Let the Games Begin

The Festival of Sound: High Striker
The Festival of Sound: Whack-A-Mole
The Festival of Sound: Log Rolling
The Festival of Sound: Ball Toss



If asked about the annual Festival of Sound in Otogakure, Rokku would describe it as a childlike distraction which was nice for the kids in the village but overwise held little purpose or interest to him. He would also say that he had no choice but to go every year, as his 5 younger siblings were particularly insistent and it had become a family tradition. Rokku if asked would not mention however that in the run up to the festival he would actively practice his favoured events in order to try and win a prize for his brothers and sisters. He also wouldn't admit to really enjoying the time spent with his family and enjoying the variety of sights and sounds that brought the many clans and the village together as a whole. The Festival of Sound was one of the few days he chose not to bring his precious guitar with him, electing instead to bring a simple flute, which would be snatched and fought over by his younger siblings as they tried to impress him with their music. Of course, every member of the Hisara family had a flute of their own as well as a selection of instruments following the family tradition, but the younger siblings always wanted to use the elders instruments for some reason. Rokku remembered sneaking into the music room and practising with his sisters collection of string instruments but he could not remember why it seemed so interesting or exciting. He wondered if it was simply the fear of getting caught or the desire to prove themselves an equal. He recalled being caught vividly and being chased around the house with a fly swatter. Rokku hid in the attic for 2 hours before creeping back down and buying his safety with a pudding.

Rokku strode fearlessly into the festival, trying to project an aura of cool detachment from the excitement of the other festival goers around him. The effect was somewhat ruined by his younger twin sisters Mei and Rin swinging on his arms and attempting to pull him in different directions at the same time as something interesting caught their eyes. His youngest brother Sota rode on Rokku’s shoulders, grasping onto his locks of hair tightly so as not to fall as well as to also try and steer Rokku in a direction more pleasing to him. Nearby his parents walked together, talking quietly, and greeting other members of the Hisara and Sarutobi clans or neighbours and friends as they passed. After several moments of being pulled in multiple directions Rokku settled for heading towards the ball toss game first eliciting a cheer of victory from Rin and a punch in the arm from Mei which Rokku noted had a surprising amount of strength to it. “Well lets get this over with, you know the ball toss is my weakest game so don’t get your hopes up” Rokku shook of Mei and managed to fish some of the Ryo’s his mother had given him to spend at the festival and counted out the correct amount for the ball toss game. He placed the money on the counter and was greeted by the owner of the stall who handed him three balls to throw at the stacked glass bottle to win a prize. “Trying again this year Rokku, I admire your stubbornness if not the strength of your throwing arm.” Rokku rolled his eyes but could not stop a smiling creeping through the aloof act. “Well I guess we will see won’t we, better get that prize ready for me.. ah!” Rokku returned the ball the counter top before lifting Sato of his shoulder and placing him next to Rin. “Sorry buddy don’t want to accidently throw you of. Be good for Rin, definitely don’t ask her for a piggyback”

Roku picked up the ball and focused on the target laughing wickedly inside his own head as he heard Rin complain as Sota tried to climb awkwardly up her back as Rokku knew he would with the barest of suggestions not to do it. Rokku steadied himself and pulled the ball to his chest throwing his left hand forward and arcing his right hand in an overhead swing that generated more power thana  simple overhand throw. His hopes were dashed as the ball went wide to a chorus of boos from his siblings. Rokku rotated his arm a little and prepared to throw again, this time he managed to knock two bottles down but the rest of the tower remained firm. On his final throw he knocked only one bottle of and gritted his teeth in annoyance but sighed, slapping down more ryo and trying again. It took him seven more rounds of attempts before he had won a prize for his brother and sisters and he panted with tiredness and massaged his arm that was now sore from repeated throwing of the ball. “Whak-a-mole next! Whack-a-mole next!” Rokku shuddered at the thought of repeatedly swinging the hammer with his already aching arm. “No we can do that last I think, just need to rest my arm a little. How about the log roller? I don’t need my arm much for that one right?” Rokku waited with bated breath, a bead of sweat forming and falling down his forehead as the whims of his siblings decided his fate. “I guess it could be fun to watch you fall off again right?” Mei looked to Rin who nodded in agreement and replied. “Yeah I want to see you land on your face so you mess up your makeup!”
“Hey, I told you I don’t wear make-up, I had to wear it for a performance and dad made me, said its part of the performers art! My eyelashes are just naturally long and dark!” Rin and Mei burst into giggles as Sato watched on, sliding down Rins back and beginning to climb up Rokku to reclaim his shoulder throne. “Not yet Sato,let me do the log roll then I promise I will carry you, besides Mei will be really sad if you don’t giver her a turn to carry you.” Mei ran forward and scooped Sato up as he wriggled onto her back with a n oomph as Mei let out a breath as she adjusted to the weight and balance, following behind.

The line to take part in the log rolling provided enough time for Rokku to rest a little and shake his body off a little, Rokku had yet to master surface walking as it had never really been a focus of his recent training but he was still able to add a bit more grip with a combination of balance and chakra control was something he had never really struggled with. Whether this was due to natural talent or simply a by product of the Sarutobi blood Rokku had rarely questioned, perhaps because he knew which was more likely to be the correct answer.

Finally it was Rokkus turn to climb the log against his opponent a tall lady proudly wearing her headband. Rokkus confidence plummeted btu he was determined to put on a good show. Technically shinobi were not supposed to use their techniques or abilities in the festival games where prizes were concerned but the rule was never enforced and the spectacle was often worth a bending of the rules. Unfortunately for Rokku this mean he was going to have a much tougher time of the vent than usual. He focused inwards and recalled his training provided by his mother. Steady the breath and feel the chakra flow through the body. Feel it pooling in his feet, extending like the roots of a great tree, intertwining and mixing with the ground and water he stood upon. Maintain a  point of balance and concentration, being careful not to apply too much or too little chakra. When Rokku was ready he stepped onto the log feeling his feet gripping firmly but not so much that he would physically stick to the log, just enough to give some extra grip. He began running at a jog before speeding up, watching his opponent keep track with ease as he noticed barely seemed to be breaking a sweat and keeping up almost effortlessly.

Rokku smiled and used one of his greatest log rolling techniques, as he jumped and performed a little spin before landing and instantly running the opposite direction, changing the rotation of the log. The ninja was caught unaware and though she tried to regain her footing it was clear it would not be possible without using surface walking to regain purchase. She gave a thumbs up as she slipped off into the water below to a roar of cheers from the crowd, Rokku slowed down a  little, diving back off the log and narrowly avoiding a dip in the water himself. A small crowd formed patting him on the back and lifting him up before he was speared in the gut by Rin and Mei who executed a co-ordinated attack, knocking him back down to the ground. Rokku felt himself pulled up by a small soft hand with considerable strength that he knew belonged to his mother as she effortless lifted him and gave him a hard punch in the arm, causing him to wince Rokku accepted the praise and rubbed his arm, certain it would leave a bruise for a few days and leaving him to lament the fact that his mother had been a taijutsu specialist in her ninja days.

Rokku left his siblings with his family and wandered the festival alone for a little while and sneakily had a few attempts on the whack-a-mole game but had to settle for a consolation prize after several attempts but he was glad Mei and Rin were not there to watch. After his almost entirely crushing defeat at whack a mole, he met up again with his family as they wandered through the festival trading stories and teasing each other as each member of the family were embarrassed by one story or another. Rokku was surprised to learn something new about his mother who had seemingly been banned from taking part in the high striker game after shattering it in one blow in an attempt to impress Rokku’s father. His mother seemingly took the story with good grace but Rokku noticed that no more stories were told about her for the rest of the evening. Rokku was impressed with his fathers restraint but understood it was better than angering her and walking a round on eggshells for a week. His mother said its was a Sarutobi trait but Rokku doubted this was entirely the clans bloodline at work.

“You are going to have a go on the high striker right Kuku?” Rokku winced and groaned silently as his mother used his pet name from when he was a child. No matter how many times he asked her she kept using it, even in public and to try and argue against her would only serve to invite more embarrassing stories told rather loudly in very public places. Rokku learned to grin and bear it. “Of course, I always safe the best ot last. I bet I won’t even break it either.” He winked at his mother who shot a look at him then levelled a withering stare at Rokkus father who simply laughed and shrugged before pulling her in closer and whispering something Rokku certainly had no intention of trying to hear.

He stepped up the striker clicking his back and neck before picking up the hammer, testing its weights and having a small practice swing. He focused on drawing up his energy and weight as he rested on the balls of this feet, lightly springing up and down to warm up his muscles. Rokku knew the ke wasn’t just strength but also momentum and explosive force. He rocked on his heels a little before focusing chakras into his feet to ground him and exploded from a  low crouch to swing the hammer of his head at the apex of his height before bringing his full weight down again into a low crouch and striking with the hammer. A satisfying ringing noise rang out as the metal piece struck the bell and Rokku claimed his prize, awarding it to his mother in honour of the broken high striker from many years ago. Rokku helped Mei, Rin and Sota to also have a go to varying levels of hilarity but was impressed by Mei’s attempt and wondered if she had been training with their mother in secret. The rest of the evening passed in a blur of stalls, colours and of course music.

It was a fun evening and by the time they arrived home each of the adults were carrying a separate sleepy child, depositing them in their rooms before Rokku went to have a bath and quietly pluck his guitar. Hi older sister Hana wandered in an hour or so after the rest of the family returned, smelling of sake and stumbling through the house with the grace of a one legged rhinoceros. Somehow she managed to bump into 3 separate walls before making her way to her room and passing out unceremoniously on the bed. Moments later the snoring began and Rokku rose and closed her door before heading back to his room and settling in to try and sleep. Overall it had been a very good day and he looked forward to the next festival of sound.

[Exit]

TWC: 2257

Claiming Mission rewards:
- 4,000 Ryo
- 20AP

Claiming 2257 WC:
- Wind Release: Air Bullets - 1000 - 1000/2257
- Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere - 1000 - 2000/2257
- Genjutsu Art: Genjutsu Release - 250 - 2250/2257
- 7 WC towards Mastery for Genjutsu Art: Genjutsu Release - 7/250 - 2257/2257

Rokku wrote: The Festival of Sound: High Striker
The Festival of Sound: Whack-A-Mole
The Festival of Sound: Log Rolling
The Festival of Sound: Ball Toss


[Exit]

TWC: 2257

Claiming Mission rewards:
- 4,000 Ryo
- 20AP

Claiming 2257 WC:
- Wind Release: Air Bullets - 1000 - 1000/2257
- Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere - 1000 - 2000/2257
- Genjutsu Art: Genjutsu Release - 250 - 2250/2257
- 7 WC towards Mastery for Genjutsu Art: Genjutsu Release - 7/250 - 2257/2257

Approved

Forgot to claim stats:
Claming 2200:

Claiming 11 Strength
Claiming 11 Chakra

Rokku wrote:Forgot to claim stats:
Claming 2200:

Claiming 11 Strength
Claiming 11 Chakra

Approved!