The Pretender ~P, IO, NK~

Altar sat upon a bench, idly biding his time. He was enjoying the cooling mist that permanantly hung in the air, as he waited for the puppeteer boy he had met once before. He had extended an invitation to meet again. Perhaps Altar wanted to see how the boy had improved, changed, or altered himself. Or perhaps he was just looking to have a calming chat.

Either way, the street was mostly empty, the mist driving most people away from the area. It was a cool evening, allowing Altar's normal apparel to be worn in the stead of the more summer-styled wear he adorned when the sun was beating hot overhead.

Malvoes walked through the misty streets of Kiri, heading to meet with the the older ninja he met a while ago. He mindlessly edited schematics for his latest puppet ideas in a small sketchpad as he wove through the thinning crowds to the designated meeting place, Unfortunately Malvoes has been crunching numbers and working on projects for quite some time so he hasn't been able to get out in a while, it was a nice day letting Malvoes enjoy his time out.

As he arrived he noticed that his acquaintance has already been here, sitting on a bench patiently, waiting for Malvoes no doubt. He folded up his sketch book, placing it into his belt. He sits down on the bench and looks over Altar for a moment before greeting him, "Hello there, lovely weather we're having." He says stretching for a bit.

Altar could tell the boy was coming from a mile away. Thus, he prepared well. Though just what the preperations were...well, that was a surprise.

Altar would smile as the boy approached him, placing his sketch book on his belt and sitting down, stretching out and extending a greeting. "Ah, yes, if you can even call it weather. The mist is quite beautiful, I suppose, if you're un-used to it. Anyways, how are you this fine evening?" Altar would say, clapping Malvoes on the back. After the boy answered, Altar would start up again. "I myself am feeling a bit... er, restless." After stating this, he would motion for the boy to rise and do the same, then start walking off towards what would normally be called the beach. Seeing as the land was covered in mist, the place was un inhabited at the moment.

[Color=Red] "And what of your puppet, the... insect looking one you used in our previous spar? Is it fairing all right in real battle? Have you made yourself any more?" [/coilor] Altar would say, looking curiously at the boy.

"I'm doing alright myself." Malvoes smiles, getting up as Altar speaks,"Restless you say?" he would follow him, maybe a step or two behind him. 

As he follows Altar, he looks across the desolate beach, the mist of Kiri really keeping away the sunbathers. Malvoes smiles meekly at the question, "Actually I haven't been in any real battles to try it out, I've got a few ideas for some new ones but I have yet to finalize the blueprints." He unconsciously moves his hand to the pocket holding his sketchbook, as if the ideas may flow out of it.

Altar would smirk at the boy before motioning at the book he held so fondly.

"Well, show me what you have. I've always been interested in puppets, weapons and inventions of the like. In fact one of the things that used to interest me most as a child were tales of legendary weapons such as Nuibari and Kusanagi." Altar would say, before thoughtfully stroking his chin, remembering the good parts of his childhood fondly, while inwardly cringing at the bad parts.

Shaking his head, Altar would turn to Malvoes and smile. "But those are thoughts of another time. For now, let us focus on the present." Altar would say before rolling his neck and cracking his knuckles.

Malvoes would smile slightly, his acquaintance, Altar, looking for another spar, not that he didn't mind but it did dawn on him as a possibility. He grabs the scroll behind his back, unfurling it as he speaks,"I remember the tale of nuibari, it piqued my curiosity at a time but I've decided the only weapons I'll be using were the ones created by my own hand, such as Mantis, with only one exception." As he says the name of his beloved insect puppet he runs chakra through the scroll summoning his puppet in a cloud of smoke. 

He would quickly roll up his scroll, returning it to his back, he'd then extend three chakra threads from his left pinky, ring, and middle finger, quickly connecting up to Mantis, as they connect he would give his hand a shake animating Mantis so he'd stand up, his blades extended out to his sides, his stance low ready for a brawl. Malvoes would then step back a meter to give him some leeway, leaving the distance between Mantis and Altar at 10 feet, and the distance from Mantis and Malvoes being 6 feet, Malvoes being directly behind his puppet of course, and then lift up his bandanna over his mouth, revealing the emerald smile. "Then another time you will have to tell me about it, I'm ready if you are."

[Altar why you no post]

Altar would smirk at the eagerness of the young Malvoes. Seems he enjoyed sparring a bit more now. Good, that would suit him well. Besides, not like there was a multitude of other ways to advance yourself in this bloodthirsty village...

Standing at the ready, Altar would not at Malvoes, then star slowly pacing to his own right, aiming to make a swing around to behind Malvoes. Forming a tiger seal, Altar would breathe out a stream of water at the boy's puppet, aiming to puncture it at it's left shoulder. If the stream connected, the arm of the puppet would most likely break off and fall to the ground. Not anything too hard to repair, but something that would make it just that much harder to use the puppet viably.

Altar would continue on his path, dashing now instead of walking. From above, a low rumble could be heard, and if one squinted enough, they could probably make out the shape of a large, winged... something. Altar had a nice plan for this spar, another... lesson, you could say. Always better to gain something and learn from this kind of fight.

Forming more handseals, Altar would prepare himself for his next move.

As soon as Altar nodded Malvoes was ready for his move, seeing the tiger seal right off the bat reminded Malvoes of their last spar, that jet of water aimed directly at his puppet, Malvoes would pull to the left,  Mantis kicking off at full speed and dashing towards Altar's right as he releases the stream of water where Mantis was. Mantis would run towards Altar, as Malvoes started emitting insects, a small swarm(63) appearing near his shoulders, arms extended out to his sides, blades turned around so the flat of them were facing forward, this is only a spar, no need to go for blood right away.

Considering how fast Mantis can move (58) he should close that 10 feet quickly, arriving at Altar as he forms his first handseal, as he arrives to Altar Mantis would swing at him, his right blade's back hitting him in the back, between the shoulder blades and his left blade's back hitting him in stomach, using his own momentum to flip him over, if all goes to plan, Altar should be flat on his back.

Altar would smirk at the puppet's closing in. Well, this only aided him. As the puppet approached, Altar would continue his hand seals, and when the puppet swung it's blade, Altar knew exactly what to do. Utilizing his experience as a fighter, Altar could plainly see the boy's fingers twitch as he commanded his puppet, and further more he could see the puppet's mechanisms spring to life, not too different from a person's muscles.

As the puppet swung it's blades towards Altar's back and stomach, Altar would finish his handseals and drop to the ground, sliding forward. The distance between the two would be about a meter, and as such, the cage would form immediately. Springing from the ground as soon as Altar dropped, the cage would completely restrict the puppet. Rising from his slide, the distance between him and the puppet now at a meter and a half, Altar would turn to face the puppet, drawing his sword which would coat with electricity. Altar would draw and swing horizontally in one fluid movement, dissipating the yuumei cage at the moment before collision. His sword would cleave the puppet clean in half at the waist. Thankfully, due to examining the puppet's inner and outer workings, Altar had avoided damaging any components or mechanisms. It would be a simple repair job for Malvoes, but for now the puppet was out of commission. The boy would have to rely on hos own skill from this point on.

After his sword cut the puppet in half, Altar would turn to Malvoes, and dash in the boy's direction. Upon reaching the boy, Altar would take his sword and stab it into the boy's right hand. The electric current on the sword would numb the boy's body, preventing any reaction on Malvoes's part. After that, Altar would draw his sword from the boy's hand and dash backwards, whistling sharply.

From the sky, the mighty dragon Tenebris would hear a sharp whistle. This was his cue. Flapping his wings and shaking his body, the dragon would send a mass of ash and soot down to the ground below, which would cover the area where the two were fighting, effectively blinding the normal eyes of both participants. To avoid any backlash, after doing this, Tenebris would leave the skies, headed for Altar's home.

On the ground, Altar would smile softly. Tenebris had done his part. At this point, the ash had made a veil that was near impossible to see through normally. Altar would suppress his chakra immediately. He wanted this to be a trial for Malvoes. He couldn't make it easy for him.

From here on out, there would be no gimmicks. No jutsu and no puppets. The boy would need to rely on his basic instincts and senses to get him out of this. At this point, Altar would speak up. To Malvoes, his voice would sound like it was coming from about 5 meters away, directly in front of him.

"Let's see what you're made of, Malvoes. There's more to fighting than what you can see. And if someone strips your weapon from you, you must still find the capability to fight, however that may be." Altar would say. Right about then, Malvoes would start feeling sensation in his body once again, and he would be able to move. The real spar had begun.

~Jutsu Used~
http://naruto-role-play-rpg.forumotion.com/t23959-meiton-eight-cages-of-hell?highlight=Eight+Cages
http://naruto-role-play-rpg.forumotion.com/t22669-chidori-katana?highlight=Chidori

I can dig up Tenebris if you like, but Ashen Cloak is basically Hidden Mist Jutsu, but even harder to see through. And it'll stain your clothes.