[Hatake Shinde]

Shinde was a fairly fast Kunoichi. She'd done a lot of training in her own right as to improve her bodily movements to the maximum, and even now, she'd began making major improvements to her body and health as to push herself further to new limits. She was of the popular belief that the fastest Shinobi, and the one who hit first was the most likely to win. That said, she decided to imbue that level of belief into her apprentice as well. For the Ashen Kunoichi was a fan of the Shunshin no Jutsu. A jutsu that allowed for one to move at rapid speed and reposition oneself in order to escape from attack and or to reposition themselves. That said. She found herself today with other equipment as to help Ataru in his quest. Weights namely. As Ataru was soon to come before her, today's training field was a little bit different.

Namely, they were before a track ring. One full lap of which around would constitute around half a mile. "Good morning. Ataru-Chan." Bowing her head politely, she would stand before him, wearing looser clothing today as the heat began to climb and became more intense with the coming of summer. Her hair was tied today in a high ponytail, and she wore a neutral grey colored outfit. Much like one might expect from a girl with her moniker. "Today, I've decided that I should prepare you for things outside of the basics. Especially since I'm sure you're near the precipice of graduation." Forming a singular handseal, Shinde would suddenly rapidly blur out of existence. With a kick off of the dirt of where she once stood. Fine indents along the floor as she appears farther ahead. Dozens of meters. Before she slowly undoes the handseal. Making her way forward.

It was quite possibly the fastest he may have ever seen anyone move. For it was as if she teleported out of existence and reappeared elsewhere. Yet. It wasn't like the substitution. As she made her way back, she'd let him muse and digest what he just saw, and in tandem, inquire. After all, she was sure he was curious, but also elated to potentially add such a useful technique to his repertoire. 

[Uzumaki Ataru]

Having undergone a lot of instruction over these past couple of months, the lessons Ataru had learned from his training and many experiences with others of Konoha became invaluable to the growing shinobi. Honing his abilities with hand seals and reflexes through the myriad of methods cast upon his shoulders hardened the boy greatly but also served to polish his skill and yet here he stood ready to continue and advance to the next phase by his master. To shatter the barriers on his limits and grow beyond such a horizon, as he finds himself within the courtyard the boy subsequently smiles at the sight of the ashen kunoichi. While it was true he had received an extreme level of punishment, he knew in his heart and by the scars on his body he had came out stronger for it. Offering a wave before giving out a greeting in return as he finally arrives before them with an upbeat demeanor. "Good morning, Shinde sensei. Beautiful day, isn't it?!"

Meeting their bow with a slight one of his own he wasn't particularly well versed in such decorum and it came reflected in his somewhat shoddy performance, afterward, he would stand upright and look at the figure cut by the ashen kunoichi noting her newfound thematic apparel matching the titular title that aligned with her signature jutsu. "Nice outfit... it matches your ninja name." He comments innocently listening as she speaks about their next lesson for the day, nodding his head it was true that he was coming up on it but there still felt like he had so much more he needed to learn. Watching with a sense of undivided attention as she forms the hand seal, viewing as her form blurs before then fully dissipating from his sight. What just happened? the Uzumaki thought, looking down at the kicked up patch of dirt.

His head swivels in the direction of her transference gazing down along the path of fire left in her wake until locking eyes on her newfound position dozen of meters down the track. "Whoa!? What jutsu was that Shinde sensei?" the boy asked with a mixture of interest and amazement filling their tone. He'd never seen such rapid speed or freedom of movement in that short of an exchange let alone executed from a singular handseal, as she walks back he finds himself incredibly curious and excited at the potential of learning such a technique. His smile growing brighter and stance immediately ready to spring into action and kick things off.

[Hatake Shinde]

Beautiful day? "I suppose it is Ataru-Kun." However, the good weather wasn't why they were gathered today. There was more training to be done. When she flickered and moved at high speed, she turned back towards Ataru then. Before being asked what the technique was. Turning on her side, she slowly stretched her right leg, then her left, folding them back and along her thigh as she then stands straight. "That is a Jutsu vital for high speed movement. Known as the Shunshin no Jutsu." The Body Flicker. Finding herself looking upon him up and down, she took in his form before folding her arms behind her back. "A jutsu that I'll be preparing your body to use."

"A jutsu that channels chakra to the legs, allowing for one to move at rapid high speed movement. Though it's incredibly strenuous. As it releases it in a burst like movement. It's speed, dependent on how fast the user can already move. That said..." She proceeds to dash towards Ataru at a high speed, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. She moved so fast, she blurred out of motion, showing just how fast she could actually move. "That is what we'll be working on. Improving your speed, reflexes, and body. To the point where you can hopefully move as fast as I can. In battle. The fastest Shinobi is usually the one that wins."

"You must have questions. About what I have planned, and how all of these things are going to work. So. We should go over our training regiment." She proclaims, standing back as she rests her right hand along her hip. 

[Uzumaki Ataru]

As she phrased her explanation the gears in Ataru's mind began to turn as the inklings of an idea started to formulate inside his mind, something to do with seals and immense speed. But such a sphere of thought is dashed on the rocks of his mind shortly after as the boy pays a rapt sense of attention. Looking down at his own legs imagining the flow of chakra coursing through the winding pathways of blood that circulate through one's body much like the waterways situated outside Uzushiogakure functioning like a network.

As she spoke about preparing him for it he visibly brightens with a daring look flashing across his face, listening intently as she breaks it down and explains it more thoroughly he commits the knowledge to memory. Watching as she dashes forth his eyes widen as she materializes before him in the blink of an eye, she had become a blur reappearing in less time than it took the boy to blink a single word came uttered from his throat carrying a trace of amazed surprise. "Whoa…” A long period of stunned silence soon came followed by more evenly laced words from the young Uzumaki. "The Body Flicker, huh!? Well, I’m ready to begin when you are Shinde sensei.”

Earnest, honest, and straightforward the boy folded his hands together as she proclaims now is the time for him to ask any and all questions. "What’s the maximum distance you can travel? How many times can you use it before it really wears you down? Can it be used to flank people and quickly engage in combat by getting in close or gaining the upper hand on them? Is the aftermath of the technique always so visible? Do you pick a singular place to move to from one point to another or does the burst of energy allow you to move however you can?”

[Hatake Shinde]

Speed was a key and essential thing. This was especially true for someone such as herself who had specialty in engaging in close range combat. Still. When there was a moment of pause, and as Ataru called out "Whoa", there was a small semblance of joy perhaps in being able to widen his perspective. The questions came next. "Distance is fairly far, though I can't give any concrete measurement. You could only use it twice before your legs will give out and the muscles tear." She found herself looking at her own legs in tandem response. It was a difficult technique that was straining on the body.

"As for flanking and engaging quickly? You could use it that way, but I've found it's a more useful technique to escape an attack. Though every jutsu has its uses and applications. You'll find that it's a burst technique, and since I imagine you have a large amount of chakra, I figured that this would be a perfect technique for you. Though. I think you'll need to condition your body properly a bit more, before I can teach it to you fully. So that's what we're going to be working on." Stepping back into the grass, she shifts, and with it, she opens what seems to be a black lacquer box. What marvels might it hold? 

"Call it old fashion, but weight training does seem to work if applied and increased gradually. A liberal application." She takes out four metal weights, with the kanji for "weights" written upon them. "A couple pounds on your arms and legs will get them used to strain and improve your endurance. A mix of diet, and gradual anaerobic movements should get you accustomed. I'd imagine in a few months time, you'd be used to enough pressure for me to show you the Shunshin properly. For now though? This will have to do. Out of the current Konoha Genin, I'd like to imagine that I'm the fastest." Which might not have been a super high bar to set, but it was something. Now she just needed to help Ataru reach that next level too. 

[Uzumaki Ataru]

Speed seemed to be the cornerstone of the whole technique and that was something that greatly interested Ataru, it seemed perfect for maneuvering into close range combat but as she rattles off what she knows giving out the answers to his many questions. She effectively has the Uzumaki hooked, hanging on her every word so as to ingrain the knowledge and get it down pat and yet as she touches on how limited it is he deflates somewhat though can still see the versatility and utility of such a thing. It was still worth it to learn and it made sense to have such a limitation especially given everything the boy had seen up until now, the demonstration alone cinched it and held sound reasoning.

Nodding his head as she says how its mainly something used to escape an attack instead of diving headlong into danger, but an ability had as much use as the person who puts it into practice and finds ways to apply the jutsu in a fight. Shaking his head in fervent agreement at her assessment, he couldn't help but hold that goofy cheery smile across his expression. Though seems a tad disappointed at first to hear that he isn't quite ready, as his eyes dull at that prospect they shortly after brighten like brimming stars of translucent amber upon hearing that she would prepare him for it.

Cocking his head as she opens the box and discusses more about working towards it, he peers past her from side to side until she finally unveils the next sequence of his training that would prepare him for such a jutsu. Gazing at the weights, what she said made sense and the Uzumaki looked more than forward to the challenge ready to prove himself and strive harder toward his goals. Extending out his arms and spreading apart their legs, he allows and even helps Shinde place them on each extremity. Shifting in place testing the newfound balance and weightiness of himself it certainly felt like he was hampered quite a bit and yet hearing as she tackles further measures onto his regimen that boy didn't question it. Giving her his widest smile yet and extending a thumbs up, that daring earnestness and infection happiness hadn't drained a single drop from the youth ever since she took him on as an apprentice. "Understood, Shinde sensei. Looking forward to it!!!"

As he speaks and gesticulates the boy's hand droops a tad from his outstretched position before being lifted and held albeit kinda shakily before he then sets it down somewhat embarrassed, knowing he still had a long way to go.

[Hatake Shinde]

He'd put on the weights. He'd gotten himself adjusted, and he found himself standing with a thumbs up and smile. "I wouldn't be." He says, and with it, she slowly reaches for her belt, drawing forth her blade. It shined brilliantly in the morning light, a silvery hue as it came soundlessly from its scabbard. "It's time for you to run." She slowly swings her sword arm to the left, and with it, she gets a firm grasp and grip for the blade. Before she gives him a smile with her eyes closed. One that seemed far too sweet. "I'll give you ten seconds." Ten seconds to get a head start. Tilting her head, she slowly opens her eyes to view her own reflection within them.

"Afterwards. You'll have one objective." She didn't explain or go into any further context. Instead, she slid her right leg back and seemed to be rather calm about everything.

"One." She began to count off, slowly. Taking one deep breath before she counts again. "Two." Ataru had never seen Shinde use a blade before today, but even he likely knew the stories of the Hatake and their renowned swords. The Chakra Sabers. However, what was it really? It wasn't that scary after all. Was it? When she got to five, she put chakra into her blade, funneling it downwards as all of a sudden, the blade gets enveloped in a bright flashing light, the tip of the blade extending nearly eight feet, as its tip and edge digs into the soil. "Six...Seven..." Ataru best run as if his fucking life depended on it. Because in the next few moments, it likely would.

[Uzumaki Ataru]

As he tested his range of motion and ability to step and rotate, he hears her haunting words from over his shoulder. Turning on his heel to face her with widening bright eyes, a nervous bead of sweat forms against the side of his head as watches her reach to their side and pull forth a Chakra Saber. It was beautiful, a signature weapon of the Hatake clan that held an ethereal silvery hue but as soon as it comes pulled free and the tang is pointed forward towards him he knows its time and her next statement cinches it, making his heart seize up and skip a beat. Panic mode rung like an alarm bell in his head akin to the bell dismissing students from the academy grounds after a day of schooling. "Say less, I'm going!"

As she rattles off about how its time to run the boy doesn't even wait for a countdown, knowing his Sensei too well and knowing better than to call her bluff. Running with the added weight proved difficult but not impossible, he needed to acclimate to them and thus he paced himself breaking out into a steady regimented jog before leaping up into an expanse of trees. Jumping from branch to branch, getting as much distance as he can in a singular direction leaving a clear and discernable path that's trackable before breaking off and zagging in the other this time moving more slow and methodical so as to shroud his movements and throw Shinde off his trail.

[Hatake Shinde]

He was beginning to run. Ah. This really was like a game of cat and mouse. As soon as he began sprinting across the grassy knolls, she had little reason to speak any further. Instead? She continued to count. Up until she reached ten. After that? She followed after him. Following after his indented footsteps in the grass, she found herself stopping before the set of trees, and with it, she found herself looking up at the canopies. Before realizing he likely sought to hide, or gain a bit more distance. "That isn't the game we're playing Ataru-Kun." She sounds off, before then hopping up a tree herself. Her keen eyes scanned the bark, for any signs of indentation, disturbance. A snapped twig, or disturbed moss. She was pretty good at hunting down prey, and she also moved quite fast. However, she took the liberty to carefully investigate when the trail ended.

"I see." He was trying to lead her on a wild goose chase was it? As she turned to follow after him not long afterwards? He'd be greeted with a horrendous sound. The sound of splitting and splintering wood. For behind him, he'd see a crescent of shining white chakra, soaring through the air at swift speeds. It ripped through branches and brambles with ease, sending them falling to earth as the chakra crescent flew directly at the tree he stood upon. He'd find that if he dodged, the trunk was ripped and split straight down the center as around half of the tree threatened to fall with a slant to the right. Shinde soon barreling at rapid speeds like a monkey towards his general direction. Though her blade no longer glowed. It was evidently clear that this terrifying Hatake was coming to scare him beyond measure.

It was best for him to keep running, and run faster, and run even faster still. Because Shinde wasn't fucking around.

[Uzumaki Ataru]

He was starting to get into a rhythm for things, beginning to adapt to his newfound weightiness as he went from a more fast to slow paced methodical approach joining in this game of cat and mouse and attempting to throw his tracker off from his scent if only for a bit of time. Hearing her voice behind him set his hairs on edge and gave the young boy goosebumps as he continued to evade her. Using the dense foliage as concealment and its branching pathways with a myriad of directions to his advantage, his false trail seemed to pay off but only for a short while. As she recognizes his deception and re-orients herself the boy hears the sound of wood being cracked looking over his shoulder the Uzumaki stares wide eyed at a startling sight.

That of trees splitting apart from the crescent-like slash of a silvery white chakra infused blade extending far out of the realm of what should be possible, a rush of air is sharply inhaled inside of his body as his fight or flight response screams in his air and reflexive instinct took over. Dodging the blow a handful of moments before it would've swiped through his body, watching the far flung tang tearing through the air in a cleaving motion at immense speed. Watching as the spray of splinters and flutter of leaves fall like cascading drifts of snowfall towards the earth. The boy gulped as the fragments struck his frame and quickly flipped to an adjacent tree. Seeing that she had bisected the tree he was just standing on from stump to tip.

As adrenaline rushed through his veins the boy took off like a bat out of hell, no longer caring about obscuring his path or hiding instead taking solely to flight, winding through the trees like a spastic monkey hopped up on drugs and having somewhere to be. Launching through the array of forestry with frantic deftness, relying on his honed abilities and reflexes to carry him through he was resolved not to stop until he either passed out from exhaustion or escaped from Shinde's grasp. Weaving a number of hand seals two mirror copies breaks off from his silhouette and run alongside him at varying elevations.

[Hatake Shinde]

Ataru ran. He ran like hell. There was that moment where he hurls himself to avoid the destructive power of her technique. A few chips of wood and bark sticking against him, as he lands atop another branch. Shinde stopped around twenty feet away on the next tree, looking out across from her. Though as he found himself fueled by adrenaline and a desire to survive? As he formed a few Bunshin and looked to avoid her at any cost? Shinde didn't press rapidly. She was a slow and insidious killer, and she knew that he would tire himself out if he didn't ration his energy. She followed behind him, leaping slowly at first, and as she looked out at the illusions, she tried her best to take the best guess.

"Making use of the basics. Good." She expressed, and with it, she did find that it was difficult to discern which Ataru was the real one in the shadowy canopies of the trees. However, all she needed to do was listen to the shifts. Besides, what mattered is that she made him run like hell. Putting more force into her legs, she proceeded to dash after him, not so fast that she'd outpace him, which she absolutely could, but just enough so that she could be an ever present threat. Terrify him, before she swung her glowing blade out again. Another crescent of terrifying white energy rippling out towards his general direction, this time not looking to destroy the tree itself, but instead to slice through the branch he stood upon, as well as the next ones he might jump to.

[Uzumaki Ataru]

He ran like a bat out of hell, as he swings away evading the shower of destruction born from shrapnel-like splinters. Narrowly avoiding the swathing cut that tears apart the tree he had just barely hurled himself away from. His amber eyes widen with their flight or fight instinct screaming into his ear, using the fear that builds within his chest as well as adrenaline pumping inside his veins to fuel his dogged escape. As he leaps from branch to branch the added weight dressed along his arms and legs became a secondary concern as he puts as much distance between him and Shinde as possible.

Realizing that she wants him tired, he continues to pace himself so as to maximize the efficiency with which he looks to gain distance from her. Just as he thought he'd avoided her continued chase she was right on his heels with yet another flick of her form, seemingly phasing out of existence to nip at the back of his neck once more. Terrified on the inside, his pulse accelerates though it comes tempered for he had been in these kinds of situations before. Hopping from branch to branch in a zig-zag rippling pattern he and his clones would alternate locations both above and below traversing in different layers crisscrossing over one another's path.

Upon his journey, a line of thought tugged at the back of his mind and Ataru decided he needed to switch things up and would do so by thinking in the fourth dimension, he processed the obstacles that would come to be on their path ahead and sought to devise a strategy remaining mindful of her technique seeking to play upon it with a trick and jutsu he held up his sleeve. Performing a number of hand seals and holding it so that she would not witness it amidst their game of cat and mouse.

[Hatake Shinde]

As he runs ahead, as he goes from branch to branch, she never really does give him the luxury or comfort in believing he was gaining the distance. Having an incentive to move faster, and the thrill of the moment like this really did get someone moving and with a greater fervent than if it were simple training. Sure, it wasn't exactly the way she herself had been trained, but she imagined that there was nothing better for Ataru right now than to get an idea for what it was really like; running for his life. So then. Run. Run as fast as his legs could carry him. Run and him. Run as if she was about to slice him down from shoulder to thigh. Occasionally? She'd take a swipe downwards at him, sinking the blade to slash through smaller branches or leaves.

Though eventually, he would come to weave some handseals. It made Shinde mindful and considerate of what he might be planning. After all. She knew at this point that he could diverge from the conventional training and throw her a trick or two himself at times. Perhaps his attempts at keeping her on her toes or alert. It was generally a touching sentiment she supposed. However, she knew his arsenal was lacking. It seemed as if he hadn't yet began expanding his repertoire. it made sense. Usually people wanted to be out of the Academy, and instead, in this earlier stage focused on the fundamentals. Still though...

What did he have planned for her?

[Uzumaki Ataru]

She was like a demon on his heels, he could feel the weights sinking into his flesh lowering his ability to move and respond how he liked as the chase gradually ramps up in tempo. Navigating the treeline in a swirling pattern intermixed with clones as he dodges a particular swipe meant to keep him on his toes. He tests the distance she would allow him before leaping once more, after a couple of times all of the clones cross over one another's path at an interval she is either unlikely or unable to strike at with nothing blatantly appearing to change as they diverge once more.

Holding up the same seal to make her think it might be a bluff of something simply held off, in reality, it had already been used in the split second the many doubles overlapped together and then separated again in order to keep her guessing as to which the real one is. What Shinde wouldn't know is that he made two mirror copies travel together one inside of the other and having prepared the replacement technique beforehand would allow it to take its place in the chase as he navigates through a bush crossing over a momentary blindspot. Leaving the log he exchanges places with to tumble into the brambled shroud of greenery.

Appearing behind the group situated behind a tree, he thought about taking the time to catch his breath and would for a handful of moments. As they breezed ahead locked in an ever-closing chase he would jump into the air and strike from behind. Leaping into a spin kick aimed to strike the small of her back, he had the element of surprise on his side - springing from a stout branch bending along its curve he uses the forward momentum and winding motion to hit her wanting to catch her as she goes from one tree limb readying to traverse to another.

[Hatake Shinde]

He had intermingled his clones in layers, looking to escape from her presence. It wasn't a bad attempt. However, it was quickly becoming bothersome and tiring. He was running out of original content, just as much as his lungs were beginning to run out of air, and his legs ran out of stamina. However, as he poofs and seeks to evade her? There was a brief period of pause as she paused. She could hear the shuffling of leaves as Ataru leaped behind her. Validating his approach with the reflection of her blade. He leaps into a spinkick, and Shinde was quick to react. Tilting her blade so that it lay flat, she proceeds to brace her hand behind it as to allow him to kick against her sword, as opposed to assaulting him. Cutting his leg off maybe.

Watching the crimson haired boy, as his lashes out, she'd let herself partially roll with the momentum of his kick, letting herself slide as she applies chakra to her feet, standing upon the branch. She'd be sufficiently be standing along it's side before springboarding off. Landing atop another branch, she rests her blade by her side. She sheathed it forth in one single fluid motion. "You're not doing a bad job Ataru. You've gotten adjusted pretty quickly. At this rate, you'll graduate from the academy with little issue. I think you're ready for the next phase of this training..." With the declaration made? Shinde proceeds to raise her right hand to her mouth. She extends her thumb and then slowly bites down. A slight pinching sensation as she looks Ataru deeply in the eyes.

"I could use some help with this training anyways..."