My ninjutsu training had come to a standstill in the following weeks. Even Biwako was surprised that I hadn't bugged regarding jutsus. While she hadn't yet shown it outright, I could clearly see the suspicion on her face whenever I said I was going out to train.
And strangely enough, she didn't ask me what I was training in either. Either my stubborn desire to figure things out on my own had convinced her that it was one of those things that I was pigheaded about or she thought that I had lost my interest in jutsus after failing to perform a D-rank jutsu. Either way, I didn't care about that much.
My mind was fully focused on figuring out the method to transform normal chakra into water natured chakra. And I had indeed picked a perfect training spot for it if I have to say myself. The Naka River was an ideal place for me to train.
It was isolated, had an abundance of water and rarely saw anyone near it. I had identified this small hidey-hole of my own while going on one of my morning laps. As luck would have it, the place had a natural source of water flowing just near it. It was just perfectly situated within the village borders while also receiving only a few visitors – the reason being it very close to the Uchiha's famous Naka shrine. Hell, even the Uchihas avoided the place in respect.
Immediately, I knew that this would be the perfect spot for me to figure things out. No one would expect a Senju to hang around the Uchiha section of Konoha. The fact that it was a river, which suited my affinity tremendously, was just the icing on the cake.
I exhaled heavily breaking out of the water as I struggled to swim against the current. I slowly swam to the share shivering with the wet cloths and threw myself on the bank with a huge sigh.
Repeatedly drowning in water was not a cool thing to experience. If this continued, I might even begin to hate water completely. And wouldn't it be ironic! A water natured shinobi hating water. I chuckled at the thought and reviewed my training to grasp what I had done wrong.
As you might have guessed, I am training in the art of water walking. Sure, it was a chakra control exercise and not ninjutsu, which might have defeated the entire purpose if not for the fact that it allowed me to be in touch with my element.
For the past few weeks, my progress had come to a standstill as I banged my head against the chakra nature problem. I had only been practicing my taijutsu forms and keeping up my shape with my morning runs. And ever since I went back to attending the academy, I couldn't spend as much time as I would have liked on the chakra nature problem either.
It began to frustrate me a lot since I felt that this was the time I need to progress further and further and not stay standstill in a place. And the news trickling into the village regarding the ongoing war didn't help me either. So, I had taken up the habit of strolling through Konoha to take my mind off things (it worked - partially).
As I was roaming around the village one day – mulling things over in my head and trying to figure out how to change my chakra nature, suddenly a light bulb went on in my head. In regards to chakra control, I had already mastered the art of tree walking. And the next logical step in that direction was water walking. That meant spending a lot of time near a flowing water body.
And guess what, it conveniently aligned with my intentions of knowing my own chakra nature a little better. To any onlookers (cough-Hiruzen-cough), it would look as if I had gotten tired over the chakra nature and had turned my attention elsewhere. But, on the other hand, I could try to work on two things at once.
Overjoyed by own cleverness, I soon began to search for a perfect spot to implement my plan. And thus, I came across this isolated patch of land where the river flowed near to the Naka Shrine on one of my morning runs.
And I wasn't stupid about it either. Picking a spot in the Uchiha controlled area would spell disaster. I was not that unaware of how things stood. Regardless of whatever is happening, I am a Senju and the chances of Uchihas being gracious enough to accommodate me were slim to none. While there were several such spots along the Naka River, I chose this one because it wasn't officially a land belonging to any of the clans. The Naka Shrine was located at the edge of Uchiha lands and a little distance away from it my hidey-hole existed.
Enough self-patting about my cleverness, now it is time to concentrate on my training. Initially, I had too much difficulty in controlling the output of my chakra to my soles. While I knew the basic principle behind it and had even seen how it is done, I soon understood that watching something and performing something is altogether different.
For starters, the difference between tree walking and water walking lay in the fact that the two surfaces were entirely different. The tree boasted a steady surface with a constant amount of thickness to it. On the other hand, the surface of the water was nowhere steady and the thickness was almost non-existent.
Don't get me wrong, there was some surface tension from the water. But, it was so minute that it didn't even matter. The best analogy I could give regarding the comparison is – tree walking is like sticking to a surface and water walking is like skirting on thin ice. In fact, a better example would be to say mixing oil and water. They both touch and yet don't mingle.
One has to figure out how to touch the water without breaking the surface tension of the water. It was a chore by itself. And that is only for starters.
Moving on, the next problem arises from the fact that surface you are standing on is constantly shifting and you need to put the right amount of chakra in your soles to keep your balance. You have constantly vary the chakra you sent to your soles in accordance with the shifting beneath your feet.
I think you begin to get the grasp of the complexity involved in this seemingly simple activity. Hell, in the series they made it look like it was only slightly difficult.
Well, let's say that you have somehow figured as this things and executed it perfectly, then I am afraid my dearies that I have some bad news.
All you have done is to complete the first part. Congratulations! Now you can stand on water.
But!
But, it doesn't mean you can walk across it. Oh, silly goose! Who gave you the idea that once you can stand, you can walk?
No, no, nope.
Now, the second part of the exercise is to actually walk on the water. With the constantly shifting surface and the varying surface tension beneath your feet, you have to carefully manipulate the output of the chakra you send to your soles to match it exactly so that you don't overcompensate and sent back flying as you try to walk.
With me so far. Good. Now, comes the fun part. Actually fighting on the surface of the water. You thought this exercise had only two parts, huh? Whatever gave you that idea?
Just imagine how many times you lose balance while fighting on the land or land harder than intended. If any of those things occur, oops you lose your footing. And with it, you go underwater – where fishes and other aquatic life forms, who had been irritated out of their minds as they watched you dance overhead, will swarm you.
Sweet isn't it?
After constant practice and thanks to my innate chakra control, I am at the last stage now. While I could now stand and walk on top of the water (yay! I am freaking Jesus!), I wasn't satisfied with it. It may be enough for other shinobis but not for me. Because being a water natured shinobi most of my justsus will contain water and it would be a real shame if I became handicapped because of my own jutsu.
Don't you agree?
As I reviewed my recent debacle I noted that I tended to balance a little forward while performing the overhead throw my kata usually contained. It was an innocent enough thing that wouldn't trouble me if I was on the land. At the most, my feet would skid a little. But, here on the water, it made me lose my footing entirely. If anything good came of these debacles, it was that they were teaching all the minute mistakes I have been ignoring while on the land.
Sure, it was a learning experience and I was perfecting my taijutsu and chakra control at the same time. But, what wouldn't I give to not get wet and get bitten by aquatic lifeforms.
I once again went back on the water and started performing my katas slowly with pinpoint precision as I carefully kept my mind focused on the chakra output to my soles. I performed the katas in silence and the only company I had was the birds chirping away in a nearby tree.
I practiced my forms on the water until the sun started setting and eventually wrapped up my training to head back to the village.
Unlike other days, today a figure stood, waiting for me, on the bank. I blinked as I had failed to register the person prior to this. Inwardly, I chastised myself for letting someone get this close to me without sensing them. One more thing to add to the training, I groaned.
Fugaku Uchiha was every bit the man portrayed in the series. He was tall, had telltale Uchiha hair and black eyes and above all he had a huge stick up his ass. I had run into him a few times as the major clans of Konoha held biannual meetings.
Even though the Senju only had one member in the village as of now, they weren't barred from entering the hall. As the lone Senju in Konoha, I had been called in for meetings occasionally when they had to discuss some important matters. I mostly boycotted it stating my age as a reason.
But, sometimes Hiruzen would drag me in with him for some important meetings. And then I would stare at the faces of various clan members arguing about stuff I had no clue about. Jolly good isn't it?
Anyways back to the matter at hand. Fugaku had recently taken over as the Head of the Uchiha clan. Ever since my first meeting with him, I have only met him twice before to this. And I have to say, the man was an emotionless freak. He rarely smiled, laughed, showed amusement or irritation or some other damn thing – you know those things called emotions that people possess. In fact, if not for the animosity between Uchihas and Danzo, I think they both would get along well.
"Good evening Uchiha san," I greeted him as I made my way back to the bank.
"Hn," he nodded his head in greeting. "I see you have progressed your chakra control to the standard of a low chunnin. It is rare to see such incredible chakra control in one so young."
Hardly any intonation there in his voice for me to grasp what he was feeling. Angry? Alarmed? Disbelief? Scorn? Honestly, I couldn't guess.
"Thank you Uchiha san. I do try," I replied with a gentle smile hoping he is not here to stir up some trouble.
What? We are Senju and Uchiha heirs. Do you know how many times the man had aimed a thinly veiled jibe at me during the few clan meetings I had attended?
"However, I do note that your academy scores were well….. average. And it seems to be not the case here," he said mildly.
I remained silent. If he thinks I am gonna give my reasons to him willy ninny he has another thing coming. All he was doing was making a statement. Even social etiquette didn't demand me to answer anything in the situation.
We stood there for a few more minutes eyeing each other. I could feel my shoulder blades tense minutely as I wondered what he wanted from me.
"What do you want Uchiha san?" I asked, at last, breaking the stalemate.
The man may have too much time on his plate. However, I am afraid that I am already behind schedule to be at home. Biwako is not going to be happy.
"It's not that I need anything from you Senju," there was light sneer in his phrasing of the last word. Even for that to happen, I must irritate him more than I thought. Or at least my last name.
"I am here in regards to an official complaint launched by the Uchiha clan to the Military Police," he stated causing me to raise my eyebrows.
Well, well, this is getting interesting.
"The Uchiha clan has expressed its unease to us that someone is training very close to their ancestral shrine. They are worried that a training accident may damage the shrine. Do you have official permits to train here?"
No, I didn't. And yes, he knew it.
"I am afraid I don't have any such permission. Forgive me, for I have thought this land to belong to Konoha and not to any clans. I sincerely apologize if I had hurt your clan's sentiments." I said sincerely.
"I am afraid I have to ask you to obtain Hokage's permission to train here or you might have to stop," Fugaku said with a small gleam in his eyes.
"I understand," I said nodding my head. "Can I at least meditate here? I rather like the place. It's peaceful and isolated from the bustle of the village."
Fugaku eyed me critically for a few moments. I held my eye contact with him. I wasn't afraid of him. Not now and especially not here. The man may be a stuck up ass but he knew very well that the blame would fall on the entire Uchiha clan if any harm came to me here and now. And whatever his faults may be, the man loved his clan.
"As long as no technique is being practiced. Even Taijutsu," he said before turning around and disappearing in a shower of leaves.
Ah! The backhanded insult. He could have merely Shunshined without turning around. By turning around and showing his back to me, Fugaku has stated clearly how he viewed me.
I smiled at that and shook my head. Now what? I looked around the place and found that I rather liked spending time here. As I said to Fugaku, it was peaceful, calm and isolated from the village. This was my little hidey-hole. A place where I can be myself without any of the social expectations placed on me.
And now, the Uchihas want to drive me away from here. I sighed. This is going to cut into my training more than I could imagine and I had just a few weeks to graduate from the academy.
(*****)
"What are you doing Senju baka?" Harami said in a lazy drawl that I had begun to associate as her bored voice.
"Reading," I replied nonchalantly without bothering to take my eyes off the scroll in front of me.
"Ooh, nature characteristics. I didn't know you started chakra nature training so soon," Harami said eyeing the scroll from behind my back.
"Ssshh. Keep it down," I shushed her.
She pouted before gifting me a swat on the head for my trouble.
"Oi…." I objected only because it was expected of me.
By now, I know Harami well enough to say that she was simply bored and picking on me. And I have also gotten used to being physical in her expression by now. Seriously, how could I forget her clawing and scratching?
"Why aren't you taking a nap?" I grumbled packing up the scroll into my bag.
"I just woke up," she replied chirpily.
Figures….
"And Neuki and Soyoto?" I asked.
"Still sleeping," she replied waving her hands as if it didn't matter.
Perfect. Now I was the only one stuck with her.
"How's your training coming along?" I asked as she plopped into the seat next to me.
"Tch, troublesome," she wrinkled her nose.
I let out a bark of laughter. "Everything is troublesome for you," I said good-naturedly.
"I don't know what it is with people and early morning," she grumbled under breath.
"They say it's the best time to train yourself," I replied earning a glare from her.
"No, it is the best time to squeeze in a little more sleep," she replied seriously causing me to chuckle.
"Anyway, do you know what you are going to do once you graduate?" she asked me. "Any specialization?"
"I am a Senju," I replied shortly as if it explained everything.
"Tch, troublesome. So, you would be going to the frontlines, in the …"
War. She didn't say it and she didn't need to either. Senjus were frontline fighters and as a last Senju I was expected to fight on the frontline in the war. Very few Senju ever branched out to specialize in other fields. My cousin was an exception, she was both a frontline fighter and a field medic. If I wasn't still in the academy they would have already shipped me off to Kusa by now. Luckily, I had another year to actually be sent to the frontlines. And that is when the fighting will be the hardest. I grimaced at that thought.
"So, what about you? Have you given any thoughts on what you are going to do next?" I asked trying to revive the conversation.
"Shikaku sama came by this morning. He offered me an apprenticeship in intelligence division. Code division to be precise," she said fiddling with her shirt.
"And," I asked genuinely interested in her answer, "what did you say?"
"I haven't decided yet. I like codes, don't get me wrong. But, its just that we are the only two…." She hesitated and I understood what she was trying to tell.
In our group of four, Neuki had already accepted an apprenticeship in research. Soyoto had expressed that he wanted to become an academy teacher or an administrator as other things would be too troublesome for him to handle. That left the two of us for team placements. And she wanted to know if it was fine with me if she left me alone for team placements.
"Don't worry, we all need to do what we are good at. Seriously, codes huh? I can't imagine me staring at wriggly letters and numbers for all day," I shuddered at the thought.
"Oh shut up! What do you know? The permutations and combinations and all the other stuff one needs to know to crack or create a code. It's just…. so interesting,"
I watched her express herself and when that blissful emotion came upon her face, I shuddered outright. It was creepy alright; and my mind was jumping places with that expression.
"Ew…." I pushed her away. "Take your gross fantasies somewhere."
"Oi Baka!" she pouted and for a moment I was scared that she was going to launch herself at me. Thankfully, she composed herself and gave me a snort in return that almost sounded like troublesome.
"Seriously, you should take that apprenticeship. I mean it. If you like codes that much, you don't need to worry about me. I will be fine," I said to her.
"Who is worrying about you?" she challenged.
"Ah! no one no one, my mistake," I surrendered raising my hands.
"Hmmmph," she snorted and got up from the seat.
Just when she was leaving, "Be careful out there baka. I won't be there to save your scrawny ass if you mess up," Harami said and marched off without bothering to wait for my reply.
I gritted my teeth at her actions and sent a scowl at her back. Who does she think she is? I could take care of me, alright. If anyone needed protection it was her. Her Taijutsu was terrible and don't even get me started with her other skills. She should be grateful that Shikaku offered her an apprenticeship. If not, this war would eat someone like her alive.
And she had the gall to suggest that I needed her to get me out of trouble. Please…..
Still, I couldn't exactly reject the pleasant feeling that rose up in my heart hearing her concern for me. At least, I had one friend who would mourn for me if I died and not the last Senju.