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Emily Marneth rolled 1 20-sided dice:
19
Total: 19 (1-20)
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 Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:40 pm
She's going to kill herself. If she pushes that much chakra again, she's going to be too far from the wall. The girl had been blown back from the wall, and was shooting back towards it. She wasn't going to take any more time falling. She focused her chakra to be ready on impact. Good girl. You've got the idea now. Just use it. "You can't die yet. You still have promises to keep." The girl's eyes widened. That was true. The girl spread herself out to catch the wall full on when she hit it. Time to end this.
Chakra control: DC 15
Roll + 2
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Emily Marneth rolled 1 20-sided dice:
13
Total: 13 (1-20)
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:45 pm
Hitomi struck the wall with considerable force, and hit that same damnable rock, her headband getting pulled off from the impact, flying into the air. She realized that she was in full control again. She pushed more chakra through her body to draw herself closer to the wall. Nothing to worry about anymore. Hitomi was too slow to hurt herself now. She was slow enough that she could probably let go and land safely. But she wasn't going to let herself take that road out. She tried to pull herself closer to the wall.
Chakra control: DC 15
Roll + 2
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Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:51 pm
Hitomi stopped completely, exhaling softly and looking down for a second. Fifty feet. Better than last time. Only because I started sooner. If I had started any later I wouldn't have survived. She glanced up and saw her headband flying through the air, about ten feet away. She looked down at the water, looked back at the headband, and jumped, having calculated the jump as best she could. She reached for it, grasping it out of the air and turning her back to the ground, feeling the water catch her and support her. That's why I like water. It's always there to support you. She smiled, drifting downstream until she took the kunai and stabbed it into the bank, stopping herself and pulling herself onto land. She looked up and just lay on the ground for a moment, watching the clouds, searching for birds. It's not worth much living, but it ain't worth dying over yet. She sighed, closing her eyes for a while.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:30 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 5/30 or 1/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 3)
But, the only reason why Shin was able to perform Ayame Tori (without chakra) the first time around...was all thanks to the laws of Physics and of course, his gauntlet securing safely the end of the wire. But...when Yokou learned the full extent of his disability...her stunned silence could be anything but good. Shin could not handle the wire...he had all the talent to properly utilize the wire for the Ayame Tori with such magnificent manuevers...but being unable to actually feel the wire... After several failed attempts, Yokou declared a break.
"Shin-kun...don't...you feel lacking something...not being able to feel...?" Yokou had asked. The boy's expression was a mysterious smile. "I can't miss something I don't remember..." "Don't...remember...?" A near whisper now, her voice slightly trembled. "Yes. My branch of Hyouton creation is strange, isn't it? We are born possibly as normal as the rest of the shinobi world...I wonder..." His voice trailed off. ...I wonder if initiating the limit was activating the curse...
"Your nervous system..." Yokou paled now. While she knew the expression of pity the young Hyouton clan head didn't want, yet...she still couldn't help it... As a mother, it was just...too sad... "...so does that mean you just have to accept it...?" A voice startled both Sannin and Genin. Zephyr had awoken. The Hokage crossed his arms. "Oi. Does that mean you just go and accept being 'unable to feel'? Brat!"
In a flash, Zephyr was in front of Shin and with a flick, had knocked the boy backwards into a boulder. Yokou looked livid. "He was only just released - !!" But her sensei's terrifying expression cut her off. Zephyr had stomped over to Shin and pulled the boy up, by the collar. "If you daresay that again, I'll beat you up until you can't move, with needle-sharp pain in every part of your body!" Roared the Hokage.
It was Shin's turn to be angry: "You think I like being this way, a robot wearing human skin? I'm weird, aren't I! Not being able to feel, I don't even know what's the meaning of pain! I wanted it, more than anything...if that...if that..." Shin's voice trailed off. Yokou walked over, placing a gentle hand over his forehead. "If that...could make you feel human...right...?" To her surprise, the boy wrapped his arms around her waist, crying bitterly this time. But only crystals of ice fell... "Okaa-sama had always looked so sad...I didn't understand why...but I think...I know know... It's just my only regret...back then, when I still could...before the limit...why didn't I...?"
Yokou's smile was gentle. "Your mother...she wanted you to know the feeling of a mother's embrace...even..." Her expression saddened. "No matter how it pained her heart, being unable to know of the feeling of holding her own child..." She wrapped her arms gently around the boy too. "Hush now...we all have regrets...right?" Smiling, Yokou focused a little chakra into her hands and brushed over the crystals, melting the tears of ice.
"See?" She said smiling. "That's being able to feel sadness... You can still cry, can still mourn for your by-gone stars... The feeling that's skin-deep...is only a manifestation...the true ones are all in here..." Yokou pressed a sole finger to Shin's heart. "You may not be able to feel with touch, but you can still feel with your heart, right? Who's there to stop you from that right?" "Psh." Zephyr turned away, looking flustered. "Always so kind and motherly, Yuuko-hime."
"Nay." The Hyuuga head of family shot an evil glare in her sensei's direction. "You're just an uncouth barbarian." She assured, with a smile.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:38 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 6/30 or 1/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 11)
Seemingly strengthened by Yokou's encouragement, Shin returned to the task at hand. Feel with his heart... A nervous beat of sweat appeared on Shin's temple...frustrated at himself for not being able to come up with a proper course of action. Why was he so worthless, convinced he could only master this technique through analytical calculation...? Yokou had assured that, though he may have been skilled in utilizing kunai, senbon, and shuriken like that...with the wire, it would be a different story. Shin glared at the wire, outstretched in front of him from the previous failure...the tree he was supposed to entrap with the wire... The shuriken that directed the wire struck...but he wasn't able to advance further than that...
"Do not think of it as wire." Said Yokou. "But imagine the path of the wind itself..." Her voice became stern. "Don't cheat either by using your doujutsu. It defeats the purpose." Yokou gestured to a falling leaf from the practice tree. But a sudden leaf swept it off its path of reaching the ground. "Not everything is on practiced calculations. You must be aware of surprises." She murmured, voice quiet.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:51 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 7/30 or 2/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 17)
Shinratsu stood in front of the tree, poised, ready to go. He closed his eyes for a moment, and couldn't help the image of his father surging into his mind. The phantom smiled at him warmly...wait, warmly? But his father never smiled to him in his whole life... 'Shin...' A whisper, like gentle *Zephyr around him, carrying the sweet essence of coming Spring. Shin's stomach suddenly felt very empty. "Don't go..." The boy whispered. "If you go, who would make the wind and water dance...?" 'Shin...' The phantom whispered again. 'Open your eyes.' No! If he opened his eyes, it would end...again, this world...his world...his...previous universe... 'Don't be an idiot.' Said the phantom, reproaching now. But then, the vision of his father petted him on the head. 'Why...you are going to make them dance now...'
A vivid image flooded Shin's mind. He was...in his clan's...traditional robes...? The vision of him was clothed in the clothing of a Shinto priest and he held a paper fan in front of him for the dance...standing gracefully above a pool of water. The fan was flicked and the kicked the water up, blooming into flowers, becoming twin pillars, twisting...twisting higher into great dragons... The one on his right roared, snapped his great teeth, twisted around the pool like Koryuu descending from the highest heavens...
Dancing...dancing...making them dance... Shin didn't know what he was doing. It felt like he was moving...there goes the bratty Hokage's stunned face...Lady Yokou seemed proud of something...huh? He was floating through the air, light as a feather...Shin just...wanted the wind to carry him off...
And then, as if waking up from a dream, came the falling...
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:59 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 8/30 or 2/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 7)
Shin winced elegantly as a certain Hokage roared into his ear. "Idiot! Dumbass! You could've broken every bone in your body! No, you could've DIED! I don't care if you couldn't have felt pain!!! Stupid!!!!" The next few minutes continued with barrage of varying synonyms and colourful adjectives... Shin groaned. He had no right to speak up. Zephyr, after all, had just managed to save him...the tree grew another branch and ensnared Shin before the fall could begin. Though how did performing a Jutsu almost ended up falling off the cliff...was another story.
Zephyr was currently moaning about a 'ruined masterpiece', pointing out to Shin how now it had an extra arm and was a mutant... And then, with a cry and a wild karate chop..."..." Shin had no words to say as Zephyr destroyed the practice tree. But to his surprise, from the ruins...a new tree merged whole again...
P-phoenix... Shin's eyes must've been very wide, because Yokou gave him a strange look. But the Hokage looked extremely pleased with his 'masterpiece' now. "That was an extraordinary manuever..." Yokou said, smiling. "Though...we do need to work on your landing..."
Was it just his imagination or did Shin see a flicker of shadow across the Sannin's lovely features? Her long bangs obscured her expression as her next words, quiet, left their contemplative meaning. "The wire, for a moment...like a dragon... But...it wasn't a cruel dance..." She shook her head, before looking apologetic. "Oh! I'm...sorry...for saying weird things. Don't worry about it."
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:00 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 9/30 or 2/18 successful rolls
DC: 15
He didn't understand... Yokou's praise, that is. In fact, Shin didn't even know why he at least did the initial manueveur correctly in the previous trail... His body...just kind of moved on its own... The lingering image of his father said something, there was some kind of ceremony...some kind of dance...but Shin...he couldn't even remember where did that dance come from... It was familiar, there was a certain nostalgia...perhaps it was something related to his clan... Wait. What the heck was he saying? His photographic memory couldn't have missed something...
Or maybe, he does know it...but a part of him didn't want to accept the answer. The him dancing in the vision had a very calm expression...it wasn't one of expressionless neutrality...again, how did he know it...but...no, the face in the vision was calm, with the most tranquil of spirits... Because...Yokou-sama said the dance was calming...it was... Oh. Shin realized. She had meant to say...it was...pure?
But how...how could that be?
---
Ayame Tori Training: 10/30 or 2/18 successful rolls
DC: 15
Perhaps he's thinking too much again. After all, how could such a bitter spirit like his...how could his dance been "pure"? That too, and the phantom image of his father... What had the vision meant? Now you will be the one to make them dance...? That was ridiculous. The boy thought. He couldn't make the wind and water dance to his will like that... He couldn't even protect his family...and, the most recent mission proved he was inadequate to even protect his friends... Stronger. There's always someone who was stronger... He needs to get strong...he needs power... There will be always someone stronger...even someone who Yokou nor Zephyr could match...
He didn't need them...all he had to do was to learn for the moment, right? No need to get sentimental... Like all of eternity in a single moment, the dragon broke its dance, and Koryuu left for heaven again. Shin stretched his hand behind the heavenly dragon, trying to urge it to return to his side... No! Don't leave! He desperately thought.
For, the dance went into ruin.
---
Ayame Tori Training: 11/30 or 2/18 successful rolls
DC: 15
This time, it was Yokou who saved him. Like the hunting goddess Artemis, the spear was thrown. A kunai trapped a tangle of wire, wedged deep into the tree. Wire had attached the other end of Yokou's kunai too and she pulled, before catching the falling boy. If it had not been for her, Shin would have crashed into the tree... When the Hyuuga woman asked if he was alright, Shin could not bring himself to look at her... He had, he had...he had just considered something as wicked of using the Konoha group... Not just considered too...he was...serious... Nor did Zephyr need to mention anything about the dance as all.
Shin knew. He knew it was tainted... The dance in his visions and his current dance are very different... The him in the visions was what the present should've been, had Mistress not attacked Kiri. Oh, the initiation ceremony he had waited so long for...the coming of age, the recognition of the transition from child to adult... Too afraid...he was too afraid to accept the dance...
For, accepting the initiation ceremony...also meant accepting his family was dead...it also meant accepting he was no longer a child to be sheltered... But...but... Another part of him yearned for the dance. His body knew it. Even if unfeeling, it knew what he was supposed to do, great Koryuu unfurling his golden body through the blue expanse of the skies...
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:02 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 12/30 or 3/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 17)
The illusion returned, but this time as the Shin in the vision danced across the pool, the dragons of water under his command, the watching Shin glanced upon faces...familiar faces... Except, it wasn't the faces of his family or clan. Not even those of the people of his village. The watching, Giglamesh was there, and Keiko too. Maiyuri sat happily gurgling in her mother's lap, pointing to the water dragons' dance. And visibly, a small smile appeared on the Shinratsu in the vision's face... A flick of the fan, and the water transforms: into divine Genbu this time.
Genbu...the god who existed before time and creation... His shell which held up the great sky and separated the sky and sea...his snake tails the wind itself... The majestic turtle god of the North...the division between his old and new life... More faces. Cronos in the stand muttering something akin 'not impressive, not at all'...but his face betrayed something else. Shizuka and Rai watched too, the former pointing out "how pretty, the water dance..."
The final faces surprised him. Elruda, who he had met only once sat in the stand with her mother... Zephyr grudgingly grumbled something under his breath... And as he passed that stand, Yokou's words followed:
See? You really can make the water dance.
---
Ayame Tori Training: 13/30 or 3/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 14)
This time, Shin had finished flawlessly, and his landing was perfect. Snapping back to awareness of reality, Shin looked on, surprised, as he noticed the tree was bounded expertly by the wire. Like the Seiryuu's fury, the scales that cut into its foe... Shin noted, as he noticed how the wire had cut so into the bark. Stopping for a moment, the boy rubbed his temples tiredly. That...last image of the vision was indeed a surprise. Shin glanced against at the tree bounded by wire.
Just what separated a "pure" dance from a "tainted" one? He couldn't understand. He remembered distantly, something about wanting 'to make the dance beautiful'...but Shinratsu was pretty certain that part had nothing to do with the execution... Intent, then? The pale-haired boy looked down at his hands...his father's and Yokou's words echoing from that vision...
No, it is you who would make them dance...
See? You really can make the water dance.
---
Ayame Tori Training: 14/30 or 4/18 successful rolls
DC: 15 (rolled a 15)
He could see it now... Shin thought absent-mindedly to himself as he watched the wire weave through the air, yet never entangling in itself. The very movement of the wire, carried by the wind...it was...as if the wire had a mind of its own, cutting through the air, twisting every once a while...yet...Shin could see the deadly claws, the sharp teeth...the glaring eyes of the heavenly dragon. And even more strangely, he could understand this...the dragon's dance was not something strange to him but carried nostalgic familiarity. He could...almost feel the dragon's movements...as if the dance was not from him or performed by him...but part of him... Like the weaver at her loom, Shin expertly wove the clefts, the wire trapping around the tree branch he directed the initial shuriken at. And halfway there, another shuriken would fly, pinning another portion of the wire to the tree...again and again, until he had entrapped the tree.
---
Ayame Tori Training: 15/30 or 5/18 successful rolls
DC: 14 (rolled a 18 )
After his next trail, Yokou determined that it was time for him to begin learning to combine the manuevering of the wire with chakra. "All right." She said, beaming at the boy's accomplishment so far. "Your maneuvers are quite excellent simply with the laws of physics alone. But Shin-kun, don't you wonder might there be a...I won't say necessarily better, but more of "a more convenient method" to control the wire?" A soft pause. "Think of the puppet masters." She hinted.
"Well..." Shinratsu's voice trailed off. "The puppet masters attach strings of chakra to their puppets and manipulates them hence forth for attack and defense." "Yes." Agreed Yokou. "And why do you think it is like that, Shin-kun?" "Ehh...chakra is...more durable? No no...that doesn't make sense...pure chakra has no form...so eh...more flexible? While wire can be easily cut, strings of chakra would be uncuttable yet.......I see........" Shin's voice trailed off as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Indeed." Said Yokou. "Chakra has no physical form, so it can't be cut. But that property contributes to its flexibility for a wide range of uses. However..." She casted a rueful side-glance at Shin. "You don't have the chakra control to form wires of chakra yet...so our purpose is to strengthen the wire you're using with chakra, so it'll be harder to cut."
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:03 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 16/30 or 5/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Shin continued listening intently as Yokou continued explaining. "Think of the chakra used as the core." She said. "And the wire you are working with, the medium." Yokou fingered the wire gently. "You utilize the chakra hence to control the wire's movements." Shin chose his words carefully. "But why metal...as a medium for chakra?" "Technically, you can use anything as a medium. Actually, once shinobi thought metal was a poor medium...but then it was discovered otherwise. In fact, it's probably the best and most abundant choice available. Think of metals constantly losing and gaining electrons. Chakra too is an energy source...but...since chakra is mutually lost from the weapon as well, hence a constant supply is needed."
"Wasteful..." Muttered the boy, with certain distaste. "I mean, and it is just to manipulate the wire too... Can't I just wait till the last moment to transfer chakra in?" "You can." Agreed Yokou. "Though perhaps it is an even more inconvenient alternative. Chakra may be energy but it takes time to travel through the whole length of the wire...of course, the longer the wire used, the more time it takes. Besides, without chakra to strengthen the wire’s shell, it would be very easy to break the wire and hence interrupt also the technique execution." "Meaning I don't have a choice." Shin grunted.
He could foresee a glaring problem already...
---
Ayame Tori Training: 17/30 or 5/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
He couldn't help but feel that Yokou did this on purpose, knowing he had very little chakra. While she claims it was best to start from the most basic Ninjutsu...obviously, this technique was to teach him greater chakra control as well as to forcibly expand his chakra reserves. Shin swallowed. It's true that chakra reserves must be responsibly developed to reach the adult chakra levels...and that this was the most obvious difference between shinobi and civilian...but wasn't chakra depletion also a very dangerous thing? And Shin...he had some suspicion of what else his Hyouton limit might take the liberty to do...
Sighing, the boy looked down, glumly, at the wire. It really was finely made...thread-like in some aspects, yet...Shin could tell from how it sliced through the air that the wire was strong. The favoured kunoichi type... He distantly thought. No. That was wrong. Kunoichis weren't the only ones who favoured wire. He was forgetting something again...
---
Ayame Tori Training: 18/30 or 5/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
This time around, Yokou had forbidden him from physically maneuvering the wire to entrap the tree...meaning this time, he had to direct the wire with his chakra. A bead of sweat formed on Shin's temple...uncertainty and certain apprehensiveness growing with each passing moment. Nah. Standing here thinking won't help his situation...he will have to do this sooner or later. His mind thought back, to the fundamental beginning of the technique, when Yokou had prohibited him from using handseals to control his chakra... Was there a specific reason? Shinratsu eyed the wire warily.
The Sannin was not giving him a choice in this particular lesson. He couldn't use a full seal in this instance, having to throw the initial shuriken and all...and half seals only helped in directing the chakra of the respectice side of the body. Shin thought hard. The only places to release chakra, from the hands and feet... Meaning he has to direct all the chakra in his body to his right hand, through the wire... But how was he supposed to control chakra that accurately?
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:04 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 19/30 or 6/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Shin closed his eyes and attempted first on redirecting his body's chakra. Moments lapsed into minutes...into tens...and then...his face must've betrayed him, for Yokou came over to help. "Having trouble?" She gently asked, though no reply graced her. Yokou had to chuckle inwardly at this...the boy, this boy...he was so stubborn. A moment's longer of fruitless efforts and Shin opened his eyes, annoyed. "I can't do it." He grumbled. "No matter what I do, my chakra doesn't move..." At this, the Hyuuga woman frowned. "If you cannot pass this step, then I cannot help you." She said simply.
At his astonished look, Yokou continued: "We Hyuugas are not superior because we are the better technique performers. Rather..." Her voice trailed off. "Why do you think handseals are developed, boy? Handseals are meant to work around the body's limitations...to make technique execution easier. A handicapped shinobi missing an arm, hence, is handicapped only if he or she so fervently believes so." Yokou crossed her arms. "Hyuugas work against our body's limitations...to surpass them, these natural obstacles. Seals thus become unnecessary, only an extra limb... And controlling chakra like the very elements itself was the true key to our clan's success."
"Likewise, the opposite is true. If you do not use a body part, eventually nature deems it unnecessary. The appendix became a forgotten organ. Likewise, hence Hyuuga became the one clan that did not lose the ability to utilize all 361 tenketsu." A pause. "But I do not believe that ability could not be reobtained. Generations this may take but if it is learned to - need - that ability again, nothing is impossible. It's only a shame the others do not see such as a necessity nor for the matter, understand..."
"I...think I understand..." Shin murmured softly, looking down at his hands. "Instead of molding chakra externally...controlled by the seal...and by releasing the physical and spiritual energy...Hyuuga clan molds their chakra internally... Then...it would be easier to harness rather than pure chakra...?" "Very good, Shin-kun." Said Yokou, with a smile. "But one correction." Yokou held up two fingers and if Shin looked closely a pale blue light glowed at the fingertips. "Physical energy is present throughout the whole body. Only molding from the part which would direct the chakra is necessary."
---
Ayame Tori Training: 20/30 or 7/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
"I don't think I was told everything though." Said Shin, with a slight huff. "...though the ability to control all tenketsu nodes might be one that the Hyuuga clan held on to...the ability to release chakra freely from any nodes originally belonged to Hyuuga, right?" "Do you see any Uchiha Juuken Kempo-ing?" Yokou teased, with a smile. "Very good." She said. "That indeed, is part of the actual bloodline. Though it is only a medical guess so far...that that particular ability has close ties to the Byakugan, and to the development of doujutsu."
"Mn...even without the ability to release from all nodes...it's still possible to perform a field attack." Shin murmured thoughtfully. "True." Admitted Yokou. "But then, that's more of elemental manipulation. For example, Zephyr-sensei can control the whole earth, so extending his Mokouton from anywhere is no problem." "And my type...would be to use the wind to spread the tundra field and the released Hyouton chakra...ah, it makes sense now..."
---
Ayame Tori Training: 21/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
With a new understanding of chakra manipulation, Shinratsu was ready to resume his Ayame Tori lesson. Amusing... Thought the boy. Yokou had managed to fit aspects of Taijutsu, Ranged Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, Dojutsu, and Kekkai Genkai all into one lesson. Her technique would appear to help him connect and see the relationship between various fields...and how, it was never black and white but all derivative. And it didn't daunt him either, knowing chakra release for him was limited to the hands and feet...
Shinratsu concentrated on his chakra, using his Hyouton chakra as a "marker" source to tell the flow. Even though Yokou might deem his chakra control inadequate, it was decent enough to at least control the allotment of Hyouton chakra throughout his system. His own gift and curse...of naturally carrying chakra without the handicap of having to mold. Shinratsu focused not on the whole body this time, but solely on the physical energy in the cells of his fingers. There was no need for nerves... He could feel the heartbeat of the cells.
Quickly, dart-like, Shin released the wire. As it unwound, pale blue chakra traveled through the length. Shin tugged on the wire lightly but to his great surprise, there was no need... He could freely control the metal, as if stretching a rubber band...
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:06 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 22/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
A gentle flick of his finger to the left. The wire obeyed, immediately twisting in that direction. And Shin repeated this, experimentally, this time to the opposite side. The boy smiled a little...how this training could give him such exhilaration now... The dragon's dance, he knew where it should go... The target those sharp teeth should sink into, those claws would tear... And of course, the great snake-like tail, that would choke out life itself. Shin allowed his feet to take him in the dance, smooth movements as if on water...and water the dragon's dance above, mirroring his own. Koryuu proudly curled his great form, intimidating eyes aglow, as he raced towards the tree, only to graze it slightly as he charged towards the ground...and as Shin rapidly scoured the bark, the dragon would be alight again...
---
Ayame Tori Training: 23/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Though Shin would've like to continue, Yokou refused bluntly for him to skip eating lunch. Her reason: an injured child should not push himself so. But Shinratsu founded that a funny reason...Yokou's medical prowess was certainly in a league of its own...and he felt well enough. In fact, that would be an understatement and wouldn't have done Yokou's medical specialization justice. In fact, no wounds were left on his body. But the stern look on the Sannin's face told simply: no arguing. Shinratsu sighed. Oh well. She may decide to ask some questions on his training progress...right...?
He was mistaken, obviously. Lunch was consumed in silence...except for the loud gnawing of Zephyr on his apples. Occasionally, Yokou's eyebrow would twitch in annoyance...with good reason too... Several more trees had sprouted, and now there was a mini orchard in the clearing: an apple tree, a orange tree, even a pear tree. Needless to say, Shin was very impressed. It must be wonderfully convenient, having the Senju clan around...going hungry would never be a problem...
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Ayame Tori Training: 24/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
"You're not going to ask?" Shin finally questioned, as he set down the sandwich Yokou made for him. "Ask what?" The female Sannin responded pleasantly, daintily wiping her mouth. Shin was silent, studying Yokou's expression carefully. He couldn't help but get the feeling that behind her cheerful outward, he was indeed being carefully examined. No. He was certain it wasn't just a lingering paranoia. So he chose his words carefully. "Won't...a teacher question the student...to see if he or she truly understood the point of the assignment...?"
"Mn...there's no point in checking up on a prodigy's progress." She replied, simply. Yokou smiled softly. "Don't worry about it. You're getting along fine, the technique is advancing correctly." Shin looked suspicious. "B-but...you said..." Seemingly reading his mind, Yokou only continued simply: "There was someone I know very well...who loved to use this technique..."
Shinratsu blinked. Was that now, just a certain melancholy note in her voice...? And unless it was his imagination, Zephyr sitting beside Yokou looked more...sullen...too as he continued chewing into his apples...
---
Ayame Tori Training: 25/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Don't worry about it... She had said. Shinratsu was certainly now, Yokou might not seem like it, but she was carefully observing his progress. Though what really bothered him wasn't concerning if he had done the technique correctly thus far or not, but rather more...like if that Konoha Sannin was looking after some lingering shadow... There even was a certain...sadness when she praised that he had done well... It's not my concern. Shinratsu thought, shaking the thoughts from his head. This was probably his only chance to learn from one of a different village...so he might as well make the most of it. It may have been a little cold-hearted, taking advantage like this.
Besides, he probably won't ever see these people again once they return to their own village... The Masters were the only reason why they were so far from home...
Like him...
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Ayame Tori Training: 26/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Shinratsu swallowed. He had no right to think that. After all...just like him... But, these two were important people...while he was just a Genin. He was lucky, in fact, to be learning from that woman, the young Hyuuga queen and Konoha councilwoman... But he couldn't help but wonder...they were strong, certainly...but did Yokou and Zephyr ache for their home village so deeply too? And Yokou's words from before to his question... Why would she have so much faith? She doesn't know betrayal. Shinratsu thought bitterly. Yes. That was it. The Hyuuga queen would have no way of knowing how it was like... The Konoha villagers had understood and accepted the fact that their leaders means to return and rescue the village... They waited. They hadn't turned to the other side...
But Kiri...to have given in so easily... Shinratsu clenched his fists tightly, not noticing the nails digging into his skin. This time, when he began the dance, the dragon had a certain fury... Shinratsu did not notice watching Yokou narrow her eyes sadly... Why? He thought darkly to himself. Why, had there to be someone with this kind of faith...? Kami-sama, only for the sake of proving that he was wrong?
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Ayame Tori Training: 27/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Yet the shadow and flickering pain in her eyes were all too real... Another part of him was so certain of it. Though her face was that of a beautiful, expressionless porcelain doll...here was a woman, who had suffered unimagineable pain. What...does this technique mean to her...? He wondered. It obviously held some great importance... This... Shin thought, as the distant whisper of the wind finally reached his ears.
This...isn't just a dance... Like his own dance, which told an untold story, so this Ayame Tori had its own story to tell... But he could only wonder of the story behind this technique... Of the dragon who began the first dance, the dance before his that caused such an expression on the Hyuuga princess, and now...the dance that he would inherit... A small smile crossed his lips.
Shin liked that, the thought of Ayame Tori as the inherited dance...
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Ayame Tori Training: 28/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Thus far, Yokou had not made any corrections to his work...so his surprise was great when she came over. But that expression on the Sannin's face was unreadable. "Hai?" Shin asked cautiously. Her gaze met him but this time around, Shin had the feeling that she wasn't looking at him...rather, more like looking through him... Unnerved by the uncomfortable silence, Shinratsu spoke again, a little louder this time. "Yokou-sama...what is it?"
"You..." She finally said, voice strange. "Why is your dance...just like his...?" Before Shin could say anything else, she returned back to her sitting place... And the boy realized, not just Yokou...but even the usually cheerful Zephyr too had a strange expression upon his face...
He didn't understand... Was something wrong with his dance?
---
Ayame Tori Training: 29/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Shin continued with his training but couldn't shake off the pressing feeling. Something in his gut told him there was something done wrong...but it wasn't movement... What was wrong? He was sure to have perfected the purpose of this technique... What was wrong? Frustration grew and mounted as from the corner of his eye, Shin saw Yokou turn her head. This time, it was Zephyr who came over... Shinratsu watched, in half fascination as the child reached out to touch the scarred bark of the tree.
"..." A long silence ensued. "I never liked this technique..." Shin lost his temper. He may have been good at reading implied meanings but these two... "What am I doing wrong?" He demanded impatiently. "Is it the movement? The technique execution?"
"No." Replied the Hokage simply. "I know this technique well enough... Your movement and execution are flawless. Your dance is love, certainly...but what's wrong is the intent. No...before, it was something in the middle...with a heavy hint of going either way...but then..." Zephyr gestured to the tree. "You were to bind the tree's trunk but not to cut it. Yet your chakra control was erratic enough to scar the plant tissue." Green-gold eyes narrowed. "You...were you thinking about..." He didn't need to say anything more.
"I-it's!" Shinratsu scowled. "It's none of your business!"
---
Ayame Tori Training: 30/30 or 8/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
A thousand turmoiled thoughts crashed and collided in Shin's mind at once. How did Zephyr know? "Listen..." The dark haired Senju began reproachingly. "If your goal is that, you will never get stronger. That dance..." Zephyr's voice trailed off. "Though beautiful, it reeked of ill intention..." Sighing, the Hokage rubbed his temples gingerly. "Shin-kun, this is not a killing technique. Please stop treating it as such..." With that said, Zephyr healed the trunk's surface and turned to head back to his rocky seat. A pregnant pause. "...will it upset Yokou-dono?" The boy asked quietly. Zephyr turned his head back slightly, to glance at the contemplative boy. "Yeah..." He said.
Without a further word, the Hokage left Shin to continue his training.
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:07 pm
Ayame Tori Training: 30/30 or 9/18 successful rolls
DC: 14
Shin was silent for a long moment as he stood before the practice tree. He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking to himself. Just what sort of person was the one who Yokou commented his dance looked like? One with a bitter taste... Shin delicately fingered the wire. He could suspend it for brief periods of time now, by the use of manipulating the wire with his chakra... And could sense the wire to slice through the air... Zephyr had commented that his intention was wrong... The purpose of Ayame Tori being to bind, not for a slash and kill... The boy crouched low, before scouring the cliff side.
This time, Shin used a kunai to tie the initial end of the wire too. He clutched the kunai in his right hand hard before sending it flying at one of the tree branch. Then, quick as lightning, he threw the three shurikens that were secured in his left hand. The first shuriken nailed the wire head on and prevented furhter movement. The second and third shuriken secured the ensuing, twisting wraps. For his landing Shin used the momentum gained from the swinging and securing grasped the tree branch the kunai initially striked, and then swung himself up.
He casted a concerned glance at Yokou. Was his dance finished, this time?
To his great relief, she smiled again.
In his mind's eye, the illusionary him finished his water dance too. An elegant sweep, a regal bow... Before the scene itself melded into many droplets of water.
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Emily Marneth rolled 1 20-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-20)
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:27 pm
Hitomi found herself at the top of her favorite cliff again, sitting cross-legged and holding her beaded headband in her hands. She sighed, tying the headband back into place, she closed her eyes and cleared her mind's eye. An overwhelming blackness enveloped her mind, her hand rose to her chest level, forming the tiger seal. She slowed her breathing, and saw herself sitting in the middle of the blackness. And as she did so, she saw that it wasn't all black. There were far off spots of energy, tiny, insignificant specks of light that were almost irrelevant. She could sense them... They carried some form of... hope... With them... That's what she needed. She needed hope. She began to call to them. She began to plead with them to come to her.
Chakra Control II
You instructor has told you to focus chakra onto your hands, which is the easiest spot to gather your energy.
DC: 15
1d20 + Chakra Control
Cp Cost: -1 per failed DC
Train: 0/5
Rewards: +1 Chakra Control and +1 Experience
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Emily Marneth rolled 1 20-sided dice:
19
Total: 19 (1-20)
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:39 pm
Hitomi suddenly grew very angry. All her inadequacies, her mistakes, everything that she'd ever done wrong, all the people she's hurt, all the people she's killed. She let out a roar, driven by her emotional frustration. She couldn't cry, she couldn't express any of her real emotions. She forced it all out as unadulterated rage. She leaped forward, sprinting down the face of the cliff, her nails biting through the flesh of her palm. A tree stood across the water, and she leaped at it from the wall, turning in air and driving a kick straight down at a branch.
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