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Post by Masami Saito on Jul 14, 2010 22:27:45 GMT -5
Planting his feet and letting the blazing sun beat down on his dark hair, Masami stayed as he was for a moment, gazing at the shining, crystallized bits of sand at his feet. Every grain of sand in the desert might serve its purpose, providing for the greater whole, yet Masami had to wonder exactly who would miss one grain of sand that might be removed from its position. One small grain would not be noticed…nor ten, nor twenty, nor one hundred. In the grand scheme of things, the efforts of a single grain are nothing compared to the force of a whole. Correspondingly, the lives of a single human come and go, pass naturally in the wind, and are sometimes ripped from their efforts by outside influences, in a similar manner to the sand now coating the soles of his sandals. His students had followed him, and he wondered exactly how many grains each of them were worth, in the end. Genin mean little, yet still hold the future of the village in their hands. These three had promise, and under his direction they could blossom and grow, proving to be the next great thing in the history of the village. Yet even still…Masami had to wonder when these children might find themselves crushed underfoot.
He stopped at the edge of a small break in the continuity of the sand, a lush and vibrant oasis. They were a good distance away from the Hidden Sand Village, so none would be able to interrupt their lesson, and he would be able to move freely without hindrance. This was good, in that he wanted to test the reaction times of his students, and really put them in danger to force them to move. He turned slowly to them, allowing them to fall into line in front of him. He eyed each of them, weighing their facial expressions once more, and folded his hands, opening his mouth for yet another round of exposition. ”I have brought you here for a single lesson. This will be the lesson that shall determine whether or not the three of you advance from the academy to Genin. Whether you realized it or not, simply graduating from the academy will not automatically promote you. You must be approved by your Jounin sensei, and I am afraid to say you three drew the short straw with me.”
Laying his pack down within the oasis, Masami took the time to roll his neck slightly to relieve a bit of stiffness he’d gotten due to his posture, and slowly walked back to his Genin. “There is water enough to last us all for a rather long time in this pack. However, at least one of you will not be drinking any of it…and we will be out here in the sun for the majority of today.” He examined their faces and their reactions to his words carefully, his words coming out with virtually no emotion whatsoever, completely detached from the children in front of him, and from the situation itself. His eyes reflected the glare from the sand, which had in turn reflected the light of the sun, as they watched the three, seemingly unfeeling, and explained how dire their situation might be. ”I have no qualms about letting any of you die, right here, right now. The decision regarding who is granted water and who is not will be based on your performance, and handled based on my own discretion. We will be here for the majority of today, so if you are not able to drink, you will perish here in the sand, and your body will be buried here. I gave you all the chance to back out of this examination with no consequences, and end your road there. By virtue of being here, the three of you have volunteered for this.”
He reached into his pocket, and removed one small bell on a small string, holding it up for the three to see. “If any of you are able to grab this bell from me, you will automatically pass and will be granted enough water to last you for the day. However, at the end of the day, if any of you have not impressed me, you will fail this test, without a doubt. And allow me to remind you,” He stopped for a moment, looking up at them before continuing on to the next exam, and allowing a faint smirk to creep across his features, one of the very first signs of true life his face has shown since their introduction. “Failing to obtain this bell is not impressive whatsoever. My suggestion would be that you make use of what information you’ve gathered, and ensure that neither of the other two are able to succeed where you fail. I promise you, I will judge more harshly on the two that failed and hold you all to the standard of the one who succeeded.”
Halting his speech for a time, Masami looked up at the three. These were quite distressing circumstances, likely the first life or death situation they’ve ever had to experience. The three of them would meet his expectations, fail, or perish…there was no alternative. While the village might have a few things to say to him had they known how he was conducting this examination, they would never find out. He was far enough out that none would bear witness to this, and if any of them were to die in the process, it would be the desert itself, not their sensei that had claimed their life. He was beyond doing this for the sake of the village…he was going to ensure that these three would never fall victim to the same situation as those three who haunted his past. They would be strong…or they would not be his students. He would not let such guilt weigh on his conscience twofold…and therefore, he would not pass students that would only go on to fail him, and themselves. With these thoughts, he tied the bell so that it hung from his right pocket, and looked back at the young children.
”Prepare yourselves.”
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Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2010 1:44:52 GMT -5
”Prepare yourselves.”
Shouten flexed his arms a bit. Masami-sensei had babbled a bit before, but the absent minded Genin had been in and out of the conversation. In the end of it all Shouten had to defeat his two team mates as well as his sensei to procure a bell. He would have to fight for his survival, the ultimate test.
Water, the gift of life. Shouten eyed the waters in front of him and his eyes flashed to the trees surrounding him. There wasn't a lot of cover nor was there a lot of vantage points to launch an offensive from. It would seem that the best course of action would be a wide spread offense. Shouten's daydreaming may have betrayed him, but ninja were ninja. Surely they didn't discuss any sort of wild techniques that he should fear. Hopefully his ears would've picked up on any super techniques. However, it was best to start up slow and progress into a full offensive attack.
Shouten leaned backwards with his hands outstretched, going into a back flip. Hot sand washed over his palms and irritated his skin. Normally this would throw off his rhythm, but a Sand Village ninja knew his way around sand. The burning ground was like water to him. He wouldn't need any of Masami-sensei's water. The world would provide for him. The dreamer preformed a few more back flips and clapped his hands together when his feet steadied.
Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger.
He preformed rapid hand seals and placed a cupped hand to his mouth. Chakra began to build in his stomach, the heart of a chakra system. Heat began to rise in his chest, a very familiar feeling. As Shouten prepared to strike he couldn't help but to wander away. He attempted to feel a bit of extra weight in his pouch. Certainly he had remembered to keep his sword in a scroll and beyond that the scroll had to be on his person. He didn't want to, but in the event it would prove himself to his sensei, Shouten would use the Sword of Li Souls.
Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Fire Technique
An excellent technique for Shouten to open a fight with. He could shoot fireballs at all 3 of his targets with a singular move. A strong offensive technique that would hopefully lead to a quick victory.
"Yes team, bow down to a firey death."
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Post by walkerm on Jul 16, 2010 0:47:32 GMT -5
The girl was a descendant of the nomad clans that had, at one point long ago, roamed the open sands in disunity. She was born and bred for the harsh heat and the endless monotony of the land, yet as the newly-formed Team Masami stopped at the oasis, the girl found herself thankful for the trees that provided a relief from the bleak emptiness of the desert. A thin layer of sweat had erupted during the trek, and the up-kick of dry sand had settled onto her wet skin, adhering to the sweat and turning her watery layer into a muddy crust. It was uncomfortable, but she'd grown used to the feeling over the years: in her shoes, in her shirt, in her hair; it mattered not.
She licked her dry lips and ran her parched tongue over her teeth, grimacing slightly as the tissue caught and ran over the grit in her mouth. The last drink of water that she'd had had been hours ago, and the water bottle that she'd brought along had long since ceased to be of any use. The Jounin hadn't offered to share any of the water that he'd brought along, either. It seemed dumb, to bring your students out into the great beyond and let them waste away from dehydration, but, knowing that grown-ups worked in their own mysterious ways, the girl figured that the reason for it had something to do with the test that Masami had told them they'd undergo. There was always a reason for something, the genin had found, even if she wasn't aware of it. That Masami hadn't saw fit to disclose this reason rather annoyed Mizuki, and she was almost ready to pounce on the bottles he carried and glug down to her heart's content. The only thing that kept her from doing so was the realization that she probably wouldn't succeed; she wasn't nearly thirsty enough to try and attack her sensei.
That he might give the water to her if she asked nicely never occurred to the genin, though if it had, she would have been crushed had he refused her. As it was, she'd unconsciously decided that, since Masami hadn't offered any to her when she first started to thirst something awful, he probably wouldn't when they had finally stopped. The vibes that Mizuki had gotten off of her Jounin leader gave her a cold feeling, and she rather thought that he was the type to just let her die. Even if he was the one that had brought them out here in the first place! It was terribly unfair in Mizuki's eyes; she'd never expected the desert to be so vast or to be so unyielding, and he had to have known that!
She was already hot, but the spike of anger and subsequent flush of heat that resulted left girl regretting her thought process. For all that she'd been born in the desert, she'd never set foot outside of the village before today, and she was shocked to realize how lonely it was. She'd gone up on the walls before, same as any other kid, sure, and she'd seen what there was to see: for miles and miles, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but an endless sea of sand. The girl had just figured that it wasn't that far, and that it couldn't have been too bad, if the ninja regularly made the journey. As she watched her jounin-leader move about and speak to them, so many miles away from the comfort of the village walls, Mizuki realigned her views. The desert was a strange and scary environment, dangerous and unforgiving in ways that even her sensei couldn't be, she thought.
Even then, Masami was pretty intimidating. He had a manner of delivery that demanded of and called attention to him, and yet made her want to turn away and look at something else. It was hard to look at his face and focus, for there were hardly any expressions to watch. His voice, though, was deep enough and strong enough that she had no problem hearing his every word, and though she struggled to pay attention, and though her eyes wandered southward to study his flak jacket, she was his apt pupil. He lectured, and she listened, and again, she got the sense of life or death. She'd known that those concepts were essential to a ninja's life, but somehow, she'd managed to dance around them and hold off on examining them. She was forced to bring them to mind, however, as the shinobi before her brought them up.
Her mother had died while in the line of duty, as had her beloved older brother. The girl was painfully aware that death existed, yet she'd failed to really apply that to herself. She still couldn't. The thought of her own death gave her an uncomfortable feeling as her brain set up mental blocks and a chill coursed down her spine. That she might never drink water again was an easier pill to swallow; she was incredibly thirsty, and the thought that she might not get to drink any of the water in the pack was very real to her, in a way that death was not. That she might go back to the academy was, again, an easier concept to grasp, but no less unthinkable a thought than of her own demise. It just wasn't possible! She could only move forward, not back! Yet, that was exactly what the Sand Jounin was telling her, and she could not but take his word for it. He seemed deadly serious, and as he set the standards and told them what was what, she felt her heart race and her senses sharpen. Failure was not an option!
Yet, Mizuki was a heavy taijutsu user, and she could use the basic jutsu that were taught in the academy. She'd never learned to use any high-level jutsu, and she'd never learned to use her nature manipulation. From what she remembered of her teammates, they both seemed quite confident in their abilities, and Shouten specifically spoke of using jutsu. The chances were, they were further along than she was, in that aspect. And then there was Masami, himself. The girl frowned as she thought of going up against him; he was a legend, a hero, and she was nothing. There was no way she'd be able to go up against him and expect to win! Somehow, she'd have to get the bell he'd tied to his pants; get it, or at least stop the other two from getting it. This was the test, and she was going to have to do her best. The girl had taken many a test in her short life, and though she didn't always pass, she always tried her hardest; she'd typically excelled in the hands-on aspects, and she always gave it her all. This would be no different, she expected.
”Prepare yourselves,” her sensei said, and the girl automatically tensed doing exactly as she was told. Her fighting style involved a large amount of taijutsu, which usually entailed close-contact fighting. The girl slid her hand down to her leg and slipped into the pack that had been wrapped there. Inside were her ninja tools, among them several kunai, which she palmed and positioned into her hand. Her stance deepened, and her weight shifted to the ball of her feet. She was quick on her feet when she needed to be, and though sand could be difficult to perambulate, she'd walked on it all her life, and any problems she encountered, they would most likely experience themselves.
Suddenly, Shouten flung himself away from group of genin. Mizuki, already wired up, reacted to the movement, instinctively alerting her to a possible attack. She bunched her muscles and jumped back, several powerful leaps and a backward hand spring putting a good deal of air between herself and the others. She landed with her knees bent, a slight crouch giving her leverage for if she needed to move quickly again. She held a kunai in front of her ready to block if need be, and as she watched Shouten, he formed hand-seals and cupped his hand to his mouth. In an instant, she realized that we was going to use ninjutsu, and then there were great, massive fireballs emerging from his cupped hand!
Her first instinct was to throw a kunai at the on-coming attack, and she acted accordingly, flinging the weapon directed at the fireball. It didn't have much effect, however, as the fire swallowed it up and the kunai passed through. It did, however, continue to hurl through the air, and it was pointed directly at Shouten, the source of the fireball. The fireball continued to fly at her. She quickly review her options as the attack neared, considering and throwing out several plans of action before settling on one; she formed a hand seal and gathered her chakra, focusing intently on the hidden mass that swished and swirled within her chest; she pulled that out, and at the very last minute, she utilized the Body Flicker Technique, leaving the fireball to disperse the sand she left behind.
She moved quite rapidly, and when she 'reappeared,' she was some distance away from where she had been standing, slightly behind Shouten and a little in front of where the three genin had stood together just moments before. "Ha, yeah right!" she crowed to Shouten. There was no way she'd bow to this dreamer! It would take more than a little bit of fire to bring her down. She flung another kunai at Shouten at she issued to him a challange of her own. The test had begun, and there was no telling how it'd play out!
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Post by Daisuke Hizuhiro on Jul 22, 2010 21:39:13 GMT -5
It'd been a long time since Daisuke had been out this far into the desert. As a matter of fact, the last time he'd spent this much time among the barren wastes, he had nearly died of exhaustion and dehydration. What a wonderful thing to revisit today. Still, he kept his feet moving, he felt like he needed to keep up with the other two genin in his team. A sense of competetion was about, at least to him. There's no way he'd lose to this hippie dreamer, or this girl, that would be rediculous. So, he kept going, and he kept silent. Mystery is the ultimate weapon, afterall.
In the distance, an oasis approached, and it wasn't too long before they were upon it. Daisuke knew better than to expect rest, though, Masami-sensei didn't seem the merciful type, especially since he'd not offered any of the genin a drink since they left the village. The genin had embarked from the village with a small canteen, something he regularly carried whenever he left the village, since the incident in the desert. Unfortunately, a good portion of the water was gone, but he'd rationed it correctly so that he'd have enough to keep at least himself sustained long enough should he need to return to the village. It wouldn't be a comfortable amount, but it was enough water to keep the cold hands of the reaper away.
So, when Masami-sensei made his proposal, Daisuke wasn't too concerned, at least, not for his life. He was concerned, however, for his future as a ninja. There was no way he'd be sent back, not after he'd gotten this far, and risked his life. The sheer idea of a Jounin challenging a bunch of Genin made Daisuke scoff in contempt. No matter what excuse the Jounin gave, to Daisuke, it was nothing but a power trip. He was just reminding himself how strong he was, by bullying ninja who couldn't stand up to him... yet. He was just the type that the lightning-user hated with all his heart, stepping on others just to raise themselves just a little higher.
If only that had been the worst of it. Not only did Masami-sensei expect the genin to face him, he expected them to face each other. Daisuke couldn't understand such a foreign concept. He had no reason to attack or harm either of the other two, Mizuki or Shouten. Sure, he felt like he was in competition with them, but attacking one of them seemed like foul play. So, as Masami told them to get ready, Daisuke opened his mouth in protest.
"You can't be serious! You want fresh graduates to hold each other at their kunai, for your sick pleasure?! I can't believe..." However, Daisuke didn't get to finish his sentence. His attention was diverted from the sound of a jutsu being activated, and by the time his head turned to the noise, he saw a large ball of firey death head toward him. In a split second, he made the decision. If he needed to impress Masami-sensei, however cruel or sick it may be, he'd do it. You can't change the system, you have to rise in it as it is, so he pulled two kunai from his leg pouch, and held one in each hand, crossing them.
Though it was rather quick in actuality, it seemed to take forever for the energy to rise to his fingertips, and then into his kunai, jumping between the blades, growing larger and larger until the fire was nearly upon him... this would be far too close....
"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball Jutsu!"
He released the ball of lightning directly at the fireball milleseconds before it had reached him. The conflict of the two elemental chakras held in place for a split second, before the lightning ball split through the fireball, leaving room enough for Daisuke to dive through, while his lightning ball, at this point very dissipated, continued to head in the direction it had been fired, Shouten himself. Even if the blast had made direct contact with him, at this point, it wouldn't do much damage, it would maybe stun him for a bit, but that was all.
Daisuke fell to a knee to catch his breath for just a moment before scanning the area for any and all instruments he could use to his advantage. Since he was being attacked, he didn't really have a choice but to fight back, and there was no way that he was going to lose.
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Post by Masami Saito on Jul 27, 2010 23:25:18 GMT -5
These children didn’t exactly need much convincing when it came to turning against one another. The one boy, Daisuke, had seemed hesitant, and appeared to have been protesting the challenge when the child from the Li clan took the initiative, firing off a seemingly well thought out technique at his three opponents. Masami wasn’t quite certain that the other two would dodge such an attack, but as he had said previously, he would not coddle them. If they were to perish because of a jutsu such as this, then they would only have met an equally tragic fate on the battlefield. He focused on the attack that was drawing near. Considering it had been conjured up by an amateur, the Jounin wasn’t exactly worried about his own well-being. However, he would not take an attack lightly, and would counter as he saw fit. Sighing to himself slightly, Masami took the small window of time he had to consider his strategy, and began working through his hand seals in a far quicker motion than Shouten had previously, moving from the seal for Tiger, to Snake, and back to Tiger. He had positioned himself at the very edge of the oasis, and as such, the water source in the form of a substantially large pond that provides fuel for the nearby life. He happened to know of Shouten’s proficiency when it came to fire based jutsu, but he hadn’t honestly expected things to go this predictably. Well, he supposed he would show these three how a true shinobi does things.
With the aforementioned seals, Masami looked up at the three as the other two attempted to counter the attacks, and calmly declared his next move. ”Water Release: Water Encampment Wall.” He stated, his voice ringing out slightly as if he were demonstrating for them exactly what he was doing and what he’d hoped to achieve with it. Covering himself from the flames that the young boy had sent his way, Masami knew he had absolutely nothing to worry about. Water was the perfect counter to a fire based attack, and considering the difference in skill level between himself and the newly graduated student, there was virtually no chance for him to be harmed in this way. The water was a dark, murky color as it protected him, having absorbed sand and other such debris as a result of human disturbance and erosion over the years. They would not be able to see him…yet Masami knew he could use this to his advantage. The three of them stood no chance against him, especially considering their divided front. This was exactly what Masami had hoped for, giving them a chance to prove themselves and their individual skill, and he would observe them each battle individually against him, distracting them from the others and yet isolating them all the same.
As he felt the impact of the flames fizzle out, failing in the face of his watery shield, Masami once more made the Tiger seal, the very same he had used t end his last string of seals. ”Water Clone Technique.” He stated, as a substantial amount of the water was used to create three water clones, and the rest fell useless to the desert ground. Standing and facing the three children, Masami crossed his arms once more and stayed in place as his three clones threw themselves forward, engaging the students in close, hand-to-hand combat. These clones, as was the norm for such replications, were only one tenth the strength of their original and their master. Yet this would be more than enough to handle the children, at least for a little while, and allow Masami time to observe them. It might be fairly obvious who the actual Masami was, but he was not worried. They needed to focus on the threat at hand, namely his clones, and allow his observations to pass. If they lost focus in attempting to attack him, not only could the clones gain the upper hand, but they would not touch Masami, of this he was certain.
While he hadn’t expected such aggression from one of his students so suddenly, Masami remembered the well-known reputation of the Li clan for their killer instinct and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed in a mission. He should have known that this boy, Shouten, who had assumed so much responsibility at such a young age, would be looking to prove himself, and not be playing any games. He seemed to understand the scenario better than the other boy, though he supposed such young children were bound to make mistakes. The girl had reacted in an appropriate manner, countering the first move with a solid strategy, although her form could use a bit of work. Yet from all he had heard, she was something of a rough talent that needed to be smoothed and taught, and Masami had no problems teaching her if she succeeded here. The only one he had any problems with at this point was the other boy, Daisuke, who had seemed far more interested in questioning his methods than succeeding in them. Perhaps the lack of mercy on the part of Shouten might have sparked the realization that this wasn’t merely a game into Daisuke’s mind…and if he wished to pass this examination, Masami certainly hoped this was the case.
Regardless, he would test them each individually, and observe their movements in reaction to those of his clones. At Shouten the clone aimed a quick jab to the midsection, and he would most certainly following up with a solid string of quick hits if that first managed to land. To Mizuki, the clone sent something of a low kick, as it gracefully planted itself in front of her and sent the blow, hoping to knock her off balance on this harsh terrain and gain the upper hand. And finally, to Daisuke the clone sent a fairly simple strike, simply a powerful elbow designed to knock him back and possibly off his feet if it were to connect. Fairly simple combinations, yet Masami wanted to see how they dealt with the conventional and predictable before moving on to a more challenging level. Every move made a difference, each mere twitch utilized valuable energy. One must not needlessly waste such energy in heated combat such as this. For such waste led to death…a fact Masami was far too familiar with to cast aside.
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Post by Admin on Jul 28, 2010 13:44:23 GMT -5
Shouten's eyes darted back and forth. His earlier attack had surely drawn him some unwanted attention. He expected his sensei to counter his attack, but his two team mates caught him off guard. Though arrogant of him, he had assumed that the only one stronger than him was Masami himself. He was quickly brought back to earth by Daisuke and Mizuki's attacks. Through the offense he could see Masami making clones of himself or at least a faint shadow of Masami making clones of himself. One of the clones came charging towards him, or the original. Due to the dirty waters the young Genin couldn't be sure which was which. The attacks were closing in on him, and Shouten only had a few seconds to decide how to dodge them.
"I won't."
Masami came blazing past Daisuke's Lightning Ball technique. Shouten braced himself for whatever taijutsu assault he was about to endure. Pow! A powerful blow to Shouten's midsection. He immediately felt as if he were done for, but there was no room to give up. His assailant followed the first blow up with a few extra punches. The blows lifted Shouten up off of his feet and knocked him a few feet back. He landed hard on his back, but it was all according to plan. Mizuki's kunai and Daisuke's Lightning Ball went sailing over his head. The more dangerous techniques had passed over him, the danger averted for the time.
Shouten's mind was calm and clear. There would be no spacing out here, in the heat of battle. He quickly glanced over at his team mates to see that they too were tangling with Masami and/or a clone of his. He quickly emptied his mind of any plans involving them. For the first time since this exercise had started he saw them as non-factors. Not because he doubted their strength, he now knew his previous assessment was terribly wrong. He just knew that there was no way they'd be able to attack him without being attacked by Masami. It seemed as if he may be able to work team work into this training session.
It would seem that what they said back in the classroom was the utmost truth. Daisuke used lightning element techniques and Mizuki had no specialty of her own. That would mean that Mizuki should have the longest bout with Masami leaving Shouten to plan for extra strategies. However, strategic maneuvers weren't exactly his forte. He'd need to just dive in and then think on his feet. It was the only way his mind would react properly to the situation. Then, finally, in the madness that was swirling in his head Shouten devised an excellent idea. He flipped back onto his feet and began making quick handseals.
Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.
As he finished the handseals, Shouten felt an immense heat in his gut. His chakra was reacting to the seals and giving birth to the flames he was about to spew. As his left hand cupped around his lips, a sort of aiming device for the fire, his right hand went towards his ass. He dived into his pocket as the flames reached his neck. The fire was almost here. Shouten thumbed over the scroll containing his blade and reached for a handful of shuriken.
Shadow Shuriken Technique
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique
He chucked the shuriken forward just as the fireball erupted from his mouth. Shouten knew Masami was very powerful, but maybe, just maybe, he'd have him this time. He hoped that perhaps Masami would try the same trick twice. The water would take the brunt of the attack, but if this was a Water Clone then a few shuriken would be all that he needed. If it was the real Masami, however, then Shouten had drawn the short straw.
"If this is the real Masami, I'll just think on my feet again....right?"
Shouten could feel it and his eyes widened a bit in horror. His chakra reserves were heavily depleted. He had already preformed 3 jutsu, two of immense chakra drain as is. Shouten breathed a small breath of relief though. He remembered thumbing over his blade scroll. Though it would hurt him on multiple personal levels, he would stop at nothing to beat Masami. He would win even if it meant using the Sword of Li Souls. Ruthlessness, a surefire sign that Shouten was a great leader of the Li Clan. He smiled a bit inwardly. Any sign was a great boost to his confidence. His mind kept repeating the same two words to him.
"You'll win."
Shouten watched his fireball travel. Its large form was reflected in his eyes. The flames mirrored the flame that was newly lit in his heart. The flame that was newly lit in his mind, flame that hopefully lit Masami Saito.
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Post by walkerm on Jul 30, 2010 23:31:48 GMT -5
Well, this was definitely unexpected, that was for sure. What had begun as a much anticipated student-teacher session had quickly devolved into a free-for-all in the middle of the desert. Mizuki hadn't know what to expect when she followed the Jounin leader out into the desert, but whatever notions had come to her head, none of them even remotely resembled the actuality. That wasn't really saying much, of course, as Mizuki wasn't much of a planner; she mostly went for the scenarios that appealed to her the most and worked off of that. Of course, now that they were in the thick of things, there was no time to plan ahead; she could only act and react.
So many things happened in so small an amount of time. A lightning jutsu surged to life in the corner of her eye and flew at Shouten; before it - or her kunai, for that matter - could hit, a figure flickered into sight next to Shouten and began an assault. The figure looked familiar, and as a small part in the back of Mizuki's head worked to put it's finger on who that figure was, another one appeared, this time right in front of her. The girl had a brief second to register that there was someone next to her, and then she was flying, sailing through the air. A solid blow to her lower legs had caught her completely unawares, and she was sent crashing to the sandy surface of the earth.
The girl hardly knew what had happened. One moment, she'd been ready for an attack, and the next? She was sprawled on her backside, wondering what on earth had happened. It wasn't even that: she was just plain confused. The breath had been knocked out of her, and her spine ached. Her shins throbbed where her assailant had planted the blow; her vision had blurred, and the edges had a faint white glow to them. She still had enough vision to see that the person was right above her, hand shaped into a fist and poised to plow down through the small distance that separated the two.
Before, the girl had not known that there was even an assailant. In the present, now currently aware of the person's presence, the girl fumbled through the possibilities. Several plans of action came to mind, though none sounded all too great; still, they were better than what she had now, which was nothing at all. And with time running out, the girl made her decision. Every inch of her skin practically buzzed with energy, and the pain of the girl's injuries, though felt, was quickly fading into a manageable twinge. Hastily, Mizuki slapped her hands on the sand and shoved herself out of the way. It wasn't graceful, and it hurt like hell, but it beat the alternative. As she rolled away, her hands moved in the general direction of the man; having palmed small fistfuls of sand as she made to evade the attack, she then flung the minuscule sand grains at the person, hoping to catch him in the eyes, or, at the very least, blind him.
Faintly, as she heard the muffled thud that was human flesh meeting earth, the girl realized just how fortunate she was. Using the momentum gained from rolling out from under the other person, Mizuki sprang back up onto her two feet, albeit a little worse for the wear. Her legs quivered slightly, but she nonetheless fell back into her fighting stance. Little good that would do her, the genin realized, when something finally clicked in her head, and she recognized her assailant to be none other than her Jounin sensei, Masami.
She was so doomed.
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Post by Daisuke Hizuhiro on Aug 5, 2010 23:51:55 GMT -5
At this point, Daisuke was paying no mind to the other two genin. He trusted his peripheral vision enough to ignore them for the time being, focusing on the new obstacle before him. A clone of some sort stood before him for just a moment, Daisuke believed it to be a water clone. In the next moment, the clone threw a well-placed elbow toward the youth, and in quick reaction, he threw his hands up to knock the blow upward, and then proceeded to flip backward twice, away from danger.
He stood at a safe distance for a moment, mind racing. Even though this was only a clone, it was a clone of a jounin, still a formidable opponent. Water clones... tool kit... hrm... Daisuke pondered his strategy for a few moments before taking his first action. He reached back into the tool kit and pulled out a shuriken, holding it in his right hand. With his left, he reached back and unhooked his canteen. This would be a risky strategy, to say the least... He held the shuriken and his canteen behind him, and invisible to anyone else, he cut a decent sized gash into the canteen.
Now it was time for the theatrics. "I can't believe you're actually doing this! We're only 13 years old, and we're still supposed to be learning! That's WHY we're genin! Good lord, what in the world is wrong with you? I've never seen someone so thick-headed and obnoxious as to bring fresh genin, and pit them against a life or death situation so quickly! Since you're so set on making this a 'sink or swim' situation, why dont you just take this fucking water too!" A little pacing, pointing, and yelling made the speech a little more convincing, or so he thought at least. Who knows? Maybe if being a ninja falls through... I could be an actor!
In any case, let's hope that worked. Daisuke brought the canteen to his front, and with a good wind up, his hand covering the gash in the canteen, he threw it at the Masami clone, a good 15 or 20 feet away. This all had to go perfectly, or he'd be in a bit of trouble. After all, he'd just thrown what was going to guarantee his safety. If anything, it showed commitment, he supposed. Maybe it'd even impress Masami enough to pass him? Probably not, he mused. Ball's in your court now, Masami.
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Post by Masami Saito on Aug 20, 2010 1:07:10 GMT -5
Yes, these Genin held little more talent than Masami had hoped. While they had all reacted to their respective assailant with relative poise, their counter attacks were not necessarily any better than that of any other member of a typical graduating class…though the man could hardly hope for more than that, he supposed. It was an odd phenomenon, actually; observing himself testing each of the candidates individually, being able to see his own mindset and routine in action. The child of the Li clan had reacted in the most effective manner, responding to his assault with a well-timed fireball jutsu, obviously hoping to take his clone off-guard. Masami’s keen eyes observed Shouten’s movements, and he watched as the young boy used this fireball he had created to shield his shuriken from sight as they traveled toward the clone. Smart, and a rather simple maneuver that one could use when thinking on their feet in a situation such as this. Calculating, assertive, and seemingly fearless; it was hardly fair for Masami to ask more of this boy.
Yet he still would.
The girl, Mizuki Shiga, had been caught by his clones’ assault just as Shouten had. She seemed far more surprised than the Li child had when it came to his sudden action, and his actions didn’t seem to fully sink in until well after the attack had been executed. Yet still, she had at least reacted in some manner, attempting to blind his clone by tossing sand at it, before attempting to reposition herself and get ready for another assault. Using one’s environment in battle was just as important as utilizing the tools one had experience with, and he could respect the girl’s decision to use this sand, rather than attempting to draw a kunai quickly or toss a shuriken. Yet even so, she was a girl. As such, she had a tendency to be far weaker than the other two Genin present, and this would harm her in the long run if she couldn’t make up for her lack of physical strength with some form of jutsu control. He’d allow her time to prove him wrong regarding the supposed “strength” of the gender, but as of now, things didn’t look good for her. And once Masami observed the expression upon the girl’s face as she realized the gravity of her current predicament, he shook his head slightly, closing his eyes for a small moment. Showing fear in battle was one of the biggest mistakes any shinobi could make…and she had just lost quite a bit of promise, in his eyes.
The final Genin he needed to assess chose an…interesting approach, at the very least. Interesting meaning, in this case, misinformed. He had gained something of an upper hand by dodging the first assault the clone had made, something neither of the other two had managed. However, he had wasted his split second of opportunity attempting to chastise the man, speaking of how irresponsible and horrid it was of him to put them through this. Masami supposed this could be his way of stalling the inevitable, or allowing himself time to think or pull together some sort of strategy, but the boy obviously didn’t realize how little his words meant. His clone was a doppelganger of himself, and as such Masami knew that his clone would not skip a beat before attacking, regardless of how “wrong” it may or may not be. He had his reasons…he had his own motives. He would do as he saw fit, and any who sought to question his reasoning would be dealt with accordingly. He then threw his canteen, after puncturing it and allowing his water, the source of his strength out in the hot desert, to spill out as he flung it. Masami raised an eyebrow slightly…he hadn’t thrown a shuriken or kunai, a far more deadly weapon and one that wouldn’t work against him…but why was this? If the boy had a reason other than anger, he was interested to see it…in fact, he was certain his own clone was somewhat interested, as well. Yes, thinking about each of these scenarios, he knew exactly how each of his copies would respond, because he merely placed his own mind in said situation, and decided on what he would do. And so, he watched the events unfold, one after the other, just as he had foreseen.
The clone that had been attacking Shouten had not seen the Shadow Shuriken, as the original Masami had, and was therefore unaware that there was a danger after the fireball jutsu. However, rather than attempting to power his way through the jutsu, or block it, he used his far superior speed and reflexes to roll over to the side, getting partly singed by the fires of the jutsu, yet avoiding any true injury, as well as the unseen shuriken. Masami foresaw his clone’s actions in this case simply based on one aspect of his personality. As much as he seemed rash, taking them here and administering this test, one of Masami’s greatest virtues was the hope to take the safer route, sticking to the path that would reap the most rewards in all when one considered all that could go wrong. Certainly, he could overpower the boy’s jutsu via one of his own, but why waste his own chakra supply and leave himself open in such a way when he could evade the attack through his speed? Sure, he had come into minor contact with the flames, but the most it would have inflicted on the actual Masami was first degree burns…and that was if the boy was lucky. With this attack evaded, the clone regained his footing slightly, clapping his hands together and once more announcing his attack for the Genin’s ears. “Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm.” He stated, as a violent gale of powerful winds was sent directly toward Shouten, with enough power to knock him clean off his feet if he wasn’t able to counter or dodge it.
Masami turned to view what was happening with the girl, Mizuki. His clone wouldn’t take any action that could result in her death, and this wasn’t out of any sort of pity he had for them or their situation. He wanted to test them, to see all that they could do. Killing them here, when they were unprepared, would serve no purpose in the grand scheme of things. In fact, this girl had not had the chance to show the Jounin anything thus far…and therefore, he would grant her that opportunity. Some might call it hubris, but Masami saw it as just. He watched as his clone was caught by the sand, unable to dodge at such a close range, yet not hit completely in his eyes. The specks that did meet their mark did little to him, as he was able to regain his footing and recover because the girl hadn’t launched a counterattack of any sort. Standing there and watching her, the clone closed his left eye, attempting to clean the impurity that now seemed to affect his vision, even if only partly. The sand would be gone soon, but as for now, he would merely fight with one good eye. He stood, looking down at the girl a good ten feet from her location, before gesturing for her to come closer. ”This is the test, this is the battle, and this is the decisive moment in your life thus far. If you have the will to fight, then show it!” The clone announced, Masami’s “voice” raising for the first time thus far as his clone attempted to convince the girl to attack him. He wanted to see what she could do…and he would grant her the opportunity that she hadn’t taken when he’d originally attacked.
The third boy had gone with a rather unconventional strategy, and therefore Masami knew his clone would be curious as to what the boy had planned. He couldn’t just take the attack, because that would make things too easy for the child, but he would respond accordingly and without overpowering force, in the hopes that this Daisuke child might surprise him. His hands moved quickly into his pockets and he removed three kunai, tossing them in rapid succession at the large target of the canteen flying toward him. If the boy’s strategy revolved around the canteen reaching him, Masami doubted it would find any success, as those three kunai had more than enough force via their momentum to knock the object back. Yet something told him the water flying from the canteen was where the heart of this strategy was…and seeing as how the boy was a Lightning based jutsu user, he most likely hoped to augment his own techniques with the remains from the jug. Clever, and therefore, hoping to see more of this strategy, this clone stood his ground, ready to perform necessary hand seals if the need arose for any sort of jutsu, and allowed the water from the canteen to continue on its path toward him, while the kunai met their mark on the container…
Now, all that was left was to observe the responses…
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Post by Admin on Aug 21, 2010 12:55:41 GMT -5
Shouten beamed on the inside. Though very minimal, he had done some damage to Masami. This was a most joyous day for the Li Clan. Still, through his excitement, Shouten couldn't be sure if he had succeeded yet. Masami Saito was not an easily excitable man. Still, he had done enough to where he didn't feel the need to use the Sword of Li Souls. That was the riskiest of his fall back plans.
"Hey Masami-sensei, I'm coming for that head!"
Shouten couldn't stop himself from grinning. He was so lax that he actually began to daydream again. He saw himself crowned King of all Shinobi. Daisuke and Mizuki kissed his feet. Masami served him his drinks and food. All bowed before the greatest of the Li Clan. Then his brain caught on to the fact that his feet had been moving without his input for a while. When everything came back to he was nearly face to face with a gale of cutting winds. He did a sort of mid-air tumble to the right and landed most gracefully on his face.
Still, he wasn't to be stopped. Shouten jumped back up onto his feet and struck a fighting pose. He couldn't slip into his daydreams it would seem. Masami wasn't done testing them. He wiped some sand from his face and shook some of it out of his hair. Whatever.
"What I mean was, NOW I'm coming for your head!"
Shouten whipped a kunai out of his back pocket and rocketed off towards his sensei. He decided to go with a bit of a jumping attack and descended upon Masami with his kunai pointed downward. It was sort of a falling arrow type technique. It wasn't a specialty of his or anything, but it was the quickest thing he could think of. It had slipped Shouten's mind that he couldn't do handseals kunai in hand and he couldn't dodge in mid air.
"I wish I thought things out better. Still, I think I'm done. Maybe he'll knock me out in one hit and it won't hurt too bad. Maybe he'll use an A-Rank technique on me. Would he kill me for using such a boneheaded move? Oh god, what have I done? Well, maybe he'll reward my ingenuity. Surely he hasn't faced a lot of jumping ninja. I can't think of any ninja that use spears in the Sand Village."
Oh yeah, falling. Down the young shinobi went, aiming to kill.
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Post by walkerm on Aug 26, 2010 0:31:09 GMT -5
Warily, she watched as the Jounin straightened up. She was acutely aware of the pain in her back, and she was bracing against the agony that was her sides. She may have broken something. Or sprained it. Bones had been bruised, at the very least. The pain was going to slow her down. Well, she'd already been quite slow, given the injuries she'd received, but all the same... this was going to screw up what was already a sucky situation.
Like Daisuke said, there was no way mere genin, fresh out of the academy - hardly even ninja at that - could stand against a full-fledged Jounin! To even think of pitting them against Saito was akin to pitting a tabby kitten against a lioness; not only would the fight tip in favor of the larger animal, but it would be a bloody massacre of a battle, too. It wouldn't even be a battle, Mizuki realized; it would just be an outright murder spree. It would be total and complete annihilation.
There was one thing that she had going for her, however, and that was the pain. The same pain that had effectively crippled her for the duration of this encounter - and would lead to her death, did her Jounin-sensei really mean what he said (and she believed that he did.) - also gave her an edge that she hadn't had previously. Where before she had flipped out and lost her grip on rationality, her injuries gave her something to focus on, something that was real and concrete and serious, and there. Pain made sense to her, and she could deal with that. It would serve as a rock in her world; the surrounding elements and environs could heave over, left could become right, up could be the new down, black the successor of green, but Mizuki would be centered right where she was.
There was a good solid distance between Mizuki and the Jounin clone, the girl judged as she bit the inside of her cheek to distract her from a rather ugly stitch in her lower back, but Mizuki had an intimate knowledge of just how far away that really was: which was to say, not at all. It was no wonder then, that as Masami moved, the kunoichi flinched; it was hardly a flinch, really, more of a tightening of muscle, a gathering of self in preparation for and anticipation of what she was sure was to come. It was barely perceptible, not even a movement, really. Knowing what little she did of the opponent, though, it was more than likely that he saw that, and judged and made his own preparations.
It was a tad of a surprise when the man, instead of launching yet another attack, opted rather to gesture towards her, a universal 'come on, come and get me' that she couldn't possibly fail to not understand. ”This is the test, this is the battle, and this is the decisive moment in your life thus far. If you have the will to fight, then show it!” It was an invitation to attack... Was he mad? Quite possibly. Did he honestly think that she would attack? Maybe so... This was the first time that the Jounin had spoken to her since the 'fight' began, and if she hadn't already been expecting the worse, she would have jumped at this. As it was... she was perplexed.
This was supposed to be a test. A test of what, the girl knew naught, though she now strongly suspected that it had something to do with battle skills. How she was to pass, was beyond her. Well, it wasn't; there wasn't any possible outcome but failure. The gaping hole between their power levels was positively massive; to say that it was a hole was about as accurate as calling the ocean a large pond. And that was nothing. Objectively analyzing it... He knew and was capable of utilizing ninjutsu, whereas Mizuki was left with the basic jutsu she left the academy with. She knew nothing about summoning jutsu, and genjutsu was a big, fat, glaring no. And that was just leaving the jounin's infamous moniker and the reason for it out of the equation.
If anything, her only asset and ability was her use of taijutsu. Though, again... that wasn't saying much. He was taller than she by at least a full foot. He had to weigh at least half again as much as she did. If she was stronger than him, then she was also a monkey's uncle. As for speed, they'd already tested that little aspect and discovered just who came out on top. Asset? No, not really, not anymore. A thought came to her, quicker and fleeter than even Masami. Why was she so useless? She banished that as soon as she thought it. She was hurt, and thirsty, and the thought of being weak just pissed her off to no end.
Finally, she exploded. "THE FREAKIN' HELL!?" she blared out at him, using the full strength of the lungs that she was born with. She'd been irritated. Scared. She was hot, and sweaty, and she could feel sand in places that hadn't seen the light of day since the era when Mizuki rejected clothing. She was essentially a wounded animal that was cornered and left no possible escape route. All of this together was never a good combination, and today was no exception. Flinging her hands outward toward the sand, posture open, she growled at the Jounin. "What the hell do you expect me to do? Huh!? What the freak can I do? It's like sacrificing the lamb to the lion! What do you want me to do, lay down in front of you and let you trample me to death? Huh!"
Anger was a wonderful thing. Even if it was misguided, suicidal, slightly hysterical anger.
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Post by Daisuke Hizuhiro on Oct 20, 2011 22:36:49 GMT -5
Daisuke's mind raced, this is the crucial moment. Split seconds after the canteen was thrown, he threw the shuriken in his other hand on the same path as the canteen. He knew Masami was no pushover, and likely wouldn't have taken such a display lightly, or underestimated it. However, if he had, the shuriken would have merely followed the path of the canteen until it fell, revealing the blade behind it, a nice sneak attack.
Surely enough though, some kunai hit the canteen, and it hung in the air for a moment, and in that moment, the shuriken struck the canteen, continuing it's propulsion forward. However, while this had been happening, Daisuke hadn't been still, he'd hoped that either the canteen, or the hidden suprise behind it, would draw the clone's attention as he made his assault forward, weilding kunai in both hands. He would bring this fight to Masami's doorstep, hopefully while he wasn't paying attention. Once he'd reached his target, his right hand struck out with a kunai for the clone's midsection, hoping for a connection.
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Post by Masami Saito on Oct 22, 2011 10:26:11 GMT -5
Although Shouten often chastised himself for it, in truth Masami could not say that daydreaming was not a particularly large vice of his. For instance, as he sat observing the actions of each of his clones, he had felt a certain smug sense of superiority in knowing and predicting exactly what each of his clones would do next. As demonstrated by his last strain of thoughts, he had rightly estimated the actions of each of his clones, and as such could tell the direction in which each battle was going. He knew for a fact that none of these Genin could touch his clones, regardless of how weak they might seem in comparison to their creator. As it's often been said, what is the sum but the whole of its parts? In truth, Saito was more machine than man at this point. He reacted based on logic and the variables he tossed around in his head, not the subjective experience that “feelings” might bring to the table. He'd always prided himself on not allowing either the heat of battle, nor feelings of guilt and pity affect his judgment.
Why, then, did the clone he'd left fighting Mizuki fail to attack?
All had gone somewhat according to plan. He'd expecting more from the Li child than a poor decision in leaving his feet, and therefore leaving himself vulnerable to an exponentially more powerful opponent. Were this a true enemy, the fight would be over, as Masami would likely be able to skewer or slice his opponent for a quick kill. However, as he'd said before, the purpose of this fight was to test the Genin, not kill them (at least, not just yet). As such, his clone had used Body Flicker Technique to close the gap between him and the airborne Genin. He brought an elbow down toward the boy's back, hoping to knock him straight out of the air and into the harsh sand below. Masami smirked slightly, thinking of how fortunate the young shinobi were for having such a safe material to land on. If the attack connected, he knew that his clone would likely follow up with a couple shuriken, intended to wound his target without any fear of death.
Turning his eyes to the battle with Daisuke, he was impressed with the boy's skill in throwing shuriken. He'd been able to throw the center of gravity of the canteen back toward his clone, and although its rate of travel was somewhat slow, this change in momentum would inevitably lead his clone to direct at least some of its attention away from the boy and onto the canteen, to examine and properly prepare in regards to this change of events. The boy attempted to take advantage of this shift in the clone's expectations by charging him head on, and seeking a puncture wound via on of his two kunai. The boy failed to take the Jounin's superior perception of speed, however, and therefore his attack was not so unexpected as it might have been if he'd been attacking a weaker opponent. The clone grabbed at the boy's wrist, hoping to clench it tight and force the boy to drop his weapon of choice. Keeping in mind the boy's other weapon, Masami knew that his clone would be ready to dodge, likely in the form of a roll to the boy's side, at any given moment. He was not underestimating the boy by any means, but he rather wanted to show him a factor that he may not have taken into account in his career as a shinobi just yet, that being that the small kunai leaves the attacker open when using it as a melee weapon. This was why Masami opted for his twin kodachi, as opposed to using kunai and shuriken exclusively. It afforded him greater melee ability, along with protecting him more when he did move in for an attack.
Nodding, Masami turned his attention to the third and final battle, and was in for something of a surprise. He'd heard Mizuki's outburst in regards to how he was treating them, and the logic of his chosen method for testing them. Masami knew that his clone would ignore the words she'd yelled at him, and instead opt for a more crushing close-ranged blow, likely in the form of a quick knee to the midsection, or an elbow to the back of the head. However, the clone continued to stand his ground, saying nothing and yet continuing to look directly at the young girl. What could he be thinking? Examining the clone quickly, Masami saw that his eyes were now less piercing, and more soft than when he'd began the fight. He stood motionless, not a quiver in his stance, and yet neither continued the conversation by responding to the girl, nor launched a new attack. It was as if he had chosen to just do nothing, and was instead reflecting in the way Masami was prone to doing when he was alone. Aware of his environment, yet lost in his own head, much like Shouten. For the first time in the battle, Masami Saito had no idea what would happen next, and this lack of knowledge irked him.
No, in truth, this worried him more than it annoyed him. While these were not opponents that he could conceivably lose to, what would happen if this were to happen on the true field of battle? What was the cause of it, and furthermore, without inheriting the personal experience of each of his clones, how could he know how to remedy this situation? It was fortunate that the clone was the one having this problem, and not Masami himself, but still, Masami had to admit that whatever his clone might fall victim to, he was also liable to have a certain weakness to. He decided to wait and see not only what the clone would do next, but also what Mizuki would follow up with, having seen this reaction. He would react according to these next few moves.
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Post by Admin on Oct 22, 2011 13:57:56 GMT -5
Shouten knew that this would happen, but damn it all if he didn't try. Masami's elbow found its mark and the young Genin went sailing towards the ground. Luckily, the shape he had assumed in the sky was helpful to regaining his balance. Using dexterity that only a ninja child could possess, Shouten slapped his hands against the hot sand and pushed himself away and on his feet. Just as he moved he heard and felt the shuriken go whizzing behind his ear.
"Don't you think you're being a little tough, Masami-sensei?"
Shouten was joking, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to poke at Masami. Both Mizuki and Daisuke were playing mind games, why not join in the fun? Shouten was analyzing himself. His chakra pool wasn't depleted, but his two fire techniques were certainly out. Body Flicker would do him no good, because Masami was too quick. Shadow Shuriken was also useless for mostly the same reason. What could he do. The thoughts raced in Shouten's head in an instant before he just decided to go with what worked best.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a handful of kunai. He launched each up into the air, excepting one he kept in his hand. He didn't intend to fight with it, that would prove to be foolish for sure. He did, however, realize that he could still preform the Substitution Technique. Perhaps that would catch Masami off guard for just long enough to land a solid blow on him. The heat was beginning to get to Shouten and he wanted to drink from his canteen so badly, but he didn't have one. Masami Saito was a demon by far.
Still, Shouten Li did not lose to anyone for any reason. Demon or not. He made a quick handseal and began concentrating as hard as he could in the midst of battle.
"Perhaps I can bait him into using another wind technique. If I can build some chakra quickly, then I can use another fire technique and charge through it. I'm gonna have to do something..."
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Post by walkerm on Oct 26, 2011 19:20:02 GMT -5
The reaction Mizuki got was not the one she had expected - nor was it a reaction second on her list of expected reactions, or third, or even on it, ever. Her mind wasn't even organized, so it was a moot point anyways.
As it was, she was taken aback by the marked lack of, what would you call it, action? Aggression? Something like that. That was the point. She expected something, anything. What she got was nothing.
The girl found herself staring at him, breathing hard, mind scrambling to think of what to do. If Masami were to do something, she could react and move. That he remained stationary and - for the moment - neutral, beget a similar manner within the girl. She was so tensely wound and so focused on the clone of her sensei that the slightest flicker of movement detected by her eyes would have caused her to spasm involuntarily in reaction. For the moment, however, he did nothing, and so did she.
As each second ticked on by, the girl's thoughts gathered, and she wondered why Masami did nothing. Why he didn't attack her, or scoff, or dissipate, or even answer her question. To a girl like Mizuki, who was life and vivid motions and loud stances, such stillness was alien to her, akin to a foreign language she had never learned to speak. She did not, could not, comprehend it. And, being only too human, it made Mizuki uneasy. Of course, welcome to the club.
The lone female of the group slowly ground her mental gears, trying to think in a situation where normally instinct reigned supreme. Her brother would have cautioned her to 'be careful.
As she wavered between inaction and attempting to come up with a plan, her fists clenched, gritty sand slowing the closing glide of flesh and bone. She found a part of her focusing on that sensation; to her ears, the rub of grain on grain sounded louder than life and quite distant from the situation at hand. Sand was sand, sweat was sweat, and neither cared a whit about war or the ninja way. They just were.
Quite suddenly, Mizuki experienced a sudden sensation of what she could only describe as emptiness in her head; she sucked in a sharp gasp, finding herself in need of air.
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