A Fox's "Monk" Phase
Dear Shika, Mom, and Dad.
So I am settled in, I laid the seals, which made the journey a bit slower but hopefully we can get the camera device to work. It is on average the high is +15 here so very cold, I get to have my own room, and there is about 50 people living here, 20 of those being really adorable children. Master Akimasa is very kind, smells like black tea. Oh and Lady Tsunade gave me Hokage Tobirama's katana, Mater Aki thought it was so cool, and apparently it enhances water jutsu.
I was hoping to try and master a water jutsu, but an important part of my training and "Equalizing" will be not using my chakra, nature or otherwise until both sides of my brain are at peace, and able to work together. Or so Master Aki says.
I'm not sure if he is okay with me calling him Master Aki but he hasn't said anything yet, and I think it's a cute nickname.
The temple is huge, the food is good, and there is mountains of chores and no sleeping in. what if I become one of those weirdos who wake up at 4 am for fun…. Because by the way, that's what time we wake up.
I'm beginning my training in hand to hand, and sword training, but I spend about five hours a day meditating with Master Aki, the last three days at least.
The challenge is not using my chakra for things that are so natural like boosting my running, or hits.
Also not having you guys near. Cant wait to hear from you guys!
Love you. – Shin
Dear Hana,
Today I got a nasty cut, I wish I could tell you a bad ass story about how it happened, but the real story is a 10 year old bested me in a sword spar, and was truly perplexed I didn't block his strike. In my defense the kids here are orphans and have been in this temple since they were young, and this particular kid has been sword training since he was three.
Which by the way, there are three toddlers living here currently and I have never been one to find human babies cute, but something about tiny humans in yukata's holding bokken is just unreasonably cute.
Oh right about the cut, they don't use any jutsu's here, so they literally just cauterized and put a salve on the cut. Made me miss my personal medic, because now I'll have a scar on my forearm and I'll have to say it was from a 10 year old.
I hope your doing well Hana!
Shin.
Dear Shin,
I hear your settled into the temple, wanted to check in and make sure you were doing alright. Your fan club is really bummed about you being gone but I think most of all Ino is, she is even for some reason asking to train with Tsunade as a medic for some reason. I know you probably have a million things on your plate but if you could maybe send a letter talk some sense into her, tell her to focus on her family jutsu, you may be the only one she would listen too.
In other news, Kirenai and I are thinking of becoming official, since I know you know about it thought I would share.
What are some thing you are learning out there?
-Asuma.
Dear Shin.
Wow 4 am, that seems very excessive. Even I don't wake up that early, do you get any sleep in days? We have been having Hana over once a week, want to keep your personal medic close. Maybe when you get home you can marry her.
I don't really know what else to write, letters are pretty uncomfortable, and our lives aren't that exciting. Shikamaru has been going on more escort missions with Choji, for some reason Ino has decided to not train in her family jutsu which is rather odd.
Anyways I miss you around here, I was thinking of redecorating your room…maybe I'll wait until your home. I'll redo Shikamaru's, his hasn't changed since he was 9.
Love you my little fox.
Love Mom
Dear Shin,
Don't change to much or your mother will expect twice as much from me…hopefully she doesn't read my letter to you. I sent some notes on the devices I had thought of, but I guess you can only test it when your allowed to use jutsu again, but I thought maybe you could write into the seal ssome sort of self replenish, since you use nature chakra, I don't see a reason why you can design your seal to keep taking in nature chakra itself?
Also, Inoichi asked me, if I could ask you to talk to Ino about quiting training in mind transfer. I told him it was up to you but I would mention it.
I hope you have fun out there, but we are missing you.
Dad.
Dear Shin,
What to say, Ino is troublesome, Choji and I have had an uptick of missions, only c rank, but lots of walking. Dad and I have been training more and more I don't want to fall to far behind my brother. Because of your friendship with Gaara looks like I'm getting roped into delegating with the sand in the upcoming chunin exams…. Hopefully nothing to crazy happens this time.
But I figure with Naruto and Sasuke gone it should be considerably less troublesome, and planning is a little less troublesome then participating….well maybe.
Mom has placed three photo's of you in every room, your really missed Shin.
Cant wait for the next update bro!
Shikamaru.
Dear Shin,
Yikes, a ten year old, well if he is seven years into katana training he is technically a sword master, so you can always say, you got the scar from training with a sword master. I do find it interesting however that they would choose to cauterize when they could simply use a blood coagulant. I'm sending you a paper with some natural ones that should be easy to find is the Iron forests, and steeped into a tea for next time, which would leave less of a scar.
I have started training two new ninken healers, so you'll have way more options for healers the next time you feel like knocking on deaths door.
Missing having you around, also the puppies are sleeping through the night.
From Hanah.
Dear Shika, Mom, Dad.
Wow, writing is weird, I still cant use my jutsu's, infact I spent the last ten days as a fox because according to my master I have been neglecting and not properly nurturing my fox, He allowed me to switch back for a weekend.
Its been interesting, but I trust master Aki and his process. I think I was expecting a drill sargent but instead he is just kind, soft spoken, and full of love. We hiked up a mountain and it was so beautiful, we stayed on top, which looked like a great wind slice jutsu had cut off the tip of the mountain and a lush green valley with a large hot spring had popped out. I wish you guys could have seen it.
I'm going to go back into my fox form until I can learn to accept it? I'm just putting my trust in Master Akimasa really.
Dad, very interesting the idea of self replenishing chakra, when I can do jutsu's I'll test it out.
Also I will write a letter to Ino because I got like four different letters about it!
Mom feel free to redecorate my room how ever you please! Just don't throw out any books!
I miss you guys so much, some times I wish I brought more then just one photo of you guys, so feel free to mail some more along!
Love you all, Shin.
Dear Asuma,
Thanks for sending me a letter man! Made my day to see one from you! Training has been going well, I began to do some basic sword and an interesting fighting style I think is unique to this temple. Its smooth with flips like Akido, but kicking like Karate, and some elements of kung fu. Mater Aki says hand to hand is a last resort though, we train in it to discipline our bodies. Here punching is more then punching, we spend hours in a big room doing the moves in sync, editating. Its as monk- ish as it sounds. Good news though! Got to keep my hair!
As for Ino I wont tell her what to do for fear that she might get overly attached, but I'll say something.
As for Kurenai, just get out with it, because everyone has figured it out. Even Naruto, and he is denser then…. Well something dense!
Chat with you soon!
Shin
Dear Ino,
Hey Ino! Hope your doing good, I just wanted to clear up things about us, and clearly explain my end! You sure deserve that! Feels like years ago but really it hasn't even been a year yet, we kissed, I was a human for about like 5 months maybe at that point.
It's clear to tell I am aging faster then the normal human, so when we kissed we were close in age maturity wise, but since then I've grown nearly a foot and Shika calls me big bro and I can legally drink. The point is, time moves faster for me.
Your my sister Ino, I love you, and respect you, and I think you're very talented at mind transfer jutsu, and will grow into an amazing kunoichi. I'm glad my little brother has you on his team watching his back. You can always consider me a friend Ino.
Shin.
Dear Shika,
It's very weird just writing to you, we have one day a week here where we don't do chores, don't talk, just spend a day in silence and rest. It would be a dream for you! Once I'm at the stage of my training where I can be a human again, Master Aki said you can some stay for a week if you want! Hopefully that will be in a few months! Sorry your getting dragged into planning the chunin exams, but without Naruto and Sasuke I am nearly positive it won't be as deadly.
-Shin
Dear Hana,
I showed Master Aki the things you sent and he said he likes you! He loves tea's, but unfortunately now I got the chore of hunting all these herbs down! Anything to keep my future self from having to admit where my scars are from. Definitely missing my personal healer, and my friend!
Wow two more specialized Shin healers, I feel like a clutz, so let's just say your my only healer until its inconvenient for you, well I guess it always is! You'll always be my favourite! Ive spent the last few days as a Fox, and Ive been thinking about how cool you always say it is that I am able to be a fox, and it helps me hate the feeling as much.
Miles and Miles away, and your still saving my butt.
I am so pumped you can finally sleep through the night! Maybe give yourself a year break before having another liter?
From your clumsy patient, Shin
Hokage,
Shin is developing faster then any student I have ever taught, like you predicted, in only eight short months he has become formidable with his sword, and the Iron monk style fighting, which is impressive seeing as he spends the whole week in his fox form except for Saturdays when he trains, with the exception of the first two months of course.
From what I have observed, Shin feels uncomfortable being in his fox form. Which is understandable because he has a human soul, but he unmistakably also has a fox soul, he has rejected that part of his spirit, thus rejected a piece of himself.
In my opinion because of the power, and not just nature powers, but life power itself Shin wields he himself needs to be stable. He has made himself into a conduit for unimaginable universal power, but if the conduit is even a little broken that power could fry the conduit. In the same sense, when Shin is unstable, emotionally, or even in his normal human state without his crafty bandaid seal then the power begins to consume him because his thoughtless Fox brain is always fighting to break out.
So the past few months, we have spent training him in Fox form, creating a fox soul that can balance with his human soul. Which he trusts, and feels more comfortable with.
He worked hard, and has achieved an acceptance, now he needs to learn to coexist with both natures, without trying to suffocate either or, which is how he has taught himself to overcome the nature cloud as I call it.
He has moved at a remarkable rate, and I could easily see him achieving his goal of control within the next 16 months.
I advise you expect him gone for another 12 months at least.
- Akimasa
Dear Mom and Dad!
Shika will bring this leader back with him, I figured you should hear it from me. Its been eight months now, and only a month ago was I able to accept my fox form, now I struggle to be human. Master Aki said its nothing to be alarmed with, its like finding the balance of yin and yang, and most monks fully devoted take about 30 years to master balance.
Anyways what I am trying to say is my training will likely take longer then four months, but Master said your both welcome to visit any time. I would really like that.
You should have seen Shikamaru here, I don't think he realized that every day is training for me from 4 am till 9 pm except Sundays.
I am still unable to use jutsu even though I accepted my fox, now I have to try and balance my human soul. Master Aki said the Human is larger and heavier then the Fox, that's why its so hard to balance with the near thoughtlessness of my fox spirit. I'm not really sure what that means going forward, hence why my training will likely go longer.
Master Aki is sending another report to Tsunade and I once again gave her permission to share with you guys.
I am sorry, I really thought I could fast track this, but when I try to rush I take several steps back. I hope your not disappointed!
Love you both.
Dear Hana,
Wanted you to hear about my training extension from me! Totally blows, but I know what I am working towards is worth it.
Hope your still able to visit in a few months, would be nice to see you again.
My master also wants to know more about herbs, he is 102 and says its as good as time as any to learn another specialty like healing herbs. You could be my masters master for a week.
Love Shin
Dear Mom and Dad.
Wow today is the year mark, I still cant believe you all came. This week I have spent nearly half my day sitting on a rock in the middle of a roaring stream meditating. Sometimes I doubt the process but then my rest day comes and I reflect and realize, wow I grew a lot. I think I just want to be back with you guys already. I hope to be able to use my chakra soon, Master says Ive progressed a lot even since you guys left a month ago!
Tell Shika I say I love him (We decided it was to weird to write letters and would send messages through you guys), and send my love to the aunts and uncles!
Love Shin.
Dear Hana,
It's the year mark, which is wild! I really miss the village, my family and friends (You for sure double stared included.) but I love the temple, I mean you were here for a week, its so peaceful, I cant remember the last time I felt anything but peace and joy! I love teaching the kids classes, and taking them to camp in the valley.
I know you wont repeat this, because I am obviously coming back no matter what, but I'll be sad to leave this place.
Oh and Master Aki is wondering when your coming again! I think he hs a crush on you! Eighty years isn't to big of an age difference right?
Love Shin.
Hokage
Its been a year and six months, Shin has not stopped to blow my preception of growth away. Not only because he is now six feet tall, and nearly 200 pounds. I had to get a specially made set of Yukata and Hakama pants.
He also has bounded ahead on his target to blanace his two natures. I would imagine in less then six months he will have then more then mastered all I have to teach him. You have a special one in him, I almost am sad to let him go and be thrown into what ever war you shinobi are preparing for, but his loyalty to you, his family and his village is not one that can be swayed.
Don't make me regret sending him back to you Lady Hokage, take care of him when he is back within your care.
Akimasa
Dear Mom and Dad.
Well next month I am coming home! Akimasa hired the fire village for me to bring three boys who will be training with the Iron samurai now that they are of age, which as you know is a weeks journey out of the way, then I'll be running straight home!
Guess I'll see you on the flip side!
Love ya!
Hana,
This has been a hard week, life here has been good and its more then sad to know I may not come back to this place, at the very least I may not see my Master again. I mean 103 is impressive, and sure he can still fight five people off he can't be immortal right? Maybe he is and I have no reason to fret.
I just keep focusing on what I am coming home too and not the home and brothers Ill be missing here.
Also, if I am correct, I should be home four days before Yari day, so we can have our annual celebration together again! See you soon Hana.
Love Shin.
.
.
I was two days ahead of schedule so I stopped at a motel to rest for the night. I guess I was faster now then I was nearly two years ago. I marveled to myself. I looked at myself in the mirror. I still looked around 19-23 ish, my hair was once again down to mid back. I had taken to wearing the staple Black Hakama pants that sinched mid calf, which looped around my feet which I kept bare. I wore a black breathable cotton Hakama shirt, and a long loose black Yukata open and over. I had a black undershirt that had an excess of fabric the rested on my collar bones neatly, we practically would use this in battle to hide our faces. I had my Yukata over coat made with a hood that hid my ears.
I was much taller, by nearly five inches, and the rigours daily strength training made my muscles more prominent, not big and bulky but I was stronger then I was before. It often surprised me when I would do simple tasks like running, and I go way faster, or I split wood and not even break a sweat.
I also felt more confident in who I was, I hadn't realized how anxious I was before the temple, it was refreshing and encouraging to already see the pay off from the last two years.
I lay down on my bed, and begin to focus on my excitement of seeing my family again, they had come to visit a few months ago, but only seeing them for two weeks, and Shika three weeks was not enough by far.
I felt a weird spike of chakra, but remained laying in bed as I opened my eyes to watch someone swirl into the room.
"Hello." I greet, noting the black and red clouded robe, and orange swirled mask. Was this the leader? How did he just appear?
"Hello Seishin Nara! I'm Tobi!" The masked man greeted over cheerfully, as I stayed lounging against the head board of my bed arms folded behind my head. "Leader sent me to come talk to you, he says you hunted us, you did, you and the fire." He spoke exuberantly, not noticing the seal I placed on the room behind the cover of my head.
"look I haven't even been at my own village in the past two year. I really could care less about you guys." I tell him with a sweat drop as he fake trips on his robe. What was with this guy acting so dumb, or maybe he was not acting…. I mean his swirling teleportation trick would make him Akatsuki level useful.
"Which is why Leader wanted me to ask you to join us, he did!" the man exclaimed excitedly clapping. I just couldn't read this guy.
"Well, I don't think I'm Akatsuki level, but thanks I guess?" I chuckled trotting over to my bag pulling out a bag of nuts and casually opening it watching the guy. "Is that all…Tobi?" I asked chewing loudly.
"Are you loyal to the leaf?" He asked his innocent voice dropping half an octave. "Because Tobi has been watching, you left." I chewed away with a half a smile, staring the at the black eye in the only exposed hole within his orange mask. I stepped closer to him and to my surprise he didn't make any move. I grabbed my sword and watched in the milliseconds as the second Hokage's sword sliced through his flesh past his cloak shirt and ninja mesh like cheese. His eye went wide as I looked at the discolored flesh that was exposed.
I didn't give him time to gather slashing down, though he was able to fumble his forearms up to keep the strike from decapitating him, though deep slashes and the knocking on bone sounded. Again his right arm was completely white, while the left was normal coloured. I lung towards him slashing his mask, he backs up but I achieve my goal of revealing his right side. He was deformed I wasn't sure from what.
"30." I say out loud, and watch carefully as he realizes he can once again use his chakra, it's a split moment, but I see a streak of red, and smile as he blips out of view.
The second he is gone I check my blade and smile, not a drop of blood, that's how you know you did well, at least its what master said. I rushed around the room packing my thinking and wiping the blood. Now I had to get home a report what I found as quickly as I could. I leave a large tip on the bedside table and jump from the window softly to the ground. It was 9 pm, at the speed I was traveling I should make it to the Hokage tower by six am.
So much for my day of rest.
As I run through the night, I process the information I know and lowkey marvel at the ease of the journey. I hadn't used my chakra in a year and seven months, and when I could use it, all the months of personal spiritual and bodily control made chakra control easier then ever, and to my amazement my stores seemed to have tripled since I left, bringing me to the below average level of a jounin nin.
Sure, enough I ran into Konoha as the sun rose, stopping quickly at the gate before speeding across the roofs to the Hokage tower. As I approached, I saw the lights on, and decided to jump up the side of the building, landing softly inside Tsunade's office.
"Hello!" I greeted from behind the Hokage, the blond women jumped in her chair lets out a yelp. A look of pure anger boiled over her face, before quickly cooling off into a wide Grin.
"Shin!" She said happily. "Shin." She said again angrily and I let out a laugh sauntering to the other side of her desk. "We weren't expecting you for a few more days!" She said once again smiling settling into her seat.
"Yea, I was going to take my time on the trip home, but several hours ago I made contact with…." I stopped speaking before pressing my palm to her desk activating a silencing seal. "A member of the Akatsuki….and I got some intel that couldn't wait to be passed on, also, I factored in that there could have been a possible strike against me again, because of the intel." I explain sitting on a stack of reports in front of her desk.
"You made contact with one?" She exclaimed.
"Yes, by the name of Tobi, he seemed a little dense, talked creepily cheerful yet I felt like it was an act. I was able to get three surprise strikes in." I told her tapping the sword at my side with a grateful smile. "And I revealed several interesting things. First thing is, he has an ability to transport some how, he swirled out of nothing into my room he wore an orange mask with one eye exposed which I found curious." I explain.
"Why did he come to your room?" She asked looking horrified.
"Well to recruit me, who ever the leader was apparently had been taking note of my absence from the leaf." I explained.
"What happened?" She pressed on folding her hands together and leaning forward.
"Right, well I have recently created a chakra suppression seal that lasts 30 seconds only. Pretty lame but good to get the upper hand. Any ways I attacked and he clearly heavily relied on what ever his ability is, I got three strikes and noticed half his body was paper white, even paler then I am, and his left side was a normal skin colour, almost like half his body was stitched into him?" I explained. "Something I've seen before in Orochimaru's experiments." I added in a cool whisper. "His arms again, right was white, then the most curious was when I broke his mask, his eye was missing while the bit of his right side was deformed with scarring. Once the suppression on his chakra ended he disappeared in a swirl once again and for a flick of a moment I saw a red glow." I reported.
"The sharingan?" She asked.
"I couldn't say with absolute certainty, but I am 75% sure it was." I told her with a nod.
"We will need to sort through the Uchiha district…." She sighed. "Three leaf now.." She sighed rubbing her temples.
"Well it could have been four but I stayed true!" I joked with a smile. "want me to write this up?" I asked standing again.
"Nope, when Jiraiya gets back in about a week, I've chosen a circle of those I can trust and we will share it then." I nod along. "Enjoy your family again Shin, we all missed you!" I smile and give a bow mostly out of habit.
"Missed you too Lady Tsunade." I tell her truthfully has I jump onto the window; I look back to her smiling and give a small wave before jumping down.
.
Hey guys! Hope your liking the new chapters! Man its been so fun to step back into the Naruto universe! I started all of this when I was a kid, now I write after my nine to five! I just re read my other fan fic called time, which got a TON of love and reviews and views, but I gotta say its very cringey, so it feels like this Fan fic with Shin is a nice little secret!
Snowwy :3