He did exactly what he said he would.
The sun had slanted toward the eaves, and the light in the courtyard was slowly retreating.
Uzumaki Hayashi did not even bother with an opening stance. Wooden sword in hand, he charged straight in.
Two steps, three, his speed climbing all the while. As he reached Gekko Hayate, he pushed off and sprang into the air-
He raised his wooden sword overhead and, riding the momentum of his descent, brought it crashing down at Gekko Hayate.
The strike was fast and ferocious.
The corner of Gekko Hayate's eye twitched.
The strike followed no established form, yet its aim was devilishly precise, coming straight at the angle he would find hardest to defend. That wild, vicious attack bore down on him, nearly breaking his focus.
He raised his wooden blade to meet it and forcibly blocked the blow.
Clang-
The two wooden weapons collided, and Gekko Hayate's arm sank slightly.
"Well, damn," he squeezed out. "This isn't Konoha Style anymore-but nicely done."
But Uzumaki Hayashi was not finished.
Still airborne, he used the force rebounding from their clash to twist at the waist and flip upside down, driving a foot toward Gekko Hayate's back.
Gekko Hayate shifted his feet and pulled away just in time, leaving the kick to strike empty air.
When he planted his feet again, he held his wooden blade across his body for the first time.
Had he been even a fraction slower, that kick would have landed squarely on his back.
Uzumaki Hayashi landed, rolled forward to shed his momentum, and regained his footing.
Across from him, Gekko Hayate looked at him and smiled.
He was nothing like he had been at the start.
"Now this feels much more suitable."
That's exactly how it should feel.
Those were