Deep Ground (Jounin Thread Upgrade) + solo Lava Training in first post.

Enemy: Masked - Deep Ground Shinobi
Official Battle build for reward dice.
Level: Jounin - 83
HP: 515
Stats:
O Strength: 746
O Endurance: 756
O Dexterity: 768
O Intelligence: 2173

The masked shinobi saw as Asura blocked his Shuriken-- but it was small potatos next to what he had planned. What amused him behind his mask was the sword he was holding. He soon saw as it began to glow blue with the surge of chakra now visible to the naked eye. "Oh-ho. You have a chakra blade. Very nice skill to funnel your chakra into it," the ninja humored the younger Jiin.

However, he was far quicker than Asura would think-- as right after the Shuriken throw-- he became a blurr and reappeared directly behind Asura. "But that won't save you. " he said with a grim tone as he was upside down in mid air.

With a twist of his body, he spun around and attempted to deliver a fierce kick at Asura-- aiming for the neck where he could inflict the most damage and take him out quickly!

Action used: Fierce Kick-- Taijutsu dmg 150 +746= 896

Dice roll for effect:

The member 'Enjin' has done the following action : Dice

---

'Battle Dice' : 5

UPkeep payments: Tengan
Asura's Stats:
O Level: 66| Exp:582/6600

O Health Pts: 440/440 [440]
O Chakra Gauge: 2620/3188
O Stamina Gauge: 1236/1586
O Soul Gauge: 1738/1738
O Mind Gauge: 100% [Healthy]

O Chakra Control: 100%
O Nature Control: 000 % (Unlocked)
O Bijuu Control: LOCKED

O Strength: 597
O Endurance: 605 (+15 Gear)
O Dexterity: 614 (+45 Gear)
O Intelligence: 1738

(Enemy attack missed)

The diversion was well placed, but unforunately for the enemy Asura was faster. Spinning around, he blocked with his sword, causing the shin of the enemy's boot to clash with his blade. Now with the chakra enhanced weapon, it was stronger than any regular sword you could find now. He blocked the kick-- however the force of the kick itself was strong,forcing Asura back in the laboratory.

Pushed back, Asura tumbled back into a nearby desk and rolled over it, landing behind it-- and then got out from the right side, moving to get on his feet and distance away.

After getting out of the way of the desk, Asura charged with his chakra sword. In a blur of motion, he jumped upward, landing upon the ceiling with the soles of his feet. With a kick off, he spun down towards the Masked shinobi. "RED BEAST!" he growled, and threw down a series of blows.

His taijutsu style mixed his melee attempts to strike the man in the face and chest-- followed by the use of his sword! The flash of steel glimmered in the dark as he attempted to slash at his opponent. And from his enemy's point of view, it was a flash of shadow and light as Asura attempted to whirl down and strike with the attempt to damage him.

(Reaction used)-- Hidden. See spoiler for specific.

Hidden Reaction:

Action: Red Beast-- Taijutsu

Red Beast:

Damage done by Red Beast: Sword damage is 285 total -- + 657 Strength by Taiken effect.
125+ 285+657+342= 1409

+4 to combat roll due to Tengan next roll.

The member 'Enjin' has done the following action : Dice

---

'Battle Dice' : 9

Results are 13-- hit!

Enemy: Masked - Deep Ground Shinobi
Official Battle build for reward dice.
Level: Jounin - 83
HP: 515
Stats:
O Strength: 746
O Endurance: 756
O Dexterity: 768
O Intelligence: 2173

Enemy reaction--Earth-wall Jutsu -- Reduce enemy attack by half. Attack negated by natural end.

The masked ninja quickly wove a series of hand signs. At first, Asura thought he was going to strike-- but in a hair's breath away-- something grabbed hold of his feet. Out of nowhere, stone formed in front of Asura's attack--- It blocked his vision for a moment, but he continued to move forward!

If he wasn't in a state of survival-- Asura would of been in awe of his strength as he soon broke through the wall of stone with ease. His sword and strength made the jutsu created crumble like clay.

However as he broke thorugh, the enemy was gone.

"There would only be two reasons why your beloved master is here. One, he has a secret of his own he wouldn't indulge to you," the masked ninja said.

Asura's eyes widened as he heard the voice, coming directly behind him.

"Or two... he too is not leaving this cave alive," the ninja replied in a calm whisper.

STAB!! The man struck with his sword, poised right for Asura's back . He didn't have time to move as he struck with his own sword, enhanced by his own chakra. It would strike right through him, severing his spine to end the threat in one blow as a true assassin would.

"I'm sorry, pal. But its the end of the line for you..."


Sword thrust jutsu: 250 +1400 =1650 dmg.

Damage rolls.

The member 'Enjin' has done the following action : Dice

---

'Battle Dice' : 7

Missed but responding anyway. Payed Upkeep for Tengan

Asura's Stats:
O Level: 66| Exp:582/6600

O Health Pts: 440/440 [440]
O Chakra Gauge: 2563/3188
O Stamina Gauge: 1013/1586
O Soul Gauge: 1738/1738
O Mind Gauge: 100% [Healthy]

O Chakra Control: 100%
O Nature Control: 000 % (Unlocked)
O Bijuu Control: LOCKED

O Strength: 597
O Endurance: 605 (+15 Gear)
O Dexterity: 614 (+45 Gear)
O Intelligence: 1738

Reaction: Shadowclone took hit.

The blade struck through Asura, causing him to gasp as he felt the blade's piercing power. He couldn't move and his sword in his hand dropped from his hand. The man's whisper was heard as his body soon became limp.

The sound of a sneer could be heard behind the masked man as he soon heard the last breath of Asura leave....

As the blade clattered against the ground...


POOF!! The form of Asura's body vanished in a puff of smoke around the enemy's blade. Asura was never there as he soon left the man wondering what happened.

"WHa--!?"

A shadow-clone!

It was at that moment, Asura truly struck. In the same assassin like manner as the man before him, Asura faked him out and charged. With his blade, he moved with the grace of a cloud as he swung in and with a single bee-line burst of speed-- struck with his blade, ending the fight (pending dice roll)

With Tengan eyes burning with purpose and determination, he struck. It didn't matter if this man was an ally or not. He tried to take his life, so he had to return in kind.

"Got you," Asura declared.

Action used-- Kumo Thunderbreak!
> Elusive as a cloud, one moves through an enemy's physical defense with great speed and agility. After which, they strike with deadly force.
+ Stamina Cost: 360 -25% = 270
+ Type: Offensive
+ Rank: B
+ Damage + Effects: 180 DMG + Direct Dmg.
+ Requirement + Restriction: Can only use Once per battle.

Damage: 180+ 657+342= 1179 plus direct damage ignoring End.
Roll plus +4 from Tengan.

The member 'Enjin' has done the following action : Dice

---

'Battle Dice' : 13

Battle done-- Damage done depletes enemies health instantly.

Rewards calculated at end of thread.

The masked man gasp as he felt the blade skewer through him as if it was red hot. A gasp escaped him as he felt the blade penetrate-- through his lungs and into his body. The blow was critical as it struck so fast he didn't even have a chance to dodge.

"Wha... when ..." he gasped.

Asura glared at him with his Tengan, realizing he was trying to wonder when he switched himself out with the shadow clone. "When you knocked be back behind the desk with your first attack, remember?" Asura said.

The moment Asura had been forced back and rolled over it, As he did he made a hand sign and created a quick shadow-clone, and used the clone to take his place in the attack while the original hid behind the desk-- waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He struck with Kumo-thunderbreak, a Taijutsu style that focused his energy into a single targeted strike that bypassed an enemy's defense fully.

"I just had to wait for you to make an attack, then I could go right in. Honestly, stealth is not one of my strengths, but I made it work." Asura replied with a cold tone.

The ninja choked back blood as he felt his body go cold. "I... underestimated you , kid... Sorry it came to this..." he coughed, "Lord Deus was right... to be concerned...." he groaned, and soon fell limp, now dead.

Asura let out a tired breath, relieved to had finished-- but then soon saw as the body crumbled to the floor...

He killed a man. He actually was forced to kill, and someone from his own village no less. Concerned and wanting to show some honor to his enemy, he knelt down and went to look at his face. He slowly removed the mask, looking at his face.

A gasp escaped Asura as he stood up-- seeing the man's face of a person in his 20s with short brown hair. He knew him-- Asura had often seen him in Iwa's academy teaching students. In fact he was part of the academy exam. He was nice, friendly and supportive of the students. To think he was a member of this shadowy underworld was a blow to Asura's innocent view from the past.

While rattled, Asura knew time was short. He couldn't afford to let himself be captured and it was only a matter of time till the enemies would come and discover what happened. Putting the mask back on him and giving a silent prayer of apology to him, Asura turned and left the labratory, continuing his search for Roku.

Leaving the lab as silently as possible and checking the hall to be sure no one else was around, Asura quickly ducked low and slunk around the hallway. With his Tengan he began trying to find the ways around the halls from what clues he could find. Turns in the passages, the walls and passages behind them. His eyes were his only clue to navigate these maze of passages and he was starting to suspect he was well beneath the village so far down no one would ever dig to find anything.

By sheer luck he got out of that fight unscathed, but it still took a toll on his own stamina as he realized he was pushing his luck. Taijutsu was one of his best talents but he needed to be careful. Even his Tengan would drain him over time and he was using it a lot in order to get around.

After what felt like an hour of searching since he entered Deepground, he let out a mental sign as he tried to retrace his steps. The place was so long and wide, it could of gone on forever under the mountains-- but he soon saw something. A large chamber far ahead of him, almost the size of a large cavern but well carved and decorated-- and heat signatures. People were in there.

Slowly but carefully, Asura approached, keeping an eye on the passages that led to the chambers.

It was difficult to tell what was going on as he made his way down the hallway-- but with his X-ray vision of his eyes, he could see enough of what was going on to fully evaluate the best place to observe. He couldn't enter the chamber without being seen by those inside, but he soon found a room that was next to the larger cavern-like chamber. No one was using the room and it was empty enough to allow him to observe from and not be seen via his Tengan.

Checking down both halls, luckily no one was there, save for the people inside the chamber. Entering the room and closing it behind him, it was a basic storage room from what he could figure. Feeling comfortable enough to stay there, he then looked to the wall beyond-- seeing into the chamber and observed what was going on.

The wall was thin enough for him to hear the basic conversation going on, and using his own acute hearing via Taijutsu practice and keeping as silent as the dead-- he listened. Because the chamber was so huge, echoes were not so hard to pick up. And so he looked into the room, finding people there...

Upon the other side of the wall, was a well lit chamber, crystal hanging from the ceiling like stalactites and decorated pillars reaching high to the ceiling. For a cave, it was well designed to be like a palace interior. There in the large room, Asura could see a total of four people. He saw the two guards from before -- along with Roku among them between them as they escorted him. The more Asura looked, the more he got the gut feeling Roku was almost a prisoner.

Finally, the last person there Asura could see-- was in fact Deus, standing there facing Roku from afar. The two stood a good 3 meters away from one another. "Good evening, old friend. " Deus said, in his usual dry and unfriendly self. "Guards, leave us." he instructed.

The two shinobi in masks bowed their heads to Deus, then left for the far hallway on the other side of the cavern. Despite them leaving, Roku stayed where he was, and looking no less tense than before. As the guards soon were out of sight and ear shot, Deus turned to Roku. "So, Roku... thank you for coming . I am sure you must have concerns," he said.

Roku shook his head and looked to Deus, a firm resolve on his face now. "Why don't we skip the formalities, Deus," Roku said in a rather straight forward and brash reply. "I think you have a good idea why you requested me here. I could of declined, but I chose to come-- because I needed to talk to you."

Deus raised his eyes a bit, and shrugged his shoulders. "Please, Roku," he said, "There really is no need for hostility here. I promise you, you have my utmost respect. That said, if there is something you wish to tell me, speak your mind. "

"I'd imagine as much," Roku replied flatly, "Why else would you insist to meet here in Deepground. iwa's dark, little secret. "

Despite the attempts of a fair talk-- Asura could see the tension between them, as if a battle would erupt at any moment. Asura clenched a hand to the wall, trying to contain his own nervous feelings. he had to remain calm and just observe for now.

"Deepground has been and always will be secret-- for the interest and security of Iwa's future. We alwasy operated in the shadows, no different as any ninja clan. No different than the Root of Konoha." Deus said calmly, extending his arms to the walls around him. "You should know. You used to serve here. Even some Jiin have taken interest to serve our cause. If I recall correctly, your son--"

"I didn't come here to talk about the ethics of this pit, Deus," Roku said with a growl of his voice, cutting off Deus-- who only just stopped and closed his eyes in irritability. It was clear Roku was angry, but containing himself. "I came here to tell you the truth. Here, where I know you won't save face. "

Asura looked on, confused and troubled. What in the world was Roku talking about?

"I didn't tell you everything about the events that happened in the estate-- because I had my doubts," Roku said, "But now that you called me here... my feelings on the matter are much more clear. Tell me, what did you really know about the attack?"

"Why, just as I told you, Lord Roku," Deus replied, "We have been investigating the attack and trying to track down the bandits responsible. "

It was then Roku's eyes narrowed. "And the assassins who tried to attack Asura at the same time?" he asked.

There was a sudden pause in the conversation, as Roku's added question got a bit weird between them. The two's expression remained the same, but the focus was clear-- like one trying to outsmart the other in a battle of wits. "Assassins? I thought Asura was attacked by the bandits before just like the others.?" Deus replied.

"No. Right at the time the attack took place, shinobi-- and ones of exceptional skill-- attacked Asura while he was training. By sheer luck, a stranger of considerable skill appeared to his aid and helped fight them off. " Roku shared to Deus.

Deus' expression firmed up as he listened. "What was most interesting was after they were subdued, the stranger attempted to use Genjutsu on the attacker to learn their secrets-- and was killed via a curse mark that was meant to keep them from revealing any secrets of their mission." Roku said, and glared daggers at Deus. "If I recall correctly, that is a trademark of Deepground's methods, isn't it?"

"Heh... that sounds like a good story," Deus said, a light chuckle escaping him. "If we weren't such good friends, I would of taken that in offense."

"You think my apprentice would lie about something that put his life at risk?" Roku said, almost insulted himself, but kept his voice calm all the same. "One of the basic shinobi rules I know-- there are no coincidences in the events of a shinobi," he explained, the staring contest between them growing more intense. Even Asura from behind the wall could feel the turmoil start to boil. "I looked into my mission that was assigned to me when the attack occurred. It seemed odd I would of been sent away while my clan was attacked. So I looked into who issued the order to send me. "

Roku narrowed his gaze to Deus. "The orders were bounced around, but came from your desk."

Deus didn't say a word, but his face was as firm as stone.

"There is no point denying it, Deus,"Roku declared calmly, showing all the facts out. "You sent Deepground agents to assassinate Asura, didn't you." He accused him.