Drifting

Legacy
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Drifting

Post by Legacy » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:36 pm


[quote=Chapter 3: Drifting]It is now the height of Summer in Fire country; flowers have bloomed and new leaves have grown plentiful on Nature's oldest Guardians. Songs of the Akimichi had been sung joyously and told along side tales of the Nara but many whispered in the wind about Konoha's most recent state of alert . Vengeful spirits were beginning to pop up all over the place. After his encounter with two dangerous monsters Gene went to the one place where he could unwind, Snake's pass.[/quote][/big]


Gene could feel a welcomed splash of refreshment from the constant flow of wind dancing freely through Snake's pass. That - and the view of passing clouds above were just two of many things he particularly liked about this area. It was such a great contrast to his current mood however, that he couldn't help but feel slightly out of touch with the natural (and still appreciated) beauty of it all. I've been putting off the Jounin candidate exams for some time now...it's probably time I make things official. It's not like I don't want to be promoted or anything but; am I really ready for that kind of responsibility? Up until now I've had it easy but relying on luck will only get me so far..especially with people like Kenji and Nehan still roaming around. Gene raised his arms in a lengthy stretch before folding them under his head again.

"And then there's Squad 15 to think about," Gene sighed. He still had not taken the leap as an instructor to get close to the group and didn't know for certain if he ever actually would. Admittedly the group had more potential than he'd initially expected but they were not of a caliber that suited his long term expectations; getting there meant many headaches and even shorter periods of time where he could re-situate his patience (something that he seemed to need to do more than a few times a day these days). Life as an operative had all but dulled his sense for immediate gratification as far as bonds were concerned; whether they took to him or not, so long as he were able to teach them the skills necessary to keep them alive he would be content. After all, that was all that mattered in the end...right?


Gene blinked lackadaisically. Masaru, Senju. Gene thought, recalling upon the file he'd read about the Academy graduate as though it were stapled to the back of his head. "Not the typical mold of a Senju clan member but that doesn't change the D.N.A running in his veins; honor and dignity are bane in the Shinobi world, but not entirely unnecessary. Perhaps the strong moral compass may serve as a guiding light into his future." Gene's eyes were fixed to a passing cloud that looked akin to a buffalo running across the skies and the observation made him smile, Maseru was a lot like a buffalo; charging forward and with bravado no less. Far from Isuzu who took a more passive approach to life - Gene wondered how much time away from the village had actually changed his former teammate.

Inari on the other hand was someone who Gene hadn't heard much about. According to the reports his scores were decent enough but that was about it. "One thing's for sure...none of them will be going anywhere if their teamwork isn't up to par. I won't make the same mistake that you made, Sensei." Thinking back, Gene had never formed a bond with any of his teammates and even took the Chunin exams with strangers who were prepared when his own team was not. Taiga still had not become a Specialist and Isuzu was now a subordinate by rule of chain in command - something that the Cloud watcher anticipated would cause rifts later on if not handled delicately. Progress could really bring out the ugliness in a person even when they didn't want it to happen, he only questioned where and when the tension would reach its boiling point. And, what he would do to stave off the worst if it came down to the wire.

Again, he blinked. This time Gene let his eyes remain closed for several minutes before opening them again. Again, he was refreshed. There were certainly a lot of things to mull over and becoming a full fledged Jounin seemed important enough given the circumstance but for varying reasons Gene had decided to put it off some more. Frankly, he if could help it Gene would not mind giving Takeo the slip until he could figure things out for himself if it really came down to it. I'm sure he'd understand, thought Gene before closing his eyes again, drifting off with the wind in thought.
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Inari
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Drifting

Post by Inari » Fri May 18, 2018 4:11 am

Inari’s own breath felt like the wind blowing through Snake Pass. Why wouldn’t it stop? The pressure inside only seemed to get stronger. It beat on him from inside himself. His temples pounded in time with his heartbeat. His stomach twisted and burned like it had become a poisonous snake inside him. Feelings too familiar. They were why he’d gone walking in the first place. And when walking didn’t help, he just kept walking. Further and further from the walls of the village. If nothing else, exhausting himself was a slight distraction.

Does everyone feel like this? he wondered as he finally took a look about himself. He’d ended up wandering into Snake’s Pass, down one of the winding paths through the valley. The Pass was a good channel for the wind. Always such gentle winds through Konoha. The woods caught the breeze, softened it up for the people living there. Here, there were patches of meadows where you could find a sea of grass that would ripple when the wind came. Is it only people with fire inside? Or just me? He took a swig from his waterskin, and then just splashed it on his face when that didn’t do him well enough. He scrubbed at his face with a hand and ran it through his scruffy hair.

You should have gone in. You couldn’t stay angry if you did.

Yeah, well, maybe I want to stay angry.

Selfish.

I can have feelings too, can’t I?

You want to feel like this?

I don’t know!

The burning inside was getting stronger. Inari stuffed a knuckle into his mouth and bit it. It helped a little, even if it reminded him of that day a few years back. Stupid. He’d gotten pissed off during a game and sank his teeth into another cadet’s leg. He’d run after the boy shouting apologies, but it didn’t help at the time. And later, when the boy was calmer and might have accepted a real ‘I’m sorry’…well. Inari hadn’t been in the mood to try again after his reprimands.

He covered his eyes with that same frustrated hand. Why was it so bright out? Why couldn’t it be quiet and dark, with some hole he could crawl into?

When he lowered that hand, he was looking at one of the breaks in the woods. A meadow. And lying out on the slope ahead…it couldn’t be…

It was, regardless. Mitsurugi-sensei.

The man obviously wanted to be on his own. He’d come all the way out here, after all. Just like Inari. Goodness knew, the boy didn't want to talk to anyone. So, of course, he made a beeline for his instructor. It was something else to think about, at least. So, about a minute later, Hinomaru Inari flopped down on the grass beside his teacher, lying upside-down to the elder shinobi’s position.

“Hey, sensei,” he said.

“Any good clouds?”

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Drifting

Post by Diatenshi » Fri May 18, 2018 7:23 pm

Masaru had taken to coming to Snake's Pass after Gene Sensei recommended it to him after talking to him about his growing mood swings and increasingly irritable mood. Gene had suggested that the atmosphere of the area might help him calm the all too literal fire inside. Not that the damn beast had decided to talk to him since it had been sealed. No it'd much rather be pissy and aggravated than to calm down and have a civil conversation. The spirits moodiness and irritation had been spilling over into Masaru's actions without his knowing until he caught himself yelling at a food vendor for bringing him the wrong order, when the kind old man had just wanted to give him a free serving due to his regular patronage at his shop. Masaru had apologized repeatedly while the old man just smiled and patted his back saying something about not letting stress of the job get to him.

He was mortified when he realized what he'd done and despite the old man's forgiveness of his outburst, he still felt like a royal jerk. When he left the man had wished him well which only made him feel all the worse. He felt like he was losing himself in the spirits anger. And the only one who remotely understood what it was like seemed to be Gene who had been there with him from the beginning of this ordeal. As he meandered his way through one of the many winding paths through it's bountiful Green Meadows he'd over hear a voice coming from the distance. As he didn't recognize the voice as see one he knew he'd turn away from the source aiming to take a path that led away only to walk into a tree as he wasn't paying attention, lost in his thoughts as he was.

In a fit of meaningless anger he'd punch the tree leaving a fist shaped indent. Shortly after he'd feel guilty due to his clan's regard and closeness with nature, forest and trees. He'd send some mokiton chakra into the tree, the natural energy helping it heal. "God what is wrong with me why do I always feel so angry as of late? Is it just the spirit or is it something wrong with me?" Masaru would mutter under his breath barely loud enough for even him to hear. He'd turn his back to the tree and leaning against it, slump down slowly sinking to the ground as his legs slipped away from the tree. He'd look up and see Gene and another shinobi he wasn't overly familiar with. He assumed the voice he heard was from the young man. He knew Gene said he often came here to clear his mine and think so Masaru just sat there in silence reflecting on his recent actions. He sat quietly instead of announcing his presence to the others though he may have accidentally done so already when he punched the tree.
Tools of WarShow


Will of Fire-
Senju Masaru

Genin
[color=orange]


Light of Hope-
Awai Akihiro

Genin
[color=red]


Viral Menace-
Toukai Chisaki

Chuunin
[color=#ff0080]


Yin Yang Divided
Naegi Waruhito

Genin
[color=#8b14f9]


King of Pirates-
Ryoshi Kaisui

B-Rank MN
[color=#7fffd4]

Legacy
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Drifting

Post by Legacy » Sat May 19, 2018 12:47 am

No sooner had he allowed his eyes to fall shut did Gene open them again. Footsteps where there should have been none rousing the eighteen year old specialist to attention, half heartedly that is. Ever since he'd learned to evaluate Chakra sources through his mind's eye there was hardly any guess work involved with deducing threats from average Joe's these days. Moreover, the scent of trees carried down wind told the tale of who to expect though to Gene's surprise the voice he heard belonged to someone else - Inari. "A few," he responded, his voice calm like still water and pitched to the tone of caves. "Though it all depends on if you know where to look." During his last sentence Gene's eyes motioned over to where Maseru would have been though only as far as he could get them to go within his sockets and then back to the clouds above.

"Without a vision it'd be next to impossible to see anything up there."
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Drifting

Post by Inari » Sat May 19, 2018 11:57 pm

CRACK

Inari jerked upright at the sound from the woods. On the treeline…was that Masaru-san? Sheesh, everyone was out for a walk today.

”I’d guess ‘up’ is a pretty good place to look,” the genin replied with an eyebrow raised so high you could hear it in his voice. Gene’s follow-up made the boy audibly shift in the grass, though, craning his head back to look at his teacher. ”Visions? Are you divining with clouds?”

A beat.

”Is that a thing? It makes so much sense all of a sudden. You wanna know the gods’ will? Look up at the clouds.”

With him craning back to actually look at Gene, though, he spotted the glance toward Masaru.

”…Is Masaru-san a cloud?”

Was this some secret code? Cloud…Was the guy a spy from Kumogakure?! Sensei didn’t seem too alarmed, if so…Inari scratched at his head. He was feeling lost. After a moment, he just decided to raise an arm and wave.

”Ooooi, Masaru-san!” he called, heedless of Gene’s search for peace and quiet. "Are you okay? Or secretly a Kumo spy?”

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Diatenshi
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Drifting

Post by Diatenshi » Sun May 20, 2018 6:00 pm

Masaru would groan quietly upon hearing the midget call his name. He'd come out for peace and quiet so he could deal with his "inner demon." The last thing he need was another source of irritation. He looked over at where sensie and Inari's voice came from before deciding not to respond just yet. Besides, what was he supposed to respond back to being called a spy for Kumogakure?

Maybe if Iignore him he'll leave me alone. With that thought in his head Masaru would resume trying to focus on separating his mind from that of the spirit so as to protect his psyche from influence. It was a piece of advice a clan elder had given him after noticing the change in his personality.

According to the clan elder, all jinchukiris experience an influence on their personalities over time. The only reason Masaru's personality had changed so dramatically was that he wasn't protecting his mind from the beast influence. So he had pictured locking the spirit in a box when meditating and the exercise had worked a little. So while ignoring Inari Masaru would focus on locking away the spirit in his head separating it from himself.
Tools of WarShow


Will of Fire-
Senju Masaru

Genin
[color=orange]


Light of Hope-
Awai Akihiro

Genin
[color=red]


Viral Menace-
Toukai Chisaki

Chuunin
[color=#ff0080]


Yin Yang Divided
Naegi Waruhito

Genin
[color=#8b14f9]


King of Pirates-
Ryoshi Kaisui

B-Rank MN
[color=#7fffd4]

Legacy
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User flair: Conflict begets Growth

Drifting

Post by Legacy » Mon May 21, 2018 9:30 pm

...The kid's got imagination I'll give him that, thought Gene as he rose from the ground into a full on stand. His dreams of peace and quiet may have been shattered by Inari's obnoxious chatter but the Jounin wasn't about to let an opportunity to evaluate both of them go to waste. "I don't think a spy would go around punching trees much less come all the way out here. Isn't that right Maseru?" Since they had returned from the forest lands Gene began noticing strange mannerisms in the boy's typical behavior and reasoned that the spirit attack might have caused some form of trauma that the silver-haired Jounin was ignorant of. Or maybe it was just pent up aggression from the pressure of being a Senju? Born to a small family lineage Gene did not understand what it must have felt like to have that heavy of a weight cast upon his shoulders; in a way, he almost felt sorry for the kid.

"Actually, the two of you couldn't have had more perfect timing. " His Auburn orbs scanned one and then the direction of the other, "Maseru, come on over here. We're going to do a training exercise."
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Inari
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Drifting

Post by Inari » Tue May 22, 2018 10:34 pm

”If you don’t think a spy would do that, then that’s the first thing I’d do as a spy,” Inari nodded at his own wisdom. The news was a surprise, though. He twisted about in his seat so he wasn’t leaning backward.

”Kon? Training, now?”

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Diatenshi
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Drifting

Post by Diatenshi » Wed May 23, 2018 4:57 pm

Masaru was perfectly content and was actually finally relaxing when he heard the call. He took a deep breath and got up and tried to think happy thoughts. Maybe this would be a good training that'd help him destress. ~yeah and maybe this spirit will finally talk to me.~ He'd stand up and stretch while shaking his head. He wasn't sure what Gene was dragging him into but he was sure it would be work.

He'd walk over to where the other two were and move to the position of attention. "Reporting for duty what do you got for me boss" He'd look Gene in the eyes his face serious and void of humor due to his poor mood. He'd come out here to find peace at Gene's recommendation and now he was making him train instead of letting him fix his issues. He wasn't in the mood to fool around, but if given an order he'd still follow it.
Tools of WarShow


Will of Fire-
Senju Masaru

Genin
[color=orange]


Light of Hope-
Awai Akihiro

Genin
[color=red]


Viral Menace-
Toukai Chisaki

Chuunin
[color=#ff0080]


Yin Yang Divided
Naegi Waruhito

Genin
[color=#8b14f9]


King of Pirates-
Ryoshi Kaisui

B-Rank MN
[color=#7fffd4]

Legacy
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 8:00 pm
User flair: Conflict begets Growth

Drifting

Post by Legacy » Sat Jun 02, 2018 5:31 am

"Today's lesson will be a continuation of the concepts you've already learned back in the Academy. Specifically, your team work. Work with your ally in order to push me off this rock using any means available to you while I do the same. Whoever falls off first...foots the bill the next time we go out as a team." A coy smile broke across Gene's lips, there was no greater motivator than empty pockets and he reasoned that the duo just might have given it their all with some...encouragement. Although between the two of them, Gene really wanted to get a feel for how similar or different their combative styles were in order to tailor his training for them down the line.

"Sound good?"
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Post by Inari » Sat Jun 02, 2018 8:21 pm

Curiosity became distress at the mention of the stakes. Inari groaned, flopping back in the grass with his hands over his face. ”I can’t afford that! This has to be against some kind of regulation, sensei!” he protested.

Inari continued to mope when he had to get up; it wasn’t like they had a choice when it came to sensei’s orders. He sidled toward Masaru. The boy looked genuinely distressed over the situation; a ghoulish paleness had come over him. ”I’m counting on you here, big guy,” he urged.

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