It’ll get you nowhere."

“Your part in this skirmish is finished, Tokomiya half-breed,” Haseo said sternly pushing Saphiro away, "Let us handle this. You return to Konoha." He turned towards Miyuki and smirked, his five pillar eyes seeming to spin, "As for you, Arizo soldiers, detain her!" The Arizo soldiers, mostly Kimza Clan members, ran towards her with kunai in their hands.

"Not likely," said Miyuki, exhaling a freezing blast of wind, encasing the Arizo shinobi in ice. Miyuki then formed several hand seals and used her most powerful genjutsu to knock Saphiro out. She then flickered several kilometers away with her long-range body flicker.

Miyuki prepared to use her most powerful technique, the Tendō, to wipe Arizo off the face of the earth. She took one last look at the village, regretting the fact that she would never see it again. As she was about to activate the final technique of her Saishū Ketsugan, the gravity of what she was about to do fully dawned on her. Until that moment, she had just ignored the fact that she would be killing thousands of innocent civilians if she wiped out the village. Miyuki thought about her own village and how much she cared for it, and thought about how she would feel if someone obliterated it. I can't do this, thought Miyuki. Even in war, there are rules. I won't slaughter an entire village just because some old geezers ordered me to. Miyuki's thoughts then went to Saphiro, and she realized how much pain he'd be in because of the necrosis she'd inflicted on him. I can't just leave him like that, she thought. He'll never have the use of his hands if I don't do something. I know... Miyuki bit her thumb, and summoned Shiraha, her signature white raven. "Go to Kage, and bring Midori back with you," said Miyuki. The white bird inclined her head, and dispersed in a puff of smoke.

Several minutes later, Shiraha appeared on Midori's shoulder. "Miyuki? Why did you bring me here?" questioned the medical-nin.

"I need you to heal someone for me, Midori-san. It's urgent," replied Miyuki. "Let's go." The two kunoichi left for Saphiro's location. Upon reaching the unconscious ninja, Midori said, "Ah, so this is who you wanted me to heal. A victim of your Kassatsujizai, huh?"

"Yes, please hurry. I don't want him to spend the rest of his life like that," said Miyuki.

"Alright, I'll help you," came Midori's reply. She kneeled down next to Saphiro and a blue aura surrounded her hands, her Healing Buddha Technique. Saphiro's black hands began to return to a healthy pink tint, and moments later, all traces of necrosis receded from them. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have patients at the Kage hospital to attend to," said Midori. Shiraha hopped onto Midori's shoulder and the two departed in a puff of smoke.

Miyuki sat next to Saphiro, waiting for him to awaken.

Saphiro was stuck in his mental world, fighting against Ezemaru and Bukarok all over. This time, it was a lot different. This time, Ezemaru had possession of his own Shu Nokerrogan and he was overpowering the Kimza with extreme prejudice. For the longest time, Ezemaru toyed with him and injured him severely, but never attacked him with killing intent. Just as the nightmare couldn’t get worse, Ezemaru used Bukarok’s chakra to create the largest dimensional wormhole he had ever seen. He was pulled from the ground along with the earth and thrown towards the giant rip in the sky when a white light blinded him.

"Gah!" he shouted, shooting up from his laying position. He put his hand on his pounding heart as he tried his best to erase the horrifying image of Ezemaru’s Shu Nokerrogan out of his mind. He looked down upon his hands to realize that the necrosis that afflicted them was gone. He felt better before falling victim to that genjutsu, but he was still a bit weak. He turned his head around to see Miyuki next to him and jumped back a little, his green eyes opened wide in shock.

Miyuki smiled at Saphiro, saying, "I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to destroy your village, even though my own village ordered me to."

Saphiro let out a short sigh of relief and smiled back at Miyuki. She looked cute when she smiled, but that was something he could contemplate on later. He stood up and watched the smoke rising from the place where and Miyuki had their 'little skirmish'. He growled a little as he looked away, Haseo's words echoing in his mind, "Tokomiya half-breed, huh?" he said to himself, "I try to save them and this is how they repay me. I could be a crminal to Arizo for this. No wonder Ezemaru left." He put aside his self-rant and looked over at Miyuki, "What about you? What are your plans now? You can't just go home, can you?"

"I can, but I'm not sure I want to," said Miyuki. "I can always tell the Council that I found nothing of interest here, and it's not worth destroying. Of course, you and I know better."

“Yeah,” the boy replied, “I’m not so sure they’ll believe that, but you are a powerful shinobi. They probably would.” Saphiro crossed his arms and kicked the grass ahead of him with his foot. “As for me, I’m not too sure yet,” he said, “but I have a hunch that the Kuguari clan isn’t going to take this standing. They’ll be going after Konoha’s neck for this. I’m going to contact Gen-sensei and alert him of this potential threat.” He then walked forward and gazed into the forest ahead. Gen was probably a few kilometers from the village. He could summon a wasp to fly him to Gen’s location, but that took too much of whatever chakra he had left.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Miyuki said reassuringly, placing a hand on Saphiro's shoulder. "I'm not too worried about what the Kage Council has to say. Even if they don't believe me, they know better than to openly confront me about it."

Saphiro smiled back at Miyuki and nodded, "I am pretty sure that you're right about that, and thanks." He then fell silent and awaited Gen's arrival. After a few short minutes, the Fireworks Ninja himself appeared on the field, walking towards his old student. Gen's eyes fell upon Miyuki, then back at Saphiro, then upon the rising pillar of smoke nearby.

"What's going on?" Gen asked in his gruff, low voice, his arms crossed. "I was coming here to get your report when I felt a tangible spike in chakra. I am not a sensory ninja, so it had to be large. Who is this lady, by the way."

"This is Miyuki Murakami," Saphiro explained, gesturing to her, "She and I had a confrontation and now I think Arizo is on the warpath because of it."

"Interesting," Gen said, rubbing his chin, "I saw a sizable force of Arizo shinobi near their gate. They are probably surveying the damage done, but knowing the Kuguari clan, I am more than certain that this will not end well. What's your plan."

"I only have one," Saphiro suggested, "We thwart whatever they are up to."

Miyuki glanced at the two Konoha shinobi, and said, "I can help with that, if you'd like me to. Looking down at Saphiro's damaged leg, she said, "He's hurt pretty badly in his leg, and he's exhausted."

"I'm fine," the Kimza said, his Nokerrogan glowing, "As long as my Nokerrogan is active, I can fight."

"Not on my watch, Saphiro," Gen stated, tossing some healing ointment at the boy, "You stay here and rub this on your wounds to disinfect them. Meanwhile, your friend and I will survey what's going on. We'll set up a 10-square kilometer perimeter around Arizogakure. If anyone sets foot out of there, we'll fight them off. Don't kill them, or we may start a war."

Co-operation Edit

"Alright, let's do this," said Miyuki, getting up from her seated position. She formed a quick hand seal, making a shadow clone to guard Saphiro, in case anyone tried to attack him.

While Miyuki did that, Gen created a shadow clone as well and mentally instructed it to create a perimeter around Saphiro and alert Miyuki's clone in case anyone breached it. Gen then charged his hand with electric energy and placed his middle and index fingers on the ground, making himself a biolelectric compass. He used the electric pulses around him to track anyone within a kilometer radius. "There are at least ten Arizo shinobi heading towards the edge of our perimeter. We'll head there first."

"Okay," said Miyuki. The two shinobi began to run in the direction of the enemy ninja, Miyuki following Gen's lead. "So, I take it you're the blonde kid's sensei?" Miyuki asked Gen.

"Yup," Gen replied, jumping over a large root, "I knew that kid since he was about five. I take it you've been sent here by someone else. You're not of Arizo, for most people have have different colored hair and eyes."

Near the perimeter, Haseo Kuguari and his group held firm and surveyed the damage done by the battle earlier. Haseo had his suspicions about the "Kimza-Tokomiya halfbreed", but he never thought the boy would awaken a Shu Nokerrogan and summon a Bishamonten portal to tear the area into cinders. He had to tell the Arizo Council that his Konoha boy was becoming a problem, and he could well turn against the village at any time.

"Movement up ahead," Haseo muttered, turning his permanent Nokerrogan towards the northwest, "Two of them. One is the legendary Fireworks Ninja Gen Nakaido. The other is that girl Saphiro was fighting. It was just some ruse. I knew that wretch would turn on us."

"The truth is, I was sent on a mission to destroy this village, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it," replied Miyuki. "I see several chakra signatures up ahead, we're getting closer to the enemy."

Haseo closed his eyes and lifted his hand into the air. At that moment, a vortex appeared above him and he jumped into it. A few seconds later, he emerged from the top of a tree, standing on the branch and eyeing the duo ahead with his dōjutsu, "You two are conspiring together, I see," the elder said, grasping the pommel of his sword, "Turn back now and return to your homelands or suffer."

"I rather not," Gen replied, "I know what you people are up to, and I am not going to allow your army to run free. You'll eliminate you all if you wish it."

Miyuki drew her iridescent blade once more, holding it point-down. "Listen," she said in an irritated tone of voice. "I'm really not in the mood to fight you all, but that's exactly what I'll do if you insist on keeping this up."

The Kuguari smirked at the girl and he opened his arms out wide, as if embracing the world, "You are not going to defeat me so easily," he said. "I am the general of these forces, a force stronger than the Foruth Iyokage, Ezemaru Kimza himself. I am not that Tokomiya runt, Saphiro. And I will prove it." He then jumped into the air and vanished into thin air. Half a second later, he appeared in front of Gen and slammed his elbow into his gut, sending Gen back some distance. He then conjured a small tornado in his hand and struck Gen with it, sending the Fireworks Ninja flying a further distance. He then released a series of chains from his arms at Miyuki. He then allowed them to protude spikes that pierced her slightly.

Miyuki formed two demonic hands, which grabbed the chains and snapped them off like twigs. Miyuki also noticed small cuts on her arms and chest, the first wounds she'd had in a long time. Miyuki then slammed the two chakra hands together, sandwiching Haseo in between them. Due to the nature of the Chi Chakra, Haseo would suffer intense burns and blunt force trauma.

Haseo almost liquified by the attack but used a vortex to warp out of harm's away and back some distance. He shook the pain from his burned body and prepared for a second attack. Jumping out of the ground in front of Haseo, Gen quickly weaved some hand signals and created an array of colorful sparks that he slammed into the Kuguari, knocking him back. Taking this to his advantage, Gen coated his hands in a large quantity of earth and gave the Kuguari a bone-shattering punch. Haseo hit the ground hard, but had enough time to warp in front of Gen. "Water Release: Violent Eroding Wave!" he shouted, spitting a large volume of water from his mouth that tore into the ground as it traveled.

Miyuki took advantage of Haseo's distraction to spit a volley of fireballs at Haseo. She then summoned her signature white raven, and ordered her to screech at Haseo.

Haseo was reduced to his feet as the screech tore at him from the inside. He noticed the fireballs coming and ordered an Arizo shinobi to help him out. The Arizo shinobi used a vortex technique to absorb the fireballs and then redirected them towards Miyuki and her summon. As Haseo slowly got to his feet, Gen, who had dodged the blast of water, kicked the Kuguari in the jaw, throwing him onto his back. Gen then fell towards the man, ready to finish him. Haseo waved a series of four hand signals and slammed his palm into Gen's forhead. Gen fell unconscious and Haseo shortly after, the two fighting within Gen's mind.

Meanwhile, Saphiro, who had finally gotten to his feet, activated his Nokerrogan and noticed that there were a few soldiers coming in his directed. Despite being tired and having only about 3/5 of his chakra returned to him, he knew that he had to try to end this oncoming war before it started. He formed a Kimza Sword on each of his hands and awaited the soldier's arrival. "I'd turn back, had I been you," he growled as the soldiers neared.

Miyuki sent a command to Shiraha to bombard Haseo with wind with wind to help Gen out.

At Saphiro's location, Miyuki's shadow clone decided to help him out, drawing her own weapon and channeled chi chakra into it so as to intimidate the enemy ninja.

Haseo used his Nokerrogan to locate the wind ninjutsu and forced himself out of Gen's mind in time to use a vortex to warp away some distance. He landed not too far from his opponents and scrutinized them, his Nokerrogan progressing to six pillars. "This fight is getting old," the Kuguari said, crossing his arms, "Even though you outnumber me and overpower me, it doesn't mean I am going to lay down my arms."

Saphiro sliced his way through the oncoming mass of soldiers who encountered him not too long ago. He made sure his Kimza Sword was enough to knock out his opponents, but not kill them. He could feel his chakra draining away, but he was doing fine for now and he didn't want to slow down anytime soon. Fighting my own people, he thought, I wonder how long they can keep this up.

The boy's sensei told me not to kill any of them, Miyuki's clone thought. The shadow clone ran towards the enemy Arizo shinobi, but instead of using kenjutsu, she began to attack the ninja with taijutsu, striking so fast that they had no time to react before being rendered unconscious.

At the real Miyuki's location, Miyuki said, "Enough! I don't want to do this anymore." Motioning to Haseo, she said, "Look, I can understand if you want to deal with the brown-haired kid, but I won't let you attack Konoha. I was sent to wipe out Arizo, but I couldn't bring myself to. However, that will change if you insist on starting a war. I can destroy your village in an instant... so it's your choice."

Haseo stopped and looked down at the girl and he crossed his arms a little. He then stepped towards the girl and smirked at her, "So you were in cahoots with the boy," he laughed, "and even if he wasn't you were probably the reason the fight started. I will not allow outsiders to threaten the people of this village. Even one as deadly as you."

"No," said Miyuki. "I came here to destroy this village because my own village wanted my to. The boy tried to stop me, but he couldn't, and he ended up with necrosis on his hands from my Kassatsujizai. I... considered it immoral to kill an entire village on the basis that the Kage Elders wanted me to, and I had a medical-nin heal the boy."

Haseo looked at the girl, then at Gen. So far, he finally understood why Saphiro was beaten up as such. He was always a stubborn person, but now he understood what the Tokomiya-half breed did for his village. Haseo was lost for the time being. What would he do? fight the two invaders and risk his village, or cease the fighting and risk his rank and reputation?

Miyuki used the body flicker technique to appear behind Haseo, and placed a kunai to his throat. "I'll make it simple: tell your shinobi to withdraw, or I will reduce Arizo to a charred pile of deris," she said, deadly seriousness suffusing her voice.

Haseo glared at his feet for a short while befor letting out a short sigh. "Withdraw everyone," he said, "I am not going to risk our village with this battle." At that moment, the Arizo shinobi all over the village began to retreat. Saphiro was cutting his way through the troups when he saw that the people around him was escaping. He deactivated his Nokerrogan and sat down, letting his breath return to him. The Gen clone looked down at Saphiro and smirked before it vanished into a plume of smoke.

"They stopped Haseo's army, eh?" Saphiro thought, wiping his brow with his hand, "Good. Now I can get the hell outta here."

Miyuki let out a mental sigh of relief. That was one of the hardest things I've had to do, threatening to destroy his village. Miyuki hadn't had any intention of destroying Arizo, but had hoped that her threats would be sufficient in convincing Haseo. She withdrew the kunai from his throat and walked towards Gen.

At Miyuki's clone's location, the shadow clone walked towards Saphiro. "We managed to convince them to stop," she said. She then used a genjutsu on Saphiro to tell him how to find the real her and Gen, before departing in a puff of smoke.

Gen nodded and rubbed his cheek a little bit, smiling at Miyuki. "You did a pretty swell job," he said, crossing his arms, "I'm not surprised that my greatest pupil had trouble against you." He then recieved the information from his clone as his clone dispersed. Nodding understandingly, he watched as Haseo and the rest of the Arizo army with draw.

A few minutes later, Saphiro jumped out of a vortex and landed next to Gen and Miyuki. He no longer seemed hurt, and his leg was bandaged tighter and treated with the ointment Gen had given him. "I have gathered the information needed. We're going back to Konoha, right?"

Journey to Konoha Edit

"Well..." Miyuki was contemplating whether or not to accompany Saphiro. Oh well, I can tell the elders I was spying on a boy from Arizo. "Sure, why not. Oh, one other thing. What's your name? You never told me." Miyuki smiled and looked Saphiro in the eye, her own eyes being their natural, beautiful blue since she had deactivated her Ketsugan.

Saphiro looked back at Miyuki and smiled as well, his normal dark green eyes glowing a little. "Oh yeah," the Kimza said, running hand through his blonde bangs, "I didn't eh? I was so caught up earlier. I'm Saphiro Kimza. The tall guy with the permanent raspy voice is Gen Nakaido." He admired the look her eyes, all blue and rain-like, as opposed to the murderous red of her Ketsugan.

"I'll catch up with you in a short while," Gen said, walking towards Arizo, "I have damage control to do here. Plus, I need some tea."

"Saphiro," said Miyuki, trying out the sound of the name for herself. "That's a nice name." The kunoichi began to walk towards Saphiro. "Well, shall we go?"

The boy smiled and waited for Miyuki to walk to his side and began to walk towards the forest. "Konoha is going to take a while to reach," he said, pointing in the direction of his hometown. "But that gives us a good while to talk, Miyuki. Tell me a bit about yourself."

"Hmm... Where do I begin?" said Miyuki. "I'm a Jōnin from Kagegakure, and a member of the Murakami clan. I've got a little brother, Daisuke, and he means a lot to me. I like... watching the sky on rainy days, and also spending time improving my kenjutsu.

"You're a Jōnin?," Saphiro replied, adjusting the zipper on his jacket. "Already? It is quite aparent though. I'm a Chūnin, but I don't see why I'm promoted." He looked up as the sun slowly glided across the afternoon sky and continued walking, "It must be nice having a younger sibling. I don't have any siblings, but I guess you can say Art Uzūba is the closest thing I have to a brother. As for hobbies, I live reading ancient texts and training."

"I've been a jōnin for two years now," said Miyuki. "You're good enough to become one, as well. Do you like rainy weather?"

"I think I have some ways to go before I can become a jōnin," Saphiro said, putting his hands behind his head, "but I really appreciate your honesty. As for rain, I tend to enjoy a nice shower from nature. Makes everything clean and pure." He looked at Miyuki and flashed her a grin.

Miyuki returned Saphiro's grin, saying, "I love it when it rains. One of my favorite things to do is looking at the sky on a stormy day. I also don't mind getting wet." Here Miyuki paused and laughed a little bit. "My friends also give me nicknames because I'm such a rain lover."

Saphiro listened and smiled a little, "Nothing wrong with getting wet once in a while," he said, "Most people think I highlighted my bangs. I was born this way though. I actually hail from two clans. I think my hair color has to do with that." He undid his headband and looked at it, wondering if he should have all three emblems of his village heritage on it. "Speaking of you, your power is immense. You should be village head with that kind of strength."

"Your bangs were the first things I noticed on you," replied Miyuki, laughing. "I was wondering why they were blonde while the rest of your hair was brown. But now I know why," she said, smiling with her eyes closed. Miyuki reopened them and said, "I guess I'm powerful to be Kage of my village, but there are two people that are stronger than me: Hizari, the current Kage, and Iroku, one of the most celebrated ninja in my village."

"Naruto Uzumaki is our curent kage," Saphiro said, playing with his hands a little, "There was a kage before and after him, in a sense, that was nearly as strong as he was. Both me and Gen sensei, who is also stronger than me in his own ways, stood little chance against him. Dunno where he is now."Saphiro looked up towards the sky, his green eyes turning a slight teal. "The place you live must be relatively peaceful."

"Usually, but right now, it's anything but," replied Miyuki. "My clan is dissatisfied with the way they're being treated, and plan to overthrown the Council. The plans are known only to the clan, but I have a feeling it will get worse quickly. I can't say I blame my clan, but revolting against the village won't solve anything..."

Saphiro caught sight of a large fallen tree in their way and ran over to it, picking it up slowly and tossing it aside, "I know how you feel," Saphiro replied, pushing the tree back a bit more, "My ancestral clan, the Kuguari, dislike the fact that thier power was taken from them. If they weren't kept in check, the whole world would burn."

"Here, let me help you with that," Miyuki said, as she formed a giant hand, and tossed the tree out of the way. "I'll never understand why some people desire power so much, they'll do anything to get it."

"I blame the fact that we're animals," Saphiro replied, warping to the top of a tree and looking about, "As long as there is money, power, or land, people will never stop going for war. Even the most peaceful of pacifists will fight for what is theirs." He then jumped back down and pointed towards a small mountain ahead. "I'm sure you understand that, cutie."

"Spoken like a true student of mine," Gen added, walking next to the two, "We'll head in this direction until a little after sunset. Then, we make camp."

Warmth suffused Miyuki's face as she blushed a little, and she turned her face away from Saphiro's face in the hopes that he wouldn't notice. She was beginning to like Saphiro, not just as a friend, but maybe as something more. Once her skin color returned to normal, she said, "That's true, Saphiro. Maybe one day humans will get past their destructive instincts and learn to coexist peacefully. At least, that's what I'm hoping for." She flickered up to the tree branch Saphiro was on, and watched the setting sun in all its resplendent glory.

Saphiro smiled and rubbed the back of his head with his hand. He was lucky Miyuki was on his side and that they were travelling together. For a kunoichi with near-godlike powers, she was a good person and a gorgeous one at that. Anyone would lucky to have her as a friend or more. Watching the sun set near the valley, bathing everything in a pale orange, the Kimza wondered about his strange life so far. He was only 17, so he had some time to go, but after fighting Shinziro and all. "Only the people can decide for themselves, Miyuki," the boy replied after some thought, "The best we can do is hope that they make the right choice."

Gen stayed at the bottom of the tree, lighting a wooden match over and over. He eventually looked up at the tree and began walking, "We're going to find a clearing," he said, "Let's get moving before the giant wasps start coming."

Miyuki shuddered slightly at the mention of wasps. "I don't like those things," she said, shaking her head. She jumped down from the tree and walked next to Gen.

Saphiro landed next to Miyuki and brushed his pants off with his hand, "I have a wasp summon," he said, "but those wild things make this place extremely dangerous." He pointed down the way and smiled a little, "I've been through here many times and I have found a cave not too far from here." Taking point of the group, Saphiro walked on ahead, keeping an eye out for any giant wasps that could make this trek something close to a winged nightmare.

Miyuki bit her thumb and summoned Shiraha once more. After mentally explaining the situation to the raven, Miyuki told it to fly to her hand. The kunoichi then sat cross-legged on the ground, as she used a technique that allowed her to connect her optical nerve to Shiraha's. Shiraha then took off, while Miyuki saw whatever she did. With her eyes closed, Miyuki said, "I'm just having Shiraha search around the area."

Saphiro nodded and stared at Miyuki intently, tilting his head to the side in curiosity. Gen then charged his hands with electrcal chakra and became a human biocompass again. He placed his hand on the ground and began feeling around for a rock formation nearby.

"There's something like a small mountain to the south," Gen said, "It's worth checking out."

Saphiro summoned a wasp and told it to stay nearby and use its pheromones to create a temporary territory. If there were any enemies coming, the wasp would use a high-piched buzzing to alert him. If they had to fight giant flying insects with stingers, they were going to find a way around them first.

"The cave you suggested looks great Saphiro," said Miyuki, who was actually seeing from hundreds of feet in the air due to her technique. "The mountain... Ahhh! How many times have I told you not to do that Shiraha!" Miyuki's summon had suddenly made a nosedive, frightening the living daylights out of Miyuki.

Saphiro covered his mouth in an attempt to keep the chuckle bubbling up inside him from escaping, Something actually does frighten her, eh? he thought, watching as Gen silently walked past him and towards the direction of the mountain, "I'd try to find some vines or something," he said, activating his dōjutsu, "because the way down gets very slippery. You'll need good footing."

Once Miyuki had finished reprimanding Shiraha, she said, "The mountain doesn't look too interesting." Peeved with her raven, she broke the technique and stood up, stretching. "Well, I don't know about you, but I can use my chakra to grip the ground."

"I can just use a vortex," Saphiro replied, "but I perfer sliding down. It's fun and less chakra-taxing." He then wwatched as Gen slid down the path and smirked up at Miyuki, "Or I can follow your lead. I still wanna talk a bit, if that's alright with you."

"Sure, I'd like that," said Miyuki. She channeled chakra to the soles of her feet, and began to walk down the steep path. "Tell me about you clan's abilities," she said to Saphiro.

Saphiro followed Miyuki's example and followed after her, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. "Well," he said, "My clan is known for their time-space ninjutsu. They have the ability to warp anywhere within their sight using a disturbance in the world's time-space field. My clan is also a group of Wind Release masters, though you already saw that. Lastly, is our Nokerrogan. It's the only true kekkei genkai we have. The Kuguari clan was considered to be far stronger though. What about your clan?"

"That's amazing!" said Miyuki. "Space-Time ninjutsu has always fascinated me, though I have no talent for it. My clan, the Murakami, are Wind Release users, as you know, but sometimes our members are born with an extra element or two. All of us are born with Chi Chakra, which is a special type of chakra that is similar to that of Tailed Beasts." Here Miyuki released a small quantity of the red chakra to show Saphiro. Smiling, she continued, "The Ketsugan is our dōjutsu, but not all Murakami are born with it. And finally, all Murakami are trained in kenjutsu. Our swords are made of a substance that's impervious to chakra and is nearly impossible to damage otherwise. They're also sometimes decorated with a gemstone."

"Never thought I'd find a clan that was also versed in Wind Release techniques," Saphiro exclaimed, going around a tree, "My clan is forced to use only Wind Release techniques, though more powerful clan members can learn extra natures. I can naturally learn Fire Release techniques because my mother was from the Tokomiya clan." He jumped over a steep drop ahead of him and reached out for a branch on the way down, slowing his fall, "I saw that sword of yours. Looks beautiful and deadly. The only alternate chakra I ever saw was Guardian Beast chakra, which is a multitude of colors."

Miyuki placed a hand on her sword and drew it out of its scabbard, and proffered it to Saphiro. "You can look at it, if you'd like. It's called the Tenshiken."

Saphiro took the blade and stared at it for a while, feeling its weight with his fingers and palms, "It's something to behold, alright," he said, "It has weight, but makes up for it in the fluidity of its strikes. Pretty incredible." He gave the sword back to Miyuki and finally reached the cave, where Gen was leaning against the wall.

Miyuki replaced the sword in its sheath, saying, "Really? I never really noticed that it was heavy. I guess this sword is like an extension of my arm, I've used it since my hand was big enough to grip the hilt. In the words of one of my clan leaders, the perfect weapon is intent incarnate; what you want it to do, so it does."

"I suppose having something so long makes it a part of you," Saphiro replied, warping to the edge of the cave, staring at the fading light of sunset behind him, "I have gotten so used to the Vortex Technique for so long now, it's something like walking to me." He reached out towards Miyuki and smiled, "The cave is here. We should be safe until morning."

Miyuki gladly accepted Saphiro's hand, allowing him to pull her up into the cave, even though she was more than capable of doing it herself. "Well, that was fun," said Miyuki. "You've been to this cave before?"

Saphiro smiled as he pulled Miyuki up towards the cave. He knew she was capable of doing it, but he wanted to be nice. "I used to come here all of the time when I was with a group called Shinziro," he said, "I was usually alone, so I had no one to talk with."

Miyuki nodded, saying, "I can tell, you found your way around here easily. Miyuki stepped outside for a few moments, and when she came back, she was carrying several branches, for firewood. "Now we can have a fire," said Miyuki, smiling and placing them on the ground. She shot several small fireballs at the wood, turning it into a campfire.

Gen remained looking outside, his face tense as he saw the setting of the sun. Almost too soon, a deafening buzz erupted and became thicker by the second. The sky became absolutely darker as a enormous swarm of wasps emerged from their nests and began their long night of hunting. "Looks like we made it just in time, eh?" Gen chuckled, smoothing out the wrinkles in his bandanna.

"I guess we did," Saphiro replied, sitting in front of the fire. He rubbed his hands together and watched the swarm of wasps some distance ahead, "I just hope none of those damn insects try to come in here."

"Me too," said Miyuki, in response to Saphiro. She looked around the cave a few times, before asking, "Do either of you have any food? I may have to hunt if you haven't brought any."

"I figured I would be staying in Arizo for a week or so," Saphiro explained, "And I ate all of my rations before coming here. You sure you wanna go out there though? The wasps are all over the place." He gave it some thought for a while and shook his head, "What am I saying? You'll be fine. I can guide you to a good place to hunt though."

"Yeah, the wasps don't really scare me, I just find them to be... disconcerting. I'll be back in a few minutes." With a quick smile, Miyuki formed a hand seal and disappeared.

Miyuki had been gone for about two minutes, when she noticed a great black cloud heading towards her. Damn, that's the wasps, she thought. She partially activated the Yata Armor, so that a thin layer of red chakra surrounded her. It would be sufficient in protecting her from the wasps, but not much else. "Fire Release: Flamethrower Technique!" she said, shooting a stream of flames that burnt the vile insects to a crisp. Miyuki saw several rabbits, and she tossed several kunai at them, instantly killing them. "I'm sorry, you cute furballs, but I'm starving." Miyuki then walked to a nearby lake, and saw several fish beneath the water's surface. She rose the water upwards, tossing the fish onto the ground. Miyuki retrieved her catch and headed back to the cave.

"I'm back!" said Miyuki happily, greeting Gen and Saphiro.

Saphiro was smiling at the girl when she came in, his Nokerrogan fully recovered after a period of meditation. Gen stood at the edge of the cave opening as he did before, seemingly asleep.

"Finally back from outside eh?" Saphiro asked, "I saw that fire technique from here. I'm pretty sure those wasps won't be out hunting for some time."

"I suppose I'll cook," Gen volunteeed, standing up straight from his subtle sleep and walking towards the two, "I have more chakra for it anyway. I suppose you have something to skin and gut these things with?"

"I got something," Saphiro replied. He then created a vortex and reached inside of it, pulling out a hunter's knife, a pot, and a few seasonings.

"Nice. I'll gut the fish, and I guess you and Gen can take the rabbits," said Miyuki, as she sat cross-legged on the floor.

Saphiro and Gen sat dome distance away and begen cutting open the rabbits and disposing of their insides. Saphiro hummed a tune as he sliced away and Gen didn't do much except the job he was given.

Miyuki finished removing the entrails of the fish she'd brought back, and once she finished cleaning them, she put them over to fire, which would smoke and cook them. She walked over to Saphiro and sat next to him, saying, "Is there anything in particular you want to do now?"

"Not much really," Saphiro said, his dōjutsu fading. He sat down and crossed his arms, staring ahead at Miyuki and smiling a little, "In the long-term sense, I just want to be the best shinobi I can be and not mess up. For short term goals, I just want to take down a certain man before he can ignite hatred throughout this world. What about you?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't really have anything to strive for as a shinobi. That's mainly because I'm tired of being used as a tool of destruction by my superiors. The only reason I'm still a ninja is because I love my village, family, and friends, and I would do anything to protect them," replied Miyuki.

"I kind of feel the same way," Saphiro replied, taking off his forehead protector and running his fingers across the metal plate, "I have been through a lot and I wonder is being a shinobi worth it at times. Other than my friends, I don't have much else to fight for."

"It's your path," Gen said, "The only thing we can do is watch you and see if you make the right choice." Saphiro knew that Gen was fiercely loyal to Konoha, but he also knew that Gen was his friend too.

"Well, I don't really feel like talking about such... weighty matters now," said Miyuki. "Anyways, the fish is ready, so are you all ready to eat?"

"I could use something to snack on right now," Saphiro mused, stretching a little. After what happened today, something to eat and some rest was well needed. His wounds were treated, but he would still do well to limit doing anything else to slow his healing down.

"Alright then, let's eat!" said Miyuki excitedly. "I haven't eaten anything for two days..." She walked over to the fire, where the smoked fish were, and removed one, leaving the other two for Gen and Saphiro. She sat cross-legged and began to consume her catch.

Saphiro nodded in agreement and began eating as well. It had been a while since he ate fish and he was more than eager to savor it. Gen silently consumed his meal and nodded at the quality of it. As the three ate, the night slowly crawled by. After finishing the fish off, Saphiro leaned on the wall and hummed a tune to himself, keeping a keen eye on Miyuki.