The Warrior Inside [Invite only]

[Molokai]

Water country had a lot less to do with water than one would assume, as most of it was thickly forested with the occasional pond. The only real affiliation with water one could find was the fact that it was an island and the perpetual mist that permeated every inch of every thing. However, the fog was thinner today, so one could actually see effectively for farther than usual, which revealed the layout of the landscape.

Vines and underbrush littered the forest floor, each reaching desperately to trip anything that tried to walk past. Creepers, roots, thistles, snares, all of it maliciously snagging any unsuspecting victim who crossed their threshold. A variety of trees dominated the field; birch, beech, fir, oak, pine, yew, maple, thin, tall, short, thick, old, young. Every shape and size one can imagine spread across a rather large arena.

The sky was visible between the trees, or, rather, the area where they sky would have been had the air been clear. However, the amount of visibility was limited to only a very thin strip between the tallest trees.

Toru lurked beneath the undergrowth, utilizing his Kagerou technique to remain hidden and wait for his opponent to arrive. And when he did, he would be given the first show of Toru's power.

[zero1317]

[Enter]

“It’s official,” Raiden panted as he finally reached the location Toru had pointed out, “I hate walking!” He entered the forest and was hit with the smells of fresh plant life. The bird in him wanted to climb into the trees. But, he couldn’t without revealing his ace in the hole.

“Hey Toru,” Raiden called out, “Where’s the fire?” He didn’t expect Toru to answer, but it was prudent to ask first. Raiden had no idea where the plant-boy was, or how he could hide in a place like this. Raiden went looking around the trees, being careful not to wreck the undergrowth.

“Toru, come out, come out wherever you are,” Raiden called out again. Nothing but the plants and his voice. “Damn guy hides better than a tiger in the savannah,” Raiden said impatiently. How could you start a fight if you’re opponent was nowhere to be found? Raiden knew the easiest way was to blow half the trees down with his Zankuuha. But that wasn’t the smartest way to skin a cat.

[Molokai]

Some disturbance in the undergrowth.

A distortion, almost as if the light itself were being bended, began to rise out of the underbrush. Ripples in the land itself extended from a center point, steadily growing wider as the source of the disturbance came into view. A fanged hole in the ground soon replaced the distorted ripples, massive green teeth interwoven out of the land itself, threatening to swallow up anything that came near. But the fangs also rose forth from the ground, seemingly carrying the ground with it on it's ascent.

A column of deep green revealed itself from the forest floor, flexing from side to side as if struggling to free itself, or the thing inside it. It rose to about six feet in height and stopped, idling menacingly as if building up it's energy for something diabolical. Then, along the jagged, toothy seam, it split at the top and fell down like a zipper until only the head and shoulders of young Toru Kouba were visible. He laughed. A raspy, gravely, frightening sound that had no echo in the oppressive fog.

His hands couldn't be seen behind the shield of his flytrap, so Raiden wouldn't be able to see if he was forming handseals, and with all of this fine wood around, an attack could come from any direction at any time. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

"You ready for this?"

[zero1317]

Raiden had seen some freaky things in his short span on the planet, but none so freaky as rippling ground with fangs. A green column shot up out of the ground and revealed Toru Kouba. He started laughing loudly, a very raspy, austerely, scary sound. Raiden now had some more info about Toru’s abilities. He had come out of nowhere, almost as if he had come out of the ground. Or maybe... the plants. That was enough to clue Raiden in that he had a massive disadvantage as long as he was on the ground. He needed to get in the air.
”You ready for this?” Toru asked. Raiden’s only answer was to bring his hands together in the dragon hand sign. His eyes changed to the emerald green of the Kazeraikou clan. Raiden grinned widely as he geared himself up for their fight. His blood was beginning to boil with the excitement and adrenaline.
“Are you ready?” Raiden countered.

SPOILER: Click to show

Ryuugan Activation.
Rank: “C” Rank.
Skill: Ninjutsu/bloodlimit jutsu.
Effect: Activates the Ryuugan. Makes the users senses more sensitive. If someone for example is reading a letter 15 meters away, you will read it with ease. The vision range widens from 180 degrees to 210. You will also be able to use the Kazeraikou clans Eastern attacks. Jutsus based on lightning will be amplified, and the user can control very strong lightning Ninjutsu with lower risks than those who do not have Ryuugan. Wind Jutsus might be easier to perform, depending how good you are to control chakra. Genjutsu and Ninjutsu specialists should be able to do that.
Special: Dragon
Drawback: Takes a little chakra.
Description: The user are now able to control small winds (change their direction, fly on them if they have an umbrella or a fan, make them weaker/stronger) and anything electric (but cannot control things/others Jutsus with high power. Jounin or “B”-ranked shinobi’s can maximum control “C”-rank lightning Jutsus, which is the max (not even an "A"-rank character can stop a "B"-ranked jutsu for example).
That means that they can weaken the jutsu a tiny little bit, change direction a bit or slow it down so they can avoid it).
Limit: Must be member of the Kazeraikou clan. Have to know Lightning release and how to read.

[Molokai]

Toru was quite ready. Raiden's eyes were likely one of his greatest assets, so anything associated with eyes and sight was probably enhanced. Meaning that Toru would have to fully utilize the element of surprise to catch him off guard. Which wouldn't be too terribly difficult, considering the fact that Toru was completely in his element here.

The flytrap hid all movements of his hands from view, even from the power of a Dojutsu, so as long as he kept his face neutral he would easily be able to send a technique from out of nowhere. Luckily, the ground was so littered with snares and other little tendrils that both of their feet were already well covered, which would provide perfect cover for Toru's plan. Rabbit, Rat, Ram, formed and sealed in the space of less than a second and completely hidden from view.

Small roots, so small that they were unidentifiable from the rest of the floral garbage obscuring Raiden's feet, slithered forth from the earth and wound themselves silently around them. Careful not to make any moves that would distinguish Toru's roots from the roots already present, he began to bind Raiden where he stood. Should his plan work and the underbrush successfully hides the technique, Toru would use his opponent's anchorage as a starting point for his other binding-style techniques, thus defeating him without doing a lick of damage.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mokuton: Ru-tsu ki Wana no Jutsu (Roots That Snare)
Rank: C
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Roots grow out from the ground rapidly and wrap themselves around the opponents feet.
Special: Rabbit, Rat, Ram
Drawback: If the technique is caught early, the roots are not thick and are easy to break out of.
Description: Thick green roots come out of the ground and wrap themselves around the opponents legs. The longer the jutsu exists before it is countered, the more roots wrap themselves around the opponent and the higher they extend upwards. If the jutsu is not countered, eventually the opponent’s body will be completely ensnared.
Limit: Mokuton no Jutsu

[zero1317]

Raiden and Toru stood standing, facing each other. It was Raiden’s move, and he prepared to use his Zankuuha. He gathered his wind chakra and began manipulating it with the tubes in his body. Raiden went to step back, to get as far away as he could from his opponent, but he couldn’t move.

“What the hell?” Raiden looked down and saw that roots had bound themselves to his feet, and they were still moving. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on. Toru was a wood-release user. Its times like these that Raiden wished he had payed attention to how to use fire techniques.

“Okay, that’s how you want to play,” Raiden said, pointing both of his hands at Toru. “Zankuuha!”
A massive blast of air-pressure shot out of the Zankuuha at Toru. Ten metres of vast destruction at Raiden’s disposal, and he enjoyed using it. Plant matter caught in the blast shot out in all directions.

SPOILER: Click to show

Zankuuha (Decapitating Air Waves)
Rank: D - Rank
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: The user sends a powerful blast of wind from the Air Vents in their palms.
Special: ---
Drawback: Should the tubes be blocked, the built up pressure will cause the users arms to burst off as the air escapes.
Description: Placing one, or both palms forward, the user releases an incredibly powerful burst of Air Pressure from their arms, the gust then proceeds to launch outwards and destroy objects within their path, travelling as far as 10 Meters (30 Feet) forward before their potency is reduced.
Limit: Wind Release. Must have Air Vents installed.

[Molokai]

When Toru saw Raiden raise his hands and point his palms forward, he knew immediately that he was about to see what those tubes were all about. The swathe of destruction that proceeded to rocket toward him, vaporizing all of the plants and threatening to do the same to Toru, was about as terrifying as one would imagine. Toru had no choice but to immediately end the technique, leaving the roots that were already attached but halting their further progression, and since he was useless at fast physical movements he did the first thing that came to mind.

Rocking on his heels and falling backwards before the wind gust hit him, it would almost look as though he'd passed out, when in reality as soon as his body collided with the ground he sunk immediately into it and vanished. Now safely beneath the sod, he listened as the terrifying wave of energy tore a gash in the forest above him. Diving deeper, he made sure that his movements wouldn't be translated into a disturbance on the surface before migrating to a position less than ten metres behind the hopefully pinned Raiden.

He burst forth, forgoing any attempt at being stealthy, and blasted though handseals at a mind-numbing pace. Boar, Dragon, Ram, Boar, invisible beneath the cloak of the flytrap, and a flood of chakra into the ground around him would cause six monstrous branches to erupt from the area around Raiden. Four of these would reach up and attempt to catch his arms and hands before he could use his crazy arm-tubes again, and hopefully force them to spread apart to prevent the formation of handseals. The final two would be grasping at his knees in an attempt to solidify his entrapment.

SPOILER: Click to show

Doton - Dochuu Eigyo (Underground Fish Projection)
Rank: "C" Rank
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: By using the similarity of Doton - Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu (Double Suicide Decapitation Technique) the user is capable of moving through the earth and all around.
Special: "Handseals" before performing
Drawback: Technique cannot be used through Sand
Description: The user uses the basic Doton - Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu (Double Suicide Decapitation Technique) as they slam down into the ground. Doing so the user is capable of moving about within the ground capable of rising, singing and capable of pushing through the very ground in multiple types of ways. This type of attack may be used so then the user may move away from the very opponent and attack at the moment's notice.
Limit: Needs the Earth Release, Must have knowledge of the Doton - Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu (Double Suicide Decapitation Technique)

Mokuton Soutei Hashira (Wood Release - Binding Pillars)
Rank: "C", "B", "A" Rank
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: A technique where branches is pushed from the ground and wraps around an opponent.
Special: "Boar, Dragon, Ram, Boar"
Drawback: This technique is the basics of other techniques. The user must learn this technique multiple times in order for the distance of branches can increases.
Description: After using the seals the user uses the water and earth release in which branches crushes out of the ground to wrap around the user. When the user first learns this technique the user is capable of creating approximatly Six Different branches with a width of six inches, with the distance of Ten Meters From the user. Every time learned the distance may increase by an additional ten Meters. When the distance reaches up to a Hundred Meters the type of training becomes B-Rank Training. When the distance reaches Two Hundred Meters the Training becomes A-Rank. When the user reaches to B-Rank Training the width of branches is Twelve Inches if the user desires. When the Training Reaches A-Rank the width of the branches is Twenty Four Inches if the user desires. Each time learned the user is capable of creating another branch.
Limit: Must have the Wood Release

[zero1317]

Toru had vanished, but Raiden’s eyes were better than most. He saw him face into the ground. He had no idea where he would be, so he quickly used his Zankuuha to blow the vines off of his feet. In the time it took to do that, Raiden heard Toru come out of the ground behind him. Raiden turned and saw Toru burst forward out of the ground. So did six branches of wood, which aimed at Raiden. Raiden crossed his arms and released another Zankuuha burst to take out the ones heading for his arms. But he didn’t stop the ones on his legs, which wrapped around them and held him in place. Raiden’s reactions could keep him safe from any more jutsu that Toru could throw at him, but he needed to get in the air.

Raiden put his hands out in front of him and shot out another blast of air-pressure as destructive as the first one. It ripped through the trees and hopefully distracted Toru long enough for him to cut through the branches. Raiden quickly made the hand signs; Dog, Rabbit, Ox, Bird. His hands changed rapidly into bird talons, two-inch long claws. Raiden slashed at the binds on his knees, cutting them so he could move again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Zankuuha (Decapitating Air Waves) x2
Rank: D - Rank
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: The user sends a powerful blast of wind from the Air Vents in their palms.
Special: ---
Drawback: Should the tubes be blocked, the built up pressure will cause the users arms to burst off as the air escapes.
Description: Placing one, or both palms forward, the user releases an incredibly powerful burst of Air Pressure from their arms, the gust then proceeds to launch outwards and destroy objects within their path, travelling as far as 10 Meters (30 Feet) forward before their potency is reduced.
Limit: Wind Release. Must have Air Vents installed.

Tsume no jutsu (Claw technique)
Rank: C-Rank
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Lets the user's fingers and toes turn into talons.
Special: hand signs, dog, rabbit, ox, bird
Drawback: Owner can accidentally injure himself/herself.
Description: The user makes hand signs, and then their fingers turn into any colour, finger-like appendages with little lines all around them coming from the place your fingers and toes used to be. Protruding from the tip, there are 2 inch long claws that are sharp enough to cut through wood, and hard enough to block a shuriken. It acts like normal fingers and toes; you can move them and stuff. It’s basically THIS instead of your fingers and toes plus one more claw, and any colour you want. But your palm is still human.
Limit: None

[Molokai]

It was clear that Toru's greatest obstacle was going to be those air blasts Raiden kept using. All of the effort he had put into dodging had allowed Raiden to break free, thus undermining everything Toru had planned. Which meant that he couldn't allow himself to go blind again for any amount of time. As soon as he saw the Zankuuha blast away his branches, he could tell that one was going to be coming his way very soon, so instead of running and hiding, he stood firm. Two handseals were all it took to form the perfect barrier to protect him from the Zankuuha attack, a wooden shield capable of taking far more abuse than Raiden's little wind blasts.

As such, his view wasn't obscured as he observed his opponent spontaneously sprout claws and begin to hack at the branches entangling his legs. Oh, what a perfect opportunity, with his opponent busying himself trying to hack at a rather thick branch with nothing more than claws, Toru was able to fly through the handseals again. Six more branches emerged, two directly below him snatched at his clawed hands, and the other four formed an arch over his hunched form and came down upon him, attempting to pin him in a very vulnerable position.

Should that succeed, he hopefully wouldn't be able to use his little blasters without risking blowing his own head off, and Toru would have succeeded at trapping him. Although there was an alternative route that he could see himself taking, he preferred not to reveal any more of his clan techniques than he already had. For now, his wood release would be more than sufficient.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mokuton: Tate no Mokuzai no Jutsu (Shield of Wood)
Rank: C
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Creates a small wooden shield in front of the user.
Special: Horse, Rabbit.
Drawback: Can only sustain five D rank attacks OR 3 C rank attacks
Description: The user performs the seals listed and a small wooden shield appears in front of the user. The shield can block kunai and other weapons, or can block low-ranked jutsu (C and D. It’s not very strong, and a few well placed hits will break it easily.
Limit: Must have Mokuton no Jutsu

Mokuton Soutei Hashira (Wood Release - Binding Pillars)
Rank: "C", "B", "A" Rank
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: A technique where branches is pushed from the ground and wraps around an opponent.
Special: "Boar, Dragon, Ram, Boar"
Drawback: This technique is the basics of other techniques. The user must learn this technique multiple times in order for the distance of branches can increases.
Description: After using the seals the user uses the water and earth release in which branches crushes out of the ground to wrap around the user. When the user first learns this technique the user is capable of creating approximatly Six Different branches with a width of six inches, with the distance of Ten Meters From the user. Every time learned the distance may increase by an additional ten Meters. When the distance reaches up to a Hundred Meters the type of training becomes B-Rank Training. When the distance reaches Two Hundred Meters the Training becomes A-Rank. When the user reaches to B-Rank Training the width of branches is Twelve Inches if the user desires. When the Training Reaches A-Rank the width of the branches is Twenty Four Inches if the user desires. Each time learned the user is capable of creating another branch.
Limit: Must have the Wood Release

[zero1317]

Raiden’s reflexes may be good, but he didn’t focus on the branches that grabbed his hands or the ones that held him down. He was stuck, and he had allowed this whole thing to happen. Raiden shook his head and cancelled the claw jutsu. He probably could blow his way out of this trap, but not without sacrificing a limb or two. He couldn’t make hand signs, and even if he could he had no jutsu that could get him out of this. His eyes were of no use anymore; reactions meant nothing if he couldn’t move.

“Okay, you win, you got me,” Raiden said. He didn’t mind losing; it was refreshing that someone was still breathing that could beat him. It had only happened twice in his life; including this time. “But that was fun! We should do that again sometime.” Raiden hoped that he hadn’t let himself get caught by a potential psychopath that was about to shove wood into his skull. “Next time; I’ll know better and your tricks won’t work: I’ll pick the next battlefield.

OOC-Sorry for the short fight, but no way out of that would have been legal

[Molokai]

Toru released the technique and let the numerous branches slither back from whence they came, then he dispelled his shield and walked over to where Raiden was, allowing his flytrap to relax and fall to his sides. Raiden had accepted defeat honorably, and Toru respected that greatly. As such, he trusted that he could put his guard down around Raiden to show how much respect he had just gained. He offered his hand to the man he had met just a few hours earlier in an unnamed restaurant somewhere in their mutual village.

"I expect you to beat me next time we do." His voice was deep and smooth again, with a type of sarky grace one would never expect to come from one like him. Raiden was older and taller than Toru, so it was a bit of a role reversal for Toru to be saying that, but it's not like anyone was around to see it. Taking in the scenery, Toru realized how much damage they had done to their little battlefield. massive, conical gaps stemming from a central point that was clearly where Raiden was standing.

In about the middle of one of the blast zones was a random patch where whatever caused the damage didn't seem to reach, which corresponded to where Toru had raised his wood shield. Overall, the land was a mess and it was all their fault. Those little tubes in Raiden's arms had some serious power, and Toru was afraid to see what they were capable of if he kept training them. But for now, he decided to head back to the village, beckoning to Raiden and speaking again, "Let's get out of here before a tree falls on our heads, huh?"

[exit]

(Don't worry about it, I had fun.)

[zero1317]

OOC-That was fun, wasn’t it?

The branches slivered off Raiden, who waited to make sure that nothing bad was going to happen. Toru walked over and offered his hand, which Raiden took, standing up.

“Don’t worry; I will,” Raiden said with a smirk. “I’ll see you in the village sometime, okay?”

”Let’s get out of here before a tree falls on our heads, huh?”

“Good plan,” Raiden said, bringing his hands together in the ram hand sign and sprouting two raven-black wings, taking flight. It felt good to be in the air again, even though it hadn’t been all that long. He climbed as high as he could without reducing his air levels. He deactivated his Ryuugan and just glided across the thermals towards the village.

[Exit]