[Kyuumu Suzaku]

It had been a stressful time when the genin returned to Kumogakure during the Chunin Exams, the break that had been given to them in the third round between the first and second fights. For those who'd be expected to continue the exams, and the fights in such a short amount of time. And Suzaku had not been one of those people. While he had been one of the genin to return to Iwagakure during the exams after the break, he'd been eliminated. He had been expected to keep participating in the event, keep pretending he was a contender, like a macabre play where everyone was treating a corpse like a living person. He had and to an extent still felt like a puppet, dancing to a tune that was beyond his control. And while some might consider all of this a learning experience, that it'd become a distant memory in the future, the young failure didn't feel like he'd learned anything, and was living in an all too painful present. A present where the exams were over, yet they were all he could think about.

This hurricane of emotions was ever consuming him, a inner-monsoon taking place that not even his usual spots he went too to calm himself down couldn't fix. And perhaps that was what his old instructor Tsu had realized when she'd seen him return, this monsoon of negativity taking place inside of him. The red haired boy hadn't asked many questions at her recommendation, this arena he found himself in front of. He hadn't been able to participate during the break, not enough time, too many things to do for everyone. But now the exams were over. Now most genin were able to relax, to move on, and train in things like this Thunderdome with a clear head. But the red haired boy was just as stressed as he'd been on the break, just as frustrated. He didn't know exactly what this would entail, he wasn't a Yanki after all. But his old Academy Instructor had said it would help him, so he was hoping it might make him feel better. Feel like he wasn't a failure. Even if he deserved to feel this way.

[hirana kizumi]

YANKI KATSUMI
GENIN

Friday afternoon at the Thunderdome was a raucous affair, and Suzaku could hear the commotion from well outside the arena. Shouting was the most prominent sound, the iconic chanting of dozens of Yanki clan members egging on the participants; there was the clashing of steel, the pounding, slapping sound of fists on flesh as the group of young hopefuls duked it out to improve their prowess and competence as shinobi, and gave the youth of the medical corps ample injuries to tend to. If Suzaku was brave enough to enter the Thunderdome, he would be cheerfully—loudly—greeted by a young man with an ostentatious pompadour, promptly relieved of all of his ranged weaponry, and thrown into the bed of chaos that awaited him. A blonde teenage girl about Suzaku’s age stood in front of him, grinning like a madman and aggressively cracking her knuckles. Suzaku might have recognized her as a former peer, someone who was in the shinobi academy at about the same time he was, and who was now a Yanki clan genin. "Let’s dance, bird boy,” she said, and that was all the warning Suzaku would get before she was swinging with a wild haymaker. He would need to act fast if he wanted to get out of the way!

Kyuumu Suzaku -- 212

LAIKA OF THQ

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

Suzaku didn't like this place, that would become clear the moment he stepped in and further solidified by each experience. While he might be in a funk, the boys core personality hadn't changed. He was still himself at heart, and he was someone who could get easily overwhelmed by social situations. When he had to interact with people instead of birds, and as big of pains they might be the boys two crows that he always had with him managed to act as a comforting presence, an ever-present sense of familiarity and assurance. But they weren't allowed here according to Tsu, not in these clans halls. Which is why when the man loudly yelled at him upon him walking inside, he let out a yelp of surprise. Not a good start for an arena for who were supposed to be the toughest of the tough, and the boys embarrassed blush and avoiding eye contact did not help. Ô-Oh...Uhh...Sorry...H-Hi...I, ummm, I'd like to participate...

And for a moment it'd look like things would go smoothly, recovering from the Rocky start. The bright orange haired boy would turn over his kunai and shuriken and try to walk through. It wasn't until he was stopped did he realize his mistake, and just how naked he'd be when they took his Fuma Shuriken from him. While shuriken might be in the name he didn't really use it that way, he preferred the more unorthodox method of using like a sword, the multiple blades able to fold closed to form one single blade. It was useful, it was versatile, it was familiar and comfortable. And it was banned. So, after hesitating, he'd end up giving that away as well before making his way into the arena.

He did have one comfort left here though, comfort food. The dragons bane candy he kept in his pockets, sealed in baggies for freshness. And he would be stuffing his face when he entered the arena, and to his horror find that his opponent was already there. Trying to force swallow the dry, it looked like the match might be over before it could even begin by need of medical intervention when it looked like he was going to choke then and there. But, he'd manage to not embarrass himself that much, swallowing it down with a small cough and lots more blushing and avoiding eye contact. H-Hi... It was made worse by the fact he definitely knew this girl, had seen her around plenty of times in the academy. And it seemed she remembered him too with her remark. Then the first step in the dance between them was taken, and she'd see the young boys first step in return in their duet.

Suzaku saw things differently. Not just metaphorically, but very literally. The wind-up of the punch, the step, every single part of this attack was like it was being telegraphed, as the girl slowly moved towards him. For most, this would be torture, a life of constant slow motion. For Suzaku, it was his normal, and he couldn't imagine a world where everything happened quickly. So while he might not have gotten a verbal warning, the punch wasn't much of a surprise to him. However, while his brain could process movement in rapid speed, his body's ability to react to it was another story. There was a disconnect, a lag between the two, and while this was normal for everyone for Suzaku it felt so much more pronounced. But still, being able to see a punch coming a mile away still had it's benefits, and the boy would attempt to simply turn, dodging the punch aiming straight for his face. And it was here he had almost made a mistake, his first instinct had been to use his clans technique of surrounding his arm with wind Chakra to cut the girl. But jutsu was against the rules here. So when he found himself reaching out at her, he kept it simple, trying to grab her shirt and pull her forward while sticking his leg out to trip her. This was shaping up to be a long day in the Thunderdome.

[hirana kizumi]

YANKI KATSUMI
GENIN

"Hah, nice,” Katsumi crowed, only to quickly follow it up with a swift, "oh shit—” as Suzaku grabbed her shirt and leg-swept her to the ground. She landed flat on her back, wheezing pitifully as all the air was knocked from her lungs. Her retaliation was swift and merciless, shouting a garbled mess of nothing as she turned Suzaku’s trick right back on him, lunging out to hook one hand around his ankle, the other grasping for the fabric of his pants and yanking. Ideally, she would bring him down to the ground alongside him, but humiliating him via pantsing was an acceptable second option. Suzaku, through his heightened perception, would be able to tell relatively easily that Katsumi was quite fast, suggesting either some kind of specialization in taijutsu or specific training to hone her natural speed. He would have to step up his game to avoid her ruthless assault, especially if he wanted to avoid showing off his butt to the entire Thunderdome! Perhaps witnessing Katsumi’s mean-spirited tactics and wanting to give Suzaku a bit of an edge, the same be-pompadoured boy who had confiscated Suzaku’s weaponry cheered at him from the entrance. "HIT THEM WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!” he hollered, and Suzaku would find his arms suddenly moving faster than before!

Kyuumu Suzaku -- 216

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kanpai: Kōgeki [Cheer: Strike]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [Medical]
SHOUT LINE: "HIT THEM WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!"
RANGE: 25 meters
REQUIREMENTS: Yanki Hijutsu, Chakra Control
DESCRIPTION:
A technique that primarily affects the arms of those that it targets, it invigorates the muscles to cause them to move faster. Increasing the speed at which one can punch and swing a sword. As a fault of this, at the end of [5 rotations] the target who benefited from this effect will tear their arm muscles at the end of the jutsu, effectively slowing their arms movement just as much as it had previously been sped up until healed or given time to heal.

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

The girls laugh at his misfortune would soon turn bitter, though she could take comfort that the young boy didn't return the favor and laugh at her own tumble. Though what he did wasn't much better, his nervous look from before replaced as the combat started, the boy now just staring at her blankly with his head tilted, as if confused as to how she'd ended up on the floor in the first place. He wasn't laughing at her, yet he managed to come off mocking all the same, even if he didn't mean too. In truth, the young boy just tended to relax easier in combat, his calm expression and "playful" mannerisms being just that, the orange haired boy feeling relaxed. Everyday life was always so stressful for the anxious teenager, always stressing about what he did, how he came off, whether he'd say something wrong to someone in a conversation, maintaining appearances as the heir to his branch. That's why he found the most peace in places where he could just focus on the moment, not have to worry about what he'd said or done, relive the same moment ten times over.

But that's exactly what would happen with this fight, the boys calm expression broken as his eyes raised in surprise at the girls speed. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses here, the blonde girl able to see his uncanny eyes, human yet not, react to the fullest at her movements. While the lights were annoying, and bright, they weren't directly in front of him, weren't shining directly in his face like that one night he was trying to forget. And he had wanted to be able to give his full attention for this fight, no glasses getting in the way. Yet even with his full attention, the girls speed caught him off guard, instead of an exaggerated motion the girls hand had simply reached out with no hints. And this showed just how much of a lag there was between his body and eyes, his body moving slow, slower than her arm reaching out for his pants. And while he'd do his best not to fall himself, his pants would not be so lucky, and their humiliation would be traded tic for tac as the young teen was pantsed in a stadium full of people.

Speechless. That was the word that might suit the boys look as his pants fell to the floor in slow motion. Speechless and horrified. Yet even speechless, there was a sound coming from him, a very unique shriek.

The calmness from before was gone, replaced with pure, unfiltered panic as he tried to pull up his pants, perhaps unwisely bending over to do so. His thoughts and judgment clouded, the boy would even end up falling asleep if not from the girl tripping him then simply from tripping over himself. With one move she'd completely and utterly overwhelmed him. It looked like just like his fight in the Chunin Exams, this one would end not with a bang, nor even a whimper, but simply as an inevitability. At least, until a shout filled the air. HIT THEM WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! Suzaku didn't know who's yelled it, he wasn't looking that way and was a bit preoccupied with...everything. But he'd feel the difference, feel his arms moving faster, and with a brief moment of clarity that the shout gave him by breaking out of his spiral, managed to finally make himself fully decent and back on his feet. WHY??? THAT WAS MEAN!! He wasn't making the first move at the girl, though he would be watching her. Instead he'd start venting his frustrations, and the crack in the dam he'd built since the exams would begin to appear.

[hirana kizumi]

YANKI KATSUMI
GENIN

Katsumi cackled ruthlessly as Suzaku scrambled to make himself decent. His reaction was even better than she’d hoped, and gave her more than enough time to scramble to her feet and dust herself off, prepare herself for their next exchange. She shot a scowl to her fellow Yanki, who only gave her a disappointed glare in return. "The world is mean,” Katsumi sneered, cracking her knuckles. "Get used to it, kid. No one’s gonna be nice to you when it’s life or death, so be glad you’re learning that now.” Despite his apparent rage and hurt, the boy wasn’t making an attack against her, which meant she was on the offensive again. Shaping fuuton chakra around her fist, Katsumi quickly darted in for a powered-up strike to Suzaku’s gut, aiming to knock the wind out of him before attempting to sweep his feet and once again knock him prone. Though Katsumi was quite fast, Suzaku’s enhanced perception and the speed granted to him by the Yanki’s cheer could potentially enable him to keep up with her. Whether or not his frustration would allow him to continue fighting was a different story… though it would be clear to Suzaku that Katsumi was hell-bent on winning this fight, exclusively at Suzaku’s expense.

Kyuumu Suzaku -- 210

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Fūton: Sutoraiku [Wind Release: Strike]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: Fūton
HANDSEALS: 0

DESCRIPTION:
While basic in nature, there is a very simple purpose to this justu. Pure offensive power. By focusing fūton chakra across the user's hands, this grants them a minor increased in striking power. Each attack coming with a sudden burst of wind trying to blow the opponent back. While unable to deal any significant damage quickly, if used over a long period of time during a fight and with precise enough aim by the user. It can cause some substantial damage, such as heavy bruising. However to use such a justu, after every attack, a new burst of chakra must be pushed through the user's fists in order for the justu to work.

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

The cracks continued to build as the girl gave her reasoning for just why she'd willingly humiliate him in public like that. And it all amounted to because she could, because the world was cruel, that she was helping him in the end. And he didn't like that answer one bit.

Suzaku's worldview had been shaped by birth, as heir to the Outai he was expected to carry out their ordeal, and while it could be argued that the boys father was actually rather lenient in letting the boy figure himself out, dismissing a lot of the boys "quirks" he had right now as simply a teenage phase. But what had always been emphasized as the boy had grown up, and something he came to heavily identify with, was their families worldview. That one must be willing to embrace the outside world, and work with the people in it, but not blindly. That some people didn't deserve trust, didn't deserve forgiveness. And sometimes they didn't deserve their very lives. So to hear that very viewpoint from this girl as she lectured him, as if it was his first time hearing them. It really got under his skin, and he'd actually stand stunned for a moment as his emotions flooded him.

All the anxieties from the past now had a new one, the idea that he hasn't been following his clans mantra this entire, that the exam hadn't made him a failure, but that he'd always been one. Hed never really considered that option, but now it was ringing in his head as he watched the girl approach him. He could see her moving clearly, he was still processing that even with his mind swimming. And watching the girl who'd managed to hit exactly where it hurt both with actions and words, the cracks in the emotional dam he'd built up would have it's first partial break.

He'd reach out instinctively as he started to sidestep at the last second, and this is where'd he'd find out that his arms were moving faster, that they were moving just as fast as he could perceive things, and the young teen finally understood just what that shout from Yuto has been about, and why the pompadour having teen had gotten the mean look from his mean girl opponent. The boy was not only cheering on Suzaku, but helping him too. And the scraggly haired boy was gonna take full advantage of it.

While his sidestep didn't quite sync up with everything else, he'd still reach out to grab the girls elbow faster then she could react, pushing it up and aside so this boosted punch would miss, the boys orange hair waving wildly from the fuuton Chakra blowing into his face. But if it worked, there wouldn't be a punch with it. You...YOU ARE A BITCH! And with the boys emotions free, he'd do the first thing that came to mind. Kicking the blonde girl in the crotch. Not quite as effective as it would be against a guy, but hopefully it'd be enough for his follow up.

Hed reach out after the kick, speed boosted thanks to the cheer, and he'd try and grab his oppents hair, and forcibly pulling her head down straight into his waiting knee. The boy wasn't as classically trained in taijutsu as she was, but he knew the basics at least. And he knew a knee to the face definitely would hurt.

SPOILER: Click to show

Rounds Boosted by Cheer-Strike: 2/5

[hirana kizumi]

YANKI KATSUMI
GENIN

Suzaku sidestepped fast, faster than she could anticipated, grabbing her elbow and pushing it aside so that her empowered fist whiffed right past his face. She stumbled forward, the momentum of the strike throwing her off-balance with nothing to land on, and he called her a bitch. Katsumi’s face twisted into a fierce scowl, as though no one had ever said anything so rude to her in her life. "What the fuck did you say to me, you little bi—” she started, but was abruptly cut off by her own grunt of surprise and pain as Suzaku kicked her in the crotch. While her bits were perhaps not as tender and vulnerable as they could have been, a hard kick to the pelvic bone still hurt, and she wheezed faintly through the pain. Then she got a knee to her face for her troubles, and her vision whited out briefly. Katsumi roared, tapping into a white-hot rage, and lashed out with a three-hit combo: to the ribcage, the solar plexus, and finally to the top of Suzaku’s head. Though her technique was empowered by her Fighting Spirit, this did not make her any faster, and Suzaku was operating at a distinct advantage: Katsumi’s swings were sloppy, wild haymakers, and Suzaku’s enhanced speed and superior perception would perhaps give him the key to victory in this fight, if he was bold enough to take it.

Kyuumu Suzaku

LAIKA OF THQ

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kiai [Fighting Spirit]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low (D => C), Medium (C => B)
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Tōki [Fighting Soul]
DESCRIPTION:
Channeling their inner fighting spirit, the user unleashes a short, sharp roar, strengthening their entire body for a single, brief moment. After using chakra to cast this technique, it is added to the chakra cost of 1 Taijutsu or Bukijutsu following up to strengthen its output, capable of pushing the attacking Jutsu 1 rank up in power. However, it can only be used to empower a D-Rank or C-Rank Tai/Bukijutsu.

NAME: Hamon [Ripples]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:
A three hit combo. The user first starts off with a quick punch to an opponent’s midsection, right below the rib cage, winding them and causing them to bend forward, followed by a second strike to the solar plexus then finishing with a hard knuckle strike to the top of the opponents head, unbalancing them and causing the opponent to hit the ground.

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

Satisfying, that was all that coild be said about how it felt when everything went right. As the young teens leg smashed into the blonde bully's pelvic bone, and in any other situation the blush on his face would be from embarrassment, along with several other panic filled emotions. But right now the blush was from and indignant yet righteous fury, and he didn't even show a little panic after the attack. Which was useful since he'd followed it up with a knee to the face, which was also a big success! You heard what I said! You're just A BULLY! It was such a childish thing to say, especially for a ninja. Yet, that's exactly what she was being, a bully, a bitch. Even your own cousin thinks you're being a bitch!! Though he might've been pushing his luck there, as soon they were both giving into their innermost rage when the girl let our a fearsome shout.

The orange haired boy was still angry, still frustrated with himself and this girl, still a turmoil of emotions in fact. But he also wasn't expecting her to lose it like he had, her scream causing him to raise his eyes in surprise, caught off guard as he watched her attack approach him. And that split second hesitation cost him a bit, as he tried to dodge the attack to his ribs instead of push it away with his speed boost, and if he managed to save his ribs he'd instead end up getting solidly punched in his gut for his carelessness. And that would end up making things worse, as he'd almost keel over instead of simply leaning forwards as a blow to the ribs might've done, the wind all but knocked out of him. But it wasn't over yet, as he saw the girl coming again through his tear filled vision with a follow-up to his chest.

Thankfully this time, he'd actually take advantage of his boosted speed, and actually use his arms to try and once again push the attack out of the way, her movements still slow and noticeably wild. It was something the non-taijutsu trained boy might be expected to throw out instead of something of her caliber, though it at least made it even easier to dodge despite the initial hit. And by her third wind up, he was already ready. Ready to finish this. He'd gotten hit cause he'd hesitated, in fact it really seemed like everytime he hesitated something bad happened to him. So, this time he didn't hesitate, he simply acted.



Pulling her arm that he'd pushed forward, as he leapt towards her. Using his arm to push the incoming attack at his head, feeling the wind and her fist run against his cheek. And he'd try and bash his forehead that'd just been a target straight into the girls face, before punching her in the stomach same as she'd done him, though not quite as impressively. But he did follow it up, pulling the same move from the beginning as he'd try and trip and throw her to the ground again, before throwing a final punch that would stop inches from the blonde girls face.

SPOILER: Click to show

Rounds Boosted By Cheerstrike: 3/5

[hirana kizumi]

The first hit landed squarely in Suzaku’s stomach as he tried to twist out of the way, knocking all the air from his chest as fist sunk into flesh. Katsumi grunted with satisfaction and followed up with her second hit, sure that she had her victory well in hand this time— —only to be thwarted at the last second, Suzaku’s lightning-quick hands pushing her strike out of the way and throwing Katsumi out of her combo. She tried to follow through anyway, faintly screeching with frustration as she tried to land that final solid knuckle strike. Victory would be so sweet on her knuckles, and she was so close she could taste it. Except then she got her ass beat. Suzaku was like a monster unleashed, unhesitating and ruthless—her strike whiffed, whizzing right past his cheek, and instead she received a thonk to the forehead that made her see stars. Before she could recover she was repaid for her gut-punch, forcing her to double over as she wheezed; and then, without mercy, she was thrown to the floor. Suzaku only just barely held back, but the result was clear: Katsumi had been thoroughly beaten. She flung an arm over her eyes as she laid there on the ground, trying in vain to catch her breath. All of her angry energy seemed to evaporate at once, and she muttered only a resentful good work as her cousin came jogging over. "Hey man, good work,” Yuto said cheerfully, clapping Suzaku on the shoulder. "C’mon, that technique is gonna wear off in a minute and you’re gonna be hurting. Let’s get you some pain meds, yeah?” The boy spared a glance over his shoulder at Katsumi, sticking out his tongue at her. "Don’t be such a bitch next time, cuz.”

Kyuumu Suzaku -- 303

LAIKA OF THQ

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

Her sloppiness would be the girls downfall, the screech of rage as the perceptive boy managed to stay just out of reach, tantalizing yet frustratingly out of reach. And as she continued to overextend, as she gave into her emotions of rage, the young teen would strike true with his attempted combo. Breathing heavily as he stood over her fallen body, not quite having taken in what'd just happened. The adrenaline mixed with his own anger at the girl made it hard to focus on anything other then her fallen form. It wasn't until she threw her arm up over her face as the orange haired pugilist stood over her, prepared to strike, that he realized it was over. I-I...Won?... It didn't seem real at first, he hadn't even really meant to fight before all this happened. And now he'd defeated an actual pit fighter, the girl giving a painful sounding congratulations.

Amd then he'd jolt upwards when someone hit him from behind, until he realized it was the boy from before, the one Who'd cheered for him also here to congratulate him. And then he was told that he was going to need pain meds, something he didn't fully understand. He didn't feel sore, at least not super sore. But he went along with it, blushing as he was gently guided. Oh. Umm....Ok... But when the teen turned to taunt the girl who's fought dirty, had acted so mean, Suzaku felt something. Happy. Genuinely happy. And Yuuto would turn to find the teen boy giving a gentle laugh, and an upbeat smile of pure joy. This had been fun, maybe he could get used to coming here. [EXIT]