CHAPTER 37: SHAPE MANIPULATION AND NATURE TRANSFORMATION

(Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto. I do own my OC's, however)

"Talking / Jutsu"

'Thinking'

'Flashback'

"Flashback talk"

Demonic voice

Letter

'Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake,'

…

'Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake,'

…

'Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake,'

…

For the fiftieth time, Shujinko huffed in frustration. After spending all morning and midday trying to figure out how to perform the Kazekiri, he realized it was going to be anything but easy. Memorizing the hand signs required wasn't that much of a hassle given that it only took him about twenty minutes to get the sequence right, but that was about all the progress he had achieved so far.

Once again, the Ozuma began reading the instructions that explained the technique. Since going outside with the original scroll was far too risky by a number of reasons, Shujinko used a blank scroll to copy everything that was written on the original and brought it with him, leaving the authentic manuscript safe back home. He had good handwriting, but he didn't bother to recreate the illustrations as they would most likely come off as doodles. Shujinko was pretty bad at drawing, to be honest.

'I'm stuck. I can't get past the hand signs,' Shujinko thought, irritated. 'I can gather my chakra, but I can't shape it or turn it into wind. It doesn't matter how long I keep it going, it just stays that way,'

Gathering chakra was already difficult enough as it was. Unlike the tree-climbing exercise or the water-walking exercise where he had to send chakra to the bottom of his feet, he now had to cover all of his right hand and half of his forearm in chakra. He had to spend almost all of his time making sure he had plenty of chakra gathered before attempting to perform the Kazekiri, which took a great deal of concentration. It didn't matter though, because even when he finally had enough chakra, he couldn't transform it or manipulate its shape to make a blade out of wind.

It was during times like these in which Shujinko truly came to appreciate his sensei's guidance. While Kakashi rarely ever bothered to explain exactly what to do in every single step, he would gladly give helpful advice that would push him into the right path, just like he did when he suggested Shujinko to find a better, clearer goal. 'I sure could use your help right now, sensei,'

Taking a deep breath, Shujinko began weaving the hand signs until he stopped right before the Dog seal. He was wasting his time. Until he fixed his problem with his chakra, there was no point in attempting the jutsu again.

"I need help with this stuff," the Genin muttered to himself. But who could help him? None of the few Chunins and Jounins he knew of owed him any favors. He thought about Aoba, the Tokubetsu Jounin that helped him train for the Chunin Exams. The two of them got along pretty well, but there was no guarantee that he would be willing to help him out. Gai seemed like someone who would gladly help, but the man was a Taijutsu specialist, and not what Shujinko needed right now. The only other choice he could think of was Iruka. After all, the man was a Chunin, so he ought to have some sort of useful knowledge in store for him.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who likes this training ground,"

Shujinko turned around and saw Kurenai walking towards him. A small chill went down his spine as he looked briefly into her blood-red eyes. They were very similar to the Sharingan (except without the tomoes), and after dealing with Itachi's Genjutsu, staring at red eyes became something particularly uncomfortable for him. It made him feel tense. Nevertheless, he bowed his head and greeted Kurenai with the proper respect he owed to her. "Good afternoon, Kurenai-sensei. I hope you're doing well,"

"I am, thank you. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. My team and I are gonna use this training ground for our drills," Kurenai said.

Shujinko shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry, I was about to leave anyway… Say, Kurenai-sensei, you wouldn't happen to know someone who's skilled in Fuuton Ninjutsu, would you?"

The Jounin raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps. Why are you asking?"

"Well, the thing is, I'm gonna be on my own for a while, so I decided to do something useful and learn a new technique, but it looks like I'm gonna need some serious help. I would ask Kakashi-sensei, but since he's unavailable… You get the idea,"

"… I see. It's good that you're making the most out of your time. As for your question, I'd suggest you pay Asuma a visit. He should be able to help you,"

The ears of the brown-haired boy perked with interest. "Asuma-sensei? He knows about Fuuton?"

Kurenai nodded. "That's correct. He's either playing Shogi with Shikamaru or grabbing a bite with all of his students at Choji's favorite barbeque place. That's what he usually does after a mission,"

"Wow, thanks a lot Kurenai-sensei! I owe you one! Stay safe!" And before Kurenai had enough time to blink, Shujinko was already leaving the training grounds faster than a bullet, leaving a trail of dust behind. In some ways, Shujinko's behavior was fairly similar to Naruto's, although he would never admit it, and much less realize it.

"Aaaaand that's a check," Shikamaru stated as he moved his bishop across the game board. Both he and Asuma were playing Shogi in the gardens of the Nara compound, as always. "Sensei, you're up,"

Asuma stared at the game board, trying to figure out a way of the mess he was caught in. There wasn't much he could do with the few pieces he had left, unlike Shikamaru, who still had plenty of them. This was their fifth game, and just like the previous ones, Asuma was almost certain he was about to lose. A thick drop of sweat was rolling down his cheek.

"You might as well quit now, sensei. I think we both know where this is going,"

"Don't be so pretentious, Shikamaru. The game isn't over yet,"

"Really? Because from my perspective, it sure seems like it. The moment you move one of your pawns, you'll be giving me enough room to go forward and go after your king. I already came up with seven ways to get past your defense… Actually, make that eight,"

Not even his cigarette was helping Asuma to calm down. He couldn't afford to lose his fifth game in a row. The Jounin frequently forgot the fact that his student was a literal genius with an IQ of over 200 points. Cursed Nara genes.

Raising two shaky fingers, the son of the late Sandaime was about to make his move when he was suddenly interrupted by a screechy voice. "Ooooooi! Asuma-sensei! Shikamaru!"

Teacher and student turned around, surprised to see a sweaty Shujinko entering the garden of the Nara Compound. The brown-haired boy jumped over the small pond and landed close to them, breathing heavily and sticking his tongue out like a dog on a hot day. "Shujinko, what are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked, half confused, and half annoyed by having his game of Shogi interrupted in such a boisterous way.

"I'm… so sorry… I didn't mean… to interrupt… you guys…" Shujinko answered with his hands placed over his knees. The distance between the training grounds and the Nara Compound was not a short one, and the Ozuma ran as fast as his legs allowed him to. "I just… need a word with you… Asuma-sensei…"

Asuma cocked an eyebrow. "Me? Is there something I can help you with?"

"That's right. Kurenai-sensei told me you knew a great deal about Fuuton Ninjutsu. Is that true?"

"Well, I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but yeah, I guess you could say I'm something of an expert on that area. What about it?"

Taking a deep breath, Shujinko bowed his head as a sign of submission and respect. He didn't normally do this kind of stuff, but if he had to kneel and beg for Asuma to help him, then he'd do it without thinking twice about it. "Please, I need your help with a technique. I wouldn't be bothering you if I knew someone else, but you're all I have. I swear it won't take more than just a couple of minutes, so please, can you help me?"

The son of the Sandaime chuckled awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed by how respectful and sincere Shujinko was acting. None of his students had ever addressed him in such a way, that was for sure. And although his easy-going nature didn't care much about formalities, he couldn't deny it felt good to have a Genin ask for his guidance in such a humble fashion. "Look, I'm flattered and all, but I'm afraid you came at a bad time. We were just about to-" Asuma stopped at mid-sentence as a lightbulb appeared on top of his head. Doing a complete 180, he smiled mischievously and started speaking again. "Actually, what am I saying? Of course, I can help you out. I wouldn't mind at all,"

A huge smile was plastered on Shujinko's face. "For real? That's awesome, Asuma-sensei! Thank you so much!" he said as his golden eyes began to flash.

"Think nothing of it. Come on, let's get going before it gets dark," Asuma replied while he stood up walked towards Shujinko, perhaps a little too eager, one might say.

"But Asuma-sensei, we still haven't finished our ga-" Shikamaru started to complain, but Asuma interrupted him with an apologetic look that couldn't possibly be more dishonest.

"Sorry Shikamaru, but we'll have to call it a draw. I can't ignore a fellow comrade who's clearly in the need of assistance, now can I? We can play again some other time. Don't forget to tell Ino and Choji that we have another mission tomorrow, and don't be late. Bye," Placing his hand on Shujinko's shoulder and raising two fingers with his other hand, Asuma made use of the Shunshin no Jutsu and disappeared alongside the golden-eyed boy, leaving a cloud of smoke behind.

Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched. He knew his sensei far too well to believe that bullcrap of an excuse. The only reason Asuma went out of his way to help Shujinko was because, had they finished their fifth game of Shogi, the Sarutobi would've lost badly. Before they started playing, they made an agreement that if Asuma lost five games in a row, he would have to fully cover the bill for the next barbeque. Asuma pretty much used Shujinko to exit the game without actually losing it, therefore dodging the bet all along.

… Then again, who could blame him? Paying for Choji's meal was almost the same as committing economic suicide, after all.

(Training Ground number 11)

"I can't thank you enough for helping me, Asuma-sensei," Shujinko said after him and Asuma landed on a random training ground near the village. He still felt a little guilty for interrupting their game, but the prospect of improving his technique far outweighed whatever guilt he had. It truly was that simple.

"Heh, you could say that we're even, so there's no need for you to thank me," Asuma replied before lighting the last cigarette he had, making a mental note to buy more once he was done helping Shujinko. "Now, before we get on with it, let's make sure we have the basics down. You said you needed help with some Fuuton Ninjutsu. Do you know what Fuuton is about?"

Shujinko raised an eyebrow. "Well, yeah. It's Ninjutsu based on wind techniques, right?"

"Exactly, but do you know what's the essence behind Fuuton Ninjutsu? Do you know what's the nature of wind attacks?" The Ozuma gave him a confused look, indicating he didn't have an answer for that. "I thought so. Although it's not its only purpose, Fuuton Ninjutsu is meant to create the sharpest, most cutting jutsus known to ninjas. It's very effective when it comes to close and mid-range attacks, which benefits people like me that fight in a straightforward fashion,"

"What do you mean exactly by that? How come Fuuton Ninjutsu creates the sharpest techniques out there?"

"Maybe a demonstration will enlighten you. Do you see that post over there?" Asuma asked as he pointed at a wooden post meant to be used as a shooting target. "I want you to perform any kind of Fuuton Ninjutsu on it. You'll soon understand what I'm saying,"

Curious to see what Asuma had in store for him, Shujinko did as told and took a few steps forward, aiming at the wooden post. Once he was sure he could hit the target, he began weaving hand signs. "Fuuton: Daifuuburo no Jutsu!" The Ozuma exhaled a strong gust of wind in the shape of a whip that left a noticeable fissure on the wooden surface upon contact, making a slight cracking sound.

Asuma nodded. "Not bad, not bad. Looks like you have an affinity towards wind, which is already a rarity around here. You're quite good if I say so myself,"

"Thanks, Asuma-sensei… Now what?"

"Now it's my turn," Weaving the same hand signs as Shujinko, the Sarutobi (still holding the cigarette between his lips) inhaled a massive amount of air. "Fuuton: Daifuuburo no Jutsu!"

SWOOOOOOOSHHHH

CRAAACK

Out of instinct, Shujinko raised one hand to cover his face as a powerful gust of wind came out of Asuma's mouth, taking him by surprise. Although it was the same jutsu, Asuma's technique blew Shujinko's out of the water by a long shot, resembling a laser beam more than anything in both speed and potency. Even the grass underneath was cut and thrown away by the sheer power of the technique.

Once the jutsu wore off, Shujinko fully opened his eyes, and what he saw left him gawking for a minute. "The wooden post! It's… You actually…"

While Shujinko's jutsu left a mark on the wooden post, Asuma's jutsu cut the thing in half as if it were a banana or something. The golden-eyed Genin couldn't believe the difference between his prowess in Fuuton Ninjutsu and Asuma's, it was like comparing a butter knife against a katana. Perhaps what surprised Shujinko the most was how effortless Asuma made it look, as if he was casually whistling instead of performing a deadly technique.

"You see what I mean? Overall, wind is the sharpest element out of them all, and its main focus is to split things in half or pierce through them. Don't allow appearances to fool you. Kakashi's Raikiri may have outstanding cutting power, but compared to Fuuton, Raiton doesn't have nearly as much variety when it comes to techniques that can cut through things,"

"Amazing," Shujinko whispered. Now that he had seen what a wind technique could do, he was even more motivated to learn the Kazekiri. He absolutely needed that jutsu in his arsenal. "So, how can I turn my chakra into wind chakra and make it as sharp as I want to?"

"Easy, now. We don't want to rush into things you haven't learned yet," Asuma replied. "First, you need to know about shape manipulation and nature transformation. I'm assuming you haven't heard of those terms before, so I'll introduce them to you as simple as I can. Shape manipulation is basically transforming the size and form of your chakra according to your will. It's how you want your jutsu to come out. As for nature transformation, it happens when you add elemental chakra into the mix. Take the Fuuton: Daifuuburo no Jutsu as an example. You shape your chakra into a whip and then transform the chakra that's already there into wind chakra. As a result, we have chakra that has a certain shape and a certain element, which is how most jutsus work,"

It made sense, Shujinko thought as he nodded to himself. Now he knew why he couldn't pull out the Kazekiri like he intended to. He didn't know how to shape it or how to transform his chakra into wind chakra, or at least, he couldn't do it at the level that was required. This was supposed to be a super advanced technique, after all. "Alright, I understand. Then, how do I do either of those things? I suppose I have to start with shape manipulation, am I right?"

"That's correct. It wouldn't make much sense being able to transform the nature of your chakra if you can't even shape it in the first place," Asuma said as he grabbed both of his blades and handed Shujinko one of them. "Here, what do you think of these?"

Shujinko tried out the particular piece of weaponry by jabbing at the air as if he was fighting an invisible opponent. The blade had a funny design, as it was basically the combination of a trench knife and brass knuckles. "They're pretty cool, I guess. I still prefer old-fashioned kunais, though. But what do these have anything to do with shape manipulation or nature transformation?"

Asuma chuckled. "You see, these are chakra blades. They are made out of a special metal that absorbs your elemental chakra and reacts accordingly. In our case, these blades will react to our chakra by becoming sharper and increasing its range, which once again proves how Fuuton is the best option for close and mid-range combat," After saying that, the Sarutobi activated his chakra blade, and Shujinko understood what Asuma said by 'becoming sharper and increasing its range'. The weapon had a layer of chakra that flowed like a set of teeth. "Why don't you give it a try?"

Doing as he was told, Shujinko stared pumping chakra into the blade, which barely seemed to react. After taking a deep breath, he began injecting chakra with more intensity and only then did the blade react. However, his chakra looked nothing like Asuma's. While the Jounin's chakra was solid, his was sloppy and formless. "It… It's a lot harder than what… it looks like," Shujinko muttered, struggling to maintain a steady flow of chakra. "What's the deal? How can I make it sharp like yours?"

"The trick is to imagine your chakra splitting in two and grinding against each other as if you were sharpening the blade between the two halves of your chakra. Many Fuuton techniques are based on that idea," Asuma took a break to enjoy the last of his cigarette before throwing it away. He then gave Shujinko a questioning look. "I know it's none of my business, but I am curious as to why you would go through the trouble of learning shape manipulation and nature transformation at your age. Can I ask what is this jutsu that you're trying to master? It sounds far too complicated for a Genin such as yourself,"

The Ozuma scratched the back of his head as he stopped pumping chakra into the blade. "Yeah, well, I'd rather not give away much information, if that's okay with you, Asuma-sensei. It's kind of a private thing, you know,"

Asuma shrugged his shoulders. "Suit yourself. I'm not gonna force you to spill the beans or anything. However, I think I could help you a lot better if you explained to me what is it that you're trying to achieve,"

Biting his lower lip, Shujinko stared at his feet and began pondering about what to do. On one hand, he really didn't want anyone to know about the Kazekiri, at least not beforehand. No one knew about Sasuke's Chidori until he used it against Gaara, so why would anyone besides himself have to know about the Kazekiri? Even if it was one person, it still felt as if his secret technique was no longer… well, secret.

On the other hand, he was in desperate need for pointers, and Asuma was offering his help on a silver platter. What good would it be to keep the Kazekiri a secret if he couldn't learn it by himself?

With that in mind, Shujinko stuck his hand inside his pocket and gave Asuma the copy of the scroll that explained the Kazekiri. Asuma read the instructions carefully without uttering a single word while his eyes narrowed slightly. Once he was done, he handed the scroll back to Shujinko and gave him a stern look. "This is something very advanced. Where did you get this from?"

"If you have to know, it's somewhat of a clan technique. That's why I wasn't so sure about telling you about it," Shujinko answered. That was actually kind of true. After all, no one was supposed to reveal how their clan techniques worked.

"And you're absolutely sure you want to go through with this? It's gonna take more time and effort than you think,"

Shujinko's golden eyes showed nothing but determination. "I'm absolutely sure,"

"I see… I can't do a demonstration since I don't know the technique myself, but I'm fairly certain I know the mechanics behind it. Show me what you have so far,"

The Genin nodded and performed the hand signs. He then gathered all of his chakra in his right hand and forearm like he was supposed to do, but all he achieved was a thin, almost invisible layer of chakra surrounding his hand and forearm. Shujinko maintained the flow of his chakra for a while before giving up. "That's all I've managed to do. I don't think I've ever had this much difficulty learning a jutsu. Even the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu was easier to master, and I can barely create one shadow clone as it is," As soon as he finished that sentence, Shujinko realized he might've talked a little too much. Asuma was staring at him with one raised eyebrow. "… That… might've been out of place, huh?"

"You can already create a shadow clone all by yourself? That's quite an achievement," Asuma said sincerely. "Who taught you that?"

"Aoba-sensei did back when I was training for the third exam," Shujinko said as it was useless to try and go back on what he said. "I wanted to keep it a secret and use it against Kankuro, but then the invasion took place and, well, we already know what happened,"

Asuma scratched the back of his head, feeling unsure all of a sudden. There was nothing wrong with being ambitious and trying your hardest to improve, but a Genin shouldn't go around attempting to learn dangerous jutsus without having someone there to make sure they don't do something reckless. He began wondering whether he should help Shujinko or advise him to learn something less dangerous, but then he remembered he had already told Shujinko about nature transformation and shape manipulation. If he didn't help the boy now, he would probably try to learn the jutsu on his own, and only Kami knew what could happen to him. It was too late; he had already started the engines of Shujinko's curiosity. "As long as you know about the risks that come with using the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, I suppose there's nothing to worry about,"

"Yeah, you don't have to tell me. Half of your chakra for just one shadow clone is a bit excessive, even if it's deadly useful,"

The Jounin was about to tell him he wasn't talking about the chakra cost, but he didn't feel like having a lengthy discussion about shadow clones. If he explained the true purpose and utilities of shadow clones, he feared Shujinko would give it a try and end up in the hospital. He was already walking on thin ice with the whole Kazekiri thing. "Indeed, but let's get back to the topic at hand. Are you ready?"

"Hai!"

"Your problem is that you don't have the necessary skills in either shape manipulation or nature transformation to pull off this jutsu. Of course, no one's born with those abilities; it's something you have to work for,"

"But wait, how can you say I don't have those skills when I already know Fuuton Ninjutsu?" Shujinko questioned with a raised eyebrow. "You saw me earlier, I can already perform wind-based techniques,"

"That is true. But there's a reason why you can do certain wind-based techniques and not the Kazekiri. This particular jutsu requires a level of expertise that you don't quite have, but that you can achieve if you put in the work. First, you need to work on your shape manipulation. While the wind element is sharp in itself, it won't do you much good to successfully add wind into your jutsu if you can't control its shape,"

Shujinko shrugged. "Sounds fair. And how am I supposed to do that?"

"With this," the bearded Jounin said as he reached for his back pouch and gave him a knife that resembled a small machete. "This weapon is also made out of steel that absorbs your chakra. Use it as a mold that will help you reach the shape of the Kazekiri. Once you grasp its form, you'll be one step closer to understand how your technique works. If you combine the sharpness of your wind chakra with this knife, its cutting power will increase dramatically, and I don't know of a better way to start practicing the Kazekiri, so this should do for now. Oh, and if by any chance you happen to lose it, I WILL make you pay for it. Are we clear?"

"Cristal clear, sir," Shujinko replied with confidence, only to show dubiousness seconds later. "Out of curiosity, just how much is this knife worth?"

"I'd say about a year or two of your Genin salary,"

The Ozuma's face went blue. 'A year or two of my salary!? Man, if I lose this thing I'm gonna go bankrupt. I better protect this with my life,' "Don't worry about it, Asuma-sensei. I won't lose it,"

"Good. Want I want you to do is to concentrate on your chakra and visualize the knife as if it was your own hand. Then, see how much you can cut. That should set up the foundations of this jutsu, and remember: The trick is to imagine your chakra splitting in two and grinding against each other as if you were sharpening the blade between the two halves of your chakra. This is all I can teach you at the moment,"

"Imagine my chakra splitting in two and grinding against each other as if I was sharpening the blade between the two halves of my chakra. Got it," Shujinko repeated as he injected some chakra into the knife, which was soon covered in a layer of blue energy. Learning the Kazekiri was going to take a few more steps than what he anticipated, but at least he now knew what to do. This was actual progress. "Thanks again, Asuma-sensei. I mean it,"

"Don't sweat it. Come see me once you get the hang of it. I'd like to stick around, but I'm afraid I'm a little busy. I'm supposed to meet Kurenai at…" Asuma's eyes widened as he suddenly stopped talking. This time, it was his tongue the one that slipped.

The brown-haired boy lowered the knife and stared at Asuma with curious eyes. "Hmh? What are you gonna do with Kurenai-sensei?"

"Ehmmm… N-Nothing, really. It's not like we're going on a… That is to say…"

Shujinko appeared to be confused for a minute before letting out a rather impish grin. "Ohhhh, I see,"

"N-Nani?"

"Come on, Asuma-sensei. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on… You and Kurenai-sensei have a mission together, right?"

…

"A-A mission! Exactly!" the flustered Sarutobi exclaimed. "There's a mission that requires two Jounins, and since I was the only one available with Kurenai at the moment, they gave it to us. I have to talk to Kurenai and sort everything out before we start. We Jounins can't afford to be careless, am I right?" His nervous laughter and his awkward demeanor were more than enough to give Asuma away.

Luckily for him, Shujinko wasn't the sharpest kunai in the holster when it came to relationships, what with him being a boy and only thirteen years old on top of that. The clueless Genin even had the gall to cross his arms and nod to himself in a pompous way, as if he had actually figured out what was going on.

"Anyways, I have to go now. Give it your best effort. See ya' around, kid,"

The golden-eyed boy waved goodbye at the retreating figure of Asuma, who seemed to be in a hurry all of a sudden. 'He sure looks eager to plan the whole mission with Kurenai-sensei. Talk about dedication,' he mused inside his head. He then stared at the knife he was holding. 'Let's get down to business,'

(Several hours later)

A full moon glanced down at Shujinko, who was gasping for breath with his hands resting on his knees. There was a wooden post standing in front of him that was littered with scratches, the result of hours and hours of shape manipulation training. Much to Shujinko's disappointment, none of those cuts were very deep as they barely scratched the surface of the remarkably hard wooden post.

'This shape manipulation thing it's a lot tougher than I expected,' Shujinko thought, wincing as he moved his right wrist in a circular motion. Hours of having a tight grip on a knife did that to your hand, especially when you try to cut a wooden post with it.

And yet, for all that it was worth, Shujinko didn't feel bad about himself. The Shujinko of the past would most likely be frustrated and angry towards himself, but that was no longer the case. He was calm and collected, which was a testament to how much he had grown over time and thanks to his mentors.

The Ozuma looked at the sky, allowing the cold wind to blow his hair. He wanted to stay a little longer, but he knew his limits and he had used a lot of his energy. It's not like it took an enormous amount of chakra to use the knife for shape manipulation training, but after hours of going at it almost nonstop, it was only natural for him to feel tired. Besides, it was already late and he didn't want to catch a cold, not when he was starting his shape manipulation training.

"Just one more try…" Shujinko whispered as he took a deep breath and concentrated his chakra in his hand and then into the weapon, which soon absorbed his energy. Giving his chakra the edgy shape he wanted was a lot more difficult than what Asuma made it look like because he basically had to control his chakra in two opposite directions, something he had never attempted before, and because he also had to maintain that flow, one second of distraction was enough to disrupt that delicate chakra flow required.

The chakra surrounding Asuma's knife was wobbly at first… but then it began acquiring a certain spiky shape as if it began growing teeth or something. Shujinko was surprised, but he quickly calmed down and tried his best to remain focused. Without thinking twice about it, he threw himself at the post and swung the knife.

THUCK

Asuma's weapon got embedded into the bark of the post. Unlike his previous attempts, this time he actually managed to get past the first few centimeters of the surface. It didn't look like much considering the density and circumference of the wooden post, but after hours of intense practice, during which the steel barely went through, it was an all-around success.

A weary smile appeared on Shujinko's face. No grand achievements were accomplished today, but hey, it was a start and he was proud of it. Feeling like he had done enough training for today, Shujinko carefully sheathed Asuma's knife and tied a small knot that connected the scabbard to the weapon. Once he made sure the knife wasn't going to fall out of its place by accident, the golden-eyed boy began his walk back home.

(Several minutes later)

"I'm home," Shujinko called out as he took off his boots and closed the door behind him. His father Daichi was in the living room reading a book from the clan archives while his mother Masumi was preparing some tea. They both stared at him in silence, as if they were waiting for an explanation out of him. Shujinko blinked three times consecutively, feeling slightly awkward by his parents' glances. "Huuuuhh, is there something wrong?"

"Where on Earth have you been, Shujinko?" Masumi asked.

"I-I was at the training grounds doing some, erh, shinobi stuff," Shujinko replied, still not understanding what was going on. "Why? Did I miss something?"

Daichi spoke this time. "Shujinko, we haven't seen you in all day. Do you have any idea how late it is?"

"It can't possibly be that late, can it?" Shujinko then looked at the kitchen clock to see what time it was. "I know it took me longer than usual to get here, but it's only… 23:25 P.M…." he finished with a pale face (and an empty stomach). "… Sorry, I guess I lost track of time,"

"You did more than that, you know," Masumi said in that disappointed voice tone that all mothers adopted when they wanted to make their child feel bad without having to raise their voices, and boy did it work. Shujinko was already flinching. "Honestly, how do you think it makes us feel when you run away to one of those training grounds without saying a word? You could at least leave a note behind or something, but instead, you decide to just walk away and expect us to be okay with it, as if we didn't have enough to worry about after the invasion,"

Shujinko gulped. "Kaa-san, I think you're overreacting. Nothing dangerous is gonna happen to me, I can take care of mys-"

"That's not what this is about, for Kami's sake!" Masumi snapped as she smacked the kitchen table, making a rather audible sound. A chill went down the Genin's spine. "We barely get to see you anymore. You're always on your own, always looking for something to do outside of this house. Is spending time with your family really that difficult for you?"

"But kaa-san, I'm a ninja! You know that I have to go out on missions, it's my duty!"

"Don't you dare try to use that as an excuse, young man! Being away because you're on a mission is something I can understand, but you haven't had one in over a month! There are things that are more important to us than your ninja career, and yet the only subject you seem to care about is how your training is going. We didn't raise you to be like this, Shujinko,"

Daichi, who had remained silent during his wife's outburst, felt the need to add his two cents. "Your mother is correct, Shujinko. Unlike many other of your comrades, you have a family waiting for you. It is neither wise nor beneficial to neglect your loved ones in favor of honing your skills as a shinobi. I am no ninja, but I can assure you everyone who has lost a family member or who had to grow up without them will tell you the same. If you want an example, think about Naruto-san and Sasuke-san, your very own teammates,"

It was almost amusing how different Daichi and Masumi were when it came to educating (or in this case scolding) Shujinko. Masumi was more passionate and vehement, and wasn't afraid of going straight to the point or raising her voice. Daichi, on the other hand, was more calm and collected, and explained things using sophisticated dialect. One could say Masumi was in charge of making Shujinko understand he was wrong while Daichi was in charge of making Shujinko understand why he was wrong. Raising a child was similar to raising a shinobi in the sense that it required teamwork and cooperation from both parents.

Shujinko was left quiet, unable to come up with a response that would help his case. While he generally disliked being in the wrong or admitting he had done reprehensive, this time Shujinko knew his parents had every right to be unhappy with him. Despite being smart and well-intended, the golden-eyed boy often ignored the fact that his actions and interactions (or lack thereof) had an impact upon his relationship with his family members. It was something very common amongst people his age, especially in Genins who came from a civilian background just like him.

Before he had time to apologize, Masumi took off her apron and walked away from the kitchen. "I'm going to bed now. There are some leftovers in the fridge in case you're hungry. Next time you're late again, you're gonna have to cook for yourself. Have a good night, Shujinko," she said in an icy tone of voice that expressed utter disappointment.

The young Ozuma lowered his head in shame. Suddenly he wasn't so hungry anymore.

Shujinko was staring at the ceiling of his room, thinking about what his parents had told him.

Feeling guilty wasn't something he was used to, mainly because he rarely experienced any guilt at all. He expected his family to understand what he was going through and what he needed to do, but deep down he knew Masumi and Daichi were right. He was so focused on his training that he ended up neglecting his loved ones to the point where they barely got to see him anymore, let alone speak to him.

What would Naruto and Sasuke think of him? Those two may have incredible abilities, but neither of them had parents or siblings and were forced to grow up surrounded by loneliness (Itachi couldn't possibly count as a real brother to Sasuke for obvious reasons. The man was a murderous psychopath). Compared to them, Shujinko had a perfect childhood.

What embarrassed him the most was the fact that, that it not been for his parent's talk earlier, he probably would've kept ignoring them like he had done so far. It had never occurred to him that spending way too much time training was deteriorating his relationship with his parents and his sister. He was being selfish and self-centered, the very same kind of person he disliked, which also made him a hypocrite by extension.

A sudden knock on the door stopped his train of thought. "Yeah?"

The door opened. Shujinko sat on his bed as his little sister Nanami entered his room wearing her white pajamas. "Oni-chan, are you busy?" she asked in a low tone and very slowly, as if she feared she was interrupting something very important.

"Not at all. What's up, chibi-chan?" Shujinko asked. His curiosity turned into a bit of concern when he saw the troubled look on Nanami's face. She looked like she was about to cry at any given moment. "Hey, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"I… I heard kaa-chan shouting while I was sleeping. She was very angry at you…"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Shujinko replied while rubbing the back of his neck. "Me and kaa-san were arguing about… stuff, I guess. It's nothing to worry about, though," His answer, for some reason, seemed to make Nanami even more distressed. "Why are you so sad? I just told you it wasn't a big deal,"

"Oni-chan, are you… Are you angry at me?"

Nanami's question completely baffled Shujinko for a minute. "W-What? Of course I'm not angry at you. Why would you even think that?"

"Because (sniff) Because you don't talk to me anymore. You're never around when I get home, and sometimes I don't even see you in all day. I thought… (sniff) I thought that you were angry at me but I didn't know why, and I was scared to ask you because I thought it would've made you even more upset," Nanami said as she choked a little, fragile tears slowly running down her cheeks.

Shujinko couldn't stand seeing his sweet little sister like that. He immediately approached Nanami and sat on his knees so that they were both roughly about the same height. The brown-haired boy then opened his arms and pulled Nanami into a tight bear hug, which in turn made her gasp. "Chibi-chan, I'm not angry at you and I never will. You get that?"

"Oni-chan… You're squeezing me…" Nanami whined as she was being crushed by her brother's arms.

Shujinko realized he was hugging Nanami a bit too hard and opened his arms a little so that his sister could breathe. "Sorry about that, but at least now you know I'm not angry at you. Look, I know that I haven't stuck around lately, and I know that I haven't spent a lot of time with you, but that's about to change. From here on now, I'll do my best to play with you or at least talk to you whenever I have free time. I have a lot to make up for and I apologize for that, so can you forgive me?"

"… M'kay, I forgive you," Nanami said, wiping away her tears. She didn't seem to be sad anymore, or at least she didn't look hurt like she was before. "I'll try not to bother you, but can you promise you'll try to spend more time with me?"

The golden-eyed boy grinned and gave Nanami a thumbs-up. "Of course I do! It's a big brother's promise, and big brothers never go back on their word," he said while feeling a bit embarrassed. 'Geez, since when did I start talking like Naruto?'

His Naruto-ish speech seemed to work as Nanami brightened up considerably. They shared one last hug before Nanami returned to her room. After turning the lights off, Shujinko laid on his bed ready to sleep, knowing that he needed to be well-rested for tomorrow's training. The next days were bound to be tough and tedious, especially now that he had to find a balance between his training and his family.

Then again, the life of a shinobi was never easy.

Aaaaaaand that was chapter 37. Hope you all enjoyed it.

As you can see, Shujinko has started his shape manipulation training. I figured it was something that had to be done at some point, and I hope I can make it look as realistic as possible. Naruto learned shape manipulation by learning the Rasengan, so I had to improvise and come up with another training method, one that would make you go "Huh, that actually makes sense". Leave a review if you have an idea on how to improve Shujinko's shape manipulation training, or heck, suggest a completely new method if you feel like it (as long as you keep it believable and logical).

Also, I started a new Legend of Korra fic, starring my OC Kenai. Check it out if you're interested.

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Ja ne!