Chapter 4, Part #1:

Genji versus Sokaru

"Begin!"

Sokaru watched as within a second, the trio disappeared into the foliage. Rasha was the first to go, his prone form flickering twice to the left before disappearing. Moroku had vanished in a swirl of red material that had spun upwards and out of sight. But Genji, with his girth and muscle was easy enough to follow; his long jump launched himself high into the canopy of leaves above.

The trees parted and moved unnaturally for a moment before going back into the rhythmic swaying in the breeze. All was still save for the forest, dancing with life in the sun. The ankle-deep grass rippled in the wind, waving around the motionless instructor.

Sokaru was left alone in the clearing, thinking to himself," Well, at least they can conceal themselves prop-"

Sensing a disturbance above him, Sokaru rolled to his left, just barely avoiding a demolishing attack from Genji. Sokaru rotated back onto his feet as Genji stood from his crouching position," That was no fisticuff; you are striking to kill."

"Maybe he has some talent after all. Even if he is impatient!" Thought Sokaru, eyeing Genji.

Giant maple leafs flew between them as Genji noted," You move better than you let on."

Sokaru grinned as he remembered the last actual fight he had been in; sure five years was a long time to go without seeing combat but his occupation never required him to fight. He wondered if he still had what it took to take down three sniveling wimps after that long a respite.

"Who says an old dog can't relearn old tricks?" thought Sokaru as Genji reached slowly over his shoulder.

"You had better prepare yourself Sokaru." Said Genji as he firmly grasped the bandaged handle of his broadsword," Because I'm getting a bell if I have to cut a leg off."

With a hard tug, Genji drew his deadly weapon. Out of its sheath, the massive blade was a beauty to stare at. Two straight edges ran parallel for six feet of metal, sharpened to a gleaming edge. At the end of the blade there was a hole five inches in diameter, just before the end of the sword curled upwards like a water droplet.

"This sword was made by my grandfather, the best blacksmith in the world, just for me!" commentated Genji, has he let the weapon fall into his two-handed stance.

Sokaru ran his green eyeballs over the child, before telling him casually," You won't hit me with that blade, boy."

Genji's big face contorted, his eyebrows furrowing together in anger, before he launched himself at Sokaru. He sliced from right to left, aiming for the man's midsection. Sokaru ducked beneath the blade, however Genji continued his swing around his back, switching his hands into a reverse grip. His next swing came from the same direction but aimed low to Sokaru's bobbing head.

But the wily instructor leapt clean over Genji's head, behind him before the blade could connect. Sokaru spun mid-air and landed facing Genji's open backside and continued backing up as the boy revolved and lashed out with his sword. For such a big blade, the boy wielded it expertly and swiftly, twirling his risks at angles to maneuver the cutting edge of the broadsword. His sword dazzled in the beams of light from above while Genji slashed repeatedly at Sokaru, missing sometimes by inches.

Genji's right arm was on fire, burning from within; he was sure of this, the pain was so extreme. It felt like white-hot clamps were pulling his muscles apart in his arm. The burning sensation continued as his lashed over and over again at his fleeing opponent. He had practiced with a sword for years, but never this strenuously. He gave his arm a minute, minute and a half if he pushed it, before it gave out.

He needed to finish this fast.

As Sokaru leaned to his right to dodge another spinning body slash, he braced himself from falling using his right hand. The giant sword would have separated his left arm from his shoulder had he had one. But doing this, he quickly realized, left his exposed left side open; the bells were jingling out in the open to grab.

However Genji was too preoccupied in drawing blood from the frustratingly agile instructor. He lifted the blade high over his head and brought it crashing down to earth. Sokaru back-flipped out of the way, dodging the attack. The sword struck the ground with enough force to crack the ground, splitting the grass between Genji's feet. But, using the momentum of swinging downward, he pushed off with his feet forward, front-flipping himself high into the air.

Sokaru was just landing from his back flip as the boy pointed his giant weapon straight down, preparing to drive the rounded tip through Sokaru's upper torso lengthwise. The sensei barely back-stepped in time before the sword embedded itself in the ground. Genji, still falling however, had different plans.

Nimbly for his big size, he landed on his left leg and kicked the blunted edge of the blade with his right foot. The cutting edge swiveled upwards in a circular arc slicing viciously through the air.

"Well, what do you know? Thought Sokaru astonished.

Sokaru glanced down at his Jounin vest, now button-less and open.

"That was close!"

Genji, stood stock still holding the sword with both hands, amazed at his accomplishment. His beady black eyes widened as he stared at the open vest. But his eyes retracted as he settled back into his offensive demeanor. His right arm was going numb from the strain.

"You're not so good." He taunted the sensei, trying to buy time.

Sokaru cocked an eyebrow," Is that so?"

"Yes," confirmed Genji as he blinked sweat from his eyes," it-"

SMACK!

Genji was sent flying backwards from a right punch he never saw coming. He skidded along the dark grass before curling up into a ball. His stomach was destroyed, he was sure that nothing inside him could have survived that blow. Surely a brick had been thrown at him, so hard was the strike to his gut.

A shadow in the shape of a one-armed man blocked his view of the canopy," You are a fool."

Sokaru lifted the large boy up off of the ground with his one arm by the collar of his blue shirt. He looked into the boy's square face with his cold eyes. Genji's left arm desperately wound up for a punch.

Sokaru twisted his hips and threw the boy ten feet into a large tree root. Genji's limp form slammed into the wood seconds before another speeding fist collided with his mouth. The back of his head smashed into the bark a second time and he collapsed on the ground face first.

Sokaru stood over the prone form of the boy; he had knocked Genji out cold. He predicted it would be a couple of hours at least before he would awaken. By that time, he knew, the test would be over. Genji was out of the running; blood dripped from his mouth onto the grass, gleaming in the sun.

The instructor felt partly secure, sure of his prowess all along in combat despite the five year absence. The other part of him wanted to jump up and down in a victory that felt too good to be true. But Sokaru reassured himself, yes; he had not lost his touch after all these years.

"The boy never stood a chance." He proudly thought as he sauntered over to where his many buttons littered the ground. Still brimming on the inside, the old man bent over to pick up a stray button.

Pssssssssssssssthp!

A whistling noise came from his right and Sokaru rolled over on his left side as several shuriken whizzed by overhead.

He rose to his feet as he spied the small boy with the blanket standing on a root at the edge of the forest. The boy's face wasn't that of amusement or even malice, but guilt. He appeared ashamed at attacking Sokaru.

"Guilt won't buy you pity from me." thought Sokaru as his pride returned to him; this was just another sniveling kid, half the size of the boy with the sword.

"So," Started Sokaru formally," you want to try your hand at getting a bell, eh?"

The boy nodded slowly, his brown eyes fearful.

"Then come and get it!" challenge Sokaru, his voice like ground hamburger.

Moroku shook his head, too shy to go on the offensive, as he fiddled with his hands.

Sokaru sighed an thought," Great. He's too nervous to attack."

"Suit yourself." Said Sokaru as he launched himself at the boy," I hope you fare better than sword-boy!"

Also, on a side note, does anyone recognize the description of the sword? Don't worry; your suspicions will be answered in time. But, to discourage all detectives and such, I will say this; Genji is in no way related to a certain "mist village demon". Understood? But this is the same sword and it is a foreshadow. You will see in time, I hope.

This chapter goes out to my biggest fan, Mansewerz. Keep up the good work buddy!

Thanks for playing along, Rasha