Being ready is an understatement

"... Just an ability I have not seen in a long, long time.. It brought back a few memories."

Koudo had changed into water again, this time appearing a bit away from Maruze. He seemed to be planning something. Maruze wished to see what this plan was, actually. Though, before anything happened, Meo started to speak again.

Meo: How come you aren't using your wavelength...? Or your Sword Magic...? Don't you wanna show him what you can REALLY do, Dad?

Maruze was silent for a moment.

"... This is an assessment battle. I am assessing his abilities, not showing off mine. I am not trying to win or else I would have done that a long time ago."

Meo sighed, feeling as if her potential was being limited by this... she wanted to be more helpful... "Okay, Daddy..."

Maruze could see that Meo really wanted to help out more... So he guessed that before the exam was over for Koudo, he would start using Meo more... Thus, he would be stepping it up for Koudo.

"... Koudo. This is the final portion of your exam. You must successfully survive my sword..."

Though this seemed like it was nothing since he had been surviving the sword already, this was the sword without using the power. As Koudo pushed off the ground at a high speed, Maruze took his sword out of the ground, held it to his side, then dropped it... Though, it did not hit the ground. It floated in place right in that same position. Maruze's eyes were locked on Koudo, burning with a sort of anticipation.

"... Meo. Infinite Blades."

Just then, 20 exact copies of the katana appeared throughout the area, since Maruze felt no need at all to use the full amount. 2 were in his hands, 3 orbited his position closely, and the other 15 were on standby, waiting for Koudo to make a move. That was when he begun.

With Koudo's first attack at Maruze's arm, Meo quickly retaliated by blocking the fist with one of the 3 floating blades nearest to Maruze, making a TING sound upon impact. The same would happen on the other side. Just then the other 15 blades positioned themselves horizontally, their blades pointing outward at Koudo's general area, and they would begin to orbit Maruze at a high speed, resembling a sideways buzz saw now. At first, they were not close to koudo, however they moved outward gradually... Thus, very quickly, they would be riding up on Koudo's ankles, threatening to take them off if he continued running like that. Maruze wished to see how he would fend off these 20 blades...

He wasn't expecting this outcome, but welcomed it for the simple fact that it was pushing him to push his own speed farther pass what he could originally do. He continued running, trying his best to keep distance between him and the buzz-saw like blades that were circling around Maruze as he stood there. As stated before the attacks to his arms were merely distraction attacks for what Koudo truly aimed to do, he was leaving his aura around his proctor, in a sense surrounding him in the infestation energy. With every block of his attacks the aura drifted off his sword and started to surround his proctor, granted this small amount wasn't enough to take over any body parts or anything like that, but what if, by some odd chance, the person was standing idle while the person creating the aura was emitting more and more of it as they ran around in a circle, not only creating a large circle of the energy but also condensing the circle so that it would circle more around the idle person's body and start to effect them little by little until they were completely taken over.

This was what Koudo was doing. As he ran, he was slowly drifting closer to Maruze, not enough to be completely detected by Maruze's keen eyes but enough so that the aura that he was emitting through the sword in his hands was circling around Maruze, bathing him in Koudo's infestation energy. Since the human body is a machine, granted a much more complicated one, Koudo's aura would start to take effect little by little, imposing Koudo's will on Maruze's limbs and letting it spread to more important things, not like his heart and brain, but things like his stomach or his lungs. Koudo knew that if he continued to run forward, then the blades would catch him eventually and rip him to pieces, but Koudo had come up with a plan for this as soon as they were summoned and had started to spin around and chase him. Koudo, in one swift motion, turned around and started to run backwards getting a full view of the swords coming after him. He opened his mouth and started to use his scream of despair which was used to deflect projectile weapons, but this time he mixed it with his shriek ability which was used to emit a high pitched shriek that could shatter ear drums and make people's bodies go numb. Both of the sounds were imbued with Koudo's chakra which he increased to make the sound coming out of his mouth louder and louder, so loud that it started to effect his own weapons and bring them to their knees while covering their ears. He was sure that since he was so close to Maruze and Meo, the shriek would be enough to effect her in her weapon form and hurt her soul, while also being able to effect Maruze who was standing there, hopefully to make his body go numb while also helping the Infestation of his body go completely unnoticed. As for the Scream of Despair, this was being used to slow the rapid spinning of the 15 blades at his heels down until they stopped all together.

Koudo felt his chakra depleting but if this completely and utterly failed, then he was sure that he had just enough chakra for one last attack, but he was sure that this was close to being fool-proof. Then again everything he was thinking about in this battle seemed fool-proof and Maruze had no problem with stopping it... would this be too much for him to stop?

He seemed to be thinking rather resourcefully. Maruze wasn't using his advanced abilities because of the pure fact that he was trying to fight traditionally, yet, at the same time, Meo wished to use her own abilities to not only better herself, but become more useful in battle, since Maruze usually took over and did everything. Therefore, when the sound waves came about, before Maruze even said anything, Meo was already handling the problem.

"... Hm? Meo?"

Meo's blades would begin to resonate with sound violently as the sound waves hit them. This was Meo's counter to all sound based abilities, which was a resonance of her own via multiplication and expulsion of even more devastating wavelengths from herself to neutralize the wavelength of sound and leave Maruze safe and sound.

Meo: Don't worry, Daddy, I know what to do in this situation!

Maruze looked with awe, a bit amazed and a bit proud of her... She was really taking after him. Perhaps... maybe he could continue that training with her that he tried so long ago... But now was not the time for that. He realized that there was an oddity in his body... he didn't notice it at first, granted, but as the aura got worse and worse, Maruze could feel its effects.

"Mmm... So that is why you punched my blades..."

Maruze held his hand to his chest and suddenly, his wavelength started to surge throughout his hand.

"... Division..."

Maruze's wavelength was that of Division, which allowed him several abilities, but the one in particular he was using was the power to divide unnatural things from his body completely and utterly. It took him a long time to master such an ability, but... He wasn't an Anbu for nothing, after all.

Even in all of this, Koudo's aura was now apparent to Maruze, since he had just experienced it first-hand. So now he knew what it was doing and what Koudo was trying to do... Yet at the same time, his task was to survive the swords. Guess that means something needs to happen with this Infinite Blades fighting style Maruze invented. Before he even said anything, once again, Meo was acting on it. It seemed as though she was becoming more efficient and independent in battle... plus, their wavelengths seemed to be getting more and more connected. That was always a plus. Though Maruze was curious to see if she would execute this plan like he was thinking...

The 15 spinning blades started to disappear one by one gradually, increasing their rotation speed as one disappeared as to not make Koudo suspicious of how many blades were left. Thus, randomly, one sword blade would jut out of the ground in Koudo's running path. One would appear right in the air of Koudo's running path, where his neck would be if he ran into the blade. One appeared in the same position, however on the opposite side of him just in case he decided to turn around again. One appeared above him, following him as he ran about, and the rest appeared outside of the radius of where he was running, still spinning swiftly just in case he tried to escape. Maruze didn't move.

"... My statement still stands. You must survive... Do you think you can?"

Only enough chakra for one attack and it seemed like this attack would be the deciding factor on, one if he passed and two what rank he would receive. Koudo dodged the sword from the ground and stopped right before the sword in front of him was about to cut his neck. He backtracked, and stopped right before the sword behind him was about to pierce his neck and looked up at the sword that was hanging above him, ready to fall with the snap of a finger. He was out of options and his brain wasn't telling him anything but give up, this was his test however and Koudo wasn't one to give up easily. He surveyed his surrounds and the swords, analyzing everything about the situation before closing his eyes and pushing off the ground in a jump.

He jumped onto the tip of the sword that jutted from the ground, not touching it long enough or hard enough for it to stab through his shoe, and he used that to jump to the sword that was in front of him at his neck and pushed off that to move to the sword behind him that was at his neck. He was no machine, but his brain was slowly starting to calculate everything in the battle and the swords. This was probably an extension on his kekkai genkai that he would need to hone later after the battle, anyway, he pushed off the sword he was on and jumped from spinning sword to spinning sword, this all being done at a speed faster than Koudo had been moving all during the battle, before he pushed off the last sword high enough to reach for the sword dangling above him that followed him everywhere he went. He grabbed it quickly and swung around the handle to jump onto the top of it and create his water sword.

" Infestation. "

His aura covered the blade, but for some odd reason it passed beyond that of his sword and engulfed everything in a circle that wasn't that big, though after this battle he would research it and train with it, but it was big enough to engulf every single sword that Maruze had made as well as cover Koudo's body, making his skin shine with the aura. Koudo pointed the sword down and stood completely up, looking down at Maruze as a wing of pure infestation energy pertruded from his back.

" Enhance. "

That was new to him, but something inside told him to say that. The aura of the circle and around him started to glow an even brighter shade of blue and silver. The same rules of the infestation still apply, but it seemed as if it would work on swords this time around, taking control of them if it was possible. It also made the sword in Koudo's hand that was bathed in the aura grow larger and larger until it was about six feet long. It was a feather, very light to fluffy to him.

" ... "

He said nothing, only pushed off the sword he was standing on with force, moving towards Maruze at a speed that he hadn't used, something much faster. Koudo had never heard of someone evolving while in a ranking exam but it seemed like it was happening to him, if only for a fleeting moment so he could drive his ending to the match home. He would have to work on controlling the Enhancement power and Speed, but was sure with enough practice he could. The circle of aura stayed where it was with the swords, while Koudo sped towards Maruze, sword ready to slice him right down the middle from head to toe. With the challenge about surviving his swords, Koudo was sure he had displayed that he could do that fairly well if only he knew how to control everything his body was doing.

Maruze nodded his head slowly, closing his eyes, as this was about to be the decisive attack to end it all.

"... You have done well, Koudo..."

It was very obvious that Koudo had progressed in his abilities from this ranking exam, and that was a very good thing for him, but Maruze had decided that this was the end. As Koudo came near, all of the 15 swords would appear before him glowing with an odd sort of wavelength... Maruze's Division wavelength. He moved right through the blades since he was going at such a fast speed, and with that, his speed and chakra would suffer Division from the Division blades he would pass through, leaving him drained.

"... Allow me to tell you your rank, Koudo..."

Going too fast to notice anything, he passed through the Division wavelength and every ounce of energy he had flowing; Infestation, Chakra, any other thing that he was using but wasn't aware of, stopped and left him to drift down to the ground, touching it before kneeling weakened.

" Right... "

Koudo stood and walked over to Maruze, his partners following and talking amongst each other, or rather Maina talking to Naina about something and Naina listening as she always did. They stood in front of Maruze, Koudo was nervous for once, but excited as well. He was really sure he did well, but it wasn't really up to him, it was up to Maruze.

" What's the final verdict then? "

Maruze looked at Koudo with a very serious face, sword's disappearing from the area slowly until only one was in his hand. He dropped the sword, which would glow white for a split second before taking the shape of Meo once more, who stood beside Maruze with arms crossed. They looked to each other, exchanging serious faces, then looked back at Koudo.

"... You are strong. You have high potential to become even stronger in the future. And even right now... Your strength surpasses that of a genin, in my standards."

Maruze started to smile slightly, his serious and stern face becoming more warm as he continued to speak.

"... You still have much to learn about controlling your powers... But, at this point, you are definitely well prepared for this rank. Congratulations Koudo, Chuunin of the Dusk."

Maruze knew he would be prepared for Special Jounin or even Jounin rather soon, but right now Chuunin was enough for him. Maruze bowed to Koudo in a traditional way as to show respect and to show that this exam was officially over... plus a little congratulatory-ness in it as well. He came back up, wrapping an arm lovingly around his daughter's shoulders.

"You have done well. Feel free to find me or Meo if you wish for further training. We would be happy to train you."

Maina: " YES!!!! WE'RE SO AWESOME!!! "

Maina cheered taking her sister's hands as they both jumped up and down happily. Koudo refrained from this and looked to Maruze, before closing his eyes and smirking.

" I still have a lot to learn... I'll be sure to seek you out again for some speed and reflexes training. It was a good match. "

Kouod offered his hand to his proctor, so that they could shake on it. Naina released her sister's hands and offered her hand to Meo, and Maina did the same.

" Chuunin huh... not too bad. "

Maruze looked at Koudo's hand, finding it a bit awkward. He was accustomed to shaking hands at the end of a battle, yet, he had always heard that it was a sign of respect. He really was old fashioned.

Meo smiled at the two girls, finding them to be rather cute the way they jumped about and whatnot. "Awww, aren't you two just so cute~?" She had to stop herself from hugging them, actually.

Both Maruze and Meo would shake the hands of the people in front of them; Maruze to Koudo and Meo to Maina and Naina. It seemed like a pretty nice experience.

".. Hm. I barely see anyone as respectful as you are anymore..."

Maruze's smile started to falter slightly as he thought of his last battle with that Uchiha... Oh, what power does to some people. He looked back at Koudo and hoped that he wouldn't become like that if he acquired that same power in the future.

Koudo shook hands before removing his hand and continuing to have the same smirk that he always had. Koudo was respectful because he recognized power, that and the fact that anyone that showed him some respect was respected back tenfold. Maruze wasn't arrogant or anything of the sort and this Koudo respected his power as well as him as a person and the same thing went for his partner, Meo.

" Well that's because I'm... We're, one of a kind. "

Koudo stated, Maina and Naina looking to each other before looking to him and both stepping a little closer than before. Koudo nodded his head before turning on his heels, Maina and Naina doing the same, at the same time.

" We're only going up from here, don't be surprised if you see me again.... oh and Maruze... "

Koudo looked over his shoulder, looking directly to Maruze's eyes with intensity burning in his own.

" Make sure to hold my ANBU spot for me... I'll be coming back for it really soon. "

There was no smugness in his voice... well maybe a little, but it was all confidence after the smugness. He was confident that he would become more powerful all he needed to do was figure out how to master the new unlocked potential of his Kekkai Genkai as well as learn a few new elements along the way. He remembered Priere with her ice, Adam with his metal, Mana with her magic, and Khrona with the abilities of his Wavelength. Koudo wanted to learn something from all of them. The first on his list however was no one mentioned before, he had someone that he needed to find and now he was ready to find him.

Maruze recognized his ambition to reach great heights, the thought of it warming his soul.

"Ah, Meo... Let us hope that the next time we truly fight him, we may show him everything we have."

Meo looked up to her father, smiling as they turned and started to walk in the opposite direction of Koudo, "Of course, Dad! But even we can't stop training, you know. Just cuz we're high up in the ranks doesn't mean we still can't grow!"

Maruze nodded, smiling wide now. "I could not have said better words myself." This was definitely his daughter. Maruze looked down into Meo's eyes, seeing his wife in them... He was overjoyed, yet saddened greatly by it. He looked up to the heavens, eyes burning with desperation and said lowly so that Meo couldn't hear, "Melody... We will find you." And with that, they were gone.