First Gate [Video/Action]

[niceguypose]

[Video]

[The video feed suddenly kicks in with the sound of rushing winds and the sight of a blue sky. And soon, falling into view is bushy-browed teenager with a bowlcut, confusion and panic written all over his face.

Upon arrival, Rock Lee and his book open have begun freefalling through the sky to towards the village. Lee keeps his eyes focused on the open book and pushes himself through the air to get a closer look. Just enough to tell that it's some kind of communication device... and that it seems to be recording his face, and his movements.

Can they hear him, too? A million thoughts rush through his head. What happened? Where did everyone go? Why am I floating through the sky? Somebody help me down! But... if people could see him, he wouldn't want to look weak, would he? He's Rock Lee, after all. The Green Beast of Konoha. He can figure out a way out of this.

What would Gai Sensei do?

So he opts to force on a smile, one full of shining teeth, and he flashes a thumbs up towards the camera and shouts as loud as he can.]

DYNAMIC... ENTRY!

[Lee can find his way down. After all, his training weights are gone. He feels so light.]

[Action]

[If anyone misses out on the high-paced action, they can find Lee after he lands - either traveling to the item shop for his headband, weights and equipment or to the clothing shop for his valued green jumpsuit and vest. He'll also jog around to survey the village and some of the forest afterwards, eager to greet his new neighbors in the process.]

Comments

[niceguypose]

It would be my honor, Ikki-chan! I am afraid that I do not recognize the landscape below me. I have no idea where I have been dropped into. There are a number of buildings, and I think there is a fountain.

[breezing]

That's familiar enough for me! Is the fountain right under you, or more to the side?

[ She's clearly moving outside now, and figures she'll angle towards the fountain at a run, since if he can see things he has to be visible from below, too. ]

[niceguypose]

It... it is to the side, it would seem, Ikki-chan! But please do not come near! I would not want you to be caught in my own landing.

[breezing]

Don't worry! If you're still not sure how to land, I can definitely help you, 'kay? This is something my Daddy does all the time! [ ...Ikki's never really attempted it before right now but hey, no big thing, right? She's not about to tell that to the guy still falling out of the sky. ]

[niceguypose]

[Ohhh he does not want to squish this adorable youth he has just met! Gai Sensei would frown at him forever.]

Please! Exercise all caution!

[breezing]

[ Ikki just grins. ] Trust me! I'm not a ninja, but I am an airbender!

[ And with that, she's going to wait until he's near enough, and then she'll hopefully bend enough air underneath him to cushion the fall. Her father's favourite move, if the series is anything to go by. ]

[niceguypose]

Whoa! [Rock Lee finds himself caught in the current of air, which lowers him safely to the ground. He looks at the little girl.]

I...Ikki-chan? Was that... you?

[breezing]

[ She's oh-so-glad that worked. ]

Yep! See? I told you not to worry! [ Although she'd not been worried herself until she began to see that the easy confidence was a little bit...way too easy, and had started to worry (again) about the guy falling through the sky, insisting he'd figure it out. ]

[niceguypose]

[He bows.]

Thank you so much! Forgive me. I did not know that you practiced wind jutsus.

[breezing]

Ah, well that's 'cause I don't! I'm not a ninja, I'm an airbender. We're from different worlds, silly! [ She pats him on the shoulder, though, in an attempt to make him feel better. ]

[niceguypose]

[He smiles at her.]

What a delightful child. Tell me, Ikki-chan, what does it mean to be an airbender?

[breezing]

It means I can control and manipulate the air! [ Ikki grins back. ] In my world there are airbenders, firebenders, waterbenders, and earthbenders.

[niceguypose]

[He stoops down to meet her height. He's not sure if he completely buys this story yet, but it's very interesting.]

Oh, that is so fascinating! What kind of world is it that you belong to?

[breezing]

What kind? [ That's a good question. Ikki has to think about it. ] We-ell, at home there're four nations - Earth Kingdom, Air Nomads, Water Tribes North and South - so I guess technically more than four, 'cause both of them get representatives on the council? - and then the Fire Nation. There's also a United Republic of Nations, which is what my home is kinda part of, although Air Temple Island is also kinda just itself, y'know?

Anyway, it's a big place. I haven't seen everything yet. The Water Tribes, that's where my GranGran and Uncle Sokka are from, they're cold. They're at the poles, and they're all ice and ice water and more ice, but they're also really, really pretty. You get these lights in the sky, in those places. Like the spirits just reached up and painted the sky all different colours, and the paint just shimmers and never dries, but just goes on glowing and existing. It's my favourite part of the South Pole, almost. [ The first favourite part, the real favourite part? That's Katara. ]

The Earth Kingdom has the biggest land, and it's - well, it's lots of different things. Deserts and forests and swamps. It's always growing, in one way or another. That's where Republic City's at, down south in the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Nation's hot, and there're jungles and things, and some of it is a bit closer to cold, and...I guess it's just as different as the Earth Kingdom, you know?

The Air Nomads, that's my people, they used to live in these huuuuuuge temples, one at each corner of the world. There were two temples for the monks and two for the nuns, 'cause they all lived separately. Daddy's taken us to see them, the temples, you know. They're...quiet, and old, and they feel empty but also somehow full. There's one that has people in it, but the other three are - well, I guess maybe someday we'll open them up again, and rebuild 'em, but that hasn't happened yet.

[ She trails off, thoughtful, finally stopping her fast-talking monologue. ]

[niceguypose]

[As she talks, Rock Lee scrambles around his person looking for his notepad, hoping to record all of his information. Halfway through, he gives up and just listens intently, staring with unblinking eyes. This... is a bit too expansive for a child's imagination. There were some similarities in the elements used in the names, but... everything else sounded so unique.]

It sounds like a beautiful and fantastic word, Ikki-chan. Are there any ninjas?

[breezing]

Hmmm. I think that the Kyoshi Warriors are kinda like ninjas? [ She sounds...somewhat doubtful, though. To be honest, she hasn't gotten as much information on Shikamaru's world as she'd like.

Which makes this a perfect chance! ] What's your world like, Lee?

[niceguypose]

[He pauses for a moment. It's still so hard to conceive that he is not just in some obscure village of his world. That home is on some unreachable other planet. He should at least humor this girl... but at least he has enough insight to spare her from the more traumatic details.]

My world is divided into multiple nations, but there are five primary ones. Similar to your world, they are each affiliated with an element: the Land of Fire, Land of Wind, Land of Water, Land of Lightning and Land of Earth. Each is ruled by a landlord, but each also contains a hidden village where the ninjas live. The ninjas do... lots of secret, special missions for the landlords, and the head ninja of the village is called the kage.

Shikamaru-san and myself both hail from Konoha Village, located in the Land of Fire. And our leader if the Hokage. That is where I learned from the most important person of my life, Gai Sensei. He is my mentor and brought me so far along my way of the ninja! I owe him everything for his passionate mentorship and the morals he has dispensed about the ways of youth!

[breezing]

Was Gai-Sensei everyone's ninja teacher in Konoha?

[niceguypose]

Oh no, there are multiple ninja teachers throughout the village who are of "jounin" rank, and there is even a ninja school. Once we leave the ninja school, we all become part of three-person teams with one mentor teaching us. My team contained Neji Hinata and Tenten. But Gai Sensei has always looked after me, ever since I was a failure.

[breezing]

What's a "jounin" rank mean? Did everyone go to ninja school? What was Shikamaru's team and teacher?

[niceguypose]

A jounin is one of the highest rankings a ninja can get! They have the most skills and get to do the... hardest missions! And they are also qualified to be in charge of teams of younger ninja. Ever ninja goes to ninja school! The ones who don't are the civilians who are sworn to protect.

Shikamaru's team contained Chouji-kun and Ino-san. Chouji-kun is a funny guy who is part of the Akimichi clan. He eats a lot but is mad when you call him fat, and he is much more skilled than others take him to be. And Ino-san loves flowers and has a variety of skills at her disposal. The three of them share a great bond because their families are already close! And [Ah... Asuma. Awkward subject. He puts a hand on her shoulder.] their teacher was a very great man named Asuma Sensei. He was very funny and smart.

[breezing]

What're the other rankings? What's your ranking? What's Shikamaru's ranking? So you're like superheroes? [ She's learned about superheroes. She likes what she's heard. ]

[ Ikki glances up when the hand falls on her shoulder, and that seems to amplify the was.

Another sad story, huh?

So she says something else instead, after a second of hesitation. ] If they're close to Shikamaru, they must be really nice!

[niceguypose]

[He holds up one finger for each question.]

The primary rankings are genin, chunin and jounin, and you can also count the kage. Shikamaru-kun and I are both of chunin ranking, but he was the first of our class to reach it! Super...heroes? You could say that, but we are much... sneakier.

[He picks up on that, slightly panics internally but puts on a broad smile at the diverting statement.]

They are! If you ever meet them, you can trust them as friends!

[breezing]

Wo-ow! That's 'cause he's really cool, huh? [ ...Okay she sort of thinks Shikamaru is awesome, okay. ] How do you get to a new ranking?

Ah, I will! So you're friends with Shikamaru, right? So you're trustworthy, too, Lee!

[niceguypose]

By proving your progress! There is a very special exam for genin to become chunin!

Thank you, Ikki-chan! I am glad to have earned such trust without any conditions. You can be assured that now I am here, I will do what I can to keep the people of this village safe.