Interception and Rivals

"Fina-Fuck'in-lly! Destination in sight!" Sanosuke declared spotting the Village Hidden in the Stone only a few miles away. Rokuro nodded with a smirk and Honmaru laughed a little, "We're gonna make it and exactly as I predicted...Three days." Rokuro turned to Honmaru and nodded once more in agreement. Sanosuke was - as usual- in the lead of the pack running with full speed, His motion was actually quite normal this time and not in the bizarre canine imitation. The time for a new mission, a new adventure was so close that Sanosuke felt like he was actually going to cry from excitement. As the group closed in on rocky path of Iwagakure's outskirts Sanosuke felt something pop against his ankle. The feeling was light and barely noticeable almost like a piece of string yet the fabric of the string was so light and weak that Sanosuke couldn't even spot it after popping it.

"What's the matter Sano?" Honmaru asked noticing the look on Sanosuke face when he was touched by the string on his foot. Rokuro did not notice a thing as he was too busy focusing on the near destination to be bothered with minor things, if nothing happened right away then it was of no concern. "I could have swore I just broke something" Sanosuke answered checking behind him as he kept the speed constant, "Like what?" Honmaru asked also looking behind him trying to spot whatever Sanosuke might be looking for. At that moment, Rokuro took a surprising lead leaping over Sanosuke reaching behind him to his sword as he descended. Taking a sharp swing upon removing it, a loud clank of metal clashing with Rokuro's blade revealed a Kunai spinning in the air before being planted to the ground.

From the angle that Rokuro managed to spot it from it was clear that if the Kunai had connected it would have struck Sanosuke directly between the eyes when he turned back to face the path. "Son of bitch..Someone tried to ambush us!" Rokuro snapped looking from side to side trying to see if he could spot the false assailant. "Good call Rokuro, if you hadn't jumped in when you dead we would have been down one pup...Hmm, you know that reminds me of a story." Honmaru began before he was paused by Sanosuke's hand moving in front of his face, "Now ain't the time for that crap..We got trouble.". Sanosuke began looking from his left to his right then back again and developed a sweat almost as though he was panicking. His nose twitched slight as he began sniffing the air around him noticing a change in the wind's scent, "Everyone down!". Without question both Rokuro and Honmaru as well as Sanosuke -who followed his own command- dropped down into the dirt and in seconds a swarm kunai counting almost in the thousands raced from left to right over them clashing with one another.

"Honmaru!"
"Understood", Honmaru looked around to make sure that the others were safe and when he found a good moment called out, "Rokkaku, Defense!". In the midst of all the clashing blades the demon born to Honmaru appeared over head instantly in defensive position with it's signature scythe parrying a number of the blades from above them. Soon the blades subsided and three boys rose to their feet taking a defensive stance, Rokuro armed with his Supiritto Nusubito スピリット盗人 , Sanosuke his hands with his nails extended slightly to form sharp claws, and Honmaru who simple covered have his body with his cape as Rokkaku was already his arm of choice.

Sanosuke began sniffing the air and noticed that there was someone around, someone who seemed to be watching from behind the rocks. This person seemed to be the one most likely responsible for the assault but from the distance that they were at Sanosuke was unable to verify. "Someone's got some balls!" Sanosuke cried out dashing in the direction of the person recklessly. The figure in the distance moved to the left slightly before completely vanishing from sight completely. This was not enough to stop Sanosuke as he rushed right over to the rock that the figure previously was slashing with his claws. Sanosuke's brute strength and violent motion broke the rock apart signifying that he used a heavy amount of force to strike. Honmaru applauded Sanosuke for his courage but not his strategy, in fact he was more impressed that Sanosuke had that much excess force to his attacks.

"Well done Sano!" Honmaru clapped, "What a strike, if that were a person I think you would have done em in". Rokuro scoffed in disgust looking over at Honmaru who's Rokkaku still hovered above ready for anything. "That was not good at all, if there was another trap he would have been the one done in, Stupid dog!", Sanosuke turned around upon hearing Rokuro's statement as he cracked his knuckles, "What's that now? You want me to show you how stupid my attack was?!".Rokuro was about to answer him but his attention was stolen by someone overlooking them standing atop a higher rock than the one Sanosuke destroyed. His arms were crossed across his chest, resting only lightly over his open combat jacket which blew in the wind. Inside the jacket one could see a vest that seemed a tad causal, His hair was a strange crimson red which faded into black on the lower parts of his spiky bangs. His eyes matched parts of his hair and his expression revealed his combat experience.

"You are very sharp, a quick thinker unlike your friend.." The boy spoke looking at Rokuro and smirking with a glance to Sanosuke. Honmaru looked at the boy and tried to find some means of identification, perhaps he was from the village? But Honmaru had no way to know for sure."Your the one who launched the Kunai..Aren't you?" Rokuro asked slightly lowering his weapon looking at the boy. His slick grin gave it away, Sanosuke's face gained a look of anger and he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles began cracking on their own.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Sanosuke yelled showing his canine fangs in his mouth.
"Honestly, I should be the one asking you four that..You're outsiders venturing in on forbidden grounds, most likely you must be thieves!" Honmaru tilted his head to the side slightly due to the boy's response. He obviously misunderstood them and due to the fact that they were not native from this village, they must have seemed suspicious. The boy jumped off the rock landing down on one knee with more of a thud than a normal person would almost as though he was being weighed down by something heavy. His eyes scanned all of them almost as though he was analyzing them when he caught sight of the female traveling with them. "And I see you managed to take a young beauty as a hostage?!..You fiends!" The boy's words caught Sanosuke instantly off guard as he looked around at the team confused. "What beauty?! There is no one here beautiful enough to be taken hostage, come on get real!" Honmaru chuckled at Sanosuke's statement, was he really so clueless to what he meant? Honmaru stepped forward in attempts to resolve the situation.

"Surely there is a misunderstanding here...We're not looking for violence we're simply here on request." Honmaru extended his hand for a shake from the boy greeting him with a friendly smile, Rokkaku vanished as well to insure no worries as Honmaru knew that that could become concerning. "Perhaps we can learn your name?", the boy accepted the shake as he nodded. It seemed that he could sense that Honmaru meant no harm, "I am Hishiro Urame..". Honmaru spoke looking back at Rokuro who now at this time returned his sword to it's position on his back, "My name is Honmaru Ashikaga and these are my companions Ahi-", "Don't let your guard down jackass!" Sanosuke interrupted as leaping over Sanosuke launching a punch headed for the face of Hishiro.

Rokuro was surprised by this as he did not even expect Sanosuke to still want to fight the boy, he believed that Honmaru was going to clear everything but Sanosuke's actions would differ Honmaru's objective. Natrually a person caught by such a surprise attack would be unable to react in time due to shock but this was not the case for Hishiro. Rokuro noted the look in Hishiro's eyes the moment he saw Sanosuke launch the attack. There was no look of surprise but rather a look of glee almost like he wanted this to happen. He's no ordinary fighter..Rokuro thought and he was right, mere seconds as Honmaru lightened the grip on his handshake, Hishiro used this time to react sending the same hand up easily flicking his wrist causing his palm to pat the flying punch of Sanosuke to the right. His palm then locked onto Sanosuke's wrist using it as a lever to yank him inwards, Hishiro still with fluent motion arched back and chambered his left leg at his waist before launching a perfect thrust and releasing Sanosuke's arm at the same time.

Sanosuke could now see nothing but the sky which seemed to be descending with the dirt of the ground acting as atmosphere. He collided with the ground skidding on his back a good few meters towards Rokuro who looked at him then back at Hishiro as he lowered his leg. "You know..It is not polite to interrupted someone when they're speaking.", Hishiro turned back at Honmaru who was surprised at what he just saw but did not want to attack for fear of granting the wrong perception, that is if Sanosuke's actions did not already do so. Sanosuke rose to his feet and lurched forward slightly speaking with blood coming from the sides of his lips. "Y-Yeah..Well I never learned politeness ugh.." Sanosuke stumbled down slightly losing consciousness but was supported by Rokuro. What's wrong with Sano? A simple hit like that was surely not enough to do severe damage to him was it? Rokuro thought looking at Hishiro who resumed conversation with Honmaru. Sanosuke was left in Rokuro's hands as Honmaru had a feeling that Sano would be fine again soon. Honmaru turned raising his arm to show Hishiro the other three introducing them, "That is Rokuro, the young lady with us is Ahira and the one you just...Um personally met is Sanosuke.". Hishiro nodded as he turned looking back at the village, "You say you are here upon request..What for?". Honmaru turned to Ahira and smiled a little expecting her to be the one to answer this question.

Ahira sighed, keeping her pace even with the boys. She decided to let Sanosuke take the lead. He apparenlty would have it no other way. Let him. He'd just get himself whacked in the face by a low lying tree branch or fall into a pit somewhere. Now that she thought about it, perhaps it was better that Mutt Face stayed in the front.

God, she really needed to stop being right. Before the thought had even fully passed through her mind, she heard Sansouke trip something and she promptly slowed her pace. The sight of the wire immediately caught her attention and just as she was looking for oncoming traps to be sprung on them, but saw Rokuro striking down the kunai that was aimed straight for Sanosuke's head. When banter was passed between Honmaru and Sanosuke, she could only acknowledge it before the sound of the wind shifting touched her audits just a mili-second after Sanosuke had sensed it first. The call for them all to go down face first was acknowledged almost immediately, but not before Ahira spied out where the kunai were approaching from.

This guy's good, she thought, waiting for the torrent of kunai to abate.

Honmaru summoned his demon, a creature she'd been allowed to see for the third time running now, who skillfully parried the few kunai blades away from causing bodily harm to them. Mere seconds passed and the rain of blades ceased, the boys rising to their feet in defense as they attempted to search out who their attacker was. Ahira, however, remained low on the ground - creeping off to the side and remaining as quiet as she dared. Let the boys preoccupy their current company. She would search out this individual and flank them on their blind spot.

Ahira caught the shadow near the rock, knowing that the individual wasn't stupid enough to stay in one spot - not when he was outnumbered. Genin or not, the four of them together proved complicated enough to deal with as it stood. However, Sanosuke was not having any of that (not that this came as a surprise to anyone) and quickly launched his own assault on the rock seconds after the person left his perch upon the stone. The boy smashed the rock - practically obliterated it - and while the feat would have been impressive to anyone who didn't think about the aftermath it could have caused, would have deemed the action noteworthy.

Ahira Henshin, however, felt the same about the issue as Rokuro did. Finally, their attacker revealed himself - stituated on a rock higher than the one in which Sanosuke destroyed. He scrutinized them and Ahira allowed herself to stand up to her full height. Well, from what she could gather, he seemed to be the only one in the area. Nothing else seemed out of place for the moment and the ninja looked no older than the four of them. Dark hair with red tints here and there framed his slightly pale features - the tattoo under his left eye hard to miss beneath equally crimson eyes. He certainly was a sight to behold.

Questions were tossed back and forth - again, Ahira listened. She knew that while the three were busy yelling or trying to dissuade the other two from getting into some altercation, Ahira had made her stand in the group as a listener. The only times she ever shot off at the mouth was when Sanosuke or Rokuro were directly throwing their insults at her. That or Rokuro was attempting to challenge her in some kind of fight to steal her abilities. Boy did she ever team up with a trio of weirdos.

"Honestly, I should be the one asking you four that. You're outsiders venturing in on forbidden grounds, most likely you must be thieves!" Both she and Honmaru titled their heads, as if in sync with each other, and she folded her arms across her chest slowly - matching the boy's own stance. In her entire sixteen years of life, she'd never been mistaken for a thief. Hell, stealing was so beneath her, unless she was stealing something from someone else who'd originally stolen said item in the first place.

Suddenly the boy leaped off the rock and landed before them, the thud issuing from the ground as he made impact. Taking just a step back, her golden eyes became equally analytical in her own stare as he began to ascertain whether or not the four of them could be considered friendly or hostile. She just prayed that Sanosuke or Rokuro wouldn't screw this up. However, when his eyes finally landed on her, Ahira bit back the urge to snarl. His next words caused her to choke back the negative gesture completely. "And I see you managed to take a young beauty as a hostage?!..You fiends!"

A blush fell on Ahira's cheeks as her golden eyes grew wide - blinking rapidly at this sudden accusation that she was being held hostage. Like these three dolts could ever manage to take me hostage, let alone anyone else! she thought as Sanosuke suddenly turned to look at each of his team mates - confusion practically chiseled on his features. "What beauty?! There is no one here beautiful enough to be taken hostage, come on get real!" Honmaru chuckled at Sanosuke's statement while the Jinchuriki pulled back her fist and was about to lay one solid punch into the back of that damn dog's head when Rokuro held his hand up to stop her. One look into his demonic green eyes let her know that Sanosuke was just being a simpleton and for her not to take it personally. She sighed, looking back at the red-haired boy as Honmaru addressed him.

"Surely there is a misunderstanding here...We're not looking for violence we're simply here on request." And Honmaru, the ever diplomatic ambassador, extended his hand of trust first to the stranger who had, only moments before, been their enemy based on circumstance. "Perhaps we can learn your name?" Seeing that Honmaru had put his Rokkaku away in good faith, the boy accepted the offered hand and nodded to the question. "I am Hishiro Urame." The Ashikaga Clansman spoke while looking at the others, Rokuro immediately placing his sword across his back as Ahira relaxed her stance, hands on her hips in silent waiting. She cared not what Sanosuke was up to. "My name is Honmaru Ashikaga and these are my companions Ahi-,"

She'd seen it coming even before he'd actually done it. Unfortunately, the time it took for her brain to process just how incredulous Sanosuke's actions were to actually witnessing the actions themselves was too slow. Apparently the same thing had happened to Rokuro for no one, not even Honmaru, had predicted that the dark-skinned Genin would have done something so damn stupid! But even the time it took for all of this to process meant nothing to the young man as he swatted Sanosuke's oncoming fist and tossed him into the air with a single kick as if he were some insignificant insect. Sanosuke slid on his back, coming to a halt just at Rokuro and Ahira's feet before she shook her head while looking down at him - dark purplish-brown bangs falling over her eyes. She merely clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth.

"You know...It is not polite to interrupt someone when they're speaking." Ahira's eyes moved to look at Hishiro as he looked back at Honmaru. She just hoped that Sanosuke's stupidity didn't reflect on the rest of them as a group. She'd hate, more than anything, to be chased out of Iwagakure this early in the game. They still had to make it back to the Tsuchikage's office and accept the mission scroll for the job in Kumo. Ahira was about to speak when she saw Sanosuke rising to his feet, blood spilling from the sides of his lips as he attempted to smirk - that smart-ass mouth of his in perfect working order. "Y-Yeah..Well I never learned politeness ugh.." He was starting to collapse, but Rokuro caught him and held him upright - the expression on Rokuro's face expressing the inner workings of his mind as though he had been shouting them out loud. She leaned forward, tilting her head to the side to look up at Sanosuke and poked his cheek for good measure, her efforts being rewarded with a grunt and a half glare from his eerie toxic green eyes. Serves him right, the fool.

Honmaru turned raising his arm to show Hishiro the other three introducing them. "That is Rokuro, the young lady with us is Ahira and the one you just...Um personally met is Sanosuke."

Hishiro nodded as he turned looking back at the village. "You say you are here upon request. What for?"

At Honmaru's glance, she sighed before placing her palm into Sanosuke's face and giving it a good shove back before stepping forward and situating herself at Honmaru's side. Smirking while relishing in the incoherent expletives issuing out of Sanosuke's mouth, she bowed her head slightly at the boy - gold hues peering up at crimson eyes. "We've heard word that the Tsuchikage is serving as a liason between the kages of the other four major nations issuing missions. We've come to speak with the Earth Shadow personally so as to accept the mission regarding an assassination request - specifically the one from the Raikage of Kumogakure." She watched for the change of expression on Hishiro's face, wondering if the boy would believe her words or not. She didn't know what rank the boy held or if his station was equal to their own. If so, then he probably was not privy to the knowledge that she'd just revealed to him. This certainly was problematic in its own right.

"It's all right, Hishiro," called a voice - though none were able to detect the actual location of the voice. It sounded as though it were resonating all around them. "They speak the truth. Though they had better hope so...for their own sakes."

Again, silence issued and Ahira still was unable to detect the voice or the person for whom it belonged to. None of that soon mattered, for suddenly two individuals suddenly appeared from the depths of the shadows and Ahira felt herself taking a step back in surprise. Hand grasping for the handle of one of her kodachi, her heart hammered heavily against her chest - the entity inside of her sensing the power coming from these individuals; namely the one clad in the robes belonging to the Tsuchikage. Beneath the hood of his hat and the smile on his face, Ahira was only able to glimpse the spark in the deep violet eyes before they issued a lighter glow in the pupils. To his right stood a sole ANBU, one whom Ahira could only assume to be the Captain of all of Iwagakure's ANBU force. Word on the grapevine was that he was a member of the Hyuuga Clan and both he and the Tsuchikage were never seen without the other closeby. Though she could not see his face for it was hidden behind the white and red marked Tanuki mask, he carried himself like a commander, as well as a loyal subordinate. Surely these were the two whom she'd heard rumors about.

The Tsuchikage moved his gaze across all of the newcomers into his territory before allowing his eyes to rest on Hishiro. He smiled, his eyes closing momentarily. "I thank you, Hishiro, for protecting my borders as efficiently as you have on this day. I shall reward you later for your efforts." Taking a few more steps forward, the Kage looked over them once more and it took everything that Ahira had to not allow the growing hostility coming from the thing inside her from manifesting itself and attacking violently at this young leader of Earth Country. "I had no idea that ninjas from Wind Country were so," he mused, pausing to look at the half conscious Sanosuke as Rokuro eyed him through glowing green eyes. "Energetic. And unique in physical appearance as well."

"Kage-sama," came the soft voice of the ANBU Captain behind him.

Looking over his shoulder at his ANBU, the Tsuchikage sighed before turning back around to face the three Suna Genin - shrugging one of his shoulders lightly. "Duty calls, I'm afraid." He spoke with a sense of finality before pivoting on his heels and making his way back to the ANBU who had yet to move since their first appearance on the scene. Looking back at Hishiro, he smiled at the boy before saying, "I'm counting on you to bring them to my office, Hishiro. Oh, but don't slow up for them even amongst the thicket of our booby traps. In fact, don't even warn them if they're about to set one off." Violet eyes surveyed the team of four once more before letting his dark brows furrow over them. "If they can make it to my office in one piece without your help getting through our traps, then I'll deem them worthy of accepting the mission that they wish to partake in." And with that said, the Kage and ANBU both held up their right hands - the index and middle fingers extended while the rest folded closed. A boff issued soon after and the images vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving the others - save for Hishiro - blinking in slight disbelief.

"Those," Ahira said slowly, looking at Hishiro. "Were their shadow clones?!" The power she'd felt from those two was enough to seriously knock the breath out of some two-bit ninja. The fact that they overwhelmed her senses to where she had to think about breathing was disturbing enough. Not waiting for the boy's response, she looked at Honmaru - brows furrowed before she pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. "Oh fuck my life..."

Adhering to the request of his Kage's shadow clone Hishiro nodded looking back at the four travelers but kept his eyes in a sharp glare to Rokuro who was only now releasing Sanosuke back onto his feet. Sanosuke shook his head from side to side recovering fully from the staggering experience of Hishiro's kick, Rokuro looked at him and began laughing a little simply due to the look on Sanosuke's face as he was rubbing his marked chin. "You know Rokuro I hardly see anything funny about what happened to Sanosuke." Honmaru stated turning to the two of them, Rokuro still continued his light chuckle fading it a little to respond, "Oh there's something funny about it alright, this just isn't Sano's week, he's been getting his ass kicked by everything and anything, from cactus in the desert to a random Genin.". Honmaru closed his eyes shaking his head in surrender while Sanosuke's snarled a little at Rokuro, "Yeah? Think it's funny eh? Well I'll tell ya one thing I won't get my ass kicked by..Your sorry ass!".

Hishiro lead the path for them towards the village gates as he was told, and made sure to keep on his guard as he had a strange feeling about the four of them. Hishiro closed his eyes and sighed when he heard the comment from Sanosuke, not that it was his place to intervene but Hishiro, among anything else found his tough guy act quite amusing. "Interesting..Even after being struck by my foot, He can still boast so proudly..I see you have an interesting bunch Honmaru." Hishiro declared as Honmaru smiled with his eyes closed rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. Sanosuke strayed his attention from Rokuro ,he brushed past Ahira bumping her on the should slightly on his pass as he made his way to Honmaru.

"So Honmaru, you wanna explain why I smelt a Hyuuga's essence coming from one of those clones?"
"How the fuck should he know? Does he look like he lives here?" Rokuro interupted placing his hands in his pockets. Sanosuke turned around slightly and rose his hand to give Rokuro the middle finger as he turned around, Hishiro listened to the question coming from Sanosuke and decided to answer since he was so eager to know. "Master Kuronuei is the ANBU Black Ops captain for Lord Tsuchikage...He is indeed a Hyuuga, I must say I'm impressed by your Canine like memory sense through smell." Hishiro's face lit up with a slight smirk as he spoke and Sanosuke scoffed looking to the side slightly, "Yeah well lets just say I'm a little familiar with their village of origin..And I ain't no real fan of ANBU either.", "ANBU?.. I hate ANBU" Rokuro agreed from behind. Honmaru laughed a little and pulled out his illusion cage with his usual smile on his face.

"Allow me to enlighten you with a tale" Honmaru spoke as the cage began to fill with a blue mist ready to project images. Rokuro sighed as he shook his head from side to side, "Here we go..", "Hush!..Now it all begins with a young Sanosuke...He was a boy lost inside a conflict between his family and the village." The game instantly became laminated with an image of a younger Sanosuke observing his father in combat with 2 ANBU black ops soldiers. "Trying to find out what the reason was behind their cruel attack...the young Sanosuke could only watch in fear as his father was slaughtered before his eyes.", Sanosuke's face cringed at the mention of his past. He closed his eyes looking off to the side trying not to remember, Hishiro watched in amazement at Honmaru's illusion cage's vivid display of the attack, he had never seen such a device and was very much entertained by this.

"Later..He met his good buddies. Rokuro and myself..And then we all-" Sanosuke knocked Honmaru over the head with his fist halting his story. "Alright enough with this crap already man!", "Wow Sano, didn't know you got all sensitive when that's brought up." Rokuro stated before Sanosuke turned to him snapping "Screw off man! I just don't want him to bore me anymore with his shit". Hishiro shook his head in disagreement with Sanosuke looking at Honmaru, "What a most spectacular display..I have never seen such work..Marvelous!". Rokuro looked at Hishiro almost a little bit disgusted with what he just said as Honmaru simply smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, glad to see someone likes my stories" Honmaru spoke almost in a cheerful voice, Sanosuke placed his hands on his head looking at the sky. "Come the hell on man! Can we just get to the damn Kage already!", Hishiro looked at Sanosuke as he complained and nodded in response, "Right..it is best I get you to the mission as soon as possible..This way.". Hishiro resumed his lead heading into the gates of the village ready to direct them to the Kage's mansion.