The cascading echo of power ramming into wood glided across the rocky floor of the area. Fix legs spread apart, knees slightly bent, one arm thrusting with the snap of the shoulder and rotation of the wrist, the other arm snapping back at the ready, parallel to the ground ready to release upon the withdrawal of its counterpart. Jai Huángjīnjiâ was at his family’s estate on his training hill, actively punching the tree which stood in solidarity over residence. The side of the tree, which Jai stood before, was parted with all its bark at the punch site, slightly bending inward from the force of his blows but still unmoved by even his force. He punched the same area time and time again, in quick succession, drawing back one punch as he thrusted the next one forward. If someone got close him, they’d hear him mouthing his cadence.
“87”
“88”
“89”
“90”
“91”
In the midst of this training, Jai would be met with an uninvited guest. A courier raven would drop down to one of the lower branches of the large tree just as Jai releases his “92!”, though subtle, the bird would feel the same quake of the tree, prompting to flutter upward & hover down towards Jai. Snapping back, the young shinobi would pause just in time to see the crow before gesturing his hand out for its leg, without a word. Taking the parchment, his eyes would scroll intently at the information written inside, after opening it, slightly wiping the sweat from his brow. “It seems as if my new platoon commander has ruined my training session for the day!”, exclaimed Jai with a sigh. He hoped that it wasn’t anything too formal, since Jai didn’t intend on changing clothing before heading towards the area specified on the letter. Jai enters his house to places his kunai pouches, explosive tags, medical supplies, rations and hidden shuriken & bombs on his person. Placing his white light-weight, padded leather trench coat over his black attire before returning back out the door and head towards this location.
It wasn’t a far journey to the dango stand. Jai would sit down, ordering a few skewers of sweet, strawberry hanami dango with chocolate sauce. He had a little while before twilight. Enjoying his sweet, he wait on his teammate whoever they may be. Picking the sticky dough from the wooden stick, Jai thoughts would be on the mission rather than the people involved. If his teammate did show up, he wouldn’t share words with them or even pay them much attention and if they didn’t make it before twilight, he’d leave & head directly to the second location. As the sun begins to set, Jai would get up from his evening snack, putting some ryō down at the stand, for his payment. He would begin towards the library hoping that his teammate had made it and was with him but not necessarily looking for or communicating with them, as that had little importance. As he threaded up the path, he’d notice the owls and the few people passing by.
Making his way to the ornate doorway, Jai would wait, patiently and quietly, arms folded and eyes determined. He’d notice as the side door opened and the fat man walked out, guiding them up to whatever challenges lay ahead. He was unimpressed by this man and knew based on his question that he wasn’t the Jōnin they were assigned to. As Jai walked into this new setting he’d notice the two figures standing before him: A mammoth of a man and a well-dressed, well mannered, smaller guy. He could instantly tell that this man with the bear head dress was their Jōnin & that the other was their client. Jai would bow respectfully to both of them politely. “Sensei”, Jai would speak as he rose from his bow. “I’d say we get down to business! What is the nature of our mission?”, asked Jai ready to get on with the show.
"Now we will move on to the Cloud-Style’s basic attacks." instructed Feng, Jai’s new sword master's words were accompanied a pointing gesture toward the floor, Jai obediently moving to stand in front of him as his relaxed eyes gave the rest of the room an once over. It seemed that he was quickly becoming one of the master's favored students. Feng noticed his inquired look and gave a warm smile, nodding his silent approval. Jai’s father set his son up with a kenjutsu teacher early since he knew many great swordsmen who resided in this country of mountains. You can’t make swords all your life without meeting some powerful swordsmen. This man was Jin Feng. He was a survivor of the war between Kumo & Kiri years ago, who fled to the Land of Whirlpools to live a new life, just for it to be annexed and turned to part of Kumo. Now, he was simply a humble teacher, instructing inspiring warriors to perform the Cloud-Style Kenjutsu. A pretty big class had gathered today. Jai was more active and energetic today, excited to learn kenjutsu, diligently studying at the dojo for a month now, he put his nihilism to the side and decided to put full effort in his swordsmanship.
"You are doing quite well for someone from a common background. You may even be able to challenge Raiden at some point." The name was altogether unfamiliar to Jai, an inquisitive eyebrow rose on his visage as Feng moved into the Ready Stance once more. His hands held onto the wooden bokken with a relaxed feel, his digits slightly spread apart as his feet once more planted to the floor.
"Raiden, teacher?" , asked Jai as Feng thought for a moment. "Indeed. Another student of ours, he attended one of our sessions the other day. Like you he also seems to require little to no tutelage to fully master a technique, two prodigies at one time in my dojo, it really is a rare occurrence." Jai silently smiled, though he moved into his own Ready Stance.
Feng instructed him in the art of the strikes, pinpointing the various places in which one could strike the human body. Poised for an attack, he allowed his arms to raise the sword above his head as he took a mock step toward the young warrior. "We will take this slowly, Jai, once you have learned the correct technique you will be allowed to gradually increase the speed. Now watch my movements, and do not attempt to block the strike. I will be using this information to better determine, which of the advanced forms suits you, a master swordsman can allow a blade to move millimeters away from cutting their flesh, to execute a perfect evasive maneuver."
Jai’s eyes slid to a close for seconds, his fingers curling around his own wooden blade in preparation for what was about to come. As he maneuvered himself, he carefully observed the rise and fall of Feng’s momentum. Silently, he allowed the edge of the blade to hover about the general vicinity of the crown of his head, readying himself to slash.
He masterfully turned the blade sideways and allowed it to touch briefly along his left temple. Removing it, Feng followed suit with eyeing multiple open pressure points. If he had so desired, he could have quickly dealt damage to any of them, and rendered Jai unable to respond. "As I am sure you are aware, a strike to a vital area will end a fight. So even when you engage in our little practice sessions you are not to use your full force, similar to how you were presumably taught not to hyperextend during a lock. We are all here to learn the ways of Cloud-Style, not to kill one another."
The young warrior gave a solemn nod as the dark locks about his crown shifted with his advance. He had watched his fingers and their grip on the blade, mimicking it with every intent to mirror Feng's efforts. His right-hand rest near the middle of the pommel as the alternate hand hovered nearby, gripping it only when he was about to lower the blade toward his head.
A surprised Feng was taken aback as he gave a mock frontal stab toward his abdomen. His point control was so precise that even when he had relaxed his grip the tip of the blade did not falter. Jai took a step back and moved away from Feng, lowering his blade until its point faced the floor. "Very impressive, you have learned the basics and even managed to apply them in such a short span of time."
Jai had been coming out to 'his training tree' every day for a week. He has seen growth in his time. Jai cracked his neck, molding a serious look about his face. This was something that wasn't regular. Jai was up and energetically moving. The young shinobi wasn't being so nihilistic today and for good reason. "Every ninja is at least mildly proficient in the Body Flicker technique." Jai would be getting outran in every fight that he found himself in if he didn’t make sure to master it to a greater degree than his peers.
Getting beat up wasn't something Jai would enjoy so he resolved to go on and get serious and just perfect the technique. Jai sat, thinking to himself, Okay, most ninja these days use the Shunshin through ninjutsu, wasting up chakra. Jai smirked lightly, scratching his chin as he thought. I plan to just use this technique through raw physical prowess and save my energy. The young shinobi, finally stood yawning in uncomfortable discontentment. He really didnt feel like training but he had too. Life was only overcome by will & power.
Jai had already prepared 4 large stones and a humongous boulder to weigh himself down as he ran and trained. He tied 2 of the rocks to each wrist, the other two on his ankles finally placing the boulder on his back and tying it around his torso. This is crazy! Jai could hardly stand. His back slumped over and his legs shakingly bent, trying to stay on foot. Jai began to walk. He continued to train himself, deciding to run 10 miles with these rocks attached.
Jai shifted his body slowing, attempting to move forward. His walk turned into a slow, terribly shaky, wide footed waddle. His feet rising slowly, not a whole inch off the ground, treading about 3 feet forward before plummeting back to the ground, the next leg doing the same thing in the same, struggling manner. Somehow Jai had to become strong enough running with these stones attached to his body.
This method wasn't a nice one but it's the only way Jai could think of to get faster & stronger at the same time. Weighing down his body in such a manner would put his body in an never ending work out. Sweat rolling and muscles cringing, Jai continued to try to walk.
Thud,
Thud,
Thud
waddled Jai's feet, every step falling faster. He wasn't going to last much longer at this rate. His muscles already hurt and it's only been 40 minutes. He wasn't going down that easily. He continued his fatally slow, failing effort.
Falling to his knees, his back buckled, slouching over his head planting right into the ground. He was down for the count. He couldn't move his arms or legs. He might as well been sleep. Jai's aloof attitude was foiled through his frustration. A vein revealed itself on the right corner of his forehead as Jai's rushing anger appeared reached a boiling point. He wasn't about to be defeated by some damn rocks. He had ninja to overcome. Screaming in frustration, Jai pushed himself up quickly with his arms, rolling onto his feet, standing once again.
[2 days later]
After two days of waddling, struggling and falling, Jai had got the hang of his weighted apparel. At sunrise of the third day, Jai was already out doing push ups and squats with the stones attached. "495, 496". . . He was reaching the end of his squats, slowing at the end. "497". . . "498." Jai had already ran his 10 miles and this was the last thing he thought he needed to do to prove that he could move normally with these weights on.
"499". . . His arms felt like it was about the buckle, as the sweat rolled from every inch of his body. Jai had at least one more in him. He could slack any other time but he was going to make his aching body do this one. One for his village. One for his family. And mostly definitely, one for himself. Jai could pull it off. Afer this, he could nap all he wanted to. Arms bending, building up momentum for his final blast of motion, thrusting back with all the throwing power capable. "5 0 0 !!", Jai shouted as he finally plummeted to the ground, finally able to lay down but not exactly the way he wanted to.
He untied the stones and boulder one by one, finally able to move freely. He swarmed and wiggled, around on the ground for a second before returning to his feet. For the last three days, Jai had not taken off the stone and thus his body was still compensating for the weight that he no longer bared. He began to jump around. I'm light as a feather. Jai jumped up exceedingly high, coming back down to the ground with a light thud, breathing out lightly.
A new shinobi had risen from the abyss of the Cloud Village, we all know him as Jai Huángjīnjiǎ. His name had yet to be written down in the annals of heroism and sacrifice which the village honored in respect to ninja. But Jai didn’t desire recognition or lip service. He simply wish to become stronger to survive. Jai's wish is to master the art of the ninjutsu. But there was one problem.
"Damn, I don't want to get out of this bed!", sighed Jai as he forced himself up and numbly got himself ready for his training.
It was already sunrise and Jai hadn't done anything all yet. He walked out of his house, which lays on the mountainous, forested outskirts of the village gates, toting his training supplies on his back, and walks to a near-by one-tree hill that only he goes to. Jai lays his heavy pack of training equipment on the ground next to a tree and starts to think of what he'll do today.
"It's a drag that I have to do all this work to get stronger but I have to; it’s the only way one can survive.", said Jai loudly as he came up with a great idea. He decided to work on his agility and speed until he was faster than all his peers and then begin to work on his techniques after that. Agility is needed to defeat ninja, pirate and samurai alike. Jai was ready to become stronger so that he could one day surpass the status of his legendary parents.
Surprisingly, he initially sits down and pulls out his family ninjutsu scroll, that he inherited his father.. He begins to read about a family technique class called Step Methods. Step methods are used by his father to move in quick while using a weapon, to interrupt ninja using hand seals. Jai reads the training information elaborated on in the book. He closes the book and stands up and reaches in his pack again and pulls out two 20 pound leg weights.
He begins to run. Feet lightly tapping the rocky pavement as he briskly charges forward. He runs three laps around the outskirts of the Cloud Village. He ends up back at his training hill. He ,then, takes off his leg weights and sits them to the side and reaches in his pack again. This time he pulls out a 20 pound round weight and holds it vertically over his head. He, in this position, begin so do squats. After an hour, Jai has done just about 200 squats and his legs are already stinging. Only one more exercise. He lays on his back and puts the round weight on his feet. "Now, I have to for 200 of these leg extensions and I go home to go to sleep", said the lazy ninja as if he was working extremely hard. He begins to push the weights up with his legs, his back pressed against the ground. "30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 26, 37, 38, ...39, .....40!!!!!!!, .... 41!!!!!!!!!!!! BOOM!!
Jai dropped his legs, unable to move. The weights still weighting his extremities down. He couldn't believe he couldn't finish that simple task. Jai laid there for an hour, thinking about life, looking at the sky. It was an oddly sunny day. Not a cloud in sight. Jai was tired. The young ninja called it a day to come back the next morning.
“What is the meaning of this life?”, the boy asked as he held the blood drench corpses of his parents.
Jai Huángjīnjiâ was born to two shinobi parents in the Land of Lightning. Both Cloud ninja hailed for their combat prowess and tactical brilliance. They both were renowned for quailing piracy and criminal activities in the areas they were stationed to protect. Sadly, making a name for one’s self can be a two edged sword.
Jai was raised lovingly by his parents and used to love to hear their tales of valor and heroics against the enemies of the Cloud Village. Jai’s pride was attached to his parent and the notion that no one could best them. That’s what it was to be a shinobi.
At the age of 6, Jai joined the Ninja Academy. His parents were overjoyed and personally walked him to his first day. Sadly, before he was released to come back home, the double edge sword fell backwards. Jai’s parent did not return to walk him back from the academy as they said they would. He simply thought they were called out on an assignment.
Walking to their estate in the rural outskirts of the village, Jai happened on a ghastly scene. His parents’ bodies both bloodied and hung from a tree, riddled with swords and knives. Cutting them down, Jai held their bodies and cried until the Anbu Sentries arrived.
That entire five hours before his parents bodies were taken by the Black Ops, Jai simply continued to ask himself those questions.
”Is this what it means to be a shinobi?”
“What is the meaning of this life?”
It’s a question he asked himself to this day. From that time, Jai changed. He was no longer the happy-go-lucky, inspired child he was before. He became aloof. Distant. Nihilistic. But he deep down, he simply wanted to know what was the meaning of this life. Was it a aimless struggle crawling towards an unaffirming death or was this just a fight to determine who the most fit creature was?
Despite his parents’ deaths deeply scaring him, they did not break Jai. His will was sharpened to deadly precision. He promised himself that he wouldn’t die like them and that he’d remain the best and no one would best him. It’s been 10 years since that time and his will remains unshaken. Life’s problems can only be solved through strength and will.
Proficiencies
Taijutsu [Apprentice] Jai is a capable Taijutsu combatant, able to hold his own in hand-to-hand combat against multiple opponents of a similar level to his own at once. His most consistent physical traits are his speed and his reaction time. He attacks with blazing speed and pinpoint precision rather than raw strength, giving his opponent little chance to react or initiate a counter-attack. His main focus is honing his speed and reflexes to a stronger degree, as well as perfecting the precision and finesse of his physical attacks.
Shurikenjutsu [Apprentice] Jai is particularly skilled at combat with basic shuriken and kunai. He is able to fend of sword wielding opponents using kunai. He also can throw shuriken and kunai extremely quickly and precisely, able to hit three, different targets center mass with three shuriken thrown at the same time. His strategy is usually to distract his opponents with shuriken before they can react and form hand seals. He also can guide his shuriken to their targets using wire strings or deflecting off one another.
Stealth [Rookie] Jai is proficient with the stealth, able to effectively strike down enemies within low visibility as well as move swiftly and quietly without losing speed. He can suddenly approach enemies from behind, unnoticed.
