Open The Gotō Estate - [Doors Open]

[Gotō Daiji]

Style: Traditional
Owner: The Gotō Clan
Location: Maple Town
Floor Area: 10,000 sq. ft​

The antiquated family estate of one of Konoha's old clans, the Gotō. Its architecture is clearly from a bygone era and it is quite large compared to more modern homesteads. Unlike a lot of clans, the Gotō do not have vast amounts of wealth and in fact the only reason their family home is so 'grand' is that it comes directly from blood money. Formerly a clan of assassins, trained in the art of murder and renown for their prowess with Taijutsu, they sold their services to the highest bidder. Combined with their larger-than-normal clan membership this allowed for the acquisition of vast amounts of yen and ultimately the construction of this home. Nowadays that line of work has become much more rare, and they don't have a lot saved in the way of generational wealth. Sharing common ancestry with the Hyūga means they share similar traits, though they do not claim to hail from any sort of nobility. The whole of the estate grounds covers an area of ten thousand square feet. Seven thousand for the main house and all of its rooms, and three thousand for the guest house.

A central courtyard separates the larger main grounds from the guest ones. The area itself is paved with sleek stone, the occasional scuff mark visible from duels or sparring sessions of ages past. On the eastern side of the courtyard through a large set of sliding fusama lies the clan's dojo, a spacious area with wooden floors where many generations of Gotō youths were brought up to become skilled assassins. Numerous practice weapons are stored here as well as some live steel ones when bokken and tonfa just aren't cutting it. Across the courtyard from the dojo on the western side are another set of doors leading to the the main estate grounds. All types of flora decorate the land, notably wisteria taking a central role in the landscaping. The lilac petals compliment the old design of the estate well, alongside various manicured shrubbery and large ancient trees. Centrally located on the estate grounds is a very large open space for training and drilling, where legions of Gotō and their associates once honed their craft. Wooden dummies, straw targets for archery and shurikenjutsu practice, as well as an area dedicated solely for dueling. Benches and groves pepper the grounds, giving visitors or members of the family a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the normal goings-on around the family home.

Several dogs of differing breeds can be found playing or lounging around the family home, some strays, some pets. As well as a single fluffy white cat named Kona who seems to have the run of the place. She gets along well enough with the canines but won't hesitate to swat one away when they get too irritating. She doesn't take kindly to newcomers but seems to (barely) tolerate the Gotō children. An outdoor cat through and through, she only seems to venture indoors when it's time to be fed or when there's mischief to be had.

No servants will be found within the Gotō family home. Chores are an essential part of the way the clan raises their young, as well as a simple method of instilling discipline within their ranks. Everyone pitches in and does their part, which takes more than a little effort due to the age of the estate and its large size.

A guest house resides near the back of the estate grounds that is big enough to be considered its own house. The interior of the main house consists of many fusama that mostly all connect to one another. A few areas of the estate have solid walls where privacy is necessary. An armory is also located within the grounds located in a defensible position that isn't apparently obvious to outsiders. There are also rumors of hidden passages and false walls within the Gotō home, hidden weapon caches and rooms that are better not spoken of in front of polite company. Perfectly befitting of a clan with such a dangerous past...

Open to all, just knock or don't! Solos will be done here from time-to-time.

 

[Gotō Daiji]

"Bleh!" a dark-skinned young man stuck his tongue out at two children garbed in black and grey training attire who had ambushed him. He backpedaled, avoiding a sudden palm strike with ease as a playful smirk began to grow on his face. Dark eyes peered out at the duo over the top of his rounded shades, one of his eyebrows having been raised after dodging the attack. "You two have a long way to go if you want to catch me by surprise." Dual kiai of sheer frustration sounded out as the pair redoubled their assault, sending chakra-infused punches and elbow strikes his way. The man weaved through their attacks effortlessly, his apricot-colored haori swaying gently in the wind with his movements. Even managed to reach out tousle the kids' hair as he stepped past him, his superior training evident in the ease with which he all but ignored their coordinated combo. "No fair, Daiji!" one of the kids turned and shouted as the chūnin strode forward, even kicking some dirt to punctuate the tantrum. "We're gonna get you just wait!" the older ninja raised a hand to limply wave behind him as he continued to walk, blowing off their concerns with a simple, "Maybe one day, kiddos. Quiet those footsteps next time." and with that he was on about his stroll. He couldn't help but to shake his head and let out a chuckle as the two Gotō youths began arguing amongst each other, a disagreement that promptly turned into a sparring match. Say what you want about the clan's sketchy history but things were never dull around the estate...

Attempts at bushwhacking like this were all too common among their clan. It was a necessary for the younger generation to sharpen their skills on actual live targets plus it was a good way to keep the older members on their toes. Of course there was no actual killing intent behind their attack... and this was usually the case. But as you can imagine for a clan trained in the art of assassination, anything could happen when tempers flared. Those two who had their ambush thwarted-- a few rowdy younger cousins of Daiji's-- were almost assuredly coming for him in his sleep tonight. "I'll have to think something devious up..." his smirk had only grown more devilish as the thought crossed his mind. Maybe he'd have a bunshin sleep in his futon while he counter ambushed them? Find somewhere nice and high on the estate grounds to pin them up by their shirts with kunai. It'd be a good start, anyway.

Daiji continued on his midday stroll, his wooden geta clacking against the paved stone as he did. His apricot haori hung loose around his shoulders, only just covering the black kimono he wore underneath. His family home was busy today as the doors to the estate were left wide open to the public. A few citizens wandered in looking for neighborly tours of the estate grounds and there were even a few students from the Academy visiting for taijutsu training alongside the younger Gotō clan members. In the center of the grounds at least a dozen Gotō youth were drilling, practicing their kata in the sun for all to see. Just fundamental movements for their particular style of fighting of course, but even these basic movements would seem advanced to those who knew anything about the art of hand-to-hand combat. Elsewhere his father and older sister were almost assuredly busy talking clan affairs somewhere within the main house. A conversation he was more than happy to not have any part in. No, today he was going to enjoy this moment of peace while it lasted. Still he couldn't help but wonder-- what else would the day bring?

[Topic Started]
[mft]

 

[Toshi]

The boy's promotion was on his mind as he strolled along the streets of the Clan Houses. Each looked so beautiful, so different in it's own way. Some members of each house he passed by had members out, some looking at him as he passed by. I'll be sure not to let Nao down." The mission he was set to go on might have been a tough one. He'd been working on a few jutsu that could help his team out while he was out there, but he hadn't completely mastered any of them. They were still works in progress.

His mind left the topic as a cat caught his attention. "A cat, but from where?" The animal looked well up kept, but it wasn't as friendly as some of the strays. As Toshi tried to move closer to it, it began to move away from him. It then stopped, staring at him as though calling him over. Being one that could summon felines, Toshi was a bit curious of the fluffy white cat's habits. He moved over to it once more, though it, once again, moved away just before he had it in his clutches. "Oh, ok. You want to play?" The cat stared at the boy again, letting out a single meow as it began on it's way once more.

The boy chuckled, already his mind off of his promotion, and the mission that he'd be going on soon. It was great to take a break from time to time, putting all the troubles to the side to enjoy the moment. The ANBU trainee now looked up towards the sky, beginning to whistle as he placed his hands behind his head. The melody matched one of those Old Tom and Jerry Classics.

He began to move towards the car once more, playing as though he didn't notice it at all. It stopped, staring at him as though he had lost it. He passed the cat by, continuing to whistle as he thought of the cat and mouse comic that he read. A good time passerby. The cat followed the boy, wondering why their game had stopped. It was at that moment that the green eyed boy then turned around. He dashed over to the cat, and dove towards it. "Gotcha!" He exclaimed a second too early. The cat jumped to the side, evading the boy's clutches all together. He slid among the dirt path that he walked. Miss! He could almost hear the empire yell, "You're out!" Toshi, slowly got up, wiping the dust from his tan shroud.

The cat now walked up a stone path, disappearing in the depths of two open doors of one of the estates. The place looked nice to Toshi. It was one of the Clan Homes he'd never seen before. He rarely came out of his own Clan House, so seeing the different homes around was a nice getaway. He placed his arms behind his head, letting out a 'Hmm' as he walked the stone path towards the open doors. He wondered what lay beyond them. His curiosity was at a peak, wondering if the open doors were a sign of welcome.

[ Topic Entered ]
[ MFT | WC = +500 ]

 

[Gotō Daiji]

No work, no responsibilities, no explosions at Konoha's gates caused by some murdering invader. Just the birds, the breeze, and nice weather. He was even up before noon which to him was a pretty rare occurrence. Usually when he wasn't expecting to be on duty he was shacked up in the real part of the village with real people, drunk with a bed warmer or two... though he had been hitting it pretty heavy lately. No rest for the debauched and all that. Maybe that was his reason for taking it easy today. Or maybe it was something else. Either way he continued about his stroll until he came near to the estate gates and a slight commotion caught his attention.

The chūnin watched with in amusement as a youth with a familiar face played a game of tag with the family cat. There was only one white-furred fuzzball that could cause this much of a ruckus. After a close game of tag with her newest playmate she seemed to lose interest and begin to walk away, as she often did. Suddenly two small figures rushed past him, hot on the trail of the feline. It seemed his twin cousins had been watching too (likely lying in wait to try their luck against him again). Instead they thought this would be more fun and took off after the cat without a word. Much too fast for a few brats, the cat skittered away with impressive speed, small pursuers in tow. "I see you've met Kona, the queen." his voice sounded out, revealing his presence if it hadn't been noticed before. "Don't take it too hard... she doesn't much like outsiders." A brief pause was followed by his covered eyes drifting off to the side alongside his thoughts. "She isn't the only one." He mused to himself... he wondered if any of his less inviting family members were watching.

Wooden geta clacked against the pavement as he approached the youth. "Toshi-shōnen." the words escaped his lips with such ease that they seemed almost sing-song. Formality was never something Daiji was overly concerned with, but he respected norms enough to place some kind of honorific on the boy's name. A smirk was just barely contained as waved a peace sign in a goofy manner and came to a stop a few feet from him. "How's it going?" A simple but important question. Last time he had seen the boy was under gruesome circumstances, almost the exact opposite of the sunny day they shared now. Though the youth seemed to resolve his will at the scene of gate incident #2 that still couldn't have been easy for him to witness. Nobody should have to see such a slaughter. But such was the way of shinobi.

Behind his dark shades the older shinobi watched Toshi for his reaction. The two were ordered on assignment together and the date to embark was fast approaching. To find answers about what happened... but there were still so many unknowns. The least of which being each other. Daiji had never met Toshi before or seen him around the academy, though the boy may have heard rumbling about some permanently-late slacker sensei. Time would tell. A loud caterwaul interrupted him before he could speak again, followed by some crashing sounds and the sight of a familiar white cat darting from one side of the main courtyard to the next, his little cousins tripping over one another in their vain chase. Shaking his head in amusement he returned his gaze to Toshi, pausing briefly to reach out a flick a bit of dust away from his shroud that he had missed. "Spend a lot of time chasing cats? Or are you taking me up on that invitation?" His smirk remained on the outside, but on the inside he had already begun his analysis. Just who was this young ninja? What was he made of? He was curious to find out.

Daiji turned on his heel, swishing his haori as he started to saunter away, towards the western side of the courtyard leading to the main grounds. "If so, come on this way." he spoke, his voice growing more distant with each second. "Let's see if we can't find some tea." He was sure he still had some sitting around somewhere...

[mft]

 

[Toshi]

Toshi raised an eyebrow, watching as the twins chased the cat off. A familiar voice took his attention away from the chase, one he recognized all too well. "Daiji-san." It seemed that the boy stumbled into the correct Clan Home today, as he told Daiji he'd meet up with him before making their mission appointment. To say the least, it was quite the surprise, but he was glad to see a familiar face.

Toshi's face left it's curious expression, and changed into a more calm and lost sort of look. He paused before answering, recollecting his thoughts. "Just been thinking of the mission is all." True, but that was just the surface of his thoughts. He didn't want to bother the Chūnin with the hard stuff, at least not at the moment. He had so many mixed thoughts, that he couldn't exactly pinpoint where his mind was currently. He didn't need a therapist, but his mind was boggled. The only thing to settle down his mindset, was his trainings as usual.

The sound of something breaking snapped the boy from his thoughts. He looked over to the courtyard area. The chase continued, the feline father ahead of the twins. A chuckle escaped the boy's vocals just before Daiji removed a spec of dust from his shroud. It was obvious that he caught a glimpse of Toshi's attempt to capture the cat. The Clan House native's words only confirmed the emerald eyed boy's assumption. He didn't answer, finding the question rhetorical. He only followed Daiji, taking on the sights of the courtyard as he noticed the beauty of the scene. "This place is lovely. I can imagine being out here for my daily trainings. I'd be motivated by the scene alone." The young nin tried not to stray away, keeping close behind Daiji while the pair moved. Tea sounded nice, but he had his own questions for his new teammate.

"Have you been on any missions beforehand?" The kid asked, wondering of the Chunin's background.

 

[Gotō Daiji]

An assured smirk remained on his face as he listened to the boy speak. "Introspective? Pleasant surprise." he thought to himself, slowly but surely getting the measure of Toshi. It was definitely a nice change of pace from trying to wrangle gaggles of hyperactive academy students. It was still too early for him to tell but his initial impression of him was a good one. So far, at least. The newly-promoted ANBU trainee mentioned that he had been thinking of the mission, prompting a, "First one?" from the older ninja. Missions were exciting but oftentimes dangerous assignments. And all signs were pointing to the latter for this quest of theirs.

It wasn't long before Kona and the twins were back in sight again, this time scrambling up to a nearby estate roof in hot pursuit of their feline foe. "Don't break anything you two." he called half-heartedly up after the duo, his voice lilting before he finished. He knew his warning would fall on deaf ears. Honestly he was more worried about the famliy home than anything else. Daiji simply shook his head. He remembered those younger days, back when he was a troublemaker chasing and being chased all over Konoha. Times had surely changed. As Toshi commented on the beauty of the family home he shrugged it off. "Ah, it's a creaky old thing. Does have its charms, I suppose." It was the only home he had known since he was a child so the novelty had long since worn off. Still he wasn't above admiring the scenery every now and then. A hand came up to limply point at the dojo as they passed it and Toshi mentioned training. "Feel free to stop by if you want to brush up on your Taijutsu. We host classes sometimes."

Once they stepped out of the westernmost exit of the courtyard was when the estate truly started to open up. A large walled-in yard would greet them upon entering the main grounds, vibrant wisteria vines instantly becoming a focal point. Pale purple petals were everywhere interspersed between manicured shrubbery and old trees, with several benches, groves, and even a few statues of a that seemed religious in origin scattered about the main grounds, all praying and some with many arms. As they moved Toshi would notice a large training yard in the center of the grounds, currently occupied by what looked to be a group of children practicing kata. All dressed in dark blue or black shinobi shozuku, they sparred with one another as an older woman in a kimono looked on with pride. She noticed the two as they walked and waved, Daiji nodded in return.

Playing the role of shoddy tour guide he would eventually lead the boy to an open grove near the rear of the grounds, surrounded on all sides but one by wisteria vines. A red sayagata patterned blanket was laid out along with what looked to be an old lacquered tea set. Some was already brewed and waiting to be poured though it likely wasn't hot as it seemed to have been sitting out. It was obvious the Gotō was wholly unconcerned as he sat down in a relaxed cross-legged fashion and began to rummage around in the wooden tea box. After a few seconds he withdrew a corked gourd with a single kanji '命' emblazoned on the front and quickly removed the stopper with his teeth before spitting it out and taking a swig. "Tea time always was my favorite..." he mused aloud still smirking as he gestured towards the cups. Though it seemed that Toshi was just an uninterested in tea as he was. In response to the question about missions he would nod. "More than a few. But none this important in quite some time." a lengthy pause followed before he raised the gourd to his lips once again, stopping just before the rice wine graced his mouth and eyed the young ninja over the top of his shades. "Nervous?" His tone was half-playful but it was a fair question. What was he thinking? He wanted to know.

A sigh of relief followed his second drink as he propped his arm up lazily on one knee. "So, Toshi-shōnen, friend of a Sennin." he started, his gaze suddenly sharpening on the youth. "Tell me about yourself. Ambitions? Dreams?" He was genuinely curious. And it was always a good idea to get to know someone who you may have to entrust with your life soon. "Specialties?" he questioned further, nodding towards the ongoing training in the yard. Daiji would merely add a brief, "Team unity and all that." before taking another gulp out of his container and waiting for a response.

 

[Toshi]

"Nah, I was on one other. I know they can be dangerous, but I'm sure we'll pull through." He'd been working on his own jutsu after his promotion. He hoped it be enough to aid in some way to have a successful finish. He looked forward to many mission after this one, being as it was only his second. Toshi turned around as Daiji shouted out to the twins. It was quite funny to see them still on their chase. The boy could watch the chase for days, it would probably last that long too. Such exercise would be great for shinobi training. Toshi was just as agile as the cats, considering that he learned a lot from them, but chasing them could still price to be a tough cookie.

Daiji commented on the home. Toshi figured the Chūnin felt that way because he lived there, and saw such a scene everyday. The boy himself, however, still considered it one of a kind. He looked over to where his teammate pointed, "Taijutsu hmm? Now that you mention it, I do have a lot of brushing up to do on my hand to hand skills." Toshi quickly dropped down, giving Daiji 20 push-ups. Though Taijutsu wasn't his specialty, he tried to stay brushed up on all areas of his trainings. It jumped back up to his feet, pounding a fist to his open palm. "I'll have to stop by for a class. I live nearby, so I may drop in often... Oi, if that's ok with everyone here." He tried not to butt in if he wasn't invited. He wasn't a vampire, but he did have manners.

Making their way out to an area that gave Toshi some wilderness vibes, the boy was once again astonished. "Wow." He was at a lost for words. What really caught his eyes were the statues that were around. They reminded him of that Bible book that he was reading. Interesting indeed. A group of kids were undergoing their own training. They seemed to be led by a woman, who the boy began assuming was either strict, or lax on the training regime. As she smiled and waved, he figured she was a more relaxed teacher, but he still could have been wrong. He gave a smile and a wave, wondering if she was the one that would leave his Taijutsu class of he visited again.

As he was led to the ground the two would he spending their time in, he looked to the red blanket. Daiji took a seat, so Toshi followed suit. Sitting Indian style, the boy looked to the drink that Daiji prepared. The boy grabbed a cup, listening as the Tai expert went on about the missions he'd seen. Though even to a shinobi vet, this mission was not to be taken lightly. As he was asked if he was nervous, Toshi sort of jumped back, giving a hurried "No." Toshi peered into his cup. He wasn't afraid to go out on the mission at all. In fact, he was sure they'd come back with some information, and possibly, the one who caused all the commotion.

Listening to a sigh, Toshi looked up to the Chūnin, taking a second too think of the answers to give his superior.

"Well, I came into the village as a stray, not knowing my place in this world. I only knew I had extraordinary abilities with water, ice, and wind." As he recollected his thoughts, he looked towards the sky, watching the clouds hover overhead. "I was adopted by Nao, the medical Sennin, and was taught to hone my emotions, chakra, and abilities. Though Nao told me the Academy was a good idea, I chose not to go." He looked to the class that trained together, not regretting his decision to skip the Academy, but it sure did look fun to learn with others. Who knew, maybe his decision would help guide a younger shinobi in the future. "I made sure to train hard everyday, and under Nao's guidance, I became one that could hold his own in this shinobi world. It was then that I knew what my true goal was." He looked to Daiji, giving an excited expression. "To become the guard of the leader of the village. I was offered a home here, a living you could say, a life, so I find no better way to repay it back other than putting my life on the line for the Hokage." The boy nodded, taking this mission was a step in the right direction. It's why he wasn't afraid.

"Ya know. This mission really isn't so bad, but I wonder what we'll stumble upon while out there?" The boy wasn't familiar with the shinobi world, so exploring a bit sounded fun, but he knew there could have been dangers out there that he wasn't prepared for. It was the opportunity to mature more as a shinobi, to harden him, one could say. Good experience for his youth, but if the opportunity wasn't taken, he knew he could miss out on something he would later regret.

 

[Gotō Daiji]

"Good." the chūnin spoke in response to Toshi's admission that he had been on a mission before. "Experience will help." It was true, and at least this way the boy had some idea of what to expect. The unknown was always a factor especially in the Shinobi World. But that didn't mean they couldn't prepare as best they could before setting out. Daiji's smirk remained as Toshi dropped down and did some pushups at the mention of Taijutsu. He was amusing this kid, and there was nothing this particular Gotō appreciated more than a little levity in this harsh world. A nod followed Toshi's statement that he needed to brush up on his Taijutsu. Training was an essential part of any shinobi's routine. He asked if it was okay if he stopped by to which the older ninja dismissed with a halfhearted wave. "Anytime, our doors are usually open. Just ask for me... or else you might get stuck learning kata with my blowhard of a sister." as soon as the word 'sister' left his mouth a loud kiai echoed throughout the area. Turning his gaze towards the yard he would see that same instructor from earlier toss a small child to the ground and deliver several harsh punches to the their downed figure. Severe. But necessary. At least that was the going rationalization within their clan.

Upon witnessing this Daiji did not flinch at all. Simply brought his gourd up to his lips and took another swig. "You said you live nearby." he began, eyes still fixed on the ongoing training. "What clan do you belong to?" The Gotō Clan could not exactly be described as neighborly, but they kept up appearances around the village. Because of their particular line of work it was required that they stay informed about the goings-on of the village and all the families within. If he belonged to a clan of note, he would know them by name. Toshi recoiled after Daiji asked if he was nervous. The chūnin hadn't stopped smirking since Toshi arrived and he continued still and swished around some of the sake in his gourd. "They're not a bad thing you know. Nerves." a hint of sincerity came through, shading his normally nonchalant tone of voice. "Keep you sharp." the way he said it was assured, like he was speaking from experience. Bravery was fine but a healthy dose of fear would keep a ninja alive longer.

Maybe a lesson for another day, he wasn't here to lecture the kid.

Eyes black as coal turned to focus on Toshi, just barely visible through his darkened shades. He listened intently and without interruption. He was glad the boy wasn't all clammed up and full of angst like so many young shinobi before him. It was all too easy to be consumed by cynicism and the inherent violence of their way of life. Always refreshing to see a youth not lost to that. It gave him hope. "Ice Release, huh? Using combined nature transformations at your age is no small feat." It was true, and something even veteran shinobi struggled with. The boy mentioned the Medical Sennin and how he was adopted by him, explaining their prior relationship and answering his earlier question. "So the Sazuki Clan, then?" Or was it another? Either way he was curious to find out. Toshi finished telling him of his aspirations and the older ninja held out his gourd for a toast. "To a noble goal." he would say before taking another swig. The kid seemed to have a good heart. He hoped it would stay that way.

The only time his outward smirk faltered was when the younger ninja pondered aloud the target of their search. Sake was fine and all, but even its warm kiss couldn't dull the truth. "Hard to say. Though..." a pause. He didn't want to panic the boy, but knowing what to expect was critical to survival. "When you go calling after a monster... mostly, probably..." he paused again, his dark eyes squinting at Toshi and his face going stone like for just a moment. "It'll answer back." As far as their interactions had gone this was as solemn as he had ever appeared to the boy. A warning. Nothing more. The mission was to gather intel, sure. But rogue ninja were an extremely dangerous sort, and rarely operated alone. He had his reservations about their assignment. Best thing was to remain cautious and alert. And to prepare.

 

[Toshi]

As Daiji mentioned training with his sister would be tough, Toshi gave a look that read 'I'm game.' "I don't know Daiji-san. Now that you've said that, I might actually request to train with your sister. I've never had a training session that was too tough for me." He pointed to himself with a face full of glee, showing a wide open mouthed smile as he laughed s bit. He turned around upon hearing a harsh shout. The same mentioned sister threw a kid to the ground, giving him a thorough beating. He clenched his teeth and made that one noise that people made when trying to get the bits of chicken from in between their teeth. It was both tough to watch, but exciting nevertheless.

Daiji brought the boy back to their conversation, telling him that ice release was no small feat. Toshi put a hand up, watching as the moisture in the air begin to freeze into a solid "It took a while to get used to." Watching as the ice materialized into a chilled mirror, the boy went on. "But I gained a grip on my ability training under another that excelled in ice release from this village." He thought back to he and Shun's training session. It was one of the first memories he had of Konohagakure. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, proud of the person that he became. He flicked his wrist in one fluid motion. The ice mirror melted into water and created a puddle upon the grass near the blanket they sat on.

After being asked what clan he belonged to, Toshi spoke up once more. "Aye, I'm a member of Nao's Clan, Clan Sakurako. It's kind of like an orphan house, but it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen." Toshi wondered where he'd be if Nao wasn't the one to take him in. Probably living on his own, taking care of himself as best as he could.

Taking to the toast, Toshi held his cup up. He never took a drink from his cup as his mind was still on the mission. The Chūnin's comment about a monster answering it's call only kept his mind questioning what was out there. "I've been outside of the village before." The young adventurer thought of his solo training in the Outskirts of the village. "I left the gates and while out there, I learned a lot about myself." Toshi set his cup down and stood up. He moved outside of the blanket area. "It was quite the adventure." Toshi moved his hands to the ground, picking up the rest of his body as he began to balance himself on his hands. "It was fun though. I could have died out there." Toshi moved his hand as he began to sway and lose balance, but it was just the movement he needed to recover his upsidedown stance. "I found something extraordinary out there, or rather, it found me." Thinking of the small cat that he brought back home, it was wild to come across something that would only push him further."[/b][/color] He began to balance himself on one hand, putting the other hand out before him as he maintained his balance.

"I guess it's about what you do when put in those situations, that make or break you. I wouldn't let a monster get the best of me." Toshi gave a smile as he continued to hold himself up. He wasn't as wise as the veterans, but he liked learning. Learning led to experience, and with experience he'd be led to wisdom.

[ MFT ]

 

[Gotō Daiji]

"Yeah..."​

Daiji's eyes drifted off to the side as his new young acquaintance responded that he might actually request training with his sibling. His face went all scrunchy like as he thought of her. "She's something, alright." Training with his older sister was definitely an experience. Between breaking your bones and healing them just to break them again, it was a downright party just about. "Still, she'd appreciate your enthusiasm anyway." His smirk had returned. It was always nice to see such energy regarding training. Though he quite loathed responsibility and work in general, the chūnin was a natural teacher and genuinely enjoyed watching his students grow and develop. Even after they had become full-fledged ninja he always made sure to keep an eye on their progress. Though Toshi did not learn under him at the academy he was still eager to see how the young ninja would turn out. Call it natural curiosity and that odd mentor instinct. 'A sensei's work is never done' and all that.

His attention was next grabbed by the boy's demonstration of his Ice Release. It was one of those rarer nature transformations even as far as advanced elements go. And he never got to see it up close and personal until now. "Impressive." he commented, his dark eyes following every movement and noting that he did not require full hand seals to manipulate his chakra. Even turned the construct into a reflective mirror. "Very impressive actually." It seemed Toshi was quite the talented shinobi. He mentioned that he was instructed by another Ice Release user in the village. Odd. He had never heard of such a person and the usage was so uncommon that surely word would have gotten around. "Sounds like you had a good friend." was his response as he observed the boy dispel the mirror into a puddle. That was one of the other few things he enjoyed about the job. With so many different kekkei genkai and inventive ninja in the world there were countless jutsu. Getting to see something new in action always intrigued him.

"Sakurako... where's that name come from?" he asked after the boy had explained a bit more about his background. "Since it's different from the Sennin's surname, I mean." Always questioning things, Daiji was. It was that ever-racing mind of his. You could never have enough intel... at least that's what his folks always said. He nodded upon hearing that the house he grew up in was akin to an orphanage. Respectable. And something he himself knew a bit about. "We take in strays here as well." he said, gesturing towards the yard. From appearances alone you could tell that a few of the kids practicing had Gotō blood, by not most of them. There were all kinds of children here, and in fact some of his closest relatives were not even blood related to him at all. "Ninja Clans can be pretty picky about that sort of thing... 'bloodlines' and all. It's nice to hear we're not the only ones with that welcome others." He listened intently as the boy spoke of his escapades and took another swig of sake. A nod came as he agreed to Toshi's observation about traveling being exciting but dangerous. He had ventured out of the village himself a handful of times. The Ninja World was teeming with all kinds of nasty things. Some more deadly than even shinobi. "What did you find out there?" Daiji asked as he watched as the boy perform a handstand, and then switch to just one hand. "Agile, hm." he noted mentally to himself. All this talk and demonstration of ability had him curious to see how Toshi was in a fight. Maybe he'd get to find that out soon.

The younger shinobi spoke again, heeding his words about the monster and reaffirming his convictions. "Wise words." He nodded in response. "Key thing is to always be prepared." If you stay ready you never have to get ready, or so his father always said. Still... he couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to venture headlong into danger. And his instincts were rarely wrong. Twenty-four bodies like it was nothing. The only people he knew that could cut people down like that lived within the walls of this estate. He wondered if any of their contacts in the darker side of the Ninja World had heard anything about this person. Maybe before he left he would rattle some cages. See what fell out. For now though he just wanted to enjoy the day.

 

[Toshi]

(( xD! That top pic is too funny ~ ))

"Sakurako, named after the pink petals of the cherry blossoms of the Sakura Tree." Toshi answered as he continued on, begining to push himself up while on one hand. As he was asked what he found while out there, he switched to his other hand, now pushing himself up a few times. "Well, it's probably best if I just show you." Finishing this set of push ups, the boy bounced to his feet, seemingly not phased at all by his little exercise.

He moved a bit further away from the blanket that Daiji was sitting on, not wanting the technique to disrupt him. He looked to his hands, noticing where a splinter gave him a cut. There was a bit of fresh blood lingering on that area. Toshi would use this to perform his technique. He completed a few hand seals, then slammed the hand on the ground. An eruption of smoke surrounded the boy, hiding his figure for only a moment. Before the smoke could clear, a large cat jumped from out of the smoke, carrying Toshi on it's back.



"Yeah!" Toshi shouted, unaware of if he was causing a distraction to the training going on just beyond the Grove. The cat's red scarf fluttered with the wind as it pranced around with Toshi on it's back. The goggles over it's eyes, it moved about with grace, almost as though watching the wind move itself. Toshi stayed low on the animals back, keeping his balance as it pranced. "I found him!" Toshi shouted as the cat burst off with amazing speed to the opposite side of the Grove. It then sped back, coming to a calm stop as they now we're next to Daiji.

Toshi moved from it's back, rubbing the too of his head a bit. "Thanks man." The feline got low to the ground, layning in the grass as it pawed at it's goggles. Moving them to rest on the top of it's head, it began to roll around in the grass, letting the lands rub it's fur. "He and his brothers are very helpful when it comes to shinobi activities." He looked back to Yasuo, now looking as though he were napping away. "Uhh, when they want to be." Toshi let out a chuckle, he was still amazed at how far he'd come. "Nao helped me master the technique, it was a bit tough at first." The boy remembered the times he failed the technique, a long way indeed. I'm sure he'll be able to aid us with his tracking abilities somehow.

Toshi now moved back over to his sitting area, taking a seat next to Daiji. He now wondered of Daiji's abilities. "You got any moves that I could learn?" Toshi asked looking towards Daiji. He always took the time to learn a thing a two if he could.

 

[Gotō Daiji]

A nod followed Toshi's explanation of his clan's name. "'Cherry Blossom Child'." he mused aloud, thinking on the etymology. His family too had penchant for poetic nomenclature. Cherry blossom trees were some of his favorites and clans were often named based on the geography near where they were founded. His own family took their name from the five islands they were once banished to. Sakurako was as good a name as any.

His dark eyes watched from behind his sunglasses as the boy proceeded to utilize the Summoning Technique, a large feline emerging from within the smoke that signaled the usage of the jutsu. And Toshi was riding on its back! "Not bad, not bad." he spoke, still smirking and giving a few small claps as he watched the pair race around the yard. This next generation of Hidden Leaf ninja were turning out to be quite promising. As is the way of the world the young are nurtured and raised to one day climb the summit of life and replace the old. He too would one day grow weak and infirm. If he lived long enough anyway. A thought came to his mind as he watched the talented youth and his summon move. He wondered... how long would be until one of these sprouts grew into a tall oak and unseated him? "Hopefully not for a while yet." he mused to himself. Twenty wasn't old, but then the average lifespan on a shinobi was not very long. Daiji still had plenty of fight left in him.

Loud caterwauling sounded out as the fluffy white Kona spotted the much larger feline and darted away once again, seemingly having lost the twins a while ago. As Toshi returned to the blanketed area and the large feline rolled around in the grass the older shinobi listened as the boy touted the cat's usefulness. "I bet." he said eyeing the feline and reaching a hand out to pat its belly as it rolled around in the grass. "More of a dog person myself... but he seems like a good boy." he ran his fingers through the animal's fur seemingly completely unafraid. "The Sennin Nao-sama— he has a pact with cats too?" It was strange. Animals liked him despite what he was. Dogs especially (maybe because he was a bit of a dog himself...). Most wild creatures had razor sharp survival instincts and could instantly recognize another predator. But not him. Not as he was now at least. When his 'button was pushed' as he called it was a completely different story. Cats hissed. Birds flew the coop. Dogs growled. It wasn't safe for anyone to be around him like that. But maybe his affinity with creatures was a testament to how good he was at keeping that side of himself under wraps. It had been awhile since anyone had forced him to become like that. And honestly he would rather it stay that way.

Toshi asked Daiji if he had any moves that he could learn which made the chūnin stiffen his lip slightly. "You know, my students ask me that all the time." he started, clearly thinking carefully about something. "Most of my techniques... aren't really meant for teaching." His brow furrowed slightly. It wasn't that he didn't want to teach the boy any jutsu. On the contrary he rather enjoyed his role as sensei. Not all the duties that came with it, but watching his students grow and develop was one of the few aspects of the job that he truly liked. His skills were suited for one thing and one thing only. And they happened to be hiden techniques belonging to his own clan, not something he could teach to just anyone. After a brief pause he turned towards Toshi and held out his left palm. "But... I can show you a little. Give me your hand." If the boy offered his appendage Daiji would grasp the underside of his hand so that Toshi's palm was facing upward. Forming his right hand into a fist and extending his middle knuckle slightly, he would quickly jab the center of the younger shinobi's palm, not even hard enough to hurt. Only the faintest wisp of chakra would trail off of his strike... however the boy's hand would begin to feel strange. As if circulation had stopped there but not of his blood. The limb hand would feel sluggish (Cruel Hand). "Try directing chakra there now." If Toshi followed these instructions he would find his hand completely unable to do so, the energy stopping just above his wrist. It seemed as if the chūnin's tap disrupted the flow there, like a blown fuse in a circuit. His dark eyes watched Toshi over the top of his shades, his smirk from earlier noticeably gone. He was a sharp kid and would probably be able to put two and two together. This was not something to be shown lightly. And certainly not something to use on comrades...

[OOC: Glad you liked! The reaction pics are my favorite to make xD]

 

[Toshi]

"Hmm..." Toshi wondered how this was possible. He couldn't get any of his chakra to reach the point that Daiji touched. If this was a planned part of his technique, the Taijutsu skills of the Clansmen here was remarkable. It'd not only disable use of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu techniques, but almost for an opponent to convert their fighting style to Taijutsu. Deadly if used by the right Clansmen. Toshi remembered reading up on the Hyuuga, it reminded him of their techniques. Maybe Daiji was a descendent of theirs? Maybe, maybe not, but Toshi refrained from asking the question. For now, he continued working on correcting his flow of chakra. "Uhh, no. His contract pacts aren't cats, but they seem supernatural nevertheless." He thought of the title of the contracts as he continued to work on the control of his chakra. "I believe he has an angel summon, and a demon summon, that's if I'm not mistaken. Kind of reminds me of that Holy Bible book that I read from time to time. But it's something remarkable to see." Toshi remember Jibrill's training session. The Yokai seemed intent of trapping the pair that trained under her in a Genjutsu. If caught of guard, one could be stuck within a Genjutsu for who knew how long. He didn't see her around the Clan House much, thankfully, though it was almost a pleasure to see Sai. He was the more clam and inviting one. A few conversations with him gave Toshi great Intel on Nao's past life, but he never actually saw Sai fight. Not that they had a moment where he'd have to be called upon yet, and Toshi hoped that it stayed that way. But knowing the life of a shinobi, one couldn't count that possibility out.

"But this technique that you've just shown me is phenomenal. I'm see that it's not something you can teach. Toshi comfirmed what Daiji said earlier about not being able to teach him such a jutsu. "Is this, maybe a Clan technique?" He took the guess based off of the Hyuuga Clan's background. Daiji didn't have the Hyuuga surname, and this didn't seem like the Hyuuga Clan house, so Toshi wondered how such a technique was passed on to him.

[ MFT | WC: +300 ]
(( Sorry for the wait, getting back into the rhythm of posting ))

 

[Gotō Daiji]

Shaded eyes remained fixed on Toshi as he tested out the limits of his chakra-blocking technique.

Its effect was immediate and pronounced. What could only be described as the shadow of a frown took hold on the older shinobi's face as he watched. The use of these abilities brought to mind past experiences. Bad ones. He never took joy in utilizing it even amongst his clan during sparring sessions. To deprive someone of chakra was a horrible thing. It could cause pain, discomfort, extreme exhaustion and if done enough— death. Not a pleasant experience to say the least. With Toshi it would probably just feel a little odd and since it was only his hand it wasn't unbearable. But a few more taps like those was all it took to bring the pain.

Daiji's expression shifted as Toshi spoke of Nao's summons. "Angels... and demons?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. The Ninja World was full of all sorts of odd creatures and supernatural phenomena. Many claiming to be demons themselves, some like his father only being referred to as such because of monstrous he was. He supposed he shouldn't be too surprised. Still hearing it spoken out loud was quite odd. "Well maybe that will give him some pull with whoever's running this show upstairs." he mused aloud, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. Although now that the boy mentioned it he did recall seeing some odd-looking being accompanying Nao at the site of the second gate massacre. Odd. So odd. He nodded as the boy spoke of a holy book. "We're a bit religious ourselves in a way... or we adhere to some tenants at least." Not in the traditional sense in the slightest. Statues of multi-armed and multi-faced deities peppered the estate grounds. For a clan who dwelled in the darkness such as they it was a bit ironic. Though to hear his grandfather tell it they walked the true path towards bodhi. Allegedly they were doing the world a favor...

The chūnin wasn't so sure.

He nodded again as he would once more attempt to take Toshi's hand in his. "Hiden." he said, turning the boy's palm over to the opposite side and repeating the same jabbing motion from before. Again a faint wisp of chakra flowed forth from the impact and after a few seconds the young ninja would once again feel the flow of chakra returning. He released his grip and brought a finger to his own lips as he spoke. "Clan secret so... don't tell anyone you saw." His normal smirk returned as he gazed off to watch the children still sparring in the yard. They were now significantly more battered then when they started. No doubt enduring a grueling session under his sister. "We share an ancestor with the Hyūga somewhere down the line." he began, picking up his gourd of sake once more and raising it to his lips. "Our eyes work a bit different, our strikes are more violent... but similar." A quick swig and he once again felt the warmth in his face returning. Theirs was a history of blood and smoke. Not a happy subject for some of the older members but the troubles were before his time. "Ask my family and they might deny it though." Feuds between ninja clans were never a good thing. Two opposing forces destructive as can be. Especially with jutsu such as theirs. He had his own thoughts on the disputes but for now he would keep them to himself. Lest any wayward ears pick up on the discussion.

[OOC: Sorry for my wait this time! Next post will be faster]