Before he had even exited the walls of Kirigakure no Sato, before he had even prepared his things to leave for Kumogakure no Sato, the young Hattori, Yasutake of the Hidden Mist had heard of a single Jounin, a member of the Hidden Mist's ANBU Black Ops was escorting a group of Genin to the Hidden Cloud in the Land of Lightning. Why? He could only guess that it was boring in the Land of Water, the duties of an ANBU would lessen extravagantly while the world was relatively at peace and with a large portion of the population already gone to the Chunin Selection Games, there were few enough things already for this man to most likely do.

Or so Yasutake thought. There was no way for him to know what was going through the man's mind, but he was capable of making guesses, and his final guess had been boredom.

Although he, the Hattori hadn't journeyed to the Hidden Cloud with the man, he had evidently heard of the group and their escort's exceptional skill with the various specializations that tied into one of the paths that Yasutake had gone down.

Bukijutsu.

Yes, the Weapon Techniques were things that the young Hattori was interested in, it was one of the things that he specialized in, but his skill with the katon element when it came to ninjutsu was exquisite. At the rank of Genin he was capable of utilizing a B-Rank fire technique, although he hadn't told anyone, he was skeptical that there would be at least one person that was participating in the Exams who knew about his apparent skill.

They were shinobi after all, in most cases you had to assume that they knew what you were able to do, and had counters to what you were capable of. Within reason of course, no one knew what you exactly capable of without a detailed list of your abilities.

Onojutsu, Sojutsu, Bojutsu, maybe even Kyuujutsu. There were so many things that he wanted to learn, and this one man was capable of teaching him. That was the only thing that he wanted on that day, to find a mentor who would be willing to part with the knowledge that they held on to, so that they may pass it on to the next generations. After all, why would he say no to a shinobi that also aspired to join the ranks of the ANBU Black Ops? He had no idea or the right to assume he knew the reasons why this man had done so, but he was going to assume to become a protector of the Hidden Mist, and that was a similar reason as to why the young man wanted to join the ranks as well, but not to directly protect the Hidden Mist, but rather to hunt ninja all throughout the world under the guise of a Kirigakure Hunting Ninja. Their mission was to hunt down Missing-nin and to dispose of the corpse that had once been a shinobi, after stripping them of all that they knew and could do as a ninja. It would allow him to travel the world upon a whim, and the possible suddenness and intensity of the possible missions spoke to him. In truth, he simply wanted to kill those that posed a threat to the future of the Hidden Mist’s world, and thus his own.

His steps carried him through the hallways of the resort. The man’s room was further away from the other occupants, no doubt having requested new rooms after feeling the aura of uneasiness for such long periods of time. It was one that Yasutake was unused to, he had never experienced something so potent in it’s desire for death, and it almost seemed focused, directed at something, but that was probably just a misconception of the technique that the ANBU was using. No doubt he has sensitive information on his person, the black haired ninja nodded at his own deduction of the situation. To him, it obviously made sense, but he had no idea that it wasn’t an actual technique, but it was instead something that had permeated and followed this solitary fellow his entire life.

A negative response will not be accepted. Death could find him in a moment with someone as dangerous as this, but it was all a part of the way of life, specifically a human’s life. And more specific, a shinobi’s life. They were warriors who followed the order’s of their respective Kage upon a whim, in the middle of the night they could be deployed upon a mission after being woken from sleep, it was simply their duty. As he walked through the streets of Kirigakure to meet his squad at the Gates of the Hidden Mist Village, he remembered seeing a handful of ninja moving to and from the Administration Building, no doubt turning in successful or unsuccessful missions to the Mizukage.

His steps echoed in the relatively empty corridor. The only other people besides him were people who were further down the hallway who peeked their heads out of their doorways in what was almost a comical fashion to see what the young boy was doing. His legs carried him to the door that he was looking for. The one person who the Hattori believed could train him specifically. Would he had have other people asking him to train him in a specific fighting style? He didn’t doubt it, but deep down he wanted more from it, in the way of a mentor and student. He had already known that Special Jounin Nozomi wouldn’t be capable of teaching him how to use his weapon, and she had said as much when he had met with her for information upon the Exams. She had given him information pertinent to his situation, and he had been thankful for it. But what he had truly wanted was an offer from someone to further his studies in Weapon Techniques.

The echoing stopped as he rotated on his heels to face the door that he had meant to arrive at. He had hoped his echoing steps would be enough to alert the ANBU member to his presence before he had gotten to his door. He knew the reputation this one had was one that could be described as dangerous, maybe even bipolar in personality, but he didn’t know for sure. All he could hope for that was he wouldn’t be killed through the door.

Those were his last thoughts as his fist rapt against the door in a loud, but oddly respectable manner.

"I want to learn from you."

WC: 1108

As the boy would walk down the hall it would seem to be almost darker. It was as if the lights lining the ceiling just didn't give off as much light as the ones from further back the way he had come. The random people remaining further back the way he had come and peeking after him had simply been too late to request new rooms and the rooms away from this floor had been filled. Of course a dozen complaints had made it to the manager but the manager had barely stepped onto the floor when he had changed his mind about asking Sero to leave. He hadn't even made it as far as the door before just accepting that the individual had payed for his time there and was not actively attacking anyone yet...though he did go back and check the registration to make sure all the people were accounted for. Since then staff had been forbidden from going halfway down that hall and none of them wanted to anyway. Most people avoided the insanity of walking through that aura that just dripped a very mutilated death. Whomever it was down at the end of that hall...it wasn't human.

Still as the young man stepped up to the door the light above him flickered. It almost went out before he even knocked but seemed to regain some faint life. As if the light itself wanted to flee the area. The paint around the door seemed to be peeling away from the door like it had touched something dark and the darkness had clawed back. Condensation however ran down the door in droplets. Warm water seemed to have found its way there and the door itself had a tiny puddle at the bottom of it. The whole feeling of it just screamed to turn around and run. That feeling one got when looking down into a dark basement and knowing something down there was looking back seemed to drip in the air like the saliva of a hungry beast. Yet it didn't seem to focus on anything. Like it was just going to consume everything there was in the building. Like everything else was just prey. Then the young man raised his hand and knocked and all that changed. The light sparked and flickered out as did one light in either direction down the hall. Plunging him into a slight darkness in comparison to before with the only light coming from the dim lights further down the hall. In that moment it was as if the eye of the beast focused entirely on him. Like it was watching and waiting. The kind of feeling that raises all the hair on your arms and makes the back of your neck tingle.

As he spoke the door trembled like terror filled it and slowly the door pulled inwards. The heat of the dark room seemed to wash out and dry out the mouth like the apocalypse had happened behind those doors and only ruins and dead flames remained. The room itself was dark and the only light flickered in from outside with the moon as it passed from the cover of clouds. Next to the window curtains fluttered in the breeze that only briefly cut through the heat before it was gone. One look at the thermostat would show it wasn't turned on. The heat was being generated from the individual within the room. The moon light cut across the room and revealed an individual in grey pants with grey boots on and a grey, zipped up tank top. The light only showed the bottom of his face under the nose to reveal a pale, thin lipped mouth that held no expression. Yet even with his face hidden in darkness somehow, Dull grey eyes seemed to stare out across the room. Those eyes didn't blink and showed no hint of life. Like eyes from beyond the grave were staring at him and his soul. No weapons were visible on the individual but somehow that feeling like a beast was ready to consume him was so obviously originating from him that it was easy to understand how people questioned if he was even human. Still, thin lips parted and a voice as dead as his eyes filled the room. Echoing about as if dozens of damned souls spoke one on top of the other.

"Who are you?"

743

While he walked down the hallway the lights were on, but it seemed oddly darker the further he got down the corridor. It was almost as if the light was being sapped and losing it's power as soon as it gained it. Sparing a glance over his shoulder, he took note of the lights there, gradually growing lighter the further they were from his target's room until the lights at the end of the hall were lit perfectly. Allowing his gaze to lower, he finally took note of the people who were poking their heads out, and the faintest signs of a smirk broke out upon his face. They were all afraid of having their rooms closer to the exact place that Yasutake wanted to go. It almost made him have second thoughts about what he was doing, but instead of turning around the way he had come again, he had continued to the door that he wanted until it until the light bulb above him came to life briefly, before sputtering out. It's final signs of life gone as soon as the Hattori had opened up his mouth.

When the words had finally exited his mouth, the door swung open ever so slowly, and he finally took notice of the moisture that was upon the door. It definitely was unsettling to be there, but he had a need on that day. Nine times out of ten if he had felt a presence like this, he would've left or had gone in another direction, however, upon this day he had a mission. To become the strongest ninja that he could, what did people call it, their ninja way?

I'll never turn my back on the promise of power.

Just as the door completed it's opening, Yasutake's smile that was filled to the brim with his mirth was revealed to the single occupant within. Before he had actually looked within though, his eyes swung back around down the hallway to those who stuck out their heads to see what was going on. Some had even come out of their rooms and wandered quite a ways down the hallway to try and gain a look of what the inside of this poisoned room looked like, and suddenly as if they had suddenly realized what they were doing, they shivered in fear and turned away hurrying back down the way they had come and shutting the doors behind them. Finally, the smile that was on his face began to drop when he realized they were wet. Glancing down to the floor, he saw he was standing in the pool of warm water, and his gaze flickered upwards in annoyance within the room taking it as some pathetic prank and he took exaggerated steps inside, following the spray of water that preceded his body as he walked into the room. The splashes hadn't been sent far enough to actually touch the sole occupant within the room, they only went a couple of steps in front of Yasutake, and he realized the room was darker than it should've been.

The lamps that were meant to be in the room were off, or they simply had their energy sucked out of them, the light outside was the only sort of artificial light that was leaking into the room, and with the door wide open behind him, it almost looked as if the light was being sucked out of it even faster. Swinging his gaze around the room once more, he saw the opened window, following where the moonlight shone, when he turned his head to the other side of the room he saw a figure in the moon's light. The light from the moon cut through the dark and humid room like a tear digging a path through a dirt-caked face, leaving all in it's wake clean and seemingly unmarred. Looking up the figure, he saw the grey boots, gray pants, and with what left there was left, he saw the gray tank top on the chest of the man in front of him. There was enough light to show the bottom half of his face, his mouth only, his nose didn't even seem to exist on that face. Damn.

His dark eyes scanned the room again, his head didn't even move with his practiced eye, allowing it to continue facing the ANBU as he searched. There were no weapons within sight, and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness that was in the room, he still couldn't locate any of the weapons that he had expected to find. What? He didn't let his surprise show on his face, he felt like this man didn't need weapons to kill him however. The dark and nauseating aura that permeated the air around him was enough to make someone sick. It felt like a situation where Yasutake was cornering a caged animal, but it was different, as if the caged animal had actually been planning this situation for ages past. In fact, he was the prey, and he had wandered into the den of his target. Then the words came, tearing him out of his reverie easily with the dead monotone voice that came from his lips.

The voice sounded as if it carried the weight of thousands of people at once, and it dizzied Yasutake for a moment, his impassive expression faltering for a few moments before he raised a hand and seemingly wiped it away.

"Yasutake of Kirigakure." He took a step forwards and folded his arms across his chest boldly. He wouldn't allow himself to be denied, he couldn't, his own future was held in his hands at that moment, he had brought himself that far, all in the hopes of becoming stronger for the simple reason for protecting Kirigakure and bringing together the Hattori Clan. He couldn't and would never turn back when faced with the opportunity of unlocking his potential. Weapons Techniques, you are mine. He mentally whispered to himself. The words flowed from his lips easily enough...

"I'm here to have you teach me."

WC: 1043

Sero listened as the other boy stood strong before him. This was not the first genin of the mist to approach him but it was one of the few that had done so knowingly. It was a simple concept to most to avoid the deadliest thing around. Stories of him spoke of a beast with no sympathy. One could know when he was coming simply because he was already there and the ones who survived never could forget the screams. More then one request to have something done about Sero had been sent to Ayakashi but the truth was he only seemed to full on murder people he was supposed to. Everyone else survived the encounter so long as they did not bar him from his goal. Before he had met a couple of genin that had followed him due to some trauma to their emotions They had wanted to learn things like torture arts and pure strength. As of yet though he had no real idea what the boy in front of him wanted to learn. Or really if the young man was a boy. Sero had to remind himself of his own age sometimes. The individual could easily be older then him.

Still the boy introduced himself and stepped forward into the room. The genin were always so rash with these decisions. The boy hadn't announced his rank but Sero was an excellent analyst. The passive stance was weak, the individual had the hands of someone who wielded a weapon but the calluses hadn't built up yet. He also didn't have the look in his eyes of having accepted the truth. Their destiny was to die and the only thing they could do to push that destiny back was to kill the other guy first. Death was an inescapable truth. Still Sero couldn't help but feel that the stance the boy took was foolish. What if the rumors of Sero was true? What if he really was a vicious murderer with no sanity or remorse? Surely stepping into the lions den was a foolish choice. Not that Sero was going to attack someone without orders or unprovoked. Still his expression shifted to a frown at the dislike of the defiant stance. His pale lips parted as he spoke again. This time the echoes faded as he slowly walked forward. The light reflecting across his pale skin to reveal a sixteen year old boy with a stitched up scar across his nose. Something was off though. Those grey eyes seemed to stare blankly without blinking. No muscle moved unless it had to. The only thing that seemed to shift was his mouth and it didn't seem like his chest rose and fell with breath. It was like a corpse was speaking.

"Bravery...I see. You intend to show you are too defiant to be pushed away. Tell me, if I refuse you what will happen then? Will you force me to teach you? Do you think you can?"

On the last step Sero seemed to blur out of visible existence. His form was there one moment and then it seemed to slowly fade away like it had never existed to begin with. Truth was Sero had just quick stepped at B rank speed passed the boy. The smell of blood would hit Yasutakes nostrils before the door would creek behind him and close with a slam that echoed down the hall. Some of the people who had watched from a distance were already heading to report a murder they had no proof of. They assumed the boy had gone to Sero's room on a dare of some sort. Now that the young and confident man was sealed within the room with the monster surely he was already dead. Sero listened to the noises down the hall in almost clarity before he sighed. He would be having to explain himself again. Provide proof he hadn't killed someone. Such a bother. Still grey eyes finally shifted to look at Yasutake once more while still seeming to stare through him. It was like Sero wasn't even looking at him but what was within. His soul blackened a little more by that gaze. Then Sero spoke once more.

"I will share what I can with those who can keep up, but regardless of what you want me to teach you there is a condition to be paid once we return home. Regardless on if someones blood is on your hands yet or not....we will return to Kiri once this event is over...and you will face off against a murderer...a bandit...pirate...anything I have judged to be capable of killing you. In that moment you will fight to the death and you will kill to survive. If you can accept that...I will listen to what you wish to learn."

1561

At heart Yasutake wasn't the bravest, the courageous, or the most fearless shinobi around, let alone being a fearsome genin. His messy hair and angular, yet profound shaped face wasn't one that gave him the appearance of one that was imposing. But nevertheless, he was determined to have success here, and he wasn't certain what he'd do if this... Boy had decided to decline his request. He didn't have the qualities of what one would look for in a friend, if they were looking for a competitive teenaged male shinobi, then he had plenty and it was in abundance, but he didn't appear to have the same qualities of those who were around and above him in ranking.

The black haired Hattori was simply determined. It was a determination that he kept to himself and rarely if ever brought to light for public viewing. It wasn't that he was nervous, far from it if it felt into the lines of a mission, it was that he didn't see a point to express himself needlessly. To have friends would mean one wasn't following the shinobi rules. A shinobi was meant to slay all emotions, and regarding this one in front of him he knew that he had done the same, and although he didn't aspire to be him, he desired to be like him. He wanted to be similar in the ways of skill, technique and ability. He knew he'd never have the aura that permeated this entire floor, but the Hattori knew he could develop his own reputation for the Village in his own, personal way...

By being the ideal shinobi dictated by the rules and mandates themselves. No emotion. No crying. Simply the mission. And he saw the need for that strict mandate. The entire future of the Ninja Village could be threatened, and if that ninja was full of emotion, of love, compassion, empathy, then they would choose the ones who were in immediate danger and risk endangering an entire village in the future, simply because they were incapable of losing a few 'friends.' Yasutake didn't have those ideals, he had no friends, he sought no friends. The closest he could ever call to one was the Uchiha, Maigo, but he hadn't seen him since the day by the Port back in the Land of Water. Friends saw each other everyday he thought, and he had already figured the male to be an acquaintance at best. His thirst and want for having him as a rival and an opponent in the Chunin Selection Exams were quenched, his one and true opponent was himself.

He thought back to the annoying nature of the man. It was constant bothering from the moment that they had met each other. He had appeared from nowhere, watching him as he trained, from the shadows, and when he had been spotted he hadn't even bothered to conceal his presence, he simply watched. His fists clenched at the memory of irritation that he felt, a similar action that had happened plenty of times in their one interaction.

The thoughts of him being the first ever Genin to come searching for teaching had never come to him. Nothing in life had been placed a silver platter to the Hattori, everything in his life was taken or earned which was essentially the same thing to a ninja, and as he reflected that in those moments he even went as far as to criticize himself. You're not special. He didn't see why anyone would consider him such, he had remained average through his years as an Academy student, he had remained there for the maximum amount of time, and had made little effort in being the best ninja he could become. Save your best techniques for last, always. He knew those were the words his father would say, and he employed them whenever they would practice in the days that Yasutake had given up on his future as a Genin. To think that he was the first was foolish, and he withstood against his own self assault upon his brain as that thought tried to gain his centre of attention. But he couldn't, he was standing before a beast... With no shred of sympathy and most likely empathy within his body. To be weak would give him, Sero, a reason to slay him, and or disregard him within a moment, something that wasn't in his agenda, nor his mental planning.

Although he wasn't privy to Sero's thoughts, he could only imagine as to what crossed his mind as the two of them regarded each other within the badly lit room. But to think that he hadn't accepted the truth of what the purpose for ninja were, it was wrong. Yasutake's expressions and stances before this interaction were always if not consumed with thoughtfulness, were simply a blank slate. No emotion, no readable thought or expression, simply blank. The same could've been said for this scene, but his eyes couldn't help but flicker around the room in the search for potential dangers, the sickening aura that he was bathing in at that point putting him on edge, and he knew at that point that this being would be more willing to kill him, rather than teach him a thing.

The cold, toneless, emotionless voice that belonged to the Special Jounin before him was heard again.

Do his lips even move? His lips broke apart as if in a snarl akin to an animal that felt threatened, but he made no sound as his mouth closed almost as soon as those same lips opened up.

Before he could even answer, the entity that was contained in gray from top to bottom disappeared in little more than a blur, and his eyes widened in surprise at the sudden speed. What? His breath caught in his throat, the previous semi-impassive look on his face disappearing as he took little less than a half step forwards as the door closed behind him and he rotated around to search through the darkness that was behind him, the scent of blood hitting him as if a dam had been released in his nose.

Again, the words fell upon his attentive ears.

Sounds simple enough. The sound of the Jounin's voice drawing a shiver down the centre of his spine, and he did his best to cease the movements in order to discipline his body. He wouldn't be betrayed of an opportunity for greater knowledge simply due to false phantoms.

"Whatever you deem necessary." He had been close to speaking more, adding extra words to his sentiment but he saw no reason to impose more on this being. But he couldn't seem to help himself as he stood there, in the centre of the room and the man between him and the door.

WC: 1181

Sero would simply look at the young man before him for the moment. Dull grey eyes shifting along the proportions of the individual like sizing up a meal. It felt the same when it came to feeling that aura. It was like listening to a growl but hearing nothing...just feeling it. It dripped insanity, screamed chaos and seared the mind with fear. At least to most people. This individual seemed to be shrugging it off rather well. Still it was a little odd that such a person existed. Even Sero knew when to be cautious over destructive. He wondered if this boy refused fear entirely or simply made note of it as he did. Nothing more then a warning label flashing around the room to either of them. Still Sero let his eyes fully adjust to the near pitch darkness of the room broken only by the thing streams of light from the moon. Even in that darkness though the dead grey eyes seem to be almost lit up against the darkness behind him. His facial features hidden for the moment as only his eyes seemed to shift back and forth before Sero moved forward and lifted his hand. It seemed to be indicating a chair next to the unused bed. Then he spoke as he indicated.

"My studies show that offering a guest a seat is basic protocol. Sit."

Sero would wait for the boy to sit in the chair before his pale hand would lift and touch the lamp nearby. The thin thing trembled under his touch and suddenly began to flicker to life. Something along the bulb seemed to ease away slowly, like liquid but it didn't drip as it fell away. Just pure darkness that had been pushing the light back. If one was sensitive to it they could tell that it was the pure form of Sero's chakra. He was practicing chakra control before the knock. His practice had been to push back all the unnatural light in the room without destroying the bulbs. Still the light seemed to take over as the lamp was next to the seat. The chakra pushed back and seemed to slip into Sero's robes like thin tendrils of a living being. If the young man touched it he would feel something odd...he would feel a second of a sword or other weapon plunging into the chest of a man. It was unclear but he would feel it like he was thrusting the blade himself...smell the blood and see the light fade in the mans eyes...chakra memory...he had simply glimpsed one of Sero's many kills by touching the mans chakra. Along with that he had felt what Sero felt emotionally...it was..dull...the human being was just prey to him. He wasn't thrilled with the hunt or appalled by it. Killing was just as basic as walking to him. Sero's voice would break the silence whether the boy touched the filthy chakra or not.

"Tell me then. What is it you would learn from me? Are you and Osada seeking the knowledge my father and I have collected? Perhaps not...you lack the smell that every Osada I have met has...you lack....that sense of having destroyed someone so entirely that a DNA analysis couldn't identify them. It leaves its mark. You are too...human...not an Osada then...so what is it he seeks I wonder....Power perhaps...but power isn't simply taught...its taken...he wouldn't be so foolish would he? No....he must be after something though..." Sero seemed to trail off halfway through...it became apparent that he had stopped talking to the boy and began to argue with himself.

2191

For the most part it was quiet in the time after the Genin had given his acceptance of the single thing he had to follow in order to become this man's student. Deep down within him, there was a part of him that was indeed afraid, but it was pushed down so far there were no hopes for Yasutake's brain to even register said fear, deciding his thoughts and feelings to this current situation to being a simple manipulation of the aura this man was exuding. It was a great aura, large, expansive, it was why it reached all the way down the hallway when he had been taking his time walking to this specific room. No doubt, people who were on the floor below them had long since changed floors. I wonder what it's like directly below us. Instead of holdign whatever eye contact they may have been sharing, the eyes of the Hattori rolled downwards as he tilted his head to look at the ground curiously, wondering how the room below them looked. He figured the ceiling would look just as the ridge of the door had when he had approached it. Almost as if it were crying hot tears, and seemingly sapped the life out of the room.

When he raised his head back up, he saw the movement of the hand pointing to the chair next to the bed. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if this being even required rest, and with that inquiry came the sight of the untouched bed. Forcing himself out of his paused state, he took a seat on the chair that had been indicated, all the while thinking to himself: Does he not sleep? Or is he so clean? You wouldn't think that of someone like him... The thoughts rushed through his mind, barely taking up enough time to vanquish the silence that followed in his thoughts and in the world between him and the Kirigakure shinobi before him.

I guess he doesn't get much company. Here and back home. He kept the thoughts with himself while he surveyed the room.

Once done, he saw how Sero had raised his hand up towards the bulb of the nearby lamp, and it began to flicker to life. He was surprised that it had happened and his breath caught for the briefest of moments, removing the facade of being impassive for the shortest of moments as his faced resumed it's blank expression from the surprised features it had held previously. Unfortunately for Yasutake, he was no sensory ninja, and his skills in sensing chakra only went as far as the basics, which were essentially being able to measure how much chakra another person had. Unfortunately again for him, his skills in that department were fairly bad, so he was only able to tell when in situations that only involved himself as a reference point and the person's chakra he was measuring. Of course over time his skill in such a category developed, but he didn't know much else about it anyway, so he hadn't realized that the darkness being pushed away was in fact the Special Jounin's chakra.

Needless to say, Yasutake didn't touch the chakra. Before he could even bring himself to, the dull voice that belonged to the other Kiri nin broke through the tense silence, almost as if it were a warm knife through fresh butter.

"I would learn all the close combat forms of the Weapon Techniques from you." He had only begun after the rant had seemingly ended, but he had took stock of everything that he had heard and would answer accordingly to each thing he could connect with himself. "I'm currently only versed in Kenjutsu, but you know many others correct?" He thought of some of them now. Sojutsu, and Onojutsu were the two that he was the most interested in after his primary one, and he wondered at that point that when he returned to Kirigakure no Sato if he'd be a deadly assassin, just like the one before him.

"I also haven't heard of this Osada you speak of," the words had slipped from his lips with little thought. His knowledge was fairly limited in other clans that originated from Kirigakure or had a place in the Hidden Mist. He paid no heed to those that were not himself, and when he did it was simply for a mission and nothing else.

WC: 760

Sero watched the boy for a moment. All was quiet after the boy spoke as Sero didn't move. He could feel the boy across from him and feel his level. He was pushing the boundaries of a genin which was good. His chances of survival went up significantly with that fact. Weapon forms were something of an early goal of his. He had mastered them all at the same rank this individual was now. Though his masters had been far greater then he was now. He was yet to reach their level. But every day drew closer. Every time he swung his blade and each time blood spilled at his hands his power grew. He wasn't the mad child people had rooted for in the exams. One would expect him to have grown socially but he still ran off the idea only the strong could survive. This boy was probably strong enough to keep up if Sero didn't push his own limits. He needed to take his master Ayakashi's lessons to action for the time being it seemed. After all holding back was not an easy task for him. The idea of it countered all his previous standards. Weakening ones self seemed counter productive, But killing this person would get him in trouble without a doubt. So the boy named Sero sighed impatiently at his dilema and decided to speak as he gradually reduced his chakra. The lights in the hallway seemed to be less dim but his presence didn't even slightly diminish. The room seemed to gain some sense of normality as he spoke once more.

"The Osada are one of the main clans of the Kirigakure Nation. They have brought forth three Mizukage over the generations. Including the previous two before Lady Ayakashi. Her mentor and the previous Mizukage was an Osada and....he was also my creator. The fact that a native to Kirigakure doesn't know of the Osada clan speaks volumes to how far we have fallen. I will make it a priority on my return to reestablish the standing of my clan. However that is for the moment irrelevant to you. Mere data outside your current request. You wish me to teach you what I know of weapons...that may take some time as there is no weapon type I can not wield. If that is your goal then you will accompany me to a more spacious area. My earlier scouting patrol of this building suggests it has a pool that is closed at this time and empty. I assume blood will be easier to clean in that location."

He didn't bother to elaborate on the blood part. To him training was pointless without pushing yourself to the point of injury. His grey eyes reflected no emotion as he turned to look at the door. A group of individual were approaching. Angry men that had been drinking by the smell and feel of them. They were tired of the threat living just down the hall from them. After all how dare a foreigner come into their town and act all high and mighty. They were intent to kick him out of the hotel and they were drunk enough to have confidence in numbers. The poor drunkards did not know who they came to challenge though. He had orders not to kill anyone so he wouldn't. Self defense had been permitted to non lethal levels though. Sero spoke as he seemed to look down the hall through the walls. "I have unwanted guests approaching. The pool is in the basement. Count to ten after I depart and make your way there. I will deal with this incursion. Do not leave this room in the event I can't distinguish you as I will be moving fast before the count of ten." His orders were obviously not to be questioned. Still he rolled his neck slowly with a slow cracking noise before his hand reached out and pulled open the door.

The moment Sero stepped outside and closed the door that presence would return in full once more. The whole floor seemed to echo a low growl as the lights flickered and the lamp bulb shook. Darkness began to set in again before suddenly before the count of two the screaming began. At first it was a single scream cut short with a crashing noise. Then silence for the third count. Then it truly began. There was a collective holler or battle cry of the men in the hall and then a series of crashes and slams. The wall shook and trembled each time there was a crash and it got quieter and quieter until all the could be heard was the distant sobbing in the hall. When Yasutake exited the room it would look nothing like the hall he had come down. One man had been slammed so hard he had skidded across the carpeted floor taking the carpet with him. On either side of the hall was a couple of men with their backs embedded into the drywall. One man hung over a broken set of ceiling tiles with a light hanging by one hing and sparking here and there. All of them had a pulse but they all were broken to some extent. Mostly ribs and jaws. Not a single cut had been made but still Sero had walked through them in under ten seconds. The last man was at the end of the hall next to the stairs where the door hung by one metal hing with the other broken off and a hand print in the door itself was one man still fully awake. He sat there staring blankly at a wall and curled in on himself. He didn't seem to register there was anyone else there but he smelled of piss. He just kept mumbling "What is he....what is he...what is he?" over and over like a ritualistic chant. Sero of course had already made his way down the stairs towards the pool. His presence could be felt descending to the depths below.

3214

It didn't take a genius for you to know that you were being watched as if you were prey, being appraised as if you were merely an item, to try and gauge what said item was worth before actually seeing it in use. Simply... Judging it. The thought came to the back of his mind as his brain subconsciously whispered to him. Drawing in a breath at needed points, he spoke the words without cracking, or not enough to the point that he'd have to be kicked out, and the face of impassiveness that he sported remained strong. A face that he had been practicing for a long time, for months. After encountering Maigo of the Sharingan, Yasutake knew that he was going to have to change his way of thinking and acting... A ninja shouldn't be so quick to anger, it was why as an Academy student they taught you to throw away the notions of 'emotions.' They would only serve to cloud your judgement, and after having an encounter with a user of the Sharingan, he knew that he'd have to be more... Mature to survive in this world.

This man only served as a tool for his training... A mentor beside the taijutsu specialist that was his team leader, Nozomi-sensei. He wasn't only a training point in that aspect either. He also was one when it came to the upcoming Chunin Selection Exams... This ninja before him was an engineer of the unknown, of uncertainty, to make one shake in his shake or before him, long before an actual engagement actually occurred. Brushing a hand through that long hair of his, Yasutake waited for the words to come from his new found... Teacher. Drawing a breath, he waited patiently.

The mention of blood wasn't one that fazed the Genin of Kirigakure. Blood was something that he always tried to drew from himself whilst he trained. He understood the mindset that came with being a shinobi, and of being someone that was determined to becoming their very best... Stronger than they could ever imagine. To push yourself beyond the limits, to your absolute breaking point was how one became better and expanded their power. Akin to a plastic bag at breaking point, that was how one was supposed to feel at the end of a training exercise. The bag ripping simply meant you had pushed yourself too far and you had ended it with an injury, a result of you not knowing your own potential.

The Osada is a main clan of Kirigakure? I suppose it doesn't help that I was less than an average student... Or that I stopped being a ninja until a few months ago. If he truly cared to, he would've made the show of awkwardly chuckling and scratching the back of his head to defuse the tension that was in the air, but because he didn't, he didn't do such a thing. It was a symbol of weakness. You may as well stand by your mistakes, no matter how much of a fool you looked. If not, you were little more than a traitor to yourself and those around you.

Watching Sero, Yasutake didn't understand what he was doing staring at the wall. I suppose he is crazy after so much time alone... His shoulders moved upwards as he slowly rose to his feet at the end of the directions that came from the man. Are there people out there? And when the door opened, he heard them. It occurred to him that the man that was going to be teaching him couldn't have been more older than him, and if he was he was hardly so, give or take a year or two... It was weird to think that age meant little in the world of shinobi, when age meant everything in the world of the average civilian and inhabitant of the ninja villages.

He counted to ten as soon as the door had closed behind his new teacher. Finally standing at his full height, Yasutake performed the shunshin no jutsu technique, and came into existence through a shimmering in the air as if his appearance was a heat wave. He did so simply so that he could see what was being done, for only the briefest of moments as he lunged down those steps and down to the basement below, not bothering to look up to see if he was being followed.

The hallway had been in disarray he had gathered from his single glance of the 'battle.' Two men had already been put into a wall, and a light was hanging from the ceiling. Already he could tell from that one glance that the man that were fighting were indeed drunk, and he shook his head as he descended those stairs. He showed no mercy for them. He probably knew they didn't have their wits about them too. He snorted as he got to the basement in record time. No doubt it'd bring them back to reality after such a beating...

For a while, that feeling of dread, coldness, and uncertainty had been lifted from his shoulders. Something that he had gradually noticed as he descended those steps and got further away from the man. Unfortunately, after a few minutes it felt as if the light was closing in around him, to the point that the same aura and presence had consumed him again and he thought he saw the form of Sero descending down those steps and towards him. It should be expected of one such a him. He shrugged his shoulders as he glanced to his side to look at the small body of water that was the pool beside him. It should be easier to clean up blood with water, right? That's what he said... His teeth grinded upon each other.

Even though he trained to his breaking point, to the point that he drew his own blood, it didn't mean it was enjoyable... It only meant that it was necessary.

WC: 1039

Sero was kneeled at the edge of the pool as Yasutake arrived. The side opposite of the stairwell so he was facing it. It was after all the only entrance and exit so he liked to keep it within his line of sight. The pool was the only source of light down there at the moment as it was supposed to be closed. The underwater lights seemed to cast a blue glow on the walls with shifting lights moving along the surface. It was plenty to see everything with ease. Yet somehow the shadows seemed to strain against the light like tendrils reaching hopelessly for Sero. Wanting to reclaim one of their own. Still what he was doing kneeled at the edge was also interesting as it would cast a brief flash of red into the blue light before it faded. His hands dipped in the water as he scrubbed off the blood from the recent encounter. He had done it with his bare hands but he still wasn't great at holding back. He could see them breathing when he left though so he was confident they would survive encountering him. He needed to keep in good standing with this country for now after all.

Still his grey eyes lifted and watched his would be student descend the stairs to the final step into the lowest known level of the lodging. They watched him with a dead gaze as Sero rose to his feet. Still slightly crimson water droplets slowly dripped from his mostly clean fingers. The blood in the pool fading as the water diluted it. Still he didn't really care if he turned the whole pool red. He rolled his neck in almost twitching motion as the crack of it echoed across the pool. The acoustics in there were well made. Any noise would carry with ease. So when Sero spoke his words, while cold and void of emotion carried across the pool. All twenty meters of its length.

"Let us begin then. I shall do my best not to kill you as we spar. I do not hold back on most occasions but my sensei...your Kage would be angry with me if I brought you back in a baggy. So I will do my best to remain at a genin level....The pool will be were we fight as you will need to concentrate on not being knocked down or sinking. To make this a prominent goal in your mind I will increase the PH levels of the pool so that if you touch it then it will feel like dousing your skin momentarily in boiling hot water. Even if you can't feel it the markings on your skin will be very clear and the lesson will end. Step onto the pool when you are prepared. Oh and I will of course provide you with a basic weapon of significant make to defend yourself with. These two Kunai are made at a higher tier then the usual knife. They should help you block or attack if you think you can land a hit."

At first it seemed odd as Sero spoke of weapons and training but appeared to be entirely unarmed. That all changed though the moment he stepped onto the pool. At which point things began to happen that made no sense to anyone other then a shinobi. The water under his boots began to froth and bubble violently. As he stepped more towards the center the froth spread in a wave across the pool and seemed to bubble slowly at his presence. He had turned the entire pool into a pool of low PH Acid. Still what was alarming was when both his hands lifted and grey smoke swirled in his palms before taking shape and peeling away like paint on a wall. In each hand now he held an odd looking Kunai. Bigger handles and smaller blades with thick hook rings. Ammo for his Kunai launcher but these C rank Kunai were the only weapons he had the boy across from him could use. With that in mind his hands blurred and the Kunai split the water as they skimmed the top of the pool only to imbed into the stone at the young mans feet with a loud pair of clangs. Then Sero lifted his hands out before him and smoke once more filled his hands before connecting and peeling away once more. He was summoning weapons....As the smoke finished pulling away a three section staff was revealed in Sero's hands. He spoke once more then.

"We will begin with Bojutsu. Do not be fooled by a lack of a blade by thinking the weapon less dangerous. Bones will break with ease when I swing this. Step onto the surface of the pool when you are prepared."

4024

OOC note...I can keep track of jutsu used and chakra consumption if you like...but I won't be using combat jutsu and these jutsu are E rank soooo going through all my chakra is incredibly unlikely.

Yasutake descended the steps. Once he got to the bottom of them, he spotted the form of Sero crouched by the water's edge, and when Yasutake finally touched the final step that would signal the end of his journey after he had gotten to the bottom, his gaze rose upwards and settled on the ninja there. There wasn't that much to think about as he got to the bottom, and when he set his gaze on Sero, the same impassive and extremely uninteresting face looked back at him as his head rose to look at him, his would be student.

His face remained blank as he spoke, he made sure to pay attention to them, and to read any underlying messages that there mare have been. Try not to kill me? He continued to listen as the thought crossed his mind. He didn't think that the violent part of training would start right away, he had mentioned that he would teach him when they had returned to Kirigakure and he would officially become his student. Pausing, he assumed that that was when he would officially become his student, and this was little more than a pre-lesson, to see if Yasutake was actually worthy of becoming his student. His sensei is the Kage? It was interesting to learn of. He is raising the heat levels of the pool? He is able to do all of that? Is that what this... Aura is? He knew the probability of this cold aura unsettling him in their bout would be cumbersome for him, but he knew that he'd have to truck through it. The steps that he had taken within the last hour were nothing compared to what he would be doing now. How he does it I know not, but I will make sure to learn how to make my own... He spoke of the aura that Osada Sero permeated, and his fists clenched as his words came to an ending.

Two kunai sliced through the water, and Yasutake watched them, observing them as they crashed into the ledge of the pool at his feet. Dropping into a crouch, he grasped both of the kunai in either of his hands, and went through the motion of walking onto the water. For a moment, it looked almost as if he was falling in, uncaring of the boiling water that he would no doubt drown and melt in. Just before the sole of his sandal hit the water, he had activated the Supernatural Walking Practice technique, and he strode over the water perfectly. The three sectioned staff was no doubt going to be a problem for Yasutake, he had never seen a weapon like that, but as a ninja almost every single experience was one that could better them in this dangerous world of shinobi. Therefore, he would go through and experience this impending beating with the prospect of proving himself worthy to be taught by him when they returned home. Exhaling the pent up air from his lungs, he reversed the grip of one of the kunai in what could be considered more of a defensive hold in front of him, whilst the other one remained at his side, just below his belt in preparation for a quick jab in the event that Sero did come for him.

He has great speed... But he said he'll try to fight at a genin's level... But who knows what combat did to someone like that? The thoughts traveled through his mind, all he knew was that he would have to do his best to match Sero in speed if he wanted to at least make an impression.

WC: 630

Sero watched as the young man before him bent and pulled the weapons free. One moment he was cold and calm and the next his body seemed to react to someone being armed and aimed at him. His knees bent and his grip tightened on the staffs in his hands while the center staff dangled in front of him. Held there by the chain link connected to either end. His aura slipped from that thing watching Yasutake to suddenly a deep and heavy pressure. The water began to roll and writhe around them as a mist began to coat the top of it. The Mist started at Sero's feet....creeping at first. Just slow enough so that Yasutake could see a dozen sets of hands made of mist reaching out for him before it seemed to explode outward. The mist did nothing more then blanket the pool but the light dimmed drastically. It was as if the souls of those Sero had claimed with his own hands had reached out for the light and in doing so stolen it from the realm of the living. The Aura itself seemed far more focused now. Like it had a mind of its own and felt like another predator was treading on its territory. It was having none of that.

Still even in the darkness those soulless grey eyes seemed to reflect the light more then his shadowed features. Just like in the room before they seemed to stare without blinking as they watched Yasutake. All of the sudden and without any warning Sero was moving. He slid like a serpent first left then right then left again. He was serpentining as he approached. In a second the pursuit of his opponent landed him right in front of the young man. He didn't hesitate even slightly as he attacked in one fluid movement. The two parts he was holding suddenly separated from each other. They were connected to the middle rod but suddenly they were moving to smack at both weapons Yasutake was holding. Clearly aimed to occupy both his opponents hands. However that motion reacted with the center rod snapping forward aimed at D-3 speeds at Yasutake's face. Its range just enough to hit the mans nose if he didn't react in time but due to being connected to the two staffs it couldn't go further. Regardless on if any of it connected or not Sero would suddenly step back and release his grip on his left hand to let the staff fly out with increased range to try and slam into Yasutake's left shoulder at once again D-3 speed. Even if none of it connected Sero would dance out of the limited range of the kunai and spin the three sectioned staff before catching it behind himself and holding two rods again. When he spoke his voice carried across the dimly lit room.

"The three section staff is a highly dangerous weapon even with no blade. It can switch ranges as well as have a wide variety of attack options. Unlike a blade though the opponent may try and grab a blunt weapon from you. So you must make sure you strike with speed and precision. Or adjust the battle so that is no longer an option. I did that just moments ago. I gave you two Kunai so you would occupy both hands. With no hand available to grab my weapon when I move at your speed....I can strike without considering it a threat. Nod if you understand and we can move onto the next weapon."

4629

Yasutake was skeptical at first when he had been going through the motions of picking up the C-Rank kunai. At first he wondered if this Sero was going to strike him down, underneah some false pretense of always be aware of your surroundings and to always be paying attention, even when in the presence of those you believe to be your allies. However, while he was settling into his defensive stance, he realized that this Special Jounin wasn't like that at all. He wasn't one to make people do things for no reason, only to kill them. No matter how cold hearted and callous this man may have come across as. He knew they were similar in at least one way.

Neither of them liked to waste time. It was something that no one who called themselves a shinobi should be doing.

To kill the Genin would be a waste of time, and when Yasutake realized that, he finished settling into that defensive stance of his easily enough, fairly confident that a fatal blow wouldn't be struck here, but the possibilities of being beaten down was still plausible.

Around them however, the water was moving quite a bit. More than it should've been with no one actually in the pool. It was only the two of them atop of it, and he had never heard of water acting in such a way. Taking note of how the lights dimmed, and how the man had supposedly heated up the water, he was beginning to wonder as to whether this man had an advanced element... Something that utilized light, and or heat to manipulate things around him. If it were true, it would also explain as to why he had never met anyone of this supposed 'Osada' Clan, and he was determined that after this session, he would do his best to find out about the members of this particular... Bloodline.

He watched Sero at all times, trying to figure out when the man was going to move. And when he did, Yasutake was ready. There was nothing other than Sero that he paid attention to. It was simple training that Academy students were taught. It was simply to maintain a strain of concentration so as not to be distracted easily. Simple enough, since becoming distracted was a waste of time, a personality trait that allowed it to be fairly simple to comprehend.

Distraction meant death.

Or in this case, pain.

Suddenly, both rods snapped forwards, flying at his arms. He immediately twisted the left side of his body as far out of range of Sero as he could, a similar style of fighting that he took when he would use his Odachi. The kunai that he held in front of him, the defensive one lunged outwards to meet the first part of the staff. The moment it touched the right side of the staff, it wound push off of it and back towards the one to the left, all the while maintaining the reverse grip as the middle rod lashed outwards and knocked his hand into his face, resulting in the hilt of the kunai being sent into his forehead.

At first he didn't realize what had happened, but then he felt the pain and the ringing in his head, and although it was painfully, he did his best to shake it off and to continue on wards as Sero spoke to him.

In response to his words, he gave the nod that he had asked for. He understood the three sectioned staff. It was most certainly a weapon he would enjoy using in close quarters, there was something satisfying about a blunt weapon crashing into someone's gut, or anything really and thus breaking it. It was... Gratifying in a way. Despite in the ringing in his head, it was most definitely worth it.

WC: 652

Sero was satisfied with that nod. He had held back a fairly considerable amount but the individual before him had managed to block his trick attack. He couldn't tell if it was by chance or if the boy had reflexively taken the damage from his own block over the damage that the staff itself would of caused. A shattered nose was likely distracting to some. He wondered if perhaps the young man could of handled him back when he was at that level. How much enjoyment he would of gotten from a battle to the death with this boy. However he was as enslaved to time as any other mortal. Even if he was the hand of fate when ordered to end the enemies of Kirigakure he was still but a man. He would never know what may have happened if they had fought back when he was just starting his days as a slayer. It excited him a little that someone other then himself was so capable at that rank. He felt the rush of battle claiming him as he smelled the blood of battles long passed. This boy was capable...and so he would finally be able to use it...the weapon he had kept as a last resort for so long. Waiting to be pressed into using it. It was finally time to unleash the slicer.

A slow and pale smile filled Sero's thin lips as his claw like fingers gripped the staff with one hand and released it with the other. His almost fang like teeth glistened in the light as he began to shift his stance into a more arm forward and legs back. His right arm outstretched as it gripped the three sectioned staff and begun to let it sway back and forth. Like a clock it swayed left and right in a mesmerizing fashion. Almost hypnotic in nature. Then Sero spoke in his dull tone that seemed to scratch like nails on a blackboard. His voice rang like death tolling the bell at the gates of hell. "Break free of your chains and cut him Suraisā" The moment his voice echoed out the aura around him seemed to pulse out. It was like a predator was close now. It was enjoying a hunt as its claws descended upon its prey. Suddenly it felt like Sero was everywhere at once even as he stood there and stared without blinking at Yasutake. Then it began.

Mist began to peel away from the three sectioned staff as it hung there like it was breaking apart before rushing away in tendrils that flew in every direction before curving back and returning to Sero's hand. The tendrils of mist slowly formed together and faded away to reveal a glistening silver hilt and with it a thick wire with a dozen blades along it. The Whip sword dangled like the three section staff had in his right hand and suddenly his shift in stance made sense. The weapon could only be held in one hand. Yet it looked endlessly flexible and each blade as sharp as the last. The weapon itself was truly more of a fang to this beast then the last. It would tear into flesh endlessly and rip apart anyone in its path. In the hands of the thing holding it the weapon was truly death with a handle. Then it shifted and begin to spin around. A spiral forming in front of Sero, pointed at Yasutake as it just seemed to slowly rotate over and over again.

"This is my whip sword Suraisā. It is perhaps the most flexible and unpredictable weapon I have. It can not be blocked conventionally. This will be the last weapon for the night as you are the first to set eyes on this weapon aside from myself and its creator that yet lives.. I am eager to use it for more then just practice. Come at me and I shall share this dance with you."

5298

There was no visual dissatisfaction from the face of the male in front of him. From that, he could gather that Sero was either satisfied with his actions, or his continued want to learn, or he was just as impassive about the situation as Yasutake's face seemingly projected. There was little thought given to the nose that was clearly broken, and although the pain was constant and throbbed whilst this happened, he remained resolute through it all.

He could only imagine what the mind behind that face of Sero's was thinking of, but whatever it was, he figured he'd be thinking about the next weapon he'd be using. Drawing in a breath, it felt almost strained since he did it through his nose, an action that was done involuntary and it only increased the growing flow of blood.

For a moment, Yasutake wasn't sure if what he was seeing was actually there, but then he was certain that he was looking at the pale smiling face of Sero, something that he didn't see often, nor did he want to see it often. Is it meant to be unsettling? The thought split across his mind, just as the male before him started to change up his stance. It looked as if his legs were moving backwards whilst his torso moved into a more forwards stance, bringing about a never before seen stance for the young Kirigakure no Sato Genin. What is this now? He exhaled the breath of air that he had had held up for those handful of moments, and it all happened just as the staff began swaying side to side in the hands of Sero. Normally his gaze would follow that of what his opponent was doing, but if he were to move forwards aggressively, he figured he'd be able to come up with a decent defense, unless this attack was as unexpected as the last one.

Yasutake resumed the same stance that he had adopted the first time, and he rolled his shoulders back as the coldest voice that he had ever heard spoke. It was the voice of the Jounin in front of him, something that he was growing used to in their extended time together. Suraisa? It was an odd name, fairly exotic, he had never heard it before. The sickening aura rolled over him, or that's at least what it felt like as his skin became full of goosebumps and hair rose up on his arms as if a cold wind had blown over his flesh. Naturally, he wore a longer sleeved shirt, so they were hidden for the most part, but there was surprise in the face of the Kirigakure Genin and when he felt the pulsation.

Mist broke off from the place of the three sectioned staff, and within moments it rapidly returned in a new shape.

How could you even use that? The man's stance looked ridiculous, silly even, not to mention the weapon, but with all of those blades he knew it had to be dangerous. If it wasn't for the aura, and the man that he was with he would undoubtedly take this situation as a joke. But with that thought came the slow rotations of the weapon, and the words of Sero following shortly after.

He's more inclined to slice me to pieces than returning me to Kirigakure alive, he thought to himself as he tried his best to gulp in as much fresh air as he could before he lunged forwards as fast he could, allowing one kunai to slash vertically upwards, while the other one moved in a stabbing motion down towards his thigh.

WC: 629

Sero watched as surprise and confusion registered across his young students face. The weapon was odd he could agree with that but he didn't really understand those emotions. He could identify its uses and dangers simply upon seeing it once. It was why he had purchased it. Out of all his weapons this one was the one he found most useful. Holding it in his hand now he knew homicide was but a twist of the wrist away. The weapon was like a set of blades on a metal cable. Each blade dangerous and separate from the ones around it. Even if one link was blocked others could easily be rerouted to hit other area's. His grey eyes took in the weapon in his hands for a moment as the water around him bubbled. It was unique...but it was about to be replaced. Another version of it awaited him among the seven swords. Another whip sword that seemed destined for him should he simply reach out and grasp it. He felt relieved that he had found a new master for this weapon. It didn't deserve to be melted down into ammunition after all he had used it for. His grey eyes shifted back to his would be student of the evening as he made up his mind. A new master indeed...but to wield Suraisa, one must first feel her sting.

As the young man shifted his stance Sero also bent at the knees and quickened his spinning motion so now the blades spun in a spiral in front of him rapidly instead of slowly. The sudden change in pace marked the whole pace of the fight from that point on. Sero never was good at holding himself back nor did he have a good judge at what a genin should be capable of.

As the young man charged him he shifted his stance back and to the left rapidly as the spinning blades would lift and slice in an upwards arc at the arm that rose up The blade like a crescent cut one tiny blade after another rising at C rank speed when suddenly Sero flicked his wrist whether it hit or not. As he did the water pulsed out and seemed to roll away from him in waves as grey eyes took in the eyes of the young man before him in that instant that his whip fell. No mercy seemed to reflect there. The end of days could be reflected in whatever laid behind those. But in that second his pale lips split and white fangs showed where teeth should be. And then his weapon and pain would descend on the kunai that was destined for the thigh that was moved when he moved to the left. All that had been required was two flicks of the wrist. The whip sword moved flawlessly with no jerking motions in the arc from the young mans upper arm to the lower arm. Only this attack was different. Unlike the slice from before it was faster and if it made contact would wrap around Yasutakes arm that had gone for the thigh and lock into the flesh with blades. Once the hooks were in spiraling up his arm at B rank speed if it succeeded Sero would grip the handle and yank the weapon hard. If it all worked out he would throw the boy so hard he dislocated his arm and dragged the blades in a spiral pattern all the way down his arm before plunging him beneath the surface of the heated water. Sero had certainly gotten too excited.

5904

Yasutake did something that he usually never did while he was in combat. Instead of watching the eyes of his opponent and utilizing his peripherals to determine what was dangerous, he was instead watching the weapon and specifically the weapon as it rotated. It was a weapon that he had never seen before, he didn't even know ho to begin to describe it. It was as if it had a maw of spinning teeth, and these teeth were swords, but it was able to change on command, how it did so he couldn't figure out, mostly because he didn't have a lot of time but he watched with wide eyes the entire time, specifically to discern every secret about the weapon that he could.

In that split second he was able to discern that there was a metal cable that was holding all of the blades together, undoubtedly it was also what was used to control the individual mechanics of the blades. The water around them bubbled. Yasutake reaffirmed the thought that it'd be dangerous to have his bare skin be plunged into the past boiling point water.

The knees of the Special Jounin bent underneath him, the blades that were controlled by that same man began to rotate faster right before his eyes, he knew already that there wasn't really a way for him to stop those dangerous blades, especially with these two kunai that seemed meagre compared to the exotic weaponry.

The blades seemingly snapped upwards as they cut along his arm, the pain excruciating as they dug deeper into his flesh. Pain was shown over the face of the Hattori Genin. His gaze rose upwards to look into Sero's for a brief moment and he saw no remorse in those cold gray eyes of his. Under those eyes were teeth, that were more akin to fangs being bared by a wolf that has caught the scent of flesh. The blade moved with clear smoothness as it wrapped around Yasutake's arm, and he knew the blades were stuck fast into his flesh. There was no way to stop them from going any further, and he decided that he'd have to accept it. They would only be relinquished from his flesh when the user was ready to withdraw them.

Meanwhile, in the corner of his eye he saw the blades spiraling up and around his arms, locking into place even closer to his armpit, and he froze, unable to figure out what to do in this situation. Before he could even finish his thoughts however, he felt his arm move, and not in a good way. In the back of his mind, he was telling himself that his arm was broken or something along those lines as Sero's arm moved violently, and before he could even finish those thoughts he was plunged beneath the surface of the water that had previously been underneath his feet.

The moment the arm had been dragged underwater, his shut his mouth, biting down on his tongue and keeping the cry short and sweet as the rest of his body was submerged beneath the heated water. The Supernatural Walking Practice was now being directed to his hands after a few moments of flailing in the water. The pain was excruciating, but the core thought in his mind of not having time to waste stayed strong, until it got to the point that his hands soared up and out of the water, pulling himself out until he was on his knees, slowly pulling himself towards the edge of the pool as the technique spread across the rest of his body.

WC: 614

Sero watched in almost surprise as blood droplets flew up and splattered across the surface of the frothing pool. The crimson dye of it steadily spreading out and seeming to fade into the mass of water. A single droplet landed on his cheek and his grey eyes twitched to look at it as if he could see it. His gaze had followed it but he hadn't bothered to dodge it. He had never met someone who used blood as an attack so dodging blood was pointless. People always bled around him, on him and stained the ground. Yet something about this droplet surprised him. His mind drifted back to the first time he had fought as a child. Struggling to survive against someone of a greater strength. One of the bells men had come to his island and attempted to take it from him. The first taste of life or death...his first experience with it and just how fragile the line between it was. He had felt no pain in that battle but he had understood just what it had meant. He remembered the mist clinging to his feet as he stood over the corpse. His first real wound on his arm and the mans blood splashed on his face. It was the closest thing he had ever felt to passion from another person. He stared at the glazed over eyes of the man stricken with horror and fear. Disbelief somewhere there even in his last moments. It had been then that Sero had understood his purpose. His only way to connect with people was through the shedding of blood. He would understand pain and suffering through them. His blade would carve out of others what he could not have naturally. He would take from them life and gain it himself.

His free hand lifted and brushed the blood droplet off his face before looking at it. Had this boy brought out something like that in him? Even though this wasn't life and death....Sero had felt something akin to excitement. The young man never truly stood a chance against him...what he had done could even be considered bullying but he really didn't care what others thought. If they came at him they should bring the urge to kill. That was how any fight should be in his mind. After all he wouldn't hesitate to slay them all if they challenged him. This however was a simple learning experience...yet...His grey eyes shifted from the blood on his finger tip not his own to its source now plunged under the surface and struggling to regain the peace above the surface of the frothing mass. He had been surprised at how this had ended. He knew the distance between them was impossible to overcome but at the same time he felt...invigorated by someone who did not hesitate to charge him in order to grow stronger. He didn't know why but he had expected the young man to find someway to counter the impossible. The weapon itself was designed to be one of the most difficult weapons to handle in a fight for both the user and the defender. He watched the young man as he broke the surface...still alive and breathing without laboring to do so...his skin was a little red but the water was hot...that was to be expected. He was special. More so than the foolish people he had met so far that knew nothing of power. He was not fleeing as others did...his survival instinct was kicking in as he made his way towards the shore.

Sero looked down at his weapon now dripping blood before he kneeled and dipped it into the water. Letting the blood fade into the pool as it was turning pink from the blood of the wounds. They had bled a bit before the hot water had likely burned the wounds enough to stop the bleeding or lessen it. It was a lower rank of the weapon, purchased only for the preparation of the version the seven swords had. It was purely for practice in order to master the weapon. Even with such successful attacks the wounds would barely be debilitating if at all. After all he hadn't exactly gone for the neck. Or a major artery for that measure. Had he instinctively avoided doing so? How odd...he must actually like this individual if not than for once he could at least tolerate him. He could almost feel his own excitement. His blood pumping like a pounding in his ears as he watched the boy crawl to safety. Such perseverance was to be commended. He knew that he had found someone he could not release now. Someone he could unlock the potential to become like himself. If anything he simply wanted to continue but he knew limitations existed. Even he would have trouble fighting with both arms injured. It was his own fault though for attacking in such a way. He could of dragged this on had he intended to or controlled himself just a little more. However the boy had charged him and in doing so had dragged a beast out of Sero. Truly it was exciting to have so much change in his world. He wanted more. He wanted to see this progress until it couldn't anymore. Until death claimed one of them...but not yet...not until Yasutake was stronger. Sero could do that much for him.

Still Sero unsummoned both Kunai with a hand seal before walking away from the pool. The crimson in the pool swirling around him like some angry thing chasing him until his feet stepped from the pool to the floor. The moment he did the pool quieted...Steam rose from it but the froth and mist over it faded away. The pool just seemed normal now. The battle was over. Still Sero stood next to Yasutake. Listening to him breath for the moment. He could sense the pain the individual was in and envied him a little. Still his thumb pressed into the hilt and crushed a small seal there. For a moment Sero stood over the young man looking at him with dark eyes. Even if he didn't look up he would feel that gaze and feel that pressure. That moment he could feel it like killing intent. Drowning out sound, smell...touch.... all of it seemed to fade in that presence. As if suddenly this realm had caved in before this beings will and all that remained was the two of them. There was no way to escape...there was no where one could run, no way to hide, no chance to fight...Sero was not human and thus all of it was futile. Than Sero spoke as he reached out and took the weapon before folding it and clasping the two ends. Each blade locking into the next one before taking on the appearance of a belt. A hidden weapon... He dropped it next to Yasutake as he spoke. His words seemed to be all there was in the world. "You pass. Train with that weapon as it is yours now. I have already mastered it. See to your wounds and do not forget. We made a deal. I will find you when you return to Kirigakure. You will live up to your word." And then like that Sero was gone...his presence had vanished from the hotel entirely. He had left the place as to avoid any more...incidents.

Exit thread
7170
2264/4000 Suiton A-S
Continued from Here to fully trained Suiton A-S 4000/4000
..
4906

Strength B-2 ~> B-3 900/900

4006

Endurance B ~> B-3 2400/2400

1606

Perception B ~> B-2 1500/1500

106 remaining