the search for Salzem

Cole was walking around the woods close to the river that he normally trained by when he came out here. He had a plan this time the last time he came out here he met a man named salzem, so far he has been they only person that cole has spared with that cole couldn't beat. He was looking for the guy again he had gotten stronger then the last time they fought, and cole promised the man that he would get stronger and not only catch him but surpass him, and now that he has mastered that A rank jutsu finally he thought that he might be able to beat him now.

Cole was walking around the river going up and down the banks looking for Salzem, but he wasn't finding him. Cole walked over and set next to a tree their he looked around. He was so busy trying to find Salzem that he hadn't even noticed how nice of a day it was. It was one of those days were it wasn't to hot but not yet cold either. While the breeze was blowing through the forest knocking leaves out of the trees. It made for a beautiful sight as cole set next to the tree just enjoying the view.

If he couldn't find Salzem then he figured he would enjoy the view a bit more, and then start training he had a lot more jutsu that he needed to learn any way.

Salzem was sitting atop a flat stump in a meditative stance doing just that: meditating. It seemed to be most of what his days consisted of now. There wasn't much else around Salzem cared to look into. He had released attachment to most of his friends, worrying about how much time he had left was getting him nowhere, and the pure distain he had for his village now only reminded him of his one purpose for staying alive. He turned to the cold void of meditation, cleaning his head of all the mental clutter that had accumulated over the weeks. In the middle of this process, Salzem heard the footsteps upon the earthen floor of the forest. Not expecting any company, Salzem tried to clear his head once again and be welcomed back to the comforting emptiness that was meditation. However, This person had passed too close to his spot hidden among the brush and  too close to ignore. Sighing in resignation, he got up, dusted himself off and walked toward the person. As he approached, he noticed it was Cole, that kid he had trained with the other day. That water-dragon kid.... Salzem stretched slightly before speaking.

"Hey there." Salzem said, just loud enough to be heard over the natural noises of the forest. His voice was monotone, more robotic than before. It even surprised him how little emotion he put into his speech.

"their you are i found you" cole would say as Sal said hay to him. "Ive been looking for you. I got a lot stronger now and i think i might be able to beat you this time" cole would say not wanting to let sal now that he had mastered an A rank jutsu. He knew that he would remember that he had the water dragon jutsu, and wanted him to think that was still his best jutsu. of course he wouldn't use the water slicer jutsu if he didn't need to.

He would think back on their last fight and remember that sal was a tai jutsu user and as long as Cole stayed a good ways back he would be better off. "I'm here to challenge you to a rematch" cole would say as he took a step back and got ready. He knew that it wouldn't be easy Sal was a very strong opponent last time and this time he was sure it wouldn't be no different, but he knew he could win this time.

Salzem cocked an eyebrow at Cole's challenge. It hadn't been so long sense their last training session. What could have changed between then and now? Salzem shrugged and leaped back about two meters and lowered himself into a fighting stance. Cole seemed so confident sense their last bout. Was he aware hust how much Salzem was holding back? Salzem sized Cole up. He did not look that much different sense their last fight. He feared that if he went all out, he may end up hurting the boy beyond repair or even killing him. Salzem decided that he should keep it on the down-low like last time, only showing his true power against something like that Water Dragon. Salzem shuddered internally when he remembered the dragon, how big it was.... Salzem blinked himself back into focus. Cole's confidence must stem from what he learned as his body did not seem to have improved so much. A jutsu or technique? A Fighting style or weapon? Salzem did not know, but he kept on guard, letting Cole take the first move.

Sal accepted cole challenge by jumping back a few feet. Cole could tell that he was sizing him up. He figured that Sal didn't think that he had gotten that much stronger, so he probably thought that cole had a new jutsu. Cole thought to himself trying to think about just what all Sal could figure out. He knew sal was smart and would figure out something, but he didn't know just what all he would figure out. Cole wouldn't let his over confidence mess with his fighting style either, as he takes a deep breadth, as Sal got lowered into a fighting stance.

Hes waiting on me to make the first attack Cole thought to him self. Cole then made a few hand signs, and would use the hidden mist jutsu again just like in the last battle. It worked before but this time he had a different plan then last time, as the mist got higher and thickened the battle field. This time he made sure that the mist was so thick that you couldn't see you hand in front of you face as the mist formed and thickened he memorized Sals current location and thought about their last battle. Trying to figure out were Sal would move to next.

Once the mist was thick enough he would use his water clone jutsu to create two clones. He would send one head on just like last time. He knew sal would destroy it with ease, and would probably be watching his back for the second clone to come from, but this time he would have it following the first clone about five meters behind and when the first clone got killed he would throw a kunai. Just encase Sal wouldn't be able to block the kunai he would aim kinda low and to the side as best he could so that not to harm Sal seriously, but he figured that sal would be able to dodge the kunai which is why he would position him self in the back waiting to hear Sal land so that he could throw another kunai. Not to kill but to wound for the win.

(AP-250-20-10=220)

hidden mist jutsu
water clone jutsu

Salzem watched as Cole started off the battle more or less the same as he had before. Mist formed around them, thickening, becoming danker, harder to see and before long, there was nothing to see. Everything was obscured by the mist. If you held your hand out in front of you, all you would see is mist. Salzem raised his arms in such a way that both his torso and face were protected, akin to the stance of a boxer. Suddenly, Salzem sensed movement. Cole was moving towards him? No.... two coles... clones! The same way this went last time.... What was different was that Cole had placed them more strategically, One behind the other. Salzem only saw the clone at the last second as it closed in, it charging towards him. On instinct, Salzem Grabbed the clone's arms, whirled it around and planted a straight kick to it's back (Strength 20 Speed 75) Sending it flying in the same direction it came from, likely killing it in the process. Then, a kunai shot out from the mist, aimed at a non-vital spot. Salzem once again was able to barely dodge it, the knife imbedding itself in the dirt. This was not going well. He couldn't even use chakra sensing as he had not locked onto Cole's signature yet. Salzem decided the best thing to do was to get out of the mist. Salzem slammed his hands together in the Ram Sign, activating the Body Flicker technique. Salzem turned around, dashed out of the mist at speeds of 110, coincidentally ending up in front of the real Cole. Salzem noted that Cole seemed ready to throw another kunai. Apparently he sent his clones in as a distraction as he did before, except with more painful intentions. Before Cole was allowed to act, Salzem grabbed and lifted him by the collar with one hand (Speed 75) . There was a lake not 5 meters from where they both stood. Perhaps it was time to see his new jutsu if he had one. Salzem tossed Cole over the water, following after him at a brisk walk.

"Come on Cole. Show me why you think you can beat me this time." Salzem said, craning his neck while rotating his left arm.

"Show me what's new."

AP 340
-10 via Body Flicker

Coles plan was working he knew the first clone was taking down, and that the second clone had thrown the kunai, but he didn't hear anything meaning that either he hit and Sal is just that much of a bad ass or he missed and Sal was escaping the mist like last time. Cole thought to him self, but before he could do anything Sal was grabbing hold of his shirt and had thrown him. Cole landed on the water, and using the water walking justu came to a stop and stood up. He saw Sal walking to him with a face that cole hadn't seen before on Sal. "Come on cole. Show me why you think you can beat me this time" Sal tells cole as he gets closer while loosing up. "Show me whats new" Sal would add.

Cole looked at Sal "fine you want to see it ill show you" cole yells as he starts to make a few hand signs. "Rising Water Slicer Jutsu" he would yell, as a blade of water shot up from the ground aiming at Sals right side to try and make him dodge to his left. He knew that Sal would be to quick to hit from this distance with this jutsu, so he immediately started to make more hand signs.

He tried to time it right were he would be done about the time Sal would be dodging. He would create a dragon out of the water and yell "Water Dragon Bullet". Aiming to hit Sal and push him into the water. If this didn't work he didn't know what else to do but to keep trying.

(AP-220-40-30=150)

water dragon bullet
rising water slicer jutsu

Salzem liked to see Cole's spirit in response to his taunts. As Cole yelled out "Rising Water Slicer Jutsu", a blade of water shot out, slightly off to the right. In response, Salzem figured it was time to learn this new technique. Salzem slammed his fists together before stepping in front of the blade and throwing his arms back. He waited for the blade to enter arms length before he to announced his attack.

"Morning Peacock!" Salzem roared,  throwing his fists forward in a flurry of punches. Soon, the punches began to collect an aura, one that radiated like fire. Salzem's flaming fists were moving so fast and so powerful, (Strength 111, Speed 125, Total Power=118) that it appeared as if his arms had disappeared and was replaced by a wall of small, fist sized fireballs clashing with the Aquatic blade. Salzem's power was higher than that of the jutsu, shattering the aquatic blade. Salzem lowered his fists, breathing heavily. His arms burned from the strain and his fingers were cut nastily due to the blade. Salzem didn't have time to dwell on this however as Cole had already been working on another move

"Water Dragon Bullet!" He cried. Oh no... Salzem jumped up from his spot, giving himself just enough time to activate his experimental technique. he had developed this move himself and if id didn't work, he was going to be seriously injured. Flooding chakra throughout his skin cells, he turned his outer skin into scales. It appeared as if his skin was flipping like dominos, turning and hardening into dark red Scales. As he did this, the water surged upwards in the form of a dragon, making noise equivalent to an actual dragon.

"Lizard Skin Armor!" Salzem growled before folding his arms in front of his body as the water surged and struck him. The pressure was amazing. Scales were torn off, exposing the flesh underneath. However most remained in tact against the massive force of the dragon. Finally when the water surge stopped, Salzem fell back to the lake, landing heavily on the surface. He was genuinely tired. Two high level techniques he had not mastered yet and meeting two of Cole's head on. However, he had enough energy to finish the fight. He growled and got to his feet.

"Unh... Nice move." Salzem said. He winced. His arms burned heavily. They sustained much punishment this fight. "But I think I can do you one better...." Salzem would say, bringing both of his arms back. His remaining scales fell off him, sinking into the water they both stood upon. He growled, trying to focus his strength.

AP: 270
-40 Morning Peacock (Learning)
-30 Lizard Skin Armor (Learning)

"dam it why won't you just let me win" cole would yell as he made a few hand signs "water clone jutsu" he would yell. Two clones would rise up out of the water with kunai in hand, as cole pulled his own kunai. He knew that Sal would be able to beat him in a close range fight, but he didn't have much a choice left he had used up most of his chakra. This would be his last attack being reduced to close combat, but Sal had to be hurting as well after that last combo. Cole figured that with the way he got up that he to must tired and short on chakra as well, and that he might have a chance at finishing this in close range. Even with Sal having the advantage in close combat. Cole had two clones now.

Cole would send one clone straight on while another to the right and cole himself would go to the left. He would try to attack three time in one right after the other in order to get Sal on his toes so that he could hopefully find an opening to try and finish this fight. He figured that it would be his only chance of winning.

(AP-150-20=130)

water clone jutsu

Salzem gasped as his as is arms arced with pain. No... he couldn't use this technique without potentially breaking both of  his arms. Why won't I let him win? Salzem thought. Heh. The answer was simple.

"Where...... would be the fun..... in that...?" Salzem would say in between heavy breaths. Water clones again...? Salzem figured he must be running on fumes as he was. Salzem lowered his arms to his sides, hanging them limp. He would have to use his legs for the remainder of this fight. Salzem arced his back and raised one leg in the Crane stance (minus the arms) to maximize the effectiveness of his kicking power. Salzem noted that all three Coles spread out in a Right-Middle-Left Three pronged attack. Salzem Watched all three of them closely, before lowering himself. He then launched himself at the middle clone, letting out a series of high and low kicks, A Leaf Whirlwind, ending in a spiral kick at the clone (Strength 76 Speed 90) most likely tearing it apart and sending up a spiral of water surrounding him, almost like a veil. He would target whoever would attack next. He swung his arms back and forth. They almost resembled that of a pendulum of a grandfather clock. He did this mainly to try to work the exhaustion out of his limps, but it could be perceived as a taunt. Slowly but surely, life was coming back to his arms, but wouldn't be able to be used effectively for another hour or so...


AP: 258

-12 Leaf Whirlwind