A loud yawn was heard as Kizmaru awake from his sleep. Today was the day he would set out on his training expedition. Too many events had went by where he felt particularly helpless. Sure, there was some instances where he actually did something with his fire jutsu but when it came to going toe-to-toe with his enemies or sticky situations, Kizmaru had always dropped the ball. Well, no more. he wasn't physically adept as he thought he was. His scrawny frame, lanky arms and chicken legs weren't going to cut it. Tch. Sitting up in his bed, Kizmaru had gotten out and wearily walked over to the bathroom to wash his face. He was getting ready to go on a journey like none other that he's been on to improve his physical prowess to the best of his abilities. He was going...to Xiuhcoatl's Maw. It should be a fun experience or so he thought. Still, he was excited just thinking about. Enough of that for now, didn't want to ruin his experience by expecting too much and getting nothing. He got into the bathroom, showered followed by brushing his teeth and then getting dressed in his normal attire. He took his coat with him but he didn't put it on immediately since it seems to always be hot in Iwagakure. it'll be even hotter when en-route to his destination of the mountain he would be training at. He heard of a hidden arena being present over there that he could hone his skills in but most people said it was just a rumor. Still, he wanted to check it out for himself and debunk it himself once and for all.

After all, It was that time again where Kizmaru felt he had to improve himself and his kit. Just relying on his wit wasn't enough anymore especially with war creeping in. He made his way to Xiuhcoatl's Maw in hopes of it having what he needed at the top of it. Kizmaru packed some provisions inside of a backpack and left his little abode, starting his journey towards his destination. He followed the path that was shown on a map he had prepared for this day. Along with the map, Kizmaru had some food rations, climbing gear, some kunai and a sleeping bag. That's all he really needed to set up camp for himself. Observing the scenery it was mostly just wasteland with some rare sights of foliage here and there but soon, as he traveled he noticed thicker greenery. He decided whenever he got the chance, he would go look around the area for herbs and maybe additional food tell then he continued on the path that would lead him to the volcano. It was pretty far from where the village was located and he decided to get a move on since it was estimated to take him at least two days to get there.

Setting out, he started on the path that would lead him to a small lake. It took him the whole day just to make it to that point but at least he knew he was half way there. Night settled in and Kizmaru had already began heating the food he brought with him. He was already halfway through it and decided he'd need to do something about his rations being half gone before even making it to the mountain. It was daybreak now and Kizmaru had continued his journey towards the mountain and it was within a few miles. Before he made it to the mountain, he decided that he would make a detour to a near by forest. It wasn't too big compared to where he went for a mission but still, it had wild vegetation he could most likely eat. He decided that he just go around and collect some berries for a little awhile since it was easier to do and just in case his hunt was unsuccessful but he was feeling confident about this little trip. He found a few bushels of cherries and another bushel of wild berries that he was familiar with. he started to gather the berries in a little satchel that he had for the purpose of collecting the food. After an hour of collecting, he decided he gathered enough berries and moved onto to looking for some wild vegetables. Upon reaching the bottom of the summit, he happened to come across a large opening big enough to look like a cave entrance. Entering the cave, he came across a strange door that had a large black and gray skull wearing a face mask with two swords crossed behind it.

This must be it. The rumored arena where warriors go to hone their skills. The difficulty acclimates to the gladiator that passes through it. Pushing it open slowly, revealed a very wide area inside. It was like an island wide dungeon. He could get used to this. Before he started it, he wanted to observe how far it would take him and what it even looked like in general. He spotted that there was at least thirteen areas along the way going down the line in a serpent like formation. There was even a couple arenas in mid air. Kizmaru thought this would be a nice way to hone his skills in combat, Besides, what's the worse that could happen...? Kizmaru cautiously treads to the entrance of the first arena to examine how to get in. It was a twenty foot large, brown and red door that didn't seem like it could be open by normal means. It didn't look like he was getting it open from the outside. Maybe somebody was controlling it to open and shut some place else. It didn't matter to him one bit though because he already decided he was gonna wreck this place. He sneered, placing his right hand onto the he had of Kunai, preparing to draw them when needed. As he stepped closer to the door, it had suddenly opened and allowed him entrance. Frowning then shrugging, Kizmaru stepped forward into the first arena to await what would happen next.

W.C: 1043

After a few moments of waiting the flat, white tiled arena had rumbled before shifting itself into dirt and rocks sticking from out of the ground. The arena was undergoing some kind of Terra-forming specifically for combat. If so, then Kizmaru was going to have a blast with so much rocks around. After the arena was done Terra-forming, the gate at the opposite end the arena had opened up, revealing some sort of earth golem made from rocks, dirt and vines. Kizmaru looked at it dumbfounded wondering what manner of experiment made this monstrosity. It practically screamed "Kill me please!" Kizmaru felt he needed to put the poor creature out of it's misery and began to lunge at it, swiftly drawing a kunai. Kizmaru was already feeling cocky because of the creature being made of mostly rocks. Sneering, he reached out his left arm, clenching it in an attempt to slap the golem's chest with a paper bomb in an attempt to blow it to smithereens. Boy was he wrong to assume it was only made out of rocks. The golem extended out it's own right arm and covered it's hand in mud, sweeping Kizmaru back to the opposite side of the arena. After sloshing around and sliding in the golem's mud, Kizmaru had stood up and shook a bit to try and get some mud off of him. It didn't seem to work too well as a lot of it was still on him. At least he could move better now without sliding all over the place. It was going to be tough to get close to the golem to actually benefit from placing the paper tag bombs on it and just blowing it up. Kizmaru decided to take a different approach. He started to form some hand seals before blowing chunks of flames in the golem's direction. Kizmaru then ran in a half circle towards the golem in hopes he could get close towards it to land one of his hand on the rocky parts of the golem. The golem had raised it's left arm again and hardened the mud to make a sturdy earthen wall to defend itself from the flames being fired at it. It also turned in Kizmaru's reaction to block the hand he was using to try and make contact with certain parts of his body.

Kizmaru had only touched the shield it made with it's arm. Sadly, even though it's arm has hard like rock, it would only be effective if he was making direct contact with real rocks. Looking up, Kizmaru quickly noticed it shifted it's other hand into a spiked ball and was lifting it over it's own head getting ready to smash Kizmaru's body. It was six times the size of a normal human being so it was no surprised if it did kill him with one swung. Kizmaru of course, wasn't going to let that happen. Leaping back, he evaded the arm that came crashing down shortly after he got out of range. After that, Kizmaru peered at the small crater that was left behind from that said swing. Sighing, Kizmaru had placed his hand onto his temple wondering why it wouldn't let him touch it. It can't possibly know what he was trying to do. Could it? Well it didn't matter. Kizmaru had another idea. Sneering a bit, Kizmaru had formed more hand seals in preparation for another jutsu. He smirked a bit before spewing out chunks of flames that somewhat resembles flowers.. Once again, the golem used it's left to shield itself from the oncoming blow. Kizmaru had began to dash towards the creature head on but on his way, he grabbed chunks of rocks and hurled them at it to impede it's defenses. When he was in striking distance, he hurled a punch towards the golem which in turn the golem blocked. Kizmaru then latched his arms upon the golem’s left arm in an attempt to pull it away from it’s body far enough so Kizmaru could make direct contact with the rocks that made up it’s torso. After a few moments of struggling with the construct, he had successfully drawn the arm far enough for Kizmaru to make contact with it’s chest. Kizmaru had open his fist up before looking up at the golem’s supposed face. He could have sworn it’s facial expression had been a frowning face of realizing it was about to get destroyed. Oh well, Kizmaru hurled hand with the paper bomb into the chest of the golem, blowing out it’s torso and Kizmaru backwards. The limbs of it had fell back into the ground and slowly began to dissolve. Only the left arm remained cause Kizmaru was holding onto it still with his own arms. He then dropped it and placed his hands into his pockets and began to slowly tread to the door opposite of where he came from. That was a pretty interesting experience but it was almost too easy for him. He didn't even have to use that many jutsu to finish it off. Ah well, beggars scan't be choosers and he still managed to gain some combat experience along the way.

Reaching the door, Kizmaru had stood in front of it waiting for it to open. It didn’t open, what gives? Kizmaru then thought it wasn’t like the other which opened automatically when he got too close. He then thought it was another test and decided he wanted to blow down the doors. Producing six kunai attached with paper bombs, one for every limb with a thumb, he hurled them off towards the door in hopes of blowing it up. The door simply remained there intact with not even a scratch or scuff mark on it. It was as if it was never hit at all. This angered Kizmaru somewhat but before he could try something else, a long ringing buzz was heard as if he were on a game show. Suddenly, a large, brightly colored red light had appeared on the stand which he had never noticed before. It had turned green. There were two more colors there that were will red, Kizmaru wondered what that means but he didn’t have the luxury of time as the door he attempted to force open, opened revealing two more golems. Kizmaru groaned as he began to ready his Kunai. The two hulking beasts stepped out and stood briefly before emitting a large rumble that slightly shook the ground when both were doing it. Kizmaru decided it was time to get a friend. Tapping forming more hand seals, he watched a clone of his own emerge from the ground itself resembling him. He fist bumped his clone before they both rushed at the opposing golems. Kizmaru decided to rinse and repeat the strategy he did with the last golem. He wasn’t gonna do it exactly like last time though. This time he’d have the help of his clone and it would be a lot easier. Slowing down, Kizmaru had let the golem speed ahead to tackle the first golem he on. As he rammed his hard body into the other golem’s, the both toppled over and engaged in a deadlock. Kizmaru seized this opportunity to leap up off of a nearby rock and dive towards the deadlocked golem and clone, hoping to collide into the enemy one only. He was unlucky not in the regard of choosing the wrong golem but the second golem coming to the first’s rescue and parrying the kick Kizmaru would deliver towards it’s comrade. Kizmaru flipped off of the said golem and had no choice but to attempt to take out the one in it’s way. He was positive the clone would hold it’s own and keep it distracted long enough to take out this one. Kizmaru didn’t want to waste as much time as he did with the first one especially now that there was two of them.

W.C: 1367

T.W.C: 2410

Kizmaru sucked his teeth as he continued to charge at the construct with his kunai out as he lunged towards the golem. He delivered three punches into the golem’s right arm, knocking it off balance and forcing it to stumble back. It seemed his strength worked on the right arm because it had some weaker components that it was made form in that arm. Kizmaru smirked at this little tidbit he learned about this golem creatures before charging in again. He leaped into the air this time aimed for the golem's….head? He pressed forward with all of his might this time around before colliding into both of the golem’s arms it used to block the blow. Of course Kizmaru didn’t think it would be this easy but he at least had to give it a try. The clone was still holding it’s own against the other golem which was still good enough for Kizmaru to deal with this one. He forced the golem to his knees with his powerful blow and began to hammer away at it with all of his might untill it was lying on it’s back, right where he wanted it. It had then began to wiggle and squirm under Kizmaru before he balled up both of his fists and slammed them into the center of the golem’s chest shattering it’s entire structure like the first golem before him. Kizmaru had sneered as it crumbled beneath its feet. Look up towards where his construct and the golem were fighting. It seems the golem had finally beaten his clone off of itself was preparing to finish it with a final blow of his own. Kizmaru decided this would be his only chance to catch it off guard and destroy it in one shot. He quickly ran up towards it behind it and swinging his arms into the second golem’s back. It crumbled as easily as the first one. Kizmaru had scoffed and figured fighting these golems weren’t any fun anymore. The loud buzzing sound had been heard again by Kizmaru as he turned to look at the light signal. Now two out of three were green but the last one remained red meaning there was one more wave before he could advance to the next arena. He wondered if it was going to be something as repetitive as the last like “three golems” woah. He hoped not. He was already at the first arena second wave and he was already tired of tearing the same thing to shreds. After waiting seven minutes, which Kizmaru assumed was a wait timer for challengers to catch there breath or rest up. As the door opened for what he assumed was the final time, it turns out, it wasn't three golems. It was a giant ten foot snake and who knows how long this son of a bitch is. Kizmaru's eyes widen as he looked at the thing. He was a shinobi, not a monster hunter. Gripping his Kunai, he was ready to lunge at the giant snake. Before he could though, it seemed that his golem was one step ahead of him already making the first move for his master. Boy was Kizmaru glad he wasn't that construct right now.

With a simple snap of the snakes giant jaws, the giant snake had snatched up the construct golem and swallowed it. Kizmaru had just looked at the snake funny before turning in the opposite direction and running away from the beast. The beast seemed to notice him and came charging at his direction. After leaping to the left and barely missed being consumed by a giant snake. Kizmaru had rolled onto the ground and slammed into a near by rock. Kizmaru had began to scratch the back of his head. He was unsure what just happened. His eyes were closed apparently and when he opened them, he noticed the snake was no where to be found. It couldn’t have just disappeared. Could it? Whatever the case may be, it was gone now. It probably didn’t even really exist at all but that can’t be true since he watched his construct die with his own eyes. He began to walk towards the door where the snake came out of but to no avail it was still shut. Kizmaru turned his head quickly and looked at the lights signalling how many waves were left. Apparently, he only did two and the third color was still red. What gives? The giant snake was gone so why was the door still locked? Kizmaru had began to kick, punch and slash at the door before a large rumbling sound was heard. Kizmaru turned his neck slowly to see what it could be. He saw the ground pushing itself up as if somebody or...something.... was underground. It didn’t take long to realize what was coming at him for being so angry. Before he could react, Kizmaru was flipped up ten meters into the air before landing on his back. As he collided with the hard rocky ground, a rock as sticking out which poked a certain spot on his back allowing him to flip the hell out today.

W.C: 880

T.W.C: 3290

After slamming both of his arms into the ground forcing his body onto its feet, Kizmaru had outstretched both of his arms to the serpent that was coming in for a second attack. Kizmaru couldn’t see the stupid creature properly so he swiftly balled up his fist and slammed them into the ground. The force was great enough it started to push the rocks from below ground upwards in the direction of the snake. It eventually collided with the forced rocks Kizmaru knocked up and forced the serpent out itself into the air by fifteen feet. Kizmaru looked into the air where the snake was beginning its descent. He jumped into the air in a fit of rage, grabbing the snake a bit behind it’s head where the rest of it’s body began and outstretched his legs outward. He had placed his hands on the snake and diverted the snake’s body with his strength towards the walls of the arena. This was only possible with the bits and pieces of rocks trapped between the scales of the snake when it was burrowed underneath the ground. Hell, maybe even before that. A loud, thundering crash was heard throughout the chamber as if anybody else was around to hear it. A lot of dust and debris had flown up from the crash and from the rubble that was around the snake’s body.

Slowly rising up from the dusty arena that was half torn apart, Kizmaru seemed to regain his composure after that little stunt. He looked around the arena, scratching the back of his head. He then started at the snake’s corpse, shrugging a bit. Well it got what it deserved he guessed. Kizmaru then looked around wondering where the board was with the colored lights were. Apparently he had destroyed the mechanism but the door still came undone. He must have gotten lucky or unlucky. He oped he wouldn’t have to fight another tedious enemy. All he wanted to do was rest for five minutes- No more like five days.. Kizmaru wearily dragged his lazy ass through the door he tried so hard previously to get open. While he walked, it seemed like a dimly lit tunnel. Great. Just his luck. He hoped nothing jumped out at him for at least two seconds. He wanted to at least catch his breath before fighting more waves of enemies. He got lucky this time around till he saw the end of the tunnel. It went from nice weather to really hot, really quickly and Kizmaru immediately saw why. Everything, was on fire. Trees, rocks even the ground had little flames coming out of it. It was such a peculiar sight. It doesn’t seem as if the fire was spreading through. It was all just stationary. It still hurt like hell just to attempt to be next to it. He had walked out into the second fiery arena, Here was a pool of lava taking up a good thirty percent of the arena in general. He was already at a disadvantage with all these flames around. It would suck to have to battle and watch his footing which inevitably he will. The gate opposite from him had finally opened but before it fully opened and revealed his opponent, Kizmaru searched around to see if he could find what looks like a scoreboard from last time. He had spotted it and there was once again, only three colors. All red. So that means he only had to deal with three waves this time as well. Alright, sounds fair enough. Kizmaru had looked forward to see what his opponent looked like but since he wasn’t paying attention before his opponent was already upon him. It had tackled him square in the chest and jumped backwards to it’s original starting position. Kizmaru had toppled over and fell on his ass. Shaking his head, he stood up while dusting himself off before unsheathing another kunai and taking a mad dash at the creature. It looked like a wolf, made of fire. That would be pretty cool to try and tame to keep as a pet but currently, Kizmaru’s mood was foul. The wolf had a very keen sense of perception, gracefully avoiding every swing Kizmaru had thrown in it’s direction. It seemed to be pouting but at the same time glaring at Kizmaru but it doesn’t seem like it has any intention of retaliating, yet.

Kizmaru had shrugged and decided to keep up his swings at the fiery creature. Of course, this still had no effect like the previous six seconds ago. Frustrated, Kizmaru thrusts his blade at the creature twice to see if this worked. The ground had opened up from beside him and began to spew flaming spindles at the wolf. The wolf had down a back flip and got some distance between them. Kizmaru had swung around his kunai a bit before getting it ready and going in for another try. Before he could close the distance to attempt another attack, The wolf quickly opened it’s mouth and spit out a lava, fireball. Kizmaru had widened his eyes a bit before evading the fireball himself. He was cutting it close though since he nearly slipped into the pool of lava. After regaining his balance, he looked at the wolf who was doing something rather strange. It was apparently transforming into a human of some kind. It was a she, finally, with a large naginata in hand. She was beautiful but Kizmaru had remembered it was an animal with the power of metamorphosis to turn into a human, which is strange in itself. While he busted his brain trying to think how a wild animal obtained jutsu like that, the woman lunged forward with the naginata and began to rapidly spin it rapidly in Kizmaru’s direction. He really needed to break out of this habit before he severely injured himself for worse. Lifting up his kunai, blocking it, cancelling the spin before pushing her back, repelling the offense. She smirked a bit before raising the naginata and spinning it above her head. At first nothing was happening but then, the flames had started to gather towards her naginata and imbue it with flames. Kizmaru blinked as he decided to gather flames into his hands and surged it through his Kunai. Both party’s clashed and deadlocked in combat as they pressed their weapons on one another’s. They were evenly matched for the most part but Kizmaru had more stamina to boot. They had kept this up for about ten minutes before the female’s stamina gave out and she jumped back. This was okay with Kizmaru as he still had plenty to spare as he continued his assault at at the wolf woman. A shame he had to kill this creature. He wanted to study it more and even tame i but oh well. Lunging forward, Kizmaru did a wide and powerful swing in an attempt to separate her torso from her legs. It turns out she wasn't as tired as Kizmaru thought or she couldn't evade that. She had saved her own cheeks by jumping into a nearby burning tree for some distance.

W.C: 1216

T.W.C: 4506

Kizmaru sneered as usual wondering if she was keeping up just fine. It didn’t matter to him one bit though. All he cared about was winning and moving forward. He didn’t know why he was so into this but competing and completing this little arena courses was strangely interesting to him even if this was just for training. Kizmaru took a step before leaping up after the wolf woman thing whatever she was, kunai raised over his head, preparing a downward swing at the woman’s temple. She had raised her naginata in an attempt to block and instead ended up getting pushed off of it onto the ground while the tree itself got sliced in half. Kizmaru and twirled the kunai around before smirking towards the thing. Shame really, Kizmaru wouldn’t mind speaking to it for a little while but if it was here, it’s not human so he shouldn’t feel too bad when he successfully killed it. He was done playing around with his weapon now and wanted to end this as quickly as possible to move onto the next wave. All he needed was one quick and clean swing with his lightning enhanced blade and he could end this. Just before he made it within striking range, the woman had began to rapidly spin and turning her body into a twister of flames. Kizmaru immediately came to a halt to avoid colliding into the flames and jumped back a few feet to rethink his course of action. He watched to see if anything would happen next. After a few seconds of watching, he assumed nothing was going to happen. The twister didn’t even move from when she first started. Kizmaru assumed while she spun, she couldn’t do anything else but spin. Kizmaru had sheathed his kunai and formed two earth kunai in each hand and tossed them at the twister. The Kunai had collided with the twister before dispersing. So it seems as if the twister is a defensive spell. Kizmaru decided to approach this in a different matter. Unsheathing his kunai, he crashed it into the ground creating a fissure underneath the twister. Although everything was on fire, earth is still earth. Kizmaru watched her cancel her spell whatever it was and leap away from the fissure. Too slow. Kizmaru had anticipated this and immediately thrusts his Kunai in in her direction, while firing earth spindles. They collided with her in the right side of her torso, into her ribs. She had been blown back by the spindles mid jump and collided with the ground with a loud thudding sound. Kizmaru had frowned but it was time to end this little battle. He wondered if he could somehow win without taking this creature’s life. Well, time to find out. He walked over towards the female that was struggling to reach her weapon.

Kizmaru had intercepted that action by kicking the naginata away from her. The female had looked up at him with the same glare as Kizmaru looked down, frowning. He closed his eyes as he lifted his right leg over her head in an attempt to curb stomp her. His leg hover over her for a little while but in the end he couldn’t go through with it. Sighing, he put his leg back down to it’s original position and lifted her up instead. He then began to swing her around and round and tossed her into the walls of the stand. He had hoped that would knock her out. It did not. It just seemed like he was trying to brutalize her which wasn’t his current intention. Sighing, Kizmaru had walked over towards her while she was still groggy and chopped the back of her neck. That seemed to have done the trick so he was content. He looked back up at the scoreboard and took a look to see if the color had changed from red to green. It did not. He decided to wait five minutes before slumping down against the next to the unconscious beast. More than five minutes had passed and the color still did not change. Kizmaru had frowned and gotten up from his sitting position.  He guessed he’s gotta do what he’s got to do. Slowly, he unsheathed another kunai and raised his blade over the woman’s head. He kinda wished the wolf would have forcefully been reverted back into a beast, making killing it easier. Oh well. Kizmaru had plunged the blade into the ground instead, forcing a large piece of the hot ground the wolf woman was on to fly into the air and out of the arena. If that didn’t work, he’d have to climb his way out and finish the job the right way. Kizmaru would never know if his method did or didn’t work because after he had lost fight of the beast that was hurled away on that piece of earth, the color finally changed from red to green and the doors were preparing to open. He stared at the doors that were opening, revealing his next opponent.

As the doors open completely, what as shown was a large bird that’s wings seemed to be on fire. It didn’t seem to feel them though. Kizmaru then realized it doesn’t feel them because it was the one causing them. This must be a phoenix. Kizmaru has never seen one before and this was the first one spotting one let alone fighting one. He blinked in confusion though cause it appeared to be sleeping. If this stupid thing was sleeping when it was suppose to be fighting Kizmaru would have been very upset even though he shouldn’t be. Of course the thing was asleep but Kizmaru wasn’t as upset as he thought he would be cause now he has a shot at ending this thing before it took flight. Kizmaru slowly walked towards the giant bird with a kunai blade in hand, raising it above his head and swinging downwards onto the bird’s head. For some reason, the blade colliding with the bird’s head made an uncanny clanging sound as if he hit something else made of steel. Kizmaru blinked and sighed as the bird woke up, screeching at the top of it’s lungs, flapping like mad. The bird had vigorously flapped it’s wings, creating a force gust of hot air in Kizmaru’s direction blowing him back. Well it seems his plan failed as the phoenix began to take flight and fly around. Kizmaru expected it to go far into the air out of his range but for some reason the phoenix only hovered over the arena top acting like it was confined by something. Kizmaru wanted to test this theory but he had no way of doing so at the moment. For now, he had to figure out a way to reach the bird. He began to ponder but he didn’t get a lot of time. The phoenix had opened it’s mouth and began to fire balls of flame in Kizmaru’s direction. It seemed weak and pretty slow for that matter. It might as well be equivalent to a shinobi's C-ranked jutsu. Sighing, Kizmaru whipped  his Kunai around attempted to cut the incoming fireballs in half. It worked wonderfully as the flames dispersed and turning into nothing. After ten minutes of doing this, The phoenix decided to completely engulf it’s body in flames and dive down towards Kizmaru’s direction. Kizmaru sneered as the creature begun this action because now he could at least counterattack.

W:C: 1285

T.W.C: 5791

Awaiting for the moment the phoenix got into striking range. Kizmaru had taken out a second kunai, raising both above his head and brought them crashing down on the phoenix’s right wing when it tried to tackle him with it. Unlike it’s head, the wings were vulnerable to being cut. Kizmaru had cut the wing but he didn’t exactly move to try to evade it or he’d miss his chance. As he cut the bird’s wing, simultaneously the bird’s wing slapped Kizmaru’s torso, lighting his shirt on fire and knocking him down. Kizmaru immediately pats his chest and tried to out the flames while rolling around, not that rolling around would help when the field is on fire.  The injured phoenix had crashed into ground sliding and colliding into the arena’s walls. That must have had some sort of significant damage because  it didn’t move for a little while other then twitch. Kizmaru had successfully put out the flames on his chest but his shirt was destroyed and was now just wearing burnt and tattered rags that used to be a yellow dress shirt. Kizmaru then ripped off the rest of the tattered rags anyways and throw it into the lava pool before raising both Kunai and charging at it. Kizmaru jumped up, lunging with the quickness and plunged his blades into it’s back. The phoenix let out a blood curdling cry as it began to wiggle around and shake in an attempt to get the blade out of it’s back. Kizmaru continued to force the blades into it’s back and use the hilt to hold on tightly. This lasted for what seemed like hours before Kizmaru decided he was tired of this and pushing the blade further in wasn’t doing any additional damage. Kizmaru pulled the blades out and allowed himself to be thrown of the bird’s back, landing on his feet. The bird had began to run around and charge at Kizmaru. Despite it being a bird, It was pretty quick on it’s feet but not quick enough. Kizmaru had turned to where the lava pool was and swung his blades in that direction before sheathing it, folding his arms, sneering. As the bird charged, it was moving slower and slower towards it’s intended target. It was apparently being pulled by something. Something made over the lava pit by Kizmaru’s jutsu. Turning it’s head, it realized it was being sucked into being dragged into the lava pit. The phoenix can resist fire but Kizmaru doesn’t think it’ll survive being in Lava for too long even if it was immune to fire. Kizmaru continued to watch with arms folded as the phoenix continued to get sucked into the lava. The stubborn thing had decided to root it’s talons into the ground to try and hold it’s footing. Sighing, Kizmaru slowly walked over towards the bird and stand in front of it, looking down on it. The Phoenix had looked up and opened it’s mouth preparing to fire another fireball blast at point blank range. Annoyed, Kizmaru grabbed the bird by it’s throat squeezing tightly so the blast exploded in it’s stomach and throat. It also made the bird throw some severe flatulence. Kizmaru had a look painted with disgust on his face as he let go and delivered a powerful kick into the bird’s stomach, sending it on it’s way  into the lava pit. For some strange reason, Kizmaru had the urge to scream something stupid while kicking it into the pit. Oh well. He fought back that urge and walked away towards the gate to see what would come out next.

Kizmaru, of course, had to wait till the phoenix completely dissolved into the lava before the scoreboard had turned from red to green. Kizmaru had sighed as he waited because he was bored and wanted to get out of this fiery arena soon for some proper rest instead of roasting like a pig. Finally, the scoreboard had changed colors and there was two green lights instead of one as the gates begun to open to reveal his third and final opponent. A giant, red salamander had slowly crawled out through the gates, hissing before burrowing underground. Kizmaru had squinted a bit in anger, raising both blades and crashing it into the ground, rattling the ground. The salamander had came out shaking and stumbling towards the lava pit. Kizmaru thought this would be another quick execution. He wasted no time dashing towards the creature once he got nexted to the rattle fiend he delivered a swift kick into it’s gut and forced it into the lava pit. Kizmaru sneered as he watched it sink head first. He had turned his body towards the scoreboard when it was out of sight. The final color did not change. He had wondered why but his question was quickly answered when the salamander came back up roaring. It had flung itself full force at him preparing to headbutt him with a body covered in lava. Kizmaru blinked at the sudden action before focusing and readying his blade. He swung his blade vertically while sidestepping the creatures attack as well as slicing it’s body in half. Good riddance. The last two opponents compared to the this one were a lot more difficult than this.The final red color had turned green before he had continued to tread through the gates that were now opening. It seems this was the end of Kizmaru's little gauntlet as he wasn't strong enough to proceed to the next area. This slightly angered him but if its claiming he was too weak, maybe it means his power wasn't enough to proceed. Either way, the door opened leading him out the way he came in, which was odd cause he could have sworn this wasn't the direction he entered from. H found himself back at the entrance in the little cave and made his way back to the village hidden in the rocks. What a long and ardous joureny this was gonna turn out to be. Still, he was somewhat grateful for the experience. He guessed.

-Exit-

W.C: 1050

T.W.C: 6841

Training [Stats]:

Speed:E ~> D-3 = 2075
Endurance: E-3 ~> D-3 = 1475
Strength: E-2 ~> D-3 = 1650
Perception: D~> D-3 = 1275
Reaction Speed: D~> D-1 = 325

6750 words used.