Milling About [Ayame|Clan|Open?|Training?]

[The Bearer of Bad News]

Schatzi awoke from her nap to a storm of memory and experience. She might have never attempted to sew before, but she turned out to be no prodigy. Even so, her skills were definitely better than the layperson. On the lower end of professional level would be a good estimation. Probably sufficient at least to prove she wasn't as useless as Frowny McJackass thought she was.

Slipping silently back down to the earth, she dashed to the compound wall, putting her back to it. With a rapid, jerking movement she spun around while sliding to the side to face the gate. And then she kicked it, hard. Once, twice, thrice. It was like knocking, but louder.

In the event that her new best friend showed up, she would stare him down with a smirk. Or up, considering he was taller than her. Whatever.

"Turns out, I do know how to sew."

[|Ayame Unbound|]

He would certainly appear, arms folded over his chest once more. "Do you now?" He asked. His arms unfolded and he clapped once. A woman appeared with a basked looped around one arm and a long folded cloth in her hands. It was a very fine silk fabric in white. She placed the objects on the ground and walked away.

"Let me see you make a button down shirt then, with french cuffs. The measurements are in the basket." He informed her before leaning back against the now closed gate, arms folded once more. If Schatzi was astute she would perhaps notice a trace of humor in his eyes.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

He wanted proof, eh? Okay. She could work with that. Putting silly humans in their place was always entertaining. Granted Schatzi's work was unlikely to be on par with local make, but it should be better than he thought she could do.

She peeked at the measurements requested, and at the sheer amount of fabric she would be using. Well, maybe it would be a little complicated. Were there buttons? Tough to make a button down shirt without buttons, but she couldn't...oh, there they were.

She gave her joints a good limbering before cracking her knuckles and setting to work.

---

Making a Seamstress/Tailor Check from 68 skill perhaps? .-.

[|Ayame Unbound|]

With a wave of his hand the shirt flew over to him. He held up the shirt and looked it over, examining the stitching, the buttons, the seams. "What a waste of silk." He waved a hand once more and the stitching exploded from the shirt. With that he simply turned and walked back inside the gates, a smile on his hidden face. Part of him really hoped she would come back.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

That...that...what the hell!? She'd worked hard on that, and it actually came out sort of recognizable. Schatzi was practically vibrating with impotent rage as her new archnemesis walked away. Oooooh she was going to show him so good.

"I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll really knock your socks off then, just you wait!" She demanded of the door which had once again shut in her face. Realistically she should have just killed them all by now, but it was a contest now. If she went in and slaughtered them, they won. And that she simply could not have. No, she would have her vindication. For now though, she stormed off back to her secret perch on the outskirts, formed a soul split which would had back to her stash of thread, and stewed for a while until she was able to sleep and recover lost power.

[Soul Split Exit]

[The Bearer of Bad News]

The return of experience and information flowed into Schatzi from afar as her other half ended its time in the world awoke her from her treetop slumber. It was time. She'd learned rather a lot more than merely sewing. Not that that was important. The only reason she had put so much bloody-minded work into sewing in the first place was to beat that one guy a his own game. She was an immortal being who had feasted on men like him since time beyond memory, and refused to believe herself his lesser in any facet of existence!

And so with a scowl which transformed itself to a smug smile the moment she came within visual distance, she approached the gates and knocked. Game on.

[Christoff]

The peephole on the gate opened with the trademark rasp of metal on metal. Two eyes peered out studying the woman at the gate. Without a word the peephole slid shut. The minutes would tick by with no sign of a response from within the compound. Any complaints from Schatzi would be met with a still silence.

Finally the latch on the gate slid out of place. The old man who's test Schatzi had failed stepped out with his assistant in tow. She was pushing a wheeled mannequin draped in a lovely lace evening gown while struggling with a large duffel bag filled to the brim with silk and cloth. The bag also contained a measuring tape and a wide array of different sized needles.

The old man looked directly at Schatzi, "You will have fifteen minutes to take the measurements and memorize the pattern. Then you will sew an identical dress from the materials here." The man's tone made it clear that there would be no negotiation of terms. Schatzi would do this or fail his test. The man pulled out his pocketwatch and turned walking back into the compound, "Begin." True to the man's word Schatzi would have fifteen minutes before the dress on the mannequin dissolved into silk that went flying over the walls of the compound.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

The shapeshifter cracked her knuckles and dispelled he illusory garb. Her skills were at their absolute peak now, she could easily be considered a master of the craft. That said, her wounded pride from earlier demanded absolutely nothing take away from her concentration now. While it was slight, maintaining her illusion of clothes did take a small degree of focus, after all. This was going to be the best gods-damned dress he'd ever seen in his life, she vowed with a mix of smugness and fury. He'd probably drop dead of a heart attack on the spot the moment he witnessed its glory!

First the measurements of the mannequin. She was able to take them by eye, and with a knife carve them into the ground for later reference. Then she set to work.

Although she wasn't able to manipulate the fabric and threads mentally like the people of Kainui, her training in Gintsuki no Senkou Mai, a style of knife fighting, did allow her to direct a portion of her chakra to her hands, improving their speed and dexterity in the stitching. Without any hand-seals, she was also able to layer a few genjutsu charms on herself, further enhancing her speed, reflexes, and mental acuity in order to better react to any potential problems.

In other words, she was briefly transforming herself into an ideal seamstress, leaving no potential advantage untapped.

When she had finished her work, rather than utilize the mannequin further, she simply peered once more at the carved measurements and transformed her body to meet those standards, while keeping her face the same. To better suit the dress, she grew out her dirty blonde mane until it reached the base of her tail. Oh, right. The tail.

Undoing her trio of belts and setting them aside, she modified the back of the dress slightly with a tail-hole and then donned the garment herself, giving a little twirl. It felt pretty nice. Her eyes disappeared and reappeared in the palms of her hand so she could get a better look at herself before returning to their normal position. Looked nice too. Then again, Schatzi always thought she was the most attractive creature in the immediate vicinity, so perhaps she wasn't the best judge.

Her tail swishing with pride and excitement, she donned her best Cheshire smile and waited - time was just about up.

---

125/125 Seamstress/Tailor Skill. Aw yiss.

[Christoff]

After some time had passed the old man opened the slot to check on the woman's progress. It would no doubt still be some time before she finished, but the old man's curiosity had gotten the better of him. He was shocked to find her already finished with the dress twirling and admiring herself in the late afternoon sun. The man's eyes narrowed immediately suspecting a trick, he was disappointed in her. With the persistence and drive she had shown he had believed her to have the potential to become a great seamstress. Now she had proved him wrong.

The gate flew open and he strode out more forcefully than before. His disappointment roiled now into anger and contempt but his voice remained cold. "I thought you had great potential." The old man stepped around Schatzi scrutinizing the pattern whatever her character faults the young woman had quite the eye for patterns it was flawless. Her improvisation for the tail was also masterfully done. Too bad she was a cheat. "but to sew that dress by hand ought to have taken at least another hour," The old man moved to tug on the material and dispel any illusion the impertinent young woman had cast about herself. "You are a..." The old man's voice caught in his throat as his fingers grasped the unmistakable texture of the lace.

This young woman's skill with the needle was remarkable. Perhaps even approaching his own. He removed his hand and bowed his head respectfully, "It seems I was mistaken. Please follow me." The old tailor would usher her into a warm and comfortable room where place settings for two had already been laid out. He took a seat at one of them indicating for Schatzi to join him.

He glanced over at his assistant who was staring daggers at Schatzi in envy. She had spent years learning to sew under the tailor all with the hope and dream of reaching the place where Shatzi was now. It was almost too much for her. "Tea." The tailor's words awoke her and sent her scurrying.

"Your name." The old man had taken a piece of thick parchment and a spool of impossibly thin thread out from a drawer. When and if the young woman gave him her name the thread would come alive and slide between the layers of paper. The thread substituted ink and spelled out a letter vouching for her standing as an inducted member of Karinui,

To whom it may concern,

The bearer of this letter, Shatzi Rutherford, is certified as a master seamstress and member of the Karinui. She is entitled to all the privileges that entails and to sell her wares under the good name of the Karinui.

Kaiko Inihara

The thread was hard to read under the layer of paper but it was unmistakable as the work of a Karinui. No seamstress or tailor would every be able to replicate such a thing without their techniques. The tea arrived and the master poured Schatzi the first cup, "We will begin your training in the morning. Our techniques, our clan, they are secretive by necessity. What you learn here you must not share with anyone who is unworthy of the clan." He took a sip of tea and gazed across the lip of his cup to be sure he was understood.

(Welcome to the Karinui, the old tailor is yours to control. Link to skill check)

[The Bearer of Bad News]

Hokorobiru (Come Apart At The Seams)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Causes sewing within a certain range to literally fall apart at the seams.
Special: "Hand Seals"
Drawback: Affects friends and foes alike until the user learns the 'B' and 'A' Rank Versions. Only works on sewn seams.
Description: Using their excellent skill of stitchery the Karinui reaches out and finds any seams in the area and causes them to unravel. This includes but is not limited to clothing, holsters, and pouches. The distance of this technique starts at twenty meters and extends another twenty meters with each additional rank known. Once the user attains the B ranked version of the technique they are able to refine the skill to only certain people within the range. Once they learn the A rank version they can refine the technique down to certain elements, meaning unraveling only certain things on a person instead of everything on their being.
Limit: Must be a Karinui.

0/10

---

"Hah, I told you I would beat you one of these days!" Schatzi crowed victoriously as she read over the master tailor's endorsement. It had taken longer than expected, a lot longer, but on the whole she felt like there was some benefit to the trouble. Perhaps she'd learned something of patience? Certainly she no longer felt the urge to consume him and his entire compound. Probably not though. "So wait a minute. This thing says I'm a member of your little club. You recruiting me now?"

The old master sighed and shook his head. This one was going to test the extent of his sanity every day, he just knew it. "Yes. That is why you invaded our home to begin with, is it not?"

"Well uh...no, not exactly. I was mainly just curious. And then your grim little minion decided I wasn't good enough to bother with, and then I spent the last few months trying to prove you jerks wrong. It has been a fun diversion though, and if I'm joining up it means I get to learn how to do those fun techniques right? So, I guess I'm up for it after all."

Lord have mercy. The woman was so bullheaded and stubborn over what had initially been naught but a whim? Merely because her superiority had been challenged? ...She was a perfect fit, all told. He chuckled silently. New blood in the family was important, but not just anyone could be settled for. "Of course. We can't have you distributing subpar wares after all, now can we? Finish your tea, and we can begin with the fundamentals."

---

Some time later, the two were back outside the compound. It was only the pair of them for now, for many who lived and worked there were themselves still learners of various skill. The elder Kaiko though, was a true master. At his insistence, her boots, cloak, and belts were all left behind, far far away. There was nothing but wilderness for at least two hundred meters. Wilderness, and clothes. Lots of clothes, scattered about various ranges.

"To start off, we'll have you unravel the stitching that holds these garments together. This technique we call 'Hokorobiru', which translates roughly as 'To Come Apart At The Seams'. You're talented with your hands, but that won't do you any good here. Instead you need to reach out with your chakra. Imagine a wave of it spreading out around you, seeping into the threads you will twist. At this most basic level, you shouldn't attempt to reach too far with it.

"Good, I can feel your energy even now. You have a solid foundation, so the lower level skills should not take long to grasp, but don't be blinded by pride. You could still be better. And within the Clan's techniques you know nothing at all. Now, use the hand seals you learned as a ninja, and allow that to refine the chakra you put out. Once you feel you're ready, repeat the hand seals I am about to show you, and will your chakra to return to yourself."

He performed a series of six hand seals, very slowly, so that Schatzi could get a good look at each. Once she committed the set to memory, she copied it a few times to be sure, though without the intent required to activate her chakra. She was only making sure for now that the series was correct. Once the old man nodded his assent that she had it right, she returned her attention to her chakra. It was covering everything within the distance of twenty meters.

Believing this to be sufficient, she repeated those same hand seals once again, only this time she focused on her intentions. She called out mentally to her chakra, willing it to return to herself. In a way, it was a similar principal to summoning, something she had gone to excessive lengths to perfect even in the face of boredom. It didn't quite seem to work though, as nothing happened in the entire twenty-meter range at all. She grumbled with frustration and folded her arms under her bust contemplatively, only then realizing that it was open to the world again. The technique had worked, but only on herself. The dress that had finally won her battle of wills and skills lay a formless hunk of fabric about her ankles.

Schatzi's nude form bounced with glee. The possibilities of such an ability were nearly limitless. It was only after a moment of her now-mentor's deadpan stare that she remembered to raise an illusion in the former gown's place. Without worry for being disrobed, she repeated the steps required by the technique again, relying primarily on her strong fundamentals as something to build on. Being already high ranking among ninja meant that such learning should come more rapidly than for those with less experience, in theory.

And yet, her efforts remained largely in vain, only baring two of the dozens of mannequins scattered across this field, at three and five meters respectively. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

[Aimi Kaguya]

+10

[The Bearer of Bad News]

Hokorobiru (Come Apart At The Seams)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Causes sewing within a certain range to literally fall apart at the seams.
Special: "Hand Seals"
Drawback: Affects friends and foes alike until the user learns the 'B' and 'A' Rank Versions. Only works on sewn seams.
Description: Using their excellent skill of stitchery the Karinui reaches out and finds any seams in the area and causes them to unravel. This includes but is not limited to clothing, holsters, and pouches. The distance of this technique starts at twenty meters and extends another twenty meters with each additional rank known. Once the user attains the B ranked version of the technique they are able to refine the skill to only certain people within the range. Once they learn the A rank version they can refine the technique down to certain elements, meaning unraveling only certain things on a person instead of everything on their being.
Limit: Must be a Karinui.

0/10

---

Continuing along with her training, it was expressed to Schatzi that like many techniques, this was one that was gradually enhanced over time and training. Kaiko explained that for the time being, the best the shapeshifter could hope for was to advance within the maximum range of the technique, but that additional functions could be unlocked later. Many were unable to get started as quickly as she already had, but her ability with the technique itself remained incredibly lacking.

Still unable to even achieve a range of twenty meters as was the most basic of ranges within the technique, Schatzi had to focus on improving that factor before anything else would be able to be taught. She was expected to be able to achieve forty meters by the end of the day, but such a feat seemed impossible, given that the most she had been able to reach across up until this point had been a distance of only a scant seven meters.

Her areas of expertise granted her a finer degree of chakra control than most others of her ranking, which allowed her to spend only the bare minimum of chakra on many techniques without letting any of it go to waste, and alchemical enhancements improved her overall quantity of chakra contained within her body, but the knack to this technique Hokorobiru continued to elude her. There was something different about the way this clan used chakra, that allowed it to freely manipulate their threads, something she wasn't currently able to comprehend.

Even so, she had to maintain a constant effort. She wanted to master as much as she could within the techniques of the clan Karinui, because she knew that as long as she remained here the questions about her creation would remain unanswered. Curiosity is what drove her, and eventually she would be unable to resist leaving in search once again. She didn't know when, if ever, she would be able to return to this place and continue her training.

The field of chakra she was creating was able to reach the desired distance now, she was able to feel this much at least, but for some reason she remained incapable of pulling apart the threads of the garments set up, able to reach now only eight meters, and that only barely. Kaiko's poor, presently nameless maid ran about replacing what Schatzi destroyed for the master himself to mend at a later time, flushing embarrassed at her prohibition from wearing any garments of her own while Schatzi trained. Perhaps she would ask the girl's name later, if only to be polite.

[Aimi Kaguya]

+10

[The Bearer of Bad News]

Hokorobiru (Come Apart At The Seams)
Rank: D, C, B, A, S
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Causes sewing within a certain range to literally fall apart at the seams.
Special: "Hand Seals"
Drawback: Affects friends and foes alike until the user learns the 'B' and 'A' Rank Versions. Only works on sewn seams.
Description: Using their excellent skill of stitchery the Karinui reaches out and finds any seams in the area and causes them to unravel. This includes but is not limited to clothing, holsters, and pouches. The distance of this technique starts at twenty meters and extends another twenty meters with each additional rank known. Once the user attains the B ranked version of the technique they are able to refine the skill to only certain people within the range. Once they learn the A rank version they can refine the technique down to certain elements, meaning unraveling only certain things on a person instead of everything on their being.
Limit: Must be a Karinui.

0/50

---

Schatzi's capabilities within the technique of hokorobiru were clearly showing improvement over when she had first begun earlier today. But she remained insufficient somehow, and this was starting to aggravate her deeply. These silly mortals couldn't possibly be her betters. And yet here she stood, not struggling precisely, as there wasn't much physical effort required so far, but certainly not meeting with the degree of success that was expected of her.

But that was alright. There was still plenty of sunlight remaining, and even aside from that she was a creature with a preference for the night anyway, and didn't need too much in the way of sleep. Direct sunlight made her feel uncomfortably hot. Perhaps that very fact was what was disrupting her now, at this time? It was a theory worth looking into, but one that would be relatively pointless for many hours yet. Besides that, her aging master probably had an early bedtime.

With her chakra expanding outwards to a spectacular distance of forty five meters in every direction, range should be no issue in theory, but it seemed that Kaiko also had some degree of sensory capabilities, as he stated that her distance still failed to meet the needs of the technique as per the level she was attempting to use it at. He could tell the extent of her radius, and it was still easily fifteen meters too short of a distance covered.

Fifteen meters was not going to be easy to stretch out without practice, as even the forty five she had managed to achieve so far was equal to a total of ninety meters in a straight line, longer than the farthest reaching technique currently within her extensive repertoire. Add onto that that rather than a line this was an orb that covered every direction at once with no gaps, and it should be obvious that such a thing would not come easily even to the highest ranking of shinobi, a title she herself had yet to claim.

Attempting to push her distance farther with sheer brute force was getting nowhere except exacerbating her discomfiture, and beginning to generate legitimate strain within her body systems. She wasn't designed for effort, but rather clear, relaxed precision. But while this very precision wasn't achieving the output she required, nor was the more active effort she was making now. All it led to was her grunting with strain, and not even in a sexy way. How very disappointing.

[Natsy]

+10

[The Bearer of Bad News]

10/50

---

As always, Schatzi's ability to perform her new technique was improving with great alacrity, and although it was proceeding more swiftly than would be expected of most beginners into the capabilities of the Karinui clan, that was because her basic capabilities were better in general when compared to such individuals. Already the radius of her technique had risen to an amount of distance equal to forty-seven meters in length.

Because of her above-average body statistics however, the realistic truth was that even though her capabilities were expanding more quickly than most, she was behind the expected curve given her fundamental properties, and by a not insignificant margin. This being naturally unacceptable to her old master, he encouraged her to push constantly harder. He wasn't wrong, as this was taking far longer than it was meant to according to his timeline.

The night was quickly approaching, and she had still not attained the necessary qualifications to be considered as wielding the technique at the next highest ranking. If she couldn't do this much at least, she would be unable to move on to more advanced understandings of the sort that would display greater mastery and consequently have more valuable effects for purposes of both magecraft and tailoring. This was something she had decided she wanted, and pride demanded she accept nothing less than the absolute highest of quality.

But where ordinarily as a creature beyond the reach of time - even if most of it slipped her mind most of the time - she would not feel any sort of imminent rush, her tutor was an aged mortal, so as a courtesy she intended to master as much as she could within as short a time frame as she could. It was only fair to him. And that poor maid still scurrying hither and yon. And still invitingly unclad. No, distractions couldn't be allowed right now. Later, perhaps. But the question did now strike her - how had Kaiko not been stripped? He didn't disrobe like he had instructed his servile apprentice to.

She took a moment to examine him more closely under the pretense of a glare of concentration. And in fairness she was stretching the range of her chakra out just a little bit further than before here. Perhaps as much as a full meter in additional coverage, totaling a radius of forty-eight meters now. In a complete sphere. Well, dome, considering there was nothing but solid ground below. Yes...her suspicions proved correct. The seams had not been removed from Kaiko's garb because there were none to remove. Each article was a singular contiguous formation. Cheater.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

??/50

---

Schatzi's current radius had now achieved a maximum amount equal to a distance of forty-nine meters. Technically an improvement over her prior degree of range, but still a great deal less than the amount of distance that was theoretically required by the ranking level of the technique she was currently training into. The objective distance which still remained a distance equal to an amount of sixty meters radius total was still very much a thing that was far off and difficult to reach.

It was only through constant effort in the persistent training that she was currently performing that had allowed her radius to stretch so far as it had now, able to remove the stitching from all manner of sewn products within that amount of range such as clothing or containers of the tailor-made variety like backpacks and pouches. Obviously it wouldn't be able to work on carpentry-oriented materials even if she were to make the attempt because it was an entirely different methodology behind the construction of that sort of variety of object.

Despite not quite being able to operate within the appropriate range of the technique however, Schatzi's progress was continuing at a rate that met with overall approval on the whole as she was capable of removing the stitching from every singular solitary piece of fabric that was possessed of such a method of construction. Within the space of so much creation all at once there was no need to make repeated attempts at undoing the masterful tailor-work that had gone into the making of the garments that were being used in her proverbial target practice, everything came apart simultaneously.

Meanwhile the nameless minion girl sat frantically trying to restitch as much clothing as she possibly could while remaining in a position many several meters outside of the shapeshifter's current maximum radius of distance so that her work could go without being interrupted. This was in an effort not only to replenish the amount of targets present for Schatzi's training, which was currently occupying the master tailor's attention wholly, but also in a vain attempt to earn some sort of approval from him.

Her desperation was cute, but he continued to overlook it, as well as the other assets she currently had on full display, having become comfortable enough at least - or perhaps resigned enough - that she had halted bothering with any attempts to cover herself. Schatzi too had at some point ended up following the girl's example and abandoned her illusory garb to more completely focus on the task at hand. The old master for his part seemed to have given up on caring, merely nodding his approval when he sensed her chakra had finally managed to reach out to a distance of fifty meters radius.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

??/50

---

Schatzi was still continuing the same training from before at roughly the same pace as had been displayed up until this point in time. Rather than the exponential leaps and bounds of when she had only just started beginning to explore the depths of capability within the technique to come apart at the seams, she was growing the distance with which she was capable of reaching out and removing the very stitching from garments by small increments as per the last few hours.

Currently at a radius of distance equal to an amount that existed somewhere between the amounts of range of fifty and fifty-one meters distance with her chakra, it was only a matter of time before she reached the sixty meters required as per the instructions of the master tailor Kaiko. Once she was capable of such a feat as that he had insinuated that he would show her a new trick within the same capabilities of the technique without the need to train into any additional supplementary capabilities.

The demihuman was as curious about that very secret capability that was being dangled in front of her nose as a cat would be, but other than the very fact that it was something that would be displayed to her he was remaining annoyingly tight-lipped about precisely what kind of a capability within the technique it was that he was referring to in his teasing commentary. It was so close to being within her very grasp, but at the same time it was so very far away as even now her chakra had only managed to reach out within the amount of distance to fifty-one meters exactly.

At the moment though her abilities were simply not up to the par that had been set in order to be taught about this new skill within the skill, and so her focus had to be set upon reaching that amount of ability for the time being. The suspense was completely and utterly brutal however, almost a physical pain in her chest. It seemed almost as if the old master had somehow managed to stumble upon one of her weak points. She was someone driven by entertainment, and as such completely unable to resist the draw of her own simple curiosity.

The moment of revelations was beginning to inch closer all the time however, as Schatzi's capability of distance within the very technique was constantly expanding little by little, up to a distance now of fifty-three meters radius in total. It wouldn't be long before she reached the full sixty meters length and was showed the new secret that she would win with the accomplishment of such a feat. Only seven meters distance still remained.

[The Bearer of Bad News]

??/50

---

The time was very nearly upon them now, for Kaiko to reveal to her the secret technique he had goaded her ever onward with. And not a bit too soon, as already the sun had sunk quite low and the last of the dusk's light was all that graced their little clearing. Soon it would be too dark to continue their training as only Schatzi herself possessed the optical capabilities of seeing within the darkness and low-light conditions. Even with that though, she wouldn't be able to see so far as the fifty-five meters her technique was now stretching, so perhaps it didn't truly matter so much.

Even now, her range was expanding closer to the benchmark that had been set for the secret aspect of the technique to be displayed and taught to her by the elder man. If she was able to continue stretching out her maximum radius at a consistent rate she should be able to achieve an amount equal to fifty-seven meters very shortly, which would mean that only a scant three meters would be the only thing that stood between herself and this other ability.

Indeed, with the passage of merely a short time amounting to a few minutes at the longest outside estimation she had reached fifty-seven meters in radius and even exceeded it. Not by entire meters of course, not even by a couple of feet, but just a bare few inches. Still, progress was progress at the end of the day, which in a more literal sense this actually very much was. Such a semantic concept was perhaps irrelevant however, so she brushed it aside.

With a bit more time, which went unmeasured but did not completely exhaust their solar light source although it was very nearly no longer present, she was inching past fifty-nine meters ever closer to her persistent goal of sixty meters in radius outside of her own person. In the span of another brief few minutes at the most, she was as far as fifty nine meters and two feet in addition to a short few inches, similarly few inches being all that was required now for her to learn Kaiko's secret.

Shortly after that very moment, she finally managed to not only achieve the full sixty meters radius but actually hold it steady in place, though the act required an unexpected degree of effort from her, such that she was actually straining not to have her technique simply end. It was at that very point that Kaiko permitted his servile second to redress herself, and ordered her to stand inside the range of Schatzi's field of chakra.

That was the secret. The girl was still clothed, despite being within the field of the technique. Kaiko elaborated that there wasn't actually anything special he needed to impart, but rather that she would unconsciously come to her own conclusions at a certain point. For most, that point was sixty meters. She had essentially "unlocked" the ability to designate only specific targets rather than destroying everything in the area. Cheeky bastard.

[Solus]

~Learned