.The Climb.

[Holy Grail]

20+

[Aoshi]

- 3rd Post -

"Fire Style!!"

The words echoed as he resolved to destroy the entire coliseum if it would mean that he'd become much stronger to face Kazuya. Aoshi lunged forward, stepping upon his left foot and pushing his chakra outward into an external state. He could feel his own energies beginning to boil and bubble, much like the very Katon Element he was beginning to summon forth. "Dragon Fire Jutsu!" he exclaimed. The beast roared to life as the entire arena grew to yield to his power. For the first time, he'd felt the invigorating essence of his chakra beginning to attempt the more potent flame techniques. With no less than an explosion, he'd be able to tear asunder any obstacle that separated himself from reaching Eru. Kazuya would pay for his transgressions.

But more importantly, he'd pay for the lives that Aoshi had to take. The blade had been a sacred instrument that Su Feng had considered to be the savior of his character when facing those that would have attempted harm on Konoha. But this....this was monstrosity at its base level. The roar of his lungs pushed the flames into a fruition, though it began to twist and morph before Tokido's very eyes. "My god..." he muttered to himself. Never before had he seen the rage of the Uchiha, Aoshi's oculi no longer those onyx orbs of apathetic proportion. No - these were the eyes of a demon, the crimson of his oculi beginning to show the Sharingan in its greatest state. The massive dragon came to life with its maw gaping.

"Forward!" Aoshi exclaimed, breathing the word out until a stream of fire connected from between his fingers that had made a circle. This was the usual method in which the Uchiha had used their Katon techniques, preventing a certain type of exhaustion that could easily come if he had chosen to use only his jaw and his throat to bring out the best in the technique. And so the massive giant of a technique would rush forward, spinning and leaving behind a trail of blazing heat waves that spread out to either side of it. Aoshi had hoped that an increase in his use of handseals had granted him more of a concentration. He wouldn't live his life through anything less than honest eyes. Such was his resolve as the dragon fire technique slammed into the wall.

His chakra surged as his eyes widened, the resulting explosion brilliant and bringing about a much more potent flash of light that would stagger himself as well as Tokido. Both of them fell onto their backs as an explosion of medium proportion took place, chunks of rock breaking away from the coliseum wall as their forearms shielded them from permanent blindness. "I...I'm getting it!" he shouted amidst the flames that began to pour out to either side of the point of impact. This was the motivation that he had been looking for. To release the pent up aggression through fire and its potential. He had to attempt it again.

[Aoshi]

- 4th Post -

Aoshi flipped to his feet, quickly performing handseals as he raced forward. Through the lake of fire would he begin to run, his hair whipping about with the smoldering heat that threatened to take his consciousness. But he didn't care. There was nothing more clear to him in this moment than the mastery over the element, his anger at Kazuya pooling at the center of his being as he thought to add more chakra to the Dragon Fire technique. Just as it had swerved and swiveled to meet the target of its pending contact, Aoshi had to understand just the distance and potency that could be effected by his swell of life's essence. He'd pour even more into it, threatening to dip into his chakra reserves.

And so he would, jumping high into the air as the flames followed behind him. So swift was he in his Taijutsu Specialty that pockets of wind had been left in his wake. The glorious ascent he took was one of grand positioning. His right foot remained lifted, his knee nearly to his chest as the left remained outstretched. His head completely lifted backward, he saw the night and began to turn a back flip in midair. His hands smacked together, almost convinced that the sheer connection between his appendages was heard with every attempt that he made. It was the handseals that allowed him to formulate his jutsu's greatest concentration. Without it, the change in chakra nature could not take place.

His fingers, nimble digits that exercised great caution, flipped once more through their required flurry before he narrowed his eyes further. His body was lithe in mid air, the descent coming soon as his attire ruffled from the winds that picked up all around him. He was akin to a beast, itself, having taken temporary flight so that he could bombard the coliseum wall once again. A sinister laughter escaped him as he lowered his head, his nostrils flaring almost imperceptibly as he began to take in the energy and mix the Katon element into it. The roar of a lion would thereafter unleash itself into the atmosphere, Tokido watching with a hand cupped over his oculi. "....He's....he's letting loose.." he muttered. Such could not have been further from the truth.

And with a mighty roar, Aoshi let out another burst of flame that turned immediately into a stream. As thick as a bottle itself, the fire would eventually begin to fan out into what appeared that same massive dragon that he had summoned only moments ago. Its swerve was glorious in travel, separating itself from the host of the technique and descending downward to mix with its kin flame. Aoshi gracefully landed upon the ground as the dragon twisted itself into an upside down position. Acceleration increasing by the second, it violently slammed into the concrete once more and burst. Just the point of contact was enough for it to cause great damage, the sea of fire that was left in its wake gathered more for the explosion than the travel. This pleased Aoshi.

[Aoshi]

- 5th Post -

He envisioned Kazuya, over and over again being destroyed by the Dragon Fire Jutsu. Skidding backward until he had knelt down upon a knee, Aoshi's breath was beginning to grow labored. But he cared not - there was only the tangible feeling of power rising from within, granting him the morale that it took to stand and attempt the jutsu once more. He could feel its mastery growing closer. The whirlwind that surrounded him mentally forced his hands to rise, his appendages connecting at the center of his chest. They were going to serve as the central point for his chakra this time. He had to make the technique easier on the strain, bringing about more focus toward the dragon when it had emerged instead of attempting to force it from within his own abdomen.

Aoshi narrowed his eyes in lieu of this knowledge, whispering to himself over and over that he would need to concentrate his efforts in a more productive way. The training of the fire release could prove great to those who were consistent. But in the wake of this jutsu, he could easily over-exert and blind himself to the rushing dragon and its prowess. But he refused to halt his advance - the last technique still continued its explosive property as Aoshi once more flipped through his seals, drawing upon the latent ability for the Uchiha to have superior control over jutsu and their chakra pools. With the Sharingan Eye fresh within his piercing gaze, he yet again took to gathering chakra toward his lungs. Lining the entirety of them, he was once more ready to bomb the coliseum for all that it was worth.

Stepping forward upon his right foot, Aoshi thrust his head forward and parted his lips only when the chakra had mixed with the fire nature. "Fire Style! Dragon...Fire...Jutsu!" he shouted out. Yet again, he felt the surge of energy flow through his body as the tension in training grew intensely. Tokido stood by and watched the spectacle, sweat threatening to pour down his face. Widened eyes regarded Aoshi with nothing but admiration as he watched the winds whip toward him. Whatever structures had been built, earthen constructs and the like, began to tear apart at the sight of Aoshi summoning forth the famed Dragon Fire Jutsu. "Watch me, father! Watch me...Kazu!" the Hokage exclaimed.

The push of his chakra outward forced him to stagger only slightly, the increase in power driving him to a certain madness in those fleeting moments of his technique's clarity. With increased chakra and control, he could turn the once aesthetic flame into a powerful explosion of death and decay. The dragon once more formed, every part of it specific in detail as its eyes stared forward. In its momentum, it almost appeared as though Aoshi's very soul had been fused into the technique. Massive flames began to pour off and from its "scales" of sorts, bathing the immediate surrounding in a flash of amber and orange. Its final push would bring it toward the wall, just the nose of it meeting the wall before yet again exploding with glorious proportion. Aoshi flew backward in the wake of the attack, though a smile could be seen on his face as he rolled backward across the edifice.

[Aoshi]

- 6th Post -

Aoshi managed to catch himself upon his fingertips, his body lifted from the earth and being held singularly by the strength of his hands catching onto rocks that had been embedded into the ground. The seconds ticked as he lowered himself onto the earth with a mighty crash, watching the explosion trigger a cloud of fire that began to rise into the air. "Aoshi! Aoshi, it's working!" Tokido called out to him. With a nod and a quick stance, the Uchiha breathed even harder than the normal. But this wasn't the tired type of breathing. His labored breaths were all a result of the adrenaline that was beginning to pump through his body. He stood straight up and turned his maw skyward, delivering a roar that he was sure could be heard. "Fire Style!!" he exclaimed, the ominous foreshadowing forcing Tokido to jump away.

Once more, he began to perform the correct handseals that would be necessary for the technique. Even as the fire began to heat up the entire coliseum, he approached the sphere of flame that now threatened to rise into the air and alert the entire country as to his whereabouts. But he cared little. The ferocity of the lion would not be compromised. As he steeled himself for yet another attempt, his fingers began their zodiac's prerequisite. A deep breath was taken, though this one was to simply prepare him for the task ahead. With his locks matted to his face, Aoshi's eyes widened as his chakra rose to the crown of his head. Goosebumps formed along his arms as he felt a certain hatred begin to plague him.

It was everything that he desired to be, minus that of the Uchiha Kazuya. With the final handseal finishing, he took a deep breath that allowed even his chest to aesthetically rise and fall. With the sudden exhalation of carbon dioxide, he would mold his chakra toward the dragon's creation and its finer essences. Sharpening the technique around the edges, he was in perfect control of its forward trajectory; regardless of its swerving motions like that of the chinese dragon, he could at least control the direction in which it would initially rush forward. He noted that the dragon's power had increased almost exponentially. But far beyond that, it looked as though he was beginning to understand the processes of the Katon Jutsu.

So with a final push of his power, Uchiha Aoshi allowed the Sharingan to take its prowess to the next level. Supreme chakra control was his as the dragon rushed forward and flickered along the night, a beacon of destruction that eventually created a massive explosion within the wall. Finally, the work that he had put forth toward the jutsu had come into full realization. Engulfing the entirety of the coliseum, it appeared as if an entirely new star had been born along the gaia. Lost in the pillar of debris and damage, Aoshi and Tokido could only leap to what they hoped to be refuge as Aoshi's fully unveiled power made its way to the surface and corrupted the vicinity. The Uchiha were truly hidden in their place among power - even more so than what they had let on through the greatness of their Doujutsu. There was no telling just how much further he was capable of going.

[Holy Grail]

learned

[Aoshi]

Katon Hidora no Jutsu (Fire - Hydra Technique)
Rank: "B" Rank
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: A technique in which the user takes the concept of Ryuuka but is capable of using it more of a destructive manner and more of a diverse manner. Instead of one large dragon like form being shot forth towards the opponent, the user is capable of increasing the amount of them into an amount of three draconic creations with similar devastation.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: They are only capable of going in a straight line. Projectory may not change directions.
Description: A Large creation is created as the user performs the necessary handseals for the technique. As the user does, so they raise their hand up over their mouth. By taking in a deep, breathe the user fills their lungs with chakra to in, which ignites the moment they blow the air out. As the user blows out the creation of fire is made taking the form of a giant dragon like creature. The Dragon is quickly hurled towards the opponent as the dragon swivels and swerves moving like that of a Chinese Dragon. Then without notice or movement the large dragon splits into three smaller sized forms of dragons as they twist and turn around one another heading towards the intended target. This technique is used to where the user is capable of controlling each dragon to hit at different times. This means that each draconic form of fire may be one after the other before hitting the initial target. The user is capable of pushing so much power into the technique to where when it touches the target it is needed it is ignited in a mass blaze of glory, creating a grand explosion for each form.
Limit: Must have the Fire Release, must know Katon - Ryuuka no Jutsu (Dragon Fire Technique)

0.60

"Aoshi. About Eru.."

They stood together, days passed since the night of Aoshi's true awakening. The morning greeted them as winds picked up, Aoshi's clothing flowing in the gentle breeze. He'd been invigorated by the experience, more than sure that seeing Eru would bring about answers that he required. For now, though, there was the task of increasing his strength yet again. Tokido had enlisted the aid of a few of his allies from the Land of River. Together, they'd constructed an entire field of earthen constructs for him to practice against. Each one of them stood at least fifteen meters tall, thick with multiple types of rock to fortify them against the Uchiha's coming training. He needed to practice the Fire Hydra technique - with such a creation, he'd be able to penetrate the dojo more easily.

"What about her..?" Aoshi asked.

It was still a mystery to him, just why she mattered so much. Tokido watched quietly as Aoshi began to form handseals, this being the usual practice before he came to visualize the flame and just what it would need to form. "How do you really feel about her? I know you've only met her once or twice. But c'mon....she did save your life and tell you what was happening. You have to give that some thought. She took a risk." Aoshi's eyes darted to Tokido for a moment, though they were no longer the dark gray eyes that usually regarded him. These were the Sharingan, the potency of his visuals increasing tenfold. "I'm thankful. I'm only doing this because of that. But as far as my feelings, I don't know what those are. I don't even know that woman."

It was by this time that Aoshi's eyelids fluttered to a slow close. How was it possible to feel for someone that you'd not known? He knew the name "Eru". He could pick out her scarlet hair, her curvaceous figure, and her eyes. But beyond that, he knew little of the heart that rest behind the frame. He imagined the Fire Hydra as he searched himself for answers, his lungs beginning to increase their capacity as he took in a deep breath. Tokido watched on, aware that the Katon Element was beginning to surface. As Aoshi blew out a breath, a single stream of flame would begin to pour out and along the ground. It circled and engulfed the immediate area around them, though doing no particular damage outside what flame would normally burn and char.

"I want to save her because I'm the Hokage. For now, there's nothing more to it. That's what they're playing off of.." he muttered to Tokido. The flame that he had made was beginning to grow larger, rising upward for a few meters before giving off the impression of attempting to take a shape. He had used his chakra carefully, minding the formation of the jutsu within his esophagus. Tokido grimaced. "You don't think she's....beautiful? Every person that looked at her wanted her. Hell, I'd..." he began, though he was silenced by a warning glance from the Uchiha. "She's more than that. I can't put my finger on it....but I feel like she's going to do something for Konoha." Aoshi had finally watched his creation rise into nothing more than a pillar of flame. He had been hoping for more, and thus he would attempt the jutsu again as the fires perished.

[Aoshi]

- 2nd Post -

The technique was once more advanced, Aoshi's state of mind focusing on remembering just what his father's Fire Hydra technique appeared to be. The wreckage that it had caused was catastrophic. He desired the same effect. So as he continued to speak, his mind began to drift back to the time when the Uchiha were the majority rule within their land. "Kazuya's an Uchiha. I never would have thought it possible, Tokido. Have you ever seen his eyes..? Were they like mine?" Aoshi asked, the Sharingan scarlet frightening his companion to the point where he'd take a step back. Aoshi gave a small laugh and shook his head. "Don't worry. There's no Genjutsu. I'm concentrating too hard on this technique to even be capable." With a nod, Tokido kept watch as Aoshi's chakra once more began to cause his form to tense.

"Can't say I've ever seen his eyes like that, myself. But that's how he manipulates people. It's how he got so many people to throw themselves at you. The casualties were..." he trailed off. A momentary thought of conviction hit Aoshi, causing his concentration to fluctuate. With the final seal presenting itself, he'd take the moment's distraction and begin to breathe in again. Consequential to the technique itself, he had to prepare the physicality of his body to maintain the constant stream of air that would blow from between his lips. He silently thanked the day, the winds picking up around him as he resumed his training - the confrontation with Kazuya was most likely far off. He could only hope that Eru was alright in the midst of it.

Narrowed eyes shown forth as Aoshi's youthful countenance shifted, a degree more serious and focused as his carbon dioxide sparked a flame. The stream of fire was surely more potent than the last as heat waves emanated from it. The earth around them shifted only by a small amount as he summoned the Fire Hydra's beginnings. Opting not to attempt to create the entire thing in one process, he would merely start with the base of the flame needing to survive in order to create the multiple heads that would enable him to fire them forward like a projectile. "Eru knows what you did, Aoshi-san. And she understands. I managed to speak to her in the middle of her trying to run away. I have to tell ya, she swings a blade with as much prowess as a lioness." At this, Aoshi couldn't help but smile.

Indeed, she'd been a formidable sparring partner. The Hokage watched as the flames began to ascend once more, twisting and dancing along as his chakra mixed with them. It took much more than merely producing the flame to achieve the desired results. But with his level of mastery at least a certain way there, the flame would morph into the base of what appeared to be a gigantic dragon. The monstrous size alone was enough to cause searing waves of flame to break off from it, cascading along the earth harmlessly.

[Holy Grail]

10+

damn ninja

20+

[Aoshi]

20.60

He'd had quite a while to rest, the ease of his training at the forefront of his thoughts as he took it easy over those next few days. Kazuya was going nowhere fast. And even more-so, the approach of the Chuunin Exams was his greatest concern. If Eru was comfortable within the confines of the dojo, then he could take his time and get there when priority allowed it. Then again, he couldn't truly concentrate as he thought of just what might have been transpiring. The thought of her coming to any compromise was enough to make his skin begin to burn. It was then that he found it in himself to continue his training.

Aoshi stood within the coliseum once again, Tokido watching from the distance as he began to seek out his chakra. The feeling began to pour over him slowly - that same urge to unleash the great fire that would form this hydra beast. He'd managed to create some example of it before. But that was when his concentration wasn't at his greatest. It was sheer anger that drove him. But now he'd have to concentrate on the formation of the gargantuan figure by way of silence and breathing. He had to force his body to come down off of the threat of adrenal stimulation. He wanted to form the jutsu with patience and wit, not emotion and unbridled anger.

The Hokage took a deep breath. It was a wonder to him, really. Many underestimated the power of breathing, the flow of oxygen through the body important to regulate one's flow of chakra. His own had taken its toll on him every time he used whatever amount he thought would fit the bill of the jutsu. But in this way, he would tire much quicker than he'd anticipated. Such was evident in the days past when sweat threatened to pour down his countenance. He hadn't even performed multiple jutsu. It was the same way, still not mastered and escaping the comfort of his better knowledge.

Handseals began to form as he took his time. His fingers formed the seals fast enough, but the chakra that began to rise to the surface of his being was granted to him with more of a steady flow instead of just a surge. It was here that he would begin to fuse the element of fire into his life's essence. The familiar uproar of power was realized when he went to lift his hand upward toward his mouth. Oxygen was taken in with care. Careful so as not to lose his appendages to the sudden exhalation of chakra, he carefully formed the ring of fingers where his mouth would suddenly unleash the hydra. The sudden rush of flame ignited the area as he began the initial stages of properly performing the jutsu. He'd take it step by step. Time was of the essence.

The hydra's first sign of formation was the very base. Aoshi's breath coated the ground easily within the Katon element, bringing about a certain diameter of flame that began to take shape. It was easy to imagine the being within his cerebral; every cognizant effort was made and put into the detail, no portion of the gigantic attack missing its potency with Aoshi's breath giving it life. As the hydra's lower half began to face completion, he could only narrow his eyes in focus as the rest of it rise toward the sky. Meter by meter, he sacrificed his senses so that he could sculpt the grand attack.

[Deleted]

+10; 30|60.

[Aoshi]

- 2 -

Onyx eyes watched on as the fire hydra began to take its form. Rising easily above his own head, the flames that escaped from either side of the massive creation bathed the surrounding area into more than a heated majesty. Now it was only a matter of firing the technique into the distance. Tokido's earth jutsu had allowed him to strengthen the fortification of their domain. While no one would be alerted to the fact that they were training here, it was still within his interest to keep the destruction to a minimum. Narrowed eyes prevailed as he then willed the giant beast of flame forward. There were multiple ways to go about the cause and effect.

Aoshi managed to form multiple heads as the Fire Hydra technique took to rushing forward. With great strength did it cover a lot of ground, roaring to life as if truly alive. The air surrounding the hydra threatened to set Tokido ablaze as he stepped back. Aoshi, on the other hand, would stand his ground as the massive heads pushed forward. Their maws were agape as they began to weave in and out of one another. Deceptively, there were at least three dragon's heads that formed as the jutsu carried on. It was a stealth maneuver of sorts; one head to begin the technique, and thereafter three to control the blast that was no doubt coming. Tokido immediately leaped backward as the first dragon rose higher than the others.

Its head immediately crashed into the earth, the entire construct rocked to its foundation as Aoshi narrowed his eyes in protest to the blinding light that it brought with it. An eruption of debris and flame coated the distance, effectively shielding the area from surveilance. He would have to wait until the sea of fire died down. But this wouldn't be before its counterparts found their home in adjacent spots only a meter or two away from where the original dragon had struck. The second would plant itself along the ground in front of where the first dragon's head had touched down. This would give him the advantage over those that would attempt to hide there.

The third, elevated slightly higher than the others, crashed just above where the first had made its impact. All three of the heads were destroyed in the process, though their purpose had been used up in the wake of the attack. A column of fire now rise into the air as he watched and waited. Smoke and debris littered the ground, falling in smoldering rocks that touched down all around the Uchiha. But Aoshi hadn't been intimidated; it was his chakra that had performed this technique, and it was his father who had told him of the Uchiha's birthright with flame. If he feared the outcome of his jutsu, then he'd have been better off never having known or been shared to the secrets of his clan.

He would ensure that that was a mistake he would never make. Tokido nodded in regards to the strength of the technique. A generous amount of the rock had been exploded, leaving a rather gaping hole that more earth jutsu would have to take care of. Still, Aoshi figured that something was missing. He would attempt the technique once more.

[Deleted]

+10; 40|60.

[Aoshi]

- 3 -

"Let's see if you can perform that technique in the face of an opponent.." Tokido muttered. The two stood within a portion of the Fire Hydra's technique aftermath, a circle of flame ensuring that neither of them would be able to escape the battle without proper cause. The winds kicked up and began to push the smoke away from where they stood, the sunny skies delivering a certain serenity as they both prepared themselves. Of course, Tokido would be the one to advance first. As Aoshi began to form his handseals, Tokido reached into the sleeve of his shirt and pulled forth twin kunai. But they were not alone; tags of exploding proportion had been laced along ninja wire. With a simple toss, they would begin to make their way toward Aoshi.

But the Hokage was prepared. Without so much as a blink, he allowed the Sharingan to invade his senses once more. The kunai were nothing more than disturbances to he who could move with purpose. Combined with his Taijutsu prowess, the Uchiha merely backpedaled with heavy resolve. The balls of his feet would only touch the earth for seconds, his jettisoning ability giving him a certain glide backward. But Tokido was fully prepared to follow. Through the resulting explosion he emerged, a katana gripped in his left hand. "Unleash the jutsu if you can! Interference is going to be present at the Exams! You know this!" Tokido shouted. That truth was what kept Aoshi attempting to give himself the required chakra boost.

His feet finally planted into the earth as he stepped off to his right, narrowly dodging the blade. The final handseal had been done, and with it a smirk crossed his features. He was more than aware that his adversaries were capable of trailing him on foot. But the beauty of the technique was that it could travel and create a source of blinding light. If they were so reckless so as to get into the trajectory of such potent flame, then they were by all means welcome to bathe in the glory of his victory. Aoshi began to formulate the chakra within his throat. The very esophagus felt strengthened as he watched Tokido's ever movement toward him.

His left hand lifted toward his mouth so that his right wouldn't be occupied. Hardly ambidextrous, it took but a moment for his free hand to retrieve the Shiroi Kiba blade. He slashed diagonally just as Tokido attempted to meet him, the clang of steel pushing him back and away from his aggressor. But this was exactly what he desired. Aoshi leaned forward and began to exhale, the starting source of the Fire Hydra technique touching ground as Tokido stopped within his tracks. It was far faster than before, he noticed. The beast now lifted its head, rushing its cranium toward Tokido without hesitation. Soon enough, it would begin its split into those multiple heads.

Not even the Heaven Stance could have saved him as the beast's maw opened wide, its overall composition splitting into three separate projectiles. Each one of them began to weave in and out, chasing Tokido as he managed to Body Flicker multiple times in an attempt to escape the outgoing flames once the heads had touched gaia. Bathing the proximity in fire, he had to make it harder for his friendly opponent to maneuver. At least, until the Fire Hydra technique would find itself striking at the most vital of Tokido's weaknesses; his very extremities.

[Deleted]

+10; 50|60.

[Aoshi]

- 4 -

"You're going to have to do better than that!" Tokido shouted. By this time, he was rising into the air much higher than the dragons that had crashed into the coliseum's walls. The explosion was much greater than before, a cloud of flame lifting toward the heavens and creating smoke that would no doubt cloud any method that Tokido could use to attack him directly. He watched as his companion spun once, slashing toward him with a torrential wave of wind following the kissaki of his blade. Not only would it cut through the smoke and grant him an entrance, but it would hamper Aoshi's movements if he'd been struck by such an off-setting ability. Without restraint, he began a rapid dash to the side as the waves began to barrel down toward him.

Handseals were formed quickly as the earth rumbled and shook behind him. Tokido was obviously attempting to throw his jutsu off balance, even the seals he was creating proving to be more troublesome with the added effect of constant long range barrages making their way toward the eastern and western flank. Aoshi narrowed his eyes as the final handseal was finished. Before Tokido's eyes, one of his waves of wind would slam into the earth and bring the entire edifice that Aoshi stood upon into a highly dangerous chain of effects. He swiped with the sword, even more of those projectiles joining their kin in ripping the earth apart all around Aoshi.

No sign of him remained, though the sound of crackling embers could be heard from within the smoke and broken earth that now rest where the Hokage once was. Aoshi appeared from the distance, the grin upon his features more than telling. He had managed to protect himself from the attack using a Shunshin, arcing around the location of the wind blades and their maximum length in regard to just how much they'd litter the earth with potentially lethal gashes. By the time Tokido had known the truth, the Uchiha was already gathering chakra along his esophagus. "Fire Style! Fire Hydra Technique!"

It was akin to a beautiful cry for victory, the fire spat from his maw reaching the ground and beginning its transformation. The creature - this fire hydra who held no moral or patience - suddenly burst forward mid-creation. The singular dragon head was perfectly defined this time around. There was no need to gamble more chakra than was necessary. Using just the correct amount, Aoshi had managed to find his balance in the face of adversity. The gigantic hydra heads would now break off into their respective numbers. The second and third would follow the first. Even if Tokido was to land upon the ground or move to confinement, at least one of the dragons would track him.

One by one, they began to fall into the vicinity. And just as they had been intended to do, each hydra head added to the overall blast and caused the entire coliseum to go up in flames. The outer perimeter was set ablaze as both the Uchiha and Tokido stood among the wreckage. Aoshi had long since sheathed his sword, but Tokido merely stabbed his into the earth before him. "....I think I got carried away." Tokido merely laughed. "Let's move onto something that doesn't involve fire. You're getting a little antsy.." he joked. The rest of the Fire Hydra technique dissipated into the air as time passed, the earthen constructs torn apart. Chunks of rock fell from the skies as Aoshi pondered the next technique that he would be giving his hand at mastering.

[Deleted]

+10; Learned.

[Aoshi]

Kobushi Za Kasai Mune (The Fist of fire's will)
Rank: B
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Engulfs the user’s fist in raging flames, by utilizing the fire release skill. The punch results in a firework like explosion on the target.
Special: Dog, snake, monkey, and tiger
Drawback: A close melee jutsu target must be in range. Also can cause serious recoil damage on the arm from the explosion if used more than once in a thread.
Description: User forms the necessary hand seals to swallow their hands in spheres of fire. Upon striking an enemy with this fiery fist, results in a small explosions.
Limit: Must have fire release

0.60

The time had come for him to return to Kazuya's dojo, and not a moment had passed where Aoshi hadn't thought to tear down the doors that lead inside. His near defeat at the hands of Red had inspired him to train further. And now that he had more of an elemental mastery of fire under his belt, he was sure that he could take them on. He ambled forward as the sound of various alarms began to sound. If Kazuya was an Uchiha, then there was no sense in hiding behind Genjutsu. Instead, he'd take a more direct approach. Kazu had shown him a technique a long while back that involved the fist and its change into the element of fire to be able to blow opponents back. How fitting that he would use it here to do much the same.

The Fist of Fire's Will, it was called. The Uchiha began to focus his power toward his handseals. These were the key to unlocking the potential of the technique itself. He'd flipped through them day after day with multiple practices of the Katon element. So many uses, and even the pads of his fingertips would suffer the fate of being too burned for him to form them properly. And so he'd harden his skin in a figurative sense. As he flipped through a certain set to perform the jutsu, his eyes narrowed. "Kazuya! If you don't want this entire establishment to go up in flames, I suggest you bring Eru out here!" His words were more than absolute. The chakra began to well up within him now. He wasn't quite sure whether it had simply been his training or his anger that spurned the element forward.

Regardless, he had committed to attacking. The sound of multiple footsteps began to pour out from behind the door. The perfect opportunity had risen. Without so much as a sneer of feral proportion, the Uchiha rushed forward. His feet pounded along the ground as he lifted his right fist. The shoulder stressed only slightly as a sudden burst of flame erupted from around his extremities. Nowhere near as powerful as he'd have liked, he knew full well that it was strong enough to cause this door to be pulled from its hinges. And so he would thrust that same arm forward. The heat within the air was amplified by the sudden rush of adrenaline within. His leg lifted as he pushed into the technique's totality.

The resounding explosion was enough to deafen those who were behind the door as his fist collided with it. The very heat blast that rose from it would ignite the wood that surrounded the door. Infantrymen were tossed to and fro as a small explosion rocked the makeshift projectile. Burying them beneath the heated iron, the smoke and debris was enough to mask his roll forward and into the corridor where he had once fought Red. Aoshi's right hand dispersed the flame as he glanced around at those who had been caught by his technique. Though many remained, he'd opened a gap in their defenses. The left hand wandered over his sword. "I've come to collect. And if you're going to oppose me...then you're going to die."

It was time to take matters into his own hands. Narrowed eyes regarded the assailants who began to circle him, their blades at the ready. It was a repeat of their last battle, signifying that Kazuya had truly taught them little. How advantageous....if not selfish.

[Holy Grail]

10+

[Aoshi]

- 2 -

He watched as the smell of burning flesh effected their ranks, taking the moment to catch one of his aggressors off guard with a quick haymaker punch to the jaw. The gi-clad fighter was thrust the immediate wall, his cheek burning with the sensation of Aoshi's technique having rocked his jaw. Without further notice, he could feel the swarm of assailants that was quickly beginning to formulate a plot against his technique. And so he would oblige them. His fingers began to manipulate the space before him, yet again bringing about those same handseals that would allow him grandeur. "Huh! You fools didn't learn anything in my absence. Sucks for you!" the Uchiha exclaimed. He'd picked up a plethora of his own techniques, ones sure to have left them wanting.

As he finished the last seal, he ducked beneath a glint of silver that passed just over his head. The edge of the sword had surely been meant to decapitate. But it wouldn't take away his concentration. "Don't let him form the handseals, you idiots!" Aoshi heard. The grin upon his features couldn't have been more menacing. "So...that's your plan!?" he shouted, his right foot leaping from the edifice and allowing him to move meters backward. Just as both the soles of his feet would touch the floor, he'd once again been given the ability to use this jutsu against the wave of attackers. Both of his hands managed to burst into flames. Much more potent than his last attempt, perhaps this jutsu was fueled by the silent rage that poured throughout him. Gabriel's words had stuck with him.

The spheres of fire lifting up from around his wrist to his knuckles was enough to dissuade those who had made their approach. Swiftly, they reached into their satchels to attempt to fight him from a long range. But folly was once again theirs - as Aoshi blinked only once, the Sharingan was revealed to him. Scarlet poured into those once onyx pools of indifference. The sinister feeling of malevolence crept slowly over him, his very demeanor swathed in shadow as he lowered his head. "If you believe that that's going to be enough to stop me....then you should reconsider your life's decisions.." Aoshi muttered. He rushed forward as a trail of senbon were sent his way. Easily identifiable, he'd already had a method of counterattack.

The world was moving in slow motion compared to just how effective he was. He ducked and dodged the senbon with almost other-worldly speed, flickering in and out of existence before he moved to at least a meter or two away from the source of their throwing. The arms of his opponent were lifted in an "X" fashion over his countenance as Aoshi's right hand yet again cocked back; this was the perfect opportunity to cripple their numbers, if not their morale to go with it. Aoshi's fist yet again struck with reckless abandon, every knuckle pushing into the skin of he who had tried to guard. The resulting explosion knocked him backward as his appendages were forcefully removed from the rest of his anatomy. Aoshi's grin was mirthful.

The world around them was once more covered in flame and the like as the explosion covered the corridor. He was effectively veiling himself with every attempt. But if he was to make his way further in, he'd have to increase the power of his jutsu.