There was a legitimate reason that she was bored. Chase scenes never ushered much enthusiasm when it was so laborious to retain the location of the hunted. While questing for a man through a convoluted street was one of her favorite past times, hunting for a delinquent in an overcrowded path was rather... unconventional, especially when said derelict meandered about like he was mentally handicapped. Eji flawlessly demonstrated how to avert a stalker without even knowing of his own pursuit. Hira heeded and followed a fade of blue in the distance, and then a rupture of perturbed citizens to her right and then suddenly... nothing. No fur-lined vest, no burly physique or mane of azure. No matter how his unorthodox methods worked, he managed to stealthily evade her into oblivion. Just what the fuck was he doing?

He must’ve bolted for it, but without any rationality to do so in the first place. Hira exhaled, slightly agitated at the sudden change of pace, as her legs progressed further down the congested streets. The kid was a screwball – unpredictable, down to the very definition of the word. Facing off against such an erratic person sent a twinge of fervor through her veins, since an opportunity to challenge such... incalculable people was far and in between. But, cockiness was never a factor when her life was on the line, but rather, a tenacity to win.  

Observing every street corner and crevice for a literal fish out of water, Hira recognized a smear of gaudy tattoos trailing down a muscular arm deviating from the street and into an alley. Snaking through the throng of people, Hira glanced passed the lane as Eji dashed through it, rolling her eyes at his flamboyancy. While Hira lagged behind the one-man show, she tracked him further down to directly across the street – a bar, and one that she was unfamiliar with. She judgingly scrutinized his entrance into the facility and before she approached the place, radioed Tosatsu her current location, while removing her tool pouch from between her breasts and returned it to her leg, but facing the pouch toward the back.

“Tosatsu, over. Follow the path down the block until you reach the Lucky Dragon Casino and take a right into the alleyway next to it. Take that all the way down until you see an old bar called Reno’s. That’s where we are. Radio me back when you’re close, and I’ll set up a telepathic communication with you. We’ll be able to speak to each other in a close proximity without him even knowing.”

Hira slinked to the side of the shattered entrance, eavesdropping on the one-sided conversation of Eji’s attempted rape. While taking a woman fiercely was always a desirable course into sex, not knowing the other party definitely ruined the moment. But, the kid had the right idea, if not the balls to get whatever he wanted, even if it lead to someone else’s suffering. Even so, Hira had no will to shield the damsel in distress from his obscene manhandling. An unfortunate sacrifice should the circumstances of her death arise, although preventing such a situation was always the best course of action. If she could help it, no one would have to die but Eji.

Awaiting Tosatsu’s reply for no less than a minute, she immediately connected to him through their closer distance. Performing several hand signs, Hira took a deep breath and spoke to her partner calmly before initiating their fight. Be ready, Tosatsu. This boy is a wildcard, so don’t ever let your guard down, not even for a moment. I’m going to attempt a genjutsu on him, and that’s the moment you strike. I’ll let you know when I begin.

Pushing aside large splinters of wood with her boot, Hira leaned against the doorway, staring at the young Eji intimately. She crossed her arms and smiled charmingly, speaking in an inviting tone, with overlying hints all throughout her speech. “Hm, what shame to take a little girl so voraciously... Wouldn’t you prefer a woman, one that was more than willing to appease your every desire? Let the girl go, and I’ll take you on.” The high-noon sun illuminated through the open doorway, encompassing Hira’s curvaceous figure and darkening her more distinct features. Yet, her unmistakeable, violet eyes swirled, gleaming with anxiousness – a tension Eji would recognize as unadulterated desire. Hira disguised her true ambitions well. As the sunlight was blocked by passing clouds, her full form materialized before him again. Biting her lower lip, she raised her arm and motioned him forward with her index finger.

Within the time of her arrival and eye contact, Hira vanished before his eyes and reappeared, while a colossal tree sprout behind him, grasping him with its’ branches. Upon his capture, an immediate Go! would sound through Tosatsu’s mind, signaling the beginning of a battle. Hira approached the young man, a placid smile blatant on her face and a kunai in hand. This would be over soon.

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Something was wrong.

Eji could not be found in her genjutsu, but rather, the dumbass in distress materialized instead. The young girl – an idiotic and hysterical one at that – superseded the degenerate target who inclined over her quivering body and, locking eyes with the Yamanaka, evoked a limp, wide-eyed body in the arms of Eji. To say such a situation was annoying was an understatement. Hira severely disliked variables in obscure circumstances, and this woman and her father were two of them. If Eji wasn’t going to kill them, than she would contemplate dirtying her hands if this conflict went south,  if either her or Tosatsu were wounded due to their muddling.

Despite the compulsion to finish off the girl herself, within seconds Hira cancelled out the genjutsu and witnessed Tosatsu’s rapid decline onto the lower floor, whilst an earthen hand burst through the floorboards. The kid was fast enough to avoid it, but only barely. Both of their endeavors to capture Eji were to no avail, and now a new strategy was required before Eji’s spontaneity turned against them. As her thoughts wandered for an idea, she observed walk Eji several meters from his original position and preparating to attack Tosatsu, whose voice sounded through her mind with a new plan. Her partner would use a Fuuinjutsu to blind the hoodlum, but the blonde needed to place herself elsewhere in order to ambush Eji at the correct moment. Hira peered around quickly before her eyes secured a substation. Across the room directly from her, a broom (presumably used by the young woman before Eji’s assault) lay on the floor. For now, it was her only means of reaching the other side of the bar without getting caught.

Alright, I’ll position myself behind him and trap him with my technique. Let me know when I should close my eyes. I’ll be able to sense him even if I’m blinded.

The young woman and her father finally ran for cover – good fucking riddance – and on Tosatsu’s que, and within the timeframe of his monstrous strength focused on thrusting the oaken table towards him, Hira performed a single seal and switched places with the broom. It landed upright against the doorway without so much as a thud, while Hira landed 2 meters behind Eji where the tool previously laid. Instantly, the blonde performed another seal in order to alter the surroundings of herself and the broom, switching their forms to look like each other, should the criminal suspect any other dubious movement from her.

An influx of adrenaline shot through her body at that moment, as the last time she performed such a simple maneuver was with her uncle the day she killed him. Rarely was real genjutsu vital when encountering an enemy, since a majority were half-witted and mistook her for harmless. But then again, most conflicts ended rather quickly and operated under a single mind – herself. Even still, she never took for granted the instance of a single second – every moment signified either a demise or victory, although Hira would prefer to procure the latter of those scenarios, especially with the support of her partner. Having Tosatsu on her side was a pleasure and a boon, one she’d inquire about again should her own mission struggles appear in the future.

When Tosatsu did perform his jutsu to distract Eji, Hira closed her eyes tight and released Sasagani immediately. Having previously memorized the location of the delinquent, Hira closed the gap with Sasagani shooting ahead to grasp onto Eji with her web, slightly moving her ability in a circle if needed to catch him, should he move around. Clearly he was not the sort to sit still for long, and within the instance between Tosatsu’s jutsu activation and Hira’s execution of Sasagani, there was scarce room for an escape.

With Eji’s capture, he’d manifest in a black space with nothing around him, but merely a smirking Hira standing directly behind him. He could take a whack at escaping, or endeavor to kill her in that deep, endless abyss, but that was the only problem: he held no power in her stronghold. Eji was captured like a dog in a cage.

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Due to the 72h rule. It is assumed that Eji took the attacks laid out by Hira and Tosatsu.

And trapped in a cage he was.

In a black abyss, Eji lie bound by the power of her mind, destitute and alone in the face the Yamanaka woman. A set of violet, widened eyes assessed the wild and belligerent boy, and for a moment, a glint of empathy washed over her trembling body. The poor boy – so young, so full of hope for a long and prosperous life... Alas, if only such a statement were actually true. He was a shithead, and Hira denied her bloodlust for his breathless body on the hardwood floor. She was unable to discern the last time she’d neutralized a target, and so simply, but every time she did so, a miniscule part of her was satisfied, and more than so this time around. Tosatsu was more than worthy of the kill and she’d grant him the indulgence. She was a rather giving person in that respect. Although, they required something of him first, and Hira wouldn’t dare withhold her friend from his bounty.

While able to spectate the outside world and her immediate surroundings, Hira awaited the moment Tosatsu gathered himself and approached the target. Any banter outside of Sasagani would be heard distinctly by both parties, despite not being able to join in on the ridicule. In the moments that Tosatsu performed his fuuinjutsu on the young boy to entrap him further, Hira considered allowing him a final request – after all, her mind was akin to a world of its own, although discernable and leaving no lasting effect on the target once released. But, why allow a murderous, raping, ornery little boy to have whatever he wished? She’d be the one to have nightmares of such a request later, and deciding against the idea, she merely shrugged her shoulders and spoke matter-of-factly, “What a shame. If only you weren’t a crazy, murderous asshole, you might’ve made a half-decent ninja in Kumogakure. Really. I might’ve considered training you myself, too, if only I gave enough shits to do so in the first place. Ah well, I guess you’ll have to try again in the next life, hmm?”

Upon Tosatsu’s request to release him, Hira retracted her webs and took several steps back, allowing the white-haired man his space. Whatever he wished to do or ask, she would not stop him, nor would she interfere. This was his kill – his victory – she’d merely come along for the ride and faux freedom, if only for a few days. Retreating to the back of the bar and grabbing several bottles of her favorite alcohol, Hira also retrieved extras for later use, of course. While it was unlawful to jack as many bottles of booze as her bosom, arms and hands could carry, they were returning to Kumogakure soon and she intended to prepare herself for the encounter with Kagetora again. After all, leaving your intended person of interest in order to hunt down a criminal on little more than a whim, and in a neighboring country wasn’t exactly... conventional. Luckily under the bar did she discover a leather bag and immediately begin to fill it to its brim. Unfortunately, if Tosatsu wished to follow her lead, he’d require a bag of his own.

When the deed had been done, Hira slung the bag over her shoulder and waited along the bar for Tosatsu to either join her or retrieve his own treasure chest of liquor. With the knives in his possession and a content smile along her lips, Hira exhaled, satisfied at their fulfilled endeavor. “Well, shall we finally get out of here? I think a celebration is in order.. if you haven’t already noticed,” she referred to the contents of the leather bag, walking towards the entrance of the establishment. “You look like a lightweight though. I just hope you can keep up with me.” A sly smile slithered along her lips as they vanished into the congested street together once more.

Exit Thread