lava vs. Wood (Private, NKill)

Ryu stepped into the clearing of the first training grounds that was open, he was hoping no one was there, taking a deep breath, Ryu looked at the Clearing he was stepping into, there was a Dirt patch and the trees looked like they had lots of use and were weak because of it. there was a Log that was stuck in the ground with pegs for hand to hand combat. relaxing his body Ryu pull Spring from it's sheath, he move Spring in front of him with the edges away from him moving his head closer, he said, "Spring let us fight together again." with that he started to practice on the Pegs hitting but not cutting. it was all light taps has his body remember, different stances form his past, not knowing what these where, he just felt good doing them.

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Drake stood just hidden from view up in the trees. He watched Ryu walk forward into the training grounds. He smiled, he actually knew this shinobi from his last few month's at the training academy. Ryu started talking to his blade, Spring he called it. Drake grinned like a fox as he pulled free his own tanto, The sword not making a single sound as he jumped free from the the top of the tree, landing noiselessly behind his old friend and attempted to bring his free fist to his friends shoulder. If sucsessfull, he would then jump backwards and get into a defensive position with his sword in front of his chest.

Hearing nothing as Drake came up. Ryu had just completed the last stance he body remembered when he felt a punch in the middle of his back turning around slowly Ryu saw Drake getting into a defensive position with his Sword Tanto, if Ryu remembered it's name right. Shaking his head Ryu called out to Drake, "Long time no see Drake, maybe when we take a break you should look at spring." Ryu said as he was moving closer, with a smile on his face and checking his hold on spring, he went for a diagonal cut from the lower right Ryu made sure if Drake did not block he could move back as to not hit him.

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Drake smiled at his friend, Who had been in the acadamy onlt a few months when he had graduated. His muscles tensed as he brought his blade, Azure, quickly to meet the blade of Spring. It was almost poetic that he spar the very boy he swore to never allow surpass him. "Still trying to Graduate?" he asked Innocently as the clash rang out into the training ground. He would quickly throw his leg forward, attempting to kick the boy backwards.

Seeing Drake try to push Ryu back with his foot, Ryu jumped back, landing on his toes he then called at Drake "Are you going easy on me, or is this all the skill you need to graduate?" Rushing Forward Ryu attacked Drake, moving spring forward into a stab, then pulling back, into a spin to get next to or behind drake, then with his feet next to Drake's. he swung spring towards Drake's back, knowing that drake would be able to see though this, Ryu moved to the balls of his feet to get out of there if needed, but Ryu did not know how much stronger Drake was, Ryu wish he was ready for this battle but was not sure.

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Drakes face darkened as he gave him self a silent order to stop holding back. His old friend was right, he deserved more effort from Drake. Azure flashed to meet the blade as it went from a stab into a swing, stopping the intended spin as his muscles seemed to bulge. He rushed in the moment he felt his Azure make contact with spring. His whole body tense as he brought his free fist hurtling forward utilizing his full strength and power to try and land a solid blow upon the other Shinobi's chest. His eyes would have betrayed his actions to someone who had been trained to see it, but there was some doubt as to weather or not ryu knew to look in his eyes.

Getting hit with Drake's Fist send Ryu back a few feet, it also made him have to get his breath. Ryu had not had a Sparing match like this since before Drake had graduated. "wow, this is what a battle feels like, truth be told i forgot it, with not seeing you since you graduated, and with me getting a job at the roman shop, maybe i'll quit that job. that way next time you won't get me off guard." Ryu said to Drake. moving slowly forward Ryu kept his blade close to him. Now he know that Drake was up by two hits, but he was not going to give up yet. Ryu moved into a defensive stance looking at Drake.

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Drake was suddenly a whole new person as he rushed forward,. He wore a comepltely unreadable expression and had a savage look in his eyes if Ryu would look into them. His mucsles bulged and his breathing quickened as he he thrusted his sword quite a bit faster then Ryu would have been able to. Azure suddenly striking forward like a snake, aimed for his friends sword shoulder. The strike was aimed to make him drop the sword in pain,but even as he made his lunge his feet were already working to spin his body away from his friends intended strike should he be unable to cause him to lose hold of the blade.

Ryu saw the dead emotion in Drake's face as he moved closer, Ryu saw that his friend meant to disarm him by pain, Ryu was amazed at his friends speed, almost to late did he see the strike aimed at his shoulder. stepping back and moving his body to a thrust position did he keep the strike form hitting it's mark, but Ryu was not fast enough and still revived a cut. Then he watched as Drake's body span away from reach. Ryu Turned to face Drake, putting his blade in front of him, his body wanted to go back to his regular stand but, that would not help against drake. "do you remember this stance Drake, let's see if it stand against you!" Ryu could not help but smile it was a page out of their past, on that got drake the victory many times.

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Drake laughed as he watched the boy take Drake's own fighting stance. The boy was bold, knowing this was going to hurt his friend did not keep cause him to hold back. The boy would have to learn to fight harder if he wanted to win. Drake brought both his hands together, tossing his Azure lightly in the air, and formed his handsigns. As he caught his sword he would vanish into a puff of white smoke and move at untraceable speeds to the young senju to apperer behind the young boy, his Azure still makeing its fall as if Drake were going to reach out and grab it from the cloud of smoke, as Drake himself threw a brutal punch for the boys undefended back.