The Winds of Death

Calm of the Storm
Only at night is the city of Kanagawa truly alive. It is one of the largest metropolises in Fire Country largely due to the booming success of many of its premier businesses. Dazzling lights illuminate the sky and the cacophony of voices echoes through the densely populated streets. Never was there a better time for murder. Deep within the residential district lie the ruins of a once luxurious mansion, the acrid stench of death and decay hung in the air like a specter. Bodies littered the scorched ground, and blood stained the scattered debris. It was a war-zone. The clash of steel was deafening as two shadows danced in the death to the song of death. Their audience a single man cowering in fright as his very life hung in the balance; the only question was who would be the first to kill him.

A man with crimson hair and a jagged blade crashes onto the ground slamming his blade into the ground slowing his momentum as howling winds roar above him. His adversary a haunting beauty lands with unearthly grace as she regards him cooly with piercing eyes. An uncomfortable silence settles in the air, as both shinobi stare the other down. It is a welcome lull in their battle one which Kawakami is thankful for. He had not expected his opponent to be the Shikaze, commander of Konoha's ANBU division. Already he could see the political mind game being played, and couldn't help but be impressed by the Daimyo's play. The message to Konoha was clear, by hiring him the Daimyo had shown his displeasure and if they wanted to maintain a monopoly on their contracts they would need to prove themselves worthy. He did not envy their position. Sending the Shikaze was proof of their desperation.

"Your reputation precedes you, Death's Breeze, had I been any other I might have perished." he said. Standing up he brushes the dust off his clothes non-chalantly, looking more confident than at any time during their fight. "But in your haste, our battle has escalated the explosions have likely alerted the city authorities by now. They're probably on their way as we speak. You have failed your mission. Accept that and retreat, and I won't have to cripple Konoha anymore than necessary." The threat while subtle was clear. Flee or face death.