Rika's opponent was not ignorant of the obvious tells of her techniques. Yuri's sharp eyes caught the movements of Rika's prosthetic arm even before the smoke bomb detonated, and considering she rushed forward instead of retreated, the chances her opponent was going to try to interrupt her technique was reasonably high. Taking these factors into account, Yuri prepared herself to evade an incoming attack, and when she caught sight of the sudden shift in the smoke, she jumped up and over the beam of chakra, the simplicity of the defense not enough to break her concentration. Executing her original jutsu, the waters in the arena swelled, the river closest to Rika quickly swelling and crashing around the rock pedestals to the side or in front of her, depending on which source of water was closer.
Standing on the water with the Water Walking technique, Yuri took a moment to take a short leap back atop the waters of the now flooded river and channeled more Suiton chakra, taking a deep breath and seeing if her opponent would try to launch another attack through the smoke. Her eyes didn't break from the area around the smoke cloud, knowing that any attack from Rika would still likely come from that area. After activating her stance, Yuri took another deep breath and allowed herself to slip into the water, allowing the currents to partially propel her toward Rika's last position. The smokescreen was blocking Rika's vision, but Yuri's vision training gave her the advantage underwater.
Once she gained sight of Rika through the water, Yuri allowed herself to travel past her, memorizing her position. Using the sound of the rushing waters to mask the sound of her breaking the surface, Yuri would rise up from the water as quietly as she could near a stone pillar herself, ten meters away and facing Rika's back. Taking a single step off of the stone pedestal behind her, Yuri leaped as close as she could to Rika, landing right behind her if possible. Immediately after landing, she'd close the remaining distance and immediately attack with an upward slice of her sword, immediately accompanied by a rising jet of water
(7 Strength) slamming into whatever defense, object, or part of Rika's body Yuri managed to hit. If Yuri managed to land the first blow or if Rika dodged, she'd dash forward in the direction of Rika's dodge and attempt to cut her with a follow-up slash.
Suiton • Exploding Water Colliding Wave <==== Prepared starting last post, executed at the beginning of this post.
Mizu no Kokyū - Zen Shūchū no Kokyū • Level One
D-Rank Nintaijutsu Stance
Utilizing a special form of breathing while constantly channeling Suiton chakra, Yuri forces her body into a state where a small amount of chakra is constantly being channeled and primed to mold and emit Suiton chakra. This Suiton chakra is used to enhance her attacks and movements with Suiton chakra. So long as Yuri remains in this Stance, she can reflexively emit a constant stream of Suiton chakra from her sword to enhance her attacks. If she uses this effect to enhance her attacks, the enhanced attack is treated as a double attack, the first attack hitting with a Speed equal to her Speed and a Strength of 5. Nintaijutsu maneuvers in the Mizu no Kokyū style executed while in this stance are granted a Strength value of 5. Any nintaijutsu maneuvers executed while in this stance will grant those an unfocused buff of +2 strength. This does not affect the Strength values granted by the stance itself, only granting them to the maneuvers performed. Yuri can exit this stance reflexively to conserve chakra. Due to the chakra intensive nature of this Stance, this technique drains 1 Stamina point worth of chakra every four posts in addition to the chakra costs of other techniques she uses, regardless of whether she uses the Suiton chakra or not.
Mizu no Kokyū • Opening Thread
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite(s): 10 Instinct.
After years of training and study, Yuri has learned how to more quickly recognize openings and weaknesses in her opponent's defenses and fighting style. This Discipline represents Yuri's reduced reaction time required to take advantage of an opening that presents itself in the middle of combat, thus increasing the likelihood she will score a successful hit when targeting the vulnerable area. This does not grant Yuri any protection against falling for feints or traps sent by the opponent.
Mizu no Kokyū • Current Mapping
C-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After years of training and study, Yuri has learned how to submerge herself in a moving body of water and to control her trajectory through the currents of water. This Discipline represents Yuri's ability to reposition herself safely in a moving body of water without hurting herself. This Discipline is ineffective against bodies of water created by an opponent's techniques.
Mizu no Kokyū - Shi no Kata • Striking Tide
D-Rank Nintaijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite(s): Mizu no Kokyū - Zen Shūchū no Kokyū • Level One or graduated version of the Stance must be active.
Using the Suiton chakra currently channeled into her sword, Yuri swings upwards towards her opponent, aiming for their guard while channeling Suiton chakra into the tip of the blade. Immediately after finishing the swing or making contact with the opponent's guard, a rushing gout of water slams into the opponent from underneath the blade, striking at a Speed equal to Yuri's Speed and a Strength equal to the Strength value offered by the current active Stance. If the opponent's average of their Strength and Stamina stat, rounded up, are lower than this technique's Strength, they are pushed up off the ground, being continually buffeted and suspended by the water. This allows Yuri the opportunity to follow up with a second attack, targeting an opening in the opponent's guard.
