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Hedoro certainly couldn't argue with what Crius had said. The entire village was stuffed to the gills with the infernal humans, nesting like rats in the warrens they had carved out of the forest. And to hear another confirm her own thought that there wasn't even a single strong rat among the lot of them was disappointing, to say the least. She was no battle junkie, that needed to fight to feel alive, no. But she had discovered that the stronger her opponent was, the tastier they proved when she would inevitably devour them. Perhaps the higher quantity of internal chakra added something to their flavor? Or perhaps the longer they lasted in battle served to whet her appetite, and make her enjoy consuming them more once it finally occurred. So wound up in thought, she almost didn't notice the arrival of her meal. It had taken a short time, nothing outrageous, but still longer than she would have preferred. It seemed the one who had attended to their table earlier had been replaced, this new human had a different shape. She didn't turn to face them, but all the same she was paying close attention to the dishes they were placing on the table. Some of the food was hot, and as it generally did in such situations, gave off steam. Steam was, of course, evaporated water. So, in what she would be insulted to hear, in a manner similar to a human, she was able to 'smell' her dishes by the fragrant aroma being given off. Of course, her version of smelling was actually taking in that freshly given off water vapor and metabolizing it instantly, and thus gaining it's 'knowledge', but the end result was the same.

She paused in her movement toward her repast just as Crius correctly predicted her behavior. She had indeed been planning to simply devour what lay before her, as she always did. But in a disturbing continuation of her earlier thought, perhaps the food would taste better if the process was delayed, if even in such a matter as catering to the silly humans' insipid etiquette. Or at least an approximate version thereof. She would not use the bizarre cutlery, the use of such being rather beyond her experience. She saw a serrated knife. While a human would know it was there to cut the steak, she assumed it was to fend off any others who tried to intrude upon her meal. This was certainly an accommodating place, to supply a weapon to defend yourself, along with a meal! She didn't sense anyone trying to attack, so she left the cutlery where it sat on the table. Instead, she paid closer attention to how the other nearby humans were eating. They were breaking their meals into smaller pieces, before bringing said pieces to their mouths, whereupon the food was then ground into some formless mush by the act of chewing. And they dared to think her method was barbaric?! Rather than cater completely to such inane concepts, she just moved a hand over her meal, thin tendrils of her substance snaking out, in a fashion similar to the legs of an insect or some of the more macabre tools of surgery. Those tendrils got to work, reaching down to a plate, before neatly severing a piece of whichever dish it was, and then wrapping it up and effectively swallowing it. While the humans might be affronted that she was 'eating with her hands' literally, she felt it was far more courtesy than the fleshlings deserved. She had already held back from simply devouring them as well, if that wasn't good enough for them then what was?
(622 )

"Are you enjoying your meal?" Crius says, with a slight smirk across his face as he watches Hedoro consume this meal she had ordered with a slower more human like precision then simply devouring the entire thing in seconds. He hadn't thought that she would actually adhere to his words and eat in such a fashion, even if it wasn't exactly as he had brought up. For the most part, Crius had seen about as much as he had needed to in order to gather a bit of information, though even as he planned to continue with any other form of conversation, something had come to his attention. His presence was needed elsewhere already, which was a bother all in itself. And yet he was going to continue on as he was for a little while longer anyway. He would simply need to apply the necessary preemptive strikes before the battle that was going to be waged, if such a minor little slaughter of someone could be called a battle, would be played. Crius slowly begins to rise to his feet, as a scroll unravels from his left sleeve, a slight chakra surge would summon the puppets he refers to as his Caged Miniatures. Each tiny monster of a creature would dip into the ground with ease, instantly launching outwards towards the designated locations that had been chosen by Crius' rather all-seeing eyes. "I apologize for leaving in such as rush as I am, Hedoro. A challenger appears to have arrived to which I need to quickly attend to. Don't you worry though, before long I will return. Whether you wait for me or not is your own decision. Should you still be hungry after this meal, you can order anything else you like from the menus.." Crius says, as with a snap of his fingers a menu would launch from where it was placed and land in his hand. His Telekinesis Orochi taking a minor effect upon it, in order to fling it towards him like that. With a small smile, and a slow sweeping bow, Crius Akasun, set the menu upon the corner of the table, and then turned with a slight flourish of the long flowing black cloak he wore. The sinister blood red emblem of the Angra Mainyu appearing to bleed down his back, as he walked away from the area and towards the challenger that had arrived so soon. Things like this would surely be interesting, that was for sure. But by the judge of chakra, he knew better then to assume that this would be a long drawn out battle. Although with the use of his abilities, he had already sized up and judged out the opponent at hand. Minor strength in chakra, and the basics of their skill set was instantly capable of being seen at a glance. In fact, the entire battle could be layed out in Crius' mind's eye within moments of looking at the opponent if he so wished it to become as such. As soon as Crius had left the sight of Hedoro, he would be well prepared for the minor battle that was going to be ahead.

Crius Akasun casually stepped outwards from behind a building, as he gazed plainly in the direction of his opponent, Akira Orimara. Their eyes would make a decent addition to his already vast abilities with Doujutsu. Grinning Crius casually raises a hand and seems to make a waving gesture as he continues to walk forwards towards his opponent. This waving gesture of course was something more of a flick of the wrist as a folded object slid into his hand while he dropped it back to his side. The object flicked outwards becoming that of one of his customized longswords. In an instant, the barrier from his Caged Miniatures launched into life a dome like hazy screen coming across the area that surrounded them, in order to lock them off from the rest of the world. Moving forwards with surprising quickness, moving forwards at the speed that would be equal to his strength, Crius slashed with a diagonal attack aiming to cut his opponent in half right off the bat. A fine dust filling the air around them in an instant, as Crius' attack goes under way. Within moments the entire dome would be filled with this dust. Crius' grin widens, as he shifts his other hand forwards, a second long sword slipping from his wrist and opening itself like the first. This one being pushed in a lunge in order to attempt impaling the opponent through the stomach, while they would try to block the first slash, or at least that was Crius' mindset.

Well wasn't this opponent a bit of a character. Thinking they could out whit and out manipulate Crius. Of course it didn't matter how many cheap tricks or swift movements, Crius could see every one of them without an issue at all. Hell, even the future events were in Crius' sight at this very moment. Grinning as his attacks were knocked away or easily dodged, he quite clearly viewed his opponent move behind him, without even needing to turn his head to watch. Crius simply continued moving onwards from his innitial strike path, his left foot crashing into the ground and causing a large impact explosion with the use of the Power Wave technique. This wave of energy would be used to send the opponent back and away from him, before he could turn and continue his attack. Of course Crius would not need to essentially turn and continue his attack, seeing as he could execute an attack from the very point he was standing in. Though that didn't make much sense did it? Then again, as the explosive force used to knock Akira back was issued, a secondary attack came from the back of Akira. This attack being nothing more then a simple 3D lattice works of iron sand to be launched forwards in order to catch the opponent off guard as they were being thrown backwards. The dust in the air actually having been a fine iron sand, to which was used to create this technique. Meaning as the opponent was off guard from the innitial attack before them, the back up true attack was activated and carried out in a moment's notice. This technique that was used, was known as the Satetsu Kaihou technique. Instantly the iron sand would wind themselves around the area in swift intertwining spikes meant to completely impale the opponent in a matter of seconds.

Oddly enough though, not one hand seal was appeared to be made from Crius. Could this actually mean that Akira was not fighting the real Crius, but instead a puppet used to distract, while the true Crius was standing off and laughing at the man's stupidity? Perhaps, although there could be a variety of reasons as to why Crius wasn't using hand seals, afterall he did possess a multitude of clans at his disposal, maybe one was a clan which didn't need hand seals for their techniques? Of course the attack itself didn't make much sense, with the ward melody in place there was no way an attack like this would range through at such a simple pace, even if it had been preset to go off at this time. Though as soon as the iron sand had begun creating itself, a second figure came out of no where with the intention of attacking of course even as the new figure came moving forwards, the use of the Cloak: Art of Muting technique had come into play. Layering the effects of the attack with the negation to the ward melody, allowing for the attack to come underway with ease. This second figure quite possibly could have been the likes of Maeve at one time or another, or perhaps it was Crius himself, and the other was Maeva? But as far as necessary, this entire concern wasn't important. Yet instead of attacking, this secondary figure pushed off the 3D lattice work of sand and simply vanished back into the obscured area, which unused sand was still effecting. The Get Real! technique though, was used by this suddenly appearing figure. The prevention of clones or substitutions in the battle would serve as an issue, for the opponent if this battle would rage further past this point.

Crius Akasun casually crosses his arms across his chest from where he stood, his sinister green tinged gaze staring midly unamused as he shakes his head. A look of disgust actually appearing to form across his inhuman close to puppet like features, while he simply awaited the opponent to take their last breath within the 3D lattice work of iron sand spikes that would most likely be their demise. From what it appeared, it was two against one, and yet there was only one true opponent for Akira. Taking a chance would be the only option. Surely the quick moving opponent that had chosen to hide themselves was the true Crius. Even if he stood before Akira, albiet quite a few feet away. Either way the Crius that was in clear view, casually lowered his arms as he adjusted the swords that were held within. Actually shifting one sword into his other hand, as he then lifts the hood of his cloak up and over his head. The effects of the Angra Mainyu cloak instantly coming into effect, as all traces of Crius would vanish from the battlefield, other then that of pure sight alone. This little advantage could further exceed the already different sides of the battle, of course it was fair to say the battle was not over yet. Though from the looks of an onlooker, it could appear that it was nearing it's send either way. And the victor was quite clear if even at a glance. There was a reason, Crius Akasun was the leader of the Angra Mainyu, afterall.

((My week has been hell, sorry I couldn't get this up earlier. Thanks for your patience.))

Akira jumped backwards and brought his arms together as he was hit with the power wave. It was enough for him to not gain damage from the power wave, but he was pierced by the iron spikes. Suddenly Akira disappeared in a flash of moon light. A kikuta clone. It seemed that Get Real was too little too late. So where was the real Akira?

Once the clone was defeated Akira gained the information from the short battle. He was still in Leaf, hidden by his Anbu cloak. "That was fast. Good reflexes, strong and fast. I really hate puppet masters." Akira leaves his hiding place and enters the street. "I should leave this place, head back home." Activating his chakra aura, Akira awaited Crius' attack.

((I see someone's getting annoyed ))

"You still took the time to fight him didn't you, oh omniscient one," Akira said sarcastically. His opponent was getting on his nerves a decent bit, but this was to be expected. He was a member of Angra Mainyu and a cocky twit who has never faced defeat. Hell, in all honesty, Akira probably was not going to be the person to do give him that defeat, but he was certainly going to try. He had learned a little from the clone about his abilities, but not nearly as much as he had hoped, so he was still flying into this battle completely blind. Needless to say, this was going to be a very long day.

At the same time he started to be pulled into the air, Akira also began to perform a string of handsigns. He was used to being upside down pretty quick and took the time to look down and see his opponent rising as well. Akira smiled. HE didn't have to, but that saved Akira the trouble of coming back down to fight him. Akira ascent began to slow down suddenly as the Platform of the Twilight came into affect. It did not completely stop, but it slowed down enough that he feared no injury when it finally stopped. As this happened, Akira reached into his pocket and pulled out a white glove that he immediately put on. He planned on using it later, but now was as good a time as ever to prepare it. He quickly released his katana to block the slash from his opponents long sword. his katana was wrapped around by the long sword and immediately began to rust as the Cloak: Art of Decay took hold of it.

Akira was surprised, and embarrased. What he assumed was a simple technique turned into a deadly misjudgement. Well, at least it nearly turned into a deadly misjudgement. Akira was a defensive fighter after all. The moment Crius' blade entered hit Akira's chakra aura, the illusion might as well have been dispelled. Akira knew exactly where it was and where it was going to hit, and 5-10 feet was more than enough space for someone with Akira's reflexes to adjust to block the blade, activating the Cloak: Art of Decay and beginning to rust Crius's blade. That was too close for Akira though.

As the weapons appeared Akira was just outside of arms length. He quickly reached into his pocket and took out an iron ball, popped it in his mouth and swallowed it. He then brought his hands into the air and began swatting the blades away as the come towards him. He was blocking them with ease. The Nakagawa style, reflexes and his training. Even the ones that should have cut him did not leave a mark since the Tetsugan he swallowed made his skin hard as steel. Then he felt a blade come into his chakra aura at a different speed. He forced both his arms down to stop that blade before snapping his fingers. The alchemy glove that he had put on earlier ignited the air in front of him, a wave of fire rushing forward and attempting to engulf Crius.