R & R longer note at the end
Hanabi panted as she stopped in an open field far from the town, she looked to her side as her cheeks grew pink blushing quickly releasing the wrist of Yozakura who was unwillingly dragged along. The blonde bowed respectfully as she continued to apologise, the blue haired girl merely chuckled at her eccentric behaviour as she made sure she had all of her bags.
"What was that back there?" Yozakura asked looking to the blonde curiously, she had wondered if it was one of her shinobi arts but she could feel this girl hadn't transformed into her shinobi armour.
"Well I don't fully understand it myself" Hanabi said nervously scratching the back of her head "It just sort of happens if I think of difficult subjects, I'll most likely be scolded by my sister when I get home. I'm sure she heard and saw what happened from the shrine". Hanabi's smile faded a little as she looked out over the vast open space of the field as she thought about her sisters, the thoughts of holding them back with her weakness came flooding back.
She remembered Kagura's words of encouragement of being targeted first for being a threat but she couldn't help shaking the feelings of being weak, she wanted to be stronger and not be a burden to her sisters but how could she do that? She thought hard wondering what it was she was missing, the secret to becoming strong enough to not be a burden as the feeling stirred again.
"Hanabi" she was snapped out of her thoughts as the feeling began to calm itself, she looked down feeling a warm hand on her wrist slowly her eyes traced the arm of the person who had called out to her assuming it was one of her sisters come to bring her home. She couldn't help the feeling of surprise when she looked up seeing the smiling face of the blue haired girl she had met moments ago, the girl let go after a moment with a small blush turning away to hide her face.
"S-sorry" Yozakura said her voice slightly high pitched "I don't know what made me do that". Hanabi looked up as she felt a smile pull at the corners of her mouth, she had always assumed her sisters would be the only ones able to break her from her moment of explosion yet this girl seemed to be able to manage it as well, she looked at her wrist for a moment it was only for a brief moment but she had felt this girl's power.
"Would you fight me?" Hanabi asked her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at the girl in front of her "I'd like to fight you". Yozakura looked at her stunned her mind had gone blank for a moment trying to process what the blonde had asked, fight her? Where had this come from all of a sudden? Her surprise only grew larger when the girl had taken her hand in both of hers a look of determination in her eyes like she hadn't seen before, the blue haired girl couldn't help but smile as she gripped the girl's hand with a nod.
"Alright, I'll fight you" she said finally as the blonde smiled releasing the other girl's hand as she took a few steps back keeping a fair distance between them, Yozakura looked on as her focus suddenly changed if she was to honour this request she was going to make sure to give it her all.
XXX
The cool breeze whipped around the two girl's as they locked eyes, moments ago they had been calmly talking like old friends sharing a meal but the moment had passed, the carefree aura between them had changed.
"Shinobi transformation" Hanabi called out as her body was consumed with a bright light, she had trained with Naraku and her sisters but had been unable to channel her shinobi armour without calling it forth. Her previous casual clothing began to disappear as it was replaced with a striped t-shirt, a pale green kimono hung loosely from her slender shoulders with a yellow smiley faced pin. A blue denim hung down to her thighs held up by a white ribbon, her bare feet where covered by white flip flops.
Resting at her side was her large black mallet, Yozakura looked at the large weapon wondering if its large size would affect the girl's speed, she could only assume it would be heavy to swing around and wondered if she could use it to her advantage yet the words of her leader came flooding in.
"Don't underestimate other shinobi based on weapon type" she had always told them, shaking her head she tried to focus with a small smile on her face, if this girl was going all out before the match had even began then she would respond in kind.
"Shinobi transformation" Yozakura said as the light began to consume her, her grey school uniform began to disappear being replaced with a white and sea foam blue kimono exposing her slim stomach adorned with a lavender flower pattern, protecting her hands and wrists where to large black gauntlets with golden trim. Her grey skirt had been replaced with a sea foam blue and dark teal kimono open at the front showing her long legs, covering her ankles were white socks and black sandals.
"A simple match" Yozakura said as Hanabi nodded "No killing and we'll just keep going until one of us gives in". Hanabi smiled as she nodded kicking the hammer up onto her shoulder, Yozakura watched as she couldn't supress the grin playing at her lips, her leader was right never underestimate your opponents weapon.
"Ready?" Hanabi asked as the other girl nodded confidently "Then let's begin".
XXX
Yozakura wasted little time as she charged forward wanting to close the distance early, she had learned through training with her team mates that getting close was her main strength. Hanabi took a defensive stance as the blue haired girl charged forward, she had seen this tactic before from the swords woman who had trained at the shrine she watched as the girl drew her hand back quickly using her hammer she blocked feeling herself being pushed back from the force of the punch.
Hanabi lowered her weapon slightly as she saw the girl charging once more, she was ready this time as she jumped up, Yozakura looked up curious as her eyes widened a little jumping back as Hanabi's bombs dropped down exploding on impact. Using the dust from the explosions as cover Hanabi dropped down charging forward as she swung her hammer in the direction of her opponent, feeling the danger Yozakura brought her arms up using her gauntlets to cushion the blow.
Yozakura shook her arms a little as she smirked looking to Hanabi a large grin on her face, the two girls felt the excitement and adrenaline surging through their blood as they charged again their weapons colliding in fierce combat neither girl giving the other a moment to breathe.
"Secret ninja art: Ōdama Rocket Hanabi" Hanabi called out, Yozakura watched as the blonde tossed a small bomb into the air with a grin she flipped into the air as she clicked a button on the handle of her hammer opening a hatch catching the bomb out of the air.
Preparing herself for whatever was to come the blue haired girl watched as her opponent turned the hammer upside down landing on top as she pushed the button again as the hatch opened once more the force of the condensed explosion propelled her forward as she rode the hammer into the blue haired girl sending her into the air.
Yozakura cried out as her kimono tore up landing hard on the floor as she bounced slightly, Hanabi watched on knowing it wasn't over just yet never one to drop her guard after training with Naraku and her sister she knew never to assume it was over until it truly was. Slowly Yozakura forced herself to her feet, her kimono torn with a few grazes on her knees, she looked to Hanabi as she smiled it had been a while since she had competed against someone who interested her this much.
"Thank you Hanabi" She said as the blonde looked on a little confused "My team mates always hold back but you brought your best to me, allow me to repay your kindness. Secret ninja art: 10,000 Palm Fists of Paradise Hell". Hanabi looked on curious on what the girl had meant, Yozakura drew her arms back as two long pistons shot out of the back of her gauntlets a look of concentration on her face as she locked her eyes on the blonde in front of her.
Hanabi looked on as her eyes widened a little feeling a surge of energy forming, Yozakura brought her wrists together the pistons shooting forward as a large ball of yellow energy shot forward. Hanabi brought her hammer up trying to block as the ball hit her consuming her whole body as it exploded sending the blonde flying backwards with a cry of pain as her kimono burned up she slid across the floor her casual outfit returning as she lay unmoving.
XXX
Hanabi woke up as her eyes flickered open her body feeling a little heavy from the fight, her eyes fell on the figure of her opponent from moments ago smiling at her as she gently stroked her hair. Hanabi felt her cheeks begin to heat up from embarrassment as she sat up realising the situation she had been in, Yozakura chuckled a little as she watched.
"I'm glad you're ok" Yozakura said as she looked over at the blonde who seemed to not want to look at her "I'm sorry if I hurt you with that last attack, I guess I should have held back a little". Hanabi slowly shook her head as she stared down at her hands, once again she had lost but this loss felt a little different the usual frustration she had felt to her loss to Ikaruga wasn't there.
"Thank you" Hanabi said slowly as she made it to her feet, Yozakura looked at her confused as she stood up looking at the back of the blonde's head "You've made me realise something, the reason I lost to Ikaruga". Hanabi turned with a forced smile as she suddenly pulled the blue haired girl into a hug causing Yozakura's cheeks to turn red as she let go once again smiling as she suddenly took off at a run.
"What was that about?" Yozakura asked herself as she watched the energetic girl take off "Wait? Did she say Ikaruga?"
Hanabi couldn't help the joy and sadness she felt in her heart, she had lost but it had helped her to realise what she had to do, it wouldn't be easier but it was needed for her to progress on her own. Renka looked up as she heard rushing footsteps coming up the steps at the shrine seeing the sight of her sister, before she could say anything the girl was gone seemingly in a rush.
"Lady Kagura" Hanabi said as she slid to a stop in front of the girl dropping to her knee in respect, Kagura looked with a smile as she tapped the girl's shoulder as the blonde slowly got to her feet with a smile "I lost a fight to my new friend but it's ok because I reached a decision".
"What decision did you reach?" Kagura asked with a smile happy to see a smile back on the blonde's face.
"I want to go to school" She said as Kagura slowly nodded, she had felt something like this could happen, the sisters had only ever trained with each other and Naraku, their world sheltered from the outside.
"Which school have you decided on?" Kagura asked curious.
"Gessen academy" Hanabi replied with a large smile, stood at a pillar out of sight Renka felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Was her sister really going to leave the shine and join a school?
Well its been a while since I uploaded here with the Halloween story taking up my time but we are back to the others now since Halloween is over. Anyway Hanabi realised after her battle with Ikaruga and with Yozakura there are limitations to how strong you can become by training with the same people, now she has decided to join a school. I hope Renka will be ok, also if anyone is interested in how Hanabi's school life would be maybe there will be a story about it in the future after I've finished up a few more