"Enough!" Sensei Wu called to his pupils. "Training is over for today. and Kai you really must try to control the fire with in. patience with a fire can cook a meal. impatience can cause the forest to burn." With that Sensei picked up his tea set and headed into the Dojo.
Kai took off his mask and stood there feeling dejected. It was as if Sensei Wu didn't care about his skill improvement at all. All he cared about was patience.
Kai looked up feeling a friendly hand on his shoulder. The hand belonged to Cole. all three of them were unmasked and looking at him as if they shared his pain.
"Don't let Sensei upset you. He only wants to help you become the best ninja you can be." said Zane.
"If it help you feel any better we all had to learn some sort of trait or virtue or life skill to help us too." said Jay, as usual adding as many details as he could.
"Really?" Kai asked, turning to them.
All of them nodded, even Cole who normally would not verbally admit a weakness.
"Didn't expect to see a nod from you Cole," Kai teased.
"Believe me Kai, I used to be MUCH worse, when it came to this sort of thing. When Sensei first found us my only goal was being the absolute best, I had to learn that being the best doesn't mean being part of the team..."
***
Cole, Jay, and Zane stood in the dojo courtyard. Waiting for Sensei Wu to start their first lesson.
Cole's eyes were glued on the door Sensei told them he would step out of.. He payed no mind the the two next to him. he would be better than them. He would prove himself to be the best. That is until the one named Jay opened his mouth.
"I wonder what the Sensei will make us do first? Maybe chop wood with our hands, or maybe throw shurikens, or maybe-" he rambled on and on adding motions to what he described until eventually one move made him lose his balance and fall over.
Cole shook his head and did his best to block Jay out. How could he be so enthusiastic. Jay should know he would lose to him.
At last Sensei Wu walked out holding the same tea set he had when they met. He pressed a hidden button and opened a huge training area.
"I sense he won't wait for us to start to begin his timing. we must act as soon as he instructs us," Zane warned.
"You have a sixth sense?" Jay asked impressed.
Zane nodded.
Not good Cole thought, that puts points in his favor. I'll have to double my effort.
"Complete the course before I finish my cup of tea," Sensei Wu commanded.
The Ninjas in training took off but none of them got first dodging the swinging balls and were all knocked to the ground.
"Fail" said Sensei Wu. After several more failed tries he added to this, "You may try again tomorrow."
Cole frowned, and got up watching the others.
Zane helped Jay to his feet. "This was a bad day," he said.
"No better than any of us. I've got some cooking skills up my sleeve. how does a a nice teriyaki dinner sound to ease the pain?" Jay offered smiling.
"That's a good idea," Zane replied.
Cole was disgusted. They were trying to be friends? Surely Sensei Wu was looking for the best of the three, not a team.