The Amakuni forge is home to the legendary Amakuni family. The founder of the forge, Shakku Amakuni was the first man to forge the most common weapon of any swordsman worth his salt, the katana. Over the last thousand years, the Amakuni family has perfected the art that their ancestor began. Okubo Amakuni, the 18th head of the family and forge owner is now the smith who operates the day to day. While strict upon his students, he is always willing to teach those who seek to master his craft. Those who earn his respect are even said to go on to craft weapons that surpass any ninja tool.
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:25 pm
tabδΉ | A Broken Sword, Reforged: Part One
Living in a forge was one of the last places Raitaro ever thought he'd be, but he was somewhat grateful that he was found before resorting to self-destructive decisions. He hated himself almost as much as his own elder brothers did, questioning why he had been born in the first place. Now he was here, dealing with the eternal feeling of emptiness that made him sick to his stomach. There was no point in going to school, he was not very good at his clan's sword styles. As a former lesser noble, he had likely lost any access to private tutors after being stripped of the family name by his father. "Well. If you're not going to go to school, you're going to work." Masaru, one of Okubo's most prodigious students, told him this. Raitaro was found in the forest by Masaru after his mother was slain by Otakemaru and his group of Oni. Upon being brought back to the forge, Okubo and Masaru were shocked to hear Raitaro's story, allowing him to take shelter there for the time being. However, due to his reluctance to enroll into school, he'd have to work the forge under Masaru's tutelage.
Sleep was a foreign luxury for Raitaro. Two days past since the death of his mother, and being exiled by his father for his failures. Every time he closed his eyes, he would envision the ruthless beasts that slain his mother, accompanied by the feeling of guilt and shame for being so powerless to save her. I should have been stronger... I'm sorry. The first two nights were filled with tossing and turning; this night was no different. He heard Masaru open the door to the room he was staying in. It was a small sized room containing nothing more than a bed, desk, and a chest for clothing. "Wake up, Raitaro." Masaru spoke, the deep tone in his voice filling the room with ease and likely would have woken Raitaro up if he hadn't already been awake. The door was left open, bringing some light into the room from the hall, yet leaving the corner of the room where the boy lay in total darkness. Eyes glanced over at the window to take note of the lack of sun. Was Masaru making him start so early on purpose, to try and force him to go to school? He wasn't sure how early forges started their work, so it was best not to make any assumptions. The boy got onto his feet and made the bed - a habit that he couldn't really help, for he was raised that way - got dressed, and headed downstairs.
No one was down in the main room, however there was breakfast laid out on the table for him. Normally, he would have sat down to eat, but the combo of last night's terrible sleep and still dealing with the painful memories of the events that transpired a couple days ago... he just couldn't bring himself to eat anything. Nor did he have the desire to at this current moment. He headed out of the main room to where a secondary forge resided, the sound of constant metal against metal banging filled the room. This one was towards the back of the building, with a similar setup to the one in the front, albeit in a closed in room with several large windows. "Raitaro." The banging stopped just shortly before his name was called. Dim lighting filled the area by a flickering flame, revealing the large, muscular man that stood in front of it. His hair was tied back into a large pony-tail and a bright red scarf was wrapped around his neck. "I understand that you're going through a lot right now..." He paused, the flickering flame being lowered into the charcoals ahead of him. "However: Dwelling on the past won't help you move forward. You must understand that these feelings you feel right now, the lives we live, even the time we have for said life - they are not permanent. Nothing is, because of the transient nature of time. Therefore you must make use of the time you do have to learn and grow." Raitaro didn't understand how this was supposed to console him in any form, but he silently accepted the advice. He still didn't know where he was to go from here: he was a failure in every meaning of the word without a family to call to.
Whether he wanted it or not, Masaru was offering a path of sorts. A starting point, for someone who felt completely lost as to what direction to take their life. Raitaro's gaze was met by a side-eyed glance from the blacksmith, a silent message to come stand by his side. His hands skillfully worked the bellows, blasts of air feeding the flames and the steel within. The boy backed away as the heat started to become to intense for him, but continued to watch the steel within the coals begin to glow a bright reddish-orange color as the temperature stabilized. With a pair of tongs, the piece of steel was taken away from the coals, glowing brightly in its grasp. A pair of gloves and a hammer were appointed to Raitaro, "Hit it, here." Masaru instructed, and Raitaro followed. Along with the inexperience of using a hammering tool before, the boy displayed much uncertainty in the deliberation and intensity of his strike. A clanking noise filled the room as he hit his mark, looking to his instructor for what he should do next. "Again. Harder this time." Raitaro struck the heated piece of steel once more, with all of the strength he could muster. Clank! "No." Masaru's deep, commanding voice startled Raitaro, his heart rapidly beating out of his chest as he expected to be scolded similarly to the way his father and brothers use to. However, Masaru simply took the hammer from him, displaying the extend of his own might by hammering the steel a three times.
"Try it again. Do exactly as I did." Much to Raitaro's surprise, Masaru's voice remained calm. It reminded him much of his mother, who was more forgiving in his mistakes when it came to training in the Seiryuu's sword style. When given the hammer, he struck the piece of steel three times. By this time, sweat was starting to bead on his forehead from the raising heat and energy expenditure. His breathing was slightly uncontrolled. "Again." Raitaro repeated the process of hammering the steel, following Masaru's directions. The sounds of metal clanking and grunts of effort emanated from the forge. Several minutes later, Masaru's attention was turned to the coals, reheating the piece of steel. Raitaro stood behind panting softly, still recovering from hammering away at the piece of steel. His right arm ached, fingers numbed slightly from how hard he was gripping the handle. The lack of sleep was as much to blame as his choice for not wanting to eat breakfast, but the amount of work that he was being exposed to so early in the day was also a major shock to his system. Lingering doubt told him that he wasn't cut out for this type of work either, but he really wanted to give it a shot. He glanced up at the wall, displaying finished swords of various sizes. Their blades glistened in the light of the flickering flames, the brightest point being the razor sharp edges, leading up to it pointed end. It was amazing to see the transformation, from a block of steel to a functional sword.
Masaru guided Raitaro through the following steps after the hammering process was completed. He wasn't aware that they were making an actual Katana blade until the boy noticed that the blacksmith was skillfully using the hammer around the heated bar to extend its length. These strikes were more precise than the ones before. Raitaro analyzed Masaru's movements as best as he could, hoping to ingrain the motions into his memory so that he could master them himself. Over the next few days, Raitaro was given the opportunity to create several small blades of his own, typically Tanto and Wakizashi. Masaru felt that these blades were easier than most, especially for a beginner. Smaller sized pieces of steel to work with, and a smaller curve in the blade to achieve mastery with in order to master the basics. Hammering slowly became easier for Raitaro as he developed the strength to do so, and later into his personal training in the forge, he had grown used to the intense temperatures, allowing some hands on experience with starting fires in the traditional method and using the bellows with Masaru's help. When he wasn't in the forge, he was practicing his blade work to pass the time, or reading a scroll his instructor gave him, containing the teachings of Zelel. The option was not forced upon him, yet Raitaro found himself curiously engrossed in the lessons it taught. The budding swordsmith felt confident in his crafting skill as time went on, actively engaging in the day to day duties required at the forge without being asked of by his instructor. Perhaps Raitaro was well on his way to improving his sense of self-worth.
"This is yours, Raitaro." Masaru handed him a Katana, the one that he and his student made together on Raitaro's first day at the forge. Raitaro couldn't bring himself to take the blade at first, shocked that anyone would give him such a gift. "You should be proud. You helped make this. This blade will always have a piece of your soul in it." Placing the sword in his hands, Raitaro took a hold of the hilt in both hands, feeling the weight of the sword. Its size and weight were perfect for his size, "T-thank you, Sensei." He was at a loss for words, but his admiration and sincere gratitude for the sword was obvious. "There is one thing I'd like to ask of you..." Masaru paused, leaning down to rest a hand on his shoulder. "That you try your hand at going to school." The gaze between student and teacher were met, Masaru's hand gently gripping the boy's shoulder as he spoke with a calm voice. "I know how you feel about your... gifts, but Zaishin needs Samurai." After the war, many troops were lost, including the disappearances of both of his elder brothers. The city had been effectively asleep since then, and perhaps even before the war. The tides of change were agonizingly slow moving for the Land of Iron, even with dangerous yokai still about. Raitaro could only nod his head in response, though he was unsure what he could possible do to help the Land of Iron. He had to remind himself that taking small steps would help, in both improving himself and towards finding a solution suitable for his talents.
[ Mission: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work | Completed (x21) ] [ Introduction into the Zelelism religion and Weaponsmithing ]
Keiji Nakamura was now coming to the local forge inside the Village to work on his craft. While he had studied and become something of a blacksmith in his time already, he was far from a master. If he was to accomplish his desire of overthrowing the current society and leading the people to revolution, he was going to need to prepare weapons for the cause. Under the guise of working for the nobles, he began crafting a simple naginata for their guards, not to arm the guards against himself, but because he planned to liberate these projects and supply his own forces. Honorable men sometimes had to plan tactically and work in ways to outsmart their masters if they were to be truly worthy to rule.
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[Crafting Mission: Basic Weapon Supplies [C]]
Kei was absolutely set on his path at this point, and did not want to be deterred from mastering his skills in this department. No, he would need a monumental weapon to assist him in his plots for insurrection and revolution. It was not selfish desire that influenced him, as he pounded out the metal and shaped a set of throwing knives. It was the idea that blood did not make one superior, and that each man or woman had the right to decide their own fate and rise to their own glory without the approval of ancestry before them. "For a brighter future...I will struggle...", he panted between each blow of his forge-hammer on the molten hot steel of the final blade in the set he was making. There was nothing short of hard work that was going to bring about that fundamental change.
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[Crafting Mission: Basic Weapon Supplies [C]]
Still, Keiji needed to be careful as he worked and bided his time. Honing his body, his techniques, and his resolve were all well and good. However, without the right tools for the job, he was hopeless. A good sword or two would certainly solve a lot of his problems. So as he designed a simple katana for the Village's stockpile, he took his time to work on the edge of the sword. The peasant samurai folded the metal over, and over again. Each fold of the steel strengthening the weapon, but more importantly was the speed and precision with which he was able to accomplish this. It was clear his talent in the art was beyond the level of a novice blacksmith.
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[Crafting Mission: Basic Weapon Supplies [C]]
There was quite the demand, since the failed invasions his country had participated in, for weapons to replenish the diminished stockpiles. Fortunately, that meant that there was rarely any shortage of work for Keiji or any of the others with a talent for creating weaponry and armor in the Village's forge. The project for katana to equip emerging academy graduates was in, and Keiji was one of those eager to snag up and take responsibility for the effort. His craftsmanship was growing to be almost peerless as he belted out a fine example of a basic blade in nearly half the time that the new apprentices could.
"Probably going to be used against me one day, but oh what the hell, right?", the peasant samurai muttered under his breath as he worked on embellishing the project further. A basic weapon was fine, sure, but if one knew who made it and saw the care and detail put into making it ornate and unique, maybe there would be a bond forged in steel here? Keiji took a little extra effort with the finishing touches of this particular blade. Dipping it in a fine polishing vat, he began to shine the blade with care. This was not to be a weapon for just any graduate, it would be a blade that would carve the first steps of their destiny.
With the katana's blade fine shined and polished bright, Keiji continued with the hilt, creating a serpent coiled around the pommel of the sword. There was nothing sinister by the motif, in fact, there was no motive beyond making a rather nice looking piece. It was still just a basic sword, but with the pride and dignity of a budding master craftsman behind it. A katana fit for an academy graduate needed to look nice and provide the soon-to-be samurai with a look of dignity, at least that is how Keiji felt as he put it with the rest of his orders to be delivered.
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[Crafting Mission: Basic Weapon Supplies [C]]
Keiji decided to take a good deep breath for a moment. Work in the forge was pretty relentless at times. However, any good soldier knew that if you overextended your stamina you were as good as dead on the field of battle. Still, during his reprieve, Kei worked on sketching out the design of his next order. It was another katana for a soon-to-be samurai, but he wanted it to look just as good as the last one he had forged. With the idea in mind, he stood up from his seat and workbench and lit a cigarette. He was going to need the assistance in relaxing his mind in order to focus.
Kei's hammer rang out like a musical instrument in the forge, plinking away with each fold of the steel in this latest project. Each stroke of the tool against the heated steel sent sparks flying. Once it was shaped and ground into a fine blade, Keiji gave the hilt a fine spiral flame design. He had no idea if the recipient would be of the fire element, but it was what he felt like making. Usually it was not the samurai that chose the sword anyway, it was the sword that chose them. As he finished the project, a part of him sort of wished he could see the look on the face of whoever received it, but another part knew he shouldn't. It was likely he might have to kill them in the future anyway.
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[Crafting Mission: Basic Weapon Supplies [C]]
The last of his orders had come in, and formal work in the Forge, at least for the peasant samurai would be soon to pause. It would be time to make his own creation; A devastating weapon to slay a noble or even a certain Shogun should it have to come to that. This last project sort of shook him a little as it was a blade for a graduate, but one of the noble houses he wanted to remove from power. He was for certain this weapon would come against him, but alas, he was no coward. He got to work on the project with the same skill and dedication as he would any other.
As Keiji forged this weapon that would most certainly be turned against him or another who threw in behind him and his cause, he could not stop a tear of regret from staining his cheek. Even as he applied the finishing touches to the fine katana, he was finding himself melancholy with the prospect of clashing steel against this steel. "If it comes down to it, I want it to be able to kill me clean.", he sighed out in firm resolve as he let his emotions calm while he delivered it to the pile to be moved to distribution. He was a true professional, on and off the field of combat. It was also in his nature to fight only the strongest, and if that was the case, he would want them using nothing but the finest weapons... even if they were crafted by his very own hands.
It came down to the forging of his new weapon, a blade worthy of a samurai of his stature. He had prepared himself for this moment, but Keiji could feel the surge of a darkness within him. The rage of a murderous curse fueled him now, but his mind had to focus on the task at hand. A proper weapon needed the best steel, and so he gave it his all when smelting the metals and blending them into the highest quality one would expect a master to produce. His skill in the art was a marvel to watch, but his motive was terrifying, especially to those who enjoyed the status quo. As he withdrew the perfected steel from the crucible, Keiji had to grin wide. This was just the start of something absolutely wonderful.
Each motion of his hammer pounded out the steel now. Keiji had begun the work of beating the steel and then folding it. It was a process he repeated over and over again. He wanted a truly tough weapon, and were-as most katana were folded ten times, he went for the true show of master-craftsmanship and folded it sixteen times. Each time he folded the steel, he was beating the carbon impurities from the metal. Unlike his own cursed body, his steel needed to be the highest purity and toughness. "My katana has sixty-five thousand folds... It will be one of the most feared blades in all the lands.", he remarked with delight as he moved on to the next process.
Powerful swords needed the most prized of hilts. This was classically called the tsuba of the blade, and each one was unique to the blade. It gave it it's soul, so speak. Keiji felt like he had meditated quite a good deal on what the tsuba of his blade should be designed after, and so he began work on a draconic ouroboros. A dragon in a circle, eating it's own tail. This was to symbolize his rebirth from the shinobi-slayer he had trained to be, into the new revolutionary warrior that intended to use the blade characterized by this soul to lash out at society. It would cause the death and shedding off of the noble caste, and the rebirth of a new society.
Continuing this task of forging the prized weapon, Keiji knew that such a katana would need a decent hilt and scabbard. He had gathered some amber, and oxidized iron to form a red-rust colored holder, which he sealed with a clear lacquer. The design looked like flames, and the hilt was wrapped in alternating black and red silk, with a dragon tooth motif sealed inside it for good luck in his quest to bring down this failure of a regime and build a new one. "Now, the last and most important step is upon us, my new creation.", Keiji said with a sigh as it was not something to be undertaken lightly.
The final step was to give the sword a name, and naming a weapon was not the easiest of things to do. A sword's name was permanent, much like a person's. It was to characterize the soul of the blade as well as to be the founding point of it's reputation. Much like the tsuba, it was another point that Keiji had put some time into considering. This weapon was to be named in honor of it's purpose. "Kakumei...", Keiji breathed out softly as he stroked his hands along the newly minted blade. "...the sword that will revolutionize, not just this country, but this world." The blade now had a soul and a name, now it was a legendary sword in it's own right.
It was a truly momentous occasion as it was a rarity for such a devastating master craft to be birthed into the world. These blades were responsible for shaping the destiny of the world, and forging the fates of those who used them. Keiji had heard stories of the Legendary Seven swords, but without one of that caliber, he took fate into his own hands and used his skills at the forge to bring about something that would create a story written in the blood of those who oppressed and ruled by the very crimson stain he intended to leave in his wake. Now it was time to take the weapon and go train, possible use it in the pits and put down a few upstarts in the Red Light District.
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[S-Rank Crafting Project: Create Kakumei, Sword of Legend.]
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S-Rank Narrative: Lasting Memory: Create a Legendary Sword.
Keiji Nakamura had spent some time in the forge since making his legendary blade. His hands were heavy, and his soul was strengthened by the very efforts, but now it was time to pursue a different line of crafting. Enchanting weapons, a useful skill he had picked up in his off time. Though now, it was time to put it to use by using his skills to fulfill orders put in front of him by customers. These included orders from commoners and nobles alike, though he lamented and resented the work his hands created in service to the oppression. 'Soon, the very arts these hands create will choke and suffocate the evil inside this society.', he thought to himself as he got to work.
The first blade was submitted by a local Komono, who worked at the Academy. Keiji set to work with his talent, inscribing along the blade the enchantment symbols of sealing jutsu. Holding the blade would enhance the fighting spirit of it's owner now, as Kei infused it further with the lightning element. It would not be a Sword of Legend, worthy of a name, but it was still going to be a powerful asset to the customer. The samurai wiped his brow with his implanted arm, and then placed the enchanted weapon into his finished pile of works to be delivered.
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[Rank S+: Enchanting Work I]
Keiji took up to his next order after a brief respite, and this one was for a rookie Okapikki. A nobody with some cash to spend on enhancing their blade? Sounded like Keiji at one point, but instead of paying others to do the work for him, he was the one who put the effort in. So far this effort and talent was paying off, literally, as he worked on the sword. Infusing it with the desired power enhancement. Samurai in Zaishin took a great deal of pride in their blades, and Keiji took a great deal of pride in his crafts. Those who could hold their head up high with his help were going to be valuable assets in the world he sought to create. "If these hands should do nothing more than create weapons and shed blood, then I will paint a canvas.", he sighed out as he finished the blade and prepared to move on to the next work.
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[Rank S+: Enchanting Work I]
The third blade came across his desk at the forge. This one was for a noble, and the request made Keiji's nose curl with a snarl. He hated these types of requests. The filthy nobles seeking to make themselves stronger with crafts, while hiding behind their bloodline limits and lording over the populace with their money gained from the ill-gotten boon of their blood virtue alone. It was enough to make him sick as he inscribed the desired enchantments and infused the chakra into them. It was a work borne of reluctance, but at the same time it burned hot in his heart on the pyre of his dream to change this world. The world would soon not be ruled by blood, but by those who could spill it. He then moved the finished work to the side. For now, he would rest.
Keiji was back to work again at his enchanting in the forge. The power of his enchanting was becoming well known and sought after. It was another request being put before him on this day, that he became enraged. Another pompous noble had submitted a work order to the forge, specifically for his talents. "Damn nobles...", he cursed under his breath as he began a labor borne of resentment.
The noble's work order was a series of powerful enchantments to make his sword flaming, and more powerful in their grip. So he began the requested seals. His hands etched the sigils and signs, scraped the metal slightly and poured in his chakra element. This was the process in creating the glowing, red, runes. The sword would now ignite in flames when gripped by it's owner.
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[Rank S+: Enchanting Work I]
After the completion of the first seal, Keiji sighed out in regret at the mastery of his own work. It is not like him to regret making such masterpieces, but when it was going to be delivered into the hands of somebody that he harbored much hatred for, he couldn't help but want to mess up on purpose. However, his reputation demanded nothing less than perfection. So, he completed the strength enhancing symbols, and then moved the blade off to the pick up pile. He just hoped it would be the last he would ever see of the weapon. Though chances are likely he would again during his plans for revolution.
While the Forge was no stranger to the more protective forms of works as armor was the other half of a Samurai's regalia. Keiji had been studying the craft, and working with metal was a simple process to the point were he began his work on trying to perfect the plans for his own set of impressive armor. To do this, he would start with accepting orders from around Zaishin to practice. "As they say, practice makes perfect. Good thing I take to these types of things rather quickly.", Keiji remarked with a cocky grin as he got to work.
The first order to move across his work bench was for a simple pair of gauntlets. Tekko, as they were called among samurai, were a key component of any samurai's armor. As Keiji pounded the metal and shaped the joints, he kept careful eyes on making sure that the worked steel provided protection as well as well as digit mobility. A good pair of tekko could prevent the loss of fingers or even a hand. A skilled swordsman's hands were certainly worth the investment in such equipment, and so Keiji also did his duty to make sure that these would serve the purpose and make their owner proud.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I]
With the tekko order completed, Keiji took a long drink from his water jug before looking to the next on the list of orders he had accepted. The next was for Kusazuri. A kusazuri was a series of plates to protect the hips and groin from attacks that hung from the dou, or belt of the armor. Even the revolutionary warrior could not deny the value of having something to protect the 'crown jewels' from assault. On this particular piece, he simply made sure to add more folds to the steel plates before attaching them together with the finest silk cords. There could be no excuse for complaints about the quality of his work, as there should be none in the first place. It was the pride he took to his art that could possibly make him one of the most valuable assets to the forge.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I]
As he dipped the last of the plates for the kusazuri and finished the piece, Keiji let out a soft sigh as the work was starting to make him sweat from the effort. He was not fatigued, like the average apprentice might be, but he could not help but steel feel the lingering anxiety from the activating Curse Mark that he had endured in his apartment earlier the night before. Though, he had not much time to linger on that as he still had more orders ahead of him to complete.
The next order he was given was for a simple pair of suneate, or shin guards. Forging the steel plates for this particular part was not one of extreme difficulty. They were one sheet each, folded and bent to the proper dimensions. There was no need to worry about flexibility or joints, only raw defensive ability to absorb impact and prevent one's leg from being broken. Keiji grinned wide as he took the task with great reverence for his reputation. His suneate, once completed had been stylized with waves in the steel, that when painted gave the overall look of rolling flames. "Who ever said we couldn't make a little artwork in our hard work?", he chuckled to himself as thoughts of the previous night had begun to take the back seat in his subconscious to the pride he had in his craft.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I]
Keiji began to hum as the day turned into night. Most of the apprentices had gone home to their families, but he stayed there with his hammer and anvil as his company. He had a lot to do and there were several orders in the back log that he felt like he could handle. The one he had been working on since completing the suneate was a simple breastplate. Simple would not be accurate in defining the piece's value. It protected the vital organs, so the revolutionary fighter continued the craft by making sure the steel was shaped properly and the impurities were worked out of it. He would not have his craftsmanship be responsible for the loss of a life. It was his honor at stake in each of these that made him hold his work to a higher standard, and even work at lower rates than usual to accommodate the lower income customers.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I]
The night had turned into day, and it was after Keiji finished the breastplate that he had been working on that he had fallen asleep at his workbench. The comical pop of a snot bubble, as disgusting as it was, roused him from his slumber. It was already mid-afternoon and the other forge apprentices had already been hard at work."Damn... Did not get as much done as I'd have liked.", he cursed under his breath while he went to go grab a cup of tea and a few rice balls from a vendor across the street. He wanted to work and hone his skills, but to do so on an empty stomach would be folly.
With his mortal needs taken care of, Keiji then returned back to his work orders. He still had a couple left before he would go to his own personal projects. He was being trusted now with one of the more important parts of a samurai's armor, the kabuto. The kabuto was the helmet, and it was pretty self explanatory as to it's function or why only skilled armor crafters were allowed to work on such an order. Keiji had also already proven himself in a few fields, and had prior experience in the forge, so an exception was made for one of his talent.
He swung his hammer with the skill and grace of a budding master as Keiji wanted to prove he was worthy of the honor given to him. Each fold of the steel, and shaping it into the dome that would protect the head from impact was further reinforced with more plates and rivets. When he was finished with it, the helmet looked like a fine work. The only thing that needed to be added was the maedate, or the helmet's crest. However, that was decoration befitting only the skilled hands of the forge-owner. So Keiji moved it along to the finished pile and prepared himself for the last project he would do before taking a break, and then pursuing his own personal goals.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I]
As Keiji got to work on his last project for the day, he received a few thumb's up gestures from a couple of the apprentices who were calling it a day. He had become something of a respected veteran around the shop, so much so that people were actually starting to remember his name. This was exactly what he wanted, though it was for his craftsmanship. It may not have been the recognition for his martial skill that was gaining him the notoriety, but that would translate into the respect he felt he deserved. He was on the path to be a hero, and soon all of Zaishin would know of his skills and variety of them, even the Shogun.
The last project was for a pair of kote, or sleeves, which housed chains and metal plates, but ran the span of the arms to the tekko. Keiji had accomplished a few things in his time, but the use of leather and cloth were not common place. Sure, he had developed armor pieces that used those materials, but only as liners and padding. So, it was time to break out the sewing needle and threat, to put together the sleeves. At least the forge had a pattern for him to follow, which greatly sped up the process so he could get to the fun part, the iron plates.
Keiji really liked working with steel as one could tell, each of the small metal plates were carefully crafted and affixed to the kote with the pride of the craftsman. The revolutionary swordsman had developed his own unique method for this, a tactic of a grandmaster, by affixing them to the sleeves with rivets, and then reinforcing them with fine silk cords. Most would skip the rivets entirely, but for this piece, he felt like it added durability to the plating that would protect the arms without sacrificing the mobility of the user. It was also in part to his own experience with swords; from crafting to using them that he understood just how important a good guard on the arms could be. It probably could have saved him from losing his own arm, and if it were not for his skill in medical jutsu, he would be left with a stump as a reminder. With the final touches on the piece, Keiji was finally able to kick back and relax. In the coming days he would begin work on his own pieces.
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[Rank S+: Armor Crafting I] [Growth: Grandmastered his Fourth Craft]
It had been a few days since Keiji had returned to the forge. He had taken a break to spend with his three most loyal followers, the Mori Clan Triplets. The three oni sisters had accompanied him on this particular day to watch their leader in his master crafts. "Today is going to be very important, so you are free to watch, maybe even help a little, but do not cause a scene.", Keiji warned the three of them. Even though two of the three oni girls could be trusted to keep their heads on their shoulders, he had faith in their abilities. The girls following him into the forge simply nodded and grinned before giving the samurai a thumbs up gesture.
The forge was louder and hotter than usual for Keiji, as he was pretty well known around Zaishin for his work by now. His fame had brought in a couple of extra apprentices, and then there was the Mori sisters. The three were a good source of extra hands and not bad to look at either. The revolutionary warrior had to shake his head a few times as he was caught staring at them while they forged steel into plates for his project. He could not help but admire their strength as well as their, ahem, other assets. Still, he had work to do on a suit of yoroi, or Samurai Armor, that would be far beyond the normal. No, this was to be his suit of armor and one worthy of a hero. He needed power, not just from training, but going in to refining the weapons and defenses in his arsenal.
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[Crafted: Legendary Armor - Regalia of the Uncrowned Hero]
With the body of the armor completed after a day or three, some rest, and breaking up the Mori clan girls from their routine argument over who Keiji favored the most of the three of them it was time for the finishing touches. It needed a few enchantments placed on it to really improve it above just what his own skilled hands could fold out of steel, even if it was the best. Carefully, the Samurai crafted and etched the runes and sigils onto the metal. To some with untrained eyes this would look like nothing other than decorative art carved into the steel of the tekko and along the body and helmet. To others, however, they would recognize the powerful seals of reinforcement laid into the suit of protective wear. Enchanting was a bit of fuuinjutsu and ninjutsu fused all together in with materials and art to make a powerful effect.
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Crafted: Tier T2 Enchantment - Stat Double, Applied to Armor
The last bit of work went in to the armor as Keiji finished up the final seals on it's enchantments. The Mori Sisters looked to each other and gave themselves a thumbs up before kicking back and breaking out sake'. They were notorious for drinking on the job, but as Oni, they could handle their alcohol. Keiji, on the other hand, abstained as he was playing with fire... literally. His hands made the routine seals to mold chakra and his fire element into some of the enchantment runes while then folding his water element into some of the others. He was set on building a defense that would keep him strong in the face of an opponent who thought they might take advantage of a hero by resorting to dirty tricks. Mostly because he knew of those tricks and had used them to his advantage before, so making sure he did not fall prey to somebody with a similar tactic was only prudent.
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[Crafted - T3 Enchantment : Overwhelming Fire Element - Applied to Armor] [Narrative - Lasting Memory: Crafted and Enchanted 'The Regalia of the Uncrowned Hero']
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After two days off from work, Keiji returned back with the girls in tow. Since joining him in his quest for revolution, the Mori Clan Triplets rarely left him for very long unless ordered to go train so that he could get some peace and quiet. It was time to work on another project, while it did not require the forge's utilities exactly, it did have a variety of weapons that others were forging that Keiji could test out while practicing bukijutsu and taijutsu respectively. He had brought his scroll crafting materials with him, and began to work on expanding his knowledge further by creating a scroll similar to one he had made in his apartment. The powers of which expanded his mind and allowed the samurai to learn more than one of his talent usually could. This was saying something as the warrior was quite well versed in a variety of different skills and techniques, so to expand upon that potential was a terrifying concept that was becoming reality.
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Crafted and Used: Bukijutsu Expansion Scroll
Though, as he scribed and worked on another scroll to enhance his ability to pick up on hand to hand fighting techniques, Keiji had some time to think introspectively on his quest to bring about change in the Land of Iron. He was quite well known, and surely it would be hard to go unnoticed so he began to devise a plan on how he might spread word to the peasantry without drawing too much heat from the other samurai onto his plans. The Mori sisters could help by spreading word to the outcast clans like the Kaguya and the Oni, ones regarded as monsters and not of the Five Noble Houses. And as for Keiji's role, that was something he still took into consideration as he finished the final seals on the scroll and then let the power soak into his mind and body, further enhancing him. With each and every craft, each sword forged, and every breath taken it seemed like he was on the path to bringing this challenge to Musunde directly, and he was not intending to be outclassed if he could help it.
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Crafted and Used Taijutsu Expansion Scroll
As Keiji finished the final of the three expansion scrolls he had intended to scribe, he contimplated just how might the Shogun react to this plan of his. Would bold action be seen with a reward, or would he be just like his father before him? Why take the chance? As far as the revolutionary was concerned, Musunde was just going to be part of the problem. His brow furrowed slightly as he considered the possibility of conflict with a famous swordsman who had been able to take down the last leader of Zaishin and assume the mantle himself. There was no telling if he was the type of leader to throw lives away on pointless assaults or if he were one to reason with, but there was one constant in Zaishin, honor and the code of Bushido. Keiji knew that if he were to be true to his virtues, then he would need the power and backing to prove that he was on a righteous path and to force the hands of fate. No one could truly deny the power of justice wielded by a hero. "If I so happen to be the villain in this story, then I will be struck down.", he mumbled before completing the last taijutsu expansion scroll and absorbing its power. Though, he was confident that only a villain would seek to uphold the society the way it was set. He just hoped that Musunde was a man of virtue and could learn to listen to the will of the people.
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Crafted and Used Taijutsu Expansion Scroll Narrative: Revelation: Learning more Skills and Contemplating his future.
The days had blended together as Keiji worked and trained at the forge with his triplet assistants. It was obvious through the burning determination he displayed in his tasks that he was bent on making the world around him better through quality arms and armor for the struggling peasant warriors who sought to bring themselves to his level. It didn't hurt his cause any in the fact that he had gained the loyalty of a fearsome trio of Oni Clan women, feared for their brutality and strength.
As he worked with the weapons, Keiji had developed a love for his enchantments he was able to impart onto them. It was like breathing life and soul into a blade, a step beyond as making a sword now seemed like a husk waiting for the essence of it's creator to be placed inside it. It caused the samurai to pat his powerful sword hilt with pride as he planned out some further enhancements. He knew he was going to need all the power he could muster if he planned on providing the Shogun with a proper challenge in his effort to lead the people to revolution.
Kakumei, Keiji's blade, was a sword of legend. The katana had been crafted with masterful hands, and a sharp mind with an aptitude for rapid learning and adaptation. It was specifically designed to be the sword of a hero. It's name was literally translated to 'Revolution' as it would be the steel that would bring about the change he desired in this world of lies, and subjugation at the behest of one's blood. It was now with the same skills and aptitude that forged the blade that Kei began working on a new seal to impart to his flesh.
The Curse of the Blood Orchid had become a part of his flesh due to the arm of a fallen Kaguya he had grafted in place of his own lost limb. Keiji had struggled with the fact that this accursed energy surged and flowed through him, but possibly through his enchantments, he could gain a measure of control over the powerful fuuinjutsu. The design for the enchantment was a layered seal, that added sigils to his body in the form of a tattoo that encompassed the fanning tri-blade formation on his shoulder. Three triangles placed in between the spacing of the vile marking would be imbued with a strengthening jutsu. By reinforcing the seal, and emboldening it, the idea was that it would make it more apart of Keiji's body, and less like an alien invader seeking to control him.
"Okay, girls. Time to earn your keep. You can't just be eye candy to all the apprentices all day.", Keiji remarked in a tone of command. While some might have thought his words harsh, the Oni ladies were only amused by his bold behavior. 'Of course, Keiji-sama! Need us to get to a hard to reach spot?', Miki asked with her usual rash enthusiasm. 'He doesn't need that kind of help, you filthy pervert.', Chihiro barked, as she bonked her sister upside the head comically with her club. This caused a classic argument as the two Oni girls of the Mori Clan Triplets began to squabble over Keiji's attentions. Meanwhile, Sora, the quiet one simply knelt down behind her master, and took the diagram for the planned enchantment. As her sisters bickered and argued, the reserved triplet imparted the fuuinjutsu into her master, and then placed a soft kiss on his neck before stepping back.
Sealed with jutsu and finished with a kiss, it would be romantic if it weren't for the fact that Kei was in a polyamorous relationship with the three. The two bickering girls stopped their arguing and then seethed in tandem as Sora beat them to the punch. However, the antics of the Mori Triplets was soon eclipsed by the surge of power that began to flow from Keiji. A dark, sinister, chakra began to radiate and flare from him. "Control it... Come on, this is my body, and you're apart of it now.", he cursed under his breath before he reached a breaking point and the surge of power began to overflow. He was losing control over the seal, but he grit his teeth and continued to struggle back against it. "I've got too much to live for. I am the greatest commoner...", he growled in determination as the tattoo tried to spread and unleash as it had before. The world had begun to fade from his field of vision, and he entered a meditative state.
As Keiji opened his eyes, the seal was under control, and the enchanting process had been a success. It was reinforced and now more apart of him than it had been. "I just had to have courage.", he thought aloud as he looked to his hand and gripped it into a tight fist. It was his favored tenant of Bushido. By clinging to his ideals, even the powers of corruption and darkness could not claim him for their designs. He then looked over to the girls, and grinned wide. "Well, what do we make next?", he asked as if to alleviate their concern for his well-being. With the Curse Mark under control, it was down to business as usual.
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[Crafted: T4 Seal - [+200 Curse Chakra] ] [Narrative : Growth: Curse Seal Mastery]
Keiji Nakamura had spent the following weeks pending the strengthening of his Cursed Nature Chakra training and honing his skills while working at the forge, but now the time to begin fomenting the seeds of a peasant revolution was at hand. He would use his fame to call those under his wing, and so he began his work in the effort. "While the Shogun is away, it's time to prepare him a welcome home party.", the revolutionary chuckled as he directed the Mori Triplets to assist him in the creation of rudimentary supplies for the peasant uprising. This all started with false orders demanding a creation of several spears and shields. These were the weapons of the very caste of people prevented from becoming samurai, either due to lack of money or formal training. It was under this ruse that the team worked on preparing the weapon cache.
As Keiji forged spear-heads, the girls took them and attached them to poles they had smoothed and rounded for the shaft of the weapons. A master of his trade, this was relatively simple work, as none of the spears were given the same treatment as a fine blade. This was mass production in the effort to arm enough conscript soldiers, the rest of the weaponry would be improvised and mob mentality was something that Keiji was counting on to sweep the masses. 'Swords beaten into plowshares, and plowshares raised up to cleave the heads off of the nobles...', he thought to himself as the plan was coming together at this point. It would be a chance to appeal to the spirit of nationalism and the base human desire to gain whatever that desire might be. "This order is high priority, girls. Use your charms on some of the other apprentices to get some help if you're falling behind.", he called over to them.
A few hours later, and some winks as well as kisses on the cheek, and the Mori sisters had followed their leader's will. Lovestruck workers were now assisting in the production of the spearheads, for what they assumed was a legitimate order. After all, Zaishin had lost a lot of valuable soldiers in the suicidal attack on the various Hidden Villages. So it was an easy plan to dupe the innocent into assisting with. Though, as far as Keiji was concerned, nobody was being deceived here by his efforts. These weapons were in deed being made for the soldiers of Zaishin; Soldiers of the revolution in Zaishin. "The order calls for one-hundred spears... step it up. I want this completed within the fortnight.", Keiji ordered as the willing workers along with the oni triplets followed him with the dedication of worthy admirers.
One hundred spears were finished, and packaged into crates for shipment by the end of the week, just as Keiji had ordered. 'Enough weapons for two platoons. That should get the message across, and each of my soldiers should marshal ten more conscripts. Hell's bells, we should have a battalion and more if the word of descent spreads like it should.', Keiji plotted during the time, while his 'shipment' was loaded onto a cart for him to deliver. It was during the week, a couple of the apprentices at the forge had grown curious and were made aware of the impending revolution, so they took extra care to smuggle a supply of helmets from another order in with the spears. Helmets, spears...It was not like he could outfit an army, but if the peasants he did recruit were given supplies and a means to take their destiny with their own hands, then the revolutionary pictured that courage and willpower would serve as well as any suit of armor.
With the order carefully loaded, along with the extra supplies, Keiji then took charge and drove the horses onward, away from the forge. He would need to leave Zaishin proper and go out into the peasants of Iron Country. People that, like him, struggled as farmers and laborers. Those with little money, and living under the burden of poverty. The angry, the broken, the disparaged, and the sullen; these were the people he would appeal to. Now, armed with more than just words of revolution, but supplies with which to make it a reality the time had come to prepare Musunde a very, very special welcoming home from the Kage Summit. "It's his own fault, you know? Spending time, treating with shinobi instead of fostering our great nation...healing it's wounds from the losses suffered at the hands of his father. Yes... We must accept the consequences for our actions, let's just hope he's ready to accept his.", Keiji muttered under his breath as he pulled off now for the gate out of Zaishin.
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[S-Rank: False Flag Supply Acquisition] [Narrative: Discovery - [B-Rank: The Start of Revolution] - Depart for Naiheki Gate
