T/ Mighty Mighty Man

[Estilo]

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

Sensei Training
Teaching ♬ Areru

"Yep, that's pretty much it." Atlas would reply when Areru inquired about the basic idea of this technique. "But it may seem harder than you think. Some people have a lot of trouble with their footing when jumping backwards." A look would come across her face promptly after she'd issued her curious mien. She would size up her trajectory, focus, and finally declare that she was ready to give it a shot. The enthusiasm was definitely contagious, as the half-masked male would clap his hands once and nod. "Go for it! And be mindful of your steadiness." And so, she would begin her physical training, something of a warm-up and conditioner for what was to come. And as the sensei watched, he was taken back to a previous training session he had conducted not too long ago. Back in Kaminari no Kuni, his thunderous homeland.

Now that he saw Areru taking small leaps backward, and placing herself back on the starting point when she went as far as she could go, he was instantly reminded of little Yukiko- his newly crowned imoto- and when she had learned this technique from him days earlier. The young girl had difficulties, as her legs were smaller and her feet more petite, but she had managed to trudge through her training nonetheless, displaying a control of chakra Atlas had hardly seen the likes of before. For Areru, he figured, it would be much easier. The fact that she was a young woman meant she had better control over her weight and balance of her body overall- but through experience or simple physics, Atlas wasn't sure. Her footwork, so far, was superb, and her legs gave her a certain advantage as well. It was all a matter of the way one was built.

Then there was the fact that she was much lighter than him, which would help her leap through the air easier when she actually performed the retracting flicker. He imagined that to her, it would feel like she was composed entirely of wind and air. But for now, she was still getting used to fluidly performing a leap backwards. So he would continue to observe her advancement in the endeavor, and when he felt it was time, he would call out her name. "Alright, Areru~! You're doing swell, and props with the footwork! Not bad at all~! I think- unless you have any objections or reservations- that you could try adding a little chakra into the mix. Slowly at first though. Gauge how much you can gather there without going over the limit- as, with the body flicker, that has the potential of veering you off elsewhere. And trust me, it hurts when you crash into something at that speed." Hoping he hadn't put any anxiety in her heart, he'd cross his arms with a smile and continue to watch, flicking on his sensory with a blink of his eye. No doubt she would get this down soon enough!

[Areru]

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Now, as he said that it wasn’t all that easy to jump backwards she could agree with him fully- Although it seemed to be such a simple thing to do, she did feel that it was quite complicated really, and wasn’t all that people made it out to be! You needed to be entirely confident on what lay behind you to make sure that you didn’t fall down some hazardously placed hole. She was pretty sure that such things weren’t behind her but, just to make sure, her eyes would guide back as her head would follow, making sure that no traps were behind her- She was in clear sight all ways, so she’d be able to do this correctly, should she utilize the technique itself, that is!

As he then seemed to usher her on and power her confidence in order to do this whole thing, she’d nod her head in response to his cheeriness and would begin to focus on the technique itself, hopping back a few times again as she got her legs used to doing such a movement. Having not practiced something like this before she couldn’t say that she found it easy because truly she wasn’t even in the starting part of it all yet- She was still at the baby end, taking her first steps towards the technique- She wasn’t even close to touching the deep end yet. And yet- She was looking forwards to learning it! It would be something new that she would add to her already somewhat stretched arsenal of techniques.

With the chakra still collecting at her feet she would soon start to plan to use it in her footwork. Slowly but surely as she hopped backwards she’d soon seem to use quick yet small bursts of chakra to help fuel the technique itself, attempting to reach the goal of being able to body flicker back. But despite the fact that chakra poured in to her feet and escaped said body pieces with sharp bursts, there wasn’t all that much speed and it simply seemed to hinder her body flickering backwards as it almost seemed to make her trip up by the sheer chakra that was convulsing in her legs- Wtf was happening? Quite confused she would then cease to do so and would bend slightly, her hands grasping on to her thin calves, not in pain, but slight annoyance.

”Something isn’t working- I think I’ve stored up my chakra there instead of just releasing it in quick bursts..” she would tell him as she’d reflect on the failure that she had just created. Sure, she didn’t look down on herself that badly, but she had still done it wrong, and she didn’t really want to disappoint him. But, not entirely effected by it, her usual laid back attitude coming to bloom once more, she’d then open and close her hands, wondering if Atlas had any tips that could help him- No doubt is sensory ability was now active like he had been doing for the past techniques, so perhaps he had noticed what had been going wrong.

SPOILER: Click to show

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

[Estilo]

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

Sensei Training
Teaching ♬ Areru

Though the body flicker techniques required what seemed like an endless amount of repetition in certain factors, the Akegarasu knew and was quite aware of the slight differences between such variations as the retracting flicker. It was the little details, after all, that made the techniques original and separate from the standard body flicker, and it was this knowledge of those differences that the young man wanted to impose on Areru. Sure, if she simply focused on repeating herself over and over again, she would eventually get it down. But if she analyzed what made this particular technique tick, and how it differed from its predecessor, then learning it would prove to be a much easier task, with much less strain on her physically. A short cut, for a better sense of the word.

His sensory-enhanced eyes would analyze every detail taken thereafter the young lass had resumed her body flicker training, waiting for the moment when she heeded his advice and began to channel chakra to her feet. Hues of yellow and pale white shifted and mingled throughout her form and, as the Sansutomu positioned herself on the starting point once more, livened up in a brilliant display of illumination, a beacon in the strange dimensional world that was his sensor vision. He could only hope she was taking the necessary precautions before actually activating her chakra and directing it to her feet. A cleared mind, muscles ready to go into action, mind ready to send the body vaulting backwards in the direction it was intended to go. Any of these factors gone unnoticed withheld the potential to ruin her attempt and force her to start all over.

But she seemed to have everything under control, and Atlas knew he didn't really have to voice those suggestions, as they were most likely taken into consideration automatically. Instead, he would continue to observe as her chakra moved from within her, and as two orbs of it abruptly fell to her feet. Sure enough, she'd taken that as her cue to begin to plan out her next movements. But when she took said movements, leaping backwards as she had been doing so before, the Akegarasu would notice a few discrepancies in the execution of the attempts. It was a mistake he'd made himself in the past, and one he wasn't surprised she'd make as well. In response to it, the young woman would quit trying and take a quick breather, stating her problem in her own words.

"I've noticed." Atlas would reply. "You stored up a bit too much, to be honest. A good effort- heck, even I'd done the same thing when I was learning it- but too much chakra there can bog you down and create instability. Try lessening up its presence there, so it coats your feet lightly. And the split-second you take your leap backwards, send a burst of chakra down to both of your feet, using the energy coated there to channel the burst and help gain you momentum." He would chuckle as he finished his sentence, shaking his head and looking down at the soft white snow blanketed over the ground. "Sorry if it doesn't make that much sense. It's hard to explain sometimes. But practice makes perfect, hm~?"

[Areru]

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With the chakra weighing slightly heavily down upon her legs as she utilized the technique incorrectly, she would stand still for a few moments as she’d try to move the chakra that was clumping up her muscles and feet back towards the rest of her body, placing less of an effect on her soles. With this now done and she feeling like a burden had been taken off her, Cough she would then turn her head towards Atlas once more, where he, seemingly being a fountain of knowledge, had more information to give her which would aid in learning this very technique. Looking at him with a grin she would take in his words quite seriously, as they were vital to learning the backwards body flicker.

Try lessening up its presence there, so it coats your feet lightly..

[/i]
After this information was given to her she’d nod her head- So not exactly flood her calves and feet with chakra, but instead, coating them? She could do that, right? With a determined look upon her face the Sansutsomu would hop back to where she had been moments before as she started to learn it in the first place, with a clear area for her to move backwards if she wanted to do so. Taking grasp of the heavenly chakra that she had past manipulated incorrectly, the green haired girl would then close her eyes for but a moment as she lay in deep concentration, before opening them once more- She was pretty determined to get it right this time, and she wouldn’t tolerate anything except for pure winning. Looking at her feet for a minute, she’d then move her eyes to Atlas, and then finally back to the air in front of her, as she prepared herself.

”Right.. Jumping back with chakra coating my feet lightly. I’m pretty sure I should be able to get it down this time.” she would speak, her words being a good part of her determination. If she drilled the message that she could in to herself so many times, she figured that there was no wondering whether her dreams would become reality in that way. It had happened in the past, and she was sure as heck that it would happen again now. ”I’d only just managed to learn body flicker days before leaving for here- It’s still a bit strange for me!” she saying this with a slightly sheepish expression on her face her hands would move to her sides as her chakra would spread across her feet like an ephemeral kind of shoe. This would prove as a base for the technique in more ways than one!

So, she would then, taking a deep breath, start. ”…..” Hopping backwards, she would then release the burst of pent up energy and chakra on the soles of her feet, she feeling much more free than she had been minutes before with the chakra locked up in her legs. It was almost as if she flew for a few minutes there, as her jump back seemed to span at least four meters, which wasn’t all that much, but when you compared it to her usual jumps, it was much, much greater. Had she done it? She wasn’t quite sure having a first person view of everything, but her eyes would immediently shift to Atlas himself, requesting the answer! ”Had I done it? I didn’t move too far- I need to work on distance.” this being asked, she would eaglerly await the reply, and, also, wondered how far the technique could go- It would probably be the same amount as a normal body flicker, right? 10 meters? Yeah, probably.

SPOILER: Click to show

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

[/blockquote][/justify]

[Estilo]

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

Sensei Training
Teaching ♬ Areru

That steadfast look appeared in her eyes once more as she repositioned herself and prepared for her next attempt. She'd glanced at Atlas as she focused, to which he'd reply with a nod and a smile, signaling her to start whenever she felt she was ready. The fact that he reworded and repeated the advice he had given her assured him that she knew what she was doing, and that she would do it to the best of her current ability. With his expectations up, the Akegarasu would shift in place and watch closely as the young lass commenced. Apparently, she had not learned the body flicker technique until just recently, and was still a little unused to its effects and execution- including the bit on controlling it properly, he presumed. Staring at the concentration of chakra beginning to gather at her feet once more, Atlas would respond. "Oh, is that so? Well, color me impressed. So far you're doing swimmingly with your efforts. I didn't notice."

It was then that she would continue with her preparation for the technique, as he could tell, by the fluctuations in her chakra when she inhaled a deep breath of air. The chakra mustered around her feet was smoothed out, and its color gently fed off of each other until it was all the same tone of pale yellow. These were signs of light chakra use, balanced and in harmony, as he had advised her to do. With these energies coating the limbs required to perform a satisfactory retracting flicker, all she needed to do now was send the appropriate burst of chakra to her feet when she leaped off. Exactly how she would know the appropriate amount was all up to her intuitiveness as a ninja. But the girl was quick-witted and strong-minded, and if she didn't get it this time, then she'd most definitely get it the next. And it wasn't often that Atlas put his trust so strongly on things like that.

So she would start, and took her risky leap backwards as she activated a short burst on the soles of her feet. While the burst had been controlled, along with her balance, it was far too weak this time to take her anywhere far. Once she touched solid ground again, she would stand in wonder as she gauged the distance she'd traveled, then turned to the Akegarasu for an opinion. "Yeah, you traveled a distance of roughly five meters backwards." He'd mention, continuing on as he shifted his feet in the snow. "It's pretty good for a first attempt, but the typical distance garnered with one leap is ten meters, so you might want to try doubling the chakra you put into your burst. That might help." Then an idea came to mind- a test he'd put Yuki-chan through.

Gesturing for her to stand in place, Atlas would stride over to a nearby fallen branch that was partially obscured under the deep white snow. He'd swiftly drop to a crouch when he passed it, picking up the branch as he did so and heading over to where Areru now stood. Stopping in front of her, he'd snap a piece off of the branch and stab it into the ground next to her foot. Afterwards, he'd swiftly turn and meticulously begin to count paces- slowly taking one step after the other until he felt he'd reached a ten meter distance from Areru. "Stick marks the spot!" He'd cheerfully say, snapping off another twig from the branch in question and jamming it into the plush snow blanketing the ground. "That's a ten meter distance behind your current position." He'd explain, as he strode over to the fallen log to take a seat. "When you make it to that stick, you'll know you have completed the technique. Consider it a finishing line~"

[Areru]

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With his constant aid it made learning this technique that much easier, and she was quite happy because of that. With someone to guide you through the hard steps of certain jutsu it always made it quite easier after seeing someone else perform it, or at least describe to you how exactly it was supposed to work, unlike books, where the words had no emotion within them, and you couldn’t really.. connect with it as so to say. Sure enough she knew of some people who gushed over books and could probably connect to one of their papery friends quite easily, but she wasn’t one of those people, at all. She learned best by having people show her, and then letting her copy. It had been that way since she had been a very young girl, training with her family.

As he seemed to say that he couldn’t tell that she had just managed to learn body flicker mere days ago, it would make her feel somewhat happy that she had trained it up enough so that it seemed as professional as any other body flicker shown by a more proficient shinobi. ”Ten? I thought so. That’s the usual distance for a normal body flicker, right?” she would tell him as she’d watch him move around, both of their feet now caught a little bit in the snow that continued to fall upon the land; But, she tried to make sure that she didn’t get too stuck- She was trying to learn a technique that drew its workings on speed, so getting stuck in the snow wouldn’t’ be of any good to anyone, especially not herself! This was her future at risk!

Crimson eyes would then watch as he would snap twigs, placing one near where she was currently standing, and then placing the other a fair distance off- 10 Meters? As Atlas then spoke, it would seem as if she had guessed correctly, and she was pretty happy because of that. ”I’ll try to jump that much back. I’m sure I can do it if I just try.” once more, a bout of confidence glowing through her entire body, the girl would then look around her, then behind her, bsck to Atlas, then in front of her as she’d finally start to try and jump back that much. So- It was the same process as before, just a bit more power in to it than she had given the first time around, yes? That was about it, so, with her eyes narrowing in pure focus, she would begin.

Slivers of chakra coated her feet at quite a good pace, as she would then prepare for the final burst which would hopefully sent her backwards ten meters- Or, nine at least. But ten was the ideal number. Her head turning to Atlas once more for one glint of reassurance she’d then.. Whooosh! she then, seemed to get pulled off by some invisible foe as she was drawn back at least ten meters, what having been only one small hop now turned out to be some kind of gigantic leap backwards. Looking down at the floor in search of the wooden strick that he had placed down, seeing it parallel to where she was at the moment, she would grin a little bit, happy that she had reached her goal. ”That wasn’t as complicated as I thought it was at the start- I think I could get used that, thank you!” she would tell him in thankful tone, glad that he had taught her.

SPOILER: Click to show

Shunshin-Kakezori (Retracting Flicker)
Rank: B
Type: Passive / Ninjutsu / High-Speed Movement
Range: Shunshin
Chakra: --
Special: Gives the user the option to perform Shunshin backwards.
Description: Although Shunshin is normally executed in a linear fashion towards the direction the user is facing, with enough training, the user is able to move perfectly opposite to wherever it is they are looking - that is, a backwards Body Flicker. Its usefulness is limitless, and carry the same rules as the parent technique.
Domain: Shunshin.

[♠Solo♠]

Apple: Learnt

Sin: +43 EXP

[Estilo]

"No problem at all~!" Atlas would respond brightly, sitting in a relaxed posture on the fallen log, as his emerald green eyes gazed over at the young Sansutomu ten meters away. "I'm actually enjoying this back and forthing we have going on. It's a real eye-opener." An easy smile would manifest itself on his face, and as the young lass walked back towards their initial training ground, it would turn up to the gray sky. A mass of ashen clouds resided above, covering the entire heavens, like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming away the world. The snow had completely ceased to fall now, but its frigid presence was still wafting through the air. Luckily for him, the electricity he'd summoned not too long ago was still surging through his veins, pulsing under his skin and keeping him warm in an admittedly unconventional manner. He nearly hummed with the good feeling as he propped his elbows up on his knees, and placed his chin firmly on an open palm- a pensive stare pointed towards the brush afar.

The half-masked male would begin to wonder how he would fare in the second part of the exams, and the third, as they both required combat against other ninja. He couldn't remember the last time he'd fought somebody- at least, not since he'd started taking missions for Kumogakure once more. But he figured his training had to count for something, and he knew he wasn't entirely unprepared. He had an entire arsenal of techniques under his belt now, after all, and had regained the mastery over lightning he had once possessed during the war. His success would now depend greatly on the skills of the other contestants and his own sharp wit. He wasn't nervous, but he wasn't exactly confident either. But that was good... wasn't it? One would be much better off cautious and modest, than prideful and arrogant. Nevertheless, the Akegarasu was still caught in the waiting game all the other participating Genin were caught in- anticipating the arrival of the next exam. Areru would arrive, and he would turn to her with a warm grin, his chin snuggled firmly onto the surface of his open palm.

"Hope you aren't tired just yet- there's still one or two body flicker maneuvers I think you might like to learn." He'd smile. Yes, the shimmering flicker and the flickering image. Assuming Areru hadn't learned those yet, he was prepared to explain and even give an example of both of them on the spot. There weren't that different from one another, and if she'd gone through her training for the retracting flicker as easily as Atlas had presumed she did, then she'd most likely have no trouble in learning them at all. But while she seemed eager to continue learning, the young male couldn't help but wonder if there were other techniques she'd much rather be learning at this time. As a temporary teacher, he felt it was his duty to be concerned and pry into these matters. Exactly what releases she possessed, however, eluded him- save for the element of lighting, of course. And so he would ask, a tinge of curiosity lining his calm tone. "Hey, so are you basically an electric enthusiast like me, or do you partake in any other releases? I might be able to teach you a few more things, depending on what you know. And stuff like that is good to know, anyway."

A great interest overcame his mind at the thought, as he waited for her answer. He'd known several ninja in Kumogakure with various releases and- in rare cases- ninja with kekkei touta like him. But exactly what powers did the young girl have? He knew she didn't have Katon, as his sensory detected no such element, and he had obviously become aware of her Raiton abilities. Those were the only two he was certain of, with several more releases open to debate. Perhaps she is like her brother, he mused, remembering the man's affinity with a combination of Suiton and Raiton techniques. Then there was the possibility that she was one like him- and suddenly it dawned on his mind. Her name, the meaning between the first and the last. Now he was sure of it, and he almost wanted to slap himself for not noticing it earlier! The Akegarasu, however, would contain the surprise of his find quite well, whilst maintaining a mellow look in his emerald eyes as he gazed back at the young woman. "Of course, we should probably finish up your training with the body flicker techniques first. Then we can get to the other releases later, hm? If you're up for it."

[Areru]

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She was quite glad that she had stumbled upon his grinning giant- Or, giant compared to the height she was at, at least. A few inches taller than she had she was tall for her age, but she didn’t expect to stop growing yet- Truth was she hoped she didn’t- It both made her closer to the sky above which dealt constant storms to the earth that she adored, and it gave her the advantage of being able to see further than everyone else due to her stature. However, her height hadn’t mattered at this point in time, as frankly, she was concentrating more on training with him that comparing how tall they were. Dishing another one of her usual smiles towards Atlas, she would bow her head a little bit- The second round would be starting soon, and she needed to get herself ready. As much as she enjoyed training with him, her future title of Chuunin would be at stake should she stay much longer!

”Hey, Atlas.
I’m real sorry- The exams should be starting soon and I have to prep myself up for them.”

A tinge of sadness in her words she had obviously had fun whilst learning all of the different techniques he had taught him and had liked taking the role of a teacher and showing him how to perform lightning armour to wrap around himself when he’d need it most. It was an exchange of techniques, although she was still in debt to him- ”-We’ll have to do this again after this round though, alright?” she’d ask in her casual tone, grinning a little bit, she looked forwards to this- It should be pretty interesting to see him again after the exam, she could ask him how it went for him, whilst she could but hope that he was to return from it in one piece! It was also her biggest desire not to die in these exams, as she had so much to look forwards to, training with Atlas being one of them.

And then- A question would be asked as she, with the same grin on her face, would be more than happy to answer to him. Even if they did end up fighting each other in the exams already, with his chakra detecting skills he knew the most about her and from training her, so; ”We Sansutsomu storm channellers. We all have the ability to mould together water, wind and lightning to create the fiercest storms that this land has ever seen!” with pride the dark haired girl would say this, a slight gleam in her bloody eyes- It was pride, of course. Alike an Uchiha who bore the pride of his or her clan, or a Hyuuga, she too bore the eyes that every member had, and she also had the weight of wanting to do well to impress her kin bearing heavily on her back. But- It was no weight to her really, as since being a small child she had hoped to be so! Did Atlas have any aspirations like hers? She’d have to find out later on.

From what she could tell at the moment, and what was currently logged in her memory of him- His affinity was mainly electricity although he was a very skilled sensor, and his shunshin techniques probably outmatched many in the exams. The colour of his hair, and the mask that resided on his face- All things that she would remember next time in case she needed to pick him out of a crowd! As she prepred herself to leave the girl would then briefly stretch her arms a little bit as her nose delicately moved upwards alongside her face, snow patting down on her gently- It was getting cold. ”Brr.” pause. ”I’ll see you later- Good luck in the next round, alright? If I end up against you I’ll do my best not to beat you up too bad.” she’d grin, the last part having been made of pure banter- She knew he outmatched her as far as chakra was concerned but- Could she? Maybe, maybe not!

Walking off from the land after giving a courteous goodbye to Atlas, she would soon disappear amongst the falling pieces of ice and the snow-powdered trees.

-EXIT!

[Iizuka]

+ 10 Each

[Estilo]

And it was then that the young woman declared that the next round in the exams were coming soon- reminding Atlas, as he had forgotten all about it during their training. The dynamic between the two, and their similarities with lightning and the manner in which they trained, had been a breath of fresh air. But now, his focus would have to be directed elsewhere- to the reason he'd traveled to this snowy and treacherous land. Like her, he sought to obtain the title of Chuunin, and he needed to prepare himself accordingly for the trial that was to come. And while he had done so with the exercise Areru had put him through, leading to the dawn of the lightning armor technique he'd learned, he would also have to prepare himself mentally- to plan out his methods of attacking and defending. To process all the scenarios that might manifest themselves in the coming days through his mind. With this reminder, the anticipation returned, and he hopped to his feet with a nod. "You're right." He would reply, brushing some snow off of his lap. "I oughta get ready, too. Almost forgot, to be honest."

Securing the gloves on his hands, and pulling on them lightly to make sure they were snug and fit, the Akegarasu would gaze out towards the direction of the main road, trying to remember the path he'd taken to get to this makeshift training ground in the first place. Then he would turn to Areru when she spoke up again, a grin on her face that clearly rivaled his own. "Definitely. And maybe we can train somewhere warmer tomorrow, after round two." He would suggest, a lighthearted smile present on his face as he spoke. "In fact, I spotted a dojo nearby, at the base of the summit. If the Samurai'll let us use it, I can meet you there in the evening, hm?" He presented his offer casually, not sure whether she had other plans during that time but willing to teach her some more things if she wanted to learn. The dojo in question had lit torches and spacious indoor rooms, so he figured that was the best location for training in general, in this snow-ridden territory. And he was looking forward to inspecting it tomorrow.

"Hey, but before we plan anything out... you don't happen to be... a storm user, right?" Her grin would spread a few inches wider on her face, and the Akegarasu knew he had hit the mark. So she was, and his suspicion had been confirmed when she connected her ability to the lineage of her family- the Sansutomu. She seemed to hold a lot of pride for her skill, and he didn't blame her. While he had proven he had an affinity for the storm element as well, he had yet to improve upon that affinity and advance in that release. Based upon the strange swirling in her eyes minutes ago, he was sure Areru already had some experience with those techniques. Not to mention her experience with sensor and lightning-based techniques. And now to find that she could also mold water- they had more in common than he had figured before. And that was a rare opportunity seldom ninja had. So, without a doubt, he was definitely looking forward to training with the lass once more.

Then she would depart, leaving with some witty remark and flashing a smile before disappearing between the snow-covered trees. Waving her off, the half-masked male would sit back down on the log and sigh. He'd recline backwards, positioning his hands behind him and propping them firmly on the edge of the log, as he gazed back up into the blank gray sky. Hopefully they wouldn't have to fight each other during the exams. But he couldn't be certain. After all, nothing in life was certain. But if it ever came to that, at least he had the power to decide whether he'd throw down or not- though, knowing his tendencies, he knew he wouldn't go pick a fight with her first. That wasn't his style, and starting a fight with another Cloud ninja was not something he desired to ever do in his career. He would relax for a few minutes longer. Thinking, not thinking. Losing himself in the blanketed skies above. Then, when he felt he was ready, he would hop up back to his feet and leave.

EXIT

[Estilo]

ENTER

Later, as he made his way out of the Summit and back into the cold embrace of the outdoors, he was never able to recollect the sequence and details of that memory: attempts to remember it produced nothing more than a tangle of dark images. There was a girl. He had met her somewhere, and now they were walking across a bridge. It spanned a small lake, in the middle of a town. The wind was ruffling the surface of the lake, making waves tipped with whitecaps, which seemed to Atlas to be tiny hands reaching for him. It perturbed him, but only slightly. And something told him he'd seen it all before, in a past life.

--Look there, said the woman. She was wearing a knee long, navy skirt, which flapped and tossed in the wind. He tried and pushed his mind to remember, and still he could not see her face. But soon his mouth was seeking hers and her lips were soft against his. Never had he kissed lips so soft. He had not known that there were lips so soft in the whole world. He pulled away and looked upward. The light was strange. The atmosphere filled with a pale blue dimness. There was an idea that hovered at the edge of his perception. Something about transience. It flickered and was gone. He took a step backward, misty breath escaping his lips. An outlandish feeling sent an enlivening chill down his spine.

--Who are you? he asked, turning down to face her. She had brown hair and light skin and her eyes were the deep golden-amber of good honey. --Do I know you? She made no answer, just pushed into him and dug her nose into his chest, hugging him tightly as if she'd never let go. He struggled to find himself, struggled to talk, his head now filled with sand dunes and desert winds. --Who are you? he asked again, gasping for the words. She stared up at him with eyes the color of dark amber, then raised her mouth to his and kissed him with a passion, kissed him so completely and so deeply that there, on the bridge over the lake, he almost collapsed. He rode the sensation like a kite riding a hurricane, willing it not to crest, wanting it never to end. He pulled himself back in control, to ask once more-- Do I know you? He wanted to know her name, but something in the back of his mind deterred him from asking such a question- yet.

She paused, opening her eyes as slowly as she was parting her lips from his. --Intimately she said, and she smiled. --I used to sleep on your bed. And my people have been keeping their eyes on you, for me. She turned to three glistening stars in the night sky above, pointed to them all. --Okay she said --One will make you wise. One will make you whole. And one will kill you.

--I'm already dead... I think said Atlas. She made a moue.

--There's dead she said --and there's dead, and there's dead. It's a relative thing. Then she smiled again. --I could make a joke about that, you know. Something about dead relatives. A blush began to glow on her cheeks.

--No said Atlas --It's okay.

A pause, a smile, her warm hand grasping his. --So she said --Which star do you want to pick from the sky? It's all random, you know.

--I don't know he admitted --I... don't know.

[Estilo]

She tipped her head on one side, a perfectly feline gesture. Suddenly, Atlas recognized the overwhelming beauty of this woman. He felt himself beginning to blush. --If you trust me she said --I can choose for you.

--I trust you he said without hesitation.

--Do you know what it's going to cost you?

--I've already lost my memory he told her.

--Memories come and memories go. Was it worth it?

--Yes. Maybe. It wasn't easy. As revelations go, it was kind of personal.

--All revelations are personal she said --That's why all revelations are suspect.

--I don't understand.

--No she said --You don't. I'll take your heart. We'll need it later. And she reached her hand deep inside his chest, and she pulled it out with something ruby and pulsing in the palm of her hand. It was the color of pidgeon's blood, and it was made of pure light. Rhythmically it expanded and contracted.

She closed her hand- and it was gone.
_______________________________________

A blast of air, shocking in its coldness, touched his face. It was like being doused in ice water. He was walking along the south side of a lake, and Atlas could see the patches of white ice dulling the surface of the lake with, here and there, a shiny patch of water reflecting the fire light of the dojo nearby. He stopped outside the wooden building with the large wooden deck, from which lit lampposts hung and twinkled invitingly with the flames within them. The Akegarasu scratched his chin. He could feel the lake spread out behind him as the wind blew down from the arctic, prying jack-frost fingers a hundred times colder than the fingers of any corpse. Atlas' breath came shallowly now. He could hear a wind rising, and for a moment he thought he could hear words on the breeze. If he was going to train anywhere, then he might as well train here, he thought. The snow fall showed no signs of dying anytime soon, and he didn't have the luxury to choose between a variety of training grounds.

Taking a fragile step forward, he'd enter the light. The substance in and of itself seemed to sting his eyes, and he felt he was obliged to narrow them in his efforts to avoid any further disturbance. Black boots rapped against the surface of the wooden deck as headed for the entrance. He couldn't say he didn't have any reservations, but surely the Samurai within the establishment would not strike him at first sight. They had a duty to uphold, and were entitled to pay their respects to their guests. Then his numbed hand would reach for the sliding door's handle, frigid fingers wrapping around its edge and pulling it open. The warmth emanated from within was relieving, flowing outwards like a wave of pure essence, something that almost seemed alive. He would enter the building now and gaze upon the spacious and empty room within- walls of oak wood on all sides. Another sliding door across, that appeared to lead to a patio out back. Atlas would leave the door slightly ajar and casually stride inside, gazing upon the framed pictures of samurai adorned on the walls. He would now wait for Yukiko to arrive, who surely wasn't far behind.

[Arashi]

”Blasted tundra!”. The frigid air was something closer to yuki no kuni! He could now see why most samurai wore those cumbersome suits of armor, they no doubt in addition to the safety they craved a warmth that was afforded by some sort of convenient lining. He had… in his foolishness forsaken the idea of bringing a more suitable set of clothes. He could perhaps once he made his way into the village, or outpost… whatever samurai chose to call their compound buy a jacket, or heavier clothes, whatever would satiate his need for a fervent and constant heat. He coarsely rubbed his hands over his arms, goosebumps covering him in odd tracks. He could take pride in the fact that he at least was not wearing shorts, he didn’t want to seem the fool when he already looked red in the face. He wandered aimlessly for a minute or two, peripatetic in his direction. He didn’t quite know of the proper conduct, the decorum of how to enter the samurai compound, at least with consideration of the inner sanctums where he assumed the chuunin exams were being held. The glares of the samurai were hidden by their iron visages, yet they followed him, motionless stone guardians.

Blood red locks, perhaps crimson, nay rouge. He could take many guesses with the various shades of color that he knew as to the proper name for his hair, but he doubted it would be the correct assumption. It was a polychromatic world, eyes of violet, azure, amber and hair of raven, blood, and sapphire. He couldn’t help but ponder all the people he had met who had a physical quirk or two as he found himself drawing closer to him, he had a magnetic presence… he exhumed power and his stature was older and perhaps taller than him. He… he felt offended by this man, and even envious, he would not find it hard to hate this man if their personalities should clash, for he seemed to be the epitome of what he wanted to be. His country was no doubt proud from the moment that such a man was reared within its borders, he wanted the same for his house. He aimed to be Konoha, nay not simply just konoha but the land of fire’s lancer… yes along the path he would find a different alias, one that sounded less awkward.

He projected his voice, far from a din towards the ear but from a polite distance of the man. All these samurai, well heck they might as well be frozen. He was referring to the way that they with such a stoic fashion remained still in their guard posts with an icy tempest around them. It was a joke that perhaps a fool could not catch every part of… but then maybe he was simply ahead of his self in the assumption that it was witty. He hoped this man was part of the chuunin exams, but it was possible that he was a chuunin already, the average age of a genin being younger by scales. Yet, he could not cast the first stone of judgement, he himself was a rather old ninja at least for his rank.

[Yuki-chan]

[Enter]

Cold air whipped against the female, who was now outside the summit. Subzero temperatures was not unusual for her...she had been borne in Yuki no Kuni after all. But Yukiko did not find the cold threatening in any way since it made it easier for her to do the Yukina jutsus. She looked at the snow with her ice blue eyes, deep in thought about the future. 'I wonder how it will be when I grow up' thought the girl as she looked up at the skies.

Would she become a Chuunin? She hoped so; the Genin had a goal of becoming a Chuunin before she became 16. Jounin was WAY out of reach at the moment for her. Would she get smarter? The female knew that she would...older people was usually a lot smarter than those who were a lot younger.

But that would mean that the brunette had to keep studying; she probably had to study harder than now. Which was fine with her since she could probably handle it by then. However, the girl had no idea of how puberty would be for her.
Many had said it was awkward...especially those who were early bloomers. Both of her parents had told her that neither of them had been early bloomers after she had confronted them with this after the biology class.

In fact, both of them had been a bit later than average. 'I hope I become almost as beautiful as the Yuki-onna*. I hate just being this small kid all the time' thought Yukiko as she caught up with her senpai. Perhaps she would get a boyfriend if she got lucky? One that was nice to be around and one who would not kiss other girls when he was with her. The female remembered that one of her cousins had told her this after she had broken up with her boyfriend.

"So senpai...what are we gonna start with?" asked the Genin as she looked up at him. She did not know a lot about sensors, only that they could find other shinobis by using their chakra or something. The girl's majors for now were genjutsus and Yukina jutsus. Other things would be fine too, but this was something she was a bit curious for her. What would her parents say when she came home stronger?

* Yuki onna = Snow woman. Japanese folklore ghost who appears during the winter time. She is described as a beautiful woman with long, black hair, white skin, red lips and frightening eyes.