Editing Shiro (Polesia) (section)

==Shiro's Childhood and Training==

Some time passed, and the three surviving Ichimitsu children grew and pursued their trades as their father saw fit. Saburo was mercilessly drilled in the use of the bow by his father and became an exemplary archer. While he never was able to match his father’s distance with the bow, he managed using Zen discipline as well as the concept of Mushin to fire his arrows flawlessly and with astonishing speed that easily eclipsed Hisoka. Naomi was taught the craft of the shinobi, and Miyuki taught her the courtesy and disciplines of the onna-bugeisha out of Hisoka’s sight, making her a wonderful infiltrator and as a side effect a wonderful actor who could change personalities and mannerisms as one changed their clothes, as well as being able to mask her intentions and thoughts, becoming a mystery even to her closest family.

Shiro, however, was very different. In every noble Okubo family there is, to some extent, the blood of the gods, granting powerful psionic gifts that can manifest in numerous ways. This trait is simultaneously revered for its power and reviled out of ignorance and fear. So it was, when Shiro first started showing signs of this birthright, his father was momentarily uncertain of the best course of action. For a time he even believed a ludicrous rumor that the child was not his at all, but rather that of Miyuki and a wayward kami that had come to her in secret. However the child showed features that could be none other than those of one of Hisoka’s close relatives. Begrudgingly, Hisoka accepted the little “henjin” (or oddity) as his own and presented him to his daimyo, offering to kill the boy if it was required. It should be noted that Shiro was four at this time and fully aware of what his father was suggesting.

The daimyo had other ideas, however. He ordered that the child’s psionic gifts be nurtured and that he be taught the craft of his people that he might serve the Sasori. In truth the daimyo, a surprisingly kind man despite his station, was appalled at Hisoka’s offer and had no intention of letting a small child, especially one that could potentially be such a powerful asset, be set aflame just to appease the man’s wounded pride.

Shiro grew up somewhat emotionally abused by his father and ignored by his siblings, but loved by his mother. His powers were assessed by some of the other psions in the clan and it became quickly apparent that his power lay in his ability to in some sense, witness and tamper with the psychic patterns that made up reality. He was trained to use his abilities to warp the senses of his enemies, augment his physical abilities, and perceive threats and secrets where no one else could.
He was an effective tool, but his social growth was somewhat stunted by the trauma of his youth. In all ways he remains a calm and polite example of lordly courtesy—in public—when he actually gets to know someone personally however, his odd traits begin to manifest. He often comments on things that people don’t fully understand because he can see in dimensions that they can’t perceive. He’s also prone to talking to himself, especially while manifesting his powers, muttering about variances in patterns, unusual auras, coordinates, and strange monastic mantras or prayers. In no way is he bitter or unfriendly to the world, but he does not understand how to fully make himself understood or accepted by it either.