The Ring of Fire {Private,IO}

Nodding along with Taios' explanation of the clone jutsu, Lucian found that the information Taios was offering differed very little from the books he had read previously. Sure, he knew that the clone jutsu did not cast a shadow or disturb the ground it walked on. That was common knowledge. However, there was quite a difference between knowing the theory of how something should look and actually seeing it in person. So, in seeing it in person Lucian quickly accessed the pros and cons of the jutsu making a quick mental list:

Pros: Minimal chakra requirement, Quick deployment, and Can be used to trick even the most skilled with a small timing window
Cons: Not a solid clone, A skilled opponent will see the signs if given time, and Has only one use

With this short list in his head, the Nazar returned to the task at hand, which was harder than it looked. He had to maintain the surface walking technique and use the clone technique at the same time. A difficult task for him at this time? Yes. Impossible? No. Taking a deep breath the boy calmly formed the required hand seals in a slow, but steady chain. Forcing his chakra out to either side of him, Lucian visioned himself. One of the perks of being in Lucian's position was that he knew himself. He knew all of his imperfections and perfections, which contributed to his steady self image.

For a moment after he made the requite hand signs nothing happened. Then, about five seconds after the last hand seal was made and held the air on either side of Lucian shimmered until at last two clones stood on either side of him. Releasing the hand seal he had once held he crossed his arms across his chest prompting the copies to do the same. All in all a successful first effort. Naturally the cloning should be instant, but that would come in time.

"Alright, I think I have this down--"

Lucian cut himself off to glance over his shoulder at some rocky outcropping about forty meters away. He could not place it, but he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Dismissing this thought he returned his gaze to Taios and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"I think I am ready for the third jutsu."

Alas, Lucian had not trusted his instincts completely. Perhaps if he had then he would have investigated the rocky outcropping further. Behind the lava rock hid the tribe of cannibals waiting, no, stalking. Stalking their prey, two oblivious shinobi. They had not eaten in a good four days. Their mouths watered as they waited. They waited for the right moment, the time when both Lucian and Taios dropped their guard. it was then that they would strike and hopefully score a hefty meal for their tribe.

Watching as the boy made progress, the time delay wasn't as bad as it could have been. After all despite popular belief people didn't become masters of a jutsu merely on their first attempt, especially if they had not had the luxury of practice with it. Watching the boy look behind him and then speak of his intent to learn the final academy jutsu Taios allowed his eyes to watch the outcropping as well. This land was dangerous, more dangerous than most. A place were a rabid boar was among the least deadly things you could find.

Perhaps his own existance was proof of the danger. Having tore through several of the more docile villages, Taios had inadvertently opened up the ability for the less organzied cannibal tribes to gain a stronger footing. Their guerrilla tactics thriving in chaos as opposed to if they had more firm resistance. While they were no threat to the village at large, one should never underestimate the power of numbers vs the unaware.

However as nothing else moved, and the idea of a fight was far from unpleasant Taios returned to the task at hand as opposed to the mishap that could be. "Very well, the final is the transformation. Stories are told of those who could hold it almost forever. It is the most basic of body changing and is like the other an illusion. If you are to use it, remember your chakra remains the same and unmasked should you truly be going for deceit make sure you can cover your base."

A simple hand seal and he seemed to shrink a bit, and he took on the form of his compatriot. This wasn't an ability he used often, as he preferred to be in his own skin. Yet all the same, it was necessary and he had used it to gain his initial headband. Watching Lucian he would wait for him to duplicate the task, and prove he could complete the exam without issue.

Even while they continued to practice, the tribe inched closerz. Though the two couldn't know it this was not the most savage of tribes but instead one of the more sophisticated. 4 of the 15 covered completely in ash crawled like lizards blending in to the dark lava rock. Making their way closer for the inevitable ambush. All the whole Taios was more concerned with telling how fit Lucian was than watching the area for attack.

A half smile was all Taios would get from Lucian as the larger man began to shrink. In a matter of moments the young shinobi was looking at a spitting image of himself. It was quite remarkable in all honesty. Squinting a bit and wrinkling his nose, Lucian tried to see if he could see through it. Much to his dismay, try as he might, he could not see any trace of Taios' hulking frame. Shame, he had been hoping to find a visual flaw apart from the same chakra signature as before. Naturally, Lucian could not sense chakra all that well yet, so he had no way of telling if someone were using a transformation jutsu. Quite annoying in the end as it left a huge hole in his defenses.

All the same, Lucian shrugged off his discomfort and made a single hand seal. He visualized each detail he could remember from Taios. The muscles, the beard, everything. Gifted with a particularly strong memory, Lucian recalled each detail with ease. The clones that once stood on either side of him dispersed into the wind as he focused his chakra on a new task. As his thoughts flowed he began to think of himself as a mirror: a mirror of his own mind. Though, instead of looking himself looking in a mirror it was Taios looking in a mirror. Lucian saw it all. He was becoming Taios.

For a while nothing happened. One second, two seconds, three seconds, four...then five. On the fifth painstaking second of waiting for something to happen Lucian began to grew an extra foot or so. Muscles became more defined and face became sculpted like that of marble. Standing across from Taios in the form of Lucian now stood Lucian in the form of Taios. Nothing was awry, Lucian had performed a perfect transformation jutsu in terms of details. However, much like the clone jutsu he would need to work on his snap chakra control. Sure he could build it up over time, but in battle one needed to be faster, much faster. Though, he could train that later. Bowing his head ever so slightly the Nazar expressed his thanks in a brisk tone.

"Thank you for the assistance Taios. I am in your debt."

As he rose from his bow a feral growl signaled the attack. Not just any old attack. The attack. The attack of the cannibals...

The growl, Taios immediately looked 90 degrees to the right of where the sound could be heard. He was not unfamiliar with the attacks of the cannibals. They scared easy, but returned in massive groups. If they had been this close and willing to attack he doubted very much that what was coming was it. As his eyes scanned the immediate area, the shaft of an arrow appeared sunk in his left shoulder. The arrow barely stuck inside his skin, unable to pierce deeply into his skin. Due in no small part to the influence of the beast and the mad man who had created him. His right hand came up pulling the arrow free and dropping it with a soft sound of wood hitting rock.

"Well, it seems you can practice your skills a bit earlier than expected." He said with a low growl. Despite this, his lips quivered into a half smile. The blood, that was all there was. When you stripped away everything else it was what made the day worth living. And he would see his eyes filled with red. "15, you get 3 I'll take the 12." With that he began walking forward. Another arrow aimed at his throat barely missed, or had his stride purposely taken him in the right direction to avoid. Either way, it was with at first a walk, and then a jog before breaking into a full sprint he would launch himself into the midst of the grouping. The hunting knife flashing from belt to hand in an instant. Thumb on the butt of the hilt and blade extending downward he would begin bringing it up with deadly accuracy.

The three he had mentioned would make there way towards Lucian. One with a makeshift bow of shoddy construction, a club, and one with steel. However Taios didn't pay his new friend much mind. After all, if he died here he really wasn't worth befriending anyway. The blades fear stroke went straight up, slicing straight through the chin of one of the assailants, all the way up and out the top of their head, sending a fountain of red into Taios' beard. Bringing the blade down as it hit the peak, he brought it home in the skull of the next closest....2 down 10 to go was his only thought.

Spinning his fist would meet the next, and using the knife he would maneuver the upright corpse to block an attempted skewer with a roughly made wooden spear. Dropping the knife and letting the body fall in the spear breaking it, his massive hands would drop the shoulders of the would be hunter bringing them skull to skill. The defeaning crack sounding, and blood coated the Jinn's face though it wasn't his own. Raising the man above his head, he'd bring his makeshift weapon crashing down on the next man who tried his luck, cracking his spine as the body hit the shoulders and brought both to the ground.

A sharp white hot pain flooded up his back as he turned. A sword stuck 3inches deep, reaching behind his back he pulled it free letting it hit the ground. A smile and then he dove forward into the remaining attackers. Weapons? He needed none while his fists still worked. Maneuvering at surprising speed for a man of his size, the untrained and disorganized tribe could do little to slow his movements. A landslide on the unprepared.

Meanwhile in the distance another 20 were making there way slowly but surely to their location. More heavily armed, this wasn't a scouting party, but the full strength of their hunting party. Their leader a particularly tall dark skinned man with teeth filed to a point. Hissing instructions as they moved closer, this would be a day Funka lost a nin, and they gained a full belly.

A guttural growl and a clarion whistle. One second Lucian was looking at Taios, the next second he was looking at Taios with an arrow stuck in him. Momentarily stunned, he watched in shock as the hulk of a man across from him pulled out the arrow with ease. It was as the arrow fell to the ground that Lucian glanced in the same direction Taios was looking. Much to his dismay he saw what his brain already told him was there: a band of cannibals. No, band was the wrong word for what he saw crawling towards him. Perhaps horde would be more fitting? Either way, band or horde, Lucian was shaken from his shock by the gruff words of Taios.

Maybe were the Nazar boy more experienced on the field of battle he would flash a wry smile and retort Taios’ words with something witty, however, this was not the case. Finding his body no longer rigid, Lucian watched in awe as Taios sprung towards the first wave of attackers with all the ferocity of a cornered wild animal. Normally in a situation such as this Lucian would run, he would avoid conflict. Alas, the current circumstances would not permit him to retreat as three of the savages moved ever closer. Taking a deep breath as the arrow Taios avoided plunked into the water near him, Lucian centered himself as he had done time and time again. Though unlike before he would actually be fighting for his life. No more spars. No more blunted weapons. No more surrender. Only kill or be killed.


Stepping back onto the land and towards the three denizens of the wastes, Lucian ran through what he was taught about combat. He knew the stances, but he had never used them in a real battle now was his chance.

Another shrill whistle and a sting.

The cannibal with the bow had fired another bolt, which just skimmed the boy’s right arm. However, Lucian had no time to even register the pain as the two melee warriors were coming at him at a fairly quick pace. Luckily they were staggered. The first savage to arrive at Lucian would be the club bearer followed by the one carrying what looked like a piece of scraped steel. All the while the archer crept ever closer looking for a shot between its berserker allies.

When the time came for battle Lucian did not think, he simply acted. The wooden club came down on track to Smash into Lucian’s right shoulder with terrifying force. In a single motion the Nazar boy feint to his left leaving nothing, but air in the way of the club as momentum carried the heavy strike through towards the ground. Meanwhile Lucian did not completely feint. Rather he planted his left foot and shot back towards the exposed right shoulder the blundering savage now left exposed. Bringing his right elbow down hard between the crux of the neck and the shoulder blade of the savage Lucian was surprised to feel the cannibal crumple beneath his blow.

Not having anytime to contemplate what he had just done, Lucian turned to the steel wielding maniac running towards him. One poorly aimed arrow also whizzed by, but he hardly noticed as the long steel piece was whirling towards him aiming to horizontally bisect Lucian’s head. Thinking fast Lucian executed an acrobatic move known in some worlds simply as “The Matrix”. As the makeshift sword flew right above his nose he continued through the motion he was in bringing his hands to ground and pushing off with them. In a fluid motion Lucian’s legs left the ground and sprung outwards kicking the hungry cannibal in the hips.

The aforementioned attack sent the sword bearer tumbling to the ground where as chance would have it he struck his head knocking him out cold. Chance would smile upon Lucian once more that day as the archer had run out of arrows and was now charging wantonly at Lucian who lay on the ground. Timing his movements with the charging savage, Lucian swept the poor creature's legs out from under him bringing them both to the ground. In a matter of seconds the savage was on top of Lucian gnashing his teeth in a hungry frenzy.

Wrestling about with the hunger crazed savage, the boy finally got the cannibal into a sleeper hold. Holding on for dear life he felt the would be assailant lose consciousness. When at last he held a limp body, Lucian allowed his body to relax as he got back to his feet.

He hadn't killed a single one, his conscience was still clean.

A bit dazed his heart jumped into his throat as he looked over at Taios about twenty-five meters away. Twenty more savages were bearing down on the hulk of a human being. Would this be the end of Taios? Lucian could only watch as he waited to see the outcome of what would, one way or another, turn out to be a bloody melee...

Turning he gave a backward glance toward his ally. He was pleased with what he saw as he had survived. Though he had killed the majority of his own brood by the time Lucian had finished he would take this as a sign of inexperience. In the distance however wouldn't allow much thought on the subject. 20 additional cannibals, more probably on the way. This was quickly becoming out of hand. As he watched the wounds on his body already began to close, a product of the sin cells flowing throughout his body. Thinking for a second, he contemplated the next best move.

Sighing, there was only one thing to do. He was pleased Lucian had survived but he doubted he would continue as well when the odds became this tipped. Raising his right foot he would bring it down hard, the ground cracking beneath the weight. For a second nothing seemed to happen, obviously the cannibals thought so as they continued to race forward. As they got closer the ground quaked and a volcano seemingly spring from nowhere tipped towards the rushing throng. The angle it was made caused the lava to spew away from the two men.

The screams would ignite the air just as the molten rock ignited the flesh of their enemies. Turning and with a quick couple steps he would be next to Lucian. Looking down he would notice the three where alive. In a similar motion to summoning the volcano, his boot would fall crushing the skull of the one closest. The mess sprayed across the rocks and onto Lucians legs and feet. "It's time to go. Best stick together. That won't hold them....not forever." It was true. To what they lacked in overt intelligence the savages made up for with tenacity which they held in spades.

"The village is to far away, do you have somewhere close?" It was true the village was to far in the open plane. They'd be sitting ducks, and easily overtaken. Taios loved the blood, both his own and the enemeies, but he was no fool. He knew the value of numbers vs strength. In that situation it didn't matter how amazing you where, eventually you would tire as the onslaught continued, fresh bodies always willing to take over for the dead. Watching Lucian he would wait for him to speak of where they could go.

Meanwhile the dark skinned cannibal leader what he's as so many of his scouting party burned alive. A powerful Funka nin perhaps. A quick click and chirp like sound and the remaineder of the forces halted. Signaling to move round the long way, they wouldn't give up the quary that easily.

Burning earth, burning earth mingled with the pungent odor of burning flesh, there was a smell he would never forget. Much to the young boy's surprise Taios was able to smash his foot into the ground with a dull thud. For a second Lucian thought that Taios was insane, which he still might be. However, the hulking man's sanity was restored temporarily as a few seconds after the stomp the ground ripped open and belched out a stream of what could only be lava. Lucian had seen lava time and time again in his life. He had been to countless funerals and watched as bodies were cast into the fiery abyss of a volcano. It was really quite impressive to Lucian that Taios had the ability to control lava in the way he did. Honestly he had never seen anyone control lava before, so Taios was indeed special in that sense. Then again Lucian had not met many people outside of his clan.

An awestruck Lucian was roused by a fast approaching Taios and the subsequent splash of hot blood up and down his legs. A bit shocked by the cruelty of the man's death Lucian nodded along with Taios unconsciously knowing that the man was correct. The pair of shinobi would only last so long against the ever expanding horde of cannibals. Shinobi were strong sure, but they were not miracle workers. Sooner or later they would be overrun and suffer a most gruesome death probably on a spit over a roaring fire.

Now...where to go...where to go. Lucian's mind stuttered as he racked his mind for the best place to go. The village itself was too far away. His clan's hidden compound was on the other-side of the advancing savages. Plus he did not really want to show up covered in blood. They couldn't stand and fight...where was there to go? Drawing a blank for a few seconds more he remained silent. Then after a few seconds it dawned upon him, yes. Yes, it would be the perfect place to lie low. A bit uncomfortable perhaps and dangerous, but it would do.

"A-alright, I know a place not too far from here. It might get a bit hot, but its better than being dead I suppose. Follow me."

For the last seventeen year the lava fields had been young Lucian's playground. He knew this place like the back of his hand. He was a bit disappointed that he had forgotten about the lava tubes that ran around the entire landscape. Though, as he took off across the water filled crater making skillful use of the water walking technique the idea became more and more clear in his head. It made sense really, the innate smell of the lava tubes would mask their own scent in case the cannibals were able to smell them and no one would dare enter the tubes in fear of them being active. Luckily Lucian knew which tubes went where. In the end they were the perfect hiding spots.

In a matter of minutes Lucian, hopefully with Taios close behind, would arrive at what looked like a cave that bored into the side of a volcano. Trusting his memory, Lucian stepped inside and walked a ways in until there was a sharp turn, which would serve to hide the pair of shinobi. As he walked into the tube the familiar heat of the volcano radiated around him. It was as if he were standing near a fire. Turning to Taios he spoke again in hushed tones.

"We should be safe here for now until they pass. Then we can probably make a break for it."

Nodding more to himself than Taios, Lucian fell silent. In the distance he could hear the crazed yelps of the cannibals as they searched for their prey echoing down the tube. The worst case scenario was that the cannibals would find them. Even then, the situation would not be too bad as Taios and Lucian could not be surrounded due to the nature of the lava tube itself. All the same Lucian mentally crossed his fingers in hopes of a clean escape.

Following his new ally, Taios worked to match his own stride with Lucians. Into the tunnels they fled the distant cries and yelps of those who would see them on a spike chatteringn in the air. Breathing heavy he drank in the familiar hear. Some loves the smell of rain, the site of green, but this was his Elysian Field. The hard rock, the sulphuric perfume, and the heat that could make the devil sweat. The boy announced their likely safety, though Taios couldn't help think it was more for the boys benefit than his own. In the right tunnels numbers mattered little. A well trained man was worth 50 untrained when allowed one on one fighting.

His breath slowing, and his wounds already healed, he leaned against he rock, burning against his skin he made no cry out. Lava, the heat, it held no dominion over his body. He remained silent for some time, until looking at the boy he decided to pose a question. Perhaps a philosophical one even, or was it merely personal preference. "If you could choose the manner of your death, hat would you pick?" An odd question but not removed from their current predicament. Even as he asked it the sound of foot on stone could be heard racing trying to find them. Yet now a calm was over Taios. He knew so little of the world, but he knew how to fight and how to bleed, and down here he was free to do both.

So little time for training, but perhaps if they made it out, then the boy certainly would be ready for any silly Genin exam. It would be a cake walk compared to this after all. He would also most likely need to put some of his skills to the test even if they did make a break for it. Some of his own most dangerous skills he had to hold back on otherwise he could accidentally kill the boy. Fighting next to a friend wasn't something he was used to.

Death, there was an oddly fitting topic for the two shinobi to discuss. Perhaps under normal circumstances talk of death would be avoided. However, all things considered, Lucian did not really mind talking about his own mortality. Hell, at the tender age of eight he had been exposed to the reality that one day he would die. Since then certain days he had partitioned out meditation time to contemplate his life and death. At first it had been about what to do with his life, but this line of thinking naturally progressed to how he wanted to die. Honestly? He did not want to die, but not dying was currently out of the question.

Awkwardly standing in the middle of the sauna like tube Lucian switched his stance ever so slightly shifting his weight onto his left foot. He then responded to Taios as honestly as he could, "Well, like any person, I'd rather not die. Though, seeing as you put me on the spot, I would prefer to die a peaceful death." Pausing for a second the boy furrowed his brow ever so slightly before continuing. "Perhaps in my sleep would be the best way to go....What about yourself?"

Nodding once to affirm his opinion, Lucian listened intently as a new frenzied round of yelps and cries echoed down the tube. Hoping for the best, the thought that the cannibals had found new prey crossed his mind. Naturally, he dismissed such a thought as he could not wish such a fate on anyone. Then again, cannibals had to eat like anyone else. The whole concept was quite troubling to the Nazar, but he tried to oust it from his mind. Glancing over at Taios he focused on the man and his inevitable response, which Lucian was already pretty sure involved some kind of violence.

"Not a very thrilling death. Not one I agree with, perhaps in time you will see farther." He words were a low growl so as not to bring in the cannibals. As he thought about his own death, the words came quickly. "I have already died once, and been reborn, my next death will be permanent and the ressurecter will come with me, that would be a fine way to go if you ask me." Nodding to affirm himself similar to how Lucoan had the sons of running feet finally began to slow.

"Let's go". He would say and move outwards and towards the exit. The steam vents giving the area a mist like quality of it weren't for the extreme heat. As they traveled down the tunnels the path split. The path to the left was open, and a light was somewhere off in the distance. Though impossible to know, a dead end leading to a lava flow or the sunlight offering salvation. The other path was all dark, but only for a moment. No less than 30 men began to step forward, calling and yelping pointing their weapons towards the two men. Licking his lips Taios took one stride forward. The tunnel was to narrow for them all to attack at once, this as what he needed, but not with Lucian here.

"Go now....don't stop, I'll meet you at crater. I want my boat hide after all." With that he took another step forward letting out his own war cry. His meaning would be clear to anyone, this was Lucians chance to escape while he held them off. If Lucian said anything in protest or attempted to stop him he would simply say, "this is not the day I die". And he would push Lucian towards the other tunnel.

Stepping forward, and only if Lucian was out of site Taios would unleash another roar, only this one did not sound like that of a man. "So Saragatanas, are you ready to finally play?" Bl the question would be to the air as the dark skinned chieftain stepped forward form the cannibals wielding two massive hook like blades. A deep a guttural voice within the mind of Taios answered with a chuckle, just as the mans skin exploded red and a demonic skull seemed to form over his own head. He had promised he'd let the demon out to play, this seemed as good a time as any.