[OPEN] Weapons Exercise

[bunsofsteel]

Just because she was in a strange location didn't mean she was about to take a vacation... Especially not after being beaten so thoroughly by that Neji. The thought still was enough to freeze her blood, the slightest threads of panic starting to set in before her lip firms and she gathers her Chakra in her feet, leaping straight up into the air. For today's training, at least, she'd left the scroll leaning against one of the short wooden posts simulating a human body. Instead, a long katana shimmered in the late afternoon sunlight as she twists in midair, flipping over with a harsh kiai to split the log neatly in two, then turn, weaving her way through another weapon's form, twisting and pivoting as she fought enemies only she could see. Sweat dripped from her brow, the twin buns of her hair disheveled as she panted for breath, unwilling or unable to quit as she keeps pushing herself.

First that Sasuke, then Neji. She kept finding herself forced into situations where she couldn't fight at range. If she were ever going to advance, she needed to get past her current level. They were geniuses, but -- well, if Lee had proven anything, it was that hard work really could beat a genius.

The question would be if she could ever get to that point herself.

Comments

[youngesthokage]

The actions were more than enough to catch his attention, and the young Hokage padded to the edge of the clearing to watch her, hand resting against a tree as he looked up at her. He waited for her to land before speaking. "Doesn't that work better with a partner?"

[bunsofsteel]

Completely focused on her training, she hadn't sensed the other until he spoke. She simply wasn't in that clearing just then. A scream as she immediately on one foot, thrusting the sword in the direction of the voice.

Then she freezes once she sees who it is, only slowly forcing herself to relax and pretend that her eyes weren't wide with fear. "Y-yeah, maybe," she answers, turning her back to him and rubbing a hand across her forehead. The blade's tip touches the ground as she takes a deep breath to center herself. "You think you could handle it, Itachi-sama?"

[youngesthokage]

"Give me a blade and we'll see. A tanto, if you'd be so kind." It was a murmur, and he padded out toward her and stayed still. "It's the only kind of sword I've decent practice with."

[bunsofsteel]

"Of course." She lets out another exhale and moves over to her scroll, kneeling to unravel and summon one before tossing it over her shoulder, confident he can catch it. The longer she spends breathing, the easier it to center herself and make sure she's completely within this moment. "I won't go easy on you~"

Her smile is strained at the corners and quickly falls into a determined scowl as she lunges forward, not about to give him time to prepare; after all, she's exhausted from training all day. He already has that much of an advantage, she isn't going to give him any more of one.

[youngesthokage]

He didn't try to attack immediately, instead falling into an aggressive defensive stance. After all, he'd spent countless hours training with Hayate and Yugao over the years and while he would readily admit he wasn't on their level, he wasn't going to say he hadn't kept up either. She'd have to work for her openings, but she was exhausted, and she was scared, and he didn't know what to do about that.

[bunsofsteel]

She doesn't hesitate; after all, this was Uchiha Itachi, Hokage of his village. Her grip shifts on the katana as she slashes a flurry of blows, aiming for arms, legs, trying to restrict his movements and his hands.

[youngesthokage]

He defended well, but it was clear weapons were her skill as he realized that if he kept to defense she would eventually break through his guard. Thus, he went on the offensive, dodging more than deflecting as he looked for an opening.

[bunsofsteel]

Her breath catches, and it takes a beat to defend herself properly; the shorter blade clips the edge of her sleeve before she throws herself back, planting both hands on the ground in a reverse somersault. A scream as she charges again, trying to defend herself, but it's obvious she's not seeing all of his attacks, even though they were right on top of her. Even as she's fighting, it's clear she's seeing someone else entirely.

[youngesthokage]

He finally stopped, pulling back out of the offensive as he slid into defense, just weathering the attacks and focusing on not letting her through. It was better, that way, though it wouldn't hold, She'd break through after too much of this given he refused to add a kunai to complete his defense when she was like this.

[bunsofsteel]

Once the other's on the defensive, she's better, lip firming as she forces herself to focus. This isn't Sasuke, this isn't that Neji. Teeth gritted, she ducks once she spots an opening, driving the flat of the blade up to try a slash against his stomach; if it were real combat, it would have been a decisive thrust to end the battle.

[youngesthokage]

He twisted away, genuinely trying to keep up the guard, and while he was quite good, she had the persistence. The next time she slipped the guard it connected, and he hissed out lowly, moving quickly to the side away from the point of impact.

[bunsofsteel]

She pauses when she hears that hiss and drops back, breath coming in hard pants through her lips. "That'd be it, if we were really fighting," she gasps out, her grip on the katana shaking even as her eyes harden. "Now... stop holding back."

[youngesthokage]

He nodded, bowing his head slightly. "Forgive me." He shifted his footwork, falling into a different stance, a smoother one. "Shall we start again?"

[bunsofsteel]

She just nods, inhaling to gather her Chakra, then lunges again on the exhale. Her muscles are burning, and each strike feels like it's going to be her last, but she refuses to stop. Lee never stopped. Neji never stopped. She wasn't going to let herself be less than them.

[youngesthokage]

It was a cleaner defense this time, the rough edges smoothed out and it was clear this was his preferred form. The other was a work in progress that still had a long way to go, and the difference showed. "Tenten, you're exhausted."

[bunsofsteel]

"So?!" She snaps it out, shaking grip tightening on the sword's hilt as she lowers her weight into another stance, prepared to charge again. "If Neji decides to show up and finish the job when I'm exhausted, what am I supposed to do, ask for a rain check?"

[youngesthokage]

"You could ask for help." His voice was soft as he brought his weapon up into a guard, waiting for her to get close enough before disarming her. "Because if you're exhausted you're not going to fight well, and you won't learn what you're trying to learn."

[bunsofsteel]

She snarls, not about to even entertain the idea of asking for help if he came back. It wouldn't matter if it wasn't her taking him out. Charging again, she screams when she's disarmed and immediately drops to the ground, kicking toward his knee. "I'll learn either way!"

[youngesthokage]

He hopped and twisted, then lashed out to swat her with the blade. "Tenten, that's enough."

[bunsofsteel]

She hisses and lunges up to try to grab his wrist and take his blade for herself. "It's not!"

[youngesthokage]

He twisted to avoid her grab and kicked her feet out from under her. "Earlier I wasn't fighting you properly out of concern. That was my mistake. However, going beyond your limits is -your- mistake. You need to come down off the high of training for the day Tenten. We could have done this properly if you had alerted me before you were exhausted."

[bunsofsteel]

She lands hard, unable to move fast enough to guard as she glares up at him, arms shaking when she tries to push herself upright. After a moment, she forces herself to still, avoiding his gaze as her teeth grit. "What high?" she mutters, staring to her blade abandoned on the ground. "I just..."

[youngesthokage]

"You're on an adrenaline rush from immersing yourself in your fear." His voice was soft and low. "Enough for now, come away from the field."

[bunsofsteel]

"Lee always..." She shakes her head and pushes herself to her feet, avoiding his gaze as she retrieves the katana to seal it away.

[youngesthokage]

"You're not Lee." He offered the weapon in his hand. "You're not Neji. You're not Gai, you're not me, or Sakura, or anyone else. You're Tenten. Does Tenten train like this? Does Tenten put herself in an indefensible state?"