The woman, panting and exhausted, merely shook her head, "You're still... too soft." She said before coughing, the poison still wracking her body as she got up, trying not to appear weak, "You couldn't have known what-" She coughed again, "You could have died... and the True Eyes with you."<br/><br/>The woman got up, her clothes still in tatters- her back nearly completely exposed- still an alluring figure despite the burns. Despite standing upright, she was in no condition to fight... A Guard Captain joined them, crouching low after he landed besides the pair. Standing up, the Guard said, "What happened? Report."<br/><br/>"An intrud-" Shinano coughed, "An intruder. Male, Six feet tall, middle-aged. Pale, Black and grey hair."<br/><br/>"I'll inform our Lord." He looked at Shinano, and then to Tashi, "As soon as you've recovered, pursue the target."<br/><br/>He left without giving them time to reply, heading off towards the back of the village in the valley, where the Daimyo's residence was.<br/><br/>Running away from Jun and Suzume, Shirō formed a few handseals. He used the same technique as Tashi had, his body becoming camoflaged into his surroundings. Light bent around his form, betraying only a small hint of his location to the astute observer. The pattern of his surroundings shifted as he moved, the more dramatic shifts becoming more apparent. Still, he turned a corner and Jun lost sight of the villain. The sword-wielding Chuunin went bounding after him.<br/><br/>Suzume and Jun had a moment to rest, "Jun-chan! That guy..." The sparrow kunoichi said, "He's the one we fought earlier today! His fighting is totally different..."<br/><br/>The sound of battle could be heard further down the village... he was moving towards the main gate- alarms and shouts following him as he went. Things were intensifying in Tanigakure... Xexen sprinted through the streets, deftly bypassing every curious villager and angry shinobi along his way. He would be there soon, his keen ears hearing Jun's cry in the distance among all the sounds of alarm and yelling.