[Closed] Prince & Barbarian

[Willoria]

Revna wasn't sure what her day was going to entail, she hadn't met this Prince of the Harukatsu family that she was to be assigned to yet. She had spent the earliest part of the morning preparing the areas that would be his home however. Cleaning, sweeping, even making sure his bed was properly prepared. It had left her cringing. She was more than happy when she was released to her own devices before lunch and quickly got herself geared up in her combat gear and retrieved her axe. Before long she was in a training yard with the weapon, tearing apart multiple training dummies to take out her frustration at the day, and at what the days ahead surely held. 'A damn household servant... why did I agree to this...' she thought to herself as she obliterated another dummy.

When the dummies stopped holding her attention she found herself leaning her axe against a wall and working her way up a salmon ladder instead, using her lower body to force herself into an upward momentum before she used her upper to catch herself and pull herself up one more rung. From one to the next she kept going, grunting every time....

[Izanagi]

Yozei had noticed the new household servant earlier that day, moving between various lessons and meetings, though there hadn’t been time nor urgency to be properly introduced to the household staff on during their first few hours of service. Academically the Prince’s days were typically rather full and there were still many within the palace that he had never even spoken to. It was after all a palace of over one hundred individuals, staff and residents included and that was within a city around them that numbered in the thousands. Most were not locals to the land, immigrating from various other Fire country governed or allied lands.

It made ruling over the area easier when most of the locals that opposed Fire country moved further west with their countrymen in the third of the country that maintained their sovereignty. Though there were pockets of resistance, terrorist and rebel factions that spread propaganda and defiance against Fire country. Naturally it was rare for Yozei to ever get to travel the land by himself, often being encouraged to restrict his training to the large training areas inside the massive walled-in palace complex. He was after all expected to keep in shape and practice his various combat skills regularly, typically around midday. Then at nights he would be allowed to enjoy the freedoms and privileges awarded to him.

Of course, shortly before making his way to the training field he was informed that the servant girl was also placed in service because of her skills as a warrior. With this in mind he was curious to see where her skill level was at. He wore only a pair of brown gi style pants and a simple red haori. After all he wasn’t about to get his finer clothes damaged or stained, however even these plainer clothes were still immaculate, having only worn them for the first time. His auburn hair was tied back, resting just above his shoulders. He had brought his pair of Katana with him and his holster of shinobi weapons, though he didn’t wear his Konoha forehead protector. It was important that the people saw him as a Prince first and a shinobi second.

He noticed the woman climbing the training ladder. Yozei recalled how Zakuro had made him perform pullups and attempt similar exercises though he had never kept up with it much. Instead, he simply picked up a pair of smoothly carved stone weights. One look at the woman and he realized that she was physically stronger. Perhaps he could make a good impression if he trained his physique as well. Despite his rather lean-looking figure Yozei did have rather toned muscles with notable definition. He was stronger than the average person by far though compared to elite shinobi and samurai he was still quite frail. The weights he was using were 40lbs each and he could certainly feel his muscles engaged, though he typically trained more for endurance than raw strength. However, he was trained with the sword and with projectiles so it was inevitable that he would have to be able to generate more force if he wanted to be able to hold his own in close quarters.

Just on the trip down to the palace about a month ago, he had been in a fight for his life that resulted in being wrestled to the ground. If not for his ninjutsu and the assistance of an ANBU operative he would have surely been killed. His father had often lectured him about the dangers of relying too much on ninjutsu, stressing that there were a number of ways for a shinobi to be cut off from their use of chakra and it was essential to be physically capable as well. And yet, Yozei was naturally lazy and a prodigy in the manipulation of Katon ninjutsu and control over chakra. Exercising physically on the other hand had always been a chore and typically relied on family members or teammates to practically force him to train his body.

After finishing his first set of 12 curls with each arm he moved on to shoulder presses. The exercises were basic but still useful, though he was curious to try more dynamic exercises. He watched the woman through the corner of his eye, occasionally stopping in the middle of a rep. She seemed intimidating but there was no question she was attractive. He almost preferred her simple look to that of her warrior clothing though, in some way it felt too revealing for a servant to dress in such a way. He could feel his temptations rising already but he knew that he had certain expectations of him. His face began growing flush rather quickly as he forgot to breath properly for a few reps and then set the weights down, doing only 10 each this time. Stretching his arms, he attempted to loosen up a little now that his body was feeling warmer.

826/800 Strength Training

[Willoria]

Revna dangled for a moment, letting her body go slack and her legs swing as she closed her eyes. She could almost feel the presence of another person as he came into the same training area as she did. But she didn’t look at him, she had other concerns and issues at hand, and not just the literal ones that had her dangling above the ground. She could feel every muscle in her arms tensing as she slowly pulled herself up, touching her chin to the bar. She slowly brought the rest of her body up, using her arms and shoulders to turn herself so that her entire body was perpendicular to the ground and holding that position. Even her toes she kept pointed out as she held herself in that position for a time. She could feel the burn in her upper arms and it left her grinning. The pain of muscle improvement made the woman feel alive.

She slowly lowered her body again to be stretched out below the bar normally as before. And a moment later she thrust her body up again and threw the bar upward to the next rung with a loud grunt of exertion. The echoing clang rang out and she immediately went for another one. Another clang rang out and the woman grunted in response as she forced herself to dangle once more. As she dangled and she felt the pain spread through the back of her shoulders she felt for a moment as if she could hear giggling outside of her range of sight. Sighing, she knew what the sound really was, the call of memory, sounds of happier times. For the briefest second her shoulders relaxed and her grip slipped but Revna quickly recovered and renewed her grip and shook her head. ”Focus, bitch.” she muttered under her breath with a sigh.

Renewing the tension in her arms and shoulders she swung her legs upwards and threw the bar upwards to the next rung with another grunt. The resulting clang almost sounded like the clashing of weapons, somewhere in the back of her mind she could see one of her brothers clashing with a shinobi with a sword. Her upper momentum was suddenly halted and her body forced to dangle as her eyes unfocused and the memory held onto her for a few moments. Her brother’s brutal motions and rough executions were met with fluid motions and flawless response, it hadn’t taken long. He was taken down hard, bloodied, she couldn’t be sure he was even alive.

Her hands slipped again and the woman snarled out loud as her eyes suddenly refocused and she renewed her grip. She flung herself upwards again to move to the next rung but in her frustration and anger, she missed. The bar slipped and her hands scrambled to grab the left side of the rungs, barely managing to get a handhold and keep from falling herself. The bar however fell to the ground at least fifteen feet below her with a loud clatter. The woman grunted in frustration as she looked down and saw it, her fingers already sore from holding on and keeping herself up. ”…damn it.” She looked around a bit, looking at the salmon ladder for a moment and realized rather quickly that the bar hadn’t been any longer than her own reach. ”Just maybe…”

Looking down to assess the distance of the fall if she slipped, she turned her attention back to her hand. Mentally preparing herself in case she fell, she quickly swung herself out. She barely managed to catch the other side with her free hand, managing to suspend herself between either side, holding onto the rungs rather than using the bar. The woman couldn’t help a sarcastic laugh as she managed to suspend herself and quickly realized the only way down was going to be dropping herself anyway. But for the moment she’d keep herself aloft, holding herself there as her hands clung to the rungs. The muscles in her arms and shoulders were fully tensed in this position, ever one of them screaming at her in pain and she couldn’t help a hissed laugh that came from her lips.

”Sometimes I’m still a stupid bitch…” she muttered, shaking her head. She still hadn’t looked back to realize the person in the training area with her was the Prince himself. If she had, she might have realized she probably shouldn’t be swearing so much. Yet as was, the thought never occurred to her. She hadn’t even looked back at him yet. She continued muttering incoherently under her breath, cursing at herself as she tried to force herself to stay aloft just a little longer, as if she could curse her muscles into working just a little longer. Yet eventually she could feel her arms starting to shake and the woman released her hands. Upon landing she’d force herself to roll, but instead of coming up to her feet, she only came up to one knee, panting for breath.

Event Strength Training 840/800

[Izanagi]

Yozei moved on to a heavier set of weights, choosing from a rack that had been brought out into the yard. He had always felt better training with dirt under his feet and he actually slipped off his sandals before grabbing a pair of 60lb weights as he moved into a push-up position, facing so that he could still watch the woman from behind as she climbed the rungs with her pull-up bar. She certainly had an athletic figure. He hadn’t quite noticed beyond her obvious bustiness that was barely contained in her usual attire around the palace. Though truthfully, he preferred more modest clothes, this warrior outfit she wore almost showed off too much to the point that it was quite distracting. Perhaps that was the point.

Focusing himself he slowly descended into a push-up, gripping the weights as he did so and then pulling one of them off the ground toward his chest as he reached the top of his extension. Holding it there for a moment he shifted onto his side, straightening his stabilizing arm and keeping his body straight with his core tight as he slowly extended his other arm perpendicular to himself. This full extension and range of motion helped to activate his core, chest, back and still engage his arms. Essentially it was a full-body workout. He would continue to alternate side to side, making sure to move quite slowly and deliberately to properly engage his muscles and not jostle around his joints and risk injuring himself.

He huffed a sudden exhalation at the amusement of her swearing at herself, almost losing balance himself for a moment. It seemed she likely hadn’t noticed him. Though he was already feeling that it was difficult for him to focus, even doing just a few simple and relatively light exercises. Simply it was not in his nature to enjoy physical activity, it was simply something he did because he knew he had to in order to become a more capable combatant. And if there was one thing he knew it was that there would always be more fighting and bloodshed. Sighing rather loudly he abandoned this set of weights as well and walked over to a deadlift rack that was practically right next to where the woman was training. She was hanging on with just her hands at this point and he half expected her to do some kind of flip or but instead she simply dropped down unceremoniously.

Yozei was surprised that he had actually managed to work up a bit of a sweat already, no doubt partially due to the sun. It was rather warm out, a perfect day for training. Removing his haori he tossed it on a nearby bench before dipping his hands in a bowl of nearby chalk and placing additional plates on the bar until it reached a total weight of 400lbs. His well-defined abs stood out even against lean arms with notable dips and grooves, particularly some deep lines of definition of his shoulders. Exhaling slowly, he prepared to finally get serious and push himself against some real weight, though it still wasn’t at his personal best, but one didn’t always have to break records and risk injury to get stronger. Consistent hard work at a reasonably challenging level was still enough to see results. Stepping up to the bar he lowered his hips, tightened his core and pulled his shoulders in and back as he looked straight ahead. Gripping overhand he pulled the weight up as he stood, driving with power from his legs but ultimately engaging his entire body. He didn’t like to do these types of workouts too often but when he did he tended to opt for full body engagement whenever he could so he could get the most for the exercise and be done faster.

Once the weight was up to his chest, he took a moment to secure a strong stance with his legs, one that he had learned was fundamental in developing for his use of Doton ninjutsu, specifically terrakinesis. And then he exploded his power, clearing past his jaw as he lifted the weight above his head, holding it as his body swayed and he instantly felt sweat begin to coat his body as he flushed red and grunted deeply before clearing his body again and dropping the immense weight. Now, he was properly tired. He wasn’t sure how many more of those he could do without reducing the weight. “Want to switch?” he asked, panting but forcing himself to stay upright with his chest puffed out so he could fully breath in the oxygen his lungs craved so dearly. Surely, she would recognize him now. “I didn’t realize you had such a mouth to you. I’ll remember that” he said with a smirk, thinking about her earlier comments.

808/800 Words Strength Training

[Willoria]

A sharp exhale of breath, Revna straightened up to stretch for a moment before retrieving the metal bar from the ground and putting it back in place on the salmon ladder for someone else to use. At the moment she felt more than a little pissed off at it, even if the anger was really more at herself. When she turned to pick up her axe from where she left it, just to feel the comfort of it in her hands, she finally noticed Yozei in the training area. She let out a sharp breath through her nose, rolling her eyes when she was certain he wasn’t looking in her direction, but reminded herself to focus on her own workout. She put her axe down once again and started debating what to do herself now when he spoke up and Revna gave him an even look. Her eyes flicked over the man from his feet to his head as she watched him pant from his own work out. ”Keep it, looks like you need it still.” she replied coldly as she turned towards a couple of simple pillars sticking up out of the ground. She heard his other comment and paused. ”Remember it all you want, doesn’t make you entitled to it.” she added before placing her hands on the pillars.

Revna went back to the task at hand in her mind, moving both hands to one pillar before slowly putting her weight on both hands, and so on the single pillar. She performed the movements slowly, lifting her feet off the ground as she leaned forward. When her body was off the ground she started to lift her legs, fighting to control her breathing as she moved until her body was parallel to the ground. Forcing herself to exhale slowly she would start moving again. She pushed her arms upward with a strained grunt, feeling her arms shake from the exertion of what she’d already been doing.

When her arms were fully extended, she slowly arched her back to start bringing the rest of her body upwards. She kept her legs straight, bringing them in closer to her body as she raised her torso to be in a straight line with the post. Controlling her breathing was probably the hardest part of it for her, that and the focus to keep her balance. She knew she should eventually be doing this with a post that wasn’t rooted into the ground, but for now this was a start. She’d been trying this for awhile now, and could actually feel some nerves building up knowing that Yozei was here and she wasn’t alone this time. Not to mention, he was probably watching her. But she tried to bury the thoughts and nerves, focus on what she was doing.

She started to slowly bring her legs up, to form the straight line with her body and the post. Sometimes this was a part that was difficult for her, especially after doing the salmon ladder. Her arms were shaking a bit still, she could feel the burn renewing even as sweat dripped from her face. She was fairly certain her paints were running a bit, not that she cared much. She only put them on, and her change in clothing, because it was rare for her to get to do so. She wanted to honor her family by wearing the traditional garb, at least while she trained.

The thought of her family was almost enough to unbalance her, and just as she managed to straighten her legs out completely, her entire body wobbled. She swore under her breath, every muscle tensing as she tried to get herself steady again. It took a few moments, a few moments in which she wasn’t entirely sure she’d be able to get it right. When she had her balance back she took a couple of deep breaths before moving on to the next step which was usually where she managed to fall. ’I can get it this time…’

Slowly she started to lift her left hand off the post beneath her, very carefully taking it off and away from her body. Being cautious of her breathing she was intending to bring her arm up to be parallel to her body. But about halfway up her balance started to waver again and with only one arm the woman wasn’t quite prepared to recover this time. With a loud string of curses her body came down. She tucked her head to try and keep from knocking it into something but regardless of what she did it was going to be a more painful fall than falling off the salmon ladder would have been. It might’ve had a lack of distance in comparison, but there was more than just the one post.

802/800 Strength Training

[Izanagi]

Yozei had been expecting the woman to apologize profusely and beg for forgiveness being caught acting in such an uncouth manner within the grounds of the royal palace. And further humbled still by being in the presence of the Dragon Prince. And yet, her tongue lashed back as she continued about her routine. Red faced from his workout, hair resting against his the growing slickness of his upper back, Yozei stood with his mouth agape for a few long moments.

He had never imagined he would encounter someone as bold as her within the palace. Certainly she hadn't given any impression of such mannerisms when he had seen her earlier tending to her duties. Settling into a low stance, commonly refered to as the horse stance Yozei closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Though he couldn't quite wipe the amused smirk off his face. He genuinely didn't know how to respond at first. Most nobles would punish her immediately, shamed and fired from their duties. But Yozei was not like most pampered royals who had never been talked back to once in their lives.

Still, he had expectations of him and it would reflect on him poorly if rumors spread about a servant being able to talk back to him and give him attitude. This was exactly the sort of rumor that other royals clung to and used to keep others below them. Every one of them was two-faced and self-serving. Fortunately there was nobody else around and Yozei didn't have to put up pretenses of living up to his status. He settled lower into his stance, the familiar tension moving through his legs. But he felt grounded, stronger than ever before as he connected himself to the ground beneath him, feeling as if he was one with the earth as his chakra naturally seeped into it infusing the entire training area.

He opened his eyes slowly, having found his center. His back was straight, body rigid as one arm was held above his leg, in line with it and the other was chambered in a powerful position, his fist closed just beneath his lower ribs. The redness dissipated and his breathing evened as his abdominals rose and fell with each deep breath. Breathing deep from his stomach and feeling the rush of oxygen invigorating his body and enhancing his stamina against the build up of lactic acid throughout his body that was now beginning to pool in his legs. But he didn't waver out of his stance, keeping his hips just below his knees with his legs outstretched and feet solidly planted on the dirt.

When his eyes opened however he saw much more of the woman that he had been expecting. Was she trying to flaunt her body to him intentionally? Most women that came into service of noble families were shy and subservient, always well covered and polite. Revna on the other hand seemed the exact opposite. Clearly she wasn't someone that grew up in a family used to servitude. "Have you no shame?" He wondered, bewildered as he saw the entirety of her legs and most of her butt exposed not more than 6 meters in front of him. Her skirt if you could call it that wrapped between the crevice between her legs at the very least trailing along her leg maintaining some semblance of dignity. But he could tell from her mostly exposed butt that what material she did wear as undergarments were rather scarce.

Until recently Yozei had been a long time without a woman and now his drive for more carnal desires had been fully awoken again. But he wasn't about to throw himself at a servant girl nor abuse his station and coerce her into bed with him. He liked to believe he retained his morals at least. When she fell he would simply shift his foot and bring both of his arms toward his center line and just like that the ground beneath her would shift the stone piller she was falling toward crumbling into fine pieces before the ground beneath it softened as well absorbing her impact as she fell into the soft substance. Then with a sweeping downward motion of his arms and a slow circular step forward the ground would swallow her up, pushing her along through a tunnel before bringing her head and neck up out of the ground a few meters away. "I believe this is where you say thank you" he sassed with a smirk. It would be difficult for her to pull herself out of the ground without her arms free but if she was polite he would surely raise her the rest of the way out. "Or did you not learn any manners at all wherever it was you grew up?" He questioned, wondering where it was that she was actually from. Perhaps if he understood a little more about how she was raised her mannersisms would be more forgivable.

830/800 Words Endurance Training

Jutsu UsedShow

Doton • Superior Terra Infusion
A-rank Ninjutsu
After performing the needed hand seals the user places any part of their body onto a body of earth this infuses up to a 8m x 8m x 8m volume of earth to be manipulated with terrakinesis, this infusion lasts until the end of the thread

*[Terrakinesis]
A-rank Ninjutsu
Having achieved notable mastery over Doton, the user is capable of shaping, directing, and manipulating existing bodies of the element without the need of hand seals or an existing technique. The range at which the user can manipulate the element is equal to the user's control times 2 metres. While the user can freely manipulate this element, they cannot produce the element naturally.

[Willoria]

"What does shame have to do with training?" There was a sense of confusion to her words. She had been brought up training her body, honing skills, shame had never been a discussion unless it pertained to pursuits specific to her gender and romance. The use of the word in regards to training didn't make much sense to the woman.

Yet as she fell, she was all the more surprised not to end up in extreme pain. She fell on dirt that almost felt like a cushion, something that confused and bewildered the woman further, her head turning back and forth as she glanced about to try and figure out what was happening. Her confusion however quickly turned to a taste of fear as it all swallowed her up and next thing she knew her head was sticking out of the dirt and she was staring up at Yozei. Her eyes were slightly wide though she was working to fight her actual fear response. "Thank you, Prince." she replied cooly, a somewhat detached tone he'd likely find familiar from the few times he might've seen her in passing the last few days. It was the formal tone she always took in her work, and she'd simply fall silent afterwards. His other comment however caused a dark expression to cross her face as she simply looked away. If he allowed her out of the dirt, she'd simply step away and put her back to him in silence for several moments.

She'd walk back over to where she left her axe and simply pick it up, looking it over in her hands. It was something of her father's that was passed to her, though of course Yozei wouldn't know that. "Manners fall away when I train, it's the only time I can feel my family without a ouji board." Revna replied quietly before she finally turned and looked at Yozei. "That's why I usually train alone, if you'd rather I can leave you to it and find another space or go back to my duties." It was probably the first personal statement the woman had ever made since she'd arrived.

[Izanagi]

Once again Yozei found himself bemused by this woman. It was clear she was an entirely different person when she was training and embracing the ways she grew up around. He may not have liked overly revealing clothing, but he could concede to the point that when training it shouldn’t really matter what anyone else thought of you. It was only about improving yourself, though there was a line where one didn’t need to completely disregard modesty to achieve results. Still, this wasn’t something he had any desire to argue. It seemed unlikely she would grasp such concepts and he didn’t feel particularly strongly about the subject.

Keeping in his low stance he noted the brief look of panic from the woman. He could imagine it was a rather disorienting experience and he wouldn’t tease her about what could be a genuine fear. He had no idea what her experience or history with shinobi might be after all. And when she spoke to him politely he nodded slowly, turning his foot and moving both of his arms upward in a rigid manner as the ground beneath her rose, causing her to emerge fully and with a downward flick of his hands every speck of dirt covering her was flung to the ground. With that out of the way he could properly resume his training. Stomping the ground a 1-meter diameter boulder weighing about 200lbs sprang forth which he promptly wrapped up in his arms, holding it tight to his chest as he sank another inch or two lower into his stance.

The muscles in his shoulders and back tightened, veins popping to the surface. But it was a relatively comfortable hold, able to lock his grip in, his fingers actually indenting into the boulder, knuckle deep. Slowly he exhaled, his head turned as his face pressed against the stone. Now he would properly feel the burn in his legs. This was the type of training he had done often honing his physique under Zakuro’s tutelage as well as his own training in learning how to properly become one with the element of Doton and master his Terrakinesis. It was important to be able to maintain a low stance for hours, as being rooted to the ground with a firm stance was essential if one wanted to control Doton freely.

His foot shifted, causing the earth beneath him to spin, rotating him around so that he was able to see the woman again. “I see” he said lowly. He recalled the last time he had tried to console someone after the loss of a family member. That had not been received well, though he had made up with the woman later. It seemed best if he simply not comment on that matter further. “You can stay” he said in an even tone. “How about a challenge? Try to make me drop this boulder, you can even strike me. Just maybe don’t go around boasting about it if you do” he teased with a smirk. Of course, he wouldn’t make it easy on her. Despite physically working up a sweat and feeling his body being pushed, his chakra control and skill in ninjutsu was on another level entirely. Beyond even many S-ranked shinobi, his father included. Every step she made he would pivot his foot, the ground beneath her shifting and sliding her back further from him or spinning her around as she took each step. And if she jumped or threw a weapon at him he would stomp his foot causing a 5x5 meter wall to emerge between them with 35 Strength and 40 Speed.

Yozei was often underestimated by others because he was perceived to be frailer and weaker than many elite shinobi, but he was still a Jounin and incredibly powerful in his own right. Once his chakra was infused into earth or fire he could completely manipulate the battlefield and pick most enemies apart with relative ease. A pure taijutsu fighter typically stood little chance against clever uses of Kinesis. Though of course he had no intention to harm the woman, he would still be holding back, even as he held the boulder but he didn’t need to form hand seals to use any of his ninjutsu techniques, least of all his terrakinesis. Truthfully Yozei wanted nothing more than to release the weight so that he could be able to maneuver properly and work on his agility. But patience was important as well and quite true to the Doton spirit. When he inevitably did form the wall, he would pivot both feet, sliding himself backward another 5 meters at a Speed of 30 to give himself a little more room in case she actually managed to break through the wall or otherwise maneuver around it. He was curious to see a little more of her fighting style and wondered how serious she would get in this little game. All the while Yozei remained in his low stance, his legs beginning to quiver as he pushed the limits of his Endurance.

843/800 Words Endurance Training

[Willoria]

Revna was surprised when Yozei offered for her to stay, and not only that he offered her a challenge. She thought to turn him down at first, even as he made his joke about not bragging if she managed to land a hit on him. ”Part of my job is protecting you… I can’t possibly risk hurting you, even in training…” she remarked, eyeing him a moment as she watched him manipulate the earth around him. It made her increasingly uncomfortable. She knew he was a shinobi of course, that was half the reason she had been asked to keep an eye on him. But it didn’t mean she was comfortable seeing it first hand. Still, watching him work, seeing his expression, she had a hunch this would be a sticking point for him. If he was offering her a challenge, she should probably take it.

The woman sighed and set aside her axe again, if she was going to try and land a hit on him it certainly wasn’t going to be with something so deadly. She took up a simple stance she was accustomed to using and began taking up strikes against him using all the strength she had. After seeing his use of the earth around him, she had a feeling she’d never land a hit. Her hunches were proved correct as the wall came up in front of her, every strike intercepted. She didn’t much mind it, if she tried to sweep to the side to get around it, it seemed to follow with her. If anything, it was almost entertaining and it wasn’t long before a small smirk was on the woman’s expression as she moved.

Even if she couldn’t land a hit, she was thoroughly enjoying the attempt. It hadn’t taken her long to lose her hesitation to throw a full strength strike at him as she realized he clearly could manage to block her every attempt with the dirt he controlled. And so before long she was taking the time to work every muscle into every attempt at a hit, driving every bit of force she could muster behind every attempt at a punch. It wasn’t necessarily part of her typical fighting style for hand to hand, the Strong Fist style that she was accustomed to using, but it would work for her training.

Though the method was so drastically different, the use of ninjutsu, especially so advanced, was new to her, training against someone like this suddenly reminded Revna of her brothers. When she was younger she would train with the both of them if she didn’t train with her father directly. She wasn’t used to going full out against a training partner, but somehow the anger she felt against Konoha helped bridge that gap in this moment. She could see Yozei as a target, even if she couldn’t touch him. Yet she kept the actual appearance of anger hidden away, in reserve as she took it out in every single strike. It was a strange balance she had to maintain, to keep her cover and work her job to observe Yozei.

But she did still have a job to do, even if she didn’t want to get personal, it wasn’t a bad idea. ”You know something of my family now I suppose…” she remarked as she tried to strike at him again, only for her fist to meet dirt once more. ”All I know of yours is rumor, Prince. If it isn’t out of line to ask… why not tell me about yours?” Her voice was still a set of even tones with very little inflection, minus what inflection was forced from the exertion of the moment as she pushed her strength into the strikes.

When a punch didn’t land, she’d move on to try with a kick. When that didn’t work she’d roll and try something different. But everything she tried he seemed able to move the wall in front of her to stop her. Eventually her amusement was slowly replaced by annoyance. A growl set deep in her throat more than once as she tried to strike and miss. ”How the hell did you learn to do this?!” she’d suddenly ask at one point, exasperated as she forgot her manners briefly again. She shook her head and snarled under her breath as she kept trying to get through his defense, but every attempt was blocked. Each time she thought she got close to getting around it, she’d fail.

She eventually had to stop, kneeling for a moment as she snarled under her breath. ”What the hell is that?” she finally asked, looking at him around the wall for a moment as she shook her head again. She panted for a minute, trying to catch her breath after all the work she’d been putting in training so far. ’Bodyguard is a strange ruse for me when he can do that…’ she thought to herself.

824/800 Strength Training

[Izanagi]

The Prince smirked as Revna worried about hurting him. “I’m not like most royalty. I’m a Jounin of Konoha. I think you’ll find I’m much tougher than I look” he challenged; his cerulean blue eyes playful but confident. It seemed to be a common theme with bodyguards, they always naturally assumed their services meant those they guarded couldn’t defend themselves. Often however it was quite the opposite, after all even Kage had bodyguards. Rather the services of such guards were meant as a first line of defense, an early warning system or a stalling tactic so that their employer could act as they saw fit. Whether that was to retreat or offer assistance in overcoming their adversaries.

He laughed lightly, enjoying the humor of the barbarian being obscured by his shifting wall. Though it was important for him to practice proper techniques as well and not rely completely on the utility of Kinesis. As he maneuvered the earth defensively, he began to consider a more refined approach, leaving a circular wall around him as he channeled additional chakra into the earth. There was one major drawback that came with his style. Though he could manipulate the earth around him freely, for defense or offense as soon as walls were up around him he was effectively blind. He had delved into the basics of skitter step, but like his transformed state it had its own drawbacks.

But there was a technique he had been working on. Something his father had demonstrated to him in the days before he had left Konoha. He had shown him a number of his more advanced Doton and Katon techniques, as a last effort to train him before this new chapter in his life. Yozei closed his eyes, focusing on his infused chakra all around him. And then he sent out waves of chakra into the earth, but instead of manipulating the ground itself he used it like a sonar wave. It took a few moments of fine tuning but he was starting to get some feedback and gradually was able to sense structures and even Revna’s form. He chuckled and shook his head as she brutishly tried to force her strength against the walls that were formed with 40 Strength and Speed. Though after four consecutive hits to the same spot the wall would crumble but then Yozei would submerge into the ground, still holding the boulder as Revna entered into the space he was in. Surrounded by the walls.

412/400

Jutsu TrainedShow

[Sensory Style • Approaching Quake]
B-rank Ninjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals and then maintain contact with the ground. Releasing waves of chakra out of their hands or feet. These waves of chakra will bounce back to the user after traveling out 80 meters on the ground. As the chakra returns to the user it will evoke an image in the user’s head of the immediate area around them, anything touching the ground and anything up to 25 meters underground. These are still images, not moving images, but can give the user a good idea of what is happening if they aren’t able to see otherwise. This jutsu can be maintained for up to 6 posts, periodically sending waves of chakra out to receive additional images.

Jutsu UsedShow

Mole Hiding
Terrakinesis

Yozei emerged on the outside of the walls, lifting the boulder in one hand while clenching his other fist and pulling his arm in toward the other as the walls would close in on the woman, though only at 25 Speed and Strength. He wanted to push her but give her a chance to hold them back or leap out through the opening above. She began to ask him about his family, and he smirked, watching her continued efforts. Having to grab the boulder again with both arms he grunted, realizing that physically this was getting quite difficult for him. “Well, my dad is the Hokage; Natsuki Takeo. My mom is Harukatsu Megami. I have two younger sisters, one adopted and one a twin with my younger brother. Half siblings from my dad’s side. Then there’s my Step-mom Hyuuga Aina. Everyone except my mom is a shinobi and living back in Konoha” he said, huffing a little as he shifted the boulder in his grip.

As he answered the questions, he wouldn’t stop Revna from closing in a little. At the last second though he would stomp the ground and cause another wall to rise up, much to the woman’s annoyance. “I’ve always had a knack for Katon and Doton ninjutsu, controlling it just feels like an extension of myself in a way. It’s all around me and connected” he said with a gentle smile. When she looked around the wall however he would have a little surprise for her, flowing his chakra into the ground he performed another actual jutsu. His chakra control was so impeccable that he could do so easily without even using hand seals. Chains would erupt from the wall, moving with 40 Strength and Speed to bind her and drag her back against the wall. He was admittedly starting to get tired now, mostly physically but his chakra reserves had started to dwindle a little bit as well.

“This is starting to get pretty heavy you know” he commented, knowing he certainly wasn’t making it easy on her to try to achieve her task of making him drop it. Though an idea did occur to him. He supposed it wouldn’t technically be considered dropped if it didn’t touch the ground. Stomping the ground he lifted the boulder out from his arms as he moved around to get a better look at Revna as she responded to the chains. The boulder floated along beside him but he kept his stance well grounded, arms rigid as he made subtle movements to keep it floating. “Much better” he sighed, stretching his arms out. “So Revna, how did you end up working in a place like this?” he wondered.

450/400

Jutsu TrainedShow

Doton • Chains of Imprisonment
B-Rank Ninjutsu
This powerful restraining jutsu requires that the user be within 30 meters of the target. After forming the necessary seals five lengths of stone chain links will jut out of the ground at a speed of [Control]. The chains will aim rapidly move to immobilize the target, automatically looping around arms, legs, waist and neck. The chains can extend up to 60 meters if necessary, in order to ensnare the victim depending on their height and girth; This is not a controlled jutsu however, but if the target is entangled the chains will retract back into the earth to bind the target in place. The chains grab and restrain with a Strength equal to [Control].

[Willoria]

Revna yelled in aggravation, snarling loudly as chains wrapped around her and dragged her back against the wall. She struggled against the chains, but her training already had her worn out enough that she could tell she wasn't getting out of them any time soon. She fixed her light green eyes on Yozei and shook her head. "Your family sounds complicated and powerful both." she remarked, sighing to herself. She found it was still hard for her to hear of siblings and not think of her own, but she hadn't expected it to get harder as he went on to ask her how she got to where she was. She paused for a moment and tried to deflect the question with a simple answer. "Two years ago I took up service to your family, when word came that you were coming here to take your place as Prince, I was assigned as your personal servant and bodyguard. That's all."

But somehow she could tell by looking at him that wasn't exactly the answer he was looking for. It was too simple of an answer, he wanted to know about her life. The woman sighed and stopped struggling for a moment in the chains. Her shoulders slumped for a moment as she sighed and looked away briefly before shrugging. "My father was a Chieftan, the way I dress when I fight and train, it's all a remnant of my people. My weapon was once his. He and my mother were killed when Kiri invaded. My brothers and I were captured to become slaves, I was the only one to escape. I swore myself to the Harukatsu in my search for a place in the world again, and so here I am." The woman simply shrugged as she avoided looking at Yozei for a moment.

'Konoha, and you, failed us.' For a moment she felt like if she looked up he might see it in her eyes.

[Izanagi]

Yozei smiled as Revna spoke of his family and as the chains wrapped around the woman he exhaled slowly, lowering his arms as the hovering boulder fell to the ground with a heavy thud. “Yes, that is quite true. I think Hanako has been slacking a little in her training, but Kaori and Takeshi seem like they’ll be powerful Jounin one day” he said proudly. He knew becoming strong was the best way to make their father proud and it seemed they all shared similar pressure to live up to the man’s legacy. Perhaps it was because she was adopted that Hanako didn’t have quite the same drive to become an elite shinobi. But all the same he loved his sister dearly, even if she was angry with him. He hoped that he could repair the relationship when he returned. He was sure even the twins would hold some resentment. His siblings were all teenagers after all, some level of moodiness and lashing out was to be expected. Perhaps one day they would better understand the weight of one’s responsibility that came with power and success.

He furrowed his brow, unsatisfied at Revna’s simple response. Looking around he saw a few guards on the edge of the large courtyard. And of course, there were other servants here and there going about their duties. Perhaps some more privacy was in order. Maybe a little more freedom to get her less uptight. Forming a series of five hand-seals he recalled a rather standard Doton technique, a trapping dome. While versatile he hadn’t seen any need to prioritize training it much. It seemed something he could manage via terrakinesis, though he supposed through a proper technique he could typically manage larger jutsu. In some cases being able to make a massive trapping dome could be useful and then he could simply utilize kinesis with the existing jutsu. However, he wouldn’t have a chance to test the full size that he could manage. Afterall, the courtyard was a square of only about 30 meters along each side. At the peak of his skill he could cover such an area four times over with relative ease. So, the dome would form to a 15-meter diameter, 7 meters high and only 2 meters thick. It would take a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the darkness, but he hoped it wouldn’t frighten the woman being bound in such a circumstance.

406/400

Jutsu TrainedShow

[Earth Element • Earth Dome Prison]
B-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming a series of hand seals the slams their hand or foot on the ground causing the earth to form at a speed of [Control] into a large dome; up to 60m in diameter, 25m high and 10 meters thick. Imbued with chakra throughout the dome and the floor beneath, an opponent cannot simply tunnel their way out with earth style. So long as the user keeps in contact with the dome, he can supply additional chakra in order to make any necessary repairs. A Strength of [Control] is required in order to break out of the dome.

Yozei contemplated the woman’s words. This wasn’t just a training session to him but a chance to get to know a woman that had been assigned to him. It was only common sense to get to know the people closest to you on a day-to-day basis. The last thing he wanted was to give anyone in his families employ a reason to turn against them. He channeled chakra, producing a wisp of fire that rose up and hovered around him. It’s flame was bright, illuminating the area somewhat but within the dome it was still ultimately quite dim. He recalled a jutsu his father had been especially fond of during camping trips, recalling some of his fondest memories when all four children were able to go out on a multi-day expedition with their father as well as Masuru and Toshiaki. The twins had only been about five at the time but seeing the way their eyes lit up when their dad lit the sky with literal fireflies was something that stuck in his mind. He had only been a Genin at the time himself and wasn’t ready to attempt such a thing but it inspired him to master pyrokinesis only a few years later.

Now, he could finally figure out the technique properly. A way to use them to defend other people without needing to focus his pyrokinesis to the task. Such a skill would be invaluable in working alongside others and he hoped to one day be able to use it alongside his family. Focusing further, he considered each additional flame as another important figure in his life. His father, mother, Aina, Hanako, Kaori, Takeshi, Aunt Ayame, Grandpa Isamu, and Grandma Takami. These were his core family, his guardian spirits, but also those he wished to defend. Though his Grandpa had already passed away he still wished to honor the man symbolically. “Family is everything. Honoring our heritage and those that came before us. Within me are the Harukatsu, Natsuki, and Inuzuka. Within you are your tribe and all your ancestors. Kirigakure stole from all of us, but we will take back our people and our lands. If your brothers are still alive, I’ll find them and free them” he vowed. It was the least he could do for the loyalty she had devoted to the Harukatsu even after they and Konoha had failed to protect her people from Kirigakure. Yozei, as a symbol of both factions responsible for the safety of Fire country felt it was his personal duty to seek justice and restore families wherever he could.

427/380

Jutsu TrainedShow

Katon • Guardians of Fire
A-Rank Ninjutsu
After forming the necessary hand seals or channelling chakra, Yozei will imbue his surroundings with Katon chakra. For the next 7 posts he, or a singular designated target, will be protected by 8 wisps of flame that will manifest themselves at a speed of [Control] and possess [Control] strength. These flames will autonomously attempt to impact and deflect any incoming attacks, protecting the designated target. These flames act defensively and on their own accord though cannot manifest themselves from a distance of more than 10 meters from their assigned target to defend.

[Willoria]

As Yozei made his vow, Revna suddenly looked up and stared at him in surprise. "You... what?" She had started struggling against the chains again to try and keep up with the training but suddenly stopped once more in her moment of shock as she heard what he was promising her. She found she had no words for his promise, except the instinct to argue that a Prince had no business doing something so dangerous. But between the fact that he was also trained as a Shinobi, and what she had and was seeing of his abilities now as they had trained, she could hardly make such a claim either.

For the first time since she'd been given the assignment, she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt about the fact that she was reporting just about everything about the man to another member of the family. "You don't know me, or my family, why... why would you do that for us?" she asked quietly, thoroughly confused. The woman was thoroughly confused by his offer. She was more accustomed to far more selfish nobles who were full of ridiculous demands, strange expectations, and a sense of entitlement that seemed to weight more than the wealth they always boasted access to.

Suddenly in a single moment she was finding Yozei defied every one of those expectations.

[Izanagi]

The flames danced around Yozei’s body, protecting him and now fully illuminating the area within the stone barrier. He hoped it would be clear to her now just how strong he truly was, that his comparative physical weakness was essentially meaningless when he could so freely manipulate his surroundings. But he didn’t mean to intimidate her, rather prove to her that he wasn’t some spoiled brat that needed protecting. He wanted to inspire hope in his allies and fear in his enemies and he couldn’t have one of his servants second-guessing his strength or undermining him. But he meant every word he said. He hadn’t left his family simply to sit around enjoying fine dining and being doted on by servants. He wanted the freedom to become truly powerful and protect Fire country in a way that even his father had failed. He would become Daimyo and the true sword and shield of the nation. Not some out-of-touch old man that thought the world was a chessboard or some game of shogi.

His intense look softened for a moment as he smiled kindly. “You’re a citizen of Fire country” he said simply as if that explained it all. “In Konoha we’re taught the Will of Fire…that we are all family, all comrades and every one of us is an equal, no matter rank or power. As a Prince, it is my duty to protect and serve the people of this country. I am sworn to you and your family as much as you are sworn to me and mine” he explained genuinely. He had been blessed to have spent his teenage years in Konoha, shaping his mind away from the selfish thoughts and backstabbing games of nobles. And now, he could return and make a true difference for his people and his family. All of them, not just those within Konoha.

With that he would flick his wrists and the chains around her would fall slack, allowing her to easily step out of them. “Come on, let’s get away from the palace for the afternoon” he said simply, forming another set of handseals as he flowed his chakra into the ground. This time a stone Dragons head would emerge from beneath them, jaws opened wide as they had no choice but to move down the tunnel that had opened within its throat. From the outside the large dome would seem unchanged, the dragon's head appearing from within and under the structure to give them a path that tunneled below the palace grounds.

425/400

Jutsu TrainedShow

Doton • Dragon’s Maw
B-rank Ninjutsu
Yozei will form hand seals or channel chakra into the ground, causing a large Dragon’s head made of stone to rise up from the ground within 45 meters of him a speed of [Control]. The mouth acts as a tunnel into the ground, allowing the user to redirect large projectiles in the ground through its up to 70 meter long ‘throat’, or come up below an opponent, biting its mouth closed to trap them. The head itself is 10 meters long 5m wide and 3m tall. The stone head itself impacts, bites and traps with a strength of [Control], the tunnel structure also containing the same strength.

[Willoria]

As Yozei explained things to Revna, she only felt all the more confused. To her Konoha was nearly as much the enemy as Kiri was. Though Kiri had taken her kin captive and killed the rest directly, Konoha had been just as responsible for what had happened in her mind. Yet the way Yozei spoke now, none of that made sense at all. She found herself feeling more than a little conflicted in the moment, but glad when he undid the chains that held her. She ran a hand over her wrists and arms, sighing as her mind ran over this new information. She normally kept her words and feelings to herself, but for the moment she found herself unable to stay quiet. "Where was this 'Will of Fire' when Konoha left my people to be wiped out by Kiri then?" she asked quietly, an oddly stern look in her eyes as she looked at Yozei for a moment.

Just as quickly as the look had come over her gaze, it was gone. Revna prided herself on her ability to control her emotions and her expression after all. At the very least, she was typically able to keep things neutral. Though her sudden need to control her expression perhaps came more out of necessity than anything as Yozei suddenly mentioned getting away from the palace. She was about to give him an answer when suddenly it seemed an earthen dragon's maw opened up beneath them and she was going through a tunnel.

At least she was able to keep from screaming and let out a shocked gasp.

[Izanagi]

Yozei was rather taken aback and momentarily at a loss for words as Revna made her disdain for Konoha clear. He had heard countless complaints about Konoha, his father, his Grandfather (the former Fire country Daimyo) and even about himself directly. It was all part of his duties in maintaining order over Dragon’s Breath and coordinating with his uncle and cousins who ruled over Dragon’s Touch. The vast majority of those disgruntled were civilians of occupied lands but he had heard the discontent among his men as well. But it still always felt the most personal to have one’s own people spit in the face of those who devoted their lives to protect them.

As the tunnel opened below them at a steep angle, Yozei deftly slid down the pathway, manipulating the earth beneath his feet to maneuver him easily. “The Will of Fire isn’t a shield or a weapon. It’s our spirit. Our ability to stand as one no matter the hardship or how dark the world becomes, or how many times we fail. It is perseverance and unity in the face of horrible odds. It was there when we rallied, some of us half a world away, to return and drive Kiri back. It was there when we rebuilt and honored the memory of the fallen” he said passionately. He felt bitter and angry himself at what Kiri had done and he held his father and Grandfather accountable, and they had shouldered those failings. But ultimately one had to acknowledge that in war one couldn’t win every battle. There would be losses, there would be counterattacks and there would be failings by allies and bad information. The attack from Kiri had been a perfect blend of all these factors.

He performed the stone Dragon jutsu again as they neared the end of the tunnel and began to ascend. Its length was extended, and the head opened its mouth to the sun outside the walls of the palace. Once out on the surface he performed another series of handseals. This was a jutsu he wasn’t as comfortable with. It occurred to him that since he could freely control earth with terrakinesis, it made sense to learn some construct creation jutsu that he couldn’t simply use Kinessis for. In this case, it seemed practical to try to shape something they could ride. He figured there would be other scenarios where a mount such as a horse would come in handy specifically one that wouldn’t tire or need food or water. But it occurred to him that what he really needed to develop was more powerful combat creations. There would be time to develop utility constructs on his own.

It would take some time to get it right. And for the first time Revna would see Yozei struggle with a ninjutsu technique. Constructs were not something he was particularly skilled in, but he was a natural prodigy with elemental jutsu, specifically Doton and Katon. He knew he could figure it out with some trial and error. The first humanoid golem began to rise up but it was too small for his liking and its proportions were slightly off, lopsided and stiff in its movements. The young Prince frowned, waving his arm to command it to crumble apart. “Damn, constructs are difficult” he lamented under his breath, starting to sweat now, as an aside to the heavy conversation he and Revna were having.

571/1030 words Jutsu Training

Jutsu being trainedShow

Doton • Colossal Titan
S-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the necessary hand seals or channelling, the user will manifest a stone Golem from their chakra, emerging from the ground. This Golem can be up to 160 meters tall with proportions equivalent to an average human. It appears like a stone Titan and can follow only basic commands, typically having a singular goal such as attacking or defending a specific target or area though it persists until destroyed.

• Endurance: 30
  Strength: 50
  Speed: 40

[Willoria]

As Yozei spoke of Konoha and the people rallying together to drive Kiri away, Revna snorted in contempt for a moment. "Yes... they returned as if saviors and did just as much damage as the enemy in their wake... what was left of our village was further destroyed, more lives taken. So focused on destroying Kiri that the few who were left were decimated after our so-called saviors came." Revna's feet hit the ground outside the palace walls and she looked around, and she could feel the old tension across her shoulders and back once more. Her own anger rising up in her again as it often did when she remembered what had happened to her family, to her people. "My brother's and I were taken by Kiri only after Konoha came to our so-called rescue... they were so focused on fighting they never saw what was happening to the people they claimed to be protecting..." but her words trailed off as she turned and saw Yozei trying to work with his jutsu again and heard his frustrations.

The woman found herself feeling oddly guilty for a moment, something she didn't normally feel when it came to her anger against the shinobi village of Konoha. 'I'm directing it at one person right now... and he's given me no indication that he's part of the fault...' She sighed, one hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose briefly as she found herself conflicted in the moment again before walking over to him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry... talking about all this... I get caught up in it..." It was awkward, apologizing for what felt like righteous anger. But suddenly Revna found herself feeling like it was perhaps directed at the wrong person.

[Izanagi]

Yozei's brow furrowed into a deep frown, his breathing elevated and his jaw tight. He couldn't believe that Konoha shinobi would let their own people get caught in the crossfire. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as she made it sound. But the thought enraged him. "If Konoha shinobi killed your people they should stand trial. Buildings can be replaced, lives cant. We are sworn to defend this country and everyone in it. You said you were from the North? Kumo shinobi should have been assisting in that region as well. If I can track down the squad responsible and hold them accountable, I will" he vowed. He took the actions of Konoha especially seriously. His duties were not only to keep the new subjects of Fire country in line but also hold shinobi and samurai forces accountable so that the country may heal and unite as one.

He looked Revna straight in the eyes, his face hard and his eyes filled with a furious rage that didn't seem possible within such peaceful blue orbs. "I will do everything in my power to seek justice for your family" he promised. He had been in Dragons Touch when Kiri attacked and had missed the first few weeks of retaliation efforts but he had personally fought and helped drive the invaders back. Though he had been stationed within Tea country where some of the worst fighting was. Ultimately he had failed to drive them out of those lands permanently but others had reclaimed the North. But at what cost, he wondered. What was the point in expanding Fire country's borders if they couldn't even protect the people themselves?

Flowing an immense amount of chakra into the earth, he let loose his restraints funneling his rage and shaping it into a massive titan of destruction. He would obliterate anything or anyone that threatened the integrity of Konoha and the safety of Fire country citizens. The earth shuddered as the collosol beheamoth rose from the ground, towering above some clouds even. They were just outside the city, near the base of a mountain but the Titan towered a full 160 meters into the sky. It's head alone larger than many buildings. "I promise you, any injustice done to the citizens of Fire country will be answered for" he insisted. "I killed too many people and lost too many men for this country. I wont allow anyone to divide us. We must stand as one; Samurai, shinobi and civilians. We must be strong and united or our true enemies will strike again" he was trembling with anger and fatigue now as he pushed his chakra reserves. It would be clear now that as noble as Yozei was anyone that stood in the way of a united Fire country would be destroyed.

567+466=1031/1030 Words

[Willoria]

Yozei's sudden rage was a shock to Revna. She withdrew her hand from his shoulder rather quickly, staring at him in surprise as she listened to his words and yet she could hardly believe what he was saying. The callous disregard she had seen for her people all those years ago, it was hard to think of anyone other than herself wanting justice for her people. Oddly enough it made the guilt she had begun to feel only deepen in her gut. Her gaze dropped to the ground a moment as she thought about how she was brought into Yozei's service. 'Does he know? Is this all just to try and get me to stop what I'm doing?' Ever the suspicious type the woman tried to convince herself that it all had to be an act. Yet as she lifted her gaze and caught the look in his eyes she couldn't believe that this was an act at all.

She staggered back as he formed the massive Titan that rose over their heads and her eyes went wide. She had never seen such a thing, but as she opened her mouth to express such a thing and turned to look at Yozei, she saw too his sheer exhaustion and concern flooded her features. She moved to stand beside him again, her hands on both of his shoulders as she silently wondered if he might pass out given the way he was shaking. "It's time for a break, Prince." she said quietly, using his title for the first time in awhile and without any of her usual attitude. She felt genuine concern for his well being in the moment. "I may know next to nothing about your shinobi arts... but I know what it looks like when someone is pushing themselves too hard..."

[Izanagi]

Yozei panted, feeling the exertion as the sun beamed down on them. Though he looked on at his creation, proud of the stone titan of destruction. He imagined a half dozen of them crashing against the walls of Iwagakure or storming water country harbors. But he exhaled, releasing that rage. The time would come for another war, but he wasn’t ready. He was still too weak, his influence over Fire country still too limited. He smiled at the warrior servant. He was glad to know more of her background and hoped he could help her brothers. But that did beg the question, if she was angry at Fire countries failure to protect her people, why serve the Harukatsu? Surely, there was more to the story, but it seemed unlikely she would reveal her true intentions to him.

The massive titan crouched and placed its hand on the ground, palm up. Its hand alone was nearly 15 meters long. “Get on” he said simply, moving toward the stone hand. Once they were both situated the hand would rise up to the titan’s stomach height, about 100 meters in the air as he marched toward the Ocean. The view from such height would be incredible, the clear sky and relatively flat lands allowing them to see for miles all the way to the coast. Of course, as the titan marched on it would feel like a small earthquake to those within the nearby city and palace. Before long samurai on horseback would be sent out. “I might have overdone it. I’ve never used so much chakra at once before” he admitted once they ascended. He sat on one of the large fingers, shirtless amd without his weapons he realized he was fairly vulnerable now but he wasn't too concerned. Leaning back, he looked out to the Ocean along the East coast of Dragon’s Breath Province. “I’m relieving you from your duties for the afternoon. I think we could both use a break” he said simply, in case it wasn’t already obvious that she wouldn’t be getting back to her work anytime soon.

When the squad of horseback warriors approached Yozei would call out and explain the situation and the mixture of concerned and terrified men would simply follow from a safe distance, only one branching off to report back. Perhaps it wasn’t the most subtle to display such power, looming over the entire city. But it was a declaration of his power, it would instill fear but hopefully also a sense of safety knowing that their city was defended by such might. So long as nobody within his own family attempted to betray him. Since he was attacked on his way to the palace Yozei had been sure to project a sense of power. And so too had he been more cautious of those he let close to him. It was precisely why it felt so necessary to get to know his assigned bodyguard better.

He breathed deep, feeling the light-headedness begin to fade. Though it didn’t feel like they were moving fast, there was a consistent breeze, and the fields and farms surrounding the city seemed to pass them by in moments. Truthfully, Yozei hadn’t considered the impact such a titan would have on the farmers' lands and smaller roads they would pass through on their way to the Ocean. Even some forests and smaller villages. Though he would of course ensure they took a path away from main settlements, moving toward the more open country, of which there was a great deal in these lands. “Tell, me more about yourself. I like to know the people that work closely around me” he said simply, looking in her eyes again, though now his gentleness had returned. Though he couldn’t help but feel somewhat wary of this woman and he was never very good at masking his expressions or intentions. But he did want to trust her. It was difficult to find true friends and loyal allies within the palace. His cousins were all selfish and entitled brats, spoiled and only interested in parties or flaunting their wealth and status. His uncles were ambitious, always clambering for more power and anytime he met with one of them he felt like he was in the presence of vipers. The only person within the palace he felt he could trust was his mother. But she was a busy woman, between social gatherings and her duties handling the diplomatic relationship between Konoha and the Harukatsu, she was always busy with someone or other. And she traveled frequently.

755/1000 Chakra Pool Training