[Akira]

Holding a clipboard, Hotarubi felt high and mighty. Official, even: waiting in the academy grounds for one Touwa. It had, believe it or not, been a thing that he himself had volunteered to do. It was a catch out of the norm and something he'd intended on learning - that was, to be a better leader. A commander, even. A leader told others what to do, a commander made others do. Hotarubi commanded: he expected deference in his own life. That would not change any time soon. It was just one of those... ingrained features of Yamakira clan life.

But, he needed to get better at shotcalling. That was pretty much it, letting his brain go that little bit faster: it wasn't good enough these days that one could win 'by themselves' and as he became more and more aware of his own weaknesses, was going to become proportionately more averse to risk. This was reasonable, he believed. So - Touwa, in that equation, was a little student for him to model and command, and move around like his own little soldier. That was what he had planned in his mind: but he needed to know what the focus of the lesson would be on.

If it concerned pure might, well, obviously he got that covered. Hotarubi waited in the academy for Touwa, and he had hoped that he would run into his shitlord of a brother, he who had not graduated. The lazy fuck - for whatever their might and pride, they had not yet even managed to meet Hotarubi in the middle. That was its own separate problem, because it deeply bothered Hotarubi that his brother didn't even seem to be trying.... but that was for another time.

If he ran into Nageku, that little shit would be getting moved around as well. But for now, he waited- looking at his clipboard... filled with words and little drawings. They weren't very good drawings.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa approached the Academy grounds. He noticed Hotarubi waiting, and a curious expression washed over him as he recognized the stern demeanor and the clipboard in Hotarubi's hand. It was strange. A Yamakira teacher. As it would be Touwa wasn't exactly thrilled to receive a lesson from a Yamakira, as they were known to not be exactly the teacher type of people. And well even the few Yamakira he knew across the Academy weren't exactly cooperative and friendly, much less people who would teach someone something. Touwa could hear one side of Ruiteki making fun of him in a faint voice, "Hehe, serves you right!" While the other as always was on Touwa's side, "Don't listen to him, Touwa." And it was quiet again. Either way, Touwa couldn't go against the assignment and well like they say, it is not possible to always work with people that one likes. He paused.
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Touwa observed Hotarubi, taking in his stern and somehow familiar presence. It was evident that Hotarubi, whether he liked it or not, was someone who held some authority and would demand respect. With a sigh, Touwa decided it was better to approach and get this lesson over with. Closing the distance respectfully, Touwa offered a polite nod. "Good day, Yamakira-san." His voice was calm, but a slight tension lingered in the air. "Tokonatsu Touwa. Here for the lesson, as assigned."
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Despite his reservations about the nature of the instruction, Touwa was determined not to let his biases interfere with the opportunity to learn. He held his ground, prepared to engage in whatever lesson Hotarubi had planned, all the while hoping it wouldn't involve only pure might, something that might play into Yamakira clan traits too much for Touwa's liking.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 290
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Akira

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[Akira]

While waiting he was daydreaming - and his peripherals let him know of the person coming to his direction. This was it. Buckle up. Hotarubi stood up more straightly now - mindful that this was an Academy student and not a Chunin that he could just yell orders at. When called -san, Hotarubi winced a bit.

Did he take offence to being called -san? Why not -sama? Hotarubi kept quiet initially, sizing the student up. It was pointless to exert unnecessary will here, though he'd intended on doing that, power was power and it wasn't under threat to him. "Hey." -San was a common usage, it was a safe bet. Best not to call it out.

If Hotarubi did know that there was a sharp weapon in his vicinity, he would have queried it as Academy Students weren't usually allowed actual weaponry - having been a student himself not too long ago, he remembered their rules well. But, in absence of that knowledge he quite literally glanced at the bell on his hip and ignored it whilst he sized up the boy. It kind of - you know - pissed him off. It wasn't Touwa's fault in this instance but if he'd managed and been able to graduate the academy the Chunin would have obviously been a Jonin by now. But no, he had to wait until he was nearly an adult in order to graduate the academy. It brought him shame, but most would have difficulty understanding it.

"So - you've learned everything from the academy, you need to graduate. What is left for you to learn? Don't bother listing the academics, I'm not interested." There was only one topic that he'd been interested in: military history. History was the closest he got, but everything else was out of sheer force of will. But he dropped the clipboard now that it served little purpose beyond doodles and words. This was time for action and he crossed his arms, standing in a power pose as he await a response.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa listened carefully to Hotarubi's response. It seemed the use of -san had struck a chord, but Touwa had used it out of respect and caution. Touwa felt a slight unease in the atmosphere, recognizing the scrutinizing gaze Hotarubi cast upon him, and it was clear that Hotarubi had expectations of him, even though he wasn't entirely sure what those expectations were. He maintained his composure, not wanting to appear disrespectful, despite the subtle discomfort that began to brew within him.
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"I've learned the necessary skills taught at the academy, and I'm on my way to graduate, indeed," Touwa replied evenly, working to hide the sense of intimidation he felt. Being a member of the Asagao branch and a potential candidate for a clan leadership position demanded a composed front, regardless of any internal discomfort. "But as for what's left for me to learn... well, there's always room for improvement in various aspects. Strategy, tactics, practical application... these are areas I believe I can further develop." Touwa noticed the subtle dismissal of academic subjects, recognizing that Hotarubi's focus was more aligned with military prowess, indicating the typical traits of a Yamakira's interests.
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"Would you be guiding me on these aspects, then?" Touwa inquired, trying to direct the conversation toward what Hotarubi might have in mind for their lesson.
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 218
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Akira

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[Akira]

Touwa was bright and young - at least he had managed or got ready to leave the academy in a reasonable timeframe. For that: Hotarubi did feel a bubble of jealousy that he'd not managed to graduate around the same time, having spent a few years working as a civilian in a noodle shop and by a man who had an agenda against the Yamakira, calling the boy dirty several times a week. When Touwa began Hotarubi paid good attention to him with a piercing focus: humming along in approval until Touwa had said something wrong. That was it - he would nip it in the bud with his stone cold stare and the petulant way he spoke pedantically about what he was there to accomplish with the student.

"I'm not here to guide you - Nobody but yourself is to blame for failure." Unfortunately one of the facets of the Yamakira was how their ideologies were surrounding strength. "I inform. Great difference: I can only give you tools, like a instructor - err - me- would. Only you can use them." So it would make sense that his own teaching would be through the lens of his own worldview. So - what would they focus on?

"What are you good at, and what are you bad at? What is it you want to learn?" In a slight turn of events, Hotarubi seemed to apply a good characteristic there: free will. Hotarubi was aware of some of his own faults and the perhaps that there were forces out there that he hadn't encountered yet (namely: Genjutsu, which he had zero clue about, and Fuinjutsu, which he was aware could be devastating to his ability to use his earthen body) but it wasn't easy to actually practice it... But he would apply that same thing, leaving the actual training up to him - if Touwa didn't know then they would progress to the next step - he would assess the boy... but only if it was necessary.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Haa... What did Touwa expect? There was no way Hotarubi would be satisfied by Touwa's answer as Tokonatsu and Yamakira had completely different views on things. It didn't take long for Touwa to feel the weight of Hotarubi's piercing gaze and the strictness of his response. He had anticipated a challenging lesson, but Hotarubi's words made it clear that he was going to take a hands-off approach, providing tools and guidance but expecting Touwa to drive his own learning.
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"I understand," Touwa acknowledged, respecting Hotarubi's philosophy. It was clear that Hotarubi's Yamakira beliefs emphasized personal responsibility and self-reliance. When Hotarubi asked about his strengths and weaknesses, Touwa didn't hesitate to answer. "My strong points would be Bukijutsu and Ninjutsu. I've been able to excel in those areas. However, my weaker subjects would be Taijutsu and Genjutsu. These are the areas where I feel I have room for improvement."
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Touwa understood the importance of identifying and addressing his weaknesses. He was eager to learn and prove himself, even if it meant taking a more proactive role in his own development. It was a stark contrast to his usual academy and in-home experience, but he was determined to adapt to this new approach. He braced himself for Hotarubi's reaction, unsure of what to expect from the Yamakira instructor.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 218
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Akira

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[Akira]

He was generally quite torn between whether to go hardass - relentless, or if to at least try to be understanding. By all means, Hotarubi could have attacked Touwa - but Touwa might had not felt comfortable in Hotarubi's presence, but Touwa might have definitely had trust in the system enough to know that Hotarubi would not dangerously harm him.

"I'm bad at Genjutsu too." Hotarubi said flatly - and it would be a little bit like a pin dropping. He could have said 'I could teach you Taijutsu' but that didn't quite register to him. It would, later on - where he could kick himself for it as he reviewed his memories. "But Taijutsu? Fuck yeah. Let's get into it. What is it about Taijutsu?" The man could offer help in that area, even if his own main realm was Ninjutsu. Bukijutsu was similar to Taijutsu so anything that made the boy stronger that way would benefit his Taijutsu, and vice versa. If they were talking about actual hand to hand combat, then he could go into a bit more detail.

Unfortunately one of the things he had lacked in the past (as had been especially true of the exams) was restraint. He preached power: lived it, and it had only been through difficulties recently that he'd needed to learn how to dial it back because not every conflict was a life or death one. It was stupid, but he did kind of understand why it needed to be so.

So he would only mildly kick Touwa's ass. So far he was building the lesson in mind based off what Touwa had said which was to enable himself the foresight to act and react appropriately: if he were to go through a couple of katas, a simple game and exercise was about going through a repetitive set of movements - one attack, one step back, one block, one attack back: and that was it. That was what was going through his mind, because Touwa would need to decide for himself what his style was - defensive, to kill, to finish a figth, that wasn't something he could decide.

But what he could teach the boy was to learn how to make use of movements, to be efficient with those movements, to link those movements with one another - and when to strike or to defend. It was a game of chess, and it was one of the few games that Hotarubi played well.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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"Everything, hehe," one of the voices of Ruiteki snickered, but Touwa ignored it. The internal banter was a constant presence, but he had learned to silence it in moments like this. "My physical power and speed are slightly lacking compared to some of my classmates," he said, his gaze briefly dropping to his clenched fist before returning to Hotarubi. There was a hint of frustration in his voice, a self-imposed pressure to excel in every aspect. "I suppose I struggle to deliver blows forceful enough to keep my opponents down," Touwa admitted, his tone reflective of his determination to overcome this challenge. The disapproval he expressed was not aimed at Hotarubi but at himself, a subtle self-reproach for moments where he felt he should have performed better against those he considered less skilled. "They always manage to get back up."
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Touwa shared his self-assessment with Hotarubi, maintaining his focus on the lesson at hand. His inner dialogue revealed the weight he placed on self-improvement, particularly in areas where he felt he was falling short. "I need to deliver more impactful strikes," Touwa continued, his voice carrying a determined resolve. "I must find a way not only to strike my opponent but to ensure they can't easily rise again. It's an area I need to improve on: enhancing my strength, precision, and the execution of my attacks."
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The pressure he imposed upon himself was palpable, driving his determination to excel and improve in his areas of perceived weakness. He recognized the need for significant improvement, not just in physical capability but in the strategic delivery of his techniques.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 267
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Akira

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[Akira]

Well. That was good - Hotarubi nodded up and down. Enthusiastic of the lesson that was going to take place. It did stop him, though, for a moment as he wondered the motivation behind his words.

Hotarubi first look at him quizically and then his tone of voice would follow as he asked a simple and blunt question. "Why?" If Touwa looked at him like he had grown a new head, he would explain in a bit more detail. "Just don't lose your weapon. If you can't be impactful with with your weapon - then you're already facing a problem." Hotarubi would think about it - looking up at the skies whilst he thought about it. "Start a workout routine. You don't need to make muscle and look like me but you need to become familiar with energising your body with chakra in the right places, and your strength will increase naturally."

But where it pertained to the technical aspects of Taijutsu? Knowing where to punch - knowing how to strike, when to block and when to attack? When to use movement, or whatever it was. "Hold on." Hotarubi would wave his arm. The floor to his immediate left would begin to almost bubble, and from it, a clay clone would rise out of the terraformed earth.

Yes: he didn't open his mouth in order to do it, and he didn't use any hand-seals, it just seemed to wave itself into existence. This was his Doton prowess and proficiency in practice. "Stay." Hotarubi ordered the clay clone, which stood completely still - without intelligence.

Hotarubi would step around the clone and next to Touwa so that they were both staring at it. "Point out for me where you would strike someone with your hands, or your weapon. I mean," Hotarubi did look the boy up and down. "When you have one. What sort of weapon is it?" This could be where they would start - where Touwa would attack.

---

Clay Clone
Maisou no Jutsu | Burial Technique SA active

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Hotarubi's direct question "Why?" momentarily left Touwa puzzled, the furrow in his brow indicating his confusion. It wasn't a query he had anticipated, and he wasn't entirely certain about Hotarubi's intent with that question. "Why?" Touwa repeated, tilting his head slightly, trying to decipher the context behind Hotarubi's inquiry. However, the following advice made much more sense to Touwa; it was practical guidance that he realized would be crucial for him to implement in his daily routine.
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As Hotarubi's lesson shifted into a practical phase, Touwa observed with keen interest as the clay clone emerged from the earth. He acknowledged Hotarubi's command to the clone to remain stationary and joined Hotarubi beside the motionless figure.
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Considering where he would target the clay clone in a hypothetical combat scenario, Touwa visualized the vulnerable points. "I would aim for its head, neck, or joints. Targeting these areas should incapacitate or hinder its movements," Touwa mentioned, displaying an understanding of vital points to strike.
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Touwa wasn't sure if Hotarubi was aware of his background, particularly regarding his mixed blood and possession of the Araikettei bloodline. The question made Touwa consider that possibility, though Hotarubi hadn't explicitly mentioned it. "Well," Touwa held up the tassel containing Ruiteki, his dormant form resembling an ordinary bell, "it's a bell."
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 213
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Akira

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[Akira]

This had been Taichou's idea so he supposed it was worth doing? Even as he explained he felt a level of satisfaction in knowing he had been helping, and being understood.

"Good." Hotarubi understood that Touwa had a good starting understanding (but otherwise: where else would you strike?) it was Hotarubi's intention that modelling after his own body, he would teach some of the points that he himself would go for. As he heard his response though, Hotarubi having walked around to stand parallel to the clone he had created would shift his weight to turn and stare at Touwa.

Hotarubi looked blank faced at the boy as he produced a bell. The bell that he hadn't given a second glance over area - and his face was quite obvious in showing the cogs, from the slight narrowing of his eyes as he stared - that he was not taking Touwa seriously.

Was he was trying to tell a joke, or what? Hotarubi would contain himself and try to move past it. "Ok. So - if you look at my clone body it's why is your weapon a bell? Are you stupid? Am I stupid?" Hotarubi failed to move past it as his mind track got pulled heavily by the gravity of the stupidity that he felt he was hearing. It was not Hotarubi's fault: he had never heard nor known of the Araikettei. It had not occurred to him that the buzzing was in his brain was that he had - but he would never know who it was. "This isn't like a Genjutsu thing, right? It's a sword disguised as a bell?"

For Touwa's sake, it would have been easier to explain that it was a disguise and that in fact he did, hold a sword - not a bell that turned into a sword, than to try and convince the man that what he was holding was in fact a sword and not a bell. He pinched the bridge of his rock nose. "I'm -" this was painful to the man. But if Touwa expected Hotarubi to say anything, nothing would come after, leaving the boy in a potential silence.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa detected a shift in Hotarubi's expression as he presented the bell, and a strange pause hung in the air. Hotarubi's blank-faced stare at the bell made Touwa wonder if he had missed a crucial detail or if there was a misunderstanding. However, when Hotarubi spoke, his tone carried a mixture of confusion and incredulity.
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"Ok. So - if you look at my clone body, it's why is your weapon a bell? Are you stupid? Am I stupid?" Hotarubi's reaction caught Touwa off guard, and he struggled to grasp why Hotarubi found the bell so perplexing. The mention of Genjutsu further added to the confusion.
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Before Touwa could respond, Hotarubi continued, "This isn't like a Genjutsu thing, right? It's a sword disguised as a bell?" The frustration in Hotarubi's voice was palpable, and Touwa sensed that trying to explain the intricacies of the Araikettei would likely be a futile effort.
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Realizing that Hotarubi had no knowledge of the Araikettei, Touwa decided to keep it simple. "Well, in a way, you could say it's a blade of some sort," Touwa replied, not wanting to delve into unnecessary details. It seemed that attempting to explain the nature of the bell would only add confusion to the lesson, and it wasn't the primary focus anyway. "Isn't he a bit dumb," the two voices only Touwa could hear - Ruiteki, "That's rude." And it was quiet again. "It's a weapon I'm comfortable with, and it has its advantages."
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Touwa decided to steer the conversation back to the lesson at hand. "So, back to Taijutsu. What would be the most effective way to strike the clone considering my weapon or let's say the lack of it?"
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
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The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 279
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Akira

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[Akira]

Hotarubi couldn't help but tut and make noise as the boy responded. "And my grandmother was a bike," Hotarubi would shake his head but betwixt by whatever the kids were up to these days, he would choose to try and move on from it. But if that was what he was comfortable with - then fine. Even if Hotarubi didn't believe it at this conjecture he did have to wonder what Touwa knew that he did not, since it was clearly lacking.

Hotarubi shrugged. His death.

"ya." He agreed with Touwa and his bell. Bloody bell. One final look between the boy and his bell and Hotarubi would turn his attention to the clone now that he had aired out his thoughts that were pressing against his skull. "You chose good spots. Here, here-" he pointed out the ones that Touwa had mentioned. "If I'm thinking about an attack, I'm trying to solve problems. If we're being simple, it's problem solving. It depends on who you are: taijutsu user? Crush them. Take out the thing they need -" he crouched down, using his hand to pull at the clone's leg to grab at the ankle. "Or here - the big fleshy bit. The thigh: where one of the veins are - but if you can't hit that-" then at the middle of the clone's thigh. "Through this will hinder their walking ability."

Then there was the obvious stuff. "If it's a ninjutsu user, the wrists- the fingers. They're harder to hit, mind: so why not the underside." the man would raise his arms and point to his armpit. "Big area: one side of the body - all yours for the taking." Those were opportunities for the boy and his bell to harm. But there was so much more to learn. Hotarubi anticipated that this would take a while.

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[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa's attempt to simplify the explanation of his weapon didn't seem to alleviate Hotarubi's confusion, but he opted to move past the matter. Despite the lingering oddity surrounding the bell, Hotarubi acknowledged Touwa's preference. Hotarubi nodded as Touwa steered the conversation back to Taijutsu, focusing on the most effective ways to strike the clone considering the peculiar weapon—or lack thereof.
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Hotarubi's explanation of targeting a taijutsu user's crucial points, like the legs or thighs, made sense to Touwa. He mentally noted the strategic advantage of hindering an opponent's mobility. When Hotarubi mentioned attacking the wrists, fingers, or the underside of a ninjutsu user's arms, Touwa visualized the vulnerable areas, realizing the practicality of aiming for larger and more accessible targets. Touwa nodded in acknowledgment as Hotarubi spoke about seizing opportunities, recognizing that understanding an opponent's weaknesses was essential in combat.
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Touwa stepped forward, his gaze focused on the motionless clay clone. Returning Ruiteki to his dormant form, he tied it back onto his tassel, he began his assault. The strike aimed at the clone's thigh was swift and accurate, displaying the precision Hotarubi had emphasized. Touwa followed it up with strikes to the legs, focusing on the joints and the fleshy parts Hotarubi had highlighted. He then transitioned to targeting the wrists and the underside of the clone's arms. Each strike was calculated and aimed at the vulnerable areas that could hinder an opponent's ability to perform hand signs or defend effectively.
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"Like this?" he asked Hotarubi, not quite sure if it was all right to attack the clone, but well he already did.
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 265
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Akira

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[Akira]

With the bell out of his mind he would allow and watch Touwa - evaluating him even in his mind.

And Touwa's strikes would mark true for a target that did not move as it sliced through with some push back - like getting through some particularly hard butter and it would cough back the color of grey against his weapon. Hotarubi nodded once. Effective strikes. Not helpful if they were moving but it was best to at least give some experience before stepping it up to the next stage. "Yes."

"Again, remember how I said it's all about problem solving? Well, what if the person steps forward - their body is faced sideways to you. What do you attack?" Hotarubi would expectantly watch. There would be no movement. "Move, dickhead." Hotarubi ordered the clone after a few seconds, as it had not assumed the position that he had ordered it to (or rather, contextually 'implied') and the clone would assume a fighting style position: arms up - like boxing. The clone's hands were not fully closed, though: with the arms raised up to the torso and his right leg forward.

And his intent would that they would do this a few more times. Then he would be able to add blocks, attacks, movement, situational awareness. "The point of these exercises is to build up your move set. Sometimes your environment will have a wall to use. Sometimes there will be a civilian in your way, sometimes there will be a weapon in their hand that stops you from approaching. Take a new fighting position- and change it every 5 seconds." he ordered the clone for Touwa to go through a second bunch of attacks yet again - and again - and again.

"There will be people who are so strong they could blow a hole through your chest. Do you want to kill them, or are you incapacitating them? What about if they're trying to harm someone you love? You need to know how to make those questions disappear during a fight, you don't want to be thinking about it at the time you're doing it - but you need to be able to have the world's biggest flow chart in the back of your mind so that you can do what you need to whatever the circumstance." And that was it: that was his epistemology, not that even knew the word himself. That was his view: having a response and a reaction to any action if he wasn't causing it himself.

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