SOD: Hey all. I've entertained this idea for a while - so I finally decided to make this one!

They stand together.

On a cliff,
Desert sand swirling around their legs,
Two immobile statues -
They are frozen in the grasp of time.

One is wearing black,
The other white.
One is masked,
The others' eyes exposed.

Eyes stare at each other,
A hard, predatory glint to them.
Eyes are a window to the soul -
Yet these statues ignore the pain they see.

They are dueling,
Yet they do not move.
This is not yet a battle of physical strength.
Not yet.

The duel has only just begun.

They remember when they were children -
The bond of brotherhood so closely treasured,
It is now draped around them like a ghost.
Memories swirl around them, like the desert dust.

Here they are not enemies.

They are brothers.

Here their dreams collide.
Their ambitions meet -
But only they can tell who is stronger.
As Shinobi, this is the only way.

The statues stare hard and long,
Unblinking and unmoving.
This is their world.
The battle of souls is their life.

The statues move,
With deadly grace and skillful tact.
They are mirror images of themselves.
The setting sun glints wickedly on their blades.

Their swords connect.

The duel has begun.