[The shriek is distant, yet it rends the black sky all the same, and Sasuke cannot tell if days or only hours have passed since the night's festivities began — but he picks up his head and shakes off the languor of drugged food and drink to pursue the sound. Urgency kicks to life beneath his chest; he races through the streets, takes a shortcut over buildings to reach the center square of Mirth. And then he sees it. The dark figure astride a horse, wreathed in black, headless, weapon in hand. The horse whinnies and kicks its hooves — a pale-boned skeleton with no flesh or muscle to suggest it was ever alive.

The rider flicks the reins, and the horse begins to trot, then gallop, and with his gaze veiled in red he can see the moment before it happens—]

Move! [A shout flung gruffly to the gathered crowd of partiers, only a few of which hear it and abide, stumbling away in scattered noises of shock and terror.] Stay back!

[One doesn't. Sasuke sees the moment their head is severed from their body in a clean strike, splattering blood across cobblestones. The body drops. The sword is lifted anew; Sasuke curses under his breath, then pulls upon his deep reserve of chakra, using Amenotejikara to trade places with the next target in the blink of an eye. Mercifully, the ninjutsu does not fail him. The rider's sword slashes over his head when he ducks deftly beneath it; the individual who has been spared screams, running off down the street.

Then the horseman turns, galloping in another direction, weaving through the frantic crowd. Sasuke's eyes land on someone nearby — almost as darkly dressed as the headless assailant. He recognizes this one, D, from the Hierarchy form. Most of the Restless have abilities of some kind; is this one the same?] You. Are you capable of combat? I can catch up, but I won't be able to disable him and defend the civilians at once reliably. I need you to keep them out of my way.