Welcome to Gaia! ::

[enters from Moon Clan District]

A chill fills the area and a white mist flew up from under the bridge and hovered in front of Phoenix, if he could so be called. The Phantom Scythe shot from the mist and the pointed tip hung mere centimeters away from the man's throat. The chill left as the mist subsided, revealing the "Phantom of Kagegakure" Kuro, with a serious expression. The same one he had the last time he fought Phoenix, that even gave the vampiric empress Tsukiyasha chills. "A promise is a promise. I was to kill you if you lost control."

Kuro was able to land safely on the bridge and return the scythe to his hands before hearing Phoenix's words. The mere mention of that night still haunted him. Like a burden that was never lifted off his shoulders. Without a second thought -or any thought for that matter- Kuro swung his blade. "Shut up!" he yelled as a massive shockwave screamed down the bridge towards Phoenix.

Before the blade hit, the Phantom Scythe apeared above the two, casting a shadow on Kuro's body. With a quick hand sign, the shadow darkened and Phoenix's sword sunk into it, coming out somewhere under the bridge. With this distraction, Kuro created a clone a substituted himself, appearing just behind the created body. He took the scythe. With the shadow gone, the blade came through the clone, destroying it. The real Kuro stared down Phoenix with a malice almost as strong.

"Easier said than done. But if you say anything bad about any of them, I'll wring your neck before you can even finish the sentence." He made a quick series of hand signs with the hand he wasn't holding the scythe with. "Kuraton: Fantomu no Jutsu!" Kuro disappeared in the same mist he had arrived in. There was a long silence. Finally, the mist surrounded Phoenix, and nearly invisible scythe slashes came from all directions almost simultaniously.

(Fantomu no Jutsu=Phantom Jutsu)

Kuro flipped over the hand and sent the scythe through it, pinning it to the ground. He landed on the handle, holding his head like Gaara often did. "What their lives meant to me? They were the most important people in my life. There was at least reasoning behind the Moon Clan Masacre; the rotection of someone dear to you. But what about them?! What the hell did they have to die for?! Some arrogant son of a b***h who wanted to start another war... that stupid conquest wound up taking the lives of six of the best ninja I've ever known!" Kuro tore the scythe blade across the bridge surface and it destroyed the hand. "If there's something you want me to know, then TELL ME DAMMIT!!!"

"...I see. I get it now. You're saying they want me to just live and not focus on revenge? Makes sense." Kuro blew Phoenix off of him and the same purple aura from before surrounded him. "But if I find that man, whether I'm looking for him or not, he's done!" With that, the aura completely engulfed him, and when it finally cleared, the demon form of Kuro with the jet-black skin and semi vampiric appearence stood before Phoenix.

When he spoke, it was in two voices; Kuro's and a different, more sinister voice. "But in the meantime, that means our primary objective is protecting Kagegakure from any kind of danger... including you." He smirked. "I should warn you; I'm not Kurotsume anymore. I'm stronger, better than he is!."

The demon Kuro held two fingers up, and a blade of black light protruded slightly. He swung his arm and the wave was cut, leaving him unharmed. "Kuroitsubasa Ryugan eh? Interesting. Then I'll show you the power of Emustoruk -Emu-, Kurotsume's accumulated darkness! Kuraton: Reiki Kujo no Jutsu!" The purple aura circled around Emu, glowing brighter with each passing second. With a snap of his fingers, Emu sent the aura ring flying outward, ripping trees from the ground as it sped in Phoenix's direction, about as fast as the red hand had been moving.

(Kuraton: Reiki Kujo no Jutsu=Dark Release: Aura Destruction Tecnique)

The scythe appeared in Emu's hand, and he swung it in Phoenix's direction, just strong enough to blow away the chakra blasts with the Reaper Shockwave. He also realized that this would be no easy fight. The Moon Clan was the most powerful ninja group in the world because of the Ryugan. Even Emu would have trouble with this on his own. He ran two fingers across the tip of the scythe blade, cutting them. He used one finger to draw a circle that looked like the ones used by alchemists. He did the same with the other finger, but with a different design. Finally, he brought his hands together in the Tiger hand sign. "Kurakuchiyose no Jutsu: Torigami, Tsukiyasha!"

From the first circle came the massive black bird, its crimson eyes peering down at Phoenix, black fire falling from its mouth. From the other circle, the sadistic Moon Goddess, Tsukiyasha came forth. She flipped her hair, which turned silver as she stared down her enemy. Emu leapt forward, and the two followed up with attacks of their own. Torigami flew above Phoenix and flapped his wings, causing Blackfire* to fall on and around him. Tsukiyasha activated a tecnique called "Vampire Jutsu" which began to sap away strength from whatever she focused on -Phoenix in this case. Finally, Emu came from behind with a barrage of black roses and scythe slashes.

(Blackfire=An element of Chaos used by the Hikoku Family. It cannot be extinguished by foes and burns until commanded otherwise)