Kumogakure Shinobi Grand Mission Arc - The Truth is Observable

009 – Final Flashback Sequence
“The human mind is a wonderful place, because in a single moment it is capable of processing dozens of ideas and recognizing hundreds of details. It is the weakness in a human that prevents the natural ability to recall any of it when called upon, but the storage of the mind has it all within reach. A realm of its own.”
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Darkness. Toku sat in total darkness consumed by his own emotions and drowning in the thousands of negative thoughts that he had gathered over the years. All of his animosity had consumed any hint of light that might have existed in him and used it as fuel to grow and flourish inside the mind of Toku.
 
Although the world was such a dreadful land of darkness, it did not mean that it was not a place that could be seen. The darkness gave off its own light, a source of guidance in a world of misery. The touch of pain that reminded one that they are alive, and it was this light that revealed the massive cage that held Toku like a prison.
 
Slowly he made his way through the darkness in order to get an idea of where he was, with his thoughts void of any activity as he attempted to recall the events leading up to this moment. Eventually his attention shifted towards the sudden movement that started to stir nearby and observed two individuals that he recognized but at the same time appeared to be complete strangers to his eyes.
 
The familiarity was in their appearance because those were the faces of people who considered themselves friends of Toku, but their Chakra signatures were not the kind that would belong to the bodies of comrades. Their bodies were almost entirely comprised of Chakra, meaning that they were not even actually people but more scions sent to ensure his tortured maintained its potency.
 
His head would turn away from them towards a distant view, something that both Sozo and Debu started to recognize and gather concern. Approaching was a swarm of silhouettes of Toku, his figure and easily discernable but the figures were pure white in contrast to the world around them as energy continued to flare around their bodies. The first few in front twitched sporadically and revealed long white tendrils from their arms.
 
Toku stood up and turned to face the swarm that was approaching, “They are truly relentless.” A smile slid across his face as he took a few steps towards the coming swarm and twitched his arms releasing his whips as they landed on the ground and started to slide. As they moved the ground started to shift like smoke being disturbed. “I will not let you take me.”
 
In a rush of speed Toku dashed forward towards the first individual that he could find and quickly delivered a solid kick to the center of its chest. The force was enough to cause the body to disperse into pure white energy. Quickly Toku swept his whip along the next wave and again a number of them were dispersed as others simply tumbled over bleeding more of the white energy.
 
Sozo would not dare simply stand by this time and let Toku face the dangers before him all alone and made her way towards the swarm as well. A flow of hand signs followed by a loud, “Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!” brought forth a significant glow from her throat before she spit up a small ball of fire that instantly expanded 30 times in size.
 
The fireball flew towards Toku who actually smiled as he saw it fly over his head and collide with a large portion of the gathering swarm. “Tranquil Art: Infinite Reach!” Debu spoke from his position as his words echoed throughout the void. With a sweep of his hand a large crowd of the swarm were launched in the air as a ghost like hand could be seen smashing into the bodies of the crowd. Those that took the initial attacks were destroyed and become the white energy.
 
This went on for what felt like nearly an hour as each of the three attempted to destroy the enemies but it seemed like they never ceased. They watched as the beings would be turned into energy, but that energy would eventually gather and become more of the swarm. It was clear that the more that they fought, the harder the battle became and these beings were capable of dealing considerable damage as each of the trio held their own bruised bodies littered in open wounds.
 
“Toku…” Sozo said between weakened breaths as she launched her last handful of shuriken at the swarm, “Debu…” As she attempted to pulled the kunai from a nearby body and used it to assault another approaching enemy. “I am sorry I could not figure this out…”
 
Toku could only manage to laugh as he performed a sweep kick and wrapped his whip around the neck of the being, “Only you-“ He pulled on the whip and decapitated the being, “Would make this about you.” He had realized that these were the real deal that entered his mind as they explained, between attacks, the events taking place in the real world. “But glad you know how to admit you don’t know something.”
 
Debu jumped in front of Sozo as one of the figures pulled a Shuriken from its own body and threw it back at her, “Not the best time.” Debu attempted to ignore the pain, but even his high tolerance has its limits.
 
“I mean, will there ever be another time.” Toku smiled as he winked over at his two allies.
 
“Clear his mind…” An unfamiliar voice echoed throughout the darkness, distorted enough to make the other words become too challenging to understand. “Toku must have a clear mind…”
 
Eventually the voice started to become clear, “Sensei?” Toku was only half as surprised as Sozo and Debu revealed.
 
“No time, I can’t keep the connection long. If Toku can have a clear mind, no distractions, he can potentially gain control enough to reinforce the seal and at least distract the tail beast.” Sozo smiled as she continued to fight against the swarm. “We have to believe Toku can be saved.”
 
“Sozo.” Debu spoke softly as he looked towards her, “Clear his mind.” He motioned his arm towards the swarm that surrounded them and immediately Sozo knew what he was thinking.
 
“We will not be able to get clear.” She hesitantly spoke.
 
Toku made a sigh, “That is the point he was making, so hurry up.”
 
Debu and Sozo looked at one another as each of them performed the hand signs,
 
“Combination Technique: Iron Sphere!” They spoke in unison as the ground began to shake. Toku rushed every single enemy that attempted to approach Debu or Sozo. The ground erupted in various spots of fire as what appeared to be metallic stone expanded from the ground and started to form a dome. Toku continued to assault every enemy that he could as the dome completed the seal around them.
 
The moment it had sealed, Debu pushed his hands outward as the ground started to shake violently as the dome lifted revealing a complete sphere. Toku jumped into the air and launched both whips towards the extreme ends of the sphere with a look of pain. “Lightning Release.”
 
As Toku’s whips approached the sphere and Debu continued to elevate the ground to clear the dome, Sozo clapped her hands as every single ninja tool that was used by them started to glow bright red as the started to heat up. The moment the whips collided with the sphere, they all knew it was time.
 
“Ryoshi Combination Jutsu: Eye of the Storm!” Instantly Toku’s body began to give off a massive surge of lightning that extended from his body and travelled along his whips and connected with the dome. From that moment, lightning surged throughout the entire dome and used every super-heated ninja tool as a conductor. Every single being in the sphere was feeling the full force of the intense heat and electrocution.
 

A few moments passed before a sudden explosion was triggered, something none of them was aware could happen with this technique since there was not enough wind control to trigger the heat to actually reach the level needed for a full level detonation. The force was enough to actually shatter the sphere and blast the three of them away blinded by the sudden wave of white light.
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Word Count – 1,441
Thread Word Count – 4,260
Achieved Goals - 15,593 / ????

010 – Final Flashback Sequence
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The blinding light was not something contained by this dark world that held the team, as Sozo and Debu found themselves staring at the tailed beast in the sky holding a literal sphere of death just a few feet from its mouth. Though the size of the creature brought the sense that it was but inches away meaning that the tailed beast ball was but a few moments from being unleashed.

Both of them realized that their attempts had failed observing the final moments of their lives standing across from the loss of their friend with their sensei bleeding behind them. The genin from the Village Hidden in the Clouds, led by the Jounin, would be nothing but a memory to most and a tale of tragedy to others who hear the story of another sign of the devastation that exists in the wake of the Tailed Beasts.

Most of the citizens of this village had accepted their fate realizing that there was nothing left for them to as these ball consumed the light of the sun and turned the peak of the day into the belly of the night feeling the same sensation of consuming raw food as their stomach started to sink and chest became heavy.

The massive concentration of chakra was not easy to deal with either, but just like the sight of the ball of pure death, they were all able to come to term with the thickness of the chakra suffocating them slowly. Granted, it was easy to ignore the slow suffocation of the chakra filling their lungs because of the immediate sensation of the scorching generated from the chakra radiating from the tailed beast.

Ultimately, the overall situation brought a concept of contempt for each person even for those that attempted to consider their options on how to escape the coming destruction. It was not until the beast created a single motion that jerked its body and revealed the completion of the Tailed Beast Ball that everyone in the village came to the unified realization that the end had arrived upon them all.

Sozo took a few steps forward as she looked at the beast that was looming over all of them, tears in her eyes hurt less about the concept that she was about to die but guilty that she could not save Toku after learning the struggle that he was dealing with all on his own. She was blind to the turmoil that he was dealing with on a daily basis that was probably eating him alive, pushing for him to actually strive for something.

There was a pause in her thoughts as she felt her hand be taken in by a warm grasp. She turned her head to look at Debu, who held his focus on the Tailed beast in the sky. Suddenly another hand, this one actually warm and wet, took her other hand in a grasp. Her head faced the direction to see a kneeling Gadian looking at the tailed beast as well with a soft smile on his face. Sozo wanted to ask what he was smiling about, since there would not be a chance to do so later, but not a single word was able to make it to her mouth.

~ Toku stood in a small room, one all too familiar to him but at the same time it could not be more of a strange place to him. The table in the center of the room held three place settings with food that his nose could recall a smell so perfectly, but a sight that he could not seem to recognize with all of his might. At two of the settings sat a person each, with easily recognizable clothing that brought a sense of comfort but faces that would only exist as a blur hidden from his gaze.

Each person sat still facing each other from across the table, unmoving and unfazed by anything around them. The room was so finely decorated with beautiful artwork that brought Toku a feeling of nostalgia but the colors brought a sensation of confusion surrounding his thoughts. Toku attempted to take in the room as he closed his eyes in order to go back to his dark place. It took a few moments before he grew dizzy feeling the sensation of the floor being swept from under his feet and snapped his eyes open.

This time he stood outside of a door that this time he immediately recognized without a problem, the front door of his home but it the paint was fresh as opposed to the faded colors that it was before he left the village. Slowly he reached for the door and it instantly opened to reveal both of his parents standing there with a smile.

They prepared to speak, but they were quickly interrupted by Toku launching at them with a hug bringing them both in. His speed caught them both off guard, but they did not hesitate in reciprocating the feeling by hugging him back. That caused him to only squeeze tighter feeling the tears roll down his face. It was then that the smell of tuna started to drift through the door and trace his nostrils. The smell meant that there were fresh sushi rolls on the table and he rushed through the door to take in the moment of his dining room.

His home was so beautifully decorated by the art his father gathered, his unique eyes allowing him to see the art beneath the surface hidden by the layers of colors and overlapping ideas that the artist generated throughout the many attempts to perfect the completed image that many get to see in the final moments. Along with the art was the many botanical decoration that his mother gathered, a fascination with plants and the medicinal benefits that are gathered from their many parts.

Quickly Toku took a seat at the table and watched as his parents took their seats on either side of him with wide smiles. His eyes looked over at his plate and saw 18 rolls as opposed to the six that his mother always gave him telling him that his eyes were always larger than his stomach. He would always tell his mother that he could eat 30 without a problem but she would only serve 6 at a time to force him to pace himself.

His mother would never let him get pass 12 before she died. It was in that moment that he froze with his parents smiling at him with joy but his utensils in his hands balanced on his fingers with doubt. His father would never smile, even at dinner, but that was just his natural demeanor. So there would be no way that his father would be smiling at him, especially since they usually spent their time rushing through dinner so that Toku could get out and train.

Again, this was the life he had before they died and even though he got older the change in his parents would never be justified. His mother would never indulge in his bad habits since she knew well the medical hazards that he could face and his father never showed joy with a smile so firmly on his face. It was in that moment that his parents held a concerned look on their faces towards this discontented child who jumped from his seat.

They began to speak, but Toku ignored their words with tears down his face as he started to feel the sensation of the flames consuming his skin when he felt the Village Hidden in the Clouds being burned down when he became a Genin. He rushed towards the door as he whispered to himself, “I will be okay without you both… I promise.” These words drifted from his lips as his body slammed against the door into the blinding outside. ~

The beast released a massive bellowing roar as it launched the tailed beast ball downward as Sozo and Debu closed their eyes as they squeeze each other’s hand. They continued to squeeze for what felt like forever before a rush of wind started to push them over. The sensation caused them to open their eyes and see a massive ball rush pass the village into the distance and tear through the valley and collide with mountains in the near distance and reveal a massive explosion. A mushroom cloud could easily be seen from where they all stood which caused them all too just freeze.

That was aiming at them not but a few seconds prior to the detonation, but instead the beast seemed to have missed the village entirely. They, and others in the village, turned their eyes towards the massive beast in the air that was radiating Chakra as it hovered in the air. No one could seem to understand the events that took place, even though the beast truly was only in the air for but a minute in its entirety. Suddenly the force of air rushed from the mushroom cloud and once more consumed the village in a cloud but this time it was most dust and debris from the nearby environment.

A single flap of the wings from the Tailed beast caused the entire village to be released from the shroud of dust and debris although causing its own amount of destruction to the village from the sheer force of the wind caused by the massive wings. Though by doing that, it revealed its own state as bits and pieces of its body began to deteriorate and drift away into nothingness. The air began to become breathable as people start to gasp at the new fresh air that arrived.

Even the massive amount of heat that was generated began to disperse, returning the area to the normal temperature that many were not aware that they loved so much until this very moment. A sense of appreciation started to spread for everyone who feels that they have been given a second chance at life. It was a moment of celebration for the village, especially now that most of them started to believe that they were spared out of luck and the silent prayers of living a better life.

Four people that stood in the town center still alive, albeit only slightly, were the most shocked and confused by the entire situation with their eyes fixed on the shrinking beast as it started to fade away completely. It took a few moments, but eventually the tailed beast had become nothing but a small figure in the sky that started to plummet to the ground, “Toku!”

Sozo shouted as she sprinted forward with willpower that she was not aware that he had in her, pushing through all of the pain that he body was experiencing. She could feel the chakra flowing out of her body to the point that it was visibly clear. Her unique chakra was darker than normal, merging with the dark chakra that she could easily identify from Toku. Her mind started to trace back when Toku used his chakra to heal her earlier and realized that some of the tailed beast chakra must have been used and therefore has given her the increase in chakra larger than Toku had given before.

It was her turn to save him, this time she would be there for him like he has always been for him. She launched herself from building to building with a speed that was uncommon for her. Eventually she was able to have a clear sight on the body of Toku dropping through the air in an increasing pace. There was nothing that was going to stop her, “Earth Style: Sinking Soil.”

She slammed her hands on the ground before launching herself in the air. She reached out her hand and felt a gentle breeze wrap around her body as he grew closer with her body going higher and higher in the air. Eventually his body made contact with hers and she felt a harsh impact, but she ensured that she took him in her arms as they fell towards the ground.

Her hand took hold of Toku’s and used his hand to perform a hand sign, just as they made contact with the ground causing a massive amount of dust and sand to shoot into the air. In the middle of the impact point Sozo laid on the ground with Toku in her arms hearing his labored breathing. Their bodies both exhausted, and beaten to the point beyond what someone should be able to withstand. “Lazy ass…” She smiled as she looked at him, seeing one eye partially open with the other closed as blood covered part of his face. “You could have helped…” She coughed in pain.

“Too much work…” Toku spoke with a smile, or as much as a smile his face could make, “Besides…” There was blood coming from his mouth, “You seemed determined…” Sozo made a weak attempt to punch him while holding him in her arms.

“I hate you sometimes…” Her voiced faded as she lost consciousness.

Toku smiled as he faded away himself, “I love you too…”
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Word Count – 2216
Thread Word Count – 2216
Achieved Goals - 17,809 / ????

011 – Final Flashback Sequence
“We do not smile because we are happy, we smile because we, if even only temporarily, are no longer sad.”
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People always have a reason to move forward, a purpose that drives them to perform the actions that they do. No matter what it may be, the negative selfish desires that they pursue or the more benevolent goals that they strive to achieve, people will find a way to follow that ambition. Though it is in the moments when individuals are out numbers, outclassed, and overall outmatched that the resolve truly becomes measured.

Though when a community, a group of individuals with similar interests that may side on the range of generous towards society or confronting the social progress for a more sinister object, gather against any single focus it becomes a concentrated force that few may stand against and even fewer may survive the contest. So when those that were faced with their own impending doom, it becomes easier to want to target their own fears and anguish towards another.

This would be the only explanation for why the remnants of the village, those that were lucky to survive an encounter with a literal incarnation of raw power and distraction, decided that in the middle of celebrating their own survival turn their gaze and negativity towards the entity that caused such a level of misery in their very hearts, minds, and souls. How easily it was for a small gathering to turn from the tearful smiles and warm embraces of one another to the disgruntled shouts and agitated snarls at the small crater near the center of town.

Small movements from wherever they once hid from the end of their passions and desire with gatherings of minds and harmonizing groans of disdain that would only escalate to anger and elevate to full blown yelling and echoes of similar sentiments. Someone had to pay for making them feel such a way, even though less than a few moments ago each of them were embracing each other for the last time and seconds later grateful for a new opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

No matter what challenges may create for a person, there will be those that shift blame and others who will follow so that they will not have to accept the blame of their own actions or acknowledge their own responsibilities that led to their own suffering. This is what made it so easy for the remaining individuals to circle and surround the pair that fell from the sky. Slowly the approached the pair in the center, cautious as to what danger these two may pose to them but still determined to attain closure of the events.

Of course, when two individuals have worked with their literal last breath in order to maintain their own sanity and engaging in self-preservation for extended periods of time, there is little energy to dedicate to any details around them let alone be disturbed by a mob that has a desire to use your very existing as an outlet of their own aggression caused by their behaviors. Eventually it is possible for those who have their chest pounding against their chest like drums in the midst of war, an echo of fear and bravery merged as the beat and the echo in harmony, to gather enough confidence and courage to face an obstacle they believe out of their limits.

So when an elderly man, whose bones shake more from fear as opposed to the years of hard labor rattling his skeleton with fury, becomes the first one to be but a meter away from the bodies of two children no older than the grandchildren he worked to protect it makes sense that hesitation is the only outcome. Memories of working from sun rise to sun set to support children you aided in the creation of becomes a torrent like a hurricane through your mind, tearing through ripping all of the planted feelings of resentment straight out from the roots.

Others will eventually get close enough to observe the same scene, and when there becomes the obvious sign that there was no danger being so close the brazen attitude will not only grow, it will flourish, and that will be enough to convince that voice in their mind to scream poor and truly horrendous actions to perform. A small female becomes prime target for some of the most sick and sadistic passions that no normal person should dare pursue and an accompanying young man is easy to dispose of when his body remains fixed in a state where a foot is already in the grave along with the entire half of the body.

When a community stands united, it becomes nearly impossible to convince them of an opposing view, especially when accepting that view will generate the image that they hide from revealing the monsters that they swore to fight against to keep their family secure and sacred. That is the moment that resolve is challenged, when faced against all odds and aware that failure is truly the only outcome. That is the moment that the old man speaks out against the whispers to force two individuals to suffer more than they already have because of the actions others performed against them.

A single elderly man will vocalize the sins committed by his neighbors, revealing that the monsters that they feared the most that were assumed to walk the streets at night or even reside under their beds are nothing compared to the monsters that exist inside of their head. The vicious decisions that are so easy to discover, so simple to execute, are revealed as the villainous nature that humans are capable of. A single old man is able to convince just a single person of the ability to change. A single changed mind is able to assist in the spread of doubt. A single shred of doubt is all it takes to spare the life of four Shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Clouds.

…

Still, as generous as human nature is capable of becoming, the darkness must find something to feed on once it is given a taste. If a community can find the comfort and ease of targeting innocent individuals that created the pain they suffered, then one can easily realize the convenient reality of targeting the reason that innocent individuals cause pain. When put in a position in which the options provided is to die painfully or to survive happily, it becomes less of a decision to make but a question as to why the second possibility even exists.

A conclusion that this, when met in a group, leads to a call to action which is more of a chant for a reaction. A voice that once found a way to break through the darkness convinced these broken people to turn towards a more violent path to harm those that once promised to protect. An individual that searched for power through the eyes are priceless greed, a glutton for value in life, used his neighbors to harm children and torture a guardian for a personal desire.

Promise to benefit the community is only as strong as the outcome, but the promise made and then broken becomes an increased strength pushing for an outcome equally disappointing for at least a single party. Then when the means bring more pain that the end was promised, an outcome desired by the charlatan quickly becomes less than a dream. Though, a nightmare is nothing more than dream that we had yet to consider a possibility for ourselves. The ambiguity of an event where you were not around to observe, to only hear of the details from a source that could only recall hearing the revised edition from other sources without a reliable point of reference can easily cause confusion.

It is that reason that the Shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Clouds, sent on what should have been an easy mission, remain unable to define how, after a literal earth shaking experience, ended with them taking another breath when the sun rose once more the next day.
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Word Count – 1375
Thread Word Count – 3591
Achieved Goals - 19,184 / ????

012 – Final Flashback Sequence
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Eventually the sun will rise, that is one of the only things anyone feels certain about the next day. Though there are some people are not sure that they will be the one to rise the following day. So when Toku opened his eyes to see a woman placing a damp towel on his forehead, his startled jump in the bed was well deserved. Of course, it would also be enough to startle the woman well enough that she dropped both the towel and the tray of water on the nearby table.

Even still, the body can only push so much before all of the tension placed on it would catch up to it and leave Toku reeling in pain on the bed with his entire body feeling like he would put through a tornado. He wanted to say something, anything honestly, but all he could manage was groans of pain and misery as all of the previous day started to course through his body all at once. “Where-“ He attempted to speak a single sentence, but the first word was enough to reveal that the pain each his lungs, chest, throat, and mouth.

Verbalizing anything was literally going to be torture, so it became a relief when the woman decided to speak, “Your friends are in the other rooms so that each of you can have some privacy.” Of course, after the events that transpired, the woman did not expect Toku to exactly trust her words at face value. “I know that you have little reason to trust us, not after what that Charlatan caused us to do…” She attempted to shift the blame once more to another other than the obvious reason.

“No, he did not cause anything that we did not follow willingly and for that we are truly sorry…” This time, although hesitantly, Toku believed that she spoke with an actual point of sincerity behind her words. This was not, in any way, enough to allow him to trust her, but it definitely provided him with enough to determine where her line of false identity and true integrity would be drawn. “I promise you we will do better, and have sent word already to your home, the Village Hidden in the Clouds, of the events that transpired.”

Toku was a little more upset by the last statement than either he or the woman expected, but there apparently was some strange connection as she seemed to understand the reason before Toku could, “But nothing of your little… change…” It was clear that she was not too sure on how to describe when a shell holding a beast of such a degree loses control and destroys literal acres of land in a single instance. Through the attempt to avoid loud groans of pain, Toku found little success in communicating with the woman.

“Sozo…” Again, he attempted to push words out and found that he could only manage to speak her name. This time, the woman was not able to determine where Toku might have been aiming to go with that single word and shrug apologetically. “Sozo!” This time he managed to yell her name a little louder, but not without suffering the punishment for doing so. He needed to make sure it was clear what he wanted, and it seemed to be enough for the woman to come to a conclusion.

“Oh! The little loud one.” Her description could not be more efficient in describing Sozo and assuring Toku that she was conscious at some point, “She was determined to leave and find you, but her body was drained of so much Chakra.” These words brought an obvious sign of concern to Toku that the woman could easily see on his face through the winces of pain, “She is okay though.” A smile came on her face, “She really loves you…” Part way through the sentence, the woman was realizing that it was both none of her business and not the right situation to have such a discussion.

Before another word could be spoken, several individuals barged in through the door which gave Toku a sense of comfort. The sign of the Village Hidden in the Clouds represented by the insignia on the uniform that they wore. More so, the unique uniform that they wore also revealed that these individuals were not simply Shinobi but were part of the Shadow Collective, or the Anbu of the Village Hidden in the Clouds. “You mustn’t-“

The woman was interrupted immediately as the individual that seemed to be the leader of this small group simply raised his hand towards her. As a reaction, one of the Anbu Members grabbed her and immediately slit her throat without hesitation or a reaction. Almost instantly multiple screams could be heard throughout the building and outside. “Regashi Hokori Hyuga. It is time to return home.” Without a chance to dispute, a member grabbed Toku, “Team Ryoshi is secure.” Though the methods, and tactics, that he just observed were truly horrendous he was too exhausted to fight it.
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Word Count – 860
Thread Word Count – 4451
Achieved Goals - 20,044 / 20,000

Tailed Beast Claimed - Chomei