niceguypose | Second Gate [Video/Action]

[Video]

[The video feed clicks on to show this young ninja grinning exuberantly. He's happy to be on the ground instead of falling from the sky into different timelines this time around.]

Greetings, people of Luceti! My name is Rock Lee. I am a ninja from the village of Konoha, and I am also known as the "Green Beast of Konoha". I have been here for around two months now, and I am ashamed to realize that I have never made a proper introduction over the journal. Please forgive me for being so impolite. I assure you all that, as I have served Konoha in the past, here I shall also risk my life to protect any of you from threats, to the greatest of my abilities!

Although most of my time is dedicated to my intense and vigorous study, being caught in the springtime of youth has also made me inclined to constantly seek out new bonds to form with comrades. I anticipate many a new friend, so please converse with me! Lastly, let me tell you my 'way of the ninja': I believe that when it comes to abilities, "hard work" can overcome "genius"! Please, tell me what you think about it.

[He then flashes the camera a nice guy pose - a thumbs up accompanied by a shining smile.]

[Voice: Filtered to Sasuke - 50 % hackable]

[He just... breathes heavily for several moments, not knowing what to say at all. Then he panics and cuts off the feed.]

[Action]

[Lee can be come across almost anywhere, as his daily jogs take him all over the place. He will spend a majority of the day training at the Battle Dome, however. Feel free to observe and approach him as he constantly sets up new simulations for himself. All this simulated training is the closest to the effect of an addictive drug that he'll be experiencing.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...Come to think of it, we've been here two months too and we never properly introduced ourselves over the journal either. We'll have to fix that at some point soon. For now--]

Hello Rock Lee, it's nice to meet you. I'm Cilan, a Pokemon Connoisseur from the Unova region. [Not that he expects you to have any idea of what the heck that is.] I'm afraid I haven't heard of a "way of the ninja" before, but from what it sounds like, it does have an agreeable taste: after all, even "genius" can require hard work in order to become knowledgeable and experienced in whatever subjects you're interested in.

It is nice to meet you as well, Cilan-kun! And this is true. A genius can always augment one's natural talents through working hard. But others must perform hard work just to catch up. And... Pokemon, eh? Are those the strange creatures from another world like the one owned by Masaomi-kun?

[Ah, so it's a debate on natural talent vs. talent gained through hard work...but then he's distracted by Pokemon.]

Yes, that's right! Pokemon are creatures with a wide variety of tastes when it comes to their amazing abilities and powers--my world is largely populated by them, and many are either wild or caught and partnered up with humans, their "trainers", who befriend them and work together with them through battles and the like.

Oh! I did not know the details of their existence! This sounds like a moving story of friendship and passion!

It certainly can be--training together and becoming friends through thrilling adventures and stimulating battles is what many of us live for! And speaking as both a Pokemon Connoisseur and a Gym Leader, I think it's a wonderful taste to experience when it comes to witnessing the heart-warming bonds of a Pokemon and their Trainer, along with testing the skills of an opponent and determining one's capabilities!

Such a fascinating world. The training of these Pokemon sounds like a wonderful way to express one's youth and guts! And you say that you run a gym as well? What sort of training regimen do you implement?

Well, Pokemon gyms are a little different than regular gyms--you see, Gym Leaders are considered some of the strongest trainers in the region, so Trainers usually come to the gyms to challenge us to a battle and witness the fruits of their own labor. A Gym Leader's job is to figure out the challenger's nature and the strength of their bond with their Pokemon, and in a way, become an obstacle for them to overcome, someone to set the bar for them in becoming better Trainers.

If the Trainer and their Pokemon lose, we do our best to teach and give them advice on how to improve their training regimen and the friendship of their Pokemon, and they are more than welcome to come back and challenge us again when they are ready. But if they win the battle, they are recognized as worthy opponents and we award them badges as a medal of honor, so to speak.

[Rock Lee has his notepad out and is scribbling down notes about this.]

Ah! I see. It is not a gym in the conventional sense. However, it still exists to help others grow stronger! That sounds like a highly esteemed and admirable position, Cilan-kun! [It is odd how nigh-identical this person's voice sounds compared to Masaomi's...] I can only imagine the passion of a trainer and their Pokemon growing stronger through defeat and becoming even better, relying on their guts to succeed!

[Haha yeah, Cilan and Masaomi have noticed how similar their voices sound too...very odd indeed.

He nods in agreement.] Thank you, I'm glad you think so. It's a very rewarding position and it gives me great pride and a taste of joy to see how Trainers battle, and especially when I can reward them for their efforts at the end of the battle when they succeed.

How about you? I'm a little curious to know what it's like being a ninja in comparison.

Ah, to watch youths grow and blossom... that must be the joy which Gai-Sensei feels!

The life of a ninja is one that is tough and arduous. From youth, we are trained in all the arts we need to succeed. After graduating from the academy and achieving the rank of "genin", we are assigned to three-man cells performing missions under the guidance of a mentor of higher rank, usually, a "jounin". The missions themselves rank from the mundane to matters of national importance, but all contain valuable lessons for us ninjas of youth! And as we grow more skilled, there are promotions to the "chunin" and "jounin" ranks, who can act as leaders and independently!

We all live in hidden villages within our respective nations, under the guidance of a Kage who governs us. I hail from Konoha Village, where the esteemable Tsunade-sama is the Hokage!

[Cilan might be making one or two notes of this himself as he listens]

Ah, I see! It certainly sounds like a very hard-working life with many challenging flavors to it. I think I can understand what you meant before with your "way of the ninja", since being a ninja must require rigorous training and dedication in order to be able to complete important missions for your village.

It does! I undergo the harshest trainings that I and my sensei could imagine! And I work extra hard to compensate for my lack of talent in genjutsu or ninjutsu!

"Genjutsu" and "Ninjutsu"? [He sort of has a vague idea of what Ninjutsu is, but the other one he's not sure of.] Hm...I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with those tastes myself when it comes to what I know about ninjas.

Let me explain it to you, then, Cilan-kun! Ninja techniques are divided into three branches. "Genjutsu" is the art of illusion, which is mostly deceptive mental techniques. "Ninjutsu" comprises of a variety of ninja arts, many of which draw on elemental power. Both of those branches utilize chakra, the energy within the body, but I have never been able to sufficiently channel my chakra to perform any of them. Instead, I rely solely on the third branch, "taijutsu", which is pure hand-to-hand combar!

Oh, I see now! I never knew that there were different branches of ninja techniques like that...it all sounds very fascinating! [taking notes of this too] Plus, having skills in Taijutsu would certainly be a good thing to have when it comes to being able to defend yourself, I think.

[Sadly, he doesn't know as much knowledge about it himself other than what he's seen of martial arts movies. ^^;;]

Edited 2012-09-19 12:55 (UTC)

It is, of course! I train tirelessly to be as perfect at it as I can! That is why I say that "hard work" can overcome "genius". I hope to perfect taijutsu to the point where I can defeat users of the other two styles, including my fiercest rivals!

Mm, I understand--this dream of yours appears to have an admirable taste, and it's always wonderful to see people work hard towards their goals. I wish you the best of luck in succeeding!

Why thank you, Cilan-kun! I am glad you are appreciative of it. I wish you the best of luck in achieving your own goals as well!

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