Takeda Jiro [Kiri Genin]

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Takeda, Jiro

THE INFO

Name: Takeda Jiro
Nickname: Takeda Sama
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Forehead Protector: Kirigakure (Around neck covering ear piece radio)
Clan: Takeda
Nindō: Jiro believes that the world is innately cruel and unfair so he is driven by a desire to supplant reality with an idealistic fantasy of his own creation. How this is achieved does not matter to him, as evidenced by his willingness to manipulate those about him.

"I do not desire your pity or fear but your acceptance. If that requires me to manipulate and lie then I for one am willing to pay that price"
"You tell me that it is wrong to toy with emotions of others. So you believe it right to let others dwell in apathetic discontent because your preconceptions demand it. The fantasy I offer lightens their hearts and eases their burdens. It is you who is wrong to deny them the peace I offer. If I must tell the truth then mark these words carefully: Ignorance is Bliss. Keep your disconcerting truths to yourself for I want no part of them."

Appearance:

Jiro is a teen of 14 years who happens to 5"8' with bluish black hair and blue eyes. In many ways he is largely unremarkable by comparison to many Nin, he has no unique skin pigmentation, no special tattoos, no shockingly bright hair colouration or indeed much of anything that would set him aside from the average civilians walking the street in Kirigakure.

Physically his lithe athletic form is stereo-typical of a Nin hardened by intensive close quarters training with a focus on speed and dexterity over raw unashamed brawn.

While not overly unusual in his guise Jiro does possess 3 visual traits which become apparent after more than a moments interaction.

The first is his choice of clothing. In an increasingly modern age where Nin have turned to modern fabrics and design over traditional ones perhaps notable the Jiro almost always wears a Kimono, usually plain ones in a range of colours. He most commonly sports the white on blue Kimono pictured above. He does so for practical reasons, firstly he was trained to fight in one and finds it to be more natural to fight in one then more conventional clothing and secondly because his station demands it. As the son of Feudal lord he is expected to dress in a manner befitting his station and according to both custom and tradition only a Kimono will do. Closer inspection of his clothes reveals something of his heritage for in contrast to usual Nin garb which tend to be made from tough wearing but common place materials his Kimonos are all made from rare imported hand dyed silk whose price is beyond the reach of anyone who needs to ask it.

The second oddity is that he is rarely seen without his notebook. A small leather backed affair which is usually stowed in the recesses of his Kimono when he is not using it. For a Nin noted for his diligence and sharpness of reactions it seems odd to many how often he breaks it out either to make notes or review old ones, often on rather mundane every day things that seem of no consequence to anyone else.

Lastly and to his own frustration at times his face is considered to be startlingly handsome by many. While Jiro notes that this otherwise useless trait can work wonders for manipulating certain types of people he generally finds the attention he receives from it can be irksome particularly when trying to keep a low profile. As consequence it is not uncommon for Jiro to opt to henge his face into a relatively plain one from time to time.

Personality:

Jiro was once a happy, if slightly over pampered scion of a Great Clan. He would smile, he would laugh and he was loved. Unfortunately for Jiro the world can be a cruel place. An event transpired that would change his life and haunts him to this day. It had many far ranging consequences not least that those that mattered to him most began to avoid him, their love replaced with a mixture of pity and fear. Jiro was never the same again.

Outwardly Jiro is considered to be admirable, an example for his peers and he attracts praise from wide range of disparate groups. The elderly find his impeccable manners and respect for age and tradition noteworthy, while children frequently compete for the attention of the foreigner with a generous nature and the warm smile. In public he comes across as highly affable individual, courteous, impeccably mannered and diffident in spite of his clan’s status.

His personality appears to change at less formal social functions or behind close doors. He loses the formality and becomes surprisingly approachable. He is unexpectedly worldly, aware of societies more depraved aspects and hard to shock for someone supposedly brought up in purported regal isolation. He makes friends quickly and easily, even those with very different interests, playing down his social status and convincing others to treat him as just another local.

His personality surprises yet again in battle where his confidence and daring is noteworthy for someone who was brought up in a protective environment without a need to fight. He is almost reckless in his eagerness to surmount challenges irrespective of the peril associated with them.

Most are entirely oblivious to Jiro’s ever changing personality as it is subtle and if they are aware of it put it down to a character quirk. However a few high ranking Nin who have observed Jiro have deduced the truth behind his actions. They don’t see a boy who is kind or relaxed or fun, they see one who is simply incredibly good at manipulating the perception of others. They have noticed that Jiro’s personality is tailored to be agreeable to whomever he speaks to, predicated on manipulating every souls secret desire to be liked and spend time with others with similar interests and in so doing gain the affection. Those who realize this find it worrying behavior in a Nin so young and many fear it is a sign that Jiro lacks empathy. The truth is unfortunately far sadder.

Jiro’s true personality is that of a skilled and intelligent youth who has matured too quickly and suffers from terrible self doubt. At home he is a feared outcast, legal accepted but emotionally excluded, and it has warped a once innocent soul making him doubt his sanity and his nature. Self loathing is a terrible burden for anyone to bear. Waking up each and every morning to see a face one despises never gets easier. Jiro’s drive to harness people’s affection’s through carefully conceived emotional manipulation is not motivated by a lack of empathy but rather a desire for it. While he sometimes hates that he toys with others to his mind it’s well worth it if it garners one more honest smile. To his mind how can anyone like the unlikable, far better they saw which they wanted rather then the monster he has come to believe he is.

The only thing true about the way Jiro presents himself to the world is his reckless indifference to his own personal safety. Jiro does not fear death and the part of him, that twisted part of his psyche that perceives himself afflicted beyond cure, sometimes thinks it might be for the better for everyone else if he no longer burdened them with his existence.

THE NINJA

Origin: Tetsu No Kuni (The Land of Iron)
Affiliation: Kirigakure
Rank: Genin
Specialties: Weaponry (Main: Close Range, Sub: Mid Range) & Genjutsu
Elemental Affinities: Fuuton & Raiton

Combat Style:

A master of the Art of Illusionary Blade prepares to attack

Jiro is to his own regrets an increasingly able adherent of his clan’s secret combat style better known as The Art of the Illusionary Blade. This unique style was developed in the clans ancient past when hosts of it’s kekkai Genkai were more commonplace and sort to master and hone the dreaded powers.

The Art of Illusionary blade was first mastered by Takeda Shu over 120 years ago. It involves the near flawless integration of its clan’s unique kekkai genkai, the use of weaponry, genjutsu and the all to commonly overlooked henge technique. It cannot be effectively by done without the Battle Conjuration kekkai genkai as the techniques associated with require the clan’s razor sharp reflexes and ability to manipulate their weapons on the fly.

It is primarily a martial discipline focused around close quarter fighting with katana, yari and naginata among other weapons and in many ways is not overly different to more conventional styles of combat such as Kendo. What truly sets it apart is not the techniques themselves but the approach taken by the enigmatic disciples of this secret style. By use of genjutsu, multiple henges and weapon manipulation in concert with high speed acrobatics students of the Art of the Illusionary blade confuse and befuddle their targets, stripping even the most hardened warriors of their certainty. How do you know if you can stop a weapon when it may not be it as it seems? What if the weapon you see is simply a mirage designed to obscure your mind from the blade you cannot? With uncertainty comes fear and with fear defeat.

Takeda shu’s mastery of the art made him among the most feared swordsman of his time. Conventional close quarter techniques proved for nought against his illusionary onslaught and was said he never lost a in a one on one close quarters duel.

While the technique can be terrifying to fight in close quarters it is not without flaws. Takeda Shu’s own fate is proof enough of this. After storming the fabled castle of the bandit warlord Okeda, located in what is now known as the rain country, and single handled killing Okeda who was a reputed blade master in his own right and his 7 personal guards he stopped to refill his beloved pipe as his own way of rewarding himself for another job well done. To do so he momentarily took his eyes off his surroundings and accordingly complete failed to notice the volley of arrows streaming towards him. Shu’s unfortunate corpse was later hung outside the very keep he had stormed as a warning to others, still bearing over 26 separate arrows lodged in his back. This little known tale reveals the fatal flaw in their technique. In order to master the Art of the Illusionary Blade novices must dedicated themselves to the study of genjutsu and close range combat to the detriment of other specialities. In particular their ability to harm others at range is all but non-existent with even the most skilled s rank user virtually incapable of inflicting any harm to others over 10ms a way. Shinobi who specialise in long range combat and are able to keep their distance will find themselves at a decided advantage.

Strength: The Art of the Illusionary blade is a very difficult to predict style which uses genjutsu, multiple henges and an ability to manipulate weaponry to trick and surprise opponents allow them to create and exploit weaknesses in their confused foes. The technique shines most in close quarters combat where it is difficult for others to evade their combined mental and physical assaults. They are at the strongest against other Nin who rely heavily on close quarters combat.
Weakness: With limited ninjutsu and no particular skill with long ranged weaponry proponents of the Art of the Illusionary blade struggle to project any real threat beyond 10m. Nin focused on ranged arts and who are able to keep their distance have little to fear from a battle conjurer.

Special Characteristics:

Spoiler:

THE BACKGROUND

History:

Jiro’s life to date would not be different from so many others were it not for the station of his clan and family.

Jiro is the second and eldest surviving child of Lord Takeda Raekusa, high seat of Clan Takeda and by grace of Kami Damiyo of Tetsu No Kuni. His birth was a mixed blessing. Childbirth is never easy and complications arise, Jiro’s was sadly among the harder. His mother, already frail from a protracted illness only survived long enough to see him born and cradle him momentarily in her loving arms. She died hours later leaving Jiro motherless before the end of his first day. However Jiro’s tale is not one of an early infancy to devoid of intimacy and love for he was Takeda and to be born a Takeda was to be born in to the lapse of luxury. While Jiro may never have benefited from his mother’s ongoing compassion, over a hundred midwives, wet nurses, maids, and servants stood ready to ensure the little master was never neglected or lacking love or affection. With his older brother having died of a fever two years prior Jiro was left as the only direct family member of the clan leader and afforded all the benefits accorded to a prospective future ruler of the land of Iron.

During Jiro’s early years of life he was spoiled rotten, a little or in truth not so little spoilt sprog was given anything is greedy podgy little hands could humanly desire. Whether it was toys or cookies, hugs or stories, the precious son of the Daimyo was not found wanting.

His father for his own part doted heavily on his son. With each passing day his over privileged offspring was increasingly looking like his mother from his deeply blue eyes to the same stark raven blue locks on his head. Partly in memory to her, partly out of a growing affection for the child itself he could not bring himself to deny his growing son whatever he desired.

The Iron Citadel, Ancestral Home of the Takeda Clan

The only thing absent from his childhood was friends of his own age. In spite of the exuberant praise and affection heaped upon him his station saw him isolated from those that tradition and rank deemed beneath him. It was not conceivable that the son of the Daimyo would play with his social lessers and there was constant concern that situations could arise where an affront to Jiro might by association be considered an affront to the daimyo himself. Play appointments with other children were so infrequent as to be practically non-existent and even then were rarely fun so carefully where they monitored and regulated. The consequence of this regal isolation was that Jiro never developed any effective friendships among his kin and clan associates of his age and would remain a stranger to them for most of his life.
Jiro’s lifestyle continued unchanged until you reach the age of six at which point his father who himself was a hard somewhat frugal individual as was common place among the men of the Takeda clan concluded not unreasonably that his overindulged son was getting a bit porky and spoilt through the actions of his keen retainers. Worried about the long term impact of spoiling and heen to see his only child brought up in the traditional manner instructed his household to take a very different stance to young Jiro’s development. He commanded that Jiro would receive no less than six hours education a day from the finest scholars available of which three hours would be martial training in particular kendo as was fitting for someone who might one day have authority over Tetsu No Kuni’s prodigious samurai army. As one could imagine Jiro did not initially take well to this abrupt change in fortunes rebelled against what he perceived as woefully unfair treatment by his father and his father’s retainers. I’m used to physical exercise or studying for long periods he embarked on a series of hunger strikes, attempts to run away and other such misdemeanours. These attempts were never successful and ultimately each time you would be brought before his father to explain his actions. His father, loving but stoic did not change’s resolve and punished young Jiro and anyone who dared assist him in his pranks before once more instructing him to return to his studies.

For a time tension grew in his relationship with his father who began to perceive was a tyrannical jailer rather than a loving parent. His father concerned by this development sought the counsel of the clan elders who suggested that encouragement as well as punishment might be a more effective way forward. Accordingly Jiro was rewarded in some small way each time he completed his studies and for meeting the high standards set by his tutors while he was punished for continued misbehaviour.

Time proved the elders right for as Jiro grew year by year the podgy spoiled infant disappeared and was replaced by a lean well-educated and determined young scion. He impressed his tutors and those around him with his aptitude for both martial and intellectual studies and soon became a source of great pride to his esteemed father.

Fate is a fickle mistress though and much as it had rewarded Jiro with a life free of hardship or poverty it now turned on the growing lad and in so doing changed his life forever. Few Shinobi let alone civilians are aware that the Takeda clan possesses a rare and terrifying kekkai genkai whose propagation, thanks in no small part to the use of a rare plant extract, was all but non-existent. What was not known was that Jiro’s mother had not taken the extract which is mildly toxic during her pregnancy due to her own poor health at the time.

It was shortly after’s his ninth birthday when Jiro realised he could sense things about items of people could not. His father had bought him a chakra power moving toy samurai, brought in especially from the land of snow, which fascinated with its odd chakra inspired movements. At first this fascination was purely one of a boy with a brand-new toy. Jiro took ot with him wherever he went playing with it between history lessons and kendo tuition. Over the weeks his appreciation of the toy changed from a purely childish enjoyment to a far deeper intrinsic understanding of its nature. He began to sense that the item had a unique structure to it that underlay it shiny finish. He could sense the chakra power and the individual parts that made it up and after 3 weeks he believed, no he knew he could recreate it. He tried to do so using one of the iron Citadel’s many workshops but without success. After two weeks of trying and failing to be simply considered its intricate form and willed it to exist. To his surprise next to his samurai toy was an identical copy alike to the original in every single respect.

He can still remember the terrible shock that bestrode his father’s face when he showed him what he had done. Initially he fought his father angry with him and began to look disconcerted himself. Lord Raekusa’s expression quickly changed to serene calm in an attempt to mask his anxiety about what this new toy might mean for beckoning his young son into as private quarters. Jiro later learned that all present at the time were sworn to secrecy about what they had witnessed on pain of death so concerned was his father about the repercussions this one simple act could cause.

Jiro waited a long time for his father to follow him to his chambers and so he was both intrigued and slightly concerned when he finally attended with Dr Ebiru with the family physician, a skillled practitioner of eijutsu, in tow. There his own surprise he found himself the subject of substantive testing by the end of which Dr Ebiru’s usually benevolent features were locked in terrified concern. The doctor and his father adjourned to an ante-chamber before engaging in a frantic whispered discussion Jiro could not make out. A few minutes later and the the conversation halted abruptly and was replaced by stony silence. Jiro believed he could feel the tension eminating from the next room. Suddenly, almost in a flash his father returned, and rushing up towards him and clasping Jiro tightly with both arms reassuring him and telling him that he loved him very much and he should not be concerned, he would keep him safe. Jiro did feel safe wrapped in his father’s comforting embrace but something seemed wrong, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Why did his father now of all times need to keep him safe when he does so since his birth and what had transpired between himself and Dr Ebriu? Jiro did not know what to think.

In the wake of this event the clan elder Council was summoned to attend Lord Reakusa and give advice . This gathering was not planned and the iron Citadel was abuzz with gossip and speculation as to its purpose. It was not long before it was common knowledge that the meeting was triggered by something that transpired between Jiro and his father in the Citadel’s audience hall but no one who was present was willing to discuss the matter. More alarmingly it was noted that the guard had been doubled and instructed to stamp down on any open speculation on the matter.

What did come abundantly clear is whatever had occurred had greatly upset the Daimyo. Those he overheard speculateing on the matter flippantly were punished severely. Furthermore it became quickly apparent that his wrath did not extend simply to the servants and family retainers. Raised voices were noted to be emanating from the Council Chambers and two senior elders usually afforded great respect were publicly beaten for the supposed treasonous suggestions. They would not publically comment on what they said.

Jiro’s life continued much the same as before with the exception that he did not create any more copies of his toy or anything else for that matter, at least you tried not to. He found himself increasingly creating copies without even trying. When he do so he would destroy or hide the item in question. Fortunately he learned that they would fade away after a period. He wasn’t certain why his father has told him not to make further copies but his father had been clear on the matter and he saw no reason to object. His studies continued without pause and for the moment nothing appeared to change.

In the end the Council concluded its meetings though its decision was not publicised and things slowly but steadily returned to normal. However this normality was short lived. Unbeknownst to Jiro that meeting had been to decide its fate. Dr Ebiru had confirmed that Jiro had inherited the clans terrifying kekkai genkai. So potentially dangerous were a Conjurer that it been long tradition to discuss the matter and the child’s fate in Council. This situation was made all the more problematic because the child in question was Lord Raekusa’s only child and the clan heir. It was impossible for the Eldars to perceive that the clan could be ruled by someone destined to be plagued by a violent madness. Some suggested he be placed somewhere he could do no harm but but others suggested a more drastic action, a mercy killing to spare the boy unnecessary suffering and the grand the risk he posed. It was the leaders of this latter faction who later beaten for suggesting it. Lord Raekusa would not countenance such actions against his son and an preferred to stay the matter to easily 16 and mature enough to understand his condition. Ultimately the council could not agree on a course of action so Lord Raekusa decided for them.

The elders who were flogged did not regret speaking out and believed their suggestion was the only correct course of action. To their minds it had to be taken regardless of the costs so arrangements were made, informants were paid, patrol schedules were gathered and a plot formulated.

It was less than three months after the Council had concluded that Jiro woke up in the night sensing an item closing in on him. In Recent weeks had come to sense items even those he could not see or touch. The item was hauntingly familiar and he quickly realised it was a dagger. With only moments to spare he rolled off a sleeping mat and ran as though his life depended on it. Luck and inhuman quickness of reaction on Jiro’s part saved him that night that the incident would form the final spark that changed his life forever.

The Daimyo's Samurai secure the Iron Citadel after the assassination attempt

The Daimyo’s rage at learning of the attempted murder of his only child was incandescent and terrifying to behold. The consequences of the plotters actions were far-reaching and dire. The would-be assassin was an aged retainer considered unquestionably loyal to the family who had been selected for his ease of access to Jiro. Taken alive his years of faithful service did not spare him and he was put to question. It was not long before he broke and the plotters behind the assassination were unmasked. The Daimyo declared all involved even in the most marginal level traitors and ordered their deaths. The holdings of the elders involved were confiscated and their families placed into indented servitude. Over 200 people in all lost their lives or freedom as a result of this ill-conceived plan.
Fearing further attempts on his life his father surrounded his son with Samurai guards and from this point Jiro was rarely seen without half a dozen in close attendance.

His father was unable to adequately explain to his son why a supposedly kind old man who once played with him when he was baby had tried to kill him. Feeling he had no other option but to tell him the truth Jiro was invited to his office where his father opened the safe he hadn’t even noticed, hidden behind an array of books and scrolls. Among the things inside the safe was a larger leather bound tome titled the art of the illusionary blade by Takeda Shu. He was left to read the book and did so for two days straight until he had finished it. It told of how is clan possessed a rare kekkai genkai which enable it to replicated items and from it developed its own unique style of combat. Much of what was written was familiar, other bits were new and deeply intriguing. However it soon became clear that Takeda’s Shu transcript was just one part of a larger piece. As he kept reading intrigue turned to concerned, interest to terrified horror, for the book told of wanton slaughter and mayhem caused down the generations by those afflicted with the Kekkai Genkai. The tome spoke of a side effect involving nightmarish apparitions which crippled the user’s reasoning turning them into maddened murders. The atrocities recorded were terrible. He also could not help but notice that each and every user to for the last 14 generations had died before they were 30, most in their teens, normally in violent and horrific fashions. Fear gripped the young boy, fear at what his kekkai gekkai meant and the fear of dying in the matter described.

Everyday life for Jiro changed beyond all recognition. His awareness of his flaw might have given him understanding but it also unintentionally shattered his own perception of his self worth. Furthermore his father’s stark actions made those around him fearful of what might happen if even vaguely suspected of harbouring the ill thoughts against Jiro. His tutors became distant and the formerly fond servants fearful of incurring the slightest displeasure. Fearful of the kekkai he bore and living in increasingly isolated and fearful splendour Jiro’s fun loving personality began to wane and ebb replaced by doubt, confusion and growing self loathing. He came to convince himself that he was at fault, that the defect was his a flaw in himself.

His father noted his sons growing despondency as well as a general miasma of fear that had crept over the Iron Citadel. Once more he consulted the clan’s Elder Council for advice. This time no one even suggested harm to the boy lest they be implicated in the attempt on his life. In the alternative they advised that it might be best for the boy if he were sent for training in the Shinobi Art’s to better master control of his chakra. Improved chakra control was reputed to help Battle Conjurers to reduce instances of madnes . Not only with his son benefit from a fresh start free from preconceptions but the residents of the iron Citadel would not be on edge in his absence. After much musing his father agreed that this was indeed the wisest course of action and arrangements wier made to find a master who might take him as an apprentice. Since genjutsu requires considerable chakra control and is a pivotal aspects of the art of the illusionary blade it seemed logical that the most appropriate master would be a master of genjutsu.

It took just over a month to track one down but just a week to convince him to take the boy on. Gold convinced him to accept the contract and so 4 months before his 10th birthday Jiro found himself travelling to Boulder City in the Fire Nation to begin the first of 2 apprenticeships. Hi new master, Master Gantz, could not have been more different from what he had anticipated. He imagined that a shinobi master would live in a large house with an attached dojo and would like himself be well mannered and well brought up. Gantz’s urban subbasement apartment, if you could call it that, came as a unexpected surprise to the over privileged boy. Gantz himself was a shady fellow in his mid-40s with dodgy knees, a bad back and all the social graces of rutting baboon. He lied constantly, in fact so much so that Jiro never knew whether he was telling the truth or some wild fabrication conjurer up at a moment’s notice.

Within a week of his arrival Gantz had pawned off most of his possessions except hiss swords but only after Jiro threatened to sever his unkempt head from a scrawny neck. Amazingly Gantz managed to gamble and fritter away the monies gifted to them by the toccata clan in addition to the allowance Jiro had been provided for his ongoing upkeep. How he could have lost so much money, enough to buy a mansion, in a week was anyones guess. Two weeks in Jiro found himself alone in a foreign city begging and stealing to get by and thoroughly cursing his newly appointed master and wishing the nightmare Would end. Things were made all the worse when he learned that Gantz was renowned local conman, a shady purveyor of dodgy relics and hawker of unidentifiable meat products, infamous for being as slick as a greased weasel and completely untrustworthy. What his father was thinking of apprenticing him to such a cad Jiro could not think. He was not even sure he was Shinobi let alone a supposed Genjutsu master.

Gantz attempts to flog yet another purported relic

Just living with the man was an experience in itself not only would he try to rob or con Jiro of every dime he earned and every morsel of food he gained that he would involve them in his duplicitous schemes often without telling him he was doing so. Jiro would find himself chased on the streets for no reason and had been beaten up three times already by angry creditors and customers alike. Yet despite all this he noticed something odd about the man, about the way he talked and was always flipping that supposedly lucky coin of his. As the weeks passed and reprieve seemed increasingly unlikely he settled into a routine that had previously been unknown to him. Here he was not a princeling, his every whim made manifest. Here is a little more than a hoodwink, a charlatan’s lackey. Instead of frequenting great palaces and noble gatherings he spent most of his day following his wretched master into sordid taverns and unkempt brothels. One benefit to the hopelessness of the situation was he had little time to dwell on his accursed kekkai genkai, usually because he was too hungry or too busy being chased to give it much thought.

In time he garnered Street smarts rare for noble such as him to gain and he became accustomed to life dark and dubious underworld. He encountered the Yukusa, learned had a cheat at cards and of the danger of hangovers he also began to understand how in spite of everything is master still managed to convince people who knew he was a no good lying cheat to invest in his next crazy scheme, he used genjutsu. He found out Master Gantz for all his exceptional bad luck and dubious looks was an exceptional mental manipulator capable of forming suggestive intricate genjutsu on the fly and using it to further his own ends. In time he learned to barter with the old man agreeing to help with his schemes in return for the old man teaching him his tricks and in so doing Jiro learned the art of compulsion, a rare school of genjutsu used to manipulate and exploit the thoughts of others. That he became particularly apt at it so much so that Gantz usually flawed plans actually began to work. Gantz himself had terrible luck which he admitted he had gained when he was once a Konoha Nin and had a unfortunate run in with a witch who used a kinjutsu he could not remove. With Jiro to assist him though he could take a back seat while his budding apprentice did all the manipulating without a hitch leading to them actually making money for once. Jiro also got better at hiding it from him allowing them to fund increasingly larger scores. All good things, or in this case dubious things, must come to an end. Jiro’s apprenticeship abruptly ended after Gantz came up with a surefire plan to defraud a local Yukusa Mob boss . It would have worked had it not been for Gantz tripping up at a pivotal moment causing him to lose the henge he had maintain and revealing the duplicity of their actions. Jiro found himself locked in a cold and dark meat cellar pondering his inevitable fate. Gantz himself was nowhere to be seen. Jiro needn’t have worried, his father aware of Gantz dubious reputation had taken precautions and for the past year a pair of kiri Ninj had been shadowing the boy with instructions to intervene should the need arise. A hefty exchange of gold later and Jiro found himself free and lying in a caravan headed back to the land of iron. He never saw Gantz again but something tells him that the Wiley old goat was still alive and kicking and probably defrauding another unfortunate even as he thought about it.

Returning a year or so after his departure he noted some changes around the iron Citadel. For one thing his father had remarried. His new mother in law was a timid and shy thing from a noble family in the tea country. He noted how she avoided him and later learned his father had told of his kekkai genkai and the implications that meant. The tense air that once existed had dissipated somewhat but he could still feel the lingering sense of pity and fear, but mostly just fear. This time it wasn’t so clear whether this was of his father’s Samurai or himself that was the cause, he reasoned it was probably a bit both. Despite all the poverty and hardship of the past year now that he had returned to the cold fastness of his ancestral home he found himself longing to be anywhere else. Here it was impossible to escape his true nature and he found that however much he trained he would dwell on his tainted nature and fated madness. He approached his father asking that he be sent for further training. While surprised by this development his father did not deny him in part because he could see the irrational fear Jiro caused in others and the impact it had on his son. However he did not approve of Master Gantz methods or some of the traits Jiro had picked up by association this time around he would be found a wholly more suitable master. By this point Jiro was, if not openly, studying the clans ancient combat art and seeking to master his own Kekkai genkai for hopes that by doing so he could somehow stave off the madness for longer. Under Master Gantz he had learned to control his chakra and utilise genjutsu. He trained to hone his arts further.

Only four months after his return Jiro left again this time to train under master Fuu, who might more aptly be called Mistress Fuu for she was an elderly retired genjutsu mistress who lived in an aging mansion in a secluded region of the Bear Country. She live there in isolated and decaying splendor with a handful of servants to cook, clean and tend to the grounds. When Jiro first arrived at the sprawling manse situated in all its collapsing secluded splendor in an otherwise uninhabited vale of this heavily wooded land he was surprised to find that mistress Fuu was resting not available for consultation. He was shown to his room whereupon he was advised about mealtimes and another of other mundane details by a very decrepit and quite possibly senile butler. One fact on which the butler was very clear about was that for no reason was Jiro to enter the masters private quarters at any time during stay here otherwise he had unfettered access to the entire estate. Jiro quickly learned that master Fuu was indisposed almost all the time. His supposed master never deigned to leave her quarters. She ate there, slept there and as far as he could gather did everything else there. Jiro was suitably perplexed that by two weeks in he had never even met master Fuu let alone and anything new. This strange situation persisted the nearly 3 months during which he continued to train with the blade and master what skills new but increasingly felt his development was stalling. Worst still began to be plagued by dreams where he walked alternatively through vibrant fields of flowers and lifeless battlefields. Occasionally he would see a young sad lady walking through them but she always disappeared the moment he called out to her. These dreams which began to occur nightly were confusing and frustrating and Jiro grew desperate to either get some training or leave this strange house and return to his dour but predictable home.

Finding his patience at an end he prepared himself for the worst and stole into his mistresses chambers and to his surprise found himself in a sunlit field heavy with the scent of wild flowers and a buzz with the sound of bird song. The field was worryingly familiar, it was the field from his dream In a clearing 50 yards or sat the young golden haired lady from his visions.

She stared at him in an uncomfortable silence for what seemed like an age before smiling and introducing herself. This was Jiro’s first encounter with his new master but not the last. She told him she was a Dreamweaver a master of dream based genjtsu and he had currently stumbled into a false reality she had created. She explained that his own dreams have been her creations, a way of testing whether he was receptive to her methods. She believed he was and stated that his training start tonight. She advised that she would train him while he slept and on the following day he would work hard to practice what he had learned for the next evening and with that she told to leave her room before she throw him out. He cautiously left through a door that now appeared in the field bringing him once more outside her chambers and into range of a now furious butler who reproached him in no uncertain terms for the best part of an hour.

Jiro never intentionally entered the room again without her consent and for the next year trained day and night to master the art of dreamweaving. In time he learned all she could teach him, at least for the moment and arrangements were made for his return to Iron, his apprenticeship at an end. On the final night before his departure the first and to his great relief only fit to date occurred. He woke one night from his dreams to discover a terrifying shadowy entity approaching him with fangs agape. He thought it might actually be illusion and used kai but when it proved unsuccessful he found himself in what dire peril. Unsheathing his katana he chopped beast in half which slumped in what appeared a very life like death spasms only to encounter more. Fearing for his masters safety, he ran down the halls which were chocked with monstrosities. He cut his way to her quarters and broke into the room to see what appeared to be an elderly lady dead strewn on the floor and a monstrosity, its eyes holding a devilish gleam resting on her now vacant bed. Rage suffused him and he charged and swung. It was in the final seconds as his blade was about to come around when the nightmare ended and left in its passing the worried but warm face of his master looked about him. Behind him was sea of destruction, sword marks scaring their walls but no monstrosities were to be found. It took a moment for him to realise he had suffered a fit and hallucinated the whole thing. The horror of what he nearly did began to sink in and tears began to form in corners of his eyes.

His master merely smiled at him and told him not to worry. She told him about how she was contaminated by youkai after encountering a loose daemon and lost the use of her limbs as a result causing her to become housebound. She often felt useless, often wished she were still able to freely move but she had not given up hope for in her dreams she was always free. She could create a world where she could move again and laugh. She told him that what he had tried to do was not his fault. She told him he cannot hold himself responsible for things beyond his control. In telling him these thing and more she empathised with Jiro in a way that no one else had, reinvigorating his drive to cure himself of his madness despite what had happened. Yet his self loathing could not be so easily conquered. He knew that the very fact she hid herself away was an indication she had not come to terms with her own affliction and if she could not do that how could she expect him to come to terms with his own. He left the next day, thanking her profusely for her assistance and training but in his mind began to doubt whether he would master his affliction and feared he might be the ticking time bomb everyone believed.

His 13th birthday had come and gone by the time he returned to Tetsu No Kuni. Time had changed much, most notably his step mother was no longer the shy, timid creature he met last time but had grown into her role. Furthermore she was pregnant and his father doted on her incessantly. She had made some changes including amongst the staff, replacing some of the older retainers with her new favorites. Sadly some things never change and if anything the fear that existed last time was much stronger. Jiro is fairly certain his mother in law had no grudge against him in construing what has come to think of unofficial exile. Simply put, whether or not it was warranted she feared the growing boy with the maddening kekkai Genkai who in each passing year grew more able and accordingly more dangerous. Her fear was reverberated among the household who adopted his mothers anxiety about his return. It was almost ironic to see how their fear of his father had turned wholly into a fear of his son. The warmth the servants once displayed was gone replaced by formality and fearful servitude. When he entered a room they would bow low, not simply out of respect but to avoid drawing eye contact with someone they feared could go on a berserk rampage at a moment’s notice. He was almost certain now that the armed samurai who constantly followed him were snot o much his guards as jailers, ready in case the worst should occur. In this oppressive atmosphere Jiro found his melancholy growing and self loathing getting worse by the day as he began to perceive himself as the deranged monster everyone else feared.

One release was kendo practise, something in which Jiro showed increasing aptitude. Knowing his father did not like him to use his kekkai genkai or Genjutsu this provided an alternative outlet for his growing concerns, or used to. The former dojo master Zabuza had retired and one of his mother in laws favorites, Jerel, had been placed in charge. Jerel was to the Jiro’s mind fairly mediocre and he could think of a dozen of his father’s samurai who were better with a blade but even so he could still beat young Jiro in a straight fight, handicapped as he was without using his jutsu or kekkai genkai. Even so this might have been acceptable were Jerel not a pompous idiot prone to taunting his foes, which while not proper was tolerated in duels. He would frequently make snide comments on Jiro’s sword skills which were for his age remarkable which gnawed at him, particularly in spars against one another. It was perhaps not surprising to anyone who frequented the Dojo at least that Jiro’s patience would snap especially given the right circumstances. Stressed enough by the bleakness of daily life anyway and worrying about his condition he grew tired of Jerel’s cheap jibes but even so he tried to remain claim However less then 2 months since his return Jerel insulted him personally, calling him an accursed battle conjurer. It was the last mistake he ever made. Personally shamed and now quite angry he disobeyed his father’s orders and trapped the dojo master in a genjutsu before using the art of illusionry blade style. Jerel did not even see his blade hit him the first time and barely even saw when it hit a 4th and a 5th. He was about to stop satisfied that Jerel had been suitably taught a lesson when Jerel called him an illegitimate bastard. Jiro cast another gen and this time swung for his head planning to render him unconscious. Whether it was fate or stupidity that caused Jerel to turn his head so what would have been a clipped hit turned into a fall strike on the instructor’s temple jiro remains uncertain. What was certain was that the instructor suffered severe internal hemorrhaging from the strike and died minutes later.

The Dojo where the spare took place between Jiro and Jerel

Many in places of importance suggested Jiro be punished for his actions, for it was wrong to kill another in a mock fight however as details of the incident became more widespread those cries ebbed and faded. Lord Raekusa Takeda’s brief sympathy for the dead man ended the moment he learned he had shamed his son ancestry and by inference insult his mother and himself. Even so Jiro was confined to his quarters due to the widespread fear among the ignorant that the incident was linked to his kekkai genkai. The Council of Elders once more sat to discuss the issue where it became clear that further attempts to place wrong doing on Jiro would find ill favor with his father. Those who suggested he were dangerous and should be exiled found themselves the victims of hostile stares. It is a testament to his duty to his son that his father would not punish him by any form of banishment. He made it clear to them had Jerel said such insults in his presence death would be too good and no punishment was warranted for the accidental killing of such a man, he pointed out Jiro had been using a training sword and clearly had not intended to kill him. His mother in law, far more cunning then Jiro initially gave her credit for quickly saw this and took a careful contrived stance, condemning her former supporter as an uncouth imbecile, apologizing for even recommending his appointment to the post and echoing her husbands views that it was merely an unfortunate sparing accident at least in public. In private she hatched a cunning plan and through monies and bribes she won over a number of Elders enduing to put forth a proposal that might please her husband and deal with Jiro’s worrying presence permanently.

Jiro was summoned by his father to learn what might happen. He realized something was up when he was instructed to wear his finest Kimono and to attend his father’s audience chamber rather then his study. It was all the more disconcerting when the route to the chamber was lined with rank upon rank of Samurai all wearing their best armor who stood to attention at his approach. Things appear only got more alarming when entered his father’s audience hall to find it lined with dignitaries, clan elders and representatives of the other noble clans. He began to suspect the worst when his mother in law smiled at him in the manner that for once did not look forced. He did not show his concerns though, a year with Master Gantz had taught him to hide his true feelings well and his face was cast as expected, a mask of bewilderment and polite intrigue. His father entered the now rather pack hall in his resplendent robes of office smiling profusely which confused him, his father would only do that if he was genuinely enthused by the matter which was never true when he punished him.

Jiro had to give it to his mother in law, she was very clever far more than he expected. As advised the elders made 2 suggestions on her command, the first that Lord Raekusa should formally announce Jiros coming of age and proclaim him his anointed heir there by removing all doubt that the Daimyo and through him the Clan believed Jiro at any fault for the Jerel incident. No one would question the matter further and the family honor would be unblemished. Furthermore it would show Lord Raekusa’s faith in his son. Not unsurprisingly the Daimyo, who was increasingly worried about how Jiro was perceived thought this a very good idea. It was then suggested that while Jerel’s death was an accident his defeat was not. It was a clear sign of skill in a youth so young, skilled that should be appropriately fostered. Since his form of fighting was much closer to Ninjutsu then conventional Kendo it was suggested that the best thing was for him to be trained elsewhere and where better than a shinobi village where he can also work on mastering chakra control to better control his affliction. Once he had honed his arts and mastered chakra control he would of course be recalled to learn matters of state and assist his father and in time take over as the 15th Daimyo. It must have appeared to his father as a perfect solution, a way to support his beleaguered son and ensure he was educated appropriately. No doubt his mother sealed the deal by advising him she thought a wonderful idea as though she had no part its creation and would have insisted it be done as it would be of great comfort to Jiro to know his father respected him so.

So it came to pass that Jiro was formerly declared a man an anointed as Lord Raekusa’s official heir. Everyone clapped and showered him with fake smiles as all manner of pointless titles were awarded to him.

It was then announced that Jiro had shown formidable combat prowess, greatly honoring the clan. In order to build on his strengths Jiro would travel to the land of Water were arrangements had already been made for him to take the Genin Exam. He would stay in Kiri to train and hone his skills under its master Nin to return after 10 years to rightful place at his father’s side. He was given land, estates and a large stipend to ensure he would need for nothing as was fitting of the Clan’s anointed heir.

Even as those around him congratulated him and wish him well in Kiri Jiro knew the truth. His mother in law, that crafty woman, had engineered his unofficial exile. She was probably as aware as he that the life expectancy of someone with his condition is very short barely past their 20’s by all accounts and they expected him to return at 23. No, he was not going to Kiri to train, he was going there to die where his condition could not cause harm to his clan.

He wondered whether his father understood the implication. Perhaps he did and simply accepted that there was no easy way to deal with the matter. Jiro for one could not blame either of them. Truth was he no longer viewed the Iron Citadel as a home, more a prison, one where he was constantly reminded of how dangerous he was. Accepting that there was nothing he could do about it he left to plan what he was going to take.

Jiro arrived in Kirigakure 6 months ago with a certain amount of fan fair. It is not every day a heir of a daimyo moves into town. Unsure how to react to those he met he went on the defensive, going back to his traditional methods, as picked up from Master Gantz, of carefully tailored manipulation to endear himself to others. This proved more successful then he could of imagined. Failing to realise people might not be afraid of him and open to creating a friendly relationship, his carefully tailored emotional manipulation designed to make them adore him has worked wonders. So used to being an object of fear and finding himself surrounded be people who want to see him and whose faces are genuinely delighted by his company has proved an effective counter to his usual despondency. He’s already ingratiated himself among a large part of Kiri’s social elite is generally considered a very welcome addition to the Village.

The problem is he can’t bring himself to stop manipulating others. Jiro fears that their affection for him will wither as peoples did in Iron Citadel arguably without basis but Jiro, like any other person is prone to irrational fears and finds himself constantly trying to meet everyone’s expectations. Ironically while greatly admired by most civilians a number of Nin are worried by the newcomer. Many senior Nin have become aware of his tactics and concerned at such at high level of emotional manipulation in a Shinobi so young.
Jiro has settled in to the Hanzoku estate, a large sprawling traditional house with fine gardens and its own hot springs. It was just one of the things he inherited from his birth mother on formally being declared a man. His mother Hanzoku Shara, who he has no memories of, just a picture drawn by a court artist, was born in Kiri and encountered Lord Raekusa during a business dealings between their two houses. They subsequently fell in love and she left kiri to live with him in Tetsu No Kuni. According to his tutors his maternal Grandfather was a born business man and owned a large and prosperous import company keen to import takeda’s famous iron, steel and weapons. It was this drive that led to the business deal and his parent’s loving relationship. They could tell him little more about the Hanzoku Clan other then the clan is originally from Kumo but became fractured due to personal disagreements leading to his grandfather travelling to Kiri to start afresh. There are rumors his mother had a Cousin, though what may have happened to her is unknown.

Roleplay Sample:

The trip had gone better than he had expected with no unintended disruptions and they had gotten here in plenty of time, time enough to brief the Jounin on what to expect and issue them some equipment as well as give Mr Bigglesworth a bath so his coat would be bright and glossy for the big day. The latter did take longer than he anticipated since Mr Biggleworth was not overly keen on water and possessed some rather alarming chakra scalpel claws he was not afraid to use. However one of the perks of the being Kage was the joy of delegating the more messy tasks to one’s subordinates and what was usually a rather troublesome affair for him turned into an afternoon’s whimsical amusement as he watched two rather overworked Jounin struggled to convince the less then happy summon that shampoo was important. Two badly scratched Jounin later and Mr Bigglesworth was looking positively radiant for his big day and as one the group left for the final stretch to the monastery. Howl himself had decided to change his coat to a blinding white with blue trim to go with his formal hat of office while the Jounin were instructed to suit up and look suitably awe inspiring or in Kakougen’s case at the very least like very a well dressed gorilla. It was quickly evident that the hideous priest didn’t think much of having to wear a shirt and jacket but Howl gently urged him to persevere with it by suggesting that if he even thought of taking it off he would personally seal it to him for the rest of his very short and highly unpleasant life. If in the extreme case that everything went to pot and everyone died Howl was determined Suna would die pretty at least or in Kakougen’s case, not so quietly so ugly. He even considered giving the hefty Jounin a wig but decided in hindsight it probably wouldn’t make much difference sadly.

Dressed and ready for the final ascent the party began the last stage of the mountain trail. Howl made no effort to disguise his presence or their passage allowing plenty of time for the watchers and monks to see him and satisfy to themselves he had not hidden an army on his person. The unhinged Kage chuckled to himself as he considered how he might actually hide an army in his pocket, more for dramatic effect then any real purpose and quickly stopped upon considering all that lint that an army might leave behind.
The climb was easy and apart from stunning views rather mundane. To spice things up and ensure Mr Bigglesworth could not potentially muddy his know snow white fur he made the Senju carry him up with the clear warning that should he accidently left go and Mr Bigglesworth were to fall off the edge of the cliff face he was expected to leap off after him. Of course he failed to add that Mr Bigglesworth could actually fly, a fact he absentmindedly failed mentioned, and was as cruel a cat as has was a bored one. Thus started a variable smattering of attempts by the aforementioned kitty to jump out of the Jounin’s grasp and off the cliff hoping the Jounin would have to jump after him. In the end the Senju managed to avoid having to flap for his life but the frantic activitiesof the two provided more than enough amusement for the erratic Kage till they reached the crest of the path and monastery beyond.

Despite being centuries old and pretty much seeing everything worth seeing several times already, even buying the t-shirts and the tacky plastic replicas sold at the stores outside these infamous sites, Howl did take a moment to enjoy the scenery and had to admit found himself impressed by the stunning vista that would serve as the meeting point. Not easy to impress on the best of days the Kage smiled fondly as if to an old friend and even talked to himself briefly about coming back here to do some painting before his mind returned to reality. He led his group to where the figures sat or rather where a figure sat since the Daimyou was already rising to greet him.

“My fondest welcome to you Ichushiro Dono on this most auspicious of occasions. Let me be the first to welcome you to Tiger’s Nest Monastery. You honour us with your presence”

“Really? I do? I kint of got de feeling you veren’t happy last ve met? Vell thank you very much Tsukiyama Dono. I am honouret you feel honouret by ze honour of my presence here”

“Indeed Ichushiro Dono. Please be seated. Your must be in need refreshment after such a climb. I shall some as brought at once”

Howl was impressed how swiftly the Daimyou, overlooking the oddness of his response, a sure sign that someone had been doing their homework. He also pondered at how quickly he had moved to offer refreshments and decided to test him further

“Tea ist at ist most beautiful diss time of year und the veather is so vonderfully sunny but ze sun ist a terrible mistress. I vander do you sufferfrom forest firess overmuch? I love a ze goot forest fire. Ze iridescent beauty ist a vonder to beholt”

He saw the Daimyou consider the question for a moment then reply cordially:

“Occasionally, during the summer months, the smoke can be rather ghastly but they have their own beauty to them”

His answer, so cordial and relaxed, continued to pique his interest. He often asked odd loaded questions to engender certain response to quickly ascertain the attitudes of others. People were so easy to manipulate by mere conversation he wandered why he bothered with genjutsu at all sometimes. It seemed however that the Daimyou had not forgotten there last encounter and was holding his cards close to his chest. He was about to force him too fold when he found himself delightfully outflanked. Giant trays of dango wafted in as well as bountiful collection of assorted cakes and aromatic spiced wine. An addiction far more powerful than a need to question a man he already had a good idea about kicked in and he looked on hungrily as it inched ever closer. With blinding speed he whipped an entire tray of dango off the cart as it came within his nefarious reach and proceed to have his way with it, luxuriating in every bite somewhat glad that his poison detection seal had not gone off and forced him to exterminate his generous host before the meeting had even begun. As he did so he waved to the Jounin making it clear they could help themselves if they liked.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

THE ARSENAL

Equipment:

Weapons:

Academy/Basic Jutsu:

Clan Jutsu:

Genjutsu:

Weaponry Jutsu:

Name: Disarming Vibration
Rank: D
Type: Weaponry
Range: Close (0m-5m)
Element: Fuuton
Description: Requiring one handseal to activate . The user pulses fuuton along the edge of the weapon creating tiny imperceptible vibrations just above the surface of the blade. It does not make the blade more deadly but has alternative function. If this vibrating shroud touches another weapon it will cause the other to shake uncontrollably causing any Nin without the Improved Strength special characteristic or taijutsu/weaponry specialisation of at least B rank to let go causing it to fall to the ground. If the opponent manage to hold tight (i.e. meets the requirements above) there reaction speed reduced by 25% against the next attack by the user as long as that attack is completed by the end of the users next post. S Rank Opponents or opponents with the Ferocious Strength special characteristic are entirely unaffected by this technique. This technique last for 2 posts or until its affect is used after which it ends automatically.
Chakra Cost: 3 (1 per post)

Name: Blade Shatterer
Rank: C
Type: Weaponry
Range: Close (0m-5m)
Element: Fuuton
Description: Requires 2 hand seals to initiate. The user coats his weapon in highly volatile wind chakra greatly increasingly its sharpness and cutting power. A weapon coated so is strong enough to fell a tree and most non hardened objects though it remains unable to cut through thick metal or stone work (though it will damage them badly). It will automatically cut through weapons of a d rank that try to block it and severely damage those of the b rank or lower effectively lowering their rank by one for the remainder of the battle. This is cumulative reduction against C rank weapons so it is possible a weapon could be reduced to d rank and subsequently broken if struck repeatedly by this technique. B rank weapons cannot be reduced cumulatively. Blade Shatter lasts for one post.
Chakra Cost: 5

Name: Blade Barrier
Rank: C-S (C Rank)
Type: Weaponry
Range: Close (Om - 5m)
Element: N/A
Description: By twirling the handle of a chosen weapons so the weapon spins in a circular fashion while coating it in chakra the user can create a shimmering barrier of energy, akin to shield, capable of negating a tech of an equivalent rank. In short to negate a b rank technique with this move a b ranks worth of energy must be used. It cannot however be used more than once every other posts as the technique places unnatural strain on the users wrists.
Chakra Cost: The CP cost is the same as the technique its blocking plus the following added cost.

C Rank: +1
B Rank: +2
A Rank: +3
S Rank: +3

Name: Blade Shriek
Rank: C
Type: Weaponry
Range: Medium (0m-10m)
Element: Fuuton
Description: Requires 2 hand seals to initiate. The user focuses potent futon chakra along the back edge of his weapons where it visibly flares out as if the weapon was in a jet stream. It is not entirely clear what the purpose of the chakra is initially until the user swings the weapon unleashing a wave of high pitched sound which stuns his target leaving them shaken and disorientated. An individual struck by the sound finds his balance dramatically affected for 1 post, finding it difficult to stand still let alone move coherently. This stops the Nin performing high speed moves, sprinting or using acrobatics to dodge an attack unless they have Acrobatics Special Characteristic, though this is treated as two ranks lower while this debuff remains in effect., i,e, a Nin with Elite Acrobatics that gets hit by this technique will still be able to utilise his quick speed and acrobatic abilities but only at an enhanced acrobatics level).
Chakra Cost: 5

FACE CLAIM

Character Claim: Howl from Howl's moving castle (will change in event character gets old)
Source: Fan Art
Image URL:DeviantART. Click above link for details.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Application Complete.

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

Write a longer history next time. x.x

Kyousei no Jutsu: I'm going start out by clearing a simple misconception which seems to be common among Genjutsu. As a skill, Genjutsu acts only on the standard senses dictated by the sensory systems in your body, those being; vision, auditory (hearing), somatic sensation (touch), gustatory (taste), olfaction (smell) and vestibular (balance/movement), for the sake of argument Im going to throw in both Direction and Kinesthetics as well. Direction because of canon examples, although I believe it acts as a vague extension of vestibular and somatic sensations. Kinesthetics, being general body awareness because of things like phantom limbs or phantom pain.

That being said there are seven areas of sense which Genjutsu can freely manipulate. Now, disregarding certain S rank Sharingan Based Techniques, Genjutsu cannot dictate how a person will act and cannot create feelings or emotions. They can act upon emotions that are already present in the target. The prime example for this reasoning being the Hell Viewing Technique which Kakashi uses to inspire fear in Sakura as a result of the image she is shown of Sasuke.

All illusions are done by manipulating the flow of chakra in the victim's brain or more specifically to the areas involving each sensory system, thus causing a disruption in their senses.

Convince: Keeping the above in mind, this technique acts as a direct contradiction to the functions of Genjutsu. Logic, reasoning, etc is not a sense that can be manipulated by controlling a sensory system. The only Genjutsu shown capable of doing something of this nature is Kotoamatsukami the S rank Sharingan Genjutsu used by Danzō Shimura and Shisui Uchiha.

Confuse:Keeping the above in mind, confusion is not a standard sense that can be manipulated. Confusion can be wrought upon a target by manipulation of sensory input, but not created purely as a Genjutsu. That being said if you re-write this technique so that it impacts a sense which can then breed confusion it should be fine.

Compel:] Keeping the above in mind, this technique acts as a direct contradiction to the functions of any Genjutsu beyond Kotoamatsukami the S rank Sharingan Genjutsu used by Danzō Shimura and Shisui Uchiha. It is not dictation via a sense but rather a manipulation of a whole mindset, far above C rank level (likely S at minimum if it is possible at all) and also has the strong potential to be God-Mod worthy.

Sleep: Given the basis in Temple of Nirvana Technique, I have no problem with this jutsu as long as the description is re-written to reflect that it simply overwhelms the target with a sense of exhaustion [a arguable derivative of the physical senses as a decrease of sensory activity], that being said this technique would be exceptionally easy to notice as you consider by canon example such effects are so easily expelled.

Yume Tsukurite: Bearing the initial paragraph of my response in mind, you cannot create a feeling of bliss. You can create stimuli which by extension allow for the generation of positive feelings, but you cannot create or dictate how someone will respond to a Genjutsu.

Quote :

The more powerful techniques are infamously hard to break free out of and it has been known for victims to be trapped in one till their motionless body dies of malnutrition weeks later all the time the faces lock edin rapt smiles and quietly gurgling in blissful ecstasy.

Your Genjutsu can only last as long as your chakra is dictated into the technique which means there is not a single Genjutsu should last longer than the chakra inputted into the technique.

That being said, I find myself a bit confused over the instances where you mention and increase in difficulty, does this apply to an increase in rank difficulty? There is no standard dictation of difficulty in the Genjutsu system anymore, the difficulty in escaping a Genjutsu comes from the perceptions of the target and how they become aware of said Genjutsu. Thus, how does following the application of the first technique with a second technique make it more difficult to break out of? By standard argument, if I were to fight you and figure out I was in a Gen it stands to reason that I would be more prepared and thus more aware for the next one.

Daze and Dazzle: I cannot see a reason as to why a D rank technique would be allowed to manipulate more than one standard sense. As written this technique manipulates three. Reduce it down to one sense for a technique of such a low ranking. Also keep in mind you cannot dictate how the target would feel under the influence of this technique. What if my character were terrified of fireworks ? I would certainly not feel more inclined to experience them.

Disarming Vibration: Remove the weapon flying 10 meters, I doubt a D rank technique with an already specified effect would cause any reaction beyond simply dropping your weapon. Reduce the reaction speed decrease to 25%

Illusionary Shrouding:The only issue with this technique is that you fail to supply a medium to enact the genjutsu upon. How do you inflict this illusion upon your opponent.

Blade Barrier: Just a small note, given the specifications about weapons and their usage in techniques, you cannot utilize this technique at the B rank + on any weapon that is not B rank or higher.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Quote :: Kyousei no Jutsu: I'm going start out by clearing a simple misconception which seems to be common among Genjutsu. As a skill, Genjutsu acts only on the standard senses dictated by the sensory systems in your body, those being; vision, auditory (hearing), somatic sensation (touch), gustatory (taste), olfaction (smell) and vestibular (balance/movement), for the sake of argument Im going to throw in both Direction and Kinesthetics as well. Direction because of canon examples, although I believe it acts as a vague extension of vestibular and somatic sensations. Kinesthetics, being general body awareness because of things like phantom limbs or phantom pain.

That being said there are seven areas of sense which Genjutsu can freely manipulate. Now, disregarding certain S rank Sharingan Based Techniques, Genjutsu cannot dictate how a person will act and cannot create feelings or emotions. They can act upon emotions that are already present in the target. The prime example for this reasoning being the Hell Viewing Technique which Kakashi uses to inspire fear in Sakura as a result of the image she is shown of Sasuke.

All illusions are done by manipulating the flow of chakra in the victim's brain or more specifically to the areas involving each sensory system, thus causing a disruption in their senses.

Comments taken on board, I have scrapped the introductory descriptions which were purely background information anyway to avoid possible any confusion.

Quote :: Convince: Keeping the above in mind, this technique acts as a direct contradiction to the functions of Genjutsu. Logic, reasoning, etc is not a sense that can be manipulated by controlling a sensory system. The only Genjutsu shown capable of doing something of this nature is Kotoamatsukami the S rank Sharingan Genjutsu used by Danzō Shimura and Shisui Uchiha.

Removed and replaced with different technique

Quote :: Confuse:Keeping the above in mind, confusion is not a standard sense that can be manipulated. Confusion can be wrought upon a target by manipulation of sensory input, but not created purely as a Genjutsu. That being said if you re-write this technique so that it impacts a sense which can then breed confusion it should be fine

Removed and replaced with different technique

Compel: Keeping the above in mind, this technique acts as a direct contradiction to the functions of any Genjutsu beyond Kotoamatsukami the S rank Sharingan Genjutsu used by Danzō Shimura and Shisui Uchiha. It is not dictation via a sense but rather a manipulation of a whole mindset, far above C rank level (likely S at minimum if it is possible at all) and also has the strong potential to be God-Mod worthy.[/quote]

Removed and replaced with different technique

Quote :: Sleep: Given the basis in Temple of Nirvana Technique, I have no problem with this jutsu as long as the description is re-written to reflect that it simply overwhelms the target with a sense of exhaustion [a arguable derivative of the physical senses as a decrease of sensory activity], that being said this technique would be exceptionally easy to notice as you consider by canon example such effects are so easily expelled.

Changed as requested.

Quote :: [*]Yume Tsukurite: Bearing the initial paragraph of my response in mind, you cannot create a feeling of bliss. You can create stimuli which by extension allow for the generation of positive feelings, but you cannot create or dictate how someone will respond to a Genjutsu.
The more powerful techniques are infamously hard to break free out of and it has been known for victims to be trapped in one till their motionless body dies of malnutrition weeks later all the time the faces lock edin rapt smiles and quietly gurgling in blissful ecstasy.
Your Genjutsu can only last as long as your chakra is dictated into the technique which means there is not a single Genjutsu should last longer than the chakra inputted into the technique.
Comments taken on board, I have scrapped the introductory descriptions which a purely background information anyway to avoid possible confusion.
That being said, I find myself a bit confused over the instances where you mention and increase in difficulty, does this apply to an increase in rank difficulty? There is no standard dictation of difficulty in the Genjutsu system anymore, the difficulty in escaping a Genjutsu comes from the perceptions of the target and how they become aware of said Genjutsu. Thus, how does following the application of the first technique with a second technique make it more difficult to break out of? By standard argument, if I were to fight you and figure out I was in a Gen it stands to reason that I would be more prepared and thus more aware for the next one.

[*]

It was not clear but I wanted to explore a slightly different approach to genjutsu. Most genjutsu are design to debilitate or disrupt opponents without notice. They can often be difficult to detect but once found out the victim is eager to break the gen. These Gen are the opposite, very noticeable, easy to detect due to vibrant nature but victims are far lesser eager to break them as a result of it. They are intended to be very enjoyable and thus create a base reluctance in victims to break them. In hindsight this concept is harder to execute then intended so I have scrapped it for the moment for the simplicity's sake.

Quote :: Daze and Dazzle: I cannot see a reason as to why a D rank technique would be allowed to manipulate more than one standard sense. As written this technique manipulates three. Reduce it down to one sense for a technique of such a low ranking. Also keep in mind you cannot dictate how the target would feel under the influence of this technique. What if my character were terrified of fireworks ? I would certainly not feel more inclined to experience them.
I have altered dazzle and removed daze altogether.

Dazzle changed notably. Daze removed.

Quote :: Disarming Vibration: Remove the weapon flying 10 meters, I doubt a D rank technique with an already specified effect would cause any reaction beyond simply dropping your weapon. Reduce the reaction speed decrease to 25%

Change as requested

Quote :: Illusionary Shrouding:The only issue with this technique is that you fail to supply a medium to enact the genjutsu upon. How do you inflict this illusion upon your opponent.

Change as requested. I have made it clear how it works and is applied

Quote :: Blade Barrier: Just a small note, given the specifications about weapons and their usage in techniques, you cannot utilize this technique at the B rank + on any weapon that is not B rank or higher.

Changed as requested. I have noted it is the C Rank Version of the technique.

Summary of Changes

Techniques Removed: Compel, Confuse, Convince, Daze
New Techs: Clouded Vision, Harmless, Blade Shriek, Orb of Incandescence
Technique heavily altered: Dazzle

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

Clouded Vision: I do not believe slowing down the perception of time would be equatable for a D rank Genjutsu, D and C - Rank Genjutsu should be more simply inclined, generally the perception of time is a more difficult area to manipulate and thus indicative of higher ranking techniques. At a low rank simply creating the ash and it's visual stipulations is adequate for a D rank technique, additionally I would much prefer that the range be reduced to 15 meters at most.

Harmless: Technically 'Medium' range is classified as 5m-10m by the general range standards, bearing the specifics of this technique in mind, the range section of this technique should read Close (0m-5m), Mid (5m-10m), Far (10m). Also you should define a post limit for the technique to last as well. With those minor stipulations being said, my only issue with this technique is its ability to dictate the reactions of the target.

Quote :

In combat victims ensnared in this technique must refrain from using techniques of their own rank or more than one rank higher than the user.

As I said in my previous post, you cannot really dictate the response of your opponent in the Genjutsu merely how the illusion presents. As it reads you assume that your opponent would not be willing to attack, but that is not always the case.

Sleep: This was mostly an error in clarification on my part in my previous post, but the effects of the Genjutsu should only last until the chakra is fueled into the technique. That being said, two hour limit on the needs to be removed. Further, it would be best [for the terms of post by post combat] to dictate all periods of time in posts rather than actual units of time.

Dazzle: My grievance with this technique exists within the simple realm of practicality. While the Genjutsu is possible in theory, how does the user know what type of illusion to create to appease the target without fore-knowledge ? As Genjutsu requires to to create an illusion based on something you can visualize, how can you visualize something you have no knowledge of? It's rather like inventing an entirely new color.

Blade Barrier: You've broken the list code in the description of this technique just thought I would let you know.

Blade Shriek:Reduce the duration of the balance disruption to one post.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Quote :: Clouded Vision: I do not believe slowing down the perception of time would be equatable for a D rank Genjutsu, D and C - Rank Genjutsu should be more simply inclined, generally the perception of time is a more difficult area to manipulate and thus indicative of higher ranking techniques. At a low rank simply creating the ash and it's visual stipulations is adequate for a D rank technique, additionally I would much prefer that the range be reduced to 15 meters at most.

Made the alterations requested except the range which I dropped to 10m instead.

Quote :: Harmless: Technically 'Medium' range is classified as 5m-10m by the general range standards, bearing the specifics of this technique in mind, the range section of this technique should read Close (0m-5m), Mid (5m-10m), Far (10m). Also you should define a post limit for the technique to last as well. With those minor stipulations being said, my only issue with this technique is its ability to dictate the reactions of the target.

Quote :
In combat victims ensnared in this technique must refrain from using techniques of their own rank or more than one rank higher than the user.

As I said in my previous post, you cannot really dictate the response of your opponent in the Genjutsu merely how the illusion presents. As it reads you assume that your opponent would not be willing to attack, but that is not always the case.

Changed as requested. Please advice if your have further issues with it.

Quote :: Sleep: This was mostly an error in clarification on my part in my previous post, but the effects of the Genjutsu should only last until the chakra is fueled into the technique. That being said, two hour limit on the needs to be removed. Further, it would be best [for the terms of post by post combat] to dictate all periods of time in posts rather than actual units of time.

Changed as requested.

Quote :: Dazzle: My grievance with this technique exists within the simple realm of practicality. While the Genjutsu is possible in theory, how does the user know what type of illusion to create to appease the target without fore-knowledge ? As Genjutsu requires to to create an illusion based on something you can visualize, how can you visualize something you have no knowledge of? It's rather like inventing an entirely new color.

In line with your comments reworked the technique into Infatuating Mirage.

Quote :: Blade Barrier: You've broken the list code in the description of this technique just thought I would let you know.

Thanks for the heads up, changed.

Quote :: Blade Shriek:Reduce the duration of the balance disruption to one post.

Changed as requested

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

Last bit before I can give you a 1/2
Infatuating Mirage: Much like the same argument with emotion, desire is classified as an emotion, albeit one derived from a physical response, but an emotion none the less. Be that as it may you cannot inherently say that the Genjutsu heightens their desire or dictates how they will act as I have said before, you can only create the illusion in hope that it will cause them to act in a specific manner. That being said the concept of this technique is fine however you have to be aware that it is heavily dependent on the concept of attraction which as is varies explicitly between each person, thus the illusion you create for one might not have the same effects on another.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

lifeanddeath wrote:: Infatuating Mirage: Much like the same argument with emotion, desire is classified as an emotion, albeit one derived from a physical response, but an emotion none the less. Be that as it may you cannot inherently say that the Genjutsu heightens their desire or dictates how they will act as I have said before, you can only create the illusion in hope that it will cause them to act in a specific manner. That being said the concept of this technique is fine however you have to be aware that it is heavily dependent on the concept of attraction which as is varies explicitly between each person, thus the illusion you create for one might not have the same effects on another.

I removed the bit about heightening the victims desire and fully accept that it may not work on others. The reaction is to give people affected by the Gen are clear understanding of what the debuff is (so theres's no confusion as to often the case with most cannon gen) rather then an attempt by myself to suggest everyone acts the same. This is a historical issue with gen designed to engender specific emotions.

If you want further alterations do you have any specific ones in mind?

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

I do hate to be a stickler for details but:
Infatuating Mirage: It still is written as if it inflicts desire upon the target. That being said, I'd like to reiterate the point that you can't so cleanly dictate the reactions of your opponent in the Genjutsu. You can force them to see the illusion, but not control or dictate how they act when confronted by it, if they desire to move beyond 5m of the illusion they are perfectly able to as long as it is within their character do do so. Obviously a nymphomaniac type of character would be likely to act in favor of the lusty maid you've created, but in combat I would not say that such a base feeling of desire would override adrenaline and general survival instinct for everyone. That being said, I think you are overestimating the control that Genjutsu has on the user in the scale of post by post combat.

Bearing that in mind, that you cannot control how your opponent reacts, they cannot be forced to perceive the Genjutsu for a certain length of time in their post. They are only required to some degree by the standard etiquette of combat to notice it by some degree, much like it is rather unfair to simply ignore an attack presented by your opponent in most situations.

Just a small note for future reference, half a post is hardly an acceptable form of measurement. Post length is incredibly subjective and is not entirely indicative of the time of span in combat. If I were to post one thousand words then by default half a post for me is far more punishing than a similar requirement or restraint might be fore someone who only posts the bare minimums.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Replaced problem Jutsu with Mischievous Wisp

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

(1/2) Approved.

Posts : 1187

Interesting read. I enjoyed it.

Ok, now down to business.

Harmless, how exactly does this work, does it make them seem reduced in size, less well armed and the like. I only ask because to different people how harmless you find a person to be would change.
Illusionary Shrouding, my only problem with this jutsu is you're saying that it can affect anything as long as it is half the users size. So if you had an S rank Wakizashi you could make it invisible? Thus making it twice as powerful due to the fact you could use its abilities without anyone seeing that you have it. I understand that Jiro is only a Genin for now but I would find this a problem for when he ranks up. I would propose making it D/A and saying that it can only affect weapons equal to the rank.
In the jutsu Sleep you say that it can only affect one target, but then later on you write

Quote :

Ensnared by exhaustion sleep causes the target/s.

Which is it?
Blade Shatterer I feel that this should only be used once, otherwise you can just bump down the rank of a weapon or destroy it, while I admit this was genius I think it is very unfair. So for D ranks it should be fine but for B ranks I think it should only be able to be used once.
Blade Barrier, ok, basically I think that the chakra cost for this should be equivalent to the technique used ply three or so. This is because it would make sense since you are countering the technique with the same amount of chakra.

Other than this the app looks very nice, also one of your custom techniques has given me idea, so thank you very much Hugh.

Age : 37 Posts : 1136

Satan wrote:: Harmless, how exactly does this work, does it make them seem reduced in size, less well armed and the like. I only ask because to different people how harmless you find a person to be would change.

It gives the impression that the user is near chakra exhaustion, unsteady on their feet and general looking like they aren’t in a fit state to do a basic d rank mission let alone fight someone. I have updated the definition to clarify this fact.

Satan wrote:: Illusionary Shrouding, my only problem with this jutsu is you're saying that it can affect anything as long as it is half the users size. So if you had an S rank Wakizashi you could make it invisible? Thus making it twice as powerful due to the fact you could use its abilities without anyone seeing that you have it. I understand that Jiro is only a Genin for now but I would find this a problem for when he ranks up. I would propose making it D/A and saying that it can only affect weapons equal to the rank.

I have added the following limitations: This technique can only be used to shroud items up to A rank. Furthermore users can only shroud items of their own rank or lower.

I am not particularly comfortable with varying rank higher as it would impose a significant increased cost to what remains a intrinsically simple illusion. I feel appropriate limitations are a better approach in this case.

Satan wrote:: In the jutsu Sleep you say that it can only affect one target, but then later on you write
Ensnared by exhaustion sleep causes the target/s.
Which is it?

Single Target. I have corrected the wording.

Satan wrote:: Blade Shatterer I feel that this should only be used once, otherwise you can just bump down the rank of a weapon or destroy it, while I admit this was genius I think it is very unfair. So for D ranks it should be fine but for B ranks I think it should only be able to be used once.

I have added a disclaimer that B rank weapons or above can only be affected once by this technique rather than cumulatively.

Satan wrote:: Blade Barrier, ok, basically I think that the chakra cost for this should be equivalent to the technique used ply three or so. This is because it would make sense since you are countering the technique with the same amount of chakra.

Upped the Chakra cost as recommended.

Satan wrote:: Other than this the app looks very nice, also one of your custom techniques has given me idea, so thank you very much Hugh.

Thanks Satan. I always like to know if my work inspires others in anyway. I hope the new technique works out for you

Posts : 1187

Thank you Hugh that was all incredibly painless. With that approved 2/2. Don't forget to make an account here.

Age : 31 Posts : 1490

Archived due to failure to complete a Kirigakure Activity Check and frequent inactivity.