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[Seikon]

Ishikawa Eiko


[Title] Aficionado of Mirage

[Age] 11
[Sex] Female
[Height] 4 feet, 7 inches
[Character Type] Shinobi
[Country/Village] Kaze no Kuni / Sunagakure no Sato
[Rank] [Advanced] Genin
[Division] KAZE Investigator Trainee; KATA Airman

[Nindo; "Way of the Ninja"]
"Watch, Listen, Learn."

[Description]

Eiko is short for her age, and really, she's just small period. Her youthful body is just beginning to develop into that of a woman's; for now, she's stuck with a wide baby-face bearing soft features, round ears that have a tendency to stick out a tad too far (which, thankfully, are naturally adept at keeping her hair out of her face), a long neck and a slender profile. In truth, she's quite the cute little girl, and would likely get more attention from her male classmates if she bothered to stylize her features a bit more and made an effort to turn her resting frown into a peppy smile. Not one for makeup, extravagant hairdos or small talk, Eiko prefers to be taken at face value; what you see is definitely what you get... right?

Her hair is a thick mess of hickory, parted on the left side with a tendency to fall directly in front of her right eye. The natural curtain provides a bit of privacy for the Genin, and unless she's trying to read, she won't even bother fixing it because she knows it'll just get messed up again anyway. Her skin is a tanned fawn, her doe-eyes a shade of currant; coupled with her wisteria-imprinted uniform, she truly takes on the appearance of a rare desert flower.

Concealing her budding beauty is a crimson hood, sewn directly into the cape provided by the academy upon her graduation. The garment is tied around her neck; the excess fabric knotted in a big bow which conceals the gleaming golden ring that would otherwise mark it as a Spartoi speciality. Beneath this outer layer, Eiko dons the maroon button down in accordance with uniform policy, though has been known to wear it loosely (and with the top few buttons left undone revealing her neck and part of her shoulders). Her forearms are covered by crimson arm guards, worn over the top of her uniform's shirt.

She wears a short, mid-thigh length sand colored skirt over dark-brown spandex leggings which extend to her ankles. To protect her feet, she wears deep crimson shinobi sandals with shin-guard extensions of the same material built into the sandals themselves. Finally, to (literally) hold it all together, Eiko proudly bears Sunagakure's Hitai-ate on her uniform's dark-brown sash around her waist.

[Personality]

A single glance evaluation of Eiko in passing would suggest that she is a meek and somber eleven-year-old girl, bordering on creepy.

She is mysterious, often misunderstood due to her very private nature and disposition (often the quietest in any room). She is mostly ignored by boys, treated like a lesser-being by girls, and does little by way of changing this; while all shinobi should know not to judge a book by its cover, she's convinced that very few actually follow through on that adage.

At her core, Eiko is careful to a fault, yet clever, thoughtfully creative, and highly curious. She speaks in a measured tone, regulating herself well in forums both public and private. A keen observer, few details go unnoticed by the youth. She is somewhat out of touch with her peers, expressing a difficulty in connecting with others and understanding their emotions (often frustrating them instead with a silent stare). Her isolation is a result of self-induced solitude, which she is quite comfortable with, as it offers her an outsider's perspective on any and all happenings she is present to witness. She can be perceived as awkward at times, entering and exiting conversations abruptly at oddly timed moments. Despite this, she has proven herself highly independent and responsible, truly thinking before speaking, with hints of a quiet confidence riddled throughout her soft-spoken dialogue.

Eiko has a great love of reading, and though this interest trumps all others, to assume she is defined by her bookwormish quality is folly. The girl can be found humming or whistling a tune, talents she's honed over years of practice (though she does recognize that she isn't a very good singer). She is fond of writing, with a particular interest in short stories -- and is equally fond of illustrating them, preferring monochrome sketches to colorful artwork. Finally, and while it is a subject she's taken flak for in the past, Eiko has a soft spot for music boxes and has a collection of over twenty, each unique in construction and melody.

Though she carries a strong moral compass, Eiko is adaptable and certainly capable of deceit. After all, what kind of ninja would she be if she wasn't? She is cunning, confident, and certainly not a stranger to the Shinobi way. Each of her thoughts, words and actions are calculated with precision outside the comprehension of children her age, including many if not all of her Spartoi peers. With an odd interest in ancient history, strategy and war-making, theology, mysticism, the occult and arcane (including genjutsu and ninjutsu), she invests much of her free time reading with an emphasis on taboo and otherwise forbidden subjects whenever she can get her hands on them. Her hunger for knowledge is seemingly never sated -- knowledge which she prefers to keep to herself, because knowledge, as they say, is power.

[Combo Archetype: Mirage Elementalist]

Genjutsu Specialist - Elemental [Sand] Specialist
Combo Special: Base Duration for Village Genjutsu below Stage Five increased by one, thrice per thread
Stat Merits: +2 to Willpower, +2 Power, +1 to Intelligence, +1 Reserves
Stat Flaws: -3 to Strength, -2 Tactics, -1 to Stamina

Primary: Mental
Secondary: Chakra
Tertiary: Physical

Intelligence: 1 + 1 + 4 (+3 AP) (+1 ADV) = 10
Tactics: 1 - 2 + 3 (+2 AP) (+2 GMAP) = 6
Willpower: 1 + 2 + 3 (+3 AP) (+1 ADV) = 10

Power: 1 + 2 + 1 (+2 ADV) (+2 AP) (+1 TP) = 9
Control: 1 + 5 (+2 ADV) = 8
Reserves: 1 + 1 + 2 (+2 AP) (+2 ADV) = 8

Strength: 1 - 2 - 1 + 3 = 1 [Level One]
Speed: 1 + 2 (+3 AP) (+5 TP) = 11 [+8 AnO = 19] [Level Three]
Stamina: 1 - 1 + 1 (+2 AP) (+1 TP) = 4 [+10 AnO = 14] [Level Two]

GLOBAL NINJUTSU [S2]

(ADV) Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Technique) (S1)
Requirements: Control 3, Intelligence 2
(ADV) Kinobori/Kabenobori no Jutsu (Tree Walking / Wall Walking Technique) (S2)
Requirements: Power 5, Control 4, Reserves 4

SAND NINJUTSU + SWAPS [S3]

(F1) Suna Tegakari Fukikesu (Sand Track Eraser) (S1)
Requirements: Intelligence 4, Willpower 4
(F2) Suna Shuriken (Sand Shuriken) (S2)
Requirements: Intelligence 5, Willpower 4, Tactics 4
(F3) Tsuitou Suna (Tracking Sand) (S2)
Requirements: Power 6, Control 6, Intelligence 4
(F4) Suna Kawarimi (Sand Replacement) (S3)
Requirements: Intelligence 9, Willpower 9, Control 7
(AP) Migakizuna (Polishing Sand) (Replacing: Sunamuchi) (S3)
Requirements: Intelligence 10, Willpower 10, Reserves 8

SAND GENJUTSU + SWAPS [S3]

(F5) Kazeoto (Sound of the Wind) (S1)
Requirements: Willpower 3, Control 2
(F6) Tochikan (Familiarity) (S2)
Requirements: Willpower 5, Intelligence 4, Tactics 4
(F7) Keikaishin (Wariness) (S2)
Requirements: Reserves 5, Power 4, Control 4
(AP) Nigemizu Fukumen (Mirage Veil) (S2)
Requirements: Reserves 6, Power 5, Intelligence 5
(AP) Kaeru (Replace) (S2)
Requirements: Willpower 7, Intelligence 7, Reserves 6
(AP) Mougo Shibaku no Jutsu (False Strike Technique) (S3)
Requirements: Willpower 8, Intelligence 8, Tactics 6
(ADV) Hanasu (Division) (S3)
Requirements: Reserves 8, Power 6, Control 8
(ADV) Genjutsu Kai (Release) (Replacing: Moutsui) (S3)
Requirements: Willpower 9, Intelligence 9, Reserves 7
(AP) Shinkirou no Hada (Mirage Body) (Replacing: Open Slot) (S3)
Requirements: Willpower 10, Intelligence 10, Control 8

HAND TO HAND TAIJUTSU - FOOL'S BANE [S2]

Vital Strikes

Ichiban / Niban

Battle Analyses

Do-Over! / In Retrospect...

Pressure Points

Ekika / Ashigatame / Gekitsuu / Kutsuu

(2TP) Stage One (+5 Stamina, +4 Speed)
Requirements: Speed 6, Stamina 2
(AP/TP) Stage Two (+5 Stamina, +4 Speed)
Requirements: Speed 10, Stamina 4, Tactics 6


[Inventory]

Shinobi Kit (X)
Small Gourds (X)

Antidotes (3)

Arm Guards (1)
Shin Guards (1)

Shiroisuna-ken (3) (Info)

-Small Blade; O-Tanto (1)
-Obscured; Mirage (2)

Initial Weapon Points: 8
Weapon Points Purchased: 0
Weapon Points Used: 8
Remaining Weapon Points: 0

[Biography]

Originally Posted by Bureaucracy of Kaze no Kuni--Interview

Ah, Eiko-chan. [Hand Clap] I've been looking forward to speaking with you!

...

You're doing well, I trust?

...

I was a bit concerned when you forfeited so quickly in the Golden Gauntlet. You aced your written test, you know. One hundred percent.

I know.

I want you to feel comfortable, Eiko-chan."

I know, I just... don't want them to know what I'm capable of.

Clever.

Thank you, Nev--

Still, it's my job to help all of you bloom. Let's try and break you out of that shell, shall we?

I...

This is for the interview, your final examination. Just bear with me, please?

...alright.

Ishikawa Eiko... age, eleven... height, four... seven, now, is it? You've grown a bit taller since we had our last one-on-one.

Yes, a bit.

Do you remember the last time we spoke like this?

Mm. Yes, I do...

I know it's not a subject you're fond of talking about. Losing someone you love can be hard to cope with. Do you miss your brother?

Sometimes.

Sometimes? I know the two of you were very close. He taught you a lot, didn't he?

Yes, whenever he could.

I can tell -- you spent a whole week avoiding others behind a Mirage Veil long before I'd taught you about it... your classmates don't know very much about you, do they, Eiko? Sometimes it's better to open up to others than to shut them out, even if it means compromising your image.

...It's... it's like an empty feeling. It's there for a while, and then it isn't. I do miss Eiji, but, he did his duty. I am proud of him... of his memory.

It is very important that you understand that fact. We all haves roles to play, duties to fulfill.

...

I've often wondered why younger siblings followed in the footsteps of the eldest. Why did you? Your parents are fairly wealthy, with a large estate in upper Gion.

And they're never around to tend it. They're always too busy with work. By the time I was six I knew that they were too busy for me.

I know what that feels like.

...

So you've chosen this life... to spite your parents? That seems a tad rash. You don't seem the rebellious type.

I... I read all of the books in our library at home. And then, one day I snuck into Eiji's room, and, well...

You were hooked.

Yes! It's like... magic. The chakra, the illusions, I couldn't get enough. I just kept reading, and reading, and reading, tearing through Eiji's old scrolls. I must have spent a month in there, it was such a mess!

I can't imagine your brother was too happy with you when he found out.

He wasn't mad! He was surprised, at first, but then he sat down with me and we talked and talked. He said that I could be like him, if I wanted. That I could even move to the village and live with him.

And you did.

More than anything in the world. Mom and Dad were just names and faces... Eiji was... my hero. He was a hero of Sunagakure.

He certainly was. I must say, your resilience is inspiring. I can't help but wonder where you keep all that strength of spirit. Especially after last year's incident... Suzuka was a friend of yours, wasn't she?

She is still -- she used to say that Renchishin don't really die. She's on the 'Elysian Fields', I think they're called...

I wonder, is that afterlife exclusive to members of the Renchishin Clan? Do you think Eijiro lives on? Does anyone, really?

Wherever he is, Eiji will always be with me in my heart.

I see. Let's move on, shall we?

Okay.

I know that some of the other students can be, well...

Immature. I don't let them get to me.

Right. And they ought to grow up, if they're going to be fully-fledged Genin. This life is not easy, nor is it kind. They should know that by now.

They'll learn eventually, I hope.

I do too. You seem to care about them all, even though some of them feel like they have a right to pick on you. Why is that?

Well, they're... everyone deserves a chance, don't they?

Even the bad ones?

...

Just something to ponder on. At any rate, I wonder what your opinions of my remaining students are.

Sensei..?

Let's start with... Arechihana Rika?

The Jinchuuriki. She is strong, but...

Hmm?

I can't help but feel... bad for her. I often wonder what it must be like, to be a host. And, well...

And her cousin, Sasori? The Telescope of Dusk?

He is friendly, but we don't really talk... I'd imagine he must feel conflicted, especially after...

Obama Hiryo? Our Kaleidoscope of Dawn?

Oh, he's... he's really good, but...

But?

He seems so... frustrated. Like he's full of anger without an outlet for it all. Or a healthy outlet, anyway... And that technique...

[Waves Hand] That will do. What about Kinsha? I'd expect the two of you to get along.

We don't talk. He... they came from them. The Dustmen, I mean. I don't know what to think about it. Should we distrust them?

You should trust your own instincts, always.

...

Kyuukai Aikiko mentioned she felt like she would work well with you. Would you agree?

She is very good at medical ninjutsu and has a broad range of skills... she would benefit any team. But, she seems to be against killing, like Yoshi-sama... it's a little worry-some.

So I've noticed you have a crush Ogiwara Etsuya.

*Deep Blushing* I...

Hmm? Don't try and deny it, I've known for a while. But I wonder, why him?

Well, he's... he reads with me, we study ninjutsu together... molding chakra comes so naturally to him, it makes me a little jealous! I suppose it has to do with his father... we haven't really talked about it, but... it's his strength of spirit.

That's all?

Well he's... goofy, I guess. And cute, too.

[Smiles] Enlightening.

But, please, don't tell him!

Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me. We're crunched for time, so let's breeze through the rest of this.

Okay.

You like to read, write, draw, you're an excellent whistler, you're polite to a fault... what else? Do you cook? I really need someone to clean my house for me...

...

I'm kidding, silly. But really, your observational skills are beyond your years.

...

Eyes on me, please.

Sensei?

How many pieces of chalk are in this classroom?

Six... with a box of twenty-four in the drawer.

Impressive. How about erasers? Pencils?

Four... and... well, there were eighteen, but the nineteenth on the desk behind you is an illusion, a stick made to look like one through Kaeru. [Hand Seal]

Genjutsu Kai... Eiko-chan. You've got quite the future ahead of you. I think KAZE will be more than glad to have such an astute addition to their ranks.

You... you mean I...?

Yes, you just graduated. Congratulations, Ishikawa Eiko of Sunagakure's Iron Flower Generation.

But the practical exam... I thought...

The match with Takai would have been an ugly one, to be sure. Was it fear?

N-no... I mean, he's... he is really big, but...

I trust you didn't mean to give him a free pass.

I just... didn't want it to be Takai. Not in the first round. He's strong, he's worked so hard... we all have. But Takai...

Yes?

He wants this, maybe more than any of us. So I... had to look confident. I had to make them all believe that I would have won, because if we really did fight...

You might lose?

I... wanted to lose on my own terms.

I understand. As I said before, I'm allowed to make whatever call I want, and I say you passed the practical exam. The Board unanimously agreed after they reviewed your profile.

Nevin-sensei, I...

I understand that you like music boxes.

I do, I love them.

Why is that?

I know they're for little kids, but... they're just so pretty. And the melodies are... like memories. I have so many. I use them all, though, all for different things.

I've got something here for you. I was going to give it to you for your birthday, but I feel like graduation day is a better occasion, don't you think?

It's... it's beautiful.

You've certainly earned it.

Th-thank you, so much...

If you're ever feeling lonely, or just want to visit, please don't hesitate to drop in. I'm sure my future students could learn a thing or two from you.

*sniff*

Aw, don't cry! Come here, give me a hug! We'll be seeing each other again, I promise!

[Other Info]
Advanced Points (12) +1 Intelligence, +1 Willpower, +2 Power, +2 Control, +2 Reserves, Henge no Jutsu, Kinobori no Jutsu, Hanasu, Genjutsu Kai
Account Points (23) +3 Intelligence, +3 Willpower, +2 Tactics, +3 Speed, +2 Stamina, +2 Reserves, +2 Power
Nigemizu Fukumen, Kaeru, Mougo Shibaku no Jutsu, Shinkirou no Hada, Migakizuna, Ahou no Ojike II
Staff AP-Breaker Totals (17/27 Stats, 6/6 Jutsu)
GM Account Points (2) +2 Tactics

[Threads]
1. [Spartoi] The Language of Flowers: +1 Stamina
2. Catching Dragons: Ahou no Ojike Stage One, +3 AP [+3 Speed]
3. [Solo] Lonely Legacies: +2 Speed, +6 AP [+1 Intelligence, +1 Willpower, +2 Stamina, Jutsu: Shinkirou no Hada (Mirage Body), Migakizuna (Polishing Sand)], Inventory Edit
4. Honored Guests +2 Speed, +3 AP [+2 Power, Jutsu: Ahou no Ojike Stage Two]
5. Sand Mirage +1 Speed, +1 Power

[Wess]

I've already looked over this. Your stats and jutsu check out, but there's little to no mention of recent events in the biography. You should incorporate some, particularly the death of nearly all of the graduates from before, and the most recent, villagescape altering events with Minoru and Assate and all.

Once you do that, I'll pop back in to look again.

[Seikon]

Originally Posted by Interview

More than anything in the world. Mom and Dad were just names and faces... Eiji was... my hero. He was a hero of Sunagakure.

He certainly was. I must say, your resilience is inspiring. I can't help but wonder where you keep all that strength of spirit. Especially after last year's incident... Suzuka was a friend of yours, wasn't she?

She is still -- she used to say that Renchishin don't really die. She's on the 'Elysian Fields', I think they're called...

Her bro died to the priests. Suzuka was a Renchishin girl who attended the academy during the gas attack, so named in the Open "Letters" thread where the attack itself took place. But I will be tweaking the biography a little bit to include a bit more, and also some expansion on the other members of the Spartoi class once more characters become developed.

Patch Notes (1/7/16)

-Jutsu Modified
-ADV Points Usage Modified
-Stats Modified
-Biography Modified (now includes Obama Hiryo, Kinsha, Ogiwara Etsuya)

Pre-existing (Renchishin Takai)

Patch Notes (1/14/16)
-Biography Modified (now includes Sonozaki Mai, Arechihana Rika, Arechihana Sasori)

Patch Notes (1/17/16)
-Biography Modified (now includes Kyuukai Aikiko)

[Wess]

I'll half it. Just remember, Hito isn't going through the registry until they're all done though. So you have time for more edits.

[Junge]

What a pain of a stat sheet to check! Thanks for putting all the relevant info up there though so I didn't have to hunt for it.

The interviewer seems to do more talking than your character in the bio, which I'm mostly fine with. Less of that unreliable narrator stuff that plagues first person bios when you do it like that. I'll Half Approve though I'm paranoid I missed something when checking the stats.

[CommonRider]

I'll go ahead and Half-approve this

[Hitoko]

Aficionado of Mirage—Ishikawa Eiko [Seikon]
To look at / to wonder at / to admire

I’d like to prefix this review with some key things I told you in regards to your character, as to create a fair scope for everyone’s application:

1

The most off putting thing about Eiko isn’t necessarily her as a character, but rather the way she is presented. I understood that she is a gifted shinobi (you say that a lot in the biography), but phrases such as she could have easily been top of the class if she applied herself, or has observational skills that’d give Hitoko a run for his money (you lyin’ tho), or that she didn’t want her classmates to know her capabilities and held back, felt more like a cope out—or moreso self glorification—rather than an actual merit of her characteristics.

2

The problem is the way you handled Nevin, the Spartoi sensei. You utilized this higher authority—one who is by far the most crucial instrument in the development of the class—in a manner that short changed everyone else; you see what I’m saying? As Nevin is dominating the conversation, she is moreso praising Eiko at every turn, rather than facilitating a safe space between them so Eiko could expound upon her insecurities, her goals as a shinobi, or bring more insight of herself.

Glad these things changed, although you still have Nevin say—If you only applied yourself a bit more, you may have been top of the class and you’d come into my class using techniques far beyond the talents of an academy student. First sentence is still unnecessary, and you could easily swap out the second for a more neutral response, like—you’d come into my class with techniques I hadn’t covered yet, like when you avoided others behind that Mirage Veil you see?

I like this incarnation of Eiko’s presentation much more than the first, as the bio—clocking in at 1493—explores more of the character’s quirks and story opposed to being an exhibition of Nevin praising Eiko for her prowess and skill. As I’ve written many a time, that isn’t the point of the Spartoi. What makes Eiko more relatable, and distant to classmates and sensei, is the connection you’ve created between her and her elder brother. That’s what made this read the most potent for me, that narrative hook and motivation that seeped out to manifest the story of a little girl coping with—lmao as I keep writing, now that I think about it—the tragedies of the country as a whole.

Eiko is an interesting girl. She’s introverted and withdrawn, analytical and isolated, not one for expansive dialogues but her immature tendencies are there and evident through the conversation. The back and forth moment with the chalk and items in the classroom made her astute observational skills evident. That, and, having the grand scope of Spartoi on my mind, makes her being mentioned by other folks that much more…well, tangible, ya’know?

Now, there’s more substance. Make those tiny changes I’ve mentioned, NOW I can give you the Sand Primary GM Approval. Ishikawa Eiko is officially the Aficionado of Mirage.

Welcome to the Spartoi.

Additional Notes:

Lol look at the chin game on Seikon’s avatar tho
You one of the reason for no more spoilers and you know it lol
Daaaamnnnn didn’t even wait a day after I announced to put her up. Thirsty.
Lmao, aight let me stop playing tho
Okay with this description, some good ass writing
Lol “adage”—I see you

Spartoi Mentions:
Rika
Sasori
Hiryo
Kinsha
Aikiko
Etsuya*—what the, crush on Etsuya? With ya’ll young asses
Takai

[Seikon]

Made the edits you listed, thanks for the review and the spot in Spartoi! Looks like Eiko's sitting at 2.5/3.

[kyzuko]

Half-approved