The Bottom of their Peers

[Taiga]

The Genma had turned out to be a tremendous weight; not because of the difficulty or pain that came in mastering it, but the mere responsibility and lack of freedom that becoming the host had brought upon Taiga. Very recently, his superb skill and prowess with the beast had allowed him at least some more of his leash. Rather, the village had no way of stopping him from coming and going as he pleased- a specific advantage the boys unique phantom beast had. Regardless, because of the Genma Taiga had missed out much in his social life. Many of the dramatic events that effected his peers in the recent year or so had gone by with him left sidelined. Perhaps the worst was Zakuro. Despite being promised to join in the hunt for his former classmate- and arguing in favor of protecting him against his other peers- like Gene who wanted blood for betrayal... Taiga had been left out of it.

The fool Awai had once again led the charge and done all the dirty work, letting no one else join in and also destroying his own eyes and losing his family's doujutsu in the process. In the end however, Zakuro had come back to the village and made up for his betrayal. It was understood his motivations and ghosts- and that he was not in fact a traitor, but merely a broken man who had needed more help. Or some shit like that. Taiga really did not know the tale, but he assumed thats how things went down. Regardless, Zakuro was back... and the pair had unfinished business.

Taiga remembered when he was at his lowest, and how the only other boy to be as weak and pathetic as him in the year- once weaker than himself, had easily pummeled him to the ground. Taiga and Zakuro had long been the underdogs, but as a result, Taiga had a form of rivalry with the boy that could not be disregarded. The two where now young men, and Taiga hoped to greet his returned ally with a friendly duel.

Perhaps though there was something unfriendly about it- a desire to pummel Zakuro for all he had put the village through. Old Hag Aina, Fanho, even Gene. Part of Taiga also wanted to thank the boy- his own actions had served as a lesson to Taiga and prevented Taiga from doing the exact same thing and fleeing the village.

As a knucklehead though, the only way he knew how to share his emotions with another was by the crossing of arms and the colliding of fists.

Sighing, he leaned against a tree stump at one of the old training grounds. If Zakuro got his message, he'd come. The sun was beginning to set and it was a cool autumn eve.

[Rain21199]

Another day of work had come to a close. Zakuro drop the set of files he had been looking at into a bin marked trash, and left the building, locking the door behind him. Mamorinuku would've taken everything out of any normal person in Zakuro’s position, but Zakuro was far from normal. With every step, the man felt the letter sent to him by Taiga fold and twist and wrinkle. He hadn't seen the guy in ages. There was so much for them to catch up on.

The last time the two shinobi had met, Zakuro tried knocking some sense into him. Taiga was sad, and being ever the pessimist. It's funny, if not a little sad, the Zakuro would be the same way shortly after. By the time Zakuro reached the arranged meeting spot, the sky was a blazing orange. A saw a small figure in the distance, and felt his grin spread from war to ear. Waving his hand high above his head, Zakuro shouted with glee, "Taiga, it's been ages you old fart. How are you?" In fact it had been around a year since they last met, but with everything that happened, it felt like ages.

[Taiga]

As Taiga had awaited the arrival of his former classmate, he could only think back to how things had been with everyone. Gene, Fanho, Zakuro, Ami, even that cunt Matsumoto. Despite all the hardships there generation- one that came to age in the fall of Konoha and the loss of both life and their homes, they had all managed to make memories. Despite being a pessimist, he could not help but feel nostalgia at that. Whether it be him leaping from the trees to try and punch a tiger in the face- much to Kazuo-sensei's disapproval, or Gene constantly being a cold- borderline psychotic asshole. Finally, without much more daylight left so spare Zakuro approeached. Taiga opened his eyes and pushed himself off the tree he had been leaning on.

The two boys looked far different than before. If anything, they could rightfully be called men. Both had become taller and more chiseled in physique, a sign that they had indeed matured. Still, they seemed young. Once clean skin had decent amounts of scars and signs of battles lost, won, or even escaped.It even seemed that Zakuro had gotten that arm he had lost back. For Taiga, that was good. They could have a fair fight.

Taiga stepped forward, his eyes locked on Zakuro.

"I'm sure more bored than you were, being a missing ninja. About that- I think we have unfinished business from before you left, Zakuro." Taiga said as he stretched.

"I also owe you a knuckle sandwhich for that stunt you pulled. So how bout a duel?" He was feeling quite frank today.

[Rain21199]

Typically when Zakuro saw someone for the first time since coming back, they pummeled him with questions. Frankly he'd much rather be pummeled with fists. "Be careful what you wish for Taiga." No point in waiting. Zakuro cracked his knuckles and began to swiftly move towards Taiga. Zakuro wasn't much for having a plan before attacking. He was getting better at improving though. There was no way Taiga would let Zakuro just charge him and get in close, so while Zakuro made his way to his friend, he watched the man's movements, awaiting the first blow. The grin on his face wouldn't go away even if he tried. This was likely to be more fun than he'd have in weeks, being locked in that office all day.

[Taiga]

Zakuro seemed more than willing to fight. Taiga quickly formed a grin as smoke began trickling off his body until he and the area were surrounded in it, and he had transformed. For now, he would only go to his third form. That would be more than enough to show Zakuro that he was once more, stronger than he. Moving out of the smoke Taiga lurched forward for Zakuro. First, he needed to see just how strong Zakuro had become- or fortitude. Would Zakuro be able to deflect his blows and prevent his advance? Crouching low Taiga advanced forward, foot after foot in a fluid motion that seemed like a dance. First, he would swing his arm around from the side in a chopping motion at Zakuro's side, while keeping his other arm in a guarded position and his own body's strike area minimized by his hunched and crouched position.

As he swung his arm, he would use the bead on it to turn his arm to steel.

Let's see how he handles this.

SpoilerShow

Konoha no Senken • Tempo
D-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
Drawing it's inspiration from the famed ever advancing movement of Konoha's Gouken, Konoha no Senken practitioners ingrain in-themselves a way of positioning and moving their body that constantly advances upon the opponent, allowing attack after attack fluidly and giving the opponent little option to flee. Practitioners are ultimately capable of using this way of advancing on their opponent to control the tempo of the battle and move it where they desire.