[center][b][i]Training time! Team 2's training regime, shown! ---- A collab between Chrome and Alice (Koyo being there, being puppeted.) Part VI ---- Summary : With the thought of the Chuunin exams, Team 2 is again brought together for a training session. One where they will be pushed even further and harder than they usually are being pushed when trained.[/center][/b][/i] [hider=Training! Training!] Seeing Kiyomi pull out the kunai, Hayate could no longer afford to simply stay on the defensive and wait to see what she was trying to do. Preparing himself, Hayate made no move to draw his own weapon. Kiyomi's kunai slashed towards him and cut deep into his--afterimage. The real Hayate had moved in behind Kiyomi and launched a kick towards her lower back. He was still confused as to why Kiyomi was coming at him like this, but Hayate decided to let his instincts and reflexes take over until he could discover the reason. [b]''Stupid.''[/b] She muttered. With a quick sidestep, Kiyomi moved to the right as she had expected him to use that move. It was the move she had taught him. Though she kept on moving, reacting to his attack, she could briefly see the memory. The training field where they had practised the technique. Bringing up her knee in a quick motion, she was about to slam his leg between her elbow and knee, which would break his leg if she would put a great amount of force behind it. [b]"Do you really think I'm that dumb?"[/b] Hayate asked, standing several feet away, as Kiyomi's attack would once again strike through his afterimage. [b]"I'm not foolish enough to think I could truly trick you with the very move that you taught me."[/b] His eyes still narrowed, Hayate did not wish to attack Kiyomi, not unless he absolutely had to, and even then... Placing her foot back, she had almost looked surprised. Though Hayate had used and mastered it to an advanced level, he had managed to use it in such a quick succession? So far, she thought she had only been able to do that. Lowering her hands, she glared at him. Slowly after a moment of staring, she raised her chin a bit up before speaking up. [b]''Yet, you are doing something that you shouldn't be doing.''[/b] She said before running towards him again. With a quick slash, she wanted to keep his attention at the kunai, while opening her left hand. Moulding chakra, but not revealing yet what she would do. The short pause between attacks had given Hayate enough time to gather his metal alloy around his body. Instead of moving to avoid the incoming kunai, Hayate allowed it to hit him so that he could move into a better position. The blade sliced through the fabric of his shirt and bounced off the metal armour that covered his body. Shifting his body so that he was slightly behind Kiyomi, Hayate launched a flurry of punches and kicks, fully aware that she was more than capable of blocking them all. His intent wasn't to injure her though, he wanted to delay her until he had a chance to find out what was happening. [b]"Why are you doing this Kiyomi?"[/b] He asked, his voice sounding conflicted. Blocking the moves, she didn't reply back. Dodging a kick, Kiyomi already moved her hands up to ready herself to swat away his punches. Using her keen reflexes and sharp eyesight, it was more easy for her to predict his movements. Suddenly, when he raised to punch her, she seemed to be too late. The punch hit her against her cheek, causing her to stumble back. Grunting, she seemed to stumble and looked hurt before Hayate would have a sweep of a leg coming behind him. The Kiyomi in front of him was a mere afterimage. A moment of confusion struck him as Kiyomi seemed to reel back from a blow that he didn't feel landing. Realization hit him, and Hayate's eyes widened, his body already moving to react. He wasn't fast enough to dodge the leg sweep however, and he felt himself falling. Twisting his body, Hayate managed to get his hands beneath him and used them to push off the ground. His handspring carried him backwards and he landed, somewhat less gracefully than intended, on his feet. Right a second after it, Kiyomi was already moving in with the kunai. [b]''Dead.''[/b] She whispered, holding the kunai near his throat, as she stopped her movement. Slowly moving the kunai back and sheltering it, she still looked with a glare. [b]''You have clearly improved your taijutsu and mastery of that technique. However, you're keeping something away from me. I thought we had agreed that we would be open to each other, hadn't we?''[/b] Kiyomi asked, fully knowing well how hypocritical it was for her to question it. Opening his mouth, for a split second Hayate was about to argue that his metal armour would have prevented the kunai from actually killing him, but he decided instead to bite his tongue. [b]"I think it's also clear that I haven't improved enough yet..."[/b] He muttered to himself, his voice bitter. Turning away from Kiyomi for a second, Hayate was torn. [b]"I... I am sorry. I never meant to keep anything from you, it's just that... I just..."[/b] Sighing, he turned back to face her. [b]"Look, I don't know anything for certain, I have only heard a rumour. That is why I didn't come to you right away, I wanted to find out more if I could."[/b] Looking at her with a pained expression in his eyes, Hayate did not know what to say. [b]''Yet, you questioned me such a thing. Don't try to save it now. What is the big thing? I already am guessing and I doubt you will like what I am thinking. Cause if it is what I am thinking, I am going to report it right now. What is going on in the clan of yours?''[/b] Kiyomi asked, with a stern voice. She raised her chin a bit up again, while placing her hands at her back. Though she hated to speak and act like that to Hayate, she wanted to have answers. [b]"Just... No."[/b] Letting out a frustrated sigh, Hayate shook his head. [b]"As far as I have been able to discover, there is nothing going on. I heard a minor rumour in passing that one of the clan elders may still be more loyal to Iwagakure than to Konoha. I did some checking myself and have uncovered nothing to support that theory. It just got me worried Kiyomi, I... I thought that by asking you what you would do, I might find some clarity on what I would need to do if I found out the rumour was true, but now I am just... Look, I was wrong to keep that from you, and I am sorry for that. But a part of the reason I kept it hidden was to avoid something like this happening. If you go and report this to the Hokage, and they take action against my clan, this whole thing could get blown out of proportion and cause some major damage."[/b] He paused for a moment, locking eyes with Kiyomi. [b]"You do know where my loyalty lies... right?"[/b] For a moment, Kiyomi looked away. Konohagakure. That was what she saw as she looked at her right from the rooftop. The village that provided her a place when she had nowhere else to go. The place she called her home. [b]''I like to believe I do.''[/b] Kiyomi slowly answered. Taking a step back, she looked with a worried glance at Hayate. [b]''I need to know more. I-I... I can't let anything bad happen. Even if it means shedding blood of your kin, you know that someting must be done, right? I have a duty to carry out. I need to report this.''[/b] Again, Kiyomi took another step backwards. She seemed to be wary, like he would try to prevent her from running away towards the office. But her lower lip was trembling. She was wavering. Dropping to one knee, Hayate bowed his head. [b]"My loyalty belongs to you first and then this village Kiyomi-chan. If you feel that you need to report this then I will not stand in your way."[/b] His voice was strained, and he hoped that Kiyomi did not fear him. Her actions made it seem like she couldn't trust him, and that cut him to his core. [b]"Please Kiyomi... I understand what you are saying, and I would never stand in the way of the safety of this village. But reporting this could do more harm than good. If what I heard was nothing more than a rumour, then my entire clan could be slaughtered for nothing! Innocent lives thrown away because I didn't do a good enough job of finding the truth. My life is in your hands right now Kiyomi-chan, my families lives... Please give me some more time to find the truth, if you trust me, then please... I will let no harm come to this village, but I cannot let innocent people die for nothing..."[/b] His head still hung low to the ground, fully prepared to deal with any of the consequences. It was up to Kiyomi now, and Hayate just hoped that she still trusted him enough. She was conflicted and confused. Her wits told her to run and inform the Hokage. Her insticts told her to run and try to forget about it. Yet, her feelings were telling her to give him a chance. But she realized that they were biased. Her feelings towards Hayate would give him a chance, but was it okay to rely on that? Kiyomi didn't want to even consider if his feelings weren't true. It only caused her to become more confused about the whole situation. Dropping to her knees, she turned a bit pale. Not because she felt ill or was suffering another attack, but knowing what she was doing. [b]''They will kill me for this. B-But, I can't.''[/b] She whispered. Her shoulders trembled, knowing full well what her action could invoke. She was now compromising the safety of many innocent people, just for her feelings towards Hayate. Finally looking up, Hayate saw Kiyomi on her knees. He felt a mixture of guilt and relief as he heard her words. He hadn't wanted to put her in this situation, not ever, but he couldn't help the feeling of relief as he realized that she trusted him enough to put the safety of the village on the line. Moving forwards until he was right in front of Kiyomi, Hayate gently grabbed onto her shoulders. [b]"I will not fail you Kiyomi, I will not fail this village. You have my promise."[/b] Holding her for a moment longer, Hayate's eyes suddenly turned cold. [b]"If I find out that the rumour is true... If my clan is planning to harm the people of this village in any way... I will kill every last one of them."[/b] The thud ran through the air. Tears were flowing down her cheek. Though the palm of her hand was aching, her lips curled down as she looked angry at him it were mostly his words that had hurt her. [b]''Listen yourself.''[/b] She mumbled. Looking at the hand she had used to slap him, she slowly flexed in her fingers into making a fist. [b]''You value me more important than all those people? You think that you're able to kill them just like that? All alone? You want to carry that blame?''[/b] She fired the questions, but her tone was soft and calm. A stinging sensation filled one side of his face as Hayate realized that she had just slapped him. The cold look fell from his eyes and he stared at her for a moment. [b]"Yes..."[/b] He finally whispered. His response could technically have answered all of her questions, but Hayate had only been responding to the first. She would probably hate him for that, but he didn't care... She had asked him to be honest with her and he intended to stay that way. [b]"I don't know if I can take them all out myself... Hell, we both know that I need to be much stronger to take that chance, but I... If it needs to be done Kiyomi, then I will carry out my duty as a shinobi of the leaf. I cannot be afraid of failure. The blame... I..."[/b] Looking up, his eyes were pained, and he couldn't help thinking back to the squadmates that he had lost during Shoji's reign. They had died under his command and as far as he was concerned, he may as well have killed them himself. [b]"I would never wish that burden on anyone Kiyomi-chan... But it is my duty... My responsibility. Hiron-sama made it clear long ago that a shinobi needs to put duty first, and that they need to be able to handle loss... I think I know what he meant now. And this is something that I have to do."[/b] That was low. She considered it low. Using Hiron's words like that. But he was right. Yet, she wanted to slap him again, call him naive and dumb. But he wasn't anything like that. But while she knew it, it didn't take away that she wanted to do it. Looking still at her trembling fist, she realized that it would been soon that Hayate would be dragged into a lot of trouble. Should she really not inform the Hokage of this? Hayate was maybe a capable shinobi, but all alone trying to shoulder this? Kiyomi didn't want to see that happen. [b]''Hayate, no. Please don't.''[/b] She tried to start. Killing family, relatives and siblings? She wasn't even sure if Hayate had any. But she had experienced what it was to have a sibling that wanted to kill you. It was anything but a healthy experience. [b]"I still don't even know if any of this is true Kiyomi. Believe me when I say that I don't want it to come to that, not at all... But if it does, if it somehow comes to that, how could you ask me to put that in someone else's hands?"[/b] He asked her quietly. [b]"I need you to know that I will do whatever it takes to keep this village and its people safe. To keep you safe... I will not let anyone stand in the way of that."[/b] Deep down Hayate was conflicted. Though his words sounded confident, he was far from it. He wasn't a murderer... At least he had never looked at it that way, but if it came down to it, would he really be able to kill his fellow clanmembers in cold blood? Hayate truly didn't know, but when and if the time came, he would have to be sure. [b]''I-If you kill them all by yourself.. Consider us...done.''[/b] She told him. Slowly rising up, she turned her back towards Hayate. Taking a step away, she realized what kind of effect her words would have on him, but she wanted to try to prevent him from taking that path. She didn't want him to be seen as a murderer. If the truth would ever come out and she knew it would likely come out. [b]''I have no desire of wanting to have a murderer stay that close to me.''[/b] This time her voice sounded less hoarse, but more stern. The words felt like a knife being plunged into his chest. [b]"Kiyomi, I..."[/b] His words failed him as his arms fell to his sides in defeat. [b]"What would you have me do...?"[/b] His voice was barely more than a whisper, and Hayate couldn't even bear to look at her, he felt too ashamed. [b]''To make the right decision.''[/b] She told him back. Her back was still turned towards him. [b]''It needs to be clear that I am not everything you need to devote your life for. It is very simple. Either you seek a middle way and thus at one point confront the Hokage or try to do this alone, losing me.''[/b] She turned half around as she managed to keep up a stern expression. Clenching his hands into fists, Hayate nodded. Somehow finding the strength to stand, he looked at Kiyomi. [b]"I don't want to lose you Kiyomi-chan... Not ever. I... I will do what I can to make this right..."[/b] He did not know what else to say. Things were still so unclear, and now he was even more conflicted than before. He would give up almost anything to keep this village safe, but Kiyomi was always the one thing he couldn't let go of. And now she was asking him to choose a different course... Hayate knew that he was going to be confused for quite some time, but for now he needed to focus on fixing this. [b]"I am sorry... I have let you down in so many ways..."[/b] [b]''Lets not continue about this. Not for now.''[/b] Kiyomi replied. She didn't like the subject. That and she had to think about it. Letting Hayate do this all on his own? No. But if she would report to the Hokage, it would be likely betraying Hayate's trust. What else could she actually do? Just be silent about it and then later face the consquence of holding back important information? Sighing, she glanced at him. Less angry and stern. [b]''I will give you three days. The exams are coming up soon and I want you to be focused. It will mean that I can train you that much, cause this is important too. But I hope you do the chakra control training every evening before going to sleep.''[/b] Nodding his head, Hayate was a little relieved that they were changing topics. Though a part of him wanted to fix things, he realized that they were both gonna need some time and space from the issue to actually accomplish that. [b]"I have been training that for awhile, hopefully it helps. I have spent some time practicing the way that... the way that Tsubasa showed me as well. Working with the metal to try and refine my control and understanding over it."[/b] He felt a small pang of sadness as he thought back to the person who had taught him so much about smithing, and about metal. Hayate had never thought that someone outside of his clan would have such a vast knowledge of the subject. Turning back to Kiyomi he cocked his head to the side. [b]"It is clear that I need to improve my taijutsu skills as well, but is there anything else that you can think of?"[/b] She sighed, trying to think of something. But the previous subject was still disturbing her. It was hard to recommend something if the previous thoughts weren't going away. [b]''Best would be maybe trying to involve a summoning or another person that you haven't trained with to see how well you are with that. Though I can change easily from style, it isn't the same. If you want my advice, seek up somebody who you haven't train with for some time.''[/b] Kiyomi advised. It was also so that she could have him be occupied while she could spend time thinking about the issue about his clan and what to do with the information. It was a good idea, but Hayate still frowned slightly. He still wasn't that good with speaking to people he didn't know, and going to someone for training felt a little awkward for him. [b]"I will see what I can do Kiyomi-chan."[/b] Thinking more about it, Hayate still didn't know what to do about their current situation. Glancing up at Kiyomi he bit his tongue. He wanted so badly to say more, but knew it would be the wrong choice. [/hider]