The wind was the first thing one learned to hate in the Lands of Wind.
It wasn't a gentle breeze. It was a coarse, grinding stream of sand and dust that wore down rock, spirit, and hope in equal measure.
It whistled through the skeletal timbers of the Kugutsu clan compound, a sound as dry as a bone and just as lifeless.
Fortunately, the compound was built on top of a water source, one that would last for the next couple of centuries at the very least. Also known as blue gold, water was the foundation of the Kugutsu shinobi clan, known for its hidden art: puppeteering.
Takeshi, grandson of Elder Kenta, walked through this familiar compound without a flinch.
The grit settled on his dark, practical clothes and in his equally dark hair. His face was covered in purple tattoos, like all clan members. Despite being a ninjutsu specialist, his body showed sign of physical training. Fist arts, especially.
His mind was elsewhere, turning over the variables of his new assignment.
At fifteen, he was the youngest clansman in a century to construct his own combat puppet from scratch: a four-arms humanoid marvel he called 'Jigoku.' That achievement had earned him not just praise, but a place in the famous Black Serpent Corps.
The clan was massive, with over three hundred shinobi. Like an army, the Kugutsu clan operated in a pyramid hierarchy. Each shinobi belonged to one of three corps: the White Rat Corps, the Black Serpent Corps and the Scarlet Scorpion Corps.
The White Rat Corps was the backbone of the clan, with 200 shinobi. They participated in large-scale operations, as well as minor escort missions for merchants. Although some were outstanding, the majority of them were not so strong.
The Scarlet Scorpion Corps was one reserved for poison specialists. The requirement to join them was not one of combat, but one of knowledge. They handled poison manufacturing for the rest of the clan, and handled medical jutsu like no other clan in the region. Merchants, nobles, even rival clans sought their proficiency in medical arts.
The Black Serpent Corps was reserved for the elite of the clan, handling assassination requests mainly, as well as information gathering. Most missions included slaughters, so there was a strength requirement, as well as a mental test. And Takeshi was the youngest member to join.
The training ground was a circle of hard-packed earth. There, he could see stained dark in patches from oil, blood, and other, less identifiable fluids.
As he walked by, he nodded.
[Proficiency Panel Activated]
[Name: Takeshi Kugutsu | Lv. 22 Shinobi (C) (520 / 800 EXP)
Attributes:
Strength: D (45%) | Agility: D (60%) | Vitality: D (65%) | Intelligence: B (75%)
Chakra Control: C (70%) | Chakra Reserve: C (65%) | Sensing: D (50%)
Skills:
Hidden art: Kugutsutsukai - Puppeteering [C] (84%)
General: Poison theory [D] (55%), Trap setup [D] (40%), Puppet manufacturing [D] (86%), eloquence [D] (12%), Tr
Ninjutsu: Lightning Rat Violent Quake [C] (12%), Thunder Spider Web [C] (8%), Lightning Ball [D] (6%), Thunder Clone [D] (12%)
Taijutsu: Kugutsu Fist Art [D] (70%)
Puppets: Jigoku (C)]
A cold, electric thrill shot down Takeshi's spine, so intense he had to fight to keep his composure.
That was his secret. Something that no one else possessed. A proficiency panel. One that allowed him to grow stronger after every training, kill, or mission. One that allowed him to scan others and assess their levels. A secret that he shared with no one, yet oriented his decisions for the past sixteen years.
"Takeshi?", a voice woke him from his thoughts, "You are early. The preparations are almost ready, and we will be able to set in the evening"
It belonged to his teammate.
[Rin Kugutsu - Lv. 18 Shinobi (D)]