A wolf at sunrise.

Tengoku had been spending the night hunting with his pack. His own meat was roasting over a small fire with rocks placed around it in the clearing nearby. He had put together a spit roast of a wild pig while the wolves at everything that wouldn't normally be cooked. The insides, the head, the limbs. Really Tengoku was just cooking the empty torso. Still a good eight pounds of meat left from the large hog. More than enough to fill his belly once it was done. The three wolves were curled up next to each other under a nearby tree sleepily watching their alpha. He had changed a little since he first met them. Working on his mind as well as his body. He was up all night with the hunt which was fun but now the sun was just cresting the mountain and birds twittered for the early morning. Dew made the light reflect off the grass and the river running through the clearing. It was nice really. A narrow river barely bigger than a stream cutting through a clearing forty meters wide with tree's lining either side and one lone tree in the center where the wolves were resting.

Tengoku was ten meters from the tree which put him ten meters from the tree line in the center of the river. There was a large rock there. Probably some old earth jutsu that had been used in training here. It formed a nice and smooth circular platform. There Tengoku stood quietly. His eyes were covered by his headband as he reached out with his other senses. Getting used to relying on them without his sight. Tengoku was wearing black jeans tucked over work boots with the steel toe on the outside. For his upper torso he was wearing a black long sleeve v neck with a black chunnin vest on over it. On his left hip a poorly crafted katana but he was holding it tightly by the scabbard in his left hand. He was tall and lean but something about his arms underneath that shirt spoke of him needing a bigger shirt now. His arms were toned and his hands callused. His white hair hung messily on his head but two grey wolf ears twitched at the slightest sounds. A leaf fell from the tree ten meters away and slowly floated over near him. Slowly he would crouch down and hold his right hand over his hilt. Had he heard it? His left hand pushed out the guard with his thumb before his right hand snagged the hilt and drew it quickly. An accurate slice through the leaf cutting it almost perfectly in half. More like taking a third off the top but it was close.

---

Kagura was on cloud nine. While most of the recently graduated Genin were heading to celebrate with family or friends, and the brunette would certainly be doing that with her family very soon, the first thing she wanted to do was go and explore the Training Grounds that she had just been authorized to use for the very first time. She didn’t really plan to sit around and train all day, if she was being honest, but she definitely did want to check it out. Technically, even though she had graduated, she still technically hadn’t at the same time. The ceremony had been delayed, so she was going to have to wait a little while before she could get her official headband, figure out where the hell she was going to wear the thing, and then she could start working on all the rest. THEN she could celebrate, not prematurely like some of her idiot classmates.

Now, the brown-eyed swordswoman was not the most stealthy, not the strongest, smartest or the fastest... but she was probably the most hard working out of anyone in the Academy. She never gave up, constantly worked, and made up for those slightly less than average marks by developing her own techniques for Kenjutsu and training to get stronger, faster and smarter. It was the reason why, by the end of it, she was in the top of her class, with the highest marks or damn close to the highest marks in each category. As she entered the training grounds, she quietly walked along a path for a while, looking around and taking in the sights she could, her light brown hair swaying slightly in the breeze. Standing at five foot, eight inches there wasn't a ton of people her age in the Academy either; she had a bit of a late start because of the way her parents had brought her up. She heard the sounds of a stream, and curious, moved towards it and came upon a curious sight. Wolves? The smell of cooking meat? It looked less like the person before her was training and more that they had been hunting and was using the training grounds to camp out in. Considering that Kagura was about to be homeless because of circumstances, she thought that might be a viable option later.

Seeing that he was a Chuunin meant that she needed to show him the applicable respect, especially since she didn't even technically have a headband yet indicating that she graduated. "Good morning Sir. I am Kagura, a pending graduate of the Academy. I didn't realize that this area was in use." She bowed her head respectfully, allowing her long hair to spill in curtains around her face and hide most of it.

[1]

Tengoku would let out a breath as he listened to the two pieces of the leaf falling. Hitting the water with the softest sounds before being swept away by the current. He would quietly shift through the Konoha taught forms in a slow pace as he was just now practicing not using his eyes as much. Careful to be mindful of how much room he had on the rock to work with. Slowly stepping and slicing the air in smooth motions. Barely keeping away from the edge and dangerously close to falling in. He felt like he had the hang of it mostly. Step by step at a time. He would look actually rather well balanced and capable if someone didn't know him. He was actually but his own mind usually got in the way of things. He knew he needed to build up confidence in himself and his skills. The hokage had told him he was lacking in confidence and it would get others killed. He had been so disappointed in himself with that being so brazenly thrust back in his face. If he kept holding back, kept doubting himself and his capabilities people would get hurt that he could have otherwise saved. His grip tightened so hard it made the leather on the handle whine in response.

His first hint that someone was approaching was the wolves suddenly stirring to life. The three rising quickly with snarls. Clearly protective of their alpha. However he would hold up his left hand in a fist and they would only growl in response before lowering back down to laying side by side. Eyes watching the girl approach. They were obedient to him though. As she got closer he shifted the hand that held the fist to his face to lift up the headband around his eyes to just around his forehead. Blinking a couple of times as he grew accustomed to the sudden change in light. The sun had still been down when he started. It took a moment to actually see the red headed girl in front of him on the shore and he would take a second to register it. Then she was very politely introducing herself and Tengoku realized he was being rude simply staring at her silently. His silver eyes would shift to look away as he shifted the headband higher to hide his wolf like ears. Like she wouldn't have already noticed it. Then he would fumble to put away his sword a couple of times before succeeding and bowing way lower than his station would suggest.

"Oh uh hi I um...I am Tengoku Shinku...I um...Oh uh I am a Chunnin from Konoha....I hope I am not bothering your training?"

2-30

Naturally, Kagura had noticed the wolf-like ears, but even if she hadn't considering the way the wolves nearby were looking at her, on alert, but seemingly under the guidance of the man, she wouldn't have been hard pressed to guess what it was that the man's clan of origin. She knew the basics of the big clans in Konoha, partially because she met many in the Academy who loved to brag about their prospective clans to each other, sometimes forming rivalries and whatnot. Since Kagura was technically clan-less, she never really got involved, but that didn't keep her from keeping her ears open and taking note of what she heard. Having him bow to her, at all, was a bit of a surprise but she supposed that it wasn't a bad thing for him to show respect to her; she made a note to ensure she respected lower ranks as she climbed the ladder as well.

She shook her head side to side as she lifted her head and made eye contact again, showing him the respect he deserved. "Not at all... I only was given permission to visit the training grounds by myself today, and was merely exploring and seeing what they were like. I hope I wasn't interrupting a fellow Kenjutsu Ninja's training, with your friends." She had noticed the sword and also let her eyes wander for a moment to the wolves, whom she gave a small smile. If her information was correct, this clan, whom she couldn't recall the name of at the moment, had dogs, wolves, and other such companions who were just as intelligent as a human, and showing them a little bit of respect with a gentle nod to each of them while making eye contact would hopefully show that she would give them the same honor that she would their master. Locking eyes with the man again, she gave him a nod as well.

"If you want, sir, I can depart and leave you to your training. I still don't even have a real blade just yet, just my wooden Bokken." She couldn't offer much in the way of someone who could train with or anything because of that, regardless if her skill might have been something that she could have brought to bear and perhaps even given him a run for his money.

[2]

Sadly that was not accurate. They were not part of the Inuzuka clan. No that would have meant they grew up with family. His sister and him were something else. Children rumored to be born of a wild witch. Cursed to have the traits and talents of wolves and then abandoned as twin babies at an orphanage. Their only future really was in the ranks of the shinobi. Their talents more suited to it than anything else. They were not one of the main clans either but clanless. Just like the girl before him. The pack followed him because he challenged the alpha that was driven to madness and defeated him in one on one combat. They respected his power as alpha to them but he didn't act very much like one. One of them even made an exasperated sound before laying it's head back down. As if they were embarrassed by his shy demeanor. which was accurate one might suppose. Still they didn't seem to be interested in moving and much less so in interrupting the humans talking. It wasn't in their ballpark. They hunted and looked out for each other but the affairs of humans mostly remained just that.

At her speaking of him as a fellow kenjutsu user he would blush and look to the side while using his free hand to rub the back of his head. A nervous chuckle at that. He didn't think he was very good. He was a sensory specialist first. The sword had mostly just been a method for self defense and something for close range offense. His sister was the truly talented one. Still at her mentioning that she would leave if he wished he glanced at the roasting pig. By the smell of it the meat wouldn't be done for some time. That and he really didn't want to shoo away anyone. What was he thinking? He was a chunnin now. A rank above a genin and she was a fresh graduate. He should be showing her the ropes by now right? He shouldn't be sending her away or getting out of her way. He looked back to her a moment before nibbling his lip. Thinking for just a moment before speaking up. His words just above a mumble but easy enough to hear. He was nervous taking charge after all. His shoulders hunched as he got ready to be called a freak and shut down again. His memories of the academy were not swell.

"Um actually...if you want I um..I could practice with you a little....just keep my weapon sheathed against your wooden sword and like...no one gets hurt right? Maybe?"

3-45

He seemed rather skittish, if she was being honest, but perhaps he was just nervous. As a Chuunin, you were placed into a position where you were in charge of others, their lives literally in your hands and a single wrong decision could get everyone killed. Perhaps he just wasn't the type who was able to lead people in that kind of situation with confidence, but if he was a Chuunin, that meant that the Hokage had seen his potential and knew he had it in him somewhere. Perhaps, since he seemed to be trying to offer to spar with her, she could help raise his confidence level a little bit. She would nod at his offer, giving him a gentle smile.

"Absolutely. I would be honored to train with you, sir." She hadn't come thinking she would be able to discover anything more than the layout in which the training ground possessed, but now was drawing her wooden training sword and preparing to engage in a spar. Lowering into a stance and feeling the familiar flow of chakra enhance her body just a bit so that her level of control, hand-eye coordination, and overall speed aside running was enhanced, she made a mental note that she would match his if she could, using the control to ensure she didn't beat him, but definitely give him a run for his money if she could.

She wanted a good spar, and hoped that if he was far stronger or faster, he would do the same.

[3]

She would agree to spar with him and he would let out a sigh of relief. Almost as if he thought she might send him away despite how polite she had been. He would smile a little more now. He seemed like he might slowly be relaxing to the idea that maybe she wasn't here to bully him. However from the shore a few meters away she drew her wooden sword and began to prepare. He decided he should too. He dug into his pockets and found some sturdy twine he had used for something or another. Probably an animal trap. With it he would carefully peace tie his sword closed. He didn't want any accidents happening with the sword getting exposed or the sheath flying off and hitting her. He would triple knot that bugger just to be sure. By the time he was done she had already adopted her stance. He would take another breath and focus on breathing techniques. Inhale on the approach, exhale on the attack. That was how to accomplish the most power while keeping his breath in check. Both hands took the hilt of the weapon in a two handed stance with it lowered to his left hip and held out to the left. He was telegraphing his intent to slash but he was going to see if maybe he needed to hold back first.

However something was different about him as soon as he was in his stance. His shoulders stopped being hunched, his expression turned firm as his silver eyes seemed to sharpen. It was as if they could see through her. See everything around them. As if nothing could long be hidden from such eyes. From that shy boy an intense sensation that he was no weakling became apparent. However he was still being mindful. He needed to feel her out. So he would begin to do a crescent rush. Moving slightly to her right as his boots smashed through the water and onto the shore at D rank speed. He would approach from her right and with both hands swing for a simple mid chest in a nearly perfect horizontal line. His swing however was held back. He was swinging at D rank coordination with only D rank strength. He didn't want to hurt or discourage her but he would soon learn this girl was not so fragile. That he would need to stop holding back if he wanted to win. He never really won though. His sister always genjutsu'd him if he started to.

Kagura waited, pondering which way he would come first, and mentally debated on how best to work on the man's confidence. She could just talk to him, but perhaps that could come after the fight. For now, she just wanted to focus on the spar, and see where it was that she stood in regards to handling a Chuunin. As he began though, she would not with ease that he was trying to hold back. It was probably a good idea on his part... he didn't know where Kagura stood as far as physical capabilities, who technically wasn't even a real Genin yet. She knew of quite a few of her classmates that wouldn't be able to keep up with the man's current speed as he rushed in, Kagura only pivoting slightly so she could easily redirect the blow, using enough force to show that she was not those other Genin-to-be's.

She was capable.

"You don't need to hold back so much Sir, I promise." It was a statement that should, in theory, be enough to make the man realize that she was capable, but instead of simply trying to explain it verbally, she thought she would do so physically. She performed a quick dash forwards, using then next level (C-Rank) speed to move, and then performed a quick thrust towards his chest with speed (B-Rank) that was enough to shake the branches around her with the wind generated from the force. It would stop just short if he didn't dodge, because she wasn't trying to win the fight, she was trying to train. "Show me what you really can do." It was a little bit of a goad, but she had done one thing on purpose as she lowered into a stance, and that was brought her back foot closer to her body, an incorrect stance. If he rushed her, she would be off balance; she had presented an exploit to see if he would notice and act on it.

[4]

Tengoku would find his attack easily knocked to the side. He honestly wouldn't have expected so much from a freshly to be minted genin. His sister and himself hadn't been that fast or strong when they had first graduated. His sister was good with her studies but he was always barely passing almost any of his classes. He mostly got through due to his exceptional skills as a sensory nin. He had trained hard since then and now considered himself well above average physically. This little girl was just as quick as him though it seemed. She even confidently stated he needn't hold back nearly as much. He would consider still holding some back but the way her body shifted was easily noticed. She was shifting into an attack. He would brace his knee's and barely manage to bring up his guard in time. Her thrust smashing into the center of his sheathed blade and cracking the sheath. Leaves blowing passed him as his feet slid back a foot before her attack was done. She backed off a little and once again suggested he truly show her his capabilities. Perhaps she wished to test her limits but he felt like now he was being underestimated.

Tengoku would take a breath as his eyes shifted. A light glint to them that wasn't there before. His face took on a serious expression as he removed the headband from around his ears. Tucking it into his vest as he let his ears free. He didn't want to be even a little limited for this. He figured she would give him time. After all her footing was wrong. His eyes had seen it in the moments after her words. Well if she wanted it all he would need to push himself. He would lower into a forward lean. His face low enough that his exhale bent the grass in front of him. His left foot was his forward foot with his knee to his chest and his right foot with his toes digging in to the dirt. At the end of his exhale he would inhale sharply and move. A crackle of lightning visibly appearing crossing his body as suddenly he stepped forward at C++ speed. Crossing the distance as he moved his right foot forward to shift the momentum into a sudden stop and letting it move from his forward movement to a quick draw but still withing the sheath attack. The first draw as meant to throw her off balance with the sheer force of it and the second came when he followed through into a spin to slice down onto her shoulder. Forcing himself to spin through the first hit and using momentum as a continuous weapon.

He had managed to bring his sheath up just barely in time, and with that single action, Kagura knew exactly where he stood with hand-eye coordination and speed with his blade. She still didn’t like the fact that she had damaged the sheath though, because the entire reason they were doing the spar the way they were so that they didn’t hurt one another, but damaging equipment was just as bad. The gentle frown on her face was the only indication that she was displeased combined with looking at the crack. Once they had drawn back though, she was back to business. She would apologize when she didn’t need to devote her entire focus to training; anything less would be insulting to the Chuunin training with her… but by the look in his eyes, he was starting to take this a little more seriously.

Seeing him remove the headband to expose his ears, she gave him a gentle smile, obviously approving. The brunette swordswoman felt that embracing your heritage was important, even those who society would look down on as a result. If she had anything to say about it, anyone who discriminated against those who were different than ‘normal’ deserved to get a stern smack with her bokken. Watching his stance and kept her guard up, the low stance indicating that it was likely some sort of mobility fighting style now. The blur of speed he then produced, her eyes struggling to track, meant that she had to use her full speed with her blade to ensure she blocked the incoming attack, sliding it to her right and the tip of the sheathed blade hit her left bicep area before sliding off. That would bruise, but the look of surprise quickly hardened to one of determination as she outright blocked the next strike and stepped forward, intending to deliver a uppercut to the mans’ gut, but it was slow enough that he could dodge if he reacted quickly. It was a reminder that with Kenjutsu, the advantage to a one-handed blade was that you could use the other hand for strikes, blocks and grabs.

But Kagura had to admit that she was not only enjoying this now, but she had a solid plan on how to ensure this Chuunin, a leader of the village she called home, had enough confidence to be able to take a team of new Genin and ensure their survival and skill with Tengoku taking point. She also had an idea to start a few rumors about the ‘Alpha Wolf’ Chuunin around the village, and start some positive stigma around the man. Make him less wanting to hide his heritage, and be proud of who he was and what he could do. Even the wolves that followed him would be involved in that little rumor, and the best part was that none of it would be a lie… just emphasize the positive and interesting points about him so that when people looked in his direction, it would be in admiration.

[5]

Tengoku would feel his hit just barely connect on her hip but surprisingly she blocked his follow up strike fully. The ground at her feet being pushed in slightly as he pushed into it. Dedicating to trying to break through her block. However Suddenly she deflected his blow to the side and he found himself off balance. She had moved a hand and in doing so shifted everything. That hand suddenly shot forward and made contact even through the flak jacket. He could feel the force behind it but with the armor not enough to bruise in one hit. Still he let it lift him off of her and went with it. Tossing himself back three meters. So at full speed he wasn't able to do more than go blow for blow with her. That encounter told him holding back with her at all would end in a loss or a draw. He needed to want to win. He needed to strive for it. He had no idea she was letting him of course but now he was feeling competitive. So he would speak once more as he switched to a looser but still too handed Kendo stance. However his feet spread was different.

"Alright...I acknowledge your strength. You are keeping up with a chunnin fresh out the gate. So I am going to try something. I am going to mix Kenjutsu and Taijutsu like you just did. Be ready, I have never done this before."

He would take a breath as he breathed as deep as he could. The second fighting style was a head on one. The Strong fist style. It was meant to be a continuous onslaught so he would need breath to let out in spurts. He would shift to a drawing stance again and this time he wouldn't lower as much. Instead he would lean forward slightly and then suddenly charge forward the three meters. It was the same speed as before but something was off. His draw swing would slam forward at the last moment exceedingly faster. This time a B++ coordination. Even if she didn't block it and dodged it there was far more power behind it too. The swing would cause the grass to shift in the breeze of it and flatten and leafs to fall from the nearby tree where the wolves lazed and watched. But that was not end of it. The one handed draw left his left hand free as it followed up with a straight jab to the gut, same speed as the sword and immediately after his left leg went to kick her right heel out from under her. Attempting to take her to the ground with two moves pushing her back and a third taking her footing. Each one letting out a burst of breath. His silver eyes glinting and watching for a counter. She was talented at those. He was going almost as hard as he possibly could now. No more underestimating the graduate. She earned that much.

Jutsu stances:

The look in his eyes, the body language he was emitting, and the feel of his energy were slowly starting to change, she could tell.  He was starting to get into it, and she could see the hint of competitiveness in his eyes.  The truth of the matter was he was beyond her level; she could tell that much already, so her 'letting' him win wasn't so much a matter of bringing herself down to his level anymore, it was simply drawing out his latent potential, building his confidence, and letting him discover that he was capable of it all on his own.  He explained what he was about to do, and she thought a little bit of encouragement towards teaching was in order based on what he had said.  "Explaining a move to a student before demonstrating it can emphasize the effectiveness of your move... well played Sir."  She gave him a smile, and knew that with the way her tone was shaped, he would be able to feel the respect that she was trying to give him for the gesture.  It was actually something like what her father would have done when she was still training under him, before the Academy.  It was one of the reasons she was half as good as what she was now, but for the moment, she needed to focus; his attack was coming and she needed to be ready, but unfortunately, with his sheer speed, it was going to prove difficult.

Seeing the sudden increase in speed almost too late, her ability to perceive the attack not quite up to the same standard as the speed he was now displaying, her Bokken glowed bright green as she utilized Chakra Flow into it, not truly enhancing it aside increasing its durability.  She felt the strike of his sword connect, and knew that one was going to hurt in the morning, but she had been more concerned with blocking the strike to her core from his fist and had to use both hands in support of her blade to block it.  She had tensed her muscles that the sword struck, which somewhat minimized the damage, but it still hurt like a bastard.  Lifting her legs and tucking them in a bit right before the fist smashed into her wooden sword had been enough to send her backwards a short distance where she landed in a defensive stance, having used the force of the strike to grant her momentum.  She had been forced to take a hit to block a hit, but now the look in her eyes had changed slightly.  They were hardened, a bit more determined... and now she was going to press the attack.

One truly didn't know how a person was going to do in a situation until they were under pressure, so feeling the chakra flow through her body, she launched forward and began to use her Star Splash with a speed she hadn't previously displayed.  Her goal wasn't a successful attack, but to back him into a corner if possible and see how he would react... she was certain, now that he was feeling competitive, his spirit would be able to find a solution to her speed.

[6]

Technique Used:

Tengoku felt his sword blow land and still he pressed forward. It would have been a slight cut to the upper thigh on the side that he had swung for, her right side. She was fast enough that even had it been a real sword she would have avoided any real damage. She would be cut but not deep. Still he thrust his fist forward and went for the leg swipe at the same time finding she was keeping up with even this level. His blow hit her guard and her feet lifted causing his leg swipe to fail. The force of the blow carrying her light weight body back. A good defense against his combo. He would not pursue but a smile crossed his face as now it seemed like he was enjoying himself. She was every bit as fast as he was. But unlike his sister she wasn't pulling genjutsu out of her ass and winning by attacking his mind. He could sense she was his equal almost. A spar with every bit of heat to it he could hope for without any lethal possibilities. Well they could still hurt each other but each of them had some real skill. Potential even.

He could feel himself a little short on breath from the combined onslaught but he took a second to take a couple of breaths. That was going to cost him though. Suddenly she rushed him. Launching forward faster than he could fully react. Three blows raced at his chest. His sword rose each time just barely. He couldn't keep up but his body began to react automatically. Flowing chakra into hardening his muscles. Increasing his durability as body of the bear activated. Her glancing blows hit two to his right arm and one to his left. Tengoku would grit his teeth as it hurt but for her after the first blow it would suddenly feel like she was hitting solid rock. However he wasn't able to do more than brace himself for the two attacks to the legs. Each of them a solid hit but thanks to body of the bear he was able to withstand it. Had it been a sword he would have been in some serious danger. His legs would be bleeding more than hers would. She would have gained the advantage. He had to hand it to her she was a fierce one. Not to mention defending against thrusts was difficult.

The reason he had been too slow to alter those blows to his legs was because he was watching. Waiting for an opening. Watching the pattern with those sharp silver eyes. Both of them were serious now. Going all out. He watched her rise up and surged chakra into his free hand. His chakra activating counter of the ram as he shifted his free hand into the path of her thrust to his chest. Slamming his fingers down and catching it by the tip of the wooden sword and at the same time raiton sparks would fly off his sheathed sword as he thrust it forward with a yell like a battle cry. He was giving this his everything. Pushing himself to win this. It wasn't about the shame of losing to a fresh genin, not about some proud desire to be better than her. He was just excited from the battle. His raiton charged weapon would thrust forward as he tightened his grip on her weapon. Slamming into her sword shoulder if she didn't counter it and sending painful electricity through her. If he landed the hit hopefully it would throw her back a little and force her to release her grip on her sword. If she did he would stand there panting with sweat dripping off his brow holding both swords.

"What...do you say....about us taking a breather?"


(Counter of the Ram trained for 150 wc)

Jutsu used in order:

If there was one thing for certain, it was that she was going to bruise here in a few hours. Tengoku was not weak by any stretch of the word, but that was what made this so much more worth it. Kagura had started this spar knowing she was going to be pushed and hard. Chuunin was not something achieved just by being smart and such… that was something for doctors or scientists and whatever ranking they used. No, this was achieved by being strong, fast and smart. She had fully known that she was going to be getting some bumps and bruises even if they were holding back on one another. Kagura could solidly say though she was glad she didn’t have to bring down her own skill level and let the man win; now that she had woken his fighting spirit, he was doing that much all on his own. The smile on his face to show that he was at least enjoying the spar was all it took for her own smirk to form on her face.

It was during the combo that she truly realized that she was in trouble; it was like striking solid stone. She was extremely glad that she was using Chakra Flow, her sword glowing that bright green, because she was certain that if she didn’t it would have broken on his skin. But when he countered her, and countered he did, she realized that she was in trouble. If she had a real blade, he would have had a hole in his hand she was sure, but that was not the issue. The issue was that he would have impaled her shoulder, the blow landing cleanly, and now she had electricity coursing through her arm and sending her spinning backwards without her weapon in hand. It was an extremely effective maneuver that certainly would have won him a real fight, and she had been going full out, aside not putting her full strength into it to actually deal damage. Laying on the ground, he asked about taking a breather. “Yes sir… please. I can’t feel my entire shoulder or arm.” The electricity had done little damage truly, but it had temporarily fried the nervous system around the impact area, making the sensation very odd for her in the actual movement.

With some effort, she hauled herself into a sitting position and was breathing fairly evenly, but deeply… a sign that she had pushed herself pretty hard with all that. She had good stamina, but it was still something she was working on, and she had used several techniques back to back or even on top of each other, depleting her physical reserves more than her Chakra based ones. While she recovered, she figured she could ask a question that had been bothering her for some time. “With all due respect, Sir, you are fast, strong and smart… why aren’t you in charge of a team? Lord knows there are enough Genin searching for one.” It was something of a problem, and also would give her a little bit of insight into the man’s mind while also paying him a compliment he most certainly deserved.

[7]

Tengoku would see the attack connect fully and felt triumph in his heart. He had won a spar? He would remind himself it was against a fresh graduate and he was a chunnin so he certainly wouldn't be bragging about it to anyone. Still he knew better. She was just about every bit his equal. He couldn't have asked for someone closer to his capabilities. Even at his top speed she was faster. He had just endured until opportunity presented itself. Then he had made it count. Still his legs stung the most. Even more than his hand. His own shoulders were visibly rising and falling with his breath as he had pushed himself a bit as well. She was laying on the ground a couple of meters away when she agreed to taking a break. He sighed in relief and walked over. Setting her sword on the ground next to her as she sat up. A smile playing on his face as now that they had fought he felt like he understood her more. Speed and precision required a lot of control. The dance she did with her blade was also highly controlled. Each step with a place and a point to it.

However his smile faded as she asked why he wasn't in charge of a team and he froze a moment. Nibbling his lip as he turned in silence from her. "Join me by the fire as soon as you can get up. Please." He added at the end quietly before turning and heading over to the fire. The hog was done. Tengoku would walk over to it and spread a blanket next to the fire on all four sides. The wolves already getting up and licking their chops. Tengoku would shift into a sword stance and preform his own dance cutting slabs of meat off the meal in near perfect cuts as each slice landed on a blanket. Piling the meat up evenly on all four blankets before he took a cloth out of his pocket and wiped his sword off. The wolves would wait until he sat down in front of one of the blankets before they began to dig into the other three. Tengoku would pull a kunai out of his vest and stab a small piece of meat and take a bite out of it. It tasted juicy. He had left plenty of room next to him for her. If she joined him he would speak while staring into the fire.

"I have a twin sister named Tsukyo. The two of us were born from a witch of the wilds who had been trying to alter us with her magic from the womb. I guess she wasn't satisfied with the result because she left us at an orphanage in Konoha. We were raised poor there and different. My sister had marks on her face and teeth like a canine. She intimidated people though so she didn't find many people trying to bully her. I on the other hand was born with these ears and heightened senses. Being as I was more timid I was the source of their way to get aggression out. For so much of my life others who didn't accept me as anything other than a freak would beat me, sometimes in groups, whenever my sister wasn't around. My whole life aside from my sister has known the cruelty of others. Because of that I...I have grown up shy and paranoid around others. I can only bring myself to speak without stuttering to you because...well we fought and I don't think you are a bad person. You're sword....it doesn't cry like a bad persons would. Wooden or not. Please have some meat."

Kagura focused on slow, controlled breaths as she slowly worked on recovering completely from the spar. It wouldn’t take too long, although she was occasionally clenching her hand over and over again, trying to test if she was getting feeling back into the limb, which was returning to normal but slowly. She would use her good arm to take the sword being presented back to her and slide it back into her belt where it would stay for now. As he invited her to the fire and began his preparations, she slowly rotated her arm a few times, trying to work the pins and needles out of the limb as the feeling in it continued to return.

After a minute or two more, Kagura got to her feet and dusted herself off, and performed a couple of quick stretches before moving over to the fire as he finished setting the meat in front of his wolves. His little display of swordsmanship in order to cut that meat up had not been missed by her bronze eyes and considering he was capable of such precision after their spar, it was no wonder that she had lost. He hadn’t even tapped into his true potential for that fight… the thought made her smile gently; he was stronger than he himself thought. Sitting down next to him, roughly a meter away as to not invade his personal space. Listening, she would nod occasionally at his words, the puzzle slowly falling into place. Once he was done, she would hold up a hand, politely refusing the meat being offered.

“I am alright, thank you. It sounds like you had a rough time growing up, and it makes sense for you to be nervous. But if I may, Sir, there is something you should know; I would be more worried if you weren’t nervous, but you can’t let it control you. A slight bit of anxiety makes you vigilant and aware, keeps your senses sharp, but too much will cripple your ability to function. Even as a Chuunin, make no mistake, a mission will come down from the Hokage for you to be in charge of others. And when that time comes, if you lose to yourself to that anxiety, it could cost people their lives. You are stronger than you think, and you need to balance that vigilance with confidence. The beauty of being in charge is you also have direct control over the people you will help train; if you find someone in your ranks that are not a good fit for you, you can submit a transfer and get someone new, and repeat until you have the team you know you will be able to lead, guide and train.”

It was a fair bit of insight, something she had learned from her father who was a retired Jounin and stellar soldier before his injury. It was only because of his teachings that she knew what it took to lead others, and she knew that Tengoku had the potential in him and just needed to have it drawn out of him so he too could see it.

[8]

Tengoku would listen as he bit into a chunk of meat and began to eat. He was quiet but it seemed like the wolves and him were comfortable. Even with her so close none of them seemed to move differently. They followed him loyally and trusted him without question. Animals were always easier than people for Tengoku. Still he would chew in small bites with his mouth closed. He had manners and didn't rush to eat. The wolf pack on the other hand tore into their food like a feast. Not that they didn't hunt and eat like normal wolves but they had helped bring down this prey and let him prepare it for them. So they had been patient and now delicious meat was theirs. They finished quickly and dragged what was left back to the shade of the tree. Tengoku would remove the remains from above the fire soon after and let them drag that off too by the stick that was holding it. They wouldn't let any of it go to waste. Still he would toss on another couple of logs before settling down. He would pull up a duffle bag and toss her a bottle of water. Testing to see if her reflexes had returned as he tossed it to her weak arm.

Ten would return to his seat cross legged and pull out a water bottle for himself. unscrewing the cap and taking a drink from it. He would smile a little. Speaking quietly while looking into the fire. "Actually I work mostly with my sister. She is a genius. Genjutsu, ninjutsu, medical and sealing. Everything I have no skill at she mastered. She even developed a seal to share our thoughts. See, her and I want to become tracker nin. I cover any close quarters combat as I specialize in kenjutsu and taijutsu. That said, it isn't my true talent. These ears aren't just for show. I can tell you without using jutsu there are three fish in that river passing along right now. Two birds in that tree by the wolves. Blue jays. On the far side of the clearing there is a squirrel napping on the third branch from the top. I am a sensory nin. Anything within around five hundred meters of us I can tell you whats there. I know in comparison to the Hyuga it isn't much but I was considering focusing more on it for our dreams."

Kagura caught the bottle of water. "Thank you Sir." If nothing else, the young swordswoman was very respectful, and to be honest, it was more out of a force of habit than anything else, even if the genuine respect truly was there, having been trained to show that respect until the person did something to lose it. And this Chuunin certainly hadn't done anything that would make her look down on him in any way, so he kept the respect that had been given, and if anything, gained more. She drank the bottle in one solid go, chugging the contents and then replacing the cap, her mind focusing on the man before her as he began to speak.

Listening, she would nod on occasion as he explained what he normally did, what his true skills were, eyes widening slightly at the amount of detail he was able to gain from his abilities. Already her mind was scrambling with possibilities for such a potent level of intelligence gathering, but she waited until he was completely finished before speaking. "Your potential with that kind of precision is staggering. You could lead a team around any danger you couldn't handle, and properly prepare well ahead of time for anything you had to confront with perfect strategy and coordination. If you used that properly, Sir, you could essentially plan the future for any confrontation you came across not only for yourself, but whoever you work with. I am willing to bet that your abilities aren't even as strong as they could be... on par with Byakugan and the like." It was high praise, but it would be obvious from her tone that she not only meant every word, but truly believed it.

Tengoku would chew on another piece of meat and blink as the girl spoke to him about the potentials of his sensory ability. He would stop chewing for a moment before continuing as she spoke. Enjoying the juices rebuilding his energy. He could feel the ache in his stomach subsiding and smiled a little as she finished. The memory of the last mission where all the individuals the enemy had hired to hide his secret had techniques to hide themselves from him. Because he couldn't overcome that his party had been forced into a sort of every man for themselves type mission. He had been mortified that he couldn't have been of use to them. On the other hand he had achieved one mark on his path of a soldier. He had bloodied his weapon. He still had conflicted feelings about it but he had discovered that in the midst of battle he had proven himself. He had taken a life not with hesitation but with an unmatched ferocity from his opponent. He had slain his first enemy in a fight to the death. Someone who had planned to take his life and the life of his sister as he had taken so many others.

Despite having risen to the occasion he still felt that he could have done better. He finished his meat portion rather quickly as he had taken considerably less than the wolves. Who had also finished their portion and were now laying on their backs in the sun happy as could be. He glanced to them and smiled before licking his own lips clean and letting out a sigh. Closing his eyes as the sunlight bathed him and he enjoyed the warmth. His own silver hair glistening a little in the light as for a moment he not only looked strong but somewhat beautiful in a way. His ears twitched as a lady bug landed on one but he didn't bother to brush it away. Instead he would speak in return. Calmly and happily.

"I suppose so. There is a way to conceal ones chakra signatures and those around you though. I have seen it in action used against me. That said I intend to break away from sheer chakra sensory. As you may have noticed my affinity is Raiton. While I am still growing accustomed to it I want to try something new. My sister tells me the body gives off electrical signals to tell our body what to do. If I can detect that, suppress your chakra all you want. It won't hide you from me."

Kagura listened carefully as he spoke, taking a moment to smile gently at the wolves, and remembering how they had acted around him. She was starting to understand a little bit now, and she knew about the way wolves acted because she had been told to study them to help understand the value of teamwork earlier in her life, before the Academy. Hearing about his plans to use the electrical signals inside your body to be able to detect people sounded absolutely amazing... and brought up another interesting point. Unfortunately, she knew she needed to get going, so the brunette swordswoman slowly got to her feet but paused.

"When I snuck that piece of Chakra Paper from my father's things when I was younger, I discovered I, too, had Lightning Affinity. When I figure out how to use it a little, maybe we could train again? I would really enjoy that." She then gave him a bow from the waist, halfway down. "I am truly glad we met, Sir. And you have everything you need to be a true Alpha of whatever pack you decide to take on, and the skills to keep them safe. The only thing you have to do is trust yourself enough to Lead. I am absolutely certain of your capability. I must go now, but when we meet again, I hope to hear all about your custom techniques for lightning, and how you have used them to Lead by Example."

She flashed him a wide, grateful smile, and then without another word, turned and marched from the training field.

[10] {EXIT}

Tengoku would watch quietly as she spoke and tilted his head. He wasn't much of one to interrupt as others spoke. Instead he would remain quiet as she spent a moment more complimenting him. It was fairly clear now that he was more comfortable around her. Having fought her he felt like he understood her. At least a part of her anyway. A part he could trust some. He wasn't quick to trust usually but everything about her was straightforward and honest. He couldn't sense a lie or an ulterior motive around her words like with other people. People who often switched their words based on how it benefited them the most. She would compliment him and he would look away. A little bashful still at the concept. But he would nod quietly as she mentioned training together again. She was a fresh graduate now but when she grew more into herself and gained some field experience she would be a force to be reckoned with. He would wait until she was gone and then lay back on the grass rubbing his tummy and enjoying the warmth of the fire. His body was sore from all the spots she hit him. A little nap couldn't hurt.

exit thread
11 posts - 165 exp