PHANTOMS CAN'T HANG [T|O]

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way I had been gamboling in these parts long enough; 'twas time I moved on. The town of Yomogita had served me its offering, by way of a farmhand who was of an age with myself. It would be sometime before anybody ventured far enough afield to find his corpse; mockingly, I had hoed lines across his body, except for the head; where his eyeballs had been, I had planted saplings. I wondered if they would thrive (or even survive) in a bed of human flesh, or if someone would happen upon the site too early for it to matter. Either way, it was probably high time I departed. Nobody had known of the way I had abducted the Akari boy, of that I could be quite certain, but it was best to make oneself scarce before there was even a chance for questions to be asked. My ivory frock covered my person, overlapping a lilac-blue undershirt. My customary white cloth hairtie was again worn today, always serving to make me look that tad younger, though I still appeared more mature than my adolescent age of a mere seventeen. Hidden beneath my skirt, a sextuple knife holster (with all but one slot filled with knives, at that) was strapped to my left thigh, and I carried two other separate weapon holsters; a simple butt bag containing a hundred and seventy-one combat needles, sixty shuriken, four kunai and twenty detonation tags. My simple fencing sword was looped at my belt, innocuous enough. The giant bag I carried (besides containing miscellaneous journeying supplies) actually stored ten fragmentation grenades and a non-combative holodisk. The fact that I strolled about the earth so nonchalantly while carrying enough explosives to level a small building was probably somewhat indicative of my character, but it was not as though I was about to let anyone view the inside of the pack; especially not in the compartment where the grenades were stored. As I departed from the thriving hamlet at the height of noon that it was with my eyes a tame white and with a personable smile upon my face, I was nodded off by a few folk, though only one deigned to name me, and he thought mine to be "Kara", for that was the alias I had been operating under. I smiled to the old man who spoke, and continued on; I passed a roadsign I did not read, followed the path down a gentle incline, and was soon well on my way to the main road. words 0422 tagged OPEN theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

Dressed all in the black garments that made up the clothing he wore, the cool day itself never beating down on him with shivers as he strolled. His hakama pants eased with movement, flowing like a robe itself while the shihakushō top with forest green undershirt only kept that aim of flowing movement going steady forwards. His body was taller than most as he stood at a six foot and eight inch height, towering over some of the children whom were in the carriage with him. He was in that carriage mostly due to the very fact that he had to have a swift way back home, granted this wasn't the fasted route but it did beat walking to most extents.

He himself teaching the children of the Goddess Tempest to pass the time and spread his faith alike. The goddess who helped the dead from one realm to the next, in all making she worked in all the faiths by different names, but for 'Suke he worked her for who she was and her duty alike. It was his reason for becoming a medic as well, naturally it helped many things come along the roads like his new meeting with an arch-angel whom actually knew of his goddess. This was an encouragement and a gracious time for 'Suke, and for that reason he enjoyed it all the more.

When it came time for his stop on the main road though that would lead him back home to Ame no Kuni he hopped out, waving off to the kids. Once the carriage was out of sight he patted himself to feel if all the weapons were still on his person. The flask of sake filled with nineteen shots at his right hip, on his left was the pristine katana in its black sheath, roped by the lightly dirtied white sash around his waist. He could feel from a small flex of his chest and gut that the ten kunai in their knife holster were all still there. The patting hands finding the forty-one hidden senbon, the prismatic compass, his two wireless radio transmitters, and finishing off with the... wait.

He looked to the ground to see his mono-goggle had dropped out, and with a subtle hand he picked it up and placed it upon his face, over the left eye. Testing all the features the anti-flash lenses device held. Condition viewing, thermal vision, and x-ray vision alike. With all of this he took it off, and placed it back in the pockets of his shihakushō. With a look around the blonde man gazed about while his hidden rain headband was hidden in the folds of his same shihakushō robe. “What a good day for it not to be raining.” A small stretch from the painful ride as he looked around, seeming the place was deserted among this main road.

[Enter]

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way I had been trekking none too long before I came across another, as was to be expected; 'twas not referred to as the 'main road' for naught, but there was something immediately aberrant about this man; he was alone. Granted, so was I, but as an unashamed and immensely dangerous gadabout, I had happened upon the idea that it was not groups of people that were the most dangerous, as some people liked to think - especially not in times of peace and prosperity. Nay, it were the lone wolves; the independent; the self-sufficient that were the most heinous, or at least the most powerful. Or, equally likely, just stupid; another piece of prey awaiting its predator. But caution always had to be exercised. His lonesomeness was not his only oddity; on the approach, his exceptional height became evident, and considering his remote locale, his attire was oddly formal. He was even wearing some sort of eyepiece. I wondered at it all. Such a massive, curious beast would make a voluminous, gratifying corpse, but at the cost of being much harder to fell. Besides, this place was open to the public eye, so of course I kept my mien carefully amicable as I approached, heralding him not with words, but first a pleasant expression. Ten meters off, I paused and half-bowed to him politely; a cautious girl, was I. I did not even wish to pass by him without ascertaining his demeanor. "Hello, stranger," I hailed with a personable smile. "And where might you be headed?" It was usually a less-kept secret than where are you from? words 0267 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

Brother 'Suke held a relatively good day and was appreciative of the fact that this was coming along so nicely, mostly for the very manner that such a day was having him meat some new individual. This new individual here was a moderately young adult by the looks of it and not just that but shorter than him. Granted that wasn't strange at all given the company of individuals he was around. The strange thing though was the hair, he had never known about purple hair, in fact it could be something what is by no means an unknown to him and for that reason something very difficult to comprehend. He himself enjoyed the thought of such a unique trait being of someone he randomly meets in the area.

The words spoken though, and from a smile no less as he blinked and smiled with his own charismatic charm. “Hello to you as well miss. I am heading back home after an extended month or so visit in this land. How about you? You heading somewhere or perhaps wandering the lands for some exciting sightseeing?” He was curious of her, and the chance meeting itself brought on more curiosity as well to place together the interest as it were. His hand however did rest on the hilt of his sword but with a very relaxed and natural manner while the smile remained on his face.

He appeared wholesome, and natural in such a situation, not only that but retained a form of complete naturalism about it that his eyes analyzed with curiosity during his wait for the answer. To find out what ever he could of this woman with purple hair as she was truly an interesting character already in his mind just by seeing what that hair was like. Not only that, but he also happened to keep some curiosity as to why her eyes were black, black as the night that he understood were a demon thing. Demons were an enemy, but that smile and hair seemed to keep him from thinking thinking this individual was a demon.

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way [OOC: Actually at the moment Ryoko's sclera are a white color, as stated in my first post. 'As I departed from the thriving hamlet at the height of noon that it was with my eyes a tame white'. In case of curiosity, she can change them from black to white at will. I have been told minor cosmetic shifts such as color changes are not against the rules, so long as they do not carry with them any additional powers or make a character unrecognizable.] The stranger received me with as much courtesy as was expected of two amiable strangers meeting on the road. I noticed a blade at his hip, but it was not as though I did not carry my own; lone travelers were liable to carry basic weaponry with them, even if they were not the most adept wielders. It could be used as a simple message: I am not afraid to defend myself. It was certainly an inconvenience to me. The dark maw within my soul was already slavering at the thought of what this male - whose name I knew not - would look like blood-and-soulless. If my expression were to describe my feeling, I would be licking my lips in the present moment, but fortunately I was capable of bifurcating the internal and external. "Hello to you as well miss," Said he, quite the gentleman. "I am heading back home after an extended month or so visit in this land. How about you? You heading somewhere or perhaps wandering the lands for some exciting sightseeing?" I giggled behind a hand, emphasizing my girlish appearance. "Moreso the latter," I responded. "I find I have the most fun when I am moving from place to place." It is also far safer that way. I was not sure this giant could be felled, so my hunger - already building, so quickly! - would remain unsated for the time being, but I would linger a little while longer. In a land of peasants, this comparatively august figure resurrected some petty intrigue. "And where might this home of yours be, if you don't mind my asking? You appear foreign," I told him truthfully. words 0279 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

This girl held an amiable posture, one that he hasn't seen many times but thankfully he appreciated the gesture, just the same as the feminine giggle that brought a smile to his face. In lands like these, he hadn't seen that enough. In fact all the experiences he had with women so far were young drunks and then strictly uptight scientists as well. There was one however that seemed more feminine than either of the latter but he didn't know that one's name so he couldn't really do much to compare that either. Which brought to mind he didn't know her name either and that also came to conclusion to his mind when hearing that question.

“Oh my home is in towards the west of here. Out in the Land of Rain I am in the making of commissioning a manor for myself and those who are weary travelers whom can rest if they so wish. It is among something that I am hoping to call a sanctuary to some as well.” Indeed, the religious fellow did hold that in account for himself as not only a Venator but also a follower of Tempest. Of the two, he knows the ups and downs, the truths and falsehoods of what a sanctuary was. Naive as it may be, he hoped it could come to past as a very definitive and graceful place for meetings such as this.

He then bowed his head for a recognition of respect before raising it again. The act itself being a formality and kind one as he gave his name, “I am Brother 'Suke, or at least that is what the church calls me. Most go by just calling me 'Suke. It is a pleasure to meet you and I do hope you are not frightened by my height as some seem uncomfortable by it.” He chuckled lightly, indeed his sense of humor wasn't one of the best, but he did hope it lightened up the air a bit more than it already was but also brought something of the conversation forwards as well. “To whom might I have the pleasure of meeting?” His question raised while looking into those eyes kindheartedly.

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC: Sorry bout that, I must've missed it. My apologies again and acknowledged.

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way [OOC: Not a problem friend.] "Oh my home is in towards the west of here. Out in the Land of Rain," Were the words I paid the most heed. So, he was an alien here. Not all that uncommon seeing as how Hi no Kuni was so very centralized, but it was not every day you got to speak to somebody from a land you had never visited. 'Twas funny, to consider that some people might be as xenophobic as to be inherently frightened of or dissatisfied at the presence of this man, but I was a native here and - especially considering his apparently morally sound ethics - a far more powerful taint to Hi no Kuni than this benevolent creature, it would likely be agreed. "I am Brother 'Suke, or at least that is what the church calls me. Most go by just calling me 'Suke. It is a pleasure to meet you and I do hope you are not frightened by my height as some seem uncomfortable by it," Said he. I supposed that was meant to be a lighthearted jest, so I smiled and shook my head to reassure him, able to tell he was not done speaking. So, the religious type, was he? It made sense: the stoic amity; the altruistic aspiration; the solemn, formal habiliment, it all spoke of church affinity. I wondered what Brother Suke would think of what I had done just last night, and many nights before it: seduction, fornication, murder, defiling corpses, et cetera. Unfortunately, I had no conscience to speak of, and whatever higher power he happened to believe in, I doubt I would buy the story of it. The only god I knew was death, and he loved me well enough. "To whom might I have the pleasure of meeting?" Ah, the inevitable exchange. He had given me his name, so it was time I give him mine. I made a face as though I had not been expecting him to ask. "Kara Nozaki," I lied, feeling I was still in too close proximity with the alias to replace it just yet. Of course, I had no reason to give him my true title (only those that I was on the threshold of murdering were given that grace). I curtsied in time with the announcement. "Your efforts do sound admirable," I commended him, continuing in the palaver, daring now to step closer as we were no longer nameless strangers to one another. This was a more comfortable speaking distance, though now he was almost blotting out the sun. It was then that the thought struck me. Hi no Kuni was a major country, and housed many shinobi, but the peasants outnumbered them a million to one. The chances of meeting someone educated in the ninja arts were very slim, so it made the perfect hunting ground, but a shinobi's secrets were something I would not at all mind being privy too. I doubted Brother Suke could save my blackened soul, but perhaps I could find other uses forhim. "It so happens that I seem to be headed west myself, Brother, though I was merely seeking adventure, rather than Ame no Kuni. Tell me... Without meaning to offend, I must say I did not expect the first of a religious order I have happened across in quite some time to hail from there. Moreso than Hi no Kuni, is your home country not quite the militaristic one? The shinobi of it are quite infamous, at least to me." words 0584 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

The individual in front of him had gotten closer after having said her name, such a unique name that was as well for such a time it truly was an interesting thing. Silly how names held power but he understood that just as well as the next monk or preacher. It was of no exceptions that this name was a unique one at that. With a steady mind he thought up how the name meant in the common tongue and what hidden secrets it may hold. The name he knew meant outgoing, so that wondering nature did come into effect there as far as he can tell, but the others such as kindhearted and sweet. Those two positives for the name were relevant to how she acted but they held deeper meanings than that.

For that, he would need to be around her more to understand if the two deeper meanings did come to fruition more than what already was coming to be. He did however feel better when commended for his efforts, and having someone say that the good Samaritan deeds were admirable was indeed a satisfying thing to hear. Her questions came after the fact though and he did take heed to listen to them as it was something that he was quite familiar with. The actual thought this person hadn't been around too many religious orders in this land wasn't too shocking but he was surprised that she considered the militaristic shinobi of Ame no Kuni to be infamous.

That thought alone left him curious and pondering, but with a moment's thought he spoke with ease, “Indeed they are infamous and yet I hold little connection to the shinobi of that land so their militaristic jurisdiction doesn't hold me very well. I was trained by one of their shinobi however, and for that I know some protection for the sanctuary I will host for the rest of the land outside their control.” It was all truths, especially given he wasn't born of Ame no Kuni but rather from the land of sound given his past as a Masamune after all. It was coming together however and it held strong as well.

The actual thought of passing on knowledge, that held a bit of thought to him and as such he did hold a bit of fear for the girl. Not because she was a girl but her beauty in the nature of things. “I could teach you some basics that could make it easier for your travels in Ame no Kuni. Many parts of the land are covered in water and constant threats of flooding do ensue. Have you any training in Water Walking?” Or perhaps tree walking but that part was a precursor and a test more so than not and he had to understand where this girl stood if any, and if he could prepare her for the treacherous routes that Ame no Kuni holds, then the better it can be.

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way "Indeed they are infamous and yet I hold little connection to the shinobi of that land so their militaristic jurisdiction doesn't hold me very well. I was trained by one of their shinobi however, and for that I know some protection for the sanctuary I will host for the rest of the land outside their control." At that moment, I did not even have to feign my interest: my eyes widened, my head tilted, my mouth smiled. In my genuine excitement I had to focus so as not to accidentally discolor my eyes - that would be difficult to explain. So, my chicanery had been prudent; unfortunately, this itinerant lioness - with her meager tutelage in fisticuffs and fencing - was not yet fit to hunt shinobi (or those trained in their arts), or so she suspected. Perhaps if they were hopelessly seduced or inebriated, but even then, 'twas chancy, and if ever there were a difficult man to beguile in either way it would be one of religious belief. There was an inexplicable hint of rue in my smile. What was even more astounding was his willingness to educate and collude with me; why, strangers were generous to a pretty face, but it was not often that their offers extended so far. Ah, the fatuousness of the good-willing; unwittingly aiding the very forces they spurned with their largess. The gratitude that appeared on my face was more deeply ironic than I imagined he presently understood. "Why, thank you for your offer, Brother," I said to him, unsure whether to bow or curtsy again and ending up with some awkward mixture of both. When I reascended I regarded him with an eye of interest, subtly implying that perhaps he had... ulterior motives? furthermore, I did not even look displeased at the prospect. Still, the suggestion was none too explicit; I did not wish to insult him, oh no. "I confess I barely knew such an art existed," I elaborated, referring to the water walking he described - it was not true, for my parents had been outlawed ninja, so I had vague notions of their secrets, but unfortunately they had been too apathetic to enlighten me further. "It would be quite useful to have some tools at my metaphorical belt before I venture beyond the borders of my home country, if you would indeed be willing to gift me them, Brother," Said I, smiling slightly. "I have not yet been accosted in my journey, but, well, I am a lone girl on an open road; it sounds dangerous even to me, when phrased like that." My expression was thereafter tinged with a hint of uncertainty; I gulped, but there was a resolve in my eyes that did not die. A brave little girly, was I. More than Suke could know. words 0470 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

'Suke had his eyes on the girl and with a subtle smile he did partake in a nod and yet for the Land of Fire to be homeland to this girl as was what she was saying as far as he knew, he had to take some knowledge to this. Very few inhabitants of this land, or rather the entire continent didn't know of the arts of shinobi but he did partake in understanding just what this was and with a popping of his neck he looked around and saw a good enough tree. With eyes to the girl he nodded with a smile before moving to the tree but instead of punching it or anythign he performed a subtle amount of hand seals and with the gathering of chakra into his feet he then stepped on the tree's bark and began to move upwards.

The tree itself was forty feet tall, about six or so feet wide. Considerably it was small compared to most trees he had seen in this area but it made good well for the example he held. He stepped up and walked along its surface with ease, moving up and up until he turned around, still standing on the main part of the trunk and looked across towards the girl, “This is the tree walking technique, you will need to master this first before you can attempt water walking. Now, what you will need to do is perform the hand seal of the Ram, but hold it until you have a steady amount of chakra on your feet. That chakra can either break the tree or make it where you slip away.

“Bear in mind, you have to have the perfect amount of steady chakra to allow yourself to move up this tree to where I am at. Without that you will always fall down or worse destroy the tree. Clear your mind, host the chakra, and focus it at your feet. Those were the words I was taught for this situation many years ago, and now you too will do them if you are to learn.” He steadied himself for the repercussions in the tree's inner core as he knew he could feel any chakra fluctuate through the tree if anything were to happen and he was going to focus and understand just what was going to happen if anything at all were to happen.

With a waiting smile and steady breath he squatted as if he were actually on the earthen ground with soil to his feet, steadily looking at this girl below to anticipate what she was to do. This was going to be of great interest to him and if she could manage this, then there was no doubt she could manage along any of the other techniques just as well or better than he himself. That of course was only if she could get up through the tree and manage along just the same. He however waited patiently with a stoic expression of such composure as to keep a watchful gaze, keeping calm and will do what he can to help her. “If you fall at such height that you are injured, don't keep it to yourself and let me know. I can heal you of those injuries if any are to come to you.”

Techniques Used

SPOILER: Click to show

Kinobori no Waza - Act of Tree Climbing
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu/Supplementary
Effect: Allows a Non-Ninja the ability to perform Advanced chakra techniques.
Special: ---
Drawback: Non Ninjas must learn in order to learn Advanced chakra techniques. Ninjas gain this technique for free in the beginning however does not add into Character Class like other starting techniques. Does not work on Animal Companions.
Description: Kinobori no Waza, the art of tree climbing serves a dual purpose. Taking part in Kinobori Shugyou (Tree Climbing Training) helps a ninja learn how to focus their chakra. It also teaches the ninja how to run up trees and walk on vertical walls. The training helps the ninja learn how to focus just the right amount of chakra to a particular part of their body. The amount needed to climb is small but it must be precise. The feet are regarded as the hardest location to master chakra focusing. So by gaining the art of this skill, the ninja will have any jutsu available (theoretically) because they will be able to focus their chakra as needed. Allows a user to learn up to "C" Rank Chakra related Techniques.
Limit: Universal NinJutsu Technique.

[Deleted]

Changing template because can't use my other one for training q.q Also, I'm going to be going to bed pretty soon after this. If you want to reply you can, Ryosuke, but if you'd rather just let me train the tech that's okay too ^^

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[/b] Obviously. Finally coming to the realization that he actually held the intention of teaching me, I ascended all into a fluster, and hurried to place my heavy bag down under the shade of another tree - though I retained my saber and concealed knives before flying closer to the base of the good Brother's example, staring up at him with a girlish enthusiasm. It would do no harm to seem young and impeccant in his eyes, for he seemed honestly chaste, and would not be attracted to the filth that so many men were.

He was speaking, and if one thing was true here, it was that I did wish to possess knowledge of ninja arts, so I figured I had best listen. I giggled to myself as he mentioned the 'Ram seal' - I could not hope to recall which of the fabled shinobi hand-signs that was, or how to formulate it with my own digits, but perhaps I could come to some basic understanding of the technique before I mentioned my ignorance. "Clear your mind, host the chakra, and focus it at your feet," Said my impromptu tutor, and I nodded with my mouth ajar. I looked around to find a platform of my own, and found a tree of similarly fitting height, near to my explosive-filled bag.

I gulped, and it was not entirely a charade; falling bodily from a tree sounded painful, but there were greater sacrifices to be made in one's quest for power than falling to the ground a few meters up. As I stood, exaggerating my nerves before the base of the trunk, Brother Suke ensured me that I could appeal for his aid were I to injure myself. Convenient indeed. I nodded at him. "Thank you, kind sir," I said to him, before returning my focus to the tree trunk.

Honestly, he hadn't give me much practical instruction, but perhaps the art of using one's chakra was an equally uncommunicative notion; the sort of experience that could not or would not be described, because it was simply a case of you knew it, or you did not. Still, those experiences could be taken on; absorbed. They felt foreign at first; insubstantial; bemusing, but they became clearer and clearer with time, till you almost forgot what it was like not to be in the know.

At least, that was how I was hoping it was going to work out. It was uncomfortable feeling, to be the helpless one. I was so very used to being the dominant part of the equation; taking someone's life was about as assertive you could get. Here, however, I stared at the bark of the tree and was... without inspiration or direction, yet meters from me - both horizontal and vertical - Brother Suke stood completely sure of himself. Ah! Look now, Ryoko; motivation. I would take to this craft with celerity, so as perhaps to outmatch my tutor in that regard.

How was one meant to... channel their energy, in such a tangible fashion? It was mysterious. Behind my spectacles, my ivory sclera were lidded; I could see nothing of the outside world, and only feel myself. I wanted energy in my feet, as aforementioned, but how did one achieve that. Perhaps it was impossible without the 'seal'? Blast it, I didn't know how to perform it. I had seen him do something with his fingers, and yes, I had been paying attention, but it was not as though I could replicate his movements... could I?

I unveiled my eyes and brought my hands up before myself. I attempted to fold them over in a simulation of Brother Suke's own pose. One hand had been lowered than the other, I seemed to recall; my fingers wrapped over one another; I kept the middle and index fingers of both hands extended, while the rest were curled. It had looked something like this, at any rate. This position assumed, I shut my eyes once again and tried to return to that unfeeling place of equilibrium, but getting response from the ethereal sectors of my body was proving... difficult.

The soles of your feet, I tried to tell myself, hoping to resurrect some feeling, but alas; very little. I could feel myself growing angry, now. How could I be this useless? Unacceptable. I tried to stop my mouth from twisting in anger, but I did not entirely manage it; my jaw clenched with my eyes still shut, and only then did I feel powerful. Potent. Destruction; that was my aspect. Trying to pretend like I could associate myself with ordinary zen - draw strength from it - was foolhardy. When I let the rage flow, I felt some foreign power in my lower body, or at least I thought I did. It felt... incredible.

Experimentally, I lifted my right leg and tried to place a shoe upon the bark of the tree, only to see it shatter and explode away in pieces underneath my foot. I recoiled, alarmed; truly? Some... intangible energy from my body had resurrected such a violent reaction? My eyes were wide. "Oops..." Said I, aloud.[/ul]
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[Beltran]

+10

[Deleted]

[10 | 20]

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[/i] harmoniousness; it was sickeningly bland, usually so absent of any purpose, but I knew of no other approach to what I was attempting to achieve, so it was my only option.

I attempted to resurrect the same feeling from before; but the tiniest spark of passionate anger - the aspect of wrath - was needed to feel that same surge of energy, and this time it came even before I twined my hands together. When again I attempted to form a crude model of the Ram seal betwixt my fingers I almost felt a measure of control: the spirit of my energy was still volatile, like a suspicious stranger whose abode I had come upon, but it seemed to slightly better understand that co-operation might here be advantageous.

This said, I was able to convince it to travel back down to my lower body, and, more precisely than that, into my feet; the base of them, even. I did not need my whole legs or feet supercharged with chi, just the very soles... right? I was too prideful to ask for further tutelage, at least at the current moment, so my internal theory-crafting would have to serve. I could feel the chakra, though, and I think that was a good sign; why, this wasn't so incredibly enigmatic as I had once suspected, merely a little unusual. Perhaps I was some sort of prodigy, however, or else my shinobi lineage gave me some inherent advantage; whichever way, I thought I was beginning to understand some semblance of control.

For as mentioned, this inner energy felt violent; unstable, for wont of release. Was that a symptom of all wielders, or only myself? I cared not enough to ask. The point was, it was a beast that had to be wrangled and reigned, so as it did not reject the surface of the tree, but rather embrace it, which seemed a mammoth ask, but I could feel the energy localized in the sole of the shoe that was currently touching the bark, and thus far it had rejected nothing. Connect, I willed myself, or it, or whichever.

Was I being optimistic, or did I feel some sort of adhesive bond already? My head tilted one way in suspicion, but tentatively I lifted the second foot off the ground, and found my weight anchored to the tree - disoriented by the vertigo of having gravity lurch up at right angles to the ground, I almost lost my 'balance', but retained it long enough to place my other foot back upon the ground. The world spun, and I thought I might vomit, but I gulped whatever was rising in my throat down, took a moment to ensure I was still well connected to the tree, and then lifted my other foot off the ground for true.

Instinctively, as though walking upon a tightrope, I lifted my arms to a horizontal line with my shoulders. The sky ahead of me, and the ground at my back. What sort of a world was this, truly? I could feel the energy at my feet, and it desired to fire and pulsate, but I shackled it, not dissimilar to the way that I forced myself not to simply savage every living creature I came across. I could not deny my awe to you; that I was standing on a vertical surface in defiance of ordinary physics was... incredible.

It seemed, after a few moments - despite expectations - that I was not going to fall, so I swallowed some of my very real nerves and took a step upward. I was ascending the trunk. Every time my foot came down upon it, there was new risk of its re-establishment to be poor, for it to be poorly calibrated, for me to find no further purchase upon the bark, but it never happened. I took several steps further up the trunk, till I was almost level with the good Brother. I turned my head sideways to look at him, this man who temporarily shared my alternate plane of reality.

"Incredible..." I whispered genuinely, grinning thereafter, careful to keep most of the avid hunger for further knowledge out of my expression, and also the ideas of what I could do with this new found power. "Truly incredible, Brother," Said I, moreso faking my feelings, now. "Thank you for this."[/ul]
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[Father 'Suke]

'Suke held a firm watchful eye like a very well trained hawk to be gazing at and keeping some steady look at the individual whom did the actions. The first attempt was a failure but it was not something he was surprised about as he did give small bits of information to train someone. Not only that, but most of the population of shinobi who learn the technique happen to fail incredibly at the way to do such a thing. Even in Brother 'Suke's area of expertise, he failed at it for a good few weeks when he had arrived at rain for such training and home bound pardons. His mind catching when hearing the crunches of the tree and seeing those ruined pieces of bark was enough for him to surmise her potential.

As a shinobi generally could equalize their chakra, the ones who possess that incredible amount can wind up finding themselves quite capable. The capability of such training was normal, but when one with such large chakra uses it it is normal for them to go into ninjutsu or genjutsu when having a large pool of chakra like that. Those who slip generally were the taijutsu types and cannot dig their chakra out of their guts so well. He'll be sure to let her know that the two could be potential areas she can go into but for the moment he knew that something else may well be needed and for her to learn higher forms she would need to master it. He himself wondered what area of water might be possible for the training.

A large body of water would be most useful but perhaps a normal hot spring as well. Well he isolated his thoughts and then watched her finalize her chakra and steadily walk along the bark of the tree at a good rate, and certainly faster and better than what he'd done. With a smile he stood and walked along, parting along the tree branches and then jumping across to the next tree to the next, all to close the distance. Once standing atop the branches to the tree she was using, he looked at her and then smiled steadily. “Very nicely done Nozaki-san,” He spoke with a respectable honorific and using last names to further that respect.

He held a good look and then with a popping of his neck, to such end a gaze at the family tattoo on his neck can be visible, he rolled his shoulders and steadied himself. “You have incredible chakra something that can be compared to a river. That is why the tree's bark broke initially as you should know now. You didn't know the level of chakra needed and therefore adding too much you found yourself breaking the tree. However that is a good sign in and of itself, as that showed me that you can be a proficient user of ninjutsu, whether medical or elemental, or even genjutsu. So which is your preference?” It was a question for him to see how far in chakra control she wanted to learn.

Genjutsu and medical ninjutsu required far more control and he would have no qualms teaching the water walk to someone wanting either one, but regular ninjutsu he'd stop here and now. Regular ninjutsu one can learn a highly good amount and even master it with a simple chakra control. It was a test and nothing more than that, but at least it'd also give some insight to him as to what she was hoping to achieve in the future. He began to wonder if she knew what the terms meant as well, well that would be just a question he'd have to answer if he had to if the situation called for it.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jutsu still in use:

• Kinobori no Waza - Act of Tree Climbing
  Rank: "C"
  Skill: NinJutsu/Supplementary
  Effect: Allows a Non-Ninja the ability to perform Advanced chakra techniques.
  Special: ---
  Drawback: Non Ninjas must learn in order to learn Advanced chakra techniques. Ninjas gain this technique for free in the beginning however does not add into Character Class like other starting techniques. Does not work on Animal Companions.
  Description: Kinobori no Waza, the art of tree climbing serves a dual purpose. Taking part in Kinobori Shugyou (Tree Climbing Training) helps a ninja learn how to focus their chakra. It also teaches the ninja how to run up trees and walk on vertical walls. The training helps the ninja learn how to focus just the right amount of chakra to a particular part of their body. The amount needed to climb is small but it must be precise. The feet are regarded as the hardest location to master chakra focusing. So by gaining the art of this skill, the ninja will have any jutsu available (theoretically) because they will be able to focus their chakra as needed. Allows a user to learn up to "C" Rank Chakra related Techniques.
  Limit: Universal NinJutsu Technique.
  

[Zetsumei]

+10

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way Elemental, medical or illusionary? It was not a question I had really had to consider before. I knew how to hold a sword, throw a punch and dissect a human being, but I had naught often dreamed of wrangling with the supernatural, or, beyond that, what my specific preference in doing so would come to. I put a finger to my lip to muse upon it for a minute. "Genjutsu," I answered merrily, removing the finger and smiling up at Suke. I was a creature of simple pleasures; deception and disembowelment were really all I desired, and the more powerful my ability to beguile, the more people I could slaughter. Perhaps I could learn other combative chakra arts, but their prospect was less alluring, and I had no interest in healing - certainly not in healing other people. That was rather counterproductive to the whole disembowelment plan, you see. I wonder if the path of illusion was an aberrant choice; certainly I imagined your average upstart would far prefer to sling fireballs about than toy with their fellows' minds, though I could not claim to know the nature of the shinobi world.  He had told me my chakra capacity was abnormally affluent, which was good news. Somehow, I had expected it; it seemed only natural. Still, I did not want to sound so arrogant by saying so. I glanced behind me at the flat wall of level ground; I was still drawing the tree towards the soles of my feet by the power of my inner energies, but I figured I may as well dismount. I took a moment to judge the trajectory, and then pushed myself off the bark, simultaneously allowing my chi to disperse. I performed a sort of side-flip while airborne, so as to land on my own two feet; I stumbled a pace or two, and then was again standing as the gaia intended. A twinge of nausea accompanied this rapidly shifting gravitas, but I did not let myself succumb to it. I looked up again at my tutor, keeping up my affectation of politeness. "If what you say is true, Brother, I am pleasantly surprised," Said I: 'twas the strangest kind of lie. "But I must ask: What of my preference?" It was an expectant question, to be sure. He would not have brought it up in such a manner if he was not planning to provide something further. words 0403 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

Genjutsu, a choice of an art in which deception is held on high, the very formula of needing that chakra was a rough beginning as well while he tapped his finger for a moment's thought. He jumped off the tree and gazed at the coincidental lake and then back to the girl. It was odd for someone to pick that format of chakra control without having ulterior motives of some kind. It was something that he truly thought as a problem of some kind and yet he would not do something to rip apart a small token of what was said and done already. It was going to be a long day, may well make it an easy one at that while he was at it.

“Your choice of genjutsu, the arts of illusions and deception. It is an interesting one. I'll teach it to you but I guess I'll first tell you my real name first and foremost in case we are to meet again after I teach this to you. It is Suke Hikaru of the Hidden Rain.” Indeed two half-truths folded in on themselves and made into one full truth. He wondered if she were keeping secrets of her own, it was something to be curious of and it was among a few other things a simple curiosity at that. But now it was time to teach so long as she didn't have anything else to say before this.

With a smooth breath he spoke with a calmness, “Now this next part we'll have to go in depth into what chakra is. The hidden energy that blossomed inside you to climb the tree to be exact. It is the molding of two types of energies. Your physical that comes from every bodily cell in your body and then the spiritual energy that derives from your mind. These two are molded and channeled through a chakra pathway system that houses tenketsu. There are various methods to channel the chakra but the kind you will be most using in your genjutsu endeavors will be hand seals.”

He took a calming breath to allow the air back into his system after a winded explanation of chakra in its basic forms. He would point towards the lake at that moment and smile, “The next bit of training will be there, but first are there any questions you would like to ask?” It was going to be some rough training, and by the looks of the water, it was stagnant. The algae swarmed the tops of the lake and that meant it had no outflow, no current at all. A lake like that was going to be perfect and the downside being that any clothing may well be ruined if the algae seeps into it.

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way "Your choice of genjutsu, the arts of illusions and deception. It is an interesting one," Suke remarked, and though internally I exclaimed drat!, externally I pouted and shrugged in an innocuous fashion, as though it was for no particular reason. He also told me his name, and revealed that he was in fact of the Village Hidden in the Rain. This was potentially problematic, for though this eleemosynary fellow was assisting me greatly, from my limited understanding of shinobi I knew them to be both perceptive and deceptive. It was not entirely impossible that Suke Hikaru saw through my guise as though it were glass, but had up one of his own that was carefully veiled in ways my own eyes could not pierce. Invisibly, my guard raised that extra notch - but could he somehow sense that as well? In case we are to meet again, I thought with an internal smirk. Will then you know my true name, my true nature, and all the people you inadvertently helped me to kill? Oh, the guilt. It shall weigh upon you, dear Brother... Still, despite the fact that for once I actually felt nervous behind my hopefully immaculate mask of composure, I absorbed his speech with ample presence of mind. Physical and spiritual energy, was it? I could not claim to have felt some profound welding of my animation when I had scaled the tree trunk, but perhaps that had been exactly what it was. From his lofty position, Suke indicated a lake that I could see through the moderate wood. First it was defying gravity to walk up trees, now it was... walking on water, perhaps? Intriguing. I could see how that would be far more difficult to accomplish; while attaching to solid objects - for example, tree trunks - would be a simple matter of conjoining two relatively uncomplicated surfaces, a liquid would be... constantly shifting... I did, in fact, have an interjection. "Aha, well..." I began, one hand coming up to rest behind my head, my eyes not quite able to meet Suke's own, "I must confess, Brother, I hath not been educated in the formulation of what you call 'hand-seals' and was only able to crudely replicate your own." I held up my undoubtedly flawed Ram 'seal' to display precisely what I meant and smiled sheepishly. "Although, perhaps you meant for that to be part of the tutelage itself...?" That was not out of the question. words 0409 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS

[Father 'Suke]

That pout, it was not something 'Suke would have traditionally seen in such cases but then also when the individual had begun to immediately shrug it off led him on to thinking something else was in her mind. It wasn't something to fully partake in knowing at the moment while now he moved onwards to get to what he needed. The body of water itself as he went towards and found what he had to with some eventuality as he had now began to stand at the edge of the waters themselves. His eyes gleaming over the water, watching its surface as he listened to what she now said, his eyes looking over and seeing the pitiful ram seal. Yes, he had seen the poorly made hand seal before for the gathering of chakra but now he smiled and nodded kindly.

“It is indeed part of the tutelage, ultimately any novice can learn the climbing tree technique but the next one requires more stout ability to it. Now...” He smiled calmly while moving full frontal at the woman and hosting what he can do for the hand seals. “I'll show you every hand seal, however first off is the basics though. Natural process of chakra circulation is the hand seals, and they are the key to formulating chakra and then processing it to form elemental, illusion, or healing jutsu. Now, the amount of hand seals also differ depending on the technique as well. Higher the level of technique, the higher the amount of hand seals you have to perform to concentrate the appropriate amount of chakra.”

It is now he formed the first seal, a firmly formed ram seal as he channeled the chakra within himself, with a few good solid breaths, “Ram.” He continued with the next as he put the form of rat, rising his right hand to encompass the left hand. “Rat.” Moving the right hand down and holding middle and index fingers together and intertwining the others, “Tiger.” Moving right hand up he had the hand perpendicular to the left while the left fingers point straight up, “Ox.” Enclosing all his finger tips together for a combined hand, “Serpent.” Moving the fingers to point towards the girl, lowering the pinks to be tip to tip with the thumbs slightly away, “Dragon.” Bringing hands together to form a pyramid, “Bird.” Separating fingers to be open palmed at himself, “Horse.” Moving his fingers flat on one another with pinky and thumb intertwined, “Monkey.” Moving both hands facing downwards with knuckle to knuckle, “Boar.” Then with the right pinky perpendicular to the left hands pistol formation, “Hare.” And then the last one as his right was a fist with the left open palm, “Dog.”

He ceased the formation of chakra, and smiled again as he looked at the water and its dark murkiness. “Those were the twelve hand signs of the shinobi world. There are others depending on some higher jutsu and clans but I don't quite know those yet for myself.” He then continued to form the hand seals for the water walk, himself going by twelve hand seals to form before stepping out onto the water and moving steadily along the grounds. Chakra focused on his feet as he walked with ease and stood at the center of the lake which was fourteen meters out from shore. “You have now seen what it takes to get out onto the water. You have to focus chakra onto your feet just like the tree, however now that the water is a molecular structure that is fluid and not contained you will need to have the waters gather and form solid mass under your feet. If you think you are ready, give it a shot.”

SPOILER: Click to show

Suimen Hokou no Waza - Act of Water Surface Walking
Rank: "B"
Skill: NinJutsu/Supplementary
Effect: Allows a Non-Ninja the ability to perform even more Advanced chakra techniques.
Special: ---
Drawback: Non Ninjas must learn in order to learn Advanced chakra techniques. Ninjas gain this technique for free in the beginning however does not add into Character Class like other starting techniques. Does not work on Animal Companions.
Description: A variation on the Kinobori no Waza (Act of Tree Climbing), the art of water surface walking allows a ninja to walk on water as if it was a solid surface. Focusing an even amount of chakra out of the soles of their feet, they can balance themselves on the very surface of the water. Allows a user to learn up to Any Rank Chakra related Techniques within the rightful restrictions.
Limit: Universal NinJutsu Technique.

[Deleted]

THESE FOUR WALLS HAVE EYES got lost on the way [OOC: Thank you for this opportunity Ryo, however I have decided to devote 70 of the 500 new years TP towards the Water Walking jutsu so as to not take up any more of your time; I'm sure the Amekage would be eager to get back to their village ^^ If it's alright with you I'm going to timeskip till after the training concluded.] I pulled the strap of my frock back over my shoulder, and all had once again resumed its place. It was not the warmest afternoon, but I had opted to shirk all of my clothing - save for my undergarments - for the sake of training the water walking technique. "I would rather not get my clothes wet," I had explained merrily, and indeed it had been a wise precaution, for I had descended fully into the algae-contaminated lake more than once, and partially more times than that. As expected, resonating one's chakra in harmony with the surface of a body of water - even a still one - was quite difficult. Also, it had been amusing to strip down in front of the ostensibly chaste priest and have him not even be able to object for the solidarity of my reasoning. There were two types of abstainers; those who had 'transcended their mortal wants', and those who fought violently with them. I wondered which one Suke Hikaru was, if either, but he had done nothing explicit, so it had been impossible to tell. I had moved the bag of my things under a tree closer to the lake, and it was there that I had redressed myself. I turned to the good Brother, now fully clothed. "Thank you again, Brother," Said I, smiling sincerely enough. "I think the things you have taught me will help me a great deal in my travels. I will remember your generosity." words 0248 tagged Father 'Suke theme NONE

CODED BY MIDDY OF GS