036 -- [Voice]

[endgames]

((Backdated to February 4th))

[It's been a long time since Shikamaru's failed a mission. All right. Failure might be too strong a word for this one. He can actually laugh at that. This isn't like when he was twelve. It's a personal embarrassment, not something that's going to keep him up at night, sick to his stomach.

A failure is a failure though, and that makes it a pain in the ass. He'd apologized to the MSF personnel profusely, and requested to be put on a different mission to make up for the screw-up. They'd looked nonplussed about the whole thing and stuck him back in Luceti, but eh. Shikamaru decides to keep his journal close to him anyways, in case they take him up on that. It's for this reason he doesn't go out to do any of the things he probably should. He passes the time by flipping through the journal instead, and thinking over the last mission.]

[Voice]

When I first came to this village, I remember going out. Left or right, it seemed anywhere I looked someone was using that so-called "filial magic". ...Haaa. [He scratches his head, and there's a smirk in his voice.] That's an exaggeration, but you get it. That was years ago, though. It seemed like it was becoming less common until that incident last year, when everyone got possessed.

Anyone learning anything from those guys now? Seems like the kind of thing that would spark interest, especially with one extra spirit hanging around.

Comments

voice;

[endgames]

Electricity.

[Including lighting, though that's only like half the reason.]

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

[ There's a slight pause and then -- ]

Interesting.

[ In other words, Kakashi is definitely going to make it a goal to try and meet Tsinku somehow. ]

Have you learned any filial magic?

voice;

[endgames]

Some.

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

What kind?

voice;

[endgames]

Eh... I've forgotten almost as much as I've learned, at this point. Currently it's just darkness and electricity.

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

You can use electricity?

[ Hear the note of surprise in Kakashi's tone? He's actually pretty pleased to hear about this. ]

voice;

[endgames]

[In response, Shikamaru holds up two fingers in front of the journal window, about an inch apart from each other. A small charge of static electricity shoots between them a moment later. With a shrug of his shoulders, he drops his hands back down.]

It's no chidori or anything.

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

[ Or Raikiri for that matter, but it's still electricity. Kakashi's impressed. ]

Interesting. [ A beat. ] You know, something just occurred to me. Have you ever bothered to learn any elemental jutsu?

[ Though Shikamaru does usually rely on his kekkei genkai, having more in his arsenal could only help him, not hurt him. ]

voice;

[endgames]

One.

[...two if he ever gets canon updated, but for now the one. No earth walls here.]

It's been a while since I've practiced it, come to think. [Which makes his heart hurt some, but he should get back to it.] Would you like a demonstration, Kakashi-sensei?

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

Yeah, that'd be great. Are you free this afternoon?

voice;

[endgames]

Gonna see someone in a bit. Let's meet in a couple hours. There's a clearing behind the building.

[You know, the spot where there's not much trees about. Moro shouldn't be fussed if she finds someone there.]

voice;

[ura_no_ura]

Alright. I'll see you then.

action;

[endgames]

[Shikamaru takes his time, since he expects Kakashi to do the same. After he's finished with what he needs to do, he wanders around a bit until he finds a big enough stump of a log suitable for his purposes and drags it back to the clearing. He'll be taking a rest sitting on it whenever Kakashi shows up.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ A good fifteen minutes later, Kakashi arrives. They never did set an exact time, after all, so Shikamaru's actually lucky he's not forty-five minutes late. ]

Yo.

[ Said in greeting as he approaches. ]

[endgames]

[IT'S COOL. He may have been enjoying the time to himself, he's not had a lot of it lately.

Though he wasn't exactly alone for all of it.]

Yo. Thanks for coming before it got dark out.

[That's deadpanned, but no really, thank you...]

[ura_no_ura]

It wouldn't be as enjoyable if it were dark.

[ The demonstration, he means. Kakashi crosses the space between them until they're just a few feet away from one another. ]

[endgames]

...I dunno. You probably wouldn't miss the finale.

[He hops off the stump, thumbing something into the back of his mouth between the teeth. When the digit comes out with a faint pop, he straightens up and twists, working out some kinks in his back.]

Should I just begin?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi moves to take up residence on the log Shikamaru had just vacated, getting comfortable. ]

I'm ready when you are.

[endgames]

Heh. You're kinda standing on my target.

[He can find a new one if he needs to, though. There's a big enough rock over there, which he angles his head to, though that won't be near as impressive.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ A low laugh of amusement, and Kakashi gets off the log, then moves behind Shikamaru instead. ]

1/2

[endgames]

[Shikamaru shoots him a thankful grin before taking a few steps back himself, getting some needed distance. The amusement fades into relaxed concentration as he does the calculations in his head. Everything is factored, from the dampness of the wood in this weather to what little breeze they have, to make sure nothing goes awry.]

[endgames]

[And then Shikamaru forms the hand signs - snake, rat, snake, tiger. If Kakashi's worked with Asuma in the past, they may be familiar, as will what follows when Shikamaru opens his mouth.

It's a cloud of explosive ash. Shikamaru breathes it out slowly, controlling the dispersal with eyes on the target. When it's gently surrounded the target, he deems it good enough and bites down, teeth gnashing against the flint in his mouth.

There's a spark, and then the cloud ignites, trapping the log in a contained explosion.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi watches, impressed at Shikamaru's skill and the ease at which he performed the jutsu. He practically heard the wheels turning in Shikamaru's head just moments before he formed the seals with his hands, figuring out the exact calculations. He's only maybe a little surprised that Shikamaru's a fire type. Certainly hadn't expected that. He always thought Shikamaru was maybe more earth or water. Maybe lightning.

But then, he supposes it's not entirely surprising. ]

Have you learned any other Katon jutsus?

[ While the technique he used is certainly very effective, it has a drawback of requiring flint and takes more time to set up, in contrast with faster, more destructive attacks like Katon Goukyakkyu no Jutsu or Katon Housenka no Jutsu that only require careful chakra molding. ]

[endgames]

[He wipes some soot from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, turning his head (opposite direction of Kakashi) to spit before responding.]

No. That was the only one I was confident I could replicate from memory.

[Fire is not his elemental affinity, actually.]

[ura_no_ura]

If you'd like, I'd be happy to train you in more Katon jutsu. [ A beat. ] After all, a skilled jounin should be able to have a wide range of jutsu in his arsenal.

[ Though he's not sure if Shikamaru would really need it, especially with his kekkei genkai. Either way, Katon jutsus are good offensive strategies. ]