Well, somebody's got to get stuck with the boring parts. [OPEN]

[noboatbigenough]

Who: Hoshigaki Kisame
Where: Various places around Kirigakure
When: First week of February
Notes: Mostly day in the life things, with a little bit of Chuunin exam fallout. Mingling, for Kiri-folks and visitors! Posting character toplevels and threadhopping encouraged, or respond to Kisame's prompts.

The problem with the Chuunin exams being held in Kiri was that there was always so much to do after they were done, and that was when he hadn't spent the whole time proctoring. Luckily, Kisame wasn't alone in cleaning up after the spectacle, but there was still a lot to do, and most of it was the dry, lifeless work that he hated, so Kisame made sure to spend ample time doing more interesting things, so he wouldn't take someone's head off out of frustration.

Pretty close to literally. These next few days were going to be long ones.

Cypher Headquarters and T&I:
The first several orders of business were to debrief all the Cypher members he'd had out all exam, watching the crowds and visitors and gathering information. Most of them had been posing as visitors themselves, to get at things visitors wouldn't say around Kiri-sympathetic ears, but there'd been more than a few out and about as civilians, or as their public faces, so Kisame would get a good look at everything that could be discovered.

He'd already put in his reports about his meeting with the Hokage, and the others he'd ran into or been pushed into escorting for the third portion, and his observations of candidates during the first portions of the exam, and that at least, saved him the tedious job of sorting through everything. Kisame already knew what was strictly necessary to report from his own observations.

Their jutsu made sure nothing was missed, but it also left the task of wading through it all and picking out what was gold and what was dross. He'd pared down about a quarter of the preliminary reports, and already he wanted to take a break.

Well, a break wouldn't hurt, and perhaps some of the more enjoyable company in T&I or Cypher would be taking a break too. If nothing else, comparing notes and findings with another person who hadn't turned themselves into a living recording device for the duration would break up the tedium a bit.

Kisame left his office, teapot in hand, and went out into the greater area that held most of Kiri's most sensitive information and secretive ninja.

Public training grounds:
At least training could combine two tasks into one. Keeping himself in fighting form, and doing a little bit of scouting for Seven Swordsmen potentials. How he always got this task put on him, Kisame didn't know, especially since he wasn't officially the leader anymore, but at least he didn't have to deal with the fallout if one of the members chose a controversial apprentice. That was on the official leader's head.

That aside, it was fun to put his sword skills to the test against all comers, and some of the kids actually made it easy to focus, and sometimes even pushed him a little.

Kisame knocked his current opponent back, and nodded. "Not bad, kid. Train more, and we'll make a decent swordsman out of you yet. Now, who's next?"

Eagerly Kisame looked through the crowd, hoping for someone with a different style, at least.

Mission office:
The mission office was the perfect place to work on improving his patience. At least, that was what Kisame kept reminding himself as he tried not to grind his teeth. There was almost as much paperwork here as down in Cypher, and for some reason, he'd been "recommended" for a shift handing out and filing missions.

Handing the missions out was easy enough, as most ninja didn't have any particular restrictions on the missions they could take, and it was usually as simple as handing out scrolls, but taking reports of completed missions and making sure everything was complete was dull.

But at least there was one benefit to working the desk. Kisame could look at the missions available at his leisure. None that he'd instantly jump on right now, but there were a few that would at least get him away from the village, once he was finished with all the extra work.

At least, if it was dull, there were opportunities to size up the ninja he rarely got to interact with, much less anything more. Kisame waved the next in line waiting for an assignment forward.

"Rank and clearance, please."

Hoshigaki training grounds:
The training grounds outside the clan compound were technically public, but so often used by Hoshigaki, that they might as well have been private. This was where Kisame worked on his more sensitive training, mastering new kata and jutsu.

It didn't mean he wouldn't be interrupted, but fewer people passing through meant fewer accidents if a brand new jutsu slipped outside his control. It didn't happen often, not anymore, but if Kisame injured someone, he wanted to do it intentionally.

Right now he was working on a new Wind Release, and the training logs were taking quite the beating. It wasn't fine-tuned enough yet that he'd use it in a fight, but Kisame liked the feel of forming the air around him into blades. Kisame went through the seals again, and gathered chakra, and this time the training log toppled, cleanly sliced right in half. Better.

Comments

[noboatbigenough]

Kisame licked his lips, shivering in pleasure at forcing Sephiroth to dodge that way. It was progress. So he tried shunshin again, but switched it up. On two attacks, he used his non-dominant hand to create the blade of air, creating a different angle. And the last was a leap to fire the blade down and this time, to the right of where the original blades had been aimed. It was a one in four chance, but if Kisame got the direction right, even if it was a miss, he would call it progress.

[silverterror]

Well, that was a pretty maneuver, wasn't it? He didn't even try to give the impression he'd manually dodge that one, immediately going to where Kisame had started with another little splash, cocking his head. This was going to get intense quickly now, he could tell, and he was all loose limbs and ready alertness.

It was respectful attentiveness, coming from him. He'd almost gotten clipped.

[noboatbigenough]

Ah, clever. Kisame was already firing another blade as soon as Sephiroth appeared in the spot he'd started from before he even touched the ground.

He changed things up again with a charge. Two at once was difficult and the strength was lacking, but one advanced ahead, and the other behind and slightly to the left. He was getting closer!

[silverterror]

He scanned the maneuver quickly with his eyes and gave a sharp tilt of his head toward where it looked weak to him before dropping to the ground and vanishing, reappearing tot he far left with thoughtful interest. He saw no reason not to help in more than just dodging after all. Training was for improvement.

[noboatbigenough]

Kisame saw the nod and made a note to voice his appreciation when this was done. Pointing out the weaknesses that needed improving was important to getting stronger, and Kisame was already running through scenarios as he put more focus into his next use. The chakra-use was almost negligible; Kisame could keep going all day.

The next attempt involved two water clones spring up to throw their own blades of air, in the spaces where Kisame’s attack could push Sephiroth to move to. A shunshin at the moment the first attack was away brought Kisame to another point in the field, and he released another two blades in different directions. More focus this time, so they were stronger and more dangerous. They covered much of the field, and another of Kisame’s own wind-blades nearly cut Kisame as it passed. There wouldn’t be many places to move to this time. Sephiroth would, Kisame was sure, but it would be even harder than before.

[silverterror]

He quickly calculated, then sprang straight upward, flashing him a smirk as he pivoted midair then vanished, landing neatly off to his far right in a crouch where he'd picked up a path of wather undisturbed by the turbulent air attack.

He quickly noted a cut along his calf. Kisame was getting better.

[noboatbigenough]

The cut on Sephiroth’s calf stood out like a beacon. Even if it was a small one, Kisame had scored a hit, and it was excellent progress!

No reason to stop until Sephiroth wanted to, though, so Kisame tried again, using a similar tactic, but with an extra water clone, and by having one of the clones also send out two air blades in different directions, and different heights. The increased coverage would make this one even harder to dodge, he hoped.

[silverterror]

He evaluated it quickly, examining it with swift eyes before vanishing, appearing nearly against Kisame's back. "You forget to move."

As soon as the air was clear, he returned to a point further away.

[noboatbigenough]

Kisame was firing off another blade of air when Sephiroth tried for his back, but he knew even as he did that he was going to miss. Well, it had been an idea, and since it hadn’t worked, onto the next!

He turned and bowed at Sephiroth’s new location before firing off another blade and vanishing. The water clones all collapsed, and Kisame watched from cover on the other side of the training area. Sephiroth was sure to know where he was and how he’d gotten there, but sometimes it was better to lure than to chase.

[silverterror]

A smile touched his face briefly, and he vanished from his point, appearing to the far left of the field, nowhere near Kisame, then closer before further away again, head tilted as he watched him back, looking at the results with interested eyes.

He nodded to him once his eyes pinned him.

[noboatbigenough]

Well, not every tactic worked, so Kisame nodded back and went on the move again. His new water clones converged on Sephiroth. This time two engaged directly while another fired off the air blades from above. Kisame used shunshin to move and fire more, while a last clone watched, ready to continue the attack when Sephiroth finally moved.

[silverterror]

He was making a point of not defending so much as dodging, at the moment, though it was clear by the way he was watching that he was ready to move on a breath. He waited until the last second to pivot, then vanish to another point, releasing a huff as he realized his sleeve had been damaged.

That particular attack had better suited the other man.

[noboatbigenough]

Twice now! And overall, his aim was improving, and his firing of the air blades was faster. Still not good enough but, much better. He'd probably owe Sephiroth a meal for this. Or a replacement for the damaged clothing.

The sensible thing for most ninja would be to stop, as Kisame had already been at this for a couple hours, but Kisame was eager to continue. Why not leave it up to his training partner?

"Anytime you want to stop or get bored, just say so!"

In the meantime, he prepared for another volley, in case Sephiroth was looking to continue.

[silverterror]

He flipped backward and looked... thoughtful. "Another attack or two and that will be enough. I actually happen to like this coat."

[noboatbigenough]

"The downsides of getting attached to clothing!"

Kisame wasn't going to hold back just because Sephiroth liked the coat however, and started by firing a more powerful blade than he had been, on the move. Clones popped up and dissolved back into the puddles littering the field to do the same as Kisame used shunshin to fire off two more, one from above, and one from low and angled up. He tried to anticipate the movements of his target, and make dodging all but impossible. With Sephiroth's speed, it was going to be especially difficult, but he'd be satisfied to land another small hit to cloth or flesh.

[silverterror]

Even for his commentary of the clothes, he didn't seem to care overmuch, moving quickly and putting more effort into avoiding instead of being a more stationary target as before. No, instead he was properly actively dodging, kicking into motion and staying that way, seeing how well the man did with that and leaving less openings to be hit.

[noboatbigenough]

Kisame didn't take a break this time, bounding right into the next round of attacks. It was harder now that Sephiroth was putting real effort into actively dodging, but it was pleasing all the same that he'd brought Sephiroth to that level. There wasn't much time to carefully think and plan, so Kisame relaxed and let the angles speak for themselves. His water clones kept popping up to deliver more blades, some high, some low, and it was an exercise in careful control that he didn't often get. Water clones could be difficult to control in numbers, but Kisame could feel his control getting firmer here too.

[silverterror]

It was sloppier, but also better executed at the same time, he decided, and he kept at it for a few minutes, rolling and running here and there, vanishing from point to point until he finally decided he was done and moved to just behind Kisame. "Done."

He sounded just a touch breathless.

[noboatbigenough]

The water clones all collapsed instantly, and Kisame nodded. "Thank you; that was excellent. If you're hungry, I owe you at least a meal for your help."

Kisame was always hungry after a training session that pushed his limits, and today was no exception.

[silverterror]

He blinked, then inclined his head, clearly more than amenable to accept. "It was no trouble. I often play chase in training sessions. Naoki is my most frequent target for this admittedly."

[noboatbigenough]

"And Naoki-kun has gotten noticeably faster since he started working with you."

Kisame took a towel he'd had ready for the occasion and wiped himself down quickly before packing up what little else he'd brought and started down the street. If Sephiroth was amenable, no point in wasting time.

[silverterror]

"Yes, he was rather slow when I first acquired him. It was something I simply couldn't accept remaining as it was." He trailed after him, quickly coming to his side as the man set out.

[noboatbigenough]

"I'm impressed with his improvement. He'll probably be ready for jounin soon enough."

His favorite eatery had gotten in some fine looking marlin and was advertising the meat today, and Kisame meant to sample it. Maybe with their crab stuffing. They had a varied enough menu that Kisame was sure Sephiroth would find something he enjoyed so Kisame didn't bother asking as he walked.