endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-07-29 09:01 am
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-07-29 09:01 am
Log: LS Matters of Pride
Title: Matters of Pride
Type: RP log
Fandom: AU!Naruto
Character(s): Uchiha Sasuke, Tenten; brief mentions of Maito Gai, Rock Lee, Hyuuga Neji, Uzumaki Naruto
Pairing(s): A ghost of Sasuke/Tenten?
Warning(s): ...Violence?
Disclaimer: I own only the part that I played in this.
Note: Log originally started for the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
last_stretch RP comm, but never finished.
Dedicated to: Sasuke. And having his ass handed to him. ♥
Having gone to the dojo early in the afternoon, Sasuke had taken up residence in the corner farthest away from the door. Yes, his 'gift' had been set up for four o'clock, but at half past two he'd gotten too bored and honestly too excited to be cooped up in his dorm room for a second longer. Not that his face betrayed any of that excitement, jaw tense and eyes narrow as his foot hit the tatami mat loudly and he thrust the bamboo sword gripped firmly in his hands away from his stomach. Half of the anticipation was simply from the fact that only a rare few had ever bothered to ask to train or spar with him; and being found by one of the people he'd spotted before in this place that actually knew what the hell they were doing and be offered, even if it was a birthday gift....
Well. It was still something. A slight smirk stole over the pale teen's mouth, and he pivoted on his foot, stopping mid-motion and lifting his head when he thought he heard the doors opening.
Head down, Tenten could only watch with a level of calmness and patience as the square tiles of concrete passed by with each step she took. As planned, the young waitress had managed to convince her shift manager at the Far and Wide Cafe into letting her leave an hour early. Of course, telling him that it had something to do with pre-season practices for the upcoming volleyball season might have had something to do with it. She had been working there for a good number of years, and with Tochiro for most if not all of those years. He knew and understood that Tenten was a hard worker. But even he would not have given in to her request if he knew the truth. There was no way he would have allowed her to leave on their busiest business day in order to anty up on a birthday spar she had offered on a whim.
"Alright, maybe not so much on a whim..." Naruto had only given vague answers when questioned about a fight he got involved in weeks before and Tenten had let it go as she had promised. But that did not mean she could ignore the signs and clues. The way they acted around each other, the immediate tension that was always there when they were around each other. He had been involved somehow. But that had only been part of the reason for the offer. A greater part of her wanted to see just how good this Sasuke guy was. She had seen him practicing at the dojo, always by himself or against those who thought to create themselves an instant reputation by challenging him (mostly beginners and amateurs). And while his techniques were impressive, the only real way for her to see his true potential was to place him against one of Gai-sensei's top students.
'And I'd rather see it first hand than from the sidelines, she thought to herself, the corner of her mouth twitching up in amusement. And with a gentle push, she stepped into the dojo like she had done a thousand times before. Instantly, Tenten's eyes shifted to the figure in the corner, right where he always was. '"Couldn't wait to fight me, could you?"
Straightening slowly as the woman stepped into the dojo, Sasuke slung the bamboo sword over his shoulder, flicking his bangs from his face with a slight twitch of his head. "...Well. If I'm to believe everything I hear, I needed all the practice I could get." He swiveled on his foot, heading the place the shinai along with the other practice swords, not even sure that was what they'd be sparring with. Tenten hadn't actually specified what they'd be doing, and Sasuke had been too distracted with the obscene present left for him at his door to have asked for a little clarification at the time, so the best he could hope for would be for it to be an art he knew.
Turning again, he faced the girl, dark brows lifting briefly. "I hope you won't disappoint me and try to go easy on me just because this is my birthday present." He wouldn't settle for such a blow to his pride, but for some reason, this Tenten girl didn't strike him as the type for the thought to have even crossed her mind. But then, he'd seen that in watching her practice and spar briefly before. This wasn't a woman who dumbed down for anything. "So, I didn't ask... What, exactly, will we be doing?"
In two smooth and easy motions, Tenten shuffled off her shoes and pushed them against the wall by the door, just as she was taught and had grown to do after entering through the dojo doors. Gai's Aikido class was already well underway if the shouts and soft thud of bodies hitting the mats were any indication. As it should have been considering the class began a good hour before their spar was scheduled to begin. It was a stroke of fortune that it was because it meant that not many would be around to interrupt or disturb them while they sparred. Sure, a small crowd might form, but not nearly as many would come looking if they had began in between classes. "Well if that's the impression you get from hearing what's been floating around here about me, then I guess I should be flattered the other students think so highly of me."
A quick glance around as she approached him, Tenten could not help but allow a small bud of pride bud within her chest at the thought that he had actually heard anything about her at all, especially when Tenten had a tendency to blend into the background save for tournaments and competitions. In the past, the young woman might have argued differently when it came to those who would sooner write her off as a typical girl, but after years of acceptance from people like Gai, Lee, and even Neji, there was no longer a need to prove herself, just as long as those closest believed in her. "But as it stands, I believe that since it's your birthday present, you get the honor of choosing."
Sasuke stated the time for the spar more to keep the boisterous green beast of a teacher busy than to deter any crowd that might form. They were students, most barely out of high school; he couldn't expect them not to crowd around and watch. No, no, it was Gai Sasuke was afraid of. But with him in the middle of class, there would be no old-man blur in too-tight green spandex trying to convince him to join every single thing the dojo ran.
Honestly. The man was just scary. Exhaling, Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the woman with a small lift of his brows. "Well... I can't decide. So.. You do it." He rolled his shoulders, tilting his head and relaxing his facial features. It was about as close to a smile as he usually got.
With what could be considered a look of interest, Tenten tilted her head a small fraction while regarding the other with a level of amusement. It was not often that others would return the gesture of being able to pick what discipline of martial arts they would be using during a spar because of the advantage they would gain in choosing. She could have easily chosen an art she excelled in while knowing perfectly well he would not have stood a chance. The same would be true if he had not given that choice back to her. But then again, Sasuke seemed like one familiar with a grand scale of different arts. However, she was not the type to take easy wins due to an imbalance of skills. The spar had been offered as a gift and so she would honor that. "Straight taijutsu then? Hand-to-hand, no weapons?...unless you prefer to use weapons..."
As she spoke, Tenten began stripping off the outer layers of clothes she had worn to the cafe, leaving only the light layers underneath. The air conditioning at her place of business was always set on a moderately high level so as to provide a reprieve for customers coming in to escape the summer heat while they enjoyed their orders of coffee and/or pastry treats. So as a waitress, it was always a functional and convienent idea to dress in appropriately when Tenten was scheduled to work. But for now, the extra clothes would only slow her movements down, and that was all that really mattered: giving him her best. She had sparred in much less before and so felt no need to be embarrassed or shy around Sasuke because of her lack of clothing.
That done, Tenten began stretching out the muscles in her arms and legs, preparing for what promised to be an interesting spar while waiting for his reply to her conditions.
Lifting one brow higher than the other at the look he was receiving, Sasuke let out a tiny breath of air and hoped he hadn't just offended her. He wasn't actually thinking he should give her the upper hand in letting her choose how they were sparring; he honestly just couldn't decide. He didn't watch Tenten closely enough that he knew what she excelled in, and while he looked forward to a challenge, he didn't want to choose wrong and just get beaten down in ten seconds.
His brain stopped working momentarily when Tenten started stripping right in front of him.
While Tenten wasn't shy at all apparently, Sasuke blinked and averted his eyes with a little cough. "...Uh.. Weapons. I do prefer weapons..." He could understand the practical reason for the removal of the clothes, but really. Should he be doing the same? The hakama he was wearing would be hell to fight in any other style with, but... Sasuke didn't run into situations like this very often, so it was only natural to get a little flustered without being able to help it. He just hoped his cheeks weren't noticeably red, though he could practically feel the heat of the blood rushing to them and he kept his eyes on the ground, waiting for Tenten to choose which weapons they'd be using.
Whether he was blushing or not at her diminishing layers, she either did not notice or simply did not care to take note of his reaction, her focus more aimed and interested in choosing a weapon for them to use while the young woman continued to stretch. Being the over-exuberant and multifaceted instructor that he was (and perhaps after learning about Tenten's affinity when it came to learning how to use the various forms of weaponry at her disposal), Gai had stocked his dojo with an impressive collection for the students to make use of. So he prefers weapons...that gets him some respect from me.
However, neither of them would be getting far if they used any with sharp edges and pointed spikes. That ruled out a good portion of what was available to them. "Fair eno - ugh..." Reaching an arm over her head, the other hand placed firmly on the bone of her hip, Tenten stretched out the muscles along her side. Mentally counting off the seconds in her head, she straightened her stance once more and did the same for the other side, repeating the motion a few times until both felt adequately prepared. "Bo staffs sound alright to you then? No fun in sparring if we end up killing each other with something sharp and pointy, right?"
Particularly during tournaments or competitions, Tenten fully acknowledged the seriousness while going through her usual routine of preparation. However, even though she treated this situation no differently, there still remained a lightness to her actions and overall mood, made apparent in the way she carried herself and spoke. A faint smile always seemed to be present, a ghost between neutrality and playfulness. Because live was just not as fun if you went through it always being so serious. But rest assured, Tenten came to fight, and fight her hardest against Sasuke.
Schooling his features before looking up again, Sasuke gave a short nod. "Sounds good." He turned on his heel to retrieve said items from the other side of the room, eyeing the long wooden poles against the opposite wall. Suddenly this didn't seem like such a great idea. Staves could leave a pretty nasty bruise. Still, he wandered over and picked up two before moving back again, eyes on Tenten curiously. Well, it was her choice if she wanted the both of them to sore come evening time. Holding one of the staves out for her once she'd finished stretching, Sasuke licked his lips absently.
"...Why did you offer me a gift, anyways?" He was always somewhat wary of people, the paranoia easily explained if one knew his past, but he tried. And while Tenten didn't seem like someone who was out to get him just for the hell of it, and he really had been looking forward to this spar over the last few days, one could never be too sure. "I don't think we've even actually introduced ourselves to each other before."
With a roll of her neck muscles and a nonchalant shrug, she took the offered staff and gave it a few sweeping swings to accustom herself to its weight and speed. It was simply an automatic reaction developed over years of practicing and sparring with others at Gai's dojo. No two pieces of equipment were exactly the same and it was something of common sense to take all the time possible to familiarize yourself with what is given before starting any sort of battle. However, he very well could have interpreted it otherwise. There was so little that Tenten knew about this Sasuke person other than a possible encounter with Naruto at the dojo weeks before, and then another, more public meeting during his 'Boy's Night Out.' Beyond that was fair game.
"I make it a point to know all the students at the dojo, and...you seemed nice enough. Well, when you're not huddled in the corner all by yourself." In an idle manner, she slid the central part of her bo staff behind her head, gently against the nape of her neck while thin and nimble hands rested on either side of the wooden pole. "I'll admit, I've watched you a few times while you were training, but...not in a weird way, I promise." And there was Tenten's first signal that she was perhaps talking a bit too much. But still, she pressed on, having spent long years around the likes of Lee, Kiba, and Naruto who thrived on conversation. "And I was looking for a reason to ask for a spar that didn't seem weird. So when I found out it was your birthday, I just figured you'd appreciate a one more than any material object other people might've gotten you."
"Besides, I've had experience in the past with people seemingly of your personality type. No better way to get acquainted than beating the crap out of each other, hm?" She was referring to Neji of course, someone Tenten had only met in a Kendo club years ago. It was where she had earned his respects, and in turn his friendship. There were certain aspects of his character that shadowed the impression she had of Sasuke. And if it could work for someone as closed off as Neji had once been, then it was worth a try for Sasuke as well.
Sasuke nearly swore as he watched Tenten warm up just briefly with a large stick of wood; she obviously knew what she was doing. He probably should have expected that, though, with the things he'd overheard amongst the other students who practiced in the dojo about the talented the girl was with any weapon that was placed in her hands. He held the staff with a tight grip before easing up on it and sliding his hands along the mostly smooth surface to hold the thing a little more easily. He was really barely more than a novice with staves, but he had insisted on Tenten's choosing, and he wasn't about to go back on it.
"'My personality type'...." He scoffed quietly, his feet shifting on the cool mat under them. "I think you're making one too many assumptions, personally, but that... Is a fair way to get to know someone." Okay, so besides being a weapons master, the girl just liked to talk. Exhaling sharply, Sasuke turned and wandered a little further away before glancing back again. He didn't want to talk. He didn't like talking. He'd just been looking forward to this spar; a way to ease some building frustration and kill some time.
Had he even caught this girl's name? If he did, he hadn't remembered it. Hoping the few feet he'd just put between them had sufficiently ended the attempt at conversation, Sasuke spread his feet a little wider, lifting his brows just slightly and just waiting.
"Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not. We'll see where my assumptions stand after the spar is over." Slowly, she let a soft sigh escape past her lips, part of her already expecting this 'down to business' type of attitude from him. However, there was still a few more things they both needed to do before the spar could begin. Tenten was actually a bit surprised and somewhat impressed that the other would insist on starting without taking the proper precautions. Honestly, did he really expect her to allow the both of them to spar with fully working bo staves without the proper equipment? Gai-sensei was nothing if not thorough about the rules concerning every piece of weaponry he had left at her disposal. And the number one rule at the dojo (aside from indulging in the pride of one's youthfulness) was safety. "Meanwhile, you might wanna put on the right head gear before we start."
Letting one hand slip from where it rested against the wooden pole speared behind her neck, Tenten was already pulling open the door to the equipment closet, reaching in to toss him specifically made helmets for the sort of disciplines practiced at the dojo before grabbing one for herself. She refrained from insisting they wear gloves and wrist guards, however. They would only hinder the fight and limit the mobility of their movements. And what sort of fun would that be if either one of them could place blame on something else other than their own skills? If she lost, Tenten would rather face it honorably without the temptation of using that as an excuse. And if she won...the young woman would prefer not to risk the disrespect of him shifting the blame on anything other than himself. "Wouldn't want a concussion on our hands, now would we?"
Sasuke scowled at the tone Tenten gave him as she reminded him about the headgear, honestly not even having thought about it. It was like she was scolding a child for running in the hallway. "....I wasn't aware that you'd be aiming at my head." He managed a slight smirk, dropping the staff against his shoulder to catch the helmet that was tossed to him. He stared at it for a minute, thinking how many students had worn these things before, and how much time he'd spent styling his hair that morning - an embarrassingly vain thought, but a thought nonetheless - and almost opted out, but Tenten seemed to be pretty set on this, so with a heavy breath, he lifted the thing and pulled it down over his hair, strapping it into place.
"Hn." Was all he said, obviously not pleased about the fashionable headwear, and he caught the staff before it could roll off his shoulder and hit the floor, slinging his arm around the wooden weapon and waiting in case there was any more gear she'd be throwing at him. When none came, he relaxed and straightened up again and just kept watching the young woman.
"So now that our skulls are nice and brain-damage friendly, can we get on with this?" His voice was impatient, but lightly so. He'd let Tenten kill a little more time with talking or safety or rules or whatever, but he did want to spar sometime today.
It was not that she believed Sasuke would purposely aim a hit at her head. The equipment was merely a precaution drilled into her mind after years of training under Maito Gai. And after having such experience, Tenten knew better than any student learning at the dojo that anything could happen in the midst of a heated spar. Bo staves allotted the quick movement and speed that was just right for the sort of training she prefered. Straight, strong, and quick. The way they were made and designed allowed the weapon to move with the many shifts and flows of the body as it prepared to either defend or attack. For lack of a better description, it was like an extension of herself, training both the unforgivable strength and agility she was known for in her fighting.
"Well, I've no intention of hitting you there if that's what you're implying. But when we're moving as fast as we will be, who's to say it won't happen?" And there was that faint smile, bordering between complete seriousness and a more playful nature while she strapped on her own helmet. I blame Naruto for that. "But fine, if you're gonna be so impatient, we can start now."
After another moment to double check the straps of her gear, she took the staff into her hands. And in an instance, that playful part of her demeanor disappeared as Tenten snapped into position, her stance strong and solid. One end was aimed at him, streamlined and poised to seek out its target like a determined arrow. "Whenever you're ready just touch your staff with mine and then we can start."
Dark eyes narrowed a little to that teasing, and Sasuke got the feeling he'd have to be dodging more than one hit to his face, but just let out a breath, adjusing the helmet one more time before backing a little further away from the girl. It almost surprised Sasuke as to how quickly Tenten could shift into her stance with so little effort, her feet poised in a manner so textbook-perfect that it had Sasuke furrowing his brows and wondering what exactly he'd gotten himself into. That little playful-sweet smile wasn't helping much, either. But he'd already agreed to the spar and any bruises on his body or his ego that it would bring, so he put both hands on the wooden pole again, shifting his own feet on the stiff tatami flooring. Licking his lips, he moved his arms until his own staff was pointed forward, mimicking Tenten's own stance and tapping the bo together firmly. "Ready."
There was a faint smirk before Sasuke flew into motion to block Tenten's first attack, honestly not expecting such speed at such short notice.
With a swift pivot of her hips, she brought the back end of the staff around for the first blow in a grand arch, aiming high and fast with the force of her movements adding to Tenten's momentum. Even without the normal step-in that would come with the attack, it seemed to hold more power, something that had always surprised other students. And as predicted, she heard the satisfying crack of wood against wood, felt the solid hit as Sasuke's block held just as strong. Good. Impressive even. It meant that he was just as good as she had expected him to be. Because her move had been unexpected and just a bit unorthodox as a great many others would have began with a simple trust forward or a strike using the front end of the staff that stood closer to their opponent. But if there was one thing Tenten enjoyed most, it was surprising her adversaries.
Wasting little time, she made use of the back-swing to aim another blow towards his hip using the front end of her weapon, finally stepping in close to reduce the space he had to move and block, all the while throwing off his reaction time as the shift would bring her strike in that much quicker.
She was notably smaller than Sasuke, allowing her agility and maneuverability. And Tenten used that to her advantage, along with the years of experience she had gained in practicing with their weapon of choice. The bo staff was one closely associated with the practice of martial arts because of their similar movements, and thus had always been used as exercise to help further her training in hand to hand combat.That fact that the young woman had skills with a number of weapons was beside the point.
Sasuke hated the movements that came with fighting with a staff; they were unpredictable and quick, though he was grateful they weren't quick enough to completely catch him off guard. He almost found the style messy, but watching Tenten as she moved with the weapon, he couldn't bring himself to call it that, even in his head. The woman had a way of making everything in this dojo into something fluid and graceful despite the speed she moved at. She was simply too good at what she did. Blocking that first attack, or even the second aimed at his side, meant nothing when she closed the space between them. Sasuke couldn't help but move a little awkwardly with the unfamiliar weapon, and the sound of wood cracking against wood rang through the empty practice room as he tried to make a strike of his own. "-Shit." He couldn't fight this close. The bo staff was too different from his comfort space of a katana. He needed room.
Shuffling backward, or at least trying to, Sasuke let out a shallow noise and ducked against another strike, scowling a little. That had been aimed at his head. And as much as he didn't want to go easy on Tenten and as much as he knew she wouldn't appreciate the gesture, he just couldn't bring himself to strike upward at the open space left by that last attack. Or he just hadn't decided to take advantage of that opening in the short time it had been left for him. It... Might've been the latter. Swearing before Tenten could try to take another swing or strike down while he was crouching, he threw a leg out and swung around, trying to throw the girl off of her feet.
And that had been her intention as she brought the butt end of the staff around once more in a high sweep, her body following to make a full turn to quickly throw a hit behind her towards his thigh and knee. To throw him off of his game, if only a small fraction. That was the aim. And for the moment, Tenten was not concerned with the small openings she was leaving him (and indeed she knew perfectly well that they were there) as she twisted around and aimed her elbow towards his neck area. Better her elbow than the solid wood of the staff, she thought. Tenten would take the risk of exposing her weak points and rely on her speed to keep them as protected as possible while driving him further and further back.
But a rush of air where the soft flesh of his neck should have been, and the shadow of his form disappearing out the corner of her eyes had alerted the young woman just in time to Sasuke's next move. So as the young fighter felt the initial touch of his leg sweeping to trip her from her stance, Tenten searched quickly through her mind for an appropriate counter. It was the sort of fighting she had thrived on for years, ultimately developing the ability to formulate strategic plans at a moment's notice and making the proper adjustments to them as the situation continued to change. It was a necessary skill to have as most of the students she sparred against -- Lee and Neji especially -- moved at lightning speed.
And so it was almost through instincts that Tenten pivoted on her heel and reached out to place both hands back on to the bo staff, using it as support while she pushed herself off of the ground in an arching flip over the other's crouched form. Landing on the other side, the young woman pulled up the wooden pole and thrust it forwards towards his unprotected back.
Sasuke's lips had pulled just slightly into a smirk as his leg swung around, figuring he'd one-upped his sparring partner, only to have his lips turn into a quick, slightly confused frown when his leg didn't fully connect with anything. Glancing up as Tenten's shadow disappeared entirely from the tatami mat, the raven-haired teen swore out in a hiss and dropped to the side just in time to barely dodge what would have been a rather painful blow, the wooden staff bumping hard against his shoulder instead. The headgear that Tenten had been so vehement on him wearing wouldn't have helped a hit like that. He rolled away, hand grabbing the end of his staff as he moved to a safer distance from the girl, dark eyes narrowing considerably.
His shoulder throbbed, and he ignored it, figuring his plan to attack through defense wasn't going to work in this fight. Lifting himself back to his feet, he let out a harsh breath and flicked the hair from his eyes with a twitch of his head before charging.
The sound of wooden beams cracking against each other rang out through the dojo, and as most of his hits were blocked or evaded, Sasuke wondered if Tenten had just chosen the weapon she was most proficient in, or if she really was just this good with everything. Even the blows that were landing didn't slow her down or deter her, and Sasuke found himself dodging a number of close calls to his skull again.
Tenten would not deny that the blows Sasuke managed to land were irritating at best, painful at worse. But with so much adrenaline flowing freely through her veins, it was hard to take notice of them. It had been a long time since she had been able to fight against someone of this level and skill. Even if the bo staff was not his specialty, the young Uchiha was doing fairly well and more than making up for what he did not know by learning quickly. He was relentless in his determination, which was just as bit intimidating as it was admirable. But there was still one factor that he simply just could not seem to grasp.
As more and more time passed, their moves became quicker and smoother, almost complimenting each other as the spar became more of a dance than a fight. He was no longer fumbling to block her advances and managing to attack the brief openings she left. But the one, constant mistake that Sasuke just could not seem to learn from was the need for distance. Sasuke was not accustomed to fighting in such close proximity, or at least that was the conclusion the young woman had come to after piecing together all that she knew or had seen of him. Perhaps it was a comment on his own personal preference in life. Perfectly fine. But distance was a deadly thing to have when you were fighting with bo staffs. And if he desired to have any chance of winning this battle, he would have to rid himself of that crutch. Otherwise, Tenten would take full advantage of that weakness.
Again, she pressed closer, ever closer to further throw off his concentration, throwing in a series of alternating blows towards Sasuke's head and ribs, coming at a rapid speed so that he would have to rely on instinct and reaction alone to keep from getting hit. And then, when it seemed as if he had settled into a false sense of security and confidence in his blocks, Tenten switched gears and landed a hit on the inside of his knee before circling the pole around to land a swift blow to his temple.
And just when Sasuke had thought he'd finally gotten the hang of this, a small smirk playing at is lips, Tenten pulled the rug out from under him - kind of literally, too. With the hit to the back of his knee, Sasuke's leg buckled, and before he could shift his weight onto his other foot, he found himself dodging anther hit. He stumbled back so the pole wouldn't connect with his head, and his ass hit the floor as he let out a quiet swear, almost glaring up at Tenten. Maybe not with the anger that usually stood behind his glare, but his pride was starting to take a beating here, too, and he was already fighting seriously enough for a spar.
If he was a lesser man, he might've thrown in the towel by now. Even so, he was'nt sure how much more of this he could take. This girl was, admittedly, way better than he was. At wielding a bo, anyways. He could blame his weakness on having n here for a few hours before Tenten's arrival and that he'd tired himself out, but Sasuke could admit, maybe not out loud but to himself, that Tenten was kicking his ass, and doing it fairly with just her skill behind her. He'd challenge her to switch to his weapon of choice if he wasn't doubting that maybe she was this good with a sword, too.
He had a lot of hard training ahead of him. But at the same time, maybe now he had someone who wouldn't mind sparring with him for decent practice. Tenten didn't look like she was having a horrible time, anyways... "-Shit!" And he had to stop getting lost in his thoughts, or he'd get a blunt end of a staff to his skull next time. Rolling away, Sasuke shot back to his feet and returned the blows. He'd always been a quick learner; even quicker when he was shown a good example in action. Aiming to sweep Tenten's feet out from under her for real this time, he feinted a high blow with the weapon gripped in his hands, hoping to distract her as he shot a leg out and around to bring the talented martial artist down.
When the attack had missed, or rather, when Sasuke had the common sense to duck away from the blow that would have surely knocked his senses for a loop, Tenten pressed on, continued to push forward to keep up the momentum of their fight. Because it simply was not as much fun if they slowed things down. Not now. And plus, this was the only way that he would learn, with the threat of defeat looming on the edge of her blows. Tenten took her training far too seriously, respected the potential talent that he possessed as a fellow fighter too much to let up on him now. There were a good number of students that were more unforgiving and a great deal faster.
The hit to the temple had been foiled by a simple move. But that could be countered as well, proven when she continued the swing of the staff and brought it around in a powerful arch with the intent on crashing it down on his prostrated body. She smirked when all that could be heard was the hollow echo of wood against mat. He was getting quicker.
"Pay attention. Unless you want your brains splattered against the mats." It was not necessarily an order, although her voice held a teaching tone to it, merely a reminder that moments of distracts could be fatal in a fight. While she spoke, the young fighter glided the end of the pole along the ground, feeling it whisper against the fabric of his shirt while he rolled away. And then it was back to business. Back to the crack of hard wood against hard wood. And Tenten could only feel a sense of exhilaration, of satisfaction as the bo staff shook in her hand. Good. He was hitting harder too.
And more strategic, Tenten noted when she felt the solid sweep of Sasuke's leg hit the weak underside of her knees. And just like Sasuke, she had been brought down by a method of distraction. But as bad as things seemed from her position, she still had her staff and years of training under her belt. Tenten was in no way defeated, yet.
As Sasuke was improving, though, Tenten just seemed to be warming up. Her hits came harder and faster than ever, and it was all he could do to block each swing or jab. Hissing out a quick breath in victory as his staff connected solidly with the girl's legs, he let his lips curve into a slight smirk; he knew that wasn't an intentional down on the young woman's part. With the moment of cockiness that came with felling the almost legendary Tenten, the raven-haired teen had disregarded the advice she'd just told him. Distracted, he couldn't get up as quickly as Tenten rose to her own feet, and the next hit was one he'd gladly pretend never existed.
The wood cracked loudly as it connected with Sasuke's shoulder blades, and he let out a rather undignified grunt and huff of air as he dropped again to the tatami mat, his own staff rattling as it hit the ground. Obviously winded, the young man shut his eyes tightly, taking a minute to catch his breath even before swearing lowly, keeping his eyes squinted shut. He wondered vaguely if the spar was done now that he'd been the first one to lose hold of his weapon, or if Tenten would continue, and he'd be keeping away from the dojo for a while, recovering from the mass amount of wounds. Inhaling sharply, he kept still waiting for Tenten to either step back or let that staff fall again.
With confidence in landing a good and solid hit, there was always the risk of becoming too assured of victory. And that was when the mind tended to wander away from the main target, when the body was at its most vulnerable. Because with the lack of attention, that left room for the opponent to strike unhindered. Focus was always important to have, even when it seemed that the competition was out for the count. People always seem to have ways of surprising you. It should have been one of the first thing he learned in his training.
Pity. She had really and truly expected more from Sasuke, especially with how seriously he had always seemed to take his spars and fights. The ones she had seen in person, anyways. What she heard from the others was left up to speculation and skepticism. The younger girls in the classes especially enjoyed exaggerating about the guy of their infatuated dreams. And as talented as Tenten knew him to be, even the prodigal young Uchiha was not that skilled and invincible as they were building him up to be. No one was. Everyone had flaws and weaknesses.
Now, it was time to take advantage of Sasuke's.
Using all of the leverage and strength she could muster from where she laid on the ground, Tenten jabbed the end of the staff into the junction where his ankle and foot met. Perhaps then, his attention would be brought back to the matter at hand instead of whatever celebratory gloating he might have been planning. And while he was recovering from the blow, the young fighter flipped back onto her feet and sent a quick strike against his back.
The rattle and clatter of wood against the mats was what she heard first, only then pausing to glance over her shoulder in time to watch his bo staff roll to a stop just out of reach. And then came the stillness. Nothing but silence amid the grunts and yells from the other room. No doubt afternoon lessons would be over soon and the students would be free to leave...only to find the two of them in this predicament. But regardless, Tenten would not attack him. Not now when he was unarmed. That was the principle she followed.
Instead, the young woman shifted the end of her pole and slid it carefully under his chin so that she could raise his head up an inch or so. No. Tenten would not talk to the back of his head like he was a beggar. She would speak to him with his head held high and proud. "Do you yield?"
The jutting pain to his ankle wasn't something Sasuke had been expecting, so it was enough to send him stumbling sideways with a muffled swear, trying not to trip over his own feet. It had really hurt, too, but he managed to stay upright, regaining his balance just in time to take a blow straight across his spine and the back of his ribcage. With a loud 'Oof!', the dark-haired male hit the mat, the wind effectively knocked out of him. It took a second to register what had just happened, and he scowled into his face-full of stiff tatami flooring. He grunted when the tip of the girl's bo staff tucked itself under his chin and forced his head up, squinting an eye to the awkward feeling of his head being forced upward without him really being able to lean upward with it.
"...Yield..?" The word made him repress a smirk, and a thin dark brow went up as he looked up at the young woman standing victoriously above him. He repressed a smirk, moving one arm slowly to push the staff out from under his chin, looking down again and inhaling deeply. Sasuke wasn't about to admit defeat, even if he did just have his ass handed to him. Except refusing to admit defeat didn't help with his staff now having rolled out of reach, but he could overlook that for the moment. "Hell no." He snorted, lifting his head of his own volition this time to toss an amused, half-hearted glare in Tenten's direction. He wasn't in a shape to get back up and start swinging again, but he knew ways around that. "I'll just.. Get you next time." He rolled himself onto his back, grunting softly in pain and shutting his eyes, just catching his breath. How could a girl hit so hard...?
Poised and ready to react if he decided to retaliate and continue the fight, Tenten stood there and kept the staff strong in her grip. She would give him every opportunity to grab his weapon once more if that were the case. Because she would not fight an unarmed opponent save during hand to hand combat, something Sasuke was more than welcome to suggest if he was growing weary with the bo staves. However, his mood and actions did well to disregard any thoughts of continuing this spar further, lighten her disposition to one that was more that of her normal, less hostile and serious demeanor at the prospects. Unless Sasuke was plotting some sort of trick, this battle was over whether or not the young Uchiha chose to say the words. Still, it would have been nice to hear the official resignation. But even Tenten knew that was hoping for much.
Her eyes narrowed and a thin smirk curved on her lips. Of course Sasuke would not yield. He was a prideful one, that much was certain of his personality. But with good cause. Talent was something earned, proven, not freely given. And the young Uchiha had more than stacked his claim to excellence. But they all still had a long way to go. "Who said there'd be a next time?"
Tenten was joking of course, contrary to the small jest she had just made. Because she very well wanted another spar against the other to see just where all their limitations resided in correlation to each other. After all, the more the young woman knew of her opponents, the better she could train herself to fight against them. Ever since her younger days, she had always felt a constant need for improvement, to become the best she could be. Otherwise, what was the point of trying at all?
"We call this a draw then?" After determining that Sasuke would not attempt any form of trick in order to gain a win against her, Tenten seated herself beside him on the mat, laying her own staff across her lap. After that work out, both she and her muscles needed the rest, though Tenten was adamant in not letting him know just how much. So with a quiet pant of breath while she caught her breath, the young woman pressed a fisted hand to her thigh and regarded him with a cheeky grin. "Unless you wanna go another round? I'm sure the younger students would love to watch when they get out of class, especially the girls."
A draw..? Yeah, Sasuke could live with that. Grudgingly, but it was better than standing up and taking another shot knowing he would only have his ass handed to him. Exhaling heavily, the young man's brows bunched together at the mention of the practice about to let out and the girls in said practice, and he 'hmph'ed before pushing himself up into a sitting position, leaving the staff where it had rolled off to. Flat on his back was not where he wanted to be when any little fanclub came wandering by.
Type: RP log
Fandom: AU!Naruto
Character(s): Uchiha Sasuke, Tenten; brief mentions of Maito Gai, Rock Lee, Hyuuga Neji, Uzumaki Naruto
Pairing(s): A ghost of Sasuke/Tenten?
Warning(s): ...Violence?
Disclaimer: I own only the part that I played in this.
Note: Log originally started for the
last_stretch RP comm, but never finished. Dedicated to: Sasuke. And having his ass handed to him. ♥
Having gone to the dojo early in the afternoon, Sasuke had taken up residence in the corner farthest away from the door. Yes, his 'gift' had been set up for four o'clock, but at half past two he'd gotten too bored and honestly too excited to be cooped up in his dorm room for a second longer. Not that his face betrayed any of that excitement, jaw tense and eyes narrow as his foot hit the tatami mat loudly and he thrust the bamboo sword gripped firmly in his hands away from his stomach. Half of the anticipation was simply from the fact that only a rare few had ever bothered to ask to train or spar with him; and being found by one of the people he'd spotted before in this place that actually knew what the hell they were doing and be offered, even if it was a birthday gift....
Well. It was still something. A slight smirk stole over the pale teen's mouth, and he pivoted on his foot, stopping mid-motion and lifting his head when he thought he heard the doors opening.
Head down, Tenten could only watch with a level of calmness and patience as the square tiles of concrete passed by with each step she took. As planned, the young waitress had managed to convince her shift manager at the Far and Wide Cafe into letting her leave an hour early. Of course, telling him that it had something to do with pre-season practices for the upcoming volleyball season might have had something to do with it. She had been working there for a good number of years, and with Tochiro for most if not all of those years. He knew and understood that Tenten was a hard worker. But even he would not have given in to her request if he knew the truth. There was no way he would have allowed her to leave on their busiest business day in order to anty up on a birthday spar she had offered on a whim.
"Alright, maybe not so much on a whim..." Naruto had only given vague answers when questioned about a fight he got involved in weeks before and Tenten had let it go as she had promised. But that did not mean she could ignore the signs and clues. The way they acted around each other, the immediate tension that was always there when they were around each other. He had been involved somehow. But that had only been part of the reason for the offer. A greater part of her wanted to see just how good this Sasuke guy was. She had seen him practicing at the dojo, always by himself or against those who thought to create themselves an instant reputation by challenging him (mostly beginners and amateurs). And while his techniques were impressive, the only real way for her to see his true potential was to place him against one of Gai-sensei's top students.
'And I'd rather see it first hand than from the sidelines, she thought to herself, the corner of her mouth twitching up in amusement. And with a gentle push, she stepped into the dojo like she had done a thousand times before. Instantly, Tenten's eyes shifted to the figure in the corner, right where he always was. '"Couldn't wait to fight me, could you?"
Straightening slowly as the woman stepped into the dojo, Sasuke slung the bamboo sword over his shoulder, flicking his bangs from his face with a slight twitch of his head. "...Well. If I'm to believe everything I hear, I needed all the practice I could get." He swiveled on his foot, heading the place the shinai along with the other practice swords, not even sure that was what they'd be sparring with. Tenten hadn't actually specified what they'd be doing, and Sasuke had been too distracted with the obscene present left for him at his door to have asked for a little clarification at the time, so the best he could hope for would be for it to be an art he knew.
Turning again, he faced the girl, dark brows lifting briefly. "I hope you won't disappoint me and try to go easy on me just because this is my birthday present." He wouldn't settle for such a blow to his pride, but for some reason, this Tenten girl didn't strike him as the type for the thought to have even crossed her mind. But then, he'd seen that in watching her practice and spar briefly before. This wasn't a woman who dumbed down for anything. "So, I didn't ask... What, exactly, will we be doing?"
In two smooth and easy motions, Tenten shuffled off her shoes and pushed them against the wall by the door, just as she was taught and had grown to do after entering through the dojo doors. Gai's Aikido class was already well underway if the shouts and soft thud of bodies hitting the mats were any indication. As it should have been considering the class began a good hour before their spar was scheduled to begin. It was a stroke of fortune that it was because it meant that not many would be around to interrupt or disturb them while they sparred. Sure, a small crowd might form, but not nearly as many would come looking if they had began in between classes. "Well if that's the impression you get from hearing what's been floating around here about me, then I guess I should be flattered the other students think so highly of me."
A quick glance around as she approached him, Tenten could not help but allow a small bud of pride bud within her chest at the thought that he had actually heard anything about her at all, especially when Tenten had a tendency to blend into the background save for tournaments and competitions. In the past, the young woman might have argued differently when it came to those who would sooner write her off as a typical girl, but after years of acceptance from people like Gai, Lee, and even Neji, there was no longer a need to prove herself, just as long as those closest believed in her. "But as it stands, I believe that since it's your birthday present, you get the honor of choosing."
Sasuke stated the time for the spar more to keep the boisterous green beast of a teacher busy than to deter any crowd that might form. They were students, most barely out of high school; he couldn't expect them not to crowd around and watch. No, no, it was Gai Sasuke was afraid of. But with him in the middle of class, there would be no old-man blur in too-tight green spandex trying to convince him to join every single thing the dojo ran.
Honestly. The man was just scary. Exhaling, Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the woman with a small lift of his brows. "Well... I can't decide. So.. You do it." He rolled his shoulders, tilting his head and relaxing his facial features. It was about as close to a smile as he usually got.
With what could be considered a look of interest, Tenten tilted her head a small fraction while regarding the other with a level of amusement. It was not often that others would return the gesture of being able to pick what discipline of martial arts they would be using during a spar because of the advantage they would gain in choosing. She could have easily chosen an art she excelled in while knowing perfectly well he would not have stood a chance. The same would be true if he had not given that choice back to her. But then again, Sasuke seemed like one familiar with a grand scale of different arts. However, she was not the type to take easy wins due to an imbalance of skills. The spar had been offered as a gift and so she would honor that. "Straight taijutsu then? Hand-to-hand, no weapons?...unless you prefer to use weapons..."
As she spoke, Tenten began stripping off the outer layers of clothes she had worn to the cafe, leaving only the light layers underneath. The air conditioning at her place of business was always set on a moderately high level so as to provide a reprieve for customers coming in to escape the summer heat while they enjoyed their orders of coffee and/or pastry treats. So as a waitress, it was always a functional and convienent idea to dress in appropriately when Tenten was scheduled to work. But for now, the extra clothes would only slow her movements down, and that was all that really mattered: giving him her best. She had sparred in much less before and so felt no need to be embarrassed or shy around Sasuke because of her lack of clothing.
That done, Tenten began stretching out the muscles in her arms and legs, preparing for what promised to be an interesting spar while waiting for his reply to her conditions.
Lifting one brow higher than the other at the look he was receiving, Sasuke let out a tiny breath of air and hoped he hadn't just offended her. He wasn't actually thinking he should give her the upper hand in letting her choose how they were sparring; he honestly just couldn't decide. He didn't watch Tenten closely enough that he knew what she excelled in, and while he looked forward to a challenge, he didn't want to choose wrong and just get beaten down in ten seconds.
His brain stopped working momentarily when Tenten started stripping right in front of him.
While Tenten wasn't shy at all apparently, Sasuke blinked and averted his eyes with a little cough. "...Uh.. Weapons. I do prefer weapons..." He could understand the practical reason for the removal of the clothes, but really. Should he be doing the same? The hakama he was wearing would be hell to fight in any other style with, but... Sasuke didn't run into situations like this very often, so it was only natural to get a little flustered without being able to help it. He just hoped his cheeks weren't noticeably red, though he could practically feel the heat of the blood rushing to them and he kept his eyes on the ground, waiting for Tenten to choose which weapons they'd be using.
Whether he was blushing or not at her diminishing layers, she either did not notice or simply did not care to take note of his reaction, her focus more aimed and interested in choosing a weapon for them to use while the young woman continued to stretch. Being the over-exuberant and multifaceted instructor that he was (and perhaps after learning about Tenten's affinity when it came to learning how to use the various forms of weaponry at her disposal), Gai had stocked his dojo with an impressive collection for the students to make use of. So he prefers weapons...that gets him some respect from me.
However, neither of them would be getting far if they used any with sharp edges and pointed spikes. That ruled out a good portion of what was available to them. "Fair eno - ugh..." Reaching an arm over her head, the other hand placed firmly on the bone of her hip, Tenten stretched out the muscles along her side. Mentally counting off the seconds in her head, she straightened her stance once more and did the same for the other side, repeating the motion a few times until both felt adequately prepared. "Bo staffs sound alright to you then? No fun in sparring if we end up killing each other with something sharp and pointy, right?"
Particularly during tournaments or competitions, Tenten fully acknowledged the seriousness while going through her usual routine of preparation. However, even though she treated this situation no differently, there still remained a lightness to her actions and overall mood, made apparent in the way she carried herself and spoke. A faint smile always seemed to be present, a ghost between neutrality and playfulness. Because live was just not as fun if you went through it always being so serious. But rest assured, Tenten came to fight, and fight her hardest against Sasuke.
Schooling his features before looking up again, Sasuke gave a short nod. "Sounds good." He turned on his heel to retrieve said items from the other side of the room, eyeing the long wooden poles against the opposite wall. Suddenly this didn't seem like such a great idea. Staves could leave a pretty nasty bruise. Still, he wandered over and picked up two before moving back again, eyes on Tenten curiously. Well, it was her choice if she wanted the both of them to sore come evening time. Holding one of the staves out for her once she'd finished stretching, Sasuke licked his lips absently.
"...Why did you offer me a gift, anyways?" He was always somewhat wary of people, the paranoia easily explained if one knew his past, but he tried. And while Tenten didn't seem like someone who was out to get him just for the hell of it, and he really had been looking forward to this spar over the last few days, one could never be too sure. "I don't think we've even actually introduced ourselves to each other before."
With a roll of her neck muscles and a nonchalant shrug, she took the offered staff and gave it a few sweeping swings to accustom herself to its weight and speed. It was simply an automatic reaction developed over years of practicing and sparring with others at Gai's dojo. No two pieces of equipment were exactly the same and it was something of common sense to take all the time possible to familiarize yourself with what is given before starting any sort of battle. However, he very well could have interpreted it otherwise. There was so little that Tenten knew about this Sasuke person other than a possible encounter with Naruto at the dojo weeks before, and then another, more public meeting during his 'Boy's Night Out.' Beyond that was fair game.
"I make it a point to know all the students at the dojo, and...you seemed nice enough. Well, when you're not huddled in the corner all by yourself." In an idle manner, she slid the central part of her bo staff behind her head, gently against the nape of her neck while thin and nimble hands rested on either side of the wooden pole. "I'll admit, I've watched you a few times while you were training, but...not in a weird way, I promise." And there was Tenten's first signal that she was perhaps talking a bit too much. But still, she pressed on, having spent long years around the likes of Lee, Kiba, and Naruto who thrived on conversation. "And I was looking for a reason to ask for a spar that didn't seem weird. So when I found out it was your birthday, I just figured you'd appreciate a one more than any material object other people might've gotten you."
"Besides, I've had experience in the past with people seemingly of your personality type. No better way to get acquainted than beating the crap out of each other, hm?" She was referring to Neji of course, someone Tenten had only met in a Kendo club years ago. It was where she had earned his respects, and in turn his friendship. There were certain aspects of his character that shadowed the impression she had of Sasuke. And if it could work for someone as closed off as Neji had once been, then it was worth a try for Sasuke as well.
Sasuke nearly swore as he watched Tenten warm up just briefly with a large stick of wood; she obviously knew what she was doing. He probably should have expected that, though, with the things he'd overheard amongst the other students who practiced in the dojo about the talented the girl was with any weapon that was placed in her hands. He held the staff with a tight grip before easing up on it and sliding his hands along the mostly smooth surface to hold the thing a little more easily. He was really barely more than a novice with staves, but he had insisted on Tenten's choosing, and he wasn't about to go back on it.
"'My personality type'...." He scoffed quietly, his feet shifting on the cool mat under them. "I think you're making one too many assumptions, personally, but that... Is a fair way to get to know someone." Okay, so besides being a weapons master, the girl just liked to talk. Exhaling sharply, Sasuke turned and wandered a little further away before glancing back again. He didn't want to talk. He didn't like talking. He'd just been looking forward to this spar; a way to ease some building frustration and kill some time.
Had he even caught this girl's name? If he did, he hadn't remembered it. Hoping the few feet he'd just put between them had sufficiently ended the attempt at conversation, Sasuke spread his feet a little wider, lifting his brows just slightly and just waiting.
"Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not. We'll see where my assumptions stand after the spar is over." Slowly, she let a soft sigh escape past her lips, part of her already expecting this 'down to business' type of attitude from him. However, there was still a few more things they both needed to do before the spar could begin. Tenten was actually a bit surprised and somewhat impressed that the other would insist on starting without taking the proper precautions. Honestly, did he really expect her to allow the both of them to spar with fully working bo staves without the proper equipment? Gai-sensei was nothing if not thorough about the rules concerning every piece of weaponry he had left at her disposal. And the number one rule at the dojo (aside from indulging in the pride of one's youthfulness) was safety. "Meanwhile, you might wanna put on the right head gear before we start."
Letting one hand slip from where it rested against the wooden pole speared behind her neck, Tenten was already pulling open the door to the equipment closet, reaching in to toss him specifically made helmets for the sort of disciplines practiced at the dojo before grabbing one for herself. She refrained from insisting they wear gloves and wrist guards, however. They would only hinder the fight and limit the mobility of their movements. And what sort of fun would that be if either one of them could place blame on something else other than their own skills? If she lost, Tenten would rather face it honorably without the temptation of using that as an excuse. And if she won...the young woman would prefer not to risk the disrespect of him shifting the blame on anything other than himself. "Wouldn't want a concussion on our hands, now would we?"
Sasuke scowled at the tone Tenten gave him as she reminded him about the headgear, honestly not even having thought about it. It was like she was scolding a child for running in the hallway. "....I wasn't aware that you'd be aiming at my head." He managed a slight smirk, dropping the staff against his shoulder to catch the helmet that was tossed to him. He stared at it for a minute, thinking how many students had worn these things before, and how much time he'd spent styling his hair that morning - an embarrassingly vain thought, but a thought nonetheless - and almost opted out, but Tenten seemed to be pretty set on this, so with a heavy breath, he lifted the thing and pulled it down over his hair, strapping it into place.
"Hn." Was all he said, obviously not pleased about the fashionable headwear, and he caught the staff before it could roll off his shoulder and hit the floor, slinging his arm around the wooden weapon and waiting in case there was any more gear she'd be throwing at him. When none came, he relaxed and straightened up again and just kept watching the young woman.
"So now that our skulls are nice and brain-damage friendly, can we get on with this?" His voice was impatient, but lightly so. He'd let Tenten kill a little more time with talking or safety or rules or whatever, but he did want to spar sometime today.
It was not that she believed Sasuke would purposely aim a hit at her head. The equipment was merely a precaution drilled into her mind after years of training under Maito Gai. And after having such experience, Tenten knew better than any student learning at the dojo that anything could happen in the midst of a heated spar. Bo staves allotted the quick movement and speed that was just right for the sort of training she prefered. Straight, strong, and quick. The way they were made and designed allowed the weapon to move with the many shifts and flows of the body as it prepared to either defend or attack. For lack of a better description, it was like an extension of herself, training both the unforgivable strength and agility she was known for in her fighting.
"Well, I've no intention of hitting you there if that's what you're implying. But when we're moving as fast as we will be, who's to say it won't happen?" And there was that faint smile, bordering between complete seriousness and a more playful nature while she strapped on her own helmet. I blame Naruto for that. "But fine, if you're gonna be so impatient, we can start now."
After another moment to double check the straps of her gear, she took the staff into her hands. And in an instance, that playful part of her demeanor disappeared as Tenten snapped into position, her stance strong and solid. One end was aimed at him, streamlined and poised to seek out its target like a determined arrow. "Whenever you're ready just touch your staff with mine and then we can start."
Dark eyes narrowed a little to that teasing, and Sasuke got the feeling he'd have to be dodging more than one hit to his face, but just let out a breath, adjusing the helmet one more time before backing a little further away from the girl. It almost surprised Sasuke as to how quickly Tenten could shift into her stance with so little effort, her feet poised in a manner so textbook-perfect that it had Sasuke furrowing his brows and wondering what exactly he'd gotten himself into. That little playful-sweet smile wasn't helping much, either. But he'd already agreed to the spar and any bruises on his body or his ego that it would bring, so he put both hands on the wooden pole again, shifting his own feet on the stiff tatami flooring. Licking his lips, he moved his arms until his own staff was pointed forward, mimicking Tenten's own stance and tapping the bo together firmly. "Ready."
There was a faint smirk before Sasuke flew into motion to block Tenten's first attack, honestly not expecting such speed at such short notice.
With a swift pivot of her hips, she brought the back end of the staff around for the first blow in a grand arch, aiming high and fast with the force of her movements adding to Tenten's momentum. Even without the normal step-in that would come with the attack, it seemed to hold more power, something that had always surprised other students. And as predicted, she heard the satisfying crack of wood against wood, felt the solid hit as Sasuke's block held just as strong. Good. Impressive even. It meant that he was just as good as she had expected him to be. Because her move had been unexpected and just a bit unorthodox as a great many others would have began with a simple trust forward or a strike using the front end of the staff that stood closer to their opponent. But if there was one thing Tenten enjoyed most, it was surprising her adversaries.
Wasting little time, she made use of the back-swing to aim another blow towards his hip using the front end of her weapon, finally stepping in close to reduce the space he had to move and block, all the while throwing off his reaction time as the shift would bring her strike in that much quicker.
She was notably smaller than Sasuke, allowing her agility and maneuverability. And Tenten used that to her advantage, along with the years of experience she had gained in practicing with their weapon of choice. The bo staff was one closely associated with the practice of martial arts because of their similar movements, and thus had always been used as exercise to help further her training in hand to hand combat.That fact that the young woman had skills with a number of weapons was beside the point.
Sasuke hated the movements that came with fighting with a staff; they were unpredictable and quick, though he was grateful they weren't quick enough to completely catch him off guard. He almost found the style messy, but watching Tenten as she moved with the weapon, he couldn't bring himself to call it that, even in his head. The woman had a way of making everything in this dojo into something fluid and graceful despite the speed she moved at. She was simply too good at what she did. Blocking that first attack, or even the second aimed at his side, meant nothing when she closed the space between them. Sasuke couldn't help but move a little awkwardly with the unfamiliar weapon, and the sound of wood cracking against wood rang through the empty practice room as he tried to make a strike of his own. "-Shit." He couldn't fight this close. The bo staff was too different from his comfort space of a katana. He needed room.
Shuffling backward, or at least trying to, Sasuke let out a shallow noise and ducked against another strike, scowling a little. That had been aimed at his head. And as much as he didn't want to go easy on Tenten and as much as he knew she wouldn't appreciate the gesture, he just couldn't bring himself to strike upward at the open space left by that last attack. Or he just hadn't decided to take advantage of that opening in the short time it had been left for him. It... Might've been the latter. Swearing before Tenten could try to take another swing or strike down while he was crouching, he threw a leg out and swung around, trying to throw the girl off of her feet.
And that had been her intention as she brought the butt end of the staff around once more in a high sweep, her body following to make a full turn to quickly throw a hit behind her towards his thigh and knee. To throw him off of his game, if only a small fraction. That was the aim. And for the moment, Tenten was not concerned with the small openings she was leaving him (and indeed she knew perfectly well that they were there) as she twisted around and aimed her elbow towards his neck area. Better her elbow than the solid wood of the staff, she thought. Tenten would take the risk of exposing her weak points and rely on her speed to keep them as protected as possible while driving him further and further back.
But a rush of air where the soft flesh of his neck should have been, and the shadow of his form disappearing out the corner of her eyes had alerted the young woman just in time to Sasuke's next move. So as the young fighter felt the initial touch of his leg sweeping to trip her from her stance, Tenten searched quickly through her mind for an appropriate counter. It was the sort of fighting she had thrived on for years, ultimately developing the ability to formulate strategic plans at a moment's notice and making the proper adjustments to them as the situation continued to change. It was a necessary skill to have as most of the students she sparred against -- Lee and Neji especially -- moved at lightning speed.
And so it was almost through instincts that Tenten pivoted on her heel and reached out to place both hands back on to the bo staff, using it as support while she pushed herself off of the ground in an arching flip over the other's crouched form. Landing on the other side, the young woman pulled up the wooden pole and thrust it forwards towards his unprotected back.
Sasuke's lips had pulled just slightly into a smirk as his leg swung around, figuring he'd one-upped his sparring partner, only to have his lips turn into a quick, slightly confused frown when his leg didn't fully connect with anything. Glancing up as Tenten's shadow disappeared entirely from the tatami mat, the raven-haired teen swore out in a hiss and dropped to the side just in time to barely dodge what would have been a rather painful blow, the wooden staff bumping hard against his shoulder instead. The headgear that Tenten had been so vehement on him wearing wouldn't have helped a hit like that. He rolled away, hand grabbing the end of his staff as he moved to a safer distance from the girl, dark eyes narrowing considerably.
His shoulder throbbed, and he ignored it, figuring his plan to attack through defense wasn't going to work in this fight. Lifting himself back to his feet, he let out a harsh breath and flicked the hair from his eyes with a twitch of his head before charging.
The sound of wooden beams cracking against each other rang out through the dojo, and as most of his hits were blocked or evaded, Sasuke wondered if Tenten had just chosen the weapon she was most proficient in, or if she really was just this good with everything. Even the blows that were landing didn't slow her down or deter her, and Sasuke found himself dodging a number of close calls to his skull again.
Tenten would not deny that the blows Sasuke managed to land were irritating at best, painful at worse. But with so much adrenaline flowing freely through her veins, it was hard to take notice of them. It had been a long time since she had been able to fight against someone of this level and skill. Even if the bo staff was not his specialty, the young Uchiha was doing fairly well and more than making up for what he did not know by learning quickly. He was relentless in his determination, which was just as bit intimidating as it was admirable. But there was still one factor that he simply just could not seem to grasp.
As more and more time passed, their moves became quicker and smoother, almost complimenting each other as the spar became more of a dance than a fight. He was no longer fumbling to block her advances and managing to attack the brief openings she left. But the one, constant mistake that Sasuke just could not seem to learn from was the need for distance. Sasuke was not accustomed to fighting in such close proximity, or at least that was the conclusion the young woman had come to after piecing together all that she knew or had seen of him. Perhaps it was a comment on his own personal preference in life. Perfectly fine. But distance was a deadly thing to have when you were fighting with bo staffs. And if he desired to have any chance of winning this battle, he would have to rid himself of that crutch. Otherwise, Tenten would take full advantage of that weakness.
Again, she pressed closer, ever closer to further throw off his concentration, throwing in a series of alternating blows towards Sasuke's head and ribs, coming at a rapid speed so that he would have to rely on instinct and reaction alone to keep from getting hit. And then, when it seemed as if he had settled into a false sense of security and confidence in his blocks, Tenten switched gears and landed a hit on the inside of his knee before circling the pole around to land a swift blow to his temple.
And just when Sasuke had thought he'd finally gotten the hang of this, a small smirk playing at is lips, Tenten pulled the rug out from under him - kind of literally, too. With the hit to the back of his knee, Sasuke's leg buckled, and before he could shift his weight onto his other foot, he found himself dodging anther hit. He stumbled back so the pole wouldn't connect with his head, and his ass hit the floor as he let out a quiet swear, almost glaring up at Tenten. Maybe not with the anger that usually stood behind his glare, but his pride was starting to take a beating here, too, and he was already fighting seriously enough for a spar.
If he was a lesser man, he might've thrown in the towel by now. Even so, he was'nt sure how much more of this he could take. This girl was, admittedly, way better than he was. At wielding a bo, anyways. He could blame his weakness on having n here for a few hours before Tenten's arrival and that he'd tired himself out, but Sasuke could admit, maybe not out loud but to himself, that Tenten was kicking his ass, and doing it fairly with just her skill behind her. He'd challenge her to switch to his weapon of choice if he wasn't doubting that maybe she was this good with a sword, too.
He had a lot of hard training ahead of him. But at the same time, maybe now he had someone who wouldn't mind sparring with him for decent practice. Tenten didn't look like she was having a horrible time, anyways... "-Shit!" And he had to stop getting lost in his thoughts, or he'd get a blunt end of a staff to his skull next time. Rolling away, Sasuke shot back to his feet and returned the blows. He'd always been a quick learner; even quicker when he was shown a good example in action. Aiming to sweep Tenten's feet out from under her for real this time, he feinted a high blow with the weapon gripped in his hands, hoping to distract her as he shot a leg out and around to bring the talented martial artist down.
When the attack had missed, or rather, when Sasuke had the common sense to duck away from the blow that would have surely knocked his senses for a loop, Tenten pressed on, continued to push forward to keep up the momentum of their fight. Because it simply was not as much fun if they slowed things down. Not now. And plus, this was the only way that he would learn, with the threat of defeat looming on the edge of her blows. Tenten took her training far too seriously, respected the potential talent that he possessed as a fellow fighter too much to let up on him now. There were a good number of students that were more unforgiving and a great deal faster.
The hit to the temple had been foiled by a simple move. But that could be countered as well, proven when she continued the swing of the staff and brought it around in a powerful arch with the intent on crashing it down on his prostrated body. She smirked when all that could be heard was the hollow echo of wood against mat. He was getting quicker.
"Pay attention. Unless you want your brains splattered against the mats." It was not necessarily an order, although her voice held a teaching tone to it, merely a reminder that moments of distracts could be fatal in a fight. While she spoke, the young fighter glided the end of the pole along the ground, feeling it whisper against the fabric of his shirt while he rolled away. And then it was back to business. Back to the crack of hard wood against hard wood. And Tenten could only feel a sense of exhilaration, of satisfaction as the bo staff shook in her hand. Good. He was hitting harder too.
And more strategic, Tenten noted when she felt the solid sweep of Sasuke's leg hit the weak underside of her knees. And just like Sasuke, she had been brought down by a method of distraction. But as bad as things seemed from her position, she still had her staff and years of training under her belt. Tenten was in no way defeated, yet.
As Sasuke was improving, though, Tenten just seemed to be warming up. Her hits came harder and faster than ever, and it was all he could do to block each swing or jab. Hissing out a quick breath in victory as his staff connected solidly with the girl's legs, he let his lips curve into a slight smirk; he knew that wasn't an intentional down on the young woman's part. With the moment of cockiness that came with felling the almost legendary Tenten, the raven-haired teen had disregarded the advice she'd just told him. Distracted, he couldn't get up as quickly as Tenten rose to her own feet, and the next hit was one he'd gladly pretend never existed.
The wood cracked loudly as it connected with Sasuke's shoulder blades, and he let out a rather undignified grunt and huff of air as he dropped again to the tatami mat, his own staff rattling as it hit the ground. Obviously winded, the young man shut his eyes tightly, taking a minute to catch his breath even before swearing lowly, keeping his eyes squinted shut. He wondered vaguely if the spar was done now that he'd been the first one to lose hold of his weapon, or if Tenten would continue, and he'd be keeping away from the dojo for a while, recovering from the mass amount of wounds. Inhaling sharply, he kept still waiting for Tenten to either step back or let that staff fall again.
With confidence in landing a good and solid hit, there was always the risk of becoming too assured of victory. And that was when the mind tended to wander away from the main target, when the body was at its most vulnerable. Because with the lack of attention, that left room for the opponent to strike unhindered. Focus was always important to have, even when it seemed that the competition was out for the count. People always seem to have ways of surprising you. It should have been one of the first thing he learned in his training.
Pity. She had really and truly expected more from Sasuke, especially with how seriously he had always seemed to take his spars and fights. The ones she had seen in person, anyways. What she heard from the others was left up to speculation and skepticism. The younger girls in the classes especially enjoyed exaggerating about the guy of their infatuated dreams. And as talented as Tenten knew him to be, even the prodigal young Uchiha was not that skilled and invincible as they were building him up to be. No one was. Everyone had flaws and weaknesses.
Now, it was time to take advantage of Sasuke's.
Using all of the leverage and strength she could muster from where she laid on the ground, Tenten jabbed the end of the staff into the junction where his ankle and foot met. Perhaps then, his attention would be brought back to the matter at hand instead of whatever celebratory gloating he might have been planning. And while he was recovering from the blow, the young fighter flipped back onto her feet and sent a quick strike against his back.
The rattle and clatter of wood against the mats was what she heard first, only then pausing to glance over her shoulder in time to watch his bo staff roll to a stop just out of reach. And then came the stillness. Nothing but silence amid the grunts and yells from the other room. No doubt afternoon lessons would be over soon and the students would be free to leave...only to find the two of them in this predicament. But regardless, Tenten would not attack him. Not now when he was unarmed. That was the principle she followed.
Instead, the young woman shifted the end of her pole and slid it carefully under his chin so that she could raise his head up an inch or so. No. Tenten would not talk to the back of his head like he was a beggar. She would speak to him with his head held high and proud. "Do you yield?"
The jutting pain to his ankle wasn't something Sasuke had been expecting, so it was enough to send him stumbling sideways with a muffled swear, trying not to trip over his own feet. It had really hurt, too, but he managed to stay upright, regaining his balance just in time to take a blow straight across his spine and the back of his ribcage. With a loud 'Oof!', the dark-haired male hit the mat, the wind effectively knocked out of him. It took a second to register what had just happened, and he scowled into his face-full of stiff tatami flooring. He grunted when the tip of the girl's bo staff tucked itself under his chin and forced his head up, squinting an eye to the awkward feeling of his head being forced upward without him really being able to lean upward with it.
"...Yield..?" The word made him repress a smirk, and a thin dark brow went up as he looked up at the young woman standing victoriously above him. He repressed a smirk, moving one arm slowly to push the staff out from under his chin, looking down again and inhaling deeply. Sasuke wasn't about to admit defeat, even if he did just have his ass handed to him. Except refusing to admit defeat didn't help with his staff now having rolled out of reach, but he could overlook that for the moment. "Hell no." He snorted, lifting his head of his own volition this time to toss an amused, half-hearted glare in Tenten's direction. He wasn't in a shape to get back up and start swinging again, but he knew ways around that. "I'll just.. Get you next time." He rolled himself onto his back, grunting softly in pain and shutting his eyes, just catching his breath. How could a girl hit so hard...?
Poised and ready to react if he decided to retaliate and continue the fight, Tenten stood there and kept the staff strong in her grip. She would give him every opportunity to grab his weapon once more if that were the case. Because she would not fight an unarmed opponent save during hand to hand combat, something Sasuke was more than welcome to suggest if he was growing weary with the bo staves. However, his mood and actions did well to disregard any thoughts of continuing this spar further, lighten her disposition to one that was more that of her normal, less hostile and serious demeanor at the prospects. Unless Sasuke was plotting some sort of trick, this battle was over whether or not the young Uchiha chose to say the words. Still, it would have been nice to hear the official resignation. But even Tenten knew that was hoping for much.
Her eyes narrowed and a thin smirk curved on her lips. Of course Sasuke would not yield. He was a prideful one, that much was certain of his personality. But with good cause. Talent was something earned, proven, not freely given. And the young Uchiha had more than stacked his claim to excellence. But they all still had a long way to go. "Who said there'd be a next time?"
Tenten was joking of course, contrary to the small jest she had just made. Because she very well wanted another spar against the other to see just where all their limitations resided in correlation to each other. After all, the more the young woman knew of her opponents, the better she could train herself to fight against them. Ever since her younger days, she had always felt a constant need for improvement, to become the best she could be. Otherwise, what was the point of trying at all?
"We call this a draw then?" After determining that Sasuke would not attempt any form of trick in order to gain a win against her, Tenten seated herself beside him on the mat, laying her own staff across her lap. After that work out, both she and her muscles needed the rest, though Tenten was adamant in not letting him know just how much. So with a quiet pant of breath while she caught her breath, the young woman pressed a fisted hand to her thigh and regarded him with a cheeky grin. "Unless you wanna go another round? I'm sure the younger students would love to watch when they get out of class, especially the girls."
A draw..? Yeah, Sasuke could live with that. Grudgingly, but it was better than standing up and taking another shot knowing he would only have his ass handed to him. Exhaling heavily, the young man's brows bunched together at the mention of the practice about to let out and the girls in said practice, and he 'hmph'ed before pushing himself up into a sitting position, leaving the staff where it had rolled off to. Flat on his back was not where he wanted to be when any little fanclub came wandering by.