Sorry for the double post. Can't click the Edit button for some reason.
Edit: It works for this post. :/ Weird.
General Information
Name:
Nara, Kurai
Age:
Fifteen. (15)
Gender:
Male ♂
Physical Appearance:
Kurai has the standard olive-pale complexion of most of his clan, along with the dark raven hair and black eyes. That's where the similarities end, however. Standing at 5'10, rather taller-than-average for his age, Kurai's training has certainly put a certain...edge to his appearance. His build is that of what one would expect a shinobi to have - lean, slender, and yet sinewy, with tightly-compacted muscles that are corded and stream lined rather than the bulky muscularity that a lot of people seem to be sporting these days. His face has an angular, chiseled quality to it, with naturally frowning lips and dark black eyes sat into a narrowed, analyzing stare that most Nara folk seem to sport, though he has a small hint of insomnia-markings to the side of his sharp eyes, showing that he lacks sleep, rather than having an over-abundance of it, certainly an oddity in any Nara. Dark raven hair flows back into his shoulder blades in non-reflective coal locks that seems as inconspicuous as humanly possible, tightly knotted ninja-wire tying some of the long hair back into a standard ponytail that leads even more hair down to his waist. Kurai's expressions doesn't range much from half-attempted smirks, or thoughtful frowns, though he has the tendency to break out into a small grin whenever something goes his way.
Clothing/Accessories:
Kurai usually keeps his clothing that of a more darker shade, though he stays away from 'all-black'. It's rather dangerous if there's a dude wearing all black, running around the village. People can get the wrong idea. He wears a dark gray fishnet undershirt, to keep his body breathing smoothly. On top of the fishnet, he has a tight, dark gray long-sleeved shirt with tiny holes pricked into the rough, yet durable fabric, and ninja wire sewn into the fabric at random intervals. The ninja-wire can be pulled also with only a flick of a finger, to be used as a garrote, whip, or conduit for other jutsu. On his legs he wears standard black ninja-issued pants, wrapped with mottled white bandages at the ankles, leading into black open-toed sandals. On top of all of this, Kurai usually has a short black scarf wrapped around his and chin, engraved with protective material to keep unwanted stenches or poison from his system.
Personality:
It's been said, and proven, that most Nara men are born ridiculously lazy, unmotivated, and bleak. It's also been said that they are like this because it's Kami's way of balancing their unnatural intelligence. There's been cases where some of the Nara children were birthed loud and cheerful. Other times, they're cold and driven. Kurai's a heavy mixture between the natural Nara, and the latter. Naturally quiet and apathetic, Kurai could be seen sitting back in a laid-back, yet observant manner, dark black eyes constantly analyzing everything and anything that could be deemed harmful or suspicious. He sports the 200+ IQ most Nara men sports, and utilizes his smarts in practical, ambitious ways rather than sitting on his ass all day watching clouds or playing shogi. While most of his clansmen are, to be blunt, lazy asses, Kurai is driven, determined, and efficient, though his mannerisms shows that he has a lazy sort of air about him as well. He isn't one to throw his questions or observations onto other people, opting to keep them writing down in a sort of binary code only he could understand, or either dot them out in a cryptic drawing, be it a koi fish, a squid, or even an eyeball. Considered creepy by some due to him being able to balance laziness and efficiency with almost crazy ease. Of course, at times Kurai would lie down under the stars and simply relax, but most of the time he's up training, be it physical exercise, or constantly practicing his chakra control, which is considered one of his more notable traits, and the main reason his insomnia is so bad. If anything, he only gets around 3 hours of sleep each night/morning. His large brain works in mysterious ways, and he could seem almost too-serious at times, due to his cautious, one-track-mind demeanor.Generally a serious, efficient, and lethal ninja that has his lazy spells like most of his Nara brethren.
Brief History:
Kurai was born to a civilian mother and a typical Nara father, whom was a former ANBU commander before he retired and became head of the Nara Clan, along with one of the Hokage's Chief Strategists. Life was decent enough for Kurai. He had a nice clan, despite their overbearing laziness, and his spunky mother kept him on his toes with hard chores, exercise, and studying. Kurai had always wanted to be an ANBU, like his father, sans the lazy 'I'll do it later' attitude. To capitalize on this, his father began training Kurai in the art of the Tanto, the man's own choice of weapon, along with standard ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Because of this personal tutor, Kurai saw no reason to go to the Academy, often skipping it to help his mother with the deer, or to train in private with his father or some clones.Life was great, until he was called to the Academy's Office at the age of 14, about his skipping...
'Kurai was a blur as he dashed above the rooftops of Konoha, the dusky night casting a shadow over the majority of his surroundings. The trainee smirked calmly from under his scarf, flipping high into the air before seemingly vanishing into his shadowy surroundings. Not a second later, he reemerged from a shadow dozens of feet from where he disappeared, swiftly dashing away once more before stopping on top of a larger building. 'Mendokuse...' he thought, annoyed, phasing through the roof's shadow and appearing silently above the Academy's principal, Hiro-sensei.
"What did I say about sneaking into the academy, Kurai-san? This is a Shinobi Village. That sort of thing can get you killed..." the lady sitting at the desk stated in a chiding voice, looking upwards at the boy through bright blonde hair. Kurai sighed, dropping to the floor in a crouch, before standing up and saluting. "Hai, Hiro-sensei. Why was I called?" Kurai asked in an apathetic, cold tone that would have offended a stranger. However, Hiro was used to the boy's demeanor, and replied with her own half salute.
"We are here to talk about your grades-..."
"Ugh."
Ever since then, Kurai was forced by his mother to attend classes daily, so that he wouldn't end up failing the academy before graduation. Kurai complied, though with a disgruntled air, attending classes and mostly spending it silently drawing, or practicing his chakra control by connecting to other's shadows and forcing them to do stupid things like jump on top of the desks and dance. That is, until the day of his graduation, where he flawlessly completed the given instructions and aced the test without a problem.
Combat/Chakra
Skills/Specialization:
Other than the standard skills utilized by most ninjas - kunai and shuriken throwing -, Kurai is a very experienced Tanto user. He's trained with the short blade for most of his life, and for as long as he remembers, and it's a very important part of his combat capabilities. Although he is decent in Taijutsu, using a sort of custom style he created that utilizes kicks, the art of Tantōjutsu is his main fighting style, along with a few specks of ninjutsu and, even less, genjutsu thrown in. He's also training to be in ANBU, or, at least he plans for that to be his future profession. Because of this, stealth, ambushes, surprise attacks, and swift movement is his usual tactic, enhanced by his genius-level Nara intellect. Lately, he's learned to channel his Shadow and Lightning chakra into his kicks and punches, and his tanto, even, to enhance the effects.
Chakra Affinity:
Lightning
Second Chakra Affinity:
Dark - Kekkai Genkai
Equipment
Tools/Weaponry:
Tanto - Specifically ordered and smith'd on the day he passed his Academy Exam, the Tanto Kurai 'lovingly' dubbed 'Tanto' is a wonderful work of hard work and art. The hilt is specifically balanced and formed to adapt to the user's grip as he grows older, dyed a cold black, yet the leather wrapped along the hilt allows for easy grip and warm comfort. There is no guard, leading right into the dulled silver that acts as the blade. Light-weight, extremely sharp, and perfectly balanced, the blade of the Tanto is made mostly for slashing, piercing, stabbing, and general swift attacks, made with chakra-moldable silver that allows for chakra to be channeled into the blade for a variety of attacks. The Tanto is sheathed and tied to Kurai's arm, inside of his sleeve, by a piece of ninja wire.
Standard - The standard kit used by most ninja, containing an assortment of ninja wire, smoke pellets, kunai, and shuriken, along with basic bandages and cleansing alcohol.
Jutsu Information
Bloodline:
Shadow Manipulation Techniques
Jutsu:
The three Academy jutsu - Bunshin, Kawarimi, and Henge.
Shadow Imitation Jutsu - D Rank - Rat Seal -The user stretches his own shadow onto another's, temporarily controlling their movements. For Kurai, because of the lack of offensive attacks, he only uses it for stealth purposes.
Shadow Meld Jutsu - D Rank - The user, once his form is in even a small shadow, has the ability to quickly meld his body into the shadow and 'teleport' into the nearest shadow, though if there isn't any within 10 feet then he will be thrown from the shadow he had melded in. Alternatively, he can hide himself in the shadow, though this slowly drains from his chakra reserves.
Lightning Clone Jutsu - D Rank - Cross Seal - This technique makes a simple clone of the shinobi. However, unlike the standard bunshin, which is a genjutsu, this bunshin takes an actual physical form through the use of electrically charged chakra.
Voltage Bolt Jutsu - C Rank - Dragon, Rat, Snap Seal - After doing the dragon and rat seal, and then snapping his fingers, the user's hands will silently crackle with lightning chakra, giving off a dull, crackling glow. Afterwards, the user can sling multiple tangible blue bolts of lightning at targets. The number of bolts depends on the amount of chakra used. On impact, the bolts of lightning has the consistency of a cold sword, piercing the flesh, or wood, or metal of the target, and exploding into an explosion of static electricity, causing burns and temporary paralysis if aimed at any non-lethal spot.
Raiton (Lightning Release)
(Water Release)
Storm Release (嵐遁, Ranton; Viz "Gale Style" or "Storm Style") is an advanced nature kekkei genkai that combines lightning and water-based chakra to create energy beams that can be guided towards the enemy. This kekkei genkai is wielded by several Kumo-nin. Despite the name of this nature, it does not manipulate storms; it instead manipulates beams of electricity which flow like water. The name is more symbolic, representing the names of the natures used to create this nature. 
Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu
