Chapter 10 - Artists of Combat

Two weeks have passed since the genin of Konohagakure were told of their recommendation for the Chuunin Selection Exams, and they all have been training rigorously to try and stand out amongst their peers in the eyes of their kage and rise in the ranks. Shizen has spent the last two weeks just as his peers, training with all his strength. His wounded arm has now fully recovered leaving only a spiral shaped scar and his mastery of the Setsuku has increased since his last major battle, this is a retelling of one of his training sessions at the end of the two weeks...

It was midday and the sun was high in the sky, blazing down on everything beneath it. The training field was silent and empty...except for the constant sound of cracking. The noise was in a pattern with about three second intervals between each crack. The one causing this noise was Shizen, he was hitting a log in a steady pattern alternating between both of his hands as well as his feet. He was shirtless and his skin seemed to gleam in the sunlight from the sweat of a hard workout. His hands and feet were both taped up in white tape and he wore only black pants and Haku's crescent moon necklace. He continued to beat on the log for another 30 minutes before stopping for a rest and sat down with his back to the log, looking at the sky. He couldn't help but smile at how far he'd come since the last time he fought. He continued looking up until he heard an abrupt shout come from the entrance of the training field. It was Rock Lee, someone he had never really associated with before but had sparred in the academy. He actually learned to first use the Setsuku in a duel with him, and like himself he focused mainly on Taijutsu. He wore his usual green jumpsuit, which Shizen always found a little odd, but he didn't judge, every man has his own tastes. Lee ran up to Shizen and began speaking...

Lee: What are you doing! You should not give your body a break, you must push it until it gives out! And then push it even further!

Shizen: I've been training since 7 this morning, I think I've earned myself a break.

Lee: Nonsense! There is never a good reason to take a break! Come on, get up! We will train together, it will be a test of our youth!

After he finished this sentence he grabbed Shizen's arm and pulled him to his feet. He was slightly annoyed by the fact that his rest was cut short but was also in the mood for slight competition so didn't contest him. They both lined up at a log and then got into a stance followed by making eye contact and smiling devilishly to each other. Then at the same time they broke into flurries of hits on the training logs causing the subtle rhythm of Shizen's hits before to be replaced by what sounded like firecrackers being set off, chaotic and quick paced. For about 15 minutes they kept up the pace, both of them breathing heavily. They stopped for only a second and locked eyes with each other again, the flame of rivalry being sparked, and then they began to again break out into combos. They kept up this pattern until about four in the evening when the sun began to set and they both leaned against their logs physically strained and mentally fatigued. They locked eyes with each other again and with a look of complete seriousness Lee began to speak...

Lee: You...You have a very strong will Shizen

Shizen: Thanks, right back at you Lee

Lee: What do you say we kick it up a notch, one on one sparring, right here, right now.

Shizen: Hehe, what kind of person would I be if I denied training to a fellow leaf ninja.

They both then clasped hands and pulled towards each other into a bro hug before looking each other in the eyes, completely serious now, and then pushed back using the hands they had just clasped sending both of them about 15 feet backward making them 30 feet from each other. Lee got into his standing pose with his right hand out, fingers pointed upward, and Shizen stood in a less set pose with his fists out. He sent chakra into both of his arms causing them both to turn a light brown color aside from the scar tissue on his arm which stayed white. They stood just staring at each other for what seemed like hours before Lee made the first move, charging at Shizen with enough speed to almost be impossible to track, but the fact that they had trained for hours before this spar obviously affected his speed. Lee jumped and attempted an aerial roundhouse aimed at his head, which he intercepted by simply raising his rock solid right arm causing them to collide with an audible thud that echoed through the field as Shizen slid a few feet from the force. He smiled and began to taunt him...

Shizen: Come on bro, that can't be all you have is it? That kick didn't even hurt.

Lee: Not in your life! I was simply testing the power of your arms, you are obviously improved since our last meeting.

Shizen: Well then, if that's the case, come at me!

Right when Shizen said this they began an all out flurry of attacks on each other but both of their taijutsu skills were amazing and they were both capable of reading each others movements and it was just a flurry of constant misses that made it seem like the two were dancing with each other. This continued for about 10 minutes before they threw elbows at each other and their forearms clashed forming an X shape. They stared each other in the face through the opening in their arms, the flames of rivalry were obviously sparked between the two. They both jumped back and then Lee smirked as he took the weights out from under his leg warmers and threw them both into the forest around them, causing massive explosions from the weight...

Lee: Now I can move around freely and am no longer restricted by those weights. There is no way you will be able to keep up.

Shizen: Ah so it's a speed game now huh? Well just so happens I've been working on something to help me with just that..

As he said the last sentence he cancelled the Setsuku in his left arm and began to focus chakra to his legs, but the nature of this chakra was not earth like the normal Setsuku, it was another element he recently discovered he had, Wind. As it was forced into his legs his muscles began to noticeably pulse which was the side effect of the wind chakra in his muscles, as the darkened skin is for the earth. Lee smiled, he was glad that he found someone who was near his caliber in Taijutsu. It was then that both of them rushed forward at speeds that made them impossible to see by the untrained eye. The two of them clashed into each other multiple times making an audible thud that echoed through the forest every time. Again for about 10 minutes they clashed into each other, both near the point of passing out from fatigue. Eventually they stopped about 10 feet from each other and said through heavy breathing...

Lee: You...you are very strong...I am glad to have had this chance to experience your strength Shizen

Shizen: Me too Lee, but this fight has to come to an end, and I think I'm gonna win.

Lee: Not a chance!

At this time they both rushed forward at the same time and both thrusted forward with their right arms, connecting with each others faces sending them both backwards and unconscious on the ground...the fight was over, and it ended in a tie. They both laid there under the now night sky under the watchful eye of the half-moon. Although both unconscious they both knew that they had gained a rival in the other, one to push the other to strive to become stronger, and this was not the last time they would spar because in the end, one of them had to prove to be better.