The Green Dragon [P]

[Okami]

Ouch. Why was there a wall there? Jin had not been in the maze for long and he had a crystal clear memory of where he had gone. Yet for some reason a wall had appeared where it should not have been. This could mean only one thing: the walls were moving.

The Hyuuga would check for spiders along this new path to make sure it was really a new path and not just some trick. They were his only like to the reality of the maze. If the walls in the maze really moved then his whole strategy was ruined. Only his failsafe of the spiders would remain. Jin could not be sure that he would cover most of the available paths by taking right turns if the walls were indeed changing. Even if he attempted to search in areas where his spiders were not, he couldn't be sure that he would miss paths that popped up while he was wandering around. Would he be reduced to wandering around randomly? If Okami were here, or if Jin could use his abilities, they could just break though the walls and easily walk to the exit.

But it was no use worrying about what could have been. Jin needed to come up with a new plan. As of now he had missed two paths and hit two dead ends. It was going to be especially important to count the number of missed paths, and if possible, where they were. The turns were all 90 degrees, so Jin coould easily guage his orientation as he moved. His exact location would be harder to determine, since he could only estimate it.

After considering this new development, Jin was no closer to deciding on a new plan then when he started. However, if the walls really did move, then perhaps there were multiple paths availible to reach the exit. The exit to the maze would have to be on one of the edges of the maze, so if Jin constantly tried to make his way to an edge he might find the exit.

So there was a right turn and a left turn in front of him. The left turn would bring him back to the east wall and the right turn would bring him deeper into the maze. Jin decided to abandon his strategy of making right turns, and instead headed left. From there he would head north east if possible and make his way up the eastern wall.

[destroyer]

Going right, you walk for a little bit(30,1) you reach a wall with a left turn only and then a right turn as the only possible path. You walk down a bit(22,0) where you meet another right turn that goes all the way to 22,13. There you come to a four way intersection as you hear a voice come from where you started the maze.

"This first part is designed to test how well you think on your feet which you've already met. In a maze where I control what appears where, how will you deal with such an everchanging environment kid? Think fast and on your feet!"

That was the only tip you'd receive for the remainder of this portion of the test. Which path do you choose as you hear a wall come up right behind you, blocking your way back.

[Okami]

This was the first time ever Jin had explored an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous place without the use of his Byakugan, and it was kind of unnerving. Jin could see nothing, but felt the walls of the maze with his branches. The scraping of wood against hard earth started to become a soothing sound to him, as it was the only tool he could use to explore the maze. He came upon a place where there were paths to either side of him. Reaching out ahead with his branch he felt nothing but air. A four way intersection. Behind him the opening rose up and became a wall. There was no going back.

So far Jin had progressed mainly along the wall, but an unavoidable turn took him deeper into the maze. For now the strategy of heading towards the nearest wall seemed to be best, so he took the left turn. He was still trying to escape the maze, and there were any number of possible exits and paths to those exits. Wandering around in the centre of the maze made no sense.

As he walked away, still dropping spiders everywhere he went, he heard what seemed to be a compliment ring out in his ears. Or perhaps it was a warning? The guy said "this first part," which could be referring to the maze itself, or just the first part of the maze. And if Jin knew tests like he thought he did, then the physical challenge should soon after the mental one. Unfortunately, without chakra it was impossible to prepare for whatever surprises the maze might hold in store for him. All he could do was stay ready and keep a tight hold on his shields.

[destroyer]

Going left, you go about 10 feet(12,13) before you come to a left turn, the only turn there. It then takes you to 12, 8 where you encounter a right turn leading you to 8,8 where you encounter another right turn, leading you to 8,20; the farthest in you've gotten where you come across another left turn which takes you to 3,20 where you reach a dead end as you hear a wall rising behind you and two opening up: both to the right of you. There's one that appears next to you and one that appears where the wall just rose up(7,20). Which one do you take as you are in a blind space.

[Okami]

Jin heard the sound of earth shifting. The walls were moving again. It seemed he was getting accustomed to travelling around without his eyes. He swept out with his branches and felt an opening directly to his right, so he walked through. There were so many paths in this maze that it was getting to be difficult remembering everywhere he had gone. He kept walking along, feeling around with his branches, and dropping spiders. If there was nothing more to this maze than the fact that the walls moved, then all he had to do was keep walking around.

[destroyer]

Taking the one right next to you, you head through it and it takes you to 3, 25 before you encounter a left turn which leads you to 1,25; the closest to the edge you've been. Then there's a path to the left, taking you backwards which is the only way possible. Taking it you backtrack to 1,18 where you encounter another left turn, taking you to 4,18 where you encounter another left turn leading you to a dead end(4,23) as you hear a wall come up behind you with the three walls around you in that one boxed square come down.

Do you take the left one hoping to reach the side of the maze or perhaps the one ahead of you in order to reach the opposite end that you started on?

[Okami]

"Bastard maze is trying to lead me in circles." Jin muttered to himself as the walls closed up around him. All he had to do was get out of the maze, and he was so close to the end. There was no way he was going back without a fight. "Hey!" Jin called out to the darkness, hoping somebody could hear him. "You told me to think on my feet, didn't you? If that's the case, I'm not going to be led around by the nose."

Jin may have lost his eyes and all of his chakra abilities, but there were still things he could do. If he was going to escape then he was going to go up. Before that, he had to make sure no roof had magically appeared over his head like the walls rose up around him. He flicked a senbon up in the air and listened for the tell-tale sound of metal hitting earth. If he heard nothing then there was no roof.

If there was no roof then there was nothing keeping him in here but his faith in this test. But he wouldn't show off his ingenuity by wandering around aimlessly. For all he knew there was no exit and he was supposed to make one on his own. So he tied his branches in a cross pattern using a length of wire. A long free end of the wire hung loose, so he coiled it around his hand. It was a makeshift grappling hook. They were tough branches just recently snapped off a healthy tree. It would hold his weight.

With everything ready, he tossed the grappling hook up the wall that should be close to the edge. He then proceeded to climb the wall, swing his legs over, and slowly lower himself down the other side. He had no idea what he would be lowering himself onto, so he completed this step quite cautiously.

Even if this wasn't the "right" way to comlplete the maze, the tester had only said that his tasks would increase in difficulty if he performed poorly. In that case it was better to take the short path and get the maze over with now. Jin had full confidence he could deal with any added difficulty he might be facing.

[destroyer]

I'd be sitting there waiting for him to come through the exit as I heard the man say something. "You told me to think on my feet, didn't you? If that's the case, I'm not going to be led around by the nose." this arrogant kid would say as I'd shunshin over to the wall where he was at, waiting for his next move. A lone senbon would be thrown into the air as I'd believe this kid would try to pinpoint where he was in the maze. However that wasn't the case here.

I'd soon see him climb over the wall and thought best how to deal with this as I'd wonder how. Should I use some wind element or perhaps some other ninjutsu attack or just go with straight hand to hand. This one was quite the hard one to choose as he inched closer to the top and over. Figuring it out, I'd just faceplant him into the the ground then that way, he'd lose hope of trying to vault over the wall as he reached the top of it now. Smirking, I'd jump onto the top of it and leap at him, opening up my palm and attempting to grab his face, going down back into the regular spot. If this were to happen, I'd stop about an inch from the ground with his head, leaving it unharmed and letting go.

If not, I'd drag him down one way or the other, making him do the maze properly. "Listen kid, use your brain not your feet or else you'll never make it farther in this world. How you ever made it this far I have no idea but if you continue to do this, you'll die a swift death and if nothing else, I'll be there telling you 'I told you to listen' over your carcass. So if you want to do things your way head home, if not do this properly," I'd say exiting the maze and silently making my way back.

[Okami]

A sound. Something was falling on him from above. Jin had no way of telling what it was, but considering what he was trying to do it was obviously not a pile of marshmallows. He swung his shield in front of him in an effort to block it.

Unfortunately, though Jin could stop a great many attacks with his shields, he was currently hanging on a piece of wire. With an old bastard jumping on his shield there was no way he could maintain a firm grip on the wire. It slid through his grasp and Jin was knocked the short distance to the ground. Damn. Not only did Jin have to keep walking through this useless maze with a blindfold on, he had to do everything exactly as the sword smith intended. An unmistakable, arrogant voice sounded out a pompous warning.

But his plan hadn't been a total failure. Jin had drawn the man to him, and he had heard him. He caused quite a ruckus and Jin knew where he stood. The sword smith was likely to leave and wait at the exit. As Jin was getting up, he let his baggy clothes and large shield cover the ground between him and the sword smith. From within his clothes he sent a little spider to crawl under the foot of the sword smith and start spinning web from the bottom of his foot. Jin couldn't make the web hard as steel as he usually did, because that would require the use of his chakra, but he didn't want the web to be strong anyway. The web would be a trail that Jin could follow and it would lead him to the exit. It was unlikely that the spider would be discovered, considering that the thing was small enough to hide in the cracks of shoes and its crawl to the smith's foot was completely hidden by Jin.

Before setting out, Jin felt the ground near him for a sticky little string to see if his plan had worked.

[destroyer]

{OOC: I truly apologize for not posting yesterday, I got into God of War 3 and then played it all the time then yeah... But since I'm done I'll post for ya, however like I said, I may not be able to post tomorrow or sunday at all: brother's bday + chores and all that}

The plan worked as the man didn't notice, but it wouldn't lead you like you thought it would as it would lead over the wall and around and is slowly getting weaker against the hardened earth wall.

The walls begin to rotate and move again around you. Walls rise all around you except the wall that the spider's web was over as it leads you to the wall(left turn). At 0,23, you make a right turn leading to 0,29 where you take a right turn away from the wall, all the while the string of web getting weaker and weaker as it grinds against the corner of the maze. At 11,29, you encounter a dead end that, within a few seconds turns into a two way intersection with a wall rising behind you, making the string stretch and perhaps make it weaker.

Do you go straight, hoping that it leads you closer to the end or follow the web you created left?

[Okami]

The good thing about Jin's spiders was that there was a lot of them. He sent out a bunch of spiders along the sting to reinforce it with web of their own. If the web did break then perhaps Jin would be able to find the spiders he had sent out and once again use the web as a guide.

For now, Jin would follow his web. It made sense that the smith had gone to the exit, but it wasn't a sure thing. He might have noticed the web at some point and decided to lead Jin in circles, or he might have wandered around for a while to set up tricks and traps. But the chance that Jin could be led directly to the exit was too good to pass up. He would go left.

[destroyer]

{OOC: Again, I apologize. Was pretty busy this weekend with family and stuff.}

Going left, I confused myself a little with my last few posts while doing the previous one but got the directions correct, you reach 11, 38 where you encounter a right turn leading you to 15,38. There, you come across a left path taking you to 15, 44 where you encounter a right path which leads you to another dead end at 18,44. Two paths open up before you: one in front and one to the right, the string being stretched more but reinforced. Do you take the path in front of you or perhaps the one right of you. You feel that you are close to a wall, but are unable to pinpoint which wall, whether it be the one across from the starter wall(to the left of you) or the one to the right of the start(in front of you, but past a couple turns, same as the other wall).

[Okami]

Jin was starting to lose track of where he was. He didn't come across any spiders on the ground yet, so he couldn't have even crossed his path once yet. At least he had this web. He had no new plans or ideas, but continued to explore the maze to see where his web would lead him. Still dropping a spider trail as he went, Jin forged ahead into the front path.

[destroyer]

Going straight, you hit the wall with a left turn leading you to 25, 50. A left turn is imminent there leading you to 25,45 with a right going to 39, 45 with a left turn leading to 39, 39 with a left turn leading to 21, 39 with a right turn leading you to 21, 41 where you turn left leading to 17, 41. You come across a right turn going to 17,44. Here you encounter a two way path with a wall rising behind you blocking your way back.

You feel the end approaching but which way do you go? Do you go straight or make a right?

[Okami]

Jin headed straight. Not being able to see anything was becoming very tiring. He took his senses for granted because he could see through pretty much everything, so he had to strain to keep up with all the information he acquired through smell, feel, and the sporadic noises. His branches kept scraping away at the walls beside him. Jin wondered how much longer he was going to have to continue this test. Surely the blacksmith controlling the walls could see that it was only a matter of time before Jin escaped. What was the point of prolonging this any further? Jin longed to hear the blacksmith cry out "Yahoo! You made it!" Unfortunately he probably wouldn't say it like that.

[destroyer]

Going straight you get to the wall(17,50) where you encounter a right turn leading to 0,50 with an immediate left turn, leading you out. Perhaps you were expecting something like a celebration for when you left the maze, but instead all you got was a repeat of earlier, except all the way to the ground.

"Get some rest for now, you'll have more tests in the morning and take off the blindfold its embarrasing for you to wear, people are laughing at you for it,"

That was the only message you'd receive from him until morning...

{OOC: Btw I'm giving you one post to do whatever you want like if you want to heal up or something like that do it. Make sure at the end that you end up in bed so I can lead into the next post.}

[Okami]

Oh good, an annoying voice was nearby. "I see." Jin replied to the voice as he removed the blindfold and placed it in his pocket. "I brought you a souvenir." He continued, putting one of his feeler branches into the smith's arms. Jin called back all the spiders that he had scattered about he maze and let them crawl up in his clothes again.

He wasn't low on chakra due to the nature of the test, but he was tired. He hadn't eaten for a while and he had stayed up all night with the ungrateful drunk. Jin rummaged through the kitchen and got some food before he found whatever bed was available. Still paranoid about sleeping in a stranger's house, Jin told Okami to keep watch as he slept, and tucked himself in using a shield as a blanket.

[destroyer]

{OOC: Alright today I'll be getting my laptop back from Geek Squad so I'll be more active.}

{OOC: The tubes are replaced with a steep tower that goes up at a 60 degree angle and place them all in one line, the top row first leading into the bottom row leading into the middle row if that makes sense. For the bottom row of obstacles, the logs are replaced with a mud field with barbed wire above it, rock climb and tubes are the same on the bottom. And for changes thats about it.}

Awakening at 6AM, I'd wait to awaken the kid as to not make his life end so soon. This next test would test his endurance, and he had the correct test as I walked outside and performed handseals as the earth in the backyard began transforming into an obstacle course of sorts. It'd take a few minutes to fully set up as the TRUE obstacles needed to be in place. Along the walls, it was ever changing with the footholds, moving in and out and swapping each every 10 seconds. The barbed wire would have electricity discharge continuously, leaving only enough room between the electricity and the ground for a person to slip through. The tower would have water running down both sides with about a 4 foot wide "pedestal" with an extension above it with a hole in the center, spewing out mud from time to time as well as rock chunks the size of pebbles in loads of three hundred at a time. The pop up obstacles would be 4 feet in diameter and switch pads every time it went down, which was about once every 6 seconds. The three pads are a regular one made of earth, one with spikes, and one with fire hot enough to burn off any footwear and leave a third degree burn. Water is running through the tubes as well as a gush of water every 5 seconds, but not strong enough to push a person back if they stand there ground. The slide is reversed and goes up at a 40 degree angle with barrels that are six feet in height and have 2 feet radius from the center.

Waking the man up, I'd bring him out to his next obstacle, giving him the simple rules. "Survive through this, simple as that. Along with the preset obstacles, I'll add in some other obstacles of my own. Use whatever you want as long as it doesn't make you skip obstacles, just to defend or prevent things or to help you pass," I'd say showing him to the beginning. "Go crazy," I'd say walking back.

[Okami]

Jin was happy that he was not killed in his sleep, and let Okami get some rest as he walked out to see an obstacle course. It seemed he was allowed to use whatever he wanted to, as long as he didn't skip obstacles. He walked up the hill to see what seemed to be a series of logs. It didn't seem intimidating.

Before blindly charging in, Jin decided to gather some more detailed information. He activated his Byakugan and checked out all of the obstacles before he even reached them. He was able to see 50 meters away, so examining this whole back yard was no problem. He looked for hidden things, chakra filled thing, underground things, anything that might make this course more difficult than it seemed.

After that Jin would make gaggle of water clones. He would have them run single file through the course with about a meter between each of them. If nine water clones could make it past an obstacle then there was probably no danger to Jin himself. He then proceeded to make some paper wings as they headed out ahead of him. He couldn't just fly over the obstacles, but if the ground suddenly tried to suck him in or something wings would be considered defensive rather than obstacle skipping. Finally he would harden an armor of paper over his body.

By now the clones should have hopped across the logs and reached the other side, and assuming they did so safely, Jin would take out his shields and follow their course.

SPOILER: Click to show

Byakugan

Water clones

Name: Yoroi no Kami (Armor of Paper)
Rank: C
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Creates a thin layer of paper around the users body to act as a last resort.
Special: Hand seals
Drawback: Can only be active for 5 turns before a 5 turn rest period is required. This armor is only as strong as the users paper strength.
Description: After forming hand seals, the user calls on paper to wrap around their entire body. This thin layer clings and blends in to whatever part of the body it touches, skin, hair, and clothing alike. This jutsu can only stay active for a limited time before it falls apart.
Limit: Paper Release.

Kami Tsubasa (Paper Wings)
Rank: C, B
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: The user is capable of forming wings of paper, granting them the ability to fly. At its higher rank, the user is able to carry more weight with them.
Special: Hand seals
Drawback: ---
Description: After forming hand seals, the user is able to from wings from paper on their back. Functioning much like the wings of the Tsubasa Clan, the paper user is granted the ability of flight.



* C rank- The user is given the ability to fly, and can also carry up to one person (or an object of equivalent size) beneath them as they fly. This requires 400 pieces of paper.

* B Rank- The paper wings of the user are now much stronger, granting them the ability to the carry 2 people (or objects or equivalent size) beneath them as they fly. The user is also capable of flying much faster than before, granting them 2 extra movements in the sky. This requires 600 pieces of paper.

[destroyer]

The clones would make it through safely, but you would have some problems as he could tell that you weren't a part of the pack. As you go in with shields blazing, you go through the first obstacle almost perfectly as pillars of wood rise starting from the outside and come to the center, but are stopped by your shields after you cross the first two safely. Going over the second two, three wooden pillars rise from three different directions, but all fail as two are blocked by your shield and one hits you but the paper armor protects you.

{OOC: Btw if you want me to post for the rest of the row post something in OOC in the next post or PM me. Also I do have my laptop but due to a few problems with the startup it might take a few days before I get it fixed seeing as I have to call dell or microsoft to do a full system reboot so yeah...}