Welcome to Gaia! ::

Character Pilot: Tadanori_Oyama
Name: Suoh Makoto (honest dragon)
Age: 20.
Sex: Male.

+Shinobi Information+

Country: Land of Fire
Village: Konohagakure
Rank: Chuunin
Division: None


+Inheritance+

Clan: Suoh Clan.
The Suoh Clan has studied the mastery of the blade. Playing their role in the world as warriors over assassins, the Suoh Clan enjoys a fairly famous history as blade masters. But for the Suoh fairly is not nearly good enough. Life for a member of the clan is endless practice and study with the blade from the moment they are capable of picking up a weapon. This makes life hard for the young members of the clan, but they tend to adapt quick to life and are the most ordered and disciplined children in the academy.
The Suoh Clan makes use of a number of special techniques, which they keep very close and very secret, that make use of the air and wind. According to rumors, generations ago the Suoh Clan stole the secrets of wind from the shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Sands. The Suoh Clan, naturally, denies this. It is a matter of honor in the Suoh Clan to always defeat a Sand opponent. Losing to a Sand shinobi is the fastest way to lose the respect of other Suoh and to lose honor for family within the Clan.

Those who practice the Suoh’s style of sword combat, Kaze Suoh Sutansu (Wind Dragon Stance), are taught that speed is the leading principle of all combat. The fastest, not the strongest, is always the winner in a duel of blades. As tough as someone might be, a strike form a sword blade to the correct place on the body will put an end to them. As such, practitioners of the style sacrifice strength, stamina, and raw power, for speed, focus, and clear mindedness. If they are hit by an attack, then it is likely they’ll suffer considerable damage from the strike due to their lack of defensive focus. As such, Suoh fighters learn how to dodge, deflect, and counter attack as part of their training.

Chakra training for Suoh students is all about control. The principle of speed that the school follows leaves the need for raw power and reserves behind, so focus on the present, the use of a single slaying blow, is the entirety of their training. As such, Suoh’s lagged behind in terms of Charka power but are always at the top end of their rank when it comes to control. They believe that you don’t need as much power or stores of energy when you can properly control and manage what you have, and see those who favor the other elements of Charka as undisciplined (which is just about the worst thing a person can be in a Suoh’s eyes).

The Suoh Clan doesn’t play politically in the village, partly their not a very popular Clan among the others and partly because they don’t concern themselves with the way that the village is run as long as they have missions to hone their skills on. Village loyalty is a secondary concern to the Suoh Clan. The political exception the Suoh Clan makes is a hatred of the Uchiha and Hyuuga Clans. The Uchiha’s eye techniques allows them to follow the Suoh’s movements, no matter how fast they are, and their ability to copy techniques allows them to steal away the most treasured secrets of any Clan. The recent actions of the Clan’s surviving members only serve to ensure the hatred the Suoh’s have nursed for generations. If presented with the opportunity to destroy the last of the Uchiha and their cursed Sharingan any Suoh would jump to the task. The Hyuuga Clan has a similar ability. While not as offensive to the pride as the Uchiha’s mimicry the Hyuuga’s ability to see from all angles made the sneaking side strikes of the Suoh’s sword technique virtually impossible to implement. And what’s more the Hyuuga’s hand speed was very nearly a match for the Suoh’s. Perhaps it is jealousy, perhaps competition, but the Suoh’s have it in for the Hyuuga. Given the high status of the Hyuuga, though, the Suoh keep their opinions to themselves. While they don’t care for political positioning, having the Hyuuga as an open enemy would be very disadvantageous.

Bloodline: None


+Physical Information+

Height: 5’ 9”

Weight: 187 lbs.

Appearance:
Makoto is average height, with a medium build suitable for swift motion. His body is light, with tone muscle covering every inch of his body from years of careful work and development. His brown hair is slightly longer than normally acceptable, falling to his shoulders. He keeps it out of his eyes by tying it back with his forehead protector. His skin is fairly tan from all the time he spends outside in the sunlight. Makoto has a hard face. He’s not unattractive, but he is fairly grim faced and that can make his first impressions unfavorable with others, especially women.

Attire:
Makoto’s clothing is traditional for his clan. He wears tight fitting brown pants as base clothing with a skirt-wrap around his waist that reaches to his knees. The purpose of the skirt is to disguise his legs and prevent the enemy from seeing his entire leg and therefore disguising his movements to an extent. He wears a skin tight shirt with the shoulders and arm pits cut away so that his arms are totally free from the cloth. On a normal day Makoto wears a loose tunic shirt, one that can be swiftly removed in the event of serious combat. For less than lethal combat the baggy shirt can be a useful distraction, directing blows away from vital areas and into empty cloth. On his left arm he wears a light armor vambrace. The armor is a last resort, an insurance policy, so to speak. If all his evasion and speed fail him, than Makoto is still capable of using the light armor to block or deflect an otherwise damaging attack. Due to the light nature of the armor, it’s more likely to simply soften the attack than actually turn it aside but something is better than nothing.


+Character Information+

Demeanor:
Makoto is disciplined, and keeps himself in tight control at all times. His behavior with others reflects his “iron bound by law” nature, and he is quick to rebuke anyone of lower standing for their disregard for the rules. Those of higher class, he often let’s pass with silent and a dark frown.

Genin who misbehave around him generally get to learn what a sword butt feels like when it hit somebody on the top of the head. Makoto makes no room for foolishness and disorder, even if disorder could lead to a positive result. He believes that disorder and unplanned behavior can never work properly and always has bad consequences in the end. Truly deep emotion only shows itself when he is wounded in combat, and serves to enforce his desire for perfection. Being wounded makes Makoto mad like nothing else.

Nindo 'Way of the Ninja':
“I will surpass all others, and be the truest blade of all shinobi.”

Inventory:
Makoto is never without his personal blades, a pair of katana blades. Makoto always wears his forehead protect around his forehead. (List the character's weapons, tools, aids, heirlooms, documents or other articles that he/she usually keeps close by.)

Pet(s):
Makoto, like many Suoh’s, keeps a raven on hand. An average sized blackbird, Makoto’s pet is named Kun and can be used to transport messages quickly across short distances. As a raven, the bird is capable of imitating human speech to an extent and can use words of signals. But, it is not an “elite animal” and can not speak human language at length or communicate significantly with Makoto.

Biography:
When Makoto graduated from the academy he was assigned to a team with two other Genin: as par the usual. The team was well balanced, a brilliant match up of shinobi if ever there was one. Their Jounin, a man by the name of Akio, was a fairly fresh advancement, so the learning experience was shared by the whole crew. Makoto’s speed and sword abilities, the stealthy hypnotic genjutsu of Shino, and the fiery power of the lady Kaida’s ninjutsu. With the three of them working together, they were able to do whatever was required of them during a mission.

Missions where always clipped events. Makoto made it a serious matter to get to know his fellows and to work in formation with them to enhance their respective abilities but he kept his personal information personal. He might be a team player, but that didn’t mean that he had to pal around with the others when they weren’t on duty. After all, he had his own training to do. The Suoh Clan was always looking over his shoulder, ensuring he was up to carrying their name into honor and glory. Every spare moment was dedicated to training his sword handling. Finally capable of understanding the complexities of the Suoh’s sword style, Makoto spent hours on end taking direction from his father, uncles, aunts, every Suoh with a trick to teach.

When the Chuunin test came around, Makoto and his team mates were all for taking the exam. However, there was an unforeseen complication for the Suoh shinobi: Makoto’s father forbid the boy from entering the exam. Makoto attempted to convince his sensei to allow him to participate, using ever angle and argument he could think of, but to no avail. After a week of fruitless efforts, Makoto resigned himself to his fate. His team mates were, naturally, disappointed.

It was two years before Makoto’s father allowed him to take part in the exam. Two years of solid missions and daily training and effort. By the time he and his team mates were allowed into the exam, Makoto was confident that he could put an end to any and all challenges that stood before him. The written exam put a crunch on that. While physically fit and advanced, Makoto’s training had involved virtually no mental study once he was able to pick up a real blade. However, three years of effective cooperation with his teammates made for considerably advanced methods of communication. A few silent exchanges of information, and the trio managed to sneak their way through the written exam.

The physical exam proved to be an exercise in effective team work just as much as the written exam. Makoto’s squad moved through the exam without loss of blood on their part, but a fair amount lost by those who attempted to narrow the field by eliminating the competition. The first year Mist shinobi that Makoto faced in the last round of the exams was fortunate to escape with full function of his arm, let alone his life. As effective as the younger boy’s fog summoning and hidden strikes were, he was unable to outrun Makoto’s flashing blades.

Despite his brilliant showing in the first round of combat, Makoto found himself out matched and defeated, in spite of his greatest efforts, in the second round match. His opponent was a shinobi from another village who had somehow mastered the technique of the Wind Sword. While Makoto knew such a technique existed, the boy had not prepared to counter such an attack. It was supposed to be a Jounin level skill, not something he would have to face in a perspective Chuunin.

Makoto fought practically to the end, his right arm nearly severed at the shoulder, on leg nonfunctional, and practically dead from loss of blood. Medical teams restored the use of his arm and leg after a few days of treatment; Makoto suffered no long term damage from his injuries. Despite his lose in the match the village leaders thought Makoto’s sheer ability and use of tactics in a match against an opponent with superior ability merited his advancement to Chuunin.

His father, however, was no so lenient. Makoto got the lecture and lesson of his life for no being prepared for whatever his enemy might have. Farther more, losing to a sand shinobi was a blow to the family honor. As such, though he had been promoted to Chuunin in his dear father’s eyes he’d been reduced back down to academy level, and that meant he had to be trained back up to par.

And so Makoto stands today, a Chuunin still, because to this way his father has disallowed him from advancing any farther.

In a different clan, someone in Makoto’s position would probably go against their parent’s will and attempt to advance, but to Makoto’s disciplined Suoh mind, such a thing would be impossible. Until his father and the rest of the Clan allowed him to do so, he could make no effort to advance his rank in the village. Still, deep down, Makoto burned to become a Jounin because that would place him one step closer to his goal of making the whole world see him for the finely honed blade that he is. Makoto’s ultimate dream was to prove to the village and the world that the Suoh style was the ultimate in sword combat, and to prove to his father that he, Suoh Makoto, was the greatest swordsman of all Suoh.


+Statistics+

Physical
Strength: 15
Speed: 40
Stamina: 20

Mental
Intelligence: 15
Tactics: 20
Willpower: 32

Chakra
Power: 15
Control: 30
Reserves: 20


+Technique List+

Ninjutsu

Title: Konoha No Shuriken (Leaf Shuriken)
Rank: E
Description: By focusing chakra into nearby tree leaves, the objects can be shot towards the opponent, sharpened by the energy channeled into them.

Title: Konoha Bunshin (Leaf Clone)
Rank: D
Description: In the same vein of the Leaf Shuriken, chakra is used to fuse large amounts of leaves into a single functional clone. Rather useless in attacking, it is used mainly as a distraction or shield.

Title: Reaching Blade
Rank: C
Requirements: Armed with sword
Description: The user focuses their charka around their blade and creates a ripple of sharpened air around the metal, extending in inch from the blade and three inches from the end of the blade, increasing the reach of the weapon and allowing it to pierce thicker armor/materials.

Taijutsu

Kaze Suoh Sutansu Techniques

Title: Direct Blade
Rank: E
Description: A basic attack. The strike is focused around speed and aimed at the enemy’s mid section to try and get below their defense. The attack is horizontal strike and quick retraction.

Title: Indirect Blade
Rank: E
Description: A basic attack. The strike is meant to be hidden using speed and misdirection. The user feints an attack, then strikes with all their speed, trying to blur the blade and hide the point of the attack, aiming for a hole in the raised defense (assuming the enemy bought the feint and raised their defense).

Title: Vanishing Strike
Rank: D
Description: A refined form of the Indirect Blade. The user moves the blade with a twist, turning the weapon to present the narrowest side to the target and moving with a slight speed boost from the snap of the wrist when the attack strikes. If done properly, the blade vanishes for a moment just before the strike, making it possible to redirect the attack slightly and slip around or under the enemy’s guard.

Title: Fading Blade
Rank: D
Description: A refined form of the Direct Blade. The attack is a horizontal slash that puts more of the arm’s speed behind it, committing the shoulder and arm to the attack, creating a more open attack but one with greater reach and speed. If the user misses than they leave themselves open. The strike is so fast the blade of the sword blurs and seems to fade away, diminishing in size until the end of the attack.

Title: Twin Snakes Striking
Rank: C
Description: An advanced form of the Direct Blade and a two sword attack relaying on pure speed to pierce the enemy’s defense. The swords are held in the same position, one in each hand, with the point of the blade aimed for the opponent’s chest. Before the strike, the arms are retracted along the side of the body, the elbows bent to their maximum and held tight to the ribs with the points still targeted. The assault is pure speed, moving from the first and second positions into the third (thrusting) position in the blink of an eye. The thrust is straight ahead, throwing all of the user’s leg strength into the forward dash, the force of the strike coming from the uncoiling of the arms and the waists twisting inward snap like the teeth of a snake extending for the strike. As soon as the user’s feet hit the ground again, they push off, flying backwards again to return the user to their previous distance from the target. If done properly, the user should be a mere blur through the whole of the third stance.

Title: Shattering Waves
Rank: C
Description: An advanced form of the Fading Blade. Snapping the wrist at the end of the swing, the user brings the sword back for another strike, then another, making three rapid fire slashes across the same space. The attacks are swift, but lose force with each strike as the arm does not have a chance to coil again. The user can re-angle the strikes at each snap of the wrist, changing the exact position on the enemy’s body or guard that they are striking, increasing the possibility of getting around the guard or striking deeper into their vital spots.

Genjutsu

Title: Shine of Glory
Rank: D
Requirements: Armed with a sword or other polished blade
Description: The user presents their weapon, flat side to the enemy, and focuses their charka to create a bright flash of light. Most effective after drawing the eyes directly to the blade.

Title: Song of the Sword
Rank: D
Requirements: Armed with sword or other long bladed weapon
Description: The users focuses their charka into the air around the blade and begins to spin the weapon. The spinning creates a musical sound that filters out other noises, such as the sound of foot steps or allies moving in the trees overhead. The sound lasts for a few seconds after the blade stops spinning.


+Role Playing Sample+

This mission had been under ranked. That was the only way this could possibly be happening. There was no way that his whole team could do so outmatched. Nothing they tried seemed to work, and now they were all hiding. Hiding! Makoto closed his eyes for a moment, keeping control of his temper. This was neither the time nor the place to lose control. He glanced to his left and right, making sure that both Shino and Kaida where both still nearby. He could see them because he knew what he was looking for but anyone else would have considerably more trouble. The effort on Shino’s half hidden face was difficult to see, but Makoto knew he was starting to wear thin. They’d been here for an hour; he’d been keeping their positions concealed for that whole time and it was beginning to take its toll.

Kaida’s hands were twitching again but there was nothing to be done for that, there was another patrol passing below them and Makoto couldn’t risk moving or speaking at the moment. Besides, any sudden motions might bring Shino’s stealth genjutsu down so he let Kaida twitch. It was a nervous habit of her’s, running through the “Katon” gestures when she had to keep quiet and still. She told him that he did the same thing, only he tended to finger his sword’s sheath. Personally, he thought she was making it up. He’d know if he was doing something to amateur as allowing himself a nervous twitch.

He wanted to reach over and take hold of her hands to stop her. Or maybe that was just an excuse to be able to hold her hand. Deep down he could use a little comfort right now himself and holding Kaida’s hand would really just about do it for comforting. Shino spent a lot of time giving Makoto crap about the swordsman’s “thing” for Kaida. Of course he was always very vague as to what “thing” he was talking about. Makoto certainly didn’t have a “thing” of Kaida and Kaida sure as hell didn’t have a “thing” for him… whatever a “thing” was. He knew, he’d asked her and she’d said she didn’t have any idea what Shino meant. Just the same… whatever logic told him, Makoto really wanted to hold her hand right now.

A sudden rustling forced the Suoh back to reality as a sandaled foot hit the branch a foot away from his face. Kaida had her hands in motion already but Makoto managed to catch her eye and make the slightest of head shakes, signaling her to stop. After ten eternal seconds, the foot vanished and the shinobi it belonged to moved on. Shino hadn’t reacted at all to the intruder but since the man hadn’t seen them, Makoto could only assume that the genin’s genjutsu was still working. The guy had amazing focus.

It was half a minute before Makoto dared to speak. “We can’t stay here,” he whispered. Kaida nodded right away and Shino made a slight bowing of his head. He kept the field in place, but the nod meant that he agreed. Makoto held up three fingers, and both nodded again. He counted the seconds, dropping a finger at a time until his hand was a fist and as one, the three shinobi burst into motion.

This was the enemy’s land, and that meant that the trees where too dangerous for them here, so they’d have to run on foot. It wasn’t really any better, but at least they wouldn’t risk being attacked from below. They hit the ground running and Makoto had his swords in his hands before he took his first step. Kaida kept her hands up, and Shino fell back a bit, straying to the middle, forming their usual bent triangle: Makoto on point, Kaida to the left and behind slightly, and Shino a step behind the pair.

One or two we can take, Makoto told himself, trying to see in all directions at once, But we have to find Akio-sensei fast. Kaida seemed to agree, he could see her scanning the woods for any enemies but it was surprisingly empty. Had they passed over them? Given up on the part of the woods? No, that would be too easy.

Shino’s hollow voice broke the repeating rhythm of foot beats. “Down!” The warning was barely in time. As Makoto and Kaida dove for the ground a swarm of kunai whipped over their heads. It took Kaida only a few seconds to send a lung full of blazing fire into the bushes the kunai had come from and the reward for her speed was the agonized scream of on of their enemies.

“We can’t keep this up,” Shino stated as they reformed their triangle and continued on, “Without Akio-sensei our chances...”

“Are slim to none,” finished Kaida, the disgust apparent in her voice. She didn’t think much of their inability to deal with the situation, a frustration Makoto shared, but the reality was they were outmatched.

Makoto considered for a moment, and then spoke. “We need a signal. Kaida.”

She looked at him in disbelief, “A signal? And let all of those guys know where we are?”

“We can either run around without direction or get Akio-sensei to come to us. Simple choice,” Makoto stated. “Signal. Now!”

Kaida muttered something under her breath but the group stopped and waited. She made a series of hand signals and looked skyward. A moment later, there was a column of flames billowing into the sky overhead. Everyone in the forest would be able to see it, and know exactly where the group was.

“What now?” Shino asked, taking a step closer to Makoto, sounding really concerned for the first time Makoto could remember.

“Now,” Makoto tightened his grip on his blades, “We hope sensei is faster than the enemy.”