[Ōshi Shigeru]

If Shigeru was honest, he was surprised he was allowed to leave the village. While he might have been a genin, he was also a clan leader and apprentice both, valuable enough to the village that he wouldn’t at all be surprised if they restricted his travel. But here he was, about to leave the village for the first time in his life. A simple mission, C-ranked in nature, but one that would provide something of a challenge nonetheless. Any mission that involved fighting was always interesting, though Shigeru himself was very interested in seeing these giant lizards. He wondered if their hides were valuable enough to be worth selling.

Now, all he had to do was wait for his Chuunin escort. He was under no illusions that he’d kill as many of these lizards as whoever they’d sent to go with him, but he did still hope to prove his competence at least a little. And perhaps, if the chuunin was particularly amiable, gain himself an ally outside of the clan. He was new and untested yet, if he wanted to prove his competence and leadership abilities allies would be crucial. He didn’t want to lose his position to a bad-tempered clan member, after all! 

Sighing, he adjusted the straps of the scroll containing his sword and bow. It wouldn’t do to have the scroll in a position he couldn’t easily reach once they made it to their destination, after all. Kazaha was his main weapon against these beasts, and not being able to access it would cut his combative power considerably. Perhaps he should look into tattooed storage seals? 

Zakku Burokon

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

Zakku had let out huff as he was handed his assignment.  He was almost done with the reading his latest obsession and he gets assigned to kill giant lizards.  Great.  More work.   Packing up his equipment he'd left his apartment with a less than enthusiastic jog stubbing out his morning blunt against the palm of his hand.  He'd left the village thousands of times never to deal with giant lizards though.  He'd seen them in passing during a few of his morning runs but never got close enough for a good look.  

His partner this time was the head of the Ōshi clan.  After dealing with Nezumi from the Kyokojitsu and plenty of people from the Ookayama clans.  Never anyone as big as a clan head.  That was a new bit of trust the village was putting in him.  Making his way towards the gate he'd approach his temporary teammate.  "Sup dude?"  Slowing down he'd come to a stop just before his fellow blue haired shinobi.  "Names Zakku."  He flashed a quick devil horns with his right hand looking over Shigeru. 

Shigeru was younger than Zakku had expected.  He was impressed someone a year younger than him could hold that title.  "Ready to head out?"  Motioning towards the gates he'd start to make his way out of the village and into the desert. 

[Ōshi Shigeru]

Seeing what could only be his mission partner jogging towards him, Shigeru snapped to attention. Another individual with blue hair, surprisingly enough, he hadn’t seen many people who shared his hair color outside his own family. Though that was where his observation ended, his eyebrow raising at the decidedly casual greeting.”You are aware that "sup dude” is not a proper greeting to use for a clan leader, correct? Though etiquette is a conversation for another time. Let’s move.”

That said, the teen began striding out of the gate, taming the first steps out of the village he’d ever take. Hopefully he’d do well on his first out-of-village mission. If he didn’t, he doubted he’d be allowed out of the village until the chuunin exams, maybe even later. He was ready for the exams, he knew it! He’d do well if he just kept training, but he doubted he’d be allowed to take them if he messed up a C rank and got himself hurt too close to the exams. For now, at least, he’d have to be ready to fight.

Going up against such large lizards with only a sword would be difficult, though. He’d have to be exceedingly careful during this mission. That in mind, he’d decided to wear plainer, but still richly made mission clothes. Sturdy fabrics that weren’t as easy to tear as his usual silk ensemble, blacks with accents of blue and gold. Even a serious mission couldn’t make him drop the blue-and-gold color scheme he had going.

He decided to keep his hand on the scroll containing his weapons, not wanting to be caught out should the lizards see him before he saw them.

Zakku Burokon

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

Clicking his tongue in irritation he crossed his arms as they left the village.  "Sorry Dude. This is how I address everyone."  Zakku usually had nicknames for his friends and fell back on calling people Dude when he had nothing else to day.  As they left the village he kept his casual pace.  

"You're too tense Clan Head Dude."  The older blue haired shinobi told him.  Zakku walked with his hands stuffed inside his vest.    One hand was gripping a pair of kunai and his other hand was ready to make a handsign.  "When we had to deal with the sand worms straying out towards the village they stayed outside of where the village could easily reach.  These lizards are just about the same."  

Shrugging he'd usually have loved enjoyed being in the sun but the task at hand held his full attention.  "Also they've already spotted us."  Motioning to a rock a shimmer could be seem as one focused in on it.  It was a slight difference would could easily mistake for a heat distortion from the sands but it didn't start from the ground it started from the middle of the rock.  "It's probably got friends nearby so be ready to run."  Slowly he'd pull out his kunai.  "Otherwise I can stun him you just have to get close enough to get into it's eye.  It's closest to the brain."  Zakku explained as the approached his hand making a handsign as he channeled chakra into his kunai.  "Plus their hides are worth some money so we can get some bonus pay."  

[Ōshi Shigeru]

Shigeru was proven right to keep his hand on the scroll when Zakku pointed out the lizards that were already laying in wait. They weren’t even that far from the village! Grabbing the corner of the large scroll he yanked it open enough to pull the items within free, channeling chakra to pull Kazaha free of the massive thing. The lizards hadn’t moved yet, but he had no doubt they would any second now. As soon as they did he would need to be ready.

Moving automatically into his ready stance, he waited for Zakku to move first. If the chuunin was going to be stunning the lizard, he would need to be ready to stab through it’s eye. Kazakhs was sharp, but even a sharp blade could only do so much against a tough hide like the ones the lizards had. ”Bonus pay is great, but we should keep at least one of the hides! If they’re as tough as you say it’d be a good investment to make some simple armor from it!” Shigeru remarked, holding his sword in front of him with an aura of familiarity. He was comfortable with Kazaha, though two blades would have been better.

”Don’t you dare miss. If you do you’ll have more than just my clan to contend with when I get hurt.” he warned, keeping his eyes fixed on the spot that had been pointed out. There! Movement. It was time to put their skills to the test on these overgrown lizards.

Zakku Burokon

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

Zakku let out an impressed grunt seeing Shigeru's hand go to his scroll and pull out his sword.  "Ooooo cool sword dude."  Spinning his kunai in his hands they sparked to life with lightning chakra.  "Remember to keep an eye out for it's buddies.  I'll keep them back as much as I can."  Zakku began to wonder why so many animals had been hunting this close to the village.  Something had to be drawing them this close.  From the sandworms to the Lizards that the two had to remove.  It was becoming a nuisance but something he'd have to look into later.

Clanking the kunai together Zakku threw his kunai a lightning bolt arcing between the two as they quickly progressed towards the lizard.  "Electric Link."  The two kunai stuck into the rock shocking the waiting predator.  The lightning coursed through it's body revealing it as its camouflage failed and began to change to different colors.  As it was electrocuted others sprung to life in the sands behind the rock backing up.  One of them tried to grab one of Zakku's Kunai with it's tongue only to be rewarded with a shock for it's trouble it's tongue falling limp and numb to the ground.  "Try hitting it in the eye.  Its closest to it's brain."  Zakku told Shigeru as a merchant appeared on a sand dune behind the animals.  

"Shit!  GET BACK!"  Zakku yelled at the merchants as he ran towards them as two other lizards turned to face the newly appeared traders.  Throwing more shuriken at the others he'd move to defend the newly arrived merchants.

Jutsu used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Raiton: Denki Setsuzoku [Lightning Release: Electric Link]

The user channels Raiton chakra into two kunai or metal objects in their hands. They then throw the kunai in opposite directions with the opponent in the middle. An electric link between the objects is created causing a lightning-like strike to hit the opponent. If hit the opponent can receive moderate burns as well as numbness around the area of impact.

[Ōshi Shigeru]

As Zakku stunned the lizards, Shigeru went into a flurry of motion, channeling his chakra into Kazaha to activate the effects of the blade. He did not call out the name of his technique, Hanabira no Dansu, but to someone not trained in Bukijutsu the movements were probably very impressive anyways. A myriad of quick cuts would be delivered, aiming for the eyes of the stunned lizards to avoid damaging the hide too much. He still wanted to get that potential bonus pay. The last cut aimed at each lizard would instead be turned into a simple, techniqueless stab, meant to go deep into the eyes and destroy the brains. With the lizards stunned, it was all too easy for the genin to do just that with wind chakra enhanced strikes.

But then a wrench had to be thrown into their plans in the form of newly arrived merchants, who the remaining lizards were now focused on. Swearing mightily, the genin scrambled to follow Zakku in defense of the merchants, sprinting to get in between the monstrous creatures and the civilians with his sword. Most of his techniques relied on two swords, and he had only Kazaha on hand, so he would have to rely mainly on instinct rather than any real katas to actually defend with.

It took him a moment to actually get between them, the lizards were fast. Luckily, they were slowed by the distraction that was Zakku, enabling him to successfully sprint past the lizards and do a quick about-face so that he could face off with the beasts. An expression of determination on his face, the genin warily watched the lizards, who were definitely getting closer. They probably saw the merchants, and Shigeru, as easier targets than the boy currently throwing sharp weapons at them. For now, the genin didn’t go on the offensive, knowing that attacking one lizard would only give the second an opening to attack itself.

SPOILER: Click to show

Hanabira no Dansu (Dance of the Petals)

This move is meant to be used with two weapons, though can be used with a sword as well. The user delivers a myriad of very fast cuts, but each lacking strength behind them. It still can cut through clothes and into the body, but will not be able to go through armor. The merit of the technique is that the opponent will have trouble defending against a dozen blows which he can barely see.

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

Cursing as he knew he couldn't keep his barrage up without running out of weapons.  "Then we use something new."  Flexing his fingers he Locked eyes with one of the Lizards.  Its weird eyes seemed to gauge him as prey.  He didn't like that.  Zakku was never the prey.  He was always the hunter.  'Then prove it."

Slamming a closed fist against his open palm Zakku slowly pulled his closed fist back.  A blade made of Raiton appeared.  Curved like a Scimitar and even more deadly.  The lizard though partially stunned made some unheard noise stopping two others who stared at the chuunin.  The blue haired shinobi reached his free hand into his pack.  

The first one struck out with it's tongue.  Zakku moved to strike it but it moved under his strike range and knocked out his leg.  Feeling the gross muscle tighten Zakku responded with a metal stake pinning the tongue to the sand.  It pulled and let out a squeal of pain not understanding what Zakku had done.  

The other two began to move when with a casual swipe Zakku severed the firsts tongue.  It backed up as it retracted it's bleeding tongue.  The blood made Zakku smile.  "Now.  We can play.":  Raiton charged in his legs and he darted to the seconds face and with two quick swipes had blinded it.  Another scream of pain joined in with the first.  Zakku smiled.  The third frantically searched for Zakku.  Humming to himself he flicked the blade as if clearing the blood from it.  "Go tell aunt rhody..."

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Raiton: Raiha no sakusei [Lightning Release: Lightning Blade Creation]

After forming the necessary hand seals, the caster will close their hand as if they're gripping the hilt of a sword. Lightning will spring forth from both ends, creating a blade of lightning. This blade can range in size from a katana to a greatsword. To describe this jutsu in the simplest of terms, the blade combines the immense cutting power of Supervibrato Lightning Sword Technique, the piercing power of the False Darkness technique, and the shocking and paralyzing power of the Inspiration Wave Technique and intensifies them three-fold.

[Ōshi Shigeru]

Shigeru wanted to watch Zakku, and the way he went about combat, but he didn’t exactly have the time. Watching a chuunin fight was a good opportunity to see the level he’d need to get to to rankup, but he was more concerned with the lizards currently approaching him. He could hear the unholy noises coming from where Zakku was fighting, and could only assume his fellow blue-haired shinobi was doing just fine. Instead, he did his best to keep his stance fluid and light in an attempt to adjust to the loose sand. He didn’t yet know the intricacies of surface walking, and couldn’t simply walk on sand as he would hard-packed dirt.

The one closest to him got a deep, Fuuton-enhanced cut to its hide, prompting a horrific noise similar to the ones the lizards Zakku was fighting had made. It only seemed to get angrier at that, though, attempting to lash out wildly with its long tongue. Eyes widening, Shigeru attempted to back up some, swinging Kazaha as he went to ward off potential attacks. It somewhat succeeded, but the tongue seemed to wrap around the blade of the weapon, nearly yanking the genin off balance.

With the most undignified noise he’d made all day, the young man swung Kazaha erratically, enhancing the blade with Fuuton to cut through the damned thing’s tongue.

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

"Ya see Shigeru?  This is what it's all about!"  Zakku cheered as the lizard he rode reared back and whipped its tongue wildly trying to get the blue haired chunin.  With a grunt he reached into his pack and pulled out one of his metal stakes.  Jamming it into the side of the lizard he kept a hold on as the beast tried to buck him off.

"No authority means we can do this how we want to!"  Zakku twisted his stake deeper into the side of the beast making it spin and slap it's blinded partner.  Striking back the blinded Lizard bit the tongue and pulled it's partner in.  It opened its mouth and landed a nasty bite on its partner.  Zakku flung himself off and landed on the first Lizard that tried to limp away and lick its wounds.  Well with whatever was left of it's tongue to lick with. 

weaving his hand signs he drove a hand into his pack and removed three nails.  "Here. Hold this."  Zakku commanded casually and stabbed three nails into its side.  "Thanks remember you didn't get this from me."  Leaping back He finished his seal and the beast began to twitch and spasm as the nails erupted with raiton.  It fell limp to the ground as Zakku landed on his feet.

"I'm so cool."  Zakku said humbly and looked back at the two lizards he got to fight.  Watching the pair rumble for a bit before taking a long drag from his blunt.  The blinded reptile bit into it's friend and wouldn't release as its friend struck back with its tongue.  "This will solve itself."  Zakku told himself as he casually returned to the fight.

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Rōmingukaosu [Roaming Chaos]

Weaving the necessary Hand Signs Zakku grabs his chakra reactive nails and infuses his chakra with them. After being planted or thrown they become mines infused with Chakra (up to six are thrown in one rotation). At any moment as long as Zakku is within 75 meters he can detonate his nails with a single hand seal . The chakra is explosively released in a 15 yard radius from each nail. The effects of the explosion can leave victims with burns and paralyzed.

[Ōshi Shigeru]

”I didn’t give you permission to use my given name!” Shigeru yelled back, though he didn’t have enough time to properly scold Zakku. With the creature’s main form of attack now flopping limply to the ground at his feet, he pressed his newfound advantage. He had a perfect chance to attack here, and he wasn’t going to waste it! He was started to feel some drain on his chakra reserves, but his were large enough for a genin that he wasn’t concerned yet. Time to dance.

As the lizard flailed, Shigeru pressed forwards, his sword still lit with the telltale signs of Fuuton chakra. This time, he didn’t mess around, a solid thrust of the weapon enough to bury the blade into the creature’s eye and keep going, scraping bone as it went. However, the lizard was made very dead from the sword now buried in it’s skull, so Shigeru moved on with a mild expression of disgust at the squelch it made.

Blood dripped from the blade, held firmly in one calloused hand. There was still one lizard left on his side, though he couldn’t be sure about Zakku’s. He didn’t want to take his eyes off his last opponent, staring him down with violent intent. This lizard seemed more cautious than its fellows, the look in its eye almost calculated. It didn’t attack, though- it wanted to make Shigeru come to it, or make a mistake. Possibly both.

[Zakku Burokon]

// Zakku //

What good is skill
If you don't make it to the dance?
Despite circumstance
You've got a chance

Ōshi Shigeru

The two lizards fighting each other was a one sided battle as Zakku watched the lizard that still had its vision slam its blind friend to the ground.  It bit down hard on the blind ones neck and with a jerk of its head and audible crack the blind lizards pain ceased.  Looking around the lizard would spot Zakku and turn to face him as the blue haired shinobi slowly took a drag from his blunt.  "Oh are you done?"  Zakku asked flicking the ash from the end of his smoke.  

The lizard braced and leapt at him.  Exhaling smoke Zakku easily dodged standing just out of the beasts reach and examining his blunt.  "I really need to remember to wrap these up tighter."  Its eyes locked onto the blue hair it attacked with its tongue once more.  This time Zakku was ready for it.  Dropping his blunt he grabbed the appendage with one hand while he stabbed his nails into the creatures tongue.  He didn't expect the creature to flex the tongue back into him.  Feeling the tips of the nails stab into his stomach Zakku fought the strong urge to scream.  Instead he focused his pain into rage and fuel his actions.

The lizard began pulling him towards it's mouth using the nails in Zakkus stomach to pull him in.  The pain grew as he felt the nails pull against his skin.  Making a mental note to grab a better weapon next time he gripped the tongue started pulling back.  It didn't stop his advance towards the lizards mouth but it slowed it down.  Weaving back and forth Zakku kicked up sand making the lizard shake its head to avoid the sand.  Taking his chance Zakku dove in and made his hand signs.  Leaping into a ball he let his hair grow and cover him as he turned into a spiked ball of disaster.  Spinning as he got closer Zakku Slammed into the creatures mouth slicing into the soft tissue of its mouth before removing the inside of its head.  Zakku bounced out of the remains and landed with a thud as he uncurled his hair slowly returning to it's natural state.  Groaning he removed the nails and tongue from his stomach.  "I'm never going to get used to that.  How you doing Dude?"  He called to Shigeru as he poked and prodded his wounds wincing slightly as he did.

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Hari Jizō - [Needle Jizō]

A swift set of seals are formed as chakra is poured into the user's hair, inspiring growth and thickening of each individual fiber. The fibers continue hardening and sharpening until reaching a level of mimicking steel needles, creating a chain-mail-like defense of dense hair. Often times, the user will surround his or herself with the hair as a spike-covered mound so dense that weapons break upon striking it. If the user wishes, the hair can reach outward with its spines, aiming to thoroughly pierce and maim opponents with its stone-splitting spikes.