Description: Upon his return to the new world, Ryouhara endeavors to ascertain the nature of ninjutsu, to evaluate what discipline is left in the world. He is disappointed to find that the new caste leaves... something to be desired. However, even a pebble can make waves. Right?
Who knew the old man had such an arm? And leg. Both arms and legs. A body made of pure steel wrapped in the form of an elderly man. All that he knew was that old 'geezer' made short work of him and all the rest of them. The ninja boy/monkey had given it his very best, from start to finish, and only came out with a near a week long recovery from the harsh beating.
It was more than a learning experience. It was more of a near death experience!
"Huuua! Let's see gramps manage to take care of this!"
A puff of smoke erupts, a stick so large it could be called a cudgel swings through the air, smashing against the wooden trees with a hollow, resonating sound. Hokutomaru vanishes again, scarf trailing after him as he repeatedly assaults the tree, appearing from each side and striking it, over and over. Trying to strike faster and harder each time.
It was maybe a day since he managed to get out and get back to the streets. The pain, completely eleviated. The feeling of being helpless, still fresh in his mind. He couldn't even help that girl who got the crap kicked out of her! Seriously, she was pretty angry too. Maybe it's just anger issues?
A heavy swing and ... the stick rebounds, smacking into Hokutomaru's forehead, causing the monkey/ninja boy to stagger, stars filling his vision as he lets out a garbled version of speech. It's what you'd expect from someone who just got clocked! Shaking it off, Hokutomaru stands before the tree - and it /still/ hasn't fallen.
"Ghhh! Stupid tree! How many strikes is it going to take to make you fall over!"
Apparently stronger fighters are capable of it in a /single blow/. Hokutomaru long passed that, now somewhere in the hundreds. Sighing, leaning on the tree, Hokutomaru pulls a rather large apple from his pocket, chomping down on it.
"I'm probably just hungry." He reasons, chowing down. "Well, can't do this on an empty stomach!"
The only evidence of his appearance is the sound of folding silk.
That is when Ryouhara first and again makes an appearance in what some would call the natural world. It's been some time, after all, since his journeys--creating Nirvana, being subjected to the twisted whims of --something, someone. He supposes he should have been more careful...
But then he would not have experienced...that sensation.
The shinobi, wearing grey silk, doesn't appear behind you, as some might expect. He simply alights on the ground, as if he had dropped from the sky itself. A boy scant older than his teenage years, but who carries himself like someone who simply wished himself into being. The voluminous sleeves of the haori he wears settles over his hands, sheathing them from view.
"...."
It isn't quite clear how much Ryouhara saw of Hokutomaru's training session, but his level stare is off-set with a somewhat remarkable frown. "Hmph. In my efforts, I've neglected to realize that there are other shinobi who have appeared in the world..." He doesn't bother with a greeting, nor an introduction. You might be off the hook. It seems like he might just be the rough-around-the-edges type--
"To think that the world of ninjutsu has fallen this far.."
Nope. He saw you hit yourself.
"Mpppphh!?"
Whipping around as Seishirou begins to speak, Hokutomaru points at him - with the apple stuck freely in his mouth, like that of a pig. If he was to be roasted and served for dinner... well he was more like a runt than an actual /good/ dinner. But he still 'speaks', nonsensical words being muffled by the shiny red apple that happens to wedged in there well.
Until he swallows it nearly whole.
"Haaah... I said...!"
His hand still points, his eyes narrowed, focusing upon the smooth as silk ninja - at least in his actions. If he hadn't spoke, Hokuto0maru wouldn't have even seen him.
"That was so cool!" The monkey ninja proclaims. "I didn't even know you were there... and since you know ninjitsu, you /have/ to be good at it!"
Apparently, though Hokutomaru may fail at not hitting yourself, he knows simple arithmatic. His trainers must be proud. No longer pointing, the ninja boy crosses his arms, standing tall as his scarf hangs behind him. It's also not cheating when Sei mentioned other shinobi. Hokutomaru missed that part.
"I'm a ninja myself, one of the best!" Hooking a thumb back to himself, full with pride. His grin stretches out, wide as the expanse in the sky. "But I don't get why you said it fell far... I haven't fallen lately at all." He curiously notes, one hand rubbing his head, as he looks up, thinking.
Maybe the self-whack knocked him stupid?
That's an interesting jutsu.
All truth told, Seishirou doesn't seem to think much of Hokutomaru right off the bat--obviously the self-inflicted blow to the head was a massive blow to Hokutomaru's ninja street cred. And in all truth, Ryouhara evinces the slightest of interests only when Hokutomaru proves able to eat an apple that was probably only a few sizes smaller than his head whole. "Hmph."
What amazing powers of gluttony.
Seishirou steps forward, that silken haori (contrasting the more martial acoutrements of his other attire) of his winding through the air with his brisk movement, giving his body a lack of distinction and contrast more in vein with that of a ghost. He doesn't seem much enthused about Hokutomaru's commentary.
"If--" Ryouhara starts, one hand finally appearing within a sleeve to shake two fingers once at Hokutomaru, held close together in an indictment of the shinobi's logic, "you are one of the best ninja, then I still have a lot of work to do." He steps around Hokutomaru quietly, his hand returning to his side as he looks at the tree. Finally, he says simply, "But, I suppose it would be pointless trying to tell you otherwise."
Though he makes no secret of his evaluation of Hokutomaru's skill level, he seems somewhat disinterested in refuting Hokutomaru's claim any further than that. He may or may not have dealt with similar attitudes in the past. "Regardless of your strength," Ryouhara continues, "As someone who practices the shinobi's arts, you have a duty to ninjutsu. It is my intent to test you. The test will now begin."
One hand opens.
"I have a mission for you."
"Eeeeeeeeehhh? A duty to ninjutsu?"
Seishirou peaks Hokutomaru's curiosity, the ninja boy's attention grasped tightly. A good thing too, since otherwise Sei might be speaking for the benefit of hearing his own voice. He, particularly, probably would not prefer that. But since he had managed it, the boy stands somewhat still, paying some form of attention. Not looking off into the distance or anything.
"A lot of work catching up?"
Hokutomaru asks, trying to understand - and he only nods, still grinning, when Seishirou claims it's foolish to tell him otherwise. He might have understood it wrong, but Hokutomaru knows he understood it /right/.
"Test?" Uh oh, he didn't study for any test. But then... /mission/. "A mission too?" The boy stares at the hand, which opens - and so Hokutomaru immediately tries to find out what was inside the hand! "If it's anything involving ninjitsu then it won't be any trouble!" But he /still/ moves close, peeking to see what's in that hand!
Well, the thing is, Seishirou doesn't much care.
Largely, he is not one to waste words.
If he senses he's not being paid attention to, he'll just switch to fire.
That's probably not good for your complexion.
Luckily, fire is not the kind of thing Seishirou seems to need to resort to this time, so he has little trouble continuing. Consider that the first part of the test passed. Seeming satisfied with Hokutomaru's level of attention, he displays his open hand for Hokutomaru to look at.
Absolutely nothing.
He was holding nothing.
"There is no reward for what it is you are going to do for me. But you'll oblige me regardless." He seems awful confident about that. "There is a tournament forming. The King of Fighters--even someone like you should have at least heard of it in passing..." he guesses, looking over Hokutomaru closely to gauge his level of understanding. "What I'm going to ask you to do is something that only true ninjas can do. I need you to find out everything you can about the circumstances behind this event, and it's sponsors. You'll report back to me. And me alone. Do you understand?"
Lo and behold, the hidden secret in his hand. The hidden treasure. The emptiness of the palm, the-
The emptiness?!
Hokutomaru's eyes grow wide as he sees NOTHING. His mouth opens wide, somewhat of a frown, and before he can speak up, Seishirou does before him. Standing before Seishirou, mouth agape, the ninja/boy/monkey only manages to be shut up by Seishirou's own words, which are overriding him from talking. Perhaps he's quite a wise ninja after all!
And then he mentions the tournament. "That big name one!" The boy, apparently, is pretty apt in it. "I heard it's going to have the best!" King of fighters, of course, implying they are fighting kings among men!
Nodding quickly, Hokutomaru pays rapt attention, nodding every other word. Only /true ninjas/ are capable? No sweat... he'll HAVE to do it then! He's a true ninja! And really, who else could do it then? Only a true ninja, of course! Crossing his arms, Hokutomaru nods again.
"Hahaha! Of course I'll be able to do that!" The grin resurges. He really does believe in himself, and Seishirou's words only drive him on to want to prove himself even more! "But you alone, huh? No problem!"
Clearly Seishirou is relying on an /advanced ninja/ who is trusted with this /advanced secret ninja mission/.
"I'll get started right now!" After turning around to go, Hokutomaru stops mid stride.
"Hey... how will I find you to report? ... And where is it gonna be?"
Seishirou is clearly an advanced user, because he doesn't even seem to be paying attention to whatever secret of zen mastery he was holding in the palm of his hand just moments ago.
"Hold on a second."
The shinobi flicks a stray wisp of dark hair from his view with a calm expression that only hints at the faintest bit of exasperation, possibly with Hokutomaru and his whole train of thought. It's interesting that the boy takes everything he says as gospel, but Ryouhara seems to be drawing on some newfound well of willpower to avoid making a molten disaster area of this entire section of forest right now.
"You've been chosen because of your ability to unwittingly be in the right place at the right time." In truth, this section of forest is very close to one of Seishirou's first bases of operation. "But... don't make the mistake of confusing that for natural talent." He has no intentions of having Hokutomaru die. At least, not on this particular assignment. But... that sole piece of advice is the only thing he seems to be willing to offer?
By the time Hokutomaru reaches the realization, Seishirou is already facing away from him, displaying the prominent clan symbol on his back--three leaves--that is possibly the only way to meaningfully describe him to anyone. However, instead oanswering the question directly, the shinobi elects to be vague.
"I wouldn't worry about that, if I were you."
If Hokutomaru looks at the wrong time, he might only find a breeze on the wind instead of Seishirou.
Hold on a second? Hokutomaru holds on. A leaf floats past. A small animal scurries past Seishirou. Hokutomaru's stomach rumbles. He waits patiently, but can no longer hold himself. Every second is restraint against the nature of his being. Why does he need to /flick his hair/? Hokutomaru can feel a drop of sweat beginning to roll down his face.
/He must presevere/.
And then praise. "Hahah, I get that alot!" It's all apart of being there at the right place at the right time! He's the best. That's how he found the geezer and then got kicked by him until he almost stop breathing the second! But that's becauze the geezer is ... some kind of super human!
Praised, he closed his eyes, a bit flushed from the great praise! Grinning wide, "Huh? Of course it's not natural, /that/ part's all skill!"
But as he says this, opening his eyes - Sei is walking away, and three leaves are all he really sees before he blinks, glancing over his shoulder to check something and - BAMPH. The ninja is also gone. Hokutomaru stares, tilting his head.
"
"Hey! YOU FORGOT TO USE SMOKE WHEN YOU LEFT!" He calls out, hands cupped around his mouth.
But he must have vanished into the leaves somewhere, or must be hiding in the tree - after all, /leaves/. Three of them. Maybe he's connected to three trees? Shrugging, Hokutomaru grabs his stick and begins to head home - in a very bright mood.
He was chosen! How many ninja can say /THAT/?
Log created on 20:15:07 11/12/2010 by Seishirou, and last modified on 03:51:12 02/20/2011.