The formerly lone tomoes orbited his pupils in a swirling sea of bloody iris, stirring a pool of hate, heralding the arrival of the second which faded onto the surface of his irises as the centripetal motion came to a halt. A pair of tomoe on each eye, haplessly bound to a cycle.
Shigure stood peering through the window of his bedroom located on the second floor at the rear side of the Uchiha mansion, looking down at the shifting expanse of greenery that was the garden. The moon hung centrepiece, spotlighting an approaching figure in the distance emerging from the grove. It was an uncharacteristically serene scene on account of the unseasonal snowfall pelting the Uchiha estate as if shooting stars, not discounting the jarring presence of the distant figure closing in. As they drew closer, his blurry visage resolved into a pallid complexion, crimson eyes with a distant gaze, and ashen neck-length hair crashing onto his shoulders with each stride.
Shigure pondered, Is he from the clan? I've never seen anyone with that appearance, but his eyes seem similar to ours.
The intrusion into the bounded field surrounding the estate alerted Sasuke, the head of the clan who bore many duties. One of which being the defence of the estate.
No sooner than he appeared did Sasuke's voice ride atop the wind, derailing Shigure's train of thought, "What are you doing on these grounds? This is Uchiha property." Sounds of escaping air punctuated the ashen-haired man's speech. "And... who... might... you... be?"
Skipping the preamble, Sasuke summoned the other members patrolling the estate with a hand gesture.
All Uchihas invoked their magic crests, a fan-shaped magic conduit inscribed on the back of their hands, spewing flames from their palms towards the intruder. It was customary for members of the Uchiha to have the clan's crest gradually inscribed onto their bodies from youth as their ability grew. Shigure looked at his partial crest which contained only basic spells, envying the elder clan members.
"I'll... grace... you... with my... name," before he did, he gripped the edges of his black fur-cloak swinging it in a sweeping motion as blue flame engulfed the entire garden, unveiling the regalia he wore beneath it. "Vlov." All, except Sasuke, froze.
Sasuke leapt backwards; his clothing sheathed in a thin layer of frost. He's not someone I can fight at close range. Vlov shuffled towards the frozen men with a feline grace, and, one by one, broke them into shards of ice with a mere flick of his wrist. Shigure's eyes widened as his hands shot up to his mouth to muffle the oncoming gasp. Meanwhile, to Vlov's rear in the dense grove, flickering orange lights were visible. The intensity of the lights grew as they drew closer. One's mind naturally would assume it was candlelight and what would emerge would be people.
However, what spawned from the trees were creatures. Things so offensive to the eyes it'd be remiss to describe them as anything other than hellspawn. They were blackened corpses whose stench curdled the air, and whose groans had equal potency to that of Vlov's gaze. As Vlov's familiars emerged, his shuffle hastened into a sprint towards the mansion, leading the charge.
Sasuke bit his lip, flicking his gaze between Vlov, his familiars, and the mansion. He brought an army with him? The dead are no issue, but Vlov. He alone is an existential threat.
His hand raised with the wrist left limp, leaving it hung back and ready to be slung. The crest glowed a hot red as the magic circuits struggled to process the sheer throughput of mana. Clouds swirled, barely containing the stray streaks of electricity lashing out. Swinging his hand forward, he uttered the incantation. "Now begone with the thunderclap."
In an instant, a hyperactive dense streak of lightning traced along the sky like a crooked line, thinning into a point before... Boom. Blinding white light engulfed the air alongside the sound of residual crackles.
That should've alerted the others at least, it doesn't look like I'll need to lure him in. He'll just walk right in since he's bold enough to launch an all-out offensive on us of all people.
Prior to the strike, Vlov's eyes bulged drawing an uncharacteristic expression which spelled lucidity. His hair stood on end but not out of fear. Rain fell into the sky, wilted grass stood tall. Generating lightning? That's absurd, unless... He's drawing it directly from the sky itself!
He withdrew a sword which was more like a cleaver and tossed it upwards with a guttural cry. It's most unexpected that I'd encounter an attack so powerful. But it was not difficult to nullify. The cleaver intercepted the lightning strike, conducting and dispersing the electricity before dropping to the ground with a molten glow. "...I'm impressed, you are most resourceful. Using the weather to draw forth a power of that magnitude. Unfortunately, you cannot surpass your limits as a human."
Vlov stepped forward, the range of his freezing reaching the mansion.
I can't reliably fight him from range or at close quarters without being frozen and mobbed by his familiars... nor can I totally retreat, all I can do is hold him off until the others are ready. Sasuke's thoughts accelerated. "Wait, Vlov! What do you want?"
Vlov's eyes were glazed over. "Cold... so cold," after evaluating Sasuke as a non-threat he saw no need to maintain his lucidity.
Great, he's back to being a mute.
Sasuke's crest glowed again, immersing his hand in an electrical discharge. He'll fall for this.
Vlov's expression hardened. Hrm? That lightning trick again? The grass isn't moving, nor is my hair. He looked up at the clouds.
Sasuke smirked, So he's taken the bait, the others should be ready by now.
"Begone with the thunderclap."
He didn't raise his hand, so it's not coming from the sky. A spear-shaped current of lightning shot towards Vlov's torso. Vlov screeched to a halt, twisting his body and failing to avoid the spear-shaped current of lightning ripping through his left flank whose shock partially disabled his movements. "Splendid! I didn't think I'd have to try against you Uchiha, I was wondering whether the quality of demon hunters had dipped during the past two-hundred years." Vlov flashed a toothy grin.
Before a blood lusted Vlov could react, Sasuke fled into the mansion, leaping towards Shigure's room on the second floor as his window was open. Shigure tilted his head with a dumbfounded expression as he watched Sasuke beeline to him. Eh? He's coming over here!?
Sasuke landed on the windowsill with a light tap, hopping onto the floor afterwards. Sasuke looked down at Shigure, not turning his head.
"What're you doing hanging around? Get out of here, unless you want to die."
"Y-Yes Sasuke. What's happen-"
"Just go, Shigure."
Shigure scrambled to his feet, heading to the door.
Threads of flesh knitted themselves back together on Vlov's flank. I've grown bored of this. In a single burst, Vlov covered the distance between himself and the mansion, bursting into the building through the wall and bringing along the deadly chill surrounding himself which frosted the structure in an instant. Horrible mistake, Vlov. We're a clan of assassins not hunters. Sasuke thought as he heard the collision.
Vlov stood in the moonlit Foyer by the grand staircase leading to the east and west wings surrounded by rubble. During Sasuke's confrontation, the other clan members had positioned themselves in various corners of the building, namely, the ceiling, light fixtures, and in hollowed spaces beneath the flooring. As such, when Vlov had "entered" they were already upon him with the most powerful of their techniques, 'Chidori'. In sequence, the room lit up with the chaotic blue flash of concentrated electrical discharge. Footprints dented the walls, floors, and ceiling before Rip, Rip, Rip, they each claimed a pound of flesh from Vlov. Each person came from left, right, above, below, even diagonally as they ripped through Vlov like a school of piranhas. As the Uchiha leveraged any opportunity to lay traps, whilst attacking Vlov they drew metal cable across the foyer from wall to wall, ceiling to floor, floor to wall, and wall to ceiling. In sync, they retreated, leaving Vlov a bloody mess with holes bored through all regions of his body. Vlov's body twitched while he began to regenerate. As if of one mind, they delivered current through the cabling, interrupting his regenerative process. Vlov's writhing silhouette was projected onto the grand entrance doors leading to the foyer with the delivery of each current.
The buzz of electricity and odour of burnt flesh wafted upstairs.
"Never mind, stay in your room, sounds like he's been dealt with." Sasuke grabbed Shigure's shoulder pulling him back into his room.
Sasuke left Shigure's bedroom, exiting into the east wing's dim hallway and stopping at the top of the grand staircase, looking down at a still bound Vlov. He waved his hand at the others, signalling them to stop delivering current. "Now, Vlov. I'd like to know why you attacked us and who sent you." Sasuke descended the staircase, stopping opposite Vlov. Vlov chuckled before sucking in air through his gritted teeth. "It was a chance encounter, and I am beholden to none." Sasuke frowned. "I'll need a better answer," his eyes glowed, the tomoe, comma-shaped abnormalities revolving around his pupil spun into a blur, resolving into a black hexagram embedded in three overlapping ellipses. Vlov's intrigue was written on his face before he was removed from every sense except hearing.
The strain on his ocular magic circuits caused Sasuke's eyes to bleed like taps, not to mention the cold which was beginning to affect him and others.
"Now tell me." Sasuke's words were wrapped in vapour.
"Arcueid." Vlov's face seemed to twist upon saying the name.
"Who?"
"Arcueid Brunestud!" Vlov bellowed, the name causing his rage to resurface.
Vlov effortlessly shrugged off the cables binding him, prompting the clan to re-initiate the devastating electrical frenzy they unleashed on him before. The sudden outburst broke Sasuke's focus, undoing the effect of his eyes. Unlike before, Vlov evaded each strike as if sleepwalking, lazily drifting in each direction before unleashing a burst of flame which radiated outwards, scorching everyone in the vicinity before reverting to his freezing ability. Eventually, their attacks slowed enough such that their bodies were no longer black blurs, but staggering figures. "Like flies, you people are." Vlov sneered. Soon one fell, then the others, and finally, the last. All had finally frozen. A stunted gasp escaped Sasuke, who quaked with unbridled anger at the sight of his clan members littered on the ground, lying as if they were in a restful sleep. "Y-You..." Sasuke's figure blurred, reappearing in front of Vlov, who was now holding his electrified arm by the wrist. "I've seen enough tricks," Vlov hissed. Sasuke widened his eyes and locked eyes with Vlov.
If I can't see, I'll just destroy it all, Vlov released an array of spears in a three-sixty formation. As Sasuke was about to deliver a series of blows, Thunk. A spear of ice skewered him. "I have tricks too," Vlov taunted. Sasuke's face twisted in pain. Upon his senses returning, Vlov saw Sasuke's knifed hand inches away from his skull.
It'll be worth it if even a few got out of here alive. Thud. Sasuke dropped to the ground face-down, his body sinking into the carpet moist with his blood. "I was waiting for another of your cards, Uchiha. It seems you don't have any." Vlov was visibly disappointed. The groans of Vlov's familiars closed in as they entered through the hole created by him. Vlov swivelled on his heel, turning to the staircase. Sasuke's consciousness faded as Vlov ascended the staircase. The floor below was immolated shortly after, Vlov's familiars seemed unhindered by the appearance of flame and followed him up the staircase.
Noticing the silence and eerie groans which followed, Shigure headed into the hallway of the east wing. "Is anyone awake?" rapping on the door of each room to no avail. Upon reaching the last room, he noticed the door was ajar. Apprehensively, he peered inside, clocking the lurid glow of Vlov's familiar. No scream would convey a fear of this magnitude. In lieu of a scream, Shigure stumbled backwards slack-jawed expelling his scream in a stream of tears. At the same time, Vlov's frost snaked its way up to the second floor, finalizing his conquest. "It's so… cold." Shigure's hushed words escaped in a shroud of mist as his consciousness receded. He collapsed in a heap shortly afterwards. Footsteps echoed in the moonlit hallway, coming to a halt in front of Shigure. An orchestra of stirring winds occupied the air, whose sound alongside all others was muted as his lips set into motion.
"Ah… there was one left." an unimpassioned voice breathed, the words flowing across the frostbitten tongue, casting the chill of death upon Shigure. Just as Vlov reached for Shigure's neck, a foot burst through the window adjacent to him, marking the entrance of another third party with a hail of glass shards. Shigure regained consciousness temporarily, catching a glimpse of blue hair. A woman's voice can be heard "Did you think no one would notice the amount of familiars you mobilised?" Vlov responded with a blank stare. To think the Uchiha would be decimated. Her gaze fell onto Shigure's frosted body in repose, Is that one alive despite Vlov's principle? Vlov's attention seemed to be elsewhere, he was looking through the window. The first rays of sunlight began to break through the clouds. When she looked up, Vlov was gone. I'll just tell them he was gone before I got here. As for his familiars, they'll be here when I return.
She pulled out a cell phone. "Kurahara, I need a favour."