The Sorcerer's Apprenticeship[nk, invite only volt]

It was no surprise to him, he had assumed as much when his roommate received his notice of assignment. It would only be a matter of time before he too would receive his. Today was the day, however as a small missive was delivered to his residence. The orders were simple. He was to check in at the hospital and await for his new sensei. Crushing the small scroll within his hand, he casually tossed it toward the small trash can, the crumpled ball skated upon the rim, toddering along the edge before finally accepting it's fate and falling into the inescapable void of the plastic bin.

"Be mindful of your surroundings"

A voice whispered in his ear. He smiled softly as he heard the echo ring through his ears. He could almost feel his mother's warmth as her words reached him across the wind. "I won't disappoint you" He affirmed as he walked out the door. She was always watching him and speaking to him in words only audible to him. He looked up and noticed that the sky was darkened as clouds blackened the sun. An unusual sight in the desert village. Vaati's mind however drifted away from the weather and to his new teacher. His roommate had yet to speak of him, which was an odd thing. Vaati usually couldn't get him to shut up, but at the same time the lack of information was not like him. While his new sensei may have made a name for himself in the village, Vaati was not privy to such information. Only information he could infer was that his new master was most likely a doctor, due to the location of their meeting.

The small genin checked in to the main desk, before being told to wait. Vaati disliked waiting, it wasn't that he was impatient, it was that he preferred to make others wait. Even in battle, if you are waiting you are allowing your opponent the ability to control the tempo of the fight. In this circumstance, it applied similarly, giving the master the ability to control the conditions of the meeting and forcing Vaati to remain defensive. His mother's advice resonated within him. He would be mindful of his surroundings of both the environment, and the circumstances that he found himself in.

Leaning back against the wall, his eyes glazing past the chairs. his body covered in his cloak, and face hidden with his hair. Should he sit, he would concede another advantage to his sensei. While he realized that his new master would be much more powerful then himself, he was representing his clan, and would try to appear as competent as possible. All he had to do now was wait. . . . . .

wc: 458

Voltaire walked up out of the basement area to observe the waiting room for his next student. He was not fond of most people to be entirely honest, but students were a thing that he was deciding that he liked. He could mold them, make them into a reflection of himself, and by proxy an extension of himself. And if he did well with his current batch then that meant that he would get a chance to do this again due to name recognition, and become even more powerful and even more well known. On the off chance he did not get his spot as Kazekage, he may be able to use this skill to make himself even more popular than the Kazekage, and then more powerful as a proxy of that.

When he entered he had to of course look in all directions instead of just looking and immediately seeing everything ahead of him as he could before his recent encounter with the law, but upon turning his head a bit he immediately spotted the odd duck of the group. One of the first lessons that one found as a Shinobi was that the one trying not to be seen was always the first that you should train your eyes on, and that was a simple Genin mistake to make. Hiding with his long hair and his cloaked body, this was obviously the student whom he was trying to track down. After eyeing him he immediately approached him, stood before him, with the same judging dull on his eye that he always had when he was confronted with a new person, or most acquaintances, and a few close friends. He did not ask if this was the person who he was looking for, because he was either the Genin he was looking for or an enemy of the village trying to do something terrible who would probably find what he was about to say unbelievably intimidating. "My name is Voltaire Hayashi, Jounin of Sunagakure no Sato. Please, tell me your name, goals, and any strengths or weaknesses you may possess."

Post Info:

Vaati's lone visible eye, mirrored that of his new master. He wasn't so sure what to make of this person, he was tall, finely dressed,  and obviously confident of himself. What was his next move? Vaati was always planning, always thinking, but sometimes the most obvious move is to step into the trap laid out for you, so that you may spring a trap of your own. Was this his new master, though? While he did introduce himself, it was not as his mentor. But then again... He did say please.  "I am Vaati of the Kagekuro tribe of the desert wasteland" He stated and stood up, bowing forward slightly before returning to an upright position. His voice was dull and droned on. If this man wasn't his new teacher, the following information would have been quite revealing. "As for goals..." He thought a moment. He had yet to consider an endgame scenario. Thus far, he had taken each day in stride, allowing himself to learn the tools of what he had once considered his enemy. However, while he still had not forgotten his family, this village was no longer as foreign to him as it once was. "I wish to hone my power to it's potential." While that itself was only a means to an end, Vaati decided against revealing why he had that particular goal. "As for my strengths and weaknesses" This he needed to guard against. In the wrong hands, information such as this could be deadly. "I'm sure you have had the time to study the reports of the academy regarding that. I do not believe you would have blindly accepted me as an apprentice without such knowledge."  Vaati stopped at that, he also believed his new mentor would test him to verify the results of those reports, but he felt saying that would be giving away too much information. As much as he was now judging his mentor, his mentor was judging him, and these first interactions would dictate their relationship moving forward.

wc: 341
twc: 799

This one was a lot smarter than the last two genin that he dealt with, and Voltaire appreciated that greatly. The violent douche bag and the whiny bone clan kid were both grinding on his nerves, but this one felt like a kindred spirit in the makings. He definitely had the makings of a superior Shinobi compared to the other two. He kept his one eye trained on the boy, taking in and appreciating every world. The words themselves, per say, were nearly meaningless to him up until the end. He found it the most guarded, and he found that very much to be respectable, but also could not help but wonder if that comment had been some sort of a dig at him due to his lacking eye socket. What that eye socket lacked was an eye and that was something that Voltaire was still not even close to being used to. Not if he lived a thousand years, which he, on some level at least, planned to, would he ever be able to accept the fact that his vision was half what it once was.

He smirked at the young boy as he began to address him. "Well, Vaati, it was Vaati, yes? It sounds to me as though you will do very well as my student, though, I still must test you, I hope you understand. Come with me," he said, turning around. He began walking away towards the door, and, without looking back because he just knew that the boy would be too interested in the possibilities of a sensei not to follow him immediately said, "You would be amazed what a doctor would do blindly!"

Post Info:

Vaati listened to his new master's words. Perhaps little too well. He was correct in assuming a test would be forthcoming. But why would his new master tip his hand? Could it be that he wanted to lure him into a false sense of security, leading him to believe that the test would come later instead of at this very moment. Were those words a bluff, or did the Jonin already learn enough about him to expect him to come to this conclusion and would flank him from the sides as he lured himself into raising his guard too soon? Was it a double bluff? The final clue was his back, it was turned away. While most would see this as an opening, Vaati knew better. A shinobi never turns their back to the unknown, for Voltaire to do this meant that he was still being watched. A reflection or some sort of sensory jutsu perhaps? He was being tested. His master after all "hoped he would understand" to normal people, it might refer to any adverse feelings one felt to being tested, but in this circumstance it had meant the test had already begun. And the final nail was his next statement. "You would be amazed what a doctor would do blindly!" Another statement with a double meaning, Voltaire was not blind but he did wear an eyepatch thus limiting his vision, but his back was also turned rendering him blind. He was testing him, now, at this moment. Not at some time in the near future, but now. Vaati, however was patient. Dr. Hayashi may have willingly shown his hand, but it was not yet time for Vaati to place his bet. Instead he would be on his guard as he followed his mentor, remembering his mother's advice and be mindful of his surroundings.

From underneath his cloak he preformed a few handseals and generated a clone, before using his cloak to camouflage himself within the clone and making it walk in time with him. The footfalls and shadows would be real, but the visible body would be false, thus allowing his movements, gestures, and eyes to be hidden from view. He doubted that this would fool his mentor, quite the opposite. He expected this technique would cause an appropriate response from Voltaire. Vaati hated waiting, at least this way there was a possibility Voltaire would be responding to him, instead of being forced to be reactive to the ongoing test. If it was even possible.

Jutsu used: Clone technique, Cloak of invisibility technique.
Chakra Remaining: 90/100
WC:  418
TWC: 1227

Voltaire Hayashi was ecstatic when he heard the rustling of hands beneath the cloak that the boy was wearing. This was the first time in quite a while that a Genin had not pissed him off beyond belief. He had only dealt with fools who had the spirit for it so far. This was the only one whom he had believed made it through the ninja academy without blowing somebody or having a daddy with connections. This little shit apparently knew the material like he was supposed to. He walked outside the sliding doors and tossed one of the puppets that he was so proud of up into the air, using his own life force to make it tick and wind like the clock work demon he had made it to be.

As with he had before, he connected a string of his chakra to the stinger as well before launching it at what Vaati had left as the only notable version of himself,and hoped deeply that he had not over estimated the boy, because this time he planned to pull the thread short of about an inch of it going into the chest of his target. He faced him now, watching as the projectile was launched at insane speeds, similar to those of a bullet from a gun, and yelled out at the top of his lungs, "You cannot dodge!"

Vaati nearly flinched as his mentor made his move, the anticipation was staggering. The projectile was small, but instinct already took over. His mentor made his command. He couldn't move from his position.  part of him almost wanted to test his mentor and see just how far he was willing to go for this test. Was it a test of trust, trust that this was a bluff? However, ninja were taught not to trust in anyone but themselves and their team. Right now, his teacher wasn't part of his team.

In his left hand he had already gripped two kunai knives from within his cloak and with a swift movement threw them out, instantly dispelling his clone and cloak jutsu. As he tossed them a mighty gust of wind blew forth from him, not only amplifying the speed of his own kunai and potential damage, but deflecting back the objects coming toward him. "I will not dodge!" Vaati shouted back. His right hand hidden within his cloak, ready to grab more kunai if needed, while his left was revealed from the throw. His body now in a defensive stance. While his eye's were placed keenly upon his mentor, his ears monitored his surroundings, listening for any change in his environment.

Jutsu used: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough
Chakra remaining: 70/100
wc: 212
twc: 1439

Voltaire Hayashi was truly blown away in the most amazing and exhilarating of ways. A wave of relief washed over him that was so powerful this large, gruff, intimidating man fell to his knees and started to sob in tears of joy. So far one had wet himself and one had thrown an inferior weapon. Had he been asked he would probably have expressed deep doubt that the others had somehow cheated, gotten some financial loophole, or allowed somebody who had some high position in allowing Ninja Academy students to graduate to put something in their loopholes if one could get what it was that was being suggested, but no, this kid had the natural talent to start as a Special Jounin if he had put the work in. He looked up, but only a little, looking beyond gracious as he twitched his finger a little, allowing the stinger to fly back into the wasp. This Genin had successfully dealt with a foot and a half of iron flying at him at a speed that even his hand would have issues forming a decent Jutsu in time. This one was definitely a keeper. "Thank you so much!" he sobbed out, "For not being fucking pathetic! I've dealt with two crybabies and a psychopath... you have no idea how happy I am to work with somebody who doesn't make me want to intentionally kill a patient just for the sheer stress relief of it!" As he spoke he brought the Twin Wasp, stinger now in body, back into his hand and ended the Jutsu.

Post Info:

For the first time during their meeting, Vaati was surprised. The Jonin had fallen down to his knees and had begun...Weeping? This was not normal shinobi behavor, He was not sure if he should be thankful for his words or if he should put the man out of his misery. From sheer luck, the two kunai he had tossed whizzed by Voltaire's location moments after he had dropped to the ground, flying back and landing among some fruit from a nearby vendor's stall. Why was there always a fruit cart? The thought crossed his mind, but due to the current circumstance he instantly suppressed himself from wasting any further brain power examining it. Instead, he would try to decode the current situation with his new teacher. His mentor's words echoed again through his mind. As the Jonin revealed information about Vaati's peers he wondered to which one did he refer to as the psychopath and the crybabies. He knew his roommate had to be among them, but the way he was he could have easily fit into either category, depending on his current mood.

Was that the test? A single projectile? All of that build up....for that? No, it couldn't be. Could it? Could he really have verified all the information contained in the academy reports with one small action? Was that even possible? If so then Vaati had a newfound respect for Voltaire's powers of deduction and would henceforth respect that vision. These irrational actions perplexed Vaati's rational mind. Maybe that was the reason for the farce, to confuse him and lead him once again into a false sense of security. It was just....too easy. He hadn't even broken a sweat, which in the desert village of Sunagakure was naturally uncommon due in fact to the midday heat. He would need some sort of sign before he dropped his guard. If Voltaire's words could cause such confusion in him, perhaps his words could do the same. But what words... Suddenly the answer came to him, very simplistic in nature. Just like most good answers. "When does this test begin?" He asked letting a small sliver of pride slip past his lips. He knew that the test was not over. This test would never be over. If the covered eye of his new master told him anything, it was that the true test was survival. That was something Vaati had truly understood.

wc: 401
TWC: 1840
chakra: 70/100

Voltaire Hayashi started to laugh the laugh of a mad man who was laughing at his own madness when he realized how happy he was with this one. All that you really had to do to not piss him off was not be a useless bag of flesh, but for some reason only one Genin was capable of that. He got up, and started to shake his head. He was beyond pleased, and decided that this was enough playing with his new favorite for the day. He turned around and waved, still turning his head a little with a smile to keep his one eye securely on the youth who would not have been killed. He yelled back to the boy, "You are going to go places with that attitude, kid! Keep it up, Vaati!" Whether he knew it or not, Vaati was the only one whom Voltaire had called by name in a long time.

[EXIT]

And with that his new master was gone. It really was over. It was then that Vaati had noticed all the eyes glaring from the sudden show. Now that the master was gone he could feel their judging eyes all over him. With a sudden shrug, Vaati walked off and headed back home. When he learned he was going to meet his new teacher today, he never had once thought that the entire meeting would take place in just under a minute. Yet... What a minute it was. The amount of information shared between them transended words. Each nod or motion from either of them filled in vast blanks. Vaati was not sure if he liked his new master, but he felt that Doctor Voltaire Hayashi would be a strong teacher. For but a moment, Vaati allowed himself to smile. It was slight, but the significance of it was great. The last time he had truely smiled or shown any sense of joy, other then within dreams, was prior to his departure from his family. Perhaps, Vaati had now found another, whom could one day be called family. Only time would tell. [exit]

wc: 193
twc: 2033