Cast Iron Caste [Q][Kreathean]

[Naitome]

The grassland is a place of beauty, but it was not always so.

There are stories buried beneath the soil, deeper than the few coarse layers where insects wallow in blindness and push bits of leaf towards rock and dead forest floor. There are chips of iron and slate embedded in the wilds. Where everything is now green with life, once stood great clanging machines, a klaxon sounding like sirens wailing in the moist wind.

These stories are your legacy, your birthright. Through the hard work of others you've come to learn and to understand, to know all the myriad intricacies of those who call themselves Craftsmen.

But what you see is not what you expect.

In the center of Kusa No Kuni lies a shack.

There is nothing around or within to suggest the presence of an anvil and iron, the tools you've come to understand equate to building. You stand, 20 meters away from the private dwelling, and can hear only loud snoring drifting up from within. The directions you were given by the ruler of Grass, however, have led you to this place. There is only one other person whom your eyes can currently see, and his outline is mysterious and distant, sitting on the ragged ladder that serves as steps into the elevated hut. He wears a heavy cloak and an even heavier hood. He appears to be sharpening a simple looking sword against a stone, and has not yet seen you.

---

Profession Test Event - Craftsman
Proceed.

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[Krethean]

Alright... so this is where I can learn how to learn the ropes of crafting and smithing.

To be fair, Ujiyasu was half expecting a slightly larger place for a craftsman’s house. Old tales of thick, earthen dens that would bathe the inside of the house with a brilliant amber light with fire and molten metal. The recurring, heavy clangs of metal being shaped. Smoke billowing from the chimney as various ore were smelted and fashioned into metal for use. None of that was here in the rather simple house.

He had to admit though, that perhaps those old tales may well have been romanticised.

It all seemed rather peaceful, which surprised the boy. He had figured that shinobi, who use such items on a regular basis, would pay regular visits to whoever resided here for the items they would create. Perhaps it was a slow day... or perhaps it was their day off. He couldn’t really tell for sure. What he did know was that perhaps he would be able to learn how to become a craftsman and blacksmith here... the lack of customers did offer that kind of opportunity after all.

Ujiyasu's desire to learn how to create such things was born from his time at the exams, when he had lost a number of items he carried. That was the start of things of course... as days later, when he was on his way home from the Land of Water, he began to think about how he could help the people of Kusa by making weapons, armour, equipment... heaps of things. He was sure it would take plenty of time, effort and money to pull off, bt it became something he wanted to do. Something he became passionate for.

If it helped his country, then he would be happy to learn all there is about crafting, smithing and the like.

Ujiyasu walked forward to the house, his mane of dirty blond hair wavered in the air with each step he took, the dirt crunched lightly under his feet. His loose, maroon shirt and black pants seemed less than loud, a sign of his change from wanting to be noticed, to being more focused on the tasks at hand. Ujiyasu saw the man sitting on the small ladder that gave access to the house, busy with a sword and a stone. From what he could guess, the man looked to be sharpening the blade with that stone, a skill he would no doubt learn in time himself. The man seemed to be quite focused on his work, so Ujiyasu spoke up first.

“Hello there! Hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time sir.”

[Naitome]

"You haven't caught me at all. I'm sitting right here. And time is subjective to the person perceiving it, it doesn't have moral value judgments such as 'good' or 'bad'. It's just time. Everyone knows that."

The man answered immediately after, without even looking up from what he was doing. The sharp sounds of the stone hitting the sword would fill any awkward silence that followed, and whether or not the young grass shinobi replied, the man would add

"The Old Woman's in there. You're probably here to learn about crafting, so hurry the hell up. Go on. Go."

And he would vaguely point the sword in the direction of the inside of the hut.

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

Seems they have a temper that matches some of tales.

With a bow and a “thank you”, Ujiyasu made his way to the ladder-steps and ascended them, taking great care to avoid the man, the stone he used, and more importantly, his blade by leaping over him. It was a little unorthodox, but he didn’t feel like jumping through a window.

Once inside, he let his eyes adjust to the dimmer environment and scanned the area he was in. It seemed quite homely and rather simple, though Ujiyasu guessed that when you got what you want, there isn’t much need for anything else but the bare essentials. Perhaps one day he could live such a complete life... though he had many years ahead of him. Many life-threatening years.

He didn’t see anyone else yet, let alone this “Old Woman” the man outside mentioned, though he did hear some snoring that came a little way in. Despite his change of heart from utilising his hunting talents, he was still capable at finding things as well as people, so snoring would be a dead giveaway to him... assuming it wasn’t a ploy of course. Considering that he had no hostile intent coming in here, he didn’t see any reason for the people here to trap him. He simply wanted to carry on the legacy of these people and their art.

Deciding to speed up the process of finding this person, Ujiyasu knocked on a wall a little way in, then called out.

“Hello! Anybody else here?”

[Naitome]

The snoring is interrupted by your loud call, and you hear a thump from behind a nearby closed door. It seems as if someone has fallen off of their bed, hard. Within the shack are a few world weary swords and shields, the armaments of those who have fought many battles and only just escaped with their lives. There is a bit of fumbling at a doorknob, and then the entrance-way to the room bursts open, off of its hinges, a splintering of wood like a small grenade going off with far more force than is necessary.

There is a woman standing where the door used to be, and as her fingers still grip the broken off handle, you can see that the metal of the device is beginning to crumple in her hands. She looks at you, embarrassed, before bowing low and speaking in a chipper voice

Sorry about that! Hi! I'm the Old Woman. You can call me...well...The Old Woman, I guess. Everybody else does. Was Ryuunosuke rude to you? Probably, he always is. Anyway, what can I get for you? Did you need a sword, a shield, a few shuriken or a hammer? Whatever you need just let me know and i'll get it to you in...well...i'm not really sure. I'm supposed to have a student drop by soon so you never know!

She giggles and leans slightly against a small stool.

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

This place seemed to be full of surprises: first it didn’t actually look like a place a craftsman would work, and this “Old Woman” didn’t seem old at all. Pushing these shocks, as well as the sudden demolition of the door aside, Ujiyasu regained his composure and bowed to the woman.

“Ahh, I’m not here for equipment actually. I’m the student you mentioned. I’m looking to become a craftsman.”

He gently dusted off his clothes absent-mindedly as he spoke, his body still in a slight state of shock at how things have gone so far... and this was just the introduction! At this rate, he suspected the training to be as out there as everything else was. A few amusing thoughts ran through his mind before he dashed those away. He was here to learn, not goof off.

“As for... Ryunnosuke? It’s ok. People are how they are for many different reasons, so I suspect something made him that way. I never really hold it against people.”

He looked at the various items that adorned the walls of the house: armour, shields, weapons, all of which were finely crafted and looked to be incredibly useful if someone were to pick them up and use them. Such a level of skill was something he’d aspire to and, with time, attain through hard work and practise.

“Anyway... whenever you’re able to, I’d like to learn about your trade and what I’d need to know and practise. Anything else you’re willing to teach me too.”

While his body seemed to give off a feel of disinterest, possibly a side effect from his recovery, his tone and his eyes showed that he was actually very keen and willing to learn everything he could. He was more motivated than ever at learning everything he could as a shinobi and as a person.

Comically, a thought hit him shortly after he said this... if she was able to annihilate that door just by grabbing the handle... he might be in for a fight for his life. Hmmm... nah... it’s just me being a little paranoid... it wasn’t that long ago that the exams happened after all. Can’t get too jumpy.

[Naitome]

"Ahh, I’m not here for equipment actually. I’m the student you mentioned. I’m looking to become a craftsman.”

Really? Well...that is interesting.

"As for... Ryunnosuke? It’s ok. People are how they are for many different reasons, so I suspect something made him that way. I never really hold it against people."

Well I'm glad you don't hold 'it' or anything else against him. He'd probably complain, he doesn't like things touching him without his approval.

"Anyway... whenever you’re able to, I’d like to learn about your trade and what I’d need to know and practice. Anything else you’re willing to teach me too."

I'm glad to hear it! The most important thing I can tell you, at least before I tell you anything else, is what being a craftsman is truly about. This is an exacting profession, in that your actions must be defined and well thought out. It's just as relevant to be absolutely accurate at the anvil as it is in battle. That's probably why Ryuunosuke seems so rude to those who don't know him. He's quite a genius, but far too literal for most people's liking. It's a valuable skill as a smith but a poor choice for one trying to make friends!

She laughs them, a good-natured guffaw that echo's through the small home as if it is much larger than it seems. She gestures towards you to follow her, and walks back towards the room whose door she recently removed from its hinges. Where there should be a light-switch, there is instead a massive white button connected by a bit of loose wiring to the walls, as well as the rest of her home. She presses this button; and the ground beneath you falls away.

The home changes.

Giant steam pistons readjust the framework of the roof; it seems to fold in on itself as the simple straw hut thatched above falls away, replaced by metal siding and large sheet walls. The space within is rearranged; girders and gleaming pipe-work and clouds of billowing smoke and dust and the sharp clang of hammers rise up on pillars of iron; everything is transformed. Where once a simple hut stood, there is now a black anvil, the interior of which has been designed to make crafting near anything imaginable a relatively simple task. Boiling troughs of heated liquid pour, a thick black ash is filtered out through vents that draw in the dirt and the noise.

As you fell through the floor itself, you landed in a chair that seemed perfectly positioned to catch you. The impact is enough to sting but does not further damage you. You can see now that whatever mind went into building this establishment, has focused their effort on the ease with which things can be crafted inside.

The Old Woman stands before you, tossing you a pair of worn overalls and small hammer.

Welcome to The Forge! Now, as soon as you introduce yourself, we can begin! If you have any questions, now would be the time to ask!

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

Yet another surprise waited for the boy, this time it was the house that threw him the proverbial curveball. It went from being a simple house, to being a fully kitted out smithy! It was as the old stories told as well: large, with everything one would need to forge whatever one wished. It was a sight to see for sure.

That was after the drop to the chair of course... as his mind reeled from the shock of it all during the descent.

The impact shook him a little, and snapped him out of his stunned stupor, just in time to catch the overalls and the small hammer the Old Woman tossed him. Taking her cue, he introduced himself.

“I’m Ujiyasu Nakamura. Genin from Kusagakure.”

He bowed as he got up from the chair, then put the overalls on, ensuring that they would not come off by accident. He looked at the small hammer and felt its weight with his hands. It definitely seemed like a useful tool for his bid as a craftsman. He looked back at The Old Woman and shook his head slightly.

“I guess my only question is, how long have you been crafting and smithing for? Your work is very impressive... it must have taken a lot of time to get that good. The equipment I’ve been carrying can’t even compare to the stuff that’s around here.”

He hadn’t known much about the trade, so he didn’t have any technical questions, that and they hadn’t started yet. However, he wondered about how long she had been doing this for. There was just no denying that his knuckle dusters, the kunai, his Kodachi, his armour... they’re nothing compared to the items that were on display here. Hell, they were less tools and more art. Very practical and lethal art.

And it was an art he became more interested in the longer he stood in this magnum opus of craftsmanship.

[Naitome]

"I’m Ujiyasu Nakamura. Genin from Kusagakure.”

A pleasure to meet you Ujiyasu-kun!

"I guess my only question is, how long have you been crafting and smithing for? Your work is very impressive... it must have taken a lot of time to get that good. The equipment I’ve been carrying can’t even compare to the stuff that’s around here."

Me? Well...I've been crafting for...about 256.72 years, give or take seven months. And I didn't craft all of these things, or even the house, Ryuunosuke did! This was his way of paying for my services. He didn't have any money, so he built this for me after he completed his training. The only thing i've really built in a while, is this.

She takes out a rather unspectacular orb. It has the consistency of a jellyfish, and glows with a soft light. She hands it to you to touch and examine, and when you feel it, you get the impression that it might dissolve into water if you press against it too hard. Its function is beyond you; all sides of it are smooth and unblemished, and it casually reflects a distorted image of you around its spherical mass.

It's called a....well...I guess I shouldn't spoil that, huh? Since I'm supposed to be teaching you, why don't you take a closer look at it, then you can tell me what you think it might be used for? Craftsmanship is also about appreciating and understanding the work of others, so i'm sure after a few minutes, it won't be too hard to guess what it is! Ryuunosuke took a while to figure it out, almost a whole minute!

And she smiles down at you, gesturing towards the tool she's just given you.

Feel free to test out that hammer on it, if you want!

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

Now that was something, Ryuunosuke was the one who made what he saw, and what he bore witness to moments ago. He could be sure that the Old Woman can definitely teach people about the trade. The length of time that she had been crafting though spun him out. She had been working with this profession for little over two and a half centuries! That had some bizarre implications regarding her age, but how anyone achieved such a lifespan without use of forbidden jutsu is beyond him... but what’s to say she didn’t have an Kinjutsu up her sleeve? She annihilated a door just by touching the doorknob, and she looks nothing like her age would suggest. Heck she’s such an enigma that her name is basically an alias.

She handed the Kusa Genin an orb that gave off the feeling that it would handle like a fragile water balloon. If he accidentally pressed into the orb, it could become irreparably damaged, and he had no wish to owe significant amounts of Ryo on an accident to her “only creation in a while”. Hell, the fact that Ryuunosuke made all of this stuff for the Old Woman told him that her training likely isn’t going to be cheap. He had made a bit of Ryo doing some missions, but given the sheer volume of items crafted, Ujiyasu had to guess that it would take a pile of A Ranked missions to pay it off. As a Genin he could push for B Ranked missions, but he knew A Ranked would be out of the question.

Ujiyasu looked at the orb she had given him, examining the object as best he could to determine what its function was, and more importantly, what it was. Her guiding him to test the hammer further perplexed the boy as to what it could be for... he had never seen anything like this thing in his life.

The only thing he figured would provide even a hint at what this object could do, would be to do as she suggested and use the hammer. He gently placed it on an anvil and lightly pressed the hammer against its surface. He wasn’t sure how this object would react to being struck by a hammer... but so far his expectations have been met with countless surprises so far, to the point where he wouldn’t be surprised if this object did something other than disintegrate if he hit it.

He lifted the hammer, then eased it down, getting the feel of the tool in his hands and experiencing its weight with the motion. It felt like he could bend metal with some finesse, or with some strength depending on how he hit with it... so he figured he’d go for a lighter strike, as if he were trying to do some minor shaping. He lifted the hammer up to face level and then brought the tool down on the mysterious and, certainly unique object. He silently prayed that it won’t get destroyed in the process.

[Naitome]

As you'd bring the hammer down on the orb, something peculiar would happen. You would hear a sharp crack, and feel as if your entire body had been shaken from the bones outward, and the steel of the hammer itself would shatter into thousands of small fragments, cascading metal shards out around the room. The Old Woman would laugh and not even bother shielding her eyes, as the orb would roll around freely a bit on the table, before settling into place once more.

I call it Koton. Secret stuff. Nothing you need to worry about though! It's time to get crafting!

She would gesture towards the small rolling sphere and it would roll off of the table, propelled by a mysterious chakra, to practically leap off of the floor and into her waiting hands. She turned briskly and walked, motioning for you to follow, as you cleared through the narrower spaces of the Forge, coming to a room where a lone anvil stood, a tar covered slab of iron on top of it. Behind it lay a large stove, crackling with fire, and a pit of congealed liquid slowly heating as she directs you to sit down before her. She picks up the iron slab and hands it to you, before saying excitedly

Lesson One! The sword! Now I'm sure you already know what a sword is for, but few people really know how they're made. This is a simple piece of iron, but today, you're going to turn it into much more! If you do a good job, I'll even let you keep some of the things you create!

I understand you're pretty new at this, but I'm going to start off with a question anyway, just to see where your heads at. I mean, I see where your head's at, it's right there on your neck, but I mean, I want to know how you think.

Given this to start, and a new hammer of course, heh how would YOU make it into a katana? Remember, there is no wrong answer!

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

The feeling of being rocked from the inside out after attempting to strike the sphere was quite disorientating to say the least. He had gotten to the point where very little surprised him here, and the shattered fragments of what was once a hammer was the only remaining proof of what this “Koton” was capable of doing. Perhaps that’s what obliterated that door...

Shaking away the experience and the feeling that object gave him, Ujiyasu followed his mentor to where he guessed that the real smithing was done. After taking a seat on the floor, crossing his legs for comfort and to take up less space, he took the iron slab she gave him and looked at it, pondering over how he would make it. As a complete newcomer to the profession, he wasn’t entirely sure about how he would go about making a katana from a simple slab or metal, but he had heard some things while he ran some missions, and his father had talked to him about how some people make such weapons.

“Hmm... well I’ve heard that the most common way to make a katana was to generally forge the rough shape of the weapon, then fold the material several times over, heating it in the process. Something to do with compensating for impurities or something like that... I think.”

He had heard that this folding process was widely believed to be what gave the katana its undeniable cutting power, however a few people he talked to had told him that it wasn’t the case. He didn’t fully understand why this method of creating the weapon was adopted, but he hoped that he would learn about it.

“Though... I’m fairly sure this slab wouldn’t make the blade, the grip and the guard. Just the blade... especially if this works. I’m probably wrong though.”

He laughed a little nervously as he said this. He had guessed that the blade itself could be made no problem with this simple piece of iron, but he was very sure the handle and the guard were different. Much different.

Ujiyasu looked at the Old Woman to gauge her reaction to his thoughts. He didn’t have experience but he was keen to find out one way or another.

[Naitome]

She listens to your words patiently, nodding as you describe the process of heat and folding metal, clearly appreciative of the fact that you came to her with at least some knowledge of what you might need to do. Even as you doubt the certainty of the process, she does not scold or correct you, she merely reaches out to retrieve the slab of iron, and looks at you with contemplative reserve before speaking again.

The mechanics of what you say ring true, but if I can teach you anything, its to look deeper than the basic levels of construction.

This iron slab is already a sword, so long as you envision that in your mind.

Sounds ridiculous, I know, but hear me out.

She stands up suddenly, going to the wall to retrieve one of the completed blades hanging from a bit of irregular shelving. It's handle and crossguard are impeccably designed; gold inlaid with silver winding up into a square hilt embedded with the image of a small squid. The edge of the blade is serrated near the tip, and the handle ends with a tiny symbol indicating the word "ocean". She holds it up to the light, swinging it lightly through the air a few times, then quickly plucks out a strand of her own hair. Holding it in front of herself for him to see, she releases it in the same motion, and the sword flashes by almost too quickly to be seen.

The hair has been split into two, perfectly divided into incredibly thin identical lengths of black.

This blade was made by Ryuunosuke. It's craftsmanship is superb, its design, nearly flawless. But it began as an iron slab no different from what you're holding now. What forces it along that transition? What allows it to create the journey from a hunk of hardened stone to a weapon?

Thought. The thought of the one who created it. That thought was real, and tangible, and sharp, far before the blade was heated and folded. It carried with it the essence of every other blade, every other weapon, that has ever existed or ever will.

Think about it. You perceive hunger; the desire to eat in order to gain nutrients and continue the functioning of your body. But that desire is only a thought. When you wonder what will I eat today, in some small way, you take into consideration every possible option, if only for the briefest of moments. You think about the food you have, about the food you don't have, about how much time you have to eat and thus the size and consistency of the meal. You think about what you could go get if you had the time, or money, or palate. But what do you think of hunger after you have eaten? Your options are no longer endless; you've already eaten. All of the thought and wonder, the anxiety of what will I do about this empty stomach of mine, all of that disappears. You've already solved the problem. You know what you've done about that hunger, and by knowing, you erase all of the possibilities for what it could or could not have been.

We work in a manner opposite to what I've just described. Before we touch the iron, before anything is heated or folded or shaped, we know, with absolute certainty, what it is we are going to create. This is not a slab of iron, it is a sword. I merely haven't finished making it yet. That slab over their is a spear, that one a pack of shuriken, the heap of metal in the corner is a helmet. Time is not confined to so linear a path that intent must always precede essence. No. In our craft, what something is has already been decided far before what we do with it, which makes our job all the more simple.

She places the sword down in your lap and asks you to take a closer look. It is a remarkable piece of work, one that is quite obviously at the level of a master. However, upon closer inspection, you begin to see moments of...imperfection. Areas where each side is not perfectly aligned, the tiniest nicks and cuts along the blade where the metal did not properly congeal.

I know that was alot to take in at once. If it makes sense...explain it to me in your own words. If not, explain what you can and where you might have trouble following.

---

Proceed.

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[Krethean]

The demonstration with yet another immaculately crafted weapon left Ujiyasuin both deep thought and awe, as she told him about what a craftsman thinks and how such items are made from the most basic of materials. As she explained it to him, her words clicked as he analogy made perfect sense to him. It was similar in concept to how he viewed fighting someone.

“I think I understand... it’s like with combat as a Shinobi... with Taijutsu, there are many possibilities, many things to think about as you decide on how your attack goes from the very first movement. The attack may not be viable so you may need to adapt right away. There are many things that go through both the mind and the body run through during a fight that people normally don’t really think about, but the desire to hit someone, or stop them is there. Once you land your hit or fail to, you think of a different way. With Ninjutsu however... it’s all decided the moment you begin. The handseals and the thought of what you intend are set and the jutsu that is created is what you think about from the start and it doesn’t stop with just one handseal, and even with the last seal. It’s not a series of hand seals, it’s a powerful pulse of wind... a prison of water... an ice clone.”

He took a good look at the blade she gave him, and saw that even the most impressive items created had imperfections. To Ujiyasu, there is no such thing as perfect, as such a thing could never exist. His view of the world at large had widened lately, and his lesson right now had further expanded things by connecting various things together. Examining this weapon had further confirmed his belief that perfection is a fleeting goal.

“Any deviation from the Ninjutsu you envision leads to failure. From what you say the same holds true with crafting: any deviation from the object you want to make leads to a product that could have been better.”

He handed back the weapon she gave him and gave a nod and a smile, the revelation of just how similar the craftsman thought to a Ninjutsu or even Genjutsu user was enlightening to the Genin. Explaining how he understood this in his way also reinforced what she told him, which made it make much more sense.

[Naitome]

That was an excellent way of putting it, Ujiyasu-kun! Ryuunosuke told me I was...pointlessly ambiguous, if i recall correctly, when I asked him the same thing!

She takes the blade back and holds it up to a light contained within a complex looking overhead bulb. She runs her fingers along the length of the sword, clearly indicating the cracks and subtle imperfections that mar the otherwise pristine object.

These look like lapses in judgment, correct? Places where the pursuit of perfection fell short? This is the second most important lesson of the craftsman; the object created reflects the creator.

Though he is quite intelligent, and his personality is suited for the task of being a craftsman, Ryuunosuke is also rigid and inflexible. The same exacting nature that makes him an incredibly competent craftsman, is the same nature that prevents him from seeing the art behind what we do. This sword is ornate, but it is little more than prettily decorated. It has no heart.

The balance we seek to achieve, as all things done in this world should strive for balance, is to be absolute in the conviction behind what we craft, but also maintain the freedom to express ourselves, to place some small bit of who we are into each piece of metal.

I watched Ryuunosuke as he made this. He stood straight, his eyes were unwavering in their focus, each strike of the hammer that folded the metal...

And she holds the sword horizontally, picking up one of the many hammers strung about the workshop, lifting it and lowering it dramatically, making a turning motion with her hands that you can see pertains to the skill necessary for you to do the same

...was straight and uninspired. By 'uninspired' I do not mean 'bored', I mean...'boring'. Each moment that goes into the forming, the moments when you are bored or agitated, when you think about a past lover or a betrayed friend or a future failure, each instant of your life flows through your actions, leading you to create in keeping with the feeling behind your movements.

She turns to place the sword back against the wall, and smiles at you once more, apparently pleased to have such an apt pupil, and points to the anvil behind her, indicating that she wants you to come closer. She hands you the same hammer she used to mimic the folding of the blade, and instructs you to place the iron slab down, easily lifting your entire body up to position you, feet shoulder-width apart, in a way that allows you to swing downwards at a slightly leftwards diagonal.

Alright, Ujiyasu-kun! Now it's time to get physical! STRIKE! Hit the iron slab with all of your might! Over and over and over! I want to see energy! I want to see passion! I want to see--

A growl escapes her stomach. It is quite loud.

^--food.

she whispers out sheepishly, falling to the floor in an exasperated pout, before jumping back to her feet, eyes full of determination.

I will go get everyone food!

She shouts, too loudly, just as someone else walks into the workshop. She smiles once more before disappearing, literally disappearing before your eyes, no doubt off to a nearby ramen shop.

The person who has walked into the workshop, is Ryuunosuke.

He looks at you with a disapproving frown, and before your first strike can hit the iron slab, sneers

What do you think you're doing, amateur? Put that hammer down before you hurt yourself.

---

Proceed.

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