[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

A training Saga like no other

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HotelBravo
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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:20 am

One tiny genin made her way through the streets of Kumogakure in the shadow of the residential towers that made up the homes and businesses of the people. She winded her way down to one of the lower altitudes in the village hidden in the clouds - That being to the Shinobi Academy. She had submitted paperwork to the academy offices to reserve the nearby training grounds for herself - for a limited time of course. As her time was so limited, she had two armfuls of scrolls and bucket filled with shuriken and kunai. Normally it would be impractical to carry around a bucket full of weaponry but this was for practice so the little girl would manage.

This little Genin was Hanako from the Village of Hanamura - a tiny speck of a place outside of Kumogakure but still in the Lightning Empire. She had long dark hair and wore perfume like flowers. She had on her favorite colored Kimono, pink, which deceptively hid that she was wearing Kusari armor. She finally arrived at the training ground, it was a mixture of obstacle course and field. Wooden structures had been set up for the purpose of climbing and manuevering around. She was more interested in the set of wooden posts near the center of the field. Each had a target on them. Hanako set her gear down and wandered over to them and felt the nicks of shuriken and kunai from others who had come to practice here. Not just students - even the higher ranks used these fields.

Hanako returned to her equipment and unfurled one of her scrolls labeled “D-Rank”. This technique scroll described the Sentinel Shot technique. It was a style that used multiple projectiles to through them in rapid succession, and just as quickly replenish the weaponry to create a constant attack. She thought it would take a bit of concentration and coordination to pull it off, but after examining the pointers in the scroll, she felt like it was simple enough to learn. It was a D-rank technique after all, so a genin should easily be able to master it.

She took a handful each of shuriken and marked a line in the sand with her foot as she gazed at the targets in front of her. She took the stance as described in the scroll and began to throw. One. Two. Three. One and then another and another. The timing was difficult to get correct, but after after a few go arounds she began to see in practice what the Scroll was trying to teach. She naturally had to put her own twist on things to make it work for her.

459/400 Sentinel shot learned
*[Flawless Aim Style • Sentinel Shot]
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Taking multiple projectiles into hand and priming the muscle groups required for launching projectile weapons, the practitioner can quickly shoot projectiles in rapid succession and just as quickly reload. While in this Stance, the practitioner can maintain a near-constant stream of projectile attacks. However, due to the amount of coordination required for this Stance, their movement is limited, suffering a -3 Speed penalty while in this Stance.

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HotelBravo
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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:32 am

Hanako rolled up the Sentinel shot scroll and set it to the side, making a clear distinction between the jutsu she had learned and those she had yet to explore. She turned to the next technique in the pile and unrolled it. She sat upon a post that was riddled with shuriken from her earlier exploration of jutsu and began to read through the scroll as it outlined the technique that she was interested in. Rapid reload. This would have been useful combining with the sentinel shot - a technique to make re-arming even faster would reduce the time between attacks even more, it was a technique that complimented well with the other techniques in the flawless aim style.

The scroll made suggestions as to wear to keep your shurikens and armament to make them easily accessible. A Holster on each thigh, a holster on the wrists. You could place weapons within seals as well which would make the weight more bearable. The goal overall was to keep the weapons within reach. Throwing and then preparing to throw again were all one smooth motion. To help apply this technique, Hanako adjusted the thigh holster she wore for her shuriken. She took some Shuriken out of the bucket and then began to replace the ones she had thrown earlier. She pressed down against the spring so that it locked in place and allowed her to slip Shuriken into the spaces inside. Once the Shuriken were in place she removed the lock and heard the holster snap into position. The Shurikens would be practically launched into her hands.

Pleased with this, she moved back to the mark in the dirt she had drawn with her foot and looked back at the shuriken riddled target. Hitting accurately wasn’t really necessary at this point, she just needed to get the technique down - since all of the other shuriken were obscuring the target by no small amount she thought that she would just throw shuriken at those shuriken so she could knock them down. The sentinel shot required a stance to perform, this rapid technique was something she could likely do while moving a bit more.

In a flash she threw shuriken, and as she threw her other hand retrieved more shuriken and she threw another volley with a short interval. So thats how the technique worked. She grinned to herself as she returned to the scroll and rolled it up and tossed it next to the previous one.

413/400 Rapid Reload Learned

*[Flawless Aim Style • Rapid Reload]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After years of training, the practitioner has learned how to quickly and accurately access their ranged weapon stores at all times in combat. This cuts the effective "reload" time by half, up to a maximum speed equal to the practitioner's Speed score. This also applies to returning unused projectiles to their storage containers or switching between types of projectile weaponry.

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HotelBravo
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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:46 am

Hanako turned to the next scroll and frowned as she unfurled it. ”I’m already familiar with this technique, why did I pick this scroll up? Thats right… It was because I was just grabbing all of the low level technique scrolls.” she mumbled to herself as she rolled the Tracking style technique back up and tossed it to the other completed jutsu in the Drank pile. She was sure that the librarians wouldn’t like how she was handling the scrolls, but based on the wear and tear already upon them she knew that it was somewhat common for these scrolls to see the light of day in the training fields. She looked to the next one in the pile of training scrolls. She unrolled it to see a technique that seemed incredibly pointless.

Dead Angle Targeting Technique.This is a technique for using projectiles at close range, even point blank. Hanako had a hard time thinking of a situation where this would really apply, as she considered that when an opponent had reached the close of a range that one would switch to close quarters combat instead - something like kenjutsu would be more prudent at that point. She pulled out a kunai from the bucket of weaponry and made a thrusting motion with it, imaging an enemy was close next to her. Yes, that felt natural, but it wasn’t the point of this jutsu.

She wasn’t sure if this would ever really come in handy, but she brought the scroll with her over towards one of the target posts and examined it as it described keeping track of reach and measure, and finding opportunities to throw projectiles while being threatened by an opponent. She imagined that the opponent was someone trying to attack her and defended against their blows while trying to find an opening to attack. She had to fight her natural inclination to just stab the post, but in the end she found a somewhat reasonable situation where she might be attempting to hit targets that were someone else than the one right in front of her. She ducked and weaved against imaginary attacks as she threw her kunai at the targets on the other posts.

She turned to look at her aim saw that it was slightly off, she clucked her tongue but she already had an idea of what she would need to do to fix that. She practiced a few more times until muscle memory took hold and the movements became more natural.

420/400 Dead angle Targeting Learned
*[Flawless Aim Style • Dead Angle Targeting]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
After much training and study, the practitioner has learned how to use projectiles at close range, even point-blank range, with the same Strength as attacks against more distant targets. This Discipline allows the practitioner to use Flawless Aim techniques against melee-range targets without excessive exposure to counterattack and without losing Speed, Strength, or accuracy.

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HotelBravo
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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 11:59 am

Hanako rolled up the Dead Angle technique and walked back to the pile of technique scrolls. She placed it with the others and reached out for the next D rank technique, she was shocked to see that the collection of techniques was growing quite small, at least as far as the D rank was concerned. She got over her shock and picked up the next D rank scroll, unveiling it to learn which technique was hiding here. This one was the repeater shot. It was a technique for throwing multiple projectiles at different targets with a single throw. Combining this with other techniques in the style would be really impressive, she thought. Imagine throwing attacks at multiple enemies in a nonstop stream of weaponry. She glanced down at the bucket as she replaced her kunai and shurikens again.

The principle of the technique involved fine tuned muscle control in one’s hand. You could hold multiple projectiles in each hand and with the right timing and releasing the weaponry in a controlled manner you could make the projectiles accurately attack other opponents. Hanako took a handful of shuriken, one between her pink and ring finger, one between her ring finger and middle finger, one between her index and middle finger, and one between her thumb and index finger. With these four in total, she glanced at the four target posts she had decided were going to be the victims for this volley. She threw the ball of shurikens, and heard thwump as only one of them sunk into its target while the others were off course.

She frowned and consulted the scroll again. It was all about fine motor control. She practiced by rolling a shuriken between her knuckles, and once she felt sufficiently warmed up she gave it another try. The shuriken hurled towards their targets and this time she found that they were closer to their mark, although still not what she was needing to say that she accurately mastered this technique. She gave it a few more tries until she finally started getting the hang of the technique and her muscle control had begun to memorize the feel. She switched up the situations and targets to ensure she had true mastery of the technique, and gave a satisfied nod when her most recent volley hit multiple targets that were at awkward angles from one another. Good! That was what she needed. She rolled the scroll back up and returned it to the pile of D ranks.

418/400 Repeater Shot Learned

*[Flawless Aim Style • Repeater Shot]
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Preparing multiple projectiles, the practitioner launches each of the projectiles at one or more targets. For each target beyond the first, the accuracy of each of the attacks is decreased, suffering a -1 Strength penalty for each additional target.

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HotelBravo
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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 12:15 pm

Hanako turned to the second to last scroll in the Drank pile and unrolled it. She found another familiar technique, one that she had learned during her spar with Chiaki and Kirari. She considered the lessons of that spar again before rolling up the scroll and setting it to the side. She already knew the arcing shot, so she would look at the next scroll, the last of the D rank pile of Technique scrolls. The worn scroll came unfurled at the direction of her hands and she examined the contents. It depicted a nondescript figure throwing a shuriken with a low angle that caused the weapon to bounce off of the ground and into a target. It was a strange technique, but Hanako could see how people would not expect an attack at such an angle. If performed correctly, you could even shoot around obstacles if you bounced the shot right.

Yes this bit of practicality made this technique very versatile and a twinge of excitement began to fill her veins. She rushed over to the throwing line, only to realized she hadn’t replaced her shuriken. With a groan she walked back over to the bucket and picked up some more weapons and restocked her shuriken holster and the kunai in her hip pouch. She would need to make sure that she could perform the technique with either the shuriken or the kunai. With a fresh set of weaponry in stowe, she returned to the throwing line. She stood with her feet shoulder length apart and took a deep breath as several shuriken flashed into her hands, thanks to her earlier practice.

She should take this slowly at first until she really had things mastered. She threw the first shuriken low to the ground, only for the shuriken to hit the ground and get stuck in the dirt. She tried this a few more times, and became increasingly frustrated with the results. How did they bounce in the picture? She returned to the scroll and examined more closely the grip the hand on the shuriken and then she nodded with understanding. It was a certain grip that put a unique spin to the shuriken. She shifted the shuriken in her hands and gave it a shot and was pleased to see her shuriken bounce off the ground and hit a target. She practiced bouncing it from several more angles, and kunai as well before she would finally consider this technique mastered. She wiped her brow and looked at the angle of the sun.

Lunchtime.

425/400 Bouncing Shot Learned

*[Flawless Aim Style • Bouncing Shot]
D-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The practitioner launches a projectile at a shallow angle, targeting the ground or a hard surface. The shallow angle of the shot causes the projectile to bounce off of the surface, moving at -1 Speed and striking with -1 Strength after the bounce. This technique can be used to launch an attack from an unexpected angle or to shoot around, over, or under obstacles.

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[solo] What Aims a Hanamura

Post by HotelBravo » Sun Jul 31, 2022 7:03 pm

Hanako found a shady spot next to some of the climbing equipment. It was here that she pulled out a nutrient bar and took the opportunity to cool off in the breeze that swept over the mountainside. She took a sip of cool water from her canteen before looking back over at the intimidating stack of C-ranked scrolls. She was reluctant and worried to even start the endeavor, so dominating were the stacks of scrolls. She thought she would rest just a little bit longer until she saw a hawk swoop down and collect one of the C rank scrolls and fly off with it. Flabbergasted and shocked, she immediately jumped to her feet and selected a C rank scroll of her own as she began to chase the bird, becoming a bird of prey in a different sense of the phrase. As Hanako leapt over some of the obstacles she unfurled the scroll she had selected and checked which jutsu was scrawled upon ; it was the forcible redirection technique.

She kept an eye on the bird as she approached and looked at the instructions upon the scroll. It built upon the principles of the bouncing shot, except that the ground or a stationary object in this case was not involved, instead the only thing one would change was the trajectory of the attack with another shuriken or kunai. Well this technique didn’t seem to be needed in this instance. She threw a shuriken at the falcon, but almost as if the bird knew the projectile was flying towards it, it suddenly dipped out of the way. Had it really seen the attack or was there some kind of track to this? Hanako watched the bird closely and threw a second shuriken. Then another and another.

The bird dove and rolled to avoid all of the attacks. This really didn't make much sense to Hanako. How was this creature so agile? It wasn’t even looking at her… wasn’t it? She checked again and it did seem the bird had one eye on Hanako, and seemed to be doing its damndest to prevent her from catching it. It flew over a large gulf, to which Hanako responded by throwing two kunai with wire attached across the gap. One stuck to the other side and one she stuck to the side she was on. The wire was taught and strong, and Hanako had a fair balance so she rushed across the single line of wire, eyes staring at the hawk. The hawk had been dodging her every attack so far so she would need to attack from its blind spot instead.

She prepared a hand full of shuriken and released the first volley into the air. Like she expected the falcon dodged and weaved it through the air avoiding the shuriken. It let out a victorious screech, at least that is, it did before the second volley. The hawk moved to dodge the second volley of attacks only to find that the second collided with the first and sent the shuriken reeling back towards the bird from all directions.

”Check and mate.” Hanako said to herself as she watched all of the shuriken impale the Falcon and the scroll was dropped. Only the falcon didn’t fall with it. Instead it vanished into a puff of smoke while the weaponry fell to the ground in a pile of metal. Hanako caught the Crank scroll and realized what this puff of smoke must have meant. It was a summon and it had tried to steal the scroll! She immediately turned tail and ran back for the other scrolls that she had blindly left on the training field.

A man in a dark cloak was picking up the scrolls and stuffing them in his cloak. He noticed her and looked up from his business. He wore a mask with a creepy smiley face on it. ”You’ve returned a bit sooner than I had hoped.” He gestured at the field. ”I couldn’t help but admire your practice and thought to myself that it would be a good idea to have these techniques for my own village.”

Hanako stood, with her kunai at the ready. How did he get into the village if he was an enemy? On top of that today was an off day and she had scheduled to have the training grounds for herself. This meant that there wouldn’t be anyone nearby. It was truly a shame in times like these that Kumogakure was under populated. ”You will surrender those scrolls, they belong to the library.” Hanako stated firmly to the man. He seemed to look the tiny genin over before releasing a very boisterous laugh.

”don’t want to owe any late book fees do we?” He asked. ”I’m afraid that isn’t going to be the case. I’m taking these scrolls. I’ve taking a liking to this flawless aim style.” he grabbed a handful of Shuriken from the bucket and threw them at Hanako, but she threw her own shuriken to intercept his, and with the principles of the redirections technique, she made his own weapons fly towards him from an unexpected angle. He was quick though and deflected the attacks. Hanako threw another kunai to separate him from the bucket of weapons at least, and moved up beside it to restock herself. It seemed she was in for a fight!

909/880 Forcible Redirection Learned


*[Flawless Aim Style • Forcible Redirection]
C-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
The practitioner first launches a projectile at -1 Strength. Then, they launch a second projectile at full Strength, targeting the first projectile. The second projectile ricochets off of the first projectile, capable of changing direction within 360 degrees of the location of the first projectile upon impact. The practitioner first launches a projectile at -1 Strength. Then, they launch a second projectile at full Strength, targeting the first projectile. The second projectile ricochets off of the first projectile, capable of changing direction within 360 degrees of the location of the first projectile upon impact. The second projectile is treated as an attack with a -5 Strength penalty.

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