The Hokage and his Shadow

[Taiga]

Behind the mountain peaks that bore the carved heads of the generations of Hokage two blurs moved across the rocky terrain, across the lakes, through the trees. Nothing more than shadows to the average eye, each time the shadows would meet even if only for a moment, the thunderous roar of kunai striking would ring through the air. Finally a pause would break it's way through the cacophony of sounds as the two figures would finally be visible, either standing on the opposite side of a lake. Beads of sweat rolled off either man's head, but neither were injured or substantially fatigued just yet.

Since the dawn of the village there had always been two parts to every Hokage. There was the flame marked by the kanji for fire, read in it's composite form as ho. And, the shadow cast by it. The kage. The Flame, the man who was the light itself that illuminated the path for the village to follow stood at one side. On the side opposite, his shadow. The man who sat in the dark.

Taiga took a deep breath, not panting, but winded enough.

"Your kumite is a lot better than our genin days, that's for sure." the Bannin, Jinchuuriki, and Legendary Weapon wielder said as his eyes narrowed to slits. Taking a deep breath as his kunai spun around his finger he slickly performed a trick, sheathing it back into his kunai holder at his thigh. No sooner than the moment his hand had become free of the kunai, did they launch into a set of seals. Without any form of active sensory, it wouldn't be exactly apparent what would happen as the man would glow, surging with chakra for a moment.

In reality he had created a mokuton dummy of himself then seamlessly merged into it, effectively "taking over" the dummy. It was a neat little trick and use case for his phasing that he had recently picked up. Reaching back into his pouch he would grab two shuriken in each hand, then look to Fanho. His eyes locked on the shinobi, with all of his disciplines and training, he'd channel chakra into his hands as each shuriken grew to cosmically comical proportions. Roughly 30m in diameter. Hoisting the first one over his head he whipped it for Fanho, and paused a moment- he'd want to see which direction Fanho dodged for before, like clock work, flinging the next massive shuriken at Fanho.

With the force of a demi-god these shuriken would be no joke- they'd be ground destroying. He was certain Fanho could get out of their way though, but that wasn't his goal.

USEDShow

mokuton/subsitution
C-Rank NinTaijutsu
Prerequisite: mokuton/dummy
Taiga will create a wood dummy whilst channeling his chakra into it. He will then be able to move as one with the dummy. If the dummy is struck at any point in the next 7 posts, it will shoot out roots in a 30 meter radius around the dummy at [Control] speed/strength grabbing onto anything caught in the radius and pulling it back towards the dummy's last location, constricting with intense force for however many posts are left in the duration.

[ninpou/ultra massive ninja tools]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
While holding ninja tool(s) into his hand, Taiga will channel chakra into the tool(s). He can increase the tools up to a total size of 30mx30mx30m relative to the original shape of the ninja tool, split amongst the total amount of tools he enhances. The transformations last for 5 posts.

[Director]

Fanho stood at the other end of the lake. His round glasses hid his piercing blue eyes. Draped in nothing but his usual casual attire he rolled his neck as he looked at Taiga opposite of him. Their images reflected in the lake. Taiga was his shadow, his equal, his opposite, his most trusted advisor, but most importantly his brother. Not even half a year into his Hokage tenure he was already thrust into the life of politics and hard decisions. War on an allies border, territory lost, allies dead, and some mercenary group he had to babysit to ensure they didn't step out of line. His shoulders wore the weight of his burdens. Despite what should've been a bout to blow off steam, Fanho yet to feel any cathartic relief from this.

Taiga now taking the turn to crack a joke, one the Hokage would usually crack a joke back in kind. A beat passed, not long, not noticeable to others, but still an odd beat parsed the air. "If I remember correctly, I even hit Chuunin before you." A grin facade crept on Fanho's face as he decided to partake in the banter back and forth. With that out of the way it wasn't long before Taiga had already sprouted a dummy shroud of mokuton, not just around himself but as himself. After all, he'd pilot it like a Heart empire mecha.

His eyes darted behind the glasses as he kept up with the many movements of the jinchuriki, taking in their location, approximate distance away, speed of formation, and processing that deep within his cerebral cortex. He was well aware of Taiga's capabilities, and he knew Taiga was well aware of his. Shortly following his new wooden doll, Taiga then followed up with two massive shuriken that easily dwarfed the two. One throw first the other held in reserve. Once again Fanho's eyes darted the battlefield taking in the two shuriken, the dummy, Taiga himself, and Fanho easily spun around the first shuriken as he saw the other come in second.

As he dodged the first and its tail was just passing, with the second following up close behind. Fanho would reach out and let his right hand graze the flat safe side of the large shuriken, its inertia coming to a complete halt as it sank in the lake tilting away from Fanho til it found its resting place on its side. He then ducked under the next shuriken keeping his eyes peeled forward watching Taiga as his left hand reached up to graze the bottom until it caught the ring before sapping away what kinetic energy was embedded within. With the large shuriken in his hand, Fanho with a quick spin hurled the large shuriken back at Taiga at an odd diagonal angle that cut slightly into the water to hide his own figure behind the large metal.

With a flare of his chakra Fanho pushed his sensory skills out to grab a hold of Taiga's signature watching it from behind the large shuriken. As his sensory flared, Fanho prepped another jutsu sealing it within his rings for when the time was right and it would be needed. Like at an elaborate party, the two would begin their dance on the lake.

Jutsu UsedShow

Konoha Smash • Capture Card
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Fanho can keep up with multiple targets, up to 33 targets before he begins to lose focus on some of them. This assists as Fanho can ensure all of his targets are not endangering him, or keeping up with his allies to make sure they are not endangered. With this Fanho is able to combat multiple opponents at a time, and become a one man army on his own taking out groups of enemies.

40+40 Strength absorbed from shuriken.

Shuriken throw back at 30 strength.

*[Sensory Style • Broad Sense]
B-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: *[Sensory Style • Beyond Senses], 20 Control
This jutsu is an extension of [Beyond Senses].After initiating this jutsu with handseals, a sensor can focus on individual chakra signatures to get a precise idea of where their opponents are at up to 25 meters. A general sense of the direction and number of chakra sources can be determined at up to 75 meters away. It should be noted that this jutsu requires intense concentration, often making the user shut their eyes so they can focus on the jutsu solely. Even with high levels of Chakra Control, this jutsu can be mentally taxing as it requires the user to sort through the individual chakra sources in the sensor’s range.

Ring JutsuShow

Ninjutsu • Infinity
S-rank Ninjutsu
By focusing on the space around him, Fanho creates a field of ninpou surrounding his body. By creating this space from himself up to 10 meters, all things that enter aside from himself are debuffed by -12 Speed. This field lasts for 5 posts.

[Taiga]

The hum-drum of administrative work that had come along with being the number one and two in the village was something that neither man had particularly looked fondly to, no matter how necessary they both realized the work was.

In the same way an office workers boss took them on a walk while they discussed things, a little spar behind the village for their one-on-one discussions had become an enjoyable way to blow off steam, move their bodies, and have dialogue while avoiding sitting at yet another cramped meeting room around a table.

Given Fanho’s speed, which was said to rival the Raikage himself, Taiga wasn’t particularly surprised that an attack at this distance wouldn’t be very effective on the Hokage. He also knew that if anything it created a liability due to Fanho's ability to sap the kinetic energy of things, similar to what had happened in their duel for the title of Hokage. As he watched the man calmly absorb the kinetic energy of his attacks he let out a sigh of relief- that was what he had actually been hoping for.

Every jutsu including absorption techniques had a limit. A limit to how much they could absorb or hold at a given time. To how much they could release. His working theory was it was better to load Fanho up out the gates when he was in control of their situation rather than letting Fanho do that when he would aim to land the winning blow or at another more crucial moment.

It also served as an ample distraction. While the shuriken flew their path and Fang sapped their energy, Taiga had been busy at work preparing his own little surprises. In either hand he would form two small pine-cone looking items (35 strength/7 speed) and when finished, place them into his pockets as he strafed his way to the side and out of harms way of the shuriken Fanho had tossed back towards him.

He managed to due this because the speed Fanho had thrown the shuriken back at wasn’t all that fast, and likewise, the trajectory wasn’t complex. Guessing where it’d go and where he needed to not be well in advance wouldn’t be an entirely difficult move. 


Their were several things processing in Taiga’s head, and the final thread he tugged on was whether he wished to set anything up here. 

In a real battle where it was a life or death scenario, controlling the environment was far more important to the fight, as was fighting off of water- he had no phasing ability on the water. This however was merely a friendly spar... something to get past the otherwise mundane meetings the two had been subjected too over the past few months.

For now he would start to move himself back towards the shore and edge of the water, maintaining distance. If this wasn’t a a sparring match at this given moment all it would take was a teleport and Taiga would be in trouble.

”The world is now up to date on the tragedies that aspired and Iwa progresses their campaign into Wind Country.” the Jinchuuriki called out as he continued straddling off to the shore.

”We are hearing some reports through intelligence networks that something is afoot in Kiri too- internal strife, but it seems hardly more than a rumor at the moment.” Taiga said as he put his hands together and began to make a seal, but kept them in that position, just being at a ready state.





---
599

USEDShow

mokuton/boomcone
D-Rank Ninjutsu
Taiga will create a baseball sized pinecone in his hand and charge it with energy. When kai'd or upon forceful impact it explodes with [Control] strength sending it's sharp scales everywhere as shrapnel. The shrapnel will continue to grow at a rate of 3cm per post for 3 additional posts. If not used within 6 posts, the pinecone becomes chakra inert.

Konoha no Senken • Flying Swallow, Birds of Prey
S-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
Prerequisite: [Perception]
With immense willpower and perception skills, Taiga has trained himself to be one with his environment much like birds of prey. Able to keep his focus in all situations with great pose he is cognizant of subtle details around him, capable of honing in on the slightest changes of air or even the smallest movements in the fibers of an opponents clothes, allowing him to pick up on their movement and predict it before it is complete. This can also be used outside of combat for lip reading, or even guessing what someone writes by watching the eraser of the pencil etc. This causes him to seem rather ADD at times as his eyes rapidly tracking movements around him. A downfall to this technique however is that while his eyes and brain may be aware of movement, his body is not always capable of knowing and keeping up. Meaning he has to be physically capable still of responding to threats or capitalizing on weaknesses, even if he perceives them.

[Director]

Fanho coasted behind the shuriken, as he felt Taiga's signature move he too would move strafing to just stay behind the shuriken out of his view. Similarly he picked up on the two baseball sized chakra balls formed before they blended in with the rest of his signature. No telling where they were stored as it all meshed into one big chakra blob. Regardless Taiga's signature remained outlined on the other side of the shuriken, and Fanho knew exactly where to aim.

As the shuriken hit the shore close to Taiga. The Hokage leveled his finger gun up towards the shuriken and fired off three hiton bullets in a wide arc through the shuriken. While the bullets wouldn't have much force behind them, their speed would be tremendous. A sneaky maneuver as they ripped through the shuriken to catch Taiga off guard. The bullets aim would be weighted in such a way it would try to push him to the water, a material not known for its solidity that he could easily phase through. For every move he knew Taiga was capable of, he knew not sensory was one of Taiga's capabilities let alone to know the bullets trajectory until they burned solidly through the shuriken.

While he hoped to pushed Taiga towards the water, Fanho sprinted to shore as he raised his leg to follow up by redirecting the shuriken towards Taiga's path. His Jinchuriki friend was more than capable of phasing through, but that wasn't the goal here. It was far much more complex. Cold, complex calculation, the fun taken out of the equation, and just pure analytics cruised through his mind. Plotting each angle, trajectory, possible path, possible outcome, and rather just focusing on one thing before him which was victory. If he stopped to take a deeper look at his current mindset, Fanho might've find himself disturbed to see how he treated a spar between friends. He hadn't thought of his next quip, his next comment, but rather if this was a fight that the future depended on.

The Hokage wouldn't give much of a response to Taiga as he listened to what he said. His mind being in the present but at the same time at a far away place occupied with the weight of the hat he now bore, an impending war he knew was on the horizon and already claimed several Konoha lives, and at this rate who could predict however many more. The news of Kiri being embroiled in an internal scuffle meant nothing as one shinobi could cull the dissenters and unite the island in a night, and by next week there would already be another goon controlling from behind the scenes. They were about as stable as an academy student learning elemental ninjutsu. He'd simply give an acknowledgement to Taiga he heard what he was saying.

"Hmm..."

Jutsu ActiveShow

Konoha Smash • Hero's Playbook
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Fanho is capable of slowing time in his brain to process and analyze things quickly, allowing him to thoroughly think things through before committing an action, or developing a response. This gives him the ability to pick-up on even the most minuscule things at fast speeds, and properly digest the thoughts before moving on or responding to them.

*[Sensory Style • Broad Sense]
B-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: *[Sensory Style • Beyond Senses], 20 Control
This jutsu is an extension of [Beyond Senses].After initiating this jutsu with handseals, a sensor can focus on individual chakra signatures to get a precise idea of where their opponents are at up to 25 meters. A general sense of the direction and number of chakra sources can be determined at up to 75 meters away. It should be noted that this jutsu requires intense concentration, often making the user shut their eyes so they can focus on the jutsu solely. Even with high levels of Chakra Control, this jutsu can be mentally taxing as it requires the user to sort through the individual chakra sources in the sensor’s range.

Jutsu UsedShow

Hiton • Speeding Bullet - 35 Control, 3 bullets fired
C-Rank Ninjutsu
By channeling chakra to the tip of his finger, Fanho can create solid bullets of light 6' inches long, half an inch wide and tall up to 10 times. The bullets glow bright with a grey glow as they're fired with a speed of 50, and pierces with a strength of 20.

[Taiga]

As Taiga strafed his way off to the side and towards the shore to avoid the shuriken he was not completely blind to the actions of Fanho. There was more to this world than chakra and through his immense focus and astute perception not unalike that to a great bird of prey, he picked up on the subtlest of details in the environment around him. The way Fanho's feet warped the water, the small splashes, the way the drag of the shuriken was different as if something was behind in it's air currents. The pressure upon the water. The shadows- each minute detail. He knew Fanho was up to something, but not what.

"For once in your life you can't think of anything to say?" Taiga taunted as his eyes saw a feint glow in the shuriken as if something was melting through it. His brain and wits moving at light speed as he compositely took on the shuriken in addition to wood, he spun his "body"- which was in fact a wood dummy around as he ejected out of it to face Fanho, as the light pelted into its back, not quite destroying it but trigger his counter-attack.

As Fanho was trying to kick at Taiga, the dummy would now shoot it's roots outwards in a radius grabbing onto him, the shuriken, and everything in the area, hopefully catching the Hokage while his leg was up to perform his move, though Taiga was sure he was fast enough to react.

Standing resolute unphased by any of this Taiga would clasp his hands togethering a simple seal as suddenly all the Mokuton in their immediate area would explode, showering shrapnel outwards towards him and Fanho. Taiga though, would be unaffected as the pieces of wood phased through him on their way to hit Fanho.

Of course it wouldn't be at a high strength or anything lethal. He wasn't trying to kill the Hokage while they had a spar or anything.

"Is this about Chikara and Enzen- enzenragu or whatever his name is?"

USEDShow

Konoha no Senken • Flying Swallow, Birds of Prey - Continued
Mokuton dummy @ 35 + 3 x 2 (mokuton passive) + 6 strength (If the dummy is struck at any point in the next 7 posts, it will shoot out roots in a 30 meter radius around the dummy at [Control] speed/strength grabbing onto anything caught in the radius and pulling it back towards the dummy's last location, constricting with intense force for however many posts are left in the duration.)

Konoha no Senken • Dance of the Falling Leaf/b]
B-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
The only limit to the speed of which Taiga control his body, via rapid acceleration or assimilation, is the speed in which his mind can physically send the impulse to his body to do so. With Taiga's high body control, he has trained and honed his mind and body to be as one, capable of reacting near the speed of thought in terms of controlling himself. This allows him to create interesting attacks by rapidly changing his movement patterns while fighting.

[Composite Assimilation]
B-Rank Stance Taijutsu
After making contact with an eligible piece of solid matter, Taiga will utilize his Genma abilities to assimilate multiple materials at once, or add more materials to his current assimilation, allowing his body to become a composite of the multiple materials at once. After assimilation he is able to "phase through" or "merge through" objects matching the materials he has assimilated. This technique must be used with a discipline for the appropriate material he is merging with.

Konoha no Senken • Dance of the Falling Leaf
B-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
The only limit to the speed of which Taiga control his body, via rapid acceleration or assimilation, is the speed in which his mind can physically send the impulse to his body to do so. With Taiga's high body control, he has trained and honed his mind and body to be as one, capable of reacting near the speed of thought in terms of controlling himself. This allows him to create interesting attacks by rapidly changing his movement patterns while fighting.

mokuton/splinter
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Taiga will focus on a source of wood up to 30 meters away, causing it to explode with [Control] strength into thousands of tiny splinters that penetrate flesh and enter the bloodstream. The splinters will continue to grow for up to 6 posts while within effected targets bodies, causing severe internal organ damage to the pulmonary system. If not dealt with in 7 posts, the effected target will suffer pulmonary organ failure.

(25? pick something that is "non lethal" in this context idc)

[Director]

phpBB [video] As the Hiton bullets ripped through the shuriken, Fanho saw the quick change between man and dummy. The mokuton now tanking the bullets began to lash out, its roots striking in an erratic pattern, first burrowing shallowly into the ground then the shuriken as more tendrils shot towards Fanho. Utilizing the shuriken's split second of being pinned as a push point, Fanho used his planted foot and launched himself into a backwards handspring twist at full speed dodging the roots as they clamored his way, the man transitioning into sprint out of range as his body glowed purple focusing for another jutsu.

With the roots encroachment stopped, Fanho took in the sight as he could see Taiga setting up his next move. A single seal signaling further trouble ahead. Unbeknownst to Fanho an explosive jutsu that'd be deadly to most if caught, a clever follow up to a seemingly benign capture technique. With the explosion of shrapnel in the area Fanho reared his fist before launching forward a large wave of ninpou as it cleared the splinters just before him with enough overwhelming strength to keep himself safe. The Hokage kept quiet, his expression unchanging from neutral as the splinters cleared the way for Taiga to see his friend's newfound stoicism and lack of answer.

With the immediate threat dealt with, Fanho charged into the 30 meter gap between himself and Taiga with his immense speed as his body glowed purple once more forging the beginning of another jutsu on the horizon. It wasn't that Fanho wanted to ignore Taiga, rather the opposite. He wanted to cut up, laugh, and enjoy their friendly training. Yet, he wanted to take this seriously. Push himself into a new boundary and head space he felt was needed as a leader. A quiet and strong focus on winning.

It seemed like the latest battles had them on the back foot, and it wasn't enough for Fanho to think strategically. He had to be assured in his own abilities. His words were enough to tide people over, but a Hokage who could be bested in battle? That wasn't enough for the Awai to be just kind words. Fighting was what the two wanted to avoid, but good wishes wouldn't bring that reality to fruition. When push came to shove, it never seemed like the village could find its footing to win the battles. They had won territory during the grand war, but now in Wind Country suffered immense losses. Taiga's words when Fanho came home played on repeat in his head.

You included, are part of the problem. They've made this village weak.

It's clear to me I think you just want to talk about hope and blow shit out your ass.

People died here because the Bannin and Hokage left the village open.

Even though it was water under the bridge, words throw in the heat of the moment. Those searing words left a growing mark in the back of his head. With the Setsuzoku trade, Iwa wanting to be new neighbors, and Kiri's uncertain leadership, the world's future was more uncertain by the minute. Allies were needed, but more critically if it all came to a head the village needed an ample defender. It wasn't enough that Fanho could act the hero, rather it would only be enough when he could deliver on the heroism act. To that end his mind locked on the end goal of victory and pushing himself past his limitations. It was the only way he'd feel comfortable if war came to the homeland.

Jutsu UsedShow

I figured you shot with 25, I hit with 30 to make sure my smash can clear em
Ninjutsu • Konoha Smash
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After funneling extra chakra into his fist or foot Fanho will then release it at will. The extra chakra charged in his fist will release a brutal raw concussive force of [Control] strength and speed in an area that expands from his fist for 10 meters. The height/width of the area is 50x50 meters. While Fanho's fist is charged it glows blue like ninpou.

Disciplines ActiveShow

Konoha Smash • Hero's Playbook
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Fanho is capable of slowing time in his brain to process and analyze things quickly, allowing him to thoroughly think things through before committing an action, or developing a response. This gives him the ability to pick-up on even the most minuscule things at fast speeds, and properly digest the thoughts before moving on or responding to them.

Konoha Smash • Acceleration
B-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: [Strength] at least 3/5's of the user's [Speed]
With training Fanho has perfected quickly accelerating to his top speed and coming to a complete stop. It acts as a refinement of the user's movement allowing them to quickly traverse the field, respond to attacks, and use their top speed or to come to a complete stop at a moments notice.

Konoha Smash • Equilibrium
B-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After hours of flight, air combat, and repeated dunkings in the Kumogakure's freezing lakes. Fanho has been accustomed to being off balance more than he'd like, and is able to resist being off balanced, and combat it by rotating his body midair, mid-ocean, or flying, positioning himself in a way to find his direction even in the most tumultuous positions or tumbles.

[Taiga]

Taiga watched carefully, the frames in nearly slow motion, as Fanho dodged deftly out of the immediate way of the entangling roots from his woody dummy substitute. It was never a move that had the intention of catching Fanho, and perhaps he was too aware of that as the moment Taiga clasped his hands together, he would begin to prepare his own defense. As the shrapnel wailed through the air, and wasting no time as he saw Fanho's fist begin to glow he would zip further onto the shore putting as much distance as he could, utilizing the full capability of his speed and his ability to move at the speed of thought.

It seemed like Fanho had forgotten this was about having a conversation and stretching their legs, and lost in the depths of his own mind, was focused only on winning the battle, as he observed the man preparing another jutsu and likewise prepared and channeled chakra through out the body for his own next attack.

They had rhythmically danced around the mountain peaks and lake for such time, each series of attacks a rally but never quite yet reaching a volley.

With both of them possessing top-level speeds, Taiga would make sure to equally move for every meter Fanho tried to close on him, keeping the distance the same and actually aiming to push for a 40m gap if at all possible.

Eventually, as he kited the Hokage around he would quickly draw two kunai out of his holster and sling them for Fanho, aimed for the direction of his head, but more with the intend to hit his body, and soon after shifting his body to steel and stone composite.

If Fanho couldn't get out of his headspace Taiga would remind him what happened when he made poor decisions and let his emotions rule him; starting with when Zakuro took the Awai's eyes. Besides, being an emotion driven prick was Taiga's M.O.

Frustration though was building within Taiga- frustration that he felt Fanho was keeping things from him and the others. Even Tenzin. Putting everything on himself. Making it all his responsibility. As much of a knuckle head as Taiga was he knew that protecting a country or village as one man was impossible.

USEDShow

Birds of Prey - Disc Cont'd
Konoha no Senken • Dance of the Falling Leaf - Disc Cont'd

[Genjutsu • Blinded]
C-Ranked Illusion of Force
After the required hand seals, Taiga will toss two kunai, one with each hand towards a targets head. If the target sees the kunai they will be caught in the technique. Those captured will feel the as if they have been stabbed in both eyes with [Will Power] strength. After 2 posts the genjutsu will end and any pain will subside.