Colosseum - Round 1, Group B - Kakashi Hatake vs Shulk

[Storyteller]

Kakashi Hatake felt indifferent about the giant Kingdom flag or the weapons. His goal was to defeat his opponent, which he knew was well within his capabilities.

In the role of the Deserters, Shulk stood silently as he waited for the signal to commence the fun. Although his expression was neutral, he had to admit that the situation was pretty enjoyable. All these people were here to cheer, and he was certain they'd be cheering for him by the end of things.

Someone gestured for silence, and just like that, there wasn't a sound in the building as Victor von Magnus walked onto the small platform near the center of the massive structure. With a smile, he picked up the padded hammer and smashed it into the gong, signalling the fights to commence.

Judge – Gildarts/Caira

Kakashi posts first, and he may do so anytime after 6 pm CDT/7 PM EDT.

Description of fight area and other information can be found here - <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://omniverse-rpg.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&p=44961#p44950">viewtopic.php?f=28&p=44961#p44950</a><!-- l -->

Please refer any questions to that thread.

Word Limit: 750
Posts: 3
Time Limit: 48 hours
SP use is enabled. SP does not regenerate between rounds. Injuries may occur. Neither injuries nor SP use are factored into judgment, only the quality of writing.

[Kakashi Hatake]

The silver-haired shinobi stood calmly in the dusty arena, the enormous flag at his back. He couldn’t deny how fitting his role was in this act; he had served a ‘kingdom’ in the Land of Fire before most children had learned to tie their shoes. Though truthfully, he didn’t care much which ‘side’ he represented. The Morikage had sent Kakashi to this realm with the order to compete in this tournament. Strictly speaking he was not required to win, though he had every intention to do so.

As the gong sounded he strode forward calmly, hands resting in his trouser pockets. Years of shinobi training had more or less numbed him to any kind of anxiety. “Hey,” the scarecrow called across the arena, “what’s your name?”

His foe, a teenaged boy with unkempt blonde hair, seemed taken aback by the inquiry. “Shulk,” he responded finally, stepping forward from his end of the arena. He hefted an odd-looking metal contraption in his hand.

“Well, Shulk,” the copy ninja replied, his sharingan activating behind his porcelain Anbu mask. “I’m not going to be happy about hurting a child.” He kept his pace as he spoke his lie, ignoring the weapon racks. He had ended the lives of many children in his short lifetime; it made no difference to him.

Shulk chuckled, striding forward confidently. “You ought to be more concerned with a boy beating you. What is the name of the man I’ll be defeating, hm?”

The shinobi smirked, keeping his lazy pace as he approached the faultline that split the arena. “Kakashi,” he answered. He took note of the widget in the boy’s hand; perhaps a sword?

“And do I get to see your face, Kakashi?” the boy responded, spinning his gadget experimentally. His stance told the shinobi that his assumption was likely correct.

“Hadn’t planned on it,” Hatake responded, maintaining his calm tone. The masked shinobi stopped as he neared the trench, his pocketed hands fingering the shurikens he had pre-loaded before the tournament.

The blonde teenager ceased approach in turn, stopping beside a nearby barricade. “You should draw your blade,” the swordsman advised.

The crowd had begun to grow annoyed with the pair’s antics, the dramatic tension slowly turning to boredom. The silver-haired shinobi could hear various spectators taunting the participants, peppering the duo with obscenities. Well, now’s as good a time as any… he thought. As the flaxen-haired lad made to taunt him once more, the Anbu captain pulled his hands from his pockets, slinging a pair of shurikens at his crimson-clad foe.

Shulk had been awaiting such an outburst, quickly bringing the flat of his blade up to block the incoming projectiles. As the pair of hira-shuriken clinked off of the blade and fell uselessly into the trench, his masked foe let loose another volley. The swordsman smirked, this time instead swinging his blade laterally as the missiles neared. Kakashi tumbled sideways behind the cover of a nearby barricade as his shuriken were sent flying back in his direction.

“Shit,” Kakashi grunted, glancing over the barricade at his foe. This kid has talent, he thought. That being said, the shinobi noted that his projectiles had been returned with a good deal less power, falling just short of his hiding place. The shinobi captain would need to be more careful with his techniques; going in for a melee assault seemed foolhardy after watching his foe’s evident skill with a blade.

Shulk seemed to have had the same realization, leveling his blade in Kakashi’s direction. The seven-foot trench served as annoyance to the teen, preventing him from reaching his foe in a timely fashion. He glanced at the weapon rack, spying a stack of javelins. As much as it pained him to use a weapon other than his beloved sword, it didn’t seem like there was any other option for the time being.

Kakashi stood from his cover, drawing a few more shuriken from his belt pouch. Predictably, Shulk had found a missile weapon from the provided racks, now hefting his throwing spears toward the faultline. The copy ninja glanced at his shuriken and back at his foe readying his newfound weaponry. Shaking his head, he pocketed his projectiles. I’ll save him the trouble… he thought, drawing his chokuto. Before the lad could take his throwing stance, the ninja darted for the center and leapt clear over the fault line, bringing down his blade on his surprised foe.

750 words on Wordcounttools before coding. Sorry for the wait!

[Kakashi Hatake]

The adolescent swordsman frantically dropped his payload, bringing his blade up with just enough time to parry the shinobi’s strike. The dueling blades ground against one another, sparks issuing from the point of contact. Kakashi marveled at his foe’s reflexes as he pressed his gloved hand against his blade, forcing his foe backward. Shulk stumbled a few feet into a barricade, grabbing the fortification to steady himself. The copy ninja noted that though his challenger seemed to have a great amount of natural skill, he seemed to lack the years of physical training that he himself had endured.

Having regained his composure, the crimson-clad combatant leered at his attacker. “You will need more than the element of surprise to best me,” he spoke calmly, raising his sword before him.

The copy ninja watched with a mixture of interest and awe as the boy’s crimson blade bisected horizontally, a nearly 2-meter beam of energy emerging betwixt the halves. His eyes narrowed as the teenager rushed toward the shinobi, his now lengthened blade poised to bear down upon him. The scarecrow stood firm in the face of this showcase, confident in his kenjutsu skill. As the burning blade bore down, the masked ninja sprang sideways, strafing to avoid the boy’s now nearly 8-foot reach. The blade made contact with Kakashi’s shoulder, burning painfully as he pulled away. The beam sword continued it’s path, hissing as it ground into the dirt. Without missing a beat, Shulk quickly dodged right, skillfully avoiding the strike of his assailant’s narrower blade. Pulling his weapon from the earth, the teen sprang backward to put distance between the two combatants.

The sharingan-wielder smiled as he examined his foe, twirling his chokuto before him. “You’ve definitely got skill, but you lack strength behind your blows. You could have done some real damage to me just now.”

Before Shulk could respond to his taunt in kind, the ninja leapt forward, brandishing his katana with lethal intent. Though he was enjoying the skirmish with the flaxen-haired lad, he would need to wrap this up if he were to move to the next round. As his legs churned beneath him, his blade poised threateningly in his main hand, he surreptitiously drew a handful of shuriken. As expected, the lad noticed the ninja’s maneuver, switching his stance to a more defensive pose as he approached. Kakashi noted his foe’s adjustment, turning 45 degrees as he neared. Funnelling chakra into the soles of his feet, he raced forward at twice his normal pace, bolting past his foe. As he made to pass the boy he sprang from the earth, sailing nearly 10 meters into the air. As the boy struggled to keep his opponent in his sights, the scarecrow took the opportunity to rain shuriken upon the adolescent.

“Gah!” the Monado-wielder uttered as the hiras dug into his back. He spun in place, deflecting the remainder of the assault back to its source. Utilizing a bit more chakra, the silver-haired warrior pushed off of the nothingness, directing his flight path away from the spinning projectiles and directly over his opponent’s head.

“I owe you this,” the Anbu captain called, bringing his blade down upon his staggered foe. A flash of light met his eyes before he was knocked backward.

The crowd roared with excitement as the two recovered from their clash, regaining their resolve. Kakashi had tumbled away from his foe following the strike, taking refuge near an available barricade. He had witnessed the boy display unusual techniques with the blade and was not keen on staying close enough for him to display any more. Fittingly, the boy had used just such a technique to forestall damage from his silver-haired foe. Though he was unable to completely prevent damage, the hexagonal barrier floating before him prevented an untimely defeat.

“Interesting technique,” Kakashi muttered, breathing heavily. He had exhausted a good amount of chakra with his maneuver. Though his opponent would not admit it vocally, the ninja could tell that his counter was similarly draining.

“I suppose now we’re even,” Shulk called, a hand clasped over the fresh wound inflicted over his chest. Though not shallow enough to prevent bleeding, it was not deep enough to be significant cause for alarm. His luminescent bulwark faded as the boy caught his breath, keeping a close eye on his opponent.

The copy ninja nodded, wiping the blood from his blade. “You could say that. But I don’t plan on keeping this tit-for-tat.”

Obligatory 'I-didn't-go-over'. 745 words in Wordcounter.

[Kakashi Hatake]

As the swordsmen stalled their quarreling for sake of recovery, Kakashi used the available moment to take stock of his opponent’s skills. So far the Anbu captain noted that Shulk seemed capable of matching his own speed, raising his defenses in time to parry nearly every strike the silver-haired shinobi had attempted. Also of interest was the shape-shifting sword; the boy’s blade seemed to be the source of the abilities he had thus far displayed, making it critical to his survival. Perhaps if he were to separate the warrior from his weapon?

Before the masked ninja could ponder the idea further, it was Shulk’s turn for offense. The flaxen-haired adolescent had collapsed his blade back into the familiar, more portable form and began dashing toward his tired foe. Being that he had quickly burned through a large amount of chakra in his last assault, the sharingan-wielder opted to stay put, bringing his blade before his chest in a defensive pose. Steel met steel once more as the younger slashed at the elder, his blows failing to reach their mark. Sensing the opportunity to barrel down on the obviously worn-out warrior, the blonde boy redoubled his efforts, swinging wildly at any opening.

“You will fall!” Shulk all but commanded, his blade finally sliding past Kakashi’s half-baked block. A look of satisfaction appeared on the teenager’s visage as blood issued from the wound.

The shinobi swordsman winced as the instrument tore into his flesh, springing backward and out of the crimson combatant’s range. He quickly examined the damage, surprised at what little damage the direct hit had dealt. The damage he had suffered was definitely not worth celebrating, though he had taken much worse. Hatake chalked this up to the boy’s apparent relative deficit of battle experience and his own lifelong physical training. Finally regaining his composure, the scarecrow sheathed his blade, a smile spreading under his Anbu mask.

“Giving up? I don’t think that’s an option,” the Monado-wielder taunted, dashing forward to take the initiative.

Kakashi readied himself, dropping his stance low and bracing for impact. As expected, Shulk swung his formidable blade eagerly, meeting his opponent’s exposed right shoulder with the ferocity of a butcher. The crimson blade dug painfully into his flesh, tearing at the muscle beneath. The scarecrow noted the damage, his suspicions now confirmed by the second injury. He turned his attention back to his foe, gaze locking on the boy’s intense stare. Here we go…

Shulk’s eyes widened in shock as his opponent quickly reached his arm across his chest, left hand immediately clamping on his sword-bearing wrist. Grunting in pain, Kakashi wrenched the blonde boy’s arm upward, freeing his blade from the wound. Without missing a beat, the shinobi threw his left shoulder forward, staggering the boy. Keeping a firm grip on the lad’s wrist, the ninja threw a savage haymaker, slugging him square in the stomach. Guy would approve, he thought.

The blonde warrior stumbled backward, freeing himself from the copy ninja's grip. Doubled over in pain, he raised his head to glare at his attacker. "You'll pay for that..."

[Kakashi Hatake]

Kakashi had no intention of allowing his combatant to make good on his words. As the boy stood, hunched over and recovering from the last blow, the copy ninja took the opportunity to dash forward and aim a knee into the boy’s face. Shulk raised his sword reflexively in an attempt to stall the attack, though his actions were in vain. Bone clacked against bone as the lad’s bell was rung. The silver-haired shinobi watched as his foe fell backward, landing hard in a seated position.

Spying the injured ninja making haste to layer on more damage, Shulk quickly raised the Monado, “I won’t lose!” He asserted, the blade glowing a vibrant yellow as the familiar hexagonal bulwark materialized before him.

Kakashi watched as the boy laboriously lifted himself from the dirt, propping himself up on his blood-red blade. Not keen on allowing his foe to recoup, the masked warrior quickly closed the distance, dashing toward his opposition. The blonde swordsman’s eyes widened as Kakashi stopped abruptly, only to spring into the air once more.

“That won’t work twice,” Shulk remarked confidently. The crimson-clad combatant spun in place, redirecting his barrier upward as he readied his sword to parry.

The airborne shinobi smirked, his sharingan focusing on the boy’s movements even as he tumbled through the air. His hands once more found their payload in the pouches that hung from his belt, withdrawing a fair few shuriken and lobbing them half-heartedly at the boy’s barrier. The projectiles clinked uselessly against the sturdy barrier, his confident combatant readying for the incoming finisher. It would not come, however. Kakashi instead took time to concentrate chakra in his heals, allowed himself to touch down for a brief moment before dashing with alarming speed toward the surprised adolescent. He had little time to realize his mistake as the ninja’s gloved fist met his face with a soft thud.

The crowd roared as the boy was tossed sideways, his shield fading. Seems like all of that competing with Guy wasn’t for nothing, the scarecrow mused, watching as the boy slumped sloppily to the ground. His combatant remained still, lying in a crumpled heap in the dirt. Kakashi turned to face the crowd, the raucous fans demanding bloodshed. Though the copy ninja was no stranger to spilling blood, he had no desire to harm an already defeated foe. Without a mission or a village to defend, he would simply be killing a child for entertainment. Hatake would not give them their gore, turning on his heel and making his way back to his end of the arena. Though the crowd began to boo and hurl insults (as well as a fair bit of trash which bounced off off of some invisible barrier), the silver-haired shinobi ignored the jeers.

“A win’s a win,” Kakashi muttered to himself, nearing the dividing trench. As if in response, the crowd suddenly resumed their cheers, applause meeting the Anbu captain’s ears.

“This isn’t over!”

The copy ninja spun around in time to see his battered foe dashing toward him, anger clouding his blue eyes. He clutched his weapon limply, the blade dragging in the dirt as the boy approached. With the roaring of bloodthirsty spectators spurring him on, his legs found the strength to push his battered body for one last charge.

The scarecrow paused for a moment, watching as Shulk pursued unsteadily. The ninja’s apparent disinterest whipped the lad into a froth, arms finding just enough strength to lift the business end of his blade level with the gut of his wounded foe. With a final battle cry his lunged forward, intending to end his opponent. Kakashi dropped his stance low as the boy approached, dipping to the left. The blade slid past its target, Shulk’s momentum carrying him farther than intended. The copy ninja watched as the boy tumbled into the ditch, landing with a dull thud.

“Relent,” Kakashi called down to the boy. He held his saber aloft, tip downward, poised to drop the blade on his defeated opponent.

Shulk rolled onto his stomach, turning his gaze skyward. Equal amounts frustration and pain were present upon his visage as his hand groped for his blade, just out of reach. His brow furrowed as he glared up at Kakashi, the shinobi’s sword hovering overhead like a literal guillotine. Turning his gaze from his foe he raised a hand, dropping it just as quickly.

The ninja stared for a long moment at the swordsman. He was impressed with the boy’s determination, putting up an excellent fight despite his apparent lack of conditioning. Even after enduring a barrage of strikes from Kakashi’s (admittedly imperfect) Strong Fist style, he had stood to oppose his opponent. In that moment, holding the boy’s life in his hands, he was reminded of Obito. The Uchiha’s indomitable spirit, it seemed, had a kin within this boy.

Without a word, the shinobi sheathed his sword, leaping over the fault and making his way toward the exit.