End of The Beginning [p]

[Hermit]

Twas an unnaturally cold morning in the land of Kaze no Kuni and Oni, as well as the other residents of Sunagakure no Sato, were not spared the bitter chill which pervaded the air. Oni stalked the grounds of the training area like unto a man possessed seeking a private area where he could improve his skill, without witness. He was normally just the opposite, looking for a naïve youngster who could bear the brunt of his “teachings” but today he knew that any interference would inevitably lead to death. Such things were, again, normative enough for one of his particular bent yet he knew that his goal might never be accomplished if he did not find some way in which to exercise some restraint. There was a reason he needed to become stronger; he had taken it upon himself to rid the world of a certain man who knew not what hellish damnation he’d brought upon himself when crossing the one many men called ‘the most brutal Hyuga living’. When Oni committed himself to exterminating the life of another human being their death was all but assured.

From the sparring area he had settled on, he could clearly see the tall structure to the north and it stirred up within him such bitter hatred it clouded his thoughts and vision. The Kazekage Tower sat dormant, a pitiful obstacle blocking the majestic horizon and reminding all of Sunagakure no Sato of the man who had abandoned his post and his people for no apparent reason. To hell with his reasons and to hell with him; Hyuga Shoumetsu had agreed to and then run from a spar with Oni and given nary an explanation as to why. This was not the mark of a warrior nor was it the behavior of a man who would continue to draw breath for long, if Oni had his way. He was going to become stronger and continue expanding the base of his skill until the day he could consume the Sandaime Kazekage in a plume of furious vengeance. With but a thought, he hefted his claymore toward the sky and silently swore an oath pledging he would not leave the world of the living before the one who had wronged him.

[Hermit]

Oni knew of only one way forward; he needed the strength to stand alone and unrivaled before he could dominate the masses and cultivate an army. But who would follow a man such as he? He knew only violence and bloodshed and he dishonored those he slew after their final moment. And what of it? He only felt alive when he stole the last breath from an opponent and that tenacious drive is what lay behind his will to achieve an ever greater control of his most obvious weapon, the Hachimontonkou. It was the seat of his power and his primary means of domination but he had neglected his training for far too long. Rumors sprang up from across the lands of warriors whose strength far exceeded his own. His need to be the best did could not take further insult.

He had reached a level of proficiency not uncommon to those who made Taijutsu their sole focus, so to test his mettle he would need to take the next step in his own journey and reach the fourth level. The Shoumon, or the Gate of Wound, was the last link in the chain before the body succumbed to its own power and yet it was also the first level at which a Taijutsu master could truly hold themselves above those with advanced Ninjutsu techniques. Even the fabled Sharingan, infamous among other clans, was thought to be unable to unlock the mysteries of the Fourth Gate. This, of course, spelled doom for those without the most ingenious methods of detection or the physical ability to respond to the daunting onslaught of speed and power.

[Hermit]

Oni suffered from a variety of character flaws but among them one would not find the sin of overconfidence. Though it was true that he was prideful, you could definitely draw the line before haughty was reached. He knew that an overindulgent view of one's self was the first step growing dull in battle so he never allowed himself to do so, or to underestimate an opponent. Yet at the same time, he was not entirely concerned with the reports of other warriors reaching his same level or surpassing him in some aspects. This was because he still felt he could do more with less than many could achieve with more. He was keenly aware of his own abilities and was assured that through his mastery of the Third Celestial Gate he was more than a match for most.

This was because he had not merely specialized in the Hachimontonkou alone, but he had diversified his skills as he gained knowledge of the human body and it's limits. Of course, having the eyes of the Hyuga were truly a boon as it allowed him to know, for the most part, when an opponent was planning something and gave him time to react. He would never be one to simply rely upon the blessings of his heritage and so he had sought out other skills to bolster his own. He learned just enough about the blade to be dangerous with it although it was really only useful to him in certain scenarios. He achieved a level of proficiency in other forms of Taijutsu to give himself a well rounded repertoire. And he was even beginning to branch out into the arts of Ninjutsu for times when he had to level the playing field.

[Hermit]

Momentarily turning from the focal point of his anger, Oni began his breathing exercises after assuming the basic position he had ingrained into his body's musculature. His feet were spread shoulder width, providing the stability for quick movements and his fists were curled into balls of unyielding iron at his sides. His body was firm without being rigid; the flesh covering his vital organ was clenched as if to prepare for an incoming blow as was the usual routine. Knees were slightly bent to absorb powerful attacks and ready himself to deliver them in turn, and his eyes were closed to enable him to clear his mind and wash away all outer stimuli. From there, he began drawing oxygen deep into his lungs to provide his muscles the fuel they needed for the eventual exercises. His abdomen did not move though; only his chest was visibly engaged in the process at hand as Oni initiated the first stage of the double inhalation technique. Following soon after, his diaphragm slowly began expanding as his stomach became involved in drawing each breath into the deepest recesses of his body.

He would continue this until his breathing was stable and the whole of body was smoothly undulating with each breath taken. Once his breathing was established, Oni would open his eyes and take in his surroundings in order to memorize the settings as he would soon need the info. In a matter of moments he would propelling himself around the enclosure faster than the human eye could follow and he was not too keen on running into any walls or tripping over any errant boulders. The training area he'd chosen that day was largest in the entire village, perhaps in any of the Hidden Villages, and it measured a grandiose one thousand meters on each side and formed a massive octagon. Very little existed within its walls other than dirt; the natural elements of sand and any other type of vegetation had been removed long ago and, due to the fact that the Kage usually reserved this arena to train with Summons, the boulders and large rock deposits had been ground into dust or gravel by techniques of incredible power. Oni took one last look to commit it all to memory before closing his eyes once more and preparing himself to begin.

[Hermit]

The first step was pooling his chakra and making ready for his stamina to wildly increase. The breathing exercises helped but Oni would need to continue focusing his mind, and for that he would repeat the fighting style stances he was familiar with. These movements were merely another way to concentrate his erratic subconscious; his mentality finding stability in the learned motions that had been born of countless battles and confrontations. When his senses were at their peak and all thoughts of any weakness had melted away his eyes opened to the world just as his mind unlatched the pathway to his inner power. In this situation, far removed from actual combat, the change did not bring the usual state of advanced physiological alterations. The only subtle clue of his power's progression was a pulsing vein, atop his forehead, which appeared for a brief instant and then faded. With this gentle act, the First Chakra Gate had been unlocked and Oni took a deep breath before continuing.

He knew that rushing through the process of attempting to unlock a new gate might result in severe trauma to his body and mind, so he resolved to take things as slowly as his temperament would allow. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he once again grew accustomed to the feeling of profound strength which flooded his body and intoxicated his soul. Without warning or hesitation he sprang backwards, flipping once, only to land on his outstretched fingertips. The handstand was a perfect way to not only practice balancing one's equilibrium but it was also a good way to settle one's inner spirit. Oni often exemplified the exact opposite in battle; his style was pristine however, when he fought, he was something akin to raging behemoth who sought to crush all in his path. Yet he knew he could not merely attack all obstacles with the same ferocity. But, even having come to that conclusion, he felt the creature stirring within him and he had to regulate his breathing immediately to keep from losing himself to the beast that stalked his innermost thoughts.

[Messatsu!]

+50