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"If that should lead you keep close that which you fear to lose, then maybe that thing is worth fighting to keep, after all." Byakuran looked down as though the old man had laid the contents of his heart out before him, a fascinated expression on his face. "The heart is not a burden, as some believe it to be. But it is a privilege, one that demands a price in return that not everyone can afford... for it must come as inner strength."

The Old man continued to give his encouraging grin to the pair. "Remember that the truly strong need not cast away their hearts to be so...for the truly strong can afford to have a heart."

Byakuran took this in thoughtfully while the dog inquired matter of factly. "Who are you...?"

The old man smiled, the wisdom still not left from his eyes. "Why, I'm the Heirophant."

A smile tinged of understanding crossed Byakuran's face before he smiled, his attitude restored as he bid the true Heirophant a thank you and farewell, he and the dog pressing on down the path with an even greater sense of conviction.


Chakra Meditation
DC: 11
Formula: 1d20+Chakra mod
Chakra mod: +1
Roll: 5
Train: 19/20

Ahead of the pair a fork in the path, that until now had been but a signal uniform road, a choice to make, and as he approached it, Byakuran already knew where he was going to go, which path he was going to choose. He was convicted, he was sure of himself, he was unstoppable! Nor force, nor beast, nor dragon could turn him aside, a flowering tree even marked the path he was to take, blossoms blanketing the way as if to usher he and the dog onward...

But down the other path.... There is... the vision became hazy, a mist moving in to obscure the figure that was standing down the other path, even the barest detail of the invisible to eye. But Byakuran could feel she was there, for a she it was, and he could feel her vibrations as his enhanced senses picked them up originating from the mist furling depths...


Chakra Meditation
DC: 11
Formula: 1d20+Chakra mod
Chakra mod: +1
Roll: 5
Train: 19/20

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TABTABGenin
TABTALevel: 8
TABTʜρ: 87/112
TABTIϹρ: 64/64
TABDѳɗɢє βѳɳus: 14
❆ ╚════════╝ ❆

Tenshi returned to his work at hand. Looking around he noticed there was plenty of work for him to do, but he would finish leaving most of it. He went about his work and grabbed a few smaller logs, placing them underneath his arms. As he walked back to the pile, that had yet to turn into one, his load shifted and escaped his grasp and they began rolling around him. All that effort to have it wasted. And I thought being a ninja would be easy. He gave a mental sigh and began picking them up.

He placed them all in his arms in front of him. He looked down at the ground, One more... I can grab it... He bent down and released one arm to grab the stray piece of wood. He leaned too far forward and fell face first onto the load in his hands and they scattered the ground once again. He laid there on the grass a moment, "Curse you..." he mumbled to himself. He got to his feet and wiped off the bark that had stuck to his shirt. He grabbed a hold of his headband, which was around his right bicep, and tightened it.

He was glad to finally have the thing, and be done with the academy. Now he could learn whatever he wanted to, unless their team leader thought it fit to learn something else. So far his team only consisted of himself, Mizuiro, and their newly appointed captain. They would have to make it work, but it didn't bother him. More work meant better reward, but then again, having a small team would prevent them from doing bigger missions. Staying with his thoughts, he grabbed the pieces of wood, leaving behind the one that caused his failure, and placed them on the wood pile, which could now officially be called a pile.

Five, Six, Pick up Sticks
The grove is a beautiful place, especially when the fallen trees and logs are picked up.
DC: 10 + Str. Mod (4) + Added Difficulty (3) = 17
d20 + Str. Mod (4) = 12,6,23
4/10
Note: -5 Hp per failure

3P/9R

Byakuran's mind made itself up after a few moments, his eyes directing themselves back to the clearing in which he had settled. He could use a bit of toughening up, he supposed. His physique had never been the most durable, but at the same time, he was usually fast enough to evade unless an opponent was more skilled then he. His best bet at the moment would more probably be focusing on the areas at which he already excelled. Everything else would likely follow in it's own time. As his over all skill grew, many aspects of himself would fill in as he grew more experienced. And Expirience would no doubt come when he finally was placed on his genin team, or... yet suddenly he frowned, a slight ripple of sound running through him from his pocket. His face grew pensive.

Reaching in a hand he retrieved a small black box, examining it absently as he held it out in his palm. The signal was faint, but enough that an Otobe could pick it up, a serious of vibrations in code.

For a few moments he merely stood, showing no sign of reaction, before it seemed that the message concluded, and he put the mysterious box back into his pocket. Hn...how annoying. He adjusted his sleeve almost tentatively as he mulled over the situation, whatever message he'd received weighing on his mind. After a few moments, however, he disregarded it, putting it at the back of his thoughts.

It wasn't his problem right now. He was fulfilling his duty. He instead changed his focus towards his training again, looking up towards the leaves in the trees far above.

Hm...well he HAD wanted to spice up his dexterity training, hadn't he? This would do rather-

"Byakuran..."

The boy started slightly, turning his head just so, giving a side long glance to the figure which had...somehow, entered the clearing without his notice. He adapted an indifferent expression. "...Can I help you...?" he inquired with a rather toneless inquiry.

"Do not play coy with me initiate." the title annoyed him...Byakuran gave a slight twitch when it was spoken. "You didn't intend to respond to your summons."

"The boy turned round stroking his chin with his normal musing detachment as he seemed to assess the figure in question. "It would seem the point is moot, considering you were only using it to sniff out my exact location...may I ask why you need me at all if we can just stroll into Kiri's more restricted area's uninvited?"

The figure chuckled. "Hn...you should know better then to ask foolish questions. You have not been responding to your summons recently, we were...concerned."

The figure looked, to the average eye, like a rather portly merchant. But the disguise was only skin deep. He appeared to be rather out of place amidst the misty tree's of the Grove, and for a merchant who'd trekked all the way out into the training grounds of Kiri he seemed surprisingly in fine spirits. There was also a feeling of...danger, coming from the fat man that did not at all seem at home coming from a civilian.

"I hope that you wouldn't give us any reason to question your...dedication. My wife and I do miss our chats." the man's not so subtle hints in code were rather blunt to ears of one who knew where he coming from, and again Byakuran gave a frown.

"Now you're just being rude." he took that moment to kick a nearby tree, leaves falling down from above as the greenery shook, Byakuran himself suddenly slipping into a rather elaborate series of dodges, avoiding each leaf as it fell.

He swurved about many of the leaves only for one to land on his shoulder, though he merely swept it off, paying it no mind as he looked back up and prepared to repeat the process.

"The reason I've not been by to chat with you and you're wife are because I've been busy with my training. That's all."

Dodge the falling leaves!
DC: 13
Dexterity: +3
Formula: 1d20+dex mod
Roll: 8
Train: 0/10

The man's name, or the one that he went by while here in Kiri, was Takahashi Onmitsu. Humble old owner of a rather obscure tea shop in a nice little corner of the residential district. He and his wife were rather kind and productive members of the community, without a single smudge to their names, and always had a kind word to offer anyone coming to visit them...

Of course they did. After all they wouldn't be good at their job as his contacts if they were obvious about it. The truth of the matter was that they were far from the nice innocent little business owners they claimed themselves to be, though even the most discerning eye on them would probably never know it. They were nothing more than expendable pawns in the grand scheme of things, of course, but their skills at infiltration and blending in were enough to make them the closest hub to him in the Clan's extensive network. Thus, they handed down his orders, whenever they might arrive, and whatever they might be. And if he showed signs of disloyalty to the clan...well...

Dodge the falling leaves!
DC: 13
Dexterity: +3
Formula: 1d20+dex mod
Roll: 13
Train: 2/10

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TABTABGenin
TABTALevel: 8
TABTʜρ: 82/112
TABTIϹρ: 64/64
TABDѳɗɢє βѳɳus: 14
❆ ╚════════╝ ❆

((Resting Post))
Tenshi decided it was time to take a small break. He had been working hard already and thought he deserved one. He sat down at the base of a tree and placed his wakizashi in his lap. Out of that entire night, the one good thing that came of it, was his new sword. The boar was a pain in the a**, rowing the boat through the swamp was a hassle, Masaraku-sama could've been nicer, and the ghosts were terrifying! I think I'm scarred for life after that event. Why did they have to make it that scary! It was all a test by the genjutsu teacher, but it was real enough for him. It was rather fun to work with the older genin though and see how they reacted towards each other. He hoped that his team could be like theirs, though he had heard stories...

He took the time to look at his feet. Sure enough both of them were bruised beyond belief, and one was already starting to swell. He sighed as he placed them on top of a log he had yet to place on the pile. He thought that maybe after working out, he would work on the jutsu Bumu-sensei wanted him to learn. He searched in his pocket and pulled out the slip of paper. In the middle of the page was the name of the technique: "Fusajin no Jutsu (Dust Wind Technique)"

He had learned the Kaze Dama earlier, and once he had learned this new technique he would search out Bumu-sensei and show her what he had learned. He was her 'star pupil' as she had put it. The downside to searching for her would be that looking at her was enough to make your nose bleed. No doubt she would have several sexual innuendos to give him, even though he was far younger than she. It wouldn't seem to bother her though. He supposed that was how some women were as they got older. Maybe he would take some training from her to give himself some spunk, but he would have to avoid being dragged into the gutter.

She wasn't bad company, much like any ninja in the village. No one had meant to do them serious harm, except Masaraku when she threatened to bite a limb off and beat you with the bloody end of it, but she meant well, he could tell. Tenshi would strive to be like them and help the younger students out when appropriate. For starters, he would have to stop training alone and actually be around people. That would involve speaking to people, which he didn't really portray as a 'nice' person. The Fubuki authority usually shown in him, which seemed to put people off. It seemed his thought process had come in a complete circle.

While lost in his thoughts, he thought he heard a tree rustle. Could be an animal I guess. I am in a wooded area... There were several more to follow, but it was pretty far off and he didn't think it was anything to cause him harm, but he kept his awareness up just in case it decided to get any closer. His hand remained on the hilt of his sword to be drawn at the ready.

((Ignore Roll sweatdrop ))


Five, Six, Pick up Sticks
The grove is a beautiful place, especially when the fallen trees and logs are picked up.
DC: 10 + Str. Mod (4) + Added Difficulty (3) = 17
d20 + Str. Mod (4) =
4/10
Note: -5 Hp per failure

5P/12R

With another rustle a shower of leaves was sent down into the clearing, Byakuran's eyes and sensory system aware of each one as he swept through them, avoiding the path of each one flawlessly as he even managed to carry on his discussion with Takahashi.

"At any rate," The portly man said actually settling into a more comfortable seated position on the far side of the small clearing, watching the boy with a mild day to day attitude. "I thought you'd like to know you're relatives sent word, they're ahead in the bidding on buying back your old family home..." he seemed to smirk slightly at the hidden message. "Isn't that great?"

Byakuran gave a somewhat methodical smile of his own. "I will agree with you when they've managed to secure the home...and not before. I believe it was you who told me to never take things for granted, was it it not."

"Heh, so it might have been." the man admitted with a gruff laugh. "At least you actually pay attention to the answers to get from all your damn questions. That's a little comforting."


Dodge the falling leaves!
DC: 13
Dexterity: +3
Formula: 1d20+dex mod
Roll: 16
Train: 3/10