The ambush was swift, unexpected and well-carried out. More importantly, it was directly aimed towards the man who was not just the leader for that operation, but also arguably the strongest soldier in the group, at least offensively, leaving them somewhat lacking for the encounters to come. There was little Mai Aburame could do to prevent said sealed fate from coming to fruition, the senbon digging themselves deep into the Stone Jounin before her or her clone had any chance to react. The tools of choice and a glimpse of the ominous liquid they were coated with... Yes, because the Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain was well acquainted with such methods, she instinctively knew the moment she saw them reach their prey, that Shoichi would be dealing with something far worse than the injuries a simple needle could inflict.
Her insect clone, which had remained closer to Azuma's group than the original, quickly backtracked and somehow managed to intercept the falling body of the man as it slid through the branches, barely managing to avoid him sustaining more damage from the fall. It was a rather ironic image, her small and fragile frame being able to lift that of a much taller man.
"..."
Unfortunately, life was already gone from his eyes, a large amount of foam coming out of his mouth... He had been subjected to poison of the highest caliber, one that not even an expert in toxins such as Mai could counter-act in time. There was no time to lament... They were in the middle of the battlefield and now the entire operation was at risk. If at least one person knew that they were there, it was likely that much more did as well. Recon? No, this was like walking through the front door with the enemy fully aware that you are coming. It was dangerous, and much more so for a group that wasn't exactly geared towards that sort of encounter. Indeed, without Shoichi, neither of them was ready to act as the vanguard. Now the clone had the important task of relying this information to the original and the rest of them, so they could tackle this as a group. Sadly, being little more than a mass of insects, all the equipment that it carried was no more than an illusion. To counter-act this, it shamelessly drove its hand into Shoichi's pouch, grabbing a number of ninja tools. Among them were two shuriken, which would be tossed in unison, seemingly towards the tree were the enemy had last been seen. However, it would soon become evident that the target wasn't meant to be the sapling, as the projectiles would miss it by a few inches. As soon as that happened... The shuriken, which had been thrown too close to one another, would collide, the impact firing one of them rocketing towards the spot where the attacker presumably had been hiding until a moment ago at unexpectedly high speeds. The goal was to at least get her foe to at least show herself again.
Meanwhile, the real Mai, who was pretty close-by since the clone couldn't operate without her being around, had chosen to observe the situation from a different angle, while remaining concealed. Having observed the departure of Shoichi from a distance away, she readied her own poisoned tools to return the injury seven-fold. Though the Stone Jounin was a sworn enemy and she would not shed tears after the fact, his death was an upset big enough for her brain to immediately discard any sort of good-will towards her new opponent. Considering the Aburame never really showed mercy on the battlefield, going beyond that was... A scary thought, to say the least.
If she did in fact get a visual on the enemy, she would give the enemy a taste of her own medicine.
"It's an ambush, they know we're here." She answered Aiko through the comms, her voice so soft it would be barely audible to the Hyuuga. "Our former leader is down and I've lost sight of the other stone shinobi. Be extremely careful on your approach: The enemy uses deadly poison. Do not directly engage "
At this point, Mai didn't need to voice that Aiko was their biggest asset and advantage. Her personal feeling would put Mai against the idea of exposing her to this sort of danger, but between the undead and the living opposition, the situation had already escaped their control. The Hyuuga being a talented Chunnin with a gift for leadership would have to decide on her own how to face this unexpected turn of events.
Last Edit: Oct 24, 2021 15:24:52 GMT by Mai Aburame
The team hailing from the Hidden Rain village had already done more than enough to prove themselves. They had stood their ground when the odds were stacked against them, especially the Genin; and had also managed to narrow down and defeat two real rhinos. Each member had received a taste of real battle experience and had survived. Moreover, now that Anotsu had awakened the Sharingan, they could return with something of value to the village as a whole even should their hands turn out to be empty. It would be a good time to throw the towel and see themselves out. They were standing in enemy territory and well... The Rain and the Stone didn't get along well enough for the latter to forgive and forget this tresspassing.
With that said, Mai Aburame did not intend to drop out of combat just yet. With multiple members of the platoon remaining vigilant, it was a good opportunity to step out of the shadow and into the spotlight, if only for a few moments. While the Hidden Cloud had been busy unleashing their might against the main rhino in conjuntion with a few scattered Shinobi from elsewhere, the purple haired kunoichi had spent all that time building up her swarm of insects, raising them to be strong and to be many. So when the animal decided to send debris flying everywhere, the loyal servants of the Aburame were more than ready to defend their master and those immediately close to her (In this case, Anotsu, Hoshiko and to a lesser extent Koma), should some projectiles be flung far enough to reach the group, which was already at a fair distance from the action taking place.
Fortunately, she could act at a range without the need to venture much closer to the dangerous beast. This would not only preserve the defensive formation of the team, but also provide a panoramic view of the action that those more engrossed in close combat did not have access to. Using this to her advantage, the Aburame would send enough Kikaichu to cover the Rhino whole in his direction, timing their flight in such a way that they would join the fray after the Inuzuka attacked. While the main target was in fact the horned beast, the scene was too much chaos to entirely avoid others who might get in the way, so she could only trust that their instincts would be honed enough to dodge being caught in the swarm should they find themselves in their way.
"Ara ara, Asuma-san. I wasn't aware we were on a first name basis. Would Shoichi-kun do it for you?"
The Hidden Rain and the Hidden Stone were at war. Even if the Hidden Sound was meant to be a neutral area, banding the two together against a common threat was, perhaps, a little too much to ask. How much strength did one need to stand before the enemy and now unsheathe one's weapon? What about agreeing to follow their orders, much like a prisoner of war? In that sense, it was either fortunate or well-thought that Aiko Hyuuga and Mai Aburame had been assigned to this unit, for they could both bear this burden in their own unique ways.
As part of recon team, Mai had to accept that opting for stealth over direct confrontation was the correct choice for the time being. It was a little painful to allow the undead to pass by them, but it was a necessary step in order to approach the source undetected. In regards to the actual formation, the Jounin from the Hidden Rain could at the very least suspect that it was not the optimal setup, but did not raise any objections as she did not want to run into a dispute this early into the mission. Besides, being relatively close to her underclassman was a blessing she did not intend to lose her grip on.
"Be very cautious." She addressed Aiko, placing a hand on her shoulder. She knew just how capable she was, so there was no need for this sort of warning, but the gesture did have a purpose. "...Okay?"
Assuming the Hyuuga would depart first, their numbers would be reduced and the three important members of that team would be allowed a few more moments of interaction.
"... Do you really think so?" Mai's words came almost like a whisper that only the three of them could hear, addressing her commander's final order. "Carnage and destruction are the things that stand out in this forest, not the leaves of its trees or the insects that crawl over them."
To put it simply, this sort of battlefield was the best an Aburame could ask for. Though not every bug was combat-ready, the sheer number of them present in the terrain provided a number of advantages that wouldn't be available elsewhere, including silent information gathering. In a way, all Mai was trying to say was that Shoichi's request was both too demanding for this sort of setting, and came to late, as they've been waiting there for a good amount of time.
Before leaving to move on ahead, the Kunoichi would offer them one last warm smile, a testament of their innocence. And as soon as she would begin silently jumping from branch to branch, they would finally come to realize...
---That they had been speaking to an impostor. A clone made out of bugs, all along.
Last Edit: Oct 14, 2021 12:30:18 GMT by Mai Aburame
The children were restless and would not spare a moment before switching targets once the first one was down. Their level of involvement was outstanding for mere Genin led by a Chunin and their coordination as allied shinobi a rare sight to behold. The Aburame was the one being thanked, but ultimately, they had been the ones to do most of the work for her. They had grown. And so had their leader. The proof of that progress laid before her eyes, it invigorated her soul and pushed her towards doing her best as well.
"Okay, time to get this nasty illusion out of the way."
She confessed, revealing that she had been trapped in it the whole time. With the beast weakened and the Genjutsu having large area coverage, it would now be much easier to break free from, a moderate amount of pain enough to drive the visions away. With this in mind, the Jounin would simply bit her lip. She didn't do so gently, no, instead she carried out the task in one sudden and violent motion, blood beginning to pour from the wound after that. Most likely, if left untreated, she'd have to deal with a swollen lower lip in a few hours. For a medic, however, such self-inflicted injury was of no concern.
Assuming the Rhino Anotsu had been dealing with was put down for good, she would use the brief moment of respite for two purposes: First and foremost, she would once more seek to enhance the number of bugs at her disposal. This could be done easily and without needing much more than an order, but Mai would surrender some Chakra to accelerate the process considerably. She had not used as much as she expected during the previous encounter, and she had freed herself from the Genjutsu the old-fashioned way, so now she had a reasonable amount of energy to spare. All her strong moves relied on her Kikaichu, so this was a way to enhance their influence and widening their net without having to move at all.
The second one was to assess the battlefield, determine the position of the enemy and other participants, as well as the current condition of the team. It was just as Anotsu had just said: They were still in enemy territory.
Proper preparation before action was mandatory.
Ame team.
Last Edit: Oct 13, 2021 12:14:54 GMT by Mai Aburame
On the other hand, Mei Aburame was against the idea of standing unprotected in the middle of a downpour. Granted, as a woman, she nevertheless found such scenario to be both beautiful and romantic, the perfect stage for impactful scenes in one's life. However, there was a clear difference between watching the rainy landscape from the safety of one's home and actually surrendering to the drops connecting Heaven and Earth. Fortunately, because bad weather was common around those parts, it was hard to find a resident, much less a ninja, ill prepared in the event that they needed to be somewhere in spite of it all. Well, to be fair, that wasn't the Jounin's case, she had no obligation that couldn't wait until later, but...
... But she was a top-class stalker when it came to tracking down pupils and, as it would turn out, Norisuke had been recently assigned to the one platoon that was under the bug tamer's care. In other words, she had been following the Hozuki all the way from the Ninja Academy, where he had picked some scrolls. Having chosen to keep a prudent distance, she had been unable to decypher the contents of said scrolls, but suspected they were either personal or mission related. Yes, in her mind, Mei did not even think that they held information on his would-be companions. She too had already done her research, and thus was aware that the boy was someone who would work himself nonstop if given the chance to.
"Guess who~?"
A voice rang out in the vecinity. Naturally, the original plan had been to gently cover the shinobi's eyes, but because he was standing somewhere problematic for her, she had ultimately settled for watching him from the shadows, a hooded black raincoat protecting her from the rain and adding more mystery to her rather small figure. She wondered: Would she be able to find her, perhaps locate her hiding spot? Or would he continue the conversation the way it had started, exchanging words at a distance with an annonimous character?
"I see... So it's a style that selectively discards instinct. A dance not scripted, but designed mid-performance. That's impressive, to say the least."
Thanks to Yousei's explanation, Mai could now understand that her previous assessment had been slightly off. She had unconsciously looked down on her technique and had placed all merit on the practitioner, branding her a genius whose instincts allowed her to feel the flow of the battle and defy common sense without much understanding on how her feats came to be. While the principles that her method pursued were definitely not for the average practitioner, it wasn't knowledge impossible to pass down, either. The red-haired girl was a genius, but of a different sort.
"Yeah, on a second thought, I might need a couple THOUSAND tries."
Came her answer, as she tried not to burst into laughter. Granted, with a few more bug-related puns in the way, the duo would eventually find it impossible to hold back. Ah, to be able to enjoy life so earnestly with a person, with a ninja from another village you'd just met... It was something hard to replicate in that day and age. Besides, Yousei was from the same age range as the Aburame, and they both shared the same military rank, so there was another connection there. She had a lot of acquaintances back in Amegakure, but not quite like this one.
"Well, I do know someone who's a big fan of ramen. He always orders an insanely large bowl, so I bet he would like to know what ramen is like over here. But I bet he'll find his way to a ramen stand one way or another, so let's do our own thing and get some Taiyakaki!"
"Ah, yes. That's right. I'm from the Aburame Clan."
Briefly recalling the sequence of events that had led to that point, Mai responded somewhat absentmindedly, surprised that not even the presence of bugs could overshadow Yousei's shine. Now, make no mistake, the Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain had met plenty of powerful foes, lots of which could easily trample over her with their accumulated strength and wisdom, but none of them were quite like the Fairy who had agreed to reconciliation. You see, in her eyes, the red-haired girl possessed all the positive traits that the Aburame Jounin aspired to master: An almighty, ever-present smile, energy for days and the strength to stand up for herself. It was too soon for the feeling to build up into either admiration or jealousy, so all that was left was the shock to find a bigger fish in the pond. For a genius, it had to be an encounter that was both refreshing and conflicting at the same time.
"Right back at you, Yoshi-senpai. I've never seen someone move like that. It's hard to put it into words, but it almost felt like I was fighting a different person with each exchange."
Although one could develop an unique style tailor-fitted for the individual, doing so would always stand close to the pinnacle of difficulty in terms of martial arts. Imitating someone else's style and even doing mix-and-match, combining several methods into one were much more simple alternatives. So, even it had yet to be perfected, the fact that it had been built from the ground up by her own hand spoke leagues about the fairy's talent. And that had to be the tip of the iceberg. Surely Yousei kept several more aces under her sleeve.
"But..." Coming back with a playful smile, the underdog had now taken it upon herself to eventually rise on top. "Give me a couple of hundred tries and I'll get used to it."
Picking herself up with the help of her newfound friend, she would then proceed to activate the Mystic Palm Technique in order to quickly repair whatever damage the dance of the autumn leaves had left on her. Though it required a good number of hand-seals to get started, the entire process didn't last more than a minute at most. Fortunately, while Yousei had certainly not pulled any punches, Mai's was proficient enough to take care of these sort of 'friendly spar' injuries in a matter of seconds.
"That would be delightful. If you don't mind me bringing these guys with me, that is..." She said, almost as an afterthought, somewhat troubled. "... All that physical punishment made them feel uncomfortable, so it'll be a while until they agree to go back home."
Mai Aburame's body hit the ground with a violent thud, having seemingly presented no resistance against the red-haired kunoichi's surprise attack. She had certainly seen it coming, she had tried to block it too, however its deceivingly strong and swift nature had allowed it to slip past her guard, leading to one particular outcome, where the genius had been beaten with little effort. Well, it was only natural: Discipline and willpower could only get one so far... For someone who did not specialize in Taijutsu, to go against one without being able to rely on other things... Wasn't it like trying to swim against the current or attempting to push a big boulder uphill?
"Ah."
The battle was over before her brain could even process what had happened. In fact, the Jounin from Amegakure was still in a daze, her eyes now staring absentmindedly at the beautiful sky above. Was it physical pain that she felt? Well, it had to be... But it had also been a blow to her pride in there... Behind that warm and beautiful facade of hers, Mai could sometimes be pretty stubborn. A perfectionist, huh?
"..."
In fact, something seemed off. Normally, by this point she'll just throw a compliment and laugh the situation off. However, instead, all that followed her downfall was nothing but silence. Had she hit her head on the way down or something? Ah, yes, the eyes that met Yousei's were not those o a butterfly. Nothing remained, not even the last embers of its former resolution. They had to be... They had to be those of a demon! What was that sudden rise in killing intent? No, more importantly, what was the thing that stood behind her, a mass of unfathomable darkness several meters taller than any other within that glade? It couldn't be... Insects?
The situation was definitely bad. Could it be that much like several other Aburame, Mai was a top-class sore loser as well?
Her arm rose, pointing in the direction of the only target within view and...
"Ara? What was I doing?" All negativity disappeared with that afterthought. Likewise, the giant wave of bugs fell to the ground. "Right, I lost. And that means..."
Her hand formed the sign of reconciliation, inviting the fairy to wrap things up as well. The thing was, well, bugs were everywhere around her now... Yousei could spot a few bugs on her face, even!
Mai didn't even spare a glance at the fallen animal or at her flamboyant companion; the moment the command left Anotsu's lips, she was already on the move. Two things she did not mind at the time. One, being ordered around by someone who was not a superior. In the first place, she was the only one from the Hiden Rain there who wasn't part of Platoon One; so it was only right to surrender the leadership role. Besides, if it was about saving underclassmen in danger, she would never find it in her to refuse! And two; the thought of leaving the Uchiha behind with only a few bugs to assist him (about 10% of her current swarm). This task was by no means far from dangerous, but she knew what the man was capable of. He was more than a pretty face ranked high in the village's popularity polls.
To be fair, she had to focus her entire being on carrying out the task she had been given. You see, not only would she need to protect the Genin and the Chunin from the rampaging rhinos, she would also need to do so while still under the influence of the Genjutsu. While it was true that the Aburame was no longer pressed for time and could now afford to perform the ritual needed to break free from the illusion, she suspected it would come at the expense of a large portion of her Chakra reserves. Being a Ninja who mostly relied on Chakra infused techniques, it was a toll that she couldn't afford at the time, not if she wanted to shield the platoon from harm. Hell, she was their appointed medic, as well...
Fortunately, her bugs provided an amazing tracking support, making sure that she wouldn't have to trade much speed for her own safety. While it was true that the bugs did not substitute any of her senses, they were the only ones there not naturally affected by the fake imagery. Meanwhile, she was the only one who could hear them talk. A periodic glance towards her underclassmen which were neither an illusion nor trapped in one anymore would help fill in the blanks and narrow down potential threats. At the end of the day, however, it was difficult to completely ignore something she knew didn't exist but could possibly feel with one or more of her senses, but she was a Jounin class ninja, so she would manage to get-by. The visual obstruction it sometimes represented being the real annoyance.
"Ah, Anotsu-san, you are such a worrywart..." She whispered. "They are doing pretty good on their own."
To be absolutely honest, she was still anxious herself. The battle was as chaotic as it could get and she had no knowledge of their reckless plan. Having pinpointed the real rhino amongst the imaginary crowd, she sent the entire swarm after it, choosing to leave herself vulnerable for the time being in order to have a chance to react and participate in the current exchange should things go awry.
"Guess I'll be the support."
The bugs would be instructed to protect the genin at whatever cost, their combined might enough to get at least a couple of them out of harm's way. That was the priority, but should things go well within the following seconds, and should they'd be granted the chance to, they would also attempt to reduce the rhino, feasting on its chakra reserves.
[attr="class","APP3"]Missions did not always go as planned. That's why Shinobi teams were taught how to adapt to the chaos that fate held within its hands. How well one could use the knowledge would vary from individual to individual, a page in a textbook not nearly enough to get one or many away from a real life predicament; past experience being the real game-changer. Currently, four masked Ninja hailing from the Hidden Stone were being put to the test, their wits the final border that separated them from failure and a certain death. You see, when one had to carry out a mission outside one's territory, the task did not end once the objective was complete, no, one also had to see that the group returned home safely. For the aforementioned crew, the final goal felt farther with each rushed step they took.
"We somehow managed to create enough distance, but it won't be long until they catch up. We need to decide how we're going to tackle this situation."
They had come to Amegakure with the intention of retrieving the body of a ninja hailing from said village who, according to their information network, had been injured during a small confrontation between the two forces. Wielder of powerful and rare Bloodline Limit, the Hidden Stone intended to secure as many valuables as possible before retreating to the safety of their well-guarded fortress. Little did those ninja know, they would instead run straight into a team that had just arrived to provide back-up. In spite of their numerical advantage, events had not played in their favor, and they had been forced to retreat in a direction opposite to the one they should have gone.
Though they had managed to snatch the body of the agonizing Hidden Rain Shinobi, three more were on their tail. Now lost in a Savannah-like landscape with lot of open terrain and little places to hide, their backs were against the corner. Were they supposed to confront the enemy, or were they to try to lose their pursuers instead? Between the team members, the points of view were diverse.
"Tch..." A second Shinobi swoop a little bug off his shoulder. "To think that they'd be able to track us down so easily."
A third, who had been kneeling down all-throughout the conversation, finally stood up, a brief cloud of white smoke accompanying her ascent. The physical body of the kidnapped now sealed within a large scroll, it no longer would represent a slow-down moving forward. She handed it to the fourth member of their platoon, the youngest, before addressing the rest of the team.
"Remain calm. A chase is about mind games. If we let it get to us, we're already dead." She commented, boldly. "We've still got ways to deal with this. Let them come to us, I'll tell you what to do. We'll be ready by the time they arrive."
The first attack had been avoided. The second had been barely stopped. The third, inheriting the purpose of those that had come before him, connected with its target, the motion creating a brief symphony of grace and violence. It couldn't be helped, the difference between them was far too vast. It was not a matter of skill nor technique, as both Jounin stood on equal ground in those regards, the game changer there was something much more abstract: 'Affinity'. Just as the fairy had pointed out earlier in the match, the incompatibility that existed between the two styles provided her with an edge, with the upper-hand.
And so, the story would once again repeat itself.
Mai Aburame was a prodigy whose talents had allowed her to quickly climb through the military ranks of the Shinobi. However, she was far from invincible. On the way to her current position, many had risen to challenge her. Some had earnestly wanted to meet her in battle; others had been forced into it by the hands of fate. Finally, a third group had chosen to walk that road solely for the opportunity of dragging her down. For someone who often did well in all areas, Taijutsu had always been her Achilles' Heel. Numerous times, she had seen defeat during exercises that restricted themselves to that particular field. In response, she had spent blood, sweat and perhaps a couple of few tears, struggling to develop a style that would grant her the chance to properly defend herself. And yet... Said dedication had been swept by the violent waves of Yousei's dance, seemingly with little effort.
... But so what?
"D-Don't worry..."
A strong flame flared within those purple eyes, a proof of an invigorated resolve.
After receiving the full brunt of that elbow strike, she should have been brought to her feet, a momentary disconnection of her respiratory system leaving her unable to do much else. At the very least, a brief daze was to be expected, one which would create enough space for a follow-up. However, before an explanation could be given, the Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain had already moved to reaffirm her grip on flexed arm that had been used as a weapon a mere second ago. Her opponent's position would allow her to immediately push the elbow up and forward with practically no resistance and at a dazzling speed -the one thing both styles had in common-, effectively throwing the red-haired girl off-balance a second time, this time with the goal of sending her straight to the ground-!
"I am... A medical... Ninja!" She managed to say throughout the motion, clear signs of pain manifest in her speech. Still, that discomfort was being turned into a sudden surge of power! "So I can... heal both you and I!"
Regardless of the result, the Aburame would then take a couple of steps away to build up some distance. Then, it would become evident that Yousei's blow had definitely had an impact on her. She had not avoided it entirely, nor had she managed to perfectly endure through it. She had merely acted before its effects could settle in. One could said she succeeded in throwing that agony 'into the future' out of sheer power of will. If the fairy's waltz relied on timing and instinct to be effective, then the butterfly's Aikido was built upon discipline and an unwavering strength of mind. At this level, it wouldn't suffice to merely slip past its guard. One would also need to break through the wall within!
"That's right!" The Kunoichi from the Hidden Rain confirmed, beaming prideful smile. "Aikido let's me fight with a peace of mind, knowing that no serious injury will ever be inflicted on my opponent."
Yousei was right: It was an odd pick for a hired tool of war. That said, it did have its uses... For one, she could go all out against her underclassmen, accelerating their learning process with actual experience without really needing to hold back. Actual combat was rather tricky, as not hurting the enemy with Taijutsu could come at the expense of one's well-being, but one could only assume she used it to control the flow of the battle towards one that was more favorable for the Aburame. Right, the red-haired girl did not yet have a grasp on her complete arsenal, so it was only natural for the martial art to be a piece of the puzzle that was difficult to place when taken out of context.
"Bad match-up? I wonder about that..."
Of course, at this point she was merely bluffing, responding to that impish smile with one of her own. Mai could tell that the next attack would be several times more difficult to parry than the least, especially now that the Hidden Sound Shinobi knew the kind of style that she was facing. In contrast, this would be the very first time the Jounin from the Hidden Rain would have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Yoshi's true style. Although, rather than worried, the purple-haired challenger was excited, eager to see if she would be capable to, once again, avoid being hit. It was fun!
It happened in an instant.
At one moment, Yousei's extended arm moved like the current of a calm river. The next, it had become a fierce surge of lightning. It was launched forward like a cannonball straight towards Mai's solar plexus, completely throwing off any split-of-a-second calculation she might have already made. It was just like a phantom, like an after-image, vanishing from the spot where it was supposed to be. A pendulum that would paradoxically move much faster on one side than the other. A dance that skipped several frames as it went straight for the 'kill'-!
The resolution came with a sound that resembled a thunderclap.
Who was more surprised? Was it the fairy, after finding out that her elusive fist had been caught in spite the odds? Or was it the butterfly, her hands centimeters from where they should have been in order to score a perfect blow? The attack had fallen short an instant before reaching its intended target, only barely stopped by the combined effort of both of Mai's hands holding it back from each side. Still, one glimpse should have been enough to tell that said arm was not properly restrained and nothing stopped the red-haired girl from overwhelming that rusty attempt of a shield by putting a little more power into her motion. Likewise, using both hands to take care of a single arm left her vulnerable to a follow-up. And yet...
And yet, she just stood there, smiling sheepishly.
"Oh my, Yoshi, where did you learn such thing? Hehe, this could indeed be bad news for me... "
With a brief laugh, she acknowledged Yousei's style for what it was, without outright kneeling down in the face of its might. Mai Aburame was a genius that focused on a defensive fighting style. While it might have been a different story if the fairy's aim had been elsewhere, going after her solar plexus a second time granted her opponent just enough time to react. It wasn't that her punch had become less effective than the least due said repetition. On the contrary, it surpassed its ancestor in every possible way without giving away its secrets. It couldn't be properly read, and yet the butterfly had managed to catch it, a testament of her combat experience.
"Ah, I might have underestimated you... You are definitely Jounin Material, Yoshi~."
There had not been an opportunity prior to that point to properly gauge the strength of her opponent. Ninja can be deceitful without putting much effort into it and sometimes things like age, build or place of origin do not even have an effect on the overall skill and power of an individual. However, moments before even Yousei's feet kicked off the ground, the Jounin from the Hidden Rain had a hunch that the Kunoichi from the Hidden Sound would be the superior close-ranged fighter. The premonition was not born out of lack of confidence, rather, it was built upon the realization of the foundation behind the opponent's style. It was perhaps to early to judge Yousei's technique as a whole, but one would be surprised to see how much the first move reveals about oneself. In spite of it being merely a move meant to 'break the ice', it spoke leagues of how the red-haired girl intended to tackle combat. Likewise, the Aburame merely adjusting her stance was also a reflection of the role she intended to assume. [break][break] "Hehe, right back at you!" [break][break] Taking roots in traditional Aikido, Mai's arsenal was almost entirely defensive. By focusing on guarding the body, she was able to react faster and spot opportunities where she may be able to use the strength of the enemy against them. On paper, one could be lead to believe that it was the superior style. Unfortunately, until one earned the title of sage of the art, that was rarely the case. It was only natural... It was easier to find a way to overwhelm a new opponent with a static offensive style than it was to defend against an enemy whose style would certainly change every time. The battlefield was not forgiving and a single mistake could mean one's loss. Regardless of whether one picked up a shield or a sword, that was an universal truth. [break][break] Fortunately, there was one saving grace. For you see, in a spar like the one taking place, where each fighter was both trying to test the waters, gain experience and have fun, someone with as much experience as Mai had a little edge over someone charging forward blindly. Yes, one could say that her style shone brightest as a sport rather than as a tool of war-! [break][break] In response to the straightforward strike, the insect tamer would fist adjust her stance, taking a single step forward with her right foot, leaving her left foot pointing to the side. Next, her right arm would rise to intercept and deflect the strike towards what should have been Yousei's left. If successful, she would then use both hands to grab her arm and assist her own movement, getting out of the way in the process. At this point, because of her own momentum, the fairy would be at her mercy. Fortunately, Mai's style wasn't focus on countering with her own offensive, so she'd just be keep moving forward, slightly thrown off balance, as if the she had simply 'phased through' the Amegakure Kunoichi. [break][break] "Woops!" She teased with a somewhat playful smile. "You'll have to try harder than that!"
"..." [break][break] The Jounin did not speak a word as the Genin spoke their mind, staying true to their character. The first to respond, Jin, showed outstanding confidence, going as far as to openly tell his superior how much of a fiasco he believed this exercise to be. He was able to push forward because, ultimately, most of what he said was true. His attitude left a lot to be desired but no one could fault him from reacting the way he did at that stage of his life, much less when his dossier anticipated this behavior. Ichigo, on the other hand, opted for the polar opposite, desperately begging for the blame to be placed upon her so her companion would be spared. Despite her clumsiness, her heart possessed a strength that was very rare and valuable. [break][break] Unfortunately, neither of them answered like a proper Shinobi would. Drowning in the chaos birthed by their own actions, they were unable to see the bigger picture. But one couldn't really fault them. They had just started walking their path and might had not yet defined their own ninja way. From where they stood, it might have even been natural for them to find Mai's behavior to be lacking for one who held such prestigious position. It was a real shame that at that point in time they could not hope to reach an understanding. [break][break] "... That's enough." When there were no more words to be said, the Aburame urged the green-haired Akimichi to straighten up. Then she would speak to the both of them, erasing any misconception they might have brought to the field. "I am not your Instructor. I am the Leader of Platoon Two and you respond to me. If you are unable to handle this level of misdirection, you are ill prepared to leave the village on any assignment, where no one will warn you whether you should be careful or not." [break][break] It was the cruel, harsh truth. No matter the number of valid arguments Jin or Ichigo could come up to condemn the artificer of this predicament, what she said acted as the final wall that not even their combined effort could bring down. It was rare to see the elite Kunoichi be this cold, and with underclassmen of all things, but if they were to work together, they needed to know what they were getting into. There were a minimum set of rules they needed to follow and they needed to understand that the line of work they had chosen was often not forgiving. [break][break] "With that said..." Mai took an even larger breath, releasing the tension in the nearby area with a discrete sigh. Then, she would do the unthinkable. "I apologize. A whim of mine has put you both in needless danger." [break][break] This time, it was her the one bowing down. A Jounin... Was bowing respectfully to two Genin... [break][break] "I never expected you to open the box." She confessed. "In doing so, you completely changed the nature of the exercise I had in mind, creating a scenario I did not expect to face. So, as you can see, this little klutz is responsible for this mess, as well." [break][break] Then, with a rather uncommon shaky voice, she moved on to a little plea that pointed the entire argument to the topic that was truly important. [break][break] "S-So... I would be g-grateful if you helped me find the missing butterflies before the K-kazekage finds out..." [break][break] Oh yeah, she had said they were poisonous, had she not?
"Oh my, it's making a fool of us." [break][break] Somewhat disappointed with the result of the Hidden Rain's combined efforts, Mai found herself softly biting her lower lip in frustration. Because of the 'illusion', she had used a jutsu meant for multiple enemies against less than a few, essentially wasting a portion of her chakra reserves. Granted, it was nothing major for a veteran like her, but it did hurt her pride a little bit. [break][break] Now, out of all the shinobi who were there representing her village, she was the least entitled to try something like 'Genjutsu Release'. There was, in fact, barely enough time to pull it off successfully. However, after that, she would be undoubtedly struck by the beast who was targeting her specifically. Moreover, with no solid proof pointing towards a 'trigger' in particular, going that route might offer no more than a glimpse at what was going on. To be able to cast such a large scale technique, though, it was equally if not more impressive than calling forth an actual horde. [break][break] "Hmm, aren't you quite the bold one? Well, I guess I should be thanking you in a way." [break][break] Though the words came right as Anotsu's exploding kunai would connect with the head of the rhino, the words were directed at the animal and not towards her crafty companion. The reason for it was rather simple: Mai had sent a large part of her swarm away from her with her last attack, keeping only a small portion for herself. By charging towards her, the horned beast was bringing back the weapon to its owner, much like a dog was told to fetch a thrown ball! [break][break] It was a shame some would get undoubtedly killed off by the explosion, fact that the girl would use much letter on in an attempt to have leverage over the Uchiha Jounin... [break][break] Whatever the result of the initial offensive would be, the resulting dust cloud would give her at least a second of cover, which was all she really needed to jump out of the way. Oh, but it wasn't an ordinary jump, no. Bugs would take advantage of her small and light frame and boost her movement with their own flight. To add, Mai would have thrown something in the immediate path of the rhino. She didn't pack explosive tags, light bombs or any flashy equipment like that. That said, as a medic, she carried something that could turn out to be a tad more dangerous: Poisoned Makibishi spikes. If this was anything like an ordinary rhino, well, one of its weak spots had to be the sole of its paw. [break][break] The paralyzing toxin would never be enough to kill, much less something of that weight and size, but it should aid in slowing it down. If one adds the number of bugs climbing on its back, desperate to suck its energy, it mixed well into an exhaustion-guaranteed package. [break][break]
