Searching for answers

[mercy]

“It looks like you were paying attention after all.” I nodded, in response to her words, as I went back to slapping the water. She continued to speak, and to which I tried my best to not snap her neck. “You are keener than most introductory students here. For you to be able to almost instantly understand the meaning behind this training…quite impressive indeed.” I let out a chuckle as I continued to slap the water. I spoke, “And right there, your first mistake is evident—just like every other student in your so-called group of leaders and disciples.” I slapped the water for a final time before pushing the bucket towards her, “We need more water.”

She filled it up almost immediately and then gave it back to me. I continue to slap the water with my hands as she pondered on my previous statement. “What do you mean, underestimate? I never underestimate people. I always assume them to be at their best until proven otherwise. Just like master taught us.” I continued to slap the water, taking no heed to her words. When she saw that I would not answer her question, she sighed and sat down in front me. The girl would continue to watch as my hands bounced on and off on the surface of the water. My hand did not hurt; however, my arm was getting tired indeed.

“You know—” she spoke, and to which I interjected, “Do you ever stop talking? I’m sorry but I’m trying to focus here.” Her face showed nothing of embarrassment or anger. She remained calm at my words and sat silently as I continued to slap the water. My eyes watched the ripples of water as it reached its maximum radius. I did again, and again and again! My mind warped into the calm and soothing presence that was the quiescence of soul. I became highly alter to my surroundings, yet exceedingly calm. Should danger then appear before me in flash, I had no doubt in all the world’s harshest play that I would not shift into that calamity. 

For the first time in a long time, my inner soul was calm with the gentle breeze, the whisperings of the grass outside of this dojo, and the ever-constant pounding rain that seemed to gently kiss the Gaia. My hand must have slapped that water for quite a while for I did not realize that water was almost depleted. Upon coming to the realization of it, I looked up to the girl as she sat there staring at me. “I need more water” I said and she responded, “No. You’re ready. Get up.” And thus, the gathering of Taijutsu knowledge begins.

[mercy]

The girl stood ten meters away from me as she shifted into a stance that I had seen previously. She had taken out three students within a very short time frame with that technique and thus, it was in my best interest to be on high alert. My body instinctively when into a stance my grandfather exclusively passed down to me. Simply put, we of the Uchiha did not have any unique stance. We simply adapted to the enemies styles and techniques, possessing the high intelligence to dominate such maneuvers. The leader girl came rushing towards me in blinding speed as her fist came out towards the right side of my body. In my mind, everything went blank and dark. A single droplet of water hit the ground and it was then that my left hand slapped the side of her fist, and using my right hand I had it directed at her stomach.

This girl was clever indeed though, as she immediately lifted her leg to hang in the balance of things. It held my right arm as she attempted to twist it. At the discovery of finding that my body was now flexible enough to maneuver such an attack, I followed its smooth transition and landed on the other side of her. My left fist would land across her shoulder, pushing her backwards in shock. She recovered quickly, much to my chagrin, as we ran down towards each other to the center of the dojo. We exchanged fists of the Goken style, our bodies in such perfect sync. It was clear, however, that she was better than me in this area. 

She quickly recovered whenever I had landed an attack and when her attack landed on me; it was as if I had been hit by a solid rock that threatened to deplete all the air I had in my chest. Still, though it was my abilities as a shinobi that kept me going with the combined style of this Goken etiquette that I remained in my fortitude. I pushed harder than ever as I danced with this girl, mastering this one-on-one combat. Indeed, and again, I remarked how truly amazed I was at my grandfather’s ability to transcend and impart such knowledge on his students. The girl was able to not only keep up with me as my body became faster and faster, but also counteract with surprising ease the moves of which I had delivered to her. 

“My, my! You’re pretty good, Mokushi! It has been awhile since I have fought with this amount of concentration.” She spoke as she tried to appeal to my sense of pride. I would have none of it, as I made a tsk tsk sound. “Like I said before, you underestimate me.” She raised her brow, and responded, “How so?” I took a deep breath, ready to show her a fraction of my true power. I crouched in a low position, as she readied herself. Immediately then, I ran towards her at a medium speed and to which she moved much faster than that. I smirked as my body quickly vanished much to her surprise. She would soon feel her head smacked into the floor by my leg, which was followed shortly by a few punches at her back. She yelled out in pain as I stood before her. She looked up at me, her face mildly shocked and filled, for the first time that I had seen, with unbridled rage. I spoke, “What a disappointment. I thought that you were different from other students. Apparently, I was wrong.” 

I walked out of the Dojo, and back to my room. My grandfather was going to whip me for this, but she, like her friends, needed to have the balloon they all so carefully concocted popped viciously with the stark, harsh reality that was ever-present—beyond my grandfather’s protection.

[Bit]

Learned +5

[mercy]

Dainamikku Entori (Dynamic Entry)

Rank: D

Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)

Type: Offensive

Handseals: -

Chakra Consumption: Low

This technique is essentially nothing more than the user performing a jumping kick into their opponent’s face. By focusing chakra into their feet, the user can quickly and effectively spring toward an unsuspecting victim and land their assault. This is best used with a distraction, such as a thrown kunai, so that the user can take advantage of the target’s blind spot.

I stood before five students in a room with seven of the nine leaders and ten of the twelve disciples. My grandfather was furious upon hearing what I had done to the girl, Yiano, she was named. He gave me quite an earful as I was to continue my training in the eyes of not less than five people at one time. However, upon making my argument—that is, she was underestimating not just me but the shinobis out there—I had made a case that should any one of them find themselves in midst of those trained in the arts of the ninja; they would not survive the match no matter how skilled they were. I was to start my match against the three students that were two ranks below the disciples. They, along those select few who were not disciples but were said to be on par with them, were the only ones who stood fearless in my presence. One by one they came, and my body danced…

I saw the technique that I was to learn performed by many students here. I needed no further demonstration as I performed quite well on the first student that came at me. He was fast and strong, as he caught my leg and sprang it upwards. My hands would follow through, picking up the momentum of things as my body twisted in an effort to dislodge his wrists. He quickly let go upon the quick realization of what I intended to do. However, that was his mistake as my body pulled my legs back with the help of my arms situated on the cold wooden floor. Very quickly, chakra pumped through the soles of my flatten feet would I then kick his front chest…

His hands go up in a defensive position as he moved back only slightly upon my contact. I retreated backward after having done so. I was not to take any of these students lightly, despite my many taunts about their inabilities. They were skilled but they possessed neither the fear of death at your door daily nor the need to constantly watch their backs, putting them at low alert. It was this that I used to my utmost advantage and upon having done the technique again— and this time only as a distraction, my hands quickly performed punches of the Goken style as the student dodged the repeated attacks quite nicely. It was not enough however, for midway through my onslaught, I stopped suddenly, my body dropping smoothly to the ground as the right leg quickly attempted to trip him. 

My leg was successful as it followed through, rising in the air before shortly coming down the meet the chest of the boy who lay on the wooden floor momentarily taken aback. He caught my foot just as it slammed into his chest, his face going red but he did not let go. He pulled me over, my body very quickly slammed into the wall as he tried to get up. Indeed, he did get up but his rising face was met by my fist as I punched him across the face, blood splattered from his nose as he staggered backwards. I took this opportunity, my body becoming a blur—moving at speeds of which I had previously demonstrated to Yiano. Several punches and several kicks—repeatedly as well—and in no time, the student fell to his knees, his face bruised quite badly.

“Next.” 

[mercy]

This time two students stepped up to the plate. They were all very keenly aware of my abilities despite my repeated sayings to my grandfather that was I actually weaker than they made me out to be. It was only the obvious fact that they were students trained in the ways a non-ninja, possessing neither the pure talent of the art of death nor the ability to upgrade one’s motivation in the heat battle. The two students came at me in zigzag motion, my lips cracking into a smile as I would soon show them how utterly useless it was to do such a maneuver. My legs jumped up into the air, as they would continue towards my previous position…

It had come to my awareness that this technique was purely for distraction purposes. I tried to think outside the box, to make this move well suited for my physicality, as I landed on the one of the student’s head. I did not really land on his head though, due to his arms blocking my legs departure from the air. He grabbed my legs, as the other student—a girl—came up behind me and punched me in the sides. My body slammed into the wooden floor as my breath escaped me. I lay there, momentarily stunned. Upon recovering I stood up to which the students came at me quickly, leaving me no time to recover…

I suppose they want revenge for their fallen friend… revenge was a funny word to them. I was repeatedly surprised at how forgiving they could be. The idea that they lived in this utopia, this perfect bubble where everyone got along annoyed to high heavens yet it rendered them the ability to not hold grudges nor embark on crazy journeys of revenge that I have repeatedly seen other shinobis do on a daily basis. It could act as their strength—the demonstration of which was to be seen quite soon—and ultimately, their weakness. My entire body was immersed in the Goken style as I danced with the two students in heavy combat. I used the technique so many times that I, at one point, thought of using Ninjutsu but decided against upon remembering my grandfather’s warning if I went against his orders.

The Dynamic Entry was truly invented to be used as distraction, for I could see no other purpose for it beside the simple fact that I could momentarily enter their blind spot and attack from there. It was because I was fighting students that I had grown up with and they, themselves, were raised in a protective manner that it worked here. I highly doubted, however, that such a move would work in the world of shinobi where ninjas pulled out the big guns just daring you to use a stupid move that triggered your train ride to Death’s cold arms. And so, again I used the move purely for distraction purposes while using the previous move that I had just recently learned in an attempt to put them down. 

“Whoo… look at that! We’re evenly matched!” I panted, our distance a mere two meters apart.

[mercy]

“I’ll take him.”

My left brow rose at the “tough” guy who said those words. He stood six feet tall and possessed a well-rounded body. He shifted into a stance as I felt something surge within him. I knew not what he did but I was indeed going to find out. From the spot I previously stood did I run, my fists coming out rapidly as they tried to punch the giant repeatedly. They landed quite well on his chest but he did not budge. My knuckles released a loud crack as I pulled back, flexing them. “Wooo, so what do you have there? Body of steel?” I chuckled a bit as the air went quiet. My eyes narrowed at the distaste in the air. What is this…. Who is this guy…?

Almost instantly the giant vanished into thin air, and appeared right below me. His crouched position sprang upwards in an attempt to dissemble my chin. I could not allow that to happen and so, I took used my body’s pre-image as a distraction, he would end up punching an afterimage of myself as I made it around his back and kicked him in his left side. And again, he did not budge. I moved back, trying to decipher what he did to make his body hard like that. My grandfather taught me that everything had a weakness; you just had to find it.

What was this guy’s weakness? Such a tough body renders any direct attack using your fists or legs useless unless you too possess something in a similar manner. Truth is, I did but not in the form of Taijutsu. I was, beyond all reason and at all costs, forbidden to use Ninjutsu unless the situation put my very life in true danger. He leaped at me, and for a while I ended up dodging his moves. I took every detail his every move, breath, and motion. After a while, I then stood there as he came at me with full force. Some of the students tried to stop him, fearing that I was going to get hurt badly but the leaders ordered them to stay down. I closed my eyes, my body in the calm waters…

With a hand, the palm faced towards me, I had stopped his punch. The room itself went deathly silent as my legs sprang upwards. It hit not his body but his face as he staggered back. I would not yet let go however, my left hand firmly gripping his right arm as I pulled him down into the ground. My legs slammed into his stomach as my fists repeatedly pummeled his face. Again, and again, and again the fists came and went, blood dripping to the ground in a quite solid amount. My final punch, however, was not initiated as all seven leaders pulled me away, and held me down. All ten disciples then pulled up the giant man (who was now unconscious) and headed to the infirmary. 

“Not so tough now, are you big guy?” I said under my breath as I was still held down the leaders. My, my what a day!

[Bit]

+5 learned

[mercy]

Dainamikku Akushyon (Dynamic Action)
Rank: D
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)
Type: Offensive
Handseals: -
Chakra Consumption: Low

Another relatively basic technique, the user will first flip towards their opponent (for flare; this is not necessary) and then proceeds to assault them with a flurry of punches and kicks (for a maximum of five). While somewhat more advanced than its counterpart, Dynamic Entry, these blows are hardly threatening in the grand scheme of things.

Note: Like most techniques that involve multiple hits, presuming the target is hit by the first attack, the subsequent four will automatically connect.

The new students that served under my grandfather’s protection stood in awe in my quick learning of the Goken style. Several of them had told me that it had taken them months to even begin to do such a thing as I pointed out that I was trained under different circumstances. Before I could explain what I meant, however, my old man appeared out of the blue, his cane whipping through air before landing on top of my head. I yelled out in pain, turning around to see who had dared to do that. Upon seeing that it was my old man, my eyes narrowed as I pouted. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in bed old man?” The rest of the students quickly formed their stature as if to salute my grandfather. I stifled a laugh, amazed at how easily broken they were. 

“Come with me, Ikasama.” My grandfather said to me after acknowledging the presence of his students, and turned to enter a room. I followed shortly thereafter, and saw the five leaders sitting down on the floor. They greeted my grandfather as he walked up to a chair and sat down. I stood roughly five meters away, waiting for what my grandfather had to say. He cleared for his voice for a moment, his face worn out by the edges of time. “The Raikage had sent me a letter saying that he wants you back at his village soon. I will tell you the reasons later but for now it is imperative that you learn the rest of the basics that comprises of the Goken style. We have two weeks so let’s get started.” As soon as he finished, one of the leaders stood up and turned to face me. I leaped back, almost instinctively, as I quickly assumed my own stance and the man, his own. “You know, I never quite got your name!” I said to the guy, for he was the same guy that tried to point his blade at me earlier and ended up in unfortunate circumstances. “Tigona. Masaki Tigona.” He answered as he rushed at me with blinding speed.

Upon waiting for him to get closer, I flipped towards him, almost immediately swerving to the right in attempt to dodge his attack. I then proceeded to unleash a torrent of punches as he meets them head on with his own series of punches. We ended up in a tie, as we then ran at each other again, releasing the flurry of fists at each other. Had I possessed the ability of my ancestors, I could easily dodged while at the same time attacking but I noticed that my reading ability was vast improved as my body became more and more fluid. My fists pounded against Masaki, as his fists in turn met them, a loud crack being released from the impact. This continued on for some time before my grandfather’s staff pounded on the wooden floor – an indication that a break was in order – but before I delivered a final blow to his stomach and to which he did not budge, his fist going straight for my face as the words of the my grandfather bellowed throughout the room, “ENOUGH! Time to take a break!” 

Getting some water from the students outside, I sat further away from the students, the Disciples, and the Leaders as they chatted among themselves. My grandfather sat in his chair snoring, the bubble forming and reforming as I chuckled a bit. My eyes soften at the sight of my old man as I became increasingly aware of his very old age. “Looks like you have a soft spot after all, Ikasama.” Hazel oculi shifted to the source of the voice as I saw that it was Yiano, the girl that I had beaten up severely several weeks ago. I replied, “Man, you don’t know when to stay away huh? If I did to any of them what I did to you, I expect that they keep their distance from me – maybe even ignore the very fact that I exist.” The girl chuckled as she sat down next to me, her clear blue eyes staring at my own as she spoke, “Well, I was angry at you for some time but then I realized… you must feel all alone here with everyone disliking you from a distance. Only Chika and Jigoku are the only ones who speak with you on a daily basis and I suppose that partly because you three grew up together and all. But, I would like to… understand your world.” Again, I tried in my utmost respect for my grandfather not to laugh at her words. My world? Ah, yes I almost forgot that you and every single one of you here are ignorant of the cut-throat competition that resides at my back each and every day that I live. My, oh my how I wish I could display the harshest conditions that I daily reside in but no, my grandfather forbids it. I thought to myself, as I got up to enter the room again, not responding to her question.

[mercy]

Again, I was to face to man, Masaki, as we proceeded to release a flurry of fists upon each other. Within moments our body was littered with bruises and I saw in his eyes anger. I suppose he had a right to be angry, for I did embarrass him on very first day that we had met on that rainy day. Nevertheless, if he was using his anger to fuel his need to fight me, I was perfectly okay with that. I needed a challenge – not some wimp who was afraid to hit me – not because of what I was capable of doing to them, but because of who I was. And so, we continued in this dance of the Goken, my grandfather’s keen eyes ever watching me as if to document my every weakness, strength, and misuse of this technique.

I became increasingly aware of the difficulties that surrounded this technique. For starters, I wondered at the chances of getting the first hit as I noticed that this was all that mattered. After the first hit, the next followed through as if the first hit momentarily paralyzed my opponent’s body. I quickly did a backflip to dodge his attack as he continued to come straight at me. Upon reaching a wall behind me, did I quickly send chakra to my feet, and attaching it to the wall, the man’s fist hit directly below me. I jumped immediately behind him, quickly turning to deliver powerful blows to his back. He would be pushed to the walls as I continued, my fists pounding his back repeatedly as he yelled in pain. I stepped back as he slid to the ground, unable to move. 

“Grandfather, who is that girl, Yiona?” I asked, interested in why she was so intent on trying to understand the world of which I come from. My grandfather looked at me trying to see if I possessed any voluptuous feelings towards her but I raised my hands, in attempt to relief my grandfather of the sort. He spoke, “Don’t touch my students, boy! You best be careful. Anyways… Yiona came to my doorstep from the poverty of Amegakure, seeking my guidance and help roughly three months after you had left two years ago. Within these two years, she learned quickly, climbing through the ranks and gaining the trust of the students within a short time. She has asked me repeatedly about the world of shinobi and what it is like. Having come from the deepest poverty of this village, she has seen many things no doubt, but she seeks to understand why these things happen. Do not reprimand her for her ignorance, for it is entirely my fault but I do it out of protection for them.” My grandfather sighed as I looked towards the girl, as well as the rest of the students. They were all jolly, as if clueless about the world out there. I shook my head, thankful that I was raised as a shinobi.

Yet again, did I stand, ready to master this technique as I stood before a Disciple. My grandfather’s stomp of the staff became signal upon which we used to initiate the match. We were adamant in our purposes although our purposes were indeed unknown to each other. I sought out the weakness of my enemies as I quickly became noticeable of them, my eyes getting better with each passing day that I used to train my body. It was imperative that once I had awakened my Sharingan that my body was able to keep up with the abilities that came naturally embedded within the powers bestowed upon by my ancestors. Again and again did we commence blows upon each other, never minding the blows dealt upon our being. Indeed this student was determined and fierce in his resolve, able to continue even after taking twice the many blows I had dealt to his so-called “Leader”. I remained impressed by his determination.

[mercy]

“So far, you’re better than the previous guy I fought. Keep it up!” I said to the boy, hoping to elevate his motivation for giving me a good match. We continued to exchange fists of the Goken style, his body moving quite fast—almost too fast for an average fighter even if he was indeed one of the Disciples. My eyes traced his movements very well as I delivered a blow his right shoulder but his left leg fell back and his right hand slammed on the ground. The result was a full frontal kick to my chest as I flew backwards in the air but quickly recovered, using the wall behind me to jump off of it. In the air, my body quickly vanished, appearing behind him as he quickly turned to meet my punch. His hit, however, impacted an afterimage of me as I quickly delivered several blows his face on his right side. He fell the ground, but quickly got up. Heh, stubborn! I like that.

It was not often that I found someone within my old man’s dojo that was willing to fight to the limits with me. The idea that they were fighting a trained shinobi—and one that belong to the family of their master—existed in midst of their presence terrified them to such an extent that they came to fear the very idea of who I was. I had tried, oh so many times to relieve them of their fear but they shunned me, yet so carefully tread lightly on the path of which I walked. They respected me but they did not hesitate to keep them at arm’s length. Eventually, I came to grow distant from them, indifferent in their daily activities. I would laugh at them, when they complained of how tough the training they were going through were, saying that it was nearly nothing compared to what I had been through and the guidance under which I was raised. And so, from time to time, I was grateful to find a student here and there who lacked the ability to fear me and fight me to their heart’s content.

Yet still, I was here to train and so upon remembering the goal of which I had come here to do and the limitation that I was given to complete such goals, my body zoomed in to my enemy, going all out against the man as he fought relentlessly and without effort. He combated my moves as I, his, and our moves were almost like dance. We fought again and again and again! To what end, you may ask? Truthfully, I do not know. But what I do know is that I must win in order to uphold the respect of my ancestors and to maintain the providence of such that was my integrity. I have indeed come this far and so, I would not stop for it would be an utter shame on my grandfather’s people. My mind reeled in, I standing on the brink of insanity, staring at that luxurious pool of darkness—ah, yes that sweet aroma…

Once more did we fight, our bodies refusing to break as the tirade worn on. Our spirits were so revered in the art of battle that our spar lit a candle on each and every one of the Disciples and the Leaders who watched on in the complete awe. My enemy continued on, his eyes the same as mine—fierce and powerful with determination. By now, I can tell you that I do not know how long this match has gone on, but I can tell you that this match is, without a doubt, among the best fights I’ve ever had. My body was filled with bruises and blood as was his but we refused to give up. Our fists were dealt to the other, rolling in a continuous motion. Then, finally, the staff stomped loudly on the wooden floor, its sound reverberating off the walls and into our ears as we stopped suddenly, our breaths sparse but our eyes on each other, ready to move at a moment’s notice. 

“Good job, both of you. Rest!” my grandfather would say to us as the cheers of the spectators filled the room.

[Etherion]

learned +5

[mercy]

Konoha Reppuu (Leaf Gale)

Rank: D

Range: Close (0m ~ 5m)

Type: Offensive

Handseals: -

Chakra Consumption: Low

This technique is a good example of how even simple taijutsu can become a pre-eminently destructive, lethal technique. The attack is a simple rear spinning low kick, but a strong enough user can send a large adult flying on their back as if they weighed nothing. The goal is to throw the enemy off balance, and deal damage to the lower half of their body.

“Man, there’s nothing to do today! Why did grandfather have to go to that meeting?!” I pouted, sitting in the general hall, watching the rain pound on the ground. My grandfather had forbid me to train with any of the students while he was gone. He did not trust me to lightly spar with them in the undergoing process to learn a few more moves of the Goken style. I looked over the remaining two moves that my grandfather planned for me to use, memorizing their very instructions on how to perform it. I did this for three consecutive days, my mind visualizing the moves of which I was to perform. I wanted to move on to Ninjutsu, and hone those skills as well as possibly refine the previous skills that I had in my arsenal.

CLASH!! The sound made me look up as I could ten students lying on the ground outside through the glass window. My eyes narrowed as I wondered what was happening. Putting away the scroll, I got closer to the window, as I saw two of the Leaders and three of the disciples in a match against what seemed to be shinobi from the village of Amegakure. There were six of them and from the looks of it pretty strong as well. The three students that lay on the ground were the average low-level students just learning under my grandfather’s tutelage. The rest of the students stayed back, the remaining disciples and leaders standing in front of them and it was my guess that they stood back to protect the students. I chuckled a bit as they would finally see just how we, the shinobis, truly do battle. I walked outside, sitting on the rooftops—my presence completely unaware by the people below. The two leaders were Jigoku and Chika while the disciples were, to my best recall; my old man’s highly praised students even among the Leaders. Then Chika went down on the ground as one of the rain ninja was about to deliver a killing blow, too fast for any of the students to react to…

Tch, my old man would never let me live it down if I was to let them do as they please… My body vanished from the rooftops, my right leg giving out a spinning low kick to the ame-nin’s chest. He went flying back as the rest of the rain ninjas stopped to look at what had just happened. Out of the rain did I appear the air silent and deathly. “Oh? There’s another one? Heh, Let’s show him a lesson!” one of the ame-nin said as I picked up Chika from the ground, giving her to one of the leaders—which happened to be Yionga. I smiled, speaking “You wanted to know more about my world? Allow me, then, to show you.” I said turning around to face the Ame-nin group. “Jigoku, Tim, help me out here. The rest of you stay back.” The Ame-nin laughed as two of them ran towards me and the two Leaders but I moved faster than any of them. My senbon needles flew through the air as a distraction. They would take it, knocking it out of the way while still keeping their movement forward. I appeared from the above, and when they had stopped dead in the tracks was when I simultaneously kicked their heads into the ground, my sword now in my right hand.

The rest of the Ame-ninja would surround me, closing in from all sides. My body spun rapidly, fire emanating from my sword as it gives out arcs of flames. They appeared deadly, leaping on to the ninjas as we all fought—I against them—in a high-speed combat, beyond what any of the students could ever achieve. Some time had passed by as our recent clash forced our bodies to repel backward roughly five meters away. The students stood in shock, amazed. One of the three remaining ame-nin spoke, panting, “You’re a shinobi, aren’t you? There’s no way anyone who lives in that ridiculous dojo could move that fast and combat six of us at once. What village are you from?” I chuckled at the comment, oh, so it is not just me that thinks that. Good to know! 

[mercy]

Still, on another point, they had indeed insulted my grandfather’s dojo and thus, I was not allowed to tolerate that. Not answering their question, I proceeded to do the move that I had just recently learned and still in the process of perfecting. My right leg slammed against one of the ninja’s arms as I could hear the bones breaking. An outcry bellowed from the ninja as his arms fell limp by his sides. In his eyes I could see the rage boiling, but alas, it had no effect on me. Within this instant, my sword slashed across the ninja’s belly, before moving on the next target. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the other two ninjas battle Jigoku and Tim. I knew that they could handle it. If I had to pick two people who could hold their own against a shinobi it would be those two. They were raised in a similar manner as I was, but never having sworn any allegiance to a village or immerse their daily living in the harshest conditions a shinobi would have lived in, they remained unaware of the challenge it posed. But, they were the best students out of my old man’s most highly praised group and so I pressed on, trying out a few techniques that came to my mind when I was reading that scroll.

The ninjas of Amegakure were blood-thirsty. They knew no boundaries through which they refused to retain themselves in their former identities – something a ninja ought to do in order to remind himself of his humanity lest he become a demon unleashed – yet I pressed on, but I was careful not to show my glee. The students were already afraid of me, and now they had a solid reason having witnessed my cold demeanor in battle. Simple rear kicks spun off from my legs as I kicked back two of the enemies, zodiacs flashing by and by as a means of preparing techniques. My fire chakra boiled with the anger of my ancestors, the power bestowed upon me shown in its brightest displays, I inhaled shortly followed quickly by an exhale of powerful flames that scorched their way through, the Gaia being most fortunate that I was of earthen brethren. The Ame ninjas seek to repel such flames with their water nature. The three of them performing the same technique as their water spewed from their mouths combined into such a large wave that it overwhelmed the flames, still going strong. They laughed, daring me to get around that and boy, did I smile…

The other students stayed back, their eyes filled with fear of drowning. My hands formed as my body called out the Gaia. The waves would soon be met with an earth wall that dominated the wave, pushing it back as the water lowered to the ground, rushing up to everyone’s ankles. Within an instant of such confusion, my body disappeared, delivering quickly spinning kicks that send them back a few meters. Their backs met the lightning strikes from Jigoku, his hands slicing through their hearts as they froze in terror. A few moments went by as their bodies went limp, the light forever leaving their eyes. The remaining two, upon seeing the damage we had done to their faction, left quickly as I moved speaking, “I’m not letting you go!!” but Yionga stepped in, her arms spread out in an attempt to block my movement. She spoke, “Let them go, they have done too much damage to us! Wait until Master gets back.” It was too late by then, as the shinobis ran away, gone with the wind. I shook my head in distaste at what she had just done. “You realize that they will be back right? With more ninjas than before and you let them go – just like that. No wonder you can’t defend yourselves without my old man! It was six of them against MANY OF YOU!! WEAKLINGS, ALL OF YOU!!” I left to go back inside the Dojo, not realizing the impact of my words upon the students…

Two days later, my grandfather had returned from his trip and upon hearing the events of things that had unfolded, he took it upon himself to go and find out who had done it. I sat down in the room five meters away from him as we were both silent for some time. He was the first to speak, “Ikasama, thank you for helping out the students.” I nodded, knowing that I did it for my old man rather than for them. I could almost never bring myself to understand their paralyzing of fear of shinobi. I understood, at best, that shinobis are a force to be reckoned with and that there were few shinobis in the world that you should avoid at all costs, but I did not understand the student’s motivation to live thus far. Had I not been here, what would have happened to them? What would have happened to the Dojo – the very place my grandfather had built from the ground up to take kids off the streets of this poor warring country and into a haven, training them ever so slowly in the arts of the Ninja Way. Should they then pay this debt to their “Master” as they so willingly call him and take it upon themselves to protect the integrity of this place? I shared my thoughts with my grandfather, but he did not reply. Instead, he pointed to a huge display on the left, the incision of the imagery highly precise – done to its last tiny detail. I looked that the large dragon that appeared upon it, its massive structure giving off an intimidating presence. My eyes returned to my grandfather as I spoke, “I do not understand what that means. What I do understand, however, is that you need to be stricter with your students! If they cannot handle six shinobis, what will happen if they face twenty? Thirty? Fourty? They have over 120 of them and yet they stand back like baby sucklings.” I stormed out of the room, my anger reaching its limit.

[mercy]

I went to the general room for training. I need to blow off some steam as the students saw me entering the room. All of the students that were there ran out of the room, their eyes filled with terror. I would pay no attention to it, my mind on the surface of the calm pool. In the middle of the pool lit a single azure flame that burned a gentle hue. I stood before multiple dummies as it was time to finally take control of this move. I rushed at the first one, doing some punches to it – fast and strong – before delivering a very quick and short spin kick that dropped on the head. I continued to do this in quick routine, never letting my body rest. Sweat slithered down my body – its source from the dark raven locks that bounced up and down in a tremendous feat – and so, I continued, the world around me nonexistent to my conscience. 

There was that ever-constant motion that moved along the swaying of my body. I knew that it was imperative for my body to keep up with my eyes once they were unlocked. Still, within the deepest confines of my mind, I tried to figure out how what was the plan to control this darkness. It was only a matter of time before I go back into those illusions – and to what end? On one part, it could potentially lead me to better be aware of my darkness, to become acquainted with my prospective newfound power that dwelled within me. My body still performing the moves of the Goken style on the various dummies that were made in various types of material – ranging from the softest fluff to the toughest metals – I knew that I had to hold fast to my resolve, to become a better asset to my village. It was devotion worth pursuing. 

The door behind me opened and my awareness was suddenly alert. I turned around slowly, and upon seeing that it was Jigoku, I raised my eyebrow in question of his appearance here. “Since when do you come here?” I said, appealing to my sense of curiosity. He replied, “Since my childhood friend made everyone afraid and aware of their limitations.” I sighed, sitting down. “Well, the afraid part was not my intention. But the awareness part was, so in part, my message did get across them. Good to know.” Jigoku shook his head, apparently in disagreement. “Ikasama, you know very well why they cannot fight against a shinobi. Your grandfather—” I interrupted there, speaking, “my grandfather protects them too much. He is not going to be around forever. What happens then, if the ninjas attack this dojo? You think I will be around? I am going back to my village. You, Chika, and Tim cannot handle a horde of ninjas raining down on this place. It is time that these students toughen up and learn how to fight against shinobis.” I stood up, turning around to perform the move once more, focusing on various spots about the dummies.

“Your grandfather wants me to combat against you.” Jigoku said, as I stopped midway before the dummies’ head. Smiling, I spoke, “Well, well! It has been a long while since we fought. Okay then, let’s go!” I readied myself but Jigoku raised a hand, speaking once more, “In the grand hall. The old man wants to fight before the students.” I let out a discouraged sigh, wondering what he could possibly want us to achieve out of this. Nevertheless, my grandfather’s wisdom far superseded my own – not that I had much to begin with anyway despite my upbringing – and so I nodded as he left. I turned around to prepare myself for the upcoming match, my mind set on perfecting the move that I used so many times. Once more should do it… and so I did, my low kick went spinning across the metal dummy, breaking off its arm. I landed back onto the ground, a nod confirming the perfection of my move. 

[Bit]

Learned +5