Intermittent period:
Sometime days later after overcoming the loss of my Aunt and Uncle, I found a book describing the properties and purposes of the five elements. I spent my time alone studying it, feeling myself slipping into isolation; I didn't want to be around anyone. These elements were the foundation of all ninjutsu. The Five great nations took their names from the five natures of Chakra. Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water. They are the foundation for everything we learn as Shinobi.
All people have a temperament of 2 chakra natures, I didn't know my own yet and I didn't except to discover them anytime soon, so I left that part out. They explained a complicated comprehension of Yin and Yan chakra; I didn't quite understand it so I left that part out too. What I did learn was that jutsu was executed using these different elements of chakra.
The understanding where all these elements came from was written out in a story.
It was thought that Long ago, before anything was in existence. The Kami created all and everything using these five Elements; Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, but there was a 6th element the Kami used to create life, Spirit. Using the power of Spirit the Kami created man, the Kami created nature and the Kami created all that is life around us. The Kami Loved all that was created and said, "It is good" then the Kami blessed them all with the power to create, giving each of them a share of the elements of power. For a long time there was peace and power within every living thing, nothing that was ever needed could not be had and nothing was ever wanted that could make another sad, but soon the Kami became tired and fell into rest. The Kami's sleep was so deep that the living things of Creation began to worry that the Kami would never wake to rule again.
They disputed among one another for who should rule over what the Kami created. Soon the Dispute broke out into fighting and that fighting into war. The Battle's drew on for eons and with the power of Spirit the Creatures of Creation began to destroy the Peace the Kami created. They created life for the purpose of demise and the blood flowed for many ages to pass before the Kami awoke from his deep rest.
When the Kami awoke to the sound of battle and bloodshed, he gave a loud Roar that could be heard through all of existence. The Creatures of Creation all hid in fear of the things they had done, they Hid from the Kami fearing what punishment the Kami would condemn them too. Now awake the Kami spoke aloud to all of Creation "Why are you hiding" the Kami asked. The Creatures Of Creation did not answer so the Kami spoke again "I have seen what you have done to all that I have created. Come out from where you are hiding and your punishment will not be ruin" The Creatures of Creation all came out from hiding and said, "We heard you roar and were afraid so we hid"
The Kami looked at all he had created, at all of the Creatures Of Creation as they now were and he asked, "What have you done to yourselves?" The Creatures Of Creation looked at each other with guilt and shame, answering "We were afraid you would never awaken so we battled each other for who should rule in your absence" The Kami was not happy to hear this and in a loud roar of distaste the Kami said, "I must punish you for what you have done, for you have defiled yourselves with conflict and argument has become your nature"
All the Creatures of Creation gave up a terrible moan of despair, they said to one another, "Our Kami is displeased with us, surely we will all cease to exist" But the Kami spoke softly and quieted their worry, saying "I will show you kindness for I once loved you all. I will make your punishment this, You will forever toil and strife for what you want. Nothing of my creation will give up its self easily, but instead you will labour for what is needed and Creation will resist you with your every effort" The Creatures of creation moaned because they did not know hardship in the entirety of their existence, but the Kami was not done yet, saying "You will know suffering and privation, for all I give you is precious to me, and you will know this by how you pang and yearn for what you cannot have" Again the Creatures of Creation moaned a terrible moan for they were always given that which was needed and wanted, but the Kami was not done speaking saying "You will no longer know how to harness the power of your Spirit, you will have to learn how to use the Elements of power I gifted you and this power too will be weakened to strife and toil" The Creatures of Creation gave up one final moan for their power faded and they felt weak, the Kami spoke one last punishment "Finally because I love you and do not wish you to suffer forever, I punish you with the burden of death and the agony of birth as your only means of creating life"
Now the Creatures Of Creation did not know death like we know it. They were beings of pure Life, with no true understanding of death, so they asked. "Oh Great Kami, what is this punishment 'Death'?" The Kami looked over all that had become of Creation and wept a single tear saying "Death my children, is when those that you love die and are never seen again as they once were" The Creatures of Creation looked afraid and confused so the Kami spoke again, "Creation brings life into existence, death forever removes it" and then the Kami vanished and the Creatures of Creation panicked and scattered away in fear.
You know, I like it, it explains existence and the reason why there is no god. Why else would all these bad things be happening to me, unless his sleeping again of course. I wouldn't blame him though, if I was surrounded with such idiots I would also sleep myself into a coma whenever I had the chance.
Reading wasn't the only thing I did, I mean give me a break, I did a lot of training too. I still didn't quite understand how my blood jutsu works; I just created it for the tournament and prayed that it would suffice which it did luckily. I was having trouble with getting over the whole Tsunada as Hokage thing, which sounds a little sexist but it's not. I also tried looking at the reasoning behind her accusing me of being some sort of double agent, which sounds pretty cool and being a double agent it's a little scary(Ha ha just kidding I'm not a double agent, or am I o_0? ) I just wanted to know why accuse me. I guess someone was bound to get suspicious of my guardians and I, maybe I should just be grateful that they didn't see me as an instant threat that needed to be eliminated on the double. I was beginning to lose sight of my purpose within the leaf, getting stronger just seemed purposeless without my guardians to show it to. I thought about how I was going to re-join the living but, meh, too much work and besides I like the dark-side. I mean like, the darkness in the woods and stuff.
I was busy toying with all these thoughts in my mind when, bingo bango, Shikamaru showed up. I was in the forest, I've been making regular absentminded walks to nowhere for the last few weeks. I actually enjoyed the walks, letting my thoughts jump around while I ignored the world. I guess it was my way of coping with all that had happened, speaking to people had becoming an effort and the forest helped rid me of all that.
"There you are" Shikamaru slid into my view, before pocking his hands into his pants like he'd been slouching there all day. He rested himself against a tree while I walked by; pretending that I didn't hear his poor attempt at a proper greeting. "I heard your guardians died" his words made my heart drop like a single Yen in a silent room.
I stood motionless as the breeze blew down the hushing grasses and over the swaying trees, I didn't know how to answer that, how to reply to something that was so sore spat out. Shikimaru spoke instead, "Seeing as I got your attention, I really have to thanks you for the assistance you offered after the chunin exams" My face slowly dropped, I looked away, he continued to speak regardless of my pain, my ashen face. "They tell me it wasn't your actions during the exam that passed you, but after, When you made it your mission to aid the Village"
I cracked my neck and turned to stare him in the face, I shouted "Then why did they accuse me of being an infiltration unit after!"
He should no reaction, no care, he just remained slouched saying. "That's what the open defence protocol is for you idiot, It gives a chance for any infiltration unit to leave the village which in turn exposes them" He scratched his chest before putting an arm behind his head for better comfort against the bark, leaving his stance open to attack "I don't know what to say, other than that was a pretty dumb move leaving the Village in a time of threat" He just cut and tore my shaken heart and didn't care that it hurt.
"You mean the abridged defence protocol was part of a strategy to expose traitors and spies?" My own voice sounded adverse to the sorrows in my chest, but in its surprise I brought wisdom to my averted emotions "Huh, that actually makes sense now. I thought it was a stupid idea for them to allow ninja to leave during a time of crisis but it was actually pretty smart" Shikimaru had changed my mood through trickery and insult, yet I was… better off in exchange for my throttled visage. Tsunada didn't just randomly attack me, I was actually kind of asking for it.
"Go figure, now that that's done with, we can return to why I'm here" Shikimaru straightened himself out before continuing "The Hokage needs you and I for a special training mission, I was told I couldn't start my tuition lesion without you around" He offered a sly smirk, obviously feeling guilt for playing my mood so well before, extending a hand out.
"AUagh well… sure" I was feeling pretty reluctant to comply which brought a curious question to mind. "Why are you doing it, I thought you were supposed to be lazy?" I folded my arms to his open hand, still waiting my own hand in extension.
"Asuma tells me it's supposed to be like a game of Shogi, now quickly let's get going" To be honest, I didn't really know Shikimaru that well, but I'd never seen him egger to go anywhere in a hurry.
"Why didn't you say so" I clasped his hand, his grasp struck with a firm grip that ringed through the clearing. "I want me some shogi too…" The sound of excitement stuck true, resounding off the trees, echoing in the breeze, even though in my mind the familiar reverberate of my pain still stung aloud.
…
"Well that was a total waste of time" I abdicated, giving up my enthusiasm as we walked out of the secret Chunin academe training area.
We found our way back to the coble roads that encircled all the houses and buildings of the Leaf. The drifting of the low crowd activity added a hum of chatter to the buildings around us, it was a light washing of conversation and colour in comparison to the quiet darkness and green of the forests I'd been depriving myself to.
After a long pause in silence Shikimaru responded to my earlier comment "I wouldn't say total, it was more of a moderate waste" Shikimaru walked next to me mildly agreeing with me and not at the same time.
"What do you mean?" I turned to him as we walked side by side, while in the academe we were set up against each other as opponents, outside we seemed to be developing some sort of kinship.
"Their training games weren't like shogi, I think that was just a trap to get me to come along, but they weren't not like shogi" I felt like Shikimaru was quoting a twisted form of philosophy and paradox combined. There were a few things that we learnt in this special Chunin Academe, they taught us a further set of squad formations and tactics that weren't taught in the Genin academe.
"Wait, so you're saying the game we just played for the last two hour and a half wasn't shogi" That was my sarcastic comment for the day, I felt the point rating on my ego jump a few levels up. We played their training exercises using dud Chunin level Shinobi in grey suits, they were happy enough to join in on the activity and 'fun' as they saw it. I made a point of picking out all the gate guards and familiar faces I'd seen around the village, to comprise my team, it felt good to play with people I slightly knew compared to plank faces.
Shikimaru slanted his eyes and a tired look washed over his face, making him look even more like the sleepy ninja I knew him as. "What I mean is, we can use their games and with a little alteration make something that's actually fun. Something like shogi but with ninja, with team mates playing as our pieces" He brushed his hands over his hair before stabbing them back in his pockets as we walked off into the midday low activity of the streets.
"Hmm and why would we do that?" I thought for a second longer while Shikimaru walked on in silence. "You know it might be nice to play a game like that, not just for the training and the possibility of doing something fun, but for team building." Shikimaru looked at me with his mouth parted with the words he hadn't said yet but I continued my input "I mean as chunin we are going to be set as mission leaders with these ninja and not having any previous experience with them might lead to death"
"Sigh, that's what I wanted to say, that and I thought I'd have a little fun. Shogi with Asuma is a boring sometimes" Shikimaru's face collided with a man dressed in Chunin gear and an odd sash attached to his hip. Asuma, as I knew him from when he saved us from Sound Shinobi, looked very different; must be the lack of blood on his cloths.
"Boring ay" Asuma rested his hands on his hips, his bangles rattling as Shikimaru parted himself from his sensei's mid. "Now I don't remember that last time we played"
Shikimaru rolled his eyes and looked my way with condescension towards Asuma "That's only because I handicapped my side of the field. Otherwise I would have beaten you under 10 minutes" I wondered what it was like to have a sensei you could give this much abuse to without receiving a death threat in return.
"Ha ha, you do realise what I was trying to teach you? I would have thought you would have got it by now" I frowned at Asuma and Shikimaru's relationship, it was oddly like a farther and son bond.
Shikimaru folded his arms pouting slightly to his sensei's words "That even you could beat me at Shogi, sensei?" His voice slipped into a bored slur mixed in with a grumpy attitude, before Asuma's hand came down on his head to ruffle his pulled back ponytailed hair.
"No? I thought you would have it by now. The lesson was never to underestimate your opponent, because the price of losing is demise" Shikimaru unfolded his arms to this news, realisation washing over his face to Asuma's words.
"Hmm, this is getting a bit awkward" I blurted out "Life lessons and I haven't even said hello yet" I folded my arms to that; I'm one of those guys that gets annoyed when ignored, especially when in the singular, in a crowd of people it wasn't so bad but to be ignored alone is… evil.
"You haven't said thank you either." Asuma spoke to me very different from how he spoke to Shikimaru, I wasn't one of his students so less tolerance was supplied.
"Do I really have to say thank you everything someone saves my life?" I assumed that he was referring to the attack after the Chunin exams, when he came to Shikimaru's aid and unexpectedly saved a whole group of genin.
"No, I was referring to how I spoke for your evaluation into the rank of Chunin. It was very brave what you did for the Leaf, not many genin would be so ready to act in a time of war without being ordered to" I couldn't help blush in pride to the praise "That is why I felt you should be promoted to Chunin, in times of crises people like you and Shikimaru should be able to plot orders and bring control to the situation"
I unfolded my arms as well, smiling to the man, "Ha, well thanks" I chuckled in reply "It's good to know there are still people in power with a little sense in their heads, even when disaster strikes" I added considering the abridged Defence protocol but on remembering what Shikimaru implied I rectified my argument "Although it's easy to see the solution when you haven't seen all the problems averted by the seemingly unwisest of moves. Hmm if that makes any sense"
Asuma chuckled to the complement and my struggled attempts at retracting the half insult it contained. Shikimaru spun the conversation in another direction with his own laughter "T-ya I sometimes wonder what they're doing in the Hokage Office when I look at all the chaos around us. I occasionally consider that to be the reason why ninja missions are kept secret, to hid all the mistakes" Shikimaru looked up to his Sensei, not seeing the reaction he expected, his own expression set into a serious stone.
The crowds were growing larger and our spot growing a little tight. We were kind of blocking access to the rest of the street, well not really but standing in any sort of traffic is a bit impolite. Asuma was just now picking up on this, concerning the public navigating around us like an obstacle.
"Why don't we get something to eat, just the three of us, what do you say Arjies?" I considered the invitation for a second, I'd been in a dark place for quite some time but around them I was laughing, the uplift in my mood convinced me to comply.
I nodded my head and Shikimaru added a question to Asuma's invitation. "No Chouji?"
"Agh don't worry about him, his training with his father and I hear when he gets home his parents plan a big feast for him"
"Why, Is it his birthday?" I asked oblivious to the habits of their team mate and his parents.
Asuma shut his eyes and stretched his hands behind his head "No just what they usually do" slightly embarrassed at their expense.
"Oh…." I blinked "so where are we eating?"
…
Over the BBQ meal we discussed the training game Shikimaru wanted to implement, this after he complained about the Chunin exercises we played thinking it would be like Shogi. Asuma listened intensively to all the changes I and Shikimaru made to the game. When the meal was done he finally said.
"This game is a military secret, you do realise that?" He pressed his forefingers together and held them against his lips, waiting for our response.
"It's nowhere near the same game anymore." I criticized his argument throwing up my hands from the table. "They played it in an open field, how useless is that, in real life you don't see the enemy coming or where they are" The irori (hearth/fire-pit covered by table frame) in the middle of the table made the wood warm and toasty to the hands. It was nice to rest yourself against something comforting but getting away from the heat occasionally in argument was fun too.
"Exactly, our game will be unique in that it will actually be like Shogi" Shikimaru argued with a grimaces aimed at Asuma who sighed, gathering that he wasn't about to forget regretting labelling the game as shogi.
"In Shogi you can see the enemy's side of the field" Asuma put a hand on his Knee, he could tell the dispute would not be settled easily.
"Ya but in Shogi pieces move in turns" Shikimaru pulled a hand over his hair "you only really see your enemies move after they've made it" Asuma puffed at his cigarette and ordered more meat, now coming to terms with his earlier assumption; this debate wasn't going to end any time soon.
I waited for the Waiter to leave before continuing the attack "Besides we're not talking about Shogi here, where talking about a game I beat Shikimaru in" Asuma's cigarette hung loose in his open mouth, I found it a little insulting that my victory was such a surprise. "… and it wasn't because my strategy was the better but because I rushed his defence with everything at once"
"It wasn't even a strategy!" Shikimaru yelled outraged at my proclamation and he was right, the game we played as a test could be so easily manipulated. Tactic and the means at which you played, held little control over a bull rush in at the victory.
"I see" Asuma conceded "I will have to speak to the Hokage and your father about these changes before it can be made into an official game" I was beginning to wonder, what is Asuma's job in the leaf? I don't know why it only became apparent to me now, but he seemed to deal a lot in the affairs of Hokage and the politics in connection with Land Of Fire.
Shikimaru must have already known what Asuma's job was because his next question skipped over inquiry into what Asuma had to do with the approval of our game idea. "Why do you have to speak to my Dad? He's head of strategy." That was an interesting question, what would the head of strategy have to do with a game? Even though the game was of a strategic back it still didn't answer the question, after all these were serious figures within the Leaf.
"I think he'd rather prefer the term Commander" Asuma put his hands up in an effort to push off the questions, for now. "Let's just eat and enjoy the meal, alright?"
…
After the meal was done and we had our fair share of conversation, we headed out and parted ways. I thought I would enjoy a few more hours of training in the forest before heading home for studies while honing my chakra control in preparation for sleep. Still being midday it meant I had at least 4 hours of intense training to do, but suspiciously like a shady accident Tensue stepped out of an alley way to bump into me.
"My Subject! What a prize to find you here hm hm hm I mean surprise" Tensue laughed in a slow drawn out manner like the beginning of an evil cackle. He was the Medic ninja from my time in the hospital, seeming even creepier than before.
I pointed a finger at him in thought "Agh, Tensue was it?" I pretended not to remember, hopeful that some of those memories were lost to time; tragedy.
"Don't tell me you forgot your oath already?" Tensue smirked, an eerie gleam flashing off his glasses.
I took a step back "Hey I never made that oath!" but eased my stance when I realised the ploy Tensue made. He was chuckling to my anxiety, the oath I didn't make in his offer to teach me medical herbs in exchange for my endurance as his subject.
"Ha so you do remember me?" I had the feeling after Tensue I would develop a phobia for Hospitals. "I still require a sample of your blood, in exchange I'll tell you more about your Jutsu" Now that was something I needed to know, something valuable.
"How do you intend to get this, sample" I opened my stance, in case it was a fight he wanted, I always had that feeling 'this medic ninja wanted to hurt me'.
"Willingly, of course" The crazed look across his face vanished and his stance reformed from the shifty figure out of the shadows to a well-respected Medic. "If you will, come with me and we will make our way to the Leaf Shinobi Hospital to conduct the rest of our evaluation"
…
Inside the Leaf Shinobi Hospital a sequence of tests were performed on me, using sealing arts and tech combined. A group of Medic Ninja were able through the use of Fuuinjutsu to determine the amount of chakra each cell in my body possessed. With tech support they ran endurance and stamina surveillance of my muscle strength and body condition. They looked at the inner workings of my chakra network and the density of my focused chakra when I mustered up my chakra control. They calculated the finest levels at which I was able to maintain chakra regulation and the degree at which I could expend chakra before draining it all away.
At the end of the examination I was handed a tape of paper and told to exit to the next room, there I found Tensue who ripped the page out of my hands. On the long sheet of paper was a series of numbers and columns I couldn't read into the meaning of, but he seemed to understand them punching in calculations as he read.
"Amazing" Tensue said looking through the data a computer spat out while he entered more figures in.
I stood there dazed by the level of tech around me. The computers and machines looked well maintained and dusted; you would almost expect with the number of them that there would be a lot of dirt to collect but the equipment looked well looked after. The walls were filled with Fuuinjutsu diagrams stuck up like paintings over an outline of the human body, along with scrolls tucked away neatly in open pigeon holed cupboards. There were also draws with the names of medical plants, each label with their own paper seal, all around us. A few disturbing but accurate acupuncture dolls hung around with the title of the body's organs on each. You could see that this was both a professional and efficient working environment and I guess I should have expected that of a Shinobi hospital; a dedicated environment to skilled shinobi who were equally determined in their proficiency as ninja, medical or otherwise.
"Your Body, Arjies, is most amazing" Tensue waved me in as I toyed with the complement. Awe shucks you don't have to flatter me, I know I'm amazing
Looking through a microscope he leaned his head out so that I could see "This is a slide of your blood and a foreign microbe" I looked through the electro-microscope, it showed a vision of white and grey.
"As you can see, the dark grey mass is your blood, note this is not a white blood cell just a slide of a red blood cell" The grey blob of my blood moved its way around on the slide, I looked up seeing an image of what was under the microscope playing out for Tensue.
He pointed to it with an extender (long pointing devise) "Now watch what happens when it gets near the foreign microbe" as it neared the lighter grey cell the dark grey cell of my blood flared up erratically, spiking out in a volatile manner before reaching the foreign body. When it eventually reached the body, the foreign cell burst and deflated out of existence.
"What just happened to that cell?" I frowned my eyes to the display, it was pretty fantastic to think that was my blood but I thought there must be something more to what I'd been shown.
"It was destroyed, do you know what this means for medical ninjutsu!" Tensue sounded excited by the hidden proclamation but his darker crazier side remained concealed. "White blood cells are the body's defence but you have shown here that your red blood cells are able to defend as well, but how Arjies How was it able, how!" He seemed to be working up to something but I was more concerned that if I didn't answer that question his other side might show.
"I don't know doctor, How?" I didn't really know the proper address for a medic ninja but I needed to use something to bring a distance of formality to the near lapsing situation, I could see it falling into mayhem soon by the look in his eyes.
"How is a very important question Arjies" I felt like he was quoting from my Guardians parental hand book, 'Why is a very important question Arjies' only his means of disciple meant a different line of torture; medical subject piece 'A'. "Using the tech we have here at the Medical Shinobi labs, I have determined that your blood has chakra" It was like he was polishing off the dust that collected on his mind, making his profession a little less nutty by promoting it through shameless self-appreciation.
"Of course my blood has chakra!" I voiced my disappointment at his final conclusion. "Even though most ninja have chakra in their blood I'm probably the first to use my blood as a means of chakra storage" The blood in chakra is often used to power seals when your own natural control over your chakra networks is disabled, it is also used in the ability of summoning jutsu's although for what reasons I have yet to discover.
"Yes Arjies but your blood is very different" his lenses flashed and a grim smirk replaced the decorum and tone in his voice. "Your blood can use chakra, it can manipulate the energy you have given it in order to perform its own jutsus"
"What!? Is that why my red blood cell could kill that other cell" I looked back at the screen and then back to Tensu, what!?
"There is something more to it than just that" He pulled up another slide which showed my blood approaching a wall of cells and depositing content onto it "This is your blood once again, but this time they are responding to foreign tissue, notice what they are doing? They are giving up nutrition in order to absorb more chakra. Your blood is not only able to use chakra, it is also hungry for more"
I bit my lip to the sound of that, "Is that dangerous? I mean will they do the same thing in my body!" I grabbed a hold of the cold steel table nearby, dropping a few medical instruments, feeling a little lightheaded to the news.
The medic's instruments clanged along to his words "No, because your body identifies with itself, but for anyone near you your blood will sacrifice nutrition for its thirst for chakra" I felt the room spin to the deafening comprehension.
"That's why! That's why Neji was able to fight another match in the tournament after me! Why Naruto could battle Gaara after his visit to the hospital, because I touched them, because my blood gave them the nutritional strength to generate more chakra and heal" The Medical ninja's behaviour switched to the task of recording this idea.
As he typed in the details he reflected his studies off me like a sounding board "…Your blood is saturated, improving your body's proficiency in rapid healing, the transfer of chakra at the loss of saturation lead to the temporarily gain in their remedial attribute, harnessing your recuperative abilities…" Tensue further mumbled away to the task while I considered this new found knowledge.
"Does that mean whenever I use my ability against an opponent, I momentarily amplify their ability to heal while gaining a small portion of their chakra?" Tensue swiftly typed away my question as he slipped into a world of figures and sums, along with fanatical elation dripping from the overextended grin that now crept onto his face. The problems with my jutsu would have to be asked and answered by my own mind, for now it was time for me to do some slipping away of my own.
…
I was close to home, close to where I'd usually do my ninja training, when I saw Neji. Neji, didn't I promise myself that I would do some ninja training with Neji? Might as well, considering all the side tracking I've been doing today.
I ran to a full stop in front of him, the wind rushing by my ears halting to a still breeze on reaching my finish. "Neji Hyuuga, It's been a while since I've seen you, how are you doing?"
Neji couldn't avoid noting I was there; it's hard to ignore it when someone almost collides with you in greeting, he turned to me in full acknowledgment of my salutation. "Arjie's Ages, I as well have seen little of you." He still had that chip on his shoulder, Mr superior, like all he talked to were lesser "How am I doing you ask? I am well, my lessons with Hiashi Hyuuga have proved prosperous" this, was something new. His training with the head of Hyuuga clan was insightful but in it to that he was revealing more of himself then just, 'I am fine'.
"I see our conversation in the grounds of battle have not rubbed off on you adversely" I added my own charm of superiority to the mix, it was actually quite fun to speak like this… maybe that's why he does it.
"It is quite true that our banter has swayed me to an approach I would have been quick to shun before, but it tis nay ye whom hath harkened my sway" Neji kept his face composed as he reached a new level of tongue twisted forked air and supremacy.
I put my hands into the equation to compete with the level of musk in the air, gesturing elaborately as I spoke "If not I then who, for I have travelled transversely through the paths of grey. I have walked backwards down the valleys of hay. I have harkened that which already be Harkened, I have swayed that which already swayed. For thou hath nah thee prowess nor thee exuberance that don heather forth and anon dot come." I put a large and phoney kingly pronounce on and added to the prominence of my voice "Name ye thou swayer fourth for I have cometh to sway ye further still!" people started to gather around, pardoned by the swaying of my arms and the theatre of my voice
Neji looked around himself, his face still stone and emotionless, but now he added drama to his voice saying "Naruto Uzumaki!" He remained bold sticking his chest out further to my horror.
"Nay it cannot be!" I stretched my voice into a ghostly wailed to my despair. "I twice strike the rock and the rock strikes me." I fell to a knee, enjoying the theatrics and the crowd "Horror Horror, oh a most unspeakable Horror" I struck my hands up as if asking the gods why. "Say tis not so"
"I fear it tis true! I art bested by Naruto Uzumaki and surly ye be bested too" Neji grasped my face dramatically "For his words hath cracked a fault in my heart and surely that fault may split forth and crack a fault in you" Neji was subtly hinting that he was about to whack me if I continued.
"This pains me most fiercely my friend, for if thou hath not spoken in such a way, thou would have not been spoken too, thusly the same way" I gave my own insight, telling Neji that this theatre was of a direct result of him talking down to me in his kingly manner. "Now let us away, the show has closed and the task has changed, for we must away to better our sway and harken to that most fiercely greater than that of Naruto Uzumaki" that was our cue to escape. I put my hands in seal in preparation to chakra burst away when…
"Did someone call my name" and orange jump suit appeared. I lowered my eyebrows when I saw who it was, Naruto. He was scratching his face in question to all the activity around Neji and I.
I pointed at him "Is that not the demon you spoke of" I said aloud before shunning myself for using that word "Thee Great sayer, thee Great Good Sage of Friendship" I tried to remedy my use of the word 'demon' but failed with each use of 'Great' in connection to Naruto, I just couldn't make my mind comply. "We surly cannot allow this great man to leave our sight! Grab hold of him and bring him to the stage" I looked around myself, at the patch of dirt that I just called a stage, "Bring him here!" I said instead.
"What no, your tickling agh ouch, that's not my butt" Naruto clambered while being brought to me. Using the power of an audience was, hmm, satisfying.
Neji looked a bit nerves about this whole ordeal, now being stretch out further he said "We must a-way with the Great Sage of… friendship. A-way to a place called 'far away from here' " Neji put a hand to Naruto and I and we all Chakra burst out of existence to a nearby patch of trees.
"What was that about!" Naruto demanded getting up from the floor after failing the landing, being thrown somewhere by someone else's chakra wasn't easy. The pointed over his shoulder to the confounded crowds who were oblivious to our hiding spot so nearby.
"Agh nothing Naruto, I was just teaching Neji a lesson" I inclined my head at Neji and gave a half smile, I enjoyed the play but it was a bit much to endure it for so long. "Nice seeing you around again by the way." A reluctant thought found a way onto my lips "What a great idea" I praised myself for the unwanted suggestion "Why don't we all train together? Neji and I had some chakra training planned, want to join?" I looked to Neji who rested his shoulders to the idea, submitting, considering how I unfolded his earlier reluctance to succumb. Naruto on contrary was bouncing with enthusiasm.
…
"This is not my usual chakra training." Neji stifled his frustration, pinching a nerve between his eye brows "I'm beginning to wonder what I'm still doing here" he was watching Naruto climb up trees, which was what he had been doing for the last 3 minutes.
I had to be the stabilising variable between two very conflicting compounds, like oil and water I had to be the emulsifier that bonds the two into a cream "Well what do you usually do to hone your chakra" Neji was very well known for his mastery over chakra, at least among the genin of the last generation.
"I meditate, and focus my chakra around myself until it becomes a visible veneer of essence about myself" Neji was describing the most common way Ninja practise chakra control, the way I practised it as well, but I believed Naruto needed something more visually and physically stimulating.
"How do you practise chakra control Naruto, do you always climb trees?" climbing trees couldn't possibly be his only method because it would never differ, the amount of control would remain to that of the requirement of tree climbing.
"Nna-well I don't usually practise chakra control" Naruto admitted, Neji and I both rolling our eyes in revelation to how underwhelmed we were by his confession. Jumping off the tree to fall down in a seated position next to us on the leaf ridden grass, Naruto ignored our pointed stares and continued. "-but pervy sage first taught me chakra control on hot water" He looked up in thought and reassessed with a finger to his lip "Or maybe it was just so he could spy on naked girls" Gripping his foot in excitement, he leaned back to plop back onto his feet with a leaver and thrust technique, ready to brave more training regardless of this 'sage's' motives.
"Hmm, pervy sage you say, is that where your learnt that naked jutsu of yours? " hmm… naked jutsu… hmm
"Sexy Jutsu!" Naruto was just about to activate his Sexy jutsu when Neji grabbed out and took control of Naruto's hands shaking his head 'NO' "Aaany way, pervy sage is Master Jiraiya. His a real pervert" Well you don't say, I mean it's bad enough that he circulates that porno book of his but he also happens to be one of our best ninja… how embarrassing.
"Ok, so how about we take water walking and combine it with meditation." The two looked at me and brought a sly smile to me face. Taking up the role of teach I continued "Through meditation you compress your chakra into a fine point, when walking on water you create a plateau of chakra that sits on the surface of the water" I looked at them again, hnn, still not getting my reasoning. "Walking on water requires a thin film of chakra to stabilise and harden the tension of the water surfer, meditation requires a fine point. If we combined the two we would get a fine film of chakra that stabilises and hardens any surface like let's say, leaves"
Naruto snapped his fingers saying "*click* I've got it, we'll call it leaf walking!" with excitement on his face, like that had been my aim all along.
"Ya we can call it that, but if it works, it's also the sneaky jutsu." I'd been thinking up the theory for a while but always pushed it aside for later. "You would be able to sneak up on anyone and they won't be able to hear the crushed leaves alerting them to your attack"
Neji hovered over the idea suspiciously, doubtful that the technique would work he eyed me thoughtfully "A thin film of this, 'fine chakra' would have to be put around the leaves you stood on in order to protect them from being crushed, would you be able to do that?"
"The question Neji is, would you!" I teased and presented the field ahead of us "The leaves are just waiting for us to put theory into practise"
"Wow!" Naruto rolled off to the task, diving into the leaves out of excitement before coming to the sense to try walking steadily without crushing them.
I tried out the technique myself, casting out a fine spray of chakra breeze to cheat a bit in my objective at learning the technique first. My foot still crunched through the soft surfacing of the leafy grass.
I watched Neji hoping for some inspiration and tricks to the trade, chakra was his speciality, but he failed too. Hmm, defiantly harder than I thought.
I picked up a leaf and spun it around on my palm, if this were a real situation the leaves would be moving around as we walked through them or as the breeze blew or the ground shifted under foot. I coated the leaf with my hand, chakra entombing it. Even at this intensity with it in my hand where I had the most control, the dry leaf only crushed under the force of my chakra. The problem was a leaf was weaker than paper, it crushed rather than folded, even shearing forces resulted in crumpled leaf. It was too brittle but that wasn't a reason to give up. It was like the Great Kami was issuing me a challenge, and I was saying, 'Bring it on!'
I looked beyond my hand, the leaf gently searing to the power of my chakra folding over it, and watched with a curl in my smile, Neji and Naruto. Neji casted out nets of chakra, something I had never seen before, that reminded me of the chakra threads used in puppet jutsu. He chucked them out over the leaves with a grace that said Hyuuga yet I doubted any of those stiff necked nobles would ever try such a thing. The net provided a surfacing mesh to the top of the leaves, but with every step he took that superficial surface crumbled and the sound of crushed leaves could still be heard. He grimaced and tried again, something not taught to him by a noble life or by a belief in a predestine and inevitable fate; but by the hardship of vengeful loneliness, friendship and by Naruto and Lee's willpower.
Naruto was trying a different approach, cheating. He summoned up two shadow clones that grabbed hold of him. He was trying to lighten his steps on the leaves by having his clones lift his weight off the ground. A mischievous grin sat on his face but when he looked around to watch our attempts, at cheating, his demeanour changed to that of determination and shuffled away his attention seeking methodology.
…an hour passed and I managed to half my goal by dividing a leaf and concentrating on that snapped off portion within my hand until it surfaced it's self with my chakra unharmed. Neji and Naruto tip toeing and uttering curses to the repetition of failed attempts, but continued the training, watching each other spitefully with resolve to be the first leaf walker.
…two hours and I had a whole leaf. The objective was possible, but now I had to focus that same chakra into a group of leaves. With each leaf having a different intensity of chakra that it could endure, the task was beginning to feel impossible once again. The heavy vibration of chakra activation could be heard on and off, emanating from my two companions as sweat beaded their focused faces.
…three hours and I could just barely press down a hand against the grounds leafy concealment. The others, on seeing my success, recollected my first methods and began their own endeavours, sitting down to start from step one.
..Four and a half hours, I reached a ground breaking step, crawling on the ground. With the weight of my body spread out the leaves had less crushing force applied to them, but I was getting tired no, we were getting tired.
"Phew yu yu yu, man it's getting hot" It was night, it was not hot, it was just the heat of the chakra bending.
"Are you kidding me; I can do this all night" Naruto collapsed to the ground. "I can do this, all night" he mumbled a final time before blacking out.
"Naruto Uzimak, huff" Neji commended and collapsed too, I think secretly Neji wasn't willing to give up until Naruto did. "Do not assist me Ages, I am fine" His proud character persisting even when he was exhausted.
I wasn't as drained as the others, right at the beginning of the jutsu I took the slow approach. Both Naruto and Neji throw all there efforts in, not willing to be bested by the other, while I studied the undertaking before delving into practise. Yes, study is the key to all endeavours of life but surly it is the most boring, for was it not their eagerness to complete the task that made my endurance to succeed more exciting? A philosophy for another day…
"Come on Neji, time to go" I offered an arm but proud Neji got up from the ground without my effort. Naruto would be a problem, out cold and I had no idea where he lives. "Augh, I guess I'll take you to my place" I leaned down and grabbed a hold of Naruto's arm, slinging it over my shoulder to drag him behind myself.
…
Naruto woke to the sound of my sketch book at work. I didn't often sketch, well more like I never sketched things, but this was particularly interesting.
Naruto opened his eyes and remained stiff still "Hey Argies" he was still bear hugging one of the pillows I was unable to rip free from him. "Where am I?" he was just about to get up when…
I gently pressed a hand against his shoulder "Du du du du, stay still I'm busy" It was still early in the morning; I was hoping he would sleep a little longer. "I'm making a sketch of your tattoo"
"Why?" Naruto asked simply, still he gave in and remained rested.
"I thought it was quite interesting, don't you find your tattoo interesting?" Naruto nodded his head confirming my interest as being well enough motive for him to remain still "I don't sketch things too often, I'm not a great artist and mainly I can only draw what I can see, two dimensional. Which is why when I see something I like, I enjoy keeping it somewhere I can look at it often"
Naruto hugged the pillow to himself tighter "Arjies, why is my shirt off" He looked up at me, I was sitting directly behind his head.
"It was sleeping time, I couldn't let you sleep fully cloth, that would be uncomfortable." I made my final stroke and completed the rework of Naruto's tattoo "Which is why I removed your clothes for you, you were so tired after the…"
"You took my clothes off?" the look of innocence on Naruto's face made me question what he was asking, but he hugged his pillow tighter and my doubts vanished "I don't know this place, where are we?" he ignored his question, offering a new one to settle any offence.
"You can get up now, unless you're still tired, it's only about 2 o' clock in the morning. You're at my place, my Guardians bread house and home combined" It was early in the morning and I felt myself slip into an eloquent and talkative nature, the subtle chatter of sleep. "My clans people build our houses in this manner, one part profession and one part home. It helps their customers remember where they live and where they work is the same place, which I guess sends many different messages of both meaning and will of intent" I packed away my drawings before coming to rest beside Naruto, staring up at the wood board ceiling of a bread shop.
"If I was asleep how long did you sleep for, I kept dreaming about training, is that what woke you up?" Naruto placed his arms behind his head letting the pillow fall between us
"Don't you want to see my drawing?" It was only natural for someone to be curious about a drawing of a personal reflection, of something owned to them. However, Naruto shook his head and voiced a nay in the form of a 'nah'. It meant that this tattoo wasn't something Naruto identified as being a part of his own or even a liked aspect of himself, it was as if he treated it as more of a scare than a committed art work imprinted on flesh. Oh how I enjoy unfolding a person's psyche… now what was his question, hmm 'If I was asleep how long did you sleep for, I kept dreaming about training, is that what woke you up?' agh yes.
"I don't sleep much; don't worry its part of my clans training" I lifted the pillow case I slept with and dropped it near Naruto so he could hear the sound, the jangle "It's full of stones, it's how I learnt to sleep less. Four hours is all the human body needs to function at its fullest, three days is the time needed of our physique to regenerate over-worked muscles and one week is the optimal time in which the immune system recovers from aliment"
Naruto scratched his head "I don't get sick much, except when I drink off milk, then I get real sick" He slid a hand across his nose like the thought of getting sick was the trigger to an excessive bout of DOOOM! I laughed to the thought and Naruto smiled, opening his mouth to revealing more of himself. "Kakashi sensei and Sakura are always telling me I need to rest more when I end up in the hospital, those guys, no one needs to stay for that many days! I always have to tell them I'm fine and there would be a whole argument about recovery time and then I'd escape and you know how it is" He was a rapid healer after all. There were various ninja who could heal at a fast rate, for many different reasons and according to where they applied their chakra or what seals or bloodline they had. Although this was the first I'd heard of Naruto having this ability, it was nice to know he was so open to me about these ninja traits. It was fascinating seeing this side of him, it made me consider that maybe he wasn't so bad after all.
"Most people say that you have to rest when you are sick, I don't think my family shares the same opinion. I once saw my Aunt go on for weeks lifting 40Kg bags of flour when she had the worst of flues. She didn't do any cooking at that time, understandably, but she sure did do a lot of stock keeping ha" Agh memories, those nasty little creatures that make you happy for a second before that sinking realisation returns; they are gone.
"Where is your Aunt?" Naruto added to my weight, the pain of loss still dragging heavy on my ability to press on. "I don't hear anyone around, do they still stay here?" He sat up slightly to look around at the emptiness of my home, the hollows in my heart.
"Sigh*, they went away" I offered up my words to myself, to my inner being, should I lie to Naruto? "The only thing is, no one knows where they went away too" Naruto's has already revealed so much to me, why should I lie to him about something that is already gossiped among genin ninja, after all if Shikimaru knows it's likely Ino knows too… gossip girl.
"Oh… I see" Naruto looked down, sympathy, pity, understanding they all revolved around the same emotion of empathy. "I know what it's like to live alone. I've never had parents or guardians. I only had the orphanage." He settled back down to reflex his thoughts off the ceiling "Those kids with their grubby little hands, you had to fight for everything in the orphanage, even sleep"
"I understand" I offered, now seeing the truth of his empathy for me as a sadness within him. "I could sense that defensive instinct in you, how you grabbed that pillow, it couldn't have been very easy finding yourself in that situation. Looking for the answer to the question 'Who is Naruto', I find myself asking that question all the time, 'Who am I'" It was nice to talk while everyone else was asleep, you thought of the craziest things to chat about and they all seemed fun when the lights went out. Naruto hummed and appeared to be stuck in thought about the proposed philosophical question, 'Who am I'?
A soft moon light chilled in through the window, I drew the blanket closer even though I wasn't sleepy, the sound of crickets harping in the distance.
"Hey Arjies? Why do you sleep with stones? You were trying to explain, but I didn't really understand" Naruto tapped my pillow case full of stones, testing to see if they were real.
"When I was still young, maybe at the age of four, my guardians started planting small stones in my bed. Slowly the number of stones collected and gradually I became used to sleeping on a harder and harder bed, eventually you can sleep anywhere without discomfort" I tugged on my walker beads, the braded beads of the drifting mist wondering winds people, my people "These beads are a reminder of that, part of a reminded. When you sleep on stones you no longer sleep for comfort but instead your body sleeps when it is needed. The other part is that sleeping on stones is painful, it hardens your body over time, and that's what the walker beads are for" I detached me beads and whacked them against my arm. "They are a conditioning tool; by striking your body regularly you harden yourself against impacts, cuts and all forms of abrasions."
"Oh man that's amazing I want to be like that!" Naruto hummed and reconsidered "Though I heal superfast so what would be the point, hmm?" He returned to the stare at me with stars in his eyes, Lee style "You must be quite serious about being a ninja, your people sound amazing!" I almost for a second found mock in Naruto's words, but there was no lie in his eye, Naruto was blissfully honest. He had no ability to be manipulative or sarcastic; It is as if he has somehow turned stupidity into a super power.
I eased into this thought, staring up at the ceiling had never been so gratifying before, I thought of how I had grown in the last month. I felt like I was virtually invisible in the genin academy, which as a ninja wasn't so bad a strategy of survival, but I overcame defeatism and remained dedicated. During the Chunin exams I wasn't regarded as a challenge worthy of effort, yet I survived all their challenges, their written tests, mind games and trials. My favourite part of it was the forest of death; trap making has always been my aptitude and I revelled in that environment, I enjoyed it, luring in stronger opponents and watching them succumb to my treachery and tact. Then finally the tournament arrived; after the preliminary and training in preparation for the ultimate test, I was ready. Facing off against Neji was, beyond my expectations, it was glorious and from there I grew from an unknown ninja to a recognised and well feared dread. I-I only hope that's true, that now that I have been noticed, I am a ninja people would fear to act against. In spite of everything, hasn't that all been good? Even though I don't know what has happened to my guardians, where they went, I can look back and step forward knowing I am more than I was yesterday. Isn't that why Naruto is here with me now, because I'm more than what I was then, because I am no longer the faceless class mate, overlooked, forgotten, but rather someone they can call friend? Maybe this is my purpose now within the Leaf?
Naruto shock me from my superfluous question, breaking from our silent converse with jubilation "Let's start training again! While Neji is asleep, oh man it's going to be so cool, he won't know what hit him" It was extraordinary, the level of stamina and nerve he had. "His going to be so puzzled next time we practise together" His cat like grin spoke crafty and mischief all in one boast of a smile.
"Ha, Ok sure let's do this!" I decided it best to merge into Naruto's enthusiasm; his character would never change. The parable echoed in my mind; 'What you cannot deflect, you absorb' therefore I would absorb Naruto's nature rather than try to curb his zeal, I would be the zeal! "Neji is going to be so mystified; I can't wait to see the look on his smug face when we are all of a sudden better than him. Better than a chakra master!" I said jumping up, fist pump!
...
Disclaimer:
All The characters created by the Author of Naruto belong solely to Masashi Kishimoto every other character belongs to I and those Authors that have lent me their characters.
Do not replicate or reproduce any of my works or the works of the artists that have lent me their ideas, original characters, writings.
All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without express written consent from the author. Naruto Belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.