[attr="class","APP3"]With a flick of her wrist from behind the trees, the woman first threw out a small log. Following that, onlookers would see three copies of the woman appear as she ran out from behind the tree, weaving through brush and the trunks of other trees for cover. She was bouncing back and forth in zigzags and so were her clones.

Mai would have a chance to get in one good throw at one of the three clones. One each left, right, and center. This woman was definitely a shinobi and not the standard imperial agent, her tactics were extremely deceptive, and she was well trained in acting with stealth. Mai’s decision was made somewhat clearer for her because one of the clones slipped up and touched the ground in an area of thick vegetation without disturbing it, leaving the center and left the best possible guesses.

For Jun from afar, the three clones were moving in a line and too distant for him to completely make out which one might be the real deal. For the moments he saw them at his position there was one closer to him, one near the middle, and one further back. He could also see Mai to his right and the assassin and clones were moving towards her general direction.

But there was company! From the brush came a zombified man wearing a Kumogakure headband that rushed towards Jun with a kunai in hand, Zazou would have to stop him for Jun to get a chance at a shot.

Aiko got back to the fight on the opposite side. With her byakugan she could easily make out Mai to her left. The clone that was furthest away from her was the real thing, the others were intangible clones. She had the best eye for the shot, but the worst positioning.

[attr="class","APP3"]Makoto barreled forward into the group of approaching horse riders, the armored figure leading the group pulled at her reigns and managed to get her horse out of the way, while the second in the line was hit directly and their horse toppled. The third rider was hit and fell from their horse, which continued running forwards. The fourth had managed to make their way away and began moving along the side. Both remaining riders found themselves choking on smoke as the group passed by.

Keeping up with the ninken would be difficult for Sayuri without using up a lot of energy, but through the grace of good luck a pinto horse with a tobiano pattern came running out of the smoke on its own, already saddled up and hers for the taking if desired. Behind them was the rider coughing and trying to catch up to the horse with a blade drawn.

Eventually making it out of the smoke, the two riders would loop around and follow the left and right flanks of the party. The female rider was holding onto the horse with her legs quenched and a bow drawn, she knocked an arrow back and took aim for Daichi. The arrow flew from her hand straight towards him!

Somewhat behind the first group was Kegawa and his reinforcement squad, they seemed to be heading in the same direction.

To each horseman, Kegawa had sent a hound or himself. The one that he went after himself was hit with such force that the rider fell from the horse and was trampled by the equines retreat. Kakimaru bit into the tendons of one of his target’s front legs and crippled the horse, it’s rider dismounted and drew a blade and began swatting wildly at the dog to no avail. The third rider managed to graze Yukimaru with a javelin as they approached, failing to pierce but leaving a moderate cut along his right side. The ninken had to roll to get out of the way of being trampled by a black horse.

That last rider continued forwards towards Suzaku. With a javelin already stained with blood the rider would draw his arm back and then lunge the polearm forwards with the force of the horse at his aid as he attempted to drive the polearm through the youth. Whether it be through his own actions or that of a teammate, if not stopped the ride might leave him skewered!

Yukimaru’s wound wasn’t enough to kill him, but without some first aid he might be a bit slower through the rest of the battle.