[Uchiha Izusa]

Aside from the mind

---

Another day, another hands-on lesson in the Shinobi Arts. In regards to his students one particular instructor tried to give them all equal time and attention, but one amongst them required more due to circumstances in her own life.

Loss, injury, tragedy— things most ninja had or would have experience with at one point or another. Hyūga Hinoe had her run-in with these factors younger than most and as a result her trajectory in Konoha's academy was drastically altered. "We need to rectify this." Izusa thought as he made his way to one of the institutions gyms. "I do."

Usually, students were only fast-tracked due to their own impressive talents, but in this case he thought it appropriate. From what little he knew of the girl's situation she'd spent enough time waiting and remaining stagnant through no choice of her own. Now, it would be up to Hinoe to rise to the occasion and take back control of her own path. And though Izusa's role in teaching Konoha's youth was merely a front... he had faith in her to do just that. 

So he sent for her, the same way as he did their first lesson. Once she arrived another faculty member would direct her to the gymnasium where he stood in wait, already stretching his shoulders in warmup for the lesson to come.

"Hinoe-chan." The instructor would greet her with a smile and a nod. "I thought you might appreciate some indoor learning this time around." He said, a small laugh escaping his lips as he gestured for her to approach and took hold of his own arm once more. "Join me in some stretches. We'll both need to limber up for today's lesson." With that, he would continue mostly in silence, making sure to hit all of the major muscle groups in his upper body first. Still, something was nagging at him on the inside. An oversight on his part brought about by his own many distractions and constant fretting over his dual responsibilities. So eventually he asked a simple question. "How've you been?"

Glancing to stare at her as he raised an arm behind his head, gripped near his elbow, and began working on his triceps. "Are you adjusting alright since you've been back?" Some instructors took the strict, detached approach, thinking their only duty was to see kids through the academy and nothing more. Izusa on the other hand felt obligated to do more than simply run through the motions. Aspiring shinobi or not— these were still people at the end of the day and most of them children. Drilling without guidance, without empathy was how you ended up with a generation of cold-hearted killers. "It's how you end up with people like me." There were already enough of those.

The Shinobi World was in dire need of kindness and idealism... not more cynics wearing false, friendly faces while clutching a kunai behind their back. Izusa finished stretching his arm then moved to the other one while he waited for her reply. Training could wait just another moment longer, so for now, they could just talk as they prepared. 

---

[Hyūga Hinoe]

Hinoe was a little bit surprised to receive another summons from Uchiha Izusa. It was usually standard practice for Academy instructors to not favor any particular student, unless said student exhibited some special gift or high level of proficiency. Hinoe didn't think she fell into either category. As a matter of fact, she was one of those who didn't have the best prospects. She knew that many assumed she just wanted to get through the Academy, so that she would officially be a ninja, and there she would stop. But she had always wanted to serve her village, and stopping at the level of Genin didn't appeal to her.

Following the directives of the faculty member who had come for her, Hinoe made her way to the Academy gym, where the Chuunin awaited her. "Hey, Izusa-sensei," the Hyuuga replied to his greeting, though she did not smile in return. It wasn't like she had anything against the Uchiha. As a matter of fact, it was because she found him attractive that she had to be careful. And for Hinoe, being careful was attempting control as much as possible. She would have greeted him more formally, but Hinoe remembered Izusa was not a fan of formality.

The invitation to join Izusa in preparing via stretches was answered with a silent nod. Hinoe was certainly not going to have any issues with the stretches, being quite limber herself. She began her own series of stretches, languidly working her muscles as she waited for the lesson proper to begin. She had been expecting silence to reign during the stretching, when the Uchiha asked a question.

It should have been easy to answer; it was the sort of thing that was usually asked in generic greetings. Still, this was not a greeting. Was he simply asking to make small talk, or did he care? Izusa glancing at her would notice that Hinoe had paused, a slightly confused look on her face, although she continued stretching when she noticed he had looked at her. She did not say anything for a moment, even after he asked if she had been adjusting alright, after resuming her Academy studies. "I am," she finally said laconically. "Thank you for asking."

Even though few words had been said, Izusa, being the insightful person he was, would sense a number of emotions in the words. There was gratitude; she meant her thanks, but there was also something wary in her tone, the unasked question as to why he cared. When she thought he wasn't looking, Hinoe would steal a glance at Izusa's face, trying to see if she could read anything in his expression. Unlikely that she would, though.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

A shinobi's best weapon...

---

A slight nod of acknowledgement followed the student's greeting, and as she joined him in stretching he took careful note of her mannerisms. Hints of confusion showing in her face, a moment of quiet thought, no blush this time.

Izusa was certainly no mind reader but he was practiced when it came to insight so he could make a few solid guesses. "Maybe she's not used to someone showing real concern." Was his first thought. It wasn't an uncommon sentiment what with many Ninja Clans prioritizing martial skill and training over the well-being of their own.

The Uchiha were a prime example of such a thing. "Of course." The instructor replied kindly, his soft smile holding as he finished up with his arms and moved onto his legs. "I feel like we focus so much on the Ninja Arts here that other things fall to the wayside." Izusa began explaining, shifting his weight to squat on one foot as he tensed the quads in his opposite leg. "So if you ever need to talk about anything—" He turned to glance at Hinoe. "I'm here."

It was the same level of concern he'd show to any of his students. Uzumaki Ataru, Hyūga Tamiko, Nara Shun, Hinoe, and the others all had led very different lives with varying challenges. Though his role as an instructor was a guise for some of his shadier duties... he did genuinely care for the students under his supervision. They weren't just some responsibility heaped upon him by the village, they were the future. As best as someone like him could...

...he was here to guide them so that they might turn out better than he ever was. "I think that's enough of a warmup." Izusa said as he stood up straight and faced Hinoe. "Today is all about taijutsu. You and I will spar."

A perfect subject for someone with her clan's talents. "But first..." The instructor took a few steps backwards so that he was squared off with the student, the mats cushioning the floor hugging his sandals as he did so. Wordlessly, Izusa placed his left hand in front of him and raised his first two fingers in a half-Tora seal. The Seal of Confrontation.

Once she'd reciprocated he would adopt a loose stance. Right hand near his chest, left arm held higher and slightly out in front of his body as he spaced his feet apart and lowered his center of gravity. "Whenever you're ready."

---

[Hyūga Hinoe]

This Izusa was a strange one. Most instructors simply did the bare minimum, which was teaching students. Those students who sought attention by disrupting the class earned the instructors' wrath, as the instructors were displeased at being made to expend more effort than they had bargained for. Students like Hinoe, who put in effort to not draw extra attention to themselves, were mostly ignored, unless they had some talent which put the spotlight on them. In a way, Hinoe liked flying under the radar. She was most comfortable observing others, rather than being observed. Having someone show concern for her wellbeing was... unexpected. But she did not disapprove.

Hinoe nodded her thanks with a grateful smile at Izusa's offer to talk about stuff. And indeed, there was a lot of stuff Hinoe had been still trying to unpack. But she wasn't sure she was ready to unburden herself, only because it made her feel vulnerable. Just like those years spent on the hospital bed. She had been vulnerable for so long. Far too long.

It seemed the lesson for today would be taijutsu. As a Jyuken practitioner, Hinoe did not feel particularly worried about engaging in hand-to-hand combat. However, her opponent outranked her by a wide margin. She could not be arrogant. Just as silently, Hinoe performed the Seal of Confrontation, and took a Jyuken stance quite similar to the one Izusa currently had, except that her left arm was more extended, and her palms were open.

"Here I come!" she exclaimed, dashing forward to throw a sequence of three palm strikes at the Chuunin.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Is their own body

---

A nod and a smile— he could feel good about that.

Not unlike Hinoe's relative Tamiko, the young woman seemed so serious most of the time. An admirable quality as far as shinobi-related happenings were concerned, but still... Izusa couldn't help but worry about their minds.

Theirs was a world of unending, unrealistic expectations. Clan, village, the shinobi world at large, all pressuring them in different ways. It was why he strove to take such a different method in his teachings. To on one hand prepare them for their responsibilities to come, and on the other provide an atmosphere where they could be themselves.

Here, with him, if nowhere else. "Let's see what you've got." Izusa replied as he watched the Hyūga adopt her clan's signature Jūken stance, both similar yet just slightly different to the one's he'd seen before. Then, she charged forth.

Rushing at him before launching a series of palm strikes at him. "One." He counted as his feet carried him to the side, avoiding the first strike. "Two." A backpedal this time as fluid as his sidestep. "Three." Izusa's left hand rushed downward to swat the student's final strike away. "Not bad." He said... then it was his turn to attack. The instructor's right hand flashed outward towards Hinoe's right shoulder clenched into a fist. Almost simultaneously he stepped forward, sliding his right foot towards her feet in an attempt to trip her up. Finally came his left hand, thrust at her midsection in the form of an open palm strike. Three attacks for three attacks, counting on his experience to help turn up the pressure on the student and hopefully create some distance between them. "Your attacks are swift..."

Izusa said, taking a moment to reset his stance as his eyes moved towards her hands. "But they need to be swifter." It was a tricky thing to try and coach someone on a style of taijutsu that was such a closely guarded secret amongst her clan. Regardless, there were always a few fundamental things that applied to every type of fighting. "Use your hips when you strike, not just your arms." The instructor said, demonstrating a small twist near his waist as he threw a mock punch. "Put your whole body into it." Jūken was gentle for a good reason, but it could always be honed and strengthened. Anything could be made better with enough practice. "Now..." Izusa said, narrowing his eyes. "Again."

So far, he was impressed with what he was seeing. Hinoe was clearly well-trained and even years away from the academy hadn't dulled her edge all that much. There was some rust... but that was what this was all for. To shake it off and narrow the focus of her skillset a bit. "Prove my assumption correct." He thought. "Show me that you're ready to graduate, Hinoe-chan." In the meantime, Izusa would simply maintain his guard and wait for her next attack.

---

[Hyūga Hinoe]

Hinoe felt like a child, seeing as how Izusa so easily evaded her palm strikes. But it was to be expected; if she was as skilled as he was, she would certainly not be still in the Academy. Her first attack was avoided by a sidestep. The second just fell short as the Chuunin moved just beyond Hinoe's reach, and the third was parried. He commended her moves... or was he taunting her? Well, that mattered little, as he was moving in to make his own attacks.

Hinoe clearly saw his first attack, a punch aimed at her shoulder. She was nowhere near as fast as Izusa, so she couldn't step out of the way, though she could at least move her body to weave round the punch. However, she was completely caught unawares by the sweep that came for her legs. The Hyuuga gave an alarmed yelp as both feel left the ground, shortly before she got the wind knocked out of her by the palm that sent her sailing a few feet away from the Chuunin.

That was embarrassing. She rose to her feet and dusted herself down casually, trying to look unruffled, as Izusa informed her of her need for more speed, and made some suggestions about improving her attacks. "You know, I was going easy on you, just because, you know, you're good-looking and stuff," the student answered, unable to hide her feisty side. Then she charged again, this time making a forward palm thrust, as she exhaled slightly, putting some chakra into her strike. Sure, this was a taijutsu class, but Jyuken involved using chakra, and Hinoe saw no reason why she couldn't attempt to revisit Izusa's previous lesson on chakra control. Another mild exhale, this one an attack with both hands, as she twisted her body, making a slightly spiraling motion, generating torque from her hips as she sought to nail him with that. This she followed up with a high kick aimed at the Chuunin's head, all the while trying to keep a tab on her chakra output.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

A shift in tempo

---

The telltale signs of frustration... these he knew well. Even as reserved and mild-mannered child he hadn't been above it. It was even harder to keep one's cool when you were being knocked on your behind by your sensei.

But there was something to be said about hand-on learning like this. "Sarutobi-sensei made sure to humble us plenty back when we were younger." He recalled, thinking back to the countless spars he'd participated in with the woman alongside Satoji and Ayame. "But she was a little less skilled at holding back." 'Go easy' was not in her repertoire.

Fortunately for his own students he opted for a different method. Izusa had just finished resetting his stance when he watched Hinoe rise from the ground and ready herself again. "Good looking?" The words echoed in his head as he raised an eyebrow. A distraction that served the young woman well enough as he charged once more. "...huh?" This time around the Hyūga attacked with much more ferocity. Her opening palm strike was met once more with a deflection near the wrist— but this time he felt something different. "Chakra!" It had to be. The Jūken was known for being a supremely damaging style of taijutsu and utilizing the energy in each strike. On one hand he was glad to see his student improving but on the other... "I do not want to be hit by that." Izusa's eyes widened just a touch as Hinoe followed through on her attack, twisting at the hips to send a dual palm strike at his now vulnerable midsection.

Relying on little more than pure reflex and instinct, he twisted his own torso in the opposite direction as both of his hands shot out to meet hers. In an attempt to catch her strike by gripping both of her forearms before it crashed into his stomach. Even if he was successful his body would jolt slightly from the force. "Excellent. Good form." A bit of encouragement came, but she wasn't finished yet. Out of the corner of her eye he spotted an incoming foot and did the only thing he could; release his grip and drop low to the ground with only a, "Woah!" for warning to evade.

Once there, he would place his palms flat on the mat, extend his right leg, and swing his entire body around in a complete circle. Attempting to use his Gachō to sweep her feet out from under her once before pushing off of the ground and leaping backwards to create some distance. The gap in skill was still clear... but she had forced him back.

No small feat for an academy student. "I see you've taken our last lesson to heart..." He replied as he quickly stood and raised his guard once more. This time he didn't stay still, keeping his focus on Hinoe as he strafed slowly to one side to see if she would match his movements. "Say that you've turned the tide of our fight... what next?" She had turned up the pressure and seemingly shifted the pace of the battle. Would she continue to press further or defend?

Different shinobi fought in different ways, but in his mind there was a clear and correct answer here. The approach he would take himself... would she do the same? "Don't go easy just for my sake." Izusa commented, continuing his sidestepping while keeping his front squared off against the young woman. Watching and waiting for her next move.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
NAME: Gachō [Goose]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:
Usually the third part of the Magamo > Kamo combo, the user drops low and delivers a powerful sweep to the legs of the opponent, forcing them to fall backwards due to the momentum still present from the Kamo kick, allowing the practitioner to follow up with a fourth and final move.

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

JISEISHIN - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

"Self control." Possessing only average chakra reserves, Izusa learned early on to keep his energy expenditure minimal. Using only the required amount of chakra and nothing more to perform his jutsu. This allows him to not only ration out his chakra more efficiently, but to remain active in battle for longer periods of time without tiring. Restraint is vital to any ninja.

SHARINGAN - KKG

Wielder of his clan's legendary dōjutsu, the Sharingan gives Izusa incredible sensory awareness. Color springs to life in vivid hues and his clarity is enhanced, making even chakra visible to his red eyes. Still incomplete since its awakening, it requires further improvement. As his one tomoe spins, his eyes allow him to perceive his opponent to an enhanced degree and follow their movements with more ease. Understanding firsthand the great cost that comes with furthering one's Sharingan, Izusa is in no rush to develop it soon. Instead utilizing it only when necessary and treating his Kekkei Genkai like any other skill. Notably, his dominant right eye has a tendency to activate first on its own when his emotions rise.

ONKOCHISHIN - INTELLIGENCE

"Review past, know future." An avid reader for as long as he can remember, Izusa is ever thoughtful. Scrolls on poetry, life, war, tactics, human nature— all providing him keen insight into others. Making him an experienced tactician. Applying this to his shinobi training, his sharp mind allows him to read situations and opponents expertly. Concocting masterful plans even in the midst of combat to compensate for his own shortcomings and capitalize on weaknesses in their defenses.

[Hyūga Hinoe]

Hinoe took note of the fact that Izusa seemed to have responded a little later than she had expected. Just a little bit, but she had noticed. He'd been distracted by her words, hadn't he? It seemed making distractions in the middle of combat had a lot of merit, as far as creating openings for attacks was concerned. Still, to her dissatisfaction, the Chuunin warded off her strike. Her follow up attack seemed to come closer to hitting, but Izusa grabbed her arms just before she made contact. Fortunately, she had prepared a kick, which would set her free, either by it connecting, or Izusa letting her go to avoid it.

The Chuunin chose the latter, and retaliated with a sweep, which caught Hinoe completely off guard, sweeping her feet out from under her the second time that day, and landing her on her back. Her face reddened with embarrassment. "Damn it... he's too fast..." she thought, staying in her supine position for a moment before drawing up her legs and rolling backwards and lifting herself into a handstand, then settling on her feet, taking a stance as she did so.

Hinoe noted the Uchiha's motion, even as he gave her a second commendation. "I had a great teacher," she replied, keeping her stance as she began walking in a circular trajectory, such that she would eventually intersect his path, unless he changed direction. His question made her tilt her head slightly in mild surprise. "We can't speak of such things in polite company," she replied with a straight face. Snark was her way of dealing with situations she wasn't sure of.
Also, she was hoping to create another distraction. The Hyuuga darted in, aiming a palm at his midsection, and attempting to follow it up with a sweeping kick; a taste of his own medicine. From there, she leaped into the air to perform a jumping spin kick, in the hopes that he would be lifting his foot to avoid her sweep.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Created to confound foes

---

As he moved, so did the young woman, almost mirroring his strafing and adjusting her stance accordingly.

"Excellent." He thought, pausing to switch his lead foot to see if she would do the same. "Her kata is good— certainly genin-level." Izusa even while holding back was no easy opponent, so to see her adapt was exactly what he wanted.

If she continued to showcase skill like this, her graduation exam would be on the horizon soon. A pithy response to his question prompted a raised eyebrow. "That... wasn't quite the answer I was looking fo—" An incomplete thought as the Hyūga suddenly darted forward once again. The instructor's eyes narrowed as he braced for the rush attack.

Dark eyes scanning her form as the first blow was unleashed. "She likes to open with that palm." He observed, his left forearm flashing upwards in an attempt to collide with the inside of her wrist and swat it away. Only to be met with a sweep of her own. "Once I lift my leg, then..." Just as she anticipated, he raised his foot to avoid losing his balance, leaving him an almost perfect stationary target for a follow-up strike. "Smart move." Izusa thought, raising his guard.

Hinoe's leg crashed into his side, the impact of it being disbursed by his raised arms... but it still stung. Rather than wait for her to come back down he seized the opportunity, pushing with all of his might to reverse her midair momentum, then thrusting both hands forward in a dual palm strike of his own. One at her shoulder, one at her hip.

In hopes of connected with her body and pushing her back a ways to create space. "Trying to distract me?" The instructor asked, his eyebrow raising again. "Clever, Hinoe-chan." As far as strategies went, it wasn't a bad one at all.

Battles were often one with the subtlest of ploys. "Use any and every tool to your advantage in battle. The enemy won't ever hesitate to do so... which means you shouldn't either." Izusa shook his right arm a bit before lowering his center of gravity and adopting his stance once more. Offensively, she was where she needed to be. "Now..."

Without warning, Izusa sprinted forwards, readying a single right-handed punch only to feint before he threw it, and instead lash out with a left-handed chop towards her abdomen. "Let's see how you defend!" Once that was delivered his right came back into play, another palm strike towards the same shoulder he had aimed for only moments earlier. Finally, he backpedaled hoping to keep out of range before sending a sandaled straight kick right at her midsection. 

Though their gap in experience and speed was apparent, he still held back enough to somewhat even the odds of their engagement. His purpose wasn't to swiftly defeat an academy student, but to gauge her fundamental skills and test how she reacted to his attacks. Only a few exchanges remained and he was eager to see the extent of her ability.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
N/A

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

JISEISHIN - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

"Self control." Possessing only average chakra reserves, Izusa learned early on to keep his energy expenditure minimal. Using only the required amount of chakra and nothing more to perform his jutsu. This allows him to not only ration out his chakra more efficiently, but to remain active in battle for longer periods of time without tiring. Restraint is vital to any ninja.

SHARINGAN - KKG

Wielder of his clan's legendary dōjutsu, the Sharingan gives Izusa incredible sensory awareness. Color springs to life in vivid hues and his clarity is enhanced, making even chakra visible to his red eyes. Still incomplete since its awakening, it requires further improvement. As his one tomoe spins, his eyes allow him to perceive his opponent to an enhanced degree and follow their movements with more ease. Understanding firsthand the great cost that comes with furthering one's Sharingan, Izusa is in no rush to develop it soon. Instead utilizing it only when necessary and treating his Kekkei Genkai like any other skill. Notably, his dominant right eye has a tendency to activate first on its own when his emotions rise.

ONKOCHISHIN - INTELLIGENCE

"Review past, know future." An avid reader for as long as he can remember, Izusa is ever thoughtful. Scrolls on poetry, life, war, tactics, human nature— all providing him keen insight into others. Making him an experienced tactician. Applying this to his shinobi training, his sharp mind allows him to read situations and opponents expertly. Concocting masterful plans even in the midst of combat to compensate for his own shortcomings and capitalize on weaknesses in their defenses.

[Hyūga Hinoe]

Sadly, Izusa did not get thrown off by Hinoe's attempts to deceive him, though it had been unexpected. Perhaps with some practice, she could get to the point where she could be a master of distractions. For now, though, she had an Academy instructor to fight with. The Chuunin parried her opening attack, but as she had hoped, raised a leg to avoid her sweep, reducing his mobility enough to ensure his inability to dodge when she made her jumping kick. "Got him!"

The kunoichi's elation quickly turned into consternation, as Izusa pushed back, reversing her momentum, before finishing with a double palm strike. Hinoe partially parried the one aimed at her shoulder, but that was about the best she could do, as she got flung back. "Landing on my back again... that would be utterly disgraceful..." the kunoichi thought, as she reflexively tried to control her chakra flow to counteract the aerial motion she was presently experiencing, thanks to Izusa's strike. It was almost instinctive, proof that she had been practicing her lessons on chakra control. And while there was no evident change in her trajectory through the air, Izusa would notice that she righted herself better than it would be normally expected of an Academy student. Seemed like chakra control lessons could be utilized anywhere.

And then it was Izusa's turn to attack. "Can I defend by looking cute and trying--" Her words were cut off as the instructor's attack sped in. Hinoe held out both hands as his attack at her midsection came, catching the chop with her palms and allowing the force of the strike to throw her slightly backwards. It was all controlled, though, and she landed on her feet. A palm strike was coming in quickly, and the student managed to parry it off, albeit clumsily. The kick, she was too slow to avoid, but she managed to block it with her other hand, even as the kick lifted her off the ground. Using her chakra rotation trick, she managed to find her feet again before reaching the ground.

A determined look on her face, Hinoe took a defensive stance, held it for a moment, and then screamed. "Owwwwww! Ow ow ow ow ow!!" She vigorously flicked the wrist of the hand Izusa had kicked, trying to relieve the pain by improving circulation, while giving him a look that suggested he should be ashamed of himself for kicking her like that.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Promptly ends the dance

---

To his satisfaction, the student didn't allow herself to fall for a second time after his counter.

Even without his dōjutsu active, he could tell that her control was improving. Not only during any training she might've been doing alone, but here, in real time before his eyes. "Fine work, Hyūga Hinoe." He thought, smirking.

Though his role as an instructor was only ever meant to be a guise, it was moments like these that made him wish he could go back in time. Refuse the true assignment he'd been given as a teen, somehow forge a different, brighter path for himself in the Shinobi World, allow himself to focus entirely on guiding the youth of Konohagakure no Sato...

...but even that notion was naïve. Was being a shadowed killer any more immoral than helping to forge a generation of child soldiers? Questions to debate with himself for another time. Either way, despite his misgivings, he felt pride.

In Hinoe for adapting mid-fight and for still putting in the effort despite her circumstances. "Catch." He narrated as his first strike sent her backwards a bit. "Parry." The second strike deflected off of her hand, a bit hurriedly but not unexpectedly due to their difference in ability. "Block." As his foot made contact with her hand, the girl was sent hurtling through the air. Izusa didn't let up, summoning all of his speed to quickly close the gap even as she corrected herself and landed on her feet. Hinoe yelped and shook her hand, offering him a disapproving look. But even that didn't halt his advance. Once near, one sandal slid along the matted floor, a leg flashing up, then towards her neck... 

...only for his shin to stop mere inches away from her neck. "Never forget yourself in combat." The instructor warned, his face growing stern even as he lowered his leg and stepped back a few paces.  "Don't lose focus— even for a second. A moment's lapse in concentration can mean the difference between life or death." It was in those near-imperceptible flashes of battle where victory was decided or defeat was assured. He could teach and lecture all he wanted, but until she experienced it for herself it couldn't ever be truly understood. "Your form still needs some work... but I'm glad to say that you're improving steadily, Hinoe-chan." Izusa said, his face slowly but surely relaxing.

Turning back into his trademark smile before too long. "I think we can call it here. Great work today." He said with a nod. Hinoe had lived up to his expectations thus far and he had no doubt she'd continue to do so. She had a hard path ahead of her, one that most of her peers would have the edge on as far as age went. But if there was anything he knew about the Shinobi World, it was that the number of birthdays one had was irrelevant. There were children stronger than him and middle-aged ninja who were far weaker. "Keep up the hard work." Another word of encouragement, his expression faltering a bit as his gaze shifted to the student's hand. "And..." A hand rose to rub nervously at his chin. "...maybe I did go a little overboard." Maybe Sarutobi Hinari did rub off on him after all?

"Oh, dear..." The instructor would mutter to himself as he thought about it. At least now no one could ever accuse him of going 'too easy' on his students again. He'd almost injured the poor girl. "Sorry about that!" A final shout would follow the girl as she departed, thoughts of his own sensei coming to mind. Hopefully she didn't sprain it...

---

SPOILER: Click to show

OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES:
N/A

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

JISEISHIN - ENHANCED CHAKRA CONTROL

"Self control." Possessing only average chakra reserves, Izusa learned early on to keep his energy expenditure minimal. Using only the required amount of chakra and nothing more to perform his jutsu. This allows him to not only ration out his chakra more efficiently, but to remain active in battle for longer periods of time without tiring. Restraint is vital to any ninja.

SHARINGAN - KKG

Wielder of his clan's legendary dōjutsu, the Sharingan gives Izusa incredible sensory awareness. Color springs to life in vivid hues and his clarity is enhanced, making even chakra visible to his red eyes. Still incomplete since its awakening, it requires further improvement. As his one tomoe spins, his eyes allow him to perceive his opponent to an enhanced degree and follow their movements with more ease. Understanding firsthand the great cost that comes with furthering one's Sharingan, Izusa is in no rush to develop it soon. Instead utilizing it only when necessary and treating his Kekkei Genkai like any other skill. Notably, his dominant right eye has a tendency to activate first on its own when his emotions rise.

ONKOCHISHIN - INTELLIGENCE

"Review past, know future." An avid reader for as long as he can remember, Izusa is ever thoughtful. Scrolls on poetry, life, war, tactics, human nature— all providing him keen insight into others. Making him an experienced tactician. Applying this to his shinobi training, his sharp mind allows him to read situations and opponents expertly. Concocting masterful plans even in the midst of combat to compensate for his own shortcomings and capitalize on weaknesses in their defenses.

[Hyūga Hinoe]

Hinoe had been expecting that Izusa would stop, after he performed his latest flurry of attacks. He did not. The Hyuuga inhaled sharply, as she took note of his leg swinging towards her, a little too late. If he hadn't stopped, that would have knocked her fair and square. And a kick to the neck was quite a dangerous thing. She remained in a frozen flinch, as the instructor cautioned her. "Yes sir!" the Hyuuga replied, her alarm making her switch unintentionally to a more formal tone.

Her face reddened slightly, as the tension of the situation was defused. "Why do I keep embarrassing myself in front of him?" she thought. "Stopping like that... that was such a rookie move...." But she was still technically a rookie, wasn't she? After all, she had not even graduated from the Academy. Still, Izusa seemed to think that she had some potential, concerning the matter of graduation.

Hinoe released a breath she wasn't aware she was holding in, when the Uchiha said to call it a day. Her hand hurt, but she was unwilling to fuss over it with him around, especially as he seemed to have noticed that he'd hit her pretty hard with that kick. "It's fine," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, as she stepped away from the instructor and bowed. "Thank you for your lesson-- again, Izusa-sensei." As she left, she couldn't help but smirk in amusement as the Chuunin called an apology after her. She would recover; it was no big deal. As long as one did not take irreparable damage, one could always heal and continue to move forward.

FINISHED

Uchiha Izusa