The problem with being a loner, is that you get exactly what you want.
And that doesn't always end up being a good thing.
I'm smart enough to know that no man is an island.
I'm also dumb enough to think that I'm the exception to that rule.
If I didn't love irony so much, I'd have killed myself a long time ago.
Sighing, I stand back up and walk over to the posts, they were simple training tools really, just a few logs jammed into the ground. The idea for using them is simple too, punch them until your feet bruise and your knuckles bleed.
Surprisingly effective for stress.
Flexing my hands, I ignore the posts for the moment, I'm more concerned with my wraps. After the first few tries, I learned quickly that it's important to at least pad your knuckles with a single layer of cloth. Otherwise, you won't be able to move your fingers at all the next day.
Another valuable lesson, learned the hard way.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
Yeah, it hurts.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
A lot.
Thunkthunkthunk.
More than it should.
Thunkthunkthunkthunkthunk.
Oh, I see why now.
Thunk thunk thunk.
Some idiot splintered the wood by hitting the posts too hard.
Thunk thunk thunk.
The wood is tearing up my hand wraps, that's why it hurts so much.
Thunk thunk thunk.
Maybe...
Thunk thunk thunk.
I should have waited awhile to calm down before I started today.
Thunk thunk thunk.
Damn that Neji.
Thunkthunkthunkthunkthunk.
One more hurdle to transcend before I can leave Konoha.
Thunk thunk thunk.
But.
"Hyyyaaahh!"
Slamming my fist into the post, I bury it in a good two inches.
"Before I do that, I need to grow stronger."
Sighing, I turn my head up to look at the sky. It's a nice day. Pity, I don't have time to enjoy it. Watching Gai seems to have paid off, my muscle tone has improved quite a bit. And-
Tensing the muscles in my arm, all at once, I sink my fist in another inch, making the wood crackle loudly.
"Hmmm."
I allow a small smile to touch my lips. This was what I was hoping for, something original. I'm not sure what to call it quite yet, but it's looking good.
"A loser like you would be impressed with how little you can do."
I know that voice, naturally.
"Hyuuga Neji, don't you have anything better to do..." Turning, I smirk at him, pausing to savor his expression before it changes. "Than to try and steal moves from this 'loser'?"
Oh yeah, the look on his face right now, it's enough to make me feel like dancing... Almost.
"Since you're so intent on standing there, quivering with rage, I'll do the talking." Turning back to face the post, I keep my focus on him. The last time I turned my back on Neji, he nearly broke me in two. "The reason why you're here is because I threaten your security. You simply cannot rest while I can so easily walk away from your best efforts to break me."
I can literally smell his rage. Might as well push him a bit more.
"And, the reason why you're not attacking me right now, is because you're not sure what I can do." I wrench my hand free with a loud crackle. "To be honest, I'm not sure myself." Turning to look over my shoulder at him, I bend my arm at the elbow, slowly curling each finger of my right hand into a fist, my tendons make a menacing snapping sound as they tense. "Want to find out?"
He stares at me for a bit longer than I like, before turning on his heel and walking away.
I make sure he's good and gone before I heave a sigh and let my arm fall limp at my side. "Finally, I don't think I could've taken him at the moment... I'm worn right out."
"Maybe you should be more careful who you provoke." Someone off to my left, and not a familiar voice at all. "Aburame Shino." He lifted a small case made of transparent plastic. "I'm out collecting bugs."
"Ah." Nice, sounds exactly how he says it, but- "So why is your case empty?"
"Hm, too much noise." Nice glasses, and the high collar hides his expression well.
"I see, would it help if I moved then?"
"No, here is fine."
Looks like we can both dance around a topic well enough. "I'll go first then." I turn back to the post, and begin punching it, softly this time. "You're here because of something having to do with me." I pause for a moment. "Too obvious, I know." Stepping back, I begin driving my heel into the weathered wood, working on my kicks for now. "But it's not a direct concern of yours... A friend, maybe?"
"Hyuuga Hinata." He walks over to one of the nearby trees, leaning close to examine the bark. I guess he really is hunting bugs.
"I suppose she's worried about her cousin."
"No, she's worried about you."
That gave me a good reason to stop. "But Naru-"
"Exactly, don't mistake her kindness." A bit of a rebuke in his tone this time.
"Ah, begging your pardon then." I resumed kicking the post, switching to my other leg. "So, she's just being a nice girl then."
"Exactly." Turning, Shino began walking into the woods.
"Huh." Staring at the post for a moment, I began punching it again.
After all, I still had training to do.