Natsumi closed her eyes and brought her hand up to shield herself from the debris and dust thrown from the impact. The earth shattered, forming great chasms that the lake's water rushed into. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78JjryeD8FY&feature=youtu.be&t=1m38s) When the cloud dissipated, Kaede's arm was half-submerged, her fingers still around the other woman's throat. She remained there, her body completely black like steel with a fierce look in her eyes. The Kumo nin let go, and the strange Iwa kunoichi put one elbow behind her, slowly getting back up... seemingly unfazed.<br/><br/>When she stood completely upright, Kaede's forearm collided with her neck in a mighty lariat that threw the woman back down to the ground. She lay in front of Kaede, flat on her back. The woman was still alive... She got on one elbow and bent her leg... bringing her other arm to her chest and forming a number of hand-seals. Her eyes narrowed and her lips stretched in another cocky grin. Still smiling, after taking such a beating like that. She must have been just as crazy as Yumi... or just incredibly tough.<br/><br/>"You're going to kill her!" Natsumi yelled, but her concern wasn't at all shared by the woman on the ground... Still, she was only grinning when Kaede saw the Iwa kunoichi's body begin to disappear. Inch by inch her bandaged body faded into nothing, leaving not even a shadow. The last thing she saw was her grin underneath those bandages...<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">Eagh. Rolls a 31 for save after a lucky action point. Invisible castle also seems to be down. With Mettle, she ignores the effects of a successful save.<br/>Damage: 65. Damage Reduction 15/epic kicks in. 50 damage.<br/><br/>Move: Stands up, provokes an attack of opportunity. Doesn't even attempt to tumble. Gets a Lariat to the face. Is tripped. Takes some damage.<br/>Attack: Preforms Mujin Meisai. Is invisible. Kaede can target her last known location with the assorted penalties.<br/>Free: ????<br/><br/>Tetsura's Init: 1<br/>DR: 15<br/>Testura: -71 HP, -47 Chakra, -20 Reserve.</div></div><br/><hr/><br/>Steel rang out against steel. The man with the giant cleaver had a wild grin on his face as he swung it around in a single hand, but when he clashed swords with Saizō, the older ninja held him at bay for a while... using both his hands to fend off the much larger swordsman's pressure. He momentarily adjusted one of his hands and activated some sort of mechanism on the blade. The hand-cuff component of the sword swung around, snapping shut in the hole at the end of the cleaver. Then, grabbing the sword in both hands he swung in an arc, pulling free the greatsword from the other man's clutches. It remained caught in his sword as he let his arms hang limply at his side, looking over the taller man with a stoic expression.<br/><br/>"Eh heh!" The wild-haired man said, "I thought that trick was for lopping off limbs."<br/><br/>"And heads." Saizō quietly responded, clicking a mechanism in his blade and opening up the hand-cuff on the edge of his sword once more. The other swordsman bent over to pick up his cleaver, and they noticed Kakumei.<br/><br/>As far as the young ninja could tell, these two men couldn't have been more different in demeanor. One reveled in bloodshed, while the other saw it as a means to an end. The older man was quiet and reserved in his graceful attacks, yet he summoned an uncanny strength to resist the other man's frenzied attacks, who fought with an almost reckless fervor. Saizō looked at Kakumei impassively, barely registering that he was there... while the great cleaver's master seemed to stare at him like he was a meal- some pig to be butchered with that blade of his.<br/><br/>His chakra was... drenched in the blood of those he had killed. It was painted upon his soul. Whereas Saizō gave him the impression that his spirit was like a waterfall... and all the blood from those who fell to his blade just washed off of him. Both of them had strong chakra signatures, But Sumomo Kohaku... his chakra was starting to give Kakumei a headache. He was indeed the host of a tailed beast, and Kakumei could practically feel it writhing around inside of him. The sword beside him was something else, too... it had its own signature, and it was one ravenous and hungry. The two had a lot in common.<br/><br/>The youngest swordsman looked at the newcomer with an expectant smile, "Ooh, a journey, eh?" He said, brushing his bangs out of his eyes, "Nice to see we're<em>finally</em>invited."<br/><br/>He took his hand off of Samehada for a moment to take the scroll and look it over. Before he could get very far, Saizō snatched it out of his hands and read it over, his eyes completely hidden underneath the black circular lenses of his glasses. He turned his head just a little to the cleaver swordsman, "<em>Not</em>you, Rokurō."<br/><br/>"Aww..." Kohaku teased, "Someone has to protect the village while we're away, huh?"<br/><br/>Rokurō clenched his fist around his blade and grit his teeth, showing off their serrated edges. Saizō handed the scroll back to Kakumei, "You're missing one. Kohaku, do you know if Kiku is in?"<br/><br/>The youth shrugged, closing his eyes without a care in the world.<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">Kohaku is helpful. Saizo is freindly, and Rokurō is indifferent still.</div></div>