Pride and Suffering [Training]

[bashiku]

Two out of three scrolls were behind her, both influencing her to the new heights and making her understand more than before. With the knowledge burned into her young mind so powerfully, Emi feared to open third one, to reveal the hidden things inside its contest that drove her to this point. She was manipulated by person generations before her and she knew it all full well, but she was already tangled too much to get free now.

Opening the last scroll she carefully glided her sight along the first letters and stopped.

"Face me..." The words said through Emi's lips as she feared to open the scroll any more. Her hands trembled, fingers twitched, she was stuck between decisions and didn't know what to do. She wanted to free the rest of the scroll and face the shadows that would breed in her mind from there on and allowed her to be used as her weapon, but she feared them too. This knowledge could consume her utterly and forever. Was she ready for that?

Without a second wasted any longer Emi unraveled the rest of the scrolls, her deep purple eye shocked as she followed the contest with minor attention. They were seals, not words! Quickly regretting opening the scroll, Emi tried to pack it all together, but before she could even move her hands again a large circular seal on the center of the scroll twirled and suddenly engulfed all into eternally deep darkness.

Shades of gray, shadowy figures dancing, glassy pads on the celling, this world Emi was now trapped in was something else, something new, something dreadful. And she was going deeper, flying toward the glass on the celling. No, the correct term would be falling, as Emi found out second later, crashing down onto floor, but not breaking neither the glass nor anything in her body. Few bruises here and there were nothing Emi was not used to as a ninja, but still it bothered her.

It took her a moment to regain her composure, to look around at the creepy surrounding and face with the fact that she was stuck. There was nothing she could do unless she figured out what happened and she had to admit one thing. After those first two scrolls, this environment almost made her creep out and pass out.

Her eye watched the shadows as they started to dissolve, revealing behind them spectrum of colors, coming from dark blue, to blood red, varying in intensity and placement, like a freakish circus world. But in shadows dissolve a new figure was revealed.

Sitting on throne of gray marble, seemingly an obelisk with kanji for Shadow written on the back, the black clothed figure eyed the scared little girl. His wraps danced chaotically in this place with no wind, like they were snakes, ends burning away and regenerating again and again. He was just deep darkness with one red eye behind the black wraps. There was no motion, nor gesture as the figure sat there and just analyzed. No voice, not even sound of breathing, but he was alive, oh Emi was sure about that fact.

"APPROACH SHADOWLING." a strong voice in her head ordered her and as if she was captivated by some technique, she obeyed, slowly limping to him, cursing through her teeth and trying to regain power over her body.

"For a long time I have waited for someone to come here, to pass my knowledge to so I can rest with easy. It's been more than I care to remember when I was struck down with Black Flames from those accursed eyes. Wanting to save my knowledge I sealed part of myself in this scroll. I was waiting for someone like you and those before you. I wanted to pass on my knowledge and take my revenge on the ninja's of your age. Use my powers well, otherwise I will eat your soul alive." The dark figure said with soft voice that was carried by shadowy wind to her small earlobes, chilling her neck and stopping her in place. She would've obeyed even if she didn't want to. She had to obey.

Suddenly the figure moved, a single gesture with his right hand as he turned it over and rose index and middle finger together. This simple action caused a powerful roar that shook that entire place, making a Dragon emerge from shadow and appear behind the man, bursting flames all over.

Emi was seriously scared, so scared she almost cried in fear, but the dragon dissolved slowly, its entire mass turned into small dark ball which launched itself into her chest, bursting through, drilling and almost killing her.

Second later Emi woke up. She was on the floor, lying and crying, her chest hurting, her mind dazed and confused. As she looked on the third scroll it was seemingly empty with only faded trails of the sealing on it. Was it all real or just genjutsu, she might never find out, but she felt great portion of power she had to in order to understand shadow perception.

[Corvus]

+10

[bashiku]

SPOILER: Click to show

Crafted Shadow
Rank: "D"
Skill: GenJutsu
Effect: User can create enduring Shadows through this GenJutsu.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: ---
Description: Each rank of the technique can create a shadow of up to a certain size category from fine to Colossal. At the time of performing the Illusionist chooses whether the shadow created will be a type of equipment or creature. Items created with this GenJutsu are considered to be one-third as real and have one-third the normal strength of the object. There are two types of objects that can be created: Weapons, and Equipment. Weapons created via this GenJutsu are partially real and those who succeed in finding out it is a GenJutsu will still be affected by one third of damage created by the weapon. Those who do not feel that this is a fake will suffer full on attack. Items created have no major significance. They cannot do anything other than look nice or pretty unless they were to harm those who perceive the object such as a stab, or a cut. Creatures shaped are considered one third real with a transparent feel along them. They are one third as strong as a normal creature. Creatures made by this Jutsu have none of the normal qualities such as poisons or helpers. When the user first learns this technique they are only capable of creating objects the size of fine, which is very small and is capable of making just one. When the user learns the "C" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Diminutive and Tiny objects up to three. When the user learns the "B" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Small and Medium sized creatures up to five. When the user learns "A" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Large and Huge Creatures up to seven creatures. When the user learns the "S" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Gargantuan to Colossal sized creatures up to nine.
Limit: Must know the Shadow Perception

Lately its been exciting for Emi and her training, you could say she was having more thrill in her training than in her every day life, especially now that she has met 'Shadow Master', a dark figure from genjutsu that haunted her restless dreams on epic scale, his shadow dragon terrifying her and leading her to breaking point. This could've been only subconscious warning that she wasn't training shadow perception hard enough.

For that reason she decided to start her shadow techniques from that day onward, adding few of them onto her list of battle techniques and to see how she could use them more.

Crafting Shadow technique was basic for all Shadow perception techniques, it was bread and butter for them, well bread and cake in Emi's case. The technique was based on creating shadow like objects or people, from small to huge, which could be used for simple use such as creating a kunai to throw at opponent, to creating a ferocious image of a dragon that would scare opponent. Still for Emi it would all start in baby steps as any other technique.

Emi's start would be making shadow nails. It was simple to remember the handseals, having only three, but the very technique was quite different. It consisted of creating an imaginary picture in own mind and forming the shadow from it. The object would only be partially real and wouldn't inflict much damage if target was knowledgeable about its method of creation, but otherwise it could become their oblivion.

"Rat, dog, rat..." Emi said as she followed with her gestures, letting chakra course through her and finally form in her hand, at first coming as blue energy, but slowly changing texture. It went darker and darker, like a small smudge, but in the end technique dispersed.

"DAMN! I used too much chakra for such a smile object..." Emi explained to herself as she noticed the mistake. She only needed certain amount of energy per unit of measurement, otherwise the creation would be unstable and collapse all together. She tried again, slowly lowering the amount of energy she needed. Such a drama over such a little object, but this time the results were... failure again.

There was no rational explanation why would she fail now, but she did. Again and again Emi failed in making the simple nail and frustration was getting over her. Still in the end it was a single memory that drove her to go onward. Shadow Master's dreading voice.

Shivering with thought of him punishing her, whether he was real or not, terrified Emi, so much she let shadows into her mind, something she forgot from her lessons.

"Rat, dog, rat..." she said meekly as she tried one more time, this time chakra forming quickly and changing texture into simple household nail. Impressive in her thought, but she had to try it out. Holding it between her thumb and index finger, Emi poked her other index finger, feeling sharp pressure and painful sensation. This time it worked, but how much more would she have to train for something greater?

[Tieren]

+10 Learned. But keep in mind, D rank techniques are 6 handseals, not 3. So in a fight, thats what you have to follow. D = 6, C = 12, B = 18, A = 24, and S = 30. There are ways to reduce it though as you gain in rank depending on your specialists. You'll have to check that out yourself though in the Battle Rules.

[bashiku]

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC: I know chibi, and I follow the number of handseals in fight, but I like to roleplay it easily in training.

SPOILER: Click to show

Crafted Shadow
Rank: "C"
Skill: GenJutsu
Effect: User can create enduring Shadows through this GenJutsu.
Special: "Handseals"
Drawback: ---
Description: Each rank of the technique can create a shadow of up to a certain size category from fine to Colossal. At the time of performing the Illusionist chooses whether the shadow created will be a type of equipment or creature. Items created with this GenJutsu are considered to be one-third as real and have one-third the normal strength of the object. There are two types of objects that can be created: Weapons, and Equipment. Weapons created via this GenJutsu are partially real and those who succeed in finding out it is a GenJutsu will still be affected by one third of damage created by the weapon. Those who do not feel that this is a fake will suffer full on attack. Items created have no major significance. They cannot do anything other than look nice or pretty unless they were to harm those who perceive the object such as a stab, or a cut. Creatures shaped are considered one third real with a transparent feel along them. They are one third as strong as a normal creature. Creatures made by this Jutsu have none of the normal qualities such as poisons or helpers. When the user first learns this technique they are only capable of creating objects the size of fine, which is very small and is capable of making just one. When the user learns the "C" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Diminutive and Tiny objects up to three. When the user learns the "B" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Small and Medium sized creatures up to five. When the user learns "A" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Large and Huge Creatures up to seven creatures. When the user learns the "S" Rank of this technique the user is capable of making Gargantuan to Colossal sized creatures up to nine.
Limit: Must know the Shadow Perception

Crafted Shadow Technique, bread and butter of Shadow perception techniques, the very basis of hundreds of techniques Emi could learn and utilize in battle, but learning it just to certain sloppy degree wasn't enough. Quantity and quality are required as prerequisites for this and other techniques, for the more shadow she creates, the more powerful her techniques will become. And she loved power, she loved it very much, so much that it clouded her mind along with few more visual enhancements.

First visualization that would come to mind were twins, Hannah and Jules. She wanted them to accept her and that was one of her greatest shadows.

Second visualization that was in the back of her mind was Takikage. She wanted to prove him wrong no matter what and to bring his cocky attitude down.

There were many more shadows in her mind trying to drill out and appear, but they were insignificant right now, too insignificant for Emi to care for. She had her fuel for the techniques. It's been days since she started training Crafted Shadow with small items like nails and such, but now she wanted to move onto something more ambitious. She was studying few artistic figures, animals and items, weapons of a sort, and remembered how she would visualize them in creation.

Today she would try enlarging her area of expertize. She was bored with making horsefly's and nails, she wanted to do something useful for her ninja carrier. She wanted to try making kunai.

Emi herself held kunai countless time during her academy years, but not recently. She was out of commission on the ranged fighting lately, so she forgot the feel of cold steel in her hands as she would flung it onward and hitting the target, or possibly missing.

In one hand she held a kunai, feeling the weight of the pure still, eying it and making a shadowing image in her mind. With a quick wrist movement she sent kunai flying onto her celling, making handseals at her favorite pace and then releasing chakra into her hand, forming and changing the texture, morphing into the shape she wanted. At first it seemed like weird confusing black snake, but as she concentrated she managed to raise its form to another level, finally getting a black colored kunai. Receiving the falling kunai from the celling she compared the result with original. Even with her one eye she knew the difference was only in color. It was good start.

[bashiku]

It was a good start, but not the end of her training. There were many more forms, more complex than simple kunai and she wanted to master them all. There shouldn't be any limit to her imagination, only to size of the object she could create. This would still prove to be fun. With shadows of objects waiting to come alive dancing in her head, Emi smiled and prepared herself for new round of training.

This round she would try and make more various object, taking a shuriken, a small fan and a feather as test material. She hoped the feather would be the hardest to make due to its complexity and flexibility. Emi was wrong.

At first she started with easy shuriken, being constant in form and simple in shape. Imagine, shape, realize, it was simple as that.

In process of imagination she formed the image inside her head, a simple design that she would later fill in with shadow and then in next step practically fill with chakra.

Shape required her to use her chakra and start practical process of creating the item, slowly forming it into reality and changing chakra's nature into one of the shadow. It was the most elegant and most fragile step out of the three.

Realization was final part of the shaping, giving object temporary solidity and somewhat feel of the real item. It was like putting hot steel into cold warm, hardening it again and again until its hard enough.

For shuriken it was quite simple. It was far easier than kunai, but she did it over dozen of times before she was exhausted and required to take some rest. She wanted to wash her face, take a glass of tall cold refreshing drink and simply have a breather for five minutes. Five minutes turned into ten and by the time she was back her objects were gone, at least her shadow objects. They weren't eternal and she knew that, but this was it looked like she didn't do anything.

Sitting down besides her desk on the floor, Emi started training again, trying to reproduce fan. Imagination, shape, realization. This time the process had a flaw. She just couldn't imagine it, cause even an object as simple as fan, it had a mechanism she couldn't reproduce. It was like creating a machine out of thin air, but in baby steps. Complex things couldn't be reproduced with their abilities, only basic appearance could be.

Maybe because of this was her third training regime quite more simpler than she expected. Creating a simple stiff feather was like nothing to her, as there was nothing too complex she couldn't imagine about it. It was actually even easier than shuriken, making couple of dozen of them before feeling the need to stop. And yet there was no stop, as there was more to train.

[bashiku]

Of course there was more to train. Crafted shadow technique couldn't be just used for creating small objects and weapons, a ninja could use it to create animals like she did with horsefly's, but in time she could create even larger animal. This however required a lot of detailing, texture manipulation and photographic memory, as user would need to remember the smallest detail or imagine one. Emi didn't have perfect memory though, so she relied on her youthful and fruitful imagination to do the job for her.

The job was seemingly easy, create a small swamp frog that wouldn't deviate from original. Still, being of noble lineage, Emi couldn't just take any swamp frog and use it around for her entertainment. For that reason she had a small golden figurine of a frog lying on the pile of golden coins. It was a cheap gift someone bought her in the past, a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Now it was an example for a real frog, colors only coming from her mind.

"Rat, dog, rat..." she muttered as she did the desired handseals and prepared for technique, following three rules of this jutsu. Imagination, shape, realization.

She could visualize the frog in her mind, formed from shadows and short term picture of her small figurine, preparing the desired amount of chakra, but she didn't really know if she was ready for next portion.

Slowly she let the chakra creep out of her, dispersing onto solid surface of wooden table in front of her, slowly morphing into shadow strings, but quickly forming into one point in space and creating desired shape. Well desired shouldn't be the term used, as for the first time she made it too bloated, like a balloon with four legs, quickly disposing off it as it was embarrassing.

She started anew, visualizing her goal, starting the shaping process, but this time creating a two dimensional lizard. Her eyebrow trembled, twitched as she hissed and stabbed ugly lizard with kunai.

You must be kidding with me!

Her attitude toward this technique was getting slightly annoyed, it was like the technique herself was pulling a prank on her. With new found rush, Emi sprung into new mode of learning, letting more of her power-hungry self out and trying the technique once more.

After the five minute concentration in front of her was real life size swamp frog, and although the colors were not right, the shape was still alright. For now it would have to suffice.

[Solus]

+30, but barely