Artes animi.
Disclaimer :I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 6.
Sakurai cursed as he jumped back, a senbon flying from his hands to impale the snake in front of him. It was two days already in this damn forests and although no feral enimals were moving around at day here the place was crawling with snakes and other poisonous creatures.. But the snakes were the worst, if he wouldn't know any better he would've assumed the snake sanin himself devised the place.
It's started easy enough, after entering the forest he took right into the trees, which were covering every possible ounce of land, the grass itself was thick, so much so that he could've easily hide himself there without needing any camouflage techniques.
His first objective was to find some water and food, and although his affinity was water he really wasn't sure that using up his chakra was a good idea.
He ran through the forest, the tree brunches he used as a springing board, it was dark in the forest even though it was morning.
It took him a while, but finally he found a small pond of water, surrounded by a thick foliage . Pausing for a moment the boy took the area around him, the forest was never quite, the small noise of the insects and birds breaking the airy silence of the trees.
With a smile he moved toward the pond.
This was his first mistake.
Just as he reached the foliage , he was assulted by a small green snake, and only his honed reflex let him escape unscathed.
The reptile moved after him, but he was easily able to dispatch it with a kunai.
His second mistake was trying to drink from the water... It smelled auful and the dark green hue around it didn't make it any better. He should have known they wouldn't have made it this easy...
So finialy deciding to relay on his chakra for drinking water, which left him with some time to look for food, wich wasn't difficult considering the place was full of edible plants and mushrooms.
Relaxing on a tree brunch Sakurai thought its will be easy from now on.. After all there wasn't anything else he had to do.
Which was his third mistake.
For as he tried to realx on a tree, a heart chilling howl came from between the woods.
The howls intensified which prompted the young shinobis eyes to open in panic. He was a shinobi yes.. He could kill them yes.. But there was no way for him to guard against them when he slept.
He cursed darkly, this was starting to become much worse than originally anticipated, the Yamanaka cursed for not knowing any clone technique which would be useful here... Noting to himself to learn it at the first time.
Forcing himself awake the young shinobi decided to stay up for as long as he could, dying as animal food wasn't part of his plans for the future.
And that's how he found himself in his current situation, tired albeit still more than functional, their training did cover staying awake for several days but he was still irritated and just slayed another annoying snake.
Jumping back on a brunch he scanned the area around him and dimming it to be safe enough he closed his eyes listening to the noises around him, slowly letting part of his consciousness to move around, albeit careful not to transfer it into another body to avoid the consequences which may come from the action.
The forest was really beautiful, it was full of life and in his ethereal form Sakurai felt a much deeper connection to the nature around him, enjoying every moment he lost himself in the wandering his eyes and other senses immersed in the life around them.
When he finally returned to his body the forest already became darker, the last rays of light which previously were able to penetrate the thick leaves of the trees vanished gradually, resulting in the forest to cover in darkness.
Taking a cup out of his equipment pack he made a hand sign and fiiled it with water, after which he ate some of the plants he gathered earlier. Relaxing a bit he took a sip from the cold water his eyes still darting around making sure he isn't being ambushed by any annoying parasite.
The Yamanakas mind drifted, thoughts of what is to come next crossed his mind, life as an Anbu wasn't an easy task nor was it satisfying in any way.. On the contrary it brought nothing to the shinobi but pain and bitterns, but this was for the village and the most efficient way to defend those he cared for.. His uncle aunt and his cousin who was like a sister to him. As their image flashed before his eyes he smiled in determination.
Finishing the so called meal the boy looked annoyed, his body was yearning for sleep and although he could make himself stay awake it was not recommended in any way.. His brilliant Nara mind was working a mile a second trying to find a good solution to the problem when it suddenly hit him and the silver haired boy facepalmed.
" I am such an idiot" he whispered " To overlook something so obvious..." he sighed deeply, irritated by his own incompetence.
Taking a look around his eyes caught what he was looking for.. A few branches from him a small bird was resting. It was a beautiful bird of purple and red and it's elegant wings were resting on the sides of its body.
Sakurai smiled his hands moving in a familiar pattern, the signs he learnd long ago.
" Yamanaka clan hidden technique: Mind body swapping" he intoned letting his body fall carefully on the branch and supported by the thick trunk. He himself in a full ethereal form of his spiritual energy moved toward the bird and touched it gently.
The avian shuddered for a moment but it's consciousness was easily swapped to the side by the more powerful mind of the shinobi, and the boy suddenly saw everything from the body of the bird.
It was different... It was enchanting.. It was miraculous.
The feelings, the colors, the sounds the sensetions, Sakurai was ecstatic.. To think the world could look so different from another creatures perspective...
The silver haired boy took a soar in the sky, his elegant wings moving him forward, the boy took everything in.. His mind was full of excitement as he savored every new experience.
After several more minutes the boy finally landed near his body, where he will stay until the morning letting his physical chakra regenerate with the sleep.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next day passed mostly the same, no new animals or any more difficult than it was the first two days... Or so he thought.
But unfortunately for him he forgot this wasn't a regular shinobi training ground, which literally meant he shouldn't have relaxed even for a second.
It was around two hours after he woke up, his now rested body was fully recovered and functional even though his mental ability was a little stretched.
He was walking through the woods, looking for something to occupy himself with, when a growl came right from behind him.
Slowly turning around the young man witnessed something which he definitely did not like. As from right behind him a huge orange with black strypes tiger came out of the thick greenery, the beasts sharp fangs could be seen through its open mouth.
Sakurai shivered.. From where the hell did they bring a tiger of all things?! Instinctively his spiritual chakra reacted, as it grazed the animals mind for the surface thoughts which the boy knew to be futile. To his surprise though he actually was able to feel something. It wasn't thoughts per - se, but more like a multitude of emotions and instincts the primary of which was violent by nature.
The Yamanaka didn't have time to actually analyze how he could understand it and frankly he was more occupied by trying not to become the victim of the way to large cat.
The tiger howld again, before it moved toward the boy in front of it, leaping forward to close the distance.
But the boy was prepared as he rolled forward, and enchaced as he was by his chakra he striked the creature on its back, aiming for the spinal cord, effectively breaking it, which prompted the animal to howl in pain as it fell on the grass unable to move.
Sakurai breathed lightly, a mere tiger wasn't really anything for a shinobi to handle, with their chakra enhanced ability a mere animal was nothing but an easy game.
He slowly and cautiously approached the fallen feline, careful not to let it do any unexpected moves. But his worry was for nothing as the animal whimpered pathetically as it slowly moved its front paws.
Sakurai closed his eyes, letting his consciousness to touch the animal's, and he froze. For the feeling which assulted him were those of helplessness and pain as the noble animal felt its minutes were numbered.
Returning fully to his consciousness, the boy used a kunai to end the suffering of the feline, his mind still reeling with the feeling of death slowly enveloping the mind of the creature. Sitting down near it the boy's mind worked extra hard analyzing the new data, for until now he only took into account the rational part of his mind.. ButBut his time in the forest made him realize that to truly excel in the mind arts he needed to develop not only the rational part of his mind but also the emotional.. For although it was technically unnecessary after all the entire point was to move the consciousness.. But for more full transition he will need to develop this to its fullest.. His brain already started calculating the time and steps he will need.
Finally getting up, the boy smiled.. The test itself wasn't difficult although in truth it could be attributed to his specific skills.. Not needing to worry about water and sleep certainly made it easier.. And even though it was technically cheating.. But what true shinobi didn't cheat when he could?.
Moving the bang which was covering his left eye the boy smiled as he moved back.. After all he still had close to two days...
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Turtle was waiting near the exam area, her demeanor calm and her eyes cold beneath the mask. The instructor wasn't really worried, the Yamanaka was a capable shinobi and the test wasn't very difficult for the only real challenge was the lack of sleep and water.. But a shinobi in general and an Anbu more so had to be able to survive that much.
A small chuckle came from her mouth as she deduced that the Yamanaka most likely found some sort of way to cheat...
The sun was standing high in the heavens, the shadows of the trees casted a protective shade over their heads, the fifth day came and currently they were waiting for the examiny to come out.
And they were not disappointed.
The gates opened slowly and the boy came out, his long silver hair falling behind him, his left eye covered with a bang, and his clothes were dirt and littered with leaves as was his hair.
But the boy itself was smiling, his grey eyes shining with mirth as he walked steadily and apperantly not very exhausted.
Sakurai slowly came toward his instructor, his eyes flashing suddenly with annoyance as his overworked mind started to get irritated.
Arriving in front of the kunouchi he stopped and saluted.
The woman smiled under her mask as she nodded approvingly " You did well trainee.. Now go wash yourself and change your clothes.. You stink" she said with an invisible smirk.
The boy scowled but obeyed hurrying back toward the living complex.
The Anbu turned around to look at the others.. "Now then.. Who's next?" she asked.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sitting in his small room, Sakurai held gently the violin in his hands, his eyes softly caressing the musical tool.
He careful took out the bow and slowly started to play a soft tune. His eyes closed, his mind focused there was nothing else in the world.. No killings no training, no enemies no friends or family just him and the soft tune. Slowly he lost himself deeper and deeper into the music, his mind taking him soaring in the world of music. He wept with the sad part and smiled with the happy, he danced with the melody as his soul soars higher and higher into a greater plane of existence... A plane in which there was nothing but music.
So immersed he was in his music he didn't notice his instructor, and fellow student standing there their eyes fixated on his every move.
The instructor's eyes were wet under the mask and she was thankful for the fact.. It won't do good for her reputation.
Yamamoto on the other hand was actually crying, his eyes red from tears, his soul touched by the higher plane... For as much as they were shinobi.. Killers and murderers.. They were still human beings, humans who had no choice but to control and subjugate their emotions.
It took several more minutes for the boy to finish, his eyes open slowly only to notice the two other shinobi standing by the door, their gazes fixated on him.
" Um... Sensei? Yamamoto san?" he asked slowly.
" This was brilliant Yamanaka..." the other boy praised him with a genuine admiration in his eyes " I had no idea you had this particular talent" he spoke excitedly.
The boy scratched his head sheepishly " I am not that good.. I am actually fairly a beginner.." he admitted his face heating up.
The older boy looked at him weirdly " What are you talking about that was literally brilliant!" he said again.
Before the shinobi was able to respond however, the Anbu instructor spoke" This was indeed well done Yamanaka... I do hope that you won't prioritize it over your training though " she said seriously.
The boy nodded in understanding" Of course Sensei... There is no need to tell me that " his voice indicated he was pretty insulted that she thought he would prioritize anything above his training.
The instructor nodded in approval" Very well then.. You have several days before the others will finish... It's a free time for you so use them wisely.. The next part of the training is going to take around four months and is going to be focused solely on combat and tactics... "with those words she simply left, leaving the two trainees to themselves.
" Well then " the silver haired boy said" It's time for some experiments ".
End of chapter 6.
Technically nothing special here.. But it had some important moments...