[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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On the outskirts of the Tokonatsu clan compound, Touwa, geared up for his bukijutsu practice. He slung a bag over his shoulder, filled not with fancy poetry but with wooden weapons—shurikens, kunais, the works. Kuro, his black cat, tagged along.
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In a nearby forest, Touwa got straight down to business. No ceremonies, just straightforward training. He grabbed a handful of wooden shurikens and threw them at a tree, creating dull thuds as they hit. Kunais followed each throw with a calculated move. The forest became his makeshift target range, with trees standing in as indifferent bullseyes. Occasionally, Kuro expressed his displeasure with an unhappy hiss when a throw came too close.
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Touwa moved from one wooden weapon to another, his bag functioning as a practical mobile arsenal. Nature didn't care about his routine, but Touwa was focused. As the training continued, he shifted to practicing kata with a wooden training katana. No fancy moves, just a kid in the woods, determined and practical. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, but Touwa wasn't there for a sightseeing tour.
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"Looking all cool, aren't we?" Ruiteki snickered. "Shh, let him focus," the calmer side of Ruiteki retaliated.
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The forest remained indifferent, the only acknowledgment being the occasional rustle of leaves. Touwa wasn't seeking admiration; he was just a kid refining his bukijutsu skills in the serene woods near the Tokonatsu clan compound.
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
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The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
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鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell sword way]
[break][break]
After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 230
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Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

As Akio ambled through the woods, the play of sunlight and shadows danced through the foliage, creating a serene atmosphere that complemented his laid-back demeanor. Having immersed himself in deep meditation within the jungle for the past week, he opted for a contemplative walk to ponder the subtle shifts he was beginning to experience when entering sage mode. The newfound ability to sense things better lingered in his thoughts, though testing it solo proved challenging.

However, his introspection was abruptly interrupted by the distant thuds of wooden shurikens meeting a tree. Intrigued, Akio altered his course, tracing the sound until he stumbled upon Touwa absorbed in bukijutsu practice with what looked like a cute black cat at his side. Unable to resist the allure of the feline, Akio rushed over at his maximum speed, crouching down to pet the cat, unable to contain his delight at the adorable creature. It was likely that Touwa wouldn’t realize he was there until he was already crouching down.

While attempting to give Kuro some attention, Akio turned his attention to Touwa with a friendly grin, one hand still casually tucked into his ninja pants. "Hey there! We really should stop meeting like this," he remarked, his gaze taking in the disciplined focus of Touwa's training. This was the second time the two of them had met randomly while out and about, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. There were a limited number of spaces to train away from people within the village unless you got super creative.

A chuckle escaped Akio before he shifted to a more serious tone. "Maybe you can help me out, though. I've been getting tingles of some sort of extrasensory stuff in sage mode, but it's a bit tricky to train something like that alone, and perhaps you could use a moving target," he suggested, gesturing towards the tree with the hand that had been scritching the little kitty, "instead of a large unmoving tree." Hitting a tree certainly could still be useful for Touwa’s current stage of development, but a moving target would definitely be a lot more useful.

Tokonatsu Touwa

[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa, engrossed in his bukijutsu practice, was initially oblivious to Akio's approach. The rhythmic thuds of his wooden weapons meeting the tree absorbed his attention until the unexpected interruption. When Akio crouched down to pet Kuro, the black cat at his side, which was unusual for Kuro as he usually disliked strangers, maybe it had something to do with Akio being a sage. Touwa finally noticed the presence of the newcomer.
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Looking up from his training, Touwa greeted Akio with a nod and a friendly smile. "Akio-san! Guess we do have a habit of bumping into each other in the woods," he remarked a hint of amusement in his tone. He appreciated Akio's company, as they met so often that Touwa had started to feel that Akio's presence was something he enjoyed very much.
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As Akio shifted to a more serious note about the sage mode, Touwa listened attentively. "Tingles, huh? That sounds interesting," he mused. Touwa understood the value of a moving target, and the suggestion made sense to him. "Sure, I'm up for it. I could use a bit of variety in my training, and it sounds like a good opportunity for both of us," he replied, a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.
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Sheathing the wooden training katana, Touwa stretched his arms briefly before adopting a ready stance. "Let's see how well that sage mode tingling of yours works being a moving target and all." Touwa was always open to new challenges, and this unexpected encounter promised an interesting twist to his usual bukijutsu routine.
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"Kuro, you better get out," he called out to Kuro, as Akio prepared for his sage mode, Touwa took a step back, giving him the space needed. He observed with genuine curiosity, eager to see how Akio's newfound sensory abilities would manifest in action. "Take your time," Touwa encouraged, adjusting his stance to prepare for the incoming challenge. The playfulness from his earlier training was replaced by a more focused demeanor as he anticipated the training exercise ahead.
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As Akio readied himself, Touwa retrieved a fresh batch of wooden shurikens and kunais from his bag, filling his hand with a variety of tools. The dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves as Touwa held the weapons with a practiced grip. With a casual yet determined air, Touwa awaited Akio's signal. "Ready when you are," he called out, his eyes locked on Akio. As soon as the first signal came, Touwa sprang into action, swiftly launching the wooden projectiles towards Akio.
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The wooden shurikens and kunais sailed through the air in a purposeful yet unpredictable pattern, each one following a distinct trajectory aimed at challenging Akio's sensory abilities. Some weapons whirred in a straight, direct line, testing Akio's precision and reflexes as they honed in on his position. These represented Touwa's straightforward attacks, designed to keep the sage on his toes.
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Others took a more erratic path, zigzagging through the air with sudden shifts and turns. These unpredictable trajectories aimed to disrupt any preconceived notions Akio might have about the weapons' paths, forcing him to rely on his sage mode intuition to evade them successfully.
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A couple of shurikens spun in a spiraling motion, creating a mesmerizing dance in the air as they approached Akio. Touwa strategically incorporated these spins to add an element of complexity, challenging Akio's ability to track the weapons' movements and respond accordingly, and practice his throwing skills.
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The kunais, meanwhile, were thrown with a subtle spin that made them curve in mid-air. This added curve introduced an extra layer of challenge, requiring Akio to not only sense the weapons' presence but also anticipate their changing trajectories.
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
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鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell sword way]
[break][break]
After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 607
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Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

Akio maintained his crouched position, his hands gently patting Kuro's fur, the black cat seemingly unbothered by the attention. As Touwa acknowledged his presence, Akio's friendly grin persisted, "Maybe the trees are conspiring to bring us together."

Once the small cat moved away at Touwa’s behest, a surge of energy coursed through the young sage. Excitement filled him at the prospect of testing his budding perception. Furthermore, with the culmination of his training, he no longer needed the clap to trigger sage mode—just a moment of stillness. As the young sage closed his eyes for a brief moment, he took a deep breath, gathering the energies of the world around him. The scales slowly began to form in their usual spots, and he finally felt ready.

With a confident nod, Akio centered himself before addressing Touwa, "Alrighty, I think I’m ready. I'll keep my eyes closed. Let's see how this goes," Akio announced, the tingling sensations of sage mode heightening his awareness. Keeping his eyes closed, he relied solely on his newfound sense, inviting the surrounding energy to guide him. The forest's ambient sounds became more pronounced, and Akio could feel the subtle changes in the environment around him.

In his sage-induced state, Akio sensed the presence of the wooden projectiles before they were thrown. However, with closed eyes, his spatial awareness was still adjusting. Touwa was quick to react to Akio entering sage mode, almost immediately sending his weapons whizzing through the air. Akio, relying on his heightened senses, attempted to evade, but most of them landed with a dull thud against his shoulders and thigh.

Undeterred, Akio focused on the new tingling sensation that allowed him to seemingly know Touwa's location. However, the tiny wooden weapons were much more challenging to locate. Still with eyes closed, he tried to dodge some, but a few grazed his clothing, marking the impact. Admittedly, he probably would have been hit less if he just ducked and covered his head.

The forest echoed with the thuds and scraping of wooden weapons across cloth, and Akio, despite a few hits, maintained his concentration. The real challenge for him was interpreting this new sense. Fortunately, his training partner was a child armed with wooden weapons, sparing him from waking up with any serious injuries.

As Akio slowly began to make sense of the tingling sensations around him, acclimating to a sense he didn't normally possess proved difficult. Once all the weapons from the first throw had made it, he spoke up again with a chuckle, "Alright, I’m actually ready this time. Those were practice throws for both of us. I got hit by a lot of them, but you definitely have to be able to throw harder than that, right? Precision doesn’t mean much if you don’t hit the target with any meaningful force.” He chuckled a bit, attempting to egg Touwa on a little.



Tokonatsu Touwa

[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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A chuckle escaped Akio as he spoke up after the first barrage, his words carrying a hint of challenge. Touwa grinned in response, appreciating the playful banter. "You've got a point there, Akio-san. Let's up the ante a bit," he replied, the determination evident in his eyes.
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With a swift motion, Touwa retrieved another set of wooden shurikens and kunais from his bag. This time, he adjusted his stance, ready to add a bit more force to the throws. "Alright, brace yourself. Here comes the real deal," he announced, launching the projectiles with a bit more intensity.
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The second round of wooden projectiles sailed through the air, each one aimed with precision at specific targets. Touwa adjusted his strategy, targeting Akio's sides and lower body to keep him on his toes. Some weapons whizzed towards his left, forcing Akio to quickly pivot, while others came from the right, testing his agility.
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As Akio adeptly maneuvered through the onslaught, Touwa seized the opportunity to introduce an unexpected twist. Amidst the flurry of shurikens and kunais, he swiftly unsheathed the wooden training katana, adding an element of surprise to the barrage. With a seamless motion, the katana joined the airborne assault, its trajectory carefully calculated to provide a new layer of challenge.
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The unexpected inclusion of the wooden katana aimed at Akio's midsection added an element of unpredictability to the training exercise. The impact, while not as forceful as a real blade, would serve as a test of Akio's ability to discern the subtle differences in the weapons' trajectories. The forest echoed with a combination of thuds and the swishing sound of the wooden katana slicing through the air.
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Touwa's grin widened as he observed Akio's reactions, eager to see how the young sage would adapt to this unforeseen variation in the training routine.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
[break][break]
鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell Sword Way]
[break][break]
After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 302
[break]
Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

Akio kept his eyes closed and took a deep breath in an attempt to focus, relying solely on the tingling sensations of his developing sage mode to navigate the intensified barrage. The chuckle that escaped him earlier now transformed into a composed determination. Touwa's challenge was welcomed, and Akio's awareness heightened in response.

The wooden shurikens and kunai accelerated towards him with increased force, each aimed strategically to test his agility. Guided by the enigmatic tingling, Akio executed swift pivots and rotations, successfully evading most of the projectiles targeting his sides and lower body. Despite his heightened senses, two kunai found their mark, the first serving as an unintended guide for his subsequent movements, while the second, intentionally aimed, emphasized the difficulty in sensing such swift, high-speed objects.

The unexpected introduction of the wooden training katana at the end brought a new layer of complexity to the exercise. Its larger size and distinct swishing sound allowed Akio to detect it more easily compared to the smaller projectiles. However, uncertainty lingered as he couldn't discern the orientation of the katana's handle. Relying on instinct, Akio swiftly and fluidly caught the wooden katana out of the air, luckily grabbing it on the correct side with the handle.

The impact of the projectiles and the unforeseen maneuver resonated through the forest. A faint smile graced Akio's lips, recognizing the difficulty of the little exercise and the ongoing exploration of his evolving sensory abilities in sage mode. "First off, throwing a katana might not be the best idea in a real fight," he chuckled lightly before adding sincerely, "But that wasn't too shabby, huh?" The acknowledgment of Touwa's challenge was met with genuine appreciation for the dynamic training experience.


Tokonatsu Touwa

[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa observed Akio's adept maneuvers with a nod of approval, impressed by the sage's ability to navigate the intensified barrage. The forest echoed with the sounds of evaded projectiles and the distinct swish of the caught wooden katana. As Akio spoke, acknowledging the unexpected challenge, Touwa couldn't help but grin at the successful adaptation.
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"Nice catch," Touwa remarked, his tone carrying a mix of camaraderie and genuine acknowledgment. He appreciated Akio's ability to not only evade the projectiles but also skillfully catch the wooden katana in mid-air. The forest seemed to settle into a momentary silence as if holding its breath in acknowledgment of the duo's efforts.
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As Akio pointed out the impracticality of throwing a katana in a real fight, Touwa chuckled in agreement. "Yeah, definitely more of a training flair than a real-world strategy. But hey, it added a bit of spice, didn't it?" he replied with a playful glint in his eyes.
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Touwa acknowledged Akio's skill with a nod and a grin, appreciating the adept way he handled the unforeseen challenges. As the forest settled into a brief lull, Touwa decided to add an extra layer of difficulty to the upcoming round.
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"Alright, Akio-san, let's kick it up a notch," Touwa declared a mischievous glint in his eyes. He crouched down, gathering the scattered wooden shurikens and kunais from the ground. In the midst of this, he called out to Kuro, who had observed the training with a calm demeanor.
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"Kuro, time to join the fun!" Touwa beckoned the black cat to the training area, anticipating the added challenge it would bring. Kuro, perhaps sensing the energy shift, playfully approached, its tail swaying with curiosity.
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With a nod from Touwa, Kuro, seemingly understanding the shift in dynamics, began to weave through Akio's legs with agile grace. The black cat became an additional layer of unpredictability, adding to the challenge Akio faced in navigating the airborne wooden projectiles.
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Touwa, standing in a ready stance with a handful of wooden projectiles, chuckled at the sight. "Round two, with a feline twist and a bit more chaos," he announced, his playful smirk reflecting the added complexity of the challenge. As Akio signaled his readiness, Touwa unleashed another flurry of wooden shurikens and kunais, strategically aiming to navigate the space around Kuro's unpredictable movements, the added difficulty of Kuro's movements became apparent. The feline occasionally darted between Akio's legs, creating an extra obstacle that required not only heightened sensory perception but also quick reflexes to avoid both the wooden weapons and the agile black cat.
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The forest echoed with a dynamic combination of whirs, thuds, and occasional meows as Kuro playfully meddled in between Akio's legs.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
[break][break]
鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell Sword Way]
[break][break]
After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

[attr="class","ooc-area"]WORD: 445
[break]
Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

Akio couldn't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment as he stood amidst the forest, surrounded by the echoes of the previous training round, granted he was feeling accomplished for dodging the kunai of an Academy Student. Touwa's acknowledgment added a touch of camaraderie to the exercise, and Akio's grin widened in response.

"I guess it added something, I definitely wasn’t expecting it!" Akio replied with a chuckle, appreciating the playful tone of their training. The forest seemed to hum with energy, anticipating the next round. As Touwa called for Kuro to join in, Akio couldn't help but chuckle at the mischievous twist introduced.

As the black cat gracefully approached, its tail swaying with curiosity, Akio prepared himself for the added challenge. The forest embraced a momentary hush, akin to the calm before a storm. Touwa's declaration of ‘Round two, with a feline twist and a bit more chaos’ set the stage for the upcoming flurry of activity.

Akio, ready for the next round, casually called out, "Alright, Touwa, let's roll," his voice carrying a relaxed yet focused tone. The simplicity of his vocal signal belied the complexity of the challenge he was about to face. With a nonchalant demeanor, he prepared to navigate the impending flurry of wooden projectiles and the playful antics of Kuro, the black cat. The forest, holding its breath, awaited the ensuing dance between sage and obstacles.

In response to the initial wave of wooden projectiles, Akio relied on his heightened sense, attempting to predict their trajectories. The tingling sensation guided him, and with a swift handstand, he managed to avoid the first few shurikens, adding a touch of acrobatics to his evasion.

Funnily enough Kuro was much easier to keep track of compared to the shuriken, so as the black cat weaved through Akio's handstand, occasionally darting unexpectedly. Despite getting hit by a few shurikens, the young sage would maintain the handstand and lift a hand to pet Kuro with stunning accuracy while he tried to dodge the projectiles, which was much harder to do in a handstand. His agility was good, but it wasn’t that good.

Lifting one hand after another, Akio synchronized his movements with Kuro's agile dance, attempting to provide the cat with pets. The forest echoed with a dynamic symphony of meows, thuds, and the swishing sounds of wooden weapons. Akio's hands moved with a blend of grace and precision as he reached out to pet Kuro, showcasing the ongoing dance between sage, cat, and projectiles.

In the end, Akio really only dodged like half the projectiles while in his wobbly handstand, but he could definitely feel the subtle shifts of the weapons in the air. Petting the cat was definitely much easier, Akio couldn't help but express his appreciation, "Good call bringing Kuro into the mix, Touwa. I wasn't done petting the little guy!" The playful tone lingered as a wide smile made its way across Akio’s upside-down face as he added, "I think it also helped me understand the weird sense a little bit more. It feels a little bit like smell, which is why the shuriken are so hard to track they only have like a little hint of whatever smell you are imparting on them when you throw.”

Akio would maintain the handstand and pet the cat while he talked, unless the cat seemed to not want the attention in which case he’d simply maintain the handstand and open an eye while looking in Touwa’s direction. "Maybe relying on this weird sense I've never felt before was the wrong first step,” he’d chuckle at the revelation taking this long but continue anyways ",maybe it’d make more sense if i could see a couple projectiles too, and kinda get an understanding of what this new information entering my brain is trying to tell me.It's almost like I'm taking a test, but i haven't even looked at the material yet, if that makes sense.” It was just like Akio to dive in head first without putting much thought into things, hopefully this knuckleheaded oversight wouldn't paint other jounin in a negative light. Moments like these were kinda unique to him among the Takigakure Jounin.



Tokonatsu Touwa

[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa had a good laugh watching Akio do a handstand while dodging wooden projectiles and petting Kuro in the process. "Well, that's one way to handle it," Touwa said with a grin, finding the whole scene quite amusing. As Akio kept balancing on his hands, he shared his thoughts on the weird sensory thing he was experiencing. "Glad you're enjoying Kuro's company. Cats have a way of adding their own flair to things," Touwa commented, watching Kuro move around Akio's handstand.
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Akio went on about the challenge of understanding the new sense, comparing it to taking a test without looking at the material. Touwa chuckled in response. "Well, you've certainly jumped into the deep end, Akio-san. But hey, sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. If you ever want to see a few projectiles, we can arrange that. No harm in diving in headfirst, as long as you come out with some insights," Touwa suggested, offering a supportive tone.
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Touwa, finding the situation both entertaining and insightful, decided to go along with Akio's request for a few more projectiles. With a nod, he reached into his bag, pulling out a fresh batch of wooden shurikens and kunais. "Alright, let's keep the learning going," he said. As Akio maintained his handstand, Touwa unleashed a controlled flurry of wooden projectiles, varying their trajectories to provide a mix of straight paths and unpredictable zigzags.
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The forest echoed with the familiar sounds of whirs and thuds, punctuated by Kuro's occasional meows as the black cat continued to weave around Akio's upside-down form. Touwa observed Akio's reactions, curious to see how the young sage would interpret and respond to the new challenges presented by the ongoing training exercise.
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As the wooden projectiles found their marks or were skillfully avoided, Touwa's grin widened. "Not bad, Akio-san. You've got a knack for adapting on the fly," he remarked, acknowledging Akio's resilience and ability to make the most of the impromptu training scenario.
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
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The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
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鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell Sword Way]
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After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

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Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

Akio, still maintaining his handstand, exhaled a deep, casual sigh, a method of decompressing and centering himself amidst the training. As he opened his eyes, his vision now complemented the enhanced sensory perception granted by sage mode, offering a new layer of understanding. "Yeah, let's keep going," he replied, his voice steady, even as his hair and hood dangled whimsically due to gravity. The visual cues now aligned with his heightened senses, making the incoming kunai and shurikens discernible in more detail.

As Touwa launched the wooden weapons, Akio's refined senses synergized with his sight. The projectiles whizzed through the air, each one a note in the symphony of danger and opportunity that surrounded him. His sage-enhanced sense, now augmented by vision, allowed him to anticipate and react with even greater precision. The wooden weapons whirred towards him, their paths alternating between direct assaults and unpredictable zigzags.

With his focus sharpened and vision aiding, dodging the kunai became almost effortless, transforming the exercise into a fluid dance of evasion. His hands remained stable, supporting his inverted form as he twisted and turned, each movement a deliberate part of his intricate dance with danger.

The challenge now wasn't just about evading the projectiles; it was about understanding and integrating these subtle sensory shifts into his combat instincts. This wasn't just practice; it was preparation for real battles where he might find himself deprived of sight. Kuro, the ever-present black cat, darted around him, a living obstacle that demanded constant recalibration of his focus and balance.

When the final shuriken and kunai embedded themselves into the tree behind him, marking the end of this round of training, Akio executed a smooth flip to land deftly on his feet. His grin was wide, not just from the thrill of the exercise, but from the knowledge gained. This session, with eyes open, provided invaluable insight into how his new abilities could mesh with his existing skills.

Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Akio turned to Touwa, his eyes alight with gratitude and excitement. "That was super useful, Touwa, thanks," he said. "Sight helped me understand and interpret the subtle shifts caused by the shuriken and kunai." Akio would take a small pause as the sage mode ended before adding his final thoughts, "But I don’t think the sense is quite strong enough to use in a full scale battle yet. The information it gives is too subtle right now I think...”

The young sage trailed off as he thought about the proper next course of action, moreso in his own thoughts than the moment of the present. Of course they could potentially do another round of dodging, but it was clear to Akio that what he really needed to do was take the next step in his mastery of sage mode. This new sense was evidence that he was likely at the cusp of the next stage of development, and maybe that extra development would be what was needed to strengthen this sense and make it actually usable in large scale combat.

Tokonatsu Touwa

[Tokonatsu Touwa]

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Touwa flashed a hesitant grin, genuinely happy to see Akio making progress in integrating his newfound abilities. "Um, you're welcome, Akio-san. I mean, it's good, right? You taking on challenges and all, getting stronger," he said, nodding at Akio's assessment of the enhanced sense.
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"As for strengthening that sense for, you know, larger battles, it sounds like you might be onto something. But, uh, mastery takes time and patience, they say. You'll get there, I guess," Touwa encouraged, his tone trying to be supportive despite his uncertainty. He sensed Akio's determination and saw the potential for significant growth in the young sage.
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"Unfortunately," Touwa continued with a slightly apologetic smile, "I'd love to continue the training, really, but duty calls. Those voices you hear in the distance? They're calling for me, I think. It seems there's something that needs my attention." Touwa gestured vaguely toward the direction of the voices calling for him.
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As Touwa walked away he did a small bow with Kuro trailing behind him the distant calls grew louder, and the urgency in the voices indicated that there might be a pressing matter awaiting him. Akio, still processing the insights gained from the training, watched Touwa depart.
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- E X I T -
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SPOILER: Click to show

斬術 | Zanjutsu [lit. Cutting Technique]
[break][break]
The Araikettei clan's KKG allows the user to obtain and wield the Life Blade - Ruiteki. The blade has its own consciousness and is capable of acting on its own. Regardless, Touwa and his Life Blade are inextricably linked to life and death. When one dies, the other dies, and thus anyone who is not Touwa is unable to wield the weapon.
[break][break]
鐘剣道 | Kane Kendo [lit. Bell Sword Way]
[break][break]
After investing a significant amount of time Touwa has achieved an understanding of his lifeblade. As a result, he has unlocked the ability to establish communication with them. This newfound connection enables Touwa to effectively manipulate and mold the lifeblade according to his desires. Harnessing the power of the Araikettei clan's hijutsu, Touwa now possesses the capability to skillfully utilize various techniques through the embodiment of Ruiteki itself.

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Takahashi Akio

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[Takahashi Akio]

Akio offered a sincere nod in response to Touwa's words, a genuine appreciation for the support and guidance he had received during their training session, granted Touwa wasn’t saying something he didn’t already know. "You're right, Touwa-san. Challenges are the path to growth, and I'm determined to get stronger," he replied, echoing the sentiment.

As Touwa mentioned the importance of patience and time in mastering his newfound sensory abilities, Akio couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, I know that mastery takes time, but I’m so close to taking the next steps that I can almost taste it," he said with a bit of a smile. He had been training for years at this point and, now more than ever, it felt like he was on the precipice of new progress.

Understanding that duty often called shinobi away, Akio nodded understandingly when Touwa explained the voices in the distance. "Yeah, no worries little buddy. Thanks for the help today," he expressed his gratitude.

As Touwa walked away with Kuro, the urgency in the voices becoming more pronounced, Akio watched them depart, his thoughts already shifted back to his own training. With newfound insights and a growing sense of purpose, he continued on his path, eager to further develop his Sage Mode and become an even more formidable shinobi.

Tokonatsu Touwa