Higen v.s Koroshiya

[Higen]

It's just around ten o'clock at night on the day of Getsuyoubi. The rain is coming down quite hard as
the gusts of wind blow it about. Sitting in the middle of the old training grounds is a young Shinobi,
meditating. Unaffected by the weather he looks downward focused. It would appear to be Higen of
the Leaf, if one was familiar with his file at the academy. Beads of water drip off his nose and collect
at his hands. "Soon.".

Koroshiya walks into the area slowly pushing his way through the trees to his usual spot in the
clearing, remnants of the night's rainfall gathering on the leaves overhead. He strides into the tall
brush and sits down on a nearby stump, "Hey Higen, long time no see." Koroshiya raises his hand in
a brief wave, with the other hand he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a letter. As he
quickly unfolds the letter he draws his thumb along top edge, tearing the seal, he glances down at the
letter and simultaneously Koroshiya speaks towards Higen, "So what have you been up to?".

Higen looks up and smiles in the direction of the voice. He looks a bit harder then finally notices
Koroshiya, "Ah, Koroshiya. For the most part I've been training." He pulls out a handkerchief from
his pocket and wipes the rain off his face. Higen slowly stretches his legs, tilting side to side allowing
the blood flow to return. He then slowly stands up and bows to Koroshiya, "It's good to see you. I
was deep in meditation. I figured it would be a good time to sit. I'm surprised to see anyone out this
late.”

Koroshiya continues reading the letter and once more addresses Higen, "It's a quiet and solitary
place out here, good to gather one's thoughts as you have probably realized." As the rain beings to
fall once again a few drops drop onto the letter Koroshiya is holding and soak into the paper. He
carefully folds the letter into a square and slides it into his back pocket. He places a hand onto the
stump and hoists himself onto his feet, Koroshoiya puts his hands in his pockets and leans against a
nearby tree to Get out of the less than perfect weather. Koroshiya looks towards Higen, "I hope your
training is going well, I haven't seen my team together in a while so I haven't got much practice in.".

Higen nods, "It is going quite well. But we just lost a Team member. He had to return back to Leaf
Village. So we now have a slot open." Higen sighs, "We weren't even assigned a single mission
together yet, which was the most frustrating thing of all." He looks to Koroshiya, "So what brings
you out here? A bit of solo practice?" He gathers up his shield and staff, placing them on his back. "I
really should have brought a wider brimmed hat.".

As the moon hangs low in the sky and the sun begins to peek over the horizon Koroshiya pulls his
hands out of his pockets and crosses his arms in front of his chest. "Well, I got a letter from my
father and I always come out here to read them, but the sunrise this time of year is beautiful." He
grinds his toe into the bit of dry earth near the base of the tree and glances towards the horizon at the
faint red glow pouring into the area. "Lost a team member, eh? That's too bad this village really
needs some more income, the Uchuukage isn't really getting that many clients it seems." Koroshiya
says as he looks down at his feet..

The young shinobi cracks his neck and knuckles. "I just got an idea. I haven't had a bout with
anyone in a while. And this area would make for the perfect atmosphere. The sun's rising and the
ground is a bit soggy." He smiles, "What do you say? You up for a few rounds?" He strains his
sleeves and his pants. The rain turns into slight mist. "Unless you'd prefer conversation? I'm up for
anything," says Higen..

Koroshiya chortles a bit and stifles his laughter before looking up at Higen. "It's been a while but I
would enjoy a friendly sparring session." He looks around as the sun begins its ascent into the peak
of the sky. "Yes, if the rain holds off the ground should be drying soon, this area should be just
perfect." He continues to dig his foot in the ground and waits for the shinobi to respond.

Higen detaches his shield from his back and gets in place. He then grabs his staff and sticks it into
the ground. He then adjusts his belt and sets his backpack down off to the side. He jumps up and
down a bit to get his blood flowing. He then bows to Koroshiya and then quickly grabs his staff.
"Then let us begin.".

Koroshiya continues to tap his foot on the ground confidently and smiles towards Higen. "That
shields going to inhibit your movements quite a bit." He strides carefully towards the center of the
field and crackles his knuckles, He lets the humid air envelop him.

Higen smirks, "If you say so. I can always return it to my back if it gets in the way." He moves into
the Kaizou Hebi stance and points his staff towards Koroshiya. "You coming or you waiting for an
invitation?".

Koroshiya stops as he reaches the center of the field, "You seem pretty confident, I hope it isn't from
an air of underestimation." He taps his right foot three times then bolts towards Higen at a
tremendous speed, taking light and well-placed steps through the field. About 3 meters from Higen
he seems to clap in approval and then launches himself into the air, send a screaming punch at
Higen.

Higen drops his jaw, "Dragon fist?" He quickly rolls to the side and ducks underneath his shield.
"Most impressive." He makes it just in time away from the punch. He peers out slightly from his
shield. "Didn't know you were going to try and take me out so soon." He stays down in the low and
defensive position as he studies his opponent.

Koroshiya lands and slides across the ground with his hand planted for balance. "Not a dragon fist,
I'm not going to waste stamina this early in the match. I believe you are underestimating my
strategic skill." He steadies himself for a counter and assumes a crane-like stance. "Now let's see
what you have, it better be worth the time." As the rain begins to fall again Koroshiya digs a bit
deeper in the earth steadying himself.

Higen bolts up from his defensive position and sprints towards Koroshiya. About a good eight feet
from him he jumps upwards into the air lifting his staff way over his head. As he gets closer he
smirks, he twists mid air as he comes down at a horizontal angle and attempts to deliver a triple kick
towards Koroshiya's face.

Higen's kick smash's into Koroshiya's face and a small cloud of smoke bursts into the air and
splinters of wood fly into the nearby brush. Koroshiya sliding away from higen pulls on a cord an a
bakuretsu scroll planted in the ground near higen begins to spark, suddenly and violently the scroll
lets out a concussive blast outward..

Higen flies back a bit from the blast. His hair and clothes are a bit singed. He stands up and cracks
his bones, "Good form." He holsters his shield and staff on his back. He then holds his right arm
down to his side. His muscles flex and contort as a bit of drool comes out of his mouth. His hand
forms into a claw and he plants his legs down firmly into the ground as he waits for the smoke to
clear.

Brushing a few wood splinters from his hair he stands up off the ground and steps into a more
neutral stance. He leaps into the trees and waits for a sufficient opening to make his move.
Whispering to himself, "This is going to take some patience." Silently stalking from branch to
branch while keeping an eye on Higen, Koroshiya maintains a low profile against the backdrop of
the wind-blown leaves and scattered wildlife.

Higen smirks, "Your hiding? And here I thought this was a bout." He rubs his face with his left hand
and smirks. Keeping himself in a locked position he glances about the area. He checks the various
trees. "You gonna come out and play?" he asks with a muffled voice.

Koroshiya looks for an opening and plots carefully. He waits until he is positioned directly behind
Higen, he silently stalks up until he is out of the forest and is back into the tall grass of the plain. He
sprints towards Higen, "Dainamikuu Enturee!" and sends a flying kick right at the center of Higen's
back.

Higen is kicked square in the back and then with a puff of smoke splinters burst all over as a log drops down to the ground. He then appears about twenty paces away and keeps his hand in a clawed position. "Nice try." He starts to jump around a bit so he won't be a sitting target.

Koroshiya shouts while leaping into the air, "You'll have to move quicker then that!" He continues
into the air and throws four kunai in a wide square pattern covering the field, two hitting trees with a
echoing thud and two others planting deep in the ground. He reaches the peak of the jump and yells
out, "Ninpo! Yotsukado no Jutsu!" He tugs on four steel wires attached to the kunai and the
bakuretsu scrolls attached begin to spark.

Higen hits the deck stomach first and leaves his back up with his shield covering him. He then places
his arms over his head.

As the trees which had scrolls attached begin to shatter and uproot themselves under the blast, and
the kunai with scrolls attached begin to cleft forth the earth, deep fissures form in the ground and
rush towards the center of the square formation created by the Four Corners jutsu. A large pit begins
to form in the center of the field and dust envelops the area, Koroshiya lands and slides across the
ground. Shielding himself from raining splinters and large chunks of wood behind a tree he waits for
the dust to clear and Koroshiya awaits his opponents next move..

Higen hmms. He looks around and sees Koroshiya above the pit. "Quite the tactician. I can't say I
expected this much out of our bout this day." He pulls out three smoke grenades and pulls three pins.
He tosses two out on the ground and attaches one to his skirt. Slowly but surely smoke manages to
make its way out of them and begin to fog up the arena that is the bit. Higen too starts to become a
shadow in the mist.

The smoke envelops the area and Koroshiya pulls his shirt over his mouth and ties it back with a
cord, and pulls his goggles down over his eyes. "Crap, where the hell did he go?" As the smoke rolls
across the ground like a fog and fills the canopy of trees surrounding the area, Koroshiya tries to find
a good position for his next move. With Higen, still nowhere to be seen, he waits for the next chance
to devise a strategy..

A gust of wind rises up out from the pit as Higen flies forth like a fury. At the height of his ascension
he forms his right hand into a claw and falls downward towards Koroshiya with all of his might with
his arm fully stretched out. Spit flows forth out of his mouth in buckets as he screams. His eyes turn
bloodshot, and his muscles flex in his forearm as a trail of smoke follows him..

Koroshiya peers out from behind the tree and dashes into the field. Whispering to himself, "Where
the hell did that scream come from?" The smoke still not completely cleared, Koroshiya glances up
to see Higen a bit too close for comfort. He begins quickly forming handseals and shouts out,
"Kawarimi no Jutsu!" Koroshiya gasps as nothing happens and the full force of Higens attack
barrels into him. He is sent flying backwards, into the forest, followed by the crackling of twigs
snapping, and the whistling of him soaring past trees.

Higen lands after he connects the punch. He looks in the direction of Koroshiya's body as it flies. He
then quickly runs up a tree into cover. He keeps his eye in the direction of the flying body then
moves around the trees sticking to the shadows. Finally high atop a branch under good shadow and
cover he perches. Awaiting silently to see the affect his punch had on the Shinobi.

Finally coming to a stop a few dozen feet into the wood against a tree. Koroshiya clambers back up
to his feet and winces as he grabs his rib, "That was pretty good, but it's going to take more then
that." He looks up to the tree Higen jumped into and drops into a much more aggressive looking
stance. Koroshiya starts sprinting towards the tree, about 2 yards from the tree he shouts out, "Bato
Shing God Fist!" he sends a furious punch at the tree. As his fist makes contact with the bark it bores
deep into the trunk, splinters of wood and crushed pieces of bark fly into the air. Koroshiya comes
to a stop on the other side of the tree and a large chunk of the trunk is missing, "I'll get you down
from there, one way or another.".

Higen flies upward from the impact of the tree. He then falls downward towards the ground looking
as if he was injured at an alarming rate of decent. As the body hits the ground a puff of smoke arises
and clears leaving a log. The spot in which Higen stood on the tree was void of his presence. No
visible signs of Higen can be seen in near vicinity.

Koroshiya calmly steps back into the center of the field and kicks some rubble into the pit. "Well,
get back over here, we will end this here and now. Staying in the trees would not be wise, or you will
learn how I earned the nickname, the Exploding ninja." He wipes a tiny bit of blood from his lip, and
begins to tap his foot impatiently. Koroshiya pulls four shuriken into each hand and the steel wire
attached to each are easily visible along with the exploding notes attached. "This is the hard way, its
your choice."

Nothing but silence can be heard. The trees and bushes blow with the wind. Higen does not let out a
single sound. The sun shines more brightly as it raises itself higher into the sky. A single crow caws
off in the distance. Higen remains motionless..

Koroshiya drops down onto one knee and says, "That was not the right choice." He brings both
hands across his chest and sighs, he jumps into the air and spins, launching the shuriken in all
directions. The shuriken slam into the trees with amazing force, Koroshiya snatches the wire out of
the air with four in each hand. As he lands on the ground he yanks on all the wires, as the notes
begins to spark he drops the wires and sits down on the ground.

Higen lifts up a bush. He sees Koroshiya quite fair distance away from him. He doesn't ear any notes
sparking in his immediate vicinity. For now he just watches, carefully buying his time.

Koroshiya giggles quietly to himself and lies down on his back, the sound of air being sucked into
something roars through the forest. All of the noise in the immediate area seems to cut out and it is
completely silent for a few seconds, simultaneously all 8 bakuretsu scrolls explode and a extremely
large ring of fire launches into the air, the trees to which they were attached seemingly disintegrate
and millions of splinters are sent and rocketing through the forest and the field. Koroshiya's
wholehearted laughter is drowned out by the deafening roar of the blaze that engulfs that canopy of
trees..

Higen lays on his back and places his shield over his face. Splinters bounce off the shield violently.
He grits his teeth as the flurries of bark fly all about him. Smaller pieces bounce off his armor. A few
of the splinters manage to make it through the padded area cutting him deep, but not hitting any
arteries. He cringes as the pain is very severe. He bites down on his shield strap to hold back a
scream. As the splinters cease flying at him, he peeks up over his shield. He hears the sound of a
trunk breaking and he rolls out of the way, just barely dodging the tree. His blood soaks the ground
as he rolls.

Koroshiya waits for the last of the shrapnel to ran down on him while covering his face with his
bandana and shielding his eyes with his goggles once again. As sits back up he lets out a guttural
cackle and once he stands completely he begins brushing the splinters of wood and bark from his
clothing. Koroshiya yelps and giggles as a couple splinters poke him, "Yowch, stupid splinters those
will take forever to get out." He glances around at the aftermath and the felled trees. Smoldering
leaves fall gracefully down from the air and drafts of wind carry the enormous amounts of dust away
into the surroundings. Koroshiya shouts into the forest, "I told you I didn't want to do that but now
you know the origin of my nickname, and you also know why Kamaitachi was the first and
strongest team of Uchuugakure. Well, it was fun sparring with you and unless you have a retort I
must say goodbye." He glances around the area for movement, waiting for a reply..

Higen walks out from the forest. His armored leggings have quite a few blood stains on them. "I'm
afraid, nothing that would be suitable for a bout. But I do have to say this. I do like your style. And
see why you are the strongest of your team. It was a pleasure to fight you." He bows deeply before
Koroshiya. "And I look foreword to our next match.".