Almost a mile from where the squad was forced to leave Hinji, they came upon the second ninja of the insurgent squad. The man was dressed in thick furs of wild animals. His helmet was adorned by the head of a wolf, his cloak stretched out behind him, from that same animal. He wore a shield upon his left arm and clutched a broadsword with his right. "Hold Ninja!" He shouted from atop the hill where he stood. "One of you three shall face me. The others may go along. Win, and I shall answer any questions you have. But when you lose, know that I shall ask the same of you." He rested his sword against his shoulder and glared at them. The fire in his eyes spoke to the fact that he would not wait forever for them to chose.

Kano stepped forward and pounded his fist to his heart. "Go on ahead, Sensei. I've got this one." He looked at the warrior and bowed his head. "I, Kano Kurosaki of the Village Hidden in the Volcano, accept your challenge!"

The man couldn't help but shake his head as Tsu and El left them here alone. "She is certainly something else. And she is the leader of your squad? Very interesting..." He turned and looked at Kano admirably. "Kano Kurosaki of the Volcano...I am impressed by the way you introduced yourself. It tells me you as well are a man of honor." He placed his right hand above his heart and bowed respectfully to Kano. "I am D'var Klor'vel of the Land of Eternal Darkness. It is a pleasure to meet a warrior of honor in such a frozen wasteland. As I stated earlier, should you win, I will answer any questions you ask truthfully."

Kano was definitely going to need his spear for this one. There was no way he could out fight a man with weapons such as though bare handed. He just wasn't good enough...yet. He cracked his neck and pulled the spear from his back. "Then I suggest we dispense with the pleasantries and get right down to it."

D'var smiled and nodded, surging forward and slamming his shield into the boy's chest. The power behind the blow was enough to force the kid back several stumbling steps.

He almost tripped over and fell. Fat lot of good that would have done, Kano thought as he pressed a hand to his chest. That shield bash hurt, but he could tell the man was holding back to. He could have shattered his ribcage with that attack, but he didn't. He couldn't help but smile, this guy wanted a fight, not a quick getaway. He reached down and pulled a handful of kunai out from his pouch. Making a single handsign, he threw the kunai. No sooner had they left his hand then they burst into flames and darted for the armored man. "Fire Style - Dragon Talons!" He called and surged forward after the fiery kunai. He doubted they would inflict much damage, this guy was a professional after all.

D'var raised his shield and then batted the flaming kunai away with his sword. He was a professional, just as Kano thought, but even pro's get cocky. Hiding behind his shield, he barely even saw the boy coming in behind his kunai. He stumbled back a step as Kano slammed into his shield arm, pushing him back.

Kano had waited for this chance since coming to the INC Village. He was finally getting a chance to prove himself. No way was he going to let this guy beat him. He didn't wait for D'var to recover from his attack. He surged forward, spear outstretched, aiming for the gap at the top of the man's shield.

D'Var let the boy get in close, surely if he were better trained, he could have recognized the purpose of the gap. When the spear moved towards his head, he ducked, pivoted his shield arm, and sent the spear careening from the boy's hands. He swung his sword under the boy's overextended body and smacked him in the chest with the blunt side. "You'll have to do better than that, Kano." He smiled as the boy sprawled backward in the snow. It was interesting to see the white powder melting around him like that. He walked to the boy's spear and, sheathing his sword, picked it up. He spun the haft in his hand, testing it's weight. "A nice balanced weapon. But you know not how to use it properly." He told Kano as he walked to him and returned the weapon.

Kano took his spear warily and got to his feet. This battle wasn't exactly going as he thought it would. He looked at D'Var curiously, wondering why he wasn't trying to kill him while he was defenseless. "I'm still learning." He explained with a shrug, it didn't feel right to not defend himself against the man's words.

"A wise answer." D'var told him with a smile. He pulled his sword free and gestured for Kano to continue. "I can see you are full of questions, Kano of the Volcano. Defeat me in honest combat, and I shall answer them all." He stood at the ready, allowing the boy to bring the fight to him.

Again with the 'honest' combat line, Kano thought. He had no idea what D'var was getting at, but the man certainly didn't act like an evil madman like the other rogue ninjas they've come across. Maybe that had something to do with it. He nodded to his opponent before moving forward to press his attack anew. He wielded his spear more like it were a bow-staff really, and honestly wished it were equipped with a blade on either side, instead of just the one. His opponent was exceedingly well skilled and he got the feeling that the man was toying with him every time he almost landed a hit, only to have it smached aside at the last second.

D'var couldn't help but smile as he sparred with the boy. He didn't want to kill him, after all. This was honest combat, overwhelming someone who is clearly weaker and less skilled would be dishonest, and he would not stand for that. After several minutes of playing with the boy, he shoved him back and hung his shield on his back. He looked at Kano sadly, "Enough games, Kano. I cannot allow you to pass. The sparring was fun, and you show much promise. However, it is time I end this." He tucked his sword under his arm and made several hand signs, "Touch of the Wolf!" he called as he completed the signs. The air rippled around him and a howl blew through the wind, sending chills up Kano's spine. He lowered his head, crossed his arms before his chest, and hunched. All the muscles on his body tensed and twitched slightly. He straightened out and when he looked at Kano, his eyes were golden, his teeth sharper. "It's over boy. No one has ever defeated me while in this jutsu."

Kano couldn't help but shiver when the man looked at him. He looked like an animal about to pounce on its prey. A grin crossed his lips. "No one? Then I shall become the first!" He tucked his spear beneath his arm, mimicking D'var, and formed his own hand signs. "Fire Style - Dragon's Dance!" He called and the fire erupted around him, engulfing his hands and feet in flame.

I>Well, that's different.</i> D'var thought as he looked at the now flaming boy before him. Perhaps this lad could defeat him, wouldn't that be something? He growled softly and surged forward, arcing his sword outward and off to the side. When he came upon Kano, the sword reappeared before him, slashing open the boy's chest as it sliced clean through the wooden haft of the spear.

Kano cried out as the blade sliced into him. He hadn't expected D'var to actually do something like that, certainly not after all that talk. He took a few steps backward and tossed his broken spear aside. He'd have to get a new one when they got back, but he didn't mind. He pressed a burning hand to his chest and sealed the wound with his searing flames. It hurt like hell, but if he didn't do it, he'd bleed to death before even getting close to this guy. He just hoped the move was bold enough to spook this warrior. He grinned at D'var and jumped at the man, aiming a flaming kick for the man's face. He doubted it would connect, but he was ready even if it did.

Kano was right to think D'var would dodge the kick. When he rolled to the side to avoid it, he was met by a paper bomb that floated down from the boy's hand. Ok, so the kid is good. he thought as he brought his hands up to shield his face. The blast sent him flying back, his sword spinning from his hands, into the wall of a nearby building.

Kano rushed after the man, his small victory giving him confidence. He pulled a handful of kunai from his pouch, and repeated the fiery jutsu from earlier. He launches the flaming kunai through the air, small sparking papers trailing out behind them. They land all around the warrior, the tags sizzle for about 2 more seconds before erupting. The building shuttered under the impressive force of the 8 paper bombs. The snow slides from the roof, showering D'var in it. The wall collapsed behind the man and still Kano pressed forward.

D'var cursed as the wall fell out behind him, though it gave him a brief escape from the boy's impressive assault. He had thought he had lulled the young ninja into self doubt, but apparently he had instead fueled the kid's inner fire. He groaned as he rolled his shoulders, letting his shield drop to the ground. He looked at the ninja who persisted in closing the gap between them. This was turning into a truly glorious battle. He smiled as he taunted, "Nice try, Kano. But I am used to the cold of this cursed land." He hated using ninjutsu usually, but this lad wasn't giving him much choice in the matter. In order to fight Kano's fire, he'd have to use his snow style ninjutsu. His hands moved incredibly fast as he formed the signs. "Ice Wolf Spike!" He called out as the wind howled around him as spikes of ice surged up from the snow and flew at Kano

Kano leaped backward as the ice spikes blasted towards him. Quickly, he formed the handsigns and held his hands, palms out, before him. "Flame Wall!" he declared, and the fires upon his hands shot outward, forming a wide square of flame in front of him. The spikes sizzled and then steamed when they came in contact with the fire. Kano fell to his knees and huffed as he looked up at D'var. The ever-present grin still upon his face. "Fire beats ice every time. Old guy like you ought to know that, D'var." He talked big, but he felt it inside, his chakra was running dangerously low already. That was the real problem with being so flashy..it cost a lot.

"I'll let that slide, kid" D'var told him as he approached. He had lost his sword and left his shield behind. He rolled his shoulders and groaned. "You call me old, but you're the one who's nearly out of breath. Why not just accept defeat? No one has to know. Look around, there is not a soul around besides the two of us. Surrender, and I will let you live." He stopped when he was standing before Kano. Looking down at the boy, he couldn't help but smile. "You've done well, no body would blame you for giving up. You face a superior opponent, it is incredulous that you still draw breath."

Kano looked up at D'var, the guy made a good point. He had done surprisingly well against a superior opponent, and nobody would have to know that he gave up...There wasn't anyone around to witness it after all. He clenched his fists and looked at D'var defiantly, "I would know." He told him as he got to his feet slowly. The fire around him dispersed, it was using too much chakra to stay ablaze. "Even if nobody else sees it, I would know." He stood proudly and placed a fist to hist heart, "We have a saying in my village, 'Die Trying.' A Volcano Ninja never gives up. No matter who the opponent is, no matter what the odds, we never surrender." He didn't have much room to work with, D'var was standing too close for him to go for a kick, and he doubted he had the strength to knock him down with a punch. His eyes shone as the thought came to him, it would be unexpected, that's for sure. He sent chakra surging down his body and braced himself. The chakra erupted from the balls of his feet and sent him rocketing upward, his forehead crashing into D'var's with incredible momentum.

The CRACK! ricocheted off every solid mass around them as D'var flew backwards. He caught himself before he fell over and clutched at his forehead as his helmet fell to either side of him. There was a large red mark on his head, the inverse indentation of the symbol on Kano's headband, emblazoned in the center of the welt. His ears were ringing, his eyes watering. He groaned and fought to stay on his feet. A small grin crossed his face when he finally registered what the boy had done. A truly unexpected attack, a simple headbutt, empowered by the boy's chakra. He shook his head, trying to clear his vision. "Soit's...likethat...eh?" He asked, his words coming out slurred. His hands clenched into fists and then moved at incredible speed again as he made the signs. "I will bury you! White Fang Avalanche!" The snow erupted all around them, the wolves' howl echoing through the ruined part of the village as the snow surged down around them, intending to crush them both beneath its icy mass.

It was a desperate attack, Kano could see that as the snow rushed in to crush them. D'var had promised him answers, if they were buried, he would receive none; he may even die. He couldn't have that, not after all he gotten through so far. He didn't have any choice, he had barely ever used jutsu, but there was little else he could do. Time was short, as was his chakra supply. He rushed forward, wanting to ensure that D'var was protected as well. His hands moved quickly, making the signs that he prayed would save them. He leaped to the air, and bringing his hands to his mouth, called out "Dragon's Breath Jutsu!" The flames erupted from his lips, funneling through his hands, with such force that he spun around in the air. Without the ground to stabilize him, his body was at the mercy of the force of propulsion. He spun, causing the great arcing flames to travel around both he and D'var, devouring the wolves of snow as they rushed in for the kill. Great plumes of steam surged skyward as Kano's fire pulverized the snow to nothingness. The ground beneath them turned muddy as the snow surrounding the two ninja melted, then just as quickly dried as the moisture was licked up by the overwhelming heat of the boy's jutsu. The avalanche was destroyed, utterly, by the time Kano finally landed. His chakra drained, he collapsed at the feet of a truly shocked D'var.

D'var took a knee before the collapsed ninja. "Never have I been so truly defeated, Kano Kurosaki. Rest now, knowing you shall have all your answers." With that said, he folded his legs beneath himself and sat, waiting for Kano to awaken.

It was several minutes later when Kano's eyes opened. He looked up and saw D'var just sitting there. He rolled over and asked the first question of many, "Who are you really?" It was an important question to Kano. This was clearly a man of honor, and yet he allied himself with villains and attacked a peaceful Island village. It did not make sense.

D'var smiled, it was the question he expected the boy to ask. "Sit yourself and I will tell you all you want to know." He gestured to a nearby set of rocks that would certainly suit better than the cold ground. "My name is D'var Klor'vel and I am truly from the Eternal Frost Village." He grinned and waited to see Kano's reaction to that bit of truth.

Kano couldn't believe what he had just heard. D'var was from here?? Why would he attack his own village? It didn't make any sense whatsoever...he sat down on the rock and looked at D'var, demanding answers to questions yet unasked.

"I see that just raises more questions for you, doesn't it?" D'var replied to his expression. He placed his hands on his knees and nodded. "Very well, I shall endeavor to tell you my tale. Undoubtedly you wish to know why I would bring such violence and destruction to a place that was once my home." He sighed and leaned back from his seat and told the boy everything.

His tale was a long one and kept Kano extremely interested, which was saying something. Usually the Volcano ninja could hardly sit still. By the end of the story, Kano felt as though he could completely justify D'var's actions. He knew nobody was likely to trust the man, even if he were to tell them they could, but it didn't matter. In Kano's book, D'var had done nothing particularly wrong. The planning had been meticulously done, everything had hinged on them coming back here, and it had all happened according to his plan. Everything, that is except for his defeat at Kano's hands. That had been unexpected.

D'var picked his head up and looked behind them as he heard a distant rumbling. "Avalanche..." he said quietly, turning back to Kano. "You have your answers, Kano Kurosaki. Now, what will you do with them? I brought the others here in hopes they would be defeated. You have proven yourself to be my superior, if you could defeat me, I have no doubts that your friends have dealt with the others as well. Now I ask you, as the victor, what will you do with me?"

Kano heard the avalanche after D'var pointed it out. It came from the direction Tsu and El had gone. If they ran into trouble...he had to go and see if he could help, he couldn't abandon them. He thought, all through D'var's tale, about what he should do with the man. He was a rogue ninja, which meant he needed to be captured. But the story, the motive to the man's actions, made it seem wrong to do so. He got to his feet and held his hand out to D'var. "I cannot speak for the others, or the people of this Island Nation, but should you find yourself in need, my Village shall answer your call." He told him as he grasped the man's hand. "I have no doubt that they will kill you, should you remain here, D'var. May my home, be your home, should you need it. You are surely not my enemy and I would very much enjoy a rematch with you. Though right now, I fear for my friends. I must see to them." He looked passed the man warily and wondered if El and Tsu were alright.

D'var clasped the boy's arm in a tight embrace and got to his feet. He set his hand upon his shoulder. "Then do to them, my friend, and thank you. I will not forget you, Kano Kurosaki. And I swear, one day you shall have your rematch. It would be my honor." He bowed to the ninja and seemed to simply fade into the snow as he vanished.

Kano stood dumbfounded as D'var vanished before his eyes, but there was no time for that. He shook his head to clear his mind and ran off to find his friends.