Self Defence Lessions

Mamoru followed Okane as he walked through the halls leading to the training area. She had never known her master to be one for combat, his experiences with "them" must have changed that mindset. He walked casually as if just on a stroll no urgency to his steps. She had walked these halls hundreds of times in the early morning for her meditation training. He looked to be making his way to the largest of the rooms turning left here and right there.

She looked right seeing the room she had been training in just this morning. The puddles from her water clones still pooling on the floor. She needed to make sure someone cleaned that up before there was an accident. "Master why are we down here? You've never come down here before, at least, not recently." Mamoru knew better than question his judgment, if he wanted to come here he had every right.

Her rough blue skin started to tighten she knew something was off. Her fists clenched and opened almost reaching for the handles of her twin hooked blades. Instead she adjusted her headband, the strap feeling off a little to the right. Her muscular arms crossed over her chest her mind getting lost in the many ideas floating through it. So lost in thought was Mamoru that she almost walked right into Okane as he stopped moving.

She looked up noticing the door to the room reaching out before he could to open it for him. There was already a woman standing there in a white military suit. Mamoru's teeth bared in a low growl before gripping the handles of her blades. "Who are you and why are you here?" Her mind went straight to protect Okane, it did not even register that she was probably here because of him.

Okane had dressed differently today and was rather quiet. He had adorned black pants with gold bands around the knees and thighs. Black combat boots had the pants tucked over them and they hugged his legs tightly. Though they were surprisingly flexible fabric. A mesh shirt was under a buttoned up trench coat that opened at the waist. Revealing the inside was red while the outside was black with gold lining. A weapons belt was at his waist with an items pouch but all of it was empty for now. Even his hands had black gloves on them and he almost never covered his hands. A stern frown decorated his face as emerald eyes stared ahead intently. He needed to learn to fight and what laid ahead was someone beyond him. Beyond Mamoru too. Still she would inquire as to why they were here and he would answer her as if distracted.

"You and I need training. If either of us are to prepared for the fights to come. "

He was serious in his words and how tense he was. Truthfully he wasn't much of a fighter. He had always hired people to do it for him. Allied himself with the strongest. But a significant enough distraction had proven that to be pointless. He needed to be prepared. Even if Mamoru were to stay by his side when push came to shove...he knew she wasn't ready. Neither of them were. Still the arrangements had been made and they would be receiving training from one of the worlds strongest warriors. Someone who had just recently joined the team. Still he would be rather surprised at how defensive Mamoru was when they arrived. Barely stepping in to clear the room before reaching for a weapon. She had inquired who Ryuko was when she moved. His emerald eyes tracked her but she was well beyond human speed. He himself couldn't achieve that movement as he was. It was even faster than a belt he had designed for those who lacked her abilities. Still he would frown at the use of the blunt Kunai for intimidation before stepping in himself. Closing the door behind him.

"This is my personal guard Mamoru Hoshigaki. What she lacks in capability she makes up for in vigor. I was thinking she could join us and train a little. If you don't mind of course. You are surprisingly fast. I expected you to be more of a stand your ground type. "

All Mamoru did was blink and the other woman was behind her with a kunai at her throat. For a moment fear entered her mind followed swiftly by the anger of not being able to react. Mefore she could respond to the other woman Okane had walked into the room. Ryuko had returned to where she had stood as they both had walked into the room. It almost seemed like an illusion if only for the pressure she still felt on her neck. Okane introduced Mamoru to Ryuko as she kept her mouth shut. She did not like to talk to others it was her job to protect Okane not talk to people.

He had not told her of Ryuko before, another secret he had kept since his time with the "Others". As the gravity of the situation settled over her she bowed to who she quickly recognized as her senior. "Lord Okane i was not told of increases to security." Of course he did not need to tell her a thing but a small twang of hurt raced across her. She was not strong enough to stop his kidnapping and knew he would eventually hire more protection. A scowl embedded itself on her face staring daggers at Ryuko.

Ryuko glanced at Okane and then  Mamoru almost as if she couldn’t believe her own ears.  Was he serious about the blue skinned girl his personal guard?  With how weak she was, what did he expect her to protect him from? Academy students?  The notion seemed absurd.  Generally speaking you’d want your guards to have a certain degree of strength, and that was doubly so for a personal one.

Granted, Ryuko knew full well how hard it was to get good bodyguards.  Her entire Royal guard had been a cut above the average shinobi but paled in comparison to her own strength.   She would have preferred one composed only of the creme de la creme but elites like Seid were few and far between, it would be a waste keeping them around at her side at all times when they could be running missions instead.

Okane truly was a fathomless man.  Perhaps he saw something in Mamoru that Ryuko didn’t, some hidden potential.  As Warden she would have understood if he had told her that Mamoru was a guard in training,  everyone had to start somewhere after all.  Ryuko herself had barely been above the level of an ordinary girl when she had been commissioned as a gennin. Maybe in a few years she could rise to a level where becoming a personal guard would seem reasonable, making her one now just seemed plain suicidal. 

“I’ll admit the lass has spirit….” Ryuko said, a hint of amusement in her voice by the fact the girl was glaring at her. Most civilians would have pissed their pants or fainted upon finding a kunai at their neck so suddenly.     She had done it half to put the other woman in her place, an alpha predator displaying dominance as it were and half because if Mamoru had actually drawn her blades without permission she would have been forced to get a little more serious about handling her. 

Vigor was a pretty good way to describe the defiance Mamoru was continuing to show her.  Given the fast gulf between them it just seemed cute, like being catered at by a harmless chipmunk.   

“But regardless she’s nowhere near strong enough to protect herself, let alone someone important like you.”  She said with a sigh. “You know I was barely even trying with that little demonstration.   Expecting her to be a match for a former Raikage like myself would be foolish but she can’t even buy time… but then that’s why you brought her to me for training in the first place.”     

Ryuko wasn’t just one of the strongest ninja in the world, she was also one of the best trainers since at least two of her former students had gone on to become X-ranks in their own right.  She wasn’t a Kenjutsu expert exactly, but as a bukijutsu user she could use sword techniques well enough,  Naturally that included all the Cloud style ones which meant she could show Mamoru had to put those blades of hers to use and more.

Putting the back of her left hand to her mouth Ryuko let out the laugh that was synonymous with rich ladies like herself. "Ohoho"  she hadn’t broken this technique in a long time but then when better then now since she was being lavished with praise for her prowess. 

“Tis would hardly be a trifle on my part.  Ms. Mamoru luck is on your side, for today you find yourself under the tutelage of the Lightning Empress herself.  Tell me what do you think makes a bodyguard first rate?” she asked curious to what the woman's answer would be before turning her face slightly to pay more attention to Okane.   Well not that she’d been ignoring him before.  She’d noted that he had kept his eyes on her during her blitz was pretty impressive considering he was supposed to be just a crafter not a fighter.

“I figured you to be only a suit wearing kind of guy Sir but I have to say, that outfit looks sharp on you.” She complimented him. Someone more ignorant might call the look edgy but he made it look stylish.   She was speaking to him casually since they were both Royalty and this wasn’t a formal setting.  Honestly having to talk like that all the time was simply too stuffy to bother with. 

“Of course I’m fast. No Raikage worth their salt is slow.  Still I’m nothing compared to Matatabi when it comes to speed.” She casually dropped the name of a bijuu like it was nothing.  In the realm she operated in, having to deal with something like that was merely tuesday.   “Though I can understand why you’d think I’m more the stand your ground type given my usual equipment and my other title.”  She wasn’t called something like ‘the walking fortress’ because of being delicate that was for sure,

“By the way I’d strongly advise you about showing off THAT jutsu so openly.  A trump card isn’t as effective anymore once the enemy knows you have one.”  She didn’t know how much Mamoru knew or not yet and so refrained from mentioning Flying Thunder God by name.   Okane had gotten lucky so far.  Ryuko had suspected he knew the technique but then he’d gone and confirmed it by using it in front of her twice.  Considering she was working for him for now she wasn’t about to go blabbing about it but other people might have looser lips.


[3]



ooc: Forgot to add this to my last post in the stuff part even though I mentioned it ic

Analyzing Mamoru 2/2

Okane would listen and frown. He was partially protective of Mamoru but he would analyze himself before he opened his mouth. Ryuko was there to train them and it was only proper she demonstrate and inform them of their current weakness. However the difference between her two students was fairly plain. Mamoru had the training in combat but not the statistics to back it up. Where as Okane had the physical ability to be capable but no formal training to speak of. Still he would close the door behind him and step fully into the room. His eyes noting the blunted Kunai. So they would train with blunted weapons? That made sense. Though he would eventually make this outfit into a suitable armor. He had mountain fur and immortal silk to use for it. Still he would note her mention of one of the bijuu. So she was used to fighting on that level? Fascinating. Though he had to admit he wasn't prepared for that level. His emerald eyes shifted however as she mentioned hiding his ability. He assumed by trump card she meant utilizing the flying thunder god technique. The suspicion of a seasoned shinobi no doubt. Still he would nod as he contemplated her words.

"I will try and use it less...but it is likely common knowledge by now I possess the technique. Besides it wasn't so much a trump card as it was countering a weakness. I have many ways to counter many flaws and that was to counter my lack of speed. An escape technique that is no doubt difficult to counter. However in combat it should allow me to overcome my slow speed yes? Oh Mamoru...don't use your actual swords. Utilize these instead please."

Okane would lift his hands. He wasn't practiced in combat but as a crafter his coordination was impressive. He would fly through hand seals at A rank coordination so fast that Mamoru would only see a blur at best. Though Ryuko would follow it easy enough. So his perception...his mind and his coordination were all A rank. Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Dog, Rabbit would be flown through before he would hold out his hands. In each hand what appeared to be liquid Tetsudashi steel would form and take shape rapidly. Taking on the form of two blunted hook swords. Durable weapons indeed before he would hold them out to the girl. Stronger weapons than she had from the market as plain steel. He would make her even greater weapons than that though. Still he would turn his attention back to Ryuko.

"What weapon would you suggest for me Sensei? Another sword maybe? I can prepare any blunted version."





Name: Steel creation - Weapon
Rank: A
Power: A
Activation Cost: 20 chakra
Upkeep Cost: N/A
Range: 10 meters
Speed: N/A
Element: Steel release
Skill: Ninjutsu
Classification: Secret
Requirements: A rank intelligence and Coordination
Parent Technique: N/A
Hand Seals: Dragon, Tiger, Snake, Dog, Rabbit
Description: The Steel release user forms the hand signs before holding out their hand. While envisioning the weapon in their mind the user can mold steel into the shape of a basic A quality weapon. Making a A/A quality/Durability weapon that lasts for three posts before fading away.
Weaknesses: Since this weapon is crafted from Ninjutsu and temporary the weapon will not have any attunement slots. Can only replicate A/A Tetsudashi steel weapons from the standard shinobi market.

If looks could kill Ryuko would need all the speed in the world to evade Mamoru's glare. She could feel her muscles more tense than they had ever been before in her life. As her adrenaline dropped she could feel a strange feeling wash over her like a cold bucket of water. It had been years but the presence of the other woman brought an emotion to Mamoru she had tried to block away, fear. She was snapped back into the present when she was asked what she thought made one a true body guard.

"To give anything and everything to the protection and service of their charge." She looked to Okane, the man she regarded as an older brother, no a father figure. She had vowed years ago when he saved her from the streets to never let him down. She had failed once already, if training with this beast meant she could give her all even if it meant her life protecting him she would. She felt no disrespect the conversation moved to just Ryuko and Okane. She would have rather not have spoken if she did not need to.

As she started to take the twin blades from her back she barley caught the blur that was his jutsu forming two blunted versions of her basic steel blades. "Are you sure Master that i need these? She seems to be more than capable of avoiding anything i would be able to send her way." The last words seeped out with a sneer taking the training weapons into her hands. With a huff she stepped back returning to her normal place just a step or two behind him. She placed her hands behind her back, she did not want Ryuko to see her hands tremble.

Okane would glance to Mamoru as she pointed out that Ryuko might not need to extra layer of protection from her. She had a point about that. It was true that there was little either of them would be able to accomplish with what they were capable of. However he would insist on her taking them all the same. He wouldn't want her current weapons damaged so easily. At least not until he was prepared to replace them. That said Ryuko seemed keen on their training being rather harsh he was sure. Still he would speak to Mamoru.

"These weapons are also superior to yours in some ways. While they are blunted your current weapons are c grade quality. Even if they are made from steel these are made from Tetsudashi steel. Roughly A grade quality." He would say with a smile before turning back to Ryuko.

She would mention a defensive fighting style and he would nod. He realized he likely hadn't disclosed something about himself. He would smile a little bit with a coy look to himself. She was right. It was better for him to escape or play on the defensive if he were forced to fight. So he would nod a moment before he would speak in return.

"One little known fact about me Ryuko, is my cousin was once the Tsuchikage and part of the Tetsudashi. Meaning I also have mastered the Tetsudashi bloodline. There is few things better designed for defense in this world than Tetsudashi blood. Allow me to reveal now my ultimate steel release technique that is perfected so far. "

Okane would then smile before taking a breath. On his exhale from his chest gold would begin to spread across his form. Spreading over his skin and turning it all to an S rank gold defensive layer. Then he would inhale and the layer would expand into a much heavier looking suit of armor. An exoskeleton with gears and pulleys attached to it. A golden armor of S rank quality with a gladius popping out of the top of one arm and a buckler over the other. He stood there in his golden armor.

He would reach over to a weapons stand. Pulling off a training kunai like the one Ryuko had. The pulleys audibly shifting with him. He had increased his strength by two tiers with this jutsu and given himself an S rank defense. With that he would clench his fist as the kunai shattered like glass in his hands. Dropping the pieces of the once makeshift weapon and letting them fall to the floor.

"I find this useful at times. Though I don't utilize it often. This is the height of what most Tetsudashi can do. Aside from that any metal weapons used against me I will render useless. May I use this while we train?"

Stuff:

Mamoru listened to both Okane and Ryuko nodding in silent understanding. Her gaze slowly shifting from dissatisfaction to a more soft look. Ryuko was right, how was she supposed to do her job if she was dead. Many times before she had let her blood lust blind her, it had failed when Okane was taken last time. She bit the edge of her mouth before giving a slight apologetic bow. The words exchanged between the two about a secret jutsu confused her but she knew if it was important Okane would have said something, right?

"I will do my best to..." She looked over at Ryuko catching herself, this woman even if in jest could end her and she would not know it. "I will do my best to learn from this new teacher." She picked up the blunted hook swords, they felt different in her hands than her older more worn blades. She listened as Ryuko suggested a buckler and gladius almost bringing a chuckle to Mamoru's lips. Did people still fight with swords and shields in a world like this?

She almost chuckled before a great suit of armor formed around Okane. Her mouth hung agape as she watched the gold shift and take shape. She had never seen him use this ability before and was shocked as he grabbed a practice kunai. As he closed his fist and the tool shattered Mamoru suddenly felt out of place. She knew she was not a strong warrior and had used all her ferocity to stay alive until now. Seeing Ryuko's speed and this new golden armor of Okane made her feel small in comparison.

"Master..." She slipped up, normally she would not call him that in front of anyone. It was almost as if the voice that escaped her lips was that of a scared little girl calling for her father. She cleared her throat before speaking again. "Sir you know i will do anything and everything to protect you. However do you think i might be a hindrance to this training?"

The Rizz:

Okane would turn his golden head as the helmet peeled away a moment. Revealing his dark hair and emerald eyes. He would smile at Mamoru with a fondness a moment as she seemed so little and insecure. He felt for her as he was indeed at a level above her now. However he knew he was virtually capped as he was. He was not a fighter and thus had little chance against those who had risen above the average. For him to be considered at Jounin level was enough for him. Still he would CAREFULLY reach out and place a hand on her shoulder. Speaking plainly as he did.

"You must learn when the opportunity presents itself. Grow when challenges exceed you. And in doing so you will eventually exceed me...and I would be lost without you. Now do your best and rise above what you are now."

With that he would remove his hand. Careful not to exert any pressure on her before turning to face Ryuko. She had mentioned not being sure on if he needed any training and he smiled while flattered. He had reached the apex of crafting but....when it came to fighting he had never so much as swung a fist before. He was embarrassed by this. With no formal training and only knowing Ninjutsu that had come from his clan or aligned with crafting he was at a bit of a loss. He could already feel his chakra levels depleting with each passing moment. If it wasn't for his Ninjutsu affinity for steel it would be much worse he realized. Still he would stand his ground unsure of how to proceed. A bead of sweat dripping down his forehead from the exertion.

"So Warden....how do we begin?"

With that he would be sure to activate his helmet again. Knowing Ryuko was a fast fighter now he didn't want to be caught unprepared. Though his golden helmet shifted this time. Away from the human face that mirrored his own and to a more lion like appearance. The mane replaced with horns as the eyes would glow green to match Okanes emerald eyes. The green chakra glow showing he wasn't so simple. However he did not take any sort of fighting stance. Nor did he plant his feet. He stood there looking like he wasn't sure what to do with his hands at his side. He was wearing gear and had strength but clearly no fighting style or experience.

Mamoru took the words of Ryuko to heart gathering herself steeling her nerves. She would be no use to Okane if she froze up in front of every opponent stronger than herself. She steadied her breathing holding her blades up in the Twin Divide style. This training session would be different than her normal meditations. Fighting side by side with Okane was something she never thought she would have to do but would not let the opportunity escape her. His casual stance gave her slight worry, even the best weapons could be useless in the hands on a novice.

"We begin on our terms Sir." As his helmet closed she lunged forward trying to cross the rooms distance. Unless Ryuko wanted no allowed her to this attack would be nothing but a distraction for Okane to make his move. Her weapons even when sharp were not a stabbing weapon but a full force thrust into ones chest certainly could leave one winded. The blade in her left hand shot forward aiming for Ryuko's chest a simple feint she would be able to call back quickly if needed for defense. Her true focus was the weapon in her right hand swinging low across her opponents belly.

She had used this technique many times to kill highwaymen and bandits. Those who unknowingly stepped up to rob Okane on their travels. Her blades made this technique even more deadly with the hook being able to catch the side of someone tearing their innards from their stomachs. She never expected to connect anyway already bringing her off hand weapon back from its thrust.

Techniques:

Breakdown:

Okane was slow when it came to battle. Mamoru charged in after a short mention of something about on their terms. He hesitated as fear to engage held him for a moment. Before he pushed through and followed. Almost awkwardly running at a Slow D rank speed. This armor was foreign to him but he was managing. Still too far behind Mamoru to be of any use. He would watch both her blades be caught and then tossed back and come to a stop. He was surprised to see her feint handled so casually. Could he do the same? His emerald eyes would watch from behind his helmet as he saw two summons appear. He considered charging in to put a stop to that but...again he had hesitated. Mamoru was now flanked and he was on his own. He needed to figure out how to get to her. How to back her up against the two summons. However as he thought Ryuko continued her instruction. Drawing a sword from her summon as provided. Was it not combat capable? No he wouldn't make that assumption. Any enemy on the field had to be calculated in. His eyes were already studying Ryuko.

He was starting to understand her movements. However his posture did lack any redeeming qualities. A dozen openings despite his armor. If he had been an experienced fighter they may have even thought he was luring the enemy in. However Ryuko would address that shortly. Instructing a basic shield and sword stance. His emerald eyes would shift as he looked down to find the right positioning. She even explained her sword to him but...it wouldn't be touching his body. His armor was now expanded away from him. More like a power armor pilot than a second skin now. Still his footing wasn't fantastic. However he didn't want to test what would happen if that swords blade made contact with his armor. The shield would be his priority for blocking it. He held it forward in front of him and the sword angled to point towards her at his side. She charged him but the slash would be slow. Slow enough that he noted she was holding back. Probably for Mamoru's benefit. She already knew Okane's emerald gaze could keep up with her. However Okane was still fast handed. His shield would raise up and as she hit it she would feel something odd.

Her power would diminish upon contact. Impact absorbing cushions would activate in the armor. Reducing the power of her attack from A to C. He would grunt still as it forced him to move his right foot back instinctively to catch his balance. However he would feel fear. His right hand shaking a split second. He had memories of the torture as he was being engaged. The metal rattling in his metal hand before he would remember he was sparring. Only a couple of seconds passed but it would likely be enough to ensure he couldn't land a hit on Ryuko. His sword darted out after a moments hesitation in a stab. No real follow through behind it and simply aimed to her gut. Even as fast as it was the angle and thrust were predictable. He had never had to fight in his life and fear was slowing him down. Still he was following instructions. However it was clear that Mamoru despite her lacking in stacks was the fighter between the two. He wanted to get to her but he wasn't a match for Ryuko. Already he knew the answer but it was too late now that they were in the middle of a fight. Still he would call out.

"Mamoru! Return to my side! I have a plan!"


Maintained armor and weapons

Mamoru was not sure why she was so surprised when Ryuko caught her weapons. It could have been the fluid motion she used or the speed at which she did it. However she was certain it was most likely the ease at which the other woman had used just two fingers each to stop her swords. The following shove pushed Mamoru back further than she would have liked in a normal fight. This was not normal even for a sparring lesson, the difference in skill, power and speed was a joke. To add insult to injury Ryuko then attempted to kick water in her face. Mamoru reached out slapping the water away.

Before she could make her next move Ryuko surprised her again in the form of a summoning jutsu. In a moment they went from three in this moderately sized room to  five as two humanoid turtles appeared one behind her the other next to Ryuko. She was cut off from any form of exit now with the bluish turtle between the door and herself. Ryuko asked her about an escape plan but the words went in one ear and out the other he blood boiling. How could she have let this happen, she was to eager to clash blades with the other woman she had separated herself from Okane as well.

Her mind raced trying to grapple her rising anger to keep a level head. She watched him rush forth at the best speed he could muster. She wondered if the armor hindered his speed as well as make him durable. The clash between Ryuko and Okane was brief before he called for her to return to his side. Instinct took over as she slammed the curved end of her sword into the ground his voice fueling her adrenaline. She leapt up balancing on the handle of her weapon before somersaulting away trying to land as close to him as possible. She had left one blade behind but it did not matter she needed to help Okane.

She landed on her feet shifting her stance to that of basic Kendo. It was simple but easier to use one handed than dual wielding blades. Mamoru jumped back trying to guard Okane's blind spot facing back around to the tall turtle. "I shall follow your lead sir." Her muscles tensed readying themselves for the onslaught of offense that was sure to come.

Techniques Used:

Breakdown:

Okane would have his guard return to his side. Ryuko was taking it rather easy on them and frankly they were lucky for it. He could sense that if she went full speed he was screwed. Not to put it so lightly. If she were an enemy he would quickly be dead. He had boasted about the durability of his armor...but unfortunately it had one weakness most from Kumo could target. A critical flaw that an ex Kage no less could manipulate. He knew he was a big conductor in this suit. He had spoken of metal weapons in the hopes it would be taken as a challenge. If she used raiton...he would have to switch tactics. Still he would take a moment to let out a breath. He realized he had held it when he was attacked. Inhaling sharply and forgetting to breath. It was a relief when she gave him space again. Being gripped by fear was not benefiting him. He needed to go on the offensive if he had a hope of actually getting over it. It was a forced expose therapy technique. Where he was placed into a do or die to get over a phobia....only in this case trauma.

It was why he had begun to plan. His mind racing as he analyzed her finally. She was going slower for his guards benefit. Unable to go as hard as she could for her benefit. Normally he would commend such an act. Honor and mercy all at once. She was even clearly giving them time to work out a plan. To get their team work going. Okane would watch as Mamoru returned to his side. Even the summons were staying out of it. She was so gentle with them. That said Okane was the striker and shield here. It was true that Mamoru wouldn't touch her normally. However that meant the fortress was letting her guard down right? Which meant that they were not fighting in vain. Still she was weaving seals. However painstakingly slow it was. Whatever she chose she wouldn't do anything to risk Mamoru's life. So it wouldn't be potent if she used it at all. Even if she aimed it at Okane it wouldn't matter. He would avoid it. Still as soon as she landed in front of him his hand would be placed on her back out of sight. Placing a flying thunder god seal on the back of her neck.

"Charge her again. As fast as you can. Use the Body Flicker technique if you can."

With that Okane would remain where he was. His basic stance slightly adjusted now. His back foot granting him balance again. His shield raised with the sword next to it as she had instructed. He was still not in a great stance but it had improved. His intelligent green eyes were on Ryuko now. Assuming Mamoru charged as he had instructed he would begin forming a single hand seal. Ox. As he did he knelt down. He had chosen to wear a shield and sword on top of his arms to keep his hands free. As he slammed his hands down the ground under them would turn to steel and spread out twenty meters from him in every direction. However on either side of Mamoru's path dozens of harsh spikes would protrude out at B rank speed. Covering her from anything not in a direct line with Ryuko and herself. Beyond that if Ryuko or the summons were within twenty meters metal spikes of A rank quality would stab up at them in a circle of thin but tall needles at B rank speed around them. All moving to a center point. The aim was to give Mamoru cover and distract from those hand signs. He needed her to get close.

As soon as Mamoru would reach Ryuko if she did Okane would use the seal. Teleporting in the blink of an eye right on top of the engagement. A sudden if not predictable ambush. His goal however was to attack both of Ryuko's arms and hold them at bay long enough for Mamoru to land a decisive blow. Okane's emerald eyes would glow green as they traced from behind his helmet. At his full A rank coordination Okane would strike out with his blade and shield in straight stabs for the arms as they rose up from his kneeling position. Attempting with A rank strength to knock her arms up and with hopes that he might also block her vision coming from around Mamoru and his head and arms close to Ryuko's line of site. Mamoru would be under his form and hopefully hidden with excellent striking spots. However if he had battle experience he would have gone for a vital himself. With him having the heavier attack power.

Maintained armor and weapons

Analyzing Ryuko 1/2

Jutsu trained and/or used:

Mamoru tried to ignore the other woman's taunts as her eyed darted back and forth between Ryuko and her summon. She was one sword down now leaving the other meters away in the ground. It was worth the loss to get some distance from the humanoid turtle. She watched Ryuko yawn blocking out the words as if they were venom. She could not afford to lose focus and charge straight ahead again. The few moments almost seemed an eternity as she awaited Okane's orders. However when he spoke she could not hide the surprise from her face.

"I... Yes sir." He wanted her to charge forward? That effort had failed so spectacularly last time. No she could not, was not allowed to doubt his judgment. There was however one glaring flaw with his plan, the Body Flicker technique. Mamoru did not know this jutsu to be able to use it practically. She of course had heard of it even studied the scroll which contained it once or twice. She had not however tried to use it herself and never in the midst of a battle did she think she could pull it off. No If Okane says to do it i must.

She cleared her mind focusing on the words and images she had seen of the jutsu. He chakra flowed to her legs as she crouched. Her knees bent in a forty five degree angle as she lowered her body. Her stance looked that of a runner with her left hand placed firmly on the ground for support. Her right hand held her blade up setting it on her left shoulder. She released the chakra building up almost like an arrow fired from a bow. Fifteen meters was the distance she needed to cover to get to Ryuko and did not know if she would even make that before she retaliated.

Her first leg surged forward moving faster than Mamoru had expected. It was as if time slowed around her, in the moment she took the first step Okane had released his jutsu. Walls of steel spikes formed around Mamoru giving her a straight path to Ryuko. She did not know how many steps it took or what Okane was doing. She could only trust that he had also engaged and this would not be meaningless. As she closed in on Ryuko Mamoru swung her blade wide aiming for the woman's torso as the image of Ryuko gutted filled her mind she smiled again.

Jutsu Learned/Used:

Breakdown:

Ryuko was using her prestigious mind capable of performing complex math to perform parallel processing.  Of course since she only had A-rank intelligence there were only so many streams she could process at once.  That limit became even more pronounced in the heat of battle, even if she had breathing room she still had to dedicate some amount of her mind towards moving her own body since she couldn't rely solely on instinct.  

She was good but not ultra instinct level good where her body would move in the most ideal fashion on its own for everything.  It was more like she was planning her every move, trying to calculate the most optimum actions and adjusting on the fly as things progressed.  A process that took up the majority of her brain power. 

What was left was stuff like considering what to teach Okane next.  Would it be better to teach him a fighting style that magnified his existing strengths or should she shore up one of his weak points like lack of speed first?  The only thing really holding him back right now was his lack of experience.  That was the main reason she was able to push him back so far when they would otherwise be on more even footing.   

Honestly in his armored form he was enough of a threat that she would have seriously  considered wearing her full set of gear if she’d known about its existence beforehand.  She supposed that’s what she got for not analyzing him closely from the start of this exercise and assuming her prior knowledge would be enough.  People could change a lot in a short time if you took your eyes off them.  She should have remembered that but to be fair it’d been a while since her last proper quote unquote match with a human being. 

It was probably a good thing he didn’t know to use sage mode or that he didn’t have some kind of  entity inside him.   If he could combine a powered up form with his current state she’d have a real monster on her hands.  A fact that made her want that bloodline for herself even more.   

Even if she didn’t implant it the idea of making a steel clan her full on apprentice was an enticing one.   A shame really that Okane only wanted to learn self defense and nothing more. It made sense seeing that he was a businessman first before anything else but it was a shame she couldn’t hone him as much as she would have otherwise liked.   

Mamoru on the other hand had a lot of untapped potential.   Her base stats might not be much to write home about yet but she could push them to fairly respectable levels when she tried.  Enough that landing a hit on Ryuko wasn’t entirely out of the question , at least if she used the right strategy.   Not that doing so would be easy, just that such a thing was possible.  

If Ryuko was to use an analogy, Mamoru was like an unrefined gem.  With a bit of polishing aka training she would shine.   With just a little bit of work she’d be able to reach the level of your average chunnin soon enough, beyond that would depend on how much she was willing to dedicate herself to her training.   

Well not that Mamoru needed to reach X-rank level like Ryuko to become a good bodyguard.  Given how strong her charge was, once they learned to work together a little better that should be enough for them to escape just about anyone or anything that might run into something truly crazy like a bijuu.   

In any case if Mamoru wanted to get stronger then average Ryuko certainly wouldn’t have any complaints about it.   A strong student made for better training for herself which was great considering that she was the type that would be training every day she could until she was dead. 

To start she was going to have to teach Mamoru more about tactics so that the girl could use the assets she had more effectively.    Stuff like threat assessment,  when to fight and when to run.   Why were they even trying to engage the former Raikage like this when she’d already dropped hints to them about securing an escape route.   Getting past Sandal was infinitely easier than defeating her and if they got out of the room that would count as a win.   

Had the blood gone to the fish girl's head after all?  It wasn’t uncommon for a foe to get fixated on the opponent before them.  Many armies had taken advantage of this fact to trick people into cashing them into an ambush even though the people that had tricked should have known better.  Ryuko herself was no exception, part of the reason she’d lost to Raijin that one time was because she had pushed too hard. Presused when she should have pulled back. 

Okane had pulled back an extra five meters.  A smart move considering Ryuko had been deliberately putting herself in the ideal range for a number of various jutsu at her disposal.  Not that she lacked mid or long range options but she was probably at her most dangerous at close range due her particular specialties as a taijutsu and bukijutsu expert.   If nothing else it would make it harder for her to catch both him and Mamoru in the same jutsu since she wouldn’t be using anything too extreme here. 

Maybe she should start by teaching them not to talk loud enough about plans for the enemy to hear them.  Even when she’d been a fresh faced new genin Ryuko had known better than that. When she’d first teamed up with Shimiko and Natsuru they’d used hand gestures learned at the academy or academy equivalent in Ryuko’s case to communicate.

Before the words “Charge her again.” Could even finish leaving Okane’s mouth Ryuko was making her moves for the first time since the lesson proper began using a fighting style to increase her coordination pushing it to superlative levels.     The Spring Chant was her darling’s signature style,  but Ryuko had evolved it in her own direction creating an advanced version known as Spring Chant: Blossoming for maximum effect. 

She’d warned Mamoru not to do anything too straightforward and she’d meant it and now the younger girl would pay the price for taking orders blindly and not thinking things through.  Well they did say failure taught you more than success…
Before Ryuko had been just playfully making hand signs slowly as a taunt, now she was making them at blinding speeds, enough to launch several jutsu in rapid succession before Okane could even finish his sentence.  Snake, Rat. Snake Rat. 

The first two were one cast of Demonic Illusion: Hell's Viewing after another.  First targeting Okane and then Mamoru simply by sending a small amount of her considerable chakra at them invisible to the naked eye.   So far Ryuko had been sticking to basic physical strikes so they probably weren’t expecting a genjutsu at this point, especially one that didn’t take effect straight away.  

In effect she was attempting to inflict a punishment game on them. One that would show them a fear they deeply didn’t wish to see.   As a D-rank jutsu it amounted to little more than a small prank since the damage wouldn’t put them in a hospital or anything. 

She continued to perform hand signs. Bird, snake, monkey.   This time using the Lightning Release: Lightning Ball jutsu to launch a barrage of twenty electrical spheres at Okane in an attempt to stop him from executing his plan and prevent him from launching his metal spikes.   

For those keeping track she had performed 7 seals so far.  For added measure she performed 3 more Dog, Dragon, Rat before trusting the open palm of her left hand against the ground releasing a surge of electricity in a fifteen meter radius of herself so that when Mamoru made that first step she would be zapped on the spot stopping her in her tracks long before she could get anywhere close.


[8]

stuff:

Okane would watch as her hands became harder to track. She had been taking it easy on them up until now clearly. However he hadn't expected her to outright shift to punishing them. He could see the raiton shifting into reality and felt fear choking him up. His weakness. He knew what to do...there was a technique to deal with such a targeted attack...but he would hesitate. He would feel the fear gripping him as he stared with his green eyes taking it all in. The lightning orbs would launch and target him before he could finish his seals. Before he could react to her really. Not that he was incapable but his post traumatic stress was locking him in place. He would feel the electricity slam into him with force. Despite his armor he would feel the brunt of it and the electricity through the steel. He could have shifted the quality to resist it but he hadn't been able to react in time. Hesitation on the battlefield turned to pain as he screamed out. Five impacts sent him flying as he didn't even brace properly. Crashing into the wall by where they had entered and losing concentration as the armor peeled off him. Fading away to nothing as he laid on his front.

His green gaze would shift as he twitched and felt difficulty moving. It hadn't been a particularly heavy jutsu....if he had the experience he could have negated it. But he was too afraid to progress and react. Still Mamoru had done as he asked and was likely now suffering for it. The web of lightning looked particularly painful. He wanted to lay there. To give up and hide. His eyes shifted to the door. He could escape on his own if he wanted. There was no summon between him and the exit. The point of a body guard was for him to escape safely. However he let his mind wander back. A rain filled day with grey skies that seemed to turn the world grey around them. A young lady who was lost and wounded. He had stopped for reasons he still didn't understand...but he wanted to save her. His memory ended with her taking his outstretched hand. He had promised to save her...and now he would not abandon her so easily. His word and his will were not so weak. He would protect her as she protected him and keep his word to her. It was his turn to reward her faith.

Gritting his teeth through the pain Okane would raise to a sitting position. His chakra levels were waning now. The armor and seal placement had taken a lot but he still had more to go. He glared at Ryuko as he quickly formed two seals. "Release her..." He growled as he did. Ox->Dragon were molded with steel release chakra. From his skin twenty steel dragonflies would emerge. Not very lethal but no one actually wanted to get stabbed. Nor were they very fast on their own. However he finished with a Snake seal. Focused amplification placed on the dragon fly technique. Making them move at B+ speed and have B rank piercing power. He would spread them out and send the twenty flying at Ryuko and attacking from every direction. Or at least 20 different directions. Two from her front below, two from her front at mid level and one from the front at her face. Two from her left at the leg, two at mid section and one at the left of her face. Two from her right at the leg, two for the mid section and one for the right side of her face. And from behind One would go for the back of each knee, One for the small of her back and one for the back of her head while one went straight down for the top of her head.

However he wasn't blind to another fact. He was tired but she made too many hand signs for the two techniques she used didn't she...something else was off. He felt like some part of her was infecting him. Like he was under the influence of more. While maintaining concentration on the dragonflies he would focus his chakra inward. Feeling it out and then pushing the sensation. Genjutsu....He knew it! A Genjutsu on top of everything?! They really weren't a challenge for her. Still he would form the tiger seal and call out as he used Genjutsu Kai himself. "Mamoru! She is using Genjutsu too! Kai out and fall back!" She was too strong for his plan. He wasn't sure what to do at this point. Maybe if the dragonflies could hold her at bay. His eyes would shift to her summons as well. What could they even do to fight back at this point? He would frown and take deep breaths. He needed to think but...perhaps if she had summons on standby like that...at least her chakra was draining too right? Though she wasn't showing any signs of exhaustion.

Chakra is getting low I think:

Time seemed to slow around her, she knew it was her adrenaline blasting through her veins. Her vision tunneled on Ryuko as her right leg began to surge forward. Milliseconds seemed like moments, her right arm curved around her torso began to extend looking for a target. She could see Ryuko perfectly until the woman's hands began to blur. They moved faster than anything Mamoru had ever seen. If her brain could have moved that fast sending a message to Mamoru's legs it would not have mattered.

As her second foot hit the ground moving her forward her tunnel vision caught the faint outline of falling leaves all around her. She pushed the oddity aside surging forward before she hit what seemed like a brick wall. The electricity had stretched from Ryuko across the floor right in Mamoru's path. She was to close and moving at a speed in which she was not used to unable to pull back. The first bolt hit her foot as it hit the ground sending painful jolts of electricity racing through her body.

Mamoru screamed out in pain, the noise sounding like that of a child than a woman. her muscles clinched locking her legs in place and turning her grip on the handle of her blade to that of a vice. The pain made her head snap back releasing another feral scream. She could not move her legs to break free from this prison. She forced her head to turn seeing Okane lying on his back. She had not been able to see the jutsu that hit him but knew it had to be powerful to knock him down. A single tear rolled down her face seeing the man who had saved her struggling to his feet.

"Release her.." His voice was in her mind now.

No he had said that himself, Okane forced himself to his feet making a quick string of seals as multiple metal insects flew from his body. Even in as much pain as she imagined he was feeling he still thought of her. Mamoru forced her body to move biting her lower lip the pain from her sharp teeth momentarily overriding the surging current of electricity beneath her. Her legs thrust her body backwards forcing her free of the trap. The sudden release from the electricity made her grip on her blade falter dropping it to the floor.

Her breathing was heavy from her quick electro therapy session but Okane needed her. She steadied her legs as her arms rose hands weaving four signs as fast as she could. It was time to go, they had to make it out of the room before they died. Tiger Ox Tiger Rat, she needed to change their focus from Ryuko, Mamoru expelled a quick stream of water to the turtle closest to the door. Another leaf fell by her giving a strange feeling in the back of her mind.

She could not hear Okane fully behind the noise of the pressurized stream of water blasting from her mouth. Vaguely she could hear something about a genjutsu but everything around them seemed normal. Still she made the hand seal to release any form of mental attack that may happen. The water cut off as she turned making her way back to Okane, they would make it out of the room together or stand strong. She could tell he was getting tired she just hoped he was able to flee on his own power. Mamoru knew she would not be able to carry him and fight off Ryuko and her summon.

Jutsu Trained:

Breakdown:

Wait, what?  Thought Ryuko as the mental equivalent of a record scratching sound rang through her head.  She didn’t have an an exact estimate of Okane’s current strengths or anything yet when she’d launched those lightning balls at him since she’d still been in the middle or re-analyzing him but she’d never expected her attack to be THAT effective on him.    

By her calculations he had pretty good odds of being able to block the majority of them by forming a shield.   There was even a decent chance they wouldn’t have affected him at all if his constitution was pumped up enough in his metal form the same way his strength was.  Of course she was well aware that many metals like copper had good conductive qualities but she hadn’t expected that to apply to the steel release, or at least the steel release at the highest level the clan could reach at any rate.  The lower levels might be more vulnerable but was sure they’d train to mitigate that particular weakness the same way she was careful to make sure her own armor wouldn’t turn her into a lightning rod.  


 “Are you alright Okane? I didn’t mean to hit you THAT hard.”  She asked.   She hadn’t dreamed it would actually knock him so hard that he’d go flying into a nearby wall, or that it would hit him so hard he would be knocked out of his armored form.    Still she had a feeling this wasn’t so much a weakness of the steel release so much as it was his own hesitation.   On paper he should have been able to handle that better if he’d merely braced himself  or better yet teleported out of the way.   

Generally when faced with danger most people would instinctively choose to fight or run but sometimes they were too scared to do either.   Perhaps she’d simply been expecting too much out of a civilian to expect him to overcome his fear right off the bat.  He was so strong that it was easy to forget he didn’t have years of academy drilling to mentally prepare him for the battlefield. 

As she caught Mamoru in her trap she watched Okane glance between his bodyguard and the door.  She couldn’t read his mind but if she had to guess he was grappling with the choice of saving himself or not.  Part of Ryuko wondered which he would choose, some would say that ultimately Running was the right choice since he’d survive but she wasn’t so sure she would agree.    

As a ninja you were supposed to do just about anything to accomplish your mission but to her the very idea of leaving a teammate behind left a poor taste in her mouth.  Sure you might get that one mission accomplished or in this case escape but you’d suffer for it in the long term.  If your teammate or bodyguard died they wouldn’t be around to help you the next time you got in trouble and even in the best case scenario where they survived they might not be able to trust you anymore negatively impacting your teamwork.

Ryuko couldn’t activate any other jutsu while the lightning spider-web was active but she was far from helpless.  This was where the true value of her summons began to shine as they could act for her when she could not act herself.  As Okane sat up she motioned with her hand signaling Sandal to make a move.   He couldn’t hope to do signs anywhere as fast as Okane but thankfully as luck would have it the particular jutsu she wanted him to use didn’t take many so he would manage.

“Make me.” Ryuko shot back defiantly as a spherical barrier of green blazing fire sprang up around her.   Normally she’d use the full range at 100 meters radius but this time she had opted to have her summon use it at the smallest possible size of 10 instead.   Normally it was something she used to trap an opponent inside but it was also something that could act as a shield that would incarnate all 20 of the dragonflies before they could reach her. 

She hadn’t been planning to hold Mamoru for long with the spider-web originally but this situation was too juicy for her not to push Okane’s buttons.  But alias her provocation was for nothing as Mamoru displayed more grit they Ryuko had thought possible, managing to push through the pain and jump backwards outside the range of the electrical field before blasting Sandal with a bullet of condensed water.

All told, that had been a fairly good tactical decision.  Mamoru didn’t know it but Sandal couldn’t move while the Fire wall was up making him a bit of a sitting duck.  Not that the blast did any damage but the force was enough to send the humanoid turtle sliding him away from the door and forcing him to drop the jutsu he had been using to protect the former Raikage.

“Bravo, well done.”  Ryuko said clapping her hands and stopping her own spider-web attack now that there was no longer a point to continuing it.  After all there was no way Mamoru was going to just waltz into the same trap she’d already been caught in once.   A shame that Okane had spoiled her genjutsu attempt but that was no big loss.  The amount of chakra she’d lost on that was trivial and now she could psyche them out by pretending to cast more genjutsu.   Keeping an opponent guessing and making them waste energy on fruitless genjutsu kai was a great way of tiring them out.

If Okane had any hopes of outlasting her well he had another thing coming.  Ryuko wasn’t quite at bijuu level when it came to chakra but she was pretty up there and that was just counting her base levels.  Once you took her sage chakra and Rafaela into account she became an inhuman monster that could only be matched by similar inhuman monsters.  Trying to tire her out when you weren’t one was sheer folly. 

“But what about the other turtle?” she asked, using the question as a form of misdirection to direct Mamoru and Okane’s direction towards Leonardo.  He’d remained just a step to the side and behind Ryuko this entire time, using his flight ability to hover just above the ground so that he wouldn’t get caught in the spider-web.  He had just finished forming the hand seals to perform the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique to launch a burning sphere of flames at the duo. 



Well it was nothing that Mamoru shouldn’t be able to handle.  Water beating fire and all that. Ryuko waited in anticipation, knowing that the moment Mamoru put out the fire would be her opportunity to attempt a capture of Okane which if successful would end this little exercise.


[9]



[spoiler="stuff"]
Analyzing Okane 2/2


Ryuko

Normal chakra 236/320

-1 calm mind upkeep for this post and last post(Tajutusu master reduction)

235/320 remaining 

Sandal 
110/110 Chakra
-20 Turtle Barrier: Fire Wall
90/110 remaining

Leonardo
50/50 Chakra
-3 Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (elemental affinity) 
47/50 remaining

Summon stats:

Jutsu used:

Stats



Ryuko
Strength: B
Constitution: B
Stamina: A-> A++ (Arch Angel's Tiara)
Speed: B  
Coordination: A &
Intelligence: A
Perception: B > A (Calm mind)

Okane was feeling the exhaustion starting to take over. Being broken out of his technique by surprise had taken a toll on him. However even combined they were barely wearing her down. She was beyond the both of them and he knew it. He would take a breath as Mamoru managed to rejoin him. Sweat running down the side of his face and dripping off his chin as he shook a little. His hands trembling from the shock from before. One of those would have been enough to knock him back but getting hit with all of them....The fire wall had turned his dragonflies into piles of melted metal that splattered to the floor uselessly from one firewall. His attempt to attack had been waved by a ring of fire around her from her summons. He would let his emerald gaze flicker to each of her summons as she mentioned them. Mamoru was back at his side and based on his understanding her water element should be superior. However they were losing badly and he could feel the pain in his bones. She was overwhelming them with ease and she seemed impossible for them to reach. He would straighten with a light groan before smiling.

"So...this is the power of a special grade X class shinobi....I should have known we weren't a match...But I still have an option up my sleeve."

He would watch the summon starting to form the fireball and grip Mamoru by her upper arm. Focusing his own chakra. It took more with someone with you but he had enough banked. He hadn't taken someone with him before though. In a moment they were transported from where they stood to another room locked from the inside where he had a tag in the tower. However he would shift and lose his balance as they came in crashing to the floor. The fireball smashing into the floor where they had been moments ago. Okane would lay on his back on the floor panting a moment. Holding his ribs as he caught his breath. Sweat plastering his hair back as he regained his bearings. His eyes staring up to the ceiling as he smiled a little to himself. Finally groaning as he got slowly to his feet and dusted himself off. Speaking calmly.

"Lets call it a day there for now. I need time to recuperate now. Have someone collect your gear for you and have Ryuko send a written evaluation please. Oh lord my bones..."

He would wince a little before going and unlocking the door. Stepping out into the hall of one of the lower apartments to the tower. With a sigh he would head to the elevator and head to his penthouse. It was time for a warm bath and then a long nap. Whatever it really took to recover from the training session. For the time being he just wanted to rest. His chakra reserves were low and he felt exhausted because of it. He trusted Mamoru to handle the rest.

exit thread 8 posts
8 x 20 = 160 exp