The young shinobi's eyes widened when he suddenly<em>felt</em>and heard Tara go flying the opposite way. The enemy was close... but she hadn't figured out where he was. She could detect Tara, the poor girl... but not him. If it was sensing chakra, then summoning Tara would have been a beacon. But if she could see Chakra, then he'd be the one their opponent would target, not Tara. He looked towards his best friend, the poor monkey princess underneath Ume...<br/><br/>He couldn't think on it long, however, as the smoke expanded and obscured his vision. He took one step back, hearing the masked figure's voice so clearly and close. Then he heard it again... this time coming from beyond the veil of smoke. Threatening Iku... And to call him a coward. He could abide whatever insults they'd hurl to lure him out, but surrender was appealing... he wasn't about to be responsible for his comrades' dying on him. Unless, of course, this was an elaborate test. Ume caught onto it, too. She wasn't as dumb as she seemed, then...<br/><br/>Iku's words hurt him, though. Did she catch on yet? If she did, it could have been a bold statement to impress their captain... If it wasn't, then she was willing to put down her life for him. He didn't want that honor...<br/><br/>"Iku. Ume." He said from within the thick cloud, loud enough to be heard but not shouting, "Test or not... Your lives aren't worth giving for me. Besides... there's no guarantee your sacrifice will save either of us. The only one whose sacrifice matters is my own..."<br/><br/>"Alright!" He shouted, "I'm coming out!"<br/><br/>From the cloud came Hiro, walking slowly and calmly out of the smoke with a plain look on his face. He seemed determined to face his death a stoic- but something was off about him as well...<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">Tara- (HP: 51/59)<br/>Free action: Stand up. Acrobatics 25 vs. DC 20 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79044)<br/>Full-round action: Run back to the smoke to try and find her friend/bide her time/wait for an opportunity...<br/><br/>Hiro-<br/>Standard: Use Bakuretsu Kawarimi no Jutsu (Exploding Body Substitution Technique) as a diversion that comes with a charged Superior Paper Bomb. Orders it to walk forward. Costs 2 chakra.<br/>Chakra Control to prepare the Paper Bomb with 5 charges (DC 20, 8d6 damage) Barely made it. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79045) Costs 4 chakra.<br/>Movement: Walk behind the diversion, 15 feet away and out of the blast radius.<br/><br/>HP: 10/53 (Nonlethal 30)<br/>Chakra Pool: 14/64. (Reserve 27/42)<br/>2 rounds remaining on Speed/Strength Ranks.<br/><br/>– Speed Rank 4 (Ex): The character gains a +5 bonus to Jump checks, a +4 dodge bonus<br/>to Defense and Reflex saves, and a +2 bonus to attack rolls. The character's land speed<br/>increases by 25 feet, gains a +4 speed bonus to Hide checks, and his attacks have a<br/>kawarimi defense 1.<br/>When not suppressed or dormant, speed rank 4 costs 4 points of chakra every 5 rounds.<br/><br/>– Strength Rank 4 (Ex): The character gains a +2 bonus to attack and weapon damage<br/>rolls, and a +6 bonus to opposed disarm, trip, grapple, bullrush or overrun checks,<br/>strength checks and Break, Climb, Jump and Swim checks. His carrying capacity<br/>doubles. In addition, a character with Strength Rank 4 ignores hardness from objects with<br/>6 or less hardness.<br/>When not suppressed or dormant, strength rank 4 costs 4 points of chakra every 5 rounds.<br/>Whether active or dormant, strength rank 4 increases the character's effective Strength<br/>score to determine his carrying capacity by +4.<br/><br/>Tara<br/>Level 4 Monkey Champion Paragon: Medium magical beast; HD 8d6+32; hp 59; Init +3; Spd 40 ft., climb<br/>40 ft.; Defense 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +7 natural); BAB +8/+3; Grap +13; Atk +13 melee (1d6+4, 2 claws); Full Atk +13 melee (1d6+4, 2 claws) and +13 melee (1d6+4, bite); FS 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.; SQ darkvision 60 ft.; AL Hiro;<br/>SV Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +9; CP 50; Rep +0; Str 20, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 12.<br/>Skills (24 skill points): Acrobatics +15, Athletics +16, Stealth +12, Perception +12<br/>Feats: Simple Weapons Proficiency, Weapon Finesse, Improved Natural Attack (claw), Alternate Form (Quarterstaff), Tiny Size<br/>Abilities: Darkvision, Evasion, Henge no Jutsu at-will<br/>Ability Score Increase: Constitution, Constitution<br/></div></div>