She turned her head in the direction of his voice but didn't look directly at it. It was foolish in the extreme -- worse than the average genin -- to try to find a ninja by any sound they've intentionally made, and with an unknown status and no promise from him whether he would use his sharingan, it was inviting defeat to assume he wasn't. Even if he used a relatively weak genjutsu with his eyes, the time it took to break free in a situation like this one would ensure defeat.
So...if he was using his sharingan the cloud was interfering with her abilities more than his. If he wasn't then it only made them equal if she launched another aggressive attack. There were several earth jutsu she could use to take advantage of the situation far more effectively and safely than a sword strike, but she dismissed that urge.
With swordplay alone, her options were...limited. And so far he'd dodged every attack with little to no effort. Which made sense: he was waiting for her attacks and she offered very little surprise. Striking like this wasn't in her element. Her opponent was usually meant to attack her back, not simply stand there and wait with secure knowledge of the nature and limits of her attacks.
...She needed to alter her strategy completely. She frowned and dispersed the dust cloud with a flick of her sword, clearing her line of sight, and readying herself for a strike from him, whether instant or delayed, with a stance that would ideally prepare her for one either from the source of his voice or wherever else he'd taken the opportunity to set himself up in.
Countering his attack--forcing him to make himself vulnerable by being the one to attack--was the only feasible option, in a situation where her other ones were to do exactly as he expected and allow him his leisure to wear her down and exploit her mistakes or endanger herself with reckless aggression in the hope of surprising him before he landed an effective counter.
no subject
So...if he was using his sharingan the cloud was interfering with her abilities more than his. If he wasn't then it only made them equal if she launched another aggressive attack. There were several earth jutsu she could use to take advantage of the situation far more effectively and safely than a sword strike, but she dismissed that urge.
With swordplay alone, her options were...limited. And so far he'd dodged every attack with little to no effort. Which made sense: he was waiting for her attacks and she offered very little surprise. Striking like this wasn't in her element. Her opponent was usually meant to attack her back, not simply stand there and wait with secure knowledge of the nature and limits of her attacks.
...She needed to alter her strategy completely. She frowned and dispersed the dust cloud with a flick of her sword, clearing her line of sight, and readying herself for a strike from him, whether instant or delayed, with a stance that would ideally prepare her for one either from the source of his voice or wherever else he'd taken the opportunity to set himself up in.
Countering his attack--forcing him to make himself vulnerable by being the one to attack--was the only feasible option, in a situation where her other ones were to do exactly as he expected and allow him his leisure to wear her down and exploit her mistakes or endanger herself with reckless aggression in the hope of surprising him before he landed an effective counter.