Shiro's image before her was obscured by a black mass of feathers and flesh. The raven wrapped its wing around him protectively and took the brunt of the impact. The technique hit it square and blew the giant bird off of the ground and hurtling backwards towards the horizon. It tumbled across the dunes before regaining its footing and flapping its wings, letting out a loud caw to give voice to its' rage.<br/><br/>The puppet was running up towards Tashi and Shiro and threw its cloak aside, revealing more of itself while its 'face' remained obscured under the hood. It wore black pants like a human, but its chest was bare and wooden- with lines and bolts lining it. The machine's torso opened up, two panels sliding to the side as it shot out a torrent of kunai- straight blades like nails- each coated with a dark purple liquid. It just barely shot past Tashi, to the point where he could feel the wind carried with them.<br/><br/>Shiro ducked and rolled underneath the shower as it passed by, just barely managing to avoid it. Chiyo narrowed her eyes in annoyance, frustrated that her opponent was not a bunch of Chuunin that she could push around as before... The man stood back up, resuming his defensive stance.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Round 8<br/>Raven uses Harm's Way and takes the palm. DR reduces 5 damage, but it takes 27 still. It is pushed way off screen.<br/>Chiyo's puppet moves to O3 and uses Kunai Shower, Mark III. Shiro rolls a 24 on reflex and avoids it.<br/>Hitomi's up next.<br/><br/>Tashi; Speed Rank 2, -6 Chakra, Init 20<br/>Karasu; +2 Natural Armor, -27 HP, -7 Chakra, Init 19<br/>Shiro; Speed/Strength Rank 3, +2 Str, +2 Dex, Act normally at -1 hit points or below, -84 HP, -23 Chakra, -35 Chakra Reserve, Init 19<br/>Mari; Speed Rank 2, -17 Chakra, -6 Reserve, Init 13<br/>Chiyo; Speed Rank 3... -20 Chakra, Init 12<br/>Puppet; -5 Chakra, Init 12<br/>Hitomi; -3 Chakra, Init 10<br/>Aimi; -4 Con damage, -6 dexterity damage, -5 wisdom damage, -14 HP, -20 HP from Con damage, -29 Chakra, -11 Chakra Reserve, -10 Chakra from Con damage, Init 8<br/></div></div>