the country of fire sure was lush, lusher than probably his own home country where everything seemed to have a sort of dampness to it. perhaps it was just all the mist that surrounded it during most of the season. whatever the reason was it sure made hunting wild animals just a little easier. today's quarry; wolves. now gauma had a fondness for the canine beasts but since reports about this place seemed to infer that packs of them were sort of a problem then thinning them out wasn't going to cause too much trouble in the ecosystem right? after all he was only taking a few for their pelts that he could give to either his buddies back home as gifts or sell them off. [break][break] wealthy people were crazy about their fur suits. [break][break] as he hunched over one that he managed to take down however he had some thoughts about what to do with the body. some of the meat might be tough but it was technically edible and he hadn't eaten in a while. perhaps a proper burial for the beast was in order, it did manage to put up a fight and leave gauma with a scratch that was bright red along his right shoulder that stung as much as it stung his heart as he shuffled the body around to hide it and let it rot in piece and not leave any evidence of any human being the cause of it. [break][break] it sure was a messy job.
[attr="class","APP3"]Relunctantly, as it had been decreed by fate, Seiichi found little opportunity for respite since his arrival in Hi no Kuni -- that was to say, he had found little time to relax they way he saw fit. He had met a variety of people and had found rivalries long upon the final wisps of their waning dregs reignited under the the umbrella of this relatively short span of time-- he had even managed to come across an adversary, though the man had been left with just enough life to wobble on his knees and carry forth with a will that was drug through attrition. As critical as these experiences were--and would continue to be--the Jounin knew well that these were poor excuses to neglect his training, to put aside his own development.
So the Kuma no Kumo would train. He had found in the forests as a rather secluded spot to practice: it was a clearing, lush in grass and plentiful in flora as the smattering of rays brought on it ample nourishment. Trees had been felled in the past, long before his arrival, and it owed to the outlier in this ecosystem. Believing himself alone, for he had pressed deeply into the woods until the end of the tree line was lost in the vegetation, he began. The jounin stepped forth, arms outstretched and hands wide open. The slightest movements of the bearpaws that had been attached to tree stumps begged that they popped, cracking and releasing their tension as they prepared for his first challenge of the evening. Seiichi approached the tree and enveloped it, powerful arms to wrap tightly around it as his stands shifted and widened, his center of gravity lowered.
Then he took a deep breath.
"Gnnnnrng. . .!!!"
He growled with his teeth gritted tightly, his brow contorted as it twisted into a turgid peak and his forehead creased in effort. The tear of earth could be heard before him, the air choked by an uncommon sound as it filled the silent space with a cry. He was uprooting the tree, great roots were begrudgingly forced upwards in a manner that they had never moved before. Seiichi growled still, the bear-pelted man utilizing every fiber of his inhumane strength to succeed in the task. To those spared that tragedy of his actions, it could be thought that a mighty beast growled in the forest as it was no sound a normal man dare make.
[attr="class","bolo-body] the sound of a feral beast reached the ears of gauma as he suddenly stiffened from just hearing it. his eyes darted side to side as he rose to his feet and his body tensed up as he tried to find the source of it. if there was a wild beast then he didn't want to be its next meal, or plaything if it was that sadistic. [break][break] once he made sure that his immediate area was clear of any danger he started to make his way out of the forest taking a way that was different than the way he came in. there was no need to backtrack and run into something that might have caught his trail. the only bad thing about this method was that he had no idea where he was so when he found himself in another part of the forest that looked different he was pretty sure he was lost. [break][break] it wasn't until he found a clearing among the trees that he wished he was indeed still lost among the trees as he found a...well it was quite a sight to behold. a hulking creature holding up a tree in his arms with its roots flailed about while surrounded by other fallen tree brethren that painted a grim picture despite the colorful foliage surrounding it. gauma found his feet unable to move at the sight of it, his mind stunned and it anchoring it on the spot as he witness the beast put the tree down and he could see the faint outline of a bear's head with another face underneath it. a human face. [break][break] this strange beast with unparalleled strength was a person, and their strength lit up a fire underneath gauma's soul. [break][break] clapping soon mixed into the sounds of the tree roots snapping at the tension finally being too much for them as gauma couldn't help but grin at the sight of it all. seeing someone just rip out a tree from the ground was just so inspiring! "whoahohoho! that's amazing! you tore it out like it was a weed!" there was a twinkle in the gigner's eyes as he pumped up his fists as he exclaimed his wonder, "that's some insane strength right there! seriously how does a guy get strong enough to do that?!" it clearly didn't look like he was using some kind of jutsu to do it, was it just pure muscle? it if was...how could gauma build some?!
[attr="class","APP3"]Before long he had freed the roots of the tree with his focus effort, the venerable pine in his arms would grow no more as he hefted it onto the sky. His strength had grown considerably over these years, but it was only at the grueling direction of training that he'd subjected himself to, wasn't it? It was a goliath task, to endure such hardhips, but to express it paid off required more finely tuned vocabulary. Besides, there had been few things that Seiichi ever regarded in his life and, as a result, the bonds that came naturally to others were a foreign concept to him and afford him these talents. Going further, while he communicated as any shinobi could, he never found pleasure being among other people. It was in moments like these that he found peace: where he was left alone, where he could think. His most magnificent feats of strength could be had in this time of placidity. But, that was short lived.
". . ."
Hollering had come from his side, perhaps 15 meters away and just beyond the beginning of the tree line. It was another new face, that of a man in his younger years. He was loud. Almost unforgivably loud as he hooted and hollered, a powerplant of excitement that had been left untendered and critical in its state. To hear such jubilation brought the Jounin to think, briefly: had he ever experienced such a degree of insuperable joy that no overcast of darkness could dampen or take away from it? No, he knew he hadn't. But that didn't bother him. It was a distraction and far beyond the core mechanics of his training. How could one focus and breath in such a manner? How could the flow of power even be direction in such untamed people, slaves to the outbursts of their untethered and unchecked emotions.
". . ."
He discarded the tree as if it were a cumbersome piece of equipment in his inventory, tossing it into the clearing when he moved to face the newcomer. When it had been rooted, it was a great and mighty pine that stood twenty meters tall. He folded his arms, as if they were necessary to support that large, powerful chest just above. Seiichi stared for a while, not a word spoken as he analyzed the new comer: they were fit of build, but lithe and from his expression the man that wore the bear's pelt believed he could interpret every movement, read every action before it ever occurred.
"By leaving others alone and worrying about themselves." Roared a mighty voice, a gravelly tune that rumbled in his chest like the lone brontide. While there had not been a shred of deceit in his remark, as it had been similar to his own experience, it's delivery was lacking severely in empathy or kindness and perhaps was to direct in its description. Seiichi would return to his silence, allowing it to consume him as he simply watched.
If there was any wit beneath that mop of red, he'd move on.
[attr="class","bolo-body] well the man sure was gruff as a grizzly bear as his words did feel intimidating enough to even make gauma's smile scrunch up as he tried to keep eye contact with the bear-man and not break it in the slightest. still he was a stubborn dog and wouldn't let something like a bear make him run with his tail between his legs, his curiosity and wonderment was kicked up and it needed an outlet. "well ya sure picked a good place for that i guess." [break][break] despite the rough response gauma still held his ground and his loose posture almost indeed like a dog that was too happy with seeing others like it despite said others not looking like they shared the sentiment. here was no different. looking over the other beast he couldn't help but seemed impressed by his physique; large muscles, imposing figure, a face that only a mother could love, it all screamed of a man who in gauma's eyes was well versed in battle and had taken on the quest to become stronger multiple times. maybe he was just imagining it all because the way this other man was looking at him it was clear he and gauma were night and day in some regards. [break][break] "but c'mon how can i just leave after seeing a display like that?! a guy like you..." there was a shift in his eyes as the twinkle of amazement faded into a more focused intent and a hunger seemed to be growing as they scanned every part of the man. the change wasn't contained to his eyes as his whole body seemed to tense up more as his clapping stopped and his hands slowly fell to his side where his fingers twitched and his wrists went about twirling themselves to loosen themselves up by the looks of things. the posture in the red head seemed to slowly morph into someone who was standing his ground and was ready for danger to come his way. [break][break] "looks like he's pretty tough in a fight. so...how about ya indulge me in a match?" he was probably going to get into trouble or worse. it didn't matter right now as the kiri-nin had a mission in mind and he was going to see it through. this strange bear of a man had caught his attention and was now his prey.
[attr="class","APP3"]From the very start, the boy had bit off more than he could chew. He was no different than an overexcited mutt, a pup unaware of the danger before him as his eyes crossed in excitement and his tongue lolled out. The situation was only exasperated as the shinobi rarely had warmth for talkers. He didn't like talking-- with how loud and gruff his voice had been, one could even assume the action even caused him pain. He looked to the man before him, his frame far more petite than his but possessing a vague appearance of fitness as he seemed free of any loose flesh. The young man remained there, despite how direct Seiichi had meant to be with his words. It was a stare down as he continued to talk, the twinkle he caught in the young man's eye explained to him all well that he was in over his head.
You had to persevere to be this strong.
He watched before him as he suddenly began to loosen, a dance of his joints as that glimmer in his eye left and the smile that sat goofy on his visage fading as his features grew turgid in anticipation. Had he meant to fight the shinobi, out here in the open? While Seiichi was never one to turn down the challenge, perhaps there was a hopefulness in the young man that had him acting too fast. Still, the jounin knew well that there was more harm in turning him down then there was any good. His arms unfurled from below his chest and he shifted into a lower stance, his center focused lower so he could break forward without hesitation when the opportunity arose. Seiichi took a deep breath, the bear-pelted man soon settled into his stance. His muscles had seemed to grow or, at the very least, the veins upon them had begun to bulge. He was vascular beast and, perhaps, unlike anything he had fought before.
"Your name?"
The jounin asked them as he anticipated their answer. Looking as if he were the venerable master of a martial art, of which he knew many, he stood stalwart and with a resolve that was unshakable. This spar would demonstrate that, unless he was willing to dedicate ever fiber of his being, Seiichi was at a degree of insuperable power. "You will not move me from this spot," the shinobi of Kumo stated in his bold challeng. He fell quiet, waiting for the young man to break forward as required by their distance. Save for the song of the birds, which eventually returned after having been scared off by the jounin, the two trapped in a silence. With an arm extended forward and a hand rolling over he beckoned him forth in a classic manner, demanding the red head's advance.
[attr="class","bolo-body] "gauma gaojima." [break][break] he didn't need to hide anything from a man willing to comply with his challenge. they would soon be able to learn more about each other once their fists started to make contact although it wasn't hard for some things to be said already. from gauma's point of view he could tell that the monster of a man was pretty much out of his weight class if not twice over, muscle packed on muscle created a figure that gauma could only dream to achieve in about a decade or two. still that reason had longed been abandoned as a reason to not try and give it all. even a small injury was probably an accomplishment somewhere in all of this. [break][break] with a quick breath he surged forward at the bear's beck and call with his mind thinking of how to approach this within the distance afforded between the two of them. if his opponent was much larger than him all around then he would use that as a base for a strategy. as he was within about five steps in front of the man gauma quickly sidestepped to the right to strike at the bear's back with a kick while he was circling him. a head on strike would have ended the fight before it even began but one from the side or even behind was probably enough to even prove that he could try and make the man move even a single step from his spot.
[attr="class","APP3"]It was then that the man of fiery hair would surge forward, the dearth beneath his feet kicked up as he moved to close in on Seiichi. With keen eyes that Jounin watched on but, it was at that moment he realized where the young man's skill lied. As he closed in on the veteran in martial arts, he'd pivot onto his foot to circle around him. The jounin recognized this all before, a maneuver he'd seen executed by other fighters -- other greater and more skilled combatants. As he prepared to deliver the kick, Seiichi would draw in a shallow breath and in an instant his form became turgid. With a concentration on his breathing, utilizing the internal martial art of neigong, it became second nature to ward off a blow of such minimal impact. That mountainous man of hewed muscle felt like an iron curtain to the young man's less developed martial art, stalwartly enduring the blow without hesitation and without giving an inch.
With a quick turn of his torso, he made an attempt to grab at the leg that had landed squarely on him and with a heft he aimed to throw him into the tree line. Gaoma Gaojima would be hurdled through the air like a dai shuriken unless he could have anticipated such a quick--and otherwise mad--grab, but the feat would have been difficult for anyone as it was only natural to follow through a blow once delivered. At this level, it was clear that Seiichi would have to remain formless in his style of fighting. A single punch delivered by the veteran combatant, made only insuperably stronger by the dedication in his weapon art, was surely enough to break the man's body.
"You do not need to be weak and dead," he taunted the man with words meant to encourage his all or to cause him to cower and flee. With the proper conditions of his counter met, he would straighten his torso from the twist it endured to heave him off with such force. Surely the boy had more -- perhaps he could overwhelm him with a barrage of combos.
--
However, that wasn't to say that he'd remain a sitting duck if somehow his grab failed, as impossible as it would be to beat the man in such a reactionary manner. He'd make minor adjustments to turn and face him without giving or taking a footstep forward or back. He was prepared to match blows, shrugging them off with his own offense.
[attr="class","bolo-body] as his kick landed a shiver was sent up along the entire length of it as it felt like he had just struck a brick wall instead of flesh and bone. the guy looked thick and tough but gauma wasn't quite prepared for how literal that assessment was nor was he prepared for the arm to grab onto his leg and throw him as if he weighed nothing. the redhead went sailing through the air and his only way of stopping was his back being slammed into a tree as bark dug into his bare skin and all he could do was let out a silent gasp as he fell onto the ground in a slump. [break][break] that was some insane strength from one guy so clearly gauma had not given the guy enough credit. he was strong. insanely strong. and that's what made this all the more fun. [break][break] "weak and not dead...huh? couldn't agree more." the ginger groaned out a response as he pushed himself up to his feet pressing his back against the same tree he slammed into for support to stand up while giving the bear man a a glare that not only pointed daggers at him but also excitement evident by the smile he wore. it wasn't worth fighting if one didn't find a strong opponent no matter the gap between them. it just meant that there was room to grow and improve and that the threshold to do so was only as imaginary as one believed it to be. that's what gauma believed anyway. [break][break] as he locked onto the sight of the large bear man he placed a foot against the tree and kicked off of it into a sprint, his form looking like some kind of raging animal for a second before he brought his fists up into a right hook for the man's chin followed by a left uppercut to the same area and then a straight to the chest. a three hit combo that might not do much against a man who could shrug off a kick like it was nothing but maybe he had a soft spot somewhere, and gauma was going to find it or risk his own body in the process.
[attr="class","APP3"]Despite the overwhelming disadvantage that the jounin gleaned, the young man had a fighting spirit. Seiichi, while not the fan of the theatrics in battle-monologuing, could appreciate that. The impact against the tree was a rude one, but through perseverance and a fire that had unfurled suddenly in their belly, its red hot tendrils to tease beneath his heart, recovering would prove no overbearing task to the ginger. He saw that look in his eyes, that one of hunger and contempt, one of a young man who was prepared to throw in the very essence of his life if he deemed it necessary. He broke forward in a sprint, the tree to the back of his foot as he used it for a kick off for an upstart to momentum to transform into a strike. With his postured lowered, prepared to use the legs in his muscles to drive home his kick, he could have looked like a predator...
If he weren't facing Seiichi Koji.
The jounin's sense of battle gave him an obscene advantage-- albeit, if it weren't already present for the fact that there was a multitude of years and echelons of strength and speed that kept them apart. With a careful eye he had examined it all: a venerable combatant, he was moving between both his opponent's foot work and shoulders as the young man undoubtedly repeated motions he had seen many times before. His shoulder betrayed him, telegraphing the nature of his first strike and Seiichi, subsequently, had no problem reading the hook that was unfurled towards his chin. Drawing in a quick breath he responded to it with a swift interception, catching the fist with overwhelming ease using his left hand as Gao returned into his field of expertise. The clench upon it was inhuman and unshakable, tight and foreshadowing of his fate to follow as the man clad in a pelt of bear fur clenched down tighter and suddenly twisted it until an unnatural, upright position: a classical move from a more gentle art of combat that relied on grips and holds to secure victory. He pulled him forward in a manner meant to throw off his center of gravity and, unless the young fighter had an inhuman manner of blocking out pain or found a manner to escape, Seiichi would abuse his advantage and slam his head forward like a literal hammer forged of chaos. It was a brutalizing blow, exercised with all the advantages afforded by the momentum he generated with the pull, the leverage of his height, and is insuperable lead in power.
A hideous and ugly noise would crash through the forest, made to bend around the trees and unsettle birds from their perches if it were to land. It was a totally unnatural sound not meant for the likes of human ears as their foreheads collided in that brutish and jarring manner. If he somehow could remain conscious after such a decisive strike--the sheer brain rattle enough to steal the consciousness from a man--he'd throw him off to the side to collapse onto the ground if he failed to catch himself from such an overwhelming strike. "Go home. Find me when you're stronger." He provided sagely insight at this moment with his gravelly voice, looking to where the young man would be laying if he took the strike head on with no opportunity to brace himself properly or dodge it in the first place. It was there that Seiichi, a man who could down trees and shatter boulders with his superhuman strikes, recognize that a willful strike of his would end the young man before he could recognize it. He waited, for now, to see if the young man retained any consciousness; alas, still he remained in that very same spot.
[attr="class","bolo-body] his fist was stopped by a single massive hand that nearly eclipsed it whole and gauma's onslaught was cut short. terribly short. the ginger only had a second to realize that he was dealing with someone on two two completely different levels before he saw the bear's face suddenly come speeding towards him. [break][break] CRUNCH [break][break] his head was ringing and felt like it was ready to split open as his body twitched as he stood. eyes nearly rolled so far back into his skull that they took gauma down with them as the young man fell over into a crumpled heap bringing a hand to his head to see if it had split open from the headbutt. there was no way this guy was a full on human, strength like that was on another level! [break][break] gauma just had to learn how to be strong like that! [break][break] of course such thoughts were muted due to all the pain he was feeling, he could barely even see straight with streaks of red starting to pour down his face as he tried to push himself up. the man spoke about him going home and coming back stronger, on some level gauma knew that truer words had never been spoken. on the other hand he wasn't going to at least show that this guy could simple cripple him like this in just one blow even if the evidence proved otherwise. he had to show that he was tough in some ways. [break][break] "not before...ya tell me your name...only fair. right?" the ginger male groaned as he managed to push himself to be supported by an arm on the ground and looked up at the bear with fire still burning in his eyes as he did his best to push himself up to his feet still holding his head to keep it in one piece. "cause i ain't leaving till i know the name of the man of my rival..."
[attr="class","APP3"]It was no surprise that the blow landed so brutally and with such unforgiving precision, any hope of interception was nil at his current level -- his currentlevel of power. Facing the young man, who had first came off as a nuisance, who approached him with all his might had successfully brought him to reconsider his position on them. Without a proper brace he had no hope and was forced to crumple back, hardly capable of catching himself on his feet as he slumped into a heap. It was a brutish attack but an effective one, nearly incapacitating the young man in a single blow from an unexpected source. Seiichi found his eyes settling on the bruised Gao, lenses to briefly watch his shoulders as he honed his foresight-- if he dared attack, even from such deliberating damage, would he predict it? It didn't matter, as such things never came true-- his prediction. In time, Gao would slowly turned his head up to eye the man with a passion in those lenses with their look much akin to cinders roaring with anticipating. Surprisingly, it seemed that even teetering on the throes of consciousness weren't enough to smother his fire, a flame now further unfurled.
"Kuma,"
Seiichi said once, loud and clearly in that stentorian voice of his that were sure to sound like the clang of bells to his quaking head. He bled heavily from the wound, as was natural -- the jounin had done little to hold back. "Leave and find rest." He suggested, but in that crass nature of his voice it came out no less than a command. It was there that, out of his own volition, that the kumo jounin would turn around and walk away. Unless Gao had a second wind to stop him, he was bound to disappear into the tree line the further he penetrated through the woods. There was no sight of him, eventually.
But...
Craaaack!
Without missing a beat he returned to what he had been doing, resuming his own training dutifully after the short excursion with a man that, judging by his meddle, would turn out to be a fine shinobi one day.
[attr="class","bolo-body] "kuma..." [break][break] kuma. [break][break] so he was stronger than the average bear. noted. it was a fitting name for a guy as strong and fierce as one. letting gauma live was probably going to be a mistake though, because as he watched the man disappear into the woods one thing ran through the ginger shinobi's mind. [break][break] he couldn't wait to throw fists again with this beast. [break][break] the mere excitement of such a rematch was enough to thrill him to a small fit of laughter as he pushed himself back to his feet to head on home and lick his wounds. before he could even think about going to him for another rematch he was going to need to build himself up again. guess it was time to round up the boys back home into some intense training. "oh they're gonna call me such an idiot for this." he could already picture their reaction as he hobbled on back to his own country, it was going to be a long walk home.
