How Is It Hanging

Sometimes a little rest and relaxation was needed even though his mind tried its hardest to fight him not progressing his skills in some form or fashion. He had been really overdoing it recently but he was already beginning to see results. He was not getting winded as easy and his body was beginning to accept his movements as muscle memory again after hours and hours of training. He was still not feeling up to using some of his more advanced Jutsu as he was terrified it would nearly kill him if he did so to mitigate that he had been practicing some of the basic Jutsu he had learned as an Academy Student. He thought back to those days and how he thought practicing simple things like walking up trees or the clone technique seems like a waste of time to him, but now, it was critical he practiced so that he could get his body used to using Chakra again.
 
Today, however, was going to be spent recovering. His body was begging for a break and he finally gave in and decided to casually stroll around the village of Kirigakure. He was growing more used to being out in public again after months of being a hermit. He figured walking was, at least, a way for him to work out the soreness and he could also get in some reading. While his mother had been sick he had spent a lot of time reading her favorite stories but he was trying to get more into tactics and the history of the Ninja World.
 
Spotting a nice looking tree he concentrated his chakra into his feet and he began to walk up the side of the tree. When he found a sturdy enough branch he walked under it so that he was upside down, his long white hair dangling in the breeze, and he pulled out his book. Standing upside down under the tree he opened a book detailing some of the ancient history of Kirigakure and some of the old wars that had happened. It was fascinating to see how violent the pre-modern times of Shinobi were and he thought he would be able to learn things in here if he reread the book enough.

WC: 377

Today was a beautiful day to just sit in a tree and read your book--correction. Today would be a beautiful day to sit in a tree and read a book if that tree didn't happen to be directly in the path of everyones favorite tiny terror, our dear protagonist. As it stands, Saya had been searching for something to blow off steam that didn't involve immediately pouring herself into new training. Pinochio was not a fan of this, of course, but recognized that he needed to let her do what she liked here and there to stop the pouting and general unhappiness that his training regimen brought. That brings us to a specific tree in a specific village. Saya snuck up slowly, chakra supression hiding her signature and chakra threads as she honed in on her target. There was a ninja reading quietly just ahead of her. She peeked around the corner of a building, forming her plan. Then she struck. The Coach puppet lept from behind the building where the four were hiding, pinochio on his shoulders to ensure she only needed to control two at a time. In one leap he'd land about 15 feet away from the tree, and his body deconstructed. 

Wooden limbs and chest stretched out to coat the ground, forming a large stage five foot in all directions, but even as his transformation began, the show as already on. 

"Why couldn't you stay calm for once insead of flying off the handle?! I hope you're happy!" Saya and Ai walked out from behind the building, looking like they were arguing over something or the other. fists clenched at their sides as they spoke. Ai was in an enormous frilly pink dress with a tiara, and saya's face and arms were painted green as her black wig swished in movement. 

"I hope you're happy now! I hope you're happy how you've hurt your cause forever! I hope you think you're clever!" Music.... Started up? Ah. yes I see. The Kiri musical instruments vendor was behind the girls as they began a muscal performance, their words shifting to song. As usual she'd gathered them for whenever she was planning on doing. 

(365)

To say that the scene unfolding before him was unexpected was, well, the understatement of the century. The puppet deconstructing and forming itself into a stage was strange enough but as what appeared to be other people…. Or puppets… something came out and started arguing and singing he could only stare in disbelief. Normally, someone ruining his reading would annoy him, but the sheer unexpectedness of this particular situation was more intriguing than anything else.
 
Furo watched as the group slowly broke into song and then he released the chakra from his feet and gracefully tumbled from the tree down to the ground. He landed softly and then placed the book into his jacket before he approached, carefully of course. He did not get right up to the stage but he was close enough to see the workings of the device. He could not quite figure it out so he just took a step back and watched for a few moments before speaking.
 
“What’s going on?” Furo asked inquisitively, not yelling, but definitely speaking over the music.  
 
WC: 177
TWC: 554

"I hope you're happy in the eeeennnndd I Ho...." The two stopped mid line to look at their confused audience. Impressively with all of Saya's intelegence she'd not actually ever considered that she should explain to the people she randomly popped up in front of that she was doing a performance... Or tell them anything about what or why this was going on. It was an oversight she made a note to fix at a later date. 

"I um. Sorry for  my sister. She sometimes doesn't think things through." Ai dropped her head, One arm held above it in an awkard display of realization. After a couple soft chuckles she continued. 

"This is uh. Something Saya does quite often. She calles it pop up performance." She took a step back the moment she misspoke. She hadn't meant to get the name wrong, but was immediately aware that she'd screwed up as saya hopped to center stage to correct her. 

"CORRECTION! It is the lavender secret technique: pop up performance of potent puppet prowess. But yea, Basically I suprise random people in the village by putting up a stage quickly and performing a song from some sort of musical, or a prominent pop culture song, sea shanties... Yanno that sort of thing. I'm Sayatria Ta--"

"Nope." Around the corner a voice cut her off. Shifting her fingertips Saya brought the Pinochio puppet out, shaking his head as she attempted once more to give her last name. 

"Sorry. Sayatria Se--" She was cut off again. 

"NOPE" This time it was Ai who stopped her. She knew better then to give her last name. One linked her to the line of the feudal lords, and the other gave hints to her blood that could be dangerous for people to know. 

"I'm Sayatria. But you can call me Saya! One day I'm gonna be the premier Cosplaying performer for the village hidden in the Rain!"

(686)

As she explained everything, admittedly, it did not help too much. A pop up performance? In all of his years in the village he had never seen anything quite like it. He was familiar with puppetry jutsu but he had never seen someone utilize it so fluidly before. Most of the time they struggled to even get it to move but all of hers seems to have life… stories… it was impressive to say the least but he was still a little confused as to the why of it all.
 
He wanted to ask why but he figured he would not exactly get an answer outside of that she wanted to, and to be fair, what other answer was there? He was intrigued by her not revealing her last name. Confused, but considering the all-encompassing nature of the situation, being confused was most likely going to be the norm in the presence of Saya.
 
“Well, for what it’s worth, what I heard was already quite good so I would say you are well on your way.” Positive reinforcement was something he had been getting quite good at as of late, he had to be positive with his mother, if for no other reason than it made himself feel better. “Why don’t you finish the show for me and I will give some feedback?” He offered as he took a step back and put his hands on his hips.
 
WC: 238
Total: 792

"OH no." 

"oh. no." 

"uh oh."

"Yesssss" The four responded one after the other, even the stage commenting in surprise that he'd actually suggested she continue with her performance. That... Hadn't happened before. They usually prepared sections of songs that were a minute or two long as not to chance people leaving or stopping her. When he'd interjected they'd expected for this to be the first time she was actually asked to stop. Instead he'd given her permission to go even longer. Saya's eyes grew wide as she realized what he'd just said and she jumped up and down on the stage. What came next could only be described as an excelent attempt at performing theater with little to no resources to pull it off. Still the music flowed well enough. They finished the current scene, Ai and saya circling each other as dramatic tension rose in their declaration of frusteration towards one another, music crescendoing to a pause point where the medody carried them to a desperate plea. 

"You can still be with the wizard, what you've worked and waited for. you can have all you ever wanted..." Saya's eyes were downcast as she spoke, her tone breathy with hope that this last plea would would be heard. 

"I know. But. I don't want it--NO. I can't want it. Anymore." Music danced about the slower scene. Saya stood tall, and belted out a powerful balad of individuality that brought a sense of understanding of her self worth into picture. Slowly the lines flowed, growing in power to the big finale. Ai, now in a black cloak that hid her form; whose existence and origional placing was unclear, lifted up an old broom for the big finale. In one leap Saya hopped onto the top of the broom--tiny feet balancing as she stood tall and belted out her final defiant anthem. She shifted and danced atop the tightrope like bit of wood until the ending was in sight. 

"Nobody in all of oz, No wizard that there is OR WAS! Is ever gonna bring; ME DOOOOOWWWWWNNNNNN" And so their five minute long performance was finished. Saya simply hopped off the broom, which Ai chucked off to the side and gave a small bow.

(1059)

Was this how Furo envisioned he would be spending his day? Not in the slightest but he could not overstate the importance of the distraction. In another time, not even a year ago, he would not have wasted a moment’s breath on this pop up performance and he would have written it off as a complete waste of time. As they performed, he sat on the ground, propping himself up with his arms planted behind him and his legs crossed in front of him. It was strange, he had rarely allowed himself to be distracted, but as they sang and performed in front of him he was a mix of entertained and thoughtful.
 
Of course his thoughts wandered and he thought to how much his mother would enjoy something like this. How sweet she had been especially considering she had lived with his father for so long. He was such a harsh and serious man that he would have never attended something like this. In his eyes, it would be seen as childish and of no use, but for her it was just something fun. He mused at how much he wished she was sitting by his side and how he had wasted so much of his time with her. He took after his father, who showed him no love, and his mother who showered him with it had been met with the same cold shoulder her husband had given.
 
Combine all of that with the fact that the entire show was actually quite good he felt tears began to fall down his face. It was all a little too much for him to handle, in that moment, all of the thoughts and feelings rushing up. He had spent so much time compartmentalizing his pain and sorrow that he had refused to let it all out. Try as he might, he could not hold it back, and when the play was over all he could do was lean forward and hold back the embarrassing stream of tears.
 
When Saya had finished he sat for a moment composing himself before he hopped to his feet and gave a very heartfelt bout of clapping. He wondered if it was possible for him to relay the importance of such a simple act of distraction had meant so much to him? “I loved it!” Furo said, meaning his words with every ounce of his being. “All other nations are worse off for not having something like this in their villages.” He smiled and then wiped the tears away from his face, hoping with all of his soul that she just ignored it and took the compliments.
 
“How long did all that take to learn and rehearse?” he asked curiously trying to move the topic away from his shame.
 
WC: 465
TWC: 1257

Saya was literally bounching around after having taken a bow. The fact that he genuinely appreciated her performance was the most exciting thing that had happened to her all week. While plenty of people had seen her perform, the response was mostly an odd look or feigning interest for the sake of kindness. This was something completely new. 

"I well. I mean it kinda just comes to me and yanno. I do it. There isn't much practice to it at all if i'm being honest." With a shrug she answered the question like it was the most casual thing she'd ever said. Unfortunately her attempt at being cool and casual was cut off. 

"Five hours. She was up until three am planning that particular performance and figuring out exactly how far she expected she could actually get into it before she was cut off. We didn't exactly rehearse the entirething of course, because theres usually a time limit on how long someone will sit without trying to cut her off and it's important to keep things concise in case someone decides to be mean and just strait up tell her to go away, but the total work that went into what was actually planned was around five hours. " Pinochio spoke up and Saya glared at him. He ruined EVERYTHING. 

"really it was a very casual 5 hours WHICH PAID OFF PINOCHIO! I have quotes to add to posters advertising my next performance thanks to this awesome ninja.....you're a ninja right? I have to assume you aren't a regular villager...omg. We could totally like. Train things together. I have jutsu and stuff! I dunno if it would be helpful but i know some and we could at least work on stuff at the same time and push each other to get better if we dont have things we can actually teach each other. I'm like. A genius so i learn stuff real fast so like it wouldn't be that hard, I mean if you want to. If you don't or like if you have somewhere to go its cool I have them to help me with stuff but I'm always looking for new friends to train with and get stronger together and do missions cuz missions can be really tough and like dangerous. I have a pirate ship from my last mission and it was really cool but there were alot of enemies that were all like trying to kill us and stuff and i had to throw them in the drink with my neat new combination technique. " 

"Sister. You're rambling again. start by asking his name and don't go all hyper say everything in your head mode. just breathe." Ai took a step forward, placing her hand on Saya's shoulder and she calmed down slightly. With a nod she took a few deep breaths and then started again. 

"Sorry. I didn't really get your name?"

(1544)

Just as she asked for her new friends name, she was cut off. While pinochio hadn't actually "said" anything, he gave her the look. you know the one. The you've forgotten something and i'm not going to tell you what it is but im gonna glare at you until you realize you're in trouble kinda look. that looky look that looks....looky? She wracked her brain, trying to think of what she could have possible missed. Was her request for this ninja's name done in a rude way? was she being uncouth? Heck. There was no way she'd be able to go through the entire list of social norms she was taught as a child to find which of the obscure regulations she'd broken before Furo was wise to her mistake. This could be catastrophic. What if he went back to all of his ninja friends and told them that she was an uncultured swine?! or he decided because of her  mistake to stop being nice and say her music was bad?! or wose.

WHAT IF HE SAID SHE WASN'T CUTE!

No. She would figure this out. How hard could it possibly be. She was, of course a genius with a power of comprehension that dwarfed any and all she'd ever met. Yes, she could find the point in her manerisms that was the focus point of judgement and find an easy way to fix it and smooth over the issues before something horible happened. Then Pinochio spoke up.

"Tria. We have to do guard duty today. You were going out to get some lunch before getting dressed in your training clothes so you can go yanno.... do that job you signed up to do? " Heck. She did have guard duty starting at noon and it was now.... well. it wasn't noon, and it wasn't before noon. She was late.

"omg im so sorry it was nice to meet you but i just realized I have an important thing that I have to do that I can't miss because its a responsibility so  im going to have to cut our meeting short but it was an absolute pleasure to meet you and i'm sure we'll meet up again and then i can totally get your name and i'll definitely remember it and not have to ask you several more times because i'm scatterbrained. um. it was nice to meet you again byyyeeeee" Turning on her heels Saya shot off like a rocket down the long winding streets that led her towards the edge of the village. Using her chakra threads, she wrapped five around herself, one on each limb with one supporting her neck and head, and her speed shot through the roof. It would take her no time to get to her post and no one would ever know.

(TWC 2013 claiming 20 stats retrained(dropping 10 vigor for 1k retraining into spe for 1k). putting 790 WC towards wood clone(2500/2500) and 1710 towards nativity of a world of trees a rank(1710/2500) exit )