What Are You? [Tutor]

Michi · May 2, 2017

It is said that beasts nest prior to the birth of their young, something primal inside of them echoes this call so they clean in a frenzy they do not entirely understand, complete errands they had been procrastinating over for months... Something inside of them knows that they are about to give birth without the use of calendars and expensive testing. Birthing is one of the things that separate Ancients from beasts because Ancients do not experience a need to nest but to be fair our young are not like human neonates or a litter of puppies. Ancients birth fully formed children through a conscious, willful act and what enters is capable of existing independent from its mother if need be shortly thereafter. It was not that newborn Ancients were exceptional learns, just good listeners. Months before Naoki's birth he existed, his creation and subsequent formation was not a rash decision. He was a lingering thread of separate consciousness within her for some time, he heard their muffled words and learned what they meant before he ever too his first breath.

It was a month ago that he was born and like a foal that upon shaking legs and unsure gait, he stood minutes after birth. His first words, simple singular nouns more than likely but they would weave into full phrases within a matter of days. He was 'young' even for an Ancient, many Ancients gestate for decades before they are birthed and what emerges is an 'adult' in every way but Shiori could not wait any longer. She was intensely lonesome, her children were all dead or sent away. She found some respite in the hybrids but they were rejecting the natures that were awakened. She saw no evidence of consumption, their humanity remained for the most part aberrant but intact and it made her sick to look at them because each time she saw them it reminded her of their rejection of her kind. The fact that humanity could never accept them, even those who shared their legacy.

"Naoki," she wondered where the name came from. Nao -- straight. Ki -- tree. It was his choice, the name that is. "This is where you will be spending the next two years, perhaps less," she was referring to the Academy. "Huma-- I mean, your classmates will learn the shinobi arts and you will also. You will discover quickly that you will hear better than the rest of them... that your voice will enthrall others... don't admit this. Also," she paused a moment because she was about to give him a dire warning. "Never let them see you bleed." Their blood was dangerous because it was an identifying trait, hers resembled red sand or more accurately mud that would sluggishly drip from her when injured. Humans bleed blood.

She was apprehensive sending him to the school so young and so early but she knew the instructor. He did not know that she knew him, as far as he knew she died a long time ago. Takahashi Matsu, a human who was not hunting their kind, it was not because he was a sympathizer but rather because he did not care about the secret war between humanity and Ancients. It was a shame he was a Takahashi, she had no hope to uncover a single thread of one of her brother's legacies in him. The Takahashi prided themselves on their humanity and their lineage could be traced back to the first men, as could their wives for the most part. It was a shame, he would have made a better brother than man. Still, she trusted him, not to help her, but to not care.

Takahashi Naoki · May 3, 2017

I understand, Mom. I'll try to do my best." Naoki said, in response to the rules Shiori told him. He was preparing for the day he would begin his training since she told him that he would be going to school, and he made sure to pack up some supplies and clothes for the day he would arrive at the academy. He was confused on why Shiori did not want him to bleed, since he couldn't even see his blood to figure out why, but he decided to make sure that he would try to stay safe either way. As he used his hearing to try to walk in the direction he thought was the school, he waved goodbye to Shiori, saying "I hope you are still around in one or two year's time, cause I can't wait to show you what I will learnt once I am done!"

As Naoki wandered around, he was still trying to learn on how to use his hearing to sense the things around him like his mother could, and while he could sense the walls and floors around him, he still had trouble sensing moving things, which has caused him to bump into other students on the way to his classroom. Eventually though, he was able to find his way to the classroom he was supposed to be at, after getting it wrong and entering a wrong room not once, but twice. As he eventually found a chair and sat down, Naoki decided to introduce himself to his tutor and talk to him so he could begin learning.

Hello, my name is Naoki Choppugami, nice to meet you." Naoki quickly had to make up a last name on the spot, because he was worried of what would happen if he used his actual last name of Takahashi, because he was pretty sure Shiori did not want him to be mixed up with Sousuke, since all three of them shared a last name. He could not tell what his tutor looked like or even tell the tutor's gender, since he could not sense it's form, but since he could hear footsteps he at the least knew that someone was there. After a brief silence, Naoki decided to continue chatting with the tutor, to pass some time before he began his first training. "Sorry if I am a bit late, the halls were very full and I have a hard time seeing around since I have some poor eyesight. To tell the truth, I couldn't wait to come here since my mom told me that I was coming here, since I really wanted to learn all about ninjutsu. Anyway, can you tell me about yourself? Seems fair since I told you a bit about myself.

Takahashi Matsu · May 3, 2017

[col]"I didn't ask your name or what you cared for." Matsu sat behind his desk covered head to two in his combat gear. What appeared to be lizard skin boots were covering his feet as they were crossed at the ankles on the desk. All of his clothing was expertly crafted, including his mask. Like one would compare to plague doctors, it sat upon his face as deep red pools of crimson peeked out from beneath. Matsu's eyes were terribly changed due to his ingestion of carmot. It was almost addictive at this point. He simply watched the boy take a chair in the empty room. "I also don't care why you are or aren't late."

Matsu's voice was flat and without intonation. He would test the student almost immediately. With very little motion a knife that was meant for killing for larger beasts would flick from seemingly nowhere at the child. He would determine then and there if the child was even worth his time. Either it'd hit them or it wouldn't. The result of the interaction was what mattered. It wasn't a simple 'if this kid gets hit, they're out' but the whole display. It was a show and he hoped that it would be a good show. Either the knife would hit the child and they would bleed, potentially profusely, or they would show an unnatural ability to dodge. He had pulled no punches regardless. If it hit then it would likely knock the child out of their seat if not pin them to the floor. If it missed, it would embed itself to the hilt in the wall.

Regardless of what happened with the knife, he would actually stand up. The person walking around the room had promptly ran out after they saw what was about to occur. Matsu had a reputation. With a somewhat inhuman grace he would leave his expertly crafted chair and lift it with a few fingers of his left hand. It was made of the most beautiful redwood and seemingly built for him if not by him. He walked over to the corner closet behind the desk which was nominally a 'teacher' area and opened the door, placing the chair inside, and locking the door before it was sealed with chakra as well.

"It's not about fair, you moron. Everything you've done until this point makes you worthless. Blathering, describing weakness, and simply being obnoxious. Shut up. Your first lesson is how to actually survive. Also, I suggest...lying better. But, we'll leave that alone for now." He took a few swift strides back behind his desk and with one swift motion from blade to desk split it in two after the desk realized it was no longer one piece and could no longer be with its better half. It split apart and collapsed infront of Matsu.
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Enjoy~Mood Music

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Michi · May 4, 2017

The youngling had no hesitation or fear about joining the academy. Children were just that, flexible and resilient. He even assumed that she was leaving and that she might not be around when he graduated yet he did not see this as a farewell but rather as a genesis. Good-byes should be sad, but not to a child because endings have yet to be seen by their innocent eyes. Hell, in that way she was a child herself until only a few centuries ago. That was the first time she felt lost, Godsfall. Before that there was nothing to mourn, but on that day she did not lose a friend, a lover, or a child. She lost everything and she has spent the last several centuries of trying to get back everything that she had lost.

She had borrowed another form, it was nothing fancy but it differed from her shell. Since her altercation with Kazuki she needed to take care, he would be angry and he was likely to betray her. Over time he would come to forgive her, when everything he knew during his time as a man had fallen away to ash. He was her best friend, sad really. She looked like a pretty, young housewife with glasses and long purple hair, a white blouse and a dark pencil skirt. The click of her heals resonated behind Naoki as she entered the school behind him. He did not even notice her, he was too excited for his first day but she needed to register him and play the part of a helicopter parent. She instinctively wanted to stop him from entering the wrong room, in fact she was rather sure one of those 'wrong rooms' might have been on purpose because it was the girl's locker room. A human boy his age probably would have just stood in the doorway jaw agape and stared until he was assaulted but he had not developed an interest in girls yet (and she hoped he never would) or he was too excited about his first day to stand there like a buffoon. She mouthed a word of apology in his wake, pulling the door closed as the conveniently placed anime-like clouds of steam covered their naughty bits (no underage ogling here).

He finally found the room he was assigned, room 2014. It was a small classroom with a few tables and chairs lined up against a wall and a metal-reinforced wall on all sides. The floor was made of dirt and the ceiling was open so there was only sky. Shiori remembered this room, it was the assessment room where children of unknown honored lineage would demonstrate their potential as chakra adepts. She would stand by the door and let Naoki perform the introductions. She wondered what he would say, hopefully he had enough sense to not claim Takahashi lineage but he was a novice still. The corner of her mouth twitched, she did not want to have to kill anyone today.

"Hello, my name is Naoki Choppugami, nice to meet you."

Shiori let out a sigh of relief. Not only because he had enough insight to pick a random name but Matsu was already there. Of course she was playing the part of helicopter mom to ensure he survived his first day. So she peeked her head into the classroom, and then attempted to leave the way she came.

[Topic Left, unless I should stay for story purposes of Matsu being a scary-thing]

Takahashi Naoki · May 4, 2017

As soon as Matsu said to Naoki to try to lie better, Naoki was starting to sweat with worry. He had absolutely no idea on what his tutor knew he was lying about, whether it was his name, or if his tutor thought he was lying about his eyesight and thought that Naoki could actually see well, but either way Naoki thought very hardly on how he could be caught lying... At least before his mind was interrupted when he heard his tutor quickly pull out a knife. At that point, Naoki quickly tried to get out of his desk just in case that his tutor planned on using the knife on him. As the tutor launched the knife in his direction, Naoki quickly got out of the chair in his desk and stood up.

Luckily for the kid, the knife only grazed his left cheek, and Naoki was spared from the most of the pain the knife would cause as it hit the wall with a loud noise. Checking his cheek, Naoki was getting worried, as he felt small amounts of what felt like sand from his small cut on the cheek. He wasn't completely sure whether it was his blood or sand that got stuck on the knife, but Naoki was worried that the former was most likely. As Naoki quickly wiped off the little amounts of sand from his cut using the sleeves on his shirt and put his hands in his pockets, he sat back down right before hearing a large chopping sound as Matsu split his desk with a quick slice from his blade.

"Woah that was close!" Naoki said, trying to get Matsu's attention. "I wasn't sure whether that was a test or because you didn't think I was good enough to teach, but you should at least give some sort of cue before throwing a knife at your own student. I mean, you don't even have to say when you throw the blade. You could just give them a quick glance at the knife before throwing it, not that it would matter with me." As Naoki removed his hands from his pockets and started to wait for a response from his teacher. he started to feel a bit calmer, hoping that he would not notice the sand on his sleeves, and that he would quickly learn how to lie better, seeing as he did not want to get in trouble on his first day of being in school.

Takahashi Matsu · May 4, 2017

[col]"You aren't bad enough to teach. That's the problem. It's not a matter of being good enough to teach" Matsu would simply motion lazily with his sword towards the wall where the knife was buried within the metal wall up to the hilt. He didn't even look in the direction of the student. He simply lowered his head and sighed. "Come get your child. They need a teacher who will actually care. They've nothing to learn from me." Matsu's voice rumbled out from him as if a beast was becoming uncaged. Perhaps the unwitting parent would try and plead with him. Perhaps they'd try and fight him as Shinobi parents did. From his left hand, blood began to drip from his fingertips and pool near his boots. The sword within his hand, made of a material known as feathersteel glass, flickered and darkened into a sanguine hue slowly if one were to observe it more closely. His nose wrinkled as he took in the scent of blood. Well, whatever was similar to blood. It was nothing like he had smelled before.

"While I am waiting for your 'guardian', let me explain to you why I'm not teaching you. You've no drive to learn any lessons. Obviously something is peculiar about you as that should have pinned you to the floor or, worse, the wall. But it should have connected given that I didn't throw it. I didn't throw that knife" As Matsu said this, he nodded to a wall where a hand slipped out of the metal plates, contorted in an image similar to Matsu's, then the body sloughed into mud on the ground. A clone had been the one to throw the knife from a completely hidden location at an entirely different angle. He simply shrugged and began to tap his foot as he waited. Maybe there was more to the lesson at a whole. It was always impossible to tell with Matsu, but people did think that he was an utter lunatic.

His free hand lifted up and placed itself on the back of his neck and rubbed it gently. Everything was telling him that there were problems. Everything smelled wrong. His eyes would narrow as he started putting pieces together. Was his cousin right in that he was hunting the wrong thing? He didn't even know anything about what Sousuke had been talking about. Beyond that, would anyone care if he killed this kid? Well, yes, someone would. Sousuke would care and the parents would care if they also weren't killed. Then anyone around him would care because he was killing people. Bah. Matsu flicked his left wrist to make blood splatter away from him, but close to the child. He was going to see if he reacted. Part of hunting and teaching was to ascertain the abilities of those on the receiving end. In this case, the child would be both the prey and the the student, if of course, the parent didn't come back and decide to agitate him. "I suggest you actually learn instead of running your worthless mouth. You talk an awful lot for someone who will never be a shinobi." The words coming from Matsu were still agitated and swelling with volume. It wasn't often he grew irate, but in this scenario something was really getting underneath his skin.
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[legend="[glow=#73e29a][b][size=5]Plague Bearer[/size][/b][/glow]"]

Me and Your GhostMood Music

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Takahashi Naoki · May 4, 2017

As Matsu started to rant himself about him, Naoki was starting to feel insulted at what his instructor was saying. He said that Naoki had no drive to learn, when Naoki already knew that he genuinely wanted to learn how to perform ninjutsu like his mother Shiori. He also said that he didn't throw the knife, but Naoki thought that was a lie, since he was guessing that as a teacher, that he would already know a bunch of jutsu and would probably be able to indirectly throw it. But what dug into Naoki the most was neither of those things. No, what dug into Naoki the most was that Matsu said that he said that he would never become a shinobi, and that truely made Naoki pretty steamed.

Naoki quickly stood up, grabbed the knife, and tried to place it on the teacher's desk, not knowing it was broken, before walking back near his desk to give Matsu a talking to. "Now look Teacher, I definitely know that I have a drive to learn, because if I didn't, not only would I have run away after you threw that knife, but I would have probably never have come here in the first place. I would have stayed at home and never come to school in the first place. And don't act like you didn't throw the knife. I am not sure what kind of jutsu you used since I couldn't see it, but you definitely launched that knife at me, whether you threw it at me directly or through some clone or some other method."

"I know you don't probably think I would be a good Shinobi, heck I think you probably still think I will never be a shinobi. But I will prove you wrong! Even though my eyesight may be bad, I will try to find a way around it! I'll survive this school and try to surpass you!" As Naoki started to finish what he had on his mind, he got on top of his desk and stood on top of it to try to make sure that Matsu got the image of what he was saying. "And even if I don't surpass you, you'll at least be proven wrong. I will graduate and get past all my students! I will try to be the best shinobi in my class, and show you that anyone can become a shinobi!"

Michi · May 4, 2017

Matsu was an unrepentant asshole.

She did not need line of sight to see the dagger rocket towards Naoki or the fact that it grazed him. He would be fine, less the scratch he would need to cover. She let out a sigh and turned about on her heel and made her way back to the classroom. The click of her heels would herald her return, the indignant youth and the condescending instructor. She did not bother to transform before she entered the building, her blonde tresses and primarily white attire was a trademark at this point. It was one of the difficulties in having a unique appearance, be it her height which towered over some of her peers or her other choices such as vocation. The persona and face she had adopted belonged to Sousuke's secretary. There was never a human that donned her face or sat in her seat, she was a fraud from the moment she entered Sousuke's office. She did not bother to change now either. Matsu never really got to know her, not as the woman she pretended to be before she served as a paper-pusher and not as the adopted cousin of Sousuke.

Why?

Why would he?

Why would he care?

Still, it was not as if he lived his life without notice. While some had passion, others simply existed angry, stewing in their jealousy, regret and feelings of inadequacy or superiority. She did not understand him, she never made an attempt to. He was an enigma to her because he hardly seemed human to her even when he was young. Now he appears to be even less so. She did not actually look at him when she first entered, she did not care. However upon her return she saw the inhuman red eyes that peered over the plague-mask. She frowned, there was something off about him. Not that he was ever 'right' but there was a time when he was 'less wrong.' "Really now, the both of you," she announced with a tone of annoyance "...make so much noise."

She looked over Naoki, she could hear the swirling sands within him whirl and she could see his hand planted over the scratch that Matsu made. It was just a scratch but she had to play the game, so she would. "Really now?" The same shrill tone any overprotective mother would make when they saw their beautiful boy's face marred by a cruel monster. In reality she knew he would heal, that he would be just fine but unfortunately he was leaking and that is something that she could not ignore. She she stormed into the room, making a mountain of a ditch really and stood between Matsu and Naoki, her back to the instructor. She had a choice now, one would make her the bitch and the other would make her the monster. Her hand (yes, only one) ran through a series of handseals shielded by her body with the proficiency and speed of an expert healer because that was what she was once upon a time in what felt like an another life. "Let me see," she demanded. It did not matter if he removed his hand enough for her to see or not, her body was in the way and she only needed to say the words before she slapped him across the face. A loud crack could be heard but Naoki would feel no pain because she never attacked him, she healed him in the course of this brief ruse. The jutsu was simple really, coagulation, his bleeding would cease. "You were not even touched and you're making this sort of fuss," she accused her son as she backed away with the hope that Naoki would pull his hand from his face to reveal an unmarred cheek.

She let out a sigh as she addressed Matsu. "My apologies sensei, my son only started living with me a few weeks ago and is still learning. I assure you, he will develop into something astonishing." She was not lying, there was no need to. She was taking something out of the Deep Court's book: misleading statements. "My son has no idea what his potential actually is, but he comes from a long line of elementalists. Whatever you can teach him would prove a life-long asset." She might have to feed the teacher's hubris at some point; once she learned the source of his pride that is. She always assumed it was his power because it certainly was not his 'good looks' or the Takahashi name.

She took a seat in the back of the room.

Takahashi Matsu · May 4, 2017

[col]"An astonishing...something. Whatever that something will be will not be by my hand." Matsu just stared at her somewhat blankly. His hand flicked as he splattered more blood on the ground as his sword returned to his sheath. They wouldn't hear it screaming and cursing at him, but it was there, echoing in his mind as he sighed. With his right hand, he would make a motion towards the door. "I suggest convincing me otherwise. As far as my concern goes, your child is worthless to me." Matsu may be coming off as rude, agitated, or otherwise, but there was a reason that his students tended to excel beyond those of others. He was exceptionally selective with who he taught and he did not at all tolerate defiance out of his students. He would allow for them to make their decisions and grow and truly learn, but here was a child screaming that he was wrong.

He shook his head and went back to his closet and opened it to remove his chair. Closing the door, he would lean the chair up against it before placing himself into it and crossing his right leg up and over his left knee. With his bloody hand which was quickly stitching itself back together and alleviating his blood loss, he would reach up and remove his mask to expose his hairless face which was covered in tattoos of Runic Terran. It was not an unfamiliar sight for many who knew him and he doubted it would be unsightly for his relative, unbeknownst to him. He truly didn't care about any of that. He had few passions and teaching was one of them, even if he was quite draconian about it. "I'll make this as clear as possible. I will kill your child if you have me teach them. They're a liar. They're unwilling to be taught. They want to 'learn,' yet refuse to be taught. And here, your child has decided to scream at me for doing my job. I'm sure you understand what I do here and why, despite my methods, I hold the place I do."

His face was emotionless, but his voice was annoyed at best. His mouth opened slightly as he yawned and the bleeding had stopped as he lifted his right hand to cover his forehead and massage one of his temples. "Do we have an understanding? Your brat should be someone else's problem."
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[legend="[glow=#73e29a][b][size=5]Plague Bearer[/size][/b][/glow]"]

Me and Your GhostMood Music

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Takahashi Naoki · May 6, 2017

As Naoki stood on his desk, he heard a third person enter the room, who he realized to be his own mother Shiori once she started talking to both him and Matsu. As he heard his mother and his tutor start to argue among each other, Naoki checked the cut on his cheek, which was now no longer leaking small amounts of sand. This made Naoki quite a bit calmer, as now he did not need to worry about the cut, and because of this he removed the hand from his cheek. Naoki then continued to wait as Shiori and Matsu talked between each other, and as he listened to their talking he made sure to listen closely as he started to once again sit down back into his desk.

By the time the two were done talking, Naoki decided to put his own words into the argument. "Ok mom, it may have been a bit of a stretch to start complaining when I only got a scratch, but to be fair he just threw a knife out of nowhere using who knows what kind of method at me without even letting me know that there was going to be something like that happening. Not to mention this guy won't teach me even though I was able to barely dodge that knife, all because he thinks I have no drive to learn when I have a huge drive to learn ninjutsu like you did." Naoki then got out of his desk and started to walk torwards the door, getting close to it before opening it.

"Now anyway, I'll let you two talk in peace between yourselves so you can figure things out. If you need me I'll be waiting in the halls." By the time Naoki finished talking, he exited the room and closed the door before leaning on a nearby wall. He guessed that if he started arguing with his tutor more, that he could have received more than just the initial cut on his cheek, so he decided to leave the talking to his mother, since he knew that if she got into a jam, that Shiori would usually come out on top. As he waited for Shiori to come out, he started to hum some old music to pass the time, as well as to try to entertain himself.

(OOC: I'll leave the topic to Shiori and Matsu to talk out, once Shiori and Matsu are done talking or it devolves into a fight, I'll make one last post and leave this topic.)

Michi · May 7, 2017

OC: No problem. I am assuming the in-character organic flow of this thread suggests that Matsu won't be teaching you, which is sad but that also means that I will teach you our NC combat system in character. Something I have not taught in years but I have massive lesson plans on this from when I taught a few players OC in the past that I can easily convert.

IC:
Matsu did not want to teach the kid. Fine, she did not need his help either. She was a far cry from the barely proficient youth that once served as a shinobi. "Then I will find another," she replied calmly. "The years have not been kind to you anyways," she observed. She did not realize how much of a monster he had become. It was not even an insult to note although his vanity might see it another way. She did not expect him to lash out but a part of her was preparing for such, that is why she was disengaging. She had no desire to fight her former cousin, her qualms were primarily with Sousuke. A battle over giving her son a seat at the Sunan Academy was not a war worth waging. She could teach him almost everything he ever needed to know, she was just hoping to give her son a 'normal human' life. As much as she tired of humanity, there was an ever-living spark of hope that there could be a symbiosis but she knew it would never be possible because they were not her peers, they were at best a meal to bolster her power or they were an enemy that wanted her dead because of the former.

"Go, Naoki," she extended her hand and pointed towards the door as she left her seat. "My son has a keen interest, I am afraid you are simply not interested in teaching... teaching him at the very least. But my disagreement in your assessment will not change what you believe, be it his stated interest or his veracity," she concluded. He came to his conclusion so she would come to her own as well. Was she jumping the gun, perhaps but all she had to go on was what he said. That he was not interested in teaching her son because he was 'not interested' and a 'liar.' That he felt her son was a liar. She heard the excuse he made about why he was 'late' -- that the halls were crowded, that his eyesight was poor, that his name was what it was. Had it not been for the random surname, his statements would all be truth. How did he know that the name was incorrect? Perhaps it was a guess. Perhaps he had an eidetic memory for every house that occupied Sunagakure. Doubtful, it was probably the statement about 'crowded' halls and opinions being divergent as they often were but to a blind person these halls reverberated every last sound obnoxiously. A few footsteps could be deafening.

What has Naoki learned at this juncture - humans will not be helpful.

She would have to do this herself. She remembered theory from her 'childhood' but she was always a more practical learner. He will just have to be her problem. This might be a test, a test to determine his interest in learning. His dedication and refusal to stand down, but a shinobi also knows when he is in an impossible situation. The disparity in power between her son and the instructor would be massive. Matsu said he would kill Naoki if he was to teach him and at this point in Naoki's journey he certainly could and there would be nothing that Naoki could do to stop him and she would not always be there to protect him.

Did she have a plan? Yes, she would make sure that Naoki's attempt to join the academy was noted. That he was turned away. She would have to socialize him somehow, another brother? No, not birth another child but perhaps her firebug Kaen or brother Mikaboshi would serve as a resource. While a part of her desperately wanted to, she was scared. It was dangerous and every interaction she had screamed do not trust anyone else! So, that would be her plan for now. Teach him herself. Show him the vast array of elements and what each are known for. How they tied to his heritage, something the schools never would have told him. How to use them to his advantage.

She was going to let Naoki leave, she would follow soon enough. She just wanted to make sure that he was able to leave fully intact before she made her departure.

[Will Leave After Naoki Makes a Topic Left]

Takahashi Matsu · May 7, 2017

[col]"The child doesn't wish to be taught. There is a stark difference between learning and being taught. I had three simple lessons for today. To teach humilty, to teach how to be hurt, and to teach how to follow commands and your child would have failed all three. Hypocritical, I know, given my position. Yet now, your child lies to you about why I refuse to teach them. I stand by my statements that your child would be killed if I taught them. They simply cannot handle what is required to be taught. They want to learn their way is not how things happen as I am sure you know." Matsu's words were flat and his tempered had subsided. His face was simply grim and his gaze was far away at this point. He relaxed into his chair and simply sighed as he made a motion for the door.

"I cannot teach a child who does not want to be taught. I hope you understand this distinction, ma'am. Your child can learn all they want, but if they're unwilling to let themselves simply be taught then they will never reach their greatest potential and it would kill me inside that any child I took under my tutelage did not reach their pinnacle." With those words his gaze would drift back to her. He was still completely unaware of who she was, but it didn't matter. He'd stare directly at her and a distinct look of disappointment would be seen upon his face before it flashed away to be hidden under the general stoicism of him being relaxed. "I hope you can understand. Perhaps at another time they can learn to be taught. Right now they are not meant to be taught by me. I am sorry that you feel differently." If the other had an inclination, they'd know that Matsu spoke what he thought to be true. He didn't want to simply cast off the child, but in terms of how he taught versus how the child wished to learn would simply not function properly.

With a final motion, he would make a gesture to the door and hang his head. It was true that he was disappointed with himself, but he knew that if he trained this kid that he would simply end up killing him as he wouldn't have what it took for the kinds of sacrifices needed to become the best that would be required of someone. "Try my cousin Sousuke. He has a soft spot for the downtrodden and less than capable. Take that as you will." He would shrug and close his eyes, waiting for the inevitable slap, stab, curse or otherwise. There were some very particular reasons he was known as the worst teacher, but it was a wonder that all of his pupils excelled as they did. Quite a conundrum that kept him employed.
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OOC:The class will likely be complete after the next round of posting, but ICly Shiori is correct. Matsu will not be teaching you at this time. You've failed his tests one after the other which is okay. As I had said on discord, simply roleplay. Conforming to an ideal that doesn't fit your character doesn't help that character grow. I hope, at the least, you enjoyed this thread and hope that it sparks growth for your stories.|

[legend="[glow=#73e29a][b][size=5]Plague Bearer[/size][/b][/glow]"]

Me and Your GhostMood Music

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Takahashi Naoki · May 8, 2017

As Shiori and Matsu were talking, Naoki was still angry at Matsu over his not wanting to teach him, as he was anticipated to learn at this school so that he could do the ninja arts like his mother could use. As they continued to talk, he heard a bell ring as students walked throughout the halls without a worry, and as Naoki heard their talking, he heard a multitude of different kinds of people talking. Some people, like Matsu, were acting evil, and were actively spreading rumors, while others were helping students and acting kindly to different students. Naoki even heard voices that seemed good but had a malicious tone, as well as voices from people who were not good or evil.

By the time Shiori and Matsu were finished talking, Naoki decided to check in on Shiori. When he heard Shiori stand up, Naoki decided to talk to her, to try to see how she felt. "So Mom, are you done talking to this tutor? If you are, can we go out to eat, after all I am starting to feel a bit hungry." To tell the truth, Naoki actually wasn't hungry, but he was ready to leave, and wanted to use the excuse of hunger to leave. "And as for you Matsu, I am still gonna try to surpass you, and I know for certain you won't change, but at the least try to look at yourself and try to be kinder to your students. You may think that all students who fail your test should never be shinobi, but there is always the chance that there students who fail your test, but become great ninja. Let that sink in." As Naoki finished talking, he walked to the door, where he held it for his mother before leaving himself.

(OOC: Topic Left)

Michi · May 13, 2017

"So Mom, are you done talking to this tutor? If you are, can we go out to eat, after all I am starting to feel a bit hungry."

The mediocrity of parenthood.

"Of course Naoki," Shiori replied with a forced smile. She was not happy with her son or his supposed tutor, what she saw as fortune had turned to ash in her mouth but she refused to display a sour expression despite the astringent taste this day left in her mouth. "Run on ahead," she instructed through her grin "I like the ones with the tunnels and ballpits." She was a child at heart yes, but more importantly children were children in places such these that were isolated from their parents as they explored 'undiscovered' corridors within those multicolored tubes and slid down plastic slides into pools of balls. So many places a fledgling Ancient could learn to hunt. Learn to eat. They did not require nourishment in the same way that humans did, at least purebreds did not. They were capable of sustaining off the world around them passively for an indeterminate period of time as long as they were not injured. It was not that she could not partake in a bit of cake or meat, it was just a senseless novelty to do so.

"And as for you Matsu, I am still gonna try to surpass you, and I know for certain you won't change, but at the least try to look at yourself and try to be kinder to your students. You may think that all students who fail your test should never be shinobi, but there is always the chance that there students who fail your test, but become great ninja. Let that sink in.

"Go on ahead Naoki," Shiori repeated "there is no need to continue to antagonize him." Naoki was never going to be a shinobi in anything more than name, this generation would not pass away before they were destroyed. It was a life necessity for now to learn, humans are able to emulate their Ancient skillsets and through similar efforts they could expand their own portfolios.

"The child doesn't wish to be taught. There is a stark difference between learning and being taught. I had three simple lessons for today. To teach humility, to teach how to be hurt, and to teach how to follow commands and your child would have failed all three. Hypocritical, I know, given my position. Yet now, your child lies to you about why I refuse to teach them. I stand by my statements that your child would be killed if I taught them. They simply cannot handle what is required to be taught. They want to learn their way is not how things happen as I am sure you know."

The kid is just ahead of the curve. "Why follow a command if it leaves you humiliated and injured?" She replied simply. It was something most soldiers did not think about, the consequence for the obedience. "I never knew you to be the sort to obey either," she added. If shinobis were intended to be thoughtless drones, they would be punching bags.

"I cannot teach a child who does not want to be taught. I hope you understand this distinction, ma'am. Your child can learn all they want, but if they're unwilling to let themselves simply be taught then they will never reach their greatest potential and it would kill me inside that any child I took under my tutelage did not reach their pinnacle."</B><i></i>

<B>"I appreciate your candor," she admitted. If they were a poor fit it was better to understand it now. In fact if anything she should be ecstatic that he was teaching the kids how to obey, Sousuke was a complete moron. Perhaps if they were under the authority of a more brilliant leader it would be something worthy of concern but thoughtless compliance and a loss of autonomy was a boon for her. "I am sure I can find a better fit."

"Try my cousin Sousuke. He has a soft spot for the downtrodden and less than capable. Take that as you will."

'Would rather have relations with a rabid sandstrider.'

"That won't be necessary," Shiori hummed. "He will be ready in a few months to pass the examination," Shiori concluded. He only needed a basic understanding of chakra manipulation to gain rank. "He will just have to learn the way most of us did, through life experience." She pulled out a small notebook and flipped it open to the last written page. She crossed out what was written on that last line, it was Matsu's name. If he looked she would not bother hiding it, it was a simple list of potential instructors. Matsu was the first listed, there was only one other and it was not Sousuke but it was someone she hesitated to trust her son with: Kaza. It was a consideration, setting him on a similar path as her own, an organization that was based on secrets was inherently flawed but it gave her the ability to find a place for her son. Still, she was hesitant. He taught her absolutely nothing. She did not need a good teacher of course, she just needed a 'history' for her son.

He will learn through practical experience and from there she would just have to 'hope' that he would live long enough to learn and from there learn enough to survive. The races of man were unrelenting but they would be endure like they always had.

Takahashi Matsu · May 20, 2017

[col]"Humiliation is how we learn our limits. Being assured and cocky about everything is how you die. Learning that in a controlled environment is a key to survival. I've lost more fights and had my ass handed to me more times than I ever won. I'm still alive, however, and those things that won over on me in those times are now dead. I've obeyed and I continue to do so. The reputation I have is...wildly blown out of proportion. I am but a humble hunter." Matsu would smile and flex his fingers before gripping the appopriate knee. He would breath in a heavy breath and his chest would rise and then it would fall as was expected of him. Despite worshipping the sun and being empowered as he was, he was fairly normal outside of his potential lunacy. "I hope whoever teaches your son makes them adequate at the least. I am glad we have come to an understanding."

His eyes would glimpse his name, but he wouldn't care too much. It was interesting at the least that he was at the bottom of a list of some sort, but it definitely wasn't an important list in his mind. It was pretty typical that he would be on the bottom of any list that wasn't a 'murder this person immediately' list for whatever reason. He didn't get along with others particularly well if he didn't agree with them. Perhaps he had misread the list and was at the top. Lazily he looked around the room and shook his head before standing up. It was likely they were going to try and get him to pay for the desk, but he had no real care to do so. Carefully he picked up his chair and lifted it up off the ground by hooking a finger under one of the intricately carved holes in the back. It seemed as if it were effortless, but this was standard for many shinobi. He just chose to express his strength freely. With that, he would motion to the door. He didn't quite care if she left first or not. He would make his way through the door toward the front of the building. Normally he would lock his chair up, but today he was taking it home with him. He had a feeling if he left it around it might get pinched.

[Topic Left]
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OOC:The class has concluded. Go ahead and go get your reward. You will get one e-rank jutsu for free given my teacher ability. Enjoy.|

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DeathMood Music

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Michi · May 28, 2017

The lesson was disappointing but what could she expect. Her son was a newborn and had much to learn about the world, but it made the encounter no less discouraging. She waited for Matsu to leave and let out a sigh. She had no idea how she was supposed to take care of him. The world had changed so much and he was born in haste to fill -her- needs not his own. She was intensely lonesome and hoped that he would fill the void. Her eyes would scan the room after he was gone, she was angry and she was hurt by his rejection of her youth. Yes, she needed a moment to pout. A moment to consider revenge before she discarded the notion, that was just the anger talking. She did not want to leave the room looking mad or sad. She needed to lie.

She left the classroom with a liar's smile on her face. All was well. Everything would be fine.

[Topic Left]

What Are You? [Tutor]

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