TADAM! Wow, I forgot to check how long its been since I updated this piece of mine. Well, there's various reasons why that is so, with which I ain't gonna bore you at this point. Frankly, I was fighting with the idea whether to return to this or not, but a certain someone actually convinced me to do so and I sat down to that, wrote this chappie and... well, we'll see how that goes. Naturally, much of it lies in your hand, coz while I do enjoy NNG (by comparison, it's complex and yet simple... plus, it's rather easy to write, compared to my works on FictionPress), the last several chapters I only wrote because I was asked to do so (usually via Pms by people, who ironically, don't review once the chapters are done x_x).
Well, you know what I'd want you to do in order for me to continue, so with that, here's the newest installment of NNG:
Chapter #136: Akira versus Dekai
Title Page: Toku is sitting at the table outside the restaurant and is sipping a drink with a tiny umbrella through a straw
"So, you're completely blind, eh?" Funbo asked, waving a 'fuck you' sign before Akira's face, looking closely at the boy. The illusionist merely grabbed his arm as he replied calmly: "Not a thing, I'm afraid. However, I'd like to point out, that this does not mean that I'm unaware of my surroundings..."
"Oh?" the young assassin responded with a smirk, yet before he could say anything more, Hitomi's stern voice made him shift attention towards her: "Funbo, leave him alone. From today onwards we're supposed to be teammates. You should show more respect."
"Yeah, whatever" the stick wielder shoot back as he freed himself from the grip and hiding his hands in his pockets, walked away from the blind gennin. Horohoro, who stood in his usual pose next to him, spoke up calmly in his standard monotone: "Don't mind Funbo that much... for most part he's an ass, but he does have a good side... if you're perceptive enough to see it."
"I do see it" Akira assured him with a smirk, making the blue-haired boy raise an eyebrow at the statement. "Or rather; I can tell" he corrected quickly and at this Taki began starring at him intensively. In the next moment a mysterious man appeared between them, his light green jacket and eyes hidden behind sunglasses made the masked girl flip from fright: "Yikes!"
"My name is Aburame Shino" the figure announced simply as he scanned the group. "I'll be your jounin instructor from now on. Lets get started..."
-Flashback end-
"BEGIN!" came the command as Lee instantly jumped out of the way... unnecessary as neither of the two fighters moved. Dekai stood, observing his blind adversary closely as he reached for his sword, slamming the tip of its blade into the ground. Seeing that even this didn't make Akira react, the sand-nin spoke, his voice as calm as ever: "You're not gonna fight?"
"I intend to" the Leaf ninja replied simply, yet remained stationary, much to his opponent's dismal. In a flash the swordsman charged forward, cutting horizontally, but as the blade went through the blind teenager's body, it turned into purple mist, which quickly began circling around Dekai.
"Right, he's a genjutsu expert" the Suna gennin reminded himself, retreating his weapon to a defensive stance. The smoke thickened, covering his vision entirely. A moment later shadows began growing all around him, ready to strike at any time. None of them moved however. The swordsman remained still and as a quiet rustle hit his ears, he instantly spun, swinging his blade horizontally to the side.
Akira ducked under the attack, making the weapon cut merely the tip of his spiky hair and immediately flipped back a few times to extend the distance, yet as he felt soft wind slamming into his face, he strafed left while Dekai thrust his sword at his chest, catching up to the blind gennin.
The two froze, neither moving an inch, the Suna ninja retreating his weapon slowly, while the leaf-nin, just a couple of meters to his right, stood motionless, a tanto still tight in his grip: "He reacted perfectly to my assault... could it be?"
"Well, ain't that a twist" announced Funbo with a smirk, to which Horohoro merely send him a stoic gaze before shifting back to the fight below. By then Akira slowly reached to his hostel to pick out several shuriken, holding them between his fingers. With a quick jump back, he swung his arm to unleash the shinobi stars at his adversary, who again reacted instantly.
In a flash Dekai charged to his right, deflecting all the projectiles with his sword and the moment the blind ninja landed on the ground, he changed direction to attack, cutting from below. With no way to dodge, the leaf-nin blocked with his tanto and as the 'clang' echoed through the arena, the Suna gennin spun on his foot and swung horizontally to the back, straight at his opponent's back.
Acting solemnly on instinct, Akira jumped again and somersaulting over the assault, he threw his legs sideways, aiming a kick to Dekai's face, only to have his adversary roll to the right, avoiding the blow.
As the illusionist landed, the sand-nin sprung into action again, this time cutting perpendicularly, making the blind gennin lean to the side and propping his hand on the ground, he used his other arm to thrust the tanto at his adversary, yet the masked shinobi react in time and flipping his wrist, he relocated his weapon, blocking the assault with the flat side of his blade.
When another 'clang' was heard, Dekai pushed his sword away, pushing the Leaf fighter as well, which made Akira loose his balance and fall on his back. Hearing a 'thud', the weapon master jumped to the air and aimed the tip of his blade at the right palce, dropping at top speed.
The illusionist managed to roll out of the way in the last moment, the massive sword sinking into the ground upon impact. But as he rolled on the floor, Akira went for his porch again and coming to a sliding stop, he threw a pair of knives at his opponent, only to have the latter use his sword as a balance point and lifting himself up, had the projectiles fly below him.
The next moment, Dekai jumped off and flipping, landed on the ground safely, ripping the sword from the ground and placing it in a defensive position.
The two froze once more, awaiting the other's move, the blind gennin having no doubt as to what was happening. Kai on the other hand, was clueless, as usual: "What the hell is going on? Why are they just standing there? All things considered, that sword guy should keep on attacking, unless he wants to get trapped in Akira's genjutsu or something!"
"Actually, he already is struggling with an illusion" Hitomi announced simply with her arms crossed. "Judging from the chakra flow, Akira trapped him within his Mist of Shadows, which makes ones sight entirely useless."
"He did?" Kusari asked, rising his eyebrow. "Then how is that sand-nin countering?"
"Even if you take away one sense, the body is still left with four others" Karame explained matter-of-factly, without taking his eyes off the battlefield. "Knowing Dekai, he's using his ears to locate the enemy. That's why he's only reacting; when that blind guy remains still, he makes no sound, making it impossible for Dekai to locate him. However, once he moves, he gives away his position. It's that simple."
"Simple" Takaru repeated with a snort. "Being able to adopt this quickly is not simple... it's freakin scary!" he thought to himself, while Akira quickly went through a set of hand seals, calling out with the last symbol: "Genjutsu: Garandou!"
The mist surrounding Dekai suddenly thickened and soon became black, covering both the ground and sky. In a flash the sand-nin found himself within a dark void. He looked around carefully, but to no vial; there was nothing. A moment later pain shoot through his shoulder as blood sprayed out of it, his skin burning. But more then the pain, the swordsman widen his eyes at realization: "I... didn't hear anything!"
Akira quickly spun around and charged once more; swinging parallel to the ground, the blind gennin slashed his opponent's back shallowly, forcing another wave of pain to wash over the masked teen as he reached for the cut with his free hand: "Shit... this..."
"Seems that whatever that genjutsu is, this Dekai fellow is incapable of dispelling any of it" Kumiko analyzed quickly, observing the match. "Since that is the case, that Sand guy can't really win this fight either way..."
Tokame on the other hand narrowed his eyes, while tilting his head to the side. Noticing this, Tobane lowered her head, realizing what her teammate was thinking: "Well, it can't be helped, I suppose... for him, this sort of showdown... it's gotta bring back those memories..."
Dekai swung to the right, yet the attack was a complete miss as Akira now stood to his left, cutting his opponent's arm deeply before he extended the distance between the two once more. The swordsman hissed at the sensation, his eye twitching from the pain, while he mentally cursed the situation.
"I can't locate him at all, dammit!" he cursed again, awaiting another blow. "Heck, he barely used that genjutsu and I already got a cut on the shoulder, back and arm... if this keeps up, I'll lose. But how can I even fight ba...?" he wondered and then widen his eyes as the idea bloomed in his head.
The blind gennin was not about to let him rest though as he charged again, aiming to pierce his adversary's mid-section. Akira's tanto went into Dekai's side, yet to the leaf-nin's surprise, the swordsman quickly strafed left and spun around, bringing his weapon down at the exact spot the Konoha ninja was. In a flash the illusionist rolled to the side, a shocked expression plastered all over his face as the massive blade hit the ground hard.
"What?" Taki widen her eyes surprised, even Horohoro lost his composure at the sight as his teammate's breath quickened: "That technique devotes the victim from all of his senses!" he reminded himself, narrowing his eyes. "With that, how is it possible for that guy to locate Akira at all?"
Tarakudo merely smirked beneath the bandages as a single drop of sweat run down his face at the development: "Scary... truly scary" he thought while below the blind gennin remained motionless again, unsure what to do.
At this time Dekai retreated his sword and, with confidence in his voice, he teased, his huge blade ready to strike again: "What, that's it? Come on, attack... this has just gotten good!"
-helpless?-
And that's that. To be honest, back in the day I was anxious of this battle, since Akira is one of my personal favorites of this tale (actually, I like him so much, I'm preparing a character inspired by him for my, other tale :D), but looking at it from the objective point of view, this battle in particular is not as grant as I'd want it... but I do hope it'll be enjoyable.
Konoha #7 (Naruto): Murasakki Kumiko, Tanken Ibuki, Gekido Takaru, Hagane Kusari, Haisha Kai
Konoha #3 (Shikamaru): Konpaku Rei, Rikoteki Kogane, Amagasa Toku, Debano Kitsune, Gusoku Hanamaru
Konoha #4 (Hinata): Igaku Mikka, Inuzuka Tsume, Benda Kokoro, Hatake Senkou, Kobushi Galu
Konoha (Shino): Hamano Taki, Hyuuga Hitomi, Manako Akira, Tanken Funbo, Horohoro
Suna #1 (Temari): Aoru, Torune, Tarakudo, Takai
Suna #2 (Kankuro): Sabaku no Sabure, Hari, Dekai, Karame
Kusa (none): Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kuchibashi Taka, Kyohaku Tokame, Wanabi Hizoku
Tsuki (Hinami Hoshiru): Junsei Teela, Tenka, Chishio Nobu, Chishio Kumo, Kihako Tasuki
Kane (unknown): Futatsu
And, as usual, here's a reminder of the tournament match-up:
Fight 7: Manako Akira (13) vs. Dekai (14)
Fight 8: Hyuuga Hitomi (15) vs. Tenka (16)
Fight 9: Hokku Tobane (17) vs. Sabaku no Sabure (18)
Fight 10: Murasakki Kumiko (19) vs. Debano Kitsune (20)
Fight 11: Junsei Teela (21) vs. Kanraku Nezumi (22)
Fight 12: Horohoro (23) vs. Hagane Kusari (24)
Fight 13: Aoru (25) vs. Hamano Taki (26)
Fight 14: Torune (27) vs. Hari (28)
Fight 15: Amagasa Toku (29) vs. Kyohaku Tokame (30)
Fight 16: Kobushi Galu (31) vs. Karame (32)
Fight 17: Takai vs. Wanabi Hizoku
Fight 18: Tanken Funbo vs. Gekido Takaru
Fight 19: Benda Kokoro vs. Tarakudo
Genjutsu: Garandou (Genjutsu: Void)
And that's it for now. Thanks for reading and hopefully until next time.