Re: Two Genin Sparring in the Leaves.(Private/No Kill)

Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:29 pm

Navi smiled, Umtari was forced out already? It had to be to good to be true. Navi readied himself to pounce out.

Suddenly a feeling of realization washed over him. It did have to be to good to be true. Umtari was a long range fighter, this could be an easy ploy to draw him out. Although his hand was forced, if it was Umtari, he couldn't let him get away. Navi created a clone of himself to chase after and confront him. He watched closely from a fair distance, he might have to jump out and attack if he was real, although if it was a trap Navi would have to pay close attention to where the crossbow bolt hit his clone from.

This was turning into a mind game. The irony was that neither of them was sure who was a clone, or even where the other was. Time was on his side though, eventually all the trees would catch on fire and there would be no place to run. Navi readied his combat stance and prepared for what was going to happen.

Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:43 pm

The same thoughts that had occurred to Navi occurred to Umtari, was this version of Navi which had emerged a clone or not? The same things which had made his ruse more believable also made Navi’s ruse credible. Fortunately though Umtari had seen where the clone had come from and so could reasonably assume Navi was still in that spot, waiting in cover if the man that had just ran out was a clone. However, on the off chance it was no clone Umtari could not afford to waste the opportunity. Bracing Umtari pulled the trigger, it was an easy shot to take, but he had hardly let the first bolt fly when he had spun round to face the direction Navi might still be hiding in, ready for what may emerge whilst the distinct lack of a scream indicated that the clone was just that, a clone.

Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:07 pm

Every second of this battle was crucial. The moment Navi saw a bolt fly towards his clone he had already calculated his next move. Umtari wasn't stupid, he would be ready for him to rush out and charge. However, Navi decided that as the fire creeped closer, this would need to be a much quicker process. Navi made another clone that would rush out from where he was sure Umtari knew he was hiding. The clone would rush forward and distract Umtari long enough for Navi to take the longer route and flank him.

It was not impractical that Navi would try to rush forward after Umtari took his clone bait, so Navi was confident that Umtari would think that this second clone was him. While his clone rushed forward, he had found a completely concealed vantage point much closer to where Umtari was.

Everything hinged on deciding the moment to strike. Too early, and Umtari would catch him off-guard and vulnerable. Too late, and he might put more distance between them.

Spoiler:

Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:55 pm

Umtari knew he had given away his position, he had two options, fight or flight. Umtari being who he was flight was the preferred option but where could he go? The trees were burning and though there were spots of cover he could move to none were as good as this. Plus the whole scenario might just repeat itself and Umtari would end up lightly toasted. Instead he opted for a daring final gambit and stood his ground for as long as he had confidence in the tree.

As the clone tore towards him Umtari spotted it for what it really was. On the ground the smoke made it near impossible to tell the difference, but in order to get to Umtari the clone would either have to run through fire, which would dispel it, or leap into the air and over the flames toward Umtari. In order to get to the sufficient height the clone would have to leave the thickest of the smoke and head up to clearer air, where upon the fact it was not casting a shadow became much clearer. Smoke had not yet reached Umtari at his vantage point, though there was a layer of it beneath him, but the fire bellow should have meant the clone cast a shadow on the trees and branches and no shadow was present.

Umtari was not able to spot this until a few tiny moments before the clone hit him but it meant Umtari now ignored the clone, which would presumably disappear harmlessly on contact and it meant he did not waste a bolt. Instead he started checking his flanks and rear, to see if anything was creeping up on him. Navi could only be in a few places. Umtari was amazed he had gotten out from behind the tree, he had been watching it like a hawk but he put this down to the clone and Navi’s speed. Assuming Navi was hiding in a place that was not on fire, which put him somewhere other than Umtari’s front, and which at least had some tiny semblance of visual cover leading to it from his previous hiding place there were an incredibly limited number of places he could be. Turning to face them Umtari continued to squat and wait, assuming of course Navi had not taken the brief time Umtari was looking at the clone to strike.

The flames meanwhile, were now dangerously close to the base of Umtari’s tree, after all he had thrown the source of the fire away from his perch. Should the tree itself catch alight it would take a little while to spread up the trunk, the tree was not covered in petrol after all and it would take a while longer still to weaken the tree to the point of collapse, though the smoke would have gotten Umtari before that happened.

Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:28 pm

Navi watched silently concealed in the undergrowth. His clones served as a quick distraction, but Umtari was able to spot them at an incredible speed. Navi only had another minute or so before his hiding place would catch on fire. At the same time Umtari's tree had just caught on fire. It would take a little time for the flames to climb the trunk, but the smoke was starting to fill the air.

Navi crept forward using Umtari's blindspot to his advantage. He used the thick smoke to conceal his approach. He had retrieved his old kunai while tracking Umtari through the trees earlier and now had both in his pouch. In a few more moments Navi would be near the base of the tree. Umtari would not be able to get away now without Navi seeing, especially since Navi was easily twice as fast as him.

Navi would need to wait a few more moments to strike, he was completely concealed in the smoke that floated up towards Umtari's vantage point. Navi was only a couple meters away from the tree Umtari crouched in. Navi watched silently as the flames crept up the tree. As soon as Umtari tried to escape, he would strike.

Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:44 pm

It seemed Navi was not about to automatically attack in the assumption that his clone had been successful. This was disappointing, but not devastating. Umtari had a good line of sight on Navi’s approximate hiding place and was watching it carefully, a fly couldn’t get by unnoticed. But nothing seemed to happen for some time, the flames just rose but Umtari did not yet move. He watched and waited and remained alert. He did this for as long as he could. But eventually the smoke and flames forced him to move. Umatri knew that this was Navi’s plan, nothing else could explain the man’s lack of attacks unless his opponent had fallen victim to his own fire which Umtari highly doubted.

Umtari also knew the vague location of Navi, he could not pin him down precisely, he could only say Navi was somewhere within a 40 degree arc and give a minimum and maximum distance the man could be in in order to remain hidden. It was not enough information to take a shot or launch an attack but he could do something with it. Umtari knew Navi was roughly on the opposite side of the tree to the flames and the thickest of the smoke, so in a desperate bid to evade his foe Umtari would head right into the fire.

He would not do so in a stupid manner however. Umtari knew roughly how large the flaming area was, and he knew most of it was grass and he knew where the burning trees were. Umtari took this last opportunity to pack in air. This would mean he would take as deep a breath as possible, then take in another breath without breathing out. He would keep on doing this, each breath growing shallower, until he could breathe no more and his head felt a little odd. This would give him the greatest possible amount of time in the smoke. So, holding his nose with one hand he jumped clear of the tree and directly into the thickest patch of smoke. This should mean that he was concealed from view from branch to ground, especially since the same pieces of smoke that kept Navi hidden from him kept him hidden from Navi even when not considering he had just jumped directly into some more.

He could not spend long here and visibility was very short. Working more from the mental picture of the terrain Umtari had taken before the smoke got too thick than by his actual eyes Umtari moved through the clawing smoke and burning grass at a run, his path only curving to avoid burning trees, some of which would be absolute infernos by now. When he eventually emerged, still obscured from view so long as Navi had not relocated, he put a little distance between him and the fire before dropping down on the grass and rolling around to look back in the direction he had come from.

Because he had moved quickly across the burning grass his shoes and trousers had not caught fire. His trousers had caught a few cinders and were starting to smoulder, threatening to burst alight, but the roll on the ground put an end to that. He could now also breathe freely and his sight was good again. His eyes were somewhat sore and as such accuracy beyond 150 feet would suffer for a while but the battle had long since closed to shorter ranges than that. The wind was blowing the smoke and fire away from Umtari now rather than towards him. He would now again stay still, waiting for Navi to come around or through the smoke when he eventually worked out Umtari could no longer be in the inferno. Umtari was lying in the middle of open ground, partly obscured by the grass but not much. If Navi was to close he would have to do so across coverless terrain.

Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:19 pm

Navi heard a sound, and it wasn't the sound of fire breaking wood. He couldn't see Umtari through the thick smoke, but he knew he was on the move. Navi leapt forward, staying low as to not inhale any smoke. Navi spent most of his time at the training field, navigating the terrain here was simple, even without vision. As soon as he cleared the smoke he saw Umtari sprinting forward into the field, putting distance between them. He had somehow escaped the fire around him and was headed for the middle of the clearing.

I can't let him get away Navi thought quickly as he sprinted forward. The clearing Umtari had sprinted into had no terrain Navi could take cover in. He would be at a distinct disadvantage if Umtari was able to set up a vantage point in the center of the field. Navi was much faster then Umtari and was already hot on his heels. When Umtari reached the center of the field he spun around and dropped to a prone position looking back where he was. He would see Navi about a meter away already in mid-attack, flying through the air with a powerful outstretched fist. Umtari wouldn't be able to fire off an accurate round before Navi was point-blank, Navi was much too fast by comparison. This spar was entering into close range combat.

Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:39 pm

Speed speed, cursed speed! Umtari just was not fast enough yet, or experienced enough. He was smart and resilient, willing to go to surprising lengths to win, the fact he had just ran through fire at slower speeds than Navi proved that. But he was just too sluggish and knew too few jutsu. When Umtari turned and dropped, having extinguished himself, he was surprised to see Navi so close already. He would have thought he would have had a few seconds, even minutes before Navi realised what had happened, apparently not. Still, he was not going to complain about the situation, he was going to adapt to it.

Umtari had too little time to perform the hand seals necessary to use body substitution but there was something he could do, something that used no hand seals and took effect essentially instantly. Fixing his gaze upon Navi as his blows sailed in Umtari did his best to stand. Of course he could not get upright before Navi connected but he could at least make it so the blow hit his upper torso rather than his head or neck. Similtaneously Umtari would try to grab the wrist of the incoming fist with one hand, not blocking it, deflecting it or really slowing it but just holding on. But more importantly Umtari used the temporary paralysis technique. At this close range Navi had nowhere to go, or so Umtari believed at least, no way Navi could avoid his gaze. This technique would not stop Navi hitting Umtari, momentum would carry Navi forward. But the paralysis should stop follow up, or chakra being funnelled in to the fist or something akin to that. Indeed, Navi's body should go stiff for several seconds and just fall to the floor, on top of Umtari.

If this was what indeed happened Umtari would release his grip and just reach up with his hands, place them on Navi’s fixed head and just say “Snap.” To indicate a broken neck, but of course Umtari would only do that if things went to plan.

Spoiler:

Wed Aug 01, 2012 5:57 pm

He was in mid-punch, he was going to give it everything he had. Navi was too fast to miss and too much time had passed for a complete dodge. This was going to be it. Navi's heart skipped a beat as he saw Umtari prepare his paralysis jutsu. At the same time Umtari attempted to catch his fist and deflect the blow of his punch lower.

It wouldn't be enough. Navi was more then twice as strong as Umtari and Navi's fist would crash through his defense and hit him directly in the face. Umtari must have realized this as his punch drew closer to connecting. If I use a substitution to dodge the paralysis he'll have too much range on me, I need to capitalize now.

Navi wouldn't be able to escape the paralysis technique, but the technique wouldn't stop his punch from going through. His incredible strength was reinforced by concentrated chakra in his fist. Even gravity was on his side as he hurled his incredible might at Umtari's face.

The paralysis jutsu would make his body temporarily unresponsive in the next couple seconds. He had to hope his punch would hit Umtari hard enough where he wouldn't be able to capitalize on that advantage.

Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:20 pm

This was it, it all came down to one punch. The speed of it was quite impressive as was the strength. The paralysis meant signals were no longer properly reaching any part of the body from the brain so much of the chakra concentration would dissipate as there were no longer instructions ordering it to stay there. But not as much of it had flowed away as Umtari would have hoped, nor had Umtari managed to stand as high as he would have liked and still took the blow to the head. It sent Umtari sprawling back onto the ground, his nose broken, blood gushing from his face but he kept his grip, ensuring the now immobile Navi came with him and landed on top of Umtari.

Umtari felt faint, the blow had almost been enough to knock him unconscious, almost, Umtari just had to keep his eyes open. This he did as he released his grip, moved his hands to the side of Navi’s head and twisted just a tiny bit whilst saying

“Snap.”

Out loud to signal a broken neck, before falling back pathetically and breathing heavily. After a moment he rolled the still frozen Navi off to the side and Umtari attempted to stand. He just about managed to get upright and take a few steps before staggering wildly and falling over like a rag doll. Umtari looked a mess, his trousers were lightly burnt and under them skin had come up in numerous heat rashes and blisters which would eventually start popping and oozing strange yellow liquid. Blood was gushing from his nose, he was on the edge of consciousness, his eyes were red sore from the smoke and streaming with water, his face was blackened by the smoke, ash and fire and he would occasionally cough and splutter heavily. For the sake of his pride more than anything Umtari was counting this as a victory but it was a victory he could barely crawl away from whilst in a few short seconds Navi would spring to his feet fresh as a daisy. Given enough time Umtari too would gather himself but he was noticeably worse for wear. It was a victory, but it felt like a loss. One thing was for sure, Navi was never to be taken lightly.