ten_fwd | [ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

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[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

Minoru was planning on working out in the holodeck, but as soon as they announced the ship was docking on Pacifica, he was on his way out. From the cargo bay if it got him there faster! He needed to be on a planet to absorb natural energy and he badly needed to recharge that seal.

Option A:
Unlike the last place the Enterprise docked, which was filled with mountains and exciting terrain to traverse, this wasn't all that interesting. He didn't like water and he certainly didn't like lounging around. But if anyone's up for exploring, Minoru is always happy to tag along. Perhaps a trip to the Submersible Research Institute would put him face to face with some sea snakes.

Option B.
The beaches are a lot more secluded at night - perfect for an after-dinner run or sparring session in the sand. As long as no one gets hurt, they won't get in trouble, right? Right.

Option C.
Minoru promised a few sparring matches, at least one of which would necessitate the holodeck. With natural energy flowing through his chakra pathways and a steady supply of it available until the ship takes off, he can use all his power without holding back!

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Minoru spotted the same thing Raiden did - a more stable looking set of raised platforms in the center of this hellish arena. He can't levitate, though, so getting there required some very skilled hopping.

His Sage Mode was doing a good job withstanding the heat of the rock, but he wasn't about to test it by walking across the lava like it was water.

Three - Two - One...

Raiden looks over to Minoru who is hopping for the platforms, and there's an almost playful look in his eye, before he makes it a race. Let them see who arrives first to claim the ground, and Raiden isn't going to use his transportation to get the edge.

Minoru moved fast. As one rock tipped, he was already onto the next, sometimes landing on as little as a single hand. Whether he would get there faster depended on whether Raiden had the benefit of hovering in a straight line!

He had to avoid a few small lave geysers, gas bubbling up to the surface from the chamber which released the flow of molten rock. His path otherwise is free though, and he sets down on one of the platforms, settling his stance and waiting for Minoru to challenge his newly claimed ground.

Challenge accepted, but not quite the way Raiden was likely expecting.

Minoru didn't have the momentum for a running start. Instead of going for distance, he went for height. His power was directed, not at Raiden, but at the platform - jumping, spinning and slamming down on the rock. In Sage Mode, he could feel the energy transfer from his foot to the rock, and watch it crack right between Raiden's legs.

If that turned into a sufficient enough distraction, his next attack would be aimed at his opponent!

The impact rocks the platform, unsettling Raiden's footing and he is momentarily preoccupied with resetting his feet. Though he doesn't take his eyes off of Minoru, he's still open for attack and brings his guard up to take the brunt of the attack.

Minoru's punch was blocked, but he quickly followed it with another while Raiden was still recovering his footing. He knew that the other would likely counter at the first opportunity, so he tried to keep him on the defensive.

Minoru was used to fighting on uneven ground - even on the back of giant snakes - so his movement was fluid, almost effortless.

Raiden grits his teeth as he keeps his defenses moving, trying to find an opportunity to retaliate. Minoru's movements are smooth, powerful and make it difficult.

Clearly his preferred style of powerful hand strikes is not going to cut it. Taking a page from his brother's practices, Minoru's next strike seems to slip through his guard, but the move is meant to give Raiden a chance to use Minoru's momentum against him, and direct his advance beyond Raiden's position. Like the flow of water around a rock.

The quick change in style caught Minoru by surprise. He felt his opponent move in, and the air move to greet him, but he couldn't actually do anything to prevent it at that point.

So he didn't fight it.

He tucked and flipped, hitting the edge of the platform as it finally broke apart. It was a precarious landing with pillars of fire shooting up around him.

"Is it hot in here, or is it just me?" he joked, nonetheless, as he regained his balance and leapt back toward Raiden. A fire jutsu preceded it, giving him an open place on the rapidly deteriorating platform.

Raiden catches the joke and it takes little guessing to know what comes afterward. He dodges, a foot landing on an edge of the platform and it breaks away. He briefly drops with a surprised grunt, before he disappears in an arc of lightning on a different platform, near Minoru's new claim. He takes a running leap, the momentum sending him for Minoru with his fist coming down like a hammer as he attempts to reclaim the shrinking platform.

What followed was a fast exchange of substitution jutsu, one landing where the other had been, over and over again. It was good strategy, as by now, their platform was nothing but a series of smaller rocks in the molten lake. There was very little wiggle room, and even less margin for error.

Eventually, though, Minoru simply flipped instead of disappeared, meeting Raiden's fist with his feet. It would be a powerful impact should it work, but hopefully not powerful enough to send him face first into the fire.

It's a dizzying exchange if one weren't used to watching this sort of thing. Between the two of them though, Minoru and Raiden don't have any problems keeping up with increasing pace of the sparring.

Raiden's not exactly swinging for the fences when he comes down with his hammer-fist, but he's also not pulling the punches. It's an impressive show of strength when Minoru's feet stop Raiden's attack. It sends Raiden backwards a bit, his feet skidding to a halt at the edge of their current island.

If there was ever an opportune moment for the buzzer to go off, that was it.

With the way the rock bobbled, he didn't dare stick himself to it with chakra, and was forced to either roll or face-plant into lava. But just before hair or horns could get singed, the environment faded to that neutral black grid, and Minoru tumbled freely across the floor.

"Woah, that was close." he admitted, still smiling, from a seated position.

Raiden takes a deep, cleansing breath as the scene fades, standing upright with a spark of amusement lighting his eyes. He gives Minoru a closing bow, that faint smile on his face again.

"I agree. And I believe, on that note, we both deserve tea and good company." Raiden could continue sparring, but they really couldn't have a better draw than that, and it was the perfect point to call it a fair exchange.

Minoru let his Sage Mode deactivate, and he stood to return the bow. A part of him wondered if he could fully keep up one they left the planet and his access to his Sage Mode enhancements were limited. It would certainly prove to be a challenge - and a fun one at that!

"That was great!" He couldn't wait to do it again. He might not have called himself a shinobi, but Raiden fought like one, if not better. "Not many people can use jutsu without weaving hand signs. It's like the lightning is an extension of your body!"

Raiden gives a look that is a mix of pride and amusement at Minoru's statement. He's not about to mention the fact that in his realm, not even mortals need to use hand signs to use their natural element, once they have enough training to summon it in the first place.

"Your own command of fire is formidable." It almost reminded him of a certain Champion he had favored at one point, but they are not someone Minoru would likely recognize by name. "Not to mention your skill in combat."

In Minoru's world, pretty much everyone still did, though the truly skilled shinobi used less. It was his ability to use fire without hand signs that made Isamu think he really might have a chance at all that Sage training. Chakra didn't flow that naturally in many people. (And his genius of a brother had definitely studied enough to know.)

"Thanks." He smiled graciously. "I don't think I've had that much fun in a sparring match since Isamu made Hokage!"

He and his brother must have gone all night, just like the old times. Isamu's dream was about to come true. He was about to take over as leader of the village, and had worked himself up into such a ball of nerves that just had to be unwound! What are brothers for?!

Raiden walked over, offering a friendly hand out to Minoru as he sat on the floor.

"I have enjoyed the opportunity, and would be honored with your company to Ten Forward, if you are feeling up for further conversation."

Minoru took the hand as well as accepted the invitation. With a workout like this, he worked up quite an appetite.

It wasn't long before Minoru had filled most of their table in Ten Forward with a variety of vegetable-based dishes, a big bowl of rice, a plate of fruit and several decadent-looking desserts that (with Guinan's suggestion) all had some kind of weird red syrup on them. God, was it sweet!

Raiden, on the other hand, is helping himself to tea, and a rather small bowl of rice. Normally not one to eat, he's not about to let Minoru sit there and eat on his own, knowing such meals were usually considered social. He might sample some of that sweet syrup, but only if offered. He's just glad for friendly company, and the promise of future opportunities to spar and chat.

Plenty of jokes could be made about fueling that furnace inside of him. He was always hungry, but no matter what he ate, he still stayed lithe and nimble. His father was the same way, though, so even without the large chakra pool, it still would have been in his nature.

"Picky eater?" He nodded to Raiden's rice and tea between bites. "You're welcome to share some of mine if it looks good. I can always get more."

One of the benefits of this world - food was incredibly easy to come by. And free!

There really wasn't a particularly graceful way to get out of that question, or the offer. With a shrug, Raiden gave the best noncommittal response he could, not wanting to make Minoru's appetite and Raiden's lack of one an awkward point of conversation for now.

"Thank you." He does try just a sampling of that red syrup, eyebrows raising briefly as he finds it tasty, but then he's quite content to return to his rice. At least his tea he seems quite happy to work through, keeping both their cups full at all times.

Fortunately, Minoru tended to forget awkward moments fairly quickly. That was good, seeing as he got into them fairly quickly too. He could tell what kind of person Raiden was by the sparring match - and he was already honored to consider him a friend. No need to worry there.

"So tell me about your world. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"I have worked alongside many masters in my own realm, but most of my time is usually spent with the Shaolin monks." Granted, Raiden was doing more of the teaching there than learning, but it's a minor detail in his eyes.

"I've also fought alongside some of the clans native to the realm, and I've faced many fighters from outside of it, as well."

Minoru was forever a student - and as he learned on Ten Forward, a terrible teacher. But he was fine with that. It would take a lifetime to understand the mysteries of life, and there were so many incredible experiences to have along the way.

"I travel to a lot of worlds to study and train." In contrast to Raiden, where it sounded like people mainly came to his.

He graduated from his village's Ninja Academy and spent a few years under the monks of the Order of the Sacred Fist, but the vast majority of his life was spent under the tutelage of the Great Snake Lord Elders.

"Maybe, once I go back to Ryuuchi Cave, the Great Snake Lord Elders can open up a portal to yours."

[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

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