Ninth Gate [Video/Action] Joint with Rapunzel and Ikki!

[niceguypose]

[Video]

[Rock Lee is framed in front of the forest, facing his open journal. And several feet to either side are none other than Rapunzel and Ikki, both now with their own green jumpsuits. Rapunzel stands tall (as tall as her petite build will let her, anyway) with her hands on her hips, looking intensely off into the middle-distance. Ikki stands short, since she’s several heads taller than the other girl (...whoops), and her own stance is automatically something more native to an airbender, although she’s trying to look serious. She may or may not be trying not to giggle, though. ]

Youth! It is the most passionate and heartbreaking time of our lives. The springtime of youth! And it is a time that need never end. Just look at Gai-Sensei! His youth is preserved with age. And so our youth shall endure through our springtime of youth! Behold! Two of my own students here in Luceti... Rapunzel-san, also known as the Glamorous Yellow Tunneling Horror! And Ikki-chan, the Gracefully Circling Pink Bird of Prey! They are loyal and formidable. As for me, I am Konoha's Beautiful Green Wild Beast, Rock Lee! Together, we represent the future of Luceti!

[He does punches and kicks at the air.]

Yeah, it’s the springtime of youth! [ Ikki sounds fairly enthusiastic, although then she relaxes to derail herself, baffled. ] ...Although actually isn’t it the summertime of youth, ‘cause I’m pretty sure it’s summer... [ She’s not 100% sure what Lee means sometimes. Most times. ]

[ Rapunzel breaks form for a moment, puzzled. Ikki raises a valid point... ] Couldn’t summer be the time of youth, too? Shouldn’t we be youthful all year round?

That is correct! Just as youth is for all times of life, so does the springtime of youth extend for the whole year! [He gives a nice guy pose and then focuses back at the video feed.] Lately, as an extension of our youth, I have focused my training on the attainment of flight. It is a dream many laugh at and mock... much like most youthful dreams of youth! But I see the truth. The other month, the spirits possessed us, and our wings became incredible and graceful! So I believe, more earnestly than ever, that proper training can break us through this chrysalis phase we are currently in... and we shall all become flight-capable youths! Being here for a year, myself... I can almost feel the metamorphosis occurring! Join us if you wish. Let all us like-minded youths assemble... a flying flight club of flying youths!

The sky’s the limit!

Exactly! YOUTH FULL POWER!

[And with that, they all make matching nice guy poses - flashing thumbs up to the camera matched with shining smiles.]

[Action]

[One can also find the three embroiled in a training session in the forest!]

[Responses will come from... all three of them?!]

Comments

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata had seen their video, and recognized that particular stretch of forest. So, in an effort to make good on her promise to Aang-san and to see her other two friends, Hinata went off to find them.

She found them, training, although it wasn't any form of taijutsu or fighting that she was familiar with.]

Hello? Is this a closed session or might anyone join you?

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

[Lee had been drilling the two in some kind of odd exercise that he was sure would improve their chances of flight. But the turned towards Hinata's voice and greets her with a bright smile.]

Hinata-san! Of course no youth will be turned away. Feel free to join us!

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

[ Ikki's giving it her all, although she still thinks airbending flying counts. She waves cheerfully, recognizing the girl from a brief conversation last year, although she realizes this Hinata won't remember that. ]

Heyyyyyy! The more the merrier, right?

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

Hello, Hinata! [ Ah, so she knew Lee? Maybe he had even heard him mention her before, too... ]

Yes, please join us. We're just figuring out how we might learn to fly!

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Yep, Hinata and Lee went way back. But, it was nice that she could see the three of them together.]

Thank you. [She removed her lavender outer jacket, revealing that she was wearing a sleeveless shirt under it and over her normal mesh shirt.] Is there anything specific that I should be doing?

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

[It certainly is possible that any of the Konoha ninjas have been namedropped during the course of their training. Either way, he welcomes her over.]

Well, Hinata-san! I am going through a number of different training techniques to try to find ones that could improve chances of flight! Perhaps, next, we should all use the branches of these nearby trees to perform chin-ups?

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

Are the chin bones connected to the wing bones?

[ SHE'S NOT SURE...but making an aside for a moment. ] I'm Ikki, by the way.

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

[ That sounds exhausting. And exhilarating! Rapunzel nods her approval. ]

Yes! Let's try that. We'll be even closer to the sky!

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata isn't sure how chin ups will help them learn to fly, but she's missed training with Lee-san for some time now and she wanted to spend time with both Rapunzel and Ikki as well.

She turns her attention to the young girl.]

I saw you at the Cultural Fair last month, Ikki-san. Kida-kun told me that you are Aang-san's granddaughter. I wished to become acquainted with you as well. My name is Hinata Hyuuga. [Rapunzel would notice that Hinata's able to say her name in a way that won't confuse the others in the village much easier now.] And of course I know Rapunzel-san.

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

[First, he leans over to address Ikki.]

There is not a direct connection! However, it is best to train all other parts of the body first, because of how sensitive the wings are! And... as Rapunzel-san said, it is a way of raising ourselves skywards!

[And he straightens up, grinning at Hinata.]

So, you know all the names already. Well done, Hinata-san! We may be ready to proceed.

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

Oh, you know Masaomi and grandpa? If that's the case, we're definitely friends!

[ Because Grandpa. And Masaomi is pretty okay in her books, too, you know. ]

It's nice to meet you properly, Hinata! And yep, okay! Show us what to do, Lee!

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

[ Rapunzel grins and turns her attention to Lee. ]

Lead on, our good teacher!

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[While Hinata is still a little unsure of how this will help them fly, she is looking forward to performing in ways that she hasn't before. Her shower tonight will be all the more better because of the workout she gets here.]

I am in your hands, Lee-san. Please, take care of me.

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

[He responds with a nice guy pose.] I will not let you down! [And then he makes a running jump towards the nearest tree and leaps up to grab onto a branch, swinging a little from it before he starts to pull himself up.] Follow my example.

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

[ Ikki doesn't need all that much encouragement to jump into a tree. She's seven, and these are trees. So she runs at a tree, but her own jump is...well, air-powered. Because that's how she does things! Once she's up there she dangles from the branch she caught at the top of her jump, swinging back and forth on it. ]

Roger, roger! [ The things Aang teaches her. ]

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

[ Rapunzel leaps onto a tree after Ikki does. Climbing was much easier when she had 70 feet of air... ]

Yes, sir!

Re: [Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata has had a lot of experience with the extreme training that Lee and Gai do, even if it was by proxy through Neji. She easily pulls herself up onto the branch nearest her, leaning against it with her hips easily like a gymnast on a balance beam.]

How many do you suppose that we should aim for, Lee-san?

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

[He looks around as each of them leaps up with a smile of approval.]

Well done! You have all taken leaps of faith admirably, and that is another step in itself! And, how about to start off, Hinata-san... We shall aim for three hundred - no, five hundred of these chin-ups!

[Hes already starting at an alarming speed, fixing an intense training glare on his face.]

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

Ummmm...sure!

[ ...SHE'S TOTALLY UNSURE SHE CAN DO THIS, BUT...may as well do her best!

Ikki has the least weight to pull up, anyway. ]

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

[ Five...hundred... ]

W-well, even if we can't fly, we can probably lift houses after this!

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata, used to the craziness of Lee and Gai-sensei, has already started as well. And, after training with Neji and her own father, well... This is nothing.]

Otou-sama has said that if you do not push your body, you do not push your mind either. So, perhaps that will help with this exercise as well?

[Action, all three!]

[niceguypose]

I admire all of your faith in such an exercise! Let us do all of the pushing and eventually we can take flight! [He shouts out as he does his own speedy chin-ups.]

[Action, all three!]

[breezing]

[ Ikki's...not going as fast, and anyway may soon get distracted and start swinging around her branch because that's more fun... ]

[Action, all three!]

[degleamed]

[ Rapunzel stays focused, but she certainly can't keep up the pace of Lee and Hinata. ]

Maybe we should sing a song to help move the work along?

[Action, all three!]

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata blinks. Wouldn't a song distract from... OH!]

I-I do not know any songs, but I would be willing to learn, if it will help you, Rapunzel-san!