The hour passed. All too quick.
The damiyo's estate wasn't directly smack dab in the center of the village, rather it was situated about ten miles outside. Ten miles wasn't anything for a shinobi. They cleared the distance entering the city with a purpose. The first thing everyone took note of was just how busy it was.
There were people everywhere. Nobody paid them any mind, but were smart enough to get out of their way as they made their way towards the meeting hall. They had weapons and looked scary, their expressions were hard and one would say frightening. Many were thinking both.
They had never seen these people before. Uchiha. Domou. Shinobi in general were things of legend. Like the Samurai. They were feared and revered tales of their conflicts and abilities had been passed down since time began.
Not all the civilians were this knowledgeable and some only took these tales with a grain of salt and laughed it off, but there was one thing they could all agree on silently. Clear the way.
This was bolstered by the fact that Madara had his gunbai slung to his back, his sickle locked on his side, four swords were secured under Mikito's obi, five under Souji's, and Izuna had seven-four secured on his waist, two on his back, and a tanto resting on the back of his hip. Their distinctive clothes the Domou wearing blue and purple haoris crest stitched on the sleeves and entirety of the back.
And, the Uchiha wearing blue, black, and purple high collared shirts crest stitched on their upper back if possible bolstered it even more.
The damiyo said it would be crowded, but Madara wasn't expecting to be like this. He could hardly hear himself think, and there was so many people lining and packing these streets. It was close to ridiculous. No it was ridiculous "How much farther are we from the meeting hall?" Madara asked, annoyance steeping into his tone.
"It's close." Mikito replied.
That was great news. He wouldn't need to shove his way through for very long then. As they approached the meeting hall he kneaded some chakra-just a small amount, stretching his senses outwards and calming himself. Strange... He noted mentally, it was faint almost unrecognizable had his sensory skills not have been as acute and sensitive as they were he would've missed it completely.
Did they place a seal somewhere to suppress their chakra levels? It's one of the few things that makes any sense. Madara paused in his thought.
Mikito opened the door to the meeting hall, and with no delay they entered happy to get out of the clutter that they were currently enveloped in.
The meeting hall was quite spacious. There were sections of wooden pillars that supported the entire thing, it was barely decorated and had clean matted flooring. Two windows were sanctioned at the front just seven inches away from the door, giving them all a clear view of the outside and the crowds of people that were still starting to line the streets in even more abundance.
Madara and Mikito took a seat on the mats at the head of the table, Izuna and Souji took a seat next to them on respective sides, Isami, Shin, and Isamu followed, and then Hikaku, and then everyone else took their seats, many opted to sit around and behind them on the other mats provided. It gave them a better view and they could hear all the same-in total they had about thirty seven-twenty people from Mikito's squad and seventeen from Madara's. In this era a unit such as this was considered advantageous.
The hall could fit at least two hundred and have an extra twenty or so feet of space to give. Not the most grand of places but definitely spacious.
"Okay, you two have been here more than I have." Madara turned his focus onto Mikito and Souji, curious. "Just what the hell is going on?"
"It's the summer festival." Souji replied. He didn't want to get into the whole mystique this event was supposed to have in the village, but he wasn't one to halfass anything and that included answering a question.
"There is a yearly event here, a serious of festivals you could say that has a parade and the works. It starts with the early spring festival and ends with the late autumn festival. In total it's a stretch of about six months. The summer festival is today everyone will be out to celebrate it, the early summer festival was two weeks ago followed by the early morning festival which was a couple of days ago. We weren't here for the late night summer festival."
"I see..." Madara shook his head slightly. The saying was true. You learn something new everyday. Any reason to throw a celebration I suppose..."
Souji nodded.
"Sounds interesting. A whole lot festivals going on in such a small place." Izuna chuckled softly.
The streets were lined with people, merchants were showing off their stock, and people were buying just the same, there was a sense of excitement in the air. To the oblivious. If only these people were aware of the danger they were in. Deep within the cluster of people and celebration, Mitsuki pushed her way through a gathering crowd at a nearby tavern.
She wasn't sure why they all decided to pile on by the dozens when she went there but it happened, and she just needed to improvise. She scowled at someone who bumped into her shoulder, almost knocking her meal to the ground. Before she slapped the skin from his cheek she hurried her way back to a small stand, waving at Misaka.
Misaka decided to stay in her spot while Mitsuki went out to get some grub as she called it. "You want a bite?" Mitsuki shoved the multiple hand critter on the stick in Misaka's face.
"Cuttlefish?" Misaka spotted the two tentacles and eight arms before anything else. It was like a squid and octopus just not as long or massive, or aggressive. But, that also meant it would sit heavy on the stomach, and in their current situation she couldn't have anything weighing her down, and she was never one to stuff her face before a mission. She raised one hand and eyebrow gesturing it away. "You sure can stuff your face before a mission. You can enjoy yourself, cuttlefish sits heavy on the stomach."
"Suit yourself." Mitsuki shrugged lazily, sitting down next to her and with no hesitation tore into her meal. ""I'm getting energy for the mission." She swallowed slowly, looking at Misaka who kept her focus around them trying to spot anyone who looked out of place. "What do you think?"
"Hm?"
"What do you think?"
"Oh, of the Uchiha? Is that what you mean?" Misaka asked not taking her eyes from her task. "Or is there a particular one you're asking me about?" Misaka turned giving Mitsuki a critical stare. "Is there something to this?"
"Something to pass the time." Mitsuki reasoned.
"We can talk about something else." Misaka suggested. Skating around the topic completely. Some things were better kept private. "We can talk about Kotetsu's swords instead or Masamune's swords, Kanenobu's swords, Muramasa's swords, or there's Sadamune's swords as well."
"Swords? Seriously!? Come on, don't be so modest and reserved!" Mitsuki punched her shoulder softly, chuckling when Misaka just took a deep breath exhaling slowly.
"I recall them being our comrades." Misaka stated very dryly. Guess Kotetsus wasn't an option anymore. "And, even if I do find one of them attractive what place does that have now?"
"Well..." Mitsuki sighed. "Like I said pass the time..." It didn't have a place now, but knowing Serizawa he would start to push for a marriage. It was commonplace to marry in order to solidify an alliance especially between clans. "I guess it doesn't have a place for the now." She admitted lamely. She was always exuberant and enthusiastic, she may have matured as she aged but some things would never change. Misaka was the total opposite of her, reserved, quiet, and very modest.
Msaka sighed. She could talk about it a little. "Well..." Mitsuki whirled on Misaka, would she really indulge her? Misaka just shook her head, seeing the excitement in Mitsuki's expression and eyes.
"There was one that I seen when I first went into the estate, I don't know what his name is though." Misaka gave a lazy shrug crossing her right leg over the left, though she smiled ever so slightly. The man was very handsome. "Please, don't make such a fuss over it." She looked at Mitsuki almost pleading with her.
"Fine, fine." Mitsuki agreed begrudgingly. She wanted to hear details and more details. Did Misaka want to jump in the sack with this man? "But, you have to tell me what happens." Mitsuki stated firmly, there was no way she was going to let this go, not by a long shot. Misaka gave a small nod though she kept her focus on her hands.
Mitsuki swore she was blushing ever so slightly. She was about to make a comment to see if Misaka was flustered or just deep in thought and if she were the latter it'd be all too sweet, however... Before she could she spotted a man with a mess of dark hair and narrow green eyes forcing his way into and through the crowds of people with at least twenty or so men flanking him.
"Shit!" Mitsuki cursed, noticing Misaka's eyes were trained on the same exact spot her own were.
"Tomoyuki..." Misaka muttered, standing up from her seat without any hesitation and made her way into the crowd. Mitsuki took hasty steps to catch up, still munching on her cuttlefish as she did so. The two women quickened their steps, Misaka was about five foot seven while Mitsuki was about five foot nine so they had good height to see, but there were so many people.
Misaka kept track of the messy dark hair of Tomoyuki's shoving her way through hordes of people with Mitsuki trailing quickly behind her, but the father they moved the more people seemed to get in the way, there were lines and lines of people packing every which way. "Mitsuki, can you see them anywhere?" Misaka asked going on her tip toes to peer over several people, but couldn't spot Tomoyuki.
"Sure as hell can't." Mitsuki responded, taking the last bite of her cuttlefish and tossing the stick down, and began to jump to get a better view. Her hair bouncing with every leap. "Nope, and if it's possible there's even more people here than where we were before." As she said this, she landed on her feet from her most recent jump and shoved a drunken man before he could fall into her, ignoring his grunts and moans she turned her focus forward.
"Damn it! There's too many people..."
"You're kind of stating the obvious here." Misaka said a bit redundantly. It was visible there were a lot of people where they currently were, and just by looks it appeared there were much more in this area. I better tell Souji and the others, they should be at the meeting hall right about now. She thought, narrowing her eyes slightly as she judged their current location. So, they're heading north it seems. "Mitsuki, let's go."
"Took the words right out of my mouth." It took them much longer to get to the meeting hall than they thought and definitely wanted it to take. The crowds of people grew bigger and just all around got worse, it's not like many were being polite and Mitsuki was about to slap the skin off someone's cheek if they bumped into her or smacked her ass one more time.
Thankfully nobody did it again, Misaka cleared a path for the two of them to walk through, and Mitsuki kept pace with her not wanting to get swallowed by the ocean around them. "Meeting hall, at last." Mitsuki sighed in relief about fifth teen minutes later, spotting the meeting hall, light illuminating the inside of it, she and Misaka shared a look before clearing the distance in just a matter of seconds. Misaka stepped through the door, one side was open, and Mitsuki followed after her taking a seat by the window.
"Misaka." Souji said taking his eyes off of the map laying out the entire village, and training his eyes fully onto her. They flicked to Mitsuki for a second.
"We spotted Tomoyuki with about twenty of his men flanking him." Misaka informed them, taking a seat just a few feet from Mikito. "They were heading north it seemed from our current location." She furrowed her brows, if Tomoyuki had twenty of his men flanking him on both sides just how many were here in the village at this very moment. One hundred? Two thousand? It wasn't a good situation by any stretch, she could only estimate he had roughly 300 if not a little more altogether in total not counting the twenty who were flanking him.
"How many men do you estimate he has backing him?" Souji asked, cutting right to the point. Candy coating or beating around the bush was never his thing.
"I want to say 300..." Misaka said, letting the thought linger for a moment. "I know for certain it's more than eighty. Mikito-sama, is the damiyo assisting us with his army?"
"No, he's afraid to fight them." Mikito replied, bluntly so. "We'll just do it ourselves."
"If they're heading north then that means..." Madara narrowed his eyes, turning them back onto the map. The Hanji and Zanjo roads are parallel and are the main routes of transportation in the village. The river runs between them. Six inns run along the Zanjo road followed by twelve taverns. Ten inns run along the Hanji road followed by twenty taverns...
He narrowed his eyes mulling it over in his mind. "The Zanjo road has one of the largest inns in this village so we'll search along that as one group." He nodded to himself, turning his eyes onto Mikito. She stared at him, unmoving, but she slowly nodded. He could tell she wanted to object, wanted to say split into two groups, but there was no objection. This was sound. But, would she object?
"Sounds like a plan to me." Mikito nodded in agreement. Madara kept his expression neutral though he was shocked a great deal. He didn't want to argue with her about the course of action, but that challenge was gone. "If we're going up against up to 300 people, we won't split, there is strength in numbers." She and Madara shared a look, one acceptance the other a bit smug.
"If we're going to make our move we should head out now." Mitsuki spoke up with a bit of urgency, eyes focused outside for a few seconds before she flicked them back to her current spot. "It's starting to get really packed, we're going to have to push and shove our way through these crowds and lines on people if we want to make any headway."
And, this was clearly true even if one didn't directly look or glance towards the windows or front opening they could hear the patter of feet crunching into the ground, the laughter echoing all through the village, and the most obvious the movement of people.
"It appears to be that way." Isami spoke up, his tone deep and booming, but somehow mellow. "Otherwise we may be forced to split into smaller groups to cover more ground quicker."
Both Mikito and Souji nodded. Isami was very powerful and knowledgeable if he talked they listened keenly.
"Before we depart." Izuna spoke up suddenly, eyes scanning the room for another body. He didn't spot it so he took his next approach and called out. "Kagami-kun."
"Izuna-sama!" A very soft and immature voice lacking any sort of bass or depth quickly spoke up. Everyone gathered glanced around, some confused while others simply searching for the owner of the voice. Slowly, a boy about eight to ten years old with short and messy onyx black hair, black trousers, black sandals, and a deep blue high collared shirt made his way forward taking a seat within Izuna's line of vision, it just so happened Madara, Souji, and Mikito could both see him and he found himself wavering just slightly at the intense and stony gaze of Souji.
He swallowed softly, bowing his head. "What do you need me to do?"
"You'll be coming with us..." Izuna paused noticing a sliver of emotion flash across Kagami's face. Maybe it was uncertainty or it was fear, it could be a hint of both or neither. But it alarmed Izuna, and that's all that mattered. He turned his focus onto Mikito who just looked at Kagami with curiosity and ever observant. "Mikito, you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on Kagami-kun here would you?"
"Izuna-" Madara started.
"I don't mind." Mikito replied before Madara could say his piece. "I won't let anything happen to you, Kagami-kun." She said staring directly into his eyes. holding back a giggle as he began to scratch the top of his head and looked at the floor. She had to wonder if Madara was so... So shy and reserved like Hikaku and Kagami. He was passionate without a doubt, she felt that passion when they sparred, but was he shy like Kagami? All Uchiha seemed to have a deeper side of them, something that was kept away unless one was lucky enough to get close enough.
"I'll do my best not to be a burden, Mikito-sama." Kagami bowed his head slightly. He was very polite.
Such a polite boy. She opened her mouth about to respond, but closed it instead. No need to fluster him anymore than what he was, it was clear he was nervous looking at her. She couldn't feel hurt or insulted, she could have that effect on people if they didn't know her personally, were a lifelong friend, family member.
She sighed softly turning her gaze from the young Kagami onto everyone gathered. "I'll be frank with everyone. I'm not sure what we're up against, how many shinobi we'll be encountering. Watch each other's backs and flanks at all times, we'll need to fight as a single mind so let's stay together!"
Madara nodded. He had to say he was impressed, for a bleeding heart she could layout a plan very well, and could rally those around her. He seen his own men perk up just slightly as she spoke their eyes focused. "We're going up against anywhere from eighty to three hundred men. Whatever you don't disperse." He added a heavy emphasis on the last part. He didn't doubt his own skills or Mikito's but Tomoyuki could try to divide and conquer.
Being inside of an inn that strategy would go far in the span of three seconds.
There was a chorus of nods and soft agreements. Izuna just smirked slightly, itching to go and fight. Souji retained his stony expression and slowly stood to his feet. "To battle we go!"
Everyone in the room had the same thought whether it was woman, man, or child they all knew what was coming.
The footfalls echoed from the cold ground to the sky above, it started out fast and abundant and only grew in tempo and abundance. Unlike before people got the hell out of their way as if their life depended on it. One could argue their life did depend on it. Madara was fast. Maybe saying fast was too redundant or could be considered insulting. He remembered that man's voice, that day he cut ties with his friend.
The one person who thought the same as he. The one person who he talked to for hours about absolutely nothing. Who he sparred with. The shock in his father's voice was enough to make him smirk, yes he was very fast. But, Mikito was no slouch when it came to speed and she easily kept pace with him despite her weighted clothing keeping her down, plus her armor. Souji and Izuna sped behind them just a few inches behind them followed by Shin, Hikaku, Mitsuki, and the others.
The streets were illuminated by the glowing lanterns. The gentle fire brewing within was hypnotizing. It was also clear and cut clean. It lead the way through every alley, every street, every path, even in the shadier areas were all filled with lanterns. The Hanji road was coming into view, anticipation and trepidation rippling through them.
Fear and shock ran through the people as they hastily got out of the way, some men pulled their women aside before hand as to not be ran over or shoved aside.
Madara wasn't going to scoff at this however, it was good they got out of the way. I still feel dulled, more than before... He frowned increasing his speed as they approached an inn. Imitsu-ya to be exact.
"We are the Uchiha and Domou! We are searching every inn and tavern tonight, and we are here to search!" Madara shouted, pushing the door open with vigor as he stepped inside followed in stride by Mikito.
"Yaahhh!" Izuna's eyes snapped forward, spotting two naked boys not even five years old sprinting down the front hallway followed closely by what had to be the mother or owner of the inn. "Well, I think this place is clear." Izuna commented, turning on his heel and heading out. They continued their search with no reprieve sprinting several yards away and coming onto Shiko.
Izuna took the lead this time, pushing the door open and stepping inside with a serious expression eyes blazing red. "We are the Uchiha and Domou! We are here to search!" Luckily running naked children wasn't what greeted them, but instead an aged man with dark hair and shadowy eyes.
"Uchiha and Domou?" The man asked, eyes widening just a bit. "Shinobi?"
"That's right." Izuna nodded, glancing around the interior. His eyes narrowing to slits.
"I'd never wish to cross paths with the Uchiha or Domou." The man said, his voice was steady, but it was clear he was a bit shaken up. "You can search to your heart's content, but I promise you I am not harboring any shinobi here." He always lived within these walls-of the village. But, he was not naive or oblivious to the world, of the warring states era. Many people would leave and come back injured or never return at all. It was kill or be killed out there. Running into either of these two clans meant certain death. There was no question.
"I'll be the judge of that." Madara said tersely nodding towards Hikaku, Isami, and Misaka. "Search the upstairs." He instructed. Misaka and Isami looked at Mikito for confirmation-Madara wasn't their leader nor did they need to listen to him, seeing her small nod on confirmation they nodded in turn running forward and up the stairs. "Aito, Mitsuki, Isamu search the bottom floor." Aito nodded his long black hair brushing over his cheeks and shoulders he sped forward followed by Mitsuki and Isamu. It took a total of five minutes to search the entire inn, and just as the old man promised there were no shinobi here.
They left as quickly as they came in, speeding down the road heading towards Shikoku-ya, Souji opted to shove the door open this time. "We are the Uchiha and Domou! We are here to search!" He shouted, glancing around for a moment hearing the patter of feet, he spotted a woman hurrying down the stairs a very delightful smile plastered on her face as she went on her knees giving a bow.
"Welcome! Do you wish to stay here tonight?" She asked, her smile never faltering as she looked at Souji, then Shin who took a seat, and then everyone else who was gathered. There was no fear or trepidation in her voice or posture, a polar opposite of the aged man from just a couple of minutes ago. It didn't take a scholar to realize she wasn't harboring any shinobi.
"This isn't the place." Hiro said, sounding rather redundant.
"Let's go." Souji turned taking his leave followed by everyone else. It wouldn't be as simple as running to the next inn to search since the road dipped off into a turn and flitted out with houses. There was no discussion, no talking, no playful banter, not even a single mutter was uttered from any of them, even Izuna who usually tried to lighten the mood was silent.
The dip wasn't very big, but the turn was wide, houses were lined up each side stretching for about ten meters before more inns and taverns came into view.
Madara took a deep breath, this was the last inn they'd be searching. He knew they had to be here. "Next is Masion-ya." He stated in a low tone, turning to look at Mikito who gave a firm nod her own expression hardening as she suppressed any and all emotions. They'd only be a hindrance and emotions had no place in something like this.
It was her or them and she wasn't going to die anytime soon. Everyone seemed to hasten their steps once they were away from the houses, some clasping the hilts of their swords while others took a breath preparing for the battle. Mitsuki stared at the kanjis on the sign just a few feet from the door reading Masion-ya, she frowned about to push the door open, but took off into a blinding sprint slamming herself into a nearby alleyway against a wall peering through the corner just behind Madara and Mikito who stared with deadly intent.
"The place is patrolled." Izuna said with narrowed eyes, gesturing up towards the roof and the sides of the inn. On the roof were three people wearing ragged clothing, appearing as simple workers who barely made a living. Six people were on the ground all looked like farmers or merchants but there was no mistaking who they really were.
"Three on the roof and six on the ground Three on the left and three on the right. As soon as we attack they'll alert the rest." This put them in a slight bind, if they spotted them, or if they revealed themselves too soon Tomoyuki could throw his outrageous plan into overdrive.
"We're not hiding out here all night." Madara grunted, eye glinting as he stared at the shinobi in disguise. "We'll need to take care of the three on the roof, they're most likely the main watch out. The six on the ground will need to be taken out at the same time before they can get a running start."
"I'll take the three on the roof." Hiro volunteered. "Aito-san and Isami-san, handle the six."
Aito and Isami looked at each other for a moment, the thought they would be working together was settling in. For so long they just did it alone, their respective clans tended to be reclusive and didn't forge much alliances. It was still a bit to take in that they were indeed comrades in arms and would be working together.
"I'll take the three on the left." Aito stated confidently.
"I'll take the right." Isami stated.
Mikito and Madara stepped out of the way, pressing themselves against the wall and by extension each other, this was really a tight squeeze. Hiro, Isami, and Aito dashed from their cover vanishing into the crowds of people completely. Thankfully Madara and Mikito weren't pressed against each other and quickly spaced themselves out the best they could.
Chaos. It was what he thrived in. What shinobi thrived in. Darkness and the shadows, amidst chaos. Isami was taught this as a small boy, through experience he knew it was truth and effective. He halted quickly, ducking behind a barrel filled with what contents he wasn't sure but from the smell something was either fermenting or rotting, he as just a few feet away from the three guards he could see the hilt of their kodachis hidden beneath their shirts.
He waited, keeping his muscles ready and mind sharp, one man was approaching. He crouched deeper, right hand clasping the hilt of his sword ready to draw it at a nanosecond's notice.
One lazy look was all Hiro needed, before the man could as much scream Hiro was already in his face, flying through the splatter of blood. He pressed his attack, he needed to be quick.
The second man actually charged one fist screaming forward, Hiro wasted no time, catching him by the wrist and twisted viciously breaking the arm at the elbow joint, he slammed his head into his face knocking him out cold. The last man was quick enough to attack. Hiro already had the movement scouted and parried the blow striking the side of the man's neck with the edge of his hand. He leaned their bodies up against the wall, keeping them in a darker part, they'd be out for a long time if they were lucky enough to be alive.
Isami and Aito took care of the six guards in the span of thirty seconds both with quick and brutal efficiency especially on Aito's part. Hiro silently scaled up the inn using a small ledge leading up to a platform in that time. Unlike his two comrades he didn't have anything to hide behind, aside from staying in the shadows. Which was a shinobi's best tactic. His breathing was short and controlled not even making a sound, and his body was wound up like a spring, one hand gripping his hilt.
One guard turned. Another ran to the edge of the roof to look at something. Isami dashed towards the closest one just a few steps away from him, he had his sword run through him before the man could react. He didn't pause in his attack, turning on a dime and lunged forward, tearing through the second's man neck and sending him off the roof where Aito caught him, continuing with his movement Isami swayed passed a kick stabbing through the man's sternum and pulled sharply, setting the two bodies down.
"They've done it." Mikito informed, spotting Hiro give a small wave from above. "But, that barrier or seal is still active.
"We'll manage." Madara said to her giving her a very smug and arrogant smirk that he was sure got her blood boiling.
"Let's go." Madara told them dashing from his cover at the same time, the others dashed a second later, the crowds of people dispersed as confusion and shock erupted around them. Madara would have smirked at their stupid expressions normally, but he wasn't going to this time, he ignored them completely keeping his eyes zoned on Maison-ya.
"We know they're here so to hell with knocking." Madara said as they reached the door, lifting one leg up and sent it crashing forward into the doors splintering them to pieces and taking a part of the wall out in the process. He growled, spotting a short man hurrying up the stairs as a shorter woman ran towards them. "He's going to warn them!"
"What do you want?" Tomoyuki all but snarled at the short man who dared to open the door at this time. "Better have a reason for this and a good one."
"The Uchiha and Domou here!" He informed them. He knew those two crests without a doubt.
"Get the armor and put out the lights." Tomoyuki ordered them, pulling the short man into the room before he could object. "Put this on." Tomoyuki handed him some dark chest armor, not as quickly as the others the short man put the armor on looking completely rattled. "You're going to die either way. Whether I kill you, the Uchiha and Domou do, or your damiyo does when he discovers you've been harboring us." Tomoyuki stated bluntly, a small smirk crossing his face as he watched the man's eyes widen before narrowing. He had nothing to lose.
He would die either way, and he'd sooner be met with a swift death by a shinobi's hands than the slow and agonizing death he'd have under the damiyo and his personal guard.
"Don't hesitate for even a second!" Aoi told them all. "We have the numbers advantage."
"Now let the fun start." Ryoma chuckled. They were more than ready. "I am more than ready to kill me some Uchiha and Domou."
"I'm with you on that!" Many chorused in agreement.
This would be a great night.
What is this? Misaka thought spotting a large cloth or blanket of some sort hanging on the wall. It didn't match the color of the wall, and it didn't enhance the overall appearance of the inn itself. She didn't bother asking why it was there, instead she wandered over with careful steps naturally curious of what it could be, or what could be behind it.
"Let's see..." She mused to herself, clasping the cloth tightly and in one smooth motion tore it down. Her eyes nearly bulged from her skull as she stared at hundreds of swords, kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags all lined up against the wall.
"You guys!" She said with some urgency, moving to the side so they could see.
"Where's the master of the house?" Souji demanded with a harsh tone storming towards the short woman with a frightening look in his eyes. "Where is the master!?" Again no answer. While he glared at the defiant woman Izuna, Isamu, Misaka, Mitsuki, Shin, and Hikaku began to take down the supply of weapons tying them up and in the case of the explosive tags extremely careful not to make any jerky movements.
"I have a good guess." Madara said, his tone a very low and threatening growl. "Upstairs.
Mikito just glared at the weapons, almost in disbelief that Tomoyuki and his band of followers would actually follow through on this, it was beyond ridiculous. "Let's get up there in any case." Mikito said softly, hearing Madara grunt softly and feel his body near hers she paused in her speech, but continued her steps. Slow and steady steps. If she made one wrong move it'd be over.
If she acted in haste it'd be over. If anyone of them acted hasty it'd all be over. These thoughts kept Mikito's and everyone's for that matter stepping slow and precise as they moved farther up the stairs Madara and Souji close behind her at her side, while Mitsuki, Misaka, Isamu, Shin, and Izuna stayed close behind along with the rest of their unit swords drawn and at the ready.
They're over there... Mikito thought silently, turning her gaze onto a door at the far right of the second floor just where it branches into another two hallways. One curving off to the left while the other stretched and curved towards the right. It looked like a normal door. It was a normal door. It was bigger than the average door, but this was one of the more expensive rooms to rent out.
It even smelled of the same wood the others door were made of, but she knew it wasn't just a normal door. What lied behind there wasn't normal. Even slower than their ascent they advanced towards the door Mikito staying a few inches in front, keeping her steps measured and as silent as she could. Trepidation clawed at her chest, she could feel the tension. She was certain everyone could at this point.
Mikito stopped in front of the door, slowly extending her arms forward and clasping it on both sides, looking at her brother first and then Madara both giving her firm nods. She took a soft breath and snapped both sliding doors open as far as they could go. They greeted by dozens of glimmering swords and murderous glares. There was a very momentary pause, nobody spoke, nobody moved, nobody blinked, it as almost as if they were frozen.
"Kill them all!" Tomoyuki screamed raising his sword menacingly, followed by dozens more, and everything from there just exploded. It was like a flash. The room was torn apart, Tomoyuki and at least twenty others made a charge right for them, the echoing of blades clashing, the irate and powerful screams, they all paled to the thunder of the battle raging.
Orders were orders. Hikaku received his. He'd follow through on it to the T. His Sharingan pulsed with glowing red chakra, his tomoes spinning wildly anticipating and reading dozens of movements. Opening. He wasn't going to trade blades or punches, this would be quick and deliberate. He spun passed the stab aimed for his liver, scything his blade deep into the man's back scoring through until he connected with bone. Instinct propelled him, two swords and five kunai tore through the wall he just stood against, the weapons sunk several feet deep into the tough wood.
He was like a shadow illuminated in mystic red. His movements were direct and swift, every step, every counter, every parry, the splatter of blood, it thrilled him. The battle had imploded, Tomoyuki was the first to charge, at least ten more men followed him followed by another twenty. He was quick to react his Sharingan already reading through their movements, and spotting small flaws in their guard.
Press. Press. He'd keep up his attack. Madara grunted, deflecting the tip of a sword with his gunbai, in the same motion swiping his terrifying sickle in a close arc scything through the blade and the man's sternum. The familiar scent. Exhilaration propelled him the scent growing stronger with each movement, every block, and every stroke the smell only grew stronger. This would bring fame to the Uchiha-more fame than they already had, they'd be feared even more, his pride swelled.
This village wouldn't be burned down. She'd assure that. With her own hands. Mikito grunted, shifting her weight to the side and swiveling, pushing two men who were pushing on her off to the side.
CRASH! The walls were durable, but with their enhanced strength and physical prowess even these study walls would tear like tissue paper. She took no breath, no pause, she sped towards the two, swinging up and to her left seeing a pitiful hand go flying across the room. "Get her!" Shouted Aoi making a mad dash towards her with dozens of others.
Mikito flourished across the floor swiveling through torn walls and destroyed rooms, spread them out, spread them thin. She turned, thrusting her arm forward and was meant with little resistance. Blood bubbled from the man's mouth like a constricted river, he strained staggering back, she spun to her right scything her sword up and through a man's shoulder, and finished with a sharp kick to his leg snapping it at the shin sending him flipping down the stairs. She couldn't let them burn the village. Wouldn't allow them to.
It was natural some would try to escape. You'd always have those who lacked pluck and resolve. For Izuna it was disgusting to witness, running away like cowards instead of staying to fight. He'd send them on their way, his blade tore through bone he pressed his assault kicking the now one arm man back and into his back up sending them sprawling across the ground and flying up a small wooden platform crashing into a wall.
He pressed off of his back foot, lunging up the wooden platform and smacked aside one blade, he twisted and turned deflecting more and more, he had enough slamming the sword down on the blunt side of one man's and turned slamming the back of his fist across his face sending him flying into the floor.
"Ngghh." He grunted turning with four men and pushed off at the same time, slamming the tip of his elbow in one's chest.
Mitsuki and Misaka stuck together the best they could. The battle imploded, it was raging, continuing to rage. The room where they first were, well she wasn't sure what condition it was in or if it was even there still. It didn't matter. Mitsuki was quick and agile complimenting her swift and direct approach to fighting.
Misaka swiveled dodging passed stabs and slashes aimed to cut her trachea and pierce her armor and by extension her heart, she wasn't going to slam blade on blade, there were far too many of them to do something so foolish. Two, and three; she flourished forward ducking under a wild swing and turning up slashing a head clean off from shoulders blood spurted out the stub of the neck as the body thudded.
Two more people attacked her, forcing her back and away as more swarmed around her, she scythed through one's wrist pushing him aside, split second later slicing the back of another man's wrist forcing him to drop his sword. Mitsuki parried one slash, ducking under another, and stepping back from a stab, her sword already straight and pointed she deflected the next attack stabbing into the man's neck and shifted sharply splintering bone.
With her teeth clenched and eyes narrowed she sprung from the floor evading a stab and took the opening slashing off the man's arm at the bicep, no pause, she turned slamming her foot into his side crumbling his armor and sending him flying across the room into the third man.
"Misaka!" She screamed a warning, dashing forward when she seen her comrade dodge passed the flying duo letting them crash into the swarm around her.
Isamu sped down the hall only glancing behind him long enough to count his pursuers. Twenty! He banked sharply flying through a devastated room the twenty men still chasing after him, gaining, gaining, gaining...
Isamu turned on a dime viciously thrusting his arm forward, cleaving through one man's neck he gurgled eyes rolling behind his head, Isamu wasted no time, there was no wasted motion, another parry and he watched two arms fly straight away from him and off to the side, he clenched his teeth smashing his foot square against the man's chest launching him back. He crashed into three men head on the impact booming through the room carrying them back and away.
Distance. Distance. Isamu dashed forward, scything his blade in a wide arc, catching one man across the cheek slicing through his mouth and tearing his blade through his left jaw, in the same motion he dashed back and away letting them give chase. He slammed his back foot into the floor, blocking a blade and shifted sharply, slicing the man's hands off at the wrists.
I got thirteen or fifth teen more to go. He thought, yanking his blade out from one man's chest, raising it quickly and smacked aside another attack .
Mikito didn't want the village to be burned down. She wouldn't allow it. For her this was about protecting. For Madara this was about pride. For Souji this was just another mission. He agreed with his sister, burning the village was foolish and by all means shouldn't happen, the innocent people not to mention children that would be swept in the chaos.
There was so much death already, so many young dying. It wasn't uncommon. His sensory prowess was still dulled, there was no doubt about it at this point, just as Madara thought and said there was some sort of barrier keeping their chakra sensory prowess dulled. Objective one was to find whoever was keeping this barrier up. Shin flanked him, they were both thinking the same.
Souji pressed forward tearing through anyone who got in his way, never trading shots or blades, but instead dodging and unleashing lethal strokes taking off heads and arms just the same.
Maison-ya was so huge, it had to be at least four floors judging from the screaming and pounding going on above him and below as well as outside that sounded about right. He sidestepped a group of fleeing people heads trained on the ground trying to avoid seeing as much of this bloodshed as possible.
Shin pressed forward a few inches, colliding with three men, blade on blade, pushing them back and away from him he felled the first with a simple horizontal slash splitting through the soft skin at the front of the neck, the next two attacked with vigor screaming in fury, teeth grit and feet digging into the floor Shin held them off, grunting loud enough for himself to hear as six more bodies collided with him.
It was Souji's turn to attack. He sped in Shin's direction, slamming his blade into his and pushing forward.
The collision was enough to break the stalemate, the eight attackers went flying and skidding back, Souji was already upon two of them flicking both of his wrists, his blade almost vanishing for a moment as it tore through the first man's neck lobbing his head upward, he shifted in the same motion bringing his blade back sharply cutting through the second man's cheek tearing through part of his mouth and slicing into the top of his neck.
"Shin!" Souji shouted, not sparing a glance behind. No time. He grunted slamming his blade against another glaring at the man who pushed against him, their eyes met.
Souji grunted pushing up, and slammed his foot into the man's chest sending him flying back into his cohorts. Shin sped forward thrusting his arm forward in rapid but broken staccato tearing through two man's neck before they could react and severing another man's arm before his sword could cleave through his neck. For every six I kill another twenty are popping up! Shin narrowed his eyes, staring down his approaching attackers.
Izuna dashed through a narrow corridor finding himself on the run and inside of the inn. He smirked, turning suddenly and swiped forward slashing a man's head clear from his shoulders, parry, parry, block, evade! Izuna hard pressed back into a sprint he lead them through the destroyed rooms where battles were still raging, split them up, divide their strength, he turned suddenly again swiping low instead of high, and tore through his attacker's leg ripping right through the tendons at the knee joint, he heaved slamming his knee into the armor.
BRRUUMM! The armor screamed, crying and echoing as the impact traveled all the way through it launching the man off of his feet and into the charging horde knocking them into and through a wooden railing. "They're coming through the floorboards!" Izuna heard Mitsuki's shout from the below him, and wasted no time dashing right down into the fray.
Kagami knew he would have to find who was keeping this barrier up. It had to be a very powerful barrier so there were more than three people feeding into it. He eliminated anyone who stood in his way or attacked him, he wouldn't let himself be killed now. Definitely not now.
Once this barrier was broken their sensory would be back to even, even his own was blurred. For now the Shaningu held the advantage. Considering more than three people are feeding into it, they won't be in any small rooms... Fourth and third floors are out of the question, that just leaves... He frowned, realizing something and with careful steps made his way to his hunch, his destination, he tensed eyes flashing bright red with three tomoe, he let his kunai fly from his hand, the projectile streaked through the air, screaming straight into the man's throat, his body dropped with a loud thud.
He didn't spare another glance and pressed onward, his five conventional senses flaring his vision only intensified by the his Sharingan. He passed the bathrooms. He passed the storage area. It's got to be around here somewhere... He narrowed his eyes, sprinting forward and banked sharply just avoiding the sword that was flying towards him.
Here it is! He grasped the kunai in his hands tightly, he was supposed to be with Mikito, he shouldn't have ran off, but he had a good idea where they were hiding. While she was fighting along with the others this gave him his opening.
He kicked the door down leading to the basement, ten pairs of anger hate filled eyes flashed onto him. "The brat's an Uchiha! Kill the son of a bitch and gouge his eyes out from his skull!" The leader of the group a tall tan skinned, and rather muscular man with wild dark brown hair ordered.
"But, Arata-san! The barrier it'll be..."
"Do it!" Arata roared, running straight for Kagami. "Don't let him escape!" He snapped lunging for Kagami. The young boy sped away from the wild grab, turning just in time to block a kick, but the impact carried him directly back towards the stair set.
Survive.
Kagami gasped, blood flying from his mouth as his back smashed straight into the wall. He ignored the pain, using the brief pause to slash one man across the neck. I'm in a bad spot! Kagami's mind reeled and he dashed towards the door, he couldn't let them close him in! He turned on instinct, swiping in a tight arc in front of him, blood splattering from the foot long gash he tore into his attacker's arm. He pressed and pressed, speeding around them and even weaving around their attacks, but it was eight to one and Arata wasn't weak by any means.
He flipped away from one attack, launching his kunai, it struck dead center into a man's neck. "You're not half bad kid!" Arata's voice boomed all around him, followed by a loud slam from above. "You weren't fast enough!" He smirked at the slight shock in Kagami's expression burying a fist into his stomach flooring him.
Kagami clenched his teeth, charging head first into Arata taking them both down to the ground, he raised his arm kuani glinting in bloodthirsty madness, a man grabbed his arm before he could deliver the blow hauling him up and twisting his arm. Kagami bit back the cry of pain that wanted to escape so badly, he swung his head back, slamming it into his holder's face.
It was enough to let him go. Kagami scrambled, scything his kunai into a man's face, facial hair and blood mixed flying all over the place. "You're tenacious. But, nobody is here to help you." Arata slammed his fist into Kagami's jaw the impact was jarring and knocked him off of his feet. "Now hurry up and get those eyes!"
Kagami was already on the move before he could even think. No way was he going to get his eyes gouged out. He gasped audibly arms darting for his stomach, but they were snatched a second later. He clenched his teeth, grimacing as Arata's fingers pushed right against his eye. "What is that?" Arata questioned angrily, the incessant cracking and pounding getting to him, it sounded like it was getting closer. "Take care of it!" He demanded, turning his focus back onto Kagami. He smirked, pressing his fingers again.
The cracking sound was deafening, Kagami strained elbowing Arata in the groin and scrambling back as debris and wreckage slammed into the exact spot where he had been, shaking his bones and the entire room to its foundation. He spotted two shadows dispersing from the wreckage dashing straight for the door and barreling it open leaving it to slam horribly.
He coughed, moving his hand over his mouth and nose. The dust and little bits of wood and mats was rising in the air like a thin carpet. He dared, dared to glance up, eyes gaping at what appeared to be a hole in the ceiling, if he was seeing it right. "Kagami." It was Aito. He stepped into Kagami's line of vision giving him a hard look for a long moment, Kagami gathered his wits standing up to his feet, wiping a small streak of blood that was on his chin with his hand, staring at it for a second.
"Aito-san." Kagami greeted.
Aito's expression softened, he made his way up the stairs gesturing for Kagami to follow. "It wasn't too wise trying to fight Arata." Aito told Kagami, kicking the door to splinters and stepping into the hallway. "Now they've lost their advantage however." Aito smirked.
It was a flood. Very much like a flood. Madara rushed to the side, stretching his senses out and smirked feeling the bright flares at the back of his mind. The barrier was broken! He halted his stride, turning quickly, rattling his gunbai off of Aoi's skull the impact jarring him forcing him to stagger back. He kept himself steady and still as Aoi finally recovered his eyes going wide for just a second and a vicious snarl tore loose from the bottom of his throat.
"Damn it, Arata!" Aoi turned his venomous glare onto Madara.
"No matter! Do it now!" He suddenly shouted, Madara leapt straight up into the air narrowly avoiding six spears, the fifth one skimming and catching onto the sleeve of his shirt tearing it off.
Madara flared his chakra, sweeping viciously across the air with his gunbai and sickle turning on a tight axis, three down and three to go, he landed in the warm splatter of blood, scything his sickle forward piercing Aoi's shoulder, and shifted slamming him into the three remaining men watching them fly across the length of the room, one going completely through a wall as if it weren't even there.
Aoi bounced painfully, grunting as his head slammed into a bank of wood splitting the back of it open, he raised his arm letting out a hiss of agony while blood spurted from the gaping wound in his shoulder, drenching his shirt and armor in the sticky red liquid. Madara approached him, one eye boring into both of Aoi's, but the man sneered in malice showing no signs of fear.
"You Uchiha brat! Who the hell do you think you are, you filthy pig!?" Aoi snarled, grasping his wound as tightly as he could. "Do you really think you've won!?"
"We had the element of surprise, your forces are crumbling feel for yourself." Madara said bluntly, taking slow steps towards him his sickle gleaming through the darkness as poisonous as his glowing red eyes, the sharply curved blade still covered and dripping with blood from before, there was a visible crack near the outside on the dull side of the blade having blocked a berserk attack from Aoi that forced him back.
Madara stopped hovering over Aoi, tomoes spinning furiously. "I am Uchiha Madara, leader of the Uchiha clan!" His deep voice boomed.
"Your executioner." His tone was low, his sickle was swiping, Aoi clenched his teeth moving forward in one last suicide attack, his body exploding in blood and bits of bones as the sickle carved through him warping and bending the blade further.
He glanced at his blood drenched blade, scowling once and darted to the side homing in on Izuna.
Mikito removed her blade from a man's chest, blood splattering from the wound right under his ribcage. "The barrier is dropped..." She noted, turning to her left and spotting Hiro and Isami whacking through their attackers Izuna and Mitsuki just below them their battles raging outside right at the front of the inn. Naturally a crowd was drawn at the violent spectacle, but stayed at a 'safe' distance.
Misaka was just a few meters away knocking away three men at a time her sword splotted with blood, and were those chips? "Souji! Shin! Isamu!" She shouted, turning sharply and swinging her left hand hand out with the saya clasped tightly, the steel rang off of the man's head cracking his skull and slamming him into the floor. Shit! Just how many are there!?
He kept cutting and cutting. Anyone who stood in his way he whacked down, he dashed throughout the inn leading them on the chase, spreading them out over just a couple of feet, the end result was the same his sword connected and tore into flesh slicing and cleaving through it.
The numbers weren't in his favor at times he was taking one ten or twenty men at one time, even with Shin, Hikaku, and Isamu fighting in tandem with him. Sister! He narrowed his eyes, he heard the loud shout from downstairs, he pressed on his current target shoving the blade to the side, shoving his attacker back and cutting so fiercely it tore him down from his collarbone to his left hip, he snapped his head to the side. "Hikaku! I'm going to leave this side to you!"
"I got it!" Hikaku shouted.
"Shin! Isamu!" Souji darted towards the stairs, skimming down the first three before his feet connected. Shin grunted, slamming his head into his attacker's nose kicking him back and turning on his heel dashing towards the stairs, Isamu was already hurrying down them one hand clasping the railing tightly as he descended.
Shin stepped down the stairs as fast as he could, not bothering to wipe the fine sheen of sweat dripping down his forehead. He slammed his feet into the floor, hastily blocking two attackers' swords at the same time, vaguely he noticed the tatami mats were completely shredded as if someone popped up from under them and Souji was shoving and slashing through at least thirty men.
Shin tore free of the stalemate nailing one attacker with a kick to the leg snapping it at the knee joint, he stepped back avoiding a slash from the second narrowly, and slammed his fist into his side feeling the bones buckle and break from the force, he followed through pushing the man off of his feet and into the nearest wall.
There was no end to it. The battle was fierce and vicious, cries and clangs blended in with thunderous booms and pounding of bodies thudding and flying. It was a chaotic chorus that seemed to wish to go on forever.
Izuna deflected one sword, ducking under another and skidded back, springing off of his left foot he shot forward, closing their gap and stabbed through his chest, swiveling he struck out with his fist slamming it right into the other man's mouth busting at least ten of his teeth and forcing another three down his throat.
"Brother!" He shouted spotting the wild hair that was Madara's his hair the only visible thing as he tore through the ranks of the Shaningu his sickle now visibly worn. "Your sickle!"
"Don't worry about it!" Madara shouted, slamming his foot into a man's chest breaking his ribs on contact.
"I swear I feel like I'm at square one!" Izuna snapped, blocking a measured slash and returned his own felling the attacker within an instant, he pressed forward lunging forward with a stab and pushed the blade through the man's chest cavity driving him into a wooden wall leaving him to fall and bleed out, he couldn't pause or retract, so he swiveled sword still out, just deflecting another stroke.
His eyes widened. The tip of his sword was cut off! He grunted, jamming his dulled tip into his neck watching his body hit the ground with a loud and wet thud.
"Looks like their numbers are thinning." Madara stated, looking at the bodies cluttering the ground around him, his brother, and some of their and Mikito's unit. "There's only about thirty of them left give or take." The brothers traded a look, smirking at each other, who would be the first to kill the last thirty? They dashed into the inn competing with each other.
Each cut was thought of as a point, neither missed, nor did they hesitate. Madara spotted Mikito sprinting up a flight of half destroyed stairs her, the railing was dislodged and four bodies hung over it threatening to slam the whole thing into the floor.
"Mikito!" He shouted, growling when she kept on running sparing him a fleeting glance.
"Izuna take care of things here!" He ordered, Izuna gave a nod bursting off to the side to assist Aito and Hiro.
He was bleeding, hurting... The stench of blood curdled in his stomach tasting like vile on the back of his throat and on his tongue. Every movement was painful, his body screamed but he ignored the scream, stabbing his blade into the ground he heaved himself up onto one knee. A sharp hiss of breath escaping him, Tomoyuki turned his focus around him.
The room. What was left of it anyway was covered in streaks and puddles of blood the substance literally etched into the shredded floor and walls around him, there was pieces of skin large and small some pieces having entire sections of facial hair lying on the ground spotting the eerie red place. Hands, fingers, legs, arms, and feet littered the floor around him and outside, bodies were in the mix some severed nearly in two others barely recognizable.
There was also several heads and bone fragments marring the floors and he spotted four within a sidelong glance, the image forcing a snarl to boom from the back of his throat.
But, Takehito-san has managed to escape... He smirked at that. The Domou and Uchiha are truly bloodthirsty, but even one will manage to escape it sooner or later...
"It's over..." Mikito's voice tore him out of his thoughts. Tomoyuki narrowed his eyes to slits, clenching his blood stained teeth, and heaved with all of his strength forcing himself to stay in a standing position. "Your outrageous scheme has failed, your rabble army is all but wiped out..." She raised her right arm, sword still in hand, and swiped it sharply to her side ridding it off the blood that was staining it.
"It's over. Like I said before." She pointed the gleaming steel at him, eyes narrowed. Her hoari was spotted with blood on the shoulders, on the sleeves, of the course the front and back, even her hakama had the red liquid spotting them.
"Is that what you think?" Tomoyuki asked, inclining his chin.
"It's a fact. We know." Madara stated, his deep voice cutting and low as he stepped a few inches to the side of Mikito glaring at Tomoyuki. "Your entire force has been decimated, not a single man is alive and if they are they will be dealt with very soon." He hardened his expression. "You have been defeated despite your overwhelming numbers, do you have any last words?"
"Arrogant brats!" Tomoyuki spat venomously. "You have no idea what is coming!" He flared what little chakra he had left, charging towards the two, bearing his sword down with hatred and malice. He wanted to cut them open, wanted to hear their flesh tear and split wide open!
Madara sidestepped the wild attack, tearing his sickle straight through Tomoyuki's torso pushing it out as he completed the motion leaving his body to spin and splatter blood on the wall as it crashed into the mats breaking them completely. He shared a glance with Mikito, red eyes burning into her bright, brown eyes, and her eyes smoldered into his, they were both covered in blood, their hair was messy mixed with sweat and exhilaration...
It was unspoken between them, they gazed into the other's eyes, so deeply, Madara's tomoe slowly stopped their furious rotating and her gazed deeper into her eyes. She looked at him so defiantly, but she looked as if she could see through him, as if she knew him, her smoldering bright eyes. Madara didn't voice his thoughts out loud.
They weren't appropriate at all in this scenario or any other. But he knew now, this defiant and powerful woman.
"Madara." Mikito was staring at him. It seemed he didn't know what she was thinking about. Good. She glanced around for a short moment, spreading her senses around them.
Madara nodded, a smirk crossing his face.
