It's a Jungle Out there! (Discovering Tiger Country-- Peninsula south of Konoha) (Reward Dice)

Hearing the rush of flames coming that were blue in color it was amazing luckly for him he triggered his style which allowed him to faze within the flames allowing him to lift his blades up thursting them downwards as the blue flames would increase greatly from the swing from the swords of fervor.

'Good thing I had these on me after all, seeing how he used Katon before I figured they could help this matter out plus with the style on top of that evading isn't that much harder after all.'

Tsukiyomi would then reappear behind the blue flames safely from the harms way only to leave himself staring at the flames rushing at their target. Sighing to this though he waited to see what else Asura had up his sleeve.

'Its even worse...that he's showing more techniques then what he should any enemy would know about him now...

Shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders lightly he figured it was not an important matter at the time and remained focus on his goal.

It couldn't be helped. Asura had a show-offish streak, but regardless even he knew not to show all his tricks. He still had plenty and had no intention to let them all out. Regardless, they had the path and the two tigers had quickly jumped out of the way, not risking to be burned by the supernatural powered flames.

"Let's go," Asura snarled at Tsukiyomi as they sprinted away into the jungle.

As the flames died, the two tiger brothers dropped down from the canopy of the nearby trees. As a large portion of the grove had been scorched by Asura's fire attack, they looked around, realizing they lost them... but began to make efforts to track the two.

***

Asura and Tsukyomi were in a nearby cave, having been located under the roots of a tree. They didn't have long as those two tigers would easily find them if they waited. "Okay... sorry for the fireworks but I didn't have a better way of covering our exit. Either way we need a plan. Those two are sneaky! Even if we try to nail one with a jutsu, they just swap places like a freaking tag-team." Asura explained, reviewing what they had analyzed from the cat's attacks. "On their own they are strong, but together they are formidable. Any ideas?"

He crossed his arms as he thought. "if only we had a way to force them together, so they couldn't keep escaping each time." he thought aloud.

Tsukiyomi was snarled at by Asura but did not truly care for it anyway as he followed the shinobi. Down the tree trunk they went to hide within a cave. The young uchiha boy would listen to the information gathered from his experience. Even though Tsukiyomi knew of that as well but if they were to keep them together they'd have to fight together as well. Though the best way to even fight was to keep them off each other's back.

"Nope not a single one sadly."

The boy already had a few ideas on how to fight them on his own but the problem was the fact that Asura was the one being trained or tested by these two so it would be best if he came up with a plan to see how to battle them. This left a bad impression on him but figured being nice was somewhat of a way of showing some form of kindness. Taking the point to move ahead with the next step before the tigers found them.

"Asura, you have to think of this one on your own. If anything they are testing you not me so you have to come up with the plan I'll just follow it."

Thinking back to the words left him sighing heavily then getting an upset stomach because of the fact he left the plan in the hands of someone like him. But shaking his head was the only thing he could come up with in order to accept the mission idea if anything with Asura.

Asura gave Tsukiyomi a grumpy look. Sure, he was trying to be somewhat supportive in 'find your own answer' attitude,' but Asura just felt they were a team for the temporary time being. His attitude was not helpful really. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but how the hell do you see this as a test?" he replied with a proper edge of sarcasm. "I just assumed those tigers want to just lop off people's heads for kicks! "

Asura grumbled, and thought out the best plan to get those cats into a trap. He went over what they already knew, and what the cats knew-- they saw him perform the Pyro Clone Jutsu, and Hot Streak-- so he knew he wasn't going to be able to use them again effectively. He had to use a technique and strategy they didn't find.

After a bit of time, Asura snapped his fingers. "Alright... I think this will work," Asura said as he leaned in towards the masked jerk and began to tell the plan.

***

Elsewhere, the two tigers were up in the trees, scouting the path ahead in search for their prey. The two brothers were in sync with one another, almost thinking the same thing as they flew through the branches and trees of the canopy. They knew it like the back of their paws. Soon the two came to a stop in one of the bows of the trees and saw them...

Both of them were on the only road-- as they suspected. The jungle narrowed out to the canyon where there was only one path and there they could Tsukyomi and Asura. The two were slowly walking down the path, their backs turned to the tigers.

"There they are. You think they would learn," the violet cat snickered as he attempted to move.

However, his brother grasped his shoulder. "Easy, brother. Take a closer look. Remember the last time we struck them. We walked into one of those exploding clones. The red head one very likely is one as well right now."

The brothers now grew more cautious at the fact the two before them were indeed decoys, meant to draw out the two tigers into a trap of their own. Or so it seemed. They also were now well aware to Tsukyomi's ability to phase through objects. Physical attacks would do nothing, and attacking from range wouldn't do much.

"NOw we must find out where the real ones are..." the black one said, and his brother nodded in agreement. At that moment, the two split up again. They both knew the originals were somewhere nearby. As they fled, they didn't notice one thing...

Asura had already seen them move out. He was now using the high rank Consealment Jutsu-- making him near invisible to the tigers. Lucky for them, tigers had a bad sense of smell to detect them. They were more sensitive with their hearing so they had an edge to that.

Now Asura only hoped Tsukyomi's efforts to lure them out now was more productive.

Soon the echoing of the snapping of the fingers from Asura came about even though he mentioned how he was suppose to know it was a test. Tsukiyomi was not a fan of sarcasm as he knew of it all to well even more so that they fact that he was not really wanting to deal with the tigers in his own way. For the boy did not feel the joy of killing like most.

Tsukiyomi heard the plan but did not say much to it as it began with them leaving it seemed and starting off. Tsukiyomi remained on the ground floor watching as the decoys were on the move. Though he waited for a sign of something he did not really pay attention to the plan thinking about it carefully.

'First he tells me to lean in for the plan...then we start it...man i should have paid more attention if anything...'

Soon movement was happening under his cloak as a small pup came out licking him on the cheek. Tsukiyomi smiled for a moment then kept his attentions set on the targets as he whispered towards the dog.

"Well now good morning...you slept for a while you know."

Tsukiyomi was set on protecting his friend from danger but this battle was something else. Asura had to be tested for what it was unknown but if anything something still bothered Tsukiyomi a bit about some information though he was not entirely sure of it until the end of everything.

'Okay...what's the next part of this plan of yours I wonder Asura...'

The cats however didn't have to search long. Their ears had picked up both Tsukiyomi and his dog. The cats glanced at one another. Needless to say, the cats disliked the dog. The two species never did get along.

With a glance at one another, they charged, closing in fast for Tsukiyomi as he took care of the little puppy. "Time for you to die like dogs..." The violet one growled as the two brothers closed in-- attempting to do the same assassin-combo finisher they knew.

However, that was the chance he needed.

"SHadow Shuriken Jutsu!!" Asura shouted, from out of the same trees-- a flurry of shuriken came flying outward. The tigers were in mid air as the swarm of throwing stars crossed their vision. Despite swords and chains blocking the stars, the force of them all threw them off course and away from Tsukyomi.

It was the first time Asura used his camouflage jutsu and it really paid off this time. And that was just the beginning.

As each throwing star was thrown, a few were guided by a wire-- one that Asura used to control to one and used it to tie the ends around the tiger's weapons! Now he could keep a grap of which tiger was attached to which thread. And now, Asura wouldn't be able to lose track of them. even if they switched up.

"Got you this time, ya flea bags,' Asura chuckled.

(Moving on without Grave)

His use of the wire had gotten him a better understanding where the tigers were going and his tug to keep them in place was indeed useful. Annoyed by this, the tigers realized they should counter attack! WIthout anyone to stop them, they had Asura in perfect position. Between them, they could deliver their duel combo attack, and once again gun to decapitate him! Both tigers then pivitoed back, despite the wires and moved for Asura. WIth both weapons, they now aimed to attack Asura.

"You little shit! Did you think you could outsmart us!?" The black one said, his katana aimed.

"NO one messes with the two demons! You're head is ours!!" the violet one growled.

Both charged with their weapons. However, Asura didn't move as he knew they were coming.

First... focus my chakra. Pour it to the body, now....

He made five hand seals just in time as the two tigers slammed into him.

SCRKKKT!!

The blades should of ripped Asura to shreads. However, something was wrong. Asura had reached out and caught both weapons, with nothing but his own body. His left hand held the black tiger's sword's hilt, while the other he held the other end of the Kusarigama blade with just his own hand. Despite how the blade should of sliced through his flesh-- it didn't. Only the soft trickle of a little blood was shown.

The two cats were baffled. It felt as if they hit a body of iron, but Asura didn't move. He took the attack but was standing completely composed.

"What the hell?!" the black cat growled.

Asura looked up and soon showed what happened. The parts of his body that caught the weapons and took his attack... were now patches of blackness on his skin like onyx. More specifically, carbon. He used a high level jutsu to not just reinforce his body but make it stronger. However, also right before impact, he used Flow Chakra-- and used it to reinforce his own body's sturdiness. Flow chakra to build up his endurance, and then adding the jutsu to transform his body into carbon, making the defense even more formidable.

Asura looked up and smirked. "Looks like I got you this time," he said, . WIth that, he jumped up, still holding on to them, and with a shift and twist of his own weight, delivered two kicks right for each tiger. Startled, they took the kick, feeling as if they were hit in the face with boulders!

Both cats were snapped back, but Asura still held his grip on them, and used the momentum to pull-- slamming both tigers together! They let out a painful growl, stunned by the fact their heads were clunked together.

Using his still strong agility, he used them as a vault board and jumped away. He landed a few meters behind them as they were dazed, working to recover. He weaved a few hand signs, and ended with the tiger sign. "Earth Style: Tiger Pit Jutsu!" he said almost casually and upbeat.

All of a sudden, the ground below the two cats dropped. It opened as if they had been standing on a pit fall, and fell in. As they fell, they would see there were intimidating stone spikes at the bottom. They let out a shout of fright as they fought to keep from being skewered!!

...

The sound of scratching on the stone walls were hear as the fall stopped. Both tigers had used both claw and weapon to dig into the walls as best as they could, and used their limbs against one another to fill the gap of the hole, preventing their fall just feet away from the spikes.

Asura knew that it wouldn't kill them, but a "Tiger Pit" was appropriate for those two cats. As the hole had formed, bars of earth had grown over the hole, creating a criss cross pattern and locking the hole in. He smirked, trapping the tigers with his jutsu. As the cage had been set, seconds past before Asura dared to look into the hole...


A pair of claws came shooting out to try and grab him, but failed. Two cat like growls sounded as Asura looked at them with a smirk, seeing them try to get out.

"Cozy down there?" Asura asked, teasing the cats.

" YOU LITTLE PUNK! WHEN I GET OUT OF THis--ROW, watch the tail, brother!!" the black one said.

"We'll rip your throat out and drink your blood! No one mocks us!!" the other one said, trying to pull at the bars, but they held tight.

It was no point as the bars were chakra reinforced. Unless they had earth style or a means of punching through, they wouldn't be getting out of the trap any time soon.

Asura let the carbon skin jutsu fade off him, his chakra returning to normal as he saw the two anthro cats attempt to grab him from out of the bars of their pit-cage. However, they were reduced to no more than animals now. And now that they were trapped in one place, their replacement technique wouldn't work. All it would do would change their positions inside the trap.

"Well, I would love to play with you kitties more, but I am afraid I am gonna have to get going. I got a meeting with Boss Byakko." he said casually and turned to leave. "See ya."

"WHat?! You just gonna leave us here?!" the violet one snarled, watching as Asura got out of sight.

"Don't worry! The chakra on the bars will fade in a couple hours. Later!" he replied with a wave back. He could still hear the swears and growls of the cats as they tried to escape. Asura felt pleased and smug with himself as he caught the cats, no longer worried about anyone trying to decapitate him. WIth that, he finally allowed himself to lower his Tengan, reverting back to his usual red eyes.

***

After walking for an hour through the jungle and mountainous cliffs that ranged along the jungle area, Asura had finally felt a sense of fatinque in his travels. He had been ditched twice and now he hoped to be near the end. ANd to his luck... he saw something. A clearing ahead of him, which opened up to a wide field of tall grass. Sunlight bathed it, breaking from the thick canopy of the jungle above him. Happy, Asura walked forward without hesitation.

But what was beyond him was something odd to say the least. Across the field was a large aztec like temple that was surrounded by the field and jungle. But the most odd thing about the golden-green tall grass area, was that he was not alone. There were many tigers. He counted a sheer dozen of them around him. Some were orange and black, others white, and some colors he didn't think tigers could be. They turned to him, sensing his presence and some of them growled.

Asura first thought to reach for his weapon but didn't . He realized as if he drew his weapon, it would only cause the tigers to act in hostility. Still with a hand on his blade, he kept it sheathed, then lowered it. He continued to observe, keeping his breath and body language as relaxed as possible.

And what he was surprised that he didn't notice at first... was the gigantic white tiger in front of him. The massive tiger was over 50 feet tall, who was now sitting down in the field, almost as tall as the large pyramid behind him. He laid there completely content, till he turned his head towards Asura and cast a growl that was audible all across the field. "YOU...."

Asura gulped, realizing the tiger remembered him. The other tigers growled as well, likely feral and unlike those two he fought before. They looked ready to pounce. He didn't draw his sword but he took a fighting stance, prepared to defend himself if needed.

"So you survived the jungle... I am surprised. We make a good point to keep strangers away... seems you have some guts after all," The tiger growled, behind the large mask he wore over his face. "So , if you have come this far from Iwa... you must be here to form a contract. No one just wanders in out of sheer curiousity."

"Well Curiousity killed the cat, as they say," Asura said.

The growls from the tigers around him immediately made him realize that was a stupid thing to say.

"Watch your tongue here, boy. You are in our kingdom now. Show respect," Boss Byakko warned.

Realizing his mistake, Asura bowed his head to the tiger. "Y-You're right. I'm sorry, sir. I just meant that I am not one to scare off easy."

WIth a satisfied rumble, Byakko eased up on the tension and in response the other tigers around him replied as well, giving Asura more space and now acting more aloof. As Asura let out a sigh of relief, he heard a familiar sound. "Meow!" a cat said from somewhere nearby.

From behind Byakko's paw, a little white figure popped up its head. It was that of a tiny little tiger cub, and one that Asura recognized. "You!" he said with surprise. He remembered the little cat. When he first tried to use the summoning jutsu, he summoned the same little tiger cub, which had happened to be Boss Byakko's son. The tiger threw a huge fit and nearly trashed Iwa in the process. "Xufu!" Asura said, recalling that was what Byakko called him.

The little tiger kitten immediatley jumped onto and over his father's paw and sprinted into the grass. Asura could see the little kitten of etherial white move through the grass and towards him. As he soon reached his feet, the cat nuzzled Asura, rubbing against his leg, circling, then actually jumping up onto his shoulders.

"Ah, I see my son still approves of you," Byakko rumbled, watching them curiously.

As the little tiger cat nuzzled Asura against his cheek, Asura reached up and rubbed the cat's cheek in return. he had grown fond of this little tiger kitten with the short time he had with him. Though he was glad the misunderstanding with him and his father was behind him.

"Hmmm... you seem strong and charismatic enough, still I don't know. Why should I bestow you with the contract to my tribe?" Boss Byakko asked, causing Asura to look up in concern.

The little tiger looked up to its dad with almost a pleading look. It seemed it was on Asura's side for that point. "Look, Boss Byakko," Asura said, approaching closer to the larger tiger. "I know we didn't get off on the best foot. But I promise you, I truly admire you and your tribe. If given the opportunity, I wish to form a contract with you, and work for both our interests." he said.

The tiger thought for a bit, but then another voice interjected. "Oh quit making the kid worry!" A familiar gruff voice spoke out. Coming out from behind Byakko was indeed Augus, the muscular arrogant master who had shown Asura where the jungle was. "Yo! Looks like you made it out of the jungle in one piece!"

"YOU!!" Asura shouted, this time plain angry as he pointed at his master. "What the hell?! You just abandoned me on the road and left me to go in here by myself!?" he said, tempted to run over and give him a good punch in the face.

Augus chuckled and crossed his arms against his chest. "Not by choice, kid. I would of kept you company, but they want to see anyone who wishes to make a contract survive. They only give their contract to the strong. One has to journey through the jungle and make it out in one piece. Now that you gotten through it, big white over here would't sic the others cats on you. " he gestured to Byakko.

Byakko snarled at Augus, irritated by him. "Watch your tongue, Augus! And don't forget, you own me 5 thousand Ryo for all those times, don't you forget! You are lucky I don't eat you now!" he growled.

"If you wanna risk a major case of indigestion, be my guest," Augus laughed, amused by the large tiger.

Asura simmered his anger at Ravana?Augus, and now he just focused to address the problem at hand. "So... do I pass? May I sign the contract?" Asura asked.

The tiger still grumbled in thought, and they waited patiently. THe little cat on Asura's shoulder purred as he swished his tail down Asura's shoulder, waiting as well. Finally, the large tiger sat up and raised a single paw to the ground. As he let it go and away, a giant poof of smoke appeared, and a large scroll fell from it. Using only a claw, Byakko opened it, revealing the roster list inside.

"This is the contract for alligance to the Tigers of Blood Vale Jungle. By signing this contract, you shall have an alligance to the tigers of our tribe... for the price," Byakko said, his tone grim with the last part.

Asura gulped as he looked up from the contract, back to Byakko. "Um... what price must I pay for exchange of your service?"

Byakko rolled up the scroll a bit, and revealed... a Ryo number.

"Money?" Asura said, a bit perplexed and feeling stupid to think it would be something much more valuable like his soul.

"Believe it or not, we tigers pride ourselves and our luxury. If you wish to have us fight for you, you better make it worth our wile," he said. A sweat drop fell from Asura as he looked over the contract. They were pricy to summon each time! After all that he still had more to pay.

"Failure to abide to our contract... well I'll let your imagine what we will do to you," Byakko warned to Asura. "Your MASTER here already is in debt up to his ears."

Ravana nearly laughed out loud as he didn't even seemed bother by it. "Relax, whiskers. You know I'm, good for it."

Finally looking it over, he saw Ravana's name and a couple others he did not recognize. It was interesting to say the least, as not many have signed contracts with them. "Alright... I'll do it," he said.

Approaching the large part where he had to sign, he knelt down with the little tiger on his shoulder watching. He looked at the empty slot, where he would sign his name. With a final breath, he raised up his thumb to his right hand and then bit the tip of it hard. He could taste the iron of his blood as he finished and using the tip of his thumb to write his name.

... Jiin Asura.

After he wrote down his name, he connected the blood from his thumb to his other fingers. Finally, he left his finger prints on the bottom, sealing the contract.

"It is done," Byakko growled. With that, the scroll vanished in a puff of smoke. As it cleared, Asura stood and looked up to the giant tiger. "Welcome to the tribe, young shinobi. I hope my trust in you, and my son's trust in you is not misplaced. "

"Sir," Asura said, bowing his head low to the giant tiger.

About that time, there was a sudden surge of chakra and noise from behind back in the jungle. Catching their attention, Asura and the others turned to it as two blurs of black moved out of the jungle's shadows. Appearing out from there were in fact the two tigers Asura had fought a couple hours ago. Both of them looked battered and pissed as they both glared at Asura, recognizing him immedately.

"YOU'RE DEAD!!" they said in unison as they pounced, attempting to grab and tear Asura apart.

However, Byakko had other plans. "ENOUGH!!!" he roared, his very voice echoing beyond the jungle, and caused a massive gust of wind, strong enough to repel both tigers back. They fell flat on their tails and rolled backwards, the roar strong enough to do so.

Confused, both tigers looked up to the elder one, and becoming clear now they were subordinates next to Byakko. "FOOLS!" Byakko roared at the two anthro-tigers. "So someone finally bested you. Well deal with it. This young shinobi has been signed as a part of our contract. He got the best of you, and you two must accept this. Still... either you two are getting lazy or you went easy on him!"

"N-No, Boss Byakko! We just had--" The black one growled.

"SILENCE!!" Byakko roared, causing both tigers to flinch and lower their heads. "You two screw up again in letting an intruder get by, and I shall bestow a far worse punishment you two can imagine!!"


"Yes, Boss Byakko!" They both said in unison.

Asura smirked, looking to the two as they now had been reduced to servants to the big Tiger. "Aww, da twin tigers are so cute when they are scared shitless," he teased. The two tigers leered at Asura, growling in their throats at him.

"Regardless, Asura is a part of our tribe now. And such he earns to be treated just like any other of us," Byakko said. "Now, we must find you a partner or two. As you can imagine the benefit to being with our contract is the ability to summon an ally to you. In your case, us tigers. We must find one who will work well with you..."

Byakko took a moment to ponder, then rose up. If they could see behind his mask, they would see the glimmer of an idea in his eyes. "I know just the ones..." he said with a cat like grin.

"Ones? As in more than one?" Asura asked.

Byakko rose and chuckled in the sound of a purr. "I shall have you partner up with your new friends... Chikasumi and Bloody Mist. You have already met," the tiger said.

Asura looked confused. The two tigers next to him appeared shocked as they all looked to one another!

"THEM?!"

"HIM?!" The tigers said in unison.

Byakko growled in a knowing tone. "These two are unique among our tribe. Though they have their... personality quirks, they are two of our strongest warriors and skilled combatants. " Byakko said, "I shall entrust their contract to you, as I know they can work well with you. Also, since these two have been slumming of late, perhaps they too can learn from your example as well. "

Asura felt a sense of dread pass over him as he looked to the two anthro tigers. At first they had given him grim, angry stares. But now, both of them smirked like twin devils.

"I'm so dead..." Asura groaned.

SNug! He felt something squish him between them. It turned out in the blink of an eye, the two tiger brothers had wrapped their arms around Asura's shoulders, as if in a brotherly embrace between them. They now had 'stressed' smiles on their faces. "Ya, buddy... Guess that means you're stuck with us," the black one Chigatsumi growled in a pleased tone, inches away from Asura's ear.

The other one, Bloody Mist, was just as close, snugging Asura closer between them. "That's right brother. We will get along just fine. I bet we will have lots of fun together," the other one said, both now showing a devilish smirk between them.

"Great....Just great...." Asura groaned, realizing he may end up in worse trouble with these two.

And So Asura earned the trust and power of the tigers. THough while still mending bridges with the two he had met, Byakko had enough faith in him to give him the contract. After reuiniting with Ravana, and earning a few more summons to use, Asura and Ravana begain to make their way back to Iwa going through Konoha. The End.

Reward dice rolls: 13./