Mind Games [Tag: Ame]

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Grasping at her headband as she stood silently in the training grounds. She promised that she would teach Ame genjutsu, but maybe it would be better for her to not become a ninja or simply stick to only medical jutsu. Most med nin stayed out of the fighting and only had to deal with the aftermath. Megumi sighed as she just no matter where she was the innocent girl would face hardships. It was not like she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth she had no one, and as a ninja having friends helps you cope with their reality. Megumi would not of known where she would of been without her friends.

Ame would see Megumi for who she was on the field of battle, her cold dull stare would show that she was apathetic to whatever she may face on the field. It was better for her to learn now than later when it was really life and death. She had no intentions of going easier on her as she had seen what had happened to those that treated their world and livelihood like a game.

Megumi would give Ame all of the info and experience she would need in the world of genjutsu first hand. Alchemist and scientist did not make discoveries by playing it safe. Megumi would give the young girl’s mind a trial by fire and show her first hand what destroying a mind felt like.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Ame was running late. She had a meeting with Megumi today at the training grounds to learn head-on about genjutsu and already she was making a bad impression. Hurriedly, she got dressed in her traditional ninja gear, the outfit she wore for every training session she did. She filled her backpack with her usual journal and a few books on genjutsu that she already owned, as well as her canteen full of fresh water. Well, as fresh as she could get from her kitchen sink. Then, she filled the pouch on her side with shuriken and kunai before heading out the door, locking it behind her.

Immediately, she started running to the training field that the two had designated for today. It was early morning and the clearing they had chosen was one that wasn’t used very often so they should be left alone. Although, there were always the chance of random pop ins. She thought back on her solo-training a few days ago, where not only Tatsuo had popped in, but Yume had run through and a new genin, Ryuuichi had showed up as well.

Shaking her head, she focused on her current task. Luckily, she could already see the training grounds in sight. Speeding up, she made her way over to the field where she saw Megumi, standing in the middle with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Ame almost felt guilty for interrupting such a deep thinking process. “I’m here,” she said, a bit out of breath. “Sorry, I’m late,” she rushed out the apology.

After speaking, she stood up straight and pulled a tie out of her weapons pouch. Skillfully, she pulled her short hair into a high ponytail, tying it where she held it in her hands. She didn’t want anything getting in the way of sight during training. Especially if she was going to be practicing genjutsu. Not wasting anymore time, she set her messenger back off to the side and stood in front of her acquaintance, eager to start.

Observing the girl in front of her, she noticed something different that Megumi didn’t have before. Tied around her right arm was the traditional headband of a graduated leaf ninja. Her eyes widened at the object. She hadn’t realized that Megumi was so close to graduating already.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Here a guilty and ragged voice of the young girl as ran over to her. Megumi would look at the girl clothed in a traditional style kinouchi gear and the tools and material she brought with her. Ame tied her hair back in order to keep it out of the way, and readying herself for what the puppeteer had planned.

Ame may have looked ready to start, but they were not taking any steps further into genjutsu until Megumi knew that she understood the theory of it. “ It’s good to be prepared, but those books won’t come in handy, before we start the next step, tell me what is genjutsu and how does it affect the target”. As Ame would think on her quest the training grounds would wrap and change, her books and messenger would fade into the black abyss that surrounded them, until it took the form of a classroom with one table and chair. As Megumi went to take a seat at her desk, one would have to wonder how she did all of this without a handset or even thinking about it.

While Megumi expects an answer she would wait for the younger girl to get her bearings as she is experiencing genjutsu firsthand. There was no better way to understand something than to see and feel it having this as an example would help her along with her goal to become proficient in such a difficult task.

Putting some pressure up on Ame, Megumi would look up above her and a clock would twist and wrap into reality. The ticks from the clock counting down would echo through the classroom, and would countdown whatever would happen if Ame could not answer in time. However Megumi did not tell her what the countdown was for or what would happen. Looking at Ame as she sat at the teacher's desk, Megumi would wonder what the girl would do as she still has a lot to learn both they go into the more advanced levels.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Ame slightly panicked, as the moment Megumi stopped talking, the world and ground she stood on started to morph. The edges of the training grounds closed in on her, the trees disappeared, moving and shaping into desks, the post in the center of the field came forward and quickly turned themselves into a blackboard. Before she knew what happened, she was standing in the middle of what looked to be a classroom in the academy. It was quiet, there be no other people but Megumi and Ame, which was odd to say the last. She was always so used to the hustle and bustle of children at her school. Looking around she observed every piece of the room and how perfect it was for just an illusion. Ame hadn’t even seen her use any hand seals.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, ready to give out the answer. She remembered it perfectly, as she does with most lessons. “Genjutsu is the ability an opponent’s senses by manipulating the nervous system with chakra,” she drawled out. “Each type of genjutsu effects something different. Visual genjutsu affects what the target sees, audio affects what they hear, Kinect affects the entire body, and will effects brain to change how someone might react.”

She spoke nearly perfectly, her voice only going low a couple of times. Megumi’s stare from her seat at the front desk weighed down on her. The consistent ticking of the clock nearly gave her a headache with its annoying clicking. Everything about this room was messing with Ame’s senses in one way or another. She didn’t know how much time had passed. It felt like a few days but at the same time only a couple of seconds.

Ame had never been subject to any kind of jutsu before, let alone a genjutsu by someone who clearly knows what they were doing. She had a lot to learn. And she hoped Megumi could teach her all of it.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Hg her friend as she panicked from the sudden change of their surrounding. While it was expected as Megumi assumed that it was the first time Ame has been under a genjutsu. Megumi would look attentively and give her a small smile as she quickly adapted to her new surroundings and kept calm. However it was as if she was under duress, the puppeteer did nothing that would cause harm or reason to fear, but her feat was still impressive for a student.

Ame was a good study as she seemed to remember what Megumi had taught her about genjutsu. She was glad that she was a quick study as the fields she wishes to go into are not for the mentally lacking. “ I’m glad you remembered, you’ll catch on quick with dealing and using genjutsu”. Looking to the blackboard the human chakra network would show up. “ I’m sure you were aware that the chakra network and our circulatory system are quiet similar and are often together woven under our skin”. The black board would then show a diagram of a ninja using a genjutsu or the depiction of the chakra network. The areas such as the eyes or other areas would sipke and change the flow of the chakra. “ I’ve already explained how the genjutsu enters the target now i am showing show and giving you a up close experience of what it feels like”. Megumi would put emphasis on the word feels as that exactly what Ame should be focusing on.

The blackboard would then show a ninja stopping or regulation his chakra network. “ The simplest and quickest way to stop a genjutsu is to cut off the source of the attack. There are of course other ways, such as breaking eye contact or being affected by an outside source. As well as jutus that dispel or protect against genjutsu. However one must first determine that they are in a genjutsu less fall prey to it”. Megumi would look at the clock and then the classroom. “ Try all your senses and get a feel for the area, as genjutsu only affect one part of the sense. See behind the veil and determin fact between fiction”. Megumi would finish her explanation of the second part of her lesson, now it’s just about hands on learning.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Ame closed her eyes, thinking back to all the books she read. She needed to break the genjutsu and she knew she was already halfway there. Knowing that none of this was real was half the battle.

Mentally, she scanned every text book she read on the topic, eyebrows furrowing in concentration. Knowing what did about Megumi, she probably didn’t have much time before things got considerably harder. The ticking of the clock pounded like an endless timer, judging her every thought. That’s when she found the right passage.

Eyes flying open, she held her hands together in the correct seal, focusing all of her chakra on her surroundings. “Release!” she called, her voice echoing in the false scenery. She watched as the classroom melted away, revealing her true surroundings once more.

Silently, she reveled in the soft breeze, the smell of the trees that bordered the field, the feel of the taller pieces of glass hitting her ankles. It was just a simple genjutsu. Yet it had affected her so much. What if it had been someone an enemy cast? Like a torture room? Would she have been able to stay calm long enough to release it? Would her emotions get out of control and it would start storming in a world that she was no longer part of? There were so many questions that she had for Megumi, and not nearly enough time.

Megumi was a genin now. The forehead protector tied securely on her arm said as much. She was going to start going on missions, be assigned to a team. She wouldn’t have time to teach Ame all the things she needed to know. But she had to try.

After getting her breath back and her heart to a regular pace again, she looked towards the raven in front of her. She was standing in the same position she was in the unreal classroom, like it hadn’t affected her in the slightest. But she supposed it really hadn’t had much of affect, anyway. Megumi was obviously a highly skilled genjutsu user for her age. She seemed to be highly skilled in a lot of things, if Ame was being completely honest.

Shakily, she voiced her concerns about what would have happened if she was up against someone truly trying to kill her. The classroom was nothing compared to what she imagined in-fight genjutsu would be like. She only hoped she could control it before she ever came across such a thing.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Watching the girl as the clocked ticked along, in their small mental pocket of existence that knew no such concept of time, until time was forced upon it. Megumi would watch as tAme would concentrate, but get slightly distracted by the minor annoyance in the form of a clock, that Megumi created for the sole purpose of throwing the budding kinouchi off. However it appears that she went a little too easy on the girl, as she stared her down and released the mental bindings with ease.

Reality would bleed into their private imaginary world and accompany the two with trees and birds chirping, instead of walls and a very outspoken clock. Feeling the wind brush up against her face and the sound of leaves blowing in the wind. Megumi would hold her position as applauded Ame’s rapid and ever more impressive ability to learn. The young girl did not look happy at her feat, in fact you look troubled.

It looks as though either normalizing her flow of chakra or the genjutsu was more effective on her than she had previously thought. The sea blued haired girl would look at Megumi as she brooded on her thoughts. Sheepishly Ame would voice her concerns and thought about a real life and death battle.

Giving the young girl a small smile, “ Isn’t that what we are preparing for right now? You're only just starting of course it would be unlikely and risky if you went into a real battle. You would assuredly die or is you were lucky gravely injured”. Megumi would pause and think if she should bump it up a notch. Ame would a fast learner and if things got to out of control, she could simply end it at anytime.

“ I wanted to start with the basics first, that genjutsu only used visual and audio. In a real battle all of your senses would come under fire, you would have a difficult time discerning between reality and illusion. If you want we can try and see how you would do in a real scenario, but are you sure it can be dangerous and the damage is often irreversible”? Megumi would respect the girl’s willingness to learn, but she was not going out onto the battlefield anytime soon. She did not have to rush things, Megumi was not going anywhere.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Ame knew her limits. She didn’t have much field training in genjutsu, this being her first experience. She was not about to put her future and goals in jeopardy. Not yet at least. When she was a trained, full fledged shinobi of the leaf, then she could take risks. But now was not the time.

She shook her head at Megumi’s request to step it up a notch. She took another second to take in the surroundings. For once, she was glad to be outside. The light and airy feeling of the real world was much less stressful than the stuffy, weighed down confinements of a genjutsu. Mentally, she smirked, the corners of her lips turning up to almost do the same. She was excited to get to that level. She wanted to be able to do that to someone, to show people she had more to her than just something to be scared of.

Her breathing was steadied, the nervous sweat had dried, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. All of which were good signs to continue. “What’s next?” she asked, determined. She would do this all day if she could. Because she was going to master this. No matter how long it took.

[Sorry for the short post Bit of a writer's block on this one]

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Ame would gave what she told her some thought. She was smart enough to think before she acted something that most students seemed to lack. As she shock her head and refused to rush into a field that could be career ending if she could not compensate for the huge amount of mental trauma. Seeing how the safe classroom affected her, it was wise of her to build up her ability slowly.

She seemed to calm down as she was faced with the trees and the natural area of the training grounds. The feel of the light breeze against her face and the fresh air and dirt under her feet. With a determined looks as she asked what was next, Megumi. Cracking a small smile and she snickered a bit as she thought on the novis genjutsu users reaction.

Ame would hear a clink of glass echo through the training ground, but there was nothing around that would make such a sound near by. Her vision would get hazy and refocus showing her that they were in fact in the oak district in front of a convenience store. Megumi would hold out a drink for the girl with a smile, “ Don’t worry this is real it’s just Ramune”.

Looking at the girl, who had no idea that she was in a genjutsu. Megumi simply changed it to reflect the real world tricking her into think that she had dispelled the genjutsu. “ It’s a little trick to make other believe that they have in fact removed the genjutsu. It makes them let their guard down and in fact makes tricking your opponent much easier, as they would think that they are in fact in the real world”. Taking a drink, as all of that reality wrapping has made her quite thirsty. Now that Ame has experienced a true genjutsu, she would see why taking it up a notch would of been a poor decision. Luckily she was wise enough to know her limits, something that will save her in the future.

Looking around as she let Ame take in the surroundings and the people of the leaf go about their business. “ If you're asking what is next, there really isn’t anything else. Now it’s up to you to practise and improve on your own personal skill. Now of course there is more advanced forms of channeling your genjutsu, such as dojutsu and your voice if you are a Hashigaki. However those are bloodlines like and can only be obtained through birth”. Thinking about what she had said should would think how that last statement was not entirely correct. “ While the Uchiha and Hashigaki tend to have a natural affinity and special techniques. The rules still apply. visual Sharingan has to have eye contact and Hashigaki uses sound in the form of there voice, and if you can not hear and stop the catalyst to which the genjutsu travels through then you can protect against it. While channeling through one sense has its weaknesses, it has the benefit of not requiring handseals to perform genjutsu”.

Apparently this was more than she had originally had thought, though this would not answer how Megumi could do genjutsu without requiring handseals. Thinking about her ability and how it was similar to the Hashigaki’s form of sound and genjutsu manipulation. There were some differences. She did not really want to talk about her abilities to others as that would reveal her trick. Sighing as the life of a teacher was a difficult one, Megumi downed her drink and tossed it into a bin. “ I bet you're wondering how i can form genjutsu, as you are well aware that i am not either of those bloodline. While you can transfer dojutsus and other bloodlines, i’m sure you could even transplant the vocal cords of a Hashigaki. I’ve read up about other ways that people have gained access to bloodlines and affinities that they did not have, but those are extremely rare and fanatical cases”. Stopping to make sure Ame is not coming to any sort of dark conclusion about her, she would continue. “ No my learned technique is not born for the sacrifice of whatever morality i have left and the blood of others. Mine uses sound jutsu like Hashigaki. While i can use it through my voice, which is how it put you into a genjutsu. I manly use strings”. Megumi would create, a chakra string that she would normally use for her puppets and pluck it. The sound was very alluring and much more refined than an ordinary string instrument. Dispersing her string, “ I can also channel wind and non elemental as well as sound jutsu through it. This allows me to still use my puppets, while supporting them with ninjutsu and genjutsu”.

With her secret out and everything she knew about genjutsu passed onto the girl. The basic was all there was really available on genjutsu. The rest was purely up to the individual on how they prefered to bend reality. There was a few tricks that she could pass on, but it was down to the individual. “ Now that you know my secret, i would appreciate it if you did not tell anyone”. Looking around as she was famished as holding such a world wrapping genjutsu and subconsciously leading Ame down the streets was hard work. “ Hey Ame want to stop by somewhere and get something to eat, i might be able to think about some tips and if your interested i can talk about ninjutsu”. Pointing at a simple yakitori stand, Megumi would walk over and order something. Waving over to Ame, she would ask her if she wanted something?

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

As Megumi observed her and her calmness, she suddenly felt a heavy weight behind her eyes. Her vision grew fuzzy, like she was looking through a pair of overly scratched spectacles. It didn’t last long though, her eyes focusing and adjusting to her new surroundings. She suddenly found herself in the Oak District, standing in front of one of the popular convivence stores in the area. There were plenty of people walking the streets, some of which took a moment to glance at the pair of girls. She could feel the wind again, smell the pollen on the air that drifted from a nearby flower shop. There was no way this could be a genjutsu.

Looking back at the raven, she noticed she was holding out a glass bottle, a marble rocking in the neck of it. It was a soda of some kind, that much she could tell from the amount of bubbles in the entire container. After the verbal reassurance that everything was real and they were for sure out of the genjutsu, she gratefully took the drink. Taking a sip, Ame hadn’t realized just how dry her mouth and throat had gotten. With that in mind, she easily gulped down half the bottle before pulling it away for now.

When Megumi started to explain that the training grounds was all part of the trick, her eyes widened. She thought for sure she had dispelled it properly. But she supposed that, considering it being her first time even trying, there would be room for error in this practice session.

The other girl went on to talk about the genjutsu abilities of the Uchiha and Hashigaki clan. How the Uchiha specialized in a visual genjutsu via their sharingan, and the Hashigaki used their voice. Ame briefly wondered if Megumi had used just her voice to cast the illusion, but quickly dispelled the idea when she came to the point that those techniques are given by birth. She knew for a fact that Megumi was a Tanigawa and her family was known for their puppets. She thought about asking her how she really had done it, but before she could even open her mouth, Megumi had answered her.
She revealed that she did in fact use sound genjutsu, similar to how the Hashigaki so it. But instead of using just her voice, she would create sounds with the same chakra strings used for controlling puppets. She had read very little about puppeteering, but chakra strings were something she as well versed on. But to use them for something like this was not something she would have ever thought of. She quickly promised not to leak her secret, at Megumi’s request.

Finished off her drink and tossing the bottle, she agreed to a quick bite to eat and chat about ninjutsu. Walking over to the nearby yakitori stand, she put in order for just one and waited for their food to be made. The smell of the fried food made her mouth water and stomach growl. She didn’t have much to eat before coming to the training so by now, she quite hungry. “So,” she started, wanting to get the conversation started. “You’re a genin now. What kind of Ninjutsu do you know?” she asked, genuinely curious.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Letting a sigh of relief as Ame promised to keep her string trick a secret. Giving Ame a friendly small as she heard her stomach growl. “ Good thing we are still not at the training ground”. Megumi would tease Ame about her bodily outburst as they approach the street vendor.

Megumi would order two Yakitoris and cover the cost as she knew that Ame’s financial situation. Handing her one of the yakitoris, she would look for a good spot to sit down and relax over a meal.

Finding a nice seat out of the way of all the villagers going about their business. Hearing Ame start the conversation, which was odd for the shy girl. Ame must of felt comfortable enough around her to actually want to speak with her. Hearing her talk about her new rank, made Megumi a little sad as she thought about how her exam and the following event that lead up to her wearing the headband. The topic was about ninjutsu, but Ame wanted to know more about the ninjutsu she used than it as a whole.

Taking a bite of her meal as she thought on it. Making sure to not talk with food in her mouth, Megumi finished her bite before talking. “ My ninjutsu repertoire, is not that grand as i only use a select few. I have access to fire,earth and wind though i don’t know any earth ninjutsu. I know a basic fire ninjutsu, but most of my knowledge in ninjutsu is non elemental and wind. As i can transmute them into sound and not have to worry about handsighs”.

Looking at Ame after she reveal most of her abilities to her. “ Why are you so interested in my abilities you're not planning anything dubious are you Ame”. Megumi would tease and joke with the girl as Megumi knew that peaceful times like these would be few and far between for her. Therefore she has to make the best of them.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

As Ame ate, she listened to Megumi’s answer. She noticed a slight change in her facial features as she was about to speak, though. It was only for a second and was gone in half the time, but it almost looked like the girl was sad. She didn’t have much time to dwell on it, however, before she started speaking, answering her question thoroughly. She explained how she knew Justus from all core elements except Earth, but how her use of sound through chakra strings made up for the one missing. Though she did panic a bit when Megumi asked if she was curious for more than just friendly reasons, but relaxed as soon as she realized she was just joking around.

Swallowing the bite she taken from the yakitori, she quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing like that!” she was quick to defend. “I just wanted to know what things we would be going over. And I figured they would all be relevant to things you actually know,” she hoped her reasoning was good enough. She had observed how untrusting Megumi could be. Granted she had never seen it first-hand. But the way the girl carried herself and acted, she could only assume.

She saw that flicker of sadness once more. This time, she wanted to ask about it. She really did. But she knew how secretive the raven could be. She had learned that even more today, with how protective she was over her use of chakra strings. Ame figured that pushing the girl to talk would only lead to something worse. Not to mention, they were supposed to be studying now. That much was clear. So for now, she dropped it, promising herself to bring it up again in the future.

“I was thinking,” she started again. “Maybe you can tell me how you came to master so many techniques?” she was genuinely curious about this one. Megumi knew many jutsus for her age and she was well versed in the majority of them. The more she knew about what the girl could do, the more she could learn from her.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Letting out another chuckle as Ame got very defensive at her joke. “ You keep acting all defensive and making up reasons. I am going to get suspicious”. Megumi was obviously still joking, but it was nice to have someone to talk to that seemed so interested in her abilities and her.

Their was a bit of silence as they thought and ate their food. Megumi would think about what was to come and what had already transpired. Would she be able to handle everything that the shinobi world could throw at her. She doubted it, but she was not one to give up without at least trying.

Hearing Ame ask her about how she was able to master so many techniques. Her ears would perk up at the master part of the statement. Smile at Ame as she gave her a small laugh at her comment. “ I would never say that i have mastered anything. Those that claim to be a master truly no nothing as their are always new discoveries to be made and new ways to improve. I may be knowledgeable in my main fields, but i am always a student”.

Thinking about how she went on a tangent and never really answered the question. “ Though to answer why i know so much, is rather simple”. Looking out to the streets with and unfocused eye. “ I come from a shinobi family. I started being taught my family and the shinobi ways as soon as i could walk”. While this conversation would no doubt be personally, time has dulled the pain of her loss. “ My abilities came from my constant and endless years of training, in fact the only time i am not training or working is when i am with you. Not much of a social life i know”. Taking out Ibuki and having her wave and sit next to them. “ When the village was attacked my parents and grandmother were killed. While we went to survive, when the plan for the revival of the leaf came around. My Grandfather and I choose to help bring our village back. Our remaining family did not agree, i don’t have to tell you what happens to those that disobey the head of their clan”.

This topic was getting rather dark, and there was no need for Ame to know about her past. “ Anyway let’s forget about the past, i continued my training under my grandfather and i have studied crafts from all different countries. I have improved and am still improving on my clans crafts with more own style taken from all over the world and molded into my new craft.

Her word were no boost. Megumi’s puppets compared to most puppets looked almost life like and excitedly made, some one question if she had delved into the more darker fields of puppetry as her puppets looked almost to human.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Hearing how Megumi had gained her prowess in being a shinobi made Ame a bit discouraged. She didn’t even any prior physical knowledge of being a ninja before joining the academy. Sure, she had her books. And for a short time, she even had her baa-chan and jii-chan. But neither one of them had been shinobi or ever even showed interest in becoming such. Growing up, there had been no one to teach her but herself. Yet here was Megumi, who started who education in everything before she could even talk properly. She came from a large, successful clan, so it was no wonder she was so good at what she does. But it couldn’t help but input a bit of sadness into the orphaned girl.

Finished with her food, she hesitated in talking again. “How do I make up for years of missed training?” she whispered.

Ame knew they had drifted off topic a bit. But she couldn’t find herself to care. This was just as important to her as any study session. She wanted to be the best shinobi she could be. She wanted to be a legend in the medical world, saving as many people as she possibly could in her lifetime. But how could she do such a thing when she was so behind in life already?

Ame already had a set training schedule for herself. She went as often as she could to the training grounds, often before the sun would even get a chance to rise. And she would stay there until just after dark. She would return home tired, dehydrated, and wake up sore the next morning. Just to do it all over again. She knew she had a lot to make up for and was determined to do it in a timely manner.

And now that she had Megumi, she was progressing faster than ever before. She found herself retaining information better and for longer periods of time. She was able to work harder and longer in the training grounds with less side effects of the harsh regimen she set for herself.

She looked back up at Megumi and, surprisingly, gave her a small smile.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Hearing doubt and disipontingment in Ame’s voice as she asked about how to catch up on the training she has missed. Megumi was not sure if she was asking her as her frail voice made her think otherwise. However even if she was not asking her, Megumi would try and not discourage her from following her dream. “ You did not miss anything as you were not training to become a shinobi. You made your own decision to pursue it while i was brought up and groomed for it”. Looking at Ame and putting a hand on her shoulder and looking into her eyes with a purposeful gaze. “There are plenty of famous and well know shinobi that were born out of non-shinobi clans. Thinking about what could've been, you should focus on what you can do. You’re a fast learner and highly intelligent, you’ll catch up in no time and in other ways you are far ahead of others”. Patting her shoulder as she let it go, Megumi did not want her to doubt herself like she has and does.

Seeing a small smile raise from her gloom, Megumi gave her a playful nudge with her side. “ I have some work to do, but if you have anymore questions while i am still here, i will answer them to the best of my ability”. While she got close to the sea blue hair at first to keep tabs on her, as she could be a risk to the village. Megumi felt more than just a simply warden for the girl and more like she was a friend and a little sister. Though she thinks of the village as an extended family of sorts, the puppeteer loved these peaceful times with Ame.

Taking the leftover stick and throwing it out, while she let her unofficial student think on anything else she might wish to know. Megumi would think about the cases she was on and the upgrades, orders and adjustments she wanted and had to complete. Plopping back down next to her friend, Megumi would look at her with interest as she waited for the girl’s curiosity to get the better of her.

 

[Chigokai Yuka]

Ame relaxed at the encouraging words and gentle touch of the raven. The way she spoke was calming and effective, easing down out of the despair Ame had inadvertently crawled into. She was not going to let her past affect her future. That much she already knew. She wanted to be a great shinobi, a renowned medical ninja, someone people could look up to and respect. And no amount of wallowing in what wasn’t would get her there.

Megumi’s compliments on how fast she picked up information, how intelligent she really was, all of it gave her hope. There was a spark inside of her that, every now and then, would dwindle to the power of a wet match. But hearing such reassuring and encouraging words from someone she truly looked up to and admired? It made that spark flare up like an uncontrolled wild fire. Her teachers at the academy would tell her that warmth was the will of fire that burned in every leaf shinobi. And for once, she truly took their words to heart.

Pulling out of the sadness of their conversation, Megumi informed her that she had some work to do soon but would answer any other questions she had. Ame supposed it was not unusual for Megumi to be so busy now. She had gained rank, and while she was still considered lower in the shinobi chain, there was still work to be done for them all.

At the moment, she could not think of any else that needed to be asked. She had already gotten the answers to her current, most important questions. Besides, she didn’t want to keep the girl away from her duties as a genin. Shaking her head, she too finished off the yakitori, tossing the remaining trash in a bin nearby.

She was about to dismiss the girl, tell her to get to work, when a question did come up in her mind. “Actually,” she started. “I do have one question.”
Recently, she had been doing some research of her own on different clans. To be exact, just one specific clan. The last time they had met up, they looked and read over a book she had checked out from the library. It went over many different powerful clans, ones that were alive and thriving, and ones that were extinct or practically on the verge of it. But one section had stuck out to her tremendously and the nagging feelings to learn about it bothered her from that point her on.

Ame opened her mouth to speak. “What do you know about the Santaru clan?” she knew it had nothing to do with ninjutsu or genjutsu, the things they had met up to go over. But she also knew that Megumi’s knowledge had a wide range.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Ame did not seem to have any more questions and her curiosity seemed stated. Feeling a hint of pride for so theology answering the girl’s question in a way that left her content. As she was about to get ready to say her goodbyes to her unofficial pupil, the sea blue haired maiden fired off a deadly question.

Hearing her bring up the Santaru clan once again, shifted the conversation drastically. Megumi had spoken with her about that clan before, and she had her own theories. For some reason she went from disinterest to an interest. The puppeteer would think on her words as this was not something to simply answer with taking her words into consideration. Ame was smart and she no doubt put two and two together. She indeed had their abilities and most likely their blood as well. Though she did not know the circumstances that lead her to the Leaf, and telling her and letting her curiosity run wild this time might be too dangerous.

Giving Ame a long stare as she was spilt on her decision. It was her life and she deserved to know about her past, however digging up the past might let out a few skeletons. This knowledge could lead to a threat for the Leaf, as they might come for her if she makes herself known to them.

Megumi’s expression churned into a serious tone as her sharp gaze cut into Ame. “ I’m afraid i don’t know, anymore than what the book teaches. Though if you want to continue your pursuit of knowledge and the past. There is only one place to go”. Ame was a student and a trip to the cloud seemed unlikely anytime soon. How bad did she want to know about her past, did it even matter, they left her for dead and to rot on the streets, Megumi did not think that they even cared about her. Not taking her eyes off of Ame as she looked for a hint on her emotions and where her curiosity might lead her. “ I’m not telling you what to do, but the events that lead you to the Leaf most likely are not the happiest ones. Who knows what happened to your family, one could form a few hypnosis”. Looking down at the ground as she fought with her wish to keep the Leaf save and her wanting to help her friend. “ Just be careful okay, i have very little friends and family left. If something happened to you”. Cutting herself off as she was letting her emotions rule her. Pushing them down Megumi would wait on the girl’s answer.