Arashi was stunned for a few seconds. He was going on his first raid? He always wanted to join but everyone always told him he wasn't ready yet.
"Are you sure?" He asked
Pakku slapped him on his head and spoke.
"Yeah I'm sure. I wouldn't have said it if we weren't gonna take you. Have I ever lied to you before?"
"Yeah all the time." He said rubbing his head.
Hina and Jubo chuckled and Jakku cleared his throat speaking again.
"Well, have I ever lied to you about something this important?"
Thinking about it for a moment Arashi couldn't think of any times that he did and so shook his head.
"Then there's your answer. Now before we head out we need to check your basics."
Hina nodded in agreement and spoke.
"You've been taught the basics along with Fuinjutsu since you were 3. But being in a real battle is a lot different from sparring with us."
Jubo nodded in agreement and Pakku picked up his two swords that were leaning on a barrel. Strapping them to his hip and unsheathing them, Arashi observed the two jagged blades he's been dodging all last year.
"You ready squirt?"
Pakku asked reaching into his pouch throwing a kunai at Arashi's feet.
"You're used to training with those right? Pick it up and let's get to it. But this time I'm coming with the intent to kill." He says with a wry smile.
Arashi picked up the kunai and squeezed it. Tonight was the night he would finally be taken seriously. Taking a deep breath and flaring his chakra Arashi got into a battle stance.
"I like that look in your eye kid!" Pakku exclaimed dashing towards Arashi.
For the first time ever Jakku went on the offensive and swung downwards with all his might. In the split second the kunai and sword clashed, Arashi could feel the strength difference between them and quickly deflected the strike. This happened 6 more times until Arashi used Pakku's arm to flip backwards so he could catch his breath.
The sounds of blades clashing alerted the camp. But once they saw it was Arashi and Pakku sparring, they all became interested and surrounded the two in a circle cheering for Arashi to do his best.
Pakku whistled and spoke in a mocking tone.
"Not bad kid not bad. But you can't run and deflect forever!" He exclaimed dashing towards Arashi once again.
Taking a deep breath Arashi dashed towards Pakku as well and the two clashed into a deadlock. Once again they began clashing weapons at high speeds with the exception this time Arashi went in for a spin kick, which was then blocked by Pakku's sword. In the split second his foot was still on the blade, Pakku with all his might launched Arashi high into the air.
The crowd went wild with excitement seeing Arashi in the air while Hina began flaring her chakra ready to catch Arashi and spoke.
"Damn it Pakku is taking this too far."
Jubo quickly stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder and spoke.
"Calm down Hina he's fine. Can't you see he's holding his own."
"I'll admit he was for awhile but Pakku is still too much for him right now Jubo."
Jubo stayed silent and continued to look up. He then told Hina to also look up and once she did her eyes widened in surprise.
In the air Arashi's heart began to beat fast and he began to smile wildly. He quickly flipped himself in the air and dove back down strengthening his kunai with chakra. Seeing the speed he was accumulating and him preparing his kunai for a strike, Pakku put wind nature chakra into his sword and blocked Arashi's downward slash.
Sparks began flying everywhere and Arashi began pushing with all his might when Pakku's sword began cutting through his kunai. Clenching his teeth Arashi continued to push through, when finally his kunai was cut into two and he flew past with the other half spinning into the air.
Landing under Pakku, Arashi quickly threw the broken kunai towards Pakku's head at high speeds with him dodging it by moving his head sideways. The two locked eyes and Pakku saw the wild look in Arashi's eyes along with a manic smile. Seeing this began making Pakku do the same while slashing downwards.
But the moment he did, Arashi made a hand sign and Pakku lost all feeling in his right arm realizing it was paralyzed. Seeing that it worked, Arashi then kicked Pakku's blade out of his hand and caught it mid air jumping back a few paces to catch his breath once again.
Thinking how this could have happened, Pakku remembered when Arashi used his arm to jump backwards and thought to himself.
'This little bastard put a seal on my arm'
Laughing maniacally Pakku quickly swapped his only sword to his right arm and began tightening his grip around it and yelled.
"Your just like the boss kid, let's end this now!"
The two dashed towards each other and began clashing at high speeds faster than before while screaming. Arashi could feel he was reaching his limit physically, but not once did he waver. In fact he continued to put his all in every strike using more and more chakra to strengthen every blow. The two clashed once again this time sending each other backwards. Pakku began coating his blade with wind nature, while Arashi began coating his blade with chakra so precisely it began to have a sharpness to it.
The two dashed at each other ready to end it with this clash when suddenly both of their blades were blocked by lightning infused cleavers. Their chakra began to calm when someone from the crowd began to point at the new arrival and shouted.
"It's the boss!"
Both Arashi and Pakku stopped their chakra from flaring and looked at the boss with Pakku speaking first.
"Karai your back?"
The boss, now named Karai looked at Arashi and knelt to his level. She began ruffling his hair and spoke with a sharp toothy smile.
"I saw the whole thing Arashi. You passed with flying colors, as expected of my son."
Taking deep breaths and slightly loosening his grip on the blade. Arashi gave his mother a similar toothy smile and spoke.
"Thanks mom."