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Azure entered the arena set aside for his match with the newest of the Ichijin genin. She had requested a match with the head in order to hone her talents. It was not uncommon for those in power to pass their knowledge and experience down to the younger generation though practice bouts, and Azure Ichijin wasn't about to deny the genin her chance. He waited for her to show up as he stood in the middle of the arena, watching the ripples form on a pond that was always set up on the side of each arena. However, Azure was earlier than usual, so he could end up waiting for a bit.

The one flaw Azure had was his mindset that everyone had the potential to be great, but that none of them had reached the pinnacle that he had wanted from them. He didn't believe anyone was "weak," but he hadn't seen any truly strong individuals, skilled though they may be. It took hard work and a certain mindset to be strong, and Azure wanted his people to aspire to an ideal that was difficult to attain.

He turned his attention away from the water, to Kari as she entered. He smiled his greetings as a father would to his child in the morning. A judge appeared then, as was the custom of matches in the coliseum.

Judge: "Azure Ichijin vs. Kari Ichijin. You may begin when ready."

Azure blinked as Kari apparently vanished into thin air. After a moment of craning his head around the empty sandy floor, Azure drew back on his right leg. His arms came up in front of him in a classic fighting stance. Both of his hands reached toward the sky, palms up. His arms were parallel to the ground though, as if reaching towards the far wall of the arena, one drawn closer to his side than the other. Azure closed his golden eyes.

Once, a long time ago, he wore a blindfold. The time of The White Hand, the bane of the Ichijin, was long past, and the 2nd didn't have to worry about powerful genjutsus for the foreseeable future. His time with the blindfold had given him a sharpness of senses that he had taught others. Invisibility was something that didn’t work very well around him. He could "see" without sight.

The air wavered.

Azure spun on the heel of his left foot, dragging his right foot in a clockwise arc. The sand shifted as he moved and dug a shallow trench along the path of his right foot, no more deep then the size of a pin. Kari's leg slid past Azure's face, as he dodged, no closer than a hairsbreadth. Azure's eyes never wavered from their blind state, held in check by the bars of flesh that were his eyelids.

His right arm, cocked to his side since the beginning, lashed out at Kari's trailing form as it passed. His hand turned to the side and became a fist as it lanced through the ether, crossing the short distance between Kage and Genin in the blink of an eye. From their angles, Azure would likely strike at Kari's hip as she sailed past.

They were both sideways when Azure threw his punch... However it seemed the genin was more skilled than he realized. Her other leg came out, from being tucked underneath her, to kick him from a ninety-degree angle to her other leg, a bastardized scissor kick. Such an awkward change had little, if any, power, but it allowed her to launch herself away from the Kage's fist. Azure struck air and nothing more as Kari twisted away and ended with a flip, landing on the ground across from Azure's turned face. All Azure could do was collect himself and change the position of his stance to face Kari.

It was at this time that the wind started to pick up. The leaves rustled in the trees on the outskirts of the arena and ripples formed in the pond. Small bits of dust slid across the floor, sometimes swirling around in tiny twisters before dissipating back to the ground. The Ichijin were masters of the air and increased in potential when they harnessed a strong breeze. Azure's golden hair ruffled along with the scenery as he drew in a calming breath.

If an Ichijin learned anything in his or her time, it was how the air flowed. Deflecting or redirecting projectiles was a part of Ichijin combat training. A long distance battle with the Ichijin was a waste of time.

Azure got ready to shift in the same way as before, sliding to the right. This time however he brought both his hands out to almost "catch" the solid space of dark wind. As he was about to touch the shadow he began the shift.

The air followed his path as he spun in a circle, spinning almost a full 360°. The black followed with him like a streamer, wavering and elongating into a spear of sorts. As Azure was finishing his spin, he launched the shadowed weapon like a javelin. It hurled through the air back at Kari, intent on impaling her with its odd sharpness.

Azure planted both feet onto the ground solidly. His knees bent for a split second before he jumped. He bounded between two invisible walls as he used the bloodline of the Ichijin to hug the sky.

After rising about two stories above the arena floor, Azure stopped. He stood on the sky as if an invisible ledge was right below his feet. A bird had to arc away before it collided with the human now blocking its flight path. It beat its wings, rising slightly, and passed over Azure's head before continuing its journey to wherever it was going. It squawked at the Ichijin in anger before it disappeared over the far wall of the arena and entered the town.

Azure looked down to see Kari disappear again. Azure's eyes were now open, having needed to look where he was going as he climbed into the air. He rotated slowly like a top to view the entirety of the arena, but could not see where Kari went.