- Spoiler:
As I haven't got elements yet I may have to wait for Kiri and Mizu Maho which all look great but I'll most likely "cash" the thread in after I obtain the element. Would be happy to learn Kage Bunshin, Body Flicker and any venom based abilities if possible! :) As this is going to be a long post I'm going to 'chip' away at it throughout the day
He nodded at the confirmation of his actions by Haka, had he finally pleased her or rather appeased the nature of the Unmei themselves and their tendency to focus on the practical? It wasn't an easy virtue for one with a personality like Xiao to follow of course as he was inherently one of chaos presented in an orderly way like randomised results that had found a niche pattern like rain that spelt out a name or clouds that formed a distinctive shape. Xiao found it hard to focus but more over he found said focus to be single pathed only able to keep his mind focused on one aspect with all of his passion and right now that was to appease Haka, his anchor in life. He was worried, obviously, that he had let her down once more. The never ceasing failure that he brought no matter his effort weighed heavy on his heart but was countered with the ability to grow that was offered to him like eating an extra hot curry the pleasure was mixed with an inevitable pain.
Her spider followed her, a spider that Xiao had something of a distaste for in the way it whispered to his lady. He couldn't understand the language just yet but the way she would look in disdain to Xiao, the way they would whisper reminded him of his time in academy as something of an outcast for his foreign heritage. Though many would view Xiao as purely Unmei the reason why he opted for the role of a guardian of good fortune, inspiration and prosperity did stem from something most Unmei did not hold - his youth growing up as a human and of course the fact that his father was that of a differing culture entirely. It had always caused him issues with some of the students, even his name being of his father's homeland made the young spider always stick out like a sore thumb. He wasn't like the Kirigakure shinobi around, not even back then, where all had those flaxen white or blonde hair on pale beautiful bodies it was Xiao that stood there slightly tinged with a cappucino like color with wild brown hair with flecks of red that accented more prominently on his eyebrows with dark eyes that still held that hazel design that held no emptiness or mystery but instead an honesty and worry about them where he could wear his compassion on his sleeve for all to see and see they did. The other students in Kirigakure had that typical heir about them of his generation, wild and out to prove themselves, vicious and blood thirsty but at the time all Xiao wanted to do - truly - was sit there with his playing cards or kick a ball around, he had no desire to be a war machine and though a patriot it stemmed more from his sense of guilt than it ever did from a sense of ego if he even had such a thing. The attention was enough he found though to cause others to notice him, cease harm towards him or even look out for him and in his brain that dopamine drive became his miracle drug always looking for the best way to entertain others, to make them smile but even in the academy there were still those who would meet his gaze with stone faces and mocking faces. He played it off, he joked and disregarded but this disdain really was something that hung within his heart for quite a time, sticking like a ball of tape that he just could not shake the feeling and this look was the same as Haka's own. The same emotionless yet judgemental gaze but unlike the strangers or students that would do it she was his anchor, his guiding force and thus the weight of that look struck Xiao harder than a great hammer against a flimsy wooden shield and the shield at this point had been so beaten down that Xiao could scarcely wonder if it'd hold much more. He persisted though, awaiting the command of Lady Osada and her venomous ally.
Haka informed him of his tendency to apologise being incorrect, he made note and almost wanted to apologise for apologising but felt perhaps that would be something of a contradiction in itself and thus opted to keep his mouth closed. Perhaps, though hard as it may be, silence truly was his best ally in that of the land of spiders and the dark manor that he knew to be there home, a reason in part why he opted instead to live out in the forests so that he may be his wild and humorous self and not bring irritation to that of Haka though he knew some of the spiders may speak of he the food he offered those in his area were satiated enough to adhere his word though even then it would only need a simple command of the princess of the web to shatter that brittle bond based on naught but bribery. The little shinobi was further chastised for his kneeling, a human characteristic to be sure and exactly what she stated it would be, it was a literal lowering of defense and a sign of weakness of course a spider -a predator - would not respect it. Xiao was still young but he did make a note of it, he was a spider but he had never actually studied spiders let alone the psychology of predatory animals and thus all of this would be far more easy if he actually took the initiative and went to discover it for himself. Perhaps a hard study session could indeed help his desires to fully understand the Unmei or rather his 'other self' that he kept so repressed trying his best not to allow it overtake his body and become a force that held him by the throat. A side that he had only let loose once before under Haka's orders and still had no recollection of that time himself.
Slowly rising up from the floor and standing at full attention with his hands behind his back and his expression filled eyes aimed forward the little shinobi of the webs simply looked straight forward giving a sharp nod of acknowledgement learning that apologising was not the unmei way it was all he could offer despite his mind wishing to break down into an apology cycle that never end. Perhaps the option of studying over the habits and psychology of the arachnids were definitely something he needed to focus in on. Something that he most definitely needed to experience in a way that made him have that extra edge over his arachnid siblings. Sero Osada has blessed him with the dark chakra and he was grateful of course, though he was still an outsider and had never even met the father that was Sero himself. It was like hearing the preaching of a land he had never seen or a food never tasted, he had a concept of Sero especially in his dreams but nothing so tangible as if he had truly met him. Xiao wondered if he'd even
like the crimson arachnid, he wasn't exactly the most Unmei like in his personality despite the airs he put on for Haka and he knew that just like Haka Sero would most likely see through his act of stoicism to ensure the spiderlings were kept at bay. He stood there emotionless, unmoving and statue like simply listening to Haka and nodding when appropriate but attempting to remain as still as he possibly could as if a wild beast was snarling in his face and if he dare move it would gobble him up. Never stop fighting seemed to be the tenant or rather always be prepared, It was a reality Xiao was somewhat aware of being an outsider himself but also being one of the weaker of his generation, when he finally 'arrived' as it were and grew into his skin perhaps then he would be able to truly stun his former schoolmates and foreign friends but as it was now he was still learning, still adapting to the life of a shinobi and trying to merely catch up to those he once studied alongside.
His mind drifted to Kaito and his smug yet cold demeanor chewing his bubblegum and drinking his horrid soda looking down with bokken in hand preparing to strike out towards Xiao as he laughed taunting him with the knowledge that he was Haka's chosen. That of Sachihiro making it to Hokage himself and Xiao informing him that he had finally passed the chuunin exams. That of Yoshito who would have become Verdandi's champion of Yukigakure and her new apprentice. Samuru becoming the lord Oyabun of his own criminal organisation and laughing at Xiao's own efforts to finally form a shadow clone. He had to become stronger, she was right, not out of spite or out of unrealistic goals but because Xiao needed to be that. Sero was a sage, Haka was an assassin but in their little family perhaps Xiao could be the diplomat that spoke for Spider Island but to do so he would in fact need to work harder than both of his predecessors, he would need to work far harder than the two of them to ensure that he was there to be a shining embodiment of the Unmei's name - Fate. To be steered entirely by the webs of fate that connected all life. His life, his destiny was his own though, he was an orb weaver and even his name given to him truly embodied his future role as ambassador or diplomat. Though he was a child now, wild and carefree already he could feel the venom within his blood that was making him more bitter, making him far more detached from this reality. When he was a child something was found similar within his mother Doku, she called it "the Venom" a blackened toxin that infected those with kind hearts in hopes that it would destroy their morality and code of law so that they would succumb to the venom for a life of pleasure and self satisfaction. Though it was tempting to enter this symbiosis with the inner 'venom' all men had, Xiao heeded his mother's dying words in his heart and held them like a shield of light against the dark thoughts that infected his mind and kept his hope alive. With great power came great responsibility and Xiao would adhere to that code no matter the cost, knowing always that the stronger he got the more good he would have to do with that power never for his own, never self seeking and more importantly always for the betterment of the whole in place of the individual or self.
"Neither should you drop the opportunity to discover the unknown." Haka stated with a cold tone but her words held a weight that was part of their coded understanding. He smiled softly as he heard this, hidden under his mask of course and away from prying eyes but it allowed him to know that despite her scolding it did indeed come from a place of understanding of the young spider and his desires. Standing at full height, which wasn't much at all, he was proud in a sense that Haka was so wise beyond her supposed years. It was hard to know with the Unmei, some were 4 years old but looked 60, others like Xiao had a more fluctuating age that seemed to correspond with the age he 'felt' whilst others were ancient and yet held the appearance of children much like Orb-Tom in the forest who Xiao had spent some time with learning the artistry of creating a perfect web and the beauty that came with perfecting the art as well as the reasoning of it's importance and beauty to ensure it was unique. Many of the spiders in the forest were mere spiders though, never shifting or changing or merely hoarding into piles of spiders themselves much to Xiao's surprise whenever he assumed a shadow of a large figure had appeared only to find the shadow scatter as he investigated. He always thought it may be a handy to develop some combination techniques with his spiderling brothers and sisters, perhaps something similar to the aburame style. One thing he knew was inevitable in every shinobi fight was the use of Taijutsu thus creating something to interfere with those basic techniques would certainly be something that Xiao could find use for. His mind was always bursting with these concepts, and he knew he may annoy quite a lot of his friends with his constant chatter about them often in his own world before blurting out some obscure or strange remark that was always met with a dismissive or confused answer before being reminded of the
actual topic they were referring to often leaving Xiao embarassed but also entering his unfocused dream state once more. If he was to be useful not only to Haka or Sero but to the Clan as an entity itself perhaps he would need to do more than just read up on arachnids but live some more time as 'The Other'...if only he knew how to activate the transformation as the last time had only been managed to be introduced through the use of letting his emotions out after surpressing them for so long, for obvious reasons doing this infront of Haka would prove difficult if not utterly moronic, no instead he would actually need to focus in on trying to be at one with his other half within his own mind, within the well of chakra as opposed to breaking the conditioning of stoicism that he had found himself wearing like a sturdy shield about his body as tightly as an arachnids own exoskeleton. He could be thankful at least he was always honest with Haka and the clan, they truly were his family both figuratively and literally when it came to DNA and adapting to their way of life would be a necessity with hiding ones true power or motives being utterly fruitless for those who would be your home, escape and place of refuge. Though the spiders were predators that lived only to survive, eat, mate and sire Xiao found that each still did hold something of an individual personality though only slightly as if the difference between off white and eggshell white, it was a very small shift that one would not notice if not observing and Xiao did have a habit of observing. Some spiders like Orb-Tom and himself were orb spiders, more docile and tended to take pride in their webs as well as experimentation, if Orb-Tom was a human himself perhaps he would have been this world grand scientist supreme but he was bound to that basic nature of all survival instincts and the large arachnid body that bound him to his neck of Spider Island, trapdoors would scurry away and incredibly territorial but if you were there friend always tended to keep an eye on you and ensure you had eaten, bird eaters were gluttons and jumping spiders were energetic, widows were terrifying and huntsmen were the kindest he had met despite their horrific design. He had found that each, just like Kirigakure, had their own place in the horde that was the Unmei Clan though if one was to just assume they were beasts they would too easily dismiss them.
He truly held a love for each of them and he knew that as time went on perhaps he would find more reason to love them and more reason to fight for them. As he stood at attention the little spider shinobi stood at attention as she began to do...something. He wasn't sure what it was exactly, nor the capabilities but if it was anything like the web he had encountered moments before he would most definitely need to ensure that he would need to be ready with a way out lest he disappoint the princess of the web yet again or more importantly become the target of her friends ridicule that would simply pump more of the 'venom' through his body and admittedly he wished to avoid that at all costs as it was. Watching his master
What technique would it be? It was hard to fully grasp, Xiao was new to combat in the first place let alone the ability to identify techniques as well as others but as the feint glow appeared over the spider princesses arms the little spider nin could determine it may have been something linked to physical prowess which was a blessing for Xiao who had been attempting to perfect his own style of physical combat seeing the frequency it was used in combat between shinobis, actually hoping to create something of a unique style that utilised the body of the Unmei and it's unique philosophy but so too the tennants of the Unmei itself he had called the Prototype the Ether Fist a pun as it both meant an alcoholic chemical that could be seen as a mirror to the usage of venom and the loose style it held being based on drunken fist but so too that it could mean ethereal or spirit, attached to the Unmei's own otherworldly appearance and attitudes Xiao's technique would be based of course on flair, extremes and ensuring that his fight 'looked' amazing though he suspected if something was to be birthed from Haka that the term flashy would be more than a little alien and thus expected to see something that much more effectively mirrored the spider assassin. Something deadly, swift, versatile and above all other things efficient to a fault.
Grand glowing chakra like arms would begin to sprout from Haka's own dainty and slender pale flesh arms that would create quite a fearful look like looking at one of the bijuu of old. Could that be what Momma was? The thought crossed Xiao's mind but he soon disregarded it, no, the bijuu hadn't been seen in over five hundred years or so. Haka's arms emitted the thin waves of chakra that perfectly embodied the word ethereal to which Xiao made a personal note for his own Ether Fist style for the roots of the jutsu perhaps being useful as he proceeded to watch the princess of the web but as he assumed it had finished as the chakra cloak engulfed he almost prepared to speak before ...Arms!? Arms had sprouted from her! It was astounding and quite literally shocking to see but simply put was something that Xiao was
very interested in learning and this could most definitely be seen on his face as his eyes shined like diamonds at the site of Haka doing just this. It was
exactly what he had been looking for, exactly what he was hoping to achieve and there it was right in front of him. The technique of his clan must have been linked to his very DNA as his desires always seemed to satiated through it's constant amazement.
The princess of the web stated the fundamentals of the technique, something Xiao took special care to mentally jot down as she looked to her in pure amazement "
If I may Lady Tyrannis...This technique will be a great boon to me and I thank you." he stated as proceeded to try as he began to attempt to formulate a similar stance to Haka herself though only slightly trying to discover the exact positioning his tenketsu would need to be alligned to achieve such a technique. It was here though that she herself would , grant him a further greater boon an enhancement to the already bountiful technique that would most likely allow Xiao to move from the underclass that he currently found himself in. With this he could truly become one of Kirigakure's greatest Taijutsu users.
As the limbs grew still Xiao couldn't help but rub his hands together in excitement, a small amount of emotion let loose sheerly by the energy radiating off of Haka. As she reached out to him he did not flinch, nor wince as the cut was made instead accepting it as one of Haka's indulgences to which he couldn't help but smile back to her "
This technique is truly remarkable. Elegant I'd even say" he remarked as he stared in awe of the beauty of chakra manipulation.
He was caught off guard when the claw would thrust outward without a moments notice and shatter a tree, not simply cutting it but shattering it like it had been hit by the hammer of the gods itself. Xiao was...not frightened though he felt deep within his body a shaking that he kept at bay that of pure adrenaline as he mused over the uses he could find for such a technique. Perhaps this would make the chuunin exams go along swimmingly, perhaps it would be enough to push him over the edge as a shinobi. He was stunned but excited as he watched Haka's gaze not even flinch as he destroyed the tree itself. Merely imagining the sheer might that Haka must have had hidden away was enough to cause Xiao's mind to drift to the possibility, the very real possibility that he may have to use this very technique on a human, perhaps even one of his current friends that may defy Kirigakure in the future. That was the cost of being a human weapon with super powers he supposed, the government had full say on your actions and decisions no matter the time or cost. The venom would whisper to him often of the possibility of an eradication of these systems but when it came down to it the process was far to great for a little lucky spider who dreamed bigger than his body. As she cancelled the jutsu Xiao snapped back to reality being asked if he had any questions concerning the jutsu though he interpreted in a more general sense.
Taking on the same pose as she had done moments ago to summon forth the chakra the little spider began to feel the well of chakra in his body spin and whirl in the bason of his stomach that swirled with the thickened bile like substance of venom chakra, perhaps learning suiton wasn't a bad idea if he was to truly balance the acidic like chakra he felt coursing through his veins, regaining that ability may give him a soothing feeling compared to the constant heat and stinging that came from the overuse of the black chakra. "
I have a few." he stated bluntly trying to emulate a spider's mentality of black and white as he began to mold the chakra about his body trying to manipulate it in the same way he had discovered how to utilize the webbing itself now trying to focus instead on the acidic chakra itself pushing it through his pours as he focused in on allowing it to take a loose form "
This technique is strong...Is it of your own design?" he asked trying to maintain his blunt disposition as he forced the chakra through his tenketsu feeling it seep forward, stinging and warm as it came forth in it's strange emerald coloration slightly dwindling and warping as he attempted to 'balance it' with his wrist in a way before finally stabilising into a form one of the technique itself "
Like this? Correct?" he stated focusing intently on the chakra release of his body. Though possibly unable to push it further the little Xiao prepared to jab somewhat feeling that it certainly hadn't changed his weight which was beneficial indeed. Weight and movement was a large part of taijutsu and if too heavy it may have caused a discomfort and distortion to his fighting ability that may have in turn caused a detriment to his other techniques.
"
The second question I have is on the nature of techniques, you say we can use venom which I feel would also be of great benefit to my fighting style. May I learn of these techniques? I feel it would be best to learn of some ways to disable my enemies without risking detection."
He held the technique for a moment as he felt the chakra from his skin bubble over as he proceeded to allow it cover his body forming several combination forms of attack ranging from the different wushu forms he preferred over that of the traditional Taijutsu forms. The crane for defense, the mantis for speed, the tiger for strength, the ape for trickery, the dance of the 8 immortals, the push and pull technique, the glass shattering fist, all were becoming second nature to him as he performed small sequences from each style but this? This was unique. This could truly help him develop his own technique. His own style. Dissipating the technique itself the little ninja looked to Haka with a falsified expressionless face though deep inside he truly was ecstatic to learn this new technique he knew that Haka knew he dare not show that weakness further. "
I think this will be a strong asset." he stated bluntly as he thought for a moment whether asking his third question would be worth it at all but opted to heed Haka's words.
"
My final question may be above my level but I will heed your words and ask it freely. My friends tend to have contracts with beasts of the world. Though I have found family in the spiders I am yet to fully grasp this concept of summoning. Is it that of Ninjutsu or is it more connected to the strange calligraphy I have seen you use once before?" he asked calmly before gesturing to the judgemental ally of Haka's "
For example, Our sister here, is she an organic spider, a hybrid like myself or a mystically created entity? What defines these 'summoned' animals?" he asked genuinely to Haka with his hands now firmly placed behind his back and not daring to utter another word attempting his best to look as stoic as possible.
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4500/4000
S-Rank Jutsu (Somewhat) - Arms of the Mighty - 4500/3500
B-Rank Jutsu - Tactical Strike Coordination - 500/1500 train later
500 spare + 134
634 continues on.