[Saigo Shigeo]

When the wind blew hard in Takigakure, it howled. 

The basin walls that shielded the village from outside  funneled the air directly over the water that surrounded it on all sides. What resulted was an acoustic phenomenon that sounded akin to a Gregorian Chant- deep, low, and booming. It also made simply crossing the Great Bridge to gain access to Takigakure something of an ordeal.

Shigeo chose this particular day and time to practice his movements because the storm made for an ideal obstacle. The rain wasn't heavy, all things considered, because the massive branches of the great tree fanned out and obstructed their path. At best, it would be cold and wet, but tolerable.

The ground was slippery; it made for utilizing his chakra to maintain stable footing. The wind was whipping, which meant he had to fight for balance. The reality was, as far as weapons Ninja went, Shigeo was bottom of the barrel. He wanted to improve, but in order to do that, he actually had to use his skills- skills which, when one considered his repitore- included only the most rudimentary of Jutsu.

Someone close to his rank was probably the best possible partner, but someone with more skill was necessary. He didn't need to win. Victory wasn't the goal in the least. He wanted to see how someone with ability moved, and how he should direct the flow of his future training in order to grow.

So, had sent a missive to one of the other Genin- someone with more experience than he had, but also, someone who specialized in weapons the way he intended to. Tokonatsu Kaoru was his name- and despite knowing little to nothing about him, what Shigeo did know was that he purportedly knew his way around a sword.

[300 words]
Training: 1/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

The howling wind of storm meant that many had tucked themselves inside to escape the bad weather, and yet Kaoru was walking calmly through the wet and wind, the the tinkling of the bells in his hair an intense melody that accompanied his every step as the wind tore at the red strands, the rain having darkened them further even as he stepped into the field and made his way towards the figure that awaited him.

Some shinobi might have tried to creep up on the other boy, made a point about the difference in their skill levels, but not him, he wasn't interested in that sort of thing. What he was interested in was a good fight, and as Takigakure's best genin swordsman (at least to his knowledge) such a thing was a little hard to find. Even if it was a training session more than anything.

"You Shigeo?" he called out as he got close enough to be heard, haori flapping around him as he looked at the much larger teen with a curious look on his face. Honestly, the guy gave him a good impression by being willing to fight him in this kind of weather, the slippery ground and tugging wind would make it much harder for them, though Kaoru couldn't help but wonder if that would just make things harder to enjoy as his opponent had to fumble around...

Ah well, too early to judge the skill level.

Word Count: 243
Training: 1/8
Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

"Yeah, I am."

He had to raise his voice a bit to speak over the wind, especially with the bandages muffling his voice, but he got the point across. Obviously, this was the guy. The other Genin was shorter in stature, but looks never counted for much. There were plenty of ninja who had graduated before him, and with him, who weren't as tall or toned as he was. Most of them were also much more skilled. He'd had time to train, been on a mission or two, but this was the first opportunity he'd had to see the fruits of that training.

"And that means you're probably Kaoru?"

It wasn't like he needed confirmation, but for the sake of formalities and a proper introduction before combat, it was worth saying. His own Haori slicked to his body from the passing touch of rainwater, and his messy hair was dragged down and plastered to his forehead, his cheeks, and his neck. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me despite current circumstances," he added, gesturing toward the sky. His hand stopped momentarily to cup several of the raindrops, allowing a small amount of water to pool in his palm. It broke through the cracks and spilled over, dripping down his arm.

"I will say, please don't expect too much. In terms of training and skill, I am relatively new. I want to improve, and so, that was why I reached out to you. I have heard of your skill among the Genin in Takigakure. If you are amenable to it, I would like to sample your skill and learn from the experience."

He let his hand fall, and the water that he'd collected splattered to the ground and coalesced with the rest of the runoff that wicked off of the bridge. Simply standing there, battered by the wind, he was already beginning to pool the chakra in his feet, using his control to keep him steady. It wasn't just his feet and legs, though. He could feel his entire body being dragged by the howling force.

This was going to be a real test.


[353 words]
Training: 2/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

"I am," he confirmed with a sharp grin, the wind tugging at his hair and clothes further, adding the sound of the small bells to the howling that surrounded them, "and something like weather won't stop me from having a bit of fun." It had been a while since he'd been able to fight another swordsman and he couldn't help but feel the grin tug further at his lips to reveal his teeth.

It didn't matter to him that he was fighting someone who was a self proclaimed novice, Kaoru had known that from the moment he got the message. It was why the bells in his hair tinkled with every movement of the red locks, and why his haori was being worn properly over his arms instead of resting around his waist like it usually was. While to Shigeo it might have looked like his concession to the weather, it was actually a deliberate hindering of his own range of motion, just like the bells would make him easier to track for the less experienced Genin.

The Tokonatsu boy wanted a good fight, and he wasn't willing to wait for one to get on his level to get it.

"Don't worry, I'll try to match you. I'll even let you get the first hit in," he stated as he reached to his waist and slowly drew Shichisei, his katana, flicking the sword out into a casual one handed grip angled away from his side, a gust of wind tearing at his clothes and forcing him to grip the bridge with his chakra too. Perfect.

"Hajime"

Word Count: 266
Training: 2/8
Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

He watched the other youth, pensive. There was a confidence in his words and actions that someone like Shigeo did not naturally have, and could not understand. It was clear from the way that Tokonatsu Kaoru carried himself that this was something to be achieved in time. Right down to the way he drew his weapon, the other Genin moved with purpose, wasting not a single movement. The storm did not appear to affect him at all. Shigeo's eyes narrowed a bit as he considered the opponent.

Most Shinobi might consider the prospect of getting a "free hit" to be insulting, but realistically, he wasn't at a level where that kind of thing was meant to be demeaning. He had said for himself, this was an exercise to improve his own skill. "Hajime," he responded in kind, hand gripping the tsuka of his katana in reverse, not yet drawing the blade.

There was a healthy distance between them, and for battle to matter between swordsman, it had to become unhealthy.

Shigeo took a step toward Kaoru, testing the traction. Satisfied that his footing was sound, he took another, then another, and each step began to bleed into the last. This wasn't exceptional in a battle between Shinobi. Speed was the expectation. He closed the gap and tugged at his weapon, sending the blade outward in an arc toward the other boy's ribcage on the left-hand side, using his momentum to drive the blow forward.

[244 words]
Training: 3/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Kaoru's smile seemed to get more intense as the larger teen charged at him, the wind tearing at their clothing and water running down their faces. Fighting against the elements and each other would certainly make this little spar something interesting for him, and he couldn't help but anticipate the first clash. 

As Shigeo closed the distance Kaoru remained in a casual stance, his sword held out and down to his side as he watched, waiting, until the moment for the strike came. The other Genin's blade arced through the air in a silvery glimmer towards his left, a fairly predictable target all things considered, but not a bad one.

The redhead took a step backwards as Shigeo's sword came towards him, the very tip of the elder youth's weapon carving a thin line along his chest, pale flesh becoming visible through the cut in his haori and red blood coating the smallest point of the blade as Shigeo's slash continued on past him. In the same movement Kaoru's own sword suddenly raised upwards before coming back down in a heavy vertical slice, an attack that could potentially split Shigeo's skull open or perhaps slice through one of his arms if it wasn't responded to.

"First blood to you," he acknowledged with a grin, the bells in his hair tinkling loudly with his movements.

Word Count: 224
Training: 3/8
Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

To say that he expected his blade to carve flesh at all seemed hyperbolic to Shigeo; so when the other boy elected not to parry in the traditional sense, but instead back away from the attack, the larger of the two felt his eyebrows knit together in scrutiny. Two things happened very quickly in succession:

The first- Shigeo released the flow of Chakra from his feet, transmitting it now instead from his calves, knees and his arms. The second- Kaoru's blade came rending upward from below, a wicked slice that could easily bisect an unsuspecting victim. But- they were Ninja.

Reading movements and predicting outcomes were part of the most basic training, so despite his lack of skill as a swordsman, the lesser of the two Genin was not without tools. In this situation, he utilized his sudden lack of traction to exacerbate his momentum further. His first attack already enhanced the forward pressure of his body, so it was a trivial matter to follow through. Chakra pumping through his extremities served to enhance the reaction, bringing his body upward into a near parallel to the ground fetal position as he ripped his arms backward and down, one crossing behind the other in front of his abdomen to effect a block of his most vital points. He felt the bandage ripping and blood spew from the wound across his bicep as Kaoru's blade bit him. Fortunately, his reaction prevented a more heinous blow.

As one foot swung under the other, he brought the right shin around in a butterfly kick intended to ring the more seasoned Genin's bell- a kick to the head- and hopefully, buy him time for a disengaged landing.

"And a swift second blood to you," he acknowledged as he spun.

[294 words]
Training: 4/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Kaoru could have dodged the foot coming towards his face, it wouldn't have been too hard with what he knew, the techniques he knew could have ended this fight in an instant if he really wanted it to, not that he was aware just how limited Shigeo's own skill set was right now. But a quick fight wasn't fun, and that was much more important to him.

Instead his free left hand shot out to grab the older boy's leg as it swung towards his head, his feet sticking firmly to the ground as strong fingers grasped Shigeo's ankle and pivoted in place to throw the other genin behind him like a ragdoll. Momentum played a part of it, but Kaoru was significantly stronger than the average genin, even amongst tai and buki specialists who worked to train their bodies harder than other shinobi.

Kaoru would simply turn in place rather than follow up the throw with an attack, his sword once more resting at his side in a lazy ready position, one eyebrow raised as he waited for Shigeo to recover from the throw. 

"Clever use of Kinobori," he remarked, still grinning, "you might not have the training yet, but you're clearly clever. Much harder to teach someone that... but lets see what else you can do."

Word Count: 218
Training: 4/8
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:
N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

His attack never landed. More specifically, the other youth blocked it, and Shigeo could feel Kaoru's intention as the block turned into a grab. Very quickly, he responded by pumping straight out with the leg that had gone knee-to-chest during his last maneuver, utilizing the power that position generated to create extra force. He couldn't quite control the target- somewhere between chest and face- but the impact (if there was one), coupled with the subsequent throw by his opponent, would ideally create extra distance that his opponent couldn't simply cross with a single step and cut him.

He brought his blade to his side, flat against his body, and rolled- shoulder to shoulder. A simple but efficient sword roll saved him the trouble of having to divvy chakra to his feet on the fly, and served to prevent him from slipping or sliding on the already drenched bridge.

The crack of thunder in the distance came just before Kaoru's statement- faint praise for his use of the tree climbing technique, and for his resourcefulness. When asked what else he could do, Shigeo slowly rose to his feet once more. "As far as tricks go, that's my only one," the taller boy stated as he turned to face the Tokonatsu youth. It was clear, there was a gulf between their level of skill that couldn't simply be bridged by what little knowledge of Chakra Control he had. Still, in the short span of their engagement, seeing how the other moved had been worth the time, and then some.

"But tricks don't win fights," Shigeo stated with a shrug, rainwater wicking off his haori as he took up the chudan stance- the most basic of stances utilized by the katana, and one that allowed for a balance of offense and defense. "And I didn't come with the intention to win. Just to learn. You can come at me, this time," he smirked beneath the bandages that covered his face. "Senpai."

[328 words]
5/8 training
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Taking a glancing kick to his ribs, Kaoru still managed to hurl his opponent away and watch as the taller teen rolled into a ready position, the redhead ignoring the growing bruise with the ease of long practice. "An interesting theory," he stated calmly as he examined the other's stance, noting that it was solid and held well, but he could certainly see weak spots where the other genin was too tense or not quite balanced correctly.

"In my experience though..." he began as he ran at the other boy, blade out to the side in a casual ready stance, his sandals clacking on the bridge and the bells jingling merrily as he moved. And then all of a sudden he was gone.

A split second later Shigeo would hear the sound of the bells in Kaoru's hair, behind him and to his left at approximately the 7 o'clock position. If he strained hard enough he would also hear the distinctive sound of a blade cutting through the air towards him in a wide arc, though with the storm and wind it would be difficult to catch.

"...tricks do win fights" the Tokonatsu finished, his first attack flowing into a second as he unleashed a flurry of one handed attacks with his blade, trying to catch Shigeo off guard but also remaining just a little bit above the older boy's skill level. He didn't want the fight to end so soon after all.

Word Count: 243
Training: 5/8
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:
NAME: Subakage-ryū: Shunpo [New Shadow Style: Flash Steps]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low-High
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A
REQUIREMENT: Subakage-ryū: Hohō [New Shadow Style: Step Method]
DESCRIPTION:

Within the Step Method's branching techniques, the Flash Steps is the most refined for pure velocity and acceleration in one, linear direction. From the point of origin until the shinobi stops, they are able to move at an incredible pace, practically vanishing from sight. However, this is an incredibly taxing method of movement, and if used to move too far it can stress the body. It cannot reach the speed granted by Body Flicker, but it is not quite as devastating on the user. Traveling beyond fifteen meters with one step will cause great stress to the body. It still has a high chakra cost, but the muscle strain will immobilize the shinobi for one round as their body recovers. It is possible to utilize multiple flash steps back to back, but cost must be paid individually.

1-5m (Low)

6-10m (Medium)

11-15m (High)

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

He kept his focus narrowed as Kaoru began his reply. There was no point in paying close attention to his words, rather, it was where they were coming from that was important. Coupled with the sound of bells, and the loud patter of footfalls as he took flight toward Shigeo, these were the only indicators that the taller youth had to go off of to defend himself. And just like that, the Tokonatsu boy was gone.

Above? His gaze quickly moved up, then down. Below? No, there was no way that this particular opponent was burrowed into the bridge, and it was even less likely that he could break up and out through the concrete. From the flank?

He heard the sound of bells ringing, and Shigeo took a step forward, toward the direction his opponent had started from. If nothing else, taking away some of the momentum that Kaoru built during his headlong, nearly supersonic sprint would abate some of the intensity of any incoming blow. But that was not what happened.

Behind.

The older Genin twisted his body into the step he'd taken, placing a hair's breadth more distance between him and the wailing blade. His own katana slid through in a muddled backhand, coming up from beneath the incoming blade and shunting it off course. He could feel the grip he had on the weapon wavering due to the immense, almost unlikely strength of the other boy. Fortunately, he had the benefit of an awkward exchange to prevent a more direct blow that might have disarmed him.

He felt his eyes narrow. "Well, then I will have to cede to that experience," Shigeo replied hoarsely as he found himself on the back foot. The sudden flurry of blows was quick. So, this was also something that a weapon Nin was capable of. Each step he took was coupled with a deft flick of his wrist to direct the attacks away from striking true and skewering him full of holes. The reality was becoming apparent. He was outmatched entirely by this enemy, managing only to stay a step behind out of sheer determination.

It would have made more sense simply to concede defeat.

It would have made sense, but neither one of them wanted something that blasé. Kaoru wanted to experience a fight that excited him, and Shigeo yearned to see more of what the other boy had to show him. He wanted to grow, to become stronger, and to prove to everyone that even a Ninja without a Clan could be great. He wasn't going to do that by backing down from his own challenge.

He was frustrated. Hard work had to mean something. He had to make it mean something.

The chakra in his legs kept his movements anchored to the bridge. Barring that, the blinding quickness of each attack would have sent him reeling, skittering, and sliding across the surface uselessly. How was he to match that kind of ability with only his knowledge of Kinobori?

The last few seconds played out with Kaoru racing toward him at a speed his eyes could not track- doubtless a greater application of chakra to his legs that allowed him to move that way. His attacks utilized the same principle to drive the blade toward Shigeo in a vicious staccato. So, it really came down to the shape and flow of the chakra they were able to weave.

And so, Shigeo made a gambit of his own. Focusing the chakra in his left foot into a denser and more compact state at his heel, as he took his next wide step backward, he drove it downward, applying greater force. The sudden burst of energy blew a divot into the concrete of the Great Bridge, a sound obfuscated in its entirety by the storm above. It would appear that Shigeo was attempting to put a bit more distance between them by kicking off the ground, unless Kaoru happened to look down and see what happened for himself.

If not, then there was the chance he might trip in said divot, and his sudden flash of blades might be momentarily stifled.

[691 words]
Training: 6/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Oblivious to Shigeo's inner turmoil, Kaoru's grin got a little wider as the other Genin managed to deflect his first attack with a rapid response, his bells once again handicapping him enough that the fight didn't become boring. There was no malice in the Tokonatsu's actions either, he was fighting at just a high enough level above Shigeo that the other would be able to respond and learn from him. After all, if he wanted a good sparring partner then he needed to help lift people up to his level.

Driving the other boy backwards, Kaoru tried to leave himself open in increasingly obvious ways, encouraging Shigeo to retaliate with a counter, his haori limiting his movements and his one handed fighting style limiting the strength he could bring to bear with every strike. He was impressed with the other's ingenuity with the self-admitted sole technique he knew, though he couldn't help but hope that no one realised they were the ones that blew a divot out of the bridge.

He had been carefully avoiding doing something like that himself after all, no matter how fun it could be to purposefully supercharge kinobori.

Pausing briefly at the divot, Kaoru deliberately stepped into it to throw off his assault, another opening that he offered to Shigeo to try and encourage the other teen to take up the initiative. A fight wasn't fun if one didn't get attacked after all, then it was just a beatdown and that was boring to him.

Word Count: 250
Training: 6/8
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used: N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

It was obvious that the distance between them was a gulf.

Tokonatsu Kaoru did not seem phased at all by the trap that Shigeo set. He had used not tools, made no obvious excess of movement, but the other Genin simply walked forward and accepted fate. His onslaught stilled, but he did not lose anything of import. All that Shigeo gained from the "trick" was borrowed time. His eye twitched slightly, imperceptibly as his grip on the katana tightened.

He gained ground enough that he could stop retreating, but what good did that do him against an enemy who was swinging well below his weight class? The older boy twisted his arms outward and upward to the right, bringing the blade parallel to the ground and even with his eyes, edge to the sky, tip pointed sharply toward Kaoru. The important thing here was to squeeze every drop of information he could out of the encounter. To ask questions, and to get answers.

What happens if I do this?

His body moved to converge on the smaller youth in the willingly offered opening-f nothing else, to gain more experience in close combat. The blade ripped forward, intent on not a shallow stab but a deep impalement, somewhere around Kaoru's left shoulder. Ideally, at least. In practice, aiming for the shoulder on one side meant a margin of error that formed a line across the clavicles.

[235 words]
Training: 7/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Had Shigeo's trap been done through some other method, it might have worked significantly better, but Kaoru had been born with large chakra reserves and the process of learning kinobori had shown him what it could do, so he was familiar with the tricks used with it. It was what meant he was finding himself impressed with the other genin, whatever it was that led to the discrepancy in their strength it was certainly not from a lack of imagination.

It seemed though that the other boy was finally on the right wavelength, the questioning tilt of the blade telling Kaoru that Shigeo would at last 'ask' questions rather than simply try to fight. 

There were many answers that he could give to the question, and for a moment he was tempted to simply take the stab in order to open up a chance for a killing blow, but he decided that it wasn't the right sort of lesson to be offering to Shigeo, not yet. Instead he brought his sword arm up, blade angled across his body and pointed downwards as the two katana struck one another, Shigeo's blade sliding down the length of his own in a deflected parry that would see it slide past him.

At the same time the redhead's right leg would shoot up to kick Shigeo in the gut, trying to remind the other teen that though this was a sword fight, only a fool would forget to make use of whatever they had.

Word Count: 250
Training: 7/8
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used: N/A

Tags: Saigo Shigeo

[Saigo Shigeo]

He still needed more.

The hunt for knowledge brought him this far, and through sheer force of will, he had received a single answer. The blades sparked as they slid across each other, and Shigeo stepped with his right foot behind his left, angling to bring his body square and flush with the other youth. In combat, facing your opponent, not giving them your flank or worse- exposing your back to them- was foundational knowledge. Even he knew that much. It was the way that Kaoru responded that left him in question.

It was true, a single question had the potential of a thousand answers. A handful of them might be right, given the situation; and there might even be a perfect response. What was given in this situation, was another invitation. This was a question of its own, asked instead by the Tokonatsu boy.

But what if, instead, this?

Shigeo ripped the weapon violently backward as his body turned, pulling it downward with the flat parallel to the ground. There was a time and a place to use every tool at one's disposal. Multiple instances in this exchange had given the elder Genin an opportunity to utilize many different things available to him, from Shuriken to kunai, but he elected instead to limit himself to the blade, his body, and his chakra. That would afford him the most exposure to those things. The possibility that an attack might come from Kaoru in an unorthodox manner was an ever-present threat.

And yet, the one that finally came met with the katana, held firmly in one hand with the palm of his left against the weapon, reinforcing it. The impact caused Shigeo to take a step back and dig in his heel, but he succeeded in stopping it. Quickly pulling his arms back and returning the blade to its curved angle out to the side with the tip pointed down in front of him, Shigeo let his left arm remain at the ready in front of him. His body was compact, poised as if anticipating Kaoru might make another move immediately.

"An unexpected reply," he muttered aloud. "I guess you wanted to keep the fight going as long as possible?" he asked. The question might come as a surprise to Kaoru, but simply being a novice in terms of the weapon arts didn't mean Shigeo knew nothing about fighting. It just meant he wasn't a hardened combat veteran. "Not that I don't appreciate it, don't get me wrong- I'm learning a lot."

[421 words]
Training: 8/8
Tokonatsu Kaoru