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[h2][b][color=orange]Shin Maru, Topaz[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Shin saw the Bandaged Man examine their team. Something was definitely off with this guy, the way he was scoping them out. He was definitely a ninja, that much was for sure. But there was something else about him that set him apart from the rest of the crowd. [i][color=orange]He recognizes us,[/color][/i] Shin concluded, examining him unflinchingly. While his classmates were unnerved by his gaze, Shin simply glared back at him. The mystery man was imposing and intimidating, but Shin wasn't going to show him weakness. [i][color=orange]If he knows who we are, he might know what we are doing. He is strong enough to be a problem...[/color][/i]

Before Shin could contemplate it further, a riot practically broke out and many people piled into the arena. Including Fujitora. He could only watch as his leader jumped into the cage and fought all the others that had amassed. While it was impressive that Fujitora won, it was to be expected. The man was the Jounin Commander. He was probably the strongest in the village, bar the Hokage. Shin caught the coins when they were tossed to him, making a quick check to count them himself. [b][color=orange]"No more holding back, eh..."[/color][/b] Shin mused, stowing the coins. He stretched his shoulders a few times before looking back to Fujitora. [b][color=orange]"I guess the time for playing around is over."[/color][/b]

Shin looked over to Jaakuna and Paneru now. [i][color=orange]So Fujitora is jumping in now. That's good. Paneru will be pretending to be our boss. That will keep him out of danger, for the most part.[/color][/i] He grinned at the two, before giving them a thumbs up. [b][color=orange]"Thanks for the help with my arm, Paneru. Good as new now."[/color][/b] His grin faded as he looked back to the cage below, which was empty. [i][color=orange]Jaak isn't in top condition though. He's hiding it well, but I'm sure Fujitora sees it too. Ideally we would want Fujitora to fight that weird guy with the bandages. Jaak can't face him, and I'm not sure how well I'd fare. But it seems that the weight of the team might come down on me. I need to stay at the top of my game...[/color][/i]

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[h2][b][color=moccasin]Tsukiko Umene, Honeybadger[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Tsukiko's face contorted in anger. Without any further warning she reached toward Yamato and grabbed him by his shirt, pulling him closer to her face with ease. [b][color=moccasin]"Listen up you bastard,"[/color][/b] she began, her voice low and seething with rage. [b][color=moccasin]"Your usefulness ceases the moment I have the scroll in my hands. If you keep this shit up [i]I will break you.[/i]"[/color][/b] With a light shove she released him, still glaring at him with hate. [b][color=moccasin]"If you think you hate me now you will [i]really[/i] hate me later."[/color][/b] Rather than letting Yamato have a chance to talk back, Tsukiko placed her hand on the cliff face outside his hole. A thin layer of rock grew over the hole, sealing Yamato in so the Yakuza approaching wouldn't detect him. It would also serve as a good end-of-conversation gesture.

With the slugger in position, Tsukiko jumped down to the ground and approached Aoi and Nobunaga. She had to walk with chakra to avoid getting stuck in Aoi's trap, but it didn't bother the woman any. It just meant that Aoi set a good trap. [b][color=moccasin]"Alright, get hiding. Nobunaga, come with me."[/color][/b] Aoi was able to hide within her trap, a convenience for sure, but Nobunaga would need Tsukiko's help in hiding just like Yamato did. The woman led him to the perimeter of the trap zone. [b][color=moccasin]"Bury yourself in the sand. Use your clothes to cover your mouth, you should have enough oxygen to last until the targets arrive. If you feel light-headed, just resurface your head a few seconds and cover back up. It'll keep you going. Once the traps start being sprung, you and Aoi will jump out and begin. Remember: apply pressure, get them to focus their attention on you."[/color][/b] With his instructions laid out, Tsukiko pulled out some more ninja wire and faced away.

She proceeded to link the spider-web traps with the wires in her hand. The exploding tags she had placed earlier were not active, they would require a chakra pulse to become live. The ninja wire was conductive to chakra, but Tsukiko didn't want to remain directly underneath the traps. She had to be in a specific position for the ambush strategy. Tsukiko made sure to hide the ninja wire in the sand as she walked back to the valley, using the Hiding in Rock technique to mesh into the valley wall. Once the silence set in, the location would seem completely devoid of life or human tampering. The traps were hidden perfectly, along with the four shinobi that were waiting for the gang.

Fifteen minutes passed without a sign of life. But on the sixteenth minute the Yakuza gang had finally arrived. A large gathering, fifty or so, of mostly men began to walk down the inclined valley. Several lookouts remained at the top of the valley while the majority traveled through the base. They were clearly prepared for the desert environment, most having dressed in loose clothing and their faces covered. Almost all of them had some kind of visible weapon on them, but several were without. There were also several members, mostly large men, that had large backpacks. They probably carried the brunt of the supplies, but each member had a bag of their own as well. They moved quickly, some of them holding idle conversations or making jokes to pass the time and distract themselves from the heat.

The large party moved forward, clearly cautious of the valley. But despite their anticipation of a possible assault in the valley, they exited onto the sand dunes without a hitch. The tension they had clearly was gone by the time they left the darkness of the valley, as they began to joke and talk louder. Tsukiko, still hidden within the rocks, was able to detect all of their positions through vibrations in the ground, though once they reached the sand it became a bit fuzzy. Still she could feel their general areas, and she gripped the ninja wire tightly as she waited patiently. [i][color=moccasin]These kids better not fuck it up,[/color][/i] she thought to herself, waiting until the majority of the gang had entered the trap zone. [i][color=moccasin]I don't know how I could explain myself to Fujitora if we fail. Or worse, Zeno... I'd kill the little fuckers if they embarrass me like that...[/color][/i]

By now, almost the entire party had walked into the trap zone. The sand that had blown over Aoi's sticky trap was thick enough to keep them from accidentally getting stuck before the time was right. Tsukiko assumed the girl knew what she was doing and that she had a way of bringing the sticky stuff to the surface at the right time. [i][color=moccasin]Three... two... one...[/color][/i] Now was the time. Tsukiko channeled her chakra into the ninja wire, spreading it out to all of the concealed tags and bringing them to life. They all detonated at once, sending fire, sand, and mucus into the air and instantly killing any Yakuza that was unfortunate enough to be standing directly overhead. Those that were only close, as opposed to standing on top of them, were knocked back and injured by the pressure wave. Tsukiko's trap alone killed or maimed a dozen or so. But now wasn't the time for her to reveal herself yet. It was now Aoi's turn to trap the survivors in the ambush spot, so that she and Nobunaga can begin their assault. [i][color=moccasin]I'm putting my trust in this team, they better not fail me.[/color][/i]