[Akira]

Whilst being thankful that he had done the preparatory work the previous night: Hotarubi would stop at half the size he knew he could reach: still large enough to tower over the rest of the environmen and at a frightening speed that would stop any of them from even being able to get around Hotarubi's enhanced, massive form. This madness would stop: and had he not learned his training and expected it -

On announcement their cronies had started an all out fight, between protecting the clan heir and attacking their enemies - Hotarubi had very little time to intervene in the form of words, resulting in the expansion of his size at such short notice.

"You WILL obey me," Hotarubi roared loudly: the deep resounding churn of the ground around him was making them all quiver and keep their footing through the use of chakra. "Stand down. Now!" The deep guttural rage Hotarubi felt as his will was being defied by them. They had gotten him to administer the test, him who they had agreed to do, and the victor had been proclaimed.

The Mikatakujira were the easier party as many of them had Shunshined away - giving them much needed space between him and the summon-sized Hotarubi, and maybe his chosen oni-like appearance would help him strike the fear of Kami into their hearts.

The Yamakira: those capable, at least, of reforming (since apparently it seemed not all of them were able to do so?) didn't seem to move, and would rather be stubborn enough to be crushed underneath him and as Hotarubi held a palm out, ready to push down and create the equivalent of mashed rice: they stopped and stood there, not ready to take the next leap into an all out attack against the invigilator who had administered their 'exam.'

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SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Ōka [Assimilation of New Territory]
RANK: S
CHAKRA USAGE: Very High
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Doton
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Large Chakra Reserves
DESCRIPTION:
This jutsu is the most powerful one in the Yamakira’s arsenal and is the one that earned them their surname of Mountain Killer. A much more powerful variation of Dōka, this allows the user to pull in a massive amount of stone and earth from their surroundings using the same principle as the Dōka. The sheer amount of substance pulled in enables the user to become massive enough to rival a mountain in size and rival even the gigantic boss summons in strength and durability. They essentially become monstrous engines of destruction that can flatten villages in a single stomp. Unfortunately, it takes them a while to form this body (2 rotations) due to the sheer amount of substances being pulled in, rendering them completely open to attack while they are coalescing the earth.

This jutsu requires a massive amount of earth and stone as well as chakra in order to perform and can only be performed by a skilled and experienced Yamakira clansman. Its requirements are so massive that even the Yamakira are hard-pressed to supply the move with enough chakra and that most others trying to create a similar move would kill themselves from chakra exhaustion from a single use. As it is, it is only advisable for those with massive chakra reserves to only use it once in a battle and under the most dire of circumstances because of how long this takes to do and how much chakra this form eats up, lest they die trying to make a second one due to lack of chakra. After usage of this technique, it is advisable for the user to immediately withdraw from the battle because they will be heavily weakened after it.

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[Akira]

When his size had shrunk and he was back to a regular size there was a environmental quietness: the surrounding life had ceased to be active under the predator in the area, and the crowd of ninja had been pacified. This was unlike the other mission he'd been in Nishima-Jo when it had just been civilians… but actual Shinobi acting like children beyond one another?

He knew he didn't expect much of his own clansmen but the idea that the Mikatakujira had brought their own possy, and that there could just have been an all out breakdown between the sensitive relationship between the two largest clans in the northern part of the country.

"You are a weakling and a disgrace." Hotarubi spoke through his grit teeth as he got into Isshin's face. They had long since averted their eyes. And he quickly turned to his back where the Mikatakujira had been standing and their face while steely was much more smug. "You will take your win like a man, or I will cut you from your seat and feed you your friends. You are replaceable and there is always going to be a heir apparent that wants your place." Hotarubi threatened the other one as well, and the smugness was wiped from his face. The tension was physical enough that someone could cut through it with a knife.

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[Akira]

Neither of them spoke, waiting for Hotarubi to give the command. Hotarubi would begin to walk off. His task in this had been completed. Just before he left - one final threat "And if you both defy me, I'll kill the woman!" Hotarubi would throw his hand back, slicing at the air with a malicious effectiveness. His patience had been tried and tested. Neither of them would be happy with this, but it was actually the most pragmatic response. Something neither of them would want.

The Mikatakujira would be free to marry the woman he desired.

It was fair to say that he was not feeling good after all of this. Some missions were meant to fill one with pride: make you feel good about what you did for a nation. This did not fill him with any pride at all. It wasn't like the Yamakira 'take what you wanted' - or the Mikatakujira 'strive for perfection' that bothered him, it had been their conceitedness. That they could not rely on their own power and instead had to pull it - relying on the strength from others.

If they should have been able to do something they should have led by example and he did not see that from them. They were both weaklings at heart. Well, that was it: they were petty. Petty clan squabbles.

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[Akira]

Would Hotarubi stay for the wedding? No. Absolutely not. This had been enough for him - from using his logic, his mind, and his leadership skills to administer this test had been exhausting to consider the needs of all of the people involved, but he did it all the same. It would be like a used muscle: it would grow stronger. But between the Yamakira and the Mikatakujira, they had all fucked him off.

If Kenji was honest and true about what he had said - this is what the role would be like. But people would respect him more: listen to him and be done with it quickly. Hotarubi would be harsher... but he would need to think of the village. Hotarubi had his own ideas about how things would need to be done, but he wouldn't raise a weak village.

Nah. The Yamakira would get others to do some of that work and he would retain the keys. The route forward was about raising the strength of others: even in this case, they needed to fall in line. This was not a case of falling in line today and it made him sick.

Kenji had advised a few things in recent times, and it was best that Hotarubi was prepared about the future to come. For now? All Hotarubi wanted to do was to get home and relax, and take a day or two off. But - Kami knew, that wouldn't be allowed.

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242 Words

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[Akira]

When Hotarubi had finally returned to the real Takigakure no Sato and he sat in one of the many provided areas for someone to write their mission reports quietly he began to think about how he would write it. 'Think about it. Be honest - factual, but don't leave out unnecessary detail.' Was what he remembered from his teachings. He had done this a thousand fucking times over! The man began to write. Unnecessary confrontation.. check. Unworthy servant girl... check. Creation of tests.. check. One that would avoid any political inference? Double check. He had ensured to include the details about how he had put his own clan at a disadvantage first and the Mikatakujira had still won.

Then... what did he write about the fight? Hotarubi was not sure and for a while the Special Jonin would sit there as he tried to think of a diplomatic way to say it.

Ultimately, the mission parameters were met by diplomacy to two opposing groups. ... were kept distant and remained peaceful at minimal interaction post test had been administered ....

Hotarubi was proud with that. He might have fried his brain a little bit and used one too many big words - but it definitely suited. But a noise from behind him would have him turn his head - as if he didn't feel someone coming from far off.

"Hotarubi. New mission." Hotarubi sighed as a voice came from behind - and stood up.

[end]

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239 Words
20/20 Posts
FIN

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