Learning the ropes [Training]

[omoni]

Technique being learned:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kuma Tsume no Shisei (Bear Claw Stance)

Rank: “E”

Skill: Taijutsu

Effect: Primary stance in the Kumotate; precursor to further techniques.

Special: ---

Drawback: ---

Description: With the shield hooked to their dominant arm, the user will stand with their feet precisely shoulder-length apart, their body squared to the enemy. Their arm must be bent at the elbow at a rough right angle, placing the shield between them and the opponent. From this fortified stance all manner of defensive techniques can be used.

Limit: ---

0/5

Omoni scratched his head as he set foot into a small plaza in one of Iwagakure's living quarters. It was his first time being there. In fact, it would've probably been the first time for most people, as those who didn't live in one of the exact adjacent houses really had nothing to see or do in that small, bland piece of village. The young genin wandered further onto the plaza, every step on its granite tiles sending a low echoe bouncing between the tall buildings that encased the area. The only thing it had going for it was a small, stone fountain in the middle, really. Other than that, it was nothing but some empty, unpopulated space. Omoni adjusted his shield and looked around while wondering why Yuri, the ANBU bear member who had agreed to train him for an afternoon, had told him to meet at this exact spot while Iwagakure had an abundance of training fields. Still, he figured a man of Yuri's caliber must have had his reasons.

The sensei-for-a-day arrived shortly after Omoni. Ironically, the ANBU looked quite a bit like the beast his division was named after. He was a large, hairy fellow with long brown hair and an impressive, bushy beard. Though he got rid of the mask, he was still wearing his ANBU robe and held his shield loosely in his right paw, indicating he had just returned from a mission. Seeing how these were all top secret however, Omoni figured it was best not to ask and stick to regular smalltalk instead. Like his footsteps, his upbeat voice bounced between the walls.

"Good afternoon, Yuri-senpai. Have you had a good day so far?"

The jounin grinned and walked up to Omoni on what the genin could only describe as an incredibly fast pace fitting someone who is all worked up. He opened his mouth and replied with his loud, booming yet friendly sounding voice:

"Great, cub, great. Thank you. But let's cut right to the chase. I have a little something something planned for tonight, so I can't tutor you all afternoon"

Having reached his temporary student, the man took a deep breath and placed his shield on the ground, resting his weight on it comfortably. Omoni had to admit, the piece of equipment was a work of art only fitting for a master of the Kumotate style. Solid iron, with no doubt incredibly durable and incredibly heavy, decorated with small brass bears and complicated patterns. He doubted he would be able to wield the impressive buckler, but it seemed weightless in the hands of the master. Said master seemed somewhat rushed and slightly agitated by Omoni's fascinated gazing at his shield and barked a few words to mobilize his student.

"Come come, you heard me. Let's start by working on that stance of yours. Feet shoulder length apart. Bent elbow. Shoulder towards the enemy. Have you tried this before?"

Startled by his senseis roaring voice, Omoni began unstrapping his own buckler and putting it onto his right arm. As he shuffled with his feet and moved his arm around to find the right stance and angle, he absent mindedly muttered back to his sensei.

"I've seen some other people do this, and tried to copy them a few times. I think I can pull off an o.k bear claw stance."


Finally having found the appropriate position for every one of his limbs, he shifted his gaze to his tutor and smiled proudly.


"How is this, senpai?"

[omoni]

?/5

Yuri's eyes skimmed Omoni's stance with a rather strict and calculating look in them. For at least a full ten seconds, the bearded man seemed to absorb every tiny detail there was to notice about the genins shield stance. Then, slowly but steadily, he came into action.

Much like a shinobi-locomotive of some sort, Yuri's corrections gained speed as he went on. At first, he pried his big foot between Omoni's feet and wiggled it left and right a little, pushing the students legs apart just a little more. Then, as he gradually gained more and more teaching-momentum, he began tugging, pushing and poking several of Omoni's muscles and joints into remarkable specific angles and heights. Obviously, the jounin had a very clear idea of what a proper bear claw stance looked like and tried to sculpt his student into this stance to the best of his abilities. Eventually, the artist took a few steps back and viewed his masterpiece from a distance, nodding quite pleased with the result of his work.

"Now that's a proper bear claw stance. Try to remember this as good as you can. A good shield defence hinges heavily on how your body is alligned."

[|Ayame Unbound|]

+5, Learned. The descriptions were wonderful to read but a little more training in there would be good too.

[omoni]

Technique being learned:

SPOILER: Click to show

Kuma Tsume - Hogo (Bear Claw - Block)

Rank: “D”, “C”, “B”, “A”, “S”

Skill: Taijutsu

Effect: Allows the user to effectively block corresponding ranks of attacks with their shield.

Special: Effective while in fully-formed Bear Claw Stance.

Drawback: Shields used with this technique will still be damaged according to item breaking laws if the attack being defended is higher than the user’s knowledge of this technique. Less effective against non-impact based Ninjutsu. May be bypassed by all-encompassing area-of-effect attacks.

Description: With training and raw physical strength the user learns the basic principle of how to block attacks with their shield. Standing steadfast, the user will simply place their shield between themselves and the threat, nullifying it with forward fortification and, if executed properly, stopping the attack’s power. The user is only able to remain on their feet and have their shield undamaged by attacks of equal or lower rank to the rank of this technique the user possesses.

Limit: “Bear Claw Stance”.

Learning D-rank

0/10

OOC: I'll do my best!

As Omoni tried to memorize the stance his sensei-for-a-day had so forcefully squeezed him in, Yuri casually took off his robe and cracked his knuckles as he continued to talk to his student.

"So, what do you think, Omoni-san. Could you take a blow in this stance?"


The sensei slowly walked up to his student who, meticulously studying his own shield and joints, seemed oblivious to the approaching giant and, after a few seconds of thinking, gave the man a serious and well thought through answer.

"I think so. I feel quite sturdy and balanced, and I -"

The moment the jounin got within striking distance, he lashed out. Without a warning, without a signal, in a split second, his massive fists rocketed forward with a tremendous speed and power, striking the genins shield head on. His bucklers wooden surface made a rather dangerous, crackling sound as the genin flew a few feet through the air and landed on his back on the stone tiles of the plaza. Surprised and angered, he shouted out an agitated "Hey!" and crawled back on his feet. The ANBU bear, not showing the slightest interest in his students well-being, let out a faint smirk before pulling his act togather and forming a strict stare again. Apparently, he genuinely enjoyed pummeling his pupil around. He was a harsh teacher indeed.

"You were not ready. The moment you take that buckler into your right hand, you should always be ready to take a blow. That is the way of the Kumotate. We are on the frontline of every battle, protecting our allies from harm"

He walked up to Omoni a second time. The boy, a quick learner, quickly reached for his buckler again and braced himself for a second blow. As he kept a close eye on his approaching sensei, he wondered how a man of his size and weight could move so swiftly yet to silently. It was almost as if he floated over the plaza, the sound of his soles hitting the floor muffled to an absolute minimum. He guessed that was why the man was a jounin.

As Yuri got closer and closer, he gradually sped up. Learning slightly forward, he increased his pace and made his hands into fists. He roared. "Here I come again! Be ready, Omoni-san!" And with little dorplets of sweat running down his puffy forehead, Omoni clinched his hands around his shield and braced himself for impact, taking on the Bear claw stance to the best of his abilities. There it was. The moment of impact. The sound of wood taking a heavy beating echoed back and forth between the flats as Yuri struck Omoni's defence, sending the genin sliding several feet backwards. Nonetheless, Omoni was standing and unharmed. He had been succesful, to a certain degree.

[omoni]

?/10

Omoni looked up from behind his buckler and grinned proudly at his teacher, his chubby cheeks squeezing his eyes into slits as he did so. The moment his eyes locked with those of Yuri however, he noticed his mentor wasn't half as content with the results of the block as he was and his smile loosened up.

"How did I do, senpai? Do you think I did an O.K job?"

The large ANBU bear walked up to Omoni again. Slowly this time, but perfectly silent, like before. As he went, he shook his large head slightly and made a soft, dissaproving, clacking sound with his tongue before sneering at his student.

"Perhaps. If you prefer your walls sliding back and forth over the battlefield."

The little that remained of Omoni's smile faded away entirely. As he looked down at his large feet and formidable tummy, he wondered how any genin would be capable of blocking one of Yuri's blows if his own posture and weight didn't suffice. At first, he was quite proud at not having been toppled over by the jounins blow. But now, he realised his efforts would indeed be futile if he didn't manage to stand his ground.

"But senpai, don't you think that's a little unfair? I mean, your punches are way out of my league!"

Slightly agitated by his student victimizing himself, Yuri responded with a raised, perhaps a little bit frightening voice.

"You don't always get to pick your battles, Omoni! There are going to be times when you've chewed off more than you can swallow. In those cases, your team is still going to rely on you to hold the line!"

The giant leaned forward again and once again folded his hand into a fist. Almost instinctively now, Banri took on the bear claw stance and raised his shield. His eyes were on the opponent, his mind fully dedicated to remaining upright.

"Here I come!"

Immediatly after this heads-up, Yuri began his charge. Not slowly this time, oh no, far from. Omoni marvelled over how quickly a man of Yuri's size could accelerate, and within the blink of an eye the bearman stood at point blank, his large fist once again pounding the surface of the buckler. Despite his best efforts, Omoni slid back a few feet again. But his teacher didn't comment on these flaws. Instead, he continued his assault, following Omoni wherever the genin slid and unleashing a barrage of powerful pummels onto the youngsters shield.

"I'm not done yet!"

While to outsiders, the combo must've lasted no longer than a few seconds, the whole sparring session felt like an eternity to Omoni. Each blow the sensei delivered against his shield however somehow punched a little bit of sense and experience into his thick skull. And with each successive blow, the distance the genin flew became smaller and smaller. It wasn't untill the point in the fight where Omoni held his own and Yuri found himself continously punching a still wall that the ANBU lowered his fists and looked up with a glimpse of contempt and pride in his beady eyes. His student had managed to pull off a proper block.

[The Roar of the Falls]

Learned