Name: Hashigaki Kauru (could use a username change if possible!)
Age: 16
Age: 16
Physical Description:Kauru is of a fair build, bordering on the wiry side, weighing all of 138 pounds and standing at 5'10" tall when fully upright, however rare that measurement may be to come across. Kauru has a bad habit of slouching and especially calloused fingers on his left hand, both products of his love for the music of the shamisen and the countless hours he has spent striking away at the strings. Kauru has olive skin offset by silver-tinged lavender hair and flashing emerald eyes, which he often covers outright, or disguises as cobalt to avoid drawing too much attention to himself. Kauru tends to forego wearing a shirt in the heat of Sunagakure, but often finds himself in loose, thigh-length, draping tunics bandaged into obedience at the mid-forearm when situations which require formality arise. He couples this loose, casual look with perpetually ash-colored linen shorts which cinch together via drawstring at the waist, a useful feature for a young man unsure of when the next meal might come.
No matter the occasion, Kauru avoids being seen with his upper chest exposed, where a deep scar runs just below his collarbone, tapering off at each end. To avoid situations where he might otherwise have to explain the grisly track, he consistently enshrouds himself with linen scarves, cowls, and any adornment that suffices to obfuscate his disfigurement. These garments occasionally include his late father’s weathered Sunagakure forehead protector, which Kauru occasionally dons as a memento of better days. Charcoal ankle-length open-toe tabi keep Kauru’s feet off the blistering sand and out in the Sunagakure breeze whenever possible.
(To give proper credit, this sketch is of an ancient Ninpocho character that I have long since lost access to over the last 11 years, Shoji Terya, done by a user here once named Musouka which I am repurposing for Kauru)
KinjutsuDemonic Sharingan Implant (Demonic for RP flavor only)
Sharingan Implant
The Sharingan is an ability well known throughout the Shinobi world, respected by some, feared by others. However, none can deny the abilities of the Uchiha clan, and there are many who would desire this ability for their own. It is uncommon, but not rare, for Shinobi to have gained the sharingan from an Uchiha through one method or another and with delicate surgery, though only a handful are able to synchronize with the eye to bring out nearly its full use. Though try as the might, they will never have the same control as an Uchiha, and cannot Deactivate their Sharingan, a fact that takes a toll upon their bodies and leaves them with lower stamina than their peers.
Information
Prerequisites: Kinjutsu Application, 3 Ability Slots, B Rank
Effects:
- The user gains the incredible eye power of a transplanted Sharingan, gaining a constant +2 Accuracy and +2 Dodge.
- However, because of this sharingan is constantly active, the user suffers -3 Cp Mod.
- Their Sharingan Implant is able to withstand up to 3 points of 'Eye Trauma', this is upgraded to 5 points when in the Mangekyou State.
- Once the user has surpassed their Eye Trauma limit, all Doujutsu and Sharingan Implant Techniques cost x2 Cp, and the user takes additional unreduceable Hp damage equal to half the cp cost. In addition, they begin to suffer -1 Accuracy/Dodge for every Eye trauma point surpassed, lasting for the remainder of the battle.
- If this Eye Trauma penalty surpasses their Sharingan buff, the user is treated as blind for the remainder of the battle, their sharingan is deactivated (meaning, the buff from the Sharingan and abilities used with it), and their Sharingan cannot be reactivated for the remainder of the battle.
- Becoming blind in this manner results in the user being unable to differentiate between targets, picking a random target for every action taken that targets someone other than the user. For clarification, the user enters this state upon reaching a -3 Acc/Dodge penalty from Eye Trauma, and this penalty lasts even after the Sharingan is permanently deactivated (which can cause some serious problems, when a +3 Acc/Dodge buff is suddenly turned into a -3).
Special Action -Mangekyou Sharingan (400 Chakra Control): For 1 Ap, the user may activate the Mangekyou form of their Sharingan, granting them an additional +1 Accuracy and dodge. However, they lose 300 Cp each round this is active.
Sharingan Copy - Activated Passive
Probably the most infamous trait of the Sharingan is it's ability to perfectly memorize anything its gaze wanders upon with perfect detail. Those with the sharingan of an Uchiha not only find that the increased visual power of the Uchiha is theirs, but so too is the ability for memorization and mimicking the movements of a target simultaneously.
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan Implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan
Effect:
- Replicates the next attack that the opponent utilizes at x1.5 the replicated jutsu's Cp/Hp cost. Sharingan Copy's replicated attack is modded immediately after the attack that it is mimicking.
Note:
- This is treated as if simultaneous as the opponents movements.
- Cannot replicate BL/CA/Kinjutsu techniques.
- May only target opponents that the user can see.
- Replicated jutsu receive the User's damage buffs, not the opponent's.
- User must be wielding the correct weapon(s) to replicate a Taijutsu and must be able to perform handseals to replicate a Ninjutsu or Genjutsu.
- The user takes any other costs or penalties for replicating a jutsu as well.
Cost: Ap equal to the replicated technique, Chakra cost is rank dependent.
Takaamahara - C-Rank Ninjutsu
This jutsu is one of the most powerful space/time ninjutsu, if not the most powerful. While not offensive, this ability allows the user to transport themselves nearly instantly to another location, or even allow them to become intangible to avoid techniques. The technique can only be performed by the advanced Doujutsu, and appears as if air collapses upon the user in a swirling matter, their body seeming to implode into the area centering upon their eye's.
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan Implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, C-Rank
Rank 1: User gains +3 Dodge against the next technique aimed at them, and can reappear within 20 feet if they choose. If partially hit, the damage is negated, but the user takes CP damage equal to 50% of the negated damage.
Master Rank: User gains +4 Dodge against one technique, and can reappear within 25 feet. If partially hit, the damage is negated, but the user takes CP damage equal to 40% of the negated damage.
Note:
- Modded as if Instantaneous.
- Can be used as a reactionary, and does not use handseals.
- Out of battle, the user can RP warping.
- Increases the user's Eye Trauma by 1 for the remainder of the battle.
Cost: 675 CP to initiate
Izanagi - B-Rank Ninjutsu
A powerful reality warping technique deemed forbidden to the Uchiha clan. This jutsu allows the user to alter reality within their own personal space, meaning they gain the ability to change events that directly apply to themselves. This jutsu alters the user's reality into illusion, and illusion into reality...effectively enabling the user to outright deny the effects of any harm that may befall them...Or believe themselves to be almighty. This power, however, comes with a cost. The use of this technique severely weakens the Sharingan's strength for an extended period of time, and repeated use is said to negate the sharingan completely...and even blind the user temporarily in worse cases.
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, B-Rank
Rank 1: The user may use the strength of their sharingan to deny the reality of themselves coming to harm by reducing the total damage of the incoming attack by 60%. Any attack which is "targeted" by Izanagi instantly loses all damage bonuses and effects prior to having it's damage reduced and any status conditions or effects inflicted by the jutsu are negated.
Rank 2: The user may use the strength of their sharingan to deny the reality of themselves coming to harm by reducing the total damage of the incoming attack by 70%. Any attack which is "targeted" by Izanagi instantly loses all damage bonuses and effects prior to having it's damage reduced and any status conditions or effects inflicted by the jutsu are negated.
Note:
- This may be done reflexively, does not require handseals, and is modded as if instantaneous.
- This jutsu requires the Mangekyou/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan to be active.
- Use of this technique increases the user's "Eye Trauma" by +1 for the remainder of the battle. For each additional use in a single round, the "Eye Trauma" penalty is increased by an additional +1.
Cost: 730 Cp + 50% of the Attack's Cp Cost.
Kamui - A-Rank Ninjutsu
The Mangekyou Sharingan has the unique trait to grant it's user several unique abilities, powerful and taxing to the body. Should a shinobi with the eye of an Uchiha find themselves enduring the strain upon their body during their training to acquire the Mangekyou, they too, shall find themselves able to use a unique technique. Rogue Sharingan user's are able to bend reality upon itself, to such a point that the air seems to collapse upon itself, including everything in the short area. Though this Space/Time ability is powerful and useful, the strain placed upon the user is heavy, and repeated uses can drain the shinobi's fatigue rapidly.
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, A-Rank
Rank 1: User can attempt to Absorb Jutsu into a different dimension at +1 to their Ninjutsu Check. Once sealed, the user can release the Jutsu at any time to any target, at +1 Accuracy. User can seal up to 2 Rank E-C techniques at a time.
Rank 2: User can attempt to Absorb Jutsu into a different dimension at +2 to their Ninjutsu Check. Once sealed, the user can release the Jutsu at any time to any target, at +2 Accuracy. User can seal up to 3 Rank E-B techniques at a time.
Special Action: The user can attempt this technique on a person instead of a jutsu. This allows the user to target a limb of a target without called shot penalties. The targeted limb is treated as if broken for this round and the next, and if not avoided by then it is treated as broken for the remainder of the battle.
Note:
- Does not use handseals and may be used Reflexively.
- Requires Mangekyou/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan to be Active.
- When sealing a Ninjutsu, the user make's a Nin Check against the target to determine whether it is successful or not.
- When a Jutsu is released, the user releases all currently stored Jutsu at once at the target simultaneously. Stored jutsu do not gain any additional buffs other than the ones that effected them at their initiation.
- When used as a called shot on a target, the victim makes a Nin-check against the user at the start of the technique, and the start of the following round. If the user Succeeds in both, the targeted limb is treated as broken for the remainder of the battle. This can only be done on one limb at a time, and the user cannot seal a technique during this time.
- Sealing a Jutsu or activating the Special Action increases the user's Eye trauma Count by 1 for the remainder of the battle. Unsealing a technique does not, however.
Normal cost to seal: Ap equal to the jutsu being targeted and 75% of the targeted Jutsu's cost to attempt to seal + 50% Jutsu cost if successfully sealed.
Normal cost to release: Half the total Ap and Cp costs of all stored techniques,
Special Action Cost: 2500 Cp to initiate, 830 Cp/Rnd.
Crescent Moon Mirror - A-Rank Genjutsu
By utilizing the power of their Mangekyou Sharingan the Uchiha can do more than the standard parlor tricks. Their ability to make Genjutsu a reality far surpasses that of the normal limtiations even going as far as to use their illusions to guard an attack and send it back. This power serves to show that the power of the Mangekyou are limitless.
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, A-Rank
Rank 1: The user makes a check with their Genjutsu DC against an attack’s Accuracy at -2 Gen DC. If successful 60% of the damage from the attack attempts to harm the user, while the remaining 40% is reflected back at the attacker.
Rank 2: The user makes a check with their Genjutsu DC against an attack’s Accuracy at -1 Gen DC. If successful 40% of the damage from the attack attempts to harm the user, while the remaining 60% is reflected back at the attacker.
Special Action: Half Moon Phase If successful, the user may instantly follow up, with any E-B Rank Genjutsu. Genjutsu used this way gain +1 Gen DC but cost +20% CP cost, and receive -8% Secondary chances.
Rank 1 Cost: 1210 CP
Rank 2 Cost: 1500 CP
Notes:
- Reflected damage is modded as illusionary and may not be recovered.
- Reflected damage makes a check with the attacker’s accuracy against their dodge.
- The special action is treated as a “Combo”
- This may only be used as a Reactionary
- The Mangekyou Sharingan must be active in order to use this Jutsu
- Use of this technique increases the user's "Eye Trauma" by +1 for the remainder of the battle.
- This jutsu may only be used successfully once per round.
Susanoo - S-Rank Ninjutsu
The most powerful ability that can only be used by using the full extent of the Mangekyou Sharingan, and can never be truly perfected. This technique creates a large spiritual entity out of chakra that both protects the user from harm, and strikes out at any target the user wishes. The ultimate Defensive and offensive technique, this Jutsu places great strain upon the user, the spirit using the use user's body as a medium, and their soul as fuel causing the user's body to deteriorate slowly and painfully. It is said that the spirit created varies and reflects upon the user's own soul, however this may simply be a legend due to the fact that there is almost never a case where two shinobi with this jutsu meet€¦
Information
Prerequisites
Sharingan Implant/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, S-Rank
Master Rank: Creates a large, spiritual being out of chakra around the user that both strikes their enemies, and shields the user from harm. Susanoo has 15,600 Hp, and regains 30% of it's Max Hp per round. The user cannot be harmed while Susanoo is active, and all actions aimed at the user will target Susanoo instead. Attacks made with Susanoo cost 1 Ap, and deal 1400 Damage at +2 Accuracy.
Cost: 4.5 Ap, 4000 Cp to Initiate, 2000 Cp/Rnd and 5% Max Hp per round maintained.
Note:
- Does not use handseals, but requires Mangekyou/Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan to be Activate.
- This technique cannot be buffed in anyway.
- While active, the user must act as a medium for the spirit, and cannot make any other actions aside from maintain and control Susanoo.
- Susanoo has -3 of the user's dodge, but 20% Damage resistance that cannot be ignored or bypassed.
- All attacks made by Susanoo utilize the user's Ninjutsu Accuracy, and because of it's made purely out of chakra, damage cannot be reduced by Damage reduction or barriers.
- Susanoo may only be effected with Accuracy and Dodge debuffs. Susanoo cannot be effected by Genjutsu or Poison.
- Each round Active including the first, the user's eye sight deteriorates, and their `Eye Trauma` Is increased by +2 for the remainder of the battle.
- This is not treated as a barrier.
Kinjutsu and Bloodline RP. WC: 2963The streets of Sunagakure have always been my home in one way or another. I suppose that now, they are my home in a more literal sense, but these sandy alleyways, street corners and stoops have always embraced me warmly. I owe everything that I am and all which I hope to be to these streets and that’s why I have to keep going, keep getting better. I have to show them all.
Kauru’s thoughts snapped back to the melody he had been playing. All of the years of muscle memory built up from playing the shamisen day in and day out proved useful in times of reflection. Kauru found that these periods were especially frequent in the dead heat of the Sunagakure day, where, as his father had put it, most people with good sense were inside, or at least smart enough to keep from sitting around listening to music. This made it relatively hard to make a living busking and performing, as Kauru did, but somehow he had always managed to scrape together enough to put food in his belly.
The noon sun burned relentlessly overhead. Kauru loosened his father’s weathered forehead protector from around his neck and wiped the sweat from his furrowed brow. “Man, at this rate I’d be lucky to make it to dinner without evaporating!” The young man sighed, and as he went to fasten the forehead protector back around his neck, he took a brief pause. Well, I guess it’s an idea Kauru thought to himself. Half frowning at his situation, Kauru tucked the forehead protector into a pocket and grabbed a flowing violet scarf from behind his shamisen case. He sighed as he shook the sand off, looping it around his neck and tying the scarf around his eyes. Always a crowd pleaser, even if it’s a bit disingenuous now. Who doesn’t love a freak show?
Without another thought, Kauru began playing the shamisen, loudly and deliberately, channeling his chakra through his hands and allowing the sound to resonate throughout the seemingly vacant city square. It wasn’t long before his melody had captured the attention of a local girl. She was well-dressed, and pretty enough relative to the usual girls who were brave enough to risk the Suna heat alone. As she meandered closer, feigning ignorance, the rumbling Kauru’s stomach subsided. Audience of one, huh? I guess it’ll do, hopefully.
As the girl made it within shouting distance, Kauru paused and let a smile unfurl across his face. “Good afternoon. Awfully dangerous to be running around like that, don’t you think?” The girl’s eyes narrowed and her lip curled upwards with contempt.
“Listen, I don’t need life lessons from a bum with a three-stringed guitar. Who are you, anyhow, Suna’s chief hydration specialist?”
Looks like we’ve got a live one.
“Sorry, I think you misunderstand me. I didn’t mean any offense, it’s just that your shoe is untied. Hard enough to keep your footing in this part of town as it is with the erosion,” he said. Kauru could feel the puzzled expression overwhelming her previous furious visage, and he waited patiently to capitalize on the girl’s bewilderment as she looked down at her feet. The briefest of moments passed and he centered his head and continued playing, paying specific attention to avoid looking at the shamisen or the now charging girl.
“Hey, pal! I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I don’t want any part of it. Tell your friend in your earpiece that you’ll have to look somewhere else to pull off a cheap trick like that. As if anyone would fall for a thirty year old gag,” she spat, her voice dripping venom.
Her demeanor shifted back to its native hostile environment, and Kauru slowly allowed his eyes, or rather, where his eyes should have been, to drift toward hers. He allowed a surge of chakra to flow through his body, causing a flickering emerald glare beneath his impromptu blindfold. Kauru smiled softly and spoke again.
“Can’t say I’ve ever been one for tricks. I’m not sure where people imagine they’ll get through illusion. No, see… I much prefer to rely on skill. Dedication and practice overwhelm any edge someone might gain through deception. I promise you, I have no intent to pull some parlor trick over on you.” As Kauru spoke, he let the strings of his shamisen ring out and then fade into the Suna breeze, echoing in the square.
The young girl evaluated his statement with silent resolve, clearly unsettled by the eerie tone dominating the conversation.
“What a crock. Honestly. I hope you aren’t talking about being the best musician in the village? Your guitar doesn’t even have six strings, and that song you’ve been droning on with is not even close to the best I’ve ever heard.”
“Heh. Well, you’re right about a few things. I’ll never be the best guitarist in Sunagakure because I don’t play guitar. This is a shamisen – and no, this is not the greatest song in the world. This is just a tribute.”
Kauru played a small arpeggio and abruptly muted his strings. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? A girl doesn’t get dressed up like that to sit around the square and watch a ‘bum with a guitar’, right?”
“First off, I’m not just some girl. My name is Fōji. Second, I told you the whole ‘blindfolded guy’ shtick isn’t doing it for me. Finally, as much as I’m sure you’d like me to imagine that ‘dressed up’ line to be a compliment, I’m not sure that it means much from a beggar dressed in monochrome. Purple is more of a fall color, anyhow, don’t you think?” Fōji sneered as she encroached further into Kauru’s space.
I swear, the things I’ll do to eat… I can’t stand telling the same story over and over. It’s really sickening.
Kauru set the shamisen in its case, ensuring the few yen he had planted within it to incentivize future spectators to donate had no way of escaping in the breeze. He raised a hand to his scarf and untied the knot, quickly tucking the scarf away and shutting the shamisen case. Turning his attention to Fōji. Kauru opened his cobalt blue eyes, squinting slightly, allowing them to adjust to the harshness of the Sunagakure sun.
Fōji looked at Kauru, scowling. “What, am I supposed to be impressed? Intimidated? I suppose the good news is that you don’t completely look like an eggplant.”
“Do you know much about the shinobi arts?” Kauru asked candidly.
“What a stupid thing to ask in one of the greatest shinobi villages to ever exist. Of course I do,” Foji remarked as she shook her head incredulously.
“Sorry, don’t mean to offend. You see, I just meant that sometimes, things aren’t always exactly what we can see on the surface in reality.” Kauru waved his hand in front of him, and a long horizontal scar reappeared alongside his collarbone.
“Rugged.”
“Simply the byproduct of carelessness. It won’t happen again. In any case…” Kauru spoke softly and sat with his legs crossed beneath him, slouched over. Again, he flashed his palm in front of him, this time lingering slightly over his face. His eyes shined a radiant fluorescent white-green, with small black blotches whirling in a circle. Fōji simply stared stoically, searching for some sort of explanation, and Kauru obliged.
“You see,” he paused, as he waved his hand across his face and allowed his eyes to shift to their sapphire state, “I told you, I’m assuredly not the best guitar player in this village. However, I’m easily the best shamisen player you’ll ever encounter. That, in fact, is how I came into these eyes of mine.”
Kauru clapped his together, and in a flurry of handseals, the market square faded away, blurring out and reappearing as a street on the outskirts of Sunagakure. A young Kauru, and his father, Sukāfu sat together on the busy street, each furiously playing the shamisen.
“What is this?” Fōji asked.
“This is a genjutsu of sorts. A trip down memory lane, courtesy of these,” Kauru said shortly, motioning toward his gleaming eyes.
“Why are we here?”
“Truthfully? Sometimes I can’t help it. I mean, right now I can. Genjutsu is a powerful tool. It can be used to baffle and deceive, and occasionally, to do quite the opposite,” Kauru exhaled sharply before continuing. “In any case, there’s not exactly a way to turn these things off… but I suppose you’ll have a better understanding of me and my ‘tricks’ shortly.”
As the burning sun sank below the horizon and dusk settled into the dunes, the large crowd began to disperse from Kauru and Sukāfu’s performance. They looked at each other with large, satisfied grins as they counted their profits from the evening’s show.
“Almost two thousand yen, son! Can you believe it?” Sukāfu’s voice shook with jubilation and pride.
Kauru smiled briefly in return, and focused his attention on packing up. As the two Hashigaki musicians collected themselves and turned to depart, their path was blocked by a cloaked figure.
“Well done, boys! Well done indeed.” There was nothing to see but darkness obscuring the figure’s face, but the timbre of the man’s voice sent a shiver down Kauru’s spine and tensed every fiber of his being. Kauru tightly clasped his shamisen and stiffly ambled next to his father.
“Oh, come on, then! No need to be so glum. You see, I bet you didn’t know it, but I’m a shamisen player too. And, if you care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you.” There was no face visible under the sable veil of the hood, but Kauru could feel the taunting glint of teeth beneath the shroud.
Kauru and Sukāfu stood side by side, each with a repressed smirk, attempting to keep their hubris from come across as over-eagerness, and scaring the stranger off.
Sukāfu allowed the grin to dissipate and spoke serenely, “Well, stranger. I think you have a deal. I think it’d make great practice for Kauru. Let’s wager, say… five thousand yen?”
“Don’t think me so crass! I wouldn’t insult you with such a paltry offer. No, no,” the man said as he waved his finger in front of his face as he spoke, “I think fifty thousand yen ought to suffice. Surely, that is no object for such talented men as the two of you?” Where there was once a playful cadence and melody to the man’s voice, there was nothing but malice now.
Sukāfu drew in a deep, deliberate breath. “We are not so brazen as to carry such a large sum with us in the streets. The village is rife with pickpockets, low-end thieves, and…” Sukāfu was cut short by the stranger.
“Friends, let’s not quibble about the specifics. If I win, we can work the details out after. I’m sure you have something I’d be interested in. If I lose, the money is yours. What do you say?”
After a brief pause, Sukāfu spoke. “Just one condition. Kauru, I’m going to ask you to sit this one out.”
“What?! Why? There’s no reason I can’t play at his level. I can do this!” Kauru begged, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
The cloaked man spoke again, this time with an unfamiliar zeal and fervor. “Ah, that’s the sound of a pact I can abide by. Shall we shake on it?” The two men grasped hands, and in that instant the city street melted into a distorted wheel with its vortex in the midst of the trio. When the wheel unfurled and the singularity vanished again, the group found themselves in a dark, cavernous grotto. The man quickly cast his cloak aside and stood in his true form.
“Welcome home, friends. I have a feeling you’ll be here a while.” His wicked grin was fierce, and one of the only sources of light in the dim grotto were his eyes, which glowed a piercing emerald color and flickered like flame. The creature continued in his ridiculing tone, “Before I get ahead of myself, let no one say I’m not a demon of my word. Let us play, old man,” he said, excitedly opening a small casket containing a shamisen. The demon made a sweeping motion with his hand, and Sukāfu was pulled by an invisible force across the room. “Come now, we mustn’t forget our manners. Sit across from me. I want to watch as the last glimmer of hope fades from your eyes.”
Sukāfu sat with his legs forcibly bent, now within arm’s reach of the jade-eyed demon. Kauru’s father managed to turn his head only slightly before pausing and focusing his gaze once more on the creature before him. “I don’t know who you are, or what you’re after, but I will stop at nothing to protect my son. Let’s begin.”
“We’ve got ourselves a live one, don’t we?” The demon cackled and snapped his fingers. Every light in the room seemed to simply go dark before a piercing pain sent a shockwave rippling through Kauru’s eye sockets, leaving him screaming in sheer terror. “I told you that you had something I wanted. I’ll just hold on to these for now, and should you succeed, I promise to make pay you back tenfold, and what do any of us have but our word?”
Blood pouring from his eyes, Kauru scrambled on the grotto floor, frantically feeling around for his shamisen case. After a brief moment, he found the scarf inside the case and cinched it tightly around his eyes, his last memory before the darkness swarmed his mind and embraced him, leaving him unconscious on the damp floor.
When he finally roused, the pain splitting Kauru’s skull had intensified to something nigh-unbearable. Feeling the blood-caked scarf around his eyes, Kauru let forth a guttural scream which echoed endlessly off the cavern walls. The sound pierced his ears, but for a moment, he could see. Not as before, but some semblance of vision. Moreover, he could feel his environment around him; every movement, every vibration resonated inside Kauru’s soul. Sight without sight. “What is this? Where is my father? Demon, show yourself!” he howled into the bleak expanse.
As requested, the creature appeared directly next to Kauru, leaning in and whispering into his ear. “Well, you’re quite the exceptional specimen, aren’t you? Your father, well… He didn’t fare so well, but don’t worry, he’ll live on as a part of me. I can’t fuel these eyes without a willing sacrifice or two every now and again, and dear old dad was glad to oblige. Well, on the condition that I let you take a shot to make good where he failed.” The demon grinned, knowing Kauru’s inevitable fate. “I have to say, I rather admire your tenacity. In truth, I find entertaining quite tiresome. Come, boy, the hour is late. Pick up and play. ”
With every word he spoke, the vibration painted a silhouette of the cave - every element, there as if his eyes were still in-tact. In the middle of the island in the center of the grotto, there shined a shiny demon, his silhouette framed as a shaking portrait of pain hung on flesh. What is this? Ugh. No time to worry about it now. Focus. Kauru now sat, legs bent in the traditional style, shamisen upright in his hands.
“Well, boy. I suppose to the victor goes the spoils. I’ll take the lead this time.” His smirk faded and he began playing. His song was a baleful, overwhelming dirge. It filled every cell in Kauru’s body with despair until it came to an abrupt halt, finishing on a swelling crescendo. The demon cackled wildly in the darkness and flourished with his hand, taking a bow.
Kauru bit his lip and frowned. Kauru began playing, and each note seemed to echo into eternity, crushing the despair in the room with a triumphant song of resilience and resolve. He went on for minutes, each scale taking him seamlessly into the next and back. The sounds just made sense, like simple math. In his euphoria, Kauru played, grinning wildly, meeting the demon’s cackles with pure exuberation and delight. The sound was now filling the chamber, resonating a resplendent harmonic tone as Kauru finished his piece.
Needless to say, the beast was stunned. The demon bowed his head, because he knew that he’d been beat. The demon’s fists shook with rage, black blood oozed out of his palms, where his fingers had carved away his own flesh. “Take them.” He paused, fury raging in his throat, acrid and clinging to the stale air. “Take them and leave. Let no one say I am not true to my word…” The demon extended one of his still bleeding palms to his eyes and another to Kauru’s, uttered a demonic chant, and in a flash of crackling green light, disappeared. His voice, however, remained, and echoed throughout the grotto. “Begone, neophyte! Before your auspices expire and my patience finds its end!”
Kauru felt his vision returning before the blackness of the cave once again warped into the Sunagakure streets. As he felt the sand return beneath his feet, he could not help but collapse in tears upon realizing his father’s fate.
Kauru, eyes cloaked cobalt once again, waved his hand, and the genjutsu ended. Before he could say a word, Fōji threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly.
“I’m so sorry, Kauru… I didn’t know that you…” She stopped shy of finishing the sentence, realizing her words would do nothing to change the past. The two sat together, finally as friends, in blissful silence on the Sunagakure street.
WC: 2963
