The Comforts of Knowledge [Learning Vulgar Kumo] [Open!]

[Notamashi Yuuto]

Throughout Yuuto's life in Kumogakue, the Bibliotheca Conscientiae had been a rock, a haven for him. He'd read about customs and behaviours at first, when he'd felt the pressure to keep in line. Later on, he'd started to use it as a way to have something to do alone, and along the way started to begin learning a language native to the village: Vulgar Ancient Kumogakurian. Progress had slowed with his introduction to the crew, more of his time being eaten up by some foreign concept called 'friends', but with that group disspiating was now spending more time than ever in the library.

While he had intended to visit the library sooner, he had been held back by having to deal with changes to how his youkai blood was affecting him, the void powers dulling his senses involuntarily. He had dealt with it surprisingly quickly, which he attributed to either more compatible with him, or him having been through the process before.

No matter the reason, Yuuto sits within the Bibliotheca, once again pouring over books in an ancient tongue. Over the course of his self-tutoring, he has mostly grasped the language, but are still a couple of gaps left to be filled. Strangely, a part of him hopes his session will be rudely interrupted, his plans violently derailed, though part of him questions the likelihood of something like that happening. Maybe someone else in the library would approach him though and say hello. With enough effort, he might even say hello back.

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

"Hello." Said someone else to Yuuto. That someone else was Shikyu, who was in the library today to do some studying up on new Jutsu that he could learn. As per usual, Shikyu wore standard Chuunin attire, with a Kumogakure headband wrapped around his head. Aside from a scar on his right cheek, and some foreign garments adorning him, he otherwise looked quite inconspicuous. In his hands held a pretty thick, ancient-looking book of some sort. "Apologies, I do not mean to interrupt but... I cannot help noticing you seem to have a large amount of books pertaining to an ancient language of Kumogakure scattered around you, one that I believe some note scribbled into this book are written in. Do you mind taking a look?" Shikyu asked.

OOC:
[Thread joined.]

 

[Notamashi Yuuto]

A small smile creeps onto the corner of Yuuto's lips as Shikyu approaches him. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if it was mostly to have him try and translate some notes. In truth, the boy was somewhat nervous to try out the fruits of his labour, wondering whether his knowledge was complete or accurate enough. It would however be the perfect test to see how much he had really learnt.

Looking up at Shikyu, Yuuto's eyes immediately drift to his headband. So, he was at least a genin, if not higher...whatever his rank, still technically his superior. Would that mean not accepting this stranger's request technically make him a traitor of Kumogakure? Nothing would come of it if he refused...probably, but it was an interesting question to the boy nonetheless.

"Alright, would you mind pointing out the parts you need translated?" Yuuto asks, mentally going through everything he knew. "Oh, and some pen and paper if you have any, so I can write the translation."

What kind of Ancient Kumogakurian scribblings did Shikyu need translating? Why were they in Ancient Kumogakurian? Was the rest of the book? Why did he only need the notes? Was Yuuto about to become wrapped up in an ancient conspiracy all because he thought it would be fun to learn an old language? ...Probably not, but wishful thinking for something exciting raised his hopes up just a little. What kind of conpiracy wouldn't use the language where you're executed for unauthorised learning? ...Hmm, maybe he should set his eyes on that mystery next...

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

"Oh yes. Alright, so this is the book..." Shikyu began speaking, as he revealed the book he was holding to Yuuto, putting it forwards to hand it over. The book itself looks like it had been in the library for many generations now, but not so old that it would have dated back to the times of the first days of the village. No, instead it was mostly just the design that had implied its age.

"So the text itself is old, but not very old. The language is something I can still read. This book seemed to have been an older version of the textbook of Jutsus taught in the academy, filled with Jutsus that are more advanced that what academy students learn today. It is full of scribbles that I assume previous students have jotted down, either to help them remember things, or to improve upon the Jutsu somehow. On this page here..." Shikyu drifted off again, as he flipped open the book and turned the pages until he found what he was looking for. It was somewhere closer towards the end of the book.

Finally, Shikyu stopped and showed it to Yuuto. It was a D-Rank Jutsu called Electrocution. A note written next to it is readable by everyone, describing how one with affinity to the Lightning element could alter the flow of chakra focused into the Jutsu slightly, to force a higher likelihood for its electrocution/paralysis effects. Shikyu pointed towards a note that had an arrow directed towards this first note. "This... can you tell me what it means?" Shikyu finally asked.

The second note that Shikyu was pointing to would immediately be recognizable by Yuuto as Ancient Kumo. The note reads as a counter to the first note, explaining that the most powerful aspect of the Jutsu was not its ability to shock the victim's chakra system, causing it to leech and damage the victim every time the victim relies on his/her chakra. Rather, it was the Jutsu's innate capacity to shock the victim's whole body itself, rendering the body vulnerable to convulsions that would disrupt its actions. The note was quite lengthy, explaining in detail an intrinsic method to alter the voltage and intensity of the Jutsu, to boost the paralysis effects. It went on to describe how one who had a Lightning elemental affinity could alter it even further to force it as a precision strike, which would make the Jutsu that much more powerful as an opening salvo.

Yep, that was it. Why one would have to write such a note in Vulgar Kumo... THAT, is a mystery.

OOC:
FYI, the first note talks about the Debilitate minor affinity move.
The second note talks about the Jutsu's special action, then modifying it further with the Focus minor affinity move.

 

[Notamashi Yuuto]

"Alright,"<i></i> says Yuuto as he peers over the notes. No conspiracy here, unless Electrocution was some top secret technique only meant for certain eyes. The things written in Ancient Kumo though...they were relatively common knowledge, right? It wasn't too hard to find a book on alterations to a D-rank technique, or the ways a slight affinity to an element can be used to make those jutsu more accurate. Maybe things were different back whenever these notes were written.

"The note's describing how you can modify how the jutsu described is released, changing the electricity so that instead of causing backlash when the victim uses chakra, the convulsions are guaranteed to linger after affecting them."<i></i> Yuuto translates the general idea of the note. "Then it describes using an affinity for Lightning chakra to make the jutsu more precise, to land easier hits. It goes into...quite a bit of detail. I could try and copy the process down for you, if you'd like. I'm not sure if you couldn't just find all this in a regular jutsu textbook though. Maybe it's a different process, whether it's more or less efficient I'm not sure."<i></i>

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

Shikyu furrowed his eyebrows in frustration. Not at Yuuto, but at the realization of what the Vulgar Kumo had translated to. Hopefully Yuuto did not misread that as Shikyu being annoyed at him in any way.

"Thank you very much for your aid. That is fine, you are right, this is something that could be found in any modern Jutsu textbook. I was hoping for something that was out of the ordinary, but it looks like this was not it. But yes, thank you nonetheless for your aid." Shikyu sighed as he snapped close the book and thought about taking it back to where he found it. But, he paused for a moment as his eyes stared blankly into space, before turning back towards Yuuto. "I do apologize if this might be presumptuous from my end, however I do want to ask if across all the books you have read, if you might have found something interesting about any Jutsu that might be worth exploring? Recently, I have found out recently that I have a special affinity for the element of Lightning, and was hoping to explore additional Lightning Jutsu to train." Shikyu explained, giving Yuuto his sincerest smile possible.

 

[Notamashi Yuuto]

"It's no problem. It helped me with what I was doing anyway,"</B><i></i> Yuuto responds to Shikyu. The relative mundanity of the notes was a little disappointing, but it was hardly the end of the world. Either way, the boy was pleased his skills were enough to translate natural Vulgar Kumo accurately; it showed his however many sessions reading up on it had all finally paid off in the end.

As Shikyu asks about lightning jutsu he could learn, Yuuto thinks over the few techniques he'd learned himself.

<B>"Hmm...well, I only really know E rank and D rank techniques, so I'm not sure how useful I'll be...Thunderfist could be useful, if you prefer taijutsu. It electrifies a fist, sword or something similar, making the attack more powerful. It's only an E rank technique, so it's quite basic and relatively easy to learn. Electroshock is a D rank technique, where you channel chakra guided electricity into the ground or some other surface to shock your target. The method of delivery means there's a higher chance of them being caught off guard by it, leaving them open to the attack. If you're more melee minded, you can channel it through yourself, but they won't be as unsuspecting, since it will be coming directly from you. The lightning bolts produced by Thunderclap can have the ability to redirect themselves if they miss a target when formed in a particular way, which could be useful."

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

"Thanks for those suggestions!" Shikyu responded earnestly, his interest piquing upon the mention and explanation of Thunderfist. Given that he happens to have a massive sword that he is trying to learn to use, that could be really useful. "Thunderfist sounds particularly useful to me - I do have a massive sword that I am trying to train with." Shikyu pointed to his sword sheathed on his back with his thumb.

"How do you know so much about Lightning Jutsu by the way? Do you also have Lightning affinity like myself? Or are you just well-studied?" Shikyu questioned enthusiastically. For a 15 year-old Chuunin, Shikyu seemed to be quite innocent.

 

[Notamashi Yuuto]

"Oh, right."<i></i> Yuuto says flatly as Shikyu points out his sword in response to his jutsu suggestions, a little embarrassed that he hadn't spotted that sooner. At least his spitballing had apparently been useful, unless he was just being humoured.

When Shikyu asks if Yuuto has an affinity for lightning jutsu, a strange sense of pride swells up in his chest. "No, my chakra affinity is actually earth, but I suppose lessons on jutsu and trips to the...well, to here have helped with learning. D-rank jutsu are pretty much my limit right now though, I've started trying to learn some C-rank jutsu but it's kind of a basic understanding. The only one I think I've properly got the hang of right now is Inner Reflection Earth Lure."<i></i> Very helpful for avoiding angry samurai mobs, Yuuto quietly thinks to himself. "It's not exactly the most offensive earth jutsu,"<i></i> Yuuto elaborates, possibly unnecessarily, "But it's useful for quite a few situations where hiding underground would be a good idea. You can use it to partially pull someone into the ground too, leaving them to struggle to free themselves."<i></i>

"Either way, I don't think it not being an offensive jutsu is too bad. I haven't really fought anyone before so I imagine any scraps I get into will go...poorly. Spars are a little different to actual fights, I think, what with someone possibly wanting to seriously harm or even kill you. Anyway, do you know much about other types of jutsu, outside of your affinity?"<i></i>

[WC: 253]
[OOC: Sorry about the wait, I've been away the past couple of weeks.]

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

OOC: That's fine, dun worry.

IC:
"Hm... that's a good question." Shikyu pondered. It might sound odd for it to be a 'good' question, but the truth is... he has to think about these things when it arises, due to his backstory. "So I learned to create clones... outside of the lightning clones, I can create non-elemental ones. But those are the basic ones, right? That anyone who can use the Jutsu should be able to create? I suppose that does not make it very interesting. Aside from that... I am able to utilize healing Jutsu, but those are not associated with any element - either, right? So I guess my answer is... I don't really know what else I can do."

Shikyu blinked for a second as he cocked his head to the side, pondering about how to phrase what he was going to phrase, or if it was even necessary. Do people really want to hear about it? He was not sure. He was still confused by the way the world works, sometimes. Eh well, maybe he should care about it after the fact. Live and learn, right?

Shikyu's attention returned to Yuuto. "So this might sound complicated, long-winded, confusing, or a mixture. I... may or may not have had amnesia, and may or may not have certain abilities... since well, I don't remember my past life and abilities. However, some of them are coming back - sometimes a little bit at a time, sometimes en masse. There was one time when a large amount of Jutsu came back to me, and that's how I found out about my capacity for medical Jutsu, as my mentor referred to them. Then there's... Lightning Jutsu, which I learnt that I have an affinity with, but a lack of knowledge of. It seems like it's... not natural, for me. I don't seem to have the innate ability to perform Lightning Jutsu. So that's odd, don't you think? I just feel like, if my previous self had known that I had an affinity with Lightning, I would have trained in it, and thus I would know now... Well that's my thought, anyways. My mentor suggested that trauma can result in the triggering of old memories, but... I am not sure how I feel about that... ahaha... Shikyu drifted off into a nervous laugh.

OOC:
[MFT, WC: 383]

 

[Notamashi Yuuto]

"Mm... some people probably can't create the clones, if they're more specialised or simply don't have a knack for ninjutsu. But still, knowing a jutsu is most of the way towards using the jutsu properly, it just needs practical experience and application, I think. Medical ninjutsu is handy, too. In case anyone gets badly injured, or injured in general, I suppose."<i></i>

"Maybe your specialty is jutsu that don't have specific elements?"<i></i> Yuuto ponders. "Instead of being better at manipulating chakra into a certain element, you might be better at manipulating...'purer' chakra, in a sense."<i></i>

Yuuto listens to Shikyu regale him with the story of his amnesia, and the perplexing question of why he doesn't know much jutsu relating to his innate affinity. For a few moments, he sits quietly, mulling it over as his brow creases on his forehead. After contemplating some potential reasons, he finally opens up his mouth again.

"Hmm, well maybe you haven't gotten back your memories about lightning jutsu yet? Or maybe you somehow changed your affinity at some point, or maybe thought it was a different affinity? Maybe you were focused more on medical jutsu, you didn't really practice lightning jutsu as much? Whatever the reason is, you can always brush up on lightning techniques now. There's bound to be books on it in here, or maybe there's a shinobi out there willing to tutor you..."<i></i>

"Also, I'm not really an expert on memory loss or anything, but I'm not sure if traumatising people is the best way to go about unlocking memories..."<i></i> Yuuto considers exactly what kind of man this guy is learning under. Maybe he was just doing what he thought was best, but 'traumatise people to cure amnesia' didn't exactly sound...well.



[MFT, WC 303]

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

Shikyu laughed gently at Yuuto's final comment. "Yeah nah, you are right. It is probably not the best idea... but you know what, that exploration of purer chakra may be. How... how can someone find out if they have an affinity towards manipulating chakra at a purer level? I do apologize if I might be imposing, but since you seem to know so much about it... would you be able to show me how to perhaps find out for myself? So far if I do not have any affinity for any elements aside from Lightning, and if it is expected from me to have... an affinity for something more than just Lightning, I feel like maybe this purer chakra molding capability might be it..."

OOC:
Apologies for the late reply, and the shortness of the reply. Been a bit busy recently.

 

[Zentaru Tatsuya]

"On the other hand, perhaps I should explore the ideas a bit more before really diving into it. Thank you for your time, and hope you have a good day. Perhaps we could catch up some other time." With that, Shikyu bowed politely, and left. Not without taking his book with him of course, and placing it back onto the shelf where it belonged.

OOC:
[Thread left.]