[Sora Minami]

"It’s always good to have something to fall back on when you can’t use your Hijutsu, yes." Sora said, smiling slightly as the Houzuki began to understand what she was talking about. Having no set specialization granted Mizuki a number of advantages over other Shinobi, particularly when it came to versatility, but she could understand the desire to do something with kenjutsu and kenjutsu alone. She had devoted her entire life to mastering Ittoryu, after all. And yet…

"Just don’t forget you have other tools in your arsenal. A ninja isn’t dangerous because they know how to swing a sword, but because they know how to use their mind to defeat their enemy." It was what separated Shinobi from Samurai- the ability to adapt, to use the right tool for the job, rather than simply attack everything with a sharp metal stick and hope it turned out alright. Even a kenjutsu master like herself had other tools in her arsenal, though obviously they were limited in scope and use.

"Now," Sora began, shifting Samidare back into a mirror of the Housuki’s first stance, "-I want you to try to utilize the flowing block, like I showed you." The Jounin gave her student a moment to get set, a single breath, then lunged forwards in a thrust that was exactly the same as her first, but without the feinted slash attached. A double test, this time; the first to see if the Houzuki would put what she had said into practice, or if they would still hesitate, doubting their instincts, and and the second to test their battle intelligence, to see how well they melded both their conscious thoughts and unconscious actions in the heat of the moment.

Hōzuki Mizuki

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Mizuki took in Sora's words with a thoughtful expression. They were pretty sure that they understood the advantages of not having a set specialization; however, hearing the concept being brought up and expounded upon during Kenjutsu practice kinda hit a little different, it was almost like Sora was setting Mizuki up to use more than just Kenjutsu in this training. At least that was the conclusion that Mizuki came to as Sora spoke, even if it was wrong.

As Sora shifted Samidare to mirror Mizuki's initial stance, the Hozuki raised an eyebrow at the curious nature of Sora choosing to use the stance preferred by the little blob over what they were used to."I can totally do that, Minami-sensei," Mizuki replied earnestly, nodding in what they thought was understanding before taking a deep breath and returning to a stance very similar to the one they had taken just moments earlier with the sword acting as a horizontal wall between the two of them. 

This time the sword was a little higher, raised just high enough so that blocking an upward or downward slash would be an equidistant movement, and it was still being held in a single hand. They cleared their mind and took a deep breath, ready to try the flowing block technique, but with a little bit of a twist. When Sora lunged forward with a thrust, Mizuki instinctively reacted, bringing their blade up and to the right in a fluid motion to deflect the blade up and to their right.

Normally a flowing block would probably include another swing of the sword as part of the counter, but Mizuki made the conscious choice to use another tool in their arsenal and kept their sword on the defensive, because Minami could easily use the momentum of the deflection to make another strike. As their body twisted to the right with the block, Mizuki aimed a swift punch from their left hand at the cheek of their sensei, utilizing the torque from their rotation to add to the strike's power.

Mizuki was a little worried that they had maybe taken the words of using all their tools too seriously, maybe throwing in a punch in a kenjutsu practice was a bit dirty, so they made a bit of a grimace and blurted out an embarrassed, "Sorry!” Provided Sora didn’t stop the punch herself, the young blob would put conscious effort into not actually striking their teacher, stopping the strike just short if they had to. If Sora used the momentum from Mizuki's deflection to their advantage, Mizuki would try to keep an eye on their teacher's movements to counter any additional attacks.


Sora Minami

[Sora Minami]

Mizuki’s reaction was incredibly swift; the Houzuki’s blade shifted just enough to deflect Samidare off course, leaving their weapon interposed between them as they flowed around her attack and swung, utilizing their open hand to throw a punch that had been enhanced by the very motion they had used to defend themselves. Sora lips parted in a smile as she pivoted, twisting her wrist inward and sliding her left foot back, slipping the punch. Her blade flashed up in a swift flick that cut clean through her student’s wrist- she wouldn’t have normally tried such an attack, but with Mizuki’s Hijutsu… Well, some things just worked differently when you were sparring with someone who could turn into water with a thought.

Her blade cut through the Houzuki’s wrist cleanly and, though there was no Raiton chakra flowing through her blade, the Tokubetsu Jounin would clearly not enjoy seeing their attack foiled in such a way They’d know how dangerous it would have been had she been taking the fight seriously. But Sora didn’t give her student time to think about the mistake, didn’t give them time to dwell on it- she moved, Samidare shifting into a downward, two-handed chop that cut across her body with enough force to slice a grown man in two.

Again, no Raiton, but still a test: what would Mizuki do now that they’re first move had been foiled?

Hōzuki Mizuki

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Mizuki's heart raced as they quickly responded to Sora's attack, their instincts guiding their movements. They were treating this much more like a real fight than the start of the training session. The swift shift of their blade had deflected Samidare off course, saving them from a potentially damaging strike. However, the surprise didn't end there. Sora's next move caught them off guard. The Tokubetsu Jounin's blade sliced cleanly through Mizuki's wrist, their hand and wrist shimmered for a moment as it turned into water and allowed the blade to harmlessly pass through before quickly reforming back into a solid.

They knew it was just a training session, but the sensation of the blade slicing through their liquid body actually made the fight feel all that more real. Despite the surprise and the minor setback, Mizuki refused to give in to the initially failed strike. Sora's follow-up attack, the downward chop with Samidare, came fast and fierce. There was no time to lament their mistake or to hesitate. Adrenaline surged through their veins as they gathered their resolve. Given the strength difference between the two, blocking the attack would be difficult even if Mizuki switched to a two-handed grip.

Instead they’d use the continued momentum from their initial attack again, utilizing the Kuikkurōtēshon [Quick Rotation] technique to abruptly sidestep to the left of Samidare’s downward trajectory; and almost replicating Sora’s strike they’d swing their own sword down across Sora’s side, utilizing wind chakra to slightly increase the cut’s speed. If Sora didn’t move or put their own sword in the way, the blade would probably slash Sora’s upper arm, which was currently extended to deliver the downward slash where Mizuki used to be.

In the event that Sora redirected her sword to counter attack Mizuki, they would utilize the wind chakra through Samehada to transition from the downward strike into a downward block instead; while there was no reason to block an attack that wasn’t imbued with chakra, Mizuki knew that Sora could change that on a whim and channel raiton chakra into their blade, so blocking was more important than completing their strike to Sora’s arm, especially given the swiftness of the strike that went through their wrist.



Sora Minami

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kuikkurōtēshon [Quick Rotation]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0

DESCRIPTION:

Utilizing chakra in the feet, ankles and legs specifically. It is a small amount of energy, but used precisely on reflexes and timing. This technique is gauged this way. When timed, the user can twist themselves abruptly out of the way of an attack. Like a speedy side-step, but a rotation of one's body to the side. A spin-move. This is only attacks in an immediate vicinity(three meters) anything else is too big an attack. Usually Taijutsu, but sometimes this technique is effective against close-range ninjutsu.

[Sora Minami]

Perfect. Sora’s body moved without thought, her limbs almost desyncing from her brain as Mizuki twisted in place, blade cleaving through nothing but air; immediately she pivoted Samidare back up, shifting the momentum of her chop around to meet her student’s counter attack in a solid, two-handed block the had both weapons screeching with the impact. Her limbs flexed against the Houzuki’s, pitting strength against strength for a moment before she diverted her block, stepping back and to her right, giving ground before her student’s attack just enough to, hopefully, catch them off balance.

Regardless of how Mizuki reacted, however, the Jounin’s next action would be the same; she lowered her blade, releasing it back into a one handed grip as she swung up in a searing left to right diagonal, which immediately shifted into a right to left horizontal, only for that to meld into a downward diagonal, left to right. Samidare moved in a blur, the pattern repeating itself three times as she shifted the attack angles, moving from vertical to horizontal with ease, each cut moving with all the speed she could muster and enhanced with such force that they could easily cut a person half a meter away from the tip of her blade. It was a storm of cuts, meant to do one thing and one thing only- test the Houzuki’s defenses to the fullest, without truly endangering them.

"Rasenuki." The word came out soft as her blade finished its final stroke, and Sora reset her stance, holding Samidare in the same casual manner Mizuki had just a few moments ago. "Or ‘Spiral Passage of Clouds.’ Whichever you prefer.”

Jutsu/SA's/Equipment Used

SPOILER: Click to show

Hōzuki Mizuki
Jutsu:
NAME: Rasenunki [Spiral Passage of Clouds]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
DESCRIPTION: A rush of weapon swings performed in a certain rhythm - the user starts with a diagonal swing from the bottom up, continuing with a horizontal swing at blitzing speed. The user repeats this rhythm 2 more times, a diagonal slash followed up by a horizontal or vertical slash, using high speed and irregular movements to cause bursts of weapon slashes to spread out max 0.5 meter from their weapon's initial trajectory. Each one of the extra slashes follow the same direction as the real trajectory of the user’s blade. Each slash is powerful and blindingly fast, but the true strength lies in the extra area covered by each swing that makes evading up close a nearly impossible matter.

Special Abilities:
The Kunoichi That Goes On And On And On… [Endurance SA]
Perhaps part of her genetics or simply a random quirk of fate, Sora is unnaturally resilient, be it to physical pain or the toils of extended combat. While most Shinobi would collapse in exhaustion at having used all but the smallest sliver of their chakra reserves, she pushes on; while most Shinobi would wilt beneath the weight of sleepless night after sleepless night, she keeps going. This does not mean she does not feel pain/the strain of extended combat, but rather that her threshold for shutting down because of it is far higher than others. To give an example, if she were to be stabbed through her abdomen, she would still feel the pain of the injury, and it would hinder her ability to move/act, but it wouldn’t stop her, whereas a normal ninja might freeze up or shut down from the pain.

Bet You Didn’t See That Coming [Speed SA]
A byproduct of her enhanced endurance, Sora (despite what many would think) dislikes being injured- and with that dislike comes the intense desire to avoid getting hurt, a desire that has pushed her to hone her body until it could move faster than most others of her rank. In short, Sora is fast- very, very fast.

POWAH! UNLIMITED POWAH!! [Chakra Reserves SA]
After a lifetime of utilizing nearly every ounce of chakra in her body just to survive, Sora’s chakra reserves have expanded a considerable amount to compensate- while she’s no Jinchuuriki, her ability to toss out jutsu after jutsu and still have enough chakra to keep going is quite remarkable, a testament to just how much of the stuff she actually has.

I Am Not Left-Handed [Kenjutsu Mastery SA]
Sora is not merely a Kenjutsu specialist- she is a master when it comes to the art of the sword; after over two decades of training, her skills are unrivaled within Kirigakure, falling short only to the Seven Swordsman themselves… some of them, anyway. This mastery allows her a distinct advantage when fighting other Bukijutsu specialists of similar or lesser rank.

If You Try For Speed, You Do Not Achieve Speed [Bukijutsu Speed SA]
Beyond being a master of Kenjutsu, Sora has practiced for decades to become the faster swordswoman she can be. As such, her Kenjutsu techniques come out faster and move quicker than those performed by others of her rank.

Equipment: Samidare | Spring Rain Blade (Drawn)
SA’s
Unbreakable
Whatever metal and forging process was used in the creation of Samidare, it worked; Samidare is utterly unbreakable by most any means, capable of being engulfed in an S-Rank Jutsu and remaining unscathed. Though it is possible that the blade could potentially be broken by a sufficiently powerful attack (such as, say, a Bijuu-dama), this has never been tested, so it is not known if it would survive.

Sharper Than Your Average Blade
Due to its nature as an unbreakable blade, Samidare bears a cutting edge that is of particular note, which allows it to slice through even steel with little in the way of resistance, so long as the proper force is applied. Additionally, this edge never needs to be resharpened, as it never grows dull or rolls, thus making it perfect for frontline combat.

Light as Spring Rain
Perhaps a quirk of its forging (or perhaps an intentional feature), Samidare is considerably lighter than a blade its size and length ought to be; while this would normally result in a less effective weapon, Samidare loses none of its integrity or cutting power, as it is somehow able to leverage the same amount of force through less mass. This lightness allows the user to swing the weapon about with much greater speed for the same amount of physical exertion.

Chakra Conduction
Being Chakra Conductive, Samidare is capable of channeling all types of Chakra for use in Bukijustu, and, more particularly, it has a slight affinity for Raiton chakra thanks to Sora’s constant use of the blade for that purpose. This affinity does not do anything of real note, but it does feel as if the blade were more eager to drink in Raiton Chakra than other types.

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Mizuki's focus remained unwavering as Sora's weapon met theirs with an impactful clash. The difference in strength and skill was evident, and for a moment, Mizuki felt a bit overwhelmed by the force behind the clash. Their inexperience in such intense combat situations made it challenging to keep their composure, but they quickly gathered themselves.

As Sora skillfully stepped back and to her right, however, Mizuki's attack missed its mark, leaving them momentarily exposed. They knew that relying on conscious thought rather than pure instinct was hindering their performance. The desire not to overuse their Hijutsu was holding them back a little bit. They also just didn’t feel right popping out some of their more lethal techniques in a sparring session.

The young blob kept an eye on Samidare, because that was most likely going to be the source of the attack. Sora's swift and precise movements were a testament to her expertise, and Samidare came at them with tremendous speed, leaving Mizuki with very little time to think and plan their defense. Realizing they couldn't block the attack in time, they made a quick decision and chose to jump backwards and utilize their Hydrification technique.

In an instant, Mizuki transformed into a swarm of bubbles, employing the Mizufūsen Nigeru no Jutsu [Water Balloon Dispersal Technique] to escape Sora's immediate range. As Samidare harmlessly passed through the cloud of bubbles, Mizuki floated a few meters away at remarkable speed. With a seamless reforming motion, they regained their solid form, catching their breath and refocusing their stance.

"Holy moly, Sensei," Mizuki exclaimed, a mix of surprise and relief in their voice. "If I couldn’t turn into water that probably would have killed me." Taking a moment to collect themselves, they took a deep breath and continued a little more calmly, "I call that the Bubble Dispersal Technique since the official name is a little lamer." Their heart was still racing from the adrenaline of the encounter, but Mizuki waited to determine whether or not they were done. They could probably continue a bit longer, but it seemed like every clash carried more evidence that Mizuki shouldn’t be relying on just their kenjutsu in situations like this.


Sora Minami

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Mizufūsen Nigeru no Jutsu [Water Balloon Dispersal Technique]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Water
DESCRIPTION:
After using the Hydrification Technique to turn their body to water, the user can split their water form into multiple bubbles. This happens almost instantly making it seem as if the user has transformed directly into bubbles, this jutsu can be used defensively to escape damage. as well as supplementary to travel as the bubbles move at incredible speeds.

Moving at fast speeds while initiating the jutsu causes the wave of water the Hozuki would have become to break off into bubble shape, aided of course by the users chakra control manipulating their own water body. Because of this the bubbles are able to move much faster then the user would have as the user is still using his momentum from the initial first step as well as chakra control to move with a much lighter body causing them to move much faster with a higher degree of maneuverability. Also because the user is in complete control of their water body there is no risk of the bubbles dispersing and if one were to pop it would just turn to water that the Hozuki could then reabsorb.

[Sora Minami]

In the moments before her blade sung out in its attack, Sora saw Mizuki’s greatest weakness. The Houzuki was strong, skilled, quick on their feet and held an intuitive grasp of the flow of Kenjutsu combat- but for all their talent, they lacked experience, especially in a true, life or death battle. It made them hesitate, if only for a moment, but a moment was all the Jounin (or any skilled enemy) needed to win.

Samidare sliced through the air in a song of cuts, her Rasenuki splashing Mizuki’s water form every which way as it tore through the Tokubetsu Jounin’s defense and blew her student away. Bubbles scattered everywhere, thousands of tiny bits of water flying every which way as the Houzuki retreated, unable to protect themselves from the onslaught using Kenjutsu alone. A moment later, however, and her student had reformed themself, huffing from the exertion of their escape but very much alive.

"That was the point." Sora said as she lowered Samidare, holding it in a loose grip as she spoke to the Houzuki, voice calm and even, not showing any tiredness despite the obvious effort she had been putting into the spar. "You reacted better that time, but you’re still thinking too much. A fight at the level you’re approaching is a game of moments; you have one moment, one chance to seize the momentum in your favor. And if you don’t…"

Well, they had seen what could happen. What would happen, if they weren’t prepared.

"You are getting better at integrating though." She said, giving her student a soft, congratulatory smile. It always helped to hand out criticism sandwiched by praise, even if it was for something small. "That move seems quite useful, especially since you can use it without hand seals." Like her Kaze Sanpo, but more maneuverable. Slower, certainly, but useful all the same.

"Do you need a minute?" Sora asked, not yet raising her blade as she gave Mizuki time to recuperate both their wits and their energy; you could only push someone so hard, after all, and while she could certainly go for much longer, days if need be, the Houzuki likely would need to rest sooner rather than later. Especially after an exchange like that.

Jutsu/SA's/Equipment Used

SPOILER: Click to show

Hōzuki Mizuki
Jutsu:
Special Abilities:
The Kunoichi That Goes On And On And On… [Endurance SA]
Perhaps part of her genetics or simply a random quirk of fate, Sora is unnaturally resilient, be it to physical pain or the toils of extended combat. While most Shinobi would collapse in exhaustion at having used all but the smallest sliver of their chakra reserves, she pushes on; while most Shinobi would wilt beneath the weight of sleepless night after sleepless night, she keeps going. This does not mean she does not feel pain/the strain of extended combat, but rather that her threshold for shutting down because of it is far higher than others. To give an example, if she were to be stabbed through her abdomen, she would still feel the pain of the injury, and it would hinder her ability to move/act, but it wouldn’t stop her, whereas a normal ninja might freeze up or shut down from the pain.

Bet You Didn’t See That Coming [Speed SA]
A byproduct of her enhanced endurance, Sora (despite what many would think) dislikes being injured- and with that dislike comes the intense desire to avoid getting hurt, a desire that has pushed her to hone her body until it could move faster than most others of her rank. In short, Sora is fast- very, very fast.

POWAH! UNLIMITED POWAH!! [Chakra Reserves SA]
After a lifetime of utilizing nearly every ounce of chakra in her body just to survive, Sora’s chakra reserves have expanded a considerable amount to compensate- while she’s no Jinchuuriki, her ability to toss out jutsu after jutsu and still have enough chakra to keep going is quite remarkable, a testament to just how much of the stuff she actually has.

I Am Not Left-Handed [Kenjutsu Mastery SA]
Sora is not merely a Kenjutsu specialist- she is a master when it comes to the art of the sword; after over two decades of training, her skills are unrivaled within Kirigakure, falling short only to the Seven Swordsman themselves… some of them, anyway. This mastery allows her a distinct advantage when fighting other Bukijutsu specialists of similar or lesser rank.

If You Try For Speed, You Do Not Achieve Speed [Bukijutsu Speed SA]
Beyond being a master of Kenjutsu, Sora has practiced for decades to become the faster swordswoman she can be. As such, her Kenjutsu techniques come out faster and move quicker than those performed by others of her rank.

Equipment: Samidare | Spring Rain Blade (Drawn)
SA’s
Unbreakable
Whatever metal and forging process was used in the creation of Samidare, it worked; Samidare is utterly unbreakable by most any means, capable of being engulfed in an S-Rank Jutsu and remaining unscathed. Though it is possible that the blade could potentially be broken by a sufficiently powerful attack (such as, say, a Bijuu-dama), this has never been tested, so it is not known if it would survive.

Sharper Than Your Average Blade
Due to its nature as an unbreakable blade, Samidare bears a cutting edge that is of particular note, which allows it to slice through even steel with little in the way of resistance, so long as the proper force is applied. Additionally, this edge never needs to be resharpened, as it never grows dull or rolls, thus making it perfect for frontline combat.

Light as Spring Rain
Perhaps a quirk of its forging (or perhaps an intentional feature), Samidare is considerably lighter than a blade its size and length ought to be; while this would normally result in a less effective weapon, Samidare loses none of its integrity or cutting power, as it is somehow able to leverage the same amount of force through less mass. This lightness allows the user to swing the weapon about with much greater speed for the same amount of physical exertion.

Chakra Conduction
Being Chakra Conductive, Samidare is capable of channeling all types of Chakra for use in Bukijustu, and, more particularly, it has a slight affinity for Raiton chakra thanks to Sora’s constant use of the blade for that purpose. This affinity does not do anything of real note, but it does feel as if the blade were more eager to drink in Raiton Chakra than other types.

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Mizuki stood there, water bottle at their hip, absorbing Sora's words like a sponge. The intensity of the spar had illuminated their inexperience in life-or-death battles with a much stronger opponent. The split-second hesitation they had displayed during the previous engagement weighed heavily on their mind. They acknowledged the truth in Sora's assessment—every moment counted in such combat situations, and they needed to seize the momentum without faltering.

Feeling the slight exhaustion settling in, they reached for the water bottle at their side, pulling it off their belt and taking a long drink as Sora talked. The cool liquid was refreshing, rejuvenating their energy and helping replace some of the water they’d lost from utilizing their hijutsu the last couple times. After a moment, they capped the bottle and returned it back to their belt.

The young blob listened attentively as Sora explained the purpose of the encounter, realizing that each clash was a lesson in the unforgiving nature of real battles. They appreciated the calm and even tone in Sora's voice, a reassuring guide through the challenges of the training session at hand. Her words of praise for their improved integration skills brought a small but genuine smile to Mizuki's lips. The acknowledgment of their progress was a boost to their confidence.

"Thanks," Mizuki replied sincerely, taking a moment to catch their breath. "I think I’m starting to understand the importance of those critical moments and how they can make all the difference."

"I’ve kinda lost a bit of my edge after the chuunin exams because of the ease of my recent missions," Mizuki added, their voice steady as they regained their composure. "I think I'm ready for another round though."

Now that they were prepared to continue, Mizuki would place their sword between them again and return to their familiar stance from before. The sword was parallel to the ground and acting as a wall from any frontal attacks. Given their skillset, they likely didn’t have a good jutsu to block a B rank technique like the one that Sora had used before, but maybe they could dodge a technique like that.



Sora Minami

SPOILER: Click to show

[Sora Minami]

"Don’t mention it." Sora said as Mizuki took a drink from their water bottle, their breaths coming in slow and deep to properly oxygenate their blood (water-blood?) for the next round. The Houzuki’s words brought a slight smile to her face as they recovered; it seemed the Tokubetsu Jounin was starting to understand what it meant to be in a truly deadly battle, if only a little. There was no way to replicate that feeling fully, not without actually trying to kill each other, but an intense spar was about as close it got- and when swords were involved, the difference between a spar and a real fight was often difficult to notice.

"You’ll get it back, Mizuki. It just takes practice.” The Jounin said as they settled back into their stance, ready for another round. Her smile faded then, sky-blue gaze focusing in on the Houzuki’s form as she lifted her own weapon in response, this time holding the weapon with both hands in high guard, blade pointed at the sky. Her grip was firm without being loose, strong without being tight, and every muscle in her body was at once relaxed and fully ready to spring into action all at once. Her first sensei had called the state of mind zanshin, or remaining mind, and it was fundamental to mastering the sword. This would be what she would teach Mizuki next.

"Before we start, empty your mind. Slow your breathing down and relax. Don’t try to think, but don’t try not to think either. Allow yourself to be in this moment, no other, and simply… act.” Sora moved then, her blade chopping down and across in a flicker of movement as she stepped into her student’s space with a downward diagonal, right to left, that had the full power of her frame behind it, yet without the over commitment that often came with such strikes. Regardless of if her cut landed, the Jounin would pursue her student, stepping in with a follow up blow that reversed her weapon for a rising upward diagonal along the same line, left to right, not as strong but just as quick, pushing Mizuki to stay on the defensive.

Hōzuki Mizuki

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Mizuki nodded in acknowledgment as they took in Sora's words. The slight smile on her face as she observed Mizuki's actions almost felt like an affirmation of the progress they were making, even if it was just a small step in the right direction. Mizuki understood that comprehending the true essence of a life-or-death battle was a process that required experience, practice, and a willingness to learn from every engagement.

With renewed determination, Mizuki settled into their stance once again, meeting Sora's gaze. Unlike last time they cleared their mind of the cloud of thoughts that often occurred during a battle, and took a nice deep breath in preparation for their continued spar. The normal emotions that filled the Hozuki’s face slowly faded, leaving a deadpan expression as she simply observed the more traditional stance that Sora took this time.

Emptying their mind, slowing their breathing, and immersing themselves in the present moment felt like a challenge, but they were determined to grasp the concept. As Sora moved, initiating her attack, Mizuki took a deep breath, letting go of conscious thought. Their senses sharpened, and the world around them seemed to narrow down to the immediate encounter.

With a flicker of movement, Sora's blade came down in a diagonal motion, followed by a swift follow-up strike. Mizuki reacted instinctively, utilizing the Quick Rotation technique and ducking a little to go right under the blade. As Sora's second strike followed, they shifted their stance, using the momentum from their twist away to block the blow.

Rather than stay close Mizuki utilized momentum from Sora’s attack to aid them in gaining momentum to jump back. While in the middle of their hop backwards, the young blob would reach into their pouch and quickly toss two shuriken at Sora in a fluid motion. In the heat of the moment Mizuki had naturally chosen not to rely solely on their sword, because at their heart they were a generalist.

Their movements were fluid, their thoughts quiet, and their actions felt almost automatic. The pressure of the spar, the sounds, and the surroundings faded into the background. It was just Mizuki and Sora, a dance of steel and skill: where Sora was like a professional Ballerina and Mizuki was like a 3 year old who just started Ballet.

When Mizuki landed from their hop back, it was almost like they had never left their stance, as their sword was still acting as a wall between them. Mizuki's breaths came steady, as they readied themselves for Sora to continue their assault.

Sora Minami

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kuikkurōtēshon [Quick Rotation]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:
Utilizing chakra in the feet, ankles and legs specifically. It is a small amount of energy, but used precisely on reflexes and timing. This technique is gauged this way. When timed, the user can twist themselves abruptly out of the way of an attack. Like a speedy side-step, but a rotation of one's body to the side. A spin-move. This is only attacks in an immediate vicinity(three meters) anything else is too big an attack. Usually Taijutsu, but sometimes this technique is effective against close-range ninjutsu.

[Sora Minami]

Sora’s attacks came in quick and precise, slicing the air where Mizuki stood- but not her student, as they twisted out of the way rapidly, blade staying between them and their opponent as they avoided the first blow and deflected the second in a clean, nearly perfect flowing block. The Houzuki leapt back, using the excess momentum from her blow to aid their escape even as they drew and threw a pair of shuriken at the Jounin, not relying solely on their kenjutsu nor their hijutsu, but rather a combination of abilities to maximize their effectiveness.

Good. She thought, Samidare flicking up as she deflected her student’s shuriken, knocking the first into the second before pushing forwards, blade held low in preparation for a rising diagonal, left to right- only for her to blur upwards in a burst of speed, Fuuton chakra propelling her up and over the Houzuki. Sora twisted in mid-air as she executed her planned cut in a perfect half-turn that would bring Samidare arcing through Mizuki’s right shoulder and neck, the blade sparking with Raiton chakra for a moment before she cut the flow.

A killing blow, if she had Raiton chakra flowing through her blade. And if it landed, of course. One final test, to see if they would panic when faced with a perceived threat. "Hien!"

Hōzuki Mizuki

Jutsu/SA's/Equipment Used

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu: NAME: Kazesanpo [Wind walk]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: Wind
DESCRIPTION: The blade is only as deadly as its reach, so maneuvering around the battlefield is important to a swordsman, in order to get close to the target, or avoid attacks. By channeling wind chakra into their feet, the user is able to swiftly run, so quickly that to the naked eye it seems like a blur.

Special Abilities:
The Kunoichi That Goes On And On And On… [Endurance SA]
Perhaps part of her genetics or simply a random quirk of fate, Sora is unnaturally resilient, be it to physical pain or the toils of extended combat. While most Shinobi would collapse in exhaustion at having used all but the smallest sliver of their chakra reserves, she pushes on; while most Shinobi would wilt beneath the weight of sleepless night after sleepless night, she keeps going. This does not mean she does not feel pain/the strain of extended combat, but rather that her threshold for shutting down because of it is far higher than others. To give an example, if she were to be stabbed through her abdomen, she would still feel the pain of the injury, and it would hinder her ability to move/act, but it wouldn’t stop her, whereas a normal ninja might freeze up or shut down from the pain.

Bet You Didn’t See That Coming [Speed SA]
A byproduct of her enhanced endurance, Sora (despite what many would think) dislikes being injured- and with that dislike comes the intense desire to avoid getting hurt, a desire that has pushed her to hone her body until it could move faster than most others of her rank. In short, Sora is fast- very, very fast.

POWAH! UNLIMITED POWAH!! [Chakra Reserves SA]
After a lifetime of utilizing nearly every ounce of chakra in her body just to survive, Sora’s chakra reserves have expanded a considerable amount to compensate- while she’s no Jinchuuriki, her ability to toss out jutsu after jutsu and still have enough chakra to keep going is quite remarkable, a testament to just how much of the stuff she actually has.

I Am Not Left-Handed [Kenjutsu Mastery SA]
Sora is not merely a Kenjutsu specialist- she is a master when it comes to the art of the sword; after over two decades of training, her skills are unrivaled within Kirigakure, falling short only to the Seven Swordsman themselves… some of them, anyway. This mastery allows her a distinct advantage when fighting other Bukijutsu specialists of similar or lesser rank.

If You Try For Speed, You Do Not Achieve Speed [Bukijutsu Speed SA]
Beyond being a master of Kenjutsu, Sora has practiced for decades to become the faster swordswoman she can be. As such, her Kenjutsu techniques come out faster and move quicker than those performed by others of her rank.

Equipment: Samidare | Spring Rain Blade (Drawn)
SA’s
Unbreakable
Whatever metal and forging process was used in the creation of Samidare, it worked; Samidare is utterly unbreakable by most any means, capable of being engulfed in an S-Rank Jutsu and remaining unscathed. Though it is possible that the blade could potentially be broken by a sufficiently powerful attack (such as, say, a Bijuu-dama), this has never been tested, so it is not known if it would survive.

Sharper Than Your Average Blade
Due to its nature as an unbreakable blade, Samidare bears a cutting edge that is of particular note, which allows it to slice through even steel with little in the way of resistance, so long as the proper force is applied. Additionally, this edge never needs to be resharpened, as it never grows dull or rolls, thus making it perfect for frontline combat.

Light as Spring Rain
Perhaps a quirk of its forging (or perhaps an intentional feature), Samidare is considerably lighter than a blade its size and length ought to be; while this would normally result in a less effective weapon, Samidare loses none of its integrity or cutting power, as it is somehow able to leverage the same amount of force through less mass. This lightness allows the user to swing the weapon about with much greater speed for the same amount of physical exertion.

Chakra Conduction
Being Chakra Conductive, Samidare is capable of channeling all types of Chakra for use in Bukijustu, and, more particularly, it has a slight affinity for Raiton chakra thanks to Sora’s constant use of the blade for that purpose. This affinity does not do anything of real note, but it does feel as if the blade were more eager to drink in Raiton Chakra than other types.

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

The Houzuki's movements were graceful yet purposeful; but Sora's response was just as swift and impressive. Samidare deflected the shuriken effortlessly, showcasing the Jounin's mastery of her weapon. Mizuki's admiration for their mentor's skills only grew with each exchange. The anticipation of Sora's next move sent a surge of adrenaline through their veins. On the approach, Sora chose to swiftly jump over them with the aid of fuuton chakra launching them into the air: a maneuver that would normally be a mistake if their sensei was slower than them.

As their temporary sensei turned in the air Sora's blade charged with a flicker of Raiton chakra, the energy arcing from the blade briefly before the strike. Mizuki's heart raced as they swiftly assessed the situation. With a lightning charged attack, Fuuton was the young Hozuki’s best option. Dodging was another possibility, but given Sora’s speed and trajectory over them, their brain didn’t even consider moving. Rather than shirk away from the attack, the young Hozuki turned 180 degrees and charged their blade with wind chakra, which naturally enhanced the speed of their weapon and allowed them to bring it up just in time to block the sword that was coming down from above.

The moment before their blades met Mizuki noticed that Sora had stopped charging her blade with electricity, probably in the interest of safety. When their blades clashed in a loud clang, Mizuki took the opportunity to step back in the direction that Sora had just come from, preferring to keep a little distance, and stopped charging their blade with wind chakra. The spar had become a small demonstration of growth, a testament to their progress as a swordsman. Their eyes locked onto Sora's, and their stoic expression quickly shifted to a smile.

"It’s definitely a lot easier when I’m not thinking," Mizuki said through a small laugh, a mixture of satisfaction and relief in their voice. "That was awesome."


Sora Minami

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Hien - [Flying Swallow]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The user funnels their chakra into a blade which can absorb chakra easily. The materialized chakra is shaped like a blade whose length can change with the right chakra control. The chakra is dense enough that it becomes visible and can cut through solid rock and iron. What makes this jutsu so versatile is that one can apply elemental chakra into it, which can greatly change the effects of the technique.

[Sora Minami]

Samidare met Samehada in a clash of steel, Fuuton chakra spooling out of Mizuki’s blade as they brought the weapon up to block the Jounin’s slash, stepping back and away from where she would land, maintaining distance. Their face was calm, focused, without fear or hesitation clouding it- and they moved beautifully, taking advantage of her inability to maneuver in mid-air to ensure they remained distant enough to react to anything she did, while still staying well within range of their most potent techniques.

The pink-haired woman landed in front of the Hozuki, half kneeling, back turned, blade held at an angle as she stood up slowly, sky-blue gaze meeting Mizuki’s with an equal measure of enjoyment. It had been a long time since she’d had the chance to teach someone as talented at Kenjutsu as they were, and even longer since someone had been capable of keeping up with her when she started to go all out. Mizuki wasn’t quite there yet, but if the Tokubetsu Jounin kept working at it, they’d grow into a fine swordsman.

"You did wonderfully, Mizuki." She said, calmly sheathing Samidare as she turned towards her student, looking at the Hozuki with thoughtful eyes. There wasn’t much else she could teach them now, not without going into something completely different and making everything far more complicated. "You still need to work on quickly clearing your mind, but that comes more with practice than anything else."

The Jounin gave her student a small bow, lowering her head in respect for the Hozuki’s willingness to be molded- and for their ability to shift, like water, into the shape she desired to see. "I think that will be all for today."

Hōzuki Mizuki

[Hōzuki Mizuki]

Despite the finality of their clash, Mizuki’s focus remained unbroken, and their face bore the calm determination of a warrior honing their craft. Once Sora landed gracefully in front of them, however, obviously lacking any intent to continue the spar, they took a small sigh of relief. Mizuki met her gaze with a sense of accomplishment, understanding the significance of this encounter. It was a rare opportunity to train under a mentor as skilled as Sora, and they were determined to make the most of it.

The words of praise from their mentor also filled Mizuki with a sense of pride. Sora's acknowledgment of their progress was a validation of their hard work and dedication to mastering Kenjutsu. They listened attentively as Sora provided feedback and guidance, acknowledging the need to clear their mind more swiftly—a skill they were determined to refine through practice.

As Sora offered a small bow, Mizuki returned the gesture, a sign of respect and gratitude for the valuable lessons they had received. Sora's mentorship had pushed them to their limits, and they were grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a skilled teacher.

"Thanks, Sensei," Mizuki replied, their voice filled with gratitude and a bit of relief that they hadn’t made a fool of themself. "Your guidance has been invaluable! I look forward to maybe working with you in the future. Until then, I'll just keep working on not hesitating when I'm in the moment."

Mizuki sheathed their blade without much hesitation, they didn’t want to waste too much more of Sora’s time so unless Sora stopped them they’d give Sora a small wave before turning and jogging back home. Now that they’d done their daily training they could potentially go home and blob about, and maybe do some more training on their own.



Sora Minami