The Village of Merchants was a vastly prosperous city in which one could always find something worth purchasing. There were no small market stalls as the ninjas would have been accustomed to from the INC Village, but rather large and rather elegant appearing stores. The architecture alone would make it worth the journey simply to observe their extravagant designs. Each store was owned by a licensed member of the Merchant Guild, and operated by a member of their personal family. There was nothing to have in this city without a price tag attached to it. There were stores that sold weapons; stores that sold scrolls, both written and blank; stores that sold tools, such as rope, climbing spikes, etc.; clothing stores, pet stores, as well as stores that sold anything and everything in between.

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VillageofMerchants1 - Arrival
VillageofMerchants2 - Preemptive Shopping
VillageofMerchants3 - The Journey Begins
VillageofMerchants4 - The Giant's Fall
VillageofMerchants5 - The Journey Continues
VillageofMerchants6 - Bandit Attack & Regrouping
VillageofMerchants7 - Refugee's Arrival
VillageofMerchants8 - Tetsu

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The Guild Meeting Hall
Cogs Marionette - Puppet Store
Bamboo Pass

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"Ah so the lamb chooses itself for the sacrifice!" Tetsu said with a sickening grin. He leveled his barrels at Kano and laughed as the guns roared and erupted, sending hot metal slugs flying through the air.

As Tetsu set his sights on Kano and began firing a dozen or more little pin pricks like bug bites erupted across the back of his shoulders and neck. Master Risu's drug laced Kunai were not very big at all in comparison to a normal sized Kunai.

Oita almost tumbled backwards as he freed some of his items. This was going to be a rough fight, that man was dangerous, and Oita wasn't prepared for this. Half his puppets were smashed. The only one he really had was the spider one which he didn't know how to control.

Great, Kano had decided to throw himself into danger. There was a crunch as Tsu hit Kano at top speed, her entire body meeting his, trying to drag him away from the path of the bullets. For all she knew, she might be doing something as foolish as Kano right now, since she was putting herself under fire just to try and drag him away from the danger.

The air escaped Kano's chest with a loud gasp as his sensei shoved into him. He hadn't been expecting to be shot at. He was relieved that she'd been so fast. He hoped he was proving enough of a distraction for Master Risu though...

Ishiaki surged forward and lashed out with his sword. He kept his shield arm before him, to absorb the impact of the hundreds of bullets as they tore through the air. Sparks flew as his mystical blade collided with the bullets and tore through the air, slicing down through the barrel on the man's right shoulder.

Ishiaki's attack caused Tetsu to pivot as the blade broke through his gun. He twisted, his back erupting in irritating burning pain from the miniscule squirrel kunais. He moved with the attack and brought his closed fist up to meet the blind swordsman's gut. "Fool! You dare to attack me directly?! You invite your own funeral!" The barrels stopped spinning, the broken gun evaporating into mist, the matching tattoo on his collarbone vanishing along with it.

"You... you okay?" Tsu huffed, feeling her side, wincing at the burning sensation there. She'd gotten clipped by a bullet, and she should not be running like this so soon after exhausting herself. She groaned, biting her lip, trying not to let it be shown as she looked down at Kano.

Kano nodded, the bullets meant for him had been blocked by the creatures Hinji'd summoned, but if it hadn't been for Tsu, that one that'd grazed her surely would've struck him instead. "Did it work?" He asked, hoping that Master Risu had managed to get him with the poisoned kunai.

Oita grunted as he moved towards the fight, frowning and dragging his pack along. He was quite tired right now, after a long time of guarding and fighting... "Almost... there..." he said with a little groan, peeking just to get a look around.

So, the tattoos are used up when the summons are damaged Hinji realized. Maybe they would vanish if the tattoos themselves were damaged. With this in mind, he tossed several kunai at the a few of the man's tattoos, hoping to hit at least one of them to test his theory. If they missed, he had more ready.

Master Risu used a substitution jutsu to return to Kano. "It did." The tiny ninja told him. "But we need more I believe..."

Tsu stood up, clutching her side but still smiling towards Tetsu. "Hey!" she yelled, trying to draw his attention away from the others "Can't you even kill a little girl?"

"Guess that makes it my turn, Master Risu." Kano replied with a nod. His kunai was larger, meaning it held more of the poison.

Tetsu shook his head a little as he recovered from Ishiaki's attack. He felt slower than usual as his fingers made the necessary signs. A symbol upon his forearm lit up and in a poof, his arm transformed from flesh to red metal. From the end of the arm extended an elongated toothed blade. With a loud roar, the teeth began to move and he slashed the chainsaw forward, aiming to cut through Ishiaki's arms. "I'll cut you down, then take care of your little brats." He taunted the swordsman, choosing to ignore the little girl's taunt.

"I said!" Tsu yelled to the man before a smoke bomb landed with a hiss around his feet, billowing up around Ishiaki and Tetsu "Can't you kill a little girl!" Ishiaki would do much better in this environment than Tetsu would. It was a brief advantage, but Ishiaki could surely introduce Tetsu to what it was like to fight blind.

---

When El and Akane pulled back to Kami's position, she held out her hand, sensing someone coming, but not sure who. "Kano?" She asked, figuring he had a last minute question about the drugs.

"No Kami. It's El and I." Akane's voice said, "We're holding off as backup. He hasn't even seen me so we could use the element of surprise if needed."

"That's what Kano and Master Risu are trying." Kami told her. "I gave them the rest of the drug we gave him earlier. With a full bottle it'll either kill him or put him down long enough to figure out some way to really secure him."

"But he burned through it so quickly before." El said.

"That was just a dose for a normal person." Kami said. "Three drops. They plan to use all of it."

"How are they going to get it in him?" Akane asked, looking off in the direction of the enemy and her comrades.

"Kunai." was Kami's answer.

"Maybe we should get into different positions." suggested Akane.



Naruto: INC