[Honō Kojirou]

Today was a training day, and it required Kojirou’s complete attention and willpower. The young swordsman had learned a lot from his experience training alongside Chisai-nee, and he had achieved a newfound respect and admiration for the element that surged through his Honō veins. The path to becoming a powerful member of his clan akin to legends of old was a long and cracked granite road, but the end was going to be a temple of gold – day after day, the wounds in his heart from times past patched up, and he could finally reignite his lion spirit once more.

He was to meet up further away from the buzz of the village, for Lava Release was always fickle and difficult to control if it got out of hand and ignited a few roofs… it was a very destructive element, but that was why it required all this effort and time to master. Kojirou was in a hurry as he darted out from the clan’s settlements, trying to regulate his breathing all the way to the meeting point. Ever since his training with Kizumi-sama, he had put such a heavy emphasis on training his breathing as a gauntlet for training his focus and control over his body’s energies, that he was never truly out of breath when he was alone.

He quickly made it to the area outside of the village where the grassy grounds met solid rock. It was near the woods with the training logs where he met Koume for the first time, which came to mind... he'd want to train with her too. Although, it was actually the Chūnin from the previous mission that accepted his invitation first; Shigure, from the Hyūga Clan-

A-And why would Kojirou decide to train with a practitioner of the Gentle Fist? Lava and hands did not mesh well together! However, it came to light in the eyes of the swordsman that he'd probably fare much better in his training if he got to train with other shinobi outside of his clan. Having the opportunity to train with a shinobi from the neighboring Hi no Kuni was a chance that he wouldn't let up. He was standing by the rocky surface that formed a short but hard hill, already practicing a few overhead strikes with his katana, simply getting himself started before his new friend would arrive.

WC: 395
Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." DASHING TO TRAINING After they completed their mission in the Field Country, Shigure decided to stick around for a couple days to see what some of the people he met during the Chuunin Exams were up to. He would like to stay for longer, but his duties back in the Hidden Leaf Village wouldn't allow it; he had to teach at the academy, and had to continue his training with the Barrier Corps, not to mention his duties towards his own clan and training. Still, when asked by Kojirou, one of the Genin he led on that mission, he just couldn't turn it down. It would also be a good opportunity to face the Honou's clan famed Lava Release, and also see how his speed and reflexes would mingle in battle, now that he had been putting serious effort into honing it. Their meeting point was a training field just outside of the village, where the grass field met with some scattered solid rocks, it was near some woods where some training logs were located. In a way, the place reminded him of home; he met his last team as a Genin on a very similar looking training ground. Shigure dashed from the inn he was staying straight towards the field. His leg and back muscles had been developed to the point he could achieve that level of speed without the need of pumping a lot of chakra through his tenketsus, and that alone made it extremely less extenuating to his body. "Yes, I feel like I'm almost there... The speed I got, now it's just a matter of truly getting used to it." he thought to himself, with a satisfied smirk on his face. However, as he arrived at the training field, his mind couldn't help but think of Yoru and a hint of sadness crossed his white eyes, which he quickly shrugged away. "I can't distract myself now..." he reminded himself. Kojirou was already there, swinging his blade to warm himself up and as Shigure arrived, he waved to the boy. "Kojirou-kun! I see you are already warmed up. That's good!" he said with a friendly tone and kind smile on his face. Shigure had warmed up himself by running to the training grounds, so he was good to go. The Chuunin rested one of his hands on his waist, standing a good twenty feet from Kojirou. "So, anything in particular you have in mind for this training? Or just more free form sparring? I'm down for either or." he said, chuckling lightly. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Hidden Grass Village [Honō Kojirou] [425 words]

[Honō Kojirou]

Ah, there he was. And just as Shigure called, Kojirou had warmed his body up plenty; body temperature meant a lot for the hot-blooded Honō shinobi too. Although, he’d have to catch his breath in a moment… with each and every overhead strike that he made, Kojirou emulated the strong breathing method that Kizumi-sama had corrected him on back when he was training in that strange Kenjutsu style. Kojirou wasn’t adept at channeling chakra through specific points in his body, and definitely not much through his weapon, but if he could steer the flow of chakra with the way he breathed, then that would likely become a much easier feat to accomplish.

Still, anything easy took effort. Such was the way of life.

The young swordsman turned around and sheathed his katana again, now facing the Hyūga lad in what really felt like the prelude to a match. It made Kojirou wonder… just how well would he fare against the Chūnin? How big was the wall between them? He had to know, his morbid curiosity got the better of him!

"The latter, if that’s alright with you,” Kojirou quickly responded, sliding his right foot forward and taking a preparative stance with his right hand grabbing the handle of his katana, "I’ve been a Genin for a while now… and I really want to participate in the next Chūnin Exams. There were so many shinobi over there…” He remembered witnessing a few other swordsmen at the Exams too – even the bikini wearer, and also the Iwa kunoichi whose entire body was a destructive force of nature, "… All extraordinary foes that I might need to face once again soon… so I wanna try my luck, y’know. See where I stand.”

There was a thing about the Honō clan members where their fighting spirits manifested as all-consuming flames around the field. Kojirou’s own flames began to manifest, but they were bubbly and unpredictable, ready to strike and explode at any moment. He wasn’t a small cub anymore…

WC: 335
Hyūga Shigure

SPOILER: Click to show

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." CLASHING COOPERATION Kojirou seemed determined to have a match against Shigure, and the Hyuuga wouldn't deny him of the chance. As someone who dedicated a good part of his time to training kenjutsu, a chance to spar against the famed Gentle Fist was something one shouldn't ignore. "I'm fine with that, yes." he nodded firmly, bending his knees ever so slightly and adjusting his arms, so he had both his open palms facing Kojirou, the left one more forward, while the right one near his waist. The Honou boy followed suit and also entered into a iaijutsu fighting stance, hand on the tsuka of his sword. Shigure smiled and frowned his brows, prompting the veins on his temples to bulge. The otherwise white, featureless eyes of his now gained a semblance of irises with the activation of his Byakugan. He could see the chakra pathway system inside Kojirou clearly now, as well as the whole training grounds. Upon hearing his words, educating Shigure on his resolve, the Chuunin chuckled lightly. "That's the right mindset to have. Test your limits, break past your ceiling. Become better than the Kojirou you were yesterday. This world is full of amazing individuals, so never let your own strength get to your head. And..." his smile turned into a smirk. "Come at me with the intent of killing me." he advised him. And it seemed like Kojirou was taking his words to heart, for his kekkei genkai started manifesting. It was wild and untamed, just like his own chakra. Shigure could see it, he lacked a refined control, that was one thing he would advise him on later, once they were done. But for now? His fists would be doing the talking. Tensioning his heels, he dashed at such an incredible speed that he looked like a blur, extremely hard to follow. His movement speed was now almost on par with that of a Jounin, but it wasn't just his movement speed that was incredible, his attack speed was just as amazing. He would move himself to Kojirou's left flank, the side of his sword, to make it harder for him to draw in time to intercept. Chakra flowed through his forearms and hands, creating needles of invisible chakra that would aim to hit Kojirou's ribcage. The needles of chakra aiming at one of his tenketsus there, seeking to close it with a swift and powerful strike of the Gentle Fist. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Dashed with all his speed to try and flank Kojirou on his left side, aiming to hit him with a tenketsu strike to his side. [Honō Kojirou] [428 words]

SA used:

SPOILER: Click to show

『 BYAKUGAN 』
Like all members of his clan, Shigure also has the famous Byakugan as one of his signature traits. Naturally, Shigure’s eyes have a near 360 degrees field of vision around himself, save for a small blindspot at the back of his neck above the thoracic vertebra. His eyes are capable of seeing through most objects, giving him great perception of his environment, and making quite the challenge to surprise or ambush the Hyuuga when his doujutsu is activated. Having been seriously trained to develop his sight, Shigure managed to increase the range of his Byakugan to a respectful 2 kilometres range, which makes him quite the competent tracker in missions. His eyes also allow him to see infrared, through chakra barriers, discern clones from their makers, determine colour of someone’s chakra, and determine if a genjutsu is being used or not.

He is also very capable in his ability to see chakra, including the chakra circulatory system inside a person’s body, thus allowing him to easily identify the precise location of the tenketsus, which is paramount in the use of the Gentle Fist to its maximum capacity, power, and finesse. On top of it all, Shigure’s training and experience as a people’s person allowed him to add this insight to the power of his Byakugan, thus making him quite competent at reading people’s emotions. Therefore, when using his Byakugan, Shigure can usually detect if someone is lying through the impulses of their brain, heartbeat, and general body language. Moreover, when focused on an opponent, Shigure can even anticipate their reactions based on their muscles and body functions prior to the execution of an action.


『 ENHANCED COMBAT SPEED 』
What Shigure lacks in physical strength, he definitely makes it up in the combat speed department. Having trained the Gentle Fist since his early childhood, the Hyuuga learned that raw power and superior strength were borderline useless for his style since, in the end, nobody can train their inner organs to become stronger. Therefore, the chakra reliant style of the Hyuuga fighting style was more than enough for him to achieve the desired results in battle. Thus, the truly efficient way to improve his fighting capabilities was directly associated with how fast he could act and react in a fight.

Shigure’s reflexes are absurdly sharp, and he can react almost instantly to attacks, which makes him quite skilled at counter attacking with his deadly Gentle Fist, making it difficult for opponents to actually land a blow on him. In short, he can react fast to combat situations.


『 ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL 』
Due to the intensity of his training and his overall style as a practitioner of the Gentle Fist, as well as his Hyuuga genes, Shigure was able to develop a level of chakra control that puts him above that of his peers, equiparing himself to those a rank higher. His level of control is remarkable and allows him to optimise the usage of chakra, avoiding any unnecessary waste while using his techniques. This ability gives him an edge on the battlefield, as he is able to use more techniques, with more frequencing, while also avoiding the draining effects of running out of chakra due to waste.


『 GENTLE FIST SAVANT 』
Shigure is a natural savant at his clan’s legendary Taijutsu style despite being a sort of a late bloomer. He has developed an incredible proficiency with the techniques of his clan, that allows him to stand out above even his fellow kinsmen. With his current level of understanding and application of his techniques, the heir to the clan brings incredible precision and swiftness to his attacks, rarely ever missing his mark once an attack is launched.

Guided by his potent doujutsu, he became an expert at shutting down his opponents chakra network, as well as combining the techniques of the clan together to deliver even more powerful attacks. He can, while using the Gentle Fist and it's techniques, also land more blows per second than most of his peers, moving so swiftly that it’s even hard to keep up. This makes him an incredibly dangerous opponent to fight at close quarters, as he is capable of giving even higher ranking Shinobi a real challenge.

[Honō Kojirou]

Those eyes… they definitely fit the description. From this position, they were barely noticeable, but Kojirou’s eyes weren’t bad either. He could clearly make form of the veins around Shigure’s eye sockets, the all-seeing Byakugan. That was his clan’s famed Kekkei Genkai… but it also meant that the swordsman couldn’t hold back against him. Not when Shigure put this much pressure on the little spar of theirs.

… It was perfect.

Kojirou desired nothing more than to get even stronger with each and every day that passed. This would be a great learning experience, and just as his aura had appeared, Shigure had taken a stance. Despite having eyes on him the entire time, Shigure’s speed was out of this world – his form faded away into the wind with a single blink of the eye. All of Kojirou’s nerves and instincts kicked up, and he drew his blade… but he only managed to draw long enough to meet the flat end of his katana with one of Shigure’s hands. The force was strong enough to force Kojirou several meters back, struggling to grab his foothold again even when channeling chakra through his feet.

Shigure’s other hand had landed on its target, the swordsman’s ribcage echoing in pain. It felt so much different from any normal punch to the chest, but Kojirou couldn’t let the Hyūga continue with another attack right away. With a heavy stomp to the ground, Kojirou channeled the experience he gained when training in water walking and tree walking and managed to dart straight forward in a leap much faster than when running regularly.

It was harder to breathe after that hit… he would’ve been smarter than to get close to the Gentle Fist practitioner. Still, after that blow, Shigure’s speed would more than make up for any distance between the two, so Kojirou only had one option; adapt.

Part of being a shinobi was cunning, right? While still holding the tsuka of his blade, Kojirou suddenly changed stance and committed a rapid spin, lunging his right foot clockwise which resulted in a wave of the surface rocks to melt and spring up like a small wave from the ocean. Shigure was specialized in Taijutsu and close-combat, so manifesting lava would only do Kojirou good… but that Jutsu felt more taxing. Was Kojirou rusty on his Lava Release training? Or was it because of the attack from earlier?

WC: 401

[Kojirou is hit. He is pushed back and immediately darts straight forward towards Shigure looking like he's still about to perform iaijutsu. The boy quickly switches into a clockwise heelkick by performing Yōton: Sabamiki [Lava Release: Split Trunk]

SA used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kenjutsu


Ever since he was able to hold a sword – let it be made of wood or metal – his parents dedicated their spare time to train him in Kenjutsu. They even went to great lengths to gather famous schools of Kenjutsu techniques outside of Kusagakure for him to practice as well, which includes a scroll from a school called Kenjin Nōdo – especially putting focus on the branch of Taiyō-ken (which the parents often refer to simply as Yō-ken to draw parallels between it and the clan’s Kekkei Genkai). Their efforts and time invested in training Kojirou, which led to the previously mentioned skipping of classes, has born fruits and molded him into an experienced swordsman who wields a katana like it’s second nature to him. If there’s any solace in the lonely years as a Genin, then it would be those Kenjutsu skills that have been ingrained into him.


Honō Clan KG - Lava Release



The Honō Clan, as famed for their ferocious view on honor in battle as they are, are also feared for their unique but rare Kekkei Genkai - the ability to channel Lava Release. Albeit only being seen few times per generation, Kojirou has drawn the lucky straw and managed to practice handseals performed by one of the few elder members in his clan who also possesses it. Instead of committing a dud, he watched his hands give birth to material that can only be described as molten magma.

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Yōton: Sabamiki [Lava Release: Split Trunk]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Yōton
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:

This jutsu is derived from the parent jutsu of Yōton: Rizumu. By using the legs which have been coated with the light layer of lava the user slides or slashes at the ground with their feet. Using an arching sweep the user kicks up a small wave of the surface material rolling towards the direction they kicked at. This wave is primarily used to serve as a quick way to block oncoming bukijutsu projectiles such as kunai, shuriken, or senbon and redirect them in a different path. The technique can also be used in taijutsu as a quick way to break up an opponent's offensive.

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." NOT SO GENTLE FIST Kojirou had sharp reflexes, but not enough to fully stop Shigure's initial assault. While one of his attacks was blocked by the shinogi of his blade, the other hand was free to his his ribcage, sending him skidding away, struggling to use his chakra to get himself to a halt. "One tenketsu closed." he noted, as the chakra point was shut down and the chakra had to circumvent around it to flow. One single tenketsu wouldn't impede his ability to mould chakra in any way, but if he continued to close them, it would eventually make it impossible, and that was how the advanced members of the Hyuuga clan fought; time was their ally. "Good use of the tree walking technique!" he commended the boy, for he believed that people should be praised on their successes and criticised on their failures; that was how he taught his students at the academy. He didn't pursue him immediately, he had no desire of finishing this quickly for this was not a fight, but a training spar, and he truly wanted to see what the Honou boy was capable of, and he did not disappoint. Moving his right foot, Kojirou created a wave of lava coming like a small wave towards the Hyuuga. "Ah, the famed Lava Release! I'm honoured!" he exclaimed as he dashed like a blur once again, closing in the distance and heading straight towards the lava wave, unafraid of it. The chakra accumulated on both his left and right hand, albeit the left one had more than the other. As he got close to the lava, he pushed his right hand forward. "Shoutei!" he roared as his used the chakra of his hand to break through the lava, destroying Kojirou's technique. Then, using his incredible movement speed, Shigure leaped up high, trying to close in the distance in an angle so that he could send a wave of invisible chakra downwards towards the Honou boy with an uncanny speed and power. If Kojirou didn't protect himself, this one would hurt quite a lot. "Hakke Kushou!" he roared as the pressure of the vacuum palm headed towards the boy. If hit, he would not only be sent backwards, probably plummeting to the ground due to the angle, but the chakra would also pierce through his body and injure his guts. He was holding back enough that nothing would be anywhere close to being lethal, but internal damage is still something that is extremely painful and taxing. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Charges against the Split Trunk and destroyed it with Palm Bottom, leaped upwards and used Vacuum Palm in an angle aiming to send Kojirou plummeting backwards and injure his guts. [Honō Kojirou] [445 words]

SA used:

SPOILER: Click to show

『 BYAKUGAN 』
Like all members of his clan, Shigure also has the famous Byakugan as one of his signature traits. Naturally, Shigure’s eyes have a near 360 degrees field of vision around himself, save for a small blindspot at the back of his neck above the thoracic vertebra. His eyes are capable of seeing through most objects, giving him great perception of his environment, and making quite the challenge to surprise or ambush the Hyuuga when his doujutsu is activated. Having been seriously trained to develop his sight, Shigure managed to increase the range of his Byakugan to a respectful 2 kilometres range, which makes him quite the competent tracker in missions. His eyes also allow him to see infrared, through chakra barriers, discern clones from their makers, determine colour of someone’s chakra, and determine if a genjutsu is being used or not.

He is also very capable in his ability to see chakra, including the chakra circulatory system inside a person’s body, thus allowing him to easily identify the precise location of the tenketsus, which is paramount in the use of the Gentle Fist to its maximum capacity, power, and finesse. On top of it all, Shigure’s training and experience as a people’s person allowed him to add this insight to the power of his Byakugan, thus making him quite competent at reading people’s emotions. Therefore, when using his Byakugan, Shigure can usually detect if someone is lying through the impulses of their brain, heartbeat, and general body language. Moreover, when focused on an opponent, Shigure can even anticipate their reactions based on their muscles and body functions prior to the execution of an action.


『 ENHANCED COMBAT SPEED 』
What Shigure lacks in physical strength, he definitely makes it up in the combat speed department. Having trained the Gentle Fist since his early childhood, the Hyuuga learned that raw power and superior strength were borderline useless for his style since, in the end, nobody can train their inner organs to become stronger. Therefore, the chakra reliant style of the Hyuuga fighting style was more than enough for him to achieve the desired results in battle. Thus, the truly efficient way to improve his fighting capabilities was directly associated with how fast he could act and react in a fight.

Shigure’s reflexes are absurdly sharp, and he can react almost instantly to attacks, which makes him quite skilled at counter attacking with his deadly Gentle Fist, making it difficult for opponents to actually land a blow on him. In short, he can react fast to combat situations.


『 ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL 』
Due to the intensity of his training and his overall style as a practitioner of the Gentle Fist, as well as his Hyuuga genes, Shigure was able to develop a level of chakra control that puts him above that of his peers, equiparing himself to those a rank higher. His level of control is remarkable and allows him to optimise the usage of chakra, avoiding any unnecessary waste while using his techniques. This ability gives him an edge on the battlefield, as he is able to use more techniques, with more frequencing, while also avoiding the draining effects of running out of chakra due to waste.


『 GENTLE FIST SAVANT 』
Shigure is a natural savant at his clan’s legendary Taijutsu style despite being a sort of a late bloomer. He has developed an incredible proficiency with the techniques of his clan, that allows him to stand out above even his fellow kinsmen. With his current level of understanding and application of his techniques, the heir to the clan brings incredible precision and swiftness to his attacks, rarely ever missing his mark once an attack is launched.

Guided by his potent doujutsu, he became an expert at shutting down his opponents chakra network, as well as combining the techniques of the clan together to deliver even more powerful attacks. He can, while using the Gentle Fist and it's techniques, also land more blows per second than most of his peers, moving so swiftly that it’s even hard to keep up. This makes him an incredibly dangerous opponent to fight at close quarters, as he is capable of giving even higher ranking Shinobi a real challenge.

Techniques used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Shōtei [Palm Bottom]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu

DESCRIPTION:
The user thrusts their palm forward, hitting the enemy’s body with a quick and precise motion. The technique is both basic and deadly; this is because like any other Gentle Fist technique it injects chakra into the target causing a great deal of internal damage. When the technique is used it usually temporarily paralyzes an opponent but the collateral damage is not on par with much more elaborated techniques.

NAME: Hakke Kūshō[ Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
DESCRIPTION:
To perform this jutsu, the user makes use of the Byakugan to pin point the enemy’s vital points and releases a high-speed palm thrust. It will then work similarly to a mid-distance Gentle Fist strike, however it is quite stronger and able to knock the enemies off their feet with tremendous force even faster than they can tell they have been attacked.

[Honō Kojirou]

Kojirou immediately caught his foothold after that clockwise kick, watching the wave of lava spread forward. At first, he anticipated Shigure to have been fast enough to run around it, and thus the tsuka was still being held. The grasp was strong and nigh stressful, but his breathing was catch up to its previously controlled pace again. Shigure was honoured to face the Honō clan’s Kekkei Genkai, and he responded as straightforward as one couldn’t expect from a speedster such as him.

The Chūnin had managed to break through his Split Trunk! It only gave Kojirou a moment to ready for Shigure’s next move, which involved leaping up in the air and thrusting another palm towards him from afar. It was hard, practically impossible with this posture, to block the next attack, so Kojirou reflexively leapt to the side and rolled over his shoulder before breathing in deeply again. Something else had hit the floor where he stood earlier, which he hadn’t seen in time… perhaps another technique from the Gentle Fist. One that involved an air cannon.

His sharp breath was followed by another dash, lowering his body and approaching where it looked like Shigure had landed, readying a fast draw of his sheathed katana at full force. That was a Kenjutsu technique that Kojirou felt confident in his ability to use, for while regular swings were fast as well, he couldn’t help but be immensely faster with the first draw of his blade…

WC: 245

[Kojirou roll-leapt to the side and charges towards Shigure again, showcasing that he himself focuses a lot on close-combat (perhaps a bit too much). Performing Iaido from a low angle.]

SA Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kenjutsu

Ever since he was able to hold a sword – let it be made of wood or metal – his parents dedicated their spare time to train him in Kenjutsu. They even went to great lengths to gather famous schools of Kenjutsu techniques outside of Kusagakure for him to practice as well, which includes a scroll from a school called Kenjin Nōdo – especially putting focus on the branch of Taiyō-ken (which the parents often refer to simply as Yō-ken to draw parallels between it and the clan’s Kekkei Genkai). Their efforts and time invested in training Kojirou, which led to the previously mentioned skipping of classes, has born fruits and molded him into an experienced swordsman who wields a katana like it’s second nature to him. If there’s any solace in the lonely years as a Genin, then it would be those Kenjutsu skills that have been ingrained into him.

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Iaido [Quickdraw]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:
Iaido is a style of quickdraw. The secret behind the speed of this quick draw comes from two separate movements. The user will begin with their hands close each one on the opposite side of the tsuba [guard]. The two movements needed to take out the sword in an instant faster than one can raise their guard come from the pulling motion onto the sheath as the user takes out the sword as well as flicking the sword out with their thumb increasing the speed of the pull onto the handle.

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." FAST AS WIND It was a good thing Kojirou managed to narrowly dodge that attack, otherwise he would be in a world of pain right now. He was nimble, and if he trained hard, he could develop even sharper reflexes, and hopefully he would be using this opportunity to force his body to adapt to that level of reaction speed. In any case, this training was far from over, and as Shigure's feet touched the ground, he tensed all his legs muscle and dashed away from the spot with all his movement speed. Kojirou was ready to attack, but catching up with Shigure's speed, at his current level, was extremely challenging, even with a technique that boasts speed like the quickdraw. The Hyuuga not only used his already extreme speed, but further enhanced it with chakra using the Wind Step technique. The way he moved was almost otherworldly, and it gave his body the appearance of visible wind. Shigure then started moving around Kojirou, circling the Genin like a blur, and after a moment doing that, trying to confuse the swordman, and then he would add another thing to his movement: attacks. Shigure would try to hit Kojirou on some vulnerable spots, aiming to shut down some of his tenketsus with his lightning fast attacks. Yes, he was giving the Genin a very hard time in this sparring session, but that's how he had been trained by his family and his senseis. No pain, no gain, they say, and that's absolutely true in the shinobi world. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Dodged the attack with his heightened reflexes and great movement speed, then used Wind Step to confuse Kojirou and try to close some more of his tenketsus [Honō Kojirou] [280 words]

SA used:

SPOILER: Click to show

『 BYAKUGAN 』
Like all members of his clan, Shigure also has the famous Byakugan as one of his signature traits. Naturally, Shigure’s eyes have a near 360 degrees field of vision around himself, save for a small blindspot at the back of his neck above the thoracic vertebra. His eyes are capable of seeing through most objects, giving him great perception of his environment, and making quite the challenge to surprise or ambush the Hyuuga when his doujutsu is activated. Having been seriously trained to develop his sight, Shigure managed to increase the range of his Byakugan to a respectful 2 kilometres range, which makes him quite the competent tracker in missions. His eyes also allow him to see infrared, through chakra barriers, discern clones from their makers, determine colour of someone’s chakra, and determine if a genjutsu is being used or not.

He is also very capable in his ability to see chakra, including the chakra circulatory system inside a person’s body, thus allowing him to easily identify the precise location of the tenketsus, which is paramount in the use of the Gentle Fist to its maximum capacity, power, and finesse. On top of it all, Shigure’s training and experience as a people’s person allowed him to add this insight to the power of his Byakugan, thus making him quite competent at reading people’s emotions. Therefore, when using his Byakugan, Shigure can usually detect if someone is lying through the impulses of their brain, heartbeat, and general body language. Moreover, when focused on an opponent, Shigure can even anticipate their reactions based on their muscles and body functions prior to the execution of an action.


『 ENHANCED COMBAT SPEED 』
What Shigure lacks in physical strength, he definitely makes it up in the combat speed department. Having trained the Gentle Fist since his early childhood, the Hyuuga learned that raw power and superior strength were borderline useless for his style since, in the end, nobody can train their inner organs to become stronger. Therefore, the chakra reliant style of the Hyuuga fighting style was more than enough for him to achieve the desired results in battle. Thus, the truly efficient way to improve his fighting capabilities was directly associated with how fast he could act and react in a fight.

Shigure’s reflexes are absurdly sharp, and he can react almost instantly to attacks, which makes him quite skilled at counter attacking with his deadly Gentle Fist, making it difficult for opponents to actually land a blow on him. In short, he can react fast to combat situations.


『 ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL 』
Due to the intensity of his training and his overall style as a practitioner of the Gentle Fist, as well as his Hyuuga genes, Shigure was able to develop a level of chakra control that puts him above that of his peers, equiparing himself to those a rank higher. His level of control is remarkable and allows him to optimise the usage of chakra, avoiding any unnecessary waste while using his techniques. This ability gives him an edge on the battlefield, as he is able to use more techniques, with more frequencing, while also avoiding the draining effects of running out of chakra due to waste.


『 GENTLE FIST SAVANT 』
Shigure is a natural savant at his clan’s legendary Taijutsu style despite being a sort of a late bloomer. He has developed an incredible proficiency with the techniques of his clan, that allows him to stand out above even his fellow kinsmen. With his current level of understanding and application of his techniques, the heir to the clan brings incredible precision and swiftness to his attacks, rarely ever missing his mark once an attack is launched.

Guided by his potent doujutsu, he became an expert at shutting down his opponents chakra network, as well as combining the techniques of the clan together to deliver even more powerful attacks. He can, while using the Gentle Fist and it's techniques, also land more blows per second than most of his peers, moving so swiftly that it’s even hard to keep up. This makes him an incredibly dangerous opponent to fight at close quarters, as he is capable of giving even higher ranking Shinobi a real challenge.

Techniques used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Fuippo [Wind Step]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION:
The wind step is a maneuver used to dodge many simpler attacks as well as intimidate the opponent. The user will move their body at high speeds while applying a layer of chakra over their body. When performed correctly, it gives their body the appearance of visible wind while also allowing them to attack from multiple directions, allowing them to multiple blows within a few seconds. However, the user still retains some small amount of visibility to the opponent which can cause them to be countered by someone with enough skill in fighting taijutsu users (have to be taijutsu secondary at least).

[Honō Kojirou]

Even with the momentum of his kicking up with his Iaido, Kojirou’s blade had yet to successfully land on Shigure. The Chūnin’s entire body flickered away like a mirage, tricking Kojirou into thinking that his blade actually passed right through the Hyūga’s body. He was too fast at this rate, and the step away from the swordsman had even kicked up a gust. Kojirou quickly rose his blade up in a hanging stance, a Ko Gasumi stance to be precise. Even with his guard up, the way that Shigure circled around him was insane.

He couldn’t just wait for Shigure to strike, the Chūnin was too fast. Kojirou lunged out a few slashes, but just as before, they phased through the blur-like bodies where Shigure used to be located mere instances ago. The pressure only increased once hits landed on the swordsman’s body, ringing pain surging through his limbs each time. What the hell was that sensation?! The Hyūgas were terrifying!

This was bad... he began feeling like his limbs were slowly weakening. The hits that Kojirou tried to parry in vain definitely aimed to lock his limbs down with whatever secret the Gentle Fist held. He couldn’t risk staying still anymore, so in the midst of the assault, Kojirou lowered his body and sheathed his katana. He needed both hands to perform a handseal, noticing that he had to take a few more hits before his chakra would act up... it usually didn’t take that long to perform this Jutsu? What had Shigure done to his chakra?

The Hyūgas... yes, he remembered hearing words from the audience back at the Chūnin Exams. Their Taijutsu were able to disable hit targets’ flow of chakra. If this kept up, then Kojirou wouldn’t be able to cast any Jutsu.

At last, while trying to recover from the lightning-fast hits, a fissure opened up under Kojirou and released a short but sudden eruption of lava. If Shigure was to stick his hand in there, then he’d definitely be in for a hot surprise, for Kojirou’s body was no longer there. It had disappeared in the midst of the magma spewing up from the ground, and as the eruption faded, another one appeared a few meters away from his previous position.

And there he stood... catching his breath again. Performing that Jutsu had made him realize just how pushed to a corner he had been, especially with his closed Tenketsu. However, he felt like he had been able to tank the damage pretty well, especially since he wasn’t down just yet. Catching his breath did make veins pop out on his forehead, though. "I haven’t fought anyone as fast as you before...”

That was it. He had to use that Jutsu, and even if his Tenketsu would prove that detrimental, he just had to deal with that later. Leaping away from Shigure in backwards somersaults, Kojirou made space between the two and cast 3 handseals before grabbing the tsuka of his katana again. That was when the previous aura of magma and chakra around him began to take physical form, turning his skin into cracks of dark lava and veins of magma, heating his body temperature up trememdously and causing the air around him to scratch one’s throat. "H-Hnng...!”

Keep breathing! No matter how painful this Jutsu was, keep breathing, Kojirou! Damn, his lungs felt like they were about to blow up, but he wasted no more time and used the boost in strength and agility from this secret Jutsu to close the distance once more. Shigure would probably love this...

WC: 597
[Kojirou used the Lava Release version of Body Flicker to make distance between the two, then used Nekketsukan to boost his strength and agility. He'll likely reach his limit in the next post due to Tenketsu damage, but he's aiming his blade at Shigure again.]

SA Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kenjutsu

Ever since he was able to hold a sword – let it be made of wood or metal – his parents dedicated their spare time to train him in Kenjutsu. They even went to great lengths to gather famous schools of Kenjutsu techniques outside of Kusagakure for him to practice as well, which includes a scroll from a school called Kenjin Nōdo – especially putting focus on the branch of Taiyō-ken (which the parents often refer to simply as Yō-ken to draw parallels between it and the clan’s Kekkei Genkai). Their efforts and time invested in training Kojirou, which led to the previously mentioned skipping of classes, has born fruits and molded him into an experienced swordsman who wields a katana like it’s second nature to him. If there’s any solace in the lonely years as a Genin, then it would be those Kenjutsu skills that have been ingrained into him.


Honō Clan KG - Lava Release

The Honō Clan, as famed for their ferocious view on honor in battle as they are, are also feared for their unique but rare Kekkei Genkai - the ability to channel Lava Release. Albeit only being seen few times per generation, Kojirou has drawn the lucky straw and managed to practice handseals performed by one of the few elder members in his clan who also possesses it. Instead of committing a dud, he watched his hands give birth to material that can only be described as molten magma.

Jutsu Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Yōton: Funkage Dansu [Lava Release: Erupting Shadow Dance]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Yōton
HANDSEALS: 1
DESCRIPTION:
This technique operates as an advanced form of the body flicker technique. After performing the needed hand seal a small fissure quickly splits the ground under the user. A mass of lava emerges from the ground overtaking the user. Once the small scale eruption subsides another one occurs within ten meters away splashing everything within 1 meter with hot lava. This technique is normally used to flank an opponent or for evasive measures as the user emerges from the second fissure. Using this technique/body flicker more than 4 times in a thread will cause serious muscle tears in the legs from overexertion.


NAME: Yōton: Nekketsukan [Lava Release: Hot-Blooded Man]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: High, Medium (Drain)
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Yōton
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
With the channeling of chakra through out the user's body their affinity for lava release circulates through the user. The user's skin begins to harden and fragment in scattered places lightly resembling molten rock with small red surface veins of lava separating the fragments. With this activated the excellerated body heat causes the user's heart to pump faster, circulating blood faster. The result is that the user's natural quickness and agility is greatly enhanced and improved, this helps the body move at a faster pace. Due to unaccustomed body conditions this technique taxes the user's stamina greatly, and draws deeply on their chakra pool. Overexertion and overuse can cause the technique to fail and the user to pass out from exhaustion.

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." BUT CAN YOU CATCH ME? Kojirou's attempts were commendable and he had pretty good eyes, considering he didn't have a doujutsu. He was almost able to see where Shigure was, but his strikes were too slow to connect, and even faster than his movements were his attacks. Shigure was already a fast attacker, but when using his Gentle Fist, he was even more dangerous. He was so used to his fighting style that it became second nature to him, and his swiftness was something that even members of the Hyuuga clan had trouble keeping up with. Little by little, he started shutting down Kojirou's chakra pathway system. Again, not enough for him to be unable to use his chakra, but it would definitely be more complicated and costly, as his body would have to overcompensate and change the trajectory of the chakra flow to avoid the closed pathways. But the Honou reacted and decided to leave that killzone and that was a very good call on his end. His special Body Flicker was impressive, and if it wasn't for Shigure's Byakugan, he would have suffered some burning in his hands. Luckily, he managed to halt the attack before that happened, and with that, he seized his movements too, standing close to where Kojirou was, not moving his head. It would look as if he was open to an attack, but again, as an experienced Byakugan user, he could see pretty much all around him, and he could see the boy a few metres away from him. Praise came from the Genin and Shigure chuckled lightly. "You are a pretty good fighter, Kojirou-kun. I believe with just a bit more training, you could definitely pass on the Chuunin Exams." and he meant what he said; Kojirou had battle experience and he was able of adapting to the dire situation he found himself in. Moreover, his kekkei genkai was truly spectacular, and would give him an edge on many people in the exams. Shigure finally turned to directly face him when he waved the three hand seals and his body became that of a man made of lava. "Impressive! However... You need to work on your chakra control. With closed tenketsus and a technique such as this one, you can't afford to waste unnecessary chakra like you are doing now." he warned him. But again, they would have time to go through those topics later, for now it was still time to fight. Kojirou dashed towards him with increased speed, and Shigure responded by dashing backwards, avoiding his attack and keeping the distance between them. It was pushing the Hyuuga to use all of his available movement speed, but he welcomed the challenge. "Amazing, Kojirou! But can you get in range?!" he challenged him with a smirk, continuing to move so that Kojirou wouldn't be able to close in, unless he did something more outside of the box. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Using all his speed to keep himself away from Kojirou's range [Honō Kojirou] [494 words]

[Honō Kojirou]

Damn it, even with the increased agility, Kojirou missed his attack. Catching up to Shigure head-on wouldn’t do, but it took all of Kojirou’s focus to keep the Nekketsukan Jutsu active. It was a heavy jutsu to bear on his skin, but he needed all the strength that it granted him. Would he be able to perform another Funkage Dansu while in this form? Or would that hurt him from excessive chakra usage?

When speedy shinobi made distance from him and were quick enough to run in circles around him, then Kojirou regretted not possessing any solid long-range Jutsu to compensate with. His lungs were burning up, and he was reaching his own limit soon, but he still possessed a little chakra left… so there was an option left to use. Usually, the Funkage Dansu was a Jutsu used to escape trouble like earlier, but if he used it for the opposite effect… to close the distance between him and Shigure in an instant… yes, that could work!

"I-I can!” he called out to Shigure in stubborn pride, quite unlike the usual Kojirou, "I’m still standing, so I can still do better!” Maybe it was the effects of Nekketsukan, to rev himself up like this. Still, it worked wonders; he almost ignored the damaged Tenketsu points and pulled his sheathed katana back again. He leaped forward and pulled both hands behind his hip, away from Shigure’s frontal vision – although, it’d probably prove futile with the Byakugan activated.

This was new… Kojirou pulled from his hip a small scroll and opened it right in front of Shigure. The seal on the scroll, which the Hyūga likely recognized, would release three shuriken-sized fireballs that floated in the air in front of the opened scroll. These fireballs would always float still when summoned, and Kojirou had long wondered why that was so… but upon further investigation, he found out that one needed a way to add motion to the fireballs themselves. And Kojirou was not able to separate Yōton into Katon and Doton yet, but… he had his blade.

Letting go of the scroll from his right hand, he unsheathed his katana and dipped the tip right through all three of the fireballs, embedding his Chakra-Conductive katana in the flames for a brief moment before swinging clockwise and releasing a diagonal, sharp wave of fire from his blade. This was, honestly, his greatest take at long-range techniques yet, but the flames must’ve died down a bit when contacting with his katana. Despite it being Chakra-Conductive, Katon was not Kojirou’s affinity…

WC: 427
[Kojirou attempts to catch up to Shigure yet, before he pulls a small scroll out and performs a move similar to the "Living Force" art from Sekiro, except with range.]

SA Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kenjutsu

Ever since he was able to hold a sword – let it be made of wood or metal – his parents dedicated their spare time to train him in Kenjutsu. They even went to great lengths to gather famous schools of Kenjutsu techniques outside of Kusagakure for him to practice as well, which includes a scroll from a school called Kenjin Nōdo – especially putting focus on the branch of Taiyō-ken (which the parents often refer to simply as Yō-ken to draw parallels between it and the clan’s Kekkei Genkai). Their efforts and time invested in training Kojirou, which led to the previously mentioned skipping of classes, has born fruits and molded him into an experienced swordsman who wields a katana like it’s second nature to him. If there’s any solace in the lonely years as a Genin, then it would be those Kenjutsu skills that have been ingrained into him.


Honō Clan KG - Lava Release

The Honō Clan, as famed for their ferocious view on honor in battle as they are, are also feared for their unique but rare Kekkei Genkai - the ability to channel Lava Release. Albeit only being seen few times per generation, Kojirou has drawn the lucky straw and managed to practice handseals performed by one of the few elder members in his clan who also possesses it. Instead of committing a dud, he watched his hands give birth to material that can only be described as molten magma.

Jutsu (Still) Using:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Yōton: Nekketsukan [Lava Release: Hot-Blooded Man]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: High, Medium (Drain)
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Yōton
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
With the channeling of chakra through out the user's body their affinity for lava release circulates through the user. The user's skin begins to harden and fragment in scattered places lightly resembling molten rock with small red surface veins of lava separating the fragments. With this activated the excellerated body heat causes the user's heart to pump faster, circulating blood faster. The result is that the user's natural quickness and agility is greatly enhanced and improved, this helps the body move at a faster pace. Due to unaccustomed body conditions this technique taxes the user's stamina greatly, and draws deeply on their chakra pool. Overexertion and overuse can cause the technique to fail and the user to pass out from exhaustion.

Item Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Small Fire Scroll
RANK: D
CLASSIFICATION: Offensive/Defensive/Supplementary (Combination)
ELEMENT:
RESTRICTIONS: Universal
DESCRIPTION:
A fire sealed into a scroll, it releases three shuriken sized fireballs. They aren't particularly impressive in size, but three fireballs can still be useful in their own manner. They come up from the scroll - like a summoning - when unsealed and do not have forward momentum like an equivalent jutsu would, instead one must have a manner in which to move/utilize the fire.

ABILITIES:
The three fireballs burn like any fire would, and become substantially hotter when wind/fuuton is applied since katon is strong against fuuton making it a catalyst to only become more powerful from wind as a result.

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." IMPROVISE Shigure had used a similar tactic before, during the Chuunin Exams. When he was fighting Himish Haruka, from the Hidden Stone Village, he knew he couldn't really fight against her Genjutsu prowess, so instead, he forced her to spend all of her chakra and then pass out due to chakra exhaustion. It was a complicated tactic but one that can be highly effective if used properly. Still, this was no exam bout, so Shigure didn't have the mindset of winning no matter how; this was a training session so that both of them could grow to become stronger, better shinobi, hone their skills and break through their limites. "This level of speed is indeed becoming natural... I'm close, and this was a necessary test. It can be used in battle, and it is extremely useful." he thought to himself as he continued to run backwards, his Byakugan guiding him so that he could safely keep Kojirou at bay, while at the same time not hitting any tree or rock. His eyes also allowed him to see the level of strain the Honou boy was suffering, the jutsu he was using was extremely taxing on his already injured body, and the added difficulty to mould his chakra was bringing it to a whole other level. Kojirou responded to Shigure's taunt, showing a level of determination that made the Chuunin think of the Will of Fire of his homeland. Widening his smirk he nodded to the boy. "Then show me your mettle, Kojirou!" he said in a rather boisterous tone. Grabbing a scroll, the running Genin summoned three fire balls from it, which floated a top of. Then, using his blade to conduct that chakra and sending a flame slash towards Shigure. The speed of the technique managed to match that of the Hyuuga, and it was going to hit him if he didn't do anything. "Incredible, he has a very good head!" he thought to himself, as he finally stopped running and instead, started spinning where he was. "Hakkeshou Kaiten!" he exclaimed as his body vanished from sight. Instead, there was a big sphere of blue chakra all around Shigure, rotating at over 1100 kilometres per hour, successfully blocking the flame slash. As he stopped rotating, the ground beneath him became a crater of sorts, and his smirk was wider than ever. He wondered if Kojirou could still fight, but even his chakra reserves were starting to run a bit low with his constant effort. "I couldn't avoid that one, it was an incredible idea. I had to use my ultimate defence." he commended the Genin, going back to his Gentle Fist fighting stance as he waited to see what Kojirou would do. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Used Rotation to block the attack [Honō Kojirou] [456 words]

SA used:

SPOILER: Click to show

『 BYAKUGAN 』
Like all members of his clan, Shigure also has the famous Byakugan as one of his signature traits. Naturally, Shigure’s eyes have a near 360 degrees field of vision around himself, save for a small blindspot at the back of his neck above the thoracic vertebra. His eyes are capable of seeing through most objects, giving him great perception of his environment, and making quite the challenge to surprise or ambush the Hyuuga when his doujutsu is activated. Having been seriously trained to develop his sight, Shigure managed to increase the range of his Byakugan to a respectful 2 kilometres range, which makes him quite the competent tracker in missions. His eyes also allow him to see infrared, through chakra barriers, discern clones from their makers, determine colour of someone’s chakra, and determine if a genjutsu is being used or not.

He is also very capable in his ability to see chakra, including the chakra circulatory system inside a person’s body, thus allowing him to easily identify the precise location of the tenketsus, which is paramount in the use of the Gentle Fist to its maximum capacity, power, and finesse. On top of it all, Shigure’s training and experience as a people’s person allowed him to add this insight to the power of his Byakugan, thus making him quite competent at reading people’s emotions. Therefore, when using his Byakugan, Shigure can usually detect if someone is lying through the impulses of their brain, heartbeat, and general body language. Moreover, when focused on an opponent, Shigure can even anticipate their reactions based on their muscles and body functions prior to the execution of an action.


『 ENHANCED COMBAT SPEED 』
What Shigure lacks in physical strength, he definitely makes it up in the combat speed department. Having trained the Gentle Fist since his early childhood, the Hyuuga learned that raw power and superior strength were borderline useless for his style since, in the end, nobody can train their inner organs to become stronger. Therefore, the chakra reliant style of the Hyuuga fighting style was more than enough for him to achieve the desired results in battle. Thus, the truly efficient way to improve his fighting capabilities was directly associated with how fast he could act and react in a fight.

Shigure’s reflexes are absurdly sharp, and he can react almost instantly to attacks, which makes him quite skilled at counter attacking with his deadly Gentle Fist, making it difficult for opponents to actually land a blow on him. In short, he can react fast to combat situations.


『 ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL 』
Due to the intensity of his training and his overall style as a practitioner of the Gentle Fist, as well as his Hyuuga genes, Shigure was able to develop a level of chakra control that puts him above that of his peers, equiparing himself to those a rank higher. His level of control is remarkable and allows him to optimise the usage of chakra, avoiding any unnecessary waste while using his techniques. This ability gives him an edge on the battlefield, as he is able to use more techniques, with more frequencing, while also avoiding the draining effects of running out of chakra due to waste.


『 GENTLE FIST SAVANT 』
Shigure is a natural savant at his clan’s legendary Taijutsu style despite being a sort of a late bloomer. He has developed an incredible proficiency with the techniques of his clan, that allows him to stand out above even his fellow kinsmen. With his current level of understanding and application of his techniques, the heir to the clan brings incredible precision and swiftness to his attacks, rarely ever missing his mark once an attack is launched.

Guided by his potent doujutsu, he became an expert at shutting down his opponents chakra network, as well as combining the techniques of the clan together to deliver even more powerful attacks. He can, while using the Gentle Fist and it's techniques, also land more blows per second than most of his peers, moving so swiftly that it’s even hard to keep up. This makes him an incredibly dangerous opponent to fight at close quarters, as he is capable of giving even higher ranking Shinobi a real challenge.

Technique used:

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Hakkeshō Kaiten [Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
DESCRIPTION:
A secret jutsu only handed down within the main house of the Hyuga clan. For this technique the user is expected to expel a huge amount of chakra from all the chakra points from a user’s body and start rotating their bodies. This will create a barrier around the user, which will shield them from nearby attackers, tossing and deflecting them away. The user can actively control the size of the sphere and thus make it bigger or smaller depending on the situation. If the user can not spin, however, their protective field will become weak and vulnerable.

[Honō Kojirou]

Kojirou witnessed the blade of fire travelling forward and couldn’t believe that it actually worked. A long-range method, but damn was it taxing. Right after unleashing it, Kojirou felt his throat drying up, and he slammed the end of his blade into the ground to support his weight while his breath grew heavier. At this point, he’d have to cancel the Nekketsukan and noticed how scorched his skin felt. With his Kekkei Genkai, he had developed a strong resistance against the element of lava, but the heat was ridiculous. He’d definitely be growing his burn marks a little more after he had gotten more used to this level of combat.

Still, he was barely thinking. It felt like his body just moved on its own and performed that feat with little to no prep time. That sudden rush of adrenaline, the adaptation to Shigure’s incredible speed, and the focus from his eyes trying to catch the flickering body of the Hyūga felt amazing. Amazing… and thrilling. Was Kojirou always that good at fighting at this level?

Nekketsukan was an incredible jutsu. It had managed to push his body even further in the blink of an eye and allow him to close the distance for a brief time, but if he had to rely on that Jutsu for agility, then he’d end up pushing himself to a corner with each battle in the future. It was definitely a ‘last resort’ type of Jutsu, but… he’d definitely remember the fire sword thing that he pulled off there. Embedding his sword in the scroll’s fire was a great idea, and Shigure agreed.

That spin was immensely quick, even able to cause a strong wind to push on Kojirou’s body from this distance. Once it came to a halt, Kojirou wiped off sweat from his forehead and noticed that his red haori was burned off from the Nekketsukan. His torso and all the burn marks were visible now… and they brought him quite some reflection. Nekketsukan really was a last resort technique.

"*huff* Hey, uh… let’s try again after a little b-break *huff* … I feel stronger already…”

WC: 354
Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"imitations of strength". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." REFLECTIONS The sparring match was over for now, the Rotation sent Kojirou flying away and the strain on his chakra forced him to drop his lava body technique. He was very tired, part of his clothing - namely his haori - had burned down from the immense heat, and it seemed like the technique caused some damage to the Honou boy himself. "A dangerous technique. Powerful, yet extremely costly". he thought to himself, making a mental not of this encounter. He had faced another type of Kekkei Genkai during the Chuunin Exams, the Ice Release from the Yuki clan, and it was quite amusing how those advanced elements were versatile. Kojirou's stamina was very low and he definitely needed a break, and Shigure nodded to him, approaching the boy and sitting on a rock nearby. "You are clever, and your mind is able to find solution under pressure. That's really good." he started, opening a scroll he carried in one of the pockets of his flak jacket and summoning a bento box full of dangos, and a couple bottles of water. "Help yourself, by the way!" he interrupted, chuckling as he offered Kojirou some food and refreshment. Shigure grabbed a dango and ate it in a single bite before continuing. "Things to improve in my opinion: your combat reflexes could use some more honing, it wasn't too hard to close your tenketsus. Second, and one I feel it's extremely important considering your Kekkei Genkai and that final technique: chakra control." he said, lifting his right index as if he was about to make a point. "I could observe, throughout our fight, that every time you used a jutsu, you spent way more chakra than necessary. And since you have such an extenuating technique in your arsenal, learning to better control your chakra will do you wonders." he explained. Even though he was criticising Kojirou, his tone was not harsh in any way; it was more akin to that of a caring and considerate teacher. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Training Feedback [Honō Kojirou] [330 words]

[Honō Kojirou]

Yay… Kojirou had completely forgotten to bring food with him. Therefore, Shigure’s bento was a lifesaver, and the young swordsman helped himself towards the aroma like a butterfly approaching a pretty flower. "Cheeeeeeeeeeers,” he let out in relief before stuffing his mouth with a line of still warm dangos, his cheeks emitting a coo-like sound of joy at how tasty they were. They were a bit hot too, so he’d make sure to cool his mouth down with one of the bottles of water available and took a seat on the hill.

Shigure had paid close attention to Kojirou’s fighting style, and even closer attention to his usage of chakra. Kojirou could only feel his way towards how good he was at controlling and regulating his flow of chakra, so having someone else being able to visually see it was a huge favor. Still, to hear that he could work much more on his Chakra Control made him wonder just how much easier it would’ve been to perform any Lava Release Jutsu like that… he had gotten relatively good at it up until now, but to think that he was spending much more chakra than he needed to…

Chakra Control… it was related to the breathing training he underwent with Kizumi-sama. It brought him relief, knowing that he was working on it, but there was another thing to focus on as well – fighting, basically. Fighting someone as fast as Shigure had challenged Kojirou’s reflexes tremendously, and the boy knew that he’d have to act faster and react quicker than how he did in this spar if he wanted to be able to pose a bigger challenge. Especially when it came to fighting someone whose every slap, punch and kick could close one’s Tenketsus… avoiding hits was a must when fighting the Hyūga, and that required more than just speed.

"So if I worked on controlling my chakra even better, then...” Kojirou spoke up before glancing over his sheathed katana, reflecting over his last Jutsu. Nekketsukan was the strongest Lava Release Jutsu that he had been taught, and he was fully aware of its risks and costs when casting it. Still, he felt naturally attuned to its purpose and couldn’t help himself earlier, and it showed him just how great a boost in strength and speed it granted its user. Controlling his chakra wouldn’t just strengthen his casting of Jutsu... using chakra to move around, like he did to try and match Shigure’s speed, would definitely receive improvement as well.

"I’ll keep that in mind. Although, it’s got to take time... all of my skills have taken time to master. Arguably more than the others wanted,” he commented, his eyes lowered towards the stony ground, reminiscent of old days, "How is it, though? Being a Chūnin sounds like you’re filling your schedule up – I’m surprised you actually had time for today.”

WC: 480
Hyūga Shigure