I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up! (p, Minato)

It was evident already that this mock battle would be of trickery. Why else would someone use a mist covering jutsu right from the start? Suzume wasn't going to make any real actions on Minato without first testing how authentic his attacks were. And now, he was using sound along with the mist. It was a little too obvious, Suzume knew how easily sound was manipulated. It didn't take much to make yourself sound as though you were in a different room as someone, when in reality you were practically right beside them. She could muffle her voice by covering her mouth with her hand, and since he couldn't see her he wouldn't know what she was doing. In fact, Suzume thought she might even play the same way as Minato - toying with sound and throwing off the opponent's hearing. 

With that thought process, Suzume made for her charging clone to runs towards the sound that Minato made with his technique. Since he wasn't actually there, it ended up running into a tree and therefore poofing out of existence. Knowing that the area they were sparring in was a certain length and width, she was able to conclude that it was indeed a ruse from how far the clone went before dispersing. It was her own chakra that made the clone after all. Maybe if he didn't use his actual voice, it wouldn't have been so easy. Her other clone she simply kept where it is, in case it became useful in her next move. To respond to his question, she decided to cover her mouth in a way that would throw her voice as she spoke, "For you to make a real move instead of this childish foolery." With her real position being hidden, Suzume's voice would sound as though she was right behind Minato. 

[WC: 306]

The game of waiting had begun. The area completely filled with a thick mist created by Minato, taking away their ability to see. With their vision cut off it would turn out to become a tactical gameplay where those with the best approach would come out on top. The person who was able to keep their cool would probably become this spar's victor. Being able to think straight under harsh circumstances was going to decide the outcome. The young Uchiha opened with using his Hidden Mist Technique trying to cause some sort of panic and confusion. Following up he had tried to create an even bigger confusion by using his Puppet Art: Ventriloquism, making Suzume wonder about his location after she had made two clones of her own. It wasn't a strategy that would change the course of the battle but it was only a spar after all. His idea seemed to have worked partially as out of the mist came one of her clones running towards the sound of his voice. Unfortunately for the clone it ran right into a tree as it disappeared with a poof not much later. It was obvious the real Suzume wouldn't come running out but at least now there was one less clone, leaving one more and the real Suzume. Letting her clone take the bait it was clear that she had figured out he wasn't actually there.

Looks like she thought two can play that game since she decided to imitate one of Minato's moves as she tried to make it sound like her voice came out from behind him. Admittedly it got him startled for a moment but there is no way she would get behind him without him noticing. "Very cute" he yelled out. "It seems like you're familiar with childish foolery yourself". Clone or not, Minato had her right where he wanted her. "You must feel safe, hidden away in the mist. Just remember it won't be there for much longer." Would the girl remain hidden or would she show herself? Either way Minato had already prepared for whatever scenario would arise.

(WC: 353, TWC: 2110)

AP + Stats:

A rather brash expression of disgust took over Suzume's face when Minato called her tactics "cute". Not that it could have been seen, anyhow. If it had been, someone might have laughed at the cartoonish ways her features warped, and how the girl rolled her eyes at her opponent's retorts. Though, she raised a brow when Minato told her of his next move. "Why would you bother to tell me what you're about to do?" she questioned him. At the same time, she prepared another clone, so that she could hide among them once the mist was taken away. Other than that, at this point Suzume simply stood there, waiting for Minato to do something other than some illusionary trick. 

[WC: 120]

Time had finally come for the mist starting to clear away, enough time was lost and energy wasted while playing hide and seek. In an actual life threatening battle there was no way an attack like this would have lasted so long. The Hidden Mist Technique had gone on for too long as nothing much had really happened. With the mist gone they would finally be able to see each other again and to test their limits. Now that the thick cloud was completely gone Minato noticed that the young girl had prepared another clone for her to hide amongst. "I see you're still not done hiding" he would call her out. Not that it would be much of a problem to the Uchiha, once you figured out the way to distinguish a clone from the real one there was not much trouble left. And a normal clone was only used for confusion as it wasn't able to attack or perform any jutsu. Since she liked to play around he would use one of his own tricks again as it seemed she wouldn't mind at all. And it would take care of her trying to remain hidden amongst her clones.

As he looked at Suzume he prepared the following three hand seals, Ram → Bird → Tiger. Countless ethereal looking butterflies started to flutter around the real Suzume and the fake as well. The butterflies had a purple color with a 1 foot radius wingspan. Since there was no way for the girl to tell the difference between real and illusionary butterflies she would soon be trapped in some sort of trance. Once in the resulting trance-like state, the young girl would be mesmerized by the beauty of the surrounding butterflies and compelled to chase after them. Minato would have complete autonomy over the young girl's sense of direction which he used to make her chase after them and run towards the young Uchiha. With both the real and fake Suzume walking towards him while in the trance-like state he would prepare his next move to finish this spar. 

(WC: 349, TWC: 2459)

AP + Stats:

Minato made a point that caught Suzume off guard. Hiding wasn't going to be an option all the time. Her plan was to ambush him, however with the mist gone the idea was now compromised. She sneered at him, along with the two clones she created. While the girl was familiar with combat theory, she had yet to have her first real fight. Any experiences of her past spars since graduating the academy wouldn't help much. And currently, thinking wouldn't be an option either as Minato's illusionary butterflies swept away any comprehension of the current situation and any processing of thought. They were an odd but brilliant purple, with wings much bigger than her hands - creatures that came straight out of a high fantasy story. 

It didn't occur to her to think of where they came from. The butterflies appeared, and now her focus was to capture one - if only for a moment. Suzume chased them around, arms extended and hands ready to cup one in her palms. She needed to see them up close, they were so beautifully odd to truly be real. She wondered about their authenticity as she continued to chase them. That is, until she ran into Minato. Her two clones poofed from existence. It took her a moment to realize the whole time she was still in the middle of a spar with the elder genin. Unsure of what Minato was going to do next, she made herself a rock section cane. Would it be of any protection? Probably not, but at least it was an attempt rather than standing there in bewilderment. 

[WC: 268, -5 ap for Earth Release: Rock Section Cane]

Just as Minato intended Suzume started chasing after the illusionary butterflies the young Uchiha created with his Genjutsu. Captivated by their beauty she kept running after them in the hope of catching one. Minato was getting amused by the view he was seeing as it would mean the use of his jutsu had been successful. He decided he would let her run around for a while before he would make another move since she clearly enjoyed chasing those butterflies. The boy didn't specialise in Genjutsu yet but as a member of the Uchiha he saw it fitting to become somewhat proficient in the arts of the illusions. And being able to trap Suzume in one of them made him happy to say the least.

Running towards Minato it would only be a matter of time before she would come into contact with him, dispelling the Genjutsu placed upon her. When she came running into his direction he had already planned what he would do once she was out of his Genjutsu. The moment Suzume ran into Minato he would grab her by the wrist, making sure she wasn't able to form any hand seals. Before she would fully comprehend the situation and what was going on he would then kick away both of her feet and sweep her off her feet which would result in Suzume landing on the ground, again. 

(WC: 231, TWC: 2690)

Minato's next move managed to knock her onto the ground, once more...just as this encounter began. But she wasn't about to let that be the last action in this battle arena of theirs. While she fell, Suzume also gave a nice big 'ol whack to Minato's face with her right fist. Surely it'd be enough to leave a bruise for a while. Once she had actually landed onto the ground, she took another swing at him, striking the elder genin at the back of his knees. Maybe it'd make him fall too, and with whatever the outcome was the girl decided that was enough for today. Maybe she just didn't feel like falling again.

[EXIT]
[TWC: 808; claiming 4 stats and Genjutsu Release, might use remaining wc later]

Once again amusement came over him as he witnessed how the young girl fell on the floor after he successfully sweeped her off her feet. The fun didn't last for long and his laughter quickly faded when he was caught by her right fist that struck him right on his nose. Her punch wasn't strong enough to inflict a lot of damage but it still hurt quite a bit and his eyes started to water. Once she had actually landed onto the ground, she took another swing at him, striking Minato at the back of his knees. Luckily for him there wasn't much force behind her punch so it was nothing more than only annoying. Rubbing away the tears from getting punched in the nose the young Uchiha admired the view of the little girl laying on her back, on the ground, just like they met. Minato figured their little spar had been going on for long enough and decided to call it a day. Not that the boy didn't enjoy sparring with his peers but these little fights wouldn't prepare him for any war that could be coming their way. 

Once their spar was over and they each went their own separate way Minato started to wonder how well he would fare in a real fight between life or death where the smallest detail or mistake could completely change the outcome. So far the young Uchiha had never been in a situation where his life depended on but even he knew that wouldn't be the case for much longer given the times they were in these days. With the different villages looking to expand their territory and more and more missing ninja rising to the occasion he was aware that the peace wouldn't last for long. All Minato could do was keep training and improving for when the day would arrive where he would have to put his life on the line and do everything to survive. Hoping to become stronger, to become the shield that guards the life of those who needed his help. To become one with the Will of Fire.

(Exit)
(TWC: 3044, after mid-thread claim can only use 1605 for claims)
Claims:
- 1500 towards Shadow Clone
- 8 stats

Approved @feza and @minato