[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

Tomomi's peers up at the crow's nest, using their hand to guard their eyes from morning sun as they consider its location relative to everything else. The good thing about a crow's nest, as it was designed, is that it sits in the middle of everything, allowing for clear visibility. Very important for a genjutsu user, as it allows one to pick their targets carefully and remain hidden.

A target not being completely certain of the source of their attack can further disorient them and maybe it more difficult for them to realize they're under genjutsu. In another team dynamic, Tomomi would probably be the one claiming the crow's nest position, but they can't deny that it's the better choice for Azarea to go up there. At least, provided a certain condition is met.

"Are most of your genjutsu auditory-based?" Tomomi asks. If that's the case, sound will definitely carry farther from a higher perch and be the better option. However, if she's mostly a visual genjutsu user, positioning her too far away from the main action could ultimately be a detriment.

"If they're visual-based, we'll want you on the higher deck, but not quite up in the crow's nest. A target needs to be able to see the trigger in order for it to be effective." If her hands were concealed by the wood of the nest, or the pirates simply weren't looking her way because they were too busy fighting on the ground...

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

"Upper deck it is then. Most of my genjutsu that can be used to catch multiple targets are visual. I can get their attention and slow their approach or take their legs out from under them then you can mow them down with your puppets." She muses releasing her chakra to try and walk without the need to stick to the surface. She wasn't going to get her sea legs after all cheating with chakra even if it was a good exercise in control. The woman making her way up the short set of stairs towards the upper deck where the wheelhouse was situated. The Captain peering out at the two of them with mild curiosity as Azarea wobbls along earning a few smirks and smiles from the sailors.

"What's all this then?" The Captain quips as he pokes his head out of the cabin.

"Just scouting the lay of the ship Captain." Azarea chirps offering a polite nod deferring to Tomomi as the higher ranking of the two of them to give a more detailed explanation if he wished to do so. "It's a very lovely vessel." She adds and such is the truth. The man's gruff expression not quite softening, but seeming perhaps a bit less guarded as he inclines his head. 

"See that she remains that way then. As you were." He gestures for Azarea to continue. The woman prowling the length of the upper deck becoming a little more sure with each step.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 247 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

It seems like Azarea is getting more comfortable walking the ship, which is good news for everyone aboard. The sailors jested about it slightly before, but Tomomi can see a vague nervousness. How's a shinobi who hasn't got sea legs going to defend them, after all? She'll prove herself a worthy seafarer by the end of this trip, he's sure. The captain pokes his head out to ask Azarea what she's up to, and seems contented with the answer.

Tomomi uses this time to poke for more information that might be helpful to any upcoming fights.

"Hello, Captain. While we're surveying the ship, I was wondering if you could tell me more about her? Any blind spots in the defenses or common tactics you've run into with pirates on the water."

"We have us some light defenses on the bow and stern, but most of our firepower has to go along the broadside. Keeps us balanced," the Captain answers. "Those pirates know it, so they approach from the front or back. If they come up from the back, they can blow the rudder and stop us from steering."

Tomomi makes note of that - defending the rear of the ship will be important.

"If they've got their own folks with training like you lot, they'll try to blow a hole in the ship lateral from the front and along the side." He motions to show the angle he means - in from the bow, which tends to have weaker material than the sides of the vessel, and piercing along at an angle. "It can make the ship take on a lot of water."

"Thank you for the information. We'll keep an eye out to stop that from happening." He looks to Azarea, interested to see if she'll have any tactical notes developed from that.

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

The woman listens on with rapt attention turning the information the Captain and Tomomi offer over in her mind. "If they attack out in deep water we'll want to defend the stern of the ship to protect the rudder then. As they'll likely be using larger vessels and look to take out the rudder and sails with their own cannons so they can disable to ship to steal the cargo." She muses heading towards the back of the ship to peer down at the rudder to see how everything was laid out to best defend it.

"If we're in shallower water though like near whirpool where the underwater geography forms the eddies they'll probably use lighter ships that can't host a cannon. That would be when we need to worry about running across someone with enough training to fire a jutsu that could pierce a ships hull because if they sink the ship it's shallow enough they can dive down and recover the cargo." Azarea theorizes her gaze flitting between Tomomi and the Captain to see if her assessment on the matter was right.

"Otherwise if they have no one with training they'll try to approach from the stern so we should be able to figure out the capabilities of their forces by whether they approach from the bow or from the stern when we get closer to Whirlpool." She suggests, "Though thankfully a technique like that for someone with little training will take time to aim and line up if they don't want to risk hitting the powder room and will probably be a one and done. So if we can block it or throw off their aim they likely won't have time to take another shot given the ships speed."

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 292 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

Tomomi and the Captain listen to Azarea's analysis. Seems a fair tactical assessment from Tomomi's strategic experience, and given the way the Captain nods, he is probably in agreement. He's a weathered man - not a naval captain, since he's manning a merchant vessel, but has probably seen a lot of ship battle in his time, enough to pick up the strategies of warfare.

Satisfied now that the ship is in good hands, even if one of them is a bit wobbly, the Captain heads back into the cabin, ready to continue controlling the course of the vessel.

"Seems like we have a good bit of information to prepare for the night with," Tomomi says. They know to watch the front of the ship and the rear, they know how to be cautious around the Whirlpools because of the potential pressuring of the ships towards them, and they have enough information to keep watch. Now it's just biding their time and remaining alert and warmed up.

"I have a few barrier techniques that could be useful to protecting the rudder of the ship if it comes down to it. We want to make sure we try to remain upwind of any approaching vessels if we can so we can help the ship outpace the enemy if necessary. I'll make note if a ship is trying to circle around to keep us downwind of them," he explains.

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

Azarea relaxes a little at the Captain's nod and Tomomi's own assessment. The woman feeling a great deal better knowing that her partner possesses some defenses jutsu to protect the rudder, "I'll admit my arsenal isn't expensive enough yet to block an attack from landing on the ship. I'd need to just take out the attacker first." She admits, "But I can sow a lot of chaos in their ranks." Azarea adds as the two continue exploring the ship until by the time they hit open water the Kumogakure genin is moving with the same grace on the deck that she had on land. The sun slowly making it's way across the sky as the red head keeps to the shade trying to conserve her the slow dwindling of her chakra by counteracting it with rest. Lacking the confidence in having enough chakra to handle a fight should she practice the techniques Tomomi had shown her. Instead turning her focus to trying to narrow down the amount of chakra the henge requires to the barest minimum she can feed it. If she can't expand her reserves after all the best thing she could do is lessen the draw on them.

The first night, thankfully or perhaps more worrisome for them both passes without much incident. The sailors at first wary and watchful with the shinobi's presence as if by just the dent of them being there the ship might be attacked. However on the second day they've begun to relax. A few even jesting and joking with the two of them as they go about their business. The clear sky above them marred by a few low growing clouds in the distance as Azarea squints in their direction.

"Is that Whirlpool?" She questions recalling how Tomomi had mentioned that the weather was unlikely to hold once they neared the choppier waters closer to Mist and the other small shinobi village.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 320 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

The first day passes without any trouble - thankfully, as getting acquainted with being aboard the ship is as important as being ready for a fight itself. Tomomi is ever preparatory and spends a lot of time examining every corner of the ship, from below deck to above, just in case anything goes wrong. The enjoy spending time chatting with the sailors, too, trading stories. It's less friendliness and more the art of building a rapport - the sailors will be even more likely to listen to their instruction under stress if they're on good terms!

On the second day, the clear sky is broken up by clouds on the horizon. Looming, threatening the possibilities of faster winds and a storm.

"Looks like it," Tomomi confirms, coming to the edge of the deck to lean and look out. "Looks like the clouds are moving east. We won't be sailing against the wind, but won't be sailing with it at our back either." For now. "I'll start using my sensory abilities now to keep a read on nearby vessels. Lets keep an eye on the weather as well." The ship might meet a light rain soon.

Tomomi focuses for a moment, opening their mind's eye, a thin layer of chakra rapidly extending outward into a complex web of sensory visibility. Most of it is a whole lot of nothing, just a shifting map of the water and waves. At the very peripherals of their sensory awareness are some ships, but none do anything concerning... yet.

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

"Hopefully the worst we get is a little bit of rain." Azarea quips digging the thin water resistant attachable hood from her pouch as she carefully zips it onto her jacket. Taking the time to thread back her hair and pull it into a tight braid. Coiling it about her hair before tucking it under the hood and taking the thing into place with a tiny minute amount of chakra. If nothing else she's found her control and her ability to manipulate chakra and perform jutsu's with the bare minimum of application improving by leaps and bounds.

'I guess that old saying about sink or swim has some truth to it,' She thinks turning to give Tomomi a thumbs up lips parting to make a playful quip when her entire hive shudders sending out waves of distress signals as an audible high pitched angry buzz rises from the woman. Her concentration fracturing as her Kikaichu go on the defense as the woman's eyes flicker from silver to their natural scarlet for a moment as she staggers to one side gripping the railing to steady herself as tries to regain her concentration. The tips of her hair briefly staining red like dye soaking into white cloth her old scars bleeding through her unmarked skin until swallowing down the bile that rises in the back of her throat she tries to force her bugs to for. the. love. of. kami. stop. freaking. out.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 241| Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

He's trying to feel out for more detail on the further ships when a sudden shudder of chakra comes from behind him, a distraught sort of hum rising out from Azarea. Literally, too - not just a sensation that comes from her chakra fluctuating, but an actual, audible sort of wail. Like the cry of cicadas in summer. He turns around to look at her, confused. Now that he looks at her with his mind's eye active, he can glean more information about her - her chakra signature is very, very familiar, though somewhat off. It reminds him like a play on an Aburame chakra signature, but clearly distorted by something else. Her body - face, hair, eyes - is currently coated in a thin layer of chakra. A henge? Impossible to tell just from the information he currently has, but a possibility.

There's surely a light of curiosity in his eyes, but he's nothing if not an astute information gatherer. Interrogating her here and now would lead to more panic, make her more closed off. For now, he'll be concerned, altruistic.

"Are you alright?" Tomomi asks her, frowning, stepping closer. If only he had something that could let him see where that noise was coming from. Even a couple of the sailors have noticed the commotion, clearly considering an approach, though none actually making one yet. One of them asks another something like what's wrong with 'er?

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

"I'm... I'm fine I just... just need a moment." Azarea manages to gasps out. She's not fine of course. Her teeth hurt and her hive is buzzing so hard in sudden panic it's making her vision vibrate and the amount of alarm pheromones' her Kikaichu are giving off is making her stink like cherries and almonds. Her inquiries to her hive resulting in little information about what is causing them to freak out. The insects only able to send back the vague electric feeling of chakra and snatches of images of scarlet eyes and white hair, the white jumbled with the off-white of ANBU masks, sharp knives, danger, danger, danger, the repeat as they had the first time she'd opened that Inn Room door and found herself confronted with the Hatake.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." She wheezes out low and under her breath as the woman vaults over the railing of where they'd been patrolling the upper deck and darts down into the hold towards one of the few bathrooms on the boat. The last thing she wants god help her is for the sailors to see her losing her lunch and lose the faith and rapport she'd been building up with them. The woman barely making it through the door before she lost her lunch. Limbs tremble as she grips the edge of the toilet her eyes screwed shut as she tries to assess her own condition.

Not poison. If it was poison it should have hit her system sooner or her Kikaichu should have been suffering die off or side-effects. Not an enemy jutsu... but maybe a jutsu all the same. A technique maybe? Slowly her hive begins to quiet. Whatever the technique was it wasn't aimed at her specifically, but familiar enough to make her bugs panic. Which leaves the reaction being entirely psychosomatic such as... a panic attack. She's having a panic attack and it's not just her.

'Ah,' Azarea thinks breaths coming short and sharp, 'I didn't know Kikaichu could have ptsd.' Though that begs to question what had been the trigger that her hive had felt, but had slipped past her own senses.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 361 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

Even more surprising than the sudden rise of that shrill cry is Azarea needing to take off. Suddenly nauseous. Maybe it's a clan ability of some type, an after-effect of something related to a kekkai genkai. He doesn't know the full extent of her abilities just as she wouldn't know the full extent of his, so there's a possibility that she has something she didn't mentioned. Still, it leaves an unsettled feeling in his gut, an unresolved question. He takes to easing the anxieties of the sailors for the time being, trying to help keep things settled while Azarea deals with whatever problem she's enduring at the moment.

While she's still below deck, he notices a ship at the edges of his awareness starting to pull around, moving towards the west, which would put them upwind of their own vessel - a tactical possibility Tomomi noted earlier. It immediately places him on higher alert.

"Let's adjust the sails to get ready to catch wind, but make sure we won't be thrown off course by a coming storm," he tells the Captain. "I can sense a ship up ahead, about twenty kilometers out. They're moving westward. It could be to catch the headwinds and gain an advantage against us. If they're adversarial, we'll be meeting with them in about an hour."

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

The Captain stares out into the distance taking into account Tomomi's words before letting out a grunt and turning to the sailors, "You heard the man! Make ready unfurl and refurl the sails! We'll be wanting to catch that wind when the opportunity is right!" The man roars out the orders the sailors hopping too to make sure the ship is ready. As slowly the storm clouds and the approaching vessel draw closer. The ship seeming to stagger it's speed in relation to themselves as if trying to ensure they came at them from the bow. A worrisome sign.

As after a few moments Azarea returns from below deck. The Kunoichi a few shades paler then she had been before and looking still a little green around the gills, but the audible buzz from before has died down to where it was no longer detectable. Though to Tomomi's sense that chaos of her chakra signature or more likely that of the hundreds of Kikaichu she shared her existence with was still visible in it's chaos. Noting the tension above deck the woman cuts her eyes between the sailors and then Tomomi her expression grim as the first raindrops begin to spatter the wood.

"Enemies?" She rasps out the quiet question words nearly drowned out as the wind begins to pick up.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 221 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

A light rain begins to land on the desk, the rain clouds heavy ahead, though Tomomi still hopes they might avoid a total downpour. Though even if it did pour, it may be for the best - in a rainy situation like that, even the bandits might be encouraged to put their machinations to a pause, as escaping with goods while in a storm would be more difficult, not to mention the increased risk of capsizing. The ship in the distance angles itself to aim for the bow, indicating these are pirates who are confident in their skills, at least enough to come head on. Even if they don't have training in various techniques, they might have explosives in their possession, or otherwise aim to damage the bow.

The buzzing chakra from downstairs emerges once again, Azarea rejoining everyone else on the deck. There's still a cacophony within her, though it's not quite as intense as before. Hopefully she's settled enough to fight.

"Possibly," Tomomi confirms. The ship is still slightly too far out to be visible on the horizon, but it's certainly en route to this trade route, a well-traveled one that pirates would know to patrol for ships to attack. "There's a ship headed in our direction. Bow-side, trying to get upwind of us. I have the Captain working on avoiding that."

Every minute that passes, the vessel is getting closer.

---

Aburame Azarea

[Aburame Azarea]

"In the midst of chaos..."

The Kumogakure shinobi nods her expression solemn as she takes her position on the upper deck sheltering by one of the rails. It wouldn't give her much cover should the enemy have any sort of ranged weapons, but it would give her a good position from which to be seen as she flexes her fingers within her gloves. Light and fire was one of the best ways to get an opponents attention and while her firestarter gloves weren't good for much other then throwing sparks that would have to be enough.

"Doesn't look like we're going to be able to avoid this fight." Azarea muses taking a cue from how the Captain curses the shift in the wind, the man ordering the sails unfurled and then bundled once more as the wind shifts. However the boat head of them grows closer finally visible in the dreary grey light of the oncoming downpour of rain. A small shallow fishing vessel the sort good for skimming over reefs and avoiding the whirlpools. More importantly unlike their vessel the Pirates ship was small enough to make quick adjustments. One larger individual standing tall at the bow of the little ship arms crackling with lightning as Tomomi would feel the tell tale build up of chakra that would signal a jutsu. As the pirate forms his fingers into a triangle taking aim at their vessel and let's loose a bolt of lighting streaking straight towards the portside of the ship just at the waterline.

"Incoming!" Azarea yells out the warning. The crew scrambling to get the cannons trained on the smaller vessel, but the pirates have maneuvered themselves into a blind spot. The cannon unable to do more then clip the water near where the enemy boat was sailing.

"There is also opportunity."

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Henge no Jutsu [Transformation Technique]
RANK: E
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low [Continuous]
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu [General]
ELEMENT: None
HANDSEALS: 3
DESCRIPTION:
After performing the necessary hand seals, the user transforms their appearance to become that of another person, animal or even an inanimate object. This is considered one of the most advanced academy techniques, as it requires a constant emission of chakra as well as constant mental focus to maintain the transformation. Shinobi are limited to transforming into objects roughly their own size, preventing them from turning into a fly while being able to carry items far greater than their transformed state.

Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 295 | Yamanaka Tomomi

[Yamanaka Tomomi]

YAMANAKA TOMOMI

NINGYO/HIDARI

In preparation for the enemy ship's arrival, Tomomi summons forth their various puppets they had earlier placed around the deck, readying them for action. Tomomi approaches the front of the deck when the pirate's ship crests the horizon, standing at the ready for a potential confrontation. Sure enough, as the vessel nears, one of the pirates takes aim and begins to form a jutsu. His form is sloppy, so he's clearly untrained, the kind who has learned on his own rather than from a formal institution like the academy. Not much time to contemplate on his style more than that, though.

Forming several hand seals, Tomomi slaps their hands against the guardrail of the boat and forms a barrier wall fifteen feet down the side, managing to block the electric blast from piercing the bow of the ship. The barrier is relatively simple and intended only to block a single attack, so the strike causes it to shatter, the chakra falling away, though leaving the bow unharmed.

Quickly, they flick their wrist to latch onto one of their puppets, pulling Kazane to their aid. His finger twitches to pull back the faceplate of Kazane's model, allowing her to release a hail of arrows down at the pirate ship below. That should give enough suppressing fire to stop them from taking aim again for now.

---

Aburame Azarea

SPOILER: Click to show

NAME: Kekkai: Kabe (Barrier: Wall)
RANK: D
TECH TYPE: universal | Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: None
CHAKRA USAGE:Very low - Very High depending on size of wall/ Very Low to maintain
DESCRIPTION:

The user creates a solid wall like barrier that appears almost instantly anywhere within a 15ft radius. The wall itself is highly durable and requires D ranked jutsu power to shatter anything lower would simply be ineffective against the wall if not outright break after coming in contact with it, with weapons would need to be empowered with chakra to do any damage though that are not are ineffective with projectiles harmless clattering down to the ground. The wall can be sprung up in a moments notice and the shape and size of it varies depending on the users preference and chakra use (anywhere between 5ft and 15ft tall). As many walls can be made as the user wishes to make (or have the chakra to make) however the plus side is that once the walls are created they take no chakra to maintain. Requires three hand seals.