Heather
``` Stage Morph: Training Arena. ```

*Jomei figured now was a good as time as any to brush up on her trench knife skills. She had made damn good progress with it, but that was only with her mentor. Past that she can't say she's done much. She did design a technique for herself however, figuring if she were ever to be forced to get into CQC she shouldn't have a lack of answers. She brushed up on her notebook, a simple diagram of a person slashing at the throat with the very edge of the blade to get that cutting force. It was a simple but effective technique.. Something shes good at making.* 

*She closed her notebook with the trench knife she had in hand and sighed, without guidance she figured this would be somewhat difficult but nonetheless something she would have to master through careful introspection and self-study.*
Charles
While Niko was still technically withholding his presence around Jomei, he had seen her progress over time. He had the means to locate her within the village and whatnot but, he was getting tired of not interacting with her to help her progress. Selfishly, Niko had been holding himself from others these recent months. He had been training in his lonesome but he had some sort of mental block that wasn't allowing him to progress. He figured that maybe he had hit his training plateau but he was wrong. Sometimes, actual social development could help him. He had kept internally thinking that he was getting better, but he wasn't. He still wasn't committed to evolving. 

It made him sick to his stomach how much of a coward he was. It wasn't that he couldn't rush into danger or anything, it's just that he was scared of himself. A small boy vaguely resembling himself kept pulling the back of his shirt while he comforted his inner child. He couldn't let himself go on such a fruitless journey. His feelings of self-resentment and the yearn to better himself was the embodiment of the vaguely familiar looking boy tugging him from behind.

His grip was loosening around the child he was holding as the child tried leaving. In that instance, his body appeared in a flash next to Jomei, handling one of his own knives. It was his newest one, a very gnarly looking blade. On his hip were his axes, and on his mask the emotion he had rarely ever had.

 *"So, I'd like your help. I will help you in return. With your technique."*

Blunt, and straightforward. That's the only way he could not embarrass himself.
Heather
*Jomei was stunned. At a genuine loss for words, she has gone quite some time without seeing this person, the same person she considered her mentor and sensei, and the first thing he does when he sees her isn't even to say hi or anything, just to ask for help. She was upset to say the least, although she didn't know much of his personal life or what went on in his head.. She decided it was best to not lash out.* 

"That's it?! I go months without seeing you and then you just ask for help?!" *Jomei was clearly upset, but it was also clear in her voice that she was holding back a few drops of tears. Eventually she faltered and had to scrub her face with her forearm, wiping away any water that even slightly touched her face. She felt as if she wasn't a meaningful existence in his life, maybe she wasn't, she didn't know. He mattered to her so she figured that the feeling should at least be reciprocated.* 

"God dammit! Of course I'm down to help you.. But at least say 'Hey!' next time." *Jomei admitted, gripping her trench knife so hard it brought red marks to her skin.* 

"What do you need help with?"
Charles
Niko noticeably recoiled from the yelling, taking a few steps back as he bobbed his head. He was not aware of this behavior going around in Jomei's life, and therefore it was quite a shock. It was weird to see someone so emotionally upset because of his disappearance, although it made him feel. . . .Relieved. Someone, anyone, felt torn up over his presence not being in their life. He took a first step towards true development when he gulped and spoke to Jomei. 

 *"Hey. . .Uh, My bad. I'm trying to. . . .Better my stealth so I've been on the down low for a little bit."* He lied. Through his teeth, but any other excuse would sound, pathetic. 

The Sarutobi exhaled sharply, before the surface of his entire body began to turn into a dull white, his features barely shaped out before lines and squiggles began to outline small butterflies all around his body. Niko himself began to swell, almost as if his was about to explode from the inside, before he stopped swelling entirely, and his chest blew outwards. A bunch of butterflies escaped the small puff of smoke as he fell onto his ass, while the butterflies simply crashed into the ground. 

 *"So. Origami Spy is as it is titled. It's a technique where the users body splits into a boat load of paper butterflies, which the user can hear, and see from these small constructs,"* He would calmly say as he went back to his light peach skin-tone. *"It's a useful technique, which will complete my intel gathering abilities."*

It was true of course. The technique could do wonders. It was similar to his paper separation technique, but more complexified and a lot more interactive.