Snake Charmer [Sachi Only]

[Jae]

The barren landscape of Tsuchi no Kuni was as unforgiving as it always had been. To those from lands afar, navigating it could be (and often was) a hazardous trial. From all angles jutted stone cusps, malleable to those familiar with the native Hidden Village's art of geomancy. Life seemed sparse, save the few creatures that had acclimated themselves to living in such unbearable conditions.

I, myself, was no expert in terrain manipulation given my upbringing in the grasslands adjacent to this unsightly wasteland; still, I had no choice but to remain dutiful for My Lord's sake. This area was often littered with riff raff, hardened by war, with a voracious appetite for game to collect from. Hopefully I appeared as such as I intended to bait whoever I could in order to fulfill my duty.

"This land is gutter trash", I mused.

[sachi]

The snake was once more on the move. Having just returned from cashing in on the body of the rather amateur mokuton-user, Kain only thought it appropriate to take a pit stop a buy some supplies before heading deeper into the country. He hoped to get to Iwa before sunlight died out, and as the Kagehebi weaved in between canyons and cliffs he was making good progress, that was until curiosity got the best of him, of course.

"Who do we have here?"

He asked himself under his breath, a figure clearly visible in the distance. A large, built man just. . . standing there. The snake-man licked his lips out of habit, serpent-esque tongue flicked in and out in an instant - just who was this mysterious man?

It had been an awfully long time since Kain had been in these parts, pursuits in other countries and just a general desire to avoid this place over the years to blame. It was the first time in nearly a decade that he'd been home, and he figured if he was going to go the whole nine yards and head for the village, he might as well check out the talent on the way - assuming he was one that belonged to Iwa at least!

"Well, only one way to find out. . ."

Off he went, silent steps carrying him closer and closer to the figure, his snake-like body allowing him to move as if he made no noise at all, his aim simply being to creep up from behind,

"Oi!"

He'd yell to the man from about 10 meters back, Kain now comfortably curled up on a large boulder, legs tucked underneath him and his robe concealing his entire body save for his head,

"Whattya doing out in the middle of nowhere? Don't you know how boring this place is?"

Kain could only wonder if he'd be recognized as a criminal, I mean, I guess he technically was "missing".

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SPOILER: Click to show

Tier 2 - Silent Predator: One of the most lethal aspects of a snake is the fact that you never hear them coming; you never know they're there until it's too late. Calling upon their more "primal" instincts, the Kage-Hebi can enter a state of "absolute" stealth. With this, they can silently move closer to a target (up to 3 meters) without being noticed. Due to the strain this puts on the body, it can only be used once every three turns.

[Jae]

It had been a long time since I'd been caught off guard, but as alarmed as I may have been, I kept my wits about me and remained still at the surprise of a mysterious shout. At this point it had occurred to me that not just anyone possessed the talent to casually stride into my field of detection, unnoticed at that.

"I'm not looking for any trouble," I replied while slowly outstretching my arms to show that I meant no harm. I kept my head and eyes straight forward during the movement to keep my face out of sight, calling out into the distance ahead of me, "I'm a minister of a church of that's settled just a short distance from here." A surge of chakra pulsed from within me that traveled from the bottom of my spine directly to my eyes¹, though from my position I assumed my guest would have no idea what occurred.


"If you have some time to spare may I ask you, what comes to mind when you imagine "God?"

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Byakugan (All Seeing White Eye)
Rank: C.
Type: Supplementary.
Range:
Chakra: Mid Low.
Handseals: No
Special: Allows the Hyuuga to see up to to 359 degrees all around them, in all directions, and through many surfaces, including rock, cement, and even metal; only special chakra barriers can block a Byakugan out. Byakugan is also able to magnify and zoom, effectively seeing every small insect in the area and even see the infrared spectrum, allowing clan member detect things through their body heat. The maximum distance is 1KM. Finally, because the Byakugan can essentially see chakra and everything around it, it can detect illusionary chakra (Genjutsu) in order to defeat it.
Description: As its name implies, the Byakugan is just that, a featureless white eye that can occasioanlly posses hints of blue-gray and lavender, respectively. When the Byakugan is activated, the user's pupils become more distinct, and the veins near their temples bulge, representing the sudden chakra activation that makes the doujutsu possible. All members of the clan possess and can use the kekkei genkai from birth, as opposed to needing to awaken it. Byakugan gives the user a near 360º field of vision, except for one blind spot at the back of the neck above the third thoracic vertebra. With this vision, the Hyuuga can see through solid objects, and can use a degree of telescopic sight. The distance and the degree of telescopic sight varies from person to person, and can be improved. Finally, one of the greatest uses of the Byakugan is the ability to see chakra, chakra flow as well as the chakra circulation system inside the body with great detail. It is from this particular ability that they are able to employ their ultimate attack style - the Gentle Fist.
Domain: Hyuuga.

___________________________________________________

Used:

x1 Low (Byakugan)

[sachi]

Right away I was met with a gesture to suggest he didn't want problems, the universal 'arms out to the side and hands held open', man, did I really give off a violent impression so quickly?! My head dipped to the side, resting lightly on my shoulder, my eyes fixated on the physique of this man - he certainly seemed like he couldn't handle some "trouble".

"Just striking up some conversation!"

I never really was the social type, but my curiosity got the best of me, it wasn't very often you found somebody just standing around this shit hole, he had to be up to something - or maybe he was just crazy? The latter seemed just a bit more likely when I heard what he had to say next . . .

"You look awfully big to be some church minister! Whattya, one of them warrior monks?"

My tone was playful, but I had a genuine interest in his answer, monks were something I'd only ever heard about! But it was the question he was asked in return that really got my attention. . . what did I imagine when I thought of God?

"'God'? A lot of people go around calling themselves that nowadays. . ."

I crossed my arms beneath my cloak, head once more upright and red eyes fixated on this man's back,

". . . can't say that I've ever met a 'God' myself, so I couldn't really tell you. What about you, minister? What do you have to say about God?"

[Jae]

A brow raised at the man's inquiry, his tone seemed more playful than anything else but instinct told me to keep my defenses up. I began to answer his question while slowly turning about so that I could face the crouched being. "You are a sharp thinker, friend. That is exactly what I am," I jeered at the title "warrior monk".

I had never likened myself to the servile underlings that did business about the Earth Temple, but in truth I was the epitome of that. An intrigued smile forced it's way past my cautious expression when I'd finally come face my company, who had no idea that I was becoming more impressed by his abilities as time went on.

During the brief stint that my back was turned, I quickly discovered that I was dealing with something more than a man. By the time he had finished speaking I was fully facing him; my penetrative glare would have appeared harsh against the overworked veins near my temples.

"I've seen God and all that His power has to offer with my own eyes," I harped to the crouched man.

"Blessings that you would not imagine exist in this world, but only for those who are worthy of them."

If he was looking, he would have noticed my body beginning to tense sporadically, my jaw left to hang in an almost lunatic smile. My intrigue began to tear away at me, quickly spreading it's burn to the rest of what kept me sane.

"You," I stammered past a snarl. "seem worthy."

[sachi]

I couldn't exactly place what was so peculiar about this man, something about him just didn't vibe right with me - I couldn't really see anything out of the ordinary, something just didn't feel right, and when he'd finally turned around to face me, I could see that my instincts were as sharp as ever. The veins around his eyes were as visible as I'd ever seen in another person, his pure white eyes in addition to this confirming - at least to me - that this was the work of a doujutsu.

"Did 'God' give you those eyes?"

Being the user of a kekkai genkai myself, I knew abilities such as these were determined by a user's blood and DNA. . . this question was more of a way to gauge this man, just how far into his religious beliefs did he go?

Further and further his body language put me on guard, it wasn't what he was saying, it was the random tensing of his body, the smile that ironically mimicked my own psycho grin - to put it simply, I could recognize this not-so-stable behaviour because I myself acted just like this,

"I seem worthy, do I?"

I rose to my feet slowly, arms kept at my sides and cloak still covering my torso,

"And what blessings could your God bestow upon me if I was, indeed, worthy? Do I get cool eyes like that too?"

Half sarcasm, half intrigue.

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[Jae]

At first the man's peculiar body type reminded me of something I could not quite put my finger on. However, activating my super-sensory vision provided me an in-depth look at the canyon dweller before me. What I found astonished me and I fought to hide that I was taken aback. The physiology of a reptile perfectly superimposed onto the body of man?

"My eyes are indeed a gift from God," I praised aloud, gloating inwardly about the wealth of information I'd acquired simply by looking at my company. The more I studied him, the more pronounced his features appeared. He was beginning to resemble a specific type of reptile.

When he arose, I immediately took our apparent differences into account. His affinity toward Doton techniques shined as an amber hue within his core, fitting for the area we were in. I assumed he was a local.

His final statement sliced; like the thorn of a rose, it was inviting but questionable. I replied earnestly.

"Our God teaches us to master what we've been bestowed with naturally." I simpered arrogantly, priding over what my own abilities had afforded me. "For instance, your reptilian physiology."

Whether or not he'd realized it by then, I was beginning to understand how his gift worked.

[Messatsu!]

+30 @ Sachi

+40 @ Jae

[sachi]

Most impressive.

"So, you've figured me out?"

I had come across a wide variety of ninja in my time, and doujutsu such as the sharingan that provided shinobi with superhuman perception and visual understanding - but never had I come across somebody with eyes that could literally spot out such specific physical differences, especially with this large cloak on!

"I'll assume those eyes of yours let you... well, see beyond 'normal'"

My body hunched forward ever so slightly, crimson eyes fixated on this monk - he was definitely an interesting character! He seemed pretty smart - seemingly blind faith aside - and if his physique said anything about him, he could probably handle himself pretty well, I could only imagine how he would want to determine my 'worth'.

A psychotic grin was becoming more and more apparent on my face, the blank stare, the wide grin, the way my tongue would dip out and I'd lick my lips - it was safe to say he had my attention, and I could feel the tension building, and I could only see this going one way,

"So whattya say, before we determine my worth, how about we determine yours?"

My hands shifted beneath my cloak, right fist turning so my palm faced upwards, a single digit being lifted,

". . . So tell me, how many fingers am I holding up?"

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[Jae]

His query regarding my eyes received nothing but a strong chuckle, my head tilting back to accentuate my amusement. Everything about him, from his physiology to his mannerisms, carried a serpentine swagger that would be off putting to most. But I was not like most and found his snakelike unpredictability somewhat intriguing. And when he spoke of testing my worth, I saw well and clear what he had intended for me to see. A rude little fucker he was. Cute, I mused before sliding my feet into a shoulder width stance.


"One too many it appears," I spoke while my hands clashed together to form a slew of seals that, once completed, ushered in a swift exhale that let loose a barrage of flaming spheres directed right at him. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"

SPOILER: Click to show

Housenka no Jutsu (Mythical Fire Phoenix Technique) (400)
Rank: C⁸
Type: Offensive / Katon Ninjutsu
Range: See special!
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Low, Mid.
Special: Distance of fireballs depends on the highest rank known of 'Enkou Shinka'. Up to one fireball can be made, plus one more each time retrained. However, after every fourth retraining, chakra consumption will go up by one. Fireballs travel in a straight line, but can be manipulated individually if the user is still, is holding the last seal of the jutsu, and has eye contact with the fireball they wish to control.
Description: Basic yet very effective within the Katon arsenal of jutsu, this technique allows the ninja to emit a series of small fire balls after a simple set of handseals are made. The ninja can also hurl a projectile which is covered in these same flames. To the opponent the attack appears to be only the balls of flame, because they do not see the hidden threat within the flames. The flames can be used to cover different projectiles like shuriken or kunai, and only select doujutsu and bloodline abilities allow the user to see through the deception.
Domain: Katon. Enkou Shinka 'C'.

SPOILER: Click to show

Byakugan (Low)
Housenka (Mid)

[sachi]

Well then, it seemed as if things had finally kicked off!

"Let's get this party started!"

I screamed out loud as I watched the man throw his hands together, fingers moving about in the form of handseals - my assumptions that he knew how to handle himself seemingly correct. . . but just what was I about to face?

The shouts of "katon" put me on guard, my hands dropping down to my waist near my swords, contemplating my course of action. He was a big fella alright, which made me a bit wary of getting too close too soon, and those eyes I could only assume prevented me from getting away with any sort of trickery!

I guess I could always fall back on them

The fireballs created before me shook my train of thought, my body immediately kicking into action out of reflex, stepping backwards and dropping off the large boulder, ducking and hiding behind it. I had the advantage of the mysterious monk aiming the fire at me directly, so when I'd dropped down behind the boulder most would whiz harmlessly overhead, the rest either fizzing out against the rock or striking enough to the sides to leave me unharmed - but man were they hot! The heat given off these things was intense, just them flying by was enough to make me uncomfortable in this big cloak!

"Okay okay! My turn!"

I came out from behind the boulder running full-tilt, robe opening to reveal my arms, 3 shuriken quickly thrown at the monk, my hopes being to disrupt him more than anything, but if they hit, well hey that was pretty cool too! My right arm dropped to my left side, the hilt of my rapier quickly gripped and the sword unsheathed, legs still pumping - albeit at a slower pace now - towards the man who was apparently going to test my worth.

Provided I'd get close enough, I'd merely aim to gauge his reaction and skill, a simple diagonal slash of my sword from his shoulder to his hip. It wasn't a powerful strike, but I was confident in my speed - which would perhaps be my only physical advantage!

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[Jae]

As I'd expected, he managed to maneuver out of the way of my projectile fireballs, using the terrain to his advantage to not only shield himself from my attack to attempt at hiding from me. Despite his effort, however, I could still see him very clearly through his chakra signature -- and shortly after he would burst forth from behind his stone shield in an all out blitz toward me. I couldn't help but smile, albeit sadistically as I felt myself getting aroused by the prospect of combat.

His charge did not come unaided however, and his cloak slung backward to allow a trifecta of shuriken to slice through the open air toward my stationary frame. You can do better than that, I mused through my tight-clenched smile. It may have surprised him that I didn't fret a movement, even when faced with potential danger. Instead I raised my left hand and held it flat, palm facing the volley of shuriken. And as if it was second nature I allowed my chakra to converge toward the tenketsu that lined both of my hands, making sure that the left one intercepted the path of each star thrown.

He may have been surprised to see that all three of them would seemingly fall to the ground before me, immediately losing their momentum as if the kinetic energy had been drawn directly out of them. This wasn't the case, however. Instead I expelled my chakra just enough to ward off the assail, as evidenced by the blue hue that would surround my hand¹.

I preemptively assumed that the sight of such may have caused him to change his course of action so I would seamlessly transition into my next phase of attack in hopes of interrupting him while he charged, taking a step forward with my right leg and stomping heavily onto the ground while thrusting my left palm forward².

Hakke Kuushou!

In that instant an invisible, cylindrical air current would be thrust in his direction in hopes of sending him flying backward a good distance. Had that gone accordingly, I would begin to walk leisurely in his direction during his recovery -- chanting arrogantly in an attempt to force the spirit of combat into him.

"GET UP!"

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Jūkenpō Ichigekishin (Ultimate One Body Blow)
Rank: D C, B, A, S
Type: Defensive / Jyuuken Nintaijutsu
Range: Self
Chakra: See special!
Special: Uses up chakra proportionate to the prison used on the Hyuuga. Requires contact. Breaks through prisons equal to highest rank learned.
Description: Using their ability to expel chakra from every chakra point on their body, a member of the Hyuuga clan can hit their opponent with a blast of chakra that will send them flying away from the user in the form of a single handtap, or even when the enemy attempts to touch the Hyuuga or trap them. It is also useful when the Hyuuga has been bound by an enemy, targeting weak points in the prison that they see with their Byakugan with their sudden chakra rush in order to dispel it. This technique was made legendary when its creator employed it to save themselves from sudden crystallization at the hands of a Shoton master.
Domain: Hyuuga 'Branch' House. Byakugan.

2. Hakke Kuushou (Eight Divination Signs Air Palm) (50)
Rank: C.
Type: Offensive.
Range: 0 - 10 meters.
Chakra: x2 Mid.
Special: The column of chakra sent forward is roughly two meters tall and one meters wide, and has enough force to lift a grown man clean off his feet and throw them several (five) meters back. When used at close range, the force can easily knock the breath out of their victim and leave them dazed.
Description: Once the Hyuuga understands the art of summoning energy all at once into a single, fine strike, they are able to execute with the same precision, but from a distance. Extending chakra from their body, the Hyuuga will thrust their palm at the target, sending out an vicious wave of wind that can knock the opponent back greatly.
Domain: Hyuuga 'Branch' House. Byakugan.

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Byakugan (Mid + Low + Low)
2. Housenka (Mid)
3. Hakke Kuushou (Mid x2)
4. Jūkenpō Ichigekishin (Low)

[sachi]

"Well, how about that. . ."

I muttered under my breath, eyes wide in curiosity as the monk stood with his hand held out, the obvious blue hue of chakra encasing it entirely. The control over his chakra was incredibly impressive, to manifest it all at one point to the extent that it was not only visible, but apparently tangible? Well quite frankly, it was unheard of, and in my experience I had never encountered such a unique ability. . . I could only assume it had something to do with those eyes, and of course, his blood,

"Impressi--"

My compliment was cut short as I dashed forward - sword in hand - with the intent to slash at him, an invisible force first thudding into my chest and stopping me, before lifting me off the ground and throwing me entirely. There was no sign or indication of the attack, merely a palm thrust from the monk that sent and instantaneous burst of chakra into my torso - and although it wasn't really painful or damaging, it did its job or throwing me 5 meters backwards and halting my advance entirely,

Son of a bitch. . .

I managed to balance myself mid-air, landing on one knee with my left hand supporting me on the ground, eyes never leaving my opponent,

"X-ray vision, impeccable chakra control, invisible attacks. . ."

I rose to my feet slowly,

". . . You really are quite impressive, Monk . . ."

I stuck my sword in the ground to my right, hands coming together to form handseals as I continued,

". . . But tell me, did you ever figure out which reptile?"

My long tongue dropped out of my mouth, licking my lips with sadistic anticipation, my arms thrown out before me with palms facing outwards. In an instant, five snakes would make themselves known, bursting from my sleeves with impressive speed, having the ability to close our 7 meter gap with no time at all. Two from my right, two from my left, all headed straight for the monk, large fangs present as they homed in, seeking to drive their teeth wherever they may be able to get him, a single snake slithering up my body and resting along my shoulders,

"SENEI JASHU!"

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SPOILER: Click to show

Senei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands) [250]
Rank: C x 5
Type: Offensive / Kage-Hebi Nintaijutsu
Range: See special!
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Mid
Special: Distance and strength of extending snakes depends on the user's 'Nan-Kaizou'. Initially one normal-sized snake comes forth, plus one more each time retrained; however, after every fifth retraining, consumption will go up by one. Each snake can perform its own poisoning, and carries its own level of strength.
Description: Senei Jashu is a signature Kagehebi Nintaijutsu technique which allows the clan member to manifest a bundle of quick-striking snakes that extend from the user’s sleeves. The Kagehebi extends his palm and shoots out snakes to attack a target, having them move at impressive speeds and strike with their fangs. Though basic, this variation has been known to subdue even the strongest of foes with a single snake bite.
Domain: Kagehebi. Nan-Kaizou 'C'.

Mid chakra used

[Jae]

My attack seemed to have knocked him off guard, and I could tell from his expression that he wasn't too happy about it. He called out to me as he regained his bearing, still holding true to his arrogant demeanor. I hadn't noticed before that he was attempting to slash at me, taking note of the sword that he held in hand. And that's when he stuck it in the ground and began forming his own seals, calling out toward me.

His question caused me to raise a brow, and I even thought back on the idea of his physiology for a split second only for him to spring both his arms forward to release a set of snakes that slithered quickly in my direction. The fuck, I grunted, taken back by the sight of the reptiles that spawned from beneath his robe.

At the distance we were from each other, there wasn't enough time for me to formulate my own counter technique; I had to be quick. And thus I leaped backward while simultaneously crossing both arms, reaching into my coat pockets to remove some items^1-2 Yanking at a pin mechanism, I immediately tossed one of the objects three meters ahead of me (in the snakes path) where it would burst forth in a dark cloud of smoke that hopefully shielded me from my opponent's (and his familiar's) sight.

To ensure that I wouldn't be caught slipping during my retreat, I would carve toward the right (encircling where I'd thrown the smoke grenade) so that I could flank the opponent from his left. During this skipping sprint, I would begin forming handseals³ while he and his snakes remained closely inspected through my Byakugan.

The cloud of smoke, while providing a great screen, was also incredibly taxing to the lungs and would debilitate my opponent if he didn't find his way away from it. I'd gotten about 4 meters further away prior to flanking him, leaving me about 11 meters away from his person; catacorner to the side of the rock he orignally hid behind.

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Smoke Grenade (x1)
Rank: C
Type: Tool / Area of Effect
Range: 0 - 10 meters.
Special: 3 per Pack.
Description: This explodable comes in the form of a long, skinny cylinder, no more than a few inches long. At the top lies a pin which, when pulled, activates the grenade's internal components. Within seconds, thick, dark smoke begins to spew from the cylinder, covering a wide area and leaving all those nearby blinded and gagging.

2. ____

3. ____

SPOILER: Click to show

1. Byakugan (Mid + Low + Low)
2. Housenka (Mid)
3. Hakke Kuushou (Mid x2)
4. Jūkenpō Ichigekishin (Low)

[sachi]

Well the man wasn't as slow as he looked, his reaction speed allowing him to drop a smoke bomb, the temporary distraction affording him enough time to evade the snakes - but how long was he hoping this to last? He wasn't the only one with advanced senses, and being the snake man I was, I knew all too well just how incredibly efficient we could be while hunting, and one of our main methods? Our sense of smell. It would only take a mere flick of their tongue, a taste of the air and a feel of the vibrations running through the ground, hopefully leading them right to their prey,

"Where are you running off to?"

I chuckled loudly as I spoke, this was becoming an interesting little fight, I wondered how worthy I was looking so far? Although I had yet to actually land a blow, there was one trait we shared. . . the fact was, there was no hiding for either of us. The snake on my shoulder twisted his head suddenly, serpent tongue flicking in and out, picking up on the scent of the man - the direction my helper was facing alerting me to the fact he had indeed moved, and his positioning definitely gave me the impression he was readying an attack,

Don't want to underestimate him now. . .

I faced the position my snake was looking, leaping backwards several times with my sword in my hand once more, putting quite a few meters between me and the smokescreen, readying myself for some sort of counter-attack. I wasn't sure what he was up to, but I could only hope my snakes had tracked him down, creeping up on him from whichever angle they could, large teeth once more aiming to sink into his flesh,

"I think you'll find I have quite a few gifts too, monk!"

I brought my sword to my mouth, my tongue running across the blade from top to bottom, a clear, greenish liquid coating the metal as I did,

"And you haven't seen anything yet. . ."

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SPOILER: Click to show

Tier 3 - Venomous: Kage-Hebi are renowned for their snake-esque physiques, including the variety of poisons that snakes have at their disposal. While the kage-hebi cannot use them all, due to their human DNA, they have acquired the ability to develop three new very unique poisons exclusive solely to their clan. These poisons can be applied via a bite, or by inflicting damage with a weapon that has been coated in the substance.