Gene had been up since the hour of the Rabbit(5am) preparing for what was to come, he'd designed (with some help from his mother) a training regiment that would push his skills to the test. All in all, getting everything prepared took three days. All of which Gene spent either reading or going on walks around the village in order to familiarize himself with every nook and cranny within and outside of each district. He still had a ways to go in that regard but alas, we digress. Gene would bring in the hour of the Dragon not at home but rather, in one of Kohoha's training grounds emphasizing on diverse land conditions. A quick run over with his eyes yielded a plethora of shrubs, trees and a moderately large pond to work with. According to what his mother had told him, the only thing he needed to do was make it safely to the other end - everything else had already been put in place.
"Alright, here goes." Thought Gene as he leaned into his first step crossing the threshold from the entrance to the actual training grounds. Two spring triggered targets swung out from behind two separate trees on either side of the training ground officially signaling the start of training. Charging forward Gene loosed a single shuriken toward either target moving past as they impacted their mark with an audible thud. Upon taking his fifth step forward Gene was met with a sudden volley of Shuriken launched from a bush on his right side. He would have moved out of the way but behind him, a cut out of a bystander erected from the ground. Should he have chosen to move, they would lose their life & so he put what he'd been taught at the Academy to use. Quickly equipping himself with a Kunai in each hand Gene began deflecting the oncoming shuriken one by one knocking some of them into the path of other Shuriken to change their trajectory. It was a trap!
One of the Shuriken managed to get by Gene though luckily it had not hit the cut out. Instead, it sliced right through a hidden wire on the opposite end triggering another spring trap; a Kunai shooter! "Not good! Said Gene, backing up closer to the cut out while still fending off the on coming Shuriken. It was brief but for a moment Gene couldn't use his right hand, he needed it in order to find an explosive tag to wrap around the Kunai in his left hand. The same Kunai was then thrown in the direction of the in coming other knives and detonated. Unable to defend two places as once Gene moved to eliminate the secondary threat as soon as possible while knocking away the last of the Shuriken. Only after this was done could he move onward toward the opposite end.
He'd just begun his training and already things were getting to be noisy, the hour of the Dragon(7am-9am) would indeed prove to be a fiery one. The sound of explosions could be heard in the distance but only because there'd been so many in accumulated. Three times so far Gene had almost stepped on a hidden "Landmine" the first two occurrences happening within minutes of each other. The last incident took place as Gene had been moving toward the trees in an attempt to abstain from walking on the dirt surface, go figure. As the sun illuminated the area in full, the damage could be seen plain as day.
The smell of charred grass and dirt was strong and there were countless broken Kunai and Shuriken fragments scattered about. "I won't fail." Said Gene, despite the task itself being much more difficult than he would like to have admitted. There had still been a considerable distance between himself and the opposite end of the training ground, all of which that he'd rightfully assumed to bare some form of trap. As such, every new leap to a different tree branch had been done with extreme caution. However, even with all of his carefulness the Chunin still managed to make a mishap, one of the tree branches that he had landed on conveniently had an explosive tag on its underside. By the time Gene had noticed the flashing white light of its activation it'd been too late.
BOOM! In the distance it'd sounded like fireworks that had come dangerously close. People were beginning to grow uneasy as they traveled along the routes leading into the village from outer districts. The ground quaked in a less than soothing symphony of low toned rattles, some would even question if the village had been under attack again. Perhaps Guren had overdone it a bit...Still, it wasn't as though Gene hadn't expected her to go to some kind of extreme considering the last time he'd taken part in training associated with her she'd almost burned him to a crisp. "That was way to close! Said Gene through a sequence of labored breaths. He wasn't sure how but at the last moment he found the strength to change direction just enough to not take the blast full force. But his legs were riddled with splinters from the branch he'd landed on and his arms were tingling. Sweat trickled down the right side of his face and on to a piece of grass underneath where he'd been sitting. For the second time in his Shinobi career Gene questioned his occupation, surely there were much easier and significantly less dangerous ways to make money. "It'll be a miracle if I see the age of eighteen if mom keeps this up," Gene began while slowly removing each splinter carefully before standing up. He still had a ways to go, by the hour of the snake he wanted to be done with this exercise.
For now the explosions had subsided and the training grounds echoed a chilling silence. A lesser experienced Shinobi would have assumed the worst to be over but Gene knew better than that, his mother was crafty and had a knack for dramatics despite her best efforts to keep the truth obscured from her young Son. Though through years of dealing with his mother's 'laugh now punish you later' tactics, he'd developed an idea of how she liked to do things. Simply crossing to the other end of the training grounds was too easy of a task, there'd definitely be something waiting for him once he got there. But what? The thought worried Gene far more than he would have liked to admit.
[Graded]Silver Leaf
[Graded]Silver Leaf
The man’s footsteps hardly made a sound as he meandered through the streets of Konoha. Attentive, vigilant eyes scanned his surroundings habitually, though in fact the muscular Jounin was remarkably relaxed. The day was to be one which reconnected him to the people and the heart of the village. He had been training fervently for the past year, pushing his body to the point of breaking and then forcing himself further on a near daily basis. It was a mindset shared by many since the attack on Konoha, though Takeo knew that he was one of the few who truly had the potential to defeat shinobi at the caliber of Yaku and Enma. He had seen it as his duty to ascend into the top tier of the world’s shinobi; for the sake of the village. Throughout his childhood he had been little more than average and it wasn’t until he neared his 20’s that he finally began to make a name for himself but even then he was content to plateau as a skilled Special Jounin. That was until he met Yoru; the boy inspired him and pushed him to keep pace in a way that none had ever done before. In all of his years he had never witnessed anyone else with such natural talent, it was staggering. As Yoru’s Sensei he felt compelled to remain stronger than him, not only so that he could continue to teach his student but also so that he would always be able to fight alongside him and protect him.
Nearly 8 years had passed since he had taken on Yoru as a student and in that time the boy had quickly ascended the ranks. After only 3 years he had become a Jounin, only a few months after Takeo had finally reached that rank himself. The two had fought together as equals for several years, each keeping pace with another and quickly becoming known as two of the most elite Jounin the village had to offer. In the aftermath of the invasion however Yoru had finally surpassed him, being granted the rank of Bannin and developing his skills exponentially in a matter of months. Yet the young red-haired Bannin never doubted Takeo’s ability to achieve the same rank for himself. He had urged Takeo to join him in his endeavors with Mamorinuku and finally find a way to make a true difference within the village. At last Takeo was on the precipice of achieving that goal, he had been gathering recruits for his own organization; Anbu, which would act as a personal task force for the Hokage. Though as it stood currently there was nobody to fill that role. Many considered Takeo himself as a candidate, a proposal supported by several of the villages Bannin as well as key officials of the Fire country. After the recent death of Kawa, who had been publically recognized as the next in line to fill the position, it seemed that Takeo now more than ever would be considered.
Of course Takeo was well aware of his growing reputation throughout the village though still he found it difficult to believe that he had ascended so high. Ultimately however, as much as he prepared himself for the likelihood one could not simply apply for the role; they had to be tested and chosen. Unbeknownst to him however he had already passed the first test and the second would soon follow. As he wandered the streets his eyes fell upon each person that he passed. While some seemed to recognize him, namely any shinobi chunin or higher there were many who saw him as nothing more than another passing ninja. He reveled in that sense of animosity, he had never been one drawn to the spotlight, not like his sister Ayame or Yoru whom he had come to think of as a brother. His skills as a leader and a tactician however were unquestionable as was his compassion and strength. If the village needed him, if he was chosen, he would rise to the challenge. It was with this thought that his reverie was interrupted by the sound of an explosion. His head jerked towards the direction of the noise. Training most likely but then there were others in rapid succession. His curiosity had been piqued. The Jounin moved with a natural swiftness, leaping onto a barrel and then to the overhang of a roof, quickly vaulting the edge and moving into a sprint. He leapt between rooftops, trees and posts, vaulting over obstacles with fluidity and grace without slowing pace. Before long he reached the end of the residential area, rolling smoothly as he landed on a dirt path before continuing towards the training grounds. He was moving at a casual speed by his standards, equivalent to a Taijutsu centered Special Jounin.
As the path became encroached upon by greenery and forested sections the woodsman habitually took to the cover of the tree-line. He remained at ground level, expertly navigating the terrain while making minimal noise and utilizing every bit of cover to his advantage. The man felt as at home in the forest as any animal. He sniffed at the air, picking up the scent of charred grass and sweat. 'Only one scent' he noted, relaxing by a degree or two. So it was just a training exercise after all. Peering through the shrubbery and behind the cover of a large tree the man confirmed that there was only the sole teenager. He had arrived behind the silver-haired young man, who it seemed was attempting to cross some sort of minefield of traps. “Interesting” he muttered as he stood and emerged from his cover, casually approaching though scanning the area thoroughly for traps as he neared his fellow shinobi. “Looks like quite the set up you’ve got here. Mind if I join?” he questioned playfully. He was smirking at the prospect of attempting a different sort of training. Typically he simply fought shadow clones of himself in teams of two which was fantastic for overcoming one’s own shortcomings and pushing one’s tactical repertoire though it didn’t quite offer the same spontaneity of entering a training field prepared by someone else.
Nearly 8 years had passed since he had taken on Yoru as a student and in that time the boy had quickly ascended the ranks. After only 3 years he had become a Jounin, only a few months after Takeo had finally reached that rank himself. The two had fought together as equals for several years, each keeping pace with another and quickly becoming known as two of the most elite Jounin the village had to offer. In the aftermath of the invasion however Yoru had finally surpassed him, being granted the rank of Bannin and developing his skills exponentially in a matter of months. Yet the young red-haired Bannin never doubted Takeo’s ability to achieve the same rank for himself. He had urged Takeo to join him in his endeavors with Mamorinuku and finally find a way to make a true difference within the village. At last Takeo was on the precipice of achieving that goal, he had been gathering recruits for his own organization; Anbu, which would act as a personal task force for the Hokage. Though as it stood currently there was nobody to fill that role. Many considered Takeo himself as a candidate, a proposal supported by several of the villages Bannin as well as key officials of the Fire country. After the recent death of Kawa, who had been publically recognized as the next in line to fill the position, it seemed that Takeo now more than ever would be considered.
Of course Takeo was well aware of his growing reputation throughout the village though still he found it difficult to believe that he had ascended so high. Ultimately however, as much as he prepared himself for the likelihood one could not simply apply for the role; they had to be tested and chosen. Unbeknownst to him however he had already passed the first test and the second would soon follow. As he wandered the streets his eyes fell upon each person that he passed. While some seemed to recognize him, namely any shinobi chunin or higher there were many who saw him as nothing more than another passing ninja. He reveled in that sense of animosity, he had never been one drawn to the spotlight, not like his sister Ayame or Yoru whom he had come to think of as a brother. His skills as a leader and a tactician however were unquestionable as was his compassion and strength. If the village needed him, if he was chosen, he would rise to the challenge. It was with this thought that his reverie was interrupted by the sound of an explosion. His head jerked towards the direction of the noise. Training most likely but then there were others in rapid succession. His curiosity had been piqued. The Jounin moved with a natural swiftness, leaping onto a barrel and then to the overhang of a roof, quickly vaulting the edge and moving into a sprint. He leapt between rooftops, trees and posts, vaulting over obstacles with fluidity and grace without slowing pace. Before long he reached the end of the residential area, rolling smoothly as he landed on a dirt path before continuing towards the training grounds. He was moving at a casual speed by his standards, equivalent to a Taijutsu centered Special Jounin.
As the path became encroached upon by greenery and forested sections the woodsman habitually took to the cover of the tree-line. He remained at ground level, expertly navigating the terrain while making minimal noise and utilizing every bit of cover to his advantage. The man felt as at home in the forest as any animal. He sniffed at the air, picking up the scent of charred grass and sweat. 'Only one scent' he noted, relaxing by a degree or two. So it was just a training exercise after all. Peering through the shrubbery and behind the cover of a large tree the man confirmed that there was only the sole teenager. He had arrived behind the silver-haired young man, who it seemed was attempting to cross some sort of minefield of traps. “Interesting” he muttered as he stood and emerged from his cover, casually approaching though scanning the area thoroughly for traps as he neared his fellow shinobi. “Looks like quite the set up you’ve got here. Mind if I join?” he questioned playfully. He was smirking at the prospect of attempting a different sort of training. Typically he simply fought shadow clones of himself in teams of two which was fantastic for overcoming one’s own shortcomings and pushing one’s tactical repertoire though it didn’t quite offer the same spontaneity of entering a training field prepared by someone else.
Techniques usedShow
Silent Footsteps
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
A fundamental skill in a hunter’s repertoire, Takeo has learned to move at a walking pace without his steps making any discernable sounds. Even in thick foliage he can identify and navigate around fragile twigs and dry leaves and step on vegetation in a way as to not make a sound.
Lurking in the Shadows
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
This pseudo-camouflage technique doesn’t grant any form of true invisibility, simply it dictates Takeo’s ability to approach and stalk his targets unseen. Much like the animals of the forest he can seem to disappear simply by stepping into the foliage, knowing exactly how to navigate any natural or artificial cover that may present itself without exposing himself to visual identification save for the most perceptive of targets.
Fangless Hound
B-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Growing up surrounded by Inuzuka Takeo has developed a nose keen enough to rival their own. He can pick up on faint scents that average shinobi wouldn’t even notice to the point where he can distinguish the individual body scents of people as well as determine specific species of animals even by just a strand of hair. The passive range of this ability is about 30 meters though if he has picked up on a trail he can continue to follow it to its source assuming there are still scent particles in the air or physical remnants of a trail.
D-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
A fundamental skill in a hunter’s repertoire, Takeo has learned to move at a walking pace without his steps making any discernable sounds. Even in thick foliage he can identify and navigate around fragile twigs and dry leaves and step on vegetation in a way as to not make a sound.
Lurking in the Shadows
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
This pseudo-camouflage technique doesn’t grant any form of true invisibility, simply it dictates Takeo’s ability to approach and stalk his targets unseen. Much like the animals of the forest he can seem to disappear simply by stepping into the foliage, knowing exactly how to navigate any natural or artificial cover that may present itself without exposing himself to visual identification save for the most perceptive of targets.
Fangless Hound
B-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Growing up surrounded by Inuzuka Takeo has developed a nose keen enough to rival their own. He can pick up on faint scents that average shinobi wouldn’t even notice to the point where he can distinguish the individual body scents of people as well as determine specific species of animals even by just a strand of hair. The passive range of this ability is about 30 meters though if he has picked up on a trail he can continue to follow it to its source assuming there are still scent particles in the air or physical remnants of a trail.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
In the moments calm Gene ran over what he'd just endured several times over in his head and formed several open-ended ideas on what to expect through further action. However, if he could help it, each risk taken would be a calculated gamble that he could afford with minimal damage to himself. A glance down at the small holes in his pants and shrapnel covered flak vest served as a reminder of why this was necessary. There were traps strategically placed all throughout this area and anyone foolish enough to prance on through blindly as he'd done before perhaps would not have shared luck similar to his own. He'd been careless but in his recklessness Gene took valuable information (proceed with caution among these things to note) away from the experience.
Scanning first from the left side near the forest perimeter and working his way slowly toward the right with his eyes, Gene made out a white piece of paper sticking to a tree four meters out to his three o' clock. But there was something else that had also captured his attention, a peculiar scent carried in the breeze. It was neither seared grass nor tree nor dirt, it was out of place in the already less than favorable scents that currently presented themselves to Gene; but more than that, it was Human. Gene would have liked to dismiss the involuntary sense but his training forbid him from doing so, not to mention by now the foot steps had begun to grow more audible meaning that someone was closing in on him.
Long before he'd actually heard the voice Gene had been aware of being watched and frankly, it was not a feeling that he could get used to. What the average villager would have dismissed as mild paranoia was somewhat normal for Shinobi like Gene whom relied heavily on his instincts and better judgement above all else. It was the only way he'd learned to feel safe in a world where literally anything was possible at any given moment. That said, the fluidity of which he'd slipped his left hand down toward the blue thigh holster on his left leg and drew a Kunai from it while simultaneously pivoting off his right foot screamed hours of practice on a regular basis. Though when his Auburn hued eyes met with the Jounin who'd stumbled upon his training session there had definitely been plenty of room for questions.
For starters, Gene despite the fact that he'd been holding a Kunai up out of habit to deal a mortal blow if need be, he didn't carry a particularly menacing glare about him. In fact, his Auburn eyes seemed aloof as though he weren't there at all. "Who are you?" Gene asked, wondering who in the hell this person had been to interrupt his training. Damn answering the Jounin's question Gene had some questions of his own that needed answers. If only he'd known that he stood in front of quite possibly one of the most powerful Shinobi in Konoha things may have been different. But at present, he didn't. Because of that Gene was intent on giving this guy the same benefit of the doubt as he would anyone else. All the while he'd made note of the Jounin's stature and reasoned that he was considerably strong, stronger than himself perhaps...He'd have to find out.
Scanning first from the left side near the forest perimeter and working his way slowly toward the right with his eyes, Gene made out a white piece of paper sticking to a tree four meters out to his three o' clock. But there was something else that had also captured his attention, a peculiar scent carried in the breeze. It was neither seared grass nor tree nor dirt, it was out of place in the already less than favorable scents that currently presented themselves to Gene; but more than that, it was Human. Gene would have liked to dismiss the involuntary sense but his training forbid him from doing so, not to mention by now the foot steps had begun to grow more audible meaning that someone was closing in on him.
Long before he'd actually heard the voice Gene had been aware of being watched and frankly, it was not a feeling that he could get used to. What the average villager would have dismissed as mild paranoia was somewhat normal for Shinobi like Gene whom relied heavily on his instincts and better judgement above all else. It was the only way he'd learned to feel safe in a world where literally anything was possible at any given moment. That said, the fluidity of which he'd slipped his left hand down toward the blue thigh holster on his left leg and drew a Kunai from it while simultaneously pivoting off his right foot screamed hours of practice on a regular basis. Though when his Auburn hued eyes met with the Jounin who'd stumbled upon his training session there had definitely been plenty of room for questions.
For starters, Gene despite the fact that he'd been holding a Kunai up out of habit to deal a mortal blow if need be, he didn't carry a particularly menacing glare about him. In fact, his Auburn eyes seemed aloof as though he weren't there at all. "Who are you?" Gene asked, wondering who in the hell this person had been to interrupt his training. Damn answering the Jounin's question Gene had some questions of his own that needed answers. If only he'd known that he stood in front of quite possibly one of the most powerful Shinobi in Konoha things may have been different. But at present, he didn't. Because of that Gene was intent on giving this guy the same benefit of the doubt as he would anyone else. All the while he'd made note of the Jounin's stature and reasoned that he was considerably strong, stronger than himself perhaps...He'd have to find out.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo approached with the natural slowness of a hunter cautiously approaching his prey, out of habit he slowed his breathing and moved in from the young shinobi’s blind spot. His crisp blue eyes surveyed the young Chunin, appraising him and already noting a drastic improvement in ability since the last time he had seen him. He was curious as to how the silver haired shinobi would react, he had proved an adequate tactician in his Chunin exam and already having witnessed glimpses of his training that the boy possessed keen reflexes and a natural knack for combat. While it had been a coincidence to come across him on this day Takeo was well aware of whom Gene was and had in fact considered him a prospect for Anbu. Perhaps now would be a prime opportunity to gauge just how close he was to meeting the criteria. The Jounin’s hands hovered next to his thighs as he approached, his body was adorned in a variety of weapons, kunai holsters on each thigh, a dagger across his lower back and a wakizashi at his shoulder. He even kept a pair of knives hidden within his metal arm guards. Though the man wouldn’t make for any of his weapons, he didn’t intend to harm the young man after all and should Gene respond violently he was confident in his ability to respond and defend accordingly.
The silver haired shinobi spun, deftly readying a weapon in defense as Takeo came within 15ft of him. The bearded Jounin smirked, pleasantly surprised by his awareness; either his tailing ability was getting sloppy or Gene was much more intuitive to his surroundings than he would have thought of someone his age and rank. Already he was proving himself far more capable than the Aburame whom had been tested alongside him. The man raised his hands, palms open in a show of neutrality, “Easy now. My name’s Takeo. Heard the explosions and thought I’d see what was going on.” He explained. Though the man opted to forgo the standard flak jacket in favor of a sleeveless black and brown haori over a black shirt it was still evident that he was a shinobi. As always he proudly wore his headband, displaying the village insignia. He found it rather amusing that so many of the younger generation didn’t recognize many of the village’s most elite Jounin. It seemed that true infamy and idolization was reserved for those whom are promoted to Bannin as well as the focal point of the dreams of many; the Hokage. Still Takeo made a habit to become familiar with the faces of every shinobi in the village of Chunin rank or higher. Any of notable skill or mention he had even went to the length of checking into their personal files and mission histories.
The silver haired shinobi spun, deftly readying a weapon in defense as Takeo came within 15ft of him. The bearded Jounin smirked, pleasantly surprised by his awareness; either his tailing ability was getting sloppy or Gene was much more intuitive to his surroundings than he would have thought of someone his age and rank. Already he was proving himself far more capable than the Aburame whom had been tested alongside him. The man raised his hands, palms open in a show of neutrality, “Easy now. My name’s Takeo. Heard the explosions and thought I’d see what was going on.” He explained. Though the man opted to forgo the standard flak jacket in favor of a sleeveless black and brown haori over a black shirt it was still evident that he was a shinobi. As always he proudly wore his headband, displaying the village insignia. He found it rather amusing that so many of the younger generation didn’t recognize many of the village’s most elite Jounin. It seemed that true infamy and idolization was reserved for those whom are promoted to Bannin as well as the focal point of the dreams of many; the Hokage. Still Takeo made a habit to become familiar with the faces of every shinobi in the village of Chunin rank or higher. Any of notable skill or mention he had even went to the length of checking into their personal files and mission histories.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh Slunk!* Gene twirled the kunai around his index finger several times before slipping it back inside of the pouch it'd come from. Taking a deep breath through his nostrils and soon releasing the air from his lips as he did so; letting his nerves stable in the process. On the bright side, the person who approached him definitely wasn't an enemy - but after he'd introduced himself Gene realized his own folly. "Sorry." Gene apologized in a low tone of voice but it was clear that he hadn't the slightest intention of dropping his guard. Now his mind led him through several doors of uncertainty; he'd never actually met Takeo in person before but he'd have had to live under a rock to not hear the stories that preceded his name. One story in particular placed the man at ground zero during the invasion roughly a year ago. Even to this day Gene still had nightmares of the incident, the countless innocent women and children caught in the crossfire, the Shinobi who'd laid down their lives for the sake of the village, the destruction! Gene vowed never to forgive those two for what they'd done - but more importantly, he'd taken an oath on that day to never allow something like that to happen again.
Gene was young but the will he possessed was undoubtedly equal to those three, four, even ten years his senior. Though there could be no question, his exploits were neigh significant when paired along side those of the man standing before him. His gaze had been even more intense than Aina's (and she could stare daggers through anyone) which definitely spoke for his experience. "I hadn't even noticed him until he'd already closed in...even with the wind carrying his scent.This guy is something else.." Gene thought to himself, making a mental note before parting his lips to speak. "I've been here since five this morning. I guess I hadn't realized it until now." Gene admitted honestly, the tatters in his pants and ample blotches of dust and debris on his flak jacket were dead give away to how hard Gene had been training up until now. His cheeks were stained with green from grass that had been kicked up giving him a rougher appearance than usual. "I've rested long enough." Said Gene sternly. He'd made a goal to cross over to the other side before noon and that was what he intended on doing .
Turning around to face the the obstacle ahead Gene scanned the area once more before returning his attention to the white slip of paper that he assumed had been placed there by his mother. The fact that it'd been there in the first place made him skeptical, so he wouldn't even attempt going to examine it himself. Instead, the young Mitsurugi brought his hands together at chest level in a 'cross' formation with both index and middle fingers of either hand; otherwise recognizable to Leaf higher ups as the "Shadow clone" hand seal. Gene's hold over his chakra was fine & precise; as a result, he'd created two perfect replicas of himself . One of the clones would be used to investigate while the other proceeded up the training field in an attempt to snuff out any more hidden traps that may have still been present. Gene learned from his last encounter not to rush in carelessly and decided to take it slow this time - though inevitably he would eventually have to cross through the danger himself.
The original turned to face Takeo again before speaking. "Were you serious about what you said before?"
With caution and swiftness in every step, Gene (second clone) neared the tree where he could clearly see the white note clinging to its base. At two meters out he could make out the words "Shrink" and "Think" so he moved in closer to get a better look at what had been written down, reading aloud: "Danger is closer than what you think, I must expand before I shrink." Great, a riddle. Just what Gene needed on top of the already problematic situation. Thinking to himself, he repeated the riddle twice before his eyes grew wide. Turning back toward where the original of himself and Takeo stood Gene shouted Oi! You two get far away quick!" Just then, in a violent uproar the ground beneath Takeo and the original Gene split apart in a blinding light reminiscent to that of a paper bomb in detonation - but what they were dealing with weren't paper bombs.
Unknown to Gene his mother had gotten together with specialists in Shinobi tools for the sake of adding an extra edge of realism to his training. What'd they'd come up with was a special Shinobi tool housed only in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, a fuinjutsu tag with a unique barrier property sealed inside of it - that technique was what the two of them; Takeo & Gene, were seeing now. The fruits of months of tech lab work produced a violent offensive barrier which as the riddle suggested, expands rapidly before just as quickly, shrinking to the size of a 2x2x2 dimmensional cube, crushing whatever was unfortunate enough to be caught inside. Of course, for the sake of this training if caught inside, his mother had made sure to stress that the barrier be broken by a at a strength of 20, though in real world use the barrier's strength would be significantly increased to at least twice that. (ftr)
Meanwhile, the first clone advanced up the scorched and blown apart sections of the training field and for a while, it'd started to look as though there weren't anymore traps to deal with until an audible click registered in his eardrum along with the sensation of dread, he'd accidentally stepped on a landmine however it didn't go off. By some grace of Kami the damned thing didn't go off, only because Gene had not attempted to move his foot after stepping on it - instead, he remained stiff and still as a nail. Turning his head to relay the message back to the original but it seemed as though they had their own problems to worry about. "This isn't goo-"*BOOM* The thunderous echo of an explosion quaked the ground and in an instant, one of Gene's shadow clones had been obliterated. Before he'd been destroyed the clone of Gene only hoped that the original received the warning in enough time....
Gene was young but the will he possessed was undoubtedly equal to those three, four, even ten years his senior. Though there could be no question, his exploits were neigh significant when paired along side those of the man standing before him. His gaze had been even more intense than Aina's (and she could stare daggers through anyone) which definitely spoke for his experience. "I hadn't even noticed him until he'd already closed in...even with the wind carrying his scent.This guy is something else.." Gene thought to himself, making a mental note before parting his lips to speak. "I've been here since five this morning. I guess I hadn't realized it until now." Gene admitted honestly, the tatters in his pants and ample blotches of dust and debris on his flak jacket were dead give away to how hard Gene had been training up until now. His cheeks were stained with green from grass that had been kicked up giving him a rougher appearance than usual. "I've rested long enough." Said Gene sternly. He'd made a goal to cross over to the other side before noon and that was what he intended on doing .
Turning around to face the the obstacle ahead Gene scanned the area once more before returning his attention to the white slip of paper that he assumed had been placed there by his mother. The fact that it'd been there in the first place made him skeptical, so he wouldn't even attempt going to examine it himself. Instead, the young Mitsurugi brought his hands together at chest level in a 'cross' formation with both index and middle fingers of either hand; otherwise recognizable to Leaf higher ups as the "Shadow clone" hand seal. Gene's hold over his chakra was fine & precise; as a result, he'd created two perfect replicas of himself . One of the clones would be used to investigate while the other proceeded up the training field in an attempt to snuff out any more hidden traps that may have still been present. Gene learned from his last encounter not to rush in carelessly and decided to take it slow this time - though inevitably he would eventually have to cross through the danger himself.
The original turned to face Takeo again before speaking. "Were you serious about what you said before?"
With caution and swiftness in every step, Gene (second clone) neared the tree where he could clearly see the white note clinging to its base. At two meters out he could make out the words "Shrink" and "Think" so he moved in closer to get a better look at what had been written down, reading aloud: "Danger is closer than what you think, I must expand before I shrink." Great, a riddle. Just what Gene needed on top of the already problematic situation. Thinking to himself, he repeated the riddle twice before his eyes grew wide. Turning back toward where the original of himself and Takeo stood Gene shouted Oi! You two get far away quick!" Just then, in a violent uproar the ground beneath Takeo and the original Gene split apart in a blinding light reminiscent to that of a paper bomb in detonation - but what they were dealing with weren't paper bombs.
Unknown to Gene his mother had gotten together with specialists in Shinobi tools for the sake of adding an extra edge of realism to his training. What'd they'd come up with was a special Shinobi tool housed only in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, a fuinjutsu tag with a unique barrier property sealed inside of it - that technique was what the two of them; Takeo & Gene, were seeing now. The fruits of months of tech lab work produced a violent offensive barrier which as the riddle suggested, expands rapidly before just as quickly, shrinking to the size of a 2x2x2 dimmensional cube, crushing whatever was unfortunate enough to be caught inside. Of course, for the sake of this training if caught inside, his mother had made sure to stress that the barrier be broken by a at a strength of 20, though in real world use the barrier's strength would be significantly increased to at least twice that. (ftr)
Meanwhile, the first clone advanced up the scorched and blown apart sections of the training field and for a while, it'd started to look as though there weren't anymore traps to deal with until an audible click registered in his eardrum along with the sensation of dread, he'd accidentally stepped on a landmine however it didn't go off. By some grace of Kami the damned thing didn't go off, only because Gene had not attempted to move his foot after stepping on it - instead, he remained stiff and still as a nail. Turning his head to relay the message back to the original but it seemed as though they had their own problems to worry about. "This isn't goo-"*BOOM* The thunderous echo of an explosion quaked the ground and in an instant, one of Gene's shadow clones had been obliterated. Before he'd been destroyed the clone of Gene only hoped that the original received the warning in enough time....
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo chuckled lightly as Gene apologized. “No worries, I’ve drawn a kunai on a comrade quite a few times in my younger days, it’s good to be cautious” he admitted. They were shinobi after all, any of any notable skill had honed their senses and reactions to always be on guard and vigilant. It was a quality he respected and in fact he disdained those who remained oblivious or naïve. They were traits of a civilian, unbefitting of a warrior. Too many shinobi, especially Genin and young Chunin were painfully optimistic and ignorant as to what their profession entailed. While he valued the preservation of a child’s innocence, he cared more for the lives of his fellow leaf shinobi and any who ventured beyond the village and into a situation that could call for combat he wished to be prepared physically and mentally for the challenges that they must face and overcome. Standing before Gene he could sense that the young man contained the spirit of a warrior and the presence of an individual far more skilled and experienced than his rank and record would indicate.
The elite Jounin regarded Gene with an unreadable expression. As ever his intense piercing eyes scrutinized every aspect of everything his gaze fell upon. Subconsciously he picked up on many minute details; colors, markings, relative height, weight, scuff marks and even his breathing rate. His mind processed all of these things and pieced together a picture of exactly how formidable the young Chunin was. He noted the position and angle of grass stains, indicating the manner in which the young man rolled and which shoulder he favored; his left it seemed. He also pieced together a variety of combat situations, formulating the likely causes of each of his cuts and scrapes. Combined with his prior knowledge of how the young man fought he could likely already anticipate his typical reactions. His attention shifted to the Chunin’s facial features as he spoke, the young man had a great deal of control over his emotions, giving away no hint of exaggeration or deceit. Takeo himself tended to be somewhat more expressive though he was quite skilled at reading body language and micro expressions. ‘Impressive’ he noted mentally. Even he didn’t typically start his day quite so early.
When the silver haired shinobi turned away Takeo simply slipped his hands in his pockets, watching casually. For a moment he wasn't sure if the young man simply intended to ignore him and continue with his training. He hadn’t yet commented on whether or not he wished the more experienced Jounin to try his hand at the training course, perhaps it had been seen as an intrusion on something personal. The muscular Jounin smirked as the shadow clones came into existence. He was surprised that Gene was able to create two of them in his condition, though he wagered the young man had exceptional chakra control he didn’t seem the type to have an overabundance of chakra. He wouldn’t comment on the matter however, surely Gene knew his own limits. The bearded warrior followed his comrade’s line of sight, piecing together his intent. As the original turned to address him the man couldn’t help but grin widely. “Hell yeah” he nodded affirmatively. Oddly enough the idea of being assailed by knives and explosives was incredibly exciting. In a show of playful anticipation the muscular man performed a few quick stretches, ensuring that his muscles were limber and ready.
As Gene’s shadow clone neared the note Takeo focused on honing his senses in to his location. Even from his distance he could hear the shadow clone as if he stood next to him. His mind quickly set to work in considering possible solutions; quicksand, barriers, and even specific elemental attacks crossed his mind. It all depended on how vague the riddle or obscure the riddle was meant to be. As the light emerged beneath them Takeo instinctively sprang into action. In order to create as much distance as possible he moved immediately into a cartwheel, using the momentum to spring him forward in a powerful horizontal leap before finally tucking effortlessly into a forward roll, furthering his distance even more. He hadn’t wasted a single moment or motion of his body, chaining together every action flawlessly and ultimately putting over 30 feet between himself and the seal in only a little over a second. If it had required it he could have transitioned from the roll into a sprint to further escape the range of the trap though he doubted that would be necessary.
The barrier was still expanding by the time he spun out of his roll, landing in a crouched position and instinctively drawing a kunai with his left hand and countering with a powerful throw. As it began to shrink his kunai thudded into its wall, shattering through both sides of the chakra construct and continuing for another 50 feet before splitting an unfortunate tree with the thundering force of its impact. He hadn’t meant to steal the spotlight in any way, in fact his actions hadn’t even been made with conscious thought and even his own strength he was still adjusting to. “I almost wish I got caught in that thing, would have been fun to overpower it with my bare hands. Might even make for a good workout if it was a little stronger” he noted lightly. It was certainly an innovative idea, it was unfortunate that neither barriers nor Fuuinjutsu were his area of expertize otherwise he would surely make use of a technique of that nature.
As he began to stand he felt a click under his foot, something had shifted. “Well damn” he mused nonchalantly as Gene’s clone exploded, confirming that he had unknowingly entered the same minefield when he had evaded the barrier. “You really don’t play around, do you Gene?” he said with a chuckle, watching the young man attentively in anticipation for his reaction. He intentional slipped his name in, knowing that the Chunin hadn’t actually introduced himself. “Although I imagine that you didn’t set all this up by yourself, a Jounin friend perhaps, or maybe your mother or father?” he wondered, musing more to himself than anything. Regardless of whether or not Gene answered him he decided to address the mine under his foot. Flexing his powerful legs and crouching the man pushed himself off the ground, leaping straight into the air with all of his strength. The explosion sounded beneath him though he remained just out of its blast radius, propelled to 25ft into the air. At the height of his leap Takeo surveyed the battlefield. Aerial combat was far from his preference and in fact such an evasive tactic was far from his usual preference, though in this situation if he had rolled as he normally would there was no telling if he would set off another mine. Casually he formed a set of hand seals, bringing his hand to his lips as he began to descend. An array of fireballs blasted the area around where he had stood, setting off any mines in their proximity and granting him with at least a 20ft diameter safe zone to work with. He would tuck and roll as he landed, he had never learned the details of high style and still felt rather uncomfortable feeling so vulnerable in mid-air. The hang time had felt like an eternity and now finally close to solid earth once more he could feel back in his element.
The elite Jounin regarded Gene with an unreadable expression. As ever his intense piercing eyes scrutinized every aspect of everything his gaze fell upon. Subconsciously he picked up on many minute details; colors, markings, relative height, weight, scuff marks and even his breathing rate. His mind processed all of these things and pieced together a picture of exactly how formidable the young Chunin was. He noted the position and angle of grass stains, indicating the manner in which the young man rolled and which shoulder he favored; his left it seemed. He also pieced together a variety of combat situations, formulating the likely causes of each of his cuts and scrapes. Combined with his prior knowledge of how the young man fought he could likely already anticipate his typical reactions. His attention shifted to the Chunin’s facial features as he spoke, the young man had a great deal of control over his emotions, giving away no hint of exaggeration or deceit. Takeo himself tended to be somewhat more expressive though he was quite skilled at reading body language and micro expressions. ‘Impressive’ he noted mentally. Even he didn’t typically start his day quite so early.
When the silver haired shinobi turned away Takeo simply slipped his hands in his pockets, watching casually. For a moment he wasn't sure if the young man simply intended to ignore him and continue with his training. He hadn’t yet commented on whether or not he wished the more experienced Jounin to try his hand at the training course, perhaps it had been seen as an intrusion on something personal. The muscular Jounin smirked as the shadow clones came into existence. He was surprised that Gene was able to create two of them in his condition, though he wagered the young man had exceptional chakra control he didn’t seem the type to have an overabundance of chakra. He wouldn’t comment on the matter however, surely Gene knew his own limits. The bearded warrior followed his comrade’s line of sight, piecing together his intent. As the original turned to address him the man couldn’t help but grin widely. “Hell yeah” he nodded affirmatively. Oddly enough the idea of being assailed by knives and explosives was incredibly exciting. In a show of playful anticipation the muscular man performed a few quick stretches, ensuring that his muscles were limber and ready.
As Gene’s shadow clone neared the note Takeo focused on honing his senses in to his location. Even from his distance he could hear the shadow clone as if he stood next to him. His mind quickly set to work in considering possible solutions; quicksand, barriers, and even specific elemental attacks crossed his mind. It all depended on how vague the riddle or obscure the riddle was meant to be. As the light emerged beneath them Takeo instinctively sprang into action. In order to create as much distance as possible he moved immediately into a cartwheel, using the momentum to spring him forward in a powerful horizontal leap before finally tucking effortlessly into a forward roll, furthering his distance even more. He hadn’t wasted a single moment or motion of his body, chaining together every action flawlessly and ultimately putting over 30 feet between himself and the seal in only a little over a second. If it had required it he could have transitioned from the roll into a sprint to further escape the range of the trap though he doubted that would be necessary.
The barrier was still expanding by the time he spun out of his roll, landing in a crouched position and instinctively drawing a kunai with his left hand and countering with a powerful throw. As it began to shrink his kunai thudded into its wall, shattering through both sides of the chakra construct and continuing for another 50 feet before splitting an unfortunate tree with the thundering force of its impact. He hadn’t meant to steal the spotlight in any way, in fact his actions hadn’t even been made with conscious thought and even his own strength he was still adjusting to. “I almost wish I got caught in that thing, would have been fun to overpower it with my bare hands. Might even make for a good workout if it was a little stronger” he noted lightly. It was certainly an innovative idea, it was unfortunate that neither barriers nor Fuuinjutsu were his area of expertize otherwise he would surely make use of a technique of that nature.
As he began to stand he felt a click under his foot, something had shifted. “Well damn” he mused nonchalantly as Gene’s clone exploded, confirming that he had unknowingly entered the same minefield when he had evaded the barrier. “You really don’t play around, do you Gene?” he said with a chuckle, watching the young man attentively in anticipation for his reaction. He intentional slipped his name in, knowing that the Chunin hadn’t actually introduced himself. “Although I imagine that you didn’t set all this up by yourself, a Jounin friend perhaps, or maybe your mother or father?” he wondered, musing more to himself than anything. Regardless of whether or not Gene answered him he decided to address the mine under his foot. Flexing his powerful legs and crouching the man pushed himself off the ground, leaping straight into the air with all of his strength. The explosion sounded beneath him though he remained just out of its blast radius, propelled to 25ft into the air. At the height of his leap Takeo surveyed the battlefield. Aerial combat was far from his preference and in fact such an evasive tactic was far from his usual preference, though in this situation if he had rolled as he normally would there was no telling if he would set off another mine. Casually he formed a set of hand seals, bringing his hand to his lips as he began to descend. An array of fireballs blasted the area around where he had stood, setting off any mines in their proximity and granting him with at least a 20ft diameter safe zone to work with. He would tuck and roll as he landed, he had never learned the details of high style and still felt rather uncomfortable feeling so vulnerable in mid-air. The hang time had felt like an eternity and now finally close to solid earth once more he could feel back in his element.
Jutsu UsedShow
[Katon • Mythical Fire Phoenix Technique]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the needed hand seals, the user draws in a deep breath before emitting a spread of small fireballs, about the size of a basketball at a speed of 15 in a linear direction. The ninja can also hurl a projectile, which is covered in these same flames. To the opponent, the attack appears to be only the balls of flame, they do not see the hidden threat within the flames. Even if the flames are put out, the projectiles still converge on the target. The flames can travel up to thirty feet and impact with a strength of 5 each.
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the needed hand seals, the user draws in a deep breath before emitting a spread of small fireballs, about the size of a basketball at a speed of 15 in a linear direction. The ninja can also hurl a projectile, which is covered in these same flames. To the opponent, the attack appears to be only the balls of flame, they do not see the hidden threat within the flames. Even if the flames are put out, the projectiles still converge on the target. The flames can travel up to thirty feet and impact with a strength of 5 each.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Something about Takeo's response worried Gene. For some reason, he'd been reminded for an instant of the same "act now ask questions later" attitude that one of his old friends became known for in the past. But more than that, he was sure that Takeo hadn't noticed the brief glimmer in his own eyes at the prospect of leaping into dangerous circumstances. The grin preceding the expression was dangerous & Gene was fairly certain that whatever was to come behind it could only be chalked up to years of experience and perhaps, far too much time spent out in the field.
It wouldn't be long before Gene could catch a glimpse of the Humble Beast's ability thanks to a near blinding white light cutting their discussion short. Fortunately, the warning given by his clone had been heard. In unison with Takeo, Gene swayed his upper body to his left and pivoted off his right foot before leaping with all his might away from the blast. While in the air, Gene curled his legs as tight as he could toward his chest and tucked his head letting the force from the blast propel him like a basketball toward toward a tree some twelve feet away. As he neared it, his legs shot out as if to release all the stored energy in them at once until he'd been completely straight and aligned with the base of the tree.
Focusing his chakra down into the soles of his feet Gene managed to stick a solid landing to the side of the tree only to leap from it less than a second later putting another ten feet between himself and the explosion. Lucky that he did for as he'd taken flight Gene saw a kunai splitting through the tree he had only just left moments ago which caused an awkward bead of sweat to roll down the right side of his cheek. "That was close..." Gene thought to himself as he landed in a crouched position along a dirt trail some few meters away from where Takeo had been. Just as Gene were about to lead into bringing up how the man knew his name the idea was cut short by the sound of countless Kunai wisping through the forest - all aimed for the two of them.
"I guess I spoke to soon." In a mad backwards dash Gene retreated from the forest land back out into the open environment while fending off the kunai assault by deflecting those that came too close toward other incoming knives knocking some of them off course. However, the barrage seemed unrelenting and before long Gene had been riddled with cuts along his arms and thighs - being forced into the perimeter that Takeo had created with his Fire style Ninjutsu. "It's amazing what a stray Kunai can do." Gene remarked sarcastically having witnessed the Kunai that Takeo had used to destroy the barrier fly long past its needed range and slice through a wire which led to their current predicament. "Now isn't the time for questions you know?"
The Kunai held in Gene's left hand had shattered under a forceful impact with another incoming projectile which had caused his hand to vibrate uncontrollably for a moment. There'd been a fair amount of pain but it was nothing compared to the dangers that the two were currently facing; for now at least, he would suck it up and quickly equip another Kunai knife while using his opposite hand to pick up the slack as he did so. Once the last knife had been deflected the scene looked like an old war zone. Kunai fragments, seared earth, toppled trees - there was destruction everywhere he looked. And yet, they weren't even part way through the exercise. There was still the mind field to worry about not to mention other stray traps that likely inhabited the area. "Compared to what a typical training session is in my family - I'd say my mother was lenient this time around." Gene finally responded, he recalled back to an earlier time in which he'd had to face off against both his parents in order to get a feel for what it would be like facing multiple enemies at once. In that training session he'd almost been burned alive, twice. Though he wouldn't mention that fact to anyone who asked out of a desire to keep it a secret.
It wouldn't be long before Gene could catch a glimpse of the Humble Beast's ability thanks to a near blinding white light cutting their discussion short. Fortunately, the warning given by his clone had been heard. In unison with Takeo, Gene swayed his upper body to his left and pivoted off his right foot before leaping with all his might away from the blast. While in the air, Gene curled his legs as tight as he could toward his chest and tucked his head letting the force from the blast propel him like a basketball toward toward a tree some twelve feet away. As he neared it, his legs shot out as if to release all the stored energy in them at once until he'd been completely straight and aligned with the base of the tree.
Focusing his chakra down into the soles of his feet Gene managed to stick a solid landing to the side of the tree only to leap from it less than a second later putting another ten feet between himself and the explosion. Lucky that he did for as he'd taken flight Gene saw a kunai splitting through the tree he had only just left moments ago which caused an awkward bead of sweat to roll down the right side of his cheek. "That was close..." Gene thought to himself as he landed in a crouched position along a dirt trail some few meters away from where Takeo had been. Just as Gene were about to lead into bringing up how the man knew his name the idea was cut short by the sound of countless Kunai wisping through the forest - all aimed for the two of them.
"I guess I spoke to soon." In a mad backwards dash Gene retreated from the forest land back out into the open environment while fending off the kunai assault by deflecting those that came too close toward other incoming knives knocking some of them off course. However, the barrage seemed unrelenting and before long Gene had been riddled with cuts along his arms and thighs - being forced into the perimeter that Takeo had created with his Fire style Ninjutsu. "It's amazing what a stray Kunai can do." Gene remarked sarcastically having witnessed the Kunai that Takeo had used to destroy the barrier fly long past its needed range and slice through a wire which led to their current predicament. "Now isn't the time for questions you know?"
The Kunai held in Gene's left hand had shattered under a forceful impact with another incoming projectile which had caused his hand to vibrate uncontrollably for a moment. There'd been a fair amount of pain but it was nothing compared to the dangers that the two were currently facing; for now at least, he would suck it up and quickly equip another Kunai knife while using his opposite hand to pick up the slack as he did so. Once the last knife had been deflected the scene looked like an old war zone. Kunai fragments, seared earth, toppled trees - there was destruction everywhere he looked. And yet, they weren't even part way through the exercise. There was still the mind field to worry about not to mention other stray traps that likely inhabited the area. "Compared to what a typical training session is in my family - I'd say my mother was lenient this time around." Gene finally responded, he recalled back to an earlier time in which he'd had to face off against both his parents in order to get a feel for what it would be like facing multiple enemies at once. In that training session he'd almost been burned alive, twice. Though he wouldn't mention that fact to anyone who asked out of a desire to keep it a secret.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo smirked as he noticed Gene’s methods of evasion, even as he was focused on his own sequence of motions. It was obvious the young man was far more skilled than any other Chunin he had met, in fact he was proving to possess not only the skill but the instinct that he would expect out of an upper level Jounin. ‘I haven’t seen a natural talent like his since Yoru’ he mused, already beaming at the prospect that there might be another whom would be able to truly challenge him one day. He furrowed his brow in confusion however when his kunai nearly struck his comrade. He must have wrongly anticipated Gene’s direction of travel, clearly staying opposite to Takeo along the same linear path that he had thrown the weapon, though it was likely that the barrier displaced the trajectory of the weapon somewhat.
Regardless the silver haired combatant soon moved himself back into position, landing not too far off from where Takeo had stood atop the landmine. Takeo smirked as he caught Gene’s glance, “That’s one way to keep you on your toes” he joked playfully. Perhaps he would have to reign in his power somewhat else risk accidently bisecting his fellow leaf shinobi. “Speaking of being kept on one’s toes...” he noted, glancing down at the landline before leaping and beginning his aforementioned set of events. With the immediate area clear of landlines he expected Gene would have the good sense to regroup and so he did and not a moment too soon as a massive barrage of weaponry honed in on their location. The experienced warrior drew his short sword in his right hand and a kunai in his left, a standard combination of his. Gene rebuked him for asking questions in the middle of combat and Takeo simply chuckled, “What’s the matter, can’t multitask?” he teased before assessing the incoming weapons. There were a myriad of ways he could defend against the barrage though he decided to follow after Gene and refine his skills to the basics. There was an audible crack of his neck and a grin before he closed his eyes, twirling the kunai expertly in his hand as he waited until the incoming weapons were mere feet away before he sprang into action. Maintaining his closed eyes the man moved in a blur, spinning and cleaving a kunai aimed at the back of his neck in half with his dagger.
He continued to move with practiced grace, twirling back and forth and making subtle bobs and weaves as he positioned himself to avoid strikes while creating a perfect attacking angle. After deflecting at least 10 weapons he opened his eyes, deciding to test his ability to the next level. He felt quite fortunate to be within such a steady barrage, it gave him plenty of opportunity to let loose a little and start to have some fun. His kunai was already beginning to chip though his dagger was made of far stronger material. He haphazardly tossed the weapon into another, sparks flying as they collided with the force of the impact. Without wasting another movement the man seemed to draw another kunai out of thin air, the weapon appearing in his palm after his hand glowed briefly with an aura of raw chakra. He deflected another set of kunai, controlling the trajectory of the deflections to knock multiple weapons into one another. “They don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon, perhaps I’ll try a different tactic” he noted aloud. He spun again, throwing his kunai before crouching low and rolling to evade another attack. In an instant he was back on his feet, tossing his dagger high into the air above him as his hands moved into seals. All the while he continued to duck, bob, weave and slide out of the path of the incoming weapons often spinning and allowing the projectiles to knock themselves out of the air as they clattered into one another harmlessly. From his perception the weapons seemed to be moving in slow motion, as obvious as trying to throw a crumbled ball of paper against the wind.
Showing off a little the man smirked playfully as he looked over towards Gene. He noticed the cuts and the way he staggered from some of the impacts and despite it all he was incredibly impressed. However he wouldn’t let the Chunin know that, not quite yet. He was having far too much fun being caught up in the excitement of combat. Leaning forward the man channeled chakra into his foot, capturing a broken kunai against his shoe before kicking his foot backwards as if he was pitching a baseball though his hands continued to form seals. The kunai shot backwards towards Gene coming just outside his range of movement and deflecting a weapon coming at him from behind. The Jounin spun, performing the same trick with his other foot as he launched out a roundhouse kick carrying another kunai and clearing away another weapon aimed at the young man. “Looked like you were having a little trouble” he teased, grinning as his last seal came together in the snake hand seal. Despite being most common in Doton techniques it was water that surrounded the two men. Appearing out of thin air a large dome of water swirled into existence, batting away kunai as they were caught in its currents, though only barely. Takeo took a deep breath as he took three deliberate steps forward towards, holding his left hand up to caution his comrade not to come any closer. A moment later his dagger fell from the sky, being promptly snagged out of the air with his other hand. He spun it once and holstered the weapon against his lower back in one smooth motion.
Though the currents continued to swirl around them the top of the water barricade was left open. “Your mother eh?” he acknowledged, whistling lowly as he assessed the carnage. Even through the watery defense he could see enough discarded weaponry to indicate that they were under siege from a small army. “Mine has a pretty good temper alright, being raised by Inuzuka will do that but even she couldn’t pull off something like this, my dad on the other hand…this would be right up his alley.” He stated wistfully. Natsuki Isamu was a powerful man and an expert hunter and retired Jounin. He had taught Takeo a great deal of what he knew and would forever have his respect. Even at the old of age of 60 he had the build and the athleticism superior to many of the villages acting Jounin, though he was very much a shadow of what he once was.
Regardless the silver haired combatant soon moved himself back into position, landing not too far off from where Takeo had stood atop the landmine. Takeo smirked as he caught Gene’s glance, “That’s one way to keep you on your toes” he joked playfully. Perhaps he would have to reign in his power somewhat else risk accidently bisecting his fellow leaf shinobi. “Speaking of being kept on one’s toes...” he noted, glancing down at the landline before leaping and beginning his aforementioned set of events. With the immediate area clear of landlines he expected Gene would have the good sense to regroup and so he did and not a moment too soon as a massive barrage of weaponry honed in on their location. The experienced warrior drew his short sword in his right hand and a kunai in his left, a standard combination of his. Gene rebuked him for asking questions in the middle of combat and Takeo simply chuckled, “What’s the matter, can’t multitask?” he teased before assessing the incoming weapons. There were a myriad of ways he could defend against the barrage though he decided to follow after Gene and refine his skills to the basics. There was an audible crack of his neck and a grin before he closed his eyes, twirling the kunai expertly in his hand as he waited until the incoming weapons were mere feet away before he sprang into action. Maintaining his closed eyes the man moved in a blur, spinning and cleaving a kunai aimed at the back of his neck in half with his dagger.
He continued to move with practiced grace, twirling back and forth and making subtle bobs and weaves as he positioned himself to avoid strikes while creating a perfect attacking angle. After deflecting at least 10 weapons he opened his eyes, deciding to test his ability to the next level. He felt quite fortunate to be within such a steady barrage, it gave him plenty of opportunity to let loose a little and start to have some fun. His kunai was already beginning to chip though his dagger was made of far stronger material. He haphazardly tossed the weapon into another, sparks flying as they collided with the force of the impact. Without wasting another movement the man seemed to draw another kunai out of thin air, the weapon appearing in his palm after his hand glowed briefly with an aura of raw chakra. He deflected another set of kunai, controlling the trajectory of the deflections to knock multiple weapons into one another. “They don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon, perhaps I’ll try a different tactic” he noted aloud. He spun again, throwing his kunai before crouching low and rolling to evade another attack. In an instant he was back on his feet, tossing his dagger high into the air above him as his hands moved into seals. All the while he continued to duck, bob, weave and slide out of the path of the incoming weapons often spinning and allowing the projectiles to knock themselves out of the air as they clattered into one another harmlessly. From his perception the weapons seemed to be moving in slow motion, as obvious as trying to throw a crumbled ball of paper against the wind.
Showing off a little the man smirked playfully as he looked over towards Gene. He noticed the cuts and the way he staggered from some of the impacts and despite it all he was incredibly impressed. However he wouldn’t let the Chunin know that, not quite yet. He was having far too much fun being caught up in the excitement of combat. Leaning forward the man channeled chakra into his foot, capturing a broken kunai against his shoe before kicking his foot backwards as if he was pitching a baseball though his hands continued to form seals. The kunai shot backwards towards Gene coming just outside his range of movement and deflecting a weapon coming at him from behind. The Jounin spun, performing the same trick with his other foot as he launched out a roundhouse kick carrying another kunai and clearing away another weapon aimed at the young man. “Looked like you were having a little trouble” he teased, grinning as his last seal came together in the snake hand seal. Despite being most common in Doton techniques it was water that surrounded the two men. Appearing out of thin air a large dome of water swirled into existence, batting away kunai as they were caught in its currents, though only barely. Takeo took a deep breath as he took three deliberate steps forward towards, holding his left hand up to caution his comrade not to come any closer. A moment later his dagger fell from the sky, being promptly snagged out of the air with his other hand. He spun it once and holstered the weapon against his lower back in one smooth motion.
Though the currents continued to swirl around them the top of the water barricade was left open. “Your mother eh?” he acknowledged, whistling lowly as he assessed the carnage. Even through the watery defense he could see enough discarded weaponry to indicate that they were under siege from a small army. “Mine has a pretty good temper alright, being raised by Inuzuka will do that but even she couldn’t pull off something like this, my dad on the other hand…this would be right up his alley.” He stated wistfully. Natsuki Isamu was a powerful man and an expert hunter and retired Jounin. He had taught Takeo a great deal of what he knew and would forever have his respect. Even at the old of age of 60 he had the build and the athleticism superior to many of the villages acting Jounin, though he was very much a shadow of what he once was.
Jutsu UsedShow
Keen Ears
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Takeo’s sharp senses allow him to pick up on slight sounds within a 15 meter radius of himself. This can range from the sound of a weapon being drawn, a projectile in flight or subtle footsteps and sounds of moderately heavy breathing. In terms of eavesdropping he can discern a conversation at such a range as if he were standing next to the person whom is speaking.
The Art of Rolling
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A fundamental skill for Takeo’s more deadly and unpredictable maneuvers, through rigorous practice a user can perfect the skill of rolling, serving a variety of purposes. This particular style of rolling focusses on fast paced combat, used offensively or defensively the user can seamlessly drop low into a roll, forwards, backwards or sideways from a standing or running start or even in response to being forcefully shoved backwards. Naturally due to the high amounts of force the user must be adept at dispersing the impact of the roll, this is done by dropping into a squat, then distributing the impact momentarily at the knee then across each shoulder in quick succession.
[Ninjutsu • Hidden dagger]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After Channeling into his hand or sleeve Takeo can summon a kunai or other small weapon from within 3 feet of his position. The weapon will be summoned from their persons or nearby into the user's hand/sleeve to be used in combat.
Untouchable
A-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Prerequisite: 30 Taijutsu, 30 Instinct
Due to his acute understanding of close quarters fighting Takeo has honed his evasiveness. As long as his Taijutsu + Speed/2 stat is greater than the opponents speed by at least 5 Takeo is able to easily predict his opponents strikes and as such greatly increase his ability to evade or respond accordingly so long as he is able to perceive them coming. This is most commonly used when Takeo is surrounded by groups of lower-level opponents, allowing him to constantly move, ducking, tilting and side-stepping in his efforts to move out of the path of incoming attacks. Even in close quarters Takeo has learned to use this skill in tandem with the terrain, constantly moving around obstacles or other opponents to limit the number of strikes coming at him and make attacking him more difficult.
Toss and Catch
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
After many hours of honing this skill Takeo has come to a point where he is able to throw up to two objects he’s holding up into the air and then forms seals or perform a brief fight sequence before catching the item or weapon again. As long as Takeo doesn’t move more than 15 feet from his position he can accurately predict where the item will land and catch it in time. The height of the thrown item varies depending on how much time is needed to execute the maneuver. Of course if his opponents prove especially resilient or if he is forced to drastically alter his planned movements then this technique can be interrupted.
[Ninjutsu • Stick]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
Displaying a sense of keen chakra control Takeo is able to channel chakra into any area of his body and cause a small-moderately sized weapon or object to cling to his skin or clothing with a strength of 5. While this doesn’t possess any combat merit it is a useful technique carrying items in instances where discretion is necessary.
*Suiton • Water Encampment Wall
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user will expel a large amount of water from their body as a sweeping defense against hostile techniques. The water from the technique forms a cylinder around the user at a speed of 15, and flows around the user. It is approximately 7 meters around and 2 meter thick, leaving only the top unprotected. The wall has the ability to deflect things with a strength of 25, but even if something break through, the walls thick nature makes traversing through the water fully troublesome. The wall lasts up to three posts unless dispelled earlier by the user or destroyed.
C-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Takeo’s sharp senses allow him to pick up on slight sounds within a 15 meter radius of himself. This can range from the sound of a weapon being drawn, a projectile in flight or subtle footsteps and sounds of moderately heavy breathing. In terms of eavesdropping he can discern a conversation at such a range as if he were standing next to the person whom is speaking.
The Art of Rolling
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
A fundamental skill for Takeo’s more deadly and unpredictable maneuvers, through rigorous practice a user can perfect the skill of rolling, serving a variety of purposes. This particular style of rolling focusses on fast paced combat, used offensively or defensively the user can seamlessly drop low into a roll, forwards, backwards or sideways from a standing or running start or even in response to being forcefully shoved backwards. Naturally due to the high amounts of force the user must be adept at dispersing the impact of the roll, this is done by dropping into a squat, then distributing the impact momentarily at the knee then across each shoulder in quick succession.
[Ninjutsu • Hidden dagger]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After Channeling into his hand or sleeve Takeo can summon a kunai or other small weapon from within 3 feet of his position. The weapon will be summoned from their persons or nearby into the user's hand/sleeve to be used in combat.
Untouchable
A-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Prerequisite: 30 Taijutsu, 30 Instinct
Due to his acute understanding of close quarters fighting Takeo has honed his evasiveness. As long as his Taijutsu + Speed/2 stat is greater than the opponents speed by at least 5 Takeo is able to easily predict his opponents strikes and as such greatly increase his ability to evade or respond accordingly so long as he is able to perceive them coming. This is most commonly used when Takeo is surrounded by groups of lower-level opponents, allowing him to constantly move, ducking, tilting and side-stepping in his efforts to move out of the path of incoming attacks. Even in close quarters Takeo has learned to use this skill in tandem with the terrain, constantly moving around obstacles or other opponents to limit the number of strikes coming at him and make attacking him more difficult.
Toss and Catch
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
After many hours of honing this skill Takeo has come to a point where he is able to throw up to two objects he’s holding up into the air and then forms seals or perform a brief fight sequence before catching the item or weapon again. As long as Takeo doesn’t move more than 15 feet from his position he can accurately predict where the item will land and catch it in time. The height of the thrown item varies depending on how much time is needed to execute the maneuver. Of course if his opponents prove especially resilient or if he is forced to drastically alter his planned movements then this technique can be interrupted.
[Ninjutsu • Stick]
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
Displaying a sense of keen chakra control Takeo is able to channel chakra into any area of his body and cause a small-moderately sized weapon or object to cling to his skin or clothing with a strength of 5. While this doesn’t possess any combat merit it is a useful technique carrying items in instances where discretion is necessary.
*Suiton • Water Encampment Wall
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user will expel a large amount of water from their body as a sweeping defense against hostile techniques. The water from the technique forms a cylinder around the user at a speed of 15, and flows around the user. It is approximately 7 meters around and 2 meter thick, leaving only the top unprotected. The wall has the ability to deflect things with a strength of 25, but even if something break through, the walls thick nature makes traversing through the water fully troublesome. The wall lasts up to three posts unless dispelled earlier by the user or destroyed.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
"This coming from the guy who hop,skipped and jumped his way on top of a land mine." Gene shot back in response to Takeo's earlier remark about his multitasking. If they were speaking from an example view point , attempting multiple things at once was a sure fire way to wind up in a bind; alas, it was comment made in good fun. Gene didn't have a problem admitting that Takeo likely could have completed the entire course on his own if he really wanted to just based on the sudden use of a Suiton technique where very little water, if any, had been present after having just used a Katon styled technique moments before.
Seeing the man in action served only to remind Gene that he still had a long ways to go in his own efforts to improve and that again, there were people far higher on the ladder than he. When Takeo spoke of being raised by an Inuzka Gene wondered if it'd been an adoptive relationship but dared not ask, it wasn't his place though he made a note. "Sounds like you've had quite the upbringing. " Said Gene, pausing for a moment before starting again. "Something's coming..." In the brief pause between words Gene had formed a single set of hand seals and fine tuned his chakra to respond to other chakra sources. Sensory was something drilled into him by his Father and now, years down the line - he could see why.
Performing another set of seals Gene focused on the approaching source of chakra up until it'd started to growl in the distance. The presence wasn't heavy as with Shinobi and it hadn't been fine tuned so Gene reasoned that it may have been some kind of animal, a summoning perhaps. One thing was for sure though - it was in the way. "Ready for the second wave?" Said Gene gripping his Tanto with his left hand while holding the ram hand seal with his right. Once the wall of water dropped, there wouldn't be any hesitation .
Seeing the man in action served only to remind Gene that he still had a long ways to go in his own efforts to improve and that again, there were people far higher on the ladder than he. When Takeo spoke of being raised by an Inuzka Gene wondered if it'd been an adoptive relationship but dared not ask, it wasn't his place though he made a note. "Sounds like you've had quite the upbringing. " Said Gene, pausing for a moment before starting again. "Something's coming..." In the brief pause between words Gene had formed a single set of hand seals and fine tuned his chakra to respond to other chakra sources. Sensory was something drilled into him by his Father and now, years down the line - he could see why.
Performing another set of seals Gene focused on the approaching source of chakra up until it'd started to growl in the distance. The presence wasn't heavy as with Shinobi and it hadn't been fine tuned so Gene reasoned that it may have been some kind of animal, a summoning perhaps. One thing was for sure though - it was in the way. "Ready for the second wave?" Said Gene gripping his Tanto with his left hand while holding the ram hand seal with his right. Once the wall of water dropped, there wouldn't be any hesitation .
Jutsu usedShow
*[Sensory Style • Beyond Senses]
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Ninjutsu/Control/Instinct stats of 10
This sensor jutsu is used by shinobi to feel chakra sources within a radius of 25 yards. While this jutsu is fairly helpful in sensing chakra, it is unable to actually pinpoint specific chakras outside of 10 feet. This only gives the Shinobi an idea of how many entities with chakra are present in their general area.
*[Sensory Style • [Target Lock]
C-rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Beyond Senses
The sensor will activate their sensory jutsu, and focus on one source of chakra they can sense. By doing an additional hand seal, and holding said hand seal, the user will be able to continue to sense that source of chakra, even if they are moving around, so long as they are holding the hand seal. If they, or the chakra source, moves out of range, the user will lose track of them.
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Ninjutsu/Control/Instinct stats of 10
This sensor jutsu is used by shinobi to feel chakra sources within a radius of 25 yards. While this jutsu is fairly helpful in sensing chakra, it is unable to actually pinpoint specific chakras outside of 10 feet. This only gives the Shinobi an idea of how many entities with chakra are present in their general area.
*[Sensory Style • [Target Lock]
C-rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisites: Beyond Senses
The sensor will activate their sensory jutsu, and focus on one source of chakra they can sense. By doing an additional hand seal, and holding said hand seal, the user will be able to continue to sense that source of chakra, even if they are moving around, so long as they are holding the hand seal. If they, or the chakra source, moves out of range, the user will lose track of them.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo chuckled at the young man’s retort. He enjoyed a good friendly banter between comrades, it seemed to naturally bring people closer together and build trust and comradery. Of course this didn’t mean that one were to shirk their responsibilities or let their guards down. It was a balance that many struggled with though he sensed that Gene was of the skill level to be able to pull it off. No doubt the young Chunin would come to realize this as he watched the pure efficiency and skill at which Takeo made every one of his motions. Though he remained expressive and lighthearted when he could afford to he never for a moment took his focus off of the task at hand, nor did his form diminish in any way. And the higher the danger that posed itself the more serious the Jounin became, to the point where in a true life or death battle he would be consumed by the hardened soul of a warrior whose sole objective was the death of his opponents. He had spilled a great deal of blood in his career, ending hundreds of lives in close combat alone and many others with the use of large scale ninjutsu. In fact the first time he had killed an opponent was within the same year that Gene had been born, a fact which in of itself spoke as a testament to his immense volumes of battlefield experience.
As the water wall formed around them, its churning motion drowning out the sound of the last of the projectiles, Takeo glanced over at the Chunin. He wondered if Gene had killed a man yet, most shinobi of the leaf first killed in their mid-teenage years, usually as a Chunin and most often through means as simple as a kunai throw. Often it helped the ease the guilt and the burden, ending a life with such a practiced and habitual motion, especially if they didn’t have to spend much time around the corpse afterward. Personally Takeo had never been inclined towards projectiles, his first kill had been done with the same dagger he still carried, an instinctive reaction that had left him staring into the face of his attacker as the light escaped his eyes. It was a memory he would carry with him in vivid detail for the remainder of his life. He had been a Genin then, only 14 in a time where shinobi his age were permitted more loosely to accompany their Sensei’s on potentially dangerous missions. He had been the first on his team to take a life though he had never talked to his comrade’s about it. It was perhaps due to that encounter that he possessed the powerful duality of wanting to preserve his students innocence but also train them with such intensity that they would be fully prepared when the day came to test their will to live.
The seasoned warrior put these thoughts aside as their conversation continued. He nodded as his thoughts turned to more nostalgic ones. The churning wall of water allowed for a temporary reprieve from combat and so he held no qualms about sharing some of his background with the young man. “I’ve been fortunate, all of my life I’ve been around dogs and have been immersed in the outdoors. Between my mother’s ties with the Inuzuka and my dad’s aptitude towards hunting it’s no wonder that I feel most at home in the forest.” Even as a boy as young as 8 his father would often take Takeo and his sister Ayame out on hikes or hunting and camping trips, teaching the children all that he could about wilderness survival and even the basics of archery. Though he had never adapted the weapon to serve with his duties of a shinobi as his father had Takeo still took to the weapon whenever partaking in a traditional hunt of a deer or even rabbits and birds. Takeo smirked as he noticed the hand seals Gene used. “So you’re a sensor too eh?” he noted, it was undoubtedly a useful skill to learn and had proved as a welcome addition to his repertoire in his years of honing his famed reputation as a tracker.
If it were not for the barrier of water it would have been likely that the man could have identified the animal by scent alone. Alas however that was not the case, in this instance he would be as subject to surprise as Gene was. For a moment the man considered bringing forth one of his own summoning beasts though he considered better of it. The odds were already stacked heavily in favor of the pair of leaf shinobi and he didn’t want to further detract from the Chunin’s training regimen. Likely he would take a more supplementary and defensive role in this coming exchange. It would allow him another opportunity to gauge the way Gene fought and what his natural reactions and instincts were. No doubt whatever the case may be Takeo would be able to offer some manipulation of the landscape to make for a more interesting skirmish. First however he would determine what exactly the creature turned out to be. “Alright, let’s do this” he affirmed as his own hand rested on the hilt of his sword while his left withdrew a kunai laden explosive tag. Without further delay the man lowered the veil, allowing the water to crash into the ground and spread outwards.
As the water wall formed around them, its churning motion drowning out the sound of the last of the projectiles, Takeo glanced over at the Chunin. He wondered if Gene had killed a man yet, most shinobi of the leaf first killed in their mid-teenage years, usually as a Chunin and most often through means as simple as a kunai throw. Often it helped the ease the guilt and the burden, ending a life with such a practiced and habitual motion, especially if they didn’t have to spend much time around the corpse afterward. Personally Takeo had never been inclined towards projectiles, his first kill had been done with the same dagger he still carried, an instinctive reaction that had left him staring into the face of his attacker as the light escaped his eyes. It was a memory he would carry with him in vivid detail for the remainder of his life. He had been a Genin then, only 14 in a time where shinobi his age were permitted more loosely to accompany their Sensei’s on potentially dangerous missions. He had been the first on his team to take a life though he had never talked to his comrade’s about it. It was perhaps due to that encounter that he possessed the powerful duality of wanting to preserve his students innocence but also train them with such intensity that they would be fully prepared when the day came to test their will to live.
The seasoned warrior put these thoughts aside as their conversation continued. He nodded as his thoughts turned to more nostalgic ones. The churning wall of water allowed for a temporary reprieve from combat and so he held no qualms about sharing some of his background with the young man. “I’ve been fortunate, all of my life I’ve been around dogs and have been immersed in the outdoors. Between my mother’s ties with the Inuzuka and my dad’s aptitude towards hunting it’s no wonder that I feel most at home in the forest.” Even as a boy as young as 8 his father would often take Takeo and his sister Ayame out on hikes or hunting and camping trips, teaching the children all that he could about wilderness survival and even the basics of archery. Though he had never adapted the weapon to serve with his duties of a shinobi as his father had Takeo still took to the weapon whenever partaking in a traditional hunt of a deer or even rabbits and birds. Takeo smirked as he noticed the hand seals Gene used. “So you’re a sensor too eh?” he noted, it was undoubtedly a useful skill to learn and had proved as a welcome addition to his repertoire in his years of honing his famed reputation as a tracker.
If it were not for the barrier of water it would have been likely that the man could have identified the animal by scent alone. Alas however that was not the case, in this instance he would be as subject to surprise as Gene was. For a moment the man considered bringing forth one of his own summoning beasts though he considered better of it. The odds were already stacked heavily in favor of the pair of leaf shinobi and he didn’t want to further detract from the Chunin’s training regimen. Likely he would take a more supplementary and defensive role in this coming exchange. It would allow him another opportunity to gauge the way Gene fought and what his natural reactions and instincts were. No doubt whatever the case may be Takeo would be able to offer some manipulation of the landscape to make for a more interesting skirmish. First however he would determine what exactly the creature turned out to be. “Alright, let’s do this” he affirmed as his own hand rested on the hilt of his sword while his left withdrew a kunai laden explosive tag. Without further delay the man lowered the veil, allowing the water to crash into the ground and spread outwards.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
*ROARRRRRRRR* The creature bellowed - its howls reverberating off anything nearby causing even more of an uproar. When the veil of water splashed to the ground Gene's eyes grew wide as his shock became apparent. He'd never seen such a creature so large in stature, so grotesque in appearance...Who could have possibly found the time to generate something like this? Before them standing nearly twenty feet off the ground was no ordinary animal; hell, Gene wondered if such a thing could even be considered an animal. No, this was an abomination! Its skin was rough and took on a dull brown color and its arms were incredibly small for the size. However, its legs were ginormous and a dark green slime could be seen between its three Talon toes. Gene counted three rows of teeth, all of which were ridiculously sharp.
He had read about them in books - fiction novels, but never had he seen one in person until today. The cause of his momentary surge of emotion & reason for him stopping, was none other than an extremely large & vicious Tyrannosaurus Rex in the flesh. Again the beast bellowed, this time it embarked on a war path charging the two Shinobi with no intent of relenting its speed. It was at this point that Gene snapped out of his trance and weaved through several hand seals before finishing in what could accurately be described as the seal of the Serpent. What he was about to do had never been attempted before though he felt trying was better than nothing - it wasn't like they could simply let the damned thing go free anyway.
Manifesting his chakra into the rawest form possible, Gene had been able to erect a 10(3x) cube barrier around the large creature but had to focus on maintaining the trap once it'd been sprung due to the fact that the Dinosaur had not stopped its assault, insisting on ramming into the walls of the barrier furiously while roaring and clawing at it. At this rate, the barrier would not hold for very long. "Tch..this won't be enough." Said Gene in an irritable tone. Something told him that this was no coincidence, that someone had been reading his journal and deliberately put this creature here but - he wouldn't have time to address the thought until after this thing had been dealt with. He wondered who between his parents were responsible for this idea.
He had read about them in books - fiction novels, but never had he seen one in person until today. The cause of his momentary surge of emotion & reason for him stopping, was none other than an extremely large & vicious Tyrannosaurus Rex in the flesh. Again the beast bellowed, this time it embarked on a war path charging the two Shinobi with no intent of relenting its speed. It was at this point that Gene snapped out of his trance and weaved through several hand seals before finishing in what could accurately be described as the seal of the Serpent. What he was about to do had never been attempted before though he felt trying was better than nothing - it wasn't like they could simply let the damned thing go free anyway.
Manifesting his chakra into the rawest form possible, Gene had been able to erect a 10(3x) cube barrier around the large creature but had to focus on maintaining the trap once it'd been sprung due to the fact that the Dinosaur had not stopped its assault, insisting on ramming into the walls of the barrier furiously while roaring and clawing at it. At this rate, the barrier would not hold for very long. "Tch..this won't be enough." Said Gene in an irritable tone. Something told him that this was no coincidence, that someone had been reading his journal and deliberately put this creature here but - he wouldn't have time to address the thought until after this thing had been dealt with. He wondered who between his parents were responsible for this idea.
UsedShow
*[Ninjutsu • Barrier]
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user forms a 10m3 barrier around a target up to 10m away from their position. The barrier forms at a speed of 12, has a strength of 8, and lasts 4 posts before fading away.
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user forms a 10m3 barrier around a target up to 10m away from their position. The barrier forms at a speed of 12, has a strength of 8, and lasts 4 posts before fading away.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
As the water wall dropped Takeo’s eyes widened in surprise before his brow scrunched together in an equal amount of confusion. “…The hell is that?” he wondered aloud. He had never seen a creature like it and in fact for a moment he considered that it was simply genjutsu or a construct of chakra. However if it possessed the scent of an animal he would quickly affirm whether or not the creature was in fact living flesh. Assuming it was, the only logical explanation was that it was some form of summon from a realm beyond their own. Nonetheless the fact that a shinobi of Konoha had managed to form a pact with such a creature was a startling revelation. He remained calm as the monstrosity charged, it was a slow and clumsy beast and he had plenty of time to react should he have to. It would have been easy enough to slay the creature or subdue it chains though he had a different idea in mind. Something that would make the fight far more interesting as well as give Gene an opportunity to respond.
He readied himself for the creature though held his position when Gene began forming seals. The barrier he formed was a good idea in theory though he doubted it would be strong enough to serve much use. Sure enough the chakra cage flickered and shuttered with the beasts impact, any second now it would break free. The creature was only testing the defenses, one good thrash and the barrier would surely falter. Takeo smirked at Gene’s comment, “Looks like capture techniques won’t cut it, in that case, let’s use our surroundings to our advantage and when that’s not favorable then one must simply manipulate them to become suitable” he stated, already forming hand seals after tossing the kunai into the air. As the creature broke free it stared between the two humans, deciding whom to unleash its anger on. It was then that Takeo caught his weapon as he held it in his right hand and formed the final sing; the dog hand seal. It seemed that the beast had made up its mind, sighting Takeo and bearing its weight down as it prepared to charge. Before it would get the chance however the ground would tremble suddenly for only a moment before violently lurching upwards with enough force to bring most men to their knees. Even the dinosaur staggered under the pressure, unable to charge freely it roared and awkwardly stumbled towards them a few steps before stopping and looking around in confusion.
Ordinarily, this would be the moment the man would strike, slashing a lethal attack across the creature’s jugular. Though as always many options presented themselves, and in this case he was taking this training exercise as an opportunity to attempt to showcase the wide range of strategies that a shinobi could utilize. Effectively Takeo had isolated the battlefield to a 50 foot diameter circular arena atop a large column of earth with the combatants elevated at a height of 80 feet. Surely this would garner the attention of many shinobi and villagers alike. The entire village could be seen from the vantage point. It wasn’t often the man utilized such large skill ninjutsu within the village for the very reason that his style tended to rearrange his surroundings and cause largescale alteration to which the groundskeepers had become particularly bothered by. “Hope you’re not afraid of heights” he commented cheekily. He was curious as to whether or not Gene would be able to move freely while the column was in motion. Regardless once it was established the battle would be able to resume for all involved.
He readied himself for the creature though held his position when Gene began forming seals. The barrier he formed was a good idea in theory though he doubted it would be strong enough to serve much use. Sure enough the chakra cage flickered and shuttered with the beasts impact, any second now it would break free. The creature was only testing the defenses, one good thrash and the barrier would surely falter. Takeo smirked at Gene’s comment, “Looks like capture techniques won’t cut it, in that case, let’s use our surroundings to our advantage and when that’s not favorable then one must simply manipulate them to become suitable” he stated, already forming hand seals after tossing the kunai into the air. As the creature broke free it stared between the two humans, deciding whom to unleash its anger on. It was then that Takeo caught his weapon as he held it in his right hand and formed the final sing; the dog hand seal. It seemed that the beast had made up its mind, sighting Takeo and bearing its weight down as it prepared to charge. Before it would get the chance however the ground would tremble suddenly for only a moment before violently lurching upwards with enough force to bring most men to their knees. Even the dinosaur staggered under the pressure, unable to charge freely it roared and awkwardly stumbled towards them a few steps before stopping and looking around in confusion.
Ordinarily, this would be the moment the man would strike, slashing a lethal attack across the creature’s jugular. Though as always many options presented themselves, and in this case he was taking this training exercise as an opportunity to attempt to showcase the wide range of strategies that a shinobi could utilize. Effectively Takeo had isolated the battlefield to a 50 foot diameter circular arena atop a large column of earth with the combatants elevated at a height of 80 feet. Surely this would garner the attention of many shinobi and villagers alike. The entire village could be seen from the vantage point. It wasn’t often the man utilized such large skill ninjutsu within the village for the very reason that his style tended to rearrange his surroundings and cause largescale alteration to which the groundskeepers had become particularly bothered by. “Hope you’re not afraid of heights” he commented cheekily. He was curious as to whether or not Gene would be able to move freely while the column was in motion. Regardless once it was established the battle would be able to resume for all involved.
Jutsu UsedShow
Earth Element • Earth Core shift
A-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming a set of hand seals Takeo can either raise or lower a large section of earth. The section must be a rudimentary shape such as a square or circle with the maximum dimensions of 15m by 15m. The earth moves at a speed of 25 and when lowered from under an opponent will leave them temporarily suspended in the air if their Taijutsu stat is 20 or less, conversely if the earth is raised beneath an opponent, due to the sheer force one must have 25 strength or higher in order to move freely, whereas those with less than 20 strength will be unable to move for one post, often being forced to their knees. The maximum depth of this technique is 25m and Takeo must be within 10m of the affected earth in order to activate it.
A-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming a set of hand seals Takeo can either raise or lower a large section of earth. The section must be a rudimentary shape such as a square or circle with the maximum dimensions of 15m by 15m. The earth moves at a speed of 25 and when lowered from under an opponent will leave them temporarily suspended in the air if their Taijutsu stat is 20 or less, conversely if the earth is raised beneath an opponent, due to the sheer force one must have 25 strength or higher in order to move freely, whereas those with less than 20 strength will be unable to move for one post, often being forced to their knees. The maximum depth of this technique is 25m and Takeo must be within 10m of the affected earth in order to activate it.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
"When it comes to brute strength that thing has us outclassed, but..." Gene twirled his Tanto once in his hand before steaking it in the ground and taking a knee. Watching diligently while the trapped animal roared and thrashed its way around inside the barrier - he knew that it'd only be a matter of time before it was free; and if the two no, if he were powerless to stop it then there was nothing preventing it from taking his life, from taking the lives of others. Oddly enough, it wasn't pressure that he felt at this very moment - no. Gene felt something else, a deep rooted resolve that had him clenching the handle of his Tanto so tightly his hands were beginning to turn red. "This is as far as you go!" *WHOOSH* Takeo really had a way of unsettling Gene ; not once, but twice now had he caused some sort of scene that threw Gene's immediate focus.
When the ground suddenly lifted Gene braced himself but because he'd already been kneeling and pretty fixed into the ground thanks to his Tanto, the turbulence hadn't been all that bad. This really was his first time being so high up and his stomach had began to turn but he wouldn't allow that to get in the way of the task at hand. "You really don't believe in warnings huh?" Gene replied lacking the clemency that had been displayed the first time the two exchanged banter with one another. If he didn't know any better, Gene would have believed that Takeo had gotten a kick out of seeing his thrown off reactions. But more importantly, Gene noted that Takeo had utilized three elemental chakra natures: Fire style to deal with the mind field, Water style as a shield against the incoming kunai and now Earth style to alter the playing field. Not to mention his sensory capabilities that he'd briefly hinted at moments before...this guy was really something else.
The more time they spent around each other the less Gene saw Takeo as just some run of the mill ninja; in fact, he wouldn't come out and say it but he'd been impressed. Using three Chakra natures let alone several high ranking jutsu and showing no sign of fatigue was definitely a feat worth boasting about. Or so Gene would have liked to believe. For some strange reason he found himself thinking back to the day he first met Aina; the two had been assigned on a pet retrieval mission in which some overgrown 'kitten' that turned out to be a liger escaped from its owner. It seemed that no matter how much he'd grown since that time strange creatures of some kind always seemed to come across him - this really was no different. After all, who the hell would think to create something like this unless they'd read his complaints in the mission log journal?
For all his thinking only a second had gone by and Gene was now eager to try something he wouldn't have been able to do at lower altitudes due to the scope of the technique. While the creature had still been in confusion Gene weaved through a sequence of hand seals that were considerably longer than the other techniques at his disposal, a tale tale sign that what he was about to use had been a high in rank. Ending his sequence in the seal of the dragon Gene inhaled deeply through his nostrils allowing his chest to build with oxygen and chakra simultaneously focusing on the beast before him. Its attention had been drawn by Takeo for whatever reason which gave him prompt enough to begin moving forward before cutting hard to his left by several meters (6) and then resuming his original path in an attempt to circle around the large creature.
All was not so smooth however as in a single snapping motion the Dinosaur nearly captured Gene in its jaws displaying an unnatural swiftness as opposed to its usual movements. Only by the hairs on his back had Gene been able to remain just out of range though he hadn't been in a bad position. At this range, the technique he'd been preparing was now considered highly lethal and he would unleash it with that in mind. Leaping backwards Gene expelled a literal ring of fire from his lips that traveled quickly toward the beast. The dinosaur snarled and growled in anger but the flames were oblivious to such emotions and sought only to burn every inch of it down to the ground. The impact was forceful, so forceful in fact that it'd caused the creature to stumble backward as its skin caught ablaze.
The flamales of Gene's intensity licked at the Dinosaur's scale covered skin reflecting in his pupils as he looked on at what he'd done. Not a second later the flames then expanded outward and up like a dome prison. This was the first time that Gene had used such a technique and frankly, it'd taken quite a toll on his chakra supply . He was left breathing heavy and incredibly hot from having concentrated the flames from his own body. "Burn away." Said Gene with chilling conviction.
When the ground suddenly lifted Gene braced himself but because he'd already been kneeling and pretty fixed into the ground thanks to his Tanto, the turbulence hadn't been all that bad. This really was his first time being so high up and his stomach had began to turn but he wouldn't allow that to get in the way of the task at hand. "You really don't believe in warnings huh?" Gene replied lacking the clemency that had been displayed the first time the two exchanged banter with one another. If he didn't know any better, Gene would have believed that Takeo had gotten a kick out of seeing his thrown off reactions. But more importantly, Gene noted that Takeo had utilized three elemental chakra natures: Fire style to deal with the mind field, Water style as a shield against the incoming kunai and now Earth style to alter the playing field. Not to mention his sensory capabilities that he'd briefly hinted at moments before...this guy was really something else.
The more time they spent around each other the less Gene saw Takeo as just some run of the mill ninja; in fact, he wouldn't come out and say it but he'd been impressed. Using three Chakra natures let alone several high ranking jutsu and showing no sign of fatigue was definitely a feat worth boasting about. Or so Gene would have liked to believe. For some strange reason he found himself thinking back to the day he first met Aina; the two had been assigned on a pet retrieval mission in which some overgrown 'kitten' that turned out to be a liger escaped from its owner. It seemed that no matter how much he'd grown since that time strange creatures of some kind always seemed to come across him - this really was no different. After all, who the hell would think to create something like this unless they'd read his complaints in the mission log journal?
For all his thinking only a second had gone by and Gene was now eager to try something he wouldn't have been able to do at lower altitudes due to the scope of the technique. While the creature had still been in confusion Gene weaved through a sequence of hand seals that were considerably longer than the other techniques at his disposal, a tale tale sign that what he was about to use had been a high in rank. Ending his sequence in the seal of the dragon Gene inhaled deeply through his nostrils allowing his chest to build with oxygen and chakra simultaneously focusing on the beast before him. Its attention had been drawn by Takeo for whatever reason which gave him prompt enough to begin moving forward before cutting hard to his left by several meters (6) and then resuming his original path in an attempt to circle around the large creature.
All was not so smooth however as in a single snapping motion the Dinosaur nearly captured Gene in its jaws displaying an unnatural swiftness as opposed to its usual movements. Only by the hairs on his back had Gene been able to remain just out of range though he hadn't been in a bad position. At this range, the technique he'd been preparing was now considered highly lethal and he would unleash it with that in mind. Leaping backwards Gene expelled a literal ring of fire from his lips that traveled quickly toward the beast. The dinosaur snarled and growled in anger but the flames were oblivious to such emotions and sought only to burn every inch of it down to the ground. The impact was forceful, so forceful in fact that it'd caused the creature to stumble backward as its skin caught ablaze.
The flamales of Gene's intensity licked at the Dinosaur's scale covered skin reflecting in his pupils as he looked on at what he'd done. Not a second later the flames then expanded outward and up like a dome prison. This was the first time that Gene had used such a technique and frankly, it'd taken quite a toll on his chakra supply . He was left breathing heavy and incredibly hot from having concentrated the flames from his own body. "Burn away." Said Gene with chilling conviction.
UsedShow
*Katon • Burning Entrapment
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user exhales a ring of fire up to 20 meters away at a speed of 20. On impact the ring immediately erupts outwards and upwards as it's dancing flames form a dome with a 5 meter diameter and a 3 meter pitch. The dome is held together at a strength of 20 for 4 posts before falling apart into wild flames.
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals the user exhales a ring of fire up to 20 meters away at a speed of 20. On impact the ring immediately erupts outwards and upwards as it's dancing flames form a dome with a 5 meter diameter and a 3 meter pitch. The dome is held together at a strength of 20 for 4 posts before falling apart into wild flames.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
The Jounin couldn’t help but to smirk wryly at Gene’s assessment of the creature’s strength. Its power was surely its primary asset though if it were truly comparable to their strength it would have shattered the barrier with as much ease as swatting away a spider’s web. Nonetheless he was content to play around with strategies corresponding to a powerful adversary. He noted Gene’s resolve and he was content to provide the young Chunin with an isolated arena to pit himself against the beast. With any luck he would take his advice to heart and plan a strategy revolving around the newfound shift in their surroundings. He chuckled in amusement at the silver haired shinobi’s comment. “I was considering giving you a heads up but the true mark of a shinobi is one’s ability to adapt to the unexpected” he stated, if it wasn’t already clear that the man was subtly observing, guiding and testing his fellow leaf shinobi then perhaps now Gene would begin to catch on.
As the creature burst free of its makeshift cage it was time for action. Gene sprang into seals and Takeo only glanced over stoically. He recognized the technique as likely a Katon technique due to the seals consisting of several Tiger and Dragon signs. Though he was curious to discover the power of the technique he couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed. Gene had opted for a chakra intensive solution when his reserves were already dangerously low, it was a mistake that could cost him his life in a true battlefield scenario. Due to his massive chakra reserves Takeo could afford to utilize large scale ninjutsu though even so he typically conserved his chakra as much as possible and opted for efficiency when in true battles. It was only for the sake of demonstration that he decided to use a more unorthodox technique and it was also one which could have set Gene up for an effortless counter.
Takeo’s crisp eyes surveyed the dinosaur and gene as they each sprang into action, sprinting forth. In a more confined space against a powerful charging opponent it was generally best to remain limited in motion and focus one’s efforts on evasion and counter fighting rather than acting in retaliation. As the beast’s attention turned towards Gene it slowed its advance, taking a more defensive stance which enabled the creature to defend itself quite well, displaying quick reflexed with its jaw and tail. ‘Another mistake’ he noted. Now the creature’s greatest weakness had been eliminated and instead it had been given an advantage, it was a shame that Gene hadn’t realized the error in his strategy though surely he would learn and find a way to come out victorious regardless of his tactics. Finally the Chunin redeemed himself when he finally released his pent up technique, enveloping the large creature in a torrent of flames. “Impressive technique” he noted casually as the beast thrashed around violently, spreading swaths of flame across the earthen arena as it forced its way free of the dome in a final burst of energy. Flames continued to envelop its entire body as well as a large section of the platform “A bit excessive though don’t you think?” while there remained a hint of playfulness it was evident that the man had his concerns. There was no longer much room to maneuver and now the arena was becoming a dangerous grounds for all involved.
Takeo whistled crisply, drawing the attention of the raging beast, it charged forth, roaring its death cries as it hoped to take at least one of the shinobi with it to its demise. As it approached the man simply stepped back to the ledge continuing to make noises to draw its attention. With a few moments to spare he rolled to the side, ensuring that he had enough time to get out of range of the creatures tail. The creature realized its predicament too late, slowing down but possessing too much momentum to stop completely. As it careened towards the edge Takeo channeled chakra into the earth. The ground beneath the creature’s feet shifted, sliding out from underneath it and sealing its fate as it toppled over the edge. Ordinarily the man would have simply used an explosive tag to ensure it was sent over though he didn’t want to risk further fanning the already expanding flames.
He could feel the immense heat radiating from the elevated platform though he stood for a moment, peering over the edge and assessing what remained of the training field. “We must be getting close to the end now” he surmised before glancing back towards his comrade, “You should rest for a few minutes” he stated before tossing the young man a protein bar. “No sense in carrying on blindly when you’re out of chakra” he withdrew a canteen of water as well, taking a sip before offering some to Gene. His own breathing wasn’t even elevated, the amount of chakra he had expended thus far equated to a mere warm-up, a testament to the completely different league he was in. he approached the young man, taking a moment to sit next to him as he watched the lingering flames with a sense of fascination as well as respect for their power.
As the creature burst free of its makeshift cage it was time for action. Gene sprang into seals and Takeo only glanced over stoically. He recognized the technique as likely a Katon technique due to the seals consisting of several Tiger and Dragon signs. Though he was curious to discover the power of the technique he couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed. Gene had opted for a chakra intensive solution when his reserves were already dangerously low, it was a mistake that could cost him his life in a true battlefield scenario. Due to his massive chakra reserves Takeo could afford to utilize large scale ninjutsu though even so he typically conserved his chakra as much as possible and opted for efficiency when in true battles. It was only for the sake of demonstration that he decided to use a more unorthodox technique and it was also one which could have set Gene up for an effortless counter.
Takeo’s crisp eyes surveyed the dinosaur and gene as they each sprang into action, sprinting forth. In a more confined space against a powerful charging opponent it was generally best to remain limited in motion and focus one’s efforts on evasion and counter fighting rather than acting in retaliation. As the beast’s attention turned towards Gene it slowed its advance, taking a more defensive stance which enabled the creature to defend itself quite well, displaying quick reflexed with its jaw and tail. ‘Another mistake’ he noted. Now the creature’s greatest weakness had been eliminated and instead it had been given an advantage, it was a shame that Gene hadn’t realized the error in his strategy though surely he would learn and find a way to come out victorious regardless of his tactics. Finally the Chunin redeemed himself when he finally released his pent up technique, enveloping the large creature in a torrent of flames. “Impressive technique” he noted casually as the beast thrashed around violently, spreading swaths of flame across the earthen arena as it forced its way free of the dome in a final burst of energy. Flames continued to envelop its entire body as well as a large section of the platform “A bit excessive though don’t you think?” while there remained a hint of playfulness it was evident that the man had his concerns. There was no longer much room to maneuver and now the arena was becoming a dangerous grounds for all involved.
Takeo whistled crisply, drawing the attention of the raging beast, it charged forth, roaring its death cries as it hoped to take at least one of the shinobi with it to its demise. As it approached the man simply stepped back to the ledge continuing to make noises to draw its attention. With a few moments to spare he rolled to the side, ensuring that he had enough time to get out of range of the creatures tail. The creature realized its predicament too late, slowing down but possessing too much momentum to stop completely. As it careened towards the edge Takeo channeled chakra into the earth. The ground beneath the creature’s feet shifted, sliding out from underneath it and sealing its fate as it toppled over the edge. Ordinarily the man would have simply used an explosive tag to ensure it was sent over though he didn’t want to risk further fanning the already expanding flames.
He could feel the immense heat radiating from the elevated platform though he stood for a moment, peering over the edge and assessing what remained of the training field. “We must be getting close to the end now” he surmised before glancing back towards his comrade, “You should rest for a few minutes” he stated before tossing the young man a protein bar. “No sense in carrying on blindly when you’re out of chakra” he withdrew a canteen of water as well, taking a sip before offering some to Gene. His own breathing wasn’t even elevated, the amount of chakra he had expended thus far equated to a mere warm-up, a testament to the completely different league he was in. he approached the young man, taking a moment to sit next to him as he watched the lingering flames with a sense of fascination as well as respect for their power.
Jutsu UsedShow
[Earth Element • Earth Flow]
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
This simple jutsu only requires the channeling of chakra and contact with the earth within a 15m radius of the designated section of earth. The affected earth can only be at a maximum of 5 feet by 3 feet and 1 foot deep. By flowing chakra intro the ground Takeo can cause this section of earth to shift suddenly at a speed of 8 with a pulling strength of 12 in an attempt to knock an opponent off balance or put strain on their knee or ankle.
C-Ranked Ninjutsu
This simple jutsu only requires the channeling of chakra and contact with the earth within a 15m radius of the designated section of earth. The affected earth can only be at a maximum of 5 feet by 3 feet and 1 foot deep. By flowing chakra intro the ground Takeo can cause this section of earth to shift suddenly at a speed of 8 with a pulling strength of 12 in an attempt to knock an opponent off balance or put strain on their knee or ankle.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Breath after breath after breath. Gene's heart was thundering inside his chest and what little energy he did have left was used to keep from toppling over. He was tired no doubt, but not completely drained. Fortunately, he'd done numerous exercises with his mother on how to survive without the use of chakra when necessary. Unfortunately however, there really wasn't a stealthy way to approach something as large the creature whom he'd now watched Takeo dispose of effortlessly and without much expense to his own energy. That's when the realization him him - the technique while powerful, was still an incomplete one.
A glance around told Gene all that he needed to know about the Fire style: Burning entrapment jutsu. Flames licked at almost every nook and cranny where the dinosaur had started and trailed off even to where the creature attempted to a last ditch effort to cause problems. Never mind the intense heat radiating from the elevated platform, had this been a real battle - their position would have been severely compromised, he would have expended most of his reserves, left far too man traces of his existence & the worst of all mistakes - he still wouldn't have finished the job. It was not Gene's katon that did the creature in and he wouldn't take credit for the downfall of it.
"That's not a technique I want to make a habit of using." Said Gene through a series of slow, easy breaths. He may have exhausted a great deal of Chakra but it was nowhere near enough to put him down for the count. After all, Gene's level of chakra control was considerably better than those his age. "I may have over did it a bit but I'll be fine." Said Gene, already up on his feet. "More importantly, we just might be able to use this burning rock heap in our favor." Quick to turn a negative into a positive, Gene had thought of a way to ensure that they would be well protected, at least for a little while, from the dangers that lay ahead.
A part of what makes a Shinobi a good Shinobi isn't simply in the amount of techniques that they are able to use, but rather their understanding of the fundamentals and then the ability to apply that knowledge in the most practical or non practical of ways. In this case, Gene intended on using the sturdy nature of Takeo's doton combined with the spreading aspect of his Katon to create a moving shield of some kind - that is, if Takeo was willing to help. "Just to be clear, the objective here is to make it beyond that stream." Gene stated, pointing over the horizon East bound. They weren't far off but traveling on the ground level held more danger than he would have liked to admit. In this way he could conserve his energy and aid by keeping the flames burning as they continued on the way. Or at least - that was the plan...
A glance around told Gene all that he needed to know about the Fire style: Burning entrapment jutsu. Flames licked at almost every nook and cranny where the dinosaur had started and trailed off even to where the creature attempted to a last ditch effort to cause problems. Never mind the intense heat radiating from the elevated platform, had this been a real battle - their position would have been severely compromised, he would have expended most of his reserves, left far too man traces of his existence & the worst of all mistakes - he still wouldn't have finished the job. It was not Gene's katon that did the creature in and he wouldn't take credit for the downfall of it.
"That's not a technique I want to make a habit of using." Said Gene through a series of slow, easy breaths. He may have exhausted a great deal of Chakra but it was nowhere near enough to put him down for the count. After all, Gene's level of chakra control was considerably better than those his age. "I may have over did it a bit but I'll be fine." Said Gene, already up on his feet. "More importantly, we just might be able to use this burning rock heap in our favor." Quick to turn a negative into a positive, Gene had thought of a way to ensure that they would be well protected, at least for a little while, from the dangers that lay ahead.
A part of what makes a Shinobi a good Shinobi isn't simply in the amount of techniques that they are able to use, but rather their understanding of the fundamentals and then the ability to apply that knowledge in the most practical or non practical of ways. In this case, Gene intended on using the sturdy nature of Takeo's doton combined with the spreading aspect of his Katon to create a moving shield of some kind - that is, if Takeo was willing to help. "Just to be clear, the objective here is to make it beyond that stream." Gene stated, pointing over the horizon East bound. They weren't far off but traveling on the ground level held more danger than he would have liked to admit. In this way he could conserve his energy and aid by keeping the flames burning as they continued on the way. Or at least - that was the plan...
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo continued to study the young chunin, his piercing cobalt eyes didn’t miss a single detail. He had learned a great deal about the way the young man fought; his instincts and reaction times were impeccable, and physically he was able to perform at the level of many Jounin. Though his ninjutsu repertoire and chakra pool seemed to come in at only slightly above average for a Chunin it was clear he had exceptional chakra control and for the most part utilized his chakra wisely. Nonetheless there were areas to improve upon, while it was obvious the young man possessed immense talent and a keen mind it too was growing increasingly apparent that he lacked experience. While it was admirable to push oneself past their own limits and strive to never give up any seasoned shinobi would value the opportunity to gather one’s strength before making a final push.
Nonetheless he would trust his comrade to realize his own limits, at a similar age he was sure that he would have responded in the same manner. He nodded in acknowledgement as Gene stated he was fine, deciding to leave it at that. Meanwhile he continued to ensure his chakra reserves were at their peak, eating the protein bar and taking several deep sips of water to keep him hydrated. When he swallowed the last of his snack he stowed away the wrapper to dispose of properly later and then similarly closed the lid of his canteen before returning it to its position in his supply pouch. “That was a good technique, might even learn it myself but Katon tends to have a lot of collateral damage and that’s something to always keep in mind.” He noted, it was part of the reason why he trained in such a diverse repertoire of jutsu, they each had their uses though many were designed for specific purposes and strategies. That wasn’t to say however that he wasn’t creative with their applications.
The Jounin surveyed the area from his vantage point, sighting in the destination as Gene pointed it out. Unfortunately he didn’t possess the ability to move the massive earthen platform laterally nor did he have any way of flying, though the latter was an avenue he was willing to explore at a later time. Perhaps a technique to create a small mobile platform of Doton for just such occasions. Typically he relied on Yoru for transportation via his barrier platforms though lately the two were seldom paired with one another, each being highly valuable assets that were better utilized separately. Instead Takeo came up with another method that would utilize their elevation to their advantage and still bring them very close to their destination without travelling along the ground. “I should be able to get us quite close” he stated before withdrawing a kunai and sighting in a tree in the distance. Ranged weaponry was far from his forte though he could at least hit the broadside of a tree from a great distance and his throwing power and thus range was exceptional. Tossing the kunai into the air he formed a set of seals and then caught the weapon again, taking a moment to sight in the target and shift his stance before launching the projectile. Immediately as he threw the weapon his jutsu took effect, earthen chains rocketing out from the ground in an attempt to bind the weapon. They followed behind at a slightly slower pace though didn’t lose course as they continued to track the target in the linear direction. Finally the weapon impacted the tree with restrained force, imbedding hilt deep into the bark as the chains promptly wrapped around the tree, securely binding what little of the kunai remained exposed. One length of chain even went through the ring pommel ensuring it would be fastened to the thick trunk.
This left the men with an angled chain bridge of sorts. The earthen chains were fully taut, five lengths each just under 2 inches thick extended next to one another for a length of just over 200 feet. The stream wouldn’t be far at all once they traversed the distance. Of course they would be fairly vulnerable while they travelled, having only a 10 inch wide bridge of sorts over a roughly 45 degree angled decent which started with an elevation of around 80ft. Takeo tested the strength of the chains with one hand, they were certainly quite durable. “After you” he indicated with a nod. He had never been particularly fond of heights and though his balance was impeccable it still wasn’t his preference. Regardless of who led Takeo would step onto the chains without further hesitation, deftly balancing along the impromptu bridge. Even if it was only a single length of chain he would have been able to run along its length at nearly his full speed. Though at least this way he would likely be able to allow Gene to set the pace as they wound down to the culmination of the training session.
Nonetheless he would trust his comrade to realize his own limits, at a similar age he was sure that he would have responded in the same manner. He nodded in acknowledgement as Gene stated he was fine, deciding to leave it at that. Meanwhile he continued to ensure his chakra reserves were at their peak, eating the protein bar and taking several deep sips of water to keep him hydrated. When he swallowed the last of his snack he stowed away the wrapper to dispose of properly later and then similarly closed the lid of his canteen before returning it to its position in his supply pouch. “That was a good technique, might even learn it myself but Katon tends to have a lot of collateral damage and that’s something to always keep in mind.” He noted, it was part of the reason why he trained in such a diverse repertoire of jutsu, they each had their uses though many were designed for specific purposes and strategies. That wasn’t to say however that he wasn’t creative with their applications.
The Jounin surveyed the area from his vantage point, sighting in the destination as Gene pointed it out. Unfortunately he didn’t possess the ability to move the massive earthen platform laterally nor did he have any way of flying, though the latter was an avenue he was willing to explore at a later time. Perhaps a technique to create a small mobile platform of Doton for just such occasions. Typically he relied on Yoru for transportation via his barrier platforms though lately the two were seldom paired with one another, each being highly valuable assets that were better utilized separately. Instead Takeo came up with another method that would utilize their elevation to their advantage and still bring them very close to their destination without travelling along the ground. “I should be able to get us quite close” he stated before withdrawing a kunai and sighting in a tree in the distance. Ranged weaponry was far from his forte though he could at least hit the broadside of a tree from a great distance and his throwing power and thus range was exceptional. Tossing the kunai into the air he formed a set of seals and then caught the weapon again, taking a moment to sight in the target and shift his stance before launching the projectile. Immediately as he threw the weapon his jutsu took effect, earthen chains rocketing out from the ground in an attempt to bind the weapon. They followed behind at a slightly slower pace though didn’t lose course as they continued to track the target in the linear direction. Finally the weapon impacted the tree with restrained force, imbedding hilt deep into the bark as the chains promptly wrapped around the tree, securely binding what little of the kunai remained exposed. One length of chain even went through the ring pommel ensuring it would be fastened to the thick trunk.
This left the men with an angled chain bridge of sorts. The earthen chains were fully taut, five lengths each just under 2 inches thick extended next to one another for a length of just over 200 feet. The stream wouldn’t be far at all once they traversed the distance. Of course they would be fairly vulnerable while they travelled, having only a 10 inch wide bridge of sorts over a roughly 45 degree angled decent which started with an elevation of around 80ft. Takeo tested the strength of the chains with one hand, they were certainly quite durable. “After you” he indicated with a nod. He had never been particularly fond of heights and though his balance was impeccable it still wasn’t his preference. Regardless of who led Takeo would step onto the chains without further hesitation, deftly balancing along the impromptu bridge. Even if it was only a single length of chain he would have been able to run along its length at nearly his full speed. Though at least this way he would likely be able to allow Gene to set the pace as they wound down to the culmination of the training session.
Jutsu UsedShow
Earth Element• Chains of Imprisonment
B-Rank Ninjutsu
This powerful restraining jutsu requires that Takeo be within 20ft of the target, after forming the necessary seals five lengths of stone chain-links with jut out of the ground at a speed of 18. Unlike most jutsu of this fashion the chains are not directly controlled by Takeo and thus do not require additional concentration. Rather they are aimed at a target and then they rapidly move to immobilize the target, automatically looping around arms, legs, waist and neck. The chains extend as long as necessary to ensnare the victim depending on their height and girth; because this is not a controlled jutsu however and can only pursue a target in a linear direction. Typically this technique is used in order to restrain a target overnight or to secure someone before interrogation. A strength of 22 is required to break free.
B-Rank Ninjutsu
This powerful restraining jutsu requires that Takeo be within 20ft of the target, after forming the necessary seals five lengths of stone chain-links with jut out of the ground at a speed of 18. Unlike most jutsu of this fashion the chains are not directly controlled by Takeo and thus do not require additional concentration. Rather they are aimed at a target and then they rapidly move to immobilize the target, automatically looping around arms, legs, waist and neck. The chains extend as long as necessary to ensnare the victim depending on their height and girth; because this is not a controlled jutsu however and can only pursue a target in a linear direction. Typically this technique is used in order to restrain a target overnight or to secure someone before interrogation. A strength of 22 is required to break free.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
"You don't think I'm aware?" Gene thought to himself in lieu of Takeo's brief explanation. Fire style Burning entrapment was a jutsu that Gene had not yet fully manifested into his own and his only reason for trying it out here was because the threat was great enough to serve as a target. However, in doing so he'd drained his stamina a marginal amount even with his firm hold of his Chakra...Yeah, it definitely was a killer jutsu but as far as Gene was concerned it wasn't battle ready yet. That said, the next step would be to improve it when the time presented itself but in the mean time, they needed to get through the remainder of this exercise.
By now, Gene had grown accustomed to Takeo's use of rather grandiose scale jutsu and believed that any long lasting battle involving the guy resulted in long lasting terrain changes but kept the thought to himself. More importantly, Gene had picked up on Takeo's subtle observations of him and wondered what the reason behind it had been. Initially there wasn't a problem but Gene was not so naive as to be too trusting. For the sake of not showing more than he already had Gene declined the invitation to take the lead. "Why don't you take the lead this time around?" Gene asked, sounding more like he'd made a declaration - which he kind of did. Considering the fact that his chakra was low it'd be silly to put him at the front any way until his reserves were at least part way replenished. So in all reality, it wasn't Gene blatantly going against Takeo's offer it was just the smart thing to do.
Even though the day was nice with few clouds dancing along the skyline, the smell of scorched earth pierced Gene's nostrils like newly made Kunai knives. If the altitude hadn't bothered him the stench certainly would if they hadn't gotten down soon.
By now, Gene had grown accustomed to Takeo's use of rather grandiose scale jutsu and believed that any long lasting battle involving the guy resulted in long lasting terrain changes but kept the thought to himself. More importantly, Gene had picked up on Takeo's subtle observations of him and wondered what the reason behind it had been. Initially there wasn't a problem but Gene was not so naive as to be too trusting. For the sake of not showing more than he already had Gene declined the invitation to take the lead. "Why don't you take the lead this time around?" Gene asked, sounding more like he'd made a declaration - which he kind of did. Considering the fact that his chakra was low it'd be silly to put him at the front any way until his reserves were at least part way replenished. So in all reality, it wasn't Gene blatantly going against Takeo's offer it was just the smart thing to do.
Even though the day was nice with few clouds dancing along the skyline, the smell of scorched earth pierced Gene's nostrils like newly made Kunai knives. If the altitude hadn't bothered him the stench certainly would if they hadn't gotten down soon.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
The Jounin simply nodded, finding wisdom in Gene’s choice to allow Takeo to take point. Evidently he wasn’t quite as reckless as he may have seemed. Without hesitation or protest the woodsmen took to the edge of the cliff, deftly traversing the earthen chains. He had never been fond of heights, especially as a child and even into his teenage years though the life of a shinobi and the countless death defying acts accumulated throughout his service had a way of mitigating such fears. Once the pair descended to an elevation of about 15 feet Takeo activated his mind’s eye once more. He noted several flares of chakra up ahead, though the immediate area was clear. Landing without a noise he decided to put to test gene’s understanding of the hand signals taught in the academy. Though basic knowledge, only the more advanced students seemed to retain such skills throughout their shinobi career.
He moved as if a wolf, silent and efficient as he naturally slid between cover. The operative slowed behind a tree, holding up a closed fist. His eyes shut for a moment, sensing ahead. Guarding the stream were 6 chakra signatures, humanoid and arranged in a row, each spaced out 10 feet from the other. Another 30 feet of forest separated them from the clearing the stream ran through. He made the gestures for 6 targets ahead, indicating their formation. And then he noticed a handful of other chakra formations, fuuinjutsu seals in a square formation between a series of trees just before the clearing. In a low whisper he elaborated on the scenario, crouching he drew out the layout in the dirt. “Targets are humanoid, likely constructs of some sort, and then there’s this 4 seal explosive formation. We’ll use the trap against them, conserve our chakra by luring them in and ambush any that survive the explosion.” Of course he could easily defeat the opponents himself in direct combat though for the sake of strategic planning he preferred to put himself in Gene’s situation, his reserves already low and the tactical method being the more preferred option.
Assuming Gene didn’t have any opposition to the plan Takeo would form hand seals causing the earth next to them to rise up into the formation of an average sized wolf. “Let’s move into position, my friend here will lure them in” he stated, their positions and the distances between themselves and the fuuin trap were depicted on his diagram which he promptly smoothed over. As the two approached the edge of the trap Takeo took to a tree just behind the one which held the seal corresponding to the back left corner of the square formation. This would allow him a clear vantage point of the trap and the enemies when they approached. He would leave Gene to decide his own position. Meanwhile the wolf had maneuvered around the path and then made a straight approach at the opponents whom as it turned out were seven foot tall constructs of stone, some wielding swords and shields and others large two handed clubs. They seemed quite strong and sturdy, most likely B-rank formations. The wolf made a charge at one wielding a club and then turned to retreat, causing just three of the constructs to follow in pursuit. Takeo noticed this and signaled for gene to draw forward the others. Even if they weren’t all caught in the explosion it would be to their advantage to ambush them within the trees.
He moved as if a wolf, silent and efficient as he naturally slid between cover. The operative slowed behind a tree, holding up a closed fist. His eyes shut for a moment, sensing ahead. Guarding the stream were 6 chakra signatures, humanoid and arranged in a row, each spaced out 10 feet from the other. Another 30 feet of forest separated them from the clearing the stream ran through. He made the gestures for 6 targets ahead, indicating their formation. And then he noticed a handful of other chakra formations, fuuinjutsu seals in a square formation between a series of trees just before the clearing. In a low whisper he elaborated on the scenario, crouching he drew out the layout in the dirt. “Targets are humanoid, likely constructs of some sort, and then there’s this 4 seal explosive formation. We’ll use the trap against them, conserve our chakra by luring them in and ambush any that survive the explosion.” Of course he could easily defeat the opponents himself in direct combat though for the sake of strategic planning he preferred to put himself in Gene’s situation, his reserves already low and the tactical method being the more preferred option.
Assuming Gene didn’t have any opposition to the plan Takeo would form hand seals causing the earth next to them to rise up into the formation of an average sized wolf. “Let’s move into position, my friend here will lure them in” he stated, their positions and the distances between themselves and the fuuin trap were depicted on his diagram which he promptly smoothed over. As the two approached the edge of the trap Takeo took to a tree just behind the one which held the seal corresponding to the back left corner of the square formation. This would allow him a clear vantage point of the trap and the enemies when they approached. He would leave Gene to decide his own position. Meanwhile the wolf had maneuvered around the path and then made a straight approach at the opponents whom as it turned out were seven foot tall constructs of stone, some wielding swords and shields and others large two handed clubs. They seemed quite strong and sturdy, most likely B-rank formations. The wolf made a charge at one wielding a club and then turned to retreat, causing just three of the constructs to follow in pursuit. Takeo noticed this and signaled for gene to draw forward the others. Even if they weren’t all caught in the explosion it would be to their advantage to ambush them within the trees.
Jutsu UsedShow
Earth Element• Mud Wolves
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming hand seals and releasing chakra into the ground Takeo molds his chakra into the surrounding earth in order to create a very realistic looking wolf composed of mud. The wolf is average in size with dark “fur” and eyes, it’s capable of growling, howling and even smelling its prey to some extent, ultimately acting very much like a real wolf with the exception that when killed it will crumble away in clumps of mud and dirt.
Taijutsu: 5
Stamina: 10
Speed: 15
Strength: 15
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming hand seals and releasing chakra into the ground Takeo molds his chakra into the surrounding earth in order to create a very realistic looking wolf composed of mud. The wolf is average in size with dark “fur” and eyes, it’s capable of growling, howling and even smelling its prey to some extent, ultimately acting very much like a real wolf with the exception that when killed it will crumble away in clumps of mud and dirt.
Taijutsu: 5
Stamina: 10
Speed: 15
Strength: 15
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
With that monster taken down Gene would have liked to believe that the worse was over but of course, he knew better. Below them awaited more cumbersome obstacles and treacherous terrain; knowing there would be no time to lament on the matter Gene simply took a long draw of air through his nostrils envisioning with it the many built up anxieties and concerns. Then, after a short pause Gene exhaled freeing himself of all doubt before moving quickly to catch up with his unsuspecting mentor.
It hadn't been a secret, Gene studied Takeo very carefully over the short time that they'd spent together and took timeless lessons along with him. The most apparent of his observations was that Takeo while quirky...in his own way, far eclipsed Mino in skill and experience something that Gene had noted repetitively to himself since the Jounin's initial approach. Not to mention the guy had an adrenaline fetish...or so Gene liked to assume. "I must be just as crazy..." Said Gene to himself while looking at the narrow Earthen Rope that stretched down to the ground. Taking a firm grip with both hands Gene ran chakra through his palms and kicked off the rock surface thrusting himself down using the chains as a zip line.
Once he'd gotten within ten feet of the ground Gene allowed his grip on the earthen chains to slip though his landing lacked Takeo's silent touch. The noise made was not loud enough to be problematic but only because of the distance between them and the now discovered enemy. Chalking it up to good fortune no words were wasted on the mistake but it was duly noted. More importantly, Gene recognized the signal to hold his ground immediately and did just that. There was enough foliage blocking a line of sight to him that crouching low put Gene out of suspicion if their enemy had any.
The plan of action was a relatively simple one and the number of forces blocking their path seemed reasonable however there was something that he didn't quite understand. Between the two of them, Gene and Takeo had already made a fair share of noise with their Earth and Fire tactics but based on the intel gathered the enemy hadn't made a move. Why? It wasn't like they were dealing with AI with no sense of urgency, these were humanoid targets so what was the hold up?
"They had the presence of mind to spring a trap but they couldn't have expected us to fall for it...And not only that, if Takeo is right then they're using a standard battle formation but why choose this location? It's not ideal for that type of tactic..." Gene thought to himself all the while moving into action in accordance with the plan he'd received.
With three already en route to the ambush point Gene had to work fast! Flanking the remaining three from the right he'd blitzed the first stone soldier to come into his line of sight with shuriken (to no great effect). This in turn caused the remaining two to become aware of his presence and give chase - the plan had seemed to work like magic against the mindless. Careful not to stray too far from the stone men Gene led them through the forest lands before fleeing to higher ground. Once confident in his own security, Gene raised his left hand up as if he were about to swear an oath before twisting it so that his palm pointed toward his face (the signal to advance/proceed). Now more than ever Gene was happy he hadn't decided to nap during drill lessons at the academy.
It hadn't been a secret, Gene studied Takeo very carefully over the short time that they'd spent together and took timeless lessons along with him. The most apparent of his observations was that Takeo while quirky...in his own way, far eclipsed Mino in skill and experience something that Gene had noted repetitively to himself since the Jounin's initial approach. Not to mention the guy had an adrenaline fetish...or so Gene liked to assume. "I must be just as crazy..." Said Gene to himself while looking at the narrow Earthen Rope that stretched down to the ground. Taking a firm grip with both hands Gene ran chakra through his palms and kicked off the rock surface thrusting himself down using the chains as a zip line.
Once he'd gotten within ten feet of the ground Gene allowed his grip on the earthen chains to slip though his landing lacked Takeo's silent touch. The noise made was not loud enough to be problematic but only because of the distance between them and the now discovered enemy. Chalking it up to good fortune no words were wasted on the mistake but it was duly noted. More importantly, Gene recognized the signal to hold his ground immediately and did just that. There was enough foliage blocking a line of sight to him that crouching low put Gene out of suspicion if their enemy had any.
The plan of action was a relatively simple one and the number of forces blocking their path seemed reasonable however there was something that he didn't quite understand. Between the two of them, Gene and Takeo had already made a fair share of noise with their Earth and Fire tactics but based on the intel gathered the enemy hadn't made a move. Why? It wasn't like they were dealing with AI with no sense of urgency, these were humanoid targets so what was the hold up?
"They had the presence of mind to spring a trap but they couldn't have expected us to fall for it...And not only that, if Takeo is right then they're using a standard battle formation but why choose this location? It's not ideal for that type of tactic..." Gene thought to himself all the while moving into action in accordance with the plan he'd received.
With three already en route to the ambush point Gene had to work fast! Flanking the remaining three from the right he'd blitzed the first stone soldier to come into his line of sight with shuriken (to no great effect). This in turn caused the remaining two to become aware of his presence and give chase - the plan had seemed to work like magic against the mindless. Careful not to stray too far from the stone men Gene led them through the forest lands before fleeing to higher ground. Once confident in his own security, Gene raised his left hand up as if he were about to swear an oath before twisting it so that his palm pointed toward his face (the signal to advance/proceed). Now more than ever Gene was happy he hadn't decided to nap during drill lessons at the academy.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Takeo chuckled lightly as he overheard Gene’s comment, even from a fair distance away. The kid was certainly growing on him, unquestionably skilled and though more reserved than his usual companions Gene certainly had personality. Most importantly he gave the impression of a shinobi whom would retain his devout loyalty to a cause or a leader whom he believed in. That made him a valuable prospective candidate for Anbu. The elite operative’s ears perked up once more as he noted the sound of the Chunin using the stone chain as a zip-line rather than a tightrope. Another good sign, innovation and creativity, not being molded into always following the same approach as his superiors. Anbu would require each and every operative to be able to think and plan on their own accord and not always rely on their squad leader’s absolute judgment.
The lack of deft silent movement and landing from the young candidate had not gone unnoticed though Takeo was confident that given Gene’s style and aptitude they would be skills easily learned. The fundamentals were all there and by this point the experienced shinobi was confident in what his final assessment would be. Hand signals were understood, utilized and followed seamlessly, already indicating a proficiency towards teamwork and field operations. Moreover this seemed to be the final obstacle in the training ground, just on the other side of the river a tree could be seen containing the marker that indicated the tests completion. It seemed the stone warriors had been tasted with preventing anyone from crossing the river to reach that goal.
The plan seemed to work exceptionally well, leading the targets to take chase they began to pursue towards the tree line. Though only about a third of the way and one soldier from each group of three stopped in its tracks before turning and returning to their previous guard post. It seemed they had some basic intelligence, at least in regards to completing their task. No matter what they wouldn’t leave the river completely unguarded and even those sent out to fend off intruders likely had a maximum range of travel before returning to the river. It seemed too that their type classes had some play in their roles. Both of the soldiers that returned carried a large spiked club and a heavy shield while the advancing soldiers were somewhat faster, two with smaller circular shields and a mid-sized sword taking the front while two stockier soldiers each wielding a two handed great sword fell back slightly to take more of a middle ground approach.
As Gene arrived in the safety of the trees the mud wolf moved into position at the edge of the explosive range, luring the soldiers into pursuit as it growled defiantly, baring its teeth as the two closest warriors moved to strike. Noting the habits of the other soldiers Takeo came to the conclusion that it would be impossible to draw them all into the same trap, nonetheless Gene and his own Doton construct had served their purpose, revealing important insight into their opponent’s behavior as well as separating them into groups based on type. Whistling sharply the wolf moved towards Takeo’s location, quickly turning and darting off towards the center of the explosive formation, the pair of soldiers following closely behind. Suddenly as the wolf stepped into the center the explosion triggered, blasting flames inward from 4 trees in a square, decimating those caught within. Flames, smoke and rubble sprayed out from the tree-line, causing the two knight class soldiers to take two steps backwards and raise their great-swords.
Takeo indicated to advance as he moved quickly through the trees, coming to the edge of the tree line, looking down at the knights. He took position over the one on the left, beginning a sequence of hand seals, his intent obvious. Gene would have his own time to prepare. And then as he finished his seals his hands would erupt in a torrent of flames, condensing into highly refined and controlled blades. He would nod sharply, ensuring Gene was prepared before launching himself forward. The knight responded, noting the bright flames and drawing back his sword to slice the man in half. To this Takeo shifted his body, cleaving through both of his opponents arms as he dropped and spun, cleaving his opponent’s legs with his other arm before piercing through the chest with his right hand once more as the torso fell, decimating the stone construct as it crumbled apart.
The lack of deft silent movement and landing from the young candidate had not gone unnoticed though Takeo was confident that given Gene’s style and aptitude they would be skills easily learned. The fundamentals were all there and by this point the experienced shinobi was confident in what his final assessment would be. Hand signals were understood, utilized and followed seamlessly, already indicating a proficiency towards teamwork and field operations. Moreover this seemed to be the final obstacle in the training ground, just on the other side of the river a tree could be seen containing the marker that indicated the tests completion. It seemed the stone warriors had been tasted with preventing anyone from crossing the river to reach that goal.
The plan seemed to work exceptionally well, leading the targets to take chase they began to pursue towards the tree line. Though only about a third of the way and one soldier from each group of three stopped in its tracks before turning and returning to their previous guard post. It seemed they had some basic intelligence, at least in regards to completing their task. No matter what they wouldn’t leave the river completely unguarded and even those sent out to fend off intruders likely had a maximum range of travel before returning to the river. It seemed too that their type classes had some play in their roles. Both of the soldiers that returned carried a large spiked club and a heavy shield while the advancing soldiers were somewhat faster, two with smaller circular shields and a mid-sized sword taking the front while two stockier soldiers each wielding a two handed great sword fell back slightly to take more of a middle ground approach.
As Gene arrived in the safety of the trees the mud wolf moved into position at the edge of the explosive range, luring the soldiers into pursuit as it growled defiantly, baring its teeth as the two closest warriors moved to strike. Noting the habits of the other soldiers Takeo came to the conclusion that it would be impossible to draw them all into the same trap, nonetheless Gene and his own Doton construct had served their purpose, revealing important insight into their opponent’s behavior as well as separating them into groups based on type. Whistling sharply the wolf moved towards Takeo’s location, quickly turning and darting off towards the center of the explosive formation, the pair of soldiers following closely behind. Suddenly as the wolf stepped into the center the explosion triggered, blasting flames inward from 4 trees in a square, decimating those caught within. Flames, smoke and rubble sprayed out from the tree-line, causing the two knight class soldiers to take two steps backwards and raise their great-swords.
Takeo indicated to advance as he moved quickly through the trees, coming to the edge of the tree line, looking down at the knights. He took position over the one on the left, beginning a sequence of hand seals, his intent obvious. Gene would have his own time to prepare. And then as he finished his seals his hands would erupt in a torrent of flames, condensing into highly refined and controlled blades. He would nod sharply, ensuring Gene was prepared before launching himself forward. The knight responded, noting the bright flames and drawing back his sword to slice the man in half. To this Takeo shifted his body, cleaving through both of his opponents arms as he dropped and spun, cleaving his opponent’s legs with his other arm before piercing through the chest with his right hand once more as the torso fell, decimating the stone construct as it crumbled apart.
Jutsu UsedShow
Katon • Searing Blades
A-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: 30 Control
A deadly close quarter’s technique, Takeo has learned to harness the Katon element to its utmost efficiency. After the necessary hand seals Takeo will flatten his hands and gather chakra around them, similar to the chakra scalpel technique. From there an aura of fire will develop around his protected hands, the flames emerge highly condensed and elongated outwards from his hands culminating in 3ft in length and 1ft in width. The immense heat emanating from the blades ripples the air and can cause first degree burns from coming within 6 inches of the flames. Flesh, Trees, Stone and even Steel are easily cut through with minimal resistance. Direct contact yields in instant cauterization and third degree burns. This technique can be maintained for up to 5 posts.
A-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: 30 Control
A deadly close quarter’s technique, Takeo has learned to harness the Katon element to its utmost efficiency. After the necessary hand seals Takeo will flatten his hands and gather chakra around them, similar to the chakra scalpel technique. From there an aura of fire will develop around his protected hands, the flames emerge highly condensed and elongated outwards from his hands culminating in 3ft in length and 1ft in width. The immense heat emanating from the blades ripples the air and can cause first degree burns from coming within 6 inches of the flames. Flesh, Trees, Stone and even Steel are easily cut through with minimal resistance. Direct contact yields in instant cauterization and third degree burns. This technique can be maintained for up to 5 posts.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
*BOOOOOOM*
Before he had known it, the trap designed initially to ensnare him and his comrade had been triggered - taking two of the stone soldiers along with it. For all but a single moment Gene shielded his eyes from the small tree fragments that had been blown asunder from the blast. His ears had also buzzed but by this stage in his career as a ninja the young Shinobi was well used to the disturbance. His only thought had been about the potential casualty that had been avoided by careful planning; for the first time in quite a while, Gene actually questioned the sanity of not just his parents but ninja as a whole. "If I'm still sane by the time I hit my thirties it'll be a miracle," said Gene as he swiftly began moving through the trees silently toward the remaining two Earthen soldiers.
Fortunately, that flashy diversion had offered a grandiose amount of cover in the form of a dust cloud which he noted Takeo wasted no time in taking advantage of by making short work of his selected target. "Elemental Chakra blades? Not bad," Gene thought to himself. As for his fair share of the work load, Gene chose to use an improvised ninja tool and good technique rather than expend chakra. Face to face with the "brutish knight" Gene sized up his opponent , snapped open his left thigh holster and in one fluid motion of his middle finger zipped the kunai out of confinement. If he'd been faced with human opposition he was sure that they might have missed the thin wire wound around the loop of the kunai but either way it wouldn't have mattered. Timed perfectly, Gene waited for the downward swing of knight to move just out of harms way in order to launch his kunai upward into the air letting the weapon leave his hands.
As the knight's blade struck hard into the dirt there was a small wave from where contact had been made though to the brute's surprise the attack fell short though Gene was quick to step on the weapon using it literally as a stepping stoop before taking to the air catching the kunai he'd thrown previously and quickly winding his wrist so that the steel wire had now coiled around the entire stone blade. "Sorry, but you're not fast enough," Gene stated in a tone that almost sounded like disappointment. Sweeping his right leg counter clockwise while simultaneously tugging on the kunai with great force, Gene threw the stone enforcer off balance and literally forced it to impale itself through the neck. This lifted the large Doton structure off of the ground and in the fall, caused the blade to sever the head completely from its body sending it rolling to join his fallen comrade whom Takeo had made quick work of. Did you notice any other traps? Even as the question left his lips the young mans eyes never stopped working over time - probing from left to right, up and down after the mine field, the ridiculously large dragon type monster, countless shuriken and Kunai barrages the boy was on edge. In a good way.
Besides, Gene had already considered how dangerous this course would have been without Takeo's aid knowing that in a true mission, perhaps one that only he could be tasked with...this senior shinobi would not be present. Faced with this reality Gene recalled missions with Aina remembering her mannerisms the further they'd gone from the village and even distantly his own actions when faced with Yaku Fushinkou during the invasion. In both instances he'd been put in a situation in which the final call fell upon his shoulders and frankly, by some miracle he'd made the right decisions. But, he wondered, what would happen if he were to make the wrong call? Then what?
Recovering his ninja tool and securing it back within his left thigh holster, Gene put the thought of uncertainty out of his mind. For now there was no point in worrying.
Before he had known it, the trap designed initially to ensnare him and his comrade had been triggered - taking two of the stone soldiers along with it. For all but a single moment Gene shielded his eyes from the small tree fragments that had been blown asunder from the blast. His ears had also buzzed but by this stage in his career as a ninja the young Shinobi was well used to the disturbance. His only thought had been about the potential casualty that had been avoided by careful planning; for the first time in quite a while, Gene actually questioned the sanity of not just his parents but ninja as a whole. "If I'm still sane by the time I hit my thirties it'll be a miracle," said Gene as he swiftly began moving through the trees silently toward the remaining two Earthen soldiers.
Fortunately, that flashy diversion had offered a grandiose amount of cover in the form of a dust cloud which he noted Takeo wasted no time in taking advantage of by making short work of his selected target. "Elemental Chakra blades? Not bad," Gene thought to himself. As for his fair share of the work load, Gene chose to use an improvised ninja tool and good technique rather than expend chakra. Face to face with the "brutish knight" Gene sized up his opponent , snapped open his left thigh holster and in one fluid motion of his middle finger zipped the kunai out of confinement. If he'd been faced with human opposition he was sure that they might have missed the thin wire wound around the loop of the kunai but either way it wouldn't have mattered. Timed perfectly, Gene waited for the downward swing of knight to move just out of harms way in order to launch his kunai upward into the air letting the weapon leave his hands.
As the knight's blade struck hard into the dirt there was a small wave from where contact had been made though to the brute's surprise the attack fell short though Gene was quick to step on the weapon using it literally as a stepping stoop before taking to the air catching the kunai he'd thrown previously and quickly winding his wrist so that the steel wire had now coiled around the entire stone blade. "Sorry, but you're not fast enough," Gene stated in a tone that almost sounded like disappointment. Sweeping his right leg counter clockwise while simultaneously tugging on the kunai with great force, Gene threw the stone enforcer off balance and literally forced it to impale itself through the neck. This lifted the large Doton structure off of the ground and in the fall, caused the blade to sever the head completely from its body sending it rolling to join his fallen comrade whom Takeo had made quick work of. Did you notice any other traps? Even as the question left his lips the young mans eyes never stopped working over time - probing from left to right, up and down after the mine field, the ridiculously large dragon type monster, countless shuriken and Kunai barrages the boy was on edge. In a good way.
Besides, Gene had already considered how dangerous this course would have been without Takeo's aid knowing that in a true mission, perhaps one that only he could be tasked with...this senior shinobi would not be present. Faced with this reality Gene recalled missions with Aina remembering her mannerisms the further they'd gone from the village and even distantly his own actions when faced with Yaku Fushinkou during the invasion. In both instances he'd been put in a situation in which the final call fell upon his shoulders and frankly, by some miracle he'd made the right decisions. But, he wondered, what would happen if he were to make the wrong call? Then what?
Recovering his ninja tool and securing it back within his left thigh holster, Gene put the thought of uncertainty out of his mind. For now there was no point in worrying.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
As the two shinobi moved in harmony with one another, striking down there targets with no shortage of personal flair Takeo couldn’t help but smile in admiration. The kid was a natural talent, he had thought Fanho to be a rarity, and he certainly was but Gene’s sheer finesse and composure could put Jounin of 10 years to shame. Where in Fanho with his wisdom and understanding he saw a future Hokage, looking at Gene he seemed to have the makings for an ANBU commander even more skilled than himself. They were the shining stars of the next generation, to be guided and honed for the betterment of Konoha. He looked over at Gene as the bodies landed, “You’re something else kid” he stated, clearly impressed. Casually he crushed the stone skull beneath his foot as he began walking in stride with the young man, his searing blades still humming and radiating heat. He had never been that skilled as a Chunin, not even close. Staring ahead at their next adversaries Takeo answered calmly, “No, looks like just those last two then we’re in the clear” he stated. He had of course already made a quick scan of their surroundings to make sure, though nothing was out of the ordinary, just a straight path to the river with two guardians remaining.
“Same as before” he confirmed, eying up the target to the left before making a dash towards him. He would keep pace with Gene until a mere 5 meters out and then seem to become a highly distorted blur even to Gene’s perceptive eyes. To his target Takeo would appear to vanish entirely, evident by how the club and shield wielding soldier froze in confusion. The Jounin would slide low, under its legs, slicing through its right ankle and buckling it as it was forced to take a knee. By the time its knee lowered to brace against the ground Takeo had already came out of the slide, turned and parted the soldiers head from its body in one clean swipe. To a common onlooker it would seem that he had suddenly appeared behind the target, its head already removed as it slumped forward. The severed ankle would have likely been overlooked entirely. The chakra blades dispersed as the ANBU commander observed Gene dispatch his own target. When he had done so he spoke again. “Would be a shame to not get a chance to work with you for real” he stated, beginning to walk towards the river. “I’d like you to join ANBU, think I’ll even put you in charge of your own squad. What do you say?” he queried casually, though any shinobi of Konoha would understand the weight of his words.
“Same as before” he confirmed, eying up the target to the left before making a dash towards him. He would keep pace with Gene until a mere 5 meters out and then seem to become a highly distorted blur even to Gene’s perceptive eyes. To his target Takeo would appear to vanish entirely, evident by how the club and shield wielding soldier froze in confusion. The Jounin would slide low, under its legs, slicing through its right ankle and buckling it as it was forced to take a knee. By the time its knee lowered to brace against the ground Takeo had already came out of the slide, turned and parted the soldiers head from its body in one clean swipe. To a common onlooker it would seem that he had suddenly appeared behind the target, its head already removed as it slumped forward. The severed ankle would have likely been overlooked entirely. The chakra blades dispersed as the ANBU commander observed Gene dispatch his own target. When he had done so he spoke again. “Would be a shame to not get a chance to work with you for real” he stated, beginning to walk towards the river. “I’d like you to join ANBU, think I’ll even put you in charge of your own squad. What do you say?” he queried casually, though any shinobi of Konoha would understand the weight of his words.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
Gene nodded his understanding of their combination and then after taking three momentum building steps forward broke out into a quick paced run. Unlike his landing earlier - audible and careless as it was, Gene's steps were now almost soundless as he pressed forward across the parched soil. His torso was hunkered down near parallel to the ground yet his legs extended and bent with practiced precision on every step sacrificing only his chances of being an easier target to a potential threat lurking elsewhere. One could never be 'too' careful in their line of work.
It'd only taken one swift movement of the left hand & arm to retrieve Gene's weapon of choice; for now, a simple Kunai knife with steel wire attached to its pommel ring. But carrying out what he had planned would take quite a bit of poise and analytical prowess - fortunately Gene lacked neither but even he wouldn't deny that it wouldn't be so easily done the second time around. "Just like you practiced.." Gene thought to himself, mentally visualizing his next sequence of actions in their entirety as he had done numerous times before. By now, the target distance was well under fifteen feet which was close enough to ensure when his weapon was cast out it'd be done so with the ferocity of a cracking whip and three times as lethal.
As his right foot landed against the dirt Gene pivoted just slightly enough to send himself into a forward slide, throwing his right arm behind him as his left arm and foot simultaneously shot forward. The motion itself may have seem irregular but a keen observer would have noticed Gene twist his right hand as it flew back and take hold of the thin wire while with his left hand cast the Kunai forward. This was to maintain control over the weapon. Once the Kunai was out of his hand Gene began a mental count down, "Six, five, four, three, two, one.."
*Shwack!*
Lodged six inches deep into the neck of his quarry was the Kunai. Gene had struck hard and fast like a scorpion presented with the opportunity to sting its unsuspecting victim but he was not done yet. Bobbing his head low, the young boy began to spin forward on the tip of his left foot (now grounded) letting the wire he'd been holding with his right hand slip harmlessly over his head - though by now the Doton construct was raising its weapon seemingly with the intent of cutting the wire and freeing himself. Gene would not allow this to happen however, for when the brute raised its weapon Gene tugged on the wire forcing the construct off balance as he had done the previous time. Only when the structure jolted forward this time it was not his own blade but Gene's Tanto that severed the bond between its head and body - thanks to the weakened part of its neck, the cut was done clean.
When it was over, Gene heaved a heavy sigh of relief but had no sooner choked on the air he breathed when Takeo bluntly asked him to join Anbu. Was he being serious?! Wide eyed and clearly surprised Gene hesitated in giving his answer. First he thought that this was a test, that Takeo had been pulling his leg only to see what kind of a response he would give. The guy did seem to have an unusual sense of humor but this? It was crazy. In all honesty Gene would have all but dismissed the subject if not for seeing Takeo's expression...he wasn't joking.
"Anbu...what's with this guy? We just meet today and he wants me to join Anbu? Doesn't he know that's not something to joke about? Gene wanted to say but something wouldn't allow him to do so. All things considered Takeo was more than skilled probably more suited to the tier of Anbu than Gene so the young Mitsurugi couldn't understand - hell, none of it made sense. "That's not something to kid around about." The statement was sharp and although they'd been a fairly easy going pair up until this point Gene's no nonsense attitude was about to flare up. For one, the Anbu themselves were 'nonexistent' to the villagers of Konoha and those who were crazy enough to inquire about the society were typically met with stiff resistance. Now someone who Gene had only just met within the hours of training shows up with an offer to become a member? It seemed a little too good to be true.
In a way...this was one of the few things that caused Gene to stand out from others. He was sure that even Fanho in his position may have simply took the offer out right or at the very least, considered it beyond what Gene was doing now. It was just this sort of natural suspicion that kept Gene out of dangerous situations though contrary to his philosophy of avoiding trouble when possible he'd been given the golden ticket straight into it - and even more crazy, he'd almost taken the leap. No doubt if this was serious no one could or would know of his involvement with ANBU; that's just how it worked and so for better or worse, before he could seriously make a decision Gene would need a few things answered first. "How much do you know about me?" Gene asked, under the impression that anyone associated with ANBU would at the very least, keep some eye on anyone they deemed potential prospects but realized the error almost immediately in the question. No sane individual would divulge such classified or sensitive information lightly even if it were harmless...still, this was the only way that Gene could be sure of Takeo's credentials and even more important, the only way he would be able to make his decision free of apprehension.
Outwardly he looked calm but inside the boy was a tirade of emotions. He wanted to believe that Takeo was joking around in which case he'd already have an exit strategy planned out but something in his gut told him otherwise. Was it the display of ability earlier or the way Takeo carried himself? Everything about the guy practically screamed operative yet only now did Gene really get the full picture. Before he'd only saw the guy as an adrenaline junky but if he were ANBU then it'd all make sense. Things like this was child's play compared to what they dealt with on the regular basis. For all his good instincts Gene had missed something incredibly important - there was no denying that he felt like he was being surveyed throughout the entire time they'd been in contact but the reason was left purposely unclear until now. This meeting...it had not been an accident. A rush of incompetence swept over him as Gene faulted himself for never noticing being watched by anyone before up until now. They must've had their eyes on him for quite some time and he never even suspected a thing...Yeah, that was Anbu for you.
"I was careless.." thought Gene to himself, his eyes half-lidded for a brief moment while the information presented to him had been processed. It donned on him that there wouldn't be another opportunity like the one he now had in front of him and in hindsight, he would probably regret not taking the chance to enrich his knowledge of their profession & truly see his own potential first hand. He wanted to see the world for what it was and not just the cookie cut out that the village higher ups tended to push on those who didn't know any better...he wanted to become an operative. "On second thought...I'll take you up on that offer. I want to see the world for what it is and not just the cookie cut out that we're taught into believing...I know there's more to the ninja world than what everyone is letting on. " At the age of merely fifteen Gene's life was about to take a drastic turn the likes of which he had never before seen - he could only pray that he was really ready for the responsibility.
It'd only taken one swift movement of the left hand & arm to retrieve Gene's weapon of choice; for now, a simple Kunai knife with steel wire attached to its pommel ring. But carrying out what he had planned would take quite a bit of poise and analytical prowess - fortunately Gene lacked neither but even he wouldn't deny that it wouldn't be so easily done the second time around. "Just like you practiced.." Gene thought to himself, mentally visualizing his next sequence of actions in their entirety as he had done numerous times before. By now, the target distance was well under fifteen feet which was close enough to ensure when his weapon was cast out it'd be done so with the ferocity of a cracking whip and three times as lethal.
As his right foot landed against the dirt Gene pivoted just slightly enough to send himself into a forward slide, throwing his right arm behind him as his left arm and foot simultaneously shot forward. The motion itself may have seem irregular but a keen observer would have noticed Gene twist his right hand as it flew back and take hold of the thin wire while with his left hand cast the Kunai forward. This was to maintain control over the weapon. Once the Kunai was out of his hand Gene began a mental count down, "Six, five, four, three, two, one.."
*Shwack!*
Lodged six inches deep into the neck of his quarry was the Kunai. Gene had struck hard and fast like a scorpion presented with the opportunity to sting its unsuspecting victim but he was not done yet. Bobbing his head low, the young boy began to spin forward on the tip of his left foot (now grounded) letting the wire he'd been holding with his right hand slip harmlessly over his head - though by now the Doton construct was raising its weapon seemingly with the intent of cutting the wire and freeing himself. Gene would not allow this to happen however, for when the brute raised its weapon Gene tugged on the wire forcing the construct off balance as he had done the previous time. Only when the structure jolted forward this time it was not his own blade but Gene's Tanto that severed the bond between its head and body - thanks to the weakened part of its neck, the cut was done clean.
When it was over, Gene heaved a heavy sigh of relief but had no sooner choked on the air he breathed when Takeo bluntly asked him to join Anbu. Was he being serious?! Wide eyed and clearly surprised Gene hesitated in giving his answer. First he thought that this was a test, that Takeo had been pulling his leg only to see what kind of a response he would give. The guy did seem to have an unusual sense of humor but this? It was crazy. In all honesty Gene would have all but dismissed the subject if not for seeing Takeo's expression...he wasn't joking.
"Anbu...what's with this guy? We just meet today and he wants me to join Anbu? Doesn't he know that's not something to joke about? Gene wanted to say but something wouldn't allow him to do so. All things considered Takeo was more than skilled probably more suited to the tier of Anbu than Gene so the young Mitsurugi couldn't understand - hell, none of it made sense. "That's not something to kid around about." The statement was sharp and although they'd been a fairly easy going pair up until this point Gene's no nonsense attitude was about to flare up. For one, the Anbu themselves were 'nonexistent' to the villagers of Konoha and those who were crazy enough to inquire about the society were typically met with stiff resistance. Now someone who Gene had only just met within the hours of training shows up with an offer to become a member? It seemed a little too good to be true.
In a way...this was one of the few things that caused Gene to stand out from others. He was sure that even Fanho in his position may have simply took the offer out right or at the very least, considered it beyond what Gene was doing now. It was just this sort of natural suspicion that kept Gene out of dangerous situations though contrary to his philosophy of avoiding trouble when possible he'd been given the golden ticket straight into it - and even more crazy, he'd almost taken the leap. No doubt if this was serious no one could or would know of his involvement with ANBU; that's just how it worked and so for better or worse, before he could seriously make a decision Gene would need a few things answered first. "How much do you know about me?" Gene asked, under the impression that anyone associated with ANBU would at the very least, keep some eye on anyone they deemed potential prospects but realized the error almost immediately in the question. No sane individual would divulge such classified or sensitive information lightly even if it were harmless...still, this was the only way that Gene could be sure of Takeo's credentials and even more important, the only way he would be able to make his decision free of apprehension.
Outwardly he looked calm but inside the boy was a tirade of emotions. He wanted to believe that Takeo was joking around in which case he'd already have an exit strategy planned out but something in his gut told him otherwise. Was it the display of ability earlier or the way Takeo carried himself? Everything about the guy practically screamed operative yet only now did Gene really get the full picture. Before he'd only saw the guy as an adrenaline junky but if he were ANBU then it'd all make sense. Things like this was child's play compared to what they dealt with on the regular basis. For all his good instincts Gene had missed something incredibly important - there was no denying that he felt like he was being surveyed throughout the entire time they'd been in contact but the reason was left purposely unclear until now. This meeting...it had not been an accident. A rush of incompetence swept over him as Gene faulted himself for never noticing being watched by anyone before up until now. They must've had their eyes on him for quite some time and he never even suspected a thing...Yeah, that was Anbu for you.
"I was careless.." thought Gene to himself, his eyes half-lidded for a brief moment while the information presented to him had been processed. It donned on him that there wouldn't be another opportunity like the one he now had in front of him and in hindsight, he would probably regret not taking the chance to enrich his knowledge of their profession & truly see his own potential first hand. He wanted to see the world for what it was and not just the cookie cut out that the village higher ups tended to push on those who didn't know any better...he wanted to become an operative. "On second thought...I'll take you up on that offer. I want to see the world for what it is and not just the cookie cut out that we're taught into believing...I know there's more to the ninja world than what everyone is letting on. " At the age of merely fifteen Gene's life was about to take a drastic turn the likes of which he had never before seen - he could only pray that he was really ready for the responsibility.
ACTIVE CHARACTERShow
[Graded]Silver Leaf
With the last of the threats neutralized Takeo found himself once again marvelling at how much finesse and talent Gene possessed. It had been somewhat difficult to contain his true purpose in training with the young Chunin. Working alongside him felt as natural and fluid as training alongside a fully-fledged operative. He had noticed a few areas that could use some minor improvement though he was confident that they would be remedied through further field experience and leadership. All in all Gene was perhaps the most suitable candidate he had come across, it was as if the young man had been raised specifically for work in Special Forces. Even his reaction was one of skepticism and caution, exactly what he expected. Takeo waited until Gene decided to consider the proposal more seriously before speaking. “I’ve been aware of you since you were a Genin though it wasn’t until your Chunin exam that I’ve been personally invested in monitoring your progress. You’ve worked alongside several notable and skilled shinobi, most notably your sensei Awai Minoru whom had spoken well of you and the Bannin Hyuuga Aina whom inducted you into Mamorinuku. Though your service record isn’t anything extraordinary you’ve displayed good judgment in your assessments and performed well, despite many of your tasks being below your ability.” he started, revealing enough to at least prove to Gene that this had Indeed been a deliberate encounter with a significant amount of forethought and observation.
Takeo waited a few moments until the understanding settled into Gene’s features. Perhaps he still didn’t feel qualified and in truth if records were the only indication then he wasn’t. Part of being a skilled recruiter however was seeing past the record, scouting for potential and procuring promising individuals based off the hard skills and methods of conduct they possessed. “I’ve confirmed today that you’re above simple duties such as caravan protection or running trivial errands. You have the makings of the true elite and it’s about time that you put that skill to proper use.” He stated calmly. It was true that Takeo had been observing Gene for some time, his interest piqued since the young man’s chunin exam. In fact he made a habit of watching every Chunin exam, it was the best way to get an early indication of young promising talents to keep an eye on. Every so often he would get a tip about a young protégé even as young as during the academy years but individuals of that sort he simply kept a copy of their name somewhere in a file to check up on every few years. Typically it wasn’t until a shinobi was of Chunin rank that they were worth his time to assess personally and even then it was a fairly rare occurrence.
The Jounin smirked as he noticed the realization dawn on Gene. It was as close to a confirmation as he would give the young Chunin that his assumptions had been correct. Paying attention to subtle expressions and mannerisms would be a key skill to learn as an ANBU operative so he couldn’t be too easy on the young man. It was certainly true that if Gene did refuse the offer another wouldn’t be made for at least another two years and there certainly wouldn’t be a third. Part of the reason why Takeo wished to induct him now was because he knew that he would soon have to abdicate as commander of ANBU upon being inaugurated as Hokage, meaning he wished to have as many promising talents and trusted squad leaders as he could before that time came. The man smiled at Gene’s response, “Good. I would have had to kill you if you’d said no” he teased dryly, chuckling lowly to himself. He would then pat the Chunin firmly on the back, “Looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish. I’ll find you sometime later and show you around the compound. You’ll receive more details at that time.” He stated before leaping off into the trees, appearing to vanish with the sudden acceleration.
Takeo waited a few moments until the understanding settled into Gene’s features. Perhaps he still didn’t feel qualified and in truth if records were the only indication then he wasn’t. Part of being a skilled recruiter however was seeing past the record, scouting for potential and procuring promising individuals based off the hard skills and methods of conduct they possessed. “I’ve confirmed today that you’re above simple duties such as caravan protection or running trivial errands. You have the makings of the true elite and it’s about time that you put that skill to proper use.” He stated calmly. It was true that Takeo had been observing Gene for some time, his interest piqued since the young man’s chunin exam. In fact he made a habit of watching every Chunin exam, it was the best way to get an early indication of young promising talents to keep an eye on. Every so often he would get a tip about a young protégé even as young as during the academy years but individuals of that sort he simply kept a copy of their name somewhere in a file to check up on every few years. Typically it wasn’t until a shinobi was of Chunin rank that they were worth his time to assess personally and even then it was a fairly rare occurrence.
The Jounin smirked as he noticed the realization dawn on Gene. It was as close to a confirmation as he would give the young Chunin that his assumptions had been correct. Paying attention to subtle expressions and mannerisms would be a key skill to learn as an ANBU operative so he couldn’t be too easy on the young man. It was certainly true that if Gene did refuse the offer another wouldn’t be made for at least another two years and there certainly wouldn’t be a third. Part of the reason why Takeo wished to induct him now was because he knew that he would soon have to abdicate as commander of ANBU upon being inaugurated as Hokage, meaning he wished to have as many promising talents and trusted squad leaders as he could before that time came. The man smiled at Gene’s response, “Good. I would have had to kill you if you’d said no” he teased dryly, chuckling lowly to himself. He would then pat the Chunin firmly on the back, “Looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish. I’ll find you sometime later and show you around the compound. You’ll receive more details at that time.” He stated before leaping off into the trees, appearing to vanish with the sudden acceleration.
Karagata Shinjiro - Kiri Bannin; Jinchuuriki, Overseer of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Kintsugi
Haziwara Youji- Iwagakure Chunin
Takeda Ichiro - A-Rank Waterfall Country; Black Wake, Chishiki, Setsuzoku
Hyuuga Takeshi - Konoha Special Jounin; Anbu
Jouchaku Shigeko - Kiri Genin; HHD
[Graded]Silver Leaf
In Takeo's abrupt departure a swirling column of leaves found their way dancing around the spot where he'd once been. Meanwhile, Gene was unsure of how to feel about what he'd just heard - surely being casual about it was expected but all things considered the million man march his heart had been taking left him completely and utterly speechless. Before he had felt like the asphyxiation wouldn't end but now that the dust had settled he felt both elated and confused; confused due to not being able (at this time) to grasp the full weight of what he'd just gotten himself into yet Elated to have been selected for a higher grade role within and outside of the village. In light of the Shinobi, serving under the Hokage directly came with no higher honors. There were certainly people right now racking their brains for a shot at what Gene was just given and how did he respond? The only way he knew how, the only way that could make a real difference in his development. Training.
Now alone once again Gene resumed his training by way of meditation & controlled breathing in order to steady both his nerves and his spirit. Slow and deep inhales through the nose of a boy who'd practically done more than a marathon's worth of effort felt replenishing to the soul and the elongated exhales that followed purified his inner most temple from the core. Serenity flowed all around him filling Gene with a strong sense of comfort, something that previously was nonexistent. A mix between warmth and cold ran through his body as spiritual energy circulated throughout his chakra network. Inch by inch, Gene began to feel tingles all throughout his body - like stepping into a river stream on a hot summer day.
This tranquility had been best reflected in the flow and presence of his Chakra which expanded outward without churning and instead permeated the atmosphere around him like a sphere of condensed water. The air around him became heavy with his presence though he would not allow that weight to become so heavy as to be destructive to the land around him. Because of that, maintaining such high focus of his chakra took great spiritual stamina - a trait that he learned, could not be developed through physical training alone. Indeed, what he had been doing now wasn't something thought of by his parents; this type of spiritual fortification & appliance was best known as the spirit initiative, a practice in which after great physical exertion one seeks to obtain tranquility in themselves while simultaneously exercising the spirit. In the end, this would result in either greater Chakra pools wherein after becoming one with the spirit a person could tap into their previously latent potential(something Gene had been attempting even at this very moment) or alternatively, improve the hold over one's physical and spiritual energies.
If the young boy would be running with the best of the best then surely his chakra control and Chakra pool would need to be increased substantially beyond where they were currently. By the time he had been finished here generating and distributing his physical and spiritual energies would be so deeply ingrained that the need to think about it would elude him entirely. After all, a Shinobi with poor hold over their own energy was as incongruous as an animal lacking the ability to scavenger for food. These exercises served as the framework of his temple and to that end, Gene knew to take his training almost religiously serious.
His body had begun to heat up under the constant gathering and distributing of energy & Gene found himself glowering with closed eyes as he fought to maintain focus; although he could not accurately gauge the time of day beyond closed lids, he imagined that by now the day had been approaching its gloaming. In fact, in a weird abstract sense - perhaps through flexibility of his own spiritual energy, he could feel it. This would be the first time that Gene experienced something remotely similar to the sensory jutsu he possessed without actually intending to do so, as if refining the spiritual energy typically dormant within him had somehow heightened his abstract senses to another level. Still, the pressure created by how heavy his spiritual presence had become was starting to bare down on him and in order to focus on not being crushed under the weight of his own energy Gene was forced to shift his focus from the sensory discovery back into a state of null.
The air began to twist around Gene as the residual Chakra produced in part due to the continual release and concentration of spiritual energy, took hold on the atmosphere around him and caused leaves to dance in twister like harmony similar to the likes of what Takeo generated upon his departure. Furthermore, despite the mental strain and clear spiritual exertion that accompanied this form of meditation, Gene remained expressionless aside from previously frowning to keep the hold on his concentration. In fact, the boy looked to be in total peace with himself completely bringing about contrast to the wrecked scenery directly behind him. However, what the eyes could not depict from the sitting boy was that inside he had a spiritual break through. It wasn't on the level of any particular ninjutsu but even as he sat diligently surrounded by lush green grass, trees and the like, Gene was not spiritually present.
In all reality he was somewhere far, far, far away - on a journey to a space that none other than himself could go. A place that seemed reminiscent of a cosmic occurrence rather than anything tangible and certainly nothing he was used to in the world he knew. But physically, his body remained exactly where it was,perfectly still and sitting. There was no way to accurately describe the scene he'd been witnessing but the experience was nothing short of enthralling! On a grandiose perspective Gene found himself standing on a platform overlooking what he believed to be the inner most workings of his own brain but the depiction very well could have been the universe itself what with all the strange constructs floating about nearly distracting him from the main thing: a literal larger than life sized version of himself - or at least, what he assumed to be himself, sitting Indian style on...nothing.
The construct's eyes glowed a florescent blue color but the entirety of it even its hair lacked pigment. Only by the design could Gene identify himself with the large version of himself and even then he wasn't quite sure if he were ready to. "Incredible..." Unsure quite what to make of this discovery Gene stood in utter astonishment as he looked at what was potentially, himself - as a spirit. Unknown to him, the construct he had been gawking at was all the latent potential yet to be unlocked within himself. In fact, a high percentage of Shinobi went entire lifespans without ever touching the threshold that Gene now found himself; on the cusp of understanding & to some degree, harnessing the combination of latent spiritual energy through meditation and intensive training. Naturally, because he seldom ever meditated to this degree it should have come as no surprise that up until now Gene didn't even know that a place like this existed within . Therefore, like most Shinobi, this would be the point in which Gene was rocked from his foundation by yet another surprise.
Abruptly, unsettling so in fact, the large construct fixed its glowing eyes to Gene and with the voices of many asked a single question.
"Who are you?"
It took everything out of the young boy not to be rattled, not to fire back with hundreds, thousands of questions of his own. Though his eyes were certainly wide in surprise and that was something he had no intentions on hiding. However, being that this was his first encounter with his inner self Gene made one crucial mistake - an error so monumental in stature that it would inevitably lead to him being cast from the spiritual realm of here he'd been and thrust violently back into his own reality. What was the mistake you wonder?
When confronted by his inner self and asked about his identity Gene had not considered the possibility of a deeper meaning to the question itself. Because of that, the answer he would give the abstract construct was one meant to be taken at face value and to a being such as the one Gene currently interacted with, face value had very little substance. Staring up at the being Gene took a deep breath and pondered for a moment before parting his lips and speaking the words, "I am Mitsurugi, Gene." No sooner had he given his answer did the realm begin to twist and contort violently, the construct however, appeared unmoved by the sudden chaos that ensued and simply closed its eyes and faded away. "What?! Wait!"
It was no use. The platform gave way and the young boy fell for what felt like an eternity before feeling a wave of air flow through his body that had similar effect to taking a breath of air for the first time in a long while. When his eyes opened he'd been back at the training field; slightly dazed and disoriented from the trip, but fine otherwise. What's more, even though he hadn't been able to put it in words Gene somehow felt as though his Chakra pool had increased since before his meditation."What on earth did I just discover?" Naturally he was confused.
The sun had all but gone down by the time he'd finished meditating and he felt like he couldn't continue on even if he wanted to. After taking some time to get himself together Gene decided it would be best if he headed home for the day and thought about what he'd just experienced and Takeo's sentiments. That's right, as of right now he was officially no longer just the typical run of the mill Shinobi.
Things certainly had a funny way of working out.
[Stamina training: 1700/1500]
-Fin
Now alone once again Gene resumed his training by way of meditation & controlled breathing in order to steady both his nerves and his spirit. Slow and deep inhales through the nose of a boy who'd practically done more than a marathon's worth of effort felt replenishing to the soul and the elongated exhales that followed purified his inner most temple from the core. Serenity flowed all around him filling Gene with a strong sense of comfort, something that previously was nonexistent. A mix between warmth and cold ran through his body as spiritual energy circulated throughout his chakra network. Inch by inch, Gene began to feel tingles all throughout his body - like stepping into a river stream on a hot summer day.
This tranquility had been best reflected in the flow and presence of his Chakra which expanded outward without churning and instead permeated the atmosphere around him like a sphere of condensed water. The air around him became heavy with his presence though he would not allow that weight to become so heavy as to be destructive to the land around him. Because of that, maintaining such high focus of his chakra took great spiritual stamina - a trait that he learned, could not be developed through physical training alone. Indeed, what he had been doing now wasn't something thought of by his parents; this type of spiritual fortification & appliance was best known as the spirit initiative, a practice in which after great physical exertion one seeks to obtain tranquility in themselves while simultaneously exercising the spirit. In the end, this would result in either greater Chakra pools wherein after becoming one with the spirit a person could tap into their previously latent potential(something Gene had been attempting even at this very moment) or alternatively, improve the hold over one's physical and spiritual energies.
If the young boy would be running with the best of the best then surely his chakra control and Chakra pool would need to be increased substantially beyond where they were currently. By the time he had been finished here generating and distributing his physical and spiritual energies would be so deeply ingrained that the need to think about it would elude him entirely. After all, a Shinobi with poor hold over their own energy was as incongruous as an animal lacking the ability to scavenger for food. These exercises served as the framework of his temple and to that end, Gene knew to take his training almost religiously serious.
His body had begun to heat up under the constant gathering and distributing of energy & Gene found himself glowering with closed eyes as he fought to maintain focus; although he could not accurately gauge the time of day beyond closed lids, he imagined that by now the day had been approaching its gloaming. In fact, in a weird abstract sense - perhaps through flexibility of his own spiritual energy, he could feel it. This would be the first time that Gene experienced something remotely similar to the sensory jutsu he possessed without actually intending to do so, as if refining the spiritual energy typically dormant within him had somehow heightened his abstract senses to another level. Still, the pressure created by how heavy his spiritual presence had become was starting to bare down on him and in order to focus on not being crushed under the weight of his own energy Gene was forced to shift his focus from the sensory discovery back into a state of null.
The air began to twist around Gene as the residual Chakra produced in part due to the continual release and concentration of spiritual energy, took hold on the atmosphere around him and caused leaves to dance in twister like harmony similar to the likes of what Takeo generated upon his departure. Furthermore, despite the mental strain and clear spiritual exertion that accompanied this form of meditation, Gene remained expressionless aside from previously frowning to keep the hold on his concentration. In fact, the boy looked to be in total peace with himself completely bringing about contrast to the wrecked scenery directly behind him. However, what the eyes could not depict from the sitting boy was that inside he had a spiritual break through. It wasn't on the level of any particular ninjutsu but even as he sat diligently surrounded by lush green grass, trees and the like, Gene was not spiritually present.
In all reality he was somewhere far, far, far away - on a journey to a space that none other than himself could go. A place that seemed reminiscent of a cosmic occurrence rather than anything tangible and certainly nothing he was used to in the world he knew. But physically, his body remained exactly where it was,perfectly still and sitting. There was no way to accurately describe the scene he'd been witnessing but the experience was nothing short of enthralling! On a grandiose perspective Gene found himself standing on a platform overlooking what he believed to be the inner most workings of his own brain but the depiction very well could have been the universe itself what with all the strange constructs floating about nearly distracting him from the main thing: a literal larger than life sized version of himself - or at least, what he assumed to be himself, sitting Indian style on...nothing.
The construct's eyes glowed a florescent blue color but the entirety of it even its hair lacked pigment. Only by the design could Gene identify himself with the large version of himself and even then he wasn't quite sure if he were ready to. "Incredible..." Unsure quite what to make of this discovery Gene stood in utter astonishment as he looked at what was potentially, himself - as a spirit. Unknown to him, the construct he had been gawking at was all the latent potential yet to be unlocked within himself. In fact, a high percentage of Shinobi went entire lifespans without ever touching the threshold that Gene now found himself; on the cusp of understanding & to some degree, harnessing the combination of latent spiritual energy through meditation and intensive training. Naturally, because he seldom ever meditated to this degree it should have come as no surprise that up until now Gene didn't even know that a place like this existed within . Therefore, like most Shinobi, this would be the point in which Gene was rocked from his foundation by yet another surprise.
Abruptly, unsettling so in fact, the large construct fixed its glowing eyes to Gene and with the voices of many asked a single question.
"Who are you?"
It took everything out of the young boy not to be rattled, not to fire back with hundreds, thousands of questions of his own. Though his eyes were certainly wide in surprise and that was something he had no intentions on hiding. However, being that this was his first encounter with his inner self Gene made one crucial mistake - an error so monumental in stature that it would inevitably lead to him being cast from the spiritual realm of here he'd been and thrust violently back into his own reality. What was the mistake you wonder?
When confronted by his inner self and asked about his identity Gene had not considered the possibility of a deeper meaning to the question itself. Because of that, the answer he would give the abstract construct was one meant to be taken at face value and to a being such as the one Gene currently interacted with, face value had very little substance. Staring up at the being Gene took a deep breath and pondered for a moment before parting his lips and speaking the words, "I am Mitsurugi, Gene." No sooner had he given his answer did the realm begin to twist and contort violently, the construct however, appeared unmoved by the sudden chaos that ensued and simply closed its eyes and faded away. "What?! Wait!"
It was no use. The platform gave way and the young boy fell for what felt like an eternity before feeling a wave of air flow through his body that had similar effect to taking a breath of air for the first time in a long while. When his eyes opened he'd been back at the training field; slightly dazed and disoriented from the trip, but fine otherwise. What's more, even though he hadn't been able to put it in words Gene somehow felt as though his Chakra pool had increased since before his meditation."What on earth did I just discover?" Naturally he was confused.
The sun had all but gone down by the time he'd finished meditating and he felt like he couldn't continue on even if he wanted to. After taking some time to get himself together Gene decided it would be best if he headed home for the day and thought about what he'd just experienced and Takeo's sentiments. That's right, as of right now he was officially no longer just the typical run of the mill Shinobi.
Things certainly had a funny way of working out.
[Stamina training: 1700/1500]
-Fin
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