[Futago Kumori]

Kumori was honestly a bit disappointed in herself for having lost in the previous round, even if it was more because she just didn't want to harm a fellow Kusagakure shinobi rather than due to an inability to perform effectively. In a sense, they were a bit similar, although for different reasons. Now, though, this meant that she had to succeed in this round or risk making herself look like a poor combatant, and in her own village no less. At least this opponent wasn't also from Kusagakure, and so she wouldn't really have to hold back so much. She'd still need to make sure she doesn't actually kill her opponent, but she can at least go a little harder than she would against a fellow countryman. She enters the arena after making sure she's fully restocked on the previous equipment, as well as recovered her chakra to be ready for this battle.

She notices her opponent has a pair of swords at least, as well as a bow, and she recognizes that this is going to be a fight between two weapon users now. This was a bit odd, and she has to wonder if her Kusa Lord was pitting her against opponents that she had something in common with. She was from the same village as Azusaki, and now she was likely facing up against someone who was also skilled in weaponry, just as she was. Not that there was much to worry about; she pulls the larger of the two blades from her back, not even removing it from its sheathe, as she much preferred to use the giant blade in this form, and it would be more effective for blocking any arrows that might be launched her way; not that her opponent would hopefully have much room to do so during this fight, as she intends to keep close to her opponent. With a firm mental squeeze, she can feel her body flooded with adrenaline, and her eyes stay locked onto her opponent as she suddenly moves, using both hands to wield her greatsword so she can move it quickly to be able to block an incoming attack as she advances towards this stranger known as Kaoru, her raven-black ponytail flying out behind her as she moves. Just to be on the safe side, she sends Fuuton chakra rushing through the mesh armor shirt underneath her clothing, ensuring that she has some additional protection as she runs in on her armed opponent.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Having won the last fight by technicality, Kaoru was rather displeased with the situation as a whole, though maybe this fight would be a bit more fun. He was going against another swordsman after all, though the girl used a much larger sword than he was used to fighting, which meant he'd either have to be agile or use a much stronger grip if he hoped to hold his own against the weight of her sword.

The smart move to start this match off would likely have been to shoot an arrow or two at her at first, try and soften her up, but having watched her match he knew she was wind aligned and could probably do better at ranged than him with her jutsu. Plus it was less fun to just shoot people, he only carried the bow for versatility.

Drawing his katana, the Taki Genin prepared himself for what was to come, the bells in his hair jingling with his movements as he got ready to fight. Instead of moving, he held his ground, waiting for his opponent to get close enough to him without launching a single attack. It was only when Kumori got close that he would suddenly leap forward, his sword lashing out at her with Migi Ichimonji Giri in an attempt to throw her off balance. The heavy horizontal slash would almost certainly be blocked, but the goal was less to hit her, and more to disrupt her flow.

"Well hello to you too," he remarked dryly once close enough.

---

Word Count: 257
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:
NAME: Migi Ichimonji Giri

RANK: C

CHAKRA USAGE: Low

CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu

REQUIREMENT: Slashing/Bludgeoning Weapons

DESCRIPTION:

Another building block of the style, this strong sweeping cut is capable of inflicting a great deal of damage if aimed correctly. Once in range of the enemy the user winds back and strikes in a crescent-like arc with their weapon at their target. This attack can gouge rock with the force it creates and rend flesh asunder.

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

Kumori's highly focused eyes keep track of the other shinobi's movements with a careful consideration that's not likely to be expected of such a strong and quick fighter, but that was a benefit of her clan's hijutsu, giving her the temporary skill of being able to keep track of quick movements, as though they're moving in slow motion. It's easy enough to move her greatsword to the side, moving with a honed grace and strength, and twisting the blade so that the flat of the sheathe catches the horizontal blow, though she keeps one hand on the other side of the blade in order to brace with a firm block. Using the strength in both arms, she feels certain she can stop his strike, although she is a little surprised at the power of the attack hitting her sword.

She's prepared enough for the sudden strike, at least, to be able to defend herself from the full force of the strike, and ignores the fact that he's speaking in order to thrust her blade forwards towards the center of his chest, stepping in as she twists the handle of her sword in order to use the wider size of her own blade to try and shove his smaller katana aside. She recognized the style of sword as being one favored by most of the Futago clan, though she was considered quite different from the rest of her family for her chosen larger blade. Hopefully with her thrusting attack, she can force him back or win the spar immediately; she's careful to avoid the exact center of his chest, where his heart would rest, and deflects towards his ribs instead, going in the direction of his own sword. If the strike hit, it wouldn't kill him, but it would make the rest of the fight impossible for him to keep up. Her response to his words, when she finally recognizes that he spoke, was somewhat referential afterwards.

"Your breath is for fighting. Save it."

SPOILER: Click to show

Hijutsu Freak | Futago Clan Hijutsu SA (Activated)
As a member of the Futago clan, Kumori is capable of hyperstimulating her adrenal gland and allowing her to attain a temporary heightened state of awareness as well as an ability to ignore the shock put on her body for a short time from other forms of damage. While this effect can only safely last a couple of minutes at most, the rush this causes puts her on par with masters of focus for a short time, although the debilitating effects afterwards are harmful on their own and generally leave Kumori in a state of fatigue.

Speed Freak | Enhanced Speed SA
Kumori has spent a considerable amount of time training to be faster than the average shinobi, able to sprint and close distances quickly and easily, so long as there aren't any considerable obstacles in her way. Even without the use of her clan's hijutsu, Kumori's speed allows her to take others of similar levels of experience by surprise.

Muscle Freak | Strength SA
Futago Kumori's strength has improved greatly since training with the weighted wooden training sword, causing her musculature to improve drastically and allowing her to wield heavier and larger blades, as well as improving the power her arms and legs can provide for her. Her strength surpasses even regular Bukijutsu practitioners of her own rank.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

As the girl twists her blade in an attempt to bring the point of her massive weapon in line with him, Kaoru steps with the movement, keeping his own weapon in contact with hers, his left hand coming up to press against the spine of the katana to brace it against the much larger sword as he shoves it away and over the shoulder, trying to step in closer to her at the same time to hopefully make it harder for her to handle her weapon.

"What's wrong? Can't multi-task?" was the Taki-nin's quip as he lashed out with his leg, trying to kick her in the leg or ribs as hard as he could to maybe slow her down a bit, aiming for whichever target would put his limb least at risk of being damaged. Regardless of the success of the attack, Kaoru would disengage, stepping once more to the side in order to get closer to the girl's back and unleash the flurry of cuts of the Chikawaga technique, his katana turning into a flashing storm as he laid about her from what he hoped to be a less than ideal angle for her.

This wasn't meant to do more than put her on the defensive, and maybe get a few flesh wounds in, but it would hopefully give him enough breathing space to draw his wakizashi as well to bring the second weapon out into the fray. With a single clash he could tell he was going to need it against her.

His every movement was accompanied by the sound of the bells threaded into his hair, each chime blending together with how quickly he was moving.

---

Word Count: 276
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:

Chikawaga [Thousand Rill Fang]
[RANK] C
[CHAKRA USAGE] Low
[CLASSIFICATION] Bukijutsu
[DESC.]
The user emphasizes striking down the enemy with speed instead of power, dazzling foes with a barrage of flickering cuts. These nearly simultaneous attacks are not meant to split flesh with a single strike, as each cut only leaves a knife-like wound, but instead to overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers. This forces the foe to stay on the defensive, lest they risk being carved up by the user's sword.

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

Kumori's frown gets deeper when he seems to be taunting her about whether or not she can multitask, even as he steps in closer to her in order to put her blade's size at a disadvantage, although she's fairly certain she has a bit of advantage in this case; she merely twists her blade again, driving the katana away from her head in order to deflect it above herself. The kick aimed at her ribs is met with hard armor, armor that cushions against the attack before it even makes contact with the hidden steel. Before she can make good on a counterattack, though, the other shinobi disengages, and Kumori brings her blade back to a ready position, just in time for him to sidestep towards her back.

Unfortunately for the redhead, the darker-haired kunoichi finds him easy enough to keep track of; her speed training makes keeping up with him easy as well, spinning to face him and spinning the blade with her hands in order to smack away each of the strikes in a flurry of steel, while also building momentum. While Kumori didn't have many defensive techniques, she was lucky to have picked this one up, and she was even more lucky that her opponent was focused on fishing out a second weapon to attack her with, but she can't simply allow him to do that unchallenged. It was time to use one of her own clan's specialized sword techniques, and she needs her intense speed to do it.

"On the contrary. I think multi-tasking is something you have trouble with..."

She brings her greatsword forwards, making a motion like she's going to try and slice him apart at the waist in a feinting maneuver. However, instead of following through with the strike, she twists around him in the opposite direction of the swipe, using the maximum speed she can manage and turning the spin into a cutting diagonal strike aimed at his back.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Bureedo no Tate [Blade shield]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: None
CLASSIFICATION: Kenjutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:
This is a defensive technique. The user spins the sword in a circling motion in front of itself, so fast the blade blurs into one solid circle. Such a motion serves as excellent defense against multiple thrown weapons, be it kunai, shuriken or senbon. It can also protect against swordstrikes with great speed, but little power. Anything stronger might knock the blade out of your hand.

NAME: Nise yūrei [False Ghost]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Above Average Speed, Bukijutsu Spec
DESCRIPTION:
A basic technique compared to the rest, False Ghost consists of a rapid movement towards the enemy, with weapon brandished and open, and then slide past them without doing anything. The idea behind the technique is to make the opponent react to an obvious threat that is not actually there to react to, putting them off balance or causing them to expect something that isn't coming.

NAME: Nise no yūrei: Jitsugen kyōfui [False Ghost: Realized Fear]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: 0
REQUIREMENT: Above Average Speed, Bukijutsu Spec
DESCRIPTION:
A follow-up to the 'False Ghost' technique, that is used just after the user slips past their target, slicing open the opponents back with the brandished sword, bringing the fears into a reality. This can also be used with weaponry other than a sword, but the effectiveness diminishes with anything else.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

The Taki-nin found himself nodding in appreciation at his opponent's blocking maneuver, it was something that he might have to try and replicate in the future. That said, he had more pressing issues to deal with right now, namely the giant ass sword that was swinging towards him.

Maybe another swordsman would have had trouble drawing the second blade as he was, but Kaoru was a dual wielding swordsman above all else, it was his primary and best trained form of fighting. He could do the action in his sleep and with one arm lopped off, the only reason he started a fight with one blade was simply because few people could actually match him with two.

And that was boring.

Still, with the threat of the massive weapon looming towards him, his wakizashi flew out of his sheath with flames already licking the edge of the blade, the redhead leaping upwards with a spin as he attempted to form a tornado of fire with Kumo-Ryu Kaengiri to protect himself from her attack from any direction while hoping that the jump would bring him out of the range of her sweeping attack at his waist.

She had used wind in her last match right? So his Katon should be a deterrant. If it wasn't though he was ready with Senka if he needed to dodge quickly, where he would try and get enough distance to be safe.

---

Word Count: 237
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:

NAME: Kumo-Ryu Kaengiri - [Cloud-Style Flame Beheading]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: Katon
The user imbues their blade with fire before slashing in the direction of the desired enemy, resulting in the creation of large arcs of intense flame that follow the trajectory of the previous swing. A skilled user is capable of surrounding their immediate area with a circular wall of flame, incinerating multiple targets even if they approach from numerous angles simultaneously.

IF Realised Fear is continued he will also use


NAME: Subakage-ryū: Senka [New Shadow Style: Flash Blossom]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A
REQUIREMENT: Subakage-ryū: Hohō [New Shadow Style: Step Method]
DESCRIPTION:
While other Step Method techniques see the most use on the ground, Flash Blossom is designed specifically to be used in the air. When a shinobi is forced to leave the ground, intentionally or otherwise, they are often left more vulnerable. Flash Blossom was designed to remedy that somewhat. By pulling their knees up and putting a little chakra into their legs, and then kicking out, the shinobi causes air to rapidly compress, and eventually creates enough resistance that they push against the air.

Flash Blossom can redirect the shinobi three times per use, generally moving about three meters per step before they lose momentum and start falling. Using this technique a second time will cause extreme stress to the legs, and no Step Method techniques can be used for at least one turn. Extensive use of this technique can cause damage to the body, so it is best to be somewhat conservative.

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

Kumori finds herself facing down an attacker that manages to get out his second weapon, somewhat shorter than the first katana, but she can see the lick of flame already starting to leave the weapon as it slips from the sheathe, so she has to back away; her armor is protective, but there's no way she can take an attack with flames using her armor for protection when it requires the use of wind-natured chakra. Instead of trying to stay in and deflect the attack, she pulls away from her opponent, actually a little winded, which surprises her greatly; she had rarely been challenged in this way before, and it's somewhat even more surprising that she's facing off against a ninja from an enemy village with such a closely-matched fighter. And here she'd thought the Futago clan produced the best swordsmen in the ninja world.

Oddly enough, it actually causes her to open up a bit, and she smirks a little as the flames gradually die down, though she still holds her greatsword at a ready position, though the tip of her blade is pointed diagonally downwards, making her head look deliciously open for a strike.

"How odd for a Takigakure ninja to be using the Kumo-Ryu style of sword combat! You must expect me to respond with the Blade of Emotion style..."

While she was admittedly a bit disappointed that she didn't get the chance to make use of one of her clan's more basic Bukijutsu techniques with her very large greatsword, this challenge was a rare opportunity to try and find a weakness in her opponent's defense in order to exploit it; he was also highly skilled with wielding two blades, it seemed, and while their strength was comparable, his strength was split between two weapons while hers was focused on one larger steel blade; but where she was naturally very rapid as well, his two weapons could make her speed advantage negligible. For the moment, it might have been a draw.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Ushi, Tagayasu, Baka, Yane [Ox, Plow, Fool, Roof]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low, Very Low upkeep
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A

DESCRIPTION:
The four starting stances of the Gaikoku no Kenshi style, each referring to a different placement of the blade. It's quite easy and quick to move from one stance to another, which can sometimes cause confusion for how an opponent should approach the practitioner. Each stance is not a static position, but a dynamic position from which to strike or counter-strike an opponent's blows. The stances are as follows:

Ushi | Ox: In the ox stance, the handle is raised to face-level, with the point aimed forwards. The blade is typically situated vertically, with the right hand gripping closer to the handguard and the left hand nearer the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.
Tagayasu | Plow: In the plow stance, the handle is brought low to the hips, with the point aimed forward and upwards at the opponent's neck or chest. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping closer to the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.
Baka | Fool: So-called because in a static appearance, the fool's guard does indeed look useless. The handle of the blade is extended forwards, with the tip of the sword pointed towards the ground and the user leaning forwards. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping closer to the pommel. The knees are slightly bent, with both feet are pointed towards the opponent. In such a position, the head is noticeably exposed
Yane | Roof: Another seemingly very "open" stance. In such a stance, the handle of the sword is either directly above the user's head, or over one of their shoulders, with the blade raised high. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping nearer the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

As the flames faded away to reveal his opponent ready and waiting for him, Kaoru quirked an eyebrow now that the girl seemed to be willing to talk now amidst the fight, though his head tilted slightly at the reference, "While Blade of Emotion might be a good response to the Kumo-Ryu, it's lethality does outweigh what we're allowed to use here for the most part. I would have thought perhaps a Bureibā maneuver to try and go above the flames, as your sword is quite large and well suited to the technique, and your strength and speed would make such a move difficult to counter."

He began to circle her as he considered her stance, one that he was not particularly familiar with, perhaps the style hadn't quite reached as far as Bonchi no Kuni, it somewhat resembled his own more careless open stance when he wasn't taking his opponent seriously, yet he could tell she was far more ready to respond than she might have looked.

"I must admit, I haven't seen that stance used before, but I can see the appeal," he stated, "it's a good response to the spins and wider movements of the Kumo-ryu, especially with a sword so well suited to thrusting compared to my weapons. It certainly makes it difficult to approach you..." Kumori might notice that the bells she had heard in his hair seemed to have gone silent, no longer jingling with every step.

"A shame we cannot use our higher level techniques, I would love to see what you could do," and with that he would launch himself forward, katana ready to try and redirect her blade while the Wakizashi was brought up to his stomach, ready to lash out and slice towards her if he got close enough with a Migi Ichimonji Giri. 

---

Word Count: 304
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:

NAME: Migi Ichimonji Giri

RANK: C

CHAKRA USAGE: Low

CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu

REQUIREMENT: Slashing/Bludgeoning Weapons

DESCRIPTION:

Another building block of the style, this strong sweeping cut is capable of inflicting a great deal of damage if aimed correctly. Once in range of the enemy the user winds back and strikes in a crescent-like arc with their weapon at their target. This attack can gouge rock with the force it creates and rend flesh asunder.

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

It was actually quite interesting to be holding a conversation with someone who would normally be an enemy ninja. She rarely had a conversation with anyone as well-versed in weapon styles as she was, and this Kaoru person seemed to be just as aware of various styles, even referencing the Daikentō style, although she actually, surprisingly, smiles at his statement that using the Bureibā technique to attack from above the flames.

"Such an attack would be quite useful, given I had some method of either distracting you or otherwise keeping you busy, but I find that the Bureibā maneuver used against someone of superior or matching skill merely leaves me at a disadvantage if a counterattack is coming."

She watches him as he circles around her, carefully turning her body, feet and blade first, and then her head and body to always keep him in front of her and ensuring that he doesn't have a chance to attack at her side or back, where she might be dangerously more open. His statement that he's never seen her stance used before gives her a bit more confidence in the likelihood that she'd be able to defeat him, although this attack is likely to only work once, should it work at all.

"Yes, well, I've rarely seen someone use two blades at the same time, I feel perhaps I should incorporate that into a fighting style of my own sometime."

She frowns a bit at the strangeness of the fact that the bells in his hair are no longer making noise as they once did. Kumori finds it curious, but is unsure of what to make of it. For now, since he's used the Kumo-Ryu as well, she might as well make use of her own more destructive attack. She winces a little when she activates her clan's hijutsu again, and she knows she's going to feel the headache for the rest of the day, but she catches sight of his attempt to use his katana to push away her greatsword. With just a quick twist, she allows the katana to slip past, putting him close enough to her for a seriously dangerous counterattack, should he try to follow it up with an attack of his own; with a rapid movement of straightening her arms and wrists, the greatsword rises up rapidly, as though she's aiming to cut his chin as the sword follows through into the Roof stance, keeping the point trained on him in order to keep him from moving in on her further by using the longer reach of her blade.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Hiretsuna Kōgeki [Sneaky Strike]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A
REQUIREMENT: Ushi, Tagayasu, Baka, Yane [Ox, Plow, Fool, Roof]

DESCRIPTION:
So-named because the strike is actually coming from below, this attack starts in the Fool's Guard stance, and instead of attacking with the forward edge, the attack actually comes from the false edge and tip of the blade, moving upwards at the opponent, all the way up into the Roof stance. The attack starts with the blade tip being driven up by the straightening of the wrists and arms, with the arms then being used to drive the point of the blade upwards. Such an attack is usually done in response to an attack performed to the practitioner's exposed head in the Fool's Guard stance.

NAME: Ushi, Tagayasu, Baka, Yane [Ox, Plow, Fool, Roof]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low, Very Low upkeep
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A

DESCRIPTION:
The four starting stances of the Gaikoku no Kenshi style, each referring to a different placement of the blade. It's quite easy and quick to move from one stance to another, which can sometimes cause confusion for how an opponent should approach the practitioner. Each stance is not a static position, but a dynamic position from which to strike or counter-strike an opponent's blows. The stances are as follows:

Ushi | Ox: In the ox stance, the handle is raised to face-level, with the point aimed forwards. The blade is typically situated vertically, with the right hand gripping closer to the handguard and the left hand nearer the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.
Tagayasu | Plow: In the plow stance, the handle is brought low to the hips, with the point aimed forward and upwards at the opponent's neck or chest. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping closer to the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.
Baka | Fool: So-called because in a static appearance, the fool's guard does indeed look useless. The handle of the blade is extended forwards, with the tip of the sword pointed towards the ground and the user leaning forwards. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping closer to the pommel. The knees are slightly bent, with both feet are pointed towards the opponent. In such a position, the head is noticeably exposed
Yane | Roof: Another seemingly very "open" stance. In such a stance, the handle of the sword is either directly above the user's head, or over one of their shoulders, with the blade raised high. The blade is situated vertically, with the right hand gripping nearer the handguard and the left hand gripping nearer the pommel. The knees are slightly bent with the forward foot pointed at the opponent, and the back foot pointed outwards at a 45 degree angle.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

Nodding slightly at the point that his opponent made, Kaoru found himself forced back with an upwards cut with the 'false' edge of the blade, something that he had been somewhat expecting purely based off of the stance that she was in, it was quick and would have split his chin if he hadn't been expeting such a move. "Well, that stance seems to be much sturdier than I hoped it would be," he commented, continuing to pace around to see how strong her footwork was. Perhaps in Bonchi no Kuni he would have held an advantage with its thick jungle sediment and slippery roots... maybe, but here in Nohara no Kuni there was nothing that would impact form and hers was as good as his own.

He began to circle her as he considered her stance, one that he was not particularly familiar with, perhaps the style hadn't quite reached as far as Bonchi no Kuni, it somewhat resembled his own more careless open stance when he wasn't taking his opponent seriously, yet he could tell she was far more ready to respond than she might have looked.

"Your blade is rather excellent for defence, especially when combined with your own speed and strength," he commented as he readied himself for the next attack, he wasn't nearly as prepared to be on the defensive so he was going to have to keep up the attack. "If it weren't so much more interesting this way I'd have to resort to trickery to try and overcome it, but that's boring" having continued his pacing around her in an attempt to lull her into some sort of complacency, Kaoru readied himself to attack once more.

"Let's see how you respond to this," taking a step back the other direction he lashed out, first with the Katana and then with the Wakizashi, both with an intensely powerful thrust courtesy of Kokawaga, each blade aimed at a different location to force her to block more throughly before turning it into a barrage of five separate thrusts. 

---

Word Count: 342
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:

Kokawaga [Brook-Carving Fang]

[RANK] C

[CHAKRA USAGE] Low

[CLASSIFICATION] Bukijutsu

[DESC.]

A single stone-piercing thrust is delivered to the target, powered by the flexing of nearly all of the upper body muscles. With its great force, the act itself carries enough weight to carry the user behind the blade, pulling them as far as five meters in the direction of the attack. Continuous thrusting creates a dangerous volley, constantly challenging the enemy's defenses and preventing them from properly disengaging from the user.

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

Kumori can't help but to give a bit of a bitter smirk when Kaoru compliments the sturdiness of her stance, and she finds it rather easy to keep track of him; while he was quick, she was faster at turning to follow his movements as he circles around her. It was indeed a form she'd trained herself, and now she felt somewhat justified in her own training for this new style of swordsmanship. She keeps her sword's tip trained on Kaoru's position, though her sword position changes slightly, between an Ushi stance, the Yane stance, the Tagayasu to keep him guessing where the attack is going to be coming from. He continues his compliments of her style, and she finds it only right to respond in kind with his flattery.

"And both of yours are excellent for wearing down or even outmaneuvering most defenses with both of your swords pulling offensive duty. I'm glad you've been entertained so far; the feeling is mutual."

Her eyes squint when he gives her another challenge and moves down to a ready stance for an attack, and Kumori activates her hijutsu one last time to be able to keep track of every slight movement of her opponent; with her own wild speed, she uses both hands in order to maintain full control of her massive greatsword, though each thrust causes her to be pushed back more and more. Regardless, she knows she likely wouldn't do well with trying to dodge away, because she might be caught by the next thrust; instead, she lets him press her back until her back is against the wall, bracing herself against it, then thrusting the flat of her greatsword back against him, trying to use their combined strength and the wall she's bracing herself against in order to make the thrust attack push him back instead. Hopefully, with enough room put between themselves, she might engage in one more counterattack.

Should she have put some distance between the two, she grips the handle hard with both hands so she can pour her full strength into wielding it before she swings her longer sword in a wide arc, rapid in its speed. Now Kumori is the one using a Kumo-Ryu technique to put Kaoru back on the defensive, though she could feel the time slipping for the fight; they were running out of time, and it might end up going to a draw if they couldn't have a decisive winner.

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Ryote (Two Hands)
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low,
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:
A surprisingly ignored school of thought, this basic technique involves grasping the sword hilt with two hands, instead of one. The effectiveness of the technique depends on the user, but it will always increase the strength of the blows, which is the root of the Strong Dragon Style

NAME: Kumo-Ryu Mikazukigiri - [Cloud-Style Three days' Moon Beheading]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The user swings their sword in a single, large, crescent moon-shaped arc, which occurs with such ferocious velocity that the technique can be employed in situations where only a very limited time to react is available. The swing can be used to counter attacks from multiple opponents simultaneously.

[Tokonatsu Kaoru]

Tokonatsu Kaoru

While his attacks didn't get through, as expected, he did manage to push the girl back until she reached the wall of their arena, his final blow sending himself backwards instead with what was a well timed redirection of his strength on her part. The sudden counter attack forced him to nearly flicker out of view as he moved back out of range with Subakage-ryū: Shunpo in order to avoid getting sliced clean in half, a wide grin on his face. He would have liked to have blocked the attack, but there was no way that he could against someone as strong as her while he was dual wielding.

"Hahahahaha," he couldn't help but laugh, "now I really regret the fact that we're so restricted. I don't think I'm getting through your defences with what I am allowed to use. Not with that speed and the size of your sword, ah... our battle could have been legendary." The redhead was aware of the time and his smile turned slightly bitter at the fact that they couldn't go all out. "it's a shame, it seems our only chance will be on the field of battle. You are skilled, and you seem like a decent person, I would hate to kill you..." he didn't attack further, stepping backwards more to give additional room while he waited, either for her to attack once more or the time to run out, whichever came first.

"Maybe next time, ne?" It was such a disappointment, to find someone here that could give him a true challenge and be unable to actually fight her properly. And likewise, to know she was having to hold back as well. It certainly ruined some of the enjoyment of the fight, as good as it had been.

---

Word Count: 296
Combat Information:

SPOILER: Click to show

Relevant SAs:
Strength of the Samurai
Coming from a long samurai lineage, coupled with intense physical training, Kaoru has far greater physical strength than most other people of his rank. Even amongst the Bukijutsu and Taijutsu specialists he stands amongst the top in terms of his raw physical power.

Enhanced Chakra Reserves
Kaoru's body contains a vast well of chakra, able to perform even the most chakra intensive jutsu around without having to worry about running out.

Jutsu Used:

NAME: Subakage-ryū: Shunpo [New Shadow Style: Flash Steps]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Low-High
CLASSIFICATION: Taijutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
HANDSEALS: N/A
REQUIREMENT: Subakage-ryū: Hohō [New Shadow Style: Step Method]
DESCRIPTION:

Within the Step Method's branching techniques, the Flash Steps is the most refined for pure velocity and acceleration in one, linear direction. From the point of origin until the shinobi stops, they are able to move at an incredible pace, practically vanishing from sight. However, this is an incredibly taxing method of movement, and if used to move too far it can stress the body. It cannot reach the speed granted by Body Flicker, but it is not quite as devastating on the user. Traveling beyond fifteen meters with one step will cause great stress to the body. It still has a high chakra cost, but the muscle strain will immobilize the shinobi for one round as their body recovers. It is possible to utilize multiple flash steps back to back, but cost must be paid individually.

1-5m (Low)

6-10m (Medium)

11-15m (High)

Tags: Futago Kumori

[Futago Kumori]

Kumori can't help but to sigh when her own strik doesn't reach her opponent, who utilizes another technique in order to put a great deal of distance between himself and her. She can see now that the timer is winding down with mere seconds left on the fight clock, ensuring g that she wouldn't really be able to do a follow-up attack to ensure a victory. While she might not have had an amazing showing in the first round with a loss and a draw, no wins. At the very least, Kaoru is giving her more praise, and she finds him worthy of some similar praise.

"You are also very skilled and a decent person; I would hate to die."

There is a hint of sadness in her final words, despite the mirth within it. She would almost wish she and he could fight on the same side, instead of opposing one another. No matter, the fight was done, and she heard the ending buzzer just then.