Tea and Tutelage

It had been some time since Tōri had connected with many of his peers, let alone those amongst their ranks he shared familial ties with aside from his busy mother. The fellow red-haired shinobi Airi was one such individual who appeared to share the same sort of intertwined legacies that he too held. Such had been the singular molding for Tōri for so long, trying to never stray from his perceived path to upholding this heavy responsibility with the utmost care. Unfortunately this brought with it the unfortunate side-effect of focusing too far inward and not outwards leaving him to many a solitary training session and general disposition on life.

This was an aspect of himself he meant to work on, today’s step was meeting up with Airi, having sent a message inviting her to the senju clan district for tea and guidance. Currently there was a lapse in real leadership in his own clan, something he meant to change in the coming months as he aimed to learn from his accomplished comrades and grow to be a shinobi they and the village could rely on in calamitous times. Such progress couldn’t be made alone so he strove to make a better effort to get to know his contemporaries and subordinates alike.

The tea was set up on a table that was brought outside and placed under a particularly large willow tree that was one of his favorite spots when wanting to take the needs of the office outside. A deep pot of barley tea steamed next to a pair of cups in the middle of the table as Tōri waited with his legs crossed under the blanketed table, garbed in a simple gray kimono with a white sash. Taking in the earthy aroma from the steam he was doubly glad he’d picked this spot with tea selection, there was something about the aroma that hit different while outdoors.

The member 'Airi Ohara' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Bunny Arrival' :

As Tōri sat outside he heard the knock at the gate, prompting him to rise and walk over to greet his guest. As the gate swung open he was greeted to the sight of Airi donning the Hokage hat along with an elegant kimono and an impressive set of swords at her sides. Bold as she was powerful Airi certainly knew how to make an entrance, he offered a swift bow before stepping to the side with one arm extending towards the table set outside with steaming tea ready atop. “Welcome Airi-sama, I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.” After Airi entered he would close the large wooden door behind them and follow her to the prepared table under the gentle sway of the willow’s leaves. Walking up to the table after her he would pick up the pot of tea and offer it to her, waiting for a response before filling the cups if so desired. The earthy aroma of the barley tea would become far more pungent with the added steam from the two cups, placing one in front of Airi and then himself before joining her on the pillowed seats on either side of the table.

Waiting for the tea to cool he would bow once again in his seated position. “I must thank you for the safety our village is afforded thanks in no small part to your actions.” Sitting back up his face wore a more somber expression as he continued. “It was humbling to be of so little use myself when the village was in such need. We’re fortunate to have such exemplary members in our upper crust to ward off such atrocities without heavier losses.” Picking up his cup he blew softly on the tea’s surface before taking an explorative sip, finding the temperature to be just right and proceeding to take a proper sip. The tea had a smoky flavor to it that was only met when tasting the brew, the roasted barley was an all time favorite of Tōri's and he took a moment to savor the first sip.

Placing the cup down he habitually gave his beard a stroke with his free hand before continuing. “This incident has left me wanting- no, needing to improve myself, to be one of the pillars of support I saw that day. I suppose I’m trying to ask for… help. Not exactly something I excel at, hehe.” His demeanor would change to a far more uncharacteristically bashful one as he nervously laughed, before he rallied and attempted to make up for the momentary lapse in composure. “I could think of none other than someone with such mastery over our heritage.”

The member 'Tōri' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Bunny Arrival' :

As Airi entered the estate her signature Hyūga-white eyes gave him a concentrated look before continuing, leaving two clones outside the door in a meditative pose. Closing the door his eyes took a downward glance at the clones with an unabashed look at their ample chests before closing the door. It was a stupid move with a hyūga of all people, if nothing else he told himself it was to abate himself from looking during their meeting. At least that was the little lie he told himself. The legendary beauty seemed to have little time or patience for nonsense, Tōri already having made somewhat a fool of himself.

At the Hokage’s demand Tōri did away with his overcorrected formal front, relaxing his posture to a more normal position. Rising one knee he rested one of his arms in a more comfortable position, glad that he didn’t need to be all stuffy like he had worried he might. He watched the cup of steaming tea as Airi took a sip, his eyes lingering on her lips as she licked them before abruptly turning his attention back to her pale eyes. “I’ve some practice with it, let me give it a shot.” Moulding his chakra he imagined a swirl of energy in his stomach, taking from exercises and practices he’d done using the incomplete writings his late father had left him.

With a concentrated release of his chakra he fired four chains from his back that shot up and curved over the willow’s branches, dangling the excess length like the tree’s own leaves. Maintaining the chains he looked to Airi to see if they were up to snuff with their tips swaying with the rest of the leaves. “So, how do they look? They’re not like the huge ones you were firing at the biju but I was only able to get three out last time so this is far improved.”

Trained:
- Adamantine Attacking Chains (A-Rank) | 319/250 WC

Chakra: 305 / 320

With the Hokage’s playful chiding, Tōri knew his cover was blown, being paper thin as it was. He was teased further as Airi graciously moved forward before calling off the chakra chains that dangled up above with a wave of her hand. With a straightening of his back the chains were whipped off the branches so they could be recoiled quickly without stripping any bark off one of his favorite trees in the estate. Chuckling at himself he had to admit when he’d been beaten, he was just glad to have someone who wasn’t overly serious as his kage. He had a habit of emulating, if only slightly, his contemporaries and Tōri could use a little more pep and moxie in his system.

Her mention of Senjutsu chakra piqued his interest, packing that phrase in the back of his mind for later research as Airi got to the meat and potatoes of it all. Before answering he took another sip from his cup, wanting to savor the heat of the beverage before it cooled too far. “Strength enough to feel up to the task of leading the senju. But I feel like I have to prove myself two times over due to, well…” His hand moved to the back of his head, scratching his vibrant, red hair. “Which is why I wanted your perspective, Airi-sama. Has there been anything in particular that has helped you with your transition into a position of leadership with our shared heritage? It’s certainly presented enough challenges to me along the way, I don’t mean to presume, but I can’t imagine it’s been all smooth sailing.” He hoped this wasn’t an overstep, he knew little about her upbringing and hoped he hadn’t chosen a bad subject to ask help on.

At the prompt, Tōri picked up the teapot to refill the empty cup in front of Airi before picking his own up and enjoying the rest while learning a bit about her past. He recalled news of the brazen boy’s display, it was all the talk of the estate when after the lad relented so readily when defending his title. It was a cautionary tale indeed, one he was determined not to repeat. His reservations on making a move seemed to be well placed, with little support outside his mother amongst his clanmates he would be not much better off than poor Taco even with the best circumstances. While there hadn’t been a replacement that had been chosen that didn’t mean there weren’t plenty of competent clan members ready to challenge any candidate they perceived as weak.

Refilling his own cup the Hokage revealed the source of her sage powers and the cost demanded to gain them. It certainly had been the sight with her clad in crimson, in truth it had only been the chains that gave away who it was. He knew the gravity of the offer and took it with the reverence it required. “It’s quite the gracious offer, thank you Airi-sama. I'm not sure the cost of my soul is for me, but I would be honored to learn the basics of Sage Mode from you. On the summoning front I actually might have a lead. Though it would take me to our border with the Mist to investigate further.” He hadn’t an idea what this training would entail, this mention of ‘senjutsu’ seemed to be related in a way he was sure he would learn. Picking his cup up he took a sip, savoring the heat from the fresh pour as he wondered how such training took place.

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OOC: Accepting basic sage training (turning down Airi's sage mode to create a custom sage mode and subsequent summon)

As the freshly poured tea was enjoyed Tōri wondered if she enjoyed the brew, curious what the Hokage’s favorite tea might be. Perhaps, lemon ginger? As he silently mused to himself Airi looked at him with an attentive eye before continuing, the specifics of her deal remained shrouded in mystery to Tōri after the carefully selected answer. Those who granted her this mighty power must be awe-inspiring indeed to cause such trepidation at their mention. Tōri had never been one with much focus on the spiritual side of life, though it was just as real a facet of life as he or the trees his chakra could spawn. Always on the lookout for moments of growth he made a mental note to try and expand the lens he tended to view the world through.

Now Tōri truly wondered if he had escaped the Hokage’s teasing with her command, though her expression held none of the playfulness of earlier so he continued to operate as if he was out of the clear. Doffing his kimono he placed it on the moss growing on the gnarled roots of the tree, glad he hadn’t decided to wear his more revealing silk undergarments on such a day. I daresay I'd never hear the end of that. There he would stand, curious how this related to the impromptu training and hoping dearly it in fact did as Airi had claimed. From his brief introduction to the subject matter at their meeting just outside the estate he had to assume the meditative stance her clone's had taken would be utilized in some manner. A small breeze of wind caressed his bare skin, prompting a shiver to run down his spine as he did a funny little shake of his torso before straightening back up and preparing for the next set of instructions with a face that pretended that didn't just happen.

Finding a nice and mossy spot by the tree Tōri assumed the position as directed and stood still, instinctively closing his eyes as he tried to relax himself with a little wiggling and nudging of his knees and legs into his mossy surroundings to get as cozy as he was going to get. As he focused on his surroundings he could hear the final pourings of a new cup of tea before Airi continued. Taking in a deep breath through his nose he savored the scent of the roasted barley, that combined with being beside one of his favorite trees made it fairly easy to fall into a relaxed and receptive state.

Now came the hard part of staying completely still, a feat he wasn’t sure exactly how he would obtain. The increased amount of bare skin certainly made him feel more connected to his surroundings, from the slight hint of a breeze to the spongy moss under his legs. He could see why certain training methods involved stripping fully, glad he didn't have to endure such a training in front of his kage. Evidently it helped with taking in this Nature Chakra he was highly curious about, but he abated his inquisitive thoughts and emptied his mind to try and really keep himself in the moment.

After a few minutes of silence, Tōri thought he began to feel the tickle of something. Perhaps it was already starting to pay off! His immediate thoughts of success were dashed as he quickly realized what it was; a lone ant that was no doubt scouting from some far off colony. He always ensured to keep the area around these trees free of anthills with doton, liking to sit at this spot from time to time and didn’t like getting bitten. Flushing these thoughts from his mind he redoubled his focus on breathing and clearing his mind. As he did so Tōri moulded his chakra in a spiraling motion in his stomach, or at least that’s how he liked to visualize it, trying to be open to whatever allowed him to tap into this mysterious Nature Chakra.

Eyes closed and mind focused on finding the seemingly unattainable, Tōri had to try hard to suppress a smirk when he was put to the true test. It was one he truly should have seen coming. His resolve to open his eyes was in no jeopardy, though his mind was something else entirely. Memories from earlier and a stolen glance threatened to tilt his concentration into a direction that was sure to distract him from gathering this elusive Nature Chakra. Though he hadn’t realized it, his body had already begun to take in any amount, nothing so tangible to be used in a real capacity but enough to heighten his senses ever so slightly. This was a double-edged sword as he felt closer than ever to his natural surroundings of greenery and even the little ant helped ground him to the now. Unfortunate for this internal equilibrium his ears also picked up the less-than subtle tone of Airi’s voice, even the sound of rustling clothes as she teased him further into thinking she had truly done as she claimed.

While he was able to keep a tenuous grip on this calm feeling his face certainly betrayed the strain he felt to maintain it. The only part of his face that looked relaxed was his eyes, trying the hardest to keep himself from squeezing them too tightly, he would only be tempted to blink them out of discomfort if he did so. His mouth and nose were twisted in a strange sort of attempt to distract himself from further distraction, though with what came next this expression contorted into an even further distortion. Laying it on thick indeed! A cruel whisper of a breeze that coincided with its mention made some serious cracks in his armor as he felt just how cold its touch was on his own bare skin.

Just when his mind was in danger of being taken over with a deluge of lude imagery- Tōri felt something. It wasn’t any ant crawling on him, although technically yes, it was still crawling on him. Persistent little fucker. No, it was something more tangible, at least to his mind now. It was gone as quick as it was there, but the feeling was undeniable and somehow familiar. He began to recall how he had begun to feel as he reached his peak of relaxation and stillness before, this brief transmission of Nature Chakra to Airi had helped him to pick up on what to pick apart from what he had been feeling. His mind clear and still as an undisturbed lake he began to feel the sensation return, getting used to its feeling and the pervading sense of it he could feel all around him.

After some important details about Nature Chakra Tōri really felt like he was getting the hang of it, quite comfortable in fact before the terrifying little fact about turning to stone. This news was sufficient enough to break him from his meditative state, his mind then pivoting to the curious mention of the amount of senjutsu he’d be able to gather once he’d learned to properly gather it. Simply taking in too much seemed to be the root of this stony demise, a most peculiar drawback to be deadly serious about. As he opened his eyes he found himself squinting, the light nearly blinding him after having them shut for so long. Blinking profusely he slowly regained his composure and took his kimono from the ground and slipped back into it before sitting back down with Airi.

Reaching for the pot he went to pour another round for himself. Raising the steaming cup he savored the scent a moment before taking a hearty sip. The warmth that spread through his chest from the sip was not dissimilar to the inkling of a feeling he’d gotten just a bit ago, a feeling he felt a compulsion to rediscover. “That felt-” He struggled to find the words, opting to ditch his oh-so-senju tendency to be overly flowery and be more blunt. “It felt fucking great.” Not wanting to make it seem like he didn't take in any of the very real threat at its misuse he added with a nod, "I look forward to my continued education once I've found my Sage."

Having gotten so excited Tōri’s memory lapsed on his lack of clothes from the exercise, surmising that his body had gotten extra comfortable with the influx of Nature Chakra. While it certainly didn’t make him feel a lack of the elements it provided a certain oneness in his mind that was comforting in its own right. He couldn’t recall if his father’s old journals had any mention of a Sage, though they certainly didn’t hold all of the mystery of these ocean critters his late father’s village used as summons. While the continued quips from Airi seemed playful he wasn’t sure there wasn’t a hint of some truth or appetite in there, but that could just as likely be a ploy to ensnare him further. Regardless, now was not the time nor place to act or dwell on such things as the Hokage rose from the table and required a free space to teach him ‘something nice’.

Rising himself after downing a last drink of tea he walked over to next to his home and waited by a path. “I have a zen garden in the back I’ve been working on. Haven’t placed any of the big rocks yet so we should have a good deal of space to work with.” After just having learned the basics to senjutsu he was surprised to be jumping into something new so soon. Surely it doesn’t pertain to Nature Chakra. So what could it be? Awaiting Airi he would then follow after on the path that led to the back of his house. The back was largely taken up with the new addition of a multitude of little pebbles that laid the groundwork for his stony garden. “I do plan to grow some plants back here eventually, but don’t want to disturb the garden until that’s set.”

Thankful that the backyard wouldn’t get torn up, Tōri was quite intrigued at the idea of learning one of the leaf’s highly coveted raiton techniques. Standing amongst the tiny rocks of his garden his gaze followed Airi’s hand motions very carefully, thankfully it wasn’t a long and complicated series of seals so the initiation of the jutsu wouldn’t be too difficult.

Tōri immediately swallowed those words as he struggled to get the raiton chakra to manifest properly, the chirping sound from Airi’s hand beginning after the terrific eruption of physically manifested chakra around the hand. It seemed to be quite the power to require a supporting grip at the wrist, though with the mention of tunnel vision it made sense to help guide the weighty attack.

Nodding as he listened along to its personal history with Airi and the drawbacks he finally started to get a handle on how it was meant to be formed, instead of streaming chakra into the hand he went for a sudden burst likened to how Airi’s had ignited. With a high pitched chirp his own hand became ablaze with the crackling power of the highly refined raiton chakra, a smile breaking out on his face as he grasped the understanding of the technique.

After staring at the manifestation of chakra he released the technique and looked to Airi with a nod. “I can see why it was made so large a part of your arsenal. I appreciate the lesson Airi-sama, I’ll be sure to practice with it more to get a proper sense of the tunnel vision aspect.”

Learned:
- Chidori (A-Rank) | 264 / 250 WC

A laugh bordering on nervous was Tōri's response to the tease and preceding question, having already been shown so much he felt compelled to wave his hands in protest. “No, no, please. What you’ve already given me to work with is plenty. I wouldn’t think to seek anything additional until I’ve really made them a part of my arsenal.” Truth be told he wasn’t even fully sure what there was to be offered in that regard, what he’d seen today had shown him that clear enough.

It would certainly take a long time for Tōri to truly ready himself for such action as challenging the current leader, including finding this sage that was so central to the power of harnessing nature chakra. Hopefully the summons he sought had some sort of connection to this sage and nature chakra, he’d have to set off soon enough to find out.

“After getting a better handle on this Chidori I plan to pursue this lead of mine. With this knowledge of nature chakra and sages I believe I should be able to narrow the search down considerably.”

He waited a moment after saying his piece, wanting to say more clearly but holding off in not wanting to be too presumptuous. “I’d like to request the accompaniment of a team of genin in this search. With the exams approaching I want to give some of our promising candidates some field experience. I actually have three individuals in mind; Sera Subetemiru, Nao Hyūga, and Natsuki Uchiha.”