Metamorphosis [Private | Aria & Keniwa]

[Ōtakemaru]

His poor heart…

Hiding the Cursed Seal from his parents was easy with so little attention he got from them. And yet, he almost puked in fear that evening. For some odd reason, the Cursed Seal began spreading over his arm involuntarily – had he no control over it, in the end? After such a smooth and successful implementation?

He couldn’t let his parents see it. The young swordsman hurried his way out of the house under the excuse that he forgot to do an errand for his father – to repair the wooden handle of the short blade Seiryū-kiba with wood from the esteemed Senju clan. In reality, Take wanted to be as far away from them as possible in the terrifying chance that his Cursed Seal would do him in. This would mean that Shusuke could get in serious trouble… so he had to regain control over the-

…

What a silent road. It must’ve been near the edge of the Maple District, leading into the quieter regions of the Oak District. Birds chirping each other back to their nests. The amber sun embracing the horizon. The pleasant warmth on your back.

A figure kept the silent road company. Hugging the walls as if intoxicated, the figure looked nearly blind… but that was such a betraying description of its unholy appearance. One could tell that it had a humanoid appearance – arms, legs, a center body and a head. However, details were thrown out of the window – it looked like a gingerbread man. Kneaded from brain folds. Utter fleshand torn flakes of Ōtakemaru’s purple, football-patterned haori.

It was pushing down all sorts of furniture and decorations at the front of the different buildings it passed by. Still human-sized, the glob of flesh was an affront to anything holy… but deep inside, echoes of the young boy’s cries were muffled by the gigantic hands of an otherworldly being keep him hushed. The Cursed Seal had… somehow been granted a life of its own. An affront to everything around the young swordsman.

An abomination.

WC: 345

 

[Kimari Bōmu]

A beautiful sun set would fall down on to the village of Konohogakure, Keniwa was enjoying the warm rays beating down on him and it looked like the rest of the village was to, their was a quiet calm and peaceful breeze which gazed over the golden lit buildings of Konoha. The last couple days had flown by him and even with the pressure of the exams looming closer to closer towards him for once he was actually happy. Eating a dango from which he never got to try and that terrible pathetic excuse of a breakfast meal from last week, he smiled and chuckled with a small blush, as it tasted delicious and melted warmly in his mouth.

Taking a more quiet street in to the outskirts of the Oak district, he could hear the songs in which the birds would sing their beautiful melody being the finishing touch on the boy's perfect idea of a refreshing evening. Dropping his dango he could hardly believe his eyes, a horrible, hulking mound of flesh would be slowly tearing down the front of several establishments as it gloomily would waddled down the silent road. It was a monstrosity, the Kyoujouran instantly became one with the earth and sensed if there was any civilians nearby. But unfortunately it was something much more terrible and disgusting. He could feel a presence in side of the glob, suffering and in pain a faint sound of muffling heard from it's origin.

And that was when he snapped. Furious at this monster's treacherous consumption the wraps of bandage arounds his arms instantly began to disintegrate in to dust and ashes. "Opening. Healing. Life. Pain!" The knuckles on his left robotic fist would snap down as the student glowed a burning hot orange, as if iron had just left a smouldering furnace. Steam and Smoke swirling around him as he would disappear leaving a cloud of smoke due to the sheer speed in which he moved, appearing behind the monstrosity, kicking it in to the air whilst he would leap upwards delivering a flurry of blows in it's direction, boosting it higher above the buildings of Konoha. Clenching it between his arms he would squeeze the mound as they would flip upside down spinning whilst hurdling towards the ground, swiftly smashing he monster in to the pavement whilst still maintaining his firm grasp.

"Let him go!" He demanded as he would launch the two of them back in to the air jumping well above the buildings in search of somewhere out of sight with the minimal amount of people. It would struggle and smack the child, he gritted his teeth managing to sustain it's swipes, as they soared through the air his eyes quickly scattered around the district before landing on the hot springs. Upon his own inspection it seemed completely empty and as they would descend his iron clad grip would change to be clenching what appeared like one of the monsters legs. Raising him upwards and flinging him in to the hot springs, a large splash echoing throughout drenching the two of them as Keniwa would land on the monster with a boiling kick. Flipping backwards on to the surface on the water as they would begin to wrestle. He was going to save this child, he could have been someone he knew. And even if he wasn't it was his duty as a shinobi. It was all he wanted to do and he would stop at nothing to make sure he did.

 

[Ayeka]

Aria sighed as she leaned back in the water with a contended expression on her face. For the first time in weeks the hot springs had been closed early for cleaning because they were going to receive a large group of important visitors tomorrow but Aria had managed to sneak in after the cleaning while the cleaners got ready to go home and now she had the run of the place. Leaving the white haired girl surrounded by a small group of snapping turtles the girl had summoned for company and a large bowl of Mochi that floated around on the water nearby. Aria floated idly in the water with a content smile while she lounged around in her birthday suit as she watched the sky slowly sink into the beautiful ruby hues that seemed to almost set the sky ablaze with colour and for just a moment Aria felt peaceful.

Then that piece was shattered into pieces as the center of the pool exploded into a geyser of hot water that sent Aria sprawling to the far corners of the spring as two figures crashed down into the center of the pool. The most prominent above the cloud of steam he had created from the water being displaced was the dark skinned warrior Aria had met days ago known as Keniwa who was currently wrestling with what appeared to be a grotesque mass of flesh that was writhing and moaning within Keni's grasp. However the struggling pair didn't seem to notice the bather that was slowly standing up from her unexpected beaching as she glanced around and noticed that her turtle friends were currently trying to flip over their upside down fellows and that the beautiful bowl of Mochi she had spent her savings on was now ruined beyond repair. Rage filled the white haired Senju as slowly a nearby potted plant sprang to life to encircle around the thirteen year old as she created a makeshift bathing suite with the closest piece of foliage there was, she began to step forward to the pair as chakra began to invisibly swirl around the girl. "You two dropped on my bath, Flipped my turtles and WORST OF ALL YOU SPILT MY MOCHI!!!!" As Aria shouted she pulled on a powerful source of natural energy within her body causing her left eye to glow with a powerful amber hue as she swiftly flew through a number of handseals ending on the tiger seal which almost seemed to be super imposed infront of a pair of ferocious mismatched eyes that seemed to promise female retributation on the boy and blob. "Sage Art: Water Style - Grand Waterfall Jutsu!" The water level dipped down to dangerous levels as the water in all directions seemed to flow towards the teenagers feet before she pushed her hands forwards which created a small ring of water in front of the girl that then exploded into a cyclone of force towards the two boys with the intent to launch them out of the pool.

 

[Ōtakemaru]

Take was barely conscious at this point in time. His own thoughts were muddy and aching, as if his very brain was melting down. Isolated deep within the fleshy glob’s construct, hugging his knees tightly in fear of what was to come. Constantly embraced by that colossal figure that looked like… him. He could only barely make out its appearance, but the same hair, the same face, but with dreadful eyes to boot… all six of them.

A being that promised he didn’t need anyone else… that he had all the company he needed right here. The flesh was comfortable, protecting him from the outside elements of such a loathsome plane of existence. His weak flesh was breaking down, but the entity promised him something much better in return – something stronger, faster and tougher to call his own. Yet, something was missing in this hotpot soup of chakra, and the flesh glob was trying its best to find it… but it was intercepted.

Against the entity’s desires, someone did desire to help Take out, albeit quite without the knowledge of what was hiding inside of the glob. A boy with skin glowing like tempered iron disappeared in a cloud of steam and smoke, and a glob without eyes had no way of predicting the boy’s charge. As of right now, the fleshy anomaly was kicked up in the air, assaulted viciously by the valiant shinobi with the tempered iron fists.

It took all of the damage by using its soft body to cushion any impact, but burn marks began to appear all around it from the sheer heat of the other boy’s attacks. In retaliation, the glob launched tendrils out to slash at the boy, but without much success… this form wouldn’t do. Not against someone like him – it had to evolve.

Being launched into the hot springs didn’t quite give it the right opening yet – the boy with the glowing iron fists was too tenacious and kept the offensive assault going without a break. It had to break free of his attacks, but how?

"You two dropped on my bath, Flipped my turtles and WORST OF ALL YOU SPILT MY MOCHI!!!!"

There it was! Take’s soup of a brain began to ring horrifically, and the entire flesh being vibrated in response to the surge of what it had been searching for all along… Natural Energy! Such highly concentrated power of nature, all gathered within that young girl! If it could get its grasp on her, then the transformation could be completed much faster!

However, she had no intentions of approaching the monster, instead launching a Senjutsu-infused Grand Waterfall Jutsu their way. The blob would finally be freed from Keni’s interruptions as it was pushed towards the nearby walls by the Water Release Jutsu, soaked and looking like it was missing a good chunk of flesh… but it began to manifest more. Flesh grew out of it like boiling bubbles and began to morph the entity, all thanks to the unique enzymes that released from Take’s genetic makeup.

The being had eyes now – what appeared to be its misformed head now had a collection of six eyes, all mismatched, misplaced and glaring at both Keni and Aria. Keni’s punches were ferocious, and its body had learned from the assault earlier – in response, its flesh began to tighten up, appearing dark-grey and plated like that of steel armor. And it stayed quiet for a moment…

Until it opened up flaps between the sheets of fleshy armor that it had constructed, launching a multitude of thin tendrils towards Aria and Aria alone. They darted through the steamy air like arrows, attempting to latch around her limbs and pull her closer toward it. It wanted her. It wanted her chakra. It wanted her. It wanted her. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER. IT WANTED HER!!!

WC: 659
TWC: 1004

 

[Kimari Bōmu]

They were going head to head against each other this monster and the boy with a burning hot will matching own body, as he seared the horrific terror with a cloud of steam surrounding the two of them as they wrangled. Whatever he was fighting was a disgusting blob, but not one of his cells feared the fleshly beast all he wanted to do was to save the boy trapped inside. He had to protect everyone especially the ones suffering, it was his duty as a Kyoujouran and he'd stop at nothing to defend and fight for the ones in need. Although the two of them weren't alone a familiar voice rung out throughout their tenacious struggle, he couldn't see the figure through the smoke but it was clear who it was from their tone. "You two dropped on my bath, Flipped my turtles and WORST OF ALL YOU SPILT MY MOCHI!!!!" A large torrent of water would shatter the fog cloud as it blasted the two of them "Sage Art: Water Style - Grand Waterfall Jutsu!" The monster slipping out of the juggernaut's grip as it was launched towards the nearby walls surrounding the hot springs. 'Crap it's slipped out of my grasp.. I suppose I have multiple problems now. Wait...' Keniwa stood strong not being knocked away by the vicious blast Kyoujourans had to be unrelenting, yet he was blinded with the liquid catching his eyes off guard. For now he'd have to rely on his tremor sense to help him see. "Aria wait a moment!" Her rage was clear but perhaps he could use her power to help turn the tides and soak through this monster to save the trapped child.

The monster's figure would appear lesser in form and size with a good chunk of flesh being missing from it's figure, yet this hadn't weakened it at all no the opposite. It's shape changing and shifting in to something far more durable and a much larger problem. The trapped boys suffering would be drowned out by the malicious intent radiating from the hulking mass, it tightening and concentrating whilst everything was still for a moment. The iron clad boy would wipe his eyes to get a better look but the scene before him was a brutal scenario and he was left with a tiny amount of choices. Dozens of tendrils would crack through the steam and smoke, piercing their way straight towards Aria, it was too late to stop them and there was really only one thing he could do. In a flash he grabbed Aria's arm gently, swiftly throwing her in to a pool separating the tendrils from they were inches away from Keniwa's face as they closed in he could barely get out these few words. "Aria you'll have to lend me your strength. I'm going to need you to keep him still im going in. Zaiken Style Piercing!" Several sharp spikes protruded from his skin as he prepared to punch straight through the disgusting mess to reach the poor victim trapped inside.

 

[Ayeka]

Aria smirked as her jutsu struck the monster and flung it into a wall leaving Keniwa standing in the pool by himself, though now very soaked allowing Aria a moment of satisfaction for her revenge was complete. She didn't need to hurt a friend more than that and whatever that flesh monster was probably would be peeling itself of the walls for the next week. So Aria turned failing to see the flash mass growing a multitude of angry eyeballs as she went to see if her turtles were alright. Luckily for Aria Keni was fast to react, as the slorking sucking sounds of weaponised flesh flying the air reached her ears the Kyojourans giant but gentle hand grabbed her and tossed her out of harms way leaving the white haired girl to catch herself and come rolling to a stop on her feet astride the gentle lapping waters of a nearby pool.

"Aria you'll have to lend me your strength. I'm going to need you to keep him still im going in. Zaiken Style Piercing!"

Realising the situation was a little worse than first realised Aria got ready to rush forward and blow this monster to chunks but then noticed Keni's wording.

"Wait..He? That things a person?!...... Cool maybe I can fight him later when his form is a bit more useful!!"

Aria laughed joyfully at the prospect of another playmate as she rattled through a small stream of seals using her massive chakra levels to their fullest. "Summoning Jutsu! Grand Fortress of the Sage!" As Keni moved forward he would see a massive seal matrix spread out beneath his feet before it exploded into a cloud of smoke covering the battlefield within a thick mist that hung heavily in the air. The rock skinned martial artist would feel a burst of vertigo as if he was rising into the air , but then slowly but surely a large Monastery would begin to loom up at Keni as he would notice that he was now surrounded by trees as if they had been moved into the heart of the fire country. The monastery was grand with grey stones and statues lined up in alcoves in different levels of disrepair, Some were shaped like humans others were almost like bipedal turtles all frozen in different meditation poses. The smoke finally faded revealing the flesh monster now sitting in front of the entrance that was being guarded by a small shrine to the Inari. Taking advantage of the momentary confusion from the sudden shift in battlefield Aria sailed overhead of both combatants, having used a nearby tree to send herself through the air as the gentle hues of sage mode overtook her features. A red hollow circle appeared over Aria's forehead as the colour flowed up and over her head creating three bands of red in her hair while the pigmentation around her eyes turned red giving her marking often associated with the Okami. "Get Ready Keniwa! Sage Art of Enlightened Supression!" A large Tori gate appeared underneath Aria as she sailed over what was once a person before it attempted to crash down on the flailing creature. If it was successful Aria would land on top of the Gate in a mediation pose as she focused her sage chakra into the jutsu. The jutsu itself would suppress the victims chakra making it harder to mold while the weight of the gate itself would trap the victims movements. Leaving the rest to Keni Aria would just try her best to hold her jutsu by staying still.

 

[Ōtakemaru]

The tendrils missed their target- no, the target was flung away by Keniwa. Still, it was so intent on grabbing hold of her that its tendrils simply braked in their tracks, changed direction and darted forward once more, trying to catch her. However, it met resistance from Keniwa and the spikes that protruded from his skin in an attempt to penetrate the fleshy mess’ reinforced meat shields.

But its evolutionary progression was satisfactory – the spikes resisted the tough walls, but the fleshy monster was able to withstand Keniwa’s blows… but only for a short bit. The boy kept growing stronger by the second through unknown means, as if his chakra was lit aflame like oil in a lamp.

So strong… he's so strong... my body… why are you doing this to me?

Confusion spread across the flesh creature’s eyes as the entire battlefield changed… her! It was her doing! Nature Energy was resonating in all directions, this was definitely a Sage Art! The creature had a moment of space to roll away from Keniwa during the ascension towards the heavens above, feeling like they were all raised up in the air by the elevation of the surface beneath them… and they found themselves at the entrance to a monastery surrounded by trees. A single guardian statue depicting Inari was guarding the entrance, but the glob was only looking for the perpetrator – the source of this massive gathering of Nature Energy.

In response, the fleshy glob developed a sort of ‘tube’ that began absorbing the air around it. Nature Energy would begin to draw into its tube and be converted to Take’s chakra. W-Where’s this chakra… coming from? Please, stop! Stop hurting them – I know them both! I beg you, they’re also my friends! They never hurt me! Why are you so-

The introduction of a heavy torii gate shook his thoughts away. The fleshy entity was forced to the ground by the torii gate, feeling such an oppressive amount of chakra pin it down with Aria focusing her chakra at the top of it all. It had to prioritize – what would ensure the completion of its metamorphosis?! It needed Nature Energy, and a good chunk of it! There was now Nature Energy everywhere, but the chakra that Aria was sending into the torii gate to keep it still…

That, too, could be used!

The tube that was formed earlier was now pointing to one side, and chakra began flying into it at a rapid pace. However, the chakra was so unstable that it began threatening to blow the entire entity up, and despite all of that, tendrils still slowly crept up the torii gate to try and embrace Aria! It wanted her so badly…

I-I don’t get it… it hurts! My hea-

And there it was. A quiet screech, akin to that of a dead TV. Take’s brain had completely melted down by the enzymes raging inside of the fleshy pot’s body… rendering him dead…

…

…

…

-A-Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh… hnnngg…

Memories had reformed. The brain rebuilt, all folds identical to earlier… but with a few extra. His organs were starting to take form from the cells available inside of the glob, building his vitals, the pairs and the singles. His heart… began beating again. And the entity began taking a new form.

It slowly tried to glide off of the torii gate with the help of a chakra jet propulsor made of its own flesh. Pure chakra was shooting out of it, and the body – or the globby attempt at drawing one – was now more streamlined to make it easier to slide off. It was definitely far more intelligent now, attempting escape before trying anything else… but the torii gate was a hell of a challenge to free itself from.

Meanwhile, a new body was being rebuilt inside of it. The kind of body with the kind of strength that Take had always wished for…

WC: 661
TWC: 1665

 

[Kimari Bōmu]

Song used (1:30)

He would grip and deflect several tendrils away from him being able to fend them off with relative ease but his main concern was on Aria, it's focus on her was deadly, though he was prepared to suffer serious damage even lay down his life to protect her. They were friends and that was reason enough to make sure she stayed safe. "Summoning Jutsu! Grand Fortress of the Sage!" Aria's command echoed valiantly throughout the hot springs.

Suddenly Keniwa rose upwards in to the air, the thrill leaving a confident grin on his face, as he excitedly gazed down at his feet whilst he swiftly elevated the entire battlefield changing before his very eyes, trees would spring upwards all around him as a large monastery sprouting upwards in front of him. Several meditating statues which all have differing amounts of wear and tear were laid out all over, he felt right in his element as if he was fighting in the heart of Konoha, Aria soared through the air above the two entering her sage mode which Keniwa had once gazed upon before. She was a forced to be reckoned with and would prove vital in helping save this innocent child from all the pain and suffering they had already succumbed. It appeared as the fleshy hulking monster had suffered the brunt of all of the flaming spiky haired kid's consistent blows, so whoever was in their was ironically being protected by the thing which consumed them.

"Aria! This is amazing!" Keniwa would proudly exclaim whilst making his way up the monastery, not wasting a second preparing, he would dash, taking every foot step carefully in an attempt to not break or damage the monastery. It's height was the part which he would take advantage of not about to put this gift to waste, a trail of smoke and steam followed him as he reached the top in a flash. Before he would gaze down as Aria who would give Keniwa the signal he was waiting for "Get Ready Keniwa! Sage Art of Enlightened Supression!" he watched in amazement as she would rise above the monster upon a large Tori gate, seconds before crashing straight down on the mound of flesh, landing gracefully in a meditation pose he witnessed all the effort she was pouring in to this jutsu.

The horror squirmed and struggled to breach it's way out from underneath it contorting it's own flesh in to some sort of propulsor, pure chakra was spewing out as it would almost begin to slip out. It was now or never for Keniwa. It was about time he made his mark, and he was about to sear it straight on to this monstrosity. Leaping off of the tip of the monastery he would yell "Thank you Aria! Now let's save them. Together!" He would rise higher as his right arm became a contorted array of spikes and iron thorns, his other arm stretched outwards with an open palm as if he was aiming this next attack directly for a soft spot. "Million Stabs! Tightened Focus!" He rocketed downwards like a shooting star lunging his arm forward moments before slamming his hardened blazing fist straight in to the blob. Smashing it further downwards he would flip backwards grabbing Aria as he deactivated his cybernetics, placing her gently next to him away from the mass of flesh. Then kneeling with one leg, alongside one hand on the ground, the other resting on his knee, his extended use of his cybernetics had definitely taken a toil on his right arm, Gazing up whilst catching his breath to see the result of their combined attack.

 

[Ayeka]

Aria grunted as she was grabbed around her middle but was thankfully able to keep maintaining her jutsu as she felt her chakra struggling and warring with a creature that had essentially turned itself into a rocket propelled chakra blob. Aria had plenty of chakra left, but right now she was just wasting masses of it on a jutsu that didn't feel like it was going to hold for much longer with that strain. Once Aria's bare feet touched the ground she spun around and placed herself in front of Keni as he took a knee from the strain of his own attacks, while Aria's own power up was starting to reach its own limits until she could collect more natural chakra. Worse yet, the blob just seemed to be getting stronger so, with a sigh, while keeping eye contact with the blob as it struggled with her ever weakening jutsu, Aria reached behind herself and placed a hand on Keni's shoulder.

"Senju Style Esoteric Art: High Speed regeneration."

Passing on the last of her natural chakra to Keni would allow the Kyoujouran to rapidly begin recovering from the injuries he may have incurred during their combo attacks, however Aria's body returned to normal as the pigmentation around her eyes and in her hair faded from existence, as the tall white haired girl no longer had the natural chakra to maintain Sage Mode.

"That was an awesome combo Keni, but that didn't seem to get the job done and those gate things of yours are messing up your body again. I gave you the last of my natural chakra so you should be right as rain soon, but it's gonna take a minute. So, let's buy some time."

Aria looked up into the air and took in a deep breath as if she was preparing for something. Meanwhile the Tori gate had begun to visibly rot as the jutsu weakened until finally it shattered into pieces, allowing the creature free while pieces of rotted wood landed around it. Just as the creature would take flight with its propulsion, Aria's voice would finally ring out.

"Yousai!!!!"

A massive thunderous growl rumbling across a mountaintop filled the hair and then for a moment there was silence. A light mist began to move over the battlefield before it rapidly thickened and a deep rumbling voice seeped out of the mists. "Hidden Mist Jutsu" Aria's and Keni's forms vanished in the thick swirling mists that now covered the battlefield as the girl took off leaving her partner behind. Aria quickly went about the battlefield using roots to create decoy scarecrows while her voice ran out among the words giving an affect that she was in more than one spot.

"Hey Blob I can sense when your eating my Senjutsu. If your so hungry come and get the all you can eat buffet right here," Aria called out in hope that she could keep Keni hidden while he recovered enough to end this fight before she was ended herself.

 

[Ōtakemaru]

It just needed a little more time… it was almost free from the accursed torii gate. Still, that gate… and the surrounding area… it was so hungry! It kept sucking in all of the Nature Energy at a constant pace, but when did it have enough? Nature Energy was such an esoteric source of strength – nothing less was needed for Take’s new body being redesigned inside of the glob… but the glob’s purpose was to protect him and proceed with the evolution. Even if it came at the cost of the two shinobi in front of i-

E-ENOOOOUUUUGH!!!

A loud scream was deafened by the arrival of Keniwa’s super-spiked Million Stabs punch, digging into the glob with fleshy remains flying everywhere from the impact. Just as it had slid off the torii gate was it intercepted by Keniwa’s fast-switched assault, now buried several feet down through the floor from his punch. It was… twitching in pain.

The pause was followed up by the arrival of a thick fog, cutting off the creature’s field of view from the rest of the area. Take… and by extension, the glob… was left alone in its own thoughts, until Aria’s voice echoed towards them again. Hungry for Nature Energy… and hungry for Senjutsu, it began manifesting tendrils again, but something was visibly interrupting its attempt. Something was making it freeze in its tracks.

D-DON’T HURT HER!!! PLEASE!!!

Take’s naked body was being held tight by a larger version of himself, a symbolic scene of his mental struggles. He wanted to love himself, and to be confident in himself… but not at the cost of those around him. He never wanted to hurt his friends, and the actions of the glob born from his own chakra was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

His meltdown… his body deteriorating… his body recovering from a soup of DNA… it had strengthened him beyond belief. With a vice-like grip, he tugged on the large entity’s arm and… ripped it in two.

The glob outside began to morph once more… but it grew smaller and smaller. On top of that, its gross flesh began to catch on dark-red fire – clearly cursed energy was taking over it, shrinking it in size and increasing its density. At the very end of it, a burning, steel-surface cocoon remained – Fire Chakra, Wind Chakra… and Kinetic Chakra began expanding from it, forcing the mist to disperse. The kinetic energy would gently push on the faces of the two shinobi as well, but different from before, there was no ill intent.

Only the accursed chakra remained, and those who were sensitive to chakra would feel sickened by the gruesome emotions stored in it. Yet, it didn’t attack them…

The cocoon, at a certain point, cracked. It had reached its breaking point, and due to its new steel-like surface, the shadowy silhouette of Take could be seen inside of it – in a fetal position, akin to fetuses in the wombs of pregnant mothers.

Other silhouettes were visible too… those of two katanas, one of ordinary length and a shorter one. They’d been engrained in the flesh all along, albeit the lad’s textiles were scarce due to all the action beforehand.

WC: 539
TWC: 2204

 

[Kimari Bōmu]

Things weren't looking so hot for the Kyoujouran his chakra control was far greater than it had ever been previously with him still having enough to go on, but it seems as he had fractured his right arm in that last punch, he must have overextended his gauntlets abilities the pressure it put on his body was immense he could keep it up for a while but he didn't wish to harm himself anymore. "Aria just give me a moment... if you can distract him for a b-" It was then when he would feel her hand touch his shoulder, energy coursing through him directly to his arm as it would become far lighter and the pain would slowly begin to dissipate. "Senju Style Esoteric Art: High Speed regeneration." A surprised grin would stretch across his face as he turned to face Aria.

Senju weren't people to take lightly their utility and massive supplies of chakra in battle were nothing to scoff at whatsoever. He could see Aria's transformation begin to disappear from her body as she would say. "That was an awesome combo Keni, but that didn't seem to get the job done and those gate things of yours are messing up your body again. I gave you the last of my natural chakra so you should be right as rain soon, but it's gonna take a minute. So, let's buy some time." He nodded replying with "Alright Aria, hey this would have been a lot harder without you. I suppose it was a good thing you were here eh?" For what it was worth he respected her and could easily picture her as a real shinobi.

Suddenly a thick mist would shroud them as Keniwa could sense Aria leave his side most likely to take shelter from the abomination which lied in front of them. He would slowly get up as his arm had almost completed it's restoration, however something was different with the unholy flesh. The figure inside of it... it wasn't small anymore in fact it had grown in to almost the shape of a full fledged adult, it hadn't absorbed him and almost done the opposite. The vibrations he sensed would tell him such strange things perhaps his tremor sense had been off of it's mark, it wouldn't stop what the rock skinned student was about to do though. He knew where it was and knew what he had to do, feeling tendrils pierce through the mist again he was ready to dodge and weave past them however they would stop dead in their tracks. Almost as if some force was holding them back the time was now.

Jumping up over them all he could feel the chaotic energy radiating from the steel like monstrosity. Tightening his fist he would land on it scraping one of his hands on to side as he would raise his right arm. "Let!" Punching an area where a cracked remained it would begin to grow. "Them!" Another slam and the crack echoed across the entire carapace. "Go!" His fist shattered straight through as he unactivated his spikes protruding from his body as he would grab the boy, he almost slipped out of his hands as he was covered in some sort of weird substance. Two katanas would drop form the cocoons origin as well as he held the young man in his arms. "Aria! Get over here! Hey? Are you alright?" Concerned and worried all he hoped was for him to still be alive.

 

[Ayeka]

As Keni cradled the unconscious boy a wind blew over the battlefield blowing the mist away unnaturally fast and revealing Aria standing nearby as she stepped up to stand over the two boys and the carnage of their battle. Now that the battle was over and the mist was clear, the boys would find themselves standing in front of a massive monastery with trees growing in long gnarled shapes around them making the area seem ancient however the floor was strange as instead of a thick layers of dirt they were standing on a thick piece of shell that had been uncovered by Keni titanic punch. Cocking her head to the side Aria asked bluntly but not unkindly. "Hey. Is he dead?"

After asking her question Aria eyes drifted to the carnage of the cocoon thing that had been trying to get her. Walking over and uncaring about the liquids and flesh that covered the floor Aria leaned forward to see if the thing was actually dead but after not seeing any movement Aria lost interest in the thing. "What was this thing anyway and why was this kid in it guts." As Aria spoke she bent down and picked up the two swords that had popped out with the kid and admired how wicked the two organic blades looked. "Cool! Hey look these swords are funky." The tall Senju turned to Keni to show him the blades, while completely forgetting the only thing keeping her modesty was a small shrub turned into a sort of body suite and while not revealing was not leaving anything to the imagination in general.

 

[Ōtakemaru]

… The giant entity holding him was gone. Take felt utterly alone, left behind only the craving for a power he knew he could never obtain by himself. Utterly alone, cursing his lack of strength, skill and talent, cursing his ineptitude to impress his parents. Cursing himself until his death, but… the more he cursed himself, the larger his muscles grew.

And he heard it, at last – a crack in the void, blitzing light shooting through and overwhelming his form. As if the light took the form of a hand grabbing him, pulling him up from the abyss that he drowned himself in. What even awaited him outside? Why did he feel so craving, so… unfulfilled? Something was missing, he was yearning for something, but without the entity around anymore, he didn’t know what…

…

Take was knocked out for a moment. His form looked human, and his facial features hadn’t changed much. However, his musculature had seen worse days – he looked oddly packed for a 13-year old. The edges of his hair had begun to grow a little reddish, giving him a wild mane look. The cocoon burned into ash that flew off, leaving nothing behind – much to Aria’s displeasure. Instead, Take’s swords had intrigued her – Shokuin and Seiryū-kiba. That was what made him open his eyes slowly, glancing over to her…

…

And his heart began warming up. What was this? Who was she? He had never met her before, but she looked… shameless, to say the least. She looked like trouble to most, but she also looked… pretty. Adorable. Energetic. His chest felt weird… why was this happening? Who on earth was she?! Had they met before? Was this some kind of déjà vu?

“W-Who… wait, I know you. Keniwa… what happened? And y-you?” Take asked out, pointing towards the girl in the ridiculous outfit, “T-Tell me your name… please.”

WC: 317
TWC: 2521

 

[Kimari Bōmu]

Stunned by Aria's question he would give her a distant look before squinting at the boy which he held in his hands moments before shaking his head in denial. His tremor sense allowed him to hear his heartbeat and whilst it was slightly slower than a regular one, it was still there nonetheless. "No he can't be dead. I can still feel his heartbeat. This monster must have been powerful to have constricted him from the looks of it his muscles aren't far off of mine." He could hear Aria pick up a metallic sounding object as she would bring them up to Keniwa's face. He paid little to no attention to Aria's scantily dressed outfit, a warrior doesn't get to pick their outfit in dire situations. Slightly pushing the katanas, with the back of his palm, away from him he'd say with a tired tone, "These must be his weapons that he was carrying before he was eaten... I suppose we should just keep them safe for the time being... Try not to break them..." Letting out a sigh he would look back down at the genin in his arms however to his surprise his eyes were slowly open!

The next sigh would be one full of relief as a gentle smile would dawn on his face, he couldn't be any happier to see that he was alright, they really saved someone just now. It was a miraculous feeling that would overwhelm his senses, his mind was essentially beaming as his eyes would glimmer and sparkle with glee. "I-im sorry but I don't know your name! And I think some sort of horrible abomination had consumed you. But we managed to save you, me and her..." He'd nod towards Aria with a content smile before placing Take down on the ground. "Well I suppose if you want to talk to her you can... But I am going to need to take you to the medical byoin to get you checked on and to know the full details of what happened. I'll be waiting over there." Passing by Aria with a slightly more serious tone he'd whisper as he passed by her swiftly, "If he can't walk bring him to me. We have to make sure we understand everything what happened. Hopefully his memory comes back." He'd stand and wait respectfully allowing the two to finish their conversation before bringing Take to the medical byoin, a cheerful ending to the night of terror.

[Topic Left Unless Stopped]

 

[Ayeka]

As Keni pushed the Katana away from him Aria just shrugged and placed both swords on the floor before wandering off to go find her clothes. It didn't take long to walk around Yousai's giant body and even shorter time to jump down to the hot springs below the massive creatures belly who by the look on his face was sweating as he remained dead still so as not to damage any part of the village he suddenly found himself inside of. "Kid your so gonna treat me to a drink when you are older." The giant turtle grumbled as he shook with visible strain as Aria just gave him an apologetic expression as she darted inside the building and soon came out carrying her clothes. Running up a nearby leg and jumping back onto Yousai's head Aria said. "Sorry pops but it was this or destroy the hot springs and I like this place. I'll send you back in a moment so bear with it and I will make it up to you." The turtle simply nodded and went back to focusing on staying dead still as Aria headed back to Keniwa. Making it back to the two, the mutated boy was now awake and speaking with Keni so while they spoke Aria stripped her leafy garb which wasn't doing much anyway as she quickly got dressed not really knowing about the social norms of not getting naked Infront of other people. Once she was dressed and ready, she stepped up to the two boys as Keni left picking the boy up to her for some reason as the rock skinned youth went back to the entrance of the springs. Looking down as Take laid on the floor Aria grabbed him roughly but not unkindly and tossed him over her shoulder in a fireman's carry with a bit of a grunt due to the muscles she now found pressing into her shoulder, Taking a moment to summon a vine and strapping Take's swords to her back so as not to leave them behind. Aria laughed in a mirthful manner due to Take's question. "Ha the name is Senju Aria the White Oni of the leaf. You better remember it!" Lifting up a hand the floor vanished in a puff of smoke as they both dropped down back into the hot spring with Aria landing heavily but managing to keep a hold of Take as they met Keniwa at the spring gates again. "Hey Keni I got my princess so lets go!" Aria once again laughed boisterously as she headed to the hospital with the others.

[Left Topic unless stopped]

 

[Ōtakemaru]

Take was in no position to question Keniwa’s worries for him after the ordeal that had just occurred. And yet, Take had little recollection of the event… but he was… well, something must’ve happened, but he couldn’t remember all of a sudden. As if his brain had turned to mush and recollected itself on a whim.

Glaring over towards Aria, the following events occurred with no warning. Keniwa wanted to bring him to the Byoin, but due to his exhaustion, he awaited further help from the white-haired… did she just- okay, Take was no longer exhausted, but he was visibly captivated by the short window to Aria’s indifference towards fashion ethics.

He didn’t expect her to lift him up like this, though… with his face still red as kidney beans, Take succumbed to the terrifying future that was laid before him. Under a White Ogre’s hold, carried like a fabled princess towards an uncertain future, with his heart questioning every decision he’d ever taken in his entire life. The descent from the elevated plane of existence revealed the forest to have been something that Aria herself had summoned, but Take’s attention was shattered – something about her kept him quiet, not uttering a word of discomfort.

Who on earth was this gal? He’d never met her before, and he’d never had the guts to talk to her before, so… what sort of crazy incident had brought him to the hot springs in the Oak District? And why had he no recollection of getting here? And why… why was this gal, this stranger… so… attractive?

WC: 264
TWC: 2785

[Topic Left unless Stopped]
[MFT]