Book One: Dawn of Oomi
Chapter One: Prelude to Oomi

“Mission:

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Prologue
Sunlight crept through barely closed curtains like a thousand tiny daggers. It jabbed at the face of a sleeping girl, hoping to sting away the dreams that lie behind tightly shut lids. Unfortunately, young Oomi couldn’t feel the prick of the warm sun and so she lay there for a while longer as the sun so desperately pleaded that she rise to greet it. In the end it would be the annoyance of those few rays of light that managed to seep through her eyelids that would raise her from her deep slumber. Slowly eyes opened to say hello to the room around her and she equally sluggishly sat up in the bed. A few more seconds would pass before the girls poor brain caught up with the rest of her. However, when it did the kunoichi leapt from her bed like a bat out of hell, tossing her sheets up into the air and over the opposite side in the process.

“This is it!” She exclaimed with a vehement fist pump. “Finally.” She finished as she moved to the window and subsequently peaked out through the curtains. It had been nearly six months since she’d been allowed to see the light of day for more than just a few hours and most of that was through a window. Oomi pulled away from the window. Time was up, the period the doctor had ordered that she rest was over. Finally, she could train and make up for all the lost time since graduation.

The girl sat back on the bed and grasped her knees. She’d never admit it to anyone, but she was nervous. Her father had made a friend at the Kage’s office, an office worker of sorts, and managed to scrounge up a mission for the genin. Something to help her get her sea legs, was how he put it. She knew that he meant he’d ensured that she didn’t pick something overly dangerous like chasing down thieves or challenging gangs, things she’d honestly rather be doing. Father knows best, he’d said when she objected the night prior. Forced to accept her fate Oomi sighed and rose from the bed again. At least the goat was somewhere on the mountains — she’d make a game of it.

Training:

In the Mountains

Fingers grasped at crimson cloth and tightened the strap around the ponytail it held in place. Facing the sky was a small metal plate which bore the symbol of Iwagakure. A triumphant nod followed by a wide grin and the girl was off. Zori cover feet padded against dense mountain rock, headed away from the village. Not far, mind you, but far enough to garner a little excitement. It wasn’t everyday that a genin, especially a fresh one, got to see the world outside their village.

For as far as the eye could see mountains stretched, dotted by plateaus and jagged outcrops. It was stark, perhaps even depressing when held against the stories the old folks told of the lands on the other side of the southern mountains. Yet, this was home and held it’s own beauty, though admittedly what way was mostly lost on the young kunoichi. She imagined forests full of trees and sprawling landscapes of green and other hues. Purple of course being her favorite, regardless of having never heard of purple grass before.

A cliff loomed on the horizon, marking the end of the easy part of her journey. Oomi picked up her pace, her strides becoming wider, until she was moving at top speed toward the edge of the plateau. When she reached the edge she leapt from it, seemingly without care of consequence. Yet, much to her luck within reach was a short rocky outcrop. She landed, left foot first, atop the outcrop nearly losing her balance in the process. Now, now her adrenaline was pumping — she’d literally leapt before she looked. Now she was ready to do anything! The symptoms of an adrenaline junky?

Oomi closed her eyes and drew in a long and deep breath as she channeled her chakra to her feet. The process was a simple one, a jutsu that all shinobi were aware of; Supernatural Walking Practice (Shūgyō'shikachō ~ 修業歩然超). Once this was done Oomi took what would be the second strangest step of her life for the hundredth time. It had lost it’s appeal quickly during the first month after her graduation from the academy. The instant she’d learned the jutsu she’d taken to speeding across the roofs of Iwagakure like some alley cat. It was because of this that she’d thought to invent a new jutsu of her own, one that would allow her to walk across the air just as easily. Unfortunately, the technique wasn’t meant to be at the time and the poor girl had plummeted to her doom. Many broken bones and spot of brain damage later Oomi couldn’t feel a thing, and she was beginning to like it.

The young woman drew her other foot up and found herself standing nearly completely horizontal on the mountain’s face. She paused there for a moment, arms folded across her chest, and drew in another long and deep breath. Another moment was taken to scan the area, maybe she’d get lucky. There was no such luck. Oomi exhaled slowly and took off in a run along the side of the mountain. It was time to start hunting down that stupid goat.

The mountain side rolled and twisted into jagged puzzle pieces soon enough. These Oomi leapt across in stride, never bothering to slow down regardless of the precarious nature of her footing. For a time this went well, though murphy’s law had a way of proving itself true. A left foot landed hard on a small bit of rock, following was the sound of stone cracking. So quick was the unfortunate event that Oomi had no time to react, before she’d realized it she was plummeting toward the ground so far below. Eyes grew wide with momentary fear, though that was quickly replaced by what training she had.

Oomi raised her left hand and placed it over her mouth. Fingers then curled to create a funnel and she blew through it, shunting fuuton natured chakra through to increase the wind that was created. Wind Release: Stream (Fūton: Nagare ~ 風遁・流れ) would push her back up the mountain side to one of the many rocky outcrops just barely large enough for her to take a crouching stance on. A new stream of adrenaline coursed through her veins. The hunt for this damned escaped goat was turning out to be more of a challenge than she’d even begun to expect.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

In the Mountains pt. 2

It had been yet another close call, this one not of her own doing. Oomi stood up on the small jutting bit of rock and scanned the area again, as if she might be looking to see if anyone had caught sight of her embarrassing fall. Satisfied that no one was about, Oomi pivoted on her heel and darted across the mountain side once more, leaping across jagged outcrops when necessary. As she speed along she ran over the particulars of her mission in her head, repeating them so that she’d not forget a step. Not that there were more than two steps required to complete this whole thing, find the goat and return the goat. However, the farms name was already slipping away as was the location that he’d first lost sight of the goat.

In the end it wouldn’t matter though, at least the bit about where the goat had been lost. It had been out there over night by now and had surely found somewhere else to be. It might be a stupid goat, but even goats had to know that it wasn’t safe when the sun went down. With that in mind Oomi continued on beyond where the goat was last seen, though she didn’t realize it, with the idea that the goat would be further ahead and possibly hidden. Oomi changed her direction slightly, as to begin running up the mountain at a gradual rate. She’d be a full 50 meters ahead of the goats last sighting before she’d finally set foot on the top of a small plateau no more than 20 meters in diameter. To her left was a jutting bit of rock that seemed out of place here where the mountain seemed to have been shaved fairly cleanly.

After a moment of catching her breath Oomi’s attention was drawn to the jagged bit of rock to her left. She imagined that some shinobi long ago had been responsible for the appearance of this tower among the mountains. Stricken by the need to leave a mark of her own Oomi squared herself in front of the jutting rock and threw a series of punches at it. Unfortunately, she’d find that she was unable to do more than shake bits of dust off. Infuriated Oomi let out a roar and threw a final punch at the rock. Still, she’d find herself less than effective, though finally she’d produced a tiny crack. She’d also done a good bit of work on her left hand as well, yet would remain none the wiser for the moment.

A crooked grin slipped across Oomi’s face at the sight of her work. A triumphant fist pump followed — even this small progress was worth celebrating. Proof that she was getting stronger would always be welcomed and appreciated. A moment later she was off, literally leaping from the platuea, across a gap and onto another portion of the mountains which sat at a fairly step slope. She then darted across this slope in search of that stupid lost goat.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

I thought I saw a goat!

“Where the hell is this stupid goat?!” Oomi exclaimed as she came to a skidding stop on the mountains side. Still chakra clung desperately to the earth, preventing her from falling to her death. Arms cross over her chest and she huffed. An hour had passed and she’d crisscrossed the area the goat should have been in what felt like a thousand times over. “Oh goaty, come out come out where ever you are!” She started as she began to creep across the mountain once more. “Here goaty, goaty~” She continued as she trekked up towards a high peak among the mountains.

Half way up was when she saw them; dull, unintelligent eyes peering down at her from the peak she was headed towards. A mischievous grin slipped across her lips. Under her breath she whispered an obscenity she ought not have. In response the goat bleeted as if challenging the girl to catch it. That challenge was immediately accepted. Like a rocket Oomi blasted up the side of the mountain. She’d tackle it and be done with this whole mess. As had already been shown, lady luck wasn’t on Oomi’s side today, however.

Not more than seven steps up the mountain, the ground gave way and went tumbling down taking Oomi’s right foot with it. The girl fell forward, narrowly rescuing her chin by quickly trusting her hands out ahead of her. Yet, still she was sliding down the slope. Finger dug and grasped at earth, searching for something sturdy enough to stop her descent. No such luck was to be found. And to make matters worse now came the goat happily bouncing down the mountain side, bleeting without a care in the world. He was mocking her as he darted past her and made a hard turn back up the mountain. He’d pass her a second time, bleating his disrespectful nonsense. It was distracting and pulled Oomi’s attention away from the steep drop off that lie just a few meters further ahead of her.

Feet dangled in the air just long enough for the young shinobi to realize what was about to happen. Though when she did it was already too late, the rest of her body had left the safety of the mountain side and she was dropping like a rock. Again dull eyes peered down at her, this time from over the ledge she’d just left behind. He was still mocking her, laughing at how easily she’d become a victim of death. Oomi imagined that he felt only shame that she would think herself worthy of catching, much less chasing him down. The mountain rushed passed her, just out of reach. This was it.

“Stupid goat.” Oomi mumbled as yet another fresh supply of adrenaline rushed through her veins. She had no intentions of dying while chasing a goat, at least not if she could help it.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

Trying not to die is hard work…

Oomi kicked her right leg over her body as she threw her right arm over her body, attempting to roll mid fall. The movement would for lack of a better word drag her about so that she was facing downward. Oomi then lifted a hand to her mouth and curled her fingers to create a funnel. Again, as before, she blew an immense amount of fuuton nature chakra through her makeshift tunnel creating a stream of wind which pushed her back up the mountain. As she did this she slowly titled her head upward as to begin blowing herself back toward the mountain as well. By the time her jutsu was complete Oomi would find herself safely on the mountains side again, Supernatural Walking Practice keeping her safely on it’s steep slope.

The girl turned to face the sky where she found those same pair of dull eyes still looking down at her, though the mouth now seemed preoccupied with chewing a small tuft of grass that had managed to grow out of the ledge Oomi had fallen from earlier. The kunoichi scoffed at the creature. “So, you were just going to watch me die, huh?!" She shouted at the animal, which prompted it to lift its head and very nearly glare at her. “I swear when I get my hands on you…” Oomi’s threat trailed off as she jumped into a sprint up the mountain side.

A few moments later she’d reached the edge of the ledge and from their she stepped up onto the less steep but just as dangerous incline of the mountain peak she’d first seen the goat atop. The goat, however, was no where to be found. At least not at first. A loud, almost defiant, bleat rang out through the mountain side. The noise drew Oomi’s attention in its direction; the peak of the mountain. “Gottcha now…” Oomi chimed as she started up the mountain once again at full speed. The goat watched for a moment before darting down the mountain on the other side. “Oh no you don’t!” Oomi exclaimed as she made a hard left to circle the thinning mountain peak and hopefully catch the goat off guard.

On the other side of the peak, the goat was darting straight down the mountain side. Though, finally Oomi was going to be awarded a bit of luck. The two intercepted one another about 3/4ths down the slope of the peak. Though the goats momentum proved to give him the advantage. Oomi reached out, intending to snatch the troublesome little creature up, only to grab an arm full of air. The goat had just narrowly escaped her and was now making a sharp left turn of its own. Oomi fell for it’s trap and went to chase it, only to be shaken by a quick right turn that sent the goat back down the mountain side. Still, Oomi gave chase.

A quick pivot on her heel and she was racing down the mountain behind the elusive goat. She’d not be caught by a second trick, though that didn’t stop the goat from trying. It made a hard right  and Oomi followed. It then, thinking itself clever leapt over the small gap on this side of the mountain onto a small rocky outcrop belonging to the face of a second mountain in the chain. The goat then darted along the side of this second mountain before making a quick left and heading up it, all the while leaping between small jagged outcrops. Oomi herself quickly leapt across the gap and easily landed on the outcrop the goat had used. Though the second proved to be a precarious position and she nearly lost her balance. The third, however, completely snapped and she found herself once again sliding down a steep slope, but more importantly she was losing ground on the goat.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

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The Oomi Way

The young kunoichi drew a deep breath. This had already happened once before, she was prepared this time. Chakra was directed to her feet, increasing the adhesive property of the academy jutsu she’d been using. This was only the first step; slow her descent. Next would be a show of strength. The muscles in her legs tightened and bunched, waiting for the perfect moment. When it came she propelled herself up the mountain, not by much just a few meters but more than enough for her to regain her footing on a nearby bit of rock that was jutting out just enough to be useful. Whether it was luck or skill she was ready to make up for lost time.

Legs trained to be used as weapons dug into the earthen mountain side tearing a path up it toward where the goat leisurely feasted on what little color the mountains had to offer. It took a moment for the creature to notice the girl that hunted him, but when he did he wasted no time in bolting in the opposite direction. Oomi sucked her teeth in frustration. She’d not be outdone by a goat today. Her legs kicked harder, pushing beyond the noodley feeling that was beginning to set in. Before long she began to gain ground on the goat as they darted left and right and leapt cracks and gaps and across distances Oomi shouldn’t have tried jumping.

The last of these great distances would prove the point. Oomi’s right foot scraped against the edge of an outcrop that the goat seemed to be using to prove that he was better suited for the mountains than she could ever hope to be. Again… she grumbled in frustration, now more with herself than the monster that she couldn’t catch. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately a small plateau of rock jutted out from the mountain side just a few meters down. She hit the rock hard, cracking it in the process.

She groaned, reflex rather than the sensation of pain. Her visioned blurred for a moment but quickly returned to an awful sight. The fearsome goat glared down at her. She could have sworn she’d seen it smile. Oomi rolled onto her side, worsening the damage to her ribs — some of which were surely broken. She’d not know it until sometime after she got up, not until she was speeding up the mountain side again and breathing became a task all of its own. As if the goat knew that for the moment the sport of the chase was gone it stopped 20 meters away, allowing Oomi a moment to attempt catching her breath.

Long deep breaths were drawn in, could she have felt the pain in her side she might not have. The goat on the other hand decided it had waited long enough be took to bouncing up the mountain side again. A few moments passed before Oomi took off up the mountain at top speed once again. It seemed that the goat had begun to doubt her and no longer felt the need to flee at any respectable pace. Why would he when it had watched her slip, fall and never get near him but the once. This would be the beginning of that stupid goats downfall.

Oomi darted up the mountain side until it had become near perfectly vertical, to a place where the goat thought itself safe. She was upon it before it even realized how close she’d come. Her arms stretched out. The goat looked back at her, fear crossing it’s eyes. On Oomi’s face a grimace that told of her frustration with the day. She reached out for the goat and wrapped her arms around it’s body. As she did so the goat kicked it’s hind legs and narrowly missed her already broken ribs.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

…lemme upgrade ya.

Oomi’s arms tightened around the goats body. Finally! She caught the little bastard! Or at least she had. A quick wiggle and a well placed kick opened her arms and freed the goat once more. Said goat promptly took off at breakneck speed. He’d made a mistake and allowed himself to be caught. She’d not get her hands on him so easily again. Oomi took off after him. The two zigzagged up and down the mountain side, neither ready to quit anytime soon. It was becoming quickly apparent that catching this goat was going to depend on more than just her speed.

As the goat went down the mountain side, continuing it is zigzagging path, Oomi continued up it breaking off from him. The hope was that she could intercept him on his way back up. It, of course, depended on the goat not noticing her until it was too late. Unfortunately for Oomi as the goat came back up the mountain it caught sight of her and quickly changed direction. The young kunoichi grunted in frustration and continued her chase. The pair darted up and down the mountain what seemed like thrice over.

“I swear when I catch you I’m gonna kill you, Goat!” Oomi shouted as the goat quickly shifted to the left avoiding her grasp once again. She’d begun to gain on him, even getting so close as to attempt grabbing him a few times. Yet, now her broken ribs were beginning to steal away her stamina. Soon it would be now or never. Until then she’d keep up her pace, pushing her body as far as it would go. The chase continued on for the longest three minutes of her life.

Finally, arms reached out to find the body of a goat rather than just empty space. Oomi wrapped her arms around the goats torso, and clasped her hands. She then pulled the little bastard back into her body ensuring that he wouldn’t escape this time. The added weight of the goat and Oomi’s own stumbling feet caused both to fall backwards. Oomi hit the ground hard and both began sliding down the steep slope of the mountain.

At least she had the goat this time…

In the distance the mountain dropped off from view. Experience told the young shinobi what that meant. Hugging the goat to her body she freed a hand to reach out and grasp at the ground. This time she wasn’t foolishly attempting to slow herself down, instead she used said hand to twist her body around — to get her feet facing down the mountain. That done she dug her feet into the ground, just enough to gain control over he descent, though she didn’t bother to slow it much. She owed this goat something for all the trouble it had put her through. Scaring it half to death seemed like a good way to pay the debt.

The edge of the slope came upon them and Oomi kicked from the ledge out into the open air. The goat, whom had been squirming around the entire time, froze. Mission accomplished. Oomi smiled from ear to ear, proud of herself. Now came the issue with her free fall. She’d admittedly been dependent on luck, having not thought beyond how frightened the goat would be after having literally leapt off the side of a mountain. Eyes scanned her surroundings looking for any place and anything she could use to slow her fall. After what felt like far too many seconds she finally spotted a small table of level ground jutting out from the side of a cliff face to her right.

She’d have to call upon a jutsu she’d been forced to use twice already since her hunt began. It was beginning to become second nature to her if only for having been forged in the throws of actual danger. Oomi pursed her lips and blew fuuton chakra into the wind where it mingled with the air already there and created a somewhat stronger gust. With this she first slowed her descent and then with a tilt of her head nudged herself in the direction of her chosen landing zone. Still, she’d hit the ground with a hard thud. Real danger… She’d nearly died too many times than she cared to count. All just to catch some snooty goat.

After a moment of catching her breath and fighting with the goat, Oomi was headed back down the mountain. The goat, ever dissatisfied, wriggled in her arms upset with the incline of their chosen path — it was much too vertical for him. “Quit complaining, this is all your fault in the first place.” Oomi snapped. One more second with this goat was one too many.

It’s not weird for your first nemesis to be a goat, right?

It took some time, but eventually Oomi found herself on level ground and headed toward the farmers home. “..and when we get there, I’m gonna punch ‘em in his guts. Bet that’ll teach ‘em not to lose his goat again.” She tugged at the goat’s leash a bit. She’d put him down and demanded that he move on his on steam for the duration of their trip. “…and you better not run off again. If I have to chase you down again I’m just gonna knock you off the mountain. I’ll catch you on the way down.” She added as she glared daggers at the goat. It responded with it’s usual defiantly ignorant gaze.

Sometime later Oomi arrived at the farmers home. There’d be no gut punching, or even talking for that matter, but there was no mistaking the kunoichi’s frustration with the whole ordeal. With that done Oomi returned home for a well earned bowl of ramen and a nap.

Training:

Jutsu Used:

Final Training Results: