generalflirt | Appointments Post ( II )

Entry tags:

*appointments

Appointments Post ( II )

This post here is for personal conversations which should happen but one or both of us doesn't want to put up a new post/log and thus we will just thread it out here. This can be used to thread with Masaomi anytime and anywhere. This can either be in person (with action), or via the journal's call feature (voice and/or written).

When replying to this post please mark in the subject line when and how it is taking place EX:
[Action, March 11th]
[Voice, September 8th]
Written, June 10th]

(Link to old one here)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Heh. This is nothing. [He's seen as many handsigns as forty.] But it works out. The more often you use the technique, the more used to it you'll get. Most genin can use Substitution with just one hand sign not long after they graduate, and later none at all.

I've never quite gotten that, by the way- how can you reduce the sign number?

Think of it like a locked door. To open it, what you're doing now is picking it by moving each pin in the tumbler separately. But by staying in the room long enough, you'll find a key.

Broken down: it's just knowing how much chakra to use. Hand seals ensure you manipulate the exact amount needed to perform the technique, but over repeated use that can become innate.

Put into that context, aren't the hand signs psycho... [a brief trip up and he rolls his shoulders] that thing where you imagine things? [he shrugs now and nods]

Maybe I'm overthinking it, it doesn't suit me.

[Psychological. Shikamaru shakes his head.]

A little, perhaps. But the twelve hand signs are your units of measure when it comes to chakra. Maybe a cooking metaphor would've been more appropriate...

[Masaomi's better at that than he is. He's just used to reducing things to puzzles and games.]

Hoooh... or maybe a metaphor of high fashion. [A beat] But yeah, I see.

[Shikamaru blinks at that, taking it seriously for a moment. Then he wonders if that was a joke or him still being bitter.

He shakes his head and adjusts his knees on the log.]

Besides that, one of the reasons we're starting with this jutsu because it's the most similar to what you already know. Via summoning and storing items in scrolls, you've already worked with displacement.

Substitution is trading places with an object. In a sense, you'll be displacing yourself.

I still wouldn't say I'm good at the storing thing yet. [It can take a lot out of him. But he does nod all the same now]

[That he understands the basic principle is the thing.]

You're likely not to get this right away either. Off the accelerated path we have you on, most kids take two years to use the jutsu effectively.

It won't be near so long for you, but don't be discouraged if we don't see immediate results by next week.

Yeah... well, I guess I can't expect that.

[And he goes back to signing. sign, sign, mistake, pause, restart]

[And thus this will go on for... however long it takes to get it right! Even if it's hours.

Shikamaru will explain some other details of the jutsu while he does that, such as timing and substituting with a still object vs. a moving one; that you have to focus your chakra signature in the stead of the object you want to switch with, and so.

So let's fast-forward to whenever he has the hand signs down well.]

[Man that might take more than one day. ...But he does get it down for today, even if it'll be a while yet until it proper memorization or muscle memory or anything]

[Very cool.]

Wanna give a try at the real deal tonight?

If I fail will I end up with only my eyeball transported or something?

[He shakes his head.]

Nah. It's all or nothing, which is what makes it useful and why we start children with it in the first place.

[And he nods then]

Mm, then I'll give it a shot.

All right. [And Shikamaru flips himself off the log, backwards.] We'll start with you standing one meter from the log.

[Man, totally showing off. Jeez. But then, he nods and takes a step back]

Now form the hand seals while gathering your chakra. Simultaneously, focus it around the log.

[Spoilers: Shikamaru has not explained distance in regards to substitution, and this is actually close enough to work on the first try.]

[He's still not used to the idea of using chakra on things he isn't touching. Still, he does the hand signs and focuses and...! ...It doesn't go through. Because he wasn't spreading the chakra on the log]

[Good reasons to do this from the start like so; from further away you can't pinpoint the problem.]

You did the hand signs right... try again. From here we're working on really concentrating your chakra to the log.

I wish you could actually see the stuff, I feel like that'd make it easier.

[Or maybe ninja can see it, somehow]

Ha. Only if you're a Hyuuga.

Sooo, I trade ability for sex appeal.

[LOUD SNORT.]

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