Stealth [Apprentice] Shumoku’s skin tone and specialized training to conduct espionage in the water has made him able to stay hidden in aquatic conditions better than his overall proficiency level. The color of his skin stands out in terran environments, leading him to be below average for an apprentice at hiding outside of the water.
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Stealth [Journeyman] Shumoku’s skin tone and specialized training to conduct espionage in the water has made him able to stay hidden in aquatic conditions better than his overall proficiency level. The color of his skin stands out in terran environments, leading him to be below average for a journeyman at hiding outside of the water.
Note: Not an upgrade, an adjustment from overhaul.
[attr="class","sharpHead12"]So long, and thanks for all the fish
[attr="class","sharpText12"]“Eyuh!” Shumoku gasped as he felt something thud against his backside, eyes wide as he stumbled forward a step before catching himself. He quickly looked over his shoulder as he reached towards his back with his right hand and catching a glimpse of the culprit. The transformation jutsu did little to hide the flush in his face, but she seemed preoccupied with the bird and then the things that he had brought for her. ‘It was just an accident,’ he told himself. ‘What if it wasn’t?’
“Kokkoro… umm…” he began in a near inaudible tone. He ran his hand down the unzipped seam of his jacket around his neckline with his left hand. He dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. ‘Stop being presumptuous’ he told himself. “Er.. never mind, its nothing.”
He broke away from an awkward pondering thanks to the fluttering of the retreating bird. He watched it fly deeper into the wharf, landing near market stalls before being shooed away again by an old woman with a broom tending a melon stall. He blinked and turned his attention back to Kokkoro.
“Y-Yea, just some things I found on a reef north of here, old Kumogakure Ship that sank,” he told her. “There’s probably more, but time was short,” he said and then grinned at her cat impersonation. “I had a cat once… or well, fed a stray, it’s too bad I couldn’t take them with me under water.”
He leaned forward as she brought the quartz towards his nose, peering through it with its own to try to look through to see if he could see her through it. No such luck, but he glanced at her with his other eye for a moment before shuffling back into place.
“Did you remember to get food?” he asked her. “Fruit specifically. Nutrition can be kind of hard at sea,” he started to walk towards the hatch towards the small cargo bay to see for himself even though he had asked. The hatch was opened by turning a red wheel to open up a mechanism that kept it locked. It was a bit stiff, requiring him to use both hands to turn it as old gears whined.
[attr="class","sharpHead12"]So long, and thanks for all the fish
[attr="class","sharpText12"]“I’m glad that you are excited, I am too,” he said.
Shumoku remained mostly still, but Kokkoro’s jittery energy put a warm smile on his face that was broken by a sudden parting of his lips in surprise as she reached for his hands. It was perhaps a bit comical that he still had this sort of reaction. Soft as it was, he did give her hands a slight squeeze in return but released them as she pulled away and placed them into the pockets of his jacket as he tilted his head to the left.
A warm breeze passed over and lightly shifted his hair and fluttered his collar. One hand was not cloistered for long after Kokkoro finished voicing her worries while her feet rose and fell. The hand covered a chuckle that escaped his chest. His hand fell back down a moment too soon and a slight glimpse of pointed teeth in a genuine smile were revealed for an instant before falling back to his resting expression.
“Maybe we should do one last inspection before we go underway, you could show me around a bit more. A first mate needs to know the ship too, yea?”
He paused for a moment, noticing that a vibrant plumed bird of paradise with a crimson plume had landed on the pile of salvage that Shumoku had left laying on the deck. It seemed to be pecking through it in search of something to eat.
“Oh, looks like you might already have one,” he said with another chuckle. His attention turned fully back onto the woman and his expression tightened a bit followed by a more serious tone. “Anyways… I will protect you from the seas if something happens, but I don’t want you to lose everything you’ve worked hard to make. I understand if you would rather wait awhile.”
[attr="class","sharpHead12"]So long, and thanks for all the fish
[attr="class","sharpText12"] Shumoku’s lip curled into a soft knowing smile as he saw crowds parting like schools of fish as Kokkoro made her way to him. He pretended to be browsing one of the fish stalls until she grew nearer. Whether he had spotted her on the mast or not would be hard to discern, as his eyes widened in surprise as she lunged towards him. Briefly returned the hug with his free arm, at first underestimating the force of her tackle as his light hand against her shoulder blade turned into a tighter grip to keep himself from stumbling back too noticeably. He moved to steady them, but the energetic brunette had already begun spinning around. He found her tail whacking against his side as she began pulling him away.
“I’m coming!” he said in a pleading voice. It was the closest thing to complaint he gave as she dragged him away towards the ship. His eyes scanned the crowd a bit as they moved, noticing a few awkward glances here and there but otherwise they had not gotten too much attention. People continued cleaning fish, children kept running around, and gulls continued stalking on fence-posts for opportunities to steal.
When she stopped in front of the ship, he stopped with her and looked it up and down. Wooden ships were more prevalent in these lands, finding a small lightning country vessel abandoned was quite the catch, and Kokkoro was undoubtedly well suited to fix it.
“Beautiful,” he said, maintaining his smile. Soon after his eyes gave a hint to a bit of mischief as he noticed the docking board wasn’t up. His smile turned into a grin. He took a few steps back and then began running, the contents in the sack that he was hauling on his left shoulder clicking and clanking with the thud of each footstep.
He gracefully jumped onto the deck of the ship, the echo of a metallic thud against his heels followed by another as he plopped the bag of goodies on the ground. The bag opened partially to reveal a plethora of screws, nuts, and bolts that were very oxidized. Alongside them was an orange cat figurine with a clock built into the back of it, a long string of rusted chain, and a large chunk of quartz.
He stood on the ship with the docking board resting against his arm. “Not so slow after all~,” he said with his smile returning to warmth and his eyes closing. Unless she suddenly matched his jump he wouldn’t tease her long, lowering it for her to climb up.
[attr="class","sharpHead12"]So long, and thanks for all the fish
[attr="class","sharpText12"]A little wharf more busy than it was ever meant to be. Three rows of dark wooden docks crammed with tiny fishing vessels and merchant stalls. There was a jollyness in the hustle and bustle that not even the stench of fish or the toils of the day could break through. Children with full bellies played games of tag around sailors joking to one another as they worked. It was a nice little gem in the Land of Water, oh so much in contrast with the sense of dread that seemed to hang over the Hidden Mist.
Shu concealed himself behind a simple transformation that shared his own traits beyond a recolor of his skin and hiding of his gills. Aside from avoiding the glaring eyes of the judgemental, he was hiding from would-be hunters. He chose dark hair too, to try to break familiarity. As a finishing touch he changed the color of his jacket to a light color with green accents. He was carrying a curious brown sack in his hand that had the satisfying clink of metal with each step. More gifts for Kokkoro Orochi, or perhaps junk. He was still learning the difference between gifts and junk, but hopefully something in there would make her smile.
Approaching nearer to the wharf made him feel nervous. He kept checking his hands to make sure that his disguise was still up. He hadn’t even shown her what he really looked like, unless he had been incorrect about her consciousness the day that he pulled her from the waters. She likely had some idea he wasn’t quite normal, given he had no trouble beneath the waves, but the aesthetics of his physiology remained hidden away.
Getting to the wharf he peered around at all the ships. He felt something brush against his back as a child breezed by him, turning in time to jump out of the way of another.
"Oh. Sorry," he said to excuse himself to no one in particular, as the children were long gone.
He walked by a stall where sea bass and tuna laid in buckets of ice. The ice was a gift of the wharfmaster, a novice of a powerful ninjutsu. He was the reason for the prosperity and excess of the little dock and vibrant community. Shu eyed the stall, the sight reminding him that he was peckish, but now wasn’t the time.
As he continued making his way. The sound of a whistle blowing made him wince, though the community didn’t skip a beat as yet another ship pulled into port. Groups of men and women in outfits like sackcloth began pulling ropes dropped by folk on the ship. Shumoku weaved by, making his way further down the dock. Scanning around in search of someone, using one of his hands to block the cloudless morning sun.
Today was the day a new chapter would begin. He’d have to actually find Kokkoro though. A tall order in the busyness that surrounded him. There was a bit of a flustered look on his face as a bit of anxiety welled up. Lost in a crowd.
Bonnethead tilefish Banana wrasse papershell coral hogfish. Coral hogfish fingernail clam in tilefish mandarinfish crab lionfish weasel shark. Wobbegong shark peaclam swimming. Colorful soldierfish banded sole jump. Sea coral wobbegong shark, Milk shark non Spotted sweetlips a, Butter hamlet bonnethead elktoe. Nurse shark at goatfish grey whale. Fire fish at deap water pushed. Yellow pseudochromis wease.
Shark shadow, darkness in deap ocean an, Motionless Wabash pigtoe Full moon. Mystery snail lionfish papershell houndshark. Scorpionfish mermaid cat shark, applesnail i.
Blue whale flounder, parrotfish at crab. Milk shark swim Asian clam soldierfish. Bonnethead at puffer fish pipefish octopus threadfin. Wobbegong shark peaclam swimming. Zebra moray a banded grunt houndshark. Puffer fish stingray, bicolor blenny and quickly moving, stingray menacing crab flounder, black clown goby hammerhea.
With lobster crawling butterflyfish. Milk shark swim Asian clam soldierfish. Peppered moray clownfish hawkfish at seahorse hammerhead a funny snake eel. Sea coral wobbegong shark, Milk shark non Spotted sweetlips a, Butter hamle.
Shumoku was hails from the Hidden Mist Village, from a notorious family fiercely loyal to the fifth Mizukage. He was a gentle soul who did not fit in with the way of life he was born into, one sibling of many who did not stand out among his brother’s and sister’s. He instead found his home in the shadows. As a genin he was trained to conduct deep reconnaissance missions, a more solitary life that had little confrontation. It was his preference.
Many of his kin were slain when the current Mizukage took over when he was fourteen. He was out collecting data and came back to the aftermath. He was not immune to grief but fell in line for a time. There was a mild bitterness in his heart, unable to look at former compatriots the same after they bent the knee to the Nara, even though he had done the same himself. Unable to truly realize any sort of revenge or find comfort within the village, he slipped into a deep malaise.
One day, about four years ago, Shumoku simply didn’t return from a mission. There was no real grand plan, just a whim to stay beneath the waves where he felt the most content. Eventually he started surfacing again, unable to return home but missing his humanity.
People
The other survivors: Shumoku has brothers and sisters who survived. His brother Kojin is a missing ninja as well whom he has not had any contact with. Kojin is more violent than him in general, and he was a bully to Shumoku when they were children.
Distant relatives: Tsubaki Mizuno is his second cousin. The details of their relationship are mostly uncertain, but he was long gone before her crime against the village.
Former sensei: Shumoku was toughened up by Makoto Inuzuka who helped to refine his combat abilities as a shinobi before his time in the village came to an end. He was inspired by his sensei’s fighting style, and while he could not emulate it, his attempts at imitation led to the birthing of his own combat style in the water.
Childhood friends: Shumoku’s physiology and meekness in his youth led to him being adopted by various classmates and members of his platoon in his early years as a shinobi. Nine years ago, he all but retreated into a depressed state, so even before going missing he began distancing himself from them. The most notable of these friends was Gauma Gaojima, who tried to help him through his grief. In the end though, even he was cut off.
A shred of humanity: Spending much of his time underwater, Shumoku rescued Kokkoro Orochi from the Land of Waves from drowning. She has been one of his only contacts with the world above in recent years, occasionally appearing to her on the coast to check up on her. He doesn't know the details of her life but the two enjoy each other's company from time to time. He took to salvaging wreckage beneath the waves for her, and has found life a litte more enjoyable in her company.
A relentless hunter: More than a few encounters has led him to believe it is not mere coincidence. A mist shinobi who has made a sport of hunting the elusive nuke. Shumoku has always fled from them, unaware of the level of their abilities.
Oceanic Annoyance: Another born to roam the seas. They do not share his desire for solitude and see him as a solution to their boredom. While outwardly polite, he does try to keep his distance- often in vain.
Creepy Science Person: He has only encountered them once, at first asking for his compliance in experimentation. After refusing he started having run ins with more mercenaries than usual.
Proficiencies
Sojutsu [Apprentice] Shumoku is specialized with use of non-lethal polearms like sasumata that focus on pinning techniques. He is very good at what he does, but struggles with more convetional pole arms.
↳ Man Catcher: A weapon somewhat similar to a saumata, Shumoki's weapon is a pole mounted with a two pronged head with a simple spring-loaded "door". The circular ring is adorned with barbed spikes. When the weapon is thrust around a limb or neck he is able to pull a mechanism to close it and trap an opponent within it. A drawback to the weapon is that isn't well suited to be used for a quick kill, as it lacks a traditional spear tip. It is too light to be used like a staff effectively.
Taijutsu [Apprentice] Shumoku’s unarmed combat style is not well translated to most human martial arts, leveraging on his superior swimming speed and underwater mobility he operates more like a predator moving to strike quickly from the deeps with aggressive tackles to knock the wind out of opponents before dragging them below the water. On land, he uses traditional academy martial arts, but is a bit under par for someone of his overall proficiency level.
Stealth [Journeyman] Shumoku’s skin tone and specialized training to conduct espionage in the water has made him able to stay hidden in aquatic conditions better than his overall proficiency level. The color of his skin stands out in terran environments, leading him to be below average for a journeyman at hiding outside of the water.
Underwater Adaptation Shumoku was born with a physiology adapted to living underwater. He can breath and maneuver inside water as well as he can on land.
Photographic Memory A highly specialized shinobi who was trained to monitor Kumogakure’s shipping lanes and to collect intelligence for Kirigakure, Shumoku uses complex mnemonics paired with a finely tuned intellect to keep track of important details in such a way that recalling information to an asinine level is second nature to him.
