The Harmonic Showdown

Wed Aug 02, 2023 6:12 pm

The second night of the Festival of Sound was a very beautiful one indeed. The air was not too hot, but not too cold at the same time. The wind carried upon it sounds of beautiful music that echoed throughout the entire village, and the scents of many different types of food filled the air with enticing aromas.

Uchiha, Kaito was waiting within the village's Amphitheatre, where a large group of people had already began to gather around. Tonight would be the night of the Harmonic Showdown, where the participants would showcase their abilities in the performing arts, with a little flare by adding in some of their skills as shinobi. A fireball here, the swing of a sword there. Looking down at the list of participants, Kaito could see a few familiar names. The one that stuck out most, however, was Foster, Quinn. The two of them had been already been somewhat aquatinted as the Otokage himself was one of the judges of her Academy graduation recital only a few weeks prior.

'Knowing the forgemaster, I'm sure she will bring in her anvil and hammer for her showcase.'

But Kaito knew that he could not allow himself to be biased. In fact, three of the other participants were his own students from Team Sonata; Harune, Hanzo, and Raikur. The last participant, Raikur, was someone with whom he was not familiar with, but he was sure that he could garner an impression of them from this performance.

After about thirty minutes, everything was ready and the stage set for the show to begin. Kaito arose from his chair at the judge's booth.

"Welcome, one and all, to the Harmonic Showdown!" The crowd roared with applause and whistles of cheer, which Kaito would wait to die down before continuing. "This event tonight is a showcase of some of the finest performing arts talent that our village has to offer. Participants will have five minutes to showcase their abilities, and the judges will calculate their scores based on those performances. First up, we have Uchiha, Hanzo!" The crowd again erupted in cheer as they awaited the first participant...

WC (POST) = 356 WC
WC (TOTAL) = 356 WC

AP UTILIZED:

ITEMS UTILIZED:

Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:46 am

"Today is the day I showcase my abilities in front of my village!" Hanzo thought to himself as he was seated in the Amphitheatre along with everyone from the village. As the final setup for the event began, the young Uchiha wandered around with his eyes and saw a few familiar faces, especially the Otokage who was seated in the judge's booth. He was excited and at the same time extremely nervous as he wasn't sure if he would do a good job at expressing himself on the stage when called upon. Once the setup was completed, the Otokage stood up and acknowledged the crowd and briefed on the agenda. The moment the Otokage announced that Hanzo was the first participant, the young Uchiha was in shock. As the crowd cheered, Hanzo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stood up in a calm manner and began walking towards the stage that was set.

Appearance:

Hanzo stood in the middle of the stage and could see the Amphitheatre filled with people from his village. He turned his head towards the judges booth and smiled at his Otokage as a form of respect. As usual, he was wearing his typical attire that was black tactical with a purple scarf that was given by his mother shortly before her death. His hands were by his side and spoke, "Good Morning Otogakure! My name is Hanzo and I'm from the Uchiha Clan" as he bowed respectfully. As he lifted his head up, "Good Morning Otokage sama!" he smiled looking at his Sensei. As he looked towards the crowd again, his smile vanished instantly, signifying that he was ready to perform.

As the Timer started counting down, Hanzo moved his right hand to his chest level and performed the Ram hand sign and Body Flickered to the back of the stage that was slightly darker due to the curtains hanging and the shadow dropping on the floor, but he still could be seen just in a darker shade. In the darkness, he activated his Sharingan, which was illuminating brightly due to the color contrast. As soon as that happened, he immediately performed the necessary hand signs and activated his Chidori technique on his left hand. The sound of a thousand chirping birds rippled through the air. He walked out of the shadow in slow motion. He took out an apple that he kept in his right pocket and threw it up in the air. Just when people were confused how he would slice something in the air when he was on the ground, the young Uchiha shaped his lightning chakra that was in his left hand into a Chidori Sharp Spear and sliced the apple mid air. As the apple was still falling down, he once again shaped the chakra into two Chidori Senbon and threw at the two slices of apple in an angle that would land in the judges booth perfectly, without causing any damage to the table. Just when the timer was about to hit zero, he deactivated his lightning chakra and the Sharingan.

He wasn't interested in showing his Mangekyo Sharingan as he didn't want everyone to know that he had awakened a power that was forbidden. So far only his teammates and the Otokage know about it and he wanted it to be kept that way. He bowed at the audience who were cheering as the bell sounded, signifying the act has come to an end. He looked at the Otokage and bowed and walked down the stage to have a seat.

WC: 592
TWC: 592

Battle Stats:

Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:57 pm

Appearance:

The breeze picks up again, Harune's hair fluttering about her. She looks up. Petals, pink and white and gradients in between, soft as the first break of sunrise, are rustling loose from the branches while the stronger ones linger. The sky can hardly be glimpsed between the trees; so lush with flowers are they, and it is easy—as it is tempting—to believe nothing exists. The air—with that peculiar crispness it carries as the cool upper air melts into a warm summer breeze that brings a calming sensation as Harune, walking, breathes it in. Stride, inhale. Stride, exhale. Stride, inhale. Stride, exhale; in a hypnotizing rhythm as she finds herself passing by a few shops in the town.

As she makes her way towards the amphitheater, she recalls the days before as it seems a celebration was held both nights. So, of course, the Shokku joined in on the festivities the first day, how could she not join the repertoire? The long hours were fun as the festivities continued throughout the night: singing, dancing, eating, and drinking flooded the streets where the bright, colorful lights lit up the outside. Harune met a wonderful lady named Akemi, obviously an elder, but she had the stamina of youth as she pulled the Shokku in to dance with her in the cleared-out area, teaching her some of their cultural dances. As the music played, Harune swirled, it seemed like all the worries from her life had disappeared as she flowed through the crowd. Effortlessly swaying with new faces that came into view.

After that, she ate at a rather large table, filled with commoners and shinobi-alike passing around foods of all sorts. Her plate quickly filled as she then began to savor every type of meat, potatoes, vegetables, and dessert. Each one was better than the last as the flavors danced in her mouth. She felt like she could eat forever as this was probably the safest and warmest feeling she has felt in such a long time. Free from tragic memories and the family's judgment.

She needed to work off her energy after being stuffed to the max, she would then proceed to the crowd and begin to dance again. Apparently, the civilians knew about the drink as one of them, Kenta, offered the young genin a bottle of Chuhai as she was dancing with him. Then soon the night came to an end as her vision drank itself away.

Dismissing her reminiscing brain, she stepped into the open-air venue. Taking a look around the amphitheater, she witnessed as the arrivals arrayed in a tittering conglomerate on both sides of her. Taking initiative, she noticed a few familiar faces sitting in the audience; however, a call from an unsuspecting voice drew her nearby.

"Harune, over here!" The voice says, making her gaze turn to meet the shuffling of a kimono. It was her dear friend, Kyojuro Rengoku. As she makes her way down the cobblestones, Kyojuro's eyes on her don’t leave, but only they widen. "Harune," he says, more of a breath than a name.

"Hmm?" She questions.

"Your hair..."

"Is it in disarray?" She reaches for the top of her head. But Kyojuro, not unkindly—it isn't in him to ever be anything but gentle—wraps a hand around Harune's wrist, keeping her fingers from touching her hair.

"No, your hair is perfect; don't touch it. It's…amazing. And you are in a kimono." He lets Harune go and rubs the back of his neck. "You look very beautiful."

Fall has not yet settled officially in Otogakure, but it finds a home under Harune's skin, nonetheless. "I would never describe myself that way, but if you are the one who says it, Kyojuro, then it is true," she says. "I am very happy to hear you say such high praise to me." Her face is pulled between a helpless smile and a small frown, because the happiness vibrant in her is its own truth, but to just call it 'happiness' doesn't suffice. But there is no other word she can think of, and 'happiness' it remains—incompletely, unsatisfyingly. “Shall we take a seat and watch the first performance? I need to be prepared because I am the second one performing.” She said smiling as she took a seat.

“Of course, of course,” he responded by taking a seat next to her; thus, began the show.

Otogakure took the stage to announce the spectacular event that is going to take place and the requirements to be judged. First up was her teammate, Hanzo Uchiha, the lightning warrior himself. As his name would suffice, the Uchiha would use an array of lightning technique to put on such a sparkling performance by cutting through apples. As his act came to an end, Harune jumped up and clapped, cheering for her teammate. Giving a thumbs up, she would scream, “Way to go Hanzo!” Whether or not he should hear her over the sound of the audience, she knew that it was her time to come.

After the calming of the audience, she would make her way down the stairs after she was called to front-and-center of the amphitheater. Taking center stage, she would look out into the audience, “alright! Now who’s ready for a show!?!?” Harune yelled as she waved her arms up, getting the crowd riled up. “I can’t hear you!! I said, who is ready!?!?” She screamed as the crowd got louder and louder. A smile grew on her lips, “alright! Let’s get started!” She said as she started her performance.

Performing the hand signs: Monkey -> Ox -> Snake -> Ram -> Tiger -> Dog (Damage Reduction Shield), her outward appearance begins to be enveloped in thick, blue-like chakra coating. The aura is only 1-inch thick, but still able to be seen by all. Twirling around, she performed another series of hand seals: Rat → Tiger → Dog → Ox → Rabbit → Tiger (Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire), as she spits 9 small fireball 6 inches apart and about 75-degree angle, aiming for the top row of the amphitheater. As the small fireballs continue on their path, they start to dwindle, before exploding 1 ⁄ 2 meter in size, 6 meters above the middle row in an array of oranges and reds, before the embers dwindle down.

Not letting up her performance, she continued on performing another set of hand signs: Ox, Dog, Rat, Tiger, Snake, Ram (Sun Shuriken). Ten sun release shuriken, five in each hand, she throws them upwards. As the sun shuriken make their way into the sky, a bright fiery trail follows behind them as the rotating object mimics how the sun looks. Lighting up the sky, Harune starts performing another set of hand signs: Snake → Ram → Monkey → Tiger (Fireball). Inhaling, she exhales a sphere of fire straight up above her into the sky. As the roaring ball of fire heads in the sky, she performs another series of hand signs: Tiger → Boar → Dog → Rat → Ram → Horse → Snake → Dragon → Rat (Ninjutsu Amp, Dragon Fire Bullet). Harune exhales a stream of fire, six inches in width that detaches and takes the shape of a dragon following the sphere a fire. Moving faster than the sphere, the dragon bursts through the sphere, illuminating the sky again in bright colors of red, oranges, and yellows as the dragon takes a 90 degree turn and flies over the audience.

As the dragon did its thing, Harune immediately performed a handset of signs: Rat, Dog, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rat (Sun Release: Blast Spheres). Small orbs that replicate the sun in brightness are then thrown in the sky. As they reach maximum height, the orbs will then explode from Harune performing the confrontation seal. The orbs would become mini suns, lighting up and obliterating any other light source in the area. As this would be occurring, she would perform her final series of hand signs: Horse > Ram > Monkey (Hiding in Fire). Holding the last seal, after she would get her audience's attention once more, she would bow before being ignited in flames as a trap door from underneath her would open up. She would release the jutsu, showing the audience that she seemingly got burnt up by her own flames. Heading out from underneath the arena, she would make her way to her seat once again.

TWC: 1,402

Fri Aug 04, 2023 7:37 pm

In the late night, Mubu arrived after much more preparation than usual: He got his hair done and the classic wavy slick back honed to perfection, his silvery ashen hair placed in a seductive and pampered way, smelling of essential oils and fresh flowers. He also did his makeup, with large dark pine-green undeneath his eyes and around, forming a spike toward his cheekbones. His classic piercing could be seen hanging from his earlobe, contrasting with his verdant makeup with the grey charcoal and deep ecarlate metal of the jewelry piece. Mubu was dressed in an extravagant and obscenely detailed regalia, a chic outfit and suit he tailored for events like those, where he could truly shine and show his colorfull and artistic self.

The outfit:

Amidst the colorful suit, a lingering smell of rosemary, Hatkora lemon and notes belladona flowers could fill the surrounding air, as Mubu designed his own perfume to enthrance the people he would talk to. Indeed, this fragrance was made to reminisce vivid and fresh smells, comforting odors and pleasing aroma, in a way, made to seduce the very senses of those smelling it. As he made his way trough the streets to the festival, he greeted everyone, who either didnt recognize him as he was more than ever stranding out of everyone in Otogakure, but also because he seemed to attract positives reactions from all the people whom he met while walking, either by being impressed by his stuning outfit and handsome face and style, being a true icon of beauty, or simply baffled by his rich smell and cologne who smelled like Luxure itself. Everyone tought he was a celebrity, and whispers acompanied with smiles would trail behind Mubu wherever he passed and walked by. As he entered the Festival grounds, all eyes were on him, and to Mubu, it was a great moment. His smile was only outshined by the thousands lights and flashes of the festival, coloring the night dark sky with hues of rainbow colors, with fireworks and firecrackers kid tossed and lit the sky with.

As Mubu walked around and participated in activities, he would talk to everyone he could and interact with the most people possible.

As Mubu arrived to the banquet, he would see a giant tent, decorated with ribons of all colors, as well as wreaths of flowers lighted up by the candles and paper lamps everywhere. Inside the tent, was large tables with hundreds of chairs, with all the shinobi and distinguished peole of the hidden sound village. As the young colorfull man looked around, he saw a girl without equal in terms of beauty: blonde, hair gracious and flowing as if in slow motion and underwater, skin fair and pale, so soft even to the eyes it was like porcelain, and eyes of profound blue, with a powerfull chromatic azure, as if they were made from the sky itself. Mubu never saw such beauty in the form of a lady, nonetheless a lady his age! Being the seducer that he was, and knowing he was also the prettiest young dashing man in the place, blessed by his handsomeness, decided to go sit toward her, to have the opportunity to engage in small talk. At least polite, he knew it wasnt the good moment to flirt or seduce, and as such only presented himself, saying this: ''Is this seat taken? thanks.*smile* The festival is wonderfull don't you think ? So beautiful, but you outshine it all. My name is Mubu Otsunato. Maybe we should get to know each other after the festival ?''

said Mubu, as he politely took the soft hand of Harune and kissed it, only to look back up again into her eyes with a seductive smile, full of confidence and certitude. He would continue to do small talk with her, but wouldnt push it more, waiting and enjoying the food and festival, and letting her do the same.

The food was wonderful, diverse and rich, including all sort of dishes, both cold, hot, spciy, fresh, salty, sweet, with also dozens of drink choices, from alcool and wines, to juices and teas. The ambiance was warming up everyone. Between laughter, discussions and groans of people enjoying their food, Mubu felt at his place; the center of the party, where its alive, where everyone act and the world is like it was his last day of life, enjoying each and every drop and second of fun, filling up their senses with pleasant things, and stimuli, and taking nothing for granted! As the festival moved on and the banquet ended, Mubu winked Harune goodbye, and went to his seat at the festival.

He had planed it all: he asked Tatsuya if he could sit beside the Kage, as he wanted to propose something to the lord of sound himself, and wanted also to introduce himself, as he was now determined to be a shinobi of renown in the world, but mainly in Otogakure, and the first step to that was to be known by his lord and to participate in the community at the best of his abilities. As he arrived at his seat in the VIP lodge beside Tatsuya and right on the left of the judges own places and panel, he greeted his young team member with a fist bump and a wink, the two pranksters being on the same level. Mubu then got close to the Kage, passing his two Sound Five security member, as he was not armed, and presented himself to Kaito: ''Good evening my lord Otokage! Let me introduce myself: I am Mubu Otsunato, a sound believer and true artist of Oto. Its an honor to be able to speak to you in such an important and festive event. I would take this opportunity, if you allow me, to ask if we could schedule a meeting, at a later date of course, to discuss my project, and its integration into the village. As my greatest aspiration is to not only develop the arts of the village and the usage of our mastery of Sound, but to also be a part in the future of the Sound Five, I hope to be of devout service and to make the entire world aware and in awe of Otogakure. thank you for your time.'' Said Mubu, in the most police and charismatic way he could, his voice calm, slow and deep, almost seductive by nature, but his face full of assurance, smiling as always. As Mubu got back to his seat, he would turn around, adding to the kage : By the way lord Kage, your kid is trully fenomenal, I love being on the team with him!'' in an energetic tone, as Tatsuya looked over and heard his name, throwing a grimace smile towards Mubu and Kaito.

As the perfumed young man took his place, the show began and the performances started with Hanzo Uchiha, whom Mubu had met prior to the festival, in a mission where they took out hired thugs, and disarmed explosives seals into the local well known bathouse establishment. Even if Hanzo wasnt on Mubu's team, the young man would cheer for him all along his performance, as the lightning and apples chunks flew around all over the stage. The first show was already going quite hard. Mubu would need to be trully unique, but he wasnt stressed, as in his mind, his performance was inequaled in Oto in the term of artistics. After a round of applause, the stage got quiet, and the porcelain girl went on stage. Mubu just met Harune, and was in awe at her beauty, but didnt know what she was capable of in terms of jutsu and ninja arts. As he was closely looking and didnt know what to expect, Harune lit up the sky like none other before. The fire and inferno was raging in a thousands flames and sparks, trully representing the sun in the middle of the night that Harune was. The heat alone was impressive, and the flame dragon was really beautifull, as well as the fire jutsu, exploding in the air like pyrotechnics.

All of it made Mubu stressed a bit about his performance, as his was more ''traditional'' in the artistic sense. But without having more time to think about it, the applause for Harune, followed by the calling of Mubu name arrived, signaling that it was his time to shine. With a deep breath, he got up of his chair, eyes closed and with a smile, he ushered lowly, almost as a whisper ''Game on!'' while clenching his fist in excitement. As he got toward the backstage, he signaled two other ninjas to set the stage for him. One went on stage to place 17 colorful pots with holes, all white with each a diferent colored patern, some red, some blue, some yellow, green, etc. in a circle, all around Mubu performance spot. The second ninja brought to the center of the stage and the pot circle a giant Taiko, a traditional drum, and set it aside with a small wooden stool for mubu to sit on.

Mubu arrived on stage, the crowd was silent. They all were waiting for him to perform. As he placed himself on the seat calmly, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and got his wooden bamboo flute out of his garments. Instead of taking the flute to his lips like people expected, he used it to play and hit the big drum in front of him, the rythm intense and fast. Soon afterwards, mere seconds after the drumming started, flute could magically be heard from the stage, yet no one understood where it came from. As it acompanied the drum perfectly, Mubu started to hum loudly in a voice enhanced by his chakra mastery, making it sound like hundred of people where doing voices with him. Another crystaline voice joined him, making his symphony complete, adding girl-like choir to the now attuned melody of druming, flute and voice. As the druming slowly dropped the tempo each second that passed, the rythm got slower and slower, until no more instrument could be heard, and only Mubu's humming and the choirs from nowhere could be heard. Slowly, Mubu raised his flute toward his lips, and started playing, a calm melody, the second part to this song. While the sound waves of his flute moved throught the air, Mubu used his mastery of Sound Release to manipulate the waves, making them circle himself and the drum position, passing trough the holes of the ornamented jars and pots, whistling in harmony to acompagny is flute play. The sound made a whole wind orchestra of philarmonic synchronisation, and suddently, in a big green puff of smoke, the drum ruptured by magic, without anything touching it. Mubu, still concentrated on the immense numbers of techniques at use while doing so, continued to play his flute, his chakra mastery stretched to its limit. Out of drum, as the smoked vanished as soon as it appeared, got up in the air as if floating what appeared to be a small girl about with long black unkempt hair, a pink kimono made out of silk with a cyan Obi, a geisha sash. The girl face was hidden behind a weird theater mask, all white with eyes closed out of seeming suprise, eyebrow risen, and with a gigantic mouth in 0 shape, as if suprised or yelling. Out of the 0 hole of the mouth, the young girl sang in the most pure way, with a voice so strong and just and on point it sounded more divine than human. As the singing acompanied the flute melody and the 17 whistling jars surrounding this, the show was like a hundred people were on stage, performing music. On top of it all, the young girl sudently started to dance, matching the rythmic movement of a now standing Mubu, one foot on the rim of the drum, the other on the stool, while moving his body to the sound of the harmony, and the little girl dancing in the sky, flying and singing. After a while, the girl magicaly had a flute got out of her mask's mouth, and without even using her hands, started to play the flute to add to the melody, a perfect flow of wind, with now two flutes playing together in perfect symbiotism and synergy, and the whistling serenade of the jars. True to his self art of the show, Mubu song and masterpiece ended abruptly, with him stoping his flute and therefore the whistling of the pots, as only the little girl flute could be heard. A few seconds later, Mubu with his hands now free, performed handisgns : Dragon, Boar, Rat and started to sing loudly accapela, a single note, so strong and clear that he aimed upwards into the sky. As his note lingered to show everyone his true singing talent and how long he could hold the note, the little girl started playing again, as a grand finale, making her sounds also pass trough the jars and making the final note the center of the melody. In synchronism, at the end of the note Mubu sang, all play ended, leaving only the echo of it to be heard into the night.

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd roared in excitement, and applauded strongly, making a standing ovation. Mubu turned toward the Otokage, and with his 'companion' bowed together, and left the stage to get back to his seat, the staff picking up the drum and the jars around the stage.

AP used : -5 AP for puppet threads, -5AP for invisible puppet threads, -5 AP for Ventriloquism, -10 AP for Formata scream (singing), -2 AP for Sound release musicality, -40 AP for use of Do mechanism. total AP: 400/400, New total AP: 333/400

TWC: 2271

Sun Aug 06, 2023 4:13 am

Raikur approached the large Otogakure amphitheatre slowly before the beginning of the Harmonic Showdown. He had opted to enter the venue on his own, wanting complete focus on his future performance without any form of distractions. He was aware that there would be many applicants, most of whom he was familiar with by now. Both of his team mates, Hanzo and his sister Harune would also be participating now, from his understanding they would also be the first two to perform. He had gotten a good read of their skills in their first training session, so he looked forward to seeing what they had come up with today.

Raikur was dressed in a nice white button up shirt and smart black pants, he wanted to ensure he looked his best for the performance. He wore well crafted black boots to match the clothing and had rolled up his sleeves, revealing his tattoos. He carried a duffle bag containing a change of clothes for his performance.

As he approached the entrance of the amphitheatre, he crossed paths with Julia, the cheerful beauty that he had gone on a date with the prior night. She was with several of her friends, chatting away and smiling as they also walked to the entrance of the large structure. Their eyes met when they were a few metres away, causing her to say something to her friends and run over to Raikur, jumping into his arms in a warm embrace.

The young Shokku stared into her beautiful blue eyes as she spoke, ignoring the chatter and giggles from her friends behind her. "Rai! What are you doing here today? Are you watching the performances as well? It's going to be SO exciting!" Raikur chuckled before he responded, he bubbly attitude had always been effective at lifting his spirit. "Hello Julia, it is lovely to see you again. I am actually here to perform myself, I hope to hear you cheering me on in the crowd."

The girl gasped at his response, "Wait! REALLY? Oh my goodness Rai that is amazing! You are going to kill it today! Alright you have to sit with my friends and I before it's your turn! I'm not taking no for an answer, let's go now!" Before he even had a moment to put up a fight about it, Raikur was being dragged along by Julia, who was yelling out to her friends about how he would be winning the Showdown. He could do nothing but smile weakly as walked along with the group.

As they had been relatively early, the group found enough seats in the front row of the amphitheatre, giving them the best view in the house. Raikur mostly sat and listened in as the group of girls chattered away, only speaking when he was asked a question. He was primarily focusing on his upcoming performance, controlling his breathing so as to alleviate the nerves that had been plaguing him all morning. Raikur spotted the Otokage sitting on the opposite side of the amphitheatre, who rose up shortly afterwards to begin his announcement.

It was time...

Raikur watched as the first participant, his team mate Hanzo Uchiha, walked onto the stage. His initial look of shock was replaced with a calm demeanour, the young Uchiha was clearly amping himself up with the tough task of opening the show. Raikur clapped with the rest of the audience in support of his comrade, he knew that he would do well.

The Shokku watched intently as his team mate activated his Sharingan and began his performance, the two of them both specialised in the Lightning element, so he was curious to see what Hanzo could do. Raikur looked on as his team mate performed a stunning display of his techniques for everyone in attendance to witness. He gave a hearty round of applause with the rest of the crowd once Hanzo had finished, he was impressed with what he had seen.

Following this, it was Harune's time to shine. As he and the crowd applauded her entrance to the stage, Julia leaned over to him and spoke. "Wow! She is beautiful!" Raikur would chuckle as he responded, "Do not tell her that, my twin sister's ego does not need the boost." He could feel her gawking at him at the discovery, talking about how they looked nothing alike and how it made no sense.

Following her usual self worshipping chest beating, Harune began her performance. Just like Hanzo had, Raikur's sister pulled out a stunning display of skill finesse throughout her time. By the end of it, he was on his feet clapping for her, yet another job well done. During the intermission, Raikur turned to Julia. "I need to go get ready now, save my seat, I will return after my performance is complete." She smiled and grabbed his hands, placing them in her own. "Good luck Rai, I can't wait to see it. You're going to be amazing! If you win, we're going on another date, sound good?"

He nodded and smiled as he walked away, the group of girls cheering him on as he did so. Raikur would go to the Amphitheatre's changing room, getting dressed in another outfit before walking out and watching the following performance alone. It was Mubu's turn, the unusual man had left Raikur feeling unsure about him after their last couple of encounters, but it appeared that he not a bad egg.

Raikur's eyebrows raised as he watched Mubu's performance, he was shocked to see the young man pull out his instrument and begin playing it. Raikur had expected a maniacal display, as was Mubu's MO, but was impressed nonetheless. While his eyes drifted over the crowd, Raikur made eye contact with a man sitting next to a very familiar woman. It was his parents and his father, Yuuma, was staring directly at him. The usual disdain rose within Raikur as they simply stared at each other, before rolling his eyes and looking away. Yuuma would not ruin his mood today.

After the end of the performance, Raikur applauded yet again. All three of them had been incredible, making the young Shokku wonder if her in over his head here. But he did not have time to back out, nor would he. After another short break, the words rang out through the venue. "And up next, give a round of applause for The Purple Spark of Otogakure, Raikur Shokku!" As the audience began making some noise, Raikur breathed in and out deeply, before walking onto the stage.

Raikur stood in the middle of the Amphitheatre stage, his white button up shirt replaced with a very loose and flowing white top. A traditional loose, black pair of pants taking the place of his smart pants from earlier. He had several earrings on, including the one his sensei, the Otokage had given Team Sonata after they had completed their first test with him. He stood silently as he patiently awaited the crowd to finish with their welcome.

"Good day to you all. My name is Raikur, and I hope you will all appreciate the performance I am about to display for you." Raikur's voice rang elegantly to all of those in the crowd, he stood firm and calm now, he was in his element. As his time began, Raikur acted.

Firstly, he performed the hand seals, Tiger - Horse - Ram - Clone seal, as two Shadow Clones appeared on either side of him. The crowd gave a light applause as the three of them applauded. One of the clones walked to the side of the stage, before returning with beautiful mahogany violin, standing between the real Raikur and his other clone. They were now 30 metres apart, facing the violin clone, who put the instrument to his chin and breathed in, before beginning his performance in style.

The moment the violin started, Raikur and his opposing clone dashed towards the violin clone, both with a Tanto in hand. They each imbued their tanto with chakra, increasing the strength of the blades. Mere metres before they got to the violin clone, both of them jumped in unison, their blades clashing above the violin clone who swiftly stepped aside as they landed. The began to move around the stage, their blades clashing fiercely as the music raged on. Every time one of them looked like they were about to be cut, they would dodge in the nick of time, the violin clone would never be more than three metres away from both. Raikur had clearly been practicing for a while.

Following the impressive display of Bukijutsu, Raikur and his combat clone would retake their initial positions at the centre of the stage, 30 metres apart. The violin clone would do the same, standing in the centre. The combat clone stood 10 metres in front of Julia and her friends, all of whom were jumping and cheering as his performance took place. They were not the only ones, the entire crowd had been cheering, clearly they liked what they saw.

The time for Bukijutsu was over, the next minutes were an action packed display of Raikur and his combat clone hurling lightning Jutsu at each other in time with the violin's performance. The violin clone would elegantly side step and duck to avoid the techniques, his song never faltering as he did so. At the end of the two minutes, Raikur would dodge a Lightning Bolt from his clone, before sending a Lightning Rod of his own flying.

Leaping into the air, his combat clone would fire off an incredible 15 orbs of Lightning Spheres in a large radius towards Raikur. At the pinnacle of his performance, the violin clone also leapt into the air, using Acrobatic Recovery to perform a black flip between the many orbs that were making their way forward.

As this took place, Raikur performed the hand seals, Monkey → Dragon → Rat → Bird → Ox, as the call of a thousand birds erupted around the amphitheatre for the second time that day. Now aware of the incredible feats of the Chidori, the crowd was fit to burst with anticipation. Activating his Awakened Muragan, Raikur dashed forward at full pelt, his power and speed enhanced by the Total Concentration Breathing technique.

The final note of the violin clone's performance struck alongside the final second of his timer as Raikur's Chidori pierced through his combat clone, who was still two metres in the air mid descent, forcing it to be dispelled in a puff of smoke. Raikur landed on the guard rail directly in front of Julia with his Chidori raised high. The entire crowd exploded with screams and cheers, getting to their feet as they applauded. None were louder than Julia, was jumping up and down in front of him, pure joy and admiration in her eyes.

Deactivating his technique, Raikur and his violin clone would both bow from their respective locations, before the final clone was dispelled. With an uncharacteristic grin on his face, Raikur scanned the crowd once more, locking eyes with his father again. Yuuma was seated with a look of utter shock on his face. He had never witnessed his son perform at such a high level before, this had clearly been a humbling moment for the old fool.

Hopping down from the guard rail, Raikur was embraced by Julia yet again. "Win or lose, I don't care. You're getting that second date no matter what! That was incredible Rai!" Everyone in the amphitheatre, including Raikur would then take their seats, chatting away while they waited for the next performance.

WC: 1,948

Mon Aug 07, 2023 1:05 am

The night's affairs took a lot of twists and turns from stunning performances with everyone dressed to their best and up for some. Quinn on the other hand was backstage listening to the crowd and mentally preparing for the affairs of the evening. Many of their acquaintances and, slow-forming, friends were here representing their own talents and skills at which Quinn's experience back to the Academy Recital rang in their head. Hearing Kaito's voice boom over the sound of the crowd before the initial performance gave Quinn a chill on their nerves as their recital trick was not going to possibly woo the Otokage once more. Staring down at their wrapped leather carrying case and the two anvils they brought, the Forgemaster let out an exasperated sigh. Their own outfit appearing to be their normal attire though was more bulging in different forms across their silhouette but behind the leather apron they wore. Upon careful observation of those backstage, it would appear as if the clothes were cut in a way for easy removal, for what purpose who knows?

Current Apperance:

Watching as Hanzo, Harune, Mubu even, and then lastly Raikur stepped forth and performed to their heart's content, Quinn grabbed their first anvil and grabbed some rope to strap it to their back before picking up their leather case that measured roughly over a meter in length but was bulky as could be and then grabbed the second anvil in their free hand. If anyone knew any better, Quinn looked like they just left their forge to work on some special request of a customer, for Quinn this was all part of an act, a showcase, a moment of growth. Many who knew Quinn could tell there was something off about how they held themselves, a rather confident and strong individual seemed a bit sheepish in their approach towards the side of the stage that would be entering on. Watching as the others packed up and prepared for the final performance of the night, Quinn gave themselves a nod while closing their eyes, their name called out to come upon the stage. A roar of applause was met with confusion as the other performances had a lot more regality towards them as Quinn simply walked out, one step at a time.

Walking to the center of an empty stage, the spotlights focused as they set up their anvils with one about 5 meters in front of them and the other directly in front. Unraveling the leather case, a plethora of weaponry would be revealed as a tanto, blunted, three throwing axes and a mace revealed themselves to the ground as there was a sudden break in their excitement filled with confusion. "Music! Sound! Life! All a part of us. All around us. All within us." Quinn shouted out as they grabbed the mace from the assortment of equipment as they began to breathe deeply focusing on their breathing beyond that of normal focus. (+60/60 Speed/Strength, total stats 20/20/190/190) as they showcased one unique trait they picked up, one-handed seals forming Tiger -> Boar -> Rat, as the mace began to glow visibly with chakra as they slammed the mace against the face of the anvil ringing a pure note across the amphitheater just like before but even for those who had bore witness to the blacksmith's antics previously would notice the shift in coloration around the mace turned to brown before forming into a stone head around the mace, with their other hand they grabbed the blunt tanto and started to hit the anvil in different parts, dragged and scratched the anvil as well making dissonant notes.

"Many came from nothing! Many came from elsewhere. Yet here we stand!" Quinn shouted beginning the oration that they became known for. More notes, the last dissonant. "Many work. Many train. Not all came from a lineage." They stated proudly as the earth gathered around their mace even further as they held it visibly for all to see and witness as they spoke. "My name? Quinn Foster! My profession? The Forgemaster! My duty? To the village! To the community! To others who cannot! To others who can!" They continued as their notes became sharper against the anvil's body leaving scratches against a once clean finish, the other anvil stood away from the blacksmith as Quinn brought down the mace causing a local disturbance, clouding Quinn in dust making her hard to make out and creating a loud ringing sound that echoed through the space. As the earth in front of Quinn began to rumble as a massive dent was revealed when the earth around the mace disappeared along with Quinn's outfit pulled off of themselves revealing a red long dress and elegant gloves showing a refined side of Quinn that no one had witnessed to this point, both weapons still in hand.

Reveal:

As the earth's disturbance rang forward the rumbling and shaking reached outward from the straight line that was aimed forward towards the anvil that was five meters away from Quinn rapidly (110 speed, outward 7m). Quinn in their red dress jumped straight up as high as they could, a wild 95m up in the air (190 speed) grabbing the throwing axes on the way up, leaving the mace impacted and left in the busted anvil, moments after causing the local seismic event. The anvil lone on the stage would get catapulted upward once it reached its max distance for the seismic event launching it upward 13 meters into the air (110 speed), before beginning its descent well before Quinn reached their apex. In the air, Quinn aimed towards the anvil letting the axes find their mark causing metallic ringing to echo loudly as the edges found true against the launched anvil. At their apex, they began to flip holding onto the blunted tanto that they had maintained their grip on throughout the performance.

Holding themselves straight as their fall began (150 speed), Quinn's voice could be heard throughout the amphitheater and likely a bit beyond as they let out a roar. "We are Otogakure!" They shouted as they took a stance with their dress spinning and shimmering in the air as their weapon struck what looked like solid glass being shattered downward in a semi-sphere below them causing a glimmering effect to occur as they passed through the distorted air, their tanto still aiming true down towards the lone anvil that was destroyed for all intent and purpose by Quinn's initial blow with the mace. The throwing axes were now scattered on the ground below them as well. "We stand together. We thrive together." They continued as they neared closer and closer to the ground.

Quinn lost in their own world focused as earth-natured chakra once again coated their blade as their descent reached closer and closer to where they began. In a moment of suspense at 5 meters from the ground, Quinn launched into a flip activating their lightness skill as they brought the blade down against the head of the anvil that was poking above the rest of it now. A sudden second rumble began streaking outward to the edge of the stage, 20 meters away, as the ground between Quinn and the judges began to split open pulling in the anvil and throwing axes down below 10 meters into the ground. Unscathed from the fall and descent, Quinn's body as elegant as their dress would float to a standing position from the moment their blade made an impact. As the sound of earth settled, Quinn stood there picking up the mace from the remains of the anvil, resting both weapons on their shoulders taking a side-angle stance, leaving their left food parallel to the end of the stage and their right foot forward point towards the judges with the small ravine in front of them.

"We make euphonic sounds. Together. As the Village Hidden by Sound!" They stated before with a twist of their hip and sticking their force into the left foot, pivoted away leaving a mess of destruction and items littered behind them. However, they stopped and grabbed their leather apron, put the weapons back in the leather case that was left behind untouched, and put the apron back on. "We come from many backgrounds. We've learned how to adapt. We still learn today. Many face new challenges. Many face old ones rekindled. I stand as a testament to those before. And to those after. That change is okay. That growth is right. Thank you all for coming out. To bear witness to our shinobi. To our future. I am Quinn Foster. Forgemaster. Business Owner. Genin of Otogakure." As they did their outro, they began to pick up the mess they left behind, grabbing what broke, what shattered, and what was left behind. Using the rope from earlier, they strapped both anvils together as they clanged against each other behind their back as they left the stage.

Once behind the stage, a huge release was let out by them as they relaxed from such a feat of strength with a little nosebleed beginning to trickle down their face. Tasting the iron that began to run into their lips, the Forgemaster pulled out a small handkerchief, indicating they were prepared for this. Releasing and relieving the pressure that had accumulated, they took a well-deserved and earned seat behind the stage. To them this performance was one to win a contest, it was one to announce that they were here to work. To work towards many great things and that they will leave their mark, one way or another. For those who remained behind, Quinn would offer a thumbs up to each of them leaving a simple statement as their applause started to die down. "We're the future. And we did great."

WC: 1,636

Fri Aug 11, 2023 2:46 am

Hanzo would start off the Harmonic Showdown with an electric performance. The 'Chidori' that he had made, a jutsu of which Kaito was familiar with from the training he had done with the rest of Team Sonata was manipulated in very magnificent ways, becoming both a sharp spear and two senbon-like bolts With the spear the younger Uchiha was able to cut an apple in half, while with the two smaller bolts he was able to pin the two slices on top of the judges' booth with precision.

Just then a buzzing sound erupted form the timer on Kaito's booth, indicating the end of the time limit for Hanzo's performance,

'An excellent display of Lightning-Release from Uchiha, Hanzo!' Kaito said as he clapped. The crowd followed in suit for a fe moments before Kaito continued speaking. 'Up next we have Shokku, Harune!' Harune, another of the Otokage's students, made her way up to the stage. The crowd erupted with standing applause as the young woman got them riled up and ready for what was sure to be a fantastic show. As she began by encasing herself in a veil of visible blue Chakra and shooting multiple fireballs into the open skies above, a young man approached Kaito, taking the spot of Tatsuya to his right. Kaito took note of his flashy appearance and the strong scent of cologne. He had short grey hair and wore an inviting and open expression. When he introduced himself as Otsunatō, Mubu, Kaito smiled, remembering the name from the stories Tatsuya had told him from their time together under Satoshi's tutelage. The man desired to schedule a meeting with Kaito, feeling as though he had methods to help in the growth of Otogakure and to also express his desire to someday join the Sound Ninja Five one day. Taking note of this, Kaito kept his gaze upon Harune's performance. At this point a multitude of blazing-red shuriken made their way through the skies and a dragon of fire erupted into existence. It burst through one of the spheres Harune had created, creating a fantastic display. Nodding, Kaito turned his attention back to Mubu. 'Sorry about that, Mubu, but it is nice to finally meet you in person. Tatsuya has told me so much about your time together on Team Tempo. I'd be delighted to host a meeting together at my office. I got to help with the festival and cleaning up once its over though, so how about next Monday at noon?'

The young man seemingly obliged before making his way back into the crowd and with that Kaito again turned his attention back to the stage. He could see the trap door below the stage open and flames engulfing Harune, at which point the Uchiha's instincts kicked in. Arising from his seat, he was ready to go collect the genin from the stage, but she quickly showed that she was okay before exiting from the door below. With a sigh of relief Kaito clapped.

'Another fantastic performance! Next up, please welcome Otsunatō, Mubu to the stage!"

A silence fell over the crowd as Mubu positioned himself into a chair on the stage, holding in his hands a flute. What Kaito didn't expect, however, was the fact that the young man began using it as a drumstick to sound off the large drum before him. As quickly as this happened though, it sounded as though a choir of hundreds of people entered onto the stage. Kaito was actually aware of this technique, the 'Ventriloquism' technique, which he himself also knew. To see it used to such an extent, however, was only something that the Otokage had wished he could do. The show continued on fantastically, with smoke arising from the drum and forming the shape of a girl who danced around the stage and played a multitude of different whistling jars as the sounds of Mubu's flute being played filled the air. Kaito was quite awestruck, and the sheer amount of techniques being used in unison was a testament to the man's chakra prowess and vigor. When the show was over, he too took a standing ovation along with the rest of the crowd.

'A remarkable show of musical genius, Mubu!" He exclaimed as the staff cleared the stage. 'Now everyone, please welcome Shokku, Raikur to the stage!"

Raikur's performance started with the creation of two Shadow Clones, a technique that Kaito was not aware his student knew personally. One of the clones walked to the side of the performing area for a moment before returning to the center with a violin in hand. Raikur and the other clone had, in the meantime, positioned themselves far away from the clone wielding the violin, and as soon as the clone began playing the instrument, they dashed inward towards the center. What ensued was a fantastic and choreographed display of a Bukijutsu fight, with the two Raikurs' jumping and clashing their blades together in unison. Sparks erupted from the blades as they connected. Once the Bukijutsu display commenced, another display of Lightning-Release began in quick fashion. The electric clashes of the Lightning-Release techniques, along with the backflip performed by the other clone as it still proceeded to play the violin was astounding. As the timer began buzzing, the two clones dispersed and Raikur landed from the air upon the metal railing not too far from the judges' booth. The crowd, along with Kaito, erupted with applause.

'A beautiful display of Bukijutsu and combat, folks! Next up, please welcome Foster, Quinn to the stage"

Wearing her usual attire, the forgemaster did seem a little off from when the two of them had last met. Perhaps it was a bit of stage fright, but Kaito was sure that the woman would be able to overcome it. She started off her performance not with a hammer like their academy graduation ceremony, but rather a mace, a tanto, and three throwing knives. Kaito watched on with much interest as she began using all of the weapons in her performance, much like last time doing it to the beat of her speaking. It worked out harmoniously. Suddenly though, Quinn brought the mace down upon the ground, erupting a large amount of dust. Revealing herself again revealed that she had somehow managed to completely changer her outfit to that of a crimson-red strapped dress. The mace, Kaito noticed, was gone, but she still bared the other weapons she had started the performance with. The sounds of the weapons clashing upon the anvil, and the displays of them, was quite euphoric, and in time the redhead's performance would end with an acknowledgment that the change from te Land of Sky's clan-oriented ways to the village was okay. As she cleaned up the stage of her belongings the crowd and Kaito again erupted with applause. Yet another wonderful performance from the forgemaster, but would it be enough to win over the judges when taking into account all of the other magnificent displays that came before it?

Kaito announced a ten minute hiatus, during which he deliberated with the judges behind the stage to go over all of the performances of the night. All of them had been magnificent and displayed the performers' talents in beautiful ways. If the Otokage had been the sole judge he would've announced that all of the participants were the overall winner, but when he proposed the idea to the other judges it was quickly shut down. He would have to pick a winner, and whenever he and the other judges arrived back onto the main stage, he would do just that.

An uneasy and anticipant silence fell over the crowd, all of the participants lined up on the stage to either side of the judges.

'I want to start by saying that all of the performances tonight were absolutely beautiful, and were all wonderful showcases of everyone's abilities. If it was up to me I would declare all of you the winners, but sadly I have been told that doing as such is not allowed, so after much deliberation and consideration, me and my fellow judges have found our winner of the first annual Harmonic Showdown!" Kaito paused for a moment as he unfolded a piece of paper, upon which the name of the winner was written.

Kaito cleared his throat.

"The winner of the Harmonic Showdown is none other than... Shokku, Raikur!" The crowd erupted with applause as Kaito brought Raikur to the center of the stage with him, all standing with ovation. Kaito smiled, happy that his student had won, but he couldn't help but feel bad for the others. He would have to find a way to make it up to all of them at a later time, but now was Raikur's moment of glory. "His prize for winning, you might be asking, will be 5,000 Ryō and one free item of his choice from our village's ninja shop!" Kaito took Raikur's hand and shook it in a handshake. One of the other judges handed the Otokage a bag full of coin and a coupon for the village's shop, which the Otokage handed Raikur in the boy's free hand. "Good job, kid. You did well." He turned his head to the other participants. "Everyone of you did fantastically. I'll make sure that you are all compensated in some manner for your beautiful displays."

After a little while the stage would be cleared, and soon after the rest of the large Amphitheatre. The people who were in attendance all left happy, exclaiming what a beautiful and exhilarating show it had been. Kaito being himself would stay behind into the wee hours of the morning helping to clean up everything and prepare the complex for the final show of the Festival of Sound; the much anticipated Sound Tournament. He would have to make sure to get some much needed rest, as he had a special announcement to make to make in the final match of the upcoming tournament...

[TOPIX EXIT]

WC (POST) = 1,620 WC
WC (TOTAL) = 2,025 WC

AP UTILIZED:

ITEMS UTILIZED:

EXIT CLAIMS:

Fri Aug 11, 2023 9:32 am

Once Hanzo left the stage, it was Harune's turn. His blonde haired teammate went up the stage and lit it up with her fire release and sun release. She was on fire with her performance as the young Uchiha clapped loudly. It was like the fireworks that filled the amphitheater.

The next person to head up to the stage was Mubu, whom he had prior mission with. He knew Mubu was a trainwreck and expected him to perform as such. That was the first time Hanzo had seen the puppetry technique, it looked weird but at the same time was extremely interesting. He made a mini musical with himself and the puppet, it was an absolute sight to see.

Once Mubu left the stage, another teammate of Hanzo entered the amphitheater. It was Raikur, who was in a different attire than before. He began with his Shadow Clones and made myriads of acrobatic and fighting act combined with a violin music. It was like watching a grand show. Hanzo stood up and gave a standing ovation as the show came to an end.

Finally it was the forgemaster's turn. As usual, they started with their weird introduction which always entertained Hanzo. The biggest shocker was the reveal of Quinn's attire, they looked so different from what Hanzo had seen from before. Hanzo would give a thumbs up towards Quinn as they left the stage.

Since the showdown came to an end, everyone in the amphitheater was anxiously waiting for the winner to be announced. The Otokage took to the stage and congratulated everyone on their show. The winner was declared by the Otokage, it was Raikur. Hanzo began clapping, feeling proud that his teammate won, especially with all his stunts.

The young Uchiha then proceeded to head towards his teammates and congratulate them "Hey Harune and Raikur! That was an absolute showdown for real. I'm proud of both of you, great work guys" and raised his hand to high five both of them. "I was the most mellow with my act, I didn't realize you guys were going to top it like that" Hanzo laughed. The young Uchiha would then proceed to leave the amphitheater to prepare for the second tournament.

WC: 371
TWC: 963

Exit Claims:

Sun Aug 13, 2023 1:21 pm

as Mubu got down from the stage, a faint smile could be seen on his face, as he walked away from his seat, hands in his pockets. In his mind, he was the best performance of the showdown, but the otokage seemed to think differently. As he got down, he met with the others contenders of the show, and classic to Mubu attitude, he had to interact with them. Seeing first Harune, Mubu smiled in a seductive way, approaching the young girl he tought was very cute: ''Hello you! Wooow what a performance you did. You trully are made to be the center of attention are you? Im never getting bored of looking at you. How about we grab a coffee one of these days? Get to know each other better! *wink* ahahaHAHA!'' said in a suave, deep and flirty voice the young colorfull man. He wanted to seduce Harune, but mainly get close to raikur. Mubu was a sore looser, he hated to come second or anything else than first, seeing silver medals as loosers in the same way last people lost. To him, only winning mattered, especially in a contest of artistic showdown, where they needed to be artsy. ''What did his performance had better than mine ? only fucking lightning and buzz, blinding lights! He did the same thing as Hanzo, why is that original? fucking Kage feet sucker!'' tought to himself the young colorfull ninja.

As he saw raikur and hanzo, he couldnt help but get close to the lightning users, and comment on the victory of raikur, who also injured Mubu. Decidedly, Raikur was the 'teacher favorite' the first of class, the hot shit. Mubu hated that, he held a grudge against raikur now, as he saw himself as the most artistic in the village, and his puppet show loosing to some thunder-boy was an insult to his art, and Mubu wasnt having it. He had an idea to make raikur mad. As he approaced the crowd, he took the opportunity that raikur was busy to go about and seduce Julia, the current fling of Raikur. Little did the purple lighting user knew, Mubu and Julia had already been close to each other before, but not in a serious way. As Mubu approached, Julia recognized him, and jumped of joy: ''MUBU ! Oh my god this was soo good! its been a while since we saw each other!'' said the young girl, taking mubu in her arms in a warm embrace, a heartfelt hug. Mubu knew that she meant a lot for him, and stole her away, getting away with her laughing, hand in hand, as Mubu knew the girl and had a great sense of humor. As Mubu walked away, talking sweet into Julia's ears, and rekindling their chemistry like before when they fooled around together, he turned back, looked at raikur and said: ''Hey Rai! Better enjoy those five thousands ryo you won my man! con-gra-tu-la-tions on the win! Enjoy it while it last, money is fickle, love isn't *wink and smile*'' said Mubu in a loud voice, making sure eveyone heard what he said, as he wrapped his arm around a joyful Julia, getting out with her towards the lights of the festivals and market district. As Mubu got away with her, he said ''hey soooo sorry about that! Julia you deserve better than raikur, trust me! Also its good to rekindle with ya, how about we go get a drink!'' said enthusiastically mubu to the young blonde. ''Awwn Mubu its been a long time indeed, I missed you! But dont say these bad things about Rai! he's cool, just not the same as you! you know, some people are made to have more passionate flings, like us together, and with raikur its more sentimental. I hope you get it! But yeah, im still down for a drink, and for getting back to your place like before too! *naughty laugh* Remember the time we did that thing with the blanket and pillow? ahaha! Yeah lets spice things up tonight!'' said the girl as she kissed Mubu on the cheek. Mubu knew what she meant, he didnt want to hurt his friend Julia either, so if she had feeling he wouldnt throw dirt on raikur too much. But that wouldnt make him stop from breaking Raikur heart by seductive vengence for winning the showdown and injuring Mubu's hand. Mubu smiled, throwing one last gaze toward the now distant group with raikur, and they left the amphiteather.

[EXIT]

TWC: 3021

stats= 30 stat going to chakra, new chakra max 120.

puting 1500 WC towards (1000 WC remaining) genjutsu Clone, Temporary paralysis C ranked for 1000 WC, and 500 WC going to learn C rank of Formata scream

Mon Aug 14, 2023 10:29 am

Raikur applauded Quinn loudly at the end of their performance, the blacksmith's heart felt display moved him in a way he had not thought was possible. As they moved off the stage, Raikur sat in silence as the group of girls to his right began chatting amongst themselves once more. He was no longer nervous, he had performed to the best of his abilities and shown the people of Otogakure what he was capable of. To him, this was never about winning, it was about comparing himself to his peers, to his fellow Genin. They had all performed spectacularly, something which excited him. More competition meant greater growth after all.

After the brief intermission, Raikur and his fellow competitors were called onto the stage. He made his way there as the entire group was applauded, before there was complete silence. Kaito began his speech, it seemed as if everyone in the amphitheatre was hanging onto each one of his words. Everyone except for two male Shokku. Raikur and his father held eye contact for the entirety of the speech, neither looking away and keeping stone faced. Their remained eyes locked as the Kage spoke about his regrets of having to only choose one winner. Their eyes remained locked when he cleared his throat before his announcement. Their eyes remained locked up until his name was announced as the winner.

Raikur watched with concealed glee as his father's eyes widened at the announcement, this must have absolutely ruined his day, and by extension, made Raikur's. Both men finally looked away as the crowd started going crazy and Kaito took Raikur over to the centre of the stage. Reciprocating Kaito's hand shake, Raikur gave him a respectful nod before accepting his rewards in hand. "Thank you Lord Otokage, it means a lot."

It was then time for them all to exit the stage, but before then, Raikur had to deal with many younger villagers rushing around him. They were bright faced and starry eyes, making him feel like a celebrity. He politely smiled and agreed to chat with them while signing little replica village headbands. As this happened, he spotted Mubu walking away with Julia, the intentions were quite clear and Raikur did not need to hear them to understand. Right as Mubu would turn around to look at Raikur, the young Shokku pointed at him and spoke the group of children surrounding him. "Try not to be too mean to that guy over there. I think he is a little heartbroken after losing to me." The group would start laughing loudly as Raikur and Mubu locked eyes for a short moment.

Before Harune could leave, Raikur would stop her for a moment. "You did well sis, I am really proud." He would go to embrace her for a warm hug, and if she accepted it he would whisper something into her ear. "When you face him in the Sound Tournament, feel free to beat him to a bloody pulp, for your bro of course." He would then walk towards the exit himself, his rewards still in the palm of his hand. Right before he reached it, his father stood in his way, arms crossed and looking directly at him.

After a short silence, Yuuma would finally speak. "Congratulations Raikur. You... surprised me out there. Perhaps I was wrong about you." Neither of them spoke a word after that. There was another brief pause before they began walking forwards. At first it looked as if they were walking into each other, but they simply walked past. Raikur to the exit and his father, presumably, to go congratulate Harune for her performance. That was the closest Yuuma had ever been to representing a proper father, but it was far too late for that.

As he walked home, there was only one thing really on Raikur's mind. It was clear that his victory had been tearing Mubu apart inside, he was indeed a vengeful and hateful man. His snickering remarks towards Raikur in the past had never bothered the young Shokku, but it was clear that he wanted to try and aggravate him. Very well then. If he truly wants to understand the wrath of the Shokku, I will show it to him...

WC: 709
TWC: 2,657

Claims:

The Harmonic Showdown

The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown

Re: The Harmonic Showdown