Fight Like A Fox [solo, training]

The serene morning in the village started off just like any other. Awoken by the rising sun shining right through the window, the Kitsune of Konoha was sluggishly going through her routine. Roll out of bed, crawl into the bathroom, consider getting some breakfast and so forth. Each movement was a brief struggle, resembling a sloth trying to move forward. She wasn’t exactly a morning person. Luckily, her apartment was small and modest, not many pieces of furniture to bump into. While munching on some dry bread, she tried to focus her sleepy mind. There was this nagging feeling that she was supposed to do something important today...

-poof-

Since Hara could barely keep her eyes open, it took her a while to realize she wasn’t in her apartment anymore. Instead, she found herself in the secret garden, surrounded by foxes. And still in her undies. Oh right, the training day... Flustered Don was the first to react, with a quick smack of course. "I-indecent! How dare you show up dressed like that!?" The trickster rubbed her head and smirked. Modesty wasn’t something that concerned her, especially when she had a chance to turn the joke around. "Hey, you are the one who reverse summoned me. I bet you wanted to see me like this, dirty old geezer." And another painful smack echoed through the garden.

One hasty clothing run later, the teacher and the trickster were ready to begin. This time, instead of the dangerous flower room, they had gathered to a huge training field, strikingly similar to the ones back at Konoha. Bosu, Usobi and Aniki were watching from the sidelines. Hara fit right in with a pitch-black kimono given to her. Didn’t these foxes wear anything else? Don had regained his cold composure and demanded his pupil’s attention. "Ahem! Now that you have learned how to enter Sage Mode, it is time to begin your combat training. Since you are naturally talented in taijutsu, we shall start with the ancient way of... Kitsune Kenpo." But all he got for his troubles was a ridiculing look from the trickster.

"...Really? That’s what you’re calling it?"

Without a warning, the old fox dashed past the kunoichi and just barely brushed her sleeve. Hara was just slightly confused, until she felt a sting on her forearm. When she peeled back the sleeve, her eyes widened. Scratch marks... Yet the sleeve was intact. How...? Luckily, the elderly fox was right there to explain. "Very few things in this world can stop natural energy. Attacks imbued with it are not only powerful, but can gain effects beyond imagination. This is the true essence of Senjutsu." Finally the trickster managed to shed the sleepiness with excitement. A fighting style that did something this weird had to be amazing.

As if sensing the student’s drive, the wise teacher nodded. "First, I am going to bash the basics of Kitsune Kenpo into you. Then, you will enter Sage Mode and try it yourself." Hara lifted a curious brow at the word choice. Probably an old man’s ramblings again, right? "Don’t you mean drill?" But Don just flashed a grim smirk. "No." He dashed again and jabbed at her. The punch stopped inches away from her gut, but the trickster still felt the blow connect. While she gasped for air, the cold teacher walked next to her. "Now enough questions. Just follow my lead." He started off with the basic stance and the trickster imitated obediently.

Needless to say, things only got harder from there.

Again and again, and again, Hara had to repeat even the most basic moves. It took a dozen tries until the strict sensei was happy with a single punch. Then a kick, a dash, a swipe, each move was honed over hours of tiring repetition. However, all the while, the student could feel something changing. The way she thought about the moves slowly shifted. Each one had to be a precise and cunning display of skill. When the time came to compile everything in Sage Mode, she had it all figured out. It was a cloak of natural energy that gathered around her body, forming claws visible for her eyes only. From strike to strike, it followed her movements perfectly.

When the intense session finally ended, Hara collapsed as the last shreds of her energy slipped away. Exhausted but happy, she glanced at the sensei who seemed none worse for the wear. "Well...? Am I... finally... ready?" Don grinned as if he had heard the best joke in ages. "Ready? Hah, heavens no!" Having said that, he still stopped to stroke his chin thoughtfully. "But, I would say you are now combat capable. Hm, yes. We’ll see in the upcoming years if you’ll ever be... heh... ready." It was the last thing the trickster heard before passing out. That night she slept cozily under the stars.

_{((Training for Senjutsu E -> D))}