[ Finn's testing the weight of one when Itachi claims that any injury to his person will be his own fault. Lips thinned, he turns back to him with a slightly pained expression. ]
You might think that, but I'll still feel bad.
[ He's used to sparring as if he's truly trying to hurt the other person. Itachi seems like he's of the same mind, but Finn plans to hold back at least at first. Besides, he's pretty sure Itachi will win every match they have, anyway.
Finn turns back to him with the same blade, swinging it vertically, slowly and gently, and deciding it'll work. ]
That is because you have a kind nature. However, my sentiment stands.
๏ผ even shisui couldn't touch him, near the end.
he nods approvingly when finn selects a weapon, and draws the chokuto from its saya without any sort of ornamental flourish. he keeps the tip angled towards the floor, but it seems very much to be an extension of his body. something that is, to him, as natural as breathing. ๏ผ
Attack when ready. I will teach by doing.
๏ผ he could be cruel about it. there are lessons only pain can teach — that was the root of all he did to sasuke. yet now, he wants nothing less than that, and will not reach for it. ๏ผ
[ Okay, now he really wishes he'd gone for the wooden one. He knows he's going to be hesitant to do anything in case he might hurt Itachi. Though, he's pretty certain that won't be happening. Honestly, the reason why he went this way is because he has a history of learning things the hard, learning via pain. That's how the First Order did it.
It's not right, Finn knows, but it works. For instance, he learned a lot from his fight with Kylo Ren.
He holds the sword in front of him, legs apart, blade up and both hands on the hilt. It's the stance he took briefly before getting in the only hit he managed during that fight. But. Dammit. He's too scared he'll hurt him.
Finn pushes in, swinging the blade and coming in hard towards Itachi's unarmed side. The move is painfully telegraphed, and he knows it. Sort of mostly didn't intend it kind of... But if Itachi does nothing, the blade will stop well before it could hit him. Finn's hoping he doesn't do nothing. ]
๏ผ even if he were of the mind to cleave towards cruelty here — he would not do so by willfully letting himself take injury at the hands of a gentle man. he can sense the lack of intent behind that blow, and while he lifts his blade to block it, his expression is... a particular species of thoughtfully disappointed — whether that disappointment is in himself or in finn is not so easily disentangled.
the bladesong rings out, metal on metal, and then itachi forces their points to the ground with a flick of his wrist. with his free hand, he makes a series of hand seals too fast to follow — summoning a clone that appears in a soft puff of smoke. it resembles itachi perfectly in every respect, down to the messy ink-black spill of hair pulled back at his nape and the fact that there is a stray thread loose at the shoulder of his shirt that will later require mending. itachi separates his blade from finn's, relaxing his stance as he gestures to the clone. ๏ผ
Shinobi have the ability to create shadow clones of themselves. These clones are for use in reconnaissance and to disorient one's enemy in combat. However, they are also of benefit for training.
๏ผ if finn were to reach out with the force, he may notice — the clone is not separate from itachi, but rather has his exact energy signature — cold, remote, possessed of ruthless resolve and a distant, omnipresent sorrow that clings to him like a funeral shroud. itachi's own energy seems split now between the two, making it obvious this is not exactly a separate being but more a continuation, an extension of self. โ ๏ผ
It cannot experience pain and if you damage it, it will dissipate and its energy be returned to me. However, it is no less an opponent than myself, and you may fight it without fear. Is this sufficient?
[ It's okay, Itachi. Finn's kind of disappointed with himself. He can't complain about the results, though.
Or, well, he can for that first second or two when a clone of the other man appears out of nowhere and scares Finn nearly to death. Even weirder, it... feels like Itachi. Like an extension of him. It's a little unsettling at first.
So it takes him a beat after the question to even figure out the answer. ]
I- Yes! Yes, this is perfect. Um- [ He looks back to the real Itachi again, an apologetic look on his face. ] Thank you.
๏ผ his response is directed more to that look of apology than the statement of gratitude — ๏ผ
It is fine. This is training for me as well, shadow clones can be very taxing to maintain.
๏ผ he walks a short distance away and sinks down until he's sitting agura, cross-legged. he is still working on rebuilding his chakra reserves, clawing stamina back from the jaws of illness, and it is a form of training in this way. it is just not as difficult for him as perhaps he implies b that statement.
the clone stands ready, its grip on the sword identical in every way to itachi's. it inclines its head to finn, and then: ๏ผ
Let us begin.
๏ผ and with that warning, it will advance on him. the clone will go on the offensive immediately, though its attacks will not be difficult to block. ๏ผ
[ Yeah, Finn's not totally sure he believes him about Itachi getting some training out of this, too. Not that he doubts that magic like this is taxing to keep up, just that he's pretty sure Itachi's got this particular trick down by now.
He is so going to have to make this up to him somehow. And he'll start by not going easy on his opponent anymore.
Though, he's not really ready when the fight starts, Finn manages to bring the sword up one handed and block the first attack. He tries to push the other's blade aside, tries to get an opening, but they're difficult to come by. Still, as soon as he does get one, he doesn't hesitate. He goes in at the side, an attack that could kill if he weren't so damn sloppy with his weapon. That part, though, is just his need for better training. ]
๏ผ the sloppiness is noted both by itachi and the clone — but it's the latter that turns his blade to catch that attack, reaches out to grasp at finn's hand and tries, between those two points, to force him into a position that will either result in dropping the blade or breaking his wrist.
there are ways out of the hold, of course — but finn might have to play dirty to do it. maybe it's a bit of a challenge in that respect. ๏ผ
[ The move surprises the hell out of him, but he immediately feels dumb for being shocked. Yes, their training with swords, but that's just one weapon in a fight. He knows better.
He also knows his wrist is about to be broken if he doesn't do something. If Itachi is so inclined, anyway, and Finn's not going to wait around and find out. He folds his free arm towards himself and brings his elbow up to the clone's neck, hard enough to collapse a wind pipe if it lands, hopefully enough leverage or surprise to break out of the hold.
And if that doesn't work, he's still got his legs. Maybe he can sweep Itachi's feet out from under him? Unclear. At least he's thinking! ]
๏ผ rather than allow itself to take injury enough to dissipate it into nothingness, the clone uses shunshin to escape. it is there one moment and gone the next — the body flicker technique appears almost to be teleportation, its movement too fast for the eyes to track, but not quite so fast that finn won't be able to feel it in the force. it is abruptly behind him, and it attacks anew. it, like itachi, would not actually allow its blade to land in any damaging way, but it's hard to gauge that intent by the way it closes quarters on him again.
thus, a pattern is established — its attacks are unyielding, always whisper-close but not connecting. if finn blocks, it will do some other trick, attempt to land another blow, perhaps a kick or an open-palm strike with its other hand to get him off balance and push him back. if finn seems unable or unlikely to block, it will use shunshin to flash away rather than land a blow, and redouble its efforts to attack from another angle.
the clone is thorough and meticulous, but not without mercy. itachi meant it, when he said he would teach by doing. by degrees, the clone is doing just that — demonstrating how to block, how to press the attack, how to defend. how to turn a disadvantage into, if perhaps not an advantage, then at the very least equal footing through movement and the ebb and flow of battle. it isn't afraid to use the terrain — in one memorable moment it's gotten finn back against the benches, and it walks up the wall beside him as easily as normal individuals walk across flat ground, pushing itself off once it's above his head to land neatly behind him.
itachi is observing all this placidly, entirely unmoving. his posture is almost meditative, but there is a point at which his chakra begins to flag. the only outward sign of it is that his fingers curl against his knees, maintaining the clone is now taking will rather than the unselfconscious effort of before. ๏ผ
[ It doesn't take long at all for Finn to realize how intense Itachi's training really is. That said, he can't help but really appreciate it. This is exactly what he needs, and his skills do visibly improve as time goes on. He's by no means a master but he's better than he was ten minutes ago.
Though, this also shows him that his worry of hurting Itachi earlier was... unfounded. The man can more than handle himself, and Finn wishes he had taken him more seriously at the time. It's no matter, though. He's learning just as much about swordsmanship as he is about Itachi right now. It's all useful.
Then again, he's pretty sure he can't do that... wall walking trick. Jumping over and landing behind definitely makes him falter on his next several moves, but at least he knows that's a thing a person can do now. Because... why not?
It's around this moment, when he finally finds his footing again, that he feels a bit of strain in the Force. Like Itachi is having a harder time keeping up the clone. That's fair, honestly, this thing looks crazy. ]
Are you- Should-... How about a break?
[ Said between a few blocks. At least his movements don't waver while he speaks. ]
๏ผ he is almost certain that what was picked up upon was his own fatigue, and there's a faint ripple of annoyance in his emotional state that's tamped down almost immediately afterwards. mercy was not a trait he could afford to nurture, but there are none he denies it to more than himself.
the match persists, and for a time all seems fine — that is, until the clone makes one mistake. it lifts its sword to block a blow and is fractionally too late — finn's sword impacts against its shoulder and the clone disappears in a puff of smoke. all that energy and lifeforce returns to itachi, who nods approvingly. exhaustion shows in the prominent bruised smudges beneath his eyes, but none of it is in his posture as he rises from his cross-legged position. ๏ผ
[ Finn does catch that ripple, so short and small that he wonders if it was even real. He could imagine it is, though. Itachi hasn't been appreciative about Finn worrying about him so far, something he really does understand even if he's having a hard time respecting that (apparently).
No one's surprised more than Finn when he actually lands a hit. Despite his own persistence and vigilance, Itachi was just better than he was. When he does get the hit in, though, he knows it's not because he surpassed him or anything. Itachi actually faltered.
Which. He supposes there's something to that, after all.
He looks back to Itachi half leaned over, sword pointing down and nearly heaving for breath. He's sweaty and gross and aching all over. ]
Pretty great. That was amazing.
[ Exactly what he needed to learn these things, really. Also, even though he wants to, he's not going to ask how Itachi feels in return. Feels rude. ]
๏ผ when a clone dissipates, it brings all the knowledge gained back to its source. unfortunately, it also brings the fatigue from any exertion the clone has done. he's prepared for it, of course, but even nearly two decades of discipline cannot overwrite biological function — he too now appears to be sweating faintly, and lifts a hand to draw the back of one hand across his shining brow. he goes to fetch his water bottle from the bench, uncapping it to take a mouthful. it's tepid and warm, but it rinses the taste of old blood from his mouth. ๏ผ
๏ผ he remembers the first time his father pressed a tanto into his hands, the way his chubby fingers had curled around its saya as he pulled it from the sheath and saw a sliver of himself etched in the still waters of the silver blade.
it does not occur to him to lie. all shinobi begin weapons training young — he might expect a civilian to balk at it, but finn is not strictly what he considers a civilian. ๏ผ
It is common in my clan to specialize in the art of bladed weapons.
[ Finn's never considered himself a civilian either. Itachi just gets a nod for his answer, Finn thinking little of it except admiration for the other man's experience. ]
In the organization I was a part of, we specialized in firearms. I'd be happy to return the favor, if I can.
[ A lot of the Orbers don't even have weapons like Finn's familiar with in their worlds, but he's not just going to presume or something. He just offers because that's what he's best with, honestly. ]
I do not require much instruction, but I would be grateful.
๏ผ there's nothing in the statement to make it seem a matter of braggadocio — just simple fact. he has always learned quickly, and had eidetic memory even before the sharingan awoke. ๏ผ
I suspect such skills may be of use on future missions. Perhaps tomorrow?
[ Oh no, he gets that. Finn didn't figure Itachi would need much instruction. Most of what he teaches about firearms is safety, and Itachi is wise enough and experienced enough to understand how to treat any weapon with respect.
Finn's sure he'll grasp it quickly once he's got the idea of how the thing works. ]
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You might think that, but I'll still feel bad.
[ He's used to sparring as if he's truly trying to hurt the other person. Itachi seems like he's of the same mind, but Finn plans to hold back at least at first. Besides, he's pretty sure Itachi will win every match they have, anyway.
Finn turns back to him with the same blade, swinging it vertically, slowly and gently, and deciding it'll work. ]
This'll do.
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๏ผ even shisui couldn't touch him, near the end.
he nods approvingly when finn selects a weapon, and draws the chokuto from its saya without any sort of ornamental flourish. he keeps the tip angled towards the floor, but it seems very much to be an extension of his body. something that is, to him, as natural as breathing. ๏ผ
Attack when ready. I will teach by doing.
๏ผ he could be cruel about it. there are lessons only pain can teach — that was the root of all he did to sasuke. yet now, he wants nothing less than that, and will not reach for it. ๏ผ
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It's not right, Finn knows, but it works. For instance, he learned a lot from his fight with Kylo Ren.
He holds the sword in front of him, legs apart, blade up and both hands on the hilt. It's the stance he took briefly before getting in the only hit he managed during that fight. But. Dammit. He's too scared he'll hurt him.
Finn pushes in, swinging the blade and coming in hard towards Itachi's unarmed side. The move is painfully telegraphed, and he knows it. Sort of mostly didn't intend it kind of... But if Itachi does nothing, the blade will stop well before it could hit him. Finn's hoping he doesn't do nothing. ]
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the bladesong rings out, metal on metal, and then itachi forces their points to the ground with a flick of his wrist. with his free hand, he makes a series of hand seals too fast to follow — summoning a clone that appears in a soft puff of smoke. it resembles itachi perfectly in every respect, down to the messy ink-black spill of hair pulled back at his nape and the fact that there is a stray thread loose at the shoulder of his shirt that will later require mending. itachi separates his blade from finn's, relaxing his stance as he gestures to the clone. ๏ผ
Shinobi have the ability to create shadow clones of themselves. These clones are for use in reconnaissance and to disorient one's enemy in combat. However, they are also of benefit for training.
๏ผ if finn were to reach out with the force, he may notice — the clone is not separate from itachi, but rather has his exact energy signature — cold, remote, possessed of ruthless resolve and a distant, omnipresent sorrow that clings to him like a funeral shroud. itachi's own energy seems split now between the two, making it obvious this is not exactly a separate being but more a continuation, an extension of self. โ ๏ผ
It cannot experience pain and if you damage it, it will dissipate and its energy be returned to me. However, it is no less an opponent than myself, and you may fight it without fear. Is this sufficient?
no subject
Or, well, he can for that first second or two when a clone of the other man appears out of nowhere and scares Finn nearly to death. Even weirder, it... feels like Itachi. Like an extension of him. It's a little unsettling at first.
So it takes him a beat after the question to even figure out the answer. ]
I- Yes! Yes, this is perfect. Um- [ He looks back to the real Itachi again, an apologetic look on his face. ] Thank you.
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It is fine. This is training for me as well, shadow clones can be very taxing to maintain.
๏ผ he walks a short distance away and sinks down until he's sitting agura, cross-legged. he is still working on rebuilding his chakra reserves, clawing stamina back from the jaws of illness, and it is a form of training in this way. it is just not as difficult for him as perhaps he implies b that statement.
the clone stands ready, its grip on the sword identical in every way to itachi's. it inclines its head to finn, and then: ๏ผ
Let us begin.
๏ผ and with that warning, it will advance on him. the clone will go on the offensive immediately, though its attacks will not be difficult to block. ๏ผ
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He is so going to have to make this up to him somehow. And he'll start by not going easy on his opponent anymore.
Though, he's not really ready when the fight starts, Finn manages to bring the sword up one handed and block the first attack. He tries to push the other's blade aside, tries to get an opening, but they're difficult to come by. Still, as soon as he does get one, he doesn't hesitate. He goes in at the side, an attack that could kill if he weren't so damn sloppy with his weapon. That part, though, is just his need for better training. ]
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there are ways out of the hold, of course — but finn might have to play dirty to do it. maybe it's a bit of a challenge in that respect. ๏ผ
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He also knows his wrist is about to be broken if he doesn't do something. If Itachi is so inclined, anyway, and Finn's not going to wait around and find out. He folds his free arm towards himself and brings his elbow up to the clone's neck, hard enough to collapse a wind pipe if it lands, hopefully enough leverage or surprise to break out of the hold.
And if that doesn't work, he's still got his legs. Maybe he can sweep Itachi's feet out from under him? Unclear. At least he's thinking! ]
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thus, a pattern is established — its attacks are unyielding, always whisper-close but not connecting. if finn blocks, it will do some other trick, attempt to land another blow, perhaps a kick or an open-palm strike with its other hand to get him off balance and push him back. if finn seems unable or unlikely to block, it will use shunshin to flash away rather than land a blow, and redouble its efforts to attack from another angle.
the clone is thorough and meticulous, but not without mercy. itachi meant it, when he said he would teach by doing. by degrees, the clone is doing just that — demonstrating how to block, how to press the attack, how to defend. how to turn a disadvantage into, if perhaps not an advantage, then at the very least equal footing through movement and the ebb and flow of battle. it isn't afraid to use the terrain — in one memorable moment it's gotten finn back against the benches, and it walks up the wall beside him as easily as normal individuals walk across flat ground, pushing itself off once it's above his head to land neatly behind him.
itachi is observing all this placidly, entirely unmoving. his posture is almost meditative, but there is a point at which his chakra begins to flag. the only outward sign of it is that his fingers curl against his knees, maintaining the clone is now taking will rather than the unselfconscious effort of before. ๏ผ
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Though, this also shows him that his worry of hurting Itachi earlier was... unfounded. The man can more than handle himself, and Finn wishes he had taken him more seriously at the time. It's no matter, though. He's learning just as much about swordsmanship as he is about Itachi right now. It's all useful.
Then again, he's pretty sure he can't do that... wall walking trick. Jumping over and landing behind definitely makes him falter on his next several moves, but at least he knows that's a thing a person can do now. Because... why not?
It's around this moment, when he finally finds his footing again, that he feels a bit of strain in the Force. Like Itachi is having a harder time keeping up the clone. That's fair, honestly, this thing looks crazy. ]
Are you- Should-... How about a break?
[ Said between a few blocks. At least his movements don't waver while he speaks. ]
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๏ผ he is almost certain that what was picked up upon was his own fatigue, and there's a faint ripple of annoyance in his emotional state that's tamped down almost immediately afterwards. mercy was not a trait he could afford to nurture, but there are none he denies it to more than himself.
the match persists, and for a time all seems fine — that is, until the clone makes one mistake. it lifts its sword to block a blow and is fractionally too late — finn's sword impacts against its shoulder and the clone disappears in a puff of smoke. all that energy and lifeforce returns to itachi, who nods approvingly. exhaustion shows in the prominent bruised smudges beneath his eyes, but none of it is in his posture as he rises from his cross-legged position. ๏ผ
Adequate. How do you feel?
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No one's surprised more than Finn when he actually lands a hit. Despite his own persistence and vigilance, Itachi was just better than he was. When he does get the hit in, though, he knows it's not because he surpassed him or anything. Itachi actually faltered.
Which. He supposes there's something to that, after all.
He looks back to Itachi half leaned over, sword pointing down and nearly heaving for breath. He's sweaty and gross and aching all over. ]
Pretty great. That was amazing.
[ Exactly what he needed to learn these things, really. Also, even though he wants to, he's not going to ask how Itachi feels in return. Feels rude. ]
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You learn very quickly.
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[ Said between deep breaths while he tries to steady himself. It doesn't take him long, at least, but that was still a hell of a workout.
He switches hands with the blade and puts it back where it goes. ]
And thank you for this... How long have you fought with a blade? You're fast, precise. A lot of experience.
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๏ผ he remembers the first time his father pressed a tanto into his hands, the way his chubby fingers had curled around its saya as he pulled it from the sheath and saw a sliver of himself etched in the still waters of the silver blade.
it does not occur to him to lie. all shinobi begin weapons training young — he might expect a civilian to balk at it, but finn is not strictly what he considers a civilian. ๏ผ
It is common in my clan to specialize in the art of bladed weapons.
no subject
In the organization I was a part of, we specialized in firearms. I'd be happy to return the favor, if I can.
[ A lot of the Orbers don't even have weapons like Finn's familiar with in their worlds, but he's not just going to presume or something. He just offers because that's what he's best with, honestly. ]
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๏ผ there's nothing in the statement to make it seem a matter of braggadocio — just simple fact. he has always learned quickly, and had eidetic memory even before the sharingan awoke. ๏ผ
I suspect such skills may be of use on future missions. Perhaps tomorrow?
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Finn's sure he'll grasp it quickly once he's got the idea of how the thing works. ]
Tomorrow's perfect.
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๏ผ and with that, he makes like a tree and leafs. get it
bc konoha means leaf
im hilarious. ๏ผ