"You know they found that it really is faster to run that way?"

Was he kidding? Maybe. Grinning, he used his hand full of knives to prop up the other in front of his face, held two fingers up straight, and made a very convincing impression of an anime character about to unleash a special move.

"Anyhow, of course I can. And I've unlocked the teleport-no-jutsu, too, Deca-san." He didn't demonstrate, however. Instead, he let his knife hand fall confidently back to his side and rested the other on his hip. "I'm good for a sneak attack, or at least a distraction. And, in case you're worried, this isn't my first fight."