[Six Coins - Good Fortune]
General Information
Type: FamilyVillage: Kumogakure Province or Gyorou Province
Size: About 300 (Huge)
Traits: Members of the family tend to be smaller in build than average and often have dark color hair. Genetically, nearly all members tend to be skinny. Family members poses golden-brown eyes and pale skin tones. While not a clan, Shinkizou blood is notable for running strong in offspring, even of mixed heritage.
Traditions: The Shinkizou are descendants of a famous Buddhist sect, the Pranayama Buddhists. As such, much of their traditions reflect the thousands of years of monastic culture the family experienced.
- Clothing: Shinkizou tend to wear simple monastic clothing, often in shades of red or orange. Linen is preferred above other materials.
- Personality: Shinkizou are resilient and well-hardened. They are extremely focused and posses and extremely impressive willpower built from years of training the body and mind through focused breathing and chanting. Mentally, they are a tough people. Shinkizou also tend to be altruistic and pacifistic due to their religious beliefs, though they are no strangers to battle if it is a means to protect.
- Religion: Pranayama Buddhism. A Buddhist sect that focuses on Pranayama, the art of extending ones life force and becoming one with their surroundings through focused breathing and training. Paranayama preaches that ones connection to that around them and acknowledgement of the forces around them is the path to true enlightenment. The art particularly uses many throat breathing chants that can seem odd in many ways to those unacquainted.
History Lightning Country's northern mountainous terrain, rich valleys, strong rivers, and ocean-side real estate combined with a history of neutrality made it the perfect breeding ground for religion. Considered the world capitol for temples and shrines, many religious groups set their roots in the country such as the Shinto Kyoukan and the Buddhist Pranayama. Before shinobi, the Pranayama sect of Buddhism was particularly strong in the north. he Pranayama were a sect of Buddhist Monks believed that breathing connected to all forms of life, and focused on using breathing to boost ones inner power to achieve the extraordinary. However, with the proliferation of shinobi and early wars, religion died down. For many it was hard to believe in gods or spirituality after the Genma wrecked havoc and through chakra man himself became god.
Regardless, the Pranayama sect evolved and survived, lasting all the way to the warring states period of Lightning Country. During the war many of their temples were destroyed and ransacked- the Pranayama being relatively wealthy due to the many donations their temples received... from there many of the survivors went to far reaches, but one of the sects migrated to Kumogakure and became known as the Shinkizou, where they have since been residents for over 100 years.
Most recently in history, due to their buddhist beliefs and being relatively peaceful, most of the the Shinkizou obstained from the Civil War in Lightning Country and instead retreated to their fallen temples. The Shinto clan Kyoukan had similar situations. During the war, aided by Kumogakure, both the Kyoukan and the Shinkizou provided medical support, food, and shelter to all displaced by war using their network of ancient temples and shrines as safe havens.
Shinobi Information Definitions:
- Pranayama: Pranayama is an form of practiced breathing, focus, and throat chanting. Traditionally it was used to strengthen the body to prepare for tanking a hit, or to prepare to attack with more power. Alternatively, Pranayama has found itself in the last few decades being used by those who possess chakra to cast ninjutsu.
- Iron Body Style: A unique monastic style of fighting employed by the Pranayama buddhist monks prior to the shinobi proliferation, through focus the combatant buffs their body to become iron itself.
- The Eight Gates: A mastery of skill an body, a possible path for users of Pranayama. Through Pranayama without moving one can turn off the limiters of their body and release the power of their tenketsu, greatly increasing their ability in combat.
Requirements: Pranayama-derivative techniques have specific requirements which can be found described in the concentrations below. While Pranayama is an ancient art, the Shinkizou version is a modern rendition and a Secret Technique line known only to the Kumogakure family, Shinkizou.
Base Concentration:Pranayama:
JutsuRequirements: 1 Tajjutsu Concentration
As a member of the Shinkizou clan, the practitioner has honed their mind and body to use Pranayama and through controlled breathing and throat chanting they can alter the state of their body, including their tenketsu. Shinkizou members who have studied this art can thus cast ninjutsu or perform non-maneuver taijutsu through Pranyama from even a completely still position.
To use Pranayama however requires strong bodily control. When casting a jutsu through Pranayama, regardless of jutsu type, a Endurance stat equal to the rank requirement of the jutsu type being cast is required. For example, if Pranayama is used to cast an S-Rank Fireball, which requires 35 Control, 35 Endurance would be required. Pranayama when used as a casting method scales with the users Endurance level.CodeShowCode: Select all
[quote="Pranayama"][b]Requirements:[/b] 1 Tajjutsu Concentration As a member of the Shinkizou clan, the practitioner has honed their mind and body to use [b][color=#f4a442]Pranayama[/color][/b] and through controlled breathing and throat chanting they can alter the state of their body, including their tenketsu. Shinkizou members who have studied this art can thus cast ninjutsu or perform non-maneuver taijutsu through Pranyama from even a completely still position. To use Pranayama however requires strong bodily control. When casting a jutsu through Pranayama, regardless of jutsu type, a Endurance stat equal to the rank requirement of the jutsu type being cast is required. For example, if Pranayama is used to cast an S-Rank Fireball, which requires 35 Control, 35 Endurance would be required. Pranayama when used as a casting method scales with the users Endurance level.[/quote]The Immortal Iron BodyShowHarden the mind and body to become Iron. Unlike most stances, due to use of Pranayama specifically the user can actually use each stance without a specific form to their body, though the form written is considered the historical style of the fighting.
Requires: Pranayama, Rigid Body, Close Quarters Combat, Perception
[color=#e77700][b] Meditative State of Mind[/b][/color]
D-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
The novice has trained themselves to empty their mind through peaceful relaxation, and in the process open their mind. Due to their relaxed mental state, the user is free from distractions of trigger emotions or irrelevant details, instead allowing their mind to ponder their environment, picking up on any clues or oddities around them.
[color=#e77700][b]The Nail That Sticks Out[/b][/color]
D-Rank Taijutsu Stance
The novice has a remarkably firm stance and control over their body, allowing them to resist force with tenacity. While still relative to their strength, this allows the novice to hold their own against opposing forces even if they are a little weaker than that force, be it gusts of wind meant to knock them over or a tackle from a larger opponent. The user becomes iron- a nail that sticks out that only extremely direct force can push down. When paired with[color=#e77700][b] Meditative State of Mind[/b][/color] the user can do this even more effectively, focusing their being into their stance. This technique is ineffective for a Strength difference of ≥5 in the attackers favor.
[color=#e77700][b]Without Fear[/b][/color]
C-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Requirement: 15 Willpower
The novice has trained themselves to ignore emotions and to lock onto their goal at hand, ignoring even pain. They may fight without distraction, take hits without wavering, and keep going forward on their path. Those who have practiced this level of self-thought control are said to fight without fear, even of death, monks of past having been said to march forward with blades still in their body and blood gushing forth from their mouth. Legends aside, while this does well against most damage, things like dismemberment will prove more difficult to ignore relative to the fortitude of the user.
[color=#e77700][b]Iron Fist[/b][/color]
C-Rank Taijutsu Stance
Requirements:[color=#e77700][b][i]Without Fear[/i][/b][/color]
A mixture of mind and body, the user focuses their body into a rigid stance similar with feet wide, somewhat crouching. By breathing along side their strikes, they create rhythm in their body and increase their own durability. By putting aside their fear or even pain, the user is able to punch with all the possible force of their body, using the absolute full potential of their strength without fear of injuring self. Essentially, this allows the users body to become like iron, delivering very hard painful strikes while increasing their own durability.
[color=#e77700][b]Samanera[/b][/color]
C-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Requirements: [Perception Concentration]
The novice has rejected the lies of humanity, and in it's rejection, has become much more astute to sensing lies. This ranges from finding white lies in the stories they hear to sensing a feint or fake-attack.
[color=#e77700][b]Bulwark[/b][/color]
B-Rank Taijutsu Discipline
Requirements: [color=#e77700][b][i]Samaneral[/i][/b][/color], [color=#e77700][b][i]Iron Fist[/i][/b][/color]
Benefiting from their past stances and experiences of breathing and body control, the user is able to control the release of adrenaline to greatly increase the durability of their body. Through training and practice, the user has learned to move openly and fluidly with precision with rapid execution, allowing them to move with hits to their body to minimize damage.
[color=#e77700][b]Devotion[/b][/color]l
B-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
Requirement: 21Willpower
Through meditation, focused breathing, and years of training, the devoted is truly an unshakable paragon. Human emotions hold little to no meaning as the users mental state becomes an extremely solid steel fortress. Just like their iron body, their mind and spirit is fortified. It becomes nigh impossible to confuse or trick the eyes of the devoted, their senses so keen and their mind so free. Even with blows to the head or overloaded visual stimuli, the user has their wits about them. This does not allow users to ignore Genjutsu.
[color=#e77700][b]Iron Body[/b][/color]
A-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Requirements:[color=#e77700][b][i]Bhikkhu[/i][/b][/color], [color=#e77700][b][i]Bulwark[/i][/b][/color]
The titular technique, masters of the Iron Body combine stance and discipline for a ferocious effect. Using the prior techniques to harden their body, their keen instinct and quick reactions, and by employing precise muscle control, the Bhikkhu will nearly automatically exert sheer power through their muscles corresponding to incoming damage, or when dealing damage. As such this allows them to let their body become living steel- a living weapon that breaks the laws of reality. Those of the Iron Body can stop even spears from piercing their stomachs by flexing their muscles at the correct time, exerting their full strength as their defense in that area.
[color=#e77700][b]Bhikkhu[/b][/color]
A-Rank Discipline Taijutsu
Requirements: 35 Willpower
The master, a true monk of legendary mental and physical prowess, via breathing meditation and self-control the user is capable of completely removing themselves from the situation, almost creating the feeling of having left their human body. From this 'new vantage point' the Bhikkhu is capable of seeing all before him with unclouded judgement. The faintest movement or sound becomes input to the Bhikkhu, the tension of the opponents muscle or the vibrations on the ground giving them feedback. Legends say even the wind off an opponents moving body in the grass becomes sensory to the Bhikkhu.The Eight Gates of HeavenShowThe ultimate and legendary form of bodily control, through controlled breathing and pure concentration the user breaks the limiters of their mind and body, allowing them to harness the full power within. Unlike usual stances, the Eight Gates of Heaven is achieved solely through Pranayama, meaning the user can enter the state through breathing and body control rather than moving a specific way.
Requires: Pranayama
[color=#5dad3a][b]Kaimon - Opening Gate[/b][/color]
D-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +3 Strength at the cause of their movements causing minor damage and pain, mainly in the form of lactic acid. This is like how you feel after a work out- it is painful to move. Lasts 5 posts.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Kyuumon - Resting Gate[/b][/color]
D-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves for two posts, during which they cannot use other jutsu, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +3 Endurance for a post and releasing adrenaline and cortisol into their body, reducing pain and removing inflammation in their body.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Seimon - Life Gate[/b][/color]
C-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +6 Speed, but at the cause of minor damage and pain in the form of lactic acid similar to the pain after a work out- it is painful to move. The user will also take a hit of -3 Endurance as their blood begins to boil, the skin turning nearly read as their blood vessels engorge. Lasts 6 posts.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Shoumon - Suffering Gate[/b][/color]
B-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +9 Strength, but at the cause of minor damage and pain in the form of lactic acid similar to the pain after a work out- it is somewhat painful to move. The user will find the stress on their body reduces their ability to use chakra, causing -3 Control. They will also take a hit of -3 Endurance as their blood vessels begin to further stress. Lasts 8 posts.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Tomon - Limit Gate[/b][/color]
B-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +9 Speed, but at the cause of minor damage and pain in the form of lactic acid similar to the pain after a work out- it is somewhat painful to move. The user will find the stress on their body reduces their ability to use chakra, causing -3 Control. They will also take a hit of -3 Endurance as their blood vessels begin to further stress. Lasts 8 posts.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Keimon - View Gate[/b][/color]
A-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Prerequisite: 35 Endurance, 25 Willpower
This technique requires super human stamina and instinct to endure and ignore the pain of using it. Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +12 Speed but at the cause of damaging their body, causing an extreme burning through out the body and muscles to tear. After the end of this technique, permanent damage is done to the user causing them to lose 1 Endurance permanently. Lasts for 9 posts. Blood begins to pump and oxydize slowly in the users body, allowing them to move at incredible speeds and while also granting them the ability to only need to breathe once every 5-6 posts. At this point the energy flowing off the user is so strong it vaporizes water they stand on, and causes the wind to move around them. Blood begins to poor out the users veins, baking onto their skin causing them appear not only red, but give an iron aroma to the area around them and a protective armor equal to 1/2 their Endurance.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Kyoumon - Wonder Gate[/b][/color]
S-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Requirement: 40 Endurance, 35 Willpower [Heavenly Body Control]
This technique requires super human stamina and instinct to endure and ignore the pain of using it. Focusing their breathing and collecting themselves, the user will unleash a ripple of energy within their body causing them to gain +18 Strength, but at the cause of damaging their body, causing an extreme burning through out the body and muscles to tear. This causes permanent damage to their body after the technique ends, with a permanent lost of 1 Strength and pain comparable to having been stabbed in the thighs. Lasts 10 posts. The energy around the user released during the activation of this technique is so powerful, it can dent the ground beneath them and even creates a ripple of burning hot-wind around them. The original burning hot wind pushes out with 2/3rds the users Strength in a 20 meter radius from them. The wind gives 3rd degree burns on direct contact. After the initial burst, this forms a burning hot aura around the user with the ability to give 2nd degree burns on contact.
[color=#5dad3a][b]Shimon - Death Gate[/b][/color]
S-Rank Stance Taijutsu
Requirement: 50 Endurance, 35 Willpower, Permanent Death
This technique requires super human stamina and instinct to endure and ignore the pain of using it. A forbidden technique, and surprisingly one that requires less finesse than the form below, the user uses breathing and body control to switch every point of their tenketsu on, activate all their muscles, and everything their body has to offer. For the next 6 posts the user is able to gain 15 Strength and 15 Speed. Stat caps may not be broken, stats maxing at 50. All pseudo-heavenly and heavenly taijutsu can be performed at a 4/5 fractional rate. During this time the users blood is literally vaporizing around them, performing a protective coating equal to 4/5ths their initial Strength, and also causing the energy around them to be blood red. Their body is so hot and generates so much heat that their touches can deliver third degree burns. When the technique ends, the users body cell's will have moved and undergone so much stress they will begin to burn up and unravel- causing the user to seemingly disintegrate into ash at the end of their 6th post. Until their death, starting from the end of the first post the user will lose 2 potency in Strength, Speed, and Endurance per post.