Deadly Dolls, and How to Fight Them [Class]

[Kazu]

Classes were usually in session by now.

It was a lazy afternoon, just after lunch, and the teacher — or more accurately, the guest lecturer — was majorly late. The Academy had been rather loathe to ask for his expertise, for this reason among many. Known for his brusque tongue and unorthodox methods, he was a liability for those in charge. Yet, his particular skill set was rather unique; something of a specialist, who would be better equipped to teach the next generation about the ins and outs of a dying breed of combat?

Still, didn't he need to actually be there in order to teach his students? Which begged the question: where the hell was he?

The class had surely started to stir. Students would begin to file out of the room, not wanting to wait around any longer for some two-bit substitute teacher to put on an informative video. Boring. That was fine, he didn't want to teach those students. They wouldn't need his intel, because they wouldn't make it very far as shinobi. But the ones who stayed? They were in for a treat.

*SLAM*

"Oh crap, I forgot; new building, different doors. Less heavy..." This dirty mess of ragged white hair, stained and wrinkled white shirt, and unkempt, frayed, brown pants couldn't have been their teacher, right? Surely, he was some sort of deranged homeless man who'd wandered into the Academy looking for a warm place to sleep. "Right then, let's get started shall we?" His clothes smelled like smoke, and his breath like cheap liquor. He looked tired, but not in a physical sense — rather, he looked like a man who did too much, thought too much, and planned too much, in too little time. Instead of taking a seat at the lecturer's podium, like most of their professors likely did, he remained standing in the center of the classroom.

"I'd first like to go around the room and have everyone say a few things: name, favorite class subject, preferred method of combat, and something that makes you unique." Once he'd finished, the seat that he'd abstained from earlier slid towards him — no, really, it magically moved on its own over towards him! The shaggy teacher extended a hand to catch the runaway chair, sitting backwards in the seat facing his students. "Come now, don't be shy. Who's first?"

[OOC Notes]
Welcome all! The rules of my class are as follows:

• Posts will never be longer than a week apart. I will skip you if you do not post.
• If you are skipped twice without contacting me, you will be dropped from the class.
• If you're not having fun, let me know! This class is to help teach you, but enjoying yourselves is more important. I'm more than willing to modify the lesson plan in the interest of enjoyment.

 

[Kamiyama Yui]

lυncн wenт qυιтe υnevenтғυl ғor yυι; aѕ per υѕυal. ѕнe ѕaт alone, aтe alone, and once ѕнe waѕ ғιnιѕнed ѕнe decιded тo do a вιт oғ ѕιlenт readιng. noтнιng oυт oғ тнe ordιnary. oғ coυrѕe, ѕнe waѕn’т мυcн oғ a ғan oғ тнe ѕlιced тoмaтoeѕ нer мoтнer нad placed wιтнιn нer вag. тнere waѕ jυѕт ѕoмeтнιng aвoυт тнaт ғrυιт… vegeтaвle? тнe υncerтaιnтy waѕ тoo concernιng. ι мean, тнe тнιng coυldn’т even мaĸe υp ιт’ѕ мιnd oғ wнaт ιт wanтed тo вe and ѕнe waѕ eхpecтed тo eaт ιт? nonѕenѕe. ѕнe waѕ ѕтιll geттιng υѕe тo ѕтυdyιng alongѕιde oтнerѕ. on тнe road, ѕнe learned wнaт ѕнe coυld ғroм нer parenтѕ вυт now тнaт тнey ғoυnd a нoмe нere, ѕнe waѕ eхpecтed тo вe alongѕιde everyone elѕe. ѕнe dιdn’т тalĸ мυcн; ιn ғacт, мoѕт oғ нer ғellow ѕтυdenтѕ вelιeved ѕнe waѕ мυтe ғor qυιтe awнιle. ѕнe coυldn’т вlaмe тнeм. even wнen ѕнe ѕpoĸe, тнaт ѕιlly old вlacĸ мaѕĸ aroυnd нer necĸ covered нer lιpѕ anyway. noт lιĸe anyone really paιd aттenтιon тo вegιn wιтн.

тнe тιмe нad coмe ғor тнe ѕтυdenтѕ тo end тнeιr вreaĸ and нead over ғor тнeιr daιly conғronтaтιon wιтн ιnѕтrυcтorѕ. once ѕнe goт a нold oғ all oғ нer тнιngѕ, ѕнe мade нer way ιnтo тнe rooм ғιndιng a nιce ѕeaт ѕoмewнere near тнe мιddle oғ тнe crowd. тнe вacĸ waѕ ғar тoo crowded and ѕнe coυld вarely ѕee. нowever, no one really lιĸeѕ тo ѕeaт ιn тнe ғronт anyway υnleѕѕ тнey were jυѕт a вυncн oғ ѕнow oғғѕ. ѕнe ĸιcĸed нer ғeeт a вιт and darтed нer eyeѕ aвoυт. ѕaмe old crowd вυт no ιnѕтrυcтor. perнapѕ тнere waѕ an ιncιdenт oғ ѕoмe ѕorт. ѕayιng ιт lιĸe тнaт мade ιт ѕeeмed aѕ тнoυgн ѕнe waѕ υp тo ѕoмeтнιng or caυѕed ιт. ѕнe ѕнrυgged oғғ тнe тнoυgнт and reмaιned qυιeт aѕ ѕнe lιѕтened тo тнe panιcѕ oғ тнe ѕтυdenтѕ. can’т eхpecт everyone тo вe on тιмe all тнe тιмe rιgнт?

perнapѕ now waѕ тнe rιgнт тιмe тo worry. ѕтιll no ѕιgn oғ тнe ιnѕтrυcтor. мany ѕтυdenтѕ вegan тo geт noιѕy and ѕoмe even вegan тo leave. aѕ тeмpтed aѕ yυι waѕ тo тaĸe oυт нer вooĸ and paѕѕ тнe тιмe, тнere waѕ no real poιnт ιғ тнe ιnѕтrυcтor woυld appear aт any мoмenт.. rιgнт? oddly, ѕнe waѕ correcт. тнe ѕlaм oғ тнe door drew jυѕт aвoυт everyone’ѕ aттenтιon. and ιғ тнaт waѕn’т enoυgн, тнe ѕмell oғ alcoнol and cιgareттeѕ ѕυre dιd. тнιѕ.. мany coυldn’т вe тнe ιnѕтrυcтor rιgнт? нe looĸed a loт dιғғerenт тнan one woυld eхpecт. тнoυgн, perнapѕ тнere waѕ ѕoмe ѕorт oғ deep мeanιng вeнιnd тнιѕ. yυι нad нeard ѕтorιeѕ oғ old тιмe мonĸѕ ғroм noвle ғaмιlιeѕ wнo woυld gιve everyтнιng υp ιn order тo ғιnd enlιgнтenмenт. perнapѕ тнιѕ мan waѕ ѕeeĸιng a тrυe ѕтaтe oғ нυмιlιтy тo ғιnd ιnner peace. нow ѕтrong.

нe ѕpoĸe ѕтernly and conғιdenт. yeѕ! нe мυѕт вe ѕoмe ѕorт oғ paтн oғ enlιgнтenмenт. тнoυgн, wнen нe reqυeѕтed ιnтrodυcтιonѕ, ѕнe gave a ѕмall нυғғ. тнιѕ waѕ deғιnιтely ѕoмeтнιng ѕнe woυld dread. ѕoмeтнιng ѕнe never enjoyed. ѕнe’d raтнer ѕolve тнe coммon cold тнan do тнιѕ ғor ѕυre. ѕнe lowered нer нead a вιт нopιng тнaт ѕнe woυld aт leaѕт geт тo go near laѕт. вυт oddly, no one ѕpoĸe. тнιѕ waѕ rιdιcυloυѕ. тнey woυld вe нere all day oғ ѕoмeone dιdn’т ѕay ѕoмeтнιng! ѕнe ѕlowly ѕтood ғroм нer нead raιѕιng нer нand ιn a reѕpecтaвle мanner. well, ѕo мυcн ғor ĸeepιng low proғιle.

“ι aм ĸaмιyaмa yυι ѕιr. ι don’т really нave a ғavorιтe claѕѕ aт тнe мoмenт вυт.. нopeғυlly ι’ll ғιnd ѕoмeтнιng. ι preғer нand тo нand вυт alѕo a вιт oғ pѕycнologιcal тacтιcѕ ιn coмвaт. oн. and ι’м.. noт ғroм aroυnd нere. acтυally, ι нaven’т lιved нere ғor very long ѕo… ι ѕυppoѕe тнaт’ѕ υnιqυe ιn ѕoмe way.”​

 

[Oishi Shichimenchou]

I was late. Very, very late. I thought this to myself as I ran through the streets of the Hidden Sand Village. I was wearing a brown colored sailor uniform and had a piece of un-buttered toast on my mouth. On my left pinkie finger I wore a signet ring with four vertical lines. Following behind me were three adolescent turkeys: Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Cranberry. Unlike me, their pieces of toast were buttered.

"Damn it Cranberry!" I shouted towards the fattest of the three turkeys, "You had one job! Just the one!"

I looked at my pocket watch before beginning to climb the academy's fence. I was VERY late. At this rate I would be expelled from the academy! What would I do then? Without an education I had nothing to fall back on. I was not even pretty! It seemed as if every one in this village was a magical fashion model! In comparison I was a short scrawny looking bird.

My heart sank as I began to see a horde of children leaving the school building just as I was going in. By Mother Suna, was the class over already!?

I took a deep breath and ran into the classroom. In my loudest voice I said, "Wait wait teacher! I, Oishi Schichimenchou, am here!"

"As are my three companions, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Cranberry!" I said as the three respective birds followed through the door, "And emphasis on the Cranberry. His name is not Cranberry Sauce. It is just Cranberry..."

I lowered my voice, "Sauce is his ex's name, so he is very sensitive about it."

I had not spoken in a low enough voice as Cranberry pecked my right foot.

"OUCH! Not now Cranberry! Dontcha see? I need to convince the teach that it aint my fault that we are late. I do not want them to know that we stayed up all night watching Dakata Naichi and the Mummies of Lightning Country!"

 

[Kazu]

At first, the class stood still. No one spoke, not even a whisper. What a dismal aura! Am I really that scary?

Yatamaru was beginning to wonder if this whole thing had been a mistake when, right in the middle of the pack, a hand shot up. He'd expected the first to speak would be a loud-mouth type with something to prove — for her to volunteer, even though she wasn't completely sure of herself, showed bravery. She shows potential! But let's see how far that potential will take her...

"Is that right? Well, I hope you're adjusting well — and, I'm sure you'll find something suitable to your tastes! The Academy has many great subjects to offer." He gave a genuine smile, curious to see how she and the rest of them would do. After she had begun the process, the few students that had stuck around begrudgingly provided the same information; however, the others seemed less than impressed with his persona. That was fine, because he shared their sentiment. Maybe by the end of this lesson, they'll have learned a thing or two about the deceptiveness of appearances.

*clack, clack, clack*

No, their eyes weren't deceiving them. That floating ruler really had just smacked the board to get their attention, and it really was floating. It wasn't alone, either: three pieces of chalk had begun an illustrative dance on the blackboard in front of them. The squeaking, tapping, and scraping was quick and deliberate, though short lived. Their work complete, the calcified limestone bars returned to their original resting positions. On the board was written:

'Dolls dance, but not alone...
Their hidden master — find them!
Strings can't pull themselves.'​

"Thank you, everyone, for your introductions! Now, for today's lesson, I'll be teaching you about-" Suddenly, a small child and three turkeys burst into the classroom. Oishi Schichimenchou, and their turkeys: Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Cranberry. Yatamaru blinked, about to say something in-between the newcomer's lines, but was cut off by the student's verbal admittance of the very thing they didn't want Yatamaru to hear. Goodness, this class is just starting to get interesting! Standing up abruptly, his seat skidding slightly forward, Yatamaru addressed the newcomer directly. "Oishi Schichimenchou, and company, thank you for joining us! While I do love talking about a good Dakata Naichi film, I'm afraid the time for chit-chat has come to an end." He flicked his wrist, and the chair which he'd been sitting in suddenly began to sail slowly through the air. It came up behind Schichimenchou, pausing in place for a moment. If the newcomer did not get on the chair, they would feel themselves gently lifted up and placed into the seat anyways. A strange force it was — almost like being pulled on by a string!

The chair lifted the student through the air, placing them gently down by the front of the class. It would be a lie to say Yatamaru was embarrassing them on accident. "Because you were late, you missed out on the first part of class. Before we continue, could you tell me, and everyone in the class, a few things about you? Your favorite class subject, preferred method of combat, and something that makes you unique, if you will." He would not budge on this issue. The chair, and his newest student, would not move until introductions were made. After that was in order, the man gave another smile and said, "Very good. Now, where were we? Ah, yes!" With another casual flick of his wrist, the chair sailed through the air for a final time — this time, it landed behind a front row desk. I might have to keep an eye on this one, after all.

"Today's lesson will be about the shinobi art of puppetry — everything from how to wield a puppet, to how to defend against them. To start with, I want you all to tell me what you know about puppets. It's important for me to get a grasp on what you know, and what you don't. That way, I can teach you more effectively."

[OOC Notes]

• Welcome, both of you! Let's have some fun, shall we?

 

[Kamiyama Yui]

ιт ғelт oυт oғ yυι'ѕ cнaracтer тo jυѕт ѕтand and preѕenт нerѕelғ. нowever, ѕнe needed тo тaĸe тнe ιnιтιaтιve. and no one elѕe waѕ goιng тo ѕтep υp. once ѕнe нad ғιnιѕнed нer pιece, ѕнe reѕтed нer нand on тнe вacĸ oғ нer necĸ тryιng нer вeѕт noт тo мove нer eyeѕ aroυnd тнe rooм. ѕнe ғeared oғ jυdgeмenт or wнιѕperѕ oғ нer ѕтrangeneѕѕ. ѕнe waѕn'т aвnorмal ιn anyway вυт ѕнe waѕ nervoυѕ none тнe leѕѕ. wнen тнe тeacнer вegan тo ѕpoĸe, ѕнe вlιnĸed lιgнтly. well тнaт wenт.... вeттer тнan ѕнe тнoυgнт. acтυal, ιт waѕ very eaѕy. a ѕмall ѕмιle appeared on нer lιpѕ вeнιnd тнaт мaѕĸ oғ нerѕ.

"oн. тнanĸ yoυ ѕιr. and yeѕ ι do looĸ ғorward тo ѕee all тнaт тнιѕ ιnѕтιтυтιon нaѕ тo oғғer."

She gave a respectful bow and soon returned to siting in her seat. Her eyes remaining forward as others spoke of their information. Well, there was quite a lot of students here. More than she was accustomed to that's for sure. Once the instructor began to direct their attention to the board and write, her eyes never left the moving chalk. Dolls. Wonderful. On the travels that her and her family took part in, she never really encountered such advance fighting techniques as doll work. She was actually quite curious where this would go. However, the sudden outburst of the door and a late student made her turn to observe.

тυrĸeyѕ.

waѕ тнιѕ a dreaм or ѕoмeтнιng? no тнιѕ waѕ deғιnιтely нappenιng. jυѕт тo вe ѕυre, ѕнe wιped нer eyeѕ wιтн тнe ѕleeve oғ нer cloтнιng. wнaт an odd... вυncн. тнoυgн, ѕнe waѕn'т ғaмιlιar oғ тнe correcт тerм ғor a groυp oғ тυrĸeyѕ. perнapѕ a goввleт.

"well.. ι ѕυppoѕe yoυ learn ѕoмeтнιng never everyday. тнoυgн, нer enтrance waѕ a вιт... noιѕy."

yυι мυмвled тo нerѕelғ вeғore тυrnιng тo нer ιnѕтrυcтor. well, ιт ѕeeмed тнaт тнeιr leѕѕon ιnтrodυcтιon woυld нave тo вe ѕтaled υnтιl тнιѕ ѕтυdenт ιnтrodυced тнeмѕelveѕ. once тнaт waѕ over wιтн, ѕнe тooĸ oυт тнe ѕмall вooĸleт ѕнe тooĸ noтeѕ ιn and awaιтed тнe leѕѕon. ѕнe waѕ qυιтe тнe arтιѕтιc noтe тaĸer. ιn ғacт, ѕнe woυldn'т вe ѕυrprιѕed ιғ oтнer ѕтυdenтѕ aѕĸed ғor нer worĸ. ѕнe waѕ a careғυl lιѕтener and woυld oғтen caтcн нιnтѕ on wнaт woυld вe a parт oғ poѕѕιвle eхaмιnaтιonѕ. yoυ coυld never вe тoo careғυl. once тнe ιnѕтrυcтor aѕĸed ғor anyтнιng тнe ѕтυdenтѕ poѕѕιвly ĸnew aвoυт pυppeт worĸ, ѕнe raιѕed нer нand ѕιlenтly.

"well... ғroм wнaт ι've нeard pυppeт тecнnιqυeѕ reqυιred a ғιne ғocυѕ oғ nιnjυтѕυ ιn order тo мaιnтaιn cнaĸra тнreadѕ. pυppeтeerѕ are capaвle oғ ғιgнтιng wιтнιn a wιde range wнιcн levelѕ тнeм aт an advanтage and enѕυreѕ тнeιr ѕaғeтy wιтнιn coмвaт. ι've alѕo нeard rυмorѕ aвoυт ιғ wιтнoυт a pυppeт, pυppeтeerѕ ĸnowledgeaвle ιn тнeιr pracтιce are capaвle oғ υѕιng....corpѕeѕ. тнoυgн, ι'м υnѕυre oғ ιғ тнιѕ ιѕ a мyтн or noт."​

 

[Kazu]

“Slow down there, you're jumping ahead of my lesson plan!” The very edges of his mouth curved subtly, forming a very thin and easily missed grin. "Though, you're spot on." Yatamaru couldn't have been more pleased. It warms my heart to see the next generation so knowledgeable about my craft.

"A puppet is best thought of as a specialized weapon, no different than a sword, designed to attack from afar with the same intensity as hand-to-hand combat.” He spoke fondly on the subject, not hesitating to show where his biases lie. A squad of erasers went to work clearing the blackboard as he spoke, providing the students with somewhat of a background show while he lectured. “Puppets are controlled using Chakra Threads, as Miss Kamiyama previously mentioned. While some find it easier or more difficult to control a puppet using these Chakra Threads, just about every single shinobi is able to produce the threads with instruction. We’ll start today’s lecture with a hands on exercise: How to Wield a Puppet!”

From one of his sleeves slipped out a scroll. He unraveled it onto the table, performed a quick hand seal, and summoned forth a few small puppets stored within the seal. They were basic basic wooden figures, no hidden features or extra traps. They stood one meter tall, a little less than half of Yatamaru’s own height, and were laying with their backs on the table and their legs drooped over the side. Turning expectantly to his students, Yatamaru was expecting a bit more fanfare from this part of the lesson. “Now, I’m going to give you all a chance to come and try it out for yourself! To form Chakra Strings, try to focus on pushing your chakra out through the tips of your fingers. Just do your best to force out as much chakra as possible, and then you can refine it into a thinner strand. From there, see if you can make the puppet move — even something simple is enough for this demonstration.” With that he began to call forth groups of students, having them try their hand at welding a puppet.

I wonder how these kids will do. Some of them might get it, naturally, the first time. Others might struggle for a while, and some still may just not have the fingers for it. Only trying will tell.

He watched, with interest, at how the various students did. Kamiyama Yui and Oishi Shichimenchou, each interesting in their own right. How would they fare?

 

[Oishi Shichimenchou]

I felt something worm its way up my throat as I was lifted up. Who was I? What was my favorite class? What was my preferred fighting style? What made me unique? My hands clutched the chair as these things were asked of me. I quickly shouted out:

"Uh uh I told you I am Oishi Shichimenchou. I ugh.. I like classes were my feet are touching the ground at all times! I do not have a fighting style. I just run! Uh uh, did I mention that I really do not like being lifted up in the air?!"

Hopefully these answers would satisfy the instructor and I would be left to be.

If they did, I would close my eyes and try to regain control of my bowels while the instructor continued to give his speech. Something about puppets or another. I made a weak attempt at raising my hand when he asked us to tell him what we know of puppets. Luckily for me another student, an upperclassman from the best I could tell, answered. I swore I heard them say that puppets could be used on corpses, but I must have misheard. Surely there was no one so depraved that they would use the bodies of fallen soldiers, enemies or friends.

Once I felt I could keep my organs inside, I stood up and walked over to the line of students. Gravy and Mashed Potatoes seemed to have ditched class, but Cranberry faithfully kept me company. After some minutes my turn came. I went before a puppet and stared at it idly. The instructor wanted us to try controlling it? I stretched my fingers out and at first only sparks came out. I persisted though and eventually a thin string began to sprout from my index fingers and enveloped the puppet. All I could do after that was looked around the other students, to see if someone knew what to do next. I settled for moving the puppet a bit. Moving it very crudely I might add. I managed to get the piece of wood to twirl around once before my thin chakra string disappeared altogether. Embarrassed I quickly made room for the next student to try their hands on the puppet.

 

[Kamiyama Yui]

yυι coυld υnderѕтand нer ιnѕтrυcтorѕ anger. ѕнe ғelт a вιт eмвarraѕѕed jυмpιng тнe gυn ιn a ѕenѕe. тнιѕ мan waѕ a тraιned proғeѕѕιonal and ѕнe pracтιcally wenт and тarnιѕнed нιѕ good naмe oғ edυcaтιon. нow ѕнaмeғυl. ѕнe coυldn'т нelp ιт. нe dιd ѕay тell нιм all ѕнe ĸnew and ѕнe dιd. нowever, yυι нad alwayѕ вeen ѕтυdιoυѕ and нad мoѕт lιĸely pιcĸed υp on мoѕт oғ тнe тнιngѕ тe ѕcнool coυld oғғer ιn a вooĸ or wιтн нer parenтѕ. ѕнe вegan тo ѕтυмвle вeғore gιvιng a ѕмall вow and нavιng нer ѕeaт.

"apologιeѕ. ι waѕ jυѕт ғollowιng yoυr ιnѕтrυcтιon вυт ιт ѕeeмѕ ι нave over ѕpoĸe."

ѕнe ѕaт qυιeтly and вegan тo lιѕтen тo тнe ѕтυdenт wнo waѕ laтe. ѕнe ѕeeмed тo looĸ qυιтe ιll aғтer вeιng lιғтed oғғ тнe groυnd. ѕcared oғ нeιgнтѕ perнapѕ? weaĸ ѕтoмacн? coυld вe υѕeғυl ιnғorмaтιon ғor laтer on. once ѕнe waѕ ғιnιѕнed and тнe leѕѕon waѕ ғιnally revealed, ѕнe вegan тo grow nervoυѕ. ѕнe нad never really caмe ιnтo conтacт wιтн a pυppeт or even вe aѕĸed тo мanιpυlaтe ιт. and aғтer нer lιттle dιѕplay, oтнerѕ woυld eхpecт нer тo вe a мaѕтer вy now.

"well... ιт'ѕ worтн a тry ι ѕυppoѕe. wнaт'ѕ тнe worѕт тнaт coυld нappen?"

once ιт waѕ нer тυrn тo go υp and accepт нer cнallenge, ѕнe тooĸ a deep вreaтн. ғocυѕ waѕ ĸey and ιғ ѕнe нad тнe мιndѕeт, ѕнe woυld coмpleтe тнιѕ. нowever, ѕнe waѕ ιneхperιenced and мoѕт lιĸely woυldn'т even ĸnow ιғ ѕнe waѕ doιng ιт rιgнт. ѕнe oвѕerved нer нand reмeмвer тнe мoveмenтѕ oғ тнe deмonѕтraтιon. ιт waѕ ѕιмple. all ѕнe нad тo do waѕ relaх. ѕнe вegan тo lιғт нer нand and тaĸe a deep вreaтн. aт ғιrѕт, ѕмall ѕparĸѕ вegan тo appear. нowever, wιтн a вιт мore ғocυѕ, ѕнe waѕ aвle тo aт leaѕт creaтe тнreadѕ ғor тwo oғ нer ғιngerѕ; тнe pιnĸy and тнe ιndeх. wιтн ιт, ѕнe waѕ aвle тo мove тнe pυppeт only тнe ѕlιgнтeѕт.

"нм. ι ѕυppoѕe тнaт'ѕ a good ѕтarт. only нaven'т тwo ғιngerѕ aттacнed ιѕn'т eхacтly нelpғυl ιn a coмвaт ѕιтυaтιon вυт noт вad ғor a ғιrѕт aттeмpт...."​

 

[Kazu]

The two students, both in their own right worthy of his attention, were having a hard time with their puppets.

To be honest, that much was to be expected. This was probably the first time some of these kids had ever seen a puppet before; it was an unusual fighting style, and typically not practiced. However, the point of this lesson was for them to learn something outside their normal scope: why would Yatamaru bother teaching them about puppets if he was going to let them stop just short of finishing the training lap?

"Hey, you guys over there!" He vaguely gestured towards a few of the students who'd just tried their hands with the test dummy. Of those, Kamiyama Yui and Oishi Shichi were included. "Good tries, all of you! Frankly, though, it looked like you guys were struggling a bit. Get over here and let me show you something!" Not a note of anger or impatience could be heard — only an overly animated vigor and passion for the subject at hand. He waited for the small group of students to make their way over, then began, "This is an old teaching trick. Sometimes, students need to feel what it's like to use the chakra threads before they can use them. It's just like how some students learn better by reading, rather than listening." The ragged teacher held up both of his hands, fingers splayed wide, with the rounded tips of his forefingers extended outwards. He waited, with his fingers extended, for someone in the group to reciprocate. "By connecting the tips of our fingers together, I can assist you in channeling the chakra threads. This way you can see what it feels like, and maybe you'll be able to get a better understanding of what it's like within the mind of a puppeteer."

When one of them volunteered, the mini-lesson could begin. Yatamaru slowly pulled his hands apart from theirs, a glowing blue strand of chakra flowing between the separated contact points, until they were separated by more than an arms length or two. His student would have free reign to move about and feel the strings and how they danced to their slightest touch. Yatamaru would repeat this process for all of the students, hoping that this could help one of them; even if it helped just one of them out, that was more than enough reward for him.

"It's okay if this doesn't help you to maintain the chakra threads on your own. At the very least, I want you to try and remember what it's like to be on this end of the strings. Think about how you have to move to use them and how those limits could be used against a puppeteer. This kind of training could save you, one day!"

 

[Kamiyama Yui]

yυι leт oυт a ѕмall нυғғ aѕ ѕнe releaѕed нer poor aттeмpт aт тнreadѕ. ѕнe тoυcнed нer ғιnger тιpѕ тogeтнer rυввιng тнeм lιgнтly. perнapѕ ѕнe waѕ over тнιnĸιng ιт. ιт нad тo coмe naтυrally, jυѕт aѕ oтнer тecнnιqυeѕ needed тo. and yeт, ѕнe coυldn'т нelp вυт ғeel a вιт υncoмғorтaвle. ѕнe нad never really нad a cнance тo ѕтυdy on нow тo properly go aвoυт doιng тнιѕ тecнnιqυe. ѕнe clencнed нer нand ιnтo a ғιѕт lιғтιng нer eyeѕ. ѕнe woυldn'т allow тнιѕ loѕѕ тo geт тнe вeѕт oғ нer. once тнe ιnѕтrυcтor and aѕĸed ғor тнeιr aттenтιon, ѕнe тυrned ιn order тo oвѕerve нιѕ deмonѕтraтιon. a new мeтнod oғ approacн? ιт coυld coмe ιn нandy.

"нм.. вeιng aвle тo ғeel wнaт тнey are lιĸe? тнaт coυld aѕѕιѕт... тнen мayвe ι coυld deтecт wнaт ιѕ wrong..."

ѕнe мυмвled тo нerѕelғ вeғore waтcнιng тнe volυnтeer. ѕнe gave a ѕмall nod. yeѕ, ιт мade мυcн мore ѕenѕe now. ѕнe нad ғaιled вecaυѕe ѕнe waѕn'т cerтaιn wнaт тнe ѕυcceѕѕғυl way. ѕнe нad no clυe wнaт waѕ correcт ιn тнιѕ мaттer. once тнe deмonѕтraтιon waѕ over, ѕнe нυrrιed тo тнe ιnѕтrυcтor and preѕenтed нer palмѕ. нer eyeѕ ғιlled wιтн deтerмιnaтιon.

"ιғ ιт ιѕ no тroυвle ѕιr, ι woυld lιĸe a cнance тo eхperιence тнaт. ι тнιnĸ ι need a вeттer υnderѕтandιng нow wнaт ιт'ѕ.. ѕυppoѕe тo ғeel lιĸe. wнaт тнe rιgнт way ιѕ."​

 

[Kazu]

Kamiyama Yui was the first to volunteer. Yatamaru had known he'd been right to keep an eye on her.

"Trouble? No trouble at all! That's why I'm here." He gave the blonde a smile, hopefully disarming her of any qualms or hesitations she might have in asking for help, before extending his hand out, with fingers spread. "Simply connect your fingers to mine. I'll take care of the rest. Just focus on the sensation and feeling of the chakra threads." He waited until Yui's smaller fingers connected to his. Then, suddenly, the young girl would feel an almost exhilarating rush of chakra flow into her fingertips, and spread until it reached just short of his wrists. Almost like an extension of her bones and finger tendons, controlling the chakra threads wasn't unlike controlling her own fingers — while probably awkward feeling at first, she would eventually get used to it. "You see how the threads become like a part of you? Try to feel how the threads move in conjunction to your movements. Each movement of your fingers has a slightly different effect — it takes long years of practice before a puppeteer can begin to control their puppets without thinking. Eventually, pulling and manipulating chakra threads becomes like throwing a kunai, but only with the proper amount of practice."

The time was hers to mess with. He did not rush her, nor did he do anything else but maintain the threads. He was simply the conduit by which she would learn the feel for this technique. If she had questions, he would answer them. If she asked for help, he would provide it. His only goal was to teach.

"Once you've gotten the hang of it, let me know. I don't expect you to fight using puppets. For a close-range fighter like you, that wouldn't be very helpful." His patient smile began to grow a little darker, however. It seemed this instructor had a malicious side. "However, I do expect you to learn how others will fight using them. When facing a puppeteer as an opponent, how can you use the limitations of these chakra threads to your advantage?" A mini pop-quiz, not to be graded of course.

That didn't mean her answers were unimportant. It just meant they couldn't count against her.

[OOC Notes]
As of this post, Oishi Shichimenchou is being dropped from the class.