Jounin Selection, the Tower of Trials.

[Hotaru]

With Akuharu preoccupied with the other contenders, Hotaru's actions went unopposed. Though he had defeated both of his opponent's with his doujutsu combination, neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan wouldn't be able to predict what would happen next.

The giant tree was a massive obstruction, and combined with the floorboards, she would be at a disadvantage on the lowest level once the fighting on the top came to an end and whoever was left came after her. To remedy this, she planned to knock the tree to the opposite side (about 10:30) while simultaneously taking out a good portion of the floorboards in order to give her a clearer field of vision.

Her fist balled as she gathered chakra, and the short distance between her and the tree was closed in an instant. With unparalleled control, Hotaru struck the tree with a powerful uppercut style punch, using the precise power and hitting at an angle that would send the tree flying across the tower while it maintained it's vertical alignment.

Akuharu, who had just began his descent on the opposite side of the tree (and more than 50 meters higher than his opponent) would be too far from Hotaru for his doujutsu to aid him in receiving any warning. After all, she was out of the Byakugan's range and the Sharingan was not and could not directly track her movements. The power of the strike combined with the unexpected movement of the tree would serendipitously catch the Uchiha off guard in a rare moment of 'blindness'. The massive force propelling the tree would be more than enough to likely trip her opponent (who was running down the trunk) , the momentum sticking him to the tree as it flew quickly to the side of the tower.

Powerful G Forces fought to hold Akuharu pinned in place before the trunk would crash violently into the concrete wall, hopefully smashing the Uchiha into the side of the tower along with the ancient tree. As the tree flew, at least 25% of the floorboards on both levels would crumble away as the trunk tore through them(between 9oclock and 12), though their presence would do nothing to slow the massive projectile on the way to the wall.

Jumping up onto the stump, she examined the aftermath of her attack and kept her eyes peeled for any sign of one of her other competitors.

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• Secondary Weapons

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• Shuriken x 15 [3/6]
  
• Exploding Tag x 10 [4/6]
  
• Kunai x 2 [5/6]

[/li][li]Items[/u]

• Tracker x1

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Tier One – Intuitive Chakra Control: Dedicating their lives to the medical arts, the user has refined the method of chakra control. Because of this, the cost of all chakra related techniques (Souin included) have been reduced by a single tier. This also grants the user the ability to access the Souin tier 1 mastery.
Tier Two – Herculean Might : With refined chakra precision comes a greater force from it’s release. From this, the user has effectively learned to double the damage from all Souin based attacks. This “stacked damage” cannot exceed SS.

Oukashou (Cherry Blossom Collision)
Rank: D, C B, ,--> [ S ]
Type: Offensive / Medical Nintaijutsu / Souin
Range: -
Handseals: -
Chakra/Stamina: A - High → Mid
Special: Can destroy barriers equal or lower to the highest rank known.
Description: Basic yet lethal, an immense amount of chakra is kneaded inside the body, and a moment later all of it it is gathered into the fist. That chakra is then released into the target, which does a great amount of damage. With the damage done dependent on the amount of chakra used, it is also possible for a skilled shinobi to amass it in their fingertip. When the ground is hit it is pulverized into minute pieces by the excess shock, which are then scattered like flower petals, giving rise to the name "Cherry Blossom Impact".
Domain: Souin.

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[Shinryu]

And then there was nothing...

Funny, but it seemed that whatever I'd planned, no mater what schemes I'd lain or how intricately I sought to weave a web around this arena, my luck had simply run out. Whoever my opponent was clearly was just on a whole other level apart from me, as despite hearing the hiss of my snakes forming, that was indeed the last thing I heard, and the bubble of red was the last thing I saw, before I felt a sharp blow to my forehead and everything went black. Later, I would discover that apparently the man in question had somehow pierced through my snake and used the hilt of the sword he launched through it to knock me out. I am thankful of that, at least, for no doubt such a sword that could pierce through the scales of my snake would have torn me to shreds in an instant.

Regardless, I fell, and I assume Oshe did, too, for I woke up some time later, on the ground outside of the arena, being tended to by an Iryou-Nin, with Oshe not far from me. Who had prevailed of the remaining two? Well, I couldn't tell just then.

"You're lucky we got you out of there when we did, y'know." Said the orderly, at least if I recall it correctly, (the whole scene is still a bit fuzzy, as that hit to the noggan kind of muddled things up a bit) as she fussed over the small wound on my forehead made by the hilt of the sword (It left a scar, but thankfully my bangs cover it.)

"If we hadn't dropped down and retrieved you two when we did, you'd almost certainly have had that tree fall on you. Bad business that. Don't know what that girl was thinking..."

I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude then for whoever had rescued me, although I hated the idea of needing to be saved. It appeared that apparently I still had a long way to go before I was ready to be a jounin; at least, if I wanted to be a jounin of that calibre.

STATUS: ELIMINATED FROM COMPETITION.

[Naitome]

特性 ██████████

^{''You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.''}

The same lack of vision that prevents me from seeing my opponent, also prevents her from seeing (or accurately planning/knowing exactly when to hit the tree to 'catch') me, as our last posts occur simultaneously, and not with yours coming after/solely towards the end of mine the brief actions of gathering energy before approaching and assaulting the tree have occurred quite fast indeed. In fact, the tree has begun its movement towards the wall before I've even made it to the opposite side, and I am still on the platform without even the foresight to have brought chakra to my feet in order to stick to the vertical surface. My actions, interrupted as they were, cause me to stumble terribly, and the upper platform breaks apart with the impact of slamming into the hard tower walls, as only the residual willpower pulling Nuibari through the air and back towards my hand allows me to grasp its handle. To my horror, I've begun a free-fall, face forwards, in uncomfortably close proximity but also parallel to the tree itself, hands stretched out before me as if to catch myself though I know I cannot.

My grip around Nuibari's handle tightens. My descent quickens caught in gravity's pull and I thrust my sword-hand at a downward angle, attempting to have Nuibari's tip bite into the trunk of the tree and stop my fall. But it doesn't work. Legends of the swords sharpness are true, and it is slowed by the swiftly moving tree only enough for me to not be left careening completely out of control, its tip merely splitting the old wood apart as crash the second platform splinters into dust and the vertical angle of the trees launch, designed to impact the walls, crushes the floorboards easily. Another second, another infinitesimally small increment of time slowed by the flood of information from both eyes as I can see the moments of impact drawn out, and try to avoid the dangers of my descent as best I can. I can do nothing to save the two shinobi who were our other competition. My situation presents a unique problem.

Hotaru will be able to see me once I'm within her visual range. The tree smashed into the side of the tower eliminates any 'opposite side' I would have normally used to prevent this.

With painstaking effort, I forcefully bring my lower body in, knees attempting to move into my chest, pulling at the handle of Nuibari to angle it. The lowered center of gravity causes my face-forward direction to slowly change, my grip pulling Nuibari until it sticks sideways out of the tree, its tip no longer piercing downwards to hasten my fall, and my other hand rises to force the blade deeper into the trunk, before I come to a sudden stop, only 45 meters from the stump where Hotaru stands, surveying the area. I quickly flip my body upwards, feet standing atop the sword, and survey the damage she has caused. Her body is clearly distinguished from the ruin around her in a pattern of multi-colored lights, and we stand at an impasse, my body primed to any movement she might make, the plan already formed within my mind.

Six movements. In six movements I will either win, or lose this exam.

☯

^{Sharingan 3rd Tomoe Activated.
Byakugan Activated.
Total Chakra Used: x7 Mid, x 2 High}

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[Naitome]

Having lost interest after standing atop the blade for so long, Akuharu called out to anyone who might have been observing the exams at all.

Well...they said only two of us would get the promotion. There's two of us left....Are we Jounin now?

[Nujabes]

"On the contrary," a voice rolled out over the crumbling remains of the tree. "The pathetic demonstration we have witnessed will yield only one Jounin."

"Congratulations, Akuharu." The three shinobi that appeared at the end of the statement were all dressed in black, their only contrast being the varying white masks obscuring their faces.

The leader of the trio, clearly Hutora, shifted her gaze down to Hotaru. "As for you, Hotaru, you may or may not receive your promotion based on your performance in the field. We're going to war, ladies and gentlemen. We leave at dawn, tomorrow. You will be briefed when you exit the tower; please, do not be late."