Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

The Paradox of Meiko's Ship

Sugemi threw himself at Meiko in a wild dash, it appeared that he had noticed Meiko's lack of affinity for planning ahead. The blacksmith was purely a running at the enemy type ninja and the Nara clearly loved that. Lack of distinct planning from Meiko's part allowed Sugemi to just stop overthinking and cut loose. See just how far everything he had acquired up to now guided by pure instinct could carry him.

The Nara threw quick three jabs at Meiko, the blacksmith leaned back, answering with swift blocks before pressing her own advantage with her blade. The flurry of fists and knee strikes, shield shoves, sword thrusts and slashes was impressive, their speed would've been troublesome even for someone extremely defensive and evasive, like Mana, to deal with and they never invested enough force into any of their strikes for an opponent to find any openings, always perfectly returning to guard. Sugemi slid out of the brief clash with a bleeding cheek and an aching side, a result of a pair of skipped handle blows and swipes.

The blacksmith pressed her offensive on, rushing at her fleeing, on the defensive opponent and trying to exploit her opportunity and his stumble. The blacksmith threw a chain of weak sword thrusts at Sugemi's face, the Nara had to brace himself and weave around the attacks. As a taijutsu user himself, he knew that jabs, whether thrown with a sword, or using fists, were usually a setup for something greater. That was why he managed to entrap Meiko's turned sideways, extended leg, when the redhead tried kicking her opponent down, and throw her in the air.

"These two are going at it like crazy"! Kiyomi's cheeks shined in excitement before the blonde energetically cheered for her teammate. The Yamanaka's eyes were oddly fired up following Meiko, a combination of a very quaint sort of worry and the blazing desire for one's favorite to come out of the trouble on top.

"Yeah", Mana admitted wondering if the two had some sort of training she wasn't aware of together as it may have been the first time she noticed such a fond stare in Kiyomi's eyes.

"Atta girl, Meiko! She's holding her own, no, she's on top"! Kiyomi shouted out once Meiko successfully brushed aside a flurry of Sugemi's strikes and the two began exchanging fists and swipes at breakneck speed and enough brute force to deafen the audience with every blow in the tirade of sonic booms they have emitted. That barrier was paying off big time...

"She pretty much has to be. If she can't pressure Sugemi like this, she'll never survive his Gates", Mana looked away from the battle worryingly, she had seen just how powerful the Eight Gates can make Sugemi. It was a desperation technique but it could rarely, if ever, be matched, only survived.

"Shadow Spin-Top"! Sugemi shouted out as he weaved hand seals with his free hand, using the shadows coming from the shades of his own uniform to reach for the ground and provide support, whereas the Nara himself used that support beam of solid shadows to flip overhead and spin using one hand, delivering a crushing barrage of kicks aimed at Meiko. The buckler in Meiko's hands shattered to pieces, blown away by the force, the girl managed to control her fall down, landing on her feet and her hands.

"Dammit, it's busted again..." Meiko cursed looking a bit crushed over the falling splinter sized chunks of solid steel that used to be her trusty blocking and redirection tool.

"That's right, get angry over that old thing, come at me seriously", Sugemi taunted his opponent who lifted her scorching gaze at the Nara before looking back at Kiyomi and Mana and smiling. Slowly she turned around and began walking towards the scroll, likely intending to tag out.

"Don't think I'll let you"! Sugemi shouted out desperately, charging at the blacksmith with a divekick, butting in between the redhead and the scroll, before throwing a wild barrage of jabs her way that seriously threw Meiko off her guard and sent her tumbling and flying back, heading right at the edge of the arena.