Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil

Mission 1:

Mission 2:

Mission 3:

With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, Zidane settled into a cozy corner of the newly erected library. Coffee had been his newest fascination, as he could not get enough of its warm and bold essence. Though he quickly realized what the word "moderation" meant, as a couple days ago he had indulged in one too many cups of coffee and felt like his heart would pound out of his chest. Instead of giving up the beverage entirely, he simply reduced his intake to only one or two cups a day. Yet to enjoy it most, he drank it slow. And while he did, he immersed himself in a book that was authored by a notorious native of the Land of Sky. Within the book detailed the diverse sounds of the world, as well as the Land of Sky. It thoroughly explained the energy behind sound, and described the proper way to "listen" to different sources. From the gentle rustling of leaves to the roar of thunderstorms, each sound had a story to tell, and Zidane was eager to experience them all firsthand. Though some of the thought processes behind the book were profound, and far too complex for Zidane to process. If he had a couple more days in the world, receiving first hand experience in both theory and practice, maybe it would be a different story. But for being newly brought into the world, the fundamentals of the book's subject matter went over his head. Though, he figured he'd give one of the processes mentioned a try. 

As he finished absorbing the knowledge from the book, Zidane closed it and placed it firmly upon the table in front of him. Leaning back in his chair, he'd place his palms softly upon his lap while he closed his eyes. After a few minutes of maintaining this focused state, he felt as if the world around him became more alive. From the sounds of pages rustling beneath the fingertips of readers to leaves blowing outside the open windows of the library, he felt as if he could hear it all. But notably, his attention had been caught from the sound of the winds outside picking up, creating an incessant and constant "flicker" of pages against a board. This sound was far from pleasant, yet striking enough to make Zidane raise from his seat and peer out the window to his rear. Immediately, he'd come across the source of the clamor: pages posted onto the mission board just outside of the library. Taking a minute to observe it further, he'd see a collection of colorful notes pinned to a corkboard, each representing a unique opportunity for adventure. And so although he had been enjoying his studies in the library, he thought it may be fruitful to investigate the board more thoroughly. Promptly, he'd return to the desk he sat at to retrieve his book. Properly, he'd walk over to its respective bookcase and rested it where it belonged. Eagerly, he'd maneuver through the library before exiting from it and arriving at the mission board.

Now with a closer look, the Genome focused on three specific missions that caught his eye, and they all centered around the captivating world of sounds. "How curious..." he thought to himself, upon relating the literature he just studied to the missions he was reading. The first of which was unique, referencing that he should remain quiet to observe the sounds around him. The second mission was more straightforward, which demanded him to venture to an eerie sounding place in the village for meditation. Finally the third mission, was related to learning Sound Release. It was an element that his brother Guren had told him of, but one that seemed more difficult to explain than to show. Unfortunately though, his creator was not equipped to display that capability. And so it would be up to Zidane to look into that further should it pique his interest. 

After reading the final line of the third mission, the Chinoike would be met with the sound of footsteps approaching. And so he'd sharply turn in place to the source of it. Almost instinctively, he'd point his finger upon the line of the first mission which read "...go about your day and training, but refrain from speaking." Clearly, he was already taking these assignments seriously.

WC = 725
+1 NE Stack

Did you know that to live in this world you needed ryo? Sadly it was true and it was something that Crom was lacking at the moment, his guitar was on its last leg and he knew he needed money to replace this one when it did finally kick the bucket, maybe he would recycle the wood into something else who knew. Irregardless on that front, Crom needed Ryo and to get it fast so he needed to do some Missions as was expected of him anyways as a Shinobi of Otogakure. Going to the building that housed the mission board Crom was enjoying the sounds of the town, there was something about finding the hidden beats among the chatter and dynamic sound that came from life’s simple beat.

With Otogakure being a village that focused on the musical arts and interactions, there were many chimes hung from all heights and sizes, the far off sound of drums could be heard if you just took a moment to listen, it was as if this whole village had been created with the idea of harmonizing the natural sounds of the world so that more people could hear the world’s music.

Now it was time to grab some missions so Crom approached the assistant nearby, they told him of how a young man just took some missions that needed a group of people to undertake them and pointed Crom in the direction of the previously mentioned young man. Looking over in that direction the young Orochi noticed that the young man in question was a individual that Crom had met prior in the minor districts. It was Zidane, another young shinobi of the village. “Zidane! It’s good to see you what missions are we undertaking today.” He would ask as Zidane would turn around and seemingly jab his finger at a pages in front of him. Specifically pointing out a line, “Oh, we get to be silent for a day, perfection.” Crom said with a smile as he would love to rest his voice for a whole day and have an excuse to do so.

Crom would look at Zidane and sign to him, “Do you know Sign language?” If he did then Crom would communicate this way as they still had other missions to complete, if Zidane didn’t know how to then he would look for some paper to write on to deal with communication.

WC: 404

Soma Shin would wake up and read the letter that was sent to him. It was braille it was his missions for the day. It was about the importance of sound which his clan and companion were deathly aware of. It is how most of the clan sees. The bright outside light is blinding to them so they basically always wear black out glasses. They use the sound to see their world in detail. He uses echolocation and sees the world in more detail than dolphins and bats. It is viable for fighting but he can train and see using this ability. But the loud noises bother him. He can move using ultrasonic noises to see. He can hear the slightest things from rustling in the bushes to music outside the cave. He would also see that he is to meet up with two others. He would get a brief description so he knew what to look for. He would find his jacket and make sure that Boku was in it. He would pet his friend on his little head and let him in the pocket that was specially made for him.

He would read more about the missions and see that next would be some meditation. I’m a place deep in the caves. It was past even where the bats live. Where the clan says not to even go. He was not even allowed near that entrance. The third and final mission is to go for some training in the training grounds. They are going to use instruments which were not Soma Shins Favorites but it will work out.

He would leave his caves and head towards the town. He likes the town more than the caves because all the noise makes it easier to see for the Mochizuki. He would eventually find Crom and Zidane. He would walk up and bow to his two superiors. He would hear the separate noises. He could hear the cooks in the kitchen down the street arguing about some chicken recipe. He could hear all the birds in the sky.

Wc385

The early bird would catch the worm. At least, that's what some would say.

Ronin would be one of those people in that said some category of like minded thinkers. Not really doing much though. Nothing grand like being up still from a lavish party the night before or just to even do things such as a workout routine. The routine instead was a much more calm process. Meditative and soothing for the body, mind, and soul instead of attempting to give it a jolt of energy. One which could be done while remaining completely, and utterly silent. Which was a portion of one of today's assignments; being completely silent throughout the day. Taking in the sounds of everything around you, instead of trying to pierce it or be the loudest sound there was. This would be detailed in the letter which was received shortly after the sun had begun to rise. It would seem, the messenger too, was a morning dove. But, upon further inspection of the letter, it was also mentioned that this wouldn't be something to undergo alone...unfortunately. This would mean that the Shinkou lad would actually have to go about somewhat socializing, but thankfully, there was the shimmer in the fact that speaking wasn't required, nor allowed for that matter of fact.

After going about finishing breakfast, he would throw on a dark, void like, purple colored matching three piece set. It wasn't three piece in the sense of typical formal wear with a jacket, vest, and pants. This was more casual, jack and pants were a given still, but instead of a vest, it would simply be a same toned t-shirt. All of it just being average, everyday attire, just made apparent that what was being worn was a set. The Otogakure headband would have one end strapped to the front left belt loop and left to hang down the side of his leg. But besides that, not much else was being carried or worn by Ronin. As a shinobi, he just recently started this path, so he didn't have much to his name still. But this would be the means to go about changing things. Hopefully, at least. But, I digress, since the village was still up and coming, it wouldn't be too far of a walk to reach where the letter had dictated they all meet. Along the way, the soft pitter patter of scurrying mice and other various urban nocturnal rodents could be heard as they scurried back into their dens before things got too hectic on the streets. And while people were obviously out and about seeing as it still wasn't too early, it still wasn't enough to cause too much of a scene to drown out the sounds of the otherwise soft and subtle.

Upon arrival, his eyes would lay upon 3 other village members who had previously been there. Also, presumably doing so within the same vow of silence so a slight nod of his head given a tiny bit of life with the fake hat tilt that came along with it, almost like he was giving a salute, but not entirely that. It wasn't a full hat tilt type of thing either, as there was no hat resting atop the man's head. However with the dead air between them all, the rustling of his bangs was made out while his fingers would scrape past them in the motion. Not quite an extraordinary entrance by any means. But, enough to make his presence at the scene, now known.

WC: 590

Thankfully, Zidane's point towards the mission details would be enough to silence Crom. Though the Chinoike did not know this person well, he was well aware that they were also a genin of Otogakure and a guitarist as well. Perhaps that had been his motivation behind undertaking this mission. Someone with such a well tuned ear to understand the complexity of music might be the perfect candidate when it came to just listening to the sounds of the world. Though he seemed to be multi-talented, going on to perform several signs with his hands that Zidane happened to know. The Genome had been quite perplexed at the matter, as he had no explanation for how he comprehended Crom's questions. Then the light bulb turned on: it must have been one of the many benefits that Guren embedded within him. And like it was second nature, Zidane found himself responding in turn. As his hands rustled against each other, Crom should be able to make out the following response.

"I do," confidently and ironically, "Though I don't know if many others do. Glad to have you aboard for this mission."

Shortly after, a third would join them. He was the sunglass wearing, jacket toting, cigarette smoking, Soma Shin. Zidane only met him once, when Crom was playing guitar, though he never spoke deeply with him. Given the circumstances of the mission, it seemed like they wouldn't have the opportunity to today though either. However Zidane was quite confused upon seeing Soma offer him a bow. It seemed too formal, considering they were all equals. But out of respect, he returned the gesture. The clamor of the conflicting cooks had then caught Zidane's attention as he raised from the bow. Turning his head to see them, he had been shocked that he heard the details of the conversation so thoroughly. And also, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps just as clearly. Once more turning his head, he'd see the same shady fellow he came across at Crom's performance. Yes, the one standing near an alley, detached from the rest of the world. He'd salute the group, which Zidane would meet with a head nod of acknowledgement. 

Once the group was all present, the Genome pointed at the second and third missions on the board. They described the Chamber of Silence and the Training Grounds, suggesting that those would be the places of interest for them to venture to. And so with a gesture of his hands, Zidane would beckon the group to follow him. He had happened to walk past the Chamber of Silence during his tour of the village, though didn't actually go inside of it. But at the least, he was familiar with it enough to know it was only a few hundred meters away from the Library. Therefore he led the way down the streets, assuming his comrades would follow. The sound of their trailing footsteps was confirmation of this, as well as their light breaths. With such an emphasis on silence, Zidane felt he was able to hear everything. From the rumbling of his stomach to the flapping wings of birds soaring through the skies. He heard the infuriated voices of the cooks outside the ramen shop. And while passing it, he could even pinpoint the slurping sounds of patrons enjoy their dishes. These sounds, though random, grew to be ones he had appreciated and truthfully felt as if they were giving him a sharper ear. Smiling to himself, he felt like he was training; with an emphasis on his acute sensory.

Upon arrival outside the ornate building which housed the Chamber of Silence, Zidane would turn to his group and point at it. He'd raise an eyebrow, non-verbally questioning if they were all ready to enter it. 

WC = 631. TWC = 1356
+1 NE Stack; 2 Total

More people showed up to uptake the missions put out in front of them. Crom was relieved to see that Zidane knew sign language it made things a bit easier at least for half the group but they should be able to do basic communication with hand signals if someone doesn’t know it as pointed out by Zidane. “That’s true, we can only hope that most do but if not its not the end of the world.” He would sign to Zidane as he heard someone approaching it was Soma, another Otogakure shinobi who he had noticed at his performance not to long ago, the guy offered a bow to both Zidane and him and Crom simply returned a wave as he wasn’t big on the whole formal scene.

He signed to Soma about knowing sign language but he wasn’t sure to much about the guy as they hadn’t really spoken given the prior interaction so he had back up paper just in case. On that note the last of the group showed up it was the dude who had been hanging out in the alleyway while he played his music. Most likely just someone who didn’t like to be apart of big groups more than anything “shady” or at least that was the line of thought that Crom was going with. He offered him a salute back to the guy.

Zidane seemed to be the one leading this group to which Crom had no issue with, no reason to be the in the forefront on a day like this. They were about to head to their next mission which was to mediate in the chamber of silence, an ancient cave that seemed to nullify all outside noises and heightened the silence of the world. It was something that Crom had been quite interested in since hearing about it during the clan’s traveling, only select people were allowed to go into it back in the day because some would go kind of crazy from how deafening it was in there.

Crom nodded in agreement throwing up a thumbs up to Zidane on if they were ready to go into the chamber, upon entering Crom found his spot and crossed his legs. Enjoying the silence. Time ticked by and the silence grew to be suffocating and overbearing. The ability to hear your own blood move through your veins was wild, a whole symphony of sounds that would typically be unheard and unnoticed. Your own song, each person had one and this chamber showed it so well. A smile grew on the Orochi’s face, he had some inspiration on what to write in the future and grew to enjoy the time spent in the chamber. Once it was over he was more relaxed then he was entering and would meet up with others of the group to head to the last part of the mission.

WC: 483
TWC: 887

Raising up from the bow he would see that they were doing hand signs. No wait that was sign language. Soma shin, knowing some sign language, would try to sign back that he was blind but he could still see them in a way. So they may need to slow down a bit since they were going to be silence. He was not well versed in sign language but knew enough to hopefully get his point across however when he was trying to explain that he saw through echolocation he just looked more like a crazy person. He was not sure how to get that so he eventually spelled it out using letters. He would take a long drag from his cigarette and put it out then follow the others. Once they got outside Soma could see just fine with all the people making noise.

He had heard of the chamber of silence. It was once a sacred place for the ancient Mochizuki but not anymore now it was a place to learn about sound. Soma would see the others sign and say that they were in front of the cave entrance which, like the Mochizuki caves now has a very fancy building in front of it. This did a few things like the Mochizuki’s building, mostly kept out people they did not want going in to them. Soma shin would ask in sign language are we all going in at once? If so that is ok but I need to find somewhere or someone to watch my bat.

Wc259

Purple would scan across the trio that stood there. Not quite as light as lavender or lilac and gooseberries, but not as dark, set in a gem stone such as amethyst. Something cool and calming almost; regal, but not royal. A shade of indigo, if you will. The two purple irises which would do this look through of who all was there would stop and rest as each one of the men seemed to echo the silent greeting in some form or another. Whether it was just the solemn head nod being done to acknowledge the presence presented by the one, the same guy who was standing there holding a coffee. Birds would chirp as the next, a man with white hair, would mimic the salute back in the direction of who offered it in the first place. Then there was the last, it was the guy who he bumped into not too long ago at that village gathering...literally. Reverberations of the resonating embarrassment could still be felt from that moment. Today was a new day after all. And what better way to at least attempt it on the right foot. Another thing which was taken into consideration for these observations, they all seemed to be signing to one another. While the Oto shinobi was able to decipher some here and there, the rest would primarily go over his head as he wasn't nearly as fluent in sign language as the others were. But, there was such a stark silence between them all, one could hear the soft movements of their hands marking distinguished words and letters.

Once all were there, Ronin would look at the first of the lot of them. Zidane. He would take charge. Certainly not something the Shinkou would argue against, he was always more of someone who preferred sitting in the back seat. Letting other people take the reigns and lead them to where they needed to be. Apparently they'd be headed to some location called the Chamber of Silence. Something in which was right up the 20-some year old's alley. And the walk to there, while uneventful in and of itself, was still rather refreshing to actually do. Getting to do so in good company, but not sharing any kind of interaction which would breakup the otherwise natural sounds. Bees buzzing back and forth. Going from flower to flower to spread and collect their pollen. Hummingbirds humming; their wings fluttering so fast it creates an audible vibration. It was rather a spectacular thing to behold and overhear. Regular folk who were also going throughout daily tasks. Conversing amongst one another, on occasion passing by some buskers here and there which livened up the village. Truly, there was no other place which Ronin had seen throughout his travels to be so...alive.

But, the happiness would have to turn back to stoicism. They still had a job after all, and the group would shortly reach the aforementioned sacred space. Once asked, the puppeteer would also signal back that he'd be all good to go.

WC: 508
TWC: 1098

Upon seeing the signs from Soma, Zidane would immediately discern that the genin was blind. It seemed tragic as this vision almost explicitly required silence, meaning that this shinobi would subject to having two of his five senses cut off. It was a shame, but in response to seeing Soma's signs Zidane would walk over to Soma and place his hand upon his shoulder. He'd offer two pats on the genin's shoulder, sort of indicating that "everything would be alright". Although the Genome hadn't been well versed in some of the handicaps in life, he recognized that completing a mission like this would be difficult. And so within him, he sort of gained a short understanding of the importance of crutching on your team. Certainly, Soma was a capable genin, otherwise he would not be a genin; but some things were just more difficult for others. So because of that, the young Chinoike took a personal responsibility to help out his comrade along the way.

And with that the group carried on. All seemed rather compliant to enter the Chamber of Silence, though Soma sort of questioned if anyone could watch his back. Zidane would again walk up to Soma, place one hand upon his right shoulder and the other hand would form into a thumbs up motion. From what Zidane could gather, the blind man wasn't so blind after all, and seemingly could make out some of the hand signs the group had been forming. Therefore, the Genome assumed that his thumbs up sign would be simple enough for Soma to understand that Zidane would keep an eye out for his bat.

With that completed, Zidane would be the first to venture forth. Each footstep he took echoed throughout the grand building until the quartet reached a meditation room. Upon entry, Crom sat promptly and began to meditate. The Genome would follow in suit, folding his legs across the ground and subsequently closed his eyes. Within mere moments, he could feel as if he were delving deep into a meditative state,. The few sounds within the chamber grew louder, more pronounced. With each breath he took, he could hear the faint rustle of fabric against skin, the symphony of his own heartbeat pulsating through his veins. The steady rhythm of his companions' breaths intertwined with his own, harmonizing in the stillness.

In this realm of silence, Zidane dove deeper into the corridors of his mind, seeking clarity and enlightenment. His thoughts danced like shadows across his consciousness, fleeting and ephemeral. They were focused on honing his own sense of identity and understanding the world. With the clamor of the exterior world closed off, he was able to observe these thoughts without judgment, letting them flow through his being, untethered by the weight of attachment. The Chamber of Silence began to feel like some type of conduit for his self reflection, acting as a vessel in which he could explore the depths of his own existence.

When this introspection came to an end, the Genome began to "feel" the chakra around him. From the chakra sensory technique that the Deputy Kage had taught him, he was able to detect that the room was emanating a deafening source of chakra. And from this observation, he realized that this was the efforts of some type of majestic jutsu which cut off the sounds from outside of the chamber. It allowed for intense and immediate concentration, which began to be the basis of Zidane's understanding of "sound". Thinking back, he related this to Crom's display of music in the lower village, which the Genome could recall to be a testament to Crom's concentration on his art. It felt as if it had all been clicking now, and this realization sort of gave the young Chinoike a better understanding of what this mission was.

When he concluded his part of the meditation process, he'd quietly get up from his sitting position and exit the chamber. Just outside, he'd await the rest of his group to finish up their meditation. Once everyone was gathered, the Genome would finally break the silence which had been ensuing the team for hours now. 

"Alright...I think we need to head to the Training Grounds for the last leg of our missions."

As he made his way towards the training grounds, Zidane couldn't help but feel a surge of eagerness building within him. The prospect of learning new techniques and honing his abilities fueled his determination. He approached the training grounds with a confident stride, ready to immerse himself in the art of Sound Release, alongside his three comrades.

Upon arrival, Zidane's gaze fell upon the instructor standing amidst an array of musical instruments. His eyes scanned the selection, recognizing only a guitar which seemed structurally similar to Crom's. It was clear that someone with past experiences with various instruments would serve them well in this endeavor. However, Zidane himself had no exposure other than witnessing a few performances since his creation.

Once the quartet was all in attendance the instructor began the training session, captivating Zidane's attention with a demonstration of the powerful combination of chakra and sound. As the instructor infused their voice and instrument with chakra, Zidane activated his Ketsuryugan and observed the resulting amplification of vibrations. He noted the precise focus required in the throat when using one's voice, or the delicate manipulation of the thin layer of air surrounding the instrument for other types of musical mediums. Clearly, this element utilized some amount of Wind Chakra, which was an element that he himself was well versed in.

The Genome absorbed every detail, his mind already envisioning the various applications of Sound Release in combat and covert operations. As his imagination began to run rampart, he began to think on ways he could utilize this element with his weapons. Perhaps the singing nature they had when cutting through the air would serve as a sufficient catalyze to produce a melody that Sound Release demanded. He thought more, realizing that the potential harmony of his voice and chakra could become a weapon, capable of disorienting enemies or creating distractions when needed. The possibilities were endless, and Zidane embraced the challenge with an eagerness to master this new art.

With each passing moment, Zidane's confidence grew, fueled by the instructor's guidance and his own determination. When it came time to practice this element, he'd create some space from his group and undertake the task independently. He practiced tirelessly, attempting to fine-tune his control over his vocal vibrations and experiment with different techniques to try to summon them. However, regardless of what method he tried, the young Chinoike failed. Zidane's dedication and resilience impressed the instructor, despite his failure. And so the instructor would walk over to the Genome and attempt to help him, but to no avail. It seemed to puzzle him that no matter what they tried, Zidane could not seem to even begin to harness the element. Eventually the instructor focused his efforts on some of the other shinobi that arrived with Zidane, though the Genome took no offense. He understood that this lack of competence even puzzled he himself. And so when the opportunity presented itself, the Abomination would slip out from the training grounds and make his way home to Guren. Perhaps his brother would be able to explain why the Genome was incapable of learning the element.

WC = 1234. TWC = 2590
+1 NE Stack; 3 Total

-Exit-

Mission Claims:
- 4000 Ryo / 20 AP
- 5000 Ryo / 25 AP
- 4500 Ryo / 37 AP

WC Claims (25% Accelerated Development Discount): 
- 25 WC to Antifier (Rest Trained here)
- 1500 WC to replace OHS with Whistle Trigger
- 375 WC to Adjustment
- 690 WC to Lightness Skill (60 WC remaining)

Milestone Claims:

Spoiler:

Zidane wrote:-Exit-

Mission Claims:
- 4000 Ryo / 20 AP
- 5000 Ryo / 25 AP
- 4500 Ryo / 37 AP

WC Claims (25% Accelerated Development Discount): 
- 25 WC to Antifier (Rest Trained here)
- 1500 WC to replace OHS with Whistle Trigger
- 375 WC to Adjustment
- 690 WC to Lightness Skill (60 WC remaining)

Milestone Claims:

Spoiler:

Approved