[NK] Red and Black

Xuba aimed a vicious kick at her chest. Too fast for her to block, she decided that it was at a low enough velocity to tank the hit. When he collided, she coughed. And then she couldnmt breathe. She kept coughing over and over and over. "S-solar..." He'd hit her right in the solar plexus. She almost fell to her knees, effectively breaking the stance as she stood up. Trying to get more air into her system, she took deep, shuddering breaths. She held this position for several minutes until her airway cleared. That little- "Y-you hit my solar plexus," she managed to get out. She coughed a few more times before she took a couple steps towards him. She brought her right hand behind her back and then attempted to slap Xuba with all of her strength. If it hit, she would immediately apologize if it hurt, but not for her actions. If it missed, she would bring her elbow back and attempt to elbow his face.

She didn't know why she was pissed that way. She'd been truly helpless before. This was nothing even remotely similar. Elspeth just grumbled to herself before stepping back. Losing control in the middle of battle, even a fake one, was a horrible idea. Keeping a cool head was the best way to go. She rubbed her aching chest a little bit and almost rolled her eyes when she found herself coughing again. Damn this. Damn it all. She sighed, slipping into a basic forward stance with her right leg in front this time. She took a couple brief hops to get a few feet away from her sparring partner. Then, she brought up her hands into a basic guard once more. Aeizith and her had the advantage of numbers, and if they coordinated better than they'd have a higher chance of success.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

310 words
3811+310= 4121
Trying to learn Taijutsu: Discipline on top of everything else.

Aeizith stared in surprise as his kick struck Xuba's one legged stance, the force of which was supposed to topple him over but instead it did absolutely nothing. One would think with such an unbalanced stance, with such a fragile way of standing, the boy's kick to his knee might've had some effect, but, in response for his troubles, the young ninja got struck twice in the upper parts of his body, a round-house right to the side of his head, immediately stunning the child, then another kick on the other side of his body, Xuba's heel grinding into his shoulder and immediately flipping him over and onto to the ground face-down. The world spun around the child as he lay almost flat on his face, completely bewildered as to what had just happened. Only a moment ago, he was standing, his teacher making a request of him, the next moment, he was practically flat on his face, completely stunned, unable to move his body the way he wanted to to go... scrambled.

Everything was all wrong from where he laid on the ground... He couldn't lift his head without coming down with a bad cause of nauseous vertigo, let alone lift his limbs a respectable distance fore they all felt like lead. And then there was the stinging.... Where Xuba had struck the child, it felt as if his skin was going to peel right off his face... And where his heel struck his arm... it was like a sword had cut right through his muscle and into his bone.... he couldn't move it at all unlike his other limbs... it hurt too much... something might've been broken (5 health to 13 strength (over double his health)). Aeizith groaned audibly as he squirmed there on the ground, completely immobile from Xuba's two kick assault, the only hope of winning now being Elspeth's slap somehow K.O'ing the darker-skinned ninja, or, at the very least, stunning him to such a point that the woman can deliver a finishing blow.

"I-I... th-th-thought...." he mumbled, wincing with pain as his brain swam in his skull like a fish in a jar. "th-this w-was j-just........ t-training..."

Xuba amid his kick landing landed softly on the ground on the ball of his left foit his eyes trained on the girl before him. Yet he heard Aeizith speak softly and the little boy struggle to get up. Xuba wasnt going to have it.

"To get stronger takes, heart, soul, and determination Aeizith.... i trained for days, weeks, months, years. It takes time. But you will grow. The first lesson is now Aeizith. You must stand and embody a non quitting spirit. You must fight on let your bones heal. Let your body learn [size=31]Thats why i did not strike full force."[/size]


Xuba spoke granting the girl a moment to recover from his kick as she gasped breath. Xuba then noted her angry expression. 

"Oh? You wish to learn a first hand lesson? Very well."

Xuba spoke as the girl winded up for a slap and it was a simple tell to read. Xuba waved his left hand in a deceptive measure and open handedly clashed his hand against hers. And effective inside outside block. 

"Let me show you what it is you are doing."

Xuba spoke as he aimed a short but powerful sweep with full force and power. This was done by kicking the insole of his left foot behind the girl's right foot. (Speed:30, strength:30) An attempt to launch the girl off her feet. With his strength it proberly would send elspeth feet up into the air.


Xuba would simotaniously while doing this sweep he would spin with the momemtum and shift behind the girl. Now xuba would begin a lightning fast sequence of strikes. Known as the chain fist. 


 Xuba would then bring his left blocking hand down towards the  center of his body. Now his right hand would open up for an open handed strike with the back of his hand aimed at the back of the girl's left  shoulder. Xubas  left hand would then rotate and strike the back of elspeth's right shoulder. Following the right striking the nape of elspeths neck. Then his right hitting above the left kidney of elspeth. His final strike would  his the center of the girl's back lightly. But hard enough to make the point. (Chain fist (open handed) speed:+20, strength: (controlled to be:23 final strike strength:15)

 Taking the final hit on elspeth xuba would aim a slap to the back of the girl's head. (Gibs slap for NCIS fans) with the flat of his hand. It was a kind tap but made a point. (Discipline:+5 speed:35, strength:21)


"This is what you are to do. Stay alert elspeth!"

After being brutally beaten down/disciplined for losing her composure, she scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. Next, she took very deep breaths. In, one two, three, out, one, two, three. If one looked closely, Elspeth's eyes would appear completely white. She clenched her fists and got into a fighting stance, ready to go once more. The whiteness faded the instant her deep breathing stopped. Without warning, she lunged forward, calm and composed. She threw a punch at Xuba's head before aiming one at his stomach. If it missed or blocked, she would have fell to the floor and sweeped, using the momentum to get away. If neither occured, she would aim a weakish (10 power lets say) knife hand strike to her opponents collar bone. If she gave up, she was 100% done for, but if she kept going, she stood a fraction of a chance.

He must have worked hard to get that far, she observed. I'm willing to bet he's holding back... In fact, I'm almost certain of it. Her mind wandered. It'd be nice to have more than one person fighting for you on the battlefield. Puppetry, her brain supplied. I'm thinking of puppetry.

Whatever it was, she was interested. But first she had to keep going. She'd hit a wall, and whether or not she pushed through or fell to her knees was entirely up to her at this point. And she decided what she was going to do long ago. Keep moving forward.

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WC: 250
4121+250=4371

Non-quitting spirit? What good was a non-quitting spirit when the rest of him was held together by mere pins and needles? His head felt like it was going to split open, his arm, about to fall off, Elspeth getting creamed and to make it all worse, there were two Xuba's fighting Elspeth... Really, a non-quitting spirit was going to do very little to make a broken body such as his move little more than a finger-twitch... But kages forsake him if he was just going to lie there for the rats and mites to devour him! With an effective mix of anger, excitement, adrenaline and determination, Aeizith forced himself back on his feet, his face immediately turning green and his stomach seeming to jump to his throat... That blow to the head did far more than jar his brain... the vertigo made Aeizith's uncertain stance look like he was preforming the legendary Drunken fist, but, unlike such a maneuver, Aeizith was drunk with a concussion and about to vomit from the world spinning.

As he rose to his feet, Elspeth was attempting to preform some kind of counter-attack towards the darker-skinned male, lashing out with a punch to his face, then towards his stomach, seeming to throw all her concentration and strength into that those moves... at least as far as he could tell. Xuba was having no issue at all completely thrashing the pair about this little alley and, if he wished, could probably kill both of them in just one strike... But, despite his earlier doubts, the little boy became imbued with this never-quitting-spirit, doing his best to ignore Xuba's earlier comments about how he wasn't even using his full strength. Any discouragement now and the adrenaline rush might fail him and the pain would drag him back down to his knees like weights...

Following Elspeth's attempted strikes lashing out with his own high-kick towards xuba's chin while Elspeth threw her punches (speed 5, strength 5). If this attack missed, the woman would go for a sweep while Aeizith lowered his leg and attempted a straight-kick to Xuba's lower-abdomin, right to his kidney (speed 5, strength 5).

Heart. A beautiful phrase that drives one to keep striving on dedpite wounds and soreness. Easily underestimated and always acceptable in the terms of xuba. 

It takes heart to grow. And improve... i see disire to survive in their eyes. Time to test how far they will go...

Xuba thought as he noted the girl's eyes changing slightly. Perhaps due to a unique ability... or she was pressing herself. The breath was truely a powerful thing. Many people say its second nature, but to the arts the breath is the life bloid. Breathing for strikes and kicks. Exhaling allowed one to concentrate and even strike harder at instances. Tighten muscles for enduring. Versus inhaling as one blocks or strikes. For power and endurance is lost. Even the breath of one is lost and they are stunned after taking such a hit. 

Breathing i see. I can take a page from this.


Xuba would follow suit methodallically as the girl began her attack. Calming his mind and within the calm the motions became clear. A single punch thrown towards xubas head. Xuba exhaled and stuck his head to the side as he ducked and weaved under the strike. His while weaving xubas arms went up to a guard and blocked the strike towards his stomach. 

Inhale..




Xuba then circled towards the inside of elspeths guard as she dropped to the ground once more. But her motions were calm and controlled as she did this. Any other person wouldve missed such an action mid attack. 

Exhale....


Xuba lightend his feet as he disired to take a step and took the sweep. However, xuba caught himself mid fall by balencing on one hand his. Eye caugh the shadow of Aeizith finally on his feet and comming back into the fray. But xuba was focused now as he now gave into his now meditative focus of breathing. There was only the fight at hand. 

As aeizith would throw the punch xuba would look up at the boy from his upside down position as he would  hold himself up by pure strength. Bringing down  onto elspeths shoulder  with his right leg. (Whichever arm does the knife hand) strength:30 speed:30.

The boy's punch would make contact with xubas face now as he smiled at the  boy as should his strike hit or miss the girl. xuba would  spring off his one hand and attempt to land on the Aeziths kicking leg. If this is suscessful  xuba would in a fluid, but viceous motion  grab the boy's leg should he land  and use it as a springboard. xuba would Vault[size=30] Up and backwards as he spoke up.  backwards  (Jumping speed:15, height: 4 meters) as chakra would surge into his feet as he would land on the  wall of the building behind elspeth.  (Surface walking technique)[/size]


[size=30]Inhale...[/size]


[size=30]Xuba would speak as he decided now was more then any a time to up tha pace. [/size]


[size=30]"You may now utilize some chakra. To a harmless level of course. We are training so safety first. Bones heal, burning bodies kill."[/size]




[size=30]Xuba would say as like lightning his next attack would strike like a storm. Brewing in the distance. Xuba would kick off the wall  while facing elspeth and Aeizith (jumping speed:15 jumping height/ distance: 15 meters) [/size]




[size=30]Xuba would land  15 meters away from elspeth as he held up his guard. Beckoning the two to come towards him.[/size]

Xuba weaved skillfully around her strikes like a dancer. Then, however, he took the sweep and landed in a controlled fall before bringing his foot down onto her shoulder with exuberant pain. She hissed as the world turned red for but a moment. Was it dislocated?... She wiggled her arm a bit, now on the ground. Nah. Just really badly bruised. Then, doing an admittedly awesome handstand on Xuba's leg and using it as a springboard, he flew backwards onto the wall. Next, he jumped away, and left Elspeth to formulate her plans. Now that chakra was allowed, a whole new realm of possibilities was open. She was exceptional when it came to chakra. She only had a few seconds to decide, however, and like a bolt of lightning it hit her. She slowly gathered up chakra in her hands, twisting and turning it like water upon the surface of the ocean, before she stood up and ran several meters to Xuba until she was eight meters away from of him. She thrust her palm out, aiming her chakra at her opponent's head. She'd read about the genjutsu she was about to perform, and called out "Now!" as if summoning allies lying in wait. One by one, hazy, humanoid figures crawled out from every crevice. One came from behind a dumpster barely out of Xuba's view. One jumped down from a nearby building. Two approached from behind him until all four surrounded her sparring partner. She took a small step forwards and so did all of the others. Then, she brought up her fists. She took another step forward, and then all of the hazy facsimiles burst running up to him. She stood behind one and jogged, and she was slightly smaller, and aimed a vicious punch at Xuba's stomach from the genjutsu servants, who disappeared upon contact with the taijutsu practicioner.

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WC: 312
4371+312= 4683

To clear things up since I need to compile what I'm learning:
-2000 words are going to Seven Heavens deep breathing
-1100 words are going to FR: Explosion
-500 go to FR: Fire Stream
-500 go to Discipline
Whatever's left at this point is going to Mist Servant :B

While Xuba was occupied with Elspeth, Aeizith actually managed to land a hit upon his master, his fist striking him square in the cheek! Unlike how he expected, the boy's fingers didn't immediately shatter on impact, but like he expected, the man was hardly even effected. With his face only slightly turned and with absolutely no sign of outward pain on his face, Xuba completely absorbed Aeizith's attack, smiling the whole time... In response, the boy brought his leg up to kick him in the stomach as he originally planned, but instead of that hitting him and getting that second hit out of his intended 3-hit combo, Xuba did something that made the little white-haired boy revere him even more than he already did... As graceful as a bird and as quick as a fly, the darker-skinned man actually leaped up just enough so that his foot rested atop Aeizith's using it as a platform to propel himself even higher into the sky with little to no recoil translated to the child. He stared wide-eyed, completely in awe as the man's feet landed deftly and stuck to the walls of the alley.

"Oh.. that's so cool..." Aeizith exclaimed as he smiled widely up at Xuba, momentarily forgetting about the horrible pain in his arm. It was when Xuba mentioned that they could now try some chakra control did he begin to feel a little... mad... He looked down at his arm that hung limply by his side, already feeling the swelling growing to uncomfortable proportions... yep... it was definitely broken... he couldn't fight him with chakra without signs! That didn't make any sense...

The moment the darker skinned ninja returned to the ground (in such a COOL WAY), Elspeth began weaving her signs and, the moment she was done and had made her declaration, new people started to come out from around their area as if they had been waiting for them... It must've been some kind of jutsu right...? He didn't know what was going on anymore... this was WAY out of his little league...

"Oh my kages.... Why do you have to be so cool...?" He whispered to himself, but not so silently that the rest of them couldn't hear. With the real Elspeth by his side, Aeizith advanced, throwing a wild punch at Xuba's face will the woman did his stomach (speed/strength 5), Desperate to get in that 3 hit combo.

Xuba studued the girl and child. He smiled inwardly as he heard aeizith exclaim wonder. Perhaps he was showboating a little. However it was effective. The young boy was inspired and it made plenty of sense. If he was in his shoes he would react the same.

The two induviduals proceeded their approach towards xuba and his breathing deepend slightly. Out of rythm. Butbalso to accept more oxygen into his system. Allowing his body to benifit from the air around him. Like energy being breathed in from the universe.

Inhale


Xuba breathed deeply taking in purity as the girl prepared for her move. Xuba noted Aeizith nearby her a look of determination in the child's eyes. 

Exhale.


Xuba waited paciently and calmly breathing deep and taking in everything before him. His dtance deepend as his breathing rythmatically flowed with body and blood flowing through him. The shout of the girl was all he needed as she arrived within his 8 meter  range. Strange shapes formed around the girl and aeizith. A haze of sorts as even amid the corners of his eyes spotted the figures. 

Inhale deeper now press myself.




Xuba thought as he kept calm. The figures to a normal person would freak them out. But xuba was diffrent.. he waited. And he noticed it. The very diffrerence between reality and illusion. While visual the beings lacked esscence. It never took away his sense of hearing. Just a simple visual disruption. 

The eyes lie, the ears may be decived, a touch can burn. A taste may poision, and a smell can confuse... but this may affect me now... still i will not mind. Ill play... i wont promise your safety.




Xuba thought as he lost track of the girl and Aeizith visually, but his ears could pick up their steps. It was not hard to pick up as the illusions never made a sound, but the real people... they did.

I deem myself lucky there could be stronger things to face.... but i best steel myself, or at least utilize it.


Xuba thought as  the sounds of foot steps stopped as he was face to face with an illusion. Suddenly there was a punch and xuba taking note that by being unable to register neither the angle nor the speed of a strike was struck.

Very nice...


Xuba thought as it hit and with seeming grace  he leaned back as the strike hit far. Even taking himself off his feet and that was where it began. Catching himself with his hands xuba began a manuver he practiced for days on end.  Using hus arms and upper body, to the girl he would seemingly be balencing on his arms. But alas his feet, arms, legs and  upper and lower body would go with the motion. His legs would (unless dodged) kick inward and in an upward manner as should the girl notice the motion. (Trust me itll be fast) she would be lucky to even block it. The kick alone would launch her high in the air. Lets say a safe 15 meters. ( leaf rising wind: +25 speed, (modifying strength to  not one shot the girl) :+25 strength. Final speed: 60, final strength: 60 (modified to: 35)

Exhale all of my air to build up even more air to breath in... calm.

Should the technique connect xuba would fanish in a flicker of movement as Azeiths punch would miss where xuba was a couple seconds ago. High in the sky  xuba would follow the girl and appear right behind the girl. As if her shadow. ( leaf dancing shadow: +20 strength and speed to the next taijutsu used by user.)

Simply while mid air should each action be done accordingly xuba would  speak as he would  wrap his leg around the  girl's and  with her temporary stationary  state. (Peak of 15 meters).

"Lets dance"

 xuba would use her body as his begining  steps of one of his advanced moves. By a slight rotation to his left, xuba would begin kicking the girl as he decends downwardly towards the ground.  Like a top he would thanks to his strength, speed, and practical advantage he would spinn almost uncontrollably like a twister. Aeizith should he look up would see xuba doing kick after kick to the girl amid a wirlwind of kicks. High, to low to middle. Middle to low, to high. Low to high, to middle. Yet restraining as he did not disire to kill the girl.   (Leaf great wirlwind, downwards: +50 speed and strength, (+20 thanks to the leaf dancing shadow) final speed: 85, final strength: 85 (modified to 30)

By the end of the barrage of kicks xuba would complete the kicks by landing on his left leg and catch the girl by her back softly with great delicacey and control. As he would ease her on to the ground and pat Aeiziths head.

"You ok buddy?"

Xuba would ask looking at the boy with a kind smile and helping the girl to her feet.


"If you are hurt continue dont stop till you drop"

He would command them both.

Elspeth wore a mask. She wore it for so long she forgot who she was underneath. Fickle things such as morality and sanity were unnecessary in this world, so she got rid of them. She knew she broke herself, but she didn't care. This world was eat or be eaten. Hesitation could get her killed.

Xuba's taijutsu attack threw her high up into the air, where he viciously assaulted her with kicks and punches from behind that made her bones creak like an old door. Creeeak. Creeeeaaaak. Creeeeeeeeeaaak. And... Snap.

Snap. Snap.

Those were her ribs and arms. Haha. It was funny. She ended a life so easily earlier today and now she was the one on the receiving end. It was SO funny that as she laughed blood began to run down her face. The pain was centering. It brought her to reality. Unlike the mist servants who were but a figment of imagination. He delicately brought her down to the floor, and she stood up. He announced that even if hurt, they should continue. Her lips parted. She took a step forward, eyes bright and twinkling with happiness manufactures for the moment.  

Arms broken and ribs snapped, she continued onwards with naught but a twisted smile adorning her face. A chuckle broke out which then grew into hideous laughter that rang throughout the alley. "Haha... Wow! You broke my arm!" She held the broken limb in the air, hideously twisted beyong all recognition. Almost black bruises painted with red blood decorated her arm. It hurt to breathe. It felt like there was something building up in her chest.  "You literally disarmed me!"

Drip, drip, drip. It was blood.

She brought a bit of fire chakra to her left hand to cauterize some of the wounds. It stung, but not that bad. The holes closed with horrible scars. She could see a bit of bone inside beforehand. Xuba broke them really bad. A noise disrupted her from making any more moves, though. It was a steady plink, plank, plunk that echoed silently across the alley.

Drip, drip, drip. It was blood.

Her blood.

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354
4683+354= 5037