Open [Class] Clone Tactics

Another day, another chance to pass down his knowledge to the next generation. Today's lesson would be about something that had served him very well in his career so far. He called it 'Clone Tactics' but in reality, it was something everyone recognizes as one of the most fundamental skills. Usually, teachers would try to teach the skill and then show their students how to use it, but not Kazan. He wanted to educate the students on ways they could use the technique in combat, rather it be for defensive or offensive purposes. However, Kazan would show them the benefit of Clones far beyond just attacking and defending.

It was early, roughly about seven in the morning, today. The Academy was fully lit, with students running through the hallways trying to find their classes. As he stood outside his doorway, leaned against the wall beside the door, he wondered how quick of a class this might be. It was a lecture, and presentation, style mixed with a discussion. He just wanted the students to think about the use of these type technique and how it could be used in combat, or on missions. The confusion and chaos, that a fundamental strategy, could chaos was funny to him. Hopefully the students would understand him, his intentions, and how crucial this actually was.

As the bell rang, he opened the door and walked into the classroom. He had no desk, or chair, for himself but the students would find rows of seats. This was a lecture style classroom, after all. Standing front in center, the white board behind him held the title of the class written in big bubble, high vis pink and black, graffiti letters. The design of all this was meant to show some form of color and life, but also represent chaos and confusion for what one would typically find at the academy. Hopefully, it was properly represent what he wanted to pass down today.

[Wc: 325] [Marked]
[Class: Open to all]

[1/5 & 325 words so far]

The academy’s upper halls buzzed with the thin hum of morning lights, like a static whisper threading through the air. Nozomi’s footsteps fell soft against polished tile as she made her way through the corridors with a leather strap over her shoulder and the faint smell of clay lingering on her hands. She hadn’t expected to see him again so soon, the red-haired man from the Colosseum, the one who had fought the ANBU to a standstill. When she reached the open classroom door, there he was, Kazan, standing before the whiteboard scrawled in chaotic pink and black letters: Clone Tactics. He didn’t sit, and he didn’t need to. The space around him seemed to bend slightly inward, like gravity remembered who it should listen to.

Nozomi stopped just inside the doorway. For a moment she considered bowing and yet she did not. Instead, she inclined her head respectfully, then found a seat near the front where she could listen without being lost in the crowd. She had no desire to speak out of turn, not here, and not now. Her gaze flicked between his hands and his stance, remembering the precise violence she had seen in the arena. Such as the way his strikes had folded the air, the poison, and Genjutsu woven together like threads in a tapestry. There had been no wasted motion and no arrogance. Just purpose. Now, seeing him here, she felt the same wary respect one might feel standing too close to the edge of a storm.

The classroom filled quickly, students settling into the rows. The hum of conversation faded as Kazan turned, his expression unreadable behind his easy composure. Nozomi straightened in her chair, her fingers laced neatly on the desk and her heartbeat steadied. She was ready. Nozomi planned to listen closely, with every muscle in quiet attention. Her mind preparing itself to trace each sentence into mental diagrams and lock them away for future use. She pulled out her notebook and began to write the title of the lesson, 'Clone Tactics.' Her handwriting was steady, and her resolve, steadier still. Whatever this lesson offered, she intended to learn it fully.

[WC: 360, Marked for Training]
[Class Requirements: Post 1/5 360/1,000 Words]

Another day, another chance to finally figure out some of this shinobi stuff. Yosuke moved quickly through the sparse traffic flowing through the Academy halls. Despite the lack of bodies, he still held his bag against his side with his elbow. Old habits died hard and the pickpockets of his hometown had reinforced the need to keep your possessions close. Still, the large books dug into his side and reminded Yosuke where he was. He let out a breath and relaxed his body, finding calm in the quiet murmur of students and the hum of the old lights overhead. He quickly found the classroom for “Clone Tactics” and as he walked in he was immediately impressed with the man who was teaching the class.

He was supposedly the head of the Main Branch and everyone who spoke of him did so with great respect. Yosuke filed up to one of the few open desks left as the last few stragglers came in behind him.

Dang, I guess a lot of people wanted to attend this lesson. Makes sense, this guy seems like a big deal.

As Yosuke pulled out his supplies, he spotted a familiar face among the crowd. The young blonde girl who’d attended the other special lecture with him. Her attention seemed glued to the lecturer, like a fishmonger tallying up all the catch for the day, no detail escaping their focus. Yosuke turned his view to the man teaching their class and immediately he could tell that this guy was serious business. He wore gleaming armor made from some kind of rare metal or… scales maybe. To Yosuke’s barely trained senses he felt like a deep dark pit, like the feeling you get when you stare down into the ocean for too long.

Wow… wait, I recognize him from somewhere.

Yosuke scratched his head as he attempted to discern where he’d seen this imposing man before. Then as he looked into his stark red eyes Yosuke made the connection. He hadn’t recognized him with clothes on, but this was the same guy he’d seen half naked in an alleyway wearing nothing but a towel and asking him if he was pulling pranks.

Yosuke did his best to look respectful as he locked eyes with the man. A silent acknowledgement asked passed through his eyes and towards the lecturer.

I won’t say anything if you don’t.

[WC: 398, Marked for Training]
[Post 1/5, Words 399/1,000]

Folding his arms and waiting for the class to fill, he counted as quite a few students showed up. Among all of them, two in particular happened to catch his eye. A young girl, and a young boy who seemed somewhat familiar. After a few brief moments, he unfolded his arms and stepped forward just a little. With a stern look upon his face, he greeted the classroom. "Good Morning, students. My name is Akira Kazan, and today I'm delivering a lecture on one of the most fundamental strategies anyone could ever use or master." He stated, as he raised one arm to draw attention to the white board behind him.

The unique choice of colors, and writing style would hopefully serve to catch their attention. Refocusing his attention to the classroom, his eyes shifted from one student to the next as if he were trying to burn the images of their faces into his own mind. However, at this moment he noticed one kid in particular; the young man from the alleyway. As one brow raised, in shock, he hesitated for just a moment. This kid had caught him at a terrible moment only just a few days beforehand. Staring directly at him, Kazan would give a nod before changing his focus to a young girl who had walked in previously. He hadn't met her before, nor had he bothered to read the profiles of the students who would be attending todays class.

This was the way he preferred things. "Please introduce yourselves before we begin." He stated, initiating a classic introduction.

[Wc: 263] [Marked - For Training]
[2/5 & 588/1000]

Nozomi had arrived early enough to claim a seat near the front and sat patiently with her notebook was already open. She folded her hands neatly on the desk and simply awaited instruction. Around her, the class filled with a steady murmur of voices and shuffling feet. She recognized a few students from other lessons. Some whispered with confidence and others try to appear relaxed. A boy a few rows over caught her attention as she remembered him from the last lecture, the one who’d fumbled his way through introductions but seemed wholly prepared to advance through the class structure. There was something steady about him despite his awkwardness, and when he noticed her glance, she gave the smallest nod, polite and unassuming.
The air settled as Kazan turned toward them. His gaze passed over the rows like a blade testing its edge. When his eyes met hers, Nozomi dipped her chin in acknowledgment, her pulse steady even though she felt the weight of his eyes upon her. The red of his eyes weren't cruel but they were incredibly measuring.

He spoke then, his voice level and deliberate. “Please introduce yourselves before we begin.”

When her turn came, she rose just enough to be heard. “Ryuu Nozomi,” she said, her tone crisp and clear, shaped by both manners and pride. “It’s an honor to be here.”

She sat again, tucking a strand of pale hair behind her ear, aware of how the name Ryuu still lingered in the air a second too long. She didn’t miss the small look exchanged among two of the older students and the smirk upon their lips. It wasn’t a new thing, she was the white haired Ryuu child, the one they whispered carried madness within her blood. Taking the higher road, she ignored them. Her focus returned to Kazan, to the quiet gravity he carried, and the lesson that was about to begin. She had no intention of missing a single word. This was what she had come for, to learn. Not to prove herself to the others, but to understand how strength like his could be built. To learn each decision, technique, and breath... one at a time.

[Post: 2/5 WC: 725/1,000]

“Please introduce yourselves before we begin.”

Yosuke waited patiently for his turn to arrive, listening to the names being called out. He noted the way that some names drew attention, causing a small bout of whispers to rise up around him, and how others raised snickers or other derisive noises. He was still trying to get his head around it, but he figured it had something to do with the "Clans" thing that people had going on here. He understood the basic concept; there were plenty of wealthy and powerful families back home, but here, there seemed to be an almost reverential treatment of certain clans.

“Ryuu Nozomi,” The familiar girl spoke.

Nozomi, that's right.

“It’s an honor to be here.” She finished, as her name elicited its fair share of whispers. Something about being mad and having white hair. He felt particularly confused as he attempted to parse the hushed conversation.

So she loses her temper sometimes? And has white hair, but is also a part of one of the big clans? Is it really that big a deal? She didn't seem like a hot head in that other class.

Yosuke absently played with his own hair as he continued to wait for his turn near the back of the class. In short order, it was his turn to speak, so he stood up, offered a short introduction, "I'm Ajisashi Yosuke. Ready to learn." before sitting back down. He focused on his paper and set aside his concerns about rumors and clans; they were secondary to the lesson from a Sennin.

[WC: 263/661]
[Post 2/5, 661/1,000]