Turn Back The Pendulum: It all starts, After Life [Flash back, Tento/Hanako]

The posture and the incantation wasn't hard to recognise. In an instant Hanako saw that he would hit her with a Sai and prepared: she relaxed her muscles and offered no resistance. She learned the lesson herself: a Sai could be quite uncomfortable if one tried to resist while it was cast. But in a relaxed state Hanako's body was simply rocked back a bit and her arms were bound behind her back. If there was any discomfort at all it was something she could handle easily.

"Nice…" Hanako said. "Was that your first time casting Bakudo on a live target?"

She watched Tento carefully. She didn't really have any idea how the first year curriculum was. Sure, she had been through it herself, but she didn't really care to memorize it. She learned what she was instructed to, trained with the others and on her own, and did what was necessary to advance. When, in which year or class, any of it was practically gone as soon as the course was over. Contents was all that counted.

"It's always different when you practice on another living being and not just on a dummy, huh?"

Many students had their reservations about letting others practice Kido on them, even if it was just Bakudo. Hanako always thought that was absurd. Especially low level Bakudo could do little harm. She had always been with the volunteers, earning her respect and disapproval of her peers equally.

A hissing sound came from her when she pressed air through her clenched teeth. The muscles in her shoulders and arms tensed up, as well as her whole upper body. An ever so light flicker of a cold blue shine appeared on her skin, easily missable.

With visible effort Hanako struggled against the binding spell. The thing was that even to break the lowest of the low Bakudos, one needed at least some spiritual pressure. And even as a fresh fifth year Hanako was barely at the upper limits of what humans could do. Granted, she had learned a lot of techniques over the past four years and trained her spirit body. But that didn't necessarily mean her powers grew equally. It seemed there was a lot of foundation work necessary, before anything significant changed. While most students had that problem and only a few gifted came out of the academy already possessing considerable powers, Hanako always felt she had to try for more. Because she was the one that was hollow inside, she was the one who had to work the hardest.

Veins on her neck began to pulse and the strain made her sweat. She struggled for several moments, bringing up all she had. Finally her arms began to move. When she finally broke free she was almost drained. Sweat was running over her face, but she was grinning. It was the grin of a tiger about to have lunch.

"Not bad." She said, catching her breath quickly.
"You wanna try?"