To Become a Shinobi Ch. 62
By Eliad Sholomovich

Ibuki sat in her lotus form, the wind blowing around her. She inhaled deeply and opened her eyes slowly, It was dark and the moonlight filled the forest with its soft light.

Ibuki rose to her feet and stretched, She then did a short Kata before Ryu exited throught the dojo doors.

Sean was limping behind him. Sean looked at Ibuki and shook his head and sat down.

"Thats...Ibuki...I remember her...If she's here to challenge Ryu...I think this might be interesting..." Sean thought and grimaced in pain as he leaned on the wall of the dojo.

Ryu looked at her "Are you ready?" He asked. Ibuki nodded and entered her stance. Ryu nodded as well and entered his stance.

They were at a distance of about 12 feet from eachother.

Both warriors circled eachother. Ryu's eyes were calm and so was his stance. The wind made his Bandana flap in the wind as he calculated possible straetegies.

Meanwhile Ibuki's braid of hair flapped behind her and she also scanned Ryu in a serious gaze.

Then Ibuki inhaled deeply and stepped forward. Ryu tensed his muscles as Ibuki closed the gap between them.

Ryu swung his foot, it was aimed at Ibuki's chest,the latter swatted the kick aside with her palms and then sent a quick punch at Ryu's face.

Ryu blocked her fist with his left forearm and sent a right handed fidt of his own, Ibuki dodged it by sidestepping and then swung her foot at Ryu's ribcage.

Ryu shifted his body sideways and then extended his elbow, Ibuki groaned as it collided with her abdomen.

Then Ryu slammed a punch into her chest, Ibuki staggered as he knuckles collided against his flesh.

Ryu then swung his foot forward,but Ibuki managed to duck under it and then spun around while extending her leg, Ryu's foot was sweeped and he fell backwards.

He landed on the grass back first. Ibuki thben shook her head and waited for him to resume his stance.

Ryu flipped to his feet and resumed his stance, His eyes narrowed and he stepped forward, He swung his fist towards her nose.

Ibuki dodged it then gasped as another was sent immediatly after. Ibuki swatted it with great effort and stepped backwards to try and gain a better position.

But Ryu didn't relent and then leapt forward and kicked at her face,His foot slammed into her cheek and then he punched her chest, the attack punshed Ibuki back, Ryu finished the combo by spinning around and nailing Ibuki with a roundhouse that sent the Adscolent to the ground.

Ibuki spat and shook her head. She then narrowed her eyes and rose to her knees. She placed her hands before her and pushed against the ground.

She flung herself forward and flipped in the process, She extended her foot and it aimed itself at Ryu's head.

Ryu raised his forearm to block the attack, As Ibuki landed Ryu swung his fist, Ibuki caught it kicked his chest.Then she tried to kick his ribs as well, but Ryu blocked her kick.

Then Ryu tried to retailate with a powerful chop,butIbuki ducked under it and blocked a followup hook punch, She then leapt backwards and gained some space.

Ryu saw this and cupped his hands, Blue wisps of Chi swirled into his palms. In seconds they melded into a sphere of Chi. Ryu threw his palms forward. "Hadouken!" Ryu shouted and the fireball shot forth.

Ibuki landed on her feet and then rolled to her left, the projectile flew by her and slammed into a nearby boulder. Ibuki then rose to her stance. "Sheesh...This guy's a machine..." Ibuki thought.

Ryu then resumed his stance and Ibuki scanned him "Hmmm...He's waiting for me to approach...Well I'll just let him have his way..." Ibuki thought.

Then she her leg muscles tensed and she dashed forward. Ryu stood still and as she reached the distance of 2 feet burst into action.

He leapt forward while spinning.Ibuki however was expecting this. Ryu spun into a hurricane kick but also hovered over Ibuki who ducked.

As he landed and spun around Ibuki kicked his abdomen, then she spun around and kicked his face in an inner roundhouse motion. Ryu's head snapped sideways.

Ibuki then sensed it would be wise to relent and stepped backwards.

Ryu's shook his head and then looked at her brown eyes shone with patience and determination.

He inhaled and then sidestepped forward while sending a kick forward, Ibuki caught his foot. But that was Ryu's intention and as she caught his foot a battle cry escaped his mouth and he leapt and slammed his other foot into her cheek in a hook motion.

Ibuki flew backwards from the force of the blow and landed on her back after spinning in the air.All this happened after letting go of his foot.

Ibuki then rose to a sitting position and then her knees "Darn...He's good...Gotta be careful..." Ibuki thought.

Then Ryu stepped forward and aimed a chop to the back of her skull, but Ibuki raised her fore arms and grabbed his hand, she rose to her feet and let go of his hands.

She then slammed her elbow into his chest, Ryu stepped backwards.Before he could recover she summoned her Chi into her fist and shouted "Raida". A Chi enveloped fist flew towards Ryu's abdomen.

Ibuki went wide eyes as Ryu caught it in his hand and then pulled her forward. Ibuki cursed under her breath "S***..." She muttered and planned a counter strike.

The minute she was pulled she also saw his fist rise to meet her face, she then extended her foot and it slammed into Ryu's abdomen before he could pull her too close.

He groaned and let go. Then Ibuki flipped backwards and landed lightly on her feet.

Ryu then inhaled deeply and closed his eyes for a second, then he opened them again and he locked a gaze with Ibuki, both stood motionless. The tension could be cut with a knife.

Sean sat and was amazed on how Ibuki was managing so far.

"You're good Ibuki...You defently have a better chance than me..." Sean thought and continued watching the two.

Ryu shifted his weight forward and dashed forward. Ibuki inhaled "Here we go...I hope I can survive without being beaten to a bloody pulp..." Ibuki thought and gulped.

Ryu swung his fist in a wide arc, Ibuki blocked it with her forearm and winced in pain as bone collided with bone, Ryu didn't even flinch.

Then he surprised her with a quick and powerful backkick. Ibuki bent forward and Ryu crouched low. Ibuki clenched her teeth and then shifted her body to the left as she knew what was coming next.

Ryu rose into a low Shoryuken, His missed Ibuki soared into the air. By the time Ibuki rose to her feet he had already landed on his feet.

Ibuki decided to change tactics and attacked by swinging her fist towards his chest.

Ryu blocked it quickly and swung his other fist towards her face, Ibuki barely blocked it,she then swung her fist in a hook motion, Ryu blocked and grabbed her wrist while swinging his palm forward, He slammed it into her chest and then grabbed the fabric of her Uniform.

Ibuki gasped and Ryu put his foot to her abdomen and dropped backwards, he took her with him and then threw her backwards. Ibuki landed with a thud.

She rolled to her knees and rose to her feet.Before she could think twice something collided with her abdomen and pushed her backwards.

She landed on her back and heard the shout of Hadouken echo around her. She then felt heat and noticed her uniform was burning. She quickly hit her clothes and choked the flames.

She shook her head. "Holy s***...It's like he's went up a level..." Ibuki thought and climbed to her feet.

"Ibuki inhaled and Ryu stood still "Well I guess I'll have to try harder..." Ibuki thought and focused her thoughts. She then changed her stance, She brought one hand to her hip and held the other one in front of her.

Then she swung both hands forward and flipped forward, Ryu's eyes narrowed and he waited for Ibuki to attack. Ibuki landed on her feet and clenched her teeth, then a Battle cry escaped her throat and she began attacking.

She swung her fist towards Ryu's face, it was followed by the other fist, Ryu blocked both and then retaliated with a palm strike which Ibuki swatted downwards.

Then she slammed a backfist into his nose, Ryu shook his head and Ibuki's foot aimed itself at his face.

Ryu ducked and sidestepped, her sent his foot forward, Ibuki did a split and it passed over her, then she rose to her feet and flipped over Ryu. Ryu stepped forward as her feet slammed into his back. Then he spun around and saw a gleaming object fly towards him.

Ryu swung his hand and swatted, He winced as crimson covered his hand from a large gash, He rose to his feet and saw Ibuki dashed towards him. He lip curled upwards and he blocked her jump kick.

Ryu then swatted three consecutive punches and swung a backfist in return, Ibuki blocked it and the followup punch. Ryu then faked a punch, Ibuki moved to block and Ryu sent his foot in a sweep kick, But Ibuki leapt over it.

As she landed she gasped in horror "Oh s***..."Ibuki cursed under her breath. Ryu's body was glowing in blue, and wisps of Blue enveloped his feet. Ibuki cursed and raised her forearms. She heard Ryu whisper "Shinkuu..." and braced herself for impact.

Ryu leapt forward and started spinning "Tatsumakisinpuukayku!" Ryu shouted. A powerful vortex captured Ibuki and forced her near Ryu.

His foot crashed into her hand 10 times and she bit her lip so hard it started bleeding. As Ryu landed on his feet Ibuki stepped backwards and held her forearm in her other arm while breathing through pursed lips.

Ryu stepped forward and kicked at her face, Ibuki was forced to block with her injured hand and she cried in pain as his foot collided with her forearm.

Ryu then swung his fist, and Ibuki dodged. Ibuki swallowed the iron taste on her lips and then ducked under a kick.

She then leapt into the air and a shout of "Kazekiri" escaped her throat. Ryu's face collided with Ibuki's foot, then as she landed she reached for her belt with her good hand and grabbed three Kunai. She threw all three of them towards him.

Ryu shook his head and then winced as the metal hilts collided with his chest. The wind was knocked out of his lungs. He breathed heavily and shook away the blur from his eyes, He wiped his forehead and looked at Ibuki.

She held her hand and blood dropped from her mouth. She was panting and sweat covered her forehead. She blinked a few times and then swatted strands of hair from her eyes.

Ibuki had only one hope. She looked at Ryu and then closed her eyes and summoned all her strength. She choked down the pain and let go of her injured arm,She then procured two Kunai.

As she opened her eyes Blue Chi crackled in them. Ryu tensed in preparation for a super move. "This is my chance...I mustn't fail..." Ibuki thought.

Ibuki then screamed on the top of her lungs "Yami Shigure!!!". Then she sprinted forward. A trail of Shadow images following her.

As she reached him she swung her Kunai, the speed was amazing and trails of Chi followed the path of her limbs.

Ryu somehow dodged one but the second slashed into his back carving the flesh and forcing him to wince,the third slashed across his abdomen. Ryu groaned in pain and felt the warm crimson liquid flow on his abdomen.

Ryu then knew the forth's position due to the pattern and positioned himself accordingly.

Ryu ducked under it and summoned his Chi into his fist. Blue Chi swirled around all his body. Ibuki cursed as she knew it was over. "Shin...." Ryu muttered and Ibuki tried to backstep and escape.

"SHORYUKEN!!!" Ryu bellowed and dashed forward, his elbow collided with Ibuki's abdomen then he ducked low and leapt upwards, his Chi envelepoed fist collided with her abdomen and then slammed into her Chin, then while both were airborne he spun and slammed another one into back.

Ibuki cried in pain and landed on her back. Ryu spun in the air and landed lightly on his feet Then he grasped his abdomen, his white Gi was stained with crimson, he coughed and looked at his blood stained hand.

Then he looked at Ibuki and his eyes seemed to reflect his feelings, the gaze was warm and showed his respect to his opponent.

"You were a good challenge,Next time we shall fight Maybe the outcome will be different..." Ryu said and then rose to his feet and limped towards the dojo.

"Sean take Ibuki into the dojo please..." Ryu said coldly, his voice strained in pain. Sean nodded and Ryu vanished into the dojo.

Meanwhile Ibuki moaned in pain and squirmed in attempt to rise to her knees.she desperatly fought against unconciousness and tried to rise to her feet. "Can't fail...I've tried...so...hard....D*...*m!" Ibuki thought and then couldn't hold back anymore and unconciousness consumed her.