Kei would wake up the next Thursday after his meeting Ryuto and Ryu. He had kept the date jotted down on a calendar, and had left little crosses on the days before it, helping him keep track of the passing days where he remained home, tending to his mother and reflecting on what had happened in the past week or so. Stretching, the male would get up from his bed, picking up a white tank top and some black pants off of the ground and laying them out on the bed. After that, he would enter the restroom, showering and brushing his teeth before heading back into his own room, where he would put on the two articles of clothing, walking out of his messy bedroom and down the hall, where he would enter the living room. It was a room that was connected to the kitchen, technically, where the corner area was a small kitchen area containing the general appliances, and the rest of the room was nothing special either, instead the only thing that truly stuck out like a sore thumb was his mother, whom of which would be laying on the couch, blanket covering her body as she slept.

"You're out again." The Genin would say quietly as he would head over to the night stand, picking up an empty glass and filling it with water, returning it to the stand alongside some pills, giving the female a kiss on the forehead. Afterwards he would begin walking towards the door, picking up his long short-sleeves tattered coat on the way out, putting it on as he would leave the home, closing the door behind him. Placing his hands in his pockets, Kei would begin moving down the street. It was still early-ish enough in the morning, and from what he knew generally people don't drink during the day-time too much, and from what Ryu mentioned today was going to be a slow day as well, so Kei assumed there really wouldn't be anyone around the bar when he reached it. Perfect, the less people that look at him the better, he couldn't stand the looks, it put him on edge and always made him feel like they were looking at some grotesque thing. If anything, Ryu did him a big favor by choosing a day where they weren't busy, even if that wasn't his reason for doing so.

He recalled when he had last came to the Hounds Heaven, and how he had taken notice of how truly different Ryuto and Ryu were, remembering how Ryu had offered strength, to gain experience through combat, and even when it was offered Ryuto had a similar mind to Kei in regards to accepting, but had turned down the thought of making it the two of them against Ryu. It made the Genin wonder if he would be there today, if not to participate himself then to watch and amuse himself with how it would proceed. He hoped he wouldn't turn up if that were the case. Training generally included breaking down your pride by failing until you begin to improve, and Kei, being someone that is a little more sensitive than he would like to admit, would hate the humiliation of getting beaten down time and time again while someone else was around. Losing wasn't so bad, as everyone loses, it's just that losing with an audience is what makes it truly hurt.

Taking a turn and cutting a couple of corners, Kei would see the bar in sight, alongside someone else he didn't expect to see, especially this early in the day. Near the bar, in a seemingly abandoned lot would be a kid, a small boy really, whom of which would be playing with a ball by himself, throwing it against a wall and catching it when it bounced back towards him. For a second, the Genin was curious about the kid and why he was out here playing by himself, but that would merely be for a second, and as fast as his curiosity came it would leave just as quickly, instead a look of disgust; his eyes narrowing and his face scrunching up, would appear. He was better off not even questioning why the hell this kid was here at this moment. Chances are he would run off later and head home or something, but it's not something that's worth questioning. Instead, the Genin would walk past the kid, instead heading towards the bar, his look already having been exchanged for a more emotionless look as he opened the door, stepping in.

He would see one or two people actually drinking at the moment, though they didn't even look up to see who entered, making Kei's shoulders lower as he seemingly assumed he wasn't going to attract any unwanted attention. As he stood there, he would begin looking around for the gang leader, seemingly not seeing him around at first, making him wonder if he actually got here early. Still, it wouldn't be right to assume, especially considering he was told to meet him here, so instead of standing around awkwardly like last time the Genin decided to actually take the initiative for once, walking up to the bar, looking for the female that had served drinks before. "You know where Ryu is? I'm supposed to meet him today." He would ask if he spotted the female or someone else that was at the bar at that moment, unsure about where to go from here.

Wc 940

It was a slow and pleasant morning. The sun was just coming up and at this point the heat it gave off wasn't overbearing. Instead the sands were cool and the warmth simply seemed to bring life to old bones. People talked as they moved about to whatever they were doing for the day or slept in over a hang over. Not much was happening. The sound of the little boy smacking his ball against the wall of the bar seemed to almost echo in comparison. Just a kid playing with his ball. Kei wouldn't even be glanced at more than once. No one wanted trouble in this part of town. That and it became clear he was heading to that bar. He was heading to the Jackals and though that gang had been good to them they didn't know this kids intentions. If it was hostile this whole block would light up real quick. Lightning flashes and earth shifting was just common to them. Ryu always made any damages right but it was terrifying for them. Most just increased their distance and whispered. Placing bets down on if this kid was going on the attack and if he could take down the Jackal. Even the closest gangs were learning not to get near that bar.

Kei found nothing barring his path as he entered the bar. It was cool within with a fan running. A couple of thin strips of cloth fluttering as they were tied to it. Dipped in some sort of perfume. The closer he was to the fan the better the bar smelled. Further away? Smelled like old stone and a hint of piss. Still the lady at the bar glanced at him as he approached before a small hint of a smile found its way to her lips. When he spoke she would shift to reply before outside the open door (Saving on lighting) the cart with their delivery would pull up. She would straighten up to glance at it before Julias, the big one Kei had met before began to move towards the door. Something else had changed though. The sound of the ball hitting the wall had abruptly stopped. There were no sounds of panic outside so it likely wasn't the case the horses had trampled the kid...perhaps he was just interested in the animals? However for anyone looking out the door they would see the kid suddenly pop up over the side of the cart. He grinned and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of Gin before dropping again and running. The bartender grit her teeth and turned shouting to Julias.

"Damn it you big oaf I told you to be out there waiting for the cart! Either chase down that kid or those two bottles come out of our pockets!" She would take a deep breath as Julias took off out the door with little hope of catching the kid at this point. She thumped the top of the bar with her fist before turning and noticing Kei again. She would sigh and look him in the eye with a sort of look of apology. Finally she would dig under the bar for two large bottles of water before handing them to him. Speaking again. "Head up the stairs and at the end of the hall is a ladder leading up to the roof. He is already up there starting his Thursday morning work out. Make sure he drinks one of those and you make sure to drink the other. Kay?"

Up top~

Ryu had risen at the crack of dawn himself. Tightening a pair a blue jeans onto his form he washed his face and tucked his hair up into a bandana that was usually tucked into his gloves or tied around his wrist. The symbol of the Jackal emblazoned in black on the grey cloth. He left his room with his knife and kunai in his right hand as he moved to the roof up the fire escape. Never going anywhere without his weapons. Once he climbed to the top he would toss the two blades onto a table to the side. It was an open top roof. Tiles and sand everywhere. Off near the fire escape was a table with two plastic chairs and now two knives on it. A simple E rank kunai and a B rank tanto. Idly as he waited he started his usual work out. Not sure who to expect today but knowing he was going to be pressed regardless. Ryu didn't care to underestimate a genin or another Chunnin. Still he knew they likely would arrive separately. Different parts of the day if at all. Instead he began his stretches. Sticking his right leg out with ankle on the floor and gradually leaning on it before switching sides. Standing up he would cross one arm across his chest and tug on it before doing the same to the other. Keeping this up for a time before actually starting his work out. Shirtless in a bandana barefoot and blue jeans.

When Kei would emerge from the other way up, the inside route if he did Ryu would already be into the advanced part of his morning routine. In a hand stand as he kept his body straight and slowly bent his elbows lowering his face to the ground and then pushing his body back up. His form trembled a little as sweat dripped onto the sand covered tile off his now glistening body. A series of tattoos covered his tanned form one of which on the back of his neck was a prison bar code. His prisoner number emblazoned under it. Once a criminal in Suna always a criminal. Still if Kei would emerge through the ceiling Ryu would take notice and shift his weight as he rolled his stomach muscles and shifted his weight to tilt his legs first and touch feet to ground before straightening. For the first time Kei would see Ryu without his eye patch. The normal blue eye on his left but on his right, a purple eye would almost shine in the light just as much. Still Ryu would smile and let out a breath before speaking. His tone cheerful. A nod given to Kei.

"Sup kid?"

1057

As he was at the bar, Kei could smell something similar to perfume, most likely the stench was there in order to cover the usual smell of piss that came from these places. While it was a pleasant smell overall, it was one that Kei could easily live without. Being someone that gets nauseas at the mere scent of incense, perfumes and cologne and the like weren't that far off, and even being near the smell was beginning to bring his mood down a little. He was tempted to walk away and just wait around, but frankly the natural smells of old stone and piss made him want to stomach this for now, take it like a man and complain about it later. As the female was going to respond and give Kei the answer he desired she would be interrupted by a cart pulling up, the large man Kei had seen playing pool yesterday moving towards the door. Coming along with this, the sound of the ball hitting the wall stopped as well, almost as though all of sound had deafened outside the bar.

Kei couldn't make out what was happening though when he looked back towards the bartender he would see she had begun gritting her teeth, calling the fatso a big oaf and scolding him for not waiting for the cart, essentially commanding him to chase down the kid or else both of the bottles come out of their pockets. Watching as he lumbered out of the door, Kei would watch as the bartender would strike the top of the bar with her fist before looking back at him. After digging underneath the bar he would see two large water bottles, which would be handed to him, instructions for him to head up the stairs at the end up the hall and take a ladder up to the roof, where Ryu would be waiting, starting his Thursday morning workout. She would tell him to make sure Ryu drinks one and he drinks the other, which he would nod in response to as he would look away and back towards the door. As much as he hates kids, he didn't want to see anyone end up on the bad side of a gang, and honestly, what he would do next would kill him inside.

"I'll come back here after we're done and pay for those two bottles. I'd rather you two not get any shit for it and even though he probably deserves it, I'd rather not see the kid get in any trouble either." He would tell the bartender, walking off and towards the end of the hall, where he would take the ladder upstairs, climbing up and to the rooftop.

Reaching the top, Kei would spot Ryu already on the rooftop and already adjusted into his exercises, wearing a pair of blue jeans and his hair tucked into a bandana, the jackal symbol designed in black on the cloth. He would look around the rooftop, seeing two blades on a table off to the side and the floor consisting of tiles and sand. Near what he assumed to be the fire escape would be two plastic chairs and a table with two more knives on top. It seems he had caught Ryu in the middle of a handstand, his glistening body ever so apparent, the multiple tattoos covering the tanned form. Honestly, he knew the guy was gonna train with him soon enough but Kei must admit, he was enjoying the show a lot. Sadly good things have to come to an end, and this was one of them, as Ryu placed his feet on the ground, straightening up and seemingly revealing what was under that eyepatch this entire time. It was both a disappointment and an intriguing thing, as the guy wasn't missing an eye, but instead had a shining purple eye. The tone of the guy's voice was cheerful when he provided a simple "sup kid".

'Sup indeed.' He would think to himself, making him having to near physically shake his head in order to get the thought out before giving back a smile in return. Granted, the lack of lips didn't really help with that, not to mention the mouth-to-ear stitches already sort of gave him a smile, but hey, it was an attempt at a smile nonetheless. "Nothing much, came here to finally start training." He would say as he took off his coat, dropping it to the ground and leaving him with just the white tank top on over his torso. As he took one of the two large water bottles and tossed it to Ryu, he would put his own on top of the coat. "Oh, I forgot to ask the last time we met, but why are you doing this? Offering to help make others stronger, I mean. What're you aiming to get out of this?" He wouldn't buy a "no reason", not from someone in regards to training, especially not from a gang leader. Honestly, now that he thinks of it, he never actually knew anything about the Jackals at all, he just got so into the idea of becoming stronger that he never really thought of it.

Wc 884

Twc 1824

Ryu would watch the kid move forward and toss him a bottle of water. With a grin Ryu would reach out and catch it. It was warm out so the idea of some cold water was nice. So he would lower his hand as he spun the bottle in his palm before catching it again with the cap up. His thumb pressed against the screw on cap. Of course Ryu was going to show off. It was just in his nature. So his thumb pressed against the cap as it strained audibly before the plastic snapped in half and both halves of the cap hit the ground. With a smile Ryu would lift the drink to his lips and drink from it for about eighty percent of the bottle before dousing his head with the rest. Wiping water from his face with his free hand before tossing the bottle to the side without ceremony. He eyed the young man who now stood in front of him in pants and a tank top and looked him over. He looked different but that didn't matter in the slightest. The kid would speak up and Ryu would raise an eye brow at the question. It was a good one at least. Starting off the day solid like that eh? Well Ryu would sigh and roll his right shoulder with his left hand holding it. Speaking as he did so.

"Why eh? World always comes down to why...Well I guess if I had to put a reason to it. Murderers aren't born they are made. They survive the strife and hate in the world and it molds them. Changes them and not for the better because of how much they were made to suffer. If I can grant someone, even one person the strength to overcome that barrier, to help change this world for the better for others, I'm doing something I can feel good about you know? I just want you to be able to stand up to people in this world like that guy in the desert. Plenty of them."

With that Ryu would frown. Having spoken a bit more than he was usually comfortable with. He took in a breath and let it out slowly as he stopped rolling his shoulder as it finally gave a loud popping sound. Slowly he clenched his fists and raised them up across his chest taking a deep breath. In a sudden motion he shoved his fists down as electricity discharged from him visibly arcing around him. With that done he would shift as he partially opened his fists like he was unable to clench them. Holding his right hand in front with his left hand just behind it just beneath his chin at arms length ahead of him. His feet spread apart with his toes pointed inwards slightly. His knee's bent a little an he would sway a small amount back and forth. Drunken boxing being his fighting style. His eyes watched Kei with clarity as he spoke again. His form ready for whatever was coming. Or at least he thought as much.

"My style, the style of the Myugan clan is called drunken boxing. Hard to predict and painful to interact with. Balance is the key to it and shifting as needed while keeping that balance. I may look at times like I might fall down but don't expect anything to be as it should. Come at me with whatever fighting style you have adopted. Lets see what you got kid."

1651

Kei would watch as Ryu had already began drinking from the bottle, consuming the majority of it before wasting the rest on his head, wetting it. As he waited, he would take notice of how he is being looked over. Was he judging how he looked? Seemingly if he was, he didn't bother showing or displaying it, as he would instead sigh as he was rolling his right shoulder with his left hand. Kei never took Ryu for a philosopher, but he started out with some sort of saying about the world, telling him how it always comes down to why. To the Genin, it was his way of just saying that everything has a reason, everyone has a motive, and all that kind of stuff. He would mention the idea that murderers aren't born, but instead they are made. They're individuals that survive the strife and hate in the world and they are molded by it, changed by it, and not for the better.

A murderer is someone that was made to suffer from the strife and hate of the world, someone that can wasn't given the strength to overcome that suffering, and if Ryu can give someone the strength to overcome that barrier, to help better the world, to change it, then he's doing something he can feel good about. He just wishes for Kei to stand up to people in the world like the puppet user they encountered in the desert, and plenty more like him. Kei in return couldn't help but nod to this, it was certainly a noble goal, one of which fell in line with why he had originally left in the first place. He wanted to become stronger so he can force out the evil and hold them to the Justice they had so deserved, to make Sunagakure not a shit stain anymore. He couldn't help but wonder however about Ryu's goal, and about what would happen should the one that is the murderer is actually someone he trains, using their experience to an almost extremist sort of way or still unable to overcome that tragedy.

Still, he couldn't help but smile towards him. "You're weird for a gang leader." He would say, the phrase in itself summing up his thoughts on how others that run gangs so it for the goal of personal gain, and they prefer feeding on weak or easy targets over those that will fight back. Some could say that a gang was cowardly in a sense, but that's far from the truth. They were usually selfish degenerates that would burn down half of the village for money, but they certainly weren't cowards. Even Kei, someone foolish enough to think they were capable of leaving the village right away to see the world around and get their experience from that, could see that it was more so they can minimalist their chances at getting taken down. It's not cowardly, it's being cautious. Ryu, however, hasn't even shown this caution, instead having been reckless enough to just jump headfirst into a fight he didn't have to involve himself in, having invited two strangers into his own home despite having just met them, and then offering to train them up, with the goal of being able to stand up to the corrupt. Honestly, it took balls, and it revealed that, if anything, he probably doesn't even run his gang in the same fashion others run theirs.

After seemingly finishing the rolling of his shoulder with a loud popping sound, Ryu had raised up his clenched fists across his chest, though in an extremely fast fashion he had shoved them down, electricity discharging, seemingly arching around him. 'So cool..' Kei would think to himself as he watched, waiting to see what the guy was planning to do. He assumed he wouldn't immediately attack outright, especially considering this was only hand-to-hand combative training. Oddly enough, the gang leader's fists hung open partially open, the right hand in front of his left hand, and the left hand just underneath his chin, though remaining an arm's length away. He would be swaying slightly back and forth, almost looking at though he was drunk or clumsy, making Kei wonder what exactly he was doing.  Before he could ask, he would hear Ryu explain it, stating that it's the style of the Myugan clan called Drunken Boxing, a style made to be hard to predict and painful to interact with, and balance is key when using it, with the shifting of side balance being just as important.

He would go on to further say that he may appear that he may fall down, though to not expect anything to be as it should. This seemed like such a weird fighting style to use, where it sounds like it takes advantage of them clumsy or drunk appearance to better throw the opponent off guard and catch them by surprise, further catching them by surprise at every corner. Kei himself didn't really have much of a fighting style. Sure, he has gotten into fights in the past and sure, he was trained in martial arts, though it was more mixed than anything else, and generally he never took for an actual fighting style rather than imitating those around him, as frankly, the teacher sucked. Instead, he would give a light sigh as the black threads in his right hand, just underneath the joints of four of his fingers, would begin to make itself appear, the tips of his fingers seemingly dropping down a little bit, multiple small, black threads hanging onto them as they hung.

"I don't have much of a style, but I have a pretty neat thing I can do. The inside of my body is filled with black threads instead of blood, and with them I can pretty much detach parts of my body. Don't think I can do much if they're ripped off though." He would say as he raised his right hand, the fingers hanging downwards by around half a meter now. Looking from them to Ryu, Kei would bring his right hand farther left as he leaned forward, swiping his right hand from right to left, swinging it and making the four fingers fly out to around four meters away, aiming to use them to help him make an attempt to bind the man. The thread of his pointer finger would be highest, and as a result it was aim to wrap itself around Ryu's neck, the middle finger's thread actually being shorter than the rest by a little bit, more intending to get Ryu's right arm, while the ring finger aimed for the waist, with the pinky's going for Ryu's right leg. If they made their marks they would act almost like cords, wrapping themselves around that part of the man's body.

Kei, whether they missed or made their mark, would bring his right hand back afterwards, the threaded fingers beginning to make an attempt to return to their originally places on his hand. Of course, if they were wrapped around Ryu they obviously wouldn't be able to return, not without trying to pull Ryu in as well. Kei would charge his way forwards as well. He mainly attacked Ryu's right side as a means to not risk a lot of damage to what would be his exposed left side when he attempted to end up in close quarters with the man. Running, he would move at a brisk seven meters per second, his left forearm positioned so it would be above the threads, and as he got into hand-to-hand range with Ryu, he would swing it to the left, attempt to use the swing as an attempt to strike Ryu in the left jaw with the bottom of his hand.

Wc 1336

Twc 3160

Strength D-1>D-3
Endurance D-1>D-3

2150/3160 spent

1010 left

Learned Glow Worm 1000/1000

10 wc left over

Ryu would listen as he maintained his stance. The boy described something unique about himself. He had failed to take notice of it before as far as he could recall in the dunes. His attention far to concentrated on the puppeteer that had chosen to engage the boy and even himself. He had made enemies on that afternoon and it weighing heavily on his mind. It was possible he had seen it and simply paid it no mind at the time. After all they lived in a world where people spat out fire and extended forth their hands to command lightning. He even heard rumors of a young man in Suna with a Konoha headband that could breath out swarms of man eating beetles. That wasn't to say Kei's ability wasn't unique in an interesting way. Instead of blood his body functioned on threads. Ryu would almost smile at the idea that in a way he was a living puppet. Strings and skin attached to a mind. How he survived was beyond Ryu and he couldn't fathom how a med nin might treat such an individual. Still he wouldn't judge him for it either. No more a freak than the next man in this world.

His eyes shifted to the young mans fingers as he observed them dangling there. The comment on him being a weird gang leader while amusing hanging in the air still. He could sense the tension building. No killing intent of course but still, two men did not raise fists against each other without feeling the weight of it. It was interesting to witness all the same. The brawler kid at his door step and wishing to increase his own might. Not that there was likely much distinction between their own powers. Ryu didn't care to admit it but he didn't feel as strong as he needed to be. He won against the puppeteer once but he wasn't sure he would be unscathed a second time. He needed to be stronger. He needed to grow from this too. He let out a slow breath as he watched those fingers. Swinging there like a pendulum. If they had been sharpened they certainly would be cause for pause. The idea of a mans body being full of razor wire a terrifying one. Perhaps one day he would learn how to sharpen his threads with chakra. For now Ryu would simply need to engage this unique threat as he would someone with actual ropes trying to bind him.

Which was why it was little surprise to him when the threads shot towards him simultaneously. Their aim painfully obvious though not their length. For now he had to assume he was limited in his escape from that range. Quickly as the corded fingers launched at him his right hand shot up and would with surprising speed snatch the one for his neck up even as it was bound. His left doing the same for the cord meant for his waist. In the end he could only snatch two of them up out of the air and his right arm and leg were both captured. He didn't have a moment to get out of the binds as he felt the cords tighten and pull. Kei was launching himself forward by pulling himself at the same time. The length of the cords decreasing as he did so. It was an impressive amount of control and yet Ryu stood his ground. His feet barely shifting in the sand on the rooftop from the sudden pull as he braced himself. A grapple type? No, he was rushing with intent to land blows.

Ryu would take the opportunity presented to him in that moment. It would take half a second for Kei to close the distance between them but the moment the cords tightened something would suddenly go amiss. Ryu would suddenly yank the cords with both hands pulling them already taunt so hard it was bound to pull Kei at him even faster. And then he would step forward with just as much speed as before. Closing the gap even faster as the cords slacking suddenly would be the only warning. The hook for his jaw swing and caught through the loose strands of hair behind Ryu's head as he shifted down and back up in a single fluid moment. The top of his head shooting up hard. Aimed for the bottom of Kei's jaw. If he connected it would land hard enough to rattle Kei's head and lift him off the ground. The chin being a very vulnerable spot. If it landed and caused some reset in distance Ryu would release the two cords he held and speak. Letting the fingers drop to the ground. Standing there with both eyes looking the boy over. Something fierce in that gaze now.

"Where is it? Where is your resolve? You live in a village ruled by the corrupt and flooded with the desperate. The very act of walking alone at night a possible death sentence. You can either be strong enough to survive this and leave it behind or you can be more. You say I am a weird gang leader. I ask you if you understand my conviction? I will not bow down to this world and its flaws! I will not stand by as another mother and child hold their dying husband and father over a pocket full of coins or a shinobi bullies the poor for sport. I will not turn a blind eye! Will you Kei? Will you see the suffering all around you and do nothing? If you wish to be a man in my eyes rise up. Summon your courage and your rage at everything wrong with this world and scream out. Attack me as you ignore pain and fight on no matter what I do to you. Show me your will!"

2646
Exit thread - We should count this as a social and continue part two in a new thread
Endurance C-1 to C-3 1300/1300
Speed C-1 to C-3 1300/1300

46 wc remaining