[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

This wasn't where he was supposed to be. Unit 294 knew that this location wasn't right--logically, it didn't make sense. Human beings tended to gather together. Whether in a camp, a town, or a city--people usually didn't spend much time so isolated from society. Even wanderers drifted from place to place, and were never in solitude for too long.
    So, logically, the target that he was seeking out likely wouldn't be in a place like this.
    But he had searched everywhere he could think of--no stone had been unturned. And while the confines of a city or village were a logical place for a human to take refuge, he'd had no luck in securing his target in any of those locations. It wasn't unreasonable to believe a criminal might be found hiding in the wastelands, either.
    Unit 294 was drawn to this location for reasons he didn't fully understand--but drawn to it nonetheless. Kaze no Kuni had several ruins that littered the vast seas of sand, and it was here among the fallen and crushed structures that the puppet stood. Out of all the locations that he could have searched, he didn't know why this was the one he had decided to approach first. But he was here, nonetheless.
    The sky was dark and the air was cold, though Unit 294 wouldn't feel anything on his artificial skin. Though as he stood there for a moment in a patch of sand, the shapes and shilouettes of the wreckage of what was once a beautiful temple surrounding him like a fairy circle, he wasn't idle. Listening, Unit 294 could hear something on the wind.
    Someone was coming.
    Though he wasn't immediately alarmed, the shippai took note of the audio cues approaching the location, taking what information he could.
    He, on the other hand, would appear entirely out of place. The dropping temperatures of the desert evening wouldn't be properly reflected in the puppet's lack of clothing--sporting a simple tunic that had grown tattered, torn, and stained over the years of his travels. He was calm, and there would be no apparent distress on his artificial features--and yet.
    Unit 294 was covered in blood.

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Oonakayama Arashi

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Little time was left before the puppet that had the mind of a living being, would find himself surrounded by shrouded forces. Their headbands hidden, their features covered in the hoods of their cloaks, it would appeared as if they were attempting to ambush the long figure that stood among the ruins and was covered in blood. It was no real stretch to assume the worst, and these men and women had done such with little to no hesistantion. It likely had much to do with whom was to come after them. "Don't move!!" One lone figure said, their eyes narrowed as the gleam of his forehead would finally reveal itself. The symbol upon it showed that of the village hidden in the sand, the dented metal reflecting some light from the moon before fading away as the face turned to see three more beings joining the arrival of the last five. "This was the last place our scout spotted the criminal....and then...we got reports of this individual moving from one location to the next...seemingly following right after them..." "Well...clearly they aren't exactly the one we're lookin for right?" The tone of voice speaking in response was stern, yet there was a certain level of gentlness in her sarcastic statement that prompted the older male to scoff. "Still, with what we saw...we thought it best to bring it to the your attention Commander...considering your experience with such matters...." As the grizzled shinobi would stop short, he'd allow for his superior in rank to move in forward, their height slightly shorter than most, but a large gourd hanging from her shoulder with a similar sign to that of the men surrounding 294. In the end, the stranger would remove their hood, a sigh escaping her lips as she then shook her head as she made her way onward. "I wouldn't exactly call myself an expert...but anyone going around killin people to this degree can't be left to run rough shot through the desert...and this...." Looking around the ruins, her eyes narrowed before brushing her hair from her eyes. From there, her sights would rest upon the man with the blood covered clothes. "This isn't the guy we're lookin for..." "How do you know?" "Stains on his clothes....they aren't fresh and from what ya said...the killer had just taken out an village only an hour out...even with an hour times, that blood wouldn't be so faint...not to mention...they wouldn't be standing right in the open..." Her hand would rest down upon her waist, raising her brow as she allowed her digits to rhythmically patter along it's surface. "Ya basically out in the open, with blood covered clothes and five armed people ready to strike and your as cool as a snow flake....either ya experienced in this kind of stuff...or ya don't freak out easily...." With the other shinobi examining the scene further, one of 294's guards would look upon the being and then blink as they began to speak softly. "Kami...it can't be..." SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. -Jutsu Used- -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

Moments would pass, and Unit 294 was surrounded. There were approximately eight of them in total--Unit 294 could detect their breathing and the soft beating of their hearts, no matter how subtle. Masked in the darkness, they would not be hidden from his view, however--and as they stepped into the light of the moon's gentle glow, their appearances would be no more apparent than they had been previously.
    Not to the puppet, anyway.
    One of the men shouted out a command to the shippai, but it only puzzled him the more they spoke.
    Two of the armed forces spoke back and forth among themselves, expressing their concerns over the situation--so, they, too, were on the hunt for a criminal. Likely different targets, but it seemed that their goals were similar enough in nature. While Unit 294 did not care for their tone, he was certain that he wasn't the one they were looking for.
    No, he was part of the special forces, himself.
    There was no reason for these shinobi of Sunagakure to treat him like a criminal.
    Though, he didn't recognize any of their faces. And their attitude was causing Unit 294 to grow more tense. The larger shinobi who was announcing their intentions to the puppet had a certain hostility in his voice--his body language was tense, and his gaze was suspicious. His words, too, were nearly accusatory.
    But when the commanding officer stepped forward, she dismissed the notion soon enough. They were looking for someone who had just massacred a village, by the sound of it, and while Unit 294 couldn't remember how he'd gotten so much blood on his clothing, he was certain it wasn't that. Bandits who had attacked him, most likely. But wiping out a village? That didn't sound like something he would do unless ordered to--and if that was the case, he wouldn't have been hunted down and labeled a criminal by the superiors who had ordered him to do it.
    No, they certainly got the wrong guy.
    Though, the woman still had her own suspicions. Her voice was more gentle than the man's had been, but still, she'd made note of his apparent lack of concern.
    Why would he be? If these were bandits or thugs who wished to assault him--he'd simply execute them. But they were shinobi of Sunagakure, the village he belonged to. They were not his enemies.
    As far as he understood, anyway.
    It seemed that the young woman didn't recognize that, however.
    For a moment, the puppet's eyes would drift over to another one of the operatives, the one who had first commanded him to remain still. There was something there--recognition.
    "I am Unit 294. Sunagakure, Special Divisions. I'm executing a mission--stand down." There was a calmness to his voice, but still, a distinct conviction in what he said. Hopefully, that would answer the woman's questions. He'd turn his head slightly to look directly at her. "Who are you?"

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Moment Music The woman's eyes would shift to the officer that seemed to be having a small momentary episode. Not too surprising, considering the look of this place. Of course, it wasn't exactly toward their surroundings, but rather the individual in front of them. As the being's eyes shifted from their aggressors to her, it would finally give some mild identity to itself, prompting the others to grow more tense before looking toward their commander with a calm expression. The larger of them, still at her side, would seem to frown as he began to speak. "294....I thought that was a myth...some stuff about a roaming puppet that kills without cause..." "Looks pretty real to me..." The young woman would close her eyes before then keeping her position in front of the unit with a clicking of her tongue. She knew enough about Shippai to realize that there were many of them that were unaccounted for after all creation of the unique beings had ceased. Or at least, that was to her knowledge of such. In truth, aside from one more recognizable to her, and another she had met some time ago, there had been little of the living weapons that remained. This one, a complete mystery aside from the records she had seen in relation to similar models. Though of course, she wasn't really supposed to mention much on the subject, but even she had been curious on a few things, such as how they had been used previous and even just how they were made. Harmless in truth, but knowledge in the hands could be dangerous as she well knew. "I am Oonakyama Arashi...Daughter of the Kazekage...and Heir Apparent to the Oonakayama Clan...and you....I have no idea why you are here executing an mission from a...special division?" Arashi would then roll her eyes as she then adjusted her posture so that she was a bit more relaxed. "But I have heard of ya....You were sent on a mission years ago...and never came back...what happened?" SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. -Jutsu Used- -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

What...? A roaming puppet that killed without cause? No... that couldn't be right. It wasn't right. Unit 294 didn't roam, he searched. And to kill... indiscriminately? Without a cause? No--that couldn't be right. He didn't kill mindlessly or without any reason. They're making me out to be some kind of monster.
    Was this just another case of humans holding discriminations against the Shippai? Unit 294 understood how humans were--and he understood the tensions between him and them. As something that was no-longer human, he was feared. "Othered" and treated as such. It was better to view him as a tool than a living person, so conclusions about his humanity were easy enough to assume. Malicious, dangerous, without cause or reason...
    But those things weren't true... were they?
    Unit 294 understood his reputation, but there had been nuance to it. Perhaps that's all they were speaking on.
    Oonakayama Arashi... Unit 294 looked at the girl as she introduced herself properly--and it was quite the title she bore, too. But while she'd heard of him--she didn't know what he was about. She didn't know why he was doing what he was, or, more importantly... what had gone wrong.
    What happened? Unit 294 stared at her, his previously blank expression shifting slightly. Years? The Daughter of the Kazekage...? Carefully, the shippai retrieved his notebook and shifted through it--flipping the pages in haste. There were pages with faces drawn in them--notable people and notes of who they were, what they were like, and what their significance had been. He had  Oonakayama Takada written down--his name and face were clearly listed among Unit 294's records, but there was no telling of an heir.
    Was she lying?
    He looked back up at her, then returned his attention to his book.
    Had so much time really passed? He'd never taken so much time on a mission, before. Surely that couldn't be the case, but...
    It was undeniable that the woman who stood before him here held a resemblance to the man who had been noted in his notes. But was he the Kazekage, now...? And as far as he'd known, there had been no female heirs to the Oonakayama clan, yet. How could he have a daughter this age? Unless... that much time truly had passed. But, still, the unit was in a stage of denial. Everything he thought he'd known--it couldn't be true, could it?
    He started flipping through the pages once more--frantically, this time. A map was located toward the back, and in it were dozens--no, hundreds--of lines. Town after city crossed through. Marking after marking, even the expanse of the wilderness had not been untouched. Unit 294 knew he'd been quick, but was it possible that he'd not searched every corner of the world in only a few days... but rather, that his search truly had spanned across years? Decades?
    Maybe so...
    Slowly, Unit 294 would close his book and return it among his belongings.
    "I... don't know." As far as he'd known, nothing had happened. He'd never once taken so long to perform an assassination. Finding his targets was--well, usually he could hunt them down and execute them within a couple of days. If he was in the state that he was--even with some damage to his arms and legs--then surely he hadn't lost the fight. But if he'd succeeded in his mission... he would have crossed out the face of his target and immediately returned to Sunagakure. It didn't make sense. He had no understanding of what could possibly have gone wrong.
    Why had he taken so long?
    Why hadn't he returned yet?
    Am I defective? A thought he didn't want to dwell on, regarding its implications.

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Moment Music It was hard not to feel some kind of pity for the puppet whom seemed to be just as lost as to his whereabouts as everyone else was. In truth, it seemed as if he had been unable to tell just how much time had past. With his sudden movement causing some of the soldiers to flinch in preparation, Arashi would remain watchful as her narrowed gaze began to soften as she remembered Enmei was the same. Though their excuse was a complete cut from the world in general. 294 had been clearly roaming...or at the very least...aware enough to keep itself from being harmed considering the trace amounts of blood. The answer wasn't exactly the most clearing, though what exactly could do so was the evidence based upon what they knew of the real criminal. It was the fact that they were genocidally direct and did not leave anyone alive. Nothing from what she could pick up from the Shippai implied a similar pattern. "Okay...how bout this question...What was your latest assignment?" "I do not see a point in this line of questioning Commander..." Arashi would close her eyes as she cupped one hand beneath her face. She didn't waste time looking at the larger male, as it was already becoming clear that he had a chip on his shoulder the size of Rouran. In the end, he was following her lead whether he liked it or not. "Right now he was the first one at the scene and it's clear that he's been wandering around for some time. You said that the scouts had noted him appearing on site for the last few incidents involving our real target...if things line up...we might have our way of tracking them down..." That said, Arashi would then close her eyes as she shrugged her shoulders. "Or we just came upon one of great few myths left within Sunagakure...the lost Shippai..." SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. -Jutsu Used- -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

Music

Unit 294 had always kept it a secret. He'd never once truly spoken on the nature of his mission to others, before--and if anybody pried, he simply divulged that he was "looking for someone". It had always been enough to get people off of his back, before. And while many people had been curious what his goal was as he raced from place to place--many didn't think too much about it.
    To many, Unit 294 was a simple man. He didn't speak much, and to be set out looking for someone--usually, it wasn't worth the trouble trying to question him further. He never gave complex answers, and it was usually easy enough to assume that there wasn't much more to his story.
    It would be easy to assume that he was simple. And under most circumstances, Unit 294 held no interest in correcting any of those beliefs. The less strangers understood about him, the better.
    But Arashi was not one such person.
    She was, supposedly, the daughter of the Kazekage. While Unit 294 did not yet have enough information to truly confirm her claims, with all else evidence placed in before him, it was reasonable enough to believe. There were several inconsistencies with his own understanding of the situation, and if what she said was true--then it was possible she was the key in putting all of the pieces together. If what she said was true, she was a superior in rank, and it was his place to obey her command anyway--no matter how confidential the subject was. She wasn't just some random chūnin. No, she held a significant position.
    So, while he would otherwise have kept the details of his mission secret, this time, Unit 294 would instead tell her all he knew.
    Pulling out his notebook once more, he'd approach Arashi and flip it around so she could see the detailing of the mission. Rather, his target. There was a detailed drawing of the man's portrait, as well as his age, rank, and the nature of his crimes. Arashi would not be allowed to take the notebook from his hand--but the information was still displayed to her nonetheless.
    "Aiel, Goro. Age, 25. Jounin. He turned against his teammate who had been assigned with him on a mission, brutally killed him, kept the spoils for himself, and defected from Sunagakure. He was discovered and spotted two weeks later, and I was sent to locate and execute him." Unit 294 had been, as it were, a member among the Hunter Nin.
    Most Shippai could barely be trusted with simple tasks--transferring an item from point A to point B. Staying vigil as a guard over a certain period of time, and things like that.
    Despite this, though, Unit 294 had been especially skilled in what he did. While the nature of his missions were not usually as complex as they might have been if he were an actual human, it was true that he would still be assigned missions that required a great level of skill to complete. Let alone, complete with the level of efficiency that he had. He was no ordinary Shippai at all.
    Flipping through the pages, Unit 294 would then reveal the map to the young woman--the hundreds of markings filling it to its entirety, to the point where it could barely be recognized as a map, anymore, save for the vague outlines of the countries and continents. "When I went to the designated location, I was unable to find him. Sometimes targets will move from place to place if they suspect they're being hunted. But searching every nearby town within a few hours isn't difficult." Especially for someone who would move as quickly as he could, and for someone who didn't need to stop or rest. "But I could not find him in any of the nearby locations, either. I've been looking for him this whole time, but he's never shown up. If I were to have completed my mission, I would have returned to Sunagakure--so I don't believe I've already executed him. If we were to have sparred, I would have fought until either he was slain or this body had been broken down and destroyed to the point where I could no longer move or function further to complete my mission. Based on my current state, I don't believe I have even encountered him. But neither have I ever had any trouble finding a target."
    It took him a couple of days at most.
    Usually, his mind and memory would not even have the time or opportunity to reset--so while he kept details of his missions with him just in case, until this situation, it had never once been needed.
    "If I have truly been searching for as long as you imply I have been, and I have not been able to locate my target, I believe it may be possible he had already been eradicated before I'd even been dispatched to find him. It's the only explanation that would make sense to me, your Highness. I am not defective." Despite what any of the nearby shinobi might have been quick to assume.
    Unit 294 may have gotten lost or misplaced, but he was not stupid. He understood his limitations, and it was why a system had been put in place to counteract any of those flaws he held. It was a good system, and it worked. Unit 294 had always had to rely on it--and it was because of this that he was able to, then, reliably try to connect what pieces of evidence he could to come to a logical conclusion.
    Arashi was a young woman. Several years must have passed. Unit 294 had been sent to the location of his target, and being unable to find him, spread out further in his search. If the man had not been there, or anywhere else nearby, Unit 294 had continued to search every part of the world and yet still, for nothing to have come up, after all of these years... If Unit 294 had not engaged in any kind of battle with the man... And if Goro had not otherwise been brought back to the village--then there was only one reasonable conclusion.
    It was the only thing that made sense, to him.
    He'd had such a good record, before. He didn't want to believe he'd grown defective, somehow. There was the fear, of course, of what would happen to him if he no longer served any use or purpose to Sunagakure--but even that aside, this was an outlier. He didn't believe it could have been his doing that caused such an error. He wouldn't make such a big mistake like that...
    Nonetheless...
    Unit 294 would pocket the booklet once more, still keeping his gaze on Arashi as he continued to speak to her. "Arashi-sama. What would you have me do?" If what he believed about his mission were actually true... then, well, Arashi was still his superior in rank, and had the authority to reassign him. If she so desired.

Oonakayama Arashi

Note: I just want to put it here that Unit 294 is correct in his hypothesis. The nukenin he'd been sent out to find did happen to be killed by coincidence before he was able to locate him, hence the cause of his whole situation. However, Unit 294 had no way prior to have known this~

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

When it came to operations that were indeed beyond the shinobi handbook, there was never a shortage of individuals whom thought that such conditions permitted them from not having to reveal information to their direct superiors. In most cases, Arashi would have had no problem with it. After all, there were plenty of deep cover operations that she was aware of, and in truth, even helped to happen much to her own dismay. But, this was a case that had led to a lot of deaths. It was her job to find out exactly how it all fit together.

Thankfully, or perhaps by some strange power that possessed him, 294 would begin to reveal his book yet again, prompting Arashi to look over his shoulder as she listened and examined the details directly from his handwriting.

Aiel Goro....traitor to his nation and murderer of his teammate...He had taking items related to an mission with him and was last spotted two weeks ago. This was the reason why the Shippai had been sent out.

A sound reason...except for one thing....Aiel Goro had been dead for about 20 years at this point. Meaning that the puppet had been chasing or at least pursuing a ghost. Which at the very least, seemed to be something that 294 realized. As he displayed the map to her, Arashi would put one hand upon her hip, her eyes scanning over the image as she then looked over to the pale faced individual as he continued to speak of his arrival at the previous location of Goro. He had accounted for everything down to the locations nearby to the time in which it would take for him to get to each one. But, in the end, he had never managed to find him. Which...at this point, meant that he had indeed failed his assignment and had been in an endless loop for 20 years. But...what could fool a Shippai with this level of recall?

Narrowing her eyes, Arashi would look at 294 once more as he mentioned that he was not defective, and then seeming to wait for her to give him instruction. To which, Arashi didn't have any.

It wasn't really her call to say if he was damaged for if something else was afoot here. In truth, she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that a skilled tracker like him could be lost for so long. Maybe it wasn't simply a fact of getting lost...but something else...

"It's pretty clear that this thing isn't exactly on the up and up Commander..we should restrain it and take it back to the village..."

"I don't think so..."

"What?"

"I don't think he's defective...maybe a bit off track in time..but not defective...everything on him looks just about new...save for his clothes...this book alone should have shown some signs of decay or at least change....and then theres this..."

Gently lifting up the Shippai's hand, she'd gesture toward the book and indicate a point on the map.

"This right here...Chikamatsu Saburo...The Third Kazekage....Someone as maticulous as this Shippai would have already made correction to this...in fact..it would be dated with that of my father..."

Releasing 294...her expression softened as she then cupped her hand beneath her face.

"I don't exactly what...but this isn't exactly somethin that's normal unless someone is living completely under a rock..."
Ultimate Defense

A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike.
-Jutsu Used-


-Items Used-

-Familiar Used-
[/spoiler]

[/div][/blockquote]

[/div]

[/td][/tr][/tbody][/table][/div][/div]

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

The man's words quickly made Unit 294 grow on edge. Talk of restraining him--the mere idea of it was incredibly unpleasant. How would they even do it? Bind his hands? Like that would do anything...
    Still, as shinobi, Unit 294 was certain that they had all kinds of tricks up their sleeves, and really, he'd rather not have to deal with any of them. It wasn't like he was putting up a fight--under Arashi's command, if she ordered him to return to Sunagakure this moment, he would do so without hesitation. Restraining him seemed so unnecessary--and if they could...
    Well, Unit 294 grew uncomfortable at the idea of not being able to defend himself.
    He still had means of fighting even if he'd become immobile, but those methods of combat were less reliable and he preferred not to depend on them if unnecessary. And, really, he'd rather just not be in a position where he had to defend himself while at a disadvantage, anyway.
    And why? All because he'd been lost for the past twenty years? Because he was a dangerous tool that this man feared?
    Even if you took my arms and legs, I could probably still kill you, he thought to himself, crimson eye fixated on the man.
    In fact, removing Unit 294's arms would likely make it easier for him to fight.
    He wasn't one of Sunagakure's most refined assassins without a reason.
    Thankfully, though, Unit 294 wouldn't have to be subjected to such treatment, as the Kazekage's daughter was quick enough to defend the Shippai, and when the puppet returned his attention to her, he felt a twinge of gratefulness course through his spirit.
    Thankfully, she didn't believe him to be a completely lost cause, although she was still confused by the situation. Really, he was, too, so it made them a pair in that sense. What seemed to puzzle her most, however, was how so much time could have passed without his noticing it.
    "You don't know much about Shippai, do you?" he inquired softly, looking the young woman over. Cocking his head to one side, he'd pull the book away from her personal bubble once more as he looked it over, flipping through some of the pages. He took his pencil from his satchel and began scribbling inside of it, adding to his personal collection of notes. "Searching the world with an unattainable goal... I could very well have been searching for eternity and never realized until someone informed me. And this one doesn't frequently speak with strangers... let alone to ask for the date..."
    What was time to an immortal?
    In this particular situation--being aware of the time would have served useful. But information was limited, and it was valuable--so he had to keep his priorities in line when it came to what he documented. If he only spent a few days at a time on a mission, then there was no real point in keeping tabs on what month it was.
    And other than that?
    Unit 294 was put into storage. Locked away in a timeless cell until he was pulled out to be sent on a mission once more. Executions. The cell. Assassinations. The cell. Another mission. Then his prison, once more. He did not lead the life of a human--so seasons passing, and the coming of new ages meant very little to him. A new leader meant the possibility that a new decision was made that his kind would finally be eradicated--but usually, it just meant being put on more missions at the whims of whatever the leader felt he was best suited for. Before being locked away until he could be of use, again.
    He'd spent decades going through that cycle, and under those conditions, there was no reason to count down the days.
    When he'd kept note of something, outside of the detailing of whatever mission he was dispatched on--Unit 294 preferred to keep his notes focused on people. Things he noticed. Things he decided were important. Even if they were sometimes trivial.
    So, when he'd been put to an impossible task... keeping note of how many days had gone by hadn't been a part of his system. It wasn't something he'd considered, nor had any reason to consider. And even though he had been missing for twenty years, there was no real way for him to even know so much time had passed. He wasn't particularly sociable, and on the occasions he had spent time with strangers--nobody ever mentioned that there was a new Kazekage. Nobody bothered to share the time--and really, he'd never asked.
    It was a perfect mess of unfortunate circumstances and flaws.
    Putting his booklet away with his belongings once more, Unit 294 would return his attention to the princess once more.
    "If I have failed my primary mission, I will return to Sunagakure and remain there until further notice. If you would like, I could accompany you on your mission and return with you to Sunagakure once it is complete. You are searching for a criminal who has been wreaking terror in these lands, are you not?" Committing massacres, from what they'd mentioned. Truly, a despicable being.
    Unit 294 didn't have this person's face, so he wouldn't know who to track down and kill. But if he came with them and they were able to identify the criminal, he could be put to their use in stopping him.
    Though, Unit 294 specialized in lethal force, of course...

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

"We are....I don't see why ya can't join us...might even answer some questions as well...Or at least give us a lead to just who's doin all this..." Arashi could just as easily send the Shippai back to the village and perhaps have it examined. After all, there may very well have been something wrong with the being and she was missing it. Of course, at the moment, it was unclear if that was the case, and all evidence she had found proved that it was indeed in it's right mind. Of course, she had been wrong before, especially when it came to puppets. Though, she wasn't dealing with something that was completely mindless. Not an being that was made of organs and wires and isolated programming. She was dealing with a Shippai that had been around longer than she was alive. "Commander...I honestly think that this is a bad idea..." "Noted...though for the time being...I think we should allow it to join in the search for clues...and I want you to go back to the village to report what we've found..." The larger man seemed upset by this order, but he didn't ignore it or debate it. Rather, he glared toward 294 and then proceeded to disappear into the night as Arashi looked at the remaining five. "Spread out and search for anything we might have missed...I want this place combed out..." With them following her instruction, Arashi would then look once more toward the Shippai with a calm expression. "Hopefully, at the very least, we can solve one problem today and look into the case of your missing memory after...but till then...what can tell me about our target?" SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. -Jutsu Used- -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

It might even... answer some questions? Unit 294 cocked his head to one side at the woman's words, curious as to what she could have meant. When it came to the matters of her own mission, Unit 294 likely knew far less than she did. He'd been out on his own for the past twenty years, so he had no idea who was behind the murders that had been taking place.
    He would be an addition to the team, and an added weapon to her arsenal--but, unfortunately, Unit 294 wouldn't be able to offer much more intelligence.
    The man who had been airing his grievances was discharged for the time being, and Unit 294 paid the man little mind even despite the glares sent his way. The puppet hadn't done anything wrong, and neither was there any real issue with him being sent back to the village. He was just going to go back to make a report--wasn't he? Was that not an important part of their job? Unit 294 couldn't grasp why having to do such a thing would have caused such offense, nor why he was the root cause of the man's grief.
    So, he'd dismiss the thought and carry on with the new task at hand.
    Nonetheless, after the man left the scene, Unit 294 remained with Arashi and the others as she continued to lead their case. She spoke briefly on the matter of trying to figure out the mystery surrounding his memory problems--and while he didn't immediately comment on it, Unit 294 was nearly certain that there was no mystery about it.
    He was a failure of a living puppet. A Shippai. A soul that had been shattered beyond repair.
    And while he didn't believe himself to be defective--he recognized that no matter how intact he was, he was still a Shippai. He would always have certain flaws and problems. Memory loss was simply one of them. He'd learned how to mostly counter it so it didn't cause too much of a problem, usually, but...
    Well, regardless. The sentiment was kind, but in vain.
    "I have no idea who your target is," Unit 294 admitted. He didn't usually work in solving cases. It wasn't up to him to make decisions, and when it came to discerning who was guilty and who was innocent--trying to play the judge with a human's life in his hands... well, it simply wasn't recommended. It wasn't his skill set, nor what he was geared toward. He was given names and faces, and sent out to hunt and kill them. Figuring out who was behind what murders and crimes--well, that was a job left for human shinobi. Not him. "But there is someone sneaking around beneath us."
    It wasn't something he'd paid immediate notice to when they'd first arrived. People moved around--and with so many who were immediately surrounding him demanding his attention, the puppet had put any other signs of life aside for the time being. So if there was another being pitter-pattering beneath the floors of the ruins, shuffling through the tunnels below--it hadn't been any of his concern, really.
    But if the being wasn't with them, and hadn't been noticed by them, perhaps it was something they could check out.
    Unit 294 truly didn't know who they were seeking out--and by the sounds of it, they didn't, either. But if the criminal they were hunting was in some way related to this scenery, then he was aware of one who was a likely culprit.
    Or a lone survivor.
    Unit 294 couldn't as easily tell those things apart--which was exactly why he kept his nose out of more complex situations like this...

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

Arashi would raise her brow as she heard the Shippai mention how he did not know whom exactly they were hunting, which made since considering. They were after someone that had committed crimes against Kaze no Kuni, but even they were limited to the information about them. So far, she knew that they had a pattern of leaving a lot of destruction and plenty of bodies to clean up. Aside from that, there was not much to go on from the accounts of those that remained hidden during these attacks. "I was hopin for some clue to their possible destination...or a startin point here 294..." As the young woman would place one hand upon her hip, she'd then let her hazel eyes narrow upon hearing the comment that something was moving beneath them, prompting her to close her eyes as she began to allow her chakra to seep down through her pours and causing the sand beneath them to dip slightly as if it were extending outward. There was something more beneath them aside from sand. Ruins of what had once been a village or perhaps even a kingdom. At times, it was hard to say just what remained from times a long past. Though there had been a place here once, it wasn't there anymore. Though that meant that there was a chance that maybe someone had survived the attack. "Yea...I'm gettin that now too...whoever they are...they aren't exactly in a hurry...maybe their just a survivor...or..." From that one sentence, the young woman would extend her hand downward, allowing a burst of wind to surge forth, blowing a deep opening into the earth as the sand parted to reveal the pit below. There was certainly remains of what had once been a temple. Along with this, a pathway that seemed to travel deeper in. "Or our target...Stay alert up here! If someone comes running out...capture and contain.." That said, Arashi would then look over toward 294 as she proceeded to jump down into the depths of the submerged tunnel, her eyes narrowing as she then began to move forward. "Lets go..." SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. Hunter's Instinct With her training from her mother, along with the lessons she learned from her time with the Saeko's Clan, Arashi adapted her tracking ability to a level similar to that of a sensory nin. As such, allowing her much more precision in her ability to find and keep on the heels of individual targets or groups through use of her enhanced sense of smell and ability to identify individuals and objects at long range. Will of Sand Will of Sand- Adding the element of her own chakra into the mixture of sand, Arashi is capable of faster and stronger sand manipulation and attacks. The extent of this control is due to the supply gathered within her gourd, granting the bonus of power, but limited to only the amount contained within it. This ability makes her constructions more dense and harder to break down, and the swiftness of their creation is instant rather than requiring the prior time of build-up as before due to the strengthened bond between Arashi and Shukaku. -Jutsu Used- NAME: Sunano Senshingu[ Sand Sensing] RANK: B CHAKRA USAGE: Low CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Jiton DESCRIPTION: By dispersing chakra enhanced sand into a specific area, the user is able to discern the presence of bodies that come into direct contact with it. This sensing sand can be spread across a wide terrain of 100 feet, or even float in the air allowing aerial foes to be detected for an extended range of 150 feet due to it's lack of being stationary. Once the sand comes in contact with a person, it will wrap itself around them, rendering even invisible targets, visible. NAME: Fūton: Fūjin no Jutsu [Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique] RANK: A CHAKRA USAGE: High CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Fūton DESCRIPTION: This technique creates a stream of high-velocity wind containing dust particles, capable of decimating anything caught in it in only a matter of moments. The completed technique is directed through vertically overlapped hands that are placed in front of the user's mouth after forming the necessary hand seal. -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

A clue to their possible destination? Did she wish to know what direction they were heading in? How far down they were? What their pattern of movement was--to dictate whether they were heavily injured or relatively intact? He could have supplied her with that information--if she'd asked. But she asked about her target--and the truth was, Unit 294 knew nothing other than what they, themselves, had informed him.
    He hadn't been a part of their mission until just moments ago--so there was no way for him to have held more information on the situation than they did. Even if he had run into the criminal they were seeking out some time before they'd crossed paths, and less than a week ago and he wouldn't have been able to recalled a detail to begin with. But, really, he doubted he'd even chanced across their target previously.
    While Unit 294 had been on a mission to hunt down and kill one man in particular, that did not mean he spared others from his blade necessarily.
    Criminals, vagrants, and others who threatened the lives of innocent bystanders. Beasts, wildlife, thugs--there had been several situations where he or someone nearby had suddenly been under attack without any further prompt, and in those circumstances, Unit 294 didn't hesitate to eliminate any threats.
    So, if he'd met this criminal who was slaughtering innocent lives and massacring entire communities...
    Unit 294 wouldn't have let them escape.
    Which meant that, ultimately, he was going into this completely blind. He didn't know who they were hunting. He'd not crossed the path of their criminal yet before, either. He had no information to offer her, other than what he could immediately detect in their surroundings. His heightened sense of hearing gifted him the knowledge of the one moving below the ground--but he didn't even know if they were related to any unfortunate incidents or not.
    "I apologize I couldn't be of more help," the Shippai said. He stepped back when the princess extended her hand downward and opened up a hole in the ground--allowing them to jump down below. "I should warn you, Oonakayama-sama, under normal circumstances, if I detect an immediate threat, I eliminate it without hesitation." He would begin walking further into the darkness, seemingly unbothered by the lack of lighting. "If you do not wish for me to kill whoever we find down here, you must tell me so now. Otherwise, my reaction speed might be better than your own."

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox

[Oonakayama Arashi]

Sanctuary TAG.294 WORDS. xxx NOTES:

"Thanks for the heads up..." Arashi would continue forward, allowing her sense of smell to kick in as she moved through the darkness as she took in the Shippai's warning of his ability to act due to his...well..programming seemed the best way to explain it. In truth, Arashi wasn't one for simply acting upon impulse, especially when it came to killing. It wasn't in her nature, and while there were plenty of examples in which she had, it had not been without reason. Ultimately, she wasn't trying to kill anyone, only give them what they deserved. In this situation, there wasn't much of a chance that they would be able to take this person alive. Nor should they. "This person...whomever they are...has killed enough people to take shelter within half of the outskirts of Sunagakure...pretty sure even if I did want him alive...he'd get the death penalty for that alone..." Stopping short, the young female would frown as she looked over her shoulder as she spoke in a serious tone. "If ya see a chance to end them...do so...but I don't want us killin the wrong person...especially when we have so little to go on...All we have so far is the method...not identity of the one responsible...so unless ya got a way of tellin me their our man...I don't want ya..." It was at that point that the Oonakayama heiress would allow her hearing to take hold, prompting her to frown as she released a breath. "Pretty sure they heard us...and their beatin feet to move further ahead..." Arashi would soon begin to move further, her steps increasing into a sprint as she traversed the tunnel using her nose as guidance. There was a lot of blood waviering off the walls, meaning that the last person to come by had plenty of traces on them. Considering the time frame of the attack and the clear person moving ahead of them, it had to be them. SPOILER: Click to show -S.A Used- Ultimate Defense A Skill granted by her continued use and developed relationship with Shukaku over the continued use of his control over sand, Arashi has a stronger connection to the element, allowing her to use it at a much more intensive rate than before. As such, her defenses are much more adapt and capable of taking on stronger attacks and reinforcing itself at faster speed. This adaptation to the sand shield allows for it's reaction time to have increased and make it more challenging for attacks to connect and break through the first layer, while acting still on the natural inclinations of auto-repairing itself for the next strike. Hunter's Instinct With her training from her mother, along with the lessons she learned from her time with the Saeko's Clan, Arashi adapted her tracking ability to a level similar to that of a sensory nin. As such, allowing her much more precision in her ability to find and keep on the heels of individual targets or groups through use of her enhanced sense of smell and ability to identify individuals and objects at long range. Enhanced Smell Somehow, Arashi has gained an enhanced sense of smell. It appears that she’s been hanging around dogs for too long and has obtained a sense of smell that rivals that of a blood hound. In reality, she has simply discovered that by channeling some chakra to her nose she can enhance the cells within it and gain a super sense of smell that may act as a sensor and tracking technique. She can smell out strangers, steel and various other things. Arashi may retract her chakra from her nose as well to make her sense of smell return to normal. Due in most regards to her heavily enhanced sense of smell, With her continued usage of this ability, she has now become capable of near passively monitoring the exact range of a target and their positioning within 250 meters. (Able to turn "off and on" this enhanced sense at the 'prick' of chakra to her nose) -Jutsu Used- -Items Used- -Familiar Used-

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[294]

 

- Sorry darling -

"This is harder than we both thought"

Her target would die. In one way or another--it seemed that his fate had already been written, and considering the magnitude of the crimes he had committed, there wouldn't be mercy for the individual. Whether killed now, or brought back to Sunagakure to be tried and executed, then. It made little difference--and in that way, the Shippai had received the approval of his superior to kill their target if necessary.
    So long as he could confirm it was, indeed, the one that they were looking for.
    The young woman stated her concerns, a distaste for innocent blood being shed was expressed clearly.
    It was understandable. And while she trailed off toward the end--Unit 294 understood her intent. And, so, he'd decided it in his mind that until she gave the direct order for him to--he would refrain from killing whoever else was down here. He didn't know if they were guilty or not, and there were so many unknown variables in human behavior that it'd be difficult for him to properly guess anything. And, so, until she gave the word--he'd assume innocence.
    Innocent until proven a threat, at least.
    The stranger ahead began to travel more quickly--racing away from their location as it seemed that the Shippai and the Princess were discovered.
    Very well.
    "Then, let us make haste." For the puppet, it would be no issue. He was incredibly fast--able to move at lightning speed that few others in the world could compare to. That, and traversing the darkness would serve as no difficulty for him. While Arashi had to rely more heavily on her heightened sense of smell--Unit 294 had specially designed eyes that allowed him to perfectly see no matter how dark or light his environment was.
    It would take mere moments for the trained killer to catch up with the suspect. And while the Shippai did not yet have killing intent, he had no interest in allowing the stranger to make any further distance.
    Skirting around the other individual, Unit 294 would zoom in front of them--holding out his arms as he blocked off their path. While he could have kicked them to the ground--and was tempted to do so--he had not yet discerned that this person wasn't a runaway or otherwise innocent. So, he'd refrain from attacking and escalating the situation as much as he possibly could for the time being. Merely cutting in front of them and blocking off their path should do the trick, for now.
    If they were innocent, they would realize Unit 294 wasn't attacking them, and would hopefully cooperate.
    If not, well... their actions would likely speak loudly enough for themselves.

Oonakayama Arashi

SPOILER: Click to show

SAs Active:

Unflagging Endurance

Armored Bodies

Titanic Speed

Enhanced Sensory

Enhanced Reflexes

Shin of GS + Adox