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Sasuke's POV (Northern Mountains of Irminsul - Terra (Traveling))
"Our little surprise attack already showed our speed and power. We offer the best travel available, access to unique jutsu at our disposal, and the ability to call us and our leaders as you prove yourself. However, we will require your services as a summoner as well." The same hawk replied. It was the leader of the two.
"You attacked with the advantage of home turf and ambush and barely managed to trouble, let alone harm me," Sasuke replied with a raised brow. However, all four were silenced as a loud buzz sounded. The group looked ahead to notice a swarm of giant mosquitoes approaching. Sasuke smiled. The opportunity to test his new potential allies had just shown itself.
"If you wish to earn me as a summoner, I'm not opposed; however, you must safely escort my ally and me to our destination."
The hawks eyed the mosquitoes hungrily. "Fine with me; I was feeling peckish anyway!" they cried in unison, flying forward to the swarm. "Hawk Swoop!" Both cried as they shot off, causing a massive gust of wind. They were covered in visible air as they began to smash through the hive bodily. The mosquitoes could scarcely react as the living missiles easily carved through the swarm.
"Impressive, but they'll begin to rally if they don't take out more soon." Sasuke lamented. "Interesting to see if they can think of a counter."
The hawks suddenly stopped in the swarm's center and began to spin again as they had earlier. However, instead of mere feathers flying out, blades of wind did. Each slicing through the swarm in each direction, nearly killing two-thirds of it with the attack. However, the remaining mosquitoes finally caught on. The last ones are launching toward the blur of Hawks' proboscis first. But the hawks continued to move, launching another volley of feathers and wind blades, which left some of the survivors cut to pieces, and the others were left littered with deeply embedded feathers in their corpses.
"Hmm, it'll do." Sasuke decided as he watched with piqued interest.
"Everywhere you go, you leave carnage…" Muri remarked as the four left behind the corpses of mosquitoes to fall into the snowy peaks below. "Can we at least ride them so I can get a break?"
"Sure." Sasuke agreed when the hawks arrived. Muri detransformed as Sasuke carried both others to the back of the others. "Alright, I'll become your summoner, Hawks. First, I'll need your name and the clan name. However, we'll do the official signing tomorrow. Today, we shall arrive with my other allies, and we can hash out the exact details. Sounds fair?"
"I am Crushing Talons." The leader of the two answered.
"I am Scanning Eyes." The other answered as well.
"Once we do settle things, you will become the summoner of the Taka Clan!" Crushing Talons cried as the four flew off into the sky. Quickly leaving the snowy lands of North Irminsul behind.
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Suzumebachi's POV (Western River Plains of Irminsul - Terra)
Suzumebachi wasn't often one free from the burden of stress. In fact, in her supposedly thus far short life, she had been one that seemed to live in stress. The Stone Village wasn't in the most fantastic position, and worse yet, in their fall, the Kamizuru had fallen as well. Which led to the negative spirit that lingered around the Stone. Resentment, regret, hatred, despair, it clung to the very air. It affected the shinobi the worst however, for those who hoped to serve and defend it filled them with shame and anger. It had been the desire to redeem their clan and the home village that she had gone on her training trip. Mastered the new style she used, and grew her skill to ensure she was the beast. Her grind had been rewarded, it had revealed to her the use of Kinjutsu of her clan, one that allowed her to surpass her limits. To be a threat to any living being…
It had been straightforward to her that she needed to step up once she arrived home. In her somewhat long trip, the village had suffered even more, her clan even greater still with the abandonment of their own former leader. The very man who had made Kamizuru what they had formerly been. Ren Kamizuru, left the clan once it became clear it was set to crumble. The Kamizuru needed a new leader, one with the ambition and power to do what was needed. So the first thing she did was challenge her brother to a public spar for the position of leader of the Clan. An old tradition would give her the influence to usurp him, and the desperate Kamizuru members would cling to a new hope. It had worked as she predicted when she had bested him with ease…
It was known to her that the idea of usurping one's own brother was considered cold. That one's blood was one of the few things that were sacred. But they had never truly been close; in fact, Kurobachi had always seemed to despise her, something she was sure was only due to the fact that she was a woman. Which helped negate the guilt of crushing and betraying her older brother. She could remember the cold stony fury his eyes held when she bested him. Jibachi, the runt of the three, had openly sneered as well. It seemed Kurobachi had won him over fully. But soon their hatred mattered little. She was elected the new Clan Head. Suzumebachi had been overjoyed, she just knew things were set to turn around.
Though to her lament, it had only further exposed the deeply ingrained problems of her home. Despite their new leader and her newly earned status of elite Jounin, the Kamizuru Clan was still considered besmirched. And with the lack of warfare present she had little chance to truly prove herself. Even succeeding on the most difficult missions did little. And the Stone was not healing but stagnating. It became clear to Suzumebachi something drastic was needed.
It nearly drove her mad when an odd letter was sent to their Clan Home. A letter written by an international criminal under the name of Ikam Uzumaki. She had heard of his deeds during the exams, including the apparent assassination of an Iron higher-up. But all the same, the man had not struck at the Stone, and his proposal had been enjoyable. With the possible ability to gain not just a better summoning contract but multiple her choice had been clear. The Kamizuru would arise and save the Stone. She would see to it personally…
All of that had led her to now. Suzumebachi regretted ever meeting with the man. They had been prepared for difficulties, a foreign land could cause all sorts of dangers. But Irminsul had proved not only dangerous but filled with one of their most hated enemies, The Leaf. Suzumebachi had even fought one and nearly damaged a target and killed a Leaf Genin. Only to be embarrassed and saved by her employers. She had already lost a stronger member of her clan in Jabachi. While an idiot and certainly not the most exceptional shinobi, with morale at an all time low he was the best they had to offer. It seemed Kurobachi had gone rogue, been kidnapped, or was lost. Somehow his tracking seal was somehow removed. Which Mishiro had thought all but impossible for anyone other than a Fuijutsu master. This mission was going terribly thus far.
But all the same, Suzumebachi was confident things would work out nicely. While she hated the Uzumaki's they were powerful, and despite their wanted status seemed to move fearlessly. If she just managed to win them over and get what she was promised she knew it would lead to good things. Today that bitch Mishiro had decided to move forward with their decided plan. They needed extra manpower with the loss of Jibachi and Kurobachi and the unexpected presence of shinobi they needed the insurance. And since they had planned to control nearby valuable clans anyways it was best to kill two birds with one stone. The increased presence of opposition insisted the accelerate the plan all the same.
With that Mishiro's plan had been deceptively simple. They would use one clan to garner the others. Suzumebachi still had her contract with the wasp Clan. They could use them to detain other creatures for their own use. The only problem Suzumebachi could see was the attitude of the clan she was contracted to. They had only served her with a mutually beneficial relationship in mind and usually only offered their most diminutive soldiers for combat. They likely would not agree to risk their own just to aid her on short notice. She just couldn't see how they would get them on board. Even if Suzumebachi was to try to force them, they were immune to the sting technique unlike herself.
But Mishiro was unconcerned and demanded she summon the clan leader regardless, promising they would be able to soothe them. And she would be able to convince them with ease. Her confidence eventually won over Suzumebachi.
"Alright, I'll be pretty exhausted after summoning the Queen. She's chakra costly and may very well decide to attack us if particularly offended by my sudden use of her. The two of you may very well need to defend yourselves. But do not hurt the Queen, if you do I promise I will kill you both." Suzumebachi explained.
"It won't be of any true concern, both the Queen and your threat." Leifazu said casually, though Suzumebachi couldn't help but notice she was directly behind her. Did the psycho woman intend to use her as a human shield!
"Just summon the queen," Mishiro impatiently snapped. "Even if the bug acts out, it is well within my power to bring it to heel. And I obviously need its help, harming would doubtless be ineffective towards such."
"It's not a bug; wasps are apex predators capable of hunting down an absurd number of prey per wasp! Furthermore, you are not to hurt her! Even if we find a replacement Clan, I intend to keep ties with the wasp personally. They are invaluable to both me and the Kamizuru Clan." Suzumebachi snapped at the two of them.
"Come now, little girl, there is no need to fret." Mishiro chided with narrowed eyes. "We need her alive, I don't gain anything from killing her. Besides, do you truly wish to earn my ire?"
Suzumebachi and Mishiro locked eyes in a subtle battle of wills. However, Suzumebachi was surprised by how easily Mishiro overwhelmed her. The woman's eyes seemed awfully vast and cold as if they were portals to the deep, dark depths of the ocean. Suzumebachi swallowed her shame as she moved her gaze on.