Promising Progress - part 3 (Sage training)

Hara stretched, basking in the warm sunshine. She and Don had been the first ones to return to the training field. It was the perfect chance for a little warm-up exercise. Nothing fancy. Just some calm moves to get ready for the round two against Aniki. Today was turning out to be eventful. Even after a training match, a bath and a long meditation session, it was barely noon. It felt like the time flowed differently in here. Or maybe this was just the result of getting up so ridiculously early. She still wasn’t fond of the idea, but growing stronger required sacrifices. Like giving up on the blissful morning sleep.

Then again, the trickster couldn’t argue with the results. For starters, she no longer felt exhausted after leaving Sage Mode. And the meditation had certainly helped as well. After the session, she had started feeling far sharper, in control over the process. She had completely lost track of time in pursuit of the sensation. The waves of natural energy were clear. Even now, she found herself applying the basics on her stretching routine. She took a deep breath, spread her legs and pressed her forehead against the ground. Gather it in... Hold the pose... Release and repeat... Each move became a little more meaningful. Now, if only she could achieve the same effect in combat...

Finally, Aniki bothered showing up. Of course, his ego was still like a bloated balloon. "Ready for another beating, girlie?" He took his position near the middle of the field while Hara stood up and did the same. "Beating? Sure. Yours that is~" Both combatants took a short pause to prepare. The fox drew his blades while the trickster closed her eyes in a moment of small déjà vu. "Nyeh heh heh... Heard that one before. Didn’t end too well for you, see?" The meditation was still fresh in her mind, as was the sensation of energy. "Hee, then let me tell you a new joke... So a cocky fox challenges a Sage..." A dangerous smile played on her lips.

Time to play~

The imaginary brush painted the Kitsune’s face with swift strokes. Each was a little easier than the last, but she still had a long way to go before this became actually easy. When she opened her eyes, Aniki mirrored her sly smile. Trash talk was fun and all, but it couldn’t match trading actual blows. Without wasting another breath, the fighters clashed. Just as during the first round, the initial impact was undeniably even. They stared into each other’s souls, trying to judge the best move before breaking off and charging again. Strike after strike, dodge after dodge, the fighters mirrored each other’s movements. Senjutsu claws against fine steel, yet neither side had the advantage.

Hara was the first to change that. For the whole exchange, she had focused on the energy flow just as much as on the movements. Draw it in with a dodge and let it out with a strike. The method was far from perfect, but she could work with it. Little by little, she pushed the swordsman fox onto defensive, until he was back against a training post. Her smirk flashed wider. An opening. What followed happened within seconds. She took in the energy, letting it flow through her veins. Her fingers twitched and reflexively deflected the blades away. With a sudden head-butt, she knocked the fox backwards. Her hands grasped him by the ears and pulled back.

This next one was going to hurt...

However, just as the Fox Sage was about to land the decisive hit, she wavered. A breath she hadn’t realized holding escaped her lungs along with the last of the Senjutsu chakra. The markings vanished. Hara was back to a regular trickster. In the moment of confusion, Aniki flipped his blade and twisted it up to her throat. The result was rather awkward. On one hand, Hara was a mere push away from slamming the fox head first into a wooden post, but on the other hand he was just as close to stabbing her in the neck. Neither fighter could move. No matter how one looked at it, this was a deadlock for both sides.

Once again, the old sensei was there to call it quits. "Enough! Let go, both of you!" Fearing the iron paw that had already been raised, the trickster and the fox practically jumped away from each other. After the stern command, though, he smiled broadly. "Impressive display. A little more, Hara, and you’ll be ready for the next phase." With a content hum, which in the kunoichi’s opinion sounded incredibly creepy coming from the cold teacher, Don headed off. "Ah, and just in time for lunch. Let’s eat." All the foxes nodded in unanimous agreement. ...Finally a point she wouldn’t argue. Sage training worked up the Sage of Appetites.