A Wave of God's Hand [P=That Guy]

[Guyviroth]

The day wasn't as humid as it was the previous, which was all good within the land of fire; it meant that there wasn't going to be any rain or fog for some time, at least for a few days. Helios didn't much enjoy the rain; it made him feel too anxious and lazy. The crystaline blue of the skyborn sheet coupled with the gentle breeze that carried not only the leaves and bramble below, but the clouds and birds that drift upon the winds of heaven itself. The flow of passing by winds caressed caringly upon the cheek of the young swordsman, flicking at the ends of his hair that sent a cooing, comforting feeling down his body. For once in a long time, Helios smiled.

The young boy could scarcely remember the last time he had wondered outside of the village gates, but he did recall having someone with him. He pondered for a moment before looking down the wide dirt path; he remembered walking it for a time before turning off into a distant clearing. Ah, that's right; he was sent on a mission to help collect medical supplies for the hospital, but for the life of him he couldn't remember what he had learned. It had something to do with how certain flowers had certain medicinal qualities, but it was so long ago the knowledge seeped through his mind and into thin air.

"I wonder what it would be like to see other villages," Helios muttered to himself. He didn't know why he spoke aloud as though he was waiting for someone to reply to his whim. "It seems as though I'm just a small piece on a much grander board." Helios took a few steps forwards towards the flanking edges of trees, before leaning his side against one of them and looking up at the sky. He couldn't see much of it, and could see the majority of the canopies of the trees blocking his sight, only catching a small, thin tear within them that revealed the bright blue yonder.

[That Guy]

Amon walked the road behind the helios with his Katana sheathed as he set out on his way to leave Konohagakure at last. He had come to train and learn a few new techniques the village had to offer and now that he had done that and so much more in service to the village during his stay it was time to go. The place was beginning to feel like home and the swordsman would not claim any other home apart from his own in Tetsu no Kuni. If he became too attached to Konohagakure he could grow complacent in his own training and his own journey to get stronger and join the ranks of the samurai.

He soon began to close in on the boy who had brought him to the village to begin with and approached closer still a smile growing slowly on his lips. He overheard his words and decided it was a fine occasion to chime in as he folded his arms across his chest drawing within ten meters of the boy. He then came to a stop and spoke in a deep dark tone as he prepared to bid farewell to his young friend.

"Daydreaming about adventures to strange foreign lands Helios? As well you should, you can't live your whole life in service to this village without at least seeing the other villages and knowing a bit about the world outside. I'll tell you this though, you're not so small a piece on the board as you think. Rather your're simply at one of the board, and you still have a long way to go yet but when you get to the other side you'll know your own potential."

[Guyviroth]

The day of complacency started some time ago when Helios had suffered pain from one of his earlier missions, but he began to think that he couldn't let something like strained muscles and joint pain get in the way of achieving his goal; to become as strong as he possibly could. He wondered that, if he remained in a single village, in a single spot, and learned of its ways and its ways only, would he possibly achieve his utmost potential? He really could not just sit back and watch the world fly by past him; the week he was off his missions and training was time enough, too long for him. He had to work double time, and double hard.

Helios could sense someone was approaching him from the rear, out of the gate itself. He heard its heavy footsteps, the rustle of its clothes in the gentle wind. Was it a Jounin coming to warn him, or even reprimand him on his venture into the unknown? Perhaps it was the Hokage, but he couldn't fathom to what the Hokage could want. He hadn't met the Kage often, except on that one time, the fiasco with the cult. Helios couldn't venture onwards at the time; as much as he didn't want to admit, as much as he hated to face the truth... he was scared. He was scared of death, of not being prepared, and for displaying his weaknesses to not only his Kage, but to his guest to the village. That was the reason he did not venture on. It was the reason he punished himself, day in and day out, by doing such life-threatening training and such dire actions.

"Daydreaming about adventures to strange foreign lands, Helios?"

It was a voice he hadn't heard in such a long time... too long a time. Helios didn't want to turn to face his guest; his face was torn within a maelstrom of self-hate, disappointment, and desperation. Helios turned his head slightly, but not so Amon could see his face, but enough to give indication that he recognized he was there, and the words that he spoke. Perhaps what he said was right. Would he really understand everything being in servitude to one village? Would he really understand his own potential if he remained here? Perhaps it was time he really did venture outwards, upon his own two feet, to see the world through his eyes and not through the words of others.

"It's good to hear from you again, Amon," Helios did reply after a small, brief moment of contemplation, taking in what he had heard from his... friend? Companion? Partner? Helios couldn't think of exactly who he was to him. Whatever he was to him, it was something good, that could benefit both of them. "Care to walk with me? Help me ease the stress..." Helios pushed himself from the tree, and proceded down the path of dirt, wherever it lead him to.

[That Guy]

"Just as well, I'm on my way out of the country so perhaps you'd care to join me on a walk to the border then? I can end my trip to this country on the horse I rode in on in a sense since you were the first person I met in the country and brought me to Konohagakure for what has been one eventful stay."

Amon joined his fellow swordsman walking beside him down the dirt path with long loping strides and a rolling a spliff as he went. As the two made their way along the road Amon's afro rustled gently in the air above him and after having rolled his hand rolled cigarette his left hand fellt to the bottom of the hilt of his sword to rest. His right hand placed the cigarette to his lips before striking a match and lighting the cigarette before he inhaled and expelled his noxious tobacco smoke up into the air above their heads. He looked at Helios with a smile and thinking about how they had first met. Helios had been a friendly outgoing swordsman who had offered Amon a home during his travels. He owed him a great deal for that as he had gotten the samurai's foot in the door.

"I'm glad I got to see you before I left Helios, I need to thank you for being a good friend and guide to me. If there's anything I can do to help repay you for everything you've done for me now would be the time to ask."

He turned as they walked crooking an eyebrow at the boy with a quizzical expectant look. He wasn't sure what he could offer the boy but he was willing and expecting to repay him somehow. All the boy had to do was ask and if it was something Amon could achieve, it would be done. After all Amon wasn't sure if he would ever see the boy again although he sincerely hoped he would.

[Guyviroth]

It was a wonder what Helios was feeling at the moment. Was it happiness that he had found another person to whom he could connect with, not through words or actions, but through spirit? Was it hospitality towards another human being, both to give and to recieve? Or was it the simple fact that he had met another person to whom he could relate to through principle and meaning? The feelings were alien to Helios to which he didn't know how to respond. Would he of offered his welcome to what he believed was a good chapter in Amon's travels? Would he of offered his hospitality further by offering his home to him as though he was a prt of the family? He didn't know what to say in such a brief moment of reprise, instead opting to smile.

The walk seemed like a stroll rather than an escort to which Helios first had at the mind. He was beginning to feel somewhat... upset. Upset that he would soon part ways with his new friend. Upset that he wouldn't be able to share his spirit with his. Most of all, upset that, perhaps, they would never meet again, or if they did, would be on the field of strife and war. Helios reached into his pouch for two items; a rolled up cigarette, and an oil lighter. Placing the butt of the cig to his lips, he flipped the lighter as it struck the flint, causing a cause of oil-fed flame to spout an inch from its faucet. Breathing in, the cigarette began to smolder at the end, emitting a dark blue trail of smoke, before Helios exhaled a grey cloud from his mouth. He began taking up smoking as a means to ease the pain of his body, but got so addicted to it that it just became second nature to him, to ease both his body and his mind.

The young shinobi looked at his samurai friend for a brief moment, watching as he puffed away on his funny grass. Before Helios could turn away though, his eyes caught Amon's, the both of them looking towards one another. Amon smiled, and in positive reaction, Helios smiled back. He remembered meeting the guy at Ichiraku Ramen, where he held such a cautious approach to him. Even now Helios could understand why he did so; the guy was powerful. He had to be too, if he wanted to cruise around the lands as he did so. Helios wanted to do that as well, at some point during his training, he wanted to go and tour the lands, exploring, fighting, making his name known.

I'm glad I got to see you before I left Helios, I need to thank you for being a good friend and guide to me."

Helios stared at Amon intently. It was the first time he had ever heard anyone say that before. He didn't know how to react to it, much less respond to it. But, now he finally understood what he was looking for; purpose. Helios just needed a purpose for existing. He had realised that he had indeed become some sort of asset to the samurai, even in such a small and insignificant way. Perhaps the more people he met, the greater his purpose would become, or at least become much clearer.

"If there's anything I can do to help repay you for everything you've done for me now would be the time to ask."

Helios took another drag of his cig, the paper turned to cinders and smoldered as he did. A puff of smoke came from his lips as he breathed outwards and upwards away from Amon's face. "I'm not sure what I could ask for," Helios began. It was true; he only thought about getting stronger, and releasing his potential, but no mortal man could garter to such a request. Helios thought for a moment longer, before realising what he could want. "Perhaps someday in the future, you could take me to where you live, this "Tetsu No Kuni". You said I should start travelling the lands, so I guess your land would be the best place to start."

[That Guy]

The boy had spirit and he had promise that much Amon already knew, but he was also humble even in his request for anything Amon could offer. Surely the boy could come to his home in Tetsu no Kuni at any time when he returned but for now simply not giving him a reward would not suffice. In fact the swordsman could perhaps give him a gift that could better save him now even in his career as a ninja at home. But first he would have to evaluate Helios more than he had had the chance to thus far.

He came to a stop in the road looking Helios up and down with tired serious eyes, he was an able bodies ninja and in truth not much younger than Amon himself. He had the build and natural stance of a swordsman in the way he carried himself but there was more to the art of Kenjutsu than just learning to swing the sword. Every swordsman had a unique style and signature way of wielding their blade and Amon had never witnessed Helios' kenjutsu first hand. Perhaps the time had come, and maybe if the boy was ready, just maybe Amon could pass on some knowledge and experience to the young swordsman.

He took a deep drag on on his cigarette before expelling two thick plumes of smoke from the nostrils of his nose, the smoke swirled around his chest before dispersing as it rose up slowly. Reach up Amon took the cigarette from his lips giving it a gentle flick to discard the ashy pillar that had burned through thoroughly during his act and ran his tongue of his teeth thoughtfully. He soon would draw his katana from it's sheath slowly outward in his left hand and hold it before him loosely in a relaxed and comfortable position as he held the cigarette still in his spare hand. Tilting his head downward in a serious manner that shadowed his facial features he began to mumble in a dark voice.

"You are welcome at my house any time friend, but I can't bring you with me now. But I find myself driven to know what exactly you can do with that pretty straight sword of yours and I'm not leaving until I find out. Draw your blade Helios and prepare yourself, I'll be coming after you as soon as you're ready..."

While Amon waited he once again lifted the cigarette to his lips inhaling slowly and relishing the thick smoke. The dim glow of the ember lit his facial feature up in a warm red light that revealed the intensity in his eyes. He was passionate about his kenjutsu and more than that he was eager to see what Helios was capable of. This was going to be an interesting fight, he only hoped Helios drew his katana soon though before he made good on his word to strike.

[Guyviroth]

It was any wonder why Helios decided to walk with the man. I guess he needed someone to talk to after being on his lonesome self for a while, but it was more than that. Exponentially more. He needed someone to gauge himself upon, someone who he could measure up to, to compare his strength with them. He guessed that if he had someone to rival with, someone to keep up with, it would motivate him more than it would do if he didn't have someone, and it was true; just being near the guy made him want to push his body to the limits of death. Still, it was fairly obvious he couldn't do that just yet; he had a guest to see out from his home land.

As Amon stopped, Helios took two steps forwards before realising that his friend had come to a complete halt and not just slowing down. He turned to face the swordsman, noticing that he was glaring at him with droopy but adamant eyes, as though he was waiting for something, or at least, waiting for Helios to do something. It was a scary look to be sure; he didn't know whether he was going to reprimand him for something, or even to strike at him for one vague, unrecognized reason or so. It was an alien atmosphere that Helios was feeling at the moment; he didn't know what was going to happen to him, but he was ready to lash out, knowing full well it wasn't something he would live through.

Nonetheless, Helios placed his gripped, left hand upon his scabbard, the cold of the steel soothing within his palm, but still kept his right hand free, before using it to grab at his cigarette to remove it from his pale lips. He blew out a cloud of thickened grey smoke, hiding his inner turmoil behind a face of absolute complacency. As Amon flicked his cigarette away, Helios did the same, making sure it would smolder away on the dirt and not upon the grass to avoid unnecessary fires. It was definitely going to be some sort of fight, but as Amon drew his katana from within his scabbard, Helios maintained his grip on the handle of his chokuto, still sheathed; the majority of his training and skills made quick use of his Iaijutsu principles, striking and then resheathign the blade within quick succession. But he couldn't help but watch Amon's face as he looked down, before speaking.

"Draw your blade Helios and prepare yourself, I'll be coming after you as soon as you're ready..."

Helios didn't know how one could test their skills with actual swords without risk of killing the other, but perhaps that's what Helios needed to learn; survival and control. The young boy smirked, as quickly, with a powerful Diagonal Cut from the sheath, he would strike up at Amon, travelling from left to right, across the upper chest and face, to the far right, before sheathing. However, his attack wasn't aiming to cut the skin upon his friend's body, but instead to cleave in two the cigarette that sat upon his lips.

[That Guy]

Kenjutsu was both an extension of the wrist as well as and extension of the inner self in a highly complex fashion. Every motion and movement could be read and deciphered to reveal the true essence of the artist that held the blade. Amon had practiced the art his whole life and he was far from a master but he had learned a little bit about reading into one's self acquired style. As he saw the blade swing it was swung without true intent to strike him in a serious way, so he pivoted on his left heel sideways to avoid the blade completely with his body. The blade lashed across his cigarette that he hadn't been paying attention too at the time and the ember now flew freely off onto the dirt road.

The corners of Amon's smile slowly twisted down into a serious frown as his stare bore into Helios. He had been enjoying that cigarette, and now that Helios had drawn his blade Amon was about to strike back for his fallen spliff. His rebuttal would be in one fluid and fast motion as he swung his katana upwards bottom right towards top left turning to face his opponent as he did so. The cut was far too shallow to do more than scratch Helios but it was a sleight of hand trick as the blade did not come to a stop and instead with a quick snap of his wrist and twirl of the katana's hilt he brought his arm down to the bottom left and again struck in a diagonal cut this time from bottom left to top right. Amon would step into the second slash attempting to drive the attack forward and drive Helios back. Together the two attacks made an "X" design across the opponents abdomen.

Helios had swung and struck with an aggressive stance and his blade was not rigid and sturdy as a defensive swordsman, but rather swung with fluid power and smooth arc. He was like Amon in that they were both offensive swordsman most likely with free form stances and styles uninhibited by the practices of the defensive regiments. Amon was also able to tell from the way he swung his blade that he was trying to prove something, perhaps to amon or perhaps to himself. Either way the boy had struck out against his cigarette which was a fine deadly accurate strike he had to intentionally strive for. He had avoided a lethal blow which also told Amon he was having some trouble finding the nerve to truly cut loose. When Amon had driven forward he was trying to break Helios' grounding and footing. If the boy had grounding and footing he had the ability to stand his grown at the least, but if the footing becomes sloppy and one becomes driven back that's when many swordsman take insult.

With this aggressive offensive it was Amon's hope that he would frustrate the boy driving him back and taking away much of what he relied on to fight back capably. If he could frustrate Helios' enough to get him to strike out with meaningful attacks with real emotion and desire to kill then he could have a better understanding of where Helios was as a swordsman. A private class between what Amon felt would become his dearest rival, this fight was weighed down with meaning and importance. It could be felt in the air all around, even if it was a small minor spar these two would be destined to cross blades again and again.

SPOILER: Click to show

Nibaigiri (Double Cut)
Rank: C-C [100]
Type: Offensive / Taijutsu / Kenjutsu
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Stamina: Mid
Special: Damage is calculated per strike. Can be used once per thread, plus one more each time retrained.
Description: Commencing from a kneeling position, the practitioner rises and draws, making a rising strike on the draw and a dropping strike as he sheathes. The movement is flashy and hard to trace, leaving unguarded opponent's in trouble.
Domain: Kenjutsu. Battojutsu 'C'.

[Guyviroth]

Helios aimed for the cigarette for a few reasons. The first was simply to see how Amon would reacted; he needed Amon to reveal his serious nature as a swordsman, as Helios would have it no other way; he showed that he was indeed ready and prepared for what Amon had in store for the young shinobi. The second reason was to show Amon that, even if he was not as strong or trained as him, he displayed his art of accuracy and precision, and displaying that if Amon had a weak point, Helios would exploit it to its fullest. The final reason, the absolute reason, was to show that Helios was prepared to strike at him with the fullest extent of his power; the cigarette was just a warning, a demonstration, of his resolve.

However, Helios was not to be expecting such a rapid series of strikes so soon. Regardless, Helios measured his own self before getting into the fight. Quickly he saw the first coming attach, but knew that a swordsman of Amon's capability would be able to flow, and chain his strikes together, whereas Helios was more a case of one strike with lethal precision. The first cut, from bottom right to top left, Helios was able to unsheath his blade and to knock it slightly of course, causing it instead to cut across his upper arm, the cut insubstantial to cause him to loosen his grip upon his blade. The second cut, however, Helios withdrew the scabbard of his chokuto, its steel density, blocking and deflecting the second swipe to one side.

Helios would show what kind of swordsman he was now. He wasn't one who was overly aggressive; he was quick, agile, attacking from whatever spots his could find that were blind spots, or otherwise hard to dodge. As Amon's arm vered off to the right, Helios quickly placed one foot behind him, helf his sword in a reverse grip, and spun a one-eighty turn, facing in the same direction as his opponent. Quickly, he plunged the sword past his side, and aiming to thrust into the side of Amon; the strike would not be fata, of course, but he aimed for it to be a substantial wound that would hinder or otherwise slow down his opponent. The strike would pierce just above the second row of abdominal muscles, but away from any internal organs, aiming only to picture the side of the ribcage from the front.

It was painful to do such a thing to someone he had called "friend" only some days ago. It was true, that in Helios' mind, he wanted to show that he was a competent fighter. But, he wished he could of proved it by fighting someone else, someone in which he had no qualms killing. He was ready to attack with full force, yes, but not in lethality. he had to wait. He had to wait until Amon displayed a desire to come at Helios with the intention of killing him, before Helios could do the exact same.

SPOILER: Click to show

Ushiro Zuki (Rear Thrust)
Rank: D-D-D
Type: Offensive / Taijutsu / Kenjutsu
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Stamina: Low
Special: Each time retrained, 'D' ranked damage is stacked.
Description: Commencing from a kneeling position, the practitioner quickly turns and draws to thrust the rear as a simple attack then sheathes. As long as the user is aware of the target behind them, a quick unexpected offensive strike like this usually yields success.
Domain: Kenjutsu. Battojutsu 'D'.

[That Guy]

Helios blocked the second cut with the use of his scabbard skillfully diverting the blade and it's force off course and away from his body. Amon was impressed at the boy's resourcefulness that he used in only just a moments notice even more impressed that he had done it without sacrificing his footing. Helios had made a stagnant stand and defense against Amon's rapid flow and stood his ground resolutely, among kenjutsu users after two attacks had been exchanged it was common for the fight to be over already but again Helios proved his potential.

Suddenly the shinobi made a strange pivot motion turning his back to Amon who was about to bring his blade back down when he saw the subtle arm motion that almost looked like sheathing a blade. But Amon had seen this technique before, as he had used the attack himself and was able to anticipate it. Quickly leaping up into the air with a small burst of chakra in his legs he manage to spread his legs apart almost perform a full spits as he used his spare hand to vault over Helios and spin in the air so that when he landed on the earth he would be facing his opponent again.

In the instant he landed on the ground Amon took off forward again maintaining the offensive flow that he was becoming more and more renown for. As he charged he made a wide horizontal sweep of his blade and slight turn in his travel in his path so that rather than directly charge Helios head on he would be running just to the side of him and past him as his blade also swung powerfully just below the boys shoulders. Perhaps the boy would dodge or perhaps he would be able to parry the strike, but the strike was fleeting and fast meant to try and take advantage of any delay in reaction. An opportunist strike looking for weakness but by diverting his course to run past the swordsman in his attack he also left very little time at all for a counter strike before Amon would already be outside of the swordsman's range.

[Guyviroth]

For some strange reason, Helios was... happy. He was beginning to be comes incredibly pleased with himself, being able to hold his ground with such a swordsman, despite knowing that Amon was definitely not showing his full potential in the fight. Then again, as Helios soon came to realise, it was just a spar, a practice fight, among friends and, in dignity, through a stance of rival. Helios couldn't remember the last time he felt so active, so alive as it were. He remembered meeting with Amon at some point, thinking that they were both within the same scope of power, but it was obvious that this man was more attuned with the way of the swrodsman than Helios was. regardless, the shinobi couldn't just keep comparing himself to others. He had to compare himself to himself, to what he once was, to what he is now, and to what he will soon become.

Helios knew that the rear thrust couldn't be trusted upon, especially considering he was facing another swordsman, who probably already knows the attack like the back of his hand, or rather his scabbard. It was a considerable movement the swordsman managed to pull off, vaulting over Helios with such height and distance, it was obvious he used chakra manipulation to do such a thing. Helios began to wonder if he could as well, but he couldn't theorize and test something in the midst of combat; he had to stick with what he knew and what he knew best.

Helios maintained his vigil. As Amon vaulted, he quickly sheathed the sword back into the scabbard. he didn't think Amon would be so agile himself, his quick turn and charge made Helios hesitate on his next attack, but he knew what he wanted to do. Helios waited for Amon to charged, but as Amon changed his direction, his sword swung high, just above the shoulders of the young shinobi. However, that's the only amount of height Helios needed to maintain a course of defense and to counter strike. As the sword got closer, the shinobi, with such relxibility, arched backwards, bending his knees to lower his height, as the sword swung just over his face, the sleeve of Amon's robe brushed over his nose as he quickly spun low to the ground, kneeling down, but noticed that he wouldn't strike as his opponent dashed past him out of range, but only by a meter or so. Helios stepped forwards before redrawing his sword, going for a powerful Diagonal Slash.

SPOILER: Click to show

Kesagiri (Diagonal Cut)
Rank: D-D-D-D-D-D-D
Type: Offensive / Taijutsu / Kenjutsu
Range: 0 - 5 meters
Stamina: Low
Special: Each time retrained, 'D' ranked damage is stacked.
Description: Commencing from a standing position, the practitioner draws and strikes an approaching attacker then sheathes. As they invest more time and practice into the art of offensive sheathing, their overall offensive rating shall increase.
Domain: Kenjutsu. Battojutsu 'D'.

[That Guy]

Amon spun on his heel sinking low and in a flash drew his steel and and thrust forwards with accuracy and poise. The trust diverted the strike just barely too far too soon to the side narrowly missing Amon's face. While Amon's thrust had been been accurate the momentum of the blade had knocked his blade a few inches to the side as well so that his katana was piercing the air just above Helios's shoulder and to the side of his head. A grin crept on his face as the swordsman leaped back gaining distance and calling to his companion in a hearty voice.

"Good. Very good, I think you're still holding back as am I but you have the will to kill within you even if you're not tapping into it fully against me. As I'm sure you know, Kenjutsu users have to be very wary of our attacks as they carve a thin line between life and death. Your precision itself is strong which matches the blade you carry very well, but someday you may come across an opponent who's able to avoid our abilities to carve death. Sometimes they will fight at a range, sometimes they may experts of defensive techniques, but more often than not I think you'll just come across a simple matter of too many men to carve through precisely in the time allotted."

Takumi paused re-sheathing his katana and striking a match to light another cigarette he had rolled before hand and hidden in his baggy sleeves. He inhaled deeply before pursing his lips and with a careful cadence of very short exhales and a skilled tongue jettisoning small circles that floated outwards all in a row growing steadily and lazily in the air where they hovered. He quickly took another short drag from the cigarette this time widening his mouth and parting his lips evenly across in a straight serious line before with a stronger huff he exhaled again. This time the short smoke stream looked like an edge that shot forward through the air slicing through all the previous circles in a line and cutting them in half before dispersing itself at the end of the short distance. He smirked at his own display as he had been skeptical he would be able to keep the rings together as long as he did but he had gotten lucky with his showmanship.

"There's an advanced attack technique of kenjutsu that only masters are able to wield. It takes a lot of discipline, strength, and even finesse to execute but more important than those it requires you to be intimately familiar with your blade. If you'd like I can teach you this technique and you can make incorporate it into your own style and make it your own. But, I must warn you this technique should not be used unless your will to kill is absolute. There are very few who can defend against this attack, and those that can't have an extremely high mortality rate. Just like the circles I blew earlier, it is highly likely they will be cleaved neatly in two."

Amon took a long deep drag on his cigarette eyeing Helios up and down as one of the corners of his mouth twisted even higher thinking about Helios and his progress as a swordsman. If the boy could master this technique he would be on a pedestal raised higher than most kenjutsu users were able to achieve. The technique was an arduous thing to learn though and it was more than simple practice and repetition. There were trials and almost a relationship that needed to be developed with whatever sword the wielder used. It had been difficult for Amon to learn, but he hadn't had anyone aid in learning it. With him here for support and instruction Helios stood a much greater chance of actually attaining this power that was the ethereal slash. As he spoke and exhaled he folded his arms across his chest cocking his head to the left slightly.

"So... what's it gonna be?"

[Guyviroth]

It wasn't certain to the young shinobi what his attack would connect; of course not, he was just sparring after all, although he was pleased that the little progress he made whilst conducting this practice was, indeed, progress. As his sword came from the bottom left to the top right, Amon's sword pierced through the sky and struck true to the edge of Helios' blade, knocking his chokuto off course further to the right than he had anticipated. But what struck Helios the most was how close the tip of Amon's blade was from the ridge of his nose and, by extension, the rest of his head. Helios could see it clearly, the wave-like groove of the katana down the side, where the flat edge formed a rectangle-like shape, until the metal curved inwards on both sides to create a sharpened edge. It was the first time Helios has had his eyes so close upon such a blade besides his own.

However, instead of maintaining such momentum as he had displayed earlier, Amon seemed to go back on the defensive. The samurai leaped backwards to regain distance, although Helios noticed a smirk on his face. As though through second nature, Helios had to return it, even though he began to think that his opponent was setting up for some sort of attack. Quickly, Helios retracted his arm back to the center of his body, before quickly sheathing his blade, ready to defend himself against any such attack that Amon was ready to release. But, the young swordsman couldn't help but wonder what sort of attack a kenjutsu user would use against his opponent at medium range.

His opponent spoke. It seemed that the time of sparring had come to an end, although from what little time Helios spent conducting such a vicious exercise he realized that he had learned so much; style, speed, control, damage, aggression, but most of all real life experience in a life-threatening fight that would surely help him. Amon's words were ringing true to the swordsman's ears, Helios was indeed holding back despite having the intention of killing should he of needed to. The man's words began to linger in Helios' mind, and it began to work into overdrive in thinking of scenarios he would more than likely find himself in, and then trying to imitate each scenario in his mind while deducing ways to counter; A person who utilized range would require a gap closer; a person who used defense would need a strong force to break through; a time when there would be many opponents he would need to learn to strike out in multiple attacks, or to increase his speed.

Just after Amon began to light up another cigarette, Helios did the same. The young swordsman reached into his pocket, taking out one of two cigarettes left and placed it between pursed lips. Flicking up the cover of his lighter, it sparked the flint that would quickly turn to a small blue and orange flame. A single drag of the cig turned the tip to smoldered ash as the flame ignited the tobacco on the end, with Helios soon puffing a thick cloud of smoke in a single exhale. The shinobi was quite impressed that his friend was able to release shapes with his smoke, although what he began to describe next was better.

A technique that only masters of kenjutsu was able to wield. It wasn't something that Helios thought he would be absolutely ready for, although he couldn't help but feel excited that he would be chosen to learn such an attack. He couldn't help be begin to ponder, was he really ready for such a thing? Could he handle utilizing such an attack? Regardless, it was something that Helios wanted... no, he needed, to learn this technique before the chance could pass him by. For an attack that few could defend against, and with an extremely high mortality rate, how could he not want to?

For all that Helios had heard from Amon, he smiled. It was a nice change of pace being praised, as though he was being ushered in as the next kenjutsu master. The boy look up at Amon, his eyes locked onto his, before taking another drag of his cigarette and contemplating on what was revealed to him.

"Sure. I'm game."

[That Guy]

Amon clapped his hands together rubbing them eagerly as his smile grew wider while looking at Helios. His eyes darted around the scene looking for some method of way to teach the shinobi the technique and inevitably his eyes fell upon a tree only a few feet to the side of Helios. His hand fell to the hilt of his sword as he closed his eyes inhaling so slowly from the cigarette that the ember almost appeared to not be moving, he focused on the familliar wrappings of the hilt in his hand. Every stitching in the hilt told him exactly where his hand was and every from there he could imagine with perfect clarity every detail of the blade from where he stood. He pictured himself practicing swings with the blade with the way his grip was upon the sword with rapid flashes, thrusts, and parries all the techniques he could use with the sword he knew perfectly well by now with intricate detail.

From the hilt he could tell many things and almost feel through the sword itself, he the blade gently leaning against the hard protective sheath it rested up as well as the cold silence that was within. Everything about his blade, from it's strengths to it's weaknesses such as dings and and scratches on the metal from combat were seen and felt by Amon as his grip upon the katana tightened. He slowly drew the blade out of the sheathe as he did so knowing full well how much was still in and out of the sheathe as he felt the warm sunlight's caress upon the metal of the blade as if it were his own skin. And then he swung.

A straight down vertical slash towards the tree only eight meters away but in that one swing Amon did what he had trained himself to do and what many kenjutsu wielders only dreamed of doing. It was like a super sixth sense as time seemed to slow as he swung the blade, his blade fell slowly and he could hear the wing rush past as though he himself were flying through the air. He could even see the air itself and felt it dividing before him cleanly in two like all other things this blade had come across. The very edge of the sword, the divider and ender of many things it was the true key to this attack and Amon focused hard upon every sensation it brought him until he could feel the very edge of the blade in it's entirety as a separate entity of the sword itself and even as he realized this he threw it. Just as the swordsman can cast and throw his own sword in times of desperation the sword itself can hurl the very edge of the cut or slash forwards. The edge cleaved through the air neatly and without a physical substance making it nearly invisible to the naked eye save for a tiny ripple in shot forwards and carried through the air itself. As the edge came to the tree it cleaved through it cleanly splitting it's trunk down the middle as the two half leaned away from each other slowly.

The ethereal slash. Becoming so attuned to the blade that every one of it's physical characteristics became part of the user and every attack could be controlled through greater focus and discipline. Even throwing the property of the cut from it's physical form became an attainable ideal, but the training itself would be strenuous. The stamina drain itself became strenuous from simply using it, as Amon exhaled smoke before breathing heavily as though he were running ragged. He looked back to Helios examining him one more time... he hoped he was ready for this kind of training.

[Guyviroth]

The young shinobi was rather eager to learn this new technique; perhaps rather too much so that he felt that he was becoming anxious, too anxious to attain the focus to utilise such a technique. Although he was surely very ecstatic now, he was certain that after Amon has demonstrated how the technique actually works he could attain a much better sense of neutrality. In any case, Helios watched his friend as a grin plastered itself upon the canvas that was his face, watching his eyes dart around before locking on fixating to a nearby tree.

Helios couldn’t shift his eyes to anything else other than Amon; his body stood rigid, his hand gripped forcefully upon the handle of his sword, and his mind calm and composed. Helios could only begin to stare in wonder as to what was going through this man’s mind, although for a brief moment he suddenly realised exactly what was going on through his mind; nothing. His mind was completely clear, devoid of outside interference and only meditating on himself and his blade as though they were one in the same.

Then that glorious moment came when a student watched their teacher perform a feat of strength to which the boy could not fathom accomplishing himself. Amon drew his sword from it’s sheathe gently and, with a strong arm yet with a gentle stroke, the blade came down. It was that moment that Helios could see it vaguely but he saw it; the slight ripple of the air around the blade but, as the sword came down to a vertical chop, it vanished in a flash. The only mention of the wave that was left behind was a thin string of cut dirt along the ground, and an even greater cleave upon the tree Amon was facing. The entirely of its trunk was split in two down the middle, with the sides splitting away slowly as though it was some sort of parting of the seas.

Helios tried to remember the words of his mentor; “this should not be attempted unless your will to kill is absolute”. It was awkward to listen to; although Helios did have a complete will to kill those who would oppose him in the same intent, he couldn’t help but think that that was just some form of flavour subtext. Regardless, he knew that he had to put his entire mind and his entire body is a perpetual state of focus if he was going to learn of an attack that required considerable control.

The boy took another drag of the cigarette that was pressed between pale lips, inhaling its relieving properties before exhaling heavily a thick cloud of grey tobacco smoke. He had noticed that Amon’s breathing was becoming considerably more strained although he couldn’t tell if that was the smoking getting to his lungs or if the attack drained a severe amount of energy from him. Regardless, the boy smirked at his teacher in a vote of confidence; not solely upon his own abilities to learn this technique but also in confidence that his friend was going to be able to coach him all the way.

”Well… that was definitely some attack,” Helios praised the attack with the utmost of respect; he wasn’t expecting such an attack of that calibre but, as he looked towards the tree and the execution of such a move, he could begin to realise why it was so powerful. The boy sighed heavily as another thin streak of smoke trailed him his mouth and nose to form a long but rather thin cloud. ”And I see it’s left you rather tired. But regardless I am ready to learn with the utmost of my mind, whenever you’re ready, Amon.” The boy placed his hand upon the handle of his blade, turning much like Amon had done prior, facing a tree around eight meters away and awaiting further instruction.