The setting was rather simple compared to most battle areas Arcadia has partaken in. Typically she would find herself surrounded by various soft and hardwood trees of different shapes and sizes. Sometimes the sun would shine bluntly through the canopy of the forest and other times the leaves protected her from leaves. In short, she was used to Konoha's somewhat plain nature but today the scene was different. There wasn't a tree for miles. In fact there wasn't even a bush or odd rock formation. Occasionally one would see a variety of flowers but they were low risers in this open land; their petals barely standing above ones feet. Other then that it was all grass.

Arcadia sighed as yet another breath of fragrant fresh air pressed against her face. It licked her cheeks and pressed back free strands of her midnight black hair. Today she was wearing her hair up in a pony tail with a red ribbon; ready for battle. The rest of her attire consisted of an all black long sleeve shirt with all black pants; the top fitting tightly to her curves. It allowed plenty of movement and was comfortable while it highlighted her body; something the ninja academy always pressed females to do. Looking past this a sheathed katana sat somewhat hidden at her side. The silver rim of the hilt just barely glowing in the sunlight. For now her left hand covered this, resting while she waited for her opponent - her other hand at her side. She peered all around but remained patient. She knew who was coming considering this man was her captain but she wasn't entirely aware of his timing habits just yet. She knew she wasn't late but how long would it take him? With a sigh, she relaxed as her mind remained prepared for battle.

There was something weird about the whole, open field scenario thing. The setting implied some sense of security, a juxtaposition with it actually being a very open, and bare place. The security lied in some innate false sense of "superiority." She was probably thinking, "no one can sneak up on me, no one can hide from me, unless they go under ground." She must've had everything worked out. That red ribbon was cute too, a nice little feature a girl would wear to battle, something to spice things up. It was as if she was saying that she could be cute and kick ass too.

006278 didn't agree with that though. The battlefield setting was unusually unfit for someone like him, and he didn't appreciate that the sun had been baring down on him, arduously. A dolorous sigh, caught wind between his teeth and he decided that it was time to move as he had been instructed to move, act as he had been told to do, and give respect to authority from whom he had been commanded.

Missions were like tasks to him, in a sense he had some of the robot mentality of someone that had been in his rankings. Whatever he was told to do he would do it. His soul had been painted a scene opposite of what had been seen here. There was no sun that warmed the tips of their toes, or wind that brushed across his face. The grassy rolling plain that swam around them like an ocean of foliage didn't exist. There was nothing he had anymore, except for one thing.

He was about 5 meters behind her position when he arrived, he didn't walk at all. He just suddenly seemed to appear there. Her senses would register him just "standing" there, but there would be no apparent clue to as how he arrived. It was almost like if he had arrived by walking through space and time. If she decided to turn around she'd see a figure dressed in complete black. He wore black, closed toed boots which were secured up to his lower shin. Black pants matched snugly at his boot, going up to reveal a semi-baggy demi jean. He wore a black ANBU vest over the garb, which was riddled with weaponry. On the straps, near the lower chest and on the side were open tools which could be reached to at any moment, three at every part. He wore a hood which covered his entire head. The eyes had been blocked out with a pair of dark, aerodynamic par of shades which covered any skin. What was remarkable about the hood was that it was the only part that contained white. Underneath his eyes, a skullface* had been painted on to the hoodie, the only decoration on the entire outfit.

006278 stood there. He spoke in a deep, solemn voice. "Go."

**

Spoiler:

[GP=5 (4.81)]

The grass continued to shift right and left; the blades possesed by the rhythmic and obviously demanding wind. It were as though the element were not satisfied with one way or the next or the blades just weren't that appealing in their dance. As Arcadia listened in on the wind's whisper, she soon began to sense an unnatural presence amongst the blades. She could sense his chakra and undoubtedly knew her opponent had arrived; causing her to slip her hand into her pouch.

Arcadia's face grew dull. Her appreciation for her surroundings died as her focus turned away from the green ocean before her and positioned to the green ocean behind her. The wind continued to wrap around her hair and lightly play with it but this was the least of her concern. She had somewhat turned her attention away from the forces of mother nature and now focused on the male standing five meters away from her. Of course, after a silent greeting between the two of them it was then time to start. Her mind and body already prepared for battle.

"Go"

With the jerk of a hand she withdrew three kunai from her pocket and threw; her foot sliding out as she angled her body. Her right front side faced him as she held a palm up towards him. Her eyes appearing to barely glance over her fingertips as she watched a point on his chest from afar. Meanwhile, her left hand continued to rest on the hilt of the apparent sheathed blade. She was going to wait on him to come to her once she saw what he would do with her kunai. Their aerodynamics sounding a bit odd.

The shades would have normally disrupted the vision of anyone, they were darkened and didn't make light its best friend. These shades weren't as dark as they appeared though. There was no super advanced technology behind them, just some simple top of the line frames that seemed to tint the world in a slightly darker color. As long as he'd had them on, he was used to them boy now. 006278 watched her react to his words, and as she turned around he could tell he had been sensed somewhat, but not enough to his standards. She had still not completely registered what had happened.

As he moved her body, the moment her right foot moved, she would find that his hand was coming down from his shoulder, grabbing three of the shuriken placed on it. Of course she could see this, he wasn't trying to be stealthy with the obvious tools. The shuriken were thrown to counter each of the kunai as they were planned to meet a meter under halfway between them. Being behind her gave him that slight advantage.

He didn't decide to move, but quickly after he placed his hands together and began to form a blur of hand seals. They all took about a second to conjure up, and through the mask he blew out a large fire technique. Three Goukakyuu's expanded from his mouth, one in the middle and two on either side in close proximity. At this range, it'd deal some damage if it hit, but this was a familiar technique for her... 006278 kept his next move prepared and acted accordingly. Physically and mentally he was on the ready, judging everything and reacting as he was taught to.

[GP=3 (2.86)]
[Total=8]

The man reacted to the kunai as planned, a few tools zipped out from his side and clashed with the blades - sending them flying. The clash also casted the shuriken aside, but nowhere near her, and the three kunai split. One in the ground between them where the shuriken hit and caused it to spin. One a meter off from its original direction point. Then finally the third lying on its back as its tip was aimed off towards the distance. They appeared useless now, their purpose ended now as they waited to be picked up and used again.

While the man began to rush handsigns, Arcadia simply waited for his attack while she stood her ground. She had a feeling that if this was her opponent he had a certain style of jutsu cooking; one of the same jutsu he used just about every time after the initial weaponry was thrown. So, she planned accordingly as she saw while her left hand rested on the hilt of her sheathed blade and her right fingers just barely twitched. Chakra was being focused into her tool as though she were charging the blade.

Fire sprang forth and made its way towards her direction. The very second these said flames split the air between her and her opponent she soon popped out the hilt of the katana blade. Oddly enough though, a blade had not come out but the hilt actually opened up to reveal a finely hidden container of what appeared to be pieces of iron. Before this fight started, while her hand rested on the hilt, her chakra had been pouring into this said iron. This included what lurked in her pockets, pouch, and a small pack tied around her waist as well. Immediately after the hilt popped open the iron sand poured out of its various locations and formed before her as a protective shield. She, of course, moved a meter back from this as she watched the fire take the strike and prepared a metal katana within her grasps. This of course was if the familiar male drew near.

006278's sub-plan had been exploited with some type of opening for the technique. It didn't take a genius, well maybe it would have, to notice that she did not necessarily move. The roaring fire was hard to hear, see, and smell over, but anyone with any ability in sensing chakra could notice that it had remained int he same position. The follow up for this move was for her to try and go underground or go up. Left and right were not a means to avoid the technique, they only made the user open to either side of the fire balls, and neither did back work. Oh well. 006278 had failed on the correct assumption, but that doesn't mean that he was out.

It didn't take long, a second or two maybe as the fire traversed the distance of 5 meters for him to figure out that she didn't move. What she wouldn't see, feel or sense very well was a being coming up from under ground. It was moving with stealth, no vibrations were under the ground, nothing. A hand had it's target at her leg. She might notice when it got close enough, but soon after the fireballs began to move it would seem to rise through the ground without breaking it and aim at her ankle and attempt to grab it harshly.

Sensory skills would allow her to possibly make a reaction, but it was aimed as a surprise attack. The fact that it didn't make any noise as it seemed to "phase" through the earth would also be an added surprise. Maybe he would grab her just barely and get a few cat scratches with his finger tips. Or maybe she would have something prepared. Either way, choosing to stand had made things dangerous. 006278 processed the next move, physically and mentally.

[GP=3]
[Total=11]

The iron shield continued to form before her as the fire drew near. Her left hand guided the iron while her right fingers continued to twitch as though filled with anticipation. While she did this within seconds something else appeared to keep the time frame short as well. She caught on to the chakra signature soon before a hand popped out of the ground; her instincts ordering her to move as she pulled her leg up. The hand barely missed her ankle due to her reaction time but seeing as how there was a threat below her; Arc had to plan fast.

The iron sand shield, which would probably be blocking the flames soon if not already, soon spat a few dozen thin shaped needles waiting to be used. They were a lot like senbon aside from a difference in color and not entirely as perfect. Her chakra training still needed some work but what she could manage was above average as is. With her right she let go of what was preoccupying it and motioned the needles towards the ground. A third of those created, seven, would make their move towards the hand had he not sank beneath the surface. Had he reappeared though, she had ammo to attack him with.