I spent the remainder of that night trying to climb up a tree, failing and eventually having the anbu telling me to go home. Fortunately, he had not given up on me. He gave me directions. I was to meet him tomorrow to learn the art of tree walking. Score. Getting trained by an anbu? How cool was that! Beat that dumb Hotaru.
xXx
"You're crazy." I had three days until our next training session. Three days to learn to walk up a tree. So, why in the world were we by the lake? "Look. When I asked for your help, I asked for it because I want to learn how to walk up trees. There are no trees for me to walk up."
"Your chakra control is pathetic at best, and you seem to lack the capability of landing on the ground gracefully. With that in mind, the ideal training regiment would involve a way for you to practice your chakra control, while not injuring yourself and avoiding large heights."
"So what? You're going to teach me how to walk on water or something?" This guy was ridiculous. Not being able to land gracefully. Jerk. I am too graceful.
"Yes. I am going to teach you how to walk on water." Wow. I take back what I said. This guy is my idol. Water walking was something chunin could do. If I could do this, than I could wipe the floor with that dumb Hotaru. Glancing back up at him, I realized that he was on the waters surface. Just standing on the water. Wow. I've made up my mind, when I grow up, I am so going to be an anbu. They're so cool, and mysterious. I mean... I wonder what is under that mask of his? Maybe he wears it because he's not attractive? Nope, that is definitely not the case. A good looking male anbu. Why? Well, why not? If this guy is going to train me, and I'm not going to see his face, why would I Imagine him as anything else? Oh. The good looking male anbu whose face I have yet to see is talking.
"Did you get that?" Oh crap. The good looking male anbu whose face I have yet to see is done talking. Oh crap. Now I'm going to look like an idiot in front of him. This is all wrong. I don't do good with cute boys! Fine. He's ugly. Really ugly, grossly ugly.
"Umm... can you repeat that?" Right. It's so much easier to pretend he's ugly. In fact, it makes so much more sense. I mean, why else would he wear a mask when he didn't have to?
"Pay attention. I have no intention of teaching this to you unless you plan on winning. This requires a great deal of concentration so focus." Right. I was paying attention. I brought myself to the edge of the pond. "Now, try and guide the chakra in your body into your feet. When you take the first step onto the water, it shouldn't be the water you're standing on. It should be your chakra." Uh... Right. Okay. Chakra go into my feet. I am not walking on water. I am walking on chakra. Ready. Set. Step.
Eek. Why did he have to pick such a cold pond?
"Again."
xXx
Wow. I'm doing it. I"m actually walking on water. Well, walking on chakra on water. To be clear, that whole, be one with with the tree thing? Wrong. So wrong. But now I had an anbu teacher.
Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Every step taking me closer to finally wiping that smug look off of Hotaru's face.
"Excellent. You are finally getting the hang of it. Now whatever you do-" Splash. "Don't lose concentration."
Swimming back to the surface, I stared at him. I had somehow managed to walk into the middle of the lake. Now, I guess I would have to swim all the way back to shore and start all over again. I couldn't hold back the laughter though.
"Did you see it?! Did you see how far I made it?" I think I heard him chuckle quietly, but the water was also loud so maybe I'd imagine it.
"Yes, you're making good progress. Now try and lift yourself out of the water." I stared at him, casually walking near me as if he was just on regular ground.
"What?"
"Guide the Chakra into your hand and try and push yourself up."
Once again, I fell into the lake. I turned my attention towards my hand, channeling it into my feet had been one thing but…
Closing my eyes and focusing, I moved it into my hands and as I moved my hands onto the surface of the water… I splashed myself in the face.
Way to go Mitsuki.
xXx
"No more." I had managed to crawl back onto the ground, and oh how I loved it. And for those of you paying attention, I did in fact say crawl. Yes. I was unable to walk on water back to land, but by spreading my chakra, I had somehow managed to crawl back onto land. Soaking wet for the record.
"Giving up so soon?"
"Look." I sat up and glared at him, well at the mask he wore hiding himself. "I am cold. I am tired. I have no chakra. I spent the whole day trying to learn to walk on water. You wouldn't let me eat lunch. What do I have to show for it? I'm hungry, wet, and I can't walk up trees!"
"Fine. We'll call it a day. Meet me here tomorrow. We'll resume training then." Now, normally, I would've expressed my true feelings. I would have said to him something like "No. I don't want to come again tomorrow. I want to learn to walk up a tree and beat Hotaru. I want to be able to eat when I want. Look Mr. anbu, thanks and all, but I quit." Of course, I simply agreed to meet him for three reasons.
He was an anbu.
He seemed to really hate Hotaru. Now, I can't really blame him I mean the guy is a jerk, but I think he may have hated Hotaru more than I hated Hotaru!
Don't tell anyone, but I was kind of enjoying this. My life had never been that exciting and now… having a secret anbu instructor who was actually teaching me things Hikaru-sensei didn't… well it was kind of just nice.
Re-writing this story made me think a lot. The first couple chapters are cursory edits, but the later ones are definitely quite different. As always, please share your thoughts!
