Boiling Point [Open to anyone/No-Kill]

The air was cool and the fog heavy as it covered the outlying landscape. Visibility in the mist was low for someone not used to it, though for Hiragana, having lived a good portion of his life within this mist, it just felt like home to him. An open clearing was where he now stood, honing his skills of both his Kenjutsu, and over his fire style nature. While water style would always be his dominant, there was no harm in having a wider array of skills other than a single element. With his mystical Mizuryuugatana drawn and his eyes closed, he slipped into a state of deep concentration and focus. Drowning out everything from his mind and keeping his head clear he focused on the world around him. He felt as if, he now had a heightened sense of things. Channeling his chakra into the sword caused it to begin to glow a bright blue before almost seemingly out of Hira's own skin, a small dragon made of water encased the blade. He began his exercise, slicing at the air with his eyes kept closed so he was relying on his other senses rather than his sight. He imagined that he was surrounded by enemy shinobi and aimed each sword slash to where the vital and vulnerable spots would be on adversaries his size. To end his exercise he quickly opened his eyes and slashed a medium height tree cutting clean through it.

He stopped his chakra flow allowing the sword to return to normal as the tree he had slashed toppled over. "Hmph, cut like paper." He said walking away from the tree that now lay on the ground rather than stood. He returned his sword to its respected sheathe and walked towards the center of the decently sized clearing. The mist was still heavy and cool as it fell upon his skin. His love of water and all its forms has been a mystery to him all these years. Even now it was hard for him to decide if it was a genuine love or merely his Hozuki clan nature to feel this attachment. He looked up at the sky as if he was searching for something in the clouds, losing himself within the beauty of the deep blue and white that hung above him.

(WC: 387)

In the high branches of his tree -- Not the tree that just got cut down, and boy-o was that a spectacular display -- Daisuke crouched, with his eyes leveled to the ground below. He too had grown up in these mists and had come to be quite accustomed to "seeing" in them. Of course, given his own lineage, he had grown accustomed to smelling through them and listening through them, and all around perceiving things despite the handicap. He was very much interested in this display of Kenjutsu exercise, especially since his escapade into his father's headquarters and the discovery of the sword that was there. There had been more than one there, really, but he only took one away from it. He did not have it with him, but his hand flexed as he remembered the feel of the hilt and the weight of the blade when he had held it.

As Hiragana walked away from the chopped tree and back to the center of the clearing, Daisuke continued to watch. He was not the sort of person to intrude, especially since it would require that oh so dreaded task of conversation. For now, he simply remained perched where he was, to see if the guy did anything more with that sword. Daisuke's attention was peaked alright. His desire to learn how to use a sword was growing.

Of course, despite Daisuke's desire to remain silent and unnoticed, it was Shou's desire to be open and friendly that brought a bark into the stillness of the moment, as he poked his head out of the neck of Daisuke's jacket.

WC: 270

He hadn't noticed yet the other person who was present, high among the trees where he was out of sight. Hira's swords were so natural to him, almost as if they were an extension of his own body. His grace with them was near flawless and perfect, but then again, true perfection was something left unattainable. While focusing on his skill with blades was always fun, there were other matters he needed to attend to as well. He wished to practice a couple fire style jutsu that he had recently taken the initiative to learn. He turned to face the wilderness, as it was his target. Normally firing off a large fire style jutsu within such an area would raise concern. However, Hira was not worried in the least, as long as he kept the level of technique low he should be able to put out any residual flames with his water style ninjutsu. He formed the succession of hand signs needed for the grand fireball technique, the horse and tiger signs flowed by quickly. Still unaware of the presence of the newcomer, he unknowingly aimed his jutsu for the tree the person was resting in. Inhaling deeply a large amount of air, he expelled a large fireball off into the distance which sped forward and exploded with amazing force once it hit the trees.

The flames erupted, setting the trees around the one impacted on fire as well. A small forest fire was bound to start and Hira remained at the ready to put it out should he need to. However, at the very moment the fires were small and posed little to know threat. The tree that had been struck by the fireball itself now lay upon the ground broken, and severed at the point of impact. "Fire can be just as majestic as water and the two are more alike than people think. Both have the ability to preserve life, and the ability to take it." He voiced allowed to himself. It was true, with how close the two elements were while most people chose to treat them as if they were opposites.

WordCount: 356

Chakra 256.25/260: