[h1][center][color=778899]Team Post[/color][/center][/h1] So that crafty she-devil wanted a fight, huh? Reiji was getting excited. Overjoyed in fact. He was waiting for the chance to test himself against a full fledged jounin. Unfortunately that joy quickly depleted as Fuyuko-sensei continued her little reveal. [color=mediumorchid][i]If we fail we all get sent back!?[/i][/color] That wasn’t something he wanted to risk; hell, it wasn’t even a risk as much as an absolute. Reiji knew when he was outclassed and even though he would normally be unabated by that fact, being sent back to the Academy was not an option for him. It was a struggle to hold himself back. [color=mediumorchid]“Dammit…”[/color] [b]“I choose to fight, sensei! To fight for Toko!”[/b] Reiji glared at Seichi as he took up the challenge without as much as a whisper to the others. Before he knew it Asuka had joined him and even Seji was preparing himself for battle. Clenching his fist he couldn’t help but feel infuriated with them all. At this point it didn’t matter what he thought. They were gonna fight and bring him down with them. Reiji’s eyes drifted over to Toko, the subject of this confrontation. He didn’t know the boy very well, same for all of them. Reiji had yet to move muscle since their sensei announced her ultimatum. If the choice was already made for him then he’d at least clarify his own motives. [color=mediumorchid]“Toko-san...they’re a rude bunch aren’t they? None of them even bothered to ask what you thought.”[/color] Reiji looked down at the shortest of the five of them. He looked at the swordsman as if trying to see his soul. [color=mediumorchid]“So tell me...what do you have to say about this?”[/color] Everyone was so quick to step up and fight for him. The scene was truly touching and unfolding before him, Toko would witness the care in their actions. Seichi and Asuka didn’t even hesitate, something he expected but once it occurred, Toko had to struggle to keep the tears back. Reiji also joined the front lines soon after, prepared to sacrifice himself for someone he hadn’t even come to know as a friend yet. If Toko was in their situation, he would do the same, but it felt good to know how willing everyone was to take care of each other. With that said, they were all incredibly reckless. This could all have been a death sentence and while it was a heartwarming and tearjerking sight, it possessed a hint of rash behaviour and frankly, stupidity. Though, when did love for your friends ever lead to logical decisions? [color=39b54a]They are following their hearts, Reiji-San.”[/color] “ Toko returned, looking to the feral ninja with a minimal smile. [color=39b54a]“I would love to state my opinion, however...”[/color] The boy’s eyes would turn towards their Sensei for a moment before they found home on Reiji once more. [color=39b54a]“...I have been prohibited from expressing my thoughts on the matter, as it was.”[/color] At this point, Toko wanted to scream his thoughts for all to hear but if he did, their Sensei would surely punish them for it. [color=39b54a]“Actions have already been taken. I wish you all luck with the path you have chosen and...”[/color] The swordsman would pause for a moment, turning to Seichi as a warm breeze blew past him. [color=39b54a]“Despite the consequences...I am truly grateful.” [/color] Reiji peered into Toko’s eyes as he spoke. He never broke eye contact, taking in every word. [color=mediumorchid]“I believe you have as much say in this decision as anyone here...actually more. In this test you are the one whose life is on the line. I think you have the right to choose how your life is used and I think…you would give your life rather than let them risk theirs.”[/color] Reiji’s eyes glided to the others. Smirking, he let out a soft chuckle. [color=mediumorchid]“Honestly, you’re stronger than me in some ways if that’s the case. I’m not gonna act like I’m fighting for you. Right now our sensei and your friends have created a barrier in between me and my goals.”[/color] His eyes started to focus more and more on Fuyuko-sensei as his desire to strike grew. [color=mediumorchid]“So I’ll tear it apart. Not for you, not for them. Truthfully, I’m glad...they made it easy to risk my goals for this fight!”[/color] Reiji proceeded to crack his knuckles, disguising the dog seal he’d weaved and the aura that was growing around him as he smiled with anticipation. Reiji’s words coloured him rather ruthless, but given everyone else’s stance on the matter, it could be beneficial to have someone cold hearted in the group. A soft heart making tough decisions would not always lead to a desired outcome. [color=39b54a]Your confidence is comforting, Reiji-San.”[/color]“ The boy would offer a soft nod accompanied by a sweet smile. It would be hard to establish if Toko was being serious or not, though he didn’t seem to harbour any ill will with the way he spoke or presented himself. He had no interest in measuring himself with Reiji, or anyone else for that matter, but it was good to know that the feral ninja was confident in his skills. [color=39b54a]“Be well.”[/color] The swordsman finished, removing his sword from the confines in his belt and placed the sheathed blade on his thighs as he sat down and observed the upcoming fight. For someone who could very well send everyone home, he seemed incredibly calm. An experienced reader of people would however see through this facade and gaze into a terrified heart. Seichi would look over his shoulder at Reiji, feeling the intense aura he was emitting. He would twirl the kunai around his finger, tossing and catching it in his other hand. [color=00aeef]“That’s the spirit, Lion-head”[/color] He would comment on the boy’s readiness before giving Toko and the rest of his teammates a confirming look. He would turn his back towards sensei, hoping she would respect his choice of privacy. [color=00aeef]“Well…”[/color] Seichi would say crossing his arms and looking down, [color=00aeef]“I say a few of us go at her hard, while others go for the pap-”[/color] Reiji darted forward past the others as they readied themselves. [color=mediumorchid]“You’re wasting time, she’s not waiting for an RSVP! Watch her closely and look for openings in her defense!”[/color] Leaping forward the platinum haired beast aimed a fast and strong spin kick at their sensei’s head. He weaved a dragon seal in the midst of his attack creating a cloud behind her for him to rebound off of if she dodged and follow up with an elbow. This was Reiji’s way of fighting. He struck hard and fast, learning as he went. [color=00aeef]“Right, what he said!”[/color] Seichi uttered quickly turning towards Sensei ready to attack. He quickly completed the given handsigns for his jutsu and slammed his two hands on the ground forcefully. [i]I can’t make too many right now with my chakra levels at the moment...Ugh, here goes nothing![/i] The ground then quickly emitted electric currents that each sprouted a clone blazing with electricity that looked like Seichi holding a single Kunai around their index finger. The boy would get up trying to replicate the twelve clone’s stance. [color=00aeef]“Clone Barrage Technique!”[/color] the clones would shout unison before leaping into the air and throwing their kunai in a quick barrage towards their sensei. The clones would then follow the kunai attack with a storm of melee attacks in an attempt to overwhelm their sensei. The clones would quickly disperse into sparks as their attacks got deflected, except for the real Seichi. Asuka couldn't let her feelings get the better of her now. Everything was happening so fast: Reiji was already charging forwards trying to kick Fuyuko to the other side of the training ground, Seichi had just summoned up some -literally- flashy clones, and Seji was, well… analysing the situation. Not that it wasn't unusual for a guy like him, it was just that everyone else had decided to attack their sensei head on. Maybe Asuka should just linger behind for a while until Fuyuko-sensei finally made her move? Although she was indeed a sword specialist, Asuka had been taught to hold back before finally jumping in with a quick slash of the katana. Coming from a clan who's stamina was slightly better than most, exhausting the opponent before striking with full force was the most efficient strategy. However, since Reiji and Seichi had already shot up from their previous positions, it would be best for them to handle Fuyuko-sensei for the time being. First came the fuzzy haired Reiji, attempting harm Fuyuko with a powerful kick. The woman grinned, recalling the boy's words. [color=DC143C]“Trying to look for an opening in my defense, huh? Good luck with that, kiddo.”[/color] In a split second, Fuyuko raised her right hand, forming a ‘Seal of Confrontation’ hand seal and focusing all of her chakra around her body. Although this ‘wall’ wasn't at all visible, the protection was strong and sturdy nevertheless. Only inches away from Fuyuko's face, Reiji’s kick was blocked, coming to a painful stop. The woman grinned once again, her steel-coloured eyes sparkling with excitement and enthusiasm. But, that wasn't the only thing sparkling. As Seichi slammed his palms against the rough ground, twelve clones sparkled to life, each of them leaping into the air all at once. After that came a barrage of shuriken and kunai, hurtling towards Fuyuko at blinding speed. As soon as she had leaped a few metres back to put some distance between herself and the two boys, Seichi’s clones fizzed out of view. Now that Fuyuko was actually a decent distance away, she could finally be prepared for any incoming attacks. Seji stood back as his teammates rushed forward to attack Fuyuko-sensei. The Onoda wasn’t too fond of rushing into a situation without any knowledge of his opponent. This was especially true when he knew he was outmatched. Seji grimaced as he watched Fuyuko deflect every attack from his three other squadmates. She was stronger than she looked. The thing was, it [i]looked[/i] like the attacks hit but they didn’t. Fuyuko must have had some sort of barrier around her. He thought back to the beginning of Reiji’s attack, she made a handseal. [color=440e62][i]So it must be some sort of jutsu then...[/i][/color] Normally Seji would have told his teammates to wait so they could create a plan but he had a feeling that they weren’t the “wait it out” types. Plus, he could still gather data as his teammates attacked. He would just have to focus, and think of a plan to take her down. Then Seji remembered his sensei’s words about this test. They only had a minute to get that piece of paper, what the hell was Seji doing just sitting around? [color=f49ac2][i]Now's my chance![/i][/color] Taking the grip of her katana in hand, Asuka shot towards Fuyuko at terrifying speed. Unsheathing her blade, Asuka attempted to slice at her sensei's side. [color=DC143C][i]Heh, these kids aren't so bad… All I can see in these kids is an infinite amount of potential. However, as of now…[/i][/color] [color=DC143C][i]...they're not good enough.[/i][/color] It took Asuka a moment to realise what had just happened. She had expected the blade to go all the way in, but it didn't. Instead, it was being blocked by something… Something Asuka couldn't really lay her eyes on. The girl didn't even have any time to react herself before she was kicked back a good few metres from Fuyuko. Asuka then fell to the ground with a loud thud. [color=f49ac2][i]What on earth was that? My sword should have hit her… If I can recall, Fuyuko-sensei was able to deflect Reiji's attack too… but how?[/i][/color] Glancing up with her hand against her stomach, Asuka examined the black haired woman, her bright amber eyes scanning her like some sort of machine. Once their eyes met, Asuka was met with a grin that would freeze her on the spot. It was that overwhelming aura again, seeping its way through Asuka's skin and making her shake a little. Was Fuyuko really this intimidating? Asuka had already thought she had seen the worst of the worst before, but the aura that surrounded Fuyuko was an entirely different story. Just what was it about this woman that made the girl's skin crawl? [color=DC143C]“Now's not the time to be gazing up at the clouds, little girl.”[/color] In the blink of an eye, Fuyuko was already standing about a metre away from Asuka, ready to swing. But the question was, what was she trying to swing? It was almost as if she was holding some wooden bat in her hand; only this bat was almost invisible, with blu-ish wisps of air surrounding it. Asuka was right. Everyone was right. Fuyuko really was trying to kill them. If Asuka had been any slower, than her head would have been chopped clean off by now. Just in the knick of time before the wisps came in contact with Asuka's clothing, the girl managed a small jump backwards, taking a few more leaps back to distance herself from this psychopath. Gripping her hand around her sword, Asuka remained stationary, examining the woman once again. [color=f49ac2][i]An invisible shield of some sort and a seemingly invisible sword… How are we supposed to break through that defence of hers?[/i][/color] Reiji’s kick landed but not on his sensei and with some pain. [color=mediumorchid][i]Some kind of barrier?[/i][/color] He saw the look in her eyes, almost the same as his own. Before he could make his next move Fuyuko moved back to avoid Seichi’s incoming hail of kunai. He chased after her escaping the line of fire himself. Suddenly, Asuka flew past him with amazing speed to catch Fuyuko while she finished putting distance between her and them. As quick as she was, in the end her attack met the same fate as Reiji’s with an added kick to add injury to insult. [color=mediumorchid]“I don’t like that look sensei! A jounin should know better than to underestimate her enemy!”[/color] Rabbit, ox, bird. [color=mediumorchid][i]Water Style: Rain Swallow![/i][/color] With her eyes on Reiji, she wouldn’t see anything happen but from behind...The cloud Reiji had created behind Fuyuko-sensei earlier burst into water then reformed as six swallows that raced towards the jounin from behind. [color=mediumorchid]“Keep her on defense and make an opening! I’ll take care of the rest!”[/color] Seji snapped out of his thoughts and formed the Clone Seal and two other Seji’s appeared. The three genin took off, circling behind Fuyuko while she was distracted with Asuka and Reiji. Once behind the woman he sent his two clones to attack Fuyuko in hopes of blowing them up if they could get close to her. Then, Seji dropped to one knee and started to string hand seals together. He formed 5 and ended with the Tiger Seal. [color=440e62]“Ash Style: Cloud!”[/color] A thick cloud grey gas spewed forth from Seji’s lips and quickly floated towards Fuyuko-sensei. Seji had to be careful so that his own teammates didn’t end up inside his cloud or else they’d be in serious trouble. If his clones managed to get close enough to Fuyuko he would make the Seal Of Confrontation and say, “ignite!” Instantly the clones would explode. Then if that didn’t work he would make sure she didn’t have time to recover and send his Ash Cloud towards her. If she became encased in it or even got in proximity of it he would create the same seal and say, “ignite!” This explosion would be much bigger than the explosions the clones created. In all the chaos, Seji’s final move would be to throw 6 shuriken through the explosion to try and hit Fuyuko from behind. As Seichi watched from a distance as his teammates each attempted to get through their sensei’s defenses. [color=00aeef]“My clones couldn't even land a hit on her!”[/color] Seichi said to himself clenching his teeth. [color=00aeef]“It’s as if she is untouchable.”[/color] The boy would then reach into his pouch attached to his thigh pulling out a handful of Kunai and and Shuriken. The boy’s grip on the projectiles weakened as he took account of his chakra levels. [i]Those clones took a big chunk of chakra outta me, Man I’m beat.[/i] His hair, jacket, and pants were dirty with debris from the battle and he stood a far stationary, his eyes somewhat low compared to his always ecstatic face. [i][color=39b54a]“They haven’t even managed to touch her...” [/color][/i] Toko’s grip around the scabbard of his sword tightened as his teeth clenched. This woman was completely insane and it was becoming glaringly obvious that she had no intention of letting the genin pass unless they actually managed to beat her. [i][color=39b54“Wait...”a][/color][/i] Toko’s eyes widened for a moment, observing the fight before him. No one was managing to connect a strike, and their Sensei was retaliating with strikes of her own. They had no chance in his fight from the very beginning, but perhaps beating her was never the point. She was strong, fast and incredibly agile. No one could stand up to her, much less by themselves, but they were doing a good job in combining their attacks. [i][color=39b54a]We all knew she couldn’t be beaten by us yet, but...perhaps that’s not the point. Perhaps the point is to survive her onslaught for the time we’ve been assigned to fight her. Sometimes simply surviving an enemy for an amount of time is critical. We’re not able to fight back here, perhaps the main reason is survival training...” [/color][/i] “Then again, he could be wrong. There could be absolutely nothing to it and their Sensei could just be a psychopathic insane woman. Reiji’s strength, Asuka’s speed, Seji’s strategy and Seichi’s barrage of strikes were completely ineffective against her. How would one break through that barrier Sensei had thrown up? Through brute force? Through pinpoint striking? Imagining himself in that fight, Toko tried to find a weak spot in her arsenal of skills and experience, but he had little luck in such an endeavour. With widened eyes, he got an idea, but could he express it? No, they needed to figure out themselves. [i][color=39b54a]Damn it...come on, think...!”[/color][/i] “ It was all around them. They could use the entire forest to their advantage. With her focus on all of them, there was no way Sensei would be able to know exactly where she stepped. [color=39b54a]“Seichi...!”[/color] Toko looked to his friend, a soft grin stretching across his lips. [color=39b54a]“I know you can do this, buddy. Just...don’t step on any explosive tags...”[/color] Was he going to get it? Damn, Toko wanted to be a part of this battle with all of his being. He couldn’t just watch his allies being torn to pieces without being able to do anything about it. In fact, while being a specialist close quarters combatant with body and sword, Toko disliked battle and wished to avoid it whenever he could. However, seeing his allies, no...friends...in this much trouble, standing by and watching was unbearable. [i][color=39b54a]“When you're outmanned by your opponent, you need to look around and see if you can even the odds with the help of your surroundings...find explosive tags close to Sensei and throw shuriken at them. Your accuracy is astounding, Seichi, now use it...” [/color][/i] Reiji’s eyes were fixated on every movement, every twitch, every muscle. Focusing his chakra he weaved the last handsigns they had time for. His right hand crackled with electric current that now flowed through it. [color=mediumorchid][i]That barrier of hers is stone solid. If I focus more chakra into this I just might get through. I just need an opening…[/i][/color] Seconds was all they had. If their barrage of attacks didn’t reveal a chink in her armor it was all over. [color=mediumorchid][i]Come on, MAKE THAT OPENING![/i][/color] Indeed, this wasn't the time to be staring up at the sky. This wasn't the case for just Asuka, though. If she was to waste any more time trying to mentally (and physically) scar Asuka, then the techniques that were being thrown at her by the other Genin would scar her instead. Despite having large chakra reserves, there was no way she was going to waste it on a simple test like this. Fuyuko reverted back from her Concealment technique to her Chakra Wall technique, just so her chakra levels wouldn't deplete as fast. One thing that actually concerned Fuyuko was how flashy these Genin's techniques were. Sure, they were handpicked by the Hokage himself to form some ‘special’ team, but she didn't really think these kids would be that… strong. I mean, you had the kid who could form lightning style clones, the kid who's speed went from zero to a hundred in seconds, and the two others with the water birds and the ash- The water birds and the ash. [color=DC143C][i]Well… shit.[/i][/color] Water moulded birds shot towards Fuyuko, edging closer and closer by the millisecond. Such an unexpected attack was bound to throw Fuyuko off her balance, even as an experienced Jōnin. She didn't have time to dodge, or even form any more hand seals to switch to Concealment. All the woman could do as of now was endure the attack. [color=DC143C][i]Damn it, I can't possibly dodge a jutsu like that, especially when it's going at such a high speed![/i][/color] Throwing her arms in front of her face, Fuyuko focused as much chakra as she could throughout her body, attempting to soften the impact of the Genin's attack. Before she knew it, the attack had hit, pushing her a few centimeters back. Clearly, her chakra hadn't been distributed properly, and she had only managed to lessen the blow just a teensy bit. It didn't hurt as much as it should have though, since the Chakra Wall was already there. Next came the thick, grey ash, trapping Fuyuko in a suffocating smog. She covered her mouth to muffle her coughs and prevent herself from breathing in any of the ash, springing upwards to escape from this deadly, dark cloud. Although she had managed to be escape successfully, the sudden explosion sent her up about a metre higher, throwing her off balance. Fuyuko managed to land in a very awkward position in a failed attempt to regain her balance. This wasn't going as planned, not at all. Her 'happy’ facial expression had been wiped off, replaced with a completely blank slate. [color=DC143C][i]Fucking kids…[/i][/color] The incoming kunai from Seji were easily evaded, but Fuyuko seemed a little… erratic. She had just managed to sway to the other side to avoid the metal projectiles, but there was something about her nonexistent facial expression and sloppy movements that made her look quite odd. [color=DC143C][i]I guess I shouldn't have underestimated them as much as I did… Well, I guess that goes to show how talented these kids really are.[/i][/color] Another widespread grin crept up onto Fuyuko's face as she stood up properly, staring up at the sun. [color=DC143C][i]I'm guessing these runts have about thirty seconds left before I end this test… However, seeing how flashy they were all being with their techniques makes me want to bring out something too… something that will make this test end with a bang.[/i][/color] Weaving five hand signs in total, Fuyuko's body was engulfed in flames, shooting upwards and making small crackling noises. A faint outline of a traditional samurai armour set could be seen, glowing a light orange inside of Fuyuko's flames. The woman stood there and beckoned them with a confident hand, flames continuing to rage on. [color=DC143C]“Well then… what are you kids waiting for?”[/color] Seichi quickly covered his face blocking any debris as he witnessed his Sensei’s body be overtaken by a fiery suit of armour. The intense amount of chakra flowing through her made Seichi tremble and lower onto one knee. [color=00aeef]“What am I waiting for…?”[/color] He would mutter to himself almost in a give-up tone before his signature smile formed upon his face. [color=00aeef]“Ha! we’re...just warming...up...”[/color] The genin would manage to say breathing heavily. He would in a drunken tipsy motion stand up and position himself towards his sensei, tightly gripping the projectiles still in his hand. Upon standing up, Seichi would come to realization on what Toko meant before with his encouraging words. [color=39b54a]“I know you can do this, buddy. Just...don’t step on any explosive tags...”[/color] [i]The tags are still around![/i] He wasn’t sure if that's what his friend was trying to tell him, but either way he had to act fast. The boy would then without thinking dash towards his sensei, throwing a variation of purposely missed Kunai and Shurikens in order to draw her into a good position. He would then still running directly towards her leap over his Sensei, trying to endure the heat of her aura as much as possible and spinning himself into a fake kick he would also miss intentionally. In the midst of being in mid-air, the boy would focus until he was able to see the thin wire, then throw the projectile in a quick, precise motion. The shuriken cutting the wire into two would causing an explosion like before, sending Seichi flying with the explosion’s impactful blast radius. [i][color=39b54a]“Did...they turn it around...?”[/color][/i] Toko watched with a sense of pride as his teammates managed to get the better of their sensei, but was rather dumbfounded as to how they could. Using the one thing they had, numbers, they tried to topple her with pure brute force. She was fighting back but Sensei was undoubtedly going easy on the squad. If she was dead set on killing them, she would. They all worked rather well in unison and combined their strikes rather expertly. Perhaps they would get through the day after all. Even if Toko had to get sent back to the academy for his failure in the previous test, the others could have impressed Sensei enough to make her change her mind regarding them. [i][color=39b54a]“You’ve all been fantastic...I hope she sees that.”[/color][/i] Ironic how she hasn’t seen Toko do anything. She never witnessed him during the academy and in this test she has seen him do absolutely nothing. How could she possibly allow him to pass when she hadn’t even seen what he was capable of. Not only that, his report wouldn’t exactly hold up in terms of scale. Getting a zero in anything but Kenjutsu and Taijutsu would surely make him less attractive. [color=39b54a]“Seichi...!”[/color] The boy would quickly ascend to his feet as he took a few quick steps forward when he saw his friend cause an explosion which enveloped him. [i][color=39b54a]That’s...not what I meant...what the hell are you thinking...?”[/color][/i]“ Could that have killed him? Toko’s fist clenched tightly as he watched with a heart beating like a jackhammer. Seichi had just blown himself up. Fuyuko-sensei was living up to her rank. Rain Swallow wasn’t a powerful jutsu but in combination with Seji’s Ash clones she tanked the attacks with less than a scratch. The only solace that came from this is that they’d managed to throw her off balance with that and the ash plume engulfing her. Reiji narrowed his gaze waiting for her to leave the ash. Once she did her movements were getting sloppier amongst their onslaught. Things were looking in their favor. That is until dropped her smile and regained her composure. The natural presence she commanded seemed to grow. [color=mediumorchid]“Hmph...and I thought we had her…”[/color] Her smile returned as her body ignited and was engulfed in flames, her previous barrier replaced with a fiery and radiant armor. She was standing a few meters away but Reiji could feel the heat as if she was directly in front of him. [color=mediumorchid][i]So this is a jounin, an elite shinobi...this was a only a taste of what she can do.[/i][/color] Her exhibition only served to rile Reiji up to test himself against her. The aura of his King of Beasts genjutsu grew in response to his exhilaration as he poured more chakra into his jutsu. If catching her off guard was no longer an option then going through it was their last option. [color=mediumorchid]“Don’t think you can intimidate us…”[/color] Seichi made his last move, scattering kunai and shuriken revealing a one of Fuyuko’s traps behind. [color=mediumorchid]“We were chosen for this special squad for a reason…”[/color] The spirited Hino triggered the explosive without fear, nearly incinerating himself in the process and blasting their sensei. [color=mediumorchid]“Each of us here is stronger than you gave us credit for. I won’t lie, we made the same mistake when we challenged you but we won’t back down now. So if you think you can intimidate then you still underestimate us!”[/color] The aura around Reiji flared into a roaring lion. [color=mediumorchid]“Lightning Style: Flash Point!”[/color] The built up electrical current running through his left hand flowed along his body to his right hand and struck out from the end of his fingertips, a lightning bolt hurling towards the armor clad jounin. As soon as the jutsu left his body his vision blurred as he became lightheaded. [color=mediumorchid][i]I might’ve gotten overzealous and used up more chakra than I meant to~[/i][/color] [color=DC143C][i]So, they intend to go on the offense again? Only twenty seconds are left now… How are they gonna pull this off exactly?[/i][/color] Fuyuko's smile grew wider. These kids weren't going to give in, no matter how hot her blazing armour got. They spoke with courage and confidence, something that she viewed in a very positive light. Even Toko, who had been thrown to the sidelines, was still cheering on for them, encouraging his teammates to fight on despite his current position. [color=DC143C][i]They're hard to beat down, that's for sure… Nevertheless, these kids are still persistent.[/i][/color] Seichi, who seemed to be standing a little bit too close to Fuyuko, dashed towards her, throwing multiple kunai and shuriken in her direction. Much to her surprise, the projectiles missed completely, making her take a few steps back. She had no idea what this boy was aiming for, so she decided to stay on the defensive for now. Well, for the last fifteen seconds that remained anyways. Then, [i][b]boom.[/b][/i] Fuyuko was then flung backwards, landing back first into the ground. Her armour still remained ‘in tact’, but now, it seemed to be flickering slightly. Before she could get back to her feet, her face was greeted with another blade, ready to dive into her flesh. Moulding chakra in her hands, Fuyuko managed to block it with her own fiery sword. Much to her surprise, the blade she had blocked wasn't dripping just yet from the high temperature. [color=DC143C][i]A normal sword should have melted away by now. If that’s not a normal sword, then it must be made of [b]that[/b] type of material… Damn, and I thought the Koizumi kid was out of it already…[/i][/color] Using her own brute strength, Fuyuko used her sword of fire to throw Asuka off balance. Staggering to her feet, she looked towards the sky, while the Koizumi girl, sweat drenched and panting, stayed crouched on the floor. After coming so close to Fuyuko while she was using her Ignition technique, it was no wonder Asuka was starting to feel the burn. [color=DC143C][i]Shit… thirty seconds have passed already? Jeez, all those flashy attacks and dodging made it seem like an hour…[/i][/color] Dispelling her armour in small flames, Fuyuko sighed, wiping the sweat off her forehead. [color=DC143C]“Well, that's your thirty seconds up, then. Jeez, you kids are actually kinda-”[/color] [color=mediumorchid]“Lighting Style: Flash Point!”[/color] Fuyuko barely had any time to react. The bolt came zooming in, hitting the unaware woman in the head. Now that her Chakra Wall was also gone, she actually felt it this time, and boy did it hurt like hell. [color=DC143C][i]What… just happened? Was I just beaten by… a mere Genin?[/i][/color] The unconscious Fuyuko came crashing to the ground, the dust blowing into different directions from the impact. Everyone, including Asuka, looked onwards, dumbfounded by their sensei's sudden defeat. [color=f49ac2]“Fuyuko...sensei?”[/color] ~ [color=DC143C]Fuck… I feel like I just gulped down two bottles of sake. Heh, fun times…[/color] [color=f49ac2]“Fuyuko-sensei, are you awake?”[/color] Jolting back up, Fuyuko grabbed at her head, the pain from Reiji's lightning bolt still lingering. [color=DC143C]”Okay, seriously, guys… What the hell was that?”[/color] Asuka shifted around a little, still knelt down beside Fuyuko. [color=f49ac2]“Well, as soon as your… armour was dispelled, Reiji-san used some sort of technique and it hit you… It's been about fifteen minutes since then.”[/color] [color=DC143C]“You've gotta be shitting me…”[/color] Fuyuko muttered, still holding her head. Creeping back up to her feet, she tried to regain her composure and consciousness. She snuck a cheeky glare towards Reiji, folding her arms over her chest. [color=DC143C]“God damn kids…”[/color] Reiji sat on a rock and whistled directing her attention to the slip of paper in his hand. [color=mediumorchid]“Honestly sensei, I would think a Jounin would know not to let her guard down until her enemy stops moving. Still, we didn’t actually retrieve this before time was up so I commend you on fending off four exceptional Genin~”[/color] The lion cub smirked. [color=mediumorchid]“Oh, and sorry about nailing you with my jutsu. I got a little carried away.”[/color] Sitting herself back down in front of the Genin with her arms still crossed, Fuyuko closed her eyes for a moment. [color=DC143C]“So… I’m guessing you guys have been wondering what this test is all about… right?”[/color] Fuyuko unfolded her arms. [color=DC143C]“You see, there's always a reason why we put you through these tests…. In this case, I set all of this up to see how you kids would respond to different situations. If you haven't noticed already, I've actually been stalking you guys through the forest this entire time, and I have to say… you guys aren't that bad.”[/color] Glancing towards Seichi for a split second, Fuyuko continued. [color=DC143C]“Although some of you… rushed into the forest rather quickly, at least you all managed to see logic and split up into pairs. If you had gone solo, the risks of being blown to smithereens were pretty high, but that way, you would have been able to cover more ground. Going as a group would have lessened those risks, but finding the rest of the paper pieces would have been a much more difficult task. This test was all about teamwork and strategy… and, to be honest, you kids handled it pretty well. Especially the final minutes when the four of you went head to head with me. Never have I thought that a bunch of kids would be talented enough to push me to the point of using that fire armour you saw earlier!”[/color] Fuyuko chuckled at her last few words, eyeing each and every one of her Genin. [color=DC143C]“You all show great potential, but remember, don't even think for a [i]second[/i] that you're safe just because you've passed this final test. There will be many trials and obstacles that you kids will have to face for the next few years, but once you've overcome those many obstacles, you'll only to continue to grow, both mentally and physically. Who knows, maybe some of you will be able to surpass me in a few years time. Well, I guess only time will tell.”[/color] Lifting herself from the ground, Fuyuko walked ahead, back turned from the rest. [color=DC143C]“Even though you runts didn't get all the papers in time, you still showed me how well you lot work as a team, whether you're all acquainted with each other or not.”[/color] Turning her head towards the teens again, Fuyuko smiled. Not a smile that would make her Genin think she was mentally unstable, but a normal, genuine smile. [color=DC143C]“Now, I suggest you kids go get some rest now… Our first mission is going to be in two days time, so you all better be prepared!”[/color] [color=DC143C][i]Even though that Toko boy didn't do all that much… I bet not even that Koizumi girl could slice through a tree that big. He's one of the only other people who wields a sword too... The Hokage sure did pick the right guys for the job~[/i][/color] [hr] [@Shard] [@SayZun] [@TheFourthIV] [@Vongola_Hasayo]