[table][row][cell][color=gold]Ichika Uchiha[/color][/cell][cell][color=gold]“Peace earned through communication is just and true, but without the strong to protect those who would shepherd in such an age... Everything will be lost. Power is absolute.”[/color][/cell][/row][row][cell][sup][color=#2E2C2C]_______________________________________________[/color][/sup] [img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQs-gf70-IGh9a7QIe18XZ6pE5BVM6-oyAZSg&usqp=CAU[/img][/cell] [cell] The gambit had paid off, Ichika's counter offensive manoeuvres had seemingly ceased the peculiar bombardment...for now. Never one to leave [i]anything[/i] to chance, the Uchiha strode vertically onwards towards the cliff's peak with her hands at the ready, hoping to viciously assault the sea-team's assailants and buy enough time for the crew to escape. She knew her skills, and was highly confident in her own abilities, there was not a shadow of a doubt in the ebon-haired woman's mind as to whether she would be able to accomplish that; and she [i]knew[/i] that rendezvousing with them would be effortless. She just had to conserve her chakra. But as Ichika neared the cliff's peak, a huge silhouette suddenly appeared. Primed and ready with some kind of jutsu, the bird hand seal woven and held as they inhaled. She had to think fast, or she was going to be slammed into her own earthen construct at best; and at worst she could be sliced in half! With no time to waste, and a large portion of chakra still focused at the core of her earth tenketsu Ichika rapidly weaved seals, barely completing them in time as her adversary's jutsu fired. Causing an enormous blade of wind to rocket towards its target. [color=gold]"Earth Style: Hidden in the Earth Jutsu!"[/color] she bellowed as her body was sucked into the cliff face, narrowly avoiding the blade of wind as it proceeded to slam into the earthen protection she had formed for her allies below. The impact caused multiple enormous cracks in the constructs surface, but it remained otherwise stalwart in the face of the beating. As always, whilst under the effects of the Hidden in the Earth jutsu Ichika felt...odd. Although with the adrenaline of intense combat flowing through her, the Jōnin's mind was comparatively at peace with the sensation. Movement felt bizarre, she paddled with her feet as though she were swimming through the air despite being essentially encased in stone and mud. Before long, she had entered deep enough into the cliffside that she was certain, her sensory skills were slim to none; but Ichika knew that she would emerge just behind her target if she rose at that point. So she did, gliding through the earth as she ascended, the Uchiha eventually emerged like a crocodile in a swamp, stalking it's prey through the reeds. Once fully above ground once more, she whispered [color=gold]"Release."[/color] and reached for her wakizashi as the enemy looked over the cliff's edge. [color=gold]"Looking for someone?!"[/color] Ichika snarled as she drew her blade with her right hand, attempting to slash at the tricep of the hulking man's right arm. [/cell][/row][/table]