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Message: [QUOTE="Sinthorus, post: 22129813, member: 80925"] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Eighteen[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 18"] [JUSTIFY][I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]Breath-taking. That was the only words that came to Sin's mind as he stepped forth into the massive fortress like port as he entered the Outer Lands. He'd never seen anything like it. The very sight of the city left him stood in place, mesmerised by the architecture of the great port. He was knocked out of his trance as someone pushed passed him leaving the ship with him. Apologising, Sin began to walk forth, down the pier looking around. Everywhere he looked there were people, traders, travellers, businessmen and more.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new][I]Being locked away like a beast for 2 years left Sin clueless about the world. The world fell into what seemed like ruin. The moon shattered and it seemed as though hell rained down upon the world, casting it into darkness. Though here he stood, seeing humanity thrive. Though, it was more than that. His eyes caught sight of something he'd only heard rumours of. There was a new species that walked the lands, the Arali. The captain of the ship had informed Sin he'd find them within the port city. These Arali arrived with the Cataclysm and along with some Gods, had taken foothold in the world. Sin couldn't understand what he saw. He knew what his eyes showed him, though what it meant just did not compute. Their skin was dark, cracked, almost stone like. Each had 4 arms, each large and muscular as they walked through the crowd in Sin's direction. He made eye contact. He wish he hadn't. That lingering moment left him feeling with dread. He quickly turned heading into the port town at a fast pace. The last thing he needed was trouble in these lands. He swerved through crowds keeping his head down, taking turn after turn in the streets not daring to look back. Heading up through the great port her stopped after 5 minutes leaning against the wall. Was he just just being paranoid after all his previous ordeals? Was it their appearance that left him shocked? He looked down at his hands. They were clammy and shaking. Was this his life now? Living in fear on anyone he doesn't know. He slid down against the wall catching his breathe, though he wasn't tired. People continued to walk by, not even looking at him. The crowd passed both ways in streams. After a few minutes past, he rose to his feet, finally calm, he began to move on. Walking with the crowd. Turning the next corner, his path was blocked. Two large muscular being seemingly chiselled of stone blocked his path. Turning to return the other way, Sin found himself surrounded by four brutes. These being weren't of this world and Sin knew little of them apart from their name, Arali. Surrounded he found himself in quite the predicament. He couldn't fight here. It seemed escape was not the option. He was trapped. Though it occurred to him, why had these followed him in the first place? "Hello there. I'm just passing through here. Is there something I can help you with?" Sin spoke carefully. Though his life had been nothing but hardship for what seemed like forever, to these he would be simply a commoner. Though, his words were met with silence, just glaring looks. Was this some kind of shake down? A minute passed, then two. "Sorry, I'm not sure the customs for your kind, have I offended you in some way?" "Grrr... puny, pathetic mortal. You glare.... now you pay!" The one before him growled, the muscles it its four arms tensing as its teeth gritted. What a single glance could cause..... Surrounded, Sin could clearly feel he was in a difficult situation. He'd never come face to face with those not of this world. He knew not of how to speak to them, he didn't know what triggered them or what pleased them. He didn't even know how strong they were. He couldn't simply try and fight his way out. He couldn't draw attention in a place like this and what if more came, he'd just escaped capture. The only option he had was to try and talk his way out of it. "Wait... wait...there must be some misunderstanding, I meant no offense, this world is just new to me..." He pleaded. The three Arali turned to look at each other confused before turning back to Sin. "How can a mortal be new to the world... unless you are ..." The eyes of the one speaking widened his face turned to rage as one of his many arms swung a fist forwards aiming for Sin's head. It missed passing over Sin as he ducked under it moving to the side. The fist met the wall that Sin had been leaning against, cracking it, leaving a fist mark in the rock. "I'm human... mortal... born here... but...." He had to dodge again as another fist came around aiming to striking him, in a panic he rolled to the side. "JUST LISTEN!!" he shouted. The brute was having none of it. Sin emotions were changing from fear to rage and before he knew it, it boiled forth in the form of the shukuku's chakra shroud, as his caught the fist with his bare hand stopping it in it's tracks, shocking the three Arali before him. "I'm not here to fight... I've spent... 2 ... years.... bound.... tortured... treated like a beast.... if you're going down that route... the beast will bite back....." A moment past as Sin made eye contact intentionally this time, the anger flickered in his eyes. A moment later his chakra shroud faded along with his anger as he lowered his hand. "...But I don't want to be that beast. I want to be a human. One that needs to understand the world, what has changed. I looked at you in awe, fascination as your kind are new to me." Sin paused for a moment, waiting to see the reaction of the beings that seem cast from stone. "You escaped... we escaped... we came here as we don't want to fight. We are tired of humans looking down on us." "Humanity is like that to itself too. I'm here searching for something in particular, a certain sanctuary. I wish to meet the monks to understand this world more. Maybe you would with to accompany me? I can teach you what I know of this world, maybe you could teach me more about yours?" Sin was hoping he could form some kind of understanding from them, though this would not be the day. The three of them looked at each other, coming to a silent agreement before leaving. Sin remained stood at the wall feeling like he was breathing for the first time in a while. What could have become of him could of been a lot worse.[/I][/FONT][/COLOR] [I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]Casting his hood up, he wasn't seeking to cause any more trouble. He headed out of the city.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I][/JUSTIFY] [IMG]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1103686415436496950/1409214037958463669/New_Project_1.png?ex=68ac9058&is=68ab3ed8&hm=5aac9841965c99c78ff75557508d453219ab251dd971fb8649e4cdd7cb6ad4a2&[/IMG] [/infobox] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Nineteen[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 19"] [JUSTIFY][I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]He was sure it was here, somewhere. Sin slowly made his way through the Greater Cedar Forest, searching for what he'd only seen in passing. Had his eyes deceived him? Was it just his fear gripping his very thoughts, twisting them to darker times. He shook his head casting away the doubts in his mind. He proceeded ahead searching for what could be answers to his past. The being he saw, could it be something akin to the Shukuku? He cast his mind back to his travels, he'd seen the great hulking being in passing but dared not stop. As he'd seen it, he felt something, though it wasn't fear. This feeling weighed heavy on his mind and heart, like a longing to lift a form of sorrow though not knowing how.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new][I]The problem that lay before him was the sheer size of these lands. Although what he'd seen was a huge being to be sure, the trees that made up this forest would dwarf the size of even the Shukuku in it's full form. The nature of this forest was unlike anything Sin had ever seen growing up, it had it's own splendour that mesmerized him every way he turned. Stopping taking a deep breathe, he felt free. For the first time in his life, he felt like he was free to do what he wanted, a whole weight lifted from his shoulders. His tranquil moment cut short from what now walked into view. Before him stood a giant creature unlike anything natural to the world Sin knew. It's colossal arms looked like it had the power to crush Sin in an instant. It's form seemed akin to something ripped straight from a nightmare, though Sin was not afraid. Tore from reality, Sin's mind was dragged within to see a familiar face.... Inner world of Shukuku [HR][/HR] The familiar sight of the giant one tailed beast lay before Sin, looking down on him lazily as he let out a large yawn. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing kid? You trying to get us both killed? Have you seen THAT thing?" Clearly the beast was all about it's own self preservation. "Of course I can see it, don't you? What if he's like you? One of the tailed beasts? Don't you want to know ...." Sin tried to ask, though he was interrupted by the thunderous laugh of the beast. "You think I'm like that? Nah kid. That ain't like me. I'm one of the 9. I know all my siblings, and that... what even is that...thing... ugly bastard. That thing is a monster, fucking savage. Well what ever it is, it's not part of my family tree! Walk away kid before you get us both killed." He spoke mockingly as he made a gesture for Sin to go away. "Maybe that's how people see you...." Sin's voice was quiet now, his voice suppressed by the emotions of empathy flowing through him. The beast rose to it's full height now, snatching Sin from the ground in it's hulking hand, bringing him to his face. "Want to run that by me again you little shit?" He growled as he began to squeeze. "How can you be so thoughtless?" Since winced as he spoke. "People hate you, fear you, hate us! We've been attacked, stabbed, betrayed, tortured... all because you exist! How can you take one look at a creature and judge it like that?" He shouted at the beast as his thoughts and emotions bubbled over into tears now. His life had been hell. His family were all dead, he'd been hunted and spent 2 years as an abused dog in the dungeons of some cult just for being a host of a Bijuu. How was that fair. Looking at Humbaba brought all these feelings to the surface. Something compelled him to want to befriend it. If it got him killed, it would be worth it, as he'd die trying to do what he thought to be right. The beast dropped Sin now as Sin returned to the real world. As he did the voice of Shukuku echoed "Just don't get us killed you dumb shit...." Sin wouldn't know it, but the beast felt guilt in that moment. Finding himself back in the world facing the giant creature before him, he walked forwards, casting his hood back as he raised his hand waving, a smile on his face as he spoke, "H-hello.... how... how are you?" He felt lost for words. How do you even start this kind of conversation. "My name is Sin... what's yours?" He noticed the creatures face was unlike any other. Did it communicate another way? He began to question if this was the best idea, casting his thought to what the Shukuku said, but he couldn't fall into that mentality, not if he wanted to move forwards in life. [hr][/hr] Delegate Post - Humbaba [HR][/HR] Humbaba sat in a clearing seemingly staring off into space with it's blank, expressionless, featureless face. On a rock before it sat a crown of flowers, while another rested atop Humbaba's head. It had been a few weeks since Enkidu had last come to play, but the innocent monster understood he was busy. While things weren't as fun as they could be, Humbaba could just enjoy life in this paradise, a luxury it appreciated to the fullest extremes. By watching the flowers. The boring silence was filled with voices, but only one person was around. Humbaba's perception enveloped a large amount of the fores around it, but they could only "see" the one man. Maybe they were hiding? Oh, were they playing hide and seek? Humbaba reached out with her mind, probing the depths of Sin's mind subconsciously as they tried to find the "hiding" party. It wasn't an intentional invasion of the Jinchuriki's privacy, they just wanted to win the game. The sensation, while not painful, was strange. Appearing within Sin's inner world, her form similarly sat slumped over staring down at Sin and Shukaku, Humbaba spoke. "Haha, I found you. Is it my turn to hide now?" Though there was no face, the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beast could tell there was a smile radiating from within Humbaba, and that voice wasn't one of a monster, but a child, a girl of no more than five years old if they had to guess. Was it a trick? If this thing could probe so deep into their minds as to exist within that inner space, what else could it do? [hr][/hr] How was this possible? What had just happened? Sin was now back within his world, beside Shukuku facing the great being before him. No one had ever been in here! It was once his own personal hell but now Sin found it a haven. Appearing in his haven left Sin in shock, was it out to hurt him? Wait, no, something was off. What... was it? Then the voice came, a voice that had SIn took aback. Just as the tailed beast was about to act, it too stopped. The voice, that of a child stunned them both, coupled with the words. Found them? Turn to hide? What was going on? Was this a game? Shukuku was about to get angry but Sin projected his feelings for him to stop. Was this great being simply a child of the new world? Was it trying to play a game with them? Sin thought for a moment to the crown of flowers atop the being's head. It was starting to come together. "Make a maze of sand within this world!" Sin thought to the Shukuku as he conveyed his plans. Sand formed a mass of walls all around, slowly rising about to block the sight for them all before Sin called out in an excited voice "I'm going to count to 10, then we will try to find you!". What was he doing? Why was he suddenly wanting to play a game? He was smiling. For the first time in years, he felt happy, he felt like he was having fun. With that he began to shout "ONE..... TWO..... THREEEEE....!".... [hr][/hr] Delegate Post - Humbaba [HR][/HR] Humbaba watched as the vacuous world around them was filled with sand, and turned into a maze for their little game. Humbaba thought about how you can't really play hide and seek on the beach... It's all flat, and nowhere to hide... She was much better at hiding in the forest, but she'd never tried to hide near a beach either. Maybe it could be fun. Lumbering through the maze, Humbaba couldn't make it particularly far before the count of ten was made. There was a feeling of something. It was like fear, but with less association to pain. Anticipation? Excitement? Even if she was caught and the game ended, even if Sin couldn't stay forever to play games, she enjoyed this. How she could interact within this space where Beast and Host could meet? She didn't have a clue. But at least the forest wasn't being ruined by all the sand. As she slowly entered the maze she cried out, the chorus-like voice of a thousand souls echoing within Shukaku's mind especially. She'd heard the Beast's earlier remarks. They weren't taken personally, as most of them including the mention of being one of nine went right over her head, but she knew he was a big sourpuss. "No peeking!! Specially you Mister Grumpy!!" Humbaba made it about two layers deep when Sin called out that he was coming. Failing to find a better alternative, Humbaba pushed her face in against the sand, giggling like a child whose best hiding spot was to hide half of their body behind a curtain, while leaving the remaining half completely discoverable. While this game of hide and seek was playing out within the Inner World, back in the forest a green haired figure smiled wryly from a nearby tree branch, his presence concealed by his unfathomable power. They had wondered where Humbaba had wandered off to, and they were here all along. They weren't moving from that spot, and neither was the man with her. The outsider didn't seem to be intent on harming it, so he would leave for now... [hr][/hr] Sin couldn't help but be surprised. He'd come up with the idea of a maze, but the fact this mythical creature actually played along still came as a shock. The shock passed quickly as he heard the sound echoed through his mind, a voice like no other. It was almost heavenly. Shukuku rolled over not interested at all. He was indeed a grumpy ass who had no intention of playing games. Sin on the other hand, had his mind cast back to when he was a child. He remembered the joy of playing these games with his parents. He and his brother would love to try and find unique places to hide. A sombre feeling washed over him now as his thoughts cast to how much he missed his family. He always felt the loss was due to him, due to what he became as a host of a tailed beast. While that feeling lingered, he thought about the great being now, it's soul so kind, innocent and child like. Sin cast aside the thoughts of misery before he began to walk into the Maze of sand. He thought back, he knew at times his dad found him, but he pretended to keep looking, somehow making the game even more fun. "Ready or not, here .... I .... come!" Sin shouted in an excited way. He kept walking pretending to have found the being at every turn. "I'vvvveeeee found you! ... Oh no, you're not there... what about... here?!" He spoke as he twisted and turned. Something resonated with him as he felt like for once in his life, the pain of what he'd been through as a Jinchuuriki, allowed him to empathise. That pain and suffering gave him an understanding like no other. He continued for a while, he felt like he knew where the being was but he deliberately went past them, and kept searching, well pretending to search, before he got to the other size of the maze.[/I][/FONT] [I][FONT=courier new]"I must say, I looked everywhere! Shukukuuuuu I can't find them.... they truly are the hide and seek champion! What if they aren't even in the Maze?" He called out. As he did he lowered the walls of sand that made up the maze within his inner world to revealing the being stood there. "Wow! You must of hid really well, I thought you'd left already!" He clapped and smiled as he spoke like a parent would with any child playing games. As the last of the sand drifted into nothingness, he walked over to the being. "It seems I'm going to have to work on my hide and seek skills, but for now, can you show me the amazing forest where you live? I saw you had a beautiful crown!". He wasn't sure he could return to the real world naturally, something felt overwhelming right now, some force, not an evil one, just a powerful one.[/FONT][/I][/COLOR][/JUSTIFY] [/infobox] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Twenty[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 20"] [JUSTIFY][I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]Sin had an experience like not other, meeting an otherworldly being that he could never have even dreamed of. It's very nature would bring terror to most but it's heart was innocent, pure and kind, like that of a child. It had changed something within Sin, someone who was once so resentful towards the world, now he felt like a new person. He had optimism in his life. While his clone met with who ever he had found at the sanctuary, Sin had decided to move around and explore the lands he'd earlier rushed through. Panic had gripped him, his life had been a constant chase, him running for his life. Now he was free to explore this bizarre new world for his own.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new][I]As he travelled he found himself at this impossible bridge. A tree that grew across the great canyon, perfectly to form this amazing bridge. Sin stood for a moment, taking in not only the view, but a breathe of freedom. The air here left him feeling so free after he'd been confined for some long. He stepped onto the bridge but something tore at him. The canyon below was so vast, why not explore the hidden truths of the world? Gathering his sand from his gourd he created a cloud of sand he stepped onto and begin to float down into the vastness below. Fortunately due to sheer size, daylight found it's way into the depths allowing him to see. He lowered himself until he reached the ground in the depths which opened up into great caverns. Returning the sand to his gourd he took out a flare and began to explore the depths below. The rock formations were so unique, nothing like the eastern mountains. As he made his way through he heard a grunt. He stopped listening closely. He heard it again. Making his way slowly towards the sound, he didn't let his guard down. The sound growing ever louder. It was around the next corner. With his hand on his blade, he jumped around to see a man slumped against the wall. Even in the light of his torch, the man looked pale. Sin kneeled down, "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked. The man's eye lids moved, though didn't open, a breathe left his lips. It was clear the man was weak. Sin pulled his flask from his belt, holding the man's head and slowly poured water into his mouth a bit at a time. He didn't have the strength to drink. Sin looked the man up and down looking for any signs of wounds, to see if he was bleeding, or if he had any head wounds. He was no medical expert but he couldn't see anything that caused the man to be in such a state. He opened the man's eye to see his pupils dilated. There was no signs of poisoning that he could tell. No bite marks for venoms. Maybe it was an internal injury? Sin placed his hand on the man's chest slowly releasing a mass of Yang chakra into him. This was the pinnacle of his healing that would slowly repair any damage the man may have suffered internally. Sin waited for his technique to work, taking a drink himself while he waited. Time passed and there was no change in the man, what was this? His healing technique had the power to rescue almost anyone from death, healing any injury. What could possibly have caused him to be in such a state. It couldn't be hunger, the man's build, though the colour drained from his face, was quite large, with plenty of meat on his bones. A while passed and the man seemed to slowly begin to slip. He had found him leaning against the wall, now he was slowly sliding down, like he was slipping from the this world. Bijuu World [HR][/HR] Sin cast himself into his inner world. "What should I do?" He called to Shukuku. The one tailed beast let out a grunt that half sounded like a mocking laugh. "Let him die, you don't know him." He turned away from Sin. He was still clearly mad about the whole flower incident. Sin could feel his distain. "I can't just let him die, you know this! What if this was me? If I died, you do too!" He shouted, trying to get the beast to sympathise. "If you were this weak, I'd be free from you already." He mocked. "Free for how long ay? Until they find you, bind you and imprison you! Do you really want that life?" He shouted remembering their ordeal during the past 2 years. "I'm just trying to save one man's life, can't you at least try and help me with that? He's not wounded. I can't heal what ever is killing him. If it was an illusion, my technique would of freed him. What could be causing him to fade so fast?" "Are you really that clueless?" The beast mocked. "If you're not gonna help then just **** off!" Sin went to leave his inner world, sick of the beasts mockery. "He's lost his vitality..." The beasts voice echoed as Sin returned to reality. Sin wanted to ask about what the beast meant by vitality, but he knew the beast wouldn't respond now. He needed to think and fast. So, vitality, he knew from his training that Yang governed vitality while Yin governed spirit. Yang was the epitome of physical being, your strength. So, if this guy wasn't hurt what would be leaving him so dra.... It was like a penny dropping in his mind as he came to the realisation. The only time people got to this state is when they were completely physically drained, when they ran out of chakra. How could someone run out of chakra in a place like this? Was he too weak to leave? What could have done this to him. Sin knew that medical ninja had the ability to channel chakra into others safely without killing them. He had seen it done to his brother when he was younger. But, he'd never learned medical arts, nor did he know how they did it. He couldn't just flood his own chakra into the man... could he? He sat for a moment thinking. The only time he experienced chakra being transferred, was when the Shukuku's flooded into him as it took on the shroud of the beast. Could he use this to gift his chakra to another. Well, he was out of time, and he had no way of helping this guy. He placed his hand on the man's chest, asking the shukuku for his help as he tried to release his chakra into the man before him. His hand glowed orange with the bijuu chakra that slowly engulfed the man. After a moment the aura faded....[/I][/FONT][/COLOR] [I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]A few moments passed as Sin held his breathe, waiting to see if it worked. Slowly the man's eyes opened as his mouth moved slightly to whisper one sentence "Look... out...".[/FONT][/COLOR][/I][/JUSTIFY] [/infobox] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Twenty One[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 21"] [JUSTIFY][I][FONT=courier new][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]The battle between Sinthorus and Faye unfolded in a dense, ancient forest where humidity clung to the air and moss softened every step. Faye opened aggressively, shedding her leg weights and bombarding Sin with high speed elemental attacks while using the Genki as unseen observers. Sin answered with overwhelming control of wind and sand, dispersing her opening strikes and forcing the fight into a brutal exchange of power rather than finesse. From the outset, it was clear both combatants were veterans accustomed to fighting enemies far stronger than themselves.[/COLOR][/FONT][/I] [FONT=courier new][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][I]As the fight escalated, Faye relied on her Karma abilities to teleport, absorb attacks, and turn Sin’s own techniques back against him. She struck with xenon powered blows, Rasengan assaults, and earth shaping techniques that attempted to crush him outright. Sin endured through instinct and experience, his sand acting independently to shield him while his absorption tools neutralized her most devastating techniques. Each exchange pushed the battlefield further toward ruin as forest and earth alike were torn apart. When speed and deception became the deciding factors, Sin entered his Yang State, dramatically heightening his perception and reaction speed. Faye countered with clever transformations, liquefying her body into bismuth and reshaping the terrain into a deadly metallic forest raining projectiles from above. Despite her adaptability, Sin’s heightened awareness allowed him to anticipate her movements and strike during the brief moments she was forced back into solid form.[/I][/COLOR][/FONT] [I][FONT=courier new][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]The battle ended decisively when Sin unleashed a Yang infused sand technique at point blank range, striking Faye from behind before she could react. The serpentine constructs drove her into the ground with overwhelming force, leaving[/COLOR][/FONT][/I][FONT=courier new][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)] no room [/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]for recovery. Recognizing the outcome, Faye conceded defeat, bringing the fight to a close after a relentless clash of strategy, power, and endurance.[/FONT][/COLOR][/JUSTIFY] [/infobox] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Twenty Two[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 22"] [JUSTIFY][I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]The man before Sin slowly began to wake, his words, "look out!" were all's Sin heard before his sand acted on it's own surrounding him and the man he'd just saved. With this he quickly stood and turned to see what had happened. As his sand parted to reveal someone behind him. There stood a cloaked figure, around 8 feet tall. It's face hidden in shadow as the flickering light of Sin's flare lit the cavern. The man behind him seemed to fear what ever this being was. Sin stepped forwards lifting the flare lightly trying to reveal more of the being. The cloak seemed tattered, blade, dirty and rugged. He'd never seen anyone of this stature.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new][I]"Who are you? What do you want?" Sin asked. Maybe the person before him needed help like the man behind him? Though, his sand wouldn't of reacted unless something aimed to harm Sin, but what was it? There was no trace of any projectile. Sin's eyes scoured the area for any sign of movement. Was this being alone? Was he the one who attacked him? The problem at the moment was Sin wasn't exactly in the best situation. First of all, he'd used half his chakra to make the clone back at the sanctuary. He'd slowly been recovering chakra from that but he hadn't accounted for running into trouble. He'd been using chakra like it was a liberty. His sand cloud was simple enough, but his armour, though acting on its own, drew on his reserves. Top that off with the chakra he'd just passed into the guy behind him, he wasn't in the best state. Secondly, if it did come to a battle, this space was confined. Any movement or damage to any of these natural structures could cause it all to come crashing down. Not only that but he'd have to protect the guy behind him. It seemed the best thing to do was to avoid any form of conflict. His questions hung in the air. The being's head tilted to the side, it's ominous figure giving off a weird aura. "Can't you talk? Did you do this?" He said, pointing towards the guy recovering behind him. Slowly the being lifted an arm. Sin instinctively placed his hand on his sword. From the sleeve of the being, tendrils shot forth, though not towards Sin, the man behind him. With Sin not being in danger, his sand didn't act on it's own. With a quick hand gesture, he drew on the gourd on his back causing the sand to shoot out and warp around the tendrils, preventing them from reaching the man. "I'll take that as a yes. Leave, while you still can!" He shouted at the being. The tendrils struggled against his sand for a moment but then went still. Sin wasn't going to let them go without getting some idea about what he was up against. Slowly the sand binding the tendrils began to fall to the ground like an hour glass. He hadn't loosened his grip, why was it fading away? He thought of the guy behind him, his chakra drained. In an instant he controlled the sand to compact, crushing the tendrils where they were held causing the ends to fall to the ground as the rest retreated into the sleeves of the man. It was in that moment Sin knew the being had been draining his chakra. It was like something feeding off him. His sand was falling due to the chakra forming it together being drained. He needed to find a way to attack or bind the thing before him before he ran out of chakra. He looked around at the rock wondering what he could make use of to try and attack this being, though he couldn't be sure if it would backfire and all come crashing down. He turned his head slightly to speak to the man. "Hey, do you know what this thing is? Where did it come from? Can you move?" Maybe he didn't actually have to fight him. He waited a moment hoping for a simple response but it was no use. It seemed he was on his own. Low on chakra, he thought for a moment. He could unleash the seal within and take a portion of the chakra of the beast within but in doing that, a shockwave would be unleashed that could distort the caverns and make the whole place unstable. Not only that but he wasn't used to controlling that level of power. He needed time to think, though that wasn't a luxury he could afford. The being before him was suddenly a mass of tendrils. Each part of it's body a wire of something black. It's cloak cast aside now. They unleashed a volley of attacks, striking like whips in Sin's direction. With a series of hand gestures he controlled his sand. He drew two kunai, launching them in the process aiming at where the heart of the being should be. He hit his target but the result he wanted didn't show. They simply bounced off the being, falling to the ground, not leaving a single mark. Well that was just great. Fortunately, his sand control was strong enough to fend off it's attacks with ease, the problem coming in the expenditure of his chakra. If only he could release a full sandstorm without worrying about the danger to the terrain. An idea developed in his mind. He drew three more kunai with his right hand. The being before him seemed to laugh, or was that just in his mind?[/I][/FONT][/COLOR] [I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][FONT=courier new]Sin infused his chakra into the kunai, drawing on his sand, he caused a localised torrent of sand to form around the blades before launching them forwards at the being. Either it couldn't tell the sand was there or didn't care as it didn't try to block them. The sand infused kunai struck their mark, one in the heart, one in the stomach and one in the head, though they didn't fall to the ground. The sandstorm surrounding them swirled like a drill as they drove into the centre of the being, passing through it. The being said nothing, it remained still for a moment, the tendrils stopped moving. A moment later, it fell to the ground in a pile of threads. Sin held his breathe. His hands ready to control his sand, though the threads remained lifeless. After a minute past, he breathed again. He was drained. He'd pushed himself to the limit trying to fight cautiously. He turned to the man behind him, lifting him to his shoulder and began to take him out of the caverns to safety.[/FONT][/COLOR][/I][/JUSTIFY] [/infobox] [CENTER][hr][/hr][I][COLOR=rgb(243, 121, 52)][SIZE=5][FONT=courier new]Mission Twenty Three[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/I][hr][/hr][/CENTER] [infobox="Mission 23"] [JUSTIFY][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][I][FONT=courier new]Sin sat resting against a tree, finishing his food having recovered a fair bit of his chakra at this point thanks to the beast within. It was like having a chakra battery on standby when needed, though most the time it came with a cost. Opposite him was the man he’d saved from the creature in caverns below. He still hadn’t really said much about how he got there, who attacked him or why he’d been attacked in the first place. It left Sin feeling a bit unsettled. He’d come to these lands for answers, but instead he’d ended up in some strange situations. Though these weren’t all bad. The creature he’d met in the forest was kind, helping remember the goodness of the world. Though then that creature, what even was it? Why had it attacked this man before him?[/FONT][/I][/COLOR] [FONT=courier new][I][COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]Either way, he didn’t want to stick around in case there were more of those things around. “Hey, it’s time we get going.” He said to the man. Where they would go he wasn’t sure, he just didn’t want to be around in case there were more of those tentacle like creatures. He thought about going to the monks, but this guy probably didn’t want to end up there, maybe the Dawnport? It would make the most sense. He could probably find someone who might know the guy. Sin began to pack his things ready to leave.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]His sand reacted in an instant, forming a shield over him as a bullet of fire smashed into it with concussive force. They were under attack. They’d lingered for too long. His sand lingered as he spun looking for the assailant in the trees. He looked around but couldn’t see anything. His sand acting on its own from the side now protecting him once more. He heard the attack this time. Light illuminated the area around him as he heard the crackling of lightning. How many were there? He thought about escaping but then the guy he’d risked his life to saved would be in harms way once more. He released his sand once more, spreading a unique sand around the area to sense any that may come near. He was almost surrounded.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]The were three assailants. One to his right, one to the left and one directly ahead. He couldn’t see them clearly as they were hidden in the trees, but he knew they were there. He could have easily devastated the land with the power of the one tailed beast, but he cast his mind back to the being who had been kind to him. These lands were their home, they were at peace here and he couldn’t afford to ruin what had been built here. Instead, he’d have to be tactful. For now, though he was sat defending his current position, his sand blocking countless attacks for multiple angles. He began slowly breaking down the ground under the one to his right, turning it to sand slowly so as the assailant wouldn’t notice. He was going to take them out one by one. As soon as the sand was ground to nothing, he caused a spike to shoot up, impaling the being.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]He felt it before he realised what had happened. He hadn’t been paying attention. The should of a blade hitting the side of his neck came out of nowhere. The end of the blade buried in Sin. How? He turned his head slightly so in the corner of his eye, he could see the familiar face holding the blade. The man he’d saved. Why? He’d saved him, why was he attacking him? Sin fell to the ground holding where the blade struck his neck, looking up at the man who had a sinister grin on his face. “Why?” Sin said faintly.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]The man stepped back as the two remaining assailants appeared from the treeline. Like down in the caverns, they were made of mass tendrils making up their form with masks on their face. “It was kind of you to give me a taste of the chakra of that beast of yours. It’s shame you are such a bad judge of character. Trying to be a hero, were we? Laughable.” He mocked. Blood poured from under Sin’s hand as he looked up in despair. The creatures moved around next to the man before the tendrils merged with the man, seemingly absorbed into him. Just what was this creature?[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]“I honestly didn’t think you’d fall for it. We knew that defence of yours was nearly unbeatable, but to be fooled so easily, maybe our master underestimated you? Either way, when you pass out from blood loss, it will finally be over.” He laughed; his form distorted. Tendrils protruded from his entire body.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]“What are you? They… are all you?” Sin asked through gritted teeth.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]“This is a unique forbidden art granted to me. I take the hearts of those I crush, and they become a part of me. It’s a shame you managed to destroy one before. We were hoping to drain your chakra and bind you, but a dead jinchuriki is good enough.” So, Sin was a target all along. Typical. Though thinking on it, Sin realised, he'd taken out two hearts already. The others were within the man himself now, right?[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]"You... killed... 4 others and took their hearts... what kind of monster are you?" Sin growled through gritted teeth. Would the man fall for it.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]"Monster? Says the demon... I've killed many, though I only take the hearts of those I need... Unfortunately you killed 2 of the 4 I've gathered. Though when I take yours, it will make up for at least one of them... so..." He rose his hand as he released a mass of tendrils down to Sin.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]In a flash, a torrent of sand sprung up binding the man from all directions, haling his every movement and compacting on him with unbelievable force. He struggled against his bindings. "What the **** this this, you should be on the verge of death!" He couldn't believe what was happening.[/COLOR] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)]Sin rose to his feet, moving his hand from his neck with the blade held between his two fingers. Where the blade seemed to have hit it's target, there was a chip in a rock like armour. It was Sin's permanent sand armour that protected him from attacks. He turned his hand to reveal his trick. He'd sliced his hand between the fingers to cause some blood to pour, making it seem as though the blood was coming from his neck wound. Sin had played along, just so he could spring their trap and his true foe would reveal themselves. "You really think it would be that easy? My life has been hell, being hunted, chased, attack... I've had to adapt, overcome and triumph where you couldn't possibly understand. I was simply waiting for you to show me what I was really up against." He smiled as he said this, wiping his hand on his cloak to remove the blood, dropping the blade. "I could of ended you all at a moments notice, but I refused to damage this sacred forest. You aren't worth it. Now your life will end here, a payment for all those you hurt..." With his last word, Sin made a fist out of his hand causing all the sand to compact completely crush his foe in an instant, destroying every heart in the process. He controlled his sand to burry the man beneath the ground leaving no trace. His foe would provide nourishment for the trees.[/COLOR][/I][/FONT] [COLOR=rgb(124, 112, 107)][I][FONT=courier new]Sin packed up the rest of his things and decided it was time to move on.[/FONT][/I][/COLOR][/JUSTIFY] [/infobox] [/QUOTE]

Name

Verification: What animal is associated with Naruto's inner demon?