Naruto: Child of the Lion
Chapter 3: Gypsy (Kan'Nal)
'The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well'. I read that in a book once, and there is much truth to that statement. I do not recall who said that quote, but the person who did must have been a very intelligent sort.
Today was the day of my fighting examination. In my morning prayers, I asked Maa Durga to give me strength in battle. I blessed my armor and my weapons though it would be custom for a priest to bless weapons. I feel there are not very many priests of the Hindu faith in the area. I am the only one of my kind here in this village.
I applied my turban and face cover after putting on my clothing and armor. It has not be revealed to me of whom I am going to be facing in battle. I must choose my weapons wisely. With 'Panja' at my side, I could not ask for a better sword than my trustworthy talwar. I went out the door, and arrived at a most odd looking arena.
I was surprised to find who my opponent was, "Tenten?"
"Good to see you too, Kaya," said Tenten, she is my friend, I do not wish to inflict harm on her,
"So glad you can come today, Kaya," said Tsunade, I bowed to her and looked for an explanation to why I have to fight my friend, "I figured since you're skilled in the use of weapons that you face someone that's your equal in skill," she explained, I bowed to Tenten with hands pressed together in a gesture of prayer and good luck.
Rajput weapons are said to be some of the finest, made of the finest steel. As I readied my blade, the lines in the steel flow like a river but the river does not flow as one should. This is Wootz Steel. This river of steel flows in every slash and cut. I looked to Tenten, and she bowed back to me. I am interested in her abilities as well.
I closed my eyes, painting a picture in my mind of the battle unfolding. Such a thing is difficult when I know nothing of the skills of my opponent. I opened my eyes, and focused on my opponent as we moved in to attack in unison timing as my talwar clashed with a spear-shaped knife. Between friends, I call this a bout of sparring.
"You nervous?" Tenten smirked as she leaped back, and unraveled a scroll revealing her weapons,
"I tremble with fear," I joked as my sword met hers, Tenten is indeed very strong in her will,
A warrior must have the strength of a lion, and be as graceful as a crane. Tenten is indeed my match in skill. She leaped back and launched a barrage of projectile knives called kunai. I blocked, leaped back to evade every knife, one cut the side of my cheek. I launched chakram back in retaliation, and charged at the same time.
One scratched her across the arm. She should feel luck is on her side. Most lose an arm, a leg, or even their head when they face a chakram in flight. I attacked with slashes from my sword, and Tenten fought back with a sword from her long scroll, "You should see to that wound on your arm, it might get infected," I advised to her,
Tenten nodded as the blood dripped down her arm. She went on the attack again. I liken our session to seeing two eagles fighting over one fish in midair combat. Tenten is relentless, keeping me on the defensive. When there is an opening, you must take it. I saw my chance to attack as I parried Tenten's sword from her hand.
From her scroll appeared another sword. Ninja abilities are fascinating, "Don't underestimate me," said Tenten,
"Underestimating your opponent leads to the death of a fool," I replied, my sword clashing with hers.
I kicked Tenten in the chin with a back handspring kick, and landed on my feet and Tenten on her back. The match was not over. Tenten got back on her feet with her own strength, "If you help another to their feet, how can they themselves learn to walk?" I stated, and Tenten attacked again this time with a trident from her scrolls.
I leaped into the air to evade the spear. At the same time, I sheathed my talwar, and pulled out two Zaghnal. The Zaghnal is a Rajput war hammer with a head shaped like the beak of a bird designed to break through armor. I managed to trap her trident between the crossed heads of my weapons, and moved my neck to dodge the trident.
I used a kick, and the force of my leg to hold down the trident. Tenten flung me into the air with her weapon, and my back was touching hers. I turned to attack, and she turned to attack. The head of my Zaghnal was at her temple, and her trident was at the side of my neck. The match is a draw, "You are very strong in your will,"
"Thanks, you're pretty good yourself," Tenten replied, we bowed to signal the end of the match,
"Very good, Kaya, you show that your fighting skills are on par with your wisdom," said Tsunade,
I crossed my weapons, and bowed to her. I turned to my friend, and nodded, "Come, let us see to your wounds," I said, and left the arena. One should not show themselves before a battle that they are better than their opponent. I am no better than anyone else, nor will I flash my fighting abilities like a peacock. I seek only to be an individual.