On The Road Again ! [Travel]

[Iizuka]

The sun beat heavily upon my back, striking both myself and the endless mountains and earth around me with heat. My skin was at boiling temperatures; sweat dripped down my body from every pore, slowly soaking into my clothing and drenching it. As my clothing absorbed water each layer became increasingly heavier, only adding to the amount of work I had to put in just to traverse this horrid country. It was just one of those days were everything in nature seemed to be against you, especially as the mountain ranges seem to lifted to unimaginable heights before myself, and in my rage I stamped the ground, like a child, with my feet.

How the fuck was I going to get to Mizu no Kuni?!

Even my insects seemed to be affected by the heat. Within me they were lethargic, barely moving as my body temperature cooked them alive. I was a walking insect barbecue. This all needed to end fast; I couldn't survive a few more days in such a state. So, lifting my hands to my chest, my digits began to intertwine, releasing the chakra within. It poured out the soles of my feet, touching the hot earth and forming it to my needs. Within seconds I had disappeared from the surface world, now streaming through the cool earth with ease. Cooling off as I easily traveled and avoided all obstacles, a great smile came to my face.

It was time to see the rest of the world!

SPOILER: Click to show

Dochuu Senkou (Underground Submarine Voyage) [100]
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary / Doton Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Special: Can only travel one country at a time before needing to resurface and rest for a single turn/post. Can switch from this to 'Mole Hiding' underground travel if faced with a sudden threat.
Description: The final step in the family of underground jutsu, this now allows the user to travel across countries whilst underground, moving at quick paces through the earth as if they were sprinting on land. This jutsu was designed mainly for quick and stealthy travel, as this medium cuts random encounters out completely. The radar function is not present anymore, mainly due to this not being meant for combat, so the user must exercise care before commencing their Submarine Voyage.
Domain: Doton. Earth Dominion 'B'. Must know 'Mole Hiding'.

[Kii!]

Moved. +6

[Iizuka]

[Exit !]

[Iizuka]

[ Enter ]

The darkness was overwhelming as the clouds came in over the stars, blocking their light and bringing with them a cascading rain. The air was heavy as humidity became more evident, and the pain of traveling was again augmented by the moisture absorbed by my clothing. The earth fell and collapsed beneath my feet as the mud began to rise, slowly overtaking my body. The nearby foliage did nothing to shield me from the rain and I couldn't find anything else to use as shelter. I looked around one last time, trying to use the last light of the moon before the clouds overtook that as well.

There was no one, and therefore I shouldn't be there. My time in Mizu no Kuni was done. I'd found what I wanted to find, but now I don't know what purpose I serve. With no way to currently get back to Takigakure, I could only do one thing. I could journey to the lands of our saviors, and with their help maybe I could finally reach home. With my digits intertwined, the earth came up around me, swallowing me whole as I moved beneath the soil. I pushed on towards the Iron Country, where I could meet the Samurai and get some answers. Then again, what if the answers aren't the ones I want to hear?

SPOILER: Click to show

Dochuu Senkou (Underground Submarine Voyage) [100]
Rank: B
Type: Supplementary / Doton Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Special: Can only travel one country at a time before needing to resurface and rest for a single turn/post. Can switch from this to 'Mole Hiding' underground travel if faced with a sudden threat.
Description: The final step in the family of underground jutsu, this now allows the user to travel across countries whilst underground, moving at quick paces through the earth as if they were sprinting on land. This jutsu was designed mainly for quick and stealthy travel, as this medium cuts random encounters out completely. The radar function is not present anymore, mainly due to this not being meant for combat, so the user must exercise care before commencing their Submarine Voyage.
Domain: Doton. Earth Dominion 'B'. Must know 'Mole Hiding'.

[Toru]

moved +6

[Toru]

Toru had completed the first part of his exams; claiming them to be rather easy than expected. He was thinking they would be more trivial, complicated, and mindfucking, but they were none of those things; they were rather simple. In his attempt to wait for the second part of the Chuunin Exams, the Airontoku decided to take a stroll throughout the land, attempting to become more familiar with its landscape.

"I wonder if these lands are similar to Kumogakure, or are they different? The culture alone is interesting, for these samurai already make a difference. But I wonder if we are stronger?" He questioned himself, as he pressed onward through the dense white snow. Its cold temperatures not affecting him by the slightest, for the Airontoku was hotter than the average human; physically and metaphorically.

Toru's features was different than that of any normal man, his height reaching that of six feet, and his built structure appearing god-like; obviously women fell for this man rather easily.

Even though he appear to be a being, which came out of a decent teen magazine, his attire was simple, a black shirt, ripped jeans, and black converses, with his mighty gourd upon his back. The gourd was all white, probably blending with the snow that was everywhere. But the more he walked, the more he began to grow tired, and feeling the need to halt and rest for a few minutes. "I need some water," digits quickly grasped snow and pelted it within his mouth.

Some might have found his actions strange, but the Genin was basically getting water. Being an Airontoku had its perks, for as soon as the snow entered the youth's mouth, the snow would quickly convert into water in a mere seconds. "Now I wonder, is anyone here. . ."

[Iizuka]

The earth became colder as I moved onward, an icy chill overcoming the area and soil around me. As temperatures rapidly dropped the earth hardened, resting together as my technique slowly came to a halt. Looking up I began to surface, watching as the brown soil turned to crystal frost. The patterns of ice beneath the earth coiled around me as I rose, finally bursting from the earth to the surface. My hands grasped onto either side of the hole I had created, and I pushed myself from the surface of the earth to the surface of the layers of snow.

All these actions would occur, however, in only a few moments. Truthfully I had propelled myself from the earth, and rising slightly into the air I would catch sight of a man, his hand brought to his mouth as he shoveled the powdery substance into his mouth. He wasn't armed as the Samurai were, and so I could only expect the worse. As I descended to the earth my hands rose up, ready to engage in battle should it be needed. My hazel optics gazed over this man, estimating his ability.

"Aburame, Iizuka, of Takigakure. Present yourself!"

[Toru]

"!?" Scarlet optics quickly darted towards the man, whom had appeared from the earth itself; literally. Like any shinobi that was well trained in the art of combat, Toru would quickly leap back forming seals of the zodiac array. His slender digits forming six needed seals, before the youth cocked his head back, inhaling the air around him¹. The earth man had appeared ten meters away from the youth, making the technique he was about to use perfect in this situation. By quickly jerking his head forward; a massive orb of orange would expel from his mouth; Enden (Fireball).

The fireball darted forth towards the man, its size being that of five meters and being only able to go up to ten meters. As it came towards the enemy, the snow around it and beneath it will melt, causing the snow beneath to convert into water. If the fireball had connected, the enemy would surely be up in flames, begging for Toru to put out the flames, but if it was evaded easily; Toru would wait.

He stood not too far (10 meters), hands crossed, and crown held high, as he began to speak his words softly to the man. "Why are you here? The exams started already, are you here to interrupt these exams!?" Toru awaited for an answer, knowing that the shinobi would strike back, and already preparing for such. His chakra already forming a defense on its own, to protect its owner².

SPOILER: Click to show

¹Endan (Fireball)
Rank: C
Type: Offensive / Katon Ninjutsu
Range: 0 - 10 meters
Special: Fireball measures 5 meters, and can travel 10 meters in a straight line, plus 10 more each time retrained. Explosion measures 5 meters from impact.
Description: Although basic, the fireball technique is nonetheless efficient and deadly. After forming the necessary handseals, the shinobi will expel a jet stream of fire from their mouth, which quickly forms into a large fireball. The user can fire this ball off in any direction they wish, resulting in a small explosion upon impact.
Domain: Katon

² preparing

[Iizuka]

The man before me chose not to respond with words, but with action. His hands curled about one another as his head cocked back, soon producing the scarlet sphere that I now saw hurtling towards me. However, as the flame had come to his mouth, my hands would have already come up into the air, spilling forth black entities that came from within my body. A two meter mass of insects curled together into a ball, resting in the air between myself and the approaching Endan. Due to the positioning of the fireball, the likeliness of the opponent seeing my insects was reduced to zero.

In the meantime, as the insects were forming the ball, I would use my new found mastery over my insects to begin a second technique at the same time. Another mass of insects poured from my body, suddenly taking form as the two balls collided in mid-air. The resulting explosion would further mask the combo I had prepared, as now my clone stood next to me, waiting for the smoke to clear. The two objects would have met mid-way, yet the resulting explosion would have killed my insects, further destroying evidence of my heritage.

As the smoke cleared, we stood together against this opponent, and our voices united we cried out,

"Aburame, Iizuka, of Takigakure. Present yourself!"

"Exams? What exams?"

SPOILER: Click to show

Mushi Fuyuu (Insect Island Floating) [25]
Rank: D
Type: Supplementary / Ninjutsu / Secret Technique
Range: See special!
Special: Range of bug island floating depends on their 'Kikaichuu' rank.
Description: With this ninjutsu, the user will bring together their kikai into cloud-shaped clumps, the size of these ‘islands’ depending on the size of the user. These clumps are dense enough for the user or another ninja to rest on. During quick, dangerous attacks, this can allow the user to rise above any threat from below.
Domain: Aburame. Must know 'Kikkaichuu D'.

Mushi Bunshin no Jutsu (Insect Clone Technique) [50]
Rank: C
Type: Supplementary / Ninjutsu / Secret Technique
Range: Hand's reach.
Special: Clone defense depends on the user's highest 'Kikaichuu' rank. Up to one clone can be made per use, plus one more each time retrained. When struck physically, clone may disperse and reform easily, making them defeatable only by wide, area-of-effect attacks.
Description: Mushi Bunshin no Jutsu is as its name implies, an Aburame ninjutsu cloning technique that allows the clan member to create a clone out of their kikai. Using the destruction bugs living from within their body, the clan host calls on the bugs to form a bunshin copy of themselves inr order to trick their opponent. Effective for misdirection, but once damaged by an attack, the technique ends and the clone disperses back into the bugs which formed it.
Domain: Aburame. Must know 'Kikkaichuu C'.

Casting Mastery I

[Messatsu!]

+12 @ Zuka

+14 Toru

[Toru]

A single spark of interest manifested within his mind in an instant, for he was unclear of the actions that had taken place before him. He felt -- no, he knew, for certain something was being hidden, something that was a key fact within this battle.

The interest was created by the result of the Endan manoeuvre; an object had collided with its being and created a dense smoke, which shrouded the Aburame's frame and allowed the man to create two entities, which had taken the same appearance as him. It didn't faze the Kumogakure shinobi by the slightest bit, a simple roll of the eyes could be seen for a reaction to the new creations.

"Airontoku, Toru, of Kumogakure. What is your reason for being here?" His words were stated calmly, but his chakra wasn't truly taking the same behavior. It was more loose and wild, ready to take action² the chance it could, and Toru wouldn't restrain it at all.

SPOILER: Click to show

² still preparing

[Iizuka]

The two of us remained at the ready, gazing through the fading wisps of smoke at this new "enemy," if he could even be called as such. His eyes, upon catching sight of my clone, rolled off to the side, showing his clear disinterest in this maneuver. Whether he wasn't going to fight or he assumed himself above my own ability, I couldn't decipher. Nonetheless, it would be careless of me to lower my guard against an unknown ninja in the midst of some country completely unknown to myself.

As this man, now known as Toru, a Kumo-nin, posed his question, I decided to tell the truth, for lying would serve no purpose in this situation. With my eyes forever locked on his figure, my clones lips parted, speaking on my behalf. "I'm looking for the Samurai; I wish to know what has become of my home country." Surely the Samurai, in all their current power, would have some idea as to the outcome of my homeland. Myself, I had no idea what had become of Takigakure... I hadn't been able to return since the time of the Great Flash.

My thoughts drifted to Taki no Kuni, to memories of the war starting. Our ninja, being dispatched to the corners of the world, slowly disappeared. Whether dead or missing, I could never know. Since the end of the war, I'd met only a single person from my country, and he had stained his headband with the mark of the traitor, and although his reason was good, I wasn't sure if I'd ever actually trust him upon his "promised" return to our country. Depression overcame me, yet so did a drive to save my people. This would not be the end of my beloved country.

Waiting, watching, the real my parted my lips now, speaking so to confuse the enemy to which of us was the real thing. "Do you know where I can find Samurai? Or what has become of my country?"

[Toru]

/exit