Rome's Night Training

Rome leapt out of bed to the opposite side of his poorly furnished room as soon as his eyes were halfway open. He'd heard a loud shatter, ceramic in nature, from either the kitchen or his uncle's bedroom. Could've been almost anything, but given his uncle's less than pleasant nature it would still be best to leave. Although it had been a recurring phenomenon throughout his life, Rome still didn't appreciate being effectively ousted from his place of residence by a drunken fool. His uncle would end up having the same fate as his father, but the time and place for that was not now. A few more years, maybe then. As it stood, Rome's only desire was to get out and train. It was night, and that left it cold outside. It was one of the few occasions he would wear his jacket, just a plain black garment with a hood, an unzipped zipper and pockets. He climbed out his window, leaving it open as he started back toward the training ground where he had learned the joy of fire jutsu the first time.

Now, however, his intent was altered slightly. Now, the jutsu his eyes were set on was Great Fireball. Rome felt it was a beautiful idea of a jutsu, but simple. A large ball of flame that one used to incinerate their obstacles. He could envision the sky, lit up with fire not unlike the distant stars brought close. 'Stars look nice,' he thought to himself, examining the dark blue sky above. It had to be almost eleven for the moon, not quite having waned all the way, to be so high. Rome closed his eyes, brought up the appropriate half Tiger seal, and sent a gout of flame into the sky with Flame Stream. It got the fire in him going again, pushing back the cold empty feeling night gave him.

This jutsu would be harder, not an E-Rank like Fire Stream but instead a C-Rank. It was also far superior to Fire Stream, though, a proper jutsu rather than just a technique that served as an introduction to the element. Rome started gathering his chakra into his lungs, and it mixed with the chilled air he inhaled. Not necessarily great for fire, but it was oxygen. It wouldnt get in his way. The transformation into fire had to occur as he exhaled, just outside his mouth it would ignite into a ball that he would then manipulate to some extent. In theory, it was simple, but the practice was more difficult. After slow but focused exhale, he attempted to light the chakra and oxygen as it left him, finding a complete lack of success. The handseals, that's what he had forgotten.

Rome would usually treat this as a minor mistake easily rectified but with no consequences. Something about the frigid air, his uncle's idiocy, and his own helplessness to prevent these things set him off. There was no noise from him about it, he instead sat down and simmered, punching the sand beneath him. Soft, here, his hand just sank and it upset him more. It was not smart to make much noise, though. If a shinobi were moving about and saw fire here, it seemed like someone was training late. The violent outburst of noise that the Shimura felt welling inside him, however, would leave a far different mark on one. His hands, shaky now, formed the handeals slowly and deliberately as he said the name of each. "Horse. Tiger." There was no attempt to perform the jutsu, but he just got the handseals down in his mind. It was almost like mocking himself for his failure. Once more did he form them, but quick and without words, this time trying to send the ball of fire to the sky. The chakra left his lungs in a wispy blur, hardly even controlled in the proper shape, let alone the flaming nature it was meant to be. This time, Rome wasn't infuriated by his lack of success. It didn't encourage him by any means, but he knew that he had at least taken his best shot at it. And it was not as though he had come out here with a particular curfew in mind. In fact, he had no intention of returning home until the morning. He was well rested enough from the couple hours of sleep he had gotten to last through the coming hours. If he managed to finish up his training on Great Fireball within the night, he would learn something else. As it stood, the only interest he had was this. Though the stars captivated his green eyes long enough for him to have just sat there, completely still aside from his faint breathing, just staring up.

WC: 793

Kuro looked up into the stars as he walked around the village, unable to sleep quite yet. This village was still mostly new to him, if he really wanted to live here then he needed to get a look around and familiarize himself with the village's layout. Vixie stuck close to his side as he walked along the training grounds, her tail slowly wagging as she sniffed the air, enjoying the new scents of this strange place. The fox would stop a moment as she noticed someone else in the training grounds, looking towards the person looking into the sky. Kuro didn't notice however, as he was completely lost in thought. He wanted to continue to be a shinobi... but he wasn't sure if he could. 

Thoughts of Kira and Yuki plagued his mind. Everything he said and did with them... everything Kira told him and what he should do about it... was there anything he could have done for them? Kuro sighed and closed his eyes. He needed someone to help him cheer up. It was dark enough... He could probably summon up someone to talk to without causing a panic. Forcing blood out of his fingertip, he places his hand to the ground and summoned up Sylveona the hydra. The large pink and white hydra looked down to the Hozuki who summoned her before glancing around the area she was in. "It seems rather late, don't you humans prefer to sleep at times like this?"
Kuro grinned and chuckled, finding that being referred to as 'you humans' was rather humorous. "Yeah. I just... I've been stressed out lately. I think... I might have done things wrong. I know it's not a fight, so it's not super important but... would you sing a song for me? Your voice is soothing."

Sylveona smiled down at Kuro and laid down, the sand shifting from her weight, motioning for him to sit with her. Kuro pulled his guitar from his chest and sat down while Vixie decided that she'd rather investigate the stranger who she'd noticed star gazing. The small fox sneaking through the shadows to get closer to him as Sylveona began to sing while Kuro played his guitar. The hydra's voice gently floated across the sand, creating a sense of comfort and home as her song came to an end.

Song:

Kuro slowed down the tempo once Sylveona had finished her singing, letting his strings vibrate before sighing happily and leaning against Sylveona. "Thanks for that. I swear, you could sing the best lullabies... Wait, where'd Vixie run off to?"

Vixie meanwhile, had managed to reach the genin, sitting next to him and looking up at him, curious about just what he was doing out in the dark.

"Maybe I shouldn't be out so late... making me hallucinate..." Rome had turned and repositioned himself to look at the fox. "Hey little thing," he said, in a mostly neutral tone. Animals, simple and predictable, Rome didn't hate. He didn't have a particular liking for them by any means, but he didn't hold the same malice he did towards humans toward them. It was similar for humans who went out of their way to help animals. Rome saw an intelligence in the fox's eyes, and quickly rephrased his sentence. "Little fox. Sorry. You are very, very much not camouflaged for the desert. There are very large creatures and unpleasant characters here that will eat you, so who..." He trailed off as his eyes flicked up to the person and hydra in the distance. "Would be looking after you."

"Presuming that's him?" It was phrased as both a statement and a question as Rome stood and started toward the two in the distance. Although the person raised his suspicions, whatever the actual hell was with him concerned Rome. The singing, it seemed, originated from the hydra. That made him nervous. Paranoia was always a good thing to apply to a situation, kept you alive. Singing was one of the few kind things his mother did for him, though, so Rome was left in quite an odd state tonight. Having been removed from his house during late hours, failing his training. It was late, and now singing, very pleasant singing that made him sad and sick feeling. This encounter was certainly going to be... something. "I'm trusting you, little fox. You didn't bite me, and I'msure that if those guys are looking after you then you certainly could bite."

"Hey." Rome had just reached decent speaking distance of the two. His voice was sort of tired, but curious, and still sort of aware and active sounding. "My name is Rome Shimura, Genin out here training. I believe I found a friend of yours. May I ask your names?" Rome gestured to the jungle fox, wherever she had ended up being, either still trailing himself or back with the stranger, both asking her name as well as denoting it as the friend. "You know, there's something I have formed as a theory. The only people meandering around at this time are homeless, lonely, depressed or nocturnal. I'm homeless, which are you? If I'm not too rude in assuming, of course." Rome raised an brow inquisitively. Most of his words had been directed toward the human, but the question of name was directed at both. If the large, and it was definitely large, being could sing, it probably had a name. Rome's eyes opened up wider as he remembered to assess the man. He'd already went over the fox, and it would be nearly impossible to deduce anything about the hydra other than the fact that it could kill him very quickly and sing while doing so. The man was much the same, hard to understand aside from his guitar playing ability and his foreign nature.

Vixie sat up right and proudly when the genin mentioned large creatures who would eat her, puffing her chest slightly with pride as if to say "I am not afraid of your silly creatures, I am the best." Once Rome had noticed Kuro and began walking towards him, Vixie stood again and followed him back to her keeper.

Seeing someone walk towards him with Vixie by their side, Kuro would rise to his feet to greet them. "Hello there! I see you've met Vixie. She normally sticks closer to me, but this place is new for her so she's a bit more excitable than usual. My name is Kuro Hozuki, and this large lady is Sylveona the hydra."
Kuro motioned to the large, scaly creature behind him while Sylveona smiled and bowed her head slightly in greeting. "Hello small human. You look quite appetizing."
"That... That's not a compliment Sylveona."
"Don't be silly, of course it is. You humans always tend to be dull and boring. He seems to have potential at least."
"Then say he looks like he has potential, not that you'd like to eat him!"
"Oh hush, I'll say what I want!"

Kuro laughed a bit awkwardly and put a hand behind his head while Sylveona huffed irritably and gave him a light push. "Sorry about that. Anyways, as for the things you listed... well my home got destroyed, but I'm moving here so I might have a home soon. So... I'm kind of homeless? I'm probably just gonna sleep on somebody's roof or something until I can get some missions done to pay for a room somewhere."
Kuro then shrugged off the issue, recalling Sylveona's song to help him let go of any negative thoughts. "Oh, you said you were training right? Anything I can do to help? I love helping others train."

Rome nodded in greeting to each in turn, his eyes widening at the strange compliment but so did a smile. "Pleasure to meet the both of you. And I think appetizing is definitely a compliment, just a different one than I normally hear. Thank you, Sylveona." He liked the hydra. She was very straightforward. That was a quality he could appreciate, and not one many beings shared. Though he'd still prefer not being eaten, he appreciated it.

After Kuro explained his situation, Rome felt almost a pang of sympathy, such a hardship not falling on deaf ears. Although he wasn't the most compassionate, Rome still knew that wasn't an easy thing to go through by a long shot. "My apologies for the abruptness of my assumption, then. I guess I seem rude. Though, if you sleep on a roof you should wake up early. Friendly advice, the sun is hot. Though after a couple days to adapt I'm sure you'll kind of like it here." Rome's shoulders slumped, as well as his general posture, at the mention of his training. "I came out here to practice Great Fireball, but I'm still just a Genin who graduated fairly recently. It's not an easy jutsu for me, though I'm sure you can help. If you know it, that'd be great. If you don't, I'm sure you have some knowledge and experience to expunge. I think that's the right word..."

Turning around, more so for their comfort than the risk of harming them, Rome signed again and tried once more to perform the jutsu. This time, he tried it more quickly. As he turned, he inhaled, and by the time he reached the opposite direction his lungs were full. One very quick exhale later, and there was nothing left in his lungs and a burning sensation in his throat as he emitted a small stream of smoke. He'd tried the transformation in nature a bit early, leaving the chakra fueled oxygen nowhere to expand. Rome coughed a couple times, turned around and shrugged. "Didn't exactly come out here expecting to master it instantly, but still." There wasn't any hopelessness to his voice this time, just a sort of reluctant acceptance of his inability. Besides, with any luck he'd be able to get it after some help from his new acquaintances.

Sylveona looked at Kuro with a smug smirk when Rome agreed with her opinion, the hydra clearly pleased with the genin. "Oh I really like this one now. He knows how to agree with me. You should be friends with him Kuro."
"Well I was gonna do that anyways so, yeah, I will be friends with him. Because I want to. Not because you told me to."

Kuro smiled slightly as he shook his head a bit and focused on Rome again. Realizing he had a point about the sun in the morning, Kuro brought a hand to his chin in thought. "Oh yeah, I hadn't thought about that. I was living in the woods so I had trees to shade me there... but it's way hotter here. Ah, I'm sure I'll find a nook or cranny somewhere that'll still be shaded in the morning."

Watching Rome attempt the jutsu, Kuro winced slightly as he watched the kid cough smoke. "Ouch. Well, I can't say I know much about fire jutsu sadly. I know it had plenty of practical uses back home in the tundra, but I've never used it myself so I'm a little unsure about what advice I could give. Hm... What if... you had a target? Something to focus on? Or maybe some extra motivation could help! Positive or negative reinforcement could work, though I'd prefer to use positive... Well, I guess I should keep it simple since we just met."
Kuro looked to the stars as he tried to come up with some way to help, finally shaking his head slightly as he lifted his guitar with his right hand, pulling it into his liquid inventory and immediately pulling his shield out in it's place, the large blue circle suddenly gushing from his palm as water before immediately forming it's hard metallic form. Vixie would disinterestedly hop up onto Sylveona's back, sitting down to watch as Kuro began walking past Rome into the field of sand before turning around. "All right, I'm going to be your target. Now, before you even think about attacking, you need to answer a very important question. Why do you need to be able to use this jutsu? What goal will it help you accomplish? Once you've answered that, then focus on me and imagine that I am an obstruction to your goal. That until you can properly use this attack against me, you will never be able to move forward toward your goal and it will forever remain out of reach. When you're ready, hit me with all you've got."
Kuro would grin and hold his shield in front of himself, getting ready to block the attack. "And don't let that focus slip an inch to worry about me. I'll be fine."

In the seconds after Kuro had finished his statement, Rome's face contorted into a variety of expressions. First, a smirk of something akin to recognition. The hydra was similar to himself, but in possession of more of the power he so desired. She was also different somehow, though, in a way Rome soon figured out. A short period, he was simply listening with a neutral expression to Kuro's words and thoughts, but instantaneously turning into bewilderment, curiosity, and confusion. This occurred when Kuro put away his guitar and pulled his shield in a way Rome could only describe, under his breath but out loud, as very very fascinating. Only another few seconds did he remain like this until his face contorted slowly into listening, and then thought.

Rome never set a goal aside from the growth of his own abilities, but what was even the point of such growth? What did he intend to accomplish with his quest for power? He'd never considered it too much further than just that. That was the quality Sylveona had that he didn't, the reason she could feel satisfied with her existence at any point. She had a true goal, and Rome simply didn't. There was no way to say what she had in mind for her life, but it had to be something. Rome quickly pulled his face of thought out of itself and into one of stronger, firmer determination. The question alone gave him the spark of an idea as to a reason. His new goal was to find a reason to get stronger, a proper reason for his existence to continue. Existing to figure out why he should. Now, to give himself a desire to perform the jutsu, the mental component he'd been lacking, he needed to figure out why this jutsu would help, and how Kuro was an obstacle. Simple, the jutsu gave him power, and therefore opportunity to learn. Kuro, he decided, was an obstacle. Rome didn't imagine it, it was simply the truth of the situation. Currently, his goal was to perform the jutsu on Kuro and therefore the shield and it's wielder were blocking his path. Rome was far too firmly rooted to reality to often allow his mind to deceive him or allow his imagination to become reality. Otherwise, he'd do more with Genjutsu.

Moving on to the physical aspect of the jutsu, the portion he'd practiced but not perfected. Not nearly perfected. First, Rome examined all his previous mistakes again. The first step to learning was knowing what to learn. He didn't know how much of his failure had stemmed from the lack of mental preparedness, which he hoped he had mostly remedied, and what flaws simply existed in his physical performance and comprehension of the technique. Rome tried to recall what he knew of it from the Academy, it being one of the few jutsu he had ever learned about in depth. Most he'd heard he'd forgotten, but this one stuck because he could clearly associate it with a feeling and a time. That time wasn't pleasant, and he'd rather forget the scent, but regardless. The chakra was to be gathered in his lungs, kneaded in with the oxygen. Then, expelled and ignited into a ball or stream. For the purpose of this new bout, in which he expected to succeed soon, Rome would try the stream. Maybe if he didn't think about the control of it, it'd be easier. He followed the first set steps, inhale, manipulate his chakra, and perform the seals. Just before he actually tried to do anything, he thought about a question he'd have to save for later. It was a brief pause before his actual performance, one that was capable of achieving real results. These results were only real, not effective in any way other than proving that Rome had made progress. Upon expelling the breath and igniting it, flaring it to fire, it produced a flash. The chakra wasn't controlled as it left, causing it to float out more densely. It ignited, not unlike a very tight ball of magician's flash paper, directly in front of Rome's face. His reaction was comical, stumbling backwards and rolling his eyes wildly while flailing his arms in circles desperately trying to regain his balance. Returning himself to an upright position, he held up a finger. Luckily, his face was unscathed, as was his hair. Laughter at this point wouldn't aggravate him in the slightest, shown by the small smile on his face. "Almost got it now, I'm sure. But before I accidentally hurt myself, I'd like to know. What reason is yours? What goal does being a ninja help you accomplish? Secondary, less deep and philosophical question, how did you do the water things with the guitar and shield?" Rome's triumph turned to curiosity, as the question when posed introspectively could've caused an existential crisis to the unprepared novice. He was a smart kid, and certainly not typical, but still kind of just that: a kid.

WC: 892
892+793=1685. So very close.

Kuro was prepared to see a huge ball of flame rush towards him, but when he saw the jutsu literally blow up in Rome's face, he couldn't stop himself from doubling over with laughter. Taking a few seconds to pull himself together, Kuro would manage to walk his walk a bit closer to Rome, mostly wanting to get closer to make sure he hadn't burned himself. Once he had taken a quick look at Rome's face to see he was unharmed, Kuro went back to relaxing and not fretting over the mishap. "Heheh, hey, fire's better than just some smoke! You're definitely getting close! You've got the ignition right, just need to work on the follow through."

Kuro would give an encouraging thumbs up while Sylveona silently watched them, quietly smiling as if she were watching two children play. Delicious looking children, but children nonetheless. Vixie didn't seem to notice or even care about the fire, she just kept her eyes closed and began taking a light nap. When Rome asked Kuro his two questions, the Hozuki hummed to himself a moment in thought before responding. "Well, I'm gonna answer those questions in reverse order. The way I can turn my items into water is because of my heritage. As a member of the Hozuki clan, I AM water."
Kuro would then demonstrate this fact by suddenly melting into a puddle of water, pooling in the sand a bit before suddenly sliding between Rome's legs and rising up out of his moved puddle behind him, leaving his hair as water to let it drip down onto his shoulders only to be reabsorbed into his body. Sylveona rolled her eyes at the trick and spoke up, "Honestly, it's the only reason this fool hasn't been killed yet. When he found our home, the king tried to smash him. But smashing water doesn't do much and since he technically survived an attack without retaliating, the king had him sign a contract with us. He certainly has grown since then though. I wonder if you'll grow as quickly."

Kuro laughed a bit as Sylveona gave a short explanation of why he was even with a hydra in the first place and how annoying he was to kill. "The reason I'm a ninja though... well that's changed. When I was a kid, I was pretty easy to pick on. We lived in the tundra and let's just say I had to be melted into a bucket more than once when I stayed outside too long. I wanted to be a ninja so I would have comrades and friends. That worked out pretty well. But... after my village was destroyed... I have a new goal now."
Kuro would lift his right hand up to look at the Nara symbol on his palm, recalling how much he'd grown since he left the village. Sylveona certainly hadn't been wrong about that. After a few moments of reflection, Kuro smiled and clenched his fist. "My new goal... to create a village of my own. I'll mold the land with my own to hands, create lakes and streams, and grow a forest around it. A new village, in a snowy forest. I'll still owe a debt to Suna for letting me stay here, and I'll serve this village above all else until I'm ready, but once I can do it, I will. But I won't get what I need by sheer force alone. I mean, if I did it right I probably could, but I don't want to. I don't like to make enemies, just friends."

Looking to the stars, Kuro's eyes would shine with determination. "I'm going to create a village, full of peace and love, where everyone greets strangers with a smile. And once I've made it, I'll protect it and keep it safe from the people who destroyed Yuki. That's why I need to make as many friends as I can until then. I mean, I've gotta have people I can invite to live there. What's the point of building a village where no one lives?"
 Kuro then turned his gaze back to Rome, a confident smile on his face and his eyes brimming with hope for the future. "And I'll finally be able to do some baking again!"

Rome remained silent, smiling and shrugging at the comment about his progress thus far. Kuro had certainly cheered him up since the beginning of his training, and helped him through it. The only reason Rome didn't begin speaking quite yet was because he wanted to hear everything that was to be said. Though he was still quite proud of himself, and sure that with another couple tries he could get it down. The failures thus far had certainly given him ideas for jutsu to create as well, but he also wasn't nearly advanced enough for that. He was much, much too incompetent.

The order in which he gave the explanations didn't bother the Shimura, nor if he even answered. It'd be understandable for him not to. After all, they'd only met mere minutes ago, as a person investigating a strange, now disinterested and sleeping, fox and said fox's owner. What really caught Rome's attention was his explanation. Kuro simply was water. 'Obviously, why didn't I think of that.' The thought was internal and composed of complete sarcasm, Rome giving a quizzical look that quickly turned to one of surprise as his new friend melted and solidified behind Rome. It was everything he could do not to react reflexively to elbow him, not that it would even bother the water being. Although the thought of the hydra slowly removing his head via twisting was more than enough motivation.

Thinking of which, Sylveona started speaking directly afterwards. Upon hearing what Kuro had apparently done, that being surviving against the king of such a beast as her,  Rome gave a light applause and nodded in respect to Kuro. "I hope I can get better with some relative speed, though I personally don't know how quickly he did. I'm sure it was admirably swift, though." Quickly, he turned his attention back to Kuro as he resumed his speaking.

This was the part that Rome was most looking forward to. Of course he was curious as to the water man's past, as it would be integral to understanding him. Understanding was key to a great many things. As he started his story, Rome decided that the Hozuki didn't look particularly imposing to someone who hadn't seen him materialize a shield from his hand, and he also decided that being melted from a bucket probably sucked. The beginning of his story was a simple enough one, but the destruction of his entire home was different. That was a major turning point for him, a point at which the shinobi was faced with innumerable options. He simply had chosen the one requiring will, strength, and aptitude paying off with strengthening himself. Kuro had also formed himself quite the quest, building up his own village with his bare hands. Especially when put like that. But to also do so while making friends and avoiding the easiest route of simple force, that was quite the task indeed. Peace, love, smiles and safety. The prospect might seem appealing to Rome, should he grow into a good person. When he mentioned baking, Rome laughed. Amazing prospects, a village sculpted by a single man who made friends, became strong and desired peace, but he also desired to bake. For the briefest time, Rome wasn't the awful person he normally was. He reached out his hand, as a greeting, and smiled. "Pleasure to meet you, Kuro Hozuki. To have actually met you. And if you need anything, I think I'll be happy to help. Not that I've any intention of leaving these grounds yet, but I feel a new introduction to the you that you actually are is in order." That determination, Rome decided, was what he wanted. He was just unsure of when or how he'd find it. Rome was very young, but his eyes hid an intelligence past it, as did his vernacular. It was that intelligence that looked out now, marking this moment with a folded page in his ever increasing book of memories.

Kuro chuckled a bit when Rome laughed at his baking comment. "You laugh now, but I can bake a mean cake. I'll save you some the next time I bake one to prove it." Kuro would then shake Rome's hand, accepting his second introduction and his offer for help. "I'll remember you if I ever need some help. Actually, since I'm moving here, we'll probably see each other fairly often. It's... been awhile since I could really say I'd see a new friend again soon. I made a few as I traveled, but they live in a village, I sleep in the forest outside the village for a week then go somewhere else. Not many good second meeting opportunities."

Kuro shook his head a bit at the disappointing thought, Sylveona thinking of something as he did. "Kuro, you've been helping your new friend train, but don't forget that you should keep working too. I know you still have techniques you wanted to learn. Why don't you go ahead and let him see it? It should make a better target and it's dark enough."

Kuro turned to the hydra and frowned slightly, looking at Rome clearly distressed as thoughts raced through his head. Could he risk that? This was his new home and Rome seemed like he wouldn't be an issue. He was just a new genin after all. The only reason he could think not to was... his promise to her... Sensing his distress, Vixie jumped off of Sylveona and rushed to his side. Looking down at the fox Kuro would ask her, "What do you think Vixie? Should I? I don't think he's dangerous, but, it's not really about him is it?" The vixen would look to Rome again and stare at him for a bit before making her decision and nudging Kuro's hand with her head, causing him to smile. "All right then. Let's trust him."

Looking at Rome with a more serious expression, Kuro began to semi-explain what he was talking about with his companions. "I'm going to do something, and I need you to just... not tell anybody about it. There are some people who would attack me because of it. I don't know who they are, but that's what I was told when I was given this ability. So, you can tell people about me, just leave what I'm about to do out if you do."
Kuro would then take a deep breath and perform three handseals, focusing his chakra and pulling the nature of his transplanted organ into the jutsu. A large brown wooden lump would rapidly grow out of Kuro's shoulder, the lump rapidly morphing and taking the shape of Kuro before it completely disconnected from him. The wooden Kuro would bow slightly to Rome before walking into the training area.

"Say hello, to wooden clone Kuro. I've tried making them before but they always came out a little bit messed up. This guy totally looks like an unpainted wooden doll of me though. Since he's wooden, he should make a perfect target for your fireball!"

(wc- 513. Twc-2452 
wooden clone was 3600/4000, now 4000/4000)