"Hmmm... It's so nice outside today here in Kirigakure," I said to myself lying on a bench at the park reading a book. Today was my day off from ninja duties, so I decided to take advantage of it and just relax, something I didn't have time for often.

Just when I was beginning to really get into my book I heard someone call my name, Hibiki (meaning sound or echo).

"Hibiki!" It was Grandfather, so I reluctantly closed my book, stood up, and walked down the sidewalk to the house. I wondered what he could want that was important enough to interrupt my peaceful morning. He knew I was off and wasn't to be bothered unless it was important.

"Yes Grandfather? What's wrong?"

"Your brother. He was supposed to be home two hours ago. I'm worried. Could you do me a favor and go look for him?" My brother, Manabu (meaning study) was named fittingly. He always surveyed and studied every little detail with those eyes of his. He took it all in so fast, and was always able to come up with the best solution for any situation. His problem-solving skills almost rivaled those of Shikamaru Nara, of Konaha. I met Shikamaru once. He was the only person I had met that was a better problem solver than my brother. I, on the other hand, think quick and "out of the box," and sometimes didn't pay attention to things that are important.

I reluctantly headed out towards his favorite spot. Soon I found him, totally indulged in some new jutsu he had been working on that one of the jonin showed him. He had only just become chunin, and was trying to get some extra recognition by mastering the 'Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu' (Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu; Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique). This was a big deal, as it consisted of 44 hand seals in order to be done.

"Ox! Monkey! Hare! Rat! Boar! Bird! Ox! Horse! Bird! Rat! Tiger! Dog! Tiger! Snake! Ox! Ram! Snake! Boar! Ram! Rat! Yang Water! Monkey! Bird! Dragon! Bird! Ox! Horse! Ram! Tiger! Snake! Rat! Monkey! Hare! Boar! Dragon! Ram! Rat! Ox! Monkey! Bird! Yang Water! Rat! Boar! Bird!" He shouted and preformed the nessasary hand seals for the jutsu.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" he shouted finishing the jutsu. Suddenly, The water in the water behind him began to rise and shape in the form of a giant, powerful dragon. It came over him and landed on a target Manabu had drawn on the ground. The ground was totally busted up from the force. Manabu then looked over to see me standing and watching with awe, and came bounding over.

"Did you see that! I did it! finally. I've been working on it since the day after I became chunin. Thats three months." He said enthusiastically.

"That was amazing, Manabu! Hey, I have an idea. Watch this!" I said.

"Dog, Boar, Ram, Rat!" I said and preformed the handseals quickly before finishing 'Raiton: Kangekiha' (Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration; Lightning Style: Emotion Wave)

"Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration!" I kicked up some of the water left on the ground from my brothers jutsu, then blew hard on on the lightning chakra built up in my hands, send the lightning down through the water, using the conductor as a current. You don't have to have a cunductor to act as a current, but i did so for two reasons. First of all, it makes the jutsu stronger. Second of all, it was to show my point.

"I get it! If I did my jutsu then you did that one, we could use them together as a collaborative jutsu, using my dragon as a conductor and a current for your lightning to travel through. With the smashing force of my dragon with the added lightning release, it would be a damaging jutsu!" My brother explained out loud.

"Exactly. We'll call our new jutsu, Water Release: Emotion Dragon." I said. Nodding his agreement, Manabu started for home, me following behind him.

We got home and the door was broken off its hinges and on the floor. Wondering what happened, we entered cautiously, and saw a horrible scene. It vexed me. Grandfather was lying on the floor, barely recognizable, and dead...