Round 1, Fight 2: Shinrin, Aisuko v Naito, Ekaterina

[LightKage]

ooc: This thread is for Shinrin, Aisuko (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45706-Konoki-B-Rank-MN-Shinrin-Aisuko) and Naito, Ekaterina (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52065-B-Rank-Ninja-Naito-Ekaterina-Hyouga&p=1531466&viewfull=1#post1531466) only. The rules (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?55866-Seichi-World-Tournament-2012-Official-Rules&p=1622215#post1622215) are here. Do not forget to add OOC summaries.

Arena (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?23666-WT-Battle-Fields&p=858025&viewfull=1#post858025) [please note that objects fired/thrown will shift upwards as contestants are moving downwards if it was launched standing on the field. Launched from anywhere else and it will be fine. You both will be in charge of keeping track of the flower lowering.]

ic:
A loud roar would emit from the viewing area as the fighters entered their stage. Yet the ground that they entered seemed like the regular stage. However that was at first glance. Once the battle begin, they would soon realize that this was not the standard arena, but an arena that sank down into the floor. In the center of the arena stood a ornately clothed judge.

Upon entering the arena, they would feel a slight tingling sensation as the enchanted ring registered the two and activated its appropriate defenses to not only keep the viewers safe, but the contenders as well. Around the edge of the field stood several stands, displaying hundreds of eager watchers from all over.

When both fighters entered the ring, the judge would stretch slightly before gesturing as he spoke in an enhanced voice. "Welcome to the First round, Second match of the Middle Weight Division! To the left, we have Shinrin, Aisuko" The crowd would cheer, then afterwards the judge would continue. "To the right, we have Naito Ekaterina!" The crowed cheered again. The judge would wait for the cheers and thunderous applause to die down before addressing the two fighters.

"Are you ready?"

[Blazestorm]

OOC: Good luck Deca, have fun. =)

Summary: Ready, set... ^^ She said ready and got set.

IC: Aisuko walked in sans her pet. Unfortunately Tanthor was still young and thus a liability. It was unfortunate, but something that needed to be done. She could always go back and get him later, he would be safe for now.

The crowd roared as the fighters were introduced. Which she thought was funny. After all, she was a known MN who had killed many people. Yet here she was partaking in a sanctioned event to fight. Oh the irony. Luckily, she enjoyed the temporary safe haven. Best not to get lax though, there was an opponent to fight.

Aisuko nodded at the judge's question and stood with her body diagonal to the opponent, reducing her apparent surface area. A simple starting stance, soon, the festivities would commence.

"I am ready."

[Decadence]

ooc: Thanks, Blaze. You too~! ^^

Naito Ekaterina - Echo - entered the arena slowly, at first just enough to be able to feel the slight tingling sensation over her body as the enchanted ring registered her presence, but she remained near the edge. Here she was again, at the World Tournament, but on a different level than her first participation in the event. Unlike her first appearance, she seemed outwardly hesitant, seemingly suffering from a case of stage fright. She was a ninja after all, perhaps used to attacking from the shadows. Showing her skills before a crowd could likely be out of her element.

She did however possess a rather crowd pleasing appearance. A close fitting black dress that showed off her thighs and collar region, a pair of high leather boots, and a doll-like face that was almost too innocent to belong to fighter - or an assassin. At first, Echo looked down at her gloved left hand. Decorating her fingers and thumb like a cat's paw were five gray cylindrical caps 1/4" wide and 1/8" high. A green ring also stood out from her black elbow length glove, equipped to her middle finger. Echo flexed her digits as if testing the elasticity of her glove, then turned her gaze to her opponent while she walked to the starting point at the call of her name.

Shinrin Aisuko's opponent only had one eye. At least, it seemed that way. She didn't wear an eye patch, nor was there any other reason to suggest her right eye didn't exist other than the fact that it remained closed. Echo looked toward the missing nin with a gentle baby blue left eye, then soon copied the other girls stance, left side primarily forward, and turning her head to the right as well - shying away from her. She kept Aisuko within her peripheral vision, and kept shifting her blue orb toward her, then away, like she had something she wanted to say - perhaps wish her opponent good luck? - but she was too afraid to speak up.
While young Miss Naito appeared to be a timid person, she was unmistakably there for combat. Equipped to her right hand was a black gauntlet (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45551-Gauntlets-Kokuryu-no-Tsume-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1356719#post1356719), one of a pair that gave the girl dangerous looking talons. With its over-sized wrist protector, it hung down by her side in a way that made it look like it was too heavy for her to lift.

"Mm." she said softly, and with an affirmative nod to the judges question.


Summary
Ready, set...

[LightKage]

The judge would nod to both contestants before nodding and shouting out. "Then you may begin!" And with that, the judge would disappear to allow the battlers to fight.

[Blazestorm]

Summary: Go!

Created 10 regular bunshin and started circling. Taunted with Utsusemi.

IC: Aisuko would take the initiative to strike first. The arena was small and her style wasn't really suited to such small arenas. Plus the gauntlet her opponent had seemed to indicate a close ranged ninja. Best to stay out of her way then. This she surmised while standing in front of her on the "far" side of the ring from her opponent. Thus, the best course of action was to set up an opening for a successful ranged assault.

Bunshin no jutsu

As the ground began falling 10 Aisuko's would appear out of midair in a line and begin encircling her opponent.

"Bet you can't pick the right one!" Aisuko said, Utsusemi empowering her voice and making it sound like it came from everywhere. Hehe... this is fun.

[Decadence]

Echo blinked in surprise, much as though she'd never seen such a technique before - but really, it was because she was amazed that a fellow ninja of her rank thought to use such a basic jutsu to confuse her. She wasn't being taken seriously. Turning her head further to the right, Echo closed her eye and smiled delicately. The game would have been a fun challenge if she were an academy student, but this was a tournament for B ranked ninja. Echo's smile possessed a hint of "I know something you don't know"..

Filtering out the sounds of the crowd, Echo's sensitive left ear - turned directly to the girl who stood among illusions - tuned in on the sounds of a moving body; perhaps the tapping of her opponents running shoes against the marble floor, or maybe a jingle of her sidearms. Without the visual distraction, the clones did little for Aisuko, however Echo was not going to give her Konoi playmate much of an opportunity to capitalize on her inability to see. Perhaps she could make things even, though, while also making the jolly missing nin squeal..

As Echo raised her left hand, Aisuko would be able to catch a glimpse of a wicked grin before a sudden blinding flash of green light would assault hers, and the eyes of anyone looking the Chuunin's way. The attack would be similar to that of a flash bomb, which Echo expected would incite a loud enough physical reaction for her to pinpoint the location of the real Shinrin Aisuko. Either way, she moved. Even if she couldn't find Aisuko right away, Echo intended to shorten the distance between them. Dashing forward with remarkable speed, the Chuunin would head toward where she heard whatever sound may have come from her opponent, or her best guess as to where she might be.
Worst case scenario, she rid herself of at least one of the annoying clones.

Both eyes opening as she reached her target, Echo would pass on "Aisuko's" right, swiping her gauntlet armed right hand above the Konoi's belt line. She wouldn't go very far afterward, though, and would instead spin around to face the back of her target whether it was real or fake.



Summary
Closed eyes
Listened for real Aisuko
Attacked with Flash Ring (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?42469-Flash-Ring-Asakura-clan&p=1265566#post1265566) hoping for an audible reaction
Attack sound with gauntlet. If none from flash, then from first listen, or wild guess, priority being that order.
Eyes open now, attempting to be behind chosen target.

[Blazestorm]

OOC: there's a reason they are basic ^^

Summary: Tossed Flash Bang a split second after you used your Flash Ring

Flash Ring made her step back and yell out, but Utsusemi is still activated and the Flash Bang went off. You get to say whether or not the timing would blind you too, but the bang went off in close timing with my foot.

Am blind and deaf for this post

Used Kebari Senbon afterward and showered the entirety of the field with the projectiles.

IC: Aisuko instantly noticed what the opponent was trying to do. It was the same movements everyone made when attempting to listen to something. Her basic jutsu had spotted a vulnerability in her opponent. Good thing she had a way to exploit it. She took out her flash bang and tossed it out in front of her ready to close her eyes and plug her ears against the sound, but though she got her flash bang away, a bright light flashed much too soon.

"Argh!" She exclaimed, Utsusemi still activated, thus making her voice a useless source to base off of, but if her hearing was really good, she'd probably hear the sound her boot made when she staggered back. Unfortunately for her opponent, at about the same time as her boot came down the flash bang would go off, pretty close to her opponent. This would likely deafen her opponent more than it did Aisuko, as the opponent's flash made her unable to protect herself from her own. Whether or not the flash bang went off after her opponent opened her eyes, I could not say. Despite this, Aisuko was already making hand seals for a jutsu.

Despite temporary blindness and deafness, there was always one jutsu one could use that would probably hit everyone in such an enclosed space as this. Kebari Senbon was activated and the field would be showered with hair senbon needles, which if left undefended against would cause an opponent to look like a porcupine. A red porcupine.

As she was near a corner, affecting the entirety of the field was an easy task.

[Decadence]

Retrieving the flash bang only made it easier for Echo to locate the real Aisuko, as the Chuunin could hear the sounds of rustling clothing while the missing nin brought the item out of whatever originally contained it; however she dismissed the sound of the bomb hitting the ground as nothing more than a diversion.

As the Flash Ring's attack took effect on her opponent, Echo dashed forward with a speed that graced the A ranks. She had only made it part way however before the flash bang went off, stealing away her hearing.
With nothing more than a faint steady ringing in her ears, and a feeling like her head was splitting, Echo nearly faltered, however a resistance to pain was one of her most prominent strengths.

Steeling herself, Echo pressed on, her speed not letting up as she approached her target at what could be considered incredible speed for their division. As Aisuko remained in place and prepared her ninjutsu via handseals - blind and deaf - Echo, who still had her sight, would follow through with her intended attack, swiping her talons across the Konoi female's right side.

Both eyes now open, Echo would be able to see the jutsu Aisuko was using, provided her wild cat-like attack hadn't interrupted it. The question now became, however, where was Aisuko aiming? Echo stood beside her, the attack would tell her, but the nimble Hyougaan would actually be shifting into the space between Aisuko's back and the wall. Her right arm raised vertically like a shield in case the needles did still find their way to her, Echo thrust her left hand toward Aisuko's lower back. Curling her middle to pinky finger in, she struck with the heel of her palm, while also connecting the small caps - her Mercury Bubbles (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52280-E-Tag-Variant-Mercury-Bubbles-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1536383#post1536383) that were attached to her thumb and forefinger to the missing nin's sports bra. At their lowest detonation setting, they would hopefully take care of Echo's tricky opponent quickly, with half the strength of a typical exploding tag, and without completely ruining her.

Upon a successful setting of her explosives, Echo would attempt to dash away, facing her back to Aisuko as though baiting her to attack, but watching over her right shoulder.


Summary
Deafened by flash bang (eyes were closed at the time so escaped blindness)
Continued attack on Aisuko's right side with gauntlet while she prepared ninjutsu via handseals.
Went behind Aisuko and attempted to attach 2 exploding caps (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52280-E-Tag-Variant-Mercury-Bubbles-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1536383#post1536383) to her back at 2B setting - during a palm strike.
Got the heck out of there.

[Blazestorm]

OOC: hmmm... given the same relative levels of hearing and pain tolerance and the fact that you were closer than me to the bomb... *shrugs*

Summary: Turned as Kebari Senbon was used
Regained some sight, brought blade part way out to block first strike, continued turning and brought blade out more to divert second strike, thus not having the bombs land.
Jumped back, distance farther than normal because of the falling floor.
Reached hand into back pocket

IC: Aisuko turned as she unleashed her senbon, for how else would she manage to blanket a huge portion of the field with her jutsu? Given the AoE nature of the attack, raising a simple arm would only do so much to block the attack. Her turning saved in her the end, for at this point Aisuko would be getting her sight and hearing back, being able to make out shapes, and one she saw was not too attractive. She pulled out a blade from the scabbard on that side, causing the shape to be stopped before impacting her body.

She continued turning with her opponent, noting her speed. It was a bit too high for a chuunin. A Tai spec then, best to stay away. Her front would be facing Eka when she tried striking, her blade continued out and batting the hand away with it's broadside, for Aisuko didn't have the chance to turn its cutting edge at Eka's hand. This diversion would prevent the bombs from landing, which allowed Aisuko to jump back safely. Given the falling floor, she would land farther back than usual. Also, given the marble floor and the short nature of the used jutsu, she didn't have to worry about landing on spikes.

Her eyesight and hearing back to normal, she reached her empty hand back into her pocket and then waited.

"Hehe... you're fast," she said with a smile. Taunt for taunt, blow for blow, this would be fun indeed. Too bad her bunshin were now gone.

[Decadence]

ooc: I waved Light here with a question, but it can be disregarded. I'm not sure what you're implying with your ooc comment, Blaze, so -shrugs as well- ^^"

By the time Aisuko would unleash her hair senbon, Echo would have already cleared the distance between the two of them, having been on the move before the Konoi had even begun her handseals. As the field was blanketed by needles, the blind and deaf missing nin's target would not be there to receive the attack, and would instead be ducking forward to the girl's right where - by some miracle - Aisuko would defend against the melee attack to her side. Impressive recovery time.

Undaunted, Echo would still use her right arm as a shield in the event that - now that she was located - she could still be targeted by Kebari Senbon, however as she tried for her left handed palm strike, which was now aimed at Aisuko's stomach, she was thwarted once again. As Aisuko attempted to bat Echo's hand away, though, the Chuunin would be quick on the uptake, turning her palm toward the minor incoming attack and shifting so that she received the Konoi's wrist instead. Grasping it tightly, Echo would steal the momentum of Aisuko's swing, lead it upward, and then transfer it toward the ground with the addition of her own strength - aiming to slam the missing nin onto the marble floor. A fancy attack in comparison to her first, known as Aiki-jutsu (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52871-Fighting-Style-Aiki-jutsu-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1549642&viewfull=1#post1549642).

Whether or not Aiki was a success, Echo would not release Aisuko's wrist once she caught it. If Aisuko did end up on the ground, comment made or not, a now expressionless Echo would lift her right foot and bring it down on the other girl's head. She wasn't stomping it, but merely pinning her opponent down with it.


Summary
(Explosives placement and escape plan from previous summary aborted)
-Remained out of target zone of Kebari Senbon.
-(Echo's) Gauntlet attack blocked.
-Countered counter to palm strike, turning it into a throw via Aiki (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52871-Fighting-Style-Aiki-jutsu-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1549642&viewfull=1#post1549642) to put Aisuko on the ground.
Kept hold of Aisuko, and attempted to pin her with foot to head.

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Flip kick to the back of the head
Landed on the ground
Took out a kunai and started stabbing wildly

IC: Aisuko's hand would be caught, surprising her, but she did not simply allow the move to continue. Instead of being simply flipped over, Aisuko's leg would shoot out as she came around, attempting to impact on the back of Eka's head. This blow would likely land heavy and cause a momentary stun should it connect.

In either case, Aisuko's other leg would be tasked with lessening the slam on the ground, where she would take out a kunai and attempt to stab the nearest leg with it, slicing it out and stabbing again and again, until Eka let go of her still clenched sword hand, then she'd try to chop off a leg at the knee.

[Decadence]

Once Aisuko was caught in the Aiki-jutsu, Echo became overconfident in her technique, resulting in her being unprepared for the Konoi's show of strong reflexes. She was hit - suddenly - in the back of the head; a force that would have caused her more than a mild discomfort had the missing nin not been lacking in physical strength. Instead of blacking out - a likely possibility - Echo's headache from the earlier flash bang was amplified, causing a dampening in the amount of strength she was using to attempt slamming Aisuko into the ground.
A successful stun.
The leg Aisuko used to break her fall would have a minimal amount of stress put upon it, however Echo's grip did not release, and in fact would strengthen, for she was fully conscious, and now rather irritated.

As Aisuko attempted to unleash the wrath of a kunai, Echo - using her right arm she'd kept close as a shield - would defend herself by bridging her gauntlet armed hand against the other girl's arm, keeping it on the outside, and connecting with a force solid enough to threaten knocking the weapon from it's owner's hand. She would bend her knees, kneeling if that's what was required to remain at a level where she could reach the blade wielding limb attacking her legs and where else.

Echo would not let this attack go on for too long, however, as in the midst of blocking the kunai stabs, her left hand that held Aisuko tightly by the wrist would give a twist. Within this simple action, the Chuunin would command the bones, muscles, and tendons within the forearm leading up to the wrist she held to twist among themselves as though they were being braided. It was an attack that worked relatively quickly, but unsparingly painful - Tenma no Braid (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?52083-Taijutsu-Tenma-no-Braid-Naito-Ekaterina).

Should Aisuko succumb to the agony even for a moment, Echo would lift her right leg and drive her knee into the girl's solar plexus. Though it might hurt for a second, it may also put the injured missing nin to sleep; an offering to relieve her pain until she could be treated by the medics.


Summary
-Had Aiki interrupted by Aisuko's kick, but shrugged it off more or less because of Aisuko's low strength
-Blocked Kunai attacks with gauntlet wielding hand
-Executed Tenma no Braid
-Would attempt knock out knee to solar plexus upon more than a mild reaction to the pain.

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Shoe blade popped out, attempting to swing up and kick while yanking arm out. This is done towards the thumb, which is the weakest part of the hold.
If arm is still twisted, Aisuko's small point of contact with the ground allows her to twist with it, negating the potential damage done.
If arm still held, activate Shadow Freeze and plunge the sword into your arm. (Not enough power to cut you, but the mobility is still there)
If there is still a heel kick to the stomach, she'd push the leg aside letting it impact the ground.

If arm is released, she'd roll away from the heel kick and toss a kunai from the ground to distract you while standing back up.

Yelled at the top of my lungs in a high pitched voice throughout this to further annoy your sense of hearing. No morals... haha.

IC: Eka's blocking meant that she would have to bend down to get a good position to block, which allowed Aisuko to pop a blade out of her shoe and attempt to swing up and stick the blade in her opponent. At the same time, Aisuko would violently tug her arm out of the one handed grasp, going against the thumb, the weakest part of such a grab.

If her arm was still rotated, her small point of contact with the ground would only mean that she would get spun around, which allowed Aisuko the opportunity to strike at the ankles of Eka with her kunai, attempting to slice open those low leg muscles, and if her yanking still hadn't free'd her arm from the weak spot, she'd continue trying. She would also activate the Shadow Freeze function of her sword and use the increased mobility of an ethereal sword to plunge it's icy reach into Eka's arm, weakening it.

If her arm was free, Aisuko would roll away from the heel kick and toss the kunai as distraction and get back to her feet.

All the meanwhile, Aisuko would resort to tricks against the girl's increased hearing. This was the simple trick of simply yelling at the top of your lungs in the highest pitch you could manage. Given the girl has already received a dose of sound tricks, it would suck to listen to this.

[Decadence]

ooc: I'm not sure whether Aisuko is on her feet or lying down. I had assumed she was on her feet since you said she was absorbing the shock from the Aiki drop with her leg, and was posting with that thought in mind. It now seems like she's lying down though, but I suppose it doesn't matter.


The blade in Aisuko's shoe did not go unnoticed. Echo had no fear of it however, and as the Konoi would try to swing her leg for a kick, Echo would counter using the same method she was using to defend against the kunai, but instead using her foot to prevent Aisuko's from moving beyond her knee height by placing it against the other girl's shin. In doing so, the blade was kept from doing any harm. Keeping her knee raised, the foot remained suspended in the air and would snap out to block further low attacks Echo's arm couldn't reach.

It was cute - Echo thought - how Aisuko tried to escape her grab by moving against a single one of the Chuunin's joints, however Echo had already realized she was much stronger than this girl, but didn't bother to flaunt this fact before executing Tenma no Braid. Since increasing the strength of her hold, Echo had made it no simple task to escape her grasp, and it certainly would not happen before the execution of her technique. She saw to this specifically.

Aisuko's arm was not rotated - at least not enough to cause the girl's entire body to move a great deal, as the intention of the aforementioned technique was to attack her internally, not wrench her arm from the socket. Still, if Aisuko had the tenacity to attempt another kunai attack while enduring such agony, Echo would sincerely be impressed, however being overconfident had already been proven a mistake, so she decided to aim to end the match regardless. After first whipping her foot toward the wrist of the incoming kunai wielding arm - providing of course this still took place - with the intent to knock it off to the side, Echo stepped down hard, attempting to crush Aisuko's stab capable leg beneath her foot; but whether or not she succeeded mattered not. Steeling herself to be stabbed in the process, she would pull Aisuko forward with her left hand while throwing a solid punch with her right. It brought Echo no pleasure to ruin her female opponent's face, but unfortunately she was wearing her gauntlet on the hand she was throwing.

"Oyasuminasai.."

All the meanwhile, Aisuko's attempts at attacking Echo's hearing using just her voice accomplished little more than making her feel like she was in a classroom full of noisy young academy students. Echo had a severe headache, however this did not impede her ability to fight. She wasn't so weak as to succumb to an attack performed by an average voice box.


Summary
-Stopped bladed kick with foot to shin, keeping foot suspended in the air for further use
-Disallowed grapple escape by preying on physical strength advantage
-Went ahead with Tenma no Braid
-Kicked away Aisuko's kunai leg stab attempt if it still happened
-Stepped down, pulled Aisuko in by her seized arm, attempted knock out punch with gauntlet armed hand

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Rotated around with the Tenma, injured muscles
Twisted kunai toward incoming leg, keep a hold of it either way
Attempting to stab through the leg you are using to remain standing
Use a successful outcome to rip free and put distance between us

IC: Aisuko's kick was stopped, but her decreased body contact with the ground allowed her to turn with the rotation of her arm, lessening it's effect and causing moderate muscle tearing. If she could get out she'd still be able to make handseals, which she needed if she had any hope of getting through this round.

She continued trying to stab, and rotated her kunai when she saw the incoming leg, causing it to cut the foot/shin should she make contact. If it did she'd still manage to keep hold of it, as there was only so much power one could put into small movements, which conversely meant such a strike would not penetrate far. Still, she'd flip it back and strike the sole standing leg with the kunai, attempting to skewer it just above the ankle and then push it back to cause Eka to lose her balance and fall. Should this succeed, the sudden pain should be enough to rip her hand away and roll away from Eka before bounding back and farther away.

The rest of the motions in this case wouldn't need to be responded to I assume, because of the likely interruption in action.

[Decadence]

While Aisuko would succeed in cutting Echo's foot with her kunai while the Chuunin attempted to kick her arm away, little would change as Echo didn't slow down before the damage was done to both parties. The kunai would pierce her boot an cut her flesh, but Echo was resolved, and firing her kick from a chambered leg - while a small movement indeed - should be enough to send the kunai wielding arm in the opposite direction, and a good amount of pain surging through her physically weak opponent.

The window was wide open, and Echo would not hesitate with her lunge, stepping down on Aisuko's leg with a strong impact, and releasing her fist into the Konoi's face with ample knock out power long before the missing nin could recover her arm. Echo only hoped this girl would wake with a headache as fierce as her own.


Summary
-Got cut while kicking Aisuko's kunai leg attack aside
-Following previous post, stepped down regardless and executed knock out punch before giving Aisuko the opportunity to recover her deflected arm

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Knife hand batted away, attempted to bring back
Aisuko's continued erratic movement = missed leg pin down
Planted foot and shifted body to avoid impact to the head
Brought in kunai to now exposed flank, aiming to stab and then slice open the leg.
Sword in caught hand fell harmlessly.
If wrist is let go, I roll away, get up and put more distance between us.

IC: Aisuko's arm would be batted away, which the sudden wrenching movement caused her pain, but nothing she couldn't handle. At least her ploy at cutting her opponent had worked. Too bad it was only the shin, the cut would be far more painful if it managed to cut the calf muscle. Since Aisuko had been trying to free herself ever since getting caught, which involved movement, Aisuko's leg would avoid being pounded down by moving outwards planting itself on the ground via Kinobori, which allowed her to shift her body as the punch came in, removing her head from the incoming punch. Her reflexes and agility allowed her this simple movement, a punch was a punch, thought the full implications of her dodge would resonate later. This movement also aided in recovering her knife hand to continue attacking.

Eka' punch would leave her side open to attack, and Aisuko returned her knife hand in to stab at the girl's exposed thigh, and then slice downwards in order to open a good section of flesh and severely damage her exposed leg. Aisuko's weakened muscles in her other arms would finally cause her to lose grip of her sword, which sent it falling to the ground harmlessly. If her arm escaped she'd roll away and right herself continuing to put distance between them, leaving her sword to lay on the ground.

[Decadence]

Aisuko may have recovered her arm, but Echo had never lost control of hers. Her fist pounded nothing more than air as the Konoi girl continued her struggle, but once it reached near full extension, Echo drew her fist back quickly - there was never a need to pose.

In no way was Echo blind to her opponents movements. They remained within the peripheral vision of her ever so keen eyes. She was impressed by Aisuko's ability to keep hold of the kunai while facing a collision with her kick - even had it been light - but her continued attempts to stab the taijutsu specialist were futile.
The Chuunin's flank may have appeared open, however with her arm drawn back part way, Echo changed the direction of her right fist, opening it, and sweeping it outward gracefully, yet fiercely, in a knifehand strike. It snapped powerfully toward Aisuko's kunai wielding arm as it attacked her thigh, however the missing nin would feel her arm deflected by a sudden push without there being any physical connection between the two female ninja's arms. The force touching her arm would resonate, causing ripples to move through her body, which would lead to a feeling of dizziness, and momentary weakness. Echo exposed her Keīken (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?54259-Taijutsu-Ke%C4%ABken-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1581019&viewfull=1#post1581019).

Shock? Echo didn't look for it. She didn't care what emotion her stubborn opponent was feeling at the moment. She had tried to play nice, put the girl down easy, but apparently she didn't know when she was beaten.
Echo's hand that had hardly left her side became a mere blur as it suddenly shot forward. She didn't take any particular hand position, but simply whipped Aisuko's body with a limp 'talon'. The first strike would be aimed at the Konoi's chest area, beating heavily against it, then another one would be cast toward her face, slashing the flesh of her left cheek. Five more similar strikes would follow, targeting random areas of Aisuko's upper body as the Hyougaan gave a snake-like hiss to help make Aisuko realize the snake's nest it would seem she'd fallen into. Echo was no longer trying to knock her opponent out, but instead shred her to bits as the heavy impact from her Desuadā (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45918-Taijutsu-Desuad%C4%81&p=1367066&viewfull=1#post1367066) used the gauntlet she wore to accomplish this torture.

Should the situation not improve for her new Konoi friend, Echo would attempt to crush the wrist still contained within her grasp. She started to yank Aisuko forward, leading her by the arm and slashing at her body like a wild animal. Echo brought her bared teeth apart and hissed louder, more like a feral cat, but it quickly began to turn into laughter.

She was never going to let Aisuko escape. Never. If the judges allowed her to, she would strip the missing nin right to the bone.






Summary
-Missed with her knock out punch
-Drew fist back, but changed its direction
-Executed knifehand strike toward kunai weilding arm attacking her flank
-Stopped arm short and deflected the attack using Keīken (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?54259-Taijutsu-Ke%C4%ABken-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1581019&viewfull=1#post1581019), also weakening and dizzying Aisuko
-Followed up with multiple (7) strikes using Desuadā (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45918-Taijutsu-Desuad%C4%81&p=1367066&viewfull=1#post1367066) to Aisuko's face and upper body
-Clamped down tightly on Aisuko's wrist which she already has a hold of, attempting to crush it
-Began slashing at Aisuko's body with her gauntlet (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45551-Gauntlets-Kokuryu-no-Tsume-Naito-Ekaterina&p=1356719#post1356719)

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Dropped kunai
Got my body beaten thoroughly, laughed out blood
Spat blood in face/eyes, kicked both bladed shoes to sides of the lower back
Last ditch attempt to strike at Echo's face with a separate kunai

IC: Aisuko may have had an advantage in reflexes, but she was too weak and too slow compared to her opponent to do much but struggle. She had been too slow to attack and her hand got pushed back yet again, but not enough to make her drop the kunai. No instead it was the resulting dizzyness that made her lose her grip.

Emotions? It was all just a game for Aisuko, a game one strove to win, but a game none the less. She breathed out hard at the sudden blow to her chest, which probably cracked some rib bones, and winced at the slash in her cheek. Even as her body was beat to a pulp and torn open, she could only laugh at her torment. Blood gurgled forth from her mouth as she did so, more with every strike.

"Hahahahaha! Is that all you've got?" she cried out. Regardless of the answer she'd suddenly lock eyes with Echo and spit blood in her face and eyes, simultaneously popping out the knife in her other shoe. She'd violently kick upwards with her toes, which if my imagining of the situation was right, meant that she'd strike the lower back sides of Echo's body. And if any opening presented itself at all, she'd take a kunai to Echo's face, before falling back down to the ground, exhausted from such exertions.

[Decadence]

Echo stood up straight and turned her head to the right as blood spashed into her face. Her left eye shut reflexively, and would need to remain closed until she could wipe the red fluid away, but her right eye remained pinned to the unmannerly Konoi with a hard expression. As if to signify her fury, a flame - though mild - began to burn menacingly from the Chuunin's golden yellow orb as her right eye began to compensate for the loss of its counterpart.

Whether it was because she could hear the blade unsheath from the shoe, see the kicks coming, or feel the movement from the contact they shared, Echo would disallow Aisuko's attack to land on target. Amidst her fury from being spat upon, Echo's left hand would clench upon the missing nin's wrist with a vengence. Whether or not this made Aisuko think twice about lashing out, Echo would sharply tug the girl's injured body in an attempt to make her suffer further from her wounds, but more so to disrupt her attack. The shoe spikes may have scratched Echo's body elsewhere, her legs primarily being in danger, but inflicting a couple minor flesh wounds on the Hyougaan were not going to save anyone as Echo began to slash mercilessly, never giving her opponent the opportunity to gain her footing and go for yet another kunai assault. Even if she could, Echo would bat that arm aside with her vicious claws, destroying every bit of flesh she could reach in a single swipe. By this point, Aisuko would not only be experiencing exhaustion from her own endeavors, but in being cut by Echo's talons during the first onslaught, the poison Owl (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45035-Poison-Owl-SouthChild-Harlyn&p=1339601#post1339601) would be seeping into her bloodstream, stealing the pain tolerant Konoi's breath away - quite literally.

"Scream!" Echo commanded through her laughter, reaching a higher tone with it than Aisuko had during her taunt. "Curse your pathetically weak body, and regret not accepting my offerings of mercy."
To onlookers, it would seem as though Naito Ekaterina were going mad, however, the one who had appeared to be a meek young girl at the start of the match was merely revealing her true nature. One who easily became intoxicated by violence, and who enjoyed painting the marble floor in crimson. She had no desire to stop - she wouldn't - unless the judges forced her to, or Aisuko drastically changed the situation. The latter included dying.





Summary
-Blood splashed on the left side of her face, taking away her now shut left eye
-Pointed out Aisuko's infection with Owl (http://www.theninja-rpg.com/forums/showthread.php?45035-Poison-Owl-SouthChild-Harlyn&p=1339601#post1339601) from being cut by the gauntlet (see second spoiler in Sidearms)
-Attempted crushing of Aisuko's wrist in her grasp
-Pulled Aisuko off target for her kicks
-Batted and slashed kunai wielding arm if last ditch attempt to strike at Echo's face with a separate kunai took place
-Slashing mercilessly with gauntlet as originally intended

[Blazestorm]

Summary:
Taunt
Lose consciousness

IC: Aisuko's attacks were hopelessly futile. Her battered arm fell limp, and her weak strikes with her shoe blades wouldn't do more than graze her opponent. It would be impossible to tell if Aisuko was breathing heavily from a poison or from her crushed organs, but each breath spewed forth more blood. Her enemy's yells only made her laugh more.

She reached up her arm lazily, grabbing at the Kunoichi's gauntlet. "Make me," she whispered defiantly. Before her eyes fluttered closed and her body went limp. Her arm fell awkwardly to the ground, and there she would lay if it weren't for Echo holding her up.

[LightKage]

The judge would return to the field. And the winner of the second fight of the first round: Naito-Ekaterina." The judge would then snap his fingers, causing the entire field to reset and allow Aisuko to wake up fully healed. as well as Echo at full strength.

[Decadence]

Still struggling, and deliberately discourteous to the end, Aisuko might gain Echo's respect later on for her tenacity, but at the moment, the Chuunin became enraged.
"I'd be glad to!" she proclaimed, reaching her gauntlet armed hand back as the missing nin's grasp slipped from it, then she brought her fingers together in a hand position reminiscent of a bird's beak.

The torture was about to continue, but Echo stopped herself at the sound of the judge's voice. Remembering where she was, she released Aisuko and faced the crowd, attempting to salvage her composure.
At her right side, the gauntlet she wore still dripped with fresh blood, but Echo refrained from showing it off like a trophy - the way she would have had her mind not been clearing.

Once restored to full strength, Naito Ekaterina focused her gaze on the exit, then left the field in a hasted stride. While her method had gotten the job done, it was hardly a performance she was proud of.


{Exit}

[Blazestorm]

Aisuko would find herself standing and facing her opponent once more. The last thing she remembered was being pummeled, yet here she was standing in front of Echo, both of them not even needing to scrub the blood out of their clothing. Apparently her opponent had won. Well that sucks, no more games to play and less shinobi blood to spill for free.

Aisuko turned around and exited the field, shunshining away and moving and then shunshining away thrice before finally being where she felt like being. Couldn't have those pesky ANBU following her.

EXIT