Jou was not expecting Kashiwa to tell the proctor to hold off for a bit. It certainly couldn't be some sort of trick if he went that far. So when Kashiwa started to approach Jou, the young Himishi simply looked up at him as the distance was closed. Before Jou could ask anything, he was pulled into an embrace, gentle yet warm. Jou's brows rose a little in response, but as soon as Kashiwa apologized, Jou smiled a little before finally returning the hug, closing his own teary eyes.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Kashiwa...Trust me, you've done more than enough....Thank you." Jou claimed. Jou couldn't speak for the others in the first round group, but Kashiwa's 'sacrifice' did more for Jou than just allow him to live. It gave him more of a reason TO live, and for that, Jou was eternally grateful, regardless of their nations.
It was people like Kashiwa that has helped Jou get a better understanding of what he wanted to do...who he wanted to be. Folks have spent their time wanting to protect Jou...but now Jou wants to be the one doing the protecting.
Despite the rocky start, Jou was glad to have met Kashiwa...and can safely say that he sees him as a friend. He was confident in the bond that they formed and was sure if they ever were to meet again, such a bond will remain unshaken.
Kashiwa then said something else, something that sort of mirrors what he himself had said to Haruka before the start of their match....even though she made it painfully clear she did not want to accept that. That still lingered in the young Himishi's mind...but he was glad that Kashiwa was able to see him as someone...as a shinobi. Jou could not help but grin at this after he wiped away his tears.
"Of course, Kashiwa-san." He was going to show them...show Kashiwa...and even Haruka his best.
With that, Jou waited until Kashiwa was back in place and for the proctor to start!
As Kashiwa lept away, Jou's eyes immediately turned purple as his doujutsu activated, his demeanor more serious...focused. Kashiwa getting far with that bow is going to be a problem, Jou thought....
Jou reached into his pouch to grab a kunai and as he took it out, he narrowed his eyes at the large smoke formed...and the clones created. Right...This was going to be an issue as well.
Three versions of Kashiwa were taking their positions while a fourth remained in the center. Jou's eyes quickly darted around, quickly analyzing the situation. The way the two Kashiwas with bows were moving made it clear that they were trying to get on both sides of Jou. Thinking fast, before they could properly take position, Jou threw the kunai he took out at the Kashiwa on the left, aiming for one of their hands in an attempt to drop the arrow! As the kunai flew, Jou performed a handseal which caused his body to seemingly be engulfed in flames before seemingly vanishing as he used the Body Flame Technique. In reality, the jutsu had just made him briefly faster to the point where he would be barely seen if not seen at all by untrained eyes.
He used this to quickly dart to the Kashiwa on the right, using the momentum of this enhanced speed to quickly knee him in the gut as he seeming reappears in a similar burst of flames! If this manages to connect...then well, it wouldn't, and Jou would quickly realize that these aren't actual shadow clones...
"H-Huh..?" If this happened, Jou would hop back once and quickly look in the direction of the Kashiwa in the center...and specifically where that final Kashiwa appeared to be trying to move further back to. Deception was the game Kashiwa was seemingly playing....and Jou needed to remain alert.
kuishinbou kashiwaTomokenzangan: Active
9/10 Kunai Remains
S.A.
TOMOKENZANGAN [Tōzasō] (All Seeing Eye [Present Aspect]
Having seen his sister die and having a near-death experience himself, Jou was able to awaken the Himishi clan's dojutsu, the Tomokenzangan which has the ability to alter the perception of time. First, Jou only had access to the Tomokenzangan's first ability, Iwakusō (Past Aspect) which has given him the ability to view not only his own but others' memories with great accuracy and clarity. It can select these events and recreate them in his or other people's minds, making the sensations from these moments very real. Not only that, but it has the potential to probe or even steal memories if the target is willing, restrained, or physically/mentally weakened. Then there is Tōzasō, the present aspect. With this ability, Jou is capable of reading/analyzing a situation in a matter of seconds and can pick up on the most minute details, making this extremely useful on the battlefield.
Enhanced Speed
Although he has been and still is training his mind, Jou has been mostly focusing on his body. Wanting to be able to physically keep up with his dojutsu's enhanced vision a little better, Jou has done a lot of training with his ability to physically react to things, making him a lot more faster compared to most his rank and lower when it comes to movement.
Jutsu
NAME: Karada Hi no Jutsu [Body Flame Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: 火 Katon | Fire
DESCRIPTION:
A technique used similar to the Body Flicker Technique. When using this technique, the body appears like it's being engulfed by flames, disappearing from view slowly. How the flames engulf the user stylistically is up to them.