[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/graffiti-fonts/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200110/e87a6c466f5382bfd224939894c2bc86.png[/img][/url] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f1/e5/20/f1e520ce7419964cdf0d996ad9984835.gif[/img][/center][right][sub][color=BFAFB2]Mentions: [@Fiber] Goon Squad [@Sly][/color][/sub][/right][hr] [color=BFAFB2] Izayoi didn't know how long she was running for, only that the sweat dripping off of her like rivulets carried the dried blood from her eyes and nose with it. In one hand she clutched onto the scroll, her knuckles white with tension, the other palm covered in more dried blood. There was no time to stop and rest, or even to readjust any of her tools before squad one would catch up to her. She was already experiencing the headaches that tag along with the strenuous usage of her kekkai genkai. The pounding in her head was enough to make her stumble and trip, falling through the brush and into a small clearing. The place that would house her last stand. Not too far behind she could hear the quickening rustling of her former classmates rushing to her location. The pain in the space between her ears was growing at an enhanced rate, especially when she reactivated her Ketsuryūgan alongside a simple genjustu, to project noises just further north from her spot. Hoping that it would buy her enough time to find Mori and pass off the scroll before succumbing to anymore injuries. In the short run, her initial plan had worked; she was able to successfully steal a scroll - that they did, in fact need - and make a clean [i]enough[/i] getaway. The downside to it all was that she overworked herself and eyes - [i]why she believed that actually injuring herself was the best course is beyond her[/i] - but what truly hurt was the fact that she used one of her closest and longest known friends. [color=a587d5][i]'Tetsu, I'm so, so sorry...'[/i][/color] Iza'z moment of reprieve was cut short, as she sat there staring at her bloodstained palm, vision blurring as she tried to focus. On what? She couldn't exactly tell you. Ears feeling as if they were stuffed with cotton, mouth just as dry. The thrumming seeming to not stop anytime soon. While she was caught in her own world she completely missed the sounds of an approaching team. It wasn't until they broke through the tree line that she was able to tell that they weren't of the Leaf. If their their headbands weren't a dead giveaway, it was definitely their garb. The showmanship that the first warm body possessed was absolutely that; a showman. Back flipping, with a twist, landing in a crouched position into the clearing from the other side of the forest where Iza resided, his entrance was something to be in awe of. It was quite impressive. Even with his back towards her. What was not impressive was the attire that hung from his frame. Baggy fabric, gathered around his legs in the hues of white and blue, something in the pigment that when they caught even the slightest bit of light it shone like a gemstone. It's what first caught the blurring vision of the silver haired kunoichi. Not like she could observe much else [i][b]but[/b][/i] the reflecting material. She didn't get a good look at the symbol on his hitai-ate, it was too far away and her vision still hadn't sharpened - and there was no way she was going to use her Ketsuryūgan before pinpointing the other members of this nin's team. The strange man continued to perform back flips until he was satisfied it seemed, [color=a587d5]"Tch, idiot..."[/color] she couldn't help the scoff under her breath at the sight before her. He raised a fist into the air with an exclamation that sounded very similar to a [color=0072bc][b][i]“Nailed it!”[/i][/b][/color] A few feet from where he landed, a smoke cloud of the deepest black appeared and with it gave way to a flash of light only to reveal a hooded figure. Attached to the hood, a cloak made of what looked to be fine silk adorned with elaborate and intricate stitching of a dragon devouring a tiger; though from what Izayoi could make out it simply looked muddled and indistinct. The newcomer pulled his hood down and unfastened his cloak to reveal his equally atrocious ensemble and a demonic mask to top it all off. The masked man crossed his arms over his chest, the sleeves of his cloak belling out. When he spoke, it was with a deep and booming voice. He clearly had taken notice of her, now in a standing position, as he addressed her - and subsequently anyone else in the area. Because like Tetsu and his team, they must have believed her own squad was nearby and waiting. [color=00a651]“Oh foolish ones, you cannot comprehend how swiftly your destruction is at hand! For on this day you have had the misfortune of encountering the [b][i]awesome[/i][/b] powers of those you see before you. Too mighty are we for your less than worthy talents to compete. Who you see standing before is the one who humbles lightning, the ray of light given human form…”[/color]. He gestured to the first man, who proceeded to perform yet another back flip, yet still managed to land with his back turned towards the kunoichi. With her vision on the back end of clearing up she took notice of the nasty body language shot his way by the masked ninja before flipping once more; this time landing forward facing, his fighting stance up at the ready. It was then, with a slight shake of his head that the masked man continued on, announcing his team as if this was a pageant and him and his team were the contestants. [color=00a651]“He is Eiji! Not only is he a master of-”[/color] Iza could only assume his next words would have contained some mention of 'lightening' and 'back flips' and 'horrible fashion choices' but she never got the chance to see if her thoughts were correct, for yet another, oddly dressed ninja burst through the treeline to join up with his fellow squad mates. [color=a36209]“Hey! I’m here, [i]ugh,[/i] that was a lot running.”[/color] The newest one to join the soiree was clearly out of breath and the largest built nin on the team. Iza was clearly overwhelmed at his size, but seeing as his stamina seemed less than ideal, she figured he would be easy enough to take out - should it come to that. Both of the other men gave looks of annoyance to the one who had just arrived, a bald ninja, his attire dirty and distressed - and Iza was sure it wasn't just from their trek through the forest. His breathing was heavy and his hands were placed on his knees to rest, hunched over trying to catch his breath from hurrying over to join them in the clearing. As if it was all planned to happen as so, the masked male continued on, voice still booming, announcing their presence to any and all in the surrounding area. [color=a587d5][i]'I could use this to my advantage...'[/i][/color] she thought to herself as she began to think up ways in order to get Tetsu and the others to come to her location - if they already weren't [color=00a651]“[i][b]Ahahaha[/b][/i], [i]you will soon discover for yourself that which Eiji is master over![/i] He is joined by the powerful master of an unlimited arsenal, Mitsuhide!”[/color] The bald one then proceeded to pull out a scroll and flung it up into the air, causing Iza's curiously terrible nature to track it with her own gaze to see what became of the scroll and it's contents. She nearly fell over in a stupor when a folding table popped out and he looked to the item and then to the ground, muttering something about [color=a36209]“that was the camping one”[/color] The tolerance levels for his fellow squad mates was at it's tipping point she noticed, as the masked man shook his head and looked to physically restrain himself from attacking his team before finally concluding his speech. [color=00a651]“Greater than either of those, you face the one who holds the cosmic power bestowed by the Akashic epochs and the Aeonic forces of Nibiru, the sixth Demiurgic emanation, the greatness you behold now, [i]my divine self[/i], the one known only as… Koji!”[/color] He struck a dramatic pose with his finger outstretched, signaling he was ready to fight. The erratic rustling of the foliage directly behind Iza snapped her out of whatever smartass remark she was about to make. Especially when the people she least wanted to see - this close up at least - were standing a mere six feet from her. She could almost reach out and touch her [s][i]crush[/i][/s] friend; however she stopped herself, arm midair, at the look that graced his features. One of determination and raw distrust... not thrown exclusively at the opposing team. It was as if his gaze alone burned her and she retracted her arm quickly, cradling it to her chest as she stood between the two teams. Neither one of them making the first move. [color=a587d5]"Well, shit..."[/color] [/color]