Phoenix seeking Eagle, which one is prey? [Private, invite only]

Washi could feel it in the wind. Some sort of omen. The cool air swept his air freely and his robes danced in the wind. A presence. He quickly sent chakra to increase his reflexes, shunshining outside the gates before the guard could even react. He would deal with this situation to make sure nobody would get hurt.

The chakra was of course familiar and its presence was easily felt and Washi closed both eyes before opening them and watching his surroundings. He quickly gathered pace as he looked for the man he had sensed. No doubt the Hokage would be concerned that one of his best jounin had gone out without warning.

Washi clicked his fingers and with his other hand carefully grabbed Kira within his robes, the kunai could not be seen as it was hidden inside his long sleeves but a flock of birds suddenly lifted in flight as if they could sense the impending danger. It was midday and the sun beat carefully onto Washi's skin as he called out softly and formed hand seals.

"Shinichi you can come out now,"

Shinichi smiled softly, held lowering for just a moment, very uncharacteristically for the proud young man. As he stepped out of the cover of the trees, his white Akatsuki robes fluttered hastily in the wind, as if in some twisted mockery of Washi's more gently flowing robes. The red clouds on his robes paled when compared to the red glint in the ruby eyes of his pheonix pendant, although whether it was a glint from the sun or something more could not be told. He let his pale fingers run cooly over the golden chain, his other hand tucked within his robes, idly fondling the silver hilt of his sword while the sleeve whipped in the breeze.

The leader of Akatsuki had given him only one assignment, to deal with his former comrade, the most dangerous Jounin in Konoha. The attack itself had been delayed, but Shinichi was loathe to prolong anything that need not wait. Whether the fight took place now or later, in the end, made no difference. That restlessness within him was growing, and he wasn't sure how long he would have lasted rotting in that dark place the Akatsuki called home. No more stagnating.

"Already forming seals my old friend, what if I came to talk to you?"

Washi almost grinned. With his exceptional seal speed, Shinichi would have no time to talk. He blinked carefully and slowly; and in a puff of smoke a shadow clone appeared beside him both of them forming seals so quickly that their hands blurred,

"Talk? We've talked before. Now is the time for battle," he said softly before he shunshined closer to his shadow clone, throwing a sharp kunai towards Shinichi's feet after he did so. Purposely missing but only by an inch. He was already formulating a plan.

As the kunai was thrown he quickly glanced around the area, taking in information from both the location and his enemy before facing his opponent once more, carefully positoned and ready to dodge or counter any of Shinichi's attacks. He knew his comrade well enough to guess what the next attack would be and he smirked slightly but calmly.

Shinichi jumped back a few feet, eyes narrowing suspiciously seeing the mark of his footprints on the dusty trail, the kunai dug into the ground just before it would have hit. Shinichi wonderered at the probability of sympathy for a moment but was quick to remember that little could be taken at face value with Washi. He could never form seals near as fast as Washi could, luckily his clan's secret Phoenix seal was a short cut for any jutsu involving fire. Forming what was similar to the tiger seal, but with his index fingers crossed and his little fingers touching, Shinichi took a deep breath, gathering his chakra, and expelling it. Flames shot from his mouth, roaring loudly and swirling in front of him for a moment, forming a dragon like shape then blazing towards Washi. If he wanted to get straight to it, so be it. Of course Shinichi was sure it couldn't be that simple...

"Katon: Karyu Endan!"

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Name: Katon: Karyu Endan (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Missile)
Type: Offensive
Range: Short to Mid 0-10m
Rank: B
Description:
The user shoots an enormous ball of flame in the shape of a dragon from their mouth.
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Chakra: 194/200
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Washi saw the flames approaching, the heat blazing a trail as the dragon approached. In an instinct he sent his chakra down to his legs again, increasing his reflexes to incredible levels and shunshined to the side of the attack, his clone similarly doing the same. As they did so both of them quickly got out shurikens and attached them with explosive notes, sending them around Shinichi but never aiming directly at him.

As soon as Washi had thrown those shuriken he clasped his hands in the tiger seal before they blurred once more and he muttered the jutsu name,

"Katon: Goukakyuua no Jutsu!"

His clone did the same, even finishing his hand seals before the real Washi but no fire ball came out from his mouth. Meanwhile the large fireball streaked towards the side of Shinichi. The shuriken with explosive tags looked more menacing then usual.

Shinichi gathered his chakra into his legs and pushed off, launching himself almost straight up into the air. He heard the soft roar of the flames beneath him and felt the heat rising up, but as a member of the Shiroto clan, the heat didn't bother him much. Mere moments later the tags exploded beneath him, the force of the blasts causing his robes to flutter violently for a moment. Shinichi slid his blade from its sheath inside his robes and slid it out of his sleeve, the silver metal glinting in the sun as he slowly reached the peak of his rise and began to fall. In two smooth, precise slashes he pushed forth some of his wind chakra with the blade of the sword, making a wind blade sharper and more define than one without, one at Washi and one at the clone.

"Kaze no Yaiba!"


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Name: Kaze no Yaiba (Blade of Wind)
Type: Offensive
Range: Short to Mid 0-10m
Rank: A
Description:
This jutsu creates a blade of wind. This blade is impossible to block because of its intangible nature. Unlike the Cutting Whirlwind Technique, this jutsu requires no tool.
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Chakra: 178/200
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Washi grinned again. Shinichi had fallen for his trap. His jutsu was supposed to be nothing more then a distraction for a far greater plan and of course the explosive tags allowed him to get to this situation. While Shinichi was still in the air, the kunai that had been thrown earlier at the start of the fight suddenly changed into Washi and it shunshined towards Shinichi, ready to explode at any second.

Meanwhile the blades of wind approached Washi and his clone. The attack was fast but not entirely unexpected, both he and his clone quickly replaced with the shurikens that they had thrown, choosing not to set off the explosive tags for obvious reasons but the wind was fast and just caught Washi's robes as a bit of the material was left behind.

"Bunshin Daibukha!" said Washi loudly as he formed a hand seal and the clone near to Shinichi exploded. The smoke would give him some relief as he and the clone quickly moved to the back, both forming hand seals in the process as they began their next attacks,

"Kaze no Yaiba!"

Sending a blade of wind straight towards the back of Shinichi in case he had survived the earlier explosion and another one from the shadow clone, sent above it incase Shinichi jumped.

Just as he always had, Shinichi had played exactly into Washi's plans. Shinichi was far too direct and Washi too crafty. But Shinichi smiled even as a bead of sweat formed on his forhead. There was still something to be said for raw power. Landing just as the clone got next to him, he quickly gathered chakra into his legs and reflexively burst forward away from the clone, shunshining away. He could not shunshin near as far fast or well as Washi but it served its purpose, buying him a couple seconds. As he flew through the air, world blurred around him, he formed a string of seals and turned, landing and shouting the name just as the clone appeared next to him and blew.

"Futon: Daitoppa! Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!"

As soon as he uttered the words an enourmous burst of wind shot forth, howling and tearing through the very earth as it traveled towards Washi, who had gotten behind him, overpowering the blast from the explosion. He added the fireball technique which trailed in the tail end of the wind blast, flames roaring loudly. The blast pushed against the wind blade enough to slow it, and it was lessened after passing through the great fireball. Shinichi failed to react in time, but thanks to the dulling effect of his jutsu when it hit him squarely in the chest, rather than killing him, it knocked the wind from him and he fell back onto the ground with a grunt.

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Name: Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique)
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short to Mid 0-10m
Rank: D
Description:
This jutsu is a high-speed movement technique, allowing a ninja to move short distances at an almost untraceable speed


Name: Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)
Type: Offensive
Range: Short to Mid 0-10m
Rank: C
Description:
This jutsu sends out a powerful explosion of wind from the user's location, easily leveling anything in its path. A variation of this technique involves a smaller blast of wind that gets ignited with flame, making it stronger and more damaging to the target.
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Chakra: 168/200
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He had managed to counter just in time...So he's worthy of Akatsuki after all...

Washi tapped his head slightly, quickly taking in battle calculations as to how the fight would proceed. He would have to go all out very soon as his chakra was slowly getting depleted from this fight, he bit his thumb so that a droplet of blood came out while the clone activated the rest of the exploding seals so that the smoke would cover what Washi was doing temporarily. This was a move that would perhaps swing the favour more towards him.

The clone quickly threw shurikens wildly, through the smoke and also into the air with a large arc to prevent Shinichi from jumping before once more his hands blurred, completing another set of handseals just as Washi shouted outloud and very clearly,

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

From above a giant toad plummeted towards Shinichi as the smoke began to clear.

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Chakra: 50/100

Shinichi had little time to react to the shuriken flying at him, he only saw them for a moment after they came out from the smoke, not enough time to draw his blade and deflect them, and he feared some trap if he dodged. Forming the phoenix seal he gathered his chakra within him, and the phoenix eyes on his pendant flared a bright red as he activated one of his clan jutsu.

"Katon:Hinote Kabe!"

As the first shuriken shot forth from the smoke a roaring flame erupted from in front of Shinichi, the fire white hot. As the shuriken hit the wall of flames they began to melt so quickly that Shinichi barely saw their dark froms through the fire, and none of them passed through far enough to even scratch him. It was the shadow around him that alerted him to some new trick, and by the time he looked upward his vision was all but blocked by the enormous toad falling towards him. In a sudden reflexive burst his chakra flooded to his feet, even as he threw himself forward, and while the instinctive blast had given him the speed he needed, it lacked any form of finesse, and he half rolled, half skidded painfully on the ground narrowly escaping being crushed, growling angrily knowing his robes would be impossible to clean after this.

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Name: Katon:Hinote Kabe (Blazing Wall)
Rank - C
Description : Forming the Phoenix seal, the user creates a sudden burst of white flame in front of him, creating a near impenatrable wall that incinerates anything that tries to get through.
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Chakra: 150/200
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The white flames burnt bright and he saw the flying shurikens melt as they passed through the intensity of the barrier. They were however mere distractions and his main plan had already been put in motion. The fight was dragging on longer then expected, he knew he could have finished this a lot sooner and his depleting chakra worried him.

Washi's clone quickly shunshined as Shinichi dodged the large toad which was now lying awkwardly as the clone started exploding near Shinichi. Washi did not wait to see the result of his attack but quickly made a few hand seals, replacing himself with a clone of his while the smoke from the explosion covered him. He henged into a kunai, allowing his clone to throw him from a safe distance away from the fight and into some trees.

"Is this all you've got Shinichi? This is what you've gained? Entering Akatsuki to become this pathetically weak?" mocked the clone softly as it began another string of seals, ready to use Washi's signature genjutsu once the smoke cleared.

Shinichi cursed, forming the phoenix seal with his hands while still on the ground, using his smoke fade technique, the smoke from his jutsu erupting moments before the explosion, Shinichi used the substitution jutsu on a nearby log, putting himself on the outer edge of the trees. The smoke from his jutsu mingled with the smoke of the from the explosion, and he thought and spoke as it slowly wafted away. Hearing Washi's words his blood began to boil and the phoenix eyes on his pendant flared bright, but he stroked the chain of his necklace and slowly calmed.

"You are a master trickster my friend, not all attacks on the mind must use chakra. I'll not let you provoke me. You'll note that you haven't truly harmed me either...Neither of us have shown our true power yet. Is it a clinging remnant of comradery? Is it a method of measuring eachother's growth?"

Shinichi dusted himself off as the smoke finished fading away. He was sure Washi could have pulled something crafty again, some genjutsu... Shinichi's limited genjutsu abilities were no good here anyway, raw power was his only tool. So why had he held back? Did he still feel some connection for his old comrade, despite his assurance at having severed those bonds? Or was it that fear of his own power, that he had believed to have conquered. The death of his father in the phoenix fire, the melting of the unmeltable stone...Such destruction, even stronger now, lay dormant within him. Yes...yes he did fear it. No matter how calm and reserved he was, in the end, fire was beyond control, burning wildly...no, but now Shinichi controlled it...It didn't matter. In the end it came down to death, the fate shared by all. He could either die in the flaming beak of the phoenix's rage, or by the hand of his enemy...Why not unleash his power and take down his enemy with him, if nothing else?

"No, it doesn't matter why we've held back. Enough child's play my old friend. I know you have some more tricks up your sleeve, and I've plenty more flame. Come!"

Everything, everything had worked, like a cog carefully fitted so that the entire machine could rumble. It was true he had not yet truly hurt Shinichi when he knew he had the capability of killing him but it didn't matter now. His intention was never to kill him but to teach him a lesson and a harsh lesson it would be.

The eye contact was enough as Washi's clone looked into Shinichi's eyes. The battle was now a battle of minds but this time he was going to be a lot more subtle, why produce millions of clones when you can already control the whole world? He could kill him right now...or perhaps seriously injure him while the illusion still remained but perhaps Shinichi was right? Perhaps Washi did feel some sort of emotion that prevented him from killing him.

"Tricks? You've always never understood me for what I truly am. There are people who claim I am a magician or an illusionist and countless times I've said I wasn't. I do however make plans and its a pity you've fallen right into this plan in particular," said Washi as he moved through the almost identical but illusion world.

He shunshined, perhaps faster then in real life but few people could discern the difference and he went for a stab with Kira, plunging the blade towards Shinich's stomach.

Shinichi arched a brow at this. He was no stranger to genjutsu, but Washi's use of them was on a mastery level, while Shinichi still merely dabbled, and he failed to notice the moment at which he was placed under the technique's affects. His blade flew again from its sheath, the ringing of the metal sliding on metal coinciding with the metallic clang of his blade's contact with Kira. He had swept his blade in a low arc to parry the stab, but the speed of the shunshin and the added motion of unsheathing the blade made him too slow. The stab itself failed, and kira was pushed to the side by the parry, but Kira dug into his flesh nonetheless, tearing through the robes and putting a deep gash into his side. Grimacing as the kunai tore through his side completely, he brought his blade, now holding Washi's kunai to the outside and within his guard, straight upwards for a vertical slash, as the blood flowed, staining his robes irrevocably crimson.

As Shinichi's sword approached, Washi tried to keep his movement as natural as possible. No harm could actually come to him but he made sure he dodged as if in keeping with reality as he shunshined out of the way but nevertheless making contact with the sharp blade. His robe got torn slightly by the attack and small beads of blood dropped onto the floor. He quickly turned his wrist sharply and swung his arm towards Shinichi's neck with Kira extending at the same time as he stepped with his right foot and turned on the pivot. Essentially doing a 360 degree slash around him. The blade glinted in the sunlight as it swished in a circle, Washi trying to regain his balanced posture an composure as he did so while watching his opponent carefully.

Shinichi might have been finished there if it weren't for the fact that he had known Washi before hand. It had been so long, and when they had met before in the Shiroto manor, Shinichi had known so little. But it was all coming back to him now. He would have naturally dodged an attack like that by stepping back a bit. But Kira was a special kunai that could extend. He would get hit anway. Shinichi knelt on the ground, ducking the blow, still narrowly avoiding it, pulling his blade back as he did, elbow bent to his side. Then as his knee hit the ground he thrust his arm forward for a quick stab, aiming upwards at Washi's stomach, a stab that clearly showed the finesse that could only come from a rich boy and his fencing lessons.

Washi leaned back slowly, one foot stepping back while the other lifted to counteract the motion and push the blade of the sword upwards in a speedy front kick so that it just narrowly missed his stomach and neck. He readjusted his balance quickly and grabbed onto Kira tightly, sending chakra down his legs to increase his reflexes once more he shunshined to the side of Shinichi, thrusting Kira towards his opponent's side as he did so. While with his other hand he quickly got out a shuriken from within a pocket inside his large flourishing robes, ready to either throw the shuriken incase Shinichi managed to dodge or block any incoming attack. The realism of his attacks and blocks would have to be precise so that the nature of the genjutsu would not be revealed.

Shinichi frowned, his arm still held up in the stabbing position as Kira went for his side. Luckily, even though it was a set length, his sword was long as well. He turned his wrist downard, bending his elbow, and caught the edge of Kira, pushing the blade in front of him so that his blade barely seperated his chest from Kira. Of course the awkward angle forced him to have to strain to keep enough pressure to prevent his blade being pushed back against him. He shot his free hand out to grab Washi's wrist to hold it safely in its place while sliding his blade up the length of Washi's arm, curving it at the end so it would make a slash at his neck.

Washi grinned as his wrist was held and with his free hand still holding onto the small shuriken he parried the slash away with great difficulty but helped with the momentum of his free arm before launching a powerful side kick into Shinichi's stomach, intending to kick him back fiercly and free the hand holding Kira. His free hand bled as the shuriken digged into his flesh when he parried but its purpose was served and he threw the shuriken towards Shinichi's neck before grabbing another kunai so that he would be prepared for another swift attack.

"I think its time you should feel fear..." said Washi gently while he pointed towards Shinichi with one of the kunai, "Does fear grip your insides tightly?"

With all his arms occupied Shinichi couldn't react in time to stop the kick, which hit him full force at close range. He grimaced flying back and skidding on the ground, the shuriken missing since he flew back, barely cutting his cheek as he skidded on the ground. Hardly concerned with his likely broken ribs, he frowned looking down at his robes, now beyond repair. He stood, wincing as the rib bothered him now, looking at Washi with cold eyes, grip tightening on his sword hilt.

"I don't fear you."

I only fear myself...

Washi almost laughed and he clicked his fingers so that another clone suddenly appeared behind Shinichi, throwing a punch towards his head. His gaze tightened with scrutiny as he pointed towards his old comrade.

"Fool, fear is what makes us human and emotion is what defines us. Whether you fear me or not doesn't matter but whether you should be feeling fear does...so this brings me to my next question. Do you fear death?" he asked with an almost demonic look.

He didn't wait for the answer, merely lifting Kira high above his head and shunshining towards Shinichi, driving the blade down above him,

"Those who haven't died, haven't fully lived and yet there are those who are reborn with the wings of the phoenix, as if from the ashes of flames. Yet there are eagles who are constantly ascending and descending. For eagles have no need to be reborn, that is realism!

"Katon : Fennikusu Heki!!!"

Rather than form any defense, Shinichi instead formed the phoenix seal and the ruby eyes of his pendant flared brighter than ever before, the metal growing hot. His chakra burst forth in large amounts, fierce and flicking like flame, and so to did a flame erupt within his body. Burning deep within him, even before his mouth closed from shouting the jutsu, the fire spread inside him, consuming him, physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally...His fear and doubt burned away along with the effects of the Genjutsu, his mind and body cleansed by fire. The roar of the flames grew louder as they swallowed him whole, and he opened his eyes, now a bright yellow with specks of orange in their midst. These eyes, calm on the outside but concealing a fierce fire, the fire of the Phoenix, famous for being wholly devoted to passion and ferocity, lacking any logic or reason, locked onto the true washi now with the genjutsu gone. Seeming to slowly take shape out of the flames rather than grow or appear, a pair of golden feathered wings manifest themselves on Shinichi's back. Shinichi rose, wreathed in flames, his voice having a shrill echo to it.

"Those who have died are forever tainted with a darkness. Yet the phoenix is able to be reborn from that taint burning stronger and brighter than ever for the things it holds dear in its heart. The fluctuating eagles avoid darkness and tragedy where the phoenix faces it and eventually overcomes. The Phoenix has no need to cling sadly to a temporary life. That is true strength!"

"Katon: Fennikusu Dangan!!"

So saying the flames grew rapidly around Shinichi, his sword glowing red and slowly melting in the midst of the fire, until Shinichi was all but lost within the enourmous fireball, the roar of the fire deafening. Spreading his wings, Shinichi leapt forward, charging at Washi with speed far greater than before.


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Name: Katon : Fennikusu Heki (Phoenix burst)
Rank: B
Description: The Clan member awakens the dormant phoenix chakra, and becomes engulfed in flames. while the member experiences no pain or fatigue just yet, the flames DO do damage, and will take affect at the end of the transformation. More powerful clan members will grow wings.

(Following Jutsu may only be used After Phoenix Burst)
Name: Katon: Fennikusu Dangan (Phoenix Shot)
Rank : A
Description : The flames around the clan member grow rapidly into an enourmous fireball, which is then launched at the opponent with high speed. Clan members with wings will sometimes fly at the opponent inside the fireball for a second impact
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Chakra: 110/200
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This was it! Shinichi's full power revealed and the awesome strength of the phoenix! There was awe and there was majesty as it charged into the clone at high speeds, the intense fire burning so hot that Washi could almost feel the heat wave even at the distance he was watching the fight. This was the power of the phoenix, unveiled in all its glory, its wings spreading far apart as it soared and made impact.

Flames licked the air as the clones eye's widened before disappearing with a poof of smoke. That passion and that ferocity so unlike the calculating and keeneyed eagle. Washi hid in the bushes and trees stunned temporarily by the glorious power as he felt both the warm air, the intensely burning flames and the chakra.

"The phoenix, that symbol of reincarnation and divine fire, is nothing more then just a mythological creature but the eagle is a symbol of glory, conquest and leadership, its swift wings flying so fast and high that a creature like the phoenix has no hope of chasing it! The phoenix is the true coward for not passing away naturally like all other beings before it!" shouted Washi so that he could be heard from the fiercely licking flames as he stepped further and further away from the bright light.

The large toad was still in the exact same position as it had been before, lying perfectly still as the flames reached it and it poofed into an ordinary shuriken now melting before the powerful fire. Washi unable to keep up the genjutsu under the heat covered his eyes with his hands, thinking of a plan. Such intense flames must also be hurting Shinichi, it couldn't last forever and it had to be stopped. What better way of stopping it then using its own power?

He bit his thumb again, a droplet of blood dropped onto the ground as he pulled out a scroll, slamming both of his palms onto the ground: this time performing the actual jutsu instead of faking it,

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu: GAMAKEN!" he roared above the fierce flames.

The huge toad appeared, stamping on the ground as if annoyed by the large heat. Washi opened one of his eyes, comforted by its arrival and knowing what he must do with the rest of his chakra.

"Washi, these flames are so hot...why I haven't felt such hot fire since facing the sharingan!" croaked Gamaken,

"Your oil! Spit it all out! Cover that man in it. As much as possible!"

Washi jumped out from his cover, above the giant toad forming hand seals as he did so and hoping his plan would work.

"FUUTON: DAITOPPA!"

As the toad approached and gushed oil towards Shinichi, Washi helped it along with the powerful wind, driving the oil towards his opponent quickly and fanning the flames so that they become even larger and more powerful. Just fire, all he could see was just fire as more and more oil covered Shinichi, burning, burning and burning,

"Be reborn then! Let me see what you are truly made of and cleanse yourself from the ash of your OLD LIFE!"

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Kunai = Toad before?

Explanations: The clone quickly threw shurikens wildly...completing another set of handseals just as Washi shouted outloud and very clearly,

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

The shurikens were used as mainly a distraction but as mentioned before, some of them were thrown in a large arc, so that Shinichi could not jump to avoid the attacks. Washi's clone then used a genjutsu to change the shuriken into a large toad, while the real Washi pretended he was using a summoning jutsu as the smoke covered his fake actions.

Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu - Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique. Rank: C

This jutsu changes the appearance of a nearby object or area.
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Chakra: 10/100
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Shinichi howled in pain, the shrill scream barely rising above the roar of the flames. While the flames of the phoenix burst were not supposed to take affect or cause pain until the very end, the intensity of the flames from Shinichi's special enhanced pendant and the efforts of Washi and his toad summon were causing it to burn brighter and hotter than ever before. He could barely hear the words of his former comrade above the roaring of the flames engulfing him. He shouted as best he could, his voice torn by the searing pain throughout him.

"The phoenix blazes before you Washi! The creature is more than a myth it is a symbol of passion and strength, the fiery power of the heart, glory within oneself. I am no coward! The phoenix has courage greater than any other, to face death again and again, where others only face it once."

He had intended to say more, but at this point he almost doubled over in agony. these pains werent supposed to come yet... His wings spread and began to flap, though his body itself was still curled up. The oil dripped from his body to become swiftly consumed by the fire, blazing hot he could almost feel his skin melting.. His wings lifted him up into the sky, and by the time he was able to open his eyes, he was looking with a birds eye view down at the scene of their battle. The pain grew and with it, his fear returned, fear of this power within him. Its power was consuming him now, just as he had always feared, and as he had feared, he would likely die from this...

He had let his passions consume him and push him so far, let his logic leave him and surrendered himself to the very thing he had feared would destroy him. He had failed to control this demon and now he could pay the ultimate price. But was it not the nature of the phoenix to follow its heart, despite all, and risk everything for what he believed in? Shinichi raised his head, though it hurt to even move, and formed the phoenix seal of his clan, whispering softly, for it was all he had the strength to do.

"Fennikusu Arashi"

As he did so, countless fireballs began to form all around him. Dozens. Hundreds. Each of them burning as brightly as he, near white flames, capable of incinerating whatever they happened to touch. Some hardly the size of one's fist, a few several times larger in diameter than a human. One by one, individually and in groups, they began to fall in a flurry upon the earth, burning deep holes into the ground before dispersing. The trees around the area burst into flames even being near the roaring flames. A sure hit was in no way determined with the random falling of the flames, but the damage was widespreading and scattered, so collateral damage was all but guaranteed. A small part of him however hoped Washi might be spared the fiery pain that consumed Shinichi now. The phoenix eternally doomed to die again and again for following his heart blindly...but was it really this organization he wanted to die for? When had his ideals and passion, his heart, led him blindly to them...A hatred for those that had shunned him for his power... They had hated him for it, and in turn, he had hated himself for it...and so his passion had turned him towards vengeance...But here Washi, his old friend, had not fought for his hatred of Shinichi but to protect himself, his village, his ideals...Could the phoenix, a creature of the heart, hold that against him?

Rather than using the last of his energy to add a final phoenix shot towards the position he could only guess Washi was hiding in, he let his wings carry him gently to the ground even as the flames fell and roared around him, glancing to the trees he assumed washi was hiding near, though they burned fiercely. The flames around him slowly died and his wings faded, leaving him to plummet the remaining few feet onto the ground, landing with a shrill cry of agony on his melted skin, hanging off him in melted tatters. He struggled to stand, his skin burnt and black, scarred. He stood on shaky feet, his entire body visibly trembling, and the proud shinobi could hardly lift his head as the final remnant of his burst shot forth, the hot ash surrounding him, burning even him, and he wondered that he did not black out from the slow agony.

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Name Katon: Fennikusu Arashi (Phoenix Storm)
Rank : S
Description : Only usable by those with wings. the clan member will usually fly up into the sky. dozens or even a hundred small to mid-sized fireballs will shoot above the clan member and rain down upon the enemy. These fireballs are hot enough to completely incinerate stone. using this jutsu however will burn through the remaining time of the transformation.

Name Katon: Fennikusu no Shikyou (Death of the Phoenix)
Rank: A
Description: In a technique similar to the Haisekisho ash burning technique, burning hot ash is expelled. this version however rather than being breathed out, bursts from the user in a complete sphere, encompassing them. This dispels the phoenix burst technique and the user is returned to their original state, usually severely injured and suffering major burns. the cloud however forms a sort of protective cacoon over the user for several minutes.
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Chakra: 1/200
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Washi's eyes widened as he looked at the scene of devastation and the flurry of fireballs that crashed into the earth, burning and forming craters. The sound was terrifying and the air was hot, so hot that Washi was almost getting burned. He looked up and saw the flying figure, engulfed in white hot flame but now descending in the scene of armageddon as fireballs destroyed patches of trees and burnt the ground black like ash.

Smoke started filling the air and the smell of burning filled Washi's nostrils as he woozily approached Shinichi, wondering whether he had enough energy to finish him off. So hot...so hot and yet he continued walking between the blaze as fireballs narrowly missed him and caused all round devastation.

Finally Shinichi had descended and there was a cacoon of hot ash that burst out, covering him and the smoke became thicker. Washi coughed, his lungs irrirated by the hot ash as he tried to see through the smoke. It cleared slowly revealing a sort of temporarily cacoon of ash. He waved his hands to see clearer, suddenly all was quiet except for the quiet crackling of flames going out...the trees around the area were entirely burnt and the ground smouldered.

Washi took a step closer and took out Kira gently cutting and wavering the cloud of protective ash, using the wind manipluation to blow it away and reveal the innards. Another puff of smoke and ash came out as Shinichi's face came into full view, now falling unconscious. Washi shunshined, grabbing the Akatsuki and wondering what he should do.

Should he kill Shinichi now and end the threat permanently or should he let him live and perhaps be reborn? That analogy didn't matter to Washi. People are always the same, sometimes they had high points and sometimes they had low points, they were shades of grey and sometimes the good side of them don't come out until too late. He had understood perhaps what Shinichi was thinking in those few minutes when he was engulfed in fire. That fearful power that could so easily have killed Washi.

He shuddered at the thought, it was almost a mistake to not have killed Shinichi early on in their fight but in the end it seemed it didn't matter. He decided on the course of action for his old friend, bandaging his burns with his scarf and robe. Washi looked back towards Konoha, they were not far away and he would have to hurry. Soon Shinichi would be at the hospital and he whispered into his old comrade's ear:

"This time you will be reborn. Realise however that it is not your choice to live or die but the wheel of fate that so chooses your destiny. This is what eagles understand better then phoenixes."

Sending chakra down his legs, Washi quickly hurried to the village's hospital. Punishment or redemption would come later...