Locations: Hot Springs and Kouin Bridge
Isamu slides deeper in the pool, and closes his eyes to relax a bit.
Abiku enters the area, glancing around a bit before stepping slowly into the pool, "Oh man... This is nice, definitely worth taking the time to come here." he says softly, mostly to himself before leaning back against the edge of the pool.
Isamu opens his eyes a bit to glance at the newcomer. He closes them after he figures this isn't an assassin sent by the Riyoku.
Abiku raises his arms and stretches back, wincing slightly and bringing his arms back down to rub at various bruises across his chest and shoulders.
Abiku mutters quietly to himself as he rubs his bruises, "Damn Riyoku."
Isamu chuckles quietly to himself at the new guy's remark. He surfaces and turns to the guy, "Ah Riyoku, the never ending ninja horde. I swear I kill one and five jump in his place. I'm Isamu, what's your name?"
Shiro bursts through the entrance with naught but a towel around his waist and a large bottle in his right hand. Glancing at the other patrons and recognizing one, he calls out "Nice day for a soak isn't it Isamu-kun?"
Abiku glances over to the man, nodding slightly, "Hikouu Abiku." he says softly before rotating his shoulder slowly, "I know what you mean. I don't know how many of them I've battled at this point...." he adds before glancing up at the newcomer and nodding politely.
"Ah, Shiro-san! Good to see...you...Are you drunk?" Isamu asks of his acquaintance. Turning back to Abiku, "This is Tsurugami Shiro-san, Head of the Tsurugami Clan."
Shiro waves his hand dismissively, "Not yet Isamu-kun, not yet." Strolling towards the pool, Shiro finds a nice place and sinks in. "Ahh, so good. So what brings you two lads here today?" he says as he takes a swig from his bottle.
Abiku waits for Shiro to get settled and responds, "A much needed break from the Riyoku... That and later I was thining of finding a place where I wouldn't bother others to do a little training."
"I just needed to warm up. The mountains to the north of Hitokurou are freezing; I needed to remind myself of the finer things in life..." Isamu says with a smile.
Shiro nods "I know what you mean about it being freezing up there. I just spent the last week there myself, though it was all worth it since I managed to collect a few nice specimens." Scratching his chin seems to think about something for a second before exclaiming "Ah, I knew I had forgotten something." Lifting his hand up out of the water he snaps and instantly a black streak passes behind him leaving behind a platter with a few sake cups on it. "Isamu-kun, care for a drink?"
"If you don't mind," Isamu says appreciatively.
Abiku watches Shiro curiously before glancing to Isamu, "I haven't made it up to the mountains yet, the weather is always too bad. Besides, I've been trying to hunt down a band of ninjas that stole something -- They're an elusive group, I haven't had any luck with finding them yet."
"Mission from the Uchuukage?" Isamu asks Abiku.
Shiro pours two cups full of sake and passes one to Isamu.
"Ah, Thanks." Isamu says as he takes the cup, and sips at it.
Abiku nods at Isamu, "Yes. There were a few different bands on ninjas. I found the first group no problem and I guess the others found out and decided to be a bit more secretive." he says, followed by a sigh.
Abiku eyes the sake curiously for a second before looking away.
Shiro takes a sip from his own cup before turning to the child "And what is it that those Riyoku have stolen this time, I could swear at times they are little better then bandits."
Abiku turns to Shiro, "Well, I'm not quite sure what their goal is but I think they'll take anything that's not nailed down -- The first time it was a set of battle plans, now it's a doll." he says, shrugging.
Isamu takes a sip from his cup. "Maybe the doll is a hostage? They keep stealing dolls from girls in the village..." Isamu takes another sip. "This is good stuff Shiro-san."
Shiro leans back slowly back to better relax before responding. "Of course it is the good stuff, one can't just take any hogwash to the hot springs, only the best will due.". Shiro slowly takes a sip and savors it. "Perhaps it is time we thin their numbers out during the night, it's always fun to watch them wake up in the morning to find out half their camp was killed without a sound."
Abiku nods, "I have been working on a technique that's similar... though it doesn't really rely on darkness." he says stretching a little bit and settling, "It uses mist but I still haven't perfected it yet though."
"I much prefer to see the horror on their faces, as the wounds their fallen brethren inflicted upon me, heal up before their eyes." Isamu chuckles to himself, as he takes another sip.
Abiku sighs, "I'm definitely not a medical nin... and I don't have a team, so I have to make do on my own."
Shiro grins widely, "If we are talking about horror, then nothing beats them seeing one of their comrades walking towards them only to realize he is missing a large chunk of his torso." Shiro takes a sip from his cup "I've heard that the head of the Sasaki family has been doing a pretty good job of cleaning them up. Speaking of which, what has that bastard been up to Isamu?"
"Nii-sama has been planning a building for some people, he doesn't tell me much about it, much less where it's going to be. He just wants me to deliver lumber from my Carpenter buddies to a specific location. The weird thing is, the site is an empty lot..." Isamu tries to take a sip of his sake, but there's none left. He passes the empty cup back to Shiro. "Thanks for the drink."
Abiku slides down into the water, closes his eyes and gets a little more comfortable before asking, "So are you guys here helping the Time Village also?"
"Yeah, though the Uchuukage doesn't know what to do with us. Most of his missions are barely Genin level, but none are too tough for Chuunins and Jounins." Isamu says with a smile.
Shiro chuckles "I've been living here since I was younger then you, so I should like to think that I am doing something to help the village." Taking Isamu's cup he refills it and holds it back out "Knowing your leader, I wouldn't be surprised if he found some jutsu to make a floating fortress."
Abiku chuckles softly, "I moved here when I was 8. My clan thought it would be useful to see the outside world a bit and I was really excited to come." he says, leaning his head back and resting it on the edge of the pool, "So far the missions haven't been difficult other than tracking down stuff... But i guess that's the biggest part."
Isamu is pleseantly surprised to find a full cup of sake at his fingertips. He takes the cup and says, "Shiro-san, your hospitality knows no bounds."
Isamu takes a sip.
Abiku glances at Shiro, "So what's the Tsurugami family? Isamu-san said something about you being the head of it...."
Shiro refills his cup and sips it, "Now how would it reflect on us The Tsurugami if we were stingy". Shiro scratches his chin for a moment and concedes "I suppose I am the head of the Tsurugami family, aren't I? I suppose one could say that we put down internal threats to Cosmos country."
A large splash suddenly erupts out of the center of the spring, heralding the arrival of Ichiro.
"Ichiro-nii-sama! How goes it?" Isamu asks of his good friend.
Abiku looks over, startled by the splash and notices Ichiro, offering a wave and a smile, "Hello Ichiro-san."
Shiro fills another cup and hands it to Ichiro.
Abiku crinkles his nose a little, "I never understood the appeal of Sake... It must be an adult thing." he says, followed by a soft chuckle.
Ichiro peers about, "Good day, gentlemen. How are you?" Ichiro accepts the cup as the last drops of water hanging in the air around him finally settle.
A male patron glances at the ninja and politely inquires, "...Might I have some of that as well, good sirs?"
"I'm doing well, I think my toes have finally thawed." Isamu replies with a sip of sake.
Ichiro glances at Isamu, "Excellent."
Shiro laughs cheerfully "Sure, the more the merrier." Shiro reaches back to fill another cup but finds that he only brought three; shrugging, Shiro hands the man his own cup and takes a swig from the bottle.
A male patron accepts the cup, takes large gulp, stops for a moment, then spews sake everywhere.
A male patron starts to say, "This sake tastes...fuu..." before passing out in the water.
Abiku blinks a few times and jumps slightly as the man passes out, "Woah! Easy sir!" he says before moving over to lift the man to the edge of the pool.
Abiku glances around, lifting to cup to his mouth but only smells it.
Shiro chuckles over the collapsed man "What a lightweight."
Shiro fishes the now discarded cup out of the pool and sets it on the rocks behind him.
Ichiro shurgs and downs the rest of his sake, "Abiku-san, were you ever able to do any training with Yamashita-kun?"
Abiku looks at Ichiro, "Unfortunately not... I was really looking forward to it too..."
Isamu takes a sip, completely oblivious to the situation before.
Ichiro nods, "Indeed, it is a rare and wonderful opportunity to train with the head of the Sasaki family."
Shiro nods at the lad "Training with the head of the Sasaki family is quite the privilege, even I have only had a few chances to do so."
Abiku nods, "I look forward to any chance to train with someone better than myself."
"Hey, what's that guy doing over there? He's just laying there, did something happen to him?" Isamu asks, just now noticing the patron.
Shiro raises a hand out the water and snaps his fingers. Suddenly three ninja clad from head to toe in solid black bound over the wall and pick up the fallen man before disappearing back over the wall.
Ichiro smiles, "I'm sure he'll be fine...probably. Anyway, I'm only here to deliver this to you, Isamu-kun."
Shiro asks in a puzzled tone "What man?"
Ichiro reaches into a pouch on his waist and produces a small scroll, "I wasn't told what it contains, but I believe it may be instructions pertaining to what you've been working on."
"Ooooo! Fun times!" Isamu says as he takes the scroll.
Abiku glances at Ichiro and Isamu curiously before asking Ichiro, "Would you be up for some training later?"
Ichiro look at abiku quizzically, "Sure, I suppose...dunno why you'd want to train with me though. Isamu-kun would probably be better to train under."
Shiro nods solemnly.
Shiro says, "Isamu is one hell of trainer."
Abiku glances at Isamu, "Oh?"
Isamu glances over the scroll, "Crap, I have to go back to the mountains..." Turning to Abiku, "Sure we can train sometime, just know that I don't go easy on genin."
Abiku smirks, "I didn't get to where I am taking the easy path."
Isamu smiles, and downs the contents of his cup. "Then I'll see you for the training session later." Isamu looks around the pool, "Why are there fish in the hot springs?" He says as he tilts his head to one side.
Abiku arches an eyebrows after the fish comment, "Where will we meet for the training? I am ready to go any time."
Ichiro bows politely. "Farewell, and good luck everyone," he says before shattering into water.
"I guess we could go out to the bridge..." Isamu says with a chuckle.
Abiku nods, "Give me a moment to get my stuff."
Isamu hands Shiro the empty cup. "I don't think I should have any more..."
Shiro takes the cup and sets it beside the other empty ones "Your loss."
Abiku stands, wrapping a towel around his waste and goes back into the building for a minute, returning to the door with his gear on.
Shiro asks, "Mind if I tag along and watch you two?"
"Okay, I'll meet you there Abiku." Isamu says, "Sure Shiro."
Abiku nods, moving out of the entrance way to follow Isamu.
Isamu carefully puts on his armor, as he flings his bags to one side of the bridge.
"So what's your specialty, Abiku?" Isamu asks.
Abiku arches his back and stretches a little, "Ninjutsu is my specialty."
Shiro sits on of the bridge's rail guards.
"Try to hit me with something." Isamu taunts.
Abiku smirks and crouches, jumping backward onto the edge of the bridge and quickly begins forming handseal before yelling, "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!" and extending his hand, a large amount of water coming up from behind him and taking on the form of a dragon's head and spiraling towards Isamu.
Isamu digs his toes into the bridge, and sprints under the water dragon. Isamu makes an handseal, shouting, "Baikyuu Kesson!"
Abiku crouches down and briefly places his hand on the railing of the dock before dropping down below onto the water, focusing his chakra into his feet he lands and jumps up to the left side of the bridge and begins forming another set of handseals.
Isamu runs forward and vaults over the railing, trying to spot Abiku. Isamu throws a few shuriken at Abiku.
Abiku finishes his handseals and yells, "Suiton: Daibakufu no jutsu!" and sends a large spiraling torrent of water to block the shurken and blast towards Isamu.
Isamu's legs glow blue as he touches the water, and blasts off the surface. Isamu lands on the torrent and runs up it, jumping at Abiku from the top.
Abiku finishes his jutsu and brings his right hand back, sliding a kunai out of his backpack and throwing it at Isamu as he hops backwards.
Isamu blocks the kunai with his bracers, and lands on the wall, facing Abiku. "Not bad."
Isamu says, "Again."
Abiku pants slightly and nods, crouching slightly and pulling another Kunai from his backpack. He closes his eyes for a brief moment while exhaling sharply before leaning forward and straightening his legs to dash Towards Isamu.
Isamu pulls the cleaver off his back and moves into a defensive stance.
Abiku dashes quickly towards Isamu, moving from side to side up until roughly 2 meters from him where he crouches and lunges into a low side-kick aimed at the mid-section.
Isamu tosses his cleaver into the air, and blocks the kick with one of his own. "Nice switch-up. Now show me just how good you are at Taijutsu."
Abiku smirks slightly, "That might be a bit hard to do." He says as he lands, spinning with one foot outward for balance with his palms open - sending two quick palm strikes at Isamu.
Smiling, Isamu steps into the palm strikes, taking their force. "Let's see how you like my Buddhist Palm." Isamu says as he forces a blue-glowing palm towards Abiku's gut.
Abiku tsks slightly, but uses the force from contact to shift his weight to the side in an attempt to sidestep the buddhist palm and grab onto Isamu.
Isamu uses the opportunity to grab Abiku as well. He notices his cleaver land, embedding itself a few feet away.
Abiku grins slightly, "Gotcha." he says softly, taking a firm grip on Isamu as two more Abikus step out from behind the other side of the bridge from either corner, hands formed in a seal, they say in unison, "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!" and raise their palm, each blasting a large spiraling torrent of water at Isamu.
Isamu smiles and twists his body around, putting Abiku in between him and the two attacks. "You forget that I'm stronger than you."
The two torrents of water blast into Abiku who roars in pain for a brief moment before shattering into water itself.
Isamu slings his cleaver over his back and begins making handseals.
Crouching down, both Abikus start to dash towards Isamu, forming their own handseals.
Isamu shouts, "Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!" and brings his hand up. Using the water around him, Isamu launches himself high into the air off his own jutsu.
Both Abiku and his Mizu bunshin jump into the air and yell, "Suiton: Suiryuudan No Jutsu!" causing two streams of water in the shape of a dragon's head to spiral up and around the pillar of water that holds Isamu. Once in the air both focus chakra to their feet until they glow blue and begin running up the pillar of water on either side after the dragon missiles.
Isamu shatters the water tower, and aims a shadowless kick at the Abiku on his left.
Abiku and his mizu bunshin leap backwards into the air as the tower shatters. The Abiku on the left extending his arm towards Isamu, the water dragon missile he's controlling as the Abiku on the right does the same causing the two to spiral around each other as Isamu's kick strikes the Abiku on the left, buckling him at the midsection and sending him towards the ground.
Isamu shields himself as the water dragons impact. He is sent flying to the bridge.
Abiku lands hard on the ground, coughing as he impacts. The other abiku lands and jumps to his side, helping him up before speaking, "That was painful... You're an amazing fighter... Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, experience... You're way ahead of me in all of those areas."
Isamu manages to land without breaking anything, but feels a bit sore. "You're not all that bad. Clones are quite useful, of course, you have more chakra than me. You might do alright against the Head of the Sasaki Family. Good luck though."
Abiku stands up straight and releases his clone, "I'm not a very strong Taijutsu fighter, so I have to think strategy when fighting. Distraction, deception and such...."
Abiku continues, "Luckily my chakra is high enough to perform multiple techniques and give enough chakra to my clones to do the same..."
"Sometimes try stunning an opponent, it may require taking a hit, but if you had managed that, your clones could've both held me down while you used a high level jutsu." Isamu muses.
"Of course you'll need a bunch of health for that." Isamu adds.
Abiku nods, "It's not very often then I get to train with someone at such a high level. I think it's been very helpful."
Abiku grins, "I'm not as frail as I look... but I can't afford to take many strong hits."
"Well I've got to go get some things from the Yamayuki Village up north, so I'll see you around." Isamu sighs. "At least the bridge wasn't trashed this time."
Abiku nods solemnly.
Abiku says, "Thank you, Isamu-sensei."
Isamu grabs his packs from the side of the bridge, and dashes off.
