[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Miyamoto Ikana

The whistle was an interesting way to alert of their position. A good idea, but only in situations such as these, because in another situation such a whistle might give away the position in totality, which would otherwise put Ikana at risk. Fortunately there was no other enemies aside from Toru for her to battle. Toru was willing to engage in this moment, though had he not wanted to he would have disappeared into the fog after his attack with the kunai, he was capable of it, having done it before having been part of the oinin butai for a stint as a fresh chunin.

The girl was making her way closer that much he could tell by her scent approaching, but it was the two clones that were the immediate threat and they flanked him. But Toru was honed in, his reflexes and speed would work in tandem as they approached to time his attack correctly. The sword he had drawn would glow and with a bit of chakra pouring into it water collected upon it. He was a blur as he spun, the blade's start at his left, finishing towards his right. The ripple he created lingering in its wake, making not only the sword but the technique itself more difficult to dodge due to its unpredictable nature, coupled with Toru's speed.

The move itself was that the clones would be upon him before striking, making it quite difficult to back away though perhaps the clone to his right might be able to get away if it saw the fact that Toru was striking at the last minute, though this too was a factor that hung in the balance. Ikana was, after all, facing a jounin level enemy who was undoubtedly considered the best in the village to some degree.

SPOILER: Click to show

『Masterful Kenjutsu』
Toru had a great deal of knowledge when it comes to weaponry, but his love lies in swords. As a jounin, his skill and movement with almost any blade are that of a seasoned master or prodigy. The sword is just an extension of his body and who he is. When a blade is in his hands he strikes his enemies down quickly and doesn't seem to hesitate when he does so. The form of his body is that of someone who has trained in the art for quite some time, and it is no surprise when he is able to go toe-to-toe with elite jounin with seemingly little issue.

『Tornado Speed』
Toru uses his lithe frame to move around quickly and his training with kenjutsu combined with his desire to be faster has brought to the point that he is at today. In top physical form, he is much faster than not only the average jounin but can parallel the speeds of elite jounin going at their very quickest. As a bukijutsu specialist, few can match his speed, although a few jounin that are trained in speed can keep up.

『Demon Reflex』
Toru has impeccable control over his body and muscles, to the point that he appears as if he might be dancing around his opponents with mockery. Not only quick on his feet, but he also seems to have the reflexes to go along with his speed. It takes a similarly lithe and feline-like opponent to land a proper hit on the small boy. An elite jounin with similar speed and reflexes - and proper training - can tire Toru out properly enough to do so, or perhaps a jounin although it may take longer - as long as they have this same training. Toru is a slimy opponent and is difficult to pin down.

NAME: Suijin: Odori no Hamon [Water Blade: Dance of the Ripple] 水刃 踊りの波紋
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Kenjutsu
ELEMENT:
DESCRIPTION:
The user will conjure water upon the blade in a similar fashion to Suijin: Suihei Nami but will mimic a chaotic ripple movement with the blade causing a lingering movement that has peaks and valleys made of sharp water. This technique is more difficult to dodge due to its unpredictable nature, a knowledge of swordsmanship is required. SA Requirement: Kenjutsu, Enhanced Speed.

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

In another situation, absolutely. Giving away the location would not be beneficial. However, in a one on one confrontation like this? Not a terrible idea so she thought. The brunette could feel the sharp pain in her back when she moved, even if she was a bit careful. However, as she made her way forward, the only thing she'd be able to really witness through the mist was the clone's vague outlines being dispersed as they faded and fell into clumps of water. Fuck. Think. Think. Use your head and do it fast. These were the kinds of thoughts that were running through her head at the time.

Until eventually? She did have some idea. Tossing her blade into the air with a spin, she performs a few handseals as she jumps into the air and grasps her blade, hearing its swoosh before reaching out with her arm and grasping it by the handle. Before her chest puffs up, and she opens her mouth to release a vomit filled torrent of water down below. 'Suiton: Suijinheki...' The water would crash down where she previously stood, and would begin to disperse outward in a series of waves, dispersing outwards along the area. Smaller waves behind it as it begins to spread out along the already semi moist soil and grass.

Why? Because as Ikana landed back along the ground? She did so with a splash. Hopefully with this? She could hear Toru better. Predict where he might lash out to strike her. Even if he could hear her better? That hardly mattered. He could navigate this mist far better than her anyways. She needed this advantage more than he did. Taking a deep breath, she found herself closing her eyes again. 'Focus...React. Predict where your opponent is based on what you know. Then move. Wait for the critical moment. The opening.'

SPOILER: Click to show

Name:Suijinheki - [Water Encampment Wall]
Rank:B
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
Type:Ninjutsu
Element:Suiton
HANDSEALS: 5
Description:
Suijinheki is a Ninjutsu utilizing the Water Element. The ninja will first do a string of hand seals and then proceed to blow out a jet of water from their mouth to act as a water barrier from incoming attack.

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Miyamoto Ikana

The clones fell to puddles, Toru was left in the silence for a moment. But not for long. He heard the wave crash against the ground, it was like a roar. Big bodies of water had this kind of tendency, even when summoned from within a person's body, a shinobi's trained body. His grip on his blade was practiced, prodigious as he turned towards the sound of impact, feet against rushing water and soon it swept beneath him too, covering just up to his ankles. Something Toru quickly remedied by stepping up onto the water itself, standing there in silence. The girl did not get closer then, but it was she who had wanted to engage it seemed. The water was an interesting trick, but he could remedy that too if he really wanted.

He wouldn't. Not now. Instead he was going to give her what she had initiated. An encounter, toe-to-toe, to really test her reflexes and instincts. It would probably be really hard, in truth Toru would be holding back what he was capable of. There would be no merit in actually putting Ikana in the hospital but he would definitely push her to the brink at her own level.

So, Toru ceased his flight and silent game. He approached the girl, closing the distance in what likely seemed like a flash, his sword reaching out to struck her against her good shoulder at a diagonal. It would not matter if it hit or not, it was more so that he was testing her reaction speeds, making her react and work to not be hit. It would be difficult, he would make it difficult. But she had to get a training out of this somehow, right? Thus, the current situation she would find herself in whether favorable or not was exactly what she needed.

Toru would not allow the battle to turn in her favor, it was a training after all.

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

Toru was bigger than Ikana was. Faster. Heavier. More experienced. So. When he came in those next moment? Blitzing in a rush of rapid speed movement. Striking out against her? Ikana reacted in the barest amount of time needed. Raising her blade just in time to protect her shoulder. Bracing herself as his sharp edge clangs against the back of her Katana. Her legs shifting and bending with the weight as she is sent skidding backwards slightly in the water, with her recoiling from the hit. She could bare it! The sensation in her hands as she tries to recover in time.

Before she acts swiftly now, rearing her right leg back, attempting to kick a leg full of water and mud up towards Toru's face. To momentarily blind him with the shift of environment. Assuming she was successful, she lunges inward and attempts to sway her body and slash diagonally upwards with a shift of her hands. Again. Her hands shifting and tightening as she takes a deep breath. Again! Kumo-Ryu! Omotegiri! A swift slash upwards as she dedicates inwards for a strike towards her instructor. This felt like it was her first true and proper sword fight in ages.

Ikana's swordfighting wasn't the most elegant or graceful. It felt somewhat wild and improvised. Which it was. Ikana having learned from experience and witnessing battles as opposed to spending much time with a true and proper sword master. However, even if it wasn't the most refined and beautiful? That didn't matter so much did it? Because all she needed was to keep on her toes and survive. Survival was good. Ikana was pretty decent at least doing that.

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world @dandead

She parried, just barely but she did. Good. Though her knees bent underneath his weight causing her to stutter backwards. Toru's swing remained true the blade moving down even as Ikana was forced out of the way with the velocity of his swing, it touches the watery ground, and he moves backwards, several practiced beautiful steps as if he were dancing the mud and water that splattered which Ikana had dispatched missing his face it seemed quite elegantly. Though it did manage to stain the white of the clothes he wore. An easy wash out for later.

The technique she performed Toru was quite familiar with, quickly switching the hold of his katana to parry the technique the reversed variety of it. But that was just the parry, because then he would step forward, the katana loose for a moment as he spun it for a proper grip and started an onslaught like she had not seen before. It was a dance, step by step, an intense advancement upon Ikana. Slashes and thrusts, relentless and constant and every single one was meant to make Ikana move and dodge. Toru was not giving her any space to breathe or to try and attack in return. The goal here was to only make her try and parry his attacks away or step away from them.

He wondered how long she would be able to keep up with the chaos and the movement of Toru's offense. An untrained eye would indeed think Toru was attacking without control, but the reality was quite different. There was nothing but control in the way Toru moved, and although nothing he did was particularly predictable, the movement belonged to a seasoned and trained swordsman beyond his years.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kumo-Ryu Uragiri [Cloud-Style Reverse Beheading]

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

Fuck...Ikana had spent much time with Kenjutsu. She felt like for what she was? She was quite good at it! Yet. She didn't seem to be able to make any headway against this guy. His experience was showing. It was wild to think that they were only but a few short years apart from each other in age as he lashed out, strike after strike. A rapid flurry and onslaught for her. As he slashes and thrusts? Ikana found her eyes widening as she tries to control her breathing. Ikana was naturally swift, a benefit of her smaller size.

However, even with this? Her saving grace was that her Wakizashi was a smaller and lighter blade, being a shortsword, and easier to deflect. However, the clangs of metal on metal were difficult for her. If she wasn't focused for even the slightest of seconds, she would find a small nick. A cut along her right cheek, narrowly avoiding getting impaled in the shoulder or side resulting in a smaller gash. She made sure to try twisting and moving as she dodged, pushing back, or sidestepping as she maintained her triangular footed stance. Her back wound dulled in pain as she was focused on staying alive. Small droplets of her blood fell to the water below.

Until she takes the liberty to sway and toss her body for a moment, applying chakra to her legs as she bands low trying to be a bit more unorthodox. Konoha Reppuu! Throwing her body into a spinning twist motion, she looks to sway her legs in a fast movement through the water, looking to kick a bigger wave of water and mud towards him, yes, but mainly looking to kick him along the lower stomach or groin with her fluid motion. To try to gain some distance. Though if Toru were to dodge and or block the tornado kick, she swiftly folds her leg inwards as to avoid it getting cut off as she tucks inwards with her blade held firmly in her hand. Her breathing was ragged, and she began realizing that approaching him more directly was incredibly difficulty in its own right.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Konoha Reppu - [Tree Leaf Gale]

RANK: D

CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low

CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu

ELEMENT: N/a

DESCRIPTION:

This technique is a good example of how even simple taijutsu can become a pre-eminently destructive, lethal technique. The attack is a simple rear spinning low kick, but a strong enough user can send a large adult flying as if they weighed nothing. The goal is to throw the enemy off balance, and deal damage to the lower half of their body.

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Miyamoto Ikana

Ikana was trying, and it was honorable. Toru was not applying himself to the fullest, but it was obvious that even without his entire effort she was struggling. The dark garnet that dripped to the water she had summoned was evidence of that struggle, but he would not relent. It was training and it was meant to cause strain, she would not get better if he did not push her until she collapsed.

Though, perhaps that collapse would not come in the way that Toru believed it would. Soon, Ikana would find out what it was to go against a Kaguya due to her own foolish actions. Then again, perhaps she had sparred against a Kaguya in the past, but had she ever touched them before? It seemed not, or perhaps in the heat of the moment she had forgotten what it was like.

She swept low, in an attempt to get away from his sword, to kick up more mud and water, but mostly to kick against his lower torso. Regardless of where her foot landed, the result would be something quite painful equal to the force of what the attack was meant to do. Toru's entire body was like a diamond, and upon impact with the force meant to send an adult flying, Ikana would find herself hitting a wall as if stopping her in her tracks. But in that stop, that also meant that the part of her leg that made contact would crack under pressure, likely fracturing if not fully splintering beneath her flesh.

Toru stopped immediately though, wiping water and mud from his face, before leveling a glance towards Ikana to see if she could even continue after what she had just performed. He inhaled long and slow, calming the rate of his heart beat as he watched her.

"Are you alright?" It was not a question he might have asked in the past. When he was younger with a shorter fuse. But now, this was one of his soldiers and if she had just broken her leg or foot in any capacity, he knew that he would be the one to carry her to the hospital to get her mended and sent home safely.

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

Ikana had sparred against a Kaguya maybe...three times in her life. The first two times were in the academy. Kid blows. Where she'd more often than not been overpowered very swiftly due to the Kaguya's fierce talent in Taijutsu. Though she'd felt that their bones were denser. Harder. The third time was against Minako Kaguya. When she launched her Saberu no Jutsu against her and watched as her very skeleton was capable of repelling a strike that could otherwise slice through pillars of stone and break iron. Maybe it was Ikana's lack of insight, or maybe a lack of realizing it was a passive power of theirs.

In that next moment? She felt something crack. Crack and not in a good way. Ikana had trained fairly hard in the art of Taijutsu. She'd kicked wood before. Kicked at hard posts. This wasn't like that. For soon? She fell to the ground as the lower leg burned in pain. She found herself crashing to the ground abruptly onto her side. Luckily not her back where the kunai lay lodged. 'It hurts.' Her face was wrenched in pain as she tried to move it slightly. The knee could bend, but lower than that? She tried not to cry out in agony in the next moment. How foolish she was. Damn it.

She remembered. She could kick Minako back then a few years ago. Though that was only because she had the Sanbi of which improved her endurance. Made her body stronger than it was. Now however? She took a deep breath, and tried to reach for her weapon. Her sword. Until she heard a calm voice call. Was she alright? Turning, her eyes met Toru's, and in that moment? She took a few deep breaths. Her cheeks were red from the sudden rush of hurt as she tried to stabilize her breathing. Until she tries to move. Stand. Until realizing no. She wasn't alright. She shook her head no.

"H-Hgh...I'm sorry." She exclaimed, swallowing the pain as she tries to rise onto her good leg. Oh Kami. Her eyes were fluttering, trying to acclimate to the seething sensation. "H-H-Hngh." She couldn't help but feel a few tears escape her eyes as she could immediately feel the burning inflammation. Pain was a great teacher. And every hurt was a lesson.

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Miyamoto Ikana

Toru watched, and he was quiet in that moment. Slowly, methodically his sword would be replaced back into its sheathe where it had come from. The mist around them dissipating, rolling away as if it had never been there. All that was left was the light summer fog that clung to the area naturally. But in the summer it was not so abrasive, they could see each other, the air was warm and pleasant. It was unlikely that Ikana felt any pleasantries now though.

The young leader knelt down besides Ikana, pulling at the kunai swiftly, pressing his palm against her shoulder there to stem the blood, so that it would not gush.

"Sorry for what?" His voice was cool, and calm. This was not a time to panic or make it a bigger deal than it should be. Panic would only make the situation worse. What Ikana needed now was a soothing voice and hands. He did not ask if he could lift her, because he knew better than to do so. She needed to be taken to the hospital, regardless of what her pride might say - and shinobi were prideful. Instead, he put his hands against her wrists and hoisted her up onto his sturdy back, and connecting them around his neck so that she could hold on. He grabbed at her wakizashi too, carrying it, bringing it in tow so that she did not lose a weapon to all of this too.

"What color is my hair?" He asked plainly a tactic often used to distract victims from the pain that they were experiencing as he started to move back towards the village proper and towards the administrative district where they had come from - since that was where the main hospital was. He figured she could at least moderately suck it up while he carried her, his steps were quite smooth so she would not shake on his back too much.

"What is your favorite food?" Toru added on, soon after she would answer his initial question. He was determined to keep her mind off of the pain until they actually got to their intended location. It would not be an extremely long walk, but it could be one that made a difference between extreme pain and only moderate which was probably what she was feeling right now.

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

The pain was surprising. But was even more so was Toru himself. For in those next moments, he hoisted her up over his shoulders, grasping her fallen blade, and he brought her. Took her along in her moment of vulnerability and weakness. He asked her. What was she sorry for? In those moments, she found herself wondering that to herself. Before asking that question back to herself. Her eyes were lightly shaking as she gave a hiss as she was carried. Before she found herself distracted. Asking what color his hair was. Taking a shaky breath for a second, she spoke. "W-W-W-Wha-White." Taking a shaky breath, she found herself wrapping her arms around him for leverage.

"Mizumen...With a hardboiled egg. Cucumbers. Boiled beef." She gave a deep exhale as she controlled her breathing as she could, and with it? She found herself flushed in the cheeks. Though she didn't know exactly why. She rested her head against his back for a second as she tried to digest everything that was going on. Even as a bit of her blood soaked into the fabric of his clothes. "I'm sorry that you're having to do this." She felt maybe a bit more than embarrassed that she was in this compromising situation. Though instead of saying anything worse? She found herself thinking then. "I'll get better next time. I promise."

She felt oddly comforted, as she was brought along, and in truth? It felt completely foreign. For some reason she felt a little bit closer to him from the experience.

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world Miyamoto Ikana

"It is my duty." It was his sworn duty to protect and care for the village, for the nation and all those within it. It did not matter how they acted. Sometimes it meant making hard decisions, however, carrying Ikana to the hospital was not a hard decision to make. She was hurt as a result of their training, for her to get better she needed proper care and there was no better care out there than the medics of their village. She was likely pretty familiar with it regardless, having been stationed there as an assistant for a little while now aside from her assignment to be out at sea for a year as punishment - though that had recently expired.

"You will." Toru remarked plainly, an unsaid but quiet confidence in the girl's future improvements. Everyone got better, even if they did not feel it. Toru knew, practice relentless practice made everyone better. He continued to carry her but soon he was shoving a door open to step into the clean hospital, one that he had seen to recently to becoming a pristine place to be in. He was born here, and it had been a downtrodden place during the war, but now it was almost pleasant with natural and electric lights, clean floors, new beds.

Inside the hospital he got her checked in quickly and put into a side room so she could receive the proper care. She would not need a long term stay, just an afternoon to get her leg rested and mended. Toru would leave in that time, but he made sure to order her food to be brought to her room so she could eat and replenish her energy - mizumen with a hardboiled egg, cucumbers and boiled beef.

[end]

OWL

[Miyamoto Ikana]

It was his duty he said. Those words left a feeling on Ikana that she couldn't quite fully understand. However, it made her realize the kind of man that Toru was. Words that left Ikana wanting to be more like him in some ways. His strong and stoic demeanor. It was in those moments she focused on her breathing, and as she was brought to the familiarity of the hospital, a place she worked at quite often in assisting the various staff in some form or another. It had changed in the time she'd been here those years back. Modernizing further, the hospital was a welcoming place indeed.

When checked upon, she knew the medics would swiftly heal her leg. "Thank you Mizukage-Sama." Bowing her head in acknowledgement, she would have thought that would be it. That he'd vanish off like an enigma with little else said between them. That she would find her leg healed with a mystical palm, with some minor supervision, and she would return to her normal day. However, when her favorite food arrived? It was there she looked at it, and stared. It felt like a dream, and for a moment or two, she looked in the general direction of the Mizukage tower. And she closed her eyes and wiped them for a moment. "Itadakimasu."

Ikana came to realize something about Toru. He was kind, and what more, was that he as a person was someone she'd deeply come to respect. A man she could stand by.