[Graded]See the Kyoukan, Taste the Kyoukan [open]

[Kanade]

Chiaki had been toying with a set of jutsu for a while and thought that it was about time for her to put her ryo where her mouth was. She wanted to make certain that it was possible, and so she set out her ingredients in the over-large kitchen that belonged to the Kintsugi. To feed an army I guess? She looked around for some materials for her jutsu that she was going to experiment with. Flour, salt, water. That was all that she needed for her first one.

Chiaki rolled her shoulders and washed her hands after setting out the ingredients on the table in front of her. She was going to try to make some 'ninja' rations. Too bad she didn't have anyone to try it with, or on, or really anything. She chewed her bottom lip as the water from the sink ran over her hands. She had the hand seals down in her mind, but to perform them and have it work was something that she only could think of and which would only theoretically work.

So far as she knew, there was only one legend that a cook had achieved anything that she was about to do before, and that was the curry of life. It was a mystery how it was made, but apparently it was so spicy that it instantly revived anyone who was so overworked that they literally passed out. She knew that she could lend herself to her companions' endurance, but it always came at a cost, and wouldn't it be better to do a fire-and-forget jutsu in the form of something they could eat.

More well-known were the shinobi food-pills which could sustain ninja for three days or, when abused, could heighten their strength, speed, and endurance to scary heights, and then in equal fashion they couldn't move for the next 12 hours.

Patting her hands dry, Chiaki moved to tie up her hair and put her mask on for cooking. Best not to contaminate the dough of the experiment, and if it blew up in her face literally, she didn't want to accidentally aspirate bread-dough.

Stirring the lukewarm water, she added the flour and then the salt into the bowl, the mixture growing harder and harder to stir with the wooden spoon before it became a sticky mass on the end of it. She laid out a layer of flour, and using the wooden spoon tossed the dough onto the floured surface of the table.

Kneading the dough, she pumped her arms back and forth in a rhythmic almost rowing action. Baking was harder than she thought, as she started to sweat from the exertion that her arms didn’t really have a knack for yet.

Chiaki took out some mushrooms from her bag, she had picked them a couple days before and, while edible, they were rather bland and didn’t amount to much. She performed a quick set of hand seals as she put them on the bread and they glowed teal for a quick second before becoming just mushrooms again. She wondered whether that jutsu would work, or whether she would have to figure something else out.

Shrugging, and figuring that it wasn’t a problem for ‘now’ Chiaki, but for later Chiaki.

Frowning, she wondered what made her think that. She was the one that was going to taste this after all, so why not indulge herself a little bit. She looked around in the cupboards for some spices, and came up with a blend of some freshly ground garlic, turmeric, thyme, cumin, cayenne peppers, and coriander.

She placed them all into a mortar and started to grind them up with the pestle which was sitting inside, churning the ingredients until the whole room smelled of the aromatic spice blend. She wove her hands in some more elaborate hand seals and the ingredients glowed as well.

“Think I’ll call this the spice of life-cha.” Chiaki chuckled to herself before upending the contents of the mortar and ducking for cover as she expected for the jutsu to interact and either turn into an explosion, or some other form of attack against her.

She waited for one, two, three seconds before peeking up over the table at the inert contents, sitting there like a toad squatting on a log, with just as much regard for her as the toad would in its case. She laughed nervously to herself as she took up the dough and divided it evenly between six portions and knew that it was going to be more than she could stomach to even eat one of these, let alone six. Six, however, was the portions that she had, so six was what she would have to perform this jutsu on.

She wove some more hand seals and picked up the dough molding it with her cakra and it glowed a slight pinkish and then dribbled out of her hands and onto the floor.

“So much for that one-cha.” She grumbled as she wiped her hands on a nearby damp rag and set to the task of kneading the ingredients of the second lump of dough.

This one shot sparks at her, and then caught fire. Rushing to the sink, she collected a glass of water and tossed it on the dough-ball.

The flames leapt up as if she had just poured alcohol onto it. Frantically looking around, she noticed the bowl that she had used to knead the dough in the first place and set it over the flames. The flames had taken on a greenish hue and it was billowing out yellow acrid smoke.

She tossed the bowl onto the dough and it rumbled and roared beneath it before settling down and letting out a final burp of yellow gas into the air.

Chiaki flew to the window, coughing and gagging, her eyes running from the smoke as she opened it up and used her apron to fan out the disgusting smoke for a good couple minutes, and hoped against hope that the other four balls of dough were undamaged by the flames, and also by the acrid smoke from her second failed attempt.

After clearing the room of the smoke, she went back to the balls of dough, one was ruined in proximity, she knew because there were burn marks where sparks from the ignited dough-ball to its right had pock marked the entirety of the doughball. It also had flattened itself to look like a sad blob fish.

Groaning, she scooped the contents under the bowl and went to her next dough-ball. It looked less the worse for wear. She had three dough balls left, and she would, WOULD make this work. Rolling up her sleeves, she kneaded the dough twice and made it into a square, before poking equidistant holes into it and flattening the thing to look like hard-tack.

Then she performed the hand seals and held her left hand out. Raiton-chakra danced between her fingertips, which would serve for cooking this particular meal. She had thought that Katon would probably work better, but she had heard of people cooking with Raiton before, in a pinch.

Shrugging she placed the hard tack in her hand and winced as she expected the concoction to do something that it hadn’t done before.

With a squeal of glee, she found that the Hard Tack ration had not only baked, but was actually the consistency of hard tack!

She performed the same ritual on the other 2 balls and gave a satisfied smile to the rations.

Now, to find some guinea pigs to give them to.

jutsu learned/used (1272/1200 word count)Show

[color=FF8000]Tabe Mono Iijutsu[/color]
A character with this concentration is able to utilize Tabe Mono Iijutsu (Food Iijutsu), and can make and use any custom or archived jutsu that require the Tabe Mono Iijutsu affinity. Tabe Mono Iijtusu has a satiating effect. Tabe Mono Iijutsu requires the user have the Iijutsu concentration, and either the Raiton or Katon elemental concentrations (for ignition and cooking purposes).

Passive (Satiating)Show

Tabe Mono Iijutsu has the effect of satiating, which means that the target becomes ‘satiated’ and can only have the effects of up to [endurance/10] satiating effects on it at once. If they exceed this limit, the most recent satiation effect comes into play. The jutsu, in and of themselves are not active until certain parameters are met, thereby making the Iijutsu useless if used in the wrong situation. Additionally, the ‘chef’ (or user of Tabe Mono Iijutsu) is able to blend their jutsu so that the food that is consumed carries all of the effects. This does not decrease the “Satiation effects” of that food item (so combining 5 E-S rank jutsu would require the subject to have 50 endurance to benefit from all of the food.)

Additionally, the strength of the satiation effect on animals or humans who eat Tabe Mono Iijutsu is determined by the Control stat range they fall into.

• 1-14 Control Requirement: Tabe Mono Iijutsu is allowed to be dormant for up to 2 posts before wearing off. This is from the time that the food is prepared, not the time that it is consumed.
• 15-24 Control Requirement: Tabe Mono Iijutsu is allowed to be dormant for up to 4 posts before wearing off. This is from the time that the food is prepared, not the time that it is consumed.
• 25-34 Strength Requirement: Tabe Mono Iijutsu is allowed to be dormant for up to 6 posts before wearing off. This is from the time that the food is prepared, not the time that it is consumed.
• 35-45 Control Requirement: Tabe Mono Iijutsu is allowed to be dormant for up to 10 posts before wearing off. This is from the time that the food is prepared, not the time that it is consumed.
• 46+ Control Requirement: Tabe Mono Iijutsu is allowed to be dormant for up to the entire thread before wearing off. This is from the time that the food is prepared, not the time that it is consumed. Additionally, food prepared by a master chef (46 control) can be purchased at the prices of the jutsu below and used in another thread as an expendable food item. The cook only gets half of the Ryo for these purchases.
• E ranked: Not able to be sold, spoils after the thread.
• D ranked: 1 Ryo: Cook gets 0.
• C ranked: 2 Ryo: Cook gets 1.
• B ranked: 4 Ryo: Cook gets 2
• A ranked: 6 Ryo: Cook gets 3
• S ranked: 8 Ryo: Cook gets 4.
  
  Again, these prices ONLY apply if you want to take your food with you. So finish what’s on your plate!

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Hard Tack Rations
D ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to blend the required spices for the hard tack rations, which includes flour, salt, and water. Hard Tack Rations are not hard to make, the user kneads a large loaf of dough, then beats it with their palms against a hard surface, or their lap if nothing else, then they take the bread and fold it twice and make a square. Then the practitioner weaves a series of hand seals and the tack is baked with their chakra. This make rations that can last up to the end of the thread, and when someone eats these hard tack rations, minor wounds will heal over the course of 2 posts, and moderate wounds over 4 posts.

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Magic Mushrooms
D ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to find edible mushrooms in the immediate area, which isn’t usually too hard, or uses mushrooms they have in their pack for this Jutsu. Performing a series of hand seals, they pass their hands over the mushrooms and add them to a soup, tea, or the mushrooms can be eaten raw and give the user +3 to their strength and speed stats, but -3 to their willpower and endurance stats, as the mushrooms are slightly hallucinogenic. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the mushrooms at any time.

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: spice of life
D ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to blend up a concoction of spices for their allies. This, in turn, staves off poisons which would have otherwise affected them. This Spice of Life can stave off 1 D ranked poison or 2 E rank poisons before it runs its course. The spice of life, however, has no affect on poisons already in the person’s body at the time of consumption.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro had only just arrived in Waterfall Country. He had encountered Maido in the jungle where she had asked him to meet. Evidently, however, Maido was working through some things. What had been a brief welcome reunion between the two friends had quickly devolved into a heated spar. The young Bannin of the Mist was quite accustomed to Maido’s bloodlust, impulsiveness and bouts of insanity. But this had been the first time she had openly attacked him, rather than simply expecting him to get out of the way of her whimsical deadly techniques; typically, in the form of acid or blood mist.

Needless to say the assassin was more than a little battered and bloodied after their bout. He had taken some time to rest on his own and Maido had even healed him after for the most part. His clothes however indicated otherwise, various rips and bloodstains across his cloak, remarkably he managed to keep his mask and hood relatively intact. It was rare for him to show his face or body beneath the cloak, at least not unless there was a suitable occasion for it such as an outing to the beach on onsen.

The cloaked man scowled, vibrant green eyes scanning the treeline as he soared above the forests, large bat-like wings protruding from his back. “Where the hell is this outpost she mentioned?” he grumbled, flickering through the sky as he dashed in rapid movements. Maido wasn’t the best at giving direction, vaguely pointing in roughly the right way. But alas, he came upon the large clearing with various structures in states of construction. As one would expect of the Blood Witch, the design was rather erratic, and it seemed she was intent on cramming in just about everything she could think of.

But aside from the potential of some kind of murder dome, mad scientist’s lab, and torture room, it was the smell of cooking that grabbed his attention. When one trained their body to go weeks without eating and enduring all manner of other torture training, the smell of a freshly cooked food after a proper beating was a type of relief even a hardened killer like him could appreciate. But instead of a hearty meal of all manner of seafood as he was accustomed to, he smelled spices and bread? He recognized the smell of some of the spices from those that were common in Wind country and often permeated their clothing. It brought with it a brief flash of a wind country boy that had cooked for him before, not far from here in fact. He had long accepted his friend’s death, but it still struck him as a strange and sudden association.

Landing, he naturally moved with the utmost silence. His wings tucked behind him and he entered the building and approached the kitchen. His predatory lime-green eyes narrowed at the sight of the red-haired woman. “Who the hell are you?" He wondered, surprised at the woman’s presence. He had only ever known Maido to travel with Kayako and Hisayo, with perhaps the occasional team up with Kotaru of Iwagakure. “And what are those?” he gestured to the strange little balls, seeming to vanish as he crossed their roughly 8-meter distance in an instant and grabbed one of the pellets. He had lost his gloves in the scuffle with Maido, and so his blackened hands and wrists were clearly visible, in contrast to the pale patches of skin visible around his eyes, his brown cloth mask raised up over his nose and his hood hanging over his hickory brown hair. “Are you trying to poison me? Maido said there would be food” he accused, his tone cold and serious as he stared the woman down. Though beneath his mask he was smirking, poison would be preferable to passing those things off as food.

Jutsu UsedShow

Assassins Flight
A-Ranked Partial Kaerujutsu
This transformation allows Shinji to grow a pair of large bat wings from his upper back. Each wing is 3 meters long and 1.5 meters wide and typically brown or black in color. These wings are fully functional allowing Shinji flight capabilities. As an extension of his body Shinji has learned how to fly and move as swiftly and silently as he normally would.

Shadow Step
S-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite:[Stealth]
Trained in the ways of an Assassin, silent movement is one of the Karagata families most esteemed talents. Shinjiro can move up to his full speed, running or flying without making a sound, be it footsteps, breathing, the drawing of weapons and movement of clothes. Even his heartbeat is slow and undetectable unless an opponent has an enhanced hearing technique of equivalent or higher rank.

Predators Tracking
A-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: [Perception]
Shinjiro has developed a remarkably keen sense of smell even when not transformed into an animal. He can easily distinguish between scents and people, as well as pick up on trails that are several days old. His passive range is equal to his Willpower stat though for particularly strong smells such as blood or decay he can detect from a distance of [Willpowerx5] meters away. When in a transformed state of an animal with a strong sense of smell such as a canine the range of his sense of smell is doubled.

[Kanade]

Chiaki turned around when the man addressed her in his low gruff voice. The first knee jerk reaction that she had was to place a barrier over herself, which she had to admit was a bit silly. The second was to huck two of the hard-tack rations, which she had just made, at his head, their flat, square, perforated selves spinning toward the man, leaving her with only one left on the table.

She wasn’t fast, she wasn’t strong, but she was confident in her Raiton barrier against most opponents. She turned around cooly, the sparks from her lightning armor enhancing her robes which crackled with the power of her jutsu. She hoped that it was a rather impressive display, for her sake.

“I could ask you the same thing-cha.” Her eyes narrowed, and the orange of her eyes, lit by the yellow sparks and arcs of the lightning lit the room and stared at him. She had seen wings? He was dangerous if he could modify his body so easily. It was best to keep up her armor until he stated whether he was friend or foe.

Luckily for Chiaki, he moved up and announced exactly why he was there. Apparently he had come for food. She couldn’t help it, her clarion laughter erupted in the empty kitchen, skittered from the empty pots that hung above the table, and rattled in the empty and still cold oven to her right. She had to have a laugh, because she, for all intents and purposes because she was sans-apron now, looked more like a priestess than a cook.

“You think that I am going to cook for you-cha?” She raised both eyebrows and puffed out her chest, her robes expanding with her bravado and her ample chest size, “After calling what I just made with my two hands poison?” She leveled a rather maternal look at him and picked up her wooden spoon, brandishing it, “If you want food, ask nicely, and sit over there and out of the way-cha.” She pointed the brandished wooden spoon at an empty chair a little bit away from her, the lightning armor like a second skin crawling about her form as she moved towards the rather large pot in front of her.

“Where the f-” She looked into the pantry and exclaimed in surprise and delight as she found the eggs that were there. Wherever she had obtained all of her fresh ingredients, Maido’s kitchen was impressive. “Enough to feed a small army-cha.” She noted, looking at all of the eggs, standing on their ends with origami cranes folded between them. “Whoever folded these cranes sure was bored-cha.” She took one out and set it in front of wherever the other shinobi was before cracking seven eggs into a bowl, adding a dash of salt to the water and then went back into the kitchen pantry to look for her ingredients.

She came out with: Lye, Alkali solution, more flour, and a blend of spices which she set down on the table. Chiaki gave him an appraising look and mixed the flour and beaten eggs together, adding a bit of salt and flour here and there before thumping it onto a separate table and placing the bowl over it to rise for a bit. She cracked her knuckles before setting to the task of making the spice blend again, weaving her hand seals once more as the orange chakra leapt in the spices and settled down again. She tossed these into the pot which was beginning to boil.

Moving to the rather large ice-box room, she came back with some meat, which she bundled back to the room, “How do you like your meat-cha?” She would ask before using her Raiton to expertly tenderize it, and sear it to perfection. It was a rather large portion of steak which she held in her hand as it became the perfect temperature, seared to just his specifications. She set it down on a plate before moving to the broth, stirring it and nodding to herself.

Then she took a knife from the kitchen, cut long noodles and started to add them in, handful by handful to the now roiling broth. She tapped her finger against her chin, added the mushrooms that she had previously used to the mixture, and took out two hard-boiled eggs to put on the side of the ramen.

“If you want more salt you can get it your damned self-cha.” She poured some of the broth before taking the tongs and pulling out the perfectly done Ramen Noodles from the boiling broth, “I was just thinking that I needed a guinea pig for this-cha.” She wove hand seals over the ramen and it glowed a bright orange before fading to a simmering pot of Ramen. “The hard-tack will help your wounds, if you eat it-cha.”

She cut the hard boiled eggs in half and placed them in the soup, added the meat, and some diced vegetables she had happened across while in the pantry. She was probably stealing from the evening meal, but she was feeling rather annoyed at being called a chef that would serve poison. Why she never-.

She set the bowl in front of him, clanking down soy sauce, salt, pepper, shihuan sauce, hoisin sauce, and red-pepper sauce in front of him, “Try it with those spices first, but doctor it how you will. I don’t think we have any Wasabi, so if you want some tough luck-cha.” Her Raiton chakra coursed around her as she sat down in a chair across from where he was positioned and drummed her electrified fingers against the wood of the table she was sitting at.

Jutsu usedShow

*Raiton • Lightning Armament
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After the correct hand seals are performed, the user coats themselves in a thick layer of lightning. This armour of lightning forms near instantly and requires [50l] Strength to break. During this time, the user's physical strikes apply the Raiton shocking effect.

LEARNING: 953/800 Word Count

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Itadakiramen
D ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to cook up some ramen, making it in some savory broth, this Ramen only has noodles as the base, but can be a base for some of the tastier ingredients that the ninja throws in. The user uses either Raiton or Katon chakra to boil the broth, and adds the noodles to it, and after weaving some hand seals finishes with the jutsu. The Itadakiramen is made so that when consumed it is able to staunch any bleeding wounds that the target gets that are moderate or lower in severity. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the Itadakiramen

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Meaty shield
D ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to tenderize, spice, and then cook with either Raiton or Katon chakra, the meat. The higher the user’s control, the more tender the meat is. This meat, when consumed, generates a shield which springs into existence at the cook’s [control] speed and defends at [control] strength and is either made of Katon or Raiton chakra, whichever was used to make the meat. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the meat from Meaty-shield jutsu or the ninja-chef.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro barely reacted when the woman tossed two of the food squares at him, they moved so slow that he effortlessly snatched them out of the air in one hand as he approached. Though when the powerful lightning armor crackled around her, he raised an eyebrow, assessing. It was enough to give him a moment's pause as his body naturally bristled and primed for a fight in the presence of such powerful chakra. The display was quite impressive and earned a modicum of respect. He hummed for a moment in contemplation, performing a set of handseals at a casual pace as his own body was enveloped in lightning. The exact same technique, was performed with 35 Strength. However, the lightning surrounding him was notably green, deviating from the typical types of either electric blue or yellow flashes of lightning that were generated by standard raiton manipulation. Casually he reached out to prod her shoulder, moving slowly and then suddenly accelerating to smash into her barrier with full force of 46 Strength, watching with a bored expression until the lightning rejected him, knocking his finger backward even as it shimmered and strained against his power. It would take at least three strikes to break it he wagered. Truly a masterful technique.

He grinned beneath the mask, especially as she gave him attitude and berated his rude demeanor. He held off on introducing himself immediately, watching as the woman laughed at his request for food. Perhaps he had misjudged her, and she wasn’t meant to fill the role of the cook for their little operation here. Evidently, she was a powerful shinobi but with so few that could be trusted within Maido’s inner circle there had to be a variety of roles one would have to fill. His eyes flitted briefly to her figure as she puffed out her chest. Shinjiro was a man who balanced a fine line between controlling his impulses and letting them consume him. It was the constant dichotomy of his upbringing as a stoic assassin and the primal impulses imbued within him. “Unless you’re here to worship me” he sighed, teasing lightly about her priestess robes. He honestly had enough of that in his life, between his celebrity status and having a cult following believing him to be a God, he preferred those like Maido that he could see as an equal.

The Bannin huffed, amused at her offense. “I wish it was. Nothing like a potent new poison to enjoy, really gets the appetite going” he joked dryly, as his raiton armor dispersed. His body language was as relaxed as a hooded man stained in blood and adorned in multiple swords, knives and even a singular arrow could look. His eyes narrowed as she instructed him to ask nicely while brandishing a spoon and crackling with lightning. He wasn’t sure whether to feel aroused or emasculated. Only his girlfriends ever talked to him like that. He had never had a mother and any cooks he had ever had growing up had been household servants. “I’m starting to see why Maido invited you to our organization” he said, after a moment of staring her down and testing her conviction.

He moved to the table, pulling back his hood to reveal his neatly trimmed hair, only reasonably ruffled and out of place from his hood. At least out of ‘uniform’ so to speak he did take care of his appearance. With a single finger, he pulled down his mask as he sat down carefully. The crossed Katana across his back made sitting against the chair slightly awkward but manageable. His jawline was handsome and strong, face clean-shaven, but somehow it was still his vibrant lime-green eyes that were the most striking.

It was more apparent now as he smirked slightly at the woman’s comments to herself. He wondered idly how many more people Maido was expecting to feed. Though certainly, his appetite alone was many times that of the average person. He was after all an embodiment of physical prowess and body manipulation. “Seems like the kind of task Hisayo wouldn’t have much choice in” he commented idly as Chiaki mentioned the folded cranes. Maido seemed particularly cruel to that woman, and though Shinjiro largely turned a blind eye to it he did have slight moments of compassion. “You’re really going to keep that armor up?” he inquired, somewhat bored. He wasn’t much of a cook himself and very rarely watched anyone prepare a meal, though he had enjoyed both fine dining and meat in its simplest and most raw form. “It’s not like I’d kill you…unless your food really is that bad” he muttered with slightly more humor in his voice and that same subtle smirk. But his eyes remained cold and predatory. There was no doubt he was well used to killing on a whim and felt no remorse for such actions. She inquired about his meat and he responded simply, “Rare, lightly seared and seasoned” he said as he propped his elbow on the table and leaned his chin against the back of his hand. He nodded in approval as she brought him the large slab of steak. By the smell alone he could determine it was to his satisfaction. “That'll do” he said, cutting off a thick slice, enjoying the scent of blood as the meat parted. “My name is Karagata Shinjiro by the way. I could bore you with a list of titles and accolades, but I don’t think that’s necessary” he said simply. It was refreshing that she didn’t seem particularly intimidated by him, perhaps she thought she was under Maido’s protection. Whatever the case, he felt optimistic about keeping her around.

Taking a mouthful of the steak he savored the simple flavors. Though as he swallowed he felt something peculiar, chakra surging around him. But it wasn’t his own. It passed after only a moment, but in an instant his hand was at the hilt of one of his swords and his gaze promised death for any slight against him. It was when he realized he wasn’t being harmed in any way and still sensed no hostility from the woman, that he relaxed once more. The shroud of lightning around him matched her own, in colour and strength. “Impressive” he stated, looking between his hands, “But for your own health, give me a warning before you pull anything like that again” he warned coldly. Flexing his chakra, he found he was able to disrupt the technique without any trouble. It was unsettling to be surrounded by another’s chakra. There were only a handful of people he trusted with that level of intimacy and Chiaki had not yet earned that privilege.

He was nearly finished the steak by the time she was placing the finishing touches on the ramen. “You seem quite capable, how did you meet Maido?” he inquired. He raised his brow at the orange glow, hesitant to take another gamble on what kind of effect it would bestow upon him. Though as he finished the last bite of steak and she set the ramen before him, he decided he could give the hard-tack a quick try between meals. Taking a bite at one of the one’s he had snatched when she tossed them at him, he found it wasn’t quite as bad as he was expecting. Though it would be difficult to discern if it was working or not. Sliding his chair back slightly he unslung the holster that held his swords and placed it on the table about a foot away from his bowl. Next, he removed his tattered cloak, laying it across a spare chair. This left him in a forest green T-shirt and dark brown pants. His muscular frame, impossibly well defined and yet lean stretched the fabric tight across his skin. The charcoal-like markings extended from his hands to about halfway up his forearms, appearing similar to black ink tattoo work. A few cuts and bruises marked his heavily scarred forearms and he observed as they healed faster than even his usual minor healing factor accounted for. “Seems to be working” he surmised. He was fairly certain any moderate and extensive wounds had already been tended to, though he was so accustomed to pain and injury that he honestly couldn’t tell unless it was visibly obvious.

Next, he cupped the bowl of ramen with both hands, raising the soup of to him as he sat more upright now that he had full range of movement. Sipping slowly, he assessed the flavors as she made it. “It’s good” he said simply, before adding a few of the choice sauces she had provided, particularly some of the spicier flavors that he rarely indulged in back in Water country. Still, there seemed to be something lacking. She mentioned wasabi and he pursed his lips in consideration, “Can’t stand that stuff, messes with my sense of smell” he admitted, “But maybe…” he considered, channeling some chakra to his finger, elongating it into an octopus tentacle, which he promptly ripped off with his other hand and placed into the ramen. His finger returned to normal, and he grasped a pair of chopsticks, taking a mouthful of noodles and then a bite of the tentacle after it absorbed some of the broth's flavor. The man did quite like seafood, even if he provided it from himself. “Much better” he commented casually as if that was a completely normal thing to do.

Jutsu UsedShow

*Raiton • Lightning Armament
D-Ranked Ninjutsu
After the correct hand seals are performed, the user coats themselves in a thick layer of lightning. This armour of lightning forms near instantly and requires [35] Strength to break. During this time, the user's physical strikes apply the Raiton shocking effect.
Simple Octopus partial transformation (In the base form, the host is able to use Kaerujutsu based on their Mastery Stat, which allows for transformations of single body parts at a time. Each of these transformations follows the normal stat boosting rules.)

[Kanade]

Chiaki hadn't quailed at his stare down, seeing as she had the feeling that he wasn't going to hurt her unless it was under Maido's orders. "Our organization?" She almost had dropped what she was doing by his response. Well, of course he was a part of her organization, why else would he be in the kitchen.

She noticed his eyes as she had placed the crane in front of him and shrugged at his comment that it was something that one of Maido's servants? henchmen? subordinates? One of the three, would do. Chiaki hadn't quite figured out their relationship to Maido besides it being a partially parasitic, partially symbiotic relationship.

"I am going to keep the armor up until you intro-" She had cooked the steak to perfection and when he did finally introduce himself she hesitantly would continue to release the chakra strain slowly on the jutsu, keeping a wary eye on him. She was used to Maido's taste for fun, and this individual was one of the people that she would consider quite a bit of fun. Then he boasted about himself and she chuckled, mostly at the bravado and the lack of decorum at the table. Bringing weapons to the table was considered barbaric bordering on uncivilized, but she had eaten in a camp before, and she supposed that was what this was, a glorified camp. All her kingdom for some decorum.

"Kyoukan, Chiaki" She nodded her head, "No doubt you've heard of my accolades and I forgot to wear all of the badges, medals, and war-bands that I've acquired-cha." Which was precisely zero.

He threatened her as she took out a scroll and scrawled a 'yes' next to each jutsu as it worked, one by one on him and nodded along with him in a placating, matter of fact, doctor way. The way that a psychologist would nod to their patient as they scrawled notes on diagnoses. Then he pulled off a tentacle and ate it in his soup, "You know I could have just cooked that for you, or there was something that didn't come from-" She just waved her hands in an exasperated, 'I give up' sort of way.


---
366/400

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Curry of favor
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes a blend of spices and tosses them into a pot, along with other ingredients and stirs with vigor for one post, bringing the pot of spices and other contents to a boil with either their Raiton or Katon chakra, and then is able to serve the Curry of Favor. This curry increases the user’s control stat by +6 but decreases the user’s speed by -6. This effect lasts for [maker’s control/10] posts

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro spared a glance when he noticed the woman chuckling. He was only lightly curious about her, but he didn’t care enough to play twenty questions. He was sure he would learn whatever was necessary in due time. It was already apparent she was either a current or former Kumogakure shinobi by the sigil she wore. Ordinarily he would be hostile toward someone from such a faction, but she was here in Maido’s kitchen, that was enough to earn some modicum of trust. The woman introduced herself after he did and he hummed lightly in consideration. That name ‘Kyoukan’ that was of some importance, wasn’t it? It sounded vaguely familiar, but he had very little interaction with Kumo shinobi over the years and hadn’t even fought any throughout the course of the war.

He huffed in amusement at her sarcasm, clearly teasing his own introduction. It was fairly easy for him to detect lies. He could hear her heartbeat and smell the subtle pheromones that indicated fear. In fact, he could even feel the vibrations of every subtle movement she made, even when he wasn’t looking at her or paying her any attention. “You’re snarky” he commented dryly, his vibrant green eyes assessing her like a tiger stalking its prey. It always amused him how differently people treated him outside of Kirigakure, especially those who weren’t aware of his reputation. It was refreshing, and at times it allowed him to feel almost normal. “You must have some kind of special talent then, aside from just your cooking” he decided. Maido wouldn’t bring a Kumogakure shinobi into Kintsugi just to be a healer and a cook, would she?

Shinjiro scowled at the woman’s demeanor as she seemed to assess and study him like some kind of lab rat. It reminded him far too much of his older sister and his childhood, though Chiaki was notably less sadistic. At least thus far. Chiasa would show him moments of compassion when she healed him, acting as if she cared. But whenever he let his guard down or was deemed recovered enough the torture would continue, in some form or another. He eyed her warily, like a caged animal, but continued to eat. The handsome young man flitted his eyes toward the woman once more as she reprimanded him. “I prefer my meat raw, and I’m sure most of your stock will come from me eventually” he mused, it seemed foolish after all to bother buying meat when he could produce all that they ever required. “If you ever want a cute little bunny or another silly pet, just let me know” he teased coldly. Perhaps she wasn’t aware of his talents but as the host to the Phantom Beast of Body, his powers were quite expansive.

[Kanade]

“I’ve been told that I can be at times-cha.” She replied to the snarky comment, giving him a rather sarcastically large smile in return for the dry comment. She payed no attention to the predatory look, as it wasn’t the first nor would it be the last that she would receive while working for and under Maido as her apprentice. “I am trying to cultivate the special talent, and cultivate another, but it’s been rather shaky-cha.” She admitted. There was no reason to lie to someone that she had just met, even if he did arrive on bat’s wings, and look at her like she was a piece of meat for most of the conversation. Maybe he was just assessing her, or testing to see whether she would break. She wasn’t quite used to that treatment yet, but she had the feeling that Maido encouraged and gathered people to her that liked to play with things until they broke. He would find that she had a soul of adamant.

“Raw is rather unsanitary unless you eat it right from the animal, freshly washed-cha.” Chiaki noted, “If it’s been sitting, it’s been gathering bacterium-cha.” She said matter of factly as she continued to study him, the effects that the food had on his wounds, wondering whether or not he would prove to be an ally, or a shaky enemy of her enemies.

“Oh, so you’re to be the hunter for Kintsugi-cha?” She asked, tilting her head as she placed it on her fist, and rested herself on the table, her hips pushed out away from it, taking on a rather ‘bored teen girl’ look and watched as he ate. “As for a pet, if I were to have one it’d be…” She trailed off and had to think for a moment, “I think it’d be some sort of snow-leopard, they have the biggest cutest fuzziest paws and tails.” She placed her fist in front of her lips and rubbed, imagining the soft fur against them as she closed her eyes. “And have the prettiest blue eyes.”

She opened her own orange ones, casting them down and brought her hair out of the bun that she had put it in to cook, raking her fingers through it to hide her scar before sitting down, draping herself over the table, resting on her elbows as she continued the conversation with the other shinobi, “So why are you a part of Kintsugi? What do you bring to the table-cha?” She smirked, “Besides a large appetite.”


----
787/400

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Curry of favor
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes a blend of spices and tosses them into a pot, along with other ingredients and stirs with vigor for one post, bringing the pot of spices and other contents to a boil with either their Raiton or Katon chakra, and then is able to serve the Curry of Favor. This curry increases the user’s control stat by +6 but decreases the user’s speed by -6. This effect lasts for [maker’s control/10] posts

387 leftover

training:
Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Strength sushi
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration The user takes fresh fish or some seafood, or even some veggies wraps them in rice, sometimes followed by seaweed then weaves hand seals over the sushi. The sushi will then be imbued so that it gives the shinobi consuming it +6 strength and endurance, but decreases speed and chakra pool by +6 as well. This lasts for up to 3 posts or until the consumer wishes it reversed.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro lifted the bowl of ramen to his mouth, gulping back the broth having made short work of the toppings. Setting the empty bowl down, he shifted and stretched. Lifting his shirt, he observed the last of his bruises fading away, though the countless scars that adorned his torso remained. Even sitting, his body was that of an apex predator, rippling with lean muscle and marred with dozens of scars. The meals were satisfying, and he found his hunger sated for the time being. Shoving the bowl aside he leaned forward, propping his elbow up and leaning his chin against his left hand while his right absentmindedly rested on the table. His lime green eyes narrowed, their intensity unwavering as he continued to observe her. In particular her verbal tic was beginning to grate on his nerves. The nails of his right hand began to grow into 1-inch-long claws, biting into the wood of the table with ease. “What’s with that ‘Cha’ bullshit?” he growled after she reprimanded his eating habits. Though his expression remained bored, only his mannerisms betraying his annoyance.

He huffed in slight amusement as she so astutely determined he was a hunter. While that was true, it wasn’t exactly what he meant about how he would be able to procure food for the organization. “What gave it away?” he teased slyly, as his wings unfurled for a moment then with a glow of green chakra were absorbed back into his body. He listened to her description of a snow leopard, he had never seen one before but he understood immediately, drawing on the ancient knowledge of Vorashu as green chakra gathered around his hand and he began to move it about, “Some call me the King of Beasts. I am the ultimate hunter, Jinchuuriki of the Phantom Beast of Body; Vorashu. I can transform into any animal or conjure any beast at will” he explained, closing his own eyes for a moment as he connected with the spirit within him. While normally he wasn’t quite so forthright about trusting others with his abilities, he never shied away from the fact he was a Jinchuuriki. Over the years he had demonstrated his transformation abilities at several high-profile international tournaments, though his talents in creation were something he had only recently been developing.

Shinjiro opened his eyes, and the glow of green chakra briefly consumed his body, though he didn’t enter any of his transformed states. His mastery had grown to the point where he didn’t need to enter his forms for techniques of this level. Next to them a snow-leopard emerged from a mass of green ether, exactly as Chiaki would have imagined. It moved closer, nuzzling its head against her side and inviting her to pet it. The creature was completely under Shinjiro’s command, its will bound to his own. But if he allowed it, it could be granted freedom to live as any other wild animal, and it was undisguisable from any creature birthed normally. “This is only a small example of what I bring to the table” he declared, his words seething with confidence. “I also happen to be the leader of the Seven Swordsmen of the mist and one of Kirigakure’s most skilled assassins. So, what’s a shinobi of Kumogakure doing in Kintsugi? What do you want from us?” he questioned. The leopard tensed, its muscles brimming with power as it prepared to rip out the woman’s throat if Shinjiro found her answer unsatisfactory.

Jutsu TrainedShow

581/300
Snow Leopard
B-Rank Genesis Kaerujutsu
Drawing on the power of Vorashu, Shinjiro is able to manifest a snow leopard ranging from 1-2 meters long and 15-30 kg’s. This beast is capable of leaping up to 10 times its body length, as well as moving silently and stalking its prey through visual perception with the equivalents of B-rank jutsu. Its retractable claws and powerful jaws are well suited to striking vitals of its prey as well as easily traversing most types of terrain.
Chakra Pool: 5
Endurance: 25
Control: 1
Strength: 22
Speed: 22
Willpower: 5

[Kanade]

Chiaki watched as the man gulped the broth down. At least she had that going for her cooking. She was still far and behind her mother when it came to the culinary arts, but if it was palateable enough for him to finish, then she at least did her job. She started to clean up the mess that she had made, and that he had made before slouching and wincing at the ‘cha’ comment that he made. Her lightning barrier came back up in an instant as she shrugged and gulped, looking into his lime-green eyes and having all the hallmark, tell tale signs of a rabbit that has just been tossed to a pack of hungry predators.

“It’s ah, It’s just the way that I talk-cha.” She explained, placing her hands together and wringing the backs of one with the palm of another. She didn’t really have a better explanation than that to give Shinji at the moment. She wondered why he looked so bored, so predatory, and so annoyed at the same time. It was the perfect juxtaposition to put her off balance, and she wondered, indeed, whether or not she was safe within Kintsugi.

“King of the what now-cha?” She looked at him and tilted her head and then nodded along because it explained the fact that he had come in on wings made from what seemed to be rather believable skin, sinew, and bone and then had folded them and they had disappeared. She wondered what other parts of his body he could modify to suit his needs. She found her gaze straying up and down his physique wondering that before settling on his jaw and then his eyes.

Chiaki’s eyes opened wide with amazement and then with the sheer cuteness of the thing that he had conjured, it was exactly like she had seen in the picture books back home and she almost pet it, then she placed a tentative, not-lightning-infused hand on its head. It was just as plush as she had hoped. She stared in wonder at it and giggled, despite herself, like a giddy academy school girl.

She felt the animal tense and she instinctively put a hand to her throat and gulped, her lightning armor completely surrounding her in dazzling small sparks. She gulped once more and felt her throat close up in fear before she finally managed to squeak out, “I’m studying under Maido-san to become strong enough for transplantation jutsu-cha. I am hoping to be a crafter, and a cook for the organization-cha, and Maido has promised to help me attain my goal-cha of transplantation jutsu and told me to hone my skills-cha.” The more nervous that she was, and the less that she kept a good rein on it, the more that her verbal tick of ‘cha’ came out, which meant that it was quite incessant and uncontrollable at this point.

----

jutsu trained: 483+387=870

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Strength sushi
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration The user takes fresh fish or some seafood, or even some veggies wraps them in rice, sometimes followed by seaweed then weaves hand seals over the sushi. The sushi will then be imbued so that it gives the shinobi consuming it +6 strength and endurance, but decreases speed and chakra pool by +6 as well. This lasts for up to 3 posts or until the consumer wishes it reversed.


Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Tako Tabemono
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to spice, and then cook with either Raiton or Katon chakra, the octopus. The higher the user’s control, the more flavourful the octopus. This octopus, usually grilled, when consumed, generates a tentacle made of either Katon or Raiton (depending on the user’s cooking jutsu used) which springs into existence at the cook’s [control] speed and flings itself at a target the consumer dictates at [control] strength and is either made of Katon or Raiton chakra.

---
70 leftover: training:

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Antidote soup
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes two posts to prepare a soup that will neutralize a poison of C rank or below. The higher the user’s control, the faster they can make it, making the soup in 1 post requires a control over 30. This soup, when consumed, spreads through the body at the cook’s [control] speed and eats away at the poison in the target’s body at [control] strength This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the soup jutsu.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro frowned as the woman’s lightning barrier returned, and within his body a slight shift occurred as his chakra bane began to synthesize. He was feeling fully recovered now from his little spar with Maido, and his muscles were brimming with power, his body aching to kill and dominate. Within him Vorashu stirred, the ancient shaman sensing the shift that beckoned an impending conflict. ‘Shall we devour her, little Shinji? Or will that soft flesh be made an offering for my spawn’ the Phantom beasts words echoed like a haunting whisper in his mind. “You’ll stop that, it’s annoying” he decided, responding both to Chiaki and the Genma within him simultaneously.

He cracked his neck, slipping off his cloak and revealing his densely muscled body, barely contained beneath a dark green long sleeve shirt and black pants. She had done it again. Exhaling slowly, he stood as the woman pet the snow leopard he had created. It seemed to distract her for a moment, but it was clear she was still very much on guard and for good reason. His last question would determine just how violently he should respond. Transplantation jutsu, a crafter, a medical cook. Reasons enough to keep her around for a supplementary role, but he still didn’t trust her. She was after all aligned with an enemy nation. There was no telling which allegiance she would prioritise if it came down to it. That was a level of risk Shinjiro simply couldn’t abide. Not without getting to know her better at least. He found people were always the most honest when they were pushed to the threshold of their pain tolerance.

Slowly the man began to exhale again, but this time a blue smoke began to bellow out from his lips. “I thought I told you, enough of the ‘Cha’ bullshit". In an instant his gaze shifted; focused and lethal. As smoke bellowed throughout the room his lips came together, releasing a short whistle. Summoned forth from its holster at his hip, the legendary arrow Malevolence sprung to life; blitzing through the air and crossing the short distance at 50 Speed and equivalent Strength. In mid-flight the arrow split in two, replicating itself as the projectile shifted from roughly center mass targeting to aim to strike her in each shoulder. Delayed by only a moment, the snow leopard leaped at the woman, aiming to bite the wrist of the hand that had pet it, as it aimed to knock the woman on her back and then use the biting grip to pin her hand to the ground. Between the combined attacks, Chiaki’s armor would likely shatter, but for good measure Shinjiro raked his own claws against the top of his forearms, drawing lines of blood. And then he leaped into the air, his wings returning as he left an afterimage in his wake, appearing to not have moved at all as he attacked from above, slashing with an attack of blood that would be made with enough strength to leave gashes across the woman’s body if she was left unarmored. However, he would intentionally ensure that the slashes were not lethal, utilizing his immaculate precision and knowledge of the human body.

Jutsu UsedShow

Malevolence
“For nobody is curious, who isn't malevolent.”
An arrow, approximately 2 feet in length, with a steel tip and flayed bottom. Malevolence is a single weapon, and is controlled often through the user’s voice, though variations have existed throughout history. The speed in which Malevolence moves, and the strength in which it strikes is equal to that of the user’s 'Malevolence' weapon stat. Its slim body and simple design makes it difficult to see coming, and even harder to dodge, and its ability to be controlled makes it able to make sharp turns, simply stop in mid-air, and easily alter its course. Additionally, the arrow is capable of splitting itself, creating 2 individuals that can all be controlled independently of each other. This weapon is stored in a thin black sheath at Shinji’s left hip with the tip pointing outward there remains just enough space in the sheath to flow poisons into it, able to coat the length of the arrow while retaining a snug fit for the weapon. Coated with Touch of Mortality and Shinigami's Kiss.

[Chakra Bane]
A-Rank Gas & Coating Poison (5 Cannisters)
This poison affects the victim by absorbing through their body and directly into their chakra system or being inhaled. Each cannister will deploy a 10-meter diameter cloud of turquoise poison that will linger in the air unless disposed of by some other means. Shinjiro can also infuse this poison to utilize as his breath attack and/or infuse it into his bloodstream and other bodily fluids according to his Shinigami’s Curse ability. Those affected will find their chakra flow impaired, limiting their control and ability to perform ninjutsu. For each post the user is exposed to this poison the effect will stack though the 4 post runtime will count starting from the first exposure and not re-start from additional exposures within that timeframe.
• Onset Time: Immediate
• Run Time: 4 Posts
• Effect: -5 Control Per Post Exposed

Blurred Movement
S-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 25 Speed
Having honed his body to operating at high speeds Shinjiro has developed the ability to blur his movements at will making his fine movements more difficult to determine. If his opponent doesn’t have a perception/motion tracking technique of equal or greater rank then Shinjiro’s actual movements will be invisible to the eye, leaving only an afterimage of himself in his wake that will persist for a full post before fading.

Blood Reaver
S-Rank Taijutsu Maneuver
Prerequisite: 35 Strength
After dipping his claws or a bladed weapon in blood Shinji can make a powerful slash that launches a line of blood from each bladed surface used. These thin lines of blood can travel for 15 meters at a Speed and Strength equal to 4/5’s Shinji’s Strength stat. This technique can be used multiple times in quick succession though each time blood must be reapplied to the weapon.

Lethal Precision
A-rank Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: [Deft Hands], [Close Quarters Combat] [Sword Weapons]
Shinjiro has fine tuned his accuracy with his strikes to the point where he can consistently target even a moving target within 1mm of precision as well as being able to find openings in his opponents guard and capitalize on those openings so long as his Speed is greater than or equal to that of his opponent unless they have an adequate defensive technique. This includes his use of bladed weapons and his own limbs.

Assassins Flight
A-Ranked Partial Kaerujutsu
This transformation allows Shinji to grow a pair of large bat wings from his upper back. Each wing is 3 meters long and 1.5 meters wide and typically brown or black in color. These wings are fully functional allowing Shinji flight capabilities. As an extension of his body Shinji has learned how to fly and move as swiftly and silently as he normally would

[Kanade]

Chiaki moved backward as the arrow, the cat, and the blood all hit her at once, or it seemed to be at once, and at once she was all over the ground, pain swelling in her shoulders, in her arm, and in her chest. She didn't know what else to do besides gasp and try to blink away the sudden swarm of colored black dots that swam in her vision as she looked up at the growling predators, both the snow leopard (which was still cute) and the less cute and bat winged Shinjiro. She looked down at her own chest, hot lines of blood pooling on her ruined robes. She would have to mend them later, but that wasn't what worried her. She had heard of blood-transmissible diseases, and she had just sustained an injury with blood in it. How was she going to handle it?

By breathing steadily, or in her case shakily, trying to compose herself, which looked like her crossing her eyes and rolling them into the back of her head, gulping a couple of times and then wheezing out under the weight of the cat, "I get it, I shouldn't use-cha anymore." She lay there, pinned under the ferocity of the both of them, and she knew that if she weaved any sort of hand seals, any at all, she was likely to be killed on the spot. She wasn't nearly as fast, nor as strong, nor as smart as other ninja, and that put her in considerable danger for her life, especially against predators like this. It was awfully easy to see Chiaki as a stunned rabbit, laying stunned under a predator, waiting for death.

Chiaki's mind, however, was racing for a way out of this, but for now she just would comply, with anything that Shinji wanted, and perhaps wheedle her way out of this mess.


---
316+70=386/400 for jutsu
Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Antidote soup
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes two posts to prepare a soup that will neutralize a poison of C rank or below. The higher the user’s control, the faster they can make it, making the soup in 1 post requires a control over 30. This soup, when consumed, spreads through the body at the cook’s [control] speed and eats away at the poison in the target’s body at [control] strength This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the soup jutsu.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro looked down at the woman, strafing backward as he slowly drifted back down to the ground. Had he been too harsh? He wondered, sometimes he forgot just how strong he was and he assumed others were tougher than they were. Holding back had always been a struggle for him. Now, covered in blood with his paralyzing poison seeping through the woman’s body she was completely at his mercy. He could simply walk away right now and perhaps the snow leopard would kill her on its own accord before it too succumbed to his poison as soon as it touched his blood. The snow leopard growled, bearing, its teeth as it sighted in the woman’s throat.

The assassin considered how he might entertain himself. Perhaps he could practice some of his genjutsu to sate his boredom and annoyance. Glowing with green chakra, he placed his hands in his pockets as he approached, standing over the woman as she looked up at him. His flared wings would seem to shimmer and vanish. Chiaki seemed to have learned her lesson, speaking without the annoying ending this time. Shinjiro huffed in mild amusement at her vulnerability. “Good. Don’t ever forget. You’ll learn that I get what I want, and you’ll do as your told” he stated firmly. His predatory eyes flicked toward the leopard for a moment as the creature bared its fangs and tensed its body, preparing to rip the woman’s throat out. A sharp whistle pierced the air and his arrows formed back into one before appearing in his hand once more, moving so fast it would have been invisible to Chiaki’s untrained eyes. There was a brief pause and then the snow leopard collapsed atop the woman, an arrow-sized hole having struck clean through its brain. His callous disregard for life was palpable.

Jutsu TrainedShow

303/300
[Genjutsu • Phantom Limbs]
C-Rank Illusion Genjutsu
Channelling chakra, the user will walk toward their target, putting their hands down toward their sides and/or pockets. Anyone who sees these actions will be caught in this genjutsu. For the next 5 posts any changes to the user’s body will appear invisible so long as the changed body parts move at less than half speed, otherwise appearing as translucent distortions. Similarly, as long as they move at half speed the chakra within the limbs will seem distorted and difficult to pinpoint, like a static in the air. This Jutsu lasts for 4 posts.

The green glow around him would continue to surge as he kneeled over Chiaki, smiling in an eerily innocent manner. If his genjutsu was initiated in her then suddenly his previously hostile actions would seem like something that could be forgiven. Sheathing his arrow, Shinjiro focused for a moment and neutralized the poisons flowing through his body before casually lifting the panther off of her and tossing it aside. “Couldn’t be helped, it wanted to eat you. Perhaps not the best pet for you” he considered, attempting to convince her he had saved her despite it being his doing in the first place.

He looked over the wounds she had sustained, some bruising to her shoulders to be sure and some shallow lacerations across her torso. Touching one of the thin slash marks that spanned across her solar plexus he hummed in consideration, “Nothing serious, one of those meals of yours and you’ll be just fine” he considered, “Ah, but I’ll have to siphon out that poison” he realized. While she would be able to move her eyes and speak freely her entire body would be unresponsive. Leaning forward he would place his lips against her wound, despite any protests. He at least had the decency to not drain the poison directly from her chest, but rather part of the wound that began closer to her collarbone. Ordinarily such a method would hardly be effective but Shinjiro had something of a unique talent. With direct contact he could absorb any poison into his body, thus curing the inflicted target. Within moments she would begin regaining control of her movement once again. The Bannin of the Mist curiously observed the woman and wondered how she would react. It was simply natural for him to intimidate others and draw hard lines. But perhaps there was a chance she could become someone that he cared about, a companion and even a friend.

Jutsu TrainedShow

319/300
[Genjutsu • Trust]
B-Ranked Status Genjutsu
The user will do a series of hand seals or channel chakra, then smile at their target. Should the target see them smile, they'll be caught in the genjutsu. For the next 4 posts, the target will have a sense of trust originating from the user and things they do. If the user speaks, they will be inclined to listen, if they offer a hand they’ll be inclined to hold it. Negotiations will be much more successful and the target will find themselves feeling they can be open and honest with the user.

[Kanade]

Chiaki looked up at the bat-man, watching as he strafed and floated down to where she was at. She flinched as he approached, expecting more pain. She felt the paralytic poison course through her body and she gasped once, twice, tried to stay still, the paralytic poison making it all too easy. She glanced at the leopard and then focused entirely on the bigger predator, the one kneeling next to her. Noticing the green chakra she couldn’t help but let out a tiny whimper as her eyes spelled terror. She had landed herself in too deep, had been too confident in her barrier jutsu. She nodded as the wings vanished and he said that he would get what he wanted, her vision glossed over as a tear ran down her cheek, she blinked it away.

She saw the arrow appear after a harsh whistle from the man. She still was under the large cat and pinned there, she felt rather like a piece of meat being sized up by a carnivore. A shudder would have been appropriate, if it weren’t for the poison it would have come, but the itch was there, the itch to shudder. Instead her mind shuddered.

The snow leopard fell into a lifeless mass on top of her, and despite herself she tried to look away from its warm body, blinking back tears, only able to move her eyes, and even that was a struggle. She looked at him and seemed rather taken by his eyes, and the actions seemed like someone else had done them, not him. It was strange, but she felt poignant to nod along, though she couldn’t truth be told.

She felt the lips of the man on her collarbone and gasped, she didn’t know what to think of it but backed slowly away from him knowing that he was an ally didn’t mean that he could be-. Something twinged inside of her head and she nodded, “Maybe a more deadly pet isn’t suited to me, but I need someone that can protect me.” She shuddered, this time with her whole body, why was she shuddering? Was it because of the leopard. It was like her brain was pounding on the inside, shouting something. Perhaps it was the danger of the leopard.

“I’m not suited to battle. Maido says so. She says-” She cut her off before the -cha could eek out of her took a shaky breath, “She says that I am more suited to stay here and tend to our wounded, than I am to a battlefield, which is why I thought a pet like that would be suitable. Why I thought a friend like it would be.” She looked at it, and despite the terror she had felt toward it a moment ago, couldn’t help but pet its dead corpse mournfully, her eyes growing damp, before tears formed and rolled down her cheeks. “It was so beautiful, and I am sure if I were stronger it wouldn’t have had to die.”



---
386+514=900/800 for jutsu
Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Antidote soup
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes two posts to prepare a soup that will neutralize a poison of C rank or below. The higher the user’s control, the faster they can make it, making the soup in 1 post requires a control over 30. This soup, when consumed, spreads through the body at the cook’s [control] speed and eats away at the poison in the target’s body at [control] strength This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the soup jutsu.

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Shield of broth
C ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to produce a broth made of secret ingredients. The higher the user’s control, the tastier the soup is. This broth, when consumed, generates a shield which springs into existence at the cook’s [control] speed and defends at [control] strength with 3 layers and is either made of Katon or Raiton chakra, whichever was used to make the meat. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the broth from Shield of broth jutsu.

[Izanagi]

The assassin of Kirigakure stared at helpless woman. His predatory eyes, deadly as they were seemed cold and detached suddenly. He felt no remorse, no sympathy to her tears or her fear. Such responses had long been conditioned out of him. Some deeper primal part of him saw Chiaki as prey, something to devour or destroy. But the human in him that had been broken and molded into a weapon, that part of him felt nothing at all. He had killed thousands, seen the torture of children, siblings pitted against one another. This woman, she had done no harm to him, he had no orders to kill her. Simply he wanted to show her who she was dealing with, what it meant to be a member of Kintsugi. This was not some afterschool club for bored shinobi, it was an organization built from the true monsters of the world who had the power to invoke great change if they desired it. Or the power to burn the world to ashes.

However, as his genjutsu took effect, the handsome young man smiled. He could act the part of someone benevolent and carefree, in small doses. Once the poison was removed, he offered her a hand to help her stand up. But he retracted the hand suddenly as he looked to the creature he had slain. Animal lives were held to slightly higher value than that of humans to him, but in the end, they were all simply sacks of blood and flesh to him. They all died the same and continued the pointless cycle of life and death. “It’s not natural. For a predator to protect its prey. It’s as obvious to me as it was to that leopard. You are prey. You’ve never killed before, have you?” he said, simply making an observation. Under the effects of the genjutsu he would even seem sympathetic, as if he wanted nothing more than to help her become stronger. “You can rely on others to protect you all your life, but eventually you’ll find yourself all alone. If you want to survive in this world you have to become your own strength” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly as she nearly said her ‘cha’ ending. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re hopeless. You’re learning already and your ninjutsu is incredible. You just need the right kind of guidance, the kind you can’t get in Kumogakure.” He advised, his transformations would retreat back into his body, already hidden beneath the first genjutsu he used.

Sitting down next to her Shinjiro propped an arm against his leg. “We can’t afford any weak links in Kintsugi. Show us you can be strong, we can be your friends, your family even. But nothing in this world comes for free. You have to earn your place, not just on your skills but with your conviction” he said, staring deep into her eyes as he placed a hand atop her head. She was older than him by a few years but in a way, she reminded him of the innocence that despite his trauma he continued to strive to protect. But his generosity only spread so far, only young children were awarded such a privilege. The ones that reminded him of those that he loved and lost; his younger siblings and Zekka, his first true friend that he was forced to murder. “Keep your ties to Kumogakure for as long as you can, but know that you’re one of us now. If you ever betray any of us, you and everyone you care about will suffer for it. I can promise you that” his voice grew deeper and his eyes dark suddenly. Even through the genjutsu it would be quite apparent that his threat was to be taken seriously.

[Kanade]

She took his hand, shaking in every limb as she stood on wobbly feet, still feeling a bit of the aftereffects of the poison and nodding, “I’ve ah, I’ve never killed before, that’s right.” She dared not look him in the eyes, dared not because she felt something tugging at the back of her mind saying that she was prey and that would be a challenge when she was already beaten, already had been beaten once before.

She shook her head, disbelieving him on being all alone. She didn’t want to believe it, she would have her mother, and Maido, and she would have her village, and Kintsugi as well. These were strong bonds, these were everlasting things and she would keep ahold of them with all her might. She didn’t know what she would do without them, but his words plumbed the depths of her soul, made her gaze into the abyss of her darker side, the side of despair.

“I agree. Kumogakure is babying me, has been babying me.” She nodded, “I came to Kintsugi for power, for respect, to find my own way and to save someone precious to me no matter the personal cost. I came because Maido isn’t the easy way, but she is the right way to gain the power I need to protect those people.” She nodded, “And I also don’t believe in a world with borders, with fighting and with lines drawn in the sand. I believe in a world that people can have fights, and even kill eachother, and- and yet.” She tried to grasp her words and chewed her lip as if she were trying to nurse it from the lower lip.

“And yet still perhaps retain that greater sense of… individuality. I don’t think that anyone should be beholden to one greater-” She motioned around and shrugged. The poison was apparently working still and slowing her word finding, “Thing.” She sighed, “I believe that nationalism is a silly way to say that you’re ready to die for someone who’s not willing to die for you.”

She nodded, “I know that I am one of Kintsugi. And I am going to become so strong, I am going to make the world envy the medical jutsu that I am making here.” She ground her teeth and clenched her fists, she was shaking now, but this time it was frustration, frustration with herself and frustration with her situation, with her frailty, then she deflated, sat down and put her head on one arm, nestled her chin in the crook of her elbow.

“I don’t plan on betraying anyone.” She said with conviction, “Maido is a precious sensei to me, and the people here are like the family I left behind maybe… maybe even closer since there doesn’t seem to be uh.” She fished for the words, “Conditions on liking me.”




---
100+511=611/400 for training:

Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Burning aide peppermint tea
B ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to produce a tea made of secret ingredients, the active one being peppermint and Iijutsu chakra. The higher the user’s control, the tastier the burn-aide tea is. This tea, when consumed, generates a film which spreads over affected areas which were burned at the cook’s [control] speed and cools the area and works to prevent harmful, scar-producing blistering in the affected area. To provide this soothing relief to large-sized areas of first degree and second degree burns it's fairly quick to do. For medium-sized areas of third degree burns, it takes one (1) extra post from consumption to achieve the same effects. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the tea.

[Izanagi]

The Jinchuuriki tilted his head, watching as Chiaki averted her gaze and avoided him. He assessed her body language and the way she spoke, searching for any sign of weakness. And there were many. She had succumbed to his dominance, realized her place. But he didn’t want to break her entirely, just enough that he could learn who she really was. Only then could he determine how best to build her into someone that would be a valuable asset to Kintsugi, rather than just a tag-along stray that Maido took under her wing. He would have to be somewhat more careful than he was with Kiri shinobi, it seemed Kumogakure raised their shinobi to be quite sheltered and delicate.

He nodded, observing the sincerity in her words as she spoke of her ambitions. Power for the sake of saving someone precious. A bond that could surely be exploited. “I see” he said softly. And then he listened with interest as she spoke further about her ideals. He could use that too. “Believe it or not, I’ve had similar thoughts” he admitted. “The villages see us more as weapons than people. We fight for centuries-old grudges, differences in culture maybe, but with no chance to change and to understand one another. I believe we should find our own alliances, something that can connect us rather than keep us divided. Do you think you can help me with that?” he wondered, reaching out to gently cup her chin and guide her gaze to him. Genjutsu or not, he was being sincere in this moment. And his eyes that were normally so lifeless or fueled only by hunger and violence now bore the weight of great sadness and pain. “The other Jinchuuriki, I want to protect them despite what village they were born in. I’ve spoken with them each before, of an alliance without borders. Would you look out for those two in Kumogakure; Ishiguro Akihiko and Soryu Shizuka, let them know Karagata Shinjiro will always be there for them when they are in need. That Kintsugi will be there for them if they need a safe haven…these are dangerous times for my kind. I fear someone may be hunting us and that we would be safer if we stood together” he explained, letting Chiaki in on a personal mission that only Maido and the other Jinchuuriki had been made aware of up to this point.

Shinjiro sat next to the woman, retracting his charcoal black hands. “Good” he praised, seeing some strength and conviction rise to the surface. “Find your strength then and we can protect each other, as equals” he said, finally accepting her as a member of Kintsugi and whatever warped family it was becoming. Whether or not he liked her was not something he could properly assess at the moment. But he did feel that he understood her now and that he believed her to be sincere. Most importantly he believed she could be useful. “Get yourself cleaned up then. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me. Don’t disappoint me” he said with what almost seemed to be a smile and was certainly far less threatening than his usual demeanor.

[Kanade]

"I know right?" She asked, wide-eyed at the thought that someone understood that she was more than just someone's tool, some weapon to be used for the good of one village rather than all of shinobi-kind, than all of man-kind. "My dream is to someday be able to save anyone that I care for with no regard to how badly they're hurt, so that I can keep my friends alive and keep the warmongering heads of the villages from slaughtering people."

When he asked whether she could help with it she nodded fervently, then looked into his eyes so that he could see that she was in earnest, "I haven't killed, and I don't plan to. I feel like I can protect Maido, my m-most precious person." She corrected herself before slipping, "And all of my comrades, you included." She looked into his eyes, "The jinchuuriki will be under my care in the village hidden in the clouds and this I swear, I will die before letting them die. I'll make sure that I am there if they need. I am not omniscient but uh, I can at least try to look out for them. They're hunted for doing a service to mankind and that's really awful. How terrible to be hunted for being a jinchuuriki and serving mankind by not letting monsters roam around and kill people wantonly." She nodded, "I had heard that someone was hunting them, but I'll make sure they're safe. I'll even learn fuuinjutsu and Tenkujutsu just to make sure." She put out her hand after she got up and wiped off her rear, though she didn't know how much good it really did in that moment.

"Thank you for the welcome to the team, I look forward to making the Jinchuuriki of this world safe."

She held up her hand and waited for him to do something with it. Hopefully he would shake it, but she didn't know what would happen. It seemed to be a bonding moment and she trusted him all the more since he saved her from the leopard, heard her out, told about his Jinchuuriki thoughts, asked her to help him protect them.

All around, she was feeling rather better about this.

All except the dead Leopard on the ground.




---
211(leftover)+380=591/400
Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Shield of broth
B ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to produce a broth made of secret ingredients. The higher the user’s control, the tastier the soup is. This broth, when consumed, generates a shield which springs into existence at the cook’s [control] speed and defends at [control] strength with 3 layers and is either made of Katon or Raiton chakra, whichever was used to make the meat. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the meat from Shield of broth jutsu.

[Izanagi]

Shinjiro exhaled sharply, his noble features a mixture of amused and annoyed as he listened to Chiaki’s dream. “I’ve heard that before…it’s a naïve hope when there are people like me in the world” he stated simply. The truth was he wanted to believe in peace and harmony, but he simply didn’t. His experiences and the ancestral knowledge of the cycle that all creatures followed. It simply didn’t allow for a world without carnage and senseless death. He leveled a menacing stare at the woman as she remained adamant that she never intended to kill. Though, she seemed genuine in her feelings toward Maido, something he understood all too well. “I hate that I like you” he admitted rather suddenly, even smiling slightly. The young man exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, seeming almost peaceful for a moment.

His eyes opened again, and he looked at her when she said she wanted to protect him too. Had anyone ever told him that before? As far as he could remember he was forced to be strong or die. Nobody had ever protected him. Not until he found Maido and Asami. He nodded slowly, a moment of respect as he accepted her vow. But there was that look of a dulled pain in his eyes again as he exhaled slowly. “Do what you can for them, but don’t make promises you can’t keep. No matter how hard you try or what techniques you learn, in the end, they have to be strong enough to survive. The Genma prey on emotional weakness. One way or another they need to be prepared for that” he advised. His voice was low and deliberate. Shinjiro’s lime green eyes widened as she claimed Jinchuuriki were doing humanity a service, protecting people by housing the spirit. He had never looked at it like that before. But that naïve sentiment was quickly overcome by the reality that he knew all too well. “Maybe one day we could be a service to mankind…as of now, we are the monsters” he accepted, looking down at his blood-stained hands. “Some days I think it would be better if all of humanity was killed, a world ruled by spirits and immortals. To me, that doesn’t sound so bad” he considered whimsically. Interestingly it was an idea that both Maido and Vorashu had proposed repeatedly over the years. 'At last, you see the truth, humanity is a plague, an abuse of the natural order' Vorashu's voice echoed within his mind. The beliefs of spirit and host seemed to be growing more akin with each day. Shinjiro’s hope for humanity was quickly dwindling and the only compassion he could feel was for the truly innocent and those whose suffering he could understand. But when such people were killed, even by his own hands. He felt nothing, the emptiness within him simply growing.

Suddenly he chuckled, thinking about what a monumental task it would be to eradicate humanity. “A service to mankind…maybe you’re right after all” he said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He accepted the woman’s handshake, having already neutralized the poisons in the blood that coated his fingers. Perhaps one of these days he would meet a female teammate without clawing wounds across their chest. “I look forward to seeing where our paths lead and what change Kintsugi brings” he said somewhat ominously but in a tone that could also be understood as hopeful. And with that he would retrieve his belongings and head towards his quarters. He wouldn’t be staying for more than a few days before he would need to return to Kirigakure.

[Kanade]

Chiaki tilted her head, completely taken aback by the sudden admission of the fact that Shinjiro liked her, she had no idea what he meant by “I hate that..” but she would take it as a compliment. Perhaps it was like a predator begrudingly taking prey under its wing because it felt sorry for it. She had seen species-differentiating adoption before, dogs adopting cats, cats adopting rats, rats adopting mice, etc. She didn’t really understand it even when it happened in nature, but she felt rather relieved that he liked her, actually felt rather elated by that fact.

She constantly was seeking approval from her peers, and from her superiors, and Shinjiro had shown that he was her superior by a very wide margin. “I will do what I can for the Jinchuuriki, and should I ever find them in trouble, I’ll make sure that they’re not.” She reaffirmed it once more, “I just wish that there was some way to communicate with you over long distances so that I could affirm that they’re alive and well.” She shook her head and thought for a moment, “The black ops has something like that, but I don’t know whether or not I would be able to make something like this or not before I go back to Kumogakure no Sato. I am supposed to see my mother in a couple of months, see if she has had any progress with her ‘problem’ and then come back here.” She shook her head a bit and looked at the ground, “Just wish that I didn’t need an escort like Maido to ensure that I was safe in this world. I was told that I am rather a high-value ninja for my medical skills, but that since I am weak I will need an escort.”

She lifted her head and gazed back into his eyes, warmth radiating from her gaze, “You know, I could probably help them with their emotional pain. I was raised in a temple, after all, and we had undergone emotional and mental exercises in order to make sure that we don’t fall prey to the vices of life.” She chewed her bottom lip, “It didn’t work very well for me, but it seemed to work just fine for the other priests and priestesses that were in the temple with me.”

She looked at him when he said that he was a monster and shook her head vehemently, “Not true, you were able to bring beauty into this world with that snow leopard, and you also are able to bring beauty, mystique, majesty, and life into this world. How could something that could do all of this be a monster?”

She nodded at his words about all of humanity being wiped out and the world being ruled by spirits, “You know, the Kami might be brutal, but at least they’re honest. What you call the ‘genma’ we call Kami, or spirits of the world. They’re everywhere, and they permeate the area, they make things like cooking possible, and help plants grow. They live inside small children’s laughter, and the feel of rain on your skin.” She grinned, “Kami are wonderful, powerful, and unknowable beings. My stint at temple taught me that. To fear, revere, and above all, keep them placated.”

“Not all humans are unkind though, so I would ask that you give them a chance.”

She said this before he headed for his chambers. She headed for her own, deep in thought, drowning in the things that were said, finding that her cheeks were flushed and her heart was racing. It was an exciting, fearful, terrifying, rare thing. Like seeing an apex predator in the wild, sharing a clandestined look, and then going your separate ways.




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191+626=817/580
Tabe Mono Iijutsu: Bone mending miso soup
A ranked Tabe Mono Iijutsu
Requires Tabe Mono Iijutsu concentration
The user takes one post to produce a soup made of secret ingredients. The higher the user’s control, the tastier the soup is. This soup, when consumed, pours throughout the body, seeking broken bones on the first post. On the posts thereafter As this chakra makes contact with the bone, it will stimulate the calcium production of the body and begin to mend the bone. To mend small-to-medium breaks, it takes one (1) post of concentration, while fractures are usually very quick to mend. Multiple breaks can be mended during the use of this technique. Users should beware that, like other regenerations of this kind, the nutrient stores of the patient's body are being depleted during its use, and too many uses of this technique in a short span of time can cause serious damage. This effect lasts up to [control/10] posts and can be dispelled by the ninja consuming the broth from the Bone mending Miso jutsu.



/end