Of Crimson Eyes and Feathered Minds - Genjutsu Training (Morning)

Solo Genjutsu training for Kumiko Kyoko

A new day and a new moment for training. Yesterday had been
physically exhausting, but now Kumiko was planning something that would produce
a much different sort of exhaustion. She had woken up early, making her way
into the ‘watering hole’ for the Jounin – once more. She asked around quietly
if there was anyone that would be willing to work with her on Genjutsu that
day. She just needed someone that was capable of using Genjutsu, for the first
part, in the afternoon she would need them to let her use genjutsu on them. She
needed to practice against someone with good skills in that area, so that she
could continue to improve her own talents when it came to the manipulation of
the mind.

As it stood currently none of her genjutsus really could be ‘fine
tuned’ in any way. They were pretty much cut and paste as to what they could,
or would, do. One was based on the fears of a person themselves. Another was to
put people to sleep, another was to lock them in darkness and make them blind.
That one she had recently used on the Hoshikage, which had brought her a small
measure of pleasure in doing. Finally, she found who she was looking for – who she
needed. The man was probably closer to his sixties, and had somehow
miraculously survived the chakra virus. What surprised her more was the way his
ready smile turned into something else. He leaned forward and said that he was
the best bet to help her, and simply pulled out a familiar crest on a chain.
She had stayed quiet and nodded as they left the Jounin watering hole.

They had decided to go out to the safer part of the valley
to practice. Not where bandits, or the strange sightings, had been happening.
They needed a place that no one could see them, no one could find them. For
this training, Kumiko needed secrecy – given the crest the man had shown her.
She was a secretive woman, when needed, and he had recognized her feathers as
ones that his grandmother had born. None of his grandmother’s children, or
their children, had born the markings. It seemed the Kyoko markings had not
transferred as easily when brought up against as strong of a Kekkei as this
males.

They finally reached the place they would be training and
Kumiko turned her attention to him. He would use a Genjutsu on her, and she would
have to fight as hard as she could to break it. That was the entire purpose of
this training. She needed to be able to raise her Genjutsu capabilities, as she
was such a tiny woman. Being able to help allies in this way, was one of the
best things she had going for her. It was something she was going to continue
to use to her absolute advantage.

Kumiko’s eyes locked on the man’s shoulder and she shivered
as she heard him chuckle. Her eyes raising slowly to stare straight at the
lines that surrounded his mouth. Even still, after so long, she could not look
anyone in the eyes very easily. It was just that old training kicking in.

“If you want this to work, you will have to look me in the
eyes. Smart though, the abuse you faced as a child works to your advantage. Oh
don’t give me that look, I can see the markings of the Kyoko on you – I know
how they treat those that don’t meet their standards. My grandmother told me
many a story.” He said simply as he waited for Kumiko to look up.

Finally, she looked up and met his crimson gaze, her world
falling away from her. Suddenly she was in an illusion, one of her darkest
fears. Not the illusion, she had been in Genjutsu before. But she knew this
one, knew how horrible it was. It was the one that showed you your worst fears –
darkest memories. Her mind blanked for a moment and then she smiled in the ‘dream’
she was walking through her apartment and she could hear the laughter of Masaki
in the other room. “Have you finished picking out where you want the wedding?”
She called out as she entered their bedroom. But there was a strange feeling in
her stomach as she approached the room. Then she saw the splashes of red and
her heart slammed in her chest. “Masaki?” She called out as she walked towards
their bed, his body splayed out and the blood splattering the walls. She looked
down at his body – at the pendant he wore and then realized she felt a weight
on her chest. She gave a shuddering cry as she brought her hands up and her
eyes closed as she focused hard. Her mind shattered the illusion, as she
realized that it wasn’t true. Her body sagged on the old man as he had stood
beside her, not attacking her. An opponent wouldn’t do that but she gave a
small shuddering breath as the tears slowly stopped.

“What did you see?” He asked as he looked down at her, those
crimson eyes slowly turning black.

“The death of the man that was to be my husband.” Was all
she responded softly as she stood up, her body feeling weak for a moment but
she felt stronger. “How long was I in the Genjutsu?” She asked as she turned
her attention to the man.

“About a minute or so, which was actually quite good. You’re
not that bad at Genjutsu are you?” He asked as he watched her.

“I had to learn to be good, he was a Kurama.” She said simply
as she pushed back a little and put her hands in her pouches. “I’m going to
take a quick break, then practice my Ninjutsu. After that we can do some more
Genjutsu practice? I’ll try to use Temple of Nirvana or Bringer of Darkness on
you. It’s the only ones that could possibly combat against your skill sets. The
one you used on me, coming from someone like me, wouldn’t effect someone like
you.” The woman said as she shrugged a little. Actually rather glad she had
been meeting people of interest within the village.

With
that she sat down, drinking some water and figuring out which of her Ninjutsu
she would practice.