working to kinesis

[C.J,]

SpoilerShow

Hoten plucked his bow. The arrow shot. It hit its target. He walked up to the temple firing range, rather the range he constructed himself. The temple didn’t have an official range. It was Hoten that had to work hard to build his own. Archery wasn’t taught in the Earth Temple. Only basic fighting styles but mostly spiritual tutoring and basic shamanist arts. That meant that Hoten had to erect his own by propping up stone slabs and marking them with targets and such. He used this range, nestled at the tail end of the temple to practice during his own time. He forwent the popular yet optional prayer and ceremonies and spent his time either training with his grandfather or doing his own training. It had become a routine. Something to look forward to. Something to keep his mind off of where he was.

He took a few steps closer to the range. He bent over and picked up the arrow. It seemed an inefficient weapon. Made of glass, it could probably only manage to pierce flesh and only flesh. He doubted it could really do much against thicker clothing or armor. Hoten wasn’t exactly aiming for a killing machine however in a life as a shinobi it became inevitable. His blood soaked memories rushed to the front of his mind.

Shatter.

He examined the shattered tip. Arrows were already massively outmatched against a fortress. He didn’t have any real hope of shooting through solid walls or anything of that sort. However he remembered that it was still a requirement that he could at least directly pierce the weakest defenses. Otherwise archery would be a poor offense in his coming battles. He sighed. He broke down the arrow and scattered the shards on the ground. He began to pace. He remembered a justu he used in the past. He used it to break through several windows and hit a target that was too far away. Simple defenses. Thin wall or a window had to be breeched one day. He needed a jutsu that did just that. Therefore he began to brainstorm. He put his finger on his chin in thought.

He wanted to amplify the piercing quality of his arrows. A special head had to be introduced. It had to be able to pierce stone at the very least. He thought about it only a moment longer before he had designed in in his mind. An arrow like this required more than quality. It required innovation. He had seen miners borrow into the earth with drills. By combining mechanical energy with a proper solid design he could reduce the damage to the arrow head and maximize the potential of it as well. It was only a matter of thinking of how to make it aerodynamic. Once he had the shape and structure of the arrow in his head all that was left was bringing it to reality. That being making it. he needed high quality glass. He used [Glass Creation] as a base then was set to molding. He spat a wad of glass into his hand and molded it. The shaft was long, and the fetcher was split into four – not two – it was allow the arrow to spin while in flight. Lastly he defined the head as a drill. Once that was done he knocked the new arrow and watched the results. The arrow stuck out of the slab. It bore a small hole and cracked the surface. He did well.

584/550 ((training pack))Show

[Glass Element ● Spiral Glass Arrow
C-Rank Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: [Glass element • Glass creation]
Hoten first forms the required handsigns and spits a wad of malleable glass into his hands. He will mold the liquid glass into an arrow with a drill shaped head. The arrow is specially designed to be aerodynamic yet make use of this specialized head shape. Once shot the arrow the glass arrow will spin and build in penetrative power of 5 strength, capable of burrowing through solid earth before shattering.

[C.J,]

A rankShow

Hoten shaped removed his hands from it and stepped back, taking a final look. The jutsu was complete. Standing before him and his grandfather was a standing glass sculpture of a horse. After he had left the Tenrai and Garasu no Hime felt somewhat forlorned. With no one to talk to besides these monks and his grandfather he was finding it difficult to remain sane. He had tried to escape twice already and his grandfather knew that he needed something to pour all of his feelings into. What better outlet for an over aggressive trainee than a bit of sculpting?

No these were specialized Garaton jutsu that his grandfather had designed himself in his youth. His grandfather was once called a genius and moreover had the title of ‘the sculpture’. It was him that filled the Shoshiki compound with dozens of sculptures of fish, deer, wolves and mountain lions; all made of glass. Sure it had to be a simple thing to do. Hoten was of the Shoshiki clan. He had known more about molding things from glass than anyone else not from his clan. He had been making things since he was old enough to use his hands. A fish, a deer. It was a simple task. However after doing it, he found it to be a much more difficult task. His grandfather was a perfectionist. That was probably the worst part of the man – well a bad part of him. Hoten was in fact, still new at sculpting animals. He had only recently learned how to sculpt normal human beings – including himself. His grandfather asked that he make the animals life-like. So realistic in fact that the only thing tearing them apart from their flesh and blood animal counterpart was a heartbeat. A single disproportionate leg; one eye too far apart; poor texture of the hide and Hoten would be sent outside down the mountainside and expected to stare at the animal for hours.

This wasn’t the beginning of his training. He had a week of watching field mice and staring at them for his entire day. Unable to eat or sleep unless his grandfather saw a satisfying replica. He was expected to ‘act as the mirror to life itself and produce replications that could not be called fake’. Hoten had already started to think that his grandfather was off his rocker. That or this was some kind of horrific punishment that his grandfather devised just to watch him squirm. It wouldn’t be the first time. However the old man did show him a single result that seemed to make all of this training only a little bit worth it.

Hoten watched as the horse turned to him. The glass horse, completely transparent and void of a heart or soul looked at him and clapped it hooves. A dull thudding sound rang through the halls of this training room. Hoten crossed his arms with a smile on his face. The body was completely –well perfect. He knew why his grandfather wouldn’t allow a single misshape. He had made a bird with a slightly larger wing on one side. That was enough to through off its entire flight pattern. A little inequality or a disproportion somewhere would spell disaster for the entire sculpt once it began to move. It was the same as dooming his own creation to failure as a single mistake was entirely inefficient.

He raised his hand as a test. The sculpt lacked a mind or experiences as he had only made it a moment ago. That could be replaced with Hoten’s own thoughts and feelings. He molded it with just a sliver of his intelligence. Giving it the ability to act upon a programmed tasked or even just respond to his commands. He hadn’t given the horse a very strict guideline. Only act with Hoten’s experience with horses. Owning a horse a meeting the Tenrai was enough to make Hoten as close as an expert as possible. He molded this horse with Garasu no Hime in mind. It was an exact replica of his treasured friend and he felt a sudden burst of nostalgia just looking at the virtual reflection of it.
As directed the horse responded by walking a few paces then nuzzling his hand. Hoten could feel the cool glass against his skin. It resonated however it shocked him out of his fantasies. This wasn’t Garasu, he would simply have to get used to that. He withdrew his hand and waited for his grandfather’s next instruction. Regardless of what the man said, he had proven that it was a exact sculpt in every way.

Getsuyan responded in turn by nodding his gaunt head slightly then taking a step forward. “Fine, now you have learned the easy techniques.” Hoten raised his eyebrow. These jutsu costed him two months already. These weren’t the hard ones?

Getsuyan lowered his stance and made a few slightly familiar handseals. Liquid glass gurled out of the ground and jumped into his hands. The old man had to be unpredictably fast when molding because Hoten hadn’t the ability to watch his process properly. With only a moment spared Getsuyan had produced a massive amount of glass and molded it into the likeness of a great dragon. The thing was long and snake-like. Complete with horns, fangs, wings and mirrored scales. The dragon flied around the room in tight circles before setting down next to Getsuyan obediently.

“Now you sculpt something based upon your own imagination. The exactness of the sculpt is based upon your own verdict and no longer outlined by nature. Try to make something interesting.” Getsuyan dared him dryly.

“But dragons exist.” Hoten mumbled quietly but Getsuyan didn’t hear or care. Hoten was left staring at the horse he made for what felt like hours. Something based on his imagination. He had quite a bit of thoughts but he also had another just that just might be able to let him cut a few corners here. His gigantes gave him the ability to shoot target with a massive giant bow. His imagination wasn’t feeling so much creative as simply combative. What if he could create himself an ally in battle? An outrageously powerful ally? Not a dragon, but maybe a fellow bowmen. A glass giant. He had already envisioned it.

He stepped onto the horse. He wasn’t good at sculpting and he wasn’t patient enough to wait through another two months of trial and error. He was taking the shortcut. Anything to get him finished faster. He could mold horses, and he could mold men. He could mold bows and arrows. If he combined them all then he wouldn’t have to worry about dynamics and planning. He could simply fit together pieces of what he already had a grasp on. His hands flew into signs. He drew glass from the earth and covered the horse with the fresh glass. The horse clopped in fear and protest so Hoten had to use his control of the jutsu to turn it back into a simple stature. He made a face of dry amusement when he was complete.

It was… workable? He could use a horse’s mobility and combine it with the dexterity of a man. He had seen Tenrai so attacked and in control of their horses that they looked like one. He joined a man to his the horse at the neck and put a bow and arrows in his hands. Finally he activated it and as expected it took a step forward and pulled the knocked the arrow, programmed with everything Hoten knew about archery. It would be almost as good as him. he smiled up at it.

1280/1250Show

[Glass Element • Dynamic Sculpture: Horseman of Freedom]
A-Ranked Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: 7 Control
Hoten first does the required handseals then produces the required percentage of glass from the earth. He then molds the liquid glass into the likeness of a 10 foot tall centaur creature. The human half which comprises of a head, torso and arms will look like a bare-chested Hoten, while a horse's body, starting at the neck, will conjoin at the waist of this dynamic glass sculpture. The sculpture is equipped an 8 foot long glass longbow - limb to limb - with a glass fiber bowstring and 10x 4 foot long glass arrows. The centaur is able to shoot targets up to a mile away. Due to the natural materials used the distance this creation can travel away from Hoten is [Control stat x 200 yards] The stats are as follows:

• Taijutsu: 7
• Stamina: 5
• Strength: 6
• Speed: 6

[C.J,]

A rankShow

“Fire,” Hoten commanded the glass centaur, thinking that no harm could come of it. The centaur received his order and rose the bow and aimed. It released the glass bow and Hoten could hear a gnashing sound as the glass fiber string was plucked. The glass arrow flew and smashed into the wall, raining shrapnel over his grandfather. The old man didn’t even flinch though; his already created dragon flew over his head and shielded him with its body. The reflective scales shimmered as glass bounced off of it and were scattered onto the floor. Hoten was slightly impressed. His grandfather hadn’t utter a command nor do any movement, in fact Hoten couldn’t think of any command his grandfather could have ordered to make a creature that was so prepared.

“Charming display, boy.” His grandfather muttered. The old man’s pale eyes seemed to catch Hoten’s thoughts. “Once you have mastered every aspect of a Shoshiki’s glass you will too be able to wield these creations as mere extensions of your body. As easily as an arm or a trusted weapon. Your sword and your shield.”

“…Right.” Hoten murmured, slightly skeptical. His grandfather scowled which earned Hoten a glance to the floor.

“Your… attempt wasn’t incorrect by nature. In fact it is an… adequate creature that neither exists nor ever should exist. However you did fail regardless. While I did give you a task that you have achieved you still lack the foresight or instinct to create something proper. Look at it. it is a travesty, you designed it to wield a specific skill, however once a weapon is specialized it starts to lack in all other areas. Close range? What if it loses use of those arms?”

At Getsuyan’s final words the glass dragon flew over Hoten’s centaur and began wrapping its body around the creature’s arms. The glass screeched and cracked until it finally shattered apart. The arms and bow fell in a rain of shrapnel. The cracks only grew up the centaur’s body and as the sculpt weakened quickly. It only took a single step backwards for the cracks to split apart the glass and the whole thing to fall in a mess of shards. “Shatter.” Hoten cursed.

“As it stands now, that jutsu is useless. I expect a better glass-creation when I return.” Hoten’s grandfather demanded then started to walk out of the training hall. “However as a word of advice, think about whatever aspiration you have in that head of yours, create something that could be your chariot to that goal.” With that his grandfather was gone.

Hoten was left in the room with a literal pile of glass to get to show for his effort. He stooped down and examined the shards though his fingertips.

“Chariot to my goals?” He questioned himself. His goal was to protect Aimi. No inspiration. His goal was to defend Iwa. Still no inspiration. “SHATTER!”

He stood and threw the shard across the room. It smashed against the wall. He was getting too frustrated. He needed to calm down. Hoten crouched again and sat there with his legs folded and began a meditative posture. He wasn’t sure how well these worked but he was due for mediation anyways. He focused on his breathing, quieting his mind. He tried to achieve the closest thing to piece as possible in this mountain temple months away from home.

His goal. His goal was to secure peace. Ensure the happiness of as many people as he could and offer the citizens of Iwagakure as great a life as they could have. He wanted to protect everyone who wanted him to and save everyone who needed him to. He wanted to give salvation. That was his ultimate ambition. To give salvation to Iwa.

He exhaled. He tried to envision a creature that could do that. However it seemed he was just not capable. If it was possible to create a single glass creature, like a dragon or a phoenix that could be used to reach his goals he wasn’t finding that creature. He wondered what sort of goals his grandfather had to need a glass dragon for. He opened his eyes. He was sweating from exerting so much energy. It truly was a desperate battle to create something that could reach his goals. Then Hoten considered that maybe he didn’t need one thing. Maybe for once he could offset quality with quantity. It was worth a shot.

He immediately went to work with his handseals. The ground gurgled with fresh glass and he shaped it without trouble. He crafted out from the glass a giant statue of himself. To be more specific a statue of his torso with the body of himself. He had recreated the centaur did before quite easily. He wasn’t done though. He repeated the process, switching out handsigns to create an all new creature. Another centaur, however this one stood with two long cavalry blades. He took a deep breath. He had quickly become winded. Three A ranked ninjutsu in one day. His chakra reserves were dwindling.

“To be unbreakable; mind, body and spirit.” He recited his nindo as a mantra to never give up. He wasn’t through yet.

He thought about the next design. He had a ranged offense position filled, and a close range combat position filled. In theory these creations had the potential to fight as independent soldiers for Hoten. He needed another support. He created another sculpture of a Hoten-centaur however it sported a shield. It was missing something but that covered defense. He stared at the three finding a good balance in a formation. However there was still a spot missing. Hoten had been taught enough about tactical warfare to know that these three were only the obvious skills. A proper formation’s optimal size was a four man squad. He needed a fourth centaur.

Hoten paced as he pondered this for a moment. He had everything he needed to form both a security detail and an attack squadron. He still thought he was missing a crucial piece though. He found himself thinking about one skill he had that he could give to the centaurs. If he needed to be acting independently to this group, he wanted them to be as equipped as possible. He could still equip one centaur with a surprising ability. One that could turn the tides in any heated situation.

He made his final set of handseals and as expected the glass poured from the ground and Hoten could pick it up and mold it with familiar precision. His hands molded the face quickly then he did a few pats to the side and a chiseled torso was built. As the glass solidified contour and definition was quickly found. The horse’s body took no time at all. He wrapped the glass in his hand for a moment taking extra care to make it smooth.

Standing before him was a glass centaur, indistinguishable to the other except for the particular item they had in their hand. A bow, swords, a shield and unexpectedly a glass jar. The jar totting centaur would serve as auxiliary support and the only of its kind that could actually work as an extension of Hoten. In theory he could actually use it to cast genjutsu. When the centaur uncovered the jar’s lid Hoten could gaze within it and tell that was completely mirrored in the outer walls. Hoten saw himself easily.

His grandfather walked into the room with a raised eyebrow. It was expected. The old man had rejected one centaur and had been given four. Before he could speak Hoten walked up and presented his sculptures.

“These, grandfather, are; Freedom, Peace, Prosperity, and Life. The four Horsemen of Salvation.” Hoten managed proudly before immediately fainting.

1297/1250Show

[Glass Element • Dynamic Sculpture: Horseman of Prosperity]
A-Ranked Ninjutsu
Prerequisite: 7 Control
Hoten first does the required handseals then produces the required percentage of glass from the earth. He then molds the liquid glass into the likeness of a 10 foot tall centaur creature. The human half which comprises of a head, torso and arms will look like a bare-chested Hoten, while a horse's body, starting at the neck, will conjoin at the waist of this dynamic glass sculpture. The sculpture is equipped with a 6 foot diameter glass jar. The jar's innner surface is reflective and mirrored, and is capable of serving as a trigger for genjutsu. Due to the natural materials used the distance this creation can travel away from Hoten is [Control stat x 200 yards] The stats are as follows:

• Taijutsu: 5
• Stamina: 7
• Strength: 6
• Speed: 6