Aquatic Subsidiary | Cephalopoda Summons | Stat Cap: 8
The Cephalopods are a finicky race. Having declared independence from the Aquatic boss Megalo with the Crustaceans the wise old Daedalus moves on with its members in tow. The Daedalus is much less a where as it is a who. The cephalopoda Squid, Octopi, Nautalae, Cuttlefish, Ortohocerida are all creatures known for their versatility adaptability and intelligence. Here they gather around their oldest member, a land of sages that is ever moving in the ever-expanding and seemingly endless ocean protecting him, and hearing its stories of old that it's gathered in its years of wandering. Perhaps a nin who was simply sailing the seas would think it a mere island but no this is the land of cephalopods and what better land for them to exist than the expansive unknown that is the ocean gathering knowledge. For those who seek a contract with the Cephalopod's know this, this island upon the back of Daedalus is where you will make your plea, and through your mind is where you will receive your answer. Be you a soul with an undying wanderlust and pursuit of knowledge like they, perhaps you will find the time easier. If you seek only to better yourself in strength and pursuit of power the harder it will be to persuade, as to the rest of the Cephalopoda the word of the Daedalus is law. Those atop Daedalus's island will find it ever changing to the will of Daedalus, creating scenario's and challenges to test the nin who seek his guidance. All Hojo inherently know of the Daedalus with almost a sixth sense allowing them to seek it out, an homage to the psychic if a not spiritual connection to the cephalopods. (Unless a Hojo finding the Daedalus requires a roll of 6, 8, or 10 on a ten-sided die.)
Way of the Cephalopoda: For the squid there is but one fact that is understood, Ink is life. It's is the source of their power and their greatest defense mechanism. As such the Sage can become empowered the longer they spend in the inky blackness. For as long as the sage is in water and in sage mode, they may now expel a special blend of Ink similar to a Hojo. While surrounded in this Ink they gain an extra 20 nature chakra while gathering and do not need to spend an activation to do so. For collision purposes a ranked amount of chakra is paid along with an initial one time activation to determine general strength of the cloud, whether another water ninjutsu can move it, and how big it is. Additionally applies Tier-1 Blindness to anyone within the cloud unallied with sage.
Cephalopoda’s Elements: Water, Maruton
Current Sages: 1. Tosokurui Ashikoki Hojo {Rainbow Squid} 2. 3.
Between both Ponyon is one of a twin pair, Ponyon will typically attach himself to a summoners head, while his twin sister Sonyon attaches herself to another, though the head isn't technically required it's often the easiest place to attach to. The two of them from then on allow intercommunication between the two bodies they're attached to. Additionally, at request, they can transfer the senses one individual to the other relaying the information back and forth like antennae. Both are only roughly the size of human palm making them lightweight, though it's still kinda awkward having a squid on your head which they prefer to perch. As far as personalities go they sound like young children and will often chat with each other if nearby. If made mad they'll often threaten to expose the secrets of their wearers to other parties. Despite this, they're incredibly close siblings and will stress out significantly if they're separated too far from each other.
Ability:Cepha-communication Ponyon and Sonyon are essentially advanced living communicators and information extractors, processing the sensory information in their summoner's head and beaming it to an ally that carries the other. They can tell when the other is close and transmit willing sensory and mental information between the two. Although if a person is unwilling it far more difficult to so. If the user uses a sensory technique the range is extended. Additionally because of these shared senses, the partner may 'Kai' the other out of a Genjutsu. However, they are also susceptible to that same Genjustu trigger if the current sense was being shared that triggered the Genjutsu. Ponyon and Sonyon have a range of roughly ten miles when apart from each other any further and they'll panic reverse summoning themselves not responding to any further call for at least [5] posts.
▰ Signal Boost| Rank: D (Variable) | Cost: Chakra Ponyon and Sonyon will send out a rush of chakra through whom they're currently attached this doubles the range of sensory techniques though not technically their ability to actually detect things. Can apply Tier-1 Jamming alternatively within the users active sensory radius, this requires one of the two siblings sustain this technique.
▰ Resonating Bloop | Rank: D | Cost: Chakra This technique releases a silent sonorous impact in an area as an invisible bubble. When the bubble hits the intended zone of up to five hundred feet away the information will be relayed back to the wearer as to what is in the location, although the image produced is like that of echolocation, not providing any significantly detailed information but enough to discern shapes. Can alternatively inflict the [Deafness] status by causing a acute ringing in the ears for [1] post.
▰ Cephalarm! | Rank: C | Cost: Chakra The Cephalarm alerts the wearer to any hostile or hidden presence within one hundred feet of whom they're attached to, although this does not necessarily mean it reveals their location. The Cephalarm is automatically activated when the criteria is met and will continue to go off for half the cost in sustain until the threatening presence is found. There is a level of alertness that is signified by the number of vibrations resonating from their body. The alertness level correlating with how close the alleged threat is, wherein the squids will increase the pace of their vibrations and slow it down if its getting further. As a result the users [Agility] cannot be reduced via effects that would cause a lessened sense of awareness such as smoke bombs or [Blindness].
▰▰▰ Gang Orthos Rank C | Chakra: 100 | Stamina: 150 - Each Str: 6 | Spd: 6 | Agi: 4 | End: 0 The Gang Orthos are about five feet in length each. They consist of three members Otto, Fonz, and Regi. They speak in what could be considered a greaser boy dialect or for a better term a Brooklyn accent. They're all pretty cocky and useless on the land but in the ocean or a body water are a lethal force to be reckoned with. The members of Gang Ortho if picked off one by one will have greater difficulty executing their techniques.
Ability:Sea Strider When attacking from underwater Gang Orthos are essentially living torpedoes that grant their summoner extra mobility in the water by creating currents for which to ride or serving as transportation. When summoned members of Gang Ortho may attach themselves to their summoner two on the hands, and one to the back, this confers allows the users [basic attacks] to penetrate armor and can be used with lance or spear-like styles if they are known, a member of Gang Ortho can use its stamina in place of the users in these cases additionally they gain a [1] point increase in strength. The attached member on the back functions as a form of underwater jet pack propelling the summoner through the water. On land by spending a C amount of chakra the back attached member can propel its summoner providing a sudden [1] point boost of speed.
▰ Gang Up: | Rank: C | Cost: Simple The Gang Orthos can leave its summoners side, and can all three attack individually with an E-ranked amount of slashing force in one activation via a triangle formation, attack twice in a pincer formation for D-ranked amount of slashing force, or create a singular spinning drill like formation at a C-rank amount once. Each instance, if the target is submerged and they lack underwater mobility their [Agility] is treated as half to respond to these attacks. Each requiring the amount of listed members. They may then re-attach. On land this requires a C-rank amount of Chakra to produce an appropriate water jet. [Armor Penetrating]
▰ Current Events: | Rank: C | Cost: Simple Leaving their summoner, this technique creates a fierce water current via a triangle formation. If coming in from behind an opponent this current can push a target towards the summoner and if away from can force the target away from them. This technique is often used prior as a follow-up ideally leading into an attack or guiding one. The current is treated as B-rank when it comes to the speed of the displacement if all three of Gang Ortho are present, dropping to normal at two, and D at one. On Land all three of Gang Ortho essentially propel themselves and their summoner with a water jet becoming a living penetrative torpedo increasing the summoners speed by [2] in that instance.
▰ Ortho Annihilator: | Rank: B | Cost: Simple Gang Orthos usually talk up the technique before using it. Often devastating to targets who lack mobility under water. Gang Ortho will detach from their summoner if attached, then enter a circular formation. In this formation, they begin to spin either clockwise or counter-clockwise rapidly. This causes a vortex current that either sucks a target into their shredding spear like heads or produces a spiraling blast of current forward{Treated as Spiritual-Stats Inapplicable} The rank of the technique decreases to C if there are only two and impossible if there is only one member. Alternatively or primarily on Land the three members begin to spin rapidly in a drill-like fashion. This applies a [2] bonus to [Strength] with attacks implementing them. If somehow caught in their underwater vortex the target will experience the technique as if it were its current rank multiplied by the number of Ortho brothers participating. A potential strategy is finding a method or technique to clone multiple Ortho brothers to make this technique of theirs truly terrifying.
▰▰▰ Horu Rank B | Chakra: 300 | Stamina: 700 Str: 4 | Spd: 2 | Agi: 0 | End: 8 Horu is the son of Daedalus...er one of many sons of Daedalus. There in total are thirty-eight nautilae that are just like Horu, but Horu is the only whom agreed to contract co-signing. Horu is in all sense of the word energetic. He is an ambitious nautilae but also has a penchant for destruction. While he prefers the sea as his home he's outfitted with everything he needs to make the earth another ocean in which for him to explore. Tucked away in the fortress that is his shell and standing at a whopping height and size of a house, a fortress he indeed is, capable of storing up to three people inside. Unfortunately, he suffers from rather poor eyesight as he rarely peeks out of his shell.
Ability:Impenetrable Cephalofortress Horu can take in its summoner into its shell, in doing so the summoner is essentially in a state of one hundred percent security from outside sources, although they themselves cannot attack an ultimate defense in exchange for a loss in offense. All the summoner's stats are converted to contributing to Horu's [Endurance]. For the duration they remain inside, Horu's [Endurance] cap becomes [12].
▰ Cephalauncher | Rank: B | Cost: Complex The drills on Horu's back can launch themselves while spinning as though missile's and be grown anew. This technique fires several drill missiles at a target that explode for a B-ranked amount then regrow a second set thereafter. This is essentially treated as two B-ranked attacks in one. One for the strike and one for the explosion. It's to be noted that Naut Today can't be used immediately after this technique is used for [1] post between uses.
▰ Naut Today | Rank: X | Cost: Simple/Complex | The equivalent of flexing for Horu. This technique withdraws Horu's tentacles and sets the several drill like protrusions from his shell to start spiraling madly. This is a fully defensive action that consumes all three activation's for a single cost, all techniques that are of this techniques rank or lower are immediately either decimated by the drills, neutralized or tanked entirely. In the case of Bukijutsu or Taijutsu the users will sustain injuries equal to the technique's rank. The technique can be made complex with a donation of chakra from the summoner or Horu himself. This defensive maneuver has a cool down of [1] post between uses.
▰ Sub-Subterranean Terror | Rank: B | Cost: Stamina Using his many drills Horu can either roll or dig beneath the earth causing tremors and significant damage to an area. Once Horu has burrowed the technique is maintained thereafter at a cost of [1/2] rank sustain. Essentially becoming a mobile dangerous drilling fortress. Underwater this allows for submersible like travel and causes several wild whirlpools near the surface and rip currents leagues below. Underground it can cause fissures to open. In the event of whirlpools, they are treated as {Spiritual-Stats do not apply} for interactions. (Sustained)
▰▰▰ Theseus Rank A | Chakra: 600 | Stamina: 600 Str: 6 | Spd: 6 | Agi: 2 | End: 4 Theseus is the brother of an Octopus named Cederique while his brother pursued more cultural and intelligent pursuit, Theseus occupied himself with human fairy tales. For all intents and purposes, he believes himself a pirate and will indefinitely if not assuredly always carry a bad pirate accent wherever he goes. He is trying to fulfill the tales of being a legendary Kraken of yore, like what he believes his great great grandfather was. He's attached an old pirate vessel to his head and too many a surprise has integrated it into the support of his summoner and because he thinks it 'cool'. What most don't know is the ship is actually a ghost ship with a full ghostly crew in which Theseus has befriended. Likewise like Horu he is about the size of a house though comparably he is bigger so he is more like that of three story house. Horu and Theseus often like to compete with one another and in a sense are friends with one another.
Ability:Sea Shanty The sound and instrumental of sea shanties with accordions and other trademark heralds Theseus's arrival and persist until his leave. These melodious {cacophonous to some} sounds cause surrounding waters to tremor causing rough seas. This makes using the Water-walking technique impossible to use on waters in which Theseus inhabits. It also grants his summoner and his allies the ability to swim with relative ease through these waters if they don't already have that benefit. It additionally drowns out sound-based techniques making said jutsu cost [40] Chakra more to be effective and nullifies [Hearing] based genjutsu triggers and [Hearing] based sensory techniques.
▰ Ramming Speed! | Rank A | Cost: Stamina Theseus will gain a speed typically unexpected of a creature his size the speed at which he moves when underwater creates a riptide and a parting of the ocean if he's on the surface. This technique can suck in vessels and ships with ease crushing them between the two separated waves as they sink to a briny doom {Treated as Spiritual - Stats do not apply in this case} or to a lesser extent destroy a ship altogether if being slammed into quite literally 'headfirst' . On Land this tackle is awkward using tentacles lowering its [Speed] by [1-rank].
▰ Captain's Order! | Rank: X | Cost: Chakra A rallying cry is often the signal of technique, one that's super piratey. Like "ARRRRRRRRRGH GET EM MATEYS!" Though not necessary, will often occur. This essentially produces a resonating aura of morale despite bad pirate accents. The technique increases any stat of the summoner and his allies by [1] point equal to the rank of its use. i.e An A-rank amount of chakra used would confer a [4] increase to a single chosen stat. These morale boosts do not stack, but can be swapped out for a different stat every other post. The duration lasting as long as [3] posts.
▰ Seven Seas! | Rank: A | Cost: Chakra Seven Sea's is activated usually immediately on summoning if Theseus isn't summoned on a water source unless his summon knows to stop him ahead of time. From beneath him what essentially are tidal waters begin to emerge. The water level rises but appears to be cut off at a certain point creating an artificial sea. This artificial sea if viewed from the air is revealed to be a half dome shape that extends up to a 2.5-mile radius suspended by chakra. The Seven Sea's requires an Upkeep of its Rank Each post it's active and will disappear when chakra gets too low. In short its a bad idea to recklessly summon Theseus in say, a crowded village. If he's already in the ocean, however, this creates a monstrously sized tidal wave upping its rank to but the body of water must specifically be the ocean or sea.
▰▰▰ Ika-Yami Rank S | Chakra: 1500 | Stamina: 400 Str: 8 | Spd: 6 | Agi: 4 | End: 6 Ika-Yami. The Squid of Darkness, as he's been named, he is the bodyguard of Daedalus and essentially the Boss summon of the contract. He is also very abrasive to anyone of whom he doesn't trust. Though when that trust is developed it's unwavering. It is said he has lived perhaps as long Daedalus himself. His only immediate trust is given to the Hojo as their lineage with squid kind has existed for decades upon decades. His primary duty is to lead those who he deems unworthy specifically away from Daedalus before they get too close, it is believed that he is the reason that many merchants ships disappear along with air reconnaissance at sea. Aside from this, his voice is reminiscent of hearkened warriors of old, deep and booming if not tired. His size is like that of most boss summons. Theseus and him do not get along in the slightest and as labeled a reason for his 'headaches' often making comparisons as to why he can't be like his brother. As a result, they cannot be summoned together as the other simply 'knows' when the other is missing. He is acquainted with Megalo of the Aquatic summons and the two seem to have a relationship that could be compared to a healthy rivalry. Albeit Yami will occasionally brag about how his tentacles can even assail things in the sky with his reach.
Ability:Progenitor of the Hojo Besides his own techniques, Ika-Yami has access to the entire list of Hojo-ink blends and inking methods at his disposal, although he cannot use Twin Blend and Penultimate Blend. Due to his size they are incredibly devastating capable of applying [Two Tier's Higher] than its listed rank on contact with things significantly smaller than himself like average humans (Although the attack can still be countered with a technique of the used rank). Against a tailed beast or something of similar size the Tier remains the same. He and his summoner may Korabo their ink-blends freely, essentially reproducing the effects of Twin Blend assuming they're a Hojo.
▰ Sea Of Darkness | Rank S | Cost: Chakra The Sea of Darkness fills an entire area the size of what could be a village in a black mist or black cloud depending on if it used on land or sea. The Sea of Darkness blocks out all sensory jutsu of anyone contained within and only those deemed as allies of Tako-Yami and his summoner may navigate its blackness unhindered. The Sea of Darkness muddles the senses as a genjutsu would, thus making navigation through it difficult as it robs those deemed enemy of their sense of direction. If underwater when being enveloped by the Sea of Darkness, up can be mistaken for down and rather than swim to the surface the targets may swim down to their own deaths by drowning. While it does block sensory techniques Doujutsu may see through it fine, though their sense of direction is still somewhat hindered if they lose sight of what they're currently using as a landmark. The Sea of Darkness is unique as its effects cannot be countered via any known methods as the cloud re-coalesces until its duration ends. Applicable techniques of or above however, may be used to grant a single activation of clarity within the darkness. Duration [4]
▰ The Devils Triangle | Rank S+ | Cost: Chakra When using this technique, Ika-Yami belts an insurmountable amount of black liquid ink, an ocean of ink following the same parameters of [Seven Seas!] is produced although it is triangular. This ink can then be Korabo'd with Suiton thereafter to induce blindness of the respective tier if making contact with an enemies eyes, anything or anyone Ika-Yami deems an ally when swimming within the ink are hidden from sensory jutsu and doujutsu and are unhindered by its inky blackness. Ika-Yami may then spend a [A]-rank amount of Chakra to re-position anyone he deems allies including himself inside the Black Sea, though not enemies. He may do this [3] times maximally per individual. Devils Triangle has an Upkeep Cost of After its initial activation. An X-rank amount of chakra may be used my Ika-Yami to produce structures and such within the ink. Such as firing several bursts or balls of ink from the surface towards the sky etc.
The Witch of the Valley Rank:Genin 磁気 | Classes:Scholar|Bloodline 力 | Body Rank:B 勇 | Elements:Water,Earth,Wood
tabOne puff of smoke later Usagi appeared on the shores of the ocean in a kneeling position. Before her was the vast abyss that contained the sea and all who lived in it. The sea was the home of The Don and the marine life of the fish summons of the Verdant Abyss. However, the wielder of the True Samehada wasn’t who the Genin wished to speak with. The blonde woman strode down the sandy beach and waded into the water, letting the coolness wash over her feet for a moment. It’d been a long time since she’d seen the Squid of the Daedalus and ever longer since her contract with them was broken. Usagi gulped; she wasn’t ready to face them again after so many years.
Usagi continued to walk into the ocean, seemingly unbothered as the water started to reach even her neck height. The woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she focused her chakra just as her head went under. It was dark at first before Usagi’s eyes adjusted. She let out the breath she was holding, making bubbles erupt from her mouth and fly to the surface. Her long hair floated around behind her as the Genin took in another breath. The jutsu she’d concocted allowed her to convert the water that would have filled her lungs into oxygen for her to breath by using chakra to block the water and filter in the oxygen inside. It was some pretty complex jutsu theory that Usagi only barely understood. But whatever the case, it was really helpful. As Usagi continued to swim she tried to keep her eyes out for the Daedalus’s little helpers. It didn’t take too much longer for them to show up.
“Hey Usagi’s here!!” Right on cue, two larger than normal squids burst through the water at high speed. Usagi stopped in her tracks and braced for an impact that eventually never happened. The two young Squid summons, Ponyon and Sonyon were a pair of sibling squids, one red and one purple, that swam around in the water like the excited children that they were. “I knew she’d come back!” Ponyon exclaimed with a bright look on his face. Usagi couldn’t help but smile fondly at the two children, even reaching out a hand to pet each of them on their heads.
“Of course I came back.” She managed to say, her voice modulated and warbled by the water around her. “I wasn’t gonna just abandon you guys.”
”That’s not what Ika-Yami thinks…." Sonyon said back after pulling away from Usagi’s hand. The sister squid looked down, her tone mirroring the look of apprehension on her face. Usagi’s heart sank even further into the depths. Ika-Yami was second only to the Daedalus itself when it came to the Squids. The woman couldn’t help but tense up at the sound of his name. And of course he’d be mad; she did abandon them. “Well don’t you worry your sweet little head Sonyon!” Instead of showing her fear, Usagi put on a bright smile for the young squids as she bent down with her hands on her knees to look them in the eyes. “Old Ika-chan is just a big grump! Once I get down there, everything’ll be squared away! He’s actually the one I came to see, anyway!” Usagi pumped her arm enthusiastically with a returned smile from Sonyon and Ponyon. Great, now I have to somehow calm down a veritable god of the sea.
Some instinctual part of Usagi's brain screamed at her and made her quickly move to the side. And not a moment too soon, as a pink tentacle the size of a house just barely brushed by her! “Usagi!” A deep voice bellowed from down below, shaking the Genin down to her very core the tentacle rushed back down into the abyss.
“Here he comes…” Sonyo sighed with a shake of her head. Right after the child spoke, the very water around them started to seize as something moved. Something big.
Despite his size, Ika-Yami was able to rush through the water to meet Usagi in the blink of an eye. Nothing but a mass of pink until he stopped right in front of the woman, one of his eyes just inches from her whole body. The blonde could see her entire body in the reflection of the giant squid’s eye. And she looked like she was about to faint. “What makes you think you can just waltz back in here, huh? The nerve you have! Give me one good reason not to drag you down below and snap you like coral!”
Usagi tried to look down from her spot floating in the water, but even then she couldn’t see the full extent of Ika-Yami’s size. Hoo boy, this was going to be rough.“I need to resign my contract!” She yelled back. Cutting right to the chase seemed like the best idea. “I know it’s hard to trust me after everything that’s happened, but please! Give me a second chance?”
The ocean that weighed her down seemed heavier on Usagi after she was done speaking. Ika-Yami was quiet, his silence an even heavier crushing weight. After a few eternal moments he spoke. “Fine.” His voice, hard and stern, rumbled through the ocean. Usagi felt her body loosen after that: it was much easier than she thought it’d be! “One one condition.”Oh, there’s that other shoe.“I need to see if you can still use your Sage Mode!”
The Witch of the Valley Rank:Genin 磁気 | Classes:Scholar|Bloodline 力 | Body Rank:B 勇 | Elements:Water,Earth,Wood
tab“Sage Mode?!” Usagi exclaimed. Her fear had melted as she started to remember how brash Ika-Yami was. “Are you kidding me?! Why is that even important?! Can't you just re-teach it to me?!”
“Because if we’re going to take you back on our contract, then you need to prove to us that you still have what it takes!” Ika-yami yelled back, much louder than Usagi. The sound alone had enough force to push her back a few feet and make her cover her ears. “Sage Mode is the number one way that us creatures can bond with you humans, as it gives us a link through Nature Chakra. But I’m sure you knew all of that.” The last sentence was drenched with enough venom to make the water poisonous. “So if you show me you can still use Sage Mod, then you show me that you have what it takes to repair that link. Do you understand now?”
“Arrgggh shiver me timbers, Usagi’s back!” A much younger sounding voice echoed through the water, which brought the Genin’s attention to what looked like a sunken ship. After about a second, however, large tentacles slithered their way out of the large ship and wrapped around the ground as it began to move, revealing the giant squid underneath. “Hey Horu, look alive lad! Usagi’s back!” The giant squid said with a nudging tentacle to a large rock that sat next to it. It looked up to the woman with it’s skull like face somehow displaying joy in it’s creepy visage.
“Usagi?” Much like the ship, the giant rock began to stir. Upon closer inspection what originally looked like coral on the rocks was actually giant drill-like spikes. Dozens of light pink tentacles squirmed from the bottom of the shell-rock, before two glowing yellow eyes could be seen in the shadows of the shell. The eyes stared blankly ahead before squinting as Horu tried to see Usagi with his poor eyesight. “Theseus, it is Usagi! Hi Usagi!” Horu waved a tentacle happily in the wrong direction. The Genin lifted an arm up and nervously responded with a half hearted wave.
“So the rules are simple, Usagi.” Ika-Yami’s demeaning tone took Usagi’s attention from Horu and Theseus and back to the monster squid. “I’m going to attack you. If you don’t enter Sage Mode, you will die. Any questions?”
“Yeah, a whole lot, actually-” Usagi started.
“Good!” Ika-Yami cut her off suddenly. The tip of the closest tentacle to Usagi whipped down at her with blinding speed! The blow sent the woman careening through the water to inevitably crash into a rock! The impact made her cry out, making bubbles escape from her throat as a sharp pain went through her back. Yami wasn’t kidding around. What was a light tap to him probably broke a few of Usagi’s ribs easily. She had to remember how to use Sage Mode. Simple, just absorb Nature Chakra, I can do that. I do it ALL the time. With her bloodline into the Senju clan, feeling out and utilizing Nature Chakra came easily to Usagi. But…
The girl kicked off of the rocks and swam away just as a blast of ink was shot at her, seeping a cloudy darkness into the water. Nature Chakra comes with a risk. If I don’t use enough of it, Yami’ll kill me. But if I try and gather too much too quickly… Usagi turned to look down at the rocks below and now some of them looked vaguely human shaped. “Pay attention!” Ika-Yami’s yell made Usagi snap her attention back to him just in time to see him fire off another blast of ink! This time she was too slow and the ink hit her square on with the force of a boulder. It carried her a few hundred feet away and swamped her in a cloud, her and the attack only visible as a large black cannon ball.
The ink that surrounded Usagi was impossibly black. It was like her vision had been ripped from her. If Ika-Yami was preparing another attack, the Genin would die here and not even know what was coming. So it’s do or die time… Usagi closed her eyes and reached out with her sense into the water, into the ink. Even into the rocks and coral far below. She felt an energy coming from all of these things, just as she could feel her own chakra. All of the energy was separate, but pulsed as if it were one living being. Usagi drew that energy from the ocean, the giver of all life, into her body. The Nature Chakra began to rush into her like a river, just barely at a rate she could control. Glowing tattoos formed on her body that weren’t there before: sea foam green tentacles that ran up along her arms and spiraling along her jawline. Her eyes, too, glowed the same color! Ghostly tentacles of the same shade formed from the lowest point of Usagi’s back, wrapping around her and undulating idly in the water. A sudden thought, executed at the very last second, stopped the flow of Nature Chakra into Usagi’s body. It exploded out from her, dispersing the black well of ink and clearing her vision! “There, are ya happy?!” Usagi snapped up to Ika-Yami. Her voice was cracking with the combination of pain and adrenaline and just over all frustration. “Sage Mode, I did it! Can I resign my damn contract now?”
Ika-Yami let out a sigh (could he do that underwater?) and seemingly relaxed. “Yes, Usagi, you may resign your contract.” The giant squid waved a massive tentacle and a large scroll appeared into existence with a cloud of black smoke. Usagi took it and opened it up, mildly surprised that the water didn’t wash away any ink. The woman could see her old signature from years ago, now crossed off with a giant red X. Subtle, she thought. The woman found the next blank spot and then bit her thumb, her blood now coming out as a mix of red and black. It trailed from the tip of her fingers into the water as she pressed it to the paper, signing her name once again into the scroll.
The moment she was done, Ika-Yomi made the scroll disappear, magically snapping it from her hands. “We look forward to working with you, ma’am.” The giant squid turned to swim away, but stopped. “And Usagi?” He said, turning his massive head to look at her over what would be his shoulder. “Welcome back.”
Usagi felt a small smile form on her face as she quietly watched her old friends swim away. The ephemeral tentacles faded as the Nature Chakra in her body dispersed and she returned to normal. Soon after the squids left, so too did Usagi. Back to her new home, Tanigakure.
