[Uzumaki Atagi]

Break the mold

The shinobi known as Atagi Uzumaki was often up not long after first light, even on the occasion that days cheated into late nights. It was a rarity that he was up much later than that, and definitely uncharacteristic for him to sleep in past noon.

A rarity, but not an impossibility.

”Gods, what'm I doing? Time's wasting away!” He complains to himself, running out to the training grounds designated for competitors, sun shining up high in the sky, only occasionally obscured by passing clouds. A hand's flat to his brow as he jogs forth, trying to find an unoccupied space. Of course, with the start of the exams rapidly approaching, everyone was trying to squeeze in training of ultimate hours, last minutes, and final seconds. A curse is cast at nobody in particular under his breath.

Ah, well. Time to make a new friend!

Of the competitors populating the grounds that Atagi had spotted thus far, one in particular seemed interesting-- a white haired, scarf-clad boy. Bright eyes twinkle with curiosity, and in short order he's dashing over, waving an arm exaggeratedly and shouting obnoxiously at the guy who was presumably just minding his own business. ”Yo, you! Guy with way too many weapons!”The Uzumaki practically skids to a halt, as he approaches, a jovial grin etching itself upon his features.

”You seem like a important, non-side-character type, yeah?” He doesn't elaborate on what the hell that's supposed to mean, thumb jerking to point at his chest. ”I'm Atagi Uzumaki, of the Hidden Grass.” That much should've been obvious from the forehead protector...and the fact that he's a competitor was obvious from the badge affixed to his marigold t-shirt. ”You'll lemme share this training ground with you, won't you?” It may sound like a question, but his body language indicates that he has no intention of leaving even if the boy politely asked him to 99 and a half times.

(Natsuo Jokyū)

aeron at thq

[Natsuo Jokyū]

Natsuo's day had gone the same as it usually had since he'd arrived in Kuwana. Wake up, eat, train for a little bit in the morning. His ninjutsu in particular was what he trained in the morning. Then it was lunch time before he'd go back to training for another hour in his Bukijutsu techniques. Usually, no one cared to bother him during his training. Today, however...

"And who the hell is that?" He'd ask himself as a boy shouted across the training grounds, stating that Natsuo had too many weapons. As if there was such as thing as too many, just who did this guy think he was! He had half a mind to just throw a kunai at the red-haired boy and leave it at that. But they were probably being watched. So that wasn't exactly a good idea. He didn't want to get kicked out of the exams, especially not this early. He hadn't even brought Chuya in her Trident form today, so he only had two weapons! 

The kid somewhat redeemed himself, saying that Natsuo looked like a non-side-character type. He wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but it sounded more like a compliment. He introduced himself as Atagi Uzumaki from the Hidden Grass village. "Oh, I'm Natsuo Jokyū from the Hidden Cloud village. Also, there's no such thing as too many weapons. This isn't even every weapon I have." The boy would say, holding his dual cleavers. "And sure, you can use the training ground too just try not to be distracting." That seemed like it'd be an impossible task for the Uzumaki, but Natsuo held out hope regardless. Normally, he would've been all for chatting while training. However, the pressure and expectations of the exams seemed to grow as the days went by, the first round drawing ever closer. That pressure had started to get to the Genin at this point, and he felt way too rushed.

[Uzumaki Atagi]

Break the mold

”Nice to meetcha, Natsuo-kun! And there definitely is such a thing as too many weapons, yeah? Hell, even two seems like it's too much! You don't have any extra arms or hands, do you?” It would become clear in short order that 'don't be distracting' was completely outside of Atagi's scope, just as Natsuo predicted, if how often and how loudly he ran his mouth was any indicator whatsoever. Planting his hands onto his hips, chest is thrust out proudly, in a 'heroic' pose.

Moving on over to the other boy, he sidles up next to him, eyes rolling up and down his form, pointing an index finger out towards him and doing the same, allll the way down, then allll the way up. ”Also-- why don't we train together, yeah? I dunno what exactly it is you're working on right now, but I'm sure I can help with it, whatever it is. We can mash our brains n' bodies together and come up with something greater than either of us individually!” He nods about six times in fervent fashion, arms crossed, like he was saying something extremely wise. ”What're your special skills? Blood type? Zodiac sign? D'you have any sort of fantastical titles, or nicknames? A significant other? Or maybe you're the sort of guy who sleeps with his metaphorical arsenal?” Was any of that supposed to be of use when it came to ascertaining what type of shinobi he was? And furthermore, it probably seemed a bit like blatant fishing for information on competitors. Whether or not Atagi was aware of this was also up for debate. Even as the crimson-haired shinobi is querying him, he's begun to pace the training ground, apparently unable to stay still for more than about seven seconds.

(Natsuo Jokyū)

aeron at thq

[Natsuo Jokyū]

Just as Natsuo had assumed, this guy couldn't keep quiet to save his life. Though, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing in this case. Natsuo might even be able to use it to his advantage for the exams. The boy was a good multitasker, after all. He could converse with Atagi while also training. 

Atagi was in a weird pose as they talked though, was he trying to assert dominance or something? Regardless, Natsuo continued to deny the existence of too many weapons. "If you're a weapon specialist, there's no such thing as too many weapons. You don't have to use the weapons at all times, you can always switch between them. Different weapons have certain advantages, so if you know how to use them, the more the merrier." The boy would explain as he threw one of his cleavers at the training dummy. "Having extra hands isn't necessary, all I need is something to hold them while I use another weapon." The boy said as he placed his cleavers into the holsters on his side. 

Atagi pointed at him, seemingly sizing Natsuo up as he did so. He then claimed that the two of them should train together, to which Natsuo wasn't necessarily against, however... "And how would I benefit from that exactly? What skills do you bring to the table exactly." The boy would ask, hopefully Atagi could help him in some form or another. Atagi had also asked a series of questions that seemed rather insignificant. "I don't really feel the need to answer those questions, I'm here to train at the current moment. If you wanted to make friendly conversation and whatnot you should've met me somewhere else. No offense." It wasn't that he was trying to be rude, he was just a lot more to the point than most Genin. The boy would then grab the sword on his back's hilt, slowly unsheathing it. It might have seemed menacing to Atagi, but he was just preparing to train with his sword for a bit.

[Uzumaki Atagi]

Break the mold

Ah, so he's a stoic-type, then. Or maybe just the serious kind? The fox-girl was like that, too. I wonder if it's a quirk among the cloud-nin?

There's a bit of brief, internal musing at Natsuo's question about what it is exactly he had to offer. Dramatically, the Uzumaki covers up his mouth with both hands, as if given some grand, fantastical surprise. ”Natsuo! Don't tell me you're the type that only sees interpersonal relationships in transactional terms, yeah? You'll end up unpopular with girls, if so.” Atagi comments, as if he knew anything at all about what would and wouldn't make one popular. Nonetheless, he answers Natsuo's question in short order. Bouncing from foot to foot, he throws a few rapid jabs at the air, then a high kick with a flash of panache that was, frankly, completely unnecessary.

”I'm a taijutsu practitioner, as far as the shinobi arts go. Oftentimes people say that swordslingers n' knife jugglers like you are the natural enemy of the martial artist, but I'd contest that it's the other way around. After all, to swing a sword at someone within arm's reach is harder than your layman thinks. And I'm quick n' slippery, to boot-- like an oiled up animal.” he remarks, giving a bright, hopeful expression, despite botching the commonly held idiom 'like a greased pig'. Even if that's the case, once Atagi sees the silvery-locked shinobi start to draw his sword he takes a step back, holding both hands up in a 'wait just a second!' gesture, eyes rolling over the blade. Not that he had the skill or experience necessary to gather anything useful from just looking at a weapon.

”No offense taken-- everyone's a little stressed out with the exams about to start, so I understand that you don't wanna waste any time. How about a light spar, yeah? Some all around exercise, for the body, brain, and jutsu muscles.” Any curiosity about the former (and entirely insignificant) questions is dropped as quickly as it came, at the prospect of actually doing some training. Not that he no longer had any interest, lover of people and ever fiending for knowledge as he was...

But trading blows with someone was the best way to get to know them, after all.

(Natsuo Jokyū)

aeron at thq

[Natsuo Jokyū]

Atagi seemed deep in thought for a few moments, at which point Natsuo finally got some brief silence. It wasn't nearly long enough for him to breath, but it was still a few seconds which was more than he'd gotten since Atagi approached him. He tried to comment on the type of person he was, to which Natsuo gave him a deathly glare. "You've known me for a whole five minutes, you have no right to judge my actions. Not only that, I don't normally need transactions for relationships, however, you're interrupting my training. So, if training with you isn't as fruitful as training alone, I'm gonna choose that." He gave the boy a nonchalant shrug. He hadn't hit a nerve or anything, but Natsuo's patience was running fairly thin. "Plus, I don't have time for popularity anyways, especially with girls." He'd add on, hoping to drive his point home.

The boy was a Taijutsu specialist in regard to shinobi arts, he argued that most people's views on the combat of a bukijutsu and taijutsu specialist. Most people felt buki was the natural enemy of tai, which Natsuo agreed with. Atagi, idiotically, disagreed. "I think what most people meaned is someone well-trained in buki against someone well-trained in tai. With your example, you're using a buki user that isn't well-trained enough in the sword to lift it and swing, whereas you, I assume, are at a much higher level than the equivalent of that in taijutsu. That is, in a sense, playing favorites. And I can promise you, I'm much more used to my blades than your example. It's naturally better to be a Buki user in that combat scenario, especially with a long reaching weapon." The boy explained, he was starting to feel like Kizumi after spouting such a long-winded response. 

Natsuo still wasn't convinced that Atagi would even be a good warm-up, nonetheless a friend, but he decided to give him a small shot, "I'll let you give it a shot for a spar. But if I get bored or if you're predictable, I'm going back to solo training."

[Uzumaki Atagi]

Break the mold

Definitely a stoic type. How admirable! Natsuo-kun must be the type to have grand aspirations, if he’s so serious about even the course of his self-improvement, like this.

Despite their age difference, the cloud-nin appeared to be more mature in at least a handful of fashions. Impatient he might've been, but otherwise? Level-headed, willing to concisely explain why exactly Atagi was wrong, instead of simply calling him an idiot and being done with it. Not that the Uzumaki could be reasoned with all that easily, unfortunately for the silver-locked boy. A spirited laugh rolls from the chest, when the boy points out his facetious leap(s) in logic.

”Bahaha! Well, I guess you've got me there, yeah? Your average guy swingin' around a blade like a bat or paddle is hardly comparable to a proper bukijutsu user like yourself, isn't that right? Well! I'm not really the type to learn 'cept for by doing, so. Obviously, you should show me!” There he was again, overstepping his boundaries, practically demanding a lesson via experience when it was he that was supposed to be offering something to the sword juggler. Giving an exaggerated thumbs up when the Jokyu finally relents and agrees to actually give him a fair shake, he trots to widen the distance between the two of them some-- enough that he couldn't close the gap with only a handful of paces.

”Fine by me! Interesting n' unpredictable it is, then.” A bold claim to make, but self-assurance was his style, one he'd wear now matter how much the downpour of reality drenched it from time to time. Giving a little roll of the shoulders, Atagi squares up his posture and raises up his arms in not-quite fists, shifting his weight to the balls of his feet, giving a few idle bounces and drawing deep, deliberate breaths, preparing to get his heart rate up there. A brief consideration is given towards throwing up his favourite armor jutsu before they're even begun their spar, but that doesn't exactly seem in the spirit of a fair fight, so he holds off, and...

”At your attack or signal, then! I'll assume you won't stop 'till I'm in mortal peril.” he shouts out to Natsuo, devil-may-care grin etched at his features.

(Natsuo Jokyū)

aeron at thq

[Natsuo Jokyū]

Natsuo wasn't really fed up with Atagi, but he did have a rather punchable face and personality. So he definitely had no issues with slicing him to pieces. Though, he couldn't actually maim the guy since the rounds of the exams hadn't started yet. Thus, he agreed to the spar with little but a nod to the boy, signaling him to get ready. 

The boy's first mistake was assuming that Natsuo would wait for the boy to get ready. As soon as Atagi spoke that he'd wait for Natsuo's signal, the boy sent a blade hurling in Atagi's direction, attempting to control the chain to wrap around the grass shinobi's waist. Whether that failed or not, Natsuo would control the blade to go in close, channeling his Jiton chakra through the chain to cause the metal objects that Atagi had, if any, to be magnetized to his blade. The first rule of fighting he'd learned from Chuya, make your opponents weapons your own. He thanked his aunt mentally yet again for getting him a chakra reactive weapon.

Natsuo noticeably kept his distance, but not due to a lack of experience with close combat. This was merely an attempt to fool Atagi. He wasn't necessarily amazing at close combat, but he definitely had tools at his disposal.