verdad! [o]

[chiatsuki]

°⁺

[/color][/size] the templar

[/i]. Days would turn to nights and so forth as my journey from my sanity continued. Ever since I’d left otogakure I could not escape that feeling of wanting to be free in every way. My chest poked out heavily as did my lips as I swiftly made my way through the skewed obstacles of the forest headed towards the only place I could remember.

My feet would stop one after the other before I’d stammered to the ground sitting high above the peak of Deku Mountain. I breathed heavily as my slightly tanned skin pushed out the sweat from my screaming pores. Luminous optics shined pure with content as my legs daintily swung to and from the cliffs edge. Those unknown entities would creep slowly behind me staying hidden behind the trees I’d just escaped from. The sounds of twigs snapping would alert me but I would heed its cautious sound with nothing but an idle stance. I wasn’t the type to show my enemies I knew of their whereabouts – especially when I weren’t engaged in full on combat. This made the game so much more intense. The thought of death bringing lust into my heart as I’d licked the salt from my lips. Sometimes I thought that I were getting too old for the Oinin poise.

“yo-ake, sohyo-karu… it has been a long time..” a voice called out from behind me. The tone of the voice was so familiar to me that it could have only derived from only one region – otogakure. How have they found me…? I’d stutter to my feet making an abaft turn hastily hearing a notch sound bellow from the amps within my palm. A smooth sigh would falter just before I’d responded. “how might you know that name…” I’d say ahead into the forestry ahead of me. There were no figures that I could see – but I knew of their direct location because the sounds of their hearts could not be hidden, not from me at least. “aha… so it is you. I haven’t seen anyone direct themselves that swiftly through dangerous terrain for a while. I knew it had to be you – I just had to make sure…” the voice said once more.

Again – no appearance of any other. I found it nice to escape the handles of my ANBU guards – but I guess you never knew what you had until it were gone. In some form or fashion I somehow wished that they had followed me just so that these unknown figures wouldn’t be so interjecting. I had planned to come here peacefully – looks like my wishes wouldn’t be granted today. “who is that..” I’d say ahead in a tone of aggravation. I was as ready as ever to fight – and I didn’t care who it was behind those trees because the only people who knew of my true name deserved to die. No response came from the forest this time – had they left so suddenly. . .? My eyes darted left and right for a sign of movement but nothing seemed to change its path. It took patience to willingly wait for a response over the time it normally took a person to answer – and I had eons of it.

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[chiatsuki]

°⁺

[/color][/size] the templar

[/b] an eerie voice crept from the darkness once more. A figure approached from afar wearing a hooded cloak – the councilmen’s uniform. “I have come for a bit of fresh air away from the confines of those silly guards. They couldn’t catch up with me..” I’d say in a surprised tone. I hadn’t anticipated such company. The old geezer showed himself – it were akari – one of the more noble council elders who was pedaling the takeover they had spoken of. “Ah. I see. I remember what it was like to be young. Rebellious and free, ahee hee hee !” he’d said trifling his cane into the clay before our feet in order to get closer to me. “Have you talked to the aspiring genin? They seem very pleased with you and your new projects. It isn’t likely that the youth of the village would follow you so hastily…” he’d said trying to squeeze out the information from me. He were one of the few who had been looking at me within the ruins – the reason for my sudden departure here.

“Aaah yes. The genin. They know nothing of the darkness order sir – if that’s what you were wondering. I have done as told. . .” I’d say smoothly with a calm tone. I were somewhat the deviator between the two groups – forming my own plans within this griping game of tug-of-war. Although my actions spoke more kindly towards the shinobi alliance I had no other choice but to follow the orders that they gave me – for they held something very precious of mine as bargain-ship. “Ah…good. Just make sure they know nothing of our true plans totsuzen. You are our tsuchikage now – but you know as well as I who pulls the strings round here..” he’d say just before turning his back with a daft smile. I’d smile back at him – gulping from the hesitation. “No worries Akari. You can trust me. .” I’d coo with the last final bit of my breathe before turning back around to face the sun. For some reason I couldn’t help but wish for an easier way out. There had to be a better way to resolve things other than to kill off everything and start anew. . . but it would be hard crossing that point over to the elders – at least for now.

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[✘TAIGA]

cinematic.

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My arrival would be quiet, soft footsteps guiding me to the Tsuchikage. My long, wavy onyx hair glided behind me. I had awaited till the elders left to make my presence known, though it'd be evident I had eased dropped quite a bit; however it wasn't a truth that astounded me for Iwagakure had been in a poor state for a long time now, these words only shed light on why such was so.

"Tsuchikage`sama..."

I'd say gently as I stepped beside him, informing him I had come as he'd instructed. My single ebony gem would look into his shimmering pools, I could feel the sadness emanating from him, how he had to play both sides. Times were hard, but he, this man was our rock and we needed him to be firm,-never faltering. While we his forces were the groundwork, he was in fact the mountain.

"What is it you wish of me?"

Finishing I'd await his reply. If it was within my power I'd grant his every request; however such thoughts, such wishes were but naive, foolish thinking. a dream, but ever so often, one needed to do that.

Dream...
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[chiatsuki]

°⁺

[/color][/size] the templar
Teaching Kage Bunshin no Jutsu B ranking.
- 50% teaching bonus makes this technique only 50 exp to learn for hotarubi/daisy.

---

[/i].

My attention would delve from that train of thought soon as the whisper of an angel guided its presence to my side. I hadn’t expected her to arrive so early – especially noting that I had just met with a council member as well. My sweat had sunken back into my pores now – I’d place my loose fitted shirt back over me as she approached. // what is it you wish of me..?// she’d say in a calm tone. “I wish of you to grow stronger, Kohana. I’ve brought you here today to make you my pupil. . .” I said thus after – allowing the moment to take us both in as we stood atop the mountainous plain staring on wards to the falling sun.

My hand coiled in one specific seal. To her side another replica of myself would be created from my silhouette. “First thing’s first. Kage bunshin no jutsu. . .” my words spewing out of my lips ever so clearly. Everyone knew of its power – but very few ever learned of its unique nature. “It takes a great amount of chakra. . . so all I want you to do is focus in on the chakra motion my clone is undergoing. Focus inside of yourself – inside of your tenketsu – and begin to create that motion. It may make you sick at first. . .” I said finally before sitting down in an Indian style and gathering back my chakra reserves with slight a slight meditation of my chakras.


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[daisy]

♥; fidelity

Just where was he going? I couldn't help wonder if following Akari was going to prove a rather fruitless endeavour, but these council men had been acting shady for far too long. Returning to iwa had been a bit of a shock. All the destruction, the conspiracies, it was all too delicious for me not to be at the center of. Who would've expected that the sleepy village Kain and i had sought to escape would yield such intrigue upon our belated return? But my web spanned barely any of the stone village these days, and i needed to spin my threads further afield. I watched as Akari left, shortly replaced by a girl. I hadn't noticed her presence once as i trekked this mountain after the old man, her dark hair and eyepatch were an interesting combo. And the man she greeted... the tsuchikage?! Now this was curious. The new kage, up here all alone, exchanging shady news with a most likely corrupt councilman... Oh darling, it was simply delicious! Tossing my hair back, i rose from my hiding place and marched forwards, my heels clacking loudly as i was no longer trying to conceal myself.

"Fabulous evening, isn't it?" I said, flashing a vivid red smile at the two shinobi. Stopping short of them both, i placed a hand on my hip and took in the man's features. So, this was the new tsuchikage? He had just thrown on a shirt, but his muscle wasn't quite as impressive as my darling's. They were very similar in height, but perhaps this man was slightly older than us. The girl's appearance was rather more striking, but there was still something about the tsuchikage that hinted at power, and something deeper.
"You have my apologies for interrupting you so rudely, but as the most stylish shinobi of iwagakure, i feel it's appropriate for me to meet you in such secluded settings. Of course, it's a pleasure to meet you too, sweetie. Your eyepatch is simply adorable!" I giggled, pulling my shawl closer about my body.

"My name is Coco von Alexandria Valentino, the second. Fashionista, decadent diva and conspiracy connoisseur! At your service." I said, blowing a kiss. Perhaps my arrival was really just a rude interruption, but then again, i brought much needed glamour to the secretive scene. x

[✘TAIGA]

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I was surprised at what he said; however my face remained docile, giving no sign away at me being taken aback. His pupil? Never had I thought I'd ever be under the tutelage of the Tsuchikage. It was a honor and a pleasure. With a simple seal he'd form a faux clone of himself. It was him in every aspect of the way down to his last molecule. That was what the Shadow Clone jutsu was. I'd welcome the task of attempting to master it, but I was fearful that my own chakra levels were minuscule in comparison to the man before me

"I'm still so weak...."

Repeating to myself within the safety of my own mind as I nodded acknowledging and accepting him as my sensei I'd began to allow my chakra to vent through my body, but before I could tap into my own well of power we were accompanied by another. And she was quite interesting to say the least. She was quite the colorful character, her amorous, bubbly energy certainly painted the world more vividly with her arrival. In a way to was refreshing.

"Not at all, and thank you. Kohana, Hotarubi. Charmed."

I'd say in a soft tone as I adjusted my vibrant kimono, the colorful floral patterns upon it were quite lovely, almost surreal as they folded and bent with the slightest of gestures I made. I myself had no qualms with her presence, I'd still follow through with my intentions to learn the technique, so I tapped back into my own flow of energy as my hand revealed itself from the mouth of my sleeve, my digits forming the single seal he had used earlier. Concentrating I tried to feel the same flow of chakra his clone possessed. It would had been quite easy to simply use my byakugan, but I abhorred it and detested using it.

"Why don't you join me in learning this technique. I'm sure the Tsuchikage would love to teach you as well."

Truth was I had my reasons for offering like most, It'd be easier to simply gauge and watch her-a newcomer to the jutsu as me. This way I could ascertain and perceive any possible mistakes I may have made.

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[Apple]

[/B] + 56 (28 x2 with teaching bonus)
HOTARU: 10/25
DAISY: + 8[/ul]

[Estilo]

Just a heads up, so everyone knows I didn't mean to give Sohyo the wrong idea:

You only get the x2 teaching bonus as an Academy Teacher. You need to be in that profession in order to obtain it. The 50% deduction comes free, as whenever another ninja teaches the other a technique it is usually considered Sensei Training. The 25% added- thanks to the Academy Teacher's perk- boosts that up to 75%. ^^

(Basically, B-Rank right now- since there's no Academy Teacher in sight- requires 50 exp worth of training, and the x2 teaching bonus is unfortunately invalid.)

[chiatsuki]

°⁺

[/color][/size] the templar

[/b] he would say proudly whilst sinking into a state of mind which connected his instincts to the world beyond him. His fingertips slightly touched one another as he planted the back of his wrists along the sides of his knee caps. To the setting sun he would give his attention - letting loose all the fury and anger within him in seconds.
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[daisy]

♥; kage bunshin no jutsu
0/50

The girl seemed rather sweeter than her original appearance suggested, and i was impressed too at the tsuchikage's reception of me. He seemed the type of man to adjust so easily, unperturbed, and apparently willing to include me in this secluded training session. I had caught the name before, the kage bunshin jutsu. Of course i'd heard of it, a rather powerful tool to have in one's arsenal, and one i could fully take advantage of. Smiling still, i perched myself atop a rock, nearby the girl, and crossed one leg elegantly over the other, one heel dangling above the ground. Then, with one last toss of my hair, i resigned myself to some real hard work, the first i'd participated in for a while.

My hands clasped together in the oh-so-familiar handsign, basic, comfortable, allowing complete control over one's chakra. My brightly painted and perfectly shaped nails glinted dark in the moonlight, and i closed my eyes. Long, dark eyelashes fanned out above my cheeks, and i concentrated on my chakra. Sometimes, it was easy to forget i was a shinobi. Certainly, i found more appeal in couture and fashion than i did in the ninja arts, and yet, when i found myself training like this, it was as if i had only become a genin yesterday. Everything i'd learned at the academy, from my years in iwagakure, and everything i'd honed and perfected in my decadent life outside the village and its teachings, i had never forgotten. My mastery of my bloodline, my expert chakra control, the grace and poise with which i executed my jutsu... Talk about a triple threat darling!

Regardless, the man's voice was rather soothing. Focusing on my energies... Separating myself from my chakra, hmm? It was easy to relax here, slip inside myself, the endlessly flowing chakra within. I concentrated on it, manipulating my energy, the simple handsign giving me effortless control over it. Naturally, this kind of jutsu was rather advanced, but i felt that with instruction from the tsuchikage, and training alongside the dark-haired girl, i would grasp it without too much trouble. Over confident? Perhaps, sweetie. But still, separating myself and my chakras? I wasn't entirely sure how to begin. Avoiding frowning, as i had become so adept at doing, due to fear of wrinkles, i exhaled quietly. Vivid lips parted slightly as i focused. Two separate entities, similar to my own sasanagi clones, yet real, a real copy of myself...

[chiatsuki]

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[/color][/size] the templar

I had hardly had enough time to think of my next venue. These genin were a handful but I always pleasured myself in reassuring that each of them was able to fend for themselves if in any case I were not around. These thoughts seldom came to me on occasions such as these where my legs remained crossed in Indian style as my hands molded into the seal of the kage bunshin. Although I weren’t creating clones I was measuring my circulatory capacity. . how fast I could rotate my chakras and how quickly I could reverse it.

Creating techniques was never a forte of mine. . but ideas seldom came to me whenever I were training shinobi other than myself. It seems that me and hotarubi hadn’t been so idle after all. After seeing Alexandria strut her fine legs out of the woods I couldn’t’ help but inquire that she was indeed beautiful. . . sadly beauty didn’t create leverage for anything other than social gatherings such as this. ‘Ahh. . ms. Alexandria it’s a pleasure to see you on such a day, no?’ I’d ask in a very polite tone.

Otogakure made me as hard as steel but in the year I had been seated my heart had grown a bit softer. . at least to the feminist crowd. ‘I was just teaching Hota. . I mean ghost here, a very forbidden jutsu called kage bunshin. It involves splitting ones chakra into equal amounts into ones own shadow. . thusly creating an exact replica of the user. Maybe you could give it a try as well? It might be able to help you somewhere. .’

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[daisy]

♥; kage bunshin no jutsu
?/50

I focused. For once, i really focused. This was power, wasn't it? Power i could use... Power i might need. Kain had always been the strong one, my intellect outmatched by his pure strength and skill. The tsuchikage was giving me a tool, something i could use. My legs shifted, i was crossing them more comfortably perched upon the boulder. My handsign remained steady, the only other thing moving was my chakra within, spiralling and contorting, Trying to adapt and conform to this new and difficult jutsu. I had to imbue my shadow, my real shadow, painted across the rocky, moonlit ground as it was now, with my energy, my chakra. I knew about such things, how my chakra left my body in the form of my silk and my hardened gold. But to thrust it into my very own shadow? After all, it wasn't tangible. It wasn't something that could be touched, or felt. It was merely a lack of light, right? How did one give life to a lack of light?

Regardless, i had to try. I continued holding the handseal, concentrating on splitting my chakra, sending equal amounts down into my elongated shadow, my glamorous silhouette. It wasn't easy, to say the least. I only really had experience in the solid, in the strength of my sasanagi jutsus. Of course, i dabbled in genjutsu, the illusionary arts... Perhaps that was more the key? The way one could create something entirely fictional, entirely unreal. Although, that was the thing about shadow clones, now wasn't it? They weren't like genjutsu clones, they had a solid presence, they could interact and touch and feel. How did one create something like that? I had an idea, a way to help me learn. Performing a few quick handseals, i then began to spit, slivers of gold glinting in the light as they left my red lips. Before long, a replica of myself stood silently, all dazzling gold, reflecting coldly in the moonlight.

Unmoving beside me, a sentinel, i observed the clone, all the while continuing to channel my chakra. I had to create another me, one that wasn't merely a product, like my gold beauty here. I thought how i used my chakras to create it, to shape my image into another being entirely, one i could co-operate with and rely on... Perhaps i was making progress.

[daisy]

♥; kage bunshin no jutsu
?/50

Silently, i began directing my golden clone. I observed carefully how it moved, how it operated, so in tune with the chakra i had used to create it. Because, of course, my chakra remained in all of my sasanagi creations, animating them and breathing life into them, figuratively. I supposed it was the same kind of notion with the kage bunshin, albeit on a much larger scale. They were me. Perfect copies in every way, a living breathing Coco, using the same chakra. I knew that the jutsu was dangerous, the amount of effort and energy it took to sustain using it was immense. My chakra control was perfect, no doubt, but my reserves had never been that high. It was only due to the nature of my bloodline that i managed so well, a foreign jutsu like this would be difficult to use well, and even harder to use without completely exhausting myself. Perhaps as a last ditch technique, it was appropriate. Starting a fight by effectively halving my chakra put me at a terrible disadvantage, regardless of the strength of another me to deal with.

As i thought about the nuances of the jutsu, i was still concentrating all my efforts on the manipulation of my chakra. The glorious flow of energy within all shinobi, and in fact, every human. We were lucky, really, the ones who had learned to tap into it, to use it, to thrive with it. My eyes observing my clone flickered over to the tsuchikage, looking completely calm and at ease. He was strong, i could tell. He was doing me a great favour here, one i just hoped i could take full advantage of. I instructed my clone to sit down, directly in my shadow, and it knelt delicately, the unfathomable golden face looking quietly up at me. So, i was to make another, except not made from my golden fluids, not made from my silk, but made from... well, me. From my chakra, from my very being... I suppose i ought to start somewhere. And so i began channelling my energy into my clone, into the being sitting across from me, moonlight blocked by my form so it bathed in the shadow i cast.

Perhaps by imbuing my clone with the chakra i'd need, i could somehow link it with my shadow, and create the clone by using my gold clone as a waypoint? This was some experimental stuff, really not my cup of tea. I preferred things i was easily capable of, things that came naturally to me, fluid and intrinsic with my character. But, then, how does one grow stronger? This was out of my comfort zone, and a perfect opportunity to test my capability to adapt. I would learn this jutsu, and i would use it with the same grace and poise with which i executed everything.

[daisy]

♥; kage bunshin no jutsu
?/50

Really, it just wasn't in my nature to put a lot of effort into something like this. Naturally, if i were designing an outfit, or perhaps conspiring towards some self benefit, i'd put in the work. But a technique for battle? It wasn't exactly top priority. That wasn't to say i didn't appreciate the value such an offer held, after all, the shadow clone jutsu was simply useful for so many situations, i'd be a fool to turn it down. An incredibly fashionable fool, but it'd be a mistake nonetheless. And so, as i held my handseal steady, i continued to delve inwards, manipulating and directing my chakra.

"Difficult to grasp, isn't it, tsuchikage dear?" I murmured, eyes closed as i spoke. I realised that for him, it was probably no difficulty whatsoever, but then again, i didn't possess that sort of power or aptitude. But what i did possess was self confidence. Assurance and unshakable appreciation of who i was. Perhaps not the most helpful tools when it came to work like this, but i'd work with what i had. I knew i could learn this, i knew that i could use it. And that knowledge may be the key to actually mastering the jutsu. My chakra swirled endlessly within me, even as i channelled it into my shadow, and my glinting clone knelt stoically within. I could almost feel it.

Almost feel my shadow becoming tangible, becoming something real, something solid, not just a darkness etched across the ground. This was more than doable, darling. Dangerously close to frowning, i pushed even harder. Imbuing my shadow with all i could, willing it intensely to rise up and take my own form, beautiful and decadent, a version of me conjured up from nothing but shade.

"But then again..." I said absent mindedly, the shadow of a smile hovering about my vivid lips as i felt my progress.

[daisy]

♥; kage bunshin no jutsu
?/50

I could feel it, feel the shadow around my clone virtually pulsing with my energy. I had to will it to take form, shape it with my chakra, create the Coco faux. I still sat perfectly still, my crossed leg casting its own shadow without touching the ground, the long, thin heel of my shoe stretching to a darkened needle point. I was so close, slipping into the state where things came easily and suddenly made sense. Suddenly took shape, where resistance disappeared and one began to achieve. Without moving, or even opening my eyes, my golden clone stood up, casting a further shadow, stretching beyond mine. The moonlight shimmered down its form as it moved, fluid and glittering, even made of my powerful metal as it was.

As its own shadow moved, my shadow moved. But i, the real Coco, hadn't repositioned an inch. It was coming into its own. I could feel the swirl of chakra within, a connection more than natural with myself and my shadow. The energies, as familiar as my mascara'd eyes in a compact, were shaping something that all at once was me, but was a seperate entity. It was rather exciting, in a way. Would he be proud of my progress? More than the tsuchikage sitting across from me, would that man be impressed? None of my talents had ever really seemed to provoke any praise, or admiration, but this wasn't my blood heritage, it wasn't my few tricks of the mind, it was powerful ninjutsu, dangerous and rare.

Smiling properly now, i opened my eyes. I could see my shadow moving, becoming dense in places, shifting and altering its form as i shaped it into my mirror image. I continued to focus my chakra, forcing it to become real. It was easier now. Like how after you've placed the outlines and filled in some of a jigsaw, the remaining pieces are incredibly easy to place. The hard work was done, i was just putting the finishing touches to my masterpiece. It was almost there, rising and rising, i was using my existing clone as a gauge. Of course, they would be the same height, as would i, should i stand up. Almost there sweetie, just keep going... It was done, almost. The shadowy mass stood at the same height as my golden clone, and i could see the first forming of a body.

Without warning, a sudden flare of energy, and it was... beautiful. It was me. I stood there, watching myself sitting on a rock, staring right back. My golden clone crumbled to glitter, scattering in the light breeze, and i just stared at my clone. It was hard to believe it was a clone, as convincing as it was. I reached up to tousle my hair without thinking, and watched as she smiled at the action, before raising her hand to admire her nails.

"Oh my." Was all i said. Had i mastered the jutsu?