Ayumu had never really been much of a scholar, though he did do some reading for entertainment. He didn't find much interest in reading history, though he had learned the basics in the Academy. That said, he was also never very interested in learning a nearly forgotten language from a time long past. He had heard a couple of people speak it, including his father who was fluent, but never found much reason to learn it himself. There was the tactical idea of speaking in Ancient Kumo so the enemy would not understand, but without requiring ever shinobi in Kumogakure to learn the language, you couldn't truly rely on that. Once Ayumu joined the ANBU Trainee program, however, he found that they were, in fact, all required to learn the language for tactical purposes. Although he didn't like the idea of how long it would take to learn the language, he understood the tactical advantage it would present, and he knew he would never be promoted otherwise, so he committed himself to learning the vulgar variety, at least.
Ayumu had started coming to the library to learn Ancient Kumo soon after he became an ANBU Trainee. Months had passed since then and he had made numerous visits, enough that he had last count. The language did not come easily to him, though having a father who could speak it helped him somewhat. This time, as with every time before, he located the book of instruction in the language and brought it to a table where he sat alone. He cracked the book open to page 293, where he had left off, and started at the top. There was a sentence stated in Ancient Kumo for the reader to translate for practice. "Αυτή η αρχαία... γλώσσα μαθαίνεται... ακόμη και σήμερα... γιατί πρόκειται για τακτική... χρήση σε ομάδα μάχες," Ayumu read slowly and quietly so no one could hear his mistakes in pronunciation. Now what did that mean?
"Hrm... This language... is learned, even today... because... it is useful in team battles?" he translated, though it was a rough translation to be fair. He checked the translation at the bottom of the page and found that he was mostly correct. He was getting better at translating the written word here, but was having even more luck with speaking it. He was even able to have some conversations, albeit very slow ones, with his father in Ancient Kumo. He continued reading further, reading a few expression in Ancient Kumo that had fallen out of use when the common language that was now spoken throughout the continent became more prevalent. He would spend another hour at the library before heading home.
It would take several more trips and much more reading, but Ayumu was well on his way to learning the vulgar variety of Ancient Kumo. Soon enough, he was able to speak it without using a reference book. By the time he had to prove it to meet the requirement for promotion, he was able to pass the test with relative ease, despite a few mistakes. With more time, he would become as fluent as his father. With the rest of the ANBU learning the language as well, it was almost like having a code language, though it would be ineffective against any Kumo scholars.
[Learning Ancient Kumo (Vulgar)]
[WC: 551]
Ayumu had started coming to the library to learn Ancient Kumo soon after he became an ANBU Trainee. Months had passed since then and he had made numerous visits, enough that he had last count. The language did not come easily to him, though having a father who could speak it helped him somewhat. This time, as with every time before, he located the book of instruction in the language and brought it to a table where he sat alone. He cracked the book open to page 293, where he had left off, and started at the top. There was a sentence stated in Ancient Kumo for the reader to translate for practice. "Αυτή η αρχαία... γλώσσα μαθαίνεται... ακόμη και σήμερα... γιατί πρόκειται για τακτική... χρήση σε ομάδα μάχες," Ayumu read slowly and quietly so no one could hear his mistakes in pronunciation. Now what did that mean?
"Hrm... This language... is learned, even today... because... it is useful in team battles?" he translated, though it was a rough translation to be fair. He checked the translation at the bottom of the page and found that he was mostly correct. He was getting better at translating the written word here, but was having even more luck with speaking it. He was even able to have some conversations, albeit very slow ones, with his father in Ancient Kumo. He continued reading further, reading a few expression in Ancient Kumo that had fallen out of use when the common language that was now spoken throughout the continent became more prevalent. He would spend another hour at the library before heading home.
It would take several more trips and much more reading, but Ayumu was well on his way to learning the vulgar variety of Ancient Kumo. Soon enough, he was able to speak it without using a reference book. By the time he had to prove it to meet the requirement for promotion, he was able to pass the test with relative ease, despite a few mistakes. With more time, he would become as fluent as his father. With the rest of the ANBU learning the language as well, it was almost like having a code language, though it would be ineffective against any Kumo scholars.
[Learning Ancient Kumo (Vulgar)]
[WC: 551]