Shukaku (Bijuu)

Shukaku (守鶴, Shukaku), more commonly known as the One-Tail (一尾, Ichibi), is one of the nine tailed beasts. Shukaku is a sandy-brown colored tanuki, with dark blue cursed seal markings all over his face, body, and tail. He has a jagged, concave mouth with no tongue, and the sclerae of its eyes are black, with yellow irides and pupils that each takes the shape of a black four-pointed star with four black dots around it. Shukaku is characterized as a childish and short-tempered individual and often speaks in a bombastic and incoherent manner, giving him the demeanor of a drunkard. He has great pride in his impressive sealing techniques and defenses. Shukaku relishes the opportunity to kill anyone in sight, even more so during a full moon. Shukaku has also shown to harbor a bitter grudge towards Kurama due to the fox's belief that the tailed beasts' strength is measured by the number of tails, therefore viewing the tanuki as the weakest. Because of this, Shukaku strives to find any opportunity to surpass his arrogant sibling. Prior to mastery, Shukaku will take any opportunity to usurp control from his jinchuuriki and typically does so during deep sleep which may develop insomnia in the host. The tanuki is renowned for his mastery over sand manipulation, fuuinjutsu, forbidden seals, doton, fuuton, and jiton. He uses these skills to form his famous absolute defense techniques.

***Current Jinchuuriki:*** Iksinisius Alkinysisius

## Guild History

As with all chakra demons, Shukaku's origins were as a portion of the ten tailed beast (juubi). The juubi was a powerful creature created by Jashin in the earliest period of Evergreen's (SR's) universe for the sole purpose of destroying as much of the dimension as possible. The juubi would travel from galaxy to galaxy consuming as many star systems as possible before Evergreen expended some of her divine power to weaken it by splitting it into nine equal pieces with unique names and identities. The gods Utu and Zelel would weaken the nine demons even further until they were banished and contained to Earth.

At the end of the Sunagakure Genin Tournament, Shukaku was released from his previous host's body, killing him in the process. He attacked the tournament when he was released before being sealed into Sonyo Kuno Rue who possessed and mastered the demon for ten years.

## Traits

* Shukaku's resource pools are both 5,000.
* Shukaku regenerates chakra equal to the user's body rank per post in combat.
* The jinchuuriki is able to draw chakra from Shukaku as an action during combat equal to two ranks above their body rank.
* Sand techniques are classified as doton but lack the elemental advantage to water or weakness to lightning.
* Shukaku allows the host to access restricted fuuinjutsu without scholar class except for sealing techniques that require scholar specialization.
* After mastering Demon Cloak Stage 1, the host is able to unlock Shukaku's forbidden seal for themselves, the Curse of the Tanuki, after [5] paragraphs of training.
* The user can apply the petrification status to all doton at [1] tier higher than the earth technique's rank.
* The jinchuuriki can create sand for their techniques using chakra. An X-ranked amount of chakra can also be applied to existing sand.
* Iron sand techniques can be korabo'd by an ally or the host with Shukaku's techniques to increase the power of the demon's attacks by [1] rank. The iron sand can even take the place of Shukaku's sand.
* Upon mastery of Demon Cloak Stage 1, Shukaku fully unlocks the wind, earth, and lightning nature transformations in the user as additional elements if the host does not already possess them. Additionally, Shukaku grants the host a free magnet release (jiton) implant that does not consume an implant slot if the host does not already possess it. If implanted, the host will only be able to use S+ rank magnet techniques from Shukaku and not the bloodline itself.

## Demon Attributes

**Desert Tomb |** The petrification status can be applied to all sand techniques at [1] tier above their rank. Additionally, sand and earth techniques cost [1] rank less to cast and cannot be reduced beyond this.

**Impenetrable Defense |** Once per [5] posts, the jinchuuriki can dedicate all three of the actions in their post to defense. If this is done during the second or third demon stages then they gain [1] offensive action and dedicate the rest of the post's surplus of actions to defense. Additionally, barrier-based sealing formulas can be created with only a single touch of the palm.

**Cursed Pharaoh |** Forbidden Seals, including Curse of the Tanuki, owned by this rpc have an additional 100 corrupted nature chakra stored in their seal. This increases their cap from 400 to 500. Also, the jinchuuriki is able to recover faster from the drawbacks of forbidden seals following the deactivation of the seal making the stat reductions last for three posts rather than five. Additionally, the statistical drawbacks are halved.

## Curse of the Tanuki

The Curse of the Tanuki is a powerful manifestation of corrupted nature chakra that can be unlocked by Shukaku's jinchuuriki. After mastering Demon Clak Stage 1 the host is able to train for [5] paragraphs to reveal their curse in its dormant state. Activating this forbidden seal prevents the host from summoning creatures unless they absolve themselves of the curse. The host can have a second forbidden seal if they choose but cannot use both at the same time. This forbidden seal cannot be used at the same time as the demon transformations. The phenomenal statistical buffs provided by the Curse of the Tanuki will revert back to your class's stat cap once the seal is dormant again. If the awoken stage is used then there are no drawbacks but if the unleashed stage is used then all stats are set to [-4] for [5] posts after the Forbidden Seal is fully unleashed and made dormant. The forbidden seal may not be accessed again until the [5] posts are up.

### **Dormant Stage**

The passive stage: Provides the host with 400 Natural chakra. This chakra can only be recovered while the host has their seal in its dormant stage. In addition, the host gains a passive chakra and stamina increase of +50 per body rank. Natural chakra when the forbidden seal is not active passively gathers natural chakra. In non-combat situations, the seal regains 50 chakra per post and 25 chakra per post in combat situations.

*Training:*

* Requires the jinchuuriki to write out five paragraphs of them training to activate the Curse of the Tanuki.

### **Awoken Stage**

This is the first stage usage of the Curse of the Tanuki. Dark blue jagged cursed seal markings cover the user's face and body just as they do on Shukaku's body.

*Basic Effects:*

* Increases all stats to [10] automatically.
* Grants Overwhelming to Doton as well as all sand techniques.
* Cost 25 Natural Chakra per post used to maintain.

### **Unleashed Stage**

This is the second stage usage of the Curse of the Tanuki. The dark blue jagged lines grow larger and turn the user's skin to a sand brown color. The user's eyes darken and their teeth become more jagged. They also grow Shukaku's tail and overall appear as a hybrid human version of Shukaku.

*Basic Effects:*

* Increases Endurance and Strength to [12] and Speed and Agility to [10] automatically.
* Grants Overwhelming to Doton, Jiton, and all Sand Techniques.
* Magnetic techniques can be performed through the markings on the user's body just as they do for Shukaku. This boosts all Jiton techniques by [1] rank in power.
* Costs 50 Natural Chakra per post used to maintain.

## Transformation Stages

### **Demon Cloak Stage 1**

A thick cloak of sand forms around the user and can manifest one tanuki tail. Additionally, the host's eyes black and glow gold, resembling Shukaku's eyes.

* The user's endurance and strength are elevated to 10 for the duration of their transformation while speed and agility remain unchanged.
* Earth release and sand techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation.
* Sealing techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation.

### **Demon Cloak Stage 2**

The user is coated in a thick, ominous black and blood red chakra that coats their figure as nothing more than a silhouette of their figure remains. During this stage the user's eyes become frightening white orbs as their head, arms, legs, and torso become more tanuki-like in shape. The user is often unable to do more than hiss and roar at their foes during this transformation. The user also grows a full tanuki tail.

* The user's agility, endurance, speed, and strength are elevated to 10 while the transformation is active.
* Earth and sand techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation and cost [1] rank less to cast.
* The user is granted [1] additional defensive action per post.
* Sealing techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation.

### **Demon Mastery**

The host is covered in sand and partially transforms as they and Shukaku are able to unify their will and openly share his chakra and the host's body without reserve.

* The user's strength, speed, and agility are elevated to 10 while the user's endurance is elevated to 12 for the duration of the transformation.
* Earth, magnet, and sand techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation and are boosted [1] rank higher during this transformation.
* The user is granted [2] additional defensive actions per post.
* Sealing techniques are considered overwhelming during the transformation and cost [1] rank less to use.

## Shukaku Sand Techniques

The Shukaku Sand techniques are the special skills of Shukaku which predominantly focus on sand and sealing. Most famously, Shukaku's skills protect the jinchuuriki with impregnable defenses of sand making the Absolute Defense techniques the centerpiece of the skillset. However, Shukaku is also highly effective in trapping and imprisoning the host's enemies in powerfully crushing and suffocating prisons of sand.

**▰ Third Eye [ Daisan no Me ] | Rank E | Spiritual**

Using Chakra, the host connects a sand-made eye to their optic nerve, which enables them to know what happens in the sand eye's field of vision. This is genuinely a third eye for its user. This technique can disappear and reappear anywhere within a five mile radius allowing the user to scout nearby areas. Sensory techniques can be channeled through the third eye for [1] rank less in cost while maintaining the same potency.

**▰ Sand Clone Technique [ Suna Bunshin no Jutsu ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

The jinchuuriki creates a single clone made entirely of Shukaku sand. The clone can apply tiered petrification up to [1] tier above this technique's rank on contact. Additionally, this clone can perform up to [5] sand techniques up to its own rank.

**▰ Sand Drizzle [ Suna Shigure ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

After condensing sand into fifty small lumps, the host launches them at an enemy from every direction. Because all the sand lumps are controlled by Chakra, it is possible to commence an attack with almost zero blind spots. The rain covers an area up to twenty feet in radius. This technique applies petrification at [1] tier higher than the rank of the technique on contact.

**▰ Sand Binding Coffin [ Sabaku Kyū ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

The user will force sand to crawl up on their target. The sand will then wrap up and around until it fully encases the target. As the sand encloses, it will apply a crushing amount of pressure, more than capable of grinding bones. If the wielder takes two posts to set up the technique for one combat action each then the sand can encase the whole body and deal [1] tier higher of full-body paralysis based on the rank applied for [5] posts. The other method is the faster but less effective option of using one post to grip only a single limb and apply paralysis of equivalent tier to the rank of the coffin. The Sand Binding Coffin is also considered a chakra-based grapple rather than the standard stamina-based grapple and thus requires an equivalent rank of chakra to be spent by the target once gripped or encased to break out.

**▰ Absolute Defense: Shield of Sand [ Zettai Bōgyo: Suna no Tate ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

The first step of the absolute defense, this is a veil of sand that intercepts attacks on the user’s behalf. The shield is capable of withstanding considerably strong attacks and projectiles and can be hardened to a point where it is stronger than steel. It can be avoided entirely with extremely high-speed attacks (higher speed stat than the jinchuuriki) or bypassed with incredible brute force (attacks stronger than this jutsu). Blocks up to same rank techniques completely and the chakra cost is always deducted from only Shukaku's resources. This technique does not use any of the jinchuuriki's actions and instead counts as a free defensive activation. The Shield of Sand is considered the perfect defense and counts as a spiritual defense.

**▰ Absolute Defense: Sphere of Sand [ Zettai Bōgyo: Suna no Tama ] | Rank | Spiritual | Augment**

Used while Shield of Sand is active. The host surrounds themselves with a Sphere of Sand to guard against attacks for [5] posts. In addition to being extremely dense, this sand-sphere can form spikes from its surface to spear any would-be attacker and these count as [1] free basic combat action once per post. The sphere will persist against same-rank attacks and increases the user's endurance by [2] points. The sphere can be reformed if not fully destroyed using surrounding sand.

**▰ Absolute Defense: Armor of Sand [ Zettai Bōgyo: Suna no Yoroi ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

The second step of the absolute defense, the host covers themself in a compacted layer of sand, providing an additional defense should other protective measures fail. This technique increases the user's endurance by [2]. If the user is not using a demon transformation then this technique grants an additional defensive action. The armor of sand counts as heavy armor without the drawbacks. This technique has a ten post duration.

**▰ Absolute Defense: Shield of Shukaku [ Zettai Bōgyo: Shukaku no Tate ] | Rank X | Spiritual**

The Shield of Shukaku is said to be the Supreme Absolute Defense of Shukaku’s host and the final step of the Absolute Defense. To stop an incoming attack, they will create a small Shukaku demon out of sand. This mini-Shukaku is a very strong defensive barrier that can block techniques up to one rank above its own. Requires an upkeep of half the initial activation cost for every post beyond the first post of activation, to a minimum of 5 Chakra. This drains from Shukaku's reserves only but takes a defensive activation from the host.

**▰ Absolute Offense: Spear of Shukaku [ Saikō Zettai Kōgeki: Shukaku no Hoko ] | Rank A | Spiritual**

The Spear of Shukaku is said to be the Supreme Absolute Offense of Shukaku’s host. The host uses high-density sand to form a long spear which can then be thrown or wielded for [5] posts. The strength of the material allows it to penetrate defenses of up to S-Rank.

**▰ Desert Layered Imperial Funeral [ Sabaku Sōtaisō ] | Rank A | Spiritual**

The user covers the enemy with several successive layers of sand before compressing it into the form of a huge pyramid that acts to imprison the target upon its completion. Using Shukaku's chakra along with this technique increases the strength of the binding and sealing power by one rank. Requires the activation of an S-Rank technique to disrupt the sand from within. Lasts for five posts, but becomes permanent with the addition of Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal [ Sabaku Sōtaisō Fūin ].

**▰ Sealing Technique: Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal [ Fuuinjutsu: Sabaku Sōtaisō Fūin ] | Rank S+ | Spiritual**

Using their own body markings as a medium, the host or Shukaku first covers its opponent in layers of sand, which forms into a two-hundred-foot tall step pyramid. The intricate markings on the user's/tanuki's body then serve as an interlocking cursed seal, which when completed, traps the captive. This seal completely restricts movement and the usage of Chakra within its boundaries. This pyramid prison causes fourth-tier suffocation as the sand restricts the air and the enemy's speed and agility are reduced by [2] points as it restricts movement. This technique requires the user to be in at least the awoken stage of the Curse of the Tanuki.

**▰ Quicksand Waterfall Flow [ Ryūsa Bakuryū ] | Rank S+ | Spiritual**

This jutsu sends a massive amount of sand towards an opponent in the form of a wave, drowning them and the topic in an ocean of sand. In addition to the wave effect of the Jutsu, the host can control the sand, allowing them to attack his opponent while they attempt to outrun the wave. The technique can change the landscape, turning acres of forest into nothing but a desert with broken trees. Coats an entire topic in sand up to four meters deep. This technique can bury the enemy and cause fourth-tier suffocation and the enemy's speed and agility are reduced by [2] points each.

**▰ Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral [ Sabaku Taisou ] | Rank S+ | Spiritual**

Following the Quicksand Waterfall Flow technique, the host slams both hands palm down into the sand, creating powerful shock waves that compress the sand. Anything buried in the sand is subsequently crushed. The compressions also create massive earthquakes. Can be used in any landscape covered in sand. Affects an entire topic.