Seeking refuge from the diamonds

[Samejima]

Naoki ran her fingers down and across the scroll, at a slow speed. It took her a couple of minutes to read the scroll, with her face locked in a concentrated expression. At the end of it, she had no idea what the other parts were about, but she did understand that she had to clap, and do something with her chakra to modify that clap. But other than that, she didn't know what to do here.

So I'm supposed to clap... while my hands have chakra between them? She tried to focus chakra in her hands, and clapped, but nothing happened as she did so.

Hmm... Did I focus right? Maybe I need to do something with the chakra?

This time, she tried to project a little chakra out from her hands as she clapped, and managed to create a deafening 'SLAP'. Her hands didn't hurt more than they did when she clapped louder than usual, but her ears were ringing. She didn't expect a sound that loud, and the nerves in her ears had failed to adjust accordingly. Ow ow ow... I need to be more careful when I try out new jutsu...

Naoki let out a sigh, and sensed that the puppet had sustained a little damage. It was likely due to the fact that she had not attained the skill level to use the jutsu properly, and only a slight amount of damage was dealt compared to what it would have sustained had Hyper Clap been properly executed. She would practice it more after the exam, as she was apprehensive about it after the pain in her inner ear, unaware of the fact that her ears were able to adjust to any sounds she expects.

 

[Kairyuu]

Bmod here.
Send me all of the information needed, which is:
Stats, jutsu known and their ranks, abilities, core ability/bl and the skills known from each, kinjutsu, inventory which includes weapons, bank account information, the 12 herbs and spices the Colonel put on his chicken, Sousuke's measurments, and a picture of a potato.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru nodded to the puppeteer it was time to give Naoki her final exam. "Okay Samejima Naoki, it is time for your final test, you will face the puppet controlled by this puppeteer, it is a human like as can be and will only attack you in the manner that an actual human would. Don't hold back, it is not truly alive so you can attack it to your heart's content."

Hyou Bansho sat in a corner and manipulated the human mannequin to attack Samejima as a fist fighter would.
Skills, Abilities, actions sent:

BATTLE ROLEPLAY: The puppet took an obvious fighting stance and moved straight toward Samejima in a slow steady march, its pneumatic pump sped up simulating a heartbeat, the pressure system sounded exactly like blood flow and the heated core gave off the same amount of heat as a living body. Naoki could actually hear the grinding of the mechanisms that were manipulated by chakra to allow it to move. It was getting set to throw a heavy punch.

 

[Samejima]

Oooh, that doesn't sound friendly...

Naoki braced herself for impact, knowing that her rushing in as soon as Lord Onimaru gave the puppeteer the signal left her no room to dodge.

Should she successfully block the attack, she would proceed to equip her weapon and make a quick strike to the puppet's torso, backstepping to put some distance between herself and her mechanical opponent.

[Sending actions, I hope I did it right... Sorry it took so long >_<"]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru watched Naoki stiffen up and his gut began to churn as if he had sentenced his own daughter to death, she wasn't as confident as when she had begun her training she could see. With an inner conflict he decided to advise her before things got dangerous. "Trust your senses young lady, feel the opponent and your area, move about to track both yourself and your opponent, never invite an attack unless you have a plan to make sure that attack is ineffective. Feel the power within you, just because it claimed your sight in compensation does not mean it did not grant you power in return. Feel the strength within your very blood and use it..."<i></i> Lord Onimaru clasped his hands tightly behind his back making his leather armor creak and turn in a stretched, crushed motion.

 

[Samejima]

[Waiting on the B-Mod... Self-discovery thoughts anyone?]

So... I'm a Hashigaki... Naoki began to address the lingering doubts she had in her mind as she recovered from the puppet's blow. After having lived nearly ten years of her life not knowing who her biological parents are, and not finding the need to know them as most adoptive children who discover their status do, she'd always believed it would never bother her. But now, seeing as she has lost her sight due to them, she felt she should try and think about what other effects she had been blessed, or cursed, with.

I can't see anymore, but I can hear a lot more than I used to. She remembered her trip through the dojo, how she used the sound of her footsteps to sense where the walls and breakable items were, as well as how she was able to snap her fingers, causing a louder sound, and sense things through doors. She wasn't sure how she would fare against walls, but she intended to try it out at some point.

I think I've always been able to sing well though, dad said I would be an idol if I wasn't 'so darned young'. Mom sings pretty good too, so I always thought that was where I got my voice from... Naoki frowned, but kept herself alert to oncoming attacks. She wasn't about to let down her guard now because she was worried about her past.

And how will I make friends? I can't keep my eyes closed forever... They'd all think I'm weird... I was really looking forward to some company too... Being a normal nine year old with a boisterous personality, she has social tendencies that just can't be appeased by adults and people she couldn't tease. She wished she could think of some way to be less different, but would continue these thoughts later, when the time was right.

Now, it's time to focus.

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

The puppets pseudo flesh covered hands locked into distinct fists as it sent a solid attack straight at Samejima. It was very easily heard... every click, every motion, the simulated heartbeat, and the puppeteer's breathing as he breathed through the fight as if it was him fighting because basically it was. She could almost hear the strain on the puppeteer to maintain a chakra link to manipulate the training aide. With the whole picture solidly, sonar located in her mind's eye she could move about the target at will even without directly seeing her target's movements. She could feel them almost as if she were the ocean and this fish dare tried to lash out at her. She could sense the build up of chakra. This basic punch was preliminary it was preparing a massive follow up. The punch would strike her guard if she did nothing but judge dimensions. What would Naoki do now?

 

[Samejima]

Naoki panicked as she re-evaluated the puppet's strength. Unfortunately, as she had been running to it just moments prior to the realisation, she had just enough time to redirect some of the chakra shielding herself from the blow to her feet to keep them in place as the puppet unleashed its powerful strike.

She cried out from the pain of the blow, and her knees buckled just a little with the support from her chakra. Her eyelids were pushed further down by the concentration she was putting into not being blown away by the punch, but she recovered quickly and did a sideways ukemi instinctively, rolling with it. She is now standing directly to the right of the puppet, and made a sideways jab with her battle knife, letting out a "HAAA!" and hitting it squarely in the waist.

As she heard her yell, she felt she could do something with the soundwaves she had created. Thinking fast, she sidestepped behind the puppet and twisted clockwise into another punch, this time at the puppet's back if it hadn't turned around, with another yell to accompany it. This time, she tried envisioning her chakra enveloping the sound, and merging with it to make it do more damage to the puppet in addition to her initial blow.

She listened for any signs of movement from the puppet... What would she hear?

 

[Toraono Kuro]

The stab of the blade was deflected by the internal systems of the puppet but it did bend and cover itself like a real person whom had been stabbed would have as Naoki's movement instinctively sped up she did something beyond Lord Onimaru's expectations. The chamber pulsed ever so briefly as all sound and vibration was pulled into a tight frequency around her body then pulsed through her unarmed strike. The training puppet buckled as its internal pneumatic system was completely disrupted and shifted to the right with the vibrational shockwave of her instinctive internal attack followed up by her sonic scream. The puppeteer released his chakra strings and bowed to her, yes it was true he could force it to move despite the damage inflicted upon it but the damage registered by the puppet's internal system showed that a normal man would have been mortally wounded by the knife strike followed up by the vibrational strike and the sonic scream.

The battle was over Naoki was now to be given genin rank and allowed to go on a mission to help unlock a passageway to Sunagakure. Lord Onimaru sent a messenger to Lord Toraono Kaibudo he had discovered a new prodigy that was perfectly suited for his advanced taijutsu program as long as she didn't surpass the speed of sound too often she would be beyond effective.

Congratulations and Welcome to Genin status
Genin Exam complete

 

[Samejima]

Naoki heard the puppet buckle, and the loud thud that resulted alerted her to the puppeteer bowing to her, signaling the end of the battle.

"W-what? Did I... Did I win?" Frankly, she had expected the puppet to put up more of a fight. It seems she had to learn how to gauge her strength versus an opponent's durability, or she'd never learn to anticipate accurate results from the attacks she performs. Conversely, she would also not be able to judge how strongly an opponent would be hitting if she didn't learn, though she doesn't know this yet.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in the left side of her head, and sat down to adjust herself. This may have been from overexertion, as the attack she'd doled out apparently used far more chakra than she thought it would. Having been a 110% kind of girl throughout the course of her life, she was not used to having more strength than she could afford to lose, and would now need to re-evaluate her priorities and values in order to advance in the shinobi world.

Getting up, feeling a little more stable, Naoki had two options: request a break, or push onwards. Unsurprisingly...

"Sir!" she said, saluting in Lord Onimaru's direction, "Samejima Naoki, Genin of Sunagakure, reporting for duty!" She said this with great enthusiasm, and a grin on her face.

[Alright, time to request a banner >w< Thanks for your time, I hope we'll work well together from now onwards!]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru came and stood before Naoki but instead of a salute he gave her a fatherly hug. "You have done well Samejima Naoki... you put forth great effort and gained the power of your birthright and learned new techniques within hours of training. We are honored to give you the title of genin and trainee of the Hyou Clan, now comes the hard part, you can choose to be security forces, emergency medical trainee, or general services. I find myself hoping you take up the medical field and accept the training of Lord Kaibudo to become faster than any normal ninja or human being as far as movement and close combat. When Lord Kuro is located he will be able to return some of your basic sight to you but your eyes will not see long distances if you allow him to open the chakra channels your bloodline diverts from your eyes. You may have also noticed that you are capable of controlling soundwaves and vibrations and that even your voice is a weapon. As you get stronger you will be able to do all sort of miraculous things. I am honored to welcome you to the ranks of Sunagakure. We will get you some leather wraps for your hands and feet so that your combat is neither slowed nor hampered. IF you accept this transition you have only but to tell me what field of study you wish to undertake and we will make sure you are given what you need to achieve your goals." Lord Onimaru placed a genin headband in Naoki's hand, she could wear it any where she choose to.

 

[Samejima]

Naoki froze up as she received a hug from Lord Onimaru, once more unsure of what to do in the situation given. Common decency dictates returning the hug, and that she did, but felt awkward afterwards as master and student don't usually hug. It was something she'd read in a really old book, but the main character of that story was under tutelage, and never received much more affection from his master than a pat on the shoulder and a few kind words.

As she listened to what Lord Onimaru was saying, she considered her choices of a branch. She didn't think she would grow to be capable enough to leave the village's safety to, and though it was preferred, the medical field was not something she would excel at given her lack of chakra understanding. Also, she was not looking forward to spending days on end holed up in a classroom, listening to lectures on complicated techniques and sewing, which was how she interpreted the suturing of wounds. The only choice left was general services, which she took to mean odd jobs around the village in addition to regular mission. This would give her the opportunity to meet many people, and perhaps form a team along the way, which is ideal for her final goal: To help people.

Finally, she was handed the genin headband. Along with the position she wanted to wear it in, she made up her mind. Naoki would keep her bloodline's "curse", and succeed despite it. She wore the headband like a blindfold, indicating her decision about regaining some of her sight. After all, she did already feel comfortable in the darkness, and another transition into the light would likely only serve to confuse her feelings about her abilities and biological family further.

"I'll do my best as a general services member then sir, is that okay? And um... what are the fields of study?" she asked, tilting her head to her left.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru went and sat at a desk as the puppet was gathered up and placed in a repair case and hauled away. "With your selection of main branch, your Sennin will be Lord Toraono Kuro, your advanced studies will be Shinobi 101 Taijutsu. Once we can find team-mates your age and general makeup you will be given time to master your teamwork. With your skills and abilities you should be an asset to any team. We will get you suited to your future mission to infiltrate Suna. Until then a medic will come and check you out and once you are given a clear bill of health. We will teach you what jutsu are necessary for tunnel work. Good luck with all your efforts."<i></i>

 

[Samejima]

Walking over to stand in front of the desk, she mumbled, "Main branch... Sennin?" Naoki heard the title before, when she stumbled upon her parents discussing her future as a shinobi, though she never asked them what it meant and so was unaware of the magnitude of the position.

Oooh, I'll be joining a team? That'd be... Her initial positiveness about having a team dropped a little as she realised they might think she was weird or scary if she could greet them while wearing a blindfold. Briefly, she considered telling Lord Onimaru her troubles, but found that she didn't have to. Not having her sight returned to her was a choice she made, and she'd stick with it until there was a 100% chance of failure. Such determination stemmed from the pride in which she held her thought processes, though she herself was unaware of it.

"Thank you sir... But weren't we starting the mission in two days? Is all that possible in such a short time?" She was eager to learn how she would be able to help, but doubted there would be enough time to build teamwork before the two days ended. That and she did want to avoid having to be under the scrutiny of other children her age. They weren't as understanding as adults after all, or so she thought of any child.

Naoki had encountered few other children before, mainly children of customers, and they were critical of her appearance, both as a more differently built girl and as a member of the Miyako race, as she was told by her mother later that night. One girl even refused to speak to her because she was too tall, and that was likely what started her wariness of other children in general.

Whatever her past though, she did need to learn how to get along with others, and she was prepared to try and reach out because that's what her mother would have wanted for her. Her father though, had one choice phrase: "Your mother's too social for her own good..." It was often spoken when her chattiness held up the shop's line on days when there was one. "Try not to start chatting everyone's ears off there okay Naoki? I don't want you coming back carrying twice the lip you've been giving me!" After which her father chortled, and ruffled her hair.

[MFT]

 

[Toraono Kuro]

After her documents were written up and a training crystal chronicling her training from the moment she entered the dojo up to her passing her genin exam under the careful observations of the Hyou Clan it was time for her to be assigned to a team to help breach the maw and help start the process to restore genuine freedom to Suna's true and honestly good citizens. With her records and abilities chronicled over the two and 1/2 days she had been at the dojo it was all but official that she was destined to be a true kunoichi genius. Even at the immediate cost of her eyesight her progress had been phenomenal. With only moderate direction and light chakra enhancement to start her on her way she had progressed to master ninjutsu and discover her innate talents and adjust to those talents with only light coaching. Lord Onimaru had tested her on the spot and found her worthy of genin status. Not even Lord Toraono Kuro had tested out of the academy in less than three days. At six years of age it had taken him three months, and here Samejima Naoki had accomplished the same feats at eight years old in two and 1/2 days. In her defense she was not hindered by demon blood and prone to fits of violence for violence sake but luckily Kuro grew out of that phase in a month. Lord Onimaru made sure all of her video crystal recorded evidence was set carefully aside before reporting to Lord Kaibudo with his concepts of her growth and the recommendation that after Sunagakure was reclaimed that she be set for the master fighter program.

 

[Samejima]

As Lord Onimaru took care of her documentation, Naoki trotted around behind him in case she had to fill out anything else. She also didn't know what to do, and even though the process looked pretty interesting, especially the bit with the shiny crystal, she didn't ask any questions about it and just tagged along.

She sat down, leaning on a wall, and listened intently for any signs of newcomers, such as the doors opening or stronger winds, but it seems like her abilities haven't developed that far yet. She was getting rather bored, as the rest of the paperwork is not exactly something to watch. Instead, she tried thinking about the kinds of food that she might encounter while in Sunagakure. Judging by the food she was earlier, there was a lot of meat and vegetables, but she didn't see many fish. That's good... I was pretty sick of fish. Mom used to make all those stews, but stopped all of a sudden and started just cooking fish... Naoki thought about her mother's old nikujaga, with the large helpings of potatoes that gave her the energy to go out and fish with her father. After the change, it became just fish stew, and though she was a little more tired in the evenings, she survived.

Thinking about it later in her life, she would likely realise that the reason they stopped feeding her so much starch is to get her to wind down after fishing.

She felt her legs go numb, and stretched out a little. When her legs went back to normal, she stood up and asked, "Sir, can I go... do something? Walk around the Dojo maybe? Or I could go ahead and practice some more jutsu?"

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru spoke aloud and it seemed he was painstakingly reminded of someone as Naoki asked if she could go train or do something. Naoki could literally hear the words catch in his throat as he resumed his natural poise as a leader, trainer, assassin, and for a brief moment a remniscent father. " Why of course Genin Samejima, I apologize for boring you with paperwork you may practice taijutsu in the warm chambers to your north. Ninjutsu is practiced on the east wing in the rooms with lots of air forming a strong, cooling breeze. When you want to practice genjutsu simply squeeze your headband and a team of mentats will be alerted to your location as long as you are in the dojo. Try to stay away from the tunnels beneath the dojo until a team has been selected for you to train with and we will get you set with a dig team as soon as your personal trainer Yoko returns from her scouting mission... "<i></i> The ground rumbled as he spoke and a concerned look briefly crossed his face as he feared the worst had come to pass and Sunagakure was no more.

 

[Samejima]

Naoki heard a BANG in the distance, and the ground shook noticeably. "W-whoa! What was that?" She had experienced an earthquake before, and it had similar rumbling, but she didn't hear a bang that last time. "Sir, is something going on outside? Should we take cover?" She remembered her mother told her to take cover or get out when earthquakes strike.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Lord Onimaru quickly gathered his weapons and items before turning to Naoki, "Make your way to the center of the dojo first floor, there you will be met by our clan Guardians they will know you on sight from my reports. Stay there we are going to activate the chakra dome and make sure all the children and genin are safe as you are our future. Do not despair or worry, we will protect you beyond our dying breaths and don't take any unnecessary risks."<i></i> He quickly handed Naoki a map in braille along with two scrolls, one with directions for a taijutsu and one with instructions for a ninjutsu for her to practice on her own. With a quick ruffling of her hair Onimaru moved and all she could feel was a pop of air as a vacuum formed from where he left the chamber in a hurry.

 

[Samejima]

Naoki stood there for a while, a little stunned from the sudden pop. Lord Onimaru seemed to have disappeared, and she had to make her way to the center of the Dojo quickly. Though the ground is no longer rumbling, she was very much worried for everyone still in the building, especially because the phrase she'd just heard: "dying breaths".

The words had a chilling effect on her, having never known anyone who died from anything other than natural causes. She read the map hurriedly, and rushed over to the center of the first floor, listening for any others who might need help. If she found anyone who seemed to be at a loss as to what they should be doing, she would tell them to follow her to safety.

She snapped her fingers as she ran, listening for any signs of more tremors and trying to figure out which ways to avoid, but the Dojo seemed as sturdy as ever and she made it to the designated area without incident.

The location she was in had many people, and was quite noisy. The nerves in her ears cannot adjust quickly to such a volume. Her hearing at that point was akin to one's sight while being blinded by too much light. After being sure of the fact that she wouldn't be able to last long in the area full of people without getting some serious hearing problems, she decided to step further away from the area, though not too far away so she can still listen for signs of a warning, before looking over the scrolls of jutsu Lord Onimaru had given to her, and beginning to practice them.

After some practice, she began to wonder when she was going to start learning how to help out with the digging, and decided to try and brave the crowds to ask where the digging was supposed to take place. After getting some directions, Naoki took off for the Undersea level of the Dojo.

[Topic Left]