Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea

Admin Posts : 2110 Join date : 2010-07-23 Age : 32

Techniques Learned:

Himiko stepped out into the field, stocked up on rations and drinking water prepared to get everything she wanted mastered, mastered. Humming to herself she found the perfect spot on the island, a flat field with the ocean just close by. There couldn’t have been a more perfect spot for her. Unrolling a scroll her old teacher gave her, she activated the seal and released a mannequin designed for genjutsu training, but she felt it could also work for developing a brand new style. Placing a hand to the mannequin, she pushed chakra through the shoulder, feeling the chakra absorbed in and begin running a loop. Retracted her hand, she felt the slow dispersion of the chakra, however for the most part it continued to remain in the mannequin. Happy with it, thankfully not needing too difficult a practise dummy for her techniques, she moved into position. “Alright… let’s do this. Seal. Seal. Seal. Focus.” She muttered to herself before giving an elongated note, funnelling chakra through her throat. She had to visualise the feel of chakra effecting her surroundings, a genjutsu-like trigger with a physical effect.
A good hour passed and her voice was gradually becoming hoarse from holding the note. Falling back she stared up at the sky, trying to work out what she was missing. Her genjutsu was easy because it could be taught, but this new technique was so different. Or was it? Flipping back up she decided to give one last idea a try before a break would be needed. Standing back up again she cleared her throat and began to sing a new aria, letting it simple flow as she felt came to her. A slow soft tune, eyes closed and feeling the slow trickle of chakra leaving through her voice. A simple realisation was all she seemed to need. Her voice penetrated her surroundings, but most importantly was the dummy. With her voice she could feel the water infused chakra finding a mark, binding to the body there. Hua Po Style had been a success, dubbing this new technique in particular, “… Autumn Song. Water chakra binding to a target I hit with my voice.” A smirk crossed her face. Curious, she continued, turning her aria slower, more melancholic. Her aim was to alter the chakra on the mannequin already instead of producing more. Opening her eyes she saw no effect. Trying something new, she turned her song lighter, more energetic. It just felt natural trying different ways to sing whilst focusing on the chakra projection. Her new technique made her buzz all over, making the technique itself feel a little difficult to keep going. The disruption however she focused on, the technique was disrupting her, and as she reached out with the voice, so too was the mannequin, to which she also noted was expiring on the chakra running through it. Whilst she couldn’t be completely certain, she felt the technique could perhaps work in disrupting other genjutsu. She made the mental note to try it next time she had someone who could use genjutsu.

Figuring it best to give her voice a rest she went on to practising something else new. She drew her three remaining vials of her chakra infused water, cancelling her in-use one that had doubled as a scarf. She had already figured out how to mold the water into objects, turning one vial into the scarf. Whilst the scarf was easy, she felt confident that she could do the same with further items of clothing. Simple really, she thought. But for now she had to focus on some actually offensive capabilities. Popping the corks from the three remaining vials, she poured one into her hand as the scarf melted back into the pale blue water. “Alright… let’s do this.” Everything had been planned out. Molding the water along with her chakra out in front of her she had the two vials worth swirl in front of her. She felt her chakra seeping out just trying to hold the motion going. Holding a hand still she had to keep her focus, the other wiping sweat from her brow as it was getting more and more difficult as she was expending chakra just to keep the technique going.

Beginning to tire herself out the swirling orb of water had been replaced with a new vial, having expended one vial already just in creating the technique. It was only as the wind picked up however that things began to work in her favour, the waves of the sea increased, and sending water vapour hurtling up. With the same idea in mind, holding the swirling water from the vials in one hand, she reached out for the water in the air with her other, bringing the two together. From the moment she combined them, the end result was sending her sprawling back. The blast of water was tremendous, the recoil sending her back. Groaning she returned to her feet, brushing the dirt off of herself. She went after the technique again, using her final vial and the ‘newest’ of the still available vials by itself this time, and drawing in more water. The same attempt was made, molding the chakra water to a disc first, using force to push the water through the lens. Time after time the effect would backfire, dribbling water at best, or sometimes rebounding. It was on the fourteenth attempt that it began to succeed. Twenty sixth the force of the blast was used. And twenty ninth that she had the attack stronger. Utterly exhausted she collapsed into the grass, chugging bottle of water after bottle of water, her dojutsu activating as it responded without queue to try helping her.

Himiko would spend another two hours resting herself, creating a new chakra vial between to try a new idea she thought of whilst eating her three courses of lunch. She tried not to think about the volume she consumed to replenish her stamina.

Once done she shot herself right back into work with the new vial. Lens Shot was powerful, but the charge time was not something she could do with too often, and the idea of mixing the local water with her own proved a powerful effect when it had backfired to hit her, and this idea was much simpler. Molding her own chakra water in her hands she swirled it into a ball, feeling the pulse as the water tried to push out. Besides the sea again she felt the water spray hit the side of her face, pulling that water into her hands. After the control for making the lenses she felt everything come together that much easier. Even so, despite the large meal her exhaustion quickly returned. She felt she had the technique in control, but her chakra couldn’t keep up. As such, she called it a day, packing up her gear to head home.

The next day she returned, unable to have filled all four vials again, but she only needed the two. Setting up her mannequin once again she would use it for target practise of the new techniques she would dub Suijin Style whilst using her chakra vials for them. She found difficulty in reusing them, however it was her aim she spent the most time working on, especially with the Lens Shot.

Passing back into the afternoon, practically having torn up the mannequin, Himiko once more took a break for lunch, able to relax that little more, humming her own aria to herself. She felt nervous most for what lay ahead of her that afternoon; the Boil Release, the combination of fire and water chakra. She’d learned the process many years ago, it was a highly used technique within her clan after all, but she’d always failed at doing so. However her prior day training had spurned an idea within her. Stretching herself off again she first began with her aria and Autumn Song, once again spreading her water chakra in her vocal range, preparing the mannequin. An easy task as she’d done a little more practise in her home in the shower the night before. With the area covered, especially her intended target, she took a deep breath preparing her breath and the heat she could conjure with the magnesium, a small snack helping in just that. “… alright… let’s not burn your mouth this time Himiko,” She took a deep breath, focusing her fire chakra in her stomach mixed with the water in the air from her Autumn Song. Everything mixed at odd levels, as she expelled the mixed chakra, she felt her mouth burn, and yet what came out surprised her; steam. One simple technique she had learned was now allowed her access to the techniques so much easier. Making a mental note to practise more later, she immediately was hit with a new idea.

Clearing her throat she stared down her target mannequin, took a deep breath and performed the same conjuration. As she began her aria however, she nearly buckled over from the painful sensation burning her throat. Unable to do anything else, she grabbed a vial of her chakra water and drank it. The sensation was completely unpleasant, and she was incapable of swallowing it, but it did thankfully sooth her throat. She learned from that however, she was exhaling the chakra, not like she did with her other aria. Hours passed into night as she continued trying, having to gargle on her chakra water each time she failed to prevent any permanent damage, and she knew she would be giving her voice a break for a while. As the sun was setting however she was getting the ‘boil’ nature out like her water release. She opened her eyes to better see if the desired effect was a thing. As she sang her aria whilst releasing the boil chakra, she watched the shimmer in the air around the mannequin. She’d successfully changed the water chakra clinging to the target with boil chakra.

Set in her new techniques, she would go about spending the remainder of the day practising them each further where she felt she needed, wanting to be prepared for meeting her group for the first time.

Subject: Re: Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea 11th March 2016, 7:42 pm

*Cough* technically you have 1696. *points to word count widget* ^.^ Approved please add the techniques to your profile.

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Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea Tamsyn10

Past is Past:

Admin Posts : 2110 Join date : 2010-07-23 Age : 32

Training:

Just another week. Another week and all this was coming into effect. Himiko had opted to take time out from the temple to devote herself to her training, what else could she do after all but keep herself fit. She was too old to be taken seriously as a genin and she wouldn’t be a genin much longer. And that was a promise. Leaving the temple for the last time as a genin, she wouldn’t accept defeat in the exams after all, she made her way down to the beach to completely prepare herself. Along the way she left behind her robe in the storage room, collecting up her satchel where she’d burned herself out some on preparing her chakra vials the night before, giving her plenty to work with. However she likewise knew everything she was doing was more on her own capabilities that the vials couldn’t help. With a cringe she prepared herself, letting the liquid sensations run over her, ripples running around her eyes to the back of her head, as everything began becoming clearer to her. Every droplet of water in the air became like a shimmering beacon of light. “Bakufu Manako… the Waterfall Eyes… damn these things make everything look amazing,” She commented to herself, letting her hand wave in front of her, giving a soft push of her chakra out of her pores and seeing the ripples across her skin.

Out on her beech she stretched herself out, craning her neck to the side and taking a deep breath in. Activating the first stage of her dojutsu was no problem at all, she could activate it on a blink and would barely register once it was there, besides the fatigue it would eventually bring on. But as the second stage was still new, it was a completely new experience for her to even bring herself up to it. Closing her eyes to focus herself inwards, trying to remember the process she was told to follow, activating the change that was still rather rare in the clan. Her eyes snapped open, the whole world beginning to shimmer for a brief moment before the water she controlled around her moved away from her eyes. She put her hands to her cheeks, taking the brief second it would show to see the water her eyes were leaking. Before it faded she noticed the red tint, a rather peculiar if obvious sign of the dojutsu’s effect. That alone she could feel the drain on her body before she was even weaving any chakra or techniques. Shrugging her shoulders she let her chakra flow through her body with as much control as she could muster without burning up any. Chakra control had never been her most difficult task after all.

Realising it was time to push for the strength, she flexed every muscle in her body. It was a strange feeling, one Himiko would argue she didn’t feel too fond of. With the increased control over her water chakra, she coated her skin. She coated her skin and pulled it back into her skin. And pushed it out again. In. And back out. The process of cycling water into the skin and out, letting the water chakra all but become the skin. “Yah!” She cried out as she gave that one final push as the controlled change took place.

The true feeling of Hydrification was not something Himiko had ever even thought it would be. She suddenly felt completely different, unique to the atmosphere around herself. She could feel her body as something wholey other. Looking over herself, with her dojutsu her whole body shimmered like light refracting in a diamond. She was actually making herself up of water now. She shifted back to normal in a blink, helped by cancelling her dojutsu before falling to the ground breathing heavily. She felt ill for the next few minutes down on all fours and staring at the ground, only reminding her of when she first activated her dojutsu. The mix of drastic bodily changes along with exhaustion and dehydration. At least know she knew how to get to that point and the effect it had on her. The experience with the dojutsu awakening was enough to prepare her. Taking a large swig from her flask to recuperate the water she lost in the change, along with pouring a little onto her face as that was often where the dehydration was more physical. Sweeping the moisture back through her hair she stood up again.

The second attempt came a lot easier, and definitely faster, as she knew what to prepare for. After the activation she found a whole group of new problems she had to adjust for. With the new liquid form, she felt her insides being held much more loosely, explaining her nausea and making the mental note to practise the transformation multiple times, preferably several a day, before the exams would take place.

Changing back to normal she decided to take a break whilst she resettled herself. She collapsed onto the floor, eyes set out onto the sea and watching the waves for now whilst running drills in her head. It was all good to have the skills after all, but to not plan out potentially strategies felt like a dumb move. She truly had no idea what to expect from the chuunin exams, besides the whole registering as a team deal. Knowing they had a training session coming soon, Himiko chose at that moment to focus on her own abilities. Thinking how best to join her techniques together. With how focused she had been on her vocal jutsu, she begun her learning how to combine them, and in particular, it was how to combine her Winter Song that would slow her opponents, and combining it with… something else. The obvious was her Summer Song, slow the enemy whilst inflicting them with her Boil Release. In theory, it was a nice thought. Winter attacks their speed, and Summer attacks their fatigue. Surely that combination alone would be a danger, so keeping the capability a secret was vital. Come to think of it, holding back a few abilities until necessary would make the team all the more dangerous. As a Zakiyoshi, anyone who knew of her clan would know of her alluring traits and style of genjutsu, but likewise, it was how she used her capabilities she wanted to show off most of all.

A smirk crossed her lips, figuring one more night of complete relaxing could do no real harm she removed her satchel, plumping it up with her priestess robe stuffed inside and set it down. Stretching herself as she sat down, she let gravity take her as she fell back on the ground, watching the waves from a lying position. Folding her hands under her head, she felt it nice just to focus on nothing, think about nothing. Just to enjoy the smell of the air and the sea, the feel of the spray in the air that splashed the bare skin of her usual attire, and the sounds of nothingness. She closed her eyes just to enjoy the feel of the water spray, happy just to envelope herself in that. Only when the thought came to her, grinning to herself. “Well… I did say I had to get used to the stage two,” She shrugged as she spoke to herself aloud just to justify her actions to herself. Opening her eyes again she activated her Waterfall eyes at their primary stage. With the ability to see the water spray much more clearly, she shifted herself to position most of the spray being viewed just above the waves.

It was night time when Himiko awake again. She couldn’t remember just when she’d fallen asleep, just knowing how content she was felt rather nice before the nerves began to itch at the back of her head. It took a few blinks, and she felt like her eyes were on fire. She learned for the first time that if she fell asleep with the dojutsu active, it wouldn’t deactivate right away. And that, that was not something she was ever warned about. She would make sure to pass on the message back to her clan to never fall asleep with the technique. Too much of a pain to deal with on waking up. Literally. It was then she realised her head was closer to the ground than it had been, along with the light weight on her chest. Slowly sitting up her priestess robe gradually dragged down her body. Pushing herself into standing, she had to stretch herself off again to remove the aches in her body from the hard ground, if a little thankful one of the other priestesses had come along to check up on her and to put the robe around her for warmth. That alone was enough to light the fire in her, all the more resolved to keep training and get stronger.

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Posts : 3780 Join date : 2012-05-06

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I am always available to help if you need it! Just send me a message here or on Discord, hope you enjoy your time here.

Admin Posts : 2110 Join date : 2010-07-23 Age : 32

Himiko wasn’t even sure she was prepared to teach these students, she’d already met them, flunked one of them for quitting, and awaiting a new third member to take their place. She was rapidly beginning to wonder why she agreed to this in the first place as she was already beginning to struggle juggling her own training, her duties as a Jonin, although when she thought about teaching a genin team was a pretty important duty for Jonin, and her personal duties in the temple. With the day set aside she intended to make full use of the latter. Stepping in to the temple, she smiled as she saw the new portraiture she had requested be shipping from Dipu. She was aware there was less of her clan in the area, but she had also been requested to share stories of their minor deity of worship, and doing so was something she’d never done before. But truly, she was long overdue to give this lesson. She only hoped that soon she could be teaching others in her clan of the stories of Kikuri.

“Miss Zakiyoshi? Do you need anything else for your lesson?” One of the other Priestesses of the Temple, a worshipper of another deity, brought in a pot of tea for Himiko.

“Oh, no Miss Misata. I have everything I need for my story. How long until they are here?”

“I believe the academy class will be arriving in the next half hour. If you don’t mind… I’d quite like to sit in,”

“Oh, am I going to convert someone?” Himiko smirked at the other Priestess who very quickly became rather flustered. “I’m joking, don’t worry. Kikuri is the Zakiyoshi’s deity for a reason. You’re welcome to sit in later and you’ll find out for yourself why that is,” The other woman was still a little shy about it, but nodded and wandered off again leaving Himiko to herself.

Eyes closing she folded her hands in her lap, keeping her eyes closed as she too activated her dojutsu and Scrying, seeing her own self through the tea sat in front of her. “Goddess Kikuri, lend me your guiding voice to tell the tales passed down for generations. Let my words find the wisdom you beseeched and to share the desires of honor and reverence to those whom spoke these words before this daughter had the voice to speak them herself. And let the sons and daughters of the world leave your presence with strength of mind and soul to have clarity in their own lives and beliefs.” She finished her prayer in silence, remaining there several moments before picking up the tea and taking a sip.

She was filled with immediate regret as she forgot to deactivate the Liquid Scrying, able to see for a brief time as the liquid went down the back of her throat. Immediately her eyes snapped open and for a moment she spluttered upon the liquid running down her neck, having to cough several times to dislodge any so she could breath clearly. “Oh… wow that… that was a mistake.” As she looked around, the priestess Misata was giggling to herself. “… you saw nothing,”

“Yes Miss Zakiyoshi, I saw nothing. Your class is here by the way, they are at the entrance. Miss Kamito will bring them i- oh, welcome young ones,” She trailed off as another Priestess walked in to the room of the temple trailed by a small handful of academy aged children. This was all completely voluntary, and Himiko was sure there was one or two who were in it just to miss their regular class, but it was still a good opportunity.

Himiko would stand up with a smile on her face as she bowed her head to greet them all, “Good afternoon. My name is Himiko Zakiyoshi, I’m a Priestess of Kikuri and we welcome you to my little class.” Right away she was identifying for herself the ones who were just here to skip class to keep an eye on. “Whilst I finish mentally preparing, I will just say this is my first time teaching of Kikuri, I am happy to answer any brief questions,”

“Are you a shinobi too?” Himiko didn’t even get a second to breath before the question came, and from the sudden muttering she easily worked out there was a chance she was recognised from somewhere.

“Well, that’s a fair question. And the answer is yes, I’m a Jonin rank kunoichi. So I hope to one day maybe see some of you in action in whatever career you choose to take for yourself,” Suddenly there was a flurry of hands, “But I would like to ask that you don’t ask anymore questions on that. For today I am but a simple Priestess,”

“So how can you kill people and be in a holy place?” This was one of the boys who had been chattering and smirking when they entered earlier, and clearly was trying to show off as the ‘tough kid’.

“Because that is simple the world we live in, and the clan I belong to,” She didn’t miss a beat in her answering, catching the boy off guard. “As I tell you the story of Kikuri, I will also tell you the story of- oh,” she trailed off as one of the shyer looking boys tried to look away from meeting Himiko’s eyes; a Zakiyoshi boy. “… this story is one that is intertwined with my own clan, an important factor to the story of Kikuri.” The whole group began to mutter to themselves, and Himiko glanced towards Misata again.

Taking a deep breath Himiko folded her hands together as she was causing a light mist to flood the room. She set a vial of her chakra water in front of her and began to manipulate it into shapes to follow along with her story, first taking on the form that was reminiscent of Kikuri in the painting behind her.

“Centuries ago, before the old world countries came together, there was a clan of people who lived in symbiotic relationship with the sea. One of the earliest recorded matriarchy clans I might add. These were the Takiyoshi clan, and my ancestors. But this story is about their matriarch, the head of the clan at the time was a young woman; Kikuri Takiyoshi. The stories told that Kikuri was very intune with the spirits of the ocean and would make many trips across the country following the shoreline to commune with as many of these spirits as she could. Along the way she is said to have discovered spirits of the ancestors living on the shores and bringing fortune to the Takiyoshi fishermen. Kikuri founded the first of what would become Zakiyoshi temples in order to give thanks to the spirits who continue to watch over us and grant us their blessings. Over time, the Temple flourished, and fortune rained down upon the clan. Kikuri became a true Sage of the Sea, and she and her handmaidens would take care of the temple, as well as learning special techniques from Kikuri herself. A little step away, but a nice little fact is that the Zakiyoshi style of genjutsu was begun with Kikuri and her handmaidens. But back to the story.” Himiko would then begin to thicken the mist, whilst all of those listening were enraptured.

“Nearing the end of Kikuri’s life, she was communing with the ocean’s spirits, when something amazing happened. She was given a gift that could only be hers. She was given the gift to forever see the Spirits, wherever she went, and could see the very flow of the ocean itself, no matter where she was.”

“Is… that the weird… eye… thing?” The Zakiyoshi boy would interrupt to ask, getting a nudge from a prim and proper looking girl for interrupting.

“Actually, yes. Whilst it’s a tragic story in itself, Kikuri was in fact the first person to receive what we now called the Bakufu Manako, or Bakufukogan, which is my clan’s dojutsu. But back to the story. With this new ability, Kikuri returned to the clan and further spread the teachings to all she could, along with displaying amazing new abilities, including an extended life. As time went on, Kikuri would go on to have many children, who would have children themselves, and so on. It was around the 6th generation that Kikuri would pass away. On the evening of her death, there was a monsoon that was halted by Kikuri’s children who would lose their lives to protect the clan and the temple. Sources went on to say that one by one the children lost their strength, until a figure would appear out of the mists, and would a single touch… their strength multiplied. That source was the spirit of Kikuri, giving her children the power of her eyes. Each child got a portion of her strength, and together they succeeded in the protection, however only one actually survived, but lost his very sight when he was found.”

“So… he was given dojutsu to protect people… and because of this very incident he lost his eyes all together?”

“Sadly yes. And it was his offspring who took the clan in a very difficult direction. His actions left us exiled from our original homes, however the name Kikuri had made for herself gave the clan a lot of weight, and soon that same offspring was exiled from the clan.”

“What did he do?”

“… he forsook our ancestors, forsook the spirits themselves. The spirits granting Kikuri the powers of her eyes, and Kikuri shared her gift with her children. He tried to unearth these powers in people of the clan in ways no longer in record. Whilst we cannot argue he was successful and the clan became a power in the world of shinobi, he was removed from the clan, and proved to be the only many in history with the name Takiyoshi. In order to differentiate ourselves, we renamed the clan Zakiyoshi.”

“That’s not much of a difference,”

“Y-Yes well… perhaps people back then weren’t as creative as they are now. But it still worked. The Zakiyoshi clan formed great bonds across the land, we maintained our relationship with the sea. And most importantly, we gave worship to our ancestors. In most ways, Kikuri was just a woman who loved her people, loved the ocean, and was fortunate enough to be see as worthy to interact with the spirits of this world. It was that same kind heart that we teach and carry on to this very day.”

“So you can see the Spirits of the Ocean again, right?”

“You couldn’t be more wrong,” This once more got a murmur out of the group. “We can’t control the spirits any more than we can control the flow of time. We give them thanks for the fortune that they bring, and for giving us the guiding voice of Kikuri Zakiyoshi. That is why we give those who came before us the same worship as we give to the spirits and to Kikuri. She was truly a Goddess among women,” She took one final breath and withdrew the mist from the room and settling the water back in to the vials. She looked up with red cheeks, hoping the class enjoyed her little lecture. Misata began the light applause, needing to of course keep the volume down within the temple, and soon being joined by the group as a whole.

One by one the group was being filed out then by the two Priestesses whilst Himiko would drink the last of her tea, smiling to the group as they one by one left the temple. Even with her eyes closed Himiko could recognise that there was an obvious lurker still. “You know, I can tell you’re here still,” She opened her eyes to see the Zakiyoshi boy flinching.

“O-Oh erm… I’m sorry Miss Himiko. It’s just… my parents they… they don’t actually believe the stories of Kikuri. You see… they were both shinobi in their youth, and became rather disheartened when they were unable to manifest their dojutsu. In fact… as far as we can trace, the Bakufuko has never been activated in my family.” Himiko gave a soft sigh as she scooted over on her knees, turning to face the Kikuri painting and patted the ground besides her. After a second the boy joined her.

“Please, let me indulge myself in a little prayer,” She received a short nod from the boy and closed her eyes again, folding her hands together. "Goddess Kikuri, protect my path, watch this son of the seas as he sinks in to the unknown. Let his eyes witness your guiding spirits, and let those who came before be there to greet us upon our return," With another second of silence she opened her eyes to see the boy beginning to stand up again.

“Thank you Miss Himiko. May… May I come again?”

“You’re welcome here any time. Next time I’ll brew us some tea and I can tell you some more stories.” To touch at least one person, that was all Himiko wanted for the day, and she was confident she had done just that. Sipping the last of her tea she would collect up her things and be ready to head out for the day. With the tea pot nestled under her arm she would stand before the Kikuri portrait once more and give a deep bow to it in respect. She would feel a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over her now she was completely settled down after the little ‘story time’ session.

With a short goodbye to Misata and the other temple Priests and Priestesses she would leave for the day to return home to rest in preparation of what she planned to do with her new team in the coming days. She had worked plenty on her new style of genjutsu, one she felt confident would work well against even the stronger opponents with just how deeply she could drag someone in to her genjutsu and with so many layers. Work on the Mist Servant style had been long and hard, and while she had yet to successfully put it in to practise against an actual opponent, she truly hoped she wouldn’t have to any time soon, but it would provide her a strong point when she made the attempt to return to the old clan home once again. Telling Kikuri’s story only invigorated her that much more to return to the old home, to make a new home for her clan. With just how many stories went around about the members of the clan outside of the ASN, she wasn’t sure exactly how that was going to work out, but there was still plenty of Zakiyoshi within the shinobi ranks who needed a new solid and perminant home and that was what Himiko hoped to achieve, and hopefully create bonds to those who wanted to remain outside of the shinobi territories. They were free to do as they wished after all. IF she could truly make a new home for them, she would welcome those with open arms, but likewise she knew the world had changed the clan since the old days of Kikuri’s strong influence and the desire for a solid home was not a necessity for many anymore.

Training:

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Posts : 3780 Join date : 2012-05-06

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I am always available to help if you need it! Just send me a message here or on Discord, hope you enjoy your time here.

Admin Posts : 2110 Join date : 2010-07-23 Age : 32

Himiko was partially glad she was heading home alone from the neutral lands. She’d gone all that way for a mission, elected to remain behind and go a little undercover, as many might just argue, to spend a little time learning in the local temple. Having a fully dedicated temple to spend time in, whilst there was nothing there for her own Kikuri or the ruling Datara, it was still nice to be in such a tranquil area. Even if she did have to hide her shinobi career alongside her Priestess duties. As far as they were aware, she was just a travelling monk, and her past jobs escort aided her in that regard at least. Strange what just a single passing comment can do to change peoples minds.

During her time there she had never hidden she was a Priestess of Kikuri, her clan had long split from the ASN and she was aware there wasn’t too many left clustered together, but at least they seemed to be known enough to know who they worshipped. She would learn about the other deities she was never aware of, seeking to learn simple respect and expectations of other deities and their temples. Within two days she could easily pass among the regulars of the temple of Susanoo, with exception to her Kikuri Priestess robes she wore. It was more surprising for her how many would actually recognise the robes. She of course now had such a better idea.

But now she was going home. She’d received a letter saying that she was to have a visitor real soon. And she was actually quite excited to finally see Armen again after so long. She had really hoped to impress him with some new moves, but she hadn’t yet had the time to completely perfect her newest styles. Maybe if she had time upon returning she could work on her Oil Release, but she just as much felt she wasn’t likely getting into a fight with him, sparring or not. Likewise she had sent her students on ahead of her, and with time she felt she had a decent idea of how to help the group. This mission had been a nice way of getting them together, especially after they had already had a moment rotate, she just hoped it wouldn’t happen again as she already felt like she was failing Crystal’s expectations for her as a Jonin teacher.

No! She needed to stop thinking that way. She was doing her absolute best with them. She just couldn’t help feeling like she wasn’t ready. She was just taking on so many plans all at once and preparing for just one at a time as well as being a teacher for her students. She scrambled her fingers through her hair just trying to fight off the horrible thoughts of uselessness. With a sigh she would stop, wondering if she might be able to get some pointers from Armen. He was running a big organisation now, right? Surely he could help her better understand how to be a teacher.

A hand fell on her shoulder, the woman walking along behind her looking with curiosity at just what was wrong with the blue haired woman. Himiko looked back with a slightly shy smile. The last few days had been even weirder when this woman came in to the picture. Himiko had never quite worked out what the whole ‘imprinting’ portion to her clan’s heritage was. She had only heard rumours and that it had begun to be common for Zakiyoshi to even settle at times. But as one of only a few now to possess the Bakufuko , once she had first felt that pull to love, she couldn’t deny it. The idea of explaining her to… well… basically any body back home was daunting. No matter what was she could ever hope to word it, she had bought a slave girl. Yeah, the girl was now freed, and yes she wasn’t expecting her to return the strange feelings Himiko had for the girl, but that feeling of love just couldn’t leave her. So for now she was more than content just giving her a home whilst she worked out what she might like to do with herself now she was freed. They’d become friends at least, but things were still awkward. People might’ve seen Himiko as slightly awkward at times before, but this was more than that.

“I’m fine, I’m just thinking about things.” She would muttered, resisting with all her strength from just embracing the girl worrying. “C’mon, we’re not far from Haka now.” She would point out in front of them towards the growing outline of the village. “It’s been my home for the past two years now, and it will be for hopefully not much longer. I’d visited this beautiful place, and I’ll be going to another soon, but hopefully I can bring more peace to my people, help to give a place to them. And… I hope to make it a safe haven for people like you. The Shinobi Nation doesn’t exactly use slavery and all, but I want to make a haven for those who are freed or escape servitude.” The two women exchanged a smile and they would carry on in silence. Neither was really terribly comfortable just yet going any further than minor small talk, and whilst Himiko spoke a lot about herself, or rambled would be the better word, she knew next to little about the girl she had bought.

It was still a rather dirty idea. Even the one who was selling her had been such a dirty man, making fun of the Zakiyoshi for wanting some strange things. At first she didn’t know what the man meant, she had simply seen the girl and immediately went to inquire. Later learning her heritage was similar to Himiko’s own, in terms of genetic race any way, along with she herself bore a rare form of dojutsu. She began to understand the cost. And even more did she realise how lucky to be found she was, as there were so many that could abuse that power. Just another hour… oh god what would she say to her team about this mystery girl she’d returned with.

Char Spec: 1.4k/1k

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Subject: Re: Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea 9th July 2017, 7:16 pm

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Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea G0WjTfW

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Zakiyoshi Training Area by the Sea AwblMK0

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*Totally didn't steal the spreadsheet from Yuki...

Admin Posts : 2110 Join date : 2010-07-23 Age : 32

Learning:

Himiko groaned as she rolled over in her bed, feeling the effects of the long hours of sleep catching up on her as the sun was shining hotter and brighter through her window drapes that it normally did when she awoke in the mornings. The stinging of her eyes as she brought a hand up to rub them only told her further that she had long overslept. She froze up as her own movements seemed to cause a chain reaction in her bed, in doing so, without her eyes open still, she felt a shifting in the bed, and for a moment she had long since forgotten the events of the night before. It had been a few days since she had returned to Haka alongside her new friend and crush Cecelia, and the last night had been the first in which the two had truly begun to get to know each other. Himiko had invited her along to a teaching session she had arranged at the temple, the first and only time Himiko would commit to her duties in the temple before she was to leave the village on other assignments. But she wanted Cecelia to see this final part of her life, and it even seemed as if Himiko had succeeded in wooing the woman, at least a little. Himiko had given a little lesson to a bunch of academy students in the courtyard on some more traditional roles as a water element specialist shinobi, and would let those curious stick around after and she would show them her ‘other job’ as the Priestess. She was a little sad when only one young boy remained, one she had seen before at her other lessons, but there was something off about him this time.

The boy, Himiko could tell with only a glance the first time, was from the same clan as she, a Zakiyoshi boy. But she could see the signs, recalling it in herself all those years ago, he had awoken his Bakufu Manako, the Waterfall Eyes. She recalled the process of the awakening, one that she was made to go through as the clan heir by blood. As a member of lineage, she had been put through the secret trial to awaken the powerful dojutsu so that she might make a good head one day, but it was not something that she would wish upon others. She felt certain the boy would not have gone through the same trial as she, as far as she knew she was the only direct ancestor to Kimiko and only they would go through the trial. A sickening feeling hit her stomach as her hand dropped, covering her stomach as the mere thought nearly made her throw up. She gulped and instead put her arms around the boy.

“Miss Himiko? What’s wrong?” The boy had asked, unaware of the secret ritual Himiko had done as a little girl that gave her the same power.

“S-Sorry. It’s just… you learn to recognise when a Bakufuko has awakened. Especially in someone so young,” She pulled herself back with a loving smile. She had activated her own first stage, the water trailing down her cheeks and absorbing back in to herself under her jaw line. She did this to not frighten the boy. He had a long life ahead of him, and gradually he might attain further stages of the dojutsu empowered by love, and loss. The mere she thought about it, her clan truly had tragedy in their veins. The only way to activate the dojutsu was to nearly die from dehydration, and to be saved by another who would help to rehydrate the body upon passing out. The reach the first stage, the must suffer their first heart break in taking a life. And that made Himiko think back at that horrible day so many years back.

Two months after awakening the Bakufuko Manako, Himiko was back to training with ‘Elder Sensei’ for the first time. She was learning to control it better, to go longer times of activation without suffering the effects, and she had spent much of the day with the dojutsu activated as she trained. For someone so young she had already grown in to her ancestors’ fighting styles. She was a capable ninjutsu user, and she was already beginning to grow better with her use of vocal triggered genjutsu, right on track to master her family’s style.

“That’s good Mistress Himiko. Focus the chakra, kneed it in to the water,” She was being instructed on her family’s secret technique of chakra infusion. It was a difficult process alone to mix pure water with chakra, but to do so with her dojutsu activated was exceptionally more difficult.

“Ugh! This is impossible!” She remembered she was a rather hot headed child, for one to grow up to be so calm and serene. Or most of the time she was. Her partners Armen and Deci always seemed to get the more lively side out of her, especially the former. But it would be many years before she would even remotely meet these two at that time. As a child she was hit on the head by a water constructed blunted rapier. It was created to sting as it struck her, but would not actually cut. Elder Sensei was exceptionally strict. “Ouch! S-Stop hitting me!”

“Then stop your blubbering and do it! It isn’t hard!”

“Then you do it! Ouch!” She was struck again for speaking out.

Meanwhile a young man was storming out on to the beach the two Zakiyoshi’s were training on, a small sack bundled under his arm and a kunai held in his hand. A young man, fresh out of the Dipu academy of all things, had gone rogue so early in his life. He had attended the academy to learn ninjutsu, and as soon as he graduated, used what he learned to steal. And miraculously for him up until that point, he had not been pursued.

“God dammit, you! Granny and brat!” He held a hand up and pointed the kunai at the both of them. “You gotta have a boat or some shit, hand it over.” Elder Sensei huffed, puffing her chest out and stood between the man holding a weapon and the young Himiko. “Oh shit, you’re those freaky fish freaks right? Ha! Oh shit look at them fucked up peepers!” He was cackling, pointing his kunai at Himiko as it was clear it was she who he was laughing at. He stopped as something came over him, “… Oh shit, you’ve got them eyes too right?” He began to grin with a sadistic fashion. Elder Sensei stepped more in front of Himiko, grunting as she activated her own Bakufu Manako, “Oh shit, you too? Damn, I could make some serious cash for a set of those eyes.” That grin only got wider, stretching his face beyond what should have been humanly possible, “After I implant that little girlies in to my own sockets.” His grip on the kunai got sharper, before an aura of chakra began to swell around the blade. He lunged forwards as Elder Sensei drew water from nearby to form in to her rapier form. She swung forwards, using the rapier’s much longer reach to stab at the man who took the water constructed blade right through the shoulder. However he only flinched, continued going and drove his blade to the side of Elder Sensei who barely dodged it. He began to laugh right in her face. Elder Sensei looked shocked at how he just laughed off the pain, even as she twitched her fingers, manipulating the rapier blade in to a full broadsword, splitting open more of his shoulder and even dislocating the arm. The chakra swirling kunai dropped to the floor, but his other arm was already moving. He grabbed at her face as chakra once more swirled. The elder woman screamed, and Himiko couldn’t even see what happened besides the water sword dispersing in to the air, and Elder Sensei going limp. “Well shit, my first dojutsu so soon in to my career,” Himiko was horrified at the side, her Elder Sensei was twitching on the sand of the beach, writhing in pain with her hands over her face. But there was plenty of blood.

“S-Sensei!” Himiko spluttered out as she crawled over, just narrowly seeing through the gaps in her teacher’s fingers that she was cut around the sockets, and with nothing inside of them. She knew very little about things, however there was one thing she understood. This man used medical ninjutsu. As time went on, Himiko would have later learned the boy was a member of the Taki clan, learning medical ninjutsu from a young age and overlooked for his love of ‘surgery’. He continued forwards, driving his boot in to Himiko’s jaw and knocking her sprawling to the floor. Her day of training with her dojutsu left them and the rest of her body exhausted. Her eyes were red as they reverted to normal, looking up at him.

“Psht, damn those look worn out. I need them in their best condition,” Was all he said before driving his boot in to the young Himiko’s face again. And with that the girl was knocked out cold.

Himiko didn’t expect to ever open her eyes again, waking up with her hands bound in a familiar place as she had been brought in to Elder Sensei’s shack, likely for the new missing nin to hide out in. But as she blinked her eyes open, she was surprised to still have her sight. She looked to the side, letting out a gasping noise as Elder Sensei was propped up not too far from her. The older woman had bandages drapped around her eyes, tinted red as they still bled, and the woman heaving for breath. Himiko had always known she was a strong willed women, but this was only proving that to her.

“And would you look at that, the little girl finally comes too. Lemme see those pearly blues,” the man was sat with his boots propped up on the dinner table, excited it sounded like. “Turns out, granny’s eyes there are actually better than yours despite being a decrepit old hag,” He was taunting the two Zakiyoshi women, taking long, slow steps towards them.

“Himiko.” Elder Sensei muttered, head fixed forwards. “Those eyes of mine. They… they are gone,”

“Granny’s right. They’re mine now,” Himiko looked up as his shadow loomed over her. Looking in to his eyes she could see that same warmth love of Elder Sensei, but twisted in to a horrible visage of hate. He had transplanted himself with her Bakufu Manako. And from what she recalled, Elder Sensei had reached the second stage of the dojutsu, certainly a higher level than her own. He held up his hands, gloved, but chakra swirling again. Himiko knew what was coming next.

“I… I can never have them back. My… My sight is gone. He severed the nerves.” Elder Sensei growled, and yet her tone was still strong.

“Shut up granny!” The man yelled at her, swinging with the back of his hand and striking her across the face, sending her falling to her side again.

“Sensei!” Himiko shouted back on reflex. The man reached down and grabbed Himiko by the cheeks, forcing her to look up.

“You are a pretty little thing aren’t you,” He had that same inhuman grin again, licking his lips as the eyes that she could not look in to darted all over her face. “I think I’ll have to keep you around. Your eyes will net me a fortune, put a little mask on you and I’ll never have to look in to them. Maybe even get a bigger fortune,” She didn’t like the tone in his voice. She clenched her eyes shut a moment as he laughed at her trembling fear. “Well, let’s get go-“ He was cut off as something loud banged down her ear. His grip on her face was gone and she heard him sent flying. Besides her, Elder Sensei was breathing even heavier.

“Hi-Him-Himiko. B-B-Burn… H-Him,”

“You… fucking bitch!” Himiko looked over, the man was drenched in water. The young girl didn’t wait, Elder Sensei had blasted him with some powerful water technique. She watched him gripping his leg with one hand, and a shoulder with another as both hands glowed with chakra of his medical ninjutsu. This gave the woman a little time. She looked down at herself, feeling her anger swelling within her chest, and exhaling hot flames that burned the rope binding her. She stomped up to her feet, feeling exhausted still, but so very, very angry. The man stood again after healing himself, dripping wet still and laughed as Himiko stood defensively in front of Elder Sensei. “Oh please girly. You saw how quickly the hag got taken out. Don’t even try.”

Himiko worked quickly, forming the hand seals as the man was lunching for her. She just barely got them done in time, hands coming to her mouth, chest pushed as far out as she could with how much air she took in. “No! Fuck you!” She had never sworn before, but it just felt so right. With an exhale of flames, she poured as much chakra in to the flames as she could muster. A loud roar echoing through the hut as flames flew. This was unlike the usual Roaring Flame of the Zakiyoshi clan, this was different. This was more powerful, and the roar fierce. It wasn’t the Roar of an attacking lion, this was the cry of a defensive matriarch, a Lioness. It wasn’t an animal she felt a bond to, or she wouldn’t at that point, but over time she would feel like bond through how she looked at others. But that day was the day of firsts for her. Her Bakufuko Manako activated as she watched, her rage pushed in to her fire as she assaulted sadistic young man. The water coating his body was boiled, scalding his flesh red all over. But Himiko did not stop until he slumped to the ground.

Minutes passed in silence, only the mix of haggered breathing from both Himiko and Elder Sensei filled the room. Neither Zakiyoshi woman knew what to do. The young man didn’t even move, his body steaming, blood trailing from areas of his body. With a gulp, Himiko approached and cautiously rolled the man over. He was certainly did, but it was his face that would be burned in to Himiko’s memory. He had gone head first in to her first. Burns covered his body, but what she noticed most of all was that she had burned out his eyes. She had burned out Elder Sensei’s eyes in his sockets. She turned, untied her sensei and just collapsed in to her arms. “… Himiko. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Himiko wanted to say just that, she didn’t feel Elder Sensei had a reason to be sorry. That day was long, and despite the injuries, Himiko would not allow Elder Sensei to stop being her teacher.

Cecelia put her hand on Himiko’s shoulder as she was brought back from the memory. Her hold on the young boy had tightened a little, and both Cecelia and he had no idea what was making Himiko cry the way she was.

“Himi? Are you ok?”

“Oh, y-yeah,” She sniffled as she stood back, letting the boy go. “S-Sorry. Erm… look. If you ever want some one on one training, come find me, ‘kay?” She smiled that same warm smile she always had, and the boy returned it and nodded.

The two women were left to their own devices then. Himiko grabbed Cecelia’s hand, shocking the other woman as she wasn’t used to Himiko’s affection just yet. She would have to take a trip to Dipugakure again soon to meet Elder Sensei again. But that night Himiko would fall asleep with Cecelia by her side for the first time.

WC: 2656 / 2625

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» [Genin Training Grounds, Area 6] Team 6 Meet Topic (Dual Training)
» Sparring with a Genius. (Chunin Training Ground - Area 3) [Summer & Jazz Only]
» (NPC) Kyo Zakiyoshi
» Zakiyoshi Clan
» Alicia Zakiyoshi

Road Trip

With the first round of classes complete and the students already acclimated to life at the academy. The school has organized a field trip in order to give the students a taste of what …

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