The Ashen Disgrace [Training/Akira]

The forest felt alive as the wind breathed on the occupants. The rustling of leaves from the canopy above Auro’s head, the chirping activity coming from the birds nearby, and the rising future this hidden village has to offer. It has been a few months since Auro shamefully lost to his father, and ever since then the Hyuuga always reminds him of that shame on a daily occurrence. They found his methods to be unethical, when really Auro wasn’t going around assassinating anyone or stealing money. He was more of a delivery boy than anything else, but they didn’t see it that way. Auro doubts that they ever will since the Hyuuga always shunned him because of his hair and eyes.

Ash’s silver hair shifts with the motion as he draws back his once outstretched palm against the wooden dummy to strike with his elbow of his other arm. Almost as if he’s blocking a middle strike, and with his palm cocked back Auro slams his palm with a thrust against the center. If this was on a real person, Ash feel like he could follow-up with several combinations that he can think of. His doujutsu isn’t active of course, as his crimson eyes doesn’t need to look at people’s tenketsu. Rather he prefer to save his eyesight until a real fight breaks out. Besides, what Auro is practicing is methods to defend himself from mid to high attacks by utilizing his elbows to serve as his shield. The joints, and the elbows specifically are particularly stronger than mere fists can dish out. However the problem is that compared to the range of a fist, the elbows and knees are limited.

Still he shifts around the dummy as Auro alternates from the elbows to the knees against the limbs. It honestly would remind people of an 8-point strike system, except that with him limiting to these four points it would still be a 4-point system. However this was just a defense mechanism. The problem that Auro can see is that if he isn’t quick enough to react to the strike then the defense would be meaningless. However it is hard to tell if he has progressed at all since he isn’t facing a real opponent. Regardless he keeps practicing the defense as he shifts around the dummy.

Auro is simply garbed in a tank top with a pair of shinobi slacks and a pair of tabi. The Konohagakure headband can be seen on his forehead that also seems to hold up his silver hair. His honey colored skin has a faint shine to it from the sweat he’s putting into this training. Of course the weather is also rather hot too with the humidity rather high, but still Ash knows that a river is nearby. He could always take a swim there in case it gets too hot out here, but even if it wasn’t he’d still consider it since he just likes to swim.

Learning Counter of the Ram - C Rank 518 WC

Akari Uchiha, Rokudaime Hokage of Konohagakure, needed to learn some of her jutsu concepts. Of course what better place for that than one of the fabulous training grounds the were located conveniently within her village? No where of course. The dark haired teen still wore her normal attire of a red blouse, black skirt, black ribbons in her hair, black thigh high socks, and simple, yet functional, black combat shoes. Her sword, Singing Tempest, was safe and sound in a small scroll in one of her shinobi pouches. At her hip instead was her practice Bokken. A simple wooden sword of exquisite craftsmanship made out of Senju wood. It was her tool for sparring individuals so that she wouldn't accidentally cut them in half with Singing Tempest. The weapon was well crafted and had an edge honed to such a razor like sharpness that she dared not risk using it against an ally. Not in a situation would accidents, could quite literally happen.

Moving onto the field she would note that it was already in use by someone. That was not by itself an indicator that she needed to leave. The field was more than big enough for a few people to train in relative seclusion. Hell she expected to see at least one person at work trying to increase their martial strength for whatever purpose. Be it defending the village, simply wanting to be stronger, or even wanting to overthrow the tyrannical kage one day...Hey wait.

Akari, not the type to try to interrupt someones training, would simply take another part of the field. Her intent was to learn some of the ninjutsu she'd designed. All of the theories played out well on paper. Now was just a matter of putting them into practice. The main part of the day, was ensuring that she could in fact utilize the jutsu that would start it all. A personal technique, known as Gandr. Requiring four seals to utilize the concentrated bullet of chakra would move and strike with incredible speed and force. Should those hit by it survive the encounter, the bullet would temporarily 'curse' them and reduce their physical strength for a time.

Nodding to herself as she prepared the technique, her three tomoe sharingan would come into existence, her normally piercing blue eyes now becoming black tomoe upon a sea of red. Four seal, Tiger, Rat, Boar, Ram. All made with a single hand. As she did them she would channel chakra into the hand before firing the bullet. It was roughly a meter in length and a foot in width as it lanced out from her hand and struck a tree, smashing through the wide trunk and going clear through more until it dissipated at the fifty meter mark. "Perfect" She would say simply, nodding to herself as her theory came into practical application with ease. She had plenty more to work on where that came from, and all of them relied upon the basic principles of Gandr.

Auro would notice a familiar face from the depths of the forest, and he understands that some of the Hyuuga tried to break away from the Konohagakure ranks. Not to mention the constant tension and bitterness between the Hyuuga and the Uchiha is enough to put both clansmen on edge. Perhaps the main benefit for Ash is that he doesn’t scream Hyuuga, but by the same token Akari is the Hokage and would know who he is just by looking at him. Or so he thought anyways. Of course he did briefly stop in his activities to watch what she was doing, and apparently despite being a person in higher rank doesn’t mean they have to neglect their training either.

Still, he knows a bit in terms of his earth release, but can’t grasp the advanced techniques just yet. Still, Ash looks down at the earth around him and ponders on what sort of technique he should focus on. A basic defense technique from afar could help in some way. Granted what he wants to learn is the earth wall technique, but again he lacks the experience to truly learn it. So why not focus on a lesser, smaller version of it? Ash recalled a technique that’s basically a human sized shield of dirt. He’s not exactly sure how big it was, but he molds the chakra with a tiger seal and through his feet. The chakra weaved to 5 meters in front of him where a 2x2 meter wall of dirt instantly rose to existence.

After that was done, Auro hoped that it was correctly done. There was another reason for this, and that was because he wanted something that wasn’t expensive to replace. Not that he wanted something to be destroyed, but in order to tell if this technique works he either needs a living target or just a target in general. Veins begins to bulge out from the temples of his face as there is a faint indication of a pupil in his crimson eyes. A clear indication that he’s using the Byakugan, and he lowers his form into the Gentle Fist. Concentrating the chakra into his palms, Ash thrust one palm from a distance at this wall of dirt. Yet aside from the dirt being brushed off from the wall not much was done to it.

A click of his tongue as he was clearly unsatisfied with the result, Ash thrusts his other palm forward to release the chakra building up in his hand to release in a cone shaped burst. To most who can’t see chakra due to the naked eye being unable to perceive it as such until it is externalized somehow. To Auro though, he can see the blast of chakra extend past his hand at a painfully slow pace. It was slower than how he strikes, which would probably be why the first attempt didn’t do anything. Which means that he’ll have to resort to being really up close and personal. Probably use it in strike multiple tenketsu points in addition to his regular strikes. Something for Auro to consider later, and he severs the connection to the wall as it just crumbles into a heap of dirt.

Learning Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm - C rank (200/200)
Learning Wall of Earth - D rank custom (200/200)
564 WC

Akari would note Auro's momentary interest in her training and bear it no mind. He was training too and some techniques one couldn't use a partner with for fear of injuring them severely. This was one of those moments for her. If a Gandr hit Auro, it probably would've killed him. As a matter of fact, if any of these techniques that she would be training hit him, they would probably kill him. So she wouldn't approach him yet. She had a few more jutsu to train before she would go interact, and maybe even spar. Now however was not the time. As such, she would begin to consider her next jutsu. Gandr: Beam, was the same conceptually as the original Gandr. Instead however it focused the raw power of the technique into a cutting beam of raw chakra that extended from her fingers. Such a technique did have it's differences, firstly that Akari could control how ride the beam was to being an inch round, to up to foot. Secondly, the beam did not carry the original Gandr's ability to reduce the strength of one struck. This was due to all that energy being focused into a cutting stream instead.

However this technique did have one aspect that was insanely useful in the heat of fast paced combat. For you see, Gandr: Beam, only utilized a single hand seal. Forming her hand into the Tiger seal, she would lance it across in a wide arc, effectively swinging the beam as it extended out from her finger. The beam would immediately cut through a tree's trunk, felling the tree in one swing. A large commotion would occur as the tree hit the ground, the impact heavy enough to cause the ground to shake minutely beneath her feet. Perfect, Gandr: Beam was exactly as she hoped it would be, hell, it was probably more so. Turning her head to look off toward Auro to see what he was working on it. She would see a blast of chakra escape his hand, her sharingan capable of seeing chakra quite clearly. Once it was done Auro would disperse the wall.

After doing that vacuum palm, he didn’t want to suffer eye strain from having his eyes active for too long. Especially when he’s not in combat for that matter. There was one other technique of the Hyuuga that Auro wanted to learn, but that one actually requires to be in a spar. The infamous Eight Trigrams; Thirty-Two Palms where it is well known for the ability to seal up to thirty two of the body’s tenketsu. Great for sealing people’s chakra and for stunning them too if possible. In short it has a number of uses that Auro could use for close combat. Best part of it is that it didn’t matter how hard he strikes someone. Just surgically poke their tenketsu points until their body can’t handle it anymore. The bulging veins around the sides of his face retract and the pupil seems to vanish. Leaving only his red eyes with no pupil.

Then there was a loud commotion as the ground itself felt like it was shaking violently. Surprising Auro as he looked over at the source to see that it’s only half a tree falling off to the side. Causing quite a stir in the area as mild obscuring clouds of fine dirt lingers in the air around the tree. Akari, who earlier shot some kind of energy bullet. Now has some kind of extension in energy to which Auro assumed that it was raiton. However clearly he was mistaken as raiton normally crackles and delivers thunderous sounds. Yet it clearly did none of those things as it barely made a sound. Akari turns to face towards him, and he nervously chuckles as he holds his hands up like he’s surrendering.

”Sorry princess, but I’m afraid I don’t have anything that has that kind of firepower. But what a marvelous display of power! Fitting for one in such a high position as yourself.” Ash speaks like he was addressing a noble, which in a literal sense she is a noble hailing from the Uchiha clan. If Auro was of the main branch, then he too would be considered to be a noble, but alas he’s put off to the side branch. Auro’s hands lower to his side as his smile forms on his carefree expression.

”Of course, if it’s close quarters I wouldn’t mind sparring with Lady Hokage, if she permits it of course. I’m still getting the hang of certain techniques, but it’s hard to tell if any progress is made when not testing it against a living opponent.”

His sudden nickname for her would cause an eyebrow to quirk up curiously. My wasn't he acting familiar so suddenly? Either way so long as that nickname stayed private she supposed she didn't care. His words would cause her pause however. So, he needed a training partner for some of his jutsu? Well she wasn't done working on hers yet but that did not in anyway mean that she couldn't be helpful to someone when they required it. After all was not her job to guide those that needed it within her village? As well as protect it to the best of her capabilities and lead it in battle if necessary? In her opinion, it was. However there was one more thing she wanted to work on too. She contemplated this before nodding to herself and forming a shadow clone. This would create a completely solid doppelganger of herself. "Help him with his training while I finish up my own." She would say, prompting the clone to nod and move toward Auro.

The clone would move closer to Auro speaking as it did. "My apologies, I'm working on jutsu of my own right now and I need to get them down. Hopefully this will be sufficient for the moment?" She would ask raising an eyebrow at Auro in curiosity. The clones were solid and could perform any actions. That meant it would be a good training partner in a pinch. At least until Akari herself was done. She had three more techniques to practice before she had finished what she had intended for the day. Anymore would simply be extra. Which she wouldn't mind doing. However it meant that after she had finished these next three jutsu, she could help Auro herself rather than having a clone do it.

Her next technique was another off shoot of Gandr, they all were really. This one was Gandr: Volley and it fired multiple bullet sized Gandr shots in a cone. They have a wider degree of range but as such no longer are concentrated enough to 'curse' the target like a Gandr would. This meant they were little more than a rapid fire volley of chakra 'bullets'. Useful in a pinch, and would compliment her style nicely. The hand seals for Volley were Tiger, Rat, and Boar. Which she performed with a single hand before launching the volley of 50 bullet sized projectiles from the same hand, launching them all in a staggered firing pattern in their 45 degree cone of fire. The bullet punctured multiple holes in the trees, peppering many of them with fire and causing all of them to be riddled with holes. Nodding to herself, Akari would be content with that technique too. That left two more to practice.

A copy of Akari popped into existence next to the real Akari. Truthfully Ash didn’t expect her to oblige his training considering that she was focused on her own. Still if she was willing to be his sparring partner then he wasn’t going to refuse. The smile still present on his lips as she questioned if her clone would suffice. A chuckle could be heard from his lips before he responded.

”Clone or not, you’re more than sufficient princess. I’d like to keep this just taijutsu since that’s what I’m focusing on, but if that’s not your style then I can work with it.” Auro commented before he lowered his stance with his open palms raised. He’s not activating his Byakugan, and based on his intent and the way his palms are positioned. He doesn’t intend to start plugging her tenketsu, although now that Auro thinks about it he’s not sure if a clone can take a hit at their tenketsu. Either way, he would be polite enough to wait for Akari to assume her preferred stance.

Once she’s ready, Auro will sprint towards the clone, although at 2 meters from Akari the Hyuuga will perform a series of jumps towards her in a zig-zag pattern . It’s just a little trick to confuse the eye especially at close range, and Auro will attempt to slam his right palm against the clone’s left rib. He keeps his left palm closer to his body almost like a protective ward. The nature of the impact would simply push Akari to the side and knock her off balance. Although he doubts that she would take the hit, clone or not, which is why Auro doesn’t press for an attack and assumes a more defensive stance.

Used Gentle Fist (Not True Damage)

Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: D
Speed: C > C+
Coordination: C > C++
Intelligence: D
Perception: C

There was that 'princess' comment again. Still, it would be alright so long as he did not say something like that around others. It was not professional in the end. The clone of the teen had considered saying something about it. But decided that if he was fool enough to try it then he would be in need of a lesson. His lowering into a stance would prompt the doppelganger of Akari to activate her eyes. The three black tomoe upon a sea of red appearing into view. Replacing the sight of her crystalline clear blue eyes. Her wooden sword sat upon her waist, and she drew it. Him specializing in Taijutsu was all well and good. However she was a Kenjutsu practitioner.

She'd drop into the stance of her personal style, The Art of The Blade Mistress. It was a bit of a pretentious name for a style. However it certainly helped her in many ways. The movements of the style were fluid, and graceful. Adding a level of efficiency to her strikes that she wouldn't normally have. Meanwhile, they were deceptive, and confusing to those watching, causing their own abilities to track her strikes to be diminished. She would be prepared to attack or defend in this way. Once she was prepared, Auro would charge her, moving in a zig zag pattern when he was two meters away. Her Sharingan caught the movements, easily telling her exactly where he would move and how he would strike.  

As such, the moment Auro left the ground from his second jump in his zig zag pattern, one that would carry him to be within range of her. The jump starting from her left and ending half a meter away from her. Well within his attack range, she would utilize one of her styles swift strikes. A simple riposte that was a swift thrust at the target. Since she was utilizing a wooden bokken, the strike would be non lethal, but certainly painful. The blow would be timed to land center mass in the middle of the boys jump, while his feet were still off the ground. This would put him still within her striking range, but outside his.

The real Akari meanwhile, would still be a ways away practicing jutsu. Now that's gotten Gandr, Gandr Beam, and Gandr Volley down it was time for her to learn her next technique, Gandr Burst. This technique was supposed to be extremely versatile in it's usage as it's premise was being able to detonate any Gandr shot. Be in the form of a regular Gandr, a bullet from Volley, or a mine from the next technique in her arsenal. It did not require hand seals and as such made for a potent blindside tool. Still though, every jutsu needed to be learned and mastered. So Akari quickly went through the four seals for Gandr and fired a shot. When it reached thirty meters away she focused upon the traveling projectile and manipulated it in such a way to cause it to violently explode. It worked, and the bolt of black and red energy exploded outward violently, forming a large sphere of chakra that obliterated what was caught in it. Nodding to herself, she would mentally add the technique to her repertoire.

Strength: D
Constitution: D
Stamina: C+
Speed: C
Coordination: C > B++
Intelligence: S
Perception: C > B

Spoiler:

It was one thing when Auro can see the attack, another to react, and a third thing to even track the attack. Granted Ash didn't really expect that his feeble attempt to work since unlike him Akari has the advantage over reach. Granted if she was slow enough, and he was quick enough to react. Auro somewhat anticipated that he could maneuver out of the sword's path. But alas in what seemed to be a flash he felt something sharp and narrow thrust against his chest. Rewarding an audible grunt as he wasn't expecting that quick of a reaction.

"Oof!" Granted it wasn't enough to knock him out as his body can take a hit, but it was certainly enough to make him stop in his tracks. Ash took a couple of steps back to catch his footing and also to get out of her sword's reach. Witnessing the Sharingan in action, he can believe the fables of the eye that can track high speeds and copy their techniques. Considering the speed she was moving, and something about the way she was wielding that wooden sword seemed to be a bit off. He's confident in his eyesight that Auro wouldn't miss something as a sword strike. Even if Akari was swinging at higher velocity than he can achieve Ash figured he would at least see the blurring physical energy from her sword to her arm.

A smirk plays on his lips as Auro decides he might as well try to overcome that somehow. Veins bulge out around his temples as a faint pupil can be seen in his eyes. Indicating that he is using the Byakugan as he lowers his stance. It's really his first time to try this against a live opponent, but seeing as this was a clone and he needs to outmaneuver her somehow. Figured this might do the trick. If not then at least he'll have experience with it. Moving at incredible speeds, Auro curves towards her to come at her flank. The side that holds her sword, and in quicker succession Auro will attempt to deliver two pokes of his index fingers into her sword arm on the bicep area.

'Two… Ash thought to himself as he pivot himself around to be positioned crouching behind her. Where he'll follow up with two more pokes against the midsection of her back as he dropped into a crouch. This was done on purpose to avoid strikes meant to aim head level. But in any case Auro will use this position to leap in the air as he attempts to flip over Akari's clone. Where he'll dish out a flurry of four pokes against her shoulders, two on each shoulder.

'Eight…' Assuming he succeeds this far, Auro will land in front of Akari's original position and he starts to feel the stress in his arms as he rapidly thrusts eight more pokes against her collarbone closer to the shoulders. Effectively closing off the tenketsu around her arms. Auro's left brow twitched as he felt the stress increase as his strikes progressed faster for the climax of this technique. In a flurry that would be a blur to the untrained eye, Ash thrusts sixteen more palms against Akari's sternum. Closing off exactly thirty two of Akari's tenketsu, and at the thirty-second palm a small burst of chakra erupts from Auro's hand that would knockback the clone 5 meters away. Granted it is a clone so it would more than likely disperse if it hasn't already, but otherwise Akari would have been stunned and unable to perform advanced lethal techniques.

Used Gentle Fist
Learning Eight Trigrams Thirty Two Palms
Activated Byakugan 15/17

Strength: D
Constitution: C
Stamina: D
Speed: C > C+ (Gentle Fist) > B (Eight Trigrams)
Coordination: C > C++ (Gentle Fist) > B+ (Eight Trigrams)
Intelligence: D
Perception: C > D+ (Blade Mistress/Tracking Akari only)

Clonekari wasn't about to let such an attack hit her, mainly because she couldn't take a hit and if she were to continue to help him then she needed to stick around. Still she figured this was something he needed to practice against a live opponent. Which she only counted as on a technicality. Still, her sharingan eye showed her his incoming movements and so it was clear to her how he would come in. Turning with him, she wouldn't allow him to flank her, for such a thing would remove him from her field of vision and that, when using the sharingan, was a stupid thing to let happen.

As he curved toward her, her eyes would show her his chosen path and with a quick step would be within range of her own weapons swing. The strike would be incredibly hard to follow, for she would be using her Blade Mistresses Waltz technique. A Kenjutsu assault that further reduced a target's capability of tracking it. The strike would be aimed low, at the closest of Auro's knees, the intention to cause him to fall to the ground in a heap. Thus countering his assault neatly as he wouldn't be able to deliver the blows. The attack would be timed to occur when Auro was still out of range of his own strike. Should it succeed, Clonekari would back off, giving him space and room to get back up. She would retreat to ten meters away, holding her bokken defensively. The point wasn't to pound him into the ground, but to give him the chance to improve.

Meanwhile the real Akari would practice the final variant of her Gandr line of techniques. Gandr Mine was probably one of her favorite of the group due to it's passive defensiveness of her. Forming the three one handed seals of Tiger, Boar, and Rat. Once that was done she would begin channeling chakra into an oversized gandr was held in her hand. Then she would let the jutsu go and the oversized ball would separate into ten normal sized Gandr bolts. These bolts would then hover around her. These bolts would hover around her, fifteen meters away. Luckily Auro and her clone were about forty meters away from her. Ten closer and the mines would've attacked Auro indiscriminately. Nodding to herself Akari would wave a hand and disperse the jutsu before turning to watch the spar in place.


Strength: D
Constitution: D
Stamina: C+
Speed: C
Coordination: C > B
Intelligence: S
Perception: C > B

Spoiler:

The clones strike would find Auro's knee however when she struck him he did more than crash to the ground in a heap. He crashed magnificently and when he hit the ground her rolled a way, tagged his head on a stone, and clocked himself clean the hell out. Akari's eyes widened at the unfortunate accident and she moved toward him quickly, checking him for injuries. He was fine, just knocked himself out on a rock. He was in absolutely no danger and she would click her teeth in annoyance as she lifted him up and moved him into a fireman's carry. She'd better take him to the hospital just in case. If he managed to concuss himself it could be bad and that would be a waste. Turning toward her clone, who had been standing to the aside watching she would nod her head before dispersing it. She'd already done what she had come here intending to do either way. Her personalized techniques were now learned and she could utilize them in combat effectively.

So without further ado, Akari would carry Auro off to the hospital for him to be checked in. She was certain he'd be fine, so it would probably be a matter of making sure her was okay before sending him home when he awoke.

Exit

Auro felt a pain at his knee as Akari struck at it, and considering the momentum he was going through it ended up tripping the gening over. Right to where he went face first against a rock and he blacked out.

[Exit]