Sero didn't need any mental prepping for the up and coming match. Combat was his specialty. Not diplomacy or acquiring items. He was good at brutally cutting down anything in front of him. The event up until this point had hardly suited him. But now he was being unleashed for lack of a better word. His objective was simple. Wipe out a single target in order to proceed in such a way that the victory could not be disputed. His grey eyes looked over the options before him he had brought with him. Deciding which equipment he would use and when. Even as he did so he was wearing a grey outfit. From grey shinobi pants to grey padded shoes. A grey long sleeve shirt with an open zip up grey hoody. For now he reached out and took his head band and tied it around his neck with the metal plate over his wind pipe. Not much in the way or armor but it was there to cover a vital. He also placed one Kunai tied to the head band at the back of his neck. Easily hidden by the hoody. On the shoulders he placed five shuriken in little holders on each side. For a total of ten shuriken. For a belt he put a whip sword into the loops and clicked the tip into the hilt to disguise it as a belt.

Behind that belt he tucked in ten basic kunai. All neatly in a line angled so he could still bend and not stab his own legs. On the back he attached a folded up windmill shuriken to the small of his back via a clip on his hoody. Three Senbon were tucked up each sleeve discreetly to be easily acquired with a flick of the wrist. On each wrist was a bracelet of little powder balls called Metsubishi in bracelets of five per wrist. On each ankle were bracelets of Makibishi with the tips pointed away from the skin. Five per bracelet with those too. His Flamberge, Odachi, and bastard swords were all in separate scrolls which he placed within pockets on the inside of his hoody. One over each side of his chest and one under the right sides ribs. Around his right arm under the senbon and the hoody was fifty feet of wire wrapped up nice and tight there. In his front right pants pocket he placed a smoke bomb and in his front left pants pocket he placed a flash bomb.

Over his right shoulder he placed his katana and over his left shoulder he placed his cutlass. Placed like an X over his back to cross over each other. On his right outer thigh he placed his Rapier and on his left outer thigh he placed the Kunai launcher he was informed was called final goodbyes. Already with two C rank Kunai loaded in. The remaining C rank Kunai were distributed around each lower thigh via straps with four per thigh. And with that he zipped up his hoody to conceal what was within it and turned to walk out to the arena.

Even as he approached through the dark tunnel his monstrous presence was clear. He lifted his hood to conceal his face within it. With his clothing it was difficult to ascertain gender or age. Just that he was pale and small. His hands rested inside the hoodies pockets as he emerged from the darkness. But there was something about him. He didn't feel human. He didn't feel like he belonged here. He was something born of death and mutilation. As he emerged his proctor eyed him and watched but didn't approach. If anything he was concerned. He could feel Sero's killing intent. It was like the grave was emerging from the pits of hell just for his opponent. On Sero's side of the arena the crowd grew quiet. Just being near him was causing all of them to feel uneasy. Each step like an echoed alarm to run away. Whatever he was....whatever was coming for Toshiko was not good. It was a walking disaster. And it was there just for him. Nothing else mattered. He stopped at the designated spot twenty meters apart and awaited the match to start in silence.

721

Sero had no interest in what the announcer was saying. To him it might as well of been white noise. It was too late to study his opponent so he didn't need to know a name. Or where he was from. His thoughts were only on his target. Cold and without pity or remorse he planned different approaches and vitals to go after. The distance between them and the distance from the wall. Each of them were about ten meters from the center. Leaving forty meters to either wall for either of them. A lot of room to move in and to try and avoid his close range attacks. If he was to deal with the target he would need to close the distance. He could move quickly enough to keep the target on his toes but he had to assume the other was close to his speed. Only the best made it this far. So he contemplated his options during the speech. To him there was no crowd. No announcer. No judges. It was just him and his objective. And that objective was to take down the individual challenging him. And he would not fail in his mission. No loyal soldier would.

He saw his opponent arm himself with a Kunai and instantly responded by bursting towards him. His right hand lifted over his shoulder and gripped his Katana by the hilt. His opponent was already moving back but Sero was keeping the distance between them the same. Pursuing him so as to keep the pressure on. But while doing so was careful to step slightly to the right of the path that Toshiko was following. The distance was remaining the same for the most part but Sero had the advantage of moving forward. It would be difficult to watch behind you and keep an eye on Sero all at the same time. Either way now Toshiko was only 30 meters from the wall and less then 15 meters from a pair of thick tree's. But Sero was waiting. His left hand slipped up his sleeve as he slipped a Senbon into it. He had directed the attention to his hand on the Katana for a reason. He was waiting for the opportune moment. Either Toshiko would look behind him to change course and Sero would throw a Senbon at that exact moment to aim at Toshiko's right leg just below the waist or Toshiko would collide with a tree and in that moment Sero would do the same thing. Either way at some point he had to face a distraction from watching Sero. That was the disadvantage of running backwards.

On the other hand Sero had begun memorizing each part of the arena. He knew what was behind him and by how many paces. Even if Toshiko avoided the scenario by moving in a different direction Sero was aware of any obstacles near him and how many paces they were away. He was keeping track of how many steps they took and the distance in their strides. The math just a passing thought in his mind. His goal was to keep pace and try and close the distance between them while aiming for the waist to drop the speed of his target. If he could get closer then the fight would be entirely to his preference. But he needed to be under ten meters for that. At least ten meters and under was where his true capabilities would truly be shown. But something about Sero was off. And incredibly distracting. It wasn't like a boy chasing after Toshiko. It was some primal beast. It was like there was a dark thing oozing after him. As if it wanted to peel the flesh from his bones and bury him in this arena. With that constant presence after him and the killing intent pouring out of it the idea of actually clashing with Sero must be daunting. But that was what he had inherited. He would flay this man before him because that was what he did. That was all he knew.'

1407

Sero was pursuing his target. His cold grey eyes watching the battlefield as it molded into an ever changing piece of art. Each step a catalyst into the next step closer to death. But no details could escape the situation unfolding for him or it could mean taking the first blow. Each moment was a calculated risk. But it had to be that way. Something about it stirred within him. He was not a passionate boy but occasionally he experienced emotion. Something bordered on the brink within him. Mild irritation. This was a competition. He had been waiting for the fight to begin from the moment he signed up for the exams. His father had dominated his exams and Sero intended to do as well if not better. His father had friends and team mates to help him. He would manage this on his own. Still he felt some sort of anxiety building up as his target stopped running. Paranoid as to why there was such an interest in closing the distance. He had to be up to something. Sero was obviously a close range fighter. Allowing him into his element had to be a trap. A survivors suspicion. It was when he got almost close enough to attack that his prey began.

It was poorly masked by a single thrown Kunai. But Sero could smell the sudden change in the air. He had been correct in assuming it was a trap. Either some sort of hidden weapon within him or a jutsu of some sort. Either way remaining within it's range would simply not do. His right hand released his Katana to use it in the case of capturing the thrown Kunai. but even as he had done so the boy had begun to leap backwards. Was this just the first stage of his trap? Was the gas something he wanted to avoid as well? Sero reacted by focusing some chakra into the newly acquired Kunai. Along with two more chakra strings which he used to attach to the Senbon in his other hand and a Senbon up his sleeve. Even as the other would leap back from him he would as well. But even as he moved back the way he had come he threw the Senbon and the Kunai at Toshiko's right and left eye with the extra senbon hidden directly under the original in his hand.

However even as he retreated to fifteen meters away The two obvious projectiles flew on course with the one hidden in their shadow. It was when they were just out of reach and on the verge of being blocked or dodged that he shifted the puppet strings. In doing so he split them to attack three points at once. Altering their directions and revealing the hidden one at the last second he directed the hidden Senbon to aim for the windpipe. The senbon that he had originally held in his left hand targets the targets right ear but the Kunai continued on barely changing coarse to instead go for the right temple. The sudden change in movements meant to target the vulnerable points around the neck and face. If the temple was cut blood would begin to spill out over the eye causing a lessened visual and in only a couple of moments would cause his target to grow dizzy due to the flow of blood to his brain being partially severed. If the Senbon landed on the ear it was targeting it would lessen his opponent's hearing and throw off his balance as the ear controlled that. If the windpipe managed to land then he would cause his opponent to struggle to breath which would cause another dizzy spell and eventually weaken and slow his movements. All targets a trained killer goes for.

2044

145/150:

Sero watched his weapons fly true. It was a great deal towards his disappointment that instead of hitting any of his targets two of the three were blocked by a sheath. The last of which barely even scratched the targets finger. It could barely even be considered first blood. It would appear that stealth attacks would only get him so far. But that area of influence between them still was an unknown factor. He could not tell just by looking if it was spreading or retreating in on itself or even just what area it covered. It was too dangerous to go anywhere near Toshiko. Whatever it was he had to consider the possibility that his opponent had put it there to benifit himself in some way. Which meant nothing good for Sero. He considered retreating further just to be safe and maybe lure Toshiko out of that area. But even as he did so he watched as Toshiko grabbed hold of his puppet strings and yanked. Sero was quick enough to relinquish control of the weapons by dissolving the strings even as he was yanked forward by his arms by two meters. Toshiko wanted him in that area...but why?

Sero was given his answer as Toshiko suddenly spewed out multiple fireballs each the size of a basketball. Ten in total. Each a little larger then his head. It looked as if the attempt was to box him in and make him take a hit. He suddenly wished he was a doton user. So he could bring up a wall or sink into the ground. But he wasn't just going to take that head on. As soon as he saw the fire he was launching himself back. But that wasn't what truly caught him off guard. The Fireballs hadn't even made it to the middle point between them when it hit that mysterious gas and suddenly a massive eruption of flame became all that could be seen between them. A massive fireball ten meters in diameter had gone off from the earlier jutsu. The heat of it made the grass under it singe away to black ash and even though Sero was well out of it's range the blast sent him back another couple of meters further then he had intended. He was sure there had been some concussive force behind it but the real damage even though he hadn't been very close to it was the reddened skin on his hands and face. Not enough of a burn to actually be much damage but enough that the heat of it had marked him.

He looked through the now fading fireball as now there was 20 meters between them. If the heat had marked him from so far away he wondered if it had marked Toshiko as well. Either way all that was left between them was the smoldering black circle on the ground. Sero was not amused though. Quietly he lifted his hands and drew back his hood. His silver hair spilling out now. Even his hair looked grey. Sero had the features of a young boy maybe ten years of age. But something else was there. Even with the fires that had raged between them and the slight heat still remaining. It felt cold looking at him. His eyes were the cause. Even on a face so young they were the eyes of a slayer. The grey eyes of the dead seemed to look at toshiko. No emotion there, No soul to speak of. Just cold calculations. All that was there was the intent do destroy Toshiko. But what was worse was that there wasn't even the desire to do so. No emotion what so ever. Just that same cold feeling of a monster approaching. Sero cracked his neck in a slow circle before he began to slowly walk forward again. Planting himself back at the fifteen meter point. Just watching Toshiko. Waiting for Toshiko to make a move. His mystery gas had been used and now. Sero knew what it was. There was nothing more protecting Toshiko from Sero aside from caution. All that fire and display and Sero was yet to really get started.

2749

Sero frowned as the boy made the obvious throw again. Choosing the same target for both Senbon. Approximately throat level. But again he wasn't entirely sure of his opponents capabilities. Surely he wouldn't try the same thing twice? Especially if it hadn't succeeded before. Either way Sero Moved wide to the right as soon as he saw the throw. He was somewhat disappointed when the projectiles never changed direction or homed in on him. This foolish attack was a very weak attempt to hurt him? No his opponent was running again. He was tiring of this cat and mouse game. He had expected this to be more of a combat fight and less of his prey forcing him to give chase. So as quick as he could without wasting energy he gave chase. At least as far as the treeline. He stood outside the tree's as time seemed to stretch on. It was obviously some sort of trap again. Possibly meant for him to enter so that he could be caught unaware. But he was not so gentle. And his opponent was not the only one who could wield fire.

Sero lifted his hands and preformed the ram, the bull and the lion seals before pointing his upturned palms at the ring of tree's. At first all that happened was the air began to warm in the area. And then dozens of sparks began to fall like tiny raindrops. But this was all gentle in comparison. For after a couple of seconds it was flat out raining fire. The tree's smoldering as they were set ablaze by the fire. Flames bursting to life all throughout the tree's. Sero intended to burn his opponent out. He didn't care that he had set all the tree's on fire. Still it didn't escape his notice when a form broke out from the tree's and made a break for the pond. Sero felt something rising in him. He was getting angry just a little deep within him. His opponent was always running from him. Quietly he gave chase but while he prepared something. First of all one the way he knelt down without stopping to touch a rather large stone. The halfway point between the tree's and the pond and prepared his substitution technique. All in one movement. Then he pulled his Windmill shuriken out with his right hand and while his opponent still had his back turned to him grabbed the flash bomb with his left hand. Attaching it to the hook on the windmill that had allowed him to clip it to himself to begin with. He was about ten meters behind his opponent now.

Then just as Toshiko turned to face him at the ponds edge Sero threw the impressive weapon. The windmill shuriken wasn't like other projectiles. It was increasingly difficult to catch do to the rapidly spinning blades and much larger which covered a greater deal then the regular shuriken of hit range. At this range dodging it had to be difficult. But that was not all of Sero's intentions. He had been irritated before that his opponent had just thrown projectiles with no tricks to them. But Sero was not about to make that mistake. He had timed it so that when the windmill shuriken was just out of reach the flash bomb would go off. Meant to blind his opponent right before the moment of impact. But Sero was not just standing still. He was charging after the weapon timing his eyes to look away at the second before the flash and closing the distance with his hand on his katana once more. Drawing it this time with the intent to get closer and began to use it.

130/150:

3384

Sero watched as suddenly it appeared as if he had hit Toshiko after the flash bomb went off. The windmill shuriken slamming into him and dragging him forward. And then in a poof of smoke his feeling of triumph was crushed. Substitution had been used. That much was obvious. And where Toshiko had been there was but a branch. Slightly smoldering as it was that meant that Toshiko had returned to the treeline. That seemed rather surprising since the treeline was a bonfire at this point. He turned his head to look with narrowed eyes as Toshiko came charging at him from behind. Somehow that bastard had managed to slam himself into the center of a giant bonfire and get out completely unscathed. The tree's were burning to the ground behind him and he didn't even look like he had been touched by soot let alone burned. He wondered suddenly if his opponent was immune to fire. That much would be the center of his conclusion so far. The target had been unaffected by his own giant fire ball and now had ignored a bon fire the size of a house to walk through it without a care. Sero decided he would have to test this.

But first there was the attempt on him from behind. Luckily he had prepared for this. It appeared for a moment as if Sero was smashed by electricity and then lit a flame. As if the entire attack had worked just as Toshiko planned it. And then there was a puff of smoke. Two could play at that game. Sero had waited until just before the moment of impact to sub out with the stone from earlier. The one between the tree's and the pond. Now where it had appeared that Sero had been hit was a slightly charred stone. And where the stone had been. Sero was now dashing towards Toshiko from behind him and too the right. In that moment he closed the distance and did two things. First of which was he activated a jutsu he used called fire burst. A thin layer of katon chakra coated him as he entered into melee range with Toshiko. The first thing that happened was a burst of blinding fire the moment Sero stepped within one meter straight for Toshiko's face. A small pillar of fire that was blindingly bright. If Toshiko didn't counter it somehow it would leave first degree burns on him. But this was not the end of the attack.

Sero was still holding his katana in his right hand. As soon as he was close enough he went For Toshiko's weapon arm using the angle of approach and surprise of the substitution to his advantage. His attempt was to cut deep enough into Toshiko's arm to make it useless. Perhaps even to disarm him. He had no intention of squandering the opportunity that the positioning had given him with that substitution. After all if it proved that Toshiko was immune to fire as all the other instances had suggested then that fire burst was barely useful for cutting off his vision of Sero. However Sero was not yet done. His left hand was still open. With it he drew the preloaded final goodbyes and with a quick draw at point blank range fired both C rank Kunai at point blank range at Toshiko's right leg at 25 meters per second. At that range it would be incredibly difficult to avoid any of these attacks at the angle from behind him and to his right. The attack was vicious and meant to utterly disable Toshiko's left side. It had been foolish to think Sero hadn't prepared a substitution as well. And convenient that Toshiko had his back mostly turned to it and had been jumping backwards when he used it. Still Sero wasn't sure if all these attacks would be enough to stop his opponent completely. But now that he was ultra close range he was just beginning his assault.

115/150:

4064

OOC:LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Spoiler:

Sero watched as most of his attacks were surprisingly dodged. He had the element of surprise and the advantageous position. Tactically he had calculated at least hitting the targets leg once. That had been his main objective after all. Still his opponent had blocked it almost without fault. Merely with slight burns on his fingertips and a hole through one hand. But that answered the question about his opponent being immune to fire. It was apparently not the case. Yet he had witnessed the man walk out of more then one burning mass unscathed somehow. Perhaps it was some defense he had to prepare. Otherwise why bother trying to dodge the fire at all? He quietly allowed his opponent to retreat while keeping up with him at half pace and studying him. His right hand sheathing his katana as he popped open his kunai launcher. Reaching down to collect two more C rank kunai and loading them in before closing it with a click and returning it to it's spot on his thigh. His opponent had bandaged the wound bleeding from the hand but it was basically a hole clean through. Even with the bandages there the blood would soon bleed through. There were too many vessels in the hand for it to just be wrapped up and done. At best it would slow the blood loss. At least that hand should be near impossible to use now.....

Sero narrowed his eyes at the hand seals. It shouldn't of been possible. That hand should of been crippled. Even if the target was like him and could feel no pain a hole in the middle of your hand prevented the muscles from working right. Gripping should be near impossible yet alone hand seals. How was he doing it? Not only that he didn't even drop his weapon. Instead he formed a lightning spear and gripped it in his hand. It didn't make any sense. Why did he still have fully functional ability in his hand? Sero could not medically explain it. Perhaps disabling his opponents limbs was after all impossible. He needed to stop going for the soft targets. He needed to do what he had trained himself to do. Holding back was not working. He needed to go for bigger damage. But he wanted to test one more thing first. His opponent held the spear and the tanto and looked ready to face an actual confrontation. So Sero would provide it.

Casually Sero reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. Without breaking eye contact he pulled the pin on his smoke grenade and tossed it on the ground in the center between them. And with that smoke poured out. A thick grey cloud cutting off vision in every direction. This was part of why Sero always chose to wear grey clothing. In an instant he blended into the smoke. Like back home in the mist he was but a phantom. His monstrous presence was everywhere. But it was impossible to see where he was. But his cold grey eyes could make out that lightning javelin. Like a beacon in the smoke. Sero pulled one of the bracelets off his hands and pulled it into his fist where he crushed the paper balls. He faded into being as just a hand suddenly in front of Toshiko's face releasing the handful of ground metal and glass mixed with powder and paper. Aimed right for Toshiko's eyes. Unless Toshiko managed somehow to negate the powder it would be like an advanced pepper spray. Causing massive pain and blindness in his eyes. And then Sero faded again. A mere split second of being there.

Without making a sound he pulled out his katana and cutlass. Moving as quietly as possible he moved to Toshiko's right hidden by the smoke. With all the stealth he could muster he moved in a crouched and quiet pace. Not a peep from him as he passed from right to left behind Toshiko. His two blades flashing out to cut at the back of Toshiko's ankles and then he would be gone again into the smoke. A phantom there for one moment and gone the next. His only goal was to hamstring his target. To slice the tendons.

4784

Sero had managed to get in a cut but not where he had intended or as deep. Though he had managed some decently deep cuts on the front of the ankles and thighs. About an inch deep or to the bone...whichever was less deep. But it wasn't going to be enough. He saw his opponent move though. First was likely that lightning javelin of his. He was getting rather tired of defending against these jutsu the target kept throwing at him. Each as potent or more potent then the last. He was actually getting rather surprised at the chakra use. It had to have been a fairly heavy amount at this point. Still Sero wasn't out of tricks yet. The lightning bolt was going for the small of his back and fast. He had barely enough time to move at all. But enough to position it over his sword belt. Normally a jutsu would tear right through the weapon but he was hardly done. He focused a small amount of chakra into the sword and reinforced it. The lightning clashed with the weapon and the sheer force of it threw Sero to the ground with considerable force. But it didn't actually pierce the weapon. Though he had no doubt he would have some bruising on his waist line.

What really caught him off guard though was when Toshiko touched on of his swords. His cutlass just vanished from within his grip. One moment it was there and the next it was gone. His precious weapon had been taken from him. The weapon he had claimed and trained with. One of the first weapons he ever had. He watched it vanish. Gone from his grasp like everything else. With a low growl Sero launched up once more seeing the shadow of a figure. Still close to him as it was he tried to drive his Katana through the targets mid section. Only to hit nothing. It was infuriating. His opponent had escaped with minimal damage yet again. Sero couldn't feel it but he assumed by how hard the lightning lance had thrown him to the ground he was sufficiently bruised on his back around the sword. But bruises did not slow movement. If his opponent was still able to run...still able to move after all that, then it was time to stop being gentle. He had given it one more shot to simply disable the target. Now it was no longer a competition. He was coming for the man.

For a moment nothing stirred from the smoke. But something was off. Before being close to Sero had been like being within the cold of the grave. Now it felt like there was pure and unrestricted power like a pressure pouring from the smoke. Where he had seemed like a monster before. Now that seemed like the monster hidden within the closet. In comparison that monster was nothing. This was far worse. Like something hungry was already at the throat of it's prey and it was about to bite down. The feeling of pure killing intent was dripping through the entire arena. Even the non shinobi fans were silenced. Looking over there shoulder as hair raised on the backs of everyone's necks. As if there was someone right behind each of them ready to bleed them out right there. And most of all it was focused on Toshiko. His life was Sero's goal. No longer was Sero going to try and spare him. He wanted to tear into him. And that much could be felt in the very soul of his target. Death was coming. Child or no this being could not be human.

And just like that Sero emerged from the smoke. He had heard the splash of the hands slamming against water and new his prey was in that direction. The pond again. Sero didn't give a damn about consequences. He was going for the vitals this time. As he emerged he was moving at full speed as a full out dash faster then they had moved up until now. The way he burst from the smoke was like he had already had a running start. One moment it was a solid wall of smoke and then there he was heading straight for Toshiko. But he was no longer holding his Katana. He had sheathed it. In each hand he held three shuriken. Three of which he sent sailing at Toshiko's neck and the other three he sent at Toshiko's face. One for each eye and the other for the center of his forehead. But Sero had only just begun his attack. Without missing a step Sero recreated his puppet strings and pulled out three C rank Kunai and flung them directly behind the Shuriken. One changed path at the last second and went for the throat. One went to the right Side of Toshiko's chest and the other went for the left side of his chest. With his other hand at the same moment he pulled out final goodbyes and Fired the two C rank Kunai in it from 6 meters away. One aimed for the heart and one aimed for the center of the gut, both Kunai racing forward at 25 meters per second. If Toshiko tried to dodge up he would be hit. If he went left he would be hit. Same with right or down. The Final goodbyes was far to fast to simply be ducked under.

5708

110/150:

[center] Not after too long, Sero charged out of the smoke, heading in the direction of Toshiko. Despite that, something was different this time. Throughout the entire match, Sero had been rather cold. Not even speaking or responding to Toshiko's rather cheerful and excited aura that he gave off. Despite that, he seemed to be even worse now. He wasn't fighting Toshiko for fun, or solely for the purpose of becoming chuunin. He wanted to hurt him. He wanted to kill him. As toshiko stared into the eyes of his opponent, that became evident. It hit him. It really hit him. though it made him scared, it didn't make him lose faith in himself. It made him gain it. His expression changed to a more serious tone. Sero wasn't like him. He wasn't merciful and didn't have empathy. He was cold and soulless, and Toshiko couldn't hold back on people like that.

After leaving the large smoke cloud, Sero didn't hesitate upon his next move. He sheathed his katana, and then pulled out 3 shuriken. More projectiles? Toshiko smiled once he saw them. this was just what he needed. As Sero pulled up 3 more shuriken, and fired them at Toshiko, he began moving to the left, out of the direction of the attacks. Toshiko then pulled out the kunai within his chest armor's pocket, holding it by the finger hole that lied within the bottom of the hilt within his right hand along with the tanto. he then looked ahead as three kunai attached to Chakra strings came flying at him. then, they abruptly changed direction, one heading towards his throat, one the left side of his chest, and the other for the right. Toshiko moved to the left and out of the way of the kunai upon the string that was headed for the right part of his chest. Now, the kunai upon the string was now set to hit the right side of his chest, and the one headed for his throat was set to hit his jugular vein. Quickly, Toshiko threw the kunai off of his finger and towards Sero's kunai that was headed for his chest. The two projectiles clashed, knocking it off of it's course. Toshiko then held up his tanto in front of his jugular. the kunai upon the string hit it, and then hit the ground. Toshiko then jumped another 3 meters to the left, Just as Sero fired the kunai gun at him once more from 9 meters to his right. Two kunai came right at him at a great speed. One headed for his heart, the other for his stomach. Toshiko held up the tanto, and held up his barely usable left hand turned to the side. one kunai from the weapon hit his tanto, and was knocked to the ground. The other cut into his left hand, and as it did Toshiko Gripped it, stopping it from connecting with his heart. Then, Toshiko began moving back from Sero, stopping at the 13 meter mark, and then threw the kunai directly at his opponent's thigh. Toshiko would then face the direction of sero waiting for him to Counter.

Sero watched as the boy seemed particularly skilled at dodging the shuriken. He had never truly expected those to hit their marks but to be utterly evaded was impressive. Still Sero watched as his Kunai were both dodged and blocked one after the other. Only a single Kunai out of that entire attack leaving a gash across his opponents hand. Even at that distance Sero himself was not sure he would of fared so well with those injuries. While it was true he could not feel pain his body would of had issues moving very well. He wondered what the secret was. The boy had used bandages so perhaps he was using medical to force his body to continue moving while ignoring wounds. That meant that no matter how much he wounded him the fight could possibly continue indefinitely. After all his opponent wasn't showing any signs of slowing down. He must of used a massive amount of chakra in the previous attacks. Having used some impressive jutsu against Sero. But he showed no signs of even breaking a sweat. Sero had read some legends of the Uzumaki having impressive chakra pools. Perhaps the target had chakra reserves beyond what Sero was capable of. That aside blood loss should of been an issue by now. But his prey looked as positively energetic as ever.

Sero on the other hand knew he had pushed his body to it's limits. He had tested those limits before. From his experience his body would be slightly sluggish for a few moments. His attack had failed for the most part and now he had no chance of keeping up with his feeling opponent for the moment. His burst of speed could cost him. But that just meant he needed to be careful while his body recovered. But that was fine. He still had a plan after all. First though he needed to deal with that Kunai being thrown back at him. But from that distance it was simple enough even with his speed reduced. He raised his Kunai launcher and used it to block the Kunai straight down into the ground. The blood from his opponent splattering on Sero's pants as he did so. Sero could smell it. The blood from the injuries. That smell almost like metal. It was a smell he knew all too well. Still Sero bent down and picked up the Kunai before wiping it off. But this was to mask him moving his fingers down into the grass. After all the puppet strings were still attached. He was hiding his green chakra strings in the green grass as he collected the kunai. The act of grasping it tugged the chakra strings to life.

The chakra strings still attached to the three Kunai shifted in the grass subtly and suddenly flung the three Kunai. Sero could see the reddened eye from his previous blinding attempt meaning that Toshiko was blinded on that side. So he made one Kunai obvious as it rose out of the grass and flew right for his good eye but the other two flew past him and used the chakra string to try and wrap around him and attack from his blind side. With that armor in place the ever so slight pressure might be hard to feel. One of the Kunai was aimed for his neck and the other for the soft spot between the shoulder and the neck where a very important muscle was that allowed people to raise their arms. Sero did this while he picked up the Kunai and looked Toshiko in the eyes. Not so much as a hint or a sideways glance to see if his attacks were close yet. Those cold grey eyes giving away no truths as he loaded the Kunai thrown back at him into final goodbyes. Along with another one from his rapidly decreasing stock. Clicking the gun closed and remaining at 13 meters away. After all his opponent was bleeding from two fairly deep wounds on his hand. The bandage soaked in blood now and bleeding from two cuts on the front of each leg. From Sero's research the human body only had so much blood and based roughly on Toshiko's height and assumed weight category he had maybe four liters of blood. And he was bleeding a considerable amount now. Medical abilities or no. That blood loss had to have some effect. After all the wounds from the legs had left tracks from the smoke everywhere Toshiko had been since. The way blood loss worked is the body rapidly began to get sluggish and soon the individual would quickly lose the ability to maintain balance before finally losing consciousness. Even if his sneak attack failed Sero just had to wait it out and attack once the signs began to show. That was unless somehow his opponent could stop the bleeding or perhaps continue to ignore it's effects some how.

6508

100/150

Maintaining puppet strings and forgot to deduct it last round.

Sero watched as his stealth attack seemed to miss for the most part. His opponent ducked fast enough for the weapons to collide just above him. He was so sure attacking his blind spot would work. It was so frustrating to watch his attacks fail so frequently. But that was just part of his thoughts. Something almost akin to a smile appeared on his pale lips. Blood pumping in his body from the idea of his plan in motion. The initial part of the attack had failed. But to be honest it was designed as a two part attack. After all in order for the Kunai to have collided in the air they would of had to have successfully wrapped around him as Sero had to use the weapons like flails. His opponent obviously though he was in the clear of the attack because he was already moving. But that was what Sero was enjoying about the moment. Not only was his opponent moving but he was moving to his blind side and away from Sero. Just as Sero had predicted he was creating distance between them again. Leaving a trail of blood in his wake. But he wouldn't get more then a meter before he realized his mistake.

The strings were still there. As his opponent moved Sero pulled the strings back. As with anything that tightly wrapped it would drag whatever was on the end on the path of least resistance. As his opponent moved without bothering to unwrap the chakra strings from himself and Sero pulled there would be a tug as the two kunai on Toshiko's blind side would be yanked by the chakra strings. With so little distance and at the same speed Sero could move they would be dragged down the path of the strings. With all his might Sero pulled as fast as he could. Unless Toshiko miraculously stopped them or dodged them then he was about to suffer two more wounds. Since Toshiko was facing Sero and moving left the Kunai if unstopped would drag their blades from his left shoulder to his right hip. Due to that pesky armor though even if Toshiko took the hit both cuts would only be an inch deep. Damn that armor. If not for it this fight would of ended some time ago. But unless it was stopped somehow Sero would pull the Kunai back to him and slow them down at the last moment to catch the three Kunai by the handles in his hand and deactivate the chakra strings. That aside his body should be recovered from the previous burst of speed. He should be back to full speed he thought to himself.

6990
95/150 chakra for puppet strings upkeep

Endurance C-1 -> C-3
Speed C -> C3
Reaction time C -> C-3
Perception C -> C-3

65 words remaining

Placeholder

OOC:

UNO: Sero watched as his stealth attack seemed to miss for the most part.

DOS: It was so frustrating to watch his attacks fail so frequently. But that was just part of his thoughts.

TRES: After all in order for the Kunai to have collided in the air they would of had to have successfully wrapped around him as Sero had to use the weapons like flails.

CUATRO:  But that was what Sero was enjoying about the moment.

CINCO:  Not only was his opponent moving but he was moving to his blind side and away from Sero

SEIS: Just as Sero had predicted he was creating distance between them again.

SIETE: As his opponent moved Sero pulled the strings back.

OCHO: With so little distance and at the same speed Sero could move they would be dragged down the path of the strings. With all his might Sero pulled as fast as he could.

Uno: This indicated that Sero took notice of his missed stealth attack, this being no easy task from a point of twenty- eight meters away would create a gap of two to three seconds of ‘ buffer ‘ time, time in which your character does nothing but look. As stated that no other movements whilst this, sequence of observing  has occurred.

Dos: This states that every attack which was failed, was watched. But with something additional- it is brought up in this line that Sero is actively thinking about this subject. Which means that his mind was clouded with these failures. This, in relation with Uno means that Sero is not only actively not doing anything at that precise moment- it means that his mind is clouded and therefore his reaction speed slowed.

Tres: What are you saying man? Who do you mean by him? Yourself? Me? The tree that you identify as a person? It’s all open. So I can decide anything I want by what you mean, since it’s vague as hell. Logically, it would be me. So the him in this sentence would be me.


Cuatro: This is one more thing that gives me enough time to move around, and whatnot. It states that you take your time, smiling- enjoying the moment.  Anyhow- other then ‘ enjoying the moment ‘ (which can be read as a metaphor, and in this instance will be) is an action that leaves five to eight seconds once on top of the two to three seconds from before. Because this happened right after it.



Cinco:  ‘ he ‘, yeah- this is so open that I’m gonna take advantage of this one and use the he in this sentence to refer to myself. Which means that I was moving into your blind side.

This implies either one of the two things:

• I moved into your blind spot, which means your back faced my front, because your blind spot is at the back of your skill.
  
• Something- such as an obstacle appeared in front of your view which puts me in your blindspot.
  

In my post, you can read that I manipulated this in a way that your back is facing me. OOPS. This means that you would have had to turn around AFTER watching your attacks miss. In case you think that I’m a retard; this isn’t godmodding, because you stated yourself that this happened and not me.

Seis: This statement would be void, because I would have moved- and created distance prior to you noticing your stealth attacks failing. But this states that this is not the case, which cannot be possible because it wouldn’t add up with the timeline and all. But in some sense, it does- because it states that you have had thought about it prior, but again- it doesn’t make sense.

Siete: OH BOY. ‘ As his opponent moved Sero pulled the strings back. ‘ - The one letter, the one bit of grammar that has failed you. IF you had written, ‘ Upon his opponent moving Sero pulled the strings back then you could have gotten away with it ‘. But unfortunately, you didn’t. Which means that you orchestrated these actions after I moved. AFTER, I moved. Because, it states: moved. Past tense man.

Ocho: This only helps me by saying that these kunais were really close to you. Since the specific distance wasn’t mentioned, this is once again open for manipulation. Also, it states that you fully use your power to pull them which also helps.



Now, back to the album

IC

The sound of birds tweeting, echoing through the envorinment, were the sounds of kunai clashing against one another. As this was happening Toshiko moved forward, using his proper "running " speed and disregarding the wounds on his body because of the sheer adrenaline taking over his thinking; his natural instincts took over. After his initial movement of fifteen meters, Toshiko stood three meters away from Sero. Of course, this happened before the sweet sound of metal clashing was heard. Because Toshiko moved in a fast fashion, an utter surprise was to be expected. Toshiko was freed up of time; therefore, he spent it wisely by moving torwards Sero. Whilst moving, he did not stop. The tanto that he held had been pointing at Sero for a while now and it still had been. A sly grin appeared on the face of the young Toshiko, he moved at a speed that apparently was too fast for Sero to respond to, considering that he hadn’t. Instead, a smile from Toshiko’s opponent seemed to be observed. Was it a mock? Possibly. However, what happened after the man smiled, was much worse then a mock; it was humiliation.

Toshiko moved at a velocity of nine meter per second, with Sero being five meters away it took Toshiko a second to move four meters past Sero. When he moved towards and past Sero, he had lowered his body slightly to get better momentum, allowing him to properly coordinate his strength in a more convient way; which was meant for his slash that he made using his tanto that was placed at Sero’s lower-body - a diagonal cut that ranged from Sero’s left hip to his right hip. Due to Sero’s back having been pointed at Toshiko’s front whilst he did this, it would only leave a much more gory scene if he had turned around during this sequence of actions. When Toshiko stood four meters away from Sero after this cut had been placed, his front was facing slightly away from Sero, but he could still properly still see him and react to his reactions if needed. It was then when Toshiko noticed the kunai that previously had been in the air when they clashed were being pulled by Sero into Sero. Tragic. Why would someone ever hit themselves? The kunais would hit Sero, even though they were directed at Toshiko, this happened for an obvious reason; Toshiko’s blindspot was at his back. When he was done moving forwards, Sero had seemed to pull the threads towards Toshiko, but perhaps didn’t calculate the most important factor in this battle - himself. The kunai would meet Sero’s body before being able to reach Toshiko’s body because Sero was standing in the way. The kunai were launched at Sero’s body at a monstrous speed because of the strength put behind them. One pointed at the lower part of the splenius - damaging this muscle would numb the entire body for a moment of two seconds, and then paralyze the legs followed by the arms becoming immobile. The high rank of this kunai and the properly coordinated strength put behind it entailed that there would be no doubt that it would cut through the entirerty of the splenius.

Another one of these kunais that were launched at Sero’s back had been pointing at Sero's right deltoideus muscle. The final and last one that was launched at Sero’s back pointing at the opposite deltoideus, the one at his left arm. With the fierce property of the three kunais, there would be no doubt that they easily could cut through these muscles. The deltoideus being cut would mean that Sero could no longer move his arms. With the cut that Toshiko himself had previously placed allong with these three kunais hitting vital spots, there was no doubt in Toshiko’s mind that he had won this battle. Of course, properly responding to threats was still something that was on his mind. The smile of Toshiko’s opponent was still noticeable. How wicked and edgy of him.

OK, to my dismay and with the careful reading of not only myself but also two other volunteers, this battle can be dismissed and a winner can be chosen.

I'm going to be quite frank here: this was awfull and I think Sero can agree with me on this for various reasons.

First of all, this fight has been a non-stop of constant mistakes, edits (allowed or not) and a lot of borderlining or just full blown godmod or neglecting formal and informal rules of both this rpg and rp'ing in general.

Toshiko: You have not only ignored rules concerning godmod in some of your posts, but you are also powerplaying when you dont even have any room to power play. Your character has been hit by Sero's blades multiple times, has in the meantime not been healed in any kind and you seem to neglect this completely in your posts, whereas Sero does not make this mistake.

I am not going to say it is intentional or just inexperience on your part, but the most inexcusable thing was what you did in your last post. Issues should go through ME, not through posts and certainly not like that.

I hereby decide to disqualify you from the CE on the grounds of Godmodding, deliberate mistakes, neglecting other people's actions and also for practically insulting an opponent OOC whereas you should've used the propper channels for this kind of thing.

Uzumaki Toshiko has been disqualified, Sero wins the match

if you have anything concerning this matter, do not hesitate to talk to ME directly. I do expect you apologize to Sero for your inexcusable show of bad behavior in your last post though.

I'd like to speak with you directly before a final decision is made

After carefully considering all the facts and after reading through the posts from each participant, the mods and organizer have made a ruling.

Because of the amount of edits, the in topic ooc talk and general rule breaking that has happened on one side of this battle. And also because of the arguments against the ruling of the organizers of this event:

The winner of this match is Sero.

Congratulations