Rokku's Explosive Debut

Mission:

Rokku had been preparing for the Academy recital for days and was keen to get it over and done with. It was a particularly quaint form of progression and completely in step with the values and traditions of Otogakure. Rokku doubted any of the other villages turned a ranking exam to genin into an artistic performance where it was important to be creative, innovative and display control over higher ranked jutsu techniques. It made a kind of sense as clearly a good ninja required those skills but it felt more ceremonial and artful than a regular exam and Rokku did not relish sharing a stage with the majority of other ‘performers’ being 10 years his junior. As far as he was concerned it would only serve as a kind of humiliation and fuel for his family to tease him for the rest of his life. Especially if he somehow failed to be granted the rank of genin. Rokku closed his eyes and took deep calming breaths to dispel the thought, reaching for his guitar and settling down to play a few chords and let his fingers roam the fret board unconsciously as his other hand strummed the strings. With the sound of the soft notes creating an island of calm within his own mind. Calm and quiet returned to him as he lost part of himself to the music and allowed himself to review his plans for the recital again.

He had been working on his recital for a while and though his family had offered their full support and assistance he was still uncertain if it would work as he hoped. From Rokku’s understanding it would have to be both a display of his prowess as a ninja and creativity as an artist. Had he been able to incorporate his music direct it would have been far easier but then nature of his wind element techniques inherently meant that his techniques would be largely invisible, except for one of them but he would be required to demonstrate at least two. He had no doubt that any proficient ninja in attendance could guess at what he had done but that did not quite feel in the spirit of the thing.

His idea had to work, it was too late to change his plans now with only a few short hours before the recital would begin. Despite himself Rokku was proud of his idea and had done as much practice as he could with his techniques to make the performance as polished and smooth as possible though he was still worried that it would fall short. His family had decided to attend and watch which instantly placed more pressure on Rokku to demonstrate that he had not been slaking in his training and that he was serious about becoming a ninja, even if he only truly wanted to mastered the sound release techniques to bring his music to greater heights. It would also make Rokku happy if he was able to make a great impression and it fed back to the Sarutobi clan. He didn’t much care for making friends with the elders but he figured every accolade and success he acquired was another stab into their ego for turning their back on his mother for making her own choices, reminding them she had definitely not made the wrong choice. Rokku’s family were not a poor choice or foolish dream and they had every right to help shape the future of the village as much as any clan regardless of how old or prestigious they once were.

Rokku gathered his things together and picked up the box that would serve as the centre piece for this performance. It was about 2 foot on each face of plain white paper with the symbol of the Sarutobi clan on two sides for his mother, the Hisara clan symbol on two sides for his father and siblings and the remaining sides bore the Quaver symbol that represented the hidden sound village on every headband worn by the village shinobi. He carried the box carefully, careful not to knock it against anything hard lest the it break and its secrets spill out before the recital even had a chance to begin.  He carefully manoeuvred through their home, managing to quickly stretch up on tip toes and lift the box just as the twins came hurtling through the corridor. Unfortunately he was not quick enough to avoid having his foot stepped on. “Watch where you going you little monkeys!”

Mei and Rin turned in unison and blew a raspberry at Rokku before giggling and heading out the door after quickly donning their shoes. “Don’t get snappy Kuku. I know you are nervous but I am sure it will be fine, after all children pass it all the time so I am sure you have nothing to worry about. Here let me carry that for you.” Rokku's mother took the box from him deftly and showing no sign of effort as she carried it in such a fashioned that almost certainly blocked her view of where she was going. Rokku gritted his teeth a little and sighed as her words sunk in. His mother had a talent for saying things that were both supportive and disheartening at the same time. And Rokku wondered if it was on purpose. “Thanks.”

His father carried Sota on his shoulder and ducked low through the doors, pausing to pat Rokku on his arm and offer a few words after hearing Haru’s comments before she took the box. “You are going to do well son, I have every confidence in you, we all do.” As he spoke, Sota also provided a comforting pat on Rokku’s head and he couldn’t help but smile despite the nerves. “Well lets just get this over with.”

Time passed quickly as he waited for the other students who were performing that day and Rokku felt a little awkward as he regarded his clothing, a traditional yukata that his parent shad insisted he wear rather than his usual casual wear. Rokku had refused to change his hair or remove his piercings or rings however. It was a compromise he had little choice but to accept. Finally it was his turn and he walked out and placed the box and a small stand before giving a formal bow and throwing the box high into the air before leaping back and making the seals of Bird > Dragon > Ox and sending several air bullets hurtling almost invisibly towards the box, only visible by the slight distortion in the air as they passed. They struck the corners as intended, causing the weakly joints to bust open and the faces of the cube to fall away revealing a colourful paper dragon head and multicoloured streamers like a rainbow began to unfurl as it began its descent.

Attached to the body of the paper dragon were numerous small chimes and bells as well as several colourful paper orbs like large eggs where its legs would be. Rokku took a deep breath, knowing that this was the difficult part and making the signs of Tiger > Dog > Rabbit and ensuring to control his chakra as he released a powerful stream of wind that darted towards the paper dragon like a coiled snake made of air, catching the mask and dragging the dragon in its wake, as though it were flying. Rokku maintained the stream and pushed the dragon higher into the air as it spiralled and twirled following the course of his whirlwind thrust technique as he guided it carefully. As the dragon twisted and moved through the air the bells and chimes also rang with a xylophone like effect as each pitch and note followed a moment behind the one before.

Rokku guided the dragon into the shape of the Quaver symbol of the village, its head acting as the base and forming the rest of the shape with its body and stopped the technique and paused to take in another swift breath and forming yet more hand seals of Rat > Rabbit > Dog and releasing several thin bursts of vacuum needles that shredded the paper dragon and exploded the spheres in its claws as well as one hidden sphere in the dragons head. As the colourful sphere exploded a spectrum of paper confetti showered  down as the final bells and chimes rang out there last before falling to the floor, timed with a perfectly executed bow from Rokku. Rokku remained in the bowed position longer than necessary in order to catch his breath and smiled nervously before shuffling away quickly. He had managed to pull off the performance as he imagined it and hoped it was good enough. If nothing else he knew he had given it his very best shot and from the smiles on his families face he had at the very least made them proud, even if only for a moment, he was centre stage and he vowed it would not be the last time either.

WC: 1509

Claiming mission rewards:
- 1000 Ryo
- 10AP
- Promotion to D-Rank power/ Genin
- Otogakure Ninja Headband

Claiming stats:
+8 vigour - 800/1500
+7 Chakra - 1500/1500

Claiming WC: 1509:
- Fuinjutsu Breaking C-Rank - 1000 - 1000/1509
-  Basic Sealing Technique -500 - 1500/1509
- 9 WC towards mastery of Cat Eyes -155/250 (Mastery: No Handseals)

Rokku wrote:

Mission:

WC: 1509

Claiming mission rewards:
- 1000 Ryo
- 10AP
- Promotion to D-Rank power/ Genin
- Otogakure Ninja Headband

Claiming stats:
+8 vigour - 800/1500
+7 Chakra - 1500/1500

Claiming WC: 1509:
- Fuinjutsu Breaking C-Rank - 1000 - 1000/1509
-  Basic Sealing Technique -500 - 1500/1509
- 9 WC towards mastery of Cat Eyes -155/250 (Mastery: No Handseals)

Approved