The Smith's Striking Force

Quinn reached the training grounds available for the shinobi of the village. An assortment of stations littered the space around them as their eyes wandered. This would be the first true step to understanding more and more of the world around Otogakure as they had picked up some basic techniques and understanding of chakra through the methods at the Academy. In the process of making and producing the tools and armor required for the village, Quinn slowly began to have a better appreciation of their family's desire to work with those who required their services. The principle of just knowing how things works does little to understand the needs of the profession they craft for. For Quinn, this growth came in the form of learning more techniques and fighting styles as they determined their best options involved their body and weaponry.

Developing a much stronger body and mind was always a task for Quinn. Their swings in the forge saw notable changes as they slowly started to enhance their strikes against the hot irons with chakra, giving a stronger bite of the hammer they used and gave it some more durability that even Quinn was able to observe. Replicating that consistently was the next trick for Quinn. Reaching into the depths of their being, Quinn breathed out heavily as they found the best station that they would figure would work best, a batting cage. Though Quinn did not consider such a task massive difficult, the idea of repetition made the most sense for Quinn as a blacksmith. The constant swing, the consistent strike, the ever throwing pitch of the machine allowed for the training Quinn was used to.

Stepping up with a bat in hand, the wood felt nice against their hands as they channeled chakra into it. With the bat having a thin layer of chakra giving it an edge the first pitch was shot. Quinn focused, keeping the eye on the ball before swinging hard with all their might! Woosh! The ball hit the back end of the netting without so much of a skid from Quinn's swing. Blinking, Quinn stared at the bat returning to a more neutral stance and then back towards the ball. This processed continued for a quite some time, bringing some attention of others using the facilities to stare as Quinn, a much older individual than most, stood there, missing, continuously. At one point someone swore that Quinn was going to break the bat out of frustration and waited with high anticipation. They waited for a long time before giving up as Quinn stood resilient, sweating, and ever attempting to just hit the ball.

It would take a few hours for Quinn's hand eye coordination would lend to a skid of the ball against the bat. This however proved disastrously for the ball and some spectators as the chakra that edged the bat that Quinn had been focusing on skinned the ball producing some leather shrapnel to fly around the cage spooking onlookers. Quinn paying no mind to the people who had gathered simply retook their stance and tried once more. Resilient, enduring, persistent were all words that could describe Quinn in this moment. Lost in their own world, it seemed nothing would pull them away from continuing to do this as ball after ball from that point on, found its face with a solid smack before effectively disintegrating against the back of the cage behind them.

WC: 575, TWC: 575

[For others joining, going to be training to get Aerial Strip, Deflect, Feint, and Flying Swallow]

Since his last visit to the Advanced Training Facility, Zidane had been investigating multiple subjects: the bloodlines which Guren created him with and the art of bukijutsu. In his previous set of training here, he had learned the term "researching" from his friend Hanzo. And though he had been intent to immediately pay the Library a visit to investigate jutsu, he had been somewhat sidetracked by the revelation that he had a beast within him: the berserker. Though since his creation Zidane had always been aware of the nature around him, he never noticed that he was hyper aware because its energy was gravitating towards him. To him this observation seemed natural, and one that perhaps other people might experience often as well. Though he had never pushed himself to the point where that energy overtook him. And the unfortunate result led to Guren subduing him and confining him to their home for a few days. During this time period, the Third had been conducting tests and separate experiments on the Genome. Zidane never really minded this test work, but it did take away from his sense of humanity. Still though, he was well aware that it needed to be done. Especially if he did not want another outburst.

A part of him wanted to resent Guren for creating him how he was, but at the same token Zidane knew that to be too harsh. The intentions behind the Third were to create an extension of himself, specifically through a path that he attempted to walk down. In a way, Zidane was destined to carry out that ambition. And truthfully, it helped create a sense of purpose for the Genome. 

After the tests had been concluded, Guren warned Zidane about the general rate that he had been absorbing Nature Chakra. He specifically told the boy how vital it was to learn how to master that bloodline, before attempting to push his limits again. And the Genome of course understood. And so he set his sights to the library: a place where he could discover various levels of information about the Berserker bloodline, as well as the others within his body. Beginning at this place seemed logical since he wouldn't find himself too physically strained. Besides, he joined the mental stimulation he realized the more he read. And this was true testament that he was related to Guren, as he too was an avid reader.

The trip to the library was short, while the stay there was prolonged. Arriving near sunrise, the young Chinoike would stay until the mid afternoon. During that time he spent hours researching surface level information about his specific genealogy. When that topic was exhausted, he spent hours researching information about different types of weapons. There had been much deeper literatures about bukijutsu compared to the level of information there had been on his clans, though this topic healthily distracted him from the stresses at hand. 

And in the process, he'd learn more about the butterfly daggers which Guren had recently entrusted him with. Mage Mashers, were their specific name, and they felt natural for the shinobi to wield. The more he thought about them, the more eager he grew to try them out. Even though he knew it would be a risk considering his...condition, Zidane planned to tap out from the facility after just an hour or two of training. He felt fine when he had pushed himself for that duration previously. Though much beyond that was to him what he'd consider the danger zone. Closing his book, he'd depart from the library and make his way to the Advanced Training Facility. Upon arrival, he was met with nervous stares and silence from the regulars that stood idly in the lobby. The receptionist, having received the payment from Guren for the damages, was weary on letting the young swordsman in, but figured that he may deserve a second chance. And the apology that Zidane offered her was the icing on the cake to win her over. The Genome, while developing his personality, had learned to acquire some charisma. During times like these, it seemed absolutely necessary.

Though after receiving permission to enter the premises, Zidane decided to first tour the facility before engaging himself in training with his blade. As he did so, he'd note the many different types of amenities there were within the facility: weight lifting equipment, indoor track, jutsu rooms, rooms for organized sports, and even sparring rooms. It was tremendous, frankly. Though one in particular that caught his eye was one that had housed a peculiar machine on one end of it. Peering through the window to spectate what the machine did, he'd notice that it was shooting a white ball from it down and towards a person at an incredible velocity. The person, holding a shaped stick of lumber in their hand, swinging it in an attempt to hit the ball. In some tries, they'd miss; but in others, the ball would be clobbered and sent rifling through the air and into the back of a cage behind the wielder. 

Puzzled, he'd watch for some time. Before finally mustering up the will to enter the room and calmly make his way down an enclosed entry way that shielded him from incoming baseballs. Proceeding through the entry point to the individual and now vacant booths of batting cages, Zidane would arrive near the scarlet haired feminine figure, and attempt to break them from their trance.

"What is that?" was all he could come up with, entirely confused by what this person could be training. He'd be wearing his typical attire, with some bandages in the various exposed portions of his skin from his last trip to the facility. Across his back was his katana, and across the rear of his waist were his sheathed Mage Mashers. Zidane stuffed his left hand into the pocket of his haram pants, and raised his right to the back of his neck to scratch it. His face bore an expression of disarray, indicating that he was completely lost yet entirely intrigued. 

WC = 1015
+1 NE Stack

Satoshi would find himself sitting at a desk, his focus not so much on the art of the shinobi as it was on keeping the day to day running smoothly. The village was practically new, and despite having a very capable group to lead it to prosperity and allow it to thrive, there were the typical challenges associated with the logistics of everything. Their coffers were not as full as the Sarutobi would prefer, but they had enough to ensure everything at least kept going. They might not have had a surplus of ryo, but the amount they did have had given them ample opportunity for some wise investments to allow for the development of Otogakure as a whole. After looking over what felt like the thousandth document of the day, Satoshi would set it down and rise from his seat, pushing in his chair and giving his body a stretch. Too much time spent sitting down and not enough time spent doing other things. Training was the first to come to mind. His schedule was always so filled with meetings and paperwork that he felt like he hardly had the time to practice his shinobi arts, and his position as Deputy demanded that he also be able to defend the village should issues arise. 

Satoshi would make his way through his clan home to exit, offering goodbyes to his family. They offered him a meal before he left, but he politely refused. "Thank you, but I need to get to the training grounds. All of this paperwork is making my eyes hurt. I'll be back later for family dinner." And with that said the young man would exit the home and make his way to the Advanced Training Facility. Satoshi was a bit taken back by just how well equipped the place was, but it allowed for the development of anything you so desired. It was a state of the art facility equipped with the best things that ryo had to offer. There were sectioned areas dedicated to various types of training. There was an area with weight lifting equipment to build muscle, an indoor track for cardio and speed training, large rooms dedicated to the shinobi arts and jutsu practice and to spar with others, and even a pool to train both surface walking along with getting in a good workout. It was immense.

It didn't seem like there were a great many people in the facility at the moment, their village still young and working on expanding its shinobi forces. He could feel the presence of two signatures though, one immediately recognizable but the other one not. The recognizable one was that of Quinn Foster, the blacksmith and forge master of Fosters' Forge. Figuring that training with others would no doubt improve the results of everyone, Satoshi would find himself drawn to the others position. It was some sort of batting cage, where you would strike at high speed incoming projectiles. It took a great deal of coordination to strike an incoming attack like that, and this seemed to emulate a similar feeling to some of the training he had to undergo with his clan elder in his youth. 

The other chakra signature was that of Zidane. They had only briefly met during a series of minor tasks, but the Sarutobi got a good feeling from the young man. They didn't seem to spend enough time together on those tasks for Satoshi to truly say that he knew the young man, but hopefully that would change in due time.

"I hope that you can forgive my intrusion. I am looking to get some training in today, and I know that training with others always proves more fruitful than training alone. May I join you both?" He would ask, hoping that the offer to train together would be well received. 

wc: 642

The swinging force behind Quinn's swings was something to admire, the consistency of a blacksmith translated well to the swing of a bat, though those skill sets definitely do not overlap in this situation. The arm strength that Quinn possessed was astonishingly increasing rapidly since joining the academy. Their skillset expanding alongside their knowledge base and understanding. These small simple tasks of just doing training to develop themselves allowed for more adequate and expansive grasp of knowledge to better build and forge the equipment for the shinobi of the village. A goal being to not only supply the academy with training tools but also to supply other shinobi and maybe even receive some commissions for weapons from the top brass of the village.

Even as Quinn's mind wandered, consistency was prevalent well into the motions. The Forgemaster was used to meticulous precision with consistent motions, in this regard their skillset shined through as many ball skins were littering the ball cage. It was not till a specific voice rang out that Quinn's swing tripped up and once more a foul pop spun some leather upward towards the top of the cage. Turning to the individual who spoke, Quinn recognized that Zidane had joined the small crowd that was spooked by the sudden shift in Quinn's swing. Staring a bit at the question, Quinn blinked a few times before responding, "What is what?" Inspecting the surrounding zone they had taken up for the past few hours, Quinn was not quite sure what he was referencing.

The Forgemaster ponders on this as best they could before extending their question to a statement... multiple statements. "Bat." Quinn would point towards the item they were holding. Pressing on a button to launch the ball towards them, Quinn stepped aside and let it hit the back of the cage before picking it up and holding it within the cage presenting it to Zidane, "Ball." They then turned around and stepped on the button before swinging hard, hitting the ball that was shot out letting out a loud knock sound in the vicinity. This was different than what Quinn was doing before. "Swinging. Hitting balls with a bat. Practice." They added in before noticing another had join the foray of training.

Seeing Satoshi approached, Quinn's attention turned their body towards the Sarutobi giving a mutual greeting, "Hello. Welcome to join." Quinn stated mater of fact before turning off the machine and exiting the cage, leaving the bat behind within it. "Learning more. Chakra on weapons. Also. Hand-to-Hand maneuvers. Weapons optional to maneuvers. Preferable to try with both. You two?" Quinn finished their explanation of what they were doing here and what they were seeking to work to learn towards this session. Pulling out their hammer from its holster, they would channel their chakra to the tool giving it a small radiating aura around the head. Her face tensed slightly as pumping more chakra into the tool gave the radiating aura around the head a firmer glow and stronger presence. "Figured this out." They added looking at the two. Putting the hammer back into its holster rather unceremoniously.

WC: 525, TWC: 1100

As an observer, Zidane stood on the sidelines, marveling at the impressive swings executed by Quinn. The sheer power and consistency of their movements were a testament to their skill and dedication. Zidane couldn't help but wonder what exactly this person's background was, especially considering their familiarity with such an unusual form of training. Regardless though it was evident that Quinn at least displayed some form of competency with handheld items such as this one. Quinn's swings seemed remarkably precise, crushing each projectile that came towards them and sending each flying off in the distance. That was until Zidane's query interrupted their rhythm, causing a slight stumble in their otherwise perfect motions. As he stood near the red headed batter and asked his question, they seemed uncertain about the specific subject matter, surveying the training area in search of clarity. Zidane in turn was confused, as to him, it seemed obvious what exactly he had been asking. After a brief period of silence, it seemed as if this figure had finally arrived at what exactly the genin was inquiring about; though there was no preparation for how this question would be answered. The batter's short and direct sentences almost oversimplified the sport, as now Zidane's understanding of it was described as "swing bat hit ball practice". It seemed like a rather convoluted name for a sport, which only perturbed him further.

The Genome's expression continued to emit one of confusion, though it'd slowly relax as he began to understand the underlying concept a bit more. "Bat" had been the instrument, or the weapon that the red head was wielding. Perhaps swinging this bat was equivalent to practicing the swings of a blade; though instead of focusing on solely the motions as Zidane had done a few days ago, this seemed to concentrate on the power produced as well. With this realization the Chinoike recognized Quinn's pursuit of self-improvement, looking to hone their abilities through an unorthodox method. "Ball" referred to the fast moving sphere, which rifled through the air as the batter's foot pressed to floor - bound button. Intrigued at this point, Zidane would sort of eagerly watch the batter's fluid motion of the bat cracking against the fast moving ball. As it soared through the air, he could feel the residual wind rushing towards him. And the swing of the bat counteracted that force, subtlety neutralizing and overcoming the flow of the air current from the ball.

Soon after though another shinobi, the illustrious Satoshi, joined the group. Upon recognizing that the Deputy Otokage had been approaching, Zidane removed his hands from his pocket and brought them firmly to his sides as he erected the posture of his back. Standing tall and proper, he'd look attentively at the Sarutobi while he waltzed over. Quinn's attention also seemed to shift towards Satoshi and they offered a straightforward greeting in their characteristic matter-of-fact manner. Zidane couldn't help but cast his attention at the batter, as he had been continually confused by their speech patterns. After the batter's greeting, Zidane would promptly greet the Deputy Kage and take the moment to introduce himself to Quinn as well. "Not an intrusion at all, sir. I'd be honored to train alongside you. This...bat wielder was showing me their skills with..." he paused as he tried to describe the action in Quinn's words. "...'swing bat hit ball practice?' I don't understand it much...and as a matter of fact I didn't get your name. I'm Zidane," he'd say while turning his attention back towards the batter.

He noticed that they decided to conclude their session, turning off the machine they were training with and leaving their bat within the cage. If they chose to introduce themselves to Zidane as well, then he would remember their name. But whether they did or did not, they went on to explain a very broken description of their current goals. From what Zidane could gather, they seemed to be expressing a desire to delve deeper into chakra-infused weapons and close quarter combat, two things which the Chinoike himself had been well versed in at this point. When hearing the phrase, "You two?", Zidane could only assume that this was the red head's way of asking if he and Satoshi would want to train those specific things with them.

As Zidane struggled to follow Quinn's dialogue, beyond the simplicity was a sense of passion for learning that he could detect. And what he specifically related to was their innovative approach to training. In a way, it reminded him of himself, as he also needed to seek out unique ways to practice the things he was interested in. And the display of chakra funneling into the hammer intrigued him equally. The faint aura radiating around the head of the tool, which he "researched" and learned was a hammer, was akin to the auras he had infused with his own weapons. The determination on Quinn's face matched the intensity of the chakra flow. Following this display, they'd sheathe the hammer back to its resting place, offering few words to go alongside the action.

Impressed by Quinn, Zidane couldn't help but offer a light smile. He spoke warmly, acknowledging their dedication, "It seems like you've been training a lot, and in a variety of ways. I have too, and think that if we're able to train together and under the tutelage of the Deputy Kage himself, we may learn a lot today. I have weapons of my own, obviously, so perhaps we can pit them against each other." With that, Zidane would raise his right hand to his hip and grip the hilts of his Mage Mashers. He'd draw them from their sheath, and with a flick of his fingers he'd align the pommel of each blade perfectly, and twist his fingers in a motion that rotated the blades 90 degrees. This display, and all with his right hand, had been well rehearsed and resulted in the two individual blades joining to form a single twinned one. "This is my Mage Masher," he'd proudly state, hoping that either Satoshi or the batter would share an appreciation for their design.

WC = 1025. TWC = 2040
+1 NE Stack; 2 Total

The Sarutobi would watch as Zidane tensed up once more, though he imagined as the two interacted more there would be a sense of familiarity developed over time. Satoshi would gesture softly and with a smile that the young man could be at ease. "The training certainly holds value. Builds hand - eye coordination, speed, power. To strike at such a small target accurately while ensuring adequate force is applied is no simple task." Time spent at the forge no doubt strengthened Quinn's muscles and physique, but if one could not apply that strength both swiftly and accurately upon a target... well, then it simple didn't matter how strong you were. Well, that wasn't entirely true. That stance was formed purely from the standpoint of martial combat, as there were many advantages to building strength alone, particularly in more 'mundane' fields. 

Quinn would demonstrate that she had learned to coat her weapons in chakra. "That is a skill that will serve you well. Quite impressive, Quinn. And to think that just a short time ago you were just joining the academy. I am proud to see how much you have advanced in such a short time." The words were from the heart, as the young Sarutobi truly was happy to see the village becoming its own, and an academy that produced such talented shinobi was a very good sign. Zidane would then bring out his own weapons, a set of daggers that he could link together that he proudly called his Mage Masher. The craftsmanship was impressive, and the youth showcased a great deal of dexterity and mastery over the tools. "Quinn, is this your craftsmanship?" He couldn't help but ask, impressed with the blades. 

Satoshi was pleased that the pair would accept him into their training routine, and while he might have been the senior ranking shinobi, he was intrigued to see just what sorts of skills they had learned and developed. While he too wished to train, his duty as Deputy sort of overtook his approach to this. "I must admit, I am curious as to what other sorts of techniques you two have mastered. It brings me great joy to see the academy helping people learn to mold chakra. Bringing this capability to others was a primary motivating factor in the rise of this very village." Satoshi would shift his focus to one of the practice rooms, pointing with his thumb towards it, "Let us do a simple training exercise. My grandfather told me that to be able to teach a skill to another suggested far more mastery than simply being able to execute it alone. I would be honored if you showed me your mastery over these techniques. For each of you, I would ask that you pretend that myself and the other is a student seeking to learn from you. I would like you to teach us something. Is this a reasonable request?" He would lay out the idea, curious to how the others would respond. Quinn was an interesting sort. Talented, but would she be able to formulate a way to teach others successfully? And Zidane looked to have a great deal of mastery over his weapons, but would his tension and unease hinder his ability to explain how to replicate such?

Of course, being able to teach skills to the next generation of shinobi was an important one, and The Deputy was always looking to advance the interests of the village of Otogakure. Should these two show promise now, so early in their careers, they very well might make good teachers down the line. 


wc: 600
twc: 1242

Processing the words of the two, Quinn's mind churned thinking about the prospects of trying to figure out new tips and tricks though to the best of their knowledge, they were as fresh as the morning dew in this world. There was plenty for the Blacksmith to learn and grow with prior to actually getting to stand truly side by side with the other shinobi in the village. To them, this was more of a rite of passage within their family. To study, to learn, to excel, and to succeed in the profession that a Foster choose as their adjunct position, was the goal for the tasks and development of their own craft. That was when through wandering eyes, Quinn noticed the blades on Zidane's hips, blades.

Quinn's posture instantly changed when the blades were unsheathed as their attention turned away from Satoshi and went directly to the craftsmanship. They pulled out a small lens of sorts in the style of a monocle before inspecting the present blade. They refrained from grabbing or touching it but just leaned closely at it murmuring about craftsmanship. "Quinn Foster. Forgemaster. Business owner. Student of the Academy. Destroyer of Balls. Did not make this." was the simple sputtering of words that they spoke to indicate they were in fact, listening. This also served as a small introduction once more to the two as Quinn did try to have some sense of humor. The blades named, 'Mage Masher' were unique in style and to the knowledge that Quinn possessed were capable weapons.

The curvature of the blade with its jagged edges was definitely a design choice that Quinn would not have taken. Similarly, the guards being as bulbous as they were, were good for defensive adjustments on the user's side. This told the Craftsman that they were made with the purpose of getting in and maneuvering quickly within combat. The grips were one of the key features that Quinn noticed and looked at intently. "Durable. Solid construction. Edge is well kept. Grip's lacing is taut. Handle looks reinforced. Guard looks short to me. Personal preference though." Content with the inspection, Quinn would return their monocle to their pocket for safety before their attention turned to the other two once more. The concept of 'teaching' the other two was interesting as to them, they were a chick in a fresh batch of chickens, relatively new to the world that these two hens were much more experienced in.

The ideas in their head raced with what could someone like them teach Zidane and Satoshi. Conceptually teaching a forging trick or tip is not the most practical approach with the training facility being in tow but equally so, Quinn's basic abilities were likely not anything that the other two would not already be aware of or know. With their mind made up their response to Satoshi's thoughts rang out, "Reasonable yes. Teaching others? Good idea. Base knowledge for me? Limited. Unsure if my skillset has new knowledge to impart upon." They gave a shrug as their left hand rested on top of the small blacksmith tool. A weapon it was not, though Quinn would know a thing or two of it hitting the top of their hands when they messed up. That was when the thought came to mind. With the thought developing however, they would wait to see what the others had in mind first since they were the one lacking in understanding and opted to observe first.

Observing that training together was going to be the direction of choice, Quinn started to head towards one of the practice spaces for techniques and sparing. Presuming that they were following, Quinn didn't motion for them to follow since they we individuals of strong intelligence and capacity to understand the need to not practice or teach next to a batting cage. On the way, Quinn stopped to get a practice blade to work with since weaponry skills seemed to be the forte of the three of them. It would be an exhilarating thing to witness the Deputy Kage with Zidane and Quinn as observers to styles and techniques they could develop, understand, and show each other. A wonderful beginning to a soon to be symphony of blades and critique. This is what Quinn enjoyed the most about becoming a shinobi within the village of Otogakure. Developing rather quickly as Satoshi pointed out, the drive came from the beautiful clashing sounds and notes of all the villagers working together harmoniously.

WC: 752, TWC: 1852

It was interesting that Satoshi had already sort of understood the key concepts behind the ball and bat training. Perhaps he had been well versed in the sport and so he could easily recognize the underlying principles that it perfected. Though, the observation could have been attributed to Satoshi's own keen fundamentals with Bukijutsu as well, should he also be a disciple of the field. After all, that was how Zidane had been able to digest the core fundamentals of it. 

Satoshi had seemed familiar with Quinn, maybe more so than he and Zidane had been, evident by his recognition of Quinn's progress. Though what was most notable from his dialogue was his reference to the red head's status. They were an academy student, a rank below Zidane. Though stoic on the exterior, on the inside he felt a bit of confusion. They seemed to be much older than he or the Deputy Kage were. The Genome's understanding of the academy was that typically it had been for those unseasoned in the shinobi way, which he sort of always assumed meant it was for those that were younger. Nevertheless that thought would be disproved, as he heard Quinn go on to fully describe themselves proudly to be a student of the Academy. Though the title which came after was...alarming. Shuddering slightly, Zidane would offer an uneasy chuckle at the student's comments as he bore his blades in hand to show to the pair before him. 

Satoshi's inspection of them seemed short. Quinn seemed much more interested, commenting on various aspects of it. The only remark they made which slightly bothered the proud Chinoike, was that the guard was too short. However it didn't get under his skin, as he personally felt as if the blades were perfectly designed for his own hands. 

Nevertheless when Satoshi went on to propose the two take turns demonstrating their techniques, Zidane suddenly filled with excitement. It felt like an hour to be able to "teach" the Deputy Kage anything. And so when asked if the request was reasonable, the Genome would nod in turn as Quinn went on to elaborate their own feelings of the matter. Shortly after the group came to the consensus though, they'd make their way over to the practice room of interest. Upon arrival, Zidane would lift his left hand to the base of his chin and push and pull it 90 degrees in each direction. An audible crack would come from each motion, echoing throughout the 25 x 25 meter room they now stood within. With a determined look on his face, he'd speak up. "I'd like to go first," he'd say, confident in his tone but not smug.

Should their be no objection, he'd continue on towards the middle of the room and hope that Quinn and Satoshi would both follow him to it but give him enough space to work. Once he created some separation from the other two, he'd have approached a series of polished wooden dummies which were neatly arrange throughout the length of the room. Firmly grasping his conjoined mage mashers in hand, he'd turn to Quinn and Satoshi and offer a smile as well as a bow of respect. Zidane had spent countless hours perfecting his skills in Bukijutsu, and he hoped that his display today could be easily noted from his fluid movements and precise strikes. Though he also hoped that the information he looked to convey would be coherent and well received by the two observers. 

Though up until this point he somewhat struggled to understand his purpose, he always took his training seriously and found meaning in it. Now, it was his chance to prove himself by teaching the shinobi before him two basic yet distinct techniques: the Flying Swallow and the Feint. Considering Quinn's display of Chakra Infusion was a prerequisite to Flying Swallow, he felt as if this specific ability may be of use to them. And also, Zidane had chosen the Flying Swallow to showcase the power and versatility of his own Bukijutsu. "I would like to demonstrate two techniques, if that is okay. The first being the Flying Swallow. It is an extension of the Chakra Infusion that Quinn previously showed us, but is a bit more refined. And so it begins with three hand seals and the upmost of chakra control."

With a swift and deliberate motion, he'd raise his left hand up to chest height so that each Satoshi and Quinn could see it. Slowly, he'd form his hand into three symbols: the Tiger, Boar, then Rat. Simultaneously, he channeled his chakra into his Mage Mashes, enhancing their capabilities. The daggers shimmered with an ethereal glow, categorized as a dance of sorts of brown and green chakra, signifying his affinity to Earth and Wind release. "Observe closely," Zidane called out, his voice brimming with excitement. "The Flying Swallow allows you to infuse your weapon with chakra, boosting its power and enabling you to strike with unparalleled force for a short time. But it requires precise control, focus, and timing." as he swung them gracefully through the air so that they'd slash at the dummy closest to him, creating an awe-inspiring display of speed and precision.

As Zidane executed a series of quick strikes, the air seemed to part around his blades. Each slash leaving a faint gust of wind in its wake, demonstrating the true potential of the Flying Swallow. When this was concluded, he'd return his blade to his right side and turn to face Satoshi and Quinn again. "Now sometimes with Bukijutsu, your movements can be anticipated by your combatants. Because of that, I've learned it's important to..." he paused as he thought of the word. With a sly smile, he continued, "Fake...out, your enemies. I read about this technique called Feint that does just that, and resultantly I've spent some time practicing it. The importance behind it to me, is that if I go through the effort of enhancing my blade, I want to ensure that I'll use it well. It sort of baits out an enemy's response."

And so he demonstrated the Feint with finesse. First he turned his body towards the same indestructible dummy he just sliced with the Flying Swallow enhanced Mage Mashers. Following this, he'd initiate a sweeping strike towards the training dummy. Just as the twinned daggers were about to connect, Zidane abruptly halted his motion, freezing the daggers in mid-air. His eyes sparkling with mischief if Satoshi and Quinn could see them from his angled body, almost as if he were challenging them to read his intentions. Following this display, he'd again return to his normal posture but this time rotate the grip on his handles so that he'd detach the daggers from each other. In a smooth motion, he'd flip them so they faced the same way and softly return them to their sheath. Once again, he'd offer a bow to Quinn and Satoshi, indicative of his appreciation of the opportunity to showcase his talents to each. When he finished this motion, he'd deliver his final comment on the Feint technique.

"The key to the Feint is perfect timing and...feigned commitment. By mastering this technique, you can confuse your opponents and create openings for decisive strikes," Zidane explained, his voice laced with a hint of excitement. Should either Satoshi or Quinn offer comments or questions of the display, he'd stay in position to answer them in turn. But if they did not, then he would walk over to their side, stuff his hands in his pocket, and prepare to witness Quinn's instructions.

WC = 1268. TWC = 3308
+1 NE Stack; 3 Total

Satoshi would listen as Quinn would rattle of a string of titles, the last of which was... quiet unnerving. It likely had to do with the training that she was just doing, but even knowing that didn't prevent the shudder from crawling down the young Sarutobi's spine at the thought of what other meanings such a title could have. It held his thoughts hostage for a moment before he could finally shake it from his mind. She would go on to state that she was not the person to craft such a weapon, to which then a thorough inspection would occur. Every inch of the pair of blades would be looked over and analyzed. No doubt considering how its craftsmanship would compare to that of her own. They seemed to get her stamp of approval, minus the size of the guards on them. Satoshi wouldn't be as keen on thorough inspection, for he knew Zidane to be of Guren's lineage. The Deputy knew that his friend and a founder of Otogakure wouldn't let his kin utilize any subpar or poorly crafted implements, especially not when a faulty tool in the field they work in could mean serious injury or very likely death. 

It would seem as though both Quinn and Zidane were fine with the proposition of acting as teachers. There was what looked to be a flash of excitement on the face of Zidane as he heard this, no doubt thrilled at the opportunity to showcase his expertise. The "Destroyer of Balls" had admitted that her knowledge and expertise was limited, but that didn't cause issue even in the slightest. "Worry not Quinn. Even if you only know a few things, those things that you do know you show great expertise in. Your skill with coating weapons with chakra was impressive. You looked to be capable of such without even thinking about it. You can demonstrate any technique that you know, should you so choose." Satoshi would offer, hoping to ease their concerns and what seemed like hesitations regarding this exercise.

They would all make their way over to a training room, and with an audible cracking of his neck, the young man looked ready. Zidane offered to go first, his tone holding a confidence that resonated from him, shining brightly like a beacon. Confidence in ones ability was key in this world, regardless of what you did. "Of course, Zidane. I look forward to seeing what you demonstrate." It didn't take long for the young man to go about his lesson, offering to show off not one but two techniques. The first of which was the Flying Swallow, which what described as similar to the Chakra Infusion that Quinn had used just moments prior. The young man had also demonstrated his own expertise in advanced skills, utilizing the One Handed Seals technique to full effect. Such a skill worked wonders for practitioners of weaponry, as it was hard to hold a weapon in your hands and also form hand seals. The Deputy would find himself proud that such a talent was among the genin of the village. Those of Guren's lineage were no doubt all capable individuals. With the three needed seals formed, the shimmering power of chakra would envelop the Mage Mashers. A series of incredibly swift strikes would be made, slashing at the training dummy and leaving barely a scratch. It was clear to the Sarutobi that it was not due to lack of skill, but more due to the incredible craftsmanship of the training facility. These dummies were practically indestructible, and a worthwhile expenditure of village funds in his mind. 

The second technique demonstrated was that of the Feint maneuver. This particular technique was invaluable in combat, allowing one to effectively bait out an opponents response exactly as the young man had described. Zidane would then of course show exactly what he had meant, ensuring that the speed at which it was executed was able to be followed by all onlookers. The final words offered by Zidane about Feigned commitment made Satoshi smile. The young man truly seemed to be a capable user of the Bukijutsu arts, and with it clear that his demonstration was wrapped up, Satoshi would offer some clapping. 

"An incredible demonstration. Let us see if the lesson has sunk in, though." He would turn to Quinn, "Let us recreate the very abilities shown by Zidane." And with this said, the Deputy would mirror the one handed seals that, but instead of duplicating the seals for Flying Swallow, instead forming Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram and biting down on his own thumb to draw blood. Placing his hand on the wall beside him, a Fuinjutsu formula would appear briefly before turning to a puff of smoke. 

Conjured from the smoke was a four foot tall monkey with orange fur. There was clearly a look of displeasure on his face, "And why have you bothered my rest, little Sato?" The elderly monkey would ask, the tone of his voice matching the look on his face. He'd look around, then let out a howling laugh, "You summon me to train, young one? HA!" This was not the time nor place to have an argument with an old monkey that didn't wish to train. "Ik-Kaku, I seek to train and you are one of the most seasoned combatants I've ever known." The Sarutobi would offer, trying to soften the monkeys obstinance with compliments. It would turn its head, the eyes of the creature lowering to a squint. "You summon me, no offering beyond some mere words?" Satoshi would give the monkey a stern look, his face showing a serious side of him that neither of the others had seen prior. "Perhaps I'll remember this the next time a real fight comes up. Better to summon a valuable ally than another adversary to challenge me." 

Ik-Kaku would scratch his chin, narrow eyes trained on the young Sarutobi. It was almost a battle of wills, yet the monkey would raise its arms and shrug. "So be it. What do you need of me, little Sato?" The Sarutobi would grin, holding out his hand, "I simply need a weapon for this exercise, and I couldn't think of a better one to utilize." The monkey knew exactly what was expected, and with a few seals and another puff of smoke he would shift form into a blade that looked to be made of solid stone with obsidian edges, etchings in it showing a strange series of images. The blade was about a meter long, with no guard at all. The blade was 75mm thick, and about 15cm wide from front to back The weapon was sharpened to a fine edge on both sides, and the grip looked to be comprised of strips of leather. 

With Ik-Kaku in hand, the other would then form the seals for Flying Swallow. The blade would find itself coated with the Sarutobi's chakra and then he would position himself to swing a diagonal slash at the target with his right hand holding the sword. The attack would be launched from Satoshi's right side towards his left, but before connecting with the imagined sword of his opponent, the momentum of his attack would halt, or more accurately it would seem to transition as the blade lowered outside of where it would have clashed and slashes on a diagonal upwards from right to left instead.

"How do you think that I did, Zidane? Did I showcase the intricacies of the techniques you sought to teach?" Satoshi would ask, also looking over to see how Quinn was doing. 


wc:1275

Within the training room, Quinn would watch and observe the ongoings between Zidane and Satoshi. Ever vigilant in active in their mind, the Forgemaster would see that Zidane spoke to go first which was perfectly fine and acceptable to the older individual who knew very little compared to the other two. Their skillset was not one that would be shown easily currently at minimum. Quinn knew their growth was particularly different than the average individual who was learning these techniques over a decade younger than them. The young man with the dual weapon of 'Mage Mashers' seemed eager to show off to his superior and Quinn. The words entered into Quinn's steel trap and held them close. Tempering the mental imagery presented internally in contrast to the words and presentation given to them by Zidane was an beautiful performance.

'Flying Swallow' was the technique that was used by Zidane. It looked like an expansion of the small chakra infusion that Quinn was capable of. With that in mind it would make sense to Quinn that they would also be capable of doing such a thing. Not knowing that handseals would have been a requirement to put more into it, there was still a lot to learn as a forgemaster-turned-shinobi. Considering options for tools in this training exercise, the mind wandered to what would be the best weapon for when they decided to commit to a style. Hammers were the tool of trade and wielding a larger version to utilize in combat situations seemed reasonable if not practical to the Forgemaster but something about it seemed less elegant to the desire and joy that there could be to other styles. This was definitely something that Quinn would need to investigate.

The Sarutobi would incline to go next as the proposition to not only learn but to execute the teachings of each other would prove to be a useful tool to correct any incorrect assumptions or movements in the strokes that would be performed. Curiosity peaked when it was observed that Satoshi operated differently than what Zidane had showed. It was more seals than his, which to Quinn meant this was not the same. Once he had placed his hand on a surface post drawing blood from himself, an older monkey had appeared after some script spiraled onto the wall. From the academy teachings, Quinn understood this as Fuinjutsu, or sealing techniques. Taking mental note, Quinn had been practicing some basic versions of Fuinjutsu but once again was not confident in replication at this time for it.

The conversation of Satoshi and the monkey known as Ik-Kaku made Quinn chuckle, probably an oddly terrifying thing to hear from the older shinobi-in-training. Seeing Satoshi become stern and assertive was pleasing to say the least, as all the interactions to this point were cordial and proper. Knowing that there was firmness when needed was a self-taught skill that Quinn knew all to well within the confines of the forge. Striking too hard or to quick can cause cracks to form if you strike incorrectly. Similarly not striking hard enough can sometimes leave a brittle and fragile blade since it was not tempered properly. The interaction was reassuring to the Forgemaster as they knew the deal they struck with the young Sarutobi leader was a solid, firm, and forged relationship. The interactions between the two led to some wandering thoughts of them. "Little Sato..." Quinn would murmur before their thoughts wandered elsewhere.

Snapping back to reality however, Quinn's opponent was a dummy that was present within the space. Not having a blade unique to themselves had a simple training tool. Letting out a loud sigh, Quinn weighed their options: Use the training sword or attempt to use their hammer. If the tool for one trade could be used elsewhere, one's worth would grow. Quinn a business owner, was always wanting to see value improve where they were. With that in mind and shaking their head of thoughts, they kept the training weapon in hand and proceeded to follow the steps presented by Zidane. It was a simple three handsign technique that put more emphasis on maintaining what Quinn demonstrated earlier but it added more power behind it's edge. Quinn following suite, performed the handseals as a deep red, almost brown, chakra covered the blade. Chakra natures were not yet introduced to the students at yet so seeing the different colors didn't bat any eyes to Quinn.

Efficiently and swiftly, Quinn's blade would be seen in a standard arcing swing against the dummy. Though the motions of the blacksmith were standard, nothing to write home about for a kid who was learning or training for the first time and were finally taking steps to elevate themselves past the basics, there was a level of beauty as Quinn's blade quietly made its swing. For a blacksmith, understanding balance, body weight distribution, motion, and force behind weapons was almost as standard for them as it was a swordman. Though Quinn's motions were defined, hitting something with Flying Swallow was a new experience for them. Lost in their mind momentarily, they would strike towards their dummy, mindful of not damaging it too much, tools are best when not broken. In the motions there were moments of shifts where Quinn would go for a horizontal slash that would open the dummy's gut but shift on a dime, their speed showing off similar to the two young men to move from a horizontal plane to an vertical cut.

Though the principles made sense to Quinn on how to feint, feinting a dummy was simple as a change in motion. Combat is where those shifts on a dummy would be a much more needed and cleaner adjustment. Shaking their head, they were dissatisfied with their own result after multiple swings. Their dummy however looked like a nicely diced ham on some sections due to the Forgemaster's precision. No major damage was left on the dummy but the slow methodical swings after the initial understanding of how Flying Swallow worked had taken some time for Quinn to proceed with. Realizing they tranced themselves in their practice, Quinn would give a small butler's bow to the two. "Apologies. Was too focused. I believe I understand." as their eyes went to the two. Given the chance to proceed forward though, Quinn felt it was likely their turn to step up to showcase some prowess of tricks they had picked up.

Waiting to hear if there was anything comments on their form or style, Quinn would nod and take mental note if any were given. Following that part wraping up, if allowed to proceed by the two, Quinn would advocate to practice simple trick/techniques that were easy to understand. Grabbing the same dummy that Quinn had give a new meaning to sliced pork, Quinn stood next to it as they were ready to possible showcase something of their own. "Genjutsu is not fun. Escaping Genjutsu can be difficult. Genjutsu distorts reality." Forming a handsign, the Tiger, Quinn would describe the issues of identifying and escaping genjutsu as if reciting the textbook from the academy. "Once seal is formed. Focus and channel to disrupt flow. Imagine. Small twig. Snap." Though it would be easier if they had a genjutsu technique amongst them, even knowing the concept and understanding was enough. "This technique. Genjutsu Release."

Watching to see if they two followed with the motions, Quinn would nod in affirmative. "Sometimes. You can't get out. Need help from someone else." Quinn would then proceed to backhand the dummy heavily, leaving a small indent where their knuckles landed. It would be obvious to the two that the backhand was to add a little extra. "Normally. Simple slap. Though knuckles are sturdier. Learned this can help. Hitting friend gentler than hitting opponent. If done right. Enough force should snap them back. Hurt them? Not really. Maybe their pride." They would add in at the end as the initial knuckle-imprint faded from the dummy as it appeared no actual damage occurred to it. There was a fine line of precision while also a firm motion for this technique. "Academy described technique as 'Discipline'." Quinn then followed up and added in.

Quinn would pause, leaving the floor open to discussions or critiques or questions the two may have for the student, now teacher in this situation. Quinn's stance even though relaxed, seemed to show comfort. Although they only recently started at the academy, Quinn's growth and understanding was sure to shock the two for different reasons. Satoshi had met Quinn as just a blacksmith, a forgemaster, a business owner, and now they were more than that. Becoming a student led to their path of becoming a shinobi in the village, another part of the community but in a new light, new position, new capacity to contribute. Whereas for Zidane, Quinn's antics and stylistics were sure to confuse or plague the young mind of his. Though the level of capacity to understand even if the explanation they responded to the Genome with was simple, their thoughts were complex and capable,. Hopefully showing that sometimes even if people are different, they can be accepted even if their quirks are such as rambling titles upon every introduction.

WC: 1,548, TWC: 3,400