Post by Masaru Sumire on Oct 24, 2017 23:55:42 GMT
MASARU SUMIRE
INSERT MANLY MAN MEME HERE
64 | MALE |
ELITE JONIN | KIRIGAKURE |
APPEARANCE
Masaru, bluntly put, is old. By shinobi standards, very, very old, and within the next two decades - if he survives - it would not be an exaggeration to call him ancient in a world where most die before the age of thirty. Much of it is quite telling at a glance - lines that few ever see on a shinobi's face, a testament to his experience and many hard fought battles, and skin that has long since attained an almost leather like consistency from time spent out doors and in harsh conditions.
In spite of this, however, it cannot be denied that Masaru aged quite well, either. Standing at 5' 11", much of the man's muscle was retained from his youth, resulting in an average height but a very solid, muscular build. While his skin and face show his age quite readily, Masaru still has a full head of jet black hair. Another unique trait being the man's eye color - while only one of his eyes remains it is a striking, sharp turquoise.
PERSONALITY
"If you want a job done right, do it yourself. Don't ask for things."
Masaru is a complicated man - there is little point in claiming otherwise. After nearly fifty years spent witnessing both the best and and the worst that the world has had to throw at him he has attained a perspective that very, very few who follow the shinobi career path ever expect to reach. Unlike a number of the other shinobi his age or older, the fact that Masaru likewise hasn't resorted to kinjutsu or bodily alterations to extend his life have also allowed the man to place it within a far different context, as well as the actions of those around him.
The one thing that Masaru has come to cherish above all else have been his immediate friends and family. After witnessing the losses of others and experiencing that very pain himself the importance of such people has not been lost on the man, nor the impossibility of replacing them. It is around these individuals that Masaru is often at his friendliest, always up for a laugh and often more than willing to procrastinate in favor of spending time with his children and grand children - the man is well aware that he is beginning to enter his twilight years, and if combat doesn't take his life old age likely will soon.
On the flip side of that coin, however, is the rest of the village, and more to the point, those from other villages. Unlike with his family and immediate friends, Masaru is not one to mince words with other people for the same reason he values his time with the first group above all else. To him, there's simply no point to it - he'd much rather get the job done and go back home, and it is often for this very reason that the man refuses to delegate tasks if he can avoid it. While the younger generations may have the time to waste in their youth, Masaru's advanced age and vast experience by comparison allows him to often simply get jobs done in a fraction of the time that other Jonin may take to complete a task.
Finally, the other, most obvious difference that sets Masaru apart from the crowd, so to speak, is the fact that the man has frankly come to be largely disillusioned with the very concept of morality. The Jonin has reasoned that the concepts of "good" and "evil" are, ultimately, pointless and empty. It is all nothing but a point of view, easily changeable from one person to the next, and where one might view another person as the darkest spawn from the deepest pits of hell, yet another village or group of individuals may see the same person as a hero, a paragon to be emulated and worshiped.
As a result this has frankly made Masaru possibly one of the most ruthless shinobi within Kirigakure. With no limits to his actions aside from his own preferences and self imposed limitations, the man has become entirely indifferent to the act of killing, with the mental block that even many veteran shinobi often struggle with removed entirely, leading to no hesitation nor mercy in combat. Nor, for that matter, guilt or second thoughts regarding more subtle manipulation. While the man is well aware that this might and still does make many people wary of working with him as the Jonin will not hesitate to carry out orders, even if it means preventing allies from falling into enemy hands through last resort methods. In spite of all this, however, Masaru still draws certain lines for himself. Most pointedly, he will never lie. He might leave out crucial information and mislead, but he will never tell a falsehood.
SHINOBI INFORMATION
Position: Advisor to the Mizukage
Chakra Natures: None
Specialties:
Kenjutsu: Where most Jonin tend to devote their mental prowess to a wide range of skills with one or two disciplines meant to make them more rounded as shinobi, the Masaru had focused all of his training, all of his considerable intellect, talent, time and effort into mastering his swordplay. Combined with his speed and perfected technique, the man is effectively unmatched in terms of pure technical skill with swords, a virtuoso with blades to the point that he can outright replicate many feats that would normally require chakra using only his default physical abilities - challenging the man to open combat with bukijutsu is what many would consider tantamount to suicide. Masaru's age also adds in another factor to this. As he has not only survived but thrived through the Warring States period and the comparative chaos following it, the man is quite familiar with a vast majority of the still existing sword styles passed down through clans or bloodlines, allowing him a major advantage confronting them with a freeform, relatively unpredictable style of his own. Additionally, Masaru's knowledge also gives him the ability to judge weapon capabilities relatively accurately after only a few moments of combat, with the man able to accurately estimate a weapon's swing speed, reach and weight just at a glance as well as how the user holds it. While most proficient with swords, Masaru is able to masterfully wield most anything with an edge or point in combat.
Inhuman Speed: There was a time, a long, long time ago, where Masaru was among the fastest shinobi in the world, if not able to actually lay claim to being the fastest without the use of specialized techniques or augmentations while he was in his prime.... roughly thirty years ago. While the man has aged incredibly well, the fact remains that is has slowed him down, if ever slightly so. To most other shinobi, even other pure taijutsu and bukijutsu sole specialists, Masaru's footwork and striking speed in close quarters are still the stuff of legends, with even his normal movement being virtually indistinguishable from the Shunshin no Jutsu and difficult even for most dojutsu users to track. While incredibly useful for evading enemy attacks it is also what makes Masaru particularly lethal. For those few attacks that the man can't dodge such as incredibly fast moving projectiles meant to pierce rather than detonate, Masaru's speed allows him to reliably close the distance between him and most opponents before hand seals can be woven and techniques cast. This, as a result, makes the Jonin a nearly perfect counter for ninjutsu and genjutsu specialists, as well as ranged bukijutsu specialists.
Inhuman Strength: Rounding off Masaru's physical capabilities is the man's impressive strength. While not able to truly compare to the same level that his speed has reached due to his emphasis on precision and technique it isn't anything to laugh at, either. When using normal blades, the man almost invariably has to hold a portion of his strength back to avoid destroying the weapons from the force of his blows - unarmed, the man's fists are able to easily destroy most low quality weapons, barriers and defenses with the proper angle and application of force. When that problem ceases to be relevant, however, armor and similar defenses tend to mean very little as most physical barriers inevitably are destroyed or sundered within only a handful of strikes. The main exceptions to this, ironically, are chakra barriers and a small handful of defensive ninjutsu that directly target the body of the user, in which case it then becomes a contest of which will give out first - the chakra reserves of the defendant as such techniques are usually incredibly draining, Masaru's weapons or the man himself.
Battle Sense: While the injury of his right eye and the loss of its use was initially a great loss for Masaru and one that took months if not years to overcome completely, the end result has only made the Jonin even more dangerous than before. Rather than be weakened by it, the handicap had forced the man's other senses to sharpen as well - as a result, he is far better attuned to his environment in general than most other veteran shinobi are, with many of his gut feelings and instincts born subconsciously of his hearing and other senses. In particular, however, is a unique skill that many take for granted and never bother to hone. While hostility and killing intent can be felt when weaponized, most make no effort to improve beyond that point - after losing his eye, however, it became sense honed to perfection. With a range comparable to that of most mid range sensory techniques the man can accurately sense killing intent directed towards him and nearby allies the same as many can sense chakra. Where this becomes particularly useful and dangerous, however, is in combat. As every attack made on a target is generally done with the intent to kill or harm it allows Masaru to accurately detect and anticipate attacks even if he cannot see or hear them coming, and should a flow of battle become established it makes the man incredibly difficult to pin down with attacks. This sense is not infallible, however, as Masaru can fail to pick up on it if sufficiently distracted. Additionally, nonliving dangers such as preset traps and other environmental hazards are not detected by this sixth sense.
Clan: N/A
Bloodline: N/A
Jutsu: This is where you list all of your character's jutsu. Be sure to link any of your custom jutsu here. Canon jutsu, you can link from Naruto Wiki. You're free to add jutsu after you've gotten approved, if you'd like.
HISTORY
I suppose that I should start with the fact that I've lived a very long life.
It's rare to see soldiers of any kind survive as long as I have. It was towards the end of the era and it was only the last pockets of resistance to inevitable change, but I can remember what battlefields used to look like when wars were fought by those with nothing to fight for but themselves. It was brutal in every sense of the word, and something of a testament to the samurai who still cling to their relics and traditions within Tetsu no Kuni to the north, their ability to survive.
Something of a strange twist of fate, then, that those who would replace them as the supposedly superior breed of warrior would result in even higher mortality rates than ever in the present day and age. If nothing else it never ceases to surprise me how little war actually changes with the march of progress and the supposedly more civilized methods of killing each other.
But war itself? I make no apologies for the things I've done over the course of my own life, and I've no patience for those who would glorify the battlefield or the acts that take place upon it. To think that there is honor to be found there is nothing short of delusional fantasy. Wars are not fought for any one individual's honor, and if nothing else I often find myself irritated by those who claim that to be their reasoning. Pride? Honor? Valor? Foolish ideals at best, and unbefitting of any individual who has put forth their lives to defending clan and country. Such conflicts are fought for one reason and one reason only - survival.
I will admit, however, that I hadn't always thought that way. It was a gradual change as any individual is the sum of their life's experiences. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. But when I had first taken on this lifestyle, this career path, things were a lot simpler. Choices were made for you one way or another, and it was a time where the current balance of power between the clans - not nations - was still in constant flux. While they weren't of the ruling clans at the time of Kirigakure's founding, my family and peers were among one of the first drawn to the promise of safety, of stability, both very rare and valuable things after having spent a good portion of their lives growing up during the previous era. It didn't matter who was offering it or what they expected in return - too many people had lived in fear of conscription before then to bother with the details when such an opportunity was put in front of them.
So, when the chance to dictate our own fates was presented? Many would gladly give their lives for such a thing, and so would their children when offered the choice several years later once they were old enough. I was no different. Such conflicts back then were... not the same as now. I cannot attest to having experienced worst of it myself as I was little more than a child and a young fool, but the uncertainty was not something one would forget. Change was everywhere, although certainly not for the worse as the first Mizukage did greatly contribute to the village and its shinobi. The Academy itself was invaluable in promoting the survivability of the village's fighting forces, and while not among the first wave of students to graduate nor were my children.... the lessons they learned there no doubt saved my life and theirs' alike on a number of occasions, if not my eye.
They never lied to them in the Academy or afterwards, I will say that much. It probably shouldn't have come as a surprise when other countries would begin to emulate the success of Konoha for their own respective nations, though, nor the very things that made their people as effective as they were. Like us, other villages had clearly begun to train their own shinobi in much the same way as they did, and some small part of me couldn't help but wonder at the time if the new village system was truly any better than the era that came before. I had lived a fair portion of my life in that time, yet it seemed as though remarkably little had actually changed upon further reflection. The only difference now was that the scale of it all was bigger. Village against village rather than clan against clan, with the only notable improvements being the mutually assured destruction of rival villages preventing direct attacks against them, and the fact that children ill suited to the roles were no longer being conscripted as mere fodder. Instead we were willingly sending them from our homes to military academies for the purpose of training them in the hopes that they would survive.
If nothing else, though, such realizations began to get me thinking. Questioning things, which, for a shinobi and samurai alike can be a very dangerous thing to do. It's a critical skill when used properly, but such things can leave you vulnerable when dug into too deeply. Unfocused. It was exactly those kinds of thoughts that cost me my eye when I began to realize how little difference there was between any one side of a conflict, that morality as a whole is entirely subjective, dependent on the person and the position they view a situation from. By the time Kirigakure had begun selling our services as mercenaries these thoughts had become a weakness as much as uncertainty is in any soldier, any combatant. In trying to offer mercy in the hopes that the same courtesy would be extended to our side later on in understanding I instead learned a painful lesson, albeit one that would become a powerful weapon in time. I lost my left eye when all was said and done, but what I gained from the entire experience was just as powerful a tool, a weapon.
Conviction. The ability to completely discard any sense of hesitation, because if I did not I would die. Those I cared for would die, and everything I held dear would be lost. And just as importantly, motivation, the goal of never allowing myself to be placed at the mercy of another human being again nor my fate into anyone else's hands.
I'd discarded a portion of my humanity in those following weeks and months along with the weakness that came with it, although that's neither a point of pride nor regret. It simply was what needed to be done, and to look back on it any differently is pointless as that's how it had affected me at the time. The experience had been a crucible of a sort for me as I had gone into it as one person and emerged from it as someone else... but alive. Always alive, and the strength I gained from those conflicts would serve as a foundation for future growth.
As I became a grown man with time and such experiences began to pile on one another I did the same as many who had survived similar experiences did. I pursued relationships that had not been options during the Sengoku period, took the opportunity to start a family of my own. I won't say that it was perfect, nothing ever is. My wife and I had two children over the course of our marriage, a son and daughter, and unlike my own parents I had intended to allow them a choice in which directions their lives took them. My daughter, eventually, made the same choice that I and her mother had. My son... didn't. I'm not entirely sure of what drove him to make the choices he did and I doubt I ever will be as, at our cores, we're just too different as individuals, but what's past is past.
No use lamenting over or dwelling upon it now unless there's lessons to be learned from it.
The following years before I hit my fortieth birthday the tipping point, where I can distinctly say that I lost any faith I might've had in the idea that the Hidden Villages were any better than the era I was born in. Mortality rates amount to little more than numbers. And, perhaps, my son did make the correct choice in the long run, from a bigger picture perspective. Had he attended the front lines as his sister did it's entirely possible that our bloodline would have ended with me, and on at least that point I will always remain grateful to him. But between our daughter's passing and my wife following her not more than four years later from illness, of all things... for a time, I lost myself in the conflict. It became my life, my sole purpose for existing. What happened to me wasn't important beyond that I survived, and by extension ensured that my brothers in arms survived. That all of us were given the opportunity to continue fighting for what was left.
I hold no pride for the things I've done. I do take solace in the fact that something came of it. I hold myself steady in the knowledge that, were anything to threaten the people and things that I care about, I would do it - all of it - again and without hesitation or remorse. My son, my daughter in law and their children have a future because of it. So let the politicians do what they will. I have no patience for their ambitions or machinations. What I have are blades, many of them, and the skills to put them to use.
RP SAMPLE
Maybe. At any rate the actual act of sealing the item into the scroll seemed to have gone off properly. The first few times Izumi had tried to pick up the technique as it was intended to be used the results had... well, varied widely, to say the least. Most of them being abject failures where the seal was faulty to the point of doing nothing at all, although there was the one memorable instance where it "popped" and violently expelled the item being kept in storage on being disturbed. Not a good day to be testing things with random kunai and shuriken. Actually, a rubber ball of some sort would've probably been ideal here now that she stopped to think about it. Ah well. At this point it didn't matter much anyways, and the object needed to be heavy for this to work. Rubber or not it was going to probably hurt if the same thing from before happened again.
In for a ryo...
At least, that had been the intent. As Izumi pressed her hands together in front of her face and closed her eyes for a moment in mock prayer a voice spoke out to the Jinchuriki. Enough to make her immediately pause what she was doing and crack one eye open to glance over at the source of the voice. Not many people tended to bother Izumi, and to be perfectly honest she was usually fine with that. Gave her plenty of chances to rest or think, and considering that she already had a voice in her head already the external additions weren't always welcome ones. Considering that she was in a good mood today, though, what the new arrival did was make her curious above all else.
At first glance Izumi didn't really know who it was speaking to her. Another shinobi in the village? Certainly, narrowed it down a bit. Female? Narrowed it down a bit more. Sort of. Really more depended on your definition of gender and personal identity, but neither here nor there. Age? A bit trickier, but despite not immediately knowing the girl's name the Chunin couldn't help but shake the feeling that they'd met before. Not during the Exams, though, and while Izumi was terrible with names the same - usually - wasn't true for faces.
Her inability for immediate recall, though, was becoming increasingly awkward as Izumi continued to just watch the person with one eye, hands still folded in an attempt to buy time with the awkward silence before finally breaking it herself.
"Right! Right. Urrr-- ahara? Yes?" Izumi finally said, hands coming apart as she snapped a finger a couple of times as if it might jog her memory. Whether it did or not, the Chunin knew who was standing in front of her now. Sort of. Kind of. Not really. They'd only known each other in passing and it had been a long, long time ago, back during Irene's days in the Academy. Far enough back that she couldn't really remember where or how they'd specifically met - just that the girl wasn't one of the incorrigible shit stains like herself who kept getting involved in class infighting. Beyond that most of the Academy was a blur, including the others in it. Probably why she'd had difficulty recalling the other kunoichi's name to begin with.
"Sorry about that, not really good with names and it's been a while. Going well enough, all things considered. You need something?" Izumi continued, both eyes now open and on the other woman. And while her tone was pleasant enough and conversational, nothing about how painfully blunt it was seemed to register on the Jinchuriki as the words left her mouth. Subtlety had never really been her thing, and it wasn't going to be anytime soon.
