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1Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:23 am

Sol

Sol


D-rank
Named one thing, served another purpose.

Funny how that worked out. The Administration Building, so many tools, even jutsu, he could name.....oh, but ninja themselves, too. Were they not also tools? Whether for amusement or ambition, their lives were still nothing but playthings for the Feudal Lord and the Shogun. This is how it always had been; the old send the young to die on behalf of their problems. Yes, even a shinobi, 'one who endures', was trained to do so much more. Each ninja's name, in some cases, even became meaningless; through ANBU, nameless even to the people they descended from. Through combat and war, no one learned the name of another. It simply made them so much harder to hurt or kill, knowing they were a real person. But, he supposed that too mattered little. Even as one hurts others, their heart closes, making it easier to do so again. That one might not have to feel something about killing others. He'd heard tales of the twisted ones that actually enjoyed maiming and murdering. Even then, could he kill someone like them? If he was...assigned to such a purpose? Would he do it under his own name? Or the one the village gave him? Would he--

Right, the stone. The tower. He was....here, yes. It took, apparently, a great deal of willpower even to keep his own mind on presence, let alone try to complete something simple like polishing the stone. It wasn't a mission that paid well, but it was easy, at the least. Ōnoki, of all people, was said to do the same even as a disciple of the First Earth Shadow, even before he took up that mantle under the Second. He never saw anyone really enter this tower....it crossed his mind that perhaps this was a task reserved for those studying under the Tsuchikage. Sol's right hand splayed, those fingers lightly dropping the polishing cloth onto the corner of the pedestal. His left hand's index and middle fingers curled at the first joint, while his other three completely contracted; his other hand simply wrapped around those two. As if a whisper to himself...


"Chi-dō-daku."

He always found it odd how reciting the name, verbally or otherwise, allowed him to better concentrate. The slightest of rumbles, given the small area he was using...but he couldn't stand getting wet for just a curiosity. By applying his basic Academy skills, he could even make the rocks stick to the conveyor-belt of earth beneath them. One at a time, he found it to be true. Each of these rocks, though possessing the smallest differences in shape, would yield no complaint if replaced. It was only due to him being there for the switch and seeing both that he could ever tell the difference. Tossing it into the surrounding pool - decorative or symbolic? - would leave no trace of which was the original.

Leaving no trace. Perhaps this was fine too.


|505|

2Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:25 pm

Karumo

Karumo


D-rank
Karumo had one more of his students to meet with before bringing them altogether for their training and exercises officially. Karumo journeyed down to the first floor of the administration building, gradually walking over to the mission's office and walking to the secretary there. A few half-hearted nods and 'Hello's' on his way, everyone still referring to him so formally among everything else, he never adjusted to it, and even the secretary tilted her head down to greet him. He never understood it, what made him so much better than anyone else at any time, he placed a hand to his neck and laughed a bit to ease the tension which she'd so easily built around his arrival, "I was just wondering if you had the mission and chore log today, I'm looking for one genin in particular..." he let his hand drop to his side as her eyes popped.

"Oh! I can help with that, do you know what task he was assigned?"

Karumo shook his head lightly in dismay, "No, though, he's fairly new from what I understand so it'll be a low level task or D rank mission at best... the name I'm looking for is Momonga." he paused and let her go on, flicking through pages of papers and tossing them over each other, bound by the staple as they flapped with the sound that paper made against the air.

"Ah, found him!" she spoke after two pages of flipping over, "It seems the last thing we assigned him was to polish the village shrine and tidy up the area if needed." she offered with a smile and glanced up at Karumo's purple eyes. "Was there... anything else you needed?" she hesitated as they made eye contact before she looked back down to his chin. That, was something he'd grown used to with having unique eyes like his. Either everyone knew their abilities and feared looking into them, or found them unique and had some thought that staring or looking would be offensive to him in some manner. He'd grown accustomed to that much at least.

Karumo nodded his head and bowed slightly with his hands clasped together, "No, that's it. Thanks for your help." he would leave off and stand back up, receiving a small note in return before walking off out of the missions office itself. Taking a turn down the hall, back to the main lobby, his feet pressing silently against the cleaned floors, more passive greetings, he held a smile for each of them. Arriving at the other side of the building at a door that opened up to the village shrine, simple in stature really, just a circular room of a simple color. A small pond with a variety of rocks and stones collected from the village lie at the bottom of that running water, a small bridge towards the center and a podium at the center of that isle. On that podium sat a single stone, polished and well kept, representing the village hidden in the stone. A stone above the others, the metaphorical representation so varied between so many people, everyone had their own thoughts about it.

Karumo though, like to imagine the stone above the others as the Tsuchikage, placed on some mantle above everyone when the truth was, they were no different than any of the other stones. A slight variation of the lesson passed down so many times, and so many genin sent her on mission to polish the stone above the others. Some representations had the stone represent the village and have it placed above everything else, some had seen the stone above the others as a symbol of one's priorities. The metaphor near boundless.

Karumo pushed open the door, quiet as it always had been, he found his student seemingly diligent at work, whether he would pay any mind to someone entering into the room, Karumo would speak up, "Tell me... what does that stone mean to you?" he would project his voice to fill the room, grab any attention that wasn't already directed to him as the door closed behind him. Leaving the Tsuchikage and his student in the room with an interesting question poised to break the silence.


[720 words]

3Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Wed Apr 05, 2017 12:10 pm

Sol

Sol


D-rank
To his knee, again. The right supported his arm, which held the stone in the upturned palm. He took a pensive look at it, clutching it slightly after his words of address.


"Tsuchikage-dono.

....

Loneliness. That, though, of our own work. We are....nothing but people, no? Normal....save for the trade we pursue. If we were a trade group, you would be the chief executive....I am on a tangent, yes.

The stone is, per se....a thing representing what each of us could be, though it is not us. Even when it's apparent to us that we are above, in control, or singular....all the while, we are surrounded by others, drowning in that ignorance of which we cannot even take heed.

It is through knowing, perhaps accepting, what it means to be below the surface that one can truly be atop others in a way they both might acknowledge. There are...frightening accounts in the annals that I cannot shake. It simply seems like there were other paths for some. The Shichiōza, Ukiyo....where their motives lay is still unknown. If they took more time to look at themselves....and see how their actions affected others? Perhaps much strife and sadness could have been averted in the shinobi world's recent history.

Oh, but I am rambling on, yes....it is my hope that I did not confuse, Tsuchikage-dono."

It unnerved him. Not the query posed to him, no. That was almost natural, given he was on a line of thought of similar gravity. No, it was that he was here at all. It was...unlike most of the village's higher-ranking ninja to simply supervise the genin while they did mere chores, even if they were glorified as great honors or lessons in themselves. He'd read the Fence-Sitter's biography enough to have learned of the First Earth Shadow's words.

He, however, did not find the task itself tedious or without tact. Indeed, polishing was one of his own preferred pastimes, though generally performed on pieces he'd picked himself. Of course, the job itself would have to wait. The Tsuchikage was not to be brushed off, as, he imagined, it was a rarity for him to leave his near-on constant job of approving, stamping, and whatnot. Thus...to take an outing for him? The uncertainty was very much not comforting to the youth. What on earth could the Tsuchikage want with him outside of an appointment?

He slowly set the stone to the surface below, wrapping one hand over the two half-extended fingers of the other. With little ado or noise at all, the stone slid off the edge, just a few paces to his right, and was replaced from the left by another. Unfolding his hands, he let out a small sigh for no reason in particular.

Perhaps that was also the purpose of his greatest direct societal superior being present at the moment. Or rather, the lack of purpose. He was the highest authority outside the country's Great Name, after all. Despite all his responsibilities, he did not need to answer to much of anyone as long as he did not break the law in severity. Even if he did....

It was a thought that Sol did not like to entertain. That those with power had no way to make sure that power was being used correctly, in the best interest of all the people around them. Outside of their own judgement, of course.

He only hoped that their minds could evaluate as well as his could. Or perhaps, did that ask overmuch?


[610 | 1115]

4Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:03 pm

Karumo

Karumo


D-rank
Karumo entered into the monument area, it was quiet outside of his steps, the sound of running water, and any noise Momonga would have been making. He watched him grip the stone in his hand, Karumo making slow and calculated steps within the area, crossing over the small bridge towards the short pillar at the center as he ranted on. Karumo raising a brow, it was a very thought out and defined analysis of such, one that he very much liked. It... covered such a broad sense of it, and he agree almost entirely, perhaps a reading of the analogy he'd have to save for himself as well.

He seemed very well versed in history as well, Karumo approached the podium itself and reached out to the stone that sat on top of it as he dropped the stone into the water and watched it replaced in his hand. Karumo grabbed the stone in the middle and mused for a second as Momonga left off with his query about confusing him. Karumo would shake his head quickly and glance towards him, "Oh no, I believe I followed along well enough..." his thoughts turned back to the very idea of his interpretation. The water being the struggles and ignorance that slighted every person. Combined with Karumo's interpretation that meant that he as Tsuchikage were supposed to have wisdom and understanding above all of that?

His bravado be damned, that was nonsense. Ridiculous. Foolishness. To think he could ever have any level of understanding like that in his short time on earth, perhaps it was enough he remained open minded to it all? Still, that was too much for one person. Karumo would set the rock back down with a sigh, and glance back to him, "I think myself as well that with a little more understanding and less prejudice in the world, a lot of the pain and tragedy we face could be narrowed down considerably as well." he paused and stepped back from the stone on the pillar.

"But, I didn't come here to discuss the merits of ethics and understanding in our shinobi world, as entertaining as that be, do you mind if I interrupt your chore for a moment to berate you with questions and things of that nature?" he paused hoping to catch more of his squad members attention. "Of course, you can keep polishing if you wish to finish quicker, it really doesn't take much to listen to me rant like an old man..." he chuckled a bit and waited to see how he would respond, if he would be alright with him interrupting to learn a little bit more about him, the oldest member of his squad, and seemingly most naturally introspective one of the group as well. Well, next to Taeru perhaps but Momonga's level of musing and thought process seemed to exceed it on first impression.


[488 words, 1208 words total]

5Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:12 pm

Sol

Sol


D-rank
He rose from his address at one knee as he heard the Earth Shadow's rather relaxed manner of speak in return to his own. A faint grin, showing the slightest hint of teeth as his eyes narrowed, those amber orbs darted lightly to the side; was this a touch of mischief? Ah, his old days were showing.

"All respect due, Tsuchikage-dono, my job is only as done as my superiors say it is. The stone is more polished than before if one finds it to be the case - my actually doing so only tips the decision in my favor.

That said...please proceed as you wish."

A line of questioning...

Something tightened inside him, though he dared not show that sensation in an outward fashion. A knot in his stomach, or something similar to it...it was not something he was going to shake while Karumo himself was still in the room with him. He so casually addressed him as Momonga, so...it was possible he did not know yet.

He really had nothing, yet, to say or do. It was all in the Tsuchikage's court. Now, the only thought that remained was what he would ask...


[200|1315]

6Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Tue Apr 11, 2017 3:01 am

Karumo

Karumo


D-rank
Karumo watched as he stood up from his knee, releasing the stone and stepping back, angling his body to face him completely now. He smiled and made a mark about his work, falling to the whim of his superiors and all that. Karumo chuckled a bit and nodded as the floor was left open to him for his own line of questioning. Looking about him for a moment, Karumo's mind wandered about where he should begin, probably with a sentiment of understanding what he was actually trying to find out from him.

With the others, it was simple... testing them in different ways and conversing about their own skills and abilities and then thinking on his own on how they meshed, their personalities and all else with it. He'd start small though, let Momonga ramp up towards the bigger and more important facets of his understanding.

Karumo would speak flatly towards him, letting his eyes glance down from the distance they stood between them. "If you had to put into words what your greatest strengths and weaknesses were, what would you say they were? ...Then, if you had to be honest about them, would they change at all?" Taking a poignant twist to the question, everyone believed in their own abilities but those who understood themselves wouldn't have the doubt to call in question and offer any other potential scenarios.


[233 words, 1441 words total]

7Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:40 pm

Sol

Sol


D-rank
Right. Strengths...and weaknesses. That was, in essence, what mattered in a squad. He, as the leader, could not make efficient formations or compensate for anything if he did not know what each of them was capable of, what they were good or bad at. Sol, of course, still found it rather peculiar that he would choose a moment away from the others to ask this, rather than, say, during the team meeting they all had before.

Still, he had little recourse but to answer. He was, after all,
Sol's sensei. Not to mention the person in the highest position of political and military power in the Stone. Probability of not doing so being a good idea....zero percent. He was, however, glad that he could get straight to the point. Perhaps his own demeanor managed to encourage such a course of action. It was not, per se, that he did not wish to converse more than this with Karumo, no. It was more...he had many things to be doing today. He did not often have time for idling - even if this was important, it put him off schedule.


"I suppose I should start with...the basics.

He folded his two center fingers, the ring and middle, together, extending the little and index to meet in triangular fashion.

His left hand curled into a fist, his right laid flat atop it.

A gust expelled from his sides and even at his back, his Empyrean Updraft traveling there from being aimed downward. The water, so agitated by the wind's movement, splashed up, and several stones littered the edge of the carved-in pool.

He wrapped his hand 'round his curled index and middle finger, keeping the jutsu he had before at work. The earth beneath those palm-sized pieces of earth shifted, moving them back into the water with a satisfying plunk.


"I possess the ability to use Earth and Wind natures. I mainly know how to use Ninjutsu, though I have been working with the Hospital in the past few years to try and develop my skills in that field as well....

My jutsu arsenal is not potent, and I have no special weapons or Taijutsu training. I...I was defeated by Taeru a few days before our squad meeting. I know that she's...exceptional. Losing to someone half your age...it is more than a small weight on me. It somewhat makes sense that I've been a genin for 7 years."

He let out a sigh, giving his all to convey how he was feeling. He was not, in any sense, lying; however, the truth was just as powerful a weapon.

"I've performed the Chakra Induction litmus paper test over 300 times since I become a ninja. I know what my main strengths should be, when it comes to jutsu. I feel as if....

There are a lot of thoughts going through my head. I believe that I often take courses that I needn't, thinking about things which do not require my attention at the moment. It is focus that I lack. I forget things easily if I do not stress to myself while listening or looking at something that it needs to be remembered. I...I know what is wrong, but I cannot seem to fix it.

My strengths....I believe that preparation is far more than half the battle. If you know what to expect and can act on that knowledge, even a quandary as heavy as a war can become infinitely more simple to solve. In that sense, my only other asset....

Mi, Hitsuji, Saru, I, Uma, Tora. He broke off from his sentence to suddenly begin making hand seals; Sol even turned directly towards his teacher. After making the final hand seal, he inhaled deeply, bringing his hand near his mouth. His point banked on the other's knowledge of such a common technique. That hand near his mouth curled its last two fingers, making a semicircle with the first two and thumb. However, he also used it as a hand seal for something else. That was a secret he was going to try and keep....and another point he had to make.

Then, the Tsuchikage's right foot would find the ground underneath it to move diagonally and to the left. A word in the man's ear, seemingly from nowhere; then he gave a few from his own person.


Deception.

"Simply put, I find that, in combat or even social ventures, tricking someone is an expedient manner in which you can alter the favor of a situation. As I said earlier, I've taken over 300 tests to determine my predisposed chakra natures. So...I know I should be able to use Fire. Which is...why I memorized the hand seals for the Gōkakyū-no-Jutsu. Even if I cannot use the Fire element, unless someone can discern my active chakra nature, there is a high chance that I can force a retreat or even a misuse of a jutsu. You can create openings by causing an opponent to expect one thing but doing another. My main problem is that I lack any finishing blows, so I cannot take advantage of openings I create alone. Perhaps that is not so bad with squads, but....

I do hope I did not cause offense in my attempted demonstration, Tsuchikage-dono."

He got down to one knee again, this time more as an apologetic gesture. Ever so formal.

[920|2235]

8Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Sat Apr 15, 2017 2:49 am

Karumo

Karumo


D-rank
Starting with the basics, he weaved together two signs in succession with solid form to the seals themselves, not aiming for speed or anything such. A gust of wind formed and blew through the area, crashing against the surface of the water and disturbed its contents. Ninjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, and a lost fight to Taeru. Karumo smirked at it, he seemed rather dismayed having lost to the quoted exceptional member of their team but Karumo didn't mind it at all, there was something to say for the sour taste of defeat in a persons mouth though. A small drive or push forward, to avoid it again, and he seemed to reek of that notion, in his foretold posture and in his words and tone.

He continued on with his story, talking about his chakra natures and such, his thoughts about his strengths and inability to focus, but his words trailed off and were replaced with action, signs began to form from him. Karumo's eyes widened, he leaned back into his heels and his weight fell on his knees as he realized the jutsu. In here of all places? What is this?! he wondered as Karumo quickly weaved together two signs of his own as his body waved into motion throughout, Uma, Mi. And then moving to press his hands to the ground for a quick barrier, hopefully strong enough to keep and scatter the flames along its surface. But was he quick enough, as Momonga's hands came to his face, Karumo wondered if he had the spacing to move within the time frame, he'd taken too long to realize what was happening, not expecting it in this place or from his own student.

But, before his hands fell to the ground, he found himself moved, the chakra barrier splashed into life for a brief moment before he slid along the ground, his right foot thrown from him as he lost control, his barrier shattered as he couldn't focus to control it. At the very least, he should move, the shrine would take damage, but it could be rebuilt, that was the least of his concerns. He began to fall into his stance, compressing at his knees and digging into his toes to leap and jump, but a voice hit him.


"Deception."


The words rang out and began to clarify as nothing happened, Karumo blinked and moved on to hesitatingly relax from his stance. Moving back up to standing straight up and composing himself, he listened in as he spoke, a smirk across his face as he had a realization of what had happened. It's no wonder he was a genin for 7 years though... able to put pressure on the Tsuchikage out of nowhere. He wondered how that spar between Taeru and him really went, and if Momonga could catch him off guard, what could his entire squad do together? Oh, the thought was a bit tantalizing for a moment but his mind paused its musing to find him taking a knee again.

Karumo blinked and shook his head a little bit, "Please..." he started off with a calm and friendly tone as best he could, easing the situation entirely, "You don't have to keep any of the formalities or pleasantries with me around, I'd rather you focus on me being your sensei rather than the Tsuchikage. But I didn't mind at all, I am extremely impressed, I didn't think any self-proclaimed career genin could come up with something so dangerous on the spot. If you were an assassin of any level, I could have been easily killed after I lost my footing..." Karumo's smirk grew more as he spoke before he nodded into a slight bow towards his student, offering his own gracious impressions.

"Still, I think I'm liking your style, I'm a ninjutsu specialist mostly myself, though... more generically than I think you are. It does make me wonder about the squad as well, I think you'll work very well together." he paused and nodded again with a slight inhale. "Now, about the katon jutsu, that is interesting, I'm a specialist myself, but I suppose that your testing all showed proficiency for fire, and yet I've seen Fuuton and Doton so far. That's quite the tangent of information..." he mused to himself.

"I'd like to see you for some more training soon, you like to read and learn and study, there are some interesting materials that might suit you later on, old ninjutsu manuals and teachings I think you could learn a lot from..." Karumo gave a half smirk and nodded along, leaving the floor for Momonga to respond if he wanted to, or to play his next trick if he had any others.


[805 words, 2246 words total]

9Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Empty Re: Being Found in the Normal |Karumo| Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:00 pm

Karumo

Karumo


D-rank
Karumo finished his bit and left the floor open to their bit of converse and discussion about everything, his recommendation for more training and things of that nature. Karumo had mostly made his point though, interrupting his small chore of cleaning the stone and keeping their shrine looking tidy. With his final words and Momonga's blessing, Karumo would begin to wrap up their initial meeting, the man was almost his age so there wasn't as much that Karumo felt comfortable digging into his history or ideals, even if they both did seem very open about the things that they discussed. The squad, their abilities, and some of the future along with it. It wasn't a conversation nearly as encompassing as he might have hoped about it all, but that's where it was for now.

With all said and done though, Karumo would speak up one last time, "Well Momonga, I think this is enough for now, I'll leave you to your chore on your own..." he would nod and begin making his way away from the shrine, standing tall and keeping his pace even. Stopping before reaching the door out and turning his head back, "By the way," he would pause briefly and wait for his attention, a smile on his face as he looked towards him. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm almost always available." he nodded and pushed his way through the doorway, leaving Momonga to his chore and his thoughts, until they would meet again and things would begin to move forward, hopefully with an impression of goodness.


[271 words, 2517 words total]
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[OOC: Exiting because of Zeke's official departure ;-;]

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