Blood, Sweat and Ninja swords (Training)

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, B, 0|70, 7th post]

After an eternity and a half, it seemed like Toyonobu seemed satisfied and bade everyone a goodnight before taking his leave. No one left immediately; they were all exhausted from the day’s lesson, especially Lee who fell twice more and had to redo the entire course again. In his lethargy, he found himself laughing with his peers, even Kimiko who thanked him earlier for catching her despite the number of wolf howls that went up in mockery.

The stony bravado Lee carried himself was lowered for the span of one night and for that one night he was one with his sword-brothers and sisters. After the gruelling torture that Toyonobu’s unique training presented, Lee and his fellow students felt prepared for anything the shrewd minded Teacher had left to throw at them—which they hoped could not have been much.

By now meeting in dojo’s practice yard, was routine and there they waited for their senior to test them in some grotesque exercise in spirit and resolve. Nanao, on this particular eve, had made it a point to stand nearby Lee, but neither of them so much as looked at one another the entire time. This suited Lee just fine, but by the pulsing vein at Nanao’s temple he could tell that the silence was wearing away at her nerves.

He could not imagine why since it was self-imposed, but Lee was nonetheless thankful when Toyonobu finally appeared, his usual graceful glide carrying him out to the practice yard. Behind him, pulled by two white-clad dojo servants was a chest which Lee recognized to be the same chest that held their practice bokken in other days.

At the sight of Toyonobu-Teacher, the talking slowed to a dull murmur of intrigue before tapering off altogether as the deep, baritones of their teacher’s voice captured the entirety of their attention. “Your trials have been hard, yes? That is because while you’ve passed the beginners’ level, that didn’t mean you were ready to become ‘true’ students of the sword, yes? Now, there is but one more thing I would have you do, yes?”

After he finished he motioned one of the boys over and the child, who could n’t have been much younger than Lee, hurried over with a bokken in hand. Handing that to Toyonobu the small child bowed his head diffidently before retreating back to his original position. “Now you must prove to me you are not simply quick in body, mind, and soul, but that you are quick to throw yourself against someone of superior skill, yes?”

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

[Gohan]

+60/70

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, B, 60|70, 8th post]

“Never falter, never yield—tis the true path of the sword, yes?” More than a few looks passed between one another; they all knew what that meant. They were to measure their progress against the skills of their Teacher before heading to the next level of training. In truth, Lee had suspected that the golden lined black sashes they had received in their graduation had been more symbolic of their promotion rather than an official acceptance of it.

Today, finally, they would have a chance to see what they had managed to accomplish in their short time at Raiju-sensei’s teachings. Toyonobu nodded to Lee from the onset, locking eyes with the boy as to intimidate him. Lee neither looked away nor faltered as he stepped forth and calmly accepted the practice sword placed in his hands by the young house cleaner of the dojo.

“You have up to three points, yes? Each time a killing blow is landed by one or the other it is a point, yes? I do not expect you all to earn any points at all, yes?” Toyonobu explained and paused for a moment, letting the latter part of his explanation sink in. “In battle victory is not the only outcome—in fact many swordsman proclaim given the dangerous nature of their lifestyle simply surviving is a victory each and every day, yes?”

Having spoken all he needed to say Toyonobu relaxed and settled into his stance as he waited for Lee to do the same. Lee on the other hand waited, allowed himself to take in all the lessons he had learned thus far, meld them into one, before he too, sat down into a bowed stance aligning himself in a perpendicular position Toyonobu as the man did to him.

By giving his opponent only one half of his body, a feat accomplished by facing the shoulder towards them, it was possible to shrink the space which damage might be done to thereby decreasing the amount of risk presented by any attack. Lee did not expect Toyonobu to display any high level attacks, but he knew the advantage still lay with the Teacher as he was certain there was a gap in the level of quickness and skill the senior disciple possessed in comparison to his own.

Still his face was stiff with determination as he eyed his teacher coolly. Then as one, they moved. Toyonobu’s first motion was a cross-body that was drawn from a Battojutsu stance, flourished overhead, and brought down with brilliant speed and power. Adding to the impressive combat prowess displayed in the manoeuvre the momentum carried Toyonobu toward his target in the space of a step and Lee, caught flat-footed just barely managed to raise his unsheathe his own bokken in time to defend the attack with both hands.
 
Pain shot through his wrists as he backpedalled four steps in an attempt to regain his balance. He would not yield of that he knew, but the daunting task of simply keeping track of Toyonobu was proving to be something just shy of impossible. The large man was now bounding towards him with ease over the training posts that he had assigned his class to traverse over for the better course of the day.

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

[Gohan]

+10

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Tough Skin, 10|20]

Each of the Teacher’s steps was sure and flawless—nothing like the uncomfortable, swaying hops that each of the students had shown when moving across the tops of the wooden posts. Leaping from the final post Toyonobu came down upon Lee with a simple overhead smash with the bokken’s hilt, which Lee countered by shuffling past the Teacher’s guard with two tiny steps forward.

The disadvantage of being airborne in combat was that the enemy had to position themselves for when you eventually set foot upon the ground again. Toyonobu smirked as his student’s face now hovered inches from his chest and in a daring manoeuvre Lee half drew his bokken in a Heaven manoeuvre attempting to strike the chest with the hilt, but his teacher was too quick.

Reacting in an instant the other man brought his already drawn practice weapon between his chest and Lee’s bokken. The resulting clack of wood would have been deafening enough to disorient Lee had he not been so focused on the battle. Unfortunately, he was not focused enough. In the brief moment, he had set himself against the weight of Toyonobu’s bokken the master swordsman had already shifted tactics.

And now spun past Lee leaving him to fall forward, taken off-balance by the sudden absence of resistance. He hit the ground in a rolling crouch, careful to keep his bokken from badly harming him in the fall by holding it a little bit away from his body as he fell and sprung back up to a knee—where Toyonobu’s practice sword was pointed at his throat.

The teacher’s hair was dishevelled and his clothes looked as a tad askew; both telltale signs that he had been forced to put some effort in the battle. Smiling the Teacher removed the wooden point away from his defeated student. “Point. You did several things wrong: Never lean your weight against your opponent—strike and sheath, keep your body fluid, yes? Secondly, as a swordsman it is imperative you are always aware of your surroundings.”

“That is what you should have learned in the training post exercise, yes? Your body should be able to adjust at a moment’s notice and keep you balanced.” Toyonobu chided, but he did not seem too displeased as he gazed through those cold, glass lenses of his. “There were more things, but…I’m sure you will correct them the next go-around, yes?” Lee nodded and returned his practice sword before dropping to a knee a little ways from the training ground to fill his hungry lungs with air. I will do better next time. Much better.

Lee could not help but notice that all of this training had not only increased his reflex speed, but also the amount of damage he was able to endure, the constant sparing with Toyonobu, and the other students had forced his body to adapt. Like a snake, Sang-hyeok started to shed his old scales, his hands pulling the excess dead layer of scales downwards, made it appear that he was being regurgitated. Finally, after the process had been completed a lifeless pile of scales lay on the dojo’s floor, a new pristine Lee had emerged, his scales better suited for the harsh combat environment of the dojo.

SPOILER: Click to show

Continued from: narutoforumrp.proboards.com/post/983519/thread

Tough Skin
Rank: "C" Always 20 Training Points
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User's skin is as tough as a mountainside itself.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: User gains a +1 natural armour bonus to their Damage Reduction. This technique may be gained multiple times. Its effects stack. The total Natural Armour bonus gained by this technique may not exceed 4 per Class Level divided by 3.
Limit: Must learn from Universal Miscellaneous.

[Gohan]

+10

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100]

Saying nothing, Lee drew lowered into a bow stance, left hand steadying the body of the practice sword while his right lightly wrapped around its hilt. At least he could manage to work up a sweat out of all this. People were bothersome things and he would have just as easily continued his career as soloist. With a quick mental estimate, he hashed out a distance of fifteen meters from where Tōru stood and where he did. The ground was mostly packed dirt, most of the foliage pressed back at least forty meters away by the clearings grounds. It was almost as if someone had designed this area for duels or practice sessions.

Focus, he berated himself. Narrowing his attention until it encompassed only Tōru and what skills the young swords before him possessed. So far, he knew little of him except that he seemed rash, direct, and bull headed; traits that were admirable if backed by strength. Otherwise, they were the mark of a true fool. His eyes glittered like gemstones—and with just as much toughness in them as his muscle corded body flexed with the electrifying excitement that came with a fight. This should be good. Tōru’s insistent egging seemed out of place to Lee.

On one level, it was understandable. The other Genin had no idea what his opponent’s strengths were or what sort of fighting style he used, but then the same could be said for the both of them. Conceptually the staff lent its user range and flexibility—something that efficiently combats the swift precision that swordsman are capable of. It does not matter; he cannot beat me, nobody one can Lee told himself before breaking into a long striding sprint towards Tōru.

In his wake, clouds of dust hovered lazily over the agitated earth. His mind barely perceived the danger of a long range attack while both his hands remained clenching the polished bokken’s body in preparation for a strike should the need arise. Ten meters, five meters, then Lee finds himself directly in front of the Tōru, his movement sending small flurries of displaced air whirling around the pair. His body is already perpendicular to Tōru’s position as he slides to a stop.

Bending his knees, he leans forward slightly and into a bow stance once again, though this time his muscles tingle with the electric adrenaline that comes with attacking. Oddly, Lee dimly takes note of his right foot to the left side of his opponent’s kneeling knee. His right hand clenches the bokken’s hilt while the fingers of his left hand loosely wrapped around the body of the practice sword to steady its draw. He takes only a second to gather himself and a moment later the bokken tears free from the belt with a whooshing sound. Using the momentum from his advantage and the speed of his rising attack, he slashes from the left side of his body in a diagonal cut across Tōru’s torso in a blurred motion before easily sheathing his weapon once again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 2nd post]

It felt good as he watched his blow connect. Every landed strike was an educational experience in which his sword taught him the means to defeat any and all foes that came against him. He warily straightened to his full height, keeping a keen eye watching his classmate crumple to the ground for a moment and it seemed sad that the bold, confidence early had resulted in such a mediocre challenge to him. His mind immediately went through the various defences that he could have garnered to his aid had he been in in his opponent’s shoes—a mental lesson that Toyonobu-Teacher said would lead to a very successful career as a swordsman.

“Your base was too wide,” Lee said without preamble after Tōru returned with the bo-staff in hand. The Genin had already fallen into another staff stance, this one more rigid than the last making for a solid defensive position than the last. Better, but still not enough, Lee admitted to himself.

“Sang-hyeok, did you know that you can tell a lot about a man based solely on the strength of his combat skills?” The unspoken implication of his words remained a mystery as he dropped into his bow stance again, his leg’s muscles twitching with the moderate discomfort that always came with maintaining the limber, stretch-like stance. He was allowing himself to gloat over the very small advantage that he found himself in; something Nanao would likely have beaten him senseless over had it been to her. Taking a breath that went unheard in the sound of the surrounding trees’ swaying leaves, Lee withdrew himself personally from the fight leaving a void between himself and his instincts.

Move as your opponent moves. Know your opponent and do not analyse, simply understand. Those were the cardinal rules of meditation and became even more important during battle when the seamless entry into a thoughtless state of comprehension was imperative. Lee felt his muscles slacken, yet remain as tense as a drawn bow. His right hand was inhumanly steady as it waited near the hilt of his bokken and his left hand lightly grasped the smooth body of the practice sword as it had many times before.

After resetting, the pair was separated by a mere three meters, a distance easily manageable in the space of three or four quick strides. At the edge of his thoughts, he vaguely recalled Nakane’s withdrawal from the clearing and made a dim reminder to hunt down the mysterious clansman for later inspection. For now, only the zealous desire to continue his fight ruled his mind and body. Come! Lee called within the depths of his spirit, Come on! Come at me! Fight me! With everything, you have! His heart quickened as he pushed his front foot deeper into the soil beneath. Immediately he felt his neutral stance advantage of being able to shift from standing to kneeling positions slip away as only the kneeling became more of a viable option in a fast-paced circumstance.

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 3rd post]

There was still much to learn for him…far too much to learn. Lee held a newfound respect for Tōru’s realization of his flaws. It took a strong individual to admit their weaknesses and shortcomings—of course, it took an even greater amount of ingenuity and strength to find a way to surpass those boundaries.

Despite his opinion being changed, Lee’s mind remained focused with almost savage narrow-mindedness as he watched his prey coolly from the vantage point of his stance. In a fight, there was little time for words and even less time for grandiose sentiments; only the code and the battle mattered. So far Tōru was plotting either a surprise attack or he simply too overwhelmed with the calm demeanour with which Lee continued to exert his will upon the other Genin. A bead of sweat rolled down Lee’s cheek, but he paid it no mind as he examined the situation from the depths of the void.

Suddenly he jerked into motion. His back straight as he took two steps towards Tōru before planting his left foot, effectively covering the three-meter gap between his opponent and himself. As he skidded to a stop inches away from Tōru he dipped low and into a kneeling stance that dropped his body beneath Tōru’s immediate line of vision giving the impression that he had abruptly vanished. For a moment, his hip flexors ached with the slight pain that came with hasty motions, but the adrenaline coursing through his blood quelled the aches almost instantly as a glint of malicious concentration flashed in Lee’s eye.

Veins bulged along the length of his arm while his eye scanned for any possible movement from Tōru that might indicate a pre-emptive strike or a defence of some sort. His mind hummed with a million possibilities while his instincts continued to move his body in accordance to the motions that had been engrained into its very essence.

Drawing the bokken again, Lee’s arm blurred as it pistioned into motion, snapping in an upward arch that whipped across Tōru’s right shoulder. The momentum of the rising slash nearly carried him off his feet, but weeks of hard practice made his reflexes swift enough to correct the flaw before it became a problem. Within the beat of a nanosecond he was swinging downward with all his might and the bokken exploded across the other Genin’s right shoulder as Lee sheathed his practice sword with the same restrained grace that he managed everything with, his attack was not faster, but his motions seemed quicker now that he was able to keep his mind trained on miniscule responses from his opponent leaving his body to react in the quickest, easiest fashion.

The result was the perfect slash; a trained balance between offense and defence. I should have trained with this guy a long time ago; he’s a lot better practice than those training dummies at the dojo, Lee decided. Lee could not help the snarling grin that twisted his lips as Tōru finally took up arms and came towards him. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 4th post]

He had been waiting for the spunky Genin to pick up the remains of his dignity and at least make this a fight—and now he had gotten what he had wanted. Shoving aside the shimmering joy of pure combat, a metaphorical sort of opium in its own right, Lee forged his thoughts through the depths of the emotionless void.

Now he settled into the stance with which he was so familiar with, unmoving as Tōru’s staff surged towards him with impressive purpose; there was no hesitation in the strike. What is he attacking? Each muscle flexed as if communicating a message through the fibrous nerves running through the length of his being. His Teacher had taught him well, some region on the arms. He is trying to disable me then; Hmph; Amateur... Beyond the arrogant cloud of his character, Lee secretly commended his opponent’s initiative. A swordsman was at his weakest when without his sword—something that grudgingly admitted was true with him as well.

His body had already registered the course of actions before Lee actually paid attention to it. Before consciously making the decision, he was on one knee, his motion already altering the target that the staff’s blunted end would strike him—but he had no intentions of letting it touch him at all.

The bokken blurred out from its resting place like a wooden viper striking out at its prey. A frontal attack, at least he’s honourable, Lee thought distantly as he whipped the practice sword across his body in a horizontal parry that knocked the end of the staff aside with little effort; the assault had little skill behind it. It reminded him of a wild animal flailing as it found itself cornered by a larger prey. He should not have been so hasty, he knew, but even as he sheathed his bokken once, again he leaned forward a bit more in a slew of blurred motion.

Again, his weapon was in hand. He was no longer able to dissociate instinct from planned action. His vision dimmed in the tunnel cone created in the haste of battle and his thoughts were as one with his swords. This must be what in enlightenment feels like. The concept hovered in the limbo of his mind, as it currently had no place to go. His concentration was on any countermovement that Tōru might make while his body was busied with the sharp, quick thrust that jabbed towards the other Genin’s shin in an attempt to topple him to the ground.

Not waiting to see if the thrust struck home, Lee rolled to the ground space at Tōru’s backside before rising slowly to a knee and stifling his breath in case his last attack had missed Tōru was attacking his now exposed backside. He was not doing too badly despite clearly, not having any real formal training—not bad, but never enough to best him. No one could best him. Soon not even, you will father. That thought immediately found a place in the folds of his heart, as it was solemn promise he recited each day.

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 5th post]

Surprisingly Tōru had endured the weight of the shin assault and better still the Genin quickly gained an understanding of Lee’s whereabouts in a matter of seconds. Lee’s ill preparedness for his opponent’s readiness slowed is reaction enough to give time for his opponent’s downward swooping staff swing descend upon him until the last second in which he became nervously aware of the blunt end coming down upon him.

This time his overconfidence cost him. Stars blazed across the screen of black as he momentarily lost all sense of direction and balance; the staff promptly conking him on the head with a resounding crack that threw him off balance. As his body tumbled to the side, he became acutely aware of each fibre of his being working to regain his posture. It was an odd sensation to experience. His eyes barely fluttered open in time to catch the sight of the bare ground rushing up towards him when his left hand shot out immediately and slammed into the ground. Using the earth as a base he tossed the remainder of his weight into the air and found himself for a moment suspended mid flip, watching as the world slowly moved across his field of vision. A squeeze of his right hand told him that somehow he had managed to keep his fingers wrapped tightly around the bokken despite the blow.

The moment ended and his feet touched the ground. Pain suffused his being starting at the crown of his skull, but except for a slight grimace Lee’s face remained devoid of expression as he eyed Tōru with narrowed eyes. Then against his better judgment, he smirked. It was something. Tōru had actually managed to hit him through sheer effort and force of will—something most masters schooled their students was an impossibility. One point for character I suppose.

Rather than rising too quickly to his feet Lee let his battle heated blood settle for a moment as he reassessed what had taken place. His reaction had been slowed by the minor fact that he had not completely bested his opponent as he thought he should have. Was that a flaw on his part or was it simply one of the chaotic turns battles sometimes took despite the greatest gaps in skill? Looking Tōru over again Lee went through his mental exercises again. What do you see, a bold, slightly stupid, incredibly persistent nitwit with crude skills and heart of greater substance than yours. Lee’s frowned creased the lines of his forward as took his stance again, frustration evident in his every motion.

“Enough. I am better than you, but you still hit me—which means you could have beaten me given a chance.” Lee said suddenly allowing the tension to flow out of his body as he stood to full length. He slammed his bokken back into his belt and let his hands drop slowly to his sides, “Come on you…” Lee said with a gesture, this time speaking with a much more respectful tone.

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 6th post]

“Let’s see if we can at least have you holding that staff as if you know how to use it.” It was as much as concession to Ituski’s abiding resolve as Lee was going to give. Lee only half listened when Tōru had asked him the question concerning whether the use of one particular hand or the other affected how he fought. Truthfully, he did not know how to answer that question, but more importantly, he was not all that interested in studying nuances such as that.

His mind was concerned with how his technique could be better improved so that he never suffered the shameful would on his ego that Ituski managed to inflict without even realizing it. It should never have happened, Lee fumed silently, it should never have happened, but my failure is my own and I must move on. There was little consolation in that bit of wisdom, but he allowed himself to become distracted with Tōru’s stance. Frowning he paced around the other Genin in a tight circle trying to figure out what was bothering him about the stance. He did not know much about bo-jutsu, but there was something…

“You are too stiff.” Why he could tell that Tōru’s shoulder muscles were clenched too tightly, he did not rightly know. In fact, he even attempted to slacken his own shoulder blades in response to his epiphany in case he was making the same mistake. Taking position in front of Tōru he expelled a breath when suddenly a familiar face appeared in his peripheral and he paused for a moment, nodding his head in Ōtsutsuki’s direction so that Tōru would look. The Nakane child seemed completely lost in his own world, taking only a passing glance at his classmates before working some hand seals and placing his palms against the earth. Well, then. It seemed all of them were determined to become stronger one way or another.

Ōtsutsuki’s determination painted an image in Lee’s mind, an image that he had forgotten somewhat since becoming a ninja. It was the expression that he had worn each time his father had defeated him in what he called then a life-and-death duel. Sombrely Lee took position before Tōru again, silently thanked Nakane for reminding him of one of the reasons for which he fought, “Tōru! En garde!” he shouted in a harsh voice.

With no apparent technique, he unsheathed his bokken and attacked Tōru with a rising cut. Their distance was so minimal now that there had been no need to make any movements towards his training partner. As he slashed, he made himself aware of each nerve that responded to his conscious will to attack. If he tried hard, he was certain that he could identify the muscles that produced the power in his cuts, the quickness in his movements, and the stability in his defences. If he could claim control over the entirety of his body then even the most skilled taijutsu master would find him a difficult opponent.
 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 7th post]

Switching his feet in preparation for a second swing, he sensed rather than felt as he dragged his sandal over the smooth pebble jutting out of the ground. For a moment, he was lucidly connected with the disturbed balance of his body even as he staggered to the left, a foolish mistake on his part. His folly had not been too great and his eyes never left Tōru’s form so that at the very least he could counter the Genin should the need arise.

Tōru had stopped the sparring session with the idea of utilizing the Nakane child’s training to implement their own, but it seemed their third team member was much too absorbed to be bothered with the suspect ‘Whack a Mole’ training method. Lee had been sceptical as well though he hid it with an impassive expression while Tōru decided what how he wished to train.

In the moments between Tōru’s suggestion of the ‘Whack A Mole’ exercise and the continuation of his and Lee’s sparring session, a stroke of…something, perhaps inspiration struck Lee where he stood. The profound feeling made Lee’s chest flutter and his eyes blink rapidly as an intimate understanding of himself and his sword flooded his spirit. Without a word, he took out his bokken and held it horizontally in front of him as he examined it. The wood was gnarled and rugged despite the surface’s polished texture; many weeks of gruelling practice blows had dented it in multiple places and the hilt was faintly indented with the shape of fingers.

What though? It’s not my sword I’m noticing for the first time is it? Lee wondered as a slow wind ruffled his hair. Suddenly he seemed completely unaware of the training field, Tōru, Ōtsutsuki, or even his physical presence in the world. These were all simple details that attempted to distract him from the focus of his world currently: the tenuous connection with his sword. No, it is my…my body is speaking to me… he decided.

The idea was irrational and yet he found himself getting into stance, with his bokken neatly tucked into his belt as if he were about to engage in a serious battle. Electrical joy passed through him with such intensity that sweat beaded his forehead and made the underside of his armpits slick, but his attention was not drawn from the attention he was paying the new awareness he felt. His bokken no longer was a tool which he fought with; rather it was a piece of him—it was his heart in fact for without it he would cease exist as he did now in this world. As the truth dawned on him, Lee drew his bokken in a flash of movement, his white bandages blurring into a long streak of light as he countered an invisible blow with impressive alacrity, but that was not enough. Like the sky clearing on a foggy day so did Lee’s senses sharpen, if only a little bit.
 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 8th post]

He savagely twirled the wooden sword in his hand as if to ward off a number of projectiles at once and quickly transitioned crisp sword press that would have thrown any unskilled warrior to the ground. Even the air seemed to dance with excitement as he moved. Lee was no longer practicing as much as he was discovering himself now. His sword moved without hesitation, flitting from one space to another while its master strived to listen to the whims of his body.

Then the moment was gone and Lee blinked at the jarring experience. He had been conscious of every minor shift in his being, every breath he had taken had been a religious experience; it was Nirvana. It had to have been, for Lee believed, that only a master could experience something so beautiful and lethal in the simple motion of swinging a sword—a practice one at that. Only after he had taken notice of Tōru’s questioning look did he realize that the other Genin had been asking him something when he would suddenly burst into a flurry of motion and concentration.

“Uhm…what?” he asked bluntly, not caring enough to mask the fact that he had been caught up in the moment. He was a swordsman not some flunky. Lee had watched complacently as Tōru at first attempted to continue their sparring session, but then at the last moment rescinded the attack. The other Genin shrugged his shoulder plaintively as if to rid himself of some unalleviated stress without much success and Lee only observed for his classmate for a moment before deciding that the sparring had indeed exceeded his usefulness. Tōru was talented without a doubt, but at their current skills, neither of them would be able to push each other to learn anything.

Turning away from his two classmates—the Nakane had been completely unresponsive to any communication, Lee took note of the trees lining the edge of the training field Tōru had chosen. The choice of location could not have been more perfect. Around them were tools that they could use to further their training and the space granted them the room to do such. A small smile began to grow on Lee’s lips as he remembered something that Toyonobu-Teacher had shown him back at the dojo; he should have thought of it before, but likely he had been too absorbed in measuring his ability against Tōru.

“Follow me.” Lee said without preamble before taking off towards the trees that were at an estimated forty meters from where he stood. He had made no specification to whom he spoke nor did he suggest that only one person could join in his little experiment. I suppose it is my turn to suggest a stupid training exercise, he thought mildly.

As he reached his destination, which was a large trunked maple tree with thick leaves that caught refracted sunlight, he studied the canopy branches intently assessing the validity of his idea. The lowest branch was only a meter above his head and the branches spiralled circularly up towards the top of the tree, which easily stood twenty meters high.
 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 9th post]

Each branch was spaced equally at about a meter and a half away from the next branch, all coated with a host of leaves numbering well over twenty each. It was the first branch that Lee unsheathed his bokken and swatted at sending a shower of the forked foliage floating down upon him.

Taking a calming breathing he took his Iaijutsu stance as if he were about to parry an attack. In a way he was. Slowly the leaves made their descent until the first wave was moments from touching. Without violent motion, Lee unsheathed his bokken while driving his left foot into the ground, which he then pushed off sending his entire body into a complete spin which batted away several leaves from his immediate area before sheathing his bokken quickly.

Not satisfied, Lee took a step towards another hovering leave and drew once again, feeling the silent power of his muscles accelerating the tip of his practice sword until it caught the small, fluttering leave on the point. Again, he sheathed without hesitation and the leaf fluttered to the ground once again.

His body liberally greased with sweat Lee’s eyes hurriedly searched for a new target, but found that the entire wave of leaves had fallen to the ground at his feet. Not good enough, Toyonobu-Teacher had gotten at least half of them before they had fallen. The exercise itself was simple: to knock down as many leaves as possible before they fell to the ground, which represented an attack that had escaped your attention and thereby would have struck you. Lee counted thirty-one leaves with a quick scan and grimaced; he had only managed to defend against ten of those attacks. Setting his disappointment aside, he tensed his muscles in preparation for the exertion of a second attempt; this time he would expand his awareness thereby catching more of the leaves that had escaped his notice. The next branch seemed to hold even more leaves.

Looking to try once more before taking a rest he stopped as one of his classmates approached; ignoring the presence at his back, Lee examined the second branch set a little higher into the tree than the first. It was the only pair of branches that jutted out of the tree in the same general direction; the others spotted multiple points and were going to be a good deal tougher to reach after that. Putting the thought from his mind Lee concentrated chakra into his feet before leaping. After the unsettling sensation of flight lasted for a second Lee found his footing once again—upon the surface of the tree’s trunk.

Wasting no time at all, he ran up towards the second branch and gave it a quick, sweeping kick that rattled the limb enough to send a flurry of leaves falling towards the ground below him. He had not exactly thought of how he would get back down before the trees had fallen and now the dilemma threatened to ruin his entire exercise.
 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

["Rock" Lee Sang-hyeok]

[Exit]
[Heaven Shapeless: Dodge, A, 0|100, 10th post]

Growling like an animal he pushed off the tree and rocketed himself towards the ground at a reckless pace. He was plummeting two meters to the ground at a dizzying rate and yet a thought came to him with perfect clarity: he could strike the leaves while falling as well.

Moving while airborne was a challenge of its own and no sooner had Lee’s moment of innovation struck him, the ground rushed up to meet him. Nimbly righting himself before landing, a cloud of unsettled leaves fluttered in the wake of his landing. Above him, all the leaves he had struck from the second tree branch danced happily in the air, their descent as slow and lethargic as if they were swinging in some invisible hammock. Lee possessed no such sanguinity. As the first of the leaves was about to touch the ground his practice sword swung out and audibly smacked into the leaf sending it fluttering some distance away. Attention already elsewhere, Lee whirled to see another trio attempting to settle in the space he had occupied only a second before.

Eyes wide and nostrils flared he did not even sheath his bokken and take stance as he threw himself in the direction of the leaves. He managed to strike two of them, but the third slipped away only fuelling his frustration with himself. Knowing he did not have much time as the bulk of the shower came down gently upon him he raised himself up on one knee as if performing one of the sword forms he had learnt in the dojo when a unusually strong breeze blew across the plain. Weightless as they were the leaves were blown up and westward back towards the village. Unwilling to give up his exercise Lee broke into a run with his bokken clenched tightly in his right hand, held low and pointed towards the ground like a large, wooden knife.

No sooner had he began his chase for the falling leaves did he realize that the trees presented a veritable danger. With his eyes averted upwards, he only just danced away from slamming face-first into one of the wooded behemoths. Even off-balanced Lee caught sight of a falling leaf and batted the leaf upward with a rising swing of his practice sword.

“Well that was harder than I thought,” he muttered agitatedly to himself. “Damn wind ruined everything.”  He had not minded the fact that even the act of running through the trees had further sharpened his reflexes to a higher level than before, but he would have liked to see how his progress measured up against that of Toyonobu. The witty codger of a swordsman seemed to be pushing him along even without being present—him and the man whom Lee wished to defeat most: Lee’s father. His thoughts heavy with unachieved goals, Lee headed back towards the training field. His training thus far had been slightly disappointing, but he knew that was because his mind was too distracted.
 

SPOILER: Click to show

Heaven Shapeless: Dodge
Rank: "D", "C", "B", "A", "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: A technique used to dodge and evade attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The user learns how to proficiently dodge and evade flying objects as well as oncoming weapons through predicting the attacks. A very useful technique since the Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single) has no defensive capabilities. The user will stand in one position and learn the minimum amount of movements required to avoid an attack. The bending of the body at a rapid pace is essential to this technique as well as ducking, side-stepping, jumping, and bobbing/weaving. Each rank the user learns the user is capable of effectively knowing how to evade a technique equal in rank.
Limit: Must learn from a Master of Tensora (天空 Heavenly Sky), Must know Heaven Shapeless: Stance (Single).

[Gohan]

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