Meeting the Master

Fri Apr 22, 2022 9:04 pm

She never really felt like this before, after the hands of such a crushing defeat she didn’t really know what to do with herself. It was a bit strange, Isemori was certainly a tough individual that was someone she could see talking to again, yet she could never hope to match his power in any form even if she tried from her own position. It almost was like she was the leaves coming down while he was the giant rainstorm. Crashing into her and breaking her apart entirely. Yet the flames of ambition could only hold out for so long, and those flames seemed to emblazon when she thought about fighting him again but much stronger. Her fist clenched as she’d begin to think of a way to get stronger. First things first was to find a way to train herself in any sort of abilities that she knew off the top of her head. Ryumi did not know much Taijutsu or weaponry arts that she could use for combat purposes. It was rather disheartening to try and think of anything she could learn though.

“Come on Ryumi! There’s gotta be something Lloyd could have taught you!” She gave a small huff while laying on the ground. Her raven hair almost acted as a mat to use while she was busy thinking about what to even do in her own little predicament. Eyes glancing up at the morning sky for some sort of thought as to what she should do, or what kind of purpose she could even have. It was those kinds of thoughts that secretly ate away at the girl. Her body was not inherently special, her parents abandoning her and later turning out to be traitors and thieves. Aligning themselves with the people that would eventually take away Lloyd's ability to use his own Taijutsu and help train the young girl. So Ryumi would continue to think, rolling over to start by doing an exercise like always. It was something that usually always helped her cheer up. As it reminded her of the few good memories she still had with the church that burrowed its way deep into her mind. She just wished she had a couch as good as Lloyd. Now that would be a great sight to see.

WC:383

Sat Apr 23, 2022 10:34 am

“I take it by your screaming that you’re frustrated by something…?” The young girl would find towering over her, just to her left a man, gazing at the morning sky. The man stood, pinning his eye outward towards the rest of the land. Tall - six foot, three in a half inches. Light-skinned with high cheekbones, grey left eye and long wavy brown hair. Hair tied in a long ponytail with long bangs that framed the left side of his face. A noticeable amount of body hair on his chest, feet and arms. He dons a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink, flowered lady’s kimono that draped across his shoulders and over his white Nova haori. A cheap obi sash, but pin-wheel hairpins with expensive air. He wears tabi-less sandals. Thin facial hair around his mouth and on his cheeks. And eyepatch over his right eye, a mystery lingers around its reasoning. The top half of his right ear sliced off at a slight tilt with a scar along his right temple.

Atarashi, co-founder of the Nova Core, as well as the living, if not oldest, of the Hiyu. That heavy grey eye would find itself dragging to find her’s. He would analyze, but in truth there wasn’t much need for it. She was upset, frustrated and that much was clear. But what wasn’t was her reasoning for being so obnoxious about it. Atarashi, former member of Nova would revert his eye back to the land before him. To his left hip hung not one, but two blades - a Katana and a Wakizashi. His hands submerged in the cuffs of his robes like an old master.

“Mind if I settle down next to you?” He awaits her permission, showing mannerisms that most do not possess. Upon expressed permission he would kneel into a sitting, crossing both of his legs and resting his hands in his lap. A sigh of relief would escape him. It felt nice to get off his feet, to enjoy the day and all it’s sweet melodies. “Its such a beautiful day, wouldn’t you agree?” His tone was soothing, laid-back and without negative traces. His calm demeanor would match the energy that he set. His expression was completely carefree. He lived in a world of his own design and influence, that was how he saw it for himself at any rate.

“Now tell me…what now?” His query would strike the young woman, rattling her world. As it did, he patiently waits for a response. The sudden breeze would sway their clothing and hair, his right hand would rise to secure his Sugegasa straw hat in its place.

Sat Apr 23, 2022 6:31 pm

Ryumi had her soul nearly jump out of her chest when the elder Hiyu surprised her out of nowhere. Turning her head towards the left to find a striking tall man with light skin and high cheekbones. His eye was like that of a gray cloud, swimming with mystery but also an aura of foreboding presence was felt upon her. His pony tail hair also caught her attention after glancing at the black eye patch he wore. She didn’t really care to notice the body hair lining his body. Yet that straw hat was kinda funny to see on top of someone else's head. However that flowery kimono was what really striked the person in front of her as a rather curious fellow. Who she seemingly had annoyed by screaming to herself.

“Ah… Well I apologize for screaming, didn’t think anyone else was nearby, I should have known better,” She said. Not knowing just who the tall stubble chinned man in front of her was. He seemed to have been in thought while looking out into and beyond the training grounds. Ryumi turned her head back to meet his own gaze. Her eyes trailing up and down his body where she did indeed notice that two swords strapped to his waist. Something that made it quite clear he was a swordsman of some renown.

His question however was met with an enthusiastic nod of Ryumi’s head. Always nice at least to talk with someone while potentially thinning of ideas. Yet her mind was focused on learning and being guided to at least something greater than when she was now. However introductions were certainly in order based upon how she didn’t even know who this guy was. Much less known that he was a former member of the Nova Corps.

“Of course you can sit down! Yet what is your name sir? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around the village before? But my name is Ryumi! Ryumi Hiyu!” She asked, raising an eyebrow. Yet hopefully when her first questions were answered she responded with a slight question behind her explaining now what she was doing. Her purple eyes shifted to completely focus on the Nova Corp member. Curious as to who or what he was.

“Well… I was trying to think of a technique that I saw that was indeed Taijutsu, yet I keep on seeing the same thing over and over again… Everyone wants to cast fireballs or summon giant creatures… I just really wanna use my fists for most missions, yet I know it can sometimes be a detriment for someone to not be long range or more malleable to different ideas as to what to do. But I just wanna learn something new of course….”

WC:459
TWC:842

Mon Apr 25, 2022 1:38 pm

Ryumi…Ryumi Hiyu was the name of the young lass that sat next to him. It was to his surprise that there was another Hiyu within the walls of Hoshigakure, other than himself. She was young, well built with foreboding raven hair, long enough to reach the mid of her back. Rather pale in skin, porcelain nearly, scaring that couldn’t be ignored - though he gave no hint to being taken back by it, but he also did not shy away from taking it in. Being a man of scars he knew there was a story the defined her character behind them. She possess unique color eyes, dark, yet popping. Atarashi would chuckle lightly. “Ah, yes. I am Atarashi Hiyu. Pleasure to meet you, Ryumi.” He would grace her with a faint smile.

With the mysterious man’s name given, the wind would rush in rapidly. His name…Atarashi would fill her subconscious as a well known name throughout the village - stories tacked on to said name with an alias that caused the very blood to run cold. Cold sweats would manifest on the beings that would mistakenly hear it. Tales of a member of the Nova Core, said to be so ruthless and detached from empathy and sympathy on the battlefield. Unreachable in terms of swaying when the conflict begins - The Grave Digger. A name that Atarashi is stuck with, unfortunately. A name that he does not take pride in, but more than lives up to that reputation. And yet, the man that sat beside her was nothing like that monster attached to his name.

The elder would listen to her, observing body language as she express her thoughts to him. She did so so willingly at that, which was nice to see. From what he gathered, Ryumi was looking to learn a technique that could help her in the long run when on missions with possible combat. All that she’s been coming across was ninjutsu, Space-Time variants and what she know she saw was in fact Taijutsu. Atarashi would raise a brow. “You don’t say…” Her stress was relayed clearly. He understood her problem. And from that he knew she lacked the proper tutelage to be on par with those mid to long range specialist out there.

“Kyokokoko. What a time we live in, where a Hiyu has to stress about keeping up with those of Chakra affinities. I can’t recall the last time I let such a thing discourage me. But, I can recall when I did something about it.” He would shift his gaze to the land before them. Lowering his right hand, pointing to the leaves violently rustling in the trees. “Right now, you are nothing more than one out of many leaves trying to hold on to a modern way of thinking. You have to let go of what you think is detrimental. Flow with the punches.” A single leaf would detach and flow in the wind’s current. Dancing along its course. “Adapt and evolve. That is what a Hiyu is essentially to the core. We do not share the same limits as those of more renowned clans, such as the Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki and Hyuuga. Even with their fancy eyes, chakra and longevity, they are still limited to human physics. Whereas you…and myself are blessed with complete control over ours.”

Retracting his hand, he would linger it before him, within view of her. His palm facing him, inspecting his hand as if he never noticed it before. She would see that his hand darken, bubbled and shifted between colors of his skin tone, red and black. Shining, hardening, softening, nearly liquifying and steaming. “Place one, just one Hiyu within a room with an Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki and Hyuuga. Give him complete understanding of his body and remove the veil of limitations from his mental…and that same Hiyu will walk out of that room with the heads of all four of those clansmen.” He paused, his eyes dull as if he was revisiting a distant memory. A switch turned on in that moment as he was numb all over. It would flip again as he returned to his current thought and lowered his hand, ceasing the bodily mastery. He would turn his gaze back to her. Smiling as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Atarashi recalling a memory as The Grave Digger:

“I guess I will teach you a few things about being a Hiyu, if you’re alright with that, of course.” He would tug at his Sugegasa straw hat.

Mon Apr 25, 2022 8:03 pm

Her name didn’t really mean anything in the grand scheme of things, almost as if it was more so a throwaway name then anything of real note. Yet even as he analyzed her features. Her foreboding raven hair that dropped all the way down to the middle of her back. How her pale skin slightly shined in the sunlight of the evening sun. She knew that scaring had it’s own stories, everyone has different types of scars, and those stories were the ones that were the most important to some. Yet as Ryumi continued to slightly stare into the sunlight. She heard the name that escaped the man's lips. Her blood suddenly turned into ice as she remembered Lloyd mentioning someone like that. However she had to keep her cool somewhat, something that all shinobi should do was to keep their cool even in the most dangerous of situations. So when he graced her a small smile, her own smile shined through the cold that she felt.

“It’s an honor to meet someone as esteemed as yourself Atarashi Hiyu… My caretakers talked a bit about you…” She said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice from being so close with the man that was considered a grave digger for shinobi. Almost like he was death itself given form into a person. He was as ruthless as he seemed personable to her though. Yet even as she gave him a nervous hint of her body slightly shivering as his presence nearly took over her. She had to take a deep breath, wanting to show that she wasn’t scared of someone within her own village. Especially someone that had done a decent job for the village in her mind from what his status was. The Co-Founder of the Nova Corps, something that she wanted to be a part of in order to help protect the village that she called home. Besides it would help to get Lloyds spirits back up after everything that had happened to him.

Yet at her explanations of seeing all of the marvelous things people could do, with being able to summon giant creatures or even cast spells that could shake up entire landscapes. She wanted to compete with them in some way, yet she simply didn’t know what to do in that regard. She was stuck in that path of hers. She wants to become a master of taijutsu… No… That was too small of a goal, anyone could become a master if they put their mind into it. But someone who was a God at something. Where no one else was their equal in that one singular field was something she wanted. Yet his small chuckle at her made the muscled girl give a small huff in embarrassment before he continued with his explanation of what she was.

“So what you're saying is don’t give a shit about other clans and their special heritage compared to ours? And to simply flow with the punches?” She asked, wondering if that’s what he meant as they continued to sit by the sunset, gazing upon the beautiful landscape that encompassed almost all of Hoshigakure. Yet as she saw his hand begin to change form and shape, she was marveled at what he had just shown her with what his own body could do. It made her shift closer to get a better look at his arm while he went on with his explanation of how strong a Hiyu member could potentially be in the event of facing against those other four clans mentioned. It kinda made her smile at the thought of taking on four enemy ninja at once and coming out with their heads. Perhaps a dark side to the kunoichi would be unearthed by being taught by the seeming master of Hiyu.

“Of course I’m alright with that! That way I can actually know about what my people use to do! And what I can do with it… Although just so you know…. I don’t really have any idea how to use any Hiyu clan techniques Haha!”

WC:681
TWC:1527

Mon Apr 25, 2022 10:28 pm

“Oh, your caretakers, huh?” With a soft smile, Atarashi would make another shift in his form. Standing to his feet, gently patting away the loose grass and dirt from his clothing. He could sense the nerves of the younger Hiyu clip the surface of her speaking, but he wouldn’t entertain it. He was actually familiar with this sort of behavior, but never one to take advantage of it against his own.

Ryumi seemed to be grasping the message pretty plainly, which was good. Not many can manage to do that. But to further drive the point… “That is precisely what I am saying. Do you honestly believe that they are dwelling on the inadequacy of other clans? The short answer to that is no. Uchiha, sole strength comes from their untamed emotions. To them, emotion is power. The more dreadful, the more that they gain. Senju, just the opposite of them, they couldn’t care less about what their emotions could bring them, because in the end they see power as a tangible thing, not an intangible feeling. Hyuuga, practitioners of their style, formidable in Taijutsu as well as sensory because of their eyes. Dedicating most of their years to the mastery of themselves. The Uzumaki, a rather…self-centered lot. Longevity only manifest immortal-like self-awareness. Quite toxic if you ask me.” Looking over to her, he would gesture for her to stand.

Assuming that she did as he signaled, he would wait until she did. “But I do not say these things because our clan holds not faults of itself, that would be in poor taste of me. Now wouldn’t it? If a man believes his clan stands at the pinnacle and his clan alone, then that is a foolish man steeped in delusion.” There have been many Hiyu that allowed their unique genetics to overcome them, mutilate them. Those were overly ambitious Hiyu. Hiyu that Atarashi saw no relation to.

Learning that she was comfortable with learning from him, though she was more enthusiastic about it than he would expect. Atarashi would then turn and walk 10 meters from her. Once he was at that distance out, he would turn in her direction. “I wouldn’t worry so much about that. We all have to start from somewhere after all. But, I would like for you to do me a favor.” He gently smiled, raising his right hand to his straw hat. “Come at me with all you got.”

Atarashi telling Ryumi to give him all she got:

Tue Apr 26, 2022 9:26 pm

“Yeah, he was a Hyuga actually… Maybe that’s why he was so scared to even mention your name when I asked him if there was really any other Hiyu around besides myself!” She said, watching as the older man began to pat down himself of the small bits of dirt and blades of grass that were stuck to his person. She felt a bit more comfortable with him being there. That slight bit of nervousness slowly began to wash away as she continued to sit by the sunset. Yet as his next speech went on she found it to be rather interesting. The Uchiha would always use emotion in order to power themselves up. It almost sounded like any Uchiha worth a damn was very emotional underneath the surface. Or they were just some crazy ass bastard that needed to be taken out.

“So whatcha saying is that the other clans don’t need to worry because they already have established clans and sectors compared to us? I mean you're not wrong, mom and dad dying because they helped in the rebellion certainly doesn’t help our image I imagine?” The mention of “mom and dad” was spoken with a sudden venom that it would feel like a whiplash had been struck for a moment. Yet gone in an instant as she continued to keep up the conversation with the older gentlemen.

Yet his gesture did not go unnoticed as Ryumi immediately sprang to her feet. Certainly holding a whole lot of energy underneath the surface of her muscled exterior. Ryumi could only nod and make note of her parents again. She didn’t know much about her clan, but they didn’t seem to be the most charitable lot out there if even clan members themselves spoke ill of them. But even then Ryumi also had a vendetta against them for how her parents left her.

“I always thought it would be best to have one's pride without arrogance becoming a primary factor… But delusion is certainly something that I don’t plan to fall under any time soon.” She said she would not have arrogance, not when Lloyd’s life could be on the line with how the bills continued to stack up. It was starting to become an annoyance that she needed to rectify soon if she wanted to have some sort of standing. She was going to do something about it, just as Atarashi had said he did when he faced a problem.

However when he went and began walking ten meters back she was surprised for a moment, her eyes scanning the older man as she wondered just what he was going to do. Then came the sudden request that made her whole body begin to tighten and flex in response to. When his gentle smile came on for that single favor she nearly lost it before his request finally made it to her eardrums. “Come at me with everything you got.” What something that had her lips perk up.

She didn’t need to agree, that would waste time for the moment, time that she currently did not have. So when the request came in she used her strength. While she was relatively slow in comparison to Atarashi. What could potentially surprise him was the strength she was about to unleash. Pulling back her fist with all of her might, Ryumi dashed forwards with the speed that she had. Aiming to slam Atarashi right in the stomach, yet even if it missed her punch would end up going towards the ground. Making a small crater from the punches force alone. A smile plastered on her face.

WC:605
TWC:2132

Wed Apr 27, 2022 6:29 pm

Ryumi was an eager one, this much Atarashi could deduce. All of that energy, he couldn’t help but to assume that she focused it into nothing more than her muscles. From the moment she hopped up, the flexing of her built caught his eye. From there his thoughts were legitimized. This Hiyu found a path of physical power to walk down. There was nothing wrong with that. Every shinobi must find where they belonged…however.

“Oh? Coming right at me?” The elder would raise both his brows, actually surprised by the young lass’ direct approach. Clear signs that she took great pride in her muscles. The Hiyu were both 10 meters apart, meaning she would need to close that distance at her current speed to reach him. From where he stood, he learned that the speed she possessed was nothing close to half of what he commands. To him, she might as well be walking casually.

A novice, with a dream of being a God. He chuckled, lightly. “Oh well, can’t be helped.” Lazily his left hand would rise before his midsection. From the palm of the hand towards the elbow erected a black coat of hardening that took the form of his flesh. That same hand would come into collusion with the first thrown by Ryumi. She would expect to overthrow him with sheer force, or perhaps that he would dodge her. But in the real world, an opponent that runs out at you head first without at first testing you was considered fodder.

Despite her strength being 106, without utilizing her muscles and chakra (AP) accordingly to elevate her strength she would learn then and now that the power she mustered was half of its potential being 53 for that simple strike. With Kurogane coating the arm of Atarashi he benefits from its enhancements, as well as the combined defensive measures that came from using Anicetus to meet and block the fist of young Ryumi. At the moment of impact, Atarashi’s left hand possessed the power of 120, more than double than the power of that punch.

The ground around the feet of the elder Hiyu would rumble and even form a small, reduced crater more more than a few centimeters out from him. This is because he diminished the kinetic force behind it. “Don’t you know… It’s surprisingly hard to hit a defending target with such a feeble punch.” In that exchange, he knew she was physically strong, which meant that she should be durable as well. Right?

His left hand would grip tightly around the fist that he blocked with a power of 120. At a speed of 210 his arm would stretch out and raise the hand of the woman up and away from him 5 meters from the ground and himself. She would be suspended in the air. Should she attempt to break free of his grasp she would need to muster strength equal to, or greater than his technique. But something was telling him that was not an option for her. So he would take the liberty to speak. “Were you able to see the flaws in your methods? It’s no wonder that you were so upset about your current level. I would be too if I was in your shoes using that logic.” Raising his right hand it would then launch at a blinding blur directly at the gut of Ryumi at a speed of 210 and a power of 120. His left would release her upon impact. She would then be sent flying 10 meters from him, creating a space of 15 meters between. His arms would retract, left still covered in black and right normal. With a soft smile he awaits a response from her.

Atarashi awaits a response from Ryumi:

AP: 1213/1343
Gears of the Toy Soldier: Kurogane: 40 AP | +60 Speed/Chakra
Anicetus: AP 30 | Power 120 | Debuff: Not used
Mukade no Hitokuchi: AP 30 | Power/Speed 120/210 | Strength Check: 120
Impure Polearm: AP 30 | Power/Speed 120/210

Stats
Vigor: 100
Chakra: 25 -> 85
Speed: 150 -> 210
Strength: 25
———————————
Should the strike land on Ryumi, her health will be reduced from 100 to 80. Passive DR would be overcome by 100 damage of the strike and 20 of her health will suffer from the remaining 20 of the total strike.

Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:29 pm

Ryumi was perhaps too eager to fight against the other Hiyu. Maybe she was just stupid that working on muscle was the only thing she thought of at the moment. Thinking that she could simply just outpace those that she originally was fighting against in the academy or just in general. Yet her plan was, to put it bluntly, entirely terrible of just running towards the enemy. So she at least was fitting into what people called her. An idiot, a dillard, simpleton, an idiot. That’s what she was now. At least that’s how it looked to be from how she was overly cocky and confident to a fault.

She didn’t speak as she thought that this would have been the perfect moment to actually strike him. Her punch wasn’t even lined with chakra, such was the case of being fresh out of the academy and not learning much in terms of skills. Especially since that she was practically going into this fight blind with no way of knowing what the other Hiyu would do in this scenario. So it was her own fault that she would be seen as a fool for going in blindly like canon fodder. She was just a simple idiotic child with a goal. Which could simply not live inside of the world of shinobi it seemed.

Her fist tensed up as it met with the sudden hard surface of Kurogane, something that she had seen him use once before. Why she didn't think of that beforehand was beyond her own reasoning. Yet she could only help but feel a bit… scratch that way smaller now then she did a few moments ago. She was expecting to be able to overthrow him with sheer force of strength alone. But he was easily able to block her attack without seemingly a care in the world. It was something that made her a bit concerned for what was going to come next, yet what did come was only her realizing just how bad of a mistake it was to charge in blindly.

With Kurogane acting as a sturdy shield for the Hiyu clan members. It was obvious that Ryumi was going to be hit with something right afterwards. Yet she could only continue to try and push down on his hand as she was struggling to even do that in the fight at hand. Her own strength was useless against this. Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized that she now understood the massive gap between the two at the moment. How she was that small leaf still riding in the wind while he was the stalwart tree standing in the balance.

However that chide at a feeble punch would have made her attempt to grab him with what she thought was a fast paced grip to his arm was instead her looking like she would be moving in slow motion. Her eyes widened as she was suddenly grabbed by her own arm. With strength that she had never felt before she had been launched into the air with his arm wrapped tightly around her. Ryumi vainly trying to struggle on as she didn’t want this to be a fruitless effort. However when she was let go she thought she was free. Before hearing something that sounded like a gunshot come towards her. That massive gust of straight wind punched her very well. Her entire DR bar was sapped away in an instant, resulting in her looking pretty stupid as she got up from the ground. Holding her stomach in slight pain.

“Y-yeah…. It’s obvious you're stronger than me…. and Faster, yet I don’t even know if I can react to you yet….” She added that little there out of her own conscience. Knowing her giving it her all would at least have the other shinobi impressed by what she had done against a founder of an elite squad of ninja.

WC:655

TWC:2787

Fri Apr 29, 2022 5:53 pm

“Stronger? No, you have it all wrong, Ryumi. You are far stronger than me, than I can ever hope to be, in fact.” The atmosphere grew still, Atarashi raised his hand and it ceased its onyx appearance. Looking down to the crater that he stood in. “There are two paths that a shinobi can walk when talking about Taijutsu. The first being mine, speed. Hence why I dedicated my time and efforts into creating a gallery of techniques to speak for it. But that is not all, I have also dedicated my time to the creation of those of strength. Hence, the path that best fits you. You are strong, Ryumi. That cannot be denied. You merely lack discipline.”

Lowering his hand, he continues. “What I used to meet your might and deal my assault was kinetic energy - speed for better understanding. I’m capable of generating explosive power using acceleration. And that’s just to meet you at something you can do as lazily as you wish. Yes, I’m faster, but that does not mean I’m going to look down on you either. ” Beginning his stride over to her. He made what was multiple swift steps look like one single step as he found himself standing before her. She was quite durable, that was for sure. He raise his left hand, standing a meter away from her, taking his right and push back his cuffs to reveal his sealing band. Placing a hand over it he would manifest a small poof of smoke around his hand and from it he pulled a Devil’s country Bo staff.

“Here, this will be of better use in your hands than mine.” Handing it over to her. He would add. “There is a style that I would highly recommend to you. But you will fist need to progress your strength to consider yourself a proper practitioner. The style is known as Realm of Extreme Force. It’s quite a troublesome style of fighting. One that even I care little to be bothered with.” Stepping back he would then clap his hands together one time. It was now time for her to begin learning.

“No, I would like for you to try your hand at learning the technique I used to lift you off your feet moments ago. Its name is Mukade no Hitokuchi. It’s one of the most fundamental Jutsu that all Hiyu learn when it’s time. To better open you mind to it, think of your arms, legs or even throat as if your reaching. Don’t dwell on the logic, just feel as if something is out of your reach and you’re aiming to obtain it. It will feel odd at first, but you will come to get use to it.” Atarashi would observe her closely, to see how she would proceed.

Atarashi gave Ryumi Devil's Country Bo Staff
Atarashi instructs and guides Ryumi to learn Mukade no Hitokuchi 75% off WC for her.

Meeting the Master

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