Haku! (IO)

The intimidation technique seemed to work as the blacksmith would spill the information that they needed. "Aye, this one is indeed mine but seems my mark has been removed.  So in that regard, I have no ties to the person that bought this particular tool.  He is a monk that lives in the village, I don't know nor care about his religious practices, but I never knew he intended to steal from a customer of mine..." Miyamoto and Tsume were getting closer to that but they both still needed the name of the man, which Miya made quite clear. Thankfully, no further intimidation was needed for that information. His name was Isshin. The Chokyoshi didn't know the name, he had never heard of it before. But based on Miyamoto's body language, he knew something. Him storming off gave him that hint. "Thank you, sir" Tsume thanked the man for chasing the boy down, letting the Smith return to his work. "What's wrong? Do you know Isshin?" Tsume asked his sensei, grabbing his shoulder so that he would yield and communicate with his student.   

WC: 183
TWC: 1734

"Isshin was someone that taught me how to use some techniques, a former queensmen during the time of the last queen. I fought him and his monks as a part of my training to become Chuunin. Once I figured out how flawed and dangerous of a man he was I turned from his teachings. That was not good enough for him as he tried and succeeded in goading me into yet another needless fight, but I thought I had killed him so yes when I was told that he is still alive. I needed a moment to process it, forgive me for leaving you back there." Miyamoto said with a sigh as he stood there for a moment thinking about his time training with Isshin and all that he showed him. The only thing that stuck out to him as to where Haku might be held along with his old master would have to be a storage house where they often kept weapons and things monks should never have.

"I know where Haku is Tsume...we are about to do something that could possibly ignite the powderkeg that is the village tensions with shinobi and the general public. I know that they won't be moving Haku probably for another twenty-four hours so that way heat from the kidnapping can go down, but let's meet at my place tonight. Bring only your weapons and be sure to cover your face. Do not bring your headband...are we clear?" Miyamoto explained everything with a cold face, his mind on the matter had been made. He was going with or without Tsume.

WC:270/1,910

Miyamoto explained Isshin to him. "Isshin was someone that taught me how to use some techniques, a former queensmen during the time of the last queen..." Queensmen? He's powerful. Tsume thought as Miya continued.  "...Once I figured out how flawed and dangerous of a man he was I turned from his teachings. That was not good enough for him as he tried and succeeded in goading me into yet another needless fight, but I thought I had killed him so yes when I was told that he is still alive..." Tsume nodded, understanding everything. He was right about Isshin being very personal.

Now for the mission, Miyamoto explained that this was a very risky mission, war could be started if done this wrong. No pressure, right? Then he was told by Sensei to cover his face and bring only the necessary weapons. Tsume only had his katana and weapon pouch on at that time so he kept it on. As for the face, instead of covering it up and being suspicious with a mask, he thought he could just use transformation jutsu. He looked around the market and gathered a bunch of male's face physical into his imagination to create a persona. He looked at Miyamoto. "Let's go bury the dead again," Tsume smirked confidently in getting his friend back and killing Isshin for his friends suffering. The Chokyoshi body flickered away to then later to meet up at Miyamoto's house like he stated.

Tsume arrived at Miya's, looking completely different. He now had long blonde hair and tired looking eyes. If Miyamoto was there, he would tell him that he was indeed Tsume. But if he beat Miyamoto at the house, then he would wait for his arrival. 

WC: 289
TWC: 2023

Miyamoto knew that with Tsume walking away he would have to get a few things straight before the operation tonight. As he arrived home he went to his upstairs bedroom and saw the cube on his dresser. The manipulation fabric he purchased when the previous kage finally relinquished his designs, it would do the trick he needed. With a sigh, Miyamoto undressed, his hands shaking as if he were freezing cold. He looked at his clothes on the bed along with his weapons pouch, ninjato, and kanabo as if they were old friends. Taking the cube and focusing his chakra on it he would feel the fabric react quickly as it turned into a specially formed fitted bodysuit with pouches and a sling for his kanabo already placed on the back. His face was now covered and only his eyes shown as the fabric turned to a midnight black. Looking at the mirror in his room he would feel cold about his decision, Isshin taught him so much, and also tried to mold him into something he was not. The fact he slipped from death's grasp the last time they thought was as if his father was looking down and setting up this challenge. Today though he would make sure to finally pass it.

"May the gods watch over me and Tsume, give us the strength to finally defeat the past and forge a new path to the future." He prayed for the first time in a long time as he waited while the sun finally fell behind the horizon.
"I guess it is time..." Miyamoto said as he willed the fabric to in case his face once more as he slid his ninjato and kanabo in their respective areas. He would walk out to see the transformed Tsume, a quick bow and Miyamoto would say no more words as he would begin to run towards the storage house that they were heading to.

It did not take long to arrive as they stood across the road in the shadows looking at a warehouse structure with two actual guards at the front door looking like actual militia from Hoshi. Miyamoto knew that the guards were most likely on the payroll so his mind was clear with what they were about to do. He looked to Tsume and made a quick movement to the two of them giving the motion to move up. Miyamoto acted first with a body flicker technique as he pulled his kanabo with a swift and solid motion as he struck each of them in such a quick succession it appeared as though he never broke free of the body flicker technique. The strikes were quick to knock the two guards on their ass before Miyamoto brought down the end of his weapon down on the chest of each of them. The sickening crunch would prove that Miyamoto did not want to waste any time or wait for anyone to possibly alert anyone else. Looking at Tsume he would move to grab one of the guards and hide the body as he began to drag one of the guards beside the house.

WC: 525/2,435

The time was neigh. Miyamoto arrived at the meeting place. Tsume was already transformed and waiting for his arrival. They spoke no words, but that wasn't necessary, they were both ninja and no words were the best way to communicate on a sneak attack. The sensei took lead.

The passage of time was quick, they stood across the street from their targets keep. The guards didn't look difficult, but Tsume learned that appearances don't mean anything in battle. Miyamoto motioned for a forward attack. Once again, he took lead with a body flicker leading to a single strike to both the guards. Both were killed if sever pressure to the chest, making a gross crunch. Damn, really serious about this. I guess I should be too, my best friend's life is on the line. That thought made Tsume wake up his mind. The Chokyoshi body flickered over to the location as well. Miya hid one body, Tsume took care of the other. 

Now the front guards were dealt with, it was time to go exploring. But he couldn't just walk right in, there might be more guards that could set alarms. Tsume looked around the house but could see no other entrances. The Chokyoshi then looked up at the roof, a perfect entrance, especially for someone of a clan of birds. He jumped up only to grab the edge of the house to peer over to see if there was anything. Nothing. Tsume pulled himself up the roof and quietly landed. He looked down at Miyamoto and motioned for him to join him up on the roof. The roof was like the others, a bit slanted on both sides. There were vents that lead into the building. Of course, they were sealed off so that only cool air could enter the building. That's when Tsume took out his katana silently and infused it with wind chakra and cut off the lid. Nothing looked damage until Tsume just lifted off the lid and placed it down quietly. He looked to Miyamoto for further instructions. 

WC: 343
TWC: 2366

Miyamoto watched as Tsume did his part before disappearing, Miyamoto stashed the body of the guard before crossing the arms of the man and closing his eyes. He was still respectful of those he had to take care of personally even if he did not agree with them. It was not long however until Tsume notified him that he was on the roof of the building. Miyamoto breathed deeply before quickly moving and leaping between building walls till he arrived at the top of the sloped area. He knew that they could not attack head on, but it was still a long shot to try and sneak in from the top. As Tsume sliced a section of a pipe leading as a vent into the building Miyamoto nodded before grabbing a Kunai and an exploding tag as he prepared for the assault. After he was done he moved towards Tsume and spoke to him in a hushed tone as he also used the Mind Eye of the Kagura to spy inside of the top room, finding that people were indeed inside, but no signatures similar to Tsume were inside the room. That is when he finally spoke.

"Once I drop this and it goes boom we will have limited time, most likely the entrance is on ground level. Once the candle is lit though," Miyamoto started making a very lame metaphorical joke "We need to be quick to find any sort of weird entrance to any sort of secret room. My guess is that the dealings go on underground and this is just a bunkhouse above ground." Miyamoto finished as he looked at Tsume.

If Tsume agreed to the plan Miyamoto would act as he would infuse his chakra into the tag before throwing it down the vent. The sound of surprise would quickly fill their ears before the room shattering "BOOM" would shake the area. Miyamoto would then pull his Kanabo out as he felt the roof kind of cave, before giving it a smack to make it give way completely sending them into a burning room below. Inside people were running to try and get away from the fire, others tried to put out the fire as a group of three saw the pair drop down.

It was now showtime, and Tsume and Miyamoto were center stage

WC:390/2,825

Now to the second part of the sneak attack/ rescue. Miyamoto explained once he got on the roof that they only had a limited amount of time till the bomb explodes. After the explosion, using the bomb as confusion and an entrance maker, they look for the secret passage that most likely lead to the basement. Tsume nodded to Miya, signally that he understood. Miya would then drop the bomb and after a short while, it would explode. Tsume slipped in before the roof collapsed under them. 

Once he landed away from the debris, Tsume took out his katana and started looking around. The first thing he saw was a case that held some boxes. The case was big enough to maybe hide a secret door. Tsume tested his theory by cutting down the case until it showed the bare wall that it hid. There was nothing there though, so that theory went down the drain. He turned around to keep analyzing the place for any other entrance possibilities. A piece of the ceiling that crumbled down hit a part of the metal floor. The sound that came from the impact of the piece made it sound hollow. So Tsume moved the piece and started sliding on the floor with a chakra infused blade. Sure enough, it was a small passageway. It seemed to fit only one person at a time. Tsume called to Miya. "I found something!" Tsume looked down the whole he had created. "They probably put Hakucho somewhere high down there, or else Hakucho will get sick." The Chokyoshi continued saying. "I'll look for him, you find that Isshin asshole." After that, Tsume jumped down the hole. 

WC:280
TWC: 2646

Miyamoto watched Tsume do his work as he was fluid and moved with purpose, checking areas as Miyamoto moved with the same purpose, though not immediately the same goal. As he pulled his Kanabo from the body of a fresh corpse he heard Tsume call out saying he was going to enter an underground entrance. That is when Miyamoto watched as Isshin and a group of monks appeared as the house became a raging fireball, in the distance a piercing ringing of a bell could be heard to indicate that fire suppression unit would soon be on the way.

"Don't worry about Isshin, he has come to us, we don't have much time...find your friend and let us get out of here before the fire unit arrives," Miyamoto said as the men that arrived with Isshin, a total of four people, surrounded him with weapons drawn. His eyes quickly scanned as all of them wielded some wicked looking blades, armed with clothing that allowed them to be able to breathe in the fire.
"So...the student finally figures out the master is still alive and has returned to finish the job he could not before," Isshin said as he stood before Miyamoto. With a smile, Miyamoto held the Kanabo in his right hand before grinning, though not seen under the fabric that formed around his face he then spoke as if to greet and say farewell to the one that taught him about the harsh world of the shinobi.
"You should have stayed dead...you messed up when you tried to mess with my team, I will end all that you have built here monk..." Miyamoto said as the following events would take place inside the burning building while Tsume would be exploring the underground.

All except for Isshin rushed the Chuunin with death in their eyes. Miyamoto blocked the first two, before dodging the last with a quick jump up and over them so that they were all in front of him once more. As they began their second assault, Miyamoto would move to make the Rock Section Cane as he fought them with two weapons, one of natural rock, and the other with his Kanabo. The parry and movements of the monks and Miyamoto seemed to match evenly as if they were taught the exact same regiment without regard of their personal safety. As one would go to pierce Miyamoto, he would nimbly dodge while throwing the Rock Section Cane at his attacker with full force as he would watch it smash against the monk causing him to fall into the blaze surrounding them. The monk screamed out in pain as he tore at his clothes trying to free himself, eventually settling for death by a quick self-inflicted stab to the heart as the fire could not be contained.

The remaining two wasted no time in working against Miyamoto as Isshin just stood there and watched as if it were all going according to plan. The smoke that filled the building was becoming so thick that even his fabric was having a hard time filtering it. As the battle only took a few seconds so far it felt like it had become hours as the strain was apparent to Miyamoto as he had been inhaling the smoke for some time now, but a resolve to see this through made him stay. As the two monks launched into another flurry of attacks Miyamoto began by smacking the first monk in the chest with his arm just as the second monk managed to cut Miyamoto along his ribcage. It was shallow, but the pain caused Miyamoto to wince and launch himself away.
"Fuck..." Miyamoto said under his breath accompanied by a snarl that almost sounded inhuman to the child himself. With a quick smash on the floor, Miyamoto slammed his Kanabo down as he quickly performed the hand signs needed for the Demon Lantern technique as Isshin's eyes grew wide with a smile very wide across his face. Just exactly was he planning, Miyamoto wondered.

As the Demon Lantern technique went off Miyamoto grabbed the Kanabo before giving them a wave as they all charged him, including Isshin. The resulting explosion caused even Miyamoto's vision to black out as the whole upper building itself was gone in an instant. A loud crash rang out as Miyamoto fell through the underground passage and into the underground as his body smoked, but where was Isshin.

WC:740/3,565

"Don't worry about Isshin, he has come to us, we don't have much time...find your friend and let us get out of here before the fire unit arrives," Miyamoto explained to Tsume before the Chokyoshi went down the passageway. Once his feet touched the ground, he started looking around the underground storage unit. There were boxes everywhere. "Haku?!" He called out. "Haku?! Haku?! Haku?!" Tsume called out three more times. Nothing. He started to climb a mountain of boxes, there were at least three. At the top of the mountain of boxes, which almost touched the roof of the building, there was a cage. He took off the cloth that covered the cage and saw Hakucho resting inside, his chest still moving with every inhale and exhale he made. Tsume sighed in relief. Hakucho was asleep, most likely because of the drug used on him by the monks. 

As Tsume was climbing back down with the cage they had Haku in, he heard the sounds of fighting. Weapons clashing and fists punching. Suddenly, an explosion. It rattled the underground facility. Luckily, nothing was collapsing. Another surprise came down the passageway, Miyamoto smoked. "Sensei?! Are you ok?"  Tsume asked helping him up. Tsume moved Miyamoto out of the way of the passageway drop from the falling debris. He laid him against some boxes for some support while he recovered from the explosion blast. Tsume put Hakucho down next to Miya. 

WC:239
TWC: 2885

Miyamoto was out for a good couple of minutes that he did not know about being dragged over to the boxes. Thankfully the manipulation fabric kept him from harm mostly. He was most likely suffering a concussion as the blasts he set off a few minutes prior leveled the warehouse they were under. It was quiet except for the sounds of crackling wood and movement of debris. There was nothing else that could be heard at the time. The smoke was going to begin filling the room quickly the need for escape was becoming even dire by the second.

The debris above the passageway soon began to move and fall down into the area as Miyamoto began to stir. After a few moments down came the man that Miyamoto had been fighting minutes ago. Isshin, dressed in now burned robes of a monk looking at the group as he still held that smile that he had given Miyamoto earlier.

"Now that I have you all right where I want you, it is now the time I finished what I began, making a shinobi turn heel and become an agent of death and despair so that the village may become pure once again" Isshin said as he began to walk towards Miyamoto, ignoring Tsume as he reached down to pick the boy up from the ground.

WC:215/3,780