Sarutobi, Mitsuo looked up into the cloudy sky and smiled softly. He wasn’t used to seeing the rain in the skies of Konohagakure no Kato, nor was he upset to see it. He loved the rain, there was something very romantic about it and it always made him feel at home. He was practicing something that he really hated doing, sitting perfectly still and gathering his nature chakra. He was the last Chita Sennin, the Cheetah Sage, and he was determined to unlock his full sage mode. He had invited one of the Sannin of his village, Senju, Sousetsu, to come and train with him. He was a member of the prestigious Senju clan, one of the founder clans of the village and some of the most powerful shinobi who had ever lived. Mitsuo had the deepest respect for Sousetsu, and had been looking forward to training with him for a long time. He had been training extensively in all aspects of his combat styles and he wanted to make sure he was able to advance his Senjutsu at the same rank.

He came out to the dock because it was a place where he knew he could find peace and quiet, most fishermen not being out when it was raining as it was today. He would be able to focus perfectly on what he was doing. He had Seijin no Ken lying across his lap, his sword that he had inherited from his kenjutsu master. It hummed with futon energy in his touch and the cold feel of the steel resting on him made him feel more at home. His chainmail shirt was glistening from the rain, beads of water dripping from several individual links in the armour. It was dripping onto the sheath of his blade, running its way down and dripping onto the ground, pooling between his legs, and through the cracks of the dock. His bracers were hidden underneath of a cloak, not wishing to get the leather wet, and his gauntlets were dark, the brown leather looking almost black from the rain. The Sarutobi sash was soaked, turning it’s white to look grey and the grey of the symbol to look nearly black. He was smiling his trademark smile, moving his hands to unconsciously push his glasses up his nose, even though he didn’t need to thanks to the string he had attached to them when he was in Sunagakure no Sato to stop them from sliding down during the Chuunin Exams. He stroked his wet short beard, droplets of water falling out of it as he did.

Mitsuo sat perfectly still, feeling the nature chakra being added to his own. He could feel the effects of it, calming him but also causing him to lose his focus on other things, needing to focus completely on balancing the chakra properly. He knew that this was dangerous and didn’t try for too long, exhaling and sighing softly when he realised that he wasn’t going to get it any time soon. He stood up and pulled out his blade, cutting the water in front of him because he felt like it, the smoke rising of the blade obscuring the gleam as it did. He was the Sword Saint of Konoha, the Head of the Sarutobi Clan, and the Chita Sennin, and he was ready for a good fight today. He watched the opening near the dock to see if Sousetsu would approach, eagerly awating testing his skills against one of the village’s Sannin.

(592/2500 Blade of Wind)

The sounds of leaves rustled loudly in the newly appointed Sannin's ear as he brushed past the many branches of the forest that lead to the Village Dock of Konaha. He kept a steady yet fast pace as the day was growing unfavourable for a day of training. The rain would soon catch up to him on his travels and there was little to be done about it. Before long, Sousetsu's attention was brought to the skies that were occupied by the many floating clouds that were now showing their darker sides as the rain began to trickle down the trees that surrounded him. He continued to leap branch to branch and his head was readjusted to the front so that he could keep on track. Water soon trickled down his hair, soaking it as he moved through the woodland. The rain was tranquil to the Leaf shinobi as he mainly used his water release techniques in battle. It felt as if the gods themselves had recognized his presence and decided to greet him with what he was most accustomed to. It was his first training day since he had gotten back from the village hidden in the wind which held the 'Chuunin Exams' this year. A student of his was proving to be quite admirable and formidable in battle and was showing Sousetsu's teachings to the many viewers and other ninja who were partaking. As his Sensei, he was indeed proud of his student.

Sousetsu then began to wonder of the man named 'Mitsuo' of the Sarutobi Clan and his request to have him train with him. It was both exciting and a pleasure to teach those who asked for his assistance. It was, after all, another chance to spread what he believed in. It was his duty as a Sannin to set a good example and help assist those who were in need and this was a first for Sousetsu, the first of many he had hoped. The only thing that was beginning to worry Sousetsu was that the terrain would be become moist and soon an unfit battlefield for both footwork and the silent approach. The slightest sound is a great enemy to a ninja who wishes to remain hidden. If a spar were to happen he would have lost that particular approach. He began thinking of the area. A dock would be open, near water, rather advantageous to the Sannin and his many battle strategies. He was a quick thinker along with his speed and reflexes now matching that of a Kage. He had come such a long way from being a Genin five years ago. A curious and fast paced ninja to watchful protector of the village. His dreams and ambitions were coming to fruition and there did not seem to be anyone who could stop him in his path. His ninja way was too mighty to die at a young age and he had not made the difference that he had wanted to make since then. But maybe today was a new beginning of the his teachings. He was training with a fellow shinobi who had requested his experience to further his own. It was remarkable that the leaf ninja were always full of surprises.

He soon arrived at his destination, the village dock. There, he seen a a figure who appeared to be awaiting his arrival. It must have been Sarutobi, Mitsuo. He grinned slightly and leaped down from the tree branch that was the last in his journey. The earth before him was greeted with two heavy feet and the sound of plates of armour clinking against one another in a low tone before he proceeded to walk towards the figure. Sousetsu could be seen wearing armour emblazoned with the Senju symbol worn over a simple black jumpsuit, with a distinctive white fur collar. The armour was constructed from numerous blue metal plates, formed into multiple protective guards along Sousetsu's body, in particular: chest, waist, shoulders and upper arms. He was also accompanied by his trusty katana, the 'High Frequency Blade', which stood at three feet and three inches long, with a black customized handle with silver linings on the outer blade. He was soon within a few metres of the fellow leaf ninja to which he bowed formally towards him before returning to his rather stoic posture with his arms folded into his chest. "Senju, Sousetsu, at your service." The Sannin spoke with sincerity while retaining his stoic qualities.

Words: 748/7000 [Senjutsu Training C>B]

Mitsuo looked up and smiled as he noticed the man he had asked to meet him here approaching him. He bowed his head in respect for the Sannin, a man who was chosen to be one of the three guardians of the Hokage, and one of the most powerful shinobi in all of Konoha. Mitsuo’s black hair dripped as he did so and droplets of water ran down his nose, the conditions not extremely ideal for a fight but it was never bad to train in non-ideal conditions as nature wasn’t always ideal. “Greetings Senju, Sousetsu, I am Sarutobi, Mitsuo, Head of the Sarutobi Clan and the last Chita Sennin, and I have been looking forward to fighting you for a long time.”

Mitsuo’s face was one of determination, the Will of Fire his constant driving force, as it always was. He was no longer the young genin he was the first time he had caught a glimpse of the Senju, who was a Jounin at the time. He was now a Jounin himself, and he was eager to prove himself to the village. He had evolved greatly since he had entered the Chuunin Exams, being instantly promoted after his first match and being allowed to return home, where he really kicked up his training and exceeded everyone’s expectations. He was a rising star and the village would take note of him, even if he was working from the shadows. He knew that he was being looked at to take the position of Captain of the ANBU, a position seating him in rank alongside the Sannin, though nobody would be able to know this. That was something that made Mitsuo sad to think of, his greatest accomplishments wouldn’t be “his” but would be a persona’s.

Mitsuo looked up to the sky one more time into the dark clouds up ahead. The weather was getting worse, the rain coming down harder now. Mitsuo was a fire user and therefore wasn’t overly fond of the rain, as it had a tendency to cramp his style, but at the same time he wasn’t going to complain. He had been waiting for this fight for a long time and was now getting the chance to see it through. He smiled, the rain pouring down his face and making odd noises when it hit his metal armour, and bowed once more to the Sannin in front of him.

“This rain plays more to your advantage than mine, Sousetsu, Sannin of the Leaf. But the Chita Sennin will not back down without a fight. I look forward to facing you on this day, our combat will be glorious.” With that he stepped to the edge of the dock, his right foot in front of his left, right hand popping the blade of his sword slightly from its scabbard and left holding the scabbard in place, so that he would be prepared to draw his katana quickly when the fight began. He never took his eyes off of his opponent, though he was having a difficult time seeing him with the rain dripping down his glasses, another advantage to the sannin.

He looked to the tree line behind Sousetsu, spotting the familiar white spot against the dark trees, his friend and companion Chisoku in position to assist him in the battle. Chisoku and Mitsuo had been together since they were both young, the cub having saved Mitsuo’s life at one point and them forming an everlasting bond after words. He made a mental note of where the white tuft was at all times, trying to keep it in the corner of his vision if it was at all possible so that he would know when his cheetah was in position to strike. “We will begin when you are ready, Senju, Sousetsu.”

(1226/2500 Blade of Wind)

The Sannin was greeted with a smile and a warm one at that. It was a good feeling that he could bring joy to a fellow ninja even in a grim day such as this. Sousetsu did not mind the rain however, he welcomed it with arms open. It was nature running its course and he respected that. As the rain trickled down the hair of both men the man who had waited on him had continued the conversation with words of his own. “Greetings Senju, Sousetsu, I am Sarutobi, Mitsuo, Head of the Sarutobi Clan and the last Chita Sennin, and I have been looking forward to fighting you for a long time.” he spoke in a rather gleeful tone. A Sarutobi undergoing training by a Senju. It was a scene similar to that in history books that went as far back as the birth of the village. Could it be that they were following in the same footsteps as their ancestors? Sousetsu also opened his eyes that little bit more when the word 'Sennin' fell on his ears. Another Sennin within the Leaf Village? Sousetsu thought that he was one of a kind. He was in a way as he studied under the great Monkey King, Wu Kong, while this man before him was the last of the 'Chita' Sage's. Maybe the Senju was the last of the Monkey Sage's? He would make sure to ask the next time he visited. It had been five years since but he did plan on returning to them in hopes of furthering his progress.

As the rain continued to pour down on them, and this time with greater force, Sousetsu acknowledged Mitsuo's titles by bowing once more in a formal fashion. He did not wish to remark upon the title of 'Sage' but rather leave it as a trump card to those as another ace in his sleeve. The title 'Sannin' was enough for the time being, perhaps too much for the time being. The Sarutobi Clan member bowed once more and spoke. “This rain plays more to your advantage than mine, Sousetsu, Sannin of the Leaf. But the Chita Sennin will not back down without a fight. I look forward to facing you on this day, our combat will be glorious.” Sousetsu grinned and bowed once again. This man had high hopes and a positive energy given from him, one that Sousetsu admired and so had to fulfill his wish of combat. "That may be the case but let the fight determine our strengths, Sarutobi, Mitsuo. Let it be known that the Sannin of the Leaf and the Chita Sennin had fought at this very spot." The Senju had became more gracious, almost mimicking the Sarutobi's mannerisms, but it was formal in his eyes nonetheless.

As the fellow Leaf ninja stationed himself with a battle stance off to the side Sousetsu had done the same. He strafed to the side and stood with a rather stoic impression. Both blades were released from the grasp of the sheaths that they had. Mitsuo's blade lay in the standard fashion by his waist while the Sannin's lay across his lower back with his hand ready to draw his blade out to meet his opponents. His feet were firmly on the rather wet earth beneath him while his right hand lay on the hilt of the blade. “We will begin when you are ready, Senju, Sousetsu.” and so, with those words escaping the Sarutobi's lips, the battle was about to begin. Sousetsu took a moment to collect his thoughts. His ears twitched which caused his attention to be directed away for a split second. The Senju always learned to trust his instincts and so his plan was set in motion. He dashed at a high speed causing him to arrive at his opponents side within a mere few seconds and blade already within his grasp. The water seemed to pour down heavier than before as the dark clouds surrounded the area. Sousetsu swung his blade behind his neck and attempted to strike against his partners shoulder with a downwards slash.

Words: 1434/7000 [Senjutsu Training C>B]