[Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku]

Minami Sora

What's your game?

Evil Doesn't Die; It Changes Shape.

The lighting overhead had a fluorescent buzzing. The drips of water patterned against the sink before falling into the drain. The young Mikatakujira was examining a petri dish under a microscope that contained roughly around 50 cells of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. She was watching them move about before the sound of a snake slithering and falling to the ground echoed the room. A small tray was moved from one counter to another before a hand touched Kuni, lurching her up to stare at the tray. "It's almost time, go out and see if that Kiri Kunoichi appeared, it'll take her 3 days if she got the letter and trust me, no way she can resist answering. If she comes, bring her here." Kunikunosaku said to her clone before focusing on the dish. The sound of the door closing caused the kunoichi to click her teeth as she grabbed tweezers and pinched a very, very small amount of pink matter before placing it onto the dish.

"For a parasite, there's not enough of a relationship here." The Mikatakujira scoffed before standing back up, returning the specimen to their dish, and setting the supplies to clean under alcohol before grabbing an unmarked dish from the pathogen section. She noticed it was next to another dish of red blood cells and quickly examined the clear dish. After setting a small sample size in a microscope slide, Kuni moved to investigate the samples, they appeared to be translucent single-cell organisms that moved and acted like red blood cells. "Is this some sort of plasma?" Kuni grabbed a small plunger and soaed up very small amounts of red blood cells, adding it to the slide for observation. As she watched, she saw the cells gang around and seemingly tear into one of the RBCs. Nope, definitely not plasma.

The black clone she sent, leaned on the gate edge of the village gates, wearing what looked like very rugged and torn clothing, as if there was no change of clothing from their last encounter.

TEMPbyAi ♥

SPOILER: Click to show

SA(S) USED:
Jiongu | Earth Grudge Fear

After having to recycle the roots that ended up killing the previous Apprentice just to transfer Jiongu to Kunikunosaku, the mass of black roots recollects most of its abilities from the Apprentice previous while forming new ones with its new master/host, Kunikunosaku. As far as the roots are concerned, like any organism, it desires to feed and survive, all else is not required, nor necessary to function. As for the Symbiotic Relationship benefits Kunikunosaku can control the thread-like roots however she wishes. The thread are quite versatile, acting much like surgical threads they can be used to sew up wounds stretch, or harden for attacks akin to squid tentacles, as well as being equally flexible and significantly dexterous. In time, Kunikunosaku will learn that as long as they keep a heart attached to at least some of the roots making up her body at all times, she is functionally immortal, only dying once all the threads are completely removed from any living hearts, and is unable to be poisoned. Because all of her vital organs and their corresponding systems are gone, Kunikunosaku has no need to breathe, eat, or sleep. The roots are sufficiently maintained by storing hearts that are pumping and living, in turn drawing sustenance from them. These roots also allow Kunikunosaku to utilize the inherent nature of any hearts she adds to their body, allowing them to perform jutsu of that element as if it was their natural affinity.

Symbiotic Relationship: Mutualism

After gaining knowledge on how Jiongu behaves and acts, Kunikunosaku developed a strong bond with the Jiongu entity. Accepting both live in her now; that both are what makes up Kunikunosaku. As a result of this understanding and bond, Jiongu aids her in combat - despite being a small boost. When conditions are met, Jiongu can provide an aided strength boost to Kunikunosaku during combat. It is still relative to her natural strength at the time. While this has no speed benefits, this boost of strength can put her up to par with the max strength of her peers at the same rank level. As she matures and gains new skills and new statuses. So too does her strength grow.

Symbiotic Bond: Strong Mind, Strong Body
As Kunikunosaku developed a stronger relationship with Jiongu, the creature bestowed Kunikunosaku an additional gift. That which is bestowed grants her the body as strong as her will. As long as she has the will to fight and keep pushing forward, Kunikunosaku has attained a sense of a strong body. She can still feel all the pain she receives, however, her will will push through it; literally making her body push through the pain and maintain functionality despite the egregious wounds she may receive. Overwhelming pain at one time or other will breaking input can debilitate the girl's will-driven tolerance to falter to the degree of an average shinobi, opening her up to common pain. It is this will that allows her to force the tendrils/roots/threads to repair themselves from injury or stitch back together. This will increases with her skill as she becomes more confident and driven to satiate both her needs and Jiongu's.

Power of a God:
After a great time learning how to control Jiongu, Kunikunosaku has learned to store chakra in each of her threads so long as they continue to be attached to at least one of her hearts. This extra storage capacity allows the girl to amass greater amounts of chakra within herself, expanding her reserves beyond that of the normal shinobi her rank. As with many other abilities, this ability continues to grow as the girl does through the ranks and years.

Cursed Master:

As a reward for attaining a greater deal of control over her symbiotic relationship with Jiongu, Kunikunosaku acquired the keys to the gate of mastering her abilities. This new boon allows Kunikunosaku to double the impact of her EGF ninjutsu. In addition, a passive boon is the ability to completely negate Jiongu's manipulation to consume more hearts. These boons together allow Kuni to further manipulate Jiongu against its basic natures, improving her unique utilization. While still young and unrefined, the ability is expected to grow as their bond deepens to even further levels.

Medical Knowledge:

Being from Takigakure's prestigious clan medical clan, Kunikunosaku is also set to learn the human anatomy, biology, and Kinesthetics, While this knowledge DOES NOT give her access to Medical Ninjutsu Techniques, however, the knowledge does unlock abilities of precision to the human body with every attack. This knowledge grants field combat medic aid but nowhere near the degree of those actually trained in it.

JUTSU(S) USED:
NAME: Burakku Bushin no Jutsu [Black Clone Technique]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium | Hijutsu
CLASSIFICATION: Ninjutsu
ELEMENT: N/A
DESCRIPTION:
By expelling some of her their threads a user will create a rough clone of themselves. They have a lifespan of roughly three posts, and can be made in fairly large numbers. Along with being able to be made in large numbers, the clones are able to use their threads to wrap and skewer opponents before they dissipate. Like many elemental clones they are unable to use anything bar Taijutsu. When the clones either dissipate or are destroyed any surviving threads will attempt to return to the user.

EQUIPMENT USED:
01 | Ikari to Hisan (Continuous)

[Minami Sora]

Sora had made the long, three day journey to Takigakure again for a number of reasons. The first was simply a matter of hope. She had spent a great deal of time crafting her last letter to Kuni, doing her level best to put the somewhat intangible ideals she espoused to paper in order to, perhaps, convince the girl there was more to life than pain and suffering. That there was more to her life than those things, even. The second reason was far less noble, but no less important in her eyes; the Taki-nin had all but assured her there would be another conflict between should they ever meet again, and the childish threat left at the end of her last letter had cemented it. If the girl wanted to get beat down again, if that's what she needed to accept the truth… Well. She never had been one to hold back. Even for a kid.

The gate to Takigakure (and, by extension, the person she had come to visit) came into view as she trudged down the mud-strewn path, her own outfit very different from when she had first visited; gone was the formal, proper uniform of a Kunoichi on the job, replaced by a qipao of vibrant swirling blue and black, with a high slit on the left side, a black and red obi that held her weapon, Samidare, securely to her left hip, and her headband hung loose around her neck. It was a far more feminine outfit than the one she’d worn before, but no less effective for what it did- distracted, if only a little, from the immensely dangerous kunoichi she was once she drew her blade.

"Kunikunosaku." She said once the girl was in earshot, her voice flat despite the lack of any outwardly hostile actions by the Tokubetsu Jounin. Her gaze rested on the girl’s shoulder, not quite meeting the woman’s eyes yet still - if she was going to pull any tricks out of her bag, she’d have to use something different than what she’d used before. "I see you recovered from your injuries well enough."

Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku

[Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku]

Minami Sora

...

Evil Doesn't Die; It Changes Shape.

"She did." The clone stated, looking at Sora once she came into view. "I'd say the same for you too, especially since you're mundane." The clone unfurled its arms staring at the space in front of it. "Kunikunosaku wants me to bring you to one of the Mikatakujira labs. She's... very keen on talking abstract ideas." The clone stated as it cocked it's head to Sora. "But she's growing tired of greeting people." The clone waved Sora to follow as it mapped out the quickest way to get there. It would have enjoyed the express way of leaping building but it was pointless if what they were looking for was a building. "The Mikatakujira labs are... uh... limited, given what we experiment with and on. The Lord authorized special conditions when the village was established, but, it's never enough." The clone continued to lead to a fairly hidden obelisk behind a building roughly 700 meters from the village gate.

Kunikunosaku continued adding more red blood cells to the slide and observed how the single-cell pathogens would rip apart the blood cells or be absorbed by the cell, only to burst the red blood cell or in a sense, reuse the cell body. It was fascinating to the young Mikatakujira. Science, anatomy, biology, even if none of it mattered to her, she wanted to learn, it was part of her clan. She moved to grab a more transparent petri dish and using a new plunger, added white blood cells to the mix. At first, the white blood cells fended off the organism, but, rarely killing each other, the white blood cells and the pathogen attacked the remainder of the red.

Autoimmune? Maybe... I need something with naturally occurring blood cells, and I need these cells to reproduce. Kuni got up to sterilize and put back the equipment, looking for a new sample group. The clone with Sora pulled a lever on the side of the obelisk. Nodding to a building across the street. "Head to the building with line and triangular dotted mon on it's window." The clone stated, leading Sora to the building. A blue-headed young teen appeared, "You here to see my cousin?" The young woman stated before repeating into an intercom that a guest was here for Kuni. After silence, the blue-haired woman was about to speak to the clone but it was gone too, black threads slithering into darkness. "She's free..." The woman moved to the poorly lit side of the room before open an underground bunker-like hatch. "You got about 30 seconds to crawl down the ladder and enter the room. Short hall, obvious door. Will spray to decontaminate you, you know, regular science stuff." The woman got up and smiled at Sora, nodding her to go.

TEMPbyAi ♥

Unknown woman:

SPOILER: Click to show

SPOILER: Click to show

SA(S) USED:
Jiongu | Earth Grudge Fear

After having to recycle the roots that ended up killing the previous Apprentice just to transfer Jiongu to Kunikunosaku, the mass of black roots recollects most of its abilities from the Apprentice previous while forming new ones with its new master/host, Kunikunosaku. As far as the roots are concerned, like any organism, it desires to feed and survive, all else is not required, nor necessary to function. As for the Symbiotic Relationship benefits Kunikunosaku can control the thread-like roots however she wishes. The thread are quite versatile, acting much like surgical threads they can be used to sew up wounds stretch, or harden for attacks akin to squid tentacles, as well as being equally flexible and significantly dexterous. In time, Kunikunosaku will learn that as long as they keep a heart attached to at least some of the roots making up her body at all times, she is functionally immortal, only dying once all the threads are completely removed from any living hearts, and is unable to be poisoned. Because all of her vital organs and their corresponding systems are gone, Kunikunosaku has no need to breathe, eat, or sleep. The roots are sufficiently maintained by storing hearts that are pumping and living, in turn drawing sustenance from them. These roots also allow Kunikunosaku to utilize the inherent nature of any hearts she adds to their body, allowing them to perform jutsu of that element as if it was their natural affinity.

Symbiotic Relationship: Mutualism

After gaining knowledge on how Jiongu behaves and acts, Kunikunosaku developed a strong bond with the Jiongu entity. Accepting both live in her now; that both are what makes up Kunikunosaku. As a result of this understanding and bond, Jiongu aids her in combat - despite being a small boost. When conditions are met, Jiongu can provide an aided strength boost to Kunikunosaku during combat. It is still relative to her natural strength at the time. While this has no speed benefits, this boost of strength can put her up to par with the max strength of her peers at the same rank level. As she matures and gains new skills and new statuses. So too does her strength grow.

Symbiotic Bond: Strong Mind, Strong Body
As Kunikunosaku developed a stronger relationship with Jiongu, the creature bestowed Kunikunosaku an additional gift. That which is bestowed grants her the body as strong as her will. As long as she has the will to fight and keep pushing forward, Kunikunosaku has attained a sense of a strong body. She can still feel all the pain she receives, however, her will will push through it; literally making her body push through the pain and maintain functionality despite the egregious wounds she may receive. Overwhelming pain at one time or other will breaking input can debilitate the girl's will-driven tolerance to falter to the degree of an average shinobi, opening her up to common pain. It is this will that allows her to force the tendrils/roots/threads to repair themselves from injury or stitch back together. This will increases with her skill as she becomes more confident and driven to satiate both her needs and Jiongu's.

Power of a God:
After a great time learning how to control Jiongu, Kunikunosaku has learned to store chakra in each of her threads so long as they continue to be attached to at least one of her hearts. This extra storage capacity allows the girl to amass greater amounts of chakra within herself, expanding her reserves beyond that of the normal shinobi her rank. As with many other abilities, this ability continues to grow as the girl does through the ranks and years.

Cursed Master:

As a reward for attaining a greater deal of control over her symbiotic relationship with Jiongu, Kunikunosaku acquired the keys to the gate of mastering her abilities. This new boon allows Kunikunosaku to double the impact of her EGF ninjutsu. In addition, a passive boon is the ability to completely negate Jiongu's manipulation to consume more hearts. These boons together allow Kuni to further manipulate Jiongu against its basic natures, improving her unique utilization. While still young and unrefined, the ability is expected to grow as their bond deepens to even further levels.

Medical Knowledge:

Being from Takigakure's prestigious clan medical clan, Kunikunosaku is also set to learn the human anatomy, biology, and Kinesthetics, While this knowledge DOES NOT give her access to Medical Ninjutsu Techniques, however, the knowledge does unlock abilities of precision to the human body with every attack. This knowledge grants field combat medic aid but nowhere near the degree of those actually trained in it.

JUTSU(S) USED:
N/A
EQUIPMENT USED:
01 | Ikari to Hisan (Continuous)

[Minami Sora]

"I’m tougher than I look." Sora said, granting the clone a knowing smile as she gestured for the thing to lead the way. The pair of them wove their way through streets of Takigakure with relative ease; people gave Kuni, even a clone, a fair bit of distance, as if they might catch something from the Tokubetsu Jounin. Or eat them.

"Yes, she was quite… insistent in her last letter." She replied as the clone approached an obelisk, reaching behind it to grab at something (a lever? a switch?) before turning around and leading her to a rather nondescript building that was manned by another Taki Kunoichi, this one with stark blue hair. The clone vanished and, after a few seconds of waiting, the woman (Kuni’s cousin, apparently) opened a hatch built into the floor on the dark side of the room, taking precious time to explain what she needed to do.

Sora sighed, but followed the woman’s instructions, crawling down the hatch and into a short corridor with a door at the other end. The Kiri Jounin walked towards it, heels clacking against the hard floor as she waited for something to happen- a spray or something, the blue haired woman had said. All this just to talk…

Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku

[Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku]

Minami Sora

...

Evil Doesn't Die; It Changes Shape.

The door Sora arrived at automatically unlocked, slowly sliding open. The fluorescent lights burned brightly, periodically flickering as Kunikunosaku was seen looking at a slide. She looked up before sighing, slowly turning her head before seeing Sora. "Ooh... Hey Sora-san." Kuni turned fully to the woman before slightly bowing to her. She brushed her hair with her left hand behind her ear. Her red eye gazed at the woman with an almost apologetic look. It was still halfway between indifferent and sincere to words. The kunoichi raised a hand and slowly waved it in the air. "My father left me this lab. You see, we Mikatakujira are scientists before we are shinobi. Nearly everyone in the clan has a lust for knowledge... but to keep it short, the reason I asked you here is because there is a stunning duality of fact and fiction. Talking about philosophy surrounded by science; it's like the many times I talked to my cousin." While the nostalgia was fun, Kuni had a great sentimental tie to the atmosphere. She was indirectly trying to give Sora the most leeway, but will she be able to seize the opportunity?

The white-haired kunoichi motioned for Sora to take a seat on one of the few lab chairs available. The Special Jōnin opted to stay standing, leaning against a counter as she folded her arms. "The missives we shared, do you truly believe that? That I am able to be saved; that I am not a hellish monster? Even after our... peaceful meeting... Why do you even propose your belief?" Kunikunosaku pondered what Sora meant, she tried to think from her perspective but she wasn't entirely sure what the woman was trying for. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, instead Kuni waited for Sora to speak. Maybe her insight was different from what Kunikunosaku presumed.

TEMPbyAi ♥

SPOILER: Click to show

SA(S) USED:
Jiongu | Earth Grudge Fear

After having to recycle the roots that ended up killing the previous Apprentice just to transfer Jiongu to Kunikunosaku, the mass of black roots recollects most of its abilities from the Apprentice previous while forming new ones with its new master/host, Kunikunosaku. As far as the roots are concerned, like any organism, it desires to feed and survive, all else is not required, nor necessary to function. As for the Symbiotic Relationship benefits Kunikunosaku can control the thread-like roots however she wishes. The thread are quite versatile, acting much like surgical threads they can be used to sew up wounds stretch, or harden for attacks akin to squid tentacles, as well as being equally flexible and significantly dexterous. In time, Kunikunosaku will learn that as long as they keep a heart attached to at least some of the roots making up her body at all times, she is functionally immortal, only dying once all the threads are completely removed from any living hearts, and is unable to be poisoned. Because all of her vital organs and their corresponding systems are gone, Kunikunosaku has no need to breathe, eat, or sleep. The roots are sufficiently maintained by storing hearts that are pumping and living, in turn drawing sustenance from them. These roots also allow Kunikunosaku to utilize the inherent nature of any hearts she adds to their body, allowing them to perform jutsu of that element as if it was their natural affinity.

Symbiotic Relationship: Mutualism

After gaining knowledge on how Jiongu behaves and acts, Kunikunosaku developed a strong bond with the Jiongu entity. Accepting both live in her now; that both are what makes up Kunikunosaku. As a result of this understanding and bond, Jiongu aids her in combat - despite being a small boost. When conditions are met, Jiongu can provide an aided strength boost to Kunikunosaku during combat. It is still relative to her natural strength at the time. While this has no speed benefits, this boost of strength can put her up to par with the max strength of her peers at the same rank level. As she matures and gains new skills and new statuses. So too does her strength grow.

Symbiotic Bond: Strong Mind, Strong Body
As Kunikunosaku developed a stronger relationship with Jiongu, the creature bestowed Kunikunosaku an additional gift. That which is bestowed grants her the body as strong as her will. As long as she has the will to fight and keep pushing forward, Kunikunosaku has attained a sense of a strong body. She can still feel all the pain she receives, however, her will will push through it; literally making her body push through the pain and maintain functionality despite the egregious wounds she may receive. Overwhelming pain at one time or other will breaking input can debilitate the girl's will-driven tolerance to falter to the degree of an average shinobi, opening her up to common pain. It is this will that allows her to force the tendrils/roots/threads to repair themselves from injury or stitch back together. This will increases with her skill as she becomes more confident and driven to satiate both her needs and Jiongu's.

Power of a God:
After a great time learning how to control Jiongu, Kunikunosaku has learned to store chakra in each of her threads so long as they continue to be attached to at least one of her hearts. This extra storage capacity allows the girl to amass greater amounts of chakra within herself, expanding her reserves beyond that of the normal shinobi her rank. As with many other abilities, this ability continues to grow as the girl does through the ranks and years.

Cursed Master:

As a reward for attaining a greater deal of control over her symbiotic relationship with Jiongu, Kunikunosaku acquired the keys to the gate of mastering her abilities. This new boon allows Kunikunosaku to double the impact of her EGF ninjutsu. In addition, a passive boon is the ability to completely negate Jiongu's manipulation to consume more hearts. These boons together allow Kuni to further manipulate Jiongu against its basic natures, improving her unique utilization. While still young and unrefined, the ability is expected to grow as their bond deepens to even further levels.

Medical Knowledge:

Being from Takigakure's prestigious clan medical clan, Kunikunosaku is also set to learn the human anatomy, biology, and Kinesthetics, While this knowledge DOES NOT give her access to Medical Ninjutsu Techniques, however, the knowledge does unlock abilities of precision to the human body with every attack. This knowledge grants field combat medic aid but nowhere near the degree of those actually trained in it.

JUTSU(S) USED:
N/A
EQUIPMENT USED:
01 | Ikari to Hisan (Continuous)

[Minami Sora]

"I see." Sora said as she stepped into the small, confined laboratory, her sky-blue gaze wary despite Kuni’s seemingly friendly demeanor. She knew all too well how easy it was for the Taki-nin to shift from friendly to dangerous- and while the Kiri Jounin was confident in her ability to handle the other woman, there was no reason to throw caution to the wind just yet. So the pink-haired woman listened, left hand resting on Samidare’s hilt, gaze calm and level- but not quite meeting the teen’s. She had learned that particular lesson already.

"Of course I believe it." She said once Kuni was done, her voice rising just a hair as the swirling storm inside of her raged; it battered against her mental walls, screaming for release, but she kept it leashed, tied down by an iron will that held it in a vise-grip. There would be no outbursts today, not from her anyway. Taking a deep breath, the Kiri-nin began again, her voice noticeably softer now as she looked down at the short, slender girl. "I wouldn’t have written the words if I didn’t."

Anyone could be saved; anyone could change. She had changed. It had taken years of work, but she had done it, had become someone she could almost stand to look at in the mirror in the morning. The memories were still there, the horrors and the pain lingering in the back of her mind but… she had them controlled. Contained. She could function, so long as they stayed down. It was progress, and if she could make progress, anyone could.

"The question here isn’t if you can be saved, or if you can become better than you are now. The question is if you want to." Sora said after a moment, her expression shifting to match her tone, which was still soft, almost comforting in a way. "And that is a choice I can’t make for you." Only Kuni could make that decision; all she could do was reach out her hand and hope. It was up to the Taki-nin to take that offer for what it was, rather than whatever her village or clan said it might be:

A way out of the darkness, from someone who had been there.

Mikatakujira Kunikunosaku