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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 16, 2013 15:34:24 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS The instant that it was announced that the first exam had begun, the spiral ninja took off down the corridors of the arena. Clenched within the palm of his hand he held the pendant that he just acquired, a clear crescent diamond that was immaculately flawless. He was trying to piece everything together so that it made sense, maybe then he could gain an edge up on the other participants. Needless to say, while lost within his mind, he was unsuccessful in making sense out of anything concerning the task, so far.
'They told us to collect all twelve items. Six of them are in the each of our possession, but we have to find the other six someway... But how?' His eyes buckled down, gritting his teeth he allowed his eyes to shift across the area. All he could see were buildings, trees, and pathways that led them around the village.
'I guess I should just try to collect the first six before I go after the others. Maybe I can find something out by then' he told himself this while pondering over his approach. In little time, he decided to just take the first path that was on his left and see where that led him.
Hands linked behind his bushy mop, he strolled into an area filled with foliage unsuspectingly. Truth be told, although Minato had many talents, his sense of direction wasn't one of his best quirks. That was partially why he usually did things head-on, and never asked or offered directions to others. Despite this though, he did always seem to find his way which allowed him to maintain his nonchalant demeanor in most situation- like now, for instance.
Minato thought best while working alone anyways. It allowed him to formulate plans without having to worry about others, which was usually tedious. As such, he decided, while walking, that he was going to try to avoid encountering others for the most part. He couldn't fathom working with others, while not in this sort if situation. Everyone was competition- and he, like all of the other Genin, wanted to make it through these exams successful. He had a promise he made with Sio that he had to follow through with, after all.
Before long, after about twenty minutes or so, Minato heard a conversation between two voices. Through observation he was able to tell that a fight if some sort had just transpired. Stepping forth, he peaked through the arsenal of bushes that divided him from the voices.
"Tch." The green haired Genin scoffed as he loomed over the apparently younger and more slender combatant. "You talk pretty big to be such a weakling. Hear I thought Konoha shinobi were pretty strong...I guess that's not so true, huh?"
"Just...leave...me alone..." groaning, the Genin reached into his pocket and tossed his pendant into the ground.
"I'll take that," the green haired boy smirked deviously.
An abrupt blur of wind and leaves zoomed by in an instant.
"Huh?! Where's the Gold pendant he had?"
"Do you mean this?" asked Minato, pinching the pendant between his thumb and index finger.
"Another Konoha punk, eh?" chortling under breath while he shook his head, the green haired Genin smiled. "Don't you see what I did to your friend over there? Don't waste my time. Just give me the pendant, and while you're at it give me yours too. I don't have time to waste beating another piece of trash."
"No," said Minato. "I'll take yours though." his voice began to trail off in a fading manner; although, before his words completely vanished he sped forth with a fist thrown. Bracing himself, the green haired boy managed to move out of the range of Minato's advance.
"You're pretty quick for a whelp, I might actually have fun taking you down."
"Bring it," Minato said as the green ninja came forth with series of kicks.
Ducking under the first high kick that was aimed at his head, he punched the kid in the gut one good time although it didn't seem to do much damage. The second was a success though, the boy's leg slammed into Minato's arm throwing off balance for a moment.
"I guess you're not so tough, huh, you weakling."
A log appeared as a plume of smoke assimilated in Minato's stead.
"FŪTON: RASENDAMA--!!"
A spiraling wave of green whisked across the air in a streak of brilliance, clubbing the green haired Genin in his back as he toppled over.
"What...the fuck!? We're not suppose to use Ninjutsu!"
"No," Minato interjected, looming over the Iwagakure Genin. "You're not suppose to get caught. Now I'm taking the pendants." He said taking the green haired Genin's very on Lunar Diamond.
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 17, 2013 20:52:06 GMT -5
"Okay...looks like I won. So hand it over." Ein said, standing up. The other Genin was left, staring at the ground and wondering what happened. It seemed like such a sure thing. Such an easy bet. And yet here he was on the losing end of it. He clutched the Black Stone in his fist so hard that his nails dug into his palm and his knuckles went white, eyes dashing up defiantly to Ein. She narrowed her eyes as a hand went to the hilt of her blade. "We made a bet, kid. I made this easy for you...so we didn't have to fight. You said you didn't want to fight, right? Because if I draw this sword, it's not going back in clean." The defiant look in the Suna genin's eye melted away as he flung the item in Ein's direction, scrambling to his feet. "Take it, you little bitch!" he spat before turning and running away. Ein let her fingers linger for a moment on the hilt of her wakizashi before releasing and bending over to pick up the black rock on a string. Smiling wryly, she tied it to the hilt of her main blade, where it clinked lightly against the accompanying Leaf Blade.
As she walked, she wondered how Nu and Nozu were doing. They had all gone opposite directions of one another, and with the size of the area, she didn't really anticipate running into any of them. It wouldn't be long before she came across a Kiri genin, sitting under a tree with a pair of items. He looked to be getting ready to seal them. "Hey! Why just have two when you could possibly gain four?" she called out, stepping forward. "Care to make a friendly wager on your stuff, there? You win, you get mine. I win, I get yours. And both our hands stay clean." The kid looked up at Ein, his red eyes shining. "What if I like dirty hands? I'll wager your ass on the whooping I'm about to give you." Ein shrugged and smirked as he put his two pendants in his pocket. She could easily see that one of them was a Leaf Blade...she didn't even need it. But because of his haughty claim, she was going to take it anyway. she noted the pocket the pair was slipped into. Right hip... she committed to memory as he started running toward her. For a moment, she didn't move. He was running...slowly, at that. It was apparent that he was a practitioner of mainly Ninjutsu or Genjutsu and likely heavily depended on it, given his sluggish movement, highly unbecoming of a Genin. Ein shrugged, allowing her hand to finally go to her hilt. In a swift motion, she lanced forward, meeting his motion with a great deal more speed and ducking under his cocked arm. Blade sliced along his right side almost the instant it was pulled from the scabbard in a wheeling motion before coming straight ahead. In a fluid motion, Ein brought her arm backward, ramming the very end of the hilt into the back of the Genin's head, just where the neck met the skull. Not hard enough to kill, or even paralyze. But the pain wracked upon that bundle of nerves would momentarily cripple him and fill his vision with stars as he crumpled to the ground in agony. And on the ground, at her feet would be the Leaf Blade and Lunar Diamond, the boy's pocket sliced to where the leg of his pants hung limply from the rest of the clothing now. "Owww...he mumbled, rolling a bit and coiling in pain. He would be sore the rest of the day and part of the next, but no worse for the wear past that. Ein tied the two pendants to the others on her hilt, and was on her way.
Now she was up three. Plus an extra for bartering. She walked along the path of the colorful Chunin village town, finally stopping just before a set of stairs that seemingly led to a catwalk-like section above the area. "I can hear you, you know." she said, cocking an eye back toward a set of bushes. The bush only offered a startled 'cheep!' before going silent again, rustling gently. Ein walked over, unhooking her opposite scabbard and extending it to part the bushes. There, a young girl, appearing to be no older than ten or so, sat huddled in the bushes, clutching a tanto and holding it out toward Ein. It might have been threatening, had she been holding it properly, and had her face not been contorted in fear. "Y...you stay back! I'll kill you!" Her hitai-ate was hidden, possibly on her hip or leg, so Ein had no way of knowing who to report this sorry occurrance to. Instead, she took a step forward. "So do it, then." she dared, taking the end of her scabbard in her hand, other on the hilt. "You don't draw a sword on somebody you're not prepared to kill." Ein pushed her own blade up with her thumb, savoring the click! that preceded the metallic swish of the blade leaving it's home. Though she did not draw. She just stood, clicking her blade in and out of position. The girl did not move, only sat in the bush, holding her quaking tanto and leering at Ein. "Give me your shit." Ein said finally. "W-what?" the girl asked. "You heard me. Give me your shit. Hand me the pendants you have." The girl looked incredulously at Ein for a moment, and Ein stopped her incessant clicking before drawing in an upward sweeping motion so quick that it could barely be followed with the human eye. Part of the bush fluttered to the ground, the leaves severed from the branches. "Take the pendants in your possession and put them in my possession." Ein said coldly again, her wakizashi back in the scabbard already. She extended a hand. "Put them in my hand and leave them there." The girl, still watching pieces of her hiding place flutter to the ground, hurriedly fished out a Purple Lightning Bolt and tossed it into Ein's hand. "Now I want that tanto. Give me the tanto." "W-what?" "I wasn't aware I was speaking a different language. I want your tanto. I want your tanto to become my tanto right now. I also want what's in your pockets. Empty your pockets, and give me what you empty. I am taking your item, your tanto and whatever you're carrying on you right now. Give me all of what you have."
About five minutes later, Ein was walking away with the Lightning Bolt, a new tanto (though kind of cheap), a handful of money, some shuriken, two smoke balls and a soldier pill. The girl was left only with urine-soaked pants and her pathetic life. Is this the Chunin Exams? Ein thought boredly. Or are the really good Genin already done with this? She was already four up. Leaf Blade, Black Stone, Purple Lightning Bolt and Lunar Diamond. She only needed two more, at this point.
After a brief rest up a tree, Ein was ready to continue. She came across a few Genin who already had the items that she had, and some who didn't need the items she already had. There was very little fighting, as nobody wanted to expend energy that wasn't going to benefit them. She pwned another Genin, and ran away from another two before ending up against another Kumo Genin who was in possession of the Fire Stone. And he was not going to give it up easily. "Finally, a real fight." Ein said, bowing and taking a stance. "Against my Kumo brother, no less." "Yeah, no hard feelings, Ein." he said, drawing his own blade. This was all that Ein ever really wanted out of life. Blade to Blade. She had no interest in fighting other Taijutsu users, simply because she felt like it wasn't fair. To them. Another weapon was her only equal, and she preferred the blade, at that. Being that they knew many of the same village techniques, it was a stalemate in many areas, but Ein easily held the edge, being that she was single-focus. Not an ounce of her time had been devoted to anything else. No chakra control, no genjutsu, no bunshin. She lived, breathed and sweated kenjutsu. And so it came as no surprise even to her opponent that he was on the ground, the tip of her pink-hilted blade at his chest. He smiled and shrugged, standing and reaching into his pocket. He produced two Fire stones, two Purple Lightning Bolts, a Leaf blade and a Black Stone. Ein selected a single Fire Stone, closing his fingers back over the rest. "Keep the rest. I want to see you in the next rounds." she said, winking. It wasn't so much a wink as it was a wince. He had laid open a pretty decent cut on her right jawline. Nothing that would kill her, or even leave that much of a noticeable scar, but it stung, and was one of the few times that anybody had been able to lay blade to her. She had to redeem herself. And in order to do that, they both needed to advance. He laughed, putting the others back in his pocket. "They were right around the village. You are a strange one. But I like you. I want to fight you again sometime." "You're not the only one."
He departed, off toward his next challenge as Ein took a moment there to rest, sliding to a sit beneath a tree. She took a thin towel from her leg pouch, pressing it to her cut in an attempt to stop the bleeding. On her hilt, five of the six items resided, resting atop one another and waiting for the final to join them. But Ein still had no idea how she was going to go about sealing them.
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 17, 2013 22:24:09 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS LATER "Look," Minato sighed, looking over at the two Genin who opposed him idly. "The deal was if I beat your friend here in a race that you two would give me all of your pendants. I know your egos most be bruised or something but I don't really care about anything other than the deal we made." With one hand pocketed, he itched the inside of his ear with his pinky finger. "It's not my fault that you guys are...well, slow." "What did you say?!" the taller of the two Takigakure Genin yelled, balling his hand up into fist as he approached Minato. "Hn?" his eyebrow rose curiously. "Was I not clear?" "Doesn't matter if you were clear or not! We ain't giving ya our pendants!" "Is that so?" replied Minato, sighing. "Okay then, you asked for it." "Huh?" "Asked for what?" Racing forth, hand cocked back towards his side as he lunged in front of the two Genin with a fist engulfed by chakra. With one solid strike his fist plummeted into the ground in front of them, crating the ground and generating a tremor effect that thunderously sounded through the forest. Standing upright, patting his hands together in order to dust off the dirt that had collected around his knuckles, he smiled at the two Genin as their eyes bulged out of their sockets and their mouths gaped. 'Grandma was right. Using that jutsu was did come in handy.'"Wh-what are you?!" "I'm the person you're about to give all of your pendants to. Like, now." Extending his hand outward, within moments it was filled with four new pendants. "Hn. That's all I needed. You can go, unless you want fight or something?" "No no," the Genin said backing up with their hands waving outward in circles, in a submissive manner. "We're leaving....freak!" They yelled as they scurried off in a blur. Reaching into the pouched attached to the side of his pants he retrieved the other pendants that he had managed to collect. Four Lunar Diamonds, one Gold Slab, and three Fire Stones. Now, in addition to those, he had another Gold Slab, a Purple Lightning Bolt, and two Black Stones. "Damn. I still don't have 'em all. I have too many duplicates." Reaching back into his pocket, he retrieved the scroll that had all twelve of the pendants engraved on it. Scanning over the first six, he realized the one he was missing so far - the Leaf Blade pendant. "I guess I should go ahead and seal these first five while I have the chance." |
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 17, 2013 22:41:56 GMT -5
Ein pulled the cloth from her face and looked at it, smiling. Now, there were only a few dots of red on the white cloth, as opposed to the large splotch that had been apparent earlier. The blood was beginning to clot, finally. She pressed it to her chin one last time, smushing together the two sides of the cut in an attempt to get the skin to begin fusing back together, forming a scab. As she did such, two kids came tearing past her in apparent terror, screaming and flailing. The heck... she wondered as they came shooting by, not even seeming to see her.
Most, upon sensing some kind of danger, would move away. Ein, instead went in the direction the Genin had come from. She was halfway expecting to find a bear or a wolf or a massive Genin with a fist like a Virginia ham. She was not expecting to see a kid with a mop of yellow, pendants in fist and brow furrowed in contemplation and muttering about getting his items sealed. Still, she bet that no one was expecting to receive the trouble that they got out of her, either. She was much smaller than this boy, and probably far less fearsome. Books could not be judged by their covers. Still, his mutterings brought to the forefront a problem that she had to this point forgotten about. Sealing. She was not able to seal. Her pendants would remain in the open for now, up for the grabbing. Perhaps...perhaps she could...
"Excuse me..." she called out, stepping into the open and raising a hand in greeting. "Can't help but notice that you mentioned something about sealing your items in your scroll. I was wondering if you'd mind helping me, as well." Ein pulled her scroll out and held it up. "I'm afraid I don't know how to seal...If you could help me seal my things into my scroll, as well, I'd be so grateful. And I'd even make it well worth it for you. I have an extra, here. Hopefully it's something you can use. If it isn't, I'd be willing to help you get what you need." It wasn't a complete lie. She really didn't know how to seal, and that was because she wasn't physically able to, and therefore had no reason to learn. Ein smiled, going to her hilt to unhook the extra Leaf Blade. She understood that violence and force was not always the way to get what you wanted. As shinobi, they were also reasonable folk who could work together for the benefit of both. Particularly in situations like this where such help would not be to the detriment of anybody. She held up the Leaf Blade. "Not sure if you can use this at all, but it's all I've got to offer for now."
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 17, 2013 23:09:07 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS Laying his scroll out across the ground, he squatted forward as he sectioned off his pendants. In one pile he had the five pendants he was sealing, and in the second pile he had all the extra pendants that he no longer had use for.
Clapping his hands inward, he formed a series of hand-signs. "Fūin no jutsu!" Swirling up from the scroll was a mass of chakra that seemed ethereal in composure.
Extending from the scroll, this chakra wrapped around the five stones that were positioned along the edges of the scroll's parchment. One moment they were on the ground, in the next they were sealed marks that stretched across the scroll in various forms of kanji.
Before he could pack up his stuff he heard a voice beckon for his attention. "Hn?" he muttered as he peered back over his shoulder to see a girl walking up to him with various wakizashi on her person.
"Sure-" he was unable to get another word in as she spoke, so he just listened, and nodded in agreement once she finished. He had pretty much got ever pendant he needed out of the first six, which meant he was more than half way done. Prior to him making any request for compensation, the kunoichi pulled out a Leaf Blade pendant.
"I could use that, actually." He told Ein, extending an open palm in order to receive the pendant. "I actually have a lot of extras, too. Need any of those?" asked Minato, picking up his scroll and pocketing it while allowing the girl to review the pendants he had on the ground.
He acquired a majority of his pendants by making deals or winning bets or bouts, so this is the first time he was actually giving a pendant away. He wasn't quite sure why he did it, but it seemed like the right thing to do since she just gave him his sixth pendant. Not to mention, he did manage to snag a look at her pendants that she had hooked to her sword's hilt, and he could tell she was pendant short.
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 18, 2013 8:27:09 GMT -5
All the while she was speaking to Minato, she was studying him closely. After all, whether she helped him or not, he was still a potential opponent for later. She observed his height and build closely, as well as his Konohagakure hitai-ate. Kumo and Konoha were friendly...that was at least good. She didn't think there was any particular village that they weren't necessarily at least on neutral terms with, but of all of these, she would be the most comfortable with asking another Kumo genin or a Konoha genin for help. She observed the fact that he openly carried no weapons on him. Perhaps they were contained in a scroll, but she didn't really see any of those on his person, either. No. Perhaps he was primarily Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Or trained in hand to hand Taijutsu. She would have to steal a look at his palms when she got an opportunity. That would let her know what she needed to know in regards to whether he was Taijutsu or not.
In the meantime, though, he agreed to help hre, and Ein's violet eyes lit up and a broad smile crossed her face. And furthermore, he had use for her extra Leaf Blade. Hopefully, it would be the last of the series that he needed. Either way, it would put him ahead. And if he advanced, there was the potential that she would get to fight him, as well, somewhere down the line. She got a tingle up her spine that this boy was strong. You didn't have to be particularly observant to note that much about Minato. He was confident. He carried himself tall, spoke boldly without hesitation or hitches in his voice. His eyes were full of determination. Those were the people who Ein liked to do battle with. Those who flung themselves one-hundred percent and headlong into battle. He reminded her of Konoha-Nozu.
"Thank you so much." she said graciously, bowing to Minato and handing him the Leaf Blade. When he made an offer for her to pore through his own items, it was hard not to oblige. Especially when you were just one short, yourself. Stepping forward, she peered at the collection on the ground and her eyes stopped at a particular one that she had not seen before, besides on her scroll. "Can I have that one?" she asked, pointing at the Gold Slab. "It's the last one that I need." Well, that was certainly easy. she thought to herself, if Minato truly was offering the item. To have completed this activity with little more than a slice to the cheek...she couldn't ask for more than that. "Oh, by the way, I'm Arisato Ein. Of Kumogakure. Pleased to meet you."
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 18, 2013 9:09:30 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS "No problem," smiled Minato. Holding the pendant that allowed him to complete the first half of the set, for the most part he was happy with his progress. Out of all eight of the encounters that he managed to get into, he could already tell without a doubt that this one would be his favorite. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but he knew meeting this petite kunoichi would make the rest of his excursion more memorable. Maybe there was a bit of nostalgia here, or maybe something about this girl reminded him of a friend- who he missed dearly.
Scoping up the small pile of pendants, he he pinched the extra Gold Slab and dropped it into the light haired Genin's hand. Counting the extras he had, after a moment of contemplation, he decided to hold on to the duplicates. He had a few friends that was participating in the exams, maybe they needed one of the pendants he had.
"Ara. Nice doing business with you, Ein. I'm Minato, Uzumaki Minato." Thumbing up toward his hitai-ate, he offered Ein one more smile. "Of Konohagakure."
Retrieving his scroll from his pocket once more, upon re-rolling it out and sealing the last of his pendants he turned back to Ein. "Your scroll," he started, extending his out to where he wanted her place her scroll. "Unravel it right across that flat boulder over there." He said pointing to a slab of rock that he could recognize as a byproduct from hi earlier escapades.
Turning his attention back to his scroll, he sounded in surprise at what he would see upon gazing upon it again. It seemed, without a doubt, that the entire composition and structure of the scroll changed. Before where only circles of hiragana, with the kanji and picture of each of the pendant items that he needed to collect- now what he saw looked more like...a map or some sort.
Various paths, landmarks, and locations were mentioned upon the scroll. The weird thing was that the map only led up to the position of the seventh pendant circle, which illuminated with a red aura for some reason.
'Huh... So sealing the first half of the pendants causes the scroll to turn into a map and shows the location of the final six pendants.'
"Oi," he called over to Ein, "Come look at this." he requested, studying the scroll further he noticed two black blots that were located a few inches away from where the 'map' said a large maple tree was located.
'It can't be...' he thought inwardly, peering over both of his shoulders quickly. He peered left and saw nothing, he peered right and saw nothing. 'I don't see any maple trees here...Maybe- wait!' Turning in a hurry he laughed as he faced a large, bushy tree filled with foliage.
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 18, 2013 22:54:23 GMT -5
Ein smiled as the Gold Slab was dropped in her hand. It was simply amazing. Already, just like that, she was done. There was just the little matter of getting the items sealed into the scroll, but that was small peanuts compared to getting them in the first place. As he pondered the remainder of their mission, Ein was mindful of her three-foot limit. There was no way to be sure of who depended on chakra to live, who might be a jinchuriki or otherwise, and she was particularly in no mood to potentially injure, mess with or otherwise piss off the guy who had just agreed to help her with her scroll. "Pleased to meet you." she reiterated with a smile as he introduced himself. There was something about his name...his surname, in particular. She had heard it before, she knew. But just couldn't place from where. She felt like it was on the very edge of her mind, shrouded in fog, and it was going to bug her until she remembered. Uzumaki....Uzumaki....
This would be interrupted by Minato beckoning her to bring her scroll over to him, and she obliged, laying it across the expanse of a flattened rock that looked quite suspicious where it was. She looked at it briefly, running her hands across the perfectly-cleaved surface before setting the scroll down, and then setting the six items atop it. All the while, she was still wracking her brain, trying to figure out where she had heard that surname before. He wasn't a Kumogakure shinobi, so that made it all the more harder to place it. Konoha...what had Konoha done of note? She was having trouble even placing that much. She would be interrupted from her fevered thinking once more by another beckoning, and Ein obliged, walking over to where Minato stood and peering at what he was gesturing toward.
"Whaaaa-?" she said, peering at the newly-formed map on Minato's scroll. She studied it closely, following his gaze over his shoulder. She looked as well, both their minds seeming in sync as they noticed that they were standing in a precise area of the map. "Whoa..." she said, turning and looking at the tree as Minato laughed. "What do you think it is?"
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 19, 2013 20:34:55 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS 'Is this map suppose to be here?' he wondered as he began to collect himself. It was rather surprising to find an item such an item, and to think a self-locating map was being used for the Chūnin Exams. Minato never head much about the other village, let alone Kusa, so this discover was rather crude at first. "I think it's a map--" he started, but he was cut off by an announcement from the proctor. Turning to Ein upon the conclusion of the announcement, he grinned. "I was right. This is a map that'll show us how to get to the rest of the pendants. I wonder if anybody else figured it out before us." Peering down at the map, he read over it for a second. He couldn't really make heads or tails of anything on it but it seemed as if the swirling black dashes, which looked like rails or roads, which surrounded the four foot-prints on the map, were close by the next destination on the map. "I'm not really good with reading maps," he said as he went over to seal and hand Ein her scroll again, which didn't take but a moment. "But it seems like we're close to the first destination on the map. The proctor made it seem like it's gonna be a lot harder than this first part was- do ya want to team up and get the rest of the pendants together?" |
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 20, 2013 8:55:34 GMT -5
Ein's eye followed the map closely. It wasn't a traditional, professional map, but was crafted with enough care and accuracy that it could be followed. Literally just enough. She recognized a few areas that she had already been to in relation to where they were now. But why? Why had a map come up when Minato sealed the items?
She was about to get her answer.
So that pretty much was it. The map would lead them to the final six. Now this thing was finally getting rolling. She watched as Minato sealed her items and then handed her the scroll, which she promptly unrolled to observe. It was indeed the same map that her new partner had. Luckily, she was a bit better with topography, landforms and reading maps in general. They would definitely be of assistance to each other. "I can read maps." she said simply, taking one last glance at her own before tucking it into her belt. "Yeah, we can look for them together. Would probably be a lot faster and easier."
This kid didn't seem like the type to double-cross her. There was something about him. Something she just couldn't quite put her finger on. The mention of his surname earlier was still bothering her. Why couldn't she remember where she had heard it before? Well, regardless, they would trust each other for the time being. After all, he had sealed her scroll for her when he could have just as easily taken off with everything and left her stranded after all her hard work. No, Minato was all right with Ein. They were going to finish this out together. She wondered if Nozu and Nu were among the ones who had already found all the items. She wished there was a way she could get in contact with them to find out. But there wasn't. She would have to leave it all up to faith.
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 21, 2013 2:33:49 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS The two would take off here and now. In Minato's mind, they already had a vague advantage which would only make success all the more sweeter. For the first time in a while, he was content with something. It almost felt foreign for a moment.
With his heels clicking upon the swishing blades of grass, he carried himself calmly. For some reason he was more curious about what they would find at the destination the map led to. He half way expected to be more excited, but he wasn't for some reason.
"Since we're gonna be working together," Minato started, while getting into his strategic mindset. "I think we should familiarize one another with our basic abilities. I noticed your three blades, I take it you use kenjutsu primarily, right? telling by the one scar you got on your face there, I'd say you're pretty good too since there's only one."
Turning to his side in order to face Ein, he pondered for a bit as he thought about how to word his first observation. It was something he noticed about her chakra signature- he couldn't detect it within her, it was more so something he felt radiating outward, like a push, which is weird. That's not how chakra should be detected.
"One thing that's weird though," he started, now facing the sky and the path ahead of him. "Your chakra signature is a strange. I can only feel it when I'm near you."
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 22, 2013 19:20:34 GMT -5
Ein flanked Minato on his left, not too far behind but watching his back all the same. A palm rested casually atop the hilt of her right wakizashi as she walked, all senses alert and at the ready. She had no idea what this next portion of the test entailed, but she would be ready for anything, man or beast as they headed to the destination on their map.
His words jarred her back to reality for a moment, and she allowed her attention to lapse for a moment in exchange for taking in his words. He was observant, as well, though even a blind shinobi could likely see the blades that she kept on her person at all times. The right wakizashi was her standard blade. It accompanied her everywhere save to bed, and was as good as her right arm, itself. The left one, a backup, was newer, less worn but familiar all the same, its black hilt and wrapping contrasting the pink of its opposite. Her newly acquired weapon, the tanto, was instead slung over her shoulder and rested at her back, hilt-down. It was cheap, but still decent enough to do some damage in a pinch. It rested in a green scabbard on a black rope with a green shoulder strap. A pair of initials were crudely carved into the side of the scabbard. Ein would be sanding that off at her earliest convenience. She didn't like other people's names on her shit.
She smiled wryly as he continued his observations. That scar on her cheek...that was going to be the death of her ego. Hopefully it healed easily and didn't leave a mark. She didn't need evidence that she could be bested, even momentarily. And her eyes closed for a moment as he made mention of her chakra signature, pace continuing the same. "You're right." she said finally, opening those violet eyes and directing them toward Minato. "I am a practitioner of the Cloud Style kenjutsu, as well as Samurai kenjutsu and basic hand-to hand. And I'm one of the best you'll come across, for my age group, anyway." She said the last part without shame or humility. It was a fact, as much as the sky was blue or a kunai was sharp. She was good. She dedicated herself to the art, and that dedication over more than seven years was fruitful in the form of love and artful mastery over her craft. The way some artists painted with acrylics or sculpted with clays: Ein crafted her masterpieces with the blade. She cut beauty and awe.
"As for my chakra signature... I can't mold chakra, can't control it. Nor can it exist in my vicinity. I...break chakra, I guess is the easiest way to put it. My chakra...destroys other energies." She had never really had to explain it to anyone before. Everyone in Kumogakure already knew it, and knew her. They either liked her, hated her or left her alone. And she never let it bother her. But it bothered her now to have to explain it. In battle, it left her enemies disadvantaged and in awe. But in general life and in conversation, well, it just sounded savage and terrible. And that bothered her.
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 23, 2013 2:08:11 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS "That's amazing," replied Minato, offering Ein a firm, undecided smile. Sliding his hands down his side he place them into his pocket as he trudged forward. Things were quite for the last ten minutes or so, during this time he'd been able to relax and fully collect himself.
"I have a similar...talent," he told her with his gaze turning toward that clouds. "Chakra makes sense to me, I can transform and collect it without much thought. My grandpa, Naruto thought it was- uh, what did he call it...Oh yeah, an anomaly. Like my great grandmother had." He spoke easily, albeit casual and unfocused. Communicating with others came natural for the spiral ninja; some believe it was a trait he obtained from Naruto, since his father, Uzumaki Sato, was completely antisocial, even now.
"I've never thought of casting chakra outward to cloak myself though, or to even null chakra. That seems useful, I might copy that one day." With a joking grin, he waved off his last statement. Despite the series of logical possibilities for jutsu, the concepts that instantly shifted into his mind were hushed in an instance.
"You say you can't mold chakra," he started, stopping in place, an idea surfaces in his mind. "But your chakra would still be an extension of your being...that means you can influence it. It should mimic your emotions, right? Then would it be able to effect others, and infect them with that emotion? I mean, you breaks down chakra...it should be able to effect the interlopers other ways too."
Shrugging, he dismissed the thoughts without a moment of hesitation. When forced into thought, he seemed to always conjure bizarre theories, of plausible applications for jutsu, but he never took them seriously. They were just words that he randomly pieced together for scrutiny's sake usual, a way of poking fun. Not in a ill manner though, just to see what he can think of.
Coming back to reality, he noticed the change in scereney initially. The size of the grass had been increasing for quite some time, it had managed to reach up to his knees by now. He didn't bother stating the obvious though, as he was sure Ein noticed the shift in the environment.
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 23, 2013 8:51:13 GMT -5
The reaction that she got from Minato was not one that she was expecting. Most of the time when dealing with fellow shinobi, they would tend to move away from her upon either being informed of her 'ability' or coming to such realizations on their own. Even her friends would keep that three-foot bubble well-respected. Which Ein understood...don't get her wrong. But it was sure lonely sometimes, to even be among people and still to feel alone. And though she had developed a certain amount of pride in what she could do, versus becoming a gifted swordsman, she envied Minato at that moment. She wished that she could call upon her rampant chakra for even a moment, exert some brand of control over it. It was a part of her, after all. To not be able to control yourself...perhaps it was part of why she worked so hard at the sword. Perhaps she was compensating for that lack of control that she felt from her affliction.
It was when Minato said that name, though, that everything clicked. "That's it!" she said. "I've been trying to figure out where I'd heard your name before. Uzumaki Naruto! My grandparents told me stories about the events of sixty years ago, and how he helped save the world! My grandmother...she fought in the Shinobi Alliance alongside him." That headband, worn by every active shinobi during those battles, lay on a shelf, accompanied by her grandmother's blade. A shrine, a tribute to that time. A time which Ein held dear in her heart for it signified what an Arisato was for, why the clan was founded, and a display of those very ideals.
"It's a pleasure to meet a descendant of such a great shinobi." Ein was beaming now, she could barely believe it. Her grandmother had fought alongside who would arguably be called one of the greatest shinobi of all time, and here she was now, working alongside his grandson so that they could become great shinobi, themselves, in the first and most important step toward that goal. She listened as he spoke about her chakra, ears trained to him now. The words he spoke were ones that she had never heard before. It wasn't an expression of pity or envy, regarding her abilities. No...it was help. True, honest-to-God and actual advice. "I don't know...I've never really tried past Academy. When I couldn't reign it in long enough to even attempt a Bunshin, I was told to not even bother and to develop the skills I could improve on." And it was true. Perhaps she was trying to exert too much control over her chakra. She hadn't worked with it since that time...maybe after these Chunin Exams, it might be time to reattempt to open that book. And whatever would happen would happen.
Ein took note now that where they had originally been walking, they were more restricted in their motions now. The grass had increased in height to the point that they were now more trudging or high-stepping to get through the knee-high grass. "We should be careful through here..." she said, rolling her palm on her blade hilt. "Not sure why the scenery is changing, nor what could be hiding in grass this tall. How close are we to our destination?" She peered forward, trying to see ahead and what might be awaiting, but the grass was increasing in height and thickness by that point. It was impossible to discern anything, really. "I can go ahead and cut us a path, if you want."
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 23, 2013 13:58:48 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS Hearing Ein speak about his grandfather, and how others thought of him, brought a smile to Minato's face. People spoke to him about his grandfather all the time, they even said even more flattering statements than what the Kumo kunoichi recited, yet her words seemed to carry more weight than the others. Hearing someone from an entirely different country speak as highly about his ancestor gave him a new sense of pride in his lineage. Minato knew Naruto was looking down on him with a smile right now.
"A few months before the exams, I helped a great friend of mine complete a jutsu that she told me that she wouldn't have been able to complete without my help." His eyes studied the area, just like he was instructed to do, he high stepped up and over the tall grass. His blue sandals crushed the green leaves with a crisp clinching sound. "Maybe I can help you, too."
Minato's gaze was steadily fixed upon the scroll. He was still trying to figure out how everything with it worked the way it did.
"We're close." He said, while nodding in response to Ein's next question. Before he could say anything more, a loud buzzing sound began to resonate loudly. Easily detecting the presence, the spiral ninja's green gaze zoomed across the green tundra. With powerful wings flapping, a yellow stringer screeched in rage as its' thousand-eyed peepers locked the two Genin in its' sight.
'Shit...' he cursed inwardly, holding his ground with a kunai instinctively having been drawn. The pressure of his teeth pressing against each other kept him alert. 'Where did this come from?'
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 24, 2013 14:49:58 GMT -5
Ein was still leaning forward, trying to peer through the thick foliage, but Minato's words were still cycling around in her brain. Was it possible that she could possibly do something with that rampant, rabid chakra that coursed through her system? Minato seemed nearly convinced. And his words were not said lightly, nor in jest. "I don't know how much time we'll have..." she said, finally ceasing her looking and turning to Minato. "But I'd be grateful for any help you might have to offer." Even if nothing could be done, even if nothing came of their attempts, Ein would be glad that she tried. And she would be glad of the bond that she had forged with Minato.
They were close now. She wondered exactly what it was that they were looking for. Perhaps they would know it once they saw it. The loud buzzing jarred her from her own thoughts, and her hand tightened on her hilt as she closed her eyes, attempting to determine the direction of the disturbance. Amethyst eyes opened as she placed her hand in drawing position. She would not move, though, either until she received word from Minato, or until their lives were in imminent danger. Eyes stayed locked on it, tracking its approach. "You got this, or do you want me to take care of it?" she asked, never removing her gaze from the bug.
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 25, 2013 19:27:23 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS Though initially he was taken aback by the arrival of the hornet, after a brief moment which allowed him to collect himself he decided to allow Ein to handle things. "You can take care of it, if you'd like." He nodded, watching her back as she would venture forth to handle the huge bug. While usually he'd be the first to go off and do what needed to be done when these situations appeared, his curiosity in partner his partner trumped his personal vows.
With his kunai firmly gripped within the palm of his hand, he waited for Ein's lead. He'd be her back up, if needed.
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 25, 2013 23:06:44 GMT -5
Ein remained at the ready, still watching the hornet approach. Minato spoke, and it was the words she had been waiting for. Almost for what seemed like her entire life. Watch me work, Minato. You're getting a sneak preview of what I'm finally ready to show the world. Ein's eyes closed, and she drew in a deep breath. The world seemed to slow down for her for just a moment, the hornet's wingbeats echoing in her ears. Eyes opened slowly as she pushed off with one foot.
A burst of air and dirt seemed to explode from the area that she left, lancing forward gracefully. She seemed to drift across the ground, feet contacting every couple of seconds before digging into the ground, firing upward. She seared toward the hornet, hand still on her hilt. Upward and forward, she was closing in now. Thirty feet...twenty feet....ten feet. There would be a blinding flash as her main wakizashi left its hilt, the sun falling over the flat of the blade in her movement. The hornet's controlled flight began to falter as it fell in five separate pieces, Ein spiraling through its previous trajectory, arcing downward to land in the tall grass. The hornet hit the ground, skidding mere feet from where Minato stood, individual segments flailing wildly as the head went haywire, mandibles chomping at the air as antenna searched in vain for anything for its fevered, dying brain to wrap around. Legs and wings moved erratically before eventually stuttering to a stop, those compound eyes going dull eventually.
Ein advanced forward from the tall grass ahead, still holding her wakizashi, which was now stained with yellow scales and viscous, milky insect blood. A satisfied smile played upon her features as she brought her blade up, then forcefully flicked her arm outward, sending the mess clinging to her sword flying off into nowhere. "Shall we continue?" she asked, looking back into the direction from which she had just come.
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Post by Uzumaki Minato on Nov 26, 2013 12:47:06 GMT -5
SPIRALKID, CHAPTER THREE: THE CHŪNIN EXAMS 'She's better than I thought she would be...' he thought, watching as she literally cut the hornet into pieces. Allowing his grip on his kunai to ease up, he walked over to Ein.
"Yeah, we shall." he nodded, sheathing his kunai as he trudged along side of the violet-eyed kunoichi. All of a sudden, a glimmer of a ruby caught his eye. Walking over to the tall grass that had been matted down after the appendages of the hornet has crushed them, right beside the stringer of the hornet was a 'Blood Ruby'.
'I've seen this before...' he thought, having a brief flashback of looking at his scroll earlier. 'It's the seventh pendant.'
"Oi," he called to Ein, opening his hand to reveal the tomoe-shaped ruby that was sitting in the palm of his hand. "This is yours."
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Post by Arisato Ein on Nov 27, 2013 9:49:06 GMT -5
Ein nodded as she sheathed her sword. There was a particular reason she loved this one so much, and that it was her primary, resting at her right hip for nearly five years now. It was adapted from her father's first sword. His blade was melted down in order to be recreated as Ein's, hard as a diamond and retaining sharpness longer than any other that she has used. With this sword, she did not need chakra in order to cleave a mountain. She would do it with history, trained strength and pure willpower.
Palm remained at rest atop its hilt once more as they continued on their path, stopping not too far from where they had begun initially. Minato seemed interested in something lying in the grass. Eventually, he stooped over and scooped it up, examining it closely. Ein responded to his beckon, approaching as he opened his hand, offering her the seventh pendant. A teardrop-shaped ruby that seemed to catch all available light, reflecting it back in deep, stunning merlot. She reached out and took it, rolling it back and forth in her fingers. "I wonder...do you have to get one, too, or will one be enough for the both of us since we worked together to get it?" It was a novel and idealistic thought. More than likely, Minato would need one, himself in order to pass the first part of these exams. Would they need to come across another hornet to cut down? Ein, in the meantime, tied this Blood Ruby to the hilt of her opposite sword for safekeeping .
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