[attr="class","monbody2"]Gentle taps, light wood clicking and singing the tune of wind chimes. Bells springing, and — Kizua can see them. How their shapes tingle and and reflect an illusion. A distant memory; a light —
it reflects, and it does so with haste. Hurriedly skips by the long, silvery shaft. Sharp, elegant, virtuous and what other traits that burn onto Kizua’s skin brand this blade — no, cling to it as if it were their very lifeforce. And it swings from one side to the other, and —
it still reflects. This light. He rules it relentless, how it forces between the crevices of the leaves above, how it manages to blind him even when his own feet take to a swing.
And he’s spinning now, once, twice — a dance. Something in the wind sounds
swoosh
and he’s spinning again. Only once before the blade finally sticks forward, slices at the air, leaves a white shade where it cuts horizontally.
“Kh…”
Kizua’s breath, previously held, lets out between softly clenched teeth.
[div][attr="class","APP3"][img style="width:100px;height:41px;float:right;padding:10px;padding-left:15px;opacity:.8;" src="https://i.ibb.co/BKGCcRB/chilogoexport.png" alt=" "][h1]Chi Clan[/h1] It is told that the scattered families of the Chi are the descendants of an older clan, that their prowess exceeded that of a hundred clans. It is often said that the Chi clan once manipulated not only blood but pure iron and slaughtered a thousand clans this way. This, of course, remains a mystery — a tale passed down from one head to the other. And like most tales, it is nothing but wishful fiction.
From an early age, Chi children are taught tradition and integrity; manners and humility. The clan believes a conservative upbringing to be the best, and often slaps heavy expectations upon the younger members. This implies physical and katana training, mental conditioning, and etiquette schooling. Failure to meet expectations often results in ridicule and minor punishments such as extending the lesson or depriving the Chi of food. It is why weak Chi members with an iron-deficiency are often said to be rebellious and insubordinate.
Coming-of-age ceremonies are held when the Chi becomes nine. If they have mastered the Blood Bending Technique they are congratulated and a celebration is held for them. On this day, they are also — [i]per tradition[/i] — instructed to slay a smaller creature with their own, manipulated blood. This suggests they are half-way into becoming full-fledged Chi and brands them not only proper, but strong. They are then enrolled in the academy, and — when they finally muster the courage — they can choose to become a full-fledged Chi.
This happens when the Chi spills the blood of a loved one — or, in practical terms; [i]takes their life.[/i]
[h1]Hijutsu[/h1] [b]Blood Bending Technique[/b] Chi are able to bend their own blood and alter its shape so that it may resemble a weapon or a shield. Variation of these shapes depends on the volume of blood that the Chi extracts. More advanced members are able to exude larger amounts (and therefore a larger quantity or a larger shape) of blood.
[attr="class","monbody2"]It wasn't gentle; this ringing noise that rattled the throat of the other. It practiced no manners, no virtue, and yet — despite lacking so much — it strayed nowhere near a feeling of disgrace that the Chi pictured. In fact, his expression twisted and Kizua could only read it for confidence. Excessive confidence.
But what details a display upon the dog-man's face strings little to nothing on Kizua's own.
"Earthy," he echoes, the soft noise between the bottom of his cup and the wooden table sounding next.
"Can't imagine your mutts will be keen of it."
And it poises like an opinion but Kizua voices it with question.
[attr="class","monbody2"]The pause draws out — settles comfortably between disinterested blacks and opposingly, interested reds. Or so paints the canvas.
And only when the brim of the cup has brought itself to Kizua’s lips again, angled, and reanimated his lungs with a common, burning warmth, does the younger man survey a response. Force himself to one.
(Long too slow to truly answer the question, he says;)
“your scent.”
Or perhaps the dogs. Either way, he means to add it’s disgusting.
What comes out instead is;
“It’s powerful — ” worded with such eerily quiet mannerisms that it could come off as a compliment. At least to a fool.
Kizua sips.
And he ponders, practices the stillness of his skin and fuels it in the gaze that slowly follows upward — underneath skulking eyelashes — to seek the fellow pairs across. And there’s another pause, one where his digits are curled around the cup before his mouth. (Almost covering it). But Kizua discovers no hint for an answer at his own curiously burning question;
why the hell has this dog-man invited himself to Kizua's table?
[attr="class","monbody2"]Heat tickles the surface of dried lips, urging his approach. Throwing him a hint of the liquid’s contents. Kizua rules it earthy, sweet — rich, even. But one glance to the side rules him wrong.
From the corner of a narrowing, subtle gaze, eyes curiosity. A roguish look that settles on the motley pair;
one elderly man, one lively, young boy hoisting a wooden box on each shoulder.
Although fatigue paints them, the two adorn expressions full of vigor. Passion — a term that falls short of Kizua. He wouldn’t instantly recognize it as such — not until the young man (presumably the grandson) would bark a few words, settle the weighty crates down, and shift to tend to the umpteenth shinobi. Words such as;
“you feelin’ better, Aki-san? Here, I brought some fresh bandages. Let me replace yours!”
A lone eye lowers, clips to the attire of the young man.
Filthy, worn. Poor — unlike the smell that engulfs Kizua’s tea.
(And, following a sip, the taste no less.)
And then —
“Ah! Welcome, welcome!” says the old innkeeper, springs from a table to step elsewhere, bellowing for the newly-entered guest to enter further in.
Kizua’s head doesn’t perk. Not even when the fabric of Noren curtains wrestles gently behind him.
and then light the wood on fire, spread flames, don't cower. you've been taught more than so, your times have come to show them.
conceal which paints red, none of it is your fault. it is they — it is they who carry tears to shed. none of it is your fault. the blades you both possess are their own, your hysteria and anguish — no. you feel none.
they've created, served, and brought it to you on a silver platter, now you seek only to carry out their wish. end their lives. set them on fire.
══════
Aged nine, Kizua and his older brother make use of the lifted weights on Iwagakure's border control. They set off in the night, escaping painted trails leading to the massacre that rots underneath a burnt building. One of which traditionally houses the head of the Chi clan. Encapsulated by rocky environments, the boys practice their knowledge of the terrain and manage to escape the eye of the Hidden stone. At least for a few years to come.
Their path falls short eventually, and Kizua is forced to witness himself transpire into what the clan had first sought for the young men to become. Hard surfaced, clutching kunai blades with no longer shaky digits. It is his brother that strikes first, and it is he, too, who reaches the ground first. Falls cold and lifeless before his beloved brother.
Time is impatient. The boy moves on, and
— led astray by delusion —
his age dawns new, bettered; Kizua becomes a true Chi.
Proficiencies
Chi clan: Blood Bending Technique [Journeyman]
Most prominently known for their blood manipulation techniques, the Chi clan resort to shaping their own blood into different forms, most commonly; weapons. These shapes may resemble spikes, blades, claws, chains, arrows, daggers, and — sometimes — even shields. Kizua uses this technique to elongate his blade, adding a few inches to the end. He may choose to alter its shape to create spikes that poke in all directions but this shortens the length of it, serving only as a nice finishing move when his katana is already thrust into an opponent.
Taijutsu [Apprentice] Kizua rules in dexterity and sheer speed. His power comes next, riding on top of the hilt of his steps that usually work to get him from point A to point B with ease. This same speed may be imbued in his techniques or use of the blade arts. While he hasn't mastered his agility yet, it seeks to be a prominent help in both the offense and the defense.
Bukijutsu [Apprentice] Wielding a blade has been one of the earliest skills taught down in the Chi clan. Members often make use of long, light-weight swords that resemble the katana. While appearances differ, Kizua's blade — given to him by his older brother — adorns a dark holder marked with the symbol of his clan and reaches medium length.
Stealth [Apprentice] Like many shinobi, Kizua has the ability to mask his presence. Erase it entirely from the map.
