The young man in question seemed to get rather more upset.
"Excuse me," said Hiruzen Sarutobi. "I must have misheard you. Would you care to repeat that?"
"Such impertinence to your social betters," said Guiche, drawing himself up and puffing out his chest. "How dare you sit there with your shirt askew, tempting young maidens with your seductive ways! For their honor, I challenge you to a duel!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi considered the young man in front of him and decided he'd finally run across someone more foolish than his grandson. To quote a certain Nara clan spokesman, this was most troublesome.
"Speechless with terror, commoner?" asked Guiche.
"More 'speechless with disbelief' I think," said Hiruzen. "You, an unblooded youth with no ninja training as far as I can tell, are challenging me to a duel? To the death I assume?"
"Actually, it's more often to simply be defeated," said one of the maidens. "Guiche. This really isn't necessary."
"Ah, but this inconvenience is nothing." Guiche bowed towards Corrine. "To remove a potential blot on your honor is my duty and my pleasure."
"I'm unfamiliar with the local rules on dueling," mused Hiruzen aloud. "May I attack now?"
"Uncouth barbarian, not merely a commoner," said Guiche. "What land has duels without setting even a proper time and place?"
"Most of the Elemental Countries actually," stated Hiruzen. "I recall a few duels where striking before your opponent was ready would be considered completely fair."
"Spare me your barbarian methods then," said Guiche. "I'll meet you at noon at Vestri Court."
"Not here and now?" asked Hiruzen. "I'd prefer to get it over with so I can get a refill on my tea. Defend yourself."
"Really, I don't thi-" began Guiche.
That was all the time he had as the bishonen had gone from sitting relaxed at a table a good eight feet away to suddenly having his fist imbedded in Guiche's stomach.
Guiche staggered back, gasping for breath and making retching noises.
"That all you have?" asked Hiruzen.
"Gurk urg guck," managed Guiche.
"Young man, if you ever find yourself in a battle - standing around giving a speech is something you save until AFTER the fighting is over," said Hiruzen. "You wouldn't believe how easy I'm going on you."
"Val- Valkyrie!" managed Guiche, making a single rose petal drop from his wand to touch the ground. A metal golem rose from the dirt immediately.
"Interesting," said Hiruzen, cocking his head. "Looks rather like Suna puppet-work. Does it use poisons?"
"Gakkkk," managed Guiche as another set of cramps hit.
Shrugging, Hiruzen dodged the golem's strike and then began quickly and efficiently dismantling the puppet. Disconnected pieces of Valkyrie were either stacking up in a pile or being used to pelt Guiche. Some pieces were bouncing off Guiche and then rebounding to the stack.
"I wasn't. Ready." Guiche managed finally.
"If someone declares themselves your enemy, waiting for them to ready some unpleasantness for you isn't terribly clever," said Hiruzen. He briefly regarded Guiche as the other began brandishing his wand.
Which was when a thrown butter knife cut the wand in two.
"Lesson three: obvious weapons are obvious targets," said Hiruzen.
"What, how?" asked Guiche, glancing at his wand back to Hiruzen. "That's impossible."
"No, that's just good aim and reflexes," said Hiruzen, rocking back and forth on his heels. Perhaps a bit of showing off might get him access to things in this school that a quieter approach would not? "If I understand the constant references to me as a 'commoner' - then this would be more impossible. Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
THAT caused the onlookers to gasp and react, to Hiruzen's hidden amusement. Of course, all he'd done was roast the little pile of brass puppet parts with the fireball. Well then, what if he did something a bit more impressive?
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet, Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
It was really quite a nice thing to be able to use jutsu like this without feeling all exhausted and sore from the exertion. Hiruzen grinned, his posture completely relaxed as he deliberately missed the young man but tried to put on a good show as he chased the fellow around the yard.
Judging from the shocked expressions and stunned silence, he thought he'd managed a fair job of it.
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(Posted Thu, 23 May 2013 17:02)
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