Todaka, Kenzen- The late bloomer...

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Vital Info

Name: Todaka Kenzen (Traditional Japanese order, family name first.)
Age: 18
Height: 5'8
Weight: 144
Birthday: Virgo (August 27)
Bloodtype: O+
Hair: Brown, Medium-length
Eye Color: Brown
Skin Tone: Sun-bronzed from living in the desert.
Distinguishing Marks: Small scars on his torso, a few kunai scars on his back, a burn ring around his chest that looks like a chain burned into his skin from his first mission- it's faded but still prominent enough to notice when bared.

Never the strongest or fastest in his classes, he was nonetheless devoted to his training; long after others were tired or bored he was usually still at it. He seems to grasp jutsu theory fairly quickly.

His goal is to someday become assigned to the Kazekage's protection detail, but on a slightly more attainable scale he'd like to at least make toukubetsu jounin for bodyguard and escort types of missions.

His demeanor is a bit aloof- he tends to seem more interested in his surroundings than other people, unless those people have to do with his training or assignments. Experience with his team has revealed that he is generally quiet and a bit slow to open up to others, but amicable enough once he has.

Ninja Status

Village: Sunagakure (Sand)
Rank: Chunin
Element: Earth/ Light (DM Sunshine approved, 40 tokens paid) / -

Stat Scores (Base/With Items)

Str:10/20(+0/+5)
Dex:10/20(+0/+5)
Con:24/36(+7/+13)
Wis:22/34(+6/+12)
Int:14/24(+2/+7)
Cha:8/18(-1/+4)

Weapons

Ancient Chakra Blade (Medium weapon, -2 attack penalty/-4 dualwield, Rank Damage = 1d10)
Description: This ornate bladeless hilt is kept at Kenzen's left hip with a leather cord. It is a much older, less "efficient" model of chakra blade that requires the focus of more chakra at once than most people can handle. When the wielder focuses their chakra, a long-sword formed of green chakra emits from the hilt.

Bokken (Medium weapon, -2 attack penalty/-4 dualwield, Rank Damage = 1d10)
Description: A wooden sword used for training that typically represents a katana, unlike a kendo stick it has no give, and is perfectly capable of being used to bludgeon someone to death. A sheathe across his back projects the hilt of this weapon just over his right shoulder for easy access.

Ninjato (Small weapon, -1 attack penalty/-3 dualwield, Rank Damage = 1d8)
Description: This short killing sword is well-cared for and practically shines when drawn. The handle is concealed as the bottom end of the bokken sheathe on his back- a 180 degree twist releases a catch to free the blade for drawing.

Hand-axe Small weapon, -1 attack penalty/-3 dualwield, Rank Damage = 1d8)
Description: Strapped to the inside of his left thigh by his forehead protector used as a harness, this hand-axe is kept as a "utility" weapon, and the edge on the head of the axe is kept sharp enough to split hairs.

Gear
Basic Tool Bag: 3 Kunai, 3 Shuriken, 1 Explosive Tag, 1 Ninja Wire, 1 Chakra Pill (paid 10 tokens to DM Gaara on 7/20/2010)

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Jutsu Known

Academy Jutsu

Spoiler:

Earth Jutsu

Spoiler:

Light Jutsu

Spoiler:

Taijutsu

Spoiler:

Enhancement Jutsu

Spoiler:

Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Bears (Rank 2: 60 tokens paid to DM Sakura)

Spoiler:

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

~Team 3 of Sunagakure~

Name: Team 3.
Captain: Hojo Masako
Members: Inka Natsu, Rikitazu Yubisho, and Todaka Kenzen
Affiliation: Sunagakure.
Status:: Disbanded

~Mission Data~
D Rank: 0
C Rank: 1
B Rank: 0
A Rank: 1
S Rank: 0

Pending Missions

~Seaweed~
Rank: D
Requirements: None
Assigned: Kenzen Todaka
The oasis has once again been infested with seaweed. Clean up the oasis so the people of Sunagakure can once again get a clean and fresh supply of delicious oasis water.

~Guarding the Oasis~
Rank: C
Requirements: Good perception skills, patience and initiative
Assigned: Kenzen Todaka
It has come to the Kazekage's attention that some residents in Sunagakure are taking water from the Oasis without permission. Guard and keep these unwanted guests away.

Completed Mission Log

~Caravan Rescue~
Rank: C
Details: Tasked with helping rescue caravan travelers on their way to Konoha from bandits.
Status: Completed~ Success.

~Escort Mission~
Rank: Assigned as a C-rank, upgraded to A-rank due to extenuating circumstances.
Details: Escort a wealthy businessman from Sunagakure to Konohagakure to a meeting with his business associates there.
Though the original task was incomplete, the client had not been honest about the risks involved. It was discovered that a shady businessman wished to extort the client for his business in exchange for his daughter's life, who was being held captive by several high class nin. Both to help the man recover his daughter, and to prevent him from signing over his business which was economically important to Sunagakure no Sato, Team 3 elected to continue on, rescuing the man's daughter so he would not have to sign over his business.

Engaging an enemy force of 9 nin, one at least A-ranked, they succeeded in this alternative goal, but were in no condition upon doing so to escort the man and his daughter directly to Konoha, instead returning to Sand for rest. The client has no complaints about the outcome, and arrangements have been made for another team to see him to Konoha while Team 3 recovers.
Status: Re-designated as an alternate A-rank mission~ Completed~ Success.

~Squad 2 of Sunagakure~

Name: Team Tami
Captain: Tami Nihano
Members: Hyobe Ika, Igakaru Zakai, Todaka Kenzen
Affiliation:: Sunagakure
Status:: Active

Jutsu: Learning in Progress

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Combat Style: Ametsuchi no Toride (Fortress of Heaven and Earth) ((Note: This is under development and has not received any sort of approval yet. This is to help me keep track as I RP and develop the style.))

Description: To say that this is an unusual combat style would be putting it mildly. Whereas most would develop a taijutsu to allow them to block or avoid the blows of others, this style meets those attacks head on- with only an iron will and confidence in your body's conditioning to keep you from being torn to shreds- mind, body, and spirit uniting as one to perform an outrageous task that many people would consider improbable at best, and impossible at worst. After all, who catches a fist with their face, or a sword with their bare...anything?

Beyond that, first and foremost, this is a heavily defensive taijutsu style, focusing on combining one's willingness to take a hit and their resilience to defend allies and oneself. There will often be openings for counter-attacks created by such brazen tactics.

Persistent
Gain 1/15th your Wisdom SCORE (with gear) to all Constitution-based defense rolls and counter-attacks. Round down.

Gain 1/15th your Consitution SCORE (with gear) to earth and light jutsu attack/defense/learning rolls, and to learning enhancement jutsu and their duration- this may not cause an enhancement jutsu to exceed its max duration. Round down.

Gain +2 DR. This DR cannot be pierced by any means.

May use CONSTITUTION to make counterattacks for yourself or an ally with basic taijutsu/kenjutsu- when failing by 10 or less to counter on behalf of another, you still manage to take the blow in place of the intended target. When successfully countering, you reduce damage as normal for defending with Constitution, then by redirecting the momentum of their own attack strike them back for (Rank-based) weapon or taijutsu damage, taking any appropriate penalties for wielding a weapon.

Stances
Starts any fight that isn't 1-on-1 where your side does not outnumber the enemy in Vigilant Guardian Stance, otherwise must pay 2 CP to enter a stance as a free action on anyone's turn.

(Vigilant Guardian Stance)
Type: Hijutsu (Requires Earth Affinity)
Rank: -
CP: None, see PVP effect
Description: Digging your toes into the ground and calming yourself, you prepare to be the fortress your allies depend on for shelter in the storm of combat.
PVP effect: May stack up to 2 turns in reserve even in a fight that is not 1-on-1; for as long as the fight is not 1-on-1 these stacked turns may never be used to attack, only to counter or defend yourself/an ally.

If you stack 2 turns, on your third turn if you do not act you may hold that turn for a third counter-attack, but if you do not use it before your next turn it goes away. Using stacked turns from this stance costs 2 CP.

Techniques

(Earth Ricochet)
Type: Taijutsu (Must have Earth Affinity)
Rank: D
CP: 4
Description: The user lifts their rear foot, and, waiting until the last moment as they are struck, slams their foot back down into the earth, redirecting the energy of the attack into the earth and back at a different target.
PVP effect: CON to counter an enemy attack; On success, reduce damage normally, and one enemy of your choice rolls defense against your counter-roll, taking (Rank+1d6) taijutsu damage if they fail.

(Earth Clone)
Type: Ninjutsu (Requires Earth affinity)
Rank: C
CP: 5 per clone, +2 per round maintained
Description: Makes an earth clone from dirt, rock, sand, etc.
PVP Effect: One earth clone max, regardless of level. Has HP = 1/2 user's max HP. Does not poof until HP are exhausted.
While you may only have one earth clone at a time, so long as you pay the appropriate chakra costs you could still have other types of clones- however, you may not exceed a max of 3 clones in any combination of earth clones or other solid clones. Follows all other normal solid clone rules regarding damage and attacking.

Bunshin Gyakushuu (Clone Counterattack)
Type: Taijutsu
Rank: C
CP: 5, + 1 Solid Clone; see PVP effect.
Description: The best part about a clone is its ability to do what you can!
PVP effect: Send one solid clone to counterattack for you or your ally with CON. On success reduce damage as normal- the clone then retaliates for (Rank-based) Taijutsu damage + 2d6 and disperses unless it took 0 damage or is an Earth Clone. On failure by 10 or less, the clone is struck and disperses, or takes damage if an Earth Clone. If you fail by more than 10, the clone is too slow to prevent the attack and takes no damage, instead sacrificing its next turn as if it had already attacked. If the clone in question was used to attack or counter once already this round, this also costs one stacked turn from Vigilant Guardian.

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

The Beginning of Team 3

This team was assembled together almost as if by fate- all three, graduated to genin but managing to fall through the cracks and lack a Team, had found themselves in Rice Country witnessing a fight between ninjas far greater than themselves for one reason or another. Fortunately, the fight never had a proper chance to endanger the three genin too badly, thanks to friendly nin on scene.

But as everyone dispersed, all three genin realized they'd never been this far outside their village before. It took them quite some time wandering together to find their way back home, eventually finding their way to Konohagakure and getting directions from a shop-keeper.

Worth noting, this particular shopkeeper in Konohagakure happened to be in possession of a sword's hilt that caught Kenzen's attention. It was a a rather ornate hilt, especially for having no blade attached. Seeing the interest despite his attempt to hide it, the shopkeeper smiled kindly and took Kenzen aside, bidding him help an old man move a few boxes in exchange for the information.

***
"You seem to be the only one in your team that has any eye for swords, young man...and possibly the only one who could make proper use of such a blade, as well," the shopkeeper added almost as an afterthought, appraising the sturdy boy who'd been not just helping him move boxes, but doing all the work for him, for the better part of four hours without rest.

Kenzen was sweating, and dusty, for the shopkeeper could not quite reach as many places as he could when he were younger to clean, and he had taken that upon himself as well. Still, the young man looked as if he could do it all over again and not be fatigued. Brown hair fell into equally brown eyes, straight-forward and honest eyes.

"You can hardly call it an eye for swords- I picked the only hilt in the whole shop without a blade attached," Kenzen muttered ruefully.

"Ahh, can it be.... but then, why would you know about a sword reclaimed from sea, after all. This is a chakra blade... a much older and less efficient model, by today's standards, mind you... but still..."

Kenzen's eyes widened in surprise as he felt the man focus his chakra- and from the hilt grew a blade of green chakra, maybe 34 inches long and edged on both sides, like a longsword.

His eyes widening further in awe and comprehension, he looked at the blade, then the shop-keeper.

"You're a ninja." It was a statement, not a question.

"Goodness, no, I've been retired for nearly twenty years," the man smiled slyly.

Kenzen looked at the sword longingly for a few moments, and shook his head, sighing.

"There is no way I have enough to afford such a bla...- are you alright?!"

The shop-keeper had doubled over in pain, the blade sputtering out. He held up a hand, and righted himself slowly, giving a strained smile. "As I said, this blade is less efficient than those of today. An old man like me wielding something like this will just kill himself from overtaxing his chakra, and you're the first genin I've seen in ages that will have time to grow properly with such a blade."

"I'll tell you what- I'm supposed to send an order of cloth to your village. There's about 45 kilograms of the stuff...enough to make most people not want to carry it through the desert, but not enough to pay caravan prices. We're allies, but I'm not made of money, you know? If you'll carry it to Suna for me and deliver it to the academy instructors, we'll call it even."

Kenzen looked longingly at the blade again. "There's no way paying for that would cost as much as this blade," he countered rationally.

"True, the blade is probably valuable from a craftsman's point of view- but if there is no demand for your product, the finest masterpiece in the world is worth nothing more than the trash in your bin. I give you something I don't use anymore, and no one else has expressed interest in. I save myself caravan fees. Do we have a deal?"

Kenzen stared at the blade, wavering. "You have to take the money I have with me, too, and if I'm visiting in Konoha again and you have more packages like this to send, I'll carry them free of charge."

The man's face split into a wide grin.

"Done."

***

Just a few days later, after managing the arduous trek back to Sunagakure- and yes, even for Kenzen, 45 kilograms on his back through the treetops and desert was an arduous task- they each bid the other farewell and went their separate ways to attend to their duties and daily lives as ninja.

The next day, when the three of them arrived in the Kazekage's office at the same time, each with summons regarding a mission, they acknowledged each other politely, waiting for the Kazekage to give her orders.

Her orders would be well-welcomed, in time; they were now Team 3, and they had a mission with their Team Captain...

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

First Mission with Team 3

"Do you want to save your daughter, yes or no?"

Those words had been spoken so quietly on Kenzen's part, and yet his team had never seen him more furious in the time since they had met. The man's words had struck something in him, memories he'd hashed over many times since he was much younger, and knew that rationally he was better off letting go of- memories that could never bring anything but unneeded pain to the young nin.

Still, his blood roared in his ears. The man had just given up on his daughter. He argued it was to save many more lives, and Kenzen knew that while there was -some- logic to sacrificing one instead of many, it was still unpalatable to him. He had lied about the contract- he couldn't have afforded an A-Rank mission, he said... so why hadn't he made up something to include his daughter, or even tried?

The blubbering old man whose collar he clutched had simply accepted that he would have to choose between his child or others, and thrown away any consideration of getting her back alive. The revelation left him almost deaf to the question of Hojo-taichou in the background as to whether or not his team wanted to continue, barely allowed him to register their affirmations. The palm of his hand itched to wrap around his chakra blade.

If this old geezer didn't want to save his daughter, he'd run him through and the mission would be over right there.

"Blubbering won't save her. Do... you.... want to save.... your daughter?" he hissed out between his teeth.

"YES, I want to save my daughter!" the old man suddenly wailed back in his face, almost in defiance.

Kenzen stared hard into the man's eyes, his fists tightening slightly about his collar, stretching the fabric a moment- then just as suddenly as he'd hauled the weeping man out of the sand, he released him, looking away.

"I'll continue the mission. I can't fail my first mission with my team because of a few unexpected bumps. We'll save your daughter, old man, so get up and stop crying, and tell us anything that can help us."

* * *

Later that evening, they'd reached Rain Country and found a site for camp, splitting up to attend to various tasks- Masako-taichou clearing the area, Riki-san and Natsu-san setting up camp along with traps, tents, and a small fire ringed by stones Kenzen provided. A bit more scouting turned up plentiful wild game, berries, and nuts... all the rain provided well for the wild-life.

Back at camp, after giving Natsu the berries and nuts he'd gathered, he set to work quartering and cleaning two hefty hares, preserving the skins for use in night-time travel garb for the desert at a later time- although he did not follow the Inka's policy of veganism, he did not believe in wasting what he killed, either. He seasoned and salted the meat, and put it over the fire to roast.

Riki looked across the fire at Kenzen from the roasting rabbits he'd been hungrily devouring in his mind, and remembered a question he'd wanted to ask. "Oh, Kenzen-kun, about earlier, why are you so fired up over this? Yeah, it's a terrible story, but..."

He was silent for a little bit, mulling over his words, before answering, "Children should know they're the most important thing in the world to their parents."

There was a brief lull in the conversation, and the subject was dropped. No one pushed further than that, and he didn't volunteer anything, either. Soon, food was passed out and thanks were said, and they began eating, conversation resuming once more as they moved on to planning their mission.

There were several ideas and concerns passed back and forth amongst the group, and ultimately it was decided that they would need a bit more information, but for the time Kenzen and Masako would infiltrate the cabin where the old man's daughter was being kept and free her, while Riki and Natsu covered the rear to protect the old man and heal any injuries anyone sustained. Masako intended to do most of the fighting- Kenzen was to use his Underground Projection Fish Technique to tunnel under to her room and get her out the same way.

"... you're planning to play distraction, aren't you?" Kenzen queried with a slightly narrowed gaze at his captain. The happy but silent smile he got in answer affirmed the assumption, and he sighed. He didn't like being let off so easy, but he couldn't argue with the logic of the plan given the circumstances.

Masako insisted he take watch all night, despite a bit of protest on Kenzen's part- Riki-san practically dove for his bed roll at this news and was out like a light, much to Natsu's and Kenzen's amusement. He insisted it was okay and that he was trained for such things, and flashed a ration pill at them, besides. Vanishing up into the foliage, Masako took up his position watching over the camp somewhere beyond the senses of the three genin- Kenzen and Natsu soon joined Riki in slumber, their sleeping bags set up in a flanking position around the old man and Riki's henge'd puppet.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day...

***

Rain fell around them in a near solid sheet, making purchase on the branches they leapt through hazardous to the uncautious, yet cooling the exertion from his skin as he maintained a bunshin through the terrain- Riki-san was still unconscious from when they'd rescued him from capture, and neither the old man or his daughter were ninja to be able to keep up with them.

The day had started badly. They'd awoken to find Riki-san taken from their camp, along with the puppet he'd henged as a distraction. Things had gotten worse- NINE chakra signatures, and their group was down to two genin and their jounin leader.

He was willing to bet Masako-taichou hadn't planned to play distraction for quite so many. Still, Masako had a pretty ingenious series of plans, and things had gone off relatively smoothly. He'd nearly been taken down from behind by some nin that wanted Masako for the bounty on his head, but Masako had warned him in time and engaged the nin, leading him off deeper into the woods as a distraction, and sending Kenzen ahead to follow the plan to free Riki-san and the client's daughter, while Natsu-san guarded over the old man, after their initial participation in helping distract the guards with special tags.

He and Natsu had lain in wait for Masako's turn for a while, but they'd sensed enemy nin converging on their position. Natsu and Kenzen had discussed what to do- they didn't want to leave, but they still each had one of Masako's special shuriken.... Kenzen stayed behind to test his, sending his clone ahead with Natsu and hoping that if the kunai could summon Masako here they could cut the nin chasing them off and get the clients back to the village safely...

Unfortunately, without the teleportation planned in advance, it seemed like the only way that plan was going to work was if they got back to sand first. Catching up had been hard, and he'd taken Riki-san back from the clone, panting softly under the exertion- he'd been using chakra to tunnel through rocks and maintain a clone for quite a while now...

And there was the nin, in front of them, as they reached the outer edges of the deserts of wind country, that Masako had lured away... pretty badly beaten up, it was obvious Masako had put him through the ringer... but he was still alive, and way beyond anything a pair of genin and a couple of civilians could manage.

They tried stalling while they talked quietly between themselves, and the nin made one mistake- he let slip that Masako had run away...which meant that unless he was lying, Masako was still alive. If they could hold out, they might survive... until then, they needed to keep the clients and each other safe. Kenzen had set Riki gently down against a rock between the old man and his daughter. "Look after him, please," he'd smiled- and moved into place alongside his clone, between the bloody missing nin and his clients.

He grinned, pulling out a chain with a razor-sharp attachment like a windmill shuriken attached, and hurled it around in an arc, aiming for Kenzen's back... it was fast, faster than any attack Kenzen had ever had aimed at him. There was, quite frankly, no time for Kenzen to move out of the way by normal means, and as Natsu brought aura spheres up to attempt to intercept the attack for him, he used the moment of flash they provided as the aura barrier crumpled to switch places with his clone, which was rammed through the back so that the shuriken stuck out of his chest, before disappearing with a poof...

He reached up to his back to feel where the weapon had sliced a small hole in his uniform. That had been ridiculously close. If Natsu hadn't helped cover for him...

"Not bad," the bloody nin hummed. "You guys have potential... it's a shame you've seen my face and have to die."

He nodded thanks to Natsu, and Natsu nodded back, almost imperceptibly, before turning to the jounin. "Let's see how good your eyes are."

And he'd vanished. Kenzen had seen the technique once before, so he didn't panic, didn't assume Natsu had abandoned him... hoped he was going to go activate the last special kunai the jounin had deflected down into a nearby chasm when he'd been attacking Kenzen and Natsu had tried to take advantage.

"....well, kid, looks like it's just you and me, now."

Kenzen couldn't believe his luck... the man thought Natsu had abandoned him... it wouldn't do to give his teammate away... so he went for irritating, rubbing the back of his hand and putting up a fake friendly smile in response to the unpleasant smirk, sarcasm lacing his voice.

"Hai, it does look that way, doesn't it? So please go easy on me," he chirped out cheerfully while forming a boar seal and channeling an earthen brown glow of chakra to his hands.

"Tch," the smile melted off the jounin's face. "Cheeky brat. Die."

Kenzen stepped back once, almost instinctively, at the wave of murderous intent that came off the jounin- this guy was no joke, and making fun of him might've done him more harm than good... if he couldn't hold out until Masako or Natsu got there, he was done for for sure.... the back of his foot brushed against Riki's puppet, and he looked behind him at the two terrified civilians that could barely breathe under the jounin's intent... his gaze hardened, and he braced himself, lifting his eyes defiantly to wait for the jounin's attack- he couldn't retreat, or there would be nothing between the client and death. His eyes fixed on the twirling chain- and he blinked.

In that moment, cold, metallic death wrapped around him, the point of the windmill piercing into his back alongside his spine and missing anything vital, fortunately- but he was caught firm, unable to move as the jounin laughed, and hauled him off his feet to his face in the sand.

..."Hahaha," the jounin began laughing as he shaped his chakra.... and converted it to electrical energy, which raced down the length of the chain...

Straight into Kenzen's helpless body. He convulsed, spasming in the sand and gasping for air, writhing in pain. "Nngh..." He bit down on his lip, trying to hold onto his pride- he hadn't been able to do anything useful in this situation at all- at least he could avoid screaming.

The jounin smirked, and increased the amount of chakra he was channelling. Kenzen's back arched, his eyes rolling back, and he screamed as he felt his insides being boiled while he was still alive. "Nnngg.....ggggh....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Bits of drool started to seep down the side of his face, his vision dimming as he stared at the laughing, merciless eyes of this jounin he'd never met before today, his body starting to go limp... what an utter waste... dead on his first team mission...

"You let your guard down."

Vaguely, he was aware of a friendly voice- his vision struggled to focus... Natsu was back, behind the jounin and trying to run chakra through his pressure points- for a moment hope surged- then he saw the Jounin deflect the attack, kicking Natsu away from him.

"...I can't take anymore of that, or even I'll die...." it was almost by instinct that he took the distraction, fading to sand in the chain's grasp and panting on his hands in knees beside the client and Riki in the sand, hair standing every which way and skin scorched and burnt, nerves singing like they were on fire even underneath the surface of his skin.... just staying conscious took everything he had. He watched Natsu-san fight, forcing himself to one knee wanting to help, but couldn't bring himself to stand steadily.

He would just get in the way...and Natsu-san, it turned out, was ultimately having no better luck than he. The jounin gloated about how he hadn't let his guard down...and slowly, a smile spread across Natsu's face. "But you did let your guard down to say that...."

A confused look appeared on the jounin's face...and moments later, to the thunderous sound of chirping, Masako appeared behind him, and rammed his fist filled with electrical chakra through the man from behind, his fist protruding from his chest.

"...Thank Kami...."

Kenzen fell back to a sitting position in the sand, panting.

They talked for a bit, and decided it would be better to head home than push on to Konoha in their current condition. After Natsu tended to their wounds as best he could given the conditions, Masako scooped the girl up in his arms and carried the old man on his back while Natsu carried Riki. Kenzen was, for once, too tired to complain about being given less work to do- they headed into the desert towards their village.

They'd get to see home again. Kenzen's heart sang at the notion- home... he considered it a real home to come back to, a place he was happy and, relatively, safe.

He'd never had the sensation before, and he gloried in it all the way back to the Kazekage's office as a distraction from the painful burn ring around his torso that quick field treatment couldn't diminish, from the raw burning of his nerves, and from the protest of his chakra network. For the trip home, despite the shape he was in, he felt surprisingly good...

Then again, maybe he was- just a little, of course- looking forward to seeing his favorite medic when he got back, as well...

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Mission: Guard the Oasis- captured!

It was a beautiful day in the desert, if one knew where to look. The oasis, on a day like today, was hot, but endurable with the proper precautions.

Kenzen had been on assignment for guarding the oasis against water thieves for some time now. He had almost come to the conclusion that the purpose of a mission was to function as a visual deterrent. It apparently worked, as no one ever really bothered or harassed him while he was there.

There had been no signs of activity for more than a month now- so he had taken to cleaning up the oasis whenever he was there to guard it, helping save the village money on extra missions. He'd just finished gathering up the last of the seaweed into a pile for the day, when he heard a snort to his left near the lean-to. The sight brought a grin to his lips.

There was the bear that had appeared in the desert one day, devouring the fish he'd been preparing for it since, every third day. And the bear seemed to like it. Fish was hard enough to come by in the desert, but he managed by allotting a 5 percent portion of his pay for his luxury food- unagi and salmon sushi.

He walked over and plopped down beside the bear- it had proven itself non-hostile long since the first day it had stayed near he and Seo-hime in the water. Besides, a bear that appeared and disappeared as it pleased and came back for fish probably wasn't going to kill the source of the fish, Kenzen thought to himself.

As he ate, he remembered later events of that same day... the jounin in a tiger mask that had made Seo-hime unhappy with talk of capturing the bear. Kenzen had gone after the nin, on the grounds that he was intruding in sand territory although more because the nin had made Seo unhappy than anything else.

He'd done a lot better than one would expect in the circumstances. The nin had even tried throwing Kenzen off a cliff, but he'd dove under the ground and gone at him again right back under and up through the cliff. Kenzen had decently held his own until the jounin had finally knocked him away and ran.

He chuckled to himself as the bear snorted and headbutted him back into the sand. He'd determined this was the bear's way of saying thanks for the fish- moments later the bear disappeared into the sand the same way he'd appeared, and Kenzen smiled, righting himself to finish his meal.

"You've gotten awfully friendly with that bear. I guess it's a good thing I didn't kill you last time... that means I can use you."

Kenzen froze- he knew that voice. As he glanced around, he noticed he had some unwelcome guests. Several of them looked close to heat stroke, rough-edged civilians that made their living as bandits in the sands... in their midst was the nin wearing the tiger mask.

"Oh, damn."

The nin in the tiger mask threw his head back and laughed.

"You have no idea, boy. Take him."

* * *

The area was covered in mud and upturned rocks. Several bandits lay dead, cut in half by Kenzen's chakra blade unexpectedly when they discovered punches to Kenzen's face just didn't seem to do much, even if you were wearing brass knuckles.

The tiger-nin even had a scratch along his arm and some mud on his uniform. The damn little genin had gotten at him again. It was ridiculous how long he could hold up under such conditions and how much punishment he could take. Several times he'd thought Kenzen was done only to have him lash out in a surprise flurry.

After he got his hands on the bear he was going to enjoy killing the runt.

"Alright men, we've got what we need. Dispose of the bodies, fill your canteens, and let's go."

Kenzen stirred, and the masked nin kicked him in the face.

He needed him alive, not conscious.

* * *

Kenzen woke to snarling and screaming, the smell of blood, and the sound of flesh shredding from flesh. His vision was obscured completely on one side of his face from where he'd been kicked, swollen, and the other side was hazy from the sand he'd just woken up with his face in. He tried to move his arms to wipe at his eye, but they were bound.

With a grunt of pain, he rolled himself onto his side to see what was going on- and he saw carnage, a bear towering over downed bodies and keeping two of the men from earlier at bay and cowering. The bear stepped forward and gave a roar, rearing up on its hind legs, and they ran.

"That's fine... I didn't expect them to be any help with you anyway. I just didn't want to waste my energy on the brat."

The nin came swinging his axe- large, like a great-axe, but more shaped like an over-sized hatchet, with a flat back end that could be used as a hammer, for the bears rear legs...

And the bear spun into it with his rear front paw extended and knocked it away, rearing up on its hind legs once more. For a brief moment, shock showed on the nin's face, and he hauled the axe out of the sand in the ground behind him where it had implanted itself, turning for another swing...

But the bear was already standing over Kenzen, and before the nin could close the distance, with what sounded like a snorting chuckle, the bear and Kenzen vanished...

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Dreams, Discovery, Training

Slam....slam.....

"This is all your fault, you worthless wench!"

WHAM!

"Why didn't you tell me you came from a ninja line on your father's side?!"

Smack.....smack...

"It's all your fault our son uses chakra, and its your fault our village was destroyed!"

CrrrrrACK!

A small child's eyes opened blearily at the noise- he was tired, he ached from all the walking through the desert, and he was thirsty...

And he saw that man (he refused to call him tou-san) beating his kaa-san with their canteen, a livid rage coloring his face a darker red than the sun had.

His mother gave out a last gurgling sob, and stopped moving.

The child's eyes widened as comprehension dawned. He understood death- had seen the villagers die one by one in the attack on his civilian village...

He understood the regret, the fear in his mother's eyes as she looked to him with her last breath and smiled tremulously, before the light left her gaze.

He didn't understand the sudden anger that pervaded his numbness, or why the desert heat suddenly felt so much more soothing. He didn't understand why his palms felt so hot, or process that he was hurling orb after orb of glowing white light at the man that had just killed his mother.

He understood that the man looked at him with fear now, instead of revulsion. It made him angrier. He wanted the light to fade from the man's eyes the way he'd made it fade from his mother's...

He understood that his father screamed in agony and writhed in the sand because of him, that his father paid for the light he stole from his mother's eyes with the light in his own.

He guzzled down the remains of the dented canteen, trying to quell the sudden parched burning sensations in his throat even as salty wetness leaked down his cheeks.

Then he collapsed in the sand, and he didn't understand anything...

***

Inside a cave the bear had transported them to for shelter, he watched Kenzen stir restlessly, listened to him make distressed sounds. He tore a strip of cloth from Kenzen's outfit with his muzzle, and walked over further into the cave to dip it into the small pool of water that drizzled in from farther inside the cave, walking back over to Kenzen to lay it atop his forehead.

Sitting back on his haunches, he regarded the youth with something akin to pity. He looked to be nearing 18 or so- by ninja standards, plenty of time for horrible things to happen- but it was still a rare sight to see a dream disturb someone so badly.

The bear's hackles stood on end as the boy began emitting light from his body and steam rose off of the damp cloth, and Kenzen's distressed sounds turned to an angry, mournful wail that sent a shudder through the bear.

~....Sooo kaa... Light jutsu? No....there's no handseals, he's dreaming....That's one hell of a nightmare...~

The bear sat back down, watching the scene play out before him... eventually, Kenzen's breathing evened out, and the light faded from his body. Padding over to him, the bear nosed him once gently- his fever had broken.

Before, he'd merely been returning favor for favor... food and secrecy in exchange for saving the boy's life from the one he'd kept his secret from. He'd seen the tough little genin go head to head with the tiger-masked ninja, and he'd done well for himself, but it hadn't been anything too special other than his ability to take a hit.

Now he appraised the boy with a different gleam to his eye.

Tsuro had been stripped of his title... this developing youth was loyal, determined, and fiercely protective... and hard-headed like a rock, literally.

He would train him a little bit and see what he did with the training. He could decide more from there.

***

Kenzen's eyes opened blearily to see a massive, furry face perched above his and to the smell of raw fish- he was laying on cold stone. Gradually, more and more awareness returned to him, and it processed that he was laying under a huge bear...momentarily his eyes widened, and then recognition set in- just in time for him to jerk upright and headbutt the bear on accident.

It was one of the few headbutts in life Kenzen would lose on- he rubbed his forehead and groaned slightly.

"Itai... why would you stand over someone sleeping like that, you giant furball?"

"A-hem... a little more gratitude for saving your life should be in order, I think. Grizzly-sama will do nicely."

"Grizzly-sama? Why wou....holy crap, you can talk!"

Kenzen stared at the bear wide-eyed. He'd known he wasn't a normal bear... normal bears didn't teleport or calmly share space with humans. But he'd never spoken.

Grizzly snorted in amusement. "You're a bit slow when you first wake up, neh?"

Kenzen frowned, then looked around, taking in his surroundings... fresh water, shelter, out of the sand, and fish nearby on the ground...

"...Arigato-gozaimasu, Grizzly-sama. I owe you my life- I'll make sure to keep providing you with fish. But I need to get back to the village."

As Kenzen moved to stand up, the bear shoved him back down with a massive paw.

"First things first, we're nowhere near your village. Second thing, yeah, you kind of DO owe me your life... so first, you're going to cook us some fish. Then, you're going to stay here, and I'm going to train you. You've got some impressive raw talent and a really thick skull... but I've watched you try to develop your taijutsu a bit...and I've gotta say, you're doing it wrong."

Kenzen stared incredulously at "Fat furball" in his mind for a few moments.

"Oh yeah?"

WHAM! Kenzen got headbutted back onto his back by a massive bearskull.

"...Yeah. Now make us some fish so I can get started on your training."

Kenzen sat up, rubbing his forehead.

"...I'll make you some fish, and then I'm leaving. I think my style is coming along just fine."

WHAM!

"Then why are you on your back again, and why'd you lose? I've heard you talking with the people you're close to...exactly who are you going to protect if you can't even protect yourself?"

"..." Kenzen sat upright for a moment, and glared at the bear. But unfortunately, along with that second headbutt, what he was saying had sunken in. He was right... he couldn't protect the Kazekage or Seo as he was now... he could use the help to get better.

"Fine..."

"Fine, what, Kenzen?"

"...Fine, Grizzly-sama. Please train me, and accept my thanks for saving my life." Kenzen bowed his head.

"Hmph... quicker than I expected, and polite. Fine, I will...but first, we eat. You've been out for a week."

***

Days passed into weeks, and weeks passed into months. It had nearly been a year when Kenzen finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Grizzly-sama, I appreciate the training, and I know you saved my life, but I'm a ninja. I -have- to go back to my village. My team needs me, Seo-hime needs me, and on top of that, if I'm gone much longer they'll probably declare me missing."

Grizzly looked at Kenzen- he'd developed well in the last nine and a half months. His training had been more productive than most, because Kenzen never seemed to need more than a few minutes of rest or a few hours of sleep and a meal to be ready to go again. He hadn't told him what had been going on back at his village- he hadn't wanted to distract him.

~You're going to be in for some unpleasant surprises when you return, Kenzen-kun... gomen...~

"...hai, alright. One last spar, and then I'll take you to Kirigakure, Kenzen."

His eyes blinked owlishly at the bear for a few moments.

"Kirigakure? Why there?"

"Because, you're going to the chuunin exams. You should prepare a report for the Kazekage so you have permission to participate. You're ready for them."

Kenzen stared- then he bolted off to his pack to get paper and quill...

Grizzly smiled.

~Good luck, Kenzen-kun. I hope you can handle twists and turns that're coming your way... I'll have to keep an eye on you.~

Academy Student Posts : 15 Join date : 2010-03-09 Age : 40

Updates~

- Jutsu- Known, and minor format change
- Ninja Status- Elements and Stats

More history and RP to come soon!