Ryozan knew too well the feeling that invoked his opponent's roar. When he was young he would often yell out like that himself after a challenging match, and indeed he felt the same rush of adrenaline that brought about such urges, but his training and culture had instilled equanimity in him so that he would not partake in the cathartic bellow. And, no doubt, while fueled by such emotion, Mr. Sunshine's blade was still something to be feared, even a wide slash telegraphed as blatantly as the one he now displayed. However, Mr. Sunshine's windup did not daunt Ryozan at all, nor did it change his plans for his attack with his right hand. Although he had not intended to use it as a shield, the layer of ice that he had put on his tail would come in handy.

As the distance between the two men closed, Ryozan poured what ki he could into the ice on his tail in the brief time he had, planted his feet as if to make a strike, and then wrapped his tail halfway around his body to intercept the slash. There was a metallic clash as the sword struck ice, sending shards and a plume of fur into the air, but he had managed to strengthen the ice just enough to save his tail. The impact of the blow drove the spikes on the inside of his tail into Ryozan's side, leaving a few shallow punctures, but it was nothing debilitating and nothing compared to the damage he was now in perfect position to deal. 

As Mr. Sunshine's sword scraped upwards along Ryozan's tail, the kitsune let his right fist fly under the arc of the blade and towards Mr. Sunshine's ribs. The only modification that needed to be made to the strike was that at this distance a straight would be more effective than a hook. But, the explosive force of the hasaiken would be just as damaging to his opponent's bones as ever. Perhaps with two damaged arms and shattered ribs making it painful to breathe, his opponent would yield; if not, Ryozan wouldn't complain. He was having the time of his life.