The Thousand Year Blood Feud // CVnU Battle w/ Akuma Kumiho (IC)

@akuma_kumiho

Every feud begins with disagreement. And from every disagreement grows a strong bond of either reconciliation or hatred. Many aren't willed enough to sacrifice their pride for the sake of a clearer future so instead, hatred, seems the only definitive answer. Hatred has many forms. Or lengths. In some instances, hatred is quelled in a moment. Others, a day. And others, a lifetime. Hatred can reach through the greatest depths of time. Will it, depend on those who bear the weight. As another form of time, hatred too, can travel through history. Feuds between families. Countries. Religion. Anything imaginable. The Kumiho and Kawaski knew these terms to the extent of their principles. As their hatred took many forms and changes throughout history, the basis was always the same. A simple feud later generations continued by the will of the early. It was simple, yet, tradition. For both clans. Tradition to the extent of, their feuds was nothing but tradition. Many modify the truth to their benefit. The Kumiho killed the founder of the Kawaski Clan's brother, or the Kawasaki brutally pillaged the Kumiho upon many occasions. No one really knew. Other than the Sage of Six Paths.

The Sages were nothing more than vessels of earlier vessels. Their power immaculate and their reputation grand. From their biological parents, to theirs, and to theirs before - the Sage of Six Paths was but two vessels donning the pride of their own clan. The Kawaski and Kumiho. Where the original founder of the Sage of Six Paths powers was unknown, many elders have speculated someone - or something - of a greater power. Though that truth was wary throughout the many generations it grew. Though the powers differed, the origin of such power was the same. It always has been. The Kumiho Clan, a family built upon pride and raw power. Their generational vessel laid beyond the scope of "raw power". Instead, God-like. Their counterpart - the Kawasaki Clan - prided itself atop it's versatile and notorious reputation. Their power was nothing less of astounding. No. Not astounding. Monstrous. As both clans waved their reputational flag, only the Sage of Six Paths could implant said flag in history.

Within their history, there were many draws, Kumiho victories, and Kawasaki victories. The last a Kumiho victory. The Kawasaki was left in spite. Shame. And hatred.

"And I bore that hatred for my entire life, Akuma." Raijin, the Sage of Six Paths Vessel for the Kawaski, spoke clear - yet - distorted. "Though my mother was not able to slay the fool you call a father, I will return the favor by sending him your head."

Standing atop the statue of the grand founder of the Kawasaki - Ryō Kawasaki - Raijin peered several hundred feet across from him, atop the grand founder of the Kumiho. And who he was peering into, Akuma Kumiho. The renowned Sage of Six Paths Vessel of the Kumiho. Two legendary vessels facing against each other for centuries continued here. Raijin Kawasaki facing Akuma Kumiho.

"I've slain many of your clan as you have mine, though this here, will determine whether or not our skills compare." He paused, cracking his fingers with a single flick of each. "And when I win, your clan will know defeat as mine has." Lifting his arm, a slight grin met the corners of his mouth, "now come."

@raijin_kawasaki:

The rivalry born between clans had an origin lost between the tests of time, all that was known was that each side blamed the other for their misfortune, a hatred deep enough to kill for. For Akuma his hate dug deeper than just a simple feud, it was inflamed by the deaths of his family who came before him. When he was chosen as the vessel of the Sage of Six Paths like his father before him Akuma had known that it would be he who stopped the fighting between the two clans by eradicating the enemy, the Kawasaki.

For Akuma hatred was all that is left. He was forced to bury each of his family with his own hands, their bodies into the soil, eyes closed. He kissed them -his mother, father, brother and sister- before the dirt covered them and in that touch love left the God Warrior's body forever. Without it all he can focus on is revenge. He wishes them dead, all of them, every last one. He wishes for the ones who slew them to beg for his mercy before he clawed their hearts out of their chest.

Their entire clan would feel the pain that he had felt burying his family.

They would understand that pain and then die with it.

With the power of the Sage of Six Paths and the Might of the Demon Fox Kumiho for which his last name drew origination Akuma was determined to end it all.

"You will never get that chance. He passed from the injuries your mother inflicted upon him." Akuma's voice passed through the empty valley with no interference. "I was able to peer past my hatred of your clan in the prospect of peace, kill only when necessary but No longer. I will grace your family with the mercy of allowing them to shed a tear over your corpse before I end them as well." Akuma stood atop the reverent statue of his Clans founder -Anzu Kimiho- returning Raijin's distant yet piercing stare with an icy and dark one of his own. Two sides of the same story forced into a path beyond their own choosing raised to fight and kill despite not knowing why beyond their parents' flawed and distant tales.

"I've slain many of your clan as you have mine, though this here, will determine whether or not our skills compare And when I win, your clan will know defeat as mine has."

Rolling up the sleeves of his torn jacket Akuma would simply scoff as his feet carried him forward at increasing speeds, his feet running down the face of the statue laughing in the face of gravity as he drew nearer to Raijin, his eternal rival.

His sandals graced the top of the water but didn't fall in rather the liquid held him afloat as he kept running, the band of his clan emblazoned upon his head. And in only a few moments the two would meet.

@akuma_kumiho:

His feet meeting a sea of stone before it did water, Raijin began moving at speeds immeasurable. Matched only to Akuma. Getting quicker with each step, Raijin lept the last. Clashing forearms with his Eternal Rival, Raijin never wavered. Instead, he became confident. Forwarding a few body strikes here and head kicks there, Raijin proceeded into a close confrontation. As he knew his opponent’s grand long-ranged adequacy Raijin planned to keep them as close as possible. Though that didn’t mean he didn’t have the arsenal to counter. He just preferred closed-combat. His movements fluid and never wasting a step, Raijin worked like a drone. No. Something better. A sentiment life form built for combat. The weight behind each of his assaults was as strong as the last, each constant in weight and speed.

Orchestrating a string of movements. He picked up his speed and strength. Diverging the path from only head kicks, Raijin hoped to create the illusion of forwarding a head kick towards Akuma’s left temple, though instead re-directing it towards the left-side of his body halfway through. The weight would total a car and the speed would confuse a meta-human. If this had connected, Raijin wouldn’t stop. Exploiting the opening of his last attack to commence another, Raijin would again forward a kick. Though not to Akuma’s head or body. But instead the back of his left knee. Raijin’s figure blurring from one position to the other, Raijin utilized his speed in hope of appearing behind Akuma to carry out this knee strike. If it worked and Akuma lowered himself, Raijin would be at an advantage. His Sharingan glowing and his stare intensifying, Raijin activates one of many abilities of his. Amataseru.

Hoping to create an Ameraseru bind around Akuma’s lowered ankle to keep him stationary, Raijin used this moment to attempt a range-widener. Attempting to kick off Akuma's lowered back, Raijin performed several flips within the air, puffing out his chest and expelling a rather large fireball from within. A ball of smoldering heat would begin flying towards Akuma’s perceived position. Landing it’s intended target or not, the fireball would explode upon contact with the surface of water they stood on. Creating several meters of smoldering heat to fry.

@raijin_kawasaki:

Forearm met forearm as the two gods of their clans clashed together, Akuma and Raijin split apart only to be drawn back together with an assault upon each other with Hand To Hand combat, while under normal circumstances Akuma's Taijutsu prowess would be unmatched he was faced against a supreme user of the Sharingan, nothing he hadn't seen before but this user was different his was more powerful.

The Kumiho kept pace if only lacking slightly behind, his pure athletic ability replacing his bodies lack of a Dojutsu such a that. Slightly outmatched in the close hand quarters Akuma knew that to even the odds he needed to get distance to weave his hand signs distance which was impossible due to Raijin's onslaught.

Performing a quick backstep Akuma's eyes caught the kick going for his temple and feigned the motions of blocking, internally smiling to himself -this is it- As the kick swapped momentum and struck his side Akuma's body ragdolled to the side and crashed across the water, though not before he could bring his fingers together...and several shadow clones would disappear beneath the surface of the water.

With the precision of an arrow he felt Raijin's leg connect with the back of his knee and he slipped down. The black flames of Amaterasu gripped his leg and he grimaced in pain slightly just as the fireball his his body and he once again flew back. While the original had been launched back one of his shadow clones broke the surface of the water and drove a kick towards the soft side of Raijin's stomach attempting to launch him further in the air before he could hit the ground, two more shadow clones materializing to draw him even higher

@akuma_kumiho:

‘Tt’, he watched the Shadow Clones appear in annoyance. Though they weren’t apparent at first water was still see-through. As he was, Raijin was less mobile in the air than he was on a stable surface. The first Shadow Clone broke the smooth surface of the water, successfully landing his intended target. Being pushed into the air more and more. With each strike, blots of blood and spit expelled from his mouth. Soon after, his eyes widened. As he was already projected into heights unimaginable - from the original position he stood - Raijin’s dilemma became more apparent. The original Akuma appearing and grabbing hold of Raijin’s ankles, the Kawasaki braces himself.

Embedded into the stone wall he was thrown into, Raijin sat frozen for a moment attempting to stabilize his theorized whereabouts of Akuma. Was he in front? Above? Below? His Sharingan began to spaz from one area to the other. The obvious answer would be in front. Yet there was no telling with Akuma Kumiho. So he prepared. He began a sequence of actions. As his entire body was embedded into the rock wall, Raijin dug his fingers in extra deep. Though not the entire finger. Rather, the finger-pads. With this contingency he laid out beforehand, Raijin - with every second he stood within the wall - siphoned his chakra from his fingers to the stone in general. With the chakra he was siphoning, Raijin sought to create various “tunnels” underneath the surface where both Akuma and Raijin stood parallel using the Shinra Tensei.

With the tunnels he attempted to create a direct passageway for any nature type Jutsu would be apparent. Namely, the Amataseru once again. Though instead of creating direct “straight” tunnels, he created circular formations. Wide in range, yet, narrow in width. With his magnified Shinra Tensei, he stopped. Momentarily after, he expelled the Black Flames of Amaterasu. In a direct, quick, spurt of action—Raijin filled each tunnel with extremely volatile flames. Volatile in destructive ability. The moment they were awakened, the ground below both Raijin - and hopefully Akuma - would glow black with impact. The surface was about to implode. And it did - no matter who was in the vicinity, Raijin or Akuma.

From the ground-up, the Black Flames of Amaterasu rose. Not a dozen feet. But a hundred. From where they stood, the explosion radius could almost reach the head of the stature they stood on. And the width was no less. Raijin acted quickly. Quickly dropping himself from the wall he was embedded, Raijin turned a complete 180, beginning to scale the wall itself. Though the flames of Amataseru grazed his back due to its sheer height and power, Raijin's Amataseru Control was more than enough to suppress that damage wrought upon him. Though he turned to below him, what was Akuma's next move?

@raijin_kawasaki:

As the black flames began to rise in the air Akuma and his clones were forced to retreat back with insane speed in a last ditch effort to avoid the flames. Their acrobatic prowess was unmatched as they flipped into the air and with one more finger motion, two shadow clones would puff in the air and throw Akuma backward out of the flames before dissipating into smoke.

While not the smartest academically Akuma's battle sense was supreme, he was able to adapt to a battle situation on the fly, sly as a fox and just as cunning, the canine shinobi drifted slowly in the air as a large Demon Wind shuriken materialized in his hand and in a swift throwing motion began to hurtle at incredible speeds directly at Raijin shifting away from the Black Flames of Amaterasu with accuracy and skill only the most blessed Shuriken throwers would possess.

As the shuriken would draw closer to Raijin it would vanish in and there would be Akuma transformed into his Six Paths Sage Kumiho Mode a Rasengan in his hand rapidly expanding as the Demon Fox continued to move forward with the speed of the thrown projectile, his aim was to plow Raijin directly through the mountain face, striking with enough power to destroy the structure itself.

@akuma_kumiho:

Raijin's calculative mind began to process. In a battle situation, the most vital aspect of any rivalry is knowing your opponent. More than they know themselves. And Raijin knew much about Akuma as Akuma did him. Though it wasn't abnormal. In the Cycle of Six Paths, knowing your counterpart was a given. The distance in-between both combatants was grand. Though not far enough to subtract a thrown projectile from the equation. In any normal case, the Demon Wind shuriken would've definitely met its target. Though this was not a normal case. This was a battle between two sworn rivals of history. Rivals whose ability only matches their own. And it was to say, this generations' Cycle of Six Paths was nothing short of talented. Prodigious at that.

And with his calculative mind, Raijin knew, this Demon Wind shuriken wasn't as its name or physical appearance implied. With an opponent like Raijin who could easily use space-time manipulation to send the shuriken away or simply evade it with his physical prowess, there weren't many options to utilize, but several. Firstly, use the shuriken as a simple distraction in order to get closer by sheer physical speed. Though with the Amaterasu blocking any form of movement angles it was hard to believe. The second would be the most practical in this situation, Substitution Jutsu, or in other words, the Body Replacement Technique.

In regular cases, it wasn't practical when you're the strongest person on the battlefield. Though Raijin and Akuma were nothing short of rivals. And with the pathways Raijin blocked this wasn't out of the question. Realistically, this was the only way things could have progressed. And he knew all too well. The shuriken flew towards him, soon after, dissipated into the black haze made by the Amateur. In its wake, Akuma Kumiho now cloaked within the binds of the Six Paths Sage Mode of the Kumiho Clan, though, restricted to only a few including himself. And as Akuma flew towards him, Raijin activated his Rinnegan. Using one of the Six Paths granted - the Deva Path - Raijin attempted to pull Akuma closer to his current position - the stone wall which he stood horizontal.

Though it was a risk bringing someone, not to mention Akuma Kumuho, with a Rasengan closer - Raijin had a simple plan. With his arm outwards from utilizing the Deva Path's attractive forces, Raijin used the same hand to utilize the Preta Path. If done correctly and Akuma was drawn nearer, the Preta Path absorbing the chakra from the Rasengan was inevitable. Or so he had thought. If the counter had been successful, the area would be clear of anything but Akuma, Raijin, and the sea of Amaterasu below. Though he was still at a disadvantage at this probable position. Though he could overpower Akuma without the Six Paths Sage Mode cloak, with was something he had to be wary of.

Raijin's chakra now becoming apparent, a purple aura formed around his being. Performing several lighting quick back-handsprings to create a distance between the two, Raijin tossed a dozen Amaterasu-sporting kunai towards Akuma in-between handspring intervals. The Black Flame of Amataseru still below as it did the dozen kunai. Each was aimed towards different segments of Akuma's perceived position. Two towards both his feet, two towards each of his knees, two towards his hips, two towards the chest, two towards his shoulders, and the final two towards his eye sockets.

Though as he knew his opponents, these kunai were to be evaded or destroyed completely - Amataseru or not. And Raijin knew this probability. With the final kunai thrown - aimed towards Akuma's right eye-socket - Raijin readied himself for a fifty-fifty charge. If he hadn't, Raijin's knowledge of his rival was worrisome. With the amount of kunai he had thrown, Raijin readily expected the second half to be evaded rather than destroyed. And if they were evaded, they would pass by Akuma with ease. He knew this.

If the last kunai towards the right eye-socket was evaded, Raijin's Rinnesharingan would be of use. Attempting to swap positions with the potential stray kunai, Raijin would appear behind Akuma's figure. In an instant flash, the kunai that was to pass by Akuma was now Raijin. And with a readied Chidori Blade. The moment he appeared by Akuma - hopefully - the Kawasaki Crow attempted to plunge the Chidori Blade into Akuma's side with enough force to toss him back into the blue still water below them.

@raijin_kawasaki:

As Akuma's body was forced closer his eyes would widen and his face would screw in pain as he was involuntarily grabbed and excruciatingly yanked toward Raijin, his Rasengan going out due to the Preta path absorbing the chakra, and his mouth would form into a scowl.

What was the point of getting me close just to run away? Akuma thought as his adversary hand sprung away gaining distance once more. Akuma stood on the wall horizontally with his arms crossed as he walked forward, his golden-orange cloak of Sage energy rippingly around him, he could feel Kimiho's rage inside of him fueling his power making him stronger by the second, the kunai were no problem as Akuma raised his arm in front of him and a golden clawed hand would materialize from the air acting as a human sized shield for the Demon Sage, his chakra reacting explosively with the Amaterasu flames.

Though as the last Kunai was discarded and Raijin appeared impaling Akuma's side with his sword sending him flying into the water Raijin would be confronted with that signature -poof- of a shadow clone expiring before the real Akuma would appear behind him having used Kumhio's hand and the Amaterasu explosion as cover to create another Shadow Clone to hopefully catch Raijin off guard and send him flying with a devastating punch to the exact place where he had intended Akuma to end up

Though the Fox wouldn't stop there, if the blow had connected there would be no wasted time in his movements as he struck before any time had passed. It was as if he was in one position then the next as his body flickered with supernatural speed. Clutched in his hand was a supermassive Rasengan that's radius widened a great degree to lower his opponents' avenues for escape as well as raise the damage output.

The rage of the Demon was no fully unleashed as his Rasengan struck the water, uprooting the liquid and sending water scattering everywhere as he blew the foundation of the valley off it's hinges

@akuma_kumiho:

Akuma's punch landing and Raijin sent flying towards the water, Raijin clenched his teeth, not due to the pain but the sheer disappointment from his last discarded attack. He landed back first into the water, a mountain of clear H₂O forming his wake. He sat upright. Though his regular vision was blocked from the wall of water he had made for himself by being plunged, Raijin still felt a slight rumble underneath him and above him. It was another Rasengan. Though larger than the last. Much larger. As Akume neared closer Raijin began siphoning through his memories. The kunai from before. It was the perfect chance. The catastrophic rumbling picking up and the demon's energy drawing closer, Raijin activated his Rinnesharingan. In a flashing light of grey, white, and black, Raijin swapped positions with his first failed Amaterasu Kunai with himself as he now appeared in the position he was before.

Eyeing various vantage points of high ground, Raijin utilized his Shadow Clone Jutsu. In flash's of smoke five separate Shadow Clones appeared in varying high-ground positions from the water below, forming a hexagonal position with the original Raijin. Each weaving the same, flickering, hand-signs the clones of Raijin - and the original - shot monstrous fireballs, all rivaling the size of the singular Rasengan Akuma held. Each fireball led towards Akuma's perceived position. Their individual heat scathing the water as they drew closer towards their target. Till they reached Six Paths Sage Mode chakra-cloak-arms range Raijin utilized his eye once more. Knowing how his past kunai fail in use due to Akuma's SPSM Cloak Raijin aimed to work around that.

WIth his Rinnesharingan, Raijin attempted to shift each fireball's current position to a position mere centimeters from Akuma''s body. The moment he had shifted their positions, Raijin's clones had dissipated. He blitzed down the position he stood. Blade in-hand. With his light-quick movements, Raijin would be able to travel from his previous position to Akuma's in a mere moment. A flash of light even. With his blade billowing with purple-lightning chakra, Raijin sought to impale Akuma's stomach straight through. Quickly after, Raijin pulled out the purple-lightning blade, proceeding into a close-range confrontation with Akuma - hopefully - striking the Demon Sage's most vital spots with singular, yet quick, slashes. A slash to his throat, a slash to each of his eyes, a slash to his tendons. All attacks forwarded in speeds quicker than light.

He was simply buying time. In the clouds above, dark clouds began to form and the air became thicker. A storm was coming. An abnormal storm. Exceeding quickly from his close-range assault, Raijin appeared back in the position he stood before whence replacing with the kunai, though he didn't wait. Utilizing his chakra reserves to the max, the sea of Amataseru Raijin made previously had dissipated. And four equal and linear walls of the same black flames appeared around the perceived position of Akuma like a cage. The flames soared to the clouds and they delved into the deepest reaches of the sea below. The storm above kicked up. It began rumbling, and soon, it began raining. Pouring at that.

Though his flames never wavered. Instead, they grew stronger. With a forearm raised to the sky, Raijin called forth the power of his summoning. Kirin. Yet this lightning dragon was different from the previous times he has used it throughout history. This dragon billowed with purple-lightning chakra as with his blade. Though a regular Kirin gave off a destructive aura, this one breathed it. And it now came hurling down the tunnel of Amatseru left by Raikin. Though it was narrow, it was the perfect fitting for the slim lightning dragon. And for that moment, Raijin took a moment to breathe.