Flowing Fire [O|T|NDE]

[try4]

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-- Able Learner trait
-- Boating currently 00

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Boating
Rank: "E"
Skill: Skill
Effect: A character with boating skill can guide a small boat through dangerous rivers and lakes.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A character can use this skill to pilot canoes, kayaks and small boats, as well as try to prevent capsizing in rough waters. A successful check means that they guide the craft where desired, while failure indicates the craft capsizes, runs aground and so on. Note that this skill is used for only for small craft such as those used on small lakes, large ponds and rivers.
Novice Use a canoe, raft rowboat.
Average Use canoes or rowboats to transport trade goods (e.g., stow casks & boxes in excess of personal equipment); supervise helpers.
Advanced Navigate a heavily laden barge (with livestock) on a large river.
Expert Pilot a small (1 mast) boat on lakes or rivers.
Master Pilot a small (1 mast) boat on the open ocean.

Each time learned user gets 5 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

0000 // 0005

My eyes scanned the regional map of Hi no Kuni that I had in my possession, looking to locate close towns and pressing me to determine exactly where I was. Moving towards the southwest, I came upon a flowing river. It appeared to have been separating me from the rest of the country and I had to find a way around it. Luck, as it seemed, fell unto me as just meters after walking down the bank, I came across an abandoned canoe. It possessed one oar and one seat: this had been the perfect water vessel for me; I snatched the paddle up and began to push the thing into the water. 

The waters hadn't been too deep to venture through, so had I fallen out of the small boat, I wouldn't have had to worry about trying to swim for my life. The current, though, had been one higher than that of moderate, so the instant that my boat began to float towards the east, I pushed the oar below the surface; fighting the natural flow of the river wasn't much of a strain, the muscles in my arms and back flexed each time I pulled the oar into motion. Given my sense of direction, I knew that to the west lay the majority of towns in Fire Country, somehow many of them drawn fairly close to the Hidden Village of the Leaf. Steadily, I rowed. Had it not been my first time attempting this, I would have given it all that I had, but falling out of or capsizing the canoe hadn't been a plan of mine either so I took it slowly.

Pushing across the body of water, I noted how clear the waters had been. While the oar pushed smoothly through the liquid, the small fish near the canoe were not even fazed by my movements. I could see the bottom of the clear river. It went down about five meters, but I hadn't been entirely too sure. The way that I was paddling now caused the boat to become unsteady as I thought on what reason Wazaru had even taken me and Akuryo under his wing. I had to focus on my current task before all of these questions I had would be answered; for now, I would place the oar aside as I allowed the current to pull me further east, in the direction of a better clearing to depart from the watercraft.

Now ashore, I pulled the canoe half-way out of the water and dropped the paddle off to the side. The owner would find his vessel moved, but at least it hadn't totally disappeared; I, however, vanished into the foliage as I drew closer to my destination. I required food and rest and would head towards the first town that had been presented to me on the map.

The city of Otafuku-Gai didn't appear to be too large, but it did possess massive buildings, areas seemed stacked on top of one another to make room for the numerous inns and brothels that littered the place. As I pressed through the crowd, my eyes scanned the name of a particular establishment that had been well guarded by large men; this place, Douboutsueki, seemed to house many women in it as men poured in and out of the doorway.  I may make a trip there to cause some mischief, yet for now, I knew I needed rest. I strolled through the streets keeping to myself until I found a small inn.

Now inside the place, I quickly fell into a room where the layout would suit my needs. Even though I hadn't seen a bed in days, I could not sleep; no, not yet--I had one thing to accomplish before I would fall out into slumber.

[Draven]

+5tp, Boating 0-31sp

[try4]

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Hanabi no Shinka (Fire Flower of Evolution)
Rank: “E” Rank
Skill: Ninjutsu, Offensive, Defensive, Pre-requisite
Effect: Creates a small flower made of flames with six petals that are each six inches long.
Special: “Hand Seals”- Rat, Dragon, Monkey, Rabbit, Tiger, extending the left hand away from the body, then using the thumb, index, and middle fingers in a triangle-like formation.
Drawback: This ability has no real value beyond using it within a combo attack.
Description: This jutsu creates a flower made entirely of flames. The user performs the required hand seals, channeling chakra through the left hand’s thumb, index, and middle fingers. The left hand is then moved away from the body, and the three mentioned fingers form a triangle shape, while the other two fingers close like the user would make a fist. The built chakra then move upwards and out of the hand, sparking to life and creating a flower with six petals that are six inches long each. If the triangle formation is ever broken, then the entire flame disappears. This ability can almost be treated like a fighting style stance. Each use of a Hanabi no Shinka will require a set amount of petals to be used; after the petals have all been used, the ability must be re-performed. Any time that a part of the Hanabi no Shinka has been destroyed, so long as the whole flower is not destroyed, it will slowly regenerate unless it has been used for an attack.
Limit: Requires the Fire Release

0000 // 0005

Standing on the balcony of the dwelling, I overlooked the bustling life below me in the winding streets of Otafuku-Gai. It had been quite some time since I had last been around so many Fierian people and the aura of the town seemed to fill me with feelings of zeal. I was a Fire Country native, just as the many that wandered the streets of the Homely Woman Town. Once I got a general look of the area, I returned inside my living quarters to begin a quick training session.

My thirst to increase my understanding of Fire Style techniques had increased incredibly since my crossing over the border of Yu into Hi. It was in my nature to yearn to produce the lurid flames from spiritual manifestation and I could only hope to increase my range of Katon jutsu; slowly, I pulled my hands into kata. Ox, Rat, Dragon, Monkey, Rabbit, Tiger. I held the final seal as chakra started to course through my body like blood. I could feel the small heat rising from my sternum into my chest, and from there, into the reaches of my left arm. I extended my arm away from my body and flexed my thumb, fore- and middle fingers into a sort of hold, like I was holding a small ball.

Chakra flowed from these three fingers as sparks began to generate just within their grasp. From the flaming focal point that had been small and burning, six petals started to bloom from its core as more of my essence poured into the technique. This Hanabi no Shinka jutsu was so simple in creation that I was certain that it was the fundamental ninjutsu needed to advance to other forms of this particular technique. Steadily, my chakra flickered in the form of flame; in one instant, I pulled back on my spiritual reigns as three of the six petals dissipated into nothingness--in time, they were replaced by three more petals as my hold on the jutsu continued. This was a regenerating jutsu, and all I needed to maintain it as such was the small core that formed between the triangle that my three fingers made.

Without feeling that there was much more to gaining an understanding of this Katon jutsu, I relinquished control over my chakra as the thing suddenly blotted out of existence. It was a simple technique I learned before I moved to my bed that didn't call for me to burn down the residence. Later, though, my chaotic ways may get the best of me; for now, I would rest from the morning until I felt like waking up.

[Captain M]

+ 5 TP

LEARNED

[try4]

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Tsurutsuru Kobushi (Slippery Fist)
Rank: E
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: A low stance that relies on upward motion and momentum.
Special: None
Drawback: Most of the user’s attacks are ground based, limiting their airborne range.
Description: A fairly underrated stance that was developed in Iwa sometime ago. Due to the crouched position the user must take to perform this, many ninjas and other interested people find it uncomfortable and unwieldy. This stance focuses on heavy movements based on focused momentum behind every blow. Users of this stance have found it helpful to wear shoes and gloves that slide easily on many surfaces, but still do not slide off of a target.
Limit: Universal TaiJutsu

0000 // 0005

During his slumber, Mikutashi started to dream, recalling events of the time before when he was four years younger.

Sparks began to light up the dim cavern located in Shimo Kuni as Mikutashi and Akuryo fought it out using kunai to practice their hand-to-hand skills. The two boys, both fourteen, had been instructed by their sensei, Wazaru, to do such training. Iron sharpened iron and that had been the reason why his two prized subordinates always trained against one another. Throwing his kunai, Mikutashi lunged toward his rival, his stance wide and low as he attempted to put his weight into his movements. Akuryo would deflect the projectile with his own and cast his hand blade aside, mimicking his training partner. 

The teenagers would clash against each other as they both drew power from their legs and core to propel their strength upward into the arms, sending one another flying backwards to a distance of almost a meter a part. Blood began to spill at Miku's lip, a sign that Akuryo had gotten a better hit in than he had. Against the polished floor of the lair, the bleeding boy spread his legs and crouched lower towards the earth; from here, he would strike again, this time aiming to land a heavy blow to his opponent's midsection. As if reading the movement perfectly, Akuryo timed the attack and dodged it to his right. His hand caught the shoulder of Mikutashi and pulled him down to the ground, where the Tsurutsuru Kobushi stance already drew him close to the dusty foundation. The arm of Mikutashi was bound behind his back as Akuryo hovered over him, smiling:

"Give up already. You know that I am stronger than you." 

Irked by his comrade's superiority, Mikutashi drew strength from his core and pushed his friend from off of him. His breath came in quick pants as he again got into the Slippery Fist stance. Low to the ground, he would break off into a slow, powerful sprint before jumping at Akuryo with his leg extended to catch the recovering boy in the cheek. So heavy a blow had sent him skidding backwards by two meters, as he lay stunned by his sparring partner's sudden surge of strength. Now, blood trickled down his lip as well.

"Someone's been training their Taijutsu~" Akuryo playfully remarked as he stood up. The boys continued their spar...

[Nira]

Mm, flashback combat. Always cool.

I always enjoy character building, NPC and otherwise.

+5, Learned.

[try4]

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Tsurutsuru Kobushi: Sotsuji Shindou (Sudden Impact)
Rank: D
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: Knocks the target away from the user.
Special: None
Drawback: None
Description: A technique developed to push away an opponent rather than harm them. An inexperienced user of this stance and technique will need to slide on a surface in order to gain the proper momentum. This is an open palmed strike that is aimed towards a target’s torso. The user swings his/her palm from below the targets waist or lower half. If it connects, the strike will usually send the target flying backwards. Of course, weight and other factors will need to be considered.
Limit: Universal TaiJutsu

0000 // 0010

.. Fists continued to fly as the boys continued their spar. It had been going on for quite a while within the massive cavern and the cave floor was littered with kunai and other weaponry. Mikutashi rushed toward his foe with his right arm cocked back to deliver a vicious punch backed by his speed; snapping his body to the side, Akuryo would dodge and quickly counter with a kick to the midsection of Miku. The blow had been blocked, reflexively, by the right arm that flew toward Aku's face and Mikutashi spun around as he grabbed the lower appendage, looking to hurl his adversary with a spinning throw.

The throw resulted in Akuryo getting knocked back a meter, but he smoothly recovered with a show of acrobatics that didn't seem to impress Mikutashi. Both returned to their Slippery Fist stance before sliding across the floor towards one another. They continued to parry and dodge fists and kicks as their master strolled in, high above the two on a platform above as his eyes locked in onto the fighting teens. He did enjoy a good show, and he didn't see either one of them as his favorite. "Dragon" Wazaru approved of their fighting regimen and would watch well on into the skirmish as Mikutashi seemed to be reaching a breaking point--Akuryo had been getting the best of him. The former had been on a knee, wiping more blood from his lip as his chest heaved up and down. Akuryo, cocky as ever, stood two meters from Mikutashi with his arms crossed before his chest.

"That all ya got, Suikou?" he smirked, "What happened to all that training you've been doing??"

He had been right. Mikutashi--Suikou--had been training a decent amount without the aid of the other boy. His mind raced to find some Body Art technique that he could use to stun Akuryo once more. While the two had been fighting for minutes, Miku noticed some of the openings in Akuryo's offense that would allow him to attack surprisingly well in an effort of countering. Panting hard, Suikou rose to his feet as he called upon what reserves of stamina he had in his being. He would Shunshin forward, something that Akuryo had expected in his mocking of his friend, and throw a kick at his opponent's head. 

"Too easy, Suikou!" Akuryo shouted as he moved to his body underneath the swinging leg of his foe, drawing power to rise up for a vicious uppercut. One would have expected for the resulting scenario to have fallen in the reflexive Akuryo's favor, yet Wazaru had taught Mikutashi something to counter even the alacritous Akuryo. As the boy rose up from his low position to deliver what he had thought would be the final blow, Miku jumped backwards with a deft somersault as the fist of his foe rose to where his face had been. Now, low to the ground himself, Mikutashi drew chakra into his arms quickly, to supplement what strength he had left as he pushed his arms forward, drawing even more momentum in his movements from his lower point of gravity as his palms shot out to hit Akuryo in his overly exposed abdomen. 

The sudden rush of energy that shot through Akuryo startled him as his body flew upwards and backward to at least two meters skyward and two meters back. The Sotsuji Shindou that Mikutashi had utilized demonstrated what power he still had within him before he dropped to a knee. Akuryo was now on his back, knocked unconscious for a brief moment as he fought to regain his breath. Wazaru disappeared back within his chamber as he had witnessed his second pupil utilize the technique that he had taught him. He was impressed by the spirit of Mikutashi indeed...

It had been late at night that I had awaken to loud shouting coming from outside where the balcony was located. I rushed out to see what had happened, and to my disbelief, something had been happening at the Douboutsueki brothel. I quickly leapt over the guard rail and slid through the streets toward the red light district establishment.

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--Exit

[Captain M]

LEARNED!

+10 TP