Soaring Bird [Training]

[Defiant]

Heaven Speed Step
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user lurches forward and strikes at the same time.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, and Tanto.
Drawback: If missed, leaves one open for attack.
Description: The user combines Tensora Walking, Ready Stance, and the Basic Strikes in this attack. One must raise the sword high above the head, lunge forward with the right foot while bringing the left foot behind and slash quickly. If it is a stab, one must learn to pull the sword back as soon as the stab has made contact. The user should step back a few paces afterwards.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Basic Strikes.

0/10

Reddo lifted his sword above his head as he stared down the Haystack in front of him. "The heaven speed step is quite a powerful attack, and dangerous for you if you miss, this will leave you wide open, so only use it when a strike is guaranteed, and I promise, your enemy won't begetting up after this." Reddo's arm came down, bringing his sword with it and it whistled through the air and sliced the haystack.

"When your sword is above your head, you must use your Tensora Walking to lunge forward and deliver a powerful blow straight down." Reddo's sword went above his head once more, and his right foot twitched with anticipation, and his left was barely on the floor, just the toes where on, Ready to push his entire body forward on Hondai's command. "Everyone Ready..." Hindai said calmly, and the sound of a drum roll sounded in Reddo's mind. "Go!" Reddo's leg muscles twitched, his right foot pushing off the ground, and his left foot giving him the forward movement that allowed him to rush through the air towards the stack.

"Hiya!" Every student roared as they burst forward. Reddo's blade whistled through the air, slightly before everyone else and bit deep into the haystack. "Now for a stab." Hondai said to them as they started to walk backwards t there starting positions. "Same premise, but make sure you move back quickly, the stab leaves you even more open, so don't fuck it up!" Reddo held his sword with the tip pointing forward towards the haystack.

"Ready..." Fucking waiting, why couldn't he just say go so they could get this over with. Reddo was getting impatient, but he knew it would be worth it in the end. "Go!" Reddo lunched forward and stabbed his blade deep into the haystack, then whit a shift of his footing, he pushed himself backwards with his left, then sweept it back through the air to bring himself back into the Heaven Ready Stance. "Once more." Hondai called out, and the students followed obidiently. Reddo was getting anxious thought, because he knew they hadn't started battojutsu, and all this grunt work was making him irritated. "Good, Now witht he wakiashi."

It was the same as the katana, just with a shorter reach, which means Reddo had to carry his body farther. Reddo was getting even more annoyed with the repetition of these techniques, having to learn each one for every sword.

[loyal]

[ +10 TP ]

[Defiant]

Heaven Dodge Counter
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user dodges and counters with a Speed Step.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: None.
Description: The user dodges away from an attack and speed steps forward, taking the chance to strike the opponent.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Speed Step

0/10

Something new, something useful. At least that's what Reddo hopped when Hondai had said they were learning the Heaven Dodge Counter. Reddo was partnered up with Kakeru once again, who seemed to be over Reddo blocking his swing in the Heaven Pushing Strikes training. "Now, You will be learning the Heaven Dodge Counter. It's just like it sounds, a Dodge and then a Counter! Students of the left, you will be evading, and then countering the student on the right's attack." Again, Reddo was on the left. He wasn't sure if Kakeru was over what he had done, even if he looked it. "Both of you ready." Reddo drew his blade, and Kakeru did the same, both of them silent.

Reddo fell into the Heaven Ready Stance and flexed his entire body in preparation for the sudden movement that he would need. "Right side, use which ever attack you wish, keep the Left side on their toes." Kakeru smiled when Hondai had said that. Reddo figured he was looking for a bit of revenge, which made Reddo even more tense. "Ready... Go!"

Kakeru swung upwards actually surprising Reddo with the sudden movement. He had made no movement that he was going to be swinging for Reddo's low left like he did, and it was all Reddo could do to Push and move to his right and duck under the blade. He stepped forward from that semi crouched position, lunged with his blade and half extended towards Kakeru's chest, but it was as though he had seen his attack coming. Kakeru Parry'd Reddo's stab, and caused Reddo to stumble. Hondai was watching them, and their rivalry seemed to amuse him.

"I thought I'd get you back..." Kakeru said with a smile as Reddo composed himself and blinked at what Kakeru had just told him. Well, at least he didn't hold a grudge. "Everyone switch with your partner!" Reddo and Kakeru immediately switched places, and both automatically fell into the Heaven Ready Stance. "Go!" Reddo figured he would try to speed step Kakeru. He Lunged forward and slashed straight down, and Kakeru, with speed that Reddo wouldn't have guessed he had, Stepped backwards and dodged his blade by a millimeter or less, and then was moving forward and slashing up at him in a modified version of Speed Step. Reddo dodged back as well, his heart hammering and touching his Robes that were slightly nicked by Kakeru's blade.

"I got you..." He said with a small grin. Reddo was getting worried about being Kakeru's partner, there was something wrong with this boy.

[Ancestor Febrie]

Learned ~

[Defiant]

Heaven Block/Attack Counter
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user uses blocks and attacks back.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: If the block does not work or the user cannot attack due to the opponent’s impact, it won’t work.
Description: The user uses a Blocking Technique, or attacks the sword with his/her own and counters with a Speed Step.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Blocking Technique and Heaven Speed Step

0/10

Reddo held his blade firmly in both hands, facing Kakeru. Like usual, Reddo was on the left, which meant he would have to preform the technique first. He was ready to defend against Kakeru's attack, but he was wondering if he should dodge. Hondai had said that they had to preform three Blocks and three counters on eachother in any order, and they had to do it in succession. Reddo stood in the heaven Ready stance, waiting for Hondai to give the word, and for kakeru to take the opening attack.

"Ready..." Reddo's grip tightened slightly, "Go!" Hondai called out, and Reddo flinched, Trying to move before Kakeru could, but instead of attacking, Kakeru stood and stared at him, not understanding why he wasn't making his move. All the others had begun their back and forth battle, why didn't they?

They stood on the heaven Ready Stance waiting for something. Then Kakeru moved in a flash, swinging for Reddo's face, but to Kakeru's surprise, and even to Reddo's His arm was up and his sword was pointing down, blocking the way he was taught. The moment their blades connected, Reddo pushed slightly against kakeru's swing and Moved forward, swinging upwards in the Heaven Speed Step.

Kakeru decided to dodge, moving backwards and slightly to the left do escape Reddo's reach, , then step inwards to Swung Straight down at his head. The continued , taking turns striking at each other until they each preformed a counter 6 times. They stood, panting, and catching their breath after pushing themselves to go faster to counter each attack until their muscles hurt.

"Very good you two... think you can handle one more demonstration...?" Hondai asked them. Reddo turned to look at him, then noticed the class had been watching them, and they had expressions of shock on their faces. Their looks made Reddo feel proud, and maybe a bit big headed.

[Solus]

+8

Just a bit more length next time

[Defiant]

Heaven Block/Attack Counter
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user uses blocks and attacks back.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: If the block does not work or the user cannot attack due to the opponent’s impact, it won’t work.
Description: The user uses a Blocking Technique, or attacks the sword with his/her own and counters with a Speed Step.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Blocking Technique and Heaven Speed Step

8/10

Reddo and Kakeru were now at the front of the class in the Heaven Ready Stance, facing eachother. They were to demonstrate their ability to combine what they've learnt into a mock battle. Their blades were pointed right at eachothers neck, and they were both ready to begin the 6 Counter spar.

"Begin!" Reddo faked out Kakeru by going first, and Reddo nearly got him with it, but he blocked just in time. An inward step towards Reddo, but he dodged. They continued, their blades clashing and ringing out through the dojo, or whistling with air when it's target evaded the steel. They pushed themsleves now, harder than they had before, focusing on nothing else but dodging and countering, and each counter making the next dodge considerably more difficult, and dangerous.

They went almost twice as far as Hondai had asked them before Kakeru landed the first blow and broke the chain, leaving a thing scar across Reddo's chest which made him stagger back and touch the wound. Reddo was surprised at Kakeru's speed that he knew he didn't have the day before. "That is how it's done! I'm quite impressed with the both of you!" Hondai had said very proudly. Kakeru bowed to his sensei, but Reddo was still stairing at the blemish on his skin.

[Ancestor Febrie]

Learned ~

[Defiant]

Raiton – Raiu Karasu (Thunderstorm Raven)
Rank: D, C, B
Skill: Ninjutsu.
Effect: Creates ravens of lightning to attack your opponent.
Special: Tiger, Dog, Tiger
Drawback: Must be learned multiple times in order to truly master. The swallows dissolve if they pass out of forty meters of the user.
Description: The user forms the hand seals, creating ravens of lightning around them. The ravens are roughly two feet in wingspan. The ravens are comprised of pure electricity, and discharge into a shock of electricity when they strike an object. Each swallow discharges with a D rank shock. The user can control the motions of the swallows completely. When first learned, the user is only capable of creating up to five ravens at a time. Each time learned, the user can create an additional five ravens. When the user attains to capability of creating fifty ravens, the technique increases to a C rank technique, allowing for an additional five per training as usual. When the user reaches the capability of creating one hundred twenty swallows, the training becomes B rank. The user can create two hundred swallows, total, before they max out.
Limit: Must have Lightning Release
Ravens: 20

0/10

Reddo was outside again, sitting on the coast looking out across the water, much to far to see his home country. Thinking of home made him Remember his father, and the first Raiton jutsu he had taught him. Thunderstorm Ravens. Reddo figured he was stronger than he was when he first learnt it, hardly being able to make five Ravens, but then again, he figured he had come a long way from then. Reddo's hands came together and formed the three seals: Tiger, Dog, Tiger. His jutsu exited his body and began to vibrate to the point they became like lightning, and shaped themselves into ravens that bloomed with light, cutting through the darkness around him.

Reddo decided it was time to learn how to make more, not many more, just five or so. He Released the birds and started to spread out his chakra over a wider area, taking what he learnt from training in the wind Release and incorporate it with the ravens. The chakra began to vibrate and spark, twenty small orbs at first, before growing and spreading like chicks hatching from their eggs. It was at this stage where Reddo decided to start splitting them.

Using what he had learnt form the High Pressure Air Cubes, he started to change the flow of the electricity in the ravens body, attempter create a central core that they would be based around. Not only would this make them easier to make, and control, this would also make then much easier to duplicate. Of course he needed to measure this properly, compensate for the loss of chakra in one bird and try to regulate it, then us4e the severed chakra and form an entirely new bird, and to do that, would be to split this central core, just like using High Pressure Air Cube manipulation. His idea was sound, and would make sense in mot people head, until you get to one large problem: Wind is not Lightning.

Trying to separate the erratic and fast paced Lightning in such a way turned out to be extremely difficult, if not impossible. When he tried to form a nucleus, the form of the Raven changed from a bird, to a cloud of electricity, that immediately dissipated. Reddo decided to dissipate the jutsu and try to form them first, and split them second. Forming them with a nucleus would, should, be much easier. Reddo' went through the hand seals and let his chakra spill back out into the atmosphere to form the Thunderstorm Ravens. This is were it would get difficult. Instead of forming the orbs and then expanding them into the shape, he formed the orbs, then began to compress the Lightning into slightly smaller orbs, trying to keep their shape. If this works, it would have the joint effect of using less chakra for the same damage, giving him more chakra to use on the extra ravens. Reddo smiled, feeling quite proud of his idea; cute and smart, what a winning combo.

[yets3]

+ 10

[/font]

[Defiant]

Raiton – Raiu Karasu (Thunderstorm Raven)
Rank: D, C, B
Skill: Ninjutsu.
Effect: Creates ravens of lightning to attack your opponent.
Special: Tiger, Dog, Tiger
Drawback: Must be learned multiple times in order to truly master. The swallows dissolve if they pass out of forty meters of the user.
Description: The user forms the hand seals, creating ravens of lightning around them. The ravens are roughly two feet in wingspan. The ravens are comprised of pure electricity, and discharge into a shock of electricity when they strike an object. Each swallow discharges with a D rank shock. The user can control the motions of the swallows completely. When first learned, the user is only capable of creating up to five ravens at a time. Each time learned, the user can create an additional five ravens. When the user attains to capability of creating fifty ravens, the technique increases to a C rank technique, allowing for an additional five per training as usual. When the user reaches the capability of creating one hundred twenty swallows, the training becomes B rank. The user can create two hundred swallows, total, before they max out.
Limit: Must have Lightning Release
Ravens: 25

0/10

The nucleus worked! Reddo felt, and saw, the electricity stem from it instead of forming out of them. Well now that their new shape worked, he needed to spread them out into more Birds instead of the 20 he had, which means releasing the jutsu and starting over, but at least it was working, which made up for having to recast it.

Tiger. Dog. Tiger. Reddo's chakra snapped through the atmosphere and vibrated, curling into small dense orbs, and there wasn't just 20 of them this time around, there were 25. The lightning sparked off them and curled around a sort of skeletal structure that Reddo had to think up in oder to have a starting point for creating their forms. The thin wings seemed to expand outwards and there head shaped out of rapidly moving chakra. They sparked and swirled through the air as their forms were completed.

Reddo decided if he made five more, it couldn't hurt. So he dispelled the ravens once again and let his chakra flow outwards, spreading it farther apart now, and slowly transforming it into the Lightning element, wrapping it around itself into an orb and letting the ravens wings expand from the ambient sparks, forming more around the core and shaping it with the precision of an artist into the shape of the birds. For some reason though, only 25 formed. Weird, Reddo thought he had put out enough for at least five more.

Reddo tried again, but to no avail. It was definitely odd. He tried to figure out how much chakra he was spending on each raven, and it seemed to be an even amount, but when he tried to make another, that extra raven, or ravens, would be spread out amongst the others. He bet there was a simple explanation, but it was eluding him. This puzzle was pissing him off and he knew it would have a simple resolution but it was just outside his grasp. One more time though, He thought as his chakra spread outwards again. This time, he selected thirty points to have his chakra go to and form the cores of the birds. His chakra shaped and vibrated until it formed the powerful center of the Ravens. Reddo got up and looked around before shaping the rest, just to make sure they had all formed like he wanted them too, and once he had confirmed such, he began to shape the bodies, little by little, starting with the skeleton. Slowly but surely, the 30 would-be ravens were taking form. That when he realized what he was doing wrong. The first 25 were being formed faster than the new 5, and because of that, Reddo was actually destroying his own jutsu by using there excess chakra, and then basically yanking the rest of the bird along with it. Reddo face palmed himself, feeling Retarded for not noticing that before. He wondered if they had always done that, or maybe it's because of the implementation of his new system to their creation. Either way, he could correct it with an annoyingly simple solution: Pay More Attention.

[← KIRA →]

Ehh +10

[Defiant]

Reddo needed to get home, his training would have to wait.

[Exit]

[Defiant]

Heaven Battojutsu Stance (Single and Double)
Rank:: E
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user crouches in the ready position to execute all Sword Unsheathing Techniques (“Battojutsu”).
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: This stance is meant to be quick. One should know Battojutsu Unsheathing Technique or Battojutsu Advanced Unsheathing Technique before utilizing other techniques.
Description:
Single: The practitioner crouches down with the legs far apart, and the toes pointing left. He/she should be holding the sheath in the left hand and pushing it forward (For Wakizashi or Katana). The user’s free hand should be resting on his/her right thigh. If the user wishes to use the Tanto, he rests his left hand on the left thigh while reaching behind and gripping the Tanto sheath.

Dual: The practitioner crouches in the same position as the Single version, though the hand positions are altered. As a general rule, the smaller sword is in the right hand, with the larger sword in the left. The user holds the sword handle with the fist pointing up so that when it is drawn it will be in Reverse Grip.

Combinations for Dual:
1. Katana(left hand pushes the handle to the left and twists it downward for easy release, with the hand ready in Reverse Grip Position), Tanto (right hand simply reaches behind, gripping the sword handle. The sword should already be in Reverse.)

2. Katana (left hand pushes the handle to the left and twists it downward for easy release, with the hand ready in Reverse Grip Position), Wakizashi (right hand holding the handle and pulling it upward for easier release.)

3. Wakizashi (left hand pulls the handle across the waist for easier release), Tanto (right hand simply reaching behind and gripping the sword handle, should already be in Reverse.)
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters

0/5

It felt good to be back in his robes, the black cloth felt soft against his skin and he was lighter now with just his blades on his hip. He had to purchase a new wakizashi for 2,000 Ryo from his sensei but it was well worth it, the weight was now perfect, so familiar.

He had to say he missed Kakeru too, that brute was a great sparing partner, and lucky for him he wasn't gone long enough to be far behind, they were just about to get into learning the battojutsu stance. Reddo was exited. Maybe he wouldn't follow in his father's lightning footsteps, but he could definitely do this.

Squats were their first exercise, and Reddo instantly thanked himself for doing so many in training for his shunshin. His leg muscles barely registered his weight, especially now with no equipment on, he was doing the squats as easily as one would walk, while the other students were sweating. Except for Kakeru, who stayed strong as always. A Rival.

Finally, they were told to hold the crouched position, and keep the lower half of their bodies pointing left, while they faced forward. Combinations of ways to unsheathe. One was to keep ones left hand on the sheath of their desired sword, and the right hand on the thigh. Reddo tried it, pushing the sheath down, out and to the left slightly to make the draw easier. He noticed his right hand was hardly on his thigh, but just hovering above ready to pull free the blade and slice open an enemy.

Another was to keep the right hand on the sheath of the tanto, and the left on the thigh instead. Reddo tried that as well, his right hand held the black wooden sheath, and the cool casing for the blade was comfortable and familiar.

The duals were just as simple in his opinion, simply combining the holding of the sheathes instead of keeping the free hand on ones thigh. Reddo wondered what had made this style so important to his father... and he wished to hell that he could get his swords back. His sensei, however, had told him that he shouldn't be following in the shadow of his father, but he should stand out on his own and see the sky for himself, and maybe the loosing of the sword was getting him on the way.

[Ancestor Febrie]

+5

[Defiant]

Battojutsu Unsheathing Technique (Single, Dual, and Triple)
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user draws the sword faster in the Battojutsu Stance.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: None.
Description: The user will draw the Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto at a quicker rate, thus allowing for faster, and more lethal attacks in later Battojutsu techniques. This is done by twisting to the left if using the Katana or Wakizashi, and to the right if using the Tanto. The user grips the handle up to the handguard and unsheathes it, bringing it to the Heaven Ready Stance (Reverse), and sheating it again.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Battojutsu Stance.

0/10

Drawing, of course, would have to come before learning how to attack. Drawing in battojutsu was essential in battojutsu though, for one must start all attacks from drawing, and then re sheathing when the attack ends. The best part were the different possibilities. One must master drawing his katana, his wakizashi, and his tanto, and them master the three combinations of drawing as well.

Reddo stood crouched, his toes to the left with his right hand on his thigh and his left hand holding onto the sheath, just under the guard. Kakeru next to him, as well as the other students, all ready to Preform each draw in rapid succession. It wasn't just a race for bragging rights though, it would decide how many of them would be allowed to stay and learn battojutsu. If they cut themselves, they were out. If they fell to far behind, they were out.

Reddo had no intention of being out.

"Go!" Hondai yelled, and the students snapped to it. Reddo's right hand shot off his thigh and to the hilt of his sword, and pulled it from the sheath, flicking the guard with his thumb to ease it out faster. He pulled the blade completely out, held the blade pointing behind him and then re sheathed it. The exact same thing happened for the wakizashi, but the tanto was the issue. Reddo had nearly done it wrong, but he corrected himself at the last second, sending his left hand to hold the sheath and his right to draw the blade.

Next was the easier part. Three more draws. His katana with his left, twisting the sheath downwards and yanking the blade free while the right hand pulled loose the wakizashi. The second draw, his right hand took hold of his tanto with ease, automatically in reverse. The final draw was wakizashi and tanto, and when the last of the blade slid into the sheath with the hiss of steel and then a click, Reddo dropped down and sat on his knees. He was the second do go down, the first being Kakeru.

In a few seconds, it was obvious who would be out, for 5 people failed Hondai's test. Two had sliced open their hands when they tried to re sheath their wakizashi, failing to avoid the katana's guard. And one stabbed themselves in the thigh when sheathing their katana. The last two had simply taken to long out of fear of hurting themselves. Hondai's class had dropped to 5 students.

[Solus]

Hmm

+10

[Defiant]

Battojutsu Slash
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user draws the sword and slashes diagonally upward with the Reverse Grip.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: None.
Description: The user will revert to the Tensora Walking position and Speed Step toward the opponent, drawing the sword at the last moment and slashing diagonally downward in a swift motion. The sword is sheathed after the attack.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Heaven Battojutsu Stance.

0/10

The class of five now stood in front of a tightly wrapped straw pole that they were to practice the next technique on. Reddo was starting to dislike calling them techniques, they were much more like... well not techniques. He did admit he was new to the whole taijutsu thing, and this was his first fighting style, but he would master it none the less.

Reddo stood with his legs apart and his body low, his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand gripping the sheath of his katana. He was ready to do it. All he had to do was pull the sword, and slice the reeds. Reddo's right hand fingers drummed on his thigh, and he waited for Hondai's word for them to begin, but he was nowhere to be seen.

The crouched position they were in began to burn after 10 minutes passed with no word from him, and unlike some of the others, Reddo knew exactly what this was: a test. He was testing their endurance and their ability to hold the drawing position without actually drawing. Why though?

The weight of his body at such an awkward angle was doing a serious number on his thighs, and it was making his muscles twitch. But he held strong.

"Well done..." Hondai's voice could suddenly be heard in the dojo. He'd been watching them from the shadows, or from some secret room, and he came out clapping. "Battojutsu, like many things in life, is all about timing. Sometimes you have to wait, until the last possible moment- don't move yet!" He yelled at the class that was about to stand up straight to listen. "Where was I... ah yes, timing. You have to sometimes wait until the last possible moment before you can make that perfect strike. With patience, even the weakest movement can be devastating. Strike."

The command was so un-exaggerated and.. command like, that the entire class nearly missed it, but when they finally clued in that he meant strike the reeds, they each let out the air they had been holding in a triumphant 'hiya!' as their blades flew through the air and separated the top of the reeds from the bottom.

Their hands had blurred, rushing off the thigh as quickly as possible, and reaching for that sheath as though their life simply would not go on without it. They gripped the tightly wrapped cords and pulled their blades from the sheathes and the blades sung as they exited their individual sheathes.

Hondai nodded as he walked past them each, examining each cut that slid cleanly through the reeds. Each student had properly sheathed their blades after, practically moving backwards on the exact pattern they had done.

"Good. Now use the wakizashi."

[loyal]

Learned.

[Defiant]

Battojutsu Sword Block
Rank:: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: The user draws the sword quickly to block a projectile or oncoming weapon.
Special: Katana, Wakizashi, or Tanto.
Drawback: None.
Description: The practitioner draws the sword using Battojutsu Unsheathing Technique, moving the sheath in the correct position with the blade directed in front of an oncoming attack or projectile. The weapon is unsheathed about eighty percent of the way, and sheathed after the attack.
Limit: Must learn from one of the five Tensora Masters. Must know Battojutsu Unsheathing Technique.

0/10

"Because every attack has a counter. Battojutsu slash has battojutsu block. The swiftness of your blade with the slash must be present even in defense." Hondai was quite the talker, but he did seem to know what he was talking about. Plus Reddo had no choice but to listen.

Reddo held his hand on the hilt of his katana. Just like the slash, the block needed to be timed perfectly, even more perfectly since he was not the one to choose when to defend. Reddo had to keep his eyes open and his body alert. All his sense were on edge as his stance lowered and his grip on his hilt loosened. His right palm moved to his thigh and rested there as he held the stance, while his left hand gripped just under the mouth of the sheath.

That silver tongue that waited in the mouth was ready to be set free, but this time not to kill, to instead defend. He stood facing his partner, Kakeru who was the reflection of Reddo's stance. His job was to attack whenever he felt ready, and that would be whenever Reddo was least. Hondai was forcing them to get used to the stance, as well as practice being patient, calm, focused and quick. Reddo knew they probably shouldn't use live blades for this practice, but he guessed that was just incentive.

Kakeru was fast. To fast. Reddo's hand shot to his hilt and he pulled the blade up, diagonally across his chest to defend from Kakeru's lightning fast weapon. Their blades clashed and the biting sound of steel on steel rang through the dojo. Kakeru was the first of the pairs to swing. Kakeru decided to swing again, breaking his battojutsu stance to try again just as Reddo was sheathing his blade. He drew again, and defended again, this time the force was jarring. It rattled his bones and made his hand weak.

Reddo couldn't help but feel a bit outmatched by this boy, and even more so he was scared for his blade.

"Kakeru! Stand down!" Hondai had his blade out, and it was infront of kakeru's hand before he swung. Kakeru stopped and looked at Hondai, something strange and wild in his eyes. Reddo's hand quivered as he sheathed the blade again.