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When he walked out with his shirt off and his Hitate emblazoned onto his chest. He was not a picture of joy, nor of rage, just... monotonous. This was closer to a truer version of himself and not the person he'd been showing up as. Granted, there were new complexities in him that needed to be explored... he did not try to egg on the crowd - did not try to show off - nor was he trying to paint a picture in his mind of a blood bath. Instead, he quietly took his position on hks side of the arena until Hitsukai also took a position and was in an earshot, and then, he would do something the other candidates likely would not have expected. His hands clasped together as he bowed his head below the arc of his arms. "Please... for the love of god.... fight me... I won't try to kill you..." he had just about been fed up of the other opponents. He was intensely frustrated, yes. Hitsukai was a heavy son of a bitch. Heavier than Hotarubi: he was a Taijutsu fighter and he packed a punch. For all intents and purposes, Hotarubi had no belief that he was going to fail - but the exams themself were another matter. See, a thought had come to him the night prior that maybe this was a concerted effort against him. If he couldn't actually do anything, there would be nothing to grade him off. And if there was nothing to grade him off: he'd fail. So he needed to give it his all; and actually fight. He did say he wouldn't kill, but he didn't intend on letting Hitsukai leave without his own mark unto the devout. And then, he stood tall and unafraid - and chakra stirred in him to when the fight started, just as Hitsukai had in previous fights would try and close the gap and in fact Hotarubi would welcome that. Hotarubi, on the other hand would grow taller, darker - until he was double his size. If Hitsukai wanted to attack that was okay, as he was likely fast enough to do so. His form and face was changing - till he ended a proud fifteen feet tall. A classic goliath moment - hoping to catch the bald man in his tracks. He had to think a great deal about what it would look like: where he would fall. And as a Yamakira, it fell to them to have a unique look amongst themselves and their clansmen; but then also a moniker for them to be known by - if he wanted to be graded and known, this was the best opportunity to cast the first stone. His appearance was closest between demonic ans regal by the way he sculpted. He was channelling his brother here - but it was hard won. SPOILER: Click to show NAME: Doton: Henkei [Earth Release: Metamorphosis] RANK: B CHAKRA USAGE: Medium-High, Depends on user’s resulting size CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Doton HANDSEALS: 0 DESCRIPTION: This technique is the perfected version of Doton: Karada Chōkoku. The user channels chakra throughout their entire body and sculpts it into whatever they desire as long as they have enough material to achieve it, then hardens it to solidify the final form. Forms assumed using this technique are much harder and more durable than their default forms, making them stronger as well by default. This is due to the increased chakra in their systems along with increased density from the compacted stone and dirt. Its full potential can be best brought out with Dōka and Ōka. The most famous form assumed by Yamakira clansmen is that of black demons with large teeth. It is considered the perfected version as it can work on the entire body at once instead of just parts of one’s body. However, it can only copy the form and not the color as its colors are entirely limited to shades of brown, gray, and black unless they absorbed some form of colourful stone. They do not get any special benefits from imitating anyone else’s form either aside from proportional strength and durability increases according to size.

[Yasuraka Hitsukai]

As the music blared throughout the stands surrounding the arena Hitsukai made his way out into the now familiar battlefield, rolling his right shoulder and arm as he did so. While Iwa might have not been on the greatest of terms with Suna, he proudly would speak praise in regards to their medics. The treatments they had done had seemed ineffective at first, but after a relatively short amount of time the feeling had not only returned to his arm, but it actually felt more loose and relaxed than it probably had in years. All in all he was grateful that their skill had kept Junichi's childish attempts from impacting his ability to fight, at least that was Hitsukai believed had happened.

Turning his focus to the opponent across from him; some might have thought Hitsukai would look at Hotarubi with utter disgust, but they would have been wrong. While Hitsukai did not necessarily approve of the younger man's brutal tendencies, he at least respected the fact that Hotarubu did not seem to hide his nature. From the limited reference Hitsukai had, Hotarubi spoke plainly with no hidden agenda. Perhaps the monk was wrong, but that was at least the conclusion his mind had come to. So while others might have viewed Hotarubi's promise to not kill and his request for a true fight as some sort of trick; Hitsukai accepted it as a truthful statement. Raising his arms so that his left palm was extended up while his right pressed against his left in a fist, the monk gave a respectful bow in return.


"I will try to avoid any death blows as well. Let us enjoy this fight since it's obvious neither of us wish to immediately surrender."


Immediately after he spoke, Hitsukai slowly moved into a ready position and took a deep breath before starting to gulp down additional air with the *Heavenly Inhalation technique. He did not know how useful it would be, but at the very least he had found it useful in minimizing fatigue during earlier sections of the exam and from what little he knew of Hotarubi, he expected this fight would either be over quickly or be extremely drawn out.

The moment the match began Hotarubi's body began to surge with earth and stone, drastically growing in size. At first Hitsukai had actually considered digging in and forcing his opponent to attack for a change, but Hitsukai could not just let his opponent bolster his strength unchallenged. Through use of the the *Heavenly Stride technique, Hitsukai began to rocket forward towards the opponent that now towered above him. His plan was relatively simple, although adaptive. The moment he got to his opponent he planned to force himself low and connect with Hotarubi's left leg with his shoulder in a use of the *Heavenly Rush technique.

From there his plan was hopefully to quickly move away and make use of speed to hopefully leverage his opponent's increased size and mass against him with hit and run tactics. If Hotarubi managed to somehow keep him from moving away then the only option at that point would be to dig into the ground with a technique and try to win the outright power match.

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[Deleted]

Hitsukai's breathing antics were of no concern to him - but it wouldn't have surprised him to be a technique of some kind of it were explained to him. It was a change of epic proportions by the way his body contorted, turned darker and grew. Again, while Hotarubi had anticipated a Taijutsu attack and for Hitsukai to come in, he had focused on his change - conscious to avoid any Suiton, but he held... some arrogance in thinking that Hitsukai wouldn't suddenly refer to Ninjutsu now. Like a goliath being felled, Hitsukai did take Hotarubi's leg from beneath him, sending one limb to the floor - breaking off from his body and causing him to fall to one side. Hotarubi instinctively put out his arm, holding him up some from becoming parallel to the floor. But Hotarubi didn't make a sound at his attack, not giving it any sort of credence or satisfaction, since the jig was up. Using the opposite arm, it swung out to form a large hammer the size of a torso during its swing to slam into Hitsukai if he were quick enough to do so, and Hitsukai wasn't quick enough to step out, or out of its curve, or underneath it. Because of his own training - the forming was quick, and because it was being formed from his body, it inconsequentially thinned other areas: not enough to make a difference, but a discerning eye could see that his body was the conduit. His unparalleled forming of earth wouldn't stop there, from when the hammer stopped- he would push very lightly with his hand still on the floor and when it landed to the floor once again, it was holding on to one of the 'end' of the limb, and it would quickly get added to his form again and start forming at his leg once again. Completely undeterred, and without further interaction or input from Hitsukai would come to his standing form, hammer arm once again. SPOILER: Click to show NAME: Doton: Henkei [Earth Release: Metamorphosis] RANK: B CHAKRA USAGE: Medium-High, Depends on user’s resulting size CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Doton HANDSEALS: 0 DESCRIPTION: This technique is the perfected version of Doton: Karada Chōkoku. The user channels chakra throughout their entire body and sculpts it into whatever they desire as long as they have enough material to achieve it, then hardens it to solidify the final form. Forms assumed using this technique are much harder and more durable than their default forms, making them stronger as well by default. This is due to the increased chakra in their systems along with increased density from the compacted stone and dirt. Its full potential can be best brought out with Dōka and Ōka. The most famous form assumed by Yamakira clansmen is that of black demons with large teeth. It is considered the perfected version as it can work on the entire body at once instead of just parts of one’s body. However, it can only copy the form and not the color as its colors are entirely limited to shades of brown, gray, and black unless they absorbed some form of colourful stone. They do not get any special benefits from imitating anyone else’s form either aside from proportional strength and durability increases according to size. NAME: Maisou no Jutsu [Burial Technique] RANK: D CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Doton HANDSEALS: 0 DESCRIPTION: This is the very first jutsu Yamakira clansmen learn after they have gone through the special ritual. This technique allows the user to wilfully turn their bodies into stone and dirt with just the barest amount of concentration. It also automatically shifts the user into stone and dirt upon being hit by an attack and allows them to reform back through sheer force of will, making them impervious to a lot of attacks that may be harmful or even lethal because they can just put themselves back together. They can move and think normally while in this form and so can fight as if they were flesh and blood. It also increases their strength and durability automatically upon shifting into their default stone and dirt form because stone is naturally stronger and tougher than flesh and bone. There are drawbacks to this technique. Users can only reform themselves as long as there is earth or stone to reform themselves with. Raiton is a partial weakness as it can tear the hardened body to pieces, but that doesn’t stop the user from reforming back. The user’s true weakness though is suiton, as it erodes away their body and makes it next to impossible to reform the user’s body hit by the suiton due to the mud-like consistency it is forced to take. Thus, suiton is the best way to keep them down and out from a fight.

[Yasuraka Hitsukai]

Connecting with Hotarubi's leg, Hitsukai had expected some level of at the very least, annoyance at his attack, but even after he ended up charging through the leg entirely there was no real reaction other than Hotarubi stabilizing himself before immediately launching a counter attack towards Hitsukai. While the monk's initial plan having made his way through the leg was to continue on, he had been somewhat counting on there being a longer period of recovery from Hotarubi. As it was now he could try to make a run for it, but the elongated arms of the Yamakira might still potentially catch him in the back and while it seemed a safe assumption to believe he could adsorb the force of Hotarubi's blows, Hitsukai could not be entirely sure that the earthen giant did not have some chakra trickery that might bypass Bishamon's gift.

With no real time to weigh his options and pressured to react as quickly as possible, Hitsukai rather than run turned and made it seem as if he intended to meet the fist straight on. The monk appeared to brace himself for the large arm swinging towards him, but just as it neared, threw himself backwards and down, catching the ground with one hand and pivoting off to the side of the arm, back onto his feet and away from Hotarubi's main body through use of the *Irregular Dodging technique. If he were able to manage clearing the swinging arm, his plan from there was to raise his other arm and allow it to momentarily clip Hotarubi's arm to ensure he could indeed absorb kinetic energy from the mass of stone.

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He thought he would have been more effective than he was, and Hitsukai was able to dodge it, he was beyond the feeling of how it felt - beyond that he had almost hit him, almost was not good enough. Even though Hitsukai had taken some of that all vital energy, it's importance was irrelevant nor caught by Hotarubi's attention. But the hulking beast did come to stand once again, a little bit more prepared as the hammer hand hovered inches from the floor. Hotarubi turned side on to the man, pointing his arm at Hitsukai - And projectiles, given his much larger size what were ordinarily pellets were instead marble sized rocks, aiming for Hitsukai's centre mass were ejected from his non-terraformed hand. His fingers were slightly spread - making it unlikely that all five would hit him, if at all, but it would offer the opportunity to spread out the attack amongst equal lengths should he have thought to move from side to side. It was to give him a moment, because Hotarubi came bounding over - slower, and the Hammer raised high as he intended to smash it down over the top of Hitsukai's head. Yes, he did it with the strength he could muster, yes, he had also promised not to kill... but Hitsukai could handle it, right? Besides... it wouldn't... kill him.... right? SPOILER: Click to show NAME: Iwadeppō [Earth Gun] RANK: B CHAKRA USAGE: Low CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu ELEMENT: Doton HANDSEALS: 0 DESCRIPTION: The user adds pressure to a small stone in the finger with the help of chakra and body manipulation. The stone is then fired with tremendous force, similar to a gunshot where it gets its name. These small stones are small but have enough piercing power to puncture even steel and armors, like actual bullets. This technique can be used with up to 5 fingers at a time to increase its effectiveness. An important note is that the larger the user is, the more powerful this technique is.

[Deleted]

I love the character but do what you gotta do

[Yasuraka Hitsukai]

The fight had been a rather fast paced one, and likely was much more appealing to the crowd initially. Hotarubi definitely would be been a ridiculously dangerous enemy to most of the combatants within the chuunin exam, but luckily for Hitsukai; Hotarubi's arsenal thus far seemed to line up with Hitsukai's own strengths quite well. Even as the marble-sized projectiles went screaming through the air towards Hitsukai with three of them finding their mark, the impact of the stones seemed to have no effect. While chakra had been used to launch them, they had no constant coating and relied solely on the kinetic force derived from just their weight and speed to punch through targets. As such they posed no real risk to Hitsukai.

With Hotarubi charging the monk now, the wide bounding steps of the titan made of stone and earth ending with what should have been an earth shattering blow which would have threatened to leave a crater in the arena were it any other circumstance. This too similarly revealed itself to be ineffective as Hitsukai held his ground, crouching slightly before rapidly raising both his arms to meet the massive stone hammer with his own *Double Hammer technique, delaying the second fist to connect a moment after the first. This delay allowed his first fist to connect with the stone hammer, absorb the kinetic energy and reroute it to the second fist which caused Hitsukai's own strength, the force of the weights on his body and the force of Hotarubi's attack to all surge into the stone hammer shattering it.

Fragments of stone rained down around Hitsukai, but the battle was by no means over. Almost instantly Hotarubi was reforming the hammer to launch a renewed assault. It was in that manner that their battle continued for a good while; Hotarubi launching attack after attack with Hitsukai turning the force back on him in a dazzling counterattack, only for Hotarubi to near immediately reform.

Towards the end of their match, Hotarubi finally did begin to pursue different strategies. After the brute force approach had failed, the titan tried to get ahold of Hitsukai so as to form his earthen body around the monk. Several times Hitsukai's speed would manage to save him, but eventually the monk was caught. However, due to the Heavenly Inhalation technique used earlier, Hitsukai would be able to keep air enough in his lungs to avoid suffocating immediately and on the few occasions he was caught would have the time to break free by shattering the extended segments of Hotarubi's body.

Other methods continued to be pursued after that, but at the end of the fight it became very apparent that neither fighter could truly cause lasting damage to their opponent. Hitsukai's ability to seemingly negate physical attacks made the stone titan's blows useless and Hitsukai's explosive displays of force were rendered meaningless by Hotarubi's ability to quickly regenerate the destroyed sections of stone and earth. Likely had this been a fight out in the world rather than a timed exam fight, it would have gone on until one of the warriors simply did not have the stamina or chakra left to continue.

When the fight was finally called, Hitsukai found himself breathing heavily, his stores of air stockpiled before the start of the match depleted and even with his weight being absorbed and redirected into his blows, the sheer strain of his muscles moving to run, jump and attack was still enough to have tired him out. Hitsukai had ended up on the far side of the arena from Hotarubi, the two fighters having fallen back to reexamine the situation for a potential path to victory.

At his side of the arena, Hitsukai purposefully slowed his breathing to try and calm his overall demeanor. Much like he had at the beginning of the fight, the monk raised his left hand so the palm was extended and pressed his right hand which was balled into a fist against it. With as much respect and propriety as he could muster in his tired state, the monk bowed to his opponent. While he got the impression that Hotarubi would not have been saddened if one of his hammer strikes had managed to kill Hitsukai, the younger man had kept true to his word even if he had not intended to. Most importantly the fight while brutal and running up to the point of needing to be called on time constraints had most definitely been an enjoyable one. After straightening from his bow Hitsukai turned and walked out of the arena to go recuperate a bit before the next match began.


OOC: Since Akira has left the site, I've contacted Meep as the NPC Mod in charge of the exam and got permission to just NPC this myself. Since realistically Hotarubi and Hitsukai had no true means of easily injuring one another it made the most sense for it to end in a draw. If Meep or those grading the exams wishes to speculate on who might have won or did a better showing in the posts preceding this forced summary to decide a winner then they're welcome to do so.

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