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sunshineapps) wrote2015-05-04 12:15 am
sunshineapps) wrote2015-05-04 12:15 am
Entry tags:
Shinobu Himura
Name: Shinobu Himura 【忍火村】
Canon: Original
Character Journal:bloodseraph
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Birthday: August 15th
Village Affiliation: Kirigakure
Rank: Jounin
Appearance: Tall ( around 6'1 ) and willowy, Shinobu stands out like a sore thumb in a crowd. If it isn't his extremely long blond hair that billows down his back like silk or the strangely red eyes he possesses, it's his somewhat bizarre taste in fashion. The best way to describe Shinobu's appearance is to compare him with that of a priest. Unlike other vampires who adopted a more flamboyant style of dress consisting of fancy brocades and frills, Shinobu wears a simple black ankle-length cassock. The cassock, also known as a soutane, is an item typically worn by priests or monks. Along with this simplistic attire is the oddly out of place "fox mask" he sometimes dons during battle.
If he isn't donning his usual outfit, Shinobu tends to wear red or blue kimonos instead. He doesn't have much fondness for colors in general but he is impartial to dark blues. He particularly is fond of blue because of his love for the midnight sky. On even rarer occasions, Shinobu will wear an all white ceremonial kimono with decorative red markings elegantly etched upon its long sleeves. This attire of his looks quite similar to that of a Shinto priest.
Personality: Shinobu is a shrewd and intelligent individual, a man of great wisdom who is aware of both his duty and role to his country. He prides himself in his neutrality during times of warfare and remains forever watchful of the current political climate of his country and beyond. While he secretly longs to turn his blade towards the nobles who wish to capitalize upon the political strife between countries, Shinobu is quick to stay his hand. He's an observer by nature who doesn't like to directly effect the course of history. However, Shinobu is known to act on the behalf of Kirigakure's interests if it benefits his countrymen.
During times of peace, Shinobu is quite a genial fellow with a kind but reserved demeanor. His more pacifistic approach to battle might leave the impression that he's weak, but Shinobu is anything other than weak. He knows of his strengths well and knows how to capitalize on an opponent's weaknesses through subtle observation. He's a calculating tactician, one who've been secretly keeping a close eye some of Kirigakure's problematic neighbors. Unlike other fellow Chunin who feel the need to boast about their strengths, Shinobu likes to remain silent. He believes that the best element in combat is surprise. Always in a state of heightened awareness, Shinobu is always ready to draw his blade at a moment's notice. Whether it be for defense or offense, Shinobu can quickly shift from his genial demeanor to one of calculating coldness at will.
Outside of his role as one of Kirigakure's stalwart protectors, Shinobu is quite a charmer with a knack for storytelling. He says a deep fondness for the arts and typically enjoys origami. He's a thespian at heart with a love for literature. Shinobu's fondness for literature stems from the noble teachings of his parents. He honors his father and mother's legacy and hopes to do them justice. While he certainly possesses a love for books, Shinobu is honestly interested in people more. He likes watching and observing how others interact with each other. Shinobu finds it interesting to see how others behave out of his own delight for social settings. He adamantly enjoy spending time with friends and family alike, and is more than willing to greet others with a reserved smile. Although it should be noted that Shinobu can be quite cautious when dealing with towards strangers. He's slow to trust despite being perceived as a rather friendly and courteous fellow. His friendliness is limited by his deep seeded need to be careful. He's not naive to the ways of the world and knows for a fact that others will attempt to him if he somehow poses a threat.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Besides his obvious physical strengths he possesses due to his dual vampire and Crusnik heritage, Shinobu is quite intelligent and rather efficient in combat. He's a learned tactician who's capable of exploiting his opponent's weaknesses. He has a mind for combat and will always try to subdue his foes with smooth strategy rather than outright brutality. Shinobu tends to play it safe when it comes down to either battling people on the field or facing them in discussion. One could say that his stubborn nature can be one of his strengths. Shinobu honestly hates to lose. If he fails at an objective or mission, he'll do his best to overcome the setback by any means necessary. Shinobu, much like his namesake, he knows how to endure loss with poised grace and hardly ever makes a scene.
Shinobu's main physical weakness is sunlight. While he's capable of walking in sunlight for short periods of time, Shinobu's powers are significantly diminished if he lingers out within the sun for too long. Extreme exposes to sunlight will eventually cause his skin to flake up and burn. This is why Shinobu is almost never seen during the day and if he is, he's usually covered from head to toe in thick bandages or coats. Though it should be noted that Shinobu can walk outside during sunset with almost no issue as long as his exposure to the sun isn't too lengthy.
Shinobu's other weakness deals with his inability to regenerate certain organs. While it's possible to regenerate his limbs with ease, Shinobu cannot regenerate his heart. The vampire can literally generate his legs after getting them ripped off, but if his heart was to ripped out of his chest, he would honestly die. Shinobu hasn't hardly as indestructible as he seems but he's rather close to it. In the same turn, extreme spinal or brain damage could certainly render him dead. Vampires in this canon are quite resilient but aren't indestructible.
Here's a further intensive list of all Shinobu's strengths and weaknesses:
-Positive Traits-
Strategic
Intelligent
Calm
Thoughtful
Honest
Cautious
-Negative Traits-
Stubborn
Grim
Broody
Very Slow to Trust
Prideful
Sunshine Abilities/Powers:
Bloodlines:
Due to the unusual cross of his parents' clans, Shinobu has ended up with aspects from both the Vampire and Crusnik bloodlines, though he shows the Crusnik more strongly, he's also been cursed with the weakness of the Vampire bloodline where sunlight is concerned.
Crusnik
Shinobu is capable of turning his blood into weaponry thanks to his Crusnik Bloodline. He can also absorb the blood of his slain foes and use it to form a multitude of weaponry during the middle of combat. This technique helps him to counterattack quickly without the use of the Ohabari. His mastery of this particular bloodline also includes Shinobu's uncanny ability to make blood wings which him the ability to fly. Though it should be mentioned that if Shinobu relies on this technique for too long, he'll eventually pass out or even die from blood loss. During combat it's absolutely crucial for Shinobu to feed off his enemies while wielding his blood abilities or else risk dying.
Vampire
He can shift into a colony of bats and even fly if necessary, and it is a form that is well beyond a simple henge, but a true transformation of the body. The power of transmorphing into various different creatures is something quite pivotal for most in his family. Shinobu is also able to transform into a "cat" for extended periods of time, allowing him with the ability to infiltrate places with relative ease. As for his ability to fly, Shinobu can grow large bat-like red wings on his back very much like his mother's. The red wings from his Crusnik parentage are quite unusual for one of the vampire bloodline and are said to be "bad luck". It's because of this that Shinobu doesn't display his wings often.
Shinobu is very powerful and nearly indestructible like most pure-bloods of his mother's clan. His superhuman regeneration skills prevent him from dying for the most part, and it should also be noted that Shinobu has a high tolerance for pain as well. It's because of this fact that Shinobu is considered a rather difficult foe to fight.
However, in the same turn, it's very much possible for Shinobu to be killed by decapitation or extreme organ trauma. His regeneration skills works mostly to regrow his limbs, not completely heal his internal organs. Therefore, if he was to have a sword slashed through his heart, he would definitely perish. It's also worthy to note that Shinobu's rapid healing doesn't fare well against elemental jutsu. Shinobu is vulnerable against the elements like everyone else, and will succumb to heavy damage if injured by chakra blades or knives. His rapid healing abilities cannot cover the fact that Shinobu isn't indestructible. He simply has some advantages that most normal people lack.
Often praised for his outstanding dexterity and incredible speed, Shinobu is capable of feats that normal men could only dream about. His Vampire bloodline alone gifts him with superhuman strength and amazing endurance even when untrained. His resilience in combat is almost legendary considering he's able to fight for hours without even breaking sweat.
Physical Combat
Weapons
Unlike most from his mother's clan, Shinobu's extensive training with swords in general makes him a rather deadly opponent. He's noticeably faster and more agile than most humans, and is able to dodge and block bullets with his sword alone. His efficiency in combat makes him quite a force to reckon with considering his training alongside with his fellow members of the Silver Coven. However it should be noted that Shinobu's skill with blades is secondary to his skill with his bloodline.
In combat, Shinobu typically wields the Ohabari much like the Iaido method of swordsmanship which consists of smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its saya (scabbard) only briefly enough to strike his foes before placing the sword back in its sheath. This method of combat follows consists of the wielder's flow of energy as he unsheathes his blade to strike. Iaido follows the belief of the saying "Tsune ni ite, kyū ni awasu" (常に居て、急に合わす) which means "being constantly prepared, match and meet the opposition immediately." It's because of this that the emphasis of "iai", which is actually a state of "readiness", is always stressed in Iaido. The secondary emphasis lies on ones skill with drawing the sword and acting quickly to sudden attacks. This style of combat fits Shinobu best since he's capable of striking quicker due to his bloodline.
Shinobu's weapon of choice is the fabled Ame-no-Ohabari (天の尾羽張, lit. "Sword of Takamagahara", the double-edged blade") is a totsuka sword used by the mythical Izanagi in an act of infanticide. It's said that when his son Kagu-tsuchi was born, he burned his celestial mother Izanami to death. Distraught over the loss of his wife, Izanagi used this blade to cut Kagu-tuchi's body into eight pieces. Allegedly the blood that dripped off the Ame-no-Ohabari led to the creation of several deities, the God of the Sea and the God of Rain.
It's because of this sword's affinity to rain and water that its an aquamarine blade with a silver and black clothed hilt. The style of the Ohabari is more similar to a katana than an actual totsuka blade in design. It's a double edged-sword that has no flat side which means that both sides of the sword was designed to cut. Like most other katanas, this sword is characterized to by its unique appearance: a curved but slender edged blade with a circular guard and long grip for two-handed wielding.
Taijutsu:
Shinobu is skilled in Taijutsu which is a basic form of martial arts that utilizes the natural movements and abilities of the practitioner. While he's fonder of using his sword in combat, Shinobu does sometimes fight hand-to-hand without the use of his blade. He has more than enough strength and stamina to overpower his opponents and because of his background in Iaido, he's able to utilize his opponent's momentum against them.
Genjutsu:
Much like his mastery over Taijutsu, Shinobi is of course good at Genjutsu. He can subdue his presence and chakra well enough to hide himself from view. Shinobu typically relies on Genjutsu whenever he's in cat form. It makes it easier for him to inflate enemy strongholds if they believe him to be nothing more than a harmless feline.
Ninjutsu:
Shinobu's strong affinity to water allows him to use water based attacks while using Ninjutsu. Hes capable of forming weaponry not only out of his blood but also out of water as well. He's also practiced in creating defensive shields out of pure water in hopes of slowing down his opponent's advance. Shinobu's mastery over water is pretty much second nature and less taxing for him to control, unlike his Bloodline technique. In addition of forming watery daggers and knives, Shinobu can also create ropes and other oddities out of his chakra. He's able to manipulate water to suit his needs in combat and sometimes uses his Ninjutsu skills to form the watery illusion of an enormous cat.
Sunshine History: Born as a result of a brief pact made between the Himura of the Land of Earth and the silver-haired Nightoad Clan of Kirigakure, Shinobu was born into a realm where his strange dual heritage would subject him to both reverence and scorn. The Himuras were a clan of the vampire bloodline that hailed from before the Warring States Era, and sought to exalt their status by having their youngest daughter marry one of the many sons of the Nightroad Clan. The result of this union was Shinobu. At the tender age of five, Shinobu began his training to become a shinobi for Kirigakure. It was theorized that because of his peculiar lineage that Shinobu would become a brilliant shinobi even before he started training, and he would be a perfect vassal to represent his mother's clan in the royal courts of Earth in turn.
While they were indeed right about his heritage playing a key role to his success, and he showed great promise in his basic training, Shinobu had issues controlling the bloodline gift of the Nightroads. He could barely gain control of himself during combat whenever he tapped into the brutal power of his bloodline. The Blood Wings of the Crusnik would send the youth into a destructive and wild frenzy once he finally managed to call them, lacking the control that indicates any level of mastery. For a time it was believed that the child would never be able to master this crucial technique, and members of the Himura Clan became disheartened that their gamble might have failed them. No one expected that a union between a vampire and a crusnik would result in a child possessing both of the bloodlines of his parents. Everyone assumed that Shinobu would take solely after the dominant genes of his father, and in turn be more powerful for it. However, as the child grew, Shinobu clearly shared the same weaknesses of his mother's vampiric side and only half the strength of his father's. If it hadn't been for the loving embrace of his mother Misaki, Shinobu would've succumbed to despair. While it took additional years for him to master the usage of blood weapons, eventually Shinobu became quite efficient with this technique during his teenage years.
Shinobu's extensive training within the Academy in his early life earned him both the respect and dislike of his fellow classmates. Many feared the young man for is uncanny abilities, knowing the test at the end of their schooling to come, while others felt jealous of his progress. Despite all opposition, Shinobu continued to remain genial as his classmates looked on with scorn. The boy worked hard to earn the approval of his teachers, and fiercely battled against his classmates in hopes of achieving the day when he could be a shinobi. However, Shinobu eventually began to show discontent in his progress. Even though Shinobu was progressing well enough, the boy always had to study twice as hard to keep up with his classmates. To an onlooker it always seemed as if the boy was constantly one step ahead of his class, but that's only because of how much effort Shinobu had to put into his work. In the end, he still was not one of the first in his class to graduate, or even try for it, waiting until he was ten before being pressed into taking the bloody test that marked a Kiri shinobi's rite of passage.
This did not halt the incessant studying his father and his father's clan wished him to do.
After achieving the rank of Chunin barely a year later, Shinobu expressed his displeasure with his father and begged him to no longer be pressured into ascending the ranks. All of the vigorous training and constant missions were having a toll on the young man, making it harder and harder for him to keep up. His father, Julius, listened to his pleas but refused to let him quit. He explained to his son that as a Nightroad that he must pursue his destiny rather than flee from it. It was his duty as a clansmen to bring honor both the Nightroads and the Himuras by becoming a legendary shinobi. Having taken his father's words to heart, Shinobu found the determination within him to continue. While the fatigue he felt was definitely settling in, Shinobu refused to quit. When the boy achieved the rank of Jounin by age seventeen, his life changed dramatically.
As Shinobu continued with his training, a nasty rumor began to spread about his mother’s family due to a message intercepted from the Land of Earth to one of his clansmen. Apparently the Land of Earth wanted to use the Himuras to infiltrate the ranks of the Water Country in hopes of someday overtaking their distant neighbor. While this was certainly unknown to his mother, representatives of Kirigakure believed it to be true. Shinobu's birth alone was all the proof necessary to condemn the Himuras, considering he was born to show favor with the Nightroad Clan. The nobility's response to this treachery was a harsh one. The Himuras were banished from Water Country by the acting Daimyo, and any found within their country's borders were effectively killed. Misaki, his mother, fell victim to that purge.
Despite how much he and his father pleaded with the nobles to spare his mother’s life, Misaki was falsely killed for the treachery of her clan. While there were talks of letting Shinobu join his mother in death, it was the Nightroad Clan that put an end to the madness. They claimed Shinobu as one of their own through his father and protected him from the purge. With all ties to his mother’s family completely cut off, Shinobu sank into a deep depression and was unable to continue in his duties. Deemed a failure by his upstanding relatives, Shinobu took his leave of Kirigakure and of the Water Country completely.
He wandered the world in search of meaning to his seemingly pointless life, while coping with the unjust death of his mother. During his travels, Shinobu learned much about the world through the various people he met. He visited Mount Jofuku, traveled to the Turtle Islands thanks to the help of a few travelers he met along the way, and eventually found himself in Ainokura for a brief time. Seeing the world in all of its horrors and splendors made Shinobu come to appreciate and value the life his parents sacrificed for him. The melancholy that he felt began to form into something akin to determination to continue where he left off. So after about nearby sixteen years of wandering, Shinobu returns back to his homeland a changed man, fully intending to use the turbulence of the world to take back up his abandoned duties.
Prose sample:
There's something oddly surreal about returning to Kirigakure after all this time. Whether it be the thick red mist that shrouds the gaze of the rising sun or the eerie silence, Shinobu finds himself wandering down the streets of this sleepy village on edge. He's an unwanted fellow around these parts, a metaphorical leper who's been cast out due to his malady. While much has changed since the events that lead to his mother's death, Shinobu finds himself still struggling to cope with the senseless of the entire act. Did they truly believe the Himuras to be traitors under the service of Earth? Surely they had more proof of his family's deceit than just some measly letter. No matter how many times he thinks about what transpired, nothing added up and it hardly made sense. Still somewhat hesitant to announce his return to the village after so many years, the Jounin wanders about the narrow sidewalks donning a rather clever disguise.
He's always been good at genjutsu, especially whenever he takes the form of a cat. No one would suspect this red-eyed feline to be none other than Shinobu Himura the former prodigy of the Nightroad clan. Most certainly not since this little feline looks just about as harmless as any other house cat. The blond feline hops skillfully onto the rafters of a nearby building and slowly approaches the far edge of the roof to catch a better glimpse of the village from above. Not much has change with Kirgakure since his departure, at least physically. The familiar moss littered rooftops make him feel at home as he meanders about without a sense of urgency in his steps. Kirigakure has a knack for looking abandoned and desolate due to its intriguing geographical location and the odd way the mist settles during the day.
The feline hops from rooftop to rooftop before eventually stopping at the base of a rather tall tree. Skillfully and quickly the cat climbs within the shadows of the canopy and lingers there for a time. While sunlight doesn't exactly sit well with Shinobu due to his vampiric heritage, the man could linger out here for a time if he sticks to the shadows.
"I never thought I would be caught slinking around my own hometown..." In a puff of white smoke, the red-eyed feline vanishes.
Missive Sample:
[ It's not often that Shinobu is willing to stick his neck out there for someone else. Especially not when he's still dealing with one too many issues that have yet to be resolved from his past. However he feels almost obligated to send a message to the two little ninjas that assisted him today in Kirigakure. While he's not honestly fond of how Masanori initially handled the situation at first, Shinobu can at least appreciate that the young ninja has a good head upon his shoulders. As for his stalwart companion, Shinobu simply hopes the girl is recovering quite fine. ]
By the time you read this letter, I would'v set trail to Sunagakure. [ His handwriting is quite neat and fanciful with a few elegantly curved loops here and there. ] There's much we need to discuss but very little time. Therefore, I suggest that we rendezvous soon at a setting of your choice to further speak upon the matters that took place in Kirigakure.
[ It's clear that Shinobu doesn't trust relying on letters for the moment. That's why Shinobu is going by such a roundabout way of speaking about their adventures from earlier. He's quite the paranoid one. ]
Send word to me at the address listed on the envelope. It will be your best way of reaching me until we meet again.
Canon: Original
Character Journal:
bloodseraphGender: Male
Age: 39
Birthday: August 15th
Village Affiliation: Kirigakure
Rank: Jounin
Appearance: Tall ( around 6'1 ) and willowy, Shinobu stands out like a sore thumb in a crowd. If it isn't his extremely long blond hair that billows down his back like silk or the strangely red eyes he possesses, it's his somewhat bizarre taste in fashion. The best way to describe Shinobu's appearance is to compare him with that of a priest. Unlike other vampires who adopted a more flamboyant style of dress consisting of fancy brocades and frills, Shinobu wears a simple black ankle-length cassock. The cassock, also known as a soutane, is an item typically worn by priests or monks. Along with this simplistic attire is the oddly out of place "fox mask" he sometimes dons during battle.
If he isn't donning his usual outfit, Shinobu tends to wear red or blue kimonos instead. He doesn't have much fondness for colors in general but he is impartial to dark blues. He particularly is fond of blue because of his love for the midnight sky. On even rarer occasions, Shinobu will wear an all white ceremonial kimono with decorative red markings elegantly etched upon its long sleeves. This attire of his looks quite similar to that of a Shinto priest.
Personality: Shinobu is a shrewd and intelligent individual, a man of great wisdom who is aware of both his duty and role to his country. He prides himself in his neutrality during times of warfare and remains forever watchful of the current political climate of his country and beyond. While he secretly longs to turn his blade towards the nobles who wish to capitalize upon the political strife between countries, Shinobu is quick to stay his hand. He's an observer by nature who doesn't like to directly effect the course of history. However, Shinobu is known to act on the behalf of Kirigakure's interests if it benefits his countrymen.
During times of peace, Shinobu is quite a genial fellow with a kind but reserved demeanor. His more pacifistic approach to battle might leave the impression that he's weak, but Shinobu is anything other than weak. He knows of his strengths well and knows how to capitalize on an opponent's weaknesses through subtle observation. He's a calculating tactician, one who've been secretly keeping a close eye some of Kirigakure's problematic neighbors. Unlike other fellow Chunin who feel the need to boast about their strengths, Shinobu likes to remain silent. He believes that the best element in combat is surprise. Always in a state of heightened awareness, Shinobu is always ready to draw his blade at a moment's notice. Whether it be for defense or offense, Shinobu can quickly shift from his genial demeanor to one of calculating coldness at will.
Outside of his role as one of Kirigakure's stalwart protectors, Shinobu is quite a charmer with a knack for storytelling. He says a deep fondness for the arts and typically enjoys origami. He's a thespian at heart with a love for literature. Shinobu's fondness for literature stems from the noble teachings of his parents. He honors his father and mother's legacy and hopes to do them justice. While he certainly possesses a love for books, Shinobu is honestly interested in people more. He likes watching and observing how others interact with each other. Shinobu finds it interesting to see how others behave out of his own delight for social settings. He adamantly enjoy spending time with friends and family alike, and is more than willing to greet others with a reserved smile. Although it should be noted that Shinobu can be quite cautious when dealing with towards strangers. He's slow to trust despite being perceived as a rather friendly and courteous fellow. His friendliness is limited by his deep seeded need to be careful. He's not naive to the ways of the world and knows for a fact that others will attempt to him if he somehow poses a threat.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Besides his obvious physical strengths he possesses due to his dual vampire and Crusnik heritage, Shinobu is quite intelligent and rather efficient in combat. He's a learned tactician who's capable of exploiting his opponent's weaknesses. He has a mind for combat and will always try to subdue his foes with smooth strategy rather than outright brutality. Shinobu tends to play it safe when it comes down to either battling people on the field or facing them in discussion. One could say that his stubborn nature can be one of his strengths. Shinobu honestly hates to lose. If he fails at an objective or mission, he'll do his best to overcome the setback by any means necessary. Shinobu, much like his namesake, he knows how to endure loss with poised grace and hardly ever makes a scene.
Shinobu's main physical weakness is sunlight. While he's capable of walking in sunlight for short periods of time, Shinobu's powers are significantly diminished if he lingers out within the sun for too long. Extreme exposes to sunlight will eventually cause his skin to flake up and burn. This is why Shinobu is almost never seen during the day and if he is, he's usually covered from head to toe in thick bandages or coats. Though it should be noted that Shinobu can walk outside during sunset with almost no issue as long as his exposure to the sun isn't too lengthy.
Shinobu's other weakness deals with his inability to regenerate certain organs. While it's possible to regenerate his limbs with ease, Shinobu cannot regenerate his heart. The vampire can literally generate his legs after getting them ripped off, but if his heart was to ripped out of his chest, he would honestly die. Shinobu hasn't hardly as indestructible as he seems but he's rather close to it. In the same turn, extreme spinal or brain damage could certainly render him dead. Vampires in this canon are quite resilient but aren't indestructible.
Here's a further intensive list of all Shinobu's strengths and weaknesses:
-Positive Traits-
Strategic
Intelligent
Calm
Thoughtful
Honest
Cautious
-Negative Traits-
Stubborn
Grim
Broody
Very Slow to Trust
Prideful
Sunshine Abilities/Powers:
Bloodlines:
Due to the unusual cross of his parents' clans, Shinobu has ended up with aspects from both the Vampire and Crusnik bloodlines, though he shows the Crusnik more strongly, he's also been cursed with the weakness of the Vampire bloodline where sunlight is concerned.
Crusnik
Shinobu is capable of turning his blood into weaponry thanks to his Crusnik Bloodline. He can also absorb the blood of his slain foes and use it to form a multitude of weaponry during the middle of combat. This technique helps him to counterattack quickly without the use of the Ohabari. His mastery of this particular bloodline also includes Shinobu's uncanny ability to make blood wings which him the ability to fly. Though it should be mentioned that if Shinobu relies on this technique for too long, he'll eventually pass out or even die from blood loss. During combat it's absolutely crucial for Shinobu to feed off his enemies while wielding his blood abilities or else risk dying.
Vampire
He can shift into a colony of bats and even fly if necessary, and it is a form that is well beyond a simple henge, but a true transformation of the body. The power of transmorphing into various different creatures is something quite pivotal for most in his family. Shinobu is also able to transform into a "cat" for extended periods of time, allowing him with the ability to infiltrate places with relative ease. As for his ability to fly, Shinobu can grow large bat-like red wings on his back very much like his mother's. The red wings from his Crusnik parentage are quite unusual for one of the vampire bloodline and are said to be "bad luck". It's because of this that Shinobu doesn't display his wings often.
Shinobu is very powerful and nearly indestructible like most pure-bloods of his mother's clan. His superhuman regeneration skills prevent him from dying for the most part, and it should also be noted that Shinobu has a high tolerance for pain as well. It's because of this fact that Shinobu is considered a rather difficult foe to fight.
However, in the same turn, it's very much possible for Shinobu to be killed by decapitation or extreme organ trauma. His regeneration skills works mostly to regrow his limbs, not completely heal his internal organs. Therefore, if he was to have a sword slashed through his heart, he would definitely perish. It's also worthy to note that Shinobu's rapid healing doesn't fare well against elemental jutsu. Shinobu is vulnerable against the elements like everyone else, and will succumb to heavy damage if injured by chakra blades or knives. His rapid healing abilities cannot cover the fact that Shinobu isn't indestructible. He simply has some advantages that most normal people lack.
Often praised for his outstanding dexterity and incredible speed, Shinobu is capable of feats that normal men could only dream about. His Vampire bloodline alone gifts him with superhuman strength and amazing endurance even when untrained. His resilience in combat is almost legendary considering he's able to fight for hours without even breaking sweat.
Physical Combat
Weapons
Unlike most from his mother's clan, Shinobu's extensive training with swords in general makes him a rather deadly opponent. He's noticeably faster and more agile than most humans, and is able to dodge and block bullets with his sword alone. His efficiency in combat makes him quite a force to reckon with considering his training alongside with his fellow members of the Silver Coven. However it should be noted that Shinobu's skill with blades is secondary to his skill with his bloodline.
In combat, Shinobu typically wields the Ohabari much like the Iaido method of swordsmanship which consists of smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its saya (scabbard) only briefly enough to strike his foes before placing the sword back in its sheath. This method of combat follows consists of the wielder's flow of energy as he unsheathes his blade to strike. Iaido follows the belief of the saying "Tsune ni ite, kyū ni awasu" (常に居て、急に合わす) which means "being constantly prepared, match and meet the opposition immediately." It's because of this that the emphasis of "iai", which is actually a state of "readiness", is always stressed in Iaido. The secondary emphasis lies on ones skill with drawing the sword and acting quickly to sudden attacks. This style of combat fits Shinobu best since he's capable of striking quicker due to his bloodline.
Shinobu's weapon of choice is the fabled Ame-no-Ohabari (天の尾羽張, lit. "Sword of Takamagahara", the double-edged blade") is a totsuka sword used by the mythical Izanagi in an act of infanticide. It's said that when his son Kagu-tsuchi was born, he burned his celestial mother Izanami to death. Distraught over the loss of his wife, Izanagi used this blade to cut Kagu-tuchi's body into eight pieces. Allegedly the blood that dripped off the Ame-no-Ohabari led to the creation of several deities, the God of the Sea and the God of Rain.
It's because of this sword's affinity to rain and water that its an aquamarine blade with a silver and black clothed hilt. The style of the Ohabari is more similar to a katana than an actual totsuka blade in design. It's a double edged-sword that has no flat side which means that both sides of the sword was designed to cut. Like most other katanas, this sword is characterized to by its unique appearance: a curved but slender edged blade with a circular guard and long grip for two-handed wielding.
Taijutsu:
Shinobu is skilled in Taijutsu which is a basic form of martial arts that utilizes the natural movements and abilities of the practitioner. While he's fonder of using his sword in combat, Shinobu does sometimes fight hand-to-hand without the use of his blade. He has more than enough strength and stamina to overpower his opponents and because of his background in Iaido, he's able to utilize his opponent's momentum against them.
Genjutsu:
Much like his mastery over Taijutsu, Shinobi is of course good at Genjutsu. He can subdue his presence and chakra well enough to hide himself from view. Shinobu typically relies on Genjutsu whenever he's in cat form. It makes it easier for him to inflate enemy strongholds if they believe him to be nothing more than a harmless feline.
Ninjutsu:
Shinobu's strong affinity to water allows him to use water based attacks while using Ninjutsu. Hes capable of forming weaponry not only out of his blood but also out of water as well. He's also practiced in creating defensive shields out of pure water in hopes of slowing down his opponent's advance. Shinobu's mastery over water is pretty much second nature and less taxing for him to control, unlike his Bloodline technique. In addition of forming watery daggers and knives, Shinobu can also create ropes and other oddities out of his chakra. He's able to manipulate water to suit his needs in combat and sometimes uses his Ninjutsu skills to form the watery illusion of an enormous cat.
Sunshine History: Born as a result of a brief pact made between the Himura of the Land of Earth and the silver-haired Nightoad Clan of Kirigakure, Shinobu was born into a realm where his strange dual heritage would subject him to both reverence and scorn. The Himuras were a clan of the vampire bloodline that hailed from before the Warring States Era, and sought to exalt their status by having their youngest daughter marry one of the many sons of the Nightroad Clan. The result of this union was Shinobu. At the tender age of five, Shinobu began his training to become a shinobi for Kirigakure. It was theorized that because of his peculiar lineage that Shinobu would become a brilliant shinobi even before he started training, and he would be a perfect vassal to represent his mother's clan in the royal courts of Earth in turn.
While they were indeed right about his heritage playing a key role to his success, and he showed great promise in his basic training, Shinobu had issues controlling the bloodline gift of the Nightroads. He could barely gain control of himself during combat whenever he tapped into the brutal power of his bloodline. The Blood Wings of the Crusnik would send the youth into a destructive and wild frenzy once he finally managed to call them, lacking the control that indicates any level of mastery. For a time it was believed that the child would never be able to master this crucial technique, and members of the Himura Clan became disheartened that their gamble might have failed them. No one expected that a union between a vampire and a crusnik would result in a child possessing both of the bloodlines of his parents. Everyone assumed that Shinobu would take solely after the dominant genes of his father, and in turn be more powerful for it. However, as the child grew, Shinobu clearly shared the same weaknesses of his mother's vampiric side and only half the strength of his father's. If it hadn't been for the loving embrace of his mother Misaki, Shinobu would've succumbed to despair. While it took additional years for him to master the usage of blood weapons, eventually Shinobu became quite efficient with this technique during his teenage years.
Shinobu's extensive training within the Academy in his early life earned him both the respect and dislike of his fellow classmates. Many feared the young man for is uncanny abilities, knowing the test at the end of their schooling to come, while others felt jealous of his progress. Despite all opposition, Shinobu continued to remain genial as his classmates looked on with scorn. The boy worked hard to earn the approval of his teachers, and fiercely battled against his classmates in hopes of achieving the day when he could be a shinobi. However, Shinobu eventually began to show discontent in his progress. Even though Shinobu was progressing well enough, the boy always had to study twice as hard to keep up with his classmates. To an onlooker it always seemed as if the boy was constantly one step ahead of his class, but that's only because of how much effort Shinobu had to put into his work. In the end, he still was not one of the first in his class to graduate, or even try for it, waiting until he was ten before being pressed into taking the bloody test that marked a Kiri shinobi's rite of passage.
This did not halt the incessant studying his father and his father's clan wished him to do.
After achieving the rank of Chunin barely a year later, Shinobu expressed his displeasure with his father and begged him to no longer be pressured into ascending the ranks. All of the vigorous training and constant missions were having a toll on the young man, making it harder and harder for him to keep up. His father, Julius, listened to his pleas but refused to let him quit. He explained to his son that as a Nightroad that he must pursue his destiny rather than flee from it. It was his duty as a clansmen to bring honor both the Nightroads and the Himuras by becoming a legendary shinobi. Having taken his father's words to heart, Shinobu found the determination within him to continue. While the fatigue he felt was definitely settling in, Shinobu refused to quit. When the boy achieved the rank of Jounin by age seventeen, his life changed dramatically.
As Shinobu continued with his training, a nasty rumor began to spread about his mother’s family due to a message intercepted from the Land of Earth to one of his clansmen. Apparently the Land of Earth wanted to use the Himuras to infiltrate the ranks of the Water Country in hopes of someday overtaking their distant neighbor. While this was certainly unknown to his mother, representatives of Kirigakure believed it to be true. Shinobu's birth alone was all the proof necessary to condemn the Himuras, considering he was born to show favor with the Nightroad Clan. The nobility's response to this treachery was a harsh one. The Himuras were banished from Water Country by the acting Daimyo, and any found within their country's borders were effectively killed. Misaki, his mother, fell victim to that purge.
Despite how much he and his father pleaded with the nobles to spare his mother’s life, Misaki was falsely killed for the treachery of her clan. While there were talks of letting Shinobu join his mother in death, it was the Nightroad Clan that put an end to the madness. They claimed Shinobu as one of their own through his father and protected him from the purge. With all ties to his mother’s family completely cut off, Shinobu sank into a deep depression and was unable to continue in his duties. Deemed a failure by his upstanding relatives, Shinobu took his leave of Kirigakure and of the Water Country completely.
He wandered the world in search of meaning to his seemingly pointless life, while coping with the unjust death of his mother. During his travels, Shinobu learned much about the world through the various people he met. He visited Mount Jofuku, traveled to the Turtle Islands thanks to the help of a few travelers he met along the way, and eventually found himself in Ainokura for a brief time. Seeing the world in all of its horrors and splendors made Shinobu come to appreciate and value the life his parents sacrificed for him. The melancholy that he felt began to form into something akin to determination to continue where he left off. So after about nearby sixteen years of wandering, Shinobu returns back to his homeland a changed man, fully intending to use the turbulence of the world to take back up his abandoned duties.
Prose sample:
There's something oddly surreal about returning to Kirigakure after all this time. Whether it be the thick red mist that shrouds the gaze of the rising sun or the eerie silence, Shinobu finds himself wandering down the streets of this sleepy village on edge. He's an unwanted fellow around these parts, a metaphorical leper who's been cast out due to his malady. While much has changed since the events that lead to his mother's death, Shinobu finds himself still struggling to cope with the senseless of the entire act. Did they truly believe the Himuras to be traitors under the service of Earth? Surely they had more proof of his family's deceit than just some measly letter. No matter how many times he thinks about what transpired, nothing added up and it hardly made sense. Still somewhat hesitant to announce his return to the village after so many years, the Jounin wanders about the narrow sidewalks donning a rather clever disguise.
He's always been good at genjutsu, especially whenever he takes the form of a cat. No one would suspect this red-eyed feline to be none other than Shinobu Himura the former prodigy of the Nightroad clan. Most certainly not since this little feline looks just about as harmless as any other house cat. The blond feline hops skillfully onto the rafters of a nearby building and slowly approaches the far edge of the roof to catch a better glimpse of the village from above. Not much has change with Kirgakure since his departure, at least physically. The familiar moss littered rooftops make him feel at home as he meanders about without a sense of urgency in his steps. Kirigakure has a knack for looking abandoned and desolate due to its intriguing geographical location and the odd way the mist settles during the day.
The feline hops from rooftop to rooftop before eventually stopping at the base of a rather tall tree. Skillfully and quickly the cat climbs within the shadows of the canopy and lingers there for a time. While sunlight doesn't exactly sit well with Shinobu due to his vampiric heritage, the man could linger out here for a time if he sticks to the shadows.
"I never thought I would be caught slinking around my own hometown..." In a puff of white smoke, the red-eyed feline vanishes.
Missive Sample:
[ It's not often that Shinobu is willing to stick his neck out there for someone else. Especially not when he's still dealing with one too many issues that have yet to be resolved from his past. However he feels almost obligated to send a message to the two little ninjas that assisted him today in Kirigakure. While he's not honestly fond of how Masanori initially handled the situation at first, Shinobu can at least appreciate that the young ninja has a good head upon his shoulders. As for his stalwart companion, Shinobu simply hopes the girl is recovering quite fine. ]
By the time you read this letter, I would'v set trail to Sunagakure. [ His handwriting is quite neat and fanciful with a few elegantly curved loops here and there. ] There's much we need to discuss but very little time. Therefore, I suggest that we rendezvous soon at a setting of your choice to further speak upon the matters that took place in Kirigakure.
[ It's clear that Shinobu doesn't trust relying on letters for the moment. That's why Shinobu is going by such a roundabout way of speaking about their adventures from earlier. He's quite the paranoid one. ]
Send word to me at the address listed on the envelope. It will be your best way of reaching me until we meet again.